Disclaimers: I do not own Gravity Falls
Author's Notes: Hey guys, the next chapter is finally here! This chapter is a combination of the episodes: By the Book and Goblin Dogs. Thank you for reading and please review!
(Back with Tad)
Tad gives his new companion a nervous glance, of all the people he thought of helping him Toffee wasn't even on the list. Part of him wonders if he made the right decision, he was surrounded by the enemy. He needed a quick getaway and Toffee had provided it but now that the danger had past, he wasn't sure. He may have just switched one deadly trap for another, it was obvious that Toffee wanted something from him. Why else would he come to his aid?
His newfound power was the obvious guess, still Tad didn't see how Toffee would steal it. Besides the Septarian was greatly outnumbered.
Tad looked to Spider and Bird at the thought, he knew his girls saw him as the leader, but their bond was still new. If Toffee proved to be the stronger leader they may switch sides on him, however Tad had one new advantage. He wasn't the weakling he once was. "I think this is far enough." He said firmly.
Toffee smiles, the king's brother had followed his lead a lot longer than he initially thought. In fact, he was beginning to wonder if Tad was actually stupid enough to blindly follow his lead a second time. But no, Tad seemed to have finally found his voice and with it his nerve. "Our destination isn't far from here." He assured him, trying to put him at ease.
"And where are you leading me exactly?" Tad asked.
Toffee watched as the large Spider and Bird flanked the smaller demon. He may be an idiot, but Tad seemed to have a knack for bending larger and stronger beings to his will. He found it fascinating, and worth applauding. "A Strong hold, a place where we will be safe." He assured him.
"And why would you want me to be safe?" Tad snapped. "You took away my men, my castle. Why should I trust you now?"
"You shouldn't." Toffee answered honestly. "I was using you and I plan to do it again."
Tad is floored, Toffee was admitting to his treachery and openly admitted to plans to do it again. "What game are you playing at."
Toffee smiles. "Your brother has made a mockery of the royal bloodline. My aim is to restore our Realm to its former glory. I used you because I needed the knowledge you possessed on your brother and his heir. You had the means and the manpower to allow my plan to go without a hitch." He pauses as his eyes narrowed. "Well mostly…"
"Didn't expect me to get the boy's power instead of you, hu?" Tad smirked.
"No, William was supposed to destroy his power all together, making him unfit to take his father's throne." Toffee snapped.
"Wait…you…you don't want it?" Tad asked.
"The throne is not obtainable for a commoner such as myself." Toffee hissed. "It is meant for my King, the true King of the Nightmare Realm and his one true Heir!"
Tad's eyes widen.
Toffee softens. "Oh, so you are aware that your brother sits on a stolen throne."
"it matters not, what makes you think I'd help?" Tad challenged. "What do I get out of it? What reward could you offer that is more appealing than my brother's throne?"
"Seth always rewards his loyal followers." Toffee explains. "Besides you may not have been meant to gain power. But now you have, and with it we possess an opportunity."
Part of him wants to blast the Septarian where he stands however another is tempted to hear him out. In his current state Tad was nowhere nears ready to face the enemy on his own. Perhaps, he could use Toffee to his advantage. "We?"
"My Master lives." Toffee revealed.
"That's impossible." Tad snapped. "Hannibal destroyed him with a single blast. I was there!"
"Yes, it was an impressive spell, but unlike your bloodline Seth is a pure Septarian. As long as a single molecule remains, he can come back."
"So, what's stopping him?" Tad asked, though he already knew the answer.
"Power, he has little left, it makes regeneration almost impossible." Toffee admitted.
"So what? Trick me into getting close and he steals what's mine?" Tad snapped.
"Heavens no, you barely have enough to grow him a pinky finger let alone an entire body." Toffee argued. "Now if you were to learn how to harness the power, overcome the boy and steal the rest of it…" He trails off.
"You would help me become stronger, knowing I'll stab you in the back later?" Tad asked.
"Oh, you certainly will try." Toffee mused unphased. "but you ruined my original plan, so this one will have to do."
Tad looks confused. "Wait if your original plan was to destroy all the power, how were you going to revive Seth-" He stops. "The boy? The one you took; he wasn't just a hostage, was he?"
"Never mind him, he's a disappointment." Toffee revealed. "So much potential, not to worry, you will do."
"And how do you plan to get me strong enough?" Tad snapped.
Toffee smiles. "Your nephew is in possession of a Spell Book."
"A book? That's your wonderful plan?" Tad rolled his eyes.
"Not just any book. Every Spell of every King that has ever ruled the Nightmare Realm lies in that book. All the power and all that knowledge is currently in the hands of a reckless and irresponsible teenager."
"So, I went from needing to steal a cane to needing to steal a book?" Tad stumps his foot in annoyance. "It took forever to get even half of the boy's power!"
"Alone." Toffee reminded him. "Since he was born you have tried to take William's power, but I got you half in a matter of weeks."
Tad's eyes widen he had a fair point.
"Help me steal the book, use it to gain power and together we can bring back the true King of our realm." Toffee bargained. "A King that would gladly reward you for all your hard work and sacrifice."
Tad knew it wasn't that simple, he also knew a trap when he saw one. Still, without Toffee he would have been caught by now. He needed him, and his knowledge if he was ever going to get that book. "Fine, but I'm in charge!" Tad yelled. "In fact, you're a doormat compared to my girls so don't even think about calling the shots."
"I wouldn't even dream of it." Toffee said. "Now let us continue on our way, we have much to plan before our next move."
Tad watches as he leads the way, he's wary to follow even after he's agreed to. Finally, he gathers his nerve and leads the girls after the Septarian.
Toffee smiles wickedly as he hears their following footsteps, at last the plan was back on track!
(Back with Bill…)
Disaster, everywhere he looked all he saw was utter chaos.
Why was this so hard? He had learned how to 'Dip Down' and he had the will to learn. He even had the drive! So why wasn't he getting it!
"Maybe we should take a break?" Mabel asked. She was currently hiding under Bill's bed as smoke filled the room.
"I don't get it. Why can't I get this spell?" Bill groaned.
"Well, you are used to coming up with your own thing." Dipper pointed out the obvious.
"No excuses for the student young Mason." Axolotl interrupted him. "Now that his power level has taken a serious blow William needs to learn the fundamentals. Especially if he plans to steal the rest of his powers back from Tad."
Bill groans again, but tries to focus, because he wants to learn. He meant it when he told Dipper he was going to fix this mess. He was tired of his powers causing them trouble, and he wanted to prove to his father that he could handle this. That Hannibal didn't need to keep him in the dark because he was ready to start taking things seriously.
"Okay let's try again." Axolotl insisted. "Remember your movements are key for this one. Just follow the steps." He pointed to the spell book where many pictures greeted him.
"That's got a lot of steps." Bill admitted. "Besides I feel like a girly ballerina when I do it."
Dipper tried to hide his laugh.
"I can see you Pines." Bill growled before focusing back on Axolotl "Ugh! Alright. What do I gotta do again?"
"Start with the first one." Axolotl points running him through the steps AGAIN!
Bill strikes a bored looking pose that barely mirrors the picture.
"Mmm, close enough. I guess. Now how about this one?" Axolotl points to the next picture in the book.
Bill lazily matches the pose.
Mmm. Okay, see to me, it looks like you're gonna wanna get both arms up." He gestures. "like way up together."
Bill rolls his eyes but obeys.
"Good now just…" Axolotl continues at a slow pace.
It's too slow and Bill gets inpatient. "Look, I know how to cast a spell, okay? Twirl, twirl, twirl, helicopter arms, helicopter arms, warnicorn stampede!" He exclaims while performing the moves.
Everyone watches as a tiny purple warnicorn drops from the sky.
"See, I did it." Bill exclaimed.
"Awe it's so cute!" Mable scoops up the tiny horse. "I think I'll name him Waddles." She cooed "See, because with his little feet he waddles."
"We get it Mabes." Dipper assured her before looking to Bill. "Bill that's not a stampede." He pointed out the obvious. "Still not a bad start."
"Yes a good start." Axolotl seemed to agree. "But perhaps we should slow it down just a pinch-"
"I need a break." Bill insisted.
"Well I don't know." Axolotl doesn't look convinced.
"Come on we've made progress." Dipper insisted.
"Well I wouldn't call one fifth of a warnicorn as progress." Axolotl chimed jokingly.
"And I don't recall asking for your permission." Bill growled as he used his scissors to open up a portal. "Come on guys we're out of here" he said, before pulling both Dipper and Mabel in.
"Waddles NO!" Mabel cries as she drops him leaving him with Axolotl as the portal closes.
Axolotl signs "Well you win some and you lose some."
Waddles neighs.
"Oh he'll come back when he's ready." Axolotl said as if they were having a discussion. "He does this, he likes to avoid, but he'll come around."
Waddles yawns and settles in for a nap.
"You're right, the best we can do is wait." With that Axolotl curled up beside his new friend and soon the two were fast asleep.
(Following Bill…)
"Bill we shouldn't be out here, what if Tad or Toffee shows up?" Dipper reasoned.
Bill didn't answer right away, he had brought them to a dimension that seemed to be nothing but vast desert as far as the eye could see. For a while there weas nothing, but as they walked a long line of monsters and magical beings appeared in their wake.
"Bill where are we?" Dipper finally asked the question that was on Mabel's mind.
Before the prince can answer a familiar face shows up.
"Bill you made it!" Kelly runs over hugging Mabel as she reaches them.
"Hey girl!" Mabel exclaimed.
"Oh it's so good to see you guys." Kelly high fives Dipper as he walks up.
"Hey Kelly." He greets her.
"Dude I'm so psyched you guys are here." She says giving Bill a fist bump which he only half returned. "I thought you'd guys would be too busy to show up."
"I hit a roadblock." Bill groaned.
"That bad?" Kelly asked.
"I can't get this one spell down, there's too many moves involved." Bill explained as they joined the line.
"Sounds like you need a break man." Kelly reasoned. "That's what I was trying to tell you earlier."
"Earlier?" Dipper asked.
"Oh I called Bill this morning to see if you guys wanted to get some Goblin Dogs." Kelly said.
"Goblin what?" Mabel asked.
"Goblin Dogs." Bill said. "They are food worthy of the elder gods."
"That big hu?" Dipper asked as he sneaked a peak at the long winding line ahead of him. "I guess a quick food break won't hurt, but are you sure you wanna wait in this crazy line for just a hot dog?"
Suddenly a battle axe swings by Dipper into a tree, barely missing his head.
"It's not just a hot dog." A large blue and furry koala bear looking monster snapped "It's a goblin dog. Some would kill for a goblin dog. Just like how I almost killed you with that axe. Just to be clear, I'm the one who threw that axe."
"Calm down." Kelly urged the stranger. "He's not local, he's never even heard of a Goblin Dog until now."
The koala softens. "Oh I was not aware, what a horrible existence your life must be." She said tragically.
Bill stifles a laugh, which comes out as a snort.
"Bill!" Mabel scowled him.
Dipper ignores him and decides to talk to Kelly. "So where's the rest of the gang?"
"Well with Mr. Hugo gone Saint H's is an endless party." Kelly revealed. "You know you should go back; you've got a lot of fans who are dying to see you."
Dipper bit his lip. "I know, I've gotten a few letters." He admitted.
"Wait what?" Bill pumps the breaks. "You have fans, and you didn't tell me?"
"It's just a few." Dipper tried to brush it off.
"A few?" Kelly laughed. "Try thousands, You're the face of a revolution, you've inspired all those young people to take back their lives. Look!" She pulls a plushy out of her hair!
"Is that…. DIPPER!" Mabel exclaims taking the plushy. It looked just like Dipper did that day they stormed Saint Hugo's.
"Teeth made them." Kelly said. "Sold them to Quest Buy and got them mass produced! It's inspired a line of merchandise, influencing the next generation of teens everywhere!"
Bill gives Dipper an astonished look. "Is this true?"
"Yeah." Dipper admitted in defeat. "I get a $650 royalty check every month." He revealed. "I don't know how I feel about it though. Teeth made those without my consent, and I didn't know about them until the checks started rolling in."
"Who cares." Kelly asked. "You deserve the recognition."
"Do I?" Dipper asked looking unsure.
"Of course you do." Bill cut in. "Pine Tree you took down one of the greatest tyrants the multiverse has ever seen!"
"Yeah bro you're a hero, Hugo was robbing those poor kids of their youth and their individuality." Mabel insisted. "You saved all of them."
"I know, I know, it just feels wrong getting money for it." Dipper says shifting from one foot to another uncomfortably. "That's why I usually just donate it. I mean I know we did the right thing, but money? Doing the right thing should be its own reward you know?"
Bill smiled. "You know you're always thinking of others, I think it's your best quality." He admitted. "It's also your worst." He added.
Mabel nodded her agreement. "You do nice things for everyone, but no one gets to do it for you." She pointed out. "You saved Teeth's life, maybe he just wanted to show his appreciation."
"I know, that's why I didn't get mad at him, or make big deal about it the last time we saw him." Dipper admitted. He looked around uncomfortably deciding it was time to change the subject. "Speaking of Teeth it must be some party if they're not here, I don't think I've ever seen you guys apart before."
It's obvious what Dipper is doing, but Kelly allows it shrugging off his comment. "We're not attached at the hip." She said.
Dipper smiled, not being able to resist a jab. "Oh really I couldn't tell."
"Jerk." Kelly gives him a playful punch.
Dipper looks to Bill hopefully.
Bill shrugs. "Yeah, you think you know a guy." He gives him a wide smile and no other words are needed.
Dipper feels relief flood him; Bill is dropping the subject; he understands why he kept this to himself. He really was a good friend, maybe that's why he was so scared of losing him. Before Bill, Dipper had no one, but Mabel.
Sure her friends were nice to him, but they were her friends not his. Bill and Kelly, even Teeth and the others, they were his friends. He finally found a group where he belonged and losing that scared him. His stomach growls distracting him from his fears.
"How much longer do you think it will be?" He asked.
"Not much longer hopefully." Kelly assured him.
"Okay, but we can't stay much longer." Dipper advised.
"Trust me it's worth the wait." Bill assured him.
For all their sakes Dipper hoped he was right.
(Back with Tad)
Their destination shouldn't have surprised him, and yet it had.
"Blood Castle…" Tad shivered as the fortress of darkness loomed over him. "This…this was her place."
"Oona, the Universal One his one and only." Toffee confirmed as he opened the doors. "He built this castle, just for her. It's fitting that he would find sanctuary here."
Tad steeled his nerve as he followed. He had heard stories of her, Seth's queen, but he wasn't sure which ones were true. The dimly lit halls surrounded them with darkness and added a sense of eeriness and fear. One that rapped around him like a snake.
The girls also looked unsettled; Bird's feathers were ruffled like a cat's hair standing on end. While Spider hissed at every darken corner that they passed.
"It's alright girls." Tad assured them.
"I fear they will stay unsettled." Toffee revealed. "My master watches every corner of these halls, they can sense him, but can't see him."
Tad nodded; he could understand why that would make his girls feel on edge. "Where is he?"
"Close." Toffee assured. "He will see you when you have proved yourself worthy. In the meantime,…" He led the three into a darken room where a viewing screen was waiting. "I have managed to selvage one of the All-seeing Eyes." He revealed. "It would appear your brother is unaware that we've hacked the system in the past."
"So we watch and wait to see where they store the book?" Tad asked.
"It's most likey in that shack they call a home." Toffee reasoned. "Unfortunately, it's protected, we will have to wait until the book is taken out."
Tad nodded, deciding to get comfortable in one of the many chairs in the room.
Toffee picks up a controller and turns on the screen and smiles at what he sees, three children who had once again thrown caution to the wind and were now out in the open. "They never learn."
"What are chances the book is with them?" Tad asked hopefully.
"Zero." Toffee mused sitting back. "Patience is key." He reminded his reluctant companions as they watched the events unfold.
-To Be Continued