...
...
I scratched the back of my head before rubbing my hair, in case that I have gotten antlers. And I don't. That's good I guess. I wonder how tall I am since I gain extra new joints in my legs. I lashed my tail, turning my head towards it. Still don't know where the long tail came from. I caught something yellow in the woods. I narrowed my eyes as I felt my ears pinned against the side of my head. [[ Who's there? ]] I spoke in telepathy.
"Jeez, you totally forgot that I existed in this sphere with you." I heard the demon's voice, seeing him reveal himself. My ears drooped as I widened my eyes at the sight. You weren't kidding when you said fake appearance. His body was slender with four arms sprouted out from his sides. He had yellow hands on each of them, as well as a long yellow tail. He had a working yellow eye while his other one was pitch black with something coming out of it. I shivered as he approached me. "Do I look like a meat bag now?" He smirked.
I pinned my ears as irritation rose within me as I glared at him. "No, you don't."
"I can't really say the same thing to you." He said, dropping his grin.
"Yeah ... let's not question whatever this is," I said, perking my ears back up a bit.
"Well, whatever you are, you are intriguing at first but we must see what your abilities are to enchant whatever uniqueness you have." He noted, turning and walking back into the forest.
"'Uniqueness.'" I muttered quietly, annoyance spreading across my face.
"Come on, I believe Blister wants to see what you are." He called. I frowned a bit before taking a step forward, still wobbly. My ears lowered in irritation as I glared down at myself. I wish my form was much easier to walk in. I glance up and carefully walk forward, catching up to the demon. I scanned my surroundings, staring at the environment. Quiet and peaceful noises of the forest are all I hear, as well as the birds I hear. As they continued, I felt more relaxed, sensing the annoyance from a few seconds ago disappearing. That's nice.
We were arriving upon the Terminal, exiting out of the forest. I was still looking around, in case any of those minions we saw showed up. Everything seems to be in the clear until I spotted something in the corner of my eyes. I halted my footing and glance over. I caught sight of the figure, appearing more like to be one of those Superior Starries. This one ... looks more like one of the new ones. It was sauntering behind the trees as we were several feet distance from it. Every time I catch sight of its face, the recognizable blue eyes came into frame, causing me to get the hint. I continue my pacing and catch up to the demon.
We picked the destination and hop onto the hover bus. The doors closed and we were off. I sat on the edge of the outer seat, staring at the doors with an uneasy feeling. "... The doors won't hurt you, Pinetree."
"I know that," I grunted, glaring up at the demon who was folding both pairs of his arms.
"Then what's on your mind?"
"Minion spotted in the woods," I responded.
"... Woods? Well that is strange, must have entered when I left." He said, slowly nodding his head slightly.
"Well, it's not a bother now that we're on the move," I grunted, leaning back on the seat.
"Still a bother on how Claws keep tracking us every time." He reminded me. Oh. That's right. And also the lie he told me about controlling superior starries. I bet he said it just to scare or sneak up on me. I sighed, annoyed as I glance down at my legs.
"You can always try talking to him about it if it gets too annoying for you," I suggested quietly after a small period of silence.
"If only that could work with a stubborn brat like him." He responded, turning towards the doors opening. "... I'm sure he'll stop soon." He added on, having a sarcastic tone in his voice. I stood up, ignoring that last statement and following the demon out of the bus. We walked out of the station, trailing underneath the Central Sphere. I eyed the tall buildings before my ears perked, sensing another being approaching us. I halted my footing and looked over in the direction. I narrowed my eyes, glaring at the foul creature that decided to walk over and stop.
"Oh, what a lovely appearance you took on!" Gideon chirped, having a cheeky grin right on his face.
"At least it's not hideous as yours," I remarked.
He soon glared at me as anger twisted on his face. "Don't get all smarty."
"What did you expect? A thank you?" I guessed, folding my arms.
"Well duh. At least you can be nice about it." He hissed, walking up close to me.
I backed away from him, narrowing my eyes. "First, you threatened to put me under a mind control spell, secondly you push me down those steps. I don't know what makes you think that I will act nice to you."
"Oh... you should... You really- HEY, DON'T WALK AWAY FROM ME WHEN I AM TALKING!" I was already walking away from him and over to the demon, wanting none of his bullsh-t. I didn't see or hear Gideon follow behind, so I believe we're good for now. We continued our way over to the tower, entering inside when the doors opened. We trailed down into the elevator and waited until we were at the floor level where the Lord awaits. I hope this is the last time I visit this tower.
The floor beneath us stopped, making the doors open next. It revealed the surroundings outside of the room to be the same old as before. I lowered my ears and sighed, watching the demon walk out of the room. I followed behind, keeping my eyes on the floor. We both halted as the Lord slowly turns around and display his happy expression instantly. I quickly move away from the demon. I know exactly where this is going.
The Lord runs around the transparent table and attempted to hug Bill, however, he dodged out of the way, glaring him down. "Aww. I cannot hug you anymore?"
"WHAT DO YOU THINK."
"I'm sure I can hug you another time." Lord Galroon said, turning over to me. "Now, I'm glad you brought me our starry who had a little trouble with his transformation."
"You told me to bring him here after he-"
"You absoulately look astnoshing!" He said, interrupting the demon's statements. He soon circled around me, examining my appearance. I felt uncomfortable from this but knowing his stubborn behavior, saying something won't do anything. "Just as I expected. Well ... except for this." I jerked my head over to him when he pulled my tail.
"Excuse you." I hissed quietly.
"Calm down, don't be so worse than Bilx over there." He commented, rolling his eyes. I moved my tail away from his hands, giving him a death glare. He glared back at me with an irritated expression. "Well then, can't even look at my own creation without it fighting back at me."
"Fighting." I mocked quietly.
Lord Galroon looked as if he was fuming a bit before walking past me and over to the demon. "Everything seems to be ... alright. I really hope he's not taking after you, Bilx. Because it feels like he is."
"Well, if you learn how to see f-cking personal space, then maybe everyone in this realm wouldn't act like me," Bill responded, glaring at him.
"Personal space. I forget those exist with you starries." Galroon grumbled, probably rolling his eyes again. I grunted quietly, backing up into a wall. Yeah, I hope this is the last time I visit him. Soon he turned towards me with his arms folded. "I assume I will give you your new name then." Right ... do I really have to go with what he comes up with? What if he comes up with something horrible?
"Maxon should do." He responded, before turning away. "You remember your job, right?" That was fast.
"Yes. I still remember it." The demon groaned, turning and walking over to the elevator.
"Marvelous. Good luck out there!" Galroon chirped. "Something strange is happening~"
I eyed him for a moment before turning over to the demon who was slight confused before shaking his head. [[ Come on. ]] I nodded before following him back into the elevator.
We were back out in the opening, glancing around before looking at one another. "Well, I believe that is all to do. You can now explore without having your soul damaged or lost forever."
"... That's helpful." I frowned, looking away.
"Why the long face? Isn't that what you wanted to hear?"
"Yes, it was, kinda," I said quietly. "I'll just assume that we're doing the combat relate stuff another time."
"Oh. Yes. We are." He said slowly, sounding not too excited about that. I lowered my ears before perking them back up. So ... I suppose I can do anything I want here. Hmm...- Oh! I should visit Grunkle Stan and show him my form. I nodded to myself before glancing back to the demon, who vanished. I blinked, looking around before easing my way over to the Terminal. Creepy. I shivered before arriving at the place, walking over to the panel to input my destination. I glance up, watching the hover bus arrive at my command. I made my way over and entered, allowing its doors to close and travel to that destination.
Upon arriving, I exited and entered into the House theme sphere, stationed in Sector 2. I breathe in and out, hoping that the minion isn't here stalking me. I continued forward, finding the sidewalk that led to the house that I once visited. I stood in front of it, staring at the door when it suddenly opened, revealing a gargoyle. "... Uh- Wait. Dipper?"
"Hello, Grunkle Stan." I smiled.
"Wow. You look hideous." Grunkle Stan said, leaning in the doorway. Thanks... I lowered my deer ears, frowning a bit. "Not in that certain part of range ... I ... I just didn't expect this of you. What are you exactly? Some kind of creature fused together?"
"I'll ... go with the fused part," I responded. "I have no idea what I am." I shrugged, glancing over at my tail, who was flickering on its own as usual. "But ... all I gathered is that ... I fused with a starry deer?"
"Starry deer? It explains your ears." He noted. "Along with the spots in your face and hands. But ... the animal legs and tail? Surely deers don't have that, right?"
"Deers have tails. It's just shorter than this." I answered. "As I said, I don't know what I am."
"Well, that is okay because I don't know what I am. Some stone creature?" He questions himself.
"I think the name for you is ... Gargoyle," I said.
"Gargoyle? You're telling me that myth exists?" He asked, widening his eyes.
"Maybe back in Gravity Falls but not anywhere on planet Earth. Probably only in this realm since ... it reflects forms off of your spirit animal or personality. Or ... both." I explained, shrugging slightly.
"Glad to get that solved." He nodded before standing off from the arch. "Want to visit the family?"
"... Sure. Though ... they cannot see me," I mentioned, backing away as I was giving him some room to walk out of his home and onto the sidewalk. I sauntered beside him, waiting for his response.
"They can if you shift into your animal form. I can surely teach you one or two about that." He smiled softly before dropping it.
"Animal form...? WAIT. IS THAT HOW YOU CAN INTERACT WITH US?" I asked, curiosity rose within me as invisible sparks were seen in my eyes.
"Yep. Much, much easier than being in this." He nodded.
"I wonder what mines look like." I pondered, looking down at the ground. We both headed to the Terminal, riding on the hover bus and out of it once we arrived in the sphere that reflected off of Gravity Falls. Grunkle Stan was leading the way to the shack as I was following behind like a little kid. However, he took a detour into the forest and stopped in a clearing where there was a fallen pine tree. I tilted my head in confusion, wondering what he had planned in his head. I stood there, watching him take a few steps forward, and turned towards me with a troubled expression.
"This may take some time, kiddo. Mines wasn't right away on the spot. Wasn't taught to shift into my animal form." He spoke.
"Oh... Guiders should do teach that to their apprentices more often than they should." I suggested. "Just in case they wanted to interact with the world in these ... Reflector Spheres?"
He nodded. "I agree. Anyway, how I got it to work was a simple command that I could have solved by myself. However, no one bothered to tell me that there was a command to shift into that animal form!" His hands turned into fists as anger twisted on his face.
"Command?" I tilted my head. I think it's more similar to commands I use with my mind whenever I want to move outside of the sphere. "Anything specific?"
"Nothing do there, kiddo. I'm not so sure if it varies between s. starries." He shrugged before shrinking down a foot into more of an actual gargoyle look. He glances up at me, giving me a thumbs up. "But, I'm sure you can do it on your own!"
I blinked before frowning, feeling the nervousness trail up my spine. I watch him turned around, saying, "You'll know where to find me." before walking off into the woods, leaving me alone. Well, that was helpful. So ... which command triggers it? Shift? No, no ... that has many different meanings. I rubbed my chin before beginning to pace around the clear area, pondering to myself quietly. What even ...- What kind of commands should even fit for a simple shifting ability? Kinda wish it was passive like werewolves so I could- wait ... that would be problematic.
I shook my head before walking by the fallen pine tree and sitting on it. That wouldn't work at all. I frowned before lowering my ears. How did he even solve it on his own? To be honest, when looking at Grunkle Stan ... he may just know a lot about the real world instead of the supernatural, and yet he knows about both. But not a lot as Grunkle Ford, just enough to kinda understand it. Maybe ... just maybe it has to do with something personal about them? It would work with him but towards other people with simple forms like that fox s. starry, it may work with a basic animal command.
I tilted my head, coming up with something. Does ... fox shift works? I mean ... I know it doesn't work with me when I think it. What about deer shift? My thoughts were interrupted by something bright. I closed my eyes, and soon I felt all weird. I sense something within me that is different. I attempted to rub my head, but my hands wouldn't contact it. I opened my eyes slowly, spotting the grassy ground first. Soon spotting hoofs. Wait. I lifted up my head and examined myself, turning my body in a circle. Wait. WAIT. Don't tell me that whatever animal you were fused with works with shift?!
Okay. That completes my theory then. I blinked, staring at the long tail that carried over. I shook my head and looked forward. I took one step forward and then the other. This is weird. Extremely weird. It feels particularly correct to walk like this, but ... I'm not at all used to being like this. Being in that strange humanoid form was so much better than this. But hey, I did it for my great uncle. I padded through the trees, coming up to the edges of the forest. I looked over at the shack, spotting the gargoyle with my sister hanging by the side. I kept my feet next to one another, nervous about coming out.
How should I even come out? Do I walk slowly? I glanced down at the bush before moving forward. I shouldn't freak anyone out, right? I hope not. I gulp before exiting out the bush. I froze when I spotted their heads snap in my direction. I watched Mabel gasped animated as she rushed over to me. She was moving her mouth, saying inaudible words. So it is true that you cannot hear what they say in this realm form. But I'm guessing she is saying that ... its strange and odd to see a deer out here? I don't know.
She turned towards Grunkle Stan, who walked over to me. "I see you done it, kiddo."
"Yeah... wasn't that hard," I said quietly. I glance at my sister, who stared at us in confusion. She turned and went to get the papers from the ground nearby the shack. Soon she rushed back over and sat down, beginning to write to him. He soon did the same as they exchanged papers. I wish I had hands to write with. I glared down at my hoofs, scraping the ground with them. Soon I looked back up at them as their attention was on me. I tilted my head, wondering what's on their minds.
I watched my sister shoved a paper in my face as I scooted back a bit, reading what she wrote: "So. You turned yourself into a deer?"
I nodded my head, realizing I couldn't speak to her with words. She gave me a dull look as it twisted into disappointment. I frowned as she turned away and sat by Grunkle Stan. It's not my fault my animal form is a deer. "Dipper, Mabel would like to know what your s. starry form looks like." I heard Grunkle Stan say.
"Oh. I'll explain it to her when I get back home. It's easier that way instead of saying it to you and you passing it to her. Besides, I promised to tell her myself what I looked like." I stated.
"Alright." He nodded slowly before telling my sister in paper format.
I turned slowly, glancing back at the forest. I soon was hugged by my sister as I stared at her. She gave me a smile before mouthing, "See you soon." She stood up and walked over, grabbing the papers on the ground. She gave us a wave and left for the shack.
"Well, it lasted short, but that what happens when you visit family in the evenings." Grunkle Stan commented before walking into the forest. "Come on, kiddo, surely being in that form is uncomfortable, right?"
"More weird instead of uncomfortable," I answered, walking after him.
"Well, you'll get used to it if you use it a lot." He said. We soon returned back to the clearing as we tried to shift into our s. starry forms. And when I mean "try," I mean that I attempted. I forgot to think about that. I closed my eyes and thought of the word "reverse," but that didn't work so well. I sighed quietly and lashed my long tail in annoyance. This is tiring. I'm going straight back to Earth after this; this realm takes place too much in mind. "Change back should do the trick."
Change back? My appearance transformed once again, giving me the humanoid form from before. Oh. So it does. Just simple commands, Dipper... it's not that hard. I sighed tiredly, sitting down on the ground. "Thanks."
"No problem, kiddo." He said, walking past me.
"Oh. So this is the superior starry you've been greeting, Pinetree." I flinched, turning swiftly towards the demon, who smirked and leaned against a tree. "How intriguing to see Fez again."
"YOU-"
"Did you follow me here?" I asked, glaring at him.
"Correct, I did." He grinned widely.
"Make sense. You vanishing like that wouldn't make no sense at all." I sneered.
"... Dipper!" I heard Grunkle Stan call. I sighed, annoyed, getting up to my feet and turning around towards the two of them. "You knew of this and yet-"
"It's not like we can kill him. If we do that, we would also be erased from this realm." I responded. "And surely, I think you don't want that at all." I stared at Grunkle Stan with a stern look.
"... I-I don't... but why is he still alive?"
"I don't know, beats me." The demon answered.
"What he said," I responded. [[ Though it doesn't seem like he's a problem right now. ]] I telepathy to Grunkle Stan only.
[[ You can't be too sure about this, kiddo. ]] He telepaths me back.
[[ What can I do? Kill my own guide?]] I spoke back in his mind.
He widened his eyes, glancing over at the demon before looking back at me. [[ HE'S YOUR GUIDE?! ]]
[[ Annoying isn't it? ]] I spoke back, calmly.
"Are you two done speaking to one another in your heads? It seems like I disturb the peace in this atmosphere." The demon questioned.
"What is it, to you demon?" Grunkle Stan hissed.
"Just seeing if you guys were," Bill smirked.
"Great, you better not have been-"
"Relax, Fez. I haven't been torturing your great-nephew. No need to worry." The demon snickered.
"Better live up to your word, or you'll regret it." Grunkle Stan hissed before storming away. [[ Meet me another time, kiddo. ]] He last sent in my head. I sighed tiredly, lowering my ears. I turned and glared at the demon.
"Well, that was fun."
"Bet you had you're fun, stalker." I hissed.
"Such a bold term." The demon remarked.
"It is what you just did," I said, walking forward.
"Correct, Though it was harmless as you meat bags want. At least I got to know who you were meeting up with." He said.
"Is that was a Guider suppose to do? Look after their apprentice like a parent?" I questioned him.
"Parent? Now you're going too far, Pinetree." He snapped, giving me a death glare.
I grinned, "Then don't make comments that a parent would say." He narrowed his eyes at me before turning and storm off into the forest. I snickered quietly before navigating my way back to planet Earth. Back home.
End of Chapter 7