A/N Hey guys! Still cramped in the back of a car but I'm doing good! The picture above belongs to Sophora

Episode 3: Clone Crazy

Rune flashed a light to signal Mabel that it was go time. Mabel cleared her throat and walked up to Robbie nervously. "H-Hey Robbie. Sorry I was gone. I just needed some time away from this crowd."

Robbie flashed a smile at her. "Nah, it's okay. I was just talking with my girlfriend before some kids stole her bike." Mabel rubbed the back of her neck and laughed awkwardly. "That definitely wasn't me 'cause I'm right here...."

Mabel did a double take. "W-Wait, girlfriend?" She hoped she heard him wrong. "Yeah. My girlfriend." Cold sweat settled on the back of her neck. "C-Cool. I-I'm kinda c-cold." She played it off.

Mabel spotted Rune in her peripheral signaling her to abort. "I-I have to go. My friend over there wants me." She waved bye to Robbie, who still wasn't suspicious, and turned around to Rune.

They hurried out tot he porch and paced there. "This is bad," Mabel said, "We didn't know about this variable! It'll mess up the entire plan!" Rune nodded as they switched places in their pacing.

"You're right. We need a new one. But how do we get all fifteen of us together again?" Mabel chewed on her bottom lip, thinking. Coming up with nothing she said, "I guess we'll just have to go out and look for them ourselves. The snow is kinda dangerous if they let it touch their skin."

Rune nodded in agreement. "Good idea. I'll go and look for them while you make a new plan." Mabel didn't reply, her mind already working out new possibilities.

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Dipper was still being DJ, and he sure was good at it. He hadn't seen that Northwest kid all night, and he was glad. Just then Mabel came into his view, but she had a number 2 on her shirt instead of a pine tree.

When he went to call her name she was already out the door. Shrugging he went right back to working the Booth, taking any requests that came his way.

Candi worked his way up to the Booth excitedly. "Dipper! We have punch for you!" Dipper looked up and drank the sweet liquid eagerly. "Thanks, guys! I was getting kinda thirsty!"

Gray made his way behind Candi. "Why, you are welcome!" He said in a southern accent, obviously imitating Gideon. They all giggled and Dipper switched out another record as the song ended.

Just then Gideon himself came inside. "Guys," Dipper growled. "Look who's back." Candi and Gray immediately stopped laughing a the sight of Gideon.

Dipper made sure to send a glare his way when they made eye contact. Gideon just smirked. "I'm here for a DJ-Off." He laughed at the dumbfounded looks that were given him.

Dipper smirked and stopped the music. He picked up the mic and started the announcement. "Hey-o, Dipper P. here! Sorry we had to stop the music but we have a challenger up in here!"

The crowd cheered. "Gideon Northwest here thinks he can win in a DJ-Off! Now let's see how steady that claim is. The rules are simple. My home-girl Melody here will weigh the applause meter and whoever wins gets the DJ Crown of Awesomeness!"

An uproar of applause came from the crowd. He could see Mabel with her number 2 shirt looking around shifty. Dipper put the mic down and called out to Mabel.

She flinched and waved nervously. Gideon snuck a glance at her and recognition flashed in his eyes, but only for a second. Dipper shrugged it off and picked up the mic again.

"Alright, first let's do a little test. Who thinks Northwest here can do this?" Only a few clapped politely. Then Dipper did a dramatic pause. "And who thinks Dipper P. can do this?!"

The whole crowd cheered as Gideon threw a dirty look Dipper's way. Dipper glanced at him smugly out of the corner of his eye. "Let's get this party started!"

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Mabel, needing to use the restroom, went back inside and froze at who she saw standing outside the bathroom. Before she could walk back out Robbie already called her name.

"Hey, Mabel! Where have you been?" He asked curiously. Mabel winced, glad that Dipper was keeping the party loud. "Uh, I just needed some air, like I said. What're you doing?" She changed the subject quickly.

"Just waiting for Wendy." Robbie answered causally.

Mabel flinched at her name. She wasn't sure if Wendy liked her very much. "Cool." Mabel was surprised at how smoothly the words came out. So far, she wasn't stuttering or blushing.

Robbie gave Mabel a scrutinizing stare. "Hey, you okay? You look kinda red. Are you sick or something?" Mabel looked at him confused until realization finally hit her.

"Oh... yeah... that...." She frowned as she tried to find the words to answer him with. "I kinda have a condition where I'm always blushing. I guess you can say I have unnaturally rosy cheeks. My mother has it too."

Robbie smiled thoughtfully. "So that's where you get it from. I always thought it was because of the cold." Just then the door swung open, making Mabel jump.

"Robbie! Let's go!" Wendy walked out of the door and glared at Mabel. "There she is!" Robbie exclaimed. "See you later, Mabel." Mabel smiled and nodded, waving him off.

"You betrayed us." A voice from behind Mabel claimed menacingly. Mabel froze in recognition. She turned around slowly and was met with all fifteen of her clones. The one that spoke was Rune, her first clone.

"Rune," Mabel spoke slowly, "didn't we agree on not turning on each other?" Rune glared at her. "Well, I'm sorry, Mabel, but I'm gonna have to go back on that promise." Rune's eyes narrowed as she said her next words.

"Get her, girls."

A/N Hey guys! So I had to rewrite half of this chapter because it's just mean so this is future Rouge speaking. Yeah, the one that's safely ing Texas and no longer grounded. Here's your hint: To find the answer to this cipher use the Blackthorn Key Wikia. It's the very first substition introduced.

251009'15072615220920100926040915102010161308040925. 09101526172620101613012208040720.

-Rouge Cur