Star liked to think she was a fairly bright girl, but she had absolutely no idea what had happened over the last few hours. She understood that in order to get to the bubble, a car would be a nice asset. But being ambushed by a bunch of scary men led by a well moisturized boy in a baby blue Halloween costume? Where did that even come from?

Dipper and Wendy weren't even phased, like it was just a regular Thursday, so Star just followed their lead as they punted the half-man into the other men and stole one of the cars. She thought life on Earth was boring, maybe that was just Echo Creek.

Halfway to the dome, the biker gang men caught up with them and this crazy car chase scene happened with these magical bubbles that transformed whatever went through them. Stars personal favorite was when everyone turned into a bird.

Of course, they got encircled and trapped, but Dipper somehow talked Gideon into letting them go and even giving the key to Dipper. Apparently, this Gideon had a crush on Mable and was made the warden over her prison so that she would love him. Star wasn't sure that that was how love worked.

That wasn't even the weirdest part, though. As they were on the final climb to the dome, they came across a man whose head was shaped like a pear (Star was still hungry). Apparently, he had become a legend in the parts and people were singing songs about him.

None of that really mattered to Star, though. All that mattered was getting one step closer to getting Marco back. This bubble prison was one of those steps and Dippers sister would be able to help them. How, Star wasn't entirely sure, but she trusted Dipper.

"Okay gang, this is it." They stood in front of the keyhole for the massive chains enclosing the prison. Dipper walked forward and put the key that Gideon gave him before his sacrifice. "Remember, Bill designed this. Whatever horrors we see, they aren't real."

The chains dissolved as Dipper turned the key. They gave each other a look of determination before stepping into the unknown.

The world turned white; Star had to close her eyes as the others grumbled at the change in atmosphere.

"it's like we're in one of those rooms for a mental patient," Wendy grumbled.

"Maybe we've all gone mad because we actually think we can stop Bill" Dipper countered and the two had a small laugh. Star wasn't sure what a mental patient was or why they all had the same room.

Slowly, the white started to fade into an array of colors. The white over their heads faded into a baby blue sky as buildings rose up around them. They'd walked right into the middle of a street with a big red dog barking at them to get out of his way.

"What is this place?" Sous said as they hurried onto the sidewalk.

"I have no idea, this isn't at all what I imagined."

A bright red Maserati pulled up and the window rolled down to reveal two anime characters. Star wasn't paying attention to them, though. Her eyes were glued to the man in the red hoodie walking away on the other side. If Bill imprisoned Mable here maybe Marco was here too!

She was already on the other side of the street when Dipper yelled for her to comeback. Promptly ignoring them, she tried weaving through the mass of kittens and floating dolphins and other creatures she would've fauned over in any other circumstance, but Marco was her only priority.

"MARCO!" Star couldn't believe it; it was him. She tackled him in a hug as he turned around.

"Star? Is that you? How did you even find me?" he was hugging her back; Star couldn't stop the tears of happiness. She couldn't even respond because she was so overwhelmed, he would just have to settle on a hug for now.

After what felt like actual minutes, she found her voice again. She told Marco all about what she had been up to while he was missing – playing down how lost she had felt without him of course. Star gripped his hand as they walked around, she refused to let him escape her again. They found a nice bench under a tree in one of the cities many parks. Star was a little weirded how squishy everything here was, but that was a small price to pay for Marco.

"Really? You met Dipper?" Star looked at Marco and saw a malicious glint in his eyes. He tilted his head slightly and it disappeared though, must've been a trick of the light.

"He's in here somewhere if you want to meet him. He's real science-y, you'd like him." She stood up and offered her hand to Marco who took the opportunity to pull her back onto the bench. He took a calming breath and looked her in the eyes.

"Star, I've been here a long time and I've had a long time to think about things. I don't want to get captured again and have to live with the regret of not telling you how I feel about you." Stars' eyes widened. He couldn't mea- "I love you, Star. I want to be more than just your best friend."

All thoughts left her brain. This couldn't actually be happening. Marco wanted to date her?

"I.. I don't know what to say, Marco. I mean, this is really bad tim-" he cut her off with a kiss and that was when Star knew something was off. Marco was never that bold when it came to romance, I mean look at how long it took him to even say more than a word to Jackie.

"This isn't right, you aren't right." Marcos smile faded and Star knew she'd been fooled. "Oh god, none of this is real, is it?" Those things he said about her, the words she had wanted to hear since they first met, they were all lies. Star couldn't process it.

"You shouldn't have said that." The sky turned red and suddenly everything around them turned darker, as if a veil had been lifted. Marco was replaced by a writhing mass of insects and… yarn? Star screamed.

"You should've just given up, but You just had To go and Try and Stop Me." His eye slits elongated into slits as his scleras turned yellow. His voice transformed into the chalkboard that only one demon could possess.

"Bill." The word escaped before she could stop herself. Of course this was Bill, who else could be this deranged.

"Of Course!" He exclaimed, obviously pleased with being recognized. "You Messed Up, Star, And Marco Will Pay."

What? No! That wasn't supposed to happen! She was supposed to help the reunite the Pine twins so that they could rescue Marco. She would've never done this if she'd known that Marcos life was at stake.

"You said no magic!" she couldn't help the tears from rolling down her cheeks. "I haven't used any!"

"That's True, But You Should've Known Better Than To Try And Stop Me. Again." Seeing a mass of horrors represent your best friend talk about torturing your best friend was really creeping Star out. "His Screams Will Really Liven The Pyramid Up. Unless…"

"Say, Those Kids Sure Are Annoying," Bill had revealed himself now and his luminescent yellow contrasted sharply against the surrounding area. "I'll Make You A Deal. You Stay With Pine Tree and Shooting Star And Make Sure Whatever They're Planning Fails. They Can't Beat Me But I Don't Like Having My Time Wasted."

He stuck his hand out and it lit into blue flames. "What Do You Say? Do We Have A Deal, Or Are You Going To Be The Reason Marco Screams? All You Have To Do Is One Small Thing."

She had no choice in her mind; the barrier was still up so Bill couldn't escape and as long as she didn't help Dipper and Mable, Marco would be safe. She shook his hand.

"You just leave Marco alone."

AN: What'd you guys think? I like focusing on what's new because you guys have already seen what Dipper does in the prison bubble so I don't want to spend too much time with him. If you guys want that though, I'll make a chapter about it and we'll go from there.

Oh! Also, if you guys have any ideas for a one shot, I'll try my best to write it for you guys. I would prefer it to be over Gravity Falls, SVTFOE, any of the other cartoons (except Steven Universe because I haven't watched it), or any other popular fandom.

See y'all next week!