Taking a Stand

Bill's driven a motorcycle maybe once before. He's inhabited a lot of human bodies over the years but in the grand scheme of things, motorcycles were relatively new. So he never really had an opportunity to use one. If he has, it was an older kind. This high horsepower device with its bright blue paint job was a work of art, and he was expecting it to crash into something at any moment.

He couldn't drive anywhere near as fast as he knew it could go, having to maneuver around trees, following a faint path of pressed down grass from Gideon's previous trips to and from the cabin, while also watching out for roots or bushes that could potentially turn over the motorcycle.

It seemed that his strength returned with each passing moment, and he could hear Dipper behind him murmuring spells, magic flowing from surrounding trees as the boy healed himself, relying on nature magic rather than his own right now. Bill was proud of his resilience.

Then he felt Dipper's hands shift from his waist, sliding down to his legs, and he glanced down in time to see gold magic flow from the boy's hands and into his skin. There was creaking in his bones, a sensation that was almost painful, but then there was relief, and he realized that the other had fixed the damage from the crowbar.

Thank you, he thought to him, and couldn't help but laugh as he heard the other's voice respond to him, feeling his joy.

You're welcome. Dipper's arms linked back around him, and he felt the human rest his face against the back of his neck. Need me to do anything else for you?

Fix the charcoal damage. Please. If you can.

Got it. Dipper's hands began tracing over his body, and each time they found one of the deep wounds, they would pause to extract the dust that still lingered and then fill in the holes. It took a few minutes, but he got it all, and began looking for any other major damage.

Save your energy. Something tells me we may need it.

For what?

He's following us.

Dipper didn't need to be told who 'he' was. He looked over his shoulder, seeing a purple glow behind them, and as he carefully extended his awareness, recoiled at what was almost a static shock to his mind. Pavonis.

He's in his demon form and he is pissed. And he'll catch up to us very soon... I hope you're prepared to fight.

Dipper didn't feel at all ready to fight, he was still in pain and exhausted, sick and hungry and cold, but he would do it if he had to. He checked to make sure he remembered the demon killing spell, and to his relief, he did. He would need it.

Killing him will be hard, but I believe in you. I'll try to bring him down so you can use the spell. Don't rush so much that you make mistakes, but I want you to do it as fast as you can. Got it?

Got it.

Okay. Hold on, I'm going to try and drive faster. Bill carefully turned the handle, increasing the speed, but the bike was beginning to rattle, and the turns he was having to make to avoid trees were much too sharp for it. He ended up losing control, as one handle slammed into a tree and knocked the entire bike off balance, sending it spinning and dislodging its riders.

"Dipper!" Bill called out loud, managing to grab onto Dipper and stop them in midair. It put a strain on his limited magic, but he lowered them safely to the ground. They dropped into the grass, hearts pounding but otherwise okay. Looking at the motorcycle, they saw that it was laying against a tree, dented and with fluids leaking out of the motor. Possibly repairable, but it wouldn't be going anywhere right now.

"Fighting, then." Dipper stood up, stretching his arms and drawing on his magic, disappointed with how little he had access to, and deciding that it would be necessary to dip into the reserves. He could tell Bill was doing the same, and as he looked at his partner's determined expression, he got the feeling they would come out on top of this battle.

Until Pavonis actually tore his way through the trees and came into view, his eye narrowed, electricity flying from his star-shaped form as he floated down in front of them. His multiple colors occasionally flashed darker, but it seemed that he was trying to control himself.

"You two thought you would get away that easily?" he snarled, showing the first true anger that they've ever seen from him. He was still quiet, but his words dripped with hate. "I was promised Cipher's demonhood, and Pines's magic. I am going to get what I was promised."

"Then try to take it," Dipper challenged.

Without any further statements, Pavonis hurled a bolt of electricity at him, too fast for him to physically react, but Dipper's thoughts were just fast enough for him to divert it away from himself and send it flying into a tree instead. Then he retaliated with a blast of fire, and the other barely managed to dodge it.

Predicting which direction Pavonis was going to go, Bill was already waiting with his own stream of fire, which the other flew right into.

Pavonis shouted out in pain and swung his arm up, forcing the magic to disperse. He took a moment to collect himself, then came at them again, now using his telekinesis to lift both of them and repeatedly slam them into the ground.

Dipper cried out as a few of his ribs, cracked from previous abuse, broke completely and dug into his lungs. He couldn't focus enough for a spell, but luckily, Bill could. Bill concentrated and thrust his hands forward, and a concussive blast of air slammed into Pavonis, knocking him back several feet and interrupting his magic. The two were dropped to the ground.

"Pine Tree!" Bill called, but Dipper struggled to his feet, wincing.

"I-I can heal it later, just- Bill watch out!"

Bill was struck by lightning from Pavonis's palm, body thrown back, not stopping until it hit a tree and collapsed.

Dipper heard a furious snarl in his head. Okay, fuck this.

Bill emerged from the body in his demon form, glowing a harsh red, intense flames covering his arms as the whites of his eye darkened to black, pupil becoming white. Now separated from the injured body, his thoughts were so much clearer, and he could give all his attention to his magic. He attacked Pavonis with everything he had, and the two demons were soon flying around each other, magical fire and electricity shooting between them, the air itself crackling with their energy.

Dipper helped however he could, but they were moving too fast for him to keep up with, and he didn't want to accidentally hit Bill. He could tell his partner was weakening; a lot had been taken out of him. He shouted encouragement to him, and silently told him techniques to try, but while Pavonis was taking some serious hits, it wasn't enough to stop him, and they were at it for nearly ten minutes.

Then the two suddenly came to a stop, backing off and staring at each other for a while, smoke and bits of energy curling off their forms.

Dipper could sense Bill's exhaustion, which worried him; Bill never felt that in his demon form. He saw him flicker slightly, and heard his voice in his head. It's getting harder to stay in reality. If this keeps up, I'll have to return to the Mindscape... or to the vessel. Pine Tree, he's stronger than I thought. You may have to just do the spell.

But he's too quick, he'll avoid it!

Not if we slow him down. You know something for that, right? Do it. Don't even warn him, just use a deceleration enchantment and then immediately begin the spell. I'll keep him distracted while you do.

I don't want to hurt you.

Only focus on him and you won't hurt me. I trust you.

Dipper gave him a silent acknowledgment before attacking Pavonis, who wasn't prepared for the spell that was blasted at him. His reflexes were fast, but he just barely started to raise his arms before the magic hit him, and he found himself feeling sluggish, hovering suddenly an incredible chore, and he sank down a few feet.

"Come here, you bastard!" Bill yelled, physically assaulting him with his fists, and the other fought back. But his strikes were slow, and Bill could easily block them. They ended up landing on the ground, rolling and tussling with each other, shouting in various languages and casting whatever spells they could, but while they were hurting each other, it wouldn't be enough to actually stop one of them. They were too evenly matched.

Dipper was nervous, but he started his own spell, shouting out the words as he had been directed to, feeling magic buzz through his body, responding to the ancient language. He focused entirely on Pavonis, eyes trained on him, but something was wrong. It felt like his magic was fizzling out, his head aching, a kind of burn in his fingertips, racing up his arms as though he was trying to lift something that was much too heavy for him. He's only felt this a few times before, but it scared him when he recognized it. He didn't have enough strength for this task. Pavonis was too powerful of a target.

He mentally cried out to Bill for help, and the dream demon looked up immediately and flew over to him.

"You can do it Pine Tree, keep going, use all your reserves if you have to!" He hovered next to the human and grabbed his hand with both of his, body returning to its yellow color and glowing brightly as he gave the other his strength.

Dipper's eyes widened, pupils dilating and irises glowing blue as the more demonic magic coursed through him. Now he felt more confident, could feel his words having an effect, and Pavonis visibly shuddered.

"What are you..." Pavonis squinted, then recoiled, body darkening into several dark, muddy colors, magic taking on an almost black appearance. "No!" He shot bolts of electricity, but they were unnaturally slow. Still very fast, but slow enough that Bill could deflect them, all while letting Dipper have his magic. While his hand was still out, Bill struck the other with fire, which dazed him for a few moments. Then he grabbed onto Dipper's hand again, watching him carefully as he continued speaking. Just a few more seconds... but did the human look tired?

Bill felt a sinking sensation as Dipper's eyes drooped, a few words slurring; he was losing focus. The spell was demanding a huge amount of energy, and while Pavonis was writhing and clearly in pain, the chance of Dipper managing to actually kill him seemed slim. This was going to backfire, Dipper was going to pass out and Pavonis was going to recover and keep up his attack.

And Bill knew that he didn't have the strength to keep fighting for long. He would have to retreat into the Mindscape, and then what would Pavonis do? Possibly torture Dipper again, or kill him.

He closed his eye, mentally berating himself. No, he had to believe in his partner. Dipper could do this. He would pull this off. Even if it seemed impossible. His human was amazing.

Dipper himself knew that it was hopeless, though. Has known for a while now. He has never taken on a demon as powerful as Pavonis with this spell, knew it was tearing every bit of strength out of him, but something kept him going, kept him dutifully reciting the words as though on autopilot, and he had closed his eyes by now, resigned to his fate. At least he would black out over grass. Maybe this would at least hurt Pavonis so badly that Bill would finish him off. And if not... at least they would go down fighting. He couldn't ask for more, really.

Last words now. One more second and it would be over, at least for him. He took as much of Bill's power as he could, enjoying how it burned through him before he directed it back out, and as he was finishing the sentence, he felt a hand press to his back. A hand that couldn't possibly be Bill's, since he knew both of the demon's were holding his.

But there was a fresh surge of energy, just enough to wake him up, and he opened his eyes and focused everything he had on Pavonis, feeling the power explode forward, in a blinding light that shifted between cyan, gold, and strangely, a bit of red. It surrounded the psychic, who screamed, unable to escape the magic that filled the area.

Dipper could feel the magic literally ripping the other apart just as it has any other demon he used it on, and his heart leapt at those pained screams. His elation quickly made way for anger, and he grinned savagely as he furiously tore into his foe. Toward the end, he even thought he heard begging, and then the light disappeared and all that remained was Pavonis's soul, shattered and beginning to fade away. Too exhausted to think straight, Dipper stepped forward, spitefully absorbing it for himself.

He realized his mistake the moment the energy sunk into him, but it was too late; agony sliced through him, an agony he hasn't felt since the first time he ever absorbed a soul, but so much worse, it cut through his head and heart and limbs and brought him to his knees, screaming and clutching his temples. Bill cried out in alarm and grasped at him, and there seemed to be another person touching him too, but he didn't pay attention. He couldn't focus. He collapsed to the ground, continuing to hold his head, now feeling blood pour out of his nostrils, body writhing. He soon began choking as blood bubbled up his throat, vision turning red and then black, and as Bill's hands started to cradle his cheeks and turn his face skyward, he finally, blissfully passed out.