The Cipher Fighters
Chapter 5:
" Huh," Dipper uttered then shook his head, grabbing the top of his head.
He gasped then ran after her, but she already beat him to the elevator. Pacifica reached the main floor of the shack and ran outside, until she reached her tent. She stuffed the rift into her duffle bag and joined the group as they came back from break, still wearing the cap. The group continued their training from there until it was time for bed. Dipper snatched his hat back from Pacifica. Pacifica snickered and retreated to her tent for the night.
" So, you've got the snow globe," Bill asked Pacifica.
" Yep," Pacifica reached into her bag and gave Bill the snow globe, who screamed with delight. " Now, about my parents."
" You've got it, Blondie," Bill chimed as he yanked it from her hands. " Come morning tomorrow and you won't even recognize them."
" Great," Pacifica beamed.
The next morning, the group gathered in the living room. There was a large bulletin board in front of the tv. Ford was pointing to it with a stick, while lecturing.
" And then we go in for the kill," Ford concluded. " Any question? Yes?"
" Ford, can I go home," Pacifica questioned, grabbing her stomach. " I don't feel very good."
" No, we can't afford any delays," Ford responded.
" My stomach hurts," Pacifica groaned, stifling back a sob. " I think I'm going to throw up."
" Fine," Ford sighed as he pinched his nose. " Practice is cancelled, but be back here by night fall. You should be better by then."
" Thank you," Pacifica began walking toward the doorway.
" Dipper here will accompany you," Ford stated.
Dipper, who decided to remain hatless that day, walked in front of Pacifica. He lead her to the golf cart. Pacifica climbed in the passenger's seat. Dipper sat in the driver's. He put the key in the ignition then turned to Pacifica.
" You're not really sick, are you," Dipper questioned.
" And you really think I think you look cuter without that hat, don't you," Pacifica snapped. " Just take me home, please."
" You're letting everybody down, you know," Dipper started up the golf cart and began driving off.
" It's not my fault I'm sick," Pacifica said.
" Sick, huh," Dipper murmured then began driving over the bumpiest parts of the road, smirking.
" Hey," Pacifica barked, glaring at him. " Stop it or I'll barf all over you."
" If you were going to barf, you would've done it already," Dipper retorted.
" Okay, I lied," Pacifica confessed. " I'm not sick. Something came up in Tahiti and my parents had to come home. I need to make sure they are okay."
" Why didn't you say something in the first place," Dipper raised an eyebrow. " All you had to say was you had a family emergency."
" I panicked, alright," Pacifica stuttered. " I am surrounded by po-party people who would never understand what a family like mine deals with."
" You're acting weird, again," Dipper moaned, squinting at Pacifica. " Pacifica, what is really going on? Tell me the truth. I mean it."
Pacifica hesitated for a moment, looking Dipper in the eye. Dipper tightened his grip on the steering wheel, while stiffening his bottom lip.
" I made a deal with some triangle guy," Pacifica said, while closing her eyes tight. " He said if I gave him some snow globe, he would change my parents."
" Whoa," Dipper slammed on the brakes, causing both of the tweens to sway forward and back. " Bill Cipher? You made a deal with him?"
" No, it was Phil Encrypter," Pacifica retorted, shrugging. " Nice guy."
" Phil Encrypter, my foot," Dipper mumbled to himself then slammed on the gas pedal, yelling. "Why didn't you tell me? When did he appear? "
" The other night," Pacifica answered, gripping the dashboard in front of her. " I was told to keep it a secret. All he wanted was a snow globe your uncle borrowed, but never gave back."
" And you believed him," Dipper shouted as he pulled into Northwest Manor. " Pacifica, that was Bill Cipher. He was using you to get to the rift. Now that he has it, our time to prepare is nil."
" Oops," Pacifica muttered as Dipper parked the cart, blushing. " Well, at least my parents got changed for the better. Hehehehe."
The two ran toward the mansion and barged through the front doors.
" I hope we're not too late," Dipper muttered as he stumbled into the dining room, where Mr. and Mrs. Northwest were sitting.
" I said no cinnamon," Preston snapped at a butler. " I hate cinnamon."
" Mom, Dad," Pacifica chimed as she ran over to her parents.
" Pacifica, darling, back from your friend's sleepover, already," Priscilla questioned as she set down her glass of apple cider, looking at the children. " You know how that makes us look. And, what is he doing here? You know I don't like peasants in the house, unless they are butlers, maids, cooks, or limo drivers."
" I don't get it," Pacifica muttered to herself. " They haven't changed a bit. What's the deal?"
" What have we said about your guests' attire," Preston question as he glared at Dipper's outfit. " If you're going to be hanging with the riffraff then you have to make sure they dress like us. A Northwest only mingles with the wealthy, you know."
" Dipper, can I talk to you, alone," Pacifica asked.
" If you think I'm going to wear that tux," Dipper scoffed until Pacifica grabbed his arm, dragging him to the nearest sitting room.
" You were right," Pacifica said. " That was Bill Cipher. He did trick me."
" It doesn't make sense, though," Dipper uttered. " Bill usually keeps his end of the bargain and not in a good way. He is very sneaky like that."
" Ugh," Pacifica smacked herself on the forehead." Now you tell me. What do you think he will do?"
" No idea," Dipper uttered. " If I were you, I would be very frightened right now. Did you specify what you wanted?"
" I just asked him to change my parents," Pacifica answered. " I didn't actually say in what way. I just thought he already knew."
" Uh-oh," Dipper murmured.
The two headed back into the dining room. Preston and Priscilla each had a handle on top of their heads and bells for bodies. Also, their eyes were glowing red and they had sharp, jagged teeth. They turned to Pacifica, snarling at her. The couple roared and began charging at the children. Dipper and Pacifica screamed and began running toward the exit. The couple followed them, making ringing sounds the whole way. Pacifica and Dipper hopped into the golf cart and drove off. Preston and Priscilla stopped at the gateway, glaring. Eventually, they were back at the shack. They ran inside and shut the door, panting.
" That was close," Dipper uttered.
" I'll say," Pacifica sighed.
" I need to warn Ford," Dipper uttered. " You stay put."
The boy ran toward the gift shop. Ford was mumbling to himself, while shifting objects around the lab.
" Great Uncle Ford," Dipper shouted as he dashed over to him. " We have a situation."
" I'll say," Ford uttered, while still searching. " The rift has gone missing. I can't find it anywhere. You wouldn't happen to know anything, would you?"
" Pacifica traded it to Bill," Dipper said.
" What," Ford snapped, eyes narrowing.
" She traded it to Bill in hopes he would change her parents for the better," Dipper explained. " Now her parents are these bell monsters and we are short on time to prepare for Bill."
" How'd she get a hold of the," Ford started then growled. " You left the vending machine open again, didn't you?"
" No, I didn't," Dipper uttered. " She must've sneaked in before I closed the door. I found her in your study, going through things."
" And you didn't stop her," Ford questioned.
" I did," Dipper uttered. " Tried to. She must've snagged it while we were kissing."
" What were you kids doing making out in my study," Ford asked, furious.
" Hey, she kissed me, first," Dipper defended himself. " I was distracted."
" By your hormones," Ford sighed. " You're lucky the rift she took was a fake or you would be in even worse trouble than you are now."
" A fake," Dipper uttered.
" Yes," Ford nodded. " I wouldn't leave something like that out in the open like that. What do you take me for? An idiot?"
Dipper's jaw dropped then he looked down at the ground, frowning. Ford kneeled down in front of him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He took a deep breath.
" Look," Ford started. " I don't like raising my voice at you, but this a serious matter that we're dealing with here. You are banned from the lab. I'm changing the password to the vending machine. I will give you the new one when you can prove you can be more responsible."
" What," Dipper squeaked as his eyes widened, looking up. " But, Great Uncle Ford, that's not fair."
" Dipper, you let an outsider into the basement, twice, in less than a day," Ford uttered, holding up two fingers. " You're a security risk. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to let Stan know what you did."
Ford went upstairs, mumbling to himself. Dipper followed, sighing.
" He did what," Stan yelled. " I told him not to do that."
" I know," Ford said. " I'm surprised, too."
" Dipper, I'm disappointed in you," Stan put his hands on his hips. " You're grounded."
" But, Grunkle Stan," Dipper started, but was cut off.
" No buts, young man, except yours on the living room chair," Stan pointed to the chair. " You are not to move from that spot, unless it's for food, water, the bathroom, and saving the world."
Dipper sat down on the chair and pulled out one of the journals. Stan snatched it away and gave it to Ford.
" No reading," Stan uttered. " No watching tv, playing video games, using your phone…Nothing. You just sit there and think about what you did. Seriously, I don't know what's gotten into you, but you better straighten your butt out, before I straighten it for you."
" But Grunkle Stan, Pacifica tricked me," Dipper uttered. " She followed me into the basement."
" Yeah, because you left the door open," Stan scoffed. " And another, because you didn't bother checking your surroundings. That girlfriend of yours could've done much worse, Dipper. Much worse. She could've stolen the real rift and then we would've been doomed for sure. Now, I'm going to help Ford down in the basement. Since Ford sorta fired you, somebody's gotta step in."
Stan and Ford left the room, leaving Dipper alone. Dipper looked at his feet and sighed. Eventually, nightfall occurred. The group practiced more. They were getting better, but not quite prepared to battle Bill, yet. During practice, Dipper kept glaring at Pacifica, who would frown and glance down. Practice continued until sunrise. The group members went back to their beds, except for Ford, Stan, Dipper, and Pacifica. Mabel had already gone to bed. Stan and Ford were sitting at the table in the living room, discussing and arguing over plans. Dipper went back to sitting on the living room couch, listening in on their conversation. Pacifica was standing in front of the old men, staring at them. She took a deep breath then walked over to them.
" Hey," Pacifica stuttered, causing the pair to glance at her. " If you should be blaming anybody, it's me. I made the deal with Bill Cipher, I was the one who sneaked around your home and into your lab, and I was the one who tricked Dipper into giving me that snow globe. I should've told you guys about it earlier, but I didn't and I'm sorry."
Ford and Stan looked hard at each other, before Stan gave his brother a nod. Ford sighed then glanced over at Dipper, who was staring at the wall. He looked at Stan and gave a nod back. The older twins approached the boy.
" Alright, Dipper, you're off the hook," Stan grunted.
" Really," Dipper raised an eyebrow.
" Yes, really," Ford stated. " Pacifica told us everything. You're no longer being punished for it. I would, however, like to go over watching out for lurkers. I don't want you in my lab and I am certainly still not giving you the new password, until you are properly paranoid about guarding that entrance."
" Sounds fair," Dipper grinned.
All of a sudden, there was a loud crash outside. It shook the shack and the entire property it sat on. Next, everything turned red. Stan, Ford, Dipper, and Pacifica ran outside and gawked.
" No, it can't be," Ford murmured. " Not now."