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It was dark outside, with rain pattering on the rooftop. Mabel wasn’t sure what time it was, just that it was late. She couldn’t sleep, memories of Weirdmageddon haunted her. She curled up into a ball in her bed. Her hand covered her mouth to muffle her crying. She didn’t want to wake up Dipper. He deserved to sleep after everything that happened. After everything she caused.
She was tired. She hadn’t been able to sleep well since Weirdmageddon. Guilt festered in her body. Her chest would tighten every time she saw a triangle. It reminded her of what she did. People could have died because of her, and she couldn’t even properly apologize because of the Never Mind All That Act. She curled into an even tighter ball than she was before.
When she finally managed to stop crying, Mabel took a shuddering breath and rolled over to face Dipper. He was sleeping soundly in his own bed. She sighed in relief. She didn’t wake him up. Mabel remembered something her Grunkle Ford told her about crying. Something about how it dehydrates you and that you should drink after. He gave a whole nerdy science explanation about it when her Grunkle Stan started remembering stuff again. Since everyone cried that day. Mabel sighed and stood up. She figured since she was up anyways she might as well go do that. She quietly made her way to the door, careful not to wake Dipper. She slipped outside and went downstairs.
Mabel made herself a glass of water, and as she sipped it she saw it. The memory gun sat on the table. She stared at it longingly. Nobody would notice if she used it on herself, would they? They’d probably be happy to see she was back to normal and less anxious. She just wanted to forget what she did. She didn’t want to remember how she nearly destroyed the world because of her selfishness. She walked over to the table and went to take it. She would be quick, one quick zap and it would be gone. She puts the word ‘Weirdmageddon’ into the memory gun. She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Mabel, what are you doing?”
It’s Ford. Worry etched into his face. Mabel’s knees start to wobble. Tears started to blur her eyes, and the next thing she knew she was crying again. She dropped the gun and fell to her knees. The whole world spun. Everything was too much. Her body shook as she tried and failed to suck in breaths. She buried her face in her hands, trying to calm down but she couldn’t.
Ford knelt in front of her, and pulled her into a hug. He rubbed her back with his hand. She buried her face in his chest. The only sound that could be heard in the room was Ford’s gentle reassurances to his niece, and Mabel’s muffled sobs from crying into his chest.
“Hey, hey… It’s okay, Mabel. I’m right here. Breathe.” Ford murmurs.
Mabel’s breathing started to level out. She was able to breathe again. Her body shook less. She seemed calmer, but the way she held onto Ford still showed she was still upset.
“It’s all my fault Grunkle Ford,” she whispered.
“What’s your fault, sweetheart?”
“Weirdmageddon, Grunkle Stan losing his memories, everyone almost dying! Everything!” She cried. Tears began to slip from her eyes again. “”It’s all my fault! My whole family almost died because of me. All because I was selfish and wanted more summer! Now I can’t even talk about it because of the stupid law! I can’t even say sorry! I just… I just wanted to erase it to make it go away!”
Ford was silent, but he hugged her closer to himself for a moment. Then, he pulled away from the hug. He looked at her with an unreadable expression on his face. She looked away, she couldn’t look at him without guilt bubbling in her chest.
“Mabel, you’re not the only one who was tricked by Bill,” he says, “I’m… I also was tricked by him. If anything, Weirdmageddon was my fault.”
Ford wiped away mable’s tears with his thumb. She looked at him, a bewildered expression on her face.
“I… What do you mean?” She sniffles.
“Bill… He tricked me too. Why do you think I built that portal to begin with?” Ford responds slowly.
Mabel’s eyes widened. She stared at him. She was confused. Her Grunkle Ford was the smartest person she knew. He couldn’t possibly think this was his fault, right?
“But it’s not your fault, we beat him and it’s okay now.”
“It’s not your fault either, Mabel.” He smiled at her softly. “You’re a good kid. If you had known, if I had told you what the rift was, I know you never would have given it to Bill.”
Mabel’s eyes filled with tears again. This time, though, they weren’t tears of guilt. They were tears of relief. Mabel hugged Ford tightly. “Thank you, Grunkle Ford.”
Ford hugged her back. When she let go of him, he got to his feet and helped her up. He walked over to the memory gun that was still on the floor, and picked it up. He looked at it for a moment before looking back to Mabel.
“I’ve seen what this device can do, and I’ve seen it destroy people’s lives. Can you promise me something, Mabel?”
“Sure.”
“Can you promise me you won’t use this on yourself?”
Mabel nodded. “I promise.”
He ruffled her hair and grinned.
"Thank you. Let's get you to bed now. It's late, and I'm pretty sure children in this dimension shouldn't be going to bed at two in the morning."
She laughed, and started leaving the kitchen. Ford followed her to the stairs. Before she went back up to bed, she turned to him. She smiled.
"Thanks again Grunkle Ford. I feel a lot better now."
"Anything for my favourite great niece,” he replied with a smile.