Author's Note's: So, here's the next chapter, again time jumps a lot from now on so pay attention and enjoy the story.
(4 Years later...)
Time,
It had a way of changing people…
Some for the better, and others for the worse.
Unfortunately, Time was bringing the worst out in Will, of course William didn't see it that way; no for the most part he didn't even notice the difference.
And Bill liked it that way. Besides, they had more pressing concerns. Barcus!
It had been four years since Will's younger brother had been born, and to say the kid was a little off was an insult to all the crazy people in the world.
Yes, Barcus was strange to say the least. For example, when Will saw a deer, he would think; 'Cool a deer!'
And Barcus well he would think; 'Wow another walking carcass waiting to be put out of its misery!' Sure, it wasn't a strange thought for a normal demon spawn, but what was strange about him was how Barcus would say it.
His brother had a calm and indifferent tone, if someone had been scared for their life they'd scream and have night terrors for years. Barcus on the other hand would say, "This moment will forever scar Barcus Venroe." And he'd say it in the calmest way possible.
And that was only the most mildly strange thing Barcus had ever done!
There was that one time three months ago that he had turned his babysitter into a human pretzel, and Will had overheard that they had to break every bone in her body just to untwist her arms, and legs!
Yes, nothing good ever happened when Barcus was around.
Don't get him wrong, Will loved his brother; but Barcus was a Jinx, a demon of bad luck! And since he had no control over his powers yet all those who dared to be around him could be cursed with dangerous and sometimes almost fatal episodes of bad luck. Of course, father assured him that Barcus would learn how to use his powers, guarding it from others, while letting it lose on unsuspecting enemies. But for now, Will was cursed to being related to bad luck Barc!
"Will are you ready?" Will's mother voice called from down the stairs. "Barcus' party at the youth center will be starting soon."
"Coming mom!" Will called running down the stairs and into the kitchen.
Mom,
Lara couldn't remember when mommy had left Will's vocabulary, but it made her sad. Mom meant he was growing up.
And the fact Barcus never called her Mommy only made her even sadder.
"Okay sweetie who's ready for his big day?" Lara asked as she helped Barcus out of his chair.
Barcus, who had his father's black hair, and matching coal-colored eyes laughed happily.
"Now our goal today is to make lots of friends and to have a good day!" Lara exclaimed.
Will shook his head, Barcus always found a way to ruin the day; yes, it was never an "if" as far as his little brother was concerned.
It was how, and when?
(Focusing on Barcus...)
Birthday parties…
Barcus hated them! It was full of snot nose brats that always tried to steal the spotlight from the birthday boy. Mainly from him! "Brother will you be inviting anyone to the party?" he asked Will once their mother was out of ear shot.
"No." Will answered simply. Ever since they had moved back to Gravity Falls Will had became a loner, with only his parents and his brother to keep him company; Since Grandma had left town only weeks after she disowned them for what he did to her husband.
Of course, their father had been pleased to hear this.
And Lara had decided to move back into the old house since it was still in her family name. Will sighed, and pulled out the whistle that he kept tied around his neck, and under his shirt. It was the one Malia had given him.
'Just in case you need me for anything.' He sighed remembering her words.
'I don't need it.' Will had told her.
'Some day you will…'
He had to admit sometimes he missed her, but things were better this way.
"Oh, good cause this is my party not yours!" Barcus said.
'That! Little brat!' Bill growled, but Will ignored the urge to lash out, after all with Barcus' powers of bad luck his little brother could turn the tables against him without even lifting a finger.
"Alright boys in the car!" Lara ordered, as she walked back into the kitchen with Lucas in tow.
"Father's coming?" Barcus asked.
His tone was not happy, but surprised.
"Yes, he is!" Lara said, eyes narrow. "Weather he likes it or not!"
Lucas rolled his eyes but ushered the boys towards the car, now that Lara had gained control over most of her powers, she had plenty to threaten him with. And he wasn't in the mood to argue just yet this morning. "Shinigami watch the house!" Lucas ordered.
"Yes, my king!" Shinigami answered with a bow as they left the room and left for the party.
(At the party...)
"Alright boys go have fun but behave." Lara said letting her kids lose.
Will and Barcus raced each other into the youth center.
"And have fun!" Lara called after them, before leaning on the car for a breather.
"Lara?" Lucas gave her a worried look; well the closes thing Lucas could get to a worried look.
"I'm fine I just need a moment." She said.
"You haven't been sleeping." Lucas stated. "It's the dreams they're getting worse aren't they?"
It wasn't a question.
Lara nodded. "I don't think it's safe for us to stay here anymore."
Lucas nodded his agreement. "You may be right." He said taking her into his arms. "But for now let's be happy, for Barcus' sake."
"You're right he deserves a perfect day." Lara allowed Lucas to lead her into the center.
Neither of them realized the familiar hag watching them from the shadows. "They suspect nothing my Lord." Sheba said to her master; Lord Bares who was at the moment in his true form. A demon that looked like a fireball mixed with ice that sat on her shoulder. "Her powers are finally at their peak; I can feel it."
"And the boy?" Lord Bares asked.
"It's best to take him now while he's still human." Sheba advised. "Then we'll strike soon." Lord Bares decided out loud.
"What about the younger?" Sheba asked.
"Lucas knows better than to have more than one son. The second born is a joke compared to their older sibling. No doubt he was meant to be a tool to speed Williams's demonic growth along."
"Then he is a threat!" Sheba said the obvious.
"Yes," Lord Bares agreed. "And I want you to take him out NOW!"
"As you wish my Lord." Sheba answered with strict loyalty. "As you wish!"
(Following Will and Barcus…)
"Hey brother how many presents do you think I'll get?" Barcus asked.
"A lot!" Will assured him. "All your friends have to bring one it's a rule!"
"Cool!" Barcus exclaimed.
"Alright everyone gather around." Lara announced as she came in with the cake and Ice cream. "We need to eat before the ice cream melts."
"Ice cream!" Barcus raced towards the table where his party guest had already gathered around.
Will raced after him, hoping to get a good spot by the cake in hopes of scoring a corner piece.
Lara lit the candles on the cake and said. "Now everyone sing happy birthday!" Will and the others joined in to sing happy birthday.
"Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Barcus. Happy birthday to you!"
Will couldn't help but smile as Barcus blew out his candles, and the guest cheered.
'Woopty-doo he's 4!' Bill said in an obvious jealous matter. 'I'm the first born, hell I shouldn't even have a brother!'
Will did his best to ignore Bill, and as always it wasn't easy!
'I bet father got her pregnant on purpose just to tick us off!"
"Okay everyone eat up and then we'll have the birthday boy open presents." Lara said as she handed out slices of cake with ice cream.
Will took a corner piece and dug in.
While Barcus counts the presents in the large present pile on the table beside them, making sure the number of guest matched the number of presents.
Luckily for all of them the math added up.
Suddenly the lights flickered, and Will got a sickening feeling in his gut.
'Seriously does this lady ever give up?' Bill asked.
"Father?" Will asked.
"William grab your brother and run!" Lucas ordered.
But it was far too late to run! With an evil cackle Sheba appeared and with a simple spell she had here targets and their party guest bounded in some sort of black weed.
'Devil's Snare.' Will realized.
Lucas grimaced as the Devil's Snare worked its magic on him, making him feel a thousand and pounds heavier. No doubt it's venom was already entering the pours of the human meat sack he was wearing. 'Damn this body!' he cursed and struggled to fight it off.
"Well, well it looks like we hit the jack pot!" Sheba exclaimed.
"Yes it's about time you got lucky!" Lord Bares agreed as he appeared beside her.
"Bares!" Lucas hissed.
"Awe yes my king how nice of you to join us I was hoping to settle things with you later, but this will do." Lord Bares laughed. "As for your little human friends I'll take them as a snack!"
Will watched in horror as the Devil's Snare stabbed into the innocent children around them. Then to his surprise a small demon in the form of blue fiery ice snatched up their pour souls. "Icarus?" he asked.
"Hello Will." Icarus said with a smile.
"You-"
"Gained my demon form?" He asked. "Yes, yes I did, and I see you're still as human as ever. What a surprise."
"Why help him, you hate him!" Will exclaimed as his bounds tightened around him with every word. "We had a deal!"
"You don't want me help remember?" Icarus laughed. "You know I thought now that you have your inner demon back that you would ascend to your higher form, but no I guess I shouldn't have expected anything more from a brat like you."
"Shut up you!" Barcus yelled. "No one calls my brother a brat!"
"If I were you tiny I'd just drop dead!" Icarus snapped.
Will's eyes widen.
'Oh boy here we go!' Bill thought.
Yes if there was one thing you didn't do it was point out Barcus lack of height. "No one calls me Tiny!" Barcus screamed.
"Oh why not?" Icarus taunted. "What are you going to do cry like a little baby?"
"I…AM…NOT…A…BABY!" Barcus screamed.
Will closed his eyes as a brilliant white light filled the room, the devil's snare snapped into pieces as the bright light killed it in seconds.
And when the light finally faded a nasty surprise was revealed. Where Barcus once was had now been replaced by a floating purple square.
'Hey, look a floppy disk!' Bill joked.
"Wow looks like your kids were born out of order." Icarus joked not at all impressed.
Lucas would have just loved to squash the kid, but he waited to see what his son would do.
Lord Bares was also interested in the child, perhaps he had judged him too soon.
"Shut up!" Barcus snapped. "Your voice is making me sick!"
"And let's say I don't than what are you going to do pip squeak?!" Icarus continued to tease, aiming a ball of ice at him.
Big mistake!
Will watched as his brother snapped his fingers and as the ball of ice came his way it change direction at the last second and boomeranged across the room hitting everything in its path.
Lucas put up a force field as chaos erupted around them, and the celling came down.
Icarus tried to make his own forced filled, but Barcus makes it shatter like Ice with another wave of well-deserved bad luck.
Lord Bares doesn't even move to help his son, after all the brat had asked for it!
Sheba trembles beside him looking more than a little worried.
And in a matter of seconds the whole youth center has been completely demolished, all with a simple snap of Barcus fingers, causing the devil snare to release hold on them.
"Not so tough now are you?" Barcus asked laughing loudly.
"You're insane!" Icarus yelled and moved to attack once more.
Lara got into a fighting stance ready to back her son up.
Will is also tense, but ready all the same while Bares and Lucas seemed to be locked in a staring competition.
Sheba begins to chant a spell, but she never gets the chance to afflict it upon anyone for at that very moment an army of futuristic officers came flooding in all around them.
A familiar face is among them.
Isaac Wormwood stood in front of Lara protectively. "Lord Bares you and your associates are under arrest for your crimes against time and space."
"You and what army?" Lord Bares asked. "Do you honestly think I'm scared of the Time Police?"
"How about this army?" Lucas asked. And with a snap of his fingers his minions appeared.
"You would side with Time Baby?" Lord Bares was surprised.
"He will if it means protecting his family!" Lara said, her eyes glowing with rage.
"Fine if it's a war you want then it's a war you're going to get!" Lord Bares snapped his fingers and several more old hags appeared.
'Witches!' Will realized. 'He has an army of witches!' "This is bad Barcus." He whispered to his brother who was now floating beside him.
"The name isn't Barcus anymore!" His brother said as he seemed to pull out a top hat and purple umbrella from out of nowhere. "That's my human name and since I'm no longer human Barcus Venroe no longer exists."
Will couldn't believe he was surprised by his brother's in different behavior. After all only Barcus would be easy-going at a time like this. "Then what do I call you?"
"Tad," His brother answered. "Tad Strange!"
'Oh, he's strange alright!' Bill thought.
But Will could only stiffen as the dread grew heavier in the air.
For the battle lines had clearly been drawn, and only one of them was going to make it out alive.
Chapter End Notes
Thanks for reading and please leave a comment. (If you want!) The next chapter will be up next week.
This is Emily Signing off...
