Somber soundlessness drapes over the Mystery Shack like a funeral. Fiddleford and Soos worriedly studied Stan but are just as clueless as before. Soos added more locks and reinforced the doorframe. Who knows what the curse would do as Stanley changed?

"Can I see Stan?" Mabel asked.

.

She's trembling frightfully and so is her voice. Dipper was in the twins' room, knocked out from the fight they had just escaped.

McGucket's words are hardly a whisper. "No. If he turns…" he looked at Soos. "Keep watch."

Soos fought tears. "Yes sir."

.

Mabel followed McGucket to their room. Dipper sat up abruptly –his eyes flashing with terror, as if he's still amid the corrupted. "Are we being attacked?!"

She hugged her brother and cried. "I'm so happy you're safe!"

How did he go unaffected by the corrupted? Does Dipper really have dark magic? But Fiddleford didn't care, he was just happy that Dipper wasn't cursed by the monster. "How are you?"

"Fine. Just feeling sick." He stared at McGucket. "I know what happened to Stan."

.

The three sat at the kitchen table, the usually comfy cramped corner now stifling with grief. A hot mug is resting in Fiddleford's hands but heat from the steam couldn't banish a lump of trepidation in his throat. Dipper had explained everything –excluding Bill. He still wasn't sure if bringing up learning dark magic would be smart right now.

.

Nobody talked for a long time. The dreadful news sunk in. Everyone's gaze is far away. Staring at their half-eaten food, the window, and the walls. Lost in their emotional thoughts.

.

Plop. Plop. Plop.

The twins look up to see tears falling from Fiddleford's eyes into his drink.

"I'm sorry," his voice is wavering apologetically. "I couldn't protect any of you. And I don't know how long Stanley has. I don't even know what I should do to break the curse. I'm sorry we didn't tell you about Ford. Stan and I thought he was dead."

"McGucket…" Mabel frowned sympathetically.

"It isn't your fault. You guys did what you had to."

One thing is undeniable. Ford has returned and they had no idea how to stop him.

.

"Could Tambry help?"

"Yes, she's our only option. Traveling to the dreamscape would be too dangerous. I'll call her. Hopefully they escaped unscathed too." McGucket got up and ran to the phone. "But I wonder why the corrupted didn't follow us."

.

Stan coughed and puked purple blood. His throat felt like it was on fire. Bleeding wounds are now copper, dark scars sprout into antler like needles. Searing pain flashes through Stan's muscles as he stumbles through the dreamscape. I gotta get out of here and save the kids. Save McGucket.

.

He stops –recognizing the backyard him and Ford would play in as kids. A miniature plane dove by nearly hitting his nose as it landed in grass. Past-Stanley ran out the door and waved an old dusty book in his hand. "Ford! Ford! Look what I found!"

"Hold on," past-Ford smiled. Grabbing the plane he wrote down detailed equations and observations.

.

"I found this old book! It belonged to our great grandfather. I think it can explain why we have those symbols." They flipped through the pages. Past-Ford doubtfully read the spells. "Magic isn't real."

"Why do we have these symbols then?"

"I suppose we could try."

.

And they did. You could imagine their astonishment when they figured out that magic was, yes, real. But why was it so rare? Why were Ford and Stan the only ones to get magic in their family? They never knew their grandfather; he had died a long time ago, and all they have is a photo. Was there a place where there are mages like them?

.

Stanford learned he could control water. But it was hard.

Stan, however, could read minds and cast small illusions. He'd often come home with his arms and pockets full of candy that he had won by gambling in games with the other kids. He'd always share with his brother and they celebrated like thieves who stole great treasure from a stronghold.

.

Focusing as hard as he could, past-Ford lifted water from a glass. The cylinder trembled but stayed intact to its original shape. It rejected his commands to move, to turn into another shape. The water fell and splashed on his face. "Ugh! Why does this have to be so difficult?!"

"You make all those cool inventions. You'll be a great mage!"

"Science and engineering is easy. Magic isn't as straightforward."

He laughed. "Not to me. You're a genius, Ford. C'mon. Let's go to school."

.

Stan's memories swirled and changed as he walked. He could faintly feel blood drip down his chin. The scorching agony weighed him down. But he had to fight the curse.

.

The twins were in high school at this time. Stanford loved reading and being by himself. But here? It's torment. There's nowhere he could go that his bullies didn't trail him. Ford lacked physical expertise and had six fingers –of course people make fun of him. It usually didn't bother him, but he had expected that someday he'd be admired for his intelligence. But that never happened.

.

They circled and loomed over him. Broken glasses go flying as he's hurled by a punch. Everything is muddy and soggy from the rain.

He'd be late for class. The teachers would be mad and he'd never go to college.

Ford realized downheartedly, All I worked for doesn't matter. He had worked so hard and what was he rewarded with? Not fame and fortune. Not a lover. Not friends. Only more stress to stay as the sharp-minded number one student.

.

Ford wants to scream. I wish I could stand up to them. One of the bullies grabs his wallet. Another stomps on his science project. Stanford silently glares at them. He tries to stand but his injuries make it impossible. He sees his pathetic reflection in the moving pool beneath him.

.

The water listens. Icicle-shaped water rose and instantly fell. It fanatically lunged out at one of the bully's legs and wrenched. A shocking snap and he screams. The others turn and Ford stifles a laugh.

.

He's sharply hoisted up by his shirt collar by another bully. "What're you?! Some kind of Satan worshipper?!

"What'd you do to him?!"

Their cries and shouts are all far away, muffled. Ford can only hear the first bully's agony as he rolls; his ankle and foot opposite of where it should be. Turned around and hardly hanging onto the leg.

.

"Who hurt my brother?"

Everyone faces past-Stanley who fearlessly and mercilessly glared at the bullies. No one answered. They just stood there dumbly gaping at him.

.

He had read their minds and ran as fast as he could to help past-Ford. He gripped his knuckles and stepped towards them. They ran away.

"Cowards!" Past-Stan shouted. He sighed and mumbled, "Man. I really wanted to fight." Picking up the broken glasses he helped past-Ford up and gave them to him. He looked like he'd been through a war.

"I'm fine, Stanley," he chuckled, seeing his twin's anger and worry. Both of them ignored the one bully that was abandoned by his friends who was still over on the ground. Past-Stan looked at the metal corpse of Ford's machine. "Guess you're not making it to the fair today. C'mon. Let's go."

"Go? You mean ditch? What about our grades?"

.

"What're we doing here?"

"To practice magic!" Past-Stan wants his twin to cheer up. They're at the beach. Gray afternoon sky encompasses the far-reaching pale pink ocean waves. The two stand ankle-deep in water. Scooping up some past-Stan tossed water at his brother. "Show me what you got!"

.

Past-Stan waded enthusiastically in the water and with his mind, reached out and hooked onto what his twin was planning.

"…to the side and swim under the water. I'll appear behind and tackle him."

Faking an upper punch he sees past-Ford dive. He turns to defend but then is met with a pillar of water that sends him flying. He crashes into deeper water and returns to the surface, coughing and blinking water from his eyes.

At least Ford's smiling again.

"Did you forget I know that you can read minds?"

.

After high school Ford got accepted to college. Stanley? His life was living in his car, driving past bright lights and joining heists. Years later they met again. At some bread-and-breakfast Stan couldn't remember the name of. But he clearly remembers the crashing waves of the ocean. The comforting and sentimental sound always seemed to follow him wherever he went.

.

Past-Stan slammed down a beer and poured another in a glass while past-Ford sipped coffee. "So. Any plans? I heard you won some awards for writing a book about alternate dimensions and inventing…what was it again?"

"A miniature portal. It's a prototype. An object can hardly travel within a ten foot distance."

.

I was always jealous of Ford. Proud too. All I know is illusions and tricks. Him? He's extraordinary.

.

"I bought a cabin in Gravity Falls. A secluded place for more tests. I don't want any nosy reporters asking about my inventions."

"Isn't that place a dump? Nothing there. Aren't you going to settle down sometime? Find someone and have kids?"

Past-Ford smiled. He stared at the people walking outside. "Yeah. That'd be awesome. Someone who didn't mind me working in a lab all the time. And maybe four kids."

"Four?!" Stan snorted. "They'd all be obnoxious geniuses like you."

"What about you, Stanley?"

"Hell no! I could probably marry but having kids? They have punch-able faces! All they do is get into fights and go on dangerous adventures."

Ford chuckled. "Like you?"

.

Ironic. Stanley laughed. He'd fight for Mabel and Dipper until his death. It's sad how his and Ford's fates reversed. Pines wishes that his brother had had the life he wanted.

.

"Move to Gravity Falls. We can study magic like old times. Travel to different dimensions."

"You think that'd be possible?"

"Magic is. Why wouldn't alternate dimensions be? My friend from college, McGucket, is there. He builds machines too."

"I'm in." Stan looked at the book that his brother had placed on the bar. The ideas used science and magic.

Present-Stanley looked on mournfully. Maybe if I had done something different, Ford wouldn't have started the war.

.

Tambry senses sinister energy over the Mystery Shack. Shadows waved threateningly. The charms in her bag clink, clink, clink as she walked up creaky wood steps and knocked on the door. Fiddleford answered. He's as pale as the dead.

.

Chalk marks windswept floorboards. She wiped her brow and looked around. "Whatever cursed him is affecting the house too. Not even the cemetery is that scary."

"You're an amazing seer, Tambry. But will your spells work?"

"I don't know." She lights candles and replaces the match with runes. "Bring him out."

.

Soos and Fiddleford carefully carry Stanley to the symbols. Mabel fought tears. Dipper stared worriedly. Stan looks lifeless. His fingertips and lips are blue. His eyes are glowing purple. Copper glimmers on scars that only partially healed.

.

The seer chanted. Her voice is somber but ominous. The runes hummed and float around Stan. Everyone jumps as he screams like a bloodthirsty poltergeist. Deafening.

.

Stanley thrashes violently. Tambry raised her hands as if picking up some invisible force. An almost see-through being peels away from its host.

"The curse! I've never seen one have a physical form!"

.

It desperately tries to cling to the brain it had attached to. The energy Tambry is drawing away is so strong everyone can hear a snap –like a falling tree. She's thrown across the room. The twins help her up as the being cackled. The fortuneteller trembled fearfully. "I can't do this. Whatever's got him is strengthened by hatred and grief."

.

Dipper membered the Orthrus fang. He gave it to Tambry. "Could this be turned into a charm?"

"How'd you get an Orthrus fang?!" She shook her head. Questions later. This is urgent!

.

Tambry held the fang. It's the size of a man's hand and tinted with blood. She blessed it with magic. "Get ready to fight!"

Fiddleford, Dipper, Mabel, and Soos surround Stan. The Orthrus fang hovers in the air and glows.

.

The monster screamed. The Orthrus fang strikes it in the heart. Red light fractures it like veins. Mabel shot thunder, Fiddleford hit it with an arrow, Soos used a chair, and Dipper casted mushrooms. The wraithlike being exploded into charred fragments.

.

"The curse is gone. But I still feel corrupted magic here."

"What do we do?"

She gave Soos a bag of talismans. "Place these around the Mystery Shack. I'll have to check spells at the library to see what can remove this energy."

"Thank you Tambry." The scientist gave her some cash.

The seer is shocked. "I don't need any money. Protecting the people of this town is my job."

"It's the least I can do."

Tambry smiled and left.

.

Stan's eyes opened to see everyone surrounding him. He's in his bedroom and far away from the curse that afflicted him. "Fiddleford? Soos? Kids?"

"The curse is gone," Fiddleford blinked tears away.

"Yeah! We kicked that monster's butt and saved Mr. Pines!" Soos mimicked martial arts moves.

"We missed you, Stan." Mabel said.

"What happened?" He asked.

.

After a meal, the twins went to bed, Soos placed the talismans, and Fiddleford talked with Stanley.

"I can't believe he's back. And Ford's after the twins. Do you have everything prepared?"

"Almost." McGucket sighed. "If I hadn't failed, you wouldn't have gotten cursed. It's my fault. I-"

"Hey. It isn't your fault. If it's anyone's, it's mine. Ford's my brother. I should've known he'd turn on us. When I get back on my feet we gotta complete that project you've been working on." Stan groaned. That curse sapped all his energy and exchanged it for agonizing muscle aches.

.

Fiddleford mended his machines as the night perished into day. He had fallen asleep and is hurled into a nightmare.

He's back at the old lab. Where it all began. A giant metal portal looms in front of him statuesquely. Wires hang from the futuristic technology as it tries to stay intact. Sparks pop. Beakers have fallen over or are broken –chemicals spill over onto the floor. Smoke burns his nose but the scientist is fixed where he stands.

.

Ford stands there and smiles. "It's been so long since I've seen you, McGucket."

Panic and terror painfully grapple his heart. Fiddleford's hand mechanically goes to his face, to familiar scars. He takes a step back. Ford takes a step towards the scientist.

.

His voice used to bring me certainty and support. But Now? The soothing deep voice can't conceal his selfish deceit.

Ford sighed. "We almost had it." He hand reaches out as if to grasp something extraordinary. "Access to different dimensions. Imagine if we could've ruled over it all."

.

A shred of the old compassionate Ford gleamed in his eyes. "You were the only one I could trust after the fight. And even when you erased my memory I never forgot you." His posture is like a soldier's. Confident, unafraid, intimidating. Extracting a photo from his coat pocket, he showed it to Fiddleford. It was a picture of them in college. "Our inventions were going to change the world."

.

Frowning sternly, the scientist bitterly laughed. "There needs to be a world to change. What we did almost destroyed it. And too many things could go wrong. What if we met our other selves? What if it messed up either timeline by melding two worlds together?"

"You were willing to take the risks back then. You and Stanley."

"But I refused when I saw what little damage our research had done!"

That's what he wanted all along.

.

"I'm sorry. I know those scars must've been…" For once Ford failed to find the right words. Magic cracked lively in his hand. "I can heal them."

This isn't a trick. He would never turn McGucket into a corrupted. Stanford really did want his old friend back. So did Fiddleford.

The scientist's glare hardened. "I'd rather keep them."

.

Hurt and rage bleeds onto Ford's face. "Why live in a bland world full of limitations and self-centered people?"

"Because I don't let world-destroying misconceptions guide me. The world is a horrible place. But I'm not willing to destroy other worlds to make mine better."

Stanford's eyes darkened. Corrupted hissed and shrieked as they surrounded him. "I'll come back. As the world falls apart you'll feel despair. Then, you'll have no choice but to join me in the war." The corrupted lunged at McGucket. He had no time to run or fight. He screamed-

.

Soos ran in when he heard a loud crash. Fiddleford had leapt from his chair and equipment lay scattered around his feet. "Are you okay?"

"I…I…" he looked around, his breathing panicked. "I think so. Soos. Can you do something for me? Can you go into town?"

"Yes sir."

"Buy what you can. We've got a lot of work to do."