Wind slices through a cluster of tall pine trees. Branches eerily strike an attic window as if hitting a glass drum. Tap, tap, tap. Darkness corrodes a peaceful summer evening. The silver moon refuses to show. It's a perfect night for mischievous otherworldly creatures; crawling out of their surreal dimensions to materialize on Earth.
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Orbs of fiery light dance upon a circle of candles. Three teens are present. One wearing a blue cap, shorts, and a faded vest drew complex outlines on ground with chalk. Wood panels creaked beneath his scarred knees, which were covered in bandages.
Wirt and Norman sat across from him.
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"Dipper," Wirt sat holding the journal. His dark sorrel eyes flashed with apprehension. "W-Won't Mabel and Mr. Pines be concerned about us summoning spirits in the Mystery Shack?"
"No. Mabel is on a date and Stan is selling ugly counterfeits in town." He grinned. "Besides, it'll be fun! Norman is here to back us up!"
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"Also," Norman reassured. "We've all had spiritual encounters before."
"Doesn't mean we're experts," Wirt chewed his lip nervously. "Just because we have experience with the paranormal before doesn't mean we'll be so lucky next time."
"Oh c'mon! Wirt, you escaped death! Norman saved his town and I rescued my friends from a haunted convenience store and that time Bill entered Stan's mind. We'll be fine!"
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Norman chuckled and tossed some books at Wirt. "Or would you rather read Mabel's romance novels instead?"
The boy recoiled from the pages brushing his skin like a demon hissing from a talisman artifact. "No, of course not!" Wirt tried to convince his friends to do something else.
This risky maneuver of summoning spirits gave Wirt a peculiar, unshakable feeling.
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"We could start a new party in Dungeons, Dungeons, and More Dungeons." He offered.
"Already did that."
"Video games?"
"We've played all of them."
"How about some cheesy Summerween movies?"
"No way."
"I've already set everything up." Dipper interjected. "We're summoning something from the journal."
Anticipation and a drop of fear pumped wildly in their blood, almost identical to adrenaline.
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Dipper browsed a selection of spells on weathered pages. Black light revealed invisible ink, describing vague magic. A lot of information was missing or incomplete. Though, there was enough to guess what powers a creature possessed. "Which one should we summon?"
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"How about a zombie?" Norman asked.
Dipper shuddered. "Not going to happen. I will never sing pop music karaoke to stop an army of the living dead again."
Wirt and Norman laughed. "Why? With your vocals it's practically a superpower! Ow!"
Dipper's face twisted into a frown and bloomed into a red rose. "Shut up guys! Seriously…"
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Cracking open and drinking a soda, Dipper let Norman and Wirt decide on which spell to cast.
"Okay, what do you guys think about this one?"
He shrugged. "Sure." Crisp pages fluttered open for all three to view. Glancing at the poetic spell they started chanting. A swift gust swooped past and candlelight hissed instantly out of existence.
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Silence seeped into the dark room. A few heartbeats later Wirt asked, "Did…did we summon anything?"
"No? If it was a ghost at least. I would've seen it."
"Then the spell failed?" Dipper asked despondently.
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Equipping a pocket lighter he revived lost candle fire. Tiny flames wavered weakly then became stronger after absorbing oxygen. Dipper sighed. Clear disappointment was drawn on his features. "I guess it-"
A powerful gut-punching whirlwind swept up the fire into a mini tornado.
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Strands of fire transformed into a wheel shape, glaring bright like the sun. The Mystery Shack rattled violently. It was as if the teens were sealed in a box and being tilted and tossed around. Blood trickled down from the walls and quickly pooled beneath everyone's feet. Screaming fueled by pure horror they observed the scarlet substance dripping heavily. In fact, giant globs of blood split apart the old rotting interior.
The stinging metallic taste coating their mouths became unbearable.
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Eerie laughter shocked their skin cold. Cool blue flames surrounded a silhouette. The familiar setting was now replaced with an unusual background. Thousands of colorful blobs leaked into the boys' vision like a kaleidoscope. The bizarre dazzling tones are shapeless and swirling around, a melting stained glass window.
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Worlds of rainbows dissolving, a new one is crafted. A vast, endless, still forest sprouted around them. The air and landscape is a mixture of grey tones. Nothing moved. The woods almost blended together in a blurry way upon the eyes.
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"Um…where are we?" Wirt asked, looking around fascinated.
"I've never seen anything like this before." Norman's eyes swept around warily. He gasped. "I sense a dangerous presence! It's-"
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"Well, well, well." A tall man dressed in a golden suit and donning an eye patch appeared in the glade. He hovered above the group of curious, astonished people.
"Bill Cipher."
Grinning, the mischievous creature wrapped an arm around Dipper while twirling a cane. Nonchalantly the demon studied what he could possibly win in this endeavor.
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"What's with the cold greeting, sweetheart? Quite abnormal I'll say, since you and I seem to cross paths often. I'm flattered though." Winking, Bill floated around them keeping all three within his perspective. "You summon me a lot. I must be your favorite demon, huh?"
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Bill prodded Dipper's check and displayed a flashy smile to the vexed human. "It must mean you really like me! So, who are these guys? Friends? More than friends?"
"Shut up! I know you're just trying to distract us."
"Why would I waste my time doing that when I could be making deals?"
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"Bill Cipher?" Wirt is perplexed. This guy isn't what he imagined a demon to look like at all! Did he change his appearance?
Cipher tipped his hat and bowed. "Yes. Personal dream demon at your service! So, what would you like? True love? Unlimited power and knowledge? Or to change certain past or future events?"
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Dipper glared at Bill. "Why would I make a deal with you after the last time? You always want something in exchange. Any promises made are turned evil for everyone involved. And, the injuries I received were incredibly painful! Lethal, even!"
"Hey. We made a trade. That's how trades work Pine Tree, don't you know that?"
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Brows furrowed and simmering with irritation Dipper replied, "I have permanent scars from you possessing my body. I didn't like being a ghost either, Cipher."
"Ack!" Bill fell back dramatically as if he had been struck by a bullet in his heart. "That wounds me, Pine Tree. I thought we had something! It's not every day a person offers to swap places and lend a flesh vessel to a demon."
"I –you tricked me!"
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"This isn't good…Dipper, we should leave. Dealing with Bill is –well, you know. Extremely dangerous." Norman whispered.
"I know. I-"
"NOBODY IS LEAVING!" A thunderous booming voice echoed in the glade.
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Heart pounding, the boys' trembled in fear. Bill is emitting a vibrant neon red glow. The demon turned into a giant and the air rippled with heat. His golden eye became a bloody sunstone. Bill's gaze pierced their souls with an unstable ferocity. "You trap me in my nightmare dimension and then immediately refuse a deal after summoning me?!"
Norman risked studying Bill's ethereal energy.
A solid line of spectral aura tethered Dipper's energy to Cipher.
Two more materialized, mere specks like dew on a spider's web connecting Wirt and Norman to Cipher. They were faint, but visible.
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"Bill is attached to you Dipper. I think our last encounter created a spiritual bond with him!"
"What?!"
"It must be how much you've been in contact with Bill. Wirt and I helped save you but didn't interact with Bill much. That event only strengthened yours when he possessed your body."
"H-How is that possible?!"
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Wirt and Norman shared a knowing glance with each other. "Demons, poltergeists, and ghosts have certain conditions, different ways of getting attached to humans."
"But that doesn't really explain why we're connected. Yes, we've fought Bill before, but hardly."
"We…we've all dealt with death before and we're close friends with Dipper. Maybe the bond is somehow infectious?"
"What does that mean, then?!"
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"That means," Bill said. "You and I are inseparable! And they are also. Out of all my interactions with humans, I've never formed a connection. It's rare for demons."
"We accidently created a bond with Bill. Good news is he can't kill us. That'd hurt him too."
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"Yes, this bond surely is special. I wonder…yes, I know! I'll turn you all into my disciples!"
"What?!"
"I think a curse is a fine punishment for banishing me."
Searing lasers sliced trees effortlessly. The three teens dodged just in time, their shoes hissing from brief contact. "There's nowhere to run now. We have to fight!"
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Crackling green electricity exploded form Norman's fingertips. Examining journal entries Dipper casted darting magical blue spears. "I'll try and make a portal just like we did in Stan's mind!"
"Don't assume victory will be so easy this time, Pine Tree!"
"Wirt!" Spiritual thunder deflected illusion magic and waves of summoned underlings. "Your help would be appreciated!"
"On it!"
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Patches of fur sprouted from Wirt. Fangs grew and his whole figure shifted into a canine outline. Branches gnarled and twisted, encased Wirt like armor. Small scarlet leaves are attached like flashy trinkets. Pointy antlers of sharp bark donned the wolf's head like a crown.
Ever since Wirt had survived the in-between of life and death he never left unscathed.
Now he adorns a mark of an ominous woodland spirit.
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Agatha whispered in Norman's ear, allowing him to evade blast waves and poison missiles. Ethereal power charged through him as he counterattacked. Cipher recoiled in agony when jolts fried his flesh, leaving atrocious winding scars. Wirt entered the vicious fray. He coordinated his moves alongside his friend.
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Glinting razor teeth shredded Bill's human vessel. Horns pierced his form, catching the demon like bristly brambles. Dark blood studded with purple diamonds bobbed in the dreamscape. Unlike regular blood it sluggishly floated heavy and weightless at the same time. Trembling and coughing up blood, Bill saw four blue spears stab him.
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Pinned, he was being torn apart. Internally the demon is immune to physical pain. Sure, he could feel his nervous system being shredded, yet he enjoyed a good fight. 'These kids are good shots.' Admiration fizzed through, just barely. Lashing out the demon parried most of the attacks.
'This battle's outcome has already been determined.'
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Wirt bit the demon's arm and quickly transformed back. Hand locked onto golden sleeve, the teen wielded an old lantern. Bill made one last strategic move before accepting temporary defeat. Pupil changing into many symbols, he swiftly flipped his opponents upside down. Red light flooded the world.
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Surreal symbols seared onto Norman, Wirt, and Dipper's palms. Enduring distressing pain Wirt captured Bill in the old lantern. Sealed away, Cipher was nothing but a blob of blue gold fire. Running, the guys leapt through a portal. In a blink they returned to the Mystery Shack.
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Everything warped back to original form. The world became filled with deafening silence. Then, the air hummed with uncertainty and dread. Dawn's pale hues poured in from attic windows. "We…we made it back?"
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Inspecting their hands they noticed steam rise from newly obtained scars. Wirt held a trapped Cipher to eye level. "What did you do to us Bill?" He hissed.
Cackling eerily the demon replied, "A gift for my friends. You'll see its powers soon."
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Brows furrowed, Norman's eyes drifted to the side as if he is listening to something. "Agatha recalls faint memories about these symbols. Ancient demon magic for sure."
"Does she know how to break the spell?" Dipper asked. The journal could provide a cure or potion but he needed details.
"It's called the Crimson Curse. Very rare and difficult to cast."
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Norman rubbed his neck in frustration. "Agatha tells me it's a reckless, unstable, unpredictable spell."
"I'll…I'll find some way to remove the curse!" Dipper reassured, flipping through various journal entries.
"You'll never get a remedy in time." Bill taunted.
"We refuse to give up!"
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Days spent in an old dusty library produced nothing. Luck dwindled, hour after hour with uninformative research. Clues are scarce. Subtly Norman, Wirt, and Dipper's personalities' changed. Wearing friendly masks they turned more wild and cold inside. Instead, their ambitions changed entirely.
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Dipper had no interest in discovering who the journal's author is. He pursued in crafting violent experiments and bizarre inventions for knowledge. Learning sorcery is also intertwined in his adventures.
Wirt heard the dark violins and drum of the Beast surge. The woodland monster abandoned the prison in his soul; now set loose. Discarding hobbies he loved, Wirt instead lured mythical creatures under his command.
Norman is only fascinated by dark magic and necromancy. The undead listened to him, no questions asked. Ghosts and zombies frightened residents by haunting places at dusk.
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Bill, still captured within the lantern, guided them to multidimensional control. Giddy, Cipher patiently waited for the precious day Weirdmageddon would arrive. The demon became the boys' ominous phosphorous light among the ever-changing darkness. The whole town openly feared Dipper, Wirt, and Norman. Most avoided them at all costs. Others were curious like a moth to a flame.
Mabel, Agatha, Neil, Pacifica, Candy, and Grenda sided in their endeavors.
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'Perhaps humans aren't that bad after all.' Bill mused. The dream demon felt pride ignite in the pit where a heart should be. 'They're so dedicated and strong.' Cipher shifted in a stone throne and admired the scenery. It isn't as flashy as the apocalypse he imagined, but it is still amazing.
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A summoning circle lay beneath his floating throne. All the apprentices surrounded him, wearing black robes decorated with gold. Their faces were caked with blood yet smiles shimmered brightly in happiness. Dipper and Pacifica, hands clasped together romantically, presented the demon a sacrifice –a fresh heart. Bill appreciated gifts of bones and organs gathered from humans and animals. In return, he increased their powers, and strengthened the curse.
The apprentices sang energetically, harmoniously, charmingly about the world's end.
There were even a few fashioned about how much they admired the new mythical overlord.
"Yes, this is stunningly ideal." Bill said over a song praising the Crimson Curse.
