Before we begin, let me say thanks to Hourglass Cipher for that suggestion about my explanations. I'll make sure to remember this when referencing, or linking things from previous episodes of the show; as well as chapters from this fan fiction, (or from Birth of the Mystery Shack).


Fallen Pine Trees

Chapter 6: Adventure

Just your average day at the Mystery Shack, Dipper was out doing some investigating in the woods, Stan giving tours, Soos and Wendy were working in the gift shop, and Mabel was hanging out with her friends.

At the moment, Dipper was returning from the said investigation. Finding Soos sweeping the floors while Wendy maned the cash register.

"Hey, guys." Dipper greeted.

"Hey Dipper," Soos and Wendy greeted back.

"Hey, where are Grunkle Stan and Mabel?" Dipper asked.

"Oh well, Mr. Pines is out with a group of tourists. And your sister is in the living room" points in the direction of said room with his thumb "with Candy and Grenda.'

'Oh great," Dipper said sarcastically. When Dipper confronted Pacifica's parents two weeks ago, Mabel had gone over to Candy's house. There she told both her friends about what had happened. They too felt that Dipper had betrayed Mabel. Ever since they'd been giving him death glares, and the silent treatment every time they saw him, (despite Mabel forgiving him days ago).

Dipper just ignored this, (understanding why they were doing it), and kept going about his usual business.

When he reached the living room, Dipper found the girls tv watching some tv show. Though when they heard the door between the living room and gift shop open their attention turned to Dipper.

Candy and Grenda quickly gave Dipper the dirty look before turning back towards the television. Mabel, however, appeared happy to see her twin.

"Hi Dipper," Mabel greeted. "Wanna watch Why You Ackin' So Cray-Cray with us?"

"Um actually I was wondering if you girls would like to go on an adventure tomorrow," Dipper asked.

"Sure. I'd love to," responded Mabel. "Besides we haven't done anything together in days."

"I don't know," responded Candy. Looking at Dipper suspiciously. "You haven't been the most trustful person lately."

"Yeah, Mr. I date my sister's arch enemy behind everyone's back," Grenda added in. "How can we trust you?"

"Um because one of the reasons why I'm asking you to come is to regain your trust. Also because I invited Pacifica along."

'WHAT?!" Shouted all three girls.

"Look I know how much you all hate Pacifica, but I know you guys have a lot in common; like fashion, boys, Sev'ral Timez, adventures, makeovers. So I thought perhaps if you all went on an adventure together than perhaps a friendship could be formed. Plus you," points at Mabel when saying this, "and Pacifica worked together when we tried to find Soos a date for his cousin's engagement party."

After thinking about it for a moment, Mabel responded, "all right, I'll go with you and Pacifica. But she and I have completely different fashion styles. Which she constantly makes fun of."

"I'm out," responded Grenda. "If I spend too much time around her, I'm gonna end up breaking her skull. And maybe yours as well."

"Yeah, I won't go. This idea is clearly not going to solve anything if Pacifica's involved." Said Candy.

"Okay then. Your loss. I'll go ask Soos and Wendy if they wanna join. Then let Pacifica know about who's coming," Dipper said before walking back into the Mystery Shack.

"Though honestly," Dipper said to himself. "I'm kind of glad that those two aren't coming. I mean they're okay. But at the same time, they're more annoying than Mabel is."


The next day Dipper, Mabel, and Pacifica, (Soos and Wendy couldn't come since Stan was still mad about how they missed work for most of the day last week), were out somewhere in one of the darker parts of Gravity Falls Forest. Each of them wearing jackets, carrying backpacks, and holding flashlights, (though Dipper's flashlight was attached to his hat).

In this area, the thick tree branches/leafs blocked out much of the sunlight. Enough that flashlights were needed by the human eye to see through the forest, even in the daytime; as well as allowing nocturnal animals to roamed the area without a problem. Which could be seen due to their glowing eyes as they watched everyone/everything that passed along. Massive, dark caves filled with the sound of hungry animals stood in between huge packs of trees. The entrances to these caves were covered in carvings of mysterious, skulls with vampire fangs, and batwings. The path that the kids were travelling along, as well as the entrances to the caves, were littered with rocks of all sizes. All of them shaped like the carvings on the cave. Further creating a very creepy vibe for everyone.

"Uh Mason, remind me why we're here again?" Pacifica asked.

Head buried in the first journal, Dipper responded. "According to this journal, the author had a secret laboratory concealed by one of these caves. One that's described as having been very important. Hopefully, this lab could contain some clues as to the author's identity, and why this person disappeared."

"Right. So which of these caves is this lab in? I mean surely the author would've written it down in one of those journals somewhere."

"The journal doesn't specify which one exactly. All it says is that the author had been studying Flying Skulls. Which look exactly like all these carvings and rocks.

Most likely the author left some sort of mark on the cave to indicate the labs' location."

"Oh, I got an idea. Let's decorate some of these rocks with markers, stickers, and ribbons." Mabel suggested while reaching into her backpack.

Dipper and Pacifica weren't into the idea.

"Uh Mabel," said Pacifica. "How will that help us find the lab?"

"Maybe if we just do silly things. The lab will reveal itself to us."

"Augh Mabel," Dipper said in annoyance. Slapping his hand over his face when saying this.

"What? That's how we found Quentin."

"Quentin was an idiotic goofball. So obviously he'd leave behind silly clues for others to find. The author, however, was an absolute genius. Who, (from my perspective), appears to have been a lot like Mason. Meaning that he or she wouldn't have left behind a clue that only an idiot could find."

"HEY!" Mabel screamed.

"Um thanks, Paz," Dipper said. Blushing while ignoring how Pacifica had insulted his sister.

"DIPPER!"

"Look Mabel. Everything that I've learned from the journal clearly shows that doing something stupid isn't going unlock the author's secrets. So let's keep those sort of ideas out of the way. Okay?"

"Fine," Mabel responded. Crossing her arms as she felt like her brother was turning against her. "Seriously," she said inside to herself, "ever since he started dating Pacifica, he's been acting more and more like a jerk. Always taking her side whenever she insulted me or anybody else for that matter. I mean for Pete's sake, he didn't even defend Soos when she called him uninteresting at the mall almost two weeks ago."

"Now after carefully reading this journal multiple times, and from past experience. I believe that these vampire rocks are the key to finding out which cave contains the lab. Particularly the ones in front of the cave entrances. So all we have to is carefully inspect every cave entrance rock till one of them reveals a secret button, or lever, or a key, or something."

"Augh." Moaned the girls both. Finding Dipper's plan to be way too time-consuming, and lame.

Understanding how they were feeling towards this plan, Dipper attempted to explain how it wasn't as bad as they thought it was; while, (unintentionally), leaning his back against a vampire rock, (one that was right in front of a cave), till his left elbow accidentally pressed down on it. Causing the rock to sink downwards.

Startled, Dipper turned around to find the cave splitting open, (sort of like a book). Revealing stone stairs leading downwards.

Surprised, everyone looked down at the secret entrance than at each other.

"Your journal did say that the lab was concealed by a cave. Though it didn't say how." Pacifica pointed out.

"What now?" Asked Mabel.

"We go down," Dipper answered as he began going down the cold, dark, stone stairs. Mabel and Pacifica immediately followed suit towards what would change their lives forever.

DUN DUN DUN!

End of Part One


Hope that you've enjoyed this chapter.

I'd originally planned for this to be a single chapter, however, there's are a few parts that I don't want to rush with this; plus I feel that it would be too long of a chapter to write.

As for comments made by many of you in regards to Pacifica and the size changing crystal. She just collects rare jewellery as a hobby and has promised her boyfriend that she wouldn't use its powers unless absolutely necessary, (or if someone really pisses her off extremely).