In response to Joseph's reply, I'm going to repeat what I've already said at the beginning of this story: everything from the first few episodes in season 2 has happened as it did in the actual series. Though there have been some changes which have been explained throughout this story, as well as in my previous story "Birth Place of the Mystery Shack (Alternate Version)." Meaning that "Into the Bunker" has happened without any changes.

I hope I didn't sound rude when saying this.

Also, I have used information from "Into the Bunker" to help me develop the lab for the Adventure chapters, though I promise that this is not a copycat sort of thing. After all, a person like the mysterious author would've probably had multiple secret labs for research, but with different designs.


Fallen Pine Trees

Chapter 7: Part 2 of Adventures

If you asked Mason "Dipper" Pines what he expected to see when entering the author's secret lab hidden beneath the darker parts of Gravity Fall's forest. Then he would have said that he expected to find, (just in the hallways along), to a bunch of mechanical devices, lots of strange, ancient symbols on the walls, and booby traps both mystic and technological. Instead he, Mabel and Pacifica found themselves walking through a dark, brick-stoned hallway, most likely it was a secret passage that led from the entrance to the lab. A very long passage to be exact since they been walking for like half an hour.

During this time Mabel came up with a plan that she hoped would get Pacifica out of her life, and, eventually lead Dipper towards (what she thought was), his true love.

"Hey Dipper," Mabel called out, "Remember the last time we went into one of the author's laboratories? Specifically, the part where you ended up confessing your love to Wendy when you thought she was dead but it ended up being just that shapeshifter thing disguised as her. I think it happened like two days before our mini-golf adventure."

"Wait, what?" Pacifica asked puzzled.

"Oh Dipper never told you? He was madly in love with Wendy before you two hooked up. He even used to kiss pillows with her face drawn on them."

"Seriously?" Pacifica asked. This time in a furious/jealous sounding voice.

"That's all in the past Mabel. Besides, that was just a kiddy crush." Dipper explained in an attempt to keep Pacifica from thinking that he still loved his former crush. "I thought it was love. But after you gave me that note at your front gate," walks in front of Pacifica when saying this, "I truly understood what it feels like to be in love. I mean when I look back at my crush on Wendy, I see that I had just been drawn by her looks. But you on the other I keep thinking about how you're not only gorgeous but intelligent, athletic, brave. What I have with you ," grasps her hands in his, "Is something that I would never have had with Wendy. I love you Paz."

"I know that last part was a bit sappy."

Pacifica couldn't help but smile at this. "That would explain why I saw you burning pictures of what I assume were Wendy last week." She added.

"Yeah Mabel threw them at me that morning," Dipper mentioned before give his sister a furious look. "But that's all in the past let's just focus on the mission here."

"I'm all for that." Responded Pacifica as she gives Mabel a dirty look before walking ahead. Leaving Dipper and Mabel behind her.

"Ha, ha, ha. This is awkward," Mabel said in a nervous sounding voice.

"We will talk about this later. Oh and from now on, unless you have something smart to say about our quest, don't say anything." Dipper said before running to catch up with Pacifica. Leaving his sister all along tell she caught up with them.


After a few more minutes of walking, the pre-teens finally found, (what was most likely), the lab that they'd been looking for. It vaguely resembled the laboratory under the Mystery Shack, "Stan allowed the kids to explore it sometime after he told them about it". With the differences being the equipment in the room, it had a very high ceiling that, (even with their flashlights), they couldn't see the top of, and the labs lights were all burnt out. There were no signs of the author, or even any hints of the author's current location, (if he/she still lived). All that they could find was a bunch of broken stuff such as workbenches, test tubes, machinery, etc. Though nothing that Dipper hadn't seen from his past investigations. Which, of course, made him furious.

"I TRAVELED ALL THE WAY OUT HERE FOR THIS?!"

"Aw, don't worry Dipper," said Mabel as she pulled something out of her pocket, in an attempt to cheer her brother up. "You just need to stick," slaps the sticky hand from when Soos couldn't find a date, onto Dipper's face, "To it."

"I don't get it," said an unknown voice.

Startled, the three kids looked up towards the ceiling, finding that the voice had come from an actual vampire skull. Surrounded by a huge flock of fellow vampire skulls. Unlike the stone statue and carvings they'd seen outside, these were real life. Having a glowing yellow eye, and black and red bat-wings that constantly flapped, allowing them to fly.

"Sooo, what's up?" Asked another one of the Vampire Skulls.

TO BE CONTINUED!


Now I originally planned for this chapter to be longer. However, after I finished describing the Vampire Skulls, I felt it was enough for now. I promise you all that the next chapter will be really juicy.

Also, thanks to Joseph who's recent review inspired me to add the part about Mabel mentioning Dipper's crush on Wendy.

Vampire Skulls are actually a thing in the Gravity Falls world. I discovered them on Gravity Falls Wiki when researching the creatures of the show in an attempt to find one to use for the adventure. They are originally called Flying Skulls and are from the Gravity Falls video games. I called them Vampire Skulls since they resemble vampires. Their page on the wiki doesn't mention what their personalities are like, or if they're intelligent so I'm providing my own background on them in the story.

P.S. despite how it sounds, Dipper isn't really shallow.