When Your Legs Don’t Work Like They Used to Before

Mabel's gaze was drawn to the middle, where a portal was proudly displayed in the center area. She climbed off my back and took a couple of steps away from the machine before she stopped due to the pain caused by her ankle.

"Well. After you guys left, Great Uncle Ford and I talked it over and we decided that we should rebuild the portal. The only reason it was dangerous was because the math was slightly wrong and it caused a dimensional rift. But after carefully reviewing the math and checking it hundreds of times, we found the problem. There was a miscalculation on the quantum vectors of the spacetime filtrator. After finding the problem it was pretty easy to solve.

We corrected it. Checked everything again. And rebuilt. We've been testing the portal and nothing has gone wrong. Better yet, it's better than ever. It starts up instantly at the press of a button. I've theorized that once you link up two dimensions together they begin to behave sorta like nerve cells. The more you use the connection between them, the quicker they can be linked. We think it's a success."

Mabel looked horrified at my proud posture and speech.

"Do you have any clue how much pain that thing has caused the family!? Why did you rebuild it!?"

"Mabel, it's perfectly safe."

"'Safe?' This has nothing to do with if it's safe. It's the principle of it. That machine is dangerous!"

"All things are dangerous when you don't handle them carefully. Even a stapler can cause some serious damage. And we're very careful around here."

"It has nothing to do with that! God, Dipper! Why can't you seem to see that? You always go and do stuff without ever thinking about what it means to others!"

"What do you want me to do Mabel? Dismantle it? Destroy all that we've worked for without hesitating? Give up our dreams?

I looked at her and she stared back. Her face going through an array of emotions.

"We can't do that, Mabel. We have to keep going. We have to find out what's at the end."

"And when you do?"

"Then nothing. We move on to something else. Uncover other mysteries."

"So you're never going to finish, are you?"

I paused for a second. But I decided that this was my life now. I'd accepted that the day I accepted the apprenticeship.

"I guess not."

Tears started to well up in her eyes. But before they could fall, she brushed her face against her sleeves.

"Fine. I see."

"Should we get to treating the bite?"

She seemed to remember that she was injured at that moment and subconsciously lifted her leg.

"....yeah"

I started moving her towards the garden. That's where we kept all the medicine. But to get to it you had to pass through the Portal Area and the Inventions Lab. And it didn't help that she refused to let me pick her up….strongly.

So after carefully following behind her as she stepped through the basement we finally arrived at the garden. I took her inside the observation shack where we kept the first aid kit. There were others scattered around but they were for emergencies only. And I didn't want to waste them.

I cleaned and disinfected the wound. Then added ointment to help the healing process. I told her it had properties that would cure the weirdabies. All the while trying to make conversation.

"Soooo. How was high school?"

"......."

…..I wasn't getting far.

After that, I wrapped her leg in bandage roll.

"Finished. Okay, I recommend that you don't try to walk too much anymore. That bite was pretty deep. Any excess movement will result in extensive damage to the nervous system. Causing more pain and slower healing."

Thankfully she nodded.

After letting her rest for a minute, I offered to carry her again but the offer was denied. So much for not walking too much. So I offered to help her walk by acting as a temporary crutch.

She agreed. And we headed back. Her arm over my shoulder as she slowly hobbled back through the basement. Just as we entered the Portal Area, red lights flashed and ear-piercing sirens shrieked.

Intercom: "TEST SUBJECT #37 HAS ESCAPED. TEST SUBJECT #37 HAS ESCAPED"

"Oh shit"

I took a glance at Mabel and noticed that she was getting paler.

"Don't worry Mabel. Everything is under control. I got this."

*Boom*

And as if in response to my statement, a massive crashing sound came from the containment area.

"Stay here. And Don't Move!"

I ran to the right to grab a pair of dark glasses and quickly put them on. I turned around just in time to see the massive form of an adult Gremloblin rampage its way to the edge of the Portal Area. Bringing along with it a fierce wind that threatened to destroy everything in its path.

"ROOOAAAARRRR!!"

Half gremlin. Half goblin. It was easily 3 meters tall with huge, bulging muscles that promised immense strength. Its dark green skin carried clumps of hair and its prominent jaw showcased 2 enormous fangs that sprouted upwards along with a mouthful of smaller, yet still large, razor sharp teeth. It had batlike ears and glowing red eyes without pupils.

Without missing a beat, I drew my sword and dashed towards the Gremloblin, easily drawing its attention. I ducked under a punch and swung my sword upwards to cause a gash on its arm and blood to spurt out.

"ROOOOAR!!"

It was clearly enraged.

It had extraordinarily tough skin so that small wound wouldn't stop it. It kicked towards me and I rolled out of the way. As I got up, a huge fist was already too close to dodge so I brought my sword up to block. I was flung back 10 meters before I regained control of my body and skidded to a stop. Not hesitating for a moment, I once again charged at the creature.

It swung at me again. This time I leaped up, dodging the blow, and used its fist as a stepping stool to jump above its towering body. Using my momentum, I twisted my body in midair and drove my foot into the right side of its head. I used the rebounding force to spin in the opposite direction and deliver a slash across it's chest as I descended towards the ground.

After landing I immediately slashed at its left leg, causing the already stumbling giant to fall onto the ground. But that didn't stop it from taking swipes at me. It managed to get another hit, this time flinging my body to the right with its immense strength.

After recovering for a few seconds, I charged toward the creature that was steadily getting up, already on its hands and knees. The durability of a Gremloblin is not to be belittled. It was halfway up when I finally reached it. My sword was gleaming as I rushed underneath the huge figure and sliced through its underbelly, cleaving open its guts.

"ROOOOAAARRRR"

This time it was fatally wounded and it was not going to let me down easily. It thrashed about as I smoothly dodged all of its last death blows. After a minute of this, it was finally losing strength. The time between each swing getting longer and longer

.

Finally, it took one last swing and collapsed in a heap of green muscle. I stood back and watched as it finally fell. But before I could heave a sigh of relief, its glowing red eyes suddenly turned yellow.

Gremloblins have the unique ability to show whoever looks into its eyes their worst nightmare. And as a sign of it being used, their eyes turn from red to yellow. However, the black glasses that I have on are able to stop this power from taking effect so it shouldn't have.... Shit!

Quickly turning around I spot Mabel looking into the eyes of the collapsed Gremloblin. Her facial expression quickly turning into extreme terror. Her eyes widened as she started to shake her head.

"no...no..no.no.NoNoNONONONONOOOOOOO!"

She panickedly stumbled backwards and fell onto a lever.

The lever to the Portal!

Behind her the multicolor lights of the portal started and lightning arked all across the room. A swirling vortex appeared along with rumbling noises and the sound of warning sirens going off. Inside the swirling vortex you could make out a universe, filled with brightly colored stars and galaxies. It was a strangely beautiful sight.

But I had no time to appreciate this beauty as the suction force of the portal threatened to pull Mabel in. I lunged towards her, but my ankle was caught by an oversized hand. I fell to the ground and hit my chin, my teeth biting my tongue. I shook my head to recover from my daze just in time to see Mabel floating in the air, drifting back towards the portal.

Her arms were sprawled out just as she had been 5 years ago. Her head bowed as she seemingly accepted her fate. The only difference being that this time, her face wasn't peaceful at all. She looked extremely horrified.

"MAAAAAABBBBEEEEEEELLLLLL!!!!!!!"

…..and she was gone.