Little Dipper

Mermando's Tale

"We'll back in about a couple hours, we're going to see a movie." Mabel said as she grabbed her bag. "Get to bed on time, okay?"

"Ooookay." Dipper pouted. "What about you, though?"

"I'm going on a date. I'll be back by ten." Mabel kissed his cheek and then headed out to where Gideon was waiting with his horse.

"Lucky. I wanna go on a date on a horse to the movies." Dipper pouted.

"C'mon, kiddo, let's play a game instead. That's way more fun!" Bill closed the door and ushered Dipper to the living room.

–

"We have to keep an eye out for Pool Check, I swear the guy is a robot." Gideon said as he floated them over the fence and into the pool area.

"Yikes, really?" Mabel gasped.

"I once saw him crush a kid's kick-board – with his teeth." Gideon shivered. "The sounds it made..."

"Okay, avoiding the pool Terminator." Mabel nodded, and then they went over to where Armando was staring at the moon. "Hey, we're back."

He looked at them. "You came back." He smiled a bit. "I thought...you might not."

"We said we would." Gideon knelt next to the pool and Mabel sat next to him. "So, what's your story?"

He sighed. "Well...first of all, you actually guessed my name right. It's Mermando." He admitted. "I'm a merman, and I was caught in a fisherman's net. I managed to escape, but ended up on land when I escaped the truck. I somehow managed to bounce from a truck to a passing deer and then a pipe that knocked me into this place and I've been here ever since."

"That sounds...terrible." Gideon said, trying to picture the trip. No matter how he thought about it, it just didn't make sense that a merman would be randomly bounced all around Gravity Falls until it ended up in the pool. But, hey, Gravity Falls was weird like that. Maybe Bill could give them some insight.

"It is." Mermando gripped his necklace. "All I want is to return to my family, back in the ocean. But I do not know how to get home."

"Hm...what if we took you home?" Mabel asked.

"Took me home?" Mermando asked.

"Of course! If we got a tank and loaded it on a truck, we could lift you out and take you to the lake, from which you could follow the river to get to the ocean and return home!" Gideon nodded. "I can use my powers to safely lift you into the tank and--"

"Who's in here?"

"Uh oh, Pool Check." Gideon grabbed Mabel's hand. "We'll be back tomorrow night with the tank!" He promised, and then flew Mabel out with him.

Mermando watched them go and then ducked underwater.

--

Mabel looked over at the pool as they reached the horse, then looked at Gideon. "...What about the siren?"

Gideon sighed. "Too dangerous. If we let the siren escape, it'll bring back more. Mermando doesn't mean anyone harm. The siren was actively killing people. We can't let him free."

"Oh." Mabel looked down.

Gideon climbed up on the horse and offered her a hand. "Come on, let's go see the movie we said we were going to."

"Okay." Mabel climbed up behind him and held on.

–

"They're still out." Dipper kicked his legs, looking at the hallway. He'd changed for bed but had insisted on staying up until Mabel come home. Stan had gone down into the basement and Bill was cleaning up from Dipper's various games.

"They'll be back soon." Bill said, putting the board games on the shelf.

The phone rang and Bill went to answer it. "Hello?"

"Hey, is Mabel there? She's not answering her phone." Grenda asked on the other end.

"She's on a date, can I take a message?" Bill asked.

"Oh, well, I was wondering if we could have a sleepover at—oh my god, is this Bill? Hi, I haven't talked with you since the last time we did the spell, you kept avoiding me at the pool today! When do you need it done again, by the way?"

"Uhh, probably tomorrow. Why don't you talk with Shooting Star about your idea when you're here, hm? I gotta get back to watching Pine Tree." Bill suggested.

"Oh, that's a good idea! Okay, see you tomorrow, hot stuff!" She hung up.

Bill stared at the phone and hung it up slowly. "...Riiiight. I guess she hasn't gotten the hint yet." He walked back over to the living room and found that Dipper had fallen asleep on the couch. "Aw, little sapling." He picked him up and started for the stairs, pausing when he heard the door open.

"Okay, tomorrow night we do it for sure." Mabel said as she entered with Gideon.

"I hope you're talking about something that's not X-Rated." Bill commented.

"Wha—no! We're talking about freeing the merman!" Mabel nodded. "He's trapped and wants to go home!"

"He's not exactly held captive, he's just unable to get back to the ocean." Gideon informed Bill. "I'll see you tomorrow, then."

"Oh yeah, Grendo said that she's coming over tomorrow. Wanted to talk to you. Also, I need to get my physical form recharged." Bill started up the stairs again.

"I'll call Pacifica over, then." Gideon nodded. "After the work day is done."

"Thanks, Gideon. I'm taking Pine Tree to bed now, so say your good nights and then you should get home."

"Good night, Bill." Gideon nodded, then turned to Mabel. "I'll see you tomorrow morning."

"I'm making breakfast tomorrow, so be there." Mabel smiled and kissed his cheek. "Good night, Gideon."

He nodded and headed out, climbing on his horse and riding away.