The Ice Storm Within

The 𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑚

Snow falls. Gideon and Mable move through the panicking crowd. "Snow? It's...snow...in August." The crowd murmured. "...Are you all right?" Gideon asks, Mable who is still in shock responds quietly. "No."

"Did you know?" He glanced at her before looking ahead. "No." Nearby, the Duke flutters about in fright.

"Look! It's snowing! It's snowing! The King has cursed this land! He must be stopped!" He turns to his thugs, "You have to go after him."

Mable rushes up to the Duke. "Wait, no!" The Duke hides behind his thugs and points out at Mable.

"You! Is there sorcery in you, too? Are you a monster, too?" Mable eyes widened, she stared at him wide eye for a sec or two before shaking it off.

"No. No. I'm completely ordinary." Gideon puts his hand on her shoulder, defensively. "That's right she is..." Mable looks at him, making him realize how that sounds.

"...in the best way." He smiles softly.

"...And my brother's not a monster." She turns back to the duke and his thugs. "He nearly killed me." The duke exclaims, "You slipped on ice." Gideon deadpanned. "His ice!" He yells.

"It was an accident. He was scared. He didn't mean it, he didn't mean any of this.. Tonight was my fault. I'm the one who pushed him. So I'm the one that needs to go after him." Her eyes now filled with determination.

"Yes. Fine. Do." The duke says. "What?" Gideon baffles as Mable puts on a coat. "Bring me my horse, please." She calls out.

"Mable, no. It's too dangerous." Gideon tells her, but she only chuckles. "Dipper's not dangerous. I'll bring him back, and I'll make this right."

The Royal Handler brings Mable her horse and a cloak. "I'm coming with you." Mable looks at him desperately. "No, I need you here to take care of Gravity Falls." He sees the desperation in her eyes.

"...On my honor." She throws on the cloak and hops right onto the horse, coronation dress and all. "I leave Prince Gideon in charge!" She yells to the crowd.

"Are you sure you can trust him? I don't want you getting hurt." He stares at her worried.

She smiles softly at him. "He's my brother, he would never hurt me." She snaps the reins and rides out. Gideon watches after her. The snow picks up and overtakes our view.
                                          ———
Well above the snow-line, a small figure climbs the highest peak. It's Mason. Finally, he stops, looks around and catches his breath.

"The snow glows white on the mountain tonight, not a footprint to be seen.
A kingdom of isolation and it looks like I'm the king."

He sighs and hugs himself.

"The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside. Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I tried..."

He glances up before continuing walking.

"Don't let them in, don't let them see, be the good boy you always have to be."

He points his finger in a lecture way.

"Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know.
Well now they know."

Dipper takes off his glove and throws it into the air.

"Let it go. Let it go.
Can't hold it back anymore."

Dipper creates a snowman, just like the one he made with Mable when they were children.

"Let it go. Let it go.
Turn away and slam the door!
I don't care what they're going to say.
Let the storm rage on.
The cold never bothered me anyway."