Shattered windows lined cracked streets. Odd scrapes on the ground shared space with claw and hoof marks, both larger than the cars smashed within them. Foreign stains could be seen on the pavement, green and purple and the occasional rust red.

But even bruised and battered as it was, Gravity Falls was getting back up again. Yes, none would dare say that they had seen worse than the events of the past week, but the citizens had busied themselves with the rebuilding effort, and slowly but surely the broken pieces of the small Oregon town were coming together. Relief and enthusiasm were in the air, relief that it was inexplicably over, and also enthusiasm to pretend—with some marked exceptions—that absolutely none of it had happened.

As each triangular mark staining the surfaces of the walls and streets were cleaned or scoured away, the sudden shivers and fearful glances to the shadows were pushed back by supporting embraces and kind words, all inspired by the actions of the select individuals who had stood and stopped the one-eyed inter-dimensional threat.

A small chubby child with poofy pale hair was busy ordering his band of muscle-bound thugs to shovel up the remnants of a wall, while further down the street a very normal-looking man in a stained white shirt and tie was working alongside a small group of red-haired children directed and led by a huge man in corduroy denim that was bellowing his tough encouragement for all the town to hear. A rumbling echoed off the walls and further down the way an improbable treaded machine piloted by a cackling old man chugged its way down the street, literally eating all of the rubble on its path. A short ways away a slim teenage girl wearing a blue baseball cap was trying her best to sweep up the fallen assortments of potato chip bags from an overturned semi truck.

She was the one the hooded figure chose to approach. Booted feet barely making a sound on the cracked pavement, the small figure left the comforting shadow of an alley. The girl's green eyes flashed up and she backed away a cautious step, orange hair falling down her back in a wave. "Hey there," she called warily, and the figure slowed its approach, holding up a gloved hand in the universal gesture of peace. One could never be too careful, especially after Wierdmageddon.

Wendy Corduroy surveyed the strange figure, wondering why anyone would wear so many layers of dark clothing on a warm summer day. At least the sunglasses kind of made sense… "What's up, kid, you looking for something to do?"

The small person paused. "I… I searching for… someone."

Wendy raised an eyebrow. "Well, there's quite a few someones around here, kid, gonna have to be a bit more specific than that."

It seemed uncertain for a moment, and cocked its head slightly as it put the words together. "They… that sent... destroyed the demon. On head."

Wendy furrowed her brow in confusion, then looked up in surprise as the figure pointed to the hat on her head, labeled with a blue pine tree. "Oh, you mean the twins!" A smile spread on her face and she took the hat off. "Dipper and Mabel? Yeah, they went home just the other day." Her smile faded and she looked at the hat for a silent second, then noticed as the figures' head fell. Wendy looked at it in concern. "I'm sorry you missed them, are you a friend of theirs?"

It ignored the question and asked one to her instead. "Where they now?" However, having thought about it, Wendy realized that in fifteen years of living in this town she had never seen this particular specimen of weirdness. While that in and of itself was not a worrying thing, considering that her life had recently almost been ended on multiple occasions by weird things, caused Wendy's suspicions to rise. "Um, probably back home in California by now… who are you?"

Too fast for Wendy to react, the figure snatched the hat from her hand and bolted away. For barely a second the teenager was frozen, then an infuriated cry tore from her lips. "Hey! Give that back, you little—"

Just as quickly as the figure had nabbed the baseball cap, it relinquished the newfound prize, not slowing its frantic pace. The cap tumbled gently to the broken street, only to be scooped up quickly by the running Wendy. "What the hell— get back here!" she called, looking back up furiously to find—

There was nobody there.

Out of Wendy's view, the figures' posture straightened, its pace became more determined, and its pretended shyness was left behind like a discarded coat. It beat a path out of town and entered the forest, the tall pines obscuring most of the painful light. The dark glasses remained.

A light rain began to fall, but the figure did not falter, unceasing pace taking it past trees and boulders and a dirt road leading to a rickety wooden shack. It ran past a metal tree and its secrets. It ran past shining crystals, abandoned mines, and standing stones.

It ran to the base of the mountains.

Ducking into a hidden cave, the figure let itself drip briefly before stepping up onto a ledge of stone, where three other figures were. The two that were taller than the new arrival were gathered around a softly glowing blue screen, whispering in a tongue that was older than the earth itself. They all wore the dark glasses, features hidden by deep hoods.

The First figure spoke then. "They are not here." Taking notice of the new arrival, the Smallest being stood and stumbled over to the first. "Not now, little one." the figure scolded, and the smaller shrunk and backed away hesitantly as it was passed by the speaker.

"Then do you have what we need to find them?" The Tallest demanded, and the Last watched warily. In response, the First held out a hand, and a single hair stood out between two fingers. It was brown, short, and slightly curly. Without further words the Tallest took the hair pointedly and touched it to the glowing screen held in its hand. The arrival took a place beside the two others, having to crane its' neck to see properly.

The screen showed the edge of the great continent, then began moving rapidly southward until the coastline began to taper east. The view began to dive downwards until the ocean was no longer visible, details beginning to form until individual houses could be seen. It settled on a small dwelling at the end of a urban street. In the backyard, there appeared to be a small pink animal rolling in the grass with a laughing child.

"There. You will find them there." The Tallest figure proclaimed, looking down on the shorter.

The Last figure looked between the screen and the First figure desperately. "Can we not wait? We have only just arrived."

"No," the First figure stated, retaining the brisk tone.

"Azoi is right. This must be done." the Tallest being agreed. The Last wilted visibly, and the First straightened in determination, facing fully the Tallest, who spoke. "You are ready?"

The First knelt on the cold stone. "It has been taken from me, yet I am ready."

The Tallest handed the screen to the First, then reached into a fold of his cloak and drew out a shining silver dagger. Upon the blade was inscribed dozens of tiny triangles, and a single eye adorned the pommel.

"Go. Fulfil your task."

The First stood and turned to leave.

"Wait." The First paused. The Last took the seeking hand of the Smallest, then reached out to the First.

The First looked to the Tallest, meeting its disapproving stare, then regarded the Last's hand. "I have a task. I must fulfil it." Its voice was hard and it turned away again. It reached the exit but paused. "If… if I do not return… remember my name."

"I would never forget, dark of my heart. Now go."

The First nodded and left without another word. The rain had become a mist, and the figure soon vanished within it.