After Weirdmageddon, Gravity Falls had returned to its typical state of abnormality. Strange creatures and unexplainable phenomenon continued to happen, but there was an absence of demons that was welcomed by the townspeople. Dipper and Mabel still visited each summer, and by the time graduation came the two had arranged for permanent residence with their Grunkles in the Mystery Shack. Now, at 18 years old, Dipper found himself researching the odd occurrences of Gravity Falls with their Grunkle Ford, while Mabel continued to fight the age-old battle of deciding what to do with her future.
Pulling a plastic bag from his backpack, Dipper dropped to his knees beside the stone statue of Bill to collect a mushroom sample. This year the vegetation hadn't grown around the stone as it had in the past, even with the constant drizzle over the past few weeks. The absence of growth left an uneven - and frankly unattractive - ring of dead grass and dirt around the stone. Although it was more likely that this was being caused by a fungus or bug problem, Ford had asked Dipper to collect some samples of the remaining fungi in case this anomaly had anything to do with Cipher's mischief.
Frankly, Dipper was certain this was the same fungus that was growing behind the Mystery Shack that Grunkle Stan had covered with a large statue of the Multi-bear so that he didn't have to invest in a fungicide.
Plucking a mushroom from the soil gently, Dipper dropped it into the baggy with the others that appeared to be of the same species.
"If only Bill knew that his grave was becoming a fungal paradise" Dipper chuckled, "I bet he'd throw a fit."
"Well,"
Dipper heard a voice behind him, and he shot to his feet in surprise - that was definitely Bill's voice.
"now that you mention it, you guys have been slacking off with the weed control around here, too." A small yellow triangle was comfortably perched in the air behind Dipper, floating as if seated in an invisible chair, "But don't worry, I took care of it!"
Dipper glanced around them nervously – why weren't they in the dreamscape?
"I thought you were dead." He eyed Bill cautiously as he pulled himself to his feet.
"And I thought you were twelve!" Bill laughed, his eye curling up at the edges like smiling lips, "But boy, do things change fast."
Dipper heard leaves rustle behind him, and he craned his neck to see Mabel step into the clearing behind him,
"Sup Bro-bro!" Her smile suggested she had more to say, but the words died on her tongue when she spotted the demon. Her eyes widened and she gasped,
"But I thought…"
Bill cut her off with a hearty laugh, "What, that I was dead? It's almost like you two are the same person! Funny that you're here too Shooting Star, 'cause I have a proposition for you."
"Whatever it is, I'm not interested." She scowled and straightened her posture, "there's nothing you can offer me that I want badly enough to set you free."
"Oh I don't want to be free," Bill snapped his fingers and the tree behind her exploded into flames, sparks flying past her as she yelped and sprung away from the heat, "not yet."
The rain fizzled from the heat, and steam rose into the air, mixing with the dark smoke.
"Run Mable!" Dipper grabbed his backpack and darted towards her, reaching for her arm. A loud crack split the air and the burning tree plummeted to the ground between them, barely scratching along Dipper's extended fingers as it fell. He pulled his hand back with a shocked cry and leapt away from the tree. The damp grass smoked momentarily before catching fire. With the wave of his hand, Bill engulfed another tree in fire. Dipper could hear Mabel calling out for him, but the roar of the flames drowned out her words.
"Get to the Mystery Shack!" Dipper bellowed, but he didn't have time to see if she had heard him.
Smoke was billowing around him, and the fire surrounded him. He knew he had to escape, but the smoke overwhelmed him, choking the air from his lungs.
Mabel was on the other side of the fire, free to run to the Mystery Shack, but she refused to leave Dipper behind. She couldn't see past the smoke, but she knew he couldn't be far. With a burst of courage, Mabel pulled her sweater over her mouth and plunged into the flames. The heat licked her cheeks, and she pulled her hood up for protection. She could hear Bill laughing beside her, but she didn't spare him a glance. Her foot hit the trunk of the tree that had landed between them, and she tripped, dropping her sweater from her mouth as she split her palm open in an attempt to catch herself. She didn't have time to recover - she could feel the flames burning along her legs. She lunged forward once more, head spinning from the lack of oxygen. Her hand hit something soft, and she knew it must be Dipper's arm.
"You know Shooting Star, you there might not have a lot of time left for your goodbyes." Bill's voice remained beside her, but she didn't care.
Her eyes were stinging from the smoke, forcing her to keep her eyes shut as she pulled on Dippers arm, but he wasn't responding.
"Bill, stop it!" Mabel pleaded, helplessly trying to pull Dipper's arm around her shoulders.
Why isn't he moving?
Bill laughed, twirling his cane to clear the smoke around him, "I could, but I thought you didn't want to make a deal."
The smoke filled her lungs with each breath, and she couldn't force herself to speak. With each cough she inhaled more smoke, and she felt her strength draining quickly. She dropped Dipper back to the ground and pressed her palms to her temples in an attempt to clear her mind.
"You know, I could make this all go away."
She didn't look up. She didn't know where Bill was, but a breath of clean air suddenly filled her lungs. Tears pricked at the edges of her eyes as she tried to lift Dipper once more in vain. Her hands began to shake and her tears dried on her cheeks before they fell.
Everything was happening too fast.
"I just need a new meat puppet for a little while. What do you say?" Bill's voice was relaxed and teasing, "I'd even let you stick around while I'm here! Looks to me like there might be room enough for the two of us." He leaned forward, pressing a small hand to the side of her face.
For a moment, the flames seemed to stop burning, and Mabel forced her eyes open.
She would do anything for Dipper. Anything. She had to do this.
"Time's running out!" Bill leaned back to extend his free hand to her, a blue flame engulfing it.
Mabel didn't have time to weigh her options. She had to save Dipper. Her watery eyes locked with Bill's and she grabbed his hand. She felt the flames engulf her completely, and for a moment she was certain she was dying. A second later the fire began to dissipate, slowly dispersing until it died out completely. Bill was gone, and Dipper lay beside her, still unconscious, but alive.
Mabel glanced around them, exhaustion rushing over her. She dropped her head onto Dipper's chest as she tried to convince herself to run for help. The world was spinning, and she was still coughing on each breath. Her lungs burned and the ground around them was a charred black. The smell of burning wood and fabric filled her nose. Her whole body felt as if it was made of lead, and she didn't have the strength to pull herself to her feet. Instead, she watched the dizzying world around her spin and fade until everything turned black.