Episode Summary: Stan befriends a cute girl at the public pool, only to find out she's a Mermanatee trapped with no way back to the ocean! Can Stan help his new love get back home to her family?

Author's Note: Parts of this episode was requested by Fanfiction user: Imagaco.

Fun Fact: Basically, the Mermanatee is the kid of Mermando and his new Manatee bride from Gravity Falls. I thought it would be a cool Easter Egg.

Disclaimers: I do not own Gravity Falls or the Relativity Falls AU

The Shallow End (Part 1)

It was a hot one in Gravity Falls, so hot that the AC had overheated under the summer sun. The heat was so bad that no one bothered to come to the Shack and Mabel had to close early.

At the moment, Ford, Stan, Fids and Mabel were lounging in the TV room; too bothered by the heat to move.

"Watch out, Gravity Falls, because at a 110 degrees, we're looking at the hottest day of the summer!" Toby Determined said on the radio.

"All those in favor of doing nothing all day, say 'Ugh'," Ford groaned. The others repeated him, raising their hands. Gompers walked up to Mabel and started chewing on her glittery shorts.

"I'm gonna throw this goat outta the house!" She snapped. Gompers bleated, chomping down on Mabel's fez next as she laid on the floor. "You called my bluff, goat."

"On the bright side, pun very much intended, it's opening week at the Gravity Falls Pool," Toby continued.

"Gravity Falls Pool?" Ford perked up.

"Today?" Stan said.

"Pun intended?" Fids exclaimed.

"Quick, to the car!" Mabel cheered. She attempted to get up, but was stuck to the wooden floorboards. "Hey Stan, Ford, a little help here?"

The twins walked over with spatulas, peeing Mabel off the floor. The floorboards stuck to her back.

"Alright, off to the pool!" Mabel smiled, walking outside.

"And remember to be on alert for random wildfires!" Toby warned.

"Wait, what?" Mabel said. She screamed as the wood stuck to her back caught fire.

"Ms. Pines!" Fids races after her as she ran. "Stop, drop, and roll!" He screamed as he hurried to her aid.

"She'll be fine," Stan assured his brother, who looked worried.

(At the Pool…)

Half an hour later the group arrives at the pool with Ria in tow.

"Ah, the pool!" Mabel said. She and the others were in their swimsuits. "A sparkling oasis of summer fun!"

"Yeah, nothing like sitting in a moist tub with strangers," Stan joked. "It's like the bus, but wet."

Ford looked at the towel Ria was carrying.

"Why would the sun need to wear glasses?" Ford asked.

"To protect his eyes from your face," Cooper joked as he walked over.

"Haha, you just got roasted," Stan laughed.

"So, what brings you?" Fids asked.

"Heather and I got jobs at the pool." Cooper explained.

"Really?" Ford asked.

"Yeah, her parents overheard that her friends have jobs. Thought it was a good idea and told my parents about it." Cooper explained. "Now I have one too."

"Ooo." Ford winced. "Sorry about that."

"No worries, Heather makes it fun." Cooper admitted. "Plus, we're spending more time together like she wanted so, win, win I guess."

"Woah, stop the presses!" Stan said, holding out his arms. He was looking at a girl in the pool with long, raven hair and olive skin. She had shell earrings and a Aqua green bikini top. Her lower half was covered by a pool floatie. "Who is that?"

"Oh right," Cooper said. "Word is, she hasn't left the pool. Folks say she's a 'Mysterious loner'."

Stan's eyes widened "Is it getting hot out here, or is it just that girl?" He asked.

"It's the hottest day of the year, Stan," Ford said. Crumbs from Ria's chips fell into his hair. "Besides, can't you go one week without having a new crush on some random girl?"

"Uh-uh," Stan shook his head and gasped. "Look at her little freckles!"

"You are clearly enamored," Ria said. "Go to her."

Stan ran across the pool, but he tripped over a bucket and two men in lawn chairs. They yelled at him as he kept running. Stan stepped in a lawn chair and had to pull his leg out before knocking over a basket of beach balls.

"It's so beautiful," Ria whispered.

"Eh, Stan's all talk," Ford waved it off. "You wanna know a secret? He's never even kissed a girl before. He always messes it up somehow."

"Ugh, boys," Mabel said. A water balloon splashed in her face. "Ahh!"

"Hey Ms. Pines!" Heather waved from the lifeguard chair.

"Heather? Where's the lifeguard?" Mabel asked.

"I am the lifeguard," Heather said. "I make the rules."

She threw more water balloons this time at the boys, they laughed.

Meanwhile, Mabel and Ria went to find a place to lounge around the pool.

"So, I hope you're certified." Ford teased.

"Sure am." Heather boasted. "Been taking classes with Dan, usually he's lifeguard for the summer break. But all his co-workers bailed on Ms. Pines, so he had to give it up for the summer. After a talk with Mr. Poolcheck and my parents they think I'm ready to life guard."

"The whole pool?!" Fids exclaimed.

"No just the shallow end." She admitted blushing.

"Oh." Fids cleared his throat.

"I know, less exciting, but I'm glad I get to ease my way into it." Heather admitted.

"What do you do?" Ford asked Cooper.

"Oh he's Pool Police." Buddy said, walking over. "With me."

"BUD!" Ford exclaimed. "Gideon let you out of the tent?!"

"Yeah, he thinks some hard work will knock some sense in me." Buddy explained. "Says I can stop when I'm ready to declare you as my sworn enemy."

"Oh…" Ford cleared his throat. "Any luck?"

"Nope." Buddy assured him. "You know we need a third pool guard and someone to check out pool stuff to the customers."

"Pool stuff?" Fids asked.

"You know Rent out floaties, pool noodles, and goggles to the people who need them." Heather explained. "They'd also run the snack bar. Mr. Poolcheck says he has some people in mind, but they haven't arrived yet."

"They're some college kids looking to make money on break." Cooper explained with an eye roll. "So, we have to pick up the slack until they get here."

"You know, Fids and I could help for a few days." Ford offered.

"What about the Shack?" Cooper asked.

"This heat wave destroyed the AC." Fids explained. "The place is like an oven. No Costumers have come in days. Finally, Ms. Pines decided to close until it can get fixed by the company on Monday."

"She has to pay us if we're open." Ford explained. "It's the law, and with no revenue coming in and no customers, there really isn't a point."

"This is awesome." Cooper exclaimed. "Now I can have break times." He looks relieved. "I've been here since we opened at seven, and this sun is so hot." He complained. "If we could take brakes I can jump in the pool for a few and cool down."

"What about you Heather." Ford asked. "How will you get a break without another lifeguard."

"Oh, I'm allowed to wade in the shallow end if I need to, take a quick dunk under water you know." She explained.

"That's good." Ford said. "Because it is hot!"

"Let's go find Ms. Pines and make sure she's okay with it." Fids suggested.

"Then we can introduce you to Mr. Poolcheck and see if he'd like the help." Buddy concluded.

The friends agreed and went to find Mabel.

At the pool Stan was gathering up the nerve to talk to the girl he had saw earlier.

She sipped on a lemonade, setting it on the floatie in front of her. Suddenly Stan burst out of the water, startling the girl.

"Hi there!" Stan greeted. "Oh, I seem to have lost my number. Can I borrow yours?"

"Oh, you are a riot!" The girl laughed and hummed lightly. "What's your name?"

"Stanley Pines! But most just know me as Stan," Stan smiled. "And your name?"

"It's Merlina," the girl answered. "I'm charmed by your sense of humor. And your bold lack of water wings."

"Oh, you're pretty funny yourself," Stan laughed. "And your hair is so beautiful."

He reached out to stroke it, but Merlina pulled her hair away.

"No, it has silly tangles," she denied, sighing in a sing-song fashion.

"I could..." Stan pulled out a comb and ran it through Merlina's hair.

"Wow Stan, you're so kind," Merlina smiled. "And forward." She added.

"You think that's okay?" Stan asked. "Most girls think I'm pushy."

"Oh no I think your great." Merlina said. "No one has really tried to include me all day. It's nice to have someone to talk to."

'This is it, Stan!' Stan thought. 'She likes you. Go for it! Ask her out!'

"Say, how about we dry off and hit the snack bar?" Stan suggested.

"I'm afraid I can't," Merlina sighed. "For I have a terrible secret! I-I must go."

She swam off, pushing the floatie in front of her.

"I'm upset," Stan frowned. "Yet intrigued..." he added. He made it his mission to discover this girl's secret. But more importantly he made it his mission to make her happy, for he found he loved her smile.

And he was determined to see it again.

(Back with Ford…)

They found Mabel at the snack bar where incidentally Mr. Poolcheck was taking their order.

"Oh kids good." Mabel said. "I was just about to see if you wanted any Pit Soda."

"Yes Please." Fids answered.

"Hey guys." Susan waved as she appeared with a box of sodas from somewhere in the back.

"Susan you work here too?" Fids asked.

"oh yeah I forgot to mention that." Cooper said. "Mr. Poolcheck is trying to show Susan how to run the snack bar."

"It really is a two-man job." Mr. Poolcheck said. He had a drill sergeant like deminer about him. "One rents out pool stuff while the other mans the snack bar, but we're short 'til Monday."

"That's why we came over." Ford said taking charge. "Our friends explained the situation and we thought we could lend a hand."

"Really?" Mr. Poolcheck looks to Mabel almost hopefully. "If it's alright with you I could really use the help."

"Our AC is busted." Mabel explained. "It's turned the shack into a sauna. So we're closed until after the company fixes it on Monday." She laughed. "Looks like we're a match made in paradise. And I think it's great you kids want to help out, I'm so proud of you two."

Ford and Fids look to Mr. Poolcheck hopefully.

Mr. Poolcheck looks to Fids. "You took like you know your way around an inventory." He tells him. "I'd like you in here with Susan." He gestures to the small building he and Susan stood in.

"Sounds good to me." Fids walked in thorough the open door.

"Susan will get you up to speed." Mr. Poolcheck told him.

Susan quickly started showing him the ropes by filling Mabel's order.

Meanwhile, Mr. Poolcheck walked over to Ford, sniffing him.

"SPF 100," he said. "Good. I like you. I need a third for my Pool Police Squad but this isn't an easy job! It's anarchy out there."

Ford looked at the pool, which was calm and happy.

"I think I can handle it," he said.

"Can you handle THIS?!" Mr. Poolcheck yelled. Ford turned to look at him and yelled at seeing his detached hand. "I lost my HAND to a pool filter!" He reattached his hand to his arm. "The pool may seem friendly, but she can turn on you in an instant. Which is why you must respect her rules! Do you think you have what it takes, boy? Do you?!"

Ford looked at Heather, Buddy and Cooper, who was giving him a thumbs up.

"Sure, I guess," Ford said. Mr. Poolcheck put a whistle on a rope around Ford's neck.

"Welcome to the shallow end, son," Mr. Poolcheck nodded.

"Well thanks, I-" Ford was cut off by Mr. Poolcheck pulling him into a bone-crushing hug. "Oh, yup. This is happening."

Cooper stiffened a laugh, not telling Ford how crazy Mr. Poolcheck was had been something he had done on purpose.

Ford finally managed to get free and slumped over to them. "He's crazy, isn't he?" Ford asked.

"A little." Buddy answered. "But don't let his paranoia get to you." He assured him. "We'll barely see him."

"Yeah, let's just enjoy the day." Heather said as she leads them to their post.

Ford moves to follow, but than notices something on Mable's back shoulder.

Something he never noticed before.

Usually in thick sweaters, Mabel wears a pink one-piece swimsuit and on her back shoulder was a weird tattoo. It was a symbol of some sort, wiggly lines like clouds in a crud drawing, with a cross connecting with a diamond at the bottom. Two dots lined on either side of the cross and some arrow like markings were at the bottom.

Something about it set Ford off and it took him a while to figure it out.

When he did it sent a shiver down his spine. It wasn't a tattoo at all, but much more like the burn of a branding rod.

Someway, somehow Grauntie Mabel had been given a mark! What did it mean? And why did the very sight of it make his blood run cold?

He wasn't sure, but he was determined to find out!

-To Be Continued