Author's Note:
Hello everyone! Long time no see! Yes, I am back to continue What Pride Has Brought, hopefully to the end this time. To make a long story short, college has been way more time consuming than I thought, making it hard to find the time and will to write. But things have brighten up, and I hope that I can find more time to work on this story, for even though it has been awhile, I still have that strong writing muse for my take on the Reverse!Falls storyline.
With this said, I also want to make real quick mention on how I plan to update this story, since I want to avoid leaving you guys on a big cliffhanger like last time. I decided that the best thing to do was to divide this story into arcs, where I will write the entire arc (which is about five chapters, from what I've counted) and then post them over a couple of days. That way you guys can get a complete 'episode' and make the big gaps between updates much easier. I will have this take into effect after this arc is complete (since I already posted the beginning of it) so in the meantime, enjoy (supposedly) regular updates.
Anyways, thank you all for your patience and please review!
Don't look back, for all that is good, don't look back!
That's Gideon's thoughts as he speed-walks down the street on the way home from one of his shows. He can feel his heart racing inside his chest, every shadow and person that walks by causing his legs to shake with fear. Ever since he found out that Mabel Pines knew where he lived, he has found it harder and harder to constraint and focus. Nowhere is safe, she can be anywhere, watching him and ready to strike...
Is she planning her revenge for what happened at the Mystery Shack? Would she attack him directly...or go after someone close to him, such as his family? Gideon stops in his tracks, his eyes widening at the thought of Mabel capturing his mom and dad. Hurting them like he did to Maybelle...for all she knew, it was him who did that to her clone instead of Bill.
Gideon clutches his fists tightly within his pockets, his right hand taking a hold of the telepathic stone that Pacifica had gotten him. He rubs his fingers against its cool, smooth surface, taking the stone out of his pocket and studying it closely. He has yet to test its powers, as he has been too busy worrying about Mabel and trying to do his shows. Maybe with the free time he has right now, he could go out into the forest and test it out. Yes...he could learn how to use it for self defense purposes, and not as a way to up the excitement of his show. Only to protect his family, his town and himself...
Shaking his head, Gideon holds the stone tightly in his hand as he heads towards the woods. Once he knows he is alone, scanning the dense forest with narrowed eyes to make sure she wasn't there, he held the stone in his palm. Seeing the small broken tree branch in front of him, he sighs heavily and closes his eyes, in his mind imagining it being lifted up from the ground.
As if cool water is being drenched over him, Gideon feels himself becoming weightless, his mind at perfect peace. He opens his brown eyes, seeing that the branch is floating above the ground. It is only a few inches away from it, a light blue-green glow all around it. He looks down, seeing that the stone is giving off that exact same glow. A small smile appears across Gideon's face, imagining the branch to go higher and higher into the air. Exactly like how he pictures it in his mind, the branch does the same, dong exactly what he wants. His smile grows, moving the branch to the left, right, up, down. After that, he tries to expand his power a little more by levitating a rock at the same time as the branch, moving them both in the same and opposite direction. So long as he holds the stone, everything is up to him to command.
"Wow! You really are a magician, aren't ya?"
T-that voice!
Gideon gasps, breaking his concentration and breaking his power over the branch and rock. They collapse to the ground, him quickly turning around to see Mabel watching him. His legs shake, Mabel's red stained smile glowing with glee.
"That's so cool how you were able to lift that branch off the ground like that," she says cheerfully. "I mean, your shows are really good, but I bet you can make it even better if you add a little bit of real magic to it!"
She attempts to move closer, however Gideon immediately takes a giant step back.
"W-what do you want, Mabel?!" he demands, his voice cracking. "Just what're you planning?"
Mabel stops in her tracks, a confused expression on her face.
"...What do you mean?"
She cocks her head to side, Gideon narrowing his eyes and clutching onto the stone tightly.
"You went over to my house and asked my mom about me," he explains. "I don't know what you and your brother are planning, but leave me family out of this! If you want revenge for what...I did, then take it out on me and not them!"
There is a short silence. Inside, Gideon's conscious he screaming at him to run, or use the stone to throw something at Mabel to get away from her. His heart is pounding in his chest...yet he feels relatively calm, his tight around the stone. He watches Mabel carefully, and he is surprised to see that she is still grinning.
"Oh, you think me and Dipper are after your family?" she finally replies. "What are we, preteen masterminds with unlimited resources?"
She laughs, it being off pitch to hurt Gideon's ears.
"Despite my brother being so into this supernatural stuff, I couldn't care less. I just wanna have fun, do what I want. And...really all I want to do is hang out with you, little guy."
...Huh?
Gideon is speechless, his muscles becoming stiff. Mabel's cheeks grow red, as she sways side to side.
"I wasn't joking when I said I liked you. I really do want to be friends, despite what my brother says. In fact, he would be really mad if he knew I was with you right now?"
Quicker than he could comprehend, Mabel walks up to him to where they are face to face.
"So...can we be friends? Please? I don't care about the journal or whatever!"
The desperation in her brown eyes is hard to ignore, and for the first time, Gideon can see a very lonely girl behind the crazy appearance she had. She seems so sincere, and it is hard for him to not feel something for her. Even though he is still terrified of her, and the fact if he said no could set her off. For the sake of her family, for the sake of Pacifica...
"Uh...okay," he finally replies, "okay, Mabel, I'll be your friend."
With that said, Mabel's eyes grow wide, a mixture of surprise and joy gleaming from her gaze. She opens her mouth, however Gideon quickly cuts her off.
"But I do have a few conditions, and if you don't follow them, we can't be friends."
He waits to continue to make sure he has her full attention.
"...First, I don't want you ever coming to my house again. I don't want to involve my parents in anyway. Second, you and your brother stay away from Pacifica and the journal. Do this...and I'll hang out with you as much as you want, providing I can still do my shows." He forces himself to keep eye contact, to make sure his voice doesn't falter. "Are you okay with this?"
He expects her to reject the limits right away, that she is the type of crazy to only have things go her way without compromise. But to Gideon's surprise...she actually doesn't complain. In fact, Mabel smiles and nods enthusiastically.
"Okay! I can't speak for my brother, but I will do my best to keep him back!" She gives off a girlish giggle. "He he! I'm so happy! I love you so much, Lil Gideon!"
"...H-hey! What are you ya-"
Gideon is cut off as Mabel practically flings herself onto him, embracing him in a giant hug. His face grows bright red, his heart stopping as he can feel the stone fall out of his hand.
"Oops! You drop something, little guy."
Mabel lets go of him and picks up the stone.
"It's so pretty!" she comments. "This would look great as an amulet! Hey, can I make you an amulet for this?"
"Uh..."
He has no time to reply as the crazy brunette is already studying the gem.
"Hmm...I see. Yeah, I can totally work with this. I think I saw a locket and silver chain at the shack. Can you come by here, let's say tomorrow at three, so I can make you it?"
"Um..."
What the heck is going on?! Everything is going so fast that Gideon has no idea how to respond. Mabel...she is acting completely different than she has been previously. She goes from an unpredictable lunatic to a girl desperate for a friend to finally a...really hyper artist with inspiration.
Though she does have a point. Already, Gideon has dropped the stone and if he isn't careful, he could very well lose it. He needs to keep it safe, and if he can keep Mabel under control by playing along...
"Uh...sure. Three sounds great." Gideon forces himself to smile. "I would appreciate it, Mabel."
The girl gives off a giant smile and clasps her hands together.
"Yay! I can't wait to get started. I'll see you tomorrow then!"
"Yeah... I'll see ya later."
Waving energetically goodbye, Mabel then runs off into the woods, where Gideon assumes she is heading back to the Mystery Shack. He watches her go, and once she is gone from his vision, he lets out a small sigh. First his best friend befriends a bipolar flying dorito, now he has an unstable girl who went from wanting to kill him to wanting to be friends...
Can this summer get any weirder, moreover, can his life get any more complicated?
"Gideon! Gideon, are you here?!"
In the distance, Gideon can hear the sound of Pacifica's frantic voice. His eyes grow wide.
"Pacifica...?"
As quickly as he can, he runs towards the sound of her voice. Towards the end of the forest and heading back to town, he can see Pacifica heading towards his direction.
"There you are Gideon!" she exclaims. "You need to get home, quick!"
Her face is super pale and her voice is completely on edge.
"What's wrong, Pacifica?" Gideon asks, his mind racing. "Did something happen?"
It takes a moment for her to reply, as she takes the time to catch her breath. Her blue eyes seem watery, as if she is trying to hold back tears. And yet, somehow, her voice remains calm and stoic.
"...Gideon," Pacifica says solemnly, "your mom...she is going to be taken to the hospital."