Legends of Gravity Falls: Blood Runs Thick
Chapter 1: The Return to Damnation
A/N: As this is the sequel for the first story, I recommend reading that first. Spoiler Alert for those who choose to start here.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gravity Falls
"In war, truth is the first casualty"
As the sun sets on this mortal world, I cannot help but wonder if there was any other way? I'd taken every avenue available, hadn't I? Exhausted every last opportunity to make things right, slaved for hours on end to correct their mistakes. It was all for naught and I was left the fool. No matter I suppose, here and now. The tables have finally turned. Only at the end as the Earth dies around me do I think, perhaps at last they understand. It was their folly that led to this point. Their words and actions all left us here at the edge of oblivion. I'm simply the harbinger. I'm simply the instrument, in service to the architect. An architect by the name of Bill Cipher, he who will deliver me and the world from this state of madness into a darkness we both can bear, perhaps.
At the hidden underground temple, the Midnight Hammer was continuing final preparations for the ritual to summon a permanent portal between the Earth and the Nightmare Realm, just as Bill intended. Stan, Mabel, Wendy, Soos, Ford, McGucket, and Pacifica were all still chained to the metal posts driven down into each blood rune painted on the floor, just before the blood painting of the Cipher Wheel on the wall. Only two things remained for the ritual to begin, the final sacrifice, Dipper, and the dimensional rift he carried with him. At that moment, the cultists turned to face the stairway that led to the world above, hearing a pair of footsteps coming down. In the dark cathedral beyond the main chamber, the Grand Harvester and Prime Councilman both turned their attention to the entryway despite still being in the Mindscape with Bill.
"He has returned… with the boy and the rift…" The Grand Harvester spoke first, his voice dripping with anticipation.
"At last we can end this" – Preston added, solemn and eager at the same time.
"I sense all of it. The power, the despair, the hate, its delicious!" Bill exclaimed with his sinister delight.
And sure enough outside the dark cathedral at the edge of the stairwell leading up from the main chamber, the Grand Master of Midnight arrived with Dipper Pines in tow, clapped in chains and led by his left hand. He also had the rift in his right hand. The cultists got in rows of two flanking him as he approached the dark cathedral, kneeling in reverence to his power and authority, second only to Bill. Upon entering the large room, both boy and cult leader were pulled into the Mindscape to join the three awaiting their arrival. Bill spoke first as he rubbed his hands together in contemplation, his eye squinting in dark glee.
"And so the final pieces fall into place. I cannot express how pleased I am to see both of you here, though you for a substantially less good reason, for you anyway, Pine Tree. Hahahahahahahaha!"
"This isn't over, yet, Bill" Dipper replied, captured but still defiant.
"You're right, but that will be corrected in about five minutes. Hahahahahaha!" Bill remained in his celebratory mood. The Grand Master bowed in respect to the demon.
"Great Lord of Mind and Eye, it is my utmost pleasure to serve as always. If it be your will, I shall chain this child up with the other sacrifices personally."
"Yes, yes, get to it immediately. The moment is almost upon us, the portal within reach!" Bill exclaimed in eagerness. And so the Grand Master of Midnight led the boy back out into the physical realm and to the rest of his unfortunate friends and family, but not before he handed Bill the rift, while he and the others grinned, save Dipper who kept his head lowered in shame. The other sacrifices were shocked to see Dipper captured and defeated. Mabel spoke first.
"Brother, no! Where's the rift?!" The Grand Master gave another sinister grin under the shadow of his hood at the evident despair from all of them.
"The rift is safely in the hands of my master, and now with this boy here along with it we are ready for the end." Ford shot back fiercely.
"You can open the portal, but you will never force humankind to submit to Bill and his friends! This is not their world!"
"Soon to be corrected, my old friend." Was all the Grand Master said in reply as he chained Dipper to the last metal post.
"We've never met before, and I'd certainly never be friends with someone so loyal to Bill! Someone who hurts my family!" Ford was incensed at the remark.
"You don't know the first thing about family, Ford. Neither you nor Stan. That is why we are here." Now Stan began firing back.
"What gives you the right to talk crap about us, you maniac?!" The Grand Master finished chaining Dipper to the post and rose, pulling back his hood.
"This gives me the right. Is this what it takes for you two to recognize me?" Everyone else sans Dipper gasped with wide eyes. The man had a striking resemblance to both Stan and Ford, same nose, facial structure, brown hair, but his eyes were fiery orange, twisted from decades of demonic magic. Stan spoke first once he gathered his thoughts, somewhat.
"Is this for real… Shermie… is that you?"
"I'm afraid I'm not the baby brother you two left behind anymore, but yes, I am Sherman Pines."
"Sherman… why? What… happened to you?" Ford asked, equally distraught as his twin.
"Seriously, how many brothers are you hiding from us, Mr. Pines?" Wendy asked Stan in a half-sarcastic tone.
"Ignore her, tell us what this is about, Sherman!" Stan was eager to hear what was going on with his little brother.
"You want to know what this is about? What happened to me? This is about you, my dear older brothers. You happened to me." The Grand Master replied without expression.
"What is that supposed to mean? What are you saying?" Ford demanded.
"Talk to us right now! Why are you doing this?" Stan was equally fervent.
"Still only thinking about yourselves. Our family could have stood together for the end, to reap the rewards of being in his service, and champions of his will. That honor is no longer yours, however. You two may be old men now, but you're still selfish cowards. Enough words, they mean nothing for people who are about to die. Prepare for oblivion, my master approaches." The others, Dipper included, looked up as the entire chamber was pulled into the Mindscape.
Out in the town at large, the last of the townspeople were being rounded up and imprisoned for the approaching apocalypse. Two Disciples spotted one man they hadn't subdued yet as he stopped out of his house, awakened by all the commotion.
"What is all this racket in the middle of the night?" Toby Determined asked, having emerged from his home in his night robe and slippers. The two cultists immediately scrambled to capture him.
"Gaah! Aberration! It's an aberration from an alternate dimension who's not on our side!" The first one was horrified at the sight.
"Quickly! Seize him!" The second one clamored. Toby shouted incoherently as both piled on him and hurriedly clapped him in chains. The two of them though realized their partial error once they got a closer look at him.
"Oh, he's not an aberration, at least not from another dimension." The first one spoke as he locked the cuffs keeping the man's arms behind his back.
"Yes, this is just a very ugly unbeliever. All right, you're coming with us. We're locking you up with the rest of the town." The second one informed the new captive in a stern tone.
"Hooray! Finally people will have to tolerate my presence!" Toby was actually grateful at the prospect of imprisonment with others.
"Prepare yourselves, unbelievers across the land, for the final hour is close at hand. Fire will consume, you have tried and failed. When all is said and done, He will have prevailed!"
A/N: I would sincerely appreciate more reviews. I value all feedback, I wish to know your thoughts as I put more and more effort as these stories progress.