Summer with the Pine Twins: Summer's Coming to an End

The Stanchurian Candidate: Part 1

Grunkle Stan's p.o.v.

"Alright, Stan, another day, another random body pain, here we go," I grumble as I wake up. Sitting up I place my feet in my slippers like always except this time they were soggy, looking down I see them covered in milk.

Confused I grab Mabel's note which read: Dear Stan, I needed something to carry milk in so I used your slippers. Love, Mabel. I shudder as I go to the bathroom to wash them out. After that I go to the kitchen to make breakfast, I switch on the light only resulting in the lightbulb shattering. I sigh as I open the cabinet to grab another lightbulb. But what I find is an empty box and a note from Dipper: Dear Stan, I took these to build a planetarium suit for Soos! Sorry! - Dipper.

I let out a groan as I crumple the note. I get dressed and head to the store for another box of light bulbs. While I was in line a couple of teenagers stood behind me, and started complaining about how old I was.

"Woah, let's not take this line, there's an old person in it." "Yeah, he's probably gonna pay with like pennies," Angrily I turn around and shout at them. "Hey, for your information I was gonna shoplift most of this!" This gets security called on me and I pull out one of my smoke bombs but it doesn't work and I'm tacked to the ground.

"Rough start to a day but it's all gonna be worth it, when I fix that lightbulb," I mutter as I get back in the house. Turning into the kitchen I find Ford inserting a new lightbulb and it instantly turns on. "Does anyone see this? This is what a hero looks like," Mabel comments, and I ask "I thought we were out of lightbulbs?" "Oh we were, so Grace and I invented our own, it'll last a thousand years and the light it illuminates makes your skin soft," Ford explains before Grace chimes in. "It can also power other electronics in the room which helped me finish breakfast. Anyway, where were you?"

I throw the paid-for box of bulbs into the trash and head to the living room where I just sit in the chair for a few minutes. "Hey Grunkle Stan, you awake?" I hear (y/n) ask and I open one eye and look at her.

"I noticed you've had a rough start to today so I made you some Stan cakes. Without your hair in it," Sitting up, I smile at her as I grab the plate and pull her up next to me for a hug. "I can always count on you to make me feel better kiddo," I tell her before turning on the tv. "Come on tv give us some good news." "This just in! The mayor is dead." "WHAT?!" I shout, dropping my fork as it clatters on the plate in my lap.

"Woah, what's going on?" Dipper asks as he and his sister walk in as the news talked about how the mayor was raised by bears and lists some of his accomplishments. "A memorial is already being carved in the deceased mayor's honor," She then begins to break down in tears sobbing about how it had been so long since some actual news needed to be reported.

"There will be a town hall meeting to discuss who will be replacing him." "New mayor huh? Wonder who it could be?" I mutter, the thought of running, flicks into my head. The kids and I had decided to attend the meeting, along with most of the town. "Alright everyone, calm down now. We're here to choose a new mayor in over a decade," Officer Blubs explains soon pulling out a dusty scroll and reading from it. "According to the town charter, a worthy candidate is defined as anyone who can cast a shadow, count to ten, and can throw their hat into the provided ring."

No sooner had the ring touched the ground than a hat landed inside and everyone turns to see it belonged to Bud Gleeful. "Now I do believe I fill out all the requirements." "Wait...Bud Gleeful?" Dipper asks, apprehensively, Mabel soon commenting "He looks good. Considering we threw his son in jail."

"That was a good day," I admit with a smile and I can see (y/n) nodding before our attention turns back to Bud as he walks up to the podium. "Now I know our families have had it's fair share of whoopsie daises in the past but I'd like to make up for it by formally announcing my candidacy for the mayor of Gravity Falls! Any questions?"

"Yes! Are you still in contact with little Gideon?" Toby asks, holding up his turkey baster, jeez he's the worst reporter and he runs the newspaper? "That's a great question, you get 50% off a used car!" Toby starts freaking out about the deal.

"In fact, everyone, look under you're seats, you get 50% off a used car!" Looking under our seats we find papers that read we got 50% off of a used car. "Wow, a colorful piece of paper? He's got my vote," Mabel exclaims before Dipper voices his concern. "Guys, I've got a really bad feeling about Bud Gleeful as mayor." "Me either, we all know he'd do anything to help his son."

(y/n) chimes in and Soos speaks up. "I dunno dudes, it's not like we have a lot of good mayor options. Everyone in this town is a tad strange except ironically Tad Strange," We all look at said normal man.

"It's a shame Ford or Grace isn't here, one of them would run, and either could win and be a great mayor," Dipper comments, earning my attention. That's it, I'm tired of Pointdexter and Pointdextette always one-upping me, well nor this time...I'm running for mayor! "So since everyone is happy, I'll just take the mayor's oath right now and-" I throw my fez into the ring, everyone gasping as they look at me. "Hold it right there Bud, I'm taking you on!" "Stanford? No offense but you're just some two-bit carnival marker and your head is more ears than face."

He insults me so I insult him right back. "Oh yeah? Well your face is more fat than not fat," Te people gasp and I tell them "What do you say, folks? Are we just gonna let Bud win? How about a real election?"

 It didn't take long for the ring to be filled with everyone's hats, Bud nervously laughing. "Well looks like we got some competition here folks. Which I'm totally fine with," He then jerks me close to him hard and whispers "I was gonna let bygones be bygones Stan but you just made a powerful enemy. I'll win either way and when I do you might not like the Gravity Falls you wake up in," He threatens, punching a hole where the Mystery Shack was on the map behind him.

Everyone cheers as they head out, a canon soon being shot. "Let the madness begin!" It wasn't long before it was just me and the kids. "Grunkle Stan, what are you doing?!" Mabel asks me angrily and I answer. "Running for mayor. Did I...Did I not make that clear?"