I do not own 'Gravity Falls'
The Nowhere: Part 2
"Where is he!?" Mabel demanded for the hundredth time.
"Calm down Mabel!" Soos tried to placate the girl, but she would have none of it.
"Where is my brother!?"
The moment that Dipper had been sucked in was the moment that Mabel and Stan arrived. They didn't know all of the details, but they knew enough to know it was bad.
"It's okay." Stan spoke in a rare sincere tone. "Mabel, I know your pain. I've been without my brother for decades!" He leveled himself to look her in the eyes. "I won't let Dipper be gone a day longer than needed."
The words sunk in, she knew that her Grunkle understood. But that didn't mean she didn't hurt any less! Her brother was out there! She didn't even know where there was! But a tantrum wouldn't help.
"So...what do we do?" She asked weakly.
"We have almost everything that's needed to open the portal back up." Stanley stated. "But we need to make repairs and build up enough power."
"How long?" Mabel asked.
"...I don't know." Stan answered.
The damage to the machine was more severe than it looked, and it looked pretty bad to start with. The machine had literally been torn apart from the sheer power of the portal. Not to mention the laws of physics it more than likely broke.
Mabel turned her attention towards the Author.
"Where is he?"
Dipper looked at the triangle before him.
"What're you doing here Bill?" Dipper asked. Was this his doing?
"Me?" He asked. "I was just strolling around when I felt three humans entered my dimension."
It took Dipper a quick moment to process the words, and he paled when he did.
"Y-Your dimension?"
"That's right Pinetree, you're in my world."
Dipper felt a cold sense of dread creep into his heart. He was in Bill Ciphers world! The few times he had met the demon, he had always been on the dream plan. Either his, or someone else's. Now he was actually in the creatures home! At least in the dream realm he could put up some kind of defense, now he was helpless.
"Am I in hell?" Dipper asked.
"Of course, a demon has to live in Hell." Bill said with a roll of his eye. "Do you see any fire and brimstone? No you dunce, but you'll wish you were."
"Then where is here?"
"Nowhere." Bill answered. "It' kinda everywhere."
Dipper sighed, the dream demon never gave a straight answer, why would now be any different.
Great. Dipper thought. I'm in a different dimension with my most powerful enemy.
"Do you want to go home?" Bill asked casually. "I can take you there."
Dipper knew exactly were this was going. If he were to make a deal, it would be one that backfired on him in a way he'd never expect, but should.
"I'm not making a deal with you Bill." Dipper stated defensively. "I learned my lesson, I'll find my own way home."
The triangle looked at him before he burst out laughing. It unnerved Dipper a lot.
"What's so funny?"
"That's the same thing the last human said, and he was trapped here for thirty years."
"The Author."
"Yep, even with all of his knowledge, he was trapped and helpless." Bill taunted. "What makes you think you'll do any better?"
Dipper felt another wave of dread wash over him. Bill was right, the Author had been here for years and it was only thanks to-
"Grunkle Stan!" He suddenly shouted. "And Mabel! They have a way for me to get home!"
"And what makes you think you'll live long enough?" Bill asked. "This place is my home, and you haven't done well so far."
"This!" Dipper exclaimed, revealing the 4 Journal.
The triangle looked at the book before turning his gaze towards Dipper.
"Hmm, I see." Bill stated. "Let's make a deal."
"No way!" Dipper exclaimed. "Do you really think I'm that stupid?"
"Yes I do." Bill answered honestly. "Now hear me out. Let me heal your injuries, and I'll tell you where your comrades are."
Comrades? Dipper thought confused. I don't have-Pacifica and Gideon!
They were here too! He had forgotten all about them, now he was trapped with them as well! As well as the pale eyes man who seemed to work for Gideon.
"Why...why would you do that?" Dipper asked suspiciously. "Why would you want to help me?"
"Because I want you at your best when you fall." The demon answered, shocking Dipper. "What, I am a demon. Seeing you fall when you're at your highest will be sweet, and if your all broken, it's no contest."
"Is this a game to you?" Dipper asked in horror.
"What's a mortal's life to someone who goes on fifty year toilet stops?"
Dipper raised his hand to speak, only for it to fall limply. He opened his mouth to speak a few times, but he just closed it each time.
"That...makes no sense."
"Once again, insane demon." Bill stated. "Don't have to make sense."
Once again, Dipper was silenced. This time by actual sound knowledge.
"Deal."
"Stanley, I need to talk to you." The Author began uneasily.
"What's wrong?"
"We...don't have everything we need."
"I know we need to get a few barrels of tox-"
"No, I mean more than that." Stanford stated. "The damage is more severe than that, we need to get parts that have broken."
"Well lets-"
"Parts that haven't been used in over thirty years."
It took the con-man a minute to catch on, but when he did he deflated. Parts that old would more than likely be discontinued, or junk if not well maintained. They'd have to special order the necessary item. For once, money wasn't the issue, it was time. It took time to get the someone to manufacture the necessary items, and even longer with them having to ship them from who knows where to Gravity Falls.
With his injuries healed, Dipper had gotten his directions. That involved him climbing a trail on the mountain he had hidden in. Unfortunately, once he had reached the top, he saw the dream demon waiting for him.
"Couldn't...you...have brought me with you?" Dipper asked as he struggled to gain his breath.
"Could have, didn't want to."
Dipper sighed as he continued forward.
What's that sound? He asked himself.
He strained his ears as best he could and followed what sounded like whimpering. He sense of hearing was proven correct when he found the source.
Pacifica was sitting balled up on the ground, arms around her legs, crying her eyes out. All his former anger towards her dissipated when he saw her sorry state. Her hair was a mess and, though he couldn't see becuase of the lack of light, he was sure that she was injured.
There speaking brought the other's attention toward them. Pacifica took one look at Bill and broke down.
"Pacifica." Dipper called, hoping not to startle her.
The blond nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard his voice. Turning to him, she almost relaxed. Then she looked at Bill and tensed up again.
"What's up toots?" Bill asked.
"Oh my...a talking dorito!" Pacifica began crying harder as she held her legs and rocked back and forth.
The dream demon looked at the terrified girl and flew closer towards her.
"A Dorito!" Bill exclaimed in his demonic voice. "Honey, I am a triangle, a perfect triangle! Look at these edges as they merge at a perfect angle." He ordered as he motioned towards his body. "Look at them!"
"Leave her alone Bill!" Dipper ordered only to recoil when the demon turned on him. "Um, please?"
The dream demon turned from Dipper towards the forest, Dipper followed his gaze. He saw two forms, one large and one small, moving towards them in a sluggish pace.
"I think I heard something over-Cipher, what are you doing here?" Gideon asked.
"Well, I'm not going to not watch you all struggle to survive in my realm for amusement." The demon answered.
"Pines!" Gideon growled.
"This is the punk who knocked me out and caused your plan to fail." The pale eyed man growled.
"Get him Ghost Eyes!" Gideon ordered.
"Stop!" Bill shouted as he through his arms out. The affects were immediate as everyone was scattered by an unseen force. "No tearing each other apart." Bill ordered. "That job belongs to everything else!"
"What's he talking about?" Pacifica asked nervously.
"He wants us to work together to try and survive." Dipper explained.
"Why." Gideon more demanded than asked.
"Because this is going to be quick and boring if you don't." Bill stated casually.
The dream demon leaned back and crossed his legs, as if reclining. A box of popcorn appeared which he began throwing into his body, they assumed he was eating it.
"What do you-" He was cut off when the dream demon motioned for them to turn around.
They turned to see a creature. It had gotten so close to them without any of them noticing, an obvious predator. They couldn't tell if it looked like a panther or a bear, it was too quick to get a good view of.
It lunged at Ghost eyes, the biggest and strongest, the only possible threat. The man went down just as easily as a kid would have as the beast sunk it's teeth into his shoulder. The man yelled in pain and fear as he tried to push the beast off, to no avail.
Dipper, used to monsters attacking him and his friends, was the first to recover from shock and fear. The man, even if he was Gideon's friend, was about to die. Picking up the nearest thing he could use as a weapon, a large stick, he ran for the beast. He began striking at it as hard as he could, but it didn't even notice him.
After one strike too many, the stick in Dipper's hand broke in half. This gave him an idea, using the jagged and shattered end, he jabbed it into the creature's side as hard as he could. It gave a howl of pain and struck Dipper with the pack of it's paw, sending the boy flying five feet. Now the beast noticed him and it was angry.
Dipper panicked, Pacifica was obviously not going to be of any use to him right now. Gideon, ha, he hadn't even bothered to look for the child maniac. Not that he had the chance.
The beast began running towards Dipper in a blind fury. Dipper did the only thing his terrified mind would allow. He raised the stick up protectively, but stayed there on the ground.
He felt the beast crash into the stick as the back end dug itself into the ground. The spear was actually holding the creature at bay as it tried biting at Dipper. He could see a trail of blood flow down the peace of wood as the creature thrashed. Acting quickly, Dipper helped brace it so that it didn't snap in two under the thing's weight.
Now Dipper could see the creature close up, not that he wished too. It had a rodent like face, almost rat-like, but it appeared no less fearsome. As it snapped it's razor sharp teeth at him, he could smell it rancid breath. Like rotting meat.
There was a hard impact from the beast that made Dipper fear that it would snap the weapon before turning on him. From behind the creature he saw Ghost Eyes, though wounded, was pressing onto the beast from behind. Trying to use the extra force to impale the beast all the way through.
As if it knew what they were doing, and it probably did, the beast began resisting. It began pushing upward against Ghost Eyes, trying to push him off and dislodge the weapon. It was, slowly but surely, freeing itself from the two.
"Help us!" Dipper shouted.
Not really knowing what to do against the creature, Pacifica just screamed. Gideon, more used to the situation, acted. He grabbed a large rock and ran to the ordeal. He began striking the creature repeatedly on it's skull.
Ghost Eyes continued to strike the creature from behind with his full weight. Dipper, from underneath the creature, began pushing the spear upward.
There was a sickening squelch as the wooden spear tore through the beast and the tip erupted from it's back in a bloody display. The beast gave a short groan of pain before it went slack, finally dead.
Now relieved, if only slightly, Dipper began to crawl from under the creature.
"Took you all long enough." Bill chastised. "I can't believe it took you all so long just to beat a simple Rat King."
They all turned their eyes to the demon in anger, who just floated their acting innocent.
"Enough games demon!" Gideon shouted. "Tell me what I want to know!"
"And what do you want to know?" Bill asked sarcastically. "The meaning of life, the exact time and cause of your death, or the-"
"The power!" Gideon exclaimed in outrage. "The power that the Author discovered! The power that rightfully belongs to me!"
"Ah, that." Bill stated with a uninterested wave of his arm. "Yeah, that's around, what of it?"
"Were is it!?" Gideon demanded. "How do I reach it!?"
Bill turned towards Dipper. "Why don't you all try that fancy journal of yours Pine Tree."
Dipper took a weary glance at the people, and demon, around him before he grabbed the journal from his vest. This drew confused but curious looks from those around him. He had wanted to keep the Journal a secret from Gideon. So of course Bill would tell everyone there.
"A fourth Journal!" Gideon shouted. Where did he get that!?
"It's the one the Author had when he came from this...place." Dipper stated. "Hopefully, it'll have some insight."
"Well, start reading!" Pacifica ordered. "I need to get out of here!"
Dipper gave her a sharp look before he began reading the first page.
My creation worked. I have successfully created a portal to the 'Nowhere' Dimension. Though I can take no joy in it. Only fear.
It seems that the portal was a one-way window, but I'm not worried. If I'm correct, this is actually a Nexus. A central dimension that connects to other worlds, like Earth. It would explain where so many of the strange creatures are from and why they aren't a regular part of our world. This, once again, proves my theories! That also means I can find a way back!
My brother Stanley will no doubt be working on a way to fix the portal. He may not have the know how, but with Fiddleford and the Journals, I know he'll succeed. However, it could be months, even years, before he finds them and get's the machine working. I'm starting to regret hiding them. It looks like I am going to have plenty of time to explore and do my research.
Maybe I'll even find out what Fiddleford was trying to warn me about. Maybe I'll be able to stop it.
If I am reading the sun correctly, then we will head North. If I'm right, all my questions and more will be answered. I'll find what I'm searching for, if not-even I don't know.
"What does it say!?"
"We're in a place the Author calls 'Nowhere'." Dipper answered. "Another dimension, most likely where all the creatures in Gravity Falls come from."
"Another dimension?"
"Look, I know that this will sound hard to believe." Dipper stated. "But Bill is right, if we want to survive, we'll have to work...together."
"Work with you!?" Gideon exclaimed, disgusted at the idea. "Ghost Eyes and I shall be fine on our own."
"Are you crazy!?" Dipper asked. "We could barely beat the last thing that attacked us, not even five minutes after meeting, and now you want to wonder aimlessly out there!?"
"No, not aimlessly." Gideon hissed as he turned his gaze to the Journal.
He motioned towards Ghost Eyes. "Your friend here is in no condition to help you do anything!"
"I'm f-fine!" The man growled as he held his shoulder.
"No, you aren't." Dipper stated. "Look, we just need to wait this out until Grunkle Stan and the Author can get the portal back up, then we can go home."
"And allow you all to place me back into that accursed prison?" Gideon retorted. "I came for power and I shall have it!"
The former child psychic turned towards the cliff.
Before he could take a step, a dark laughter began filling the air. They turned to the Rat King, the source of the laughter.
"Go on." It whispered in a voice like ice and rot. "Step out there, into the world of the unknown and discover all you wish, for only the vale is what you will find." As the creature laughed, they noticed that it's body began turning into a black smoke, dissolving. "We will be waiting under it for all of you."
They were all unnerved by what they had just witnessed. They were sure they had killed the creature, yet it spoke to them before...leaving. It just wasn't natural, though who knew what counted as natural in this strange world.
"Maybe we should...travel in the same direction for awhile." The child physic stated uneasily.
No one disagreed.
"Good idea." Bill stated as he hovered over the group. "I knew you'd make the right decision. Now don't bore me, or I'll have to make things entertaining. Now I'll leave you all with some parting words. Madness is sanity here, so to stay sane you must truly be mad!"
With his threat made and his strange words confusing them, the demon faded from their sight but not their minds.
For now, though shakily, they were in an...was alliance too strong a word? They needed each other for survival.
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