Disclaimers: I do not own Gravity Falls
Author's Notes: So, since a good chunk of the episodes from Season 2 of Star VS The Forces of Evil are fillers (as in nothing important happens for the story development) I've decided to mash several episodes together. For example Tad in the wild, I don't understand why that had to be a whole episode with no Star or Marco. The events of Tad in the wild, and Red Belt, could have easily been one episode. However, since nothing in them really helps with story development I am going to take the main points of both episodes and mash them into the episode Mr. Candles Cares. So basically, this next bit is three episodes morphed into one.
With all that said, thanks for reading and please review.
(Back with Tad…)
(On the Run: Day 7)
He had managed his escape just moments before his brother's army had stormed the castle. Luckily he still had his dimensional scissors, and with one snip he was able to cut his way into the next dimension. Unfortunately, the running didn't end there, no he was always running. Tad had known his brother's wrath would be furious, however, he honestly though he'd get away with it. He actually thought he could steal his nephew's power with zero consequences. And yet, here he was in full procession of Bill's power, but still running for his life through the endless multiverse.
Jumping from one dimension to another moving toward nothing... and away from everything and everyone. A passage of time marked by age. Marked by hunger of the spirit and hunger of the body. Alone. Infinitely...until now!
"This way! He's close!"
Tad sprints through the thicket of an unknown forest, his brother's shouts are barely audible over the roar of soldier's feet. He needs to make another portal and fast, but he's running out of places to go, and with scissors of his own, Hannibal wouldn't be far behind. Still, with no other options he pulls out his scissors and jumps into the newly made portal. Said portal dumps him into a pile of leaves unceremoniously. "Well isn't that perfect." He growled as he wiped the dirt from his eyes. "I suppose it can't get any worse though."
Lightning flashes as it suddenly begins to rain.
"I stand corrected." He looks around for shelter, deciding it was best to get some rest. After all this rain would make him nearly impossible to track. He sees a tree a few steps ahead with a hollowed out base that looks just big enough for him to squeeze through. Sighing, he takes one step and slips on mud before sliding down a hill. Moments later he crashes into a tree, which falls into a nearby pound.
"Why?" Tad whines as he washes ashore, his stomach rumbling, he turns back to the pond that just spit him out just in time to see a fish leap out just feet away from him. He dives back after it and manages to catch it after several failed attempts. "Yes!" he goes to eat it raw only for a large bird to swoop in and snatch it right out of his hand. "That was my sushi, give it back!" He waves his arms, dramatically, and screams "DESTROY BIRD!"
Nothing happens!
"Why isn't this working?" He screamed. He knew he had his nephew's powers; he could feel the change inside of him and yet, he could not summon any of it. Giving up he decides to retrieve the sushi the hard way. Tracking the bird until its trail leads him to a tree. He looks up to see the bird regurgitating food to its hatchlings. It was degrading but seeing no other choice Tad climbs into the nest hoping to sneak a meal. "Excuse me, brother." Tad opens his mouth like a bird, and groans for food.
The bird grabs Tad and flies him high up into the air, before dropping him.
"You never loved me!" Tad screams and crashes into the same muddy slope, "Not this again, whoa!" Tad screams again and then is thrown back onto the tree and into the pond, again washing onto the shore. He tries to get up only to be snatched up once more. "No, no. Whoa-oa! Please don't let me go." He screams as they fly higher and higher. But of course, the bird drops him again and Tad lands on a spider's web.
It was enormous, and littered with victims cocooned in webs.
Tad struggles to get free, he didn't go through all this trouble, and invoke the wrath of his brother just to get eaten.
"Don't fight it bro. You're stuck. Just let it happen." A trapped fly said.
Suddenly a spider appears and wastes no time jumping on Tad.
"NO!" Tad's screams in horror.
The spider sniffs him and stops before throwing him out of the web.
"Ha you she thinks you taste bad." The fly taunted.
"Oh, I'm so offended." Tad joked as snow began to fall around him. "Snow? First it rains and now it snows. What is this place?"
He jumps as the fly screams, it is now being devoured by the Spider. He notices the scraps dripping to the ground and shivers.
"This is so degrading." He says, but shrugs it off and opens his mouth so that pieces of the fly fall into it. "Say that's actually not that bad." He admitted.
The Spider finishes her meal and crawls away.
"What lunch time over?" Tad asked.
The spider hisses at him before continuing on her way.
Tad groans, as his stomach continues to rumble, but rather than provoke the spider further, he decides to set up camp nearby and wait for the next meal. He digs a hole at the base of the web and settles down for some much-needed rest.
(Back with Dipper…)
(Over 100 Dimensions away)
He wasn't sure how he had got there, but suddenly Dipper found himself in a large crater. He climbs out into vast void of nothingness.
"Grrrr!"
Dipper jumps as he sees Bill hunched over on all fours and chewing on a textbook, with a wild look in his eyes. "Bill?"
The demon Prince screeches before racing off.
"Wait!" Dipper chases after him but stops as the scene changes, he in front of his locker, at school. He panics and fiddles with the lock. "I don't know my combination!" The lock rattles to the point of breaking, and the locker opens to reveal another version of himself, only this one has the crescent moon cheek marks.
Other Dipper opens his eyes, his cheek marks glowing. "The world is falling apart; Toffee plots the raise of Seth and you're worried about a combination? You make me sick."
"I'm sorry, I'm trying…" Dipper stumbles back as other Dipper advances. A sticky substance resembling the ooze Bill produced during his demonic puberty prevents him from getting far. "Then try harder!" He screams, his voice was more demonic now.
Dipper shivers and slowly inches away.
"Don't you turn your back on me!" Other Dipper screams. "I'll devour you, feat upon your bowels!"
Dipper's blood runs cold as Other Dipper's voice begins to sound more and more like his Monster arm! He breaks out into a run, and smacks into Ford.
"Dipper, you need to focus!" Ford places his hands on his shoulders. "I'm counting on you."
"I know and I'm trying." Dipper said. "I really am."
"Trying isn't good enough." Ford lectured. "You have a future to think of. I'm not always going to be around." As he spoke, he suddenly began to drift further and further away. "You need to be ready."
"Wait! Uncle Ford!" He races after him, but never seems to catch up. "Come back!"
"Pine Tree…
Pine Tree…
Pine Tree…!"
Dipper wakes up with a start and smacks his head straight into Bill who is leaning over him.
"Ow!" They groan in unison.
"Dip are you okay?" Mabel was also there, looking just as worried.
"I'm fine." Dipper assured her as he rubbed his forehead.
"Well, I'm not." Bill hissed. "What were you dreaming about this time?" He asked, as if he didn't already know.
"I…it was…" Dipper struggled to come up with a lie.
"Another one of those "stuck in life" dreams." Mabel answered.
"Yeah." Dipper admitted.
"Look I get you can't control what you're dreaming, but this is getting ridiculous." Bill began to lecture.
"Is everything okay in here?" Ford asked as he popped his head in.
"Yep, all good." Dipper suddenly goes as stiff as a board.
"Well, you better hurry and get ready for school, big day today." Ford reminded them.
"Yep, wouldn't miss it." Dipper forces a smile but drops it as soon as Ford leaves.
"That's it, isn't it?" Bill whispered, "You're nervous about the new guidance counselor."
Dipper bit his lip and avoided eye contact as he gathers his things to get ready.
The school Principal, Mrs. Wong had announce the arrival of the new guidance counselor Mr. Candle just a week before. Mr. Candle, a smartly dressed man with glasses and a ponytail wasted no time in starting his student reviews, every day during homeroom he met with students and began discussing their futures. Now after a near racking week of waiting, Dipper was meeting With Mr. Candle this very morning.
Mabel and Bill, who are already ready watch him as he struggles to find something decent to wear. Finally, he settles on a red collar shirt and khaki jeans, before grabbing some dress shoes from his closet.
"Seriously?" Bill looks confused. He too was seeing Mr. Candle, but it was obvious he wasn't nervous in the slightest bit. "Why does this bother him so much? It's just a guidance counselor."
"It's not just a 'guidance counselor'." Mabel explained. "Guidance counselors basically hold your future in their hands. They're your bridge between adolescence and the adult world, their job is guide you to the next step after high school."
"And that's bad because?" Bill asked.
"Because they can recommend you for a college or tell the same college that you're not worth it." Dipper snapped as he ran into the bathroom to get change. "They decide who the school vouchers for when it come scholarships. They point out all your strengths and your weaknesses and basically tell you what you're good for-"
"Okay I get it." Bill yelled as he and Mabel enter the hallway.
Dipper steps out of the bathroom, ready for the day. "There is just a lot riding on this, I know it may seem silly to you. After all, you've always known what and who you're going to be, but here no of that matters if you don't have the right people backing you up."
"Pine Tree, you're a genius." Bill assures him. "You should be able to get in any school you want. And if this 'guidance counselor' can't see that, than they're a fraud; plain and simple."
Dipper smiled, hearing that does make him feel a little better, but it doesn't last, by the time they arrive at school his nerves are back again. Usually, at this moment they would be in homeroom, but instead they all stood in a long line in front of the guidance counselor's office.
Dipper watches as Chet walks out looking confident.
"Mr. Candle said I'm gonna be a champion swimmer. I was gonna get dressed, but now I don't need to." Chet boasted.
"See, he got what he wanted." Bill whispered. "You'll be fine."
"Yep, nothing to worry about." Dipper faked a smile, he was grateful that Bill was trying to cheer him up, he really was. But nothing Bill said was actually helping to calm his nerves, he just didn't get it. As a prince, Bill's future was set in stone, he didn't have to worry. Dipper however did not come from a wealthy family, and he wasn't into sports either. He'd need an academic scholarship just to pay his way through college.
"Next!" A voice called.
"Well, that's me!" Bill stepped forward and entered the office.
"Mr. Cipher, please, sit." Mr. Candle gestures to the chair opposite of his desk.
"Sure-." Bill sits. "Mr. Candle, was it?"
"Yep, that's me." Mr. Candle chuckles. "Candy?" He offers Bill some from a bowl on his desk.
"Uh no thanks, I'm just here to get this fortune telling over with." Bill joked.
"Fortune telling?" Mr. Candle looks confused.
"Oh yeah, some of my fellow students think you can tell us our future." Bill rolled his eyes.
"Well, I can't force you down any which way." Mr. Candle said. "But I can tell where you are currently headed based on…your test scores for example."
"Here we go." Bill sighed.
"Okay, let's not go there then." Mr. Candle changes the subject. "Have you given much thought to your future?"
"Well, when I'm king I'm going to get to do whatever I want, whenever and however I like." Bill said as a matter of fact. "I'm going to raise warnicorns, and battle powerful foes, all while chilling and partying with my friends."
"So basically, you think the future is going to be nothing but parties and fun times?" Mr. Candle. "Look Mr. Cipher all that sounds like great hobbies and pass times, but as King you won't have much time for that."
"What?" Bill asked.
"I may not see the future, but I don't have to see it to know a thing or two about it." Mr. Candle lectured. "I also don't need to know a lot about your kingdom to know that you are nowhere nears ready to rule it."
"Now just see here!" Bill began, his demonic side was fighting to come out.
"No, you see here." Mr. Candle grew very serious. "You need to get your life together and start taking things more seriously. For example, have you thought a lot about who will be ruling at your side?"
"What?" Bill's mind was reeling.
"Are you dating anyone? Your teachers talk about you spending a lot of time with a Mason Pines." Mr. Candle went on.
"Pine Tree and I are just friends." Bill said, but he can't seem to meet Mr. Candle's eyes when he says this. "Beside I have plenty of time to decide that kind of thing, my grandfather Seth went ages without a Queen."
"Still, never too late to start planning." Mr. Candle said. "You know what they say, 'Those you don't plan, plan to fail'."
No, Bill didn't know that's what people say at all. He suddenly feels a wave of anxiety engulfing him, was this what Dipper was talking about? The pressure to have everything already figured out was washing over him in waves. "I guess, I never really thought, well…I thought I'd just you know, do things my way."
"A kingdom needs a king that is focus and ready to serve them. You are their leader and their protection; you cannot lead or protect if you are partying with friends like this Dipper Pines." Mr. Candle said.
Again, Bill found himself stumped, he was sure he had his future figured out, but now.
"I hope I've given you something to really think about, Mr. Cipher." Mr. Candle said as he dismissed him. "Next!"
Bill walks out of the office in a daze.
Dipper knew something was up the moment Bill walked out.
"Yikes." Mabel exclaimed. She had already seen Mr. Candle yesterday with her own homeroom class, but had joined them for moral support. "You okay?"
Dipper goes to echo her concerns but stops as Mr. Candle shouts, "Next!" again.
"We'll talk later." He whispered to Bill before entering the office.
"Mr. Pines! About time!" Mr. Candle. "Take a seat, take a seat!" Dipper took a seat without hesitation.
"You nervous?" Mr. Candle asked. "You look nervous."
"I…" He was nervous, but he was also concerned. "Hey did you say something to Bill? He seemed upset."
"Mr. Pines we are here to talk about you, not Mr. Cipher. He is not your concern," Mr. Candle said. "Frankly a lot of your teachers feel you are too consumed with your foreign friend. Your focus in you school work is shifting, you went from turning assignments in early to barely getting them in on time."
Dipper bit his lip, he knew it was true, Bill needed him so much that everything else in his life became a second priority. "That may be true, but you're wrong, Bill parents entrusted me with his safety as well as his…extra-circular studies."
"And it is good to help friends, but at the expense of your own future?" Mr. Candle asked. "It may not be a problem now, but if you keep slipping you may ruin your perfect record. Which is something you can't allow. I'm sorry to say it, Bill seems like a nice kid, but he is a distraction you cannot afford."
"I have years of college credits already in the bag." Dipper pointed out.
"Yes, but you got those credits because the local college offers free courses to High School students Mr. Pines." Mr. Candle snapped. "Do you think an anniversary is going to give you a scholarship if they notice a decline in your dedication for your studies?"
Dipper knew that at some level Mr. Candle was right, getting a PHD cost a lot of money, and no college would sponsor a student who wasn't serious. But he was also telling him to abandon Bill, his best friend! He knew Bill could be rash at times, but he would never do anything to jeopardize Dipper's future…right?
"Look, I know it feels like betrayal, but this is a slippery slope you're going down." Mr. Candle warned. "You need to decide what's more important to you; your friends or your future?"
Dipper balls up his fist and gets up. "You know what, I think we're done here." He storms out without another word.
"Go ahead, deny the truth, but you'll see it soon enough." Mr. Candle yelled after him. "His royal highness is holding you back!"
"What was that all about?" Mable asked as her brother stomped by.
"Stupid Mr. Candle." Dipper spat out his name. "Doesn't know what he's talking about. He had the nerve to say that Bill is nothing but a…Mabel where's Bill?"
"Uh…" Mabel pointed past them to Bill, who was sitting in front of his locker staring off into space.
Dipper sighed and walked over to him. "So what lies did the jerk tell you?" he asked.
"Pine Tree…" Bill looks broken. "Do you think I'm too easy going, that I don't take thing seriously?"
Dipper winced.
"I knew it." Bill kicked his foot in frustration. "I thought being King would be great. I know my dad is a stiff when it comes to his rules and the whole reforming the demon image thing, but I always thought…but no, I don't even have a choice!"
"I thought you wanted to be king?" Mabel asked.
"Yeah I did, until Mr. Serious ruined it for me." Bill huffed. "What about you?" He asked Dipper. "How did yours go?"
I…" Dipper began but stopped as Mr. Candle caught his eye. The man was leaving his office and for reasons he couldn't fully explain he felt the need to follow him.
"Dipper?" Mabel asked.
"Look I can't explain it, but something is off about him, I'm going to check it out." Dipper said and took off after him.
"Wow that bad hu?" Bill joked.
"I don't know Bill." Mabel said. "Dipper is always good about this kind of thing, he can just tell when someone is no good, you know."
Bill nodded, he did notice that about Dipper, the guy had a way of sensing out trouble, sometimes before even Bill himself. It was just another one of the many mysteries about his new friend. "Look Shooting Star, I need some time to think about…"
"I get it, I'll tell Ford you're on your way home." Mabel said pulling out her phone.
Bill sighs and gets up, giving a halfhearted wave goodbye as he went.
Meanwhile, down the hall Dipper has followed Mr. Candle into the restroom where a strange fire explosion can be seen coming out of the only occupied stall. Dipper climbed the stall to look inside from above and what he saw was quiet a surprise.
Mr. Candle was standing in front of the toilet and looking at the fire that came out of it. Once the smoke and ashes cleared, Pyronica's face appeared and she was not happy.
Dipper's eyes narrowed Pyronica! Of course, he should have known it was her the moment Mr. Candle started bring up his time wasted with Bill! Only she would be so possessing and controlling. It was the reason why Bill broke up with her. Unfortunately, said decision had done little to stop her.
"Everything went as plan." Mr. Candle reported.
"Hardly." Pyronica snapped. "You forgot the most important part! ME!"
"I've planted the seeds." Mr. Candle said. "Besides now you know BillDip is completely platonic."
"BillDip?" Dipper repeated to himself. Did she seriously think he and Bill were a thing? What would even give her the idea?
"And there will never be a 'thing' between them, because you are going to stay there and make sure of it." Pyronica demanded.
Dipper hoped back onto the ground, still eavesdropping on their conversation. Pyronica's plan was so obvious, she was trying to use Mr. Candle to manipulating Bill into being the person she wanted him to be while also slowly convincing him that she was the perfect person for him. Well Dipper foiled her plans last time at the Blood Moon Ball and he was about to do it again. He left the restroom and waited for Mr. Candle to return to his office.
Once the counselor enter he waited a few minutes and followed him inside. "Sup, Mr. Candle!"
It was clear that he caught him by surprise, Mr. Candle jumped "Oh, hey Dipper! What an unexpected surprise!"
Dipper sat down looking almost, enlighten. "Look I know I left a bit angry." He admitted. "But I just wanted you to know that I've gave your advice some real thought."
"Really?" Mr. Candle looks shocked.
"Yeah your right I do focus a lot of my time on Bill." Dipper sighs dreamingly. "It made realize how I feel about him."
Mr. Candle dropped the blue cup he was holding, and the glass shattered across the floor. "Whattt...?"
"Yeah, in fact I just told him how feel, big old smooch right on the lips." Dipper could already feel that heat of Pyronica's anger but he wasn't stopping now. "And boy was it something, I mean I knew Bill was great but who knew he could kiss like that?"
"Look I'm glad I gave you something to think about." Mr. Candle said. "But I think you missed the point of my lecture." He kept looking back and forth at the candy bowl, as its eyes moved sideways slower and slower.
Dipper notices it out of the corner of his eye and tries not to smile. "Oh I know, you want me to focus on my studies, but I realized I don't want to be a stuffy lonely guy with a PHD. No now I'm thinking more on the lines of Queen Cipher! Or would it be king?" Dipper looks puzzled. "I mean can there be two kings?' He shrugs "I guess I could ask Bill, you know if we ever take a break from kissing boy, are my tonsils tired."
Those were the last words Dipper could get out before Pyronica appeared, exploding the cat candy stand into flames.
"You little-"
"HAHA!" Dipper pointed at Mr. Candle proudly. "I knew you weren't a guidance counselor! You work for-" Before he could finish, Pyronica pulled him into the flames.
Mr. Candle blinked. "Well he's dead."
Dipper was in fact, not dead however, the moment Pyronica pulled him to the underworld; he surprised her with a sucker punch to the face. "That's for Bill!"
"Don't even say his name!" Pyronica screaming throwing pink fire his way. "How dare you kiss my Billy!"
"He is not your Billy!" Dipper screamed as he dodged her fire. "And I didn't kiss him!"
Pyronica who was mid swing froze. "You didn't?"
"No." Dipper said. "I only said that to force your hand." He explained. "I means seriously, what is wrong with you? Bill and I are just friends, not that it matters to you. You're just a possessive jerk that he's better off without."
"LIES!" Pyronica screams and slams her fiery fist down, ready to bash Dipper's head in.
"Aqua Scutum!" Dipper was even less of a fan of magic after his experience with Toffee but he really didn't see any other option when it came to his current opponent.
Pyronica screamed as Dipper's spell produced a water shield between them, making her blows pointless. "I don't know what he sees in you!"
"Yeah well I don't know what he ever saw in you!" Dipper screamed. "You obviously don't care about him."
"Yes I do!" Pyronica screamed hitting the water harder.
"No you don't." Dipper said. "Because if you did you wouldn't have had that fraud fill his head with so many lies!"
Pyronica stops as if the thought had never occurred to her until now.
"You're acting like you didn't lie to Bill, but you did." Dipper continue talking. "You made him think he's not good enough, and with all the crap we're dealing with right now Bill can't afford that kind of doubt."
Pyronica's flames die as her anger is replaced with obvious regret. "That, wasn't my…I never told him to say…" she trails off.
Dipper drops his shield. "You have to fix this."
"Why do you care so much?" Pyronica challenged. "He's caused you nothing but trouble since the day you met."
"True." Dipper smiled. "But as trying as he is Bill has taught me a lot. Like how to loosen up and have a little fun every now and then. We balance each other out, he helps me have fun and I remind him when to be serious."
Pyronica looks like she's on the verge of being angry again.
"Look I don't know where you get this crazy idea that Bill and I are a thing that's gonna happen, but that doesn't matter." Dipper told her. "You'll never win him back like this, it doesn't matter if you beat me to a pulp. You can't make Bill become your boyfriend again, unless he wants to. If it's meant to be and if you really love him you have to let him make the choice on his own."
Pyronica sighed heavily, looking around. She knew Dipper had a point, but him being right only made her hate him more. "You're right." She finally admitted. "I still hate you though." She added as an elevator back to earth realm appeared.
The two enter and the elevator reappears just outside the shack.
"Dipper?" Ford was sitting on the porch, looking worried.
"Great uncle Ford!" Dipper raced out to great him, with Pyronica close behind.
"Is everything alright? Bill looked-" Ford stops as he notices Pyronica. He goes tense, like he's ready to fight.
"It's okay, she's here to fix Bill." Dipper assured him.
"He's upstairs." Ford says, still looking suspicious.
"Come on." Dipper leads Pyronica inside and up to Bill's bedroom. "Bill, we have something to-" he stops as he sees Bill is just staring up at the ceiling.
Bill jumps when he sees…"Pyronica?" He looks between his best friend and his ex in confusion. "Dipper, what is she doing here-"
"Look I'm just going to get to the point." Pyronica said. " I used Mr. Candle to get us back together."
"YOU- you told him to say all those things?" Bill was a mixture of anger and confusion.
"No, I didn't tell him to say any of that…" Pyronica said. "Look, I was being selfish, and never considered anything that you wanted, until Dipper made me listen. He made me face the truth, if I really care about you I need you to choose me of your own will, otherwise it will never be like it was before."
Bill blinked several times, he was shocked. "Okay, first wow how in the heck did you get that through to her?" He asked Dipper shamelessly. "Like I've been trying to spell that out to you for like EVER!"
"I know Billy." Pyronica sighed. "I'm sorry I made you second guess yourself like that, and I understand if you never want to see me again."
"Seriously, what did you do?" Bill asked Dipper again.
"I matched her stubborn force with one of my own." Dipper admitted.
"Yeah, still hate him." Pyronica admitted. "But I can see why you like him, he's a loyal friend."
Bill smiled, but it quickly fades. "Look I'm glad you came clean but that still doesn't change the fact that what Mr. Candle said wasn't a lie. Being a king won't be one big party, it takes a lot of work, and I'm not ready."
"But you will be." Dipper assured him. "And being king doesn't mean you'll have to give up the fun times entirely, it just means you might have to priorities better. You know take a page out of my book."
Bill smiles. "Thanks Pines." He looks to Pyronica. "Look Py, I need some time."
"I get it…" She goes to leave but stops as she looks to Dipper. "Thanks."
"Anytime." Dipper said, and he meant it. Pyronica may be controlling but deep down it turned out she really did care.
Pyronica flew back into the carriage elevator and it took her back down into the Underworld.
Bill turns to Dipper. "Wow you must have made quiet the impression."
Dipper nods. "I'm not the only one." He admits. "I think I'm starting to see her through your eyes, she's not all bad once you get to know her."
"So you guys are friends now?" Bill asked.
Dipper shrugged. "I wouldn't say friends, but we've grown an understanding."
"You know, you never told me what Mr. Candle said to you." Bill pointed out. "Care to share?"
Dipper sighed. "He says my focus is slipping, I priorities you over everything and it's starting to affect my studies." He admitted.
"Pine Tree, why didn't you tell me?" Bill looks devastated all over again.
"Because you're my responsibility, and I'm not going to hang you out to dry for the possibility that I just might get a scholarship. Our friendship means more to me than anything." He admitted surprising himself at the realization.
"You're my best friend Pines, but Mr. Candle is right about both of us." Bill said. "I need to take things a little more seriously, and you need to focus a little more on you, and not just your schooling." He pointed out. "Pine Tree you're changing, you have cheek marks, and big baddies like Toffee and Seth want to use you in some crazy scheme."
Dipper knew he was right, but he was also afraid. A part of him was scared of what they would find, his dream of other Dipper resurfaced in his mind and he wavers.
"We'll figure it out together." Bill assured him. "I promise."
Dipper can't help the smile that forms on his face. "Together." He agreed.
Sure the future was still as uncertain as ever, and it still caused him plenty of anxiety, but at least today made him realize he'd never face it alone.
(Back with Toffee...)
The thunder rolled and the lightning striked as the Septarian forced himself to carry on. His journey had not been an easy one, and it was anything but pleasant. Luckily thanks to Tad he at least didn't have to worry about the false King and his army.
Hannibal was so consumed to retrieve his son's power from his brother that he was allowing the greater threat to slip from his grasp…again!
Toffee smiled as his destination came into to view, before him. The ancient Temple of his master, he was finally here! He wastes no time entering, walking through the halls with so much confidence one could easily think he had been here only yesterday. However, it had been much longer. "Too long…" he admits to himself as he enters a dark room at the end of a long hall.
This was it, the place where he left what remained of his master…The master's keep!
Toffee opens the curtains allowing the lightning from outside to illuminate the room. There in the center on a pedestal lied all the remained of the great and powerful Seth.
A single finger in a glass case…
"Master, I have done it! I have found him!" Toffee exclaims with delight.
The finger glows, and Toffee watches intently, almost as if he's listening.
"Yes I am sure." Toffee says after a moment.
The finger goes brighter and out from it a large shadow of a long dead king emerges.
"Then it is time." Seth's voice is weak, his physical form may have suffered, but his power over shadows gives him this one advantage. "It is time for our next move."
Toffee smiles and answers, "Our favorite pawn is already on his way…"
-To Be Continued...