Against the Odds

Disclaimers: Dipper Pines and Co. are owned by Disney and Alex Hirsch and are all copied without permission. I have made this story for fun and not profit.

Writer's Note: I had recently gotten Journal 3 from the show and I had stumbled across the pages about the Gremlobin. After looking through the information, I've realized there were other things about it that would be dangerous.. Read on to find out more. (Rated for Drama)

Part One

Dipper and Mabel Pines were happily settling in at the Mystery Shack for another summer vacation in Gravity Falls. Dipper remembered when they first arrived the summer before, he thought the town was too strange for his liking. He however, then remembered finding the journal during that summer. He supposed if they hadn't been to Gravity Falls, he wouldn't have found the Journal in the forest or found about their Great Uncle Ford.

As the twins began to unpack their bags, they heard their Grunkle Stan call them down to the main shop of the Shack. Dipper and Mabel hurried down the steps to the main floor. After reaching the shop, the duo came to a halt as they noticed a rather familiar red-haired girl standing near the far wall.

"Wendy!" Dipper and Mabel cheered.

The duo soon ran to their fiery-haired friend, giving her a tight hug.

"Hey guys!" Wendy grinned. "How you guys been?"

"Oh, you know.." Mabel responded.

She made a slight shooing gesture with her hand.

"Well, it's great to see you guys." Wendy smiled, giving them a welcoming hug.

Dipper's face flushed slightly as Wendy hugged them. Dipper made a side glance to Mabel, his face becoming a deep rosy color as his sister giggled.

"Y-yeah.." Dipper muttered softly.

Soon, Wendy let them go.

"Well, since you guys are here," Wendy started. "What do you guys say we go on a little hike through the woods?"

Dipper looked at her in surprised.

"Wha- really?" he asked in surprise.

"Well, I haven't see you guys in a long time.. I missed the adventure." Wendy replied with a shrug.

"Ya might as well," said Grunkle Stan with a shrug. "Not much happening here anyway.."

"Where's Grunkle Ford?" asked Mabel.

"Oh, you know Poindexter," Grunkle Stan grinned. "He's probably workin' on some sciencey thing in the basement."

After a moment, Dipper and Mabel turned to Wendy.

"Uh, sure." Dipper smiled.

Mabel smiled as well and nodded.

"Well, where did you plan to hike to?" inquired Dipper, curiously.

Wendy shrugged.

"Anywhere would be fine." she replied. "Might as well see whatever the forest has to offer up I guess."

"Well, that's kinda vague.." interrupted Stan from nearby.

Wendy and the twins turned to look at him.

"Oh, whatever.." Wendy muttered, rolling her eyes.

She turned to the twins again.

"So, what do you guys say?"

Dipper and Mabel smiled in response.

"Sounds like plan." Dipper grinned.

Wendy returned his smile and nodded.

"Let's DO this!" she grinned happily.

After that being said, the trio turned and began to head off into the forest behind the Shack.

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The trio made their way through the forest, they had noticed the surrounding area had begun to change the deeper they went. As the trio walked deeper and deeper into the forest, the shrubs and trees seemed to become thicker as the tangled roots tore up the ground. The forest floor seemed to be growing softer and wetter the farther along they walked.

As the sun began to set, Dipper, and Mabel, Wendy soon found the forest they had been hiking through had developed into a type of marsh or bog. Dust particles hung in the air as the dimming light of the setting sun shown in through patches of the open canopy above.

"Whoa dude!" Wendy grinned, awestruck. "This is AMAZING!"

Dipper and Mabel continued to glance at their new surroundings. The twins turned around and found Wendy had begun to head deeper into the marsh to explore the area a bit further.

"Uh, Wendy?" called Dipper.

"C'mon guys!" Wendy grinned. "We GOTTA check this place OUT!"

Before Dipper could protest any farther, Wendy had already taken off deeper into the marsh.

"Well, what now?" asked Mabel.

Dipper was about to respond when a low growling came from behind them. The duo froze as an uneasy feeling took over them.

"Did you hear that?" asked Dipper.

They felt their blood run cold as the growling became louder and more pronounced. Now they could feel hot breath on their necks. The duo turned around very slowly, their uneasiness slowly blossoming into pure fear. They raised their gazes up to come face to face with a rather large creature.

The creature's eyes were bright and eerie red and had no pupils. It's dark green and muscular body was easily much taller than any human. Mushrooms coated its shoulders and what clumps of what seemed to be body hair covered its arms. A pair of large fangs protruded from its lower jaw and its ears were pointed like a bat's. Dipper and Mabel took a step back, easily recognizing the creature immediately.

"Gremlobin.." Dipper whispered in horror.

"I thought we were DONE with this guy!" Mabel whimpered, stepping back in horror.

The Gremlobin let out a vicious roar. Dipper and Mabel spun on their heels and took off in the opposite direction with the creature in hot pursuit. As the twins ran, Dipper felt his feet catch on one of the upturned roots and fell to the ground. The Gremlobin continued its advance on Dipper as he scrambled to his feet. Dipper could only stare up at the advancing creature in horror.

Wendy had been busy looking at some the rather unusual looking plants growing near the murky and silt coated water. There was a cry of fear which caused Wendy to snap her head up in shock. She spun around and instantly recognized the scream coming from Dipper and Mabel. They were in trouble! Wendy immediately spun around and hurried toward the desperate cries for help. She saw a large and rather vicious looking beast towering over Dipper, who was stood frozen in place, staring up at it. Wendy rushed forward and shoved Dipper to the side before lifting her axe up to block the Gremlobin's attack. Wendy forced the beast back before swinging her weapon, the sharp and polished blade cutting into the beast's flesh. The creature roared in pain and swiped at Wendy, catching her arm and causing her to stumble. Wendy felt a burning sensation in her left arm but ignored it as she ran at the Gremlobin and using all her strength, knocked it to the ground. Taking the momentary pause, Wendy soon ran to her friends' aid.

Dipper had felt the air get knocked out of him as he collided to the ground and roll to stop at the base of a nearby tree. Dipper groaned and after a moment, he looked up. He cringed as his head throbbed painfully. He could see Mabel and Wendy hovering over him. Mabel was saying something but he couldn't hear it over the unrelenting ringing in his ears. Dipper continued to stare up at them, too stunned to move. He felt Wendy grab his arm and could hear her muffled voice as she tried to get him to his feet. Dipper stared up at her until the ringing finally faded.

"Dipper! We need to get OUT of here! Now!"

Dipper cringed at the pain in his body as he tried to move.

The once stunned Gremlobin shook its head and looked up, snarling at them. Wendy turned toward it and stood protectively in front of the twins.

"Get Dipper OUT of here!" Wendy shouted.

As Mabel hauled Dipper to his feet and began to run into the forest, Wendy turned to the beast and readied her axe.

"C'mon!" she shouted. "You want a FIGHT!?"

She then got into a combative stance.

"Come AT me!"

The Gremlobin snarled in response and leapt at her. Wendy responded by somersaulting out of the way, causing the beast to collide into the large and thick tree trunk. Rising to a kneeling position, Wendy turned toward it. The Gremlobin, though stunned for a moment, stood up and shook its head. Letting out an angry roar, it made another charge toward her. Wendy leapt out of the way. She winced as she felt a stinging sensation in her arm and shoulder, but ignored it as she continued to distract the beast and keep it from going after the twins.

As the Gremlobin ran toward her, Wendy let out an angry yell as she charged at the beast, her arms spread wide with her axe at the ready. The Gremlobin halted its attack as Wendy met up with it midway. The creature made a vicious snarl at her before taking off into the forest, clearing showing defeat.

"Yeah, you BETTER run!" Wendy shouted after it.

She brandished her axe at its fleeing form as a warning to never return. Once it was out of sight, Wendy soon relaxed and turned to head in the direction of her friends. Dipper and Mabel who had been watching from nearby ran toward her.

"Wendy! You actually fought a Gremlobin and WON!" Mabel gaped in awe.

"Well, I couldn't have that monster rip you guys to SHREDS.." Wendy grinned.

She paused for a moment as she a slight tingling in her arm. Wendy flexed her arm a bit and winced slightly as she felt a dull pain.

"Wendy, are you okay?" asked Dipper.

"Yeah.. Just kinda sore is all.."

"Well, I think we should probably head back to the Shack," Dipper stated after a moment. "It's getting kinda late.."

Wendy nodded.

"Sounds like a plan.."

Dipper and Mabel smiled and soon the trio began to head back. As they walked down the trail toward the Shack, Wendy couldn't help feeling the strange burning sensation along her left arm.

Author's Note: This was an idea that came to me while reading the book I mentioned before.. If you want to find out more about what is going on, review to find out