#Mabel’s Strange Predicament

[chaptertwo-thepacnw]

mabel’s strange predicament |1914| mabel normand

[oldfilmsflicker]

new-to-me #578 - Mabel’s Strange Predicament

[chaplinlegend]

One hundred and thirty-two years ago Mabel Normand was born (November 9/10, 1895, Staten Island, New York) as Mabel Ethelreid Fortesque, the daughter of Claude and Mary Normand. She was one of the first major comedy stars of early silent cinema. She played the leading roles in Charlie Chaplin's first films for Keystone.

Mabel Normand directed the short film "Mabel's Strange Predicament". It is here that we see the birth of Chaplin's unique style of comedy, as well as the tramp commonly known as Charlie.

Mabel also worked with Roscoe Arbuckle (Fatty Arbuckle), Mack Sennett, D.W. Griffith, Harold Lloyd, Mary Pickford, Hal Roach, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Fred Mace, Fred Sterling and John Bunny.

She was a screenwriter, director, producer, and for several years even had her own film company!

She died on February 22, 1930 at the age of 35.

Photo from 1916-1917 - Albert Witzel, Public Domain.

[pacingmusings]

Seen in 2024:

Mabel's Strange Predicament (Mabel Normand), 1914

[myedwardianman]

Harry Hewitt McCoy (1893-1937)

[chaplinfortheages]

"Mabel's Strange Predicament" 1914

Mabel’s Strange Predicament, Mabel Normand (1914)

[saving-word-crawls]

Gravity Falls Word Crawl

By: BritishSass

I’ll admit, this is a super simple crawl, so feel free to add more zeros or ones to make the writing times and numbers longer/larger. This crawl is just about the first episode, since… well, I’ve got some writing to do that isn’t this, even though I wish I could do more.

You, along with your friends Dipper and Mabel, have been sent to Gravity Falls for the summer. Unfortunately for you, you’re stuck in the same house as them. At least it isn’t in the same room? As you ride the bus, are you excited to be going to Gravity Falls with your friends? If you are, then write for the 10-minute ride there as you theorize about what it’ll be like there. If not, then do a 5-minute word war with one of your friends to pass the time and avoid thinking about it. If you lose, you’ll have to do their chores for a week (Or another 100 words), so be careful!

You and your friends arrive, and Dipper finds a weird journal in the woods�� He enlists your help with figuring out what it means, so you spend 15 minutes writing/studying the writing in the journal.

Huh, it sure looks like there’s something strange afoot. Dipper makes sure you hide the journal well whenever his Grunkle Stan passes by, so at least you don’t have to worry about keeping an eye out for him. On the other hand, it sure looks like Mabel’s having fun! Write 200 words as you watch her try to rig a way to get a boyfriend, or write for 5 minutes as you keep helping Dipper with the journal.

Hey, it looks like Mabel’s actually found someone! Do a 5-minute word war to determine whether or not you believe that Norman is, well, normal. If you win, then you’re pretty sure he isn’t. If you lose, it takes another 5 minutes writing/studying to put together that something is at least a little bit off here.

Dipper finds a picture that seems a lot weirder than most, at least: A picture with Norman’s hand falling off. Ooh, that doesn’t look good. Write 150 words as Dipper prepares the cart to go after Mabel.

You hop on board to join him, and you both hurry through the woods to find her and Norman. It seems you’ve arrived just in time, as Mabel is being tied down by a bunch of gnomes! Write another 300 words to help her get out while Dipper gets out the shovel.

The two of you help Mabel out of her predicament only to find yourselves in an even larger one! You all get in the cart together, hurrying through the woods as you try to get away, but the gnomes fuse into one giant gnome, chasing after you! Write for 15 minutes as you escape!

The cart unfortunately crashes, and you three all climb out. Everything seems like it’s going to end poorly when Mabel gets up and offers to marry the gnomes as they asked. At least, until she gets out the leafblower! Write 150 words to help clean up the mess of the gnome colony without their leader.

Luckily, that seems to have worked. The other two comfort each other, but you don’t exactly have a sibling to awkwardly sibling hug here, so you just head inside, greeting Grunkle Stan. He offers that you can pick something before the others do because of the “overstocked inventory,” as he puts it.

If you pick the notebook and pencil, then write 200 words to try it out!

If you pick the hat, then take a walk instead-- you’ve been writing for a while, and the best way to try out a hat is with the sun and wind.

If you pick the grappling hook, then write for 5 minutes as you try to figure out how to use it.

If you pick the bumper sticker, then do a word-war for 5 minutes. You need to talk to someone else.

Overall, you’ve had an eventful first… Day? Week? You aren’t sure how long you’ve been in Gravity Falls, but already, you’ve had quite the adventure! Write about it for another 10 minutes, or just take a break. You’ve earned it after such a big day.

[wyrmfedgrave]

Pics: Charlie Chaplin's¹ Comedic Cavalcade & Lovecraft.

1 & 2. "The Tramp"² himself!

But, what happened to his mustache?!

Sacre blu!!

3 thru 6. Some of the biographical materials out there...

7. A scene from "The Kid"³ (1921), Chaplin's 1st full length movie (as a director) & a huge, smash hit.

1915: HPL Output.

Title: "To Charlie of the Comics."

Intro: < Charley Brady on the website silentcinema.com

The 20th century's most gifted horror writer was a strange Gent from Providence, R.I. - H.P. Lovecraft.

Stephen King⁴ once said that "all horror writers walk under Howard's immense shadow."

In cold & clammy fact, HPL single- handedly dragged Gothic horror⁵ into a brighter - but, still doomed - future!!

Lovecraft's best stories all partake of cosmic horror⁶ themes.

Expanding that genre with demonic gods, magical tomes, crazy cultists & maddened, good for nothing - but, smart - 'hero victims', etc!

So much did Howard contribute that a large part of this genre is now classed under his name - Lovecraftian Horror!⁷

This next, comedic poem is all about HPL's enjoyment of Charlie Chaplin's comedic stylings as the "Tramp."

Not what 1 would imagine the prim & proper Howard doing in a dark movie theater!

Lovecraft, we're told, supposedly had nothing but disdain for the silent film scene.

But, did he?!!

Really?!

If so, this was 1 'hatred' that didn't last long in him...

Because, Howard thoroughly enjoyed Chaplin's works & many other weird films!!⁸

HPL actually compared Charlie's best acting roles to those of the great actor - Douglas Fairbanks!⁹

Then, in 1915, Lovecraft composed a comedic fan poem honoring the man who brought so much levity into this own life...

Text:

You trip & tumble over the sheet¹⁰ That holds your life-like image.

You shuffle your (large) feet Thru love scene, chase or scrimmage.¹¹

As gazing on each comic act I stare at your perfection

I find it hard to face the fact that you're a mere projection.

I've seen you as an artist rare, With brush & paint smeared palette;¹²

I've seen you fan the empty air With ill intentioned mallet.

I've watched you woo a winsome fay¹³ (You a dream to her must be),

But never have caught you in a play Without that cane & derby!¹⁴

Dear lad, I trust your happiness May be like that you give us,

And since ripe years the mirthful bless,¹⁵ That you may long outlive us.

May you the smiles of Fortune¹⁶ see, Nor know what want of cash is;

And may your times of trouble be As short as your mustaches!

I'd like to meet you, Charles, old chap, Though vast the space dividing;

Yet I must merely sit & clap At your fantastic gliding.

But though you're far away, we know, You still have power to rouse us:

Your films can pack a picture show That's roomy as your trousers!

Footnotes:

1. Charles Spencer Chaplin was an English actor, filmmaker & composer who rose to stardom during the silent movie era.

He became a worldwide idol, a co- founder of United Artists & is now considered a film industry legend.

Chaplin's career spanned 75+ years of adulation & controversy...

All the way from the Victorian Age til 1976!

Strangely enough, just like Howard, Chaplin's mom was institutionalized - several times! - in a mental asylum...

2. The Tramp persona was created for the 1914 movie "Mabel's Strange Predicament."

Chaplin chose his character's look as being all contradictions: baggy pants, tight coat, small hat & large shoes.

As a final touch, he added a small mustache - which wouldn't hide the actor's facial expressions!

And so, the Tramp was born...

3. "The Kid" was the 2nd highest grossing film of 1921 & is now rightly considered 1 of the greatest movies of the whole silent era.

In 2011, the National Film Registry selected "The Kid" for preservation as a cinema treasure!

Its basic plot is of the Tramp finding a baby in an alley!

After not being able to give the baby away, he decides to raise it.

5 years later, the baby's mom (now rich) offers a $1,000 reward for his safe return.

After some misunderstandings & chases, the kid ends up reunited with his mom.

And, at the end of a particularly weird nightmare, the Tramp is reunited with 'his' kid.

4. Do I really have to tell you who Stephen King is?

Sigh.

King is a life-long resident of Maine who's now the world's greatest horror (among other genres) writer.

Unable to find a teacher's job, he 1st worked in an industrial laundry.

King's 1st short story, "The Glass Floor" sold in 1967.

In 1971, he finally started teaching high school English at the Hampden Academy.

2 years later, King got a major paper- back sale for his novel "Carrie", mean- ing that he could now afford to write full-time.

"Salem's Lot", "The Shining", "The Stand", "The Dead Zone", etc soon followed...

Strangely enough, King doesn't plan out his tales.

He prefers to work with an idea, adding to it as he's inspired...

His latest collection of short stories is You Like it Darker (2024), which includes "Rattlesnakes", a 'sequel' to his own "Cujo!"

5. Gothic fiction is a literary genre of haunting fears.

The name refers to the architecture of the tales' settings: monasteries, con- vents, castles, cemeteries & crypts.

Its themes create environments of fear, supernatural threats & physical reminders of a 'better' past!

Gothic stories wallow in plot elements such as murder, vengeful persecution & claustrophobic imprisonment.

The horrible events in these works serve as expressions of psychological or social conflicts.

But, from all the dungeons & forests primeval, there emerged the Female Gothic tale.

This subgenre focuses on introducing women's societal roles & sexualized desires into Gothic romances.

The main theme here, is that of a persecuted woman - with a villain for a father - who's seeking her real mom.

They fight against males who break all social taboos.

A sort of critique on masculine power, family violence & sexual predators.

Luckily, the naive female victim soon evolved into a more assertive heroine.

Shakespeare influenced early Gothic writers, with his plots on murder, omens, witchcraft, ghosts & revenge.

Written dramatically & set in medieval castles, his many plays were quoted in an effort to legitimize Gothic tales as serious literature.

John Milton & Alexander Pope (whose poetic style HPL copied) are also seen as influences to the Gothic genre.

Also, the Graveyards Poets, Edmund Spenser & Daniel Defoe had earlier popularized the dreary & sorrowful mood that accompanied corpses, skeletons & churchyards.

All that was needed, to make a true Gothic tale, was a philosophical core to tie everything together.

An emotional aesthetic...

This was finally provided by another Edmund - Burke this time.

His 1757 ideas on Terror, Obscurity & the Sublime showed they could be used to produce the strongest emotion that the mind is capable of - a mostly suspected fear...

And the Gothic novel was born.

6. Cosmic horror is a subgenre of horror fiction & the weird tale.

Originally, it covered the dread of alien invaders or the exploration of strange planets.

But, HPL refined this eldritch genre by emphasizing a horror of the unknown- able & incomprehensible, more than any gore or shock.

This cosmic dread is born of for- bidden (& dangerous) knowledge, madness, non-human (& multi- dimensional) beings - who are totally indifferent to man's needs, hideous fates & the ugly side-effects of weird scientific discoveries.

In his honor, this kind of cosmic horror is now named after Lovecraft.

As is usually the case, few people truly understood what Howard had really accomplished - back then.

Luckily, HPL's friends kept his works going.

Not just publishing his Mythos tales but, adding to them.

True, they made some weird decisions along the way - but, Lovecraft is better known nowadays.

And, what an influence his cosmicism has had!

Howard's stories can now be found in many other media: horror films, RPGs, comicbooks, etc!!

If only he could have known...

7. See note number 6.

8. HPL tried to see The ("fantastic") Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1921) but, he was never able to track it down.

Yet, he did see 1925's "The Phantom of the Opera", which he 1st thought was boring!

But, when the 2nd part came on, Lovecraft "could not (be) made drowsy by all the opiates under heaven!!"

He was especially taken by the Phantom's 'face' - &, "the nameless legion of things that... appeared be- side & behind (the Phantom) when the crowd chased him into the river at last!"

9. Douglas Elton 'Fairbanks Senior was an American actor & filmmaker best known for his swashbuckling roles.

He was a huge star during the silent movie era & was called "The King of Hollywood!"

Douglas even got to host the 1st Academy Awards show in 1929.

Though a comedian at 1st, his best films were all in the adventure genre: "The Mark of Zorro", "Robin Hood" & "The Thief of Bagdad."

Sadly, Douglas' career soon declined with the arrival of the "talkies."

So, he retired from acting but, kept himself involved in the movie industry & at United Artists.

10. The sheet mentioned here must have been an early type of screen or other material used to display films on.

11. I believe Howard means "a con- fused fight" or "struggle" here.

Not, the football placement...

Heh.

12. The small, thin board upon which artists place & mix their colors.

Pallette's meaning has expanded to include "a range of figurative colors."

Figurative, here, describes colors thru metaphors.

Like "beet root" being "the color of someone who's embarrassed."

13. "Woo a winsome fay" is to "try to gain the love of an attractive fairy or elf!"

And so, an "unpredictable" & "unreal" woman, since she's actually an evil sea elf type.

14. A derby is American for an English bowler hat.

This means that it is a hard felt hat with a rounded top.

These bowlers were created by London hat-makers, Thomas & William Bowler in 1849.

Strangely enough, it was known as "the hat that won the American West!"

The reason being that bowlers didn't blow off easily in windy conditions.

Both lawmen & outlaws wore it.

In fact, one Marion Hedgepeth was better known as "the Derby Kid!"

15. In this case, I'd say "ripe years the mirthful bless" equals "very old folk by the cheerful/funny are blessed."

16. "The smiles of Fortune", here, is a way of wishing Chaplin "good luck."

HPL should really have known better.

Fortune is the modern version of the Roman Fortuna, a very fickle goddess who dispensed good & ill fortunes.

To people & whole cities as well...

So, it's not surprising that - as Atrox Fortuna - she's also the goddess of all fates!!

But, there's also the Parcae (Decuma, Nona & Morta), goddesses of fate who were originally controllers of childbirth!

End.

[emad23257]

Charlie Chaplin's Mabels Strange Predicament

[chaptertwo-thepacnw]

mabel’s strange predicament |1914| mabel normand

[criteriondiary]

「メーベルの窮境」Mabel’s Strange Predicament Directed by Mabel Normand • 1914 • United States Starring Mabel Normand, Charles Chaplin, Chester Conklin

主演、監督は、メーベルノーマンド。サイレント映画期を代表するコメディエンヌ。

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%A1%E3%83%BC%E3%83%99%E3%83%AB%E3%83%BB%E3%83%8E%E3%83%BC%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3%E3%83%89

ブカブカのズボンに山高帽をかぶったチャーリースタイルは、この映画から始まった。

ホテルのロビー、浮浪者なのか、客なのかわからない酔っ払ったチャップリンが、ロッキングチェアと格闘しながら、他の客にちょっかいを出していた。

そこに犬を連れたメーベルがやってくる。チャップリンからのちょっかいを制止し、どうにか部屋に戻ったメーベルは、犬と戯れていると、ボールが廊下に出てしまい、それをとりに行ったら、オートロックのドアが閉まってしまった。最悪なことに、パジャマ姿…

そこにチャップリンがやってきて、メーベルは、隣の老夫婦の部屋のベッドの下に隠れることに。そこに、メーベルの恋人がやってきて、５人で乱闘騒ぎに。どうにかチャップリンと老夫婦を追い出した恋人が、最��は、メーベルとキスして終わる。

体を張ったスラップスティックコメディー。物語は、重要ではない。

他のチャップリン映画でもそうだが、彼の演技、表情、仕草で成立している。

23.3.20

[chaplinfortheages]

The tramp and the public meet for the first time - Cinema would never be the same.

Charlie Chaplin’s second film for the Keystone Studios, his first as his creation “the tramp”. Though technically his tramp character stepped in front of a movie camera first on “Mabel’s Strange Predicament” though released two days after “Kid Auto Races at Venice” released February 7th 1914.

"Kid Auto Races at Venice" - this is the second film in which Charlie Chaplin appeared. It was filmed in 1914 and directed by Henry Lehrman. The film was made during the Junior Vanderbilt Cup, an actual race. The characters played by Chaplin and Lehrman improvise gags in the presence of real observers (not actors).

The film "Kid Auto Races at Venice" is extremely important as a comedy in which viewers first saw Chaplin's character - the Tramp. It is also invaluable because it gives you the opportunity to learn about the first audience's reaction to Chaplin's character - the motor racing spectators - and their reactions to his comic antics. In the improvised film (allegedly shot in just forty-five minutes), a comical situation occurs in which Tramp constantly disturbs the cameraman. At first, viewers don't know what to make of this funny boy. Is he really a nuisance? As the action continues, their surprise turns into real fun. Unlike other screen comedians, Chaplin immediately creates oneness with his audience. It was a kind of film experiment.

[chaplinfortheages]

Charlie Chaplin first three films:

"Making A Living" February 2nd 1914

"Kid Auto Races at Venice" February 7th 1914 (Tramp's first screen appearance)

"Mabel's Strange Predicament" February 9th 1914

[davidhudson]

Mabel Normand, November 9, 1892 – February 23, 1930.

With Charlie Chaplin in Mabel’s Strange Predicament (1914).

[wil-is-done]

When You’re A Mystery Kid - Chapter 1: The Hunt is On

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a repost. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Chapters 1 through 7 were written way back in 2014, and so reflects the views, ideas, and writing skills that I had during that time. Feel free to read them if you’d like, but I would advise you skip straight to chapter 8. Trust me, you are not missing much.

Disclaimer: I only own the story and my OCs

-

Coraline face palmed for what seems like the hundredth time today.

She pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to ease the headache that is starting to form. The blue-haired girl left for a quick bathroom break for no more than ten minutes and her friends has managed to turn their relatively-tidy makeshift headquarters into the aftermath of a hurricane.

Groaning, she forced herself to watch the utter complete mess before her. 

Books and papers are scattered all over the room, some of them still flying in the middle of the chaos. Most of their mystery hunting equipments are taken off their shelves and left carelessly on the floor, even the highly hi-tech and expensive ones. Trophies and memorabilia from their hunts are scattered across the room, some of them even stuck on the ceiling. God knows how that happened. 

And that was without mentioning her friends’ antics. 

Norman and Neil are sitting on the floor, their hair somehow braided together. They tugged and pulled at each other’s hair, their hands frantically trying to undo the knots. The sight of Mabel laughing her lungs out nearby made it quite clear who put them in their predicament. You’d think the fact that this is also her and her brother’s room would make her a little worried.

And moving to the other half of the Pines twins, who is caught up in yet another heated argument with Raz. The topic of the argument is the same as the others; who is the real brains in the team. They shouted out the advantages that they had over each other, all things Coraline has already heard. While arguments are usually just a bother to the ears, Coraline quickly learned that everything changes when a psychic enters the fray. Especially one that has tendency to use his powers to… emphasize his point. 

Strangely, even at the risk of receiving a psi-blast to the face or worse, Dipper still stubbornly refuses to give up his point. 

“A careful observation can beat psi-blasting like a lunatic any day!” the twelve-year old exclaimed.

“You won’t be able to observe anything once I’m done psi-blasting you!” the psychic spat back, fists already glowing with psychic energy.

“I can guess your deepest fears even if my pants are on fire!” Coraline face palmed again at that sentence. Taunting someone that can start fires with his mind to light your pants on fire is not very smart for someone that’s been dubbed a genius. 

Raz’s teeth clenched, and Coraline knew that something bad is sure to happen. “YOU WANNA PROVE THAT?!” he yelled at the other boy’s face, sending a psychic wave at all directions. Equipments and trophies were scattered across the room, and the books and papers are sent flying once again. 

Coraline ducked as she saw a book heading straight at her, letting it fly out the still open door. She stood up straight and turned towards the Dipper and Raz, glaring at them with irritation. Unsurprisingly, the two are still arguing. However, Coraline forced herself from lashing out at the two, as, surprisingly, they are not the most potentially destructive people in the room.

Wybie sat in the corner, frantically trying to get his contraption under control. The boy of course, has completely ignored Coraline’s ‘no-experiments-in-the-briefing-room’ policy and decided to work on one of his projects here, just as said project went haywire. Coraline shook her head as the contraption went crazier as a result of Raz’s psychic wave, Wybie getting more frantic along with it. 

Coraline moved towards Wybie, ignoring the bickering boys and Mabel and her victims. Suddenly, there was loud boom, accompanied with several loosed bolts being sent flying across the room. Coraline ducked instinctively, and the rest stopped what they’re doing momentarily, and only momentarily. 

Coraline’s eyes followed the bolts as they rooted themselves on various parts of the room. One of them actually struck Aggie’s leg, but the girl is currently preoccupied with the sight before her. Coraline followed the technically-older girl’s gaze, and she let out a dejected sigh. Installed on the wall in front of Aggie was four large computer monitors, all filled with error warnings. The girl shifted nervously in her seat, scratching her head in confusion. Warily, Aggie pushed a button on the keyboard, but all it did is cause a hundred more error messages to appear.

Coraline looked back and forth between Aggie and Wybie, not sure who to help first. Mabel’s annoying laughter and Raz and Dipper’s ongoing argument is not helping her decide. While deciding, she noticed one of her friends not being bothered at all by the chaos around them. 

Coraline approached the girl, who is watering her plants under the triangular window. 

“And just what are you doing?” Coraline asked, hands on her hips.

“A little obvious, don’t you think?” Lili replied, not bothering to turn away from her plants. 

“And you’re not the slightest bit bothered by this?” Coraline asked, ducking as a part of Wybie’s contraption flew past her. “GET THAT THING UNDER CONTROL, LOVAT!” she snapped. 

“WHAT’D YOU THINK I’VE BEEN DOING, JONESY?!” the boy snapped back, diverting his attention from his contraption to Coraline, which of course did not end well for him.

Coraline shook his head as the contraption caught on fire, Wybie’s panic practically going through the roof at this point. Coraline gladly diverted her attention back to the psychic girl. “So?” she asked again.

“As long as they’re not bothering me, they can do anything they want.” The girl answered simply. 

“And what exactly happened here?” Coraline asked, her curious gaze sweeping across the mess that supposedly occurred in the five minutes that she was gone. If it wasn’t for the fact that this room is their headquarters, she would actually be impressed by that feat. 

Lili let out a low sigh, setting her watering can down and turning to face Coraline with a mildly annoyed look. “After you left, Wybie started his project here. Dipper unnecessarily tried to help out, Raz called him a know-it-all, and I’m sure you know what happens next. Norman and Neil were minding their own business, until sweater girl comes in, and she hadn’t stopped laughing since then. Wybie tried to do some damage control, but his contraption decided to go psycho all of a sudden. Aggie tried to back away from the craziness, but she accidentally bumped into the keyboard, and now she’s stuck with her own mess.”

After that quick explanation, Lili abruptly turned her attention back to her plants. Coraline shook her head at psychic’s apathy, deciding whether to berate her or not. 

At least she’s not making a mess. Coraline thought, turning her attention back to the chaos behind her, which is worsening with every passing second. She took a step forward, readying her loudest shout to gain everyone’s attention. But before she can do that, a different loud noise captured their attention.

A siren, installed just above the door, blared as it bathed the room in flashes of red light. The chaos of the room came to an abrupt stop, replaced by the siren’s blare, gaining everyone’s attention. After a few seconds, the siren stopped, the room now illuminated in a warm, summer sunlight again, but Coraline never expected what happened next. 

Dipper and Raz’s argument stopped, the two of them rushing towards the computer. Aggie got out of her seat, quickly replaced by Dipper. With a few button presses, the error warnings and messages on all four monitors disappeared, much to Aggie’s silent relief. 

Mabel finally stopped her laughter and, with a few quick tugs, unraveled Norman and Neil’s hair. The three quickly joined Dipper, Raz and Aggie in front of the monitors. 

Wybie picked up a fire extinguisher from among the mess and drenched his device with the white substance, putting the fire out but his device is most definitely ruined in the process. Letting out a low, dejected sigh, he put the extinguisher down and joined the others in front of the monitors.

Lili put her watering can down and placed her plants back right under the triangular window. She stood up and made her way to the monitors.

Meanwhile, Coraline stood stunned in the middle of the room, mouth slightly agape from her attempted yell. She was dumbfounded; the fact that the complete chaos in front of her came to an abrupt stop didn’t completely register in her mind. 

What the-? Did that just… actually happened…? The blue haired girl thought.

“Wow, seriously?” said Lili with an un-amused look on her face, breaking Coraline’s trance. “Good to know you think so highly of us.” she continued, sarcasm dripping with every word. It wasn’t until Lili joined the others in front of the monitors that Coraline realized that the girl just read her mind.

Blushing faintly, Coraline joined the others. 

Dipper was already typing on his keyboard when she arrived. A full map of Gravity Falls is displayed on the leftmost monitor, with a blinking red dot displayed prominently on the map. With a few button presses, Dipper zooms in on the red dot, revealing it to be close to the waterfall. 

“About a mile south of the waterfall.” Dipper stated. 

“What lives there? Hide-Behind? The piranha-pigeons?” Norman guessed.

Dipper punched in some more commands, opening up footage of several surveillance cameras on another monitor. It showed several different spots in the forest near the waterfall. Punching more commands, Dipper rewinds the time to about before the siren went off, before playing it again frame by frame. All nine of them watched the footage closely as the frames passed, looking for signs for a creature or anything supernatural.

“There!” Raz shouted, pointing at a footage on the top center of the monitor. Dipper immediately stopped the footage, enlarging the one that Raz is pointing. On screen, there is a blurry image of an all-black, horse-shaped figure.

“It’s that Shadow Mare from last week!” Mabel announced. “He still owes me a ride.” she added with a pout.

“Remember guys, the journal said the Shadow Mare could be a ghost,” Dipper reminded, “if that turns out to be true…”

“Then we’ll take point.” Norman, the team’s expert on ghosts, nodded, alongside Aggie, the team’s other expert on ghostly things.

“Alright, let’s gear up!” Raz announced, already itching for an adventure. 

The group quickly dispersed from the monitor, leaving Coraline dumbfounded once again. Wybie snatched three keys off of a hanger on the wall and dashed out of the room. Raz and Lili quickly cleaned up the mess, using their psychic powers of course. Their equipments and trophies flew back to their respective places, returning the room to its original state in a matter of seconds. The deed done, the two walked out of the room, Raz picking up his signature goggles along the way.

Dipper, Mabel, Norman, Neil and Aggie moved to their personal lockers, bolted on the wall opposite of the monitors. Dipper’s locker, decorated with a layer of notes about his personal research, is the rightmost one. Mabel’s is right next to Dipper’s, decorated with colorful stickers and various arts and crafts items, and is also the only one that has been repainted pink. Norman’s is two lockers away from Mabel’s, separated by Wybie’s and Coraline’s. Unlike Dipper’s and Mabel’s, Norman’s locker is colored pitch black, plain and undecorated. The same can be said for the two lockers left of Norman’s, belonging to Aggie and Neil respectively. 

Dipper fished out his precious journal, 3, out of the locker and tucked it safely in his vest. He pulled out another thing, a utility belt, and fastened it around his waist.  From a special container in his locker, he pulled out several chemical tubes and secured them on his utility belt. From an even more special container, he pulled out a device he made with Wybie’s help. It can mix the chemicals that he brought, enabling a larger variety of uses and making them deadlier than ever. He carefully secured the device on his utility belt.

Mabel opened her locker, gazing at its content with a silly grin. Hanging proudly in the locker is her ‘most amazing sweater of all time ever’. A plain white sweater with the words ‘Mystery Kids’ stitched to it, each letter styled with the characteristics of each of her friends. It also has a layer of strong yet flexible protective padding underneath the fabric, courtesy of Wybie and Dipper. Eagerly, she slipped on her ‘adventure sweater’ over her current sweater, alongside a utility belt similar to Dipper’s. She then took out her trusty grappling hook and secured it on her belt.

Norman opened his locker, pulling out his signature red jacket, now with protective padding similar to Mabel’s, courtesy of Wybie as well. He slipped them on, and pulled a slingshot and a bag of metal pellets from his locker, placing them in his jacket. After discovering that he has a decent aim, Norman reserved this ability for situations like this, and decided that a slingshot is the weapon best suited for him. 

Aggie fumbled a little with her locker’s lock before she managed to open it. She pulled out and slipped on a pair of gloves made out of non-conductive material specially designed by Mabel and Wybie, its main purpose is to contain her ‘leftover powers’. 

Neil opened his locker with an excited smile, only for it to turn to a horrified look as dozens of brooms and other cleaning tools fell upon him. The others paused their gear-up to stare dumbfounded at the pile of cleaning tools that buried Neil.

“Ow…” the boy moaned in pain.

“Oops…” Mabel spoke, drawing silent sighs from the rest. “I completely forgot about that prank…”

Coraline face palmed. The whole time, as her friends immediately dropped their antics and got down to business, a feeling of pride starts welling up inside her. The fact that the ragtag bunch is capable of getting serious when needed is definitely something to be proud of. However, that prank is like the world trying to remind her that they are all still pre-teens after all. 

She took her hand off her face, intending to help Neil, but she was surprised to find that they are already gone, all of the brooms and cleaning equipment crammed back in Neil’s locker. Hurried footsteps from the door suggest that they stuffed them back in and immediately left.

Coraline let a small smile out. Definitely not your everyday pre-teens though. 

Realizing that everyone else must already be ready downstairs, she hurried to her locker. She fished out and put on her signature yellow coat and police cap. Unlike Mabel and Norman, her coat doesn’t have any added protective padding. She pulled out her satchel and, after quickly checking to see if all her equipments are in there, puts it on. Lastly, she took out her mace, securing it to a strap on her satchel. 

Now, the blue-haired girl is ready. But, before she left the room, she opened Wybie’s locker and took out his signature mask. She sprinted out of the room, through the house and out the Mystery Shack’s back door.

Outside, the rest of her friends are waiting for her, preparing all three of their ‘Mystery Rides’. The first one, the Mystery Cart, now with some modifications by Wybie, with the materials coming from Raz and Lili’s Psychonaut connections. After getting it from Stan through a lengthy argument, they all worked together and turned the golf cart into their main mystery solving vehicle. While the exterior might still look like an ordinary golf cart, it now has dozens of compartments to store their equipments, and it also has dozens of new functions, most of them can be activated with just a press of a button.

Currently, Dipper, Mabel, Raz, Lili and Neil are tending to it. Dipper is checking and filling some compartments with several of his chemical tubes, Mabel is pumping the tires while Raz, Lili and Neil are seated on their usual spots. Lili and Neil sat on the back, while Raz still stubbornly chooses to place himself on the roof. 

The second one of the Mystery Rides, Wybie’s bike-motorcycle hybrid, currently being tended by Wybie. Surprisingly, even though it is his bike, it is the one that Wybie modifies the least. For Coraline, the bike looks the same as it was two years ago, when she first arrived at the Pink Palace. 

And finally, the last of the Mystery Rides, Norman’s bicycle. After weeks of persuasion from the others, Norman finally agreed to make his bicycle a part of the Mystery Rides, letting Wybie turn it into a bike-motorcycle hybrid similar to his own. Currently, Norman and Aggie are tending to it.

“You guys ready?” Coraline shouted, catching their attention. 

“Just waiting on you, Jonesy.” Wybie replied, getting on his bike.

Stepping towards her friends, Coraline pulled out nine earpieces from her satchel and tossed one to each of them, keeping one for herself. She placed it on her right ear, the others following suit, though Aggie fumbled with it a little. 

She walked towards Wybie, handing him his mask. “I think you forgot this. Again.”

Wybie slapped his forehead. “My mask! I knew I forgot something!” He looked at the blue-haired girl sheepishly. “Thanks for getting it for me. Again.” 

“Just don’t get used to it.” Coraline replied. “You set or what?”

Grinning from ear to ear, Wybie dons his mask. “More than set.”

“What about the rest of you dorks?”

“Definitely!” Raz shouted from his perch on the Cart’s roof.

“All set!” Dipper exclaimed, hopping onto the Cart’s driver seat, while his twin occupies the seat next to him.

“Same here!” Neil exclaimed cheerfully from the back seat. 

“We’re ready.” Norman stated, speaking for him and Aggie as they mounted Norman’s bike. Aggie added a confidant nod as she got on the passenger seat.

“Told ya; we’re just waiting on you.” Wybie spoke.

In response, Coraline gave him a jab in the shoulder. She hopped onto Wybie’s bike. Fixing her cap’s position, she looked around at her friends. To think, that just a few minutes ago they are a bunch of raucous pre-teens. But now, the Mystery Kids are ready to hunt down a mysterious and potentially deadly creature.

Oh yeah, definitely not your average, everyday kids.

“Rev up those engines guys!” At her command, the Mystery Rides roared to life.  Adrenaline coursed through their veins, each of them already feeling the thrill of the hunt. 

A determined grin made its way to each of their features, and that is a sure sign of one thing and one thing only.

“The hunt is on!”

-

I told you guys I’m gonna make the MK badassly gearing up! Did I ever disappoint? 

So my MK one-shot has begun at last! I’m super excited to see how this develops, and I hope you guys are too! Y’know, this was supposed to be semi-canon… right up to the point where I went crazy with the equipments. And so, anything canon in this fic are probably hints and foreshadowings of what’s about to happen in the series. In fact, I planted quite a few hints in this chapter. Do you guys know which is which?

This chapter is basically just an introductory chapter, to get you guys familiar with the MK and their various gizmos. Keep those stuffs in mind; I have several chapters planned where they become crucial. 

Feel free to leave ideas and suggestions if you want! I have a ton of stuff planned, but I wanna see what the MK fanbase can come up with. Plus, this can be some sort of place where you can put ideas that might not be used in the actual series. So you can leave your ideas here and stop bothering Zach at Tumblr!

That’s all from me right now, folks! Hopefully another chapter is gonna be up soon! I should really get some sleep, it’s half past ten right now…

A quick one before I end this chapter, what do you want the next chapter like? Actually hunting creatures or daily antics?