Chapter 40

Disclaimer: Alex Hirsch owns Gravity Falls, not me.

She observed her hands, trembling beneath her face, with the force of the stars. Stars. Her hands were pure darkness, engulfing her essence, stars dotting her palms and fingers. She breathed deeply, released a haze of fog, though coldness didn't penetrate her skin. The stars were vibrating down to her bones and she supposed if she were to cut open her palm, galaxies would pour out, instead of blood. She opened her eyes, realizing with a jolt that they had been closed. Her eyes swiveled around, revealing a swirling black hole, compelling her to it's opening. She couldn't feel her body, though her hands occasionally tingled with nerves. "Mabel?"

The voice echoed fiercely, the black hole roaring in the background, reminiscent of the portal. Mabel's eyes traced over the figure beside her, recognizing the voice to be Stanley's. He appeared naked before her, not an inappropriate or physical sense, more as a type of pureness. His soul was bare to her, as was her own. His haired bristled, due to an unseen force, stars littering him. The black hole pulsed, releasing a stream of stars into their vicinity. Mabel reached for one, feeling a burning in her hand, before it shimmered into a coldness. "Are you alright, Mabel?"

"Yes..." She replied dreamily, hugging a handful of stars to her chest, and breathing heavily.

Stanley reached out for her, tugging away her arms from the stars. They floated out immediately, returning to their original positions. He held her hand in his own, squeezing gently. The stars began to fall, shooting away, the darkness surrounding them melting, as though it was ice beginning to heat. The black hole spiraled out of existence. The background morphed into one of a university classroom, chalk boards, and book shelves littering the room. Their physical form remained the same, though no longer with stars, replaced by mathematical and chemistry equations scrawled across their skin. "Interesting...perhaps are minds and bodies in the mindscape?"

Mabel shook her head. "No...Me and Dipper didn't look like this, when I was in his...our head."

"Was that when Jill melded your minds together?"

"Uh-huh. She was in my head and Jason was still a different person then. The four of us were together."

"I wonder where...?"

"...It is the mindscape, but...It feels wrong, Grandpa Stanley."

"I agree...Mabel, am I correct in my belief that you can't feel your body?"

She bobbed her head up and down. "I can't even feel you holding my hand."

"That would confirm that are bodies are not here. That would leave our minds, yet you already confirmed that you didn't appear in this state, the last you entered the mindscape...that would only leave our..." He trailed off, eyes widening. "...souls."

"Yes!" Jill Rephic appeared in a flash of light, in a human form, exhilarated at the sight of them. "Your bodies and minds were left back in Reality."

The background dropped within a second, replaced by the darkness and stars. The stars vibrated angrily, as asteroids collided forcefully behind them. Mabel gripped her grandfather's hand tighter, though her couldn't feel it, as a planet in the distance rumbled, exploding. Hues of angry colors were spat into the furthest reaches of sight. Mabel's face morphed into a scowl, startling Stanley at the abrupt change in personality. "JILL!"

"Oh, the destruction you are create is absolutely gorgeous! I knew you had a darkness within yourself, I could feel it!" She admired the remainder of the explosion, the glow highlighting her face eerily.

Stanley frowned. "Mabel?"

Mabel gulped, the asteroids ceasing movement abruptly, spinning slowly through space. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Her smile dropped, heels echoing as she approached the pair. She leaned in close, ignoring how Stanley tensed at her presence, preparing to defend his granddaughter from her, if needed. Her plump lips frowned, before leaning in closer, whispering into Mabel's ears. The soothing tone of her voice was replaced by a vicious hiss. "You dare deny what you feel?"

Mabel's jaw clenched defiantly, though she never replied. Her grandfather frowned at the exchange, while Jill pulled her face away. Her angelic features twisted into a distorted version, nostrils flaring with fury. She whipped back around, her feather boa backhanding Mabel, the 13-year-old releasing a yelp of surprise, as she couldn't feel pain. Stanley was startled to witness a darkened trail of blood, stars streaming within it, drip down her cheek. The boa had cut her. Mabel pressed her fingers to the cut, eyebrows furrowing together hatefully. "I thought perhaps you were as I was as a human. I appeared to be wrong though," She whirled back around, her angelic features returned, and a smile curled upon her lips. "You're like Bill. You attempt to be who you aren't. He denied himself from his urges as a human and was miserable until the day he passed. Don't worry though, sweetie, I'll help you change that when we arrive."

"Arrive where?" Stanley questioned hesitantly, curious about the conversation between the pair, yet he knew he needed to know what would occur to them in the near future.

"Why, the Nightmare Realm, my darling."

The older Pines tensed at these words. "...W-What?"

"Oh, you know," Her smile grew, as she approached Stanley, eyes gleaming. "Where we demons reside."

Jill removed her boa, flinging it around Stanley, lowering it to his waist. He visibly flinched, before he was tugged closer to her. The female dream demon leaned in, pressing a kiss to his cheek. He shivered, the feeling of coldness registering in his mind, noticing Mable glowering at her from the corner of his eyes. "Y-You can't."

"Yes, I can." She answered, removing the feather boa from his waist, and releasing him from her hold. He backtracked a couple of steps, wiping his palm across his cheek in disgust.

"We would either die or..." He froze, eyes wider than before.

"It seems you got the idea, darling."

"Or what?" Mabel asked, wiping at the darkened blood, and causing it to smear.

"...we become demons."

The 13-year-old closed her eyes, the glowing hue of Jill Rephic continuing to burn her retinas. Demons. Her soul, bared to the core, would reveal her inner darkness. She would change into a demon easily, due to her already demonic thoughts. The thoughts to hurt others as a form of revenge, to the point of begging for relief. She didn't want to feel such emotions, yet desired to have them consume her. She had controlled most of it, though there had been the moments where she had released her urges. Jill was right. Fighting her urges made her miserable. Yet...she knew if she didn't resist her urges when she entered the dream realm, she would leave behind her family. Her eyes opened, releasing a puff of breath. "I won't become one."

The lips on the dream demon spread wide enough, that they covered her entire face. "I suppose we'll have to see what you can handle in the Nightmare Realm."

The black hole reappeared and both of the Pines knew when they reached the swirling mouth, they would never return.

~!-?-!~

After that late night phone call from Soos, Stan hadn't done much. He went back to the kitchen, smoking his cigarette all the way down to the butt, before pressing the remains onto his arm. He felt a slight sting, as the smoke died out, and pulled the crumbling remains away. A reddened circle vibrantly appeared against his skin. The elder man flicked away the remains, before slumping his head down into his crossed arms. He didn't know long he remained in that position, before deciding to go and check on the younger ones. He peeked into the attic's room, eyes drifting to the the glow of a flashlight in Dipper's hands, as he studied the file. He glanced up, the shining light jerking towards his general direction. "Oh, you scared me."

"Kid, I think it's time for bed. Gideon's already out cold..." He gestured towards the snoozing 11-year-old to his right. "...and you look exhausted."

"You do, too." Dipper replied, the light hovering around Stan's lower face.

"That's why I'm gonna try sleeping, after I make you go to bed."

Dipper closed the file and dropped the flashlight to his lap. "What do you think Bill's rhyme meant this time?"

Stan sighed, knowing he wouldn't sleep, until he received an answer. "Hopefully that Jill Rephic is gonna get what she deserves."

"Bill said he was told to kill her, but...then his rhyme said she'll be trapped."

Stan rolled his eyes, approaching his bed. "Dipper, I don't know how many times I have to repeat myself, but what Cipher says most of the time, is lies. His little 'prophecy', is nothing more than some cryptic way of messing with us."

His eyebrows furrowed. "He told us where Mr. McGucket was though."

"Because, he wanted to erase his mind. Because of him, Fiddleford won't remember a lot of important stuff."

"But, won't that help him feel better?"

"I don't think having holes in anyone's memory, is gonna make you feel any better."

"Ok, but what's the truth of what he said today then? And, how does that help him?"

"Hell if I know. What I can tell you, is that someone is gonna end up hurt in the end. And, I rather it be me, than anyone of you. Most of what he says though, is a lie."

Dipper frowned. "...Grunkle Stan, I don't he's lying about either of the things he said."

"And, why do you think that?" He asked, humoring the 13-year-old, as sat down at the end of his great-nephew's bed.

"Because, I know how he is."

"Kid, I'm starting to think you don't. You do realize how often he lies and tricks people?"

"Yeah, but...he tricks Mabel and me a lot...he doesn't lie though?"

"Lies and tricks go hand in hand."

Dipper shook his head. "No, you don't understand."

"No, I don't."

"Um...ok, well...he...he does things, bad things, but they stop worse things from happening."

"What are you talking about?"

"...Bill makes deals, that make bad things happen to people. But, he saves them from something worse happening...I guess it's like a loophole or something?"

"Okkkkk...and can you give me an example?"

Dipper fidgeted, biting his lip. "...when I fell down the stairs and Jason appeared, because of my head injury...it wasn't an accident. Bill, he, um, he made me fall down the stairs."

Stan shut his eyes, taking deep breathes, to control his impending outrage. "...Ok, I'm not going to say anything about that for second, but why?"

The 13-year-old appeared hesitant, before plunging into what he wanted to explain. "...Jill messed with the original timeline and was planning on killing me right then. Bill, pushing me down the stairs, and injuring me instead of killing me, made me stay alive."

"So, what, you were alive in the first timeline an...?"

"No, I would...d-die when I was sixteen and only Mabel would come to Gravity Falls."

"...and how were you gonna die?"

Dipper squeezed his eyes shut, the words of what could have been, returning to his mind. "I-I would have...h-hung myself."

His answer was received with a silence, that was dragged out for a minute or two. He peeked his eyes open, observing his great-uncle. His face was in his hands, a sigh finally heard from the elder man. "...Do you want to kill yourself, Dipper?"

"N-Not anymore!" He immediately answered, concerned by Stan's reaction.

"Jesus Christ, kid...I don't know how many more times I can take you dropping bombs on me like this. 'Not anymore'? You were planning on killing yourself and you never told anyone?"

"I-I wasn't...I w-wasn't planning on going t-through with i-it...a-at least in this t-timeline..." He muttered, ashamed of his thoughts he had experienced, before he had arrived to this town.

Stan removed his face from his hands, startling Dipper from how red-rimmed they were. His eyes shone with tears, raw emotion deep in them. When Stan reached out, wrapping his arms around Dipper's shoulders, he automatically leaned in. He heard a sniffle in his ear and wrapped his own arms around the elder man's frame. "Grunkle Stan?"

"I-I almost didn't meet you," He great-uncle mumbled. "I-Imagine that..."

The brunet gulped, attempting to imagine never meeting one of the family members he loved most. "I...can't."

Stan sighed into his ear, before reluctantly revealing his thoughts. "I guess...Cipher did us both a favor then..."

Dipper supposed that was the closest to an understanding they would come to.

~!-?-!~

"Dear Pacifica, Glad to know you're not befriending any snobs, though it would be hard to find one as bad as you. That was meant to be a joke, but knowing you, that went over your head. France must be nice this time of year, with the cooler weather and all. It's so hot in Gravity Falls right now, that it feels like I'm dying. I'm sweating a river, right as I'm writing this. And, archery sounds like a cool sport. I'm not really good at any sports, so I don't really pay attention to them, but I'm sure you're good at it. That's really weird about that Ivan Northwest guy. It sounds like you found your own mystery to check out, though it probably won't be as cool as finding anything in Gravity Falls. Mabel and me haven't been doing much around here, though we have a new edition to the house. Gideon Gleeful. Now, before you make that face you always do (you know the one), I'll tell you he isn't as bad as you would think he is. He's actually nice, but really shy, so when you do return, you should probably not act like a snob right away around him. He might get scared. Gideon is a good friend though, so I think you would like him right now. No, I'm not going to 'waste away' the rest of my summer reading. Reading is a good use of my time and I'm insulted that you would think it isn't. And, Mabel says she is a fashion goddess and is fine just the way she is. I hope you have a good rest of your summer and keep me updated on this Ivan guy. -Dipper Pines."

"What are you writing, kid?" Stan peered over his shoulder, and Dipper immediately attempted to cover up the words with a blush.

"N-Nothing!"

"Let me guess: your little blonde girlfriend?" The brunet's blush deepened and Stan knew he had been spot on.

"P-Pacifica isn't my girlfriend!"

"Sure she isn't." Stan laughed at his grand-nephew's embarrassed scowl, shaking his head.

"She isn't my girl-!"

"M-Mr. P-Pines?" Gideon peered into the kitchen hesitantly, voice meekly attracting the pair's attention.

"Yeah, what do you want, kiddo?"

"Um, I-I t-think M-Mr. M-McGucket is w-waking up."

No sooner than the words had left the 11-year-old's mouth, Stan had exited the kitchen, heading to the living room. When he entered, Fiddleford was rubbing his eyes, blinking in confusion, remaining laid back in Stan's reclining chair. The blanket wrapped around his frame slid down to his lap, as he shifted, sitting up from the seat. The ex-curator realized Stan was there and squeezed his eyes shut. "S-Stanford?"

"How you feeling, nerd?" He asked, approaching his best friend, as he observed his sluggish reaction.

"...tired...and...my mouth feels like cotton..." Stan chuckled, realizing his friend seemed...normal. It felt as though they were young, the best of friends, before their entire lives had gone to hell. His laughter died off at the end of his thoughts, concerned about his friend. "Stanford...why...where am I?"

"The Mystery Shack. Don't you remember what happened yesterday?"

"No...I..." Fiddleford brought a hand to his forehead, grimacing. "Yes...you...found me in the...bunker and brought me here. I was...remembering."

"Yeah, you were."

"I...I think I remember...everything?"

Stan blinked in surprise. "Everything?"

"Yes...except...I feel as though...I'm missing something? Someone...someone that built the..."

"Stanley?"

"What? No, I remember your brother. I just feel as though someone else was there."

The elder man immediately realized whom he referred to, knowing that Bill Cipher had erased memories of himself from the homeless man's mind. "Fiddles, what do you remember about that night my brother disappeared?"

"Well...you...you had been acting odd and...you accidentally broke the rope attached to your brother and then the portal failed."

Fiddleford didn't remember the truth of that day, the truth that Bill Cipher had possessed Stanford Pines. With this knowledge in mind, Stan released a sigh and decided to aid this belief. "Yeah, I did..."

"...But...he never...returned..."

Stan gulped, before preceding on with the truth. "Actually, Lee came back."

The ex-curator's eyes widened, mouth gaping open. "STANLEY CAME BACK?!"

"Uh, yeah, h-"

"Where is he?!" Fiddleford pushed himself off of the reclining chair, stumbling forward a few feet, as his head swiveled around wildly. "Is he-?!"

He staggered into his best friend, the elder Pines grasping onto his shoulders to give a sense of balance. Stan's concern grew immensely at this action. The notion that Dipper could have been wrong and Fiddleford actually wasn't alright, struck him. The other had grown silent, left hand rubbing at his forehead, as though he experienced a headache. "Oh...my...my head is...I feel dizzy..."

"You need to sleep more." Dipper appeared behind the pair, observing the ex-curator.

"Oh...I suppose...perhaps...yes...I feel quite sleepy...perhaps I should go back to sleep...Why am I so...tired?" Fiddleford asked in confusion, as Stan guided him back to the reclining chair.

"You remembered a lot of crap, so your head has to adjust to it." Stan felt proud, as though he was responsible for Dipper's smooth lie that rolled off of his tongue.

"Oh, yes...that would explain it all...Stanford?" Stan had draped the blanket back over his frame, his eyelids drooping.

"Yeah?"

"Is...Stanley ok?"

Stan gulped guiltily, as his best friend drifted off to sleep. "Yeah, he is."

End Chapter 40

Oh, would you look at that, it's been three weeks since the last update. Whoops. That last month of the college semester was difficult though and I usually promise a weekly update on my Back to the Future fic, so I had to concern myself with those instead. I finally had time to write out this chapter though, which I'm thankful of. I don't believe any notes for this chapter are necessary, so this author note is going to be brief. Happy Holidays everyone!