When Everyone's a Monster in Gravity Falls

Chapter 1: How it started

Dipper:

My nose in the journal, I struggled not to trip over as I wandered through the forest, stepping over large roots and stones. They're wasn't much sound other than my feet crunching the dirt on the ground and the rustling of leaves. I was reading a very interesting page on a creature known as a Peryton. They were supposed to be these half deer, half bird creatures who lived in forests and mountains, and apparently there were some in Gravity Falls.

I started to hear the calming sound of running water, and a bird chirped overhead. Sun rays filtered down through the tree leaves, making the whole place seem enchanted. It was a warm day and the whole town was out and about, enjoying the perfect weather, but I'm pretty sure I was the only one in the forest that day.

I stumbled a little on what I thought was a giant root but continued walking. I suddenly realised that the water sound was getting a lot closer. I was just about to tear my eyes from the journal and search for the source of the noise when I thought I caught a glimpse of a deer, causing me to lose concentration and trip. There was a great Splash and I realised I had fallen in the source of the water noise. My head started spinning, and my body rippled in a tingling feeling, like pins and needles, but it stopped almost as soon as it had started. I realised I was still just sitting in the shallow stream I had fallen into, my hat had fallen off and my shorts and shoes getting drenched, so I stood up hurriedly and picked up my hat, letting it drip for a moment before I squeezed out the remaining water and flopped it back on m head. I saw the journal sitting in the bank, the corners becoming very wet. I picked it up and noticed the page that it had flipped too.

Something about "Fluvius Contatus"? Interested, I sat on the ground beside the stream and began reading again.

'The Fluvius Contatus is a cursed/enchanted stream that transforms whoever makes contact with it's water. Some rumours mention it granting people wishes, but most say that the only thing it does is curse those unlucky enough to fall in. Apparently the magic starts very slowly, but a full moon will cause its effects to speed up drastically. I suspect this is caused by concentrated Luna Energy. Either way, I will take a sample of the water to study.'

I read most of the page but the end of it trailed off to very rushed handwriting and the only word I could catch was 'personality'. This wide stream was supposedly supposed to shimmer in bright light, but was devoid of any fish or water insects. I looked over my shoulder to glance at the water I had just fallen in, only too see that it matched that exact description, glittery and all. I suddenly became very aware of the slight tingling sensation in my legs and chest that had refused to leave.

As I - very quickly - walked back to the Mystery Shack, thoughts kept flying through my head, like what if that stream really is cursed? What will happen to me? Will I be cursed forever? Still feeling tingly all over, and journal in hand, I broke into a jog.

Mabel's POV:

Where is he? He's been out a lot longer than usual.

I had been sitting outside, by myself, all day and I was bored out of my mind. Dipper had gone on one of his little "adventures" again and reading that dang journal! So I just sat here, waddles sleeping under my arm, his cute, little pig face snoring quietly. It was a really nice day, and I was glad I had decided to sit on the grass outside the Shack, the sun on my face. But that didn't make me any less bored.

I think dipper had been gone for, like, two hours, now? And he promised he'd be back within an hour. I had just found this weird old board game about fish or something in one of Grunkle Stan's cupboards that was now lying in front of me. I really wanted to try it out but everyone was "busy". I noticed the sun starting to set and gave up waiting, so I picked up Waddles and the board game and walked inside.

I heard a gruff voice call "Hey, Mabel!" From inside the living room and I saw Stan sitting in his usual seat, watching his usual show about, well, I never really understood it but it was a show he liked.

He called again, "Mabel! Where's your brother? He's been gone a lot longer than he said!"

Of course this was about Dipper.

"Probably still in the forest", I say, stepping down the steps and plopping myself on a pillow near the recliner. "Are you sure you won't play this board game with me?" I added. I set Waddles down beside me.

"Ugh, I'm surprised that kid hasn't tripped and died yet, with is face always buried in that book," he replied. "Oh, and, uh, no, sorry pumpkin." Then he returned his focus to the TV.

I huffed and laid back. All day I had been trying to find things to do with dipper but he'd been buried in the journal so I kind of just sat somewhere, staring at things and thinking. This is not something I do very often, just sitting and thinking, because that's kind of more Dipper's thing. Maybe if I had of just gone with him on his monster hunt I wouldn't be so... Bored! There was no other way to put it.

Dipper POV:

I think I had been running for about 15 minutes when the Shack came into view. The pins and needles still remained in my feet very slightly, but that didn't stop me worrying about it. I was so tired and puffed out, but somehow it felt like my body had been working twice as hard. I walked to the front door of the shack, which had been left wide open, and went through. With a very brief "Hi guys," to Mabel and Stan as I passed the living room, I summoned all my remaining energy to climb up the stairs to our room.

I swung open the door and flopped down onto my bed, utterly exhausted. I wanted to read the page about the Fluvius Contatus stream again to check if I missed anything, but I was so tired I felt like I couldn't lift my arm. I heard footsteps on the creaky stairs coming closer and closer. Mabel walked through the open doorway and fell onto her bed next to mine.

"Hey bro bro. Where have you been for two hours?" She said, a slight edge to her voice.

"Well, I did find this stre-" I began to say but i was interrupted by a loud "Ugggggghh!" From Mabel. I rolled over to see her still lying there but she looked a little upset.

"Do you always have to be in that book? I was bored all day! I found this awesome board game I wanted to play with you!" She exclaimed.

"Well, I'm sorry!" I snapped back, but I immediately felt bad afterward. I noticed a tear drop from Mabel's left eye, and I went over to her bed and hugged her. "I really am sorry, Mabel. It's just, I really want to find out about all the mysteries of this place. Adventure like this is what I've been wanting my whole life!"

She started sobbing. "But now that's all you ever do. Why can't we have some twin time, like before?" She hugged me back, even tighter, then whispered "I'm sorry too."

When we had made up completely, I explained my adventure (if you could call it that) of falling into the stream and reading the page, but she just said that I was being silly.