“I…I missed…” the sadness appearing on his face suddenly clouded over with anger, although he didn’t bring the gun up again. “Shermie’s grandkids?” he asked in a faraway voice. Like us.”Īt this, Stanley’s gaze faltered, and he slowly put down the gun, although he kept it in his hand. “They’re our great niece and nephew, Stanley,” Ford answered, still working on keeping his voice level. How’d you get these kids to join you? Kidnap them from their parents?” Ford’s eyebrows shot up, and he moved to put Dipper behind him.īut Stanley smiled, impressed, and kept the gun pointed squarely at Ford. “What’s it to you?” Dipper asked rebelliously. “And what’s this guy’s deal? He seems a little… sweaty.” “She’s weird!” he moved his gaze to Dipper. To Ford’s surprise, Stanley let out a huge belly laugh, sounding exactly like Ford had remembered from high school. “Princess Love-icorn’s Shimmer and Sparkle Lotion never actually absorbs into your skin!” Pines,” Ford could hear Soos panting behind him but didn’t turn around, still keeping his gaze on his brother. He squeezed the hands of his niblings in gratitude for their support. “Not anymore anyway!” Dipper grabbed Ford’s other hand, his expression matching his sister’s.įord smiled grimly despite the situation, and felt a little proud that his great nephew was such a stickler for facts.
“Grunkle Ford would never work for Bill Cipher!” Mabel interrupted, and Ford suddenly felt small hands grab one of his own as Mabel appeared beside him, a defiant look on her face. “Stanley, what are you talking about? I’m not working for anyone-”įord’s jaw dropped.
He had expected this reunion to be full of gratitude and forgiveness- he had been practicing his apology speech for weeks now, but here he was, on the wrong end of a gun as his brother angrily rambled at him. And then she said I was right, but now-”įord tried to quell the growing panic that threatened to take over. I spent years not believing it, trying to clear your name, trying to get rid of him. Stanley’s laugh had an edge to it, but the hand holding the gun didn’t waver.
“Stanley,” Ford tried to keep his voice calm, his hands up in a placating manner. “’Course, I shouldn’t be surprised- you people are all sick-” “You brought kids to join your little cult? That’s low, Stanford,” The man smiled bitterly. “We’re not leaving you, Grunkle Ford!” Dipper’s shout echoed in the cavern. “Soos, get the kids out of here,” Ford said immediately in a low voice, not taking his eyes away from the gun pointed at him. “Yeah,” the man said, and in a flash pulled out a gun and pointed it straight at Ford. “Welcome home, Stanley,” Ford said, trying to hold back tears as the phrase he had wanted to say for so many decades finally rolled off his tongue. He was wearing an outfit straight out of one of those corny dystopian movies Soos would often make Ford watch, but somehow the overall effect made the man seem more dangerous than silly.Īnd of course, except for a few scars, his face was the mirror image of Ford’s. “Would’ve been handy thirty years ago, right?” As he moved away from the glowing portal, he was becoming easier to see. “Looks like you’ve installed stairs-” the man continued conversationally as he sauntered down them. “What’s the word, Sixer?” the man’s gravelly voice echoed across the basement, the casual tone jarring compared to the tense situation.įord turned to the three people behind him. The man stood in the circle, barely moving his head but clearly taking in his surroundings with practiced motions.
A few moments ago it had been so loud that they had to yell at each other in order to be heard, but the sudden silence after the portal had completed its job just added to the tension of the room.įour pairs of eyes wordlessly watched the man silhouetted against the bright circle of light at the top of the inverted triangle that formed the portal, unable to make out any defining features due to the backlighting. The portal crackled with residual energy as it wound down, the only sound in the cavernous basement.
Also reproduced below if you want:Īfter thirty years, Ford is finally able to bring his long lost twin brother Stanley safely back from the multiverse. Oh man, AUs are such a total blast! Everyone’s work for this week has blown me away! Please enjoy my contribution to Forduary Week 3: AUs/Hands.