"Look at my glorious candy beard!" Mabel declared proudly, her entire portion of cotton candy somehow stuck to her face. "It's as fashionable as it is delicious!"

"Hmm… very nice," Mike chuckled, finishing off his own cotton candy. "But if you're too full to actually eat it…"

"No! It's mine!" Mabel cried as she ducked away from Mike's hand, rapidly shoving the cotton candy into her mouth. Dipper rolled his eyes at the antics of his siblings, but there was a smile on his face as well.

A traveling carnival has stopped in town, one not sponsored by Stan, and the Mystery Siblings were spending the day enjoying it. They had already gone on most of the rides and played a few games.

"How about we head over there next," Dipper suggested, pointing to a building further down.

"Mirror Maze: See A Side Of Yourself You've Never Seen Before," Mike read from the sign as they got closer. "So what do you think? Strangely ominous logo or an actual warning?"

"Honestly, it's an even 50-50 chance, knowing our luck with stumbling across the supernatural even when we aren't actively looking," Dipper replied with a shrug and a rueful grin. "We'll just have to be on the lookout for evil mirror doppelgängers. Especially if it looks like they want to suck you in to swap places."

"If sure we'll be fine," Mabel giggled as she struck a pose. "I'm so adorable that every side's a good side!"

"But what about Anti-Mabel?" Dipper began to ask only to be shushed by his twin.

"She was a dimensional counterpart not a reflection of me," Mabel waved away the argument. "It's completely different!"

Mike just chuckled at the twins' antics and pulled them up to the entrance, handing over their tickets before escorting them inside. At first, it was just a normal goofy attraction, full of all sorts of mirrors that distorted the viewer's image In hilarious ways. It was a lot of fun, even Mike, who tended to avoid his reflection as much as possible, was able to enjoy the goofy images. When they entered the main part of the maze itself, Mabel ran off ahead, giggling when her brothers grumble in frustration as they smacked into mirrors in an attempt to get keep up with her. In her delight, she didn't notice how the maze seemed to change behind her, leaving her isolated with only her reflection for company.

"I'm so going to brag about how easily I could get through this maze," Mabel said as she finally slowed down her race and leisurely continued through the mirrors.

"To be fair to your brothers," a voice came from Mabel's side, making her head whip around to see her reflection talking with a shy smile. "Me and my siblings were making things difficult for them so I'd be able to talk to you in private."

"Oh my gosh! You're alive Mirror Me!" Mabel gasped in delight before giving her reflection a suspicious glare. "But why did you want to separate me from my brothers? Are you evil like Dipper said?"

"You can call me Lebam to help keep things simple," the now-named Lebam replied before shaking her head. "And despite what most movies say, Reflections like us aren't opposites of those we reflect. I'm more like your secret sister, one that's been with you your whole life and has done practically everything with you. I wanted to get you alone because we know how paranoid our brothers can be. If my brother or I tried to talk to you altogether, Dipper and Mike would immediately go on the defensive to keep you safe. It's frustrating sometimes, but we love them anyway."

"Yeah we do," Mabel agreed both of the having identical looks of fondness. Stepping closer to the mirror, Mabel asked, "So what did you want to talk to me so badly about?"

"I… we need your help," Lebam hesitantly admitted, worry clear on her face. "Ekim is hurting. Something's making him really sad and I want to help him so badly. I don't know all the details, us reflections are masters at keeping secrets from everyone but those we reflect after all, but there still has to be something I can do for him. I love my brother just as much as you love yours. Please help me find a way to help Ekim…"

Mabel's been on enough adventures to know that manipulative creatures and people will say whatever they think they need to try and trick you to do what they want. While Mabel has tried and managed to keep her optimism and trust in the good of people in the world, she has also learned to be cautious, especially when she's separated from her family (a part of her will always be terrified she could bring about the end of the world again). But Lebam seemed genuine in her worry and Mabel knows she would do everything she could for Mike if she thought he was hurting.

"What do you need me to do?" Mabel concluded with conviction, getting a relieved smile from Lebam.

"Come join me in the mirror realm," Lebam said, placing her hand on the glass separating them. "We'll meet up with Reppid once he convinces Dipper to help to and come up with a plan to help Mike and Ekim."

"Good luck to Reppid," Mabel, chuckled, placing her hand on top of Lebam's. "Dipper can be very stubborn."

"And Reppid is just as stubborn," Lebam agreed with a smirk, curling her fingers in time with Mabel so their fingers intertwined. "But they care about our big bro just as much as we do, so I know Dipper will join us. For Mike."

"For Ekim," Mabel nodded. Letting her reflection pull her by their connected hands, Mabel stepped through the mirror.

"Mabel, where are you?" Dipper shouted as he speed-walked through the maze, a concerned frown slowly growing on his face. "Stop hiding and come out! This isn't funny anymore!"

Dipper quieted down as he listened for any response or sign that Mabel was nearby. He was about to shout for his twin again when he realized that not only did he not hear his sister, but he no longer heard his brother anymore either. Dipper came to a stop as he looked behind him, seeing no sign of Mike despite him having been following right behind Dipper just a moment ago. Studying the path behind him, Dipper felt a jolt of fear as he realized the mirrors had shifted somehow, making it so he was completely cut off.

This is a trap! Dipper realized, immediately reaching for the custom taser he always carried.

"I know you think this is a trap," came a voice from the side. Dipper dropped into a defensive stance as he turned to face the voice, holding his taser at the ready. Dipper saw his reflection in the glass, holding up his hands in a calming gesture as he continued, "And I don't blame you for thinking that. We've been through a lot, but this isn't a trap, at least a malicious one. I'm your reflection, you can call me Reppid, and I need your help."

"And why should I trust you?" Dipper asked with a frown. "Just because you claim you're my reflection doesn't mean it's true. And even if you are my reflection, how do I know you're not evil?"

"I could go on trying to give reasons for why I'm not evil and why you should trust me, but we both know that would take too long since you're already worried about our siblings," Reppid said with a knowing look, which Dipper couldn't deny. "But I'll give you some quick answers so you can have more information to work with. I'm similar to the paper clones in a way. I share a lot of the same experiences and memories as you, but unlike the clones, I don't share your thoughts. I think similarly and know your thought processes pretty well, but that comes from being with you your entire life and reflecting what you do."

"That's not the best example to use as the clones turned on me," Dipper replied, crossing his arms.

"Hey, Tracy and Quattro turned out alright," Reppid countered with a smirk. "And Tyrone was cool once you two stopped fighting over Wendy. The biggest issue between you and the clones is you were all going for the same selfish goal, a date with Wendy. What I want isn't inherently selfish… I want to help our brother."

"Mike? What's wrong?" Dipper asked, dropping his defensive stance though he was still cautious. "Or do you mean… Ekim?"

"Reflections and those that we reflect are deeply connected especially here," Reppid explained. "Though we are separate entities, things that affect you affect us and vice versa, though rarely does something happen on this side of the mirror first. So while my main concern right now is Ekim, helping him would positively affect Mike."

"So what's the matter with Ekim," Dipper asked, worry starting to fill him. Reppid wasn't kidding when he said he was like the clones. The way he talked, moved, and acted were all identical to how Dipper does, which makes sense as he was Dipper's literal reflection. And while he could just be coming up with an elaborate story to get Dipper's cooperation, Reppid's emotions seemed far too genuine.

"Something's been bothering him and it's been bringing him really down," Reppid said, looking sad just thinking about it. "You know how well our brother hides his problems from us when he wants to, so the fact that I've noticed how bad it's gotten means that it's already been a pressing issue for a long time. Lebam has probably already convinced Mabel to help us, so will you help us too? I know this is a lot to take in and there isn't an easy way to show you I'm telling the truth, but I swear this isn't some trick to take your place or to trap you or anything. I just want to help my brother."

"What do you need me to do?" Dipper asked after a moment. While there was still part of him that thought this might be a trick, he couldn't deny the truth of Reppid's words. Dipper knew Mike still hid a lot of his struggles from him and Mabel, but he and his twin also did their best to cheer up Mike when he was down even if they didn't know what exactly was bothering him. Dipper couldn't fault Reppid for wanting to do the same.

If there was a chance it could help Mike that Dipper considered it worth the risk.

"Just place your hand on top of mine, I can pull you through the barrier," Reppid said, placing his hand on the glass. "Then we'll meet up with our sisters to come up with a plan."

Dipper nodded and placed his hand on the mirror, stepping through without hesitation.

"I don't know who or what is doing this," Mike growled as he stalked through the mirror maze, his eyes glowing brighter with his worry and frustration. "But you better let me get the twins. Right! Now!"

It became obvious that something was manipulating the maze when Mike had attempted to follow Dipper around a corner only to smack into a mirror that had not been there the second before. The only way forward had led in a different direction than Dipper had gone through and Mike was not happy about it. If he didn't find a hint at where the twins were soon, Mike fully planned to start smashing.

"I just want to let you know this was not my idea," came a voice from his side. Mike's head snapped to the source and he found his reflection standing tense with an expression that was a mix of frustration and fondness. "I told them that separating you from the twins would only make things worse not better, but our siblings are very stubborn."

"Who are you," Mike demanded as the whites of his eyes started to darken, taking a step forward which prompted his reflection to step back. "And where are the twins."

"I know this looks bad," the reflection attempted to assure, though there was a visible tremble in his hands. "My name is Ekim and I'm your reflection. I'm not exactly sure where the twins are, but I know my siblings wanted to talk to them. They're probably all in the mirror world by now."

"Then give them back," Mike snarled, his eyes getting even darker. "NOW!"

"I-I can't," Ekim responded fearfully, moving towards the edge of the mirror he was currently in. "But if you just give me a chance to explain…"

But Mike wasn't willing to listen anymore. All he knew was that the twins were gone, that they could be in danger, and he needed to find them now. Mike's remanent reacted to his fear and worry, amplifying and twisting it into anger. The whites of his eyes turned completely black and the purple glowed even brighter, black corrupted remanent beginning to drip from the corner of his eyes.

Ekim easily picked up that Mike wasn't in a state of mind to be reasoned with and bolted, fleeing down the line of mirrors. Mike immediately took after him, electricity sparking from his animatronic limbs in his anger. Mike pursued his reflection, following every twist and turn. Whenever Mike got close enough, he would smash the mirror with the intent of stopping and hurting Ekim for taking the twins away. Ekim would push himself faster whenever Mike did that, fear etched on his face. Ekim's luck ran out though as his human arm wasn't quite out of the mirror before Mike smashed it.

Identical cries of pain filled the air as they both dropped to their knees, the sudden pain snapping Mike out of his rampage. Looking down at his arm, Mike saw deep gashes in his skin that matched the cracked pattern he had created.

"See! We're connected!" Ekim tried to explain desperately, holding out his injured arm as proof. "And in here the barrier between us is almost nonexistent. I couldn't hurt your twins without hurting my own and I would never do that! No more than you would willing hurt them! So, please! Just give me the chance to explain! You can't hurt me without hurting yourself after all."

"Give me the twins back and then I'll hear what you have to say," Mike threatened as he rose to his feet, his eyes still darker than usual. "If you are as similar to me as you say, then you know I don't care what happens to me if it means my siblings are safe. So tell me where they are! I'll give you three seconds… 3… 2…"

"No! Wait!"

"Stop!"

Dipper and Mabel came running into Ekim's mirror, using themselves to shield the still-kneeling Ekim. Mike wasn't sure if these were his twins or their reflections, but it didn't matter. Mike could never hurt Dipper and Mabel on purpose.

"Please don't blame Ekim!" Lebam begged, appearing in a mirror to Mike's right.

"It was our idea," Reppid added desperately, appearing to Mike's left. "We're the ones to came up with the plan to talk to our counterparts alone and get their help."

"And what kind of help did you need that made you go to such extremes?" Mike asked in worry, his eyes going completely back to normal. He could never deny his siblings begging for help.

"They… they figured out how much you hate me…" Ekim confessed, Dipper and Mabel moving aside so Mike could more clearly see his reflection. "And I get it! I really do… I was there in the aftermath of the worst day of our lives. I know how we died and I know what you saw whenever I looked at me all those years (only Mike knew Ekim wasn't referring to seeing a walking corpse). I know the terror of knowing it wasn't you that I was reflecting…"

"Wait… You can tell when someone's possessed?" Dipper couldn't help but ask in curiosity.

"Yeah…" Reppid confirmed with a shiver, hugging himself as the memories surfaced. "We don't actually get mind controlled or possessed ourselves, but there's the feeling of wrongness that comes with it. Something deep and instinctual that screams at us that even though it's still you physically, it's not the one we're supposed to be reflecting. It's terrifying and there's never anything we can do but hope that you'd been free soon."

"And even if there weren't things like that, we've been reflecting you your entire lives," Lebam reminded. "We're often there with you when you're at your most vulnerable. We've seen the best and the worst times of your life. We know the difference between your usual gestures and expressions and something pretended as easily as we know the difference between a real smile and a fake one put on for the benefit of others."

Neither of Mabel's brothers noticed how Mabel shifted uncomfortably at Lebam's words.

"The point is, I get why you've avoided me as much of you could over the decades," Ekim continued, looking at Mike with a desperate hope to be understood. "But things are different now! We have a family that cares about us and you're happier than you've been in a long time… but you're still avoiding me and I can't be with my new family very often as a result. I just… I don't want to be alone anymore… Not when I finally have the chance to be with people that care about me… Not after all these years without it…"

"I… I had no idea," Mike replied, filled with sympathy and guilt as he looked at Ekim. "It… it might take a little time to get used to… but I'll try and stop avoiding you, for your sake…"

"Not just my sake," Ekim added as his siblings came over and hugged him in relief, giving Mike a knowing look that his words had nothing to do with the twins in his arms.

After all, it wasn't Ekim that was the true target of Mike's hatred.

"I'll… do my best…" Mike promised. He had told Evan that he'd learn to forgive himself after all.

"Thank you," Lebam beamed, as they helped Dipper and Mabel cross over the barrier once more. "We couldn't have done this without your help."

"We'll let the maze return to normal," Ripped added. "You should be able to get out easily now."

"I guess we'll see you around…" Mike said as he took the hands of his siblings in his.

"Always," Lebam joked, getting chuckles from her brother.

The mystery siblings and their reflections walked side by side as they came to the end of the maze, giving one final goodbye as they stepped out of the building and the barrier between their worlds went back to normal. Having enough excitement for the day, the siblings went back home to the Shack to relax for the rest of the day. Mabel got a small hand mirror and set it up so it reflected the whole living room as the siblings spent time together playing games and watching tv.

And if Mike saw his reflection give him a grateful nod out of the corner of his eye, well that was his little secret.