Disclaimers: I do not own Gravity Falls or the Relativity Falls AU
Author's Note: Okay everyone I'm back again with another update. I know they have been scarce lately, but I still plan to have season 2 complete before my second Penguins of Madagascar story comes out in May. With all that said parts of this chapter was requested by Fanfiction user: Imagaco, thank you so much for being a faithful reader and contributor to this series.
Thank you all for reading and please review!
Switched (Part 2)
(Back with Ford...)
The twins had spent hours knocking out the chores on their lists all while trying to sabotage each other's work as they went. They retiled the roof, gave the shack a new coating of paint, shined the trash cans, and mowed the lawn.
Stan could tell Ford was starting to get tired. He kept panting and wheezing and sweating even more than usual. Ford was never as athletic as his brother and got winded more easily something Stan was totally taking advantage of.
"Might as well give it up now bro that room is totally mine." Stan bragged.
Ford huffed and mowed the lawn a little harder, but Stan knew it wouldn't be long before his brother dropped like a sack of flour. He grinned to himself. He would turn the room into the ultimate Man Cave. He wondered if Mabel would allow him to get a TV if he paid for it with the money he earned.
Ford breathed a sigh of relief as he finished his half of the lawn, just as Ria came out with some glasses of lemonade.
"You boys are working so hard I thought you would be thirsty." She told them.
"Thank you, Ria, how is my new room coming?" Ford asked as he took a glass.
"He means my room." Stan corrected him as he took the other drink.
"It is very messy, haven't been used in sometime." Ria stated. "I must go to the store and get fresh curtains, sheets and blankets." She explained. "I go now." She took her leave and Ford decided it was time for a break. He heads to the new room and gives it a look, he imagined how he would set things up. He would keep the desk in the corner and possibly the couch, it would still fit even with his bed on the far corner.
He sits on the couch rubbing his sweaty sock-covered feet on the shag carpet when Stan walks in.
Stan shook his head. "Don't get too comfortable, Ford. I plan to cover the golf cart in sparkles. I'm like a suck-up ninja!" Suddenly Cooper, Bud, Fids, and the girls come rushing in.
"We came as soon as we could!" Susan huffed.
"Oh no!" Bud takes in their threatening stance and assumes the worse. "We're too late they've already started fighting like animals."
Ford had gotten up and was starting to pace around the room, glaring at Stan. It was easy to see why Bud feared the worst.
"Relax, I'm just telling Ford how pointless his efforts are." Stan explained. "This room's as good as mine. You might as well give up now. Whaddaya say?" he asked, holding up his hand to his brother for a shake.
The tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife and their friends stayed in the doorway as far away as possible.
"I say, I'm gonna win this room somehow," Ford growled, coming closer. Static was building up around him causing his hair to begin to stand on end. "And when I do," He continued, "I'll finally have my own space, and we'll never have to share anything, ever again!"
He smacked Stan's hand.
Lightning shot through their bodies so fast they screamed as the crackling sound of static filled their ears. The Zap created a force so great it knocked them down on the ground and the next thing Stan knew, he was staring at the ceiling and wondering how he got there.
"Stanley!" Bud raced over, but for some reason he ran over to his brother. "Are you okay?'
"Bud, I'm over here..." He groaned a little, rubbing his head, pushing himself to a sitting position. That wasn't static, it was more like lightning! His chest and head hurt a lot causing him to groan again. Something felt weird about that, but then again everything felt weird and hurty right now.
"Ford are you okay?" Heather and Susan had come to check up on him, but he wasn't Ford, he was Stan...
"What hit me," Ford muttered from across the room.
Stan forced his eyes open, but there was nothing else on the carpet but a mirror. Except there was something weird about that, too.
His reflection opened his mouth.
"...Stan?"
Stan blinked. "Sixer?" he said cautiously. Why was his brother's voice coming out of his...
He looked down.
Nerdy pants stained with ink spots...
He took his hand from his head and stared at it. Six fingers.
"Am I in your body?" Ford asked numbly as he took in the baggy shorts and red shirt, he was wear. It certainly wasn't what he was wearing a few seconds before.
"Am I in your body?" Stan echoed.
For a minute they just stared at each other. Then Stan took a deep breath and screamed.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
The friends watched in bewilderment as screaming and hijinks ensued.
Stan, throwing up in the toilet, screaming, while Ford rocking in the corner, screaming as well. Stan punched himself in the gut, screaming, "Get out, get out!"
Cooper looks confused. "So, they what, switched bodies?"
"That's what they said." Fids whispered as the two finally seemed to calm down standing in front of a mirror, holding themselves stiffly.
"Great," Ford said angrily. "Just what we need, more Gravity Falls weirdness."
"You're kidding right?" Cooper scoffed. "You're identical twins."
"I will deck you skinny jeans!" Stan growled. "Don't test me."
Susan giggled. "He as a point, how can you tell the difference?"
Stan looks at her like he's been insulted. "What's the difference? I can feel myself getting nerdier by the second." He tried to style his...no, Ford's hair, but it's so darn poofy it wouldn't cooperate with his coolness.
"Well at least mt body isn't so sweaty and awkward!" Ford argued.
"At least I don't have Ballpoint Pen Breath!" Stan shot back.
"Hey look," Fids said, heading over to the carpet. The brothers look his way, as he peels back the carpet and held up a label attached to its edge. "'Experiment 78'," he read. "'Electron Carpet'." He tapped his chin.
"Atoms can swap electrons." Ford exclaimed as understanding filed him. "This carpet must build up a static charge so powerful it can switch minds!" He started pacing feverishly.
"It was the static electricity! I bet you could use it to switch back!" Heather suggested.
Stan let out his breath in a gust, deeply relieved. "Phew! Glad we're switching back. If I were you I would totally...lose..."
Oh no! Fids watched as the two both mirrored a mischievous grin.
"And If I was you, which I am, I could sabotage your efforts and win the room with half the work." Ford countered.
"Guys..." Heather insisted, they could all see the train wreck that was coming.
"Let's think this through." Fids suggested.
"Cooper stop them." Susan whispered.
"You kidding this is the most entertainment I've gotten all day." He joked.
"Not if I sabotage you first!" Stan argued as they both tried to dart out of the room.
Ford trips over Stan's untied shoes, hitting the floor chin-first. "Tie your shoes!" He yelled after his brother. His tongue ran over the braces on his teeth, man how did Stan tolerate these, they were a nightmare.
Stan paused at the doorway and looked back, still grinning. "Enjoy my muscles while it lasts, bro! I'm gonna paint the town!" He laughs and runs to go ruin all of Ford's work.
Ford finishes tying the shoes and pushes past his friends to follow his brother.
"And we lost them." Heather whined.
"Okay let's not panic." Bud reasoned. "We just have to herd them back here and get them to zap back."
"And how do we do that?" Cooper challenged. "They won't try to change back willingly until they think one of them has won."
"Unless we force them." Fids reasoned.
"How do we do that?" Susan asked.
"If we initiate the switch, they'll try to switch with us to get back in each other's bodies." Fids explained.
"So, you're saying the only way to force them to fix this is to allow ourselves to be switched too!" Cooper looks annoyed.
"That or let them ruin their brotherhood over something as stupid as a room." Heather yelled.
"If we do this than we all have to be committed." Bud stated.
"I'm in." Susan said.
"Me too." Heather said.
"Well, we all know I'm getting behind my own plan." Fids said, he looked at Cooper; his friends followed his lead.
Cooper sighed. "Fine I'm in, but after this weirdness you nerds totally owe me."
"Deal." Fids vowed. "Alright guys, let's do this."
The friends shared a nod and set off to find their prey.
(Back with Ford...)
Stan was long gone by the time Ford got back up to the Shack's ground floor. He huffed in disgust. Fine! Stan wanted to play dirty so be it, he wasn't going to waste time trying to catch up with him. It would be far more productive to discredit Stan instead, or should he say unproductive.
"GRAUNTIE MABEL!" he shouted. "IT'S ME, STAN! I'M DOING THINGS YOU HATE!"
He swatted a lamp off the nearest table, and it shattered.
"Ford!" Fids hissed, he and the others had divided their efforts among the brothers. Cooper, and Heather had joined him, leaving Susan and Buddy to try and lure Stan back inside.
Ford turned wearing huge smiles, mischief gleaming in his eyes. "I'm just smashing things like I; Stan always do!"
"Ford you could get Stan in real trouble." Heather reasoned.
"Why should I care?" Ford asked. "He's doing the same to me right now."
"Because he's your brother." Fids reminded him.
"Man, I'm always making sacrifices for him." Ford argued. "He never gives up anything for me, and I am not letting him take this from me too! I am getting that room."
"Okay, than change back and win it fairly." Cooper challenged. "Or do you think you don't stand a chance as you?"
Ford sees what he's doing, it's clear as day. "You guys just want to switch us back." He pointed out.
"Of course, we do!" Cooper shouted. "Are you dense? There could be serious consequences invading other people's bodies."
"He's right Ford, what if you guys can't switch back?" Fids asked. "The longer you guys stay like this the less likely you will."
Ford knew he had a point; it was possible they could be stuck like this forever.
"Come on Ford, I know Stan can be difficult at times." Heather Reasoned. "But you know this is the smart and responsible thig to do."
"Kids I thought I heard something..." Suddenly Mabel walks in, she gasped at the broken lamp. "Stan what happened?"
"Oh, I knocked over your lamp." Ford said. "Guess you'll have to give the room to Ford huh?" he gave his friends a sly smile.
"Oh, I'm sure it was an accident." Mabel says. "You kids be careful I don't want you to cut yourselves on the glass."
"But I did it on pur..." Ford begins but Cooper covers his mouth. "Sure thing Ms. P we'll get out over your way and help with the rest of the chores."
"Oh, that's very sweet of you guys." Mabel says. "See this is what I wanted to teach you and Ford Stan. Teamwork makes the dream work, I'm sure you and Ford can learn to come up with a fair solution as a team."
"That is such wise advice Ms. Pines." Fids says.
"Well let's get to work team!" Heather exclaims as they hurry off, taking Ford hostage as they go.
Meanwhile outside, Stan ruining the parts of the Shack that Ford had painted. "Hah this will ruin his chances for sure."
"Stan that's not nice." Sudan said as she gestured to his crude drawling of his Aunt.
"Hey, Ford did it, not me." Stan joked.
"I did not!' Ford shouted as he tore himself free of Cooper's hold and marched over.
"You mean like Stan didn't just break a lamp on purpose?" Cooper challenged.
"You did what!" Stan yelled.
"Like you have room to talk!" Ford gestures at the shacks new paint job.
"Hey, I was only going to stick to what was on the chore list." Stan argued. "But since you want to play dirty Sixer, I can do a lot worse." He warned.
"No, you can't." Buddy warned.
"Seriously guys knock it off!" Susan yelled.
"No, I told you I'm not giving in on this one." Ford reminded them. "Now I've got a Golf cart to disgrace." He takes some paint as he makes his leave.
Stan goes to pounce only for Cooper to step in, if Ford wasn't going to listen than he would get through to Stan in a way only he could understand.
"Cooper!" Heather yelled.
Stan goes to punch Cooper, but he catches his fist and twists his arm behind his back. Stan screams, man he knew Ford was weaker than him, but that hurt a lot more than expected.
"Cooper stop!" Heather cried.
"No, this is the only way to get through to him." Cooper yelled. "Is a room really worth ruining your friendship with your brother?" He asked Stan.
Stan doesn't answer, trying to struggle free.
"Is it!?" Cooper yells as he tightens his grip.
"Look this is crazy!" Stan yelled. "You're all being crazy!"
"No, you are! Fighting each other over a stupid room." Cooper yelled.
"I didn't even want the room okay!" Stan yelled.
"What?" Cooper asked shocked.
"I was mad okay! He treated the fort like it was trash! Than he tries to abandon me and get his own space." Stan sounded like he was crying.
Cooper let him go, and Stan removed Ford's glasses to wipe his face. He wouldn't look at them, refusing to let anyone see him cry. "It was like a punch to the gut, Ford's never not included me before."
"Stan, we had no idea." Bud said.
"It's okay, getting a new room isn't the end of the world." Heather assured him. "He's just down the stairs."
"Yeah, it's not like he's trying to move away forever." Fids agreed.
"Come on help us get through to Ford and talk this out together." Bud pleaded.
Stan doesn't speak for a while; he still hasn't turned around. Of course, he knew they were right. Ford had it a lot rougher than him, sure they both got bullied back at home but at least Stan could hold his own. He wanted his real body back, but more than that he wanted his brother back. And maybe he could sort of see where Ford was coming form in wanting his own space.
Stan was always making a mess, and he did ruin Ford's favorite book, and it wasn't the first time he had destroyed something precious like that. He also knew what Ford was getting at about not giving in. Ford always sacrificed so much for Stan, like risking ruining Heather's new job just so he could help Merlina. Or the time he gave up going to science camp, so Stan didn't have to spend last summer alone. "Okay... You're right." He admitted. "This has gone far enough."
His friends breathed a sigh of relief.
"See I told you I could beat the sense in him." Cooper said proudly.
"Yeah, well beating up Ford ain't going to work." Stan argued as he put the glasses back on and turned to face them.
"Oh, there you are Ford." Mabel came around the side of the shack; she looked upset, and rightfully so. "Did you see what happened with the golf cart?" She stops as she sees the shack's new paint job. "Stanford this is not what I had in mind when I gave you this task."
"I know." Stan said. "Stanley isn't happy, he thinks I'm winning the room, so he messed up the golfcart and I got revenge on the Shack." He confessed.
Mabel shook her head. "I really wanted you two to work this out as a team, I wanted this to bring you together, not tear you apart."
"I know, but I can fix this." Stan said.
"I know you can." Mabel said. "I know being the oldest isn't easy, but it's your responsibility to be a good example to Stan."
Stan winced, he often lied about it, but it was true, Ford was older. 15 whole minutes, he knew that, but he never knew how much pressure came with that extra 15 minutes. If he had done this as himself, Grauntie Mabel would be mad sure. However, she wouldn't be getting on to him for what Ford did too! Ford was getting in trouble for what he did and what Stan did. He looks more determined as he says. "Don't worry Aunt Mabel I'll fix this, just give me one more chance."
Mabel smiles, this was what she wanted, for the twins to come together, and maybe there was still time. "Okay, I'm counting on you."
Stan and his friends nodded. "We won't let you down!"
-To Be Continued