Terri's POV
"My head hurts..."
Despite a strong feeling of dizziness, I finally woke up painfully.
"What!!"
My situation was far from ideal: I was perched on a tree branch, my arms firmly wrapped around the briefcase entrusted by Mr. Pines.
"Don't tell me those kids opened the box!!!"
The worst possible situation had clearly occurred, and of course, I was nearby.
"Calm down, Terri..."
I forced myself to breathe slowly to ease my anxiety. "You learned a thing or two about wilderness survival with Wendy, and you have this briefcase. Mr. Pines surely planned something."
Once a bit calmer, I carefully opened the briefcase.
Inside, I found several intriguing objects: a large box marked with an "Experimental" badge, a book adorned with the symbol from Mr. Pines' usual hat, a prototype armor made by Mr. Pines, and a vial containing... Titan blood.
I started by opening the book with Mr. Pines' badge.
[Journal Number 1 of Stanley Pines]
"He literally entrusted me with his journal!!"
For an independent scientist, a journal is almost sacred.
Why? Because it contains all the crucial research steps: hypotheses, protocols, experiments, results. This ensures essential traceability to understand approaches, correct errors, or reproduce experiments.
And now, Mr. Pines had just passed on a part of his work, his discoveries.
I couldn't help feeling guilty. I'd convinced myself he no longer trusted me because of the Giffany incident, but... I was wrong.
"Sorry, boss... I acted like an immature child... Stupid Terri."
I pulled myself together and opened the strange box.
Inside, there was a strange fruit, even by Gravity Falls standards, along with a letter.
[Terri, if you're reading this, it means you've opened this damn briefcase. So either you had no choice, or you were too curious — though I doubt the second option.]
[I'll explain what's in this journal, as well as this fruit.]
According to the letter, Mr. Pines had taken precautions in case he disappeared or found himself in a tough situation.
The briefcase was part of these safety measures.
He explained that his current project risked irritating extremely dangerous entities, which forced him to act cautiously.
It wasn't due to lack of trust that he had entrusted certain projects to the "old fool" and kept me at a distance. No... He had done all this to protect me.
*Sniff* I found myself in tears without noticing.
"Stupid boss... I'm not just following you for the money or your fascinating discoveries. You're a brilliant man, someone who wants to save the world despite the difficulties..."
My hands were shaking, but I continued reading.
[The fruit you're holding is extremely dangerous. It's called the Monster Monster fruit, Grometheus model.]
[There's a 1% chance of failure, but normally, you should get a power similar to the monster named Grometheus.]
[With what's in the briefcase, you should be able to handle almost any situation. But use my journal carefully, it's as dangerous as it is precious.]
"Indeed, it's dangerous..."
If anyone could understand how Mr. Pines' inventions could sometimes do more harm than good, it was me.
"1% chance of failure, huh?"
I didn't hesitate long before biting into the fruit. Since the Giffany incident, I'd felt so useless and powerless.
This fruit is my ticket to gaining power.
As the disgusting taste filled my mouth, I couldn't help but strengthen my determination.
"I'll find those kids and the stones, Mr. Pines!" With the Titan's blood and the boss's journal number 1, getting back won't be a problem.
...
Eda's POV
"I thought you were getting an allowance for us!" whined Dipper, his plaintive voice echoing through the forest as he, Mabel, and Luz were being chased by a grotesque creature with multiple tentacles.
"My dear Stanley decided to cut off your funds because of your shenanigans," I said hastily while dodging another attack from the creature.
There was also the fact that Lilith didn't trust me enough to let me access the Emperor's coven vault. Maybe I should complain to Stanley.
After all, we're together, right? His money is my money too!
"Next time, Eda, don't get a cheaper treasure map from a sketchy yard sale!" yelled Luz while casting a glyph to try freezing the creature, but without success.
The ice wasn't strong enough.
"Haha, you guys are hilarious," the Collector's voice echoed beside us.
This kid really annoys me. He could probably handle this monster, but he's forbidden from using his powers except in immediate danger.
"Collector, I'm gonna fall!" Despite Mabel's plea, the Collector seemed to see she still had endurance.
"Nah, Mabel, father said I need to avoid relying too much on my magic to solve my problems," he said with a smirk.
"But you're flying right now, aren't you?" Luz's words seemed to catch the Collector off guard.
"I... oh, I forgot something. Be right back!" He disappeared immediately. Damn traitor.
While I was cursing my luck for having exhausted all my magic and the Collector's eccentric personality, several gigantic ice spikes suddenly erupted from the ground.
They pierced and froze the creature, finally ending its unbearable regeneration.
"Why is it that every time I show up, you're always in trouble?" A familiar voice echoed through the forest.
"Father!!!" shouted the Collector after suddenly reappearing. He must have been hiding nearby to intervene if things really went wrong.
This little rascal annoys me, but I'm also a bit proud of him.
Bam The sound of the Collector giving a hug.
"Haha, avoid giving me your special hug, Collector," said Stanley while returning the kid's embrace.
"Nah, and if you don't like it, you can always dodge, right?" retorted the Collector with a teasing smile.
"Mr. Pines, Eda puts us in danger too often," despite her exhaustion, Luz found the strength to complain. I thought she'd defend me, but no, she's selling me out... ungrateful brat!
"In my defense, you're not giving me the twins' allowance anymore," I replied, crossing my arms to make my point.
After all, my money as empress of the region remains my money.
So!! I have the right to spend it as I see fit. I'm sure next time I'll hit the jackpot at the casino.
"*Sigh* Eda, you can't spend everything and force the kids to work," said Stanley in a tired tone, even if his knowing wink contradicted his reproaches.
I don't know what these kids did at the library, but Stanley seems to hold a small grudge against them...
"Anyway, you're coming home, I'll prepare something nice." He comes here less and less, and I must admit his absence is felt in the house.
"Sorry Eda, but... I'm not here for 'us'." I really don't like when Stanley uses that expression.
Usually, he brings it out when he's with Lilith, in work mode.
"Is there a problem?" Dipper seems to understand his uncle well too.
"Yes, Terri's in trouble and I need you to ensure her return," he said in a serious tone.
"What's wrong with Terri?!" The Collector's and Mabel's voices overlapped.
I don't personally know this "Terri," but if the kids are worried about her, then she must be a good person.
"She's stuck in another dimension." Stan's words caught me a bit off guard.
Getting used to earthly customs has already exhausted me, but another reality...
"Oh cool!! Another dimension outside of the witch realm. I hope this time there'll be sci-fi..." Luz started mumbling several incomprehensible things.
It must surely be related to that famous earthly custom, since I don't understand anything she's saying.
"Don't worry, honey, I'll give you a hand."