Stan glared at the stairs before him. Leave it to his workaholic brother to hole himself up in the most difficult part of the house to reach with a bum leg. Cursing he took it one step at a time, leaning on his cane.
When he reached the bottom he let his eyes adjust to the dark. There was only one light on and Ford was hovering over his desk. He'd pulled out every book he'd ever owned. They were piled around him and Stan suddenly had visions of Ford being buried under them all. So he move forward and started to cut the book piles in half. He split them into multiple, smaller, safer piles.
"Wha'cha reading?" Stan asked after he was done. Ford didn't respond. Bending over, Stan saw he was asleep.
"Good grief," he shook him, "Wake up Poindexter."
Ford shot up and looked around the dark room. Stan waited for him to get his bearings before putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Stan…what are you doing down here?"
"You've not been upstairs all day. You skipped lunch…and breakfast by the look of that plate, but its dinner now and I've made duck. So get up stairs and eat with us."
Ford rubbed his face, "alright…"
Stan waited for his brother to move towards the stairs before following. Again he took the stairs one at a time.
()
Dipper and Mabel were sitting at the table already.
"Should you be out of bed?" Ford asked feeling Dippers forehead, it was slightly warm.
"I needed to move," he shrugged, "and for some reason I'm starving, but all I want is sugar."
"He was throwing up all day," Mabel added.
"More like just dry heaving," Dipper corrected.
"Still gross," Mabel concluded.
Ford took his seat and Stan took his. Despite saying he was hungry, Dipper didn't eat that much. Mabel picked at her food and Ford was lost in thought the whole time.
"Mabel," Stan said, breaking the silence, "Why don't you tell Ford about the demon."
"Demon?!" Ford jumped and looked around at them all, "What demon?"
"Calm down," Stan rolled his eyes, "The kids and I talked a bit today while you were in the basement."
Mabel sighed and told her story again and with it about her abilities to dream hop.
"That's…" Ford bit his tongue. He had learned with Dipper before to not start panicking about these impossibilities. But it was terrifying. Both of them had found a way to…what did this mean?
"Grunkle Ford?" Mabel leaned forward, "are you angry?"
"No, no," he shook his head and smiled, "Just a little shocked is all. Though, you should've told us about this before."
"I know," Mabel nodded.
"did you find out what the demons name was?"
"No."
"What kind of demon it was?"
"It was in Dippers head, doesn't that mean it was a dream demon, like Bill?"
"Maybe," Ford tapped the table, "but it could be another kind of demon that has those capabilities too. I'll have to do some more research on this. Now that we know there's another demon behind the scenes, I can narrow my search and focus on what history is trying to hide."
"I wanna know how I never found out about it, it was in my head!"
"It never possessed you, so doesn't that mean it just wanted information?"
"Like what, the Pythagorean theorem?"
Mabel shrugged, "He knew you pissed a lot of people off."
"I didn't piss anyone off! It was Mimi who burned the building down!"
"Dipper…Kristian literally hates you for breathing."
"That's his problem."
"…and yours…"
Dipper glared and Mabel went back to her food. She had seen a lot in Dipper mind, and a lot of it wasn't good.
"Let it go, kids," Stan said, "summer is almost over. You have to focus on getting better so your parents don't freak out when you get off the bus."
Mabel rubbed her forehead. Would it heal completely in two weeks? She also looked over at Dipper. Would he be functional by then?
"Don't worry, Pumpkin," Stan gave her one of his rare smiles, "things will work out. And if you guys have any problems at home, just give us a call. Ok?"
"We are only a few hours away," Ford added.
The kids nodded and the family continued their meal in silence.
()
Ford went back down stairs after dinner and began sifting through his books. He'd had a system and now it was messed up.
Picking out an old book he sat and flipped it open. It was a book that discussed the cultural similarities between unlikely groups of people. The authors theory was that everyone had a foundation that connected them. Ford enjoyed the theory, but the more he read it, the more he found that the "insights" were just the author jumping to conclusions and the "evidence" was more speculation than anything else.
Ford cleared his mind and began reading it again with the focus of finding hidden meanings. However, by chapter 2 he shut the book. It had been years since he'd read this book, and it was now just annoying.
He picked up another book where a scholar delved into the science and mythos of dreams. The mind and the brain are two separate entities and when you sleep the mind is what controls what you experience. It's the place you store your memories and your fears and your hopes. The mind can be altered by what the brain perceives.
Ford tapped the desk as the thought: Demons can infiltrate the mind, but they can't damage it, but when they poses you, they are in control of the brain which alters the mind…so what happens to the mind when one is possessed?
And how is it possible to have the mind infiltrated when the person is awake? The mind isn't prominent then. What kind of powers would a demon have to have in order to do all that?
What were they dealing with?
Ford stood, picked the book up, and threw it across the room. He took a deep breath, and he did it again with a different book. And again.
He then began cursing with every book he threw.
When he ran out of book stacks he sat back down and looked across the floor at the books piled against the wall. He would have to pick those up before Stan or the kids came down stairs…
()
Dipper was just finishing coming down the stairs the next day when there was a knock on the door. He flinched. Then scolded himself for the reaction. Opening the door he found Mimi.
"What are you doing out of bed?" Mimi asked raising an eyebrow.
"Hello to you too," Dipper rolled his eyes, "you know you can just come in, right?"
Mimi shrugged, "I have my reasons. But since you're up, are you feeling any better?"
"A bit. I stayed in bed all morning, but I thought I'd grab something to eat before I forget or before I no longer want to."
She nodded, "Is Mabel home?"
"yeah," then he turned his head to face the stairs, "MABEL!"
Mimi winced.
"WHAT!" Came the faceless voice.
"MIMI WANTS TO TALK TO YOU!"
"HOLD ON!"
"HURRY UP!"
Mimi closed her eyes and tried not to shudder.
Mabel came running down the stairs. Was it just the dragon, or did Mabel have even more bandaids on than she had the day before?
"Is everything alright?" She asked, instinctively reaching out to steady Mabel as the child nearly ran into them.
"Oh yeah," Mabel grinned, "Dipper fell down the stairs yesterday and I was under him."
Dipper scowled as Mimi turned to him.
"My leg fell asleep," Dipper shrugged, "No biggie."
"while walking?"
Dipper shrugged, "Weirder things have happened."
"Anyway," Mabel interrupted, "I'm here, what do you want?"
Mimi shot Dipper a look and then turned her attention to Mabel, "I had a talk with Fenrik and he's agreed to teach you to properly use your powers."
"Oh, well I don't need that," Mabel shrugged and waved the suggestion away, "I've been using them for years and I think I got it down. I even know the ins and out of how to make a deal, draw up a contract, what is actually possible and impossible in the mindscape, and-"
"Mabel, there are laws and rules for your protection that you don't know about," Mimi cut in, "Fenrik is going to teach you those rules so that you don't accidentally hurt yourself or others."
"But I've been doing it for years!"
"And it's a miracle that nothing has happened. The mind is a dangerous place. I have nothing but the upmost respect for those that can master that kind of magic. Fire and brute force are so much easier."
Mabel scowled and shook her head, "I don't want it."
"You need it."
"No I don't.
"Just…let him tell you the rules-"
"the demons don't follow the rules, why should i?"
Mimi pursed her lips, then, "My mother once told me that 'the reason we have laws is because someone in history made a mess of things and now the rest of us with more common sense have to suffer. Other reasons we have laws is because it really does protect you.' Mental magic is a very serious responsibility. Its one of the few magics that can destroy without leaving a trace and doesn't really build anything in return. If something goes wrong no one will be able to help you. Please, Mabel, at least listen to Fenrik. You don't have to be taught the magic if you don't want to, but you must learn what is safe and what is unsafe."
Mabel rolled her eyes, "whatever. Fine."
She turned and stormed back up the stairs. Mimi sighed and rubbed her forehead.
"Wow, I thought she'd be all for it," Dipper shrugged.
"Me too," Mimi said, "Fenriks specialty is moon and shadow magic. A little more solid than the mind, but he's old and wise. He knows the laws and the history. But I also wanted to ask if you wanted to train before you left. I understand you only have a few more weeks. I want you to get the rest you need, but I also want to teach you a routine you can follow when you are no longer here."
Dipper did a mental body check.
"Give me a few more days. I want to make sure there nothing sneaks up on me."
Mimi nodded, "remember you have options."
"Yeah, I know."
()
Two days later Stan burst into the attic.
"Alright you sad sacks! Outside!"
Dipper rolled over in bed and didn't move. Stan hobbled over and ripped the blanket from the bed.
"Both of you! Out!"
Together they glared at their uncle.
"Its only 7," Mabel muttered, "why are you even awake?"
"Just meet me outside in five minutes!"
He shuffled away and Dipper scowled, "Shouldn't Stan go to the doctor? I'm sure those knife wounds aren't shallow."
"Ford tried," Mabel said, already gaining her energy for the day, "Stan beat him with the cane. Ford took it away and locked Stan in his room. Stan retaliated by adding hot sauce to his food last night."
"Ohh, so that's what that was."
They got ready and headed outside.
"Today!" Stan said patting the front of the car, "I teach you both how to drive!"
"REALLY?!"
"You both are almost 16, I'm shocked no ones taught you already."
"Me first!" Mabel squealed and ran to the drivers side. Dipper moved to the back seat and they waited for Stan to work his way into the car.
"Oh, I'm also not telling Ford I'm teaching you, so just keep this on the down low."
()
Ford was waiting for them when they got back. Stan was in the drivers seat and it was almost dark.
"Have fun?" Ford asked blandly.
"We just took the day to go for a country side drive," Stan replied smoothly, "These kids needed some fresh air."
"Uh-huh," Ford took a step to one side. It was then that they noticed Blubs and Durland.
"Wow," Mabel muttered, "we must be blind…"
"Driving without a license if forbidden everywhere," Blubs said, "I hope you all have an explanation."
"We have permits," Dipper said, "We just left them in California."
"We called your parents," Blub said, "we'll let you off this once, but only because your father promised to punish you himself."
Mabel and Dipper faced their shoes, the perfect picture of remorse. The cops nodded and got into their car.
"Just remember you guys, we are always watching."
With that they drove off.
"Welp," Dipper grinned, "We're getting welcomed home like heros."
"Dad will probably buy us balloons."
"And your mom?"
"She would have us wait till we're 18," they said together.
"Next time, at least tell me what you're doing," Ford sighed, "Then I could've come up with an excuse for you guys."
"Sorry."
"Our bad."
"…what. You're not getting an apology out of me."
Ford shook his head, "Dipper, do you think you could help me for a moment?"
"Sure."
()
Down in the basement the two of them sat in front of the computer.
"I was hitting a dead end with my books, so I decided to use the internet," Ford scrolled down a list of suggested sites based on the key word "Demon".
"I want you to tell me if there was anything you noticed at all while that demon was in your head."
"I didn't notice anything," Dipper shrugged, "I felt nothing."
"there was no change in anything? Not your dreams? Did you have any cravings? Strange thoughts? Where you-"
"Dreams…" Dippers eyes widened, "I started to have…regular dreams…"
"Regular?"
"Well…" Dipper sighed. He wasn't sure if Rain would appreciate him telling everyone about her world. But Ford looked desperate, so he told him. He told him about the world and about Rain. About how Rain had helped him realize his powers and about what Mimi said about them.
"And then they suddenly stopped and I was left with my own wako, crazy dreams and nightmares," Dipper finished, "it wasn't until after I ate the illusion berry that I was able to go back to that world and see Rain. I forgot to ask Mabel about it…"
"So…while the Demon was in your head, your mind was unable to travel that far. It blocked you from going to that world…"
Ford scowled so hard his eyebrows became one entity. Dipper bit his lip.
"No matter where I look, all I see is Bill," Ford started to speak his thoughts out loud. Dipper stayed quiet and let his Uncle mull it over.
"Once you know Bill, you begin to see him everywhere. He made his mark on every society and culture throughout history. Once you know he's there that's all you see…so how-"
"That means this demon flew under the radar," Dipper concluded, "While Bill was making a name for himself, this demon could've arrived at any time. He could've come after we defeated Bill, or he could've been here thousands of years ago."
"And we won't know because we don't know what we're looking for," Ford grit his teeth, "I hate Bill. Making everything harder even after he's gone."
"So this demon doesn't like to be noticed," Dipper frowned, "but his influence has been huge in both humans and magical creatures."
"The organization has to get their employees from somewhere," Ford perked up, "I forgot our enemy is also human. Demons may be able to hide, but not people."
Ford began a new search.
"Magical Researcher Scientist" didn't bring up anything.
Neither did "paranormal researcher". Well, nothing that they could use in their search.
"How do they hire?" Ford mused, "they had plenty of people to spare. They were sending people to jump us left and right…"
Dipper yawned. Ford stretched.
"We can pick this up tomorrow," Ford nodded, "yeah, tomorrow. I feel better, you?"
"Actually, yeah," Dipper grinned, "I don't think I'm going to have as many side effects as I thought."
Ford rapped his knuckles on the wooden desk, "Just in case."