Seeds + Other One-Shots and Short Stories {A Gravity Falls Royalty AU}

Education (Part One)

A/n: Is this realistically accurate? Lol no. Am I having fun? Heck yeah!! On with the fic!!

"We need to talk to you two," 

Dipper frowned. This usually meant they did something wrong. Like the time a police officer told them to "Stop stealing food, or else, you'll be arrested." Or the time the cashier at their local grocery store banned them. Permanently. 

When the words left Ford's mouth, Stan right next to him, they believed it meant the worst. 

"We're getting kicked out, aren't we?" Dipper spat. "Or we're in trouble. Or there was a mistake and we're not actually your heirs. Or-" 

Stan placed his hands up, trying to assure the child, "Of course not, kid. None of that stuff is true." Dipper tilted his head and raised a brow. "I promise you, Dipper. Your sister and you didn't do anything wrong." 

"Then... what did you need to talk about?" Mabel squeaked out, face half buried in her sweater. 

Ford answered, "The school season is coming up and Stan and I need to decide what to do about your education." The children looked away in discomfort for a moment. Ford chose to continue his explanation, "There's a lot of different options! Public, private, homeschool, et cetera," 

"Ford, I don't know how interested the kids are in schooling options," 

"We're interested!" Dipper exclaimed, glancing at Mabel. She was clearly not interested. "Okay, I'm interested. It's just, I've never done well in a school environment. I'm not dumb, I swear! It... never works out for me however." 

"We can't have you not receive any schooling. It's illegal, in fact." 

"And guess who made that dumb law!" Stan exclaimed, gesturing towards Ford. This caused Mabel to perk up and giggle while Dipper gave a small smirk. Ford shook his head. 

"As I was saying," he continued, "There are a lot of different options, so even if you didn't do well in a classroom setting before, that might change now! Same goes for you as well, Mabel. It'll be different from when you lived in the village," 

"How so?" Mabel challenged, this claim causing her to be attentive. 

"For one," Ford held up a finger, "The school we're currently looking at is ranked five stars and has the best reviews in the kingdom! Nice students, nice staff," 

Dipper shook his head, "They won't be nice to me," he chuckled as if this was a joke. 

"I'm... sorry?" 

Dipper shot up, "Oh, oh, I... I... um... just... a lot... a lot of the kids at my old school and old village always picked on me and, I'm not really expecting it to be any different here." 

"Oh..." Ford looked sullen at his claim, if only for a brief moment, before moving on, "I guarantee, my boy, I won't let anyone bully you. Now, that being said, another reason we're looking at this school is because of it's location. It's quite close to the castle. Only about thirty minutes away, and-" 

"Wait!" Mabel declared, "Is it that one school we passed on the way here? Pine Star Middle School or something?" 

Stan snapped and pointed at her, "That would be the one, kiddo!" 

She frowned, "I... I don't know. Isn't that a private school? We're gonna have to wear uniforms right? But... but I like my sweater! I like all my sweaters! They're soft and comfortable! I'm never cold! Now I'm gonna freeze to death and I'll have to deal with fabric that's too itchy! How can I pay attention in class when I'm so focused on my stupid uniform?" 

Stan grinned, "No uniforms, pumpkin!" 

"What...? Really?" 

He smiled, "Yep! Sure, there is a dress code, but they're in most schools. You can wear your sweaters as much as you want!" 

Mabel beamed, "Then... this sounds great!! Dipper, we're gonna go to a big school and make lots of friends and learn a bunch of cool stuff!! This is amazing!!"

Stan smiled, "Great! In that case, we still have to get you two enrolled so... wanna go now?"

"Now?"

The elder twins nodded.

"Yeah!! I'd love to!! Come on, Dip!" Mabel exclaimed, already heading outside. However, she backtracked when she noticed her brother wasn't following, "Dipper?"

"I'm coming, I'm coming,"

"Why don't you go on ahead with Mabel?" Ford suggested to Stan. He stayed behind with the boy as the other two vanished from sight.

"Bullied a lot?"

Dipper hummed.

"Yeah, me too," he sighed, "I was always picked on for my polydactyly. I can see why you're hesitant to start a new school. I would be too, if I was in your position. But, you have Stan and I to back you up," Ford smiled, "Please tell one of us if you're getting bullied. Trust me, we're not going to let anyone hurt our son!"

Dipper gave a smile, "Thanks. It's just cause of my stupid birthmark, that's all,"

"What?"

"My..." he flinched, "Oh! I... I have a birth defect too, King Ford. I started hiding it when the other kids picked on me though. It just became routine after awhile," they were silent as they continued to walk, "Would you... like to see it?"

"I'd love to. As long as you're comfortable,"

Dipper fidgeted with his hat for a moment. He pulled it off before he could convince himself not to, and brushed up his hair to reveal the Big Dipper plastered across his forehead.

"Ths Big Dipper..." Ford mumbled to himself, "That's... why everyone calls you Dipper," he looked at it for a few more minutes, "It's truly amazing, my boy! There's so much history and culture based on that one constellation alone! I'll have to show you!"

"But... but it makes me look like a freak,"

"Well," Ford placed a hand on Dipper's shoulder, "I guess we're both freaks."

The elder wasn't detered by the mark. In fact, he even liked it. Dipper looked at his hand and smiled back up at Ford.

"Come on, let's go catch up with our siblings!" Ford expressed, "They're probably wondering where we are!"