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Link to the German original: https://www.fanfiktion.de/s/6707f4fc000863de2d4c07f6/13/Momentaufnahmen
Fortune Cookies
“Fortune cookie time!” Mabel exclaimed excitedly, her eyes sparkling as she looked around at Dipper, Stan, Ford, Soos, Melody, and Wendy. They were all gathered on the porch of the Mystery Shack, having just welcomed the new year with a colorful fireworks display. Now it was time to have their fortunes and advice for the coming year predicted by fortune cookies — an annual New Year’s tradition of Dipper and Mabel’s, which was why Mabel had insisted on carrying it out here in Gravity Falls as well.
With a warm smile, Dipper watched as his sister ran into the Shack to fetch the box of fortune cookies and returned to the porch a short while later. Without any hesitation, she opened the box, reached in to grab a cookie for herself, then passed the box on to Ford beside her while eagerly unwrapping her cookie. Mabel had always loved this little ritual, taking the messages inside the cookies very seriously. Dipper didn’t really believe in them, but they were fun nonetheless. And apparently, he wasn’t the only one who felt that way…
“I don’t believe in this fortune cookie nonsense,” Stan grumbled when he received the box from Ford, though he reached in and took one anyway. “None of the stuff on those slips has ever come true for me. One of them once told me I’d get rich, but here I am, still not rich.”
“Maybe it didn’t mean rich in money, but rich in love!” Mabel replied with a radiant, affectionate smile. “And you are now.”
At that, Stan couldn’t help smiling warmly at his great-niece, even though a faint blush crept onto his face. “Well… you’ve got a point there.”
Dipper and everyone else smiled too, amused and touched by Mabel’s words and Stan’s obvious reaction. His sister really did have a way of lifting people’s spirits and making them smile — something Dipper deeply admired and appreciated about her.
After receiving the box from Stan, Dipper took a cookie as well, tore open the wrapper, and broke the cookie in half to reveal the slip inside. But before he could read it, Mabel — who had, of course, opened hers first — beat him to it and eagerly read her message out loud.
“‘Nothing escapes you. Thus, you can effortlessly eliminate adversaries.’” She frowned critically, and the others stared at her just as perplexed by the surprising and unconventional message. “Eliminate adversaries?” Mabel repeated, aghast. “That doesn’t sound like me at all! I don’t want to eliminate anyone! What kind of fortune cookie saying is that supposed to be?”
Ford, standing beside her, also pulled a skeptical face as he read his own message. “‘Your empathy is enchanting,’” he read aloud with a snort. “What is that supposed to mean? That doesn’t fit at all. I have about as much empathy as a…” He paused, searching for a suitable comparison.
“A lawn mower?” Stan suggested with a cheeky grin.
“Thank you, Stanley,” Ford replied dryly, before slightly ducking his head. “But yeah, that actually sums it up quite well.”
“Oh man, we should’ve swapped!” Mabel said disappointed. “Yours fits me way better, and mine fits you way better!”
Dipper had to admit she had a point. Personality-wise, Mabel’s and Ford’s fortunes really did seem better suited to the other person. Still…
“Well, it’s not really about whether it fits someone’s personality,” Dipper pointed out. “It’s more about what that person might experience in the coming year or what they should pay attention to. So who knows, maybe Grunkle Ford’s empathy will improve, and that wouldn’t be such a bad thing — no offense, Grunkle Ford.”
Ford shrugged. “No offense taken. I know I don’t always have — nor have I ever had — the best sense of empathy,” he admitted, looking a bit sheepish and remorseful.
“That’s why it would be good and fitting if the fortune cookie is right and your empathy is going to improve in the new year,” Dipper said encouragingly before turning back to Mabel. “And nothing escaping you actually sounds pretty useful. Maybe it’s about supernatural adversaries like Bill — ones you’ll be able to deal with easily this year.”
“I certainly hope not…” Ford groaned at the thought of Bill or another threat of similar magnitude awaiting them in the new year.
Mabel, however, seemed encouraged and energized by Dipper’s words. “You’re right! If that’s the case, then anyone who messes with me this year better watch out!” she declared, pumping her fist in the air before grabbing Ford’s hand and grinning at him determinedly. “Don’t worry, Grunkle Ford — I’ll protect you from any adversaries!”
Ford chuckled and squeezed her hand. “That’s reassuring.”
Once again, the others smiled warmly at the exchange until Stan cleared his throat and picked up the thread.
“Alright, moving on. What does yours say, kid?” he asked Dipper curiously, skipping his own for the moment — something Dipper didn’t particularly mind.
“‘Your plans will succeed,’” Dipper read aloud with a smile. “That sounds pretty good.” He only had three concrete goals for the new year — successfully finishing the next year of high school, continuing his ghost-hunting career, and spending another great summer in Gravity Falls — but if his fortune cookie predicted that those would work out and it actually came true, he’d be more than satisfied.
“Mine sounds good too!” Stan said, grinning. “‘With your personality, you will never grow old.’” He turned to Ford and nudged him in the side. “Did you hear that, Sixer? My personality is gonna keep me young, charming, and attractive forever!”
“That last part remains to be seen,” Ford replied with a thin, smug smile.
Stan snorted and lifted his chin. “Psh, what do you know! I am attractive! You’re just jealous of my good looks,” he claimed, prompting general laughter.
“We’re twins, Stan,” Ford pointed out. “We look practically identical — with the difference that I’m considerably fitter than you.”
Stan stubbornly crossed his arms. “Yeah, well, I’ve got my personality to make up for that, Mister ‘Empathy-of-a-Lawn-Mower’!” he shot back. “Just as Ma always said, and she could tell your fortune just like this cookie — my personality will make me more attractive than you! The fortune cookie has spoken!”
“Didn’t you just say you don’t believe in fortune cookie prophecies?” Wendy teased.
“Yeah, that’s all just ‘fortune cookie nonsense,’” Ford echoed, raising an eyebrow at his brother.
“Most of them. Not all,” Stan corrected himself, looking slightly caught. “It depends on the message! If it sounds totally ridiculous and unlikely, then no — but if it sounds fitting and plausible like this one, then yes!”
Ford merely rolled his eyes, saying nothing further, and Stan was quick to change the subject.
“What does yours say, Soos?” Stan asked his former employee, who had just finished eating his fortune cookie — luckily without the slip of paper. According to Soos himself, he had once eaten an entire pack of fortune cookies with the slips still inside.
Soos grinned and read aloud, “‘You will be unusually successful in business.’”
“Well, that sounds promising!” Stan said happily and clapped him on the shoulder. “Looks like you’ll be doing good business this year! But honestly, that’s exactly what I expected.”
That made Soos beam even more, his chest practically swelling with pride. Then he turned curiously to Melody standing beside him.
“What does yours say, Melody?”
Melody smiled. “‘As an incurable optimist, you will achieve your wishes’,” she read. “That works out nicely. I actually have a very special wish for this year.” She cast a meaningful smile at Soos, who wrapped an arm around her.
“And I’ll make sure it comes true exactly the way you want it to,” he said lovingly and kissed her.
“The way we want it,” Melody corrected, kissing him back.
Mabel squealed in delight. “Yesss! Wedding planning! I’m also definitely going to help make that wish come true! And I want to be a bridesmaid!”
Soos and Melody laughed. “I already promised you that,” Soos reminded Mabel. “Anything else would be a scandal, dude!”
Soos had proposed to Melody in the fall and was planning the wedding with her for the summer of this year — another reason why spending the next summer in Gravity Falls was absolutely non-negotiable. Dipper and Mabel hadn’t received an official invitation yet, but they were already firmly included. Nothing in the world would stop them from attending their best friend’s wedding.
Mabel clapped her hands excitedly before turning to Wendy. “What about you, Wendy?” she asked eagerly. “Will you be a bridesmaid too?”
“If Soos and Melody want me to be, sure,” Wendy replied with a grin.
“Absolutely!” Soos exclaimed, throwing an arm around her shoulders as well, so that he stood there with Melody on one side and Wendy on the other.
“Well then,” Wendy said amused, prompting Mabel to cheer.
“Woohoo! We’re going to be the prettiest and best bridesmaids of all time!” she exclaimed happily.
Meanwhile, Dipper felt himself blush at the thought of Wendy in a pretty bridesmaid dress. To distract himself, he quickly changed the subject. “So what does your fortune cookie say, Wendy?”
Wendy held up the slip and read, “‘Make use of your talents.’” She shrugged casually. “Alright.”
“Definitely for the wedding! As a bridesmaid!” Mabel said enthusiastically.
Wendy laughed. “I’m not sure how my lumberjack talents are supposed to help with that, but if the opportunity comes up, sure.”
“You have other talents too!” Dipper blurted out before he could stop himself, immediately turning red again.
Wendy raised her eyebrows at him with a smile. “Oh yeah? Like what?”
Dipper hesitated and rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. He better didn’t mess this up now. “You… you have a talent for staying calm and keeping a cool head in stressful situations,” he said. “That’s probably really useful when planning a wedding.”
Wendy thought about it for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah, that could actually be helpful when everyone else is running around like headless chickens.”
“Oh yes, I’ll definitely be grateful for a calm, cool head on that day,” Melody added with a crooked grin.
Dipper smiled in relief, glad he’d managed to say something sensible instead of something awkward or embarrassing — something that still happened far too often around Wendy.
“Alright. I guess that means we’ve gone through all the fortune cookies now, right?” Stan asked, still munching on his.
“Yeah. They sounded pretty good overall,” Ford replied, looking around the group with a smile. The others nodded in agreement.
“Then the new year can officially begin!” Mabel cheered, jumping in the air.
Dipper smiled and looked down at his slip one more time. Oh yes. He was sure this year was going to be a good one — whether the fortune cookie predictions came true or not.