3 years ago...

Dipper stared wide eyed at the glowing triangle in front of him. He fumbled for words but nothing came.

"What's wrong Pine Tree? Cat got your tongue?" The triangle snapped his fingers and a cat appeared. To Dipper's surprise it stood on it's hind legs. It had something in his paws, and it only took Dipper a split second to realize that his tongue was gone.

He jumped and tried to scream but of course, couldn't. The triangle snapped again and the cat disappeared and Dipper's tongue returned back to his mouth. The boy let out a sigh of relief. After calming his nerves, he finally let out a small, "W-who are you? What are you?"

"I'm Bill Cipher and I'm a dream demon!" Bill pulled a black cane from out of nowhere and spun it around. "And you, kiddo, summoned me with that book of yours!" He poked the end of the cane into Dipper's chest.

"Dream demon? But I'm not in a dream."

"Don't be so sure about that kid! Right now, you're unconscious! That spell with the wind made you hit your head," Bill said, startlingly casual.

Dipper rubbed his head, thinking it over. "I don't even know where to begin with questions."

"Need proof? Check this out!" Bill spun around his cane, which somehow caused the room to spin. Dipper stumbled to catch his balance. Along with the room, his stomach spun and he had to hold his gut to keep his lunch down.

"Okay!" Dipper shouted, trying to make it stop. Bill did so, but Dipper tried to shake the remaining dizziness away. "So you just haunt dreams and stuff?"

"Oh ho! I can do so much more than that!" Bill's figure lit up with each syllable, glowing brighter the louder he got. He shut his eye and took a proud pose. "You know, I've seen a lot of stuff in my time, learned a few tricks, been told a few secrets." He drew out that last word.

Dipper bit his lip, considering. "Secrets, eh? What kind of secrets?"

"All sorts! Wanna know what happened to Amelia Erheart?"

"Can you tell me why my dad is acting weird?"

Bill smiled with his eye. "Straightforward kind of guy. Like that. Well..." Dipper rocked on his heals impatiently. "I could tell you, but you've got to do something for me in return."

A small smile crossed Dipper's face. "Anything!"

Bill floated around the room, Dipper following him with his eyes. "That journal of yours looks pretty nifty! How about you give me that and I'll tell you what's up with good ol Mr. Pines?"

The boy blinked a few times. He glanced at the book with lay on the floor of the room. Obviously it wasn't the real book since this was all a dream, but Dipper picked it up, rubbing his hand over the cover. "The journal?"

"Yup!"

"Well, it's kind of important to me..." Dipper stared down a the book. He set his hand over the gold one on the cover. His fingers matched up mostly, except for the extra one.

"Come on, I'll give it right back!" The demon looked over the boy's shoulder. "I just want a look see! I'll keep it for a bit and then you can have it and I'll tell you what you want to know."

Dipper bit the inside of his cheek. "I guess it wouldn't hurt if you give it back..." He turned around and gave the book to Bill. But the boy's hands remained on the object. "You'll tell me what I want to know?"

"Everything and more Pine Tree."

Dipper didn't really get the nickname. But he figured Bill wouldn't have a reason to trick him. Right?

Dipper released the book and Bill took it. The demon snapped his fingers and the book burst into blue flames. "Just tucking it away until I have a chance to read it," he explained.

"Now, about your dear daddy!"

Present...

Mabel got up practically bouncing. Today was the day she fixed the relationship between her uncle and cousin. Today was the day she fixed her summer vacation.

She eagerly brushed her teeth, combed her hair, and got dressed, all with a smile. She glanced down at her pet pig. Waddles tilted his head curious at her and let out a grunt. "Today's the day Waddles! Just you wait!" She ran her hands through her hair, butterflies in her stomach.

Skipping up to Dipper's bedroom door, she took in a deep breath and knocked.

There was no response. She knocked again. "Dippy?" She mentally face palmed herself for the nickname. Biting her lip, she ventured to poke her head into his room. Then she took a full step in.

Looking to his bed, she was surprised to find it empty. "Huh. He must already be up," she said to Waddles, who was following closely.

The only light came in through the triangle shaped window, which, strangely, was open. The light shined straight onto a desk up against the wall on the opposite side to the bed. Mabel wandered towards it, scanning with her eyes.

Papers were strewn over the desktop, scribble on with notes and drawings. Half of it wasn't even written in English. Mabel picked up a loose paper and scanned over it with her eyes. Just strange symbols that meant nothing. She squinted at it, then finally resolved to accept it probably meant nothing. She stared back down at the desk. Beneath the papers she noticed a book.

Bending down she examined it a bit more. She peeked underneath the papers, trying to get a better look at the page the book was open to.

"What are you doing?"

Mabel jumped at the voice, a tingle running down her spine. She spun around the face Dipper standing in the doorway. "Uh, nothing! Just looking for you!"

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Uh huh..." He slowly nodded. Then he leaned against the doorframe. "What do you want Mabel?"

"Well, I was just thinking..." She rubbed her hands nervously, trying to find a way to word it. She couldn't let him know Stan was coming or Dipper probably wouldn't come. "It would be kind of fun to go down to the hill just outside of town for a picnic or something."

"You mean CSO?"

"CSO?"

Dipper waved his hand dismissively. "Eh, just a little nickname for it. Anyways, I guess I could go..." Mabel's smile wavered as he didn't sound exactly sure. His eyes wandered to the pile of papers on his desk. The boy shook his head. "B-but I couldn't. I'm kind of busy. Sorry Mabes."

"Pleeeeeeeeeeease!" she whined, drawing out the word. "Just for a bit! I mean, how could you be so busy when all you do is spend all day locked up in this room?" The moment the words left her mouth, Dipper's eyes widened and she thought maybe she had hit a nerve.

But to her surprise, he let out a small laugh. "Guess you're right. Alright then! Later we'll meet on the hill for a picnic or something." He looked so much better when he smiled, unlike the antisocial recluse she had grown to know him as over the summer.

She pumped her fists in the air. "Yes! Oh yeah!" She did a little dance walking out of the room and he laughed. "See you then!" Dipper closed the door behind her and her pig.

One broken half down, one more to go!

Merry Christmas! Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter! Thanks for reading and all your guys' support!