"Just breathe. You're okay."
That voice resonates louder than anything else in the entire multiverse. Floating in an endless void gives you plenty of time to think. Although, the more you think, the more the lines between time, space, and thought blur together. Everything is both loud and quiet. Time speeds by, but somehow, it feels like it's moving slower than ever. And in this place, at this moment, you start to understand something fundamental. Everything is exactly as it should be, yet at the same time, everything can change in an instant. Just one thought, one choice, one spark... and everything shifts.
"Grunkle Stan! I can't find the scissors!" called out a lively 13-year-old girl with long, brunette hair tied up in a pink scrunchie. Her wide grin, bracketed with shiny silver braces, seemed bright enough to light up the whole room. She wore a cozy oversized sweater with a big rainbow across the front and, as she spotted a nearby chair, climbed up to reach the counter. The stool wobbled dangerously, but she pressed on, stretching to peer above the cabinets for the elusive scissors. Dust flew up, making her cough.
From his seat in the living room, an elderly man with a round face, prominent nose, and bushy eyebrows grumbled. "Last time you used the scissors, you cut a hole in my favorite jacket and called it a fancy poncho!"
"That's only because Dipper had to make it rain frogs all day!" Mabel shot back, as she plopped down onto the couch in a puff of dust. She wrinkled her nose. "Seriously, don't you guys ever clean in here? You knew we were coming for the summer, right?"
Her twin brother, who shared many of her features but had shorter hair under a brown trapper hat, walked into the room, a look of exasperation on his face as he brought in his bags.
"Mabel, I told you, the frogs had nothing to do with me! They were drawn here by the weird humidity spike... and then the gnomes started throwing them... at us…" Dipper muttered as he lugged his backpack inside.
"Ugh! C'mon, Grunkle Stan! I'm sooo bored!" Mabel groaned. Stan answered by taking a long, slow sip from his beer before setting it down. "Hey, where's Grunkle Ford?" Mabel added, looking around hopefully.
"You two just got here this morning! As much as I'd love to entertain you, why don't you head into town and say hi to your weird little friends or something?" Stan suggested with a grin. "Sixer will be up later. He's holed up downstairs, probably working on some... hero nerd project. We weren't expectin' you kids for a few more hours."
"That's fine, Grunkle Stan! Dipper and I can go say hi to everyone!" Mabel chimed in.
"Yeah, just let me take my bags upstairs and unpack," Dipper started, but before he could reach the stairs, Mabel grabbed his hand, dragging him out the door and leaving his bags at the foot of the steps.
They eventually slowed down as Dipper caught his breath, the forest around them alive with chattering squirrels and rustling leaves. Somewhere nearby, a deep, quiet whisper drifted from the brush, and the twins quickened their pace toward town.
"Hey, guys!" They turned to see a tall, red-haired young woman wearing a plaid shirt and blue jeans. She had on a blue-and-white hat with a tree emblem and her face lit up with a huge smile as she leaned in to pull them both into a big hug.
"Wendy!" they yelled in unison, squeezing her back.
"You look amazing, Wendy!" Mabel said with a grin.
"Thanks! You two have definitely grown a few inches since last year." Wendy patted Dipper's head. "Still wearing my old hat?"
"You're still wearing mine," Dipper replied, and they fist-bumped before swapping hats like it was a ritual, both chuckling.
"You're alright, dude. Oh, guess what! My dad built me this awesome hangout cabin over the school year. He said since I'm a 'crazy hormonal psycho,' I need my own space so I don't murder my brothers. You guys should totally come check it out!"
"What do you think, Mabel?" Dipper asked, already knowing her answer.
"Uh, hells yeah! What kind of question is that?!" she exclaimed. Mabel and Dipper followed Wendy down a winding path until they arrived at a beautiful wooden cabin nestled among the trees.
"Whoa, Wendy, this is amazing!" Dipper blurted.
"It's nothing fancy, but I think it's pretty cool," Wendy replied with a smirk. "The only downside is the gnomes. They keep trying to make me their queen or something."
"Oh, girl, I totally get it," Mabel interrupted. "They tried that with me the first time I came to Gravity Falls. We had to beat them back with a leaf blower."
"I just punt them back into the woods now," Wendy laughed. "Come on in, check it out!"
Inside, the cabin was compact but well-designed, making the most of its space. The open floor plan combined a cozy living area with a small dining space and kitchen. A plush sofa and armchair faced a low coffee table decorated with family photos, while band posters and an old rock concert t-shirt added personality to the walls. The kitchen was small but functional, complete with a sink, microwave, stove, and a mini fridge.
In one corner, a ladder led up to the loft where Wendy took naps, with a blanket draped over the edge hinting at the space above. Toward the back of the cabin were doors leading to a spare room and a bathroom. For a small cabin, it felt impressively homey.
"Make yourselves at home!" Wendy said, tossing her flannel on the couch. "Just kick off your shoes."
"So, how is everyone?" Mabel asked, plopping down onto the sofa.
"Oh, Robbie and the gang are usually over at Thompson's garage, practicing whenever his parents aren't home. Robbie's talking about starting a tour or something, so I guess he's finally getting serious about it. That Gideon kid is doing fine, though his prison buddies still hang around him. Kind of weird seeing adults hanging around a little kid all the time, but hey, not my problem."
"Anything else new?" Dipper asked as he glanced at Wendy.
"Yeah, that rich girl around here started a program to help people still messed up from that triangle freak. She seems a lot happier helping out. Haven't seen much of your other friends lately, though, Mabel."
"Oh, don't worry, we call each other all the time!" Mabel said brightly.
"Yeah, and you guys stay up until, like, midnight, laughing like maniacs," Dipper grumbled as he punched the bridge of his nose. "I've lost way too many nights of sleep because of you guys, you know?"
"Oh, come on, Dipper! If we didn't stay in touch, how would I ever hear about Grenda's trip with Marius? Besides, you wouldn't have gotten that peanut butter from China without them!"
"That's true. That peanut butter made some pretty amazing sandwiches," Dipper admitted.
"Oh, come on, Dipper! If we didn't stay in touch, how would I ever hear about Grenda's trip with Marius? Besides, you wouldn't have gotten that peanut butter from China without them!"
"That's true. That peanut butter made some pretty amazing sandwiches," Dipper admitted.
"Also, you've been chatting with Candy about all that 'nerd stuff,'" Mabel added slyly. Dipper's face immediately flushed bright red.
"Hey! We're just comparing notes, okay? She's been doing her own research here in Gravity Falls and keeps me updated," he replied, a little too quickly.
"It's totally fine to have a friend who also happens to be a girl," Wendy teased. "Besides, I heard Candy got a job at the Mystery Shack as some kind of vendor. Soos said she came up with this whole idea to sell real crystals and herbs. Sounds like she's enjoying it. Anyway, how was Stan and Ford's trip? Did they just get back for the summer?"
"Yeah, we only got back this morning ourselves, so we haven't talked much. Grunkle Ford's down in his lab working on who-knows-what, and Grunkle Stan actually looks like he lost some weight!" Mabel said with a grin.
"Speaking of the Grunkles, we should probably head back soon," Dipper said, grabbing his shoes. They said their goodbyes to Wendy and started back toward the shack.
The twins walked in silence for a while, until Mabel suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"Dipper, do you see that?" she asked, pointing ahead. "Is that a Port-a-Potty?"
"I think we should check it out. Mystery Twins time!" Dipper grinned. They made their way through the brush and approached the strange sight. The stall was out of place, sitting all alone in the woods. As they inspected it, everything seemed normal. Just a single Port-a-Potty in the middle of nowhere. The door wasn't locked, so they opened it. Inside was just a toilet and a roll of toilet paper.
"Maybe it's for the bears? You know, so they can have some privacy?" Mabel joked. But Dipper wasn't laughing. He stared into the stall with a thoughtful expression.
"It may seem like nothing now, but we're back in Gravity Falls, Mabel," he said as he pulled out his notebook. "Anything weird is bound to pop up."
As he jotted down a few notes, something unexpected happened. Suddenly, the door slammed shut and locked, the entire stall started shaking violently as bright light erupted from within. The twins jumped back in surprise.
"Wait, Mabel! I know what this is!" Dipper yelled over the deafening rumble. "This isn't a Port-a-Potty! It's a Portal Potty!"
Before he could explain further, the door flew open with a loud bang. Out popped something that hit the ground with a soft thud. In an instant, the chaos stopped as quickly as it had started.
On the ground in front of the now-closed Portal Potty door was a woman. Her long, wavy red hair flowed down her back that glowed with a shimmering, fiery brilliance. She wore a flowing purple dress, light and ethereal, with delicate pink patterns that resembled arcane symbols. A wide-brimmed hat, matching her dress, sat atop her head.
"Dipper! We have to help her!" Mabel shouted as she rushed forward to help the unconscious woman up.
"Is she breathing!?" Dipper asked urgently, joining his sister to drag the woman away from the strange stall. Just as they were out of earshot, a sudden flash of light illuminated the area.
Standing beside the spot where the Portal Potty had been stood a man wearing goggles and a gray jumpsuit.
"Oh, great," he muttered to himself. "Another Portal Potty? I thought these things were all gone by now. Oh... Who am I kidding? My work's never done."
He pressed a few buttons on his wristwatch, and with another flash, both the man and the Portal Potty vanished without a trace.
Back at the Mystery Shack, Dipper and Mabel managed to drag the woman inside.
"Grunkle Stan! Grunkle Ford! She needs help!" they called out in unison.
"Whoa, what happened? Did you guys pick a fight with a crazy hobbit?" Stan asked, hurrying over with Ford to help. They carefully lowered the woman onto the floor, where Ford knelt beside her and shined a small penlight into her eyes. When her eyes responded, Ford let out a sigh of relief.
Ford, Stan's twin, had a similar stern face, complete with a prominent nose and glasses with a small crack in one lens. He was lean yet muscular, with grayish-white hair, and wore a long brown trench coat over a red turtleneck and dark brown khakis. Both hands bore six working fingers.
"She's okay. Looks like she just fainted. Stan, let's move her over to the couch," Ford said. "Where did you two even find her?"
"She popped out of one of those Portal Potty things!" Mabel exclaimed. Ford's eyebrows shot up in shock.
"A Portal Potty?! Boy, show me where it is! Mabel, stay here with her in case she wakes up. You're a cute girl. She'll probably respond to you best," Ford commanded. Mabel gave a quick salute as he and Dipper rushed out the door, hurrying down the trail and through a narrow path lined with bushes. But when they arrived at the spot, the stall was gone with only a patch of flattened grass marked where it had been.
"But it was right here!" Dipper said, confused.
"Damn it," Ford muttered. "Looks like it got picked up before I could examine it. Come on, Dipper. Let's go back and check on our new guest."
They returned to the Shack, where the woman was just starting to come around. She groaned as she placed a hand to her eye.
"Wh-where am I?" she stammered, trying to get her bearings. As her vision cleared, she jumped, startled by everyone around her. "Ah! Wh-who are you all? What do you w-want from me?!"
"Easy," Ford said gently. He held his hands up to calm her. "You're safe. My name is Stanford Pines. This is my brother, Stanley Pines, and over there are our grand nephew and niece, Dipper and Mabel."
"Wh-where am I?" she asked again, still disoriented.
"Shouldn't we call the police or something?" Dipper suggested. Both Ford and Stan immediately shook their heads and exclaimed a firm "no" at the same time.
Ford leaned in, his voice gentle as to not scare her more. "You're at our home in a little town called Gravity Falls. Could you tell us your name?"
The woman hesitated, then nodded slightly. "M-my name is Evalin Dreamer." She gave a small, nervous bow, and the tension in the room eased. Ford and Mabel both let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Stan grunted. "Sounds made up," he muttered, earning a sharp look from Ford before he returned his attention to Evalin.
"Miss. Evalin, do you remember how you got here?" Ford asked gently.
Evalin sat up slowly, pressing a hand to her temple as fragments of memory darted just out of reach. "No," she admitted, her frustration evident. "I remember my name, my home, who I am...but not why I'm here. There's... nothing after that."
"Amnesia?" Dipper suggested. "Maybe some kind of dimensional displacement?"
"Grunkle Ford, I think she needs to rest," Mabel said, as she put a comforting arm around the woman. "Maybe you can ask her in the morning."
"You're right. My apologies," Ford said. He backed off slightly to give her space.
"Hey, kids, go clear out the storage room for our… uh, guest here," Stan ordered. Dipper quickly ran off, with Mabel following to help. Ford stepped out briefly and returned with a glass of water, which Evalin drank eagerly. As she finished, Ford couldn't resist taking a closer look at the intricate symbols on her dress. Evalin noticed and quickly pulled her dress away, uncomfortable.
"D-do you mind?" she asked, voice trembling. Ford blinked, taken aback.
"Oh, um, sorry about that," he mumbled as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Come on, Poindexter, can't you tell she's had enough for now?" Stan barked. "Kids! Is the room ready?"
"Just putting on the final touches!" Mabel called back, her tone sounding surprisingly cheerful. Stan then carefully lifted Evalin as he carried her to the storage room. She flushed slightly, unused to being carried like that.
The hallway was cluttered with items from the storage room, leaving just a narrow path through. Inside, the room was mostly emptied out, with a mattress on the floor surrounded by fluffy pillows and blankets. String lights hung above like little twinkling stars. Stan gently set Evalin down on the mattress.
"Th-thank you," she whispered, still trembling. Mabel flashed her a reassuring smile.
"Hey, don't worry! Get some rest!" she chirped. "And don't worry about the whole 'strangers in the woods dragging you to their home' thing. You're safe here!"
"Damn it, Mabel!" Dipper hissed, elbowing her in the side. "Don't say stuff like that!"
"Oh, right. Well, good night! Sleep tight! Don't let the bedbugs bite!" she said in a singsong tone.
"Yeah, seriously, don't let 'em bite. They hurt like hell," Stan added before closing the door.
Evalin lay back on the mattress, stretching her arms out as she placed her hat beside her. She pulled the blanket over herself, her mind reeling with confusion and fear. Everything felt so overwhelming. The ache in her head, the tightness in her chest, and the complete uncertainty of her situation. Thoughts swirled too fast for her to keep up, and sleep seemed impossible. But exhaustion took over, and as soon as she closed her eyes, she drifted into a deep sleep.
Ford sat at the desk in the living room, a cup of coffee in his hand. Journals were spread out in front of him, notes and diagrams scribbled all over them. He had spent the better part of the night trying to figure out what the symbols on Evalin's dress meant. Frustrated, Ford closed his eyes and turned his face to the ceiling.
Evalin shuffled her way around the house and into the living room. "M-Morning," she said, still groggy. Ford looked at her, a little startled by the sudden interruption. He raised an eyebrow at her. His eyes studied her for a moment before he responded.
"Morning, you're up early," he said, not aware of the time. He couldn't help but to notice how tired she still looked with dark circles under her eyes. It was only then he realized he probably didn't look much better.
"Yeah, that happens when you're in a new place," she answered with a stretch. "Doesn't look like you slept well either. This your first night here too?"
Ford chuckled, a wry grin on his face. "No, this is my house. I'm just use to doing research most of the night." He gestured to the journals laying on the desk and the notes scattered about her symbols.
"Woah, you wrote all of that from the small conversation last night? That's pretty impressive you remembered what my sigils looked like," Evalin said as she leaned over the notes. When her arm accidentally brushed against Ford, Evalin's face turned bright red as she realized she hadn't taken a shower and still smelled burnt from the portal traveling.
"I'm really sorry to ask this but do you have any spare clothes? I really shouldn't put these dirty ones back on until I wash them," she asked sheepishly.
Ford scratched the back of his neck, a look of surprise on his face. He hadn't thought about that either. The last thing on his mind was women's clothes. He cleared his throat as he thought for a moment.
"Well, I do have some clothes that should be of use. Let me show you to the bathroom and I'll get them for you." He pushed back his chair, stood up, and gestured for her to follow. He led her to the bathroom. The door opened to reveal a small but surprisingly clean room. A shower, a sink, and a toilet were squeezed into the room, but there was still enough space to stand comfortably. There was a stack of towels and a robe for whoever needed them in the corner. Then he left the bathroom but quickly returned, clothes in hand. He handed her the pile of clothes, a black t-shirt and a pair of drawstring pants.
"Heh, looks like I'm going to have to go commando," she chuckled under her breath. Her eyes widened with embarrassment as she looked over at Ford. "Oh! UM! Thank you!" she said as she pushed him out of the bathroom and slammed the door behind him. She quickly got undressed and jumped into the shower. As the water hit her body, Evalin could hear something outside the shower curtain. She peeked out just in time to see little mouse people not even a few inches tall, grabbing her hat and trying to take off with it.
"Hey! Put that back!" she shouted at them. Having been caught, the little mouse people dropped the hat and made a run into a small hole in the wall like mice. Evalin sighed in annoyance. "Great, rambunctious brownies. Really?"
After she was done with her shower, Evalin got dressed and threw her hat on her head. She exited the bathroom, dirty clothes in her hands, and met up with Ford in the living room. "Excuse me? Where is your washing machine?"
"Follow me, I'll show you," Ford said as he stood up from his chair again. He led her down to the basement and flicked on the light. An old washer/dryer combo was set up in the corner, with a sink and counter for folding clothes.
"Oh, thank you," she said as she dropped her clothes into the washer. The machine roared to life as it began to wash her clothes. "Where is the man that looks like you and those other 2 children at? I haven't heard them all morning."
Ford stood beside her, watching as the washer began to fill with water. "Ah, you must mean my brother, Stanley. He's still asleep, along with the kids. They'll be up sometime this morning, I'm sure." He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms as he studied Evalin, still trying to figure her out. There was something about her that caught his attention, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
"Hm? What's on your mind?" Evalin asked as she turned her head to the side.
"It's nothing, really. I've just been trying to figure out those symbols on your dress. I can't seem to find anything on it, and it's been driving me crazy," Ford said as he shook his head.
"My sigils? Oh! I made them myself. There are few like for protection, devotion, luck, stuff like that," she explained. Suddenly she became embarrassed as she realized the words pouring out of her mouth. "I'm sorry, that's probably weird..."
Ford's eyes widened as she explained the sigils she made herself, a look of fascination on his face. "What? No, no, it's not weird at all. I find it... incredibly intriguing actually." He took a step closer to her, his eyes fixated on the sigils on her dress. "You made them yourself? For protection, devotion and luck you said?"
"Y- yeah," Evalin stuttered. "It's part of my Craft." Evalin noticed Ford's hand reaching out to grab her dress in the wash so he could look it over. That's when she saw he had 6 fingers on each hand. Her mind raced as she immediately grabbed his hand, studying every calloused inch of his skin. "Woah! You have a 6th finger and it actually works! Oh! Your other hand does too! That's amazing!" Suddenly, her ears turned a bright pink as she realized she was holding Ford's hand and she immediately let go. "I- I'm so sorry. I- I- I-"
"Hey," Ford said calmly. "It's OK. Yes, I have 6 fingers on each hand. I was born with them. You don't seem weirded out by it though."
"No! I think that's really cool! And the last digit looks like it moves on its own, no problem!" she exclaimed, fascinated. Ford let out a light chuckle as he reached out his hand for her to take.
"It's fine, you seem genuinely curious and I have no problem helping a curious mind. Study all you want," he said. Evalin immediately took his hand and examined it, watching his reflexes as she poked specific parts of his hand to see how the muscles would react. Ford's eyes wandered back to Evalin's dress still visible from the washing machine lid being open. He couldn't help but to reach out for it again. Evalin noticed him and closed the lid.
"I'm sorry," she said as her eyes shifted around the room.
Ford's hand hovered over the lid for a moment, but he quickly pulled it away when she closed the washer. He smiled sheepishly, a hint of curiosity still lingered in his eyes. "No apologies necessary, I shouldn't have tried to touch. It's just... impressive that you made the sigils yourself. Your 'Craft' is obviously something I'm not familiar with."
Evalin couldn't help but chuckle a little before letting Ford's hand go. "No, I suppose not but my Craft isn't common anywhere really. Back at home, I have a cabin pretty similar to this one where I study and practice my Craft. It's pretty nice and secluded."
Ford's interest was definitely piqued. He nodded as she mentioned her cabin, his eyes scanned over her face as he listened intently. The mention of a secluded cabin and studying intrigued him, especially when he took the sigils on her dress into consideration.
"I see. So you practice your Craft in seclusion. Sounds very..." He paused as he tried to find the right word. "Mysterious."
"That's one way to put it," Evalin said with a giggle. "Anyway, I'm sorry to ask this but do you have something to eat?"
Ford chuckled at her sudden shift in topic, but decided to roll with it. "Ah, yes, yes, apologies. Follow me." He guided her through the basement and back into the house. He led her into the kitchen, where there were two stools beside a counter. He sat down on one and gestured for her to sit on the other. Evalin took a seat on the stool and studied the room around her. She made a note to herself how dirty the place was.
"Geez, they sleep pretty heavy!" she exclaimed as a reference to Stan and the kids before she glanced over at the clock. "Oh, it's 3:30 in the morning."
Ford chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, they do sleep heavy. I doubt we'll even see them up before 10." He looked at the time on the microwave, his expression turning to surprise. He let out a scoff as he saw the time. "3:30 already? Geez, time sure flies when you're not sleeping." His eyes shifted back to Evalin with a small frown forming on his face."I'm assuming you didn't get much sleep either?"
"Not with the Brownies in my stuff," she responded with her cheeks puffed. Evalin looked over at Ford in shock. "Oh, um, I mean- hahaha! Brownies? What's that? Never heard of them!" She tried to laugh it off but it was very clear she was trying to hide the facts of the supernatural world.
Ford chuckled, a smirk on his face as he heard her attempt to play dumb. It was pretty obvious she knew more than she was letting on. He leaned forward, his chin propped up on his hands.
"You don't have to pretend, you know. I know what Brownies are," he said, his tone slightly amused.
"Y- you do?" Evalin asked, flushed. "And it doesn't weird you out?"
Ford shook his head, the smirk on his face growing. He stood up and moved to the counter. He leaned against it as he spoke. "Not at all. I've seen more than my fair share of the supernatural, so Brownies are pretty tame in comparison."
"Then why are they mad at you?" Evalin asked, as she furrowing her bow and puffed her cheeks. "They tried to take my stuff."
Ford chuckled wryly, a bitter expression on his face. "Let's just say, I've unintentionally inconvenienced them a time or two. Brownies don't like being bothered, they prefer solitude."
"That's not true!" Evalin piped up defensively. "They are very social creatures! They love to help but they need things in return! They like shiny and sweet things. I mean, they are very easy to live with and will even help clean those hard to reach spots like on top of cabinets."
Ford was taken aback by her quick defense of the little creatures. He raised an eyebrow, his expression slightly amused by her zealous proclamation of the Brownies. "Ah, I see. So you have some experience with them, do you? You seem to speak from personal experience."
Evalin's face turned red again as she became flustered. "Y- yeah back at home. I'm sorry if this is all weird. I didn't mean to get all uppity."
Ford chuckled as he shook his head. "No, no. It's not weird at all. I think it's actually quite impressive. Most people don't even know Brownies exist, let alone have personal experience with them." He pushed himself off the counter and moved towards her as he studied her face. After a moment he leaned against the counter across from her, his chin rested on his closed fist. "So, you lived in a cabin all by yourself, have experience with supernatural creatures, and you make sigils by yourself. You're a very interesting character, aren't you?"
"I-I-" Flustered, Evalin stuttered uncontrollably. "I'm sorry. I think I'm going to go lay back down." She quickly got up and scurried off towards her room, leaving Ford shocked at the counter top.
Sunlight poured through the window as it woke Evalin up. She stretched out and blinked a few times as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. Everything looked just as strange as yesterday so it wasn't a hallucination. She was definitely far from home. Rubbing her eyes, she grabbed her hat and stepped out of the room.
The sharp smell of burnt food hit her immediately, accompanied by the sounds of bickering from the kitchen.
"Holy hell, Mabel! You'd think by now you'd know how to cook simple pancakes!" Dipper yelled, his voice followed by a loud splat.
"Hey! I'm trying, okay? Don't see you helping!" Mabel fired back. Objects clattered and laughter echoed through the house.
"You kids need to keep it down!" Stan called out.
"Yes, our guest is still resting," Ford added.
Evalin peered into the hallway and spotted a neat stack of clothes by the door. Flushing with embarrassment at the thought of Ford handling her clothes, she quickly grabbed the pile and retreated to change. Once dressed, she made her way to the bathroom.
After taking care of morning business, she caught her reflection in the mirror. "Good God, Evalin, you look like you've been through a wood chipper," she muttered as she splashed cold water on her face to rinse away the sweat. She made a face as she tried to tame her hair, then found some mouthwash to freshen up. Sighing, she muttered to herself, "This is a problem."
A knock at the door made her jump. "Evalin? Are you in there?" It was Ford's voice. "Mabel says she'll take you into town to get some supplies if you'd like. Once you're ready, I have some questions for you."
She listened as his footsteps faded down the hall, and when the coast was clear, she slipped out and found her way outside. The warm sun felt good on her skin, and she closed her eyes as she took a deep breath in the fresh air. But her moment of peace was cut short when Mabel burst through the screen door, full of energy and ready for the day.
"There you are! Sorry about breakfast. I was going to make some Mabel Cakes for you but that was a bust. You wanna go to town and get some food before getting you some new clothes?" she asked but hardly waited for an answer before taking Evalin's arm. Mabel dragged her down the road towards the town of Gravity Falls. Evalin was very hesitant. She could feel a lump form in her throat as they got closer and closer to town. Mabel didn't seem to notice as she just kept talking.
"You know, Evalin, I think you're gonna like it here. There are some nice people here in town! We can go to the diner where good old Lazy Susan will take care of us for breakfast. You'll know which one is her because she only has one eye that opens normally. She's really nice. Grunkle Stan dated her once!"
As soon as Evalin and Mabel returned, Evalin hurried to the bathroom to freshen up. She slipped into a simple gray sundress and her wide brim hat. The shower and clean teeth made her feel like a new person. She collected her belongings and retreated to her room, where her new clothes were folded neatly in the corner, topped with a tarot deck she got in town.
Curious, Evalin picked up the deck. She studied the cards before placing them back in order. After a few calming breaths, she reshuffled and drew a single card: The Fool. She let out a sigh.
"New beginnings... that makes sense. But what about yesterday?" she asked aloud. She drew another card: The Tower. A chill ran down her spine. Yesterday had indeed been a chaotic turning point. "Alright, one more," she murmured before shuffling again. A single card fell from her hands: the Two of Cups. She felt a bit of relief; it symbolized connection and trust in those around her.
A voice called from the other side of the door, "Hey, Evalin! It's me, Dipper. The Grunkles wanted me to tell you that they want you to join us in the living room. Of course, no pressure. Just thought I'd let you know. Uh, yeah, anyway... see you around!" She heard his footsteps retreat down the hall.
Evalin thought for a moment, then carefully returned the cards to the box and set it beside her pillow. Making her way to the living room, she found everyone gathered together. Mabel patted the spot next to her on the couch, smiling warmly to invite Evalin to sit beside her.
"Damn, Evi! You look amazing!" Mabel exclaimed.
"Th-thank you," Evalin stammered, sitting down quickly as her face turned a bright pink.
"Ahem," Ford cleared his throat, his tone more serious. "Evalin, we need to ask you a few questions. The kids told us they found you in the woods near a strange stall. Do you remember anything about how you ended up there yesterday?"
Evalin shook her head. "I'm sorry, I really don't remember much. I know I was gathering materials in the woods, but after that, everything gets... really bright."
"Bright?" Ford leaned in, intrigued. He opened his journal and began scribbling down notes. "What do you mean by that?"
"It was like a bright fire in my eyes," she explained, her voice distant. "And then, I woke up here." She paused, taking a deep breath. "I guess I should tell you a little about myself. As I said before, my name is Evalin Dreamer. My Moon sign is Cancer. I'm from Riverside, Illinois. I was traveling around gathering materials for my project I was working on. I like jellyfish, and I really can't stand pollution. Uh... I'm sorry. That's really all I know."
A long silence followed as the atmosphere grew heavy with unanswered questions.
"Well, this is a bit awkward," Stan broke the tension by standing up. "I'm gonna go grab some snacks. Dipper, give me a hand in the kitchen, would ya?" He waved his hand, and Mabel quickly followed suit, announcing that she was hungry too. As the room emptied, a soft rustling noise came from the end table near Stan's chair.
"You again!?" Ford snapped, glaring at the little mouse-like creatures that were attempting to scurry off with the remote. "Damn! They almost got it again!"
"I told you, you upset them," Evalin said with a sheepish grin. "Where I come from, we have them all over. They're usually pretty nice. They leave me little trinkets, and I do the same for them. They help me clean the hard-to-reach spots, too. I could probably solve your problem if you want." She felt her face grow warmer as the words spilled out, realizing how strange it all must sound. "I'm sorry. This probably sounds weird to you."
"No!" Ford quickly sat down next to her. He took her hand in a firm, reassuring grip. "It's not weird at all. Please, tell me more."
"I-" Evalin's words faltered as a wave of dizziness washed over her. The energy in the room felt so intense. Before she could say more, Stan, Mabel, and Dipper returned, arms full of snacks.
"Hey, bro," Stan teased, his voice laced with mischief, "aren't you a little too old to be putting the moves on her?"
Ford froze, his face turning beet red as he realized what he was doing. He jumped up, quickly clearing his throat. "I,uh, I wasn't... I mean..." He fumbled for words before he regained his composure. "It's not like that," he said quickly, his face turned red. "She seems to know a lot about the supernatural. I just want to learn everything she knows. There's no funny business involved."
"Sure, Grunkle Ford," Mabel snickered, with Dipper joining in with a quiet giggle.
"Anyway," Ford said as he attempted to steer the conversation back on track, "you mentioned solving the brownie problem. What did you mean by that?"
Evalin took a moment to think, before answering.
"Brownies? Like the dessert?" Mabel asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No," Evalin laughed lightly. "I mean the fae creatures. They're little mischievous beings. If they get upset with you, they might move your stuff around in protest. But if you can win them over, they'll live with you pretty peacefully. Watch."
She got up and grabbed a cookie from Mabel's arms, then made her way over to a small hole in the wall, kneeling down in front of it.
"Hey! My house!" Stan shouted in annoyance as he suddenly noticed the hole in the wall. "Wait a minute, that hole wasn't there before."
"Stan, this is my house," Ford shot back, clearly confused.
Evalin shushed them both before she place the cookie in front of the hole.
"I'm sorry if we startled you. Please accept this gift as a peace offering. I look forward to working with you soon," she said softly. After a few moments, tiny mouse-like creatures crawled out of the hole, took the cookie, and disappeared back inside. Evalin grinned widely. "Oh good! They took it. Looks like you didn't mess things up too badly."
"Interesting," Ford exclaimed as he scribbled down everything he had just witnessed. "How did you know that would work?"
"It's just something I've always known," Evalin replied with a shrug. "I was raised with lessons about the world of the unknown... well, it's not unknown to me, but you get the idea. Sorry if that was too weird for you all."
"Pft, if you think that was weird, you should meet the gnomes!" Mabel giggled, her face lit up with mischief.
A look of disgust crossed Evalin's face. "Ugh, please tell me there aren't any gnomes around here," she groaned. She held up her hand, cutting off any response, and rubbed her temples in frustration. "I'm going for a walk to clear my head."
"Do you want-?" Mabel started, but Evalin interrupted.
"I'd like to be alone for a bit, if that's okay. Don't worry, I won't get lost." With that, she slipped on her boots and headed into the woods.
The outdoors were breathtaking. It was early evening, and the sun filtered through the trees as it casted golden beams of light onto the forest floor. Evalin spotted a basket just outside the shack and decided to take it as she head into the thicket. The fresh air filled her lungs which made her feel more at ease with each breath. As she wandered down the winding paths, she came across lavender plants and gathered large bundles to dry later. She also found a few interesting sticks and stones, as well as a river where she stopped to wash the rocks she'd collected. To her delight, one stone turned out to be a beautiful citrine, another a clear quartz, and the third an amethyst. Pleased with her finds, she tucked them into the basket.
She then placed the basket on the ground and undressed and laid her clothes over it before stepping into the cool water. The river felt refreshing against her bare skin as if the water washed away the negative energy she'd been carrying. A small frog hopped up nearby and croaked at her. Evalin smiled, offering it a gentle pat on the head. The frog paused, clearly surprised, before it hopped away. Evalin let out a light chuckle. It felt as if the whole world was welcoming her with open arms.
After some time, Evalin decided to leave the river. The sun was nearly gone, and the sky was beginning to darken as stars slowly began to appear. She dressed, gathered her supplies, and made her way up a large hill to get a better view of the stars. She sat in the soft grass and gazed up at the twinkling sky when a familiar voice broke the silence.
"I see you found this place too," Ford said with a warm smile. Evalin jumped at the sound of him but Ford raised his hand in a peaceful gesture. "No worries. I'm just here to study the stars too. May I join you?"
"I-I suppose," Evalin replied, a bit startled as she shifted to make room. Ford sat down beside her, and they both fell into a comfortable silence.
"Do you like stars?" Ford asked after a while. Evalin, a little surprised by the question, blinked.
"Well, of course I do," she said. Her voice grew more animated as she pointed at the sky. "There's Aquila, and Ophiuchus. And up there is Hercules. Oh, you can even see Lyra tonight!" A bright smile spread across her face. "I'm so glad to see them here."
"You seem to know a lot," Ford remarked, his tone calm. Evalin flushed as she suddenly felt self-conscious.
"Sorry, I know this must sound strange," she stammered, but Ford shook his head.
"This isn't strange at all. I study this kind of stuff," he said with a reassuring smile. "It's nice to meet someone who knows about it too." He turned his gaze back to the stars. "Listen, I don't know how you got here or even who you are, but you're here for a reason. What that reason is, I'm not sure yet, but I hope you come to enjoy Gravity Falls."
"Thank you, Mr. Pines," Evalin said softly, touched by his words.
"Please, Mr. Pines was my father," Ford replied with a chuckle. "My name is Stanford, but you can call me Ford." He smiled warmly at her, making Evalin's heart skip a beat.
"Oh, um, thank you, Stanford," she replied, feeling flustered and too nervous to use his nickname. She quickly tried to change the subject. "I guess you can call me Evi. That's what Mabel started calling me when we were in town today. I guess that's what my name is now."
"Oh? Mabel gave you a nickname already?" Ford grinned. "That's a good sign. She must like you. I mean, it does seem like you've caught all our interest so far." He stood up and offered her a hand. "I'm heading back now. Would you like to join me?"
Evalin hesitated for a moment, then took his hand, as she felt a warmth spread through her chest. "Oh, uh, sure," she said softly. "I'd like that." Evalin nodded as Ford pulled her up to her feet. She reached for her basket and started rummaging through it. After a moment, she pulled out a small flower with pointed, tubular petals. "Here, I found some sugar flowers. You just pluck the petals and suck the nectar from the bottom."
Evalin popped a petal into her mouth and began drinking the sweet nectar. Ford followed suit, surprised by the tiny burst of sweetness on his tongue. Meanwhile, Evalin continued to indulge in more of the sugar flowers.
"Ah, I should probably stop," she said as she pulled away from the flowers. "I was planning to make them into syrup for lavender tea. Let's head back before I end up eating them all." They started their walk downhill, Ford led the way back to the shack. He held the door open for her as she stepped inside, and she nodded in thanks before heading to her room.
After a quiet good night, she shut the door behind her and got to work. First, she tied up the lavender she'd collected and hung it in the window to dry. She tucked the amethyst under her mattress and placed the citrine in the window to catch the light. The clear quartz found its place atop her tarot deck. Then, she picked a few sprigs of mint and tucked them under the mat in front of her door. Taking a few sticks, she wrapped them with twine and some of her hair before hanging them over the door frame. It wasn't much, but it started to feel a little more like home.
Evalin lay on the makeshift bed, her arms stretched out above her as the string lights flickered overhead. The Shack felt cozy, almost peaceful, but her chest remained tight with unease.
She closed her eyes, chasing memories that danced just out of reach. She could still picture her cabin, the woods she called her own, the sigils carved into the floorboards. But after that... blankness. A sudden, terrible void.
Her hand curled into a fist against the blanket. "What happened to me?" she whispered into the darkness.
The stars outside twinkled faintly, as if mocking her question.