Disclaimer: I do not own GF
Sorry, this wasn't proof read at all so I could make my time today.
~~0~~0~~0~~
"Let me go, Robbie!"
"No! You have to think through this! We can't just go running through the forest!"
Robbie tried his best to keep his crush from running right into the woods without abandon, having to wrap his arms around her waist and dig his feet into the ground, throwing all his weight into simply holding her still. However, even with all of that, Robbie was still being slowly dragged across the lawn against his will, getting ever closer to the daunting tree line.
"Dipper's in there! We have to go rescue him!" Wendy continued to panic slightly, trying to tear Robbie's arms off of her.
Hissing slightly from the pain of her raking her nails into his skin, Robbie shook his head. "Then we'll be in danger! C'mon, Wendy! Think through this!" The emo begged. "Let's go get, um, Dipper's parent, guardian, whatever!"
Only yards away from the forest, Wendy finally stopped her pulling, her green eyes staring into the dark beyond, full of worry and fear. "Stan..." She murmured under her breath. "H-He'll know what to do."
Robbie nodded fervently. "Y-Yeah! Let's go get him!" He egged on, not letting go of the other teen.
Wendy shook slightly, eyes hard from holding back panicked tears.
What the hell was going on?
Everyone knew the forest was dangerous. Everyone. Not only that, but illegal to go into unless you had a proper license and as far as Wendy knew, the only people who had a license was Preston Northwest, her father, and her old elven teacher, Madam Feylie.
Dipper wasn't stupid. Hell, he was smarter than some people she knew at the high school! So why would he willingly go into the forest despite the danger. Like...like...
He's done it before.
Sickness started to tighten in her gut, causing her to practically gag at the bitterness that flooded her mouth.
All those excuses...dodging around...no longer hanging around with Mabel...
Just how long has Dipper been visiting the forest?
"-endy? Wendy?" Robbie asked behind her, worry rising fast in his normally monotone voice, his hands shaking her slightly. "Wendy, are you there?"
The redhead shook her head side to side fast, shoving her choking tears back done, along with the oddest sense of worry mixed in with betrayal.
"Let go of me Robbie. We gotta go get Stan." She coughed out.
Not letting go of his crush in fear of her turning and running into the woods anyways, the two teens jogged back to the shack, jittery and minds still trying to process what they had just seen.
For Wendy, it felt as if her entire world had just been turned upside down and shook back and forth violently until there was no sense of anything anymore and everything was just a jumbled and mushy mess. Her intestines squirmed in her as her gut continued to twist into thousands of little, aching knots. She could feel cold and nervous sweat drip down her brow and sides, casing her to shiver even more. The redhead felt cold all over, frightened ice in her heart.
How could this happen? It wasn't a secret that Dipper was interested in the surrounding forest. Wasn't a secret that he found beasts and monsters and creatures interesting, wanting to know more and everyone knew how much the kid liked learning.
And that- that thirst for knowledge lead innocent, funny Dipper to risk his life. Not even once, by the looks of it, but multiple times.
Wendy didn't think she could feel even worse than she already did, but she somehow managed to quite easily.
Robbie's thoughts were of a different strain all together. He hadn't been the kid's biggest fan. Hell, for the most part he disliked Dipper. The kid was always kinda girly, and the obvious crush on Wendy always annoyed him. Plus, he had a better-than-you attitude half the time and never seemed to respect older teens. Dipper was awkward and, in his own way, really weird. Plus creepy in how fast he could read a book, or list off a useless fact.
Yet, despite all the faults Robbie found in the kid, he never pegged him as someone who'd do something behind other's backs. Or lie.
Or risk his stupid life in a stupid way.
The teen wasn't sure what to think.
Though he'd never admit it out loud, Robbie's heart was clenched in slight worry while his gut twisted in the same emotion. Sure, he didn't like the kid.
But that didn't mean he wanted anything bad to happen to him either.
The teens finally reached the door of the shop, which was still hanging open from where they left it to dart across the lawn. Wendy, of course, reached there first and dived into the shack, Robbie right behind her.
"Mister Pines?! Minster Pines?! STAN?!" Wendy hollered, her hands cupped around her open mouth as she ran deeper into the shop portion of the shack, looking everywhere for the older man.
From inside the house, the sound of something plastic dropping on the floor echoed, along with what sounded like muffled curses. A few seconds later- which felt like hours for the two teens- Stan appeared in the doorway, frown etched on his face, dressed in his sleazy suit as always, fez carefully placed atop his head.
"What? Done che-"
"Dipper's in trouble!" Wendy interrupted him, green eyes blown wide. She was still shaking.
Stan snapped to attention immediately. It was an odd thing- to see someone usual reserved, gruff, and careless suddenly show panic and worry over something. "What? What happened?" The older man barked, originally lazy eyes alight with an inner fire neither teen had ever seen before.
"I just saw Dipper run into the forest." Wendy replied, her voice steady despite the obvious fear that was pulsating from her.
Stan stiffened, eyes almost comically wide. He let out a small string of curses. "Where? Where did he enter?"
Wendy turned back around and pointed directly across the lawn. "Out there-"
Stan took off running. For an older man, he was surprisingly agile. Not even half a beat went by before the two teens took off running after him.
Stan stopped when he reached the forest edge, eyes glaring around, trying to make out, well, anything. From the kid's stupid vest to the kid's even stupider hat. His hands curled into fists.
"Fuck." Stan hissed, turning around to march right back into the shack. If he was going to go in there again, he'd need some things.
The two teens still scrambled alongside him, wanting to help but having no idea how.
Stan didn't notice the two, too caught up in his own emotions and inner panic.
The kid had lied. Lied completely straight-faced. He had gone into the forest that night about three months ago or so.
And, by the looks of it, had kept going.
Stan dived down into the hallway, making way to his room.
Everything was starting to click into place. It was a slow process, however.
Dipper disappearing for hours on end.
How he never saw him and his sister together all that much anymore.
Even his personality had had subtle shifts. Stan couldn't pinpoint exactly when that had happened, but the kid had gotten braver. Happier, in a way. It was weird.
And now Stan knew why. And he hoped- gods he hoped, that Dipper hadn't gone out and met the one creature that he feared in that forest. The one creature that could do so much despite having so little.
The one creature he was supposed to be warding over.
Stan bent down to the small safe at the foot of his bed, entering the special combination needed to open the lock: GIFHG ML LMV
Swinging the door open, he grabbed the journal labeled 3 on it. He hesitated however, briefly giving the other two journals a glance before tucking the third journal under his arm and slamming the safe close again. Out of all the journal's his brother wrote, the third one had the most ties and knowledge dealing with the forest around Gravity Falls, which was the reason Dipper had stolen it over the other two, no doubt. Kid was always too curious for his own good.
Straightening back up, Stan ignored the pain in his hips and the popping of his back as he strode over to his dresser next, pulling a drawer out to retrieve his age-old friends; his brass knuckles.
Slipping the two knuckles into his pocket, Stan made sure to stuff the journal into his tux just in case he needed it later.
Stan slammed the door behind him as he walked back through the hallway. More inconsistencies were starting to come to light the more he thought and not just the twin's avoidance of one another or changes of personality, but more obvious things that made the older man just want to punch himself.
Dipper's falling grades.
Notes from teachers telling he never paid attention in class.
Stan froze at the doorway to the store part of the shack.
Mabel's allergies...
That notebook he always carried around...
"Fuck." Stan spat out again, forcing his legs to move.
"You two stay here." He commanded the two teens who were still pacing up and down the aisle with clear worry and fright.
"But Stan-" Wendy started.
Stan didn't even turn around to look at her as he stomped through the still open door.
"No butts but yours staying here. If Mabel comes by, tell her to wait here too."
"We just want to help! Stan-" Wendy cried out again, determination written all over her face. Robbie trailed behind her like a faithful dog, uncertainty dancing across his features.
He was worried about the kid, even if it was just a little bit, but the teen was pretty sure he was scared of the forest more.
"No. You're just dumb kids like the dumb kid who's been sneaking out! Don't you dare go near that forest or your fired." Stan briefly glanced over Robbie. "And you'll be banned from my store." With that being said, the older man left, tromping down the lawn just like before...
Wendy and Robbie stared after the older man, but didn't follow. The redhead could no longer hold back the pressure behind her eyes. With a sniff, she turned to Robbie, burying her head into his shoulder and letting her tears slip free, staining his hoodie.
Robbie didn't care. The teen wrapped his arms around his crush and held her close, burying the top of his head into her's while holding her up. Right now, more than anything, Wendy needed a shoulder to cry on.
And Robbie was happy to help.
Meanwhile, Stan didn't let his memories stretch too far back. He had to stay in the here and the now.
He knew who Dipper had met. Knew how Mabel's allergies suddenly disappeared.
There was only one being, one creature that could do anything of the sorts, and the fact that this conspiracy had been happening under his nose this entire time simply burned him.
But what really got to the man, what really made him want to kneel over and laugh and sob and tear all his hair out, was the irony of the whole situation. It was like déjà vu, except this wasn't just a feeling. It really had happened before.
And that's what tore his heart out.
Stan marched straight into the woods, not slowing down and not stopping for anything.
Not this time.
~~0~~0~~0~~
"Bill? I thought you were taking me home?" Dipper mumbled, rubbing his eyes with one hand, still blushing softly at their kiss as always. The boy squirmed a bit in the god's arms, which were currently a bit too tight for comfort. Feeling his sapling's distress, the blond carefully placed Dipper back on the ground.
"Bill?"
"Shh, Pine Tree. I think I saw something."
Before Dipper could inform Bill that talking did nothing to obstruct eyesight, he was pulled behind the god partially, Bill's hand wrapped around his wrist to make sure he wouldn't just disappear from sight.
For a second, everything was silent. Bill's single, gold eye darted about, trying to pinpoint the movement he saw. However, only the woods stretched out before the two, daunting and dazzling with the dapples of filtered light and the rich green. Pine trees towered above, proud and strong of their own status while a few pine needles littered the soft grass along with other various leaves that blew in.
Quick as a viper, Bill darted his head around, pulling his Pine Tree closer to him with the movement, staring out behind him. Like the front, nothing could really be seen but the natural vegetation of the forest, just as bright and just as intimidating as it always was.
Bill slowly turned his head around and around again. Something was wrong- he just knew it. Yet, there was a familiarity here as well.
"Bill?" Dipper whispered, liquid brown eyes staring up at the god, worried frown tugging at his lips. "What's the matter?"
Very slowly, Bill's lips leered into a bitter grin. Oh.
There was someone here, but he couldn't sense them.
Bill was surprised the other had found them like this, since he searched oh so much by the sounds of it. Not only that, he actually caught him with his Pine Tree!
Well, it was about time for his sapling to meet his brother anyways. If everything was going to go according to what Bill hoped, than it would be best for the two to get along.
Something darted from the corner of both their visions.
Startled, Dipper reached up and grabbed Bill's tail coat, squeezing the fabric between his hands as he subconsciously pressed closer to the blond.
"I know you're there, Tad. You can come out now."
There were a few more shuffles from the right and though Dipper wanted to ask Bill who Tad was and what was even going on.
A figure stumbled out of the underbrush, scowl plastered across his very familiar face, purple tux ripped alongside the shoulder from the tussle with a branch.
"Hello again, Bill." Tad greeted, his scowl melting away into a grimace.
Dipper couldn't help shouting out. "Hey! It's you! The guy from the party!"
Bill frowned and glanced between the two, his nose wrinkled in what Dipper knew by now to be confusion.
Tad looked just like he did from when Dipper bumped into him at the party. He still wore the purple tux with a black bowler hat atop his deep plum curls with a matching black tie tucked in nicely. His eyes still shone amethyst like before, though now that Dipper was really looking, noticed that the pupils were stretched out by the width some, just like Gompers, the goat than ran about at the Shack at times.
"And you're the kid that bumped into me." The other replied smoothly, coughing a bit of blood out.
"Wait, you two know each other?" Bill interrupted, fixing Tad with a slightly hostile glare.
Tad cocked an eyebrow at the look, trying his best to ignore his already failing kidneys. "I believe I ran into him at a party." The second god's eyes ran over Bill once more back to the boy, who was staring up at him with a curious innocence Tad hadn't ever really seen before. He narrowed his eyes and briefly, oh so briefly he barely saw anything, the boy's entire body glowed a bright loving pink mixed in with curious orange and gray wariness.
Tad felt his stomach acid start melting away his gut's walls. Colors faded away and the world went right back to it's weary gray tones.
"Kind of. Kid bumped into me at a party." Tad explained, wincing at the popping blood vessels in his face.
Dipper nodded, pouting slightly. Letting go of Bill's coat tails, he stepped forwards, coming out from behind the god to stand next to him, pulling away slightly to get a closer look at the other in front of him.
"My name's Dipper, not kid. And yeah, what were you doing there?"
Tad gave the kid a small grin. "Collecting energy of course."
"Energy?"
"From emotions."
Dipper blinked.
The dark-haired man sighed. "Tad Strange, god of emotions." He pointed at himself while he said this. "And brother to Bill." The second god's eyes flashed over to Bill, cool smirk curling at the sides of his lips, trying to mask the pain of one of his lungs giving out.
"You have a brother?" Dipper gasped, turning to look up at Bill.
Bill shrugged. "Well, yes and no. We are related, but...well, it's complicated. I guess for you humans you would consider us brothers, though it's different in reality. I'll explain it to you later."
"So Tad! What brings you here today?" Bill continued, wrapping an arm around his sapling to pull him back some while snapping with his other hand, somehow able to produce a sound despite his gloves.
"Yes, well I actually had some interesting news concer-" Tad let out another cough, this one much more rattling. Blood vessels popped all over his face, causing rivulets of ruby to stream down. Shivering, his left knee jerked suddenly as it's cap was shattered. The god quickly waved a hand, summoning a silver walking stick topped with a carved ruby in the shape of a scarily realistic human heart. Tad leaned on it heavily, panting.
"Gods! Are you okay? What happened?" Dipper panicked, breaking from Bill's side to run over to the stockier and shorter god, diving under his other arm to try and keep him upright.
Tad blinked in surprise at the kid's actions. He was a god, a being that (once) had unimaginable power and should be feared by all, including a little boy. Yet, Dipper had rushed over to help him in no time and now he was staring up at him with true worry in his dark gray eyes, lips pressed into a stressed line.
Though Tad couldn't see what the kid was feeling, if his emotions from before were anything to go by, paired with...
Tad's eyes widened in disbelief. He hadn't seen it before, or at least didn't notice it before with his mind cataloging his injuries and keeping up with the conversations around him at the same time but...
Bill hadn't just claimed this child. No, the kid had given himself away. Not just mind, but body and soul too.
Dipper gifted Bill everything he was, is, and will be. Forever.
Tad hadn't seen the shimmer before, the feel and smell of the ownership, but now, touching the kid himself, he could sense it and see that shimmer that floated in his gray eyes, a thing only other gods could see.
Tad was, in the first time in a long time, speechless.
"Um, Tad? Are- Are you okay?"
"Yes, Tad. Are you okay?" Bill's voice echoed.
Tad's eyes flashed back up to Bill, taking in his openly hostile glare and clenched fists. He could only imagine how red the dream god was turning.
He had forgotten how possessive Bill was over his property.
Tad pushed himself off of Dipper and collapsed partially in the grass, blood flying everywhere in the fast movement.
"I'm fine. I can't get near this forest without it breaking down my body."
"What? Why?"
Tad glanced towards Bill, who was looking ever so slightly calmer than before now that Tad wasn't touching Dipper. Seeing no protest in the other, Tad started his explanation.
"It's part of the seal here. Bill's trapped here and my body breaks down."
Dipper's eyes widened. "You- You aren't gonna die, are you?" He asked, his voice trembling in both worry and fear.
"Not if I leave about right now." Tad looked back over to Bill. "I'll be hanging around. I'll try and get another message for you, but in the meantime, I'm going to go and get some more energy."
Bill nodded slowly. "Very well."
Tad turned back to Dipper. "Nice meeting you properly, Dipper." He amended.
The kid nodded. "Yeah, you too."
Tad tipped his head as he slowly melted away into what looked like soil. The dust swirled in the air, like a miniature sandstorm before flying away, high in the sky and disappearing from view.
Dipper startled as Bill suddenly wrapped him up in a almost too-tight hug, fingers clenching in his vest some.
"Bill?"
The god smiled down at his Pine Tree. He knew Tad wouldn't harm him in any way, but that didn't mean he liked his sapling touching the other god.
The only being his Pine Tree should touch was him.
And no one should be allowed to touch his sapling besides him.
It went both ways.
"What was- I mean...I'm a little confused on what just happened."
Bill bit back his grimace as he slowly let the teen go, still keeping an arm around the brunet's waist.
"I would imagine so. Let's see..where too sta-"
Bill's eyes widened as he felt a shift in the air.
The same one he had felt before a few hours ago, but ignored.
The god narrowed his eyes. It felt...familiar but at the same time, completely foreign. It was slight, not as strong as a normal creature, roughly an average human.
Normally, these shudders on the forest didn't bother the god. He knew humans wandered in here at times to collect needed things or to even get some lumber. Besides a few pranks, Bill never really bothered them. After all, if he terrified them too much, they'd never come back. Then, he'd really be bored!
"Bill? What's the matter?" Dipper asked, twisting to look up at the god, his worry coming back full-force.
No, this wasn't like that. This human had clear and powerful magic skills.
He was different, familiar, and...
It felt like Glasses.
~~0~~0~~0~~
Stan hissed as another twig tore at his suit, ripping open another small tear. He'd been stomping around in this stupid forest for what felt like hours and have so far found nothing. No signs of Dipper, no signs of...that monster, and no signs of any other creature as of yet.
He kinda wished a gnome or whatever would jump out at him at this point. It'd at least give him something to punch.
The sun burned above him, filtered through by trees and assorted pines, dappling the ground in light. The grass underfoot crunched loudly to every step, dry from the lack of rain and oncoming summer.
Stan tore through some more vegetation, worry boiling in his blood while nerves sent shivers through his flesh.
That stupid kid.
That freaking idiot.
Stan had pieced everything together hours ago and yet, his mind still tumbled around with the realizations he had come to and the horror it brought with it.
Dipper had lied to him. To everyone.
But even greater than that, what was even worse was that he made a deal.
A fucking deal.
Was everyone in the Pines' clan destined to tangle with this monster? Destined to meet and be manipulated by him? Stan spat at the idea of destiny, but considering what happened in the far past, the again only thirty years ago, and now this, it seemed there was no escape from Bill Cipher.
No way out.
First Dipper. Then the idiot dragged Mabel into his mess. She had lied to, obviously. And the two made a deal to get rid of her allergies.
A sharp prick of pain and guilt stabbed through him.
It...it was his fault though. He was the one preforming blood magic. He was the one who got Mabel sick.
The known thought sickened him to no end, causing self loathing and bitterness to well up inside.
He had never wanted to hurt her. He didn't expect there to be a leak. But there had been a leak, and though he still hadn't found the crack, it hardly mattered now. The deal had been struck.
Mabel was cured.
But what had the twins given up? What did those two kids possibly have that Cipher would want? They couldn't perform any big spells; they were thirteen for gods sake!
Yet...
Cipher had wanted something.
What, Stan wasn't so sure, but he'd get to the bottom of it. He'd find Dipper. It might take all night, but Stan was going to find him.
He would fight Cipher himself to get his kid back.
Stan tightened his grip on his brass knuckles, having put them on as soon as he entered the forest. Trying his best to be as quiet as possible, and failing with each soft crunch of his shoes, Stan listened hard for anything beyond bird song and the snuffling of normal forest animals. For what felt like forever, but was perhaps only an hour or two, Stan finally heard it.
Talking.
It was faint, carried by wind and lost easily in the sky, but the clearly human noises were still there, coming from his left.
Stan didn't care if anyone would here him. Didn't care to think it might not be Dipper, might not be anything. He ran, something he hadn't truly done in about thirty years.
His bones creaked and more undergrowth tore at his clothes, sometimes nicking the skin causing stinging scratches. He could feel the drops of blood trickle down, tickling his skin and wetting the hairs on his legs, but Stan hardly cared.
The voices were closer.
Stan was positive it was Dipper. It had to be, after all. It just had to be-
Stan broke right out of the forest, on the edge of one of the neighborhood streets. No cars rumbled and besides a few kids trading some cards around, there was no activity.
He hadn't realized he had been so close to the border.
And well, shit, he was at the border! Taking a cautionary glance around, Stan jumped out of the forest and back into the street, quickly brushing leaves and pine needles off, trying his best to make it look like he hadn't been running around in the forest for a good few hours.
Stan huffed out, completely winded and tired from the hiking and running. Gods knew all he wanted to do was turn right back around and search for Dipper more, but Stan's body vehemently protested. His legs stung and his bones ached. Muscles were screaming for rest while his stomach growled for a bid of food. Smacking his lips together some, Stan recoiled at the dry taste of musty soil and leaves, wanting nothing more than a glass of water at this point.
Shoulders sagging, Stan took one last look behind him before venturing into civilization. He couldn't run through the forest again. Not like this. He was too tired. Too worn. Too sore.
Too old.
The thought put a bitter leer on his face.
In that single moment, a second filled with hopelessness and the feeling of being completely useless once again, Stan had never felt more worthless, more regretful, and more old.
He started back home.
~~0~~0~~0~~
"Bill? What's the matter?"
Bill visibly relaxed. That weird presence had passed by too close for his liking- at least five hundred feet. It was getting weaker now, slowly fading further and further away.
Good. He didn't need Glasses's brother in this. Not that he had ever really met the guy, but if he was as the old twin had been, then Bill really didn't want the guy to get in his way. His sapling was so perfect, he didn't want anything to ruin him. It had taken too long to get the kid to trust him so completely, to get his total devotion.
His Pine Tree was his key. His freedom.
His sapling was his. His everything.
And no one was going to change that. No one whatsoever.
He'd make sure of it.
"Nothing, Pine Tree. Absolutely nothing. Thought I sensed something weird is all."
His sapling gave him a worried look. "Weird feeling?"
Bill shot him a comforting look before scooping him back up, bridal-style this time around. "Nothing you have to worry about." He assured the brunet, letting a warm smile grace his features.
His sapling looked up at him with big eyes and rosy cheeks, small smile of his own playing on his lips. "Okay, then. Well, I guess it's time for me to head home."
Bill sighed softly, quiet enough so the child in his arms couldn't hear. He'd like nothing more than to simply keep his Pine Tree with him forever, but quite frankly, Bill was sick of this forest.
He was in luck, however. Everything was going so perfectly.
It wouldn't be long till his Pine Tree was truly and only his, where no one else could touch him. Where he would be his forever.
Bill had to wonder how all the pieces fell together so perfectly, but it didn't matter.
Not in his planned ending, at least.
"I know." Bill finally muttered, bending down to instigate a kiss. His sapling's lips were always so soft and comforting. A little chapped and torn from biting, but warm nonetheless.
Bill broke off the surprisingly gentle press of lips, letting bright and powerful cobalt flames consume them once more.
He hated parting with his sapling.
But he'd come back.
He always did.
~~0~~0~~0~~
Lots and lots of things are happening!
I don't think it was what any of you expected.
Oh god, the symbolism and foreshadowing in this chapter...I'm curious to hear all of y'all's theories, if you have any.
JackieLanternXOXO- Haha, no worries! There will be a sequel. This IS a trilogy, after all ;) I actually love fruits. And veggies. Well, food in general tbh. Though, I haven't had a date so I can't say if I like it or not. And yes, courting is indeed a fancy word and I love it :3
MindfulThoughtlessness- Miss Fortune, Miss Fortune...she might come into play later...;) Sorry I didn't edit this chapter whatsoever. Like I said, was in a hurry to get it posted! And don't worry, I love some good 'ole torture...*Glances at My Sincerest Apologies* Hehe, torture...
The Raccoon- Nope! Not quite!
Nightbird1504- Thank you! And nothing much rn, but they'll have their time...
Bambi4ever- Oh gosh, don't make me cry!
Wildtail of Wind- Shippen' them so hard, it's not even funny. Drown them in darkness and fluff, as I always say. Besides, things are only now starting to get heated up! Haven't even thrown the match on the kindle, to say the least!
WHOOO- Oh, for this book yes. But the series is not over! Not by a long shot! And cool thing you're doing with your name! Very clever ;)
a fan- Hehe, hope this chapter was up to your expectations!
Guest- Don't worry, it's a first in a trilogy. There's still two other parts you get to wait and refresh on!
random name- Haha, you're not paying me! But..maybe...you should...NAH! Just kidding! Least there wasn't (much) of a cliff hanger here ;)
yunor- Here you go! :3
Just-Gold- Hmm, not quite!
The Keeper of Worlds- Oh, this isn't complicated at all compared to what's going to happen in the future ;)
Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!
As always, thanks for reading!