I thought about putting a time indicator on prominent parts and yeah, I fixed the other chapters with it too.

Recap:

After meeting Pacifica and caught up with her, the Pines Twins are now headed to their old friend, former handyman and current manager, the new Mr. Mystery of Gravity Falls: Soos Ramirez.

In the meantime, the Diaz family along with the Princess of Mewni, Star Butterfly is out of Echo Creek for a quiet vacation in Gravity Falls.

What happens if two worlds collide in one little town?

And speaking of worlds, what was the price if Marco's deal with Bill? What's the triangular demon up to now?

Gravity Falls belongs to Alex Hirsch

Star vs. the Forces of Evil belongs to Daron Nefcy

CHAPTER THREE:

At the Corduroy Cabin

Dipper's POV:

2:30 PM

After meeting both Wendy and Pacifica—not to mention he also saw them inside one room, acting like sisters—in one day nearly made Dipper's existence short lived. Luckily, the idea of meeting Soos Ramirez again was there to keep his mind distracted.

Oh, and Mabel too, who kept giggling and taking down notes in her own journal.

Both of them have their own journals. The idea came from their Great Uncle Ford: author of the three journals filled with research about the secrets and weirdness of Gravity Falls. Everything about Ford's discoveries were written down in those books but they were hidden away from the wrong hands. Dipper admired the journals' contained research of his great uncle and that admiration led him to solve every single mystery the author never solved.

But Ford's journals were destroyed by the demon Bill Cipher during Weirdmageddon three summers ago. After knowing his research's fate, Ford made it clear that he will start over a new series of journals. It was also there when he instructed Dipper to start his own journal.

Mabel, of course didn't hesitate to try too. But as far as Dipper's knowledge goes, Mabel's entries aren't like Ford's or Dipper's. From the looks of it, Mabel only writes down tips and guides about dating, stickers, fashion, colors, art and etc.

The only entries that might be written in a somewhat serious way—but knowing it's Mabel, nothing is too serious for her—in there are Mabel's occasional thoughts and records of things she did during the day (and no, Dipper didn't snoop around his sister's journal/diary. In fact, it was Mabel herself who kept reading the things she wrote out-loud whenever she scans her own entries).

As the three of them walked to the backyard, Mabel pulled Dipper aside with her journal and pen in each hand.

"Mabel, what the heck are you doing?" Dipper protested.

"Shhh! Shush, Dipper," Mabel raised her pen on Dipper's mouth, silencing the latter. "Okay, we only have a few minutes before Wendy says: 'come on, guys. Soos is waiting', so let's make this quick!"

Dipper was still confused but the pen in front his mouth kept him from talking.

"So, tell me bro: whom do you think is more attractive? Is it Wendy or Pacifica?" Mabel asked in a hushed tone.

Dipper's eyes widened. He swatted the pen off his lips and glared at his sister.

"Mabel, I'm not interested in both of them!"

"Oh, really?" Mabel smirked. "I mean, I only asked if who's more attractive. I didn't say: who among them is more interesting? Why do you sound so guilty?"

Thatgot Dipper's guard.

Stupid, Dipper! Dipper scolded himself.

But before Mabel gets to say anything else that might drive him crazy, Wendy coughed behind them.

"Uh, come on guys. Soos is waiting." She said. But her expression... she looked intrigued.

Oh my gosh! Dipper's mind panicked. Did she hear the whole thing?

Dipper made a mistake in looking at Wendy. She was raising an eyebrow and a playful smirk was fixed in her face.

"I'm dead…" Dipper squeaked.

Star's POV:

3:00 PM

"Gravity Falls?" Marco rubbed his face and looked at the window. "Where exactly is this Gravity Falls?"

Star Butterfly thought coming back to the Earth Dimension is a good idea, and it was. She arrived just in time to catch up with the Diaz family in their out of town vacation.

But what made the idea of coming back to Earth exciting was the thought of seeing her best friend, Marco Diaz again. After three years, Star missed her karate-styled bodyguard, guide and friend. Every day, she would remember the times they faced dangers in dozens of dimensions, and fought countless of monsters and other dark creatures.

And now she's sitting beside him again, he's acting all weird more than the last time she saw him.

"It's in Oregon, am I right honey?" Mrs. Diaz looked at her husband who is focused on the road.

Mr. Diaz let out his heartily laugh. Yes, Star also missed Marco's parents. Mr. and Mrs. Diaz are such supportive parents to Marco and occasionally to Star. Having her return only a week ago, Star could already say she's feeling right at home again.

"Yes, good old Oregon. We will be staying with an old friend," He said. "Don't worry, he's a good man."

But Marco acted like he didn't listen to what his parents' just said.

As usual, Marco wore his red hoodie jacket and light gray inside shirt, paired with his dark gray skinny jeans and olive-white sneakers. His features were as clear as Star remembers: slender build, tan skin, dark brown hair, brown eyes, and a mole on his right cheek.

"Um, Marco? Are you alright?" Star poked Marco with her magic wand.

"It still doesn't make sense…" Marco muttered in a shaky voice as he stared at the window. "Why can't I recall anything from last week?"

"What are you talking about?" Star raised an eyebrow.

"Star, tell me: how did you arrive?" Marco asked. "I know this sounds all weird and crazy but please, bear with me. Tell everything. I need details."

Star's eyes lit up.

"Well, I guess I have to tell you how I even got my parents to grant me their permission to come back huh?" She smiled.

Marco nodded eagerly.

"Well—" Star began but was cut when Mr. Diaz honked the car's horn. Star went to a stance with her wand ready. "What's wrong?"

"We're here!" Mrs. Diaz chirped excitingly. "I see the welcome sign!"

Star immediately rushed to see it. The welcome billboard was green with the words printed:

WELCOME TO GRAVITY FALLS

NOTHING TO SEE HERE, FOLKS!

"Marco, talk later… because we are HEEEEEEEREEEE!"

"Star I need answers! Details remember!?" Marco pulled his hoodie and groaned. "Staaar!"

"So, Marco Diaz… I heard a lot of stuff from your Mom…." Star chirped as Marco carried both his and Star's bags. When Star first time arrived on Earth, she brought a treasure chest for luggage, and Marco nearly crushed his feet in carrying it to her room. Lesson learned, so Star now brought a regular duffel bag. "I heard you and Jackie were dating."

Marco nearly tripped but he manages to balance himself and sighs.

Why would the fact of Marco dating his old crush make him uneasy?

"We used to date… I can't believe Mom told you that." He managed to mutter.

"Marco! That's good news!" Star giggled. "Wait… 'Used to'? What happened?"

"I'll fill you in later," Marco sighed. "But you have to fill me in about your arrival in exchange."

"Sure" Star winked and smiled at Marco.

Star along with the Diaz family entered the town and went straight to a lone cabin beside the forests. Beside the cabin are stumps of trees along with scattered saws and axes.

For a moment, Star thought the person living here are psychotic killers according to Marco's movies. But when she saw an RV parked to the north side of the house, it was clear that there's a family living in there.

"Star, for the last time, an RV parked outside doesn't prove anything if a house is owned by a killer or not." Marco told her.

"Well, it's my basis," Star shrugged. "And as you know, it's so hard that I can't even try to change my basis."

Besides, Mr. Diaz said the man who lives in the cabin is an old friend of his. That gave Star a little assurance that the cabin isn't like the ones in horror movies. But when Mr. Diaz knocked the door…

… The man who answered froze Star to her spine…

"Marco… it's m-m-monster: a big one!" Star hid behind Marco.

"Star, don't be…" His voice faltered with the sight of the man. "Oh… tell me that is one of Ludo's dumb monster minions."

The man is extremely large and really muscular. He has short red hair and green eyes. He also has thick eyebrows and a bright red beard. He wears a gray shirt paired with pants with suspenders and leather boots; not to mention that he also wear brown work gloves. From the looks of it, Marco would call it a stereotypical lumberjack outfit.

But what made the man look like a monster was the body hair: chest hair and arm hair which are barely concealed.

Mr. Diaz, who knocked on the door, looked at the man. Before Star or Marco could react, the man grabbed Mr. Diaz and began to squeeze him with his massive arms.

"Mr. Diaz!" Star yelped. She instinctively grabbed her wand but was stopped when the man and Mr. Diaz began to laugh.

"Rafael Diaz!" The man chuckled in a very deep but raspy kind of laugh. With him smiling, Star noticed one of his front teeth is missing. "You old dog! You decided to visit your old pal, huh!?"

Both Star and Marco watched in confusion as the big man continues to give Mr. Diaz a bear hug.

"Daniel Corduroy!" Mr. Diaz wheezed from the death hug. "It's nice seeing you too… old friend. Now… could you… stop trying to break my ribs?

The man, Daniel Corduroy laughed jollily. He reluctantly let go of Mr. Diaz and decided to go with the handshake. But as Star observed Mr. Diaz pained face, Mr. Corduroy's handshake is as deadly as his hug.

"Oh, Dan, you do remember Angie, yes?" Mr. Diaz gestured Mrs. Diaz who shook Mr. Corduroy's hand. But unlike the handshake he gave Mr. Diaz, Mr. Corduroy shook her hand gently.

"Mrs. Diaz," Mr. Corduroy smiled. "It's nice to see you again."

"Daniel, it's good to see you too." Mrs. Diaz returned the smile.

"And of course my son, Marco," Mr. Diaz gestured Marco who gave Mr. Corduroy a nervous smile.

"Humph," Mr. Corduroy nodded. "You look like a fighter,"—Marco looked surprised—"Don't be alerted, I see a fighter when I see one. Trust me; my daughter is one heck of a fighter."

Mr. Corduroy turned to face Star who gave him a smile.

"And this is—"

"Star Butterfly of Mewni, that's me!" Star cuts in Mr. Diaz's introduction. "Nice meeting you, Mr. Corduroy. And thank you for having us in our vacation. And by the way, I'm staying with the Diaz family for the summer. And quick question: are you a psycho axe wielding killer?"

Mr. Corduroy slowly nodded and finally let out a laugh.

"I like this girl," He settled. "Please, girl, call me Manly Dan. That's what everyone in this town calls me. And no, I'm not a psycho as wielding murderer; I'm only the town lumberjack. Now, come on in, and we'll get you settled."

Marco's POV:

4:46 PM

Dan, as his nickname implies, is very manly indeed. Marco's first impression on the guy was: hairy and huge, okay he's a monster.

But after discovering Manly Dan is one of Marco's parents' old buddies, then noticing Marco as a 'fighter' and befriending Star; Marco has decided he's a good guy.

"Alright, Diazes and of course, Star; welcome to the good old Corduroy cabin." Manly Dan announced as he ushered Marco, his parents and Star inside his house.

Whoa, I didn't expect this.

In one word, Marco describes the place: simple. They stood in the cabin's living room, where the walls, sofa and lamp covers are all flannel. And after a quick observation, the ceiling is too low for Manly Dan's height, but the big guy seemed comfortable.

"So, get yourselves feel right at home," Manly Dan said. "The Cabin has a lot of space since the boys are with Steve in Kansas."

"What about your daughter?" Mr. Diaz adds. "Is she with Steve too?"

Manly Dan sighed. It made Marco wonder if something happened to them.

"She's with her friends," He finally said. "She's staying with them in the town famous tourist trap."

"Is a tourist trap a deadly trap for tourists? Does it kill?" Star asked Marco nervously.

"No, Star," Marco sighs. "It's a tourist stop where people get tours and buy souvenirs. It's called a trap because it attracts a lot of people. Get it?"

Star nodded but she's still confused though.

"Rafael, that sounds like a good idea." Mrs. Diaz said wistfully.

"Dan, where is this tourist trap?" Mr. Diaz asked Manly Dan.

"Hmm, I think the address is 618 Gopher Road." Manly Dan scratched his red beard. "It's called the Mystery Shack. It was found by an old guy named Stan Pines but it's currently managed by Soos Ramirez, he's a close friend of my daughter."

"That's it, we'll visit the Mystery Shack tomorrow," Mr. Diaz said in excitement. "But now, we must rest. Dan, would you mind showing Star and Marco's rooms?"

Manly Dan smiled showing the gap made by his missing tooth.

"On it. Come kids."

5:08 PM

"Manly Dan is a cool person, huh?" Star chuckled. She is lying in the upper bunk of the double bed waving her wand and occasionally summoning weird emoticon creatures. As Marco perceived, Star must've acquired the wand's mastery. "He looks like one of the elite guards we have in Mewni."

Marco settled in the lower bunk. He removed his red hoodie jacket and decided to lie down.

Manly Dan told them the cabin only has two free rooms. Marco's parents settled in the other room, while Star and Marco must share a room here. Fortunately, Manly Dan and Marco's parents didn't have anything against two people—a boy and a girl, not related—sleeping in one room.

Thankfully the bed is double decked.

The room was small. According to Manly Dan, the room belonged to his two younger sons. The double bunk is pushed on the wall. The blankets, lamps and even the wallpaper is also flannel like the living room. A study desk is on the other side of the room and Star already placed her Magic Manual after inspecting it for five minutes.

Star also brought her magic mirror. According to her, it won't be her room without it.

"So," Star coughed. "Mind telling me you're history with Jackie?"

Marco blushed. Man, you almost forgot about that.

"I uh…" Marco stammered. "Y-yeah, about Jackie... well… we dated for a year until I caught her cheating."

"Cheating?" Star gasped. "Who was the guy you caught she was cheating with?"

Before Marco could reply, he almost forgot Star's history with Jackie's new boyfriend,

"Star," Marco sighed. "You don't want to know…"

Star climbed down the upper bunk and sat down beside Marco.

"Aw, come on Marco," She insisted. "Hit me. I mean, how bad could it be?"

Marco refused to answer. Man, I can't hurt her.

"It's Oskar Greason, isn't it?" Star muttered.

Marco sat up and looked at Star. Again like when he hugged her in the car, Marco got the urge to tell Star his true feelings for her. But like before, he held back. He's afraid that it might cripple their friendship instead.

In Marco's head, the words of Bill Cipher whispered in menace: you wanted to be more but you were afraid to try because it might shatter your relationship…

"Star—" Marco began but was cut by Star's laughter.

"It's okay, Marco," She said. "I mean, I'm not into Oskar anymore. I was gone for three years and I don't expect him to come to me and be my boyfriend. Besides, who needs them—Jackie and Oskar—they're fit for each other. They're not worth it…"

An uncomfortable silence followed Star's now fading voice.

"What now?" Marco broke the silence.

Star just shrugged.

Marco… just tell her everything! Say you love her, now!

"St-star, I have something to tell you…" Marco took a deep breath.

"Okay, what is it?" Star smiled, obviously intrigued with Marco's words.

"In those three years you were gone… I—"

Go for it...

"Oh, Marco, I almost forgot," Star interrupted, making Marco sigh in relief. "You want me to 'fill you in' with my arrival, right?"

"Oh, uh… yeah…" Marco nearly forgot it as well.

As the 'admitting- your-feeling- for-Star' is important, the 'knowing-what-happened-last-week-any-don't-I-remember-anything-about-it' is likely a bigger priority than anything else right now.

Next time, Diaz… Marco tells himself. Try again next time…

"So, tell me about last week—with full details, please." Marco tilts his head.

"Okay!" Star took a deep breath and frowned. "Wait, last week, right?"

"Um, yeah, I think that's what I just said." Marco lifted an eyebrow. "Star, are you okay?"

"No! Marco, I'm panicking right now!" Star stood up and rushed to her mirror. "Mirror, show me Mom or Dad in Mewni!"

"Star, calm down…" Marco stood up and followed her to the mirror with a worried look in his face.

The mirror blinked but nothing appeared in its surface except for their own reflections.

"Something's wrong… I can't seem to get a lock on them!" Star tapped the mirror. "Mirror, show me my parents! Stupid piece of-why won't it work!?"

Star raised a fist in anger but before she could hit the glass, Marco instinctively hugged her and pulled her away from the mirror.

"Whoa, take it easy, Star." Marco hushed. "Tell me what's wrong."

Star began to sob in Marco's arms.

"Marco, I'm like you!" She said which made Marco even more confused.

Star Butterfly looked at Marco in the eyes and cried.

"I can't recall anything from last week!

That's the end of Chapter Three.

And the Diaz family stays with Manly Dan who was actually a friend of Mr. Diaz. I think Manly Dan's character in my story is a little off from the show but I have an explanation, okay? It's because after Weirdmageddon, Manly Dan and Wendy tried to get along making him less brutish.

In the first days, everything worked out with the two of them but when Wendy went to study in Portland, a void between them. Still, Manly Dan embraced the change. He's basically in Pacifica who changed a lot.

Star doesn't remember how she arrived in Earth like Marco... is it some kind of anomaly caused by Bill's deal? And what's the demon up to?

And I'm sorry that Soos hasn't appeared yet. But I'll try to put him in the next chapter, I promise.

I hope you liked chapter 3; chapter 4 will follow up soon—but not really guaranteed if it's Sonic soon or sloth soon! Next chapter, we'll see what's Bill up to—a sneak peak anyways—and we'll also witness the worlds of Dipper and Marco meet for the first time.

Stay tuned!

PEACE!

Gravity Falls belongs to Alex Hirsch

Star vs. the Forces of Evil belongs to Daron Nefcy