Llamas Within Wheels

Lebam's POV

I was watching from the sidelines, hidden behind a video game at the Arcade.

Dipper and Wendy were playing a game of Fight Fighters.

"Watch out! Wow! Ooh, cutscene!" said Dipper.

"DR. KARATE, YOU KILLED MY FATHER AGAIN!" said Rumble McSkirmish.

"HHNNGHHHH!" said Dr. Karate.

"YOU TAKE THAT BAAACKKKK!" said Rumble.

"Fight!" said the game referee.

Dipper and Wendy made their game figures kick and punch.

"Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Go! Go!" Dipper yelled as he won.

"K.O! The winner: Rumble Mcskirmish!" said the game ref.

"WINNERS DON'T LOSE!" said Rumble.

"What? You cheated," said Wendy.

"You take that baaackkkk!" said Dipper in a voice like Rumble's, and he laughed.

"Round 2!" said the game ref.

"I'm gonna punch the ref," said Wendy, and the game urged them to fight.

"Let's gang up on him," said Wendy, laughing.

Robbie came in and put up a flyer for his band, "Robbie V and the Tombstones."

Robbie said, "Wendy! What's up? Yeah, just putting up some flyers for my band. I'm playing lead guitar. No biggie."

"Are you wearing mascara?" Dipper asked.

"Uh, it's eye-paint for men," said Robbie.

"Hey Robbie, Dipper was just showing me this great game," said Wendy.

"Ha, yeah, sweet, sweet. Hey, how about you sit this one out, okay champ?" said Robbie.

"But, we just started this round," said Dipper.

"Woah, woah, hey! Relax man, I'm just trying to spend a little time with my... with Wendy, alright?"

"Dipper's right," said Wendy. "We just started this round. I'm going to keep playing with Dipper. It's not like I'm going out with you, Robbie."

Robbie glared at Dipper and started to leave the Arcade. I caught up with him. Mabel was out of sight somewhere else in the Arcade.

"Hi Mabel," said Robbie in a discouraged tone.

"Hi Robbie," I said. "In my opinion my brother needs to be taken down a peg. Here, take this code for ultimate power in the Fight Fighters game."

I handed him a piece of paper.

"You know the Konami codes for Fight Fighter?" asked Robbie.

"I suggest you practice it alone first," I said. "When nobody is watching."

"Thanks, Mabel," said Robbie, walking away more confidently.

I thought, "That ought to get Mabel in trouble with Dipper."

Ever since I had sent Mabel the anonymous text that told her to go to the warehouse to rescue Dipper, I had sensed that I was in trouble with Bill and Gompers, for being disloyal to my master, Gideon. I was born loving him. It may have been something the creation spell did to my mind, but I couldn't help myself. So when Gideon chose Mabel over me and wanted to remove Dipper as an obstacle, I had to do something; I had to try to save him.

Now they had replaced me on the Wheel with a new Llama. I was going to have to deal with Pacifica later. But first Mabel, to get back at her for destroying Gideon's amulet.

Later, I was following Mabel lead a blindfolded Grunkle Stan, keeping out of sight.

Mabel said, "Just a second, Grunkle Stan, I see a friend I want to talk to."

Stan said, "Sure, leave your Grunkle blindfolded on the sidewalk, on Great Uncle's day, no less."

Mabel walked over to Pacifica and spoke to her quietly. I could easily listen in with my llama hearing. (I have llama powers because of being created from Mabel's llama-hair sweater as well as a bit of her hair.)

"Hi Pacifica," said Mabel.

"Hi Mabel," said Pacifica. "Where's Waddles?"

"At home being the perfect pet pig," said Mabel. "I left him at home for this mission. I'm going to cure Grunkle Stan's fear of heights by leading him to the scenic cliff near Gideon's warehouse. Want to come along?"

"Sorry, Mabel," said Pacifica. "Randy Ottermole is getting a new car from his father today, and he promised me the first ride in it."

Pacifica's cell phone rang. "Hello, Randy? I'm downtown near the water tower. When are you coming by? What? A video game fighter destroyed your new car with his bare hands? That's the worst excuse I ever heard. If you don't want to go out with me, just say so."

She hung up on him.

Mabel said, "That may be my brother's doing. Robbie Vale came over this afternoon and challenged him to a fight over Wendy. He was going to hide, and then he got the video game fighter Rumble McSkirmish to be his bodyguard. That may be who destroyed your friend's car."

Pacifica said, "Stop being silly. I'm upset and it feels like you're teasing me."

Mabel said, "I didn't mean to. Sorry, Pacifica."

It was time to make my move. I went over to Grunkle Stan while they were distracted and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Ok, Grunkle Stan. Let's finish our walk," I said.

I led him up the ladder to the top of the water tower, a much scarier place than Mabel had planned on.

"Take off your blindfold now!" I said.

Grunkle Stan took it off and stared at the ground far below. "Yeah, that was pretty much what I was expecting."

"You're doing better than I thought," I said. "Now let go of the hand-rail."

"No!" said Stan.

"Hey, do you smell anger, and hormones?" I asked. My llama senses were kicking in again.

Robbie came up the ladder, panting hard.

"Hey Robbie! Get your own water tower," I said.

"Keep it down, they'll find us!" said Robbie.

Rumble McSkirmish was below, looking for a way to bring his opponent to the ground. "You can hide, but you cannot hide!"

Rumble began punching the leg of the tower, making it sway.

"We're safe, right?" I asked. Mh natural llama height fearlessness was beginning to crumble.

"Of course not!" said Stan. "This thing is on stilts, high, high up!"

The tower continued to sway, Robbie fell off (only to be caught by Rumble), and Stan and I ran around like chickens.

Then Dr. Karate, the fighter Robbie had summoned to fight on his side, came up, and the fight moved elsewhere.

"HHNNGHHHH!" said Dr. Karate.

"YOU TAKE THAT BAAACKKKK!" said Rumble.

The tower finally steadied. I stood petrified beside Stan.

"I'm sorry, Grunkle Stan. I thought this would help, but I was wrong," I said. "So wrong!"

"I survived," said Stan. "I survived and I feel great! Wait, let me do a cocky dance, just to be sure."

He waggled his hips and made funny musical sounds.

"Ha! Deal with it, world. Stan Pines has cured his fear of heights!"

He went to the ladder. "Coming, kid?"

"Uh-uh," I said, standing frozen.

"What's the matter? You got a fear of heights now?"

I didn't answer, but turned my face away from the ladder.

"Oh-oh," said Stan. "Wait right there, I'll go for help."

He went down the ladder and headed down the street. He ran into Mabel and Pacifica.

"Mabel, you're all right!" he said.

"Yes, I'm fine, Grunkle Stan," said Mabel.

"Good. I'm over my fear of heights, but I was worried about you for a minute there," said Stan. "Let's go home."

"All right, Grunkle Stan," said Mabel. "See you later, Pacifica."

"Later," said Pacifica.

I looked down from the top of the water tower and shuddered. Now what was I going to do?