I'm back! Yes, I changed the title again. Ugh... I am so indecisive. Also slow with updating apparently because it took me forever to finally finish this. Anyways, I hope you enjoy! ~shadowpixie01
This is Summerween
The twins woke up with excited smiles before racing down the stairs to the kitchen where Stan was sipping coffee and eating cereal. He took one glance at the young twins and commented, "You two are too hyper for it to be morning."Ford walked in and greeted the room tiredly. "Morning." Dipper and Mabel replied simultaneously, "Happy Summerween!"
After they all ate breakfast, Dipper went to watch TV while Mabel worked on their costumes. It wasn't long before Melody showed up. "Hey, Dipper," she greeted with a smile. He looked up from a rerun of a Duck-tective episode and greeted her with a wave. The bluenette sat on the arm of the couch where the relaxed Pines brother was sitting and asked, "So, what are you doing for Summerween?" The boy shrugged and replied, "I don't know. Probably nothing special. What will you be doing?" The young girl beamed and answered "I'm gonna be going to go get candy!" "Cool," the brown-haired male commented, "What are you going as?" "A water nymph," the female said casually, flicking a strand of hair from her face, "I've got the hair for it, so why not." Dipper chuckled at the remark. Just then, Mabel came down the stairs. "Hey, Melody! Wanna help with the Summerween costumes?" "Sure," the friend said as she stood up. She looked back at Dipper with a small smile and a wave goodbye before climbing up the stairs. "So, bro, bro," the Pines female twin started, "I already know what everyone's costumes are going to be except yours. Are you even going this year?" Dipper nodded and replied, "After what happened last year? Yeah, I am. How about you surprise me though? I can't really think of anything." "Okay! Oh, and Soos is coming with us again," the twin sister added before dashing up the stairs after their blue-haired friend.
Upstairs, the two girls worked on the costumes for everyone, making small talk of trivial things. "Say, Mel," Mabel said, a thought popping in her head, "I've been meaning to ask you something. What do you think of my brother?" Melody shrugged, not looking up from the costume she was working on. "He's nice. Very smart from what I've seen. How come you're asking?" "No reason," the brunette answered with a shrug, "just wondering if you liked him or not." The bluenette straightened her posture slightly as she up at her friend, eyebrows furrowed as she asked slowly, "What do you mean by that?" Now the female Pines twin smiled with a hint of mischief and a twinkle in her emerald eyes as she answered cryptically, "You know exactly what I mean." The other girl's jaw dropped in realization, a dark blush burning her cheeks as she rebuked loudly, "I don't like him that way! We're just friends, and you know it!" Mabel laughed and revealed, "I was joking!" Then, after a moment's pause, she added, "You don't actually like him like that, do you?" Her face now red in embarrassment, her friend exasperated, "Did you not just hear me?" The brunette shrugged and commented, "Just wondering."
Changing the topic, Melody asked, "So, will you be coming back next year?" Mabel gave a sad shake of her head in decline and replied, "No. Our parents said this will most likely be the last year. They didn't want us to be around Stan, claiming he's 'a bad influence.'" "Bad influence," the native of Gravity Falls exclaimed with a mix of surprise and rage, "Sure, exactly the best person in the world, but he's far from the worst, too!" The Piedmont-born female only nodded solemnly. The two stayed silent for a moment before attempting to change the topic.
That night, after Melody had gone to change into her costume, the entire Pines family was dressed in their Summerween costumes. Mabel had dressed them all in costumes of characters from a cartoon Soos had gotten her into called Miraculous Ladybug. She was dressed as Ladybug, Dipper was the Bubbler, Stan was Hawk Moth, and Ford was Master Fu.
Melody wore an aqua blue dress with matching flats. The dress, while rather simplistic, appeared to ripple like water. The sleeves were thin, almost transparent, and flowed like ribbons at their ends. Her hair was, as usual, let down and her necklace was hidden beneath the fabric of her dress. No one would have been able to tell were it not for the silver chain that showed around her neck.
"Everybody ready to go trick-or-treating?" Mabel asked enthusiastically. Everyone shouted in the affirmative. The Stan twins stayed behind to distribute candy among the children that visited while the rest of them headed off into the night to collect candy.
"Dudes," Soos started as they made way to town, "you don't think that Summerween Trickster guy will come back this year, do ya?" Melody paled at the mention of the Trickster but Dipper retorted confidently, "Are you kidding? Dude, you ate him last year! Literally!" "Yeah," Mabel agreed. "I guess you're right," Soos said with a reassured smile. Melody wasn't sure though. "You never know," she muttered though no one paid any mind. Soos and Mabel started cracking jokes which reassured everyone.
They had finally reached the houses of the town and everyone was obviously enjoying their Summerween. All of the kids and even some of the teenagers were out scavenging for the houses with all the good candy. Dipper scouted for Wendy but was saddened slightly to be unable to find her. He knew that would be the case though; she had already said she was going to a costume party with Robby and Tambrey. "Hey guys! Look over there!" Mabel was pointing to a nearby house with the porch light on. A teenager was at the door, trick-or-treating, and seemed rather familiar. The teenager turned around and who it was surprised everyone but Melody who scowled as if in disapproval. The teenager was none other than Scarlet Rose.
Scarlet was dressed as a demon. She wore an off-the-shoulder blood red shirt which revealed her pale shoulders which seemed to shine in the light. She also wore a pair of black shorts, which actually looked a lot like a skirt, and heels that were the same color of her shirt. The wings the went along with her costume looked startlingly real given no strings were visible to attach the horned black and crimson wings to the teenager's back. She even wore red lipstick and eye shadow. Her hair was still the same though and she wore her necklace which matched the wings on her back.
"Hey! Love your costume, Mabel," Scarlet greeted as the group approached. Mabel smiled contently but Melody asked in a testy tone, "I thought yo would be at that costume party everybody has been talking about?" The red-head shrugged, answering, "Not enough people." "Hey, dudes, I've got an idea," Soos spoke up, "why doesn't Scarlet let come along to go trick-or-treating with is?" The twins nodded in agreement. "Thanks guys," the demon-dressed female responded with a smile. Then, she turned to the now quiet bluenette and smirked in a what-are-you-going-to-do-about-it fashion.
As they proceeded down one of the roads, the twins noted how the street seemed deserted. Suddenly, Melody yelped in fright and inquired in a shaky voice, "Wh-what was that?" "What are you being such a scaredy-cat for," Scarlet questioned with an annoyed tone. Melody was about to countered when her face flushed, her eyes staring at something ahead. Dipper turned around and his widened as he stammered, "H-hey guys?" Everyone turned to see what all the fuss was about.
A long shadow was cast onto the street, its origins appearing to come from the top of a nearby street light. A tall figure was perched atop of it before it jumped down and was swallowed by the shadows. Now everyone was uneasy. Scarlet remained skeptical as she reasoned, "It was probably a trick in the light, or maybe some teen prank." "Not this time." A chill ran down everyone's spine. The figure stepped out of the shadows into the light in front of them causing Dipper to exclaim "Th-that's impossible!" "Nothing's impossible in Gravity Falls," Melody countered quietly. In front of them stood the supposedly eaten Summerween Trickster.
"I-I thought you only appeared to kids who don't show any Summerween spirit," Melody noted, her voice wavering slightly. She'd been told to fear the Summerween Trickster and therefore always celebrated Summerween as best she and er sister possibly could. Scarlet sighed and added, "Hate to admit but the squirt's got a point. What's up?" The others nodded in agreement, Mabel and Dipper glancing at each other as they did so. Scarlet's tone as she spoke of Melody was, unsuprisingly, one of disdain and resentment, but when she spoke to the Trickster, it was like they were old pals from middle school or something similar. They set this thought aside for future debate, however, as said candy-made creep spoke. "I have unresolved business with one of these children as well as his sister and their friend." Dipper swallowed down his fear as best he could, which wasn't very well at all, but leave it to Soos to say, "Dude, I thought I ate you though." "You forget," Melody spoke, "Gravity Falls celebrates Halloween as well and I doubt that all of that candy came from this town alone." "It would certainly explain how he's reformed in only a year," Dipper reasoned grimly. Only after he spoke did he realize he should have stayed quiet. The Summerween Trickster's mask now stared at the brown-haired boy and for a minute, he almost thought that it could see right to his soul. "You," he said simply as he took a threatening step toward the teen. That was all it took for them to get the lead out of their feet. "Run," Mabel, Melody, and Dipper all exclaimed as they and Soos did exactly that, the Trickster hot on their trail. Scarlet stood there for a moment, watching the retreating figures, before she gave a sigh. "Might as well follow them. Don't need Melody dead quite yet as much as I might wish otherwise"
Meanwhile, the quartet was still running, Mabel and Dipper leading the unknown way. Suddenly, Mabel tripped and fell to the ground. " Mabel," Dipper shouted, the force on his larnyx causing his voice to crack as he turned back around while the other two the same. To their horror, the Summerween Trickster was only mere feet away from the fallen female. Her brother dashed back towards her causing Melody to exclaim, "Dipper," as Soos simultaniously yelled, "Dudes!" Thinking fast, Mabel used the yoyo, which she'd been using for her costume conviently, and had it wrap around the Trickster's ankles before yanking his feet out from under him quite literally and causing him to fall. "Yes," she celebrated as Dipper hauled her to her feet. With all of them in running condition again, they took advantage of the Trickster's temporary handicap and raced away.
"Soos," Dipper interrogated as they ran, "last year, when you ate the Summerween Trickster, was there any piece, any piece at all, that was left?" Soos panted, "Dude, I don't know. There might have been one or two pieces left." "That's got to be how he came back," Mabel exclaimed, catching on to her brother's train of thought. Melody slowed to a stop, which resulted in the others to do the same, and asked between pants, "Guys, do we even have a plan? We can't run forever and the Trickster is bound to catch us even if we could!" The other three exchanged glances before all shaking their heads with various verbal responses all stating the negatory; they hadn't exactly thought ahead what with the adreneline and potential death by liquorice. "Might I say that divide and conquer could work rather well." The quartet turned their heads to find Scarlet standing a few feet away from the group.
Dipper, being the first to understand what she meant, shook his head and countered, "We've tried that before; he just reforms." "By the way, how'd you get ahead of us?" Mabel asked, her brows furrowed in confusion. Scarlet shook her head at Dipper, noteably ignoring his sister's question. "I mean by tepping him in seperate containers. The Trickster is strong, but I'd doubt he'd be able to break out of a container once he's, er, how you might say 'cut down to size.'" The twins and Soos seemed to follow Scarlet's logic, but Melody remained skeptical. "I don't know if you've noticed," she pointed out, "but there's a flaw in your plan: we don't have any containers!" The red-haired female simply held up her candy bag and stated, "I like liquorice, and I have a friend across the States that does too. I can split amon'gst any of you guys too if you want it." "I know I want some," Soos declared and Melody reluctantly did the same. The eldest female of the group flashed a devilish grin. "There you go then!" Just then, Mabel and Dipper could see the Summerween Trickster approaching the group. "Scarlet, you had better hope this works," Dipper implied as Mabel yelled, "Go, go, go!"
They raced to a closed market store which hadn't been locked. Inside was all of a customer's wants or needs for Summer/ween or Halloween. Melody's flats tapped softly against the tile flooring of the empty store while the click of Scarlet's heels on the floor was more prominent. "How long?" Mabel asked. "Ten minutes if we're lucky; four at the max if we're not," Scarlet approximated as she glanced out the glass windows in case of something making this statement otherwise. The gang stared at each other for a silent moment then gave an equally silent exchange of nods before they dashed down the aisles.
Minutes later, the five were together again in the parking lot of the store. Melody had put her hair in a ponytail, and she had grabbed black tights, which she was now wearing, and a scythe that was tightly gripped in her hands. Scarlet, meanwhile, had found some red metal claws which she already had on and contacts that reminded Soos, Mabel, and Dipper of Bill Cipher's eye if it was blood red. Her hair also seemed to have gotten longer though it was exetremely doubtful. Dipper kept a distance between himself and Scarlet as he warily eyed the unusually lifelike claws. "Those look... dangerous." Scarlet looked at him as if his comment was suprising. He felt a chill run down his spine as he realized just how terrifying she appeared in the costume. The contacts were certainly not helping as unwatned memories surfaced. "Well, aren't they supposedto look dangerous," she replied causing Dipper to snap his thoughts back to the situation at hand.
"Everybody remember the plan?" Melody asked, her scythe in her left hand which hung at her side. Dipper, Scarlet, and Soos all nodded in the affirmative. Mabel, the lookout of the group, ran over to the others and declared, "Here he comes now!" "Places everyone," Dipper directed in a similar fashion to the directors of films or those conducting a surprise party.
The Summerween Trickster had been able to track the group down to where the closed market store was. That had been almost predictable. What caught him off guard was what he found in the paring lot. All five of them stood in a row, illuminated by a streetlight so he could see plainly that they were waiting for him. Mabel was spinning her yoyo exaclty like the character she was dressed. Unfortunately, the string slipped from her hand and the yoyo hit Dipper in the back of the head. "Ow," he exclaimed as he rubbed the area the yoyo had hit, "no more tv for you or Soos." "Sorry," sh apologized quickly as she checked to see that she didn't harm her brother more than perhaps a slight bump or sore spot. "Guys," Melody muttered, drawing everyone's attention act to the Summerween Trickster who now stood right in front of them. Melody and Scarlet looked at each other and made a silent agreement. For once since the others had seen the two interact, they were on the same page about something other than how much they despised each other.
Suddenly, the Summerween Trickster launched himself towards the group. "Now!" Scarlet and Melody announced as the group scattered to avoid the terrible Trickster. He stood up but before he could turn and strike, Melody sliced with her scythe followed by Scarlet with the claws she took from the store, Dipper with the bubble-wand Mabel made to go with his costume, and finally Mabel with the yo-yo she used to trip him. With that done, the five set to the strenuous work of being sure to acquire every piece of candy as to ensure that the Trickster wouldn't bother anymore children. The pieces were placed in plastic bags which would be later be placed in large containers that were in Scarlet's home. Of course, Soos may have sneaked a mouthful or two of candy but no really cared or paid mind to it. As long as the Summerween Trickster could reform no more, no one could have cared less.
When it was all said and done, Soos declared triumphantly, "We did it, dudes!" Everyone celebrated and rejoiced. It had been back-breaking work to be certain all of the candy was picked up. No one noticed that Melody was off to the side. She picked up the mask the Summerween Trickster wore, an expression of mixed sadness, understanding, and just the slightest bit of regret. "You just wanted all candy to be adored, not just a select few," she muttered, more to herself, as she tried to understand the motive of the Trickster's actions.
"Hey, Mel," Scarlet called as she walked over to the bluenette, "whatcha up to?" "Nothing," Melody replied automatically, then added as she gave the red-head the mask. "Here, I've gotta hand it to you: that plan actually worked rather well." The demon-lookalike looked taken aback at first before she smiled slightly and accepted the mask. "Thanks. You weren't half bad yourself." Then she extended her right arm and asked, "No hard feelings?" The girl with a scythe smiled and shook the female's hand. "No hard feelings. " Now the original Summerween trio came over and celebrated their victory over the Summerween Trickster which the two opposite girls gladly joined in.
Scarlet departed from the group as they headed home, the bags containing the Summerween Trickster in hand so she could place the candy in more secure containers so the others could safely have their shares. Melody changed into her into her normal clothing at the Mystery Shack. "Thanks for the night, guys," she said as she left, "it was... interesting to say the least." The Pines waved goodbye to her as she departed. Once she was gone, Mabel took one look at Dipper and guessed, "You're going after her, aren't her?" "Once I get changed, yeah. I just want to make sure she gets home safely" he replied as her headed upstairs.
It didn't take Dipper long to change into his normal clothes. It also wasn't all too hard to track down Melody. No, the problem was trying to catch up to her. Every time he thought he was about to be able to talk to her and offer to walk her home, she managed to get too far ahead again. If she knew she was being followed, she didn't show it. He suppressed a sigh of frustration as they walked along the road. Then the real trouble started.
Melody paused to check over her shoulder which made Dipper wonder what she was up to. She didn't seem to notice him as she sneaked into the woods. Surprised, the young Pines boy followed. Barely able to see her, or anything else in front of him for that matter, he walked after her, tensing at the smallest of noises as he was on high alert. Soon, the boy lost sight of his blue-hair friend altogether. Curiously though, the sound of a piano, at first inaudibly soft, had gradually grown in volume. Mentally deducing someone's home had to be nearby, the technically teen followed the music. What he soon found was nothing like he had expected. He had happened upon a large clearing where stood an open air music hall.
The music hall itself was nothing particularly special. There were rows of wooden benches like those of a church. The stage, however, was well lit with a white wall which curved upwards to form a half-dome. There was a staircase leading up to the stage and from the dark areas of the side, Dipper could only assume there was a backstage as well. The stage itself held home to a variety of instruments including a piano, a tuba, a flute, and a violin. A radio also rested on the stage for reasons that weren't apparently known. What was most surprising was who was playing. Sitting at the bench and playing the piano was none other than Melody's sister, Symphony. Melody herself sat at the edge of the stage playing the violin. While the elder sister was playing classical music, the younger played a much faster and seeming more recent song while somehow also singing the lyrics that seemed to go along with it. Then he realized she was playing along to the radio as another voice sang and other instruments joined into the fray of somehow still organized noise that was called music.
Melody finished the song and turned off the radio as it became obvious the song was on repeat leading to the assumption that either there was a CD in it or it was also an MP3. Dipper decided that since Symphony was there that Melody would be safe so he stepped back only for a twig to snap. The younger of the two females turned to the sound and looked at him with surprise. "Dipper," she started as she jumped down from the stage and approached brown-haired boy, "what are you doing here?" "I was making sure you got home safe. I meant to ask but you were too far ahead." "Well, now I can make sure she doesn't get into trouble so why don't you just scurry on home." The friends at the stage as they heard Symphony's testy tone over the music. "Oh nonsense, Symph," her young sister dismissed, "he was just being nice." Then, she turned to the boy and explained in a low tone, "Sorry, but my sister isn't particularly trusting of Stan. Or anyone related to him apparently." The boy replied, "Do you blame her? Stan isn't exactly the most trustworthy. Anyways, I've got to be going." Then, with awkward realization, he asked, "Um... how exactly do I get back anyways?" The bluenette flashed a sympathetic and understanding smile as she gave him directions back to the Mystery Shack. The two parted, and the Pines brother made his return home safely.
Meanwhile, Scarlet was emptying the bags of candy into a neat pile in front of her. She still hadn't changed out of her costume from the earlier festivities. Before long, the Summerween Trickster had reformed in front of her. "Why did you assist them," he questioned as he snatched away the mask she handed him, the same one that Melody had handed her just a short time earlier. The red-head rolled her eyes and answered, "Don't take it personally. I couldn't have you killing them, especially since me just standing by would make me lose their trust which is something I kind of need at the moment." She could almost sense the frown behind the bright yellow smiley mask as she added, "Besides, those three have learned their lesson if you ask me." He was silent for a moment before he reluctantly nodded in agreement. "There, you see," the demon-dressed teenager said, "you actually agree! Now go! You've got better things to be doing than hanging around here!" She could almost see the mental eye roll of his as he jumped away into the shadows of the remaining night, leaving her alone yet again. "Besides," she muttered, "their time is already fast approaching."
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Holy gnomes, I'm finally done! Sorry, but the cipher was kind of improvised since I forgot to write it down before hand. I think it turned out whether well though. Anyways, I need everyone's help here! If you guys don't give me ideas soon, I'm going to have to end this soon. As in, next chapter or the chapter after that will be the ending! So please, if you have any ideas, do tell and I will see what I can do. I know people know these ciphers-trust me, I'm not using any ciphers that weren't used in the show- so please tell me what you think the ciphers say! If you don't, that's fine too. Thank you to Princess Jaquline Chess (the same person who was AvengerGleekShadowhunter just with a changed username) for continuously reminding me to update and for the spinning yo-yo idea! Anyways, that's all for today. Bye! ~shadowpixie01