"But Mr. Pines, they finished all their studies."
"This is important Soos. Can I count on you?"
Soos saluted. "Always, sir!"
He gave the repairman some cash. "Take 'em to the arcade, movies, mini golfing. Anywhere. Fiddleford and I will be gone all day."
"Where are you guys going?"
.
Dipper and Mabel ran through the tourist shop. "Let's have a game night!"
"We will tomorrow, promise." Stan chuckled.
"Can we help?"
"It's too dangerous," Fiddleford said. "We're sealing the scars so corrupted don't attack. We don't want you to get hurt." He waved and marched out the door to start the car.
Stan hung by the doorway, his melancholy gaze surprising them. "Leave it to us. Responsibilities are no fun. Enjoy being kids. It doesn't last forever. Life is merciless." He shut the door, a hint of regret in his eyes.
.
"Ready?" The scientist asked with a cheesy smile.
"Never." He crossed his arms. "How much you wanna bet those kids are up to some trouble?"
"I don't need to calculate the odds to say I'd risk all my money and win. They're probably trying to figure out about the corrupted." Fiddleford's smile dropped to a sympathetic frown. "I know it's hard, Stan. But-"
"Yeah, yeah. We gotta do this," he sighed. "But why can't some other losers save the day?"
McGucket chuckled. "Because we're the only ones that can?"
"Always sunshine and rainbows, aren't you?"
"Only when I'm with you."
.
Parking by another car the two greeted Wendy, Tambry, Robbie, Nate, and Lee. Wendy was making a campfire –fire seemed to ward off the weaker corrupted.
"You all ready to do this?"
Tambry lifted up a drawstring pouch. "Got my charms and chalk."
Robbie flipped his hair and tuned his guitar. "No zombie chicks? What a waste of a performance."
"Alright everybody, here's the plan." Wendy sharply glared at her soldiers. "Lee and Nate, you protect Stand and Fiddleford. Tambry will set the trap and Robbie will use his magic to push them back."
"And how am I going to do that?"
"With this," Fiddleford dropped a device.
Robbie grinned, feeling the icy magic sting his fingertips. "Not bad."
.
"How many scars are there?" Tambry asked.
"I've located three so far," Fiddleford responded. "This is more of a test to see if we're capable of even healing one."
"The old mages are dead. And the forest spirit is having trouble. Nobody has seen him in years." Stan muttered. "So you guys are our only chance."
"Would Northwest help us?"
Tambry scoffed. "Only if it helps his wallet."
Wendy waved her hand, signaling that it was time to depart to the woods. Nate and Lee transformed, Robbie carried his guitar, and Tambry warily looked over to the shadows, making sure they weren't followed.
.
Scattering runes, Tambry muttered spells. Magic energy hummed as they surrounded the scar. Robbie played a tune and a crescent of magic hurled stones away. Stan sat, shut his eyes, and let his mind access the dreamscape. This isn't like applying magic to gambling or fighting. He has to picture the wound, telepathically reach out, study the darkness and be agile enough not to plunge into its depths. It'll be like surgery.
.
McGucket eyed the murky shadows, anticipating a group of corrupted to emerge. He carefully held his laser gun at the scar. His bow and arrows are slung over his shoulder as backup.
The magic traps slowed down the first wave and accurate shots sent them flying into the nothingness. Stan's magic slowly fought the corrupted scar, hissing and fizzing as it was removed.
"It's working!"
.
Dark magic shrieked as it desperately tried to escape. Wendy chopped down the corrupted that had run away from Tambry's spell trap. They split into halves before evaporating. Nate and Lee wildly clawed, bit, and hurled their enemies. If any tried to attack Stan and Fiddleford, Robbie sent a powerful blast from his guitar.
.
But the darkness responded to their vehemence with the same enraged violence.
Wendy decapitates a row of corrupted. "Don't retreat! We can win!"
Tambry shouted, "McGucket –over there!"
.
A corrupted stands as twice as tall as the others. Its body is like a ram's head on a Minotaur's body. Unlike the others it has no flesh. Just effervescent darkness and terrifying purple eyes. It runs over the corrupted and lunges at Stan.
.
The loud bang of a gunshot echoes in the deafening warfare. Fiddleford didn't even see if the bullet had hit because the monster punched him –chucking him into the air. He hit the ground with a crack. Stunned, Fiddleford lost his breath and can't move. Tears spill from his eyes. Get up, get up, get up! What kind of friend am I? I can't even protect Stanley from-
"Mr. Pines!"
.
Wendy runs up to save him, meeting the monster and swinging her axe. It goes straight through. It growls angrily and swipes claws at her. She jumps out of the way. The monster veered and attacked Stan. His screams are bloodcurdling.
Tambry helped Fiddleford up and they ran to Pines. It latched onto him like a leech, its magic affecting him like a snake's venom.
.
Stanley is flung past hundreds of places. Places he's been before. Gambling halls, hotels, a prison cell, the Mystery Shack, to a far-reaching countryside field. He realizes these are his memories or at least a good imitation. He's dumped tersely on the ground. A cold wind runs against his skin like blades. The sky is a darkening melancholy grey. The grass crinkles ominously –it feels so empty here.
.
"It's been a long time hasn't it?"
"Ford…" Stanley abruptly jumps to his feet. Dipper's omen is true. Still. Shock is clear on Stan's face. How could he be alive?!
.
He looked the same as he had the day of the war. Short silver hair, his glasses cracked, the corrupted magic marring him into something bizarre, and the long tattered brown coat. A coat that Stan had given him as a gift years ago.
One eye is gone, just a socket. Dark magic restlessly slithers at his feet. Half of his jaw is worn away, mere bone. And those identical brown eyes that Stan also shared are now a glowing, dreadful, arrogant purple. Ford's body is a broken old vessel that can hardly control the restless corrupted energy.
.
"You're alive."
Ford smiled. "Something as unsophisticated as death can't kill me. Not forever." He waved his hand and a cigar appeared. He handed it to Stan who eyed it like it was a viper. "What? I can't offer you one? I maybe a monster, or what you call one, but I don't discard civility and pleasantries."
.
Stan chuckled. Hah. Confident bastard. He took and lit the cigar. It'll at least give him time to think of a way to push him out of the mindscape. Maybe he could fight Ford. It'd be tough. Ford is equally strong and smart just like Stan.
.
"How've you been, brother? A lot has changed in Gravity Falls."
"Same old dingy town. And I'm fine." It's a halfhearted lie. They both know. Stanley and Fiddleford have feared Ford's return ever since the scars reappeared. They had thought it was a stubborn group of soldiers that had survived the war. Maybe a supernatural that had taken Ford's place as the scariest thing alive.
"And Fiddleford?"
Stan's eyes hardened but he smiled wittily. "Better without you."
.
He tossed the cigar and said, "No man is immortal, Ford. Magic or not. And ever since that demon possessed you, you-"
Ford laughed. "Bill Cipher? He never possessed me."
"What?"
"Is that how you think I survived? Cipher only helped me in the beginning. He was a mere factor in my vision. A second-rate creature –an insignificant guide."
.
Stanford shrugged. "But that's not why I decided to visit you. My spies are everywhere, Stanley. You didn't tell me about Dipper and Mabel."
His nonchalant expression creased with fear.
"I know you probably didn't tell them about me. But I think they'd be great apprentices."
.
He glared at Ford. "You won't win this time, or ever again."
"Still so optimistic. Or," Stanford smiled. "You're saying that out of desperation. While you age and weaken I get stronger. You can't even push me out of your dreamscape."
"I don't need magic to kick your ass! C'mon!" Stan bunched his muscles, ready for a brawl.
.
Screaming, Stanley lunged at Ford. But his brother foresaw his moves. He spun and locked Stan with his staff. He kicked him and Stan rolled. Stanley threw frantic punches, hitting Ford's jaw and side –Ford recoiled. He summoned dark energy and shot Stan who collapsed.
.
The agony is like a thousand scorching aches, thunder-like. Stan's taken a metal pipe to his ribs, plenty of kicks, a broken jaw, and outrageous wounds, but this?!
It's torment. The magic searches his mind, stabbing at his regrets.
.
You're a failure. Always have been.
You're nothing but a conman.
Nothing but a loser. Sure, you were popular but he had brains. He'd be mankind's next genius.
Ford had potential.
He's like this because of me. Because I couldn't save him.
Have I really lost my brother forever? The one I knew before we had magic?
.
Stanley puked.
"How heartbreaking it'll be," Ford chuckled. "When Fiddleford will find you as a corrupted. A brainless, bloodthirsty monster."
.
Shakily Stan stands up, fighting the agonizing pain burning through his mind. His eyes glint with rage and rebellion. "You're the one who sacrificed everything for valueless power! Even if I turn into a corrupted I'd still be a better human being than you!" He tackled Ford and they rolled.
.
"Stanley!" McGucket saw Stan thrashing violently as if fighting an invisible enemy.
Tambry threw talismans at him. The charms burned quickly, unsuccessfully repelling the monster that had entered Stan's mind. "Those usually work! It must be a curse!"
"A curse?!"
"Guys?! They're sending backup!" A blast from Robbie's guitar sent many corrupted flying. The horde returned intense firepower. Arrows and magic. Lee ran away with many wounds and Nate had arrows through his shoulder. Wendy was getting surrounded. Tambry threw more talismans and rescued her. "We gotta get out of here!"
.
"Whoo! High score!" Dipper cheered. Mabel high-fived him. "At least I'm the champion of laser tag." They left their game to find Soos playing an old racer. Dipper was about to insert a coin when he felt a pain –an electric tremor shooting up from his spine to his brain. Did…did somebody scream?
.
The coin fell as Dipper nearly collapsed. Mabel and Soos ran over to him. "Are you okay?!"
"I think Stan is in trouble!"
"How can you tell?"
"I…I think he sent a signal. I heard him scream. But, telepathically. Ugh. It feels like my spine and brain are on fire."
"C'mon dudes!" They all ran to the car.
.
"Can you tell where he is?"
"Wait!" Mabel's put a hand to her head. "I sense it too! East!"
Dipper tried not to vomit. That signal was charged with so much magic he could only hear a deafening ringing in his ears.
Mabel worriedly looked at the horizon. "Something big is happening in Gravity Falls."
.
Stan wiped blood from his mouth. He and Ford are scuffed, bleeding, and outraged. The twins turned their head at the same time, sensing others out of the mindscape.
"Reinforcements?"
Soos? Kids? No. Run. Run as far as you can!
Ford smiled. "You've lost Stanley. My return is inevitable. And this time you won't be able to stop me. The world will finally be rendered by my powers. Goodbye brother."
"No!"
.
He cursed. Ford's gone and he's trapped in his own mindscape. Turning into a monster. Fiddleford, Mabel, Soos, and Dipper are in danger and he can't do anything to save them. The corrupted magic is roaring like restless violent sea waves.
.
"Soos? Kids?!"
"We sensed that Stan was –Stan?!"
"Listen! Soos. Get everyone out of here!"
"Yes sir!"
Fiddleford dreadfully looked back at the corrupted horde. "This is a catastrophic failure. If we don't run we'll be –look out!"
.
Whatever had possessed Stanley peeled off of him and lunged at the others. Wendy shielded Soos and swung her axe. It completely ignored her.
Fiddleford fired his laser gun. The bullet hit and the creature screamed. It fled –but it was a trick. The monster attacked Dipper.
.
He hurriedly cast a spell but the monster went through. It latched onto Dipper and he fell. His punches were useless and he was sent into the mindscape.
.
A surreal, dreamlike woods. His heart pounded anxiously. What's going on?!
Bill?
No answer. Why isn't he replying? He always does. And Dipper could really use his humor right now.
.
"Hello Dipper."
"Who are you?" The man looks a lot like Stan. Is he-
"I'm Stan's brother, Stanford. His twin."
Dipper tried not to recoil under Ford's intimidating existence, so he glared at him. "Why'd you hurt Stan?"
"One must crush their enemies remorselessly and insightfully if one is to win. I refuse to lose at anything. He's a real fool, not telling you about me."
.
Pines eyed him warily. Ford isn't what he expected. "Were you the one that started the war?"
Ford's eyes glint proudly. "Yes. I failed then but I won't fail now. Let's hope you're more trustworthy than my brother and friend were."
"You…aren't going to zap me with your evil powers?"
He chuckled, ignoring that his magic was considered evil. His smile was insufficient, as if he had never kindly smiled before. "No. My army told me a lot about you. You're smart and brave. You were the only one to go see the Multibear. And well, I guess we're both outcasts."
.
An image of the world appeared floating on Ford's hand. "Join my army, Dipper. Be an apprentice. Learn magic that isn't in those ordinary drab books. Change reality."
Dipper crossed his arms. "No."
Resentment flashed in his eye. "Stan will betray you like he did me. He's a conman! A fraud! Do you really want to protect such a worthless person?!"
"He took us in. Him and Fiddleford have been more of a family than my own parents. You'll never convince me, Ford."
I don't want to change the world. I just want to find out who I am, and help others. Ford's the real fraud.
.
Ford frowned. "I will invade Gravity Falls. When that happens you'll lose everything you care about. I'd rather you not be my enemy, Dipper. You and I are the same."
"We aren't! Just because I have dark magic doesn't mean I'll be like you! I'll never be like you, Ford!"
"Really? We'll see when life pushes you past your limits like it did to me. How wretched life is when things are out of your control. You'll have to make hard choices. There is no selfless hero. No good men. C'mon. I'll show you the stronghold."
.
Stanford casted a portal. Dipper summoned roots to his arms and legs to withstand the violent gusts.
Blue flames fly into the portal and dispel it. "You aren't taking Dipper anywhere."
Ford is shocked. He stares incredulously at the demon. "Bill Cipher."
"You know Bill?!"
"We were friends. He was my guide. When I arrived at Gravity Falls he appeared. I had little magic. Darkness. Water. But I learned that magic can not only be learned but taken. So I took his powers and augmented mine, reviving the ancient corrupted."
Dipper looked at Bill. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"See?" Ford laughed. "Worthless. They'll betray you."
"You betrayed everyone!" Bill shouted.
.
Cipher looked regretfully at Dipper. "I was trying to. His magic…I almost didn't survive the last fight. Run, Pine Tree. Help Stan and the others."
He's right. Dipper doesn't want to leave Bill to fight Ford by himself but he has to.
Bill snapped his fingers. Dipper felt a painful punch to his gut as he's thrown out of the mindscape. Coughing, he puked. The corrupted monster ran away only to be slain by Tambry's exorcism charms. Soos hoisted him and Stan into his arms and carried them to the car. They stared at the horde that vanished. Why weren't they chasing them? At least they didn't have to worry about a bunch of scary corrupted trying to break in. Fiddleford looked worriedly at his friend as they drove back to the Mystery Shack. I don't know how to dispel curses but I promise Stanley, I'll do whatever I can to save you