AN: Well, it took me a while to write this chapter. I feel like perhaps this could be a small sequence between my last chapter and before my next chapter. The following chapter you are about to read may contain image that seems mild mature. As i need to remind you, all of the heroes lead are adults, not teenagers, not pre-teens or kids anymore as this story took place years after. Readers are advised. So, enjoyed the night talk.
Chapter 7: Night talk
After the meeting, everyone had returned to their hotel, to rest for the night, preparing for the next day. Most of them were back in their hotel room.
Dipper and Pacifica were in the upper level near the ceiling. Yet, Dipper was standing outside by the balcony, reflecting his mind. He holds a photo, a younger self, young Mabel and their Gruncle Stan, hugging. It was a photo victory when they defeated the old evil lil-Gideon from owning the mystery shack. Dipper stared at his sister. His facial expression was broken as the tears went down from his eyes. The tears were sad, but also anger. He began to softly sob. He then wipes his eyes as he hears a footstep coming in. It was Pacifica, in her pink sleep robe, with her hair brushed down smooth.
"Babe, are you okay?" Pacifica asked for sympathy.
"I just need some fresh air," Dipper lied.
"Dipper," Pacifica said gently as she could tell Dipper's watery eyes.
"What? It's fresh in Fresno at night," Dipper lied, "I just thought this town was a bit crazy in terms of their weather. The night feels so-"
She gave him the shoulder and pulled him towards her, wrapped her arms around Dipper, hugging him.
"I miss her too, Dipper," Pacifica said, "Sure she may have been the most annoying person i ever met, but she's the reason we're together." Dipper sniffed himself as he had finally given up and cried. "It's okay, Dipper," Pacifica said, "Let it all out."
They hugged together for a while, just to let Dipper get out the sadness, like a river flooded after a dam exploded. It was an ugly cry, but it was all he needed. They lasted for a moment until Dipper wiped his eyes as he pulled away from the hug.
"Thanks, Pacifica," Dipper said, "I just can't believe it. Mabel's gone, like gruncle Stan."
"I know it hurts," Pacifica said, "but it doesn't mean they're gone."
Yeah, but still," Dipper said, " I just never imagined something like this."
"None of us did," Pacifica said, "And we couldn't change the past to ease the pain." Then, they heard a knock from their room door.
"Who's out there?" Dipper asked.
"It's me and Star," Marco answered from another side of the door, "we just want to check up on you." Pacifica walks up to the door, unlocked it and opened for Marco and star to enter before she closed the door and walked back to Dipper.
"I thought you guys were still with Olivia?" Dipper asked.
"We were," Star replied, "and they were all dozing to sleep and so are we. Just a last visit to you before we turn ourselves in."
"How is Olivia holding?" Pacifica asked.
"Well, she was teared up with Anne and Molly," Marco replied, "we just managed to help her go through her grief, even though we were talking to the salamander, which was weird, but hey I saw other creatures."
"Well, enough of that," Star said, "how
"Honestly, I was in a downfall," Dipper said, "but Pacifica cheered me up a bit."
"Yeah," Pacifica said, "just thought he needed this. You can help out as well"
"We would love that," Star said, "and plus I can relate to you, Dipper. I too lost someone close."
"Who?" Dipper asked.
"My mother," Star answered, "The queen of the butterfly kingdom, Moon Butterfly."
"What happened to her?" Pacifica asked.
"She died," Star replied, "defending our kingdom by these iron monsters, bitten, ripped and bloods were spilled all over. I couldn't bare to see what's left of her; her head.. We have been trying to locate these monsters, but we couldn't find them. Yet, I learned that even though I want justice, it won't bring my mother back. Someone helped me through my grief." She looked at Marco, who was smiling. "Next thing we knew, the creature was found, but somewhat died before the judge."
"I'm sorry for your mother, Star," Dipper said, "Guess we both lost someone close."
"Yeah, but at least we can honor them in our memories," Marco said, "maybe we can honor your twin sister too. We had a statue of her mom."
"That would be nice," Dipper said, "but I'll think about it, but thanks for the suggestion."
"It's okay," Star said, "our offer still stands when you decide to honor Mabel."
"Thanks," Pacifica said.
"We're gonna head back to our room," Marco said, "but if you need some more talk, we'll be here to talk with."
"Thank you guys," Dipper said as they hugged it out before Marco and Star left the room just as Dipper began to yawn. "I'm gonna turn myself in, Babe," Dipper said as they headed to the king-size as Dipper sat to untie his shoes.
"Yeah, me too, Dipper," Pacifica said as she unveiled her robe, revealing her underdress showing too much skin, "unless you need some fun time with me. To clear your mind, sweetie."
He was confused from the statement until he turned to look at her and was completely speechless. He saw Pacifica almost naked with her thong cover her private area and her bra covered her upper breasts. The breasts were almost like a bit more than the average size that the bra were a bit too tight. His face was brightly red and his mouth dropped like a castle gate opened. Pacifica walked over in front of Dipper and sat down at Dipper as she lifted Dipper's mouth up. She gave him a flirting look like a stripper at a club.
"what do you say, babe?" Pacifica said flirtingly. Dipper just froze there until he nodded his head. They begin to kiss as they fall to the bed.
"You got the condoms, right?" Pacifica asked. Dipper reaches the drawer to pulled out dozen small square packages with a condom sealed inside.
"Like i'm gonna forget?" Dipper asked back to her before gone back to the kissing.
Over at the middle level, Luz and Amity stay in a room, like their bedroom.
They were sleeping together in a king's bed. It was peaceful with the duo sleeping, cuddling like a cat and a dog, under their blanket.
Amity sleeps with her cat-like eye cover. Luz sleeps, but her head keeps turning to her right, then to the left, back to the right, back to the left. She was sweating from her head. She was sleeping like she was struggling until she shot up from her bed, awakened. She panting like she just recalled a traumatic life. She calmed down with slow breathing. Amity, who woke up from Luz, looks at her girlfriend, exhausted.
"Luz, What's wrong?" Amity asked as she uncovered her sleep eye cover.
"Just another dream," Luz replied.
"The same one?" Amity worriedly said, "I knew that doctor was-"
"No, the last nightmare was actually gone thanks to Doctor Kathryn," Luz said, "This was different."
"Do you want to talk about?" Amity asked, "If you can't, I understand, Potata. Yet, you can't keep things like this forever like other times."
"Well, this one felt real," Luz said, "it was like a memory, but something like it's gonna happen, glimpse into the future, almost like a vision."
"A vision?" Amity confusingly asked, "Is that a thing for humans?" This made Luz chuckle a bit.
"Yeah, it's just a rare occasion," Luz explained, "but it only happens randomly, like you can see a future only for a short brief."
"So, the vision can tell the future better than the Oracle coven?" Amity asked surprisingly as her face became red so bright like a tomato. What could she be thinking of a vision? Her wedding with Luz? Family of her own? Possibly her and Luz getting old? Her train of thoughts were flooding around her head like she was daydreaming until Luz woke her up.
"Amity, are you okay?" Luz asked.
"Yeah, I'm sorry," Amity said, "I must've been thinking about the possibilities of the vision."
"Well, anything can happen," Luz said, "but the vision I had is different as if it was a sign."
"What was it?" Amity asked.
"It was when we nearly finished our mission," Luz said, "Like we managed to acquire the key and the crystal, but the rest were fast paced that I barely saw anything. One thing I saw was these bright stars, like there were seven of them around this circle thing in the sky, like a planet with its rings and that was it."
"Perhaps, there's a meaning behind it?" Amity curiously asked.
"I'm not sure, but someday we'll know," Luz said, "sometimes vision can be real or not."
"Perhaps, we can ask someone for its meaning," Amity suggested, "maybe they can help us for our mission."
"Maybe," Luz pondered, "yet we may not be sure of the outcome of these. It may lead to a possible scenario."
"Well, let's try to sleep on it," Amity said, "we have a day ahead of us."
"Yeah alright," Luz said, "well, good night amity." She kissed Amity by her cheek.
"Goodnight, Luz," Amity said as she kissed her back before putting on her sleep cover. Both of them went back to sleep.
Yet, Luz was a bit awake for her vision. Her mind was flooded with such thoughts from her vision. What were the stars all about? How can we achieve our mission? So many possibilities in her head, she can barely shut her eyes.
At least, until she recalls her last adventure of an unimaginable mission: to prevent Belos' draining spell with the help of her friends and her family, especially Amity. Her good memories came back to her and she finally felt at ease that she shut her eyes, falling asleep.
Back at the mayor's office, Jerry and Hector looked over the files of Luz's team, through the holographic computers at the desk. Jerry sat in his big wheel chair while Hector sat across the desk from him, at a wheel arm chair, scrolling his tablet for files.
As they looked over the files, Jerry saw an old image. It was an old school picture with kids from years long ago.
"Hm," Mayor Jerry said, "hector, have you seen this image?" Hector looked at the image Jerry held.
"Oh, man," Hector said, "it must have been a long time. Just like old days, huh?"
"Like the good old days," Jerry said, "remember Mrs. Ransom?"
"Ah, yes, our first teacher where we met," Hector said, "that was a good year."
"Great year where we have met other students," Jerry said, "Like we pranked most of our classmates." They both laugh like they're having a good time.
"Man, those were great memories," Hector said, "what brings up this joyful moment?"
"Just looking at this image brings…back…memories-" Jerry said as he dozed off as he noticed something familiar with some kids in the photo. He looked closer until he came over to the big holographic monitor, above his desk. "Computer," Jerry said, "bring up the images of Luz and her team." The monitor showed a present image of Luz, Anne, Marcy, Molly, Marco and Dipper, Mabel, etc. Jerry looks close to the images as he faces the image to the monitor. "Scan this image," Jerry said, "and run the names from the files." The monitor scanned the image and ran diagnostics until it beeps in green color.
"Scan completed," the computer voice said, "match five kids confirmed 100%."
"Wait,"Hector said, "you don't think?"
"It can't be," Jerry said, "They were-"
"The survivors?!" Hector and Jerry said together.
"But how?" Jerry asked like he just learned shocking news, "How they were here if they were ... .unless."
"Unless they were here before the incident," Hector finished the line, "and after the incident, they must have moved." He began to type his tablet.
"What are you typing?" Mayor Jerry asked.
"Checking their residency," Hector answered, as he finished typing. The holographic monitor, showing details of Luz's profile, including residency. It reads:
Change of Address Form:
Original Location: Fresno, CA
Current location: Gravefield, Connecticut
Date transferred: 6/07/07
Hector pulls out another profile, it was Anne's turn, along with Marcy's. It said:
Change of Address Form:
Original Location: Fresno, CA
Current location: West Los Angeles, California
Date transferred: 6/07/07
They looked up Molly's, it started:
Change of Address Form:
Original Location: Fresno, CA
Former location: Ada, Oklahoma. Transferred Date: 6/07/07
Former Location: Zuni, New Mexico. Transferred Date: 2/15/08
Current location: Brighton, Iowa. Transferred Date: 10/1/2013
"Wowzers," Jerry said like he was shocked, "she's been traveling a while."
"There's more to it," Hector said.
They looked up Marco's, and it confirmed:
Change of Address Form:
Original Location: Fresno, CA
Current location: Echo Creek, CA
Transferred date: 6/07/07
They looked up the Pines, and it read:.
Change of Address Form:
Original location: Fresno, CA
Current Location: Piedmont, CA
Transferred Date: 06/07/07
They looked and saw the dates. They looked at each other.
"Holy shit!" Both said together.
"This was their home!" Jerry said, "with two other kids involved and Alfred's!"
"And so was the Dark Minder," Hector said. They looked over to the school picture. "This may take some time," Hector said, "but we're gonna need some more information."
"Yes, perhaps these kids might wanna tell us about that day," Jerry said, "And perhaps we cou-"
"Easy there, tiger," Hector said, "They had just come for the convention. They process all of this weirdness, like they just entered their old hometown. Let's give them some time to recover. Besides, they just also lost two lives." Jerry took a moment to think over. In his thoughts, he did recall seeing the kids being beaten and suffering pain and loss. It made him feel bad, like he understood what it felt. He also remembers his people being killed or hurt by the Dark Minder. He couldn't bear to lose another life to violences. He pondered and pondered until he faced Hector.
"Alright, you win," Jerry said, "maybe we'll wait for them to tell. In the meantime, I'll see if I can look over more information with my staff regarding the connections."
"That'll do," Hector said like he was proud of his friend, "One step at a time."
"Besides, you need to rest for tomorrow," Jerry said.
"Are you sure you can work all this?" Hector asked.
"Trust me," Jerry said, "I can handle this."
"Well," Hector said, "I appreciate it, Mayor."
"Alright," Jerry said, "Have a good night."
"Thanks," Hector said as he began to walk out of the offices but not before he closed the door behind, "and goodnight to you too, sir." He gently shut the door behind, leaving Jerry behind. Jerry worriedly stared at where Hector left. He couldn't help but feel concerned for his friend.
"God, watch over Hector," concerned Jerry said as if he was talking in spirit, "and watch over the kids as well. I beg for their safety."
AN: I been thinking of this chapter for a while to bring up a hint of the past, like Star's mother and the heroes files.
The vision sequence was a bit of inspiration from Zack Synder's Justice League when Cyborg saw the future and The Dark Crystal: AOR when Bree touch the sanctionary tree. I also want to give like a dream-like vision, similar to Kung Fu Panda 2, but then I decided to use this for Luz and Amity's talk with humor. Although, I do want to give Luz an idea of what would the future might foreseen and it's meaning, hinting for the future chapters.
For the dipper and Pacifica, I want it to have a little serious moment at the start, just to make it gloomy for Dipper before he talked to his loved ones, Pacifica and his friends, Marco and Star. I was actually inspired by Pizar's Inside Out 1 and 2 for a short sadness moment, like Bing-Bong lost his "rocket" and Sadness calmed Bing down for a while. That's what got me inspire to write this down. At least to bring in Star to relate for her late queen mother, (which in this universe, she died between the show's finale and this), as to cope with Dipper. The last piece of Dipper and Pacifica's 'special' moment can feel like it might cope Dipper's sadness. It was only a short moment.
Also, the relationship between Hector and Jerry is shown here as homies, given some little detail of their past. I actually based this mainly from the friendship of Frodo and Sam from The Lord of the Rings, mixture with Po and Tigress friendship, just give the kind of friendship they had. i was also decide to give these two to gain more information regarding Luz's childhood and some of her Friends, and the connection of the encounter of the Dark Minder.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Until next chapter.