I do not own Gravity Falls.

Prompt: Prancer

Prancer the Reindeer

Crossing through the living room and into the kitchen, Mabel fumbled through the cupboards for a glass, her vision blurry from slumber. She let out a yawn as she filled the cup with water from the tap. When her eyesight cleared, she was greeted to the furry snout of a reindeer pressed against the glass of the window over the sink.

She very nearly dropped her cup in shock, a yelp catching in her throat. She let out a strangled noise, quiet so that it would not disturb her slumbering great-uncles. For a minute, though it seemed much longer, she stared into the black pupils of the animal. Slowly, the reindeer stepped away from the window and began to walk away.

Mabel watched it venture into the dark night, and when she regained her senses she clumsily set her glass of water aside and rushed back up to the attic. She shoved open the door, hastily catching hold of it before it slammed against the wall, and hissed, "Dipper!"

Her brother did not stir. Mabel strode over to stand by his bedside and shook him wildly. "Dipper, wake up!"

"What? What?" he groaned, sitting up and rubbing tiredly at his eyes. He squinted at his sister and said, "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"Four in the morning," replied Mabel immediately, having caught a glance at the clock in the kitchen. "But who cares? Dipper, I saw a reindeer!"

"…you better not have woken me up just to tell me that."

"It wasn't just any normal reindeer!" insisted Mabel. "I looked at it and it looked at me and…it was as if it was thinking. It didn't run away when it saw me."

"Let me guess," drawled Dipper. "It's Santa's reindeer."

"Come on!" Mabel tugged on his arm, dragging him from his warm covers. "We have to at least check it out!"

"The last time we encountered a reindeer he tried to trample us."

"That was a year ago and it was clearly a wild creature. This one isn't."

Knowing that he wasn't going to get any more sleep until he agreed to investigate, Dipper sighed and muttered, "Fine. Let's get this over with."

They crept back downstairs and wrestled into their winter gear. Securing her earmuffs into place, Mabel unlocked the front door and stepped out into the cold night. Dipper came behind her and eased the door shut. Mabel jumped from the porch and into the snow, her eyes zeroing in on a trail of hoofprints.

"It went that way!" she whispered, pointing towards the trees.

"Of course it's in the forest," said Dipper wearily. "It couldn't have gone towards town."

Mabel shot him a look. "Why would a reindeer go towards town?"

"I thought it wasn't a normal reindeer."

"It's not. Santa's reindeer wouldn't want to risk lots of people seeing it. It would ruin the magic."

"Right," was all Dipper decided to say in response. He followed Mabel into the forest, going wherever the trail of hoof prints led them. They came upon a slope and paused at the top, staring down below.

"There it is!" said Mabel excitedly.

The reindeer, who had been nosing and pawing through the snow, glanced up at her voice. It regarded the two children in an almost curious manner. After a moment of staring, it went back to digging through the snow.

Dipper furrowed his brow. "Okay…so it doesn't run away at the sight of humans. It doesn't mean it's one of Santa's."

"Come on. Let's get closer."

Mabel and Dipper inched down the slope, cautiously approaching the reindeer. It cast a sidelong glance at them, but did not move away. As they neared, Dipper spotted a red ribbon tied around its neck, a golden P charm threaded through the loop. Eyes widening, he said in awe, "You're right. It is Santa's reindeer."

"Prancer," said Mabel in glee. "I told you, bro-bro. You need to listen to me more often."

"I do," Dipper failed to deny.

Mabel approached the reindeer and gently patted his head. "I wonder what he's doing here."

"He seems to be searching for something," observed Dipper. "But what is he searching for?"

Prancer stared intently at the twins, and the forest scenery disappeared for a second, replaced by a vivid image of a bell-adorned leather harness. Stunned, Dipper gave his head a sharp sake, the winter wonderland surging back into clarity.

"Did you—?"

"—see that?"

Mabel and Dipper gaped at each other, then at Prancer, who waited patiently. "All right," Mabel finally spoke, voice laced with determination, "he lost his harness and we're going to help him find it."

"Did you lose it around here?" Dipper asked the reindeer.

Prancer lowered his head before raising it again. He continued pawing through the snow and the twins joined, shoving aside large chunks of powdery snow with their mitten-clad hands. After a while of intense searching, Dipper felt an odd sensation, something that compelled him to look upwards.

Craning his neck, he stared up at the high-looming tree branches, a grin splitting across his face at the sight of the glimmering golden harness caught between the twigs. Before he could voice his discovery Mabel beat him to it, saying eagerly, "Dipper, it's up in the trees!"

"I see it." He approached the tree that was holding the harness hostage and dug the soles of his boots into the bark. He struggled to push himself upwards and let out a surprised sound as a force suddenly catapulted him upwards.

Prancer stood beneath him, using his head and being cautious of his antlers, to support the fourteen-year-old. Smiling gratefully, Dipper grabbed the branch above his head and started a careful ascent. When he was close enough to the harness and took hold of it and called, "Mabel, heads up!"

His sister extended her arms and caught the harness when he dropped it. "Got it!" she called, fastening it onto Prancer.

Dipper moved his way down. His boot slipped and he lost his grip. He let out a startled shout as he careened towards the ground. He registered Mabel shrieking in surprise and then his rapid descent was halted by something solid.

He instinctively clutched the fur beneath him, but it took another moment for him to process what was happening.

Prancer floated in the air, his bell-adorned harness glittering around his body. Dipper had landed on his back and Mabel was holding onto the leather straps that bound the harness together, mouth slightly agape in awe.

"This. Is. Awesome!" she squealed.

Dipper could only nod, a wide smile stretching across his face. With a soft snort, Prancer kicked his powerful legs and they were off, flying above the treetops. A trail of silver sparkles shone behind them, raining from the bells attached to the harness.

They soared over the snow-blanketed landscape and Prancer landed neatly on the rooftop of the Shack. Mabel and Dipper dismounted and the girl stroked Prancer's head affectionately. "Thanks, Prancer! I'm glad we were able to help you."

"Thanks for the save," added Dipper, patting Prancer's side. "It wouldn't be much of a Christmas with a concussion and broken bones."

Prancer let out a noise of farewell before hovering into the air. Dipper and Mabel blinked, and Prancer was gone.

"Merry Christmas!" Mabel called out, her voice echoing in the night air.

Their basking in their magical experience was interrupted as a window on the first floor cranked open. Stan, awoken by Mabel's cry, leaned over the sill and craned his neck up. In turn, Dipper and Mabel peered over the edge of the roof and stared down at him.

After a moment of disbelieving silence, Stan asked, "What in the heck are you two doing on the roof at five in the morning?"