Ah yes, more snooping via the Enchiridion. Something the Pines do best in this story. Uh, so yeah, more background info for ya to know what's going on in this weird story. And yes, before anyone asks, Atë will be returning at a later time.
That evening, after Amy had come back inside from gathering up the sheep, they had all gathered in the living room to talk and spend time together. Amy was sitting in her cushioned chair and rocking it slowly while Stan sat in the other. Dionysus was happily answering Ford's questions about his past while they sat together on the sofa with Bud curled up between them. Dipper and Mabel were sitting on the floor at the coffee table and playing with the Enchiridion. Even Teeth and Flora had both joined, poking their heads in through the window above the sofa. The only one not present was Bill, who had spent the rest of the afternoon up in Amy's room sitting at that big round window.
Amy knew he only did that when he was either bored or seriously contemplating something. Judging by his behavior earlier that day, she figured he must have something on his mind. It most definitely had something to do with Ragnarok and Bill having to reveal his secret dragon form. But maybe there was something else to it too… Either way, she could tell that he was in no mood to discuss it for now, so she decided to leave him to figure it out. …For now.
She certainly did not want him to feel as if he had to keep everything to himself, like he always did. The poor guy, she thought. He might be a psychotic monster, but he was still a living thing. And even though he would deny it to the ends of the galaxy, she knew that he had real feelings hiding in there somewhere. That included fear and sadness. As far as she knew, he had gone his entire life, however long that had been so far, without ever feeling any sort of genuine affection towards or from anybody else. Amy certainly knew what it felt like to be lonely, but loneliness was miniscule compared to what he seemed to have been through.
Ghost had taken Amy off to the side a few hours ago and had decided to tell her a bit about what he knew of Bill's past. That is, the past involving Bill's family. Why he killed them and why he destroyed his home world. Never strong or good enough. Always a disappointment in their eyes. Undeserving of love and attention. Always receiving only torment and pain. Betrayal. Distrust. Fear. Loneliness. Hatred.
She was not entirely sure why Ghost suddenly decided to share the information with her. Apparently, he had known it all for many years but only just decided to tell her today. On one hand, Ghost seemed as though he did not want Bill around Amy. For her safety, of course. He had even told her as much. On the other hand, while telling her about his past, it seemed almost like Ghost was saddened by it and wished that he could help in some kind of way. Amy had lightly teased Ghost after, mentioning that he secretly cared for Bill too. The big white dragon had snorted at her but said nothing in response. She knew she was right.
"Hey, Amy?" Mabel's voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Hm?"
"Is it okay if we ask the Enchiridion to show us Ghost's past?"
Amy was a tad surprised. "You're actually asking for permission?" She laughed a bit. "Wouldn't that be a better question for Ghost himself?"
"Well…" Mabel exchanged an unsure glance with her brother.
"Or even Flora?" Amy added. "She's his girlfriend after all."
"Really?!"
Everyone looked at Flora, surprised. The dragoness looked bashful. "Not exactly… We love each other…yes, but…it is a complex situation…"
"How so?" Teeth asked her.
She only shook her head. "Never mind that my friends… But…if you wish to learn…well, that is the reason you hold the Enchiridion… Is it not?"
Mabel grinned toothily. "Yeah!"
"Okay." Dipper turned back to the book. "Enchiridion. Show us Ghost's past."
"Please!" Mabel added.
The old book threw itself open and flipped through many of its pages before slowing and finally settling on one. Everyone hushed to listen and leaned forward to watch.
They were looking at a very young little dragon curled up asleep under a rocky overhang. The rocky ground was black and craggy, like the imperfect surface of an asteroid. All around was space. Endless stars twinkling and lighting the blackness of Druunire. The little white dragon stood out boldly amongst the area.
"Is that Ghost?" Mabel asked. "He was so cute!" She winced as her brother shushed her.
"Back then," Flora said, "he was known by a different name… Vaulgangar. The dragon word…for starlight."
An adult dragoness approached the dragonling silently. They looked very similar. Both were snow-white with emerald eyes, but the little one stood out with his tattered wings and the adult had black markings along her back.
"In your tongue," Flora said, "her name was…Tranquility."
The scene shifted.
Tranquility and dragonling Ghost were sitting on a large flat ledge jutting out from a mountain covered with trees. It was early morning, still dark, and they were staring up at the top of the mountain where a colossal tree towered over the land. The ledge looked like the one they had first met Ghost on.
"As the sun arrives," Tranquility said in a soft tone. "Your father will use his power to revitalize the tree. They do this every year, on the day of their world's birth." She glanced back and showed him the dragons waiting from the ground. "It is quite the spectacle."
The sun's warm light began to slowly creep over the horizon and crawl across the land. At the top of the mountain, at the base of the tree Valor watched the orange light growing closer. He slowly spread his feathered wings and as the light barely touched his claws he shot into the sky like an arrow.
He hovered above the tree, its gargantuan size making the great dragon look like a hatchling. In the air, he spread his wings to their full lengths, raising his head skyward as golden light swirled around him and began to reach out to the tree. As the sun came into full view its warm light covered the tree, and at the same time Valor's magic reached the tree's leaves. The two lights collided and with a great flash of light and magic the tree suddenly burst into bloom, covered with so many flowers that the top turned from green to gold. The onlookers let out cheers and roars as golden petals danced around them with little sparks of golden magic.
"I miss seeing that event…" Flora said as the scene disappeared.
"Ghost is Valor's son!?" Dipper burst out. This time, it was Mabel's turn to shush him.
"Indeed… Ghost was born and raised in Necronire. However…he spent most of his days in Avas with Valor. Despite this…he was a servant of Ragnarok… He was once Ragnarok's beta. But…Ghost soon took notice of Ragnarok's cruelty…and lack of compassion."
"What does the term beta mean to dragons?" Ford asked.
Flora answered. "Compare it to a pack of wolves… With dragons…there are three levels of authority…but this is only amongst communities and…what humans would call towns. There are alphas…they are like the mayor. The leader of the community…whom the others go to for advice and assistance. The alpha protects the community. Then…there are betas. A second in command… The tether guardians also have betas. Betas…are able to leave the community when the alpha cannot. They speak and act…for the alpha. Then…there are the omegas. The rest of the community… The ones that the alphas and betas protect…"
"Fascinating!"
The book flipped a few pages and pulled their attention back.
Ragnarok, not nearly as big as they knew him to be, sat on the edge of a cliff. His shoulders bunched and head lowered, he watched the distant white figure flying away swiftly. Several nightmarish dragons and monsters waited on ledges below him, watching the figure intently. "Kill her," he said. With that, the creatures let out roars and howls as they took off from their positions in pursuit.
Tranquility soared at high speed through the starry space. She had to get to the portal, to warn them. She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes widening with horror at the sight of a large stony bird-like creature not far behind. Its pupils quivered with anticipation and it let out an earsplitting screech then flapped its wings hard and shot towards her. She dodged the bird a few times with great effort. Annoyed, the bird roared and a bolt of green lightning struck down and clipped the dragon's wing. She roared with pain, her wing smoking, and found herself falling fast.
She crashed amongst a small forested area at the top of a canyon. The bird flew in a wide arch, trying to locate her. He screeched as he spotted her running from the trees and along the canyon's edge. A large quadrupedal beast with an armored head and a thick curved horn protruding from its face caught up to her. It ran alongside her, forcing her closer to the edge. When she tried to speed up, it threw itself at her, slamming hard into her shoulder and sending her tumbling into the canyon.
Tranquility quickly got back on her feet and ran. Two more armored beasts chased after her and they blocked her on both sides. From her jaws, she blasted a burst of green fire that hit one of the creatures in the face, but it did little and only slowed the beast. The other one saw its chance and swung its head up at her, its hooked horn catching her and slicing through her neck, sending her flying. The beast approached the limp, bleeding dragon and lifted its front legs off the ground. Before it could bring its feet down, a massive blast of green fire slammed into it and sent it crashing into the rock wall.
Ghost landed beside her but before he could even touch her, her body faded and, in its place, grew a large patch of long grass and a single, tall-stemmed flower that was as white as pure snow.
The scene changed.
A young black dragon with a white belly and golden eyes was playing with a pebble under an overhanging rock. He looked up at the white dragon as Ghost landed on the ground hard. "Brother!"
"We're leaving," Ghost said bluntly. "Come."
"What? Where are we going? Where is Mother?"
"We're leaving. Now!"
The little dragon flinched at his brother's hiss. "Mother told me to stay home until she got back. Where is she?"
"This is NOT our home!" The young dragon cowered at his brother's fury. "We cannot stay here! Come, now!" Hesitantly, the dragonling followed after him.
Another change.
Ghost sat on the mountain ledge, staring down at the large clearing that had formed in the trees. Gaia was silent, but tears dripped from her eyes as the portal that sealed Ragnarok vanished. Ouroboros let out a furious roar that echoed over the trees.
"He…" The black dragonling stared with horror. "Ragnarok killed Father… He killed Valor!" He looked to his brother who did not respond. Ghost only stared down with an unreadable expression. "Brother! Where is Mother!?"
No response.
"Where is she!?"
The Enchiridion began slowly turning its pages again.
"Why did Ragnarok do that!?" Mabel turned to Flora. "Why would he kill their mom?!"
Flora shook her head sadly. "Tranquility…had discovered Ragnarok's plan…to attack Gaia. She fled…to warn her. But…Ragnarok had her killed first. At the same time…he went and fought Valor…and killed him. Ghost had retrieved…and fled with Crusade…arriving in Avas just before Necronire was sealed."
"Oh man," Dipper breathed.
There was a somberness throughout the room until the book finally stopped on a new page to show them more.
The little black and white dragon sat quietly on a slate ledge overlooking the forest from a large mountain. Way above him, at the peak, was a massive oak tree with deep green leaves. Its flowers had fallen along with its guardian. Behind him, the rock turned to shrubbery and trees and a small pool of water rested motionless before them.
He huffed. It was quiet and boring. When would his brother get back? "Stupid," he grunted and flicked a stone off the ledge. "Leaving me alone…" Several small birds darted from the trees below as the stone disturbed the leaves.
He was used to noisier surroundings; this serene quiet was nice, but it was boring, too. He wished he could go home, but Necronire was sealed now. He said it's not our home anymore…
A few days ago, his older brother suddenly took him away and brought him to their father's world. When they arrived, they could only watch as their father perished at the claws of their uncle. His brother did not speak the rest of that day, no matter how much the little dragon pleaded and questioned. The next day he told him that their mother was dead too. He did not want to believe him, but his brother had never lied before. What did their sweet mother ever do wrong?
He sighed and curled up with his back facing the forest below. It wasn't long before he dozed off in the late summer warmth.
The scene changed after the book flipped a few more pages.
Many years seemed to have passed and life was relatively peaceful on and around the mountain. The book began writing as it showed them the scenes and Amy read it aloud for the Pines. A large black and white dragon stretched out contentedly along the slate ledge as he often did on warm days. He had never really ventured far from the mountain that supported the tether tree of Avas. Every so often he would fly over to neighboring mountains to speak with other dragons and creatures or explore the surrounding forest below.
After the death of Valor, Avas' guardian, he and his elder brother took it upon themselves to guard the great tree at the mountain's peak, though neither of them was connected to it. Very rarely, he would pass through a portal of branches hidden deep within the forest and visit the world of Telmak, where his father's sister ruled and many more dragons lived. However, they often would whisper about Necronire and the death of Valor when he was around, so he preferred to avoid them. The only friend he really needed was his brother after all.
Unfortunately, his brother was often visiting Gaia in Telmak, leaving him behind to guard the tree alone. His brother went other places as well, but he never followed despite feeling lonely when he wasn't around. When his brother was there, he greatly relished his presence and the two often held drawn-out conversations about many things. He looked up to his elder sibling, seeing him as powerful and wise like their father and gentle and kind like their mother.
His brother would always share the details of his journeys with him upon returning to the mountain. The most intriguing stories he told were of small creatures that called themselves humans. Every few years, his explanations of the humans and their actions grew more complex; the creatures were getting smarter, but their violent tendencies never seemed to fade.
Eventually, a tribe of humans came and settled in the fields in the distance. They were far enough away that they could not see the dragons, but they certainly had taken notice of the tether tree.
One day, a small group of them journeyed through the forest and climbed the mountain. They made it halfway up, to the ledge that the dragons rested on, and found the winged beasts waiting for them. These were not simply animals as he had originally assumed. They were like the dragons, but smaller, scale-less and wingless, with no magic.
The humans stared up at them warily, unsure of what to do. He noticed some of them clinging to the crude weapons they used to hunt. They're in for a bigger surprise when they hear us speak their language, he thought.
"Greetings," the white dragon said calmly.
The humans gasped and exchanged glances upon hearing their language from this never-before-seen beast. A male that seemed to be leading them stepped forward boldly. "We came to see the big tree." He told the dragons.
The white dragon's tail twitched. "You can see it from your home. What were your intentions?"
"To learn and discover," he replied. "This land is filled with an energy we have never felt."
The dragon nodded. "Your kind is not born with magic. It must be alluring to you."
"What are you?" Another human pushed forward.
A younger looking human stared up at the white dragon. "You are like a ghost!"
"Seis," he said and exchanged an amused glance with his brother.
"We are dragons," the black dragon told them. "We are born with magic and sensitivity to nature."
"What is magic?" another asked.
The dragon they started to refer to as Ghost spent the rest of the day explaining many things to the humans. He was amused by their curiosity and eagerness to learn. He told them about dragons and other creatures that roamed the forest, creatures the humans could scarcely believe. He explained magic, the other worlds, and about the tether trees.
The next day the humans returned to their tribe and told them the same things. From that point, humans would make visits to the dragons on the mountain, offering them food and useless items in exchange for more knowledge. The dragons complied, but only out of their caring and talkative nature.
The humans eventually settled closer to the mountain. One of the only magical creatures that actually willingly interacted with them were dragons. Humans and dragons had forged a friendship among their species and though most humans were not allowed into Telmak, a few dragons happily coincided or even lived with the humans. Despite great differences in appearance and ability, they were less like two species and more like two races. Some dragons found that they could even change form into that of a human because of this.
However, it wasn't long before some of the humans began delving deeper into magic than just knowing. They envied the dragons' magical powers and began learning some of their own. This did not bother the dragons, until the humans started looking into summoning rituals and portals.
Ghost had long before told them about such things, but neither he nor any other dragon taught the humans how to perform such spells. That was something they had taught themselves.
After many attempts at summoning, both successful and failed, they managed to create a spell that allowed them to summon darker beings. One being in particular would prove to be much more than they bargained for.
Dipper and Mabel listened intently as Amy translated.
From the moment the humans first summoned the creature that came to call himself Bill Cipher, the dragons instinctually knew of the disasters he would bring. They left the humans and returned to Telmak. Some stayed but made their homes outside of the humans' tribes. They watched as the demon wreaked havoc upon the humans in an attempt to conquer Avas.
"Why won't you help us!?" an elderly human pleaded before Ghost. He had climbed the mountain alone and met the dragon at the halfway point. "The dragons were our friends, but now you just watch as that demon destroys us!"
"The humans have brought this burden upon themselves," Ghost said calmly.
"Is Avas not what you are here to look after?! I am sure it will affect the dragons as well if he takes over!"
"Cipher is not our enemy," Ghost said. "Dragons do not start unnecessary battles."
"It is necessary!" the old man cried out. "Did you not hear me? If he takes over this world, would it not then become a problem for dragons?"
"Not particularly." Ghost lashed his tail with annoyance. The elder looked confused and fearful. Ghost sighed. "Very well. I will not fight your battle, but I can tell you a way to temporarily stop this madness."
"We need a permanent solution!"
"Beggars cannot be choosers," Ghost growled. "This is a chain of events that will continue for many lifetimes. It is your own foolishness and selfish desire that brought this upon humanity. Now be silent and listen. I will teach you a sealing spell using what we call zodiacs. A symbol will represent a necessary element, and there is one human to represent each. Find them and you can use the spell, but it will only work if you trick the demon into the circle. Here is how it works…"
The book fast forwarded and Amy continued reading.
After the humans had managed to seal Bill away, they turned their fear and anger at the dragons. Believing the dragons to have betrayed them for not helping with the demon, they no longer trusted them. The humans waged war against the dragons, and though several dragons perished, they did not fight back. Instead, the dragons of Avas fled to Telmak and sealed the portal so that only a dragon could activate it. Only Ghost and his younger brother remained in Avas.
Furious and disgusted by the humans' actions, the younger sibling tossed aside the noble name his father had given him and redubbed himself Crusade. He could not understand why the dragons did not fight back. This was their home first! These humans had no right to chase them away and kill them!
Crusade, confusion and anger churning inside him, attacked the humans below. He killed all of the humans that lived around the mountains, burning them with fire fueled by his rage. Once, he accepted and enjoyed the presence of the humans, but now he had a new notion, that humans were too violent and evil to exist. He began to view them like parasites that ravaged the land and killed what they were afraid of.
"What have you done?" Ghost shook his head. He had just returned from Telmak to find that his brother had slain every human below.
"See?" Crusade said gesturing to the burning town below. "It was easy! There was no reason for the dragons to flee!"
"You wanted to prove a point?" Ghost was appalled.
"No! I wanted to kill them! Like they killed Cedarclaw and Harpy and the others! Then I burned all the wretched things they created. Humans are vile, evil things. They don't deserve life! They don't deserve Father's realm!" He went to fly away but was pulled down by tendrils of blue light. He struggled as he was held against a large ring in the ground.
"You must stop!" Ghost said. "Valor would not do something like this!"
"Valor is dead!" Crusade snarled.
Ghost flinched. He had never seen such a ferocious expression on his brother.
"How many more dragons have to die before we can live peacefully!?"
"Violence only brings more violence," Ghost said. "I understand your pain, but revenge will not change anything."
"It will stop them from killing more!"
"No! Killing them will make you worse than they are! Many of them are innocent!"
"They're all parasites!" Crusade thrashed, trying to get free of the spell.
Ghost looked away from him. "I am sorry. Perhaps this will help you understand one day, but I cannot allow you to do this." He looked back at him and his eyes flashed. "Goodbye, brother."
Amy continued.
In the end, Ghost found that his only option to stop his brother was to seal him away in the Spirit Realm. He could not have brought himself to fight his brother if it came to it, nor could he watch as Crusade took the lives of the humans. This pain was a great burden to him, and for a while Ghost would shut himself away emotionally, too afraid to care for others in fear that he would lose them. He had lost so much: his home, his mother, his father, and now his brother.
To prevent future problems with curious humans, he used his magic to cloak the tether tree. If ever he needed to, he could even pass through the Spirit Realm and the physical world and go undetected by all.
He spent many long years alone…
The book flipped quickly through several pages before stopping again.
"Perhaps it is best…not to do this?" A wingless, dark purple dragoness glanced nervously around at the forest.
"Hey, it's Flora!" Mabel pointed at the scene from the book.
The pink dragoness in front of Flora turned to face her with vivid gold eyes. "Come now! There's nothing to be afraid of, Flora." She was a rosy-pink color with a trail of red, thorn-shaped spikes down her spine. Four fairy-like wings draped down her back.
"But Rose…" Flora said. "Humans have long since repopulated this area… There is a town nearby…humans are sure to wander these woods…now and again."
"That's fine." She turned and kept going. "Besides, I can change my form to that of a human."
"But I cannot…"
Amy had stopped speaking at the sight of her mother, so Dionysus took over the translation of the Enchiridion's text.
Rose was an adventurous dragon; as Gaia's beta, she had taken it upon herself to pass through the portal to Avas and see what state the world was in. Her childhood friend, Flora, had followed her out of worry that she would get in trouble. Both were known as fairy dragons, dragons especially in tune with nature.
Fairy dragons can sense auras, communicate with animals, and have nature-based magic along with traditional fire breath. They are easily liked and quite friendly; however, they have one terrible flaw. Fairy dragons are completely passive creatures. No matter what, a pure fairy dragon can never bring themselves to harm any living thing. Though, if they are only part fairy, then this does not apply.
Rose led the way through the forest until they came to the base of a large mountain. They stared up at it looming over them silently. "I remember when I was still a dragonling," Rose said suddenly. "My parents, Harpy and Cedarclaw, brought me to watch Valor revitalize the tree."
"Yes…I remember as well," Flora nodded. "But…the tree is not visible."
"No, but you can sense it, yes?" Flora nodded again. Rose nodded as well. "Mother Gaia said that there is a dragon on the mountain who hides the tree from the humans. I wanted to speak with him."
"So that's why… He must be terribly lonely up there."
Sensing a presence growing nearer, Ghost flew down to the halfway point, keeping his Spirit Realm cloak. One, no, two are coming up. But as the two strangers got closer, he felt a presence he had not felt in a long time. Dragons…
He was amazed to see two dragons climb up onto the slate ledge. Not just dragons, fairy dragons! But why? He watched them study the spiraled pattern in the rock. They seemed about the age of his brother… He flinched when one of them looked in his direction.
There was nothing there, but Rose could feel a presence very close by. "Hello?" she called softly. "Why are you hiding from us?" She held her breath as a white dragon, much larger than them, began to materialize before them. He fixed bright emerald eyes on them and seemed a bit apprehensive. She let out her breath and smiled. "Are you the dragon who hides the tree? Are you the son of Valor?"
He stared silently at them for a long moment before nodding slowly. "My name is Ghost."
"I'm Rose, Gaia's beta." She was excited. "This is my friend, Flora."
"Greetings," Flora said.
He nodded to them. "Why are you here?" He hoped he didn't sound too rude. It had been so long since he had company other than birds and squirrels.
Rose sat down and wrapped her tail around her paws. "Well, it's been so long since dragons came to Avas. I wanted to come and see how things were faring."
"Did Gaia not send you?"
She laughed awkwardly. "Ah, no. I mean, she knows that I'm here, but it was my own idea. She wasn't against it."
"But she was not 'for' it…either," Flora muttered.
Ghost studied them. "Your claws," he said to Rose. "They remind me of a dragon called Cedarclaw."
"He was my father!" She leaned forward and smiled. "My mother was Harpy."
He felt a pang upon hearing that. "Your parents were killed by humans…but you still chose to come here?"
"Of course! I wanted to meet you."
"Me?" He shifted his paws.
She nodded and exchanged looks with Flora. "We thought you must be lonely. So…is it okay if we stay a while? You can tell us about what's been going on in Avas."
It was difficult to resist a conversation, especially with his own kind. "Very well…" He settled down and the dragonesses followed suit.
Dionysus continued translating.
They spent the entire day talking with Ghost, listening to his stories and recounting of events. Rose's lighthearted friendliness had relaxed everyone and Ghost felt happy to be with them.
They stayed until the sky grew dark, but before they headed back to the portal to go home Rose glanced back at the white dragon.
"Well, since you insist on staying here to protect the tree… Maybe you won't mind us visiting you?"
He stopped himself from smiling. "I do not think I would."
The dragonesses smiled at each other. "We'll visit often!" Rose called before beginning her climb down.
"Farewell," Flora nodded then followed after her.
And often they did. Almost every day, the two dragonesses would visit him at the mountain. Sometimes Ghost would cloak the three of them and they would visit the human settlement below, the humans blissfully unaware. Eventually, Rose would visit the town under the guise of a human.
Ghost had warned her to be careful when she began spending time with a man who had made his home in Valor's clearing. Eventually, he was bound to find out her secret. But in the end, all he could do was sigh and shake his head as the two fell in love and she revealed her secret to him. Ghost was quite impressed that the man was not bothered by the revelation.
Years had passed, and the man kept to his promise to keep her secret. Rose and Flora still put time aside to visit Ghost many times. There were even a few times Ghost had met with the man. He was a curious but kind human, but his brother was not…
There was a day, not unlike the previous day, that would take yet another loved one away from Ghost. It is not clear how, but the brother had discovered Rose's secret. Being the cruel man that he was, he rallied his cold-hearted followers and they attacked the couple at their home.
Ghost had just returned to his mountain with the intention of resting, but a disgustingly dreadful aura had engulfed the area. Quickly, he followed the eerie feeling to its source. The farmhouse in the clearing. Rose was lying in the clearing in her dragon form, bleeding from multiple wounds, and struggling to get to the house.
"Rose!" Ghost rushed to her side.
She stretched her neck towards the house. He knew what she was trying to get to. Quickly, he went to the house and pushed his head through the round window at the top. A tiny human baby was sleeping soundly in a cradle, wrapped in a soft blanket. The attackers did not know this child existed. He carefully hooked a tooth into the wrap and carried the baby to Rose.
As he placed the child before her, the dragoness smiled weakly at the sight of her baby. She slowly lifted her head from the ground to look Ghost in the eyes. With blood dripping from her jaws, she choked out the words. "Ghost…please… Look after her…" With a soft breath escaping, she collapsed back to the ground.
Ghost swept the baby close to him with his tail as Rose's body faded. In her place, a pond of cool water formed itself into the earth and a large weeping willow sprouted from the other end. It arched forward towards the water, its long tendrils reaching close, but not touching. Sad to leave her child behind, but always hovering over her protectively. Like a willow over water.
"That's all humans bring." Crusade hissed as he watched the scene from the parallel world known as the Spirit Realm. "Death!" He narrowed his eyes at the tiny baby that his brother held close. It was clearly human, but the blood and aura of a pure dragon surrounded it. He wanted to hate it, but he couldn't.
The book slowly flipped through more pages. No one spoke as they watched it.
A younger Amy gently tapped with a thin stick at the heels of a straggling sheep. "Come on Jane," she encouraged the plump animal. "Your baby's due any day now. You have to stay with the flock so the coyotes can't get it." The sheep let out a protesting bleep before prancing over to the others at the barn.
Sensing a nearing presence, the girl looked back expectantly as a large white dragon appeared from nowhere and landed before her. The gust from his landing ruffled her long auburn hair. "You're back!" She tried to straighten her hair. "What's that?" He was carrying something in his teeth.
He carefully placed the basket down and a wrinkly brown puppy hopped out. "Happy birthday, Amy," Ghost told her.
Excited, she bent down to greet the bloodhound puppy who jumped into her lap happily. "A dog! I always wanted a dog! Thanks Ghost." She got up and hugged the dragon's snout, his head too big to wrap around.
Ghost looked around the clearing after she released him. "The barn is getting too small for all those sheep." He nodded to a spot at the other end. "We'll build a better one there. With a fence to keep the coyotes out and the sheep together. This puppy will grow to be a fine tracker and hunting dog. He can keep the wild animals at bay during the night." Amy nodded agreement.
Crusade lay beside the pond, watching them. Ever since the girl was about ten, his brother began to return to his place on the mountain, but came to visit her very often. He knew Ghost's intentions were not to abandon her, but to teach her to survive, like all dragons do by that age. Dragons often let their young ones venture off alone, with a few rules in place of course. It taught independence and courage.
Ghost had told her all about her parents and dragons. She knew all about magic and the different creatures and worlds. He treated her like his own offspring.
Crusade snorted. All this time he had been trying to find a way to hate this child, to support his contempt for humanity. Although he still did not care much for humans, he was beginning to notice that there were good and bad ones. He was particularly interested in this one.
Her mother had given her a customary fairy dragon name. A name related to nature. But the name she chose was strange. Amaranth. She had named the child after the dragons' most sacred object. An undying flower that held great magics within.
He sighed and watched with a smirk as the girl played with the puppy. There was one thing he was sure of. He cared about this child very much. And like his brother who stood watching over her, he would do anything for her if he could.
"I wish I could speak with you…" Crusade said aloud. "I find you endearing. I wish we could be friends…" He lowered his head onto his paws as the scene faded away and the Enchiridion closed itself.
They looked at Amy. She was staring at the book with an almost surprised expression. Then, they turned back to Flora.
"What Crusade said just now," Dipper said, "…Does Ghost know? Is that why he wants Amy there when he brings his brother back to this world?"
Flora shook her head. "I am not entirely sure… I do not think so."
"Still," Ford mused. "It seems that watching over Amy all this time has managed to sway Crusade's opinion on humanity. And that appears to be a good thing." He scooted forward in his seat and leaned forward. "May I ask the book to show something?"
"Sure," Dipper replied and moved aside.
Ford cleared his throat. "Ahem… Enchiridion. I would like to see what you are willing to show of Bill's past."
"Uh-oh," Teeth said, earning an odd look from Stan.
"What's uh-oh?" Stan asked.
Teeth lowered and shook his head. "Anything involving Ragnarok is uh-oh…"
"If you are going to pry into his past," Dionysus said with a more serious tone than he usually had, "then you'd better be careful he doesn't find out."
They all turned back to the Enchiridion. It had not budged. Finally, just as Ford opened his mouth to speak to it again, it slowly opened and turned just a few pages before stopping to show them something. It was dragon text.
"What does it say?" Mabel asked.
Dionysus leaned forward to look. "It says, 'You wish to view the past of the one you know as Bill Cipher?'"
"Yes," Ford stated with a nod.
The text disappeared and more text replaced it. Dionysus continued to translate. "…I can see all the way to the far ends and beginnings of time. That includes the birth and beginning of Cipher… However… I cannot show you his past. At least, not starting from there."
"Really? Well, where can you start?"
The text changed. "…The earliest starting point I can show you right now is his first arrival in Necronire. Do you wish to see?"
"Of course."
"…" The book paused for a moment before it continued writing. "…Are you positive?"
Dipper and Mabel exchanged worried looks as Ford answered the book. "Of course! Why else would I ask such a thing? Why are you suddenly acting so hesitant?"
Dionysus briefly glanced at him before translating the book's newest text. "Sometimes the past is better left in the past. Especially when it is not your own. Curiosity is the downfall of most and the bane of human existence."
"Curiosity is also how we learn," Ford said.
"Through trial and error," Dionysus translated. "It takes several painfilled attempts or even death for humans to learn. …But I digress… All I have shown to you so far, no matter how bloody, violent, or gruesome, none of it compares to the scene you are asking to see. So, I ask once again… Are you positive?"
"Yes."
"…Very well, Stanford. But do not blame me if you have trouble sleeping tonight."
The Enchiridion flipped through a few more pages before finally settling on one and displaying a scene to them.
A strange dragon, probably about Teeth's size, with odd moth-like properties was flitting about a patch of giant roses and thorns growing from a small asteroid. It had large moth-like brown wings attached to its small body, with eye-like markings on them. It had six limbs, large feathery antennas curled atop its head, and its body was covered in a fine coat of dusty scales. It was hovering just above one of the giant flowers and prodding it with its antennas when something cracked in the space and startled it.
The moth dragon hid itself amongst the thick thorns and watched with large eyes as a small rift appeared very briefly. Once the rift had vanished, it left in its place a yellow glowing triangular creature.
"So, this is the famous Necronire?" Bill mused aloud to himself. "I could probably work with this… Hey, you!" He suddenly disappeared and reappeared close to the dragon and it quickly retracted its head into the thorny branches. "Relax, pal," Bill said to it. "The only one I intend to hurt is this world's guardian. Where is he?"
"La keit te tsouk te Ragnarok?" The moth dragon sounded startled. "Dho la keit te keiross?!"
Bill laughed. "Please! Like that'll happen! Are you going to tell me or not?"
"Yol!" It hissed. "He already knows you are here!"
"Indeed…" a frighteningly familiar voice growled.
Bill turned to see the big black dragon perched on a larger asteroid that was higher up. On the lower crags and ledges monsters peered curiously down at the newcomer.
Ragnarok was not nearly as big as they had all seen him a few days ago, but he was clearly still much larger than anyone else in the scene that the book was displaying. And he was just as menacing.
Ragnarok had his head lowered, watching the new arrival through narrowed eyes. "You are a fool to have come here," he told Bill. "There is no way out of this place. …Yet." He added the last word with a growl and the surrounding monsters grinned.
"That's okay." Bill shrugged. "I came to stay anyhow. In fact, I plan to take this place from you."
Ragnarok's eyes widened and he lifted his head slowly. "Pardon?" The monsters went silent. Ragnarok suddenly burst with mirthless laughter then snarled viciously at Bill. "How DARE you say such insolent things! Do you know who I am?!"
"Sure do. You're Ragnarok. The youngest of the four main world's guardian siblings. The one who killed his own brother out of jealousy before getting trapped here by your other siblings. What's the big deal? You don't want this place anyway. That's why you did all that."
"SILENCE!"
Ragnarok's eyes flashed. Whatever it was that the black dragon did, it made Bill cringe as if he had felt a sudden pang. Bill even looked a little surprised after.
"Relax buddy. I'll take good care of the place after I kill you and devour your power."
This time, Ragnarok's laugh was rather genuine. But it only lasted a few moments before it turned into a snarl and he lifted himself to his paws. "The audacity! You're either crazy…or you're a fool." He growled the word and lashed his spiked tail. "You are that beast they call Cipher… I hear you have been making messes out of the smaller worlds. Very well… I will both teach you a lesson and make an example out of you for my subjects." He raised his head and shouted, "Behold, my little nightmares! You are about to witness what happens to those foolish enough to defy me!"
The moth dragon suddenly darted out from the roses and hurried to join the other monsters on what would likely be the only safe place in a few moments. At the same time, Ragnarok spread his broad wings and lifted himself from it to go meet his challenger.
"You have chosen the wrong beast to challenge, whelp. You will experience real pain for the first time today!" Ragnarok bared his fangs in a wicked smile.
There was a bright flash of blue fire, followed by a frightening roar and an even brighter, bigger burst of crimson fire and black needles. It was difficult to see what had happened, but it did not take long for Ragnarok to capture Bill in his fangs and claws. The moment he caught him, Ragnarok pulled him down and beneath himself and began to rip and tear into him with his sharp claws.
Snarling, blood splattering, and the horrific sounds of a carapace being cracked and forcibly pulled apart accompanied by screams and roars from all around.
Mabel had quickly covered her ears and shut her eyes, huddling against her brother who wrapped his arms around her tightly. Flora had also shut her eyes and turned away, hiding her head in Teeth's shoulder. Amy was horrified, but did not look away as she covered her mouth with a gasp. Stan had shot up from his seat to go collect Dipper and Mabel while Ford watched with an expression as shocked as Amy's. Teeth and Dionysus only looked uncomfortable rather than horrified, as if they had seen this before, and Bud whimpered at the sounds and hurried out of the room with Waddles on his heels.
When the sounds had stopped, they heard Ragnarok shouting at his subjects. "Witness the result of standing against me!" His claws and chest were painted with blood. He brought a hand to his mouth and slowly licked some of the blood from it before continuing. "All of you are to leave him here like this! Do not approach him! Leave this insolent brat to suffer in the pain he never thought he could feel!" He flapped his wings and took off as the monsters dispersed, leaving an exposed, torn, bloody mess laying in the giant roses and thorns.
Mabel was humming to herself and rocking in Stan's arms, still refusing to look back even as the book flipped a page and changed the scene.
Ragnarok, no longer covered with blood, was sitting and staring at the base of a massive tree. The tether tree was black as coal with little foliage growing on its branches. A dried, wrinkled red leaf dropped from the tree and slowly fluttered down. Ragnarok snorted and it thrust away from him.
"Grayal'kain, Ragnarok," the moth dragon said as it landed quite a distance away from him and bowed. "You requested for me?" He looked incredibly tiny compared to Ragnarok.
"Yes…" he growled without looking at him. "Go to that insolent wretch, Cipher. If he is still alive, fix him. Then bring him to me. I would speak with him…"
The moth dragon appeared surprised but only bowed and said, "Of course, Master." He did not waste time lingering about before taking off to go find the poor fool that had challenged Ragnarok.
The scene skipped ahead to the moth dragon finding Bill still laying in the thorns. The dragon flew closer and flitted around a bit before finding a spot to land so he could examine him more closely for any signs of life. He was rather shocked to find that Bill was in fact still alive and quickly set to healing the horrendous wounds. It must have taken a while, because the Enchiridion skipped ahead again to Bill, now whole and undamaged, floating low to the ground behind Ragnarok.
He stared up at Ragnarok silently and quickly lowered his gaze when the dragon turned to look at him. Bill was refusing to make direct eye contact with him. In fact, he was hardly looking at him at all now and said nothing.
"That's better," Ragnarok growled with a grin. "See? All you have to do is behave yourself and you won't have to suffer again. Right?"
"…Right," came the quiet reply.
"Good." Ragnarok turned back to the tree. "You are a fool in many ways. Challenging me. Coming here, to this dying world…" He looked up at the few leaves left clinging to the branches. "This world… It will collapse on itself eventually, and everything within it will perish. Such is the fate of powerful chaos. And you… It seems you are now trapped here with us." He looked over his shoulder at him again and narrowed his eyes. "But surely you do not want to die, hm?"
"No." Bill continued to stare at the ground.
"Of course not." Ragnarok flicked the tip of his tail in front of Bill to get him to look up at him. He grinned at Bill's hesitation. "None of us truly do."
"You didn't kill me," Bill said after a moment. "…You want something, right?"
"Perceptive for an insolent fool. Truthfully, I had intended to let you die slowly. Suffering as you were. But then I had a most splendid idea… You may be trapped here now, but you are still capable of moving through the Spirit Realms and the Mindscape. The only one I had that could do that managed to escape me before this world was sealed… Do you understand?"
"You want me to use that ability to find some idiot who I can get to open a rift to this world… Then we can all get out. Then you can get revenge on your siblings."
"And we all won't perish when this world does," Ragnarok finished. "Precisely. Now, be a good boy and get started. I'll even leave you in charge of Necronire and all its residents. Do as you please, so long as it does not defy me." He growled the last few words.
Bill looked surprised. "You're putting me in charge? After –"
"Yes… I must focus all of my attention and strength into this tether tree. To slow this world's implosion." He leered back at him. "But as I said… Do not attempt to defy me again, Cipher. You will regret it." He got up and flicked his tail dismissively as he made his way into a large gap between the roots and the blackened soil. "Consider yourself my beta. I have already informed the subjects. You do not have a choice." He stopped, as if remembering something. "Ah, yes… Come here, whelp. I will gift you with a better form. Use it if you wish."
The scene faded and the Enchiridion began to write again. Dionysus leaned forward to look before reading it aloud. "I warned you, did I not? Regardless… I believe that is enough for now." And with that, the book promptly shut itself.
"That was…horrible," Dipper said after a long silence.
"Indeed it was…" Ford mumbled. "I'm appalled yet…amazed."
"Mabel…" Flora said. "Are you alright?"
"Not really," the girl replied. "I think I'm going to stay up late and watch something cute and nice."
"I shall remain here…so do not be afraid."
Dipper took the book and went to join Dionysus on the couch while Mabel stayed where she was on Stan's lap and took the TV remote in her hand. Ford looked thoughtful and left to go to his room upstairs. Amy stayed in her seat for a while, half paying attention to the cartoon Mabel had put on the TV. Finally, she got up and told the others she was going to bed.
Upon entering her room, she found all the lights off, aside from the lovely pale glow of the Fullmoon Amaranth in the paper dragon's mouth. She slowly shut the door behind herself and stared over at Bill sitting in the windowsill. He was outlined by the moon's light shining through the big window. Sensing her presence, he turned to look at her with a curious expression.
"…What's wrong with you?" he asked.
She shook her head and walked over to the bed.
He watched her for a moment before shrugging a little and turning to look back out the window.
Amy paused as she grabbed the edge of the bedsheet in her fist. After debating it, she placed it back down and made her way around the bed and over to Bill. He turned to look at her again just as she joined him on the cushion and pressed up against him, wrapping her arms firmly around his center.
He tensed, surprised and confused by her sudden action. But he soon began to relax in her warmth. He let himself gravitate to her and lightly pressed his face into her neck, breathing in her scent.
"…What are you doing to me?" he whispered.
"Nothing, Bill," she told him as she stared out the window, not fully understanding the question. "I just want to hold you."
He did not reply, but soon turned himself to wrap around her and pull her up against his chest, keeping his heated face buried between her neck and shoulder. What an agonizing euphoria he felt then. What was she doing to him?
To be continued…