Dipper walked through the forest surrounding the shack. It was dark out, and he jumped at every small sound. It had been a week since he had last seen Bill. After Bill had explained the process of making Dipper a Mage, he had been forced to leave. Mabel's party had just ended, and he left Dipper instructions to not enter the forest at all until the next week, and to do so at night. Dipper had snuck out after everyone else was asleep. There was a close call with Waddles, but thank god pigs can't see in the dark. Finally Dipper made a final left turn and entered a clearing. Large rocks towered over him, covering the circumference of the area. Dipper crossed to one and traced a hand over the runes covering it. They lit up a bright blue under his touch and what sounded like a small explosion went off behind him.

"Pine tree"

Dipper didn't need to turn to know that the fourth dimensional dream-demon would be floating behind him.

"Bill"

"Glad you finally showed up" he snarked from behind him. Dipper turned, scowling.

"You're the one who told me to be here at night. And this deep into the forest, no le-" he stopped short, the demons smirk floating just inches away, his golden eye glittering with mirth.

"Wh-what the hell!? Get away!" He sputtered, shoving Bill roughly. Bill laughed and changed his position mid fall, and instead floated a few feet above the ground. He pouted a bit, crossing his long legs.

"And here I was hoping I'd get a kiss"
Dipper scowled harder, staring Bill right in the eye. He felt a bit of the old hatred for Bill return, and gritted his teeth.

"Do you want my help or not?" He huffed, closing his eyes. He was too tired for this right now. Bill smirked again.

"I think I would be helping you, Pinetree. After all, what would you be..." He leaned forward and placed a finger under Dippers chin, lifting it, forcing him to look at his cruel smirk.
"Without me?"

Dipper's pupils dilated in fear and malice, and he shoved Bill again, this time causing him to fall and roll backwards, hitting one of the stones. Dipper turned and trudged out, ignoring Bill's calls behind him.

"Deal with your own demon council!" He yelled back, continuing on, face still burning with heat. The calls behind him stopped, leaving him back to the eerie silence he had suffered on his way there. A branch snapped on his right and he cut to his left, heart pumping violently.

He stumbled on a rock and fell back. He heard a growl to his left, and looked up into the glowing eyes of a harpy. Dipper shook and tried to push himself up, but she laughed and lunged forward, digging her talons into his chest. Dipper screamed as he was lifted off of the ground by her powerful wings. A bit of blood trickled from his mouth. The harpy screeched and lifted him higher, tossing him in the air only to be caught by a second harpy, talons digging deep into his shoulder blades. He was tossed back and forth over and over again, new wounds opening every time. He was feeling dizzy and light headed, bits of black appearing in his vision.

"Pinetree!"

Dipper heard the sound from far off. Just then, one of the harpies, the one holding him, burst into blue flames. She screeched and fell to the earth, dropping Dipper. The other harpy lunged forward and grabbed him, pulling him painfully out of a nose dive. A moment later, that harpy was also covered in blue flames. Dipper saw the earth hurtling at him once again and closed his eyes, waiting for the impact. It didn't come. Instead he felt two strong arms wrapping around him. His brain could barely register this, though. The pain he was feeling was excruciating, blinding out every other feeling.

"Oh god Pinetree" he heard, again from far off. He had just enough strength to crawl slightly to his right and throw up on the dirt ground of the forest. He felt a light hand on his back and just barely saw blood pouring down his arms before he was enveloped in a world of black.
0-0-0

"Pin- Dipper, are you okay?"
These were the first things Dipper heard. He felt a cool hand brush the hair off of his sweaty forehead. All Dipper could manage was a groan. It felt like his entire skeleton was on fire. He cracked open one of his eyes and panted for the cool air of the forest. Bill was leaning over him, features twisted with worry.

"Water" he croaked, throat feeling like sand paper. Bill snapped, a small glass of ice water appearing in his hand. He gently lifted Dipper into a half seated position and held the water to his lips. He sucked it down, almost choking on one of the ice cubes in the process. He sighed and lied back, closing his eyes again. Bill ran the pad of his thumb in the curve of Dippers cheek.

"I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to-"
He was cut off by Dipper raising a hand and grasping Bills in his own, pulling it down and giving it a kiss. Bills cheeks glowed golden, but he didn't pull back. Instead he just stayed silent, brushing back Dippers curls with his free hand, and knowing completely that he would do whatever it took to defend and protect his Pine tree.

His Dipper.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait! Hope you guys liked the awfully rushed chapter. Ugh, it's so bad, I'm sorry.

Whovian Sherlockian Potterhead: Thanks so much! It means so much knowing that I helped change your opinion! Come to the dark side!

Kawaiisylveon: Aww thanks! That's really kind, and knowing you guys will defend me fills me with determination!

Guest: Thanks for the help! I actually had to google OOC when I first found it, so that was a bit awkward…