[Author's Note: So I got this idea a couple days ago, and decided to start writing it. This is my first time writing a Gravity Falls story, so those parts might not be as good or as in character as the Pendragon bits. Just further proof that I can bring everything back to Pendragon eventually. Also I'm planning on updating this two chapters at a time, changing the focus between the characters; one chapter Pendragon, one chapter Gravity Falls.]

Bobby woke up to a sunrise, shining through a row of thick pine trees directly into his eyes. The light burned, and he squinted against the growing headache in his skull. Lifting his head from where it had slumped against the car door, he stared in bleary confusion at the pavement speeding by outside. Then, still bleary, he turned his attention to the driver.

Dane was staring straight ahead, glaring intensely. His black hair fell messily over his eyes, but he was ignoring it, driving with a purpose. And he was dressed... differently. Normally, Bobby thought. He was dressed normally. The ex-demon was in a t-shirt and jeans, with a hoodie thrown on like an afterthought. Bobby cleared his throat, and Dane glanced over for a moment before directing his gaze back to the road.

"You're awake," he said. "I was hoping we'd be in town before it wore off."

"Why am I in your car?" Bobby mumbled, still fighting to clear his head. "Where are we? What... what are you wearing?"

"I needed to blend in," Dane responded. "I don't want him to see me coming."

"Who? What's going on?"

"I'll explain when we get there. Right now-"

"What a minute." Something was nagging at Bobby's brain, and he was having trouble making sense of his surroundings. He closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, then said, as calmly as he could manage, "Did you drug me?"

"Maybe," Dane answered quickly. "Yes. It was necessary."

"I swear if you weren't driving right now I would punch you."

He sighed, obviously irritated. "If I had asked you, you would have wanted to know why. And I didn't have time to explain. And I still don't have time to explain, because if you hadn't noticed I'm trying to run a bus off the road."

"What!?"

"I know what you're thinking, but I can't let this bus leave Oregon."

"Oregon? Jesus, Dane, how long was I asleep?"

The ex-demon hesitated, obviously not wanting to answer, and instead focused on the road as he responded. "About two days. But-"

"Two days!?"

"But that isn't important right now-"

"It isn't important!?"

"No, because I need you to-"

"You kept me knocked out for two days and it's not important-"

"Damnit, Bobby, shut the hell up and duck!"

The car swerved sharply to the side and Dane slammed on the brakes, and Bobby looked up to see the demon had pulled immediately in front of the bus; he immediately did as he was told and ducked, covering his head with his hands and continuing to shout as he heard the sharp screech of the larger vehicle trying to come to a halt.

"What the hell Dane you're going to get us killed!"

The next moment was filled with an ominous silence. Bobby stayed crouched for a moment, tensed and waiting for the impact that didn't come. After a moment he heard the sound of a car door opening, and when he looked up he saw Dane had exited the car and was walking quickly toward the bus, which had managed to avoid the car and had instead careened head-on into a tree. Bobby couldn't see much from the car, but from what he could tell no one was hurt; the bus driver was standing on the grass, yelling at Dane, and there were two kids standing at the door of the bus, watching with obvious confusion.

With an irritated sigh, he opened his door and quickly ran off to follow him. Who knew what he was planning...

Dane completely ignored the yelling driver, focusing intently on the kids. They seemed worried, but at the same time they weren't backing down; Bobby had to admit, he was impressed. At their age—twelve or thirteen, and twins, by the look of it—he would have been scared senseless. Instead, they stared down Dane with a set determination; the girl was pointing a grappling hook at his chest. And she looked more than willing to shoot him with it, at point-blank range.

Bobby caught up with him, and immediately punched him in the shoulder. "What the hell, Dane?"

The ex-demon looked at him, a good deal calmer than he had been in the car. "Good, you're in one piece. Now sit down and shut up." Then, not waiting for a response, he turned his attention to the twins. "Now then, you two. Get in the car—you're going back to town."

"Who are you?" the boy demanded. "What do you want?"

"Just get in the damn car. There's no time."

"Dane," Bobby muttered, trying his hardest not to punch the tall man a second time. "Why are you trying to kidnap children?"

"I'm not," Dane responded, an eerie calm over his face. "Believe it or not, I'm trying to save Second Earth. From something a great deal worse than me."