angryinterrobang:

It’s three years since the end of the world and- what is that?

Mabel Pines takes a deep breath. It is not enough, she has to take another and another. In the corner Dipper Pines has forgotten how to reform himself into human shape. He is a mass of black bile, a thousand eyes, and glowing gold areas of energy leaking out from every curve.

“We’ve got brown hair, brobro. Remember?” she says finally. The mass, Dipper it’s still Dipper, writhes in unreality. She smiles at him. “We’ve got brown hair and brown eyes.You’ve got a birthmark on your forehead.”

As she speaks Dipper closes his many eyes and shifts to match her description. The skin is a little too waxy. The suit is a little too clean.

Dipper mimics her deep breath. “I think I just had a power up.”

“Awesome!” says Mabel. “But you made yourself waaay too tall.”

Their conversation is punctuated by a small explosion in the subbasement. 

It’s the end of the world and Candy Chiu holds the fire extinguisher high. They have just prevented a being from another reality from mating with Dr. Pines face. 

She isn’t sure she likes Interning with Dr. Pines. He doesn’t seem to believe in the laws of physics or OSHA compliance. He seems to be taking the existence of aliens in stride. She’s not sure what he’ll write on her letter of recommendation to be an engineer. It is however a great chance to try out all her different ideas for weapons. The extinguisher she’s holding also doubles as a flame thrower.

It’s the end of the world and Stan Pines is sitting in the corner of the lab laughing at both of them. He appears to be rooting for the monster. When Dr. Pines finally pulls it from his head Stan punches it back through the newly made portal. They tease each other. The brothers are comfortable enough to joke again.

Candy can’t wait to see what happens next.

It’s the end of the world and Tad Strange has replaced his arm with a lobster claw. Whoopsyadaisy!

It’s the end of the world and Pacifica Northwest is braiding Old Man McGucket’s beard. She’s starting to think she likes helping people; likes taking care of them. If only she were any good at it- the braid turns into a tangle and gets all sorts of hair in his soup. He plays a song for her on his banjo.

“Oh my darlin’,

Oh my darlin’,

Oh my darlin’, Pacifica~

She’s gainin’ her independence-

‘Cause she’s really terrifica~”

Pacifica covers her mouth but still can’t stop the giggles.

It’s the end of the world and Grenda is kissing a vampire. He’s a little bitey. If kissing every kind of cute boy IN THE WORLD wasn’t on her bucket list she thinks she’d probably deck him. She thinks it over and decides to deck him anyway.

It’s the end of the world and Wendy’s back in town. It looks smaller somehow, now that she’s been all around the country beating down nasties. She finds the people here seem kinder where before she’d found them boring. Most of her old crew has gone on to their next thing; Robbie and Tambry went off to different colleges, Lee and Nate wanted to be cops which still blows her mind, even Thompson is in some kind of SynthCountry Pop Group touring round Sacramento.

That’s okay. When it matters Wendy always knows where to find the beating heart of Gravity Falls.

She wanders to The Mystery Shack, ignores the ‘Closed for Honeymoon!!! :)’ sign on the door, puts her muddy feet up on the counter like she used to. “Can I get some service here?” Wendy shouts as a cool as she can. “How’s a girl supposed to get ripped off around here?”

“Wendy!” Mabel levitates down the stairs. Her hug feels like it comes with an extra unseen weight. “Dipper’s here too. He’s just a little tired out today.”

When Wendy closes her eyes she’s sure she can feel the beating of wings, smell the copper tang of blood, sense an eye looking at her. She ignores those instincts and high fives the air.

“It’s okay, dudes,” says Wendy. “It’s not the end of the world.”

Perhaps she’s right.

We’re still here.