Mabel is determined to balance on that ox's back... Oh, also, fun things happen in this chapter! Bloody fun things!
On Wednesday, Mabel had insisted on having everyone watch her attempt to balance on top of Bruno the ox while holding Waddles over her head. Amy stood there, head tilted and hands on her hips, as Mabel attempted for the fourth time that day.
Dipper sighed and looked around. Amy, Stan, and Ford were all watching Mabel, but Dionysus appeared to be too busy (or too drunk) having a one-sided conversation with Angelo the horse. Dipper noticed that both Bill and Flora were standing behind the group and staring out over the distant trees. He didn't really find it odd that Bill would ignore the situation, but he did find it strange that Flora was also distracted. They were both silent and unmoving as they stared intently at seemingly nothing. He looked past them but couldn't spot anything strange and their expressions were unreadable.
"What are you guys looking at?" the boy asked as he walked over to them.
"Hey!" Mabel called then almost lost her balance. "Come back!"
Bill did not answer and for a moment Flora almost didn't either. "Something is…very wrong." Her gaze did not stray as she spoke.
Suddenly, the sky cracked with a sound like explosive thunder and somewhere over the trees a blood-red rift tore into the sky. All of the sheep panicked and ran towards their barn while the ox bellowed. Angelo reared up, whinnying loudly, and Waddles took off from the barn. Several birds and other animals fled from the trees in a panic. The sky swathed red like blood tainting water and the area under the rift changed from lush forest to barren red rocks and dirt. It looked like two worlds merging and a large swirling red barrier appeared, surrounding the changed area.
"What's going on over there?" Stan asked.
"Waddles!" Mabel chased after her pig as he ran towards the forest.
"Why would he run to the problem!?" Dipper threw his arms in front of himself. He tried to call his sister back but she was already through the trees.
They caught up to the girl as she was standing right in front of the strange bubble-like barrier. "He went through it," she said.
"What is it?" Dipper hesitated.
"A rift…in space," Flora told them. She looked up at the massive wall. "It is…Necronire." She hissed suddenly as Mabel tried to approach the wall. "You mustn't!"
"But Waddles is in there!" She ran through before anyone could stop her.
"Mabel!" Dipper glanced back at Flora who lashed her tail but moved towards the barrier as well.
"That darn pig," Stan grumbled.
Dionysus sighed. "A little sooner than expected…"
The other side of the wall really was another world. The forest had been replaced with flat rocky land and only a few dead black trees dotted the area along with some jagged stones and boulders. The red sky tinted the area a similar color.
In the center of the area was a circle of monsters and strange creatures, some of which looked sort of familiar to the Pines. They were making a bunch of noise and laughing as one of them tried to catch the pig bolting around.
"Hey!" Mabel shouted, catching their attention. "Leave him alone!"
"Mabel!" Dipper hissed through clenched teeth.
The monsters all looked over and grinned (well, the ones that had mouths did). "Well, well!" A strange serpent-like creature with stony scales slithered forward to meet her. He narrowed his yellow eyes. "How's it hangin' little morsel?" His mouth gaped in a grin as she glared at him, her courage wavering. "Aw, whatsamatter? Where did all that boldness go!?" He snapped his jaws in her face and she stumbled back. The other creatures laughed and allowed the pig to run to her.
Flora stepped forward and craned her neck over Mabel, coming face-to-face with the serpent. He looked surprised to see a dragon and moved back but smirked again. "You're only a fairy dragon. You couldn't hurt me even if you wanted to." She glared at the serpent. He slithered around her to examine the other humans and lowered his face to Amy's. "You have an interesting aura."
She looked up at him but didn't show any signs of fear or concern. She actually looked more defiant than anything.
Bill stepped between them and the serpent hissed. After a moment of realization, the creature winced and quickly moved away. "Bill?!"
The other monsters exchanged surprised words. "We thought you died." "Where have you been?!" "What are you doing with them?"
Bill looked annoyed and was about to let out a smart remark when a deep and terrifying growl reverberated across the area. "Indeed…" The monsters shivered and huddled off to the side as another rift opened. The tear was huge and a massive black reptilian arm pushed through, slamming its hand down and causing the ground to shake. The hand left a perfect indention of itself in the rock. Even its jet-black scales were larger than each of the monsters that watched from the sidelines in fear.
A massive dragon's head pushed its way through the tear and stared down at them with four bloodred eyes. It appeared as if it couldn't push any further through as it looked down at them with a gaping maw filled with rows of sharp teeth. They could only see from its hand all the way up to its shoulder, neck, and head, and already the beast was as big as a mountain and covered in rows of long black spikes. It narrowed its eyes. "Hello~"
They stared up at the monster of a dragon with obvious horror. "T-that's…" Dipper stammered.
"Ragnarok," Flora let out a breath.
Ragnarok's eyes glanced around, carefully looking over each body present until he locked on to Bill. A slight growl rumbled in the dragon's throat as the corners of his mouth curved into a ghoulish grin. "Greetings, Bill!" His menacing voice boomed and he turned his head to look directly at him.
"How's it going?" Bill spoke casually but was noticeably tense. "It's been a while. You've gotten…bigger, I see."
"Yes…" Ragnarok narrowed his eyes. "You have been hiding for a long time." The ends of his sentences ended with low growls. "You didn't think you could hide from me…forever, did you?"
"Course not." Bill crossed his arms. "I just ran into a few…complications."
Ragnarok chuckled humorlessly. "I've been looking for you. I must admit, I am quite disappointed." His eyes narrowed to slits but then he took on another smile. "Yes. While you were fiddling around with your many failed attempts to conquer Avas, I found a way to tear my claws into reality and forge rifts through time and space. I have been gathering power in great quantities."
"You've been stealing it from your world!" Ford said.
"Do not speak out of turn!" Ragnarok's rage-filled roar knocked the old man over hard. "Yes, MY world!"
Ford winced at a sharp pain in his back but still grinned at the dragon. "So you admit it. You're the reason the Nightmare Realm is falling apart."
The monsters looked up at their master but none of them spoke up. Bill shifted his feet.
Ragnarok glared down at the tiny man. "Nightmare Realm…" He laughed at the term. "Necronire translates to Dead World, in your tongue. It has always been useless. Just like the failures whose powers I seized over the years. I am merely putting it all to proper use."
"You're destroying your own world so you can throw off the balance and take what doesn't belong to you, and then you're fooling your own subjects into thinking otherwise!"
"What I choose to do with Necronire is my right!" He looked down wickedly at Ford. "If my people do not wish to die then they will do as I say or perish!" As Ford was about to say something else, Ragnarok's eyes flashed and Ford fell to his knees and grabbed his head with a shout. Stan and the twins quickly ran over to him. "Silence, insect." The black dragon turned back to Bill. "Cipher! Your usefulness is at an end! You have failed many times and the last was just that. Your last! Look at that pathetic form you have damned yourself to. I granted you a perfect form and had you used it before, then you might have taken this world the first time. You are a fool to have thought you could escape this bloody and visceral game of chess. I should have torn you apart again the first time you failed and devoured your power! But I will give you one last chance…"
Bill winced slightly. "What? You want me to kill that annoying old man?"
"Oh no!" Ragnarok grinned. "If that is something you wish to do then so be it. What I require as proof of your loyalty and desire to survive is not so different however. You prefer to toy with your victims but you've never been against murder, so it shouldn't be a problem." He ended the last word with a terrifying snarl. "This may just be your final choice. Die here and now, or…" his grin widened and he looked like a starved beast anticipating its next meal. "Kill her…"
Bill followed his gaze and tensed as he locked eyes with Amy. They both stared with wide-eyed surprise at each other. Neither of them spoke or moved. The others watched tensely with fearful and worried expressions while the monsters watched with curiosity.
"What's the matter?" Ragnarok growled. "Why do you hesitate?"
Bill did not move and Amy suddenly looked concerned.
"Are you fond of that one?" Ragnarok laughed loudly. "Either she dies or you both do! Make your choice."
He still did not budge. He could not.
The dragon lowered his head. "So be it." One of the many long black spikes along Ragnarok's spine came loose and levitated into the air, turning so that the point was angled at them. "If you won't make use of your power then I will!"
The huge spike lunged forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. Amy gasped and closed her eyes tight. It was much too fast and large to dodge in time. She was sure she was dead when she heard the object break through bone and flesh, but she did not feel anything until something warm and wet dripped onto her raised arm. She opened her eyes and gasped at the large dragon before her.
The dragon was standing over her, its broad wings outstretched protectively. It was yellow with elongated black horns and spikes down its back with a black underbelly and a long thin tail that ended with a large triangular spade. The right eye was shut but there was blood that was beginning to steadily drip from it. Blood dripped from its gaping jaws and Ragnarok's spike had dug deep into its back. Amy covered her mouth at the sight.
Ragnarok looked surprised then roared with laughter. "This whole time you've stored enough power to take on that form I'd given you? And you used it to save her?! How unlike you!" He laughed more.
"Bill?" Amy breathed.
The dragon let out a low hissing breath then slowly turned his head and opened his other eye to give Ragnarok a furious stare. It was different from the other eye. The left eye was yellow with a black pupil, while the right was all black and the pupil was as red as the blood oozing from it.
This amused him. Ragnarok went to say something but the rift around him shifted. "It seems I don't have enough yet. But don't worry, I'll return soon enough." He turned his gaze unto the group of monsters. "You!" The other monsters stepped away from the one that was singled out, a large pair of gums and teeth with arms and legs. "I will leave you to deal with this."
The creature jumped. "Me?! But uh, I can't do anything! I don't wanna fight!"
"You pathetic thing." Ragnarok's eyes glowered. "I will give you a better form. And you will fight!"
The other monsters quickly scurried through the rift as Ragnarok's magic enveloped the creature. Its body elongated, making an actual body with a neck and head along with a tail. It fell to all fours as its limbs shifted shape and thick white claws grew from its fingertips. Its teeth sharpened into that of a reptile's and short curved spines sprouted down its back and tail.
"A dragon is a perfect being!" Ragnarok laughed as he looked down at his creation. "Now, kill them!" He sounded his last command as the rift shut and he disappeared.
The wingless dragon seemed to have lost all its senses as it let out a furious roar and charged at them. Bill turned just as it had neared and the beast slammed into his shoulder. Both dragons hissed angrily and Flora quickly used her tail to pull Amy away. They watched fearfully as the two creatures clashed.
The pink, wingless dragon sunk its needle-like teeth into the other dragon's neck and slashed with its thick claws. Bill bit at the creature, grabbing the nape of its neck with his jaws and tossing it aside. It crashed hard and rolled along the rocks but quickly regained its footing and leapt at him. It dug its claws into his back and clamped its mouth around the large spike sticking into his back. The yellow dragon roared furiously as the pink one yanked the spike from his back and shook it like a dog that had caught a small animal. Dionysus had suddenly taken the form of a large crimson feathered dragon, and with a snarl, he lunged into the battle and tackled the drake off of Bill.
Bill was breathing deeply, his bleeding mouth hanging open with a beast's snarl. Both of his eyes glowered red and he let out a furious snarling roar and lunged at the creature just as Dionysus had leapt away from it. He slammed right into its side and it toppled over. It kicked and slashed at his belly as he tore into it and tried to snap his jaws around its neck. The creature kicked him off and went to bite him, but he sidestepped it and grabbed its back with his teeth, lifted it off the ground, and slammed it into a jagged boulder nearby. The creature shakily tried to get up but it collapsed with a whine as Dionysus pinned it to the ground.
The yellow dragon let out a long roar then stood there panting harshly. He took a few unsteady steps then collapsed. Amy rushed over and fell to her knees as she embraced the dragon's head to listen. He was unconscious but she could hear and feel the hissing breaths escaping his jaws.
As the barrier dispersed and the area returned to normal Flora hurried over to examine him. She carefully looked over the gaping wound in his back then at the other slashes and marks. "I can heal him…" she said. "But he may not wake up…until tomorrow." She lowered her head and carefully touched her snout to his shoulder and her eyes began to glow.
…
Bill awoke the next day in Amy's bed. He sat up with a groan then saw her sitting at the window reading a book. She looked up and quickly set the book aside as she went over to him. "You're okay," she said quietly.
He blinked, remembering what had happened. "Yeah."
There was an awkward silence for a minute before Amy spoke again. "Um, thanks, for saving me. But…"
"I don't know." He looked away, already knowing she was going to ask why. He really couldn't figure it out himself. There was nothing in all of existence that frightened him other than that behemoth of a dragon, but the sudden strike of fear that pulsed through him at the idea of killing Amy… At the idea of her not being there… Then, the instinctual reaction of protecting her… He pushed the thought away.
"So," she said. "That uh, weird mouth monster that turned into a…dragon?"
"What about him?" Bill didn't seem very interested.
"He's in the old barn."
Bill looked at her. "Why?"
She shrugged. "After Flora healed you, you turned back to this form and we brought you here. Then she went help that guy and carried him over to the old barn. He woke up early this morning and seems fine. He's kind of nice, actually. But for some reason he seems to be stuck as a dragon. Said his name is…Teeth?"
…
They entered the old barn to find an interesting scene. The strange pink dragon was laying down on his belly in the hay like a dog in the back of the barn. Ford was curiously examining him from the side while Dipper stood much further away. Mabel was standing right in front of the creature and asking him questions. "You act like you can see me. Can you see me?"
"Yes," he replied.
"How can you see without eyes?"
"I don't know."
"Did it hurt when you turned into a dragon?"
"Sorta."
"Do you like being a dragon, or do you wish you were back to normal?"
"Uhhh…"
"Mabel," Amy walked over, "stop pestering." She looked up at the strange dragon. He was smaller than Flora but still bigger than any of the people standing around him. "How are you feeling?"
"Eh, kinda hungry," he replied.
She laughed awkwardly. "Right, so let's get something straight. You can hang around here if you want, but don't eat any of my animals. Great," she muttered. "Another big mouth to feed."
He tilted his head then looked over at Bill and smiled. "Hey-a Boss! Uh, sorry I attacked you." He lowered his head fearfully. "You're not…mad are ya?"
Bill shrugged. "Just don't do it again."
"Oh good, another one…" a familiar voice said from the barn's entrance. They looked over to see Ghost sitting at the entrance with his head lowered.
"Ghost," Amy turned to him.
"Flora already told me of the events that have transpired," he said. "There are many things that need to be discussed." His eyes looked over at Bill. "Either way, Amy, I may need your help."
"Help? You?"
"Humorous." His expression did not shift. "I spoke with both Gaia and Ouroboros about what has happened and we have decided to find more allies to help combat against Ragnarok."
"You're going to try to fight that thing!?" Dipper looked over.
"Unfortunately, it has come to that." Ghost looked to the side. "We were anticipating as much. That is part of the reason we requested Dionysus to come here. We must fight for survival."
"Do you really think anyone can defeat him?"
Ghost was silent for a long moment. "I cannot say for certain. Lives may be lost, but is it not better to try with a chance of success than to submit to failure?" He looked at Amy directly. "I would rather have avoided it all entirely but that is no longer an option. Perhaps it never really was. I, too, will join the fight against Ragnarok."
She looked worried for a moment but honestly, she had expected as much. Ghost had a tendency to be lazy but he was noble and kind at heart. He wouldn't do nothing in a situation like this. "What do you need my help for?"
"I wish to request my brother's aid, for he is stronger against dark magic than most. However, I do not know how he will react to me asking him such a request, and your magic, although unrefined, can easily calm most creatures."
"I don't really know how I do that," she said.
"As I said, unrefined. But your presence alone gives off a portion of that ability."
"Okay," she nodded. "I'll try. Come get me when you've got everything ready."
He nodded.
…
June 30th
Yesterday was officially the craziest day all summer so far. It's only been one month!
We were all just hanging out in the old barn when, suddenly, there was this scary loud crash of thunder and a huge gash appeared in the sky. A big bubble-like barrier appeared and Mabel's pig ran towards it for some stupid reason. Of course, Mabel ran after him, so we ran after her.
The other side of the wall was literally another world. The sky was red and the trees and plants had all vanished to be replaced by jagged rocks and blackened dead trees. There was a gang of monsters and I think they were going to eat us until they noticed Bill. They recognized him somehow and backed off. Seems they thought he was dead. Then, another rift tore open and Ragnarok appeared!
He was even bigger than what we saw of him in the Enchiridion. This guy is literally the size of a mountain! Huge, black as the void with four glowing red eyes, and almost completely covered with huge spikes like a porcupine. I've never been so afraid in my life! Good thing he wasn't actually able to fully break free, but that didn't stop him from almost killing Amy.
Ford got Ragnarok to admit that he was the one behind Necronire falling apart and dying. All of the monsters were looking at him like they wanted to question him, but they were all way too scared of him to actually do it. Even Bill reacted a little oddly. Ragnarok didn't care though. He's so close to his goal, I guess he wouldn't care about that anymore.
He berated and threatened Bill then gave him a final choice. Either kill Amy, or die. It was such a tense moment. I'm not even sure how long it lasted. Bill just stared at her with this disbelieving, scared look in his eye. I thought for sure he would've gone through with it to save his own hide, but I was wrong. Very wrong.
He didn't budge. Shock, mostly. So, Ragnarok decided he would do it himself. He seems to have some kind of telekinesis or something and broke one of the huge spikes off his back and launched it right at Amy. It happened so fast. Suddenly, there was this big yellow and black dragon standing over Amy, the giant spike impaled in its back. It was Bill!
It turns out that Ragnarok had given him the ability to turn into a dragon a long time ago. For however long now, Bill has had enough power stored up from his deal with Amy that he could have turned into that at any time now. That means he could have left by now, right?
Anyways, he actually SAVED Amy. Turns out he has a second eye, too. He doesn't have an eyepatch as a dragon and he opened his eye at some point. It's scary-looking and it bleeds for some reason. Then again, he was bleeding a lot from his mouth and the spike in his back…
Ragnarok turned one of the monsters into a dragon and commanded him to kill us before he was forced back into the rift as it closed on him. The monster didn't want to fight us but he suddenly lost his mind and attacked Bill like a rabid dog. Dionysus turned himself into a dragon to help Bill. It was a scary fight, seeing three big dragons snarling and tearing each other apart with fangs and claws.
Finally, the monster was beaten up too much by Bill and got pinned by Dionysus. Bill lost a lot of blood and collapsed, unconscious but alive. Amy looked terrified. Not terrified of him, but terrified FOR him. Luckily, Flora was with us and she was able to heal him, despite how bad it looked. After she healed him, he turned back into human form, still out of it. Then she went to check on the monster while Dionysus helped Amy to carry Bill back home.
I almost can't believe that he nearly got himself killed to protect Amy. Almost. Lately, I've started thinking that Mabel might be right about him and Amy.
Gotta admit… I'm actually kind of worried about him right now, but Flora says he'll be okay.
July 1st
Bill is okay, and that weird tooth monster that Ragnarok turned into a dragon is now hanging out in the old barn. Said his name is Teeth. I actually think I've met him before. Sort of… He might have tried to eat us once. Either way, he's actually pretty nice it seems. And apparently he's stuck as a dragon for some reason, but I don't think he really minds.
Amy said he could stay so long as he doesn't eat any of her animals or any of us. He agreed happily.
Teeth the Dragon:
Wingless. A drake, like Flora.
Pink and "rubbery". Very smooth. Ford found that his body is made of the same tissue as the gums in our mouths. Gross.
His claws and spikes are covered with the same kind of enamel as his teeth. So…are they also teeth?
No eyes but can see somehow?
Friendly. Doesn't seem like the brightest guy, though. Complains about being hungry a lot. Eats anything. ANYTHING.
He ate a rake… Swallowed it whole and had no problems or side effects after.
Kind of gross and scary-looking but a nice guy. He calls Bill "Boss". When he asked Bill if Amy was his girlfriend after she left, Bill didn't seem to know how to respond before he grumbled something and walked away. Teeth now calls Amy "Lady Boss".
I think Teeth really wants to eat Waddles…
…
"I feel like I didn't even get any sleep," Dipper yawned as he stepped outside. Amy was in the field releasing the sheep from their barn. He watched Mabel pass by dragging a big hunk of ham that was almost her size. "Uh, what are you doing?"
"I'm bringing Teeth his breakfast," she said.
"Are you the appetizer?"
"Pfft, whatever."
Curious, and also a bit concerned, he followed her to the old barn. Stopping at the entrance, he watched her drop the ham a few feet in front of the beast.
Teeth lifted his head, mouth gaping slightly as if he was confused. "Amy said this was for you." Mabel smiled. She shouted with surprise as the monster dragon snatched the food up in his jaws and swallowed it whole. "Whoa, I thought you were gonna eat me too for a second." She laughed and wiped her forehead.
"I would," he said. "But Amy told me not to, and…she kinda scares me. But I like her!"
"Yeah, she's pretty great. Wait…"
The faint sound of thunder echoed and drops of rain began to fall steadily. Dipper hurried into the barn and looked out. Mabel walked over to his side to look. "Man," he said, "twenty percent, huh?" He jumped when he noticed the pink dragon hovering over them.
Teeth glanced around. "Water's falling from the sky."
"Yeah." Dipper gave him an odd look. "It's called rain."
"Doesn't it rain where you're from?" Mabel looked up at him.
"Mm, not water." He poked his head out and flinched, pulling his head back in as the cold raindrops hit him.
"It's just water," Mabel laughed. "Look!" She ran out into the rain despite her brother's scolding. She spread her arms out; she was now soaked. "It's cold!" Teeth tilted his head. "Don't you know how to play?"
"In water?" He looked bewildered.
"Yeah! It's fun!"
"You're going to get sick, Mabel." Dipper fussed.
She stuck her tongue out and ran off further into the rain. Teeth carefully stepped out from the barn, wincing at the cold rain before completely exiting the barn. He looked up at the gray sky, confused. He looked over at Mabel who was jumping in puddles and sending the water splashing. He looked around until he spotted a nearby puddle and pressed his hand down into it.
"Like this," Mabel called and leapt into another puddle.
He glanced down at the puddle then raised his front paws into the air and brought them down hard, splashing all of the muddy water away. He shook his head and looked over his mud-covered paws.
Mabel laughed. "See!" She took off, hopping from puddle to puddle.
Teeth grinned and pounced into a large puddle. Each puddle she had leapt from he jumped into, sending the water in all directions.
Amy stood near the fence with an umbrella and watched, amused, as Mabel and Teeth splashed around in puddles. They were getting covered with mud. "She's got another thing coming if she thinks I'll let her in the house like that."
…
Bill was standing in the forest not far from Valor's Clearing. He was drenched from the rain but didn't seem to care. "It is not good for you…to stand in the cold rain." He looked back at Flora and she tilted her head. "Are you…capable of getting sick?"
"The rain does not affect dragons." Ghost appeared amongst the trees and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Ah, yes…I forgot," Flora mused. "Greetings…"
He gave a curt nod then looked down at Bill. "Why are you still here?"
"Hey, I was here first before you two showed up."
"That is not what I mean. You stored up your power. Apparently, you've had enough stored for a while now that you could have left. You no longer have any reason to stay."
"Your words are…harsh." Flora shook her head sadly.
Bill and Ghost glared at each other. "Because of you," Ghost growled lowly, "Amy has become a target."
Flora shook her head. "He saved her…"
"She would not have been in danger in the first place if it wasn't for him!" Ghost growled. "Whatever kind of attachment you have to her needs to end. You need to leave." His tone had turned menacing and he faded away.
"He is too harsh…at times," Flora said. "You must understand…why he is so…protective… He raised her…after all."
Bill only grunted and turned to walk away.
…
After becoming annoyed by Mabel's whining, Amy had laid out a trail of newspaper through the house and into the bathroom. She had the girl walk across the paper until she reached the tub then Amy picked up the papers and threw them away. She walked into the living room just as the door opened and Bill entered, dripping with rainwater. "Are you serious?" she said. "I just picked up the newspaper."
Bill looked at her, confused. "So?"
"Ugh," she threw her arms up and walked off. "Stay there!" After a minute she returned with a towel and threw it at him. "Why were you in the rain?"
Bill just shrugged and began drying himself off.
She tilted her head at him. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Why?"
Amy shrugged. "You seem like something's on your mind." Before he could make a smart remark, she added, "Something that's bothering you, I mean."
He paused and stared at her, looking as if he wanted to say something before deciding not to and moving past her. "I'm fine," he repeated and started walking up the stairs.
"I hope so," she mumbled quietly to herself.
To be continued…
Plot stuff!