5:30 p.m. was their least favorite time of the day, as it signified the longest half hour they were to experience. So when the dreaded time came up, they made sure to usher all of the slower customers on with their choices, so that when quitting time rolled around they wouldn't have to stick around with the straggler that can't decide between a puma shirt or a panther shirt. This day had been surprisingly uneventful, with only the embarrassing encounter with the two men Dipper had dubbed the "Unnatural Tourist Brothers." Mabel had made an attempt to replay the event to Wendy, but Dipper had successfully been able to distract her long enough for the topic to slip.

Now Wendy and Soos had taken their leave, and only the three members of the Pines family remained in the shack. Mabel had managed to procure the television, much to the relief of both Dipper and Grunkle Stan, who was admittedly addicted to the period films he sobbed over every night if the twins didn't wrestle the remote from him. She flipped to Duck-tective, the show about the brilliant duck who solved crimes. It was quite the surprise when the show had been approved for a second season, and then more after that. Dipper admitted he could still enjoy the show, for despite the jokes that appealed to a younger audience, the mysteries in the show were challenging enough to keep his interest. Mabel still loved every aspect of it. She often patronized him for growing up too fast, as he preferred maturity over childishness, but even he could admit that it was refreshing to get pulled into her silly mentality.

"Dipper! Aren't you going to watch Duck-tective with us?" Mabel called as he made his way through the kitchen.

Tugging his worn cap further onto his head, Dipper replied, "Nah, you guys go ahead though. I'm going to go for a walk." Mabel nodded and waved cheerily, before turning back to her show.

Grunkle Stan called to him as he left, saying, "You better get back before I lock up, or you're spending the night outside!" Dipper ignored the comment, knowing his Great Uncle would more likely wait than risk locking the kids up outside. He knew enough to fear the possible wrath of his parents, who although they were willing to cart their kids off to the middle of nowhere each summer, had a tendency to worry about every little scratch and nick they came home with. Besides, if Grunkle Stan did lock the doors, he could get in through the attic window. Mabel and Dipper had devised a way to easily get in and out of the house in their second summer. Sometimes it was just simpler to sneak in and out, rather than catch their current guardian during one of his 'moments' when watching TV.

Dipper left through the side door, and began to briskly walk into the dark trees, unaware of the sudden spark of activity at his presence. He was comfortable in these woods, having knowledge on most of the creatures that traversed there. Most of the magical creatures that lived in the woods avoided people, but there were some that purposefully sought them out, or didn't really notice their existence and just ran into them. The Manotaurs were one of such species. On the rare chance that the half beasts left their cave home, they would run around the woods with reckless abandon, often destroying things. A lot of things. In the few times that he had seen the beasts since his fateful encounter with them at the age of twelve, Dipper realized how glad he was that he had chosen to go about his own path of 'being a man.' The buff testosterone filled minotaur knock offs reminded him too much of the jerks that he saw in stereotypical high school films, and some of which he had dealt with in his own experiences.

It wasn't until he had walked out of eyeshot of the shack when he flipped on his flashlight, sending the stocky critters that were watching from the brush further into hiding. He had made the decision during one of his late night research sessions to return to the location at which he had first discovered the journal that had triggered their discovery of the supernatural aspects of the town. Dipper had taken up mapping the wilderness of Gravity Falls, making marks as to where they had had an encounter with something new. He was no great mapmaker, but the diagrams did give him a good guideline whenever he wished to revisit a site. That, and the now weatherworn signs that he had hung on that fateful day 4 years previously.

As he tucked his journal back into his coat, he stepped up to the fake tree, running his fingers along the rusting metal trunk in order to find the seam of the hidden panel. The short figures, taking advantage of his distraction, crept closer to the boy, their large numbers closing in. A crack sounded as a branch snapped, and Dipper whirled around, his flashlight revealing the multitudes of bearded midgets crowded around him.

With a sound that could only be described as the snarling of a rabid ferret, the gnomes pounced.

Sam's head sank into hands, emitting a disgruntled noise at the results of his research. Dean glanced up from where he had been cleaning one of their pistols, a quirked eyebrow being the only question he posed. The taller brother sat up, swiping back his long brown hair.

"I dunno Dean, it seems like some of this stuff is random. They're artifacts for sure, but not the kind we deal with." Most of the symbols found on the tablets and artifacts he had snapped pictures of were simply words depicting luck and wealth, not huge triggers for dangerous supernatural activity. The man running the Mystery Shack might've just been a collector in his younger days, and gotten his hands on some real artifacts.

"They're pretty much harmless."

Dean shrugged, skillfully putting the remaining pieces of the pistol back together.

"It's not like we were here for a job in the first place. We should head out tomorrow, see if Bobby's caught wind of anything." He stood, tossing the gun on the bed. "Now, let's go get something to eat. That diner had some goddamn awesome pie." Sam consented, and soon they were piling into the Impala. The diner was naught more than a couple minutes up the road, but about halfway there something smashed into the windshield, before rolling off to the side. Dean slammed the breaks, and the car skidded to the side, leaving behind a decent tread.

"What the HELL?"

Pulling out their respective weapons, Dean and Sam exited the car. The critter that had hit them was off on the opposite side of the road, making a small wheezing noise. Sam pulled up a flashlight, and soon the strong beam of light alit upon a stout little man, wearing a pointed red hat, and a large white beard.

"A... Gnome?" As they shared a confused look, the little man bent double, and coughed up a rainbow. Their initial shock at seeing the living garden statue had set in further, when it hissed like a cat at them, before scampering off on all fours into the forest.

Dean summed up both their current thoughts perfectly.

"What the HELL was that?" Sam made to reply, but his words caught in his throat when they heard a yell from further in the woods. It was a decidedly human shout. Without a seconds thought, they tore through the woods in the general direction of the sound.

Hey guys!

Sorry for the wait! This would have been updated earlier this week, but I lost track of time due to work and family visiting. I can't guarantee a schedule, but I will be posting new chapters within a week or two of each other. This chapter marks the beginning of the content that has not been revised and edited in depth, so please excuse any mistakes within the writing.

I was asked for a timeline in terms of Supernatural in this fanfiction, whether or not it was before or after Purgatory. I must apologize, for I haven't watched the show in three years, and can't really remember where I was at or the main plot lines. This fanfiction definitely takes place pre-Castiel, if that helps anything. It is likely before Purgatory, as I didn't get so far into Supernatural to see when things began taking really dark turns. I prefer the lighthearted aspects of that show :)

Hope you enjoy this chapter! Thank you for the reviews and favorites!

-Missa