PART 1:
Mabel is watching a Duck-tective marathon while Dipper looks through the Journal, Yuki half-watching the show and mostly confused. He questions how people know what the duck is saying, Mabel telling him he is thinking too hard. He picks up that this is an expression before Stan comes in and takes the remote from Mabel, calling Soos and Wendy in as he turns on the news.
Shandra Jimenez is walking around the destroyed convention center, saying that the event was ruined when Graupner Kinley attacked. She then says that new evidence suggests that he wasn't working alone. The screen cuts to Omir Steindorf, who says in no uncertain terms that the town will not see business improvement if people like Kinley can cause that much damage. He goes on to say that the damage was too great to be caused by one person, and he tells people that, until the others are found, they should stay out of Gravity Falls. Shandra comes back, saying that Omir is personally overseeing the investigation, and telling everyone that his company, Steindorf and Co, is helping to rebuild the convention center.
Stan turns the TV off, and puts his hand to his eyes, saying that that won't be good for business. Dipper says the Manor should be the least of their concerns, but Stan barks at him that he wasn't talking about making money for once. He tells them that the whole 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger thing' means you have to not die. He tells them all that they aren't allowed to go after monsters unless they know for sure what they are facing, or all six of them are together.
Mabel hugs Stan, happy that he will be joining their adventures from now on. Stan tells Soos and Yuki to adjust his car engine, Yuki trying sarcasm, but Stan doesn't pick up on it. Or he does but her doesn't care. The twins say that Soos and Yuki should get a break after all they did to help beat the Warlock three days ago. Wendy says Stan would never do that, but tells the twins they were awesome, Mabel blushing but Dipper not saying anything to her.
Wendy tries to see what Dipper is working on with the Journal, but Dipper hides it from her, Mabel realizing that whatever he is doing is about Wendy. Mabel asks Wendy to check the mail for them, Wendy heading out, leaving the twins alone. Dipper grumbles that every time someone they know hides a secret, it's always something crazy bad. He pulls out a list of things he thinks Wendy could be involved in. The first two are supernatural groups/cults, and the third, the one he is concerned about most, is that she isn't Wendy.
Mabel is shocked at this, but Dipper has an entire list of evidence. Wendy doesn't hang out with her friends anymore, and was freaking out when Tambry showed up. Mabel mentions Wendy freaking out when Mabel told her Candy and Grenda had spent the night, but she hasn't thought of it until now. Dipper adds that to the list of evidence before saying that Wendy doesn't want to go into town anymore. He then says that her beating the rock golem in a staring contest, and not reacting to being crushed by a wardrobe, are both too weird to be accidents or whatever.
Mabel grudgingly admits that it's not impossible, but she asks Dipper if Wendy isn't Wendy, then what could she be? Dipper says that that is where he is getting stuck, the Journal having nothing that fits their evidence. He says that he should be done going through the journal tomorrow, but Mabel asks him what happens if he doesn't find a match. He insists he will, but Mabel tells him just to ask Wendy.
Dipper says no, Wendy wouldn't tell him anyway. He also says that if he asks Wendy and she says it's nothing, then she will know he is suspicious of her. Mabel says it could be a ginormous misunderstanding, but Dipper says that they are in Gravity Falls- secrets are always bad. Mabel tells him that he is so upset because this is a personal issue, and the more he searches, the more frustrated he will become. Dipper asks her if she is frustrated too, and Mabel admits that she is, but says everyone has secrets, like Stan with Ford and the Portal.
Dipper reminds her about how that turned out, but Mabel reminds him about how many times Wendy helped them. Dipper pouts as Wendy calls to them from the gift shop- they actually did get mail. They go in to see Arline also in there, who tells them that she doesn't know who the Warlock's helper(s) is/are. She says her info was only about the Warlock, but she didn't come in to make people nervous with that kind of stuff.
Stan comes in and demands rent for the day- asking for eight hundred bucks. Arline sputters that the price doubled since yesterday before giving Wendy her credit card. She passes the twins the thing they got in the mail before saying she's going into town to check things out. Stan sarcastically commends her on her ability to keep things in control, Arline responding that she has taught the twins how to handle the problems Stan leaves them in before leaving.
Stan grumbles about her as Wendy and the twins stare at him. He says that he has to make up money from her taking up one of his motel rooms for the past few weeks. Mabel says he doesn't have to be that mean to her Master before Stan leaves, grumbling. Wendy says he's just being stupid and stubborn about something before reminding the twins about their mail.
Mabel looks at the object to see a postcard of Gravity Falls. She turns it over, whoever wrote it saying retirement isn't what they pictured and they want the twins' help with something. Mabel squeals when she gets to the end, realizing that Zander asked her and Dipper to come over.
Mabel wants to go right away, but Dipper wants to stay and keep looking through the Journal to try and figure out what Wendy is hiding. Dipper eventually agrees, not wanting to be near Wendy at the moment. He grabs the Journal as Mabel goes outside. Coming back through the gift shop, Wendy asks him if he okay. He says Mabel is giving him a hard time going on about boys and stuff, leaving Wendy not-entirely pleased. Dipper climbs on the back of Mabel's bike, Mabel telling him that at least Zander doesn't seem to be hiding something. Dipper says almost everyone is these days before they start heading into town.
The twins arrive at the Gleeful's old home, Zander's new place, to see that he has already renovated the land and house itself greatly, making the property more appropriate for his status. The twins hear music coming from the house and walk up to the door, which cracks open as Mabel knocks on it. The twins enter the house and follow the sound of the piano music.
They walk out onto a porch to see Zander holding a guitar in a lawn chair, watching as Pacifica plays the piano. Pacifica notices them first, Mabel telling her she was great as Zander thanks them for coming. He takes them all inside and gives them water as Paciifca explains about her parents making her take the lessons. She admits that she had fun, even if she didn't want to do it, making Zander happy as he sprawls out on a couch.
Pacifica says that she needs to go, having to deal with the fallout from the business convention disaster. Dipper, already concerned about Wendy, snipes at her that they will let the Warlock destroy everything next time, Mabel explaining that a mystrey ha shim stumped and he's in a mood because of it. Zander asks Pacifica what she learned today, and she responds that music is music. Zander tells her she did good today and reminds her that there will always be a new day as she heads out.
Zander tells the twins that retired life is really, really, really boring, which is one of the reasons he agreed to teach Pacifica. He says that his next logical step is to make a website. He says he has the design part covered, but he can't really go anywhere without being noticed and harassed. He asks the twins to go in the woods and take pictures of something cool for him to use as the background of the website.
Mabel instantly agrees, but Dipper reminds her about what Stan said. Mabel says whatever they are doing isn't dangerous, then Dipper reminds her about his Wendy mission. Mabel says she's not going anywhere, Dipper saying they don't know that, Zander observing awkwardly. Zander offers to leave the room, but Mabel says they will do it, to Dipper's anger. Zander tells them they can take pics tomorrow just to find something weird and natural today. Dipper nods and drags Mabel outside, the two of them standing on the sidewalk in front of the house.
Mabel asks what Dipper is so mad about, telling him to chill out when he says it's still Wendy. She says Wendy wasn't hiding something from them three years ago, Dipper telling her that whatever it is is recent, meaning she could be involved with the Warlock. He says he wants to know why his close friend is hiding something from them, Mabel saying she does too, causing Dipper to ask why they are helping Zander. Mabel says Zander is cool, and that Dipper needs a break because he isn't making any progress with Wendy. Dipper says he hasn't made progress yet, Mabel telling him he hasn't made progress with her in three years.
Mabel slowly realizes what she said and gets upset as Dipper gets furious with her, thinking that that is what she has always though about his feelings for Wendy. He says that he at least has some consistency with who he likes, telling Mabel that she has no chance with the most recent addition to her long line of crushes, gesturing to Zander's home. He calls her a hypocrite for saying he has no chance with Wendy, Mabel says that she can at least move on when it doesn't work out.
The police pull up and tell them not to loiter on Zander's property, the twins yelling at them to get lost. As the cops comply, Dipper tells Mabel to go home on her own and leave him alone. Mabel tells him not to go somewhere alone because it could be dangerous, but Dipper doesn't listen and leaves his sister staring after him as he walks away. He walks for who knows how long, hurt at what Mabel said, not even realizing he entered the woods until he gets a face full of tree.
Looking around his new surroundings, he notices colored lights coming from farther into the trees. Wanting to get back at Mabel by showing whatever it is to Zander, he looks into a clearing that is full of crystals, some of the bigger ones sending out sparks of static and hitting smaller ones. Dipper reaches down to pick one up and show Zander, he gets shocked as soon as he touches it.
Shaking his hand out, he reaches to his chest to grab his electrified heart. His hand hits his chest sooner than it should, and he looks down to see that his chest sticks out now. Panicking, he examines himself and realizes that the crystal turned him into a girl, full out. She grabs more crystals, trying to change back, but nothing provides another shock.
Realizing changing back without help is impossible, Dipper considers who could provide assistance. Mabel's still gonna be mad, and would tease if she saw, as would Stan. Soos wouldn't judge, but wasn't the best thinker, and Wendy is out until her secret is figured out. Yuki would help but might tell people Dipper doesn't want told, and walking through town to find Arline could provide a chance for gossip to get to the Manor. Noting the irony of the situation, Dipper decides that going back to ask Zander for help is the best option.
PART 2:
At his house, Zander is playing with a guitar, bored out of his mind. When the doorbell rings he jumps at the door, desperate for even a temporary distraction. Opening the door, he complements Dipper on what he assumes to be a wig, unaware that it is Dipper's real hair. Dipper, trying to disguise her new girl's voice, asks for water, following Zander into the kitchen. Zander opens the fridge and gives Dipper one of the many water bottles in there, Dipper drinking half of it at once.
Zander asks why Dipper showed up, Dipper nervously debating how to tell Zander about what happened. Zander says he knows what's going on, and asks Dipper to follow him. Zander leads him outside and tosses him a pair of gloves. Zander says that everyone should garden at least once, pulling out two mysterious plants with purple flowers. Zander tells Dipper that the plants are wolfsbane, saying that he has heard howls at night, and got the plants shipped in from Romania.
Grabbing a small hand-shovel each, Zander shows Dipper how to dig a hole before mentioning that he heard the twins fighting. Dipper apologizes, saying they let it get out of hand. Zander asks what the fight was about, and Dipper says that they each have a crush on someone, and the fight was able how they felt about each other's crushes. He goes on to say that he wants to solve a mystery, but Mabel has been wanting to do other stuff. Zander clarifies that the other stuff is about her crush, and Dipper's mystery is about Wendy.
Dipper is shocked that Zander knew that, but Zander heard the twins talking before they left his house. Dipper says that he had a thing for Wendy when they were first in town three years ago. Zander asks if he still does, Dipper responding that it's complicated. Zander says that he is learning more about Wendy, to which Dipper nods.
Zander says that there is more to someone than what they show to the world, Dipper saying that Wendy has been hiding stuff from him. Zander says everyone does that, but Dipper says that Wendy's secret could be important. He angrily shoves the wolfsbane plant into the hole he dug, saying that whatever Wendy is hiding could be dangerous to them and she's not telling them about it.
Zander puts his plant in the ground and tells Dipper that he isn't thinking clearly. Dipper says that he can't believe Wendy won't trust him, the resident mystery-solver. Zander says it's not about Wendy trusting Dipper, it's about Wendy trusting herself. He says that if Wendy is keeping a secret as big as the one Dipper seems to think, it would be natural for her to be scared about what would happen if someone found out.
Zander says that she is probably scared about loosing friends, saying that friends become harder to keep as time goes on and both parties learn more about each other. Patting down the dirt around the wolfsbane plants, Zander compares relationships to a garden, Dipper grumbling at Zander's trickery. As Dipper picks up the tools, Zander tells him that Wendy is acting how she thinks is best, even if Dipper disagrees with it. Zander says that Dipper can have what he wants, both answers and trust, but one has to come after the other.
They go back inside, Zander grabbing Dipper another water, telling him that his fight with Mabel probably was just anger letting off steam, not actually trying to hurt each other. Dipper agrees with this and takes a drink, Zander noticing that Dipper doesn't have facial hair anymore. Remembering why she came in the first place, Dipper tells Zander about the crystals he found and that they turned him into a girl.
Dipper asks Zander what to do, as the crystals aren't changing her back, but Zander says he has no idea, not having dealt with this kind of stuff before. Zander asks why Dipper went to him, the gang at the Manor seeming like a better option. Dipper says he wanted to go to someone who wouldn't make fun of him, and while Zander is touched by this, he says that if they want to fix things, they need to go to people who know what they are doing.
Dipper refuses to go to Mabel, saying that she would tease him for it forever. Zander says that while Mabel probably would crack jokes, she is not the kind of person to turn someone, especially her brother, away when they ask for help. Dipper agrees to ask Mabel for help, but is concerned about the others seeing him. Zander reassures him that he is passable as a guy as long as he hides his hair and covers his chest.
The two of them get into Zander's expensive car, Dipper shocked at the capabilities. Zander says that he will cause a distraction to give Dipper time to sneak in and get Mabel and whatever else he might need. Dipper says that he will tell Mabel that he was stupid and ask her for help, Zander saying that sisters love it when brothers say they are stupid.
Zander tells Dipper that he is the oldest of three, a younger brother and sister both farmers with his parents. Dipper is shocked at this and asks if Zander has seen them, Zander saying they haven't talked in a while. Dipper apologizes, but Zander says there is no bad blood, he was just cursed with music and life called him away. Dipper suggests visiting them, but Zander says he still has work he has to do before he can do that.
They arrive at the Manor, Zander going to cause a distraction while Dipper sneaks in the side. Passing the gift shop where Zander is asking Stan for a tour sometime, Dipper heasds upstairs and knocks on the door to the attic. A response comes from the bathroom, Mabel crying and Waddles oinking in response to Dipper's knocks. Dipper walks in to see Mabel and her pig sitting in the bathtub.
Dipper sits down next to her, both of them apologizing and admitting that maybe what the other said is the truth, and they needed to hear it. They hug, Mabel noticing the thickness in Dipper's chest. Dipper tells her about the crystals, Mabel excitedly planning a girls night out or double dates or something. Dipper tells her that he still thinks like a guy, causing Mabel to start cracking jokes before asking how long it lasts. Dipper admits that he has no clue and asks Mabel for help, the two hugging again before they head downstairs.
In the hallway, Mabel hears Zander talking to Soos and Wendy about Robbie adjusting to the band. Dipper says that Zander is providing a distraction because he doesn't want anyone else to know. Mabel says the others would help if he asked, but agrees to not involve anyone else. She goes in to distract Soos and Wendy from Zander so Dipper can grab him and the three of them can figure stuff out.
Mabel walks in and starts talking to the three of them, Dipper sneaking around. Zander mentions the garden he's planning, Wendy saying he can do everything. He says that he can't cook just before Wendy notices Dipper. He tries to grab Zander and Mabel and sneak out, mentioning something about a mystery. Wendy and Soos insist on coming before Wendy picks up on something being different about him, pointing out his lack of facial hair. Mabel starts cracking jokes and Dipper is forced to reveal himself.
Wendy connects the dots immediately, telling Dipper that she noticed that the way he walked changed and his hat was bunchy. Dipper is shocked that she was able to tell something just from that and apologizes for not telling her the truth to begin with as the others head to Zander's car. Wendy tells him not to worry about it, guessing that he still thinks she looks attractive. Wendy tells him they all have secrets before they also head outside.
At the crystal grove, the five of them are examining the crystals, a chain around Wendy's shoulders and Soos with an electricity detector in hand... that is not picking up anything. Dipper directs them to the crystal that changed him, putting his hand on it and nothing changing. Mabel, thinking it is broken, touches it, getting shocked. Wendy and Dipper follow and Zander and Soos examine the crystals, Mabel examining her new boy body, making several joke and embarrassing Dipper to no end, Wendy laughing at the two of them.
Zander calls them back over and explains what he and Soos thought. Normal people, regardless of gender, have a charge that, when they touch the crystal, allows them to change genders. After the first change, the charge becomes deactivated, not allowing for a return to normal. He then says that for what they are planning to work, another person needs to change.
Soos volunteers and touches one of the crystals, getting shocked and exploding the electricity detector in his other hand. Zander tries to get the detector working again as Soos adjusts to being a woman. Zander tells the twins and Wendy to study every detail of him as Soos grabs another detector. Barely giving Soos time to come over, Zander touches the crystals before anyone can stop him.
Soos says that the detector got a reading this time as Zander recovers. He says that whatever is charging the crystals read like any other type of electricity, so it probably behave the same even if they don't know exactly what it is. He also says that there was a delay this time. Dipper says that maybe since Zander is taller than them and his arms arm longer, the current can be tracked as it travels over distances.
Wendy says there is one way to find out and unwraps the chain from her shoulders, Dipper telling her not to. He says that if she changes, there is no way of knowing if they all will be able to change back without getting more people involved, Zander agreeing with that idea. Wendy says she's go it handled and , one end of the chain dragging behind her, she reaches out to the crystals. Dipper grabs the other end of the chain as Wendy touches the crystals, the current running a yellow light along the chain, going through Wendy and the metal into Dipper.
The both step back, Dipper slowly realizing that he has become a guy again, Wendy now a guy almost like her father. As Wendy and Mabel unite over their newfound boy-hood, Zander says that they can all change back. He explains that they all stand around the crystals in a circle, touching the chain, which is spread out around them. Dipper touches the crystal with one hand and starts the current running along the chain, hitting everyone is succession as Dipper grabs the other end of the chain, completing the circle and, hopefully, restoring everyone to normal.
The five of them set up and Dipper touches the crystals, the current shocking him and getting half way around before he has a chance to move. Wendy grabs him just before the current hits her, completing the circle and shocking him yet again, but everything works, and they all return to normal, albeit knowing too much about the opposite gender.
Mabel hugs Dipper, everyone happy to have an adventure that wasn't life or death for the first time in a long while. Zander tells them to stay put for a few minutes while he runs back to his house to get a camera so they can take photos. Wendy punches Dipper playfully, telling him he can trust her. Dipper laughs at this, but feels the notebook and Journal in his vest, knowing that she is still hiding something, but he is more content now knowing that she will stand by them all not matter what.
Cryptograms:
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Coming up next- Zander Maximillion; Is there such a thing as 'too chill'?
