I apologize for the overuse of ellipses in this chapter.

Gideon's PoV
I pull down my cap, my hands trembling and my feet shaking. Reluctantly, I take the mountain of bags scattered across my feet, reminding me that I am still alive and whole. Giving one last look around for any signs of the blue glow I despise so much, I decide to straighten myself out.

I walk around the mall on a constant pace, looking for Pacifica. Only problem is, looking for her is like finding a needle in a haystack, it's almost impossible.

I've been going around for several minutes, asking every store, and ignoring a couple gazes from shoppers and store clerks.

So given my choices, I decide to wait outside the mall near a playground. The children are playing, having the time of their young life. I gaze at the swings, reminiscing my unforgiving childhood.

How I wish my childhood was like that, all fun and games... with nothing to worry about.

I drop the monstrosity of bags I have to carry.

Sigh... why were my parents-

"Yellooowwww!" A scream breaks my gaze. My vision blocked by a head of yellow, and pale skin appearing out of nowhere.

Tumbling backwards, I could feel my eyes popping out. Flailing my arms in a mad frenzy, as if it would help me in my current situation.

"HOLY MOTHERFU-!" I shriek in fear, stopping due to a sudden increase of pink and feathers in my mouth. Thankfully, I land on my posterior preventing further injuries.

"No profanity! Children are watching you know." Pacifica states as a matter of factly.

Spewing a load of feathers, I sit upright, leaving a pillow case hanging on the edge of my mouth. I look around and surely enough the whole park is looking. The parents covering the ears of their children in hopes of preserving their innocence.

Pacifica on the other hand, is dangling on the monkey bars, upside down. Holding back her giggles with a smug look on her face.

It's like she didn't even cause this. In fact, she's probably the only reason I get into trouble.

Pacifica drops down, tumbling backwards before landing gracefully on the ground. She closes the jaw of a nearby teen, who ends up leaving his mouth open. Finally, she jogs over to me, her shopping bags in tow.

She holds out her hand, giggling. "Hey cuzzo, need help?"

I take her hand. She helps me up on my feet, brushing the dirt on my back.

"A pillow? Really?" I question, holding out the pillow case, now lacking a considerate amount of feathers.

She takes the pillow case. "Eh, it was the only thing I could throw at you really..." She says whilst removing the leftover feathers. "Besides don't you think this could make a really great shirt?" She asks, snuggling it like it was a teddy bear.

Ignoring her, I grab my unfair share of shopping bags and began walking. "Yeah, yeah, let's get going... the sooner we get back to the shack the sooner I can-"

Bam!

I come crashing down, the shopping bags flying everywhere. Again. Oh my luck...

I look up, ready to unleash the whole vocabulary of curses and profanity I could think of. "You-" I stop mid-sentence, my eyes popping of my sockets to see Mabel Gleeful and... Brandon?

"Oops... my bad." Brandon speaks up, holding out a hand.

I accept his help, and once able to stand up, I smoothen the wrinkles on my clothes.

"So uh... what brings you guys here?" I ask awkwardly. Hey, they could be an a date for all I know. My chest starts to ache at the thought.

"Well I came here on behalf of Dipper... Brandon just decided to join in." Mabel pipes up, leaving Brandon to take the fallen shopping bags. "Have you seen him?"

I start to tense up, my mind wandering around, looking for the best answer. "Well... uh yeah. But he just... disappeared from my sights..." I decided not lying is my best choice. It won't hurt to not say everything... Right?

Mabel stays silent, pondering her thoughts. Suddenly, for a split second her face contorts to a look of disbelief... then she just takes off, leaving me confused and startled.

With a sigh, I look back to see Brandon chatting with Pacifica. It's a weird sight in my eyes. Two people carrying a load of shopping bags, talking like there is no tomorrow. And, it's funny really. Pacifica has dyed hair, yet hers looks more natural compared to Brandon's, who has white streaks on his black hair.

Does he have dyed hair too? I ponder at the thought. Oh well guess I'll just ask him then...

His clothes are unusual too... no offence to his fashion style but he seems to really like black. Black hoodie, black jeans, black shoes... the only contrast being his red v-neck. Now I'm not one to judge based on what someone wears, but something about his look puts of a sense of negativity.

Sigh... why am I overthinking things? I ask myself.

"Perhaps it's jealousy?" A dull voice asks.

I frown at the voice's impeccable timing. "Jealousy? What could I be jealous of?" I ask back.

"Oh there are a few I could name of: Good-looks, social skills..." The voice pauses, giving me time to dwell on his statement. "Mabel..."

"Goodbye Mr. Voice, sir..." I release a breathe I didn't realize I was holding, and I shut him out of my head. But deep down, I can feel my heart pounding, my chest aching... I don't know what this feeling is...

With a mental slap and a facepalm, I ease the fast beating of my heart and my hitched breathing.

I fix my jacket, tucking the journal safe and walking towards the two. "Uhh... what's up?"

Brandon looks up to the blue sky, then back at me flashing a toothy grin. "The sky."

Pacifica laughs, and soon enough Brandon and I join in...

But, through the corner of my eye, I swear I saw Brandon's eyes glowing red under the shade of a tall oak tree. Unknowingly, it leaves a red trail, following his open eyes. I remember those eyes, it looks oddly similar to...

Dipper's.

I freeze in place... something about that stare, those eyes... it sends chills down my spine. I don't know what happened next, just the slipping of my grasp onto my consciousness, and the world slowly turning black.

Mabel's PoV
I pace around the mall, greeting a few people here and there. But, my mind is not into it. Instead, I'm too preoccupied finding Dipper. I just hope he's still fine.

My eyes wander to every nook and cranny, to every shop on the mall, trying to find my brother amongst the crowds... amongst the regular people. (AN#1)

It's not the first time this has happened, and it won't be the last time either.

There are a few symptoms or signs to be aware of to know that this... is happening to him. He first acts very strangely, expressing emotions he won't always show. Like fear, joy, and rage. Next, he just disappears... without telling anyone, off to do terrible things. Not even I can stop him. The last sign...

"Mabel!" A scream breaks me from my thoughts. It's a scream of feigned joy. Now is not the time.

I turn around, putting up my best plastic smile. "Hi Candy! Good to see you." I exclaim cheerfully.

"So Mabs..." Been awhile since she called me that. "Have you seen your brother?" She asks, smiling.

I shake my head no. He's exactly who I'm trying to find here... I think to myself.

I'm about to just leave right here and then, when she loops her arm with mine. "Well, I got something to show you. Let's look for him on the way."

I touch my amulet, teleporting me out of Candy's iron grip.

She looks at me with a frown. "Resorting to magic now are we?"

I turn around and strut to the opposite direction. I whip my head back, my eyes sharp as daggers. "Honey, I got to do something important... this can wait."

Candy grins once again. "And what I'm about to show you is of lesser importance? So important you had to use magic?" A devilish smile forms on her face.

She knows... and she wants to do something with it. My fists ball up. Impossible, only one other person knows. Playing it cool I smile back. "It's called a hustle, sweetheart." (AN#2)

That shut her up. Finally, I can concentrate. But deep inside, i can't help but be nervous. Candy can't possibly know, we always kept it a secret, even from Grunkle Stan.

Only one other person knew of Dipper's condition... him and his deadly sharp red eyes.

AN#1: Mabel doesn't mean regular because they're commoners... but because they can live more normal lives (compared to the Gleefuls).
AN#2: "It's called a hustle, sweetheart" Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps, Zootopia. Don't sue me.