AN: HI GUYS!

I have returned :3 now as an announcement, I am now in Faller Amino so you can follow me there! Just download the app and search me up!

Also, thank you flying unicorn and N.F for your suggestions! And I'm glad you're making a fan art for the story N.F. As a head, up, links don't really work when I copy them in a PM or a review, so you can leave your DeviantArt name and I'll find you there.

Okay, onward :3 Also, sorry for the short chapter

Chapter Twenty-Four: You Don't Learn, do you?

The day Matthew was born was one of the happiest days of Ellie Pines' life. She loved him when he was in her womb and she loved him when he lay in her arms crying. Though she was no fool, Ellie knew there was something off about her son. It wasn't how he looked…not exactly.

It was his eyes. His eyes that were full of ancient intelligence that a baby shouldn't dare posses. Sure, he looked like a baby, but those mysterious blue eyes portrayed a far older soul. And when he burned his crib, she knew that this baby couldn't possibly be human—not really.

The night Matthew was born, Ellie had gone up for a glass of water.

"Congratulations," a voice drawled.

Ellie had screamed and dropped her cup, luckily it was plastic, though it didn't stop the water from soaking her pyjamas. The blonde squinted, before gasping in realization of who the boy sitting casually on her counter was.

"D-Damion?" Ellie asked slowly.

The Boy smiled. "Greetings, Ellie."

"What do you want? I thought you didn't care for me anymore. Wasn't I, 'a thorn in your plans' as you so nicely put it?" Ellie crossed her arms.

"Oh, you still are, Ellie, but I didn't come for you, I came for the boy," Damion said.

"Matthew?" Ellie asked, her brows furrowing.

"We both know that the boy is anything but human," Damion said. "Do you recall the name, Bill Cipher?"

"Y-yes but…what does this have to do with my son?" Ellie asked.

"Matthew is Bill Cipher," Damion drawled. "The Axolotl sent him back to redeem himself." Damion scoffed. "But that isn't his destiny."

"What's his destiny then? To turn into you?" Ellie asked angrily. "If so, I won't let you, you won't go near him!"

Damion laughed. "He'll rather be with me, Ellie; trust me. In his current state, he's still sour towards the Pines."

"He'll just grow to love us then," Ellie said.

"Bill Cipher can't love!" Damion chuckled.

"I'll teach him," Ellie said in determination.

And for the next fifteen years, she did just that, as well as studying demons and magic and what not. She put untraceable spells on Matthew; for they stopped Damion from tracking or going near her son, but as the years went by, the spells got weaker, and so Gravity Falls he was bound. All she had told Stan was to watch his eye colour, so that Damion, nor his little sidekicks could turn him into a monster.

If he had Dipper and Mabel, things would be okay.

Or so she thought.

The phone rang and Ellie picked it up. "Hello?"

"Uh, hey, Ellie? It's happening," Stan's voice said.

"Keep him in the house, don't let him out of your sight!" Ellie demanded.

It was just as she feared. So, in a mere half-hour the mother was packed and running towards the door.

"Ellie?" Emmet asked. "What's going on?"

"I'm sorry, hon, I need to go!" And ignoring the other confused cries from her husband, dashed towards her car, started the engine, and slammed the gas pedal down; to hell with speed limits. If Damion got to Matthew first…

I'm coming, Wizard, I'm coming.

…A-X-O-L-O-T-L…

Matthew didn't know how long he sat there, just staring at the clouds that populated the sky. He rotated his ankle one way, then the other, taking deep breaths.

He was beginning to feel a lot better now, and the oily darkness he had felt prior had dissipated. And as he began to cool off, he felt slight guilt at the way he had spoken to his siblings.

Matthew decided he'd go into town and get them something to make up for the harsh words. Maybe a bunch of yarn and sprinkles for Mabel, some books and pens for Dipper.

"Matthew Pines! Long time no see," a voice said.

Matthew looked up and narrowed his eyes at the awkwardly grinning figure of Stratus Evergreen.

"Evergreen? What are you—?"

"Looking for you, dear boy!" Stratus said walking towards Matthew. There were alarms blaring loudly in the boy's head. He got up and scowled.

"How'd you even know I was here?" Matthew asked slowly.

"Intuition," Stratus said, continuing to advance. Matthew took another step back.

"Why don't I believe you?"

"You're naturally suspicious, boy. Come, I won't hurt you."

Matthew's eyes landed on a tiny device in Stratus' hand, it looked a bit like a pocket watch. Even from were he was standing, Matthew could feel its magical energy.

"I'm not going anywhere with you," Matthew said sharply.

"Oh, come on—!"

Matthew tossed a fire ball at the old man and he screamed. Matthew then dashed away crashing through the undergrowth and leaping over fallen tree trunks. He looked behind him to check if Stratus was following, and he wasn't, causing the blonde to sigh in relief, only for him to look ahead again and find the man standing there.

Matthew screamed and skidded to a stop, spinning around to find Stratus once more in front of him.

"Get away from me, you creep!" Matthew exclaimed, ready to toss another fireball, only for it to die and dissipate.

"I'm sorry we had to take the hard route, Matthew," Stratus said with a sigh. He grabbed Matthew's arm and Matthew struggled in Stratus' grasp.

"Let me go!"

"Sorry, I can't do that, I'm afraid," Stratus said with a sad smile. "Just, follow me calmly and— "

"Like hell!" Matthew growled, trying to tug away once more.

"Well, if you refuse to cooperate…" Stratus jabbed Matthew in the ribs, causing the teen to scream as an electric shock shot through his body. Matthew fell face forward, trying to move his limbs but they seemed out of order.

Stratus crouched next to his face, and Matthew gritted his teeth in rage. "You let met go, now."

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Stratus said calmly.

In anger, Matthew spat in the old man's face, smirking in pride when he cried out in surprise, his face red with rage.

"I can make you feel unspeakable pain, boy!" Stratus threatened.

"What's stopping you?" Matthew challenged.

"I promised The Demon King that I'd deliver you in one piece," Stratus replied.

"Well, you can tell him from me, piss off," Matthew sneered back, trying again to move but to no avail.

Stratus chuckled darkly. "You are one brave boy to speak attitude to the Demon King."

"I'm just not afraid of fancy schmancy titles, you know?" Matthew smirked.

"Obviously," Stratus said. "Are you ready to behave yourself?"

"Nope."

"Oh well." Stratus picked Matthew up with surprising ease and hoisted him over his shoulder like a sack of rice.

"Put me down!"

"Sorry, boy, you won't behave so this is the alternative."

Stratus began walking while Matthew grunted and began kicking wildly. Though some invisible force seemed to force him on.

"What do you want from me?" Matthew growled.

"I don't want you. The Demon King does."

"What does he want from me?" Matthew demanded.

"I don't know," Stratus said with a shrug.

Matthew began mulling over all his thoughts. When he thought of who the Demon King might be, his mind went blank and fuzzy. What could he possibly want with him?

…A-X-O-L-O-T-L…

Stan hung the phone up just as the door slammed shut and Mabel and Dipper dashed down the stairs. Mabel seemed to be crying while Dipper wore a dark scowl.

"Kids? Where's your brother?" Stan asked.

"He walked out," Mabel said glumly wiping away her tears. "He's acting like a real poop face."

Oh boy.

Stan got up from behind the desk and walked towards the door.

"Grunkle Stan? Where, are you going?" Dipper questioned.

"To find your brother," Stan said calmly as he walked out.

Let's see, I'll try the woods first. He and the kids like to go there, don't they?

"Mr. Pines, is it?" A voice asked.

Stan turned to find a boy and a girl with blue eyes and black hair. The boy had glasses on.

"Hello there, I'm Vale Evergreen, this is my sister, Violet," the boy said.

Violet smiled and waved. "May we inquire what you're looking for?"

"How'd you know I was looking for something?" Stan asked suspiciously.

"Intuition," The duo said in unison.

Stan grunted and shrugged carelessly. "I'm looking for my nephew, you've seen him?"

"The Furious Fire Boy? Oh yes, he walked into town." Vale pointed towards Gravity Falls.

"Well, thanks," Stan said walking in that direction.

"Gullible," Violet snickered.

"I hope Uncle Stratus has him already," Vale said as they walked back to the Supernatural Shed.

"He probably does, he's very capable and with the temporary skills Lord Damion gave him, it'll be easy," Violet responded.

…A-X-O-L-O-T-L…

Stratus kicked the door open and walked in with Matthew still struggling on his shoulder. The gift shop was empty so unfortunately for him, there was no witnesses.

"You don't know when you've lost, do you, boy?" Stratus asked.

"Nope," Matthew said struggling harder.

"Well, learn," Stratus said calmly, bringing Matthew up the stairs.

Finally, they made it to an attic that looked a lot like the one in the Mystery Shack. Stratus tossed the teen unceremoniously on the bed and Matthew shot up, ready to punch the man in the face, only to be slammed to the bed with an invisible force.

Stratus clicked his tongue and shook his head. "You don't learn, do you?"

He went under the bed and took out a coil of rope. Matthew struggling harder than before against the invisible force.

"You're not tying me up with that!" Matthew snapped.

Stratus smirked. "Yes, yes I am."

Stratus forced Matthew's wrists together and tied them to the bedpost before tying Matthew's legs spread eagle to the other end of the bedpost, after a lot of struggling from both victim and captor.

Mathew tried burning the ropes with his flames but they refused to work.

"That won't work, boy," Stratus said calmly. "Or should I say, Bill Cipher?"

"How do you—?"

"I knew the day you entered my shop with all that enormous cash, there's only one demon I know who can pop things out of thin air, and it just so happens he was recently reincarnated fifteen years ago," Stratus said with a dark smile.

Matthew tested his bonds and pulled at the bedpost. It creaked but that was about it.

"Now, none of that, just wait for the Demon King."

"Who is he?" Matthew demanded.

"Me," a voice said calmly.

Matthew turned to come face to face with The Boy.

"You?"

"Hello, Matthew Pines," The Boy said with a smile.

…A-X-O-L-O-T-L…

AN: Now I wonder what he's going to do to Matthew…well I know, but do you? :3

Anyway, it's late so…yeah.

Fantasy Freak OUT!