I really pushed myself to the limit on this chapter. I need to rest my brain for a few days before continuing.
Here's a tip; want to get depressing while thinking of Gravity Falls? Listen to Coldplay's The Scientist and there you go! A feels train coming to get you!
Enough bragging, here's chapter 6.
The moon was shining bright that night. The El Diablo was zooming fast on the freeway. Stan noticed two bright headlights illuminating from behind. The cars were speeding really fast behind him, almost bumping him. Stan saw an intersection to some small town and steer towards the town.
The sudden swerve must have woke Mabel, he heard her making surprised, confused noises. He turned the wheel sharply and winced internally as he heard a thump that was probably a little body slamming into the door.
"What's happening!?" He heard her say. He glanced sideway and saw her sitting up, trying to buckle herself in.
"Trouble." he couldn't hide the fear in his voice. "Keep your head down and hold on!"
Stan turned sharply and brought the car into the alleyway. The body side of the Diablo scratched violently besides them. Stan immediately regretted his decision, the cars were still following them.
He needed to figure something out. Stan couldn't endangered Mabel with this kind of problem. He must make sure Mabel is safe. That was his first priority. He take a peek at Mabel beside him, she definitely scared and confused by the screeching made by the car hitting the walls beside them.
"Mabel, sweetie, listen to me. The moment we off this alleyway, I need you to get off this car and hide."
"WHAT!? No, Uncle Stan, I'm not leaving you!" Mabel was shocked by what Stan had said.
"Listen here Mabel, these guys that are chasing us are dangerous people, and they will do bad things to you if you get caught alongside with me. I'm not letting that happened to you!"
Mabel shook her head, she couldn't believe what she had heard. "NO! NO! If we're in trouble, we're gonna face this together. These jerks are not that hard to-" The car suddenly swerved left violently, making Mabel bump herself to the door.
They exited the alleyway. Stan looked through the rear view mirror, the cars that chased them didn't went out from that alleyway yet. Stan scan around him for somewhere that he can dropped off Mabel to hide. He noticed the large garbage dumpster across the street.
The car screech to a halt. Stan looked at Mabel. "Mabel, you need to get out now. Hide behind that dumpster. Don't go out until I come back."
"No, Uncle Stan, No." Mabel eyes teared up. Stan groaned, he had no choice but to lean and opened the door at her side.
"NOW KID! They're coming!" Stan raised his voice.
Mabel jolted by his voice, she stared at Stan. Slowly, she get out from the car and slammed the door, she was angry and sad. The car immediately sped up into the distance. Mabel run behind the dumpster, and crouched. She heard the cars that was chasing Stan passed by at a very high speed.
The street became silent. There's no car passed by after that, it's just Mabel, the streetlights and the dim road at the distance. Mabel teared up, she began to cry. She was worried about Stan but at the same time was angry at her for leaving her. She sat behind the dumpster, bent her knees and her arms wrapped around it. She buried her face into her arms, sobbingly cry.
Moments later, Mabel could hear a car pulling up near where she hide. Mabel backed up a little more behind the dumpster, trying to hide herself in the shadow. She heard the car's door being opened and closed, a footsteps approaching her. Mabel covered her mouth tried to hide her sobs.
She saw a large shadowy figure approached at the side of the dumpster. Then a dark figure slowly peeking in behind the dumpster. Mabel's eyes widened, she began to hyperventilate and she was ready to scream if the figure suddenly pulled her or something like that.
"Mabel?" A familiar gruff voice came out from the figure. "Mabel, sweetie, It's me, Stan."
The figure then backed away into the streetlight, revealing a bloodied-faced Stan. There were bruises around his eyes and blood stained from him mouth, a bloodied knuckles and his shirt are ripped. He looked terrible, but otherwise, he was fine.
Mabel crawled out from behind the dumpster and ran to him. Mabel wrapped around his neck and hugged him. Stan then pulled her away gently and knelt down.
*WHACK*
A sudden slap hit Stan's face. "Oww! What the heck was that for?"
"You jerk! How could you leave me here like that?" Mabel cried as she hammered her tiny hand onto Stan's chest. "I was afraid, I was worried about you!" The waterworks began to flow on Mabel's cheek. "What if you died or something?! Don't you cared about me?"
Stan couldn't respond. He also regretted for leaving Mabel alone but that was the only choice he had. He needed to settle with the people that had been chasing him for quite some time. He couldn't endangered Mabel with it.
"I'm sorry Mabel, I didn't mean to leave you. I mean look at me, this is what they did to me! I don't want you be like this too." Stan tried to explain the situation he had just went through.
Mabel wrapped her arms around Stan's neck and buried her face into his shoulder. "What were you thinking leaving me like that?"
Stan couldn't think anything to say except hugged her back by squeezing her extra tight, although that made his body ache, darn those guys were tough. Those 6 men pinned him down badly on the corner of the street. Luckily he had his brass knuckles. Those years of boxing were finally worth it.
"Come on sweetie, let's get out of here. We need to get moving."
Mabel released her hug and pointed her finger to Stan, she commanded in a motherly manner. "No! Not before you patch yourself up. You looked terrible. What have those jerks have done to you?"
"Ehh, its nothing much. Hey, I got some first-aid kit in the car. Would you like the honor to patch me up?"
Mabel wiped her tears and her smile began to grow back. "Of course I would! Let's go!" Mabel pulled Stan's hand, almost dragging him, back to the car. Stan yelped when his arm was tugged away.
"Slowly kid, my arm still hurts." Stan told her. Mabel just responded by letting out a small laugh.
"What happened to those guys?"
"Uuuhh… Non-specific excuse!"
"Aaww, come on Uncle Stan, you being a poop head."
"Alright, alright. I'll tell you when you're patching me up."
Dipper opened his eyes. It was morning. The sunlight flared though the windows and the outside still felt cold with snow. Dipper lifted himself up, yawned a little bit and rubbed his eyes. He jumped off from the couch and headed straight to the Kitchen to see Ford.
"Hey Great-Uncle Ford? I'm up already." Dipper voiced as he reached the kitchen. There was no one in the kitchen. Dipper shrugged. "He must be in the lab." He murmured to himself. Dipper took the liberty to look for something to eat. He found a cereal box on the shelf and a carton of milk in the fridge. He took the bowl and a glass and started to serve himself.
After finishing his breakfast, Dipper decided to go down to the lab to look for Ford. He went to the empty room and looked for the entrance to his lab. He found the door to the lab, it was slightly open. Dipper slowly pulled it opened and entered. The door behind him slammed shut making him flinched a little bit.
It's the same staircase like he went down last time. Dipper descended the staircase and headed straight to the elevator. He closed the door and the elevator descended to the underground. Dipper then, noticed one strange floor when he passed by down. It was locked. Strange, what room is that? The elevator continued to descend.
Finally reached the lab, Dipper slide open the door. He noticed that the lab hasn't changed, it was like he saw 30 years later, of course this was 30 years ago. He noticed the portal. Dipper grimaced as he remembered exactly what happened in this lab, that very night…
"I wanted to say that you're gonna hear some bad things about me, and some of them are true, but trust me. Everything I've worked for, everything I care about, it's all for this family!"
"Mabel, what if he's lying? This thing could destroy the universe! Listen to your head!"
"Look into my eyes, Mabel! You really think I'm a bad guy?"
"He's lying! Shut it down NOW!"
"Mabel, please!"
*Ten. Nine.*
"Grunkle Stan…"
*Six. Five.*
"I trust you."
"MABEL, ARE YOU CRAZY?! WE'RE ALL GONNA-"
*One.*
A sudden explosions of light making them screams.
Dipper shook his head, trying not to remember the moments. He knew Mabel loved Stan very much, but at that moment, how could he possibly know Stan's true intention with that Portal? He may be using it to destroy the world or use it to open up a gate to Hell. But then, how can he blamed either of them? He might be overreacting too much. He should have trust Mabel and Stan.
Dipper approached Ford who's sleeping on the chair near the portal control. Upon nearing him, he noticed that Ford sounded agitated, he was talking in his sleep.
"No…. Bill…. I'll shut down…. You can't… do anything…" Dipper heard Ford muttered in his sleep.
Dipper tried to wake him up by shaking Ford's body gently. "Great-Uncle Ford? Wake up."
Suddenly, Ford opened his eyes, swatted Dipper's hand, sat up and reached for the crossbow. He aimed at Dipper's head immediately.
"WOAH! WOAH! FORD! It's me! It's Dipper, calm down!"
Ford's eyes gazed at Dipper as the boy backed away from him. Slowly, he put down the bow and put it on the table.
"Jeez, I apologized Dipper. On second I thought you were Bill." Ford took a seat back and wiped his face with his hand.
"What happened to you Great-Uncle Ford? You seemed like you didn't sleep for weeks." Dipper asked.
"Not just weeks, months. It's just that, I can't sleep! I kept hearing voices, I kept meeting him! He harasses me in my dream and he kept… projecting this visions…"
"What visions?"
"The end of the world… the Armageddon." Ford turned his chair and reached for the shelf on the table. He slide opened the shelf and it revealed most of it were books on quantum physics, anomalies, and bioengineering. Dipper noticed sets of Journals from Journal #1 to Journal #3.
Ford took out the Journals and put it on the table.
"These are the Journals. Take it and hide it at these place I've marked on the map." Ford handed Journal #2 and Journal #3 to Dipper and showed him the map that has been marked with red circles. Dipper noticed the location of Journal #3, he knew the place, it's where he found that Journal via the secret tree that held the control panel to the trap door on the ground. Meanwhile, the location for Journal #2 is somewhat familiar but he couldn't make it out yet. Dipper noticed that Ford didn't gave him Journal #1.
"Great-Uncle Ford, what about Journal #1? Where did you plan on hiding it?"
"That my boy, I'm giving to someone who I have no one else to trust now besides him and you."
"Who is it?"
"Stanley."
Dipper's eyes widened. Of course Stan would kept one for himself. "Grunkle Stan? But how can you contact him? Do you know where he is right now?"
"I don't know Dipper, but I have sources telling me that he's on his way to Minnesota. He's a wanted man you know, not from the law, but from the people that he conned and cheat. The gambling, the crappy products he sold, all of that nonsense."
Well, that sounds like Grunkle Stan. Dipper chuckled to that thought.
"And Dipper, take this too." Ford handed him the crossbow. "The forest is a dangerous place. You might not know what you'll find in there."
"Great-Uncle Ford, me and my sister saw many things in that forest. One time, Mabel was kidnapped by the Gnomes and tried to make her their Queen."
Ford cocked an eyebrow hearing that. "Huhh, fascinating. How did you guys managed to get out?"
"With leaf blower." Dipper answered Ford with a flat tone while packing the Journals and crossbow into the backpack Ford provided.
"Amazing…" Ford jaw gapped open hearing Dipper's solution on defeating the Gnomes. He didn't even thought of Gnomes weaknesses as they seemed to have none. But his great-nephew from the future seemed to find a solution just in a day.
Few minutes later, Dipper finished packing the Journals and the crossbow, ready to head out. "Well, Great-Uncle Ford, I'm ready to head out. Hey, about the tape measure, did you manage to repair it?" Dipper suddenly remembered the time travel device he asked Ford to repair.
"Oh this? Yeah, I take a look on it last night and it was amazing Dipper!" Ford sounded so fascinated by the device. "The circuitry built in this device are still intact, the only problem is that one modulator seems to have burnt." Ford opened the cover and showed at Dipper. Yup, he noticed a burnt modulator where Ford pointed him with one of his six-fingers.
"So, can you fix it?"
"Judging by the materials and tools that we have in this decade, I think I can patched it up." Ford answered Dipper with some hope in it. "It's just, it may take time, that's all."
Dipper smiled, his face was brightened hearing that gave him hope that he and Mabel can go back to the future. Dipper run to Ford and hugged him.
"Thank you Great-Uncle Ford! Thank you!"
Ford was astonished by the boy's hug. He seemed to have no words coming out from his mouth.
"Uhh… uuhh… you're welcome, Dipper." Ford said as he pulled Dipper away gently from the hug. Ford cleared his throat and ordered Dipper to go to the forest.
"No time's wasting. You have a tasks to complete."
"Okay Great-Uncle Ford, see you later!" Dipper ran to the elevator as he waved his hand Ford. "Oh, and Dipper! Take one of my jacket from the living room! It's cold outside and I don't want you catching cold." Dipper gave a thumbs up to Ford and closed the elevator's door. Ford saw the boy ascended up back to the house and Ford took a seat once again.
He haven't felt hug like that since… 10 years ago, with Stan. A heartfelt, warmth hug. Ford shrugged it off and remembered that he has other work to do, to repair Dipper's time travel device.
The forest was not too much different than he remembered, except it was snowing. Only the path are a little bushy here and there. Dipper walked straight for the tree that contained the control panel. He remembered the tree was also the entrance to Ford's bunker, where Dipper and the Gang met the Shapeshifter.
A few minutes later, Dipper arrived at the tree. He opened the door panel and it revealed the control panel. Flicking the switch, the trap door on the ground near him opened. Dipper proceeded to put Journal #3 into it and closed the trap door.
One down, one more to go.
Dipper pulled out a map that Ford had given to him earlier. He took out his marker pen and cross out the location for Journal #3. Next, he needed to hide Journal #2 at….
Abandoned warehouse on 412 Gopher Road.
"W-wait what?" Dipper stammered at what he saw on the map. That is where Gleeful warehouse would be. But then, Dipper could not argue anymore since Gideon is the one who would possessed Journal #2 in the future. Without wasting any time, He packed everything up and went straight to the warehouse.
After 30 minutes travel, Dipper saw the warehouse from the distance. He shuddered when he saw the large building. That is where he was tricked that Toby said he wanted to interview Dipper the supernatural occurrences around Gravity Falls.
Dipper approached the entrance, he pushed open the door. He saw that the warehouse was indeed empty and abandoned. There was nothing in it except for spider webs and dusts. Dipper walked into the warehouse, thinking where is most logical place to hide the Journal.
*CLANK*
Dipper stepped on something metallic, he lifted his left leg and saw a door. Intrigued, Dipper knelt down and opened it. It was a secret compartment. He chuckled and proceed to open the backpack and put Journal #2 in it. After settling hiding the Journal, he decided to go home fast. He was hungry and it's was snowing badly.
Exiting the warehouse, he suddenly felt the world around him stopped spinning. He color surrounding him washed out into black and white.
"Oh, no." Dipper knew what was coming to him. There was a maniacal laughter coming from the sky. There was a bright blue light flashing in front on him and there he was, the one-eyed, bow tie wearing with a top hat Triangle;
"WELL, WELL, WELL! LOOK WHO'S LOST?" Bill greeted Dipper with bowing down his top hat.
"Leave me alone Bill! Whatever you're offering I'm not taking." Dipper shouted at Bill and turned around to run to the shack.
"OH REALLY? YOU REALIZE THAT YOU'RE AT THE RIGHT PLACE IN THE WRONG TIME? THERE'S A PUN THAT I CAN USE HERE BUT ANYWAY, I CAN HELP YOU, PINETREE. HELP YOU GET OUT FROM THIS TIMELINE AND RETURN TO THE FUTURE!"
"I got my way back to the future Bill! Now stay away from me!"
Bill suddenly vanished and appeared in front of Dipper, making him jumped back and fell to the ground.
"YEAH YOU DO, I KNOW THAT SIXER'S BEEN HELPING YOU TO REPAIR THE DEVICE. BUT EVEN IF HE MANAGE TO REPAIR IT, WOULD YOU WANNA RETURN HOME WITHOUT SHOOTING STAR!" Bill started to trap Dipper with that statement.
"Shut up! I'm not listening to you!" Dipper covered his ears not to listen to the temptation offer anymore.
"OH YOU WOULD!" Bill snapped his finger and between them revealed a vision showing Mabel was crying alone on the curb in the street. Dipper gasped as he saw her sister was sitting on the curb alone, somewhere on this Earth.
"Stay away from her! I warned you Bill. Leave her out of this!" Dipper warned Bill even though he knew the warning was useless.
"TSK TSK TSK, PINETREE YOU DUMMY. WHAT DO YOU THINK I WOULD DO? I HAVE A BIG PLAN HERE AND YOU AND YOUR SISTER SHOWED UP TO MESSED THIS TIMELINE UP. I CAN HELP YOU FIND YOUR SISTER AND GET BOTH OF YOU BACK TO THE TIMELINE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE."
Bill snapped his finger again and revealed the vision where a man snatched Mabel and pulled her into a car. Mabel was screaming for help.
"DIPPER! DIPPER! SAVE ME! HEEELLPPP!"
"NO MABEL! NOOO!" Dipper screamed at the vision. He needed to do something. Her sister was in danger! Bill then snapped the finger again and the vision vanished.
"RELAX PINETREE. THAT WAS JUST A POSSIBILITY OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO YOUR SISTER. SO, IF YOU WANNA MAKE SURE YOUR SISTER SAFE, I CAN HELP YOU HELP HER STAY SAFE."
Bill extended his right arm. There it is, the hand with blue flame to seal whatever deal Bill gave. Dipper looked at the arm, he needed Mabel safe. He wanted to find her but where would he start? There is no way he could ventured outside Gravity Falls now to find her. She might be at the edge of the world for goodness sakes.
Dipper turned his head away from Bill. "I'm sorry Bill. There's no deal for you. I won't fall for you again. My sister knows how to take care of herself and I'll find her eventually, even it means that I'm stuck in this timeline for all my life!"
Bill's blue flamed hand are gone. He was enraged by what Dipper had said. "SO YOU WANT IT THAT WAY? OKAY, I PLAY IT YOUR WAY!" Bill's yellow body turned to red and enlarged himself toward Dipper.
"BUT REMEMBER, THE LONGER YOU STAY IN THIS TIMELINE, THE MORE YOU'LL CHANGE THE FUTURE." Bill shrunk back to his yellow form and decided he had stay long enough. "LOOKS LIKE MY TIME WITH YOU IS UP. MY DEAL IS STILL OPEN IF YOU WANT. JUST REMEMBER, REALITY IS AN ILLUSION, THE UNIVERSE IS A HOLOGRAM BUY GOLD BYE!"
Sudden blue flash blinded Dipper's eyes. He shielded his eyes against the bright light. Moments later, he rubbed his eyes and looked around him. The surrounding are colorful again, the snow are falling like crazy and Bill is gone. Dipper then ran back to the shack without looking back.
He can't tell Ford about this, he's paranoid enough with Bill and that Portal and he cannot know that Bill is harassing his Great-Nephew. He decided to shut up about this.
Ford was in the kitchen making himself a cup of coffee. He sat down at the table and picked out the time travel device from his pocket. He still needed to understand the circuitry and the type of modulator this device used. He was fascinated by it and couldn't stopped thinking on how the time travel machine would fit into such small thing like a tape measure. He put the tape measure on the table and proceed to sip the cup.
He then heard the front door opened and slammed shut. Ford became agitated. He slowly stood up, reaching for the knife on the shelf and hide himself behind the kitchen entrance. He saw the little shadowy figure reaching into the kitchen. He flung himself to the little figure, pinning it to the floor.
"Ford! What the heck?! It's me! Dipper!" The figure said with a stressed voice.
Ford looked at the figure carefully. It was indeed Dipper. He quickly picked up his flashlight and shone to the boy's eyes. It was a white pupils. Ford then stood up and gently pulled Dipper up.
"I'm sorry Dipper, it's just, I need to make sure you're not… him."
"Yeah, I noticed. Jeez, you really need to take a rest. You look like… crap." Dipper couldn't help but pointing out to Ford what he may not noticed.
Ford ignored him. "Have you hidden both of the Journals?" He immediately asked.
"Yes. I've hidden both of it." Dipper opened his jacket and went to the kitchen table. He laid the jacket on the chair and pulled it to sit down.
"Listen Great-Uncle Ford. You need to rest. If you continuing like this you may get sick."
"That is not for you to worry Dipper. The important thing now is-"
"The important thing is now to get you well rested!" Dipper raised his voice, slightly making Ford jumped.
Dipper then sighed and continue. "Great-Uncle Ford, I know that you've made a huge mistake and you're now felt responsible for it. But you can't punished yourself like this. This paranoia has to stop!"
Ford slowly sat at the table across Dipper where he was sitting with his cup of coffee.
"Why would you care so much?"
"Because you're my Great-Uncle if you didn't noticed! I have been in your situation and trust me, this is the only vulnerable time for Bill to strike you. If you continuing like this, you may have stabbed or shoot me when come near you!"
Ford staggered by what Dipper had said. He was right. He's been in this state for quite some time and he felt like his mind going crazy. He rarely slept since the revelation of the Portal for the last month and a half, and he rarely went out to town anymore.
Ford sighed. "I'm… sorry Dipper. You're right, I needed some rest. There's so much going on right now I'm thinking I'm going crazy." He pulled his glasses, and rub his eyes with his fingers.
Ford then finished his cup of coffee, stood up and headed out from the kitchen.
"I'll be in my room. Good night Dipper, and please, don't come down to the lab." Ford said as he climbed up the stairs. Dipper then heard a faint door opened and closed.
"Oh man, Ford really went cuckoo banana." Dipper murmured to himself.
On the next chapter, Stan and Mabel reach Minnesota, and Stan will receive postcard from someone that will make him go to Oregon.
R'V BJON KAX-KAX, MXW'C HXD FXAAH.