Alright, so here's chapter 10!

Heads up, I start classes today (in about thirty minutes, actually) and it may affect how fast I post my stories. Then again, it may not, but I just wanted to let you guys know.

And I don't really have anything else to say, except read on!

Chapter 10: Affection and Pancakes

(Dipper 3rd Person)

"So," Stan began as the other five looked at him, "what are we going to do?"

Soos raised his hand. "Pretend this never happened?"

Ancalagon nodded. "For the most part, we will not change any of our interactions with others. I will be staying here for now as well."

Wendy shook her head rapidly. "Dudes, I can't handle this. I mean, the two dorks here are suddenly a couple, and everything is all supernatural and stuff. Is there any way out of this?"

Ancalagon shook his head. "Not unless you want to leave human society forever."

"Okay, teetering on the edge of mental stability it is then."

Stan looked to Dipper and Mabel. "I trust you two know that you have to hide your new relationship?"

Mabel grinned. "No kissing around others. Easy enough!"

Dipper smiled. "Yeah. I mean, the only real visible difference is the kissing."

"True that," Soos added.

"Alright then!" Stan exclaimed. "So, everyone find a place to sleep." As Wendy stood, he added, "That includes you, Wendy."

"What? Why?!" Wendy exclaimed. Dipper could tell she was starting to freak out again.

"This is the only place where we can stay in contact with each other at all times. If you went home and someone found out about all this, you would be the easiest to take."

Wendy shivered. "O-okay. But where do I sleep?"

"In the living room, on the couch," Stan replied.

"Um, dude, I don't think that will work," Soos said. He pointed to Ancalagon. "The two of us need places to sleep, too."

"She can sleep in my bed!" Mabel exclaimed.

Everyone turned to look at her. "Where would you sleep then, Mabel?" Ancalagon asked.

Mabel grinned and looked at Dipper. It only took a moment before Dipper realized what she was implying. He felt his face turn beet red at the idea.

Wendy actually let out a laugh, albeit a labored one. "So you'd give me your bed as an excuse to sleep with Dipper?"

Mabel nodded, still looking at Dipper. Dipper shrugged, "I'm okay with it."

Mabel giggled and hugged Dipper.

Stan clapped his hands together. "Okay, we have you three settled. Now for Soos and Cal!"

As they began to chat about possible sleeping arrangements, Mabel dragged Dipper towards their room. "Mabel, what are you doing?"

"Before you got back, I finished those sweaters!" she declared, opening the trapdoor.

"How? Even you can't knit that fast!"

"Silly. I had two blank sweaters and simply added the designs." She took off her current sweater and grabbed an orange one and a black one. She pulled the orange one over her head. Turning back to him, she asked, "What do you think?"

Dipper smiled. Mabel had sewn a dragon outlined in black on the front of her sweater. It took a moment for Dipper to recognize that the black striped dragon was supposed to be him. "Mabel, that's amazing!"

Her smile seemed to light up the room. "Yay! I made you one, too!"

She handed him the black sweater. Dipper looked at the design. It was the same picture, only using orange for the outline, as well as the majority of the actual body. And, while Dipper usually disliked sweaters, he immediately put it on, knowing how much love Mabel put into this one.

Mabel giggled. "You look so cute!" Before Dipper could protest at being called cute, she kissed him. "I love you, Dipper."

He smiled, letting the cute comment slide. "I love you, too."

Dipper found himself at the edge of the clearing the Mystery Shack was located in. The building was burning.

Even as he took in the scene, Mabel appeared and ran to him. She threw her arms around him. "Dipper, I'm scared."

Dipper immediately pulled her closer to him. "Don't worry, Mabel. I won't let anything happen to you."

As if summon by this promise, a wind blew across the clearing, snuffing out the fire.

Dipper smiled. Mabel squeezed him tighter and whispered, "I love you, Dipper."

Dipper realized that this was almost identical to the Prophecy Dream he had had the night before.

This time, however, Dipper was the one torn away. He watched Mabel attempt to chase after him with a shout of "DIPPER!"

Unfortunately, Dipper vanished into the trees. He was being pulled away while surrounded by a greenish light.

Eventually, he stopped and was dropped to the ground. He glanced up and saw a face he never wanted to see again.

"Hello, friend," came the sarcastic greeting of 'Lil Gideon. Gideon lifted an axe and swung at Dipper.

But Dipper rolled aside in time. He then lunged at Gideon, morphing into his dragon form at the same time.

Gideon was pinned, terror in his eyes. Dipper took a deep breath and-

"Dipper! Stop!"

Dipper turned to see Mabel arrive. Dipper slowly backed off of Gideon and returned to his human form.

Mabel rushed into his arms. "You aren't a killer," she whispered. She looked up at him and they kissed.

But a loud roar made them jump apart.

A massive shadow appeared, heading straight for them. Suddenly, it stopped, encased in a greenish light.

Dipper glanced at Gideon, who was holding the shadow back.

But the shadow broke his grip and flung him into a tree. It rushed for them and torn Mabel from Dipper's arms.

"MABEL!" he screamed.

"DIPPER! HELP!"

The shadow drew her near to a fiery maw. A dark, sickening laugh came from it as it dropped Mabel. Dipper watched helplessly as she fell into its gaping jaws.

Dipper awoke with a gasp. He knew that it was a Prophecy Dream. It was too much like the previous one to be anything else.

At the same time, though, things had changed. The others hadn't been present in this dream. Gideon had appeared, and Mabel had kissed him.

Dipper shuddered. The thing that scared him most was the fact that it had ended the exact same way, with Mabel about to be devoured by that shadow.

"Dipper…?" That small moan from beside him brought Dipper out of his thoughts.

Mabel looked at him with a tired expression. "You have a nightmare?" she asked.

Dipper looked at her. He didn't want to scare her with what would happen. Not tonight. "Kinda."

Mabel gave him a reassuring smile as she pushed Dipper onto his back. She then gave him a kiss and rested her head on his chest. "Don't worry. I'll help keep them away."

Dipper wrapped his arms around her. "Thanks Mabel."

The warmth of her body seeped through both of their nightshirts. Her hair tickled his arm as she quickly fell asleep again. Dipper sighed in contentment. Despite the oncoming doom, he felt perfect with her.

Dipper felt his eyes droop and, before he could have another thought cross his mind, he was fast asleep.

Dipper's first thought a question: What is that against my mouth?

Once he opened his eyes, he smiled and returned Mabel's kiss.

When she finally pulled back, she grinned. "Good morning, Sleepy Head."

Dipper sat up. "You know, I think I like you waking me this way more."

The two laughed as they rolled out of bed and headed down the stairs.

When they entered the kitchen, they found only Ancalagon there with a mug in his hands.

"Good morning Dipper, Mabel."

"Morning Cal!" Mabel exclaimed. She walked over to the fridge and opened it up. "Hm, I think I want pancakes, but we don't have any flour. Gruncle Stan says flour is too expensive. He said that at Greasy's Diner. Greasy's Diner has pancakes. Let's go to Greasy's Diner!" With that, she suddenly ran out of the room, leaving Dipper laughing and Ancalagon staring.

"Is she always that way?" he asked Dipper.

"Most of the time, yeah." Dipper poured himself a glass of milk and started to drink.

Ancalagon chuckled. "Well, she certainly is different. Interesting choice for a mate."

Dipper immediately choked on his milk.

As Dipper started coughing, Ancalagon glanced at him. "What's the matter?"

Dipper waited to be sure that he was done coughing before replying. "Well, she's not really my, uh, mate. More like, we're courting, I guess."

Ancalagon raised an eyebrow. "That is some courtship you have, then. I have never seen one so intimate and casual. In my eyes, you appeared to have already decided." He then laughed. "Of course, I only know what little I have seen from my parents and their friends. I've never courted a female."

"Really?"

Ancalagon nodded. "I never got the chance before I was assigned here. I'm afraid I can only offer advice that my parents taught me."

Dipper smiled. "Well, thanks for that. But, I think I'll hold off on that for now. After all, I'm only sixteen."

Ancalagon smiled back. "You are wiser than many individuals I have met, Dipper. I am proud to say you are family."

Dipper nodded. He reached for the milk when Mabel rushed into the kitchen. "Dipper! I need you to help me convince Gruncle Stan to take us to the Diner!"

Dipper stood up. "I have an idea. How about I head over and just bring back some pancakes?"

Mabel grinned and hugged him. "You'd do that?"

"Of course. After all, it's just getting some pancakes. How hard can it be?"

Dipper walked out of the Diner with a large box filled with pancakes. He had always known Stan to be a cheapskate, but saying these pancakes were expensive was like saying the sky was red, or the dragons don't breath fire.

He was glad that Stan hadn't found out about this trip. Dipper figured that Mabel deserved these pancakes, especially given the hard time she had had the last few days.

Dipper thought about what his Uncle had said in the kitchen about her. While he wasn't sure how dragons did things, he knew about marriage. He also knew that he wanted to get married to Mabel someday, but that it would be difficult since nearly everyone who knew them thought they were twins.

He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he almost didn't notice when a green light surrounded him. But he definitely noticed when he was thrown into a tree, knocking him unconscious.

When Dipper awoke, the first thing he noticed was his pounding headache.

The second was the faint Dipper? Where are you? in his head.

Uncle?

Finally! Where are you? It's been hours and we're all worried. Especially Mabel.

Dipper winced as a sudden light pierced what had been a previously dark room. It was gone almost immediately, but the smell of food appeared. Dipper saw a plate of, ironically, pancakes beside a door.

Uncle, I think someone kidnapped me.

What?! Are you in danger?

Not that I know of.

Then, for now, pretend to be a normal human. We'll see about finding you. But Dipper, if you are put in any danger, don't hesitate to use your powers.

Dipper nodded unconsciously. But before he did anything else, he reached out. Mabel?

DIPPER! Are you okay?! Where are you?! Are you dead?!

Mabel, I'm fine, I don't know where I am, and if I was dead, I wouldn't be talking to you.

Sorry, I'm just worried about you. This is the second time this week you've vanished!

Dipper instinctively flinched. She was right. Hopefully this is also the last time. Mabel, I'll be fine. Listen to Ancalagon and Stan. Ancalagon already told me to stay safe, but to not reveal my powers. So, for now, I'm relying on you to find me. Okay?

Got it! Don't worry Dipper, I'll find you!

Mabel, just stay safe. I'd rather disobey my uncle than have you get hurt.

Aw, you're so sweet! I'll do my best.

Thanks, Mabel. I love you.

I love you too.

With that, Dipper walked over to the pancakes and started to eat. He almost laughed when he realized these were the pancakes he had bought earlier.

So, Dipper had another dream, this time with Gideon. But wait! Gideon isn't the shadow! Hmm, any guesses on what it might be?

And Dipper was kidnapped. I think it's obvious who it was this time.

Well, I think that's all for now. See ya later, folks!