AN: Well folks, this is it! The final chapter of LtL!

*sniff*

But don't worry, this year on the LtL anniversary, I will be posting the rewrite! It'll hopefully fix most if not all the flaws this LtL had (why did I put so much OCs?! What was I thinking?!)

SO! Tell me things you'd like to be changed in the rewrite and I will take your opinion into account! :3

I'll be putting up a new story sometime soon, it's an OC X Bill fic, those seem to be in style nowadays so I'm jumping on the bandwagon! I'll hope to see some of you there!

Finally, now that LtL is over, I'll be putting my full attention on Pinky Promise, which is a MaBill redemption fic, so if you happen to read that, updates should be MUCH faster!

P.S In the chapter where Matthew sees his future gravestone, I got the dates wrong…gotta fix that…

Okay, here it is.

Chapter Sixty-Four: The Cursed Clock

Matthew gazed at Damion, swallowing thickly.

"It won't be just your parents," Damion threatened. "Once Bill's gone and the protection of the circle fades, I'll end the lives of your family too. Do you want that? Do you want their blood on your hands?"

No, not after all the precautions he tried taking, not after everything he'd been through, he couldn't let them die…especially not Dipper and Mabel.

But then would they die anyway if he took Damion's deal?

Matthew's brow furrowed, the ever-present conflict raging once more.

"Welcome Matt, look!" Bill exclaimed desperately, floating in front of the blonde. "I'll do anything if you tell them to stop! What do you want? I'll give it to you! Whatever you want!"

Matthew shoved past the triangle, stalking towards Damion with an unreadable expression.

"Matthew!" Ellie cried from the orb.

Matthew stood in front of him, his brow furrowed. "Damion," he said.

Damion grinned. "Matthew?"

Matthew rose his fist and punched Damion in the face, just as the light from the Zodiac became blinding.

"No dice," Matthew smirked.

Ellie smiled proudly from her orb as Damion staggered to his feet and growled.

"Why you little—"

Damion was cut off, for what seemed like a pure white void opened in the center of the room, under the hovering feet of Wheel members; sucking up everything but them and the Pines parents, protected by the orb.

Bill screeched and began clawing at the ground, trying not to get sucked up, his henchmaniacs did the same. Although, Clara, who was still unconscious (or dead) floated into the void like a rag doll.

Matthew grunted as he and Damion were also pulled towards the void.

"Tell. Them. To. STOP!" Damion yelled, sounding less like the cool and calm thirty-something year old he was and acting more like the 9-year-old body he was trapped in.

Matthew grinned, digging his nails into the brick and slowly pulling himself away from the void. "Not a chance uncle."

Bill was now very close to the void, wailing at the top of his lungs, quickly, he grabbed Matthew's ankle, the extra force causing him to slip.

Matthew gritted his teeth, pressing his arms against the ground to stop himself from slipping any further.

"You'll die too if you don't get them to stop!" Bill cried, his single eye wide with horror and pleading.

That sentence reached Dipper's ears, he couldn't hear that well, but Bill was close enough, turning, he saw Matthew being pulled into the white void along with Bill and Damion.

His heart clenched, memories of the vision like dream he had entering his mind, the grave—the rain—.

Dipper tugged his hand, trying to stop the circle, but it was as if the magic had fused all their hands together; Penelope hadn't been lying.

"Dipper! What are you doing?!" Ford called over the noise.

"We have stop!" Dipper cried.

"What?! Why?!" Stan demanded.

"Matthew!" Dipper grunted, giving another sharp tug, he felt his hand slipping from Wendy's.

With one final tug, Dipper managed to free his hand, there was another flash of bright light and everyone in the circle collapsed in a heap, the void disappearing.

"DIPPER!" Matthew yelled, scrambling to his feet and running towards his brother.

"Matt, are you—?" Dipper was cut off due to a sharp slap across the face.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Matthew boomed. "You ruined our one chance to destroy Bill!"

"I couldn't—I couldn't let you—" Dipper croaked. Matthew had to understand. He didn't see the vision, he didn't know how afraid Dipper was, he didn't know that The Axolotl wanted Dipper's help in killing him!

Matthew didn't know how much Dipper kept promising himself he wouldn't lose him like he lost Pacifica.

"I'm sorry," Dipper murmured, lowering his head.

"You should be!" Bill cackled shrilly.

Everyone looked up, Bill was no longer fearful and pleading, he was now smug and sure.

"I was almost a goner!" Bill continued, he hovered towards Dipper and gripped his cheeks. "But you saved me Pine Tree! I must thank you for that!"

Matthew smacked Bill's hand away. "Don't touch him," he growled.

"And you still care!" Bill said, clicking his non-existent tongue. "I'm baffled, Welcome Matt! Absolutely baffled! He ruined your chances to defeat me and you still care!"

"We'll just find another way to end you!" Wendy snapped, holding up her axe.

"Yeah!" Gideon echoed. "You don't scare us!"

Bill roared with laughter. "You don't?! Well you SHOULD!" At the last word, Bill grew in size, glowing vivid red, a dark pupil staring menacingly down at the group.

"Why didn't you speak for yourself?!" Robbie snapped at Gideon.

"There's nowhere to go, Matthew, nothing to do," Damion drawled from behind them. "Just, give. Up."

Stan was struggling to stand due to his injuries, but he still levelled Bill with a vicious glare. Ford had his gun out, though the fear in his eyes was evident, Wendy had her axe and Gideon and Robbie trembled pathetically.

Wait, where did McGucket go?

There was a blast from behind the giant red Bill, blasting his eye out.

"ARGH! MY EYE! WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO ME!?"

The Harrison Manortron reached inside the Fearamid, opening its palm.

"Go!" Matthew said, as everyone dashed towards the opened hand. The blonde spun around and shoved past Damion, running towards his parents.

"Hold on," he told both of them. "I'm going to get you out."

"You don't get them, unless you submit," Damion reminded Matthew from behind. Matthew turned and glared. "Yeah, well, I'm not going to! So, you can forget about it," Matthew responded angrily.

Damion narrowed his eyes, rolling head forwards and backwards. Raising a fist, he said, "I didn't want to do this, but…"

Matthew kneed him in the stomach, Damion choking and staggering backwards while Bill angrily flew out of his Fearamid to pursue the Harrison Manortron, along with his Henchmaniacs.

"You don't listen either, Damion," Matthew said standing over him. "And when I say something, I appreciate when I'm heard."

Matthew lit a flaming fist, the dark-haired boy—man—twitching in awful anticipation, but at the last minute, the blonde spun back around and punched the orb containing his parents.

It cracked and shattered, the two adults falling in a heap.

"Mom? Are you—?" Bill was cut off by the giant hug his mother gave, squeezing him tightly, something Matthew had missed dearly.

"Are you?" She asked gently, smoothing his hair.

Matthew smiled in her neck, nodding his head.

"Mathew you—!"

Matthew snapped his fingers, a ring of fire surrounding his deranged uncle.

"MATTHEW!" Damion boomed.

"Come on, hurry," Matthew said, grabbing his mother's wrist. Ellie grabbed the wrist of her husband, who looked as if he were still in shock.

Dashing to the hole the Harrison Manortron created, Matthew could see Bill in the distance, angrily pummeling at the robot's unicorn barrier.

Tugging his parents forward, Matthew jumped through the air, creating a hovering platform out of nowhere and zooming towards the Harrison Manortron.

Dodging one of Bill's furious fists, Matthew and his parents through towards a window of the Manor. The magic platform bouncing against the barrier and dropping out of sight. The trio landing next to Mabel, who had changed from the dress she had on previously and had gotten her magic bow back from Gideon.

"Mattie! Mom! Dad!" Mabel said happily, embracing them all at once.

"What's going on…?" Emmett whispered warily, as the tiny girl let them go.

Ellie smiled sadly and took her husbands hand. "Come here, sweetie." She led him away, whispering an explanation.

"ARGH!" Bill yelled, punching the barrier again with renewed vigor.

"What do we do?" Mabel asked. "He just won't give up!"

The two siblings then cried out when the Harrison Manortron spun around throwing them to the ground. The robot's fist punching Bill and slapping away some of his Henchmaniacs.

As they staggered back to their feet, Matthew gritted his teeth. "Good, god," he hissed.

In the distance, Damion was flying towards them, his eyes vivid red.

"Aha!" Bill exclaimed, there was a groan then a snap as he triumphally held up the Harrison Manortron's leg.

This time, the two siblings fell backwards, crashing into a bunch of people as the mansion collapsed to the ground.

Nearby, Matthew could hear the babies crying—as well as Wendy's little brother, while everyone staggered warily to their feet.

By this time, Damion had gotten in, tearing off the unicorn hair with grin.

The barrier failed, and Bill and his minions poured in, everyone crowding together.

"Oh, man," Dipper whispered beside a shaking Mabel.

Matthew stood protectively in front of them, scowling as Damion walked forward.

"I didn't want to do this, Matthew," Damion growled, clenching his fists. "But you've pushed my hand."

He snapped his fingers.

Mabel's body jerked, and she gasped, the bow on her head glowed black before shattering.

The girl squeaked, clutching her throat and falling backwards.

"Mabel!" Dipper exclaimed as Matthew caught his sister before she could fall all the way.

Mabel's body began to quiver, her eyes wide as she kept trying to regain her breath.

"What did you do?! WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Matthew yelled, turning to Damion, still clutching his little sister.

"I happen to give rather shady gifts," Damion smirked. "Oops."

"Stop it! She can't breathe!" Dipper exclaimed.

"Whether I stop or not, is up to your brother," Damion smiled, inspecting his fingernails.

Matthew's chest tightened, the sound of screams both human and inhuman echoed dully in his ears as he gripped Mabel's shoulders.

Warily, Matthew closed his eyes, holding out his hand.

"You win," He whispered. "Just stop hurting her."

Damion grinned wildly, gripping Matthew's hand, dark red-black flames encased both of them.

And Dipper could only watch helplessly as Mabel regained her breath, coughing and spluttering.

The Axolotl said this would happen, said his brother would revert to his old ways. But it wasn't supposed to happen. This Matthew was supposed to be different, he was supposed to stay the brother he had loved for years…

"Matthew?" Mabel whispered in horror.

In front of the two twins was Matthew, a large grin plastered on his face and both eyes an eerie gold.

"Boy," he said. Glacning down at his siblings, his grin broadening. "It's been awhile…"

Damion laughed happily while the twins clutched each other.

Dipper was supposed to save him, he was supposed to be different from the other Dippers who couldn't save their Matthew.

His eyes lined with tears.

Not this…

'Twas the tale, of a boy, who in the world is lost.

'Twas the tale of a boy, tied to a cursed clock.

Tick-Tock, tick-tock, goes the sound of time.

'Twas the tale of a boy, cursed to watch the clock rewind

BAD END

Chapter Thirty-Four: Some Sunny Day

The wall exploded behind them.

"I swear if it's the Time Police—!" Bill threatened.

"Knock, knock!" a voice said. Matthew stood before everyone with his hands behind his back and a giant grin, Dipper, Soos, McGucket and Wendy stood beside him with weapons. Penelope was behind them, filing her broken nail and trying to even it out.

Behind her, was the robo-fied Harrison Manor.

Mabel beamed, Stan grinned warily, and Ford's face flushed in relief.

"WHAT?! Why isn't anyone looking out? Clara, why aren't you looking out? WHERE'S CLARA?!" Bill shrieked shrilly.

"So, Bill," Matthew said, stalking forward. "In case you didn't know, this is the part where you die."

"Oh Nooooooo!" Bill said dramatically. "This is the part where I—BOOM!"

Matthew hadn't expected this, his eyes widened in horror as spread his arms, not knowing exactly what he was doing but he had to keep the others safe.

There was loud boom sound as Bill's magic hit what appeared to be a barrier Matthew had created.

As the smoke cleared, Bill narrowed his eye. "What?!" He demanded.

"Wow, Bill, you figured out you're not as good as you thought you were, congrats!" Stan wheezily laughed from his chained position.

Bill's eye flashed angrily. "8-Ball," he commanded.

The said demon punched Stan again, causing him to double over and groan, but he was still smiling.

"You know, Stan might be right," Matthew grinned, walking forwards. "A teenager just blocked your strongest attack spell, you must feel really bad."

Bill's eye glowed red. "SHUT. UP."

"Man, I wonder if I could kill you!" Matthew looked up as if in thought before grinning. "Yeah, I think I could."

"You wanna test me Welcome Matt?!" Bill shrieked. "BE. MY. GUEST!"

Bill flicked his wrist and Matthew was pulled forward telekinetically into the air, the blonde acutely aware of the panicked cries of his name.

"You think you can beat me?!" Bill demanded, before bursting into bitter laughter.

Matthew shrugged and grinned. "Maybe," he said, kicking Bill hard in the eye.

Bill yelled, and Matthew dropped.

"Kill them!" Bill yelled, rubbing his eye. "Kill them, kill them, KILL THEM!"

The Henchmaniacs exploded into action at the same time as the Rebels while Bill attempted to blindly bash Matthew with a giant fist.

Matthew dodged the fist and yelped as he dodged a magic blast as well, quickly holding up a shield to block another fist.

Matthew ran as fast as he could, weaving through the battle as the livid Bill flew after him. He staggered down a hallway, running up a set of stairs at top speed.

His first plan of creating the Zodiac was no a bust due to unseen circumstances…but there was always Plan B.

Bill leapt forward slamming his fist down where Matthew had been a few seconds earlier, jumping side to side to avoid blasts of magic.

He needed to get out before his movements became too predictable. The teen punched through the wall with a flaming fist, pressing his back against the outer wall of the Fearamid, and barely missing Bill's hand as he clawed for him.

Quickly, he jumped atop the Harrison Manortron, safe inside the barrier before Bill could attack again.

Matthew cackled, sticking out his tongue and climbing the shingles. "Wow!" Matthew taunted. "Poor Bill can't get past pretty unicorn hair! Kinda sucks being made out of pure weirdness, eh?"

"WELCOME MATT!" Bill roared, pounding the barrier.

Matthew staggered at the impact, prying off shingles. Where did he put it…?

A shadow loomed over Matthew and he looked up, seeing Bill happily holding up the Harrison Manortron's leg.

"Shit," Matthew muttered.

"Four!" Bill said gleefully as he swung the leg.

Matthew grabbed what he was looking for and jumped off the manor just as the leg smashed against the shingles, taking half the roof off.

The teen began to fall fast, and like before, he crashed into the trees, branches clawing viciously at his body.

But this time, he didn't have the luck of landing in a bush. Matthew crashed against the floor below, rolling to the ground and hissing at the impact.

"MATTHEW!" Bill yelled shooting a blast at the woods.

Matthew ran, narrowly avoiding the blast of magic and the falling trees that fell with it. He didn't know what would happen, so he wanted to run as far away from everyone as possible.

The blonde yelped in surprise when Bill teleported in front of him.

"Ha! There you ARE!" on the last word, Bill sent a blast of magic between Matthew's ribs.

The teen gasped in pain, the case he was carrying slipping from his hands as he collapsed, clutching his bleeding chest and wincing.

Bill's magic had not only reopened the wound he had gotten from Wendy's axe during the Shapeshifter skirmish, it made it deeper.

Matthew's vision became blurry, his hand quivering as he reached for the latches of the case.

"You are so pathetic!" Bill said. "I mean, you keep boasting about how strong you are, and I beat you no problem!"

Matthew then opted to unlatch the case telekinetically, using magic in his current state was so painful…

'Come on…' he thought to himself. 'Come on.'

"I guess it's not me who overestimated himself!" Bill continued. "It was you!"

Matthew grunted and gritted his teeth as he sat up, opening the case and pulling out the weapon.

Bill closed his eye and sighed. "I wonder how proud Fez'll be when he sees his nephew so pathetic and weak and—" Bill opened his eye and he gasped.

Matthew's lips quivered into a grin. "Surprise, heh, heh."

"N-no WAIT!" Bill screamed as Matthew pulled the trigger of the Quantum Destabilizer.

There was a blast of light and wind, pulling at Matthew's hair as Bill screamed, the trees collapsing around him.

As the dust cleared, Matthew could see Bill no more.

He laughed lightly, collapsing on to his back and looking at the sky as it faded away from its red hue…

His eyelids fluttered closed, he felt something blissfully tugging at him he wanted to go away with it whatever it was, maybe he would—

Wait.

Matthew forced his eyes open, coming face to face with a pair of tear stained faces.

The blonde grinned weakly. "H-hey…"

"Matthew," Dipper whispered, gripping the bloodstained T-shirt. "Please don't…"

"M, sorry,"

"Matt…" Mabel whispered tearfully.

Matthew closed his eyes again and chuckled lightly. "Bill kinda jacked me up…"

"We'll fix you up!" Dipper said desperately. "We…" Dipper's voice trailed off.

Quietly, Matthew whispered the words he had hoped he'd never had to say again.

"A-X-O-L-T-L now's my time to burn, I invoke the ancient power so that I may return." Matthew opened his eyes again and smiled weakly, placing each hand one of the twins' cheek.

"You see? Now we'll see each other again," Matthew said. He looked up past the twins to the blue sunny sky.

"Some sunny day," he added with a grin, and as his energy faded, so did his grin and his voice. "Wouldn't you like that…?' He whispered, his hands falling from the twins' faces.

He never got to hear their response.

'Twas the tale, of a boy, who loved with all his heart,

'Twas the boy who suddenly, fell into the dark.

"We'll meet again," he said. "We'll meet again someway."

'Twas the tale of a boy who promised to them some sunny day.

Bittersweet End (But mostly bitter)

Chapter Thirty-Four: Never Thought

The wound wasn't deep, but it was painful, and it had reopened his previously stitched wound.

"You are so pathetic!" Bill said. "I mean, you keep boasting about how strong you are, and I beat you no problem!"

Matthew sat up slowly, keeping his eye trained on Bill to make sure he wouldn't find any significance in what he was doing.

'Come on…' he thought to himself. 'Come on.'

"I guess it's not me who overestimated himself!" Bill continued. "It was you!"

Matthew smiled as the latches clicked, opening the case and pulling out the weapon.

Bill closed his eye and sighed. "I wonder how proud Fez'll be when he sees his nephew so pathetic and weak and—" Bill opened his eye and he gasped.

Matthew's lips curved into a grin. "Surprise, heh, heh."

Bill, though momentarily surprised, quickly reacted, blasting the Quantum Destabilizer out of Matthew's hand.

"Was that it?" Bill asked, though there was a hint if relief in his voice. "That was your ultimate plan?! BAHAHA!" Bill cackled.

Matthew bit his lip, admittedly, that was his plan…

"OW!" Bill yelled, as a rock hit him at the side. "Who threw that!?"

Mabel jumped out of the bushes, charging at Bill with a battle cry, only to be plucked off the ground.

Bill eyed the kicking Mabel in his hand and snickered. "What? This is your backup? Kicking and screaming Shooting Star? HA!"

"Nope!" Mabel said happily, seizing her kicking. "I'm just a distraction!"

Bill paused at this. "Eh?"

An axe flew through the air and lodged itself in Bill's eye.

"WHYYYYYY!?" he wailed in pain, dropping Mabel.

Matthew felt someone grip his arms, he tensed, then realized who was touching him as the scent of cinnamon mixed with a bit of sweat wafted over him.

"Wen?"

"The one and only," Wendy said with a good-natured smile pulling Matthew into the woods and running, Matthew grunted, clutching his partially unstitched chest but he bared it.

"WHO THREW THAT?!" Bill screamed as Mabel ran beside them, urging Wendy to hurry. From the other side ran Dipper, panting for breath. "You okay, Matt? We saw you being chased so—"

"Wait, we can't leave!" Matthew said.

"What do you mean?" Mabel asked.

"The Quantum Destabilizer that was my Plan B!" Matthew said. "Plan C would involve the Memory Gun and sacrificing Stan's mind, which I'm not willing to do!"

"So, what we do?" Dipper asked.

"Guys, duck!" Wendy exclaimed, throwing the three siblings to the ground as a blast of magic destroyed the trees.

"You brats have hurt my eye FOR THAT LAST TIME!" Bill yelled, blasting another beam of magic, the four of them stayed pressed to the twig covered ground.

"How to we get the Quatro thingy?" Mabel whispered.

"Do you have your grappling hook?" Matthew whispered back.

"Boop! Always!" She said proudly, holding up the device.

"Also, you need to get out of that dress," Matthew said, snapping his fingers.

The tattered dress disappeared and replaced itself with Mabel's regular outfit. She sighed in relief. "Ugh, thank you."

"How about this," Dipper said. "Wendy, you can distract Bill—he'll probably go after you a lot because you hit his eye."

"I'm very proud of that BT Dubs," Wendy smiled.

"As am I," Matthew smiled, kissing her on the cheek.

"Guys, not now," Dipper said. "Anyway, we'll grab the gun and—"

"Damnit!" Matthew said, holding up a barrier as Bill blasted the bush they were hiding behind.

"No more hide and seek," Bill snapped. "I'm just going to kill you all—"

"Hey, Bill, how'd you like getting your eye messed up by two teens in one day?" Wendy grinned.

Bill narrowed his eye.

"Also, did you like my axe?" Wendy continued.

"No, do you like THIS?!" Bill punched the ground where Wendy had stood seconds ago as she ran through the undergrowth laughing.

The siblings ran in the opposite direction, Matthew sighing in relief when he found the Quantum Destabilizer.

Bill let out a growl a giant fireball came soaring their way. The siblings cried out, jumping away from the electric blue flames. When Bill crawled out of it, red and monstrous, the trio ran like hell.

He had obviously learned the hard way not to start randomly chasing teens out of pride.

Matthew pulled the twins on to his back, running as fast as he could. But with their weight plus the Quantum Destabilizer and his bleeding chest, it was easier said than done.

Bill rose a golden hand swatting at Matthew.

Mabel shot her grabbling, gripping her brother's T-shirt and launching them into the air. The branch the hook had grappled on to snapped, and Matthew and his two siblings rolled on to the ground scrambling back on their feet for Bill was still in hot pursuit.

"We need to get him to stop or something," Matthew panted, skidding to the side to avoid a falling tree thanks to Bill and running faster. "It's the only way we can get clear aim; we only have one shot."

"I'M GOING TO THROW YOU OFF MOUNT EVEREST!" Bill screamed.

Matthew flinched. Ow.

"I got an idea!" Dipper said, "Pass the Destabilizer."

Matthew, figuring that Dipper's plan was better than his non-existent one, handed it over.

The boy dashed in a different direction, crashing through undergrowth as fast as he could.

"Matthew!" A voice—Wendy—called from behind him.

Brother and sister turned around just in time to get hit in the stomach with a tree. They screamed, skidding across the forest floor and into a clearing.

Before either one could move, Bill scooped both siblings in his hand.

"I mean it this time," Bill said. "No more games." Bill squeezed his two captives tighter causing them to grunt.

"I hate your rules," Matthew said, directing every ounce of magic into his palms. "But…not at as much as I kinda don't like you."

The teen raised a finger and blasted Bill in the stomach. He cried out, being launched back into the undergrowth and crashing a bunch of trees, the siblings fell again just as Bill recovered, blasting a strong bit of magic of his own at the duo.

Matthew held up another barrier, flinching at how much magic he was using.

"Hey, Welcome Matt! How long can you keep that up, huh?" Bill laughed as Matthew's shield began to weaken, his arms quivering. He didn't know if he could…

"Hey! Bully!" A familiar voice called.

Bill stopped his spell, Matthew sighing in relief as he fell forward, panting.

"Dipper!" Mabel said happily.

Dipper was pointing the Quantum Destabilizer at Bill. At the same time, he pulled the trigger, Bill shot a spell at him.

Matthew lunged forward putting himself in front of his brother and attempting another barrier. The second the spell hit, his feeble barrier shattered, the impact shoving both boys backwards.

And then everything went black.

…M-A-T-T-H-E-W…

"You proved me wrong," A voice said.

Matthew opened his eyes in a pure white void. "Huh?" He murmured.

"Matthew," The familiar voice said.

"Axolotl?" Matthew called.

"Yes."

"How'd I prove you wrong?"

There was a pause.

"You were not the first Matthew. Every Matthew in every timeline became Demon King—everyone but you…"

Matthew grinned. "That's because I'm awesome."

"Hmm."

Another pause.

"Thank you."

"For what?" The Axolotl asked, sounding confused.

"For…giving me a chance, a chance to be happy," Matthew smiled, not knowing if The Axolotl could see it. "Thank you."

"…you're welcome, Matthew. Now wake up, you are worrying your family."

Matthew paused. "Wait, I'm alive still?"

"…yes…"

"Dude, I was blasted in the chest!"

"You put up a barrier."

"It shattered!"

"It was enough. Lucky for you, the spell Bill cast wasn't that strong."

Then, Matthew's eyes snapped open. The room he was in he was sure was the living room of the Mystery Shack, he was surprised he was back here. And even more to his surprise, Ford smiled down at him, drinking from a coffee mug. "Hello, Matthew."

"Ford?" Matthew grunted. "What's happening?"

"You're alive, for one," Ford quirked an eyebrow. "Your injuries weren't fatal, thankfully."

"How long was I out?"

"About a day."

Ford took another sip from his coffee. "I think, before anyone else, your siblings should see you, before they commit arson." He laughed lightly and got up.

"Wait."

Ford paused in his actions. "Yes?"

"Why did you see me first?" Matthew asked. "Why not the twins or my parents?"

Ford smiled. "It's only fair, I've known you longer than any of them, old friend."

Matthew felt his lips twitch upwards as Ford walked out of the living room.

The teen turned back to the ceiling, it wasn't as old looking as before probably due to the renovations.

He had to ask why—

Matthew's musings ended abruptly when Mabel jumped atop him, snuggling her face in his neck.

"OW! Mabel, take it easy!" Matthew said, somewhat teasingly.

Dipper came beside her, smiling. "I'm so glad you're alright."

"Same," Matthew grinned. "Wanna tell me why we're here?"

Mabel sat atop Matthew's thighs, causing him to flinch lightly at the weight. "The Evergreens…disappeared…poof!" She held out her hands dramatically.

Matthew furrowed his brow.

"Yeah, they're gone," Dipper frowned. "Not that I'm not happy it's just…strange…anyway, that's what the mayor said when Grunkle Stan demanded the Shack back."

"Huh," Matthew said.

The siblings sat in comfortable silence, Mabel rocking back in forth, before Mabel said, "Can you tell us a story?"

Matthew smiled lightly. "Sure."

The twins beamed, squeezing beside their brother on the couch.

Matthew held up a flame. "Once upon a time, there was a girl—"

"No, a boy," Mabel said.

Matthew rolled his eyes. "Fine, a boy. Who loved his family very much." The flame took the shape of a boy. "But before, he didn't know how to love at all, this how he learned it…"

'Twas the tale, of a god, who fell from far above,

'Twas the tale, of a god, who learned the meaning of love.

Thump, thump, goes the heart as it beats pure joy,

'Twas the tale of a god, who loved by becoming a boy

The End

AN: I AM SO ACCOMPLISHED!

I probably forgot about gazillion plot points but who cares?! None of you did either! (Although if you did, I'll re-introduce them in the rewrite and execute it better)

Thank you, guys, for everything! I would've never finished this story without your continued love and support!

I hope you all have a terrific day,

Fantasy Fan OUT!