"So what you're getting at here is Bill appeared to you in a dream and said he was coming back?" Stan asked. Dipper nodded.
"And he said he was going to get revenge on you personally?" Ford added. Dipper nodded again.
"Nice job bro-bro. You somehow got an all powerful demonic being to plan the second apocalypse just to get revenge on you. I think you're the only person I know who could pull that off." Mabel teased.
"Mabel, this is serious!" The younger twin whined.
"Either way we have a huge question to answer: How did he return?" Ford asked.
"No kidding. We erased him with the memory gun." Mabel said.
"We did. And we erased me." Stan paused then continued. "And then you guys brought me back."
"We opened a gateway." Ford muttered to himself. His eyes grew wide and before anyone could move, he dashed off into the basement.
"Ford! Wait!" Dipper yelled, running after him. He ran down the steps after his great uncle and saw him looking through his notes.
"Great Uncle Ford?" The young man asked anxiously.
"Norway. Norway has the answers." The older man muttered, ignoring Dipper. He gathered up his research and put it in a brown satchel.
"What are you talking about? Ford, answer me!" Dipper yelled. His great uncle flinched and looked at his great nephew.
"I have to go to Norway. I found some cave drawings there. I need to go back, to prove my theory is right." He explained. Suddenly, he was already up the stairs, the young man following close behind. They ran past Mabel and Stan who immediately followed.
"What the hell is going on Sixer?" Stan shouted, glaring at his brother.
"I'm going back to Norway." Ford replied, opening the door to his room to start packing.
"What? Don't you remember what happened last time?" Stan exclaimed, eyes widening in shock.
"That doesn't matter. I have to go back." The elder shrugged, zipping up his suitcase and heading for the door. The younger blocked him.
"Not alone you're not. I'm coming with." He said, pushing past his twin to get a suitcase. He headed for his room, followed by the group.
"No. It's too dangerous. Besides, who'll look after the kids? And who knows how long this will take." Ford said, trying to reason with him. Stan ignored him at first, packing his bag.
"They're adults. They'll be fine. Besides, Soos will be here, running the Shack. And I don't care how long this takes. I worked for 30 years to get you back. I'm not losing you again." Stan replied fiercely, a strong conviction in his voice. Ford paused for a moment then gave a small smile to his twin.
"Then I hope you're ready to leave tonight." He said.
"Wait, you guys can't leave! Not now! Dipper has a major league cuckoo clock triangle hellbent on killing him and we just got here!" Mabel pleaded.
"Mabel, they're right. Ford said the answers are in Norway. They have to go. It might be our only chance to beat Bill at his own game." Dipper said, comforting his sister. He wouldn't admit it, but this whole thing with Bill scared him. Why was Bill out to get him personally? It wasn't just him that stopped Bill. They all did. So why did the triangle have it out for him?
"Bill can't get to you here. This Shack is still warded against him. Besides, we hope to be back before Bill can actually do anything beyond nightmares." Ford reassured the twins. "We have to buy tickets but we're taking the first flight out of here okay?" The twins nodded and they were ushered downstairs while their great uncles prepared to leave.
"Grunkle Stan, Grunkle Ford, please stay safe. I want an update every couple days just to know you're alive and well. And hurry home. We wanna see you before we leave." Mabel said, hugging the old men tightly. They were at the airport in Portland and the twins were just dropping off their great uncles. The men nodded in agreement and again, Mabel found herself cursing Bill. They only got one day together before he showed up and royally fucked it up. It just wasn't fair. She struggled to keep the tears at bay.
"See ya kids soon alright? No burning down the place." Stan joked. It was hard for him to keep his voice still as he grabbed both of the kids and pulled them in for a huge hug. Ford joined in and the group stood there like that for a moment. Then they pulled apart and Ford held Mabel by the shoulders, looking her square in the eye.
"Mabel, look after your brother. He needs you to be strong, to protect him." He told her in a stern voice.
"Oh, don't you worry about that. Nothing's gonna get past me!" Mabel grinned, putting a protective arm around Dipper. Ford smiled and turned to Dipper.
"Dipper, I know you must be scared. But you're smart and resourceful. You can get through this." He said, trying to give his great nephew some sense of comfort.
"I will. Just get back soon you guys. I can't live on Mabel's cooking for so long." He joked, earning a punch in the arm from his sister. The older men smiled at the kids and got in line to go through security. Dipper led Mabel outside. She kept on a brave face until they got outside and she started sobbing. He held her and comforted his sister. He'd be driving them home. He could keep his emotions in check long enough to get them back to Gravity Falls. A few tears pricked at his eyes and he quickly swiped them away, pulling himself away from his sister and walking with her back to the car.
Bill paced angrily in the Mindscape, waiting for his two servants to show up. He was eager to get into a physical body. Oh, when he got his hands on Pine Tree, the torture would never end. The kid would beg for death but he would never grant him that luxury. He would pay for what he did. Sure, Ford erased him from existence but Pine Tree ruined his plans, sticking his nose where it didn't belong. Too curious for his own damn good. If that kid could've just stuck to video games and mystery novels, everything would have worked out perfectly. He snapped out of his thoughts as he sensed two familiar presences.
"Lucifer. Strange." Bill greeted, summoning his cane and twirling it about.
"Master." The two replied, bowing low.
"Lucifer, are the preparations for the ceremony complete?" Bill asked.
"Almost Master. I need but one more thing: The life essence of a unicorn. Those bastards are hard to find." Lucifer said, glaring at the ground.
"Unicorn?" Bill asked. Then, his eye tilted up in what can only be described as a smirk. "I have a way to help you get that."
"What will you have me do?" Lucifer asked.
"Get close to the Pines twins, specifically Shooting Star. She has encountered unicorns before." He explained.
"I shall Master." Lucifer swore, bowing again.
"You can go." Bill dismissed him. With a flash of hellfire, the man disappeared. Then the triangle turned to the black, cloudy mass.
"And how is my physical form?" Bill asked.
"It is coming along quite well. Would you like to see it?" Strange asked. Bill nodded and Tad summoned up an image of a tall, human man. The body was tan and lean, with slight muscles. It had blond hair that flowed to just past the shoulders.
"Excellent." Bill said, nodding in approval. If he had a mouth, he'd be smiling.
"Master, if I may ask, why do you want a human body? Your triangle form is a sight to behold." Strange said, bowing low.
"Meatsacks like it more. They'll be more willing to make deals. Plus, I do not need Pine Tree recognizing me and stopping my plans before they begin. You are dismissed." The demon waved a hand at his servant. Silently, he disappeared, leaving Bill alone in the mindscape.
Yes, everything was going according to plan. And nothing was going to get in his way this time.