Everyone cried out as they fell through the swirling portal and they suddenly came to in the middle of a forest. They all just lay on the ground for a moment, heaving with shock.
"We have to go back," Dipper quickly said. "We just can't leave them to fight those monsters by themselves! Those evil twins, those Gleefuls, were terrible!"
"You should have some faith in that Gideon and Pacifica," Ford responded. "They are like you and Mabel. They should be fine."
"But what about that crazy shadow," Wendy asked.
"I don't know," Ford said after a moment. "Unfortunately, my dimension gun is broken, so getting us back to anywhere is going to be very, very difficult. Luckily, this is again another version of Gravity Falls. I can smell how familiar the place is. Odd... We'll find the Shack and work from there!"
"Guys, does anyone else feel as dry as I do," Mabel asked.
"What do you mean, Mabel," Dipper said, and then discovered that it was hard to turn around to look at his sister. "Woah! What the… I have four legs!?"
"Dipper, you're part deer," Mabel cried out. "You're Deeper!"
"Don't call me that," Dipper said. "And Mabel, you're a… a mermaid!"
"Huzzah!" Mabel flapped her tail about happily. "Once I get into water! It'll be the best day ever! I could visit Mermando! No wait… That might be a smidge too creeper."
"You dudes look pretty ridiculous in your animal forms," Wendy laughed.
"That's no fair, you're a werewolf!" Dipper pointed to her.
She looked at her claws and fur, and then laughed, "This is SICK! I feel like I can take on anything right now!" She punched a tree hard for emphasis.
The others got up and looked themselves over. Grunkle Stan was a grey gargoyle with bat-like wings. Ford was a sphinx. Soos was mud monster. Reverse Falls Bill was a collection of blue flames with an eye that wandered in them.
"I'm free… I'm free! It worked!" Bill was happy and excited. "And now, to find the rest of me!"
With that, he zipped away as quick as a flash.
"No," Ford and Stan both cried out and they flew after Bill.
"Well, that sucks majorly," Soos remarked. "Do you dawgs think we should follow them?"
Dipper looked at Mabel and shook his head. "No, we need to get Mabel into some water. Mermando nearly suffocated when he was dry. I smell some nearby. Let's go! We'll wait for them to return."
"Yeah, I don't need to be part of Dipper's reverse CPR," Mabel said seriously.
They quickly located a river cutting through the woods. Soos kept Mabel's scales moist with his mud body so she fine until he plopped her down in the water. Mabel cried out happily as she splashed around, soaking all three of them.
"Wow! So this is what it feel like to be a part fish person! This is so cool! I feel powerful!" She continued to splash around.
"Easy there, Mabes," Wendy laughed. "But I have to agree. I never thought about it before, becoming a monster. But I feel, well, powerful too!"
She punched another tree, leaving a deep imprint, just to prove her point. Soos easily picked up a log, and chuckled.
"This mud form is pretty cool, too! Though, dude, don't splash me too much, or I am likely to melt."
"Man, you all get some really cool monster form, and I'm… a what? What do you call a half boy, half deer thing?" Dipper shook his head. "My noodle arms even became noodle legs! Look!"
"Well, we can start by calling you tasty, because that is what you look," Wendy said fiercely. She growled and then pounced Dipper.
"Wait Wendy no! I'm not food," Dipper cried out.
Wendy licked his face with her rough tongue and then said, "Chill out dude. You know I would never eat you!"
She helped him get back to her feet, and though everyone was smiling, Dipper just felt sad. He looked at them and sighed.
"I'm sorry guys. I can't forget what we just saw! What we just experienced! It was so messed up! And what about Gideon and Pacifica? Will they be alright?"
Wendy put a comforting claw on his shoulder. "Look man, that was rough what just happened back there. I'll be the first to admit that we barely escaped and that was just by luck. But you've got to stay cool! We have to keep moving forward and not look back. Hopefully they dealt with those evil twins."
Dipper nodded glumly. "You're right, Wendy. Thanks. It's going to be hard to forget though."
"You shouldn't forget it. That's not what I'm saying," Wendy replied, shaking her furry head. "You need to move past it though. That's kinda the key to making it through a nasty break up. And I should know; I've had a few. And what I've found helps, is to chop some wood."
She handed Dipper one of her axes. "Come on, let's find some logs to split."
"See you two later! Don't wander too far," Mabel called to them.
"Hey, hambone, watch me make a mud castle out of myself," Soos said happily to Mabel, as he started molding his body into slimy mud castles.
"Soos, you are an artist," Mabel cheered.
Dipper and Wendy wandered a little ways away to find good gathering of old wood. Wendy propped some of the rotting logs onto an old stump and indicated to Dipper that he should proceed.
"Just give it some good whacks and let the frustration out of you. Yeah, we just went through a traumatizing experience. Yes, another Bill just escaped. But we can get past all of that. You just have to get out of your head first. That's the problem with you really smart guys."
"Thanks Wendy," Dipper said sincerely.
He began hacking away at the wood. Wendy was right, it did feel god to pour his emotions into the routine of cutting the wood. He hacked away his fear of the doppelgangers. He cut away his guilt at leaving Gideon and Pacifica behind. He chopped away his frustration with their whole situation at being lost in another dimension.
"So, why do think we are in these animal forms," Dipper asked Wendy.
"I dunno man. Maybe we are in some kind of Monster Falls where everyone is a monster."
"Sounds like a cheesy B horror movie," Dipper joked.
"Totally! Hey man! We should write down this experience, recycle some old plot, and then we could produce a movie based on all of this! We would make bank! I'm telling you," Wendy said excitedly.
They began talking over the many horror movies they had seen together and how this Monster Falls might compare. As they did, Dipper felt the last of his angsty feelings and guilt melt away. It was good to have a friend like Wendy. He also began to notice more about his monster form. Maybe he wasn't powerful, but he felt stamina. His hearing and smelling were really good now. He noticed things more. He noticed how Wendy kept stretching funny. He smelled something odd coming off her. It was an odor that overpowered many of the other sweet forest scents that hung in the air. It even overpowers his own sweaty smell.
Suddenly Dipper started feeling self-conscious and twitchy. He noticed that Wendy as well was acting the same. He paused in his cutting.
"What's the matter Dip, feeling tired? Or have you cut away all those pesky thoughts?"
Dipper shrugged an answered, "Both, I think."
Wendy smiled at him and then said, "See! I knew it would help out!"
"Wendy," Dipper began awkwardly. "With your animal form, do you feel, strange?"
"Strange how?"
"Well, this is embarrassing to say, but hot and bothered, I guess," Dipper ventured.
Wendy sat up a little straighter and the tried hard not to stretch like she had before, but she eventually did. She growled and said, "Now that you mention it. I do. What is going on?"
Dipper blushed and then said, "Crud! Wendy! We're both teens, and we're now in animal bodies! Wendy… I think we it's like mating season or something!"
Wendy laughed and said, "Okay, that actually makes sense. And that is super annoying. But don't worry man, we can get through this together."
"We can? How?"
"By doing what nature intended of us- Wait? What am I saying!?" Wendy now really did look confused, clamping her claws over her snout. "Oh crap Dipper, you are totally right. Arg! Why did you point that out? I was totally fine ignoring whatever this was, instincts, I guess. But now that I know what they are, it's an itch that won't go away."
"It okay Wendy! We aren't animals though-"
That was the terrible thing with animal instinct, it kicked in at a very bad time. Despite their better judgement, Wendy and Dipper jumped each other. It was an awkward tangle of fur, nuzzling, kissing, and licks. Wendy finally cupped Dipper's face and pulled him into a real kiss.
I didn't think deer would also need to cross their legs, Dipper thought frantically.
Dipper lost his balance and pulled Wendy down with him to the ground. They both laughed sheepishly, but stopped when they realized their compromising situation. Wendy was on top of him. Instincts screamed that they were ready. Dipper went crimson and Wendy drew closer.
Right as they were about to go all the way, a voice called out, "You kids have protection?"
Dipper and Wendy both yelped and flew away from each other. Grunkle Stan was sitting up in one of the trees. He had managed to sneak in on both of them. He looked both amused and upset.
"How much of that did you see," Dipper demanded.
"I flew in on the two of yous sucking face, or licking face, more like it," he replied. "And I saw the rest from there. If I had something to record the two of you, I would have the best blackmail in history!"
The two teens begged him not to do anything of the sort and he laughed. Stan flew down to be beside them. "Well, that evil munchkin got away from us. Ford will be meeting us soon. Where are Soos and Mabel?"
"They're back that way," Dipper pointed, glad that Stan dropped the subject so quickly. Though he knew his Grunkle well enough to know this wasn't the end. "We got Mabel into some water so it would be easier on her to breath."
"Right, and then you two came here to become adults," Stan teased.
"No! Wendy was helping me out with some problems, and well, one thing led to another and…"
Stan took each of them in an arm and said, "No need to explain yourselves to me! But if you're ever going to do something like that again, have protection! Trust me, if I wasn't ready for children, you definitely aren't! Now then, let's go meet with the others!"
As Grunkle Stan walked off, Wendy and Dipper shared deeply embarrassed looks.
"I'm so sorry Wendy," Dipper apologized. "I just got too lost in my own head. I should have thought things out better. I put you into that compromising position."
"Dude, I think that in these bodies with everything that happened maybe not even an hour ago, it would make total sense!"
"But we didn't act this stupid during Weirdmageddon," Dipper said.
Wendy pointed out, "Back then, we weren't stuck in animalistic bodies in the middle of heat, clouding our better judgement. Come on man, we all make mistakes! Stan can't use this as blackmail if we both promise that this never happened! Got it?"
Dipper smiled and sealed his lips, throwing away the key. Wendy did the same, and they both laughed away the last of the tension.
Wendy grabbed Dipper's hand and pulled him along. "Come on! Let's catch up with Stan!"
The deer teen allowed himself to get dragged on for a little ways before pointing out to Wendy what she was doing. She grimaced and let go. They then caught up with Stan and firmly planted themselves on either side of him.
"Yeesh! It's like I'm babysitting," he growled. But they both noticed a small smile on his face.
Once they were altogether again, it didn't take Ford long to return to them. He was not happy at having lost Bill, but he had still made an important discovery.
"Well, that lying, little demon is once again loose! I wonder if he brought us here on purpose! My tracking equipment lets me know that we are indeed in a dimension where we are all monsters! Our bodies have adjusted appropriately to fit the setting. But that brings with it certain advantages. As a sphinx and gargoyle, Stanley and I can access magic now in these forms, which I feel will prove handy later down the road. In fact, we should try something right now!"
Ford talk Stan through his idea, and the two of them started waving their claws around and doing some muttering. Everyone else was confused at what they were doing until they managed to create a large, floating orb of water to transport Mabel in.
"This is totally a dream come true," Mabel squealed with delight. "It's almost like getting Waddles all over again. Well, maybe not that special, but it's pretty high up there!"
"Glad you like it," Ford said appreciatively. "Now, let's go to the Mystery Shack!"
As the group trooped along through the woods, they had to admit that it all looked similar to the own home dimension. They wondered what they would find at the Shack and Dipper and Wendy were thankfully able to put aside the awkwardness and again discuss their plans for a future horror movie. Grunkle Stan was able to supply them with ideas for even darker and cheesier classics that he had known while growing up. Even Ford got in on the action, telling them the real magical and physical mechanics behind some the monster summoning and making them believable.
"And this is why you bring along a journal," Dipper said to Mabel, waving his notebook about, after getting it from his backpack. "I'm writing all of this gold down!"
"Great idea Dipper," Wendy agreed. "I would have forgotten a lot of this come tomorrow, otherwise."
"I would forget most of it by this evening," Soos admitted sadly.
"You are all such nerds," Mabel said, splashing them gently. Wendy jumped in to cover up Dipper's journal with her claws, so it wouldn't get too wet. Mabel grinned. "I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I like what you two have going on here."
Wendy and Dipper did their best to ignore that comment. Once they all reached the Mystery Shack, it was just the same as what they had known, except this one had a sign attached to it: Gone Hunting for Humans. Stan laughed at that.
"What is this? Are we going to find exhibits in there only about humans and how strange we are?"
Ford used his sphinx magic to unlock the door, and sure enough that is what they found. Displays in the museum showed a human in his underwear with signs saying "Oh the Horror!" There were exhibits of families watching T.V., brushing teeth, going camping, dressing up for Halloween, and so on.
"I am feeling suddenly very self-conscious," Soos said. "Admittedly, these would make great exhibits for the Shack!"
"Soos, everyone coming to the Shack is already human," Mabel said.
"How do you," Soos inquired seriously. "They could be vampires! Or werewolves, just not like Wendy here!"
"Soos, I will take back ownership permanently if you try replicating any of this junk," Stan warned him.
"Understood! Mr. Pines, sir," Soos said, snapping to attention.
"Well, now that I fully weirded out," Ford interjected. "Let's see if the basement is also equipped with my old machinery."
They found the vending machine offering a whole array of nasty looking snacks. Soos performed his little trick on the machine and caused another candy blizzard. The teens poked at the strange candy tentatively.
"So that's where my extra profits all went," Stan said grumpily.
"Sorry," Soos said sheepishly. "It's just such a fun trick!"
Grunkle Stan put in the code and the door opened up.
"This is looking very promising," Ford said with a big smile. "If all s well, then we should be able to send ourselves home!"
Mabel's bubble squeezed in after them, drenching the walls with water as they descended. Once they were down in Ford's old lab, they found the disassembled portal machine. There were tons of notes lying around about not letting humans come through from another dimension. Ford sketched a note telling his other self not to worry, because the humans would change into monsters anyway when they came through.
"Alright, this will take some work, but with Stan's and my magic, and everyone's help, we can get this portal running in no time," Ford exclaimed.
Per his instructions, the gang quickly assembled the portal and had it up and running. They chowed down on the different snacks from Eye-Jelly-Ballz, and Gummi Intestines, to Sugar Skulls to keep them all wed energized. Soos and Wendy were easily able to lift all of the big items and put them into place. Dipper worked the blowtorch, and Mabel entertained everyone with jokes, not the bad kind Stan loved. Everyone agreed that it was for the best to keep the girl in a water bubble away from all kinds of electronics.
Once they were finished, Ford used his device to punch in some multiverse coordinates. He was certain that with this big machine they could get everyone home and not rip reality apart. This time, they would use magic to power up the machine!
"Grunkle Ford, where di you learn to do all this stuff," Dipper asked him.
"When I chased Bill throughout the multiverse, I came across many different kinds of places. Like I told you once before magic and science really aren't that different from one another. It's how they are employed, one uses forces of self and nature, while the other relies on intellect and ingenuity. Personally, I gravitate towards the later," Ford grinned at his great nephew.
"I really want to teach it all to you, Dipper, someday. I have a wealth of information that needs to be recorded and passed along. This way, humanity can advance where needed and we hopefully don't repeat the same foolish mistakes of my youth. Though, I fear I did with Bill back there."
"It's okay Great Uncle Ford," Dipper consoled. "We had to do it. Those Gleeful versions of me and Mabel were too strong and well prepared for us."
"I should have just prepared for the possibility of us getting trapped in the reaches of the multiverse," Ford confessed. "I was too eager to be done with this whole mystery, because it has been vexing me. I have no idea who is after us! Though those clawed hands, the shadow, the aura. They are all connected. We need to figure out how, and quick. Sadly, there's very little that I have learned so far on this misadventure. I feel like I am leaving with only more questions."
"Then we'll figure them out together," Dipper pledged, holding his hand to Ford.
Ford took his hand with his own paw and they shook. "It's a deal, my boy. Now, I think I have everything figured out, Stanley, let get this baby fired up!"
Using a spell Ford had devised, the two Grunkles got their mojo on and the portal flared into life. As it opened, everyone could feel gravity become less, though not as erratic as when Mabel had allowed Stan to use the portal last time. However, something immediately came through! Three someones, in fact. The twin Gleefuls waltzed right through the portal, looking menacing and the shadow accompanied them.
"You were right, beast, that was easier than hunting for them everywhere," Mabel Gleeful sneered. "Now to get back to where we left off last time!"
"Not so fast," Ford retorted. "We aren't as weak or unprepared as we were las time!"
"That's right, we're hyped up on sugar now," Mabel cried out, flinging a wrench at the evil twins.
Dipper Gleeful used his bolo tie to throw the wrench aside. Dipper then realized that if they were here, they had beaten Gideon and Pacifica. He nodded to Soos and then galloped toward his doppelganger. He threw his own punch, and the other Dipper lazily caught it.
"What did you do to Gideon and Pacifica," he roared angrily.
"We dealt with them," the other Dipper grinned evilly. "They will never again cause any problems."
Dipper saw blood on the villain's sleeves. "You monsters," he yelled, throwing another punch.
"You are pathetic," evil Dipper said offhandedly. "What do you even hope to accomplish by showing how worthless you are? Even in monster form, no less!"
"Because you can't touch that bolo tie anymore," Dipper said angrily. "Soos!"
A pillar of mud slammed into Dipper Gleeful and squished him against the far wall, just as Dipper jumped back. Mabel Gleeful was trading spells with Stan and Ford, who were able to keep her at bay. Mabel tried using her grappling hook again on her wicked self, but the shadow monster deflected it.
"Enough with this silly weapon," it called out.
"If it's silly, then it compliments me perfectly," Mabel replied.
Wendy through debris at the shadow, but no avail.
Dipper came up behind the other Mabel and kicked her hard with his hind hooves. As the evil twin went flying, he turned a flashlight on the shadow and shined it. Nothing happened, and the shadow just laughed.
"Dipper Pines, I will succeed where Bill Cipher failed, and kill you!"
"Oh, are you and he pals or something," Dipper asked angrily. He wanted vengeance for the Gideon and Pacifica they had left to die.
"No, that couldn't be further from the truth," the shadow answered. "But your death is essential for my plan to regain power to work! Your entire family's demise."
"And what kind of poop face are you to want to kill us," Mabel asked, swimming her wat forward.
"I'm Madladl," the shadow replied. "The true god of Gravity Falls! And your executioner!"
The beast lunged for Mabel and she swam right out of the bubble yelling, "Now Wendy!"
Dipper was impressed to see Wendy throw a live line of wires into the bubble just as the shadow touched it. There was blinding flash a sizzling sound. Madladl then roared in pain and shrank back. There was another roar as the ceiling overhead was torn away. Above them all was a very, very large dragon. The monster… Looked like Bill! And it was wreathed in blue flames.
"Hahahahahaha! Time for my revenge," the blue fire howled.
Stan scooped up Mabel and shouted, "Quick! Everyone through the portal. We have to get out of here!"
"The coordinates are still good," Ford called to everyone. "Get through it now!"
"Not so fast," Madladl screamed. "You will not escape my trap!"
Tendrils of black smoke touched the portal and corrupted it right as the Pines, Soos, and Wendy hurled themselves through it. They flew through nothingness at first, and then they burst onto a scene of Stars and nebulas. Everyone had turned back to their normal selves, but now they knew that once again, they were very, very far from home.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Madladl loathed the fact that any variation of Bill Cipher, no matter how limited or broken, could still be allowed to live. In any dimension! On any world! However, there was a problem here, and that was the Pines. By dumb luck, not even by besting him, but by luck, they were escaping his trap! He needed their deaths so that their life force could power his return.
True, this might mean Wendy's death, but with what he had to gain, he could still manipulate his shaman into a union that would grant him the final step in rise again to full power. Ugh, but that was still a long way away, and with the Pines' most recent escape, it kept looking longer and longer! But here was a new twist of fate! The powers of the multiverse had brought to him a variation of Bill Cipher and of Dipper and Mabel! He could easily make this a profitable moment for him.
Using his arms, he held back the Cipher Dragon from the Gleeful twins, and shouted, "No! You will not fight each other now! Bill Cipher, I know that you want revenge of these two for imprisoning you, and I know you to want to punish him and bring him back! I care neither way who wins in that contest, but one thing is clear: none of you would be in this position if it weren't for those Pines!
"So, I have a proposition for you. I'll let you three have everything that you desire in order to fight and subdue one another, IF you help me track those fools down and kill them!"
He reached out and activated the portal with his own power, before continuing, "They are stuck in the multiverse now, with access to many potential allies and new powers. But we can do the same. We will build up an army! And together, we will get the Pines!"
"Hold on a moment," Mabel said ever so sweetly. "Why should we work with you. What do you have to gain from all of this?"
"The same thing as you," Madladl breathed. "Revenge. Power. Satisfaction. Freedom."
"And do we really need your help to do this," the Cipher Dragon asked.
Madladl open the portal all the way to show them the great cosmos of not just the multiverse, but of the Realms. He grinned at their astonishment. They would never have guessed there was so much out there! Nor just how small they were by comparison, without someone like him to help them out.
"This is the power the Pines have access to. I can get us that same advantage. You just have to join me in an alliance. We defeat them, we all reap the spoils. I go my own way, with my business concluded, and you three can then figure things out from there. Also, otherwise, how will you ever get home unless I allow it, hm? And you Cipher Dragon, I could slay you now. Better to stay alive and take my better offer."
"Deal," the Gleefuls and the dragon said together.
"Excellent," Madladl breathed.
He knew that they would turn on him given the very first opportunity. That was fine. He just needed their agreement. Because whether they won or lost now, with his power coursing through them with their pact, he would get the sacrifices he required. One way or another…
"Now, let's go make an army," Madladl said, walking through the portal.
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