Volume 1: Act 1 – Chapter 2 | Fragments of Innocence
The sound of clothes rustling, and excited chatter filled the hallway upstairs. The Twins rooms were across from each other. They had gotten into the habit of leaving their doors open so they could talk and bother each other. They did this a lot more when they were younger. As time has passed, it seemed that this traditioned had lessened but never faded.
"Do I bring all my sweaters? Oooh, what about my bracelet kit and hot glue gun or glitter bombs?"
Mabel was practically bouncing around her room at this point, her excitement infectious. She peered into Dipper's room with wide eyes. He grunted in response, a sound of affirmation. He was turned, staring at his dresser, where his suitcase lay open, clothes and books scattered haphazardly.
Mabel noticed what had captured his attention—the hat. The token of friendship he'd received when they left two years ago. It had remained on his bed ever since an incident at school last semester. It was a silent reminder of everything that had transpired.
"Somebody misses a certain redhead," she teased, nudging him with her hip.
He stumbled, a slight hue invading his cheeks. "WHAT? I err… No. Mabel, cut it out!"
Compared to how he would react to her name two years ago, this response was tame in Mabel's mind. She felt a brief twinge of regret for pushing him into his last summer romance, physically locking him in a bunker with a shapeshifter just to confess to an unattainable idea of something more, something everyone knew was out of reach.
"Sorry, Dipper," she chuckled sheepishly.
He turned to her, a small smile breaking through, and shrugged. "Look, Wendy is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. Reliable, cool, just awesome." His gaze returned to the hat, nostalgia washing over him—a wave of fleeting feelings left unspoken.
"What she offered me, though, is worth its weight in gold. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Dipper expected the familiar swell of sadness and bitterness he usually felt when he thought of her, but surprisingly, it didn't come. Instead, he found something else. Warmth, like the soft glow of a campfire in the woods.
What is this feeling?
He wondered why it was there, this sense of…what? He could not name it yet. The emotional turmoil that once clouded his thoughts around Wendy had faded into something. Perhaps into a gentle memory, something precious yet distant. It was like an ancient relic, something fond from the past.
Mabel observed him, her eyes wide. "That's surprisingly wise of you, Dippingsauce."
Dipper's mouth hung open for a moment, like he'd just heard something unbelievable. "Yeah, I just… I don't know." He suddenly shifted topics, holding up a pair of khaki-colored chinos with a thoughtful expression. "Look, do I even bring these? Shorts are so much more practical for running around in the woods. But these pants… they're like my badge of honor."
Mabel raised an eyebrow, giving him a sideways look. "Badge of honor? Dipper, just wear those jeans you have in your dresser or, I don't know, buy a new pair?"
Dipper looked down at his patched-up chinos, worn but dependable. "Yeah, but… I don't know. It just feels right, you know?"
"More like a badge of nerdom, AYOOO!" Mabel slapped his back, and he dropped the pants, wincing.
He shot her an annoyed look. "Come on, Mabel."
"Hey, if you can ditch the vest for hoodies, you can branch out with pants too!" She gestured to her own outfit, proudly displaying her new sweater. It was made from a fine, soft yarn that Stan had sent them a few months ago from "some underground Black-Ice Market" (whatever that meant). The sweater fit her well, cozy yet stylish, with a cluster of shooting stars and a pig's face front and center.
"See? Waddles!" Mabel grinned so wide Dipper thought her face might split.
"Yeah, but shorts have pockets, Mabel! I can carry tools and stuff—look!" He grabbed a pair of grey shorts and dug around in the side pocket to demonstrate; his voice suddenly filled with enthusiasm.
Mabel watched him quizzically. "Where was this energy at school, bro-bro? You wore pants and that hoodie, like, all the time."
Dipper looked down at his pile of clothes, noticing the old shorts, bright red shirts, and long socks. Then his gaze lingered on his dark hoodie and jeans. Something about that outfit felt… safe, familiar. "I don't know. It just felt comfortable, I guess?"
Mabel's expression softened. "It's not 'cause of what Logan said, is it? That was forever ago."
"It was literally 4 months ago," Dipper deadpanned, picking up clothes and tossing them into his suitcase. But he knew there was more to it. Those comments stuck with him. Sometimes, they just felt like a reminder of how he didn't quite fit in anywhere, even back home. The last thing he wanted to do was think about school.
He couldn't wait to go back to Gravity Falls. He could finally fill out that Journal Mabel gave him 2 years ago. Finally able to run through the woods, looking for beasts, weird creatures, looking for anything weird in general. Just thinking about doing that again, reliving that summer again made him feel so...so….
alive.
Something bothered him though. He wasn't sure what it was. This emptiness, this worry? It's like a pit. It sat in his stomach like a full meal. What was he so worried about? He was finally going back, back to the place he missed so much. He and Mabel had dreamed about this day (literally).
He felt something bump against his legs. He looked down…
"Oink"
"WADDLESSSS."
Mabel immediately tackled the pig. Waddles had gotten a little bigger over the years. What still surprised Dipper is that his parents let them keep a pig in the first place. His mom did not like taking care of the pig, and she is a person who absolutely adores animals (Except rats, she hates rats. But they're kind of cool). His dad, however, was especially fond of Waddles. Maybe he just really likes pigs for some reason?
"Waddles look at me, are you ready for this?" Mabel put on a serious face as she squeezed his cheeks.
Waddles stared blankly back at her, then oinked in acknowledgement.
"Looks like Waddles is ready!" The excitement in her voice was so infectious that Dipper couldn't help but smile as he looked down at them. A dirty odor then filled his nostrils.
"He needs a bath."
"Ah-greed." Mabel was quick to respond.
Dipper stood in his room, stuffing the last of his clothes and knick-knacks into his suitcase, then paused. He took in the sight of the scattered clothes and half-packed bags, suddenly unsure.
What do I take?
The choices around him seemed to form a silent, pleading chorus—familiar shirts, worn-in jeans, a pair of shorts he'd grown out of but couldn't bear to toss. The clothes pulled him in all directions, echoing memories of old adventures, small triumphs, and moments he couldn't shake. His vest sat beside the pile, calling out for one last adventure, just one more time. He felt it all deeply, like a promise he wanted so desperately to keep.
Sure, he still wanted to be an adventurer like his Grunkle Ford, discovering the unknown and charting mysteries beyond his reach. But in Piedmont, adventure felt like something he could only dream about. While his Grunkles explored the world, sailing into legends, he was here—riding out the monotony of school, drowning in assignments, and killing time with the film club just to keep from feeling so…so…
empty.
Home wasn't quite the same these days. The familiarity had become a strange kind of silence, like a soundtrack missing its melody. He knew why his parents had sent him and Mabel to Gravity Falls in the first place. He remembered those late nights when he'd overhear fragments of their conversations from the top of the stairs—words he didn't want to understand but couldn't ignore.
Split.
Leave.
Papers.
It hurt because he knew things were changing whether he wanted them to or not. Family wasn't supposed to feel like this, slipping out from under him while he tried to hold on. Maybe that's why Gravity Falls lingered in his thoughts; it felt real, grounded. Like the kind of adventure where he had mattered, even if it was just for a summer. He wanted that adventure so badly, he needed it.
He wanted those cuts and bruises—proof he was alive, doing something real, something that mattered. Something he loved. To be out there, facing the impossible, maybe even being a hero, just like his uncle. Deep down, he wondered what it would've been like to take that apprenticeship…
He shook his head vigorously, dismissing the thought. He knew it had never really been an option. Ford was probably just so caught up in finally finding someone who shared his passion—let alone that person being his nephew—that he hadn't thought it through. Ford was getting older, and after thirty years on the run, hopping between dimensions, he'd been alone far too long. Dipper couldn't imagine living like that: wandering through terrifying realms, always looking over his shoulder.
The dark hoodie stared back at him, wrapped in memories like a warm, familiar melody. It made him feel so comfortable in school. Like he could finally fade into the crowd and not be the laughingstock of the week just for wearing a trapper hat and a vest. But that red shirt and vest—the rhythm of it was different, like a fast, exciting beat that made him want to jump up and run along with it. His frustration built as he stared between the two choices. Finally, he grabbed both and tossed them into the suitcase. He'd figure it out when the time came. Having options couldn't hurt… right?
"Dipper?" His mom called him from downstairs.
"Yeah?"
"Come here!"
Dipper made his way down the hall. He peeked into the bathroom seeing Mabel giving Waddles a bath. Well, it was really a karaoke session while she haphazardly washed Waddles. He chuckled to himself and made his way down the stairs. As he turned the corner at the end of the stairs, he noticed his father was getting ready to head up the stairs with some laundry. Uh oh….
"Here are some of your clothes Dipper, I'll leave them up in your room to pack.'
"But I already packed!" Dipper knew where this was going.
His father sported a frown. "Yeah? Well, how much of your clothes you packed were washed man?" He let out a hearty chuckle at dippers facial expression. He set down the clothes on the couches arm and ruffled Dippers hair a bit.
"You take a lot after me huh." He and Dipper both laughed at his dad's comment.
"Your mom wanted to give you something" he said as he picked the clothes back up and headed up the stairs. He immediately noticed the music blaring in the bathroom upstairs.
"Mabel, can you turn the music down a smidge? Karaoke isn't for the neighbors!"
Mables muffled replied could be heard as she shouted back. "NOPE, ME AND WADDLES ARE HAVING A BLAST!"
Dipper could hear his dad mutter under his breath with an amused chuckle. "So that's where that damn pig went. Maybe he got tired of my belly scratches."
Dipper turned away and headed into the kitchen, finding his mother at the table with an envelope. Her eyes lit up as she saw him.
"I have something for you sweetie." She began to open the envelope in her hands. It crinkled as she fiddled with its contents. Dipper felt a strange sense of eagerness and anticipation. She pulled out 2 tickets and handed them to Dipper.
"I know Mabel will probably want to keep these like she did with the last ones."
Dipper grabbed the tickets and looked at them. They seem to be a bit different from the ones he got last time. Different design, with a more simplified print. But it was proof to him. Proof that he really was going back to that place. A place he called home for some time. He felt so excited, so eager. He could already feel the memories flooding into his mind. All those adventures, those moments he missed so much.
The smell of the trees, the scratchy blanket from his bed, lying down on that stiff mattress with a dip in the middle, the weird feeling of the carpet downstairs by the TV under his toes. For a second, he just absorbed it, all of it. His mind wandered back to the smell, that smell of pine and dirt. It was so full of mystery and nostalgia that it made him feel sick on a high that he had been so desperate for.
But that smell, it was the same one in his dream. He could envision the trees flying by him again, with that same dreadful feeling. The feeling of being so hopeless, being so powerless in that moment. All a sudden, it was like his feet were anchored in a web of vines and thorns. He felt trapped, too scared to even try to move a muscle.
"You okay sweetie?" He felt his mom's hand caress his cheek. The love and care from her touch brought him back to himself, waking him out of his daydream.
Dipper smiled, "Yeah…sorry. I'm just excited to go back."
"I know you are." She returned with a smile. Her face changed into something more unsure, something more bothered.
"You did a lot of growing up that summer. I'm sad that I missed it." She frowned as she got up from her seat and walked up to Dipper, hugging him.
"I know there has been a lot of changing here at home these past few years, but I want you to know that I am proud of you honey. You came back looking like a young man when I picked you up that summer. Your grades have improved since you got back as well too Dipper. You're such an intelligent person. I couldn't be happier for you. You should be proud of how far you have come, honey."
Dipper could feel himself choking up as he returned the hug. Where had this come from? Was mom leaving soon? He didn't know the answers to questions that ran around in his mind, but he did really enjoy the hug she gave. That feeling of unconditional love and nurture from his mother tug at his chest like the string on a bow. He needed this.
She pulled away from the hug and ruffled his hair. "Although, I wouldn't mind if my son showered more often." They both chuckled at each other.
"I will later mom, I promise."
"Good." Her smile towards Dipper was so angelic. He stared at her, enamored by her motherly presence. He watched her reach back into the bag and pull out some money, Dippers eyes widened. His family was decently well off, not necessarily rich or anything like that. Thanks to his father's tech job and his mother's office she works at, they could live comfortably. She put the bills in her hand, Dipper immediately counted the amount in his head. 20, 40, 60, 80… holy crap.
"I don't do this often, but me and your father have been saving up a bit to give you two a little something. I know it's been hard around the house lately, so you and Mabel can have some money to get yourselves something nice down there, a good souvenir."
She put the money on the table. Dipper stared at her, then the money, then her. She smiled and rolled her eyes, motioning with her head towards the money. Dipper gently grabbed it. He double checked the amount.
Seriously, 300 dollars?
"Now before you get too excited, you each get half!" she smiled and held up her finger as to lecture him. Dipper ran up to give her mother a hug. This gift: it was so unexpected to him, yet personal. It touched his heart that his mother would go out of her way to do this for them, not that he didn't know that already.
"Make sure you show me what you got when you get back okay?"
"Of course, mom!" Dipper swore he hadn't smiled this much in a while.
Upstairs, they could hear the faucet in the shower turn off and the door open followed by the march of footsteps. The chatter of their father and Mabel talking about her bright fashion choices-their father being her number 1 supporter-as they left the bathroom echoed through the hall upstairs.
"Now go shower Mason, seriously!"
"Mhm." Dipper grumbled. He should probably listen to his parents' advice about hygiene more. Apparently, it's supposed to make you more attractive? As he walked away his mother grabbed his attention one more time.
"When you're done, meet your father outside in the front yard. He really is looking forward to playing catch with you before he leaves. You know how he is about baseball."
As he trudged upstairs to shower, Dipper felt an unexpected weight pressing down on his chest, like he was walking into a moment he knew would mean more than just tossing a baseball around. After all, playing catch was something he and his dad rarely did these days. Maybe because Dad was so busy with work, or maybe because Dipper had been so focused on grades and the film club that he hadn't really noticed.
As he turned on the shower, he tried to shrug off the nervous knot in his stomach. It wasn't like they had talked much lately. Sure, there were the casual questions about school or how he was holding up, but it wasn't the same as it used to be. Maybe playing catch was his dad's way of reaching out. A chance to share something simple, something steady, before he left.
He must know how much things are changing, Dipper thought. Maybe he needs this too.
As he rinsed off and got dressed, Dipper felt an odd blend of eagerness and nerves prickling at him. He kept wondering if there was something his dad wanted to say, or if it would just be about baseball. Heading downstairs and out the front door, he took a deep breath, feeling the crisp air on his face.
This wasn't just a game of catch, he realized. It was a moment—a chance to connect, however brief, with the dad he was afraid might someday be gone from his life.
Mabel opened the door to her room, gently patting Waddles as he trotted off, leaving little wet prints on the carpet. She let out a long, contented sigh. The karaoke session, yet short, had proven to be a success. Her eyes began drifting around her bedroom. It was a burst of colors, sparkles, and trinkets she had collected over the years, each one a piece of her own spirit. She loved it. But lately it felt like her room was just a bit…. quieter.
She walked over to the wall where she'd taped up polaroids and sketches from Gravity falls. Her fingers traced over each one, lingering on her favorite —a snapshot of her and Dipper grinning with Stan and Ford in the background, an arm over each other's shoulders. It had been a good day.
What am I going to do when I get back? It was a nagging thought in the back of her mind.
This question bothered her. Not in a bad way, there was just so much she wanted to do. She missed seeing her friends, Candy and Grenda. Texting them over the years and calling them had been…fine, but not enough to satisfy Mabel. She missed them. They had changed so much over the past years that she could hardly wait. When's the first sleep over? This immediately popped into her head.
As of the recent semester, she hadn't gotten a good chance to properly talk to them. She had been busy keeping up with school and so had they. Candy seemed to get more involved in music, and Grenda was going on a lot more yacht trips with her boyfriend. It was a shame; she really missed their conversions in the groupchat. Sure, there were some sparse ones, but it wasn't the same as of recently. She immediately pulled out her phone and looked at the groupchat of them 3. The background was a picture of them by Gravity Falls Lake, their hair swaying in the wind with the brightest smiles on their faces.
She immediately started texting them about her trip. She told them countless times that they would be coming back soon, but never had a concrete answer. It was until a few months ago Stan and Ford had contacted them and their parents that they were returning to Gravity Falls to take a hiatus from their vacation (Ford said it was because of Stans pack pain but Stan denied it). It felt like adrenaline shot through her body as Candy and Grenda responded. To say they were "pretty excited" would be an understatement. That is a lot of emojis.
She could feel it. This excitement took the form of these fragments. Tiny bubbles of memories and feelings floating around her head. Each one so special, full of nostalgia and special moments. Some fleeting, some she'll remember forever. These little bubbles were filled to the brim with child-like innocence from that fateful summer 2 years ago. She missed it so much. She never wanted to go home.
She couldn't hold back anymore. She hugged her sweater and practically dove into her closet, pulling out a glittery shoe box.
"A Box of Memories" was written in sharpie on the lid.
Mabel started digging through the box with pure bliss. This is where she kept everything from that Summer, all those souvenirs that she had gotten like her friendship bracelet with Candy, that one weird glittery pen from Grenda, and her favorite, the grappling hook. The nostalgia hit her like a truck, she had to stop for a second to soak it all in. It was almost too much, but it made her so happy. She set the souvenirs down and finally pulled the final item from the box, her magnum-opus. Her Scrapbook.
It was the same as when she left it when she last took it out 6 months ago. Time really does fly by huh? School stinks! She opened the book and was flooded with that child-like adventure she felt all the way back then. It was like she was 12 years old again, taping pasta noodles to Soos, making a glitter statue, running from Gnomes and candy monsters (Didn't Soos eat someone that night?). She breathed in, and let out a squeal, she could feel herself getting energized by the second.
"Oink"
She turned around and Waddles walked back into the room. He nudged her for attention. Mabel grinned and whispered to him.
"Are you ready for all the new adventures we will have together? So many new memories, new feelings, new experiences, new everything!"
The excitement was almost intoxicating. Yeah, she had some amazing friends she would hang out with at school, but this, all of this, is what she truly missed. Maybe this is how Dipper felt too?
But underneath that excitement, a little flicker of worry sparked. She'd changed a bit too, hadn't she? There was that small, nagging voice that wondered if Gravity Falls had stayed the same—or if, maybe, they wouldn't fit into that world like they used to.
"Nope!" She pushed the thought away with a shake of her head and grabbed her most sparkly sweater, hugging it close. "New memories, here we come!" she whispered, a grin breaking out.