A/N: Fic of the month... oh man this was a hard one to write for some reason... I don't know why it was a chapter I was looking forward to... anyways enjoy... And vote in the poll if you haven't
27: Northwest Manor Mystery!
It was big time for Gravity Falls, the annual Northwest Party. Everyone loved waiting outside to view it from the outside even though the public was never allowed in.
Well most of the town was excited.
"Honestly I don't get the whole point of it." Said Riley as all of the girls joining in watching.
"Yeah… and it's the Northwests." Said Dipper.
"You got that right." Sad Riley.
"Plus Pacifica is the worst." Said Dipper.
"You don't mean that." Said Serena.
There was a knock at the door and Dipper decided to get it.
"I would say it to her face." Said Dipper.
He opened the door and as it turned out it was Pacifica in a disguise.
"I need your help." She said.
"You're the worst." He said slamming the door in her face.
A few of the girls gasped in shock.
"I'm not surprised this happened." Said Lila.
"Yeah I didn't think was hyperbole either." Agreed Riley.
However it was clear that Pacifica wasn't giving up and knocked on the door again.
"Look I really need your help." Said Pacifica, "Do you think I want to be here."
That was when she started to shoo away flies.
"But something is happening at the mansion, it's haunted and if you don't help the party will be ruined! And my parents finally got the two guests they wanted to snag for years!"
"And?" asked dipper.
"I will do anything if you fix this." Said Pacifica.
Riley also heard this and became concerned.
After all she knew all about ghosts.
However before could answer or Riley to step in.
Mabel ran over.
"Can you excuse us?" asked Mabel.
She pulled him away from the door.
"You should do it!" she told him.
"What why?" asked Dipper.
Riley joined them.
"Because it's the right thing to do." Said Riley.
"Also you could get tickets to the party." Said Mabel.
"What/" asked Dipper.
"She's got a point…" said Riley.
"Plus it's Grenda and Candy's dream!" said Mabel.
"Dream!" said the two girls making a rainbow shape with their hands as if saying "Imagination".
Dipper sighed knowing she had a point. Minds as well make it worth it.
He walked over to Pacifica.
"I'll do the job…" said Dipper, "But in exchange. You give me invitations for my sisters and their friends."
Pacifica scoffed.
"You're lucky I'm desperate." Said Pacifica taking out a lot of invitations.
Mabel and her friends all cheered.
"Get your art supplies girls, I'm making dresses." Said Mabel.
The two girls cheered.
"Hey…" said Riley. "I'm going to help."
Dipper nodded knowing that Riley would of course help with this… ghosts were part of expertise after all.
And so Mabel made them all dresses, expect for Riley due to her helping with the ghost hunt.''
Serena also got another invitation so that Darien could join.
They soon arrived at the mansion where the party was happening.
The younger girls look around the party talking about how fancy it was.
The older girls plus Dairen looked around.
That was when Preston Northwest showed up to greet them.
"The man of the hour. You're going to take care of your little problem, guests arrive in an hour." He said.
"Riley is helping me." Said Dipper.
"I don't want to tell you what I know about ghosts." Said Riley, "Or what I can do…"
"I see…" said Preston eyeing her.
He then pulled Pacifica aside.
"About that…" said Preston.
"I'm on it.." said Pacifica.
She dragged the two to a room where they were forced to dress up with Riley wearing a nice dress and Dipper being forced to wear a tuxedo.
"I can't believe this…" muttered Dipper, "This collar is choking me."
"I t's called style." Said Pacifica.
"Besides it's better to go out incognito." Said Riley.
"Also high standards, that's what the Northwest Family great." Said Pacifica.
"I thought it was lying about your family." Said Dipper punching a tapestry that was in the room.
"Don't touch anything!" yelled Pacifica.
He looked at Riley who shrugged.
Pacifica brought the two to a room filled with hunting busts.
"This is where most of everything has been happen." Said Pacifica.
"This room…" said Riley, "There's a lot of anger and pain…"
"Eh… who knows." Said Dipper. "But from what you told us I wouldn't worry about it."
"What?" asked Pacifica.
"Moving dishes around seems to be a Category 1." Said Dipper, "Ghosts come in 10 categories…"
"I don't think it's a 1." Said Riley, "There's too much hatred in here."
"What are you psychic or something?" asked Pacifica.
"I am." Said riley, "I'd also like to remind you we are dealing with a ghost that you clearly know about…"
Pacifica raised a finger and tried to respond, realizing that Riley was right about that.
They were dealing with a ghost, finding out that girl who lived at the funeral home didn't seem that odd.
"We'll see what happened when I use this announced water." Said Dipper pulling out a bottle of it, "And if it works we'll be out of your probably fake blonde hair."
"HEY!" yelled Pacifica.
However that was when something dripped down… and when they saw something dripping out of the eyes and mouths of the hunting busts.
It was blood.
The heads began to chant "Ancient sins!" over and over again.
"I told you so…" said Riley.
A wind storm started to pick as things started to move. Not only that but the bottle of Anointed Water shattered, proving it wouldn't be help at all.
"It's worse than that… it's a category 10." Said Dipper.
The trophy busts counited to chant.
However that one of them said something else.
"Ancient blood and blackened skies!" shouted a trophy bust.
"The forest dark shall once more rise!" shouted the others.
That was when the fireplace in the room flared to life and a painted on the mantel changed… there was a bearded man holding an axe before and now it was blank.
The fireplace came to life and a flaming skeleton emerged from the fireplace. It regained skin retuning to the main from the painting sans beard… only to regain the bearded which was now blue fire.
They hid under pool table while this was happening.
"A smell a Northwest!" yelled the ghost.
"He's filled with rage." Sighed Riley, "It will be impossible to calm him down."
"What does your dumb book say?" asked Pacifica.
"It's not dumb! This book is going to save our lives." muttered Dipper.
He shined a black light and it did not give good advice.
"Pray for Mercy… really?" asked Dipper.
The pool table floated up and they ran away to get away from the ghost.
In the main hall Preston welcomed the guests.
Two guests in particular wandered off as he made his welcome speech.
They all noticed a certain group of friends.
They walked over.
"Didn't expect you to be here." Said a voice.
The group looked and were suspired. While they never met in person, they knew whop they were.
"No way!" said Serena.
"It's nice to finally meet you in person." Said one of them.
"Though I would have preferred if it was somewhere else." Said the other.
The two were Haruka and Michiru. AKA Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune.
"Wait…" said Serena, "Are you here in town for…"
"Yeah… we're here to help with you know what." Said Haruka.
They all knew it was to fight Bill.
Still… it was a relief that was happening… to know they were helping.
"Setsuna wasn't able to make it but she'll be here in the next few weeks." Said Michiru.
They all nodded at this.
"How did you manage to make it to this party?" asked Michiru.
"My brother and Riley are trying to catch a ghost." Whispered Serena knowing it was better not to say it outload.
"Oh interesting." Said Haruka.
"Sounds better than this party." Said Michiru.
"I've been looking all over for you." Said Preston showing up with his wife Pricilla.
"We've been inviting you for years… it's nice for you to finally join." Said Pricilla, "After all you are Japan's top power couple."
"Since Hotaru live here we figured we'd come." Said Michiru trying to be polite.
"Hotaru?" asked Preston.
"She's someone we helped raise since she was a baby." Said Haruka.
"She's practically our daughter." Said Michiru.
"So you had an excuse to come to the party." Said Pricilla.
"More like the party was an excuse to visit Hotaru." Said Haruka.
"What?" asked Preston.
"Oh now don't say that…" said Michiru, "It's not like we're using it as an excuse so to ask to be on the do not invite list."
The hosts were quiet during this.
The message was clear between the,,, they didn't want to attend and they were attending so that they would stop asking them to come.
Not to ,mention the truth was clear between the, there was nothing that Northwests could do to them.
They were higher on the rich person totem pole… and the both of them knew it.
"So you allow your daughter to work at a tacky tourist trap?" asked Priscila.
"She treat it more like hobby." Said Michiru.
"She's having fun! That's all the matters." Said Haruka.
The two scowled and left… clearly realizing the pair was not who they thought they were.
"You want to go ghost hunting?" asked Michiru.
"Better than this party." Said Haruka.
Michiru took out a mirror from her bad and they left.
"well that happened." Said Lila.
Back with the ghost hunting team…
"Hey your psychic." Said Pacifica, "Can't you get rid of it?"
"I've tried before with a pair of ghosts this strong… it didn't work." Said Riley.
They ended up running through a garden. As Dipper looked through the journal for anything that could help…
Thankfully he found something to help…
"We can trap it in a silver mirror." Said Dipper.
"Watch out for Peacocks." Said Pacifica.
Dipper crashed into a few… which gave off gobbles meaning they were probably turkeys panted like peacocks.
As they were running from the ghosts, they saw someone waving towards them. They ran to where the person was waving at them were.
Another person stepped up and shinned a mirror that wasn't a silver mirror but it was created a lot of light to blind the ghost.
"Come on!" said one of the people who saved them.
Riley and Dipper were suspired by who saved them, while Pacifica was outright baffled.
Of course they were Haruka and Michiru.
"We heard you were hunting a ghost, so we decided to help." Said Michiru.
"You know I can't blame you…" said Dipper.
"yeah…" agreed Riley.
"How are you acting like you know the two guests my parents have been struggling to get for years!" said Pacifica.
"Well we haven't met in person before…" said Michiru.
"But we helped raise Hotaru." Said Haruka.
"Who's Hotaru?" asked Pacifica.
"Grunkle Stan's assistant." Said Dipper.
Pacifica blinked… and she realized something.
"You're really here to visit her and came to party to make sure my parents stop brothering you." Said Pacifica.
The couple nodded.
"Huh./.." said Pacifica.
She spent years hearing her parents complain about how "Japan's Top Power Couple" kept snubbing them.
Turned out they were for sure.
"So you heard that there was a ghost… and you decided to skip my parents party to hunt it?" asked Pacifica.
"Yeah…" said Haruka.
Pacifica sighed.
"You don't seem shocked that there's a ghost." Said Pacifica.
"We've heard stories from Hotaru." Said Michiru.
"I see…" said Pacifica.
They heard the ghost approaching them.
"We should split up!" said Dipper.
"Good idea… Riley…" said Michiru.
Riley realized they wanted to talk Sailor Guardian talk and nodded.
She could also tell them what they are searching for.
They spilt up and the ghost continued to chase Dipper and Pacifica.
Leaving the other group behind.
"Okay… that might have been a mistake." Said Riley.
"I'm sure they'll be fine." Said Haruka.
"So…" said Riley.
"We're here to stay for a while." Said Michiru.
Riley nodded knowing what it meant… they were there to help with Bill.
"So is there a way to stop the ghost?" asked Michiru.
"We need to find a silver mirror!" said Riley.,
The two nodded and they began to search the mansion for one which should be easy.
After all a mansion like should have a few.
It was old after all… and they clearly loved showing off their wealth.
Thankfully however Dipper and Pacifica actually found a couple… one they couldn't get to because Pacifica refused Dipper to go into the room as there was her parents favorite carpet pattern and didn't want to track mud on it.
They ended up fighting and ending up in a secret room.
They had a heart to heart in the room.
But then the ghost showed up and tied to attack them. Thankfully Dipper found a Silver Mirror in the room and trapped the ghost, though he and Pacifica were sent out of the room flying.
She hugged Dipper in relief and gratitude.
However she realized what she did and told him.
"How much would it take to pretend that that didn't happen?" she asked.
However as it turned-out the three had found the first silver mirror with Haruka carrying it and they had seen the huge.
She then blushed even further.
"It's okay…" said Haruka as they joined them, "It's embracing to hugs boys… just stick to hugging girls."
"Haruka… stop." Said Michiru.
Haruka laughed it off.
They all looked at the mirror and indeed the ghost was trapped there.
Of course they went to Preston.
"I can't thank you enough." Said Pricilla having a butler shake his hand, "That's enough!"
"Just holding my end of the deal." Said Dipper.
He began to leave with Riley.
"You're leaving already." Said Pacifica, "It's the best party in the world."
"I'd love to but I have a category 10 to dispose of." Said Dipper.
He tried to make a cool exit however he crashed into ap pillar but quickly brush it off.
Pacifica looked at Riley.
"We're just friends…" said Riley getting what the look meant.
"I see…" said Pacifica.
However Michiru and Haruka remained in the room.
"You helped them fight a ghost." Said Preston.
"I didn't do anything…" sighed Haruka.
"besides we're used to it." Said Michiru.
"How can you be used it?" asked Pricilla .
"Have you fought being from beyond the solar system… trying to destroy the world?" asked Haruka.
"No…" said Preston..
"then you don't need to know what we do in our free time." Said Haruka.
Preston and Pricilla just stood there baffled.
With Dipper and Riley…
"So you and Pacifica?" asked Riley.
"Yeah right… she's just kind of cool." Said Dipper.
There was an awkward silence.
"Don't tell Mabel or Marina." Said Dipper.
Riley nodded.
However there was laughter coming from the mirror.
"Why are you laughing?" asked Riley.
"You've been had!" said the ghost, "Just like I was!"
He began to show the two what had happened many years before.
Turned how his ancestor had commissioned the Lumberjacks of the town to build a mansion promising a grand party once it was complete.
However they didn't uphold their end of the bargain and shut out the lumberjacks.
The one who was the ghost was swept up in a flashflood (that was created due to the cutting of the trees to build the mansion) and he died, laying a dying curse.
That if they hadn't open the gates for a grand party to the town then he would haunt them 150 years' time.
They were shocked… as they could have done it any time during the last 150 years…
They reentered the mansion to confront the family.
Inside, Michiru and Haruka were talking with Pacifica.
"It's a powerful magical item…" said Michiru showing off the mirror she used knowing she would have to explain it.
"You know… considering after tonight it doesn't faze me." Said Pacifica.
As was when they noticed the two had returned.
"NORTHWESTS!" yelled Dipper, "You got some explaining to do!"
"Dipper you came back!" said Pacifica happy to see him.
"You lied to me! You could have ended it by letting in the townsfolk! But you didn't! You had us do your dirty work instead" said Dipper.
"Do you think people here would come here to rub elbows with you kind?" asked Preston.
"I think a lot of guests wouldn't mind a change…" said Haruka.
Preston narrowed his eyes at her.
""My kind…" muttered Dipper, he glared Harshly at Pacifica, "I was right about you after all… another link in the world's worst chain!"
"I'm sorry! They made me! I wanted to tell you but…" said Pacifica.
Preston rang a bell and Pacifica immediately quieted down.
Dipper was too upset to notice… however as Riley, Haruka and Michiru weren't as upset they immediately noticed how incredibly wrong that was…
"Did you just ring a bell to silence your daughter?" asked Haruka.
"Yes it's an important tool." Said Preston.
"What did you do to condition her?" asked Michiru completely horrified.
Pacifica looked at the couple shocked that they would care.
Dipper looked at the two and that was when he realized something.
She had just said she wanted to tell him… and immediately became horrified realizing that they were getting at.
""Oh com now… we just threaten to cut her credit card nothing else." Said Preston.
He then winked at them.
They knew what the wink meant…
"We don't treat Hotaru the way you treat your daughter." Said Haruka.
"You know your last party once word spreads…" said Michiru, "Only a small fraction will still come to these parties, but I don't think a lot of families will…"
"Like the rich community wall believe you." Said Pricilla.
This was a bluff.
They knew a good chunk of the rich community would take their side, after all they were higher up on the totem pole, while they were nowhere as rich they had international acclaim.
Pacifica looked at them and tried to reach out.
However Preston once again rang the bell.
And she stopped.
Dipper looked at Pacifica, horrified by what he had just said and what he had just witnessed.
"This isn't over." Said Haruka.
Haruka left to join Riley and Dipper to get rid of the ghost.
"I'm going to say around the party." Said Michiru, "After all the highest person in the party is very down to earth… so I'm going to tell the Young Baron what I just saw."
Haruka nodded.
They all went outside to perform the ritual.
"Young baron?" asked Riley.
One of the guests is a young baron from Austria. She's played for him and his family a few times, He's very nice." Said Haruka.
Dipper and Riley nodded.
Dipper set up the ritual and Riley transformed just in case.
"Let me out and wreck my vengeance!" yelled the ghost.
"No!" said Dipper, "My sisters are in there…"
"You're very angry as well." Said Sailor Mars, "You're going to hurt innocent people when you should just harm Preston and Pricilla."
The ghost was going to say something about Pacifica .
"Did you not pay attention to whole bell ringing conversation." Said Haruka.
"He said he was canceling that credit card thing." Said the ghost.
"You didn't see the wink…" said Sailor Mars.
Dipper sighed at that. He knew he had to apologize to Pacifica to what he has said.
The ghost sighed.
"Fine then… can you let me see the forest at least, so I can see one last time for limber eyes." Said the ghost.
"Fine have at it…" said Dipper.
He showed them the forest however this was just a trick.
He heated up the mirror and caused Dipper to drop it shattering it and flew towards the mansion.
"Oh no! Mabel! Serena!" he yelled.
He ran after them followed by Sailor Mars.
In the party Mabel was steaming.
"Hey what's going on?" asked Serena.
Mabel told her about what he night has been like, there was a really cute boy that she wanted to flirt with, but because how unobtainable he was, the girl entered a pact not to go after him.
However she and Candy went back on it behind Grenda's back (due to Grenda's flirtation tactics. which was doing the whole drinking some that they had something on their shirt then hitting their nose). However when she found she out she got angry and used her tactics to flirt with him with the girls horrified at her usual tactic.
"Yeah… you're in the wrong here." Said Serena.
"Serena…" said Mabel.
"You should really apologize to Grenda… you betrayed her trust and went behind her back." Said Darine.
Mabel sighed… knowing her siter had a point.
"By the way… where is that boy?" asked Serena.
Mabel pointed to him who was talking to Michiru.
"Wait… is that?" asked Mabel.
"Yeah, they're here at the party." Said Serena.
"Huh… neat." Said Mabel.
She went to talk to her friends.
Just as Preston was about to make a toast.
As he was making it however things started to go downhill. The ghost appeared and started to fire beams at everyone.
Serena, Darien, Amelia, Lila and Marina all got ready.
However the ghost fired a bema at them turning them into wooden statures.
And he turned other gusts into wooden statues along with being to live various taxidermy animals.
Dipper and Sailor Mars looked at this.
"There is only one way to change your fates! A Northwest must open the gates!" said the ghost.
"A Northwest!" said Dipper.
"Go apologize to Pacifica! I'll see if. I can stop him on my own." Said Sailor Mars.
"Good luck." Said Dipper.
He went to talk to Pacifica.
He found her hiding in the secret Room.
"I found out why my family kept this room secret." Said Pacifica.
She motioned to a set of painting depicting her ancestors coming crimes and atrocities.
She was about to say something as she ripped off her earrings.
"I'm sorry…" said Dipper.
She was about to say something.
"I don't know what your parents are doing to you… but whatever it is, it must be horrible…" said Dipper.
Pacifica sniffled trying not to cry.
"You can be the one to stop this…" said Dipper, "It's not too late!"
At the same time, Sailor Mars was fighting with the ghost.
"Evil begone!" yelled Sailor Mars.
Her power hit him but he was able to shake it off.
"No…" whispered Sailor Mars.
That was when she was hit by his powers as well.
Turning her to wood.
"It's TOO LATE!" he yelled.
Dipper and Pacifica went down stairs and saw Sailor Mars transformed along with the rest of the party.
Dipper knew had to do it as he couldn't see Haruka or Michiru.
He picked up a silver platter to act as a mirror however it wasn't enough as the ghost turned Dipper into Wood as well…
"A forest of death! Lessoned learned and now the Northwest Mansion of Burn!" shouted the ghost.
"Oh that's what you think?" asked Pacifica.
She at a lever for the gates.
However her parents tried to stop her, even using the bell.
She fought against her conditioning and open the gates letting the town's people into the party.
However there were certain things that Preston said… namely he was going to let the party goers die.
Even so Pacifica opened the gates…
The ghosts looked at her with pride and happiness… telling her she wasn't like her family.
The curse was lifted, he passed on and Pacifica hoped that everything would be all right.
Sailor Mars look for a place to transform back once she was turned back to normal.
"How are you like that?" asked Serena.
"I was transformed before he set free." Said Sailor Mars.
"Oh that makes sense." Said Serena.
Meanwhile Preston was angry with his daughter.
"You know… if you don't do what we say you're over…" said Michiru.
He looked towards Michiru… she heled up her cell phone… and in video he paled as it was footage him telling Pacifica to get into a panic room and leave everyone to die.
"Oh I even got you saying you were going to kill your butler and leave your wife to starve." Said Michiru.
"Oh please…" said Pricilla, "I didn't need to eat the butler…"
"I see…" said Michiru reglazing what she meant…
"But the point still stands… you do what we say… and this video isn't shown to the public…" said Michiru.
"What do you want?" asked Preston.
"Your daughter…" said Haruka joining them, "She says at Hotaru's house whenever she wants."
Neither parent said anything realizing how bad things were.
"I think she will." Said Haruka.
"Also we'll be checking to see if you still ring the bell." Said Michiru.
"We'll be staying in town for a while… it was always planned honestly." Said Haruka.
The two began to walk away to enjoy the real party and to tell Pacifica about her new living arrangement.
"This isn't over!" yelled Preston.
"By the way I told Marius about her abuse…" said Michiru, "And I've earned his trust a long time ago…"
They walked away.
Meanwhile McGucket approved Amelia.
"I need to talk to you about something important." He said .
He took out his computer to show her.
It was a countdown clock, showing less than 24 hours to something happening.
"I think it's the end of the world…" said McGucket.
"It's not the end of the world…" said Amelia.
"How do you know… "said McGucket.
"Hotaru would have said something." Said Amelia, "We'll talk about this tomorrow morning… okay…"
McGucket looked at the countdown clock.
But still it was a party that ended up settings Pacifica free… and who knew what could happen from there for her…
But there still the matter of the countdown clock… and they were unaware of what was going to happen the next day… and how things were going to change big time…
Oh also Grenda ended up winning Marius over with flirting… they made a cute couple.
Next Time: McGucket tells them about his fears, as the mystery shack is raised by the Government. Stan has a secret... a big one... what is it? Find out next time!