Well, everyone this is chapter twenty. This is the end of the first part/season of Bonded: Year Two. Part/season two will begin with chapter twenty one.
There is some violence and gruesome imagery in this chapter, but nothing worse than what happened with the Sanderson carnival in the first story.
Thank you to the following people for your reviews on the last chapter: Frostbite Flurry, Energy witch, CornChip, Fantasy Female Freak, Berrybanana05, Christina730, BakuganNerd52, ImpossibleJedi4, and Marisol777. Also thanks to PurpleWillowbird for your review on chapter eleven.
Now for some fanart shout outs. There have been some amazing fanart for this story.
First off Energy witch has made some beautiful illustrations from several scenes of Bonded (including moments in Bill's Mindscape, scenes from the visit to the Remington estate, an encounter with Frost, and some light-hearted moments with Mabel) as well as the tickle scenes from Tickles for a Workaholic, and the cover art for this story and Bonded. They can be viewed on her DeviantArt page under her same name: Energy witch.
BerryBanana05 has made some lovely fanart from a few scenes in Bonded (Bill's first day in the shack and Mabel giving him a makeover), as well as a picture of Bill in merman form. They can be viewed on her Tumblr account Berry Attempts Art.
RainbowRatArt has also made a cute drawing from a scene in Bonded where Bill rides piggyback on Ford which can be viewed on her DeviantArt page.
Thank you all for your fantastic artwork. I feel so honored you used your awesome talent to make art for this story. :D
Large, hairy bare feet stood at the edge of the water. Stan stared out in the afternoon sky envying the birds who gaily flew above his head. He wished he had one of his guns to shoot down each seagull who sang his delight as he danced about the clouds.
Susan approached her fiance who stood with his hands on his hips. He wore a mask of anger if only to hide all the damage inside.
"They'll find 'em, Stanley," Susan said despite her own voice betraying her faith.
"Shut yer yap, Susan," Stan snapped.
The woman gasped and backed away. She folded her hands and stared down at the tide. Although she knew his anger wasn't directed at her it didn't stop the tears from falling.
Stan never noticed his fiancee's suffering behind him, although her words still rang in his head. However he feared the condition in which they'd find his loved ones.
In the midst of the Ship Cemetery, the selected five stood before the messenger and the guard before the dilapidated ship that housed the hostage. The Mako Riders' leader had given his demands and awaited the regal visitors.
"You must think me a fool," King Elias said to the two Riders before him. "Allow a few of my men to come with us, and I will meet with your leader."
With a smirk the messenger tilted his head to the side. "If you even try, I can't guarantee the girl will be alive."
Dipper gasped. He looked over at Elias then back to the merman.
Bill narrowed his eyes. He swam forward with the sphere in hand. "You lay a han' on Shoo' Star an' I'll make your lasht momenchs a livin' Hell."
The messenger started as the demon's eyes flashed red. He looked over at the guard who visibly shook at both Bill's eyes and the wires on his teeth.
The messenger folded his hands. "I assure you the girl hasn't been harmed," he said forcing a smile. He glanced over at Mermando and Elias. "She's too valuable."
"Indeed she is," said Ford. Although he didn't speak it the Riders could see in Ford's eyes that if Mabel so much as sported a scratch he'd help carry out Bill's threat.
"Very well," the messenger said. The first line of soldiers advanced. The Rider held out his hand. "But you must leave your weapons in the sand."
The soldiers all looked over at their king who nodded in agreement. At once the five soldiers disarmed then moved on ahead to shield Elias, Mermando, and Dipper. Ford and Bill volunteered to stand at the front of the line.
The messenger sharply turned and led the ten inside the rotted hole of the ship. Sunlight vanished the instant they stepped inside the boat. The Mako Riders were used to the darkness, but the others only had Bill's eyes and the fake Sphere to light their way.
Bill's magic transferred at a steady pace into the orb to keep its bright glow. For a few seconds the gold light dimmed and Ford glanced over to see Bill slightly stumble. He caught Bill's attention and expressed his concern with his eyes. Bill merely smirked and pushed on despite feeling slightly lightheaded.
Elias kept his stare straight ahead, his mouth not moving from its frown. Mermando quivered, but refused to show any cowardice as his true love's life was at stake.
Sharks maneuvered all around. Dipper shrunk back as one swam overhead of him. Mermando bumped into him. He put his hand on Dipper's shoulder which helped to calm him and the two pressed on. Every so often they caught the lifeless black eyes of other Mako Riders lurking in the shadows.
Up ahead they heard a laugh. The leader of the Mako Riders tapped a jar filled with electrical eels that acted as a lamp. In between him and his second in command floated Mabel. The girl's eyes lit up when she saw the rescue party just ahead. She moved to rush to her family when Milo clamped a hand on her shoulder.
Ford and Bill moved into defensive stances. On cue three mako sharks charged at the visitors. Bill kept one hand on the fake Sphere and snapped his opposite fingers. The sharks writhed and shrieked as an electric current shot through their bodies. The three swam disoriented, bumping into each other.
Milo blinked twice then his lips curved into a grin.
"You're different," the leader said with a laugh.
Elias moved ahead of the two land guests.
"Your majesty, I'm sorry I don't have a more formal way to welcome you," Milo said with a smirk. "But it's better you can see how we live. I know it's a shock from your life of luxury."
Elias folded his hands, but kept his head high and his voice steady. "We brought you what you wanted, now let the hostage go."
Milo hesitated for a second. He shifted then tossed Mabel towards her rescuers. Ford immediately embraced his niece who wrapped her arms tightly about him. The second in command snatched the false Sphere from Bill's hold. The glowing orb was handed over to Milo who licked his lips as its cold surface was pressed into his hands.
With one hand holding the orb and the other on his hip Milo nodded at the door. The group turned to see a group of thirteen Mako Riders blocking their main exit. Three more stood in front of the two portholes.
"Your highness, I couldn't have planned it this well," Milo laughed. The other Riders joined their leader. "Not only did you surrender your best protection against us, but yourself as well."
Mabel and Dipper gasped. Ford pushed Mabel behind him. Bill's hands erupted in blue flames. Before he could make an attack Bill screamed out as a long arrow forced itself into his back. Blood drifted through the salt water causing the sharks to hover at the scent of fresh injury.
Ford reached for Bill just as another Rider grabbed his arm. Ford punched the Rider in the face only to receive a harder blow in his stomach from a second of Milo's men.
"Please stop!" Mabel cried.
Ford put his hand in front of the girl who stared with a gaping mouth up at the leader of the Mako Riders. How much he wished that he had ordered Dipper to stay behind. Bill laid groaning on what remained of the rickety wooden floor, just seconds from passing out.
Milo approached. He grabbed the king's chin and lifted it so he could stare into his cold eyes.
"Right now I have a unit ordered to invade your unprotected kingdom the instant they saw you leave with the Sphere in your possession," Milo boasted. He stared down at the sphere in his hand. "Without this your people will have no choice but to surrender to us for their worthless lives."
"You can't!" Mabel yelled.
"They're innocent," Mermando added. He grabbed onto Milo's arm and pleaded, "You can't do this to all those innocent women and children. They've done nothing to you."
"They haven't?" Milo barked. He backhanded Mermando in the face and held the Sphere high. "They ate in plenty and lived a life of leisure while we wasted to a small fraction of what we once were." Milo's reflection stared him back from the shiny orb. "But not for much longer. We have prevailed, and now we'll expand."
Dipper helped Mermando up and they both shielded Mabel.
Milo then looked down at Bill who bled into the waters which he knew his minions fought to obey. "Feast upon the magical one," Milo said.
The sharks all rushed at Bill. Mabel screamed. Ford kicked one of the guards and grabbed his spear. Ford shoved the sharp end into the ribs of one of the sharks then kicked him off. He then skewered the eye of a second one and pulled the arrow out along with the eyeball. The spear was then aimed for a third whose jaw snapped the weapon in half. Ford stepped back still hovering over the body of his injured boyfriend.
"Please stop!" Mabel screamed. She swam over to Milo despite Dipper reaching for her. "Why are you doing this?"
Milo glared at the girl. "For centuries we've been in exile in these desolate waters. His kingdom allied with countless others giving us fewer and fewer places to call home. We survived on what little meat we could find." His glower greeted the king. "Too many of us starved while his people flourished."
Elias kept his scowl. "It was your own fault for invading our kingdom."
"Our king long before us tried to ally with yours and were denied," Milo hissed. "You had the best waters and plenty of food, access to the best of everything, while our home dwindled. Your people betrayed ours first." Milo's eye twitched for a moment then his glower slowly transformed into a grin. "But now, your majesty, you will feed my friends from your flesh."
"Please spare the children," Ford begged. "They don't deserve this."
"I agree," Elias said. "They haven't caused you any harm." He accepted his fate and hoped that a day after mourning Mateo would be ready to take over the throne.
Milo circled around Mermando and Elias. "Our young weren't spared from tragedy," he said.
For the first time that day Elias' stoic expression slipped as Milo grasped Mermando by the arm. Elias blanked as he cursed himself for not checking the lines before leaving. Rafael would never forgive him, and even in death the king wouldn't ask it of his brother.
Ford suddenly remembered that he hadn't told Stanley where they went. If the Mako Riders won there would be no way for a message to make its way to his brother. For the rest of his life Stan would wander unsure of his family's whereabouts, or even if they still lived.
"So why should I spare yours that fate?" Milo spat. He slit Mermando's arm with the tip of his teeth then tossed the bleeding merman towards the sharks.
"No!" Mabel screamed and pushed Mermando out of the way. The mako bit at the girl causing her to yell out in pain then fall helplessly to the floor, clutching her injury.
"Mabel!" Ford called as he rushed for her. One of the Riders knocked him upside the head with the heavy spear.
Bill sprung from the ground encased in a glowing gold light, the entirety of his eyes burning crimson. His fangs were bared and the bond marks on his pinky glowed brighter than ever before. With a roar he sprouted two pitch black arms on either side.
A glowing gold slit appeared in the center of his forehead. When the light diminished a thin black line with what appeared to be four vertical stitches across the horizontal slit remained. Dipper shrunk back as the stitches parted and the line opened to reveal a glowing white eyeball identical to the one Bill sported in his demon form.
In less than a second Bill stood directly in front of the Rider who had knocked Ford to the ground. A beastly snarl escaped from Bill's wired mouth that glistened from the gold light that surrounded his body. Two of the new muscular arms lifted and the palms pressed against the Rider's ears. In a quick movement the hands smashed together, busting the hybrid's head like a ripe pimple.
One of the new arms grabbed the spear that had been used to wound Ford before it fell to the ground. Black mist seeped from the arm and thick black vines weaved around the spear until it decayed and the charcoal dust crumbled and floated away in the water.
Dipper gasped and Elias stood with wide eyes. Mermando hovered over Mabel and stared up at the creature before him, ready to protect the girl from both the swarming, hungry sharks and the new threat she once called her friend.
"Kill him!" Milo ordered, pointing at Bill.
Sharks and Riders alike charged for Bill. Each one was attacked by one of the new arms that ripped out throats and gills. Milo backed up against the wall and ordered for his second in command to aim a second shot and not to miss.
Bill grabbed one of the sharks that lunged for Mabel and Mermando. The third eye stared directly at the mako. The shark writhed while Bill spoke something in a language foreign to all on the ship. At once the shark splattered to pieces.
The rest of the sharks and half of the hybrids fled the ship leaving only Milo and a few other Riders left to face the demon's wrath.
Ford moaned as he stirred and sat up rubbing the bump on the side of his head. Dipper rushed over next to his great-uncle and helped him up.
"Dipper, my boy, what happened?" Ford asked.
Dipper went quiet. He slowly turned his head to where Bill stood the four extra arms ready to tear the Mako Rider's leader apart. Mutilated bodies littered the ship.
"Bill, he...I don't know," Dipper whispered.
As soon as the thirteen-year-old finished his sentence the third eye shut and vanished along with the arms. Bill fell unconscious before the fins of the Rider's leader.
Milo grinned. "Not so powerful after all," he said with a laugh.
The second in command aimed the arrow for Bill's back. Before he could launch his attack everyone was startled by the sounds of shouting. All save Bill rushed for the portholes to see the Riders who recently fled the ship swimming for their lives from an army mounted on dolphins.
At the helm was Rafael with Mateo by his side. Wendy and Soos were among the battalion, both who had been released on Mateo's orders.
"Alright, the game is over!" Rafael shouted.
"Yeah, fight if you want, but we're just gonna kick your butts," added Wendy. Having taken down six on her own, she was still on an adrenaline high.
Soos held up his spear. "That's right, dawg. I mean I didn't win, but I came in third place. So I guess that makes me pretty good." Soos laughed at his own joke. "That translates to I'm not someone you wanna mess with."
Rafael continued, "We've already defeated your invading army outside our gates."
Milo's eyes widened. He looked over at the sphere to see its color had already faded. He held his hand over his mouth which muffled his scream. The false Sphere dropped from his hand and rolled towards the wall where it bounced back and slowly came to a stop. The last of the light diminished leaving only a dull gray ball in its place.
"Less than half were killed and the others have been taken prisoner," Rafael finished.
Elias smiled. "We have you at every angle, and if you value your life, I recommend you surrender."
Milo narrowed his eyes. "So you can starve us again? Torture us until we're all a myth of the past?" he spat. "I'd rather die by the spear."
"That can be arranged," Mateo said as he swam through the porthole with his spear in hand.
Wendy followed behind ready to take on another challenge. The crown prince smiled at the redhead for a second then returned his glower to the Mako Rider.
"Please, that's enough," Mabel cried. Still clutching her wound that Mermando had bandaged with seaweed, she swam in front of Elias, Mateo, and Milo. The girl looked up at the three. "Isn't it time for this stupid feud to end?"
"You know nothing of politics, girl," said Elias.
"Not true, I was class treasurer in fourth grade," Mabel argued.
"I agree, Uncle," Mermando said as he swam up next to Mabel. He looked up at the king with pleading eyes. "Your waters have been at war for over a hundred years." He glanced over at Milo. "All they want is food and safe shelter. Perhaps we can make a truce."
Elias looked over at Milo and then the few remaining Mako Riders behind them.
"Too much blood has been spilled on account of this war," said the king of Aquatica. "If you also wish for peace, perhaps we can make a deal, but it will be on my terms."
Milo grimaced at the king, but for the sake of his people all he could do was agree. At the very least they would be allowed decent food for the first time in his lifetime.
Elias ordered that the Mako Riders who wished to live follow him back to Aquatica. Milo sighed at the small number of his men to have survived the battle he was more than certain to have won. His black eyes lowered as he accepted his failure as a leader.
Soos approached Ford and Dipper with his assigned dolphin in tow. He winced at the sight of the huge knot on Ford's head. Soos hopped off the sea mammal and helped Ford atop. The two with the help of Dipper loaded the unconscious Bill across Ford's lap. With one hand on the dolphin's reigns and the other holding Bill in place, Ford rode after the others.
Both Mermando and Mabel were led to a dolphin who easily transported them back to Aquatica. Dipper and Soos swam to keep up with the party of mermen and hybrids alike on their way through Aquatica's gates.
The Mako Riders, save Milo, and a few of the higher ups were locked in the dungeon. The leaders of the Makos were led to a conference room where details of the treaty would be discussed with Elias, Mateo, and Rafael.
Meanwhile, Mabel and Bill were transported to the infirmary where a nurse treated their wounds. Dipper, Soos, and Ford waited in chairs while their loved ones were patched up. Ford watched a nurse apply cream to the arrow wound and felt grateful that Bill was uncosncious for the procedure.
The nurse who treated Mabel approached Ford with a sealed bottle of salve. "Both of them will need this rubbed on twice a day for a week, and they will be fine."
Mabel flipped down from the bed then swam over to her relatives with a fresh seaweed bandage about her wound. "Don't worry, Grunkle Ford, I won't tell Grunkle Stan about this," she said with a smile.
"I appreciate it," Ford said and ruffled Mabel's hair.
After the nurse finished with Bill she gently woke him. The demon stirred and sat up, slightly wincing at the sting in his back. He rubbed at his eyes then smiled at the mermaid before him. Ford swam over before Bill had a chance to wink and smile at that one too.
Bill's mouth formed into a smile when his boyfriend came into view. "Sisser," he said. "Wha-wha happe'd?"
"I was hoping you'd tell me," Ford replied.
Dipper swam over and stopped short of the bed. "That was scary," he said. He glanced up at Ford then looked back at Bill. "It was like you got your old powers back for a moment."
Bill grinned. "I wish I coul' remem'er," he said. His gaze lowered to the floor as he imagined being his old self for just a moment, but the euphoria soon faded when he realized the memories of the power surge had vanished along with the power.
A knock at the door caught everyone's attention. The door opened to reveal Mermando along with Mateo and Wendy. Dipper turned his face away.
Mermando moved further into the room. He folded his hands over his chest and said, "I'm sorry all of you had to go through that. It wasn't my intention at all."
Mabel swam over to her ex and hugged him. "I know you didn't," she said.
Mermando returned her gesture. "This is the happiest I've been," he whispered in the girl's ear. "You are the only person I ever loved."
"What about your wife?" Mabel asked.
The merman prince shook his head. "That was only for politics," he explained. "I don't love her and now she knows."
Mabel grasped Mermando's hand. "But-but won't that cause a war?"
Mateo smirked. "Don't count on it," he said. "Now that we've allied with the Mako Riders, the Manatees won't dare war against us, them, and Mermando's kingdom."
Mabel nodded, although she felt bad for Lena and Mermando's situation. She hoped in the pit of her heart that the two would at least come to view each other as friends.
Ford helped Bill down from the bed and the group followed after the crown prince of Aquatica. Wendy already felt her heart breaking knowing it would only be a matter of minutes until they needed to part.
Again they stood in front of the castle and just like before King Elias hovered behind the balcony. He lifted his hands and the crowd hushed. Everyone noticed their monarch genuinely smiled for the first time since he took the throne.
"I come with good news," Elias announced. "Our war with the Mako Riders has come to an end." A chorus of cheers erupted over the courtyard. The king waved his hands and gradually the noise silenced. "Our kingdoms have allied." A few cheers mixed with murmurs exploded. "Today we celebrate more than just my birthday. Let us all join in the festivities."
The people of Aquatica immediately followed the king's orders. Elias swam down from the balcony and landed in front of the visitors.
"Land Guests," Elias greeted with a smile. "I owe you all a great deal of thanks." He extended his hand which Ford was the first to accept. He then shook with Soos, Wendy, Mabel, and Dipper. He stared at Bill and the two nodded. Elias looked at Ford. "You're all welcome in Aquatica anytime."
Mermando moved between them. "I'm afraid you'll have to wait, the sun sets in two hours," he announced.
Everyone said their goodbyes. Rafael joined in with parting handshakes to each of his visitors. Mabel and Mermando hugged for one last time. Mabel swore she felt Mermando's tears mix with the waters that passed over her shoulder. Mateo kissed Wendy on the cheek then tore himself away before it became even more difficult. Wendy held a hand over her cheek as she sadly watched the prince swim away forever.
Mermando whistled for the dolphins. The sea mammals joined with the leaving party. Mabel glanced over her shoulder to see Mermando's family-her new friends-waving. However, from the balcony she saw the frowning figure of the manatee queen glaring with crossed arms.
The group swam fast with the dolphins keeping up. After an hour the spell waned, the humans slowed. On Mermando's cue the dolphins kept the visitors close to the surface for when the fins and gills entirely vanished.
From twenty feet beneath the surface the group noticed the sky growing darker. The current became harder to maneuver through.
"I'm getting tired," Mabel complained.
Soos chose not to speak as he needed to conserve his breath for the gills closed up.
"We're still too far from shore," Mermando said. "Grab onto the dolphin's fins." In their native tongue he asked the dolphins to aid the humans closer to the shallow waters.
One by one their tails split into two leaving legs with fins in place of feet. Bill kicked. He gasped, but the gills malfunctioned sending a rush of water into his lungs. He kicked and coughed.
"Sisser, help!" Bill called.
Ford released his hold on the dolphin and swam back for Bill. With his own set of fins to guide him he grabbed onto his flailing boyfriend.
Bill's fins vanished leaving him only in his tank top and swim trunks, kicking and thrashing. He accidentally swallowed and occasionally inhaled salt water.
"He can't swim!" Ford yelled to Mermando.
"He's going to tire himself out," Soos cried and choked on a mouthful of water.
Mermando ordered the dolphins to carry the humans to the surface. The dolphins obeyed and each of the land dwellers were pushed above the water. The Pines twins welcomed a lung full of air then laid atop their rescuers who swam them further in.
Ford held tight to Bill who violently coughed in hopes of coughing up what he breathed in. Ford listened to the gurgles. He smacked Bill on the back (careful to avoid his wound) to no avail. Bill wheezed and gasped then eventually passed out in Ford's arms.
Wendy lifted her head from the dolphin and squinted her eyes at the sight of a small boat in the distance. She pointed it out to the others who forced them to move their exhausted bodies to check it out. Mermando nodded and demanded the dolphins swim them to the fishing boat.
The first mate noticed the movement from where he looked out with his binoculars. He called, Earl, the captain and pointed out the approaching dolphins. Both men moved to the side and their eyes widened when they noticed the humans clinging atop the dolphins for dear life.
"Lower the buoy," Earl called.
The first mate along with two other men tossed the float out to the strangers. Ford ordered the twins to go first. The sailors pulled the thirteen-year-olds on board then helped Wendy on next, followed by Soos. Ford held tight to Bill as Soos and Wendy helped the men pull the last two members of their party onto the boat.
The exhausted twins laid on their backs trying to catch their breaths. Wendy sat down against the wall and held her aching head. She immediately lowered her hands to her stomach holding back the need to vomit.
Earl stared out at the merman who watched his friends rescue. The old sea captain narrowed his eyes when he recognized the face of the fish creature he caught just last year. Mermando averted his gaze from the captain. He caught Mabel's attention for a second and blew her a kiss. He then flipped back into the water where he would return to his uncle's kingdom within two hour's time.
Ford listened close to Bill's mouth to hear no breathing. He tilted Bill's head back then looked to one of the sailors asking if they had wire cutters. The sailor nodded and hurried into the ship to gather the requested tool as well as a few towels for the others.
No one asked any questions and in minutes Dipper, Mabel, and Wendy had all fallen asleep. Soos sat next to Ford incase he required help.
Ford snipped the wires that held Bill's jaw in place. He pressed his lips to his boyfriend's open mouth and breathed for him. Both men watched Bill's chest rise and fall. On the fourth breath Bill coughed. Soos and Ford rolled the blond on his side where he vomited food along with all the water he had ingested and inhaled. Ford patted his back until Bill finished retching. Soos cleaned up the mess while Earl handed the three conscious strangers a glass of fresh water that they all eagerly accepted.
"Care to tell me what happened?" Earl asked.
"Boating accident," Ford lied. "We would've been stranded had you and that young man with the dolphins not helped us."
The captain nodded and didn't ask anything more on the ride back to the beach.
The life guard approached Stan who had taken his seat for the thirteenth time since he reported his family missing. The old man stared up at the younger one who simply shook his head.
"You should rest," the life guard said. "We'll contact you when we know."
"What good will rest do?" Stan countered. "Can't ya call the coast guard or somethin'?"
"We have and they're out looking now," the life guard explained. He clapped Stan on the shoulder which only deepened his frown. "As soon as we hear something you'll be the first to know."
"It's okay, Stanley," Susan said and draped a blanket over her fiance's shoulders. "Just go take a rest, we're parked right off the beach."
Stan gripped at the hem of the blanket then threw it in the sand.
"I've had enough of this waitin'," he spat. "I'm a go find 'em myself."
"Mr. Pines, that's not a good idea," the life guard argued. "The tide is too high."
"Try and stop me!" he snarled and raised his fist.
The life guard stepped back and Susan put her hand atop Stan's clenched one. He yanked away from the woman and stomped towards the water. The unbuttoned shirt was cast to the wind and his large feet passed through the damp sand. The frigid temperature of the sea waters didn't register.
Susan called after Stan as she rushed in the ocean after him. The water splashed as she dashed through. She slipped in the undertow and landed in the soft sand on her hands. The wave splashed her in the face and through blurred vision she watched her soon-to-be husband move further into the sea where the sharks would be feeding.
From the shore the life guard answered a call on his walkie talkie. His eyes lit up and he called after Stan. Both Stan and Susan looked back to see the life guard waving them down with a huge smile on his face.
"They've been found, Mr. Pines!" the life guard yelled. "A fishing boat is bringing them in now."
Susan smiled and clapped her hands. Stan also smiled and hurried back to where his fiancee waited. He pulled her close and gave her a deep kiss beneath the dim moonlight.
Twenty minutes passed and Earl's boat finally made it close enough for him to unload the passengers. The six thanked the captain and crew for their rescue. Earl tipped his hat and warned them to be safe when out sailing the dangerous sea. Ford agreed to his warning. Soos hopped into the water just shallow enough they wouldn't have difficulty making it to shore. Just to be on the safe side three life guards waited by the boat to help them to the sand.
Ford lowered the twins to Soos who then passed them off to one of the lifeguards. Wendy protested she didn't need help, although the exhaustion on her face proved otherwise. Ford explained to the remaining life guard that Bill couldn't swim and with a nod he held tightly to the victim and swam him through the rough waters. Lastly Ford and Soos swam back to dry land.
Stan grabbed the twins in a tight embrace to the point Dipper complained of his ribs being crushed. Stan ignored his nephew's plea and listened to their breathing and felt the warmth of their lives in his arms.
As soon as Ford made it to the shore Stan released the twins and glared at his brother. His anger lessened when he noticed the knot on the Ford's face and contemplated giving him a matching one on the other side.
"Grunkle Stan, you won't believe it!" Mabel exclaimed. "We saw an underwater kingdom."
"Yeah, we were turned into merpeople, it was so cool," Dipper added.
"I came third place in a spear throwing contest," said Soos.
"And you know, there are some decent guys out there," Wendy said more to herself.
"He wasn't that great," Dipper argued, but stopped talking when he noticed Wendy's glare.
"You mean to tell me you weren't in any danger?" Stan shouted.
The twins looked at each other and shook their heads.
"It's my fault, Grunkle Stan," Mabel confessed. "Mermando wanted to see me again and I said yes without thinking."
"But Grunkle Ford kept us safe," Dipper quickly said.
The others all agreed to the twins' lies and Stan decided to grant his brother mercy this one time.
"If you ever scare me like this again, I'll clock all of ya!" Stan warned and led the way back to their spot on the beach.
Not ready to leave just yet the eight camped out in the sand beneath the moon and stars. A contained bonfire in the middle of the sand where they roasted marshmallows and hotdogs. Bill laid on his back staring up at the clear sky with a smile on his face. Ford watched the shadows of the flickering flames light up his boyfriend's face.
"I'm sorry about having to cut the wires, but it was the only way to save you," said Ford.
Bill gripped at his chin. "It doesn't even hurt," he said. "I think it's healed."
Ford pursed his lips. Perhaps the potion taken with the medicine, or even the extreme boost of power Bill received earlier that day had a speedy effect on healing. If that were the case it would require further testing. However, before he concerned himself with that, he needed to focus on finding out what caused that transformation, and if he needed to worry.
"At any rate, I want you to at least have an X-ray when we go back tomorrow," Ford said.
Bill shrugged. He sat up and smiled out towards the ocean. It had been a fun adventure, but he preferred to stick to the land for a while.
The next morning they would return to the Mystery Shack for yet another adventure.
And that ends part/season one. I hope you all enjoyed it. More adventure, drama, romance, and much, much more is on the way.