PART 1:
The twins are hanging out in the gift shop, both content with the craziness that has recently become part of their lives. Craziness that has gained the attention of out-of-towners, as evidenced by the large amount of customers present. Wendy says she misses going and doing stuff, not having many friend who want to hang out. The twins suggest everyone does a big group date night thing, like bowling or something, but are interrupted from two directions.
Soos runs in from deeper in the building, Arline running in from outside, slips of paper in each of their hands. They try to let one person go first, but their news is the same- they got tickets to Duskhope. Well, Soos has a ticket for himself. Arline won three tickets for a survey or something that she doesn't remember taking, and she is giving them to the twins.
Arline mentions Dipper joining her and Mabel for training before Mabel realizes this is the big date night thing they were thinking about, offering Wendy Arline's third ticket. Wendy asks if the seats are back row, but Arline says she thinks they are general mob section, providing ample opportunity to jump around and see Zander Maximillion, the Pretty Boy lead singer.
Wendy says she will have to check with family stuff, Dipper pointing out that she was willing to go when the plan was bowling. Wendy eventually agrees, Dipper noticing that she is not entirely willing to go. Dipper realizes he recognizes the look Wendy has on her face- it's the same look Stan had three years ago, the look of someone who is hiding something big.
Stan walks in, and notes the lack of customers, blaming Arline for scaring them away. Arline leaves, Stan saying that he wants her gone. Mabel asks what his problem is with her, Stan still blaming her for potentially messing up business. Dipper tells him about the concert, Stan grumbling under his breath but allowing them to go, but keeping Yuki back to help with the store. Mabel calls Candy and Grenda, concerning Wendy that they will be involved too, but doesn't say anything else.
The next day, Dipper takes the four of them to the concert, Wendy wearing a jacket despite the heat, Mabel almost as excited as she was before Waddles arrived. Soos, wearing nothing but the band's merchandise, tells Mabel that the band loves people who sing the lyrics, or are just loud in general. Wendy complains about it being hot, but insists on keeping her jacket on. As they go inside, Dipper realizes Wendy isn't sweating.
They go inside to see that the stage has been decorated like the surrounding countryside- mountains and redwood trees all over the place. There is even an orchestra and chorus setting up nearby. The four of them find a spot that has a good view of the stage. However comfort soon becomes an issue as people flood in.
Candy and Grenda show up, Candy telling a stiff Wendy that her dad ran into... more accurately, ran over her the other day, making bear noises. Wendy says that's normal for her dad, loosening up as the lights dim. The crowd starts chanting Duskhope over and over as the show begins. Something seeming to come from nature itself starts playing, Soos telling them the song is called Gaiatale.
The drummer, keyboardist, electric guitarist and bassist slowly come on stage during the intro of the song. Dipper is sure he recognizes the guitarist, but their wardrobe makes their faces hard to see. The chorus and orchestra join the intro, the music hits a crescendo, and a figure leaps out of the trees on stage, hitting the ground and catching a falling microphone all in the same move. The noise levels of the crowd peaks as Zander Maximillion finally begins to sing.
Dipper is impressed with the performance, joining in the crowd's excitement. Mabel on the other hand is stuck in a trance, staring at Zander the entire time, quickly falling for him in ways only she understands. The song ends, everyone present admitting the amazingness of the performance, Mabel finally coming out of her trance as Zander addresses the crowd directly.
Zander thanks the crowd for the warm welcome before turning to the guitarist. He tells the crowd that their former guitarist left the band recently, and the new one, Vee, comes from Gravity Falls, which is why they wanted to end the tour in the town. Wendy practically climbs on top of Soos to get a look at the guitarist, whom she recognized even before Zander says his name- Robbie Valentino.
The twins and Soos gasp as the crowd cheers, shocked that the jerk-face from three years ago got into such a popular band. Zander jokingly asks if the band can crash on the town's couch before telling Robbie to pick the next song. The crowd yells names at him, Robbie eventually picking a song called Bright Case of Wishes, to the crowd's approval. The next ninety minutes acts plays out much like it did for the first song, Mabel coming out of her lovey trance during the song breaks. Wendy however has shut down since Robbie's appearance, concerning Dipper.
The concert ends after a song the length of three others wraps up, Zander telling the crowd that there will be a second concert the next day. Mabel screams loud enough for Zander to notice and acknowledge her directly, causing her to blush like crazy. Zander tells the crowd to take out their tickets, two lucky winners getting to come backstage after the show to hang out with the band. The first number called is Dipper's ticket, stunning him into silence. The second number, just one higher than his number, belongs to Mabel, who screams loud enough for the two of them. Zander tells the twins to come backstage before telling the crowd There will always be another day, before the concert ends.
Soos bear-hugs the twins, Mabel back in a daze. Wendy says that she and Soos can walk home, even though Dipper insists on driving them. Wendy says she doesn't want to distract them from meeting the band before dragging Soos away from the twins, Candy and Grenda leaving soon after. Dipper asks Mabel what is up with her daze, Mabel saying she was distracted by what's-his-face. Dipper thinks she means Robbie, but Mabel says no, not telling him who though.
They head backstage, gawking at all the equipment hidden back there, from lights and speakers to clothing racks and microphones. Mabel mentions the lighting that was used made the band look gorgeous, Dipper concerned because he still thinks she is talking about Robbie. Mabel says she's not and Robbie is cool, but Dipper says that he remembers Robbie being a jerk to everyone, Wendy in particular. He changes the subject by looking at a rack of twenty identical jackets. Mabel says maybe the band members are werewolves, a voice from behind the clothes rack saying he's heard weirder theories before.
A crew member moves the rack away to reveal Zander Maximillion, the twins gawking and staring up at him. He shakes their hands, Dipper mumbling and Mabel way too excited. He guesses they are twins and says the rest of the band is in the trailer. Mabel yells that they can stay where they are, getting weird looks, and the three of them head towards the outside.
On the way, Mabel admires Zander's scarf, a dark almost glittery looking thing that he says he made ages ago. Dipper asks what the song Gaiatale was about. Zander says it was about human-kind, the elements that make up people and the world. He says too many people today are worried about the present, not the past or future, and the song was inspiered by a dream. The twins fall back slightly as Zander leads them around large trucks towards the trailer, Dipper wondering if Zander knows about the Paths. Mabel doubts it- the lyrics are too unspecific for that.
They arrive at the band's trailer and Zander leads them inside. The drummer and keyboardist, Marcus and Bishop are playing a video game, the bassist Kane watching, Robbie not present. The band shakes hands with the twins, Marcus saying they just have to wait for the dweeb. The 'dweeb' turns out to be Robbie, who stares at the twins in shock.
Mabel bear-hugs him, the other band members laughing. Zander says Robbie is new and the older members like teasing him as Robbie turns to Dipper. Their interaction totals all of six words before Robbie asks what they are doing at the concert. Mabel says they're in town for another summer, causing Robbie to panic and say the twins brign trouble wherever they go. Zander pulls Robbie aside as the other band members apologize, explaining that Robbie hasn't quite gotten the whole PR thing yet. They ask about the twins' history with him, Mabel saying a bit too much about Fight Fighters before Zander and Robbie come back.
Zander says that since the twins know what's up around town, and their next album needs something special, the twins could give them a tour of the town and show them some weird things. Dipper refuses, saying that even though the twins know what's up, they can't make everything safe like Zander seems to think they can do. Zander insists, wanting to see things like Arline's throwing fire for himself, Mabel unable to say no to him. The rest of the band agrees to the trip, Dipper and Robbie telling each other not to tell anything to attack them or hypnotize something.
Mabel pulls Dipper away, telling the band to meet them at the Mystery Manor before they head into the woods. Outside the trailer, Dipper wants to know why Mabel said they could take the band into the woods, mentioning the werewolf incident. Mabel says the band can handle themselves, but Dipper points out that the two of them and Arline were barely able to do anything. Mabel tells him nothing will go wrong, not having much to encourage him with, but she doesn't want to disappoint Zander, her crush on him stronger than any she has had before.
PART 2:
At the Manor, Mabel is telling the story of how they met the band for like the third time, Candy and Grenda present for this retelling. Soos and Mabel's friends are almost obsessed with the band, Wendy telling them to chill out because they are just people. The twins start theorizing that the band is something weird as Yuki walks in, the leaves in his hair in full view.
Yuki tells Stan that he finished improving the oven. Stan tells him to do the microwave next, and Yuki goes to leave before noticing Grenda and Candy. He hides, not wanting them to know he's an Alien, but Mabel tells him they already know and generally are in the loop of weird things. Pacifica however is not, Mabel saying she invited her over, even though she is unlikely to have time to come.
Yuki leaves, Grenda asking when the band is supposed to show up. Dipper says soon just before a blonde guy pokes his head in. After confirming with Stan that he is in the right place, Zander enters the Manor, those inside staring at him as he walks around the shop. He admires a snow globe, Stan saying they are two grand a piece, but Zander doesn't buy anything.
Soos, Candy and Grenda squeal and dog-pile on Zander. Bishop comes in and tries to get them off Zander, but the attack him instead, knocking him to the ground outside. Robbie, Kane and Marcus pull Soos and the girls off Bishop, getting bear-hugs. The twins try to get their friends to let go of the band members, but a boom from the motel rooms freezes everyone. Waddles has brought Arline onto the scene, and she was able to use some fire ability to make the noise.
She tells them to let the band go, Mabel suggesting the band signs something before the twins take them into the woods. Zander thanks Arline, her saying his voice sounds familiar. Robbie asks if she is the fire-thrower person from the Talent Show before thanking her for controlling the crazies. Arline tells the twins that they might want to stay near the Manor before going back into her room, sending Zander a weird look.
Dipper pulls Mabel aside, concerned about their plan, worried something will go wrong if even Arline tells them to stay back. Mabel admits that it is dangerous, but she catches Zander smiling at her and says the walk will go fine. They start to head out, their instruments still with them. Zander says that Duskhope Rule #1 is all belongings stay with the owner.
The non-local members of the band gawk at the weird things in the trees. Robbie is less than pleased to be back, him and Dipper quickly getting into a fight about Robbie hypnotizing Wendy and Dipper ruining relationships. Robbie mentions Pacifica and the two try to jump at each other, the band keeping them apart, Zander suggesting Dipper take the lead.
Mabel follows her brother, Zander catching up to her as the rest of the band follows them. Mabel tells Zander that Robbie and Dipper both liked the same girl, and they never really got along in the first place, which is why they want to kill each other. Zander questions the 'same girl' part. Mabel telling him Robbie and Dipper probably never got over everything. Zander says that that sounds like 'poor Robbie,' confusing Mabel.
Zander tells her that when their last guitarist left, they held a competition to find a replacement. Robbie showed up late and wasn't allowed to audition until one in the morning, looking even more zombie-like than normal. Zander says that he played a good enough but he wasn't really having fun, but he still made it because he brought hope to the band. He had been a run-away before joining the band, and after Zander told him to play a song he loved, not one of the band's songs, they realized Robbie was the right replacement.
Dipper stops walking, the group in a small clearing with a dark blue aura, tiny trees trying to grow. Built into the side of a cliff is a two story wood cabin, half destroyed and mostly rotted out, scorch marks all over it. Dipper pulls out the Journal and realizes that there is nothing about the cabin in it. If they go in, they are going in blind.
Zander wants to go in, but Dipper calls him back, saying they should look around first and make sure it's safe. Robbie agrees with Dipper, the two throwing insults at each other as Zander walks toward the building. The other band members tell a concerned Dipper that Zander always does whatever he wants and it usually works out. Usually.
Not entirely reassured, the rest of the band moves to the cabin as Zander opens the door. Well, the door falls off the hinges, but whatever. Inside looks a lot like the outside, their step on the floor making too much noise to be on solid ground. Scattered around the walls are old furniture pieces, most destroyed or rotten, but some are still in good condition. There is a hole in the floorboards, large enough to see that where there should be ground underneath is hollow. Dipper starts to put his weight on the floor, the wood creaking dangerously.
Avoiding the weak wood, Zander makes his way to the far side of the room, checking out the furniture. He says that the cabinets are from the late 19th century before opening one of them, glass bottles with odd colored liquids in them. Kane discovers a decaying book, runes decorating the cover, and brings it over to a table. They open it to see a spell book, similar to the ones the Warlock used.
Dipper says he doesn't know if any spells are active currently, but Robbie might, the two getting into another shouting match. Mabel tries to distract them by mentioning some of the spells, from a statue- like meditation state to raising the dead, but the two keep yelling. Wendy gets brought up, both of them saying the other has no right to talk about her, the band pulling them apart before a real fight breaks out.
Robbie angrily kicks the table, sending it through a wall, both the table and wall breaking. Realizing Robbie discovered a hidden room, Zander leads the way inside. Not scorched like the rest of the house, it is still slightly rotted, but more organized that the main room, bookshelves around the room. In the middle is a statue, surrounded by tables, of what appears to be a praying witch, the stereotypical pointy hat on her head.
Realizing the cabin was at one point a witch's hut, they wonder what happened to her. Mabel says maybe she was discovered, the house got burned, and now is haunted. Robbie asks her not to mention ghosts as Zander finds a book of Wiccan spells. Robbie asks him to put the book down, saying magic and things like that are dangerous. This starts another fight between him and Dipper, Zander placing the book on the table next to them. As their fight escalates, the two of them mentioning something about people in town forgetting part of their lives, Dipper tries to move the book out of harms way, but the book flies towards the statue.
The pages of the book start flipping and wind comes out of nowhere, the twins and the band huddling together. The stone of the statue starts peeling away, revealing a person underneath. The witch grabs her book and lands on the ground, looking around the decaying room. She turns to the seven and asks them what they did to her family and her home. Mabel introduces the group to her, Marcus explaining that they were just exploring and found her home. The witch summons a transparent bear and begins singing, the bear growing larger as a cougar and wolf join the party. The seven scream and run out of the room... onto the worn-out, weak wood above the hole in the ground under the house.
The seven of them fall for who-knows-how long, landing in a heap on the ground of a tunnel deep underground. None of them are hurt, Dipper pulling out his phone and Bishop lighting a lighter to let them see a bit. Robbie comments that he knew they twins would lead to trouble before Zander tells him to shut up, not joking around anymore. Mabel takes the lead, heading in the less-earthy smelling direction. Robbie asks why the witch attacked them, Mabel saying that magic users tend to be crazy, Zander commenting on this.
As they walk, Mabel tells Zander about Mina, and the mastodon joining the circus. Zander says sometimes life takes to to strange places, Mabel retorting with sometimes you need to punch life in the face and make your own choices. At first embarrassed, Zander tells Mabel that he has had to throw his fair share of punches, making her feel better until they hear singing.
Dipper starts to look through the Journal, but finds nothing of use. Marcus says that maybe the music is how the witch controls her transparent spectral pets, Dipper mentioning hypnosis, causing him and Robbie to start arguing again. Mabel starts looking around the tunnels, trying to figure out where the singing is coming from. Unable to tell, she starts trying to meditate, but Robbie and Dipper fighting distract her.
Zander yells for them to stop, shocking everyone, even the distant witch, into silence. The sounds of animal paws on the ground start reaching them, everyone saying they need to leave. Zander says no and, faster than anyone can blink, ties Dipper and Robbie together using his scarf, saying they aren't going anywhere until Robbie and Dipper get over each other. The other band members tell them they have to run, but Zander just tells Mabel to pinpoint where the witch is, Mabel complying as Zander tells the boys to get to it.
Robbie quickly admits that Dipper made him insecure with his ability to be friends with Wendy without trying. Dipper tells Robbie he didn't deserve Wendy, and Robbie agrees with him, the jerk facade gone, a depressed guy all that's left. Dipper admits that he was wrong for messing things up with Wendy three summers ago, and says that he may have done it again. Robbie apologizes for messing that up, confusing Dipper, but there is no time to elaborate as Mabel has figured out where the witch is, and her animals have arrived.
Zander unties Robbie and Dipper, the two looking at one another for a second before turning to face the animals and witch. The witch asks them who they are, and doesn't believe them when they say they just found her house by accident. She asks how they knew about her secret room, and Robbie tries to tell her that he found it accidentally, but she gets mad, the animals by her side glowing red. She asks who destroyed her family as Dipper pulls out the Journal, realizing the animals are her familiars. Noticing the Journal, the witch thinks they are witch hunters who are trying to destroy her family. Zander tells her they aren't, but she says someone among them has magical properties, all eyes falling to Dipper and the Journal.
The witch says things are going to end now and starts singing, charging up her familiars. Dipper flips through the Journal, but doesn't see anything on how to control the familiars. Robbie decides they might as well fight fire with fire and pulls out his guitar, playing the first note of Gaiatale, stunning the witch and her song temporarily. The witch starts up her song with renewed vigor, supercharging her familiars.
Mabel realizes that music makes the familiars more powerful, and tells the band, who had followed Robbie's cue and gotten their instruments out, to sing the song to her and Dipper. Mabel is surrounded by a red/orange auras, Dipper by a blue/gray one, the music giving them a power boost. Mabel is able to take can of the cougar and wolf at the same time, Dipper handling the bear easily on his own. The animals taken care of, the twins turn to the witch together, an unstoppable force of blue and orange.
The witch stops singing and makes her familiars disappear, the band stopping as well. She apologizes to everyone for trying to hurt them and not believing them when they said they didn't do anything to her family. She complements the band on their music, even though it was strange to her. Zander complements her on her singing before getting an idea and pulling the band into a huddle. The twins catch something about usefulness before the huddle breaks up, Zander happy, Robbie, Bishop, Marcus and Kane looking depressed. Zander asks the witch for her name- Midian- and offers her an idea.
At the second concert, the last song is wrapping up, Midian having sung with Zander for the entire set, all to the fans' delight. The twins watch from backstage as Zander announces Midian as the newest member of Duskhope, the fans cheering for her as she is almost overwhelmed. Zander silences the applause and adds to the news- Midian will be the new lead singer, sending shockwaves through the crowd, twins, and band themselves. The news isn't over- Zander says Duskhope only needs five members, and he wanted their next new member to be from Gravity Falls, just like Robbie was. Zander takes a step back to let everyone see the new Duskhope, officially announcing his retirement from the band.
The audience cheers for Midian, tears in the eyes of some of Zander's more... passionate female fans. Zander and Midian hug each other, Zander telling her to keep the band in order for him. He tells the crowd 'There's always another day' before leaving with a 'So long, suckers!' they twins cracking up at his antics. Dipper tells Mabel she and Zander are kind of similar as they go to meet up with a reeling Soos, Candy and Grenda. The twins tell them that they knew Midian was asked to join the band, but they had no idea about Zander's retirement.
Dipper leaves to talk to Robbie about some stuff, Mabel staying behind to tell the others what it was like to be around Zander. Before rounding one of the many trailers that are parked outside, Dipper overhears Bishop trying to tell Zander to stay. Zander insists that he's out, leaving the band in Midian's hands. Dipper overhears them hugging each other goodbye before Zander heads out, Robbie staying put for the moment to look around the town. Dipper hears the others leave and is about to go around the trailer when someone else shows up.
Both Dipper and Robbie are shocked by Wendy's voice, the former because she sounds more tired than he has ever heard her, and he thought she and Robbie weren't talking anymore, the latter because it is revealed he thought she would not be staying around town. Wendy says she tried to leave but wasn't able to not come back. Robbie is worried that 'they' will find out, and says that he is close to 'it,' and he might have a better chance with Midian around. Wendy reminds him that they promised not to involve anyone else, and tells him that she means it. He tries to insist, but Wendy says she forgives him. Robbie asks how he can let her do that, and she says he can do the same thing he did when he started whatever-it-is they are talking about- by just doing it.
Dipper feels someone looking at him and turns around to see Mabel sneaked up on him while he was listening. Resisting the urge to yell at her, the two listen as Robbie tells Wendy he and Dipper got over their issues. Wendy says she's happy her two boys are getting along, but Robbie tells her not to call him that, saying he lost that privilege 'that night.' She tells him to check in with the guys, Robbie saying he doesn't want to deal with Tambry being mad at him. Wendy tells him they're more mad that he ran away, shocking Robbie that she keeps tabs on everyone. She tells him to live his life happily, telling him the last time he tried to help didn't work out so well. He asks what she's going to do, and she says she'll either figure something out or go crazy, the two saying goodbye.
The twins stand behind the trailer, attempting to process what they just overheard. Almost nothing makes sense to their stunned minds, but one thing is clear: Wendy has been hiding something from them.
Cryptograms:
Wysb h vteun, hkaqw mw njel, och oino izdwviec tcgi.
Vidfl o gmgxdo, dwhi dhgdosg hds, koly ilh hwha rdsu.
Mzkkcl eqx vybpi, gocel ac wmgy, kol bdx vimvz gdvh.
Qzou rdiv u eizhtvb vwmvat e wlsqlrn eqx s tvigrhs tojcbi d wzyys. Keyword
Tear a heart, patch it true, and love blossoms more.
Solve a riddle, wise another day, seek the next door.
Shadow and doubt, climb to hide, see not souls sore.
When does a mystery become a tragedy and a journey become a chore.
Tev al vlr bsbk tbxo x pzxoc? Fq'p obxiiv txoj lrqpfab. Pboflrpiv. Qxhb fq lcc.
Why do you even wear a scarf? It's really warm outside. Seriously. Take it off.
