Thwack. Thwack.
The heat of the sun lit up my skin. Another small curse that came with living in Gravity Falls.
I was digging up dirt for what felt like no real reason. Just smashing the ground, over and over.
It was technically punishment for something I did yesterday. Stan thought it justified hours of labor with a shovel and zero shade.
The punishment didn't fit the crime.
Sweat covered my body. My shirt was balled up on the grass next to me. I kept swinging. I wasn't even sure if I was trying to dig a hole anymore or just hit dirt until someone told me to stop.
The Shack's screen door creaked open behind me.
"Come inside, breakfast is ready!" Stan called.
I didn't stop to comment. Just dropped the shovel, wiped my face with the back of my arm, and walked inside.
He was wearing a green vest, and no hat. I gave it a quick glance but didn't ask questions.
I was beyond tired for that.
Mabel was already at the table, grinning like she'd been waiting for me. Two syrup bottles sat between us—"Mountie Man" and "Sir Syrup."
"Ready?" she said, eyes locked on the bottles.
I sat down, grabbed Mountie Man, and narrowed my eyes. "Always."
"Go!"
We tipped our bottles over stacks of pancakes, racing to see whose syrup flowed faster. I shook mine with controlled precision. Mabel cheated immediately, smacking the bottom like she was trying to break it open. Her plate got buried under a syrup avalanche.
"You are so disqualified," I said.
She just grinned, fork already loaded. She won, then immediately choked on the amount that hit her plate.
I grabbed my water glass and took a long drink while flipping open Wacky News. The cover had the usual aliens, celebrity scandals, aliens in celebrity scandals, but one ad on the bottom left caught my attention.
PHOTO CONTEST:
Get a real picture of a real monster.
Winner gets $1,000.
Deadline:Oh its this saturday. No hoaxes. We know a guy who can tell.
It looked like a scam but I knew It wasn't. I remembered this contest. The Gobblewonker. Gravity Falls supposed lake monster.
This was the episode where Dipper tried to take a picture of the lake monster. The Gobblewonker.
My eyes stayed on the ad. I could win this. Easily. Since it was just a robot built by Old Man McGucket. If I caught a clean photo, it'd be enough.
Across the table, Mabel saw the back of the page. "Whoa! Human-sized hamster balls! imagine rolling across the streets like a big human hamster—"
My eyes went back to the ad. Yeah. This could work.
I could've just called in a gnome to pose, or even staged break in by them, amp up the tension but I had a sneaking suspicion people would believe they were just short dudes.
Stan walked in, grinning. "Hope nobody's got plans, because today's Family Bonding Day!"
No one responded.
"I got the poles, I got the worms, I even cleaned the boat. We're going fishing!"
Mabel threw her arms up. "Yay! Boring nature stuff!"
I just kept thinking about that $1,000.
This was summer of course that meant lake monsters, robots, and good timed photos.
———
A few minutes later, I was out behind the Shack with Soos.
He was checking a big bulky camera for dust.
"What's up dude?" he asked.
"Were all going fishing with Stan. Id like you to come help me out with something."
"Course I Can, whatcha need help with?"
" Theres an island, nearby the beach I was wondering if you could help me with tracking some myth around there."
Soos scratched his chin. "You sure it's real?"
"Trust me bro."
He nodded slowly. "Alright, yeah, logic. Love it."
"Just keep the camera charged."
"Bet."
---
We got to the lake by mid-morning. Stan's boat the Stan o' War looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a year. Probably because it hadn't.
He handed each of us a fishing pole. "Who's ready to sit still and not talk for the next five hours?"
Mabel raised her hand like it was a school question. "Can I bring a snack?"
Stan ignored her and revved the engine. Again, then again, and again.
Finally it started to sputter.
The boat ride was fine. A little too calm. The water stretched on forever and the trees didn't move. Even the breeze felt slow.
I baited a hook, threw the line out, and immediately leaned back in my seat.
The fishing part sucked.
I tried to make conversation twice before giving up. Mabel was half on the boat about to fall off from boredom.
Stan was quiet. Probably enjoying the silence.
Eventually, we were deep in the water, thats when.
VROOOM!
The SS Cool Dude was exactly what Soos promised, sleek (by Gravity Falls standards), roomy, and rocking a bright paint job that screamed "midlife crisis, but in a fun way." A decal of sunglasses wearing sunglasses decorated the side.
Mabel gasped. "The boat has a beanbag chair?"
"Two," Soos said proudly. "For maximum chill factor. And check this—" He hit a button and a small fan popped up from the dash. "Bam. Face wind on demand."
"Hey, Grunkle Stan?" Soos said. "We're gonna go check that mysterious creepy island for a bit."
Stan didn't even look up. "Huh?! Its family bonding day!"
We took the other boat already feeling the speed on this bad boy.
"Haha, well catch up with you later, don't wait up!"
And we set off into the distance with stans muffled yells.
Mabel was oof feeling the wind from the direction we where headed .
"Hey soos, did you bring some cameras." I asked curiously.
I brought two of my own from the bags we packed,but I couldnt find the seventeen dipper magically gathered for this venture.
Soos grabbed a bag and revealed three cameras "Brought some for all three of us" he replted with a smile "Here ya go litte dude."
Five cameras should be enough but I had to rely on myself for sure , I remembered how they handled these brittle things.
Soon after having a bit of fun we reached the island and I guided Soos through.
We only stumble upon a few mishaps, we all heard a groan ahead and a seas creature like figure taking out our cameras in preparation but once we reached it, apparently it was just a bunch of beavers. I cant believe I fell for that.
After a bit of fun we continued on, so far we still had all of our cameras until.
"What was that?" Mabel questioned.
Something just hit the boat.
And not a moment later a massive figure shifted under the lake.
And then—
"Holy—"
"Cameras everyone!"
The Gobblewonker burst out of the water with a loud, mechanical groan.
Soos fumbled with the camera, but I grabbed it and snapped a clear, sharp photo while it was still resting with its towering form.
"Got it."
"Dude!" Soos shouted. "That's, like, the best cryptid photo ever taken!"
The robot disappeared under the water again. I pointed to the shore.
"We're not done yet! Hurry, and speed this boat up."
Soos quickly pressed the gas while I took a picture of the camera in my hand displaying the creature just in case tucking one in my hat and another in my life vest.
We were zooomng but the creature caught on quicker than I expected diretly on our tails as we where rushing out.
Mabel stood tall at the back aiming towards the monsterand throwing her camera at it. It simply bounce off.
Seconds llater it took a gian bite of our ship almost hitting the rotters. The ships started shaking as it contimuosly bumped onto us.
"Dudes hold on! I'M TURNING"
Damn that was a close shave.
We appeared outside of the limits of the island into the open sea, luckily we still could go fully speed with basically no issues.
I couldnt tell if it was still following but we seemed to be okay.
The water finally smoothed out. My knuckles unclenched from the railing. Mabel was sprawled across one of the beanbag chairs like she'd just fought a hurricane.
Soos cut the engine. "Whew. Guess the ol' SS Cool Dude still has it."
I kept scanning the lake just in case, but no ripples big enough to be a giant mechanical sea monster.
"Okay," I said, catching my breath. "We've got at least one perfect shot, and the contest deadline's in a couple days. This is totally in the bag."
"Unless," Mabel said, holding up a camera with syrup on the lens, "somebody accidentally poured breakfast on their evidence."
Soos frowned. "I thought that was my travel maple syrup bottle…"
Before I could respond, a familiar thwack-thwack echoed across the water.
We turned. The Stan O' War was puttering toward us, its motor coughing like it was allergic to movement. Stan stood at the helm, smacking the side with a fishing net handle.
"Hey!" he yelled. "Where the heck did you—"
But as soon as we pulled alongside, he stopped mid-rant. I think it hit him all at once—three slightly sunburned faces grinning back at him, alive, un-drowned, and monster-free.
Glad to be back," I said.
"Super glad," Mabel added.
"So glad," Soos said, patting the boat's railing like it was an old friend.
Stan's mouth twitched like he was fighting a smile. "Yeah, well… don't make me chase you next time."
We didn't argue. Just sat back, letting the sound of the engine carry us home.