Summary: In which Dipper cheats death, Pacifica makes a decision, and Gideon is suspicious.

Ma-something… Mary? Mari… bel? Wait, Mabel! …It was Mabel, right?

Whatever her name, Pacifica found the girl seated beside a crackling fire, attempting to wrestle a knitted sweater onto her piglet. The color was almost flesh-toned for the animal, with a rainbow attached to a shooting star on one side. The piglet seemed adamant about maintaining its nudity, snorting and squirming in distaste. Pacifica couldn't blame it – the design was horrendously tacky.

A few yards ahead of them sat two bags atop two coats that had seemingly been laid out as makeshift beds. She vaguely recalled one of them being on Dipper's back when she'd first met them.

"Hey!" she called from the apparent edge of the campsite, afraid to get within range of the flailing pet's limbs.

Frizzy brunette curls whipped around, piglet momentarily forgotten. "Pacifica!"

She remembered my name? Pacifica shook off her initial shock, recalling the reason for her urgency. "You need to come with me right now!"

The pig snorted and leaped out of Mabel's hands, scampering to Pacifica's side. It looked up at her, then back at its owner, as if wondering what was taking so long.

"W-Wait, what? What's wrong?" The brunette rose cautiously, waiting for the blonde to elaborate further.

"It's your brother… He–"

"Which way?" In a second, Mabel had darted past her, dragging her by the wrist.

"Here," Pacifica corrected their route, silently taking the lead. The piglet weaved between them, seemingly distraught.

"What happened? Is he in trouble?"

Pacifica bit her lip and glanced guiltily into worried eyes before turning back to face the forest. "I was in trouble," she admitted quietly. "There were these ghosts! Th-they were chasing me, as wolves, and… and your brother and his boyfriend… they rescued me."

Mabel's eyes widened impossibly larger, giving her a onceover. "Are you alright?!" Despite her obvious concern, she didn't slow down.

"Y-Yeah," Pacifica answered, surprised that the girl's first reaction was to ensure that she was okay. "Yeah, I'm fine. I would be mincemeat right now if it hadn't been for Dipper. He saved my life."

Mabel fell silent, seeming to catch the tension in the blonde's voice. Finally, she asked hesitantly, "What happened to him?"

Pacifica's shoulders slumped. She'd anticipated the question on the way to find Mabel, but still hadn't come up with a rational answer. "I'm not sure. Something to do with magic, I think."

Mabel accepted the vague explanation with a nod. Silence consumed the remainder of their trek until they found their target unconscious in Bill's arms. The blond's brows were furrowed in concentration. He was murmuring unintelligibly, blue wisps curling from his fingers and dancing across pale skin.

"Dipper!" Mabel choked out, tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

Pacifica winced as the girl slid to her knees at her brother's side, touching his unresponsive face with a broken sob. Bill murmured something to her that made her eyes widen in alarm, the two exchanging frantic whispers. Through it all, Mabel's tears continued to fall.

She couldn't imagine being in a situation like this, finding out from a near stranger about your loved one's condition, then finding them practically dead. She wondered idly if not having someone that important in your life was actually a blessing in disguise that she should be thankful for.

She took another scrutinizing look at Dipper. The boy was even paler than when she'd left them, his skin coated in a sheen of sweat. His expression was frozen into a pained wince, his limbs seemingly locked up. His chest rose and fell with difficultly, shuddering breaths slipping past his slightly parted lips. Bill's hands clenched his sides tensely, as if letting go would spell death.

"Bill, please! I can't do this alone!" Mabel was practically in hysterics, fists clutching at Bill's sleeve desperately. The pig was right beside its owner, nuzzling at her side in an attempt to console her.

"I've been trying to stave it off, but I'll only make things worse if I try to heal him," Bill explained calmly, though his body trembled with anxiety. "My magic is manipulative and destructive. Yours is life-giving and healing. I know you haven't practiced much, but you're the only one who can do this."

Pacifica watched the scene unfold with thinly veiled confusion. She'd heard of magic existing in this forest, but had never before witnessed it in person. Now, in the span of just half a day, she'd seen more than her fair share, and it was even more inexplicable than she thought it'd be.

"B-But what do I even say? Dipper is the better one at magic, I don't know anything!"

"You must know something," Bill mumbled, more to himself than anyone else. His hand scratched at his chin thoughtfully. "Are you sure that you never picked up anything? Not even as a child?"

Mabel shook her head, then paused as if recalling something. "Actually… there is this one that our fath- er- guardian, taught us when we were younger, but he said that it was for if we hurt ourselves. I don't think it's strong enough for something like this!"

She was panicking now, hyperventilating and tugging on her hair and gnawing on her lip. The tears had finally stopped flowing, replaced by hiccupping sobs that shook her body.

"Try it," Bill ordered, taking her hands and resting one on Dipper's forehead and the other on his chest. "You're more powerful than you think."

"B-But!" Mabel pulled away and shook her head, consumed by doubt. Pacifica couldn't stand by and watch any more of this.

"Hey!" Both heads whirled on her, similar expressions of surprise on their faces. "The longer you stall, the closer he gets to death! I don't know much about magic or family, but if he says that there's a chance that you can do it, what are you waiting for?! You went out of your way to rescue a total stranger, so why are you hesitating when it comes to your brother?"

Mabel was frozen in shock. Her silence didn't prevent Bill from jumping to her defense. "I don't think you're in a position to lecture anyone about anything. Let's not forget who got us into this mess."

Pacifica knew that he was on edge because of Dipper's condition, but that didn't mean that she was about to let him walk over her. "Oh, so you're playing this card again? Why don't you get back to me when you have some real mud to sling?"

Bill's teeth were gritted, his fists clenched at his sides. He began to rise, but a hand on his forearm halted his motion.

"Don't get on her case about it, Bill, she's right." Mabel closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'll try it."

Bill raised a brow at her compliance, glancing back at Pacifica skeptically before turning back to his other charge. "Alright, good. Now, just focus on channeling your energy through your body and into your brother as you speak. The most help that I can offer is a boost if you start to feel weak."

Mabel nodded, steeling herself for the task ahead. Pacifica watched with bated breath as the brunette methodically wrapped strands of her hair around the key areas that Bill had pointed out, then launched into an elaborate spell that sounded similar to the language that Dipper had presumably spoken in when he destroyed the wolves.

Her body quickly reacted to the magic, again similarly to how her brother's had. Her eyes glowed purple, the roots of her hair igniting into a bright, almost-blonde color that raced down its length to where it enveloped the still-unconscious teen. Immediately, Dipper's cheeks regained their color and his limbs began to twitch as if recovering feeling.

Pacifica listened to the words as Mabel repeated the incantation again, slowly realizing that it was the same spell that Dipper had used to heal Mabel's sword wound the day before. Bill, too, seemed to have picked up on this, thinly concealed curiosity in his golden eyes.

She wasn't sure how long they were there, exactly. Bill jumped in after a few minutes to lend some of his energy to Mabel when she began to falter. They paused a moment after that to allow both twins a break. When they resumed again, Dipper began to respond even more to the magic, eyes finally opening and body voluntarily moving again. By the time that he was able to stand on his own two feet without assistance, the sun had nearly reached its peak position.

Mabel didn't hesitate to throw her arms around her brother, though she did take care to avoid toppling them. "Dipper! Don't ever scare me like that, again!"

"Don't worry, Mabes, I'm good now. There's nothing to be scared about." Dipper wrapped his arms around his sister, assuring her that he was alright. He still seemed physically shaken from the whole ordeal, but he definitely looked and sounded better.

Bill walked up behind him and patted his back tensely, as if he still had some pent up worry that needed to be expelled. "I've gotta hand it to you, kid; you sure gave us reason to be!"

Dipper parted from the embrace to give the blond a skeptical look. "Was it really that bad?"

"You were unconscious for hours," Pacifica supplied with a disapproving frown. She ignored the eyes that turned on her, yet again, to continue. "What was that? You had your sister and your boyfriend worried sick! Hell, they're still trying to recover! How could you just do that to them?!"

Dipper's face paled at her words. It was clear that he hadn't been aware of the severity of his condition. He turned to Bill for an explanation, the man relenting. His eyes appraised Dipper with a look of awe as he launched into his account of what happened:

"I was wrestling with the wolves, so I didn't see the exact moment that it happened, but… you essentially became the sun for a split second. I can't explain how or why the spell that you cast worked, but you managed to turn your body into a vessel for the sun, or some related celestial body. You were radiating pure light and power and energy. The ghosts shriveled immediately on contact, just as the journal said they would.

"Your body predictably went into shock after the output of magic that you performed. I've never seen magic executed successfully at that scale. I've heard tales of practitioners attempting it and becoming consumed by the power, but you somehow managed to survive it. Granted, you were unresponsive for quite a few hours…"

Dipper bit his lip and furrowed his brow at the new knowledge. "Are you sure that I didn't draw power from you or something? You said that if I'm not careful, I could do that unconsciously through the link."

Bill shook his head in response to the question, eyes still studying Dipper warily. "Trust me, Pine Tree, I would have felt a draw like that."

The brunet frowned before turning to face Pacifica, as if truly taking note of her presence for the first time. "Why are you still here?"

Confused by the sudden change in subject, and mildly offended by his choice of words, Pacifica put her hands on her hips and glared at him. "Excuse me?"

"Dipper!" Mabel gasped, also thrown by his unwarranted question.

Fortunately, Dipper seemed to catch onto his mistake before an argument could break out. "Sorry, let me rephrase that," he corrected, sheepishly, "why did you stay?"

While the wording wasn't quite as abrasive, the new question didn't help to clarify his inquiry. "What do you mean?"

"If I was unconscious for as long as you all said, why did you stay with us? You could've gone about your merry way. I'm sure the path is far less dangerous now than at night. So why are you still here?"

Pacifica furrowed her brows at him, disregarding the other pairs of eyes that fell on her in anticipation of the answer. "Would you have preferred that I left?"

Dipper quickly shook his head. "No, that's not what I mean at all."

"I did the same thing when Mabel was injured on my behalf. It would not have been right for me to leave while you were fighting for your life, especially not after you risked it to save mine. To answer your question directly, I stayed to ensure that you were alright, and to properly thank you in person."

She approached him cautiously, gauging Bill's and Mabel's reactions. When they didn't lunge for her jugular, she pulled the teen into a tight hug.

"Thank you," she whispered when she felt him relax into her arms. She released him after a moment, pecking his cheek before backing away with a wink.

Dipper's cheeks flushed cutely, and she couldn't help but giggle at Bill's glare. Mabel caught on and laughed, too, doubling over when the pair asked in unison what she was laughing about and wound up blushing even more.

Pacifica was the first to recover, clearing her throat to regain their attention. "Well, this has been eventful, but I should probably get going."

Mabel's laughter immediately ceased, replaced by a pout. "What? No, you can't go!"

Dipper quickly stepped in. "Mabel's right, Pacifica. The last time we left you alone, you somehow got in trouble with a pack of ghost-wolves!"

"Just letting you know now, I'm not stepping in to rescue you a third time," Bill added with a huff, crossing his arms adamantly.

Pacifica frowned. "What are you all trying to say?"

Mabel bounced up to her, linking their arms together. "We want you to stay with us!"

"W-What?" Pacifica pulled her arm away, trying to ignore the tug in her gut at Mabel's hurt face when she did. "What makes you think I want to go anywhere with you people?"

She felt something rub against her leg, turning to find the piglet nuzzling against her dress. Its wide eyes gazed up at her innocently, and Pacifica definitely didn't feel compelled to pet it comfortingly.

Mabel seemed determined to convince her to stay, reaching for her hand and tugging her closer. "Well, for starters, we have a guide! Do you even know how to get home from here?"

Pacifica opened her mouth to retort, (even though she did not have a clue), but was spared of any embarrassment when Mabel continued, "And you don't have any supplies with you! Are you going to keep wandering around in that tattered dress? I mean, I'm sure it was gorgeous before, but it isn't very practical. And what are you gonna do for food? And what if you get hurt with no one to help-"

"Points made," Pacifica cut in with a gentle smile, "but why would you even want me with you? All I've done is cause you trouble."

"That's a valid statement," Bill agreed, earning a stomp on the foot from Dipper.

"We've already risked our lives for you twice; to say that we're attached at this point would be an understatement," Dipper half-joked.

"And the more the merrier!" Mabel cheered. "Y'know, 'strength in numbers' and all that…"

Were they really asking what she thought they were asking, or was she just jumping to conclusions? Nineteen years had taught Pacifica to never allow herself to put too much trust into anyone. Blind faith was for naïve children, a category under which her parents constantly reminded her that she no longer fell.

"What are you saying?" she asked guardedly, biting her lip. She wouldn't be able to bear more rejection, especially not after the day and night that she'd just endured.

Bill rolled his eyes and groaned, fed up with the slow progression of the conversation. He grabbed Dipper's hand and began tugging him in the direction of the campsite, likely to retrieve their gear. The confused brunet reached for his sister's sleeve as they passed, dragging her along speechlessly.

Pacifica remained rooted, her fingers slipping from Mabel's. She didn't understand what was happening, didn't want to read into things, didn't want to throw herself at them. If they weren't going to explicitly ask, she wasn't about to dive in on an assumption. She couldn't bring herself to take the initiative.

The fact that Mabel hadn't held onto her tighter was proof that they didn't really want her with them. They were just being polite. Of course they were just being polite. Her entire life was reigned and regulated by courtesy. No one ever really wanted h–

Upon nearing the treeline, the demon paused to glance back at her, a teasing smirk crossing his features when he saw her brooding face. "Well? Are you coming, blondie?"

Pacifica did her best to contain the grin threatening to split her cheeks, the gloom that had befallen her shattering with that one proposition. As if enforcing Bill's offer, Waddles nudged her feet in the direction of the trio. Maintaining as much poise as she could muster, she hurried along behind them, Mabel eagerly hooking arms with her again.

Mabel disappeared with Pacifica shortly after they returned to their camp, claiming that they were going to change. Bill had merely shrugged at this, warning them not to stray too far. He had much bigger things to worry about.

The weight of the previous night's events finally had time to stew in his head. Dot knew about the twins, and was suspicious of his dealings with them. It wasn't likely that he'd report every detail back to Star just yet, but it'd be safest to get them out of the forest as soon as possible.

There was also that little connection that his brother had made regarding Stanford. Could it be possible that the journal had found its way into the twins' hands because of their relation? Or was it pure coincidence? Does it have anything to do with their mysterious guardian?

The half-demon's head hurt with all of the possibilities. Maybe he was overanalyzing all of this. In fact, it probably didn't even matter. He had to stay focused on the prize! Find the third journal. Hold up his end of the deal in order to secure the second one. Don't get attached to the twins. Return the books to Star. Go back to robbing rich bastards and swindling naïve socialites. Get an accurate Wanted poster made this go around, (the latest one was more of a whimsical caricature than a criminal profile). Continue to be a nuisance to the kingdom.

His eyes were suddenly drawn to rich pools of sienna, which had been lifeless and unresponsive only hours before. He shuddered as he recalled the terror that had overtaken him when he couldn't feel the kid's life force through their link. It had only been a millisecond before it returned, but the agony that tore through him was enough to fill a lifetime.

Dipper couldn't read his thoughts, giving a light-hearted wave before going back to repacking his bag. Bill's eyes lingered on him a bit longer, a small smile on his lips.

Don't get attached, Cipher!

He shook his head, refocusing his thoughts. He had a new charge. Granted, she wasn't under contract – his reward didn't hang in the balance of her wellbeing, and she was only tagging along until they reached town. Still, he was inclined to protect her for Shooting Star's sake.

Those two made a cute pair. He didn't miss the flustered looks that one would give the other when she thought no one was watching. He still didn't know what to make of the heiress; he'd dealt with her family on numerous occasions, (most of which hadn't been law-abiding), but had yet to officially meet her. The Northwest name was notorious enough to give her a reputation, but negative rumors also preceded her. One of the last things that he wanted was for Mabel's trip to be marred by heartbreak.

Dipper had finished repacking his bag, tossing what appeared to be a squished banana to Waddles. As the piglet eagerly devoured the treat, the brunet shyly approached his blond guardian, two rolls of bread and a few cookies in his hands.

"Just a small 'thank you' for earlier," he mumbled, handing a loaf to him. The center was filled with what looked like strawberry jam, and it made his mouth water.

He took a bite, the bread surprisingly warm and crisp. The jam, strawberry like he'd predicted, was the perfect balance of sweet and sour. He moaned appreciatively at the taste, not missing the blush that it brought to Dipper's cheeks.

"That was probably the best thing I've ever eaten!" he complimented, licking his fingers shamelessly when he'd devoured the treat. "Where did your sister learn to bake like that?"

Dipper's cheeks reddened. "Actually, I made those…"

Bill raised a brow at that. "So he can cook, too?"

The human laughed and took a seat on his coat, the only thing that he hadn't packed up yet. He patted the space next to him, placing a cookie on the spot. Bill didn't know what suddenly brought on this shift in behavior, (then again, almost dying might have had some influence). Either way, he relented and plopped down, accepting the cookie with a grin.

"So…"

"So…?"

"What's the plan?"

Bill furrowed his brows as he swallowed the last of the chocolate chip cookie. "We're still going to town, right?"

Dipper's blush returned and he quickly backtracked. "Oh, no, well yeah, but that's not what I –" he cut himself off then to gather his thoughts. "I mean, are we going to make it in time?"

Bill contemplated the question as he swiped another cookie. The trip usually took about a day's journey, but travelling with a group that was unfamiliar with the terrain could take far longer. Not to mention that he was hoping to show the twins around town a bit and allow them to enjoy the full holiday experience. They had lost a lot of valuable time between the past twelve hours, but there was a secret path that he knew of, a shortcut of sorts. The only problem was that bringing humans through it could be problematic…

One look at Dipper's anxious face made up his mind for him. He sighed, relaxing his posture. "We did lose a lot of time, but I know a shortcut that we can use to make it up. It might be risky, but I'll keep you safe." He added the last part with a reassuring wink.

Dipper's grin made his heart skip a beat. Don't get attached, Cipher!

Just then, Mabel and Pacifica reemerged, the latter dressed in a yellow sweater and a flowy, forest green skirt. As they got closer, Bill noticed that the top actually seemed to be made of animal hair.

"Llama," Mabel confirmed when she saw him staring. "Another of my original designs."

"It's surprisingly comfortable," Pacifica admitted, adding on as an afterthought, "but the design is terribly tacky."

"Aww, but you look fantastic in it, Paz! I should get you to model more of my clothes! Better you than Dipper."

"Mabel!"

Bill forced himself to move past the comment. He really didn't need the image of Dipper in a dress distracting him… or a skirt… or maybe a corset… oh fuck.

"Ahem," Pacifica coughed exaggeratedly, eyeing Bill. He was suddenly aware that his jaw was slightly ajar and promptly shut it. "If we're finished dilly-dallying, I'd like to get out of these woods as soon as possible."

"R-Right," Bill agreed, refocusing again. "As I was telling Pine Tree before you two returned, I know a shortcut to get us back on track. The only problem is the company that we'll encounter don't take very kindly to humans."

Mabel scoffed. "I highly doubt that we're like any humans they've ever met before."

Just then, Mabel's necklace started glowing and vibrating. The twins shrieked in unison and gravitated toward each other, both sporting identical panicked expressions.

"Shit! He's never called this early before!"

"I thought we'd at least have today!"

"Okay, it's okay, we prepared for this, remember?"

"Right!"

"What's going on?" Pacifica cut in impatiently.

Dipper seemed to have forgotten that she and Bill were still present, eyes widening. "Don't worry about it, it's just our guardian checking up on us. We can handle it, but we'll need you guys to step back and stay quiet."

The two blondes gave the brunettes skeptical looks before following Dipper's pleas, stepping aside and giving them room to work.

Bill and Pacifica watched in confusion as the duo dug through their bags and pulled out two large tarps. Dipper mumbled something as he unfurled the first one, the poster levitating just behind him. He did the same to the other, both coming together to form a backdrop that resembled a bedroom.

Bill could feel a slight tug on his magic through their link, indicating that the brunet was still weak and was subconsciously drawing from him. He had half a mind to cut in and stop their production, but his curiosity forced him to remain seated.

Mabel, meanwhile, had thrown a peach blanket from who-knows-where over her shoulders. She quickly tossed her hair into a messy bun and rubbed at her eyes. When she saw that the backdrop had been set up, she took a deep breath before tapping on the still-glowing shell on her necklace three times in quick succession.

A projection of a man suddenly shot out from it. It was difficult to see his face from Bill's vantage point, but he seemed round and pale, his white hair and skin almost melding into one misshapen figure. When he spoke, it was like a cheese grater drenched in honey.

"Mabel, my sweet! Why did you take so long to answer?" His accent was characteristic of the despicable humans who bordered the forest and constantly pestered its inhabitants. A sour taste tainted Bill's tongue as he watched the exchange unfold.

Mabel offered a sheepish grin, rubbing at an eye tiredly. "Sorry, Gideon, I was asleep. I almost didn't feel my necklace go off!"

"Gideon" paused, seeming to take in her state of dress before continuing gently, "Why dearest, it's almost midday! Were you up late working on another project? You could stunt your growth that way!"

Mabel's posture visibly relaxed as the man continued to ramble about her self-care, or lack thereof. She stiffened slightly when he asked for Dipper.

The male twin kept up the charade by pretending to enter her room looking for her, unsuspecting of the video call. When he entered the frame, he acted like he had just noticed their guardian, smiling broadly. "Oh, hey Gideon! How's your trip going?"

Even from his viewpoint, Bill could tell that the man was far less enthusiastic to see Dipper than he was Mabel. It was almost as if he'd asked for him as a formality, or to ensure that the other twin hadn't gotten up to any mischief.

"Not very eventful. I just missed my two flowers so much, I had to check in on you! You haven't gotten into any trouble, have you?" The question was directed at Dipper with a threatening tone.

The boy's fists were clenched at his sides, his body trembling subtly. "No sir, just up to our usual antics. I'm just rereading The Canterbury Tales… for the fourth time this week."

"For goodness' sake, child! Don't you ever get tired of reading that garbage?"

"Well I wouldn't have to reread it so often if you bothered to actually buy something for me once in a while," Dipper grumbled almost inaudibly.

"What was that, boy?"

"I said that I happen to like the various stories and characters," Dipper grit out, "but I appreciate your input."

Gideon hummed at the response before turning back to Mabel. "I have to go for now, but I can't wait to see what you're working on! You'll have to show it to me when I return."

"I'll work extra hard to ensure that it's finished by then," Mabel agreed wearily. "See you soon!"

"I love you," Gideon smiled, eyes trained solely on Mabel despite both twins remaining in-frame.

"Love you more," they both responded automatically.

"And I love you most," he giggled before ending the call.

The second that the screen phased out, the pair collapsed onto the grass, Mabel's hand covering the shell cautiously.

"Well, that was surprisingly easier than I expected," Mabel commented.

"Yeah, he seemed rushed for some reason," Dipper agreed with a suspicious tone. "You don't think he's onto us though, right?"

Mabel shook her head, reaching over to ruffle her brother's hair. "Oh, don't be such a worry-wart, Dip! I'm sure he doesn't suspect a thing!"

She stood, dusting the torso of her jumpsuit off before setting to work folding the tarps back up. Dipper released them from the magic he cast, but made no move to get up. Bill thought it as good a time as any to approach him.

"Everything okay?" he asked cautiously.

Dipper merely shrugged in response, opting to gaze up at the canopy of trees. Bill wanted to press him for more information, but seeing the kid's reluctance to even answer that question made him hold off on his interrogation.

Just then, a low growl had everyone on alert, eyes scanning the surrounding undergrowth for its source. Three pairs of eyes landed on Pacifica, the blonde attempting to play the noise off by looking behind herself. When her companions weren't fooled, she sighed and clutched her stomach. "This shortcut of yours wouldn't happen to include a place to eat, would it?"

Ironically, that was the part of the shortcut that Bill was most dreading. Ideally, he'd like to have them in and out as quickly as possible. Realistically, he knew that it was the only eatery within miles of their desired destination, and while the twins' rations made scrumptious snacks, they weren't exactly adequate sources of sustenance.

"It does, actually," he finally answered, knowing that there would be no way around it. He could only hope for minimal damage as he led the group into the belly of the beast.

Gideon was suspicious. Very suspicious. While he didn't exactly expect a call, not hearing anything from his precious flowers had set him on edge. He'd hoped that seeing their innocent faces would put his fears to bed, but the uncomfortably rushed conversation had only heightened his anxieties.

There was something off about the lighting in Mabel's room, about the flow of conversation, about how reassuring their tones seemed to be. Dipper's entrance had impeccable timing, and Mabel's excuse, while plausible, wasn't portrayed very convincingly. And was it just him, or was there a faint breeze washing through the tower?

But they wouldn't dare go outside, especially after he'd explicitly forbidden them from doing so. Dipper, perhaps, but his sweet sugar blossom Mabel would never do something so rash and dangerous… unless she'd been tempted by her treacherous brother to do so!

No, no, he was overreacting. He'd call again tonight and tuck them into bed. Surely he could wait that long, besides, he was already halfway to the trading post. What sense did it make to turn back now over a small hunch?

… Fuck it, he was turning around.

Fiddleford removed his helmet as he entered the throne room. Stanley stood near the balcony that overlooked the town square, gazing vacantly out the glass doors. His stance was regal, back rigid and straight, both arms tucked beneath the cape that ran down his back and pooled on the marble floor. The general couldn't help but visualize Stanford right beside him, mirroring the pose. In that moment, the king probably would've cracked a joke that brought the faintest smile to his twin's face.

Despite the sunlight that radiated off of his grey hair and shiny clothes, his eyes were dulled from years of stress. The toll of losing his family weighed more on him than kingdom business, even now, nearly two decades later. Fiddleford had been close to Stanford in the years leading up to his disappearance, but he couldn't imagine the pain of losing someone you'd spent your whole life with.

The doors closed loudly behind him, alerting Stanley to his presence. The king wearily averted his gaze from the balcony to the general before him, managing a small smile.

"Your highness." Fiddleford bowed formally.

"At ease, General," Stanley dismissed with a wave, moving to sit at the throne.

The majority of Fiddleford's visits to the king were casual, the two addressing each other on a first name basis and lounging about. Neither really had any family left, Fiddleford's having abandoned him when his work began to overtake his life. They would often entertain themselves with a game of chess or strategize over a cup of tea or reminisce in their past adventures. Today, however, he was here on urgent business.

"Sir, I'm afraid that we lost Cipher and the Matrix siblings in the forest."

Fiddleford winced as Stanley pounded his fist on the arm of his throne, bolting upright. He didn't respond immediately, pacing to rid his anger instead of taking it out on his friend. Finally, he paused, removing his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose tiredly.

"Those three have been a thorn in this kingdom's side for far too long!"

This wasn't the first infraction against the kingdom that the demons had committed. Only a few weeks ago, they'd stolen the lost twins' crowns and gotten away completely unscathed. The crowns had turned up a couple of days later on the black market, according to one of their inside sources, though the number of transactions that they had gone through before being found left their source untraceable. And that was only the tip of the iceberg.

"Don't worry, sir, we've set our best tracker on their scent. We'll catch those criminals this time!"

Stanley accepted the proposed solution solemnly, pacing back to the balcony. Fiddleford trailed after him tentatively. The king removed his crown to run a hand through his silvery tresses.

"Fiddleford, I need that journal back," he pleaded, turning to meet the other's gaze. "Not only is it the last thing that I have left from Sixer, but it also contains vital information on the Natives that we're powerless without. You know that as well as I do."

Fiddleford nodded. There was no way that he could forget something like that. The sentimental value was one thing, but the information that it contained more than doubled its worth. He'd contributed to the efforts, but his knowledge was nothing compared to Ford's expertise. Those journals had been incredibly important resources, and with the other two having vanished with their author, Journal 1 had been their greatest weapon.

"I promise that my men and I won't let you down this time," the general saluted. "I will see to it personally that those bastards hang for their crimes!"

Stanley laughed at his friend's choice of words, knowing that the crude insult was thrown in just for him. It was rare for the polite man to use profane language. "Sounds like music to my ears, Fiddles. Dismissed."

Fiddleford nodded, securing his helmet back atop his head as he marched out of the throne room, an even greater determination fueling his stride.

A/N: Thank you all so much for the continued support that this story has received! I'm immensely sorry for all of the delays. I'm starting a new job next week and I'm starting school in a month, but I have no intentions of abandoning this story.

In other news, I have another BillDip story that I'll probably post the first chapter of sometime today or tomorrow, and I've also fallen headfirst into the Voltron fandom, so if any of you are into Klance, stay tuned ;)