A long day.
After a long and hard work day in the Mystery Shack, Stan sent everyone home and sent Dipper and Mabel to their room in the atic. Stan exited the Mystery Shack and walked towards the Gift Shop, he opened the door and closed it with lock.
After that, he went directly to the spending machine, he pressed some buttons.
Stan: A, 1, B, C, 3.
After that, a hidden door behind the machine opened, Stan went into the door and closed it, making sure anyone was there. Stan descend from the stairs that lead him to an elevator. He entered a code in the elevator and selected his destination, the bottom floor.
The elevator started to quickly descend to the bottom floor. He arrived at his destination and came out of the elevator that closed itself when Stan came out. Stan was in his secret laboratory, he walked towards a desk that he kept in there, he sat down and looked at the portal that will bring his brother back.
Stan: Hang in there, I'm almost done.
Bill: You sure about that, Stanley?
Stan looked behind him startled to the owner of the voice.
Stan: W-What?! Who are you?! No, what are you?! And how did you get in here?!
Bill: Hey, hey, hey! Calmed down, I'm not here to harm you, quite the opposite actually, I'm here to help you!
Stan: That doesn't answer my questions, you triangular weirdo!
Bill and Stan stared at each other for a minute before Bill broke the ice.
Bill: Fine, I am an old friend of Stanford.
Stan: What, you met Stanford?
Bill: Met him? I helped him, this portal is our creation, the meaning of this was to create knowledge to help the mankind to evolve faster, but an unfortunate accident happened, I guess you know of what I am talking about.
Stan remembered the day he lost his brother, he nodded sadly.
Stan: So, you say you are here to help me?
Bill: Exactly, I'm here to help you to bring the good old Ford back to this dimension, after all, this portal is the only thing that can bring him back.
Stan went silent for a moment before asking.
Stan: What do you mean?
Bill: You see, that portal lead to a dimension that is unknown by the whole universe, the only way to go there is with this portal.
Stan: If it is unknown, how do you know about it?
Bill: I'm a special kind of being that can see and know everything and I will not hesitate in sharing information if it helps me or others.
Stan: And, how exactly are you planning to help me?
Bill: Simple, we will make a deal about this, I help you to bring your brother back, but, you will have to do something for me.
Stan: Oh boy, here we go, go ahead, ask for my soul, for my live or anything of that stuff.
Bill: Please Stanley, I don't want any of those things, I only want you to help back.
Stan looked confused.
Stan: Huh?
Bill: I know someone that just arrived here to Gravity Falls that can help you with the portal, he's not from around here, so I want you to give him a place to stay while he's helping you.
Stan: So, you will bring him here and I have to let him to stay in the shack, that's the deal?
Bill: Pretty much, so what do you say? Do we have a deal?
Stan: Yeah, I guess.
Bill: Perfect, then let's settle it!
Bill stretched his hand to Stanley while the hand was set with his blue fire.
Stan: Deal.
Stan said as he shook his hand with Bill's hand.
Bill: Well then, his name is Marco Diaz, he will approach to you tomorrow asking for job, you will have to tell him a code and if he replies with the right answer, you will know that's the one you have to hire, now come close, the code is…
Bill whispered the code to Stan.
Stan: Well, at least it's not a complicated code.
Bill: Just try to remember it, and before I go, I have to tell you that the boy will not start his job immediately, he will start the next day, with that being said, I'll see you later, keep working in the portal with the journals.
Bill disappeared from Stan's sight, Stan turn back to the desk and grabbed the first two journals and the copies from Dipper's journal.
Stan: Well, let's go back to work.
He said as he opened the journals in the section of the portal.
Stan: And like I said before, I'm almost done.
Bill leave the place and made his way towards his next target, but before he arrived, he sense how Marco was going to leave the campsite, he stopped to send a mental message to his mind. When he convinced Marco to not leave, he continued his way.
Bill arrived to his destination, he stopped in front of a big pine tree deep inside the woods, just with one look, he could say it wasn't natural, it was made of cold metal.
Bill: You hide it really well Sixer…
Bill teleported himself inside the laboratory of the bunker beneath the tree.
Bill: …But not well enough.
Bill was now inside the laboratory of the bunker, in front of him was a freezing capsule with a really familiar being inside of it, it was Dipper.
Bill: …Seriously? You couldn't thought in anything else to transform before being frozen?
Nobody replied…
Bill: Oh right, I forgot about that.
Bill chasked his fingers, a yellow light string appeared and tied Bill's mind with the frozen being mind.
Bill: There we go, hey Shifter, am ready to make the deal with you.
Shape Shifter: It took you more long than I expected.
Bill: Sorry for the delay, but I had to make some other deals first, and now that is all ready, I hope the same of you!
Shape Shifter: I've been ready for so much time that I've lost count.
Bill: You still want the same thing, don't you?
Shape Shifter: Freedom to get my revenge on the Pines family. What do you want in return, Cipher?
Bill: I want you to cover up for someone.
Shape Shifter: What?
Bill: As you heard, I want you to cover for someone.
Bill started to show some images in Shape Shifter's mind.
Bill: His name is Marco Diaz, he lives in Echo Creek, California. It's a place that only exists in the dimension he is from.
Shape Shifter: WHAT?! How am I supposed to get my revenge if I am in another dimension?!
Bill: Don't worry for that, it'll be for a short period of time, in the meantime, you could use that time to make up a plan.
The Shape Shifter went silent for a moment before answering.
Shape Shifter: Alright, you win, it's a deal, Cipher.
Bill: It's a deal, Shifter.
The yellow string connecting his minds became blue while they were sealing the deal.
Bill: That settles it, tomorrow morning, Marco Diaz will come to free you, I don't want you to attack him and don't let him see you!
Shape Shifter: I understand.
Bill: Good, now let me give you the necessary information you will need for the job.
Bill gave him all the names of the people that Marco knows and all the basic things about his life.
Bill: Now that my job here is done, I must get going, there are other things I must do before the sun rises.
Shape Shifter: Just get going al-
Bill disconnected their minds before the monster inside the freezing capsule could told him another annoying word.
Bill: Alright, now all that remains to be done is the letter issue, I will have to take now what is mine by right.
Bill disappeared from the laboratory and went directly to where Marco was sleeping.
When Bill arrived to the camping site, he made sure that Marco was completely asleep, he cracked intentionally a branch of a tree with no response from Marco.
After realizing he was asleep, Bill entered to Marco's camping house, floating slowly above Marco.
He approached his backpack and with his magic, he grabbed the scissors he have gave to Marco.
Bill teleported himself out of the camping house, once out, he put the scissors in his own hands, with this reaction, a light orb started to form around the scissors, when the orb was complete, Bill absorb it with his hands.
Bill: It feels good to have my power back, I was starting to feel like a weakling without it. But, it was worth it, now I can travel through dimensions again, and I know where I am heading.
Bill opened a portal with the chask of his fingers and went right through it.
In the middle of the night, a portal appeared in Star's room, Bill came out of it.
Bill scanned all the room until he found what he was looking for, the letter Marco left behind.
With the snap of his finger, the letter was set on blue fire, when the letter was completely consumed, the fire was absorbed by Bill's opened hand.
Bill: There, all set.
With that done, Bill went through the portal again to go back to Gravity Falls, when he was from the other side, he chasked his fingers to close the portal.
Bill: Well, everything's done, for now, I will have to wait until the morning.
Bill returned to the Nightmare Realm and wait there for the next day.
The next day, Bill let Marco to go by himself to the Mystery Shack while he went into the woods again, this time, he was searching for one specific spot.
He arrived to a triangular clearing that was in the middle of the woods.
Bill: It has been a long time since I was here, well, better get started, I have to get this ready before Marco arrived to the other point in the map.
Bill chasked his fingers and started to build in the clearing with his magic.
When he was done, he sense how Marco was approaching to the next spot, Bill teleported himself to the tall pine tree that hide the bunker.
He was floating in front of the tree when Marco arrived.
Bill: Hi there, you're finally here.
Marco looked around confused.
Marco: Bill, are you sure that this is the right place.
Bill: I'm positive, kid.
Marco: Then, what am I supposed to do here?
Bill: You will do nothing up here, but you will certainly do something down there.
Marco: What do you mean?
Bill: Just knock off the branch closest to the ground and you'll see.
Marco sighed and started approached the tree, when he touched it, he realized about something, the tree wasn't natural, it was made of cold steel. Without hesitating, Marco began to climb the tree using his red hoodie. When he reached the branch he heard Bill's voice.
Bill: Good, now you have to push it.
Marco pushed the branch, the branch was easily moved, after that, the whole tree started to descend, Marco jump out of the tree, landing next to it.
The tree descend until it stopped and some stairs emerged from the ground and a secret door opened at the foot of the artificial tree.
Marco: Wow…
Bill: What are you waiting kid? Your target is waiting you.
Marco started to descend from the stairs until he arrived to that door, the door lead to more stairs and it was really dark in there.
Marco grabbed a lantern from his backpack and turn it on as he started to descend again.
Marco descend for some time until he reached a door, he entered the room where he saw it, a small room with weapons, a desk, some posters and food supplies for almost fifty years.
Marco: What is this place?
Bill: It's a bunker that was made a long time ago to survive to any upcoming disaster, but now it's abandoned.
Marco: And what I am supposed to be looking for?
Bill: You are here to retrieve something that will help the portal to have the enough energy to let your friend through it, it's some kind of cylinder, his function is to use the energy of a bar made of a special kind of material to produce energy to this whole place.
Marco: And where is it exactly?
Bill: Is in the other room, just go through that opened door in the end of the room.
Bill said while pointing at the circular iron door that was in the wall of the room.
Marco looked to the door, it was clearly a door of a safe and it had the word precaution written around it.
Marco: Are you sure it's safe there?
Bill: As long as you follow my instructions.
Marco: Alright, here we go.
Marco grabbed a helmet and some duct tape from his backpack. He used the tape to paste the lantern and the helmet together. He turn on the lantern and put the helmet on his head.
He entered and started to crawl his way through the tunnel until he saw some light at the end.
He exited the tunnel to find himself in a room completely made of steel. He was about to take his first step into the room but was stopped by Bill.
Bill: Stop!
Marco: What happened?
Bill: Before you take a single step here, you have to make sure to not step into that triangle in the floor.
Marco looked at the tile that Bill was warning him, he avoid it carefully while he was getting to the closed door that was at the end of the room.
Marco: It's locked.
Bill: Just press the tiny button that's right next to the door.
Marco turned his head to the wall to see an almost invisible button. He pressed it and the door opened immediately, letting Marco to enter to the laboratory.
Marco: Wow, you weren't kidding, this town sure is weird.
Bill: Well, when it comes to weirdness, I am an expert in the topic. But stop about me, you have to retrieve the artifact that is occasionally over there.
Bill: pointed out to a huge machine that had some screens and buttons in it, it looks like the master system. Marco walked directly to the machine and inspected it until he found what he was looking for. The cylinder that Bill told him about. It had some kind of green bar inside it, it almost look like uranium, but Marco wasn't so sure of what that thing was. It was attached to the machine with some screws, Marco grabbed a screwdriver from his backpack and started to remove the screws, one by one. When he finished with the screws Bill told him.
Bill: Good, now you only have to retrieve that bar from inside, use the tweezers from the desk to remove it without making contact with it.
With a nod, Marco did as he was told, he retrieve the strange green bar carefully and left it in the desk. After that, Marco grabbed the artifact and started his way out of the laboratory, he entered the previous room with the same precaution as before, he crawled his way through the tunnel, taking care of the artifact the whole time, he arrived the first room and reached for the stairs, he went out of the bunker. When he was in the woods again, he managed to pull the metallic branch of the artificial tree that now could be reached without climbing the tree. When the branch was in his original position, the door in the tree locked, the stairs retrieve themselves into the ground and the tree started to rise again, leaving it as how it was before, like if nothing ever happened.
Bill: Good job down there buddy.
Marco: Ok, and… what now?
Bill: Well, I actually have to leave you on your own once again, but don't worry, I've got a place for you to go!
Bill snapped his fingers and a new point appeared in the to-do-list of Marco.
Marco: And what I am supposed to do there?
Bill: That place is only for you to pass the time training, resting and even eating.
Marco: Like… a resort?
Bill: Hmm, I guess you could say that, but this resort will not last long, when the time arrives, all the place will disappeared, that place is only there to keep you occupied with something while the night arrives.
Marco: Well, thanks for that, I guess, see you later.
Bill: Oh, I will see YOU later!
Bill said as he disappeared from the place, Marco started his way to the new point on his map.
Bill appeared inside the laboratory of the bunker, in front of the frozen prison of the Shape Shifter, he just stay there, waiting.
Some minutes after, the power inside the bunker started to run out, the machines turned off, the doors couldn't keep themselves closed due the lack of energy, eventually, the frozen capsule lost power too, it stopped working, freeing his prisoner at last.
Shape Shifter: Ah! It's good to be out of that cold prison.
Bill: You know the deal, Shifter.
Shape Shifter: Yes, I know.
Bill stopped him before he could change his form.
Bill: Wait right there, you must have one last thing for your mission.
Shape Shifter: Spit it out already, Cipher.
Bill opened a portal behind him and reached out for something with his magic, the item was pulled to Bill's hand, after the item crossed the portal, Bill closed it.
In his hand were Star's dimensional scissors.
Shape Shifter: What is that?
Bill: Just stay still.
Bill grabbed the scissors with his magic once again and after that, he grabbed Shape Shifter with his magic too.
Shape Shifter: What are you doing?!
Bill: Stay STILL!
Bill shout as he turned red for a second.
The Shape Shifter struggled against Bill's magic but it was useless.
After some time, the Shape Shifter's shouts and a great light filled the room. When the room vanished, the Shape Shifter stood up and opened his eyes.
Shape Shifter: What have you done?!
Bill: Look at your right arm.
The Shape Shifter looked immediately at his right arm and saw what Bill did to him, at the end of each finger, he had now metal claws, inside his shoulder there was a pink gemstone.
Shape Shifter: Why you did this to me?
Bill: Congratulations, now you have dimensional claws, you can travel freely through dimensions.
Shape Shifter: Wait! Are you serious?!
Bill: Of course, that way you can pay your part of the deal more efficiently.
Bill showed an image of Star's room in his mind.
Bill: Now, you have to go here, think of this place and cut the air with your new claws.
The Shape Shifter did as he was told, he opened a portal to Star's room, he went into the portal and Bill followed him.
They crossed the portal and were now inside Star's room, it was a peaceful Saturday morning in the Diaz' house.
Bill: Remember the plan.
Shape Shifter: Yes, I only have to play along with them until you don't need to distract them anymore.
Bill: Exactly, when the time comes for you to come back, I'll let you know. Until next time, Shifter.
Bill crossed the portal and the Shape Shifter closed it, leaving him alone in the room.
Immediately after that there was a knock in the door, Mr. and Mrs. Diaz were outside of the room.
Mrs. Diaz: Marco? Are you still there? Your father and I are worried about you.
The Shape Shifter quickly changed his form, he was now looking like Marco Diaz. He made sure to hide his new claws underneath the flesh.
Shape Shifter: Go away… Leave me alone…
He said as he walked towards the door.
Mr. Diaz: Mijo, whats wrong? Please tell us algo.
The Shape Shifter used his natural fluids to create fake tears in his eyes, he changed his grin for a sad expression and opened the door to let Marco's parents in.
They run and embrace his fake son in their arms.
Mrs. Diaz: Marco, please, tell us what is wrong.
Shape Shifter: She… She's gone… STAR'S GONE!
More fake tears rolled down his face.
Mr. Diaz: Please son, calm down and tell us what happened.
He said while he hold tightly to his family.
Shape Shifter said with a grin on his face.
Shape Shifter: I… I will.
Back in Gravity Falls, Bill decide to go back to the Nightmare Realm to wait for the night to arrive.
Meanwhile, Marco arrived to the spot in the map, it was some kind of little building that had a gym, a room and a table that could generate any kind of food he wanted.
He approached to the gym to exercise himself a little, Marco thought that he will need it because Bill put it there.
He spent all the day training until the afternoon arrived, he then went to the shower that was included with the gym to wash himself. He went to the table soon after he dressed up, he had dinner and when he was about to leave with all his stuff with him, the place slowly disappeared from the place. Marco started his way towards the Mystery Shack with the map.
Bill waited for him outside the shack. When he arrived, Bill told him to hide the artifact he was carrying, Marco dug a hole near the gift shop and buried the artifact in there, after that, he cover the place where he dug the hole with a bush. Marco didn't notice, but when he was done, a new point formed in the map, showing where he buried the artifact. With all set, he pressed the doorbell, a few seconds after, Mabel appeared in the door and pulled him in.
Bill saw this and knew exactly what would happen next, he went to the Pines twins' room and hide himself in the window only window of the atic.
He waited there, eventually, Dipper arrived and soon after Marco and Mabel. Bill looked at Marco to see his reaction, but suddenly, Marco looked to the window and he stared at it for a second. The boy was cleverer than he expected.
Bill watched the conversation between them, nothing bad happening at the moment, but, something happened.
Dipper: Nah, our parents send us here to spend the summer.
Marco: What?! And they didn't came back?!
Dipper: What do you mean?
Before Marco could answered to the question, Bill silence him.
Bill: Don't say anything! I'll explain later.
Bill knew that he had to tell him the truth about this journey, he waited there until Marco left the atic and went running down stairs to the break room. Bill followed him.
Once they were in the room, Marco began his questioning.
Marco: Okay Bill, what is going on?!
Bill: Kid, calm down, you don't want to drag attention to this room.
Marco took a deep breath and let it out seconds later.
Marco: Alright, explain.
Bill: I had to do what I had done to make this successful and because the time is crucial, I didn't wanted to delay this explaining it before, but know, I will tell.
Marco: Screw all that and get to the point, what did you do?
Bill: Well, the scissors I gave you…
Marco: Those weren't locational scissors, weren't they?
Bill: …
Marco: There's no such thing as locational scissors, right?
Bill: …
Marco: What dimension is this?!
There was an awkward silence for some seconds before Bill finally talked.
Bill: …This is the earth dimension.
Marco: No it isn't, don't lie to me!
Bill: I am not lying, this is the earth dimension, but not the one that you know.
Marco sat in the bed and crossed his arms as he waited for Bill to explain.
Bill: Look, haven't you stopped to think about all the possible dimension that exists in the universe, the known and the unknown?
Marco: Since Star arrived to earth, Ii have been thinking a lot of that in the nights.
Bill: Haven't you stopped to think, about another dimension where everything is the same as yours, just that you don't exist?
Marco looked with curiosity to Bill.
Bill: Kid, did you know why her parents send her to earth, to your dimension, to your house?
Marco stayed silent.
Bill: Because it was the safest place for her to stay, the earth dimension was the safest place for her to practice with her magic, the only thing they had to decide, was to what earth dimension send her.
Marco stay there, without anything to say, just waiting for what Bill was about to reveal him.
Bill: Marco, there is more than one earth dimension, as I said, you are in the earth dimension, but not in the one that you know.
Marco: …
Bill: Kid, welcome to the Hirsch dimension.