Breaking Barriers

(Takes place during Dipper and Mabel vs. the Future)

Asgore walked through the palace's portrait gallery. He took stock of the images in the hall, it was tradition that when the heir to the throne reached their thirteenth birthday a family portrait would be made of the heir and their parents as well as a similar portrait for the heir's betrothed. There was damage after the gravitational reversal event but the portraits were mostly intact. However, as he went on Asgore started to notice a pattern, the child in each looked like the weight of adulthood was already starting to weigh them down. When he would get to the next royal portrait the parents seemed to have any trace of joy removed only for it to start again with their child. He finally got to the last two portraits, the ones made for himself and Toriel. The children in the portraits didn't look all that happy, something they had both promised each other long ago that would change in their own child's portrait.

But the portrait was never painted, Asriel vanished long before then. Now he had returned but was out of reach and less than a year away from turning thirteen. It looked like the painting would never even get started much less finished.

"I guess I should go ahead and get the razor," Asgore heard behind him. He was so lost in thought that he never noticed Toriel's approach. "And I'm sure we can find a slimy enough snail to kiss in the Kitchen seeing as we both broke our pact."

"You… remember that?"

"It was back then that…I first began to really fall in love with you."

"It…was the same for me."

"Asgore, do you think there is anything left of that little boy in you? He would never hurt anyone, not out of anger or out of obligation."

Asgore sighed. "So much has changed since those days. The end for our way of life is almost upon us, if I don't act now… But we will survive. I will make sure you will live to see the surface, even if it means losing you."

"So, you're going through with it? Very well, either way if this plan of yours succeeds not once it is over we'll go our separate ways, for good."

As Toriel left Asgore looked at his own portrait at the image of his father. "I've taken your words to heart. A King must do what is best for his people…" His gaze turned back at the Toriel that was just beginning to step into adulthood tears began rolling down his muzzle. "…even if it's the absolute last thing he wants to do."

Meanwhile back on the surface Shepard's bookstore had several posters and a banner set up for their "Back to School Sale". Asriel was moving another set of textbooks from the back to the front shelves when Frisk came in following his parents. Frisk moved over to Asriel while his parents began some small talk with the Shepards.

"I'm kind of surprised to see you here," Frisk said. "I'd have thought that you'd be in woods talking to some creature or another, or at the Mystery Shack working to pay back Mr. Pines."

"That debt was paid in full a couple of days ago," said Asriel. "Our shop always gets the textbooks for the schools in Gravity Falls so I'm helping my folks with inventory. Man, this summer his changed my life completely, yet it feels like it has gone by in a hurry. We'll all be in Nathaniel Northwest Middle School in a little over a week."

"Go Ospreys," Frisk laughed. "Still what about the barrier?"

"I have some good news about that."

"You're not the only one!" Mabel said as she entered the store and approached the boys.

"Hey Mabel," said Frisk. "Where's Dipper?"

"He had to go with Great Uncle Ford to on some mission to collect some doodad or whatever, this is about him too. But you first, that'll just make my news more amazing!"

Asriel took a deep breath. "Well, the creatures in the forest have all agreed to the summit to discuss removing the barrier. I've done all I can before then but I think they may agree to let the Fae live with them. My people are going to be safe."

"That's wonderful!" said Mabel. "So, what happens after that? Do you go to live with the Fae or are you going to stay with your mom and dad here?"

"I… haven't actually thought about it. I can't just leave my adoptive family, but I don't think my birth parents would ask me to do that anyway. Mom… wouldn't want any parents to go through what they did."

"But enough feeling down," said Frisk. "What about your news Mabel?"

"Read all about it!" Mabel said as she produced a couple of flyers from her backpack.

"You're both turning thirteen? On the thirty-first?"

"Well yeah, what's wrong?"

Frisk sighed. "My cousin over in Boise is getting married that weekend and Mom wants the whole family to be there to support her on her big day. I'm sorry but I can't make it."

Mabel seemed disappointed. "I understand… I guess Asriel have to do enough partying for the both of you."

"Yeah about that," Asriel said scratching the back of his head. "That summit to talk about freeing the Fae? It's on that exact same day."

Mabel looked like someone punched her in the stomach. "Can't you reschedule or something!?"

"That's the only day they can all agree on to talk about this. They all gave some reasons about celestial alignments, ley lines, bird migrations and other stuff I don't quite get. If the summit doesn't happen then, it could be months before they arrange another, if they agree to try again at all. Mabel, the Fae need this."

Mabel put on a smile that didn't quite match her eyes. "It's…ok. I mean Dipper will be a little bummed but he'd understand. I better get going and give these invites to Candy and Grenda, see you later."

Mabel exited the shop. "I didn't think she'd take it that hard," said Asriel.

"Something tells me it's more than us not coming to a birthday that has her upset," Frisk said. "We should probably surprise her with a gift tomorrow, maybe that will cheer her up."

Stella and her parents had entered the throne room, she flipped the bang of her hair that she wore despite her parent's objections. The new hair style had become her expression of trying to be seen and heard more, not just as a doll that would stand with her parents when needed. Yes, she knew they loved her, but tradition and their status tended to keep them from acting as close as any of them would have liked.

Still she felt like nothing could ruin her mood today, she could hear Prince Asriel's thoughts in her dreams the previous night and she knew in a few days the Barrier would gone and the Fae would be able to start a new life on the surface.

"Your majesty," Maximilllian said as he and his family knelt before the throne. "Your summons sounded urgent."

"Yes," said Asgore. "The few crystals we have seem to be reaching a peak in their production of magical energy. That makes this the best chance for Exodus to succeed so I gave the order. Once Alphys powers it up Exodus will activate."

"About time," said Antionette. "So how may we assist this endeavor?"

"I sent Sans and Papyrus to the chamber where the barrier cuts us off from the surface. Their job is to confirm whether the barrier is down and if so scout the area immediately around the exit to the caverns. I want the two of you to assist Undyne in informing the people of the operation. If we fail you will provide aid and comfort after I make the announcement, if it succeeds the three of you will help to organize the evacuation to the surface once Sans and Papyrus give the all clear."

"But what about Asriel?!" asked Stella. "I'm sorry my king but I was able to connect to Asriel in a dream. He's going to convince the magical surface dwellers to take down the barrier in a week. There is no need to use Exodus."

"I'm glad that you believe in my son Stella, but your parents told me while you are progressing by great degrees in your magic studies your telepathic magic is, unreliable. If we don't destroy the barrier now the Fae could all die in a matter of days. I cannot risk the best chance for Exodus to work based on a girl's dream."

"But Exodus is dangerous! Queen Toriel said it could drain the magicite, or even the Fae! We'll be finished!"

"The magicite is nearly drained anyway," said Maximillian. "And unless we get through that barrier we'll still be finished!"

"But what about the humans?! They may still attack us if we just show up on the surface. Please just give Asriel more time!"

"Stella," Antionette chided. "What is your role when we are court again?"

Stella grumbled having lived under this rule her whole life. "Be silent unless I am directly addressed," she said. "Like a good little doll," she thought.

"Very good. Now while your father and I are carrying out our duties you are to remain in the palace."

"Yes mother. Can I see if Queen Toriel has a lesson for me today?"

The Wundurs turned to Asgore. "You may ask," said the King. "But Toriel is upset about all this, don't expect her to be in a mood to teach."

"I understand, thank you your majesty."

Stella however allowed herself a smile. If anything, Toriel would help her stop the Fae from destroying themselves.

"Hang on Asriel, I'll delay them for until you pull through!"

"Three, two, one…" Roger Shepard said while looking at his watch. "And turn the sign we are closed."

"That was probably the best opening day of our back to school yet," said Jessica. "You know what it has been a while since we did something fun as a family. How about we go to that new Italian place, The Fancy Breadstick, for dinner?"

While Asriel like the sound of that, another thought crossed his mind. "Actually, if you guys don't mind I'd like do a little shopping first. See Dipper and Mabel's birthday is coming up and I'd like to get them some presents."

"I don't see a problem at all," said Roger. "Any books you think they'd would like? Just take them off the shelf, you've earned them today."

"Well I think Dipper would like the Figswick collection," Asriel said getting a boxed set from a counter. "But I think Mabel would really like some yarn to knit some more of those sweaters she likes."

"Guess were stopping by the craft store," said Jessica.

"Thanks! Listen guys I might not have always agreed with everything you did for me, but I really appreciate it. You could have just let child services put me foster care, but you stuck by me. I guess I just want to say wherever I came from, I'm glad you're my family now."

"What brought this on kiddo?" asked Roger.

"It's just, I'm not going to be a kid forever and I want the rest of the time we're going to spend together before I move out on my own to be something I look back at and think 'those were good times'."

Roger and Jessica pulled him into a hug. "That's what every parent hopes for."

"We have to stop them!" Stella said to Toriel as she came into her room. The queen didn't look like she welcomed the intrusion. "We can't let the King risk everybody, not when the humans are going to take down the barrier for us!"

"Asgore is a grown man and a king," Toriel said curtly. "He can do whatever he wants, no matter how pigheaded or moronic it is."

"So, you're just going to let Exodus happen?! Even though Asriel is so close to finishing his mission?! You're not going to even try?!"

"I did try. I tried so many times in the last century and a half to get him to turn from this foolish war. I can no more change his mind now than I could back then. Honestly, I'm sick of it and sick of what he's become."

"What do you mean?"

"If this should work out, if he should start his oh so necessary war, I won't be there to have any part of it. As his queen or as his wife."

Stella gasped. "You're leaving the king? But you're a team and he needs you, you can convince him to wait!"

"Perhaps at one time that might have been true, but now I'm sure he'll move past me to do what is 'best' for his people."

"They're your people too! Don't you owe it to them to give Asriel and his friends a chance?! If he could hear you talking about leaving his father he'd be heartbroken!"

Toriel sighed. "What would you have me do? Neither of us want to hurt him but at some point, we have to consider our own happiness as well."

"Well, we could go down to Alphys' lab and break the machine! Stop them from using it before the humans can break the barrier!"

Toriel looked out the window. "I don't agree with a war but Asgore is right about one thing, your mind magic can't be controlled reliably we can't be sure that this isn't just a dream. Right now, it looks like either Exodus will kill us or we'll all starve to death. If Asgore isn't willing to consider that I wouldn't want to live at the expense of others, then I'm not sure we even know each other anymore. I don't fault Asriel, he'd have no idea how bad things would have gotten down here since he left. All I can do is hope that he really did find a way for us to avoid war and this will just speed that up."

Stella fumed. "Fine! If you won't stop this thing, then I'll do it myself!"

"I won't help, but I won't stop you either."

"You know what? I'm glad Asriel isn't here right now. This way he won't have to see his parents acting they're enemies!"

Stella stormed out of the room as Toriel picked up the picture of Asriel and Chara. "The sad thing is, neither of us wanted it to be this way."

Asriel came out of the craft store holding a bunch of yarn in a rainbow of colors. "If this doesn't cheer Mabel up I don't know what will."

"Hey, Asriel" came a voice from his mind.

"Chara," Asriel said trying to keep his voice neutral. He ducked into an alley to avoid drawing attention. "It's been a while."

"I have a question. What do you plan to do to me?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean you trapped me in here so I can't influence you. I tried to wipeout mankind, unsuccessfully. But despite all that you never gave up on me, why? It's not like I can just come back to life and we'd pick up where we left off. Do you just intend for me to be here for the rest of your life?"

Asriel took a deep breath. "I wasn't thinking about after. I just saw a girl in a lot of pain and wanted to remind her that she wasn't alone."

"You love them both, don't you? Mr. Dad Guy and Miss Mom Lady as well as the people who took you in up here."

"Well, yeah."

"My family from before, I hadn't really thought about them in so long, only that it wasn't fair how the world treated them. But seeing you with your folks and your friends here I realized, I missed them. Them and everyone underground. But my birth family was taken away from me, I gave up my life and my new family trying to fill all this hatred that festered inside me. I did a lot of reflecting after what happened in the manor and I think I finally get what you said to that ghost.

"If we did what I wanted, if we just wiped away everything until we found a world that was 'fair' it still wouldn't fill up the emptiness inside. It wouldn't stop the hurting, if anything I'd probably just feel worse than I do now. It's just where do we go, what do we do?"

"Once we get the Fae up to the surface in a week, you could tell Mom and Dad you're sorry. You're one of my best friends, if you want to change I'll help you do it."

"You'd forgive me for wanting to destroy the world? You'd just put aside all the pain and suffering I put you through? Do you realize how weird that sounds?"

Just then the roar of what almost sounded like a jet engine came from overhead. Running out to the street Asriel looked up like all the other townsfolk in the area and saw a silver object zooming past at high speed. But along with the roar of the engine Asriel could have sworn he heard a scream.

"RAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!"

Soon the object was out of sight.

"What was that?!" said Chara.

Asriel allowed himself a smile. "I don't know, but I'm pretty sure Dipper's right on top of it. You said that forgiving you for wanting to kill everyone was weird. Well then, you're lucky we're in Gravity Falls. Compared to the weird stuff we've seen this summer, forgiving you is only slightly unusual."

Back in the Underground Stella had come into Alphys' lab. She took a closer look at the Exodus device.

"So how does Exodus work again?" Stella asked Alphys. "Maybe I can find a way to shut it down for good," She thought.

"Well," Alphys said while inputting commands on a keyboard. "The barrier draws part of its power from geothermal energy to perpetuate itself. Exodus channels latent magical energy from the Underground into the barrier, with a LOT of luck it should be more energy than the barrier can take and it would overload and destroy itself."

"What's stopping it from taking energy from all of us?"

"First off the ambient energy of sources like magicite are far greater than our bodies give off so it will take quite some time before it starts draining energy from people and the machine will almost definitely explode well before then."

"But if the barrier is…wait a minute, explode?!"

"That's actually the most likely outcome of using Exodus. The chances of the barrier being destroyed if we us this today are at about five percent while the odds of an explosion are at around sixty percent."

Stella took a few steps back from the machine. "How big of an explosion are we talking about?"

"Depends on the amount of energy Exodus will be channeling at that point. The blast could be as a small as this room or as big as the palace."

"And you didn't tell anyone about it until now?!"

"Of course, I told someone. The king, Undyne, your parents, everyone cleared to know about it, well except the queen and you until just now. The people will be informed before we activate it and take the proper precautions."

"But even if no one gets drained it can still hurt a lot of people! How can you be fine with this?!"

"I'm not really," Alphys sighed. "I want to warn everyone to get out of New Home before we turn this on, but given the damage of those gravity anomalies, there aren't that many places to for them to go to. But I trust Undyne to keep everyone safe." Alphys' watch started beeping. "And speaking of Undyne, I have to meet her at Grillby's for dinner. I'll be back in an hour."

Stella was now alone in the same room as Exodus. "If only I could figure out how to turn this stupid thing off."

"Stella," the girl heard in her mind. "Can you hear me?"

Stella gasped. "Asriel? But no one has ever talked back to me in my mind before."

"The last time you reached me you left a sort of psychic trace, I figured out how to send my thoughts to you through it. Listen we reached an agreement early, but some of these humans have ways to watch the Underground. If they see Exodus going they'll think I've gone back on my word and will be ready to kill you the moment the barrier goes down!"

"No!"

"Don't worry, I remember you're awesome at lightning magic. Just use it on Exodus, short it out for a few hours and all of our dreams will come true."

"But I don't know how it works, what if I accidently turn it on or something?"

"Stella, I trust you. Trust me and our people's long nightmare will finally be over, we can finally really be together."

Stella turned her palms up and produced two rings made of lightning floating just above her skin. "I trust you. It's time to get the sun, together!"

Stella tossed the two rings right at the device. The resulting spark created a small blast that knocked Stella back throwing her against the wall. She felt woozy as her vision faded to black.

Stella opened her eyes, all around her she saw many clocks and what looked like a large window. Standing in front of it was a figure that even from behind looked familiar to her.

"Asriel!" she said running to him. "Did we do it? Is the barrier destroyed?"

She put her hand on his shoulder to and began to turn him around. "AHHHHHHHH!"

As she turned him around instead of Asriel's face a single eye with a cat like pupil was all that stared back at her.

"Not yet Wonder Girl, but thanks to you the barrier will be history, on my terms!" The nightmare Asriel's body had shifted into a flat triangular form. "Name's Bill Cipher, the Little Prince, Goat Papa or Goat Mama might have mentioned me. Great job wrecking that machine and as thanks you get a front row seat!"

"No! Let me out of here! Where am I?!"

"That's a funny question. Physically you're still back in the lab taking a long snooze, but your astral form is now in the mind of this chump I possessing."

Stella took a closer look out the window and saw she was looking out of someone's eye. "I want to go home, now!"

"Why leave now? The show's just starting." With a wave of Bill's hand Stella found herself suddenly chained to a chair and forced to look out the eye. "That is after I get a little something that will not only free your people, but me as well and then you'll all be living in my world!"

"You, you tricked me! That dream I had, it was you!"

"No, that was all you. Thing is I needed to hold Sixer off for just long enough to get the last piece of the puzzle. I pretended to be the Little Prince so you'd keep that machine off and not get Fordsy's guard up."

"What are you talking about?!"

Bill materialized a microphone as he looked out the eye and towards Mabel Pines sitting at the foot of a tree. "You'll find out soon enough. Right now, it's Show Time."

"It just isn't fair," Mabel said from the outside world as she pulled her sweater up over her head. "I just wish summer could last forever."

Bill brought the microphone up to his eye. "That might be possible," Bill said and another voice said simultaneously.

"Sweater town is not accepting incoming calls."

"M-M-Mabel, it's me."

Mabel peaked out of the sweater "What who said that?"

"I can help."

As Mabel looked in the person's eyes she seemed to also look right at the two mental figures. "The time travel guy? What are you doing here?"

"You said you don't want summer to end, right? D-did I hear that right?"

"Yeah why are you asking?"

"Look, maybe it's against the rules but you once did a favor for me so I thought I could help you out. It's called a time bubble and it prevents time from going forward. Summer in Gravity Falls can last as long as you want it to."

Mabel wiped her tears away with her sleeve. "R-really? But how does it work?"

The possessed time traveler projected a hologram from his wristwatch. "I just need you to get a little gizmo for me from your uncle. Something small, he won't even know it's missing.

"No!" yelled Stella. "Don't listen to him! It's not really your friend! Don't make my mistake!"

Bill conjured a manacle that clapped itself around Stella's mouth. He turned back to the image of Mabel.

"Huh," said Mabel. "Maybe Dipper has something like that in his nerd bag."

Back in the lab Alphys had returned along with Undyne, Asgore, Toriel and Stella's parents.

"Stella what's wrong?!" Antionette asked as she picked up her unconscious daughter. "Speak to me! Why won't she wake up?!"

"I don't know!" Alphys said looking over Stella. "There's no medical reason for her to be like this! I got to check the instruments, maybe there's some sort of clue in the readings."

"Stella please," Maximillian said kneeling down next to his wife. "We're sorry we didn't take the time to listen to you. We should have seen you're old enough to have your own opinions. We'll listen, just please say something, anything!"

Back in Blendin's mind Stella stopped her struggling for a moment as Mabel took out a curious orb from her backpack. Inside it looked like a miniature outer space was swirling around. "Huh, that's odd," said Mabel. "Is this it?"

Bill practically reached out for the orb himself. "Yes, that's it! Just hand it over and I'll do my thing! Unless you're ready to leave Gravity Falls."

Stella tried to move from the chair and groaned as loud as she could. Trying, hoping, to some way, somehow to convey a message to the girl she only really knew from a disguise.

Mabel gazed into the swirling hole in space-time. "Just a little more summer…"

Stella, still out like a light, suddenly started speaking in another voice.

"At last! At long, long last! The gate between worlds is open! The event one billion years prophesied has come to pass! The day has come! The world is finally mine!"

Just as suddenly Stella went still again.

"Stella?!" Antionette asked. "What are you talking about?! Please!"

"That wasn't our daughter," said Maximillian. "I don't know how but something was using her body."

"Wait a minute," said Asgore. "That voice… it sounded like..."

Toriel started stepping back. "No, it can't be. What has he done? What part did I play in it?!"

"Toriel what do mean what part did you play?" Asgore asked. "We haven't spoken to him in ages."

"I don't understand!" said Antionette. "Do you two know what's happening to her?"

Alphys peaked up from over some monitors. "Forgive me your majesties, but the Exodus Device, just now there was some strange feedback from the barrier. Whatever is happening the Barrier is down! We're free!"

"Could Lady Stella and Queen Toriel have been right?" said Undyne. "Did Prince Asriel come through for us?"

"No," said Toriel as if instead of a blessing she had just heard the worst news ever. "It wasn't Asriel and it wasn't Exodus either."

"Then what was it?!" yelled Maximillian.

Toriel looked at Stella, feelings a hundred and fifty years old came rushing back. "The last move, in a game we just lost."

Two skeleton brothers had just become the first Fae other than Asriel to set foot on the surface in thousands of years. A fierce wind was staring to pick up as dusk took an unnatural hue. Up in the skies overhead a cross shaped hole loomed leading to some inexplicable other place.

"Sans, what is that?" asked Papyrus. "Is that normal?"

Sans' pupils seemed to go out. "It sure isn't the Sun. Something's gone wrong up here, horribly wrong."

In town square of Gravity Falls the townsfolk were going about their end of the day business had stopped and looked up to the sky. No one had an explanation for the hole that hung over their town as if threatening to devour it.

Frisk and his family were stunned into silence. His firefighter father held his wife and son close to him.

"Dipper, Mabel," said Frisk. "Whatever you're doing I think this town needs you now more than ever. So please hurry."

Meanwhile the Shepards were frozen into place. They were about to come into the restaurant as the sky changed color.

"Honey," Jessica asked Roger. "What's going on?"

"I don't know," said Roger. "I've never seen anything like it.

Asriel had enough of an answer. "Trouble. Big, big trouble."

Dipper and Ford ran out of the Mystery Shack and one to the yard. As they looked up to the tear in the sky it seemed to get bigger by the second.

"What's going on?!" asked Dipper. "What is that?!"

A triangular shadow passed over Ford. "We're too late! It's the end of the world…"

No matter who watched or where they were they could all hear Bill Cipher's maniacal cackling.

"HEHEHEHEHEHEHE! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Grats to Crazytraveller4 for breaking the last code. "It pays to learn from the past, especially when it looks like you have no future."

15-4'5 4-16-19 19-10-20 9-18 4-16-19 1-9-6-12-20 23-5 1-19 13-10-9-1 15-4, 23-10-20 15 20-9-10'4 18-19-19-12 18-15-10-19.