A/N: HELLO EVERYONE, I AM BACK WITH YET ANOTHER CHAPTER OF THIS STORY! it almost took a month again, didn't it? BUT IT DIDN'T. You get to enjoy this latest addition right on Christmas Day! MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE! :3 and thank you for following and faving this story!
Now to answer some guests!
Anonymous: Course you're worthy, ehhe. :3 And nope! this time it was two weeks! I think. Yes, it truly begins haha.
Howl fan12: Thank you so much! I'm riveted by all your sweet reviews! :3
Guest: I have no intentions of abandoning this. :3
Guest1: DON'T WORRY I LOVE LONG REVIEWS! and of course you're worthy! :3 thank you! and, well, you can have multiple favorite chapters, I don't mind at all. oOOOOO I LIKE THE COMPARISON! I'm glad this story and I could measure up, ya know? really does my heart good. :3
Infinity Warrrr? awewsome! I heard about how good that movie was and I'm glad this is compared to that.
Oo, I definitely wasn't intending for that. But I see why you thought that way. Extra points for me yee!
:D THANK YOU SO MUCH OMG. And nope, I will not abandon this fic. Even after it's done, it will still hold a place in my heart. :3
And ooo pressure time! well, partially? I think the glyphs being able to do magic in Gravity Falls because of how weird it is would be a pretty good explanation, but maybe I have more in mind? you'll have to see. :3
Ah, thank you. I'm glad you also found an aesthetic in my writing style. :3
Ikr? it's weird. Well hopefully this fanfic makes up for all of that and maybe even create more! and thanks for the cookie! *nom*
WELL WONDER NO MORE CUZ THE NEXT CHAPTER IS HERE! and thanks for the poem again. I was already thinking about it when I saw it though, but I had to wait till the juices started pumping. And it just so happened to be Christmas morning.
With all that said, read on! :D
Another Form, Another Time
Chapter Seven: The Truth
Time seemed to slow to an absolute crawl. Mabel and King stared at each other, and Luz grew more and more confused and worried with each second that passed. King's finger started trembling, and his voice shook too. "Answer me! I command you!"
The teenager bit her lip, hard, enough to make it bleed. She didn't answer, just stood there with her lip bleeding, fear-stricken.
The unreadable anger in his eyes somewhat softened to fear now. He whispered, "P..please.. answer me.."
"King.." Luz mumbled, brow furrowed. She wanted to know too, but if it made Mabel uncomfortable… she reached out to King again. "King, maybe we shouldn't-"
"No.." Mabel clutched at her sweater, eventually wiping the blood off her chin. "You need to know. But do you really want to?"
The little demon blinked, finger going limp. All of a sudden he didn't know how to answer that. He did need to know. But with what the flashes had told him, and the nightmare… he wasn't sure if he should delve into them. He grasped his skull. "I don't know… I don't know, Mabel.. but.. I saw so many things… and I need answers."
Luz watched, wondering what he'd seen. They must have been horrible. "What did you see, King?"
He grunted. "A.. triangle.. snappy dresser, monster liar.. he looked awfully mean. Did awfully mean things too."
Mabel then glanced at the statue, her heart still frozen, and nodded. The Afro-Latina followed her quick gaze, and suddenly realized. The statue was a triangle, wearing a top hat and bow tie. She gasped. That thing was once alive? and judging by the atmosphere, it was evil too.
She shouldn't have been so surprised, with all the things she'd gone through in the Boiling Isles, but King seemed connected to this guy, whoever he was. And that's what mattered.
King's hot pink eyes never left Mabel, even as he clutched at his skull.
"His name was Bill Cipher," the girl stated, and that's when the floodgates opened. Everything Bill did flashed into King's mind, one by one, and he shut his eyes. "He messed with us that one summer, and was Grunkle Ford's Muse thirty-two years ago. He lied to my brother, to Grunkle Ford, and hurt so many people. And wanted to hurt even more." King started to tear up, the memories confirming that everything Mabel said was correct. "He possessed my brother. He started a Weirdmageddon near the end of the summer. Trapped me in a dream bubble. And almost killed one of us to get to Grunkle Ford." King was shaking. Mabel continued at a level tone, walking a little closer, "Luckily when he was destroyed the effects of his Weirdmageddon were reversed. But it still weighs heavily in our hearts."
Luz tightened her grip on her sweater. Wow. Just. Wow. And she had a feeling much more happened than Mabel seemed willing to say. The demon choked on a sob, clutching at his head so hard that he might crack it. He whispered, "Why me? why me?!" and kicked his legs as he yelled, teary-eyed, "I didn't ask to be reincarnated from such a monstrosity!" he pointed directly at Mabel, "no wonder you and the rest of the Pines were so awkward around me!"
"King…" Luz began, reaching out for his shoulder, but stopped when her friend shot her a nearly withering glare. She gasped, eyes widening, withdrawing her hand rather quickly.
The demon realized his mistake, and grunted, reaching out for her. "Luz! I'm sorry! I just…" his words died in his throat, and he sighed, dropping his arm, "I don't know..
"Everything's so confusing now… is everyone my enemy or am I my own?" he mumbled, head in his claws.
Mabel bit her lip. She chanced getting a little closer, and sat down next to him. Luz did the same, not letting a glare stop her. The twin then replied, "If it helps, you're not him. Not anymore."
He sighed. "Not really. It's tough to sort out now. And the rest of your family clearly don't think the same way.."
Luz set her hand on his skull, and he didn't pull away or glare this time. "I think what matters is that you yourself think that."
"...mm.." it was clear King didn't agree in the slightest. He weakly waved away her hand. "You don't understand. That might work with everything else but finding out that you were once a demon hellbent on causing chaos and mayhem and that everyone hates you because of that is a lot different, Luz!"
Mabel glanced away, breath hitching. She could feel his anger rising again. Luz flinched, clenching her jaw.
"And that maybe it explains why you behave the way you do sometimes!" King's eyes seemed unfocused and he twitched. He grasped his head again, looking crazed and terrified all at once. The girls were quick to deny that, especially Luz.
"King, no," the Afro-Latina began before she was quickly interrupted.
"I've been a jerk to you before I warmed up to you, Luz! I thirst for power, and desire to be above the rest! I took over our writing plans, shrunk your friends, and.. and..!" he hyperventilated, crying finally. Mabel just stared, masking her slight horror well.
"King, we talked and I know shrinking my friends was an accident. And I've forgiven you for both things," Luz smiled gently, trying to comfort him.
"You shouldn't have," the little demon cried out. "You really shouldn't have! you really, really shouldn't have, kid!" he bonked his skull over and over again, as he started to feel self-hate for probably the very first time in his life. And the memories were getting to be too much. "I'm still the same demon, still wanting to be on top of everything and everyone! I hadn't changed!"
"King," the teenager scooted in front of him and gingerly placed her hands on his arms. He froze, eyes wide. Staring, but not seeing. For all of a few seconds.
"Don't touch me!" King forcefully pushed her back. Luz skidded on her knees a few inches and fell onto her back. She stared. Mabel scrambled up and to her side. And then he realized, his gaze softening. He reached out to her. "No... sorry, Luz.." he gazed at his claws, and let out a most pain-filled howl, "I'm sorry!"
And then he got up, and ran away through the woods. Luz promptly got back up, wanting to go after him. "King!"
But she felt something tug her arm. She looked. It was Mabel. "He needs time to sort this out on his own, Luz…" her eyes spelled sadness.
"No, he needs me!" she tried pulling away. Luz knew King didn't really do well when he was alone. "I need to be there for him!"
Mabel didn't let go, and Luz, despite being strong enough to force her to, didn't. The twin sighed. "We'll give him thirty minutes. Is that okay?"
The Afro-Latina felt tears welling up in her eyes. "Lo siento, King…" And then she turned to Mabel and nodded, nearly stone-faced. "Make it ten."
She nodded, before she brought Luz into a hug. At least she could give one to one of them now. But she knew King needed it more.
A/N: PLEASE DON'T KILL ME OKAY? I wasn't prepared for the amount of angst I would write either! but it's here and on Christmas morning. I hope you enjoy the gift!
And just in time for the holidays. So happy holidays, everyone, and may 2021 be a better year!