Gravity Rises (S3)

AI: Part Three

"We're just eating breakfast," Mabel said, closing the door behind Gideon. "Melody made hash brown casserole. Do you want some?"

Gideon looked to his left and saw, to his surprise, a small crowd in the kitchen. Around a large table — larger than the one Gideon was used to in the Museum — sat six people. Gideon recognized Dipper, Ford, Lincoln, and Melody, and the other two people looked like they must be Dipper and Mabel's parents.

"Good morning, Gideon," said Mabel's dad. He had a clean-shaven, youthful face and an amiable smile. "Have a seat."

Gideon blinked. What was going on? He followed Mabel into the kitchen and sat at an extra seat. Melody got a plate for him and served him food, and everyone started eating.

Gideon felt like a fugitive. He sat there at the table, his pack still on his back in case he needed a quick getaway. He pushed his food around and hoped no one would talk to him as he tried to figure things out. It was only he and Mabel here in the prison, wasn't it? Mabel, the one getting hurt, and Gideon, here to rescue her. Why, then, were there other people all of the sudden? There hadn't been anyone outside in the fake town.

And why was it morning? It had been evening when Gideon had flown to the moon. He'd been exhausted. But he'd ignored his exhaustion as he entered the moon, and now. . . now it was gone. It was morning here in this illusory world, and Gideon had energy again as if it really were morning. As if time had reset.

"Gideon? Are you going to eat?" asked Mabel.

Gideon glanced up at her. She seemed normal. Not just normal — happy. Happier than he had ever seen her. Her brown eyes were warm, and the constant ghost of a smile rested on her face. Gideon had expected her to be unconscious or in pain, not happy. Of course he wanted her to be happy, but — wasn't she in a magical prison? Wasn't she dying?

"Gideon?" she prompted.

"Uh, yes, thanks," Gideon said. He put a bite of food in his mouth. It tasted delicious. It seemed real.

Mabel smiled at him, then took a bite of her own food.

"So, Gideon," said Dipper, "where are you taking Mabel? She's been talking about it all morning."

"It's a surprise, Dipper," said Mabel. "He's not going to tell."

"Right," Gideon said, though he had no idea what they were talking about.

"Do you need any of my Journals?" Ford asked.

"Um, no, I know the way," Gideon said. He may not know what they were talking about, but he was pretty good at playing along.

"There's a lunch for you in the fridge, Mabel," said Melody.

"Be back by dinner, all right?" said Mabel's mom.

"Okay, Mom," Mabel said brightly.

Soon enough, everyone finished eating, and people left the kitchen as Melody started on the dishes. Gideon had only eaten a few bites of his food. He took the plate to the sink and told Melody that he already ate, but the food was delicious, thanks.

He followed Mabel out to the living room, where there were no other people. "So," said Mabel, "are you ready to go?"

"Actually, I'm not," Gideon said. "I'm. . . Mabel, will you answer some questions for me? They might sound silly, but I want to hear your answers."

She frowned a bit, but her eyes still had a smile in them. "Sure."

"When did I tell you I had a surprise for you?"

"Yesterday," Mabel said. "You came over and told me you'd found something really cool in the forest, and you wanted to show me. Why?"

He ignored the question and asked, "Do you remember anything about the township or the dagger?"