Resolution

"Grandpa Stanley!" said Future Dipper to Stan. "It's good to be back, but you risked the world for us."

"It paid off, kid," said Stan.

"So, you're the happy version of me," said Future Mabel with a scowl at Mabel. "You're the lucky one who got to keep Waddles."

"You didn't?" asked Mabel.

Future Dipper said, "We were caught messing around in time and I never changed the timeline back to one where I hit Wendy in the eye with a ball and lost her to Robbie."

"So you're not our direct future," said Dipper. "We're not fated to become you."

"No, we're versions of you from a parallel timeline," said Future Dipper. "You're free to have your own future."

Steven said, "I know about parallel timelines. It once happened to me. Once you change your own past, anything can happen. It can get really bad."

"I know. I never got Waddles," said Future Mabel.

"That's not the most important thing," said Future Dipper.

"It is important! It spoiled my happiness forever," said Future Mabel.

"The big thing was, we set off a chain of events in the past that killed Grandpa Stan's brother, our real Grunkle Stanford, while he was traveling around the world researching strange creatures. He was killed by a Gem Monster in his twenties."

"You killed my brother?" asked Stan. "You never told me that."

"We didn't mean to," said Future Mabel.

"The world is a dangerous place for humans to explore, because of all the Gems that hatched untrained, that became monsters," said Garnet.

"Except for me," said Amthyst. "I was healed and trained by the Crystal Gems."

"I'm still not sure how it happened," said Future Dipper. "It may have been Mabel's meddling with the pioneer family on the Oregon Trail."

"I think you must have stepped on a butterfly in Jurassic times," said Future Mabel. "That's what usually does it in time travel stories."

"Because we affected a relative of ours who was critical to the timeline, we had to do community service for the Time Anomaly Removal Crew instead of going to time jail," said Future Dipper.

"We had to go back in time and take his place in history," said Future Mabel.

"I had to write the Journals that he would have written," said Future Dipper.

"I helped with the art," said Future Mabel.

"We met a creature, a nice one, we thought: Bill Cipher, a.k.a. Tourmaline," said Future Dipper. "With his/her help we built the Portal."

"Little did we know it was all a trick to get off the Earth and back to Gem Homeworld," said Future Mabel.

"That would have been a disaster for Earth," said Pearl. "The invasion could have been re-started."

"We figured out Bill was up to no good. We rigged the Portal to send us to another dimension instead, and jumped through," said Future Dipper. "Our two assistants shut it down, and went away with two of the Journals so the Portal couldn't be opened again. The first Journal was left here, because it contained warnings about the Portal that anyone who found it needed to know."

"I found the warnings all right, but I had to try to get you kids back anyway," said Stan.

"That was very risky," said Future Dipper. "It could have destroyed the world."

"But I'm glad you did," said Future Mabel. "That other dimension was dangerous. We just survived day to day."

"Will you be able to stay here with us now?" asked Dipper. "Or do you have to go back to your own timeline right away."

"We can stay for a while," said Future Dipper.

"Great, I have lots of questions to ask you about the Journal," said Dipper.

"And I'm hoping to spend some quality time with Waddles, if Mabel is willing to share," said Future Mabel.

"I'm very willing to share, sister from the future," said Mabel. "Prepare to have some fun again!"

"It's good to meet you, dudes," said Soos. "But now I gotta get my Abuelita home."

Soos helped his Abuelita to her feet and they left by the elevator.

"Aren't you glad you didn't go through now, Pearl?" asked Steven. "It would have taken you someplace with no other Gems at all."

"Oh dear," said Pearl.

"The Portal needs to be destroyed completely," said Garnet. "I want no chance of it being repaired."

"Yeah, let's smash it!" said Amethyst.

Pearl sighed at this, but she nodded.

"That's fine with me," said Stan. "All I wanted was to get my family back."

The Crystal Gems set to work demolishing the Portal.

Regular Mabel said, "You see, Dipper. I was right to trust Grunkle Stan. If I didn't, I wouldn't have saved the future us."

"I guess so," said Dipper. "I'm angry that you trusted Stan more than me, but you were right."

"The Portal is no more," said Pearl. "I still don't know what I'm going to do, to keep myself from going mad. I miss Rose Quartz so much."

"We all miss her," said Amethyst.

"I loved her," said Pearl.

Steven said, "I didn't realize how unhappy you were, and how lonely."

"Rose fell in love with a human," said Pearl. "Then she became pregnant and left you in her place."

"I'm sorry I'm not her," said Steven. "I'm just me."

"And I love you dearly, Steven," said Pearl. "Caring for you is one thing that helps keep me sane."

"You could do what my mother did," said Steven. "You could find a human to love."

"Me? Love a human?" asked Pearl. She blushed blue.

"There are lots of us," said Mabel. "It's a much bigger dating pool than your little group of Gems."

"You have a point," said Pearl. "But humans are so... ephemeral. We Gems live so much longer."

"We have pets we love," said Mabel. "They don't live as long as we do."

"You're a totally different species," said Pearl.

"Rose did it. So could you," said Steven.

"Maybe," said Pearl.

"I could help you. I know a lot about inter-species romance," said Mabel. "I've dated gnomes, vampires, a merman, a bunch of clones, and now Steven."

Steven said, "We're not exactly dating... I like you, but I'm afraid of making Connie jealous."

"How serious are you and Connie?" asked Mabel.

"Just friends, but..." said Steven.

Garnet said, "You're young, Steven. Just because you fused with Connie once, you shouldn't be afraid to experiment with other relationships. My Ruby and Sapphire had other fusions before me."

"What are fusions?" asked Dipper.

"Fusion is something Gems do," said Pearl. "Being one body with another."

"You fu-fused with Connie? So that's what they call it..." said Mabel. "She's your girlfriend. I won't be the other woman."

"It's not what you think," said Steven.

"Whatever," said Mabel. "It's too close for me. You led me on, you two-timer."

"I didn't mean to," said Steven. "Girls are confusing."

"You know it, brother," said Dipper.

"Hmmph!" said Mabel.

"Back to the idea of dating humans," said Pearl. "The thought of doing what Rose did, maybe losing my identity to a child... it terrifies me."

"More than losing yourself by becoming a monster?" asked Garnet. "When we found Rose's sword in Lion's mane, and you left, I looked with future vision. There was a possibility that if I let Steven go after you that he would never return, and neither would you. But if I didn't let him go, then the probability was even stronger that you would never return, and we would next meet you as a monster."

"I came very close," said Pearl. "But Steven reached out and helped me."

"Just get to be friends with some humans," Steven suggested. "Mayor Dewey seems to like you."

"Mayor Dewey; is he the man who drives around with a truck with his face on the top?" asked Pearl.

"Yes," said Steven.

"I don't think I would like a man who kills insects for a living," said Pearl.

"That's the other man who drives around with a truck with his face on the top," said Steven. "Mayor Dewey is the town leader. He lies to people to try to get them to feel better."

"That's not very promising," said Pearl.

"It's not that bad," said Stan. "People like being lied to sometimes."

"It doesn't even have to be men that you date," said Mabel. "It seems like you might like women better."

"I believe I would find a female more compatible," said Pearl.

"I'm starting to think I'm the same way," said Mabel. "Relationships with guys just haven't been working out." She gave Steven a cold look.

"But what about the child issue? I couldn't do what Rose did, if I ever chose to," said Pearl.

"That's not a big issue these days," said Mabel. "All you need is a donor, and you never have to meet him in person."

"Good. As you said, Mabel, you are an expert on inter-species romance," said Pearl. "I will accept your help."

"Yay!" said Mabel. "I'll do my best for you."

"When shall we have our first date? I am free tonight," said Pearl.

"You mean, you want to date me?" asked Mabel, blushing.

"You have qualities that remind me of Rose: tenderness, humor, and a love of living things," said Pearl. "Besides that, you have courage in standing up for what you believe."

"Wow, really? But I'm so young for you."

"All humans are thousands of years younger than I am," said Pearl. "Since you are a young member of your species it will give us a few more years to get to know each other as friends."

"You're so beautiful and graceful, Pearl," said Mabel. "Also smart. I know how to get along with smart people. All right, I'll give us a chance."

"Are you sure about this, sis?" asked Dipper.

"I believe in giving romance a chance," said Mabel. "Wherever I find it."

"Come back with us and I will show you around the Temple where I live," said Pearl.

"All right," said Mabel with a giggle. "Don't wait up, Dipper."

"I guess that leaves me to hang out with the Authors," said Dipper. "I have so many questions, more things to learn about Gravity Falls."

"For a while," said Future Dipper. "Then we have to report back to Time Headquarters."

"May I please pet-sit Waddles while you're away, Mabel?" asked Future Mabel.

"You may," said Mabel. "I'm sorry you didn't get a Waddles in your time-line."

"Thanks, sister," said Future Mabel.

Garnet bubbled up the shards of Tourmaline.

"What will happen to Tourmaline?" asked Dipper.

"She will go into containment storage for now, with the other monsters," said Garnet. "Someday, we hope that Steven will fully regain his healing powers. We will first restore fallen comrades on our side, like Emerald and Aquamarine. Eventually we hope to reconcile even Tourmaline."

"So there will be more friendly Gems on Earth some day?" asked Dipper.

"We hope so. There's also the problem of very unfriendly ones who would still colonize Earth if they could," said Pearl. "But we have sworn to protect this planet with our lives."

"What an awesome girlfriend I've found!" said Mabel. "You're a true hero."

"You two are quite the heroes yourselves," said Pearl.

"We'll help you if we can," said Dipper.

"Thank you," said Garnet. "Though I doubt it will be necessary."

"Ready? Let's move out," said Amethyst.

"Yeah!" said Steven. "We did it again."

"We are the Crystal Gems," sang Garnet.

"We always save the day," sang Pearl and Amethyst, joining in. "And if you think we can't..."

"We'll always find a way," sang Steven.

"That's why the people of this world believe in..." all sang.

"Garnet."

"Amethyst."

"And Pearl."

"And Steven!"

"And Mabel!"

THE END