"So, now I'm finally goin' down.
Can I find my way back home?
Now, there's no one else around.
Can I find my way back home?
Will I ever see the light?
Even though I'm fallin'?
(Will there ever be any peace for me?)
Even though I'm falling?
(Will there ever be any peace for me?)
Even though I'm falling?
(Will there ever be any peace for me?)"
"Your Disease," by Saliva
Chapter 16 – The Fate of Two Worlds
Wendy and Dipper looked on in awe of the new foe standing before them. Moments before, the partners in crime had destroyed the physical form of the dark Emperor of the digital world. In order to maintain its life in the real world, it has selected a host in order to continue its reign of mayhem and chaos in Gravity Falls.
Unfortunately for them, he had chosen Robbie V; someone who currently didn't hold either teenager in high regard. The plucky redhead had just broken off their relationship only a week earlier, due to her young cohort's exposing of the goth's deceitful ways.
Now, they found themselves face-to-face with this newly formed unholy combination. Gone was the scrawny, yet somewhat gross body given by adolescence. The demonic power had made Robbie taller, leaner, and more powerfully built. It had even improved his features, giving him a perfect complexion, as well as long, professionally-straighten silver hair.
Heaving his converted, extremely length white katana into his left hand, Wendy stepped forward, just outside of Dipper's reach, in an attempt to talk her ex down. The eerie purple aura surrounding his black-donned body increased as his laughter grew louder and deeper with every passing second.
"Robbie…" the girl offered an orange and red gloved hand, "What are you doing?"
"Hmm…?" He lowered his head to meet his former love. Their green eyes locked on to one another, never straying away as if they were magnetized.
Dipper went to join Wendy by her side, only to freeze up in mid-step. His enhanced ears buzzed with an ear-popping humming sound. As he covered them, the same warning he received after defeating Rumble McSkirmish replayed in his sub-consciousness:
"WEAPON GET – UXPEOHVULGLFXORXVOBPDVVLYHFRPER – DATA ERROR!"
He closed his eyes and slapped the side of his protected head, as one would do to broken machinery, in an attempt to make the inaccuracy disappear.
"Egh! What's wrong with this thing? It's like I got a virus or something – this isn't the time or the place for this! The very last thing I need is for the suit to be on the fritz…"
Wendy, totally unaware of Dipper's plight, moved even closer to Robbie in an attempt to calm him.
"Look at what he's turned you into!" She highlighted his metamorphosis by moving her arm up and down in example, "This isn't who you really are!"
He replied to her, his voice a dry mash up of his usually nasally whine combined with the heavy, raspy tone of the Emperor, "Says the chick in battle armor! And how would you know who I really am? I'm the bad guy, remember?!" He pointed at Dipper, not once showing emotion in his responses, "After all, that's what "your little guy" keeps telling you, right?"
With the inaccuracy gone from his mind, Dipper regained his senses. Seeing the now-close distance between Robbie and Wendy, he raised his buster, ready to attack if the goth was to dare cross his crush in any fashion.
"Wendy…" Dipper asked, "I'd like to shoot the monster. Could you move, please?"
She spun around and yelled, "NO!" The seriousness and concern found in her freckled face caught Dipper off-guard. In spite of his own feelings, the boy obeyed her request, making sure to keep his space to avoid making matters worse.
"Please, Robbie…"Wendy resumed her appeal, "Things haven't been the…best…between us lately, but that doesn't mean we wanna see you get hurt!"
"Speak for yourself…" Dipper thought to himself as he crossed his arms.
"Deep down, I know there's actually a pretty decent guy that doesn't deserve that! And if you listen to him, Robbie, you'll see that something's wrong."
After taking a second to hear Wendy out, his behavior started to change. His breathing slowed to a crawl. His eyes dimmed, losing some of their creepy green shine.
"W-Wendy?"
Wendy gave him a brief smile of relief. She was getting through to him!
"Yeah, man, it's me…" The cashier drew nearer. "I know you can do this, Robbie! You can't believe whatever it is that guy's telling you. You are the only one that can stop it, Robbie! You just gotta try!"
The purple ambience around him began to fade, "You – You're right," he sighed."
Wendy's grin widened at her success, "It's going to be okay…" She glanced over her shoulder at Dipper, "You see? It's going to be okay…"
At first, Dipper nodded along, trying to return the support that Wendy needed from him.
But from beyond Wendy's towering figure, the armored lad watched as his rival changed. A sly beam emerged on his slender mug. The devilish gleam returned to his almost-feline eyes. Before Wendy could turn around, he raised the hand holding his six-foot-long sword.
"WENDY!" Dipper screamed as he reached out for her, "LOOK OUT!"
Caught in mid-turn, she came back around, only to have Robbie give her a deep, horizontal slash across her chest. A sickening *GASP!* filled the empty street. As her breast plate let out a series of dangerous shocks and electric bolts, Wendy's legs gave way, forcing to down to her knees. The helmet in her arm fell to the ground with a loud *THUD!*
Dipper rushed to her aid, but before he could reach her, Robbie swooped in and scooped up the fallen warrior with his free arm. He dragged her to a standing position, holding her tightly against his jacketed body, so that she could see her panicked friend. With the little strength she had left, Wendy tried to break free of Robbie's grip, discovering that he was pinning her arms down. The intensive damage to her suit prevented her from "Morph-Balling" away to safety.
"WENDY!" The blue armored teen ran towards her with his arm cannon drawn.
"Not…another…step…" Robbie elevated his blade, mounting it against the center of Wendy's armor, making sure that its edge rested against her jugular. Feeling the tip nestled on her skin, she dared not to move an inch, finding herself almost afraid to breathe.
Dipper immediately skidded to a stop, his aim solely focused on the bully holding his sweetheart as a human shield.
"LET HER GO! NOW!"
Robbie simply sneered at his demand, "It's incredible. Even now, you think you're in control of the situation. I mean, look at you! The magnificent hero! Standing there in your dumb, little suit like you're some sort of Megaman! And deep down, you really believe it, don't you? You think that you're going to win, save the girl, and return everything to normal. Well, guess again!"
*WHRRL!*
Dipper charged his buster, the seriousness of the circumstance making him stutter, "I-I-I'm warning you, man! If one hair on her head is out of place, I swear I'll –"
"Y-Y-You'll do nothing!" Robbie tightened his grip on Wendy, "If you wanna take a shot at me, go ahead! I dare ya!"
"Robbie…" Wendy murmured, "Don't…"
He gently shushed his old girlfriend by delivering baby kisses upon the back of her crown of auburn hair, "Oh! Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh! Don't you worry your pretty head over anything, baby girl. I promise it'll all be over soon…" The sinister dual voice whispering in her air sent goosebumps racing across her flesh.
"If you want a fight, Robbie," Dipper offered. "I'll be more than happy to give you one! But you keep Wendy out of this! She has nothing to do between us!"
Robbie threw his head backwards as he let out another barrage of maniacal laughter, "You still don't get it, do you? All of this – everything that has happened – it has everything to do with you, and me, and her! This is where it all comes to a head! He has made it clear to me now!"
"He's completely off his rocker," Dipper thought. "I'm going to have to take him down…"
"Yeah, that's right!" Robbie taunted further, "I can feel it, you know; all of that rage and anger building up within you. Wouldn't it feel better just to let it all out? I know you want to…"
The thirteen year old found himself trapped in a scenario straight out of his worst nightmares. He knew that he would be able to nail Robbie with a single blast, but it would be impossible without striking Wendy as well – and Robbie knew this!"
"C'mon, kid! What's the matter?! Isn't this what you wanted? To finally be rid of me?!" He held Wendy closer, making it so that their heads were on an almost-equal level. "So, get on with it already! Make her proud!"
Dipper's arm was shaking uncontrollably as the Mega Buster's engine revved endlessly. With no idea what to do next, he switched his perspective away from his enemy, and towards the hostage in his grasp. Wendy watched Dipper's every moment with uneasy anticipation, going without making any kind of sound. Her green eyes, turned glassy and on the brink of frightened tears, reminded him of the past. She had given him that exact look a week earlier at Lookout Point – those same eyes that had begged him to save her – and now, they asked for him again.
"Now's your chance! Take it! If you really want to stop me, you'll have to do it! Pull the trigger, and the nightmare stops!"
Robbie's demands seemed as distant as Dipper became lost in the glimmer of Wendy's emerald eyes as they waited for his response.
"Well, what's it going to be, Dipper? Are you going to show me that you're really her hero or not?"
Without taking his sights off of Wendy, Dipper made his decision - he had no intention of letting her down for a second time. He lowered his arm-gun to his side as its glowing faded, turning back into a regular hand. Dipper looked up and gave his answer, a hint of confidence lingering in his voice.
"There's nothing for me to prove. I already know what I am!"
"Ohh!" A relieved cry escaped Wendy's lips. Her soul felt a brief sense of respite, knowing that her ultimate fate would not come at the hands of "her boy."
"No…" Robbie shook his head in disbelief, noticing how the two were staring at each other. "It wasn't supposed to…NO!" His desperate plan to shatter the last remaining thread of trust between Wendy and Dipper had done the very opposite. Their broken bond was strengthen by the act; the shared sense of hope between them was returning!
"You…You filthy coward!"
With his being powered by absolute outrage, Robbie pulled the arm holding Wendy back and flung her away from him. The ginger let out a high-pitched shriek as she collided with Dipper; the force of the crash sent them flying down the road. Breathless, they lied on the cold gravel in a tangled mess.
Dipper was the first to get up. He reached down to check over the condition of his favorite redhead. Wendy's expression was utterly worn. Her usually paled freckled complexion was instead a sweaty, beet-red. Her breaths were frequent, but slower than usual. A tiny mark was found on her slender neck in the same spot where Robbie held the sword against her throat. Thankfully, the skin wasn't broken.
His eyes quickly moved to her suit. The gash Robbie gave her was enough to pierce through the armor, but fortunately the wound was nowhere close to reaching her lanky body. The violent internal flickering had dimmed down vastly.
Dipper gently helped Wendy up to a sitting position, "Are you alright?"
She turned her head, double-checking the damage she had received, ending the quick physical with her metal hands at her esophagus, "Thanks to you…"
The boy's worry for her safety made him overlook her affection. He placed his arms under her back in an effort to help her stand. While the superhuman strength of his armor made Wendy (and the added weight of her suit) as light as a feather, Dipper found it awkward to hold her up because of the difference in their sizes.
As soon as Dipper let go of Wendy, she instantly crashed back towards the ground. He caught her just before she hit the floor.
"WENDY!" Her admirer eased her back into a comfortable pose, "What's wrong?"
"Dipper…" she moaned, "My legs…I can't feel anything below my waist…"
"WHAT?!" In a frenzy, the young detective re-explored the damaged area of Wendy's body armor, "Oh, no! No! This doesn't make sense! He hit your front! And there's no sign of organic damage, so how –"
She reached up and grabbed his shoulder to stop him, "No, man; you have to listen. He got me good – and the suit; it's like it's a part of me. Something like this happened earlier when I was by myself. When my Energy Tanks refill, the armor will be as good as new…"
"Okay…okay…so, how long will that take?"
"Um…" her voice began to slow, as if she was drifting away, "Not sure…a couple of minutes. Maybe almost an hour?"
"Almost an hour?!" Dipper noticed that something was off with Wendy's behavior. Her eyelids were constantly lowering, like she was seconds away from passing out in his arms. "Wendy?!" he carefully rocked her back and forth, "You gotta stay with me. Please? I-I can't do this alone…"
Wendy's hand moved to his exposed cheek, "Sorry…but…sleepy…sooooo…sleepy…can't…help…it…" Her connection to the armor was making her nod off.
Down the road, Robbie was waiting patiently several yards away. Showing off a smug look, he waved a black-gloved hand in Dipper's direction, "Oh, don't rush on my account. I have all the time in the world…"
There was no avoiding it now. Dipper knew that eventually, it would all come down to him versus the Emperor-possessed Robbie. While still holding Wendy, he stretched out an open-palmed arm, closed his eyes, and concentrated. When he re-opened them, the last of the doctor's E-Tanks was in his grip.
The azure-dressed fighter held the beverage to his lips. The battles with Wendy and her clone had taken a lot out of him. He knew that the only chance in defeating Robbie was to be at full strength. Before he could take a sip, Dipper gazed down at his injured cohort. A certain term Wendy had used to describe her armor's power source stuck in his mind:
"…my Energy Tanks…"
He glanced down at the thermos in his hand, "Energy Tank? That's what the Doc called these things!" An idea popped in his head, "I really hope that robotics is interchangeable in the gaming universe…"
Dipper hoisted Wendy back up, "Wendy? Wendy, I need you to wake up…"
Her eyes barely opened in response, "Dip…my head hurts…"
"I know…" He brought the canister to her lips, "Here, Wendy, I need to you drink this stuff. It'll help you!"
The groggy female mumbled, feeling the coldness of the metal "What's…that?"
"Something to make you feel better…" Taking extra care to provide proper support for her neck, Dipper watched as Wendy slowly drank the power-up, stopping every couple of sips to make sure she didn't lose her breath.
"That's it…" he encouraged, "Every last drop…"
Upon finishing the drink, Wendy let out a quiet, but adorable burp. A sweetened smile spread across her face as she closed her eyes and went back into a deep slumber.
"Mmm…it tastes like…Pinnacle Rainfall…"
Dipper looked upon his secret love sleeping peacefully, knowing that there was a possibility that this would be the very last time he would ever get to see her. He took his free hand, kissed the tips of his index and middle fingers, and placed them against her freckled cheek. A real kiss would have felt inappropriate, especially while in his unforgiven state.
Setting Wendy on the floor, Dipper rose up, unsure if his gesture was meant to wish her "sweet dreams" or to bid her "farewell." He turned around and prepared himself to face his destiny.
Robbie chuckled as Dipper stood guard over Wendy's body, "Well, well, well. And here we are…"
Dipper narrowed his eyes at the goth, ready for anything that was tossed his way.
"Your fear…I can sense it growing by the moment…it is truly delicious…" Dipper's expression changed as he noticed that Robbie's influence seemingly vanished; only the Emperor's cold voice remained. "The weakling who was gracious enough to give me his body has a fondness for the creature behind you. For this, I extend to you a rare opportunity. Step away and let us take the girl, and we'll allow you to flee like the coward you know you really are. We won't hunt you down…until we take the rest of humanity…"
*WHRRL!*
Dipper's arm cannon returned, glowing a bright green, "It's not going to happen! You'll take Wendy over my dead body!"
The villain's smirk only grew at his answer. Robbie returned to the duality, "That's the idea, brat!" All of a sudden, his body seized up, as he let out a single moan. A curved, fully-feathered black wing shot out from behind Robbie's right shoulder.
"Huh?" Dipper wondered about the sight before him, "Is that what he's supposed to be? Some type of diabolical one-winged angel?"
Robbie threw his empty hand into the air and opened it. On his order, the overcast grew darker, sealing away any traces of light. The heavy clouds spun into a rotating funnel, following the rounding motions of the goth's hand, making Dipper realize the awful truth:
"He's controlling the entire atmosphere with a simple command! What am I truly dealing with here?"
With that, Robbie walked onwards to reclaim his ex-girlfriend.
The tiny defender roared, aiming his buster straight at Robbie, sending three fully charged shots his way.
*WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!*
With little effort, Robbie dodged the first blast, cut the second in half using his blade, and deflected the last with his hand, sending it hurtling into a building close by.
*KA-BOOM!*
"What?!" Dipper grew frantic at seeing Robbie's reversing every one of his attacks. "What am I going to do? There's no way – "
He stopped, looking behind his back, and was reminded of whom he was fighting for. With a renewed sense of courage, Dipper faced his nemesis, willing to do whatever it took to keep Robbie away from Wendy.
"METAL BLADE!" Changing weapons, Dipper chucked a barrage of steel spinning gears in Robbie's direction.
*KLINK! KLINK! KLINK!*
Using his giant katana, Robbie repelled each blade, sending them flying into the atmosphere.
"Is that all you got?" he challenged. "Any more tricks up those blue sleeves of yours?"
"Just you wait! QUICK BOOMERANG!"
His hands moving in a supersonic blur, Dipper pitched a number of boomerangs at the slimming figure. Robbie twirled his sword in a continuous circular motion, similar to the blades of a windmill.
*DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!*
Dipper watched in disbelief as all of the pink-colored projectiles fell to the rocky floor. Despite this second defeat, he refused to give up, especially knowing that Wendy would be lost forever!
"BUBBLE LEAD!" Lowering his cannon to the ground, Dipper let a giant acid bubble pour out of his muzzle. It traveled along the cement street, eating away at the gravel bit by bit. Upon reaching Robbie, he clutched his sword with both hands and slit the circle up the middle, sending it off in two different directions.
"Hmm…anything else?"
Dipper's empty hand grew into a harden fist as his frustration grew. "AIR SHOOTER!" He lifted his cannon as a turbine formed on the inside. The younger teen sent a mini-tornado off into the distance, in hopes of blowing Robbie away for good.
Instead, the monstrous combination dug his katana into the ground as the gust overcame him. Planted firmly, Robbie wasn't moved an inch by the tiny hurricane. Only his jacket and hair were pushed back by the attack.
"Getting closer…" Robbie goaded in a sing-song voice.
"CRASH BOMBER!"
Dipper launched a set of the drill-tipped explosives at Robbie's coattails, hoping to pin him in place. As he watched the lit-up tips of the drills flash rapidly, he threw himself over Wendy's top half in an attempt to protect her from any upcoming shrapnel heading their way.
*KA-BOOM! KA-BOOM! KA-BOOM! KA-BOOM! KA-BOOM! KA-BOOM! KA-BOOM!*
A light rainfall of dirt and gravel landed over the back of Dipper's covered head. He rose up to see the collateral damage he made. A thick layer of smoke clouded the street.
"Yeah!" Dipper celebrated. "I got him! At last, I got him!"
A pair of sinister green eyes poked out from beyond the smog. A second later, Robbie stepped forward, brushed the remaining dust from his arms, and resumed his journey.
"ATOMIC FIRE!" Dipper stood back in front of Wendy and pushed his arms outward. Waves of fire rushed across the street. The black wing on Robbie's back covered him just as the flame went past. Beads of sweat dripped from Dipper's brow. His hands flashed as he turned up the temperature, making the inferno increase in size. Buildings, cars, and even plant life near the path of the blaze cracked and shriveled up.
Dipper could feel himself being drained, but he had to be sure that Robbie was stopped. For Wendy's sake, he needed to do whatever it took to bring him down!
As the breath evaporated away from his lungs, Dipper finally pulled back and relinquished the flames. He bent over and placed his hands on his kneecaps, taking in as much fresh air as he could heave. Dipper stared down the boulevard and spotted a red glowing shape in the middle of the street. The top layer opened and moved forward, filling the air with a sea of ashes.
The redness vanished, as the shield revealed itself to be the gigantic black wing. It moved back to its original position, showing Robbie to be safe and sound. Not a single hair or feather on him appeared to be singed. He walked through the lingering columns of fire like they were nothing!
"Almost there..."
"I'm running out of weapons!" Dipper lamented. "After that, I –"
He thought of one definite power that could help him out of his current predicament, "Maybe I'm looking at this the wrong way. The best offense is a good defense!"
Dipper hurried to Wendy's side, held a hand against her shoulder, and pointed the other out towards Robbie, "TIME STOPPER!"
An incredible shine flashed across the scene. The flow of time locked in place as Dipper recognized the familiar background sound (*TICK! – TICK! – TICK!*). Knowing that he didn't have long, he pulled the unconscious Wendy upwards, throwing her arm over his neck. Dipper wished that he could merely carry her away from the scene, but the lumberjack's lengthy size prevented him from doing so.
*TICK! – TICK! – TICK!*
"C'mon, my Wendy-girl, " Dipper spoke out loud to make himself feel better, knowing in truth that she couldn't really hear him, "We gotta get outta here! We'll go and regroup for a bit, and when you're ready to, we'll come back and cream this –"
*TICK! – TICK! – TICK!*
With Wendy in tow, Dipper gazed ahead, only to see something that made his blood run cold.
In spite of reality being frozen over, Robbie went on with his pursuit freely. Tucking his sword under one of his arms, he used his gloved fingers to part the unmoving particles and specks of cinders stuck in mid-air.
"That's impossible!" Dipper's heart beat faster and faster, "Only Wendy and I should have been immune to the Stopper. How did he break through?!"
*TICK! – TICK! – TICK!*
As the ticking sound heightened, the progress of time returned to normal. Dipper sank downwards, taking his crush with him, as Robbie was almost upon them.
"S-S-Stay back!" Dipper stuttered in terror. "I-I'm warning you!" Left with no other choice, he clutched Wendy's body tightly against his and summoned his last weapon, hoping it would offer some sort of protection, "LEAF SHIELD!"
A barrier of metal leaves swooped in and surrounded the two teenagers in a constant circle. Dipper closed his eyes and lowered his head against Wendy's shoulder. He prayed that this would be enough to keep them safe for the moment.
From within the darkness, Dipper could hear a denting sound echo in his eardrums:
*DIT! DIT! DIT! DIT! DIT! DIT! DIT! DIT! DIT! DIT! DIT! DIT! DIT!*
Dipper opened his eyes to see that Robbie was right before them. The bunch of metallic foliage was found crumpled in the goth's hand. He let them fall from his hand; they made *KLANG*ing noises as they hit the hard ground.
"Oh…no…"
With a hint of glee on his now-cleared face, Robbie reached down and pulled Dipper away from Wendy. Her lifeless body drooped back down to the ground. He held Dipper in the air by his left arm as the small pugilist was brought face-to-face.
"Heh…" Robbie chuckled. "My turn…"
Robbie took the diminutive pest and threw him over his head. Dipper went soaring into the sky, landing on the other side of the block face first. With a grunt, he pushed himself up from the torn gravel, and turned his attention to the other side of the street.
"WENDY?!"
Strangely enough, Dipper could spot Wendy, still resting quietly down the lane. Robbie's darken form seemingly disappeared from the scene.
"He…didn't take her? That – everything he said – was just to mess with me?"
More confused than ever, Dipper made it back to his feet, as he whirled around in search of Robbie's current whereabouts.
"I warned you, short pants…"
Dipper continued his watch with arm cannon at the ready. The booming voice rang out overhead, providing the sleuth no help in knowing where the menace was at the moment.
"You could have left her behind; could have gotten yourself out of this mess…"
He maintained his hunt, looking for any sign of the insane elder adolescent.
"But now, it's too late. There's no escape. And I'm not going to lie…"
From out of the corner of Dipper's eye, he saw it: a black shadow that slithered towards him at lightning speed. He turned to see Robbie with his sword raised high above his head.
"…I'm so going to enjoy this…"
The gothic scoundrel slashed downwards at Dipper, only to have him bounce back at the last moment. Dipper tried to counter with a Mega Buster blast as Robbie stepped out of the fireball's range. The taller teenager lounged forward with his blade drawn, allowing his challenger to deliver another shot at his face. Robbie moved his head to avoid the stream. He stretched out his longer black-covered leg, and tripped Dipper from behind, knocking him off his feet, and flat on his back.
Robbie stood over him, ready to thrust his katana into his reinforced chest, "End of the line, nerd!"
Dipper rolled out of the way as he pressed down. On one knee, Dipper took aim for Robbie's chest, "It's not over yet!"
*WHOOSH!*
The blue wave struck Robbie in the torso, stunning him momentarily. Seeing this opening, Dipper hopped up and delivered a thunderous fist to Robbie's face…
*KRAK!*
…only to discover he had no effect! Robbie turned his neck back, his evil grin widen at seeing Dipper's dismay.
"OW! Like oww!" Dipper waved his throbbing hand in hopes that the stinging sensation would quickly fade away. "It felt like I sucker-punched a mountain! But then, what was that cracking sound?" He turned his arm, and let out a cry, "No! Oh, no!"
A hairline crack traveled from Dipper's fist all the way down to his elbow. The hit nearly shattered his power suit into pieces!
Leaving his weapon in the ground, Robbie snatched Dipper up by the throat and brought him up to eye level, "You like dishing it out, don't you, you little snot? Well, let's see if you can take it as well!"
*THWACK!*
Robbie gave Dipper a deep punch to the gut. The small fry gagged loudly as he struggled to breathe.
*THWACK!*
He coughed violently as all air left his body. His face was turning a dark red.
*THWACK!*
The titanium suit offered very little protection. Dipper felt his own insides being crushed.
After the third damaging check, Robbie released his grip on Dipper. The grade schooler dropped to his hands and knees as he struggled to take in as such oxygen as possible. A minute later, Dipper was pressed flat onto the ground by a big black boot.
"And there you are…" Robbie's tone arose from the dual dialect, "…right where you belong; on your knees, begging me for forgiveness, for taking away everything that mattered to me!"
Dipper could only turn his head and stare at the ranting goth with narrowed, angry eyes. Robbie sneered at his expression, "Even in your lowest point, you look at me like that – that disgusted, defiant look. Oh, of how you must think you're so much better than me, Dipper…"
Robbie removed his foot from Dipper's back, "But don't worry; I'm not mad in the slightest!" He walked over to the side and grabbed both of Dipper's booted ankles, "All that means is that…"
With full force, Robbie swung Dipper around and let him go, "…you haven't learned your place yet!"
The youngster flew through a solid lamppost and into a plated glass window display of one of the random shops in downtown Gravity Falls. The glass shattered, but didn't break through. Dipper landed roughly on the cement sidewalk as the few single strands of the lamppost gave away, sending the metal structure timbering into the street. The lamp broke into a million different pieces as it smashed into the concrete.
Dipper let out a deep wince as he made an effort to lift himself off the ground. There wasn't a single part of him that didn't feel some kind of pain at that moment. He pressed a finger against his bottom lip, noticing that he had started to bleed.
"I – I guess there are some things the armor can't protect me from…"
A huge shadow was cast over Dipper, prompting him to look upward. Robbie stood before him with recollected katana in hand.
"So, did we learn anything?"
Filled with nothing but loathing for the fiend, Dipper spat at Robbie. A mix of blood and saliva splattered onto his boots. With a shrug of his shoulders, Robbie leaned down and picked Dipper up again.
"I guess not…"
He threw Dipper straight up into the darkened sky. As the boy shrieked as he descended back to Earth, he saw Robbie following suit after him. The black wing on his back allowed him to glide about gracefully. Dipper perceived the unsheathed blade in Robbie's hands as he drew nearer. Figuring on what was coming next, the tiny fighter covered his head with his arms as he prepared himself for the onslaught.
*SKINT! SKINT! SKINT! SKINT! SKINT! SKINT! SKINT! SKINT! SKINT! SKINT! SKINT!*
Robbie hacked and sliced at the armored teen with his sharpened katana. Pieces of his cobalt suit chipped away as deep scratches were spread across Dipper's body. When he felt he was finished, Robbie plunged the handle of the sword into Dipper's side, forcing him to the ground with a deafening *BOOM!*
Dipper landed at such a velocity that he created a crater in the gravel. He hacked up a small amount of dirt and dust that had entered his lungs upon impact. He lay perfectly still, hoping to regain any trace of inner strength as Robbie landed onto the terra firma. His adversary calmly walked over to see Dipper's condition – rather, if he had succeeded in taking the hero down a few pegs.
The stunned teenager could do nothing but gawk up at the danger with resentment filled in his eyes.
"That – look!" Robbie walked around the downed body in outrage, "That look full of arrogance! Why can't I take that from you?!" Dipper observed how Robbie's face began to twist up in annoyance, before returning to normal.
"So, let me ask you something, boy…" The essence of the Emperor came though, as Dipper recognized his grave tone, "Do you even know whose outfit is it that you wear?"
Caught off-guard by the question, Dipper tried to sit up, only to be given a swift kick in his ribs, making him cry out in agony.
"A fallen idol's!" Another punt dug even deeper. "A forgotten champion's!"
Robbie's form sauntered about as the Emperor narrated further, "He's just like you – another little fool who believes that one person can make a difference! That the underdog can triumph over any adversary and save the day! But as time passed, the world stopped caring about uplifting messages such as his and shortly after, disregarded him, putting him away on a shelf like an old toy!"
The lofty agitator took Dipper by both shoulders and hoisted him into the air. Robbie's voice soon returned, "And that's the thing – wait a second here…"
He reached his fingers into Dipper's helmet and tore it away from his head, painfully catching some of his curly brown hair along with it. Robbie heaved the headgear into the remoteness, "There! No more hiding behind costumes! Now, it is really me and you…"
Dipper was pulled closer, "Like I was saying, junior, you go along and present yourself as this hero, but you really don't get how everything really works. The world doesn't want heroes anymore! It looks down upon them! It hopes for them to fail so we can all laugh afterwards. Instead, they want to be the bad guy; the guy that will cross every line and stop at nothing to get what they want: money, power, popularity, girls, you name it! In other words, the world would rather have more people…like me!"
Robbie detected Dipper's face coiling at the comment, "And I know, I know – deep down you're all like "No, Robbie! Say it isn't so! You're lying!" and so on, but I want you to keep one undeniable fact inside that monster noggin of yours; one thing that despite all of your book smarts and little magic tricks, you will never ever be able to prove it wrong!"
He took a deep breath before giving off a tooth-full beam, "Wendy chose me over you…" Dipper's mind raced at the statement as he did as was predicted: he tried his hardest to find any sort of evidence to counter Robbie's claim.
The goth took a second to let the message sink in, "And guess what? She's only the beginning! The same thing will happen throughout the rest of your life – that is, if I decide to let you live!"
A sense of glee entered Robbie's mixed soul as he seen the life being drained from Dipper's eyes. For this, he decided to deepen the emotional wound, being satisfied in breaking him in both body and soul.
"And before you start preaching about holding some "high moral ground" over me, there's a little something you should know. The truth is that you're really not as much as a hero as you make yourself out to be! You showed everyone your true colors that night at Lookout Point. You did anything and everything you could take Wendy away from me and have her all to yourself! While part of me wants to tear you into two to return the favor, on the other hand, I can't really blame you for doing so. Heck, I would have same if I were in your shoes…"
"What…" Dipper grew nauseated, "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that deep down, you're just like me! You go around and act like you're a better person when in reality, you're anything but! You'll do whatever it takes to get your way, no matter who you hurt or what you destroy doing so! You and I are the same!"
"But you're wrong! There is a difference!"
Dipper and Robbie followed the distant voice down the street. A fully-awakened Wendy held herself upwards with her forearms as she inched her way towards the two. Her heavy armored legs, not yet functional, dragged behind her.
Robbie's brow narrowed, "What did you just say?!"
Her nearly-wrecked friend begged her to stay silent in fear of what tortures the maniac would be willing to put her though, "Oh, Wendy. Don't…Don't say anything else! He'll –"
"SHUT UP!" Robbie threw Dipper away into the secluded area filled with green shrubbery. His demonic sights were now turned towards Wendy, "I want to hear what she has to say…" He walked slowly towards the ginger, and bent down to one knee to properly address her, "Now, would you mind repeating yourself?"
Wendy maintained her courage, even with instant death standing over her disabled state, "You were right about Lookout Point, Robbie. That night, you and Dipper broke my heart. I couldn't begin to tell you how hurt I felt when I had both "my boys" stab me in the heart. But, you're totally off the mark in saying you and Dip are the same! It just isn't true!"
He lowered himself further. A look of confusion and injury appeared on his face. He, Robbie alone, spoke to her in a quiet voice, "How? Even now, after everything's that happened, how can you say that? About me? And about him?"
The redhead blinked as she attempted to find a way to best explain herself, "It's like I told Dipper before this whole mess started: you don't have a thing to do with anything that happens between Dipper and I the same way he doesn't have anything to do with what happens between you and me! Lookout Point wasn't the beginning of the end for us, Robbie. It was just the cherry on top of the crap sundae! Think about it, man. We had tons of issues between us, and those had nothing to do with that kid!"
Robbie replied soberly, "But…why does he get a free pass and I don't?"
"But he didn't, Robbie!" Wendy went on, "I was just as mad as Dipper as I was with you. There are still a lot of things him and I have to work out! But at least he tried to make things right, Robbie! Even if it wasn't in the way I wanted him to-"
Wendy stopped for a moment, realizing the meaning behind her own words. "Even if it wasn't in the way I wanted him to, Dipper kept trying his best to make amends, no matter how hard I pushed him away or what I did to him out of spite. And what did you do, Robbie? The same thing we used to argue about! Instead of owning up to your mistakes, you blame someone else for them! And if I know you, I bet you're done nothing but mope around your parents' front yard, haven't you?"
Robbie sat back, struck hard by the reality of her message, "Wendy…I…But…I mean…"
As quickly as he re-appeared, the dejected goth was internally swallowed by the malevolent force pulling his strings. His sadness was turned into instant lunacy. He rose to his feet as a stream of fanatical laughter poured out from his mouth. Shivers sped down Wendy's backside as she witnessed his inner transformation up close.
"Robbie?"
"That was truly…amusing…" the dual voice spoke down to her, "Part of me still can't believe what I just heard! You're just as delusional and pathetic as that stupid kid! What could I have possibly have seen in you?! It's kind of ironic when you think about it; you two naïve cretins deserve each other!"
Robbie raised his katana over his head, "And I'm sure you will meet up with him – after I send you both in the next world!"
Wendy tried to crawl away from the danger, but without the use of her lower half, she was forced to a turtle's pace. Trapped by her vicious renegade ex-boyfriend, she lowered her head towards the floor, covered herself with her arms, and closed her eyes. The seconds passing felt like an eternity as Wendy waited for the end.
*KLING!*
She had heard the sound, but never felt the final blow. Was Robbie's strike so precise that she had passed on without even realizing it? A scrapping noise, similar to twisted metal, rang through her mind. Wendy opened her eyes and gasped at the sight unfolding at her feet.
A badly beaten and worn out Dipper Pines stood between Robbie and her. With his back faced to her, he held the edge of Robbie's sword in between his gloved hands. The more the tormentor pressed down on the blade's handle, the more the two metals smashed together, creating a chain of blinding sparks.
"No!" Robbie yelled as his dark purple aura came forth once more. "You won't stop me! Not again!"
With his grip loosening, Dipper looked back at Wendy. Their eyes met, and without saying a single word, there was an understanding found between the two. The girl knew that Dipper would never let Robbie lower that katana upon her, but at the same time, she understood that he didn't have the strength to counter the attack.
From up-close, Wendy could see that nearly every spot on Dipper's once-shiny armor was covered with a ding, a scratch, or a scuff. His face was plastered with numerous cuts and bruises. A thin trickle of blood dripped from his lower lip. His overall expression showed that he was determined, yet incredibly exhausted. He grumbled his answer beneath gritted teeth:
"I…won't…let…you…ever…TAKE HER!"
Dipper turned to Wendy one last time before focusing his attention on Robbie. His knees began to buckle as the pressure on his hands increased. He knew that he couldn't hold the gothic traitor at bay forever. There was only one way out of this standstill – one sure way to prevent him from hurting Wendy. Dipper took a deep gulp, knowing that this next course of action was going to hurt…a lot.
Thinking solely of the survival of his favorite lumberjack, Dipper pulled the sword down as Robbie pushed forward. The tip of the blade pierced through the child's chest, plowing through his body until it reached through the other end. A crinkling sound filled the shadowy heavens, similar in nature to one stepping on an aluminum can.
"DIPPER!" Wendy screamed at the top of her lungs as she witnessed the fate of her devotee first hand. Robbie's merriment increased as he hauled the extra-long dagger back up, elevating Dipper off of his feet, dragging him excruciatingly into the air.
"AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"That sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach…" Robbie asked as he curved his head to see the sight from every possible angle, "That isn't the edge of my sword; it is my gift to you for all that you have done to me – I give you despair!
He rotated the handle of the katana, boring it deeper into Dipper's insides. The thirteen-year-old whimpered at every twist of the blade.
"Hmm…" Robbie quizzed, "I can feel all of this cold, nasty metal, but when will I reach your squishy innards?"
"STOP!" Wendy reached out to put an end to the madness. But with her suit's energy levels barely halfway filled, she was unable to mount any sort of rescue. "Just…stop…"
Robbie looked past Dipper towards her, "I will never stop! Not until I hold his metal spine in my hand and use it as my walking stick! This is justice! My long-awaited, well-deserved justice! What he is feeling right now is nothing compared to all of the suffering he caused me!"
After a brief silence, Robbie recomposed his calm nature, "But don't you worry. You'll get your turn after I finish with him!"
"No…."
The goth followed the protest back to the fallen body dangling at the end of his weapon. Dipper raised his head and stared at his enemy with his lit-up blue eyes.
"No!"
A sapphire ambience surrounded his entire being as Robbie felt the other end of the sword being yanked downwards. Dipper's boots made their way back to the earth. With both arms, the smallest teen griped his side as the aspiring words of the kindly old doctor rang in his ears:
"His greatest weapon was none other than his heart; all great heroes are led through what lies in their heart…"
With the tip of the sword still embedded in him, Dipper lugged his side, and shortly after, Robbie found himself hanging in mid-air.
"This…This is impossible! I took all of your hope! Where is all this strength coming from?!"
"NOOOOOO!"
Dipper lobbed Robbie from the blade with a single thrust, sending the blacken form flying over the nearby rooftops. Going hand over hand, he removed the sword from his center as the blue covering faded away. Freed from his ordeal, Dipper dropped to his knees before falling back onto the ground.
"DIPPER!" Wendy crept to her defender's side. She lightly slapped his cheek, hoping to get any kind of response, "Are you okay?! Say something!"
The boy gaped blankly at the heavens. His eyes opened wide, they twitched back and forth between his artificial blue coloring and the natural brown that Wendy instantly recalled as his own, reminding her of a broken headlight.
His breathing was shallow and heavy, growing weaker with every passing moment. Suddenly, they stopped. Dipper started making a gasping, almost obstructed-like sound, like he had caught a case of the hiccups.
"Oh, man! Oh, man! Oh, man!" Wendy dreaded, "He's not breathing! I think he stopped breathing!" She tried to watch his chest to see if it was rising. The metal suit clinging to his skin blocked any details of the human being beneath it. The same went when Wendy attempted to check for a pulse; Dipper's neck and wrists were covered by the heavy material.
"Ugh! What to do? What to do?" The high-schooler flashed back on her Health Classes. She was trained on how to handle such a crisis.
Her mind switched to chest compressions, but she figured that she wouldn't have a chance at making a dent through his titanium breastplate. There was one other option. Forcing herself into a kneeling position, Wendy slanted over Dipper's head. Using a mother's touch, she tilted his head back and pinched his nostrils shut. Pushing her long red hair behind her, Wendy made a seal over Dipper's mouth and began to blow into his body.
"ZAP!"
"Bah!" Wendy was thrown back as she was electrocuted by Dipper's touch. As the current died away from her lips, her eyes became focused on the wound Robbie issued. Wendy peered inside of the deep cut and was struck speechless of what lied within.
Numerous gears and pistons worked endlessly in perfect junction. Brightly-colored circuitry flashed and blinked incessantly. In lieu of blood, huge amounts of oil and grease dripped from the cut. There wasn't a hint of humanity to be found.
Wendy looked back at her rescuer sprawled out over the ground as she couldn't help but to think of his doppelganger. "Is – Is he even human anymore?!"
She considered the story of the strange old man Dipper had left at the Mystery Shack. He claimed that Dipper selflessly went into the treacherous world – volunteering to let this thing bond to him – in search of her.
Tears gathered in her emerald eyes as she scooped him up in her lap. "Dipper, you dummy…my poor little dummy…what did you do? What did you do to yourself?"
Cradling him in her lap, Wendy ran her hand affectingly through his thick hair as she made a vow, "Don't worry, buddy! I'll – I'll find a way to get some help! Maybe that old geezer you left at the Shack could fix ya up. You just have to hang on for me, okay?"
From out of the blue, Dipper's hand reached out and seized her by the wrist, making Wendy gasp loudly.
"…Wait…"
"Dipper! You're okay!"
His voice deepened, as it sounded like something was filling his lungs, "Wendy, I – I need to tell you something…"
Wendy wouldn't hear of it, "Whatever it is, it can wait. Just relax…"
"Please, Wendy…" Dipper countered, "Especially if this is really –" He coughed up a blend of black liquid and phlegm, "You really need to listen…"
She rubbed his head again, "Don't talk like that, Dip! We're going to make it out of this!
"Wendy…I'm sorry!"
The ginger found herself unprepared for that answer, "W-What?"
With a little strain, he looked up to see her eye-to-eye, "I'm sorry for everything. At first, I…I didn't get it, but I understand now. That night, at Lookout Point, I didn't know what to think. I honestly thought Robbie was planning to doing something terrible to you! But, it doesn't excuse what I did, Wendy! As the night went on, I lost sight on why I was doing all of this. It became more about stopping Robbie than about worrying about you!"
Dipper sighed as he carried on with admitting his guilt, "And when everything was said and done, I ended up letting you down when you needed me the most. I hurt you more than Robbie ever could, and for that, I'm so sorry! And I didn't mean what I said at the Shack! You ARE my best friend! You're more than my best friend! And nothing will ever change that, even if you still hate me for it, Wendy; even if you never forgive me for it!"
After hearing his confession, Wendy took the blue hand from her wrist and held it within hers as teardrops flowed down both sides of her freckled face. The irony of the situation wasn't lost on the inconsolable female – it took the literal end of the world in order for her wish to be granted.
Dipper opened his eyes wider. He could sense that energy was being returned to his decimated body. "But how?" He followed his numbed arm upwards, and saw it ending inside Wendy's hand. He leaned back as tranquility returned to his soul.
The peace between the two ended as quickly as it began as Wendy felt something yank Dipper out of her reach. He lifted his shoulders as he seen that Robbie had returned with sword in hand. The goth towed the by the booted ankle, "Sorry to interrupt that touching scene, but we haven't finished playing yet!"
As he was dragged behind the determined villain, Dipper could hear Wendy shout from the distance, "What more do you want? Can't you see he's no match for you?!"
Dipper closed his eyes and sarcastically thought, "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Wendy!"
"WEAPON GET – UXPEOHVULGLFXORXVOBPDVVLYHFRPER – DATA ERROR!"
"Not this again! What are you trying to tell me –?"
He stopped, reflecting on the last few instances: the sudden power surge as he came clean with Wendy; the scrambled message that kept repeating itself ever seen his battle with Rumble McSkirmish. The words of the Fight Fighter repeated over and over in his sub consciousness:
"Only the girl has the amount of energy needed to give Rumble the edge to vanquish the evil one and save our worlds!"
Everything started to make sense. One final plan came together in the throes of his mind. Hopefully, he would be able to pull it off.
"Robbie…Robbie, wait! You win!"
"Hmm?" the living nightmare stopped in his tracks.
"You're right, Robbie," Dipper led on. "I am no better than you! I deserve everything you have done to me, and more!" He stretched out an arm as a sign of compassion, trying his best to sound like he was groveling, "But please, Robbie, I beg you! Grant me enough mercy to let me die in Wendy's arms!"
Robbie thought about the request for a moment. "You know, kid? Just to show you that we're not all bad, I'll give you that!" Still holding on to Dipper by his foot, his oppressor tossed him back towards Wendy. Without a second thought, she dove towards him, acting as a human shield as Dipper had for her earlier.
"Wendy…" Dipper whispered in her ear, "Give me your hand."
The redhead snuggled her hand into his open palm, "It's okay, dude. Not gonna lie; I'm kind of scared, too…"
"What?! No! Just – Just wait and see…"
The warming sensation swiftly returned, creating an almost-healing effect on his tattered shape.
"I have to be careful…" Dipper noted. "I can't take too much as it'll hinder Wendy's recovery, but I need just enough to get my weapons system back online…"
Robbie stood before them with his katana drawn, "I have to hand it to you, Dipper. This is much better! Now, I can finish you both off in one fell swoop! But since we're all being honest, I'll admit when I've been beaten. Even at the end of it all, you still managed to steal Wendy's heart."
"Maybe…" Dipper replied, ready to throw his plan into action, "But it wasn't her heart I was after…"
"Oh, really?!" Robbie dropped his defenses and leered his head towards the two cuddled together, "Then, what was it that you were after?"
Dipper held up his and Wendy's hands entwined together before raising his Mega Buster to Robbie's face. "Her power!"
*KA-BLAM!*
He fired Wendy's hyper beam directly into Robbie's smirking mug; the impact pushed him away as he swung his blade blindly. "My eyes! I can't see! You little – "
As Robbie cursed and swore vividly, Dipper rose up and activated the alien programming that he obtained from Rumble. Using the last of the borrowed energy, the coding took control of Dipper's body, sending him blaring after Robbie. Before the goth could recover, Dipper's fists, moving of their own accord, started to incessantly pummel the stunned elder teen in the bread basket. A deep voice not his own bellowed as he flashed red and blue repeatedly:
"Super-Power-Ninja-Turbo-Neo-Ultra-Hyper-Mega-Multi-Alpha-Meta-Extra-Uber-Prefix Combo!"
The world turned entirely pitch black, save for a tiny blue speck shining on the ground.
*KA-BOOOOOOOOM!*
All three adolescents found themselves swathed in a giant, blue-fist-shaped mushroom cloud. When the smoke cleared, Dipper stood victorious with his fists placed on his hips. A breathless Robbie was stooped down before him, forced to one knee, and using the Dark Sword planted into the ground as a support.
"You dare…" he breathed, "You dare strike me in such a fashion? Don't…Don't think for a second that you've won – GAH!"
A torrent of multi-colored plasma came from behind Dipper's right shoulder and struck Robbie, sending him further into the distance. Dipper turned around to see a fully-recovered Wendy making her way to his side.
"Sorry that I was late to the party, Dipper!" She gave him a toothy smile while maintaining her stream of fire. "Ditto goes for taking first dibs, but I definitely owed him one!" She held out her open hand to her smaller charge, welcoming him into the fray.
Dipper nodded as he returned the grin. He placed his hand back into hers; their fingers interweaving together in ideal symmetry – an unbreakable bond that had been challenged by time and space itself. Walking hand-in-hand, their energies siphoned back and forth between the two bodies in an everlasting loop. Dipper opened fire on Robbie's collapsed state, sending him flying back moreso.
Wendy and Dipper continued onwards, combining their hyper beams to create a wider and stronger plasma wave. The enemy contained within was tossed down the street, unable to make it back to his feet. A purple reaction appeared within the torrent, belching a tall, stringy object out of the line of fire.
Drenched in violet-colored slime, Robbie V. lingered on his hands and knees as he coughed out the remnants of the poison that had corrupted his body and mind.
His ex-girlfriend was the first to notice the sudden change. "There!" she motioned her head in his direction. "The monster's let go of Robbie! Focus everything you got on it!"
"Uh…" Dipper doubted, "This may sound crazy, but shouldn't we blast him, too?" Wendy pinched his hand tighter as she slowly turned her head and narrowed her green eyes at her miniature friend. Dipper could feel her glance burning through him as he put up a sheepish expression, "What? I'm just saying, why take a chance?"
"DIPPER!" she chastised.
"Okay! Okay! Fine!" He followed her commands and upheld his end of the attack, helping Wendy drive the shapeless blob down the road.
"Hey, dork?" Wendy inquired, "You got any idea on what we can do with this guy?"
His eyes scanned around for an answer. His brow rose as he noticed their current location, "Wendy! We're near the Arcade!"
"So what?!"
"So we can try to force this thing back through the way it came! Maybe it'll stop of all of this once and for all!"
"Sounds like a plan, kid!" Wendy went along in agreement, "Just let me know what you need!"
They prolonged their grip on the dangerous essence until it was pinned just outside of the still-glowing business. Dipper broke away from Wendy and ran to the other side, lining himself up with the Arcade's entrance.
"WENDY! NOW!"
She turned away as Dipper resumed his blasting. The Emperor was shoved back towards the plum aura. The monster started to fight against the current, until Wendy rejoined him and restarted her assault. The combined beams of the duo lobbed the splotch straight into the barrier. It stretched and thrashed wildly in an effort to break free of its hold.
Wendy looked down at the mastermind standing at chest-level, "So, now what?"
Dipper began to change his weaponry, "You got anything explosive in your set?"
"Huh…" Wendy's lips curled into a simper, "I think I have something in mind…"
He went first, throwing his arm blaster towards the nearly-imprisoned entity, "CRASH BOMBER!" Dipper injected the malting dribble with as many of the drill-shaped bombs as his body could produce.
"You might have won the day…" the Emperor roared.
Meanwhile, Wendy charged a shot in her blaster. But instead of issuing a laser, she entered her rolled-up Morph Ball mode (which still creeped Dipper out) and ejected one of her pellet-like bombs. Unlike the previous twinkling silver balls he had encounter earlier, a larger sparkling white and red sphere laid at Wendy's feet as she transformed back to her former state.
"But may you carry this for the rest of your days…"
As if the item were a hacky sack, Wendy used the toe of her boot to move the piece into the air. She banged it against her knee, before delivering a heavy kick that sent it soaring into the purple mess. Dipper shouted over the ranting gaming demon, "Set it off in 3…2…1…"
"You two will forever be your own worst enemies!"
"GO!" The duo activated their detonators at the same time.
*KA-BOOM!*
With an incredible, almost catastrophic explosion, the Arcade was instantaneously engulfed in a ball of fire. Unexpectedly, the world around the companions immediately froze up as a magnificent shock wave shot off throughout Gravity Falls, knocking Dipper and Wendy off of their feet.
Greatly fatigued, they simply rested on the ground, hoping to regain their lost breaths. Dipper opened his eyes and turned to his right. His body no longer felt heavy or tired. Across the way, he spotted Wendy lying peacefully on the grass near the sidewalk. Her suit had vanished, being replaced with her trademark lumberjack gear.
"Wait a sec-"
Dipper held a hand over his face. The thick blue gloves that had helped protect him throughout his adventure were on gone. He sat up and examined the rest of his body. The indigo suit fell into memory, as he was now wearing his usual combo of an orange shirt, blue vest, and gray short pants. He wiggled his sneakered covered feet, noting than the bulkiness of his oversized boots had disappeared.
The boy patted the spot where he was stabbed during the fight, only to discover that it no longer existed. He felt around to find that none of the injuries that had occurred during his numerous battles remained; he was in perfect health!
Looking around the neighborhood, Dipper noticed that all of the damage done to the quaint mountain town had been rebuilt. He spotted people – real living people – walking down the street, conversing with one another as they went about on their way.
"Wendy!" With a newfound excitement, Dipper got up and ran over to where his gingered sweetheart lied. He dropped to his knees and rubbed her plaid shoulder, "Wendy! Look!"
She opened her eyes; the sun's rays made them flicker, "D-Dipper?" The last few minutes sprung to mind, "Wait! What happened?! Did we stop him?!"
Dipper pulled his arm back to highlight their world, "See for yourself!" He helped her back to her feet as she surveyed every last detail of her hometown.
"It's all here! The places! The landmarks! The people!" Wendy looked downwards to see that she, too, had physically returned to her own self. "It's back to normal!"
She took her friend by his hands, and together, they joyfully danced around in a circle – their personal "Ring Around the Rosie" – as they celebrated their hard-earned victory!
"WE DID IT! WE DID IT! WE DID IT! WE DID IT!"
They stopped as dizziness set in, their stomachs erupting with laughter, as they noticed something off.
"Dipper, look at that!" Wendy pointed.
The only change in the world around them was the conditioning of the Arcade. Every window had been blown out. Its walls were charred black. A sour, yet burnt smell filled the air.
"Remarkable…truly remarkable…"
"Hey…" she nudged his side, "You wanna go check it out?"
Before Wendy had a chance to go forward, Dipper nervously clutched her arm, remembering the initial kidnapping that triggered these events, "Um…let's not, especially after everything's that happened…"
"Fair enough…" she perished the thought, seeing how deeply her partner in crime felt about it.
"Ugh…my head!"
Wendy and Dipper spun around on their heels and found the source of the voice. Across the street, Robbie. V. stood up and brushed himself off. He looked forward and saw the pair following his every move. Not wanting to take chances, Dipper stood bravely in front of Wendy. She placed her hands on the overprotective sleuth's shoulder as a sign of moral support.
"Wendy! Kid! I – "
The three stood silently for several seconds as a sadden, yet embarrassed expression spread across the goth's face. Without saying another word, he slinked into the darkness of the nearby foliage, leaving the other two teenagers to rejoice in serenity.
Dipper and Wendy hugged each other as their reunion continued.
"I still can't believe it!"
"It's finally over!"
As they tightened their embrace, an unknown emptiness entered their hearts as they heard the final words of their bested enemy:
"You two will forever be your own worst enemies!"
They pulled away as the feelings of doubt and betrayal returned, as they were reminded of all of the pain and sadness they had caused each other before the calamity even began. Not everything had been magically repaired.
"Dipper," Wendy looked away from her little buddy with a hint of sadness as she anxiously itched her arm, "What do we do now?"
Ashamed, he set his sights to the ground, unable to find the courage to look his crush in the eye.
"I – I don't know…"
The final leftover of the gaming universe, a discarded, cracked blue helmet, sat in the grass as it was bathed in the afternoon's passing light. It started to pixelate from this world into the next, as its purpose had ultimately been served…