Disclaimers: I do not own Gravity Falls

Author's Notes: This episode will be covering the following: Wand to Wand, Star Struck and Camping Trip. Thank you for reading and please review.


(Back with Tad…)

[On the Run: Day 20]

Survival is much easier now that he and Spider are on the same page. Tad rides on the back of his arachnoid companion as they make their usual trip to the river. Spider walks easily through the snow and onto the frozen water. She then cuts a whole and uses her webs to haul in a big load, it's so heavy that she needs Tad's help.

He jumps down and pulls with all his might and soon the catch is there's. Tad takes a fish out of the net and tosses it to Spider. "You can have more when we unload the haul girl." He promised.

The spider makes a sound of agreement, or what Tad believes is one. She's not hissing or shrieking, just making a soft sound in her throat. Tad smiles he hasn't grown attached to the spider, but he had to admit she was great company now that they weren't fighting over food. He helps her drag their catch back to camp. The two drop their catch in the cave, preparing to unload when a shadow of a bird flies over head.

It's the same one Tad encountered from his first day here.

Spider clicks, she sounds almost excited, she looks to Tad expectingly.

Tad smiles as he watches the bird. "It's time." He says as he jumps on the spider's back. In seconds they had caught up to their target before passing the bird all together. Spider stops, waiting for her prey to catch up.

The bird continues to fly, passing Tad and spider on top of a tree. Surprised, the bird turns back around to look at them.

Tad waves "Hi."

Spider clicks happily once more before she deploys her webs, capturing her latest prey.

Tad smiles as the bird's eyes meet his. "We're inviting you to Dinner bird." He informed their new companion. "You will be joining us as a guest or food, your choice."

Bird looks to Spider, who hisses a warning, seeing no choice the bird looks back to Tad and bows her head slightly.

Moments later the three are surrounding a fire and eating their shares of the days spoils.

"Nature is a cruel mother and favors the merciless." Tad said looking to his new companions happily. "In order to survive we must find the wild within ourselves. You girls taught me that and I will never forget it." He raises his half-eaten fish. "To us!"

Spider and Bird shouted a reply in a chorus of clicks and chirps.

Tad's being swelled with pride at their efforts to join him in his comradery. He had a crew again, and despite their size he knew they were stronger then all his past goons together. He knew they could win; they would help him rise to power and they would help him lay vengeance on all who crossed him. There was just one thing left to do. "Now all we need to do is decide our next more…"


(Back with Dipper…)

If there was a place, he loved more then anything it was the woods of Gravity Falls. Dipper took in a deep breath, and smiled. Most people found the woods dangerous and unsettling, , these woods especially. The place was full of monsters that would jump you, steal your overalls and even drink your blood! However, Dipper felt at one with the place, completely in sync with the forest around him.

"Camping! Camping!" Mabel and Stan chanted together as the group ventured deeper into the woods.

Dipper had just finished his five days of community service and to celebrate Ford had decided to take the kids on one of his and Stan's expeditions. Well, they said it was to celebrate, but Dipper knew it was really because they were afraid to let them stay home alone. There was still no sign of Toffee or Tad, and tensions were rising. Still, it had been a long time since he and Mabel had tagged along. Plus, Ford thought it would be good for Bill to see why their work was so important.

Bill of course acted like he could care less, but even he had to admit he was curious. What did the Stan twins actually do on these adventures of theirs anyways? He was about to find out, and he was looking forward to the experience. Of course, he'd never let Sixer know that. "Yeah, let's get the festivities started!" He sneered.

Ford looked up from his reading, he was currently nose deep in his field journal as they walked. This journal was one of three where the Pines family, (mainly Ford) documented their research. "This isn't going to be all fun and games Bill." He explained. "There are some creatures here that are native from other realms. Some haven't been seen in hundreds of years, this is great opportunity for you. We can show you how to approach and study new creatures. With this knowledge you can help your kingdom assess a new beast and decided whether it is a threat to your people without causing unnecessary chaos."

Bill rolled his eyes again he knew this, but he didn't want Sixer to know that, though he's not sure why. Dipper says it maybe Ford's teaching style that is to blame. While Dipper can stand the droning boring lessons of lecture after lecture, Bill simply cannot.

"Relax." Dipper assured him. "It'll be fun, Grunkle Stan always knows how to make it more fun. It's the only way Mabes pays attention." He whispered the last part.

"Fun is the aid to knowledge!" Mabel declared as she and Stan pressed on ahead.

"Stanley don't go too far ahead; you know this is Kill Billy territory." Ford warned.

"Relaxes those overall stealing, blood sucking, Hill Billies won't try anything." Stan said assumingly. "Not after last time."

"Kill Billies." Ford corrected him. "And I'd rather not take any chances."

"What happened last time?" Bill whispered.

"Grunkle Stan beat one up, stole his overalls and chased it around screaming "I will suck your blood" at the top of his lungs." Dipper explained.

"Ah the old 'taste of your old medicine' trick." Bill chuckled in amusement. "That's a classic."

"It could have gotten us all killed!" Ford lectured. "You have to remember that when you are in these woods you are on their turf."

"Which is why I'm trying to make sure we get out of their turf by night fall." Stan argued, picking up the pace. "Come on Bro, give me some credit."

"So, what are we tracking today?" Bill asked. "I mean I get you want to show me how to assess a random creature, but you do have one in mind right?"

"Oh yes, this one is quite unique, but harmless a safe example of how to handle a potentially harmful creature…the correct way." He added the last part when he remembered Bill had a habit of flirting with dangerous stuff all the time.

"And the beast is?" Bill emphasized as he asked again. He was not about to give Sixer a chance to go in full lecture mode.

"It doesn't really have a name yet." Dipper explained. "Mabel calls it the 'Naked Candy Monster' on the account that it broke into the Shack one night and soled all our candy."

"The naked little man still haunts my dreams." Mabel admitted.

"Cool trauma." Bill said. "I can't wait until I finally get traumatically scarred for life."

"You haven't yet?" Dipper asked. It seemed like a good question after all, the guy came from a place called the Nightmare Realm.

"I'm a demon Pine Tree." Bill reminded him. "It takes a lot more to traumatize me."

"Fair enough." Dipper shrugs.

"My hope is that we can properly identify it." Ford said. "We'll watch it, document our findings and share it with other experts."

"What if it's never been seen before?" Bill asked.

Ford smiled with excitement. "It's not unlikely, but it would be the first."

"Which means he gets to name it." Stan jumped in, stealing his brother's thunder. "He's been waiting a long time to finally get to name his own discovery."

"Well, I think it's cool." Dipper cut in, before Ford could allow Stan to ruin his good mood. "I hope I can make a discovery one day."

"Thank you, Mason, and you will I know it." Ford assured him. "You are going to do great things, all of you."

Okay, now even that made Bill smile, sure their relationship was rocky at best, but at the end of the day Ford meant well.

"Now let's hurry, Stan's got the right idea, this place is dangerous at night." Ford instructed as they picked up the pace.


(Back at the Mystery Shack...)

However, the woods was not the only unsafe place...

at that moment, just outside the shack; a foe was closing in!

Mina Loveberry stepped out of the tree line and looked around expectingly. She had been watching the demon prince and the pines at a distance ever since the mishap at school. She had overhear them discussing their plans this weekend and decided now was her time to strike. She listens carefully, finally satisfied that no one is home she moves in.

She knows the shack will be guarded with wards and spells to keep monsters away, but as a human she should have no trouble slipping in. She smiles as she sees an open window on the second floor, no doubt the prince saw no need to lock it. "Bingo."

She takes out a grappling hook and fires, the hook catches the window ledge, and she gives it a tug. It holds and she climbs it up to the top. She enters Bill's room with one objective; according to her studies with Ford the royal family passed it down to every heir when they became of age.

It takes longer then she would like to find it, mostly because she thought the prince would have chosen a better hiding spot. "Under the bed? Really?" Mina pulls the book of spells out with great effort, "Seriously this thing weighs a ton-oof." She heaves it on the bed and starts to flip through the pages.

She sees many spells, and part of her wishes she had more time to study such rich magic, but Mina presses on. She has a specific spell in mind, one that will give her the power to free this world of monsters once and for all. She stops as she finds it "The Solarian Metamorphosis." She whispered. The spell that created the unstoppable army of Queen Luisa and it was all hers! Mina rips the page out of the Spell book before returning it to its place under the bed.

She takes one last look around the room before exiting back out the window. She doesn't leave a single trace of herself behind.


(Back with Bill...)

They had made it to their destination just as dusk was approaching.

"This is it!" Ford says a bit too excited. "From what the pixies have informed me the creature is known to cross paths here every night."

"Why here?" Bill asked. It didn't look special, just a small clearing between the trees.

"It's din is probably close by, Since it's only seen at night, we think it's nocturnal." Dipper explained. "You got the bait?" He asked Mabel.

"Right here." Mabel dumps a bag of candy at their feet and a little surprise pops out with it.

"Greetings." Axolotl says with a wave.

Bill rolls his eyes "Why are you here?" he huffed. "You know beside to do the usual and ruin my fun?"

"Simple." Axolotl says. "I'm here to help identify the mysterious creature." He floats over to Ford. "As an all knowing being I should be able to tell you..."

"That quite kind, but this is a lesson for Bill." Ford explained as he started to climb a near by tree. "He needs to observe it and decide how to handle it."

"Awe a threat Analysis." Axolotl looks pleased. "Excellent, I will watch." The ocean salamander floats off to Ford's right as he gets comfortable in the tree.

"Alright Kids you too." Stan advised.

"Right." Mabel climbs the tree with little effort as does Bill, but Dipper has trouble. Mostly because he's over thinking where to put his feet.

"OH, just get up here already!" Bill reaches down and grabs him by the shirt before hauling him up.

"Thanks." Dipper said sheepishly.

"Sometimes I wonder about you Pines." Bill admitted.

"Shhhhh." Ford warned as the sun disappeared altogether.

The group watched the pile of candy in silence, and it didn't take long for Bill to start feeling bored. He knew this lesson was important, but he never had the patience to sit and wait.

Finally, some nearby bushes began to rustle and the small naked man emerged, it stops to sniff the air before going for the candy. It approaches the pile cautiously and keeps looking around for any danger, once it reaches the pile it takes a handful.

"Fascinating." Ford whispers as he scribbles away in his journal.

"More like disturbing." Bill says, I can see why you're traumatized." He says to Mabel who is covering her eyes.

"Nope I don't see anything." Mabel said in denial.

"But I honestly don't see it as a threat."

Dipper analyzes the creature knowingly, "It looks harmless, but it attacked my face last time."

"That explains a lot." Bill teased.

Dipper gives him a playful punch. "Jerk."

Bill laughs softly and looks back to the creature. "It kind of looks like a goblin." He says thoughtfully.

"Yes..." Ford seemed to agree, but something was off. Goblins were tricksters who ran in groups of at least four.

"Maybe a hob-goblin." Dipper guessed.

"No, the ears aren't pointy." Stan corrected him.

Everyone looks at him, stunned.

"What I know stuff." Stan said somewhat offended. "Seriously I'm tired of everyone thinking you got all the brains."

Ford smiled.

"So do you think it is dangerous?" Axolotl asked Bill.

"Not really." Bill sighed. "I guess if it wasn't alone, it could be a threat." he sounds a bit disappointed.

"Not the action you were hoping for?" Axolotl mused.

"Not really..." Bill admitted. "So, what is it anyway."

"I haven't the slightest idea." Axolotl seemed to shrug.

"What? Aren't you all knowing?" Bill pointed out.

"Indeed I am." Axolotl laughs.

Dipper looks at the creature more closely, a beast that not even the great Axolotl knew of, that was something.

The creature takes the last handful of candy before going on its way, running straight towards Kill Billy territory.

Bill stiffens as loud shouts are heard in the distance. "Okay I take it back whatever it is, it's dangerous."

"Even Kill Billies fear it, remarkable." Ford continues to write as he spoke.

Dipper smiles. "This is nice." He said.

"What? Us crowed in a tree?" Bill asked.

"Uh no, I mean its peaceful." He regrets it the moment the words come out of his mouth. "Not saying that you-"

Bill stops him. "I get it, I know I can be a bit chaotic."

"A bit?" Mabel teased.

"Okay a lot, geesh." Bill laughed. "But you've got to admit, I do make your life more interesting."

"That's one way to put it." Dipper chuckles.

"So, what's next?" Mabel whispered. "I mean we haven't really done anything about you know what."

Dipper knew exactly what she meant. He looked to his Grunkles, the two were muttering among themselves. Ever since Axolotl had taught Bill to dip down his magic had gotten better. However, Dipper's heart to heat with the magical guide had been little help. All it did was give him more to fear.

'His kind are the purest of demons, the darkest and evilest of the breed. Now why you see such things in yourself, well that is for you to discover."

"We'll figure it out." Bill said. "I promise I'll fix this... I'll fix you."

Dipper nods but says nothing, too lost in thought. Why would he see darkness in himself. He looks at Axolotl as if the lizard held all the answers.

Well if he did, his blank eyed stare was giving nothing away...


(Back with Tad...)

Venturing too far away from the safety of the cave would have been a death sentence before, but now that they had Bird things were different.

Tad smiles proudly as he rides bird as she soars over the canopy of the tundra below. Spider is held firmly by her feet, and she is not complaining too much about the flight... for the most part.

"Quiet Spider it's for the best." Tad assured her, he had to scream to be hears over the wind. "Where we're going is much better, and safer." he added the last part mostly to himself. His smiles grows as his target looms in the distance, Cipher's castle. Some may think him mad to step back into his brother's kingdom, but that is why it was such a good idea. No one would expect him to be this close to the enemy.

Bird caws in despair, they had been flying all night and she was growing very tiered. "Alright, alright let's find a place to rest." He scans the ground below, which thanks to the rising sun is easy to see. He spots a lodge nestled deep in the wood and decides that's a good place as any, "There!"

Bird dives at once, ready to rest, and allows Spider to jump from her grasp once they are at a safe distance from the ground. Tad jumps off of Bird as she lands and leads the way, Inside many rats socialize while eating porridge out of glass bowls. The door opens; and they all watch as the newcomers enter.

Tad walks right up to the host's counter and sits down. "I'm glad you're open. My girls and I are starving."

The Host rat, a large rodent drying a bowl with a cloth makes no move to help.

Spider shrieks and moves to attack. "No! We are guest here." Tad warned her. "Porridge please." He says to the host rat expectingly.

The rat snaps his fingers, and a bowl is slid over to Tad, he begins eating, only to stop. "This is mud."

The rats around him laugh.

Tad sighs. "I really just wanted a nice meal." He said. "I even said please."

One of the rats mocks him openly and Tad's eyes narrow.

"Now you've done it!" He growled. "You messed with the wrong Demon rats. Face-melting death ray!" He yells, waving his hand...nothing happens. "Huh?"

The rats tackle him and moments later he, bird, and spider are thrown out of the lodge.

"Ow." Tad hisses as Spider lands on him.

She gets up at once, shaking herself off.

"I just don't get it." Tad muttered. "I used it on you..." He pointed at Spider. "It worked just fine, so why not now?"

Spider looks at him curiously as if trying to think of an answer for him

"I don't know. Maybe this isn't was a fluke." Tad went on.

Spider creeps in closer bopping him in the head.

"Ow! What did I say, give me three feet space, it's called a personal bubble!" Tad lectured.

Spider would sometimes get too close to him when they walked, suddenly she grabs him and holds him over her head

"Hey put me down! What are you doing? No!" Tad is panicking. Spider must no longer see him as a threat since he can't use magic on demand. "Bird stop her."

Bird just watches, obviously she is not about to get in between whatever this is.

"No let me go, you nasty, nasty thing." Tad screams angrily. "Let me go now!"

A flash of green comes out of his hand, it hits a nearby tree and it collapse to the ground.

"What?" Tad is stunned as Spider puts him down.

She steps back attentively, and he gets it.

"That's it! You made me angry!" He realized. "Do it again." He orders.

Bird deciding she wants to get in on the fun after all, picks him up by the head.

"Not you, you stupid..." Tad begins, just before he's thrown several feet away.

"I said; Nott you Bird!" Tad's eyes go black as his hand glows green. It shoots another blast pushing Tad further away. He smiles and runs back to the girls. "Do it again!"

Spider throws him this time, Tad screams and crashes into a tree. The world begins to warp around them as he floats above them "It's working girls." He hissed lowly before looking back at the lodge. "Now let's advantage of this power while we've got it!"

Tad flies forward and breaks down the door of the lodge with one blast before reentering. He is laughs while all surround him, and start a counter assault.

Spider and Bird come to his aid, but he holds up a hand and they stop.

"No girls. I'm fine." He assures them and smiles as he looks back at the rats. "Let's try this again, shall we?" He flicks his wrist, and the world begins to whorp some more. Chairs come alive and bend like veins wrapping around his foes. [jumps away] Come on, hit me like you mean it!

Tad laughs as each rat is forced to bow thanks to their new restraints finally the last one kneels, it's the Host Rat.

Tad glides over towards, a piece of wood breaks off a table looking like a deadly spear.

The Host Rat Shivers in fear as the new deadly weapon stops inches from his left eye.

"Now serve me some porridge..."

The Host Rat nods and as his restraints let him go, he runs to the counter to prepare the meal.

Tad floats down as he lets go of the world around him, he would a better way to summon his power in the future, but for now this would do.

The rest of the rats are free from their holds and rush to clean up the mess without being told.

Tad smiles as he reaches the counter, and a seat is presented to him. He takes it and his girls rush beside him as three bowls of porridge are served. "Now was that so hard?" He asked.

The Rat Host shook his head...

Tad's smile grew, he had magic, he had an army and now he had a new v=base of operations.

And it was all thanks to Toffee, yes it would appear that back stabber had done him a service after all.


-To Be Continued