Onto feet, boots were slipped. Into worn flashlights new batteries placed. Loose laces tied. Bug spray applied, and sometimes got into the mouth - which is really just awful. Bug spray was applied again for Dipper, just in case. Stickers were stuck onto Mabels forehead, also just in case. Half an hour after deciding on their plan, the twins descended the stairs, outfitted warriors ready for their battlefield in the woods. Their mission: finding the stalking Doppelganger and bringing him to justice. As they landed the steps and turned into the hallway, they took a second to give each other a final glance over. They nodded with confidence, and they then stepped forward.
Within the gift shop they went, and a familiar voice called to them. "Hey guys," Wendy said as they stepped through the gift shop, "what's- whoa," she finally looked past the magazine, and saw the look in their eyes, "uh, who's got the target on their backs?"
Mabel, squinting hard, answered. "A Dipper-ganger," she growled in a tone that would make an action hero proud.
Dipper sighed. "Doppelganger- Mabel, c'mon, that's stupid," Dipper told his sister disapprovingly.
Wendy stood up straight. "I've heard about those. They pretend to be you while they mess with your life and friends, right?" Wendy asked, and then grinned, "And he's gunning for you, huh Dipper?"
"It – ugh, yeah," Dipper nodded, "we've seen something sort of lurking around here in the shadows that's shorter. So, we're going to take the battle to-"
"We're going to VAPORIZE it!" Mabel cheered, holding her strong flashlight above her head with valor.
"They don't like light?" Wendy asked.
"Yeah, so if I pointed it at you," Dipper turned on the flashlight and shone it against Wendy's shoulder, "you would be in pain."
"Oh, the agony!" Wendy held the back of her hand against her forehead. Mabel and Wendy giggled, and Wendy stood upright again. "What then?" she asked, "Just tell it to scamper?"
"If it's nice, yeah," Mabel nodded, "otherwise, we're off to cook some supernatural stalker."
From the door, the other employee emerged. "Hey dudes," Soos stepped in through the front door.
"SCANNING!" Mabel whipped her flashlight around and directed a beam at Soos, who froze in place, his eyes wide. Nothing happened.
Sweating slightly, Soos gulped. "Uh... I swear I didn't know about the additional condiments costing extra," Soos said worryingly, watching Mabel with concern.
"He's fine," Dipper held down his sister's arm as he turned off his own flashlight, "we're going to be looking for a monster that's sensitive to light."
Soos gave them a quick look, and then asked, "Outside? Just so you two know, a storm is really going to start picking up soon," he warned them.
Dipper gasped. "What?" Dipper asked as he and Mabel approached the screen door. As Soos said, dark clouds were forming on the horizon. It was also getting cooler, a breeze drifted down from the tops of the trees.
Mabel cooed at the sight of the coming storm. "Oh, that's pretty," Mabel said in awe as she watched the distant clouds rumble and cackle with lightning. She turned her head towards the woods, and gasped. "Now that's what I call spooky. Spook-tastic."
"Huh?" Dipper turned his head to the direction in mention. Drifting through the woods was a deep blanket of fog, perfectly grey and wispy.
Mabel looked back to Dipper. She said, "Dip, you know, maybe hunting today isn't turning out to be such a good idea, you know?" Mabel asked, prodding her brother's shoulder.
Dipper considered it too. This was a bad omen, if anything. The fog enough was reason to worry; should something be hiding closer to the ground, they would be almost entirely unaware of it's presence until they were right on top of it. Then there was also the storm to consider. It billowed miles and miles away, foretelling of a vicious gale to come. Yet Dipper had the feeling, peering into those creepy looking woods, that if he didn't take the chance to move out now, and find that monster, it would be coming for him in the late of the evening.
Dipper scowled at the darkness. "Let's do this, Mabes," Dipper said after a quick breath, and sprayed himself again with bug spray.
Mabel gagged. "Blaah! Eugh! Enough, Dip, that stuff is flying everywhere," Mabel coughed as she inhaled half of his spray. She then tasted the air. "Hmm, but it does taste like pennies, so that's not bad."
Soos stepped up behind them. "You two be safe, okay?" Soos asked them as they stepped out and headed towards the woods.
From deeper within the shop, Wendy called, "Relax, man, they got it under control. Mystery Twin powers, go!" Wendy shouted after them as the door closed.
Their steps were heralded by the scraping gravel as they approached the forests edge. Thunder rumbled in the distance as they found themselves looking into the woods, dark and sinister as it was deep and coaxing. Simultaneously flicking on their flashlights together, they gave each other one last look, filled to the brim with that kind of connection only twins seemed to have. Finally, they passed the borders of the clearing of the Mystery Shack and entered the woods properly, for the first time in three years.
Quickly the sky's light dissipated and they found themselves inside a darker, cooler summer day. The woods, as they had remembered it, felt of thick, still air. The sounds of the storm were dulled and the breeze could do little to reach them. Instead, the sounds of breaking twigs under their feet and distant animals echoed around them. Their flashlights beam scoured around for a target, yet spotted nothing.
Dipper shuddered, but grinned. "Man, it's creepier than I remember," Dipper admitted to his sister as they walked further in, the woods growing darker and darker.
"It's just letting us know it hasn't lost any character," Mabel grinned as she peered up with her flashlight, "isn't that right, spooky-vibe woods?"
"I'd rather not hear any communication from the woods at all," Dipper told her. A roar from the distance had them spin in its direction, both flashlights directed ahead. "And I just realized we are only prepared for the encounter against a Doppelganger."
"Dude, bro," Mabel turned to her nervous brother, "don't sweat it. You got yourself a sibling trained in the deadly art of awesomeness, whomp," she informed him, swinging the flashlight in her hand, and accidentally bopping his forehead with the flashlight, "oops."
Massaging his head, he cast her a single disapproving glance. "Ow," he winced, "Right. Let's just keep moving," Dipper looked around once more, and they continued.
Time slowly lost it's meaning as they passed tree after tree. The fog grew heavier and taller, and the nerves grew on Dipper. Calls of unknown animals or beasts echoed far inside the endless wilderness before them. Mushrooms that grew up to their waist seemed more and more common the longer they walked. A clap of thunder, much closer than they had expected rocked the air and startled them both.
Mabel laughed loudly quickly afterwards. "Oh, good one, you cheeky thunder, you!" Mabel wiggled a finger at the sky.
Dipper, on the other hand, took a long look around them. "I'm not liking this situation anymore," Dipper admitted as he looked to the sky, where the little he could see was a dark navy and grey.
"You want to chicken out of this?" Mabel snickered as she looked around herself.
"I'm not saying we should back out," Dipper turned to his sister, "just that... you know, maybe keeping a close proximity to the shack is a good idea."
"You're scared," Mabel teased him quickly. He glared at her.
"I'm not scared," Dipper said defensively.
She snorted. "Really? 'Cus until there was thunder, you were all ready to," Mabel 'cocked' the flashlight like a shotgun, "cook some doppelganger like it was hunting season for shape-shifting freaks. Now you're all," she wiggled her knees and moaned in fear, only to begin laughing at him.
"Laugh it up. Since you think I'm such a coward then," Dipper coldly said to her as she gained her composure, "why don't you lead?"
"Oh! But I'm sooo scared," Mabel mocked her brother. As he glared at his sister, she laughed. Mabel then turned and started walking away, "let's check out here, scaredey-cat."
"I'm not scared," Dipper told her strongly. Mabel laughed, but said nothing more, using her focus to watch ahead and keep an eye out for figures in the fog.
The fog had entirely risen above them and now was drifting around them in clouds. Their vision was completely obscured. Mabel was doing her best to look around, yet with the confusing woods and dense fog, it was becoming harder and harder to clearly navigate. Dipper, though keeping to himself, felt the pressure boil in his blood. He had hoped, by now, for any amount of progress. Instead, all they kept finding was fog, and the occasional feeling to look over their shoulder.
The silence was unceremoniously broken by Mabel. "So," she suddenly asked from ahead, "how's living with mom been?"
"Uh," Dipper got a moment to think as he stepped over a particularly thick log, "she's herself."
"No details?" Mabel glanced over her should at Dipper, hoping for more information as she pushed ahead.
Dipper shrugged. "She's working at a business now; not working at trading company anymore," Dipper explained with his best airs of casuality, turning his back on her to check behind them, "so she's been really busy. And you know, being part of clubs keeps me busy with-" A quick whoosh behind Dipper had him gasp, and he spun.
Mabel was gone.
Dipper felt his eyes widen. "Uh," he spun around, "Mabel?" he called, "oh... uh oh," Dipper tried peering through the fog for a hint where she had vanished to, but to no avail. "Mabel?" he called out. When no reply answered, he tried with more feeling, "Mabel? come out, this isn't cool! Mabel?" he shouted louder and louder as he ran ahead towards several trees, "Mabel!?"
"Bwaaah!" Mabel screamed as she swung upside down from a branch just above Dipper. Dipper nearly had a heart attack and yelled for his life, falling to the ground below him, gasping for air, and still managing to point his light at her face. Still hanging above him, Mabel cackled, "Oh my god! You should have seen your face! Hahahahaha!"
"Mabel, what the hell!?" Dipper growled angrily as he stood back up, brushing the forest floor off his pants and arms, "you had me seriously freaking out that something got you!"
She was busy wiping tears in her eyes. "No, bro, that was soooo worth it!" Mabel continued to laugh upside down, her hair dangling down her.
He scowled. "You suck," Dipper grunted, and he pushed past her moodily. She let herself flip right side up and drop down again. She continued to laugh as he moved on ahead.
Sensing that her brother hadn't been the best sport, she skipped ahead and caught up with him. "Aww, c'mon Dipper," Mabel rolled her eyes as she hurried up to catch him, "I'm just messing with you."
He cast her a disappointed look. "You can try that when we aren't neck deep in the worst woods to be neck deep in, with a storm coming, and a monster out there that wants to replace me, and terrorize my friends and family," Dipper reminded her heatedly.
"Hey," Mabel tried coming up next to him, "I'm a mood-lightener. Shwoop," she jumped a little ahead of him to speak face to face, "You know I can't take 'too serious to be handled', so I-" mid of her sentence, Dipper took several longer steps to move past her. Regardless of Mabels optimism, it was a clear message that her attitude towards the mission so far was doing her no good in favor with her brother. She felt the infectious energy turn heavy. Mabel sighed. "Alrighty" she moaned, "I'm sorry, okay?"
Ahead of her now, Dipper called curtly, "Let's just find this stupid thing before it gets me, okay?"
Minutes drew by slowly, each second passing like a step they took, forward through the indefinitely huge woods before them. With the little foresight she had, Mabel already regretted pushing her brother's buttons. He was tense and irritated as they journeyed ahead. She would occasionally spot a strange flower or mushroom or even small crystal, which she knew would normally have gathered his attention and allowed him to simmer down. Yet he remained uptight and direct.
"Ugh," Mabel winced as a cold water droplet hit the exact center of her scalp and ran down her back, "cold tingles. Not all that fun."
Dipper's march halted. "We've been out here forever," Dipper growled as he looked around, "c'mon you stupid perverse living mirror! Show yourself already!" he called around.
"Dipper," Mabel walked up to her brother, "maybe we should head back."
"Oh, now you want to go back," Dipper incredulously said.
"Well, it's starting to rain, isn't it?" she pointed above without looking, as more and more drops of rain fell from the canopy.
"So who's afraid of getting wet?" Dipper turned to his sister, nodding bitterly.
The words cut deeper than Mabel wanted. She, however, took a quick breath, and held up her hands. "Okay, yeah, I was a jerk back there," Mabel sighed with exasperation, "okay?" she asked him as he looked at her. "Seriously, you gotta un-tighten those screws, Dip."
"I'm fine," Dipper informed her.
She shrugged. "If you say so," Mabel said. Dipper had just turned and started walking forward again. Her brain slipped, and out of her mouth quietly came, "don't need to be all snooty."
He whirled about to face her. "What? Want to say that aloud?" he asked pointedly.
Disappointed in her own inability to hold back a tiny little quip, Mabel groaned. "Well, you're being kinda jerk-ish. So, yeah. You're being snooty," Mabel defended herself as the rain poured down from above.
"Yeah?" Dipper asked as he stepped closer to his sister, "sorry if the idea of being replaced by a monster doesn't appeal to me as much as it does you."
"Dipper, I don't like it at all," Mabel cried aloud, "but we're not going to get anything done by standing around in the woods, at each others throats!"
"I wouldn't be so uppity if you could take it seriously for just a few minutes, and not squeeze a laugh out of me every five minutes!" Dipper shouted at her.
"I already said I'm sorry!" she shouted back.
"Well, you-" Dipper had taken a step forward towards her, but never finished his statement, "Huaaaagh!" he cried. He fell to the side, and slid away from the spot.
"Dipper!" Mabel shouted, getting closer to the ground. She watched Dipper's flashlight bounce away and shatter against a boulder below her. She turned and shone her flashlight to where her brother had just been, and gasped. The fog had obscured it without direct light upon it, but Dipper had accidentally stepped on a loose patch of earth on a very steep and tall cliff. Down the now wet, muddy slop, Dipper slid, totally out of control. Mabel slowly heard his voice vanish as he sunk into the fog below. "Oh- no, Dipper!" she called below.
She knew exactly what she was going to do. Her brother was without a flashlight, and was separated from her. If that monster was going to show itself, it was going to be now, while he was defenseless, or never. With a single sigh, she relaxed her body, smiled at ease, and then leapt up and flew down the side of the muddy cliff-face.
Her feet slid and she hopped over rock and clay as she descended, the now pouring rain doing little to disperse the fog below her.
"Dipper!" she called as she grasped a limb of a tree she passed, catching herself from descending further. Holding onto the tree, she scanned around, still unable to make a single solid possible suggestion as to where he had gone. She let herself drop lower, landing on the soft ground of the soaked forest floor. Quickly wiping her brow of the mud and rain, she scanned around further. "Dipper!"
She was on flat ground now. With the steep hill behind her, Mabel quickly found the broken flashlight. It's fragmented pieces were strew about reflected the light of her own working flashlight. Yet there was no sign of Dipper anywhere.
She chewed her lip, looking around with her own light. "Where are you Dip?" she called around, "Dipper! Are you hurt?" she called to the dark woods. "Dipper! Talk to me!" A snap of branches behind her had her whirl around, her flash light on the source- Dipper was leaning against a boulder, his arm tucked under his vest. "Dip!"
"Mabel," Dipper said, holding his other hand to his face, trying to block out the light, "hey, tone that down, would ya?"
Her smile big and eyes wide, she suddenly faltered. Her happy face fell away as she studied her brother. With conviction, she stayed her ground, and focused the flashlight, keeping the light on him. He breathed heavily, watching her with confusion until he nodded with a sigh.
"Okay, if you think if I'm a Doppelganger, I'd be scorching now, right?" Dipper told Mabel. She sighed with a nod and approached comfortably. "I think we should go back now," Dipper admitted.
"Here, give me your arm," she asked him as she came to his side, "we have to climb that hill."
"Ugh... might as well," Dipper said with a grim smirk, and they turned towards the hill, and started the steep incline. "Hey," Dipper looked to his sister, "sorry about earlier."
"Oh," she looked to him, surprised with his tone, "hey, it's nothing. I was being a butt-face, too."
"Yeah, I- ack!" Dipper spat away from them, as a swarm of bugs rushed into his face, "dang gnats!"
"Ha! Looks like they like you," Mabel snickered as Dipper was left to shake his head around, desperate to shoo away the flies.
Several hundred feet away, Dipper Pines stirred.
He opened his eyes slowly, and started blinking out the rain water that covered his face, along with the sticks and leaves that had stuck to him in his long tumble down the long side of the hill. He looked around, and gasped as he stood. His gut hurt and it was hard to breath. Standing up, he could barely manage, "Mabel?" at a whisper.
The fog had closed in around him, and there was little to no light left. Looking to his feet, he couldn't find his flashlight. At that realization, he knew he was totally defenseless. He was hurt, though not horribly, and without the one great weakness the monster he hunted had.
Snap. Dipper spun around to the source of sound that had come from behind him.
There was a blur of motion just on the edge of his vision. He turned, desperate to spot it. Pitter-patter of movement circled him, hiding just out of sight.
"Hello? Who's there?" Dipper managed a louder volume, despite his diagphram still struggling for breath. Still trying to normalize his standing, Dipper stood as tall as he could, to better impose his height. To his surprise, there was a gasp just out of sight. "Hello?" Dipper asked. No response came. Dipper scowled, choosing fight over flight. "If you think you're going to replace me, then you have-"
There was a loud squeal as a small dark figure pelted out from behind a tree, and lunged at Dipper. Out of shock, he tripped and fell backwards. Collapsing into the ground, Dipper found himself facing a well-built spear pointed directly at his nose. Following its length to the owner, he found a small person with beady red glowing eyes staring at him.
"Have you given up, shifter?" the creature holding the spear asked Dipper with a creaky and tense voice.
"Sh-shifter?" Dipper asked in a gasp for air, holding a hand up to shield himself from the rain.
"Do not toy with me, beast," The small creature said, stepping closer.
"You... what are you?" Dipper asked.
With a fateful blink, his eyes adjusted and removed the itchy rainwater. It was a short, yet skinny humanoid with thin, knobby arms and legs with dark brown skin. It wore an expensive set of gear, suited for a hunter or pioneer of dense jungles of the nineteenth century. The creature had a long-pointed nose and a scrutinizing look about him as he looked over Dipper.
"Why... why haven't you shifted yet," the creature asked aloud, nearly poking Dipper in the cheek with his weapon.
"Because I can't shape-shift," Dipper told him, "I'm a human!"
The creature gasped, and stepped back, the spearing raising up to point above. "A human!? My word... then you're the one boy we have reports on!" the creature said, reaching inside one of his varying pockets in his nice tan vest. He withdrew a small yellow crystal, and with a flick of his finger, it grew a light from its core until it was bright enough to illuminate both Dipper and the creature, "you are much taller than our reports implied."
"Uh... thanks," Dipper said, getting to his feet, "I... what- err, who are you?"
"Ah, my name is Sibs. I am a sentinel for the eighth Goblin watchmen crew," the goblin named Sibs lifted a hand to Dipper. Dipper reached down and took it, using only three fingers to over-wrap the goblins entire hand. The goblin, he realized, only came up to his hips, taller than the gnomes he had encountered before.
"You're... a goblin?" Dipper asked aloud.
"That's right, my boy," Sibs the Goblin sentinel nodded, "and a damn good patrolman at that. But where are my manners... follow me, I can lead you to my home. I can't say we have any accommodations for your size, but we can get you out of the rain for now."
"So, you're a sentinel? For Goblins?" Dipper asked as he began to follow the goblin Sibs.
"Quite. I'm not sure who else I would be patrolling our forests for, dear boy," the Goblin gave Dipper a quick cheeky look as he moved ahead, "now tell me, what on earth brings a human into these dangerous woods- ah," The Goblin interrupted himself, "perhaps you best save those answers for our governor."
"You have a governor?" Dipper asked as he ducked under a low-hanging branch.
"Oh yes. We aren't savages, after all," Sibs told him, "now, step here," Sibs pointed with his spear on a certain rock on the ground with an odd symbol painted on it, "and here," he pointed to another. Dipper took a moment to pause and look around. Quickly, he realized there were many Symbols all around him on various exposed rocks. Sibs, just ahead of him, then said, "And here we are: Goblitropolis."
Just past the next tree, the sounds of voices echoing around called Dipper forward as well as the rain began to dissipate. He felt a buzzing sound as he stepped over the rocks, and the light changed around him. It was a familiar hum of unseen energy. Dipper felt he had passed through some unseen wall of sorts, and behind it was truly amazing sight.
A sprawling collection of homes and buildings about half the size needed to accommodate humans panned out before Dipper. Rock tiled roads lead many goblins through the maze of a city that was Goblitropolis. The windows in the homes and buildings that were built into boulders and trees all glowed of different colors, and as Dipper stepped closer, he could see the same kind of crystals used by Sibs present in the rooms.
"Whoa," Dipper managed.
"My word!" A Goblin cried ahead, spotting Dipper and Sibs approaching, "A human!"
The outcry attracted the attention of many Goblins, who paused and turned to stare at Dipper. Many of them had the look of fear in their eyes, but others gasped in awe. Dipper was immensely surprised with their appearances- they were dressed with surprisingly human outfits he could have sworn came from the Victorian age. Many goblins wore top hats, and the lady-goblins wore large elaborate dresses and sported large umbrellas.
"A human!" Another cried aloud, and as Sibs and Dipper approached, a crowd gathered excitedly to greet them.
"Welcome to Goblitropolis!" one cried, "Sentinel Sibs, how was the search?"
"I will report, but I must bring this young man to the Governor," Sibs said aloud to his comrades, "his fellow here is tied to the beast of late."
The Goblins, at the mention of the 'beast', murmured and parted for Sibs and Dipper. As the two followed through and walked down the street, the group followed them, talking animatedly about the arrival of a human.
"Are you really just a boy?" one goblin asked from the sidewalk of the street, "you are much too tall to be a boy!"
"I'm a teenager," Dipper explained briefly.
"What on earth is a teenager?" the goblin asked back.
"I have heard of it," a Goblin walking past him had also stopped, and was eager to answer, "it is a stage in a human's life where they become rebellious, spiteful, and inconsolable. He is a rebel! A ruffian!"
"Hey, rude," Dipper said. He felt that sting deeper than he had expected. "I mean," he added, "all true, though."
"A rebel! How romantic!" A goblin lady swooned as she stared at Dipper. He quickly looked away from the three and followed Sibs. Dipper was uncertain on how to feel towards being romanticized by Goblin women.
A large boulder appeared around a corner that Sibs took, well carved out and decorated like a marble town hall. Columns and balconies were carefully placed around, bright crystal light shining out from inside.
"What is the meaning of this Sibs?" A guard at the front door of the building called to Sibs, "you've brought yourself a large friend."
"This is the human that Strooder and his hunters have been watching," Sibs announced aloud, "we must speak with Gig!" The guardsman looked between Dipper and Sibs, and nodded, turning and entering the building hastily.
"You've been watching me?" Dipper asked Sibs.
"Not me, dear boy, Strooder. He's a talented hunter, who's taken the task of slaying a horrific beast that has plagued our lands," Sibs explained, "there was a reason I could not trust you at first sight."
Dipper paused, and then something clicked. He looked to Sibs. "Red eyes," he paused, "the smaller size, watching me-" he gasped, "That's who was watching me from the forest edge, in the bushes," Dipper came to conclusion, thinking around, "this... Strooder guy?"
"Most adept of you, young man," Sibs told him.
The doors opened again, and out walked a taller, lavish goblin who wore a large monocle and very tall top hat. He gasped as he stared at Dipper, and then smiled warmly. "On behalf of Goblitropolis, I big you welcome!" he extended his arms up to Dipper, who took his hand in a shake, "ah, very good. I was hoping you would be well mannered, considering your size. My name is Gib."
"You're the Governor?" Dipper asked, ensuring clarification.
"That I am, my lad," Gib the Goblin Governor said cheerily, "now, who might you be?"
"My name is Dipper Pines," Dipper said around.
Gib the goblin governor chortled. "You are quiet well mannered for a human," Gib said with a great smile, "it is welcome to find a tall one who does not attempt to drop and or kick us across large distances."
Dipper stared, taken aback at the last comment. "Uh... back at you," Dipper said with curt nod, "So, don't take this the wrong way, but I thought goblins are sort of violent and... mean?"
"It all depends on the leader," Gib explained easily, "you have someone sensible and kind, we all will be. We quite enjoy the peaceful lifestyle here, in Goblitropolis, don't we all?" the Goblins around them cheered happily, "but... my boy, what brings you here?" Gib asked earnestly.
Dipper looked around, and then declared loudly, "I'm in these woods looking for a Doppelganger." The crowd around them murmured at the mention of a Doppelganger, and Dipper continued. "My sister and I think it was going to try replacing me, so we were going to take the fight to it."
Gibs looked to some of his nearby constituents, whispering something quickly. He then turned to Dipper. "Remarkably brave," Gibs nodded his head with commandment, "but you mention you sister- where is she now?"
Dipper faltered. "We got into an – uh – we got separated," Dipper added sadly, feeling his cheeks heat slightly and his throat tighten in shame. It had been stupid of him to get so upset at his sister for being herself. Of course she would have played a prank or two on him when he was trying to be too serious.
"Well," Sibs stepped forward, addressing Dipper still, "I can't say anything about a Doppelganger in these woods," he told Dipper, who blinked and leant in closer, "but a monster of many forms does lurk in these woods."
"Wait... no Doppelganger?" Dipper asked around, and the many Goblins shook their heads, while some spoke to one another darkly.
Gib held his hands to Dipper. "We have not encountered a Doppelganger in many years," he told the teenager.
Dipper scratched his cap. "Then... what was running around while looking like me?" he asked. Gibs gave the boy a serious and studying stare. After a moment, he nodded, and stepped down from the doors, approaching Dipper.
"We are at war, my boy," the Goblin Governor said grimly, "for nearly two years we have been fighting a deathly game of cat and mouse with a creature that feasts on flesh, and enjoys the suffering of those smaller than it. We know not where it came from, but it surely is a beast of nightmares: for it takes no permanent shape."
Dipper felt a familiar twinge of cold fear run down his spine. "Did you say it doesn't keep a single shape?" In a whirl of memory and thought, he craned his brain for details, for evidence. Finally, he asked, "D-Does it ever take the form of a large roly-poly bug? Like a beetle that curls up?" The goblins gasped and looked around, their reaction giving him all the indication he needed to put one and two together. "It's him," Dipper whispered, an icy feeling racing through his nerves.
"You... know this devil, my boy?" Gibs asked, looking up to Dipper, who felt weak in the knees. He had encountered this creature once in his life, and it was only because they left it frozen in a tube deep underground that he had entirely discounted it from possible suspects. If it had somehow escaped, it was bad news for the world.
"Strooder and the Hunters return!" a goblin cried, and the goblins faced the street leading to the Town Hall. A handsome, well-built Goblin with goggles, followed by several other goblins of similar form, all wearing nearly the same gear Sibs did, approached. Strooder looked up and found Dipper's face.
"Then it is as we feared," Strooder said in a quiet yet commanding voice fit for a mysterious hunter as he looked at Dipper.
"Don't worry, my friend," Sibs the patrol goblin approached Strooder, "this one is a human. He means us no harm."
"That is not the problem at hand, Sibs," Strooder walked past his friend and to the Governor, "the beast was last seen by the western hill. We were tacking it when a human girl appeared. She left in the company of this boy here," Strooder wove his hand above him to Dipper, "and has left our lands since."
Dipper went from cold to stinging hot in his chest. "She left with someone who looked like me?" Dipper demanded loudly, stunning the Goblins momentarily, "Where? Where did they go!?"
"Towards the human building in the woods," Strooder said quickly. Dipper turned, and made to run. A small hand reached up and held at his hand. Sibs held Dipper back briefly.
"You don't mean to face that creature on your own?" the Goblin worriedly asked.
Dipper nodded. "It doesn't matter what he is; my sister's life is in danger! If any of you knew your family was nearby to that monster, wouldn't you run to help!?" Dipper asked around to them. Goblins around him nodded and agreed.
The Governor turned to a guard of his. "Get the charm of permanence!" Gib called to the guards behind him. He then faced Dipper. "My boy, if you mean to face him, we won't allow you to go alone."
"You... you're coming?" Dipper asked incredulously. The Major nodded, and the guard returned, holding up a large metal choker of bronze metal and jewels laden into its side. It was far to large to be worn by a goblin. "You know, you guys are a lot cooler than I expected you all to be."
Gibs snorted. "Goblin society has changed much since our last interactions with humans. We even got our fashion tips from a human in this region," the mayor stated with a grin as he lifted his top hat, "quite works for our figure, doesn't it?"
From Dipper's side, the edgy goblin hunter tugged his shirt. "Take this," Strooder the Hunter took the choker, and handed it to Dipper, "if you can place this on the beast's form, it will force it to remain in that form until the choker is removed."
"You mean we can trap it into one body forever?" Dipper asked in awe.
Gib nodded. "Goblin magic and engineering will ensure that," Gib firmly said, and spoke to the crowd, "now, I need volunteers. We will be going to this beast with the help of our friend here and bring our tormentor to justice!"
Dipper slipped the magical device into his vest. "I'm sorry, I can't wait around!" Dipper called, and literally leapt over the crowd of Goblins, "I need to help my sister!"
"Hold the beast off long as you can! We will arrive post-haste!" Sibs called as Dipper ran through the streets, carefully avoiding running over Goblins in his haste. Quickly he found the magical barrier that hid the city of Goblitropolis from the rest of the forest, passed through it and found rain in his eyes again.
Dipper panted as he started to jog up the hill he spilled earlier. He wished aloud, "Mabel, please be safe!"
"We're almost out of the woods," Mabel said cheerfully as she watched ahead, and saw the forests edge.
Dipper, still leaning on her shoulder, nodded. "About time. Man, I can't be more ready to go inside, warm up, dry off, and read some of that journal," Dipper said to her happily.
"What, you're giving on the whole Doppelganger thing already?" Mabel asked in surprise, "and here I was thinking we would lay some traps just in case he showed up."
"I love the idea," Dipper said with a grin, "anyone trying to replace me has another thing coming."
"Oh yeah," Mabel agreed with a curt nod, "put up enough flashlights, then a tripwire is activated- SHAZAM! He's ashes in no time!"
"Maybe a bear trap as well," Dipper considered.
Mabel paused, and looked up in thought. "But... it said a Doppelganger only is effected by strong sources of light," Mabel reminded him, "man," she snickered, "I think you hit your head harder than you think."
Dipper looked to her, and quickly chuckled, "Oh, yeah, probably," Dipper said, "actually, I think I can walk on my own. Thanks Mabel," Dipper told her and he walked slightly faster. He groaned, and swiped at the air as a swarm of gnats pestered him.
"Ha," Mabel snickered as he walked past, a trail of bugs following him, "they're still onto you, huh?"
"Darn bugs!" Dipper cried, waving his arms above his head, his hair dancing around as he tried tossing off the tiny insects.
As she watched this, something put her on edge. She only just realized that bugs were attacking him. Not just buzzing around him, they were landing on him, taking a moment off their wings, and then buzzing off again. Something that they would not ever want to do, considering the amount of bug spray he had applied onto himself.
Compelled to do by instinct than actual reaction, Mabel took several strides closer to Dipper, leaned closer, and sniffed him. She pulled back, her eyes wide in shock. The smell, the smell of pennies had entirely vanished. She then looked to her shoulder, and sniffed herself. It wasn't as strong as she thought it would be, but the scent of that bug spray was still present. Mabel had already started getting cold with the rain, but that sent a shiver down her back.
"Mabel?" Dipper asked her, giving her a concerned look. She suddenly realized that she hadn't masked herself at all as she rode the emotional rollercoaster that was realizing that Dipper had, for some reason, lost all his bugspray.
"I – we – uh," Mabel brought herself to a stable set in mind, now truly worried she had made a huge mistake, "we need to take a shower. Smell really bad, you know?"
"That's what happens when you go sliding down a muddy hill," Dipper shrugged and continued on.
It was no longer just the smell. Mabel watched her brother walk ahead, and the frightening idea came to her head that he was not her brother at all. He was acting too pleasant. Not miserable, angry, or upset; but apologetic and accepting. She would have loved to think he was just being nice, but she was cold and wet. That meant he would be too. He should be tired and slow and grouchy, not this upbeat.
The idea to test her 'brother' came to mind. "Hey, uh," Mabel said aloud as she caught up with him, "do you remember what Grunkle Stan wanted us to do earlier? Like, I'm just sort of freaking out that we're going to get back and all we're going to hear from him is how we didn't finish our work."
"What, the roof tiles?" Dipper asked with a smile, "nah, me and Soos finished that up real nice."
"Oh, right," Mabel nodded, displeased with the answer, although it was correct. "So," she considered something else that she could quickly throw at him to test his legitimacy, "what do you think about my training?"
"It's pretty cool, actually, Mabel," Dipper said easily, "you know, maybe you should show me some of that stuff later. I wouldn't mind knowing a thing or two about how to keep my butt from hitting the ground."
"Okay," Mabel stepped ahead of Dipper, staring at him intently, "Dipper, you are freaking me out, okay? You've been waaay too happy, and waaay too cool while we're soaking wet and tired."
Dipper stepped back, staring at his sister with uncertainty. He looked back and forth, his head shaking slightly.
"What, you want me to apologize for being nice to you?" he asked her angrily.
"I want to know... who's the girl you had a crush on while we were here before?" Mabel tested her supposed brother. He sighed and stared at her.
"Wendy. Mabel, if I didn't know you so well, I'd say you were the one acting weird," Dipper told her, and grumbled, "let's just get inside, okay?"
"I... okay, sorry," Mabel let her brother walk past, and she watched him go. He had certainly gotten the answers all correct, yet she couldn't shake the feeling she had already had. She could smell mud and sweat, but not copious amounts of bug spray. He knew all those answers she asked him, yet could account for each instance seeing a Dipper-shaped person running around at those times. She wondered if she needed to test him once more. "So, you were talking about mom earlier?" she asked quietly. Dipper sighed and turned to face her, anger darting in his eyes.
"Drop it!" he said, "I don't know why you're so suspicious of me because I thought it would be a good idea to be nice for once, but it's getting on my nerves!" Dipper turned and stormed ahead of her.
They finally left the forest edge, and the two trudged quietly through the rain, already soaked, even as thunder rumbled above them. Watching her brother slight lead, Mabel's mind oozed of guilt. Not necessarily for upsetting her brother- but that even after proving himself accountable each time she tested him, she still felt like he wasn't acting right.
"We're back," Dipper called as he stepped through the door.
From the register stand, a leg-prepped up red-head called out, "Sup."
Mabel stepped in, and swiped her hair out of her face. "Hey Wendy," Mabel sighed gloomily as she emerged into the light.
Wendy must have heard the tone in Mabel's voice, as she swept her legs off the tall counter-top. She was lowering the magazine as she said, "So, no luck with the –" and then stopped. Wendy dropped her magazine, and the instant she had let her eyes fall onto Dipper, she froze. The twins stared at her and she stared back, her eyes wide as they soaked in Dipper's image.
"Uh... Wendy?" Dipper asked after an awkward moment.
Wendy moved quickly – reaching for a baseball bat tucked under the counter, she clutched it tightly as she leapt over and landed before them. Staring with dangerous intent at Dipper, she raised and readied the blunt instrument for a swing.
"Mabel, walk away from him, now," Wendy warned with a tone nothing short of deadly.
"What?!" Dipper and Mabel cried aloud.
Dipper took a step closer. "Wendy, it's me! What are you-"
"Shut up! I know what you really are!" Wendy cried as she pointed the baseball bat at Dipper's face, "like I could forget the feeling when I look at a shape shifter who's already impersonated me."
"Wait- Wendy," Dipper held his hands aside, desperately looking between Wendy and Mabel, "c'mon, it's just me! Mabel, tell her!"
Mabel stared at Dipper. He seemed scared alright, as she looked into his eyes, but her mind realized something as she looked to him. He only seemed scared. She knew her brother well enough to tell when he was terrified, and the idea of his former crush holding a baseball bat to his head angrily should have him trembling. His face was scared, but the emotion held deep in his eyes was not. She took a step away from him, not letting her eyes go.
"I, wait, guys, I..." he looked between them, "oh damn," Dipper sighed, looking at Wendy as his voice seemed to ease, "I'm surprised you caught me so easily. What's the secret?"
Wendy made to swing at Dipper, but he clutched the baseball bat and yanked it past him and it flew aside. He ran forward, smashing into Wendy, tossing her off her feet. While she was fast to get back on them, Dipper was surprisingly fast as well. He made to kick at Wendy while she was standing back up.
"I don't like these kinds of secrets!" the false Dipper cried aloud, and swung and miss with a rising kick. Wendy had dodged, and charged against Dipper, slamming into his torso. She ran him into the wall with a loud crash. "Nice hit there, Wendy girl," Dipper said. His face melded and became Wendy's own face, attached to Dipper's body. Then, using a voice that was both Wendy's and Dippers, it said, "But you don't hit hard enough. Maybe this will have you remember to hit harder?"
Wendy was stunned enough for the Wendy-faced Dipper to give her a strong punch in the gut, tossing her to the ground, and then stomping her back. Wendy cried aloud as she had the wind knocked out of her.
"Leave her alone!" Mabel shouted, and threw the baseball perfectly at the faux Dipper. It slammed into his head, and he shouted aloud and cringed, walking away while cradling his head.
"You damn kids," the Shapeshifter groaned, changing the entire body into that of the old man from the Baron Num Num's canned beans. Grey hair and moustache grew along with the taller, slimmer body with worn jacket and goggles on his forehead. "You're just as painful as I remember."
Wendy, slouching a little, rose upwards despite her pain. "Didn't we freeze him?" Wendy coughed as she stood, stepping back to be with Mabel.
"Oh, yes, you certainly did," the Shapeshifter growled, "for nearly a year I remained frozen, aware of every second that passed, unable to move an inch. A cursed life! Then, one day," the Shifter stepped forward, "something freed me – an energy surge broke the stasis tube. I was free again, and took to the surface in a matter of days."
"An energy surge?" Mabel asked.
"Or, I dunno, something like that; blue wave of light, pfft," it dismissively explained, "It doesn't really matter what it was," the shifter chuckled, looming over them, "now that I'm out, I can live as I want to, a life without rules or restraint from you single formed cretins. And that starts as soon as I get some payback for locking me up."
"Where is Dipper?" Mabel demanded of the monster before them.
The Shapeshifter grinned after a moment. "Who knows?" it replied.
"Hey dudes," Soos appeared from the hallway, "there's a- oh... sorry, I wasn't aware we had a customer. Uh... have we met before?" Soos asked, looking at the Shapeshifter.
"Oh, of course," The shifter smiled, and morphed his face to match Soos's, "remember me, chubby?" he asked Soos with Soos's voice.
"Oh no, it's him!" Soos bellowed as he instantly remembered their last encounter.
Wendy took the chance of the moment. While the monster looked at Soos, she lunged forward, and made a straight kick at his head. The Shapeshifter side-stepped quickly, and in a powerful sweep, caught her leg tightly. Momentum as it's aid, the shapeshifter spun clockwise with her in his grip.
"Wendy!" Soos and Mabel shouted. Wendy was slammed into shelf after shelf as she was whipped around, her head and face getting the worse of the attack. After a quick whirl around, he let go of her leg and launched her forward. Wendy flew through the air and crashed through a window, landing roughly outside.
A hive of little chirps insectoid clicks emanated happily from inside the Shapeshifters center. He, in a more understandable language, said "One down," the Shapeshifter grinned, "three to go," he turned to Soos, who was instantly uncertain as to what to do.
From within the building, a voice cried out, "What the heck is going on out here!?" Grunkle Stan's voice carried from the living room.
Mabel had to act, and that was her strong suit. "Hey!" Mabel cried, catching the Shifter's attention, "you want someone to pick on? Try me for size!" The shifter looked at her, and grinned excitedly.
"Alright, missy. I think I will," the Shifted approached Mabel steadily. Mabel took to her training, and while facing the morphing monster she retreated. She knew exactly what she wanted from this- a chance to removed the monster from inside the shack. She pushed the door open behind her and stepped out quickly as the Shifter followed her. The last thing she heard from inside was the hurried footsteps of Stan's approach.
"Holy crud!" Stan's voice cried from inside. "What happened in here!?"
Mabel called past the advancing shapeshifter. "Soos, find Wendy!"
"I'll find backup!" Soos shouted as he ran for the backdoor.
Now more guaranteed of their solitude, she re-focused on her enemy. "So," she started, "it was you I kept seeing around here, impersonating Dipper?" Mabel asked.
It proudly sneered. "His younger form, yes," The Shapeshifter established excitedly, "one smaller and less likely to draw attention from anyone, excepting you," he added while moving closer, "I could hide very well, you know. But you can never hide, now," the Shifter said to her as she retreated to the parking lot, rain splashing against her, "not from me."
"I don't need to hide from someone like you," Mabel said, and halted her retreat. The creature before her cared little, and continued to advance.
"Well, aren't you just an arrogant little girl?" the man leered as he was in striking range, and he swooped down at her. She darted to the right, and delivered a strong kick to the side of his head. Her shoe slammed into his ear, and he cried out in pain, stepping to the side, cradling his injured head.
"Arrogant that!" Mabel told him with a strong grin.
The Shapeshifter roared and charged at her. He punched and swung at her, and she avoided them, being smaller and more agile than he was. After he got his chances to strike at her, she retaliated. After one particularly strong punch the Shifter missed, she ducked under him to a crouch, and leapt up, delivering a massive kick under his chin and to his neck.
He gasped and cringed as he lifted himself back, holding his neck tightly. Mabel made sure to maximize her well placed hits to her favor. Darting around him, she struck at weaker areas of his body, disabling them in a fury of swipes and jabs. Each hit she delivered staggered him slightly, and he eventually fell to his knees. Mabel took one big step back, and landed a strong descending punch against his head.
The Shapeshifter fell to the ground, shaking and groaning in pain. Mabel stood, breathing heavily above him as she watched his movement. That had been the first time she had ever fought anyone outside of sparring. Her knuckles stung, and she was starting to feel a sting in her lungs. She could only grin in accomplishment.
"Ohhhh," she whooped into the air, "Mabel in the HOUSE!" Mabel cheered as she rocketed her hands above her, glaring down her evil opponent, "that's right, sucker! Can't top the Mabes, not one second- ow ow ow!" she added, shaking her knuckles as she had punched a hand into her palm, forcing her nerves to remember the pain of punching any kind of bone.
"Maybe not," The Shapeshifter growled, staring at her hatefully, "but you can't stop yourself."
Mabel gulped, already aware of his insinuations. One moment, she saw a sprawled and defeated older man; a second later, she was looking down at a mud-covered version of herself. The false-Mabel grinned and stood up, stretching her neck and arms as she recovered from her injuries.
"You have a lot of talent, don't you?" Faux-Mabel asked the real Mabel. The twin shuddered, unnerved at hearing cruel intentions flow from her stolen voice. The evil shape-shifter remarked, "I can feel it in the body I've copied. Lots of muscle memory."
"I'm the real deal," Mabel announced strongly, readying her fists once more.
"We'll see about that," Faux-Mabel taunted her, and leapt forward.
The two engaged in the fight once again. The two Mabels, avoiding and attacking and blocking and parrying each other endlessly were evenly matched. Lightning crashed overhead as two equals battled each other.
The real Mabel was already exhausted. The day had worn on her, and without the adrenaline pumping through her veins, she would be on the ground, panting for breath. Yet she stayed up, forcing herself to act and counter against the imposter version of herself. She was slowing down though, having to retreat more and more from the fight, stepping down or away from an attack than using it as an opportunity to advance.
"Humans, and their limited stamina," Faux-Mabel grinned as the real Mabel stepped back, catching her breath, "you thought this plan would work in your favor!?" the shapeshifter asked eagerly.
"I don't do all that much of the thinking part," Mabel shrugged off the taunt, "especially when my friends are concerned."
"Oh, and your brother?" Faux-Mabel asked quickly, sarcasm dripping in her voice, "you certainly are so willing to sacrifice for him, aren't you? Worlds best sister, you are," it added with poisoned words.
Mabel blinked, heat in her cheeks. She asked "What do you mea–"
In the moment Mabel had allowed herself distraction and self-doubt, the Faux-Mabel jumped forward and straight-kicked her in the chest, throwing her backwards. Mabel gasped and tried to stand as her impersonation stepped closer.
"Silly thing, aren't you?" Faux-Mabel said as she approached. "Just the mention of your brother, the same you so casually tease and bother, and your focus comes all crashing down."
Mabel rolled to one side, and started pushing off the muddy earth. "You're a huge poop-faced jerk," Mabel said as she stood back up, ready to face her evil reflection.
The sound of running had both Mabels turn. From the woods, Dipper appeared, his eyes wide as he came to a sliding halt. He scanned both of them, and sighed.
"Oh, not this again," he groaned.
"Dipper!" Faux-Mabel said as she stepped closer, still distant, "stay away from her!"
"What!?" Mabel turned and stared at the fake Mabel, "you don't tell my brother what to do!"
"Stop her! Grab a stick!" the fake Mabel cried as the real Mabel stepped in and attacked her again. "Quickly! Bro! Do something!"
Dipper looked around quickly, and found a large sopping wet branch. Lifting it up, he turned and found himself stunned. Mabel had clearly under-sold herself when they had talked earlier about her studying martial arts. Both Mabels were fast and agile, moving around the other effortlessly while countering and striking one another.
He blinked as both images of his sister kicked for their enemy's head, crossing their legs mid-air as the lightning crashed across the sky. Dipper scowled. "This déjà-vu nightmare is not what I need right now!" Dipper shouted at the two of them, and they broke apart, breathing heavily.
"Oh, now you need a breath!?" one of the Mabels cried, "what happened to 'pathetic human stamina', huh?"
"What!? I didn't say that, you did!" the other Mabel growled.
"I... Uh," Dipper stumbled as he watched the two of them. He reached inside his vest, and pulled out the gift from the goblins. As he watched, the mirror images circle one another, he felt the hum of magic in his hands.
One of the Mabel's was able to face him as they circled each other, keeping their distance. She looked from the Mabel opposing her to Dipper, and mouthed, 'you can do it'. Her warmth and encouragement was solid. Dipper started stepping closer, trying to keep himself against the back of the opposite one, but they darted to one another. A few fists, kicks, and grunts of pain later, Dipper wasn't sure which had encouraged him. He scowled, and waited for a moment again. As they circled each other once more, Dipper met eyes with one of the two. She looked to him, and watched her. There was a moment that felt like a long pause, as their eyes found each other searching for something. A moment of uncertainty passed as Dipper watched the second Mabel stare at him.
Then, that mabel took a step back, and reached into her pockets. "Poof!" she cried, and out from her hands flew sparkles and soggy noodles as she tossed them into the air.
Dipper snorted as the opposite Mabel stared in shock. "What on earth?" the other Mabel demanded, mouth agape.
Dipper stepped up behind the other Mabel. "No contest," Dipper stated excitedly, and then rushed forward. Dipper landed behind the closest Mabel, spun her around, and slapped the enchanted goblin choker around her neck.
"Wait, what are – what!?" Mabel roared as she clutched the choker, its jewels now glowing brightly. "What have you done!?" The Faux-Mabel made no hesitation as she punched Dipper straight across the face, throwing him up into the air.
"Dipper!" Mabel screamed and ran over, tackling the other Mabel away from her brother, and they rolled onto the ground, gravel scraping their arms. The Faux-Mabel stood quickly, and roared. She stood there, panting, and then the choker glowed white hot, and the Shapeshifter howled in pain.
"What is this!?" the Shapeshifted screamed as she clutched at the choker around her neck. "I-I Cannot-"
Dipper coughed, started to push himself up. "A gift from the Goblins," Dipper said with great satisfaction, "for all the hard times you brought them."
"My form!" the Shapeshifter gasped, and squeezed her eyes shut, only for the jewels to glow hot again, and it screamed loudly, "it's been solidified! How dare you! How dare you!? I'm going to show you both pain! Great, unending pain!" the Shapeshifter growled as it approached, fury pouring from its eyes. Dipper and Mabel stood up together, ready for the fight.
"Not so fast, loser," a voice called from the forest behind the Shifter. It spun as the twins peered past it. Long, wet, red hair billowed in the wind.
"Wendy!" Mabel cried," you're okay!"
Wendy smirked. "Enough about me," Wendy said, stepping out of the forest with Soos.
Soos crossed his arms tightly. "Our friends want a word with you, pal," Soos said, hooking a thumb behind him.
Angry glowing red eyes peered hungrily at the nearly helpless Shapeshifter. From behind the two teenagers, a massive army of Goblins stepped out. Many of them were armed with bows, arrows, swords, shields, and some had tiny flint-lock muskets. The Goblins all cheered and jeered at the monster, swinging down from trees and charging from the bushes.
The Shapeshifter turned, and found Mabel and Dipper, ready for action. It spun once again, spying the encroaching army of Soos, Wendy, and hundreds of Goblins. In a desperate bid, it turned and ran for the Shack. An air-shaking boom toppled the Shifter off its feet and away from the building. A large hole in the ground was before the shack as Stan stepped out, a shotgun with a smoking end in hand.
"No one allowed inside without proper authority," Grunkle Stan informed him with a cocking of his shotgun, "and that means me. And I say no!"
Colored drained from the Faux-Mabel's face. "No... no!" the Shapeshifter started to get back to its feet just in time for the army of Goblins to swarm. The Shapeshifter, removed of its ability to change form, shrieked and yelled in pain as it was bound up in many ropes and pulleys. Once it had been bound, fifteen goblins approached, and lifted the Shapeshifter into the air, and carried it back into the woods, snarling angrily. "Damn you all! Damn you!"
"Man, I don't look that great when I'm a fuming monster, do I?" Mabel asked as she watched herself get pulled into the woods.
"That's okay. You look fine most of the time, anyway," Dipper patted her shoulder. A cluster of goblins ran past the two, also hissing and gnashing at the air. Having flinched from their snarling, Dipper added, "I'm not sure how peaceful they really are anymore," he muttered.
"But they looked so dapper with their little suits!" Mabel told Dipper excitedly.
Just a few feet aside, the twins heard a goblin approach Soos. "Oh, great and wise Soos," Gib, the Goblin Governor approached Soos, one of his knees bent, "long has it been since we last spoke. Have you come to a decision of our proposal?"
Soos laughed. "No way man," Soos said happily as the Goblin army retreated into the woods, "you guys should totally continue ruling yourselves. You all seem a lot happier with elections and political candidates than a single sovereign leader. But totally keep that fashion- it works wonders for you all. Hey, but before you go, what's the plan with the shifter?"
"We will put it on trial, which will more than likely lead to an execution, and then a grand feast," Gib told him.
"Oh wow. What's the dinner plan?" Soos asked with a chuckle.
"The Shifter," Gib told him plainly. Soos nodded in contemplation to their plans.
"Not going to tell you guys that it sounds gross, but I'm just going to let you all enjoy your victory party," Soos nodded to the tiny ruler.
"Very well, great Soos," Gib stood and bowed once to the tall man before him, "but know there will always be a warm welcome to you, and your friends. This has been a triumphant day for us all."
The twins, Wendy, and Stan all walked up next to Soos as he waved goodbye at the goblins. Wendy sighed, and put her hands into her pockets. "Wow," Wendy said," they totally respect you, Soos. What's up with that?"
Soos explained, "Oh, I met them once when my car broke down a few years back. They had this jerky tall ruler guy with frizzy hair and skinny pants, and I told them that society had come a long way since mean kings and dictators. They revolted, and now live in a democratic society."
"Goblins, living democratically," Stan said unbelievingly, "now I've seen everything."
"And they wear tuxedos with top-hats," Dipper told Grunkle Stan, who rolled his eyes and turned back towards the shack.
Stan turned around, towards the shack. "I'll be drying off and watching Broker-Nova, in case anyone needs me to shoot something else," Grunkle Stan called as he retreated.
Mabel turned to the other resident lady. "Wendy, are you okay?" Mabel asked her timidly.
"Looks like I'm made out of as tough stuff as my dad is, cus I'm good," she grinned, padding her arms with her hands firmly.
Dipper looked between them. "What do you mean?" Dipper asked, "what happened to you?"
"I was tossed around like a rag-doll and thrown out a window," Wendy said calmly, "which looking back, actually was kinda cool, if I didn't think the entire time I was about to die."
"Dang," Dipper said, giving the red head a final look-over in astonishment, "Wow, no kidding about the made of steel thing. Well, I'm cold, muddy, and exhausted. Inside time, please," Dipper told the other as he turned for the Shack.
"Wait!" Mabel cried, and leapt at her brother, giving him a sloppy wet hug in the rain. "I'm so glad you're back!"
"I- okay, okay," Dipper said, pushing his sister off with a half-smile, "can we get inside though? We're going to catch some nasty cold if we stay out here."
"All in favor of inside time?" Mabel asked aloud.
"Aye," the other three cried aloud.
"All apposed?" Dipper asked.
A loud thunderclap from above had them scurry inside without delay.
Wendy and Soos were tasked with repairing the window as the twins were told to clean up the mess the fight against the Shapeshifter. Soos, with little help from Wendy, was able to quickly replace the shattered window and clean up the glass in no time, and the twins had managed to pick up everything salvageable from the shop. By the time the four had concluded their business, Wendy and Soos had to depart for their homes.
Trudging up the stairs with his sister, Dipper groaned. "Man, she really took a beating," Dipper told his sister as they trudged up the stairs together, "that one postcard rack was totally wrecked."
"She must be made of iron," Mabel guessed, "or maybe copper! She has red hair; it makes too much sense!"
"Copper is a softer metal," Dipper reminded her sister.
She shrugged without concern. "She's clearly a robot," Mabel said, "a freaky cool robot who can take some super-punishment. She instantly could tell it wasn't you, you know!"
"Really?" Dipper asked, surprised to hear this, "but you were fooled?"
"I- hey," Mabel's already naturally red cheeks grew brighter still," I was worried you hurt yourself- I just-" Dipper snickered at his sister, and she pouted, "not cool, dude."
"Now who needs to take it easy?" Dipper reminded her with a rub of her shoulder, "I'm just poking fun at you."
"You big dumbo," she called him, her tongue slightly poking out of her mouth in indignation.
"Right," Dipper snickered as the entered their room, "oh, this is going to feel great; knowing there isn't something out there trying to get me."
"Us, dude," Mabel reminded him, "it wanted revenge on all of us."
"Fair point," Dipper said, turning away from her as he tossed off his shirt. The two quickly changed, facing away from one another, and within a minute, they slumped into their beds, and sighed simultaneously. "This bed... I've missed you," Dipper said as he sprawled his legs out in a stretch.
"Dipper!" Mabel suddenly shot up, and her brother mimed her.
"What!?" he said, turning his head to her.
"I think we just broke, like, half your room rules," Mabel looked to the written list still taped by the door.
"Oh... right," Dipper recalled, listing the errors with his fingers, "don't change in the room if it's occupied, don't leave your dirty clothes laying around, leave your shoe-" he rolled his eyes. Dipper groaned, and stood up. With a brisk step, he reached over, grabbed the paper from the wall, crumbled it into a ball, and threw it aside, "there."
"But... you really wanted that list," Mabel told him, feeling like she had pressured him into removing the list altogether, "like a whole whopping lot of want."
"No. You were right," Dipper shrugged, "we're going to be busy the entire time while we're here. We're already zany as it is," Dipper said as he sat down, "so awkwardness is going to happen one way or another. Let's not complicate things when, at the end of the day, we're going to be this tired no matter what."
"...okay," Mabel nodded happily, "hey, I'm also sorry for not, you know, giving you a little breathing room out there," she added with an apologetic look, "I'm so used to how I had things back at dads that… I guess I forgot you don't do the same as me."
"I – thanks, Mabel," Dipper grinned. "I'll try not to be so uppity all the time too, okay?" he said to her. When she smiled, Dipper blinked and looked towards the door of the room. "You know," he said, "I was even too tired to realize we changed in the same room, at the same time... that's weird," Dipper said as he fell back into his bed.
Mabel snorted. "So... we're okay?" Mabel asked carefully.
"Let's get some sleep first, and then we can find out tomorrow," Dipper told her as he winked and turned his lantern off.
"Good deal, sir," Mabel stroked her chin, and did the same for her own lantern.
"Goodnight, Mabel."
"G'night, Dipper-dotty."
Episode two, done! WOOHOO!
You know, we'll probably never know what shapeshifter tastes like. Or, for that matter, what seasonings go best with it! I mean, it could taste great with soy-sauce! Only the goblins hold that answer.
Anyhow, I hope you all enjoyed this conclusion to Episode two! The next chapter's title is called "Old and New Faces". May or may not be meeting a few friendly teenagers in part one. ;) I know Mabel is excited. Tune in next week!
Now, let's see what's on the stream. Boy, I can't wait for that new Gravity Falls episode! (opens a tab on the browser. The Internet speed is atrocious, and time itself begins to feel the effects of the lag- slowly warping reality until it turns the monitor into a black hole) Wow, this episode is really... interactive- AAAHHH- (EZB is sucked into the newly formed black hole, which then burps loudly, and collapses on itself)
"Oh, such a wonderful feast!" said a frilly-dress wearing goblin. Goblins around her happily clapped their hands and cheered.
Within the town of Goblitropolis, deep in the woods, hundreds of the small, dapper creatures surrounded a fire. This large bonfire happened to have a stake hoisted above it, and tied to such stake was a creature that looked exactly like Mabel Pines. It thrashed against the bindings that stuck it to the stake.
"I'll end you all! I'll turn into each one of you and ruin your lives!" the doppelganger roared.
Gibs the goblin mayor held up a hand. The leader of the community of socialized creatures held their applause. He then snarled and licked his lips. "Not before we have a taste of your supple, metamorphic flesh," he said. All nearby goblins lifted up kitchen cutlery, looking like they hadn't eaten in years.
Then there was an distant, crashing explosion. A goblin scout cried out, "The gnomes are attacking!" and all the present goblins turned their hungry gazes away, and charged at the coming danger. Battle raged on, as miniscule muskets fired and the sounds of gnomes being fired like arrows echoed into the night air.
Left alone, over the fire, the shapeshifter looked around. "Well... uh... anyone want to put me down? It's getting kinda hot up here," the form of Mabel said with a look to the flames below. "Like... just a little hot. Anyone? Hello? I didn't get frozen for decades just to get medium-done!" A goblin, late to the fighting, scampered past the shapeshifter. "Hey! You, lemme down!" it cried. The goblin was too eager for such pleasantries, and hurried past him. The shapeshifter sighed. "What I wouldn't do," it said as slumped, "To turn into something a little more interesting. There must be millions of teenage above-average martial artists with a goofy streak. To be cooked like this is, honestly, embarrassing. If I knew I had any actual family, they'd be so disappointed in me right now."
19-8-1-16-5 25-15-21-18 6-15-18-13 20-15 2-18-5-1-11 20-8-5 14-15-18-13.
12-15-19-5 25-15-21-18 13-9-14-4 20-15 5-19-3-1-16-5 20-8-5 20-9-13-5.
23-8-1-20 23-9-12-12 25-15-21 2-5-14-4 20-15 18-21-14 6-18-15-13 20-8-5 5-14-4?