When Dipper gained consciousness, the first thing that he felt was an overwhelming headache. Perhaps the most painful headache he had ever experienced in his 12-year-old life. He was aware of the unmistakable texture of hardwood floor on his back, for that was what he was currently lying on, not the familiar old carpet of the Mystery Shack's living room.
The next thing that was made obvious to him was that he couldn't open his eyes. No matter how hard he tried, they just would not flick open. It was rather unpleasant to be laying on an unfamiliar floor and not being able to take in your surroundings.
After Dipper lay there for almost an hour, and his headache subsided, he decided to analyze his predicament. He had made a deal with Bill to visit a parallel universe, one that's properties hadn't even been revealed to him before he shook the dream demon's hand.
His final diagnosis was that he, Dipper Pines, was extremely stupid.
But it was too late for him to go back into his own world. So, there he lay on the cold hardwood floor, the use of his eyes pointless. He didn't dare get up, for what was the point if you couldn't see?
Then, almost an hour and a half after he was dropped into this unfamiliar world, his eyes flicked open.
He caught sight of dark, navy-colored velvet curtains. Above him, as if he was laying on the stage of a theatre, was a long wooden catwalk. Several ropes hung down from the ceiling. And that's when Dipper realized; he was in a theatre.
Making an attempt to stand up on shaky legs (and almost falling over in sheer disbelief,) he arose to get a better look at his surroundings.
The theatre was quite large, with rows of baby blue movie-theatre-esque seats. There was a single balcony above everything, presumably for people of high-esteemed roots. Dipper turned around, and what he saw almost made him fall over and lose consciousness again. There, right in front of him, was a huge sign adorned with many tiny bulbs. It was almost like one you would see on Broadway. It clearly read;
The Gleeful Twins.
Dipper's breath caught in his throat as he looked down at himself. The clothes he would normally be wearing was replaced by rather fancy regalia. A powder-blue dress shirt, with ebony dress pants and polished leather shoes. He took a step forward, feeling a cape swishing around behind him. Dipper felt his face; still the same build, but his hair was slicked back, revealing the birthmark on his forehead.
But the most horrifying detail was his bolo tie. It sparkled turquoise in the hard light, and in a circumstance other than this he would've thought that the accessory was quite beautiful.
The panicked thoughts flooded into his brain at once, and he slowly lowered himself back onto the stage floor, clutching his face in his hands. He had been so stupid to make a deal with Bill Cipher, and now he was paying for it. Out of all of the parallel universes, i'm sent to this one. Why? Of course Bill would stick me in the most difficult one to cope with.
Dipper attempted to calm himself down. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. He just had to find a way back out of this world. I am not Gideon. I will never be Gideon.
Before any more thoughts could race though his mind, he heard a smooth voice cut through the air like a frozen knife. . A voice that, despite it's barely distinct southern roots and clear, mellow tone, sounded strikingly familiar;
"So, you've finally woken up? Or are you just going to sit there for the rest of the evening like an ignorant idiot? We don't have all night."
Dipper carefully uncovered his face and turned ever so slightly toward where the voice was coming from. And, there, in front of him, was his sister.
Mabel did not look like her usual self at all. She had on show clothes similar to his, yet more dazzling; a mid-thigh black velvet skirt with tightly-woven fishnet leggings, a delicate light turquoise blouse, recently polished midnight-black leather heels, and a rather large bow around her neck. What drew Dipper's attention was his twin's chestnut hair, wound in tight curls. Atop her head rested a very well-crafted headband, a sole sparkling gem rested on the right side of the band, a sterling silver ring served as a rim, connecting the gem to the accessory. It was exactly like the one in Dipper's bolo tie.
Dipper remained on the floor, too stunned to speak. His sister noticed this and pursed her blood-red lips, "Do I need to kick you, or will you get up on your own?" Mabel's voice was like ice.
"Uh, n-no," Dipper managed to stutter, and rose to his feet. The girl standing in front of him looked like his sister, but deep down he knew that she wasn't anything like the Mabel back home. Just by looking at her, he could tell that this girl did not have the same warm-hearted and loyal demeanor.
"It's eight o'clock, we have an hour until showtime." She paused, examining her manicured nails, then looked back up at Dipper again, "Seeing as you're already ready, you might as well go do something until it's time." Her words didn't suggest that she wanted him gone, but her tone of voice did.
Dipper didn't hesitate to get out of there as fast as he could.
