Song: Keep it Together by Mystery Skulls

And you all hate me now for what I have caused. I'm sure a few of you died reading the last chapter.
That is fine.
You all know I'm evil anyways.

IM TOO LAZY TO CHECK SPELLING AT THE MOMENT FORGIVE ME

And back to Shooting Star's POV:
(Why do I even tell you who's POV it is? It's pretty obvious all the time, isn't it?)

She hadn't seen or heard from Dipper since that morning. They had been watching Ducktective, and suddenly Dipper had made a strange face and excused himself. Mabel had thought he would have been right back, but he had never turned up again.

The strange thing was, neither had Ford. She hadn't seen either of them all day. When she'd asked Stan, he'd simply waved it off.

Then she had noticed that no one else was in the Shack. Wendy and Soos had never showed up for their jobs, and not one tourist ever wondered into the tourist trap once. She knew that something was up. Stan was in on whatever it was, and Ford had probably done something to Dipper.

So she'd gone back to Stan. She needed to know what had happened, and she needed to know if she could help.

"Grunkle Stan." She said, standing in front of him at the register.

"Yeah kid? Something up?"

"Where's Ford and Dipper?" Mabel put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

"I told you, I don't know. They'll probably be back soon, wherever they are." He didn't even look at her.

"So you know that Ford is with Dipper? How did you know that?"

"Did I say that?" He froze up momentary and glanced to the vending machine.

"Yes you did. So you know where they are, don't you?"

"Look Mabel, Ford asked me to not tell you. Sheesh, you weren't even supposed to find out so soon."

"Wait, find out what?" She leaned forward. "Grunkle Stan! Where are they? I'm worried about Dipper."

He sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "Ford summoned Dipper down in the lab so he could ask him some questions. He said that he might be able to finally figure something out and fix this whole mess."

Mabel didn't believe that. Ford had made it clear that he didn't care enough about Dipper to try to reverse anything. Or would he? Even if he did, Mabel had no idea why he would need to summon Dipper somewhere unless there was something else important.

"He didn't even tell you everything, did he?" She accused.

"Mabel, he said it was important, okay?" Stan sighed. "Dipper will be fine, Ford will be fine. Everything is gonna be fine."

Mabel huffed, not believing one bit of it. Something was up, she was sure of it. Stan wasn't telling her something. "What is it that has to be kept secret? I know you aren't telling me everything, Grunkle Stan."

"Alright, fine kid. You got me. I'm not, but it's for a good reason, you have to trust me on this."

"No. Tell me what's going on."

Stan leaned forward, resting his head on a hand. He looked once more to the vending machine, Mabel realized that that was where Ford was, and she stared to walk to it. If Stan wouldn't tell her anything, then she'd figure it out herself.

She was almost to the keypad when Stan cleared his throat and stood up. Mabel turned around and glared. He wasn't going to stop her, not on this.

"Okay, fine!" He said. "Mabel, he didn't tell me much, yeah, but it's important! He said that he could figure out why strange things have been occurring more often. Even how to get Dipper back to normal. Don't you want that?"

Of course she did, but Mabel knew that you didn't always get what you wanted. For more than a year, she'd thought that Dipper was dead, and she'd gone through depression until returning to Gravity Falls. She had not wanted to go through that.

Having Bill return with Dipper before her brother killed him was not what she had wanted either. She had not wanted Dipper to kill Bill, she had not wanted Dipper to leave her alone. Again.

She hadn't wanted any of this, but it was what had happened.

"Why can't anyone accept what's happened and just move on?" She said, looking Stan straight in the eye.

"I thought you would want to fix things. Look, Ford said that this was his last shot. Dipper might know something." Stan walked up to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It may not be what you want, but this is our last chance."

"It's also the first time anyone has tried to fix anything! And how do I know that Ford doesn't just want the journals back?" Mabel snorted, looking away.

"Ford's been trying to fix things from the start, kiddo. This is the first time it could work." Stan said, grip on her shoulder tightening. "I'm sure you could help too."

This was all too much like the talk they had had before breaking the rift and starting the entire mess. They had been trying to fix something back then as well, but they had made things worse. It could happen again. Something worse could happen.

She sighed, stepping back from the vending machine and its secret door, slipping out of Stan's reach as his hand fell from her shoulder. She wanted to trust him, wanted to know that it would all work out... But she didn't know.

Could she give it a shot? She didn't know that either. Not even Stan knew the entire plan yet! She glanced up at him, biting the inside of her cheek. One decision to fix everything, or possibly make it worse.

"O-okay." She managed. "I guess we have to try! That's the Mabel thing to do!"

Stan smiled, ruffling the the top of her head momentarily. "Great! Now we just have to wait for my brother, and see if it's possible or not!"

"How will Dipper help with the plan?"

"Oh, well, I don't think he's going to help. Ford made it clear that Dipper will try to get in the way." Stan said, scratching the back of his neck. "I think that he could help, but Ford wasn't so sure. Better safe than sorry."

Stan and Ford were probably right, Dipper wouldn't want them doing anything where they could get hurt. It was probably better that he didn't know. How was Ford going to keep him from intervening though? Wouldn't that be an issue?

As if on cue, the vending machine swung open, and Ford stepped out, closing it behind him. He had an expression that made Mabel wonder what had happened, something about it looked closely guarded. Held tightly in one of his six fingered hands was the same journal from earlier, the winged star symbol on it glinting in the light.

He started forward briskly, and Mabel and Stan followed him to kitchen without a word. She didn't know why they couldn't talk about it back there, but she pulled out a chair and dat down anyways. Stan sat next to her, Ford across from them, and the journal opened to a new page she had t seen lying in the middle of the table.

The words were written in some kind of code, she couldn't read it, but she looked at it still.

rehpic noitutitsbus

- Kligzo mvevi xlnkovgvob xolhvw; ovzprmt dvriwmvhh; xzfhv lu gsv dliowdrwv zmlnzorvh?

- Klhhryov gszg Zoxli orvw zmw vmgvivw ivzon uiln ovzp yvuliv yvrmt hfnnlmvw gl Krvwnlmg.

She glanced further down the page. She wondered how Ford could write in a code, it seemed nearly impossible. Mabel was aware of Ford moving to grab a pencil, she wondered what else he needed to add to the notes.

- Dszg vohv rh sv srwrmt; xlfow sv lkvm gsv irug ztzrm; wlvh sv pmld zylfg Yroo'h kozm uli Dvriwnzttvwlm?

- Xzm gsv ovzp yv hvzovw drgslfg lkvmrmt gsv irug ztzrm?

- Yvxzfhv Tizergb Uzooh ml olmtvi slowh dvriwmvhh rm, rg rh kilyzyov gszg gsv irug dlfow vuuvxg gsv vmgriv dliow.

- Sv rh nliv orpv Yroo gszm R gslftsg. R pmld R xzm'g gifhg srn fmgro gsv irug rh ufoob hvzovw zmw R szev gsv qlfimzoh.

"We made a mistake by opening the rift that day." Mabel stopped trying to read it and glanced up. What was Ford saying, they already knew that. "But it was worse than we thought. Apparently, something went wrong and the portal never sealed correctly. It's been leaking into our world ever since."

So that was why everything had been off and why strange things had kept popping up.

"At first, I thought the issue was only like that after that cult got ahold of Dipper, but now I realize that that wasn't the issue. If was like that since we broke it."

Mabel found herself zoning off a little bit as Ford launched into a larger explanation. She didn't understand any of it, and was sure that Stan didn't either. Her eyes started to go back to journal.

Something about the notes on the bottom of the page were interesting, but she couldn't place a finger on it. They were shorter than the rest as well.

- Yroo kozmmvw rg.

- Sv hlnvsld nzwv hfiv gsv irug wrwm'g wvzo xliivxgob. Sv dzmgvw hlnvgsrmt lfg lu rg.

- Zoxli mvevi proovw srn; sv zelrwh gsv hfyqvxg dsvmvevi rg rh yilftsg fk.

They were also different than the rest of the notes on the page, these were inked in red instead of the usual black. They were obviously important. A few of the words had even been underlined a few times.

She desperately wished that Dipper could have been there, he would have been able to solve it easily. Especially since he knew a lot more now. Speaking of her brother, she had no idea where he was. Hadn't he been with Ford, as Stan had said?

She lifted her head to ask about her missing brother, but Ford looked at her when she opened her mouth. "Have you even been listening?" He asked.

She felt he face turn a light shade of red. Oops, she'd zoned off a little too far. Geez, that was Dipper's thing, to zone off while reading something, she should have been paying attention.

"Um... No?" She said it like a question.

Ford sighed, placing both hands on the table. He reached out and took the journal from the table, closing it and putting it under an arm. "Okay, that's fine. We're still planning this thing out."

"So what do you have so far? Is there really way to fix everything back to how it was?" Mabel felt a few bubbles of excitement. She hadn't been truly happy about something in a long while.

"The Quantum Destabilizer could close the rift, but it runs the risk of opening it again." Ford said, taking a finger on the table. "Bill knew how to close it, but he isn't around, and I wouldn't trust him anyways. A large amount of power might be able to as well... But anything so far could mess up and just open it again. I don't want to run that risk."

"So what you're saying is that there's a fifty fifty chance something would go wrong." Stan stated.

"Yes, unfortunately so." Ford said, now absentmindedly twirling the pencil he had between his fingers. He stopped and heaved a sigh. Mabel was feeling the same way, she had been so hopeful that they had finally figured something out. That things could go back to how they had been.

"I don't think it's possible to fix everything." Stan suddenly said. "You've made it clear that you can't undo what's been done. But listen here, I know you can figure out a way to close that rift for good if anything."

"Stanley, if something goes wrong-"

"It's half a chance! You can just as easily get it correct." Ford opened his mouth to finish what he had been saying. Stan beat him to it. "Shut it, poindexter! I don't wanna hear it! You have to try at least."

Ford frowned, fixing his glasses. Mabel felt like holding her breath, what would he say?

"Okay. We need to plan this through though. Dipper won't be happy if this doesn't work."

Mabel felt the tension leave her shoulders and she let out a held in breath. They were actually going to try. Maybe things would never be the same, but every thing would be much closer to normal once they solved the issue with the leaking rift.

It would give her a chance to talk to Dipper, and maybe even he and Ford could become friend again. She'd be able to have her friends over again, and could talk to them about all the weird things that had happened. She could go back to having a life and not be consumed by grief and sadness with every other thought... It would all be so normal.

Would it ever seem that way to her brother though? What if-- no, no what ifs, not right then, Mabel couldn't take it. She had a chance, and she was taking it.

"When do we start planning?" She asked excitedly.

"After we get something to eat, that's for sure." Stan said, standing up. "I'm going to Greasy's Diner, come on."

Ford seemed hesitant for some reason, he kept glancing back at the Shack even as they drove off. Mabel had a feeling it had something to do with wherever Dipper was, but she trusted Ford to tell them if anything had happened, so she decided to not say anything.

Maybe after they had something to eat, they could all work together to come up with a plan to close the rift. Ford had made it sound not only dangerous to attempt, but also as if they didn't have many options. Mabel knew she could change that, she was Mabel! They would have plenty of ideas soon.

Soon everything would be okay. Or at least a shadow of an okay.

When they finally got to the Diner, they ordered some food, Mabel got pancakes with whipped cream and smiley faces on them, while the other two stuck with more regular items. No one said much as they ate, and conversations died out rather quickly. They were all thinking about what was going to happen.

If they would succeed or horribly fail.

Mabel pushed the few bites of food left away. She wasn't really that hungry, and she'd eaten most of it anyways. Maybe after everything was fixed, they could throw a party with all the food and sprinkles she could find. That would be fun.

Ford coughed. "So, we should go back to the Shack and figure this out. It'll be dark by the time we have a good plan... And we've waited long enough."

He was defiantly nervous about something, there was no way that Mabel was imagining it anymore. What was bothering him so much? Maybe just that it wouldn't be possible to find an answer and seal the rift?

"All right, sounds good to me." Stan said, as they paid before leaving and climbing back into the car. The ride back to Shack seemed like a breeze, and once again, there was little conversation.

"So, to fix this, we need to close the leak in the rift." Ford quickly recapped once they were sitting back at the kitchen table. "I would like to get the journals back from in there first... But if we can't, then we have to close it. We cannot take any risks here."

"Sounds good!" Mabel said.

"Yes, but we don't have a way to close it yet." Ford said.

"You should have thought this through a little more than you did." Stan muttered. "Now we have to throw something together and hope for the best."

"Not necessarily. I learned some things from my talk with Dipper. I know that it can be closed."

Stan made a sound of annoyance. "So you know it can be closed. That doesn't mean much, ya know. Maybe only the thing that made the rift can close it, or maybe it can't be closed and you were wrong."

"But--"

"Grunkle Ford?" Mabel suddenly piped up. She'd been thinking. "Last time, you made that thing to hold the rift. Couldn't you do that again?"

They stopped and stared at her, Stan looked like he had been about to say something, with his mouth hanging open. Mabel could practically see the gears in Ford's head turning, thinking over the idea and running scenarios. Had she helped?

"Mabel, that could work." Ford finally said.

She smiled brightly. Finally!

"It's a bit different, this leak is much worse... The glass would have to be strong enough to hold it." He tapped a finger on his chin. "But yes, it could definitely work. Good job! I think I might have something capable of holding it until I can make something stronger for it."

"What can hold it?" Stan asked.

"The last container was cracked, not to mention shattered later on... But I can find some glue to hold it until we have something else. That should work fine."

"Glue?" Mabel asked. It didn't sound like a few drops of Elmer's glue could solve all their problems. "How will that hold it?"

Ford smiled, reaching for one of the many things he kept in in the pockets of his coat. He pulled out a little vial of something slightly green colored, it gave off a strange glow.

"Those cliffs were caused by a wrecked alien ship. I found a way into it and have been able to use some of what was left. This stuff," he swished the vial around, "is like the superglue of the multiverse. It can hold anything."

If the idea of glowing green superglue warned amazing enough, Mabel was truly speechless at the mention of aliens. How many other things had she never known about? It would be so amazing to tell Dipper that there was an alien spaceship somewhere!

"We'll get to it then." Stan barked. "I don't want to stay up later than I need to and it's going to be getting dark soon."

Ford rolled his eyes. Mabel giggled, then ran off to find what remained of the rift.

She'd kept it with herself after the first incident. Ford and Stan had agreed that it was only fair if she got to take it with her. It was the last thing she and Dipper had done together before... She pulled a hand out of her bag with a yelp.

Something had pricked her finger, almost like an edge of broken glass. Excitedly, she threw everything else to the ground, digging up the broken container and its prices of glass before running back to the kitchen. It was amazing she didn't trip over her own feet in her hurry.

She handed the pieces to Ford, who carefully lined them up and for them together with careful precision. Mabel was glad that she had kept it in her bag and never thrown it away. Really, it was a miracle that she still had all the pieces to the thing.

Next, Ford took the vial and spread the glue along the cracks running over the surface like webs. She marbled at the fact that once the glue touched the surface, it seemed to stop glowing as much, and started to slowly become more transparent.

"It will take a few minutes to dry." Ford said, standing back up when he had finished. "Until then, I suggest we locate the leak. It should be were the rift last opened."

"Come on then." Stan said, leading them out into the front yard.

Ford looked around. Mabel was confused, she didn't see anything, and surely someone would notice something leaking weirdness in from the sky?

"It's not here." Ford said suddenly. "I was sure it would be."

Mabel felt her heart drop, something twisted up in her gut. They were supposed to fix the leak. Their one chance at something normal and now they couldn't even find the source of their problems.

"Oh, I'm sorry Pines, were you looking for this?" Called out a raspy feminine voice.

They all spun around. Behind them, a demon floated about a foot from the grass. Her arms and legs were wreathed in bright pink flames, the same shade of her skin. A dark pink cape rested on her shoulders and a single eye stared them down from a head covered in horns and spikes.

Hovering over one of her hands a was a tear in reality. The leak.

Sheesh this took a while to write.
And yes, the female demon is Pyronica. She was my favorite of Bill's henchmaniacs and I didn't want to create a new character for the story so here she is.

Anyhow, hoped you liked the chapter!
Not much happened in it... But soon~
Soon all those jokes you made about feels is gonna come into play.

Toodles!
~Aza