Disclaimers: I do not own Gravity Falls
Author's Notes: sorry everyone, i accidentally posted an unfinished version of this chapter last time so i had to replace the chapter. This is the corrected one so please give it a reread. Again This episode will be covering elements from the following Episodes: Starsitting and Is Mystery. Thank you for reading and please review!
(Back with the Buff Babies…)
She couldn't believe things had gotten so out of hand, and yet she shouldn't be surprised. All she had wanted was one quiet day. With a family like her's it wasn't like she ever had a normal life, but it had been less chaotic.
Mabel felt sick to her stomach having these thoughts, because it felt like she was betraying Bill for having them.
"Whoa, Gotcha! Whoa! Whoa! Ow!" Dipper grabs a tadpole only to slip on the slick tile floor. The tadpole takes the opportunity to jump out of his arms as he falls backwards. "This isn't working."
"Hey, don't play too rough!" Bill races after a few of the rowdy pollywigs. Now that the little ones could move on their own, they were little balls of energy. "I take it back I won't this adventure to be over now."
"Little ones." Mabel tries to round the up, but they have other ideas. They gather around Bill, pick him up and carry him away.
"Ah this is nice." Bill relaxed. "See we're having fun."
The tadpoles run him over to the front door where they opened it and throw him outside.
"hey?" Bill yells, getting up and banging on the door. "What gives?"
"Guess they thought your bossiness wasn't fun." Dipper said as he wasted them lock the door.
"Excuse me? I am the King of Fun. THE KING!" Bill yells banging on the door. "Let me in!"
The tadpoles run up the stairs and Mabel pursues them as Dipper lets Bill back in.
The Tadpoles then slide down the railing, before running into the family room. The three teen are hot on their hills as they continue to race around the house.
"We have to do something." Dipper yelled. "Sooner or later Grunkle Stan and Ford are going to come up and see this."
"Or worse." Mabel seizes up with panic. "What if Buff Frog comes back? If he sees this, he'll never trust me with the babies again."
"Relax Mabes." Dipper instructed her. "We can do this, okay?"
Mabel nods and takes a deep shaken breath.
"Good, Bill you and I will handle the ones with legs, and you take care of-"
Mabel gasps. "Katrina!" She races over to the couch and screams. "She's gone!?"
(Back with Buff Frog…)
He had stopped trying to fight the current of vermin long ago, it was useless after all. There numbers where too many, and they moved just as quickly as a body of water. Finally, the flow began to slow, and Buff Frog tries to take in his surroundings.
He grunted as he was tossed into a large ditch. He looks around at the retreating rats. "Hey rat!" He asked. "What is this place?"
The rat squeaks angrily at him, the walks away. Buff Frog grunts and gest to his feet, the ditch is only a few feet over his head, he could climb out. He jumps up the wall, but it is so smooth he struggles to find a foot hold. He slides back down...
a warthog-like monster with a fork for a right-hand approaches "There's only one way outta here, and it's through me!"
Buff Frog tenses, ready to bulldozer his way through, but stops. He can't think carelessly right now, he had children now. It was obvious Tad wanted him here, and he was not dead so he must have a plan. Yes, he would lay low until his old boss revealed himself. "Uh, okay, but I did not ask to leave" He pointed out.
The creature, who Buff Frog started calling Meat Fork in his mind flexed "NICE TRY PAL! NGGH! BUT YOU'RE NOT GONNA TALK YOU'RE WAY OUTTA HERE! NRRG! 'CAUSE THE ONLY WAY! HRRN! OUTTA HERE! HMMM! ISSS! IS! THROUGH MEEEE! MMRR!"
Buff Frog tries not to lose his temper, this was getting him nowhere. "Look I want no trouble. I just want to know where I am."
Meat Fork flexes more, then whistles. In response two rats comes and pick Buff Frog up and follow Meat Fork through an off-branch tunnel, which is filled with
"Corn?" Buff Frog asked.
"This is a Corn Mill." Meat Fork explained. "It feeds many of the common folk of the Nightmare Realm."
Buff Frog nodded, at least he was getting some information, he decide to try his luck and press for more. "And your boss has he been in the mill business long?"
"He was, but we just came under new management." Meat Fork answered openly.
"Is that where you are taking me to see him?" Buff Frog asked, tensing.
"No, I am to take you to the grinder." Meat Fork takes Buff Frog down an elevator and to the grinder, a large machine which is being pushed around by various monsters. He smiles as he notices his prisoner looks disappointed by the news. "You want to see him?"
"He had his rats steal me from right under the King's nose, just to make me work in his Mill?" Buff Frog shook his head. "No he wants me for something."
Meat Fork smiles grows. "You are a lot smarter then he gives you credit for."
"Nothing new." Buff Frog tries not to feel the sting those words bring.
Meat Fork grunts. "Hey, stop the thing!" He yells, ordering for the monsters to stop pushing.
The do and Buff frog allows himself to be pushed over to the large wheel that is being pushed.
"Hands!" Meat Fork orders.
Buff Frog gives him his hands and he is soon cuffed to the grinder.
"For now, you Work." Meat Fork explained. "But don't worry frog man you'll get your talk with the boss." He looks to the rest of the monsters. "Waddaya waitin' for, GET MOVIN'!"
The Monsters begin to move and with no choice Buff Frog is once again apart of Tad's master plan. This time however, it is not by choice, he turns to the bat creature chained next to him.
"So, tell me: where does all this corn go after we grind it?"
"It goes in the hole." The bat monster answers.
"Do you think it still goes to families of the realm?" Buff Frog asked. He knew he needed to gather as many clues as he could for the King and Queen. Plus, if Tad was starting a food shortage his own family would also be effected.
"I do not know." The Bat Monster whispers looking around nervously.
"What can you tell me?" Buff Frog asked.
"Nothing." Was the answer.
"Why?"
"We do not talk; we do nothing but turn the wheel. 'Cause if we don't, we get thrown down that hole." He gestures to another hole. "The waste hole."
Buff Frog winces. "Sorry I did not mean to cause trouble, it's just...I am so..."
"Yeah, it is a lot, don't worry we get to eat dinner soon. "Your first day will be shorter than most, so count your lucky stars."
Buff Frog nods, "Thanks for risking your own skin to help me. Means a lot, if there is a way I can make it up to-."
"Yeah, stop talking." The Bat Creature naps, but a smile plays on his lips.
Buff Frog smiles too and continues to grind in silence.
(Back with the Buff Babies…)
We gotta find her!" Mabel shouts throwing everything aside on the couch.
"Okay new plan! Find Katrina!" Dipper exclaimed.
The three tear apart the living room and find nothing.
"Quick the Kitchen!" Bill suggests.
They bolt over and the room soon becomes a hurricane of thrown pots and flying mixing bowls.
"No. Nothing!"
Dipper races upstairs and tears apart his own room. "No!" He runs out in defeat before going for Mabel's.
Meanwhile Mabel checks the bathroom. "Nothing! Where is she!?"
"Don't panic." Bill emerges from Stan's room. "Also, I've been scarred for life."
"Yeah, I could have warned you about that...sorry." Dipper admitted.
"Guys she is not here!" Mabel screamed.
"Okay let's think this through." Dipper said. "With no legs or hands, she can't put the code in the vending machine and get downstairs. So, Ford's room, the study and the lab is off the table."
"That only leaves one room in the house." Mabel exclaimed.
They run back upstairs, and Bill blasts down his bedroom door. It's huge.
"We need an army to search your room!" Dipper declared.
"Great idea, if only we had one." Bill joked.
"Guys we do!" Mabel exclaimed. "The babies."
"Mabes we've been trying to get them under control for almost an hour." Dipper reminded her.
"No, we've been adding more chaos to the mix." Mabel said. "We need to change tactics."
"We'll we're all ears." Dipper urged her to hurry up.
"Hey Babies! I hope them legs came with buunnnss!" Mabel yelled and pulled out her phone which begins to play "Space Unicorn".
Space Unicorn! Soaring through the stars! Delivering the rainbows all around the world! Space Unicorn. Shining in the night
The tadpoles race into Bill room dancing to the beat.
"It's working!" Dipper shouted. "Now what?"
"Give them their marching orders." Mabel told him as the music continues.
Smiles and hugs forever all around the world
"Alright babies. Line up..." Dipper ordered.
"Dip, make it fun." Mabel whispered.
"Fun?" Bill smiled and took over. "I got this. Hey babies, wanna learn a new dance?"
The tadpoles nod franticly
"First, shimmy your leg like this." He begins to do a silly dance and Dipper has to stop himself from laughing, "Ah! Ah! Alright. Now-ow-ow! Pose!"
They all Pose dramatically.
"Oh please tell me you are getting this on video." Mabel cries. "My phone won't let me play music and film."
"Way ahead of you." Dipper pulls out his phone.
"Great. Great. Now back it up. Back it up and spin!" Bill and the tadpoles continue to dance. "Then look for your sister under the nearest object!"
Everyone picks something up and looks for Katrina under it as the song continues.
Space Unicorn. Soaring through the stars delivering the rainbows
The dance continues until suddenly a tadpole gestures to the back of the room.
"I think they found something!" Dipper exclaimed. They ran over and found...
"Katrina!" Mabel exclaimed, relief washing over her until she notices...
Katrina is sleeping in an areas surrounded by bear traps.
"Bill Why do you have so many bear traps?" Mabel whispered.
"Why do you have any at all?" Dipper added.
"Toffee came in and kidnapped you; forgive me for thinking about added security." Bill whispered. "And why is this just on me? She has no legs! How did she even get up here?"
"Okay the whys aren't important right now." Mabel said taking charge. "We need a how."
"How are we gonna get to her?" Dipper asked.
Bill spots the Binder that he is still holding, he takes it from Dipper. "We do as instructed." He holds it up dramatically. "We use the binder."
"What⁈" The twins asked in unison. "NO!"
It's too late the Binder is airborne, and Mabel can only watch in horror!
(Back with Buff Frog…)
He had been grinding for an hour when they came for him.
Three monster guards stopped the wheel and grab him before forcing him back to the elevator.
They ride it down, deeper into the belly of this beast.
"Where are you taking me?" He asked.
"The Boss will see you now." One of them said.
"But where is the guy who brought me to grinder?" Buff Frog asked.
"No more questions, another said as the elevator doors opened. He was lead down a long poorly lit hall with cells on either side. One cell to their right is open and he is lead in.
"No I will ask one more time, why did you leave your post?"
Buff Frog's mouth falls open, there is Tad, standing over Meat Fork you is being held down by Spider. Her venom drips on the monster below her.
"Please I was napping, I am sorry it won't happen again." Meat Fork cried.
Tad nods. "Get him up." He orders.
Spider and Bird pull the monster to his feet.
Tad raises a hand to the monster. "You are lying you were trying to escape, to tell the royals what's really going on."
"No I would never." Meat Fork was shaking. "Please you have to believe me, I have a family-" Just then Meat Fork is blasted through a wall by a green beam of energy. Buff Frog gasps The energy came from Tad's hand.
Tad is gawking at his glowing hand." Did you see that Girls? I didn't even have to get mad that time." He laughed.
"TAD!" Buff Frog couldn't help the rage that boiled inside of him. He had not known Meat Fork long but he was kind to him.
Tad frowns. "Hello Buff Frog. It's been a while…old friend."
"Friend?" Buff Frog spat. "Is this how you treat your friends? Put them in chains."
"Can you blame me? All my monsters betrayed me for Toffee!" Tad snapped.
"Not me." Buff Frog reminded him. "You trusted him over me!"
Tad sighed and shooed the other guards away; they leave, and he continues. "I know I have messed up okay. I was desperate to finally win. I let him form a wedge between us."
"And then you thought you could buy me back with babes." Buff Frog snapped.
I know that you idiot, I just…" He forces himself to get his anger in check. "Look nothing has been going right since I lost you, I'm asking you to work for me again. No bribes no threats, You can even have that guys old job." He points to Meat Fork's motionless body.
Buff frog was stunned, how many times had he wanted to hear this? How many times had he dreamed for an apology?
"So what do you say?" Tad approaches Buff Frog, holding out a hand "Are we gettin' the band back together or what?"
He looks down at the hand and sees it, his phone. It must have fallen out when the Guards shoved him in the room. He picks it up and see a text from Mabel.
We miss you, Daddy. We're counting on you.
"Well?" Tad asked.
Buff Frog puts his phone away. "No I am done with you; you've lost your mind Tad."
Tad smiles wickedly. "You've gone soft, oh well I have plenty of hench man I don't need you-" His hand glows green once more as he aims.
Buff Frog braces for impact.
"Freeze in the name of the kind!" Suddenly several royal guards come filling in the room followed by the King and Queen.
"You! How did you find me?" Tad yelled at his brother.
"Tracer spell." Hannibal answered honestly.
Luisa rushes over to Buff Frog. "Are you alright? We came as fast as we could."
"Much better now, thank you." Buff Frog says even though he is shaking. "Bit close though." He admitted.
"This had gone on long enough brother." Hannibal cut right to the point. "You will give back the magic you have stollen from my son. Then you will help me track down your accomplice Toffee."
"Accomplice?" Tad snapped. "I'd rather scoop my eyes out than-"
He stops as scissors cut into the space beside him and a portal opens.
"Coming…partner?" Toffee asked sinisterly.
"Well girls when destiny gives you lemons…" He dives for the portal.
"Tad NO!" Buff Frog yells but it is too late, Tad jumps in the portal followed by the Bird and the Spider.
"NO!" Hannibal yells we were so close.
"I am sorry, I Froze I." Buff Frog starts to take the blame, it is after all always his fault when plans go wrong.
"No you are just a monster." Hannibal said surprising him. "He had my son's magic, a source of pure chaos. Nothing you could have done would stop him."
"He's right." Luisa agreed. "You did your part, now go home to children."
Buff Frog is so baffled he almost forgets how to respond. "Will you call on me again? I could you the steady income."
Hannibal nods. "You tracked us to him, if you think you can do it again than yes I will take all the help I can get."
"I can, I will." Buff Frog vows. "Toffee is not to be taking lightly. Tad is stupid enough to trust him again, it won't end well."
"That is what we are afraid of." Luisa admitted. "Do you need us to take you anywhere?"
"No I can managed." He opens a portal with his own scissors.
"Thank you again." Hannibal says as he goes to leave. "For everything, today and everything you've done to protect my son." He offers him a hand.
"Pines are my family now; I look after them." Buff Frog shakes it.
"We will look after all of them together." Luisa assured him.
"I look forwards to it." Buff Frog answered honestly before stepping into the portal.
Leaving the King and Queen alone once again without their prey.
He reappears on the other side of the portal in the Mystery Shack. Mabel, Dipper, and the tadpoles are nicely arranged in the living room.
"Babies!" He cried and goes to hug them, only to stop as they all get up and hop to him. "Awww." He sobs as they embrace him.
"Hey, are you okay?" Dipper asked.
"I miss baby tadpole grow legs! Most important developmental stage of child development." Buff Frog croaked. "And worse we failed to catch Tad."
Mabel holds up Katrina. "Well, little Katrina hasn't grown her legs yet."
Buff Frog takes her in his arms and smiles. "My little late bloomer."
Katrina giggles and grows legs.
"Oh my baby!" Buff Frog loses it all together as all the other tadpoles stand on his shoulders.
"I hope they were not too much trouble." He managed to say after a moment.
"We did have a few hiccups." Mabel admitted sheepishly. "I'm sorry Buff Frog I wanted thigs to go off without a hitch, but…"
Buff Frog shakes his head. "Babies is messy, and new hoppers are even messier. Secret is, parents get it wrong sometimes too." He admitted. "But they try, just like you did today." He looks to Bill as he says this. "And that is what matters."
"Yeah I get it, give my dad a break for a bit." Bill said, catching on.
"What actually happened?" Dipper dared to ask.
"We cornered him, victory looks assured." Buff Frog explained. "And then Toffee opened portal and they get away."
"So they are working together again!?" Mabel exclaimed.
"That can't be good." Bill admitted.
"NO, not good." Buff Frog spoke clearly. "Hear me my Prince, you be careful around him. That one reeks of old evil, nothing good will come of this."
Dipper's breath caught. "Old evil, he thought I could raise Seth, but now maybe…"
"Maybe he thinks Tad has enough of my magic to do it!" Bill concluded.
"This is bad you must tell your parents." Buff Frog insisted.
"Why so they can keep us in the dark again?" Bill snapped. "No We are going to handle this, and I am going to prove to my father that I can handle this."
"Bill?" Dipper is stunned.
"I'm tired of being the screw up Pine Tree. My magic has messed you up, and now Toffee and Tad have it because I was dumb enough to leave a portal open. Toffee would have never taken you; we would have never been at Tad's castle; my power would have never escaped. THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!"
"We will figure this out." Buff Frog promised him.
"Together." The teens agreed, none of them knowing just how far into the darkness their quest would lead.
-To Be Continued