A/N: Long ass chapter. Buckle up.
Both of the twins have already taken off, and though Stan was still right behind them, he was gassed. What kept him going was the thought of saving his brother. Just thinking about Ford leaving him again gave him the shivers, and motivated him to kick in a second wind.
Dipper led the pack as they ran towards Ford's fallout shelter. After a few minutes, they were close, Dipper stopped, along with the other two.
"Alright, we need to split up. In order for this to work, we need a distraction team." Said Dipper. Both Dipper and Stan looked at Mabel.
"What?" Asked Mabel.
"Mabel and I are going to distract Bill, while Grunkle Stan sneaks from behind and rescues Ford. Then we'll save the world again. Piece of cake. Alright, hands in. For Ford."
"For Ford." They all said together. Just as they were branching off, Stan pulled Dipper aside.
"Look, kid, I don't like this one bit. Don't you remember your nightmare? Ford's kept in the same place, maybe we should get help." Said Stan, worry wrinkling his elderly face.
"I'm well aware, Grunkle Stan, but we don't have any more time. Bill's going to kill Ford if we don't rescue him, and only Ford knows the only way to kill Bill. So I'm either saving the world, or I die trying." Said Dipper. Tears began flowing down his eyes as he hugged his Grunkle. "If I never see you again, I love you, Grunkle Stan."
Tears fell down from Stan's eyes. "Don't worry, kiddo," he started, his voice quivering. "You'll be fine." He returned his hug to Dipper.
Next was Mabel. Unlike Dipper and Grunkle Stan, she still didn't know about Dipper and Ford dying in Dipper's nightmare, so she wasn't quite as worried about dying as Dipper.
After hugging Grunkle Stan, the twins and Stan went their separate ways. Hundreds of thoughts swarmed Dipper's mind.
Was it really true? Is my nightmare just a pre visioning of what will be? Will Ford and I really die today? Thought Dipper. He did recall back in his dream what Bill had said. Target practice. He had said after shooting Dipper with his finger.
And right before leaving Bill had sung about seeing Dipper again some sunny day. Dipper looked up at the sky, and as he had predicted but hoped against, the sun was shining brightly, not a single cloud was visible in the sky.
Shit.
From all the stress from thinking in the last few minutes, along with the blistering June heat of the sun, Dipper began sweating uncontrollably again. Unfortunately, Mabel was right behind him and promptly made fun of him. Some things never change.
After Mabel made fun of her twin brother, a quick silent period passed until Dipper broke the silence.
"Mabel, do you feel as if something's terribly wrong?" Asked Dipper.
"Yeah. You're being sweatier and more paranoid than usual." Said Mabel jokingly. Dipper flashed her a scowl and she stopped joking.
"No, seriously. Don't you sense anything ominous in the air at all?"
"Nope. I just think you're being paranoid."
"Bill has great uncle Ford. I'm not being paranoid, I'm just being extra precautious." Said Dipper. He was interrupted by tortured screams from not too far away.
Ford's screams.
Dipper looked back at Mabel. "Am I paranoid now? Come on, we have to distract now or else Ford's going to die."
"What do we do?"
"Why didn't you pay attention when I fold you and Grunkle Stan?"
"There was a caterpillar on the ground. I was so intrigued!"
Dipper shook his head. "Ford's fucking done for." He muttered under his breath.
"Dipper. Seriously. What do we need to do?"
"Alright, just follow my lead."
A few minutes later, the twins got into their spots for the plan, and they looked at each other. Dipper nodded to Mabel, and she nodded back. It's go time. They snuck quietly but quickly to where they heard Ford's shrieks.
. . . .
Ford screamed once more in pain before Bill stopped zapping him. He gasped for air, and smoke from his charred and tattered clothing filled his lungs, causing him to cough. Crimson fluid sprayed everywhere and dribbled down his chin. Visible claw marks shredded through his sweater, leaving a bloody residue on his skin in the arms, torso, and legs.
"Boy, this torturing thing's really growing onto me! I should've thought of this millennia ago!" Said Bill, his hands were still sparking small blue streaks of lightning.
Ford coughed once more before he spoke. "What do you want from me? Why am I still alive if you want me dead?"
"Ah, sharp as ever, Fordsy. If it weren't for your brother and those pesky twins, you would've been dead weeks ago." Said Bill, conjuring up a nail file as he started filing his nails. "But I thought, 'Nah, I've got plans for good old Sixer.' Instead, I'm going to kill the boy first and make you watch as you can't do anything to help him. Then I'll kill you. Fez and Shooting Star won't be much of threats after their heroes die." Bill cackled in satisfaction with his plan. It was flawless.
"No, they'll find a way. They always have, and they always will." Said Ford strongly.
"Why do I have to repeat myself every time? Look, I learn from my mistakes, Fordsy. You know, it's still not too late to join me."
"Why the fuck would I join you, especially now?"
"Because if you don't comply with every word I say, Pine Tree's nightmare will come true. Unless you want me to take the boy under my wing."
That definitely shut Ford up. He felt a great sickness building up in his stomach. If he didn't join Bill, Dipper would have to, or else they'll both die. Fuck. No way out… or is there? I hope they come soon. Thought Ford.
Bill was anticipating that they were coming. He was just waiting. Everything was coming according to plan. Now he has to just sit and wait…
. . . .
Dipper hid behind the last tree before the clearing where Bill kept Ford. Twenty feet away, Mabel hid behind another tree. Dipper looked at the scene, where Ford was being tortured once again. Behind the torture scene was Stan, also hiding behind a tree. Stan gave a thumbs up, then Mabel, then Dipper. The plan's good to go. Dipper turned to Mabel, and as they both nodded they went into the clearing.
"Alright, Bill. We surrender, now hand over Great Uncle Ford!"
"Ah, Pine Tree and Shooting Star. How nice of you to come here." Said Bill, taking out a napkin from his pocket, and cleaning his blood-stained hands. "As much as I'd love to release your great uncle, I simply cannot do that. Although the Pines family has always been a pain in my butt, I've decided to give Fordsy here a chance to become my assistant." Bill gestured over to Ford, who was chained to a tree, blood dribbling down his chin.
"Great Uncle Ford!" Yelled Dipper. He faced the demon that's embodied as an adolescent boy. "Please, I'll do anything, just give us back our great uncle."
Bill smiled. "Good. I always wanted you as an apprentice anyway. I love young blood."
"What?" Asked Dipper, confused.
"Don't do it , Dipper!" Yelled Ford. "You have no idea what he'll do to you if you agree."
"What do you say, kid?" Asked Bill, holding his hand out while igniting it with his signature blue flame.
Dipper thought for a while. Stanley knew it was now or never. He snuck up to Ford and used a hairpin to unlock the shackles. Ford looked surprised, but Stan quickly shushed him. Once all the chains were off of Ford, Stan helped him down and they faced Bill.
Stan whispered to Ford. "You need to get the ingredients for the ritual now."
"I know, but how will we fend off Bill?"
Stan thought for a moment. He perked up. "You remember those invulnerability pills you had us take for the weirdness trip two years ago?"
Ford perked up too. "I've got one left. It should only last an hour though. I'm not sure it'll be enough time though."
"And I suck at swallowing pills."
"Give it to Dipper. Believe me, he can take care of himself. Now I have to go. Only an hour and a half until the cataclysmic event occurs." And with that, Ford took off.
This took Bill's attention, and he whipped his head around to Stan. He started shaking in rage.
"No!" Screamed Bill, firing a blue ball of flame at Ford, who was running away. Ford was easily able to dodge the fireball, and he slipped away into the wilderness. Bill turned back to Dipper, Mabel, and Stan, who had slipped the pill to Dipper while Bill looked away. "YOU!" He said as he literally exploded in rage, sending blue tongues of flame everywhere. All three were knocked back from the explosion.
"Uhn." Grunted Stan from the impact of the forest ground. He looked over to Dipper. "Dipper." He whispered to the boy. Dipper piped up. "Take the pill. Now." Stan shut up once Bill got back into hearing range.
Bill picked Stan up by his shirt and lifted him off the ground. "I'll finish you first." Bill's hands lit up in blue flames, ready to kill Stan.
"Hands off, you shitheaded prick!" Said Stan as he delivered a testicle rupturing kick to Bill. Bill immediately let go of Stan and hunched over.
"Holy shit, that hurt." Said Bill, out of breath.
"I know that hurts because that's happened to me plenty of times!" Said Stan, sucker-punching Bill in the face.
"Way to go, Grunkle Stan!" Cheered Mabel.
"Thanks, pumpkin." Replied Stan with a toothy grin.
"So what do we do now?" Asked Dipper nervously.
"We've got a pretty difficult task ahead of us. Until Ford comes back, we have to keep piss pants busy." Said Stan.
"What's that have to do with this pill?" Asked Dipper, taking it out.
"Just swallow it. It makes you nearly invulnerable. Ford's only got one, and I suck at swallowing pills, so you've got it."
"What about you guys?"
"Mabel and I are going to assist you till we drop."
Dipper started to protest, but a certain demon was waking again. He shrugged and took the pill. A wave of power surged through his body, along with an almost dizzying wave of confidence.
Bill spat out blood. He looked at the three, and smiled. "You people really are idiots. You think you can take me on?"
"You're outnumbered, shithead." Replied Stan.
"I really don't like your tone, Fez." Said Bill.
"I don't like your face." Said Stan.
"Savage." Said Mabel, applauding Stan.
"Whatever. If you choose to die, then you will die." Said Bill as he charged, ready to attack.
The three split off and attacked him all at once. Dipper distracted Bill in front as Mabel and Stan attacked the sides. Needless to say, the plan was working. Bill was getting the literal shit beaten out of him.
Once the element of surprise was faded, Bill countered the blows with a punch in Stan's ribs and a kick at Mabel's knee. Stan and Mabel got back up immediately, but Bill was prepared. With a quick flick, a ring of fire shot out from his body, hitting Stan, Dipper, and Mabel.
The force of the fire ring shot all of them 20 feet back. Stan flew back and hit a tree, knocking him out. Now only Mabel and Dipper remain.
"Ah, Pine Tree and Shooting Star. It will feel so nice to kill you pests once and for all!"
"Bullshit! You're not killing us!" Said Mabel, wiping the blood off her nose.
"Mabel, now's not the time to make him angry…" Said Dipper nervously. He was only acting. The immunity will surprise Bill and give him an advantage.
"Shut up you annoying shits." Said Bill once more as he towered over the two. Dipper pushed Mabel behind her for protection. Bill snapped his fingers and Mabel started levitating in the air.
"Mabel!" Cried Dipper, trying to grab her and pull her back down. Bill then backhands Dipper, causing him to fall to the ground. He spat out blood. That was less painful than her bought. He was expecting no pain at all. I guess the pill only reduces the pain greatly. He thought.
"What the hell, you too." Said Bill as he raised his other arm and lifted Dipper up in the air. "I don't have time to deal with you rats. And I don't want to kill you yet. I've got more important matters to deal with. Now if you excuse me…" He pushed his arms, and Dipper, along with his sister, sailed in different directions.
Dipper smashed against a tree. His head spun, but other than that, he didn't get hurt too bad. He looked over to Mabel, who also smacked into a tree. Dipper cringed, and Mabel fell down. Alas, Mabel fell to the ground, but her body fell onto a sharp hill down, and Dipper heard every noise of her falling down with a disgusting thump at the bottom. Even without his twin sense, Dipper knew Mabel was hurt bad. He looked up to Bill, his eyes filled with fury.
"You will pay for that, Cipher."
Bill was surprised that Dipper wasn't shrieking in pain, but he played it cool. He stuck his hands out and made a mocking face. "Make me."
Dipper immediately got up and wiped the blood off his nose. "You've officially pissed me off, Bill."
"And what are you gonna do about it?"
"This." And Dipper charged at Bill, completely surprising him.
A/N: There's chapter 14! Chapter 15's going to be another important one. As always, review! From now on I'll try a chapter every week.