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Chapter 20: The Bunker and Tiny Men

The sun had just risen, casting an early morning glow over the Mystery Shack. The establishment remained closed for renovations after the chaos of the zombie-filled party the previous night. Having successfully convinced the construction worker not to question the source of the recent chaos- a.k.a he bribed the worker- Stan made his way into the gift shop, with Waddles trailing faithfully behind him. "Dipper!" his voice echoed through the empty room. "I need someone to look out for those workers while I take my elderly nap! I need it 'cause I'm old!"

But there was no response.

"Mabel?" Stan continued, "Soos? Wendy?"

After a moment of silence, the older man shrugged nonchalantly. "Welp, there goes the need for clothing." He proceeded to remove articles of his clothing such as his coat and unbuckle his belt, letting his pants sag to the ground. Waddles oinked in response.

"Why are you taking off your clothes in the middle of the gift shop?"

Y/n and Stan engaged in a brief staring contest, the awkward silence stretching out until he waved his hand in a dismissive manner. "It's better this way, trust me. Now, where did those kids run off to and why aren't you with them?" He placed his hands on his hips, demanding an explanation.

She shrugged, mirroring Stan's earlier action. "I don't know, I was busy," she answered nonchalantly, her attention seemingly focused on the notes on her clipboard.

He paused for a moment before. "I'll take it," he said, walking towards the vending machine. He pressed the code and it opened with an exhale. "C'mon, pig, let's hit the lab. You too, I guess."

Y/n rolled her eyes, but she moved nonetheless, going inside as Stan closed the door. "Hopefully those kids haven't joined a gang or something."

***

Mabel, Soos, and Dipper gathered around a tree in the middle of the forest. The chestnut-haired boy tapped his pen against the lamp, catching the attention of the other two. "Thanks for being here," he began. While he wished Y/n had joined them, he understood that she might still be rattled from the zombie incident. He decided to focus on the matter at hand and save the idea of a solo adventure for another time.

"Hey, when there's a mystery, you can count on your sister...-Ey," Mabel said in an attempt to rhyme.

Soos chuckled, amused. "That's an amazing rhyme." He began to think of his own slogan, "When you want some, good... When you need a Soos, you... Oh oh, gosh, I don't know."

Dipper continued, "We're here to solve the number one mystery in Gravity Falls; who wrote this journal?! Thirty years ago the author vanished without a trace. But according to this new clue," he turned on his black light pen and flashed it on the page. "We may have found his secret hiding place. We find that author, we learn the answers to everything. We just need to figure out a way to get down there."

"Chop it down, dudes!"

A voice called from behind them as Soos neared closer to the tree. The twins looked behind them and saw the redheaded teen pulling up with her bike. "Wendy!" Mabel exclaimed.

"You came!" Dipper greeted with an awkward smile. He really wanted to impress someone so cool like her. Maybe it was the fact that she was three years older than him and that he wanted to fit in with the teens, but it wasn't like he had a crush on her or something. He could differentiate between admiring someone and having a crush.

Wendy started taking off her helmet, even though she hardly ever needed one in the first place. "Dude, I'm so stoked about this!" She swapped the helmet for her signature hat. "I've been wanting to go adventuring with you, guys." She glanced around, realizing someone was absent. "Y/n's not here?"

"No, she said she's busy," Dipper replied.

Mabel shrugged, "Whatever that is!"

"Oh, geez," The redhead let out a disappointed sigh. "You okay with that, Dipper?" Her smirk formed gradually, the tone in her voice playing along.

His head snapped in her direction, his neck angling curiously. "Huh? What are you talking about?"

Hands on hips, Mabel mirrored Wendy's grin, catching her implications. "Yeah, are you cool with that, brobro?"

Dipper feigned cluelessness under the teasing, but his flushed cheeks gave away his façade. "I don't know what you girls are talking about."

"Ohhh!" Mabel exclaimed. "If she was here, this adventure would be romance central overload! Imagine: you, her, rescuing each other from a monster! 'Ahh! Y/n, save me!'" Mabel acted, her voice a bit higher to mimic her brother.

Wendy joined the act, adjusting her stance. "'I'll save you, Dipper!"

"Y/n doesn't even sound like that. Now, come on, let's go," Dipper said, walking past them and dampening their shared laughter.

After a while, the two of them caught up, taking a closer look at the large tree. Wendy's gaze traveled up the bark to its top. "Hey, is it just me, or does that branch up there look like a lever?" She pointed out a seemingly ordinary branch, which had an odd metallic gleam painted on it, but painted brown to make it appear more realistic.

"Huh, oh yeah." Dipper realized, placing his finger on his chin and think of a plan.

Without hesitation, Wendy unbuckled her belt and expertly looped it around the trunk. She started to climb the tree with the confidence of a seasoned adventurer. The trio observed in awe as she effortlessly ascended, reaching the branch. From her jeans, she produced an ax and pushed the branch upward like it was the simplest task in the world. It seemed like a walk in the park for her.

"Whoa," a chorus of awe erupted from the group.

Wendy shared a casual explanation, "Yeah, my dad used to have me do these lumberjack competitions when I was little. I guess I got pretty good at it." Still gripping her belt, her words were cut short as the tree began to shake and tremble. "Woah, what's going on?"

Amidst the shaking, she didn't notice her grip slipping and her belt coming undone. She tumbled, landing in a bush. But then, the bush started descending, leaving her dangling. Luckily, the trio managed to rescue her before the tree could lower her further. As the tree descended, a set of stairs appeared from the side of the hole. A portion of the trunk opened like a sliding door.

"Alright, guys. This is it," Dipper's voice carried a mix of excitement and determination. He turned to face the group, his gaze serious. "Remember: whatever happens down there, we tell no one- except Y/n, I'll tell her what we found."

Wendy and Mabel exchanged knowing smirks, but the three of them, including Soos, nodded in agreement. Dipper ignored the two girls and raised the lantern, holding it aloft. "I'm going first."

As a group, the four cautiously descended, their senses alert to their surroundings. The once-illuminated area turned abruptly dark as they stepped down. The space they entered was draped in a layer of dust, cobwebs, and grime. Finally stepping inside, their eyes widened in awe at what lay before them. "Cool" seemed to be the unanimous word on everyone's lips.

"It's like a fallout shelter or something," Dipper observed, carefully placing his lantern on a nearby desk. "It must've belonged to the author." The quartet branched out, each exploring the finds for themselves. The items they discovered were aged and covered in layers of dust, seemingly untouched for years. Wendy even decided to take a sign as a keepsake for her room. Meanwhile, Soos stumbled upon a fez dispenser, his excitement evident.

Dipper's attention was drawn to a shelf lined with boxes, each labeled with dates that projected 60 years into the future. "What kind of disaster would need supplies for over 60 years?" he pondered aloud. His exploration continued, and his foot brushed against a can of beans. A closer look revealed it wasn't aged or coated in dirt. He picked it up, only to feel warmth emanating from it.

"Wait, guys," he called their attention. "This can was opened recently."

"The author might still be alive- down here!" Soos suggested, his voice tinged with excitement.

While Dipper and Soos theorized, Wendy's focus was on a map of Gravity Falls affixed to the wall. But this was no ordinary sight; the map was moving as if it was being carried by a breeze. However, in the confined space of a fallout shelter, wind was an impossibility. "Wait a minute..." Wendy muttered. She strode up to the map and tore it off the wall, unveiling a vault door slightly ajar. With a determined expression, she pulled the door open, revealing a passageway inside.

"I think I know where he might have gone."

Without hesitation, they entered the vault, maneuvering through the passage like they were navigating a ventilation system. "Whoa!" Wendy's exclamation echoed as they reached the tunnel's end. Before them was a compact room constructed from metal cubes, each adorned with intricate symbols. Though the space seemed deserted, an air of mystery hung in the air.

Standing within the room, Wendy moved cautiously, stepping around the area. "Seriously, was this place built in the past or the future?"

Soos chimed in, adding his own thoughts, "Yeah, this room gives off some major creepy vibes."

"Not as creepy as Dipper's internet history! Heyo!" Mabel's playful shove knocked Dipper slightly off balance. Inadvertently, he stepped on a square tile marked with a symbol. The tile sunk into the floor, setting off an unforeseen mechanism. The tunnel they had entered through promptly sealed itself, locking them in. Panic crept in as the room quivered, its symbols blazing red. Sirens wailed, and the quartet jumped in alarm.

The metal cubes that formed the room began to shift, slowly extending and jutting inward, as if attempting to ensnare them.

ALERT! ALERT!

Y/n's head snapped around at the familiar sound, her instincts recognizing it instantly. Stan and Waddles occupied chairs, engrossed in their own world. "Y/n, Y/n! This is the best part, look," Stan exclaimed, motioning towards the TV they had set up in the portal room. They were absorbed in an episode of 'The Duchess Approves'.

Despite Stan's attempt to capture her attention, Y/n rose from her chair, her focus shifting to the blaring alarm. She acted swiftly, moving to the panel and pushing buttons. A camera feed emerged on the screen, displaying the interior of the bunker. Her fingers danced across the controls, navigating through different camera angles until the alarm ceased its blaring, stopping at the view of the security room.

The sight before her left her breathless and shaken. Soos, Wendy, Mabel, and Dipper were all trapped inside. Though speechless, Y/n knew she had to act. "I have to go," she murmured rapidly before bolting away. She knew Stan wouldn't realize her absence amidst his TV distraction.

"It won't stop!" Wendy's voice pierced the room, frustration clear as she tried to fend off the encroaching cubes. Her attempts to repel them were met with stubborn resistance.

Mabel's determined grunt filled the air as she strained to push back the cubes. "Dipper!" she shouted in desperation. "What do we do?"

Dipper's mind raced as he flipped through the journal's pages, searching for a solution. At last, he found the answer-a page illustrating the security room, symbols included. Extracting his pen from his vest, he unveiled its hidden ink and revealed the symbols' corresponding keys.

With the newly visible symbols, Dipper signaled the group. Working together, they pressed the four keys, causing a door to their left to swing open. They dashed for the exit, barely making out alive.

With some effort, they all managed to escape, although Dipper's vest took a beating, caught in the cubes. The four exchanged exhilarated and relieved breaths, celebrating their success with high-fives and excited remarks. "Oh, my gosh, that was intense!"

"Yeah, it felt like we were in a movie! Crazy bonkers, dude," Soos chimed in right after, his excitement evident.

Mabel playfully teased, "Don't you mean- 'crazy bunkers'?" Her joke elicited laughter from everyone, while Dipper just rolled his eyes as he retrieved his vest from the previous room.

Taking a closer look at their surroundings, Dipper observed, "This seems to be some kind of surveillance room." He adjusted his vest while his eyes scanned the array of computers, machinery, and technical equipment around them.

"Dipper, you've gotta see this weird metal closet! It's like that sci-fi movie we just watched," Wendy exclaimed, stepping into the metal enclosure. She playfully continued in a robotic voice, "'I am Borg, defender of the universe!'" She mimicked robotic movements, embracing the fun.

"Yeah, you're right," Dipper chuckled, intrigued by the resemblance as he approached. "I wonder what the author would keep in here."

Unbeknownst to them, Mabel had a prank brewing. With a sly grin, she shut the door behind them, locking it tight and trapping them inside. It was a playful prank that even elicited a chuckle from Soos. "Mabel, let us out!" Dipper's voice echoed from within.

"Oh, what's the matter, scared?" Mabel taunted, her laughter trailing behind her words.

"When you do this to me every year, it's hard to be," Dipper deadpanned.

The teen chuckled, amused. "Wait, what?" she asked, waiting for an elaboration.

"Mabel does these pranks where she locks me inside closets to find the 'real monster'," he said, finger-quoting on the last part. "Oftentimes she pranks me but then forgets to let me out," he shrugged as if it was a trivial matter.

She laughed, especially at the last part. "That is morbid! We wouldn't want Mabel to forget us now, do we?" she then chimed in, "Seriously, Mabel, it's getting pretty stuffy in here. Can you please open the door?"

Mabel playfully countered, "Nuh-uh, you're stuck there forever and ever! Hey, Soos, imagine a world without Dipper and Wendy. What's that like?" Her tone was teasing and light-hearted.

Within the confined space, the two trapped individuals exchanged a moment of silence. Then Wendy's voice broke through, questioning, "Where are the lights?" She noticed a string dangling from the ceiling and gave it an experimental tug. Unbeknownst to them, the action triggered an unexpected shower of cold water, causing both of them to scream out in startled surprise.

Suddenly, steam hissed from both ends of the closet, wrapping their figures in a shroud of heated air. Their hair tousled, their attire slightly disheveled. In an instant, the entire interior of the closet was awash in red light, and a screen positioned above them flashed the words, "Decontamination Complete."

So it wasn't a simple metal closet.

With a hiss, the door behind them swung open, unveiling an underground expanse adorned with numerous chambers. Illuminated by a steady cascade of cold, blue light, the room stretched before them. The realization struck Dipper as he observed the scene before them. In the center, a chamber's glass lay shattered, while to their right, a cage had its bars torn apart. This scene matched what he had read in one of the journal's pages. There was no doubt about it now - - they had indeed found the author's hidden bunker.

"A secret lab," Dipper mused while he and Wendy wandered through the space. "I wonder if the author conducted experiments here."

Wendy's gaze wandered to the earthen walls enclosing them. "Huh," she pondered aloud, her eyes tracing the tunnels. "What do you think dug all these passages?"

"Let's hope we don't find out," Dipper replied, his voice tinged with unease. However, fate had other plans. The sound of a fierce roar reverberated throughout the lab. From the shadows emerged a creature, prompting Dipper and Wendy to sprint back to the metal closet, frantically banging on its door. "Mabel! Open up! Seriously! There's a monster in here!" His voice was a mixture of panic and urgency.

"Ha! Nice try. You won't trick me with that again, Dipper! If there's a monster, then I'm like a monster hunter, sniffing out lies and truths!" Mabel shouted back from outside.

"That is so wise," Soos added.

"Ugh!" Dipper's frustration erupted. "We need to find another way out, and fast!" They raced toward an alternative tunnel to their left, narrowly escaping the pursuing monster. After an extended sprint, however, their hopes were dashed as they reached a dead end. Gasping for breath, their hearts sank when the distant sound of multiple footsteps grew louder. They pressed themselves against the rocky wall, desperate to put as much distance between themselves and the approaching threat as possible. Their breaths were jagged, a mix of fear and adrenaline.

"What do we do?!" Wendy's voice trembled with worry.

"I don't know!" Dipper replied, hopeless himself.

From the shadows emerged the colossal form of the monster, its roars resounded through the tunnel. Yet, an unexpected figure leaped into action, someone they recognized. The newcomer seized the monster and expertly removed its tongue from its gaping maw.

"Is that...?" Dipper's words caught in his throat, disbelief evident in his tone.

"Get back! Back, you heinous beast!" The voice they recognized resonated through the tunnel.

As the figure emerged from the shadows, Wendy and Dipper's astonishment deepened. "Y/n! You saved us!" Dipper's words were a mixture of confusion and immense relief.

Y/n appeared taken aback by the tone. "I did... Now, come on! I scared it off, but it'll regenerate!" With that, she sprinted forward, Wendy and Dipper close behind.

"Y/n, I thought you weren't coming today," Dipper remarked, keeping pace beside her.

A wry smile tugged at Y/n's lips. "I did say that, didn't I?" She turned to face them as they ran. "So, what brings you two here, anyway?"

Trailing behind Y/n, Wendy and Dipper observed her as she navigated the area with confidence. "Oh, did I forget to tell you?" Dipper inquired, retrieving the journal from his vest pocket and displaying the page to Y/n, walking beside her excitedly. "We had this theory that the author might be in this hidden underground bunker. See?"

Y/n's eyes flickered to the page. "Oh, seriously? And did you guys find it?" Her curiosity was palpable, slightly twinkling. She noticed the way they were close with one another.

"Unfortunately, no. We stumbled upon that monster, and for a moment, we thought we were done for!" He recounted.

"Yeah, but thankfully you showed up just in time to save the day," Wendy added, sharing a knowing look with the brown-haired boy. "Right, Dipper?"

He nodded in agreement, clearly catching on to the reference she was making.

While Y/n appeared oblivious to their shared reference, her knuckles involuntarily clenched as she eyed the journal in Dipper's grasp. She was itching to get her hands on it so badly.

"So, where are we going?" Dipper's question hung in the air as he turned his attention to Y/n.

"Um, well. You guys are trying to track down the author, right? I actually came across another lab while making my way here, and that's where we're headed," Y/n explained, her fingers fiddling nervously, a habit of hers.

"Wait, really? You know where the author is?" Dipper's excitement was evident in his tone.

"Mhm!" She hummed in approval. "Let's go!"

Soos stumbled upon an old lab coat and couldn't resist trying it on, seeking something to amuse himself. "Hey," he called out, lifting a briefcase from a nearby desk. "Do I look smarter with this coat and briefcase? I feel like I look smarter-"

Mabel's breath caught as her gaze fell upon a control panel adorned with an array of buttons. "Razzle dazzle!" she expressed, her fingers tingling excitedly. "Check out this tube-y thing!" Mabel exclaimed, referring to the camera feed displayed on the screen before her, which showed a cryo chamber. Curiosity getting the best of her, she pressed the red button, causing the chamber on the monitor to light up-a sign that it was operational. "Frozen," Mabel observed, pressing the button once more, "Unfrozen!"

She pressed the button a few more times before her attention was drawn to a clipboard resting on the panel. A note caught her eye, and she read the words aloud, "What's this biz?" Her voice took on a curious tone as she continued, "'Experiment #210: 'The Shape Shifter'."

"'Shape Shifter'?" Soos questioned, his finger tapping his chin in thought. His expression shifted suddenly to one of concern. "Uh, dude? Didn't Dipper say there was a monster in there with them?"

Mabel gasped, realization sinking in. "I thought he was joking!"

"YOU KNOW DIPPER'S JOKES ARE TERRIBLE!"

An alarm resounded loudly to their left, originating from the room they had just left, and the cubes surrounding them vanished, revealing Y/n standing there, her breath slightly labored from the sprint.

"Y/n! Oh my gosh, you're here!" Mabel shouted in excitement, rushing toward Y/n and wrapping her in a warm, tight hug. "I'm so glad to see you!"

A faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips as her gaze swept around the room. However, her concern quickly rose to the surface. They were a group of four, yet... "Where's Dipper and Wendy?"

"You've gotta help us!" Mabel exclaimed in worry. "I tried to trap the two of them inside of that metal closet for a prank but I may have forgotten to let them out and now they might already be eaten by some sort of monster and it's all my fault!" She covered her face with her hands, a heavy sense of guilt weighing on her.

Y/n placed a reassuring hand on Mabel's shoulder. "Hey, it's alright, Mabel," she comforted. "I'm sure Dipper and Wendy can handle it. They're two of the bravest, coolest people in the world. But we have to find them. This place... you shouldn't have come here."

Soos and Mabel fell into a hushed silence as Y/n made her way toward the metal closet. She passed by the machinery, a wave of nostalgia washing over her. Even catching sight of the wooden stairs that led into the bunker stirred memories within her-recollections of helping construct the very place or the equation for the security room. Regardless, her main focus was on rescuing her friends and getting them out of here.

The trio stepped into the decontamination room, allowing the process to cleanse them before they ventured into the lab. Mabel observed Y/n's confident demeanor and curiosity got the best of her. "Y/n, do you know this place?"

Y/n's gaze drifted toward the shattered chamber and the damaged cage, a rush of memories flitting through her mind. "Um, not really. But I've visited a bunker tourist attraction once, and it looked like this one," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of flatness. She wasn't entirely comfortable with that particular lie, but the question caught her off guard and she hadn't prepared for it. She felt a wave of relief when Mabel didn't delve deeper into the matter.

The room was dimly lit, making it difficult for Soos to see. However, when Mabel effortlessly pressed a button on her sweater and the bulb design on it illuminated, he didn't continue to complain.

Y/n's gaze swept around the room, memories flooding back from the time she spent here years ago-fixing leaks, tending to an injured F, and looking after Ford's pet. She released a deliberate breath, her thoughts wandering. Was that creature still lurking down here? Judging by the vacant cryo chambers, it seemed to have escaped and was now freely roaming the lab-perhaps even tormenting Dipper and Wendy.

She had to find them, fast.

Y/n's fingers grazed a piece of cloth that was fastened to the rocks, functioning as an improvised door. "Here it is. The author's lair..."

The surroundings hadn't transformed much, aside from a few scattered remnants and an abundant collection of bean cans. "The author must have had a thing for beans," Dipper commented, exploring the area with a thoughtful expression.

"Beans are... tasty! Indeed." Y/n expressed with a wide smile. She watched them from the side. "Say... Dipper. We're friends, right?"

He raised an eyebrow and smiled in confusion as if it was an obvious question. "O-of course we are, why do you ask?" he turned to her as he stopped in his tracks.

"I'm glad you think so. I must be a good person if we are friends."

"What are you talking about, you're the greatest person I've ever met!" Dipper replied.

Wendy nodded, "Yeah, Y/n. You're cool!"

"Is that so? Then..." Y/n's gaze shifted to the journal, catching the glimmer of the golden hand on its cover as it caught the light. "I don't think the author is showing up, seeing as he's not here. He could be on the other side of the bunker, but we might need a map of it. You have it in the journal right?" She walked towards Dipper, deliberately entering his private space.

"Yeah, it's... it's in here."

Wendy had her arms crossed, watching Dipper trying not to trip over his words. Man, I wish I had my phone to capture all this. These dorks are too cute.

Y/n grinned, her hand gently coming to rest on his arms. She blinked in a pattern, in the way her lashes twinkled. "Can I...maybe borrow it? I can lead the way with the map. We can find him."

He couldn't ignore the way her touch had stirred something within him. "Sure," he readily agreed, passing the journal to her. For the past half-minute, his mind seemed to have gone blank, lost in a kind of trance.

"Thanks, pretty boy."

Dipper experienced an almost overwhelming sensation, as if he was about to implode, his cheeks heating up rapidly. He found himself touching his nose, half-expecting it to be bleeding from the sheer surprise. Pretty? Did she just call him... pretty? Him? The thought was like a jolt of electricity, propelling him into a cloud nine of disbelief. It felt surreal, almost too good to be true. However, the reality of the situation set in just as quickly, and the awareness that Wendy might be overhearing the conversation caused his embarrassment to spike at an astonishing speed.

Y/n busied herself by flipping through the journal's pages, her laughter bubbling up as she did so. Giddiness surged through her as she playfully stomped her feet around, her eyes dancing across the intricate drawings of the various creatures Ford had encountered. Finally. After all these years.

"Okay. Are you going to find the author now?"

The question seemed to go unnoticed, directed at someone whose attention was fully absorbed in a fit of almost maniacal laughter. The laughter belonged to someone who had been giddily consumed by the contents of the journal the whole time. "Finally, finally!" her excited mutter reached their ears.

Wendy and Dipper exchanged perplexed glances, their confusion evident. "Hey, Dipper. Have you noticed that Y/n's been... acting a bit strange lately?" The teen's voice dipped into a hushed whisper as she leaned in to speak privately with him.

He gazed at the back of her head, his brow furrowing in thought. "Yeah, I've noticed that too... Ever since we found her in the bunker, she has been acting a bit different," he acknowledged, his observation carrying a note of concern.

"Dipper, you don't think... that's the real Y/n, do you?"

Silence settled between them as he maintained eye contact with Wendy. Her expression held a mixture of uncertainty, mirroring the look on his face, which was quickly shifting from perplexity to a growing horror. Could this be some kind of illusion? The memory of Y/n's recent actions-particularly her deliberate touch on his arm-played vividly in his mind. Despite his initial delight at the gesture, he couldn't ignore the troubling feeling that it was completely out of character for her.

"Y/n?" He called out, concern lacing his voice, but his words fell on deaf ears as the two of them observed her engrossed in flipping through the journal. "Hey, are you alright? Maybe we should head back to the surveillance room. The air down here might be messing with our heads..."

With her back still turned to them, Y/n abruptly straightened, her eyes blinking to the side. In a strange and unsettling manner, her neck seemed to stretch unnaturally, allowing her to peer behind her without turning her entire body. In a startling transformation, her pupils morphed into cat-like slits, and her voice deepened dramatically. "YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!" her words boomed with an otherworldly resonance.

Her body contorted, scaling the wall and crawling onto the ceiling with an eerie grace, her neck elongating like a coiled telephone cord. Suspended upside down, she clung to the ceiling, and then, to their shock, four additional insect-like legs sprouted from her back.

She isn't Y/n anymore.

Wendy and Dipper's horrified screams pierced the air, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

Directly in front of them, the figure that had resembled Y/n contorted into a grotesque creature with an entirely white, slimy body, its form now hanging from the ceiling with four spindly legs. One arm appeared delicate, ending in a three-fingered hand, while the other arm was grotesquely swollen, ending in a clawed appendage. Its baby pink eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity, set within a snout-like structure that sported four protruding fangs on the exterior, along with six smaller teeth lining the interior.

"How do you like my true form? Go on, admit it, you like it!"

"You!" Dipper pointed at the creature, anger in his features. He was deathly terrified that what he thought was his friend turned out to be a monster. "What did you do to Y/n?! Where's the real author?!"

"You'll likely never find him. That six-fingered nerd hasn't been himself in thirty years! And Y/n? Ha! You care about that useless fool?" The shapeshifter maniacally laughed.

"I never thought I would get to see the journal again, and I never thought I would have it in my hands. I just had to transfer into that puny, little girl and you didn't even think twice! You're just as stupid as her! And now, I have so many wonderful forms to take!" He began flipping through the journal and transformed into various creatures he saw in the book.

Dipper's mind was too clouded with emotions to process what the shapeshifter had just explained at the last minute. He was slightly overwhelmed by the turn of events, but one thing was important; he's got to get the journal back. "We gotta get the journal!" he whispered to Wendy beside him.

Wendy sprang into action, grabbing a can of beans and shouting, "Hey, body snatcher! Snatch this!" With impressive aim, she flung the can at the creature, striking its form. In response, the shapeshifter transformed into a frog-like monstrosity, extending a slimy, elongated tongue toward them. Wendy swiftly snatched up a metal sheet and employed it as a makeshift shield, thwarting the creature's attack. She realized that its tongue was now attached to the metal surface, attempting to yank her closer. Quick-witted, Wendy released the sheet, letting its momentum snap back to the shapeshifter's face, making him drop the journal to the ground.

Dipper reacted swiftly, seizing the opportunity to retrieve the journal. "Run! Run! Run!" he shouted, setting off in a sprint, closely pursued by the shapeshifter. The creature seamlessly shifted forms, ultimately transforming into a massive pill bug monster and relentlessly chasing them through the twisting tunnels.

As they encountered a crossroads, they paused, evaluating their options. On Dipper's impulse, he hurled his flashlight down one of the paths, creating a distraction, and then led the way down the opposite route. Concealed in the shadows, they observed as the shapeshifter fell for the ruse, chasing the light before losing track of them. With the creature momentarily fooled, they made their escape, putting as much distance as possible between them and the shifter.

Breathing heavily, they sprinted until they collided with three more figures, their momentum causing a stumbling crash to the ground. As they scrambled back to their feet, they recognized the faces of their friends and exchanged relieved greetings. Yet, Dipper and Wendy's gazes lingered on Y/n, their expressions tainted with uncertainty and a touch of fear.

"What happened?" Y/n inquired, genuine concern in her voice.

Dipper's suspicion flickered in his narrowed eyes as he cautiously stepped in front of Wendy. "How do we know they're not shapeshifters?" he questioned, his tone tinged with suspicion.

"You encountered... a shapeshifter?" Y/n asked, her voice cautious and slow, her head tilting slightly as if trying to catch every detail. "Are you guys okay?"

His suspicion still loomed large. "Are you the shapeshifter?"

"What?" Her confusion was evident.

Dipper proceeded to rapidly recount the events from the moment the alleged "Y/n" intervened to save them from the monster, all the way to the shocking revelation that she had been the shapeshifter all along.

"Well, I'm not the shapeshifter, Mabel and Soos can vouch for that!" Y/n responded firmly, turning to the other two for support.

"Dipper, I really don't think Y/n is the shapeshifter. She hasn't transformed into anything since she arrived here. We came looking for you guys!" Mabel chimed in, trying to reason with him.

But Dipper was persistent. "Give me one proof why you wouldn't be the shapeshifter."

The tension in the group grew as Dipper and Y/n locked eyes in a silent standoff. The rest of them held their breath, waiting for Y/n to provide some sort of proof to settle the matter.

They want proof? She'll give them proof.

She decided to take a drastic step to prove her identity. Without warning, she picked up a sharp rock lying nearby and, before anyone could react, she drove it toward her own chest.

"No-!"

"Why on earth would you-"

"Dude!"

Instead of showing any signs of pain, Y/n's expression remained unchanged as the rock approached her chest. There was no wince, no flinch— nothing. She stared straight ahead with an eerie calmness.

"Convinced yet?" she asked in her casual tone.

With an exhalation of relief, Dipper waved his hands frantically. "Okay, okay! You're her! Just-just pull it out." Y/n yanked the rock out and tossed it away, the group collectively letting out sighs of relief. "I forgot you could do that," he admitted with a nervous chuckle.

"What the heck just happened before my eyes?"

The group's attention shifted to Wendy, whose eyes were wide, almost bulging out of their socket while her hands trembled slightly, and Soos appeared equally shaken by what had just transpired.

Y/n and the twins exchanged knowing glances, a silent understanding passing between them. They waited, giving Y/n the space to speak. "Okay," she finally said, her voice steady as she adopted a posture of self-assurance. She braced herself for the lie she was about to reveal. "I have a defect."

"A defect?" Soos repeated, his confusion evident.

"Yeah," Y/n answered. "I'm insensitive to pain, and have quick healing," she repeated the explanation she had shared with the twins a few days ago. Observing Wendy's and Soos' reactions closely, she knew that one of the many hidden secrets had finally come to light.

Y/n didn't allow the tension to linger. "Save your questions for later. Right now, we need to deal with the shapeshifter you guys encountered."

Dipper's sudden gasp diverted their attention. "Oh my gosh, Wendy, you're bleeding!" He quickly kneeled down to inspect her bloodied knee.

Wendy crouched down as well, examining her scraped knee. "It's cool. It's cool," she reassured. "It's just blood, man; don't freak out."

"What happened?" Mabel asked, concerned.

Y/n observed as Wendy removed her plaid shirt, tearing off a sleeve to fashion it into a tourniquet - a skill she knew and used before. Wendy wrapped the makeshift tourniquet around her wounded knee while explaining, "We got attacked by the shapeshifter. He broke out of his cage, pretended to be Y/n, and wants Dipper's journal."

"What?" Y/n couldn't contain her surprise. "He pretended... to be me?"

So her theory was correct. He was still alive after all these years. Ford's little pet.

"We thought it was the real you, Y/n. He even got your personality." Dipper explained, casting Wendy a meaningful glance.

"Your charming personality," Wendy added, giving Dipper a knowing look.

"Okay, okay. That doesn't matter," Y/n's response came out in a rush, clearly taken aback by the revelation. It was surprising to realize that Shifty still remembered her appearance and had even impersonated her. What really angered her, though, was the fact that he had exploited her identity to deceive Dipper into thinking he was her and manipulate him into giving up the journal.

Y/n went on to devise a plan, and everyone listened intently. The shapeshifter's main objective was to acquire the journal from Dipper. This situation reminded her of a similar incident from decades ago when Shifty had attempted to deceive her.

In response, Wendy proposed the idea of utilizing a large pipe she had noticed on their way to the shifter's hideout. This pipe had a valve that could be manipulated to release a forceful surge of water. While Y/n was familiar with the pipe's location, she allowed Wendy to take the lead and guide them to that specific spot.

After locating the valve, they put their plan into action. Dipper and Mabel would initiate the plan by grabbing the shapeshifter's attention. Meanwhile, Soos and Wendy positioned themselves by the pipe, ready to manipulate the valve. Y/n remained hidden from view, positioned away from the immediate action. They had agreed that she should stay out of sight to avoid any confusion in case the shapeshifter tried to mimic her appearance again.

Mabel and Dipper moved to another room, ensuring that their conversation was audible. "Oh, boy, Dipper! That book sure is full of some great monsters!" Mabel exclaimed loudly.

The shapeshifter immediately craned its neck at the twins, a manic smile forming. "There you are! Ooh, and a new one." He easily transformed into Mabel. "...or the other?" he turned into Dipper. "How about both?!"

Suddenly, he morphed into a bizarre creature with six legs. The upper part resembled Dipper, while the lower half took on Mabel's features. Both halves sported a large mouth filled with menacing teeth. Emitting a ferocious roar, the creature charged forward, and the twins took off in a sprint to evade it.

"Guys, he's coming!" Dipper yelled, coming in. "He's coming! NOW, NOW, NOW!"

Despite their efforts, the valve yielded no water. "It's not working, dude!" Soos exclaimed in frustration. The shapeshifter was rapidly approaching, its tongue extending towards Dipper's grasp on the journal.

"Hey! Let go!" Dipper shouted, attempting to tug the journal away from the creature's relentless grip.

Y/n sprang into action, joining Wendy as she released the valve and assisted Dipper. "You leave him alone!" Wendy's voice carried a stern command. While Soos struggled with the valve, Wendy and Dipper attempted to free the journal from the shapeshifter's grasp.

The situation took an unexpected turn as the pipe that seemed broken suddenly surged with a forceful stream of water. The shapeshifter's grip on the journal and Wendy was broken as they were pushed back by the torrent. Wendy, gripping her ax, prepared to strike down, but the surging water knocked her off balance. The powerful flow of water surged through the space, engulfing everyone in its rush until it eventually receded, leaving the area partially flooded.

The four of them were left panting, drenched from head to toe. Coughing to expel the water from their mouths, Dipper gingerly opened his eyes. He noticed Mabel and Soos going through the same process, but his attention quickly shifted to Wendy, who was lying still on the ground. Concern etched across his face, he gently shook her and called out, "Wendy! Are you okay?" With a mixture of anxiety and relief, he watched as she coughed and gradually opened her eyes. "Thank goodness," he muttered under his breath

"Dipper," Mabel's voice caught his attention and he turned towards her. Her concerned expression mirrored his own feelings. "Where's Y/n?"

The question hit him like a punch to the gut. His heart raced as he scanned the surroundings, his eyes darting in search of the familiar figure. But no matter where he looked, Y/n was nowhere to be found. A sinking feeling settled in his chest, heavy and unsettling.

Y/n stood in front of the beaten shapeshifter, clutching the journal securely in her hands. She had swum through the water, gained closer to the shapeshifter and had picked it up off the ground when she saw him being unconscious. The form he had taken was the guy from the bean can, a figure she recognized as she remembered giving them beans from that very can.

"Oh, Shifty..." she mumbled. Her mind raced, trying to formulate a plan to incapacitate him and return him to the cryogenic tube. But before she could react, the shapeshifter suddenly sprang to life with a growl. He lunged at her, catching her off guard and knocking her to the ground. They grappled and wrestled, each trying to gain control over the journal that lay between them. Their struggle continued, a tense battle for possession.

They pushed against each other, their faces mere inches apart. The shapeshifter's voice dripped with resentment as he spoke, his growls accentuating his anger. "So, after all these years, huh?" he began, his breath hot against her face. "We're the same; never changing."

"You grew," she grunted in retaliation, eyes narrowed in determination. "We can talk about this. Just let go of the journal, Shift-"

"Don't call me by that corny nickname! I hated being in that stupid cage, hated beans, and I hated you, taking all his attention for yourself. I should've killed you 30 years ago," he snarled, his words a venomous admission of his long-held grudge. The tension between them intensified as their struggle continued.

"Y/n! Hang on!" Dipper's voice echoed as he rushed onto the scene, descending from a cliff. Along the way, his eyes caught sight of an ax lying on the ground, and he snatched it up, his heart pounding with urgency. He needed to intervene and help her.

Positioning himself for a strategic strike, he raised the ax, ready to land a blow on the shapeshifter. However, the shapeshifter was cunning; he saw Dipper's intention and swiftly morphed into an identical copy of Y/n, effectively muddying the waters.

The two Y/ns engaged in a chaotic struggle, fighting for possession of the journal and leaving Dipper in a state of anxious uncertainty. Amid the frenzied clash, insults and demands were hurled between them. Amidst the chaos, a plea emerged from one of the Y/ns. "Dipper, just swing down!"

"Hit her with the ax, Dipper! She's the shapeshifter!"

"I... I don't know who's who!" Dipper's voice quivered with panic, his grip on the ax tightening as uncertainty gripped him. "Give me a sign!"

One of the Y/ns responded with a helpless pout. "Save me, Dipper!"

"Dipper," the other Y/n's voice carried a mixture of frustration and determination, her eyes locking onto his with an unwavering intensity. "Just. Swing. Down." Their shared gaze conveyed an unspoken understanding, a message that finally clicked within Dipper's mind.

Even if you hit me, I won't get hurt.

As realization dawned on him, Dipper's hesitation dissipated, and he knew what he had to do. He knew who the fake Y/n was, so with a determined nod, he adjusted his stance and brought the ax down, targeting the shapeshifter that had taken on Y/n's form- but on the last minute, the shapeshifter pulled the two of them around, switching positions with the other, making the ax find its mark, and Y/n's painful cry was music to the shapeshifter's ears.

"Y/N!!!" Dipper's guttural scream tore through the air, the sound of it piercing his heart. He staggered back, clutching his hat tightly against his chest. His breath came in ragged gasps, overwhelmed by a surge of emotions. Y/n's body crumpled to the ground, blood spilling from her abdomen.

Amidst the chaos, the shapeshifter's triumphant laughter echoed, and he held the journal victoriously. "Congratulations, Dipper," he sneered, his voice dripping with mocking triumph. Still transformed as Y/n, he faced him with an evil grin. "You've failed to protect your precious journal, just like you failed to protect your little girlfriend. It's amazing how easily you humans can be manipulated. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a world of chaos and deception to unleash."

Unbeknownst to him, the real Y/n was already on her feet, recovering swiftly. With a smirk, she stood and effortlessly retrieved the ax from her abdomen. Swiftly swinging from the side, she severed the shapeshifter's head. From Dipper's angle, it looked morbidly like Y/n had decapitated herself, a chilling sight that sent shivers down his spine.

The other three finally arrived at the scene of the fight. Dipper's eyes were immediately drawn to the spot where he had thought he'd inflicted the wound, but there was only a bloodstain on Y/n's shirt. Y/n let out a relieved sigh, her gaze fixed on the shapeshifter's lifeless body now split in two. "What the heck happened?!" Mabel exclaimed, shocked by the scene.

Y/n allowed the ax to drop from her hand, while Dipper quickly retrieved the journal from the ground, their eyes locking the whole time. A good-natured smile spread across her face, and she gave him a thumbs up, as if the whole incident was just a casual encounter. "Good job pretending that I died, Dipper."

A nervous chuckle escaped him, his voice quivering as he replied, "Heh, yeah." He was at a loss for words, overwhelmed by the situation, but one thing was certain: he had a newfound respect for Y/n, seeing her as one of the most remarkable people he had ever met.

After assisting each other in placing the shapeshifter's body into the cryogenics tube, they made their way back to the surveillance room. Mabel, with a sense of satisfaction, pressed the red button that initiated the freezing process within the tube. Permanently, they hoped.

They successfully exited the bunker through the same entrance they had entered. The sun was now setting, casting a warm pink glow over the surrounding forest. The temperature was dropping, and a slight chill was in the air.

Soos and Mabel headed home, their plans shifting towards getting snacks. Wendy also said her farewells, mentioning the tradition of watching movies with Dipper.

With them gone, it was just Dipper and Y/n left.

Dipper shifted uncomfortably, his gaze wandering as he scratched his arm. Breaking the silence, he murmured, "I always forget you could do that." He briefly glanced at the bloodstain on her shirt.

Y/n's expression turned apologetic as she frowned, her voice carrying a hint of remorse. "I'm sorry for surprising you like that every time."

"Thanks for saving me- again," Dipper said, his gratitude evident in his voice.

Y/n offered a warm smile. "You don't have to thank me all the time."

"And you don't have to apologize all the time," he retorted quickly.

"I'm-" Y/n started to reply, but Dipper's glare silenced her. "Okay. It might be hard for me, but I'll do my best." A pause settled between them before she spoke her thoughts. "I didn't know you guys were coming to this place."

"I thought we were going to find the author since we were heading to his bunker," Dipper explained, finding a log to sit on. "I read his entry about the shapeshifter, but I had no idea it was still down there. I was so stupid. I put all my friends in danger." He plopped down on the log, placing his head on his hands.

"Well, Mabel, Soos, and Wendy came to the bunker with you because they wanted to help you. And if adventuring comes with danger, you know that we'll always have each other. And I'll always be here to protect you guys," Y/n assured him.

"That's the thing, Y/n. I don't want you to save me," Dipper confessed, his tone serious.

Y/n stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening. His words hit her like a shock. Not wanting her help, not wanting her protection, it felt wrong, like a puzzle piece that didn't fit. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion and concern.

"I mean, I want you to save me, Y/n, but I also want to be there to save you. I want you to be able to rely on me, too. I can handle facing monsters." Dipper said, giving her a determined look.

She shook her head. "I know. I don't doubt your skills, Dipper. But... you know the circumstances," she said slowly. "I can be stabbed multiple times and I'll walk it off. You get stabbed once and you're dead. There's a difference."

"And what if one day, that invulnerability of yours just- stops?" He quickly countered. "What if, by some chance, that blow with the ax could actually harm you?"

"That's not going to happen, Dipper. It's not a big deal," she reassured.

Dipper glared. He didn't like that line of thinking. "Just because you can't get hurt doesn't mean you should keep throwing yourself into dangerous situations. I- Mabel and I care about you. We're a team, the Mystery Trio. You don't have to carry everything on your own. Let me be there for you, just like you're there for us." Dipper said.

Y/n sighed, her conflicted expression showing a mix of gratitude and reluctance. "I understand where you're coming from, Dipper. And I appreciate your concern, I really do. But it's not easy for me to step back when I know I have the means to help. It's like an instinct, you know? Seeing you and Mabel in danger triggers this need to shield you both from it."

"Okay." He stopped arguing. For now. "But I need you to promise me something."

"What is it?"

Without thinking, Dipper took her hand and held it tightly. "Promise me that no matter how tough things get, Mabel and I can rely on you to look out for us. But also promise that you'll let us do the same for you. We're a team, and we need to have each other's backs."

She smiled. "Promise," she said, turning her hand so that their fingers were intertwined with one another. His hand felt warm, feeling his pulse radiating. She gazed at their hands interlocking and from that moment she realized that she likes the feeling of being around Dipper. Just as Dipper likes the feeling of being around Y/n.

"So! How did it go?"

Mabel suddenly appeared beside Dipper, causing both of them to startle in surprise. He quickly released Y/n's hand, his cheeks turning pink. "W-what did you hear?" he stammered.

"Everything! All the time!" Mabel replied with enthusiasm. "Don't bother trying to hide your intertwined hands, brother. Just pretend that I'm not here!" She winked playfully.

And Mabel likes the feeling of teasing the two of them. A win-win situation.

The three experienced a sudden change in the atmosphere as Soos settled down on the opposite side of the log. "I'm still kind of bummed that we're no closer to finding that author guy," he remarked with a tinge of disappointment. "But hey, at least I got his science-y coat and briefcase." With a grin, he produced the briefcase from his coat. However, when he opened it up, it revealed something unexpected. It wasn't just an ordinary briefcase; it had transformed into a laptop. Y/n immediately recognized it as F's beloved laptop, the one he held dear.

Property of F. MO52584.

"I bet I could get this thing fixed up in a few days," Soos suggested, placing a hand on his chin. "It's gonna take a lotta duct tape."

"This could be our next clue!"

The four of them were on their way home under the moonlight. Dipper walked alongside them, engrossed in reading the journal, particularly Ford's entries from the bunker. As Mabel and Soos chatted about their perfect breakfast combinations, Y/n contemplated starting a conversation.

Only Dipper beat her to it.

He turned to her with a curious tone in his voice. "Hey, Y/n," he began, "You know how I've been trying to find the author of the journals, right?" He paused, as if organizing his thoughts. Y/n stayed silent, allowing him to continue. "Well, I've come across mentions of an assistant in some of his entries. His assistant," he added, and the word sent an unexpected shiver down her spine. "But it's strange; their name is all scribbled out in the journal, like he's trying to erase any traces of them."

Y/n nodded thoughtfully, sensing that Dipper had more on his mind.

"When I found out about the entrance to the bunker," Dipper began, "I didn't just want to meet the author. I was also hoping to meet the assistant. They must have known a lot about the author's work. But, no such luck," he sighed in disappointment. "Do you think they're still around?" he asked, looking genuinely curious.

Y/n blinked in surprise at Dipper's question, feigning ignorance. "The author's assistant? I'm not sure, Dipper," she replied, trying to sound as clueless as possible. "I mean, I guess it's possible they're still around, but it's been so long, who knows?"

Dipper looked a bit disappointed but continued walking, and Y/n, noticing Dipper's disappointment, decided to reassure him. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and smiled warmly. "Hey, don't worry, Dipper. We'll keep looking. I'm sure there are still some clues we have yet to discover."

Dipper's mood brightened a bit, and he returned her smile with gratitude. "Maybe you're right." They continued walking.

Y/n nodded, her heart pounding as she kept her secret hidden. Little did Dipper know that he was sitting right next to the very assistant he was so curious about. She couldn't help but wonder how he would react if he ever found out the truth.🗝

***

Her fingers danced across the keyboard, swiftly entering lines of code into the screen. Stan was occupied with fixing the metal sheen on one of the control boards, diligently hammering away. Amid his work, he stole a glance at Y/n, who was sporting a faint smile, her eyes carrying a touch of wistfulness.

"Hey, focus," Stan chimed in, grabbing her attention. His voice held a mix of annoyance and playfulness as he continued, "I know that smile."

She rolled her eyes, choosing to ignore him and continued typing. Stan might not have known the truth, but if it amused him to tease her, she was content to let him have his fun. Despite the early morning hour, they had been up all night conducting check-ups and running tests. With the mess finally cleared, they decided to take a break and headed upstairs to their respective rooms, ready to finally get some sleep.

Y/n enjoyed a restful sleep and woke up feeling rejuvenated. After freshening up in the bathroom, she made her way to the hallway. From a distance, she spotted Stan busy in the kitchen, cooking up something. The sound of the TV drew her attention to the living room, where she saw Dipper sitting on the yellow couch, eating a bowl of cereal. He had his feet propped up on top of Waddles, who seemed engrossed in his own bowl of cereal.

Spotting her from the corner of his eye while mid-chew, Dipper swallowed his cereal before offering her a gentle smile. "Morning," he greeted.

"Good morning," Y/n replied.

"Want some?" Dipper reached down and lifted the cereal box, showing it to her and giving it a slight shake. "There's still some left," he mentioned.

"Sure," Y/n agreed with a casual shrug. She walked toward her left, entering the kitchen area. However, as she stepped in, an unpleasant odor hit her senses. Hastily avoiding Stan, who was seemingly engrossed in his culinary endeavors, she grabbed a bowl and spoon, then quickly maneuvered her way out of the kitchen and back to the living room.

Dipper generously poured cereal into her bowl, and then he grabbed the milk carton and handed it to her. Y/n poured the milk, adjusting the ratio to her preferred cereal-to-milk ratio.

Without needing to say anything, Dipper shuffled a bit to create more space for her on the yellow chair, and Y/n settled down beside him. His feet were no longer atop Waddles, who was still munching in his own breakfast. The two of them turned their attention to what appeared to be a new episode of Ducktective on the TV, enjoying their bowls of cereal in companionable silence.

"Who wants Stan-cakes!" Stan's announcement boomed as he entered the living room with a pan, his mittened hand resting on his hips. Both Dipper and Y/n briefly looked at him before turning their attention back to the TV. "They're like pancakes, but they probably have some of my hair in it."

"Pass," the two chimed in unison, their eyes fixed on the screen.

From the doorway behind Stan, the door swung open, revealing Mabel holding a newspaper. Her excitement was palpable as she rushed into the room with a high-pitched exclamation, accidentally bumping into Stan in her haste. She then proceeded to circle the room, repeating, "It's here! It's here! It's finally here!"

Mabel's excitement was contagious as she bounded over to the dinosaur head positioned beside the couch. Perched atop it, she declared, "I've been waiting all morning, and it's finally here!" The sight of Mabel's elation prompted Dipper and Y/n to set aside their cereal and turn their full attention to her.

Her enthusiasm was evident as she continued, "The Gravity Falls Gossiper accepted my article about summer fashion tips for squirrels! My picture is gonna be in the newspaper! Check it out!"

Stan, intrigued by the commotion, approached the trio to take a look at the newspaper. He read aloud the headline and the subtitle, his expression a mix of confusion and amusement. "Greatest Thing of the Summer: Pacifica Northwest declares v-necks the look of the season. What am I looking at here?"

Mabel's excitement turned into a momentary freeze as she read the article for herself. Right there on the page was a prominent photo of Pacifica Northwest, striking a pose for the camera while wearing a v-neck. But at the very bottom of the page, in a small box, were the words, 'Other girl does something else. I think her name was Dabble?'

Dipper's annoyance was evident in his tone. "Looks like someone bought their way to the front page."

Stan narrowed his eyes, his expression one of mild skepticism. "Is it legal for a child to wear that much makeup?"

Y/n offered Mabel a reassuring pat on the back. "Don't worry, Mabel. Nobody really reads newspapers anymore."

Dipper chimed in, trying to lighten the mood. "That's true. Cheer up, Mabel."

Just then, Soos burst into the living room with his usual energy. "Dudes! V-neck season is upon us! Who wants to help me get ahead of the fashion curve? I'm taking it one step further... with a W-neck!"

Mabel retreated to the wooden table where a carton of orange juice sat. She poured herself a glass and downed it in one go, her face displaying a mix of disappointment and frustration. "Ugh, I need something to get my mind off this."

"Looking for a distraction from your horrible life?" A voice emanated from the TV, accompanied by regal-sounding music.

Mabel's eyes lit up at the commercial. "Why, yes!"

Multiple images flashed on the screen. "Victory! Honor! Destiny! Mutton! These old-timey sounding words are alive and well-at the Gravity Falls Royal Discount Putt Hutt! No mutton available at Snack Shop," the announcer's voice chimed in, concluding the commercial.

Dipper was quick to react. "Hey, Mabel, you love mini-golf!" He reached for a conveniently placed scrapbook nearby. "You've been a mini-golf ace since we were kids!" He proudly showed to the unsuspecting group a picture of a 9-year-old Mabel holding a gleaming golden trophy from a junior mini-golf competition. "What do you say, Mabel? We've had a stressful couple of days. How about we take a break and have some fun?"

"Would beating us all at mini-golf put a smile on your face?" Stan inquired with a mouthful of pancakes.

Mabel glanced to the side, her smile growing. "Maybe just a little," she admitted.

And so, with Waddles overseeing their departure, the entire team left the house in good spirits, ready for a game of mini-golf.

The summer sun beat down on the vibrant scene outside, the sky a brilliant expanse of clear blue. The area around Ye Royal Discount Putt Hutt was abuzz with activity as people enjoyed a day of mini-golf. The group of five made their way to the entrance, passing various stages and holes.

"Ah, mini-golf!" Mabel exclaimed, inhaling the fresh air. "The sport of mini champions!"

"The grass may be fake, but the fun is as real as it gets. There's something here for everyone," Dipper chimed in.

Their adventure began as they approached a slightly challenging course. Stan and Soos veered off to the snack shop, in need of a quick bite. The remaining trio stood ready with their golf clubs. Dipper took the first shot, positioning his ball and putter with precision. A little shimmy of his hips, and he swung - only to miss completely, sending the ball rolling into a nearby lake.

Dipper's irritation was evident, but Mabel swiftly intervened, determined to lift his spirits. "Don't worry, bro! You're still-" She playfully slapped a sticker on his cheek from her collection. "Ext-ROAR-dinary!"

"I'll take what I can get," Dipper replied before he turned to Y/n. "Y/n, it's your turn."

Her own name jolted her, and she seemed a bit flustered. "Oh! Uhm, I don't really know how to play this game," she admitted, a hint of embarrassment coloring her cheeks.

"What?!" The twins exclaimed at the same time. "You've never played mini-golf before?" Mabel questioned incredulously.

Y/n fidgeted with her green golf club, her gaze shifting down. "Well, Stan used to teach me, but he got busy, so... I'm a little rusty. How do you even play this game?"

"No worries, Y/n. We'll teach you!" Mabel said with enthusiasm, guiding Y/n to the grass and positioning her hands around the putter. Placing the green ball on the ground, Mabel continued, "So, you place the putter near the ball like this- then you swing and try to hit the ball! The goal is to get the ball into the hole to score points."

"Sounds simple enough," Y/n shrugged, preparing her golf club.

Mabel nodded enthusiastically. "Totally! It's like, mega easy. And don't forget to shout 'fore' when you hit the ball!"

"Why?"

"I don't really know," Mabel pondered, tapping her chin thoughtfully.

Dipper joined the conversation, explaining, "It's actually to warn other golfers so they don't get hit by the ball."

Mabel brushed it off with a dismissive gesture. "Nah, that's not true; it's a golfer's lucky number!"

With that settled, Y/n took a swing at the ball. The ball navigated the course, passing through triangles and ramps, finally landing in the crocodile's mouth. It popped up and headed toward the hole, but it missed due to McGucket casually snoozing on the ground. "Dang it," Y/n grumbled, stomping her foot in frustration.

"You'll nail it next time, Y/n," Dipper encouraged.

Mabel bounced over to her. "Either way, great job!" She playfully stuck another sticker on Y/n's cheek. This one featured a lemon character wearing sunglasses and giving a thumbs-up. "You're simply the zest! Now let me give it a shot."

She positioned her ball on the grass, giving a little hip wiggle before taking a swing. "Fore!" Mabel shouted, and her ball followed the course, making its way into the crocodile's mouth and then moving to the next part of the course. Her ball hit McGucket's nose and then landed in the hole, rousing the old man from his nap.

"Yes!" Mabel cheered, elated with her success.

"Holy smokes!" Stan exclaimed, hotdog in hand, as he witnessed the impressive shot. "Someone in our family actually has some talent!"

Dipper turned to Stan with a confident grin. "Just wait, Grunkle Stan. You ain't seen nothing yet."

With everyone's spirits high, they gathered to cheer Mabel on as she breezed through the various mini-golf courses that the Putt Hutt had to offer until she reached the 18th hole- the final stage.

Mabel's impressive skills had drawn a small crowd of onlookers, who gathered behind her with bated breath. Dipper held up the scorecard, excitement evident in his voice. "Guys, this is incredible! Just one more hole-in-one, and Mabel achieves a true perfect game!"

"Shh!" Soos suddenly interjected. "You're not supposed to say that out loud, dude. It angers the golf gods," he whispered with a serious expression, even taking off his hat and looking up at a nearby statue in reverence.

Y/n and Dipper exchanged amused glances at Soos's antics, before shifting their focus back to Mabel. She closed her eyes in deep concentration, and everyone held their breath in anticipation. With a determined swing, she sent the ball rolling through the course. It entered the moving windmill, staying inside for a few suspenseful seconds before emerging on the other side. The ball continued to roll, but unfortunately, it narrowly missed the hole and ended up in a puddle.

Mabel's radiant smile faded as she frustratedly hurled her golf club to the ground. "Ah, nuts!"

The group's collective excitement turned into dejection as they slowly left the scene, their hopes crushed by the near-perfect game that didn't quite make it. Disappointed sounds of "aww" and "oh, man" filled the air as they processed their letdown.

A heavy silence hung in the air, until Stan piped up, trying to offer some consolation. "Ah, don't worry about it, kid. The thing's random!"

Soos chimed in, his supportive nature evident. "Yeah, and you know, besides the Bermuda Triangle, how mini-golf works is our world's greatest mystery."

Stan continued, "As far as I'm concerned, you're still better than anyone else in Gravity-"

Their attention was abruptly drawn to the eighteenth hole as they watched in shock, a purple ball expertly sinking into it. Their gazes turned to the source of the unexpected shot.

"Oh," a blonde girl with a purple shirt remarked with a mockingly sympathetic tone. "Would you look at that?" It was Pacifica Northwest, accompanied by her parents, standing there with a self-satisfied smirk. "I didn't know it was 'Hobo's Golf Free Day'!"

"So that's why they came here," Y/n muttered under her breath, sending a glare.

"Pacifica!" Mabel seethed under her breath.

Pacifica and her family confidently approached the group. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the Pines family. Fat, old, lame, braces!" Her gaze then shifted to Y/n, her expression turning to one of confusion. "I don't even know who you are, so I could care less!"

"Soos," Stan's voice dropped to a hushed tone as he leaned closer to the handyman. "Would it be wrong to punch a child?"

"I got this," Dipper interjected. "Hey, Pacifica, how's that whole 'your-family-being-frauds' thing workin' out for ya?" He asked with a big smirk.

"Great, actually!" Pacifica retaliated with an even bigger smirk. "That's the thing about money; it makes problems go away." As a visual display, she pulled out wads of dollar bills from her pockets and tossed them into the air. Some people eagerly scrambled to grab the cash, while others danced around like excited chickens. Her parents found the whole spectacle amusing, applauding and chuckling.

Pacifica pressed on, her condescending tone unwavering. "I couldn't help but notice you playing my game. You should stick to things you're good at. Like retaining baby fat!" She emphasized her point by playfully poking Mabel's tummy with her golf club.

Unfazed, Mabel took a step back and retorted with a confident smile. "Yeah, well, this fat baby is pretty good at golf!"

Pacifica's expression remained unchanged, her arms crossed in an air of superiority. "Ha! Sergei!" She called out, snapping her fingers to summon a European-looking guy who strode forward with an authoritative demeanor. "This is Sergei, my trainer."

His mustache moved as he talked. "The Sportylmpics had mini-golf once. I took gold!" He showed the medal on his chest.

"So, if you don't mind moving out of the way of the professionals..." Pacifica then shifted to another course and effortlessly hit a golf ball into a hole that triggered a volcanic eruption, blowing their hair away. She wore a smug expression of accomplishment. "Enjoy second place. Give her a hand, folks!"

Mabel wasn't one to back down easily, so she fired back, "Oh, yeah? Well, I want a rematch, you... you walking one-dimensional, bleached blonde, valley girl stereotype!"

The crowd audibly gasped, and Pacifica came to a sudden stop. She turned around with a clearly annoyed expression. "Like, let's do this."

The skies seemingly conjured gray clouds, casting a gloomy atmosphere over everyone. Before anyone could react, the owner of the establishment arrived in his usual golf cart. "Hear ye! Hear ye! Stop at once! The park is now closed due to inclement weather! The King of Mini-golf has declared it!"

Pacifica stood taller than Mabel. "This isn't over. You, me, midnight. We'll see who's best."

"I'll be here!" Mabel shot back, thunder rolling as if echoing her determination. Lightning flashed and rain started pouring. The Northwests promptly pulled out their umbrellas and made their exit. Sergei scurried after them. "I'll be here..."

The Pines family soon found themselves at a nearby Mexican diner, seeking refuge from the rain. Their clothes were damp, but the staff didn't seem to mind as they took their orders. When the food arrived, they sat down to eat, but Mabel's gloomy mood cast a shadow over the atmosphere. She didn't even react to the cheerful sign on the wall featuring a cat enjoying tacos.

Mabel sighed, nibbling on a few nachos that Dipper fed her. "Time to scratch mini-golf off my talents list..."

"Don't give up, Mabel," Soos offered his encouragement.

"You're better than Pacifica in every way," Y/n chimed in.

Dipper's smile brightened. "Yeah! And if you beat her at this, she could never rag on you again! Imagine it!"

Mabel's eyes sparkled as she imagined herself triumphant, yelling victory in Pacifica's face. With newfound determination, she stood up on the table, placing her hands on her hips. "You're right, guys!" she declared. "I just need to practice a little more before midnight."

"Go to the golf course after dark, you say?" Stan asked, mid-chew, looking somewhat uncertain. "I don't know, we'd have to break in and- just kidding, let's break in!" he suddenly exclaimed, sporting a large, manic grin.

With everyone piled into the car, Stan drove past the entrance, plowing through the blockade. Soos was on security lookout duty with his binoculars, while Stan went to work hammering a board to create a hole for the three youngsters to sneak through. Mabel handed him her sticker book, and she, Dipper, and Y/n slipped through the opening. Mabel was the last to enter, but just before she could go through, Stan stopped her. "Mabel?" he called out. She turned around, puzzled. Stan opened the scrapbook and stuck a sticker on Mabel's sweater. It read 'U DA BEST!'

"Knock her dead, kid." He gave her a thumbs up to which she happily reciprocated.

The remainder of the evening saw Mabel repeatedly attempting to sink the golf balls into the windmill, while Dipper and Y/n observed from the opposite side. Unfortunately, each attempt seemed to miss the hole entirely.

"Darn! Poop heck darn!" Mabel expressed angrily.

Dipper, growing increasingly puzzled, got up and began to pace. "Ugh, I don't get it! What is wrong with this hole?" Suddenly, he heard clanking noises emanating from inside the windmill. His eyes widened, and he turned to Y/n. "Did you hear that?"

Silently, Y/n nodded, confirming that she had also heard the mysterious noises. Dipper cautiously stepped back from the windmill.

Mabel, sensing something unusual, hurried over to her brother. "What? What is it?" she whispered, joining them.

Dipper motioned for her to grab her golf club. The three of them gathered closely, clutching their clubs tightly, and in unison, they tiptoed towards the windmill. Their hearts raced as they prepared to confront any potential intruder.

With a shared signal, Y/n carefully removed the wooden cover from the windmill, revealing an unexpected sight-tiny figures!

The moment the little people realized they were not alone, their tiny faces met the gaze of the much larger intruders. In their fright, they let out piercing screams that echoed through the night. They exchanged screams, until they calmed down seeing that they really didn't look like a threat. These tiny beings were dressed in traditional Dutch attire, complete with wooden clogs. The boys sported blond bob cuts and rosy cheeks, while the girls had twin braids neatly arranged.

The blue golf ball at the front of the group stepped forward and nervously addressed the three newcomers. "We good? We good?" it asked.

Dipper, Mabel, and Y/n exchanged uncertain glances before nodding cautiously.

The golf ball cleared his throat- weirdest sentence ever. "Hi, hello. I'm Franz, and welcome to our home!"

Dipper couldn't help but express his confusion. "What is this?"

Mabel chimed in with her skepticism. "Yeah! Are you guys tiny humans or enormous mini-humans?" She narrowed her eyes, placing her hands on her hips.

Franz cheerfully responded, "Neither! We're Lilliputtians! Lilli- Lilliputt... the name makes more sense written down than spoken. And we control the balls! Behold!" He gestured proudly toward the windmill, which then opened up to reveal its intricate inner workings. The trio watched in speechless awe as a golf ball was sent inside and underwent a meticulous process, showcasing the Lilliputtians' control over the golf balls.

"That's incredible!" Mabel expressed.

Y/n smiled, "Impressive!"

"And so needlessly complicated," Dipper added with a hint of amusement.

"Aw shucks," Franz sheepishly smiled, tapping his clogs. "It's only our lifelong passion! Would you like us to elaborate through song?!" The Lilliputtians quickly got into position, with some holding musical instruments and others carrying flags. Franz began singing a tune, starting the music, but Dipper declined their offer, visibly disappointing the Lilliputtians.

"So, what are you hugelings doing here anyway?" Franz asked.

"We kind of have to play this golf tournament against my rival, Pacifica..." Mabel explained.

Gasps from the Lilliputtian interrupted her as frustration replaced their curiosity. Echoes of the word "rivals" spread throughout the windmill. "Oh, we know all about rivals," Franz remarked with a sneer, crossing his arms.

As if on cue, a gruff-sounding voice resounded from the other end of the area. "Put a clog in it, ya windmill-lubbers!" From the 8th hole, pirate-themed Lilliputtians brandished their swords as their captain spoke. "These frilly bottom popinjays are terrible at controllin' the balls! We are the ball masters, says I! Arrr!"

His crewmates joined in the chant, filling the air with hearty "Arrs!"

It turned out that each hole in the arena had its own faction, from the French and the knights to the cowboys and miners. They all seemed to harbor long-standing rivalries that had persisted for many years. Y/n couldn't help but wonder how these factions came to be, but her questions were always met with the explanation that this was just the normal way of things in Gravity Falls.

In a sudden twist, they launched into an attack, converging in the middle of the field. Colorful golf balls clashed and tumbled across the artificial grass, creating a chaotic yet strangely endearing spectacle.

Mabel couldn't help but laugh. "Guys, guys, calm down! Your fighting is inadvertently adorable!"

Amidst the fighting, Franz managed to speak, though he looked a bit battered from the brawl. "Adorable we are, hugelings," he began, clutching an injury. "But our tale is less so. Every hole in the park thinks they're superior, from the cowboys in the east to the grimy miners of the south. If only there was some way to decide which side is best, with... maybe... an award, or, like a trophy, I dunno."

A French Lilliputtian dashed toward Franz, his excitement palpable. "But Franz, look!" He pointed at Mabel's sticker, the one Stan had given her.

"The sticker! The sticker could decide!" Franz exclaimed, his enthusiasm mirrored by everyone on the field as their attention was captured by the sticker.

"It does say 'Ze best' on it!"

"Decide for us, hugeling! Choose which mini-kingdom should receive the sticker and end our war!"

The Lilliputtians erupted into cheers, but Mabel looked unsure. She waved her hands, expressing her hesitation. "Uh, I don't know, guys. I'm not sure I want to get involved in your weird mini-blood feud—"

"Pst, Mabel," Dipper called out to her, gently turning her around away from the skirmishing golf balls. He motioned for Y/n to join them, and the three of them huddled together. "This is perfect! These guys control the course! Just tell them you'll give the sticker to whichever group helps us win!"

Y/n couldn't help but chuckle softly at Dipper's unexpected cunning, she thought that the plan was too diabolical to be coming from someone like him. She watched as Mabel's brow furrowed in thought, a troubled expression on her face. "I'm not sure, Dipper. I want to beat Pacifica, but doesn't this seem like... cheating?" Mabel tried to convince both the other two and herself.

But Dipper didn't hold back. "Pacifica's rich, Mabel. She's cheating at life." He ended his argument with a shrug.

Mabel's gaze shifted from Dipper to Y/n, who nodded in agreement. Y/n had gleaned some knowledge about the Northwest family's history and their immense influence over the town. They owned everything from Northwest Realty to Northwest Mud Flaps to Northwest Weather Vanes. Y/n couldn't forget the first encounter with Preston Northwest, finding him ignorant and pretentious, not to mention his pet fox, Hunter. (Yes, Pacifica's father once had a pet fox.)

Taking all this into account, Mabel rubbed her chin thoughtfully until she reached her final decision. She gathered the warring factions in front of the Knights' tower, and Y/n and Dipper stood on either side of her, assuming the roles of her loyal knights. Dipper had even borrowed a mini trumpet, which he used to herald the beginning of the announcement before returning it to the Knight Lilliputtian with gratitude.

"People of the eighteen holes!" Mabel declared, her arms outstretched dramatically. "We're going to have a game of mini-golf! And whoever does the best job helping me win, gets the sticker!"

"It will be us, lads. Not these tulip-munchers!"

"I will not be insulted by a man with no depth perception wearing earrings!"

Y/n spoke up, "Just remember, as long as you're helping Mabel, no fighting."

The Lilliputtians' mood suddenly turned a 180 and their angry frowns turned into wide smiles. No fighting, like she said.

So the three waited until midnight for Pacifica to arrive.

As the clock struck midnight, Pacifica arrived on the scene. Her parents had dropped her off after a briefing on how the Northwests were the best at everything and that they never lost. Pacifica, fueled by their expectations, entered the premises with her trainer, Sergei, fully expecting to face off against the braces-wearing girl. However, they were met with darkness, shrouding the mini-golf course in mystery.

"How much you wanna bet they're no-shows?" Pacifica asked nobody in particular.

A sequence of lights flashed on, guiding Pacifica and Sergei to the main stage where Mabel stood leaning on her golf club, wearing a smug expression. Y/n and Dipper flanked her, their arms crossed and matching smirks on their faces. Mabel addressed Pacifica with a determined glint in her eye.

"Looking for someone?" Mabel quipped, her confidence palpable.

Pacifica remained unfazed, walking closer with her arms crossed. Her tone was dripping with skepticism. "Waiting in the dark, not creepy at all. Seriously though, I don't know why you bothered to come. Unless you've got something up your sleeve."

Mabel, undeterred, playfully elbowed Y/n with a sly grin. "Oh, I guess you could say we've got a little something, right, right?" It seemed like an inside joke between the trio, but Pacifica and Sergei didn't find it amusing. A tiny Lilliputtian momentarily popped out of Mabel's sweater sleeve in greeting, but she quickly shoved it back in. She and Dipper laughed nervously, while Y/n simply smiled innocently, her hands hidden behind her back.

They all gathered around as Sergei, the expert, explained the rules. "Eighteen holes. Standard rules. Winner lives in glory, loser wallows in eternal shame. On your mark, get set, mini-golf!"

Dipper took on the role of the scorekeeper, clutching a scorecard for the two players. Meanwhile, Y/n held a small flaglet with Mabel's name on it, waving it enthusiastically as she cheered from the sidelines. "Go, Mabel!"

They began on the first hole, controlled by the cowboy Lilliputtians. Pacifica putted first, only to have her ball obstructed by a covered wagon, expertly maneuvered by the tiny cowboys. Then, it was Mabel's turn. The cowboys worked their miniature magic, raising the grass to guide her ball toward the hole. A cowboy perched on a water tower even fired a minigun, propelling the ball straight into the hole.

"What?!" Pacifica exclaimed in frustration as they walked away from the hole, while Mabel grinned and sent a triumphant thumbs-up gesture toward the mini cowboys.

On the eighth hole, known as the pirate hole, Mabel took her turn, sending her ball into the ship, where it was dramatically shot out of a cannon and landed perfectly in the hole. In a fit of frustration, Pacifica forcefully pushed Mabel aside. "Out of my way!" She attempted her putt, but her ball was unceremoniously ejected out of the ship's front and ended up right in her own mouth. "Are you serious?!"

Y/n and Dipper exchanged suppressed giggles from behind them, thoroughly amused by Pacifica's misfortune.

Then came the miner hole. Mabel took her turn, sending her ball down into the miniature mine. "Ha, ha!" Dipper playfully nudged Y/n while giving her a knowing look. "Miner hole. I wonder what cute, silly things are going on down there." They shared a chuckle as they watched Mabel's ball navigate the underground course.

They stood there in silence, waiting for the ball to reappear. Pacifica glanced at her watch, growing impatient. Y/n, with her hands tucked into her jacket pockets, turned towards Dipper. She spoke up, "I'm thinking of grabbing a drink. Do you want anything?"

"I'm good, thanks," Dipper replied, and he watched as Y/n disappeared through a hedge and into an area with a bench and a vending machine. As she stood alone, she approached the vending machine, only to realize she hadn't brought any spare change. Y/n leaned closer, placing her ear against the machine's surface. With a strong punch, she struck the machine, causing it to clank and rattle until a can of Pitt Cola finally rolled out.

Y/n found it surprisingly easy to hack into the vending machines in Gravity Falls, having dissected the inner workings of the mechanism herself. With a victorious chuckle, she opened the can of Pitt Cola and took a sip.

However, her moment of triumph was short-lived. She suddenly heard a voice from the pathway, and she recognized it as Pacifica's. Not wanting to be seen and potentially forced into an interaction, Y/n sprinted off to the nearest restroom and locked herself inside.

Curiosity got the best of her, though, and she couldn't resist placing her ear against the restroom door to eavesdrop on whatever was happening outside.

Sergei retrieved a new Pitt Cola from the vending machine and handed it to Pacifica. She was clearly agitated, her leg bouncing with irritation. "There's something fishy going on, Sergei. I can feel it," she muttered.

"Maybe they has little people who control where the balls go," Sergei explained in one long sentence, his tone dead serious.

Pacifica shot him an exasperated look. "Hoo, we really need to get you some English lessons. What I mean is, think about it. I'm globally ranked. It's absurd that she's beating me." She took a sip of the soda but quickly spat out the pit inside the can. "Ugh! Pitt Cola! I always forget about the pit. Get me a different one, Sergei!"

As Sergei's back was turned, occupied with getting another soda, a small hand reached out from the bushes and tapped Pacifica on the shoulder. Without warning, she was grabbed and pulled into the foliage. Her scream was muffled by the leaves, and Sergei didn't notice as he turned back around.

When he saw his master had disappeared, he stood there with a hopeless expression. "This is bad," he muttered.

A few minutes later, Y/n cautiously peeked outside, expecting to see both Pacifica and Sergei. To her surprise, there was only Sergei. He heard her movements and turned to face her. "You seen Miss Northwest, yes?"

Y/n shook her head. "No," she replied, stepping out of the restroom completely. The two of them stood there, questions filling their minds. Where did Pacifica go?

The answer appeared right before Y/n's eyes when Sergei was ambushed by a group of Pirate Lilliputtians, knocking him out and tying him down. But the Pirates weren't alone; it seemed that the French Lilliputtians had the same idea of abducting someone. "What the—?!"

Meanwhile, the twins waited in the middle of the field, Dipper tallying the scores with a huge, excited grin. "I can't wait to see the look on Pacifica's face when we win. I'm thinking it'll be like, 'ugh'." He mimicked her irritated expression. "You know how she does that? 'Ugh'."

"Dipper, is it bad that I feel good about her feeling bad?"

He waved a dismissive hand. "Ah, just enjoy your victory, Mabel. Trust me, after we win, Pacifica will be fine, and you, I, and Y/n will get ourselves some victory milkshakes. Hey, speaking of, where's Y/n–?"

A scream interrupted their conversation, and their eyes landed on Pacifica, who was tied down on a platform with the Dutch windmill behind her. The Dutch Lilliputtians had gathered around her like she was food and they were ants. They had unsheathed their pencils– their swords, as Pacifica tried to thrash around but she was bound by the rope. "What's going on here? Let me go! Let me go, you creeps!"

"Oh my gosh! Dipper, what are they doing?" Mabel asked, her eyes instilled on the blonde.

"I have no clue," he admitted, looking slightly afraid.

Franz stepped forward with a huge, welcoming grin. "Welcome, twins, welcome! I can tell you're loving this, right? Right?" He hiccuped a chuckle. "No?"

"What are you guys doing?" Mabel had the decency to look uncomfortable.

Dipper had his hands placed on his hips, looking mad. "This wasn't part of the deal, tiny Dutchman!"

Franz also had the decency to look sheepish, explaining their motives as slowly as possible. "Okay, so we saw you were favoring the miners, and we figured, what's better than beating Pacifica?" he blew a raspberry, slapping his golf face. "Killing her! Right?"

Pacifica's confused expression turned into one of irritation. "As if!" She objected. "I'm calling my parents! Where's my phone?"

Franz and the twins ignored her pleas, choosing to pay attention to their deal more. "So how about it, hugeling? Who's the best now?"

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by the same gruff voice, drawing their attention to the eighth hole where the Pirate Lilliputians had gathered. "Not so fast, land lubbers!" They appeared to have captured Sergei, who stood on the plank, bound with ropes as well. The captain had his mini-sword pointed at the European. "If you're going to play dirty, then so are we!"

"So are ve!"

A French accent grabbed their attention, causing their gaze to shift towards the Eiffel Tower, where the French Lilliputtians had taken Y/n hostage. The twins gasped at the situation, but Y/n didn't look scared, not at all. She just seemed bored. "I'm okay," she reassured them.

"Give us ze sticker or this will end up in ze books!" They said, extending a pencil that pointed at her back.

"Give it to the miners! Give it!"

"No, give it to us!"

"Give us the sticker! It belongs to us!"

The Lilliputtians all clamored, their demands were in discord, but they all voiced out the same thing; they wanted the sticker. All of these voices pressured Mabel, until she screamed, "ENOUGH!"

They stopped, all of their eyes on the girl. "You know what? No one gets the sticker!"

"Sacre-boooooo!"

The rest of the Lilliputtians followed, booing along in distaste.

"No, no. Nuh-uh. No booing! Stop! No. No one gets the sticker 'cause you're all being jerks!" Mabel exclaimed. I mean, why can't you just get along?"

A beat passed. "Because we hate each other!"

The pirate captain Lilliputtian added, "That's kind of how rivalries work, lass."

"Well then, maybe... maybe rivalries are dumb." Mabel's voice took on a thoughtful tone as she continued, "Maybe you don't settle them with petty competitions," She glanced at Pacifica, who appeared somewhat guilty or uncomfortable. "Maybe the only way to be "da best" is by ending the fighting and working together!"

In an impulsive act, Mabel tore the sticker off her sweater and crumpled it into a ball, then unexpectedly consumed it all, leaving the Lilliputtians gasping. Their reactions ranged from surprise to understanding. "It's all so clear!" exclaimed one of the Dutch Lilliputtians.

"If we work together..." Franz began.

"Then we can cut open her belly and get the sticker!" The Lilliputtians erupted in cheers and rushed forward.

"Get the girl! Slice her open!"

"Uh oh," Y/n mumbled quietly as she watched the situation unfold. She effortlessly loosened and dropped the rope that had bound her before sprinting toward the twins. Just as she reached the field, the Dutch windmill suddenly roared to life, its blades spinning wildly and causing Pacifica to scream as she was dragged toward it.

Y/n reached Dipper, and he immediately took her hand. "We gotta get out of here!" he urged, pointing toward the nearest exit.

But Mabel had different plans. She was determined to save Pacifica first. She glanced around, assessing the situation. With the swarm of Lilliputtians blocking her path to the windmill, crossing the field seemed impossible. However, she spotted a lamppost with lights attached to it.

Without a second thought, Mabel dashed toward the lamppost and began to climb it. The Lilliputtians followed her, but she managed to swing along the chain of lights leading to the windmill. She landed on the ground safely, evading the golf pencil spears thrown by the angry crowd.

Y/n and Dipper, realizing that the Lilliputtians' main target was Mabel, noticed that they weren't being attacked. Y/n turned to Dipper, a sense of urgency in her voice. "We have to help Mabel."

As they pondered their next move, Sergei, who was near the eighth hole, called out to Dipper. "Ah, Mister Dipper! Нет, нет!" he yelled, appearing to be on the verge of falling into the water.

Dipper released Y/n's hand momentarily and cupped his hands around his mouth. "Don't freak out, man! The water's shallow! There's literally no way to drown!"

Sergei tumbled into the water, face-first, creating bubbles in the shallow puddle.

"Seriously?"

"Come on!" Y/n grabbed Dipper's hand and led them to a golf cart she had spotted in the distance. They both got in, and she was fortunate to find the key still in the ignition. With a swift start, she drove off, making sure to take Sergei with them before reaching the girls who were engrossed in putting golf balls.

She brought the golf cart to an abrupt halt, and Dipper urgently gestured for them to board. "Get on, get on!" he urged.

"Gun it!" Mabel exclaimed.

Y/n slammed her foot on the pedal, and the golf cart shot forward, accelerating away. "Don't let them escape!" shouted the pirate Lilliputtian, and large axes swung dangerously in their direction. Mabel, Dipper, and Pacifica screamed in fear, but Y/n remained determined, pressing down harder on the gas.

It felt like they had become golf balls themselves, hurtling through the course. Ramps and loop-de-loops left them dizzy, except for one fortunate soul. Sergei tumbled off the golf cart when they hit a bump. "Sergei overboard!" Sergei shouted in alarm.

"I'll get a new one," Pacifica declared after witnessing Sergei being left behind.

"What?" Y/n asked, oblivious to the commotion, completely unaware that they had abandoned Sergei.

"They're closing us in!" Dipper exclaimed from beside her, observing the large entrance gates slowly shutting.

Mabel gasped as she saw pencils poking holes in the roof of their golf cart. She climbed onto it while the golf cart was still in motion. Franz, perched on the roof, threatened her with a pencil. "Don't even think about it. You call yourself a golfer? Without us, that club is useless in your hands!"

Mabel didn't hesitate. "Oh yeah? What's ten minus six?"

Franz looked puzzled, clearly not well-versed in basic math. "Ten minu- what- hang on..."

"Four!" Mabel shouted, delivering a direct hit to Franz's face, sending him flying into the bonus hole. The hole immediately glowed and shot up a column of lava just as the golf cart sped off a ramp, riding the wave of lava. The cart skidded through the gates and came to a halt in the parking lot, where it eventually fell apart, with pencils and an ax poking through the gate.

"Stay out, you dumb hugelings!" Franz yelled while tossing golf balls over the wall.

Pacifica was infuriated by his remark. "What did you say, you little trolls?" She marched towards the gate with determination. "I will sue you! I will sue you, and I will own you!" She punched the gate and then turned to point a finger at the trio. "You three! I don't know what you did or what's going on, but if you think just because you saved my life I—"

From the depths of her sweater pocket, Mabel handed Pacifica a purple sticker that read, "I a-paw-logize," causing the blonde to pause. Mabel spoke slowly, "I'm sorry, Pacifica. We shouldn't have cheated. You totally would have beaten me, fair and square."

Pacifica paused, glancing at the sticker before placing it on her shirt. She frowned. "You're just lucky this sticker looks fantastic on me."

After a while, Stan and Soos pulled up in their car, and the three of them climbed in: Y/n got in first, followed by Dipper, and finally Mabel. Everyone looked at Pacifica, who was standing alone in the parking lot. Mabel glanced at Dipper, who was shaking his head. Her eyes then shifted to meet Y/n, who was giving her a look that said, "it's up to you."

Without hesitation, Mabel turned to Pacifica. "Hey! Your parents aren't here. Want a ride home?"

Dipper slumped and crossed his arms but stayed quiet.

Pacifica hesitated, then said, "Huh, puh-lease. As if I'd ride in your—"

Lightning flashed, and thunder cut off her sentence.

Stan and Soos were busy singing jingles in the front of the car while the rest were cramped in the backseat, squeezed against each other. Dipper had to adjust his position, not wanting to sit beside Pacifica (Mabel switched seats with her), so he raised his arm and placed it on the seat behind Y/n. They caught each other's glances and gave each other a small smile with a blush, both in comfort and discomfort.

Mabel was scouting the back of their seats and found two car tacos. She began eating one.

"You're allowed to eat in the car?" The blonde asked in meek disbelief.

The brunette let out a casual scoff. "Yeah! The car is where secret surprise snacks happen! Want one?" She offered, extending her hand.

Pacifica immediately refused. "Oh, I'm not supposed to take handouts."

"Handouts? It's called sharing! You do know what sharing is, right?"

"Sha- sha-ring?"

"Just take it."

Surprisingly, Stan knew the way to the Northwest Manor and pulled up in front of the gate. Pacifica hurriedly got out of the car, trying to appear nonchalant. "Thanks for the ride, or whatever. Oh, and Mabel?" She paused briefly, turning her head slightly. "Um, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I had fun." With that, she started walking away. "And tell your servant I like his W-neck!"

They all looked at Soos, who was sporting a celebratory grin. "Yes!" he exclaimed.

Dipper turned to Mabel. "So, are you guys, like, cool now?"

Mabel answered with enthusiasm, "I think we made some progress. The important thing to remember is that at the end of the day, she's just an ordinary kid like us."

With the car still parked in front of the house, the gates swung open for Pacifica, revealing the grand Northwest mansion, complete with fountains and peacocks. Fireworks lit up the sky above a large neon sign that read, "Congratulations, Pacifica."

"Ordinary, huh?" Y/n remarked with a sarcastic nod.

Dipper chimed in, deadpan, "Should've charged her for that pizza."

Mabel agreed with a chuckle, "Agreed!"

***

PZNA OBUXXU VFXXZ, VFGX ATBY T SHFE. 🗝: ???

From fierce rivals, a friendship did bloom, A bond that lit up even the darkest of gloom. Now as friends, a future unknown we explore, Could it be something more, we both adore?

***

CONTINUES IN CHAPTER 21!

[author's note]: gonna be leaving author's note at the end of each chapter because i always have something to say after the chapter. i appreciate all the puzzle solvers and those who are curious. i love u guys a lot and i hope you enjoy this. this was going TOO long so i had to cut the denouement of the episode.

meanwhile, do you guys have any casual questions for me, or y/n? (like, what's your favorite color?) i'll answer them in the replies! as always, i am open to fanarts, theories, speculations, and the like! let's keep the ball rolling!

kimmiepines 16026 words

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