Gravity falls : I am … Stan pines !

Dipper's POV

"Do you think Uncle Stan locked himself in his lab because of me?"

It's been two days since Uncle Stan and I argued about all his secrets.

Now, I have to admit I feel kind of stupid.

I reacted emotionally, like a spoiled kid, when it probably wasn't easy for him to take us into his confidence.

"I don't know, but he hasn't really given any news, even though Arlecchino got Journal number 2," says Mabel while playing with the amulet that contains telekinetic powers.

I nod toward Mabel floating in the air, but a shiver runs down my spine remembering the cold look Arlecchino gave Gideon after the incident on the cliff.

I wonder where Gideon went, but... I'm a bit scared to ask Arlecchino without Uncle Stan around.

"I should probably apologize... *sighs* That'll teach me to react without thinking."

If Uncle Stan decides to tell me the details he avoided last time, great. But if he doesn't want to, I won't force him anymore.

Putting my relationship with him at risk because of shadows in his past would be counterproductive, and nothing really obligates him to take Mabel and me into his confidence.

I'm also sure he could have taken my journal whenever he wanted, but he didn't.

He even wanted me to keep it.

[Yes, you should really fix things but your uncle and I need to have a long conversation] GIFfany's voice suddenly appeared next to me.

There was a metallic spider robot on the windowsill.

"GIFfany, maybe Uncle Stan needs space" I moved away a bit, leaving Mabel and GIFfany in deep conversation about romantic relationships.

Those two have gotten closer recently, but I admit I'm worried about GIFfany's influence on Mabel.

I headed toward the laboratory. Today, Wendy and Soos aren't working. So, I'm going to check out the results of Terri's research.

*Dang*, "another fiasco." Terri and Arlecchino were standing in front of a strange metal platform.

"Indeed, it's another failure. It seems we'll need the master to complete this project quickly, otherwise it could take a month, maybe more, according to my calculations," replied Arlecchino, in a cold and calm tone, while carrying a tube containing a strange substance that she connected to the machine.

"Hey, Terri, how's that machine coming along?" Though recently arrived at the Mystery Shack, Terri has integrated quickly, and I must admit she's pretty cool, but in a different way than Wendy.

"Hi, Dipper. Not really... the problem seems to be coming from somewhere in the energy adapter I'm currently using," she replied before getting back to taking notes with impressive seriousness.

"Oh, I see." I don't even know why she'd need an energy adapter, but if I ask, I'll probably end up stuck listening to a long explanation.

"Is Uncle Stan still in that room?" Before Terri could answer, Arlecchino spoke up.

"Affirmative, and I request you wait for his return," she said, giving me a suspicious look before removing a piece from the machine and infusing it with dark smoke.

According to Mabel, Arlecchino has nanomachines in her body that help her accomplish various tasks.

Mabel got this explanation after asking her how she managed to escape Gideon's control despite his use of the amulet.

"Yeah, but Uncle Stan hasn't shown any signs of life for a while..." I said without realizing it, in a somewhat pressing tone. Suddenly, an intense light illuminated the room.

As the light from a strange door lit up the basement, I heard a familiar voice.

"I leave this place for barely 48 hours, and you already miss my presence!" An unknown but strangely familiar face appeared after the door opened, followed by two children.

"...Are you Uncle Stan?"

.....

Stan's POV

I had taken care to return to my human form before leaving the... personal experiments room.

But I wasn't expecting to run into Dipper directly.

"Yes, I had to conduct a complex experiment, as well as some tests," I said honestly before teleporting in a flash of light to reappear behind him.

"For now, things are... half completed."

Dipper seems shocked by the situation, and I understand. His old uncle has regained his youth and has, technically, become an entity close to divinity.

"Is this your nephew?" The Collector suddenly appeared between Dipper and me.

"I'm called Collector, I'm... Stan's son," he said, hesitating slightly before saying the word "son," but he ended up introducing himself that way.

"Wait, wait, I don't understand everything, can you explain slowly?" asked Dipper, expressing his confusion at the complex flood of information. I glanced at the Collector and he returned my gesture.

"Telling the whole story would take time. Can you transfer some of your memories of the events on the Boiling Isles to him?" I could have done it myself, but I prefer to avoid messing with Dipper's mind.

Unlike Eda, who's an experienced witch, Dipper has no notion of mental worlds and doesn't possess an exceptionally strong mind.

His inner version won't be of much help in case of trouble.

I fear damaging him accidentally with my power, I still lack experience with my magical powers in this domain.

"Wow, that's a crazy adventure!" declares Dipper, amazed after grasping the whole situation.

"Mr. Stan, you're not just going to tell the whole story to Dipper, are you?" Terri looked at me with puppy eyes, eaten up by curiosity.

"Of course not, my son here will show you too," I said in a relaxed tone, catching the Collector who was flying everywhere, carried away by his curiosity for my machines.

Although the Collector struggles after I suddenly grab him in my arms, he could simply teleport if he didn't appreciate my act.

A cosmic tsundere.

After sharing the events on the Boiling Isles, Terri and Dipper looked at me as if I was an ancient monster straight out of a cultivation novel.

"Uh, boss, should I call you His Majesty now?" teased Terri.

"Nah, no formalities of that kind here, but if you're on the Boiling Isles, why not?" It would be problematic if Lilith annoyed me with ethics.

Are witches weird, or is it just Lilith who's too zealous with everything concerning the Emperor's Coven or the Titan?

"Master, I have good news to announce," said Arlecchino, presenting herself with Journal number 2.

"Oh, you got it back! But that also means you took care of Gideon?"

I hope she didn't eliminate him. Gideon's a jerk, that's clear, but I might potentially need him because of the prophecy, and killing a 10-year-old kid would be... excessive.

"Indeed, I neutralized Gideon and took the opportunity to recover the journal," she replied.

Arlecchino explained to me the events that led her to deal with Gideon earlier than planned. It seems that Dipper wanted to resolve the situation of Gideon's harassment of Mabel.

The kid kept insisting on getting together with Mabel despite her clear rejection, but things got out of hand.

Arlecchino observed the whole scene.

She admitted she wasn't planning to intervene since I intended to deal with Gideon personally, but when Dipper was in danger with Mabel, things became different.

"What exactly did you do with that kid?"

"He's currently in an artificial coma, I wanted to get your orders to avoid taking any... unnecessary action."

I nodded with satisfaction, she's always so reliable.

"Hey, Number 5, don't stay back!" Number 5 observes Dipper and the Collector without interacting with them.

"I..." As she hesitates, I take her with me.

Maybe she'll be more comfortable with Mabel, while Terri desperately tries to stop me with my sworn enemy (paperwork).

I hurry to leave the basement to head back up to the Mystery Shack.

I'm not in the mood to observe her theories and progress on her dimensional portal. I've already had enough paperwork for the next 24 hours.

[You finally came back, honey...] GIFfany's usual jovial voice was replaced by a surprisingly cold one.

Damn, I haven't even addressed the subject of Eda but things are already looking complicated.