"Kill you? You mean the doppelganger you?"
"Yes."
"No! No, how can I? I mean, even if he's a monster, he still looks like you, Ray. And I can't just casually kill a creature that looks like a human!"
Doppelganger Wendy sounded disturbed and frightened by the idea, but I had to persuade her.
"And... if the doppelganger doesn't go back like you... What about the body? I mean, if it really just dies like that, the dead body will remain."
"I have... ways to completely get rid of things that I have to hide. So you don't have to worry about that. And Wendy... I am sorry, but only you can do this. You need to kill him. It won't hurt him that much, and that's the only way to start my whole plan."
"Fine..."
"And besides, he'll probably not end with this. 'Cause I'm pretty sure that he does have the ability to go back in time, okay?"
Wendy reluctantly agreed.
There was a reason I made her do this nasty work. I had to... because I was feeling a sense of crisis. It's been only a few days since Bill Cipher sent me the 'Darkness.' And now, a complete replica of myself that I can't do anything against? And which even has the same ability as me?
It was dangerous. Really dangerous.
Soon, Wendy rose from her seat, finishing her drink.
"Okay, let's do this. So... how am I supposed to get into your room?"
"You're a doppelganger. According to stories, you can just disappear and appear all of a sudden. Let's get out and try practicing it."
I spent the whole day testing the abilities of Doppelganger with Wendy.
One thing I learned about doppelgangers is that they can't teleport when they are caught directly by someone. They need to be completely out of sight to teleport, just like in the stories.
"Did you just see that? I just went home, and came back!"
"Yeah, you vanished right as we turned the corner."
In the stories, doppelgangers usually vanish when they pass the corner or when the speaker looks away for a second. We decided to follow the story and walked around the town's corners to test it out.
Certainly, Wendy disappeared right after she went past the corner, out of my sight.
Days passed, and I made my plans more secure. I had to use Doppelganger Wendy, Wendy, Soos, and my earlier checkpoint carefully to get rid of the Doppelganger me.
"Today's the day, huh."
"Yeah."
Doppelganger Wendy sighed, looking at her nail gun. It had no safety lock or whatever, so it could kill a person with ease.
"So, I just have to go into your room, wait until the doppelganger comes in, and... shoot him?"
"Yes. But if he dies, just like that..."
"I know... Well, I'm kinda ready now. I just have to point this thing to my neck and pull it... Ha.."
I couldn't say anything to cheer her up. It was just sad... but it was necessary.
"Wait."
It was the other Wendy, the real Wendy's voice. She was standing over the corner, not looking at Doppelganger Wendy.
"Isn't... there another option? A more peaceful option, I mean... look, man... She doesn't have to die! I mean, your doppelganger might just go crazy, according to you... and even might try to kill you, but... She's not! She accepted it. I can just not look at her, and we all can coexist with..."
"No. It's better not to take any chances."
It wasn't me. It was Doppelganger Wendy.
"We don't know what will happen if a doppelganger stays around for so long. Anyways, I'm a monster. A symbol of unluck and stuff. I should be gone. Heh, don't worry, me. It is what it is..."
...I closed my eyes, and Doppelganger Wendy was gone when I opened them again.
-Nice room, dude. I thought it'd be filled with books. But this is better than I expected, still kinda mundane... I'm sorry, Ray, but you'll need to find me when you return. I can't explain now.
-Return? What the...
-Pow!
After I heard Doppelganger Wendy shooting Doppelganger me, I waited for a few seconds.
[Critical user function failure detected. Life signal... Negative. Commencing respawn sequence at the last checkpoint...]
So this is how it is, huh? Fine, Plan B it is.
[Calculating amount of caused time paradox... 0. Expurgation complete. Restoring Data...]
[Restoration complete.]
"So... What exactly are you talking about? I don't get it."
"What I am saying is that I am giving the doppelganger me a chance to realize naturally that he's the doppelganger. He still has my personality, so I want to give him a chance. And to do that, I need to make him find you. I already gave him a... vision sort of thing to think that something is going on with you. Is there anything that both you and I might find intriguing?"
"...Hm..."
I came back to the time when I didn't explain anything to Doppelganger Wendy, so she doesn't know anything right now. Wendy was staying here at the rooftop with me, to avoid Doppelganger Wendy.
After some thinking, she handed over a small packet of moisturizer.
"I think this will do."
"A moisturizer?"
"Yeah, dude. Remember when I told you that my moisturizer kept disappearing?"
I did. She lost her moisturizer many times, so I heard her finding her moisturizer many times at the shack.
"I took this from my house before I escaped. So, if I send this as a package to you... I mean the doppelganger you, He'll easily get intrigued and relate the situation with me. Doppelganger I will also get interested because... Well, I think I'll be interested in anything that looks fun..."
"Great."
Now all I had to do was wait and watch.
So that was how it went. After successfully leading the doppelganger to realize he was fake, things just went as I planned. The Clipping Bug story, I got the idea from that famous kind of story when I was in my original world. For a time, a thing called 'backrooms' was famous around the internet. And I remembered the story went like this...
There's a place in the world where physical laws just don't work normally, as if a bug in cyberspace. You fall into that place, and you can't get out. I thought to use that story here at the bottomless pit and lock DoppelRay up forever... but, I never thought that he'd just fall and disappear.
"...What was that, dude? I mean, I get it that it's your doppelganger, but why did he disappear again?"
"I don't know, Soos. I guess that's what happens when you clip in real life."
"I'm never using a paper clip again. Well then! I need to go to Mr. Pines! Bye!"
Soos just toddled away like that, not asking too many questions. Now it was only me and Wendy here.
"...So it's over. Huh, I thought we had to do something more complicated... But all I had to do was just let you use my phone and talk to your doppelganger, come here to the bottomless pit, and tie him up. Wasn't that hard."
"Well... Yeah, technically it didn't take so long."
I shrugged. Wendy can't remember all the past deaths and events that happened, so all she'll remember is how I talked with the doppelganger for a few seconds, made him accept it, and made him disappear forever.
But still, there was one problem left.
"Now Wendy, let's go find your doppelganger."
"Wait, what?"
"...So, I'm the doppelganger, right?"
"Well... yes. I don't like the fact that I have to tell you again, but... well, that's the truth."
Doppelganger Wendy went through some time to fully accept that she was the doppelganger, but it didn't take so long. Since she had to go anyway, I told her about my powers too.
"...Can I at least die after the party, man? Like... it's my last wish."
"...Of course."
And finally, Friday. I went to the shack before it all started. The real Wendy agreed not to come here today so that DoppelWendy could enjoy her last day.
"OK, Everybody, get to work!"
Me and Wendy went to the ticket stand, as Stan yelled. We sat there and waited for the people to come. It was quite awkward since well... the situation was not normal. She had to die today, and... Ha...
It was hard, even for me. I don't get honest or affected by emotional things usually. But... unlike fighting the other me, the fact that I get rid of her, who's just a kid... hurts.
...Well, Yeah. I'm 15 too. But still, I have two sets of memories, one from the other world, and one from this world. So it feels like a longer time than that.
Dipper soon joined us too, with a giant piece of paper in his hands which was written 'plan' on it. He read it more than three times before actually joining us.
We didn't talk that much for the first few minutes; we just worked. Poor Dipper was just in the middle, not able to say or do anything. A lot of people went in, including my sister, her friend Grenda, and more. The atmosphere became more exciting inside the party.
"...Hey, Wendy. You can go in and enjoy the party if you want. We two can take care of the stand. Right, Dipper?"
"...Oh! Yeah, right..."
"Really? But...Hey, Ray. How about we go together?"
"..."
I felt reluctant even in this kind of situation. I made a promise with Stan, and I can't just leave the stand to Dipper. But...
"Come on, Ray. Just for a little while," she insisted, a hopeful gleam in her eyes.
I sighed, realizing that this might be a chance for Wendy to have a farewell celebration. "Fine, but only for a short time. We can't afford any complications."
A bright smile spread across Wendy's face, and she grabbed my arm, pulling me towards the lively atmosphere of the party. The music, laughter, and colorful decorations created a festive ambiance that was a stark contrast to the heavy burden I carried.
As we entered the crowd, Wendy looked at me, her eyes expressing gratitude and a silent plea to make this moment memorable for her. I nodded, determined to give her a small reprieve from the impending doom.
I just took a bottle of soda from the vending machine, leaned on the wall, and looked at Wendy...I mean, Doppelganger Wendy. I touched the nail gun in my pocket...It felt cold to the touch.
Wendy danced, laughed, and immersed herself in the celebration. Despite the underlying sadness, she seemed genuinely happy. It was bittersweet to witness, knowing that this joy would be short-lived.
"Hey, nerd...What do you think you're doing with Wendy?"
"...Valentino."
It was Robbie Valentino who blocked my sight. He looked quite annoyed for some reason. He even had a guitar on his back...I need help understanding what's his problem. Why is he looking at me like that?
"I'm not in a mood to fuss with you, Valentino."
"I'm saying...What the hell were you doing with her? You...you guys are not on a date or something, right...?"
He looked quite...unsettled at the end. And dating? What the...heck is he even talking about? Tsk. As if I have time for that. I don't have to get emotionally attached to anyone more than now. It'll only become a good biting spot for Bill.
"If you're here to talk nonsense, Valentino...just get lost. For the second time, I'm not in the mood to make a fuss with you."
"Heh, so you're not dating her. So long, sucker."
...What is his problem!? Anyway, I saw him walking over to Wendy...but he soon ran out of the party screaming that someone had stolen his bike. What the heck...
"Hey, Ray! You need to come here! we have a problem at the ticket stand!"
Just as I tried to join Wendy, Dipper called me. I rushed back to the ticket stand, and there was Dipper...with an awkward hat that was written '2' on it.
"..."
"..."
Yep, he's not Dipper. I mean, he's extremely similar to him but he's not dipper. But is he a doppelganger...? I don't know. Doppelgangers just look completely the same with their original. This guy has a more...faded color.
"You noticed, didn't you...?"
"Yes, so...Are you like...Fake Dipper? Wha...What are you?"
"Okay...so, Ray, I know that you might freak out, since we've encountered many, many evil things...but I'm not one of them. In fact, Dipper himself cloned me, just for his plan!"
I grasped my head. Okay, so today's party was another episode, huh. And it's about dipper cloning himself...I'm pretty sure that this will and with the clones rioting against Dipper.
"...First of all, give back Valentino his bike."
"Well...About that..."
"It's still a crime, buddy. And I don't want you to follow your grunkle's path. And second. I highly suggest you to not clone yourself any longer. It might be unstable and dangerous. Got it?"
"Okay..."
"...Believe me. If you get to fight yourself, it doesn't end well. Anyways. What's the problem? I don't see anything going wrong..."
"Oh, That's...That's...uh, this was not in the plans..."
Dipper's clone looked nervously at the 'plan' paper, which was now crumpled in his hands.
...Oh well. I just don't wanna get involved. If it's the original story, it won't go wrong...probably. I got rid of Bill's main attacks. This won't really do anything.
"I'll be back at the party. Tell me again when there's a real problem, Dipper clone."
Dipper's clone nodded. He didn't seem much of a threat, so I left him alive. When I looked at the party, Dipper was there...talking with Wendy. Well, if that's what he wanted.
I just stayed at the party, not interacting with anyone. Candy was hanging out with Mabel, which was not bad. Candy needed more friends other than that girl with a rough voice...and Mabel's not a bad kid.
...the night was getting deeper. Soos successfully went through an event of making a competition between Mabel and Pacifica northwest(Rich blond girl in town)...And it was almost time.
I touched the nail gun and slowly approached Doppelganger Wendy.
"Hey, Ray! I've been looking for you," she exclaimed, the excitement evident in her voice.
"Hey," I replied, trying to match her enthusiasm. "We were just taking a break from the stand. You enjoying the party?"
Doppelganger Wendy nodded, her eyes scanning the colorful surroundings. "Yeah, it's way better than I expected. But hey, Ray, mind if we have a little chat? There's something I need to tell you."
My heart skipped a beat, realizing that this could be the moment of truth. I glanced at Dipper, who gave me an encouraging nod.
"Sure, let's step aside for a bit," I said, leading Doppelganger Wendy away from the crowd.
As we found a quieter spot, she leaned in and whispered, "It's my last day, right? Can you grant me a last wish, Ray?"
I felt a twinge of sympathy, understanding the weight of her request. "What is it?"
Doppelganger Wendy looked towards the dance floor, her eyes filled with longing. "I want to dance. Just once, before I... you know. Can we?"
I hesitated for a moment, torn between the plan and her genuine desire. But looking into her eyes, I saw a reflection of Wendy's unfulfilled dreams.
"Alright," I agreed, "let's dance."
We joined the dance floor, and for a brief moment, the world melted away. The music, the laughter, the impending doom—all faded into the background. Doppelganger Wendy and I swayed to the rhythm, sharing a fleeting moment of normalcy in the midst of chaos. I didn't really know how to dance...so it felt more like listening to the music together...But anyway, it was enjoyable.
The night pressed on, and the atmosphere of the party continued to buzz in the background as I led Doppelganger Wendy away from the lively crowd. We sought refuge behind the shack, away from prying eyes, where the gravity of the situation weighed heavily on both of us.
Doppelganger Wendy's eyes flickered nervously across the surroundings, a mix of fear and acceptance reflecting in her gaze. In my pocket, the nail gun served as a constant reminder of the inevitable.
"So, this is it," she remarked, breaking the heavy silence.
"Yeah," I replied, my tone somber. "It's time."
A sigh escaped Doppelganger Wendy's lips as her gaze wandered toward the night sky. "Facing your own death like this, it's surreal. A strange kind of closure."
I nodded, acknowledging the weight of her words. "Not an easy thing for anyone to grasp. But you knew it was coming."
She managed a bitter smile. "Yeah, I did. It's just... hard. I felt like I was real. I thought, and I didn't doubt that I was real. But...heh."
The strange connection we shared lingered in the air—a fleeting moment where two paths diverged.
"I'm sorry it had to be like this," I expressed, a tinge of regret coloring my voice.
Doppelganger Wendy chuckled softly. "Don't be. I knew my existence was never meant to last. A glitch in the system, a mistake that needed correcting."
Prepared for what lay ahead, I took a deep breath. She reached out, touching my arm gently. "Hey, Ray. I know you've been through a lot. Promise me you'll find moments to chill after this."
Her words resonated in the quiet night, a poignant reminder of life's fragility.
"I will," I whispered, meeting her gaze.
Doppelganger Wendy nodded, a mix of acceptance and gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you, Ray. I won't forget you."
In that final moment, the weight of the decision pressing on me, I raised the nail gun, aiming at her. The air felt heavy with the inevitability of our parting.
"Goodbye, Wendy," I said, my voice steady but heavy with emotion.
"Goodbye, Ray," she replied, her gaze unwavering.
The shot echoed in the night, marking the end of Doppelganger Wendy's existence.
After wrapping up her body, I moved it to the bottomless pit. The real Wendy awaited me there, her expression tinged with sadness.
"It was tough, huh?"
"Let's just finish it, Wendy."
Silently, we placed Doppelganger Wendy's body at the exact point where it should clip. Wendy's cool demeanor held as we observed her body vanish into the depths of the bottomless pit.
"Another chapter closed," Wendy remarked, her voice steady despite the underlying emotions.
I nodded, a sense of closure settling over us. The night continued, the echoes of the party in the background, as we walked away from the bottomless pit, leaving behind the complexities of doppelgangers and the weight of necessary decisions.