Part 2: Don't Dare the Dragon

Dipper awoke from his bed with a stretch and a yawn. Yesterday had been an eventful day, and he was so tired that he had slept in. He got up, put on his signature look, and glanced at himself in the mirror. Someday, Dipper thought to himself, I'll tell everyone why I wear this. He went down the stairs into the main shack area, where he saw Vanellope working the cash register. Guess Stan told her how to use it already. Dipper smiled. She did look pretty cute with all that candy in her hair. He walked into the kitchen for his brunch, where he found his grunkle sitting at the table sipping a mug of coffee, reading the newspaper, and eating a piece of bacon.
"Well, well, look who decided to stop loafing around." Stan pointed to a loaf of bread. "Get it? Loaf around?" Dipper looked at him. "Why ain't you laughing? Don't you get it?" Stan asked, slightly annoyed.
"I get it," Dipper stated in a deadpan manner as he walked over to the fridge and pulled out a jug of milk, "I just don't find it funny."
"Everybody's a critic these days, huh?" Stan rolled his eyes. "Anyway, kid, take a look at this!" Stan pointed to a blurry picture in the paper. Dipper set the milk on the counter and looked over. The picture in question was a blurry depiction of some sort of scaly, lizard-like creature. "There's some sorta thing in the woods. I figured we could rustle it up and bring it to the shack!" Dipper glanced over at his uncle.
"Really, Grunkle Stan?" Dipper accused the elderly man. "Is making a cheap buck at the expense of innocent creatures that important to you?"
"Yes," Stan said, "But I was also thinking it could be some sort of clue towards that wheel Vanellope and the gang showed us. If we want to figure this all out, we'll need some sort of lead. Maybe this monstrosity is it!"
"I dunno," Dipper said as he began to pour cereal, "It seems kind of dangerous."
"That's why we take HamHands, Master She-if, and Hammer Guy! Defense and protection!" Stan explained.
"Well-"
"C'mon, Dipper, don't you want an exciting summer?" Of course, Stan would draw that card. Dipper's Achilles' Heel. He sighed.
"Fine, Stan, I'll get ready after breakfast." Dipper couldn't believe himself, throwing logic to the wind in search of a cheap thrill. Though, if he was being honest with himself, he'd always wanted to meet a dragon, and part of the picture looked like distinguishable wings. This might be his chance!

A while later, Dipper had gotten dressed and met up with Stan, Mabel, Ralph, Felix, and Calhoun. Vanellope, despite her passion in attending, had the unfortunate responsibility of watching the Shack in case some tourists came by. Ralph was holding Journal 2 in the palm of his left hand, flipping through with his thumb.
"Now," the over sized ex-villain began, "It says that lizard-like creatures, such as dinosaurs, dragons, and certain monsters, tend to exist in the Gravity Falls Forest." He closed the book. "Has anyone been to the Gravity Falls Forest?"
"I have!" Mabel yelled. "I don't remember any lizard creatures, but I do remember how... Firey it was in there!" She giggled. "Firey. I'm adorable." Dipper sighed at his sister's expense.
"Well, Mabel, I guess you're our guide, then." Dipper went behind his sister and allowed her to lead the way. Mabel, feeling important, skipped ahead merrily.

Gideon Gleeful had snuck out of the Tent of Telepathy, against the puppet's recommendations, and was headed to the Mystery Shack for revenge on Mabel. Thinking she's too good for me, Gideon thought, I'll show her! He arrived at the Shack, and peered through a window. Inside, he saw a silhouette of a young lady, roughly his age, sitting at the counter, her hands behind her head and her feet on the table in front of her. Mabel... The name now rushed adrenaline through his bones. Time for injustice to be served...

"I hate to sound picky," Ralph told the group, "But we've been walking for hours now. Some of us aren't wearing shoes, you know."
"And who's fault is that, CubeToe?" Stan retorted gruffly.
"He has a point, Stan," Dipper said, then turned to his sister. "Where exactly are we going, Mabel?"
"I thought we were just exploring the woods!" Mabel responded innocently. "Besides, a nice nature walk is good for the heart and mind!"
The group groaned.
"Well, maybe we-" Calhoun began before being stopped by her husband.
"Do you guys see that?" Felix whipsered and pointed to a large purple winged creature chewing on a fish. The team crouched down to avoid being seen.
"What is that, a woodpecker?" Stan asked, squinting.
"No," Ralph flipped through his journal. "It's a dragon!"
"Alright," Calhoun turned to Ralph, "How do we approach it?"
"Doesn't say."
"Guys!" Mabel said. "You do it with love and care, like any other animal! Observe!" Mabel stood and ran over to the mythological beast.
"Mabel!" The group all said simultaneously, but it was too late. Mabel was already at the creature's face.
"Heyo, buddy! What's your name?" Mabel happily asked. The dragon glanced up at her, but Mabel seemed unmoved. It got up and circled her a few times, making her laugh. Eventually, the dragon returned to his spot in front of her, and answered her question."
"My name," he told her, "is Spyro."

"Oh, PUUUUUPPET!" Gideon taunted. "Look what I've got here!" He dragged a large sack into the tent. The puppet looked over and touched Gideon.
"A sack of laundry?"
"No, you floating slinkweiner! It's that Mabel girl!"
"I doubt it."
"That's because you're jealous of my knowledge! Observe, if you will, the proper way to get revenge!" Gideon emptied the sack on the floor and was greeted by...
"Wait, you're not Mabel!" Gideon shrieked.
"Knew it." The puppet retorted.
"You're darn right I'm not Mabel," the girl said, "But if you don't show me the way out, I'm gonna show you what happens when Ralph gets involved!"
"Ralph?" Gideon asked.
"Ralph..." The marionette thought over their bickering. "The large handed man... I believe he is an asset to myself... And I wouldn't even need to possess him..."
"Alright, look," Vanellope finished, "Just point me outta here, and we can put all this behind us, alright?" The puppet flew over and touched her shoulder.
"I'm afraid we can't do that," it told her, "You know too much."

"Spyro, huh? Pretty cool!" Mabel told her new dragon friend.
"I'd hope so," Spyro told her. "It's the true name of a hero."
"Of a hero? Are you a movie star?"
Spyro chuckled at her innocence. "No, I'm not a movie star. I'm the hero of the Dragon Realms. Just recently, not only did I save my world from Gnasty Gnorc, but the world of Avalar from Ripto as well!"
"That is, like, so cool!"
"Anyway," Spyro looked past her, "Who are those people staring in awe?"
"Oh, let me introduce them!" Mabel turned around and cupped her hands over her mouth. "HEY, GUYS! IT'S OKAY, HE'S FRIENDLY!" The group walked over, still in incredible disbelief. "This is my brother, Dipper!"
Dipper stepped forward. "Uh, hi..."
"He's not much for a first impression." She told Spyro, who nodded in response.
"Ahem," Stan cleared his throat, "My name is Stanford Pines. Pleasure to meet you." Stan stuck his hand out for a handshake. Spyro laughed at him.
"Dunno if you noticed, Pops," Spyro smiled, "But I don't have hands."
The rest of the group introduced themselves, and they all sat around their new dragon acquaintance.
"So, Mr. Spyro," Felix began, "What are you doing in these parts?"
"Well, Fix-It, I'm here on surveillance duty. Word is that someone around here has unleashed a terrifying supernatural nightmare, so the Dragon Elders sent me here to make sure everything was up to snuff. So far, I haven't seen anything unusual, with the exception of one thing, if you'll follow me." Spyro got up and lead the way. Mabel giggled how his wings swayed to and fro as he walked. Eventually, the group came across a large tent.
"I tried coming here earlier," Spyro explained, "but nobody was around. It seemed too 'lived in' to intrude."
Just then, a loud screech was heard from inside the tent.
"Vanellope!" Ralph knew that sound anywhere. "I'm coming for ya, kid!" He ran inside.

"Quiet down, brat!" Gideon commanded. "Someone'll hear you!"
"Too late, Pillow Hair." A voice said. Gideon turned around to see Ralph, fists out and ready to fight.
"Ralph!" Vanellope yelled before Gideon gagged her.
"Ooh, shoot, Ralph. I'm afraid you just ruined the surprise of going home and finding out your daughter is missing."
"She isn't my daughter," Ralph walked towards the little man menacingly, "But I do have a surprise for you." Ralph raised his fists above his head, ready to beat the glee out of Mr. Gleeful.
"Puppet! Do something!" Gideon screamed, covering his face. Ralph lowered his fists, but didn't make contact with Gideon. Instead, the marionette caught his fist and held it still.
"Hello, Wreck-It Ralph. We've been expecting you."

"Y'know, we probably shoulda followed Ralph into that tent, huh?" Stan brought up.
"I need to make sure the coast is clear." Spyro informed the con-man. "Don't want to risk anything."
They heard another sound. The unmistakable noise of Ralph's fists connecting a hit.
"Okay, that's it." Dipper said. "I'm going in."
"I suggest we all do." Spyro got ready to pounce. "They're about to feel the burn." Spyro charged headfirst into the tent. The group ran in after him, only to find that there was nobody around but a large, fox-like animatronic. It was decked out to look like a pirate, with an eye-patch and hook hand.
Mabel looked around. She secretly knew what this place was, but was too ashamed to tell anyone. She knew why this was happening. She stood Gideon up, so he tried to get revenge. Of course, any chance at a relationship was doomed, now. This was inexcusable. However, she did owe it to everyone to at least explain what had happened. She took a deep breath.
"Guys-"
"MABEL PINES DETECTED" The fox sprung up. "ATTACK ON ACCOUNT OF GIDEON GLEEFUL AND THE MARIONETTE." It sprung at her, but Spyro stood in the way and blocked it with his horns.
"Go! I'll hold him off!" Spyro stayed there, the horns and spikes on his head keeping the fox from chomping down.
"But Spyro-"
"I SAID MOVE." Spyro began to strain. Talking was too much effort, and he was clearly evenly matched with this pirate fox. The group did as they were told and moved along, trying to hurry up the process for Spyro's sake. They emerged in a room with two hallways. A red hallway was on the left, and a blue one was on the right.
"Well," Stan said, "That was an interesting development."
Yeah... Mabel thought. And it's all my fault...
"Anyway," Dipper pulled out Journal 3, "Let's split up to cover more ground. Stan, you go with Felix. Mabel and Calhoun, I'll go with you. It's best if at least one of us has a journal." Everyone nodded and split into the groups. Stan and Felix took the left hallway, and Dipper lead the way for Calhoun and Mabel.

Stan and Felix had been walking down the hallway for a while now. Felix began shaking, and it was annoying Stan.
"Alright, Little Guy," Stan finally said, "What's your problem?"
"I'm just a little worried... What if we don't find Ralph and Vanellope?"
"Don't talk like that. We'll find them." Stan said gruffly. Felix looked around, still keeping his worries in mind. Eventually, they reached a door and found something that made their jaws drop.
...Nothing.
"It's just... A large, white void!" Felix stated, flabbergasted.
"Well... Uh..." Stan was at a loss of words. If only I could figure out how to do this for the Mystery Shack... He thought with a playful smile. They went to turn around when they found a large figure overlooking them.
"Jimminy jamminy! What in creation are you?" Felix, again, was amazed.
"It's some sort of... Large... Floaty... Children's toy." Stan said, squinting. The toy touched its hands to their shoulders.
"I suppose you could say that." It said, lowering it's face to look like one of anger.
"Uh-oh..." The boys said simultaneously. This must be that marionette the pirate was talking about. Looks like things were about to get bad for them.

Dipper walked ahead with the journal in his hands, while Calhoun walked further behind with her blaster at the ready. Mabel, however, was holding her head down in shame. After a while, she looked up at Calhoun.
"Hey, uh, Tammy?"
"Yeah, sugarfluff?" Normally, Calhoun hated when people called her by her first name, much less Tammy. However, her and Mabel had already developed a strong friendship, and Calhoun figured that Mabel was just the type of person to use these playful nicknames. So, she allowed it.
"I wanted to ask you something." Mabel never looked up. This began to worry the sergeant, as Mabel always made eye contact with her big, puppy-dog eyes.
"What's up, kiddo?"
Mabel looked up at Calhoun and waved for her to come closer. Calhoun, at first cautious about letting her guard down, decided to go through with it anyway.
"I... I'm the reason this is happening!" Mabel wailed. Dipper stopped walking and looked behind at his sister. It wasn't like her to so much as cry, let alone blame things on herself.
"Mabel, don't be ridiculous." Dipper said worryingly. "This isn't anyone's fault."
"Yeah!" Mabel buried her head in her hands. "It's mine." So, the trio sat down and decided to let Mabel tell them her story.

"What's the plan, Short-stack?" Stanford asked his miniature colleague.
"Try to survive." Felix responded quickly.
"I like that, that's a good plan." Stan responded. The puppet once again put its hands on the two men.
"But don't you want to see your friends?" The marionette asked.
"Yes-" Felix began.
"NO." Stan said. "We want to see *Ralph* and *Vanellope* specifically." He put his fists on his hips. He knew how to outsmart those sort of questions.
"Oh, you ruined my plans. What a shame." The puppet laughed. "Looks like you'll have to be punished." He snapped his long, tapered fingers, and Stan and Felix were back at the Mystery Shack.
Felix started to worry. "What... What'll happen now?"
"Don't... Uh... Don't worry..." Stan stammered. "We'll all, uh, be reunited..."
Felix looked over at Stan. "You're lying."
Stan sighed. "...Yeah..."

Spyro and the fox were very evenly matched, however the robot did have a single advantage; it wasn't human, so it didn't run out of energy. Spyro, on the other hand, was exhausted. However, he didn't want the mechanical canine to know this.
"Don't you know what they say?" He taunted. "Don't dare the dragon!"
"Yar-har-har! Look-Look-Looks like old Foxy is going to claim another victim!" The robot laughed, obviously not fooled by the purple dragon's comment. Spyro, however, began to think. Foxy. Why did that name sound familiar?
"Hold on!" Spyro felt Foxy's jaws let up, and Spyro pulled his head back. "What did you say your name was?"
"F-F-F-Foxy. The Pi-Pi-Pi-Pirate Fox."
"Foxy the Pirate Fox? THE Foxy the Pirate Fox?!" Spyro was in awe. "Dude, you're a legend in the Dragon Realms!" Foxy cocked his head to the side.
"I-I-I am?"
"Yeah! We share the story of your voyages with our newborns since the day they hatch! I've personally been a big fan of the Fight of '87!"
"Aye, a story-telling man!" Foxy's guard was completely down, as was Spyro's. The two were no longer fighting like adversaries, and now sharing tales like old acquaintances.
"Totally! But... I thought Foxy the Pirate Fox took orders from no man?" Spyro asked.
"Aye..." Foxy's head dropped. "'Tis used to be the case. Once the story of Fazbear's Diner got out, we all had to scram. Me, Freddy, Bonnie, and Chica... All lost and separated..." Foxy seemed very upset. "This was my only way of staying in-in-in-in service..."
Spyro, however, lit up.
"Foxy, I think I can help out!"
"Aye?" Foxy cocked his head again.
"Yeah! The Dragon Realms is full of portals! I'm sure locating the rest of the Fazbear team won't be difficult at all!"
Foxy light up and laughed a strong, hearty pirate laugh.
"Well, matey, in that case, I be aidin' ye on your quest." Foxy pulled out a locator. "This should be tellin' where all ye friends are. Spyro looked at the locator and knew where he needed to go. "I think we'd best round them up!"
"Wait," Spyro asked. "Where did you get a locator?"
"How do you think I kept an eye on the night guard?" Foxy laughed.
"Well, in that case, let's go!" Spyro knelt down. Foxy jumped on the purple dragon's back. "First stop: The Mystery Shack!"

"Face it, Felix, we're done for. It's all over." Stan sat down, defeated. "No hope, no luck, everything's gone." He buried his face in his hands. "Summer's over."
Felix looked over at Stan. "Don't give up yet, Stan! I'm sure if we go back over and try the other hallway, everything will be alright."
"Would you open your eyes?!" Stan yelled, looking up. "Nothing is going to be fine. Even if we go back, we'll have to put up with that darned fox-thing! The only way we're getting back in that tent is if some sort of miracle happens." Stan got up and went to leave. Felix, a bit hurt by these words, decided to speak up.
"You can suit yourself, Stanford," Felix, for once, was being confrontational, making Stan stop in his tracks. "But I'm going back to help our friends. Whether or not you are is your decision." With that, Felix walked out and slammed the door. Stan, still reeling over what just happened, was now alone with his thoughts.
Took guts, yelling at me like that. But is it a lost cause?

"And that's why this is my fault..." Mabel's tears began to dry. "My own forgetfulness might cost Ralph, Vanellope, and Spyro their lives..." Dipper and Calhoun looked at each other.
"Kid," Calhoun turned to the crying twin, "If there's one thing life has taught me, it's that letting go of something you've done is hard." Calhoun lowered her head. "I lost a fiance that way once..."
"What do you mean?" Dipper looked at the tough-as-nails commander. "You have Felix, don't you?"
"Yes, but he wasn't my first love." Calhoun admitted. "There was another. Brad Scott. I fell for his adorable eyes, heroism..." Calhoun looked up and saw the twins, incredibly confused looks on their faces. "Nevermind that, though. The point is, it's always been my job to perimeter check Hero's Duty. The one day I decided to skip doing so was the same day I lost Brad forever..."
Mabel had tears in her eyes again. Sure, she messed up too, but Calhoun's errors cost someone their life. Mabel stood up, a new fire in her chest.
"Come on guys," She said in her ultimate I'm-totally-heroic voice. "Let's save Ralph and Vanellope!" She held her fists in the air, running forward. "CHAAAAAAAAAARGE!"
Calhoun laughed. "Gotta love her enthusiasm," she told Dipper.
"That's my sister." Dipper smiled as they followed.

Foxy and Spyro arrived at the Mystery Shack, where they were confronted by a guilt-ridden Stan.
"Oh, you two." Stan muttered, completely desensitized from Foxy's appearance. "Here to tell me how pathetic I am?"
"Stan," Foxy began, "How ye be feelin' don't matter none. It's time to help yer crew."
The elder considered this for a moment, then said, "You're right, fox-like robot! Let's do this!" Stan ran out the door. Spyro and Foxy smiled to each other and ran towards the tent.

"Gideon!" Mabel yelled.
"Mabel!" Gideon turned and sneered. "How dare you intrude my home, tamper with my animatronic, and-"
Mabel approached Gideon menacingly. Oh, my... Gideon thought, terrified. She's awfully scary when she's angry... The girl in question walked right up to Gideon and grabbed him by his collar.
"Where are they?!" She yelled in his face.
"Who?" Gideon asked, terrified.
"RALPH AND VANELLOPE!" She screamed.
"Oh, they were with you? Uh, my bad. Puppet!" The marionette floated over.
"Free our captives!" Mabel tightened her grip. "Please!" Gideon squeaked.
The puppet had a lot going through his mind, so it stayed in one spot for a moment.
"While we're young, Kermit." Mabel snarled through gritted teeth. The puppet shook its head and retrieved their friends, who were beaten and bruised. Mabel let go of Gideon and brushed her sweater. "Pathetic." She stormed out, leaving Dipper, Calhoun, and the recently arrived Stan, Felix, Foxy, and Spyro in complete and utter shock.
"Well..." Felix said as Mabel stormed past him, "That was... Unique..."

A while later, the Mystery Shack crew was gathered around a portal, seeing Spyro off as he returned to the Dragon Realms.
"Are ye sure I can-can't join?" Foxy asked. Spyro turned to face him.
"Not yet. I'm going to need you to stay in this world for a while while I discuss what's happened with the Dragon Elders." Foxy's head dropped. Stan walked over and put his hand on the pirate's shoulder.
"Don't worry, Foxy! I have some other animatronics to keep you company in my basement!" Foxy turned his head to look at Stan.
"Do ye?"
"Of course! I have a bear named Freddy, and a chicken- er, uh, duck... Thing... Named Chica!" Foxy perked up with joy.
"Ye do?! They be part o' me cr-cr-cr-crew!" Foxy was overjoyed. Now, his only concern was finding Bonnie!
"Well, there you go!" Spyro said with a smile. "I'll bet Bonnie is here in Gravity Falls as well!"
"We'll help him look!" Mabel laughed. Her earlier burning rage was now replaced with her usual happy-go-lucky nature, much to the relief of the others.
"I'll be sure to come back sometime!" Spyro announced as he flew into the portal. The entire crew wished him farewell as he went.
"Welp, time for bed." Stan said. Everyone agreed with him, and they were all soon back within the walls of the Mystery Shack. Stan took Foxy to reunite him with his pals, and Felix was in Ralph and Vanellope's room fixing their wounds with his hammer. A while later, around midnight, there were the sounds of footsteps shuffling through the house. Calhoun, still a bit restless from the day's events, was in the kitchen drinking some milk. She heard someone coming down the stairs, and soon the owner of the footsteps was in the room with her.
"I like your nightgown, Mabel."
"Thanks, Tam." She responded. "I just wanted to talk to you. Alone."
"Sure thing, sugar-cheeks. What's on your mind?"
"I just wanted to thank you. For your story earlier. Really helped get my mind back on track."
"It's no issue at all, kiddo." Calhoun smiled. Mabel then did something incredibly unexpected from the both of them; she ran up and gave Calhoun a hug. Normally, Tammy couldn't stand hugs, save for Felix, but something about the hug of someone this small just felt... Natural. She couldn't explain it. Mabel looked at her, smiled, and ran off, presumably to her room. Calhoun, however, just sat there, smiling. There was only one thought going through her mind.
Tomorrow, I'm gonna need to talk children with Felix.