Sixteenth Summer - A Dipcifica Story

Chapter One: Crash

It started on the first day of July.

Soos had the Mystery Shack ready for the Pines family's visit. Stan and Ford were visiting after their recent escapades while the twins were supposed to arrive shortly after. Soos only wished the weather was better: dark clouds drifted across the sky while the wind howled. It only took moments for lightning to flash and thunder to roar, causing Soos to jump and hide behind the till.

Wendy, leaning against the till, smiled. "Soos, you big chicken. It's just a storm."

"No dude, this feels weird." Soos frowned, peering over the till.

"Everything's weird to you Soos."

"Stan and Ford were supposed to be here by now. Do you think...?"

"They got in trouble?" Wendy raised a brow. "Knowing those two? Probably. But don't worry about it. They always somehow survive it."

Soos sighed, standing up. "You're right Wendy. Look, it seems the storm is passing."

Soos and Wendy moved to the window, studying the storm above. It did seem the clouds had passed, but there was something off about them. A funnel had appeared in the clouds, grey and swirling. Only, as Soos gazed at it, the funnel seemed to spark with blue light. Lightning? Soos guessed, though it didn't change the fact he was trembling with fear. Wendy, meanwhile, paled. "That really looks like a messed up tornado."

Soos was about to ask why a tornado would form in Gravity Falls when the funnel began to spark with even more blue light. That's when two things happened at once.

The funnel seemed to touch down, illuminating the Mystery Shack in it's blazing blue light. It pushed through the evergreen trees, which bent and creaked. Then, when the light cleared, a squeal of tires sounded from outside as a vehicle swerved into the parking lot; only, it had no control. The truck bounced along and swerved so that it's side slammed into a tree. Wendy cried out while Soos gawked at the two sitting in the vehicle. "Stan! Ford!"

Soos and Wendy hurried outside just as Ford slumped out of the vehicle, blood trickling from his nose and a gash on his forehead. His glasses were shattered, and when he saw Soos and Wendy, his brow furrowed. "Is that...Soos! Wendy! Thank god we made it, I never should've let Stan drive!"

"Mr. Pines, what just happened?" Soos asked. "What's with Stan, is he dead?!"

Ford's eyes widened as he swung around to stare at his brother, who was passed out in the driver's seat. "Oh jeez! Stan, wake up!" He opened the door and unbuckled Stan, feeling for a pulse. Ford let out a sigh of relief. "He's alive."

Wendy and Soos exchanged a glance. "He must've hit his head when you guys crashed," Wendy guessed. She reached forward to help Ford, but the man shook his head sharply.
"Wait, this doesn't make sense."

"What doesn't make sense?" Soos asked with a frown. He fixed the hat Stan gave him. "We should get him to a hospital—"

Ford slapped Stan and Soos screamed. "Stop faking it Stanley! We haven't got all day!"

"I don't think he's faking it." Wendy said, grabbing Ford's wrist. "We need to get him to a hospital. Now."

Ford grimaced, leaning back against the truck door and closing his eyes. Finally, he nodded. "You're right. Something's wrong. My brother would have fought back if I slapped him like that. He's not well." Ford gestured to Soos and Wendy. "Help me move him to the other seat and we'll go to the hospital."

Soos and Wendy did so without complaint as Ford's gaze narrowed on the cloudy sky.
It can't be him, he thought as the last of the blue dwindled in the sky. He's gone. Dead. That storm...the crash...it has to be something, or someone else.

"We better get going!" Wendy called from the driver's seat. Ford turned to her with a weak smile.

"Yes, hurry. Before this storm gets any worse."

~~~
Hey all, thanks for reading. Sorry for not including Dipcifica right from the get go, but for the story to work they'll be showing up soon! If you like the story and want to see more, vote, comment, or follow!