Starfall

Epilogue 5: Knowledge

"..."

"Hi."

"..."

"Whaddaya mean my work is done?"

"..."

"I... I knew it would be soon, but right now? I'm still as strong as an ox!"

"..."

"But what about-"

"..."

"I know they're grown. But... I didn't even say goodbye."

"..."

"Are you sure they know?"

"..."

"I know, she does. Him, I'm not so sure."

"...!"

"I'm just kidding. I know."

"..."

"Really? So that's what happens?"

"..."

"Hey! Mystery solved!"

"..."

"I've missed you too."

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"Grunkle Stan! It's time to get up!" Mabel called out from the kitchen. It was late in the morning, and the tourists would start to show up soon.

"Dipper? Can you go wake up Grunkle Stan? He gets too grunkly if he doesn't have time for coffee in the morning.

Dipper nodded and left the kitchen.

After a while Mabel began to wonder what was taking them so long. She was just about to leave the kitchen to follow when Dipper reappeared in the doorway.

By the look on his face she knew right away that something was wrong.

"Mabel. Grunkle Stan is gone." Dipper said.

"Did he leave?" she asked in a voice both hopeful and dreadful at once.

"No." he said as the tears started.

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A public viewing and funeral was held in Gravity Falls. Most of the town came to pay their respects.

Some of the more skeptical mourners poked his body to make sure it wasn't some sort of trick. Maybe a wax figure to take his place just so he could rob a gold depository and then escape to South America or something.

But it was no trick. Stanley Pines was really gone.

Well, that part wasn't a trick anyway.

The casket containing his body was switched out with an empty one before the burial in Gravity Falls. One last con. Just like he would have wanted.

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"I can't believe Mr Pines is gone." said a heavy set man while sniffling.

"I know, Soos. Nobody called to tell me he was even sick." A tall redheaded woman said.

"I do not think he was ill, Wendy. Perhaps it was just his time. He did one last thing he promised to before the end." an asian woman said.

"How are they holding up, Candy?" Wendy asked.

"Dipper is sad but poor Mabel is taking it much harder. She and Stan were always close." said Candy.

"Kinda reverse from before. Dipper took it pretty badly when Ford... you know." said Wendy.

They looked to see Dipper and Mabel being comforted by a very sturdy looking woman and a blonde woman in a black designer dress, shawl, and dark sunglasses.