Gravity Rises (S1)

PF: Part Twelve

Gideon plodded through the snow to the Pleasure household. He'd taken the back way through the woods; once he was out of sight, he'd used his magic to float Pacifica beside him like a strange balloon. She had fallen unconscious back in the clearing, but every once in a while she would cry out and thrash against his magic.

He could see the Pleasure house through the trees now. He lowered Pacifica back into his arms, though he kept his amulet on a low burn to alleviate some of her weight. Then he crossed the tree line and made his way to the back door.

The door opened before he could even knock. "Pacifica?" Bud Pleasure asked, his face pale.

Gideon turned his solemn expression on the man. "Where's her room?"

Wide-eyed, Bud gestured behind him.

Gideon edged past Bud into the house. He remembered, now, where things were, from when he had inhabited Pacifica's body some time ago.

It seemed like years had passed.

He went down the hallway to the bedroom that Bud kept ready for Pacifica in case she ever wanted to live with them again. Then he rolled Pacifica gently onto the bed, where she stirred and let out a soft breath.

Gideon turned to see Bud in the doorway. He moved past him again, gesturing back towards the main room. Bud followed in silence, easing the door shut behind him. Nobody spoke until they were back in the living room of the home.

"What happened?" Bud's voice was deathly quiet. Behind him, his wife Catherine seemed to fade into existence, her face whiter than usual.

Gideon took a breath. "Surely you know your daughter had powers. Powers that made her psychic, among other things."

"I-I suspected," Bud said. "But — had?"

"The amulet that gave her those powers is broken," Gideon said. "Gone."

Bud looked confused.

"Something about her amulet corrupted her mind," Gideon said. "She relied on her powers. Now that they're gone. . . it's like she's lost a part of her brain."

Bud's face went white. Then it flushed. His eyes narrowed. "And you would know this?"

Gideon tried to pretend that Bud wasn't looking at the amulet on his chest. "Yes," he said. He offered no further explanation. To be honest, he didn't know for sure. Gideon knew of no such corruption from his own amulet, but Pacifica's amulet came from the depths of a cave that was designed to contain magical artifacts. It could have exposed her to all kinds of magical damage.

"What. . . do we do?" Catherine whispered.

Gideon blinked. He hadn't expected her to say anything. He cleared his throat. "I don't know."

"But—" Bud started.

Gideon shook his head. "I know you have resources, Pleasure. Use them. I can't help you."

"How do I know this isn't your fault?" Bud demanded.

"It isn't," Gideon said. "I'm simply getting your daughter back to you safely." He turned to go. "Don't contact me. I was never here."

"Now, wait just a moment—!" Bud reached for Gideon's shoulder.

Gideon spun out of his grasp, staring him down. Bud took a step back.

"I didn't break your daughter, Bud Pleasure," said Gideon. "I have no responsibility to fix her."

Then he left.

~~~~~

"Where did you find it?"

Mabel sat next to Ford on the couch. The Journal was in her lap, and she had to resist holding it defensively to her chest. A fire blazed in the fireplace; it was the only source of light in the room aside from that of the entry way. Night had fallen, and a few hours had passed since the Fight for the Museum (as Mabel liked to think of it). It was just her and Ford: Dipper was asleep in the attic; Melody was in Ford's room. Mabel wanted to stay awake — at least long enough to talk to Ford about the Journal.