Chapter 6: Ford's Fight

"I'm worried." Danny commented. "I keep trying to call Wendy but nobody answers."

"She's probably too busy buying materials she needs for High School as you should be, young man." Maddie sternly replied.

"But I even tried to call the Mystery Hack and nobody answered." Danny argued.

"Would they have to pay the call had they answered it, son?" Jack asked.

"No, Dad." Danny replied.

"Okay, now I'm worried." Jack commented.

"It could be just a problem with their town's phone company." Maddie tried to reassure her son. "After all, Stanford Pines did protect his shack with the unicorn hair shield."

"But I still think he's overreacting regarding our portal." Jack complained. "I hated closing it."

Days later, Danny went to Gravity Falls and learned what happened. "So, this Bill Cipher Dr. Pines feared so much took over the town?" Danny asked in shock.

"Yep." Wendy answered. "First time the survival lessons my Dad gave my brother and me every Christmas were worth it."

"Survival lessons?" Danny thought. "And I thought my Christmases were traumatic."

"What happened?" Wendy asked.

"My parents used to argue over Santa Claus being real or not." Danny sadly answered.

"Really?" Wendy was skeptical. "I mean, I thought both of them knew and accepted ghosts are real."

"Yeah, I don't understand my Mom's skepticism either." Danny commented.

"You still can call that weird, Danny." Wendy said. "Do they still argue over it?"

"No, a previous Christmas convinced her that Santa is real and my Dad that Santa is a ghost." Danny uneasily answered.

Wendy could tell Danny felt uncomfortable bringing that up so she didn't press the matter. "Well, Santa being a ghost not only explains how he's still able to deliver gifts but also brings a new meaning to "Christmas Spirit"." She commented and Danny chuckled. "Anyway, we were discussing local events but keep a close lid since it's an uncomfortable matter to us." After Danny nodded, she explained it all.

"So, Preston Northwest not only welcomed Bill Cipher but also offered to be a horseman of the apocalypse?" Danny asked. "What a Quisling."

"But he didn't leave unscathed." Wendy replied. "He lost so much money investing on weirdness bonds he had to sell his family's manor to pay his debts."

"Who bought it?" Danny asked.

"Fiddleford McGucket." Wendy answered.

"Really?" Danny was surprised. "I didn't think he had that kind of money."

"He regained his sanity and sold some patents." Wendy explained.

"Anyway, I'm amazed at the plans Dr. Pines had to defeat Cipher." Danny said. "Too bad the laser cannon he brought from an alternate reality only worked once. Or that my life is weird enough to make the last statement sound normal."

"So true." Wendy agreed.

"Well, with summer being over, that means your summer job at the Mystery Hack will be over as well, right?" Danny asked.

"It's Mystery Shack but yes, Danny." Wendy answered.

"Will the Stans hire a replacement?" Danny asked.

"It's no longer their call, Danny." Wendy answered. "They left to fulfill some childhood desire and put Soos in charge."

"Speaking of departing twins, why're you wearing a cap that looks like Dipper's?" Danny asked.

"It is the same hat." Wendy replied. "We traded hats as parting gifts."

"Okay." Danny replied. "I remember similar caps being sold at the Mystery Shack. Would it be weird if we had matching ones?"

"Not at all, Danny." Wendy honestly answered.

They then went to the Mystery Shack, where Danny bought a matching cap. "Thank you, Danny." Soos said.

"You're welcome, Soos." Danny replied and then took notice of Soos' outfit. "I see you do care about looking the Mr. Mystery part."

"Somebody had to keep the shack open while the real Mr. Mystery and his brother are away." Soos commented.

"They probably have a lot to patch up if the failed zodiac wheel I heard of is any indication." Danny theorized.

"Assuming Stan recovered those memories among all others after all that mess." Soos replied.

"True." Danny agreed, thinking about what Wendy said about the memory-erasing gun and how the plate inside Ford's head kept it from working on him.

"Danny, I guess it'll be the last time you come to Gravity Falls for a while since school's restarting for you." Wendy said.

"And I guess you'll stick around for a similar reason." Danny sadly replied.

"Actually, school opening in Gravity Falls has been delayed by… certain incidents so, I'll have one extra week and I could use it to visit you in Amity Park." Wendy explained. "Meanwhile, since you're here, how about we eat at Greasy's? My treat."

At first, Danny would refuse to let her pay but he then remembered that, in his hurry, he forgot to bring money for even his own meal. "Yes. Thank you." He said.

At Greasy's, Danny and Wendy were reading their menus when a waitress approached them. "May I take your orders?" She asked.

"Yes, Pacifica." Wendy answered, causing Danny to realize their waitress was no other than Pacifica Northwest. "I'll want pancakes and a can of Pitt Cola. What about you, Danny?"

"Uh, me too." Danny answered and waited until Pacifica left before speaking again. "Wendy, since when is she working here? I mean, I know her parents had to sell their manor to pay their debts but I assumed they still had enough money left to prevent this."

"And you're right, Danny." Wendy replied. "They still can afford to keep one pony but it doesn't seem to be enough for her."

"Okay, then." Danny replied. While he and Wendy were waiting for their meals, two girls who gave some vibe that reminded Danny of the A-Listers back in Casper High showed up. "Look!" One of them told the other while pointing at Pacifica. "It's our former friend Pacifica Northwest."

"I bet she regrets sending those texts to us back when her parents were rich." The other said.

"I didn't send those." Pacifica protested.

"You only talk to us about service, waitress." The first girl said.

"And you just lost your tip for that outburst." The second one added.

"They probably wouldn't have tipped her anyway." Danny guessed.

"You're probably right, Danny." Wendy agreed.

Later on, Pacifica brought their orders. "Thank you."

"Waitress!" One of Pacifica's former friends called her. "We've already decided what we want."

"Coming." Pacifica replied as she readied herself to take their orders.

"What exactly happened to make them hate her so much?" Danny asked. "It's okay if you refuse to answer since it's not about you."

"I don't know the details myself, Danny." Wendy answered. "All I know is that it happened during a time Pacifica was at the local minigolf course."

"Does Gravity Falls have a minigolf?" Danny asked and Wendy nodded. "Cool! We could play a match the next time I come here."

"Why not now?" Wendy asked.

"I can't stick around long enough this time, Wendy." Danny explained. 'And I don't have enough money.'

After they ate their meals, Wendy paid the bill and Danny handed Pacifica a five-dollar-bill. "Here's a tip for you."

"Thank you." Pacifica replied, surprised that someone would be that nice.

After Danny and Wendy left Greasy's and exchanged goodbyes, Danny returned to Amity Park. "Danny, are you sure she didn't make up that tale to impress you?" Sam asked.

"After the Lumberjack's Ghost and what I saw during their mayoral election, I'm willing to believe in anything from Gravity Falls, Sam." Danny explained.

"And I'm only believing that part about mind control because you've witnessed it, Danny." Sam commented.

"Me too." Jazz added.

"Me three." Tucker jokingly added.

End chapter.

Author's Note: The title was mostly to keep up with the pattern I've set for this fic. I've even thought about retitling it "Pacifica's Plight".

Answer to djinn (Guest): Thanks.