Author's note: My job doesn't let me write as much as I would like, but that doesn't mean that I don't re-read my stories and look for the right moments to continue. Let's go!

13. The Minotaur

Dipper wasn't sure if they were going to make in time. Stan and Ford had left hours ago, after all. Still, when they reached the waterfall, hope was still hanging in the air. Mabel looked around, trying to see if their two relatives were around but it was hard with the twilight. Were they too late? The sound of howls answered. Several hellhounds were after the youngsters and closing in.

"Uh oh" Soos went pale and Wendy looked into the tall trees. They were in big trouble. "Dudes, maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Maybe Mr. Pines just went to the doctor and that's it" he sank in his seat. Wendy frowned but, before she could talk him out of it, they saw a large and strange dog growling from the other side of the window and he wasn't alone. Mabel loved animals but these were anything but nice. In times like those, they really wished that Grenda was around.

"Now we could really use a plan" Wendy took out her ax but that didn't scare the creatures. "And I mean that part"

"Dipper?" Mabel had her grappling hook but it would do no good if they didn't think of something and fast.

"Thinking as fast as I can but it's no use" the boy kept on trying to come up with something but there were no weapons nor many ways out of the spot. Wendy let out a breath between her teeth while Dipper kept on going with his thoughts like a madman. There had to be a solution! Ford taught him so. He… Hu? A light? Why would there be flash under a waterfall? It makes no… Again! Someone was signaling them? Could that mean…? Again there it is! Yes, it must be someone asking if there is people! "Soos, did you bring a flashlight?"

"A flashlight? I think I did, but I don't think it's of much use in a car" replied the handyman.

"Hand it over! Quick!" shouted the boy.

"Uh, what are you doing, bro-bro?" Mabel blinked.

"Dude, this isn't the time for games!" Wendy hadn't saw the lights.

"Trust me. Uh, Mabel? You remember the talks with Dad before coming here? His whole lecture of staying safe?" said the younger Pines.

"Yep. It was the longest two hours of my life" recognized his twin.

"And aside from that? You remember he told us how to say help in many ways?" the boy made sure that the torch worked.

"Aside from shouting out loud?" Mabel was saying in her own way that she hadn't paid much attention that day.

"Never mind" Dipper opened one of the windows but only a small gap for the flashlight to fit. "Ok. Help. In Morse is… uh"

"Three short dots, three long ones and three shorts again" it was Soos who told him much to their surprise. "What? Learned that in videogames"

"Well, nice to know it" the boy started signaling. A few seconds later, the waterfall flashes returned again, but Dipper couldn't figure what they said. (We do, fortunately. It says: "Be right there. Huhuhuhuhuhu"). One of the hounds grabbed the torch and threw it away. They were in no mood for games and now they had a gap to reach in. Too bad for them that Dipper's message had gotten to his addressee in time. The beast jumped to widen the gap and Wendy hit them on the muzzle, but it didn't do much as the opening was still too small. A bigger hound jumped then and grabbed the blade with ease, pulling it away from the teenager's hands. Now they were in big trouble. Mabel grabbed his brother tight when the hounds break the window.

Right in that instant, a long light orange tentacle came out from behind the water curtain and grabbed one of the beast, throwing it against a pine. The hellhounds looked in fear at the creature of the waterfall: a strange looking octopus that was standing like a person, a wide grin on his eye-less face.

"I thought I taught you boys to be nice with our guests" his voice was quite nice but his tentacles said otherwise. The hounds were thrown and thrashed until they ran off back into the woods. When that was over, the strange monster walked to the car and opened the door with ease but without breaking it. "Is everybody ok? We heard the commotion in the tunnel and I decided to go have a look. If memory serves me right, you all live in the Mystery Shack, right? I haven't been able to go out much since the hubbub of gravity going all crazy, but I do recall seeing you while peeking through the windows" the octopus smiled and everyone cringed a little. "Oh, right! Sorry! My name's Gyoza. And I'm one of your underground neighbors and the Blind Eye's recurring topic until lately. So, Howdy-ho, neighbors!"

"Wait, so you've been living behind that waterfall all this time?" finally, Wendy found her voice.

"Not the whole time, really. I come to Gravity Falls every summer just to have some fun with those memory erasers and enjoy the lake. They were unto me a few times but I always got away. Some years ago, there was a six-fingered man, too. I saw him in your cabin not long ago and just a few minutes ago with one of my colleagues" Gyoza thought it through.

"That's our uncle!" shouted Dipper and Mabel.

"Well, in that case, I can tell you that he's safe and sound. The man with him too. I was worried nobody would come for them" smiled the octopus. "But more importantly, he made it just in time"

"W-what do you mean?" asked the boy.

"According to Sylvia, when you travel dimensions and specially the Nightmares one, you need to clean your lungs. Black dust blocks the lungs and can do nasty things to a person, even make them become something not quite human if that keeps on going for long. Sylvia said that your uncle probably has went through that without him noticing, but it's over now. Still, I suggest you tell him nothing about it. It's not a pretty notion" Gyoza explained and Dipper went quiet. Wendy and Soos shared a look. "If you want, you can wait behind the waterfall until they are done. It's safer there. Just don't get too deep inside. My colleagues are not all nice and friendly like me. The West Coast belongs to Big Blue and these tunnels are his lair"

"Wait, Big Blue? Are you kidding, man? That thing is a myth!" the teenager shouted.

"And thus it must remain, for your own sake" the octopus led them inside the cave and they all sat down. Dipper was still restless. Even if the older twins were all right, he hadn't forgot about the conversation with Master Shen. He needed answers, even if they were small and meaningful. What was that tunnel and what was Big Blue doing in there. "If you are thinking in going in there, I suggest you do it with me" Gyoza had noticed the boy's nerves. "Many have travelled this galleries, only a little have survived"

"Dude, we already had a close shave in the bunker and you heard him. Stan's ok and so is his brother. All we have to do is wait. I'm not going into that tunnel with my axe broken" Wendy had never doubted to run into danger but that day she had her doubts. "We'll be home soon"

"I can't go a step further. You guys carry me and I'll make tacos for the rest of your lives" Soos was exhausted. The boy wasn't sure, he wanted to explore the place but even Mabel was pleading him to stay.

"I wanna go. I know it's dangerous, but maybe it can help us against Bill" Dipper had made up his mind. Gyoza went thoughtful.

"Very well, if that is your wish" the octopus nodded. "Just stay close to me, ok? I really mean that" Gyoza gestured him where to stand before turning to the rest of the group. "I promise we will be back soon. This kid has a lesson to learn and I'm afraid he won't learn it just sitting here"

"Uh, what lesson?" asked Soos.

"Just make sure he gets back in one piece" Wendy had understood it. Mabel said nothing. Over the past few days, she had gotten used to her brother going with Grunkle Ford and, after the incident in the ravine, the girl wasn't sure of her decisions.

"I'll be back in a jiffy. Oh! And, sweetheart? If you are still thinking about what happened at the gorge, I wouldn't let it sit on your shoulders for long. That earthquake was not your fault, and your brother is still here thanks to you, so cheer up. A brother is for life, never forget" Gyoza gave Mabel a beautiful flower and led Dipper into the depths.

Feels so good to be back here!

Thank u all for your kind reviews and visits. We will soon know what happened to Ford and Stan. I have already read "Lost Legends" so we have plenty of ammo to shoot.

More soon!