The Mystery Hull -- a Gravity Falls pirate AU!!

A pirate alternate universe of Gravity Falls, inspired by boomsheika's artwork. tag: mystery hull

[themysteryhull]

So are you going to keep the Fanfic on Tumblr or maybe put it on a website like Ao3 or Wattpad? (This story is really good btw love how it blends with the shows plot really well!)

Sadly this project has long been discountinued, I will keep this sideblog up as a record of it.

[themysteryhull]

Hope you guys are doing well with school and everything. Just letting you know that we will be waiting for what will probably a spontaneous return! But the show itself made us patient so take your time. :)

Hi there!  Unfortunately, it seems that most of us have moved on to other fandoms and projects.  Maybe someday in the future some of us will return to finish this, but honestly it’s not looking very likely.We’re glad you enjoy what little we did share so far, and you are all most certainly welcome to continue it in your own time if you’d like.

[themysteryhull]

Hey guys!

Firstly, thanks for all the support and feedback!  A lot of you seem to like this AU -- which is great, b/c we like it, too, so that works out.

Now to the more sobering news.  We’ve been getting a couple asks about when the next chapter is gonna be up.  To be honest: we don’t know.  A lot of us are really busy with schoolwork and our schedules make it difficult to coordinate starting the next chapter.  So for now, we’ll be on hiatus until further notice (hopefully only until spring break, but most likely summer vacation).

Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean we’re abandoning the fic!  We still have much more planned out for the story that’s just too good to not publish.  The show finale might give us an extra kick to start up the next chapter -- but for now, we gotta keep those grades and GPAs up.

Thanks a bunch for understanding.  We’ll see you on the other side of the apocalypse!

[themysteryhull]

I ABSOLUTELY HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THIS AU :D I really hope that you continue it!!

Thanks!  We’re glad you like it!  We most definitely have plans to continue this.

[themysteryhull]

Chapter 6

Mabel soon found herself despising glass boxes.

Sure, she could see everything fine, but one could only count the number of paintings on the walls and books on the shelves so many times before getting Cabin Fever.  She giggled at the made-up condition.  "Cabin Fever!  Geddit?  Because I'm in the cabin of the ship!"

Silence.  Dipper would have made some retort about that being a horrible pun.

Mabel frowned at the last thought. Truth be told, she missed her dear brother. He was always reading his journal, trying to find a cure, talking to her, giving her little gifts -- heck, she even missed the annoying scratching sound of his feather pen as he thought about whatever was going in his mind.

Well, at least she had Mando to keep her company. He would strum his guitar to tunes and hum little songs to relax her.  Plus he's kinda cute, especially with his little mustache hairs, she thought.

"We've arrived at Port Gleeful!" a voice shouted, snapping her out of her reverie. Turning to the side of her glass box, she saw a glimpse of the location out of the porthole.  Docks full of boats of all kinds; small, white and aqua villas -- it looked like any other small little port. That was, until she glimpsed the massive white marble mansion atop a hill in the distance.

Thundering boots were heard overhead, running around, getting ready to dock the ship. The door in the cabin swung open and two burly men stormed over, lifted the glass box like it weighed nothing, and proceeded to carry the container out into open sunlight.

The glare of natural sunlight and the glass itself made Mabel blind for a moment, before her eyes adjusted to the natural light. She drew in breath at the sight.

The port was bigger than what she originally anticipated -- boats of all different sizes and colors lined the many piers as flags of all different colors flew proudly in the blue sky.  Cobblestone streets ran along the aqua- and white-colored houses like tree branches, with classy-looking people and wealthy merchants walking around, looking into shops, or just chatting to one another.

Mabel and her glass box bobbed along with the thrum of the two men's footsteps in the path up to the mansion. They received some strange looks, but none really paid attention to the occupant inside, much to the mergirl's relief. When they finally arrived, Mabel's jaw dropped.

The mansion was much larger than anything she ever dreamed was possible.  Shining white marble stood out from atop its perch, like a beacon to lost ships.  Its solid oak doors were pushed open, and she was carefully slipped inside. The interior was even more extravagant, with oil paintings of different battles at sea lining the halls. Grand crystal chandeliers hung high in the air above Mabel.  She gulped, trying not to imagine them crashing down onto her.

After navigating a few hallways, the two men finally opened the door to what looked like the main office. Mabel craned her neck to see all the things inside the elaborate room.  She certainly liked the large map of the world on the wall. She felt the top water slosh around as the glass box was settled down on the floor.

"Careful, ya morons!" she heard a voice with a distinctly Southern accent bark. "That there carpet came all the way from Persia!"

Turning her head, Mabel saw the voice's owner. He was younger than her, probably eight or nine years old at the most, with slick white hair piled high on his head. His suit was the same aqua blue as the houses, and he wore a tie pin with a dazzling sea green gem. One thought came to Mabel's mind at first glance, spilling out of her mouth before she could stop herself:

"Oh-my-gosh, you are absolutely adorable!"

The young boy laughed at this notion. "Why, thank ya, ma'am!" he beamed before placing a small hand on the glass box she was in. "A real mermaid..." he mused quietly, staring at Mabel. "The legends were right -- they really are beautiful."

Mabel giggled at this, albeit a little nervously.  She was used to compliments and looks from Mando, but this time it seemed less...friendly.

Her smile vanished as she remembered that she was still trapped in a glass rectangle. "Hey, are you the guy who took me away from Grunkle Stan and Dipper?"

She noticed a look of hatred flash across the boy's pudgy face at the mention of her great-uncle and brother, but he quickly reverted back to his cheerful self. "I'm afraid so. My name's Gideon! The owner of Port Gleeful! And you are?"

"Mabel!" she chirped before extending a hand, which then bumped into the glass surrounding her. "Oh yeah… glass.” This was so awkward! She needed to change the subject.  “So, remind me: why did you kidnap me again?"

Gideon smiled again at this question, but it seemed more plastic than genuine. "So we can live together, Mabel, my dear!"

Live together? Mabel thought, alarmed. "Uh...why would I want to live with a nine-year-old?" she asked frankly.

"Why, so I can rule all of Port Gleeful!" Gideon sang, like he had expected this. "With you as my queen, of course!"

"Queen?!" Mabel's mind raced as she tried to rationalize what the child was saying. "Like, marriage? Together?! With kids?!"

"Of course!" Gideon replied, smiling again. "'Course, wedding plannin' will take a while to finish, so you can just live with lil' ol' me for now!"

Mabel wanted to scream "NO!" at the top of her lungs (gills? -- maybe both, since she can also breath normal air??).  There was no way she was getting married to a nine-year-old.  But she bit her lip and held back her original response, trying to come up with a good way to let him off nicely -- her mother did teach a thing or two about acting like a lady now and then, and this seemed like the kind of situation that called for it.

"Look, Gideon," she started, trying to convince herself he needed to hear this. Her tail swished around nervously as she continued. "Your mansion is amazing, and you seem pretty nice and all,  but I need to go back to Dipper and Grunkle Stan. They're probably worried about me." She chuckled a little imaging Dipper's stressed face. “A-and besides! we've only just met! You don't know anything about me!” she added, rubbing her arm.  She decided to omit the part about him kidnapping her.

Gideon's face fell. "B-but...don't you wanna stay with me?" he asked, looking absolutely crushed.

"Gideon, I'm sorry, but just, you're like nine years old, and I'm twelve and it's just like 'what?'." Mabel tried, trying to sound as positive as she could. "But, hey! There's probably plenty of other nine-year-old girls swimming in the sea! Ask one of them!"

The awkward silence returned as Gideon was quiet and Mabel hoped that her argument had worked. Gideon would accept the fact that she could not marry him, he would let her go back to her family, he would get married to some other girl later in life, they all live happily ever after, simple! Now he just needed to --

"No."

Mabel blinked twice. Did he just say…?

"No, I don't like any other girl -- I like you, Mabel!" Gideon's glared up at her, his face burning red that was most definitely not from embarrassment, his fists balled in anger, much to Mabel's horror. "And you will be my queen!"

Mabel stared in shock as she saw the boy's cute facade vanish into rage. "Take her to the pool! And make sure she stays there!" he demanded. The two men from before picked the glass box up and hauled it away to the doors again.

"What?! Gideon!" she cried out. "You can't do this! I know my rights! I demand to see my lawyer! I'll see you in court, you evil marshmallow man!"

The doors slammed shut, and that was that.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

As soon as the loading board touched the dock, Dipper ran down it at full speed, eager to start looking for his sister.  But before he could reach the dock, a strong hand behind him pulled him to a halt.

"Dipper, hold it!" Stan said sternly, as the boy tried to wiggle out of his grip. "I know how important it is for you to find Mabel, but you can't be too reckless. This ain't Boston; we're in Gideon's territory now. If he gets wind that we're here, we're all gonna be in big trouble. So you gotta be careful, and don't get yourself captured, too. Mabel's the one he's got, but if he catches you, too, there's no guarantee that he'll let you live. Got it?"

Dipper swallowed nervously and nodded. He wondered what Gideon could possibly want with Mabel.

"Oh, and here -- take this."  Stan pulled out a folded cloth from his pocket and handed it to Dipper, distracting him for a moment. Dipper took it from his hands and unfolded it: it was a blue-and-white striped square cloth with what looked like a small cutout of a pine tree at the base. "Use that to cover up your forehead. I don't want you getting unnecessary attention while you're here."

"Thanks, Grunkle Stan," Dipper said, tying the cloth into a bandana around his head.

Before any of the other crew members could scuttle off the ship, Dipper ran off towards the little town. If this Gideon was as mighty and powerful as the rumors and Grunkle Stan had said, there had to be some people in this town he could talk to about him, right?

As Dipper made his way down the cobble street, he began to slow down and fully take in the surroundings. This place reminded him of his hometown, Boston: the cobblestone streets, the narrow endless alleyways, and the brightly colored blue and white shops, except much more…posh. The women in large dresses with tiny dogs by their sides and men in fancy suits and hats, just out for a stroll. How did these people have this kind of cash? Dipper caught a glimpse of a man staring into a hat shop, and approached him.

“Excuse me sir?” he asked nervously. The man looked down at him and showed a welcoming smile.

“Yes? What is it ya need, boy?” he asked in a thick Southern accent.

“Could you possibly tell me about Gideon Gleeful?” Dipper asked.

The man's happy grin fell upon hearing the name and he tugged at his collar. “Why, he's the owner of this here port.”

“Yes, but do you know anything else about him?” Dipper pushed on, even though the man seemed nervous.

“He's a great leader and an even greater ki-” The man's eyes grew wide in fear “-MAN! A good man!” He let out a nervous chuckle. “I-I've got somewhere to be, good day to you.” He pushed past Dipper and hurried past the street.

Dipper frowned for a moment before dashing up to a passing woman with a little girl.  “Scuse me ma'am, could you tell me about Gideon Gleeful?” he asked in the most polite manner he could.

The woman's face grew pale “Gideon Gleeful is a wealthy man! We all appreciate Gideon's generousness. Come on Natalie.” She grabbed the girl's hand and scurried off.

“Hey! Wait a second!” Dipper called out.  But the two disappeared into an alley.

Dipper tried again and again to get people to tell him about Gideon, but with no luck. Everyone's response was the same: “We adore Gideon!” or “He's wonderful!” and other words of praise were useless. He needed intel and he was getting none.

With a defeated frown, Dipper hung his head and started to trail back to the ship. If he was going to get in, he probably needed Stan or Soos's help. Dipper began to ponder. Everyone was so terrified of Gideon, how bad could this guy --

Before he could finish his thought, a large man bumped into him and caused Dipper to go toppling onto the ground, his journal falling out from inside the jacket.  “Watch yourself, brat!” the man snapped as he waggled his cane at him, then waddled down the street.

“Jerk,” Dipper muttered as he collected the journal and stuffed it inside his vest.

“That's not a very nice thing to say to someone who's offering you help!”

Dipper's head spun, and he looked to see a gloved hand extended in front of his face.

“Sorry!” he said as he eagerly took the hand in front of him. “I was...talking to that guy that knocked me down.”

Dipper looked up at his ‘rescuer.'  Like everyone else he had seen, the man was finely dressed, although Dipper found his choice of fashion rather odd: a bright yellow suit with a long tailcoat complete with a neatly straightened bowtie, long black trousers, and black wingtips. His slender form leaned ever so slightly on his cane, and a tall black hat perched on his golden hair.  His face was slim and angled with sharp cheekbones, and he stared down with one, amber eye. The other was covered by an eyepatch. Saying this man ‘stood out' from the crowd would have been an understatement: Dipper wondered why he had not noticed him before.

“Done checking me out?” the man asked.

“What?  Oh, no, I wasn't...” Dipper blurted out, then looked down at the ground to hide his crimson cheeks.

“Sure ya weren't, kid.” the man huffed and brushed himself off. “Say, I heard you asking some people about Gideon Gleeful?” he asked, smirking.

“Was I! Can you tell me about him?” Dipper exclaimed, earning some side glances from people strolling by.

The man, surprised by Dipper's enthusiasm, moved his hands in a calming motion in an attempt to quiet Dipper down.  “Easy, kid. Sure I can, what do you wanna know?”

“Where does he live?” Dipper asked, quieter this time.

“Not as smart as you look, kid. Then again, you don't look very smart. He lives up on the hill.” The man nodded in the direction of the mansion on the cliff.

Dipper frowned. “I was just double checking. How could someone like me get in there?” Dipper regretted not bringing his notepad -- he should be taking notes.

“What d'ya mean? You wanna work for him or something?” the man asked, cocking his head.

“Eh… not quite,” Dipper answered, rubbing the back of his neck.

The man straightened up and grinned, looking down at the lad in front of him. “Between you and me, all his goons are just that: goons. They ain't the sharpest tools in the shed. You'd think a man with his chunk of change could afford better guards.”

“Ok...and why is everyone so afraid of him?” Dipper tugged on his bandana a bit, adjusting it to make sure his birthmark wouldn't show.

“Let's just say he's got a short temper. He also owns this whole port. Need I say more?”

“How come you know so much about Gideon?” Dipper asked, suddenly realizing the situation he was in. This man was the only person in port who would talk to him about Gideon. Heck, he didn't even know his name!

“I know lots of things, Pine Tree!”

“Pine Tree?”

The man simply pointed to the blue pine tree cutout on his bandanna, before reaching into a pocket that Dipper hadn't noticed before and pulled out a gold pocket watch, an ornate eye expertly carved on the back on a matching gold chain. Dipper could hear the ticking of the watch, steady and fast, like the beating of a fearful heart. “Would you look at the time! I've got to head off!” the man announced, snapping the watch closed and tucking it back into his pocket.  “Later, Pine Tree.” The man spun around and began to walk away, whistling and spinning his cane.

“Hey wait a second, who are you!?” Dipper chased after him, but the crowd became thicker and thicker, and the last he saw of the strange man was him tipping his hat.

Dipper frowned. At least he had some information, right? He sighed and began his trek back to the ship. Maybe tonight he could scope out the mansion and find out how he could get in there.

[themysteryhull]

Hey, are you going to do this in sync with the actual episodes of gravity falls, or if you manage to get ahead before they do, are you going to continue it as your own story with the same characters, or wait for the next episode and tie the plot of that into the story. (If it sounds like I'm being rude or anything like that, I apologize, but since this is a really well-made au, I'm curious to see if it will somehow follow the plot of the show, just with a different all together atmosphere.)

We had an original story planned from the beginning, and as of now we are still keeping it that way.  It’s interesting you ask, because when we started before Not What He Seems aired we decided not to include Stan’s brother as it was just a fan theory.  But since it’s a twist that plays such a big role in the show, we’re brainstorming ways to include major developments from the show into the story.

But most of the story will be its own.  Asides from integrating some characters and plot points from the show as they are revealed, this AU will be its own story.

[themysteryhull]

Hello! I have just started following your blog (Cause I'm going through some random Gravity Falls PIRATES MUST READ NYAHA!!!) Could you direct me to your chapters? (How long do I have to scroll to find the first one?) What matches your wallpaper? Is it yours or another's or linked to a chapter or just random? Thanks

There’s a link on the sidebar labeled Chapter Index.

The wallpaper was created from screenshots of the journal pages from the episodes on top of a generic “old paper” background.

All the chapters are written by us!  Right now we are all on different schedules and starting back up with school, but we try to update and write more as much as we can.

[themysteryhull]

Do you have a tag for reading the story? I'd like to start from the beginning.

No, but you should start from Chapter 1. That’s the beginning of the story!

[themysteryhull]

Also, there’s a link to the Chapter Index on our main page.

[themysteryhull]

Do you have a tag for reading the story? I'd like to start from the beginning.

No, but you should start from Chapter 1. That’s the beginning of the story!

[themysteryhull]

When will the next chapter be? This story is great so far!!!!

Sorry for taking so long to answer this! Thank you for the compliment, I can’t give an exact date, but we are working on the next chapter.

[themysteryhull]

So, what pairings are you going to use?

We’ll hint at some. ;3 But pairings aren’t going to be a major focus.

[themysteryhull]

So, is it an island, or is it a face?

It’s an island that has a giant face carved into it.

[clam0before0strom]

Are you sure it’s not a metaphor?

[themysteryhull]

...Or I could have read the chapter wrong entirely. It’s an island that has a rock on it that slightly resembles a face. That’s the actual answer.

[themysteryhull]

So, is it an island, or is it a face?

It’s an island that has a giant face carved into it.

[themysteryhull]

Chapter 5

Isle de Face could not have a less creative name. It was a small island in the middle of nowhere that had a massive rock on it that slightly resembled a face. Stan wanted to stop there for it was just outside Port Gleeful, their current destination. However, if Stanford showed his face in there, he and the kids would be immediately arrested and most likely executed. He could leave his ship there, then get to port and get whatever he needed.

“Why do we need to go to Port Gleeful, Grunkle Stan?” Mabel asked Stan as he searched around his cabin for something.

“’Grunkle’? What does that even mean?” he grumbled as he dug through his drawers.

“Well, Great-Uncle Stan is too long of a name! And we’re family, so we can’t call you Captain Pines – ”

“ – I’d prefer if you called me ‘Captain Pines’ – ”

Mabel ignored him. “So I combined 'Great’ and 'Uncle’: Grunkle! What do you think?” The mermaid gave him big puppy eyes.

He sighed. “Alright, you can call me that – just not in public.”

“Deal!” She held out her hand, wanting him to shake it. Stan froze, and stared at the hand.

“Grunkle Stan? What’s wrong?” Mabel asked, her head cocked to one side. She smiled broadly. “My hand’s not slimy like my tail! You can shake it.”

Stan quickly shook his head. “It’s n-nothing kid.” He turned and hurriedly left the room.

Mabel’s expression fell with her hand. “What’s wrong with him?” Mabel wondered aloud as she slumped down into the tub with a dull splash.

Stan walked up to the quarterdeck and tucked the paper he was looking for in his pocket. It was pretty foggy today, so it was taking longer than they expected to get to Isle de Face. Soos had taken over steering while he was in his office.

“And that’s the main mast! You get it now, Dip?” Soos pointed at one of masts in front of him. Dipper nodded, and scribbled on the journal in front of him. Since this was the first (and probably last) time he had ever been on a real, actual pirate ship, Dipper was taking notes – he figured they would be useful if he ever had to be a lookout, or whatever other odd job Stan had for him. He shut the book with a snap and beamed at the portly man.

“Thanks Soos!” He turned and gave a small yelp, not expecting to see Stan standing right behind him.

“What, think your old man can’t teach you anything?” Stan chuckled.

Dipper laughed along nervously – he wasn’t sure how to answer that question…if he even should. “No! Well, I…uh…you seemed busy,” he mumbled.

Stan chuckled. “Well, we’re almost at Isle de Face. Go tell you sister, I’m sure she wants to get out of that tub.”

“Yessir!” Dipper saluted, then proceeded to trot down the steps and into the captain’s cabin.

Soos leaned over the bannister and watched Dipper leave. “Did you find it?” he asked Stan.

“Safe and sound,” Stan replied, patting his breast pocket.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

“Mabel! We’re gonna port soon!” Dipper swung the door open and Mabel instantly perked up.

“Finally! I wonder what sorts of coral they have there…”

Dipper carefully lifted Mabel out of her tub and carried her onto the deck. Along the way she had managed to make her way onto his shoulders and was shouting phrases like “Onwards, brave steed!” as he fumbled to keep a steady hold on her wet tail. After nearly dropping her a few times and threatening to drop her again if she did not quiet down, he settled for carrying her piggy-back style. It wasn’t the most efficient way, but it was easier for him to get a firm grip on her hands than her slippery tail.

He looked up from under her dripping-wet hair and saw they had arrived at the mouth of a cave (that formed the actual “mouth” of Isle de Face). “That’s not creepy at all,” he muttered.

Stan ignored Dipper’s remark. “Alright, lower Mabel down.”

Dipper let go of his sister’s hands and dropped her into a large bucket that Old Man McGucket and Soos had made especially for Mabel to get off and on the ship, which was much more efficient than someone climbing down and putting her into the water. Dipper watched nervously as the bucket reached the water and Mabel splashed out into the dark water.

Once she had swam off into the cave, Stan led the rest of the small landing crew down the ladder and onto a small spit of sand that led into the darkness. As soon as Dipper’s feet touched the sand, Mabel’s head popped out of the water some distance away. “Dipper, Dipper, you gotta see this!” she exclaimed, waving her hands and splashing, beckoning him to follow.

The cave, which had seemed dark from the outside, was actually dimly lit on the inside by the few rays of sunlight coming through the holes of the “eyes” of Isle de Face. As soon as Dipper’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, his jaw dropped at what he saw.

In the middle of the water-filled cave sat a huge shipwreck. It looked like it had not been there very long, but the ship itself looked like it had been demolished for a long time. The dark sails were ripped and torn and the wood was falling apart in places that looked liked they were damaged from actual fire.

Before Dipper could go any closer, Stan drew his sword and put his hand in front of the boy. Old Man McGucket stayed with him while Stan and Manly Dan approached the ship.

“So…Dipper, is it?” Old Man McGucket asked, twiddling his fingers. “Do you know why it was your sister was cursed?”

Dipper looked up at the old man standing beside him. He had the figure of the twig, his graying hair was an absolute mess, and, judging by the bags under his eyes, it looked like he had not slept in a month.

The boy shook his head. “Mabel and I have no clue. I’m not quite sure anybody knows.” He sighed and looked back to where Manly Dan was currently boosting Stan onto the ship as Mabel splashed around nearby, pumping her fists and cheering encouragements at Manly Dan. Not like the guy needs it, Dipper thought. He could probably lift the whole ship.

“Well, your sister can’t just get  randomly cursed now, can she. Did you two do anything bad? Steal ancient treasure? Rip someone off? Upset some mysterious old woman in a cave?”

All of the questions bombarding Dipper had the old man getting on his nerves, fast. He had already tried everything he could to figure out why this happened to Mabel, read every book he could find on curses, asked every person who might have had the slightest idea – and yet none of his attempts had any luck with finding answers. “We just don’t know. We were at our wits end, and that’s when my grandfather said to go with Stan. That he might’ve known more than us.”

Old Man McGucket shook his head. “But there’s got to be – ”

“Look, I’ve been trying, ok? I’ve been trying so hard. And it just leads us all to dead ends. Stan is our last hope, and – ” He was cut off by Stan’s yelling.

“Hey Dipper, Fiddles! The ship’s clear!”

Dipper dashed forward, leaving Old Man McGucket where he was standing. Stan kneeled down and held his hand over the side. Dipper grabbed his hand and Stan hoisted him up onto the battered deck.

“Manly Dan and I are gonna look around the ship. You and Mabel can check around the lower levels. Just holler if you get lost and don’t kill yourself. Be back soon.” Stan smacked him on the back, sending Dipper stumbling forward and walking away before Dipper could say anything in response. Once he regained his balance, he looked around at the shipwreck. The boards were rotted and most of the doors were missing. Dipper had no clue what Stan would want to be doing on a ship like this.

“Hey Dipper, there’s a hole right here!  I’ll meet you inside!” Mabel yelled before vanishing into the hull before Dipper could anything in response. He sighed. Looks like I’m on my own.

He carefully made his way into the cabin – or what was left of the cabin. Broken furniture, glass, and generally dangerous objects that a normal, responsible parent would not let their child come near lay scattered around what could only have been a once grand room. Good thing Stan’s an uncle – and a pirate at that, Dipper thought. He made his way in around the mess, hoping to find something interesting: an old book, perhaps, or something shiny for Mabel. As he further into the cabin, he saw a shelf lined with all sorts of old tomes. Dipper grinned, and immediately went for it, forgetting the fragility of the broken ship.

Before he could reach the bookshelf, he heard a creak, a snap, and suddenly the floor fell away underneath him. Dipper shrieked as he – along with the contents of the cabin – fell and landed in the water with loud crashes and splashes as Dipper swam around, frantically trying to dodge the debris. The boy swam to the side of the ship, gasping for air.

“DIPPER!” Stan shouted from above. As the dust began to settle, he saw Stan and Old Man McGucket looking down at him from the hole of the cabin floor. “ARE YOU ALRIGHT!?”

“I’m fine, I think…” He clutched the wall of the ship. His hands were shaking

“Thank god,” Stan mumbled. “Just don’t – LOOK OUT!”

A beam on the side of the ship fell towards Dipper, and he covered his head. Just as he thought the wood would crush him, a hand grabbed his ankle and pulled him underneath the waves. Dipper watched as the beam land in the water and looked down to see Mabel, who smiled and gave him a thumbs up. They both swam back up to the surface of the water.

“Don’t move! I’m coming down to get you,” Stan announced. The twins could hear the sound of footsteps, then nothing. It was completely and utterly quiet.

“Thanks, Mabel,” Dipper said, treading the water next to his sister.

“No problem, bro-bro!” She smiled, then gave him a curious look. “Dipper, where’s your hat?”

Dipper reached up and touched his head. “It must've fallen off. It’s fine, I didn’t like it that much anyways.”

Mabel shrugged and glanced at their surroundings. “What is this place?”

Dipper just now noticed the room they were in. “Somewhere in the hull, I guess. Looks like a storage room.”

It must have been some sort of storage place, although he had never seen a storage room that looked this strange. Numbers, symbols, and letters lined the walls, none of which made any sense to him. Rays of light shined through holes in the ship and Mabel spotted some kind of chest floating in the water. He decided to use it to keep himself afloat, as he was still a little shaky from the whole ‘near-death’ experience and his arms were getting tired.

“Whatcha got there, Dipper?” Mabel asked, swimming closer. She gasped. “Dipper, look!  It’s unlocked!”

Dipper inspected the chest. Sure enough, the lock was missing. “I wonder what’s in it?”

“Pirate booty! Forbidden treasure! Dipper, we’re gonna be rich! C'mon, open it up and let’s find out!”

Dipper wanted to know what was inside the chest just as badly as Mabel, but he did not want to open it in the water as the contents could get wet – if they weren’t already.

“Hey Mabel, give me a hand with this.” Dipper tugged the chest towards the fallen beam as Mabel swam behind it, pushing it with ease. After making sure the beam was stable, Dipper climbed onto it and dragged the chest onto it. He flicked the clasp and tried to tug the chest open.

“It won’t open, I think it’s – ” Dipper was cut off as the chest shot open, surprising both him and Mabel. Dipper wobbled around to regain his balance, not wanting to fall into the water again. Mabel pulled herself up onto the beam, and the two peered into the chest.

The chest was filled with stacks of old papers. Dipper picked up a few and scanned them, but they looked like nothing special: just old lists and inventories.

“Hey Dipper, what’s that?” Mabel pointed her hand into the chest at a dusty book lying under a loose stack of letters. Dipper picked it up and ran his fingers along the spine. The book was bound in faded leather with rips and tears in various places, most likely due to age, with two gold lines on the spine and gold corners. In the center of the front cover was a golden hand with six fingers in the middle.

He carefully turned the cover and examined the first few pages. “I think it’s some kind of journal…woah! Check this out!”

Mabel looked at the pages and gasped. Each page had detailed entries on various myths, legends, creatures, and other supernatural phenomena. “Wow!  Some of these even I haven’t heard of,” Dipper muttered before flipping on a page titled “CURSES.”  Maybe this was his key to figuring out what happened to Mabel! He flipped a few pages back and read the last page out loud.

“'Unfortunately, my suspicions have been confirmed. I’m being followed. I must hide this book before they find it. Remember – on the high seas, there is no one you can trust.’” Dipper gulped and he scanned further down the page. In large, bolded, underlined letters, the words ‘TRUST NO ONE’ were written.

“Woah!” Mabel exclaimed. “This is so coo – ”

The twins jumped as they heard a banging on the door of the storage room. Dipper quickly tucked the journal into his vest. The door fell off, and Manly Dan, Stan, and Old Man McGucket waded in through the knee-deep water.

“Thank god you’re okay, kids! I thought all that stuff would’ve crushed ya! You two okay? Hit your head too hard?”

Dipper looked wide-eyed at the old man grinning at them, the words ‘TRUST NO ONE’ echoing through his head as he felt the weight of the old journal press against his chest. “Uh…no, we’re fine.” He looked down at the chest, then around the room and the strange symbols. He wanted to get off this ship.

Stan nodded. “Come on, let’s get out of here before anything else collapses.”

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Back on board the Mystery Hull, Dipper made sure Stan was occupied elsewhere on the ship before pulling out the old journal from his jacket.

“This is crazy!” Dipper exclaimed as he paced around the cabin, Mabel watching him from her tub. “Look at all these things! Devil Whale, Sirens…check this one out!” He pointed the book towards Mabel, and in large red letters read: “Giant Squid is REAL! Do NOT listen to the fishermen in Red Harbor.”

Mabel grinned. “Anything in there about curses? Or mermaids? Or mermaid curses?”

“Probably! Who knows what’s in this thing!” They heard a knock on their door and Dipper tucked the book underneath his pillow.

Soos barged in, carrying three trays of food. “How ya feeling, doods?” Soos asked as he set the trays down on the desk.

“Hungry!” Mabel announced, lifting herself out of the tub and splashing some water over the edge.

Dipper smiled and sat down at the desk. “Me too.”

The next day was a slow one. Dipper sat in his hammock, avidly reading the journal and only putting it down if anyone came in the cabin. They had sailed away from Isle de Face. Mabel, bored out of her mind, decided she was going to swim around a bit. Dipper lowered her into the ocean, and she was free.

Mabel dove above and under waves as she swam through the sea. She hated being trapped in that horrid tub.  When the Mystery Hull was docked, Stan let her swim where she pleased, as long as she did not swim too far away. As she swam further out, she saw a ship that looked like it was worth more than all the tea in Boston Harbor. The pennant at the top swayed in the breeze, flashing a blue star with different-colored tips. It looked familiar, but she could not quite put her finger on it. Mabel quietly swam closer to get a better look – this ship looked absolutely incredible. She was so close to the boat now, she could almost touch it.

As she reached out her hand, a net fell over her head and she desperately struggled to get it off, flipping about and trying to swim down.

“Get it off of me!” she shouted, trying everything in her power to free herself. Mabel felt herself being lifted higher and higher, and even tried gnawing at the ropes – futile, but, hey, it was worth a shot.

“We caught another one, sir!” a voice from on deck announced.

Before she could make sense of what was going on, Mabel was heaved on board and dumped onto the deck. The men who pulled her up all looked at her. She was used to people catching glances of her but this – this was different.

Mabel could hear the stomping of boots, then the men cleared a path for a much taller and more professional looking man. He flicked out a scrap of paper, looked at it, then looked at Mabel and nodded.

“W-what’s going on!?” Mabel yelped as the man in the boots pulled her out of the net and threw her over his shoulder. “Are you gonna eat me? I’m too young to be eaten!”

He walked into a cabin and plopped Mabel inside a crammed tank filled with briny water. He slid the lid over her and shut the clasps. The man then turned and walked out of the room. She could hear mumbling from outside, then the door swung open and a boy walked into the room

The boy had long brown hair that hung down past his shoulders and tanned skin. A guitar was strung around his shoulder. He approached her, hands held up in surrender. “Please, don’t hurt me.  The captain sent me to watch you.” It was quiet for just a moment, then the boy said “You are not a siren, are you?”

Mabel crossed her arms. “I’m a human.”

The boy gave her a funny look. “Those are the strangest pair of legs I have ever seen.”

Despite her predicament, Mabel could not help but giggle at his remark. “Well, I was a human, then this happened.” She gestured to her tail. “I think I’m a mermaid.”

“A mermaid? I have only ever seen sirens.” He walked forward and stood in front of the tank, grinning. “What is your name?”

“My name’s Mabel!”

“My name is Mando. Mabel is such a lovely name.”

Thank goodness the glass was tinted from the brine, otherwise Mando could have clearly seen the growing blush on Mabel’s cheeks.  "So… uh… what songs do you know on your guitar?“

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Later – he was not exactly sure how much later, due to the fact he had had his nose buried in the book – Dipper heard the sound of footsteps outside the cabin door. With his sharp hearing skills thanks to his parents snooping around back home, he quickly hid the book underneath his pillow and sat up on his hammock as Stan entered the room.

"Hey, shouldn’t your sister be back by now? I told her we weren’t going to be gone long,” Stan said, rubbing the back of his head and looking down.

“Wait, she’s not back?” Dipper hopped off his bed, squeezing between Stan and the door and onto the deck to look overboard. “Is she alright?”

What if one of those monsters he’d read about had eaten her? Or sirens had convinced her to join them? Or her curse evolved and she turned into a fish!

“It hasn’t been long, I’m sure she’ll be back soon,” Stan said, joining Dipper by the railing.  The boy nodded nervously.

But an hour later, and there was still no sign of her.

Stan paced back and forth in his cabin. Dipper sat on a chair near him, head held in his hands. Old Man McGucket sat a chair away from Dipper, hands tucked in his lap.

“What’s the nearest port?” Dipper spoke up.

“Port Gleeful, but that’s got to be two days away, by boat.” Stan took his hat off and ran his hand through his hair. “She couldn’t get there by herself… unless…”

“She didn’t get there by herself.” Old Man McGucket finished the sentence. “It’s likely Gideon has sent out his men to try and find us, since you wiped out his mercenaries. They’ve seen Mabel before.”

“Then we’ll go to Port Gleeful. Disguises can’t be that difficult to find, right?” Stan placed his hat back on his head.

“But what if she’s not there?” Dipper asked.

“It’s our only lead for now. If she’s not there, we’ll look somewhere else. Simple as that.” Stan exited the office, and Old Man McGucket followed behind him. Before he left, he stopped and turned.

“Stan cares a lot about you two – he hasn’t cared about anyone this much in a long time.” He put his head down, and muttered, “For his sake, I hope it doesn’t end up like last time.”

“What happened last time?” Dipper asked.

Old Man McGucket shook his head. “He lost everything,” was all he said before shutting the cabin door behind him.

Dipper sighed. Stan never mentioned anything about his past, although he seemed pretty close with Old Man McGucket, Manly Dan, and Soos. He pulled out the journal from his jacket and examined it. He desperately wanted to show it to someone…but the only person he could tell was Mabel, as she was missing at the moment.

His thoughts wandered and he remembered he had lost his hat back at the shipwreck. Maybe while he was in Port Gleeful, he could pick up another. He blew out the candle, kicked off his shoes, and laid down in his hammock.

“Goodnight Mab-” Dipper stopped himself. He closed his eyes, and allowed himself to fall asleep.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

He was running, but he wasn’t sure what he was running from. Darkness chased after him, nipping at his heels and closing in on him. No matter how fast he ran, it just came faster and faster.

A clock was ticking. Each time it ticked, it became louder and louder.

He was cornered by the darkness and the floor fell, him dropping down with it. The ticking was so loud, he held his hands over his ears, desperate to stop the ear-shattering noise.

The ground neared, the ticking was so loud, the end of all was coming – he knew it!

Dipper awoke with a yell, drenched in his own sweat. His eyes darted around the room, and he remembered where he was. He fell back onto his bed, and closed his eyes. It was going to be a long day.

[themysteryhull]

Not sure if this has been answered already but in chapter 2 what character was ghost eyes?

He’s the guy who breaks the window at the end of this short.

[themysteryhull]

Will Pacifica be appearing in the story at all?

Yes.  We have plans for almost all of the characters.

[themysteryhull]

To the anon who sent the ask with a song that would fit the AU a few days ago, the ask got deleted. Can you resend it please?