I'm crying, guys. It's over; this is the last chapter. You guys are just amazing. Thank you for the kind reviews and PMs, and the fact that I got pretty much nothing but positive feedback on my first ever story. I'm thinking of doing an Ask Autumn story. What do you guys think?

July 3rd

"Ready?" Willow asks, standing tall.

I take in a shuddery breath. "I guess."

Even after the fight, my tree was still wrecked, even though virtually everything else was fixed. But there is a spell that can help return it to normal.

It takes a lot out of you, but I'm fine now.

I focus all of my energy into my head. My skin grows warm. In my head I picture the limbs rebuilding, the leaves thickening. It becoming exactly the same as it used to be.

I open my eyes to find myself glowing bright gold. I beam of light shoots out from the aura, and hits the tree.

I stumble backwards.

The world disappears.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

After what seems like only a minute later, I reopen my eyes to find Willow looking over me, grinning.

"It worked!" She exclaims.

July 4th

"Is this how you do this?" Stan fumbles with a pack of firecrackers. "I have no idea what I'm doing."

"Should I be worried?" I turn my head to face Dipper. "I think I should be worried."

Mabel laughs, slipping a life jacket over her red, white, and blue sweater.

I raise an eyebrow. "What are you laughing about?"

"Oh, nothing!" She giggles. "It's just that you said the same thing that Dipper said when we first got here."

"Huh." Funny how some things work like that.

I step into the cheap canoe sitting on the lake. Stan picked it up from the dumpster, probably. I laugh as Dipper struggles to pick up an oar.

"Give 'em to me." Mabel leans over to grab the paddle from him. The boat rocks a bit.

"I can do it!" He protests, pulling his oar back. The canoe is now swaying at an above average level.

"Watch out or the boat's going to-"

Suddenly, the canoe flips over. The lake water is cold, but not unpleasant for such a hot night.

It's peaceful, being underwater. I haven't been swimming in a long time; I've lost count of how many moves it's been since I last had a pool or lived near a lake.

I pull back up to the surface, sputtering for air.

"…capsize." I finish weakly.

Mabel pops out of the water and shakes her head around like a dog. Dipper follows a second later, wringing out his hat.

"Gee, thanks, Mabel." He says sarcastically.

"You're the one who was so insistent on rowing the boat." I counter.

"I could have handled it!"

"Guys!" Mabel pokes us, floating in the lake. "Look."

Up in the sky, the fireworks finally exploded. They make imperfect, beautiful circles.

"The best view, right?"

August 12th

"So, what are we going to do with these?" Dipper stares at the three books laid down on the attic floor.

"Hide them," I suggest. "Stick them under your mattress. Never let them see the light of day. Never let Gideon find them."

"Good plan."

That night, Dipper, Mabel and I went back to the place where it all began. Book 3 was put back in the metal tree; Dipper had already read (and encountered) everything in it anyway.

Book 2 got a nice home in a hollowed-out boulder. It was put so high up, I doubt Gideon will have the physical strength to try to hike there.

Book 1 stayed with me. It'll be safe; it'll reside in Gravity Falls for as long as it can, near the others.

They sure won't be found by Gideon. Chances are, they won't be found by anyone. But when they do, they'll know that this is the beginning of everything they've got to learn.

They'll know that this is the beginning of their adventure.

August 30th

"Do you really have to go?" I ask the twins.

Both of them nod. Mabel awkwardly pokes at the ground with her foot.

"You'll come back, right?"

"Hopefully." Dipper avoids looking up. "Probably not for the whole summer, though. But…we're going to come back here. We're going to see you again. We're going to continue the adventure. No matter what."

"Let's not get all sappy!" Mabel shakes her hands and sticks her tongue out. It's enough to make both of us crack up.

I'll miss them.

"Group hug?" I offer.

"One step better." Mabel rifles through her bag and pulls out a cheap pink camera. "Group photo!"

"Of course," Dipper sighs like he's heard her next sentence a million times before. "Because you'd never miss a-"

"Scrapbook-itunity!"

It takes a few minutes, but we manage to agree on a pose and Mabel snaps the picture. It comes out slightly blurred.

"One more!" She insists. "I'd make copies of this one, but…"

"That's a different story." Dipper cuts her off.

One more picture is taken, but Mabel can't help it and starts making ridiculous faces, and then I start, and Dipper plays the straight man (comedy term) and refuses.

A beaten-up old bus comes to a screeching halt in front of the Mystery Shack.

"I guess this is goodbye, then." I break the silence that had come over us.

"Not forever." Mabel smiles.

"It's not even you." Dipper jokes. "We wouldn't be able to leave the town."

I punch him lightly, laughing. "Okay, then. I'll see you…and thank you. For everything."

The twins step on to the empty bus, growing smaller in the distance before vanishing behind a cluster of trees.

But nothing's ever over, right? This is just the beginning.

8/29/13