INFINITY TRAIN ARC
Opening File: Tulip Olsen
Tulip was born as the only child of Andy and Megan Olsen in North Branch, Minnesota. When Tulip was born she had a breathing complication. However, she ended up making a full recovery, something that her mom described as 'bouncing back like a perennial flower'. This, in turn, is why her mother named her Tulip.
Tulip is intelligent for her age but is easily frustrated, getting very annoyed (in some cases, enraged) when things don't go her way. Though she has her bouts of selfishness, she is not averse in giving a helping hand when the situation is dire. A large portion of Tulip's selfish nature comes from her obsessive want to escape the train; decipher what the number on her hand means; and return to her normal life. Often, Tulip will turn her head on a situation which won't further her in her goals, making her seem very tunnel visioned.
At a young age, she asked her mother if she could try eating raw onion and Megan, humoring her daughter, gave her one believing she would not like it. She did not like it at first but did not want to admit it, and out of pure spite she forced herself to continue eating them until she actually acquired a taste for raw onions. In her early childhood, she enjoyed going on road trips with her parents as they sang and jammed in the car. However, over time it became clear that her parents had a falling out and seemed to hardly get along.
One instance took place at DolphinWorld, where they argued about who should have taken Tulip to the optometrist (as she was having a hard time watching the show from the middle of the crowd seats). The fights became so common that Tulip would wake up to check on her dad when he had to sleep on the couch. One day, as Tulip returned home from school excited to attend game design camp in Oshkosh, she thought about her parent's divorce and rebuffed Mikayla's attempts to console her. As she worked on her game her mother informed her that, due to her father getting the dates wrong and her mother agreeing to work extra hours, she cannot go to camp.
She was angry at the news and locks herself in her room before running away to go to camp herself. On the way there she finds a train going to Oshkosh and gets on before blacking out. She would later wake up on the Train and from that point forward, her life and life on the Train was changed forever. Despite her absence when the others such as the Pines and the Peach Creek children arrived, Tulip's time on the Infinity Train has sent ripples throughout it.
Through Tulip, Atticus met Aloysius, forging an alliance between Corginia and the turtles of the Unfinished Car. Her reflection, Lake, began her own journey, eventually becoming the first ever denizen to leave the Infinity Train. Thanks to Tulip's actions, One-One was restored as the rightful conductor, sparking a one-sided civil war with The Apex until Grace Monroe disbanded the organization after Simon's death. Amelia was also encouraged to begin her own path of redemption, prompting her to help One-One undo the damage she had done and meeting Hazel along the way.
Close File
Xxx
"We've been wandering around in circles and we still have not found the door to the next car."
Amelia liked to think of herself as a patient person, given how long she had been on this train but even she could get frustrated when confronted with a persistent obstacle.
And right now, trying to find a way out of this ever-shifting maze was very persistent.
"The shifts seem to occur at random since there's no notable time limit or sign of us doing anything that might cause the maze to shift." Amelia muttered to herself while Hazel simply followed.
It's how it has been since she chose to start traveling with the elderly woman.
Amelia leads, Hazel follows.
And yet, Hazel had a feeling that they going the wrong way in trying to solve this puzzle.
She couldn't put a finger on it but something about this maze was…calling to her.
She couldn't explain it, especially since Amelia prided herself on being rational and logical.
But then again, when have things on the Infinity Train ever been rational or logical?
Xxx
"I think they've found it."
Amelia and Hazel didn't it at the time, but their journey in the Mysterious Maze Car had not gone unnoticed.
"This is likely the car that is mean to hold the Gem of Creation."
And they would lead Mandy right to it.
This would be the start of her destiny.
Though she was a Newborn of her kind, Mandy already had great ambitions.
To one day rise as an all-powerful queen and replace Sammael as the leader of the Grimm and the Fallen.
And the first step would be taking the Gem of Creation.
Twelve Gems, left behind by six powerful beings.
Sammael had been seeking these gems for a millennium, patiently waiting, plotting, and searching for clues to the Gems. Mandy could respect his patience, intellect, and power…
But that would not dissuade her from her goal.
'I am not like other Fallen who seemingly are cowed because Sammael happens to be the strongest, just because he is the oldest of us. My own experience and perhaps my soul's…darker nature has allowed me a form of clarity. I've come to realize that the Fallen and the Grimm are similar, not just in their dark nature but due to the fact that their instincts are exactly like that of the law of the jungle, the strong ruling the weak.'
In Mandy's mind, she could see Sammael standing atop a cliff, watching as an endless army of Gramm gathered down below, roaring up to him.
'Not that there's anything wrong with that. In this world, only the strongest can claim to be any form of leader.'
The army marches at Sammael's command as he raises a single finger and points them to head out into the world.
'And yet, there is a single flaw in this design: Sammael. He doesn't send the Grimm out to dominate the Earth, fights against only those who threaten the world but has allowed mankind to not only survive, but to thrive in a world where they would be at the bottom of the food chain.'
Mandy herself, now seen with an aura of fire surrounding her as she rises over the ruins of civilization.
'The Grimm deserve a leader that has not gone against their very nature…Someone…Like…Me.'
And it would all start when she got her hands on the Gem of Creation.
Xxx
Atticus let out a soft growl before glancing to Dipper. "Has this feline caused you any harm in your time with her?"
"No." Dipper shook his head. "She helped me through the cars until I was reunited with my sister, my family and our friends."
"Hmm…" Atticus glanced back to Samantha. "You will be allowed to stay…Under the condition you do not leave the sight of the boy or his companions. Despite your self-serving nature, I work to allow myself not to be blinded by the possible good deeds and wishes for redemption from those who seek it, even if it is no mere feat. But know this, feline that you will be under supervision and should you wonder off from your human companions, I will have to assume the worst and respond accordingly."
"Of course, King Atticus." Samantha bowed her head. "As always, your nobility and patience shines through."
"Now then, come and see our kingdom. You may be allowed to rest and recuperate before continuing your journey through the train." Atticus turned and gestured for the group to follow which they did so.
Of course, Dipper had to glance at Samantha who nervously looked away as they walked, wondering what had happened between her and Atticus.
"Wow. This is amazing."
"Whoa, way big."
"To think, canines could do all this. Talking intelligent canines, of course, but this is still quite awe-inspiring."
The tour through Corginia was a welcoming experience for those who had a rough time on the train. It was surprising to see what dogs were capable of building.
As they walked over a bridge, Dipper turned to Samantha. "Okay, what's the history with you and Atticus?"
"As I said, I made some less-than-ideal choices that led to him being injured. It was done out of a sense self-preservation, but I was betrayed, and his friend convinced me to help her which led to Atticus being healed." Samantha simple answered. "It's not a kind of history I wish to discuss at the moment, Dipper."
Dipper stared at her but dropped the discussion, making a mental note to ask her more about the subject later.
Just a few feet behind him, Stan having heard the discussion lead into to whisper to Ford. "What do you make of the cat?"
Ford looked at Samantha. "Well, she's interesting specimen, specifically because she can talk like the Corgis can."
"Not that. I mean her story with the dog king." Stan replied, throwing a look at the cat. "She's got the conman look about her."
"You would know that." Ford whispered knowingly.
"I am just saying, the dog king warning us about her should be setting off alarm bells in your head too, Sixer." Stan retorted. "So, what do we do about it?"
"What can we do about it, Stanley? We can't leave her here because the Corgis would never allow it." Ford replied. "And whatever duplicitous nature she might have, she has been looking out for Dipper this entire time. We owe her at least the benefit of some doubt."
Stan scowled but said nothing else.
In the meantime, everyone was taken in by the beauty of Corgia.
Corginia is a lush landscape of sparsely flowered meadows and a river flowing through it. A village the corgis inhabit is located near the entrance to the car, consisting of buildings reminiscent of ancient Greek. The weather appears sunny and slightly clouded, even with no visible light source or open sky. A mountain range opens up beyond the river and is slightly more overgrown and wilder.
Samantha stopped as she noticed smaller villages with denizens she knew were not from this car. "You have been expanding and accepting other denizens here?"
"Indeed." Atticus answered stoically. "You spoke earlier of our last encounter seemingly changing you, Samantah. The same can be said for me. Inspired by a dear friend, we have begun to accept others here in our kingdom, with the request that they treat each other as equals and nothing less."
"A kind effort, Your Majesty." Double D said politely.
"Thank you. We had a population of three hundred and ninety-nine corgis but now we have accepted in denizens that are here as an experiment to expand and build colonies in other cars." Atticus replied and explained.
"So cool." Ed and Mabel gushed.
"I prefer a warm summer breeze to being cool. The Yetis on the other hand." Atticus lifted a paw and pointed to the top of the mountain where a village of igloos could be seen. "They prefer a much cooler environment."
"So, you accept people who can only live in certain environments." Ford adjusted his glasses with an intrigued look on his face. "Interesting."
"We have been branching and sending ambassadors to every car within reach. Unfortunately, given the train's nature it is unlikely we will find every kingdom or land. But we have made progress." Atticus said as they entered the Corgi kingdom. "We are in talks at the moment with the denizens of the mirror train but there is a dark history between us that might influence our negotiations."
"What happened?" Dipper asked.
"I happen to be good friends with a human whose reflection escaped their car and later the train from what I had heard. It is against the laws of the mirror denizens to leave the Mirror Car, so they sent two enforcers to bring her back but neither of them returned." Atticus answered as the corgis on the path ahead moved out of the way and bowed to their king. "They blamed the human's reflection and thus begun to heavily distrust humans, especially their reflections. Even before that, the mirror denizens pursued an agenda of isolation from the rest of the train."
"How does a human's reflection escape a car and later the train?" Both Double D and Ford asked at the same time.
"The denizens of the take the forms of the reflection of those who are seen in the mirrors. Once that happens, the reflection gains the memories and personality of those they imitate." Atticus answered.
"A doppelganger mirror realm. I've heard of those." Ford gasped in excitement. "A realm that takes on the names and appearance of that which it literally mirrors."
"Of course, the denizens are under strict law to discard the forms of the passenger they imitate once the passengers leave their car. I should warn you, the penalty for a denizen attempting to escape the Mirror Car is immediate imprisonment or death."
Mabel along with several other members of the group gasped in horror. "They kill them?!"
"Regrettably, execution for certain crimes exist even here on the train." Atticus stated melancholy.
"That is why I avoid them." Samantha said as they stopped before the castle in the center of the kingdom.
"This is my castle, but it is open to you all. You may be allowed to wander and look around but given the company you are with; I advise you all to remain in sight of my subjects." Atticus gestured with a paw to a pair of Corgis who stepped forward and began sniffing the group. "I am not one to be suspicious by nature, but I must consider the health and safety of my people."
"Okay, that's reasonable." Dipper said as a Corgi sniffed him.
"If you wish to stay for dinner, I will be returning from another hunt, and we can dine in the castle." Atticus gestured to the castle again before taking his leave but not before he cast a look in Samantha's direction. "Remember, my subjects will report to me if they see anything they believe to be of suspicious intent. Remember, this well…All of you."
With that, the King of the Corgis had left, leaving the group in the center of the kingdom.
"Well, that was cheerful." Stan crossed his arms.
"But not unreasonable, Stanley." Ford pointed out. "He has no reason to trust us but has allowed us to rest and recuperate here."
"Sounds like he should be off getting a few shots." Eddy remarked but stiffened when a nearby Corgi growled at him. "I-I mean-"
"My friend did not mean any offense." Double D immediately stepped forward. "We have just had a long and eventful journey."
The Corgi looked between the two and then at the rest of the group before snorting and walking off.
Double D then threw a look at Eddy. "Can't you go for five seconds without offending anyone?"
"Hey, not my fault these fleabags are so sensitive." Eddy retorted.
"Hey, Dorky. Might want to be a little louder." Kevin scoffed.
"Yeah, Eddy. Lay off the dogs. They're being nice to us." Jonny agreed.
"Whatever." Eddy grumbled and walked off with his hands in his pocket.
Double D watched him leave with a disgruntled look on his face. "What in the world is his problem?"
"He's been like that ever since we got rescued from that alien planet." Kevin crossed his arms.
"Alien planet?" Dipper, Mable and Ford looked at Kevin and the other Peach Creek kids.
"Oh yeah, you didn't know? We got taken by rock ladies." Jonny said with a smile.
"Rock ladies?" Ford's eyes widened.
"They're called Gems." Kevin clarified.
"GEMS?!" Ford exclaimed, making everyone, including the surrounding Corgis look at him with surprised faces. "YOU GOT ABDUCTED BY GEMS?!"
"Whoa, Sixer! What's the problem?" Stan took a step back from his brother, seeing him getting all wound up.
"Gems are one of the most hostile races in the universes. They invade planets, hollow them to product more of their kind and leave the planets they take over as lifeless husks!" Ford frantically explained.
Needless to say, there was a lot to talk about.
Xxx
Ford had decided to speak indoors about his dealings with the Gems, all of them now inside an inn with a couple of rooms rented out to them as a favor from Atticus but they were all grouped into the one that the Pines family had been given.
"I learned about them during my studies in Gravity Falls. I learned of other locations that had strange phenomena and investigated them when I had the time. One location in particular was a small town called Beach City. It was there I learned about the Gems and how they apparently came to Earth thousands of years ago."
"Oh, we heard that part. We learned about their invasion from the humans they got in their interdimensional zoo." Jonny threw in carelessly.
"They got a zoo?" Mabel questioned.
"Yeah, for human pets." Kevin answered pessimistically. "That's where we ended up."
"Indeed. Gem controlled humans live a completely structured life there." Rolf nodded.
"So, you have been to their Special Zone." Ford brought a hand over his mouth in surprise. "I didn't think anyone else had been there."
Dipper looked at Ford. "Wait…You've been there Grunkle Ford?"
"It was during my thirty years of interdimensional travel. I knew about the Gems before that, but I only learned about the Special Zone after I was pulled into the portal." Ford answered, causing Stan to shift. "The residents told me about their history and everything that had happened leading up to the Special Zone's creation. Though I knew about the Gems even before I arrived there thanks to my investigation into Beach City."
"Beach City is way out there, far from Gravity Falls along the east coast. You really went all the way out there?" Stan commented.
"When I had the time. The journey was long and bitter, but I endured." Ford answered. "It took me some time, but my investigation led to the discovery of a band of rebel Gems who were hiding out on Earth."
"We heard about this in the Gem-Zoo. Human-Captives stated that Gems came to Earth thousands of years ago but a group of them rebelled and forced the invaders off of our world." Rolf cut in.
"Yes, that's a rough draft of what happened." Ford nodded at Rolf and scowled. "But the truth of the Gem Rebellion is much more complicated than that."
"What do you mean, Grunkle Ford?" Mabel asked.
"The Gem Rebellion was built on a lie. Their leader, a Rose Quartz Gem supposedly fell in love with the Earth, its people and beauty and inspired others to rebel with her against the Diamonds, the matriarchal rulers of the Gem Empire. That was what they told me when I finally met them but as I dug deeper into the Gem history I…I discovered many unsettling facts about the Gem Rebellion and those who were dragged into the war or joined it." Ford shuttered briefly. "For starters, one of the beings who took advantage of the war was Bill Cipher."
Those who knew of Bill stiffened while the others were left confused.
"Who?" Eddy popped the question.
"A two-dimensional being who has been observing our planet for billions of years." Double D answered with narrowed eyes. "He set up the cult that lured me and the others to Gravity Falls to fix the portal down in the Mystery Shack's basement. That's where I got Armatae and his cult killed my parents."
Now everyone was glancing at Double D with worried eyes.
"I first met Bill when he proposed that fake contest to me and he showed me an example of his powers when I made a deal with him to cure…my disfigurement." Double D reached up and touched his hat. "That convinced me to go along with his charade. I was such a fool to trust him and the others with me suffered just as horribly."
"Don't be too hard on yourself. He's fooled countless others." Ford brought up before returning to the story. "Yes, Bill Cipher was involved in the Gem War. He was working behind the scenes, trying to get either side to build him a portal to release him from the Nightmare Realm where he has ruled for a trillion years. I don't know the full extent of his deeds during that time, but I do know he entered into an alliance with the Diamonds sometime during or after the Rebellion."
"The Diamonds as in those giant ladies?" Jonny asked.
"The very same." Ford nodded. "I don't know the full extent of their alliance but it's possible Bill promised the Diamonds to hand over the remaining renegade Gems for their crimes. Among other powers to take part in the war were obviously the Grimm and warriors from that age. I know technology wasn't advanced back then, but the people of Earth were strong enough to give the Gems a hard time, which is why they established the Special Zone to contain and study them. Until that time, no world had ever successfully resisted a Gem invasion to such extent."
"So, we helped kick alien back then? Cool." Frida remarked with a smile.
"It was not just our race or the Grimm or the rebels. I have reason to believe the struggle attracted the attention of extraterrestrial races who would be considered enemies to the Gems." Ford pointed out. "I don't know if they helped out of any concern for the Earth, but it seemed they took advantage of the fighting to bolster resistance against the Gems across the universe. Soon enough, the Gems were fighting a full-scale war with no end in sight…Until one of the Diamonds was assassinated by the rebel leader."
"We heard about that too." Ed suddenly brought up. "The blue one was sad because her pink sister was gone. The yellow one was very unhappy and the white one…White one was scary."
"Don't have to tell me twice." Kevin shuddered.
Ford glanced at Ed. "You've met the Diamonds?"
"Oh yeah." Ed nodded dumbly. "I liked the blue one the most. She was nicer to me."
Eddy sighed and rubbed his face. "Ed, shut up."
"No, he's telling the truth." Jonny cut in. "Ed, Nigel and Abby were kidnapped because they have special powers."
"Say what?"
"Jonny-Wood Boy! This is not something that should be discussed openly!" Rolf scolded the odd-ball of the group.
"But we're talking about secret stuff, Rolf. Plank thinks they're trustworthy." Jonny remarked, holding up Plank.
"Still, you, Rolf and everyone else promised One-Eyed-But-Sees-All Sebben that we would not talk to anyone about what happened on Rock Lady world or about secrets of Half-Wit Ed-Boy and friends." Rolf stated.
"What are you guys talking about?" Eddy cut in, getting frustrated.
"Can't get into it, flat head. We were all asked not to talk to anyone about the stuff we saw and heard during that whole mess." Kevin crossed his arms. "Frankly, I'm not happy to remember it at all."
"But we're talking about serious secret stuff right now." Mabel pointed out.
"Take it up with Sebben, Star-Girl." Kevin shook his head. "Besides, we're not talking about our run-ins with those rock ladies. We're talking about his." He pointed to Ford.
"Come on."
Samantha cleared her throat, making everyone look at her. "Perhaps Mr. Kevin is right. It's obvious everyone here has seen and dealt with their fair share of peril but if they don't want to speak about it perhaps it's best we focus on the current topic instead of pressuring them. Perhaps given some time, they will be more open to talk about it."
That seemed to placate most of the group before Ford spoke up. "Yes, that might be for the best. Given we're deeply focused on my encounters with the Gems, we can ask for more details from the others later."
"Okay, so why don't we skip ahead? I get there was a big war and pretty much everyone and their grandma was involved but I'm still not clear on what you had do with it, Sixer." Stan remarked.
"As I said before, I learned many things regarding the Gems. Their history, culture, and secrets that their leader kept from even her closest associates." Ford took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "Ironically, it was Bill Cipher who informed me of the duplicitous and morally questionable actions of the rebel leader, Rose Quartz. This was before I realized Bill's true nature, so I believed him without a second thought but the dangerous part about Bill is that even though he lies, he mixes lies with truth to better confuse his victims."
"And what was it that Cipher told you?" Double D asked.
Ford took a deep breath. "That the assassination of Pink Diamond was a hoax. She wasn't shattered because she was the rebel leader all along. She disguised herself as an ordinary Gem and started a galactic war with her own people that dragged everyone into it, including the Earth. A secret she has kept for thousands of years and would do anything to keep it hidden."
I know I usually release the Infinity Train chapter with the main story chapter but I suffered from writer's block concerning this chapter at the time and had the main story ready so rather than wait for my brain to start working on the Infinity one I just released the main story one and finally finished this chapter for the Infinity Train arc. Hope it was worth the wait.