A/N: My friend gave me a bunch of prompts to write Dipcifica. Enjoy this older, modern-day-royalty AU!

The audacity. Pacifica should have seen it coming from miles away: the sudden parties, the visitors, the gifts. Her parents were trying to get her to drop her guard.

"An arranged marriage!" She screamed into the woods. Rage and embarrassment fueled her yells that sent birds flying in every direction. The sky turned dark and cloudy to match her mood.

The acreage behind the castle still belonged to her parents, but it spanned for miles beyond the walls. Princess Pacifica had explored only a mere fraction of it in her childhood, but that was always with someone, never alone. Her eye twitched at the thought of Dipper not being here. The knight probably had far more pressing matters to deal with than watch the Princess stomp angrily in the underbrush.

Pacifica didn't want to admit that he was the main reason the arranged marriage pressed every single one of her buttons. Not only that, but the idea of being shipped off as a prize to another country, to another man – without Dipper, made her blood boil.

Though they had started to lose touch as the years went on, Pacifica missed her friend. He was growing in the ranks and she in the affairs of the kingdom, too preoccupied with their occupations for frivolous activities like exploring the forest. Now that she was here, the gentle pre-storm breeze rustling the foliage reminded her why it was so much fun in her youth. It would've brought her peace except for the Knife of Arranged Marriage piercing through her heart.

Rage consumed her again.

Targeting an unassuming log, Pacifica barreled her foot into it. The wood cracked and splintered as she desired, but the hollowness of the wood was something she did not expect. Her ankle scraped past the cracks and remained quite firmly in the hole. After a few weak and painful tugs, Pacifica very soon realized that she would not be able to escape this log without help.

Hot tears stung the back of her eyes without her permission. "Can this day get any worse?" She asked the angry sky.

A fat raindrop plopped onto her head.

It only took a moment for buckets of water to fall from the sky and soak her head to toe.

Fantastic. "Are you happy now that you got your revenge?" She yelled at the log.

The log said nothing. It was, in fact, just a log.

How long would she have to wait before help arrived? Was she just weak and that's why she couldn't get her foot out? Maybe if she tried a little harder…

Pacifica cried out at the dull throb of her ankle and the scratches digging deeper into her flesh. When she squinted through the rain, she could see blood.

Don't panic, she told herself, but even then, coldness that wasn't from the rain trickled inside of her. Dipper would know what to do. Well Dipper wasn't here. And he wouldn't be. In a fit of fury, Pacifica told no one where she was going and even then she wasn't exactly sure.

Maybe if she dragged the log by flexing her foot… Pacifica tried that, trying to ignore the fresh cut on her achilles from the action. After one swift tug, the log started to budge. Hopping on one foot proved to be a difficult task and she didn't get far before she was winded. At least she could drag herself onto the path at this rate.

"Princess Pacifica!"

Was she imagining that voice? Was the heavy summer rain creating hallucinations?

"Princess Pacifica!"

There it was again! "Here!" She called out, fearing her shouts would get lost in the downpour.

A silhouette in knight's armor rounded the bend, pausing for a moment before running to assist her.

Finally. "It took you long enough!" She told the figure. When he moved closer, the blood drained from her face. "Dipper?"

"You summoned?"

Suddenly she felt foolish and embarrassed. She got herself in this predicament and the person she simultaneously wanted to see most and least was hovering in front of her.

"Did…" through the sheets of rain she could see a twitch of his mouth. "…Did you pull that log along with you?"

"You know what? Never mind. I don't need your help." She didn't have time for his jokes.

Dipper shrugged. "Okay. See you then." He turned around abruptly, hands in pockets.

One beat passed. Then two.

Ugh fine. "Dipper, wait!"

The knight swaggered towards her in that lanky way of his. "You really got yourself in a dilemma this time, didn't you?"

Heat crept up her cheeks. "You think? Just help me already."

At least he had the decency to blush as he lifted her skirts to survey the situation. He slid his sword from its sheath, starting to hack away at the wood around her foot.

How much control did he have?! "Don't hit me!"

"Do you want me to help you or not?"

She pouted with no retort.

His sword skills proved to be effective as in mere moments her foot was free. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be on my w—" one step on her now-free foot told her that she would actually not be on her way.

In a second, Dipper was at her side, wrapping a strong arm around her waist and slinging hers over his shoulders. "Are you okay?"

She didn't have the words to answer. Pacifica was too busy thinking about what she missed – when did he bulk up so much? The scrawny 12-year-old arms she was so used to and so fondly remembered were not the 22-year-old arms holding her now. And his shoulders…

"You didn't bother to bring an umbrella as you searched for me in the pouring rain?"

"The whole castle's main concern was to find you! I didn't think about an umbrella!"

He was cute but useless. Here they were, hobbling along the path in the direction of the castle, soaking wet and miserable like drowned cats.

"Let's pull into here until the rain lets up," Dipper said, too close to her ear. With his head, he motioned to a shabby-looking gazebo that Pacifica had passed earlier, too much in a huff to actually notice it.

Once inside the glass structure, Dipper guided her to a bench. The second she sat, only then did she truly feel the pulsing of the injury radiating through her entire leg. That would not heal well.

"Yikes, Pacifica, that's no simple scratch," Dipper said, inspecting her ankle with very gentle fingers. He was on one knee in front of her.

Pacifica's mind wandered beyond her control. She couldn't help but imagine him being on one knee in front of her for a completely different reason. Stupid. Irritation radiated off her in waves. "That's Princess to you." She hated how softly he was touching her. How could she possibly devote her heart to another man in a foreign kingdom when the person she'd already devoted her soul to was right in front of her?

He gave her a pointed look. "Okay, Princess."

Even though she was soaked to the bone, heat seared her cheeks and neck. Well he didn't have to say it like that.

"Why did you run off in such aggravation earlier, anyway?"

Always curious, that boy. Pacifica corrected herself. He was a man now. She heaved a dramatic sigh. "I'm getting married."

A pause. "…Oh?"

"It's an arranged marriage to a man I've never met."

"And?" His voice sounded harsher. He got a little careless while inspecting her ankle. She didn't even know what for at that point. "How does that make you feel?" Dipper's eyebrows were drawn together – Pacifica couldn't tell if he was focused or angry.

"How do you think?" Why was he asking her pointless questions? Who would want to get married to a mystery man?

He shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe you like that sort of thing." He stood, resting a forearm against the glass and staring out into the rainy wood.

Why was he being so irrational? "In case you can't tell, and you obviously cannot, I can think of at least three other people I would rather be betrothed to than a mystery prince."

"Oh yeah? And who might those people be, Princess?" He turned to look at her then, jaw clenched in that way only men with strong jaws could do. And he was not lacking a strong jaw.

Darn. Pacifica kept walking into his trap. If she wasn't careful, she could've accidentally confessed her feelings for him. "That's-that's none of your business!"

Dipper deflated, sitting himself on the bench beside her. "That sucks," he said, staring at his palms before wiping the blood and rain on his pants.

She sighed. "It does suck."

"It sucks that you have to leave. It sucks that you have to marry someone. It sucks that—" He stopped himself, coughing awkwardly into his fist. "Never mind. Forget I said anything."

They sat in silence, listening to the rain pound against the glass in sheets.

Pacifica fiddled with her fingers. "…You know I'm not good at saying thank you."

"I know."

She crinkled her nose. "Thank you." She said, with maybe too much malice.

"Hm."

She slapped him, and he laughed. "Listen to me, nerd!" When was the last time they'd joked around like this? She missed seeing his easy smile, the one he gave her in that moment. It used to be lopsided and awkward when he was twelve, but at twenty-two, it suited him. He'd grown into it handsomely.

"You're welcome. It's my duty to serve you, but…" He sobered, turning his head to make eye contact with her. "I enjoy helping you. You're… fun to be around."

When they were younger, all it took was one look from Pacifica to make him turn beet red, but the tables had been turned. One kind word from Dipper the knight and she was a puddle of confusing emotions.

"I'm sad that you're getting married. It's not fair. You—" He scratched the back of his neck, flushing all the way up to his ears. "Ah, how do I say this…"

Pacifica waited patiently. Okay, not patiently.

Dipper swallowed. "Looks like the rain has let up." It was true and Pacifica didn't like that. "We should head back to the castle." The knight, her knight stood, holding his calloused hand out to her.

Pacifica wasted no time in feeling the strong roughness of his fingertips as he assisted her off the bench. The pain in her ankle startled her; she must've gotten lost in the conversation with Dipper to remember the pain. She stumbled into his arms.

"Falling for me, Princess?" He asked with a smirk. It was very quickly replaced with embarrassment. "Oh, gosh, sorry, I don't know why I said that."

Yes, she wanted to say. Yes, I definitely am falling for you. In fact, I've fallen way too hard already. She said nothing, used to being taught to hold her tongue. Besides, it was all flirting and banter from their childhood interactions.

The two festered in awkward silence as they hobbled in the muddy path to the castle. Pacifica's foot hurt with each shuffle. The ever-observant knight noticed this. "Want me to, uh, carry you?"

Would she? To feel his strong arms wrapped around her and smell his woodsy scent, now combined with rain. Yes, she could find absolutely no problem with being pressed close against his chest.

"Yes, carry me, lowly knight."

He scoffed, scooping her soaking-wet entirety with ease into his arms. Up close, Pacifica could see a five o'clock shadow start to grace his jawline. Dipper with facial hair. Huh. She never really thought about it until now. Honestly, she didn't think he had it in him. "When did you start growing facial hair?" She mumbled, curiously stroking the shadow under his earlobe. Fascinated, she watched gooseflesh pepper his throat.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed again. "Are you kidding? I've always had facial hair. I just decided not to grow it when I was twelve. You know, I was that manly that I could start it and stop it whenever I wanted."

Despite the uncomfortable fabric of her dress plastered to her body which made her want to scratch herself into oblivion, Pacifica cracked a smile. "Oh yeah? I distinctly remembering Mabel tell me that you had a flat and extremely shiny chest."

There was that scoff again. "You should see my chest now, I've really gotten—" He reddened suddenly. "Ah, never mind."

Princess Pacifica couldn't help the blood that rushed to her own face. It was a mistake to talk about his facial hair in the first place.

All too soon, they were at Pacifica's chambers. "I'll drop you off here and then fetch a doctor for you," Dipper said, only slightly winded from carrying her all the way up four flights of spiral staircases. Impressive.

He leaned her against the wall for balance. Pacifica thrust the top of her hand into his face. With all the snootiness she could muster, which was quite a fair amount, she turned her nose in the opposite direction. "You may kiss my hand now, peasant."

With her face turned away and eyes closed, she couldn't see his reaction, but she sure wanted to. What was he thinking right now? Why wasn't he saying anything?

The rough but gentle hands she had held only moments before clasped her fingers. An arm slid around her waist, and the handsome knight, Dipper Pines was holding her very close. "What if," he said, voice low, "I kissed your cheek instead?"

Pacifica was no fool. She could see how hard he was working to be bold, the twitch of his eyebrow and constant licking of his lips. "No," she almost choked, jutting out her chin. "You may kiss me right here." With one delicate tap of her manicured index finger, she pointed to her lips.

The knight got even more red, if that was possible. His voice dropped to a whisper. "Does my Princess demand it?"

She nodded, stomach tying itself in knots and heart beating erratically. "Your Princess demands it."

Like everything was in slow motion, Dipper leaned forward, heady gaze locked onto her mouth. She squeezed her eyes shut, anticipating whatever he felt like, chapped lips, smooth lips, to cover hers. Pacifica already knew for a fact her lips were very luscious and soft, so he would have no problems with kissing her.

"You're getting married."

When Pacifica opened her eyes, he was centimeters away from her, eyes big and round like a puppy's. He was concerned and scared and frustrated. She knew it all.

For goodness sakes. She was twenty-two. Princess Pacifica was a fully-grown woman who was very educated in the affairs of the kingdom and knew for a fact she did not want to marry a man merely out of obligation to her parents. She knew the laws. With no other heir, they couldn't disown her if she chose to marry someone else. She had made her decision.

Mouth set in a firm line, Pacifica straightened. "If it's not to you, there's no way." She grabbed the collar of his uniform and kissed him.

Kissed him.

Dipper Pines, the awkward twelve-year-old she'd grown up exploring the forest with as he was mentored by his uncle and she by the king and queen. Dipper Pines, the awkward boy who'd grown into a responsible young man. Dipper Pines, the knight who'd devoted himself to protecting her even when she didn't speak to him for years.

His lips were chapped, as she expected, but the possessiveness in his hold caught her off guard. She drew back. "Well. Thank you for your assistance, Sir Pines. Now, please go retrieve the doctor so he can—"

The knight cupped her cheeks in his palms, pulling her back to meet his mouth. He was ready this time, she was ready this time, and she melted into him, relishing the feeling of his lips which were getting softer by the second. Was this his first kiss? If so, the man sure picked up the skill quickly.

He pulled away too soon, breathing heavy and gaze determined. Stars. She was actually seeing stars. "I don't want you to marry someone else." He looked so vulnerable and small with those words, with his proximity.

"I don't either." She was surprised at the breathiness of her own voice. Did he do that to her? Was he allowed to do that to her?

He stepped back, creating a cold space between them. "I'll, uh, get the doctor now." With a sniff of his nose and one last fleeting look to her mouth, he scampered down the hallway.

"O-okay."

Pacifica pressed a palm to her chest. Was her heart beating that fast? Her foot didn't hurt anymore. She didn't want a doctor to tend to her ankle, she wanted a doctor to tend to her heart. The only person that could do that was Dipper.

Determined, she stomped off to find her parents. No. She was not getting married to Mystery Prince from Kingdom Whatever-It-Is. She would get married to whoever she wanted to. And that was Dipper Pines.

A/N: I called this ship Pacipper before I knew to call it Dipcifica... Pacipper has a better ring to it I think...