Chapter 4-

"Dipper! Dipper! Dipper!" Mabel's voice woke Dipper from his strange dream. He had been running from the statue of Bill, but no matter how much he ran he never moved from his spot.

"What?" Dipper groaned as he opened his eyes.

"Do you know what is happening today?!" Mabel's mouth quivered as she waited, bouncing on her toes.

"I-."

"There's a surprise dance!" Mabel interrupted. "Apparently Dean Ice saw how good the school did on the last exams and decided we needed a reward!"

"Okay…" Dipper didn't see the hype. It's not like he was going. Not will Bill out there.

"Aren't you excited?!"

"Why?" Dipper got out of bed and headed to his closet. Might as well get his day started now.

"You could totally get to dance with the girl of your choice!" Mabel grinned.

"I-."

"Pacifica?" Mabel grinned. "Or maybe Wendy. Her boyfriend and her broke up a week ago. Or maybe…" Her grin grew wider. "You've gotten a lot closer to Bree."

Dipper frowned. "I…" He thought of the three girls Mabel had named. Then he thought of Bill. What if Bill attacked? What if he hurt them! "I'm only going to keep an eye out for Bill."

"Oh…" Mabel grew quiet. "I forgot about that… I guess he could show up."

Dipper hated making Mabel sad, but she had to at least think about the danger. She had gotten better since the whole Mabel world incident, but sometimes she didn't think about reality still. "I'm sure you'll be fine. Especially if you call Ford and have him chaperon." No need to burst this bubble.

"That's a great idea!" Mabel grinned and then jumped at her phone.

Dipper just turned around and thought about the dance. Would he ask one of them… if so, who?

Dipper glanced around as a storm of college students ran around him. They were all heading into the football field where the dance was taking place. Obviously Dean Ice wasn't aware of the threat. Luckily Ford and Stan were there, and they had come prepared. Somehow even McGucket had heard and arrived to help monitor. Hopefully Bill wouldn't show up…. Hopefully.

"Hey Dipper."

Dipper turned to find Pacifica standing there. SHe wore a glittering low cut purple dress and Dipper had to jerk his eyes up to her face quickly. He was already a little red, this didn't help.

Pacifica laughed. "You haven't changed a bit…. Waiting for a date?"

"No I…." Dipper glanced back towards the shadowed areas. "...Bill…"

"Aren't we safe?" Pacifica held up the charm he had given her. "Or is there something you didn't tell me?"

"No that will protect you from Bill, but we didn't have enough for everyone." He looked back towards the crowd of students who were already starting to dance and mingle.

"Oh…" Pacifica whispered.

"I'm just worried." Dipper glanced back at her. "You should go in and have fun….. Did you need to go find your date?"

Pacifica chuckled. "Oh Dipper." She gave a soft chuckle and then left him behind.

WHat was that supposed to mean? Dipper sighed. WOmen. He stood outside for another twenty minutes, until there were no other people coming in before he glanced at the entrance. He hadn't seen any sign of Bill yet, but…. He knew Bill was planning something.

"Did my Grandma hire you as security or did you get stood up?"

Dipper spun to find Bree standing there. She wore a strapless ruffled blue dress with her arms crossed over her chest. "Hey Bree." Dipper had to keep his face straight again so his face didn't go red again.

"Not going in?" Bree laughed and patted his shoulder as she walked up next to him. "It's just a little dance. Nothing to be scared of."

"I… I was waiting."

Bree raised an eyebrow. "For a girl?... Or a demon?"

Dipper jumped "I-."

"Calm down." Bree smiled. "You're got your charm right?" She lifted up the rope around her neck. For a moment Dipper got a flash of gold. Her other necklace…. The one she always wore.

"What is your necklace?" Dipper found himself asking. As soon as the words came out he flushed. That was blunt.

"This?" She lightly tugged on the gold chain. "It's a charm necklace I made forever ago."

"Oh?"

Bree looked down her dress and smiled. "I made it to remember my friend. Someday I'll find him again, but until I do this will remind me of him."

"You really care about him don't you." Dipper felt a little crushed strangely.

"Yes." Bree smiled. "He was my first friend and will always hold a special place in my heart."

"Can I see?" Dipper couldn't satisfy his curiosity any longer.

"Sure." Right as Bree started to untuck it there was a scream from the field.

Dipper spun and rushed inside. A large dragon was flying over the crowd of college students. It was red with bat like wings that shaded almost half the field.

"A dragon!" Bree gasped. "How?"

"I don't know, but stay here." Dipper could see Ford and Stan already trying to shoot at the dragon. Mabel, McGucket and Dean Ice were trying to herd the students towards the exit. Dipper had to run the long way, skimming the walls, to get closer. He couldn't see Bree anymore as he ran. Good, as long as she stays safe.

Dipper pulled out his own laser gun and aimed at the dragon carefully… .the wings… he could do it… right…. As soon as he let the blast go the dragon changed directions and swooped down towards... "BREE!" Dipper went running towards her. What was she doing in the middle of the field.

The dragon's talons reached for Bree and she dived out of the way, barely avoiding the dragon. She sprawled out flat as the dragon rose again.

"Bree!" Dipper reached her and pulled her up. "You okay?"

"As much as I can be." Bree groaned. There was a large tear in her shirt, revealing half her shoulder, and a large portion of her back.

"Uh… here." Dipper stripped off his vest and held it out to her. "A little more help."

"Thanks." Bree quickly took the vest and pulled it on.

"Come on." Dipper took her hand and started to pull her towards the exit. "You should get out of here."

"I can- My medallion." Bree jerked her arm away from Dipper and turned back. With an ear splitting roar the dragon landed right where they had been a moment ago. Dipper pulled Bree back by the shoulders right as Ford came up and hit the dragon across the snout with a metal stick.

"Run!" FOrd yelled.

"But.." Bree hesitated for a moment and then blessedly she too ran.

"I got this!" Stan held up a large tube. Dipper recognized it as Ford's portable portal tube proto type.

"DOWN!" Dipper yelled as he pushed Bree down, covering her with his own body as there was a deafening boom followed by only silence. Dipper hadn't even realized he had closed his eyes until he forced them open through a layer of ash.

"...p…"

Dipper glanced around the once crowded field. It was covered in a layer of ash with Stan standing in the middle of the field. He was coated completely with ash, the prototype split at the end and smoking.

"...ipp…."

Dipper blinked as sound started to return.

"Dipper!"

He jumped up, stumbling back. Bree pulled herself up coughing. "A-Are you okay?"

"I'll live." Bree coughed. "What happened?"

"I think Stan blew up the dragon… I'm not sure how though… It should have sucked the dragon into a portal… At least if it worked right."

"Key word being if." Bree grumbled as she stood up fully and dusted herself off. She started walking towards Stan and Ford. Dipper followed, trying to look everywhere. It had to have been Bill who summoned the dragon, … so where was he?

"You idiot!" Ford was yelling.

"It got rid of the dragon didn't it?" Stan yelled back.

"You could have killed all of us!" Ford continued to yell.

"But I didn't!"

"You're so irresponsible! If you hadn't lucked out-."

"We're all fine. No one got hurt!"

"That's not the point!"

"Can you two shut up!" Bree practically spat at the men. "Shouldn't you be making sure there aren't any more monsters around here?!"

"Oh… right." Both men muttered and looked away from each other.

"No apologies to each other later, or yell at each other! I really don't care. But for now start cleaning up."

"R-Right." Both men moved off.

"You almost sound like your Grandma." DIpper laughed, but stopped as Bree rounded on him. Her glare was one she usually saved for the older pine twins. "Bree?"

"This is why I can't stand your family!" She practically hissed. "All you do is destroy!" THere were tears in her eyes.

"Bree?"

Bree turned away and wiped her eyes. "Nothing." She reached down and picked up an ash dusted yellow shard of ceramic.

"Your necklace?" Dipper asked.

"Yes." She whispered. "Destroyed… gone forever."

"I'm sorry." Dipper reached out towards her but she shouldered him away.

"Let's get started cleaning up." Bree muttered and stormed off.

"Don't just let her go."

Dipper jumped. "What?!"

McGucket slapped his knees. "If you let your girlfriend storm off like that it could be over."

"Bree's not my girlfriend." Dipper heard his own voice crack and he blushed.

"Oh… Oh well." McGucket shrugged. "Good luck then." He patted Dipper's shoulder then walked off.

Dipper glanced after Bree for a moment before going the opposite direction to clean.

Bree cradled the shard in her hand. Maybe she couldn't remake it…. She could easily remember what it looked like so that wasn't the problem. Maybe it would even look a little better since she had more skills now…. But… but it felt like it was a premonition. He can't be dead. Bree squeezed her fist around the shard. He can't be.

"Bree?" Her grandma walked over. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Bree lied and shoved the shard into her pocket. She was glad this dress did have pockets.

"I can't say I understand what happened, but I guess those Pines were useful for something after all."

"They aren't useful at all." Bree stormed away from her grandmother. "They are nothing but destroyers." Bree muttered to herself.

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