AN: WELL! I haven't updated in like, what, a month?
Shame on me…
Anyway, thanks for all the follows, faves, reviews, and oh! Thank you to the amazing Scribble Songs for drawing Penelope! YUS! Thank you, girl!
So, next week, if things go as planned, will be the FIANL CHAPTER OF LTL.
*Sniffles* I know guys…I know…
Anyway, the thing with trying to recruit Shifty was from Bonded by LittleAmberAmethyst. And the idea of having Alex Corduroy be more than a plot device was given by Energy Witch :3
Anyway, read!
…M-A-B-E-L…
Chapter Sixty-Two: Hellos and Goodbyes
Matthew stared out the window of Northwest Manor, his blue eyes eyeing the sky.
Very soon, it'd probably bright red with Bill's madness…
"Matthew," a voice startled the blonde out of his thoughts.
Matthew turned, "Stanford?"
The old man was furrowing his brow, he too then gazed at the sky. Matthew figured he was thinking along the same lines as him, for Ford muttered. "Is there anything that you know that will help us stop your incarnation?"
Matthew sighed and shook his head. "Nah. Not really. I mean things will hopefully turn out like last time but…"
Matthew's voice trailed off, silently, his gaze retuned to the sky.
"The Shapeshifter," Ford said suddenly.
"What?"
"Do you think he'll help us?" Ford clarified, somewhat impatiently.
Matthew scoffed. "No."
"Well, do you have any better ideas?" Ford pressed.
Matthew shook his head.
"Then today you can bring up the proposal," Ford said firmly, glaring at the sky. "I'm not letting him win."
Matthew sighed and nodded.
"One more thing," Ford said.
"Mhm?"
"I'm leaving the rift here; I think it's too dangerous to keep it with me 24/7, especially since there's something I don't trust about that house. Do you think you can go back for it once we leave? I think it'll be less obvious to leave it with you."
"Sure," Matthew said offhandedly, as he watched a black bird circle the sky.
It let out an ugly caw.
…M-A-B-E-L…
Wendy stared out her bedroom window forlornly, rain falling over the filthy glass and cleaning it somewhat.
There was a knock on her door; too soft and gentle to be her father, and if it where her brothers, they'd have barged in.
No, this was definitely her mother.
"Wendy?" She called gently.
It had been over a week and hearing her mother say her name still made her feel warm and safe—or maybe that's how it was with all people with moms?
"Come in," The teen responded.
Alex walked in with a tight smile on her face. "Hey, sweetie! Are...are you okay?"
Wendy sighed in response.
"Dumb question, Sorry," She whispered, standing next to her daughter.
There was a moment of silent of before she said, "Is it Matthew?"
Wendy tensed, confirming the elder woman's suspicion.
"I know you told your father and I that he was no good..." Alex murmured, swirling her finger across the dust on the window ledge. "But...What did he do that was so awful?"
'Take you away from me'. Wendy thought, her fists clenched. 'But he also gave you back...' her fists unclenched, one hand occupying itself by rubbing the opposite arm.
"You wouldn't get it," Wendy replied.
There was more silence. "Is he sorry?" She asked finally.
Wendy thought for a moment. Matthew did furiously apologize, didn't he? And he even brought her mother back, just for her.
"There's a saying I heard once," Alex said before Wendy could respond. "'Don't judge my story from only one chapter.' If he did something bad, and he's repented for it...there's no reason to keep labeling him as a villain."
More silence—then there was a crash.
"OW! Idiot!"
"Oh, boy!" Alex laughed lightly and left the window, walking towards the door and opening it. "God luck, sweetie."
The door shut, Wendy sucking in a pained breath as she felt an uncomfortable feeling in her stomach.
She placed a hand over the place her unborn babies were and closed her eyes.
They were almost a symbolism of her and Matthew's first show of raw and passionate love.
...M-A-B-E-L...
"Here we are," Matthew said, his arms crossed behind is back.
Him and his siblings stared up at the tree and the supposed entrance to a bunker.
"It's...small," Dipper commented.
"That's what you think," Matthew said with a tiny smirk. His hands lit with flames and he shot a tiny fire ball at a tree branch above.
The branch swung upwards, there was then a rumbling noise.
"Stand back," Matthew advised to his surprised siblings.
The trio stepped backwards as the ground caved in, stairs appearing.
"Grunkle Ford made this?" Mabel said in awe.
"Yup," Matthew replied. "Remember, Stay behind me, if you—."
"Matthew!" A voice called.
"Wendy?" Dipper asked in surprise.
The red head was peddling swiftly on her bike, looking slightly out of breath. "Hey Matt—!" She gasped in pain suddenly, loosing balance and falling off the contraption.
Her vision swam, and her ears were ringing, she could hear someone calling her name...
"Wendy? Hey!"
Wendy blinked her eyes slowly, the twins and Matthew where staring down at her worriedly, the blonde gently cradling her head.
"I just—I'm fine," Wendy murmured.
Matthew helped her slowly to her feet.
"What're you doing here?" Dipper asked, seeing Matthew step back and avert his gaze from his ex.
Wendy didn't say anything at first.
Why was she here? It was because of her mother's words…right?
"Your Uncle said you were here and I didn't see you in a long time," Wendy shrugged, glancing at Matthew who was staring anywhere but her.
"What about you guys?"
"A shapeshifter lives here," Mabel said excitedly with a grin. "Mattie wants to convince him to help fight Bill!"
"Pretty much," Matthew shrugged, he spared Wendy a glance, looking down at her stomach. "You—might want to go back—."
"Like hell," she responded with a snort.
"Wendy—!"
"I'm coming."
Matthew ran his fingers through his hair, growling under his breath. "Wendy, you're—"
"Pregnant, not disabled," Wendy finished.
In truth, the red-head was not completely certain of what she wanted to accomplish and once again questioned herself.
No, that was wrong, wasn't it? She knew what she wanted, she wanted Matthew back. But why was she too scared to admit it?
"Look, I'm coming, alright, I need the exercise," Wendy said, striding in front of them. "You're coming?"
The muscles in Matthew's jaw tightened in clear annoyance, but he followed anyway down into the bunker.
Dipper glanced at Mabel who was wearing her "serious" expression.
"Mabel, whatever you're planning…"
"Shh! I'm planning!" Mabel said, holding up a finger and following the ex-couple.
"Hoo, boy," Dipper muttered in dismay, following after the group.
…M-A-B-E-L…
"It's quite a shame that you all are leaving so soon," Preston said as the Stan twins brought down luggage full of the children's' and their stuff on to the front lawn. The Northwest family watched, the adults not even bothering to hide their content, Pacifica on the other hand, was slightly disappointed, especially since seeing Dipper would be a tad harder now.
Ford didn't bother pointing out how happy Preston sounded. "Well, we can't bog you down any longer, can we now? The new house is waiting, Stanley will be able to re start his business."
"Man, have I missed scam—giving tours!" Stan said with a large grin, hoisting Mabel's suitcase to the back of the waiting moving van.
"Well, do make sure to visit us!" Priscilla said in a simpering voice.
"And bring Dipper when you do," Pacifica added with a smile.
Preston scowled at his daughter. "And why should they?"
"We have a date on Friday."
Both Northwests looked as if they were going to faint as their daughter strutted back into the house with a pleased smile on her face.
The twins followed the moving van in Stan's car. Harrison Manor wasn't too far away from Northwest Manor, only about ten minutes, Ford calculated. But as they got closer, an unsettling feeling wormed its way into his stomach.
"Stanley?" He said in a timid voice.
Stan grunted.
"What exactly did you see the last time we were here?"
Stan gripped the steering wheel tightly, the blood leaving his knuckles. "Uh…"
At that moment the twins pulled up into the house parking lot. The mansion didn't look any less scary than their first visit, and it didn't make both men any less uneasy.
"Shall we?" Ford said.
"Yup," Stan responded, walking inside. Not noticing the smiling red-head sitting on the banister.
Clara giggled gently.
…M-A-B-E-L…
"This place hasn't changed a bit," Matthew muttered, looking up and down the bunker, Dipper rubbed dust off objects and Wendy stood at the corner, clutching her stomach. Matthew gave her a few worried glances here and there but was mostly worried of the Shapeshifter.
He knew how things went down in the other timeline, he had to be cautious.
"Alright guys," Dipper told everyone. "Remember what Matt said, be careful of Shifty." He glanced pointedly at Mabel.
"What?" she demanded, hands on her hips. She currently had caterpillars crawling all over her face.
The group walked on, Wendy inhaling labored breaths.
"Wendy—," Matthew began.
"I'm fine," she insisted.
Mabel walked beside Wendy, a knowing grin on her face.
Wendy frowned slightly. "What?" She asked.
"You came to see Mattie, didn't you?" Mabel said in a chirpy voice.
Wendy said nothing.
"Tell him you want him back!" Mabel insisted.
"It's not that easy—."
"Wendy, c'mon! You love him, don't you?! He misses you!" Mabel cried. "I see him looking at selfies of the two of you when he thinks nobody's looking, you're his mermaid, Wen!"
Wendy shook her head, walking ahead, causing Mabel to scowl. Kids these days!
Matthew managed to lead his siblings and ex-girlfriends past all the deadly security things Ford had set up, walking them into the next room.
Mabel pressed her face against the glass of the viewing room. "Oooh! I don't even know what I'm oohing at!"
Matthew followed her line of sight, frowning lightly at the shattered pod.
So, just like the other timeline, Shifty had escaped.
Wendy grunted in pain and staggered forwards, clutching her stomach. Matthew caught her before she could fall, gripping her shoulders.
"Look—."
"How much times am I going to say it? I'm fine!" Wendy said with a scowl.
Mabel frowned at the two. She really had to fix things…
"Mabel," Dipper said firmly. "What are you thinking?"
"Plan, matchmaker," Mabel responded with a grin.
"Mabel don't—!" Dipper began, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Mabel skipped towards the couple with a smile. "Hey, guys!"
Mabel leaped in front of the duo.
"Mabel?" The ex-couple said in unison.
"Lookie there! It's an adorable little cuddle space!" Mabel pointed eagerly at the closet like area behind them.
Matthew sucked in a sharp breath, remembering the previous timeline, but before he could move or say anything, Mabel had shoved both him and the red-head inside.
"MABEL!" Matthew yelled angrily, as his little sister slammed the door shut. "Mabel, I swear to god!"
"I'm not opening this 'till you guys smooch!" Mabel called back.
"I'm blasting the door down!" Matthew yelled.
"You can't," Mabel said smugly. "I'm standing in front of it, you wouldn't hurt your dear sister, would you?"
Matthew gritted his teeth in frustration, slamming the back of his head on the metal wall and groaning in annoyance.
Dipper crossed his arms and shook his head. "Mabel, come on."
"No, you come on, Dip! Don't you want…!"
Dipper lost his focus on Mabel's voice as his vision blurred, something flashed before his eyes…a vision?
There was Matthew, held by the hair by an awful looking creature. Wendy raised her axe to attack it, and missed, slashing Matthew in the chest, blood soaking his shirt as he fell. The monster, laughing cruelly as Wendy screamed in horror.
"…hey, Dipper, are you listening?"
Dipper blinked his eyes and shook his head, dispelling the horrifying sight. "Mabel, you gotta let them out!" Dipper cried suddenly.
"I already explained—hey!" Dipper began tugging Mabel away from the door. "Mabel, MOVE!"
"Not until they make up!"
"Mabel!"
"GLITTER ATTACK!" Mabel took glitter from her sweater and threw it at Dipper's face. He yelled in surprise and staggered backwards, rubbing the glittery substance from his face. "Oh, come on!" He said indignantly.
Mabel went back to the door. "Are you two smooching yet?!" She called.
"Mabel, really?!" Wendy snapped, just as annoyed if not more, than Matthew.
Mabel furrowed her brow in thought, so they needed a bit of a push? A brilliant idea suddenly came to her.
She had used her magic to ruin their relationship, hadn't she? She could use the magic again to do the opposite!
She conjured all the memories of her past crushes—leaving out the parts where they were either crazy, taken, or not interested—and fed them through the door towards the two teens.
Matthew huffed in annoyance; trapped in a compartment by his little sister with his ex-girlfriend.
Lovely.
Suddenly he jerked, feeling a tendril of emotions worming its way into his soul. His eyes locked with Wendy, who appeared to have felt the same sensation as he did.
She smiled lightly, it was that perfect amazing smile he had secretly longed for, for so long. He found his eyes leaving the green orbs, finding there way to Wendy's lips.
Wendy's eyes, meanwhile, where locked on Matthew's strong neck and Adam's apple. She had a sudden urge to see him better…
She reached up, pulling at a cord.
Matthew, seeing what Wendy was about to do, tried to stop her. "Wendy, that's not—!"
Too late, Wendy pulled at the cord, instantly showering the duo with water. They coughed and spluttered before being slammed against each other by a mechanical force.
Matthew had grabbed Wendy's shoulders again, worriedly watching her stomach as the compartment beeped and the wall slid open.
This was what he didn't want to happen.
"Mabel move it! Do you want them to be in danger?!" Dipper yelled from the other end.
"In danger by what?"
Dipper, seeing no time to explain, pulled Mabel away again, closing his eyes in case she did another glitter attack, and dragged her from the door.
"Okay, Matt! I'm going to open—!"
"Don't!" Matthew exclaimed. "Shifty will get in."
"God, he's in here?" Wendy whispered, placing a hand over her stomach.
"Stay with me," Matthew muttered, unconsciously squeezing Wendy's hand and guiding her through the room.
There was a monstrous shriek, and from behind a corridor, came an ugly black spider.
"Is that it?!" Wendy yelled.
Matthew didn't answer, just dragged Wendy as fast as he could away from the oncoming threat, grunting and panting as they ran down a hallway. The giant spider followed after them, hissing and shrieking.
They then came face to face with solid rock.
Matthew was about to blast down the wall when a voice shouted, "Back you beast, BACK!"
Wendy gasped, turning around and gently grasping Matthew's arm. Out of the shadows, came a man. "Why, hello there!" He said happily. "Don't worry I—!"
"No more games," Matthew spat, leaving Wendy's side, his hands lighting with flames.
The man took a step back. "I don't know—."
"Shifty," Matthew smirked. "You heard me."
The man grinned, Wendy gaping in shock as the man morphed into a hideous creature. "Smart, boy..." The creature said in an alien voice. "Or…perhaps, not a boy?" His red pupils fell on Matthew's flaming hands.
"Look, I—or, we, don't want to fight," Matthew said slowly. "We just want a favor."
"Favor…" Shifty said slowly, as if savoring the word and its every syllable. He converted into a giant grasshopper, crawling over towards the two teens.
Matthew held Wendy closer to his chest, keeping his eye on the creature.
Wendy meanwhile, kept a firm grip on the axe in her waistband, her heart beating rapidly—both due to the horrifying creature coming towards her and the close proximity towards Matthew.
"Hmm, it depends." Shifty stood near the teens, their faces reflected in the buggy eyes. "What is this favor?"
"Bill Cipher? Ever heard of him?" Matthew continued.
"Huh, yes. It's been a while to be honest," Shifty became a large snake and slithered around Wendy and Matthew, hissing. "But you still haven't told me what this favor entails."
"I want your help stopping him," Matthew said, stepping backwards from the creature now turned snake.
Shifty laughed lightly, reverting to his original form. "And why should I do that?"
"Name your price," Matthew said. "If it's not too insane, I'll take it."
Shifty seemed to contemplate this, narrowing his red orb like eyes and humming to himself. "Ah…let's see…" His face lit up. "Yes…the journal, The journal! Do you know what I'm talking about, boy?"
Matthew frowned. "I said nothing insane."
"It isn't, I just want some reading time."
"No, you want to transform into stuff and be prick! You're kinda shifty, Shifty, no offence," Matthew said.
Shifty shrugged. "Sure, but that's my deal."
Matthew was in the midst of shaking his head when Shifty said, "Tell you what, you take my deal, or I dispose of your girlfriend and…child?" Shifty's eyes landed on Wendy who instinctively gripped her axe, just as a pain shot through he body. She gasped and fell against Matthew.
"You can't fight, dear!" Shifty laughed. "How about it, boy?"
Matthew held Wendy even closer and sighed deeply, the flames in his palms brightening. Why on Earth did he think this would work?!
"I can tell you one thing; you touch her and you're not getting shit," Matthew growled.
"Ah well," Shifty chuckled, "I suppose you won't have my help…"
He became a horrendous beast—Matthew wasn't even sure what the thing was. It was translucent white and had sharp teeth, and the body of blob.
It lunged forward and opened its mouth, so wide it could most likely swallow both people.
Matthew shoved Wendy to the side and punched the blob—thing with a flaming fist, gritting his teeth.
Wendy crashed to the ground, not trying to stop her heavy descend, due the fact that she was clutching her tummy, trying to keep her babies safe.
When she could finally stagger to her knees and reclaim her axe she saw…two Matthews?
"What the—?"
One Matthew punched another in the face, pinning him to the ground. "Wendy!" Called the Matthew on top of his clone. "Hit him with the axe!"
The Matthew being pinned shoved off the other Matthew, choking him with his knee.
"No, Wendy, don't trust him!" This Matthew said.
Wendy opened and closed her mouth. What was she supposed to—?
"Uh, alright," Wendy took a deep breath and surveyed the two Matthews with a frown. "When did I first learn to ride a bike?"
The two Matthews stopped fighting, staring blankly at the red head.
"Are you, serious right now?!" Wendy demanded, slightly offended.
"What, and you know when I first rode a bike?" One of the Matthews challenged.
Wendy thought for a moment. "No," she finally said sheepishly.
"Ask something else!" Another Matthew said and punched his doppelgänger in the face.
"Uh…oh!" Wendy snapped her fingers. "What's my mother's name?"
"Alexandra Corduroy!" One Matthew grunted, his face was planted to the floor with the other's foot.
Wendy glared at the Matthew who was still standing. He grinned at the red-head, sharp glistening teeth stared her in the face as he chuckled. Matthew's body warping into the original form of the Shapeshifter.
"It does not matter." Shifty, grabbed Matthew by the hair, pulling his head back. The teen cried out in pain. "I'm going to kill you both anyway."
"Like hell you are!" Wendy spat, forcing herself to her feet and swinging her axe with all the force she could muster. At that precise moment, a thrum of pain erupted throughout her system and she staggered, her axe missing Shifty and hitting Matthew instead.
The blonde grunted in pain as his shirt tore, blood soaking his skin. Shifty cackled and Wendy slashed at him again with renewed vigor.
Shifty, unfortunately for him, hadn't expected this, the axe blade found a new home in his stomach. The creature roared, rearing its head back and falling to the ground. Wendy immediately kneeling next to Matthew and removing her shirt, tying it around his bleeding chest.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm sorry I—." Wendy hissed as more pain coursed through her, Matthew gripped her hand and went to his knees.
"Don't," he grunted. "Don't worry, it's not too bad." Wendy fell against his chest again, sweat sliding down her brow. "Matthew—I think…"
"I know," Matthew whispered, glancing nervously at her tummy.
Why did they have to come now?
Behind them, Shifty was twitching, recovering from Wendy's previous attack.
Quickly, Matthew scooped the red-head in his arms, staggering lightly at both her weight and his wound.
He ran jerkily forward, grunting in pain with his every step.
"COME BACK HERE!" Shifty boomed.
Matthew gritted his teeth and attempted to run faster, how was he supposed to get them both out of there?
There was a blast of pink light and Matthew risked a glance back. Mabel hovered in the air in front of the shapeshifter, her fists glowing pink as she punched it viciously.
"We'll hold them off, Matt!" Dipper called, picking up Wendy's forgotten axe and aiming blows at the Shapeshifters legs.
Matthew nodded thankfully and hurried his pace, finding another door at the end of the cavern. He kicked it hard, the metal rusted hinges squealing in protest.
He then collapsed against the opposite wall, Wendy still in his arms. Panting, he leaned her delicately against the wall, brushing a strand of hair from her sweaty forehead.
"How are you?" He whispered.
Wendy's only response was a grunt of pain.
Matthew looked around the room, seeing now, that it was a supply closet. He grabbed a dusty old blanket and placed it over the other teenager, grapping a (probably stale) bottle of water and handing it to her.
At that moment, Dipper ran inside, bruises and scratches all over his body, behind him Mabel was still blasting magic at the monster behind them.
"Dipper, Mabel!" Matthew called. "Take care of Wendy." His hands lit with flames. "I'll get this bastard."
Mabel flew into the closet swiftly. Shifty tried to follow but was stopped by a flaming fist from Matthew.
"Oh, so the Pretty Boy wants to fight?" Shifty sneered.
"Why, do assholes always call me that!?" Matthew snapped, dodging Shifty's claws and dashing behind him, leading the Shapeshifter away from the twins and Wendy.
Shifty took chase, becoming an eagle and flying swiftly towards the blonde, lowering his talons.
Matthew ducked at the last minute and grabbed the eagle's wing throwing him to the ground.
The eagle soon became a lion who growled and tackled Matthew to the ground, the boy yelled in pain as it had landed on his bloody wound.
With a grunt, he kneed the creature hard in the stomach, shoving him off. The lion rolled on to the floor, becoming Shifty's true form and grabbing Matthew by the neck.
Matthew choked and gagged as he was thrown against the ground near the shattered pod, glass poking his arms and legs.
"You put up a valiant fight, boy," Shifty said. "But, I'm afraid this is the end…"
Shifty reared his head back and lunged forward, sharp mouth wide, just inches away from Matthew's face, Shifty stopped.
His red orbs lowered, falling on the shard of glass that Matthew had plunged through his chest.
Matthew gritted his teeth, twisting the sharp shard deeper into his stomach, green blood oozing out. Shifty let out an unearthly shriek of pain.
With a grunt, the teen sliced upwards, tearing Shifty in half.
Green blood splattered everywhere, coating Matthew as he fell back in exhaustion, panting heavily. Slowly, his eyelids lowered.
He didn't know how long he was out for, but when he came to, he felt a light pain in his chest.
Opening his eyes, he saw that he was back in the supply closet, Mabel standing over him, her hand moving up and down rhythmically.
Her eyes left her work and landed on Matthew's, her face lit up with a grin. "Mattie! You're awake!"
Matthew grunted and looked down at his chest. "What're you doing?"
"Stitching your chest," Mabel answered. "It's not that deep but I think you still need stiches. Hold on, I'm almost done…"
Dipper's face then filled Matthew's vision, his brow furrowed in worry. "Hey, you okay?"
Matthew nodded, grunting as Mabel inserted another stitch. "Okay, all done!"
Then he remembered something.
"Wendy," he said, flinching in pain as he sat up. "Where is she? Is she okay? What—?"
Mabel and Dipper's faces brightened. "She's taking care of the twins," Mabel said happily.
Matthew furrowed his brow in confusion. "What do you mean—?"
There was a tiny cooing noise from behind him. Matthew turned to see Wendy, still covered with a dirty blanket. Her pants discarded at a far corner, and her red hair plastered to her face with sweat, but she was smiling.
Because in her arms, where two tiny babies.
Matthew let out a tiny gasp, moving closer slowly. One baby opened her eyes, a matching bright blue of his. The baby let out a tiny yawn, closing her eyes once more.
"That's them," Wendy said delicately. "Our little girls."
Matthew felt the tinniest of laughs escape his mouth. "Hello," he told them softly, brushing his fingers against on of their tiny fists.
"Wendy did most of the work, I just gave her some calming magic. Dipper fainted like an old lady," Mabel chirped.
"I did not!" Dipper objected, though his heated cheeks said otherwise.
"And Lookie, here! Boop!" Mabel kneeled next to the two teens, pointing at a marking on one of the babies, right on her neck. "It's a dove! You guys should name her Dovey!"
"We are not naming her that," Wendy and Matthew said in unison. They glanced up at each other, laughing lightly.
"Uh, hey, Matthew," Wendy said averting her gaze for a second. "I—."
Matthew leaned forward, pressing his lips against hers, Wendy inhaled sharply through her nose, but after a split-second of hesitation, kissed back.
Mabel squealed and jumped up and down. "Yes, yes, YES!" She screamed, wrapping her arms around Dipper and spinning him around.
"Mabel! Mabel stop it, I'm going to puke!"
…M-A-B-E-L…
Pacifica delicately opened the music box, a gentle melody playing from it, in the center, was a spinning figurine of her and Dipper.
She smiled lightly. She had had it custom made after the ball, the memory of her and Dipper's dance had been one of the most magical moments ever.
The young heiress planned on giving it to Dipper on their Friday date.
She giggled, she had everything planned, she was even going to wear her most V-necked dress—all except her hair. And so, she sat in front of her mirror with a frown. "Curls?" She asked herself, pushing the music box to the side of the vanity.
In side it, she could see her father enter the room.
"Dad," Pacifica said turning around. "Do you think I should do curls or…" her voice trailed off. Preston was covered in blood, a crimson knife in one hand. In the other, he held a perfume bottle with a swirling thing that looked like a galaxy.
"D-dad?" Pacifica squeaked.
"Nice to see you again, Llama!" Preston cackled, advancing forwards slowly with a too-large-grin.
Pacifica gasped and staggered backwards, tripping on her vanity stool. "Get away from me!" She yelled, throwing her perfume bottle at her possessed Father.
Bill dodged calmly, standing over the blonde. "I was just going to take the rift and leave…" he said. "But, I think this'll be more fun!"
Pacifica dodged a knife attack from the demon, his hand hitting against the vanity, the music box falling to the floor and opening, the figurine Pacifica and Dipper began to dance.
Bill grabbed the blonde by the neck, holding up the knife once more. "Sweet dreams, Princess!"
Pacifica screamed.
…M-A-B-E-L…
Matthew escorted Wendy back to her house, an arm around her waist and the two babies sleeping on her back with a makeshift towel sling.
"You're okay?" Matthew asked quietly.
"Better than okay," Wendy said breathlessly. "I feel like things will look up for us from now on, don't you?"
Matthew smiled, kissing her on the forehead. Wendy stopped in front of the door to her house. "Don't you wanna come in?"
Matthew shook his head. "I need to go back for the rift, can't leave it there, you know?"
Wendy nodded and smiled. "I expect you back to name our nameless kids."
Matthew grinned, holding up a hand in farewell, turning back to his siblings. "Ready?"
The twins nodded as they all walked towards the bus stop.
"Well, the Shifty thing was a bust," Dipper said.
"Eh, who cares? Figured he wouldn't help anyway," Matthew shrugged. "It was all me and Ford could come up with."
As the siblings sat in the bus on their way to Northwest Manor, Dipper's thoughts went back to the vison in the bunker. When he and Mabel had caught up with Matthew and Wendy, he'd had a cut across his chest that Mabel had to stitch up. Presumably, things had gone down exactly as how the vison showed him.
Then what of the graveyard?
Dipper clenched his fists. No, that was one thing that wouldn't—couldn't come true. No matter what…
The bus stopped, and the siblings got out, Mabel enthusiastically talking to Matthew about baby names, saying how she was so going to tell Pacifica and the girls and how she'd be the best aunt ever.
As they walked to the gates, Matthew pressed the com button.
There was no response.
"YO! Preston!" Matthew snapped.
Still no response.
"Ugh, he's ignoring us." Matthew lit his fists with flames and punched the gates down.
"Um, if he already hates us, he's going to hate us even more now…" Dipper muttered.
"Who cares," Matthew said, rolling his eyes. Walking towards the giant open doors…
Wait…open?
Matthew furrowed his brow, his walk becoming brisk. The twins exchanged a worried glance, walking faster too.
"Aye! Preston, your door is open—!" Matthew staggered backwards in horror.
In front of him was Pricilla Northwest, her mouth opened in horror, her eyes staring up into nothingness and multiple bloody gashes in her chest.
Behind him, Matthew heard Mabel shriek loudly. Matthew glanced around the house, it was in complete shambles.
"Matthew," Dipper tugged at Matthew's sleeve. "Pacifica!"
'Crap.'
The trio raced up the stairs as quick as possible, their hearts pounding against their chests, calling out the young blonde's name.
"M-maybe she's hiding!" Dipper exclaimed. "O-or maybe she escaped!" The siblings ran towards Pacifica's room.
"Maybe—!"
Dipper's voice left his throat as he saw the sight before him.
Mabel gasped, covering her mouth as tears rimmed her eyes, Matthew's jaw fell slowly.
Dipper barely noticed he was walking slowly towards the limp figure. Her blonde hair covered with crimson blood, her eyes wide and blank.
"No…" he croaked, he slowly sank to his knees, cradling her head gently. "No…no…Pacifica, no, you can't be…"
Dipper's vison blurred, he bit his bottom lip. "You can't…" He looked at the blank blue eyes, once shining with laughter and intrigue, and at the parted lips that had been his first kiss.
"Please…" Dipper began to shake. "Please."
He placed his forehead on hers as he began to sob, his fingers gripping her arms tightly.
Vaguely, he could hear Mabel sobbing too, she sat next to her twin, burying her face in the crook of his neck.
Matthew stood frozen, the once lonely girl lay there…
Never to move again…
There was a light laugh from the corner of the room.
Matthew turned, Mabel and Dipper looked up warily, to see a possessed Preston sitting cross-legged on Pacifica's lavish bed.
"Figured you'd enjoy my little present!" Bill laughed louder. "Speaking, of presents…" Bill held up Pacifica's music box and wound it up, the dancing Dipper and Pacifica twirled around and around, a gentle melody playing from the tiny object.
Dipper watched, his heart cracking as he saw the two dancing figurines, it seemed as if they had been inspired by their dance at the manor.
Then, with a giggle, Bill crushed the music box with his bare hands.
"You—you did this!" Dipper choked, staggering to his feet. "You killed her!"
Bill grinned. "That I did, Pine Tree!" Bill then held up a familiar perfume bottle.
"NO!" Matthew yelled, and lunged forward, but the glass bottle fell and shattered against the wooden floorboards. A white beam of light throwing the siblings back.
…M-A-B-E-L…
AN: Guys, I'm sorry, I had to, I HAD to. I had to higher the stakes OKAY?!
Just know, NO CHARACTER IS SAFE! Nobody has plot armor! (Or at least not that much).
Anyway, I was listening to "Six Feet Under" by Billie Eillish (did I spell that right?) so that I could convey Dipper's sorrow. So, if you want to get your soul crushed even more, listen to it while reading dah death scene!
Also, still contemplating baby names.
Fantasy Fan OUT!
P.S Why am I so mean to Dipper? First Wendy then Pacifica? Geez…