The streets of Gravity Falls were alive with people, at this time of day. They walked languidly, the sun shining high and pleasantly warm above them. The kids were greeted by a few recognisable faces as they drove past, licking ice creams cups and ice cream cones as they treat themselves like children would. It was mostly just Mabel calling out greetings though, accompanied by frantic arm-length gestures. Dipper merely smiled at the people he knew and rocked his shoulders at the people he didn't but made eye contact with anyways.
Steven rode backseat throughout all of this, too busy savoring his ice cup to really pay attention to the casual curiosity he was garnering.
"It's like," he giggled happily, again, licking the bottom of his cup, "Cookie Cat ice cream! It's so~o good! You have any more, Mabes? This is amazing!"
Dipper turned a corner and the momentum nearly sent their heads out the golf cart. "Whoawh. Haha. Sorry, Steves," she snorted, climbing to kneel up on the seat. Mabel slung her arms over the backrest and hit Steven giddily across his arm. Hard.
"Ow! Mabel, what was that for?"
She laughed again, but gentler this time. Her hand flew in front of her mouth and obstructed the view of her braces. "Sorry. Here, you can have mine!"
Steven's eyes lit up. He reached for the half-melted cup, ready to have that sweet, sweet chocolate chip mint, mixed with rocky road and -
Just when his chubby fingers were about to close around the cold container, it was ripped away from him, cruelly. Steven looked up with teary eyes, mouth already tugging to a frown, before he met Mabel's glare and deflated.
"Di-Dipper? Your sister's scaring me."
"Driving, dude."
Steven gulped in terror. He could smell the chocolate from Mabel's last cup of sprinkles. Nothing else. She had just ordered the sprinkles. The girl said quietly, "But first."
Stars suddenly sparkled to life in her eyes, five pronged and shiny. A notepad and pen had suddenly materialized into her hands. "Tell me about this… feline biscuit of yours…"
"We're here!" Dipper whooped.
Mabel jumped around making celebratory noises for the sake of it, while Steven stood there. Just, stood there.
Gah! He knew he shouldn't have taken Mabel's offer. Now he felt all full and sleepy, stuffed with ice cream like a frozen mochi.
"Uhh, guys? This is the gem pad."
Dipper came around and slung an arm over his shoulders, smiling in such a way that Steven was sure was supposed to come off creepy, but just felt awkward and adorably crooked. "Oh c'mon, Steven. I just want to see something, and I think the only way to get it is with your help."
Mabel walked around the gem pad and brushed off the plant life creeping along its side. She nodded knowingly at the runes carved along its clean turquoise surface. "Yup. Definitely can't tamper with this."
"Can't you?" Steven challenged. "You're gems too, right? You should be able to just stand on it..."
The twins stared at him uncomprehendingly, "What?"
"Here, let me show you!"
"Steven, wait!"
He stood on it, smiling as if to communicate how safe it was with his chubby chipmunk cheeks. Mabel and Dipper followed, one curious and excited, the latter curious and wary. But also excited.
They climbed on after him, looking around in interest.
"Now what?" Dipper asked.
Steven slipped his hands to clasp them around his friends' - Dipper on his left, Mabel on his right. He closed his eyes and bit his lower lip in hope.
A bright rose-colored light flashed upwards. A brief otherworldly sound.
They were gone.