Dreamer

Double Dipper

Dipper invited me over to the Mystery Shack one afternoon. Dipper and Mabel were sitting on the couch. I was helping hang decorations. I walked into the room and accidentally got sprayed with bright pink silly string. I sat on the armchair, letting my boyfriend's head fall into my lap from laughter.

Mr. Pines gathered up the supplies we had in our hands. "Alright, alright. Party supplies are now off limits."

"Mr. Pines, whose birthday is it again?" Soos asked.

"Nobody's. Thought this party might be a good way to get kids to spend money at the shack." Mr. Pines revealed a pin the donkey poster.

"Nice," Soos commented.

"The young people of this town want fun?" Mr. Pines questioned. "I'll smother 'em with fun."

Dipper and Mabel got up. They started to pour drinks. Dipper handed one to me.

"Maybe comments like that are why kids don't come to the Mystery Shack," Dipper reasoned.

"Hey, hey." Mr. Pines took the remaining soda and capped it. "How's about you make yourself useful and copy these flyers?" He handed a clipboard to Dipper.

Mabel grinned. "Oh, boy! A trip to the copier store."

"Calendars, mugs, t-shirts, and more. They got it all at the copier store!" Soos smiled. "That's not their slogan. I just really feel that way about the copier store."

"Save the trouble. You know the old copier in my office?" Mr. Pines asked. "I finally fixed the old girl up. Good as new."

Dipper, Mabel, and I decided to take the trip to Mr. Pines's office. The old copier was surging with strange electricity. I was terrified to touch it in fear of being electrocuted. Duct tape held most of it together, along with some strange, thin rope. Moths flew around it.

Mabel gasped. "Butterflies!"

Dipper opened the copier. "Does it even work?" He pressed a random button on the copier.

A green light emitted from under the glass as his arm was scanned. He jumped away, frightened. We stepped back from the printer, looking to see where the paper was printing. A tray popped out along with black smoke. A black-and-white image of Dipper's arm was printed on the paper.

Mabel picked it up. "Success."

The paper wiggled, making Mabel drop it and push me behind her. I put the two behind me, knowing this was not normal. The part of his arm came out of the paper, then gained color. It slinked along the floor towards us. Dipper grabbed his drink from the table.

"Stay back!" He splashed the fizzy pink drink onto the arm. It fizzled up and turned into nothing. "Oh my gosh. I think this copier can copy human beings."

"Do you realize what this means?" Mabel asked, acting serious.

She sprayed Dipper with silly string.

~~~

We stood in front of Mr. Pines. We were about ready to start the party, but we needed assignments. I was told I might be with Dipper, which I was looking forward to. Finally, even a night with him was enough quality time.

"All right, party people. And Dipper. Let's talk business. Soos, because you work for free, and you begged, I'm letting you be DJ."

"You won't regret it, Mr. Pines," Soos assured him. "I got this book that teached me how to DJ r-r-right."

"Not encouraging." Mr. Pines faced Wendy. "(Y/n), you and Mabel are working the ticket stand."

"What?" Mabel questioned in disbelief. "But, Grunkle Stan, this party is my chance to make new friends!"

"I could work with (Y/n)," Dipper suggested, raising his hand shyly.

"You realize if you do, you gotta commit to staying at the ticket stand with (Y/n). No getting out of it. Just the two of you, alone, all night," Mr. Pines explained.

The thought of cuddling me by nightfall lingered in his mind. "I promise."

~~~

Pink lights made the party glow. Dipper and I sat outside, managing the crowd. My yellow dress flowed past my knees, making it easy to sit in. The belt cinched my waist. Weirdly enough, a top hat fit the party and my outfit. It felt strangely familiar.

"Oh, here. I almost forgot." Dipper wrapped a piece of silk around my neck and I noticed the ends. A bow tie undone.

A young girl handed me the money to get a ticket. "Dipper, I'll fix it." I gave her a ticket.

We let the line get smaller, then I brushed aside my hair to tie the bowtie. Dipper knew how much I loved to mix up the two kinds of formal wear. Dipper's was starting to come undone, so I fixed his as well. He smiled gratefully at me, even kissing my forehead to add to the thank you.

"I really wish I could be in there for Mabel." Dipper frowned. Dipper's face suddenly lit up. "Bathroom."

"Got it," I replied, still handing people tickets.

As the night went on and Dipper was sitting next to me, I noticed him out of the corner of my eye. Like he was walking around when he was right next to me. Maybe all those nights out were getting to me. Dipper and I could go hide in his room for a bit and cuddle.

Dipper noticed me rubbing my eyes. "Well, now I know what you want to do later."

"I'm very glad you have known me long enough to know exactly what I want most of the time," I admitted.

Eventually, Dipper and I were able to join what was left of the dying party. Dipper offered his hand out to me when we got inside. I also saw Dipper out of the corner of my eye. I ran, wanting to find whatever was imitating Dipper. Eventually, I found a party popper, a set off sprinkler, and a pile of water. Right in front of Stan's office.

Clones. Made by a mysterious printer in Stanley Pines's office. Can make live images of people. Do not attempt to make a clone. They will have the same knowledge as you do, so everything you know can be used against you. How to get rid of them: liquid.

I joined Dipper back at the party. He looked concerned.

"Is something wrong?" Dipper asked.

"Nothing at all." I smiled at him. "Shall we dance?"

"Absolutely," Dipper said as Soos put on a slow song for us.

"Look at you taking after me."