9A new story requested by Barbacar. I'm excited to be working on this and I hope you all will like it too.
The Mystery Tent was famous in Gravity Falls. All their best shows happened in that town. Everywhere else, they were just another travelling circus. But in Gravity Falls, they were magic. The lights would dim, the ringmaster would step out in his red crushed velvet coat, sweep off his glossy black hat with the strange fish symbol and his voice would boom through the tent as he introduced the acts one by one. He was a con man and everyone knew it, but they couldn't help but be drawn in.
The first act was always the human cannonball and her brother, who happened to be the ringmaster's great niece and nephew. The human cannonball wore a flashy outfit, a pink sequined outfit that looked like a combination of a jumpsuit and a dress, as well as a sparkly cape with a shooting star in the back. Since safety was key, she also wore a pink and white striped helmet with a glass visor, as well has a spike at the top and large curved horns on the sides. Her curly brown hair was more than long enough to stick out from under her helmet and nearly reached her ankles. It was a small miracle her hair never caught in the cannon or the net. She often ended up covered in soot from the cannon blast, making her brilliant smile stand out even more. Accompanying her was her brother who lit the fuse. His clothing was considerably less flashy than his sister's, an assortment of different clothing like something one would find at a rummage sale. One item of clothing that made identified him was a hat with a faded pine tree symbol on it. Whenever he came into the tent he always had a box of matches in his pockets to light the cannon.
Next would be the strong man, who always seemed like a strange combination of human and rodent. He wore a green singlet with a question mark on it and performed amazing feats of strength. Well, he actually lifted children from the audience most of the time. He was a favorite in the circus because of how approachable he was.
And then, then there was the one people always came to see. The ax thrower. She wore a standard juggler affair, her long red hair draped down her back, flaming in the dim light. Dangling from her mouth, more often than not, was a cigarette holding with a lit cigarette at the tip. The blades of her axes were always coated with some sort of a flammable substance that she'd light with her cigarette during performances. The fact that things were on fire always made the act seem a lot more dangerous and intriguing. She also served as a substitute cannonball if the original couldn't perform, but it was her ax skills that made people remember her.
The Mystery Tent was magic to the people of Gravity Falls. This didn't go unnoticed by the more...unsavory people of the town. There were those who believed that the members of the troupe possessed actual magic, although most thought this preposterous. But this idea was enough to attract the attention of one man.
.
.
.
Dipper and his sister had lived in the circus with their Grunkle almost their entire lives. The 12 year old couldn't remember a life before the shows and the travelling. It wasn't a bad life, he had to admit. Sure, they didn't always have a lot of money, but everyone in the circus was family. Not to mention he got to travel and learn about so many different people and places. It was a good place to be for a curious child such as himself. But he was always glad when they got to settle down for a little. At the moment they were on their way to Gravity Falls for the summer circuit.
"That place has the biggest suckers this side of the Mississippi." Stan always said. Dipper had to admit it was true, blunt as it was. The people in Gravity Falls would believe just about anything. Even Stan's weird Sascrotch side-exhibit.
"Grunkle Stan?" He asked, leaning into the cabin from the trunk bed. "Can I ride inside soon?"
"Kid, you still smell like skunk." Stan said, adjusting the clothespin on his nose. "You aren't riding in here until we can give you a tomato bath."
"It wasn't even my fault!" Dipper protested. "Mabel was the one who wanted to hug the skunk!" Mabel was currently sitting opposite him in the truck bed, playing with her pet pig Waddles. Sometimes she dressed him up in little sequined outfits for shows.
"We don't smell that bad." She said, despite the fact that she had a cold and couldn't smell a single thing. Another reason she was riding in the truck bed. Dipper hunched his shoulders and hugged his knees. He hated riding in the truck bed. He'd always find straw in clothes afterwards. One time he'd found an acorn in his hat, which he was pretty sure had gotten there because of Mabel.
"We'll get you washed off when we get to Gravity Falls." Stan said. Dipper just made an annoyed noise and watched the road.
Soos and Wendy were in charge of the bathing once they arrived. They dragged out the old tin wash basin and filled it up with tomato juice Soos had been sent into town to get. The clerk hadn't even batted an eyelash at the strange order. Melody only occasionally worked in Gravity Falls, but she'd encountered the Mystery Tent's troupe enough to know them fairly well. When the tomato juice had been acquired it was poured into the basin and the twins were promptly shoved in while the others set up. Dipper wouldn't complain about not being able to set up. Getting the booths and tents up was hard work. Mabel splashed around with Waddles, since the pig had been sprayed too.
"I can't wait to see Candy and Grenda!" She squealed. "Do you think Grunkle Stan will let them work concessions again?"
"I don't think he'll object to more free child labor." Dipper said. "I just hope Gideon doesn't show up again."
Mabel shivered. "Yeah..."
The last time they'd been in Gravity Falls the local child psychic had nearly heckled them out of town. Stan and Gideon had had a rivalry for as long as either Pines twin could remember, but it had never escalated too far before. At least, until last year when Mabel had rejected Gideon's confession of love. Things had definitely gone downhill after that. But Dipper had a feeling that this year was going to be different. Little did he know how different it was going to be.
.
.
The first difference was the man who showed up at their first show. He looked like a used car salesman with his big smile and unbearably tacky yellow suit. Other than that, he was short, a little stocky, and had strangely yellow eyes.
"Welcome to the Mystery Tent." Dipper said, ever cautious from his spot in the ticket booth. "May I interest you in a ticket?"
"Sure thing!" The stranger said, "It's been awhile since I caught one of Fez's shows! You weren't even born then, Pine Tree!"
"Um...Okay." Dipper handed over the ticket and the man gave him the money, catching his wrist in the process. The man's sleeve pulled back, revealing an eye tattoo on his wrist.
"Name's Bill Cipher." The stranger said. "It's pleasure to finally make your acquaintance." Dipper's mind was screaming stranger danger but he couldn't move. Something about the man, Bill's, eyes kept him frozen. Finally, Bill let go and swaggered inside, humming to himself. Dipper stood there until he was out of sight, then put up the closed sign and bolted into the tent. He was jittery the whole rest of the night and nearly missed the fuse for Mabel's cannon. The audience had a bit of fun laughing at him as he tried to put out his burning sleeve.
"Dude, you okay?" Wendy asked him after the show. "You were really spacing."
"Just a weird customer." Dipper said. "He seemed like he knew Grunkle Stan. And he knew my name."
"Do you want to go to the sheriff?" Wendy was suddenly dead serious. "He's not exactly the best, but he could help."
"It's fine. He's probably just a guy Grunkle Stan scammed." After all, there were few people in the area that Stan hadn't pulled a fast one on. Wendy agreed, but reluctantly.
"Just remember, I'm here if you need anything." Wendy patted her axes.
"I know." He rolled his eyes. "I'm not a little kid, you know."
"Of course you're not." Wendy ruffled his hair. "You better get going. Mabel has to be looking for you." Dipper nodded and ran off to find Mabel. Wendy went to find Stan and ask him about said weird customer.