When You're a Mystery Kid

Welcome to Mystery

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters featured here.

After everything that's happened in the past few weeks, travelling to places all around the world that she never would've thought she'd get to visit, Coraline almost couldn't believe this would be the first time she went back to Gravity Falls. At the same time, it made sense. All of her free time had been spent either at the Mystery Kids' temporary headquarters at the Mother Lobe, or globe-trotting all over to solve whatever mess the lingering influence of Weirdmageddon caused. Maybe she could've taken a page out of Wybie's book and skip a few more classes. Then again, unlike Wybie, she's not a knowledge-absorbing sponge. Miss any more classes than she already was, and she's pretty sure she'll drop out. Still, at least the wait only made her that much more excited to return to Gravity Falls.

The jet lowered itself under the clouds, letting the valley come into view.

The town looked pretty much exactly like how Coraline remembered it. The buildings that were one moldy cheese away from a health code violation, the forest filled to the brim with things that could kill you, and more weirdos in a square mile than anywhere else in the country. Of course, now coated with a fine layer of snow. The sight brought a smile to Coraline's lips. How could it not? This was where it all started.

"Only a few minutes until we land, Agent Jones," a Psychonaut agent called from the cockpit. Agent Morales was his name, if Coraline remembered correctly. Another one of the agents that Sasha and Milla assigned to keep an eye over her and her team. He's one of the nicer ones.

"Got it. Thanks," Coraline called back. She settled back to her seat, but kept her gaze on the window.

It felt good to be back.

X-X-X-X-X

Agent Morales' orders were to drop her off at the Shack, but Coraline managed to convince him to instead drop her in the middle of the trail leading to the Shack. So, with a modest jacket, Coraline stepped off of the jet and into the crisp, winter air. She watched as the jet took off again, kicking up a plume of snow, soon disappearing among the clouds. Tucking her hands into the pockets of her jacket, she started walking down the path, careful to keep her pace slow and leisurely. She wanted this to last.

Her eyes darted left and right as she walked, fully taking in her surroundings. The amount of times she'd taken this trail probably counted in the hundreds by now, but with the simple addition of an extra layer of white over everything, the trail suddenly looked so strange and unfamiliar. It had changed, just like everything in her life, she thought, with a bitterness that surprised herself. She blew a breath that formed into a fine white mist, tickling the tip of her nose, that quickly evaporated into thin air. She supposed that was simply how the world worked, as bitter as she might get about it. Every day, every night, everything changes, ever so slightly.

The walk didn't last long enough, in Coraline's opinion, as before long, she'd entered the clearing where the Mystery Shack resides.

Coraline easily spotted, standing on the Shack's porch, leaning against a support beam, with his arms crossed tightly, Wybie. His eyes lit up when he caught the sight of Coraline approaching. He's clearly been waiting for her.

"Jonesy!" he greeted, waving her over. "Come on, you're the last one! Everyone else is already inside!"

Coraline was in no hurry, and no one's going to make her. She kept her relaxed pace as she made her approach. Wybie watched her with a cocked head and a quirked eyebrow, until she stepped onto the porch.

"Uh, you feelin' peachy, Jonesy?" he asked. There was no worry in his voice, not yet. Just plain curiosity.

"I'm just making this a slow day." Coraline shrugged, and even that was done slowly.