The rift containment unit is cracking.

Ford noticed it the moment he took the rift out of its storage. His heart skipped a beat, but not in a good way, as he puzzled over the problem. He knew that if the unit breaks, all the madness of Bill's Nightmare Dimension will come spilling into theirs and he didn't want that. Nobody does.

He took the rift to his study table, placed it carefully somewhere far from his arms, before taking out the second journal. He needed some sort of sealant to ensure that it didn't break completely, so he figured that it was going to take a glue of unearthly strength.

He must return with Y/n to Crash Site Omega— although he supposed there's no longer any need for that coy nickname invented in his youth. As he wrote in his third journal a quick rundown of the contents of the extraterrestrial craft, he thought about bringing his great nephew for their adventure. Not only that, he was thinking of discussing his apprentice offer with him soon.

"You called?"

And just in time, his assistant entered through his door, looking slightly concerned. Usually, his summons consisted of him burning his face off, a secret he wanted to share, or just simply calling her over to keep him company while he breaks down.

"Good. You're here," Ford said, closing the journal and standing up. He approached her, holding the rift close to his chest. "Listen, I need you to—"

Her eyes shifted to the rift, and they immediately widened in panic. "Is it cracking?! Oh my gosh, what do we do?!" she whispered harshly.

"That is what I was about to inform you about," he replied calmly. "We need to return to Crash Site Omega and look for an alien adhesive."

Y/n nodded, absorbing the gravity of the situation. She turned to leave and prepare her things, but Ford's voice stopped her.

"There's something else. I need your opinion on bringing Dipper on this particular adventure."

The question threw her off. It was unusual for Ford to seek her opinion in such a direct manner. But if he valued her input, she would give it. "Fine by me. He's more than capable. Besides, he's proven he can handle anything thrown at him."

Ford nodded at her answer, but it seemed he still had another question lingering in his mind. She tilted her head slightly, noticing his pensive state.

"Well, I'm thinking of offering him an apprenticeship," he said.

She was shocked but not surprised. He must have seen his great-nephew's potential, and it would be a mistake not to include him in their future adventures. "Can't you see, Y/n? You, me, and Dipper. The ultimate trio of mystery hunters!"

Somehow, she winced at the title. She had been part of several trios before, and they rarely ended well. She looked at Ford, hoping he understood too. "This happened before," she told him. "And we didn't like the ending."

The other member of their initial trio had lost his sanity. Ford looked away, subtly clearing his throat. He understood the change in her expression now.

"Well... those were under different circumstances," he said, though she could tell he was struggling to justify it. Who exactly was to blame for Fiddleford's craziness?

The basement fell into a tense silence. Y/n felt guilty for bringing up the painful memory, causing the awkwardness between them. She decided to try and ease the atmosphere.

"I like having Dipper involved in all of this," she began. "You can offer him the apprenticeship, but the decision will ultimately be up to him."

He nodded. "Of course."

Y/n glanced at the rift again, noticing the crack. For now, sealing the rift was their main priority. Rather than dwelling on the past, they needed to focus on the present, or it could cost them their future.

***

https://youtu.be/X2DUpDxFJyg

***

After raving to each other how they're going to be teenagers soon, the twins and Soos all met up in the living room to plan the greatest birthday party of all time— because in exactly one week, it's the twins' birthday.

Stan, however, forbade anyone from throwing a party in the Mystery Shack after the incident with the zombies. Soos suggested renting out the Gravity Falls High School gym and having the party there instead. Mabel excitedly accepted the offer and planned on going there right away—

When a sudden quake startled everyone in the room.

"Dipper, my face is on fire!" Ford screamed from the other side of the wall.

Everyone turned their attention to Dipper, who seemed startled by being singled out. "I'll be right back," he mumbled before hurrying off to where Ford's voice was coming from—Y/n's room.

As Y/n entered the living room, everyone's gaze followed her. She took a sip from a can of Pitt Cola. "Sup."

"Hey," they all chimed in unison.

Surveying the room, she noticed the balloons and the banner proclaiming "B-day Planning Zone" in the center. Her eyes lit up when she saw Mabel. "Happy Birthday, you two!"

"Shh!" Mabel hushed, grinning. "Birthday wishes only count on the actual day with a raised roof and a giant party! We have a whole week to plan everything!" She then turned to Y/n with an inviting smile. "Do you want to come with us?"

Y/n's shoulders sagged slightly as she declined. "Oh... I'm sorry, Mabel. Ford and I have a very important mission. I hope you understand." She offered an apologetic smile, feeling the weight of her next words. "And since Dipper isn't here, Ford is planning on bringing him with us. The fate of the universe is kinda at stake."

A brief silence settled over the room, broken by Mabel's laughter. "Well, I better start packing his stuff, then!"

"Sounds like fun," Stan sarcastically commented as he walked out of the room.

While Ford was in the middle of debriefing his great-nephew, Mabel and Y/n made their way to her room. Just as they heard Dipper say, "Wait, what about Mabel?"

Mabel stepped into view. "It's okay, Dipper. You should totally go with Y/n and Grunkle Ford to save the world or whatever."

Dipper hesitated, not wanting to leave her at the last minute. "Are you sure?"

"We're going to be doing birthday stuff all week," she said, handing him a bag identical to hers. "Plus, I packed us walkie-talkies. Here's one for my party mission, and one for your smarty mission." The twins laughed at her joke, and Y/n watched, admiring their sibling bond.

Ford cleared his throat, cutting their moment short. "I did mention that the fate of the universe is at stake, didn't I? Hurry, we don't have much time. Y/n, where's my bag?"

He met her in the doorway, where she looked up and met his eyes. "Already outside, packed," she answered casually.

"Alright, good." Ford made his way to the front porch, leaving Y/n with the twins.

Dipper began to psych himself up. "Okay, Dipper. It's your first big mission with Ford. A chance to prove yourself. Don't mess this up!" He ran and immediately hit the wall. "OW!" He laughed awkwardly, trying to reassure everyone, including himself, that he was alright.

He tried to run out again but tripped on the floorboards. If it weren't for Y/n's quick reflexes, he would have face-planted on the ground. She grabbed his wrist and helped him back to his feet. Dipper chuckled sheepishly. "Thanks."

"Calm down, okay?" she reassured him, placing a hand on his shoulder as they began to walk out. Mabel watched with a fond smile.

***

Y/n watched as Dipper's eyes widened like saucers, taking in the information Ford had just handed to him. And by saucers, she meant the cracks of the spacecraft embedded in the cliffs. They weren't naturally occurring, not at all.

"According to our research, the entire valley of Gravity Falls was formed when an extraterrestrial object crash-landed here millions of years ago," Ford narrated, placing his boot on a large rock. "Did this craft cause the town's strange properties? Or did the town's strange properties attract the craft? The answer is still unknown."

Dipper sputtered out his response. "But that's crazy! Where did the saucer go?!"

Ford smiled. "Sometimes, the strangest things in the world are right under our noses." He pushed the rock aside, revealing an underground entrance. It looked metallic, engraved with symbols. "And our feet, in this particular instance. Y/n, will you do the honors?"

She retrieved a magnet gun from her bag, another of Ford's inventions. She loaded it up as Ford warned his great-nephew. "You might wanna stand back. That magnet gun can rip the fillings out of a man's mouth from 100 feet."

Once Dipper complied, Y/n fired the magnet gun at the metal trapdoor, detaching it from the ground. The two men watched as the opening revealed a ladder leading into the depths below. "We used to raid this thing for parts for years," Ford added. "Where do you think we got the materials to build the portal?"

Dipper peered into the dark depths of the entrance, placing his hands on his head as he struggled to process everything. "You... I... words... not working for mouth..."

"Now come." Ford beckoned Dipper to follow as Y/n climbed down the ladder first. Well, climbed might be an understatement; she basically jumped down, her silhouette disappearing in the blink of an eye. They heard a small 'thud' from below, followed by a quick "It's clear!"

Dipper, still processing everything, cautiously started down the ladder. Ford reassured him, "Don't worry, I've been down here countless times; all the aliens have been dead for millions of years... probably."

As they descended, Dipper couldn't help but marvel. "I can't believe there's a giant UFO under the town this whole time."

Ford chuckled. "I wish my mind could be where yours is right now, Dipper. When confirmation of extraterrestrials still had that punch. Now it's just sort of... 'eh'."

They reached the bottom, and Ford led the way while Y/n and Dipper walked alongside each other. "McGucket and I used to come down here all the time to raid their tech and study their language," Ford said, his voice tinged with nostalgia.

As Ford moved ahead, Y/n and Dipper paused in front of a metal pane covered in alien symbols. Y/n turned to him, her expression sincere. "Hey, I'm sorry for not telling you about the UFO thing, Dipper. I just didn't want anyone to interfere with alien stuff."

Dipper's enthusiasm remained undiminished. He grinned at her. "Ah, don't worry. I understand. The important thing is that you guys finally showed me! Now come on, let's get this on record."

He pulled out a camera and gently tugged her closer. His infectious smile made her smile too, and they posed for the picture, sharing a laugh before hurrying to catch up with Ford.

"The substance we need to seal the rift is an alien adhesive, strong enough to keep the hull of a spacecraft together," Ford read from his second journal. "Just one dollop of this adhesive should be enough to seal a crack in space-time. Also, if it touches you it will seal up all the orifices in your face, so try to avoid that."

Handing Y/n the journal, Ford extracted another magnet gun for himself, cocking it as it loaded up. "Now, Y/n, give Dipper the gun and follow me! Hup!"

With that, Ford spontaneously jumped off the platform, activating his magnet gun and attaching himself to a pillar. He slid down with his beige coat flapping in the wind, landing smoothly and switching on his flashlight. "Your turn! Say 'hup'! It helps!"

"Reckless as ever," Y/n commented, shaking her head. She glanced at Dipper, who was pacing around nervously. He released a deep breath, making her smile. "Are you sure you're up for it?" she asked, genuinely concerned.

Dipper tried to mimic her calm demeanor. "Yeah, yeah. Of course. J-just turn on the magnet and leap down the hole. Looks easy enough." He shrugged.

She tossed him the magnet gun, and he scrambled to catch it. Fiddling with the device, he begged for it to turn on, and it finally whirred to life. "Magnet," he said, making her chuckle.

Stepping back, Y/n watched as Dipper geared up for the leap. He jumped off and shot the magnet gun, but his aim was off, and he found himself stuck to the ceiling. He yelped as he crashed into it. "Little help?"

Y/n grabbed another weapon from Ford's bag. It wasn't a magnet gun, but it would do. She aimed above, and Dipper screamed as a blue beam shot through the ceiling, making it fall apart. He continued to scream as he fell with the debris, but Y/n leaped off and caught him in her arms.

She grabbed the hand that held the magnet gun, turned it off and on again, and shot it at the pillar beside them. Dipper's screams gradually minimized as they landed safely.

She carefully let go of him as he slowly recovered his footing. Dipper pursed his lips before coughing awkwardly. That did not just happen.

They continued their search for the alien adhesive, making their way into a storage facility. "The glue should be around here somewhere," Ford said, his eyes scanning the room. "So keep your eyes peeled."

As they moved into the main area, Ford glanced at Dipper. "Let me ask you something. Have you thought much about your future?"

Dipper shrugged. "Not really. I mean, besides graduating high school with a high GPA so I can get into a good technical college with a photography and media production minor. Then I want to start my own ghost hunting show."

Ford chuckled. "It's like talking to a younger version of myself." He caught Y/n's eye, and she smiled knowingly. "If you're so sure of what you want out of life, why wait? Why put up with the drudgery of school?"

They began rummaging through steel plates as they continued their conversation. "Heh. Trust me, I'd love to fast-forward through all that, but it's not like I have a choice," Dipper replied.

Y/n stayed silent, not wanting to interrupt the important conversation between Ford and Dipper about the latter's future.

Ford took a deep breath. "Dipper, I've been thinking. I'm getting too old to investigate Gravity Falls on my own. I need to train an apprentice to help me fight monsters, solve mysteries, and protect this town. And I think I'd--I'd like to keep it in the family."

Here we go.

The brunette dropped the pane he was holding as realization dawned on him. "What are you saying?"

"I've read your additions to myjournal and I'm impressed with your potential. What would you say to staying in Gravity Falls after the summer ends and becoming my apprentice?" He approached Dipper, crouching down next to his level.

"W-what about school?"

Ford chuckled proudly. "Dipper, I have 12 PhDs. Your parents would be thrilled I could give you such an advanced education."

Dipper sighed, thinking of other factors while he still couldn't accept the fact that the author of the journals was offering him an apprenticeship. He couldn't just stay in Gravity Falls forever. "There's also Mabel. She'd be all alone in California..."

"Mabel will be fine on her own." Ford easily debunked, waving a dismissive hand. "She has a magnetic personality. I watched her become pen pals with the pizza delivery man in the 60 seconds he was at the door."

The younger Pines furrowed her eyebrows, pacing around the room. This was really it. Does he really find himself working beside Ford and Y/n in an adventure of the lifetime? "Gosh... we've never really been apart before." He and Mabel had done everything together. That's what twins do. Through thick and thin, they had never wanted to be apart from each other.

"And isn't it suffocating? Dipper, can you honestly tell me you never felt like you were meant for something more?"

Dipper glanced at Y/n in the corner of the room, who was silently watching them. They shared a look, and it was as if he was asking her a question with his eyes. She gave him an encouraging nod, as if to say, "it's all up to you."

He sighed, a weight settling on his shoulders. "I dunno. It sounds like a dream come true, but I'm not sure I have what it takes. I was tricked by Bill, I was wrong about the portal... Heck, I can't even operate this magnet gun right." As if to prove his point, he accidentally activated the device, which promptly sucked up a piece of steel panel. Dipper struggled to get it free, unaware of the pink substance seeping out of it.

Ford bellowed in joy. "Ha! Yes! Dipper, you've found the adhesive!"

"I did?!" Dipper asked in disbelief.

"You really did it, kid. Come in here, Y/n. Let's get a picture of this."

As Y/n approached them, a sudden rumbling noise emanated from their left. They instantly became alert, grouping together and putting their guards up. Dipper's voice dropped to a whisper. "Uh... Grunkle Ford, you said everything in here is dead, right?"

"Yes," Ford whispered back, his arm outstretched, holding the gun. "Unless somehow we've reactivated the— gasp, security system!"

From the darkness, two security droids emerged, trapping them in. The three slowly stepped back, careful not to trigger the machines. "What do we do?!" Dipper asked, panic creeping into his voice.

"Listen to me very carefully," Ford warned. "I've studied these; they're security droids and they detect adrenaline. You simply have to not feel any fear, and they won't see you."

Easy enough, Y/n thought internally. She just had to pretend, an ability she had developed while being with Stan and living under a lie. But the boy standing beside her caused her concern. He could be easily rattled, and in this particular situation, with floating alien devices posing a large threat, it was obvious he wouldn't stand a chance.

"Just take a deep breath, focus on your intellect, and control your fear," Ford instructed, his grip tight on his gun.

Dipper stuttered out an excuse, clutching his vest, specifically over his fast-beating heart. "Huh-wha- wha-wha- that's crazy! I—"

"Follow my lead!" Ford commanded sharply.

"Great-Uncle Ford!"

"Focus, Dipper!" He barked back.

The droids began measuring their heartbeats. When one of them locked onto Dipper, it detected his erratic pulse and raised its weapon. "I can't!" he exclaimed, the fear palpable in his voice.

"Get down!" Y/n shouted, lunging at Dipper and tackling him out of the line of fire. They hit the ground hard, sliding behind a metal wall just in time to avoid the droid's shot.

As the droid's weapon fired, Ford swiftly aimed and pulled the trigger of his magnet gun. A powerful blast shot out, hitting the droid squarely in its sensor, causing it to malfunction and spark.

The droid whirred and fizzled before collapsing in a heap of smoking metal. But not before a stray shot hit Ford in the shoulder, sending him staggering back with a grunt of pain.

"Ford!" Y/n called out, concern etched on her face as she saw him clutch his wounded shoulder.

The second droid opened its hatch and extended metal arms, capturing Ford and dragging him towards it.

"Wait, no!" Dipper cried, breaking free from Y/n's grip and sprinting towards Ford.

"Dipper, wait!" Y/n shouted, but her warning came too late as he tripped over a random metal sheet, sprawling across the floor.

Ford clung desperately to the floor, his grip slipping as the droid's metal arms dragged him inexorably towards its containment chamber. He knew his time was running out. "Stay back! It's too dangerous! Sealing the rift is what's important now! Take this, Y/n!" He pulled out the rift and slid it across the floor towards his assistant.

Y/n caught the rift, her eyes widening in determination as she clutched it tightly. They watched helplessly as the droid encased Ford within its glass compartment.

"You two are gonna have to do it without me!" Ford's voice was muffled but urgent. "Use the adhesive! Fix the rift! Save the universe!"

The droid lifted off the ground, carrying Ford away into the dark tunnels. Dipper turned to Y/n, panic evident in his eyes. "What do we do?!"

"We're not gonna let them take him," she declared, swiftly securing the rift in her bag. "Come on!"

The two of them sprinted after the droid, their footsteps echoing through the metallic corridors. Dipper's heart pounded in his chest as he called out, "Hang on, Grunkle Ford, we're coming for you!"

The droid disappeared behind a saucer-shaped door. "Where is that thing taking you?!" Dipper exclaimed.

Suddenly, the room glowed purple, and a holographic map appeared. Y/n scanned the room for a solution but all she saw were outdated control panels that might not even work. The map was locating some sort of world, and she dreaded what it meant.

"It's an automated prison droid!" Ford's voice echoed from within the orb. "And wherever it's going, I'm not coming back!"

The droid ascended towards an opening in the ceiling that led to the outside. Dipper sprinted after it, hastily duct-taping the magnet gun around his hand. "What are you doing?!" Y/n shouted, running beside him.

"Do you trust me?" He asked, determination in his eyes.

"Of course, I do," she replied without hesitation.

Dipper extended his hand, and Y/n grabbed it firmly. They skidded to a halt beneath the ship holding Ford, now hovering below the exit. Dipper aimed the magnet gun, but it failed to respond, sending him into a panic. "Oh no! Y/n, help!"

With her free hand, Y/n quickly tampered with the gun's settings until it flickered to life again. On cue, Dipper fired at the ship, and they were lifted up, magnetized against the steel shuttle. "Hang on!" Y/n cautioned, clutching Dipper tightly.

In an instant, the droid blasted away, and Dipper screamed as they shot through a grate and burst outside. The bright sky and strong wind greeted them as they soared high into the air. Y/n grabbed the magnet gun with her other hand to lighten the load, their arms interlinked as they clung to the speeding droid.

The force of the wind whipped around them, and the world below became a blur. Y/n shouted over the noise, "We need to find a way to disable this thing!"

She let go of the magnet gun, quickly slamming her fist down onto the ship. The ship retaliated with a series of shakes and beeps before swerving wildly. Their grip on each other tightened as they screamed, the ship hurtling through the crack in the cliff, through the waterfall, and crashing into the water tower. The ride became bumpier, knocking Ford unconscious.

"Great Uncle Ford!" Dipper shouted in alarm.

"Dipper!" Y/n yelled over the wind. "I need you to mess with the magnet gun!"

"What?!"

"Just do it! I'll hold onto the gun while you turn the knob to activate the magnet pulse!" she instructed. "Don't worry! I won't let go of you!"

He nodded. "Okay!" With a grunt, he inched his hand to reach the top part of the gun and fiddled with it. He felt the dial move until it locked in place. Suddenly, the droid vibrated violently, electricity flickering erratically before it crashed into the woods, creating a large trench.

Smoke cleared, and Dipper felt himself being shaken until he opened his eyes, groaning. He was bruised all over, and everything hurt. The first thing he saw was Y/n looking at him with concern. "Dipper... Dipper... Dipper! Are you okay?"

He groaned again, slowly sitting up with her assistance. Blinking several times until his sight cleared, he saw Y/n was fine despite the dirt on her clothes. His eyebrows snapped upwards as he remembered—

"It's okay. I got him out. He's breathing," she reassured him with a small smile. Behind her, Dipper saw his great uncle. Ford's body was sprawled against the side of the small cliff, but he noticed slight movement that slightly eased his worries. "Come on, we need to get out of here."

She noticed his expression shift to alarm, making her whip her head around sharply. Another droid loomed before them, just as menacing as the first.

"Dipper—"

Her words were cut off as Dipper suddenly sprang to his feet, facing the droid head-on. "Hey, uh, I'm warning you! I have a magnet gun!"

He stepped forward, pushing Y/n behind him as he aimed the weapon at the droid. His hand was trembling, but he was getting better at hiding it.

The orb produced a gun, trying to intimidate him, but he stood his ground. "Oh yeah!? You think you can scare me!? Do your worst!" he shouted, his voice firm. "Nothing in this universe is gonna take away my uncle! So go ahead! Give me what you've got!"

The droid whirred ominously, its gun locked onto Dipper. But the boy remained resolute, unwavering. Y/n felt his determination radiating off him, filling her with a surge of hope and admiration. He truly had come a long way.

The machine measured Dipper's heartbeat, finding it steady and calm. Despite this, the two flinched in shock as the droid floated forward, preparing to fire—until Dipper pulled the trigger.

The magnet gun hummed to life, its powerful force yanking the droid's weapon off course. Sparks flew as the droid's systems short-circuited, and it clattered to the ground, deactivated.

Dipper exhaled deeply, not realizing he had been holding his breath. His heart pounded from the adrenaline rush as he turned to Y/n, who was also catching her breath, feeling her pulse. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah..." she muttered, her voice still a bit shaky. "You did it, Dipper. The orb didn't detect any signs of fear, causing it to deactivate."

But why did it still surge forward?

A hoarse laugh echoed behind them. They turned to see Ford, relief and pride evident on his face. "I thought I was a goner," he coughed.

They quickly rushed to Ford's side, helping him sit up so he could breathe more easily. "Take it easy," Y/n said gently, supporting him by the arm and back.

"I would've been trapped in some sort of intergalactic prison if it weren't for you two. You really do make the perfect team," Ford said, turning to his great-nephew. "This is what I was talking about, Dipper. How many 12-year-olds do you think are capable of doing what you've just done? You'd fit right in with us."

Dipper was silent, clearly deep in thought.

"Let's get you out of here," Y/n said, beginning to lift Ford up. Dipper hurriedly approached to help, taking Ford's other side as they climbed out of the trench. "Are you gonna be okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine..." Ford said, though his mind was elsewhere. Once out of the ditch, Dipper held a walkie-talkie in his hand, his expression grave.

"Listen to me, Dipper," Ford continued. "This town is a magnet for things that are special. And that includes you and me. It brought both of us here for a purpose. Become my apprentice."

They shared a look.

"Besides, Y/n is going to be 13 forever. She's only half the assistance I need."

"Wow, rude—"

"So, Dipper? What do you say?"

With a firm nod, Dipper said, "I'll do it; I'm gonna stay."

Despite Ford's celebratory grin and Y/n's supportive smile, a hint of unease lingered in her eyes. She didn't seem entirely happy about the turn of events.

They made their way back to the Shack as the sun was setting. Dipper informed them that he needed to find Mabel and tell her about the adventure. Deep inside, Y/n couldn't imagine Mabel's reaction to his decision to stay in Gravity Falls.

The author and assistant decided to head straight to the basement (after she quickly swiped a can of Pitt Cola) to debrief and rest. She placed the bag of weapons on the table while Ford kept the adhesive out of reach.

The basement was noticeably silent, and Y/n anticipated when the silence would be broken. Finally, she decided to speak first. "Don't you think you were a little too... I don't know..."

Ford turned to her, waiting for her to finish her sentence.

She sighed. "You were kind of putting a lot of pressure on Dipper," she said openly, expressing her thoughts now that there was a good opportunity.

"He would be a great addition to this team. I've seen how you two work together flawlessly, and giving him an apprenticeship would be a fantastic opportunity for him to tap into his potential," Ford said earnestly.

Y/n pursed her lips. "But what about his sister, Mabel? They're about to go through possibly one of the most difficult stages of their lives, and you're just going to pull Dipper away from that?"

He had read the boy's journal entries from cover to cover. The very first thing he noticed was Dipper's unwavering trust in his sister and the way she always had his back. However, Ford also saw Dipper's potential as an individual, separate from his sibling. If his own experience as a twin had taught him anything, it was that sometimes, having a twin could hold you back from achieving true greatness.

He remembered the countless times Stan had pulled him away from his studies for some wild scheme or another. It had always felt like a tug-of-war between his responsibilities and his dreams. And now, he saw Dipper in the same position, torn between his passion for the supernatural and his bond with Mabel.

Ford frowned, mulling over Y/n's words. "I know how close they are, but... Mabel will be fine. She's resilient, adaptable. She's the kind of person who can make friends anywhere, with anyone. She'll thrive on her own."

Y/n crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. "You're projecting, Ford. You and Stan didn't have the best relationship growing up, and you're assuming Dipper and Mabel are the same way. But Mabel isn't holding Dipper back. If anything, she's often the one who supports him and sometimes even saves the day."

Ford's face tightened at the mention of his brother. "Stan and I... we had our differences, our conflicts. I see Dipper's potential, and I don't want him to miss out on an opportunity because of familial obligations."

"But that's just it," Y/n countered. "You're viewing Mabel as an obstacle, not as a crucial part of Dipper's life. She's his twin, his other half. They've faced everything together. Separating them could do more harm than good."

Ford sighed, looking away. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. He saw so much of himself in Dipper—his curiosity, his drive, his brilliance. But in Mabel, he saw the carefree, adventurous spirit that sometimes reminded him of the qualities Stan had, the qualities he once dismissed. He feared that leaving Dipper with Mabel would mean he would never fully realize his potential, much like how he believed Stan had held him back.

But Y/n's words stung with a truth he couldn't ignore. Mabel had been there for Dipper in ways he hadn't fully appreciated. She wasn't just a carefree spirit; she was a supportive, loyal sister who had played a significant role in their adventures. She deserved more credit than he had given her.

Just as the argument was about to escalate, Dipper walked into the room, looking forlorn with his backpack in tow. He walked between Y/n and Ford, who sighed when he noticed his expression.

"Let me guess: Mabel didn't take it well?"

Dipper wore a deep frown. "I... I don't know, maybe I'm making the wrong decision. I need to think about this."

The two shared glances behind him.

"Dipper, right now we need to focus on the mission," Ford said, pushing the tension aside for the moment. The fate of the universe was still at stake until they fixed the rift. "Come on, I've got the glue. Hand me the rift and let's make history!"

Dipper managed a brief smile as he rummaged through his backpack. He pulled out what he thought was the rift, but instead, it was a birthday flier made by Mabel. "Oh no... the RIFT!"

The cold wave of realization hit the three of them as they stared at the flier. The rift was missing.

Dipper's thoughts raced. How could I have lost it? Mabel must have... Guilt and panic began to swirl within him.

Ford's face went pale. "This is bad. Really bad. We need to find it, and fast. If it falls into the wrong hands..."

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Oh no.

The ground shook beneath them, urgency propelling them to sprint toward the elevator and climb out of the vending machine. As they emerged from the Shack, the sky was painted an ominous red, with the wind whipping around them carelessly.

Their eyes were drawn upwards, where Bill Cipher floated in the sky, cackling with triumph. It was clear he had obtained the rift and was using it to tear reality apart, merging it with the Nightmare Realm. The townspeople looked on, their faces etched with worry and confusion, clueless as to what was happening.

Y/n's face was carved with worry amidst the chaos. If Mabel had the rift due to the backpack confusion, the thought of what Bill might have done to her to obtain it was unbearable.

"We're too late!" Ford yelled throughout the chaotic noise. "It's the end of the world." He said pretty much what everyone was thinking at the moment.

Gravity Falls was teetering on the brink of madness, and they stood there in the midst of an uncertain future, the fate of the world hanging in the balance, as they brace themselves for the onslaught of Weirdmageddon.

***

YOAG CMNS TUOW JPDQKR OLSFGKG IE?

Amidst the daisies, secrets start to grow,
Shooting stars ignite the coming show.
The pine tree stands, a symbol old and wise,
As chaos breaks the once familiar skies.

***

WELCOME TO WEIRDMAGEDDON!

[author's note]: hello everyoneee! thank you So so much for waiting. i can't bElieve it took m two years to get to this chApter haha, but yes! happy two year anniverSary to gravity falls rewritten! we've come a long way and nOw we're here! alas, it's still Not over. i still have so much to write! but the important Thing is that i know Where the story is going, i just hope yOu guys would still be looking forward even if it takes me a few more months lol (i hope not).

anyway, i'm thinking of doing a q&a special Chapter, but im not sure if i want it to do it as a vIdeo, or we could all go on discord and just talk about this book for hours. i'll show you guys some behind the scenes and the process of writing it. let's brainrot on this book together xd

do you guys have any thoughts about this chaPter? or any theories and guess for the next one? also! if you Have made fanart of this one please send the link in the commEnts! (even if I already saw it) i accidentally eRased my gallery and now i lost the fanartS :( thank u so much!

love you guys!

kimmiepines
5742 words