Familiarity: Part 2

The time had come. Half an hour passed by as Mabel and Dipper checked off their list of preparations for the hunt: Boots were slipped on; fresh batteries were added to their flashlights; bug spray was applied- twice for Dipper; Mabel had slapped on a collection of camouflage stickers to her forehead. The twins descended the stairs, warriors ready for their battlefield in the woods. Their mission: finding the stalking Doppelganger and bringing him to justice. As they reached the bottom and turned into the hallway, they each took a second to give each other a final glance over. They nodded with confidence, and stepped forward.

"Hey guys," Wendy said as they stepped through the gift shop, "what's- whoa," she finally looked past the magazine, and saw the look in their eyes, "uh, who's got the target on their backs?"

"A Dipper-ganger," Mabel growled in a tone that would make an action hero proud.

"Doppelganger- Mabel, c'mon, that's stupid," Dipper told his sister disapprovingly.

"I've heard about those. They pretend to be you while they mess with your life and friends, right?" Wendy asked, and then grinned, "and he's gunning for you, huh Dipper?"

"It- yes," Dipper nodded, "we've seen something sort of lurking around in the shadows stalking us. So, we're going to take the battle to-"

"We're going to VAPORIZE it!" Mabel cheered, holding her strong flashlight above her head with valor.

"They don't like light?" Wendy asked.

"Yeah, so if I pointed it at you," Dipper turned on the flashlight and shone it against Wendy's shoulder, "you would be in pain."

"Oh, the agony!" Wendy held the back of her hand against her forehead, "what then? Just tell it to scamper?"

"If it's nice, yeah," Mabel nodded, "otherwise, we're off to cook some supernatural stalker."

"Hey dudes," Soos stepped in through the front door.

"SCANNING!" Mabel whipped her flashlight around and directed a beam at Soos, who froze in place, his eyes wide. Nothing happened.

"Uh... I swear I didn't know about the additional condiments costing extra," Soos said worryingly, watching Mabel with concern.

"He's fine," Dipper held down his sisters arm as he turned off his own flashlight, "we're going to be looking for a monster that's sensitive to light."

"Outside?" Soos asked with concern, "just so you two know, a storm is really going to start picking up soon."

"What?" Dipper asked as he and Mabel approached the screen door. Just as Soos said, dark clouds were forming on the horizon. It was also getting cooler, a breeze drifted down from the tops of the trees.

"Ohh, that's pretty," Mabel said in awe as she watched the distant clouds rumble and cackle with lightning. She turned her head towards the woods, and gasped. "Now that's what I call spooky. Spook-tastic."

"Huh?" Dipper turned to the direction indicated. Drifting through the woods was a deep blanket of fog, perfectly grey and wispy. Despite the wind growing around them, only the edges of the forest particularly stirred- the fog mostly undisturbed.

"Dip, you know, maybe hunting today isn't turning out to be such a good idea, you know?" Mabel asked, prodding her brother's shoulder.

Dipper considered it too. This was a bad omen, if anything. The fog enough was reason to worry; should something be hiding closer to the ground, they would be almost entirely unaware of it's presence until they were right on top of it. Then there was also the storm to consider, as it billowed miles and miles away, foretelling of a vicious gale to come. Yet Dipper had the feeling, peering into those creepy looking woods, that if he didn't take the chance to move out now, and find that monster, it would be coming for him in the late of the evening.

"Let's do this, Mabes," Dipper said after a quick breath, and sprayed himself one last time with bug spray.

"Blaah! Eugh! Enough, Dip, that stuff is flying everywhere," Mabel coughed as she nearly inhaled half of his spray, "hmm, but it does taste like pennies, so that's not bad."

"You two be safe, okay?" Soos called to them as they stepped out and headed towards the woods.

"Relax, man," Wendy nodded to Soos, "they got it under control. Mystery Twin powers, go!" Wendy shouted after them as the door closed.

Their steps were heralded by the scraping gravel as they approached the forests edge. Thunder rumbled in the distance as they found themselves looking into the woods perfectly at home in any horror movie. The trees acted as ghostly columns, preventing their sightline from going further than fifty feet or so. Simultaneously flicking on their flashlights together, they gave each other one last look full of twin connection and stepped past the edge.

Quickly the sky's light dissipated and they found themselves inside a darker, cooler summer day. The woods, as they had remembered it, felt of thick, still air. The sounds of the storm were dulled and the breeze could do little to reach them. Instead, the sounds of breaking twigs under their feet and distant animals echoed around them. Their flashlight beams scoured around for a target, yet spotted nothing.

"Man, it's creepier than I remember," Dipper admitted to his Sister as they walked further in, the woods growing darker and darker.

"It's just letting us know it hasn't lost any character," Mabel grinned as she peered up with her flashlight, "isn't that right, spooky-vibe woods?"

"I'd rather not hear any communication from the woods at all," Dipper told her. A roar from the distance had them spin in its direction, both flashlights directed ahead. Mabel stepped slightly closer to the sound, peering past the closest trees, but found nothing close. As Dipper looked around, he only then realized he had made an error in their plan. "And I just realized we are only prepared for the encounter against a Doppelganger."

"Dude, bro," Mabel turned to her nervous brother, "don't sweat it. You got yourself a sibling trained in the deadly art of awesomeness, whomp," she informed him, swinging the flashlight in her hand, and accidentally bopping his forehead with the flashlight, to which he flinched and scowled at her, "oops."

"Ow... right. Let's just keep moving," Dipper looked around once more, and they continued. Time slowly lost its meaning as they passed tree after tree, bush after bush, and the occasional rock that looked like a face. The fog grew heavier and taller, and Dipper's nerves grew. Calls of unknown animals and beasts echoed far inside the endless wilderness before them. A clap of thunder, much closer than they had expected, rocked the air. Mabel leapt up and Dipper gasped and whipped around, his eyes darting around. Mabel quickly laughed loudly a moment later.

"Oh, good one, you cheeky thunder, you!" Mabel wiggled a finger at the sky.

"I'm not liking this situation anymore," Dipper admitted as he looked to the sky, where the little he could see was a dark navy and grey.

"You want to chicken out of this?" Mabel snickered as they looked around themselves.

"I'm not saying we should back out," Dipper turned to his sister, "just that... you know, maybe keeping a close proximity to the shack is a good idea."

"You're scared," Mabel teased him quickly. He glared at her.

"I'm not scared," Dipper said in defense.

"Really? 'Cus until there was thunder, you were all ready to," Mabel 'cocked' the flashlight like a shotgun, "cook some doppelganger like it was hunting season for shape-shifting freaks. Now you're all," she wiggled her knees and moaned in fear, only to begin laughing at him.

"Laugh it up. Since you think I'm such a coward then," Dipper coldly said to her as she gained her composure, "why don't you lead?"

"Oh! But I'm sooo scared," Mabel mocked her brother utterly, but turned and started walking away, "let's check out here, scaredy-cat."

"I'm not scared," Dipper told her strongly. Mabel laughed, but said nothing more, using her focus to watch ahead and keep an eye out for figures in the fog.

The fog had entirely risen above them and now was drifting around them in clouds. Their vision was utterly obscured. Mabel was doing her best to look around, and while Dipper had nothing better to contribute or add to their search, he had a distinct lack of progress. Nothing but the creepy feeling of being watched and fog drifting all around them accompanied them as they walked around.

"So," Mabel suddenly asked from ahead, "how's living with mom been?"

"Uh," Dipper got a moment to think as he stepped over a particularly thick log, "she's herself."

"No details?" Mabel prodded for more information as she pushed ahead.

"She's working at a business now; not working at a trading company anymore," Dipper said simply, turning his back on her to check behind them, "so she's been really busy. And you know, being part of clubs keeps me busy." A quick whoosh behind Dipper had him gasp, and he spun.

Mabel was gone.

"Uh," he spun around, "Mabel?" he called, "oh... uh oh," Dipper tried peering through the fog for a hint where she had vanished to, but to no avail. "Mabel!? Mabel, come out, this isn't cool! Mabel!?" he shouted louder and louder as he ran ahead towards several trees, "MABEL!?"

"BWAAAH!" Mabel screamed as she swung upside down from a branch just above Dipper. Dipper nearly had a heart attack and shrieked, falling to the ground below him, gasping for air, and still managing to point his light at her face. "Oh my god! You should have seen your FACE! Hahahahaha!" Mabel roared with laughter as she pointed at her brother on the ground.

"Mabel, what the hell!?" Dipper growled angrily as he stood back up, brushing the forest floor off his pants and arms, "you had me seriously freaking out that something got you!"

"No, bro, that was soooo worth it!" Mabel continued to laugh upside down, her hair dangling beneath her with ease, flowing in her casual rocks back and forth while on the branch.

"You suck," Dipper pushed past her moodily, and she let herself flip right side up and drop down again. She continued to laugh as he moved on ahead.

"Aww, c'mon Dipper," Mabel rolled her eyes as she hurried up to catch him, "I'm just messing with you."

"You can try that when we aren't neck deep in the worst woods to be neck deep in, with a storm coming, and a monster out there that wants to replace me, and terrorize my friends and family," Dipper reminded her heatedly.

"Hey," Mabel tried coming up next to him, "I'm a mood-lightener. Shwoop," she jumped a little ahead of him to speak face to face, "You know I can't take 'too serious to be handled'-" Dipper took several longer steps to move past her, a clear message that her attitude towards the mission so far was doing her no good in favor with her brother, "alrighty... I'm sorry, okay?"

"Let's just find this stupid thing before it gets me, okay?" Dipper said ahead of him.

Minutes drew by slowly. To them, time was working against them; deliberately slowing and causing the frightful hunt to continue. Yet forward, through the indefinitely huge woods before them, they pushed on. With the little foresight she had, Mabel already regretted pushing her brother's buttons. He was tense and irritated as they journeyed ahead, communicating less and less with her. She would occasionally spot a strange flower or mushroom or even small crystal poking just above the dense fog-line, which she knew would normally have gathered his attention and allowed him to simmer down. Yet he remained uptight and direct, scolding her for being easily distracted.

"Ugh," Mabel winced as a cold water droplet hit the exact center of her scalp and ran down her back, "cold tingles. Not all that fun."

"We've been out here forever," Dipper growled as he looked around, "c'mon you stupid perverse living mirror! Show yourself already!" he called around.

"Dipper," Mabel walked up to her brother, "maybe we should head back."

"Oh, now you want to go back," Dipper incredulously said.

"Well, it's starting to rain, isn't it?" she pointed above without looking, as more and more drops of rain fell from the canopy.

"So who's afraid of getting wet?" Dipper turned to his sister, nodding bitterly.

"Okay, yeah, I was a jerk back there," Mabel sighed with exasperation, "okay?" she asked him as he looked at her. His eyes glared into hers, and Mabel shrugged, trying to offer an unspoken peace-treaty. Dipper huffed loudly and turned back, marching ahead. "Seriously, you got to un-tighten those screws, Dip," Mabel added worriedly.

"I'm fine," Dipper informed her. Mabel was not stupid, nor unperceptive. Of course Dipper wasn't fine. She knew that some of the blame for his attitude rested on her, but as he walked away and she followed suit, she could only feel he was taking this 'hurt feelings' act a bit far.

"If you say so," Mabel said, "Just, you know, take it easy." Dipper snorted in response to this. A tiny barrier Mabel held in her mind, reserved for when Dipper was feeling moody, snapped into two, and she lost her will to restrain her opinion. "You don't need to be all snooty," she barely mumbled.

"What?" Dipper spun around, staring at her with piercing eyes, "want to say that aloud?"

"Well, you're being kinda jerk-ish. So, yeah. You're being snooty," Mabel defended herself as the rain poured down from above.

"Yeah?" Dipper asked as he stepped closer to his sister, "sorry if the idea of being replaced by a monster doesn't appeal to me as much as it does you."

"Dipper, I don't like it at all," Mabel cried aloud, "but we're not going to get anything done by standing around in the woods, at each others throats!"

"I wouldn't be so uppity if you could take it seriously for just a few minutes, and not squeeze a laugh out of me every five minutes!" Dipper shouted at her.

"I already said I'm sorry!" she angrily shouted back.

"Well, you-" There was the sound of crumbling earth and a loud ripping noise. Dipper, who had only been staring at his cross-armed sister, hadn't watched where he placed his feet. The last place he had stepped had been by the side of a very steep hill, where the earth was loose from the rain. Mabel had seen, for a split moment, the shock and fear Dipper went through, tripping and collapsing to his left, vanishing into the fog.

"DIPPER!" Mabel shouted, getting closer to the ground. She could hear Dipper grunt and yell as he collapsed further down, but all she could make out was his flashlight, which shone its bright light down with him.

"MABEL!" she heard once more, and then the light as well vanished. Mabel could almost feel him vanish from the face of the earth, like the fog had swallowed him up entirely.

"Oh- no, DIPPER!" she bellowed below, her hands by the side of the soaked loose earth by the hill.

She knew exactly what she was going to do. Her brother was without a flashlight, and was separated from her. If that monster was going to show itself, it was going to be now, while he was defenseless, or never. With a single sigh, she relaxed her body, smiled at ease, and then leapt up and flew down the side of the muddy cliff-face.

Her feet slid and she hopped over rock and clay as she descended, the now pouring rain doing little to disperse the fog below her.

"Dipper!" she called as she grasped a limb of a tree she passed. Holding onto the tree, she scanned around, still unable to make a single solid possible suggestion as to where he had gone. She let herself drop lower, landing on the soft ground of the soaked forest floor. Quickly wiping her brow of the mud and rain, she scanned around further. "Dipper!"

She was on flat ground now. With the steep hill behind her, Mabel quickly found the broken flashlight. Its fragmented pieces were strewn about, reflecting the light of her own working flashlight. Yet there was no sign of Dipper anywhere.

"What... Dip!?" she called around, "Dipper! Are you hurt?" she called to the dark woods. "Dipper! Talk to me!" A snap of branches behind her had her whirl around, her flash light on the source- Dipper was leaning against a boulder, his arm tucked under his vest. "Dip!"

"Mabel," Dipper said, holding his other hand to his face, trying to block out the light, "hey, tone that down, would ya?"

Mabel stalled instantly. With conviction, she stayed her ground, and kept the light on him. He breathed heavily, watching her with confusion until he nodded with a sigh.

"Okay, if you think if I'm a Doppelganger, I'd be scorching now, right?" Dipper told Mabel. She sighed with a nod and approached comfortably. "I think we should go back now," Dipper admitted.

"Here, give me your arm," she asked him as she came to his side, "we have to climb that hill."

"Ugh... might as well," Dipper said with a grim smirk, and they turned towards the hill, and started the steep incline. "Hey," Dipper looked to his sister, "sorry about earlier."

"Oh," she looked to him, surprised with his tone, "hey, it's nothing. I was being a butt-face, too."

"Yeah, I- ack!" Dipper spat away from them, as a swarm of bugs rushed into his face, "dang gnats!"

"Ha! Looks like they like you," Mabel snickered as Dipper was left to shake his head around, desperate to shoo away the flies.

Several hundred feet away, Dipper Pines stirred.

He opened his eyes slowly, and started blinking out the rain water that covered his face. Along with the sticks and leaves that had stuck to him in his long tumble down the side of the hill, he could feel mud sticking to his clothes and his face. He looked around, and gasped as he stood. His gut hurt and it was hard to breath. Standing up, he could barely manage, "Mabel?" with a trembling whisper.

The fog had closed in around him, and there was little to no light left. Looking to his feet, he couldn't find his flashlight. With a quaking and fearful realization, he knew he was totally defenseless. He was hurt, though not horribly, and without the one great weakness the monster he hunted had.

Something darted behind him, in the fog. He turned, desperate to spot it and could only see the path it had taken through the fog. Light sounds of pitter-patter of movement circled him, hiding just out of sight.

"Hello? Who's there?" Dipper managed to cry out in his heavy breathing, still trying to normalize his standing. To his surprise, there was a gasp just out of sight. "Hello?" Dipper asked, "if you think you're going to replace me, then you have-"

There was a loud squeal as a small dark figure pelted out from behind a tree, and lunged at Dipper. Out of shock, he tripped and fell backwards, and found himself facing a well-built spear, directly at his nose. Following its length to the owner, he found a small person with beady red glowing eyes staring at him.

"Have you given up, shifter?" the creature holding the spear asked Dipper with a creaky and tense voice.

"Sh-shifter?" Dipper asked in a gasp for air.

"Do not toy with me, beast," The small creature said, stepping closer.

"You... what are you?" Dipper asked.

The creature finally could be seen by Dipper. It was a short, yet skinny man with thin, knobby arms and legs with dark brown skin. It wore an expensive set of gear, suited for a hunter or pioneer of dense jungles of the nineteenth century. He had a long-pointed nose and a scrutinizing look about him as he looked over Dipper.

"Why... why haven't you shifted yet," the creature asked aloud, nearly poking Dipper in the cheek with his weapon.

"Because I can't shape-shift," Dipper told him, "I'm a human!" The creature gasped, and stepped back, the spearing raising up to point above.

"My word... then you're the one boy we have reports on!" the creature said, reaching inside one of his varying pockets in his vest. He withdrew a small yellow crystal, and with a flick of his finger, it grew a light from its core until it was bright enough to illuminate both Dipper and the himself, "you are much taller than our reports implied."

"Uh... thanks," Dipper said, getting to his feet, "I... what- err, who are you?"

"Ah, my name is Sibs. I am a sentinel for the eighth Goblin watchmen crew," the goblin named Sibs lifted a hand to Dipper. Dipper reached down and took it, using only three fingers to over-wrap the goblins entire hand. The goblin, he realized, only came up to his hips, taller than the gnomes he had encountered before.

"You're... a goblin?" Dipper asked aloud.

"That's right, my boy," Sibs the Goblin sentinel nodded, "and a damn good patrolman at that. But where are my manners... follow me, I can lead you to my home. I can't say we have any accommodations for your size, but we can get you out of the rain for now."

"So, you're a sentinel? For Goblins?" Dipper asked as he began to follow the goblin Sibs.

"Quite. I'm not sure who else I would be patrolling our forests for, dear boy," the Goblin gave Dipper a quick cheeky look as he moved ahead, "now tell me, what on earth brings a human into these dangerous woods- ah," The Goblin interrupted himself, "perhaps you best save those answers for our governor."

"You have a governor?" Dipper asked as he ducked under a low-hanging branch.

"Oh yes. We aren't barbaric, after all," Sibs told him, "now, step here," Sibs pointed with his spear to a certain rock on the ground with an odd symbol painted on it, "and here," he pointed to another, and Dipper realized there were many Symbols all around him on various exposed rocks. As Dipper stepped on the last rock, his senses tingled with energy. It felt as if he had just passed through a weak electrical field. His ears buzzed and his skin tickled as he stepped off the rocks. Dipper looked back once behind him, and was certain he saw a wall of gentle shimmering light. "And here we are," Sibs stated clearly for Dipper to hear, "Goblitropolis."

"Whoa," Dipper managed with a small sigh.

A sprawling collection of homes and buildings about half the size needed to accommodate humans panned out before Dipper. Rock tiled roads lead many goblins through the maze of a city that was Goblitropolis. The windows in the homes and buildings that were built into boulders and trees all glowed of different colors, and as Dipper stepped closer, he could see the same kind of crystals used by Sibs present in the rooms.

"My word!" A Goblin cried ahead, spotting Dipper and Sibs approaching, "A human!"

The outcry attracted the attention of many Goblins, who paused and turned to stare at Dipper. Many of them had the look of fear in their eyes, but others gasped in awe. Dipper was immensely surprised with their appearances- they were dressed with surprisingly human outfits he could have sworn came from the Victorian age. Many goblins wore top hats, and the lady-goblins wore large elaborate dresses and sported ruffled umbrellas.

"A human!" more Goblins cried aloud, and as Sibs and Dipper approached, a crowd gathered excitedly to greet them.

"Welcome to Goblitropolis!" one cried, "Sentinel Sibs, how was the search?"

"I will report, but I must bring this young man to the Governor," Sibs said aloud to his comrades, "his being here is tied to the beast of late."

The Goblins, at the mention of the 'beast', murmured and parted for Sibs and Dipper. As the two followed through and walked down the street, the group followed them, talking animatedly about the arrival of a human. It was clearly the new topic of gossip, for the crowd would mention to one another their interest in taller humans, despite their limited interaction with them. Sibs gently pushed past them, beckoning Dipper to follow.

"Are you really just a boy?" one goblin, looking younger than Sibs, asked from the sidewalk of the street, "you are much too tall to be a boy!"

"I'm a teenager," Dipper explained briefly.

"What on earth is a teenager?" the goblin asked back.

"I have heard of it," a gentleman Goblin walking past him had also stopped, and was eager to answer, "It is a stage in a human's life where they become rebellious and eager to compete. He is a rebel of their society."

"A rebel! How romantic!" A goblin lady swooned as she stared at Dipper. He quickly looked away from the three and followed Sibs. Dipper was uncertain on how to feel towards being romanticized by Goblin women.

Sibs took a turn on the street, and the two found themselves looking at the face of a large boulder, well carved out and decorated like a marble town hall. Columns and balconies were carefully placed around, with bright crystal light shining out from inside.

"What is the meaning of this Sibs?" A guard at the front door of the building called to Sibs, "you've brought yourself a large friend. I suppose he's friendly, then?"

"Of course! This is the human that Strooder and his hunters have been watching," Sibs announced aloud, and Dipper looked in shock to the Goblin, but Sibs continued. "We must speak with Gig!" The guardsman looked between Dipper and Sibs, and nodded, turning and entering the building hastily.

"You've been watching me?" Dipper asked Sibs.

"Not me, dear boy, Strooder. He's a talented hunter, who's taken the task of slaying a horrific beast that has plagued our lands," Sibs explained, "there was a reason I could not trust you at first sight."

"Then... that's who was watching me from the forest edge, in the bushes," Dipper came to conclusion, thinking around, "this... Strooder guy?"

"Most adept of you, young man," Sibs told him. The doors opened again, and out walked a taller, lavish goblin who wore a large monocle and very tall top hat. He gasped as he stared at Dipper, and then smiled warmly.

"On behalf of Goblitropolis, I bid you welcome!" he extended his arms up to Dipper, who took his hand in a shake. At this, the crowd around them cheered, catching Dipper by surprise. "Aah, very good," the Goblin before Dipper continued, "I was hoping you would be well mannered, considering your size. My name is Gib."

"You're the Governor?" Dipper asked with a tiny grin.

"That I am, my lad," Gib the Goblin Governor said cheerily, "now, who might you be?"

"My name is Dipper Pines," Dipper said around.

"You are quiet well mannered for a human," Gib said with a great smile, "it is welcome to find a tall one who does not attempt to drop and kick us across large distances."

"Uh... back at you," Dipper said with curt nod, "I thought goblins are sort of violent and... mean?"

"It all depends on the leader," Gib explained easily, "you have someone sensible and kind, we all will be. We quiet enjoy the peaceful lifestyle here, in Goblitropolis, don't we all? Unless Gnomes are involved. Nasty little insects."

The mood of the goblins instantly flipped. They had been excitable and happy, but at the mention of Gnomes, many hissed and snarled angrily, portraying the image that Dipper had come to associate Goblins with.

"But," Gib, the Goblin Governer continued after a pause to re-adjust himself to a polite persona, "my boy, what brings you here?" Gib asked earnestly.

"I'm in these woods looking for a Doppelganger," Dipper stated aloud. The crowd around them murmured at the mention of a Doppelganger, and Dipper continued. "My sister and I think it was going to try replacing me, so we were going to take the fight to it."

"Remarkably brave," Gibs nodded his head with commandment, "but you mentioned your sister- where is she now?"

"We got into an... uh, we got separated," Dipper added sadly, feeling his cheeks heat slightly and his throat tighten in shame. It had been stupid of him to get so upset at his sister for being herself. Of course she would have played a prank or two on him when he was trying to be too serious.

"Well," Sibs stepped forward, addressing Dipper still, "I can't say anything about a Doppelganger in these woods," he told Dipper, who blinked and leant in closer, "but a monster of many forms does lurk in these woods."

"Wait... no Doppelganger?" Dipper asked around, and the many Goblins shook their heads, while some spoke to one another darkly.

"We have not encountered a Doppelganger in many years," Gib said with authority.

"Then... what was running around while looking like me?" Dipper needed to know. Gibs gave the boy a serious and studying stare. After a moment, he nodded, and stepped down from the doors, approaching Dipper.

"We are at war, my boy," the Goblin Governor said grimly, "for nearly two years we have been fighting a deathly game of cat and mouse with a creature that feasts on flesh and enjoys the suffering of those smaller than it. We know not where it came from, but it surely is a beast of nightmares: for it takes no permanent shape."

"Did you say it doesn't keep a single shape?" Dipper asked, a familiar twinge of cold fear running down his spine. "Does it ever take the form of a large roly-poly bug? Like a beetle that curls up? No?" he asked when the group shrugged. "What about an older man? Jacket and gray moustache?" Dipper continued. The goblins gasped and looked around, their reaction giving him all the indication he needed to put one and two together. "It's him," Dipper whispered to himself, an icy feeling racing through his nerves.

"You... know this devil, my boy? This creature," Gibs stated around, "has been warring with us! Devouring our men, women, and Children! It destroys our homes, our families!" Gob shouted angrily. Dipper felt weak in the knees. He had encountered this creature once in his life, and it was only because they left it frozen in a tube deep underground that he had entirely discounted it from possible suspects. But if it had somehow escaped, it was bad news for the world. It could impersonate people almost perfectly, let alone shape itself into whatever form it wanted, making it a deadly creature.

"Strooder and the Hunters return!" a goblin cried, and the goblins faced the street leading to the Town Hall. A physically well-built Goblin with goggles, followed by several other goblins of similar form, all wearing nearly the same gear Sibs did, approached. Strooder looked up and found Dipper's face.

"It is as we feared," Strooder said in a quiet yet rumbling voice fit for a mysterious hunter as he looked at Dipper.

"Don't worry, my friend," Sibs approached Strooder, "this one is a human. He means us no harm."

"That is not the problem at hand, Sibs," Strooder walked past his friend and to the Governor, "the beast was last seen by the western hill. We were tacking it when a human girl appeared. She left in the company of this boy here," Strooder wove his hand above him towards Dipper, "and has left our lands since."

"She left with someone who looked like me!?" Dipper demanded loudly, stunning the Goblins momentarily, "where!? Where did they go!?"

"Towards the human building in the woods," Strooder said quickly. Dipper made to turn, but Sibs held his hand back.

"You don't mean to face that creature on your own?" the Goblin worriedly asked.

"It doesn't matter what he is; my sister's life is in danger! If any of you knew your family was nearby to that monster, wouldn't you run to help!?" Dipper asked around to them. Goblins around him nodded and agreed.

"Get the charm of permanence!" Gib called to the guardsman behind him. "My boy, if you mean to face him, we won't allow you to go alone."

"You... you're coming?" Dipper asked incredulously. The Major nodded, and the Guardsman returned, holding up a large metal collar of bronze metal and green jewels laden into its side. "You know, you guys are a lot cooler than I expected you all to be."

"Goblin society has changed much since our last interactions with humans. We even got our fashion tips from a human in this region," the mayor stated with a grin as he lifted his top hat, "quite works for our figure, doesn't it?"

"Take this," Strooder the Hunter took the collar, and handed it to Dipper, "if you can place this on the beast's form, it will force it to remain in that form."

"You mean we can trap it into one body forever?" Dipper asked in awe.

"Goblin magic and engineering will ensure that," Gib firmly said, and spoke to the crowd, "now, I need volunteers! We will be going to this beast with the help of our friend here and bring our tormentor to justice!"

"I can't wait around!" Dipper called, and literally leapt over the crowd of Goblins, "I need to help my sister!"

"Hold the beast off long as you can! We will arrive post-haste!" Sibs called as Dipper ran through the streets, carefully avoiding running over Goblins in his haste. Quickly he found the magical barrier that hid the city of Goblitropolis from the rest of the forest, passed through it and found rain in his eyes again.

"Mabel, please be safe!"

"We're almost out of the woods," Mabel said cheerfully as she watched ahead, and saw the forests edge.

"About time. Man, I can't be more ready to go inside, warm up, dry off, and read some of that journal," Dipper said to her happily.

"What, you're giving on the whole Doppelganger thing already?" Mabel asked in surprise, "and here I was thinking we would lay some traps just in case he showed up."

"I love the idea," Dipper said with a grin, "anyone trying to replace me has another thing coming."

"Oh yeah," Mabel agreed with a curt nod, "put up enough flashlights, then a tripwire is activated- SHAZAM! He's ashes in no time!"

"Maybe a bear trap as well," Dipper considered.

"But... it said a Doppelganger only is effected by strong sources of light," Mabel reminded him, "man, I think you hit your head harder than you think."

"Oh, yeah, probably," Dipper shrugged and rolled his eyes, "actually, I think I can walk on my own. Thanks Mabel," Dipper told her and he walked slightly faster.

"Ha," Mabel snickered as he walked past, a trail of bugs following him, "they're still onto you, huh?"

"Darn bugs!" Dipper cried, waving his arms above his head, his hair dancing around as he tried tossing off the tiny insects.

As she watched this, something put her on edge. She only just realized that bugs were attacking him. Not just buzzing around him, they were landing on him, taking a moment off of their wings, and then buzzing off again. Something that they would not ever want to do, considering the amount of bug spray he had applied onto himself.

Mabel took several strides closer to Dipper, leaned closer, and sniffed him. She pulled back, her eyes wide in shock. The distinctive smell of pennies had entirely vanished from Dipper. She then looked to her shoulder, and sniffed herself. It wasn't as strong as she thought it would be, but the scent of that bug spray was still present, even on her.

"Mabel?" Dipper asked her, giving her a concerned look as she seemed to be staring into horror itself.

"I- WE- uh," Mabel brought herself to a stable set in mind, now truly worried she had made a huge mistake, "we need to take a shower. Smell really bad, you know?"

"That's what happens when you go sliding down a muddy hill," Dipper shrugged and continued on.

It was no longer just the smell. Mabel watched her brother walk ahead, and the frightening idea came to her head that he was not her brother at all. He was acting too pleasant. Not miserable, angry, or upset; but apologetic and accepting. She would have loved to think he was just being nice, but she was cold and wet. That meant he would be too. He should be tired and slow and grouchy, not this upbeat.

"Hey, uh," Mabel said aloud as she caught up with him, "do you remember what Grunkle Stan wanted us to do earlier? Like, I'm just sort of freaking out that we're going to get back and all we're going to hear from him is how we didn't finish our work."

"What, the roof tiles?" Dipper asked with a smile, "nah, me and Soos finished that up real nice."

"Oh, right," Mabel nodded, displeased with the answer, although it was correct. "So," she considered something else that she could quickly throw at him to test his legitimacy, "what do you think about my training?"

"It's pretty cool, actually, Mabel," Dipper said easily, "you know, maybe you should show me some of that stuff later. I wouldn't mind knowing a thing or two about how to keep my butt from hitting the ground."

"Okay," Mabel stepped ahead of Dipper, staring at him intently, "Dipper, you are freaking me out, okay? You've been waaay too happy, and waaay too cool while we're soaking wet and tired."

Dipper stepped back, staring at his sister with uncertainty. He looked back and forth, his head shaking slightly.

"What, you want me to apologize for being nice to you?" he asked her angrily.

"I want to know... who's the girl you had a crush on while we were here before?" Mabel tested her supposed brother. He sighed and stared at her.

"Wendy. Mabel, if I didn't know you so well, I'd say you were the one acting weird," Dipper told her, and grumbled, "let's just get inside, okay?"

"I... okay, sorry," Mabel let her brother walk past, and she watched him go. He had certainly gotten the answers all correct, yet she couldn't shake the feeling she had already decided this wasn't her Dipper. She could smell mud and sweat, but not copious amounts of bug spray. He knew all those answers she asked him, yet could account for each instance seeing a Dipper-shaped person running around at those times. She wondered if she needed to test him once more. "So, you were talking about mom earlier?" she asked quietly. Dipper sighed and turned to face her, anger darting in his eyes.

"Drop it!" he said, "I don't know why you're so suspicious of me because I thought it would be a good idea to be nice for once, but it's getting on my nerves!" Dipper turned and stormed ahead of her.

They finally left the forest edge, and the two trudged quietly through the rain, already soaked, even as thunder rumbled above them. Watching her brother slightly lead, Mabel's mind oozed of guilt. Not necessarily for upsetting her brother- but that even after proving himself accountable each time she tested him, she still felt like he wasn't the real one.

"We're back," Dipper called as he stepped through the door.

"Sup," Wendy said from behind a magazine she held up.

"Hey Wendy," Mabel sighed gloomily as she stepped inside.

"So, no luck with the-" Wendy dropped her magazine, and the instant she had let her eyes fall onto Dipper, she froze. The twins stared at her and she stared back, her eyes wide as they soaked in Dipper's image.

"Uh... Wendy?" Dipper asked after an awkward moment.

"Huh?" Wendy blinked, and stood up quickly, staring at Dipper, "Yeah?"

"You're... staring at me," Dipper told her.

"Right. Yeah. Uh, hey, uh..." Wendy shimmied her way from behind the counter to stand before them, her eyes still locked onto Dipper.

"Wendy?" Mabel finally piqued in, and Wendy blinked, and looked to her. It was after Wendy gave Mabel a hard look that a light passed through the Redheads eyes, and she turned back to Dipper, her face more at ease.

"Hey, you guys know there's no mud allowed in here. Boots go outside," Wendy told them with authority. Mabel raised her eyebrows and was about to ask what was going on. Then something even more shocking brought her pause.

"Oh, right!" Dipper laughed, patting the front of his forehead gently, "duh! Sorry, Wendy," Dipper said pleasantly, and turned to head back outside. Mabel turned and watched her brother take a few steps away, and her eyes grew wide.

"We don't have a rule like that," Mabel told her brother with conviction, "Grunkle Stan doesn't care what comes into the building if there aren't tourists in the building." Dipper stopped. She couldn't see his face, but she was certain she saw the smallest twitch in his shoulder. He turned around, an embarrassed smile plastered onto his face.

"Right, what was I thinking-"

"Mabel, walk away from him, now," Wendy said with strong, deadly serious tones.

"What?" Dipper asked, his smile faltering as Wendy slowly reached over the counter, staring at Dipper with a focus that could have ripped a hole through his body. "Mabel, come on. You already tested me and... oh damn," Dipper sighed, looking at Wendy as his smile fell away, "I'm surprised you caught me so easily. What's the secret?"

"Get back!" Wendy shouted, and swung once at the person who looked like Dipper, but he ducked under her attack. She made to swing at Dipper again, but he clutched the baseball bat and yanked it past him and it flew aside. He ran forward, smashing into Wendy, tossing her off her feet. While she was fast to get back on them, Dipper was surprisingly fast as well. He made to kick at Wendy while she was standing back up.

"I don't like these kind of secrets!" the false Dipper cried aloud, and swung and missed with a rising kick. Wendy had dodged, and charged against Dipper, slamming into his torso. She ran him into the wall with a loud crash. "Nice hit there, Wendy girl," Dipper said, and his face melded and became Wendy's own face, "but you don't hit hard enough. Maybe this will have you remember to hit harder?"

Wendy was stunned enough for the Wendy-faced Dipper to give her a strong punch in the gut, tossing her to the ground, and then stomping her back. Wendy cried aloud as she had the wind knocked out of her.

"Leave her alone!" Mabel shouted, and threw the baseball perfectly at the faux Dipper. It slammed into his head, and he shouted aloud and cringed, walking away while cradling his head.

"You damn kids," the Shapeshifter groaned, changing the entire body into that of the old man from the Baron Num Num's canned beans. Grey hair and moustache grew along with the taller, slimmer body with worn jacket and goggles on his forehead. "You're just as painful as I remember."

"Didn't we freeze him?" Wendy coughed as she stood, stepping back to be with Mabel.

"Oh, yes you did," the Shapeshifter growled angrily, "for nearly a year I remained frozen, aware of every second that passed, unable to move an inch... then, one day," the Shifter stepped forward, "a strange energy surge broke the stasis tube. I was free again, and took to the surface in a matter of days. Forests are wonderful little buffets, you know?"

"An energy surge?" Mabel asked.

"It doesn't really matter what it was," the shifter chuckled, looming over them, "now that I'm out, I can live as I want to, a life without rules or restraint from you single formed cretins. And that starts as soon as I get some payback for locking me up."

"Where is Dipper?" Mabel demanded of the monster before them. The Shapeshifter grinned after a moment.

"Who knows?"

"Hey dudes," Soos appeared from the hallway, "there's a- oh... sorry, I wasn't aware we had a customer. Uh... have we met before?" Soos asked, looking at the Shapeshifter.

"Oh, of course," The Shifter smiled, and morphed his face to match Soos's, "remember me, chubby?"

"IT'S HIM!" Soos bellowed as he instantly remembered their last encounter.

Wendy took the opening. While the monster looked at Soos, she lunged forward, and made to kick at his head. The Shapeshifter turned quickly, and in a powerful sweep, caught her leg tightly and spun with her in his grip.

"WENDY!" Soos and Mabel shouted. Wendy was slammed into shelf after shelf as she was whipped around, her head and face getting the blunt of the attack. After a quick whirl around, he launched her forward, and Wendy flew through the air and crashed through a window, landing roughly outside.

"One down," the Shapeshifter grinned, "three to go," he turned to Soos, who was instantly uncertain as to what to do.

"What the heck is going on out here!?" Grunkle Stan's voice carried from the living room.

"Hey!" Mabel cried, catching the Shifter's attention, "you want someone to pick on? Try me for size!" The shifter looked at her, and grinned excitedly.

"Alright, missy. I think I will," the Shifter approached Mabel steadily, and she retreated. She knew exactly what she wanted from this- a chance to remove the monster from inside the shack. She pushed the door open behind her and darted out quickly as the Shifter followed her. The last thing she heard from inside was the hurried footsteps of Stan's approach.

"HOLY CRUD!" Stan's voice cried from inside. "WHAT HAPPENED IN HERE!?"

"Soos, find Wendy!" Mabel shouted to the Shack.

"I'll find backup!" Soos shouted as he ran for the backdoor.

"So... it was you I kept seeing around here, impersonating Dipper?" Mabel asked.

"His younger form, yes," The Shapeshifter established excitedly, "one smaller in size and less likely to draw attention from anyone, excepting you," he added while moving closer, "I could hide very well, you know. After this, I won't ever need to hide again," the Shifter said to her as she retreated to the parking lot, rain splashing against her, "not from you, your brother, or your family."

"You might want to reconsider that, you big jerk," Mabel said, and halted her retreat, letting the Shapeshifter advance.

"Well, aren't you just an arrogant little girl?" the man leered as he entered striking range, and he swooped down at her. She darted to the side, and delivered a strong kick to the side of his head. Her shoe slammed into his ear, and he cried out in pain, stepping to the side, cradling his injured head.

"Arrogant that!" Mabel told him with a strong grin.

The Shapeshifter roared and charged at her. He punched and swung at her, and she avoided his attacks, her small size making her a harder target, and her agility allowing her to maneuver around his swings.. After he got his chances to strike at her, she retaliated. After one particularly forceful swing the Shifter missed, she ducked under him to a crouch, and leapt up, delivering a massive kick under his chin and to his neck.

He gasped and cringed as he lifted himself back, holding his neck tightly. Mabel made sure to maximize her well placed hits to her favor. Darting around him, she struck at weaker areas of his body, disabling them in a fury of swipes and jabs. Each hit she delivered staggered him slightly, and he eventually fell to his knees. Mabel took one big step back, and landed a strong descending punch against his head.

The Shapeshifter fell to the ground, shaking and groaning in pain, massaging his jaw. Mabel stood, breathing heavily above him as she watched his movement. That had been the first time she had ever fought anyone outside of sparring, and she could only grin in accomplishment.

"Ohhhh, Mabel in the HOUSE!" Mabel cheered as she rocketed her hands above her, glaring down her opponent, "that's right, sucker! Can't top the Mabes, not one second- ow ow ow!" she added, shaking her knuckles as she had punched a hand into her palm, forcing her nerves to remember the pain of punching any kind of bone.

"Maybe not," The Shapeshifter growled, staring at her hatefully, "can you stop yourself?"

Mabel gulped, already aware of his insinuations. One moment, she saw a sprawled and defeated older man; a second later, she was looking down at a mud-covered version of herself. The false-Mabel grinned and stood up, stretching her neck and arms as she recovered from her injuries.

"You have a lot of talent, don't you?" Faux-Mabel asked the real Mabel, unnerved at hearing the mean intentions flowing from her stolen voice, "I can feel it; your body has retained lots of muscle memory. I've learned so much just from copying your body!"

"I'm the real deal," Mabel announced strongly.

"We'll see about that," Faux-Mabel taunted her, and leapt forward.

The two engaged in the fight once again. The two Mabels, avoiding, attacking, blocking and parrying each other endlessly, were evenly matched. Lightning crashed overhead as two equals battled each other, unable to gain an upper hand.

The real Mabel was already exhausted. The day had worn on her, and without the adrenaline pumping through her veins, she would have fallen to the ground, panting for breath. Yet she stayed up, forcing herself to act and counter against the imposter version of herself. She was slowing down though, having to retreat more and more from the fight, stepping down or away from an attack rather than using it as an opportunity to advance.

"Humans, and their limited stamina," Faux-Mabel grinned as the real Mabel stepped back, catching her breath, "you thought this plan would work in your favor!?"

"I honestly don't do all that much thinking," Mabel shrugged off the taunt, "especially when my friends are concerned."

"Oh, and your brother?" Faux-Mabel asked quickly, sarcasm dripping in her voice, "you certainly are so willing to sacrifice for him, aren't you?"

"... what do you mea-"

In the moment Mabel had allowed herself distraction and self-doubt, the Faux-Mabel jumped forward and kicked her in the chest, throwing her backwards. Mabel gasped and tried to stand as her impersonation stepped closer.

"Silly thing, aren't you?" Faux-Mabel said as she approached. "Just the mention of your brother, the same you so casually tease and bother, and your focus comes all crashing down."

"You're a huge poop-faced jerk," Mabel said as she stood back up, ready to face her evil reflection.

The sound of running had both Mabels turn. Dipper appeared, his eyes wide as he came to a sliding halt. He scanned both of them, and sighed.

"Oh, not this again," he groaned.

"Dipper!" Faux-Mabel said as she stepped closer, still distant, "stay away from her!"

"What!?" Mabel turned and stared at the fake Mabel, "you don't tell my brother what to do!"

"Stop her! Grab a stick!" the fake Mabel cried as the real Mabel stepped in and attacked her again. "Quickly! Bro! Do something!"

Dipper looked around quickly, and found a large sopping wet branch. Lifting it up, he turned and found himself stunned. Mabel had clearly under-sold herself when they had talked earlier about her studying martial arts. Both Mabels were fast and agile, moving around the other effortlessly while countering and striking one another.

"Déjà-vu nightmare... not what I need right now!" Dipper shouted at the two of them, and they broke apart, breathing heavily.

"Oh, now you need a breath!?" one of the Mabels cried, "what happened to 'pathetic human stamina', huh?"

"What!? I didn't say that, you did!" the other Mabel growled.

"I... Uh," Dipper stumbled as he watched the two of them. One was able to face him as they circled each other, keeping their distance. She looked from the Mabel opposing her to Dipper, and mouthed, 'you can do it'. Dipper started stepping closer, trying to keep himself against the back of the opposite one, but they darted to one another, and Dipper was facing the second Mabel. She looked to him, and watched her. She appeared to be trying to think as to what to do. A moment of uncertainty passed as Dipper watched the second Mabel stare at him.

"POOF!" she cried, and reached inside her pockets, and out from her hands flew sparkles and soggy noodles.

"What on earth?" the other Mabel couldn't help but be stunned, staring at the posed girl before her.

"No contest," Dipper stated excitedly, and rushed forward. Dipper then landed behind the closest Mabel, spun her around, and slapped the enchanted goblin collar around her neck.

"Wait, what are- WHAT!?" the one Mabel roared as she clutched the collar, its jewels now glowing brightly. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" The Faux-Mabel made no hesitation as she punched Dipper straight across the face, throwing him up into the air, and glared down to the bronze looking collar.

"Dipper!" the real Mabel screamed and ran over, tackling the other Mabel away from her brother, and they rolled onto the ground, gravel scraping their arms. The Faux-Mabel stood quickly, and roared. She stood there, panting, and then the collar glowed white hot, and the Shapeshifter howled in pain.

"WHAT IS THIS!?" the Shapeshifter screamed as she clutched at the collar around her neck. "I-I CANNOT-"

"A gift from the Goblins," Dipper coughed as he stood, "for all the hard times you brought them."

"My form!" the Shapeshifter gasped, and squeezed her eyes shut, only for the jewels to glow hot again, and it screamed loudly, "it's been solidified! how dare you! HOW DARE YOU!? I'm going to show you both pain! Great, unending pain!" the Shapeshifter growled as it approached, fury pouring from its eyes. Dipper and Mabel stood together, ready for the fight.

"Not so fast, loser," a voice called from the forest behind the Shifter. It spun as the twins peered past it.

"Wendy!" Mabel cried," you're okay!"

"Enough about me," Wendy said, stepping out of the forest with Soos.

"Our friends want a word with you, pal," Soos said, hooking a thumb behind him.

Angry glowing red eyes peered hungrily at the nearly helpless Shapeshifter. From behind the two teenagers, a massive army of Goblins stepped out. Many of them were armed with bows, arrows, swords, shields, and some had tiny flint-lock muskets. The Goblins all cheered and jeered at the monster, swinging down from trees and charging from the bushes.

The Shapeshifter turned, and found Mabel and Dipper, ready for action. It spun once again, spying the encroaching army of Soos, Wendy, and hundreds of Goblins. In a desperate bid, it turned and ran for the Shack. An air-shaking boom toppled the Shifter off its feet and away from the building. A large hole in the ground was before the shack as Stan stepped out, a shotgun with a smoking end in hand.

"No freaks allowed inside without proper authority," Grunkle Stan informed him with a cocking of his shotgun, "and that means me. And I say NO!"

"No... no!" the Shapeshifter started to get back to its feet just in time for the army of Goblins to swarm. The Shapeshifter, removed of its ability to change form, shrieked and yelled in pain as it was bound up in many ropes and pulleys. Once it had been bound, fifteen goblins approached, and lifted the Shapeshifter into the air, and carried it back into the woods, snarling angrily. "Damn you all! DAMN YOU!"

"Man, I don't look that great when I'm a fuming monster, do I?" Mabel asked as she watched herself get pulled into the woods.

"That's okay. You look fine most of the time, anyway," Dipper patted her shoulder. A cluster of goblins ran past the two, also hissing and gnashing at the air. "I don't know about them enjoying their peaceful ways, anymore."

"But they looked so dapper with their little suits!" Mabel told Dipper excitedly.

"Oh, great and wise Soos," Gib, the Goblin Governor approached Soos, one of his knees bent, "long has it been since we last spoke. Have you come to a decision of our proposal?"

"No way man," Soos said happily as the Goblin army retreated into the woods, "you guys should totally continue ruling yourselves. You all seem a lot happier with elections and political candidates than a single sovereign leader. But totally keep that fashion- it works wonders for you all. Hey, but before you go, what's the plan with the shifter?"

"We will put it on trial, which will more than likely lead to an execution, and then a grand feast," Gib told him.

"Oh wow. What's the dinner plan?" Soos asked with a chuckle.

"The Shifter," Gib told him plainly. Soos nodded in contemplation to their plans.

"Not going to tell you guys that it sounds gross, but I'm just going to let you all enjoy your victory party," Soos nodded to the tiny ruler.

"Very well, great Soos," Gib stood and bowed once to the tall man before him, "but know there will always be a warm welcome to you, and your friends. This has been a triumphant day for us all. Now, I'm off to let the Gnomes know we're the ones who defeated the Shapeshifter. We'll be bragging about this for years." With that, Gibs turned, and hurried off.

"Wow," Wendy said as Mabel, Dipper, and Grunkle Stan walked up to watch the Goblins fade into the distance," they totally respect you, Soos. What's up with that?"

"Oh, I met them once when my car broke down a few years back. They had this jerky tall ruler guy with frizzy hair and skinny pants, and I told them that society had come a long way since mean kings and dictators. They revolted, and now live in a democratic society."

"Goblins, living democratically," Stan said, shaking his head, "now I've seen everything."

"And they wear tuxedos with top-hats," Dipper told Grunkle Stan, who rolled his eyes and turned back towards the shack.

"I'll be drying off and watching Broker-Nova, in case anyone needs me to shoot something else," Grunkle Stan called as he retreated.

"Wendy, are you okay?" Mabel approached the redhead, who nodded.

"Looks like I'm made out of as tough stuff as my dad is, cus I'm good." she grinned, padding her arms with her hands strongly.

"What do you mean?" Dipper asked, "what happened to you?"

"I was tossed around like a rag-doll and thrown out a window," Wendy said calmly, "which looking back, actually was kinda cool, if I didn't think the entire time I was about to die."

"Dang," Dipper said, giving the red head a final look-over in astonishment, "Wow, no kidding about the made of steel thing. Well, I'm cold, tired, and exhausted. Inside time, please," Dipper told the other as he turned for the Shack.

"Wait!" Mabel cried, and leapt at her brother, giving him a sloppy wet hug in the rain. "I'm so glad you're back!"

"I- okay, okay," Dipper said, pushing his sister off with a half-smile, "can we get inside though? We're going to catch some nasty cold if we stay out here."

"All in favor of inside time?" Mabel asked aloud.

"Aye," the other three cried aloud.

"All opposed?" Dipper asked. A loud thunderclap from above had them scurry inside without delay.

Soos was tasked with repairing the window as the twins were told to clean up the mess the fight against the Shapeshifter. Soos, with little help from Wendy who felt bad letting him clean up a mess partially her fault, was able to quickly replace the shattered window and clean up the glass in no time, and the twins had managed to pick up everything salvageable from the shop. By the time the four had concluded their business, Wendy and Soos had to depart for their homes.

"Man, she really took a beating," Dipper told his sister as they trudged up the stairs together, "that one postcard rack was totally wrecked."

"She must be made of iron," Mabel guessed, "or maybe copper! She has red hair; it makes too much sense!"

"Copper is a softer metal," Dipper reminded her sister, who shrugged without concern.

"She's clearly a robot," Mabel said, "a freaky cool robot who can take some super-punishment. She instantly could tell it wasn't you, you know!"

"Really?" Dipper asked, surprised to hear this, "but you were fooled?"

"I- hey," Mabel's already naturally red cheeks grew brighter still, "I was worried you hurt yourself- I just-" Dipper snickered at his sister, and she pouted, "not cool, dude."

"Now who needs to take it easy?" Dipper reminded her with a rub of her shoulder, "I'm just poking fun at you."

"You big dumbo," she called him, her tongue slightly poking out of her mouth in indignation.

"Right," Dipper snickered as the entered their room, "oh, this is going to feel great; knowing there isn't something out there trying to get me."

"Us, dude," Mabel reminded him, "it wanted revenge on all of us."

"Fair point," Dipper said, turning away from her as he tossed off his shirt. The two quickly changed, facing away from one another, and within a minute, they slumped into their beds, and sighed simultaneously. "This bed... I've missed you," Dipper said as he sprawled his legs out in a stretch.

"Dipper!" Mabel suddenly shot up, and her brother mimed her.

"What!?"

"We... I think we just broke, like, half your room rules," Mabel looked to the list written by the door.

"Oh... right," Dipper recalled, listing the errors with his fingers, "don't change in the room if it's occupied, don't leave your dirty clothes laying around, leave your shoe-" Dipper groaned, and stood up. With a brisk step, he reached over, grabbed the paper from the wall, crumbled it into a ball, and threw it aside, "there."

"But... you really wanted that list," Mabel told him, feeling like she had pressured him into removing the list altogether, "like a whole whopping lot of want."

"No. You were right," Dipper shrugged, "we're going to be busy the entire time while we're here. We're already zany as it is," Dipper said as he sat down, "so awkwardness is going to happen one way or another. Let's not complicate things when, at the end of the day, we're going to be this tired no matter what."

"...okay," Mabel nodded happily, "hey, I'm also sorry for not... you know, giving you a little breathing room out there."

"I... thanks, Mabel," Dipper grinned. "You know, I was even too tired to realize we changed in the same room, at the same time... that's weird," Dipper said as he fell back into his bed.

"So... we're okay?" Mabel asked carefully.

"Let's get some sleep first, and then we can find out tomorrow," Dipper told her as he winked and turned his lantern off.

"Good deal, sir," Mabel stroked her chin, and did the same for her own lantern.

"Goodnight, Mabel."

"G'night, Dipper-dotty."

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