\ Okay, first off, I think I agree with most of the fandom in the fact that I really wanted a redemption arc for Bill Cipher and that Mabel's character had a lot more room for development. As much as I loved her (relatable) canon shenanigans, I felt like as one of the main characters, she had so much more potential to take more of an active role. It always kind of seemed like her and Dipper were presented as complementing each other's personalities, which I like, but it seemed really unfair (especially to girl fans of the show) that as Dipper, the lead male, was solving mysteries, Mabel was chasing after some guy. So, this fic exists for two reasons: Bill's redemption, and Mabel being able to take more of an active role in her own story. Plus, I just want to laugh about Bill having to deal with Mabel, Xyler, and Craz! I'm also planning to later introduce more diverse characters other than the predominantly white cast in other chapters. With that being said, please enjoy the first chapter of Mabel's Realm!

One week. It had been one week, and they'd managed not to become apocalypse survivors, fight wax figurines and nearly be involved in gnome marriage. No portals had been opened in their basement, no triangular demons had tried to kill them, and candy hadn't come to life again. Mabel and Dipper had figured that they'd understood, tamed or killed anything that might hurt them in Gravity Falls, but no, this state of tranquility and family bonding had only lasted a week after their return. Of course. After all, they were in Gravity Falls, the weirdness capital of the world.

"Come on, Dipper!" yelled Mabel. Her brother was slacking behind, though he was running as fast as his spindly legs could carry him.

"Mabel! I'm trying! Isn't there something you can do to stop the monster?" "I don't know!" Mabel yelled. "You're good with that kind of stuff!" The huge, terrifying monster had been chasing them through the woods for a few minutes. Mabel and Dipper had run after it'd held Ford in it's grimy paw, crashing through the grass and bushes of the forest. Mabel kept running, looking back where Dipper was. She began to run in his direction.

"One of us should be a distraction," Dipper panted.

"Kids! Just get out of here!" Ford was struggling in the monster's grip, kicking and turning pointlessly. He stared desperately and Mabel and Dipper.

"Right." Mabel's legs were burning, and she, more slowly than before, darted in front of the monster. "Come and get me, you gross monster creep!" The beast roared loudly, pounding its large feet onto the green grass of the forest. Anger enveloped the creature's face completely, eyes full of fury focused entirely on Mabel. She shrieked, trying to keep her pace.

"Mabel!" Dipper called, pointing to a large rock in the distance. It took her a moment, but she began to understand what her brother meant. The monster would be so focused on getting Mabel that he'd trip over the rock and literally knock himself out! Meanwhile, the energy and push that kept Mabel's legs running in that direction was draining. Keep going, Mabel! The destination was so close. Finally, when Mabel ran around the side of the large stone, the monster's foot slammed against the edged and knocked him over. It fell and twitched, groaning lightly and it's grip on Ford loosened so that he could break free of its grasp. The thud of its crash into the dirt resounded through the forest, causing the crows to caw loudly and fly away. Dipper rushed to the scene while Mabel caught her breath. Face red, Dipper high fived Mabel.

"Nobody beats the Pines twins!"

"Yeah!" Dipper helped Ford to his feet.

"Try not to almost kill me next time!" Ford said weakly, hugging the two kids. "The last time I try to chase a monster for writing Journal 4!" He turned his head just to double check the monster wasn't going to get back up and terrorize them again and brushed the dirt off his knees. Though it'd been Ford's dream to continue his research, he had been wondering if the knowledge about some things was worth the pain of getting it. Like the knowledge of the real motives of a certain triangle.

"We should go back and write this down!" suggested Dipper, always eager to spend time with Ford. Ford usually agreed with Dipper like he did this time, which sometimes made it seem like they were the same person. It was like dealing with two Dippers that had literally everything in common to talk about. And nothing stopped them from doing so, even when Mabel complained about the "nerd talk" she couldn't understand. Maybe if she'd put effort into it she could've, but according to Mabel, Dream Boy High was much more fascinating. As Ford and Dipper chatted, they kept walking, forgetting that Mabel was behind them until Dipper looked back.

"Are you coming, Mabel?"

"Yeah, just a sec bro-bro!" Just a moment ago, a stone had caught her eye. It appeared milky white because of its shimmering in the sun. The rock was stuck mostly in the dirt, and Mabel was fascinated with it. No, not because it was unusual. Mabel enjoyed looking at anything that looked like glitter.

"Woah," she breathed.

"Mabel?" Dipper called. "I'll catch up with you guys!" she replied, waving back to them. In the distance, Ford and Dipper continued to go on tangents about quantum physics. "The monster will wake up in a few hours," warned Ford. "Don't stay for more than that." She stared at the sparkling object before her. "Now," she asked to nobody, "How am I gonna get you out of there? Candy and Grenda are gonna think this thing is so cool! If Stan doesn't try to sell it..." She looked around and saw a lichen-encrusted twig, and immediately rushed over to grab it. Mabel thrust the stick into the dirt around the crystal, attempting to dislodge it. "Come to Mabel!" She struggled, trying to pull it back up and remove the rock as well. "Oh, come on! You're a tough one, aren't you?" Mabel continued for a few minutes, but failing each time.

As Mabel sat down on the grass, an unusually cold wind blew through the woods, pulling her hair over her face. She didn't know why, but the forest's tones seemed to become more muted, and the greens of the leaves and the trees seemed to take on a bluish hint. But only slightly. As a second breeze filled the air, she couldn't help but notice it sounded like laughter. But faded, quiet, barely perceptible yet maniacal laughter. It only slightly sounded like laughter. The second wind had been stronger, and Mabel gripped on the convex edge of the ivory-toned rock as a reflex. When the wind died, the grey and blue tones disappeared from the landscape faster than a human eye could blink.

She stood back up and resumed the stick strategy, but yet again it failed to work. "Whatever," she sighed. "I bet Waddles misses me! We were gonna watch that new episode of Dream Boy High anyway..." She squealed. "I wonder who Xyler's prom date is going to be!"

She began to walk in the same direction Dipper and Ford had, looking around to see if she left anything, but anything she'd brought was with her.

Staring at the monster, she noticed how it started to twitch involuntarily. Mabel felt sorry for it, but soon enough it be back at it again. It'd wake up, regain its consciousness and then go back to chasing her, so it was best to go back to the Mystery Shack.

As Mabel took a step forward, she thought she almost heard the laughter. No, not laughter, cackling. The kind of soft cackling from evil children in a horror movie. But no breeze blew through. Suddenly, Mabel felt like she should turn around. A chill was racing up her spine. "Is anybody there?" she asked, startled.

She slowly turned around to the opposite direction, facing the stone. It was glowing. Not glimmering under sunlight, but actually glowing in an alien, unnatural way. "Huh?" It's glow gleamed brighter, and Mabel squinted. She used her magenta sweater to shield her eyes from the bright glare.

And then, the grey and blue tones returned, this time absolutely covering the landscape. Mabel's pupils dilated with shock. What was happening? "Dipper! Grunkle Ford!" she called desperately. But they were back at the Mystery Shack. They would've known what was happening, but they weren't there. She was terrified. Terrified and completely alone. But Mabel sensed that she wasn't actually alone, though she was. Or she thought she was.

Suddenly, the gleam of the crystal ceased. Even its sparkling. It turned a dull gray like the rest of the landscape, and then the ground started rumbling and shaking. Cracks ripped through the soil as Mabel stepped backwards and gasped, all around the stone. It seemed to be rising out of the ground, and then as she saw it, Mabel noticed it had been bigger underneath. Mabel continued to run, but the earthquakes pushed her down on her knees.

That was when Mabel rubbed her eyes. It couldn't be real... The shaking stopped, and the stone was all gray with no sparkle. It was only slightly shorter than Mabel, and it wasn't a natural stone. It was a gray statue, covered in cracks, chipping areas and green moss. As Mabel stared in denial, one little moth rested on the statue's outstretched hand. It looked so prideful, so full of itself though, ironically, it's likeness had died long ago.

No. He can't come back! He can't! He can't! Yellow light climbed up the statue, and life came back to it. For a moment that seemed frozen, it stood, with its one demonic eye closed shut. Then suddenly, it opened, revealing the pupil of a snake. Its hand clenched the moth suddenly, killing it, then opening it again. The insect fell to the forest floor, and Mabel watched its wings plummet into the soil.

The cackling Mabel had heard erupted loudly plummet to the soil. from the demon, as he focused his eye on Mabel. Mabel's jaw was dropped, as she couldn't believe that this was happening. He was erased! We saved everybody! It all ended! She thought. The creature's arms rested at his side.

"Well, hello there!" The voice sounded like multiple voices joined as it echoed. "Ha, ha, you're scared of me! Let me tell you, that is hilarious! Good old Shooting Star. Did you cry after you killed me? I bet you did. Anybody would miss me."

"Get away from me!" Mabel yelled. "I-I...me and my brother won! You lost, and..." Bill interrupted her talking.

"I'm gonna explain somethin' to ya toots. I have quite a few friends. You know 8-Ball and Teeth, but I know a lot of people. You ever heard of the Xolotl?"

"The-Xolotl?"

"Oh, y'know, only an all-powerful Aztec deity that gave me a second chance at existence." Bill nonchalantly twirled his golden cane. Mabel's heart was beating very fast out of panic.

"That's right kid. Ha, I mean, most people would be scared to be around the remains of a brain demon, but I guess I got a little hidden from people. Not from you, though!" Mabel didn't speak. "Did I tell you I'm good at sarcasm? It's great to see you." Bill continued his monologue. "You see though, the Xolotl, until he decided some fancy new form or punishment for me, trapped my soul inside that statue. But, I'm still around, and all you need to do to get into the 'statue realm' where I'm stuck is to shake my hand!"

"But I didn't shake your hand!" Mabel cried.

"But you still touched the statue, didn't you?" Bill said. "You know, I wonder what Fordsie would think. 'Oh no! Bill's back! The guy I betrayed and gave me everything I deserved!'"

"You tried to hurt my family!" Mabel attempted to throw a punch at Bill Cipher, but Bill was only energy. She couldn't punch him. Especially not in the mindscape.

Bill's eye turned a furious red. "Do you remember nothing? Sure, yeah, you stopped my plans, but here's the thing you and your band of idiots keep forgetting. You. Can't. Kill. Me. And now, because the Xolotl's spell traps all non physical entities, you're stuck with me!"

"No I'm not!" Mabel was equally furious. "You didn't possess me, so I still have my body!"

"Au contraire," Cipher retorted. "Your soul got trapped in the statue realm. Neither of us can get out of this place." His voice went deep and became distorted. "As personal revenge, I intend to make your life a nightmare."

Mabel knew how serious this was. She was stuck with her mortal enemy, and had lost possession of her body. She didn't want to know what nightmares Bill would make her suffer through.

Suddenly, blue fire erupted from Bill's fingers. His voice went back to normal. "Unless you make a deal with me. The only way I can still use my magic is through deals and hand shaking, but I can't go anywhere in your universe. Here's what I offer. You come with me to the nightmare realm, and I take you to the edge of it, where the normal world can be accessed again. There's one thing I ask for."

"What is it? It's not like I'd make any deals with you though!" asked Mabel.

"Hmm, let's discuss that after, shall we?" Bill was still playing mind games after all the time that had passed.

"I know what you'll do! You'll use me!" Mabel was still resisting, despite its inherent futility.

"Do you really want the rest of your existence to be living your nightmares?" Bill implored, making a deal Mabel couldn't resist. But Bill still had the upper hand. Gaining the energy of Mabel's soul would undoubtedly be enough to heal his dimension and conquer countless others. Thousands more Weirdmaggeddons. He even had the upper hand with the Xolotl. Bill had the audacity to assume that he had the upper hand in a deal with a god. But the worst part was how true it seemed to be now. The energy of Mabel's soul could be used to defeat the Xolotl himself.

Mabel thought. She had to be there for Dipper, and Waddles, and the others. But every deal Dipper and Ford made with Bill nearly got them killed. But she didn't have other options.

"Come on kid," Bill laughed.

Mabel closed her eyes as she shook Bill's hand. The flames were surprisingly cold and icy on her warm fingers. "It's a deal," she whispered. "It's a deal."