In the middle of Mabel's glorious day, the royal siblings were arguing.
"DIPPEEEE-EEEER!" Mabel playfully whined at her serious brother. "Smile Dip IS the best candy ever!"
"If I remember correctly, you ate 20 packets of it, and then you had dreams of strange puppies and magical dolphin people. I wouldn't call it the best."
"It was AWESOME!"
"It was DISGUSTING. Mabel, I had to clean up pink powder and your vomit late in the night."
"It was still totally worth it!"
Dipper couldn't help but roll his eyes and smile at his sister's persistence. They were walking down the marble hallways in their castle, the large stained glass windows reflecting Mabel's multicolored hair perfectly. Waddles the Pig was trotting by Mabel's heels, but how she got her pet pig was another story for another time.
In this light, Mabel truly did look like a princess, with her long, white dress, gorgeous purple eyes, long, luxurious brown hair. Any guy would dream of having her in their arms.
That's what Dipper feared.
He didn't want Mabel to date any other guy except the one both he and she liked. Unfortunately, not many boys like that existed. Don't think he didn't notice when during outdoor meetings and balls the pack of love-struck-dumb boys following her like a pack of wolves. He noticed more than one guy letting his eyes wander. Of course, being the protective big brother he was, he scared them all off with threats of turning them into werewolves.
Mabel didn't notice at all, she just thought that boys were boys, Dipper was over protective, and Smile Dip was the best candy ever. While the twins were arguing, they didn't notice they entered the throne room, the guards opening the big, solid oak doors for them before walking out to resume their duties.
"Come OOOOONNNNNN DIIIIIPPPPPEEEEERRRR." She whined. "Admit it. Saying Smile Dip isn't the best candy ever makes, like, zero sense!"
At that moment both twins froze as a strange, reverberating laugh echoed around the room.
"Oh, Mabel… what's the fun in making sense?" The voice asked, sounding high pitched and squeaky, even higher than Dipper.
"W-Who are you? Are you a ghost? Is this castle haunted?!" Mabel questioned, fear quivering in her voice. Waddles shook slightly as he hid behind his owner's leg, cowering in fear. The twins stood back to back protectively as the voice laughed once again.
"Why, Bill Cipher, of course! And yes, your castle is haunted- by me!" The voice said, and a figure appeared upside down in front of Mabel, who promptly shrieked and clung to her brother.
The man laughed- he looked around his young twenties, with blond, wavy hair that fell in a messy sort of way, with black sideburns that went strangely well together. His yellow suit with long coat tails matched the golden triangle with a single eye on his eye patch, making his sapphire eye stand out all the more better. He had long, black boots on, that appeared to be high heels in a way. His silky, black top hat matched his bow tie and his pants.
"What're you doing here?" Dipper sternly questioned the mysterious stranger, who only laughed in response.
"Well duh! I came to check on my two most favorite twins, of course!" Dippers instincts kicked in automatically, and he cleared his throat, making the two other beings look at him.
"Well… WHAT are you? You're clearly not human." He noted, gesturing to how Bill was hovering an inch off the ground. Surprisingly, Bill Cipher threw back his head and laughed heartily.
"You're observant, aren't you, kid?" He said, poking a digit into his stomach a little. "Well, as you can see, your brother's right – I'm not human – I'm a dream demon!" The co-rulers of Gravity Falls stared at the man with fear in their eyes and their mouths open wide. He laughed again and replied "Ahh, that face gets me every time. Priceless!"
Honestly, the normally solemn Dipper was mortified.
The man that just appeared in the throne room just randomly admitted he was a dream demon.
"N-No, seriously," Dipper replied, trying to make his voice stable. "What are you really doing here?"
Bill rolled his eyes – well, eye. "Yeesh, Moon Boy, are you always such a drag? Can't a demon of chaos visit his two most favorite rulers?" He complained before pulling something long and black out of the prince's ear. Bill twirled around his new cane, leaving Dipper rather startled, but his face remained solemn, still not impressed.
"Oh, wow, you're a demon?" Mabel asked the man "COOL! Can you do some kinda crazy demon stuff?"
"Mabel, don't ask him that!" Dipper burst out, shocked that his sister was totally fine with some random man popping into their castle, admitting he was a dream demon, and then not give a specific excuse as to why he was there? Surprisingly, though, Bill agreed with Dipper.
"I'm afraid I have to agree with Moon Boy here, Mabel." Bill said as he patted her hair. "If I showed you what I could do, you'd be scared for life!"
Dipper once again went into overdrive.
"So, Bill," Dipper asked, spitting out the demons name like it was toxic. "If you are a demon, but you don't want to show your powers, can I try something on you?"
Bill laughed "Sure, kid! Take your best shot."
Dipper closed his eyes tightly before staring at Bill, his teal eyes becoming slightly darker. Bill stared into them, blinking only once or twice.
"I want you to leave." Dipper rumbled, his voice slightly deeper than normal, using his super hypnosis skills he picked up on in the old scrolls in the twins library. (Mabel wanted to burn those scrolls to make room for her pet pig, but Dipper refused offhandedly)
"No, NO! ANYTHING but your disapproving eyeballs!" Bill said, trying to hide his face as blue squiggly lines spun in comical circles in his eyes. He soon burst out laughing, spinning in the air from the ecstasy.
"Oh, boy, Moon Boy, you are hilarious! I can't wait to come back."
Dipper took a step back immediately, shocked.
"C- Come back? W- What for?" He stammered, not thrilled about having a demon continually keep popping into his and Mabel's castle, especially one that could avoid his super hypnosis.
"Well, to see how you to are doing, duh! See ya later, Dippsy!-"
"Dippsy?"
"Oh, and Mabel? Keep an eye on your brother for me. Oh, and remember: Reality is an illusion, the universe is a hologram, buy gold, BYE!" He turned golden, with a mysterious blue circle that lit up slowly, then faster and faster, until he was gone. Both Dipper and Mabel stared at where the man once was, when Mabel broke the silence.
"Heh heh heh… Dippsy…" She said.
"Mabel, you don't seriously trust that guy, right? I mean, he just admitted he was a demon!"
"Oh, come on, bro-bro!" Mabel smiled. "I'm sure he's not all that bad. I bet that he has a great sense of humor." Dipper raised an eyebrow in question. "Race ya back to my room- Dippsy!" With that, she laughed, and raced off again. Dipper hung around a bit longer, contemplating what the demon said. Surely Bill wasn't going to hang around them forever… right?
…
Right…?
The Prince of the Night had never been more wrong in his life.
Day after day, Bill would pop in at the most random times, startling the almost un-scarable Dipper. He would stay for a while, watch what the twins were doing, and then leave as mysteriously as he had appeared. Dipper still didn't fancy him, but Mabel had no problem with him.
Much to Dippers fright, she actually began to talk with Bill.
He was just about to open the door to the throne room when he heard Mabel and someone else. Wondering what his sister was doing talking to air, he pressed an ear against the thick oak door, barely making out voices (and praying hard the door didn't open, leaving him trying to come up with an excuse for eavesdropping.)
".. And then I said 'Onwards, Aoshima!'" Dipper heard Mabel say. "And then his hands sprouted faces and it began puking rainbows!"
"Trust me, Shooting Star." Dipper heard another voice, which he assumed to be Bill, who actually seemed genuinely interested in her stories. There was a pause of silence which seemed to match his confusion. "I called you by what was on your dress - but if you think that's crazy, you would love Ecstasy Drops. It's like Smile Dip, except two hundred percent crazier."
"Do you have some?" Mabel asked curiously, and Dipper was ready to barge in there and stop him. (If YOU had to clean up your siblings throw-up, you would've done the same.)
"Unfortunately, no. I'll bring some next time! Seeeee Yaaaaaa!"
And with that, not another voice was heard. Dipper, fearing Mabel's life, opened the door to find Mabel contently on her throne.
"Hey Dippingsauce!" Mabel greeted her brother.
"Mabel, I heard everything. How long has this been going on?"
"Oh, Dipper, stop being such a grumpy grump pants. I bet that if you talked to him you'd find that he has a great smile, great pride, great humor…"
"Mabel, don't you see? Bill's deceiving you!"
"Well, why would he?"
"I don't know! For some crazy demon-ritual-thing!"
"Dipper, I know you're a stick in the mud, but Yeesh, this is all new for you!"
Dipper sighed and stared at his opposite twin. "Mabel, I'm just… worried for you. You know that, right?"
Mabel nodded, but continued. "I don't know about you, but so far, he's one of the nicest guys I know! Plus, it's not like he's stalking me or anything creepy." Mabel pointed out.
Dipper sighed again, knowing it would be pointless to argue.
From then on, Dipper tried to stop anything between Bill and Mabel, but every time he nearly succeeded, Bill was gone.
Bill stared into the blue fire that acted like a mirror between worlds. He had been watching the twins for days, only popping in when they needed help. But lately, he found himself only appearing when Mabel needed help or was alone. He was currently residing in his bed room, staring into the flame and, in the same time, trying to quench the flame inside him. He was particularly looking at one of the twins.
'Mabel…'
It was true, Dipper was quite solemn and very humorous at times, but he was too monotone for the demons taste. Mabel, though…
She was just a bouncing ball of creativity, sparkles, and glitter, and besides, 'FUN' was just another word for 'CHAOS', which he ruled at! He kept trying to be solemn and give off a sense of power and fear, but her smile set his heart on fire, and her sweet laugh seemed to echo around in his head all day, even when he was invading people's minds. Her brown hair was thick but soft, and whenever he was around her he had to compose his dignity instead of running his hands through her hair or kissing her soft lips. Her dress made her violet eyes sparkle and glimmer like stars, which was the most attractive thing about her. He could stare into those eyes all day if he wanted to, wishing and hoping he would be his…
His mind drifted to when he was talking with Mabel. He thought about calling her Shooting Star, and he seemed to think that it was a good nickname. He only hoped that she would like it.
Ever since she started talking to him, Bill had a flame inside of him that sparked whenever he was around her. She made heat go up to his cheeks and down to his stomach, but he was able to play it off well enough. He realized that without Mabel's company, he truly did feel so…
Alone…
With no one else his whole life, Bill really never got the concept of being lonely. But when Mabel appeared his whole castle, as majestic and luxurious as it was, just felt so… empty. Like the void in his heart.
He was currently watching the twins walk around outside the palace in the courtyard.
"Mabel, I don't get why you still talk to Bill. He's a demon."
Bill let out a snort of anger. Moon Boy still didn't trust him, but to be fair, who would?
'Mabel would…' his mind kept echoing, but he shoved the thought away and continued to listen.
"Oh, Dippsy, why you ackin' so cray cray?"
"I'm not the one who's crazy here, Mabel."
"You say it like it's a bad thing, bro."
"Because it IS a bad thing, Mabel! Bill's a demon! He's tricking himself into making you trust him so he can enter your mind!"
"Bro, come on! You just don't know Bill! He's one of the nicest, sweetest guys I know! If he wanted our kingdom, wouldn't he had, like, burnt us to the ground already?"
The prospect of setting Moon Boy on fire was quite the appealing thought at the moment, and he contemplated whether it would burn or just tickle him -either way, it'd be hilarious. Bill still listened in, though, since the conversation was getting interesting.
"Mabel, work with me here. Bill's a dream demon. He isn't gonna just waltz up and say 'I'm here to take over your kingdom! Say goodbye forever!' No, Mabel. He's going to deceive, and by the looks of it, he already deceived one of us!"
"Aww, your just jealous of his super awesome powers!"
"Powers that are going to hurt you! Just- I… Mabel, I'm only concerned for you. I don't want him to hurt you, that's all."
"I know, bro… that's why if you really are concerned, you're gonna play with Waddles for the whole day!"
"MABEL!"
"HA HA! The look on your face is funny. How about a fly over town?"
"… Fine. I need a break from ordering guards around. You coming?"
"Yeah, just, give me a moment."
Dipper spread his navy wings and took to the skies, leaving Mabel on the ground.
"Dipper just doesn't understand. How can he say that Bill's bad when he's one of the nicest, kindest, most understanding, funniest, hottest guys ever?"
Mabel shook her head, saying something about Dipper being a 'grumpy grump' before taking off.
When she said that, it took everything for Bill not to fall off the red velvet sofa he was currently lounging on.
If she thought that way about him, he felt filled with ecstasy. But with a sad sigh, he realized he could never be with her. He was from one world and she from another. What was the point of being King of the Dreamscape if he had no other person to share it with!?
That made him think.
'With no one to share it with…'
'Being King…'
'Princess Mabella…'
That's it!
It was so bluntly obvious, he cursed himself for never thinking of it sooner.
If he brought Mabel to him, she could rule the Dreamscape with him! And it would totally work out because Dipper could rule Gravity Falls, (He did seem much more fitting of that role then Mabel…) and Mabel was a princess after all. Don't princesses deserve an upgrade?
Bill couldn't help but let out a small, insane laugh.
He didn't care what that rascal Dipper Pines thought…
Shooting Star was going to love it in her new home…
…
Oh dear, he was sounding like that crazy Gideon again.
Oh well. In the name of love, people do get rather insane, don't they?
Mabel was fast asleep in her great mahogany canopy bed, dreaming of whatever came to mind that day.
That thing was Bill.
Speak of the demon, a small, bright blue flame hovered in Mabel's room, before slowly getting bigger and bigger and forming into the shape of a man. Bill landed, keeling slightly as the sapphire flames that matched his eyes vanished. He stood up carefully, dusting himself off as to make no noise, and he observed his surroundings.
This was indeed Mabel's bedroom, obvious by the slightly gag-worthy amount of pink. The floor was a solid marble, just like the tall, soaring columns that went to the arched roof high above. A shaggy, circular pink carpet was slightly charred at Bills entrance, but it didn't look noticeable. Pink sofas and chairs were around the edges of the walls, along with the lavish grand piano nearby. A fireplace blazed in a safe corner from the room, two pink beanbags nearby with a small table between them. Mabel's bed was a solid mahogany with a pink canopy and a pink cover with a large sun hand sewn on. A round table was nearby with her crown on it, along with some other oddities. Her closet door was open slightly, showing off her collection of white dresses. A large glass door was nearby her bed that lead out to her large balcony.
Waddles was contently sleeping in the small bed at the foot of his masters. Bill noticed him after a while, and he had to be quiet to prevent the pet from waking up.
Bill first walked to the balcony and opened it, letting the curtains fly open, feeling the rush of cool air against his figure. It undid the hooded cape he had been wearing, and he felt the rush of cold air, feeling good on his tan face.
He then curtly walked over to Mabel's bed, watching happily as her figure went gently up and down with her breathing. He reached into his pockets and pulled out a small leather pouch, filled with a light blue dust. He took a pinch of it and eyed Mabel.
"Sorry, Shooting Star," He said. "But it'll be worth it." She stirred slightly, making him jump, but thankfully not dropping the powder. He gently blew it in Mabel's face, making her still again. Thankful his sleeping powder worked (even though Mabel was asleep already, he didn't want to take any chances if she randomly woke up in the escapade. Trying to explain he was kidnapping her in the middle of the night was an ordeal he rather not chance), he concentrated on her form. A blue glow emerged from her figure, and like a puppet on strings, she began to float out of bed until she stopped at Bills figure, floating as if she were asleep. He repeated this with Waddles, who stirred slightly, but thankfully went back to sleep.
He tried to summon a portal, then realized that whenever he had to go to the Dreamscape, there was a 5 minute cool down between goes. He mentally cursed for forgetting such a thing, but calmly walked towards the door, his blue powder outside again, along with a floating Mabel.
He gently opened the door just slightly, but only enough to blow powder outside. He heard the thud of bodies being slumped against the wall as the guards were soon asleep. He smiled proudly, and opened the door more.
He carefully looked left and right, making sure no one else was nearby, as he walked outside with the Princess of the Sun still fast asleep.
He calmly waltzed down the marble hallways, the stained glass windows casting the night sky against Bills figure. He stopped short behind a corner, and proceeded to blow more powder towards the advancing and stationary guards. Hearing the satisfying thumps of bodies hitting marble, Bill calmly strode out once again, whistling a little, and adjusting his hood so it cover his face.
Dipper calmly walked away from the watch tower towards his sister's room, hoping to check in on her.
He was considering if he had been too harsh on Bill. He really hadn't been hurting Mabel, just talking. He was going to apologize to him next time he came.
'Dipper, you moron!' His mind shouted. 'Bill's a DEMON! Are you a few stars short of a constellation?!'
'Bill hasn't been hurting Mabel, besides, she needs someone to talk with. Being walled up in this castle isn't good for her.'
'Yup, it's official. Dippers mind has left this galaxy.'
Dipper was trying to convince himself to be less protective when he came to Mabel's door, but stopped cold.
The door was open, and the guards were fast asleep.
Dipper ran over to the guards, telling them to wake up to no avail. He noticed little blue flakes on their faces.
'Sleeping Powder!' Dipper thought, his mind suddenly snapping back.
'MABEL!'
He flung open the door to find his sisters bed sheets strung open and the balcony window wide open, the curtains flapping gently in the light breeze. He ran to Waddles, still asleep, and tried to poke him awake with no avail. Dipper felt his heart crawl into his throat and his blood run cold.
"Someone kidnapped Mabel."
He ran as fast as his feet could carry him, flying upwards towards the window and looking outside. As beautiful the view was, it did nothing to console him for his lost sibling. He looked around frantically, searching for any sign of Mabel or the kidnapper, but much to his fear, there was nothing.
He heard a very distant whistle down another corridor, and prayed it was another guard. He flew down and he ran towards it. He turned the corner to find more sleeping guards, and a hooded figure running down the hallway.
"Stop! Kidnapper! HAULT!" Dipper shouted, running after the figure, who sped up the pace. He used his navy wings to take off and zoom ahead, passing the figure, slamming down hard against the red carpet. The figure, carrying a sleeping Mabel in his arms, turned blue, vanishing in front of a perplexed Dipper, leaving his hood and dark cape. He whirled around, and saw another human appear in a rain of blue embers.
"Bill!" Dipper hissed.
"That's my name, don't wear it out! Pleasure to meet you too, Moon Boy! Now excuse me while I run away." With this, Bill turned on his heels and bolted.
"You're not getting away with my sister!" He said, his eyes flashing white before charging after the man.
Bill was fleeing like a professional track racer, but Dipper was catching up quickly. Bill had to push his human form to the limit, adrenaline pumping in his veins.
'Do-do-do-do-do-DO!' His top hat rung, signifying that five minutes were over and he could freely use a portal. He used his magic to fling open the solid mahogany doors and summon a portal with blue and white streaks of light zooming inside it. He stopped short in front of the portal, and turned around, smirking, noticing Dippers imposing form against the door way, his eyes like blue lightning and his wings spread apart to make him look bigger.
"Sorry, Dipper, but your sisters mine now!"
Before Dipper could process what happened, he was blindly running towards Bill, screaming "NOOOOOO!" and a second later, the portal, Bill, and Mabel were gone.
Dipper panted heavily, looking around. "Bill?" He called trying to find the dream demon. "Bill! Give my sister back!"
Realization hit him like a sledgehammer.
Mabel was in another dimension.
With a dream demon.
He had no way of getting there.
Uncontrollably, Dipper felt his fists clench together, and screaming blindly in a rage, he punched a stone statue in the courtyard until it was smashed into nothing but pebbles. He howled in agony and pain, and under the very moon he ruled, he began to break down crying hysterically.