August 3, 2012
Dipper let out a moan. He felt something cold on his forehead. He tried to sit up but felt someone gently press his chest, keeping him lying down.
"Dipper, you're going to be all right. You need to keep lying down." said the voice. Dipper tried to open his eyes, but couldn't due to something on them.
"Dipper," said the voice. He could tell who it was now, the first time it sounded distorted like someone was choking on their words. Mabel was holding his hands. "They kept telling me to go, but I couldn't. I had to threaten a nurse with my grappling hook."
"What…" Dipper said. His voice was hoarse and could barely choke out the words.
"It's been weeks. You flung yourself in the middle of the portal, destroying it and the lab. You're burned… pretty bad. The doctors say you'll recover, and most of it is superficial, but there will be scarring."
"Are… you ok?" Dipper said, he wanted to cry so badly, but he needed to be brave for her.
"Yes, we're all ok." Mabel said and squeezed his hand. "We'll all be ok. You, me, Grunkle Stan, Soos, Billeah."
"Wait... Bill... lee?" Stan stammered. "Who…"
"Shh," Said a voice he thought he knew, but was foreign. "Mabel, the doctor said his memory might be an issue."
Dipper's mind raced, was it an all a dream? It had to be a dream. The deal, the mindscape, all of it.
"Who's Billeah?" Dipper asked.
"I'm so sorry," Mabel said, almost crying.
"No, it's ok Shooting Star, Pinetree, it's me! Your cousin!" Billeah said. He felt a soft, dainty hand grasp his free one and gave it a squeeze. Then some movement, as a frail body pressed against his chest and what appeared to be a kiss on the cheek. "Surprise, Pinetree..." Billeah whispered and let out a giggle.
"Oh god… Oh god… Oh god…" Dipper began to repeat and hyperventilate. It was real, it really happened! He destroyed everything, and now Bill is holding his hand, he's trapped in this bed and at the mercy of a mad dream demon! The heart monitor was screaming. His chest felt like a snake was coiled around it. He could hear someone barking orders, and he fell back into the inky blackness of his mind.
OoOoO
"Pine Tree… Spine tree… Brine Tree… Mine Tree… Oh how I wish I can take a peek… Soon my mind will be free..." Billeah sang.
Dipper floated back to his head and was able to open his eyes; He looked around, and saw his vision still impaired on his left side. He reached up and felt bandages covering his face.
He looked over and saw Billeah for the first time. She was sitting in the window, looking out. She was wearing a yellow lace dress that ended at her knees and met with yellow and black stockings, yellow ribbons and lace trimming the outfit. Her shoes and gloves were black, along with her tiny hat. The whole ensemble looked like something a porcelain doll would wear. Her skin was a pearly white, adding more to the doll like look. Her hair was long and curly, and pulled into a ponytail that coiled around to her mid back from under the hat that was worn off center. She tapped a yellow lace umbrella in time with her song.
"Bill?" Dipper asked. Billeah looked over and smiled.
"Hey! We match now!" Billeah said with a grin; she pulled back the long bangs that covered her left eye. Dipper then noticed her eye patch, it was black and shiny, just like her shoes.
"What?" Dipper said. His hand felt the bandaged side of his face.
"Yeah, shrapnel got in there. Doctors couldn't save it. I asked if we could keep it in a jar I can wear as a necklace, but they gave me a funny look. I told him you wanted to keep an eye on me." Billeah hopped out of the window sill. Dipper was amazed, for a moment, Billeah was balanced on one toe tip, her hair, dress and everything was frozen in free-fall for a split second, before gravity returned and claimed its toll. "Almost…"
Billeah walked over, and lay across the bed and on Dipper's legs.
"I can fix it," She said, pointing the end of her lace umbrella at his damaged eye. "I told you I can alter things as you see fit."
"Ok," Dipper said. "Fix it."
"Don't you understand? I'm still me, I need a deal. That's how this works." Billeah said with a grin. Dipper saw her green eyes sparkle with an unnatural glow.
"What do you want then?" Dipper said suspiciously.
"Your soul." Billeah said with a straight face.
Dipper froze, and relaxed when Billeah began to laugh hysterically and roll on the bed. Her almost weightless figure still hurt when she rolled across his knees.
"Oh Pinetree, your face was perfect!"
Dipper was about to press for the deal when there was a knock at the door. Billeah looked up... well, upside down up, as she was lying across the bed on her back.
"Come in." Dipper said.
Mabel, Soos, and Wendy entered the room.
"Hey little guy." Soos said, and moved uncomfortably to the corner of the room. He looked over at Billeah and scooted back as far as he could. "Oh um, hey Billeah."
"How is my sickie wicky twin?" Mabel said, squishing his face. "I wanted to bring Waddles, but they wouldn't let me. So I took a picture of us in matching 'get well' sweaters so I can put on your wall!"
Mabel grabbed Billeah off the bed and the two of them dug into her giant backpack. Each one of them produced streamers, banners, and balloons. Within minutes, Hurricane Mabilleah had turned his nice white walls into something that would terrify a toddler. His one good eye couldn't comprehend the amount of glitter, sequins, and sparkles. Billeah was in the process of attaching a disco globe when they heard an 'ah-hem' behind them.
"I think hospital policy draws the line at disco-balls" said an official looking doctor in the doorway. Mabel and Billeah both gave him big doe eyes and quivering pouty lips. Dipper was impressed the man survived such an attack and stood his ground. Billeah muttered something under her breath, seemed slightly disappointed and shoved the disco ball back into the oversized bag.
"Dipper, I wanted to go over your results and get you ready to check out." The doctor said. Wendy stood next to Dipper and to his shock; she reached down and grabbed his hand. He looked up questioningly, and she gave him a warm smile and looked back to the doctor.
"I'm sorry to say we've done all us can, and are unable to save your vision in the left eye. I don't want to go into too much gruesome detail. The orb is fine, and corrective lenses can be worn for aesthetics. There may be some light sensitivity and flashing, but that's about all you'll be dealing with."
Dipper felt himself soaking in his own sweat.
"Um, Doctor? I wanted to know, where's my parents… and Stan? I assumed once I was in the hospital, they would be here immediately…"
He felt his hand be squeezed by Wendy again. Mabel covered her mouth and turned away, burrowing her head in Billeah's shoulder. He could see her shoulder shake. Soos stepped forward.
"I uhh…" He said rubbing the back of his neck "You see… they were called, and were on the next flight here. Stan's machine… hiccupped… or something and… their plane..."
"And Stan's in custody," Wendy finished. "Those government goons have raided the Shack and detained him."
"Mabel? Our parents… are…" Dipper couldn't finish the sentence. Mabel head nodded. "Where are we going to go?"
"That's the thing…" Wendy continued. The doctor began poking at him and listening to his heart while she talked. "Stan… lied to us about who he was. We don't know who he really is, but after all the crazy stuff that happened, the real Stan showed up. Since he's the only family you have now, He agreed to let you and Mabel stay so you don't get put into the system."
"I see… and why isn't he here now?" Dipper said.
"He's fixing up the shack right now. Fake Stan left a huge mess, I offered real Stan to help, but he told me to come here and get you when it's time for you to check out." Soos said.
"I think he'll be good to go tomorrow. We need to keep him on a moisturizer regiment for his burns. They're going to hurt the next few weeks while they heal." said the doctor, and writing a few notes on his chart.
"We'll make sure he's taken care of." Wendy said, and messed up Dipper's hair. "Rest, good food, and lots of cheesy monster movies, right Doc?"
"Yes, that will be fine." the doctor said. He looked over the chart one more time and left. Billeah solemnly shut the door and walked over to a silently sobbing Mabel. While rubbing her back, grabbed her bag, and pulled out the disco ball. Dipper shot her an icy stare and shook his head no. Billeah gave him a sheepish grin and put it back then sat on the floor with a pout.
OoOoO
No one left him alone. They knew he was hurting, and everyone took turns sitting next to him. Wendy held his hand the whole time, and talked about the local gossip. Mabel showed him the hospital scrap book she made. He knew she was hurting as much as he was from losing their parents, but she was trying to show a brave face for him. They'd have their time to mourn the only way siblings can, but 'Brave Mabe' would do her best to force sunshine and rainbows into his brain until he got better.
Soos opened a laptop and called his girlfriend. She wished him well, and they both told him what everyone else knew. She was moving to Gravity Falls permanently, and getting married to Soos. Apparently it had been a crazy few weeks.
Billeah's turn came up. Everyone else seemed rather exhausted and had fallen asleep on the armless chairs they brought in. Soos was propped up in the corner, Wendy was laying on Soos and Mabel was lying on Wendy. Dipper wondered if this was simply because of the situation, or if Billeah had something to do with it.
"Bill…" Dipper said with a low tone, as not to wake anyone up.
"Pinetree…" Billeah whispered back. "So what… do I hold your hand? I'm still trying to get used to all this… family stuff."
"I'd… rather not," Dipper said, pulling his arm away. For a moment, it looked like Bill was disappointed, or even hurt. "Why did you let this happen? You said everyone would be safe."
"I did say that." Billeah said, "But you didn't want that."
"What you mean I didn't want that!" Dipper said in a harsh whisper. They both looked over to the sleeping inhabitants and held their breath. When no one moved, they looked back at each other.
"You said…. and I quote 'you're with me… you're human but with powers.' That means I still have my dream demon powers. That's why I need to make deals to use them for you" Billie tapped her chin for a moment. "Oh yes, I said I'll make everything the way it was, but the explosion didn't happen. You were put back at the center of the machine. The inter-dimensional explosion failed, the machine still went kaboom but not big enough to kill anyone. The events after this happened naturally, and outside of the deal struck. The lab accident did result in something I didn't expect. "
"What's that?" Dipper asked.
"The other Stan." Billeah said with a grin.
"Who is he?" Dipper said.
"He's umm…" Billeah said, and looked up… She looked visibly strained and clutched her head. "Oww! How can you humans use this… meat in your head? I can't see everything at once!"
"Wait… you're human?" Dipper said, astonished. Billeah was rubbing her temples and nodded.
"That was the deal… I'm human, I'm your cousin. Your subconscious created my backstory… of how I'm orphaned and live with your parents. It... gave me those memories too. It's always been the three of us from your sister's perspective… we're as thick as thieves." Billeah said with a smile. Dipper could feel it was genuine. Did Billeah grow up with them?
"I gotta ask… why a girl?" Dipper said. "I mean, you're Bill!"
"I tried being a boy when I took over your body, remember? All those angsty hormones… I didn't want to do it again." Billeah said with a grin.
"And a girl is better?" Dipper said.
"Oh yes! Irrational mood swings, being manipulative and subtle; I thought I had crazy down pat until I lived the twelve years as a human girl. Have you seen the mind games they play with each other? I mean, just recently, once a week…"
"Stop!" Dipper said in horror, and covered his ears. "Goodbye… childhood"
"Shhh… you'll wake them up!" Billeah said.
"Yeah… so you can only use your powers if I make a deal with you?"
"Yup, you and only you" Billeah said, booping his nose.
"So fix all this. I want my eye back, and I want my parents back too." Dipper said.
"Easily done… I just need something in return."
"What's that?" Dipper asked.
"More power. Just… give me my omnipotence back… I can't think… or see… it's all color and static… slow moving. I can feel this body aging every single second..." Billeah said. Her hands were trembling. "It may seem new to you, but I lived… a human life.
"You've just started living. Humans can live up to a hundred years." Dipper said.
"That's inhumane!" Billeah said. She quickly covered her mouth. "I thought… I… I don't know what I thought."
Dipper said coldly. "You think it's easy to be us? To be human? You think you can float around and watch us and be amused by us? Well, now you get to live like us."
"But… I don't know what's going to happen!" Billeah said, grabbing Dipper's hand with both of hers. "Every day… I don't know. I try to look, but it's locked! This human brain can't work right. I'll do whatever you want! Give me back my sight!"
Dipper stared long and hard at Billeah. Her mascara was running, her whole body shook like a leaf, and she looked desperate. Had she lived twelve years, knowing this event would happen, and there would be a chance for him to wish her powers back?
"No." he said coldly and pulled his hand away. He's not going to let her have her way.
"But… your parents… my Aunt and Uncle Pines… I thought we were going to save them." Billeah said. Her eyes were wide in terror. "I knew what happened, but assumed you would fix it… why won't you fix it!"
"I'm not going to make any deals with you. This is what's supposed to happen, than this is what happens. No one else can change their world on a whim, and why should I? What makes me so special that I can decide who lives and who dies? I'm not special." Dipper said. He leaned forward and sneered. "And now, neither are you."
"Aunt and Uncle Pines… are gone now? They're really gone?" Billeah whispered. She was trembling all over. "I can bring them back. I'll bring them back. Why won't you let me bring them back? Dipper?"
Dipper turned over with a satisfied smile, listening to Billeah whisper over and over to her.