Stan opens his eyes to see that cart had toppled over and Ford on the ground, holding on to the twins.
"Ford! Kids!" He ignored the aches of bruises as he ran over to his brother and niblings. Mabel and Dipper get out of Ford's limp grip.
"We're fine," Mabel groaned. A little bruised up, but otherwise okay.
Ford was unresponsive.
"Grunkle Ford?" Dipper asked, looking worried.
Stan bites back a curse. "He's out cold."
"What do we do?"
"Uh, guys?" Mabel points at the forest.
The crocotta emerged from the forest slowly, ready to strike again. The twins hold on to Ford and Stan holds onto all three of them. The twins squeezed their eyes shut and bowed their heads. Seeing how scared they were made Stan glare at the anomaly.
"Back off," he growled.
The crocotta was not intimidated by a mere human. It approached the family, growling and snarling.
So, Stan let blue flames seeped out his eyes and through his teeth.
"I said back. Off."
The creature halted its approach. It looked surprised, likely that it didn't think that a human could possibly be a threat to it. It basically huffed and trotted back into the woods.
Stan cancels out the flames just as the twins move.
"It…ran off?" Dipper asked, visibly confused.
Mabel was equally perplexed. "I wonder why…"
Stan doesn't let them linger on the thought. "Maybe it's best that the two of you get back in the shack, pronto."
"But, what about Great Uncle Ford?" Dipper asked, looking at the still form of Ford.
"I'll take care of him. Now, go," Stan ordered. The twins rush into the shack. Stan checks on Ford, realizing he is likely concussed. He exhaled a breath. "What am I gonna do with you?" He looks at his hand. "Well…one thing I can do right now." Stan wills another blue flame to appear from his palm and presses it against Ford's head. The fire swirled around Ford's head, not burning a single hair or skin as Stan wouldn't allow it, instead having it to heal his brother's concussion.
Ford eventually stirred and Stan quickly dismissed the fire.
"Stanley?"
"Welcome back to the world of the living. How are ya feelin'?" Stan asked, acting casual.
Ford blinked and a look of surprise was evident on his face. He sits up with ease, adding further to his astonishment. "…Surprisingly better than I thought after experiencing head trauma." He turns thoughtful. "Maybe…"
"Well, it looks like the hit didn't affect your nerd thoughts," Stan smirked before rising to his feet. He patted himself down and swiped off any dirt. "Come on. Let's get back in the shack before that thing decides that third times the charm." He holds out a hand to Ford.
Ford looks at it for a moment before taking it. He was smiling.
"Good plan."
When the brothers went inside, the younger twins run to hug Ford.
"Grunkle Ford! You're okay!" Mabel exclaimed with glee.
Dipper remained the skeptic, looking up and down at Ford. "Are you?"
Ford ruffled the kids' hair. "I appear to be so. I'm not experiencing confusion, nausea, lack of balance, or any of the sort."
"That's good."
It was Mabel's turn to look worried. "Will we be okay? That thing isn't gonna try to come after us, right?"
"Crocottas are exceptionally intelligent creatures. I'm sure by now it won't try to fool us again. For now, at the very least," Ford said.
"I hope so…" Something starts to dawn on Dipper. "We saw tiny fairies, jackalopes, and a crocotta…"
"I meant to ask Grunkle Ford, do other magical creatures exist?" Mabel asked.
Ford nodded. "From what I've seen, I'd think so. It's just a matter of proving their existence."
"Does that mean unicorns exist too?" Mabel grinned.
Ford paled. "…um–"
Stan thankfully came to the rescue. "Alright, it's time for bed for everyone. It's late and Ford and I have to work tomorrow… Technically, today… And so do you two."
"We do?" Dipper asked.
"Where?" Mabel asked.
"At the shack! Just for the morning up until lunch." Stan turns to his brother with a serious frown. "And it's perfectly legal since it's a family business."
Ford chuckled. "I wasn't going to say anything. It's honestly no different from the times we helped Dad with the pawn shop. Probably with better pay."
"What are you gonna have us do?" Dipper asked, eyeing Stan with suspicion.
"Just cleaning, dusting, stocking…anything else Wendy didn't do," Stan said. Dipper and Mabel stare at him. "And you will get paid."
"Yes!" Dipper and Mabel high-fived each other.
Stan laughed. "Now, get back to bed, gremlins."
The Stans follow the twins back to their rooms to get them in bed. Dipper's simple bed was located near the triangular window, just next to the desk below the window. Mabe's bed was carried up on the loft, surrounded by stuffies and a DIY canopy crown hung over, decorated with fairy lights.
"Hey, Grunkle Ford?" Mabel questioned as she made herself comfortable.
"Yes?" Ford asked, kneeling down.
"Will we see you in the morning for breakfast?"
"You will, sunshine."
"You promise?" Mabel asked. Ford could see the hope in her eyes.
"Yes. I promise."
"Do you super-duper promise?"
An idea comes to Ford's mind. "How about we do this?" He holds up his right pinkie and ring finger. "Let's make a double promise."
"With two fingers?" Mabel asked.
"Since I have an extra finger on each hand, it means that I have the ability to make a double promise. By making a double promise, I am bound to keep my word, regardless of reasons. So…" Ford holds out his two fingers to Mabel. "What do you say, Mabel?"
Mabel attempts to wrap her pinkie around Ford's fingers. "I'd say that's a double promise."
"Indeed." Ford plants a kiss on his niece's head. "Goodnight, Mabel."
"Goodnight. See you in the morning."
Once Mabel is settled, Ford goes to Dipper, taking a seat on his bed. He gives Dipper back his journal.
"I found this when I went looking for you."
There was a hint of shame on Dipper's face as he accepted the book back. "Yeah…Thanks."
"Dipper, I think I miiight have another trip in mind, once the crocotta is taken care of," Ford said.
"You mean…back in the woods?" Dipper asked.
"There is a pond where a paddle of plaidypus resides."
A grin manifested as Dipper laughed. "I'm sorry. Plaidypus?"
Ford chuckled. "A species of platypus with a plaid pattern coat. Its pelt is very much popular with the lumberjacks in the area."
"I would love to see that." Dipper gives Ford a hug. "Good night, Grunkle Ford."
"Goodnight, Dipper."
Stan sighs as he slumped in his recliner.
"...What have we gotten ourselves into?" he asked.
"Funny. I've asked myself that," Ford said, taking a seat on the couch. He sighs. "...I'm such an idiot."
Stan didn't object. "Yep."
"And exhausted."
Stan grinned. "Wow. Is Pa in heaven?"
Ford chuckles and gets up. "I think I'm going to put that relocation plan on hold."
Stan's expression softens. "Sounds like a good plan."
"Good night, Stanley."
"Good night, Stanford."
Ford leaves for the basement and Stan relaxes with his arms behind his head.
"Finally," Stan murmured. He summons the blue flames on his hand. "One step at a time."
He closes his hand, extinguishing the flame.
It's morning. Dipper comes down groggily for breakfast made by Mabel and Stan. Mabel was the first to see her brother as she set up the table.
"Wow. Bag check on Dipper's eyes," Mabel joked.
Dipper playfully rolled his eyes. "Ha-Ha."
He sits at the table. Ford comes in, looking just as groggy.
"And here comes the vampire, coming out of his crypt," Stan teased.
Similar to Dipper, Ford half-heartedly rolled his eyes with a smile. "Ha-ha. Where's my coffee?"
Stan: Right over there.
"I'm kinda surprised we were able to go back to sleep after the night we had," Dipper said.
"It's probably due to the adrenaline rush wearing off," Ford said as he held his steaming mug. "Adrenaline is a stress hormone, so what was happening was–"
There is a knock on the door.
"Who could that be?" Mabel wondered.
"That could be Soos, Wendy, or our neighbor," replied Stan as he finished up.
"Neighbor?" asked Dipper. He recalled seeing a building through the trees not far from the shack. And maybe what was left of a castle tower?
"Is it Bigfoot?" Mabel asked excitedly.
Stan frowned. "I wish."
He answers the door, revealing a woman with long, graying red hair with silver streaks, and amber eyes.
"Hey, Stan. It's me, Eda," the woman said with a grin, showing off a single fang.
"Kinda hard to forget," Stan said. He lets her in. "Why are you here?"
"I wanna meet your little gremlins. It's been a week since they came here and I've been dying to see them. And I'm sure Amethyst will too."
"Fine, fine," Stan said. He leads Eda to the kitchen. "Hey, kids. This is our neighbor, Eda Clawthorne. Eda, these two are Dipper and Mabel."
Mabel waves at her enthusiastically. "Morning!"
Dipper was more subdued. "Good morning."
"Morning." Eda looks at Ford. "And morning to you too, Fordsie." Ford avoids eye contact and sips his coffee. Eda shrugged and returned her attention to the young twins. "Wow, look at you two. A pair of twins. I'm guessing twins are common in your family, Stan?"
"Heck if I know," Stan said.
"Well, in any case, I'm glad to see the four of you in one piece after last night," Eda said.
"You heard all that?" Dipper asked.
"Some giant monster on the prowl? Yeah, kinda hard to ignore."
"So, you know about the strangeness of the forest?"
"Pretty much. However, not everyone is privy to that information." She checks the time on the clock. "I hate to chat and run, but I got my own anklebiter to feed. Byyyeee~!"
"It was nice meeting you, Eda!" Mabel said as the woman left.
"Likewise. And, kids. Don't worry. Despite the monsters and whatever, Gravity Falls – heck, all of Roadkill County – is pretty amazing. You'll see."
Eda enters her home, a nice cozy looking place with knick-knacks and antiques.
"King? I'm back!" she announced.
A small child in a hooded onesie and holding a bunny plush toy enters the living room. King yawns.
"Where were ya?" the child asked as he rubbed his yellow eyes.
"I went to go meet Stanley's niece and nephew," Eda replied.
"What? Without me?" King exclaimed. A single, fox-like tail behind had its fur ruffled with King's indignation.
Eda waved a dismissive hand. "Aaah, don't get your collar in a twist. You'll see them soon enough."
"I better. What kind of king would I be if I don't properly meet my new subjects?" King asked in a bravado.
"Uh-huh. And what would His Majesty want for breakfast?" Eda asked.
"A bowl of cereal!"
"Coming right up."
Sprig Plantar groaned and leaned on the plow he was pulling.
"Are we done yet, Hop-Pop?" he asked the old man at the other side of the field.
"The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can have free time for the rest of the day," Hop-Pop, Jedidiah Plantar, said wisely as he watered the planted seeds with a hose.
"Yeah, shake a leg, Sprig. We've got an episode of Survivor Island later today," Polly Plantar said as she planted the seeds from the sack she was holding.
"Fine." Sprig begrudgingly returns to his plowing. He steps on the hose, blocking the water.
The lack of water coming out of the nozzle prompted Hop-Pop to look into the hose. "Hm?" A moment later, Sprig removed his foot and the water came rushing out into Hop-Pop's face. "Ah! Dang it, boy!"
"Sorry!"
Polly giggled and pointed at her soaked grandfather.
"Is that true, Amethyst?" Steven Universe asked with stars in his eyes and a phone in his hand.
"Yeah, dude. I saw them myself when I went to visit Stan," Amethyst said. The tan-skinned girl munched on a burrito. Seating across the table was Garnet, reading a book.
"I wanna meet them!"
"Not right now, Steven. They're gonna need some time to adjust," Pearl said.
"It's been a week, P," Amethyst pointed out.
"Just be patient, Steven," Pearl insisted. "You'll get to meet them eventually."
"Did you hear that, Connie?" Steven said into his smartphone.
/ Yeah! I can't wait to meet them. /
"Me too!"
"Think they'll get along, G," Amethyst asked Garnet.
Garnet's only response was a knowing smile.
And that's it in the PILOT. Thank you all for giving this a try ^^.
A pilot of sorts, some things might have changed for the rest of the series.
At the start of this, I honestly wasn't planning on making this crossover. Once I was reminded of Mr. Ponds from Amphibia (a character that is not only a homage to Stan, but is Amphibia's Stan), it was too good to pass up the opportunity to use these characters from other shows.
It was either that or create new OCs. There might still be OCs, just not as much as there would have been.
This originally started with just Amphibia and the Owl House…but then I couldn't stop thinking about the previous Gravity Falls crossover I made with Steven Universe…and now I think I'm gonna scrap that for this series instead, adding Steven Universe to the mix.
There will be some changes to these characters for the sake of the series (such as King not being a Titan; but not human either) and I will make a post about that on Tumblr (or just post it here too as a nonfanfic thing)
Hope to see you guys again for the next installment.