Chapter 5: Swimming with the Dolphins

It took one more day, mostly of resting in the hotel room for the family to recuperate. On that next day, the Pines family finally made it to Sea World. Parking their bright red Explorer in the crowded parking garage, they made to the front gates… and waited in a very very long line. A line that extended from the gate to just outside of the very garage they were parked in.

"Well this is a bit anticlimactic." Wendy stated.

"I can't believe so many people are here on like the last day of summer!" Annabelle said in exasperation.

"Well not everyone goes back to school at the same time sweetie. Maybe San Diego kids start a little after you do." Dipper explained. "But I do agree this is an exceptionally long line."

Out of the corner of her eye, Annabelle spotted a marvelous sight. "Dolphins!" She shouted as she ran over to a plexiglass display the creature was plastered on. "Sweetie, it's just an image of the dolphins, not the actual ones." Dipper explained. Annabelle winced in sadness. "It's ok, they're gonna have a few shows today where the dolphins do tricks for everybody. You'll get to see some." Dipper said. "Yay!" Annabelle cheered. "I like dolphins already!"

After another forty five minutes or so of waiting, the Pines' finally got into Sea World. "Alright, let's get the thrills out of the way first and head on the Journey to Atlantis ride!" Dipper said, his voice with a hint of sarcasm that Annabelle didn't catch on to. "That's a pretty non thrilling ride for us old people." Wendy joked. "It'll probably be scarier than you remember I'm sure."

Amazingly, there was pretty much no line at all so they waited not even five minutes before getting on. At the very beginning, they made a small drop down into the water, lightly splashing everyone.

"Owww" Wendy moaned. "Something wrong Mommy?" Annabelle asked. "I'm alright, just got some water in my eye. Ouch…"

"Well you better hurry because the big drop is coming!" Dipper said. "Say wha-" And then their seat sped down the hill, jetting down at the pace of a car it felt to Annabelle, splashing water all over them. "Is your eye ok Mommy?" Annabelle asked. Wendy, her eye twitching shut, feigned a smile. "Yeah it's alright honey, just needs a second."

"Next let's head on the Manta, a truly thrilling coaster!" Dipper said in excitement as they approached the decently sized waiting line.

"Oh my goodness, are we gonna ride a real Manta Ray?" Annabelle asked. "No sweetie, it's just a normal coaster seat. Because riding a real Manta Ray would be really painful. Really." They then got on and Annabelle was shaking in her seat from how fast it was. "That's the entire ride?" She asked in a mix of amazement and shock. "It was sooo quick I didn't know what was even happening!" Dipper laughed at this. "Honey, did you get something in your eye again?" Dipper asked. "We can take a break after checking out the photo it took of us if you want."

"Nah I just got something in my eye again. I think..." Wendy then licked her finger to check. "Ice Cream?" And all three of them looked befuddled at that one.

Then they got onto a ride called Shipwrecked Rapids, which although it was fun, made Annabelle a little squeamish and uncomfortable due to the sharp bumps and turns. Wendy didn't love it also, but for different reasons. "My eye!" She screeched. "What is with me getting stuff into my eye today!?"

"Daddy, these rides are fun, but I kinda just want to see the Dolphins already." Annabelle said.

"But the Dolphins play in Miami, sweetie!" Dipper said with a forced grin on his face as Annabelle stood reactionless, clearly not getting the joke. "What?" She responded. "Ok let's just go." Dipper said. And so they took a long walk over to the performance stadium, where the show was being held at. Even just in the pre-show preparations, the Dolphins were making huge and fantastic jumps in the air.

"Wow they're pretty huge aren't they, sweetie?" Dipper asked. "Yeah they are! Can I ride one Daddy?" She asked. "No of course not, that's way too dangerous!" Dipper said in response. Annabelle frowned sadly. "B-but it looks fun Daddy!" She said. "I understand, but it's not! The lady who's giving them all the commands has done this for YEARS and they still don't always listen to her!" He said. "Well I'm gonna go ask her just to check." Annabelle said defiantly.

"Ok you go do that." Dipper said, confident he was right. "Alright, I'd like a volunteer for this trick." And then Dipper began sweating profusely, just knowing that his daughter was gonna be the volunteer she picked. And sure enough…

"Alright little girl, you can be my volunteer." The trainer said, pointing to Annabelle. "What's your name sweetie?"

"Annabelle Pines!" She said. "My parents are over there watching." The spotlight then pointed at a sweat drenched Dipper and Wendy with a swollen right eye. "Oh I'm sure they're so proud of you right now! Anyways, just got on top of it right here…" She said, putting Annabelle on top of the dolphin.

"NYEGH!" It screeched as it galloped away from the trainer, plopping Annabelle high in the air for a moment, before swimming around and catching her in a giant splash… right into Wendy's eye.

"It's been that kind of a day…" She mumbled. Dipper said nothing in response as he was too busy fearfully watching Annabelle fly in the air. "Hey, that wasn't actually the trick, but just go with it little girl." The trainer whispered in Annabelle's ear. Annabelle winked back. "WOW, THAT WAS SO AWESOME, I WANNA DO IT AGAIN!" She shouted for the crowd, who gave a standing ovation.

"Ok, Mommy's ready to go home now." Wendy said as they left the stadium. "Wait, wait, wait!" Annabelle said. "I wanna ride the skytower!"

"It's not a ride honey, it's just a elevator to the top." Wendy said. "Plus haven't you seen the sky enough the past few days?" But once again, Annabelle was already running towards it. And so, with little choice, they went up to the top of it, just as the sun setting just as the reached the top.

"Mommy, Daddy!" She screeched. "This has been the best trip ever hasn't it?"

Wendy and Dipper looked at their daughter, and how happy she was, and then one another. "Yeah, it's been…" Dipper began. "Pretty fantastic." Wendy finished and then they shared a long kiss.