Guess what?

I'm back!

Matt had stormed out of the Shack with Wendy and Soos in tow, something Dipper couldn't understand. The preteen believed that any relationship, no matter how intense, could only work if both parties trusted each other, holding each other with a sense of mutual respect. Clearly, the older teen did not feel the same way. Whatever was so crucial that Matt continuously chose to omit could be a total wad for all he cared. If it was genuinely hazardous information, wouldn't it make sense to share it to ensure no one gets hurt? Apparently not.

Despite claiming a lack of interest, Dipper's mind couldn't help but race at potential threats that could be looming around the corner. Dimensions are a wild concept, infinite in quantity and unpredictable in quality. The first of which to come to mind was an apocalyptic hellscape, but the boy forced the grim thoughts of bodies and destruction from his mind. This took longer than he would have liked. While he didn't want to believe it, Dipper couldn't deny the possibility that for all he knew, just around the fabric of space and time, Matt's claim might contain some validity, and there potentially could be a severe threat. But there was one thing Dipper couldn't shake. A 16-year-old crossing and traveling dimensions? Yeah right. In the weeks spent with him, Dipper could quickly tell that Matt was no genius. Sure, he was quick on his feet and could come up with a solid plan if need be, but Matt simply was not smart enough to possess some sort of interdimensional portal device, no offense. Actually, in this case, some offense was warranted.

Despite Matt's lack of mental prowess, Dipper knew the older teen's arrival must have been intentional, he wouldn't get tied up in all these lies and half-truths if he didn't know more than he was letting on. Dipper knew he was hiding something, and the redhead couldn't play the stupid ignorance card any longer. In Dipper's eyes, every half-answered question and lack of further explanation was now a blatant lie. Regardless of how Matt claims he arrived in Gravity Falls, Dipper knew he was there for a reason. Whether his appearance was a part of his own agenda or someone else's, Dipper couldn't say for sure, but given everything the observant preteen could gather about Matt, he was not working alone. Either that or the web of lies was even deeper than Dipper perceived.

Even though he didn't wholly believe Matt, Dipper couldn't deny the sense of urgency and panic in the older boy's eyes during the moments of his explanation, if it can even be called that. There was raw emotion in his eyes, fueled by desperation and a hint of surprise. No, that's not right. It was fear. But what could possibly scare him now? Matt hadn't been scared before, handling these supernatural situations, oddities, and perils with a level head. Matt knew something big. He had to.

After the secretive redhead's exit, Mabel, Candy, and Grenda's eyes had been glued to Dipper, silently examining his face. The deafening silence engulfed the young group, which did not aid in relieving this paranoia. "What are you guys staring at?" the agitated boy asked, spinning on his heel and facing away, teeth gritted. His fists were clenched at his sides, and he was on the verge of storming off when his sister's hand settled gently on his shoulder. Dipper fought the urge to slap it away dismissively. He already knew what she was going to say.

"Bro-bro," Mabel began, "he fessed up, okay? It may not have been the entire truth but-"

Dipper shifted away from her grasp. "That's precisely my point!" he crossed his arms and half-faced her, sparing only a slight glance. "I don't care whether or not he's from a different dimension. He's here for a reason and knows it but won't share why." Dipper stepped away now, heading for the stairs. "I don't trust him."

"Why not." Mabel set her fists on her hips. "Don't you think its hard for him too? Did you not hear what he said? He has a twin sister too! Even if he is lying, what's the big deal? I'm sure he's just trying to protect us." Dipper faced her again, ready to challenge her point.

"The big deal is the fact we're in Gravity Falls!" He gestured to the group before him, "All the stuff we've seen should be impossible, but here we are." He pointed to the backdoor, "Matt's acting like this all just another Tuesday and always knows exactly what to do!" His sister held his gaze, giving an unwavering stern look. "And today, he acted the same, deliberately looking for something in that grave." Dipper raised his hands in the air. "I don't know what he expected to see, but he immediately wanted to dip out of there the second we understood the situation." Not caring if she had more to say, Dipper turned his back on her. "Certainly a bit out of character, don't you think?" Mabel said nothing, letting her brother go.

Ascending the steps, Dipper let his whole weight stomp on every rickety wooden plank. Thoughts raced through the boy's head. Matt was keeping something important from all of them, Dipper could practically taste its sourness. With that in mind, he wanted to spit these thoughts of deceit out. What could he do to find out what Matt knew? No one downstairs would be of help, that Dipper was sure of. So who could possibly help him? He paused at the top of the stairs, a short, dapper figure coming to mind. Was he really about to do this? He closed his eyes and scolded himself, releasing the banister. Of course he was. Dipper deserved answers. Once he reached the bedroom, he slammed the door behind him and stood before his bed.

Sitting on his knees, Dipper peered under its frame, finding a shoe box. He pulled the cardboard towards him and lifted its lid, revealing a small cellular phone. The device in his grasp made Dipper feel like a peasant, its thin body supporting a slick black screen with a faint rose gold pattern etched into its equally dark back. Dipper had seen this phone model in the latest tech showcase a few months prior, but it wasn't supposed to be released until the end of the year.

"I don't think even Grunkle Stan could afford this thing," Dipper remarked, inspecting the phone's frame before giving its screen a light tap, instantly illuminating it. With a swipe of his finger, the device came to life with colorful icons and images scattered across the display, but there was only one Dipper was interested in. After a brief struggle with the innovative phone's new mechanics, the preteen navigated to the phone app, where only one contact was displayed: Pentagram. With a breath, Dipper tapped the name, and the phone began to dial, where the line picked up almost immediately.

Realizing this, Dipper declared, "I'm ready to make our deal." Silence followed.

"Excellent," Gideon Gleeful's voice replied, a smile certainly plastered to his chubby face. "I'm sure you remember the item I would like you to procure."

"I do. What's on this piece of paper?"

"An important incantation that must be returned to me. You get me that, and we can uncover whatever your cousin Matthew is hiding. I promise. Once you find it, notify me, and we will set up an exchange."

For a moment, Dipper debated correcting the Lil' Shyster, stating that Matt wasn't his cousin, but the line went dead before Dipper could decide. Not a big deal, such information should stay secret, given he didn't trust him either. With that, he placed the cell back in the box, sliding it to the far corner under his bed. Gideon informed him Matt had stolen this incantation during the Shack party, and given what happened over the last few days, the preteen assumed Matt had yet to find the most effective hiding place for this desirable sheet of paper. However, hope was dwindling from that idea as he had checked the closet, dressers, and even under his sister's bed but found nothing.

The door creaked open in the middle of him rummaging through the pile of dirty clothes in the corner. "Hey, Dipper," Mabel greeted, walking in. "I know you're upset, but I'm totally beat." She threw herself on her bed. "Partying and getting chased by government agents really takes a lot out of you." Dipper nodded in understanding. He would be lying if he said he wasn't exhausted too, and lying was certainly something he wanted to refrain from right now. Figuring it would be hard to explain why Dipper was ransacking the bedroom and not wanting to disturb his sister, he decided to resume his search in the morning. Besides, rest definitely sounded like a good idea.

#

Matt had not bothered to retire to the bedroom to sleep that night, instead opting to pass out on the couch. Dipper was completely fine with this. Mabel had woken up completely energized, ready to start the early Sunday workday at the shack. Soos and Wendy had off on Sundays, so Stan, realizing he had a cheap option of child labor, set the kids to work. Dipper ignored his call, pretending he was still asleep compared to Mabel, who had practically jumped down the stairs. He realized that If everyone else was getting ready for work, he wouldn't be disturbed for a while, meaning this was a perfect opportunity to search through Matt's things.

After sitting up straight in his bed, Dipper caught sight of a red backpack tucked on the highest shelf in the room. He surmised there must be something important inside as backpacks are meant to be carried, not stowed away. With that in mind, the preteen pulled the desk chair between the twin beds and used it to reach the bag. Standing on his toes, Dipper yanked it down, almost collapsing to the floor due to poor balance. Once he stepped off the chair, he rummaged through the backpack, finding all sorts of binders, books, and pencils. Maybe Matt had told the truth about his teleportation. He had said that it happened when he was walking home from school, and why else would there be a bunch of school supplies? However, Dipper quickly decided he didn't care and resumed his search. He was about to rule the bag a bust but noticed a crinkled paper sticking out of one of the binders. Curiosity got the better of him, and he pulled it out and flipped it open. When Dipper's eyes laid upon the tucked sheet, it felt like a stone had dropped in his stomach. Next to a bunch of geometry and algebra equations in Matt's schoolbook was a triangle with a single eye wearing a top hat. It seemed to anchor his gaze, and he wasn't sure how to explain it, but it felt like he knew what it was. It looked so familiar.

He managed to tear his eyes away from the triangular being and examined the rest of the page. This being had a label, 'Creature #326,' and as Gideon had suggested, there was an incantation beside the illustration of it. The page itself also looked familiar. It was all faded yellow and written in old ink, almost like-

Dipper shot to his feet and dashed to the bedpost holding his vest. Pulling out the journal, he frantically began to sweep through it, stopping on a page that displayed the same being as the torn page. Surrounded by splattered blood and straight gibberish was the shadow of this 'Bill Cipher.' Dipper's mind raced, realizing that this page Matt had stolen from Gideon must have been torn from another journal, meaning Gideon must be in possession of one.

Outraged that Matt had not told him anything, he didn't bother to read the rest of the entry on this demon. Dipper kicked Matt's bag across the room for good measure, sending school supplies flying before he crawled under his bed to retrieve the phone. Suddenly, the bedroom door squeaked, swinging open. Taking him by surprise, Dipper tried to act natural but slammed his head on the wood supporting his mattress. No way Matt was going to catch him like this.

But it wasn't Matt. "What the heck is all this racket going on up here?" his Grunkle Stan questioned, standing in the doorway.

"Sorry, something fell," Dipper replied, thinking on his feet.

Just as fast as the door opened, Stan shut it. "Yeah, I'll say."

Dipper backed out from under the bed, rubbing his bruised head. After ensuring the coast was clear, he pulled out the cell and dialed Gideon. Within moments, the line was picked up.

"I've got it," Dipper declared, still rubbing his head.

"Well done, boy," Gideon praised. "Meet me at my factory. I will be waiting."

"Where's your-"

The line went dead before he could ask. He waited a few seconds before tossing the phone back into the shoebox with an agitated grunt. Dipper rose, realizing it shouldn't be too hard to find.

Setting his vest upon his shoulders and clutching his journal with the stolen paper inside, Dipper flew down the stairs. He slipped on his shoes, and after tying them, Dipper bolted out of the shack but soon stopped. Traveling on foot was certainly not ideal or efficient, and it seemed like it was his only viable option. The only problem was, given what went down yesterday and the current time of day, he knew Matt or Soos would not be able to drive him to the exchange spot.

Just in that moment of realization, he cashed out all his luck for the rest of the month when a minivan pulled into the lot. The shotgun side rolled open and out walked Wendy. Yesterday's events were still clearly fresh in her mind as she gave him a small wave without a verbal greeting before walking through the giftshop door. A honk from the car shook him from his thoughts.

"Yo, Dr. Funtimes!" A voice called from within the van. "Get over here!" He hadn't noticed the passenger window was rolled down and saw Lee waving at him.

"I thought Wendy didn't work on Sundays?" Dipper asked, walking over.

"She doesn't," Thompson replied from the driver's seat. "Wendy forgot something yesterday after her shift and asked us to drop her off."

"Yeah, said something about hanging out with Matt, too," Lee chimed in.

Dipper suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. "Probably." His eyes suddenly lit up, and he glared at the minivan. "Hey, you guys think you could give me a lift?"

"Sure thing, dude!" Lee replied, gesturing to the open sliding door behind him. "Hop in."

Delighted on how easily his transportation issue was solved, Dipper took Wendy's seat and shut the rolling door. The teens had some base-boosted hip-hop song he'd never heard before, softly shaking the car. The backseat had cans and chip bags accompanied by crumbs and stains littering the floor, more than likely to Thompson's mom's chagrin. This was precisely the atmosphere he was expecting.

"No way this guy is tagging along," Robbie said next to him, across the small aisle of the vehicle. The older teen had his arms crossed, averting his gaze from his place in the backseat.

"Yo!" Lee shouted from the front, tossing a can at his friend. "If the kid needs a ride, we'll give him a ride."

"Besides, we kind of owe him," Thompson chimed in quietly, shifting the van into drive. Robbie said nothing, and the vehicle bumped down along the dirt road leading to town.

#

I sat behind the register, chin resting in my palm. My elbow, bruised from yesterday's events, dug into the wooden desk, reminding me I was conscious. I was drained, not caring about the dull sting from the pressure. Sparring against your friend and a master swordsman sucks the energy and drive right out of you. Despite the physical exhaustion, I couldn't get much sleep, refusing to retire upstairs due to the necessary ascent and confrontation with the paranoid twelve-year-old. Confrontation isn't necessarily my strongsuit. My eyes sullenly pulled shut at the thought of the preteen. I had not spoken a word to Dipper after our argument. Even the mere thought of the him left a sour taste in my mouth, reminding me of everything I was torn away from. I miss home and those who filled it. I miss actual home-cooked meals, sorry, Stan. I miss my friends. I miss-

The giftshop bell rang, pulling me from my gloomy thoughts. I raised my head to the door, watching the other redhead, Wendy, enter the fine establishment. Realizing it wasn't a potential customer, I set my chin back in my hand, resuming the same bored expression. Wendy walked up behind the register and sat beside me. I could feel her trying to catch my gaze, but I didn't look back, staring into space.

"I didn't talk to him," I stated, still not looking at her.

She gave a slow, understanding nod. "Do you want to?"

I scoffed, sitting straight now. Like Dipper would even want to look at me right now. The paranoia surrounding that kid is like an abyss, consuming any rational thought or idea, making him assume the worst. After everything, after being used as bait to free his twin sister, after swimming blindly into an underground cave to save literal water monster babies, he still doesn't trust me. The only way for me to gain that trust is to reveal the truth. The full truth.

Maybe I've been wrong about this. Was I being manipulative? I mean, the guy is twelve years old, after all, not exactly what you'd call a mature, fully functioning adult. Just look at how he acted with the girl sitting next to me in the actual show.

Oh…yeah…

The show.

Gravity Falls came out when I was nine years old, and even from the pilot, it felt like nothing I had ever seen before. The tease shot of Stan opening the vending machine had me hooked, and I desperately waited a full season to learn what was behind that door, only to immediately get stuck on another cliffhanger. But during that time, through the hiatus, my twin sister and I often discussed the show. She would draw sketches of characters with incredible talent, for a nine year old of course, and I ate it up. Regardless, Gravity Falls spiked creativity in both of us and, in a weird way, made us bond. However, our favorite part of the show wasn't the plot, music, or even the beautiful art. The thing that kept us tuning in every new episode on the air was the characters. They were ridiculously relatable, coming alive with flaws and motivations on our television in the family room. But they were just that, characters on a screen and nothing more.

Needless to say, in my zany case, they aren't anymore. The cast is actually alive, an absurd phenomenon. But despite that fact, I have only treated them like characters. I assume how they'll act and react and be primarily accurate, sure, but clearly, I've not assumed the consequences. I knew Dipper wouldn't trust me, but I didn't think he'd blow up at me like that yesterday. It did happen with Stan in the episode Not What He Seems, but that was three-quarters of a summer full of lies in tandem with apocalyptic evidence. All I did was lie about where I'm from which, with hindsight, does seem kind of bad. I undoubtedly abused Dipper's, Mabel's, and everyone else's trust, but it was for the greater good. God, I hate that term.

Nobody wants to choose the lesser evil, but it must be decided, or everything might just fall apart. The fact of the matter is that almost every main character succumbed to Bill's influence. Through the demon's cunning, he could find out his entire existence had been contained to a television show and have greater ambitions than just Gravity Falls. If I was able to travel here, I'm positive there's a way to get back, and it's only a matter of time until Bill figures that out and potentially finds his way into my world. What did Alex call it? The root dimension? Speaking of Alex Hirsh, he hasn't found his way into my dreams as of late. Honestly, I had forgotten all about him.

"Hello?" Wendy announced, waving a hand in my face. "That really wasn't a rhetorical question, dude."

"Sorry." I pinched the bridge of my nose, fighting back the onslaught of thoughts. "Of course, I want to talk to him, but clearly he doesn't care."

"Just apologize."

"What."

"Apologize. It won't fix everything, but'll be a solid start."

I sighed, setting my chin on my palm. "Do you know where he is?"

"I saw him hop in Thompson's minivan after he and the gang dropped me off." She shrugged. "Probably taking the guy out for pancakes or whatever."

"Probably badmouthing me to your friends, more like."

"Please!" She exclaimed with a wave of her hand. "He's twelve. How much scrapdoodle can he possibly talk?"

#

"-And then the guy just storms out without saying a word and punched a tree till it fell."

"Oh," Thompson began, lifting one hand off the wheel and scratching his head, "that's why I almost hit a tree in your driveway. I knew that wasn't there before."

"Wait a minute, he still didn't explain?" Nate exclaimed, grabbing Dipper's headrest. The boy in question shook his head. "Nah, man, that's not cool."

"Tell me about it," Robbie said, brooding with his head against the window.

"But what if the guy is being sincere?" Lee asked, pulling the seatbelt to allow him to face Dipper

"It doesn't matter, Matt should still explain." Nate crossed his arms. "He's Dipper's cousin for crying out loud!"

Still looking at her phone and typing away, Tambry rolled her eyes and said, "Okay, wow, somebody's not paying attention." Nate raised an eyebrow at his friend's accusation. "Matt isn't Dipper and Mabel's cousin because he's from another dimension."

"So Matt's an alien?" Robbie said, shooting up and slamming his fist into his hand. "I knew something was up with that guy." Tambry reached forward and slapped his shoulder from behind, still scrolling on her phone.

"A dimension isn't another galaxy but another reality," Dipper clarified.

"Yeah? What's the difference?"

"A dimension is- you know what?" Dipper cut himself off and crossed his arms. "There's no point in explaining this to you guys."

Robbie glared at the younger kid next to him. "And what's that supposed to mean?" He pointed at the preteen, causing Dipper to flinch. "You calling me stupid."

Dipper raised his hands defensively but spoke in a dry tone. "Hey man, I'm not the one that called an obvious human an alien two seconds ago." Lee began to crack up in the front seat, but Robbie did not find this amusing in the slightest.

"Why you little-"

"Oh my god, shut up!" Thompson yelled, gripping the wheel tightly, silencing the vehicle. "Another dimension is another plane of existence running alongside our own, where simple aspects of our existence potentially don't even exist, ranging from things as small as switching right and left to differences that change the laws of physics!"

"Huh," Dipper breathed, surprised. "Yeah, that's pretty much the gist. Thanks, Thompson."

"Yeah, sure." Thompson rubbed his head. Where did you need to go again? I've just been kind of driving in circles while you were telling the story."

Dipper had not yet told his teen companions of his plan to meet up with Lil' Gideon and was still debating whether or not to reveal such information. He did not know the group's thoughts on the little shyster and did not feel like explaining a whole other story, of which he was not even a part, and said nothing of the matter. However, his stomach did, growling unwillingly in the silence that followed Thompson's statement.

"Well, I guess there's our answer," Lee chuckled. "Let's get this kid some breakfast. He sure needs it after everything that happened yesterday."

Dipper couldn't help but smile at the kind recommendation, but Robbie just scoffed. "You guys wanna hit up Greasy's?" Dipper had expected the minivan to erupt in cheers, but to his surprise, the group was not very enthusiastic.

"Eh," Nate began, shaking his head, "Every time I go there, I leave with a stomachache."

"Same," Tambry added, still not looking up from her phone.

Lee's eyes shot open, a grand smile following. "Dude, I got it!" He grabbed Thompson's shoulder across from him, making the vehicle swerve slightly. "Ask your mom to make us some pancakes!"

"Oh my gosh! Yes!" Tambry exclaimed, her eyes finally meeting something other than her cellular device. "Her pancakes are the best I've ever had!"

"Whaddya say Thompson?" Lee asked, pounding the roof with his fist in a chant. "Thompson! Thompson! Thompson!" The rest of the teens joined in, filling the car with eagerness and infectious energy.

"Alright, Alright!" Thompson answered, silencing the car. "We can ask my mom." The car exploded in cheers, and Thompson flipped his blinker on, turning onto a side road. "Is that alright, Dipper?"

Another grumble echoed through the van. Dipper, obviously hungry, still contemplated this decision. He had told Gideon he was ready for their exchange, but he held the power as far as he could tell. Dipper was in possession of this desirable item, and given everything the little con artist put his family through, Gideon could wait a little longer. However, Dipper was not without his manners, pulling out the phone his trade partner had given him and sending a text that said: Something came up, I'll be there as soon as I can. Some food sounded absolutely stellar right about now.

"Sounds good to me," Dipper replied, prompting another roar of cheers, even from Robbie.

#

The teens were right: These were some of the best pancakes Dipper had ever had. They were perfectly golden and Thompson's mother even threw in some sprinkled sugar on top and butter on the side. If he didn't know any better, Dipper would have believed these soft, warm stacks were straight from a diner. He looked around the table with an amused smile and saw Lee and Nate having their own syrup race, with Thompson exclaiming not to make a mess. A few heavy footsteps from the floor above caught the preteen's attention, their force seeming to shake the building to its core.

"What was that?" Dipper asked, concerned, eyes gazing stupidly at the ceiling.

"That's just my little sister," Thompson replied, sticking another syrup-drenched piece of deliciousness in his mouth. "That's how she normally walks. You'd think she was an elephant." He added with a whisper. The footsteps grew in intensity, and a bellowing voice echoed from the stairwell.

"Mom!" it exclaimed, sounding more like a man than a girl. "You made pancakes and didn't tell me!?"

"Sorry, sweetheart!" Thompon's mom called from the kitchen, rustling her car keys. "I'm late to meet the girls!" She opened the back door to leave. "Thompson, I'm taking the sedan so you can have the minivan for the day. And save some for your sister, for goodness sake!"

Thompson let his shoulder fall slack. "Aww, man."

Grenda, with her short but imposing stature, suddenly burst into the dining room, disregarding the plate and silverware laid out for her and taking a whole handful of pancakes. She glared at the teens defensively like a bear protecting its young as she retreated back up the stairs but gave Dipper a small wave and smile before disappearing. Huh, small world.

After a few minutes of content munching, another crash resounded around the house, this time much louder.

"I think your sister just faceplanted up the stairs again, Thompson," Tambry pointed out, eating with one hand and scrolling with the other. Way ahead of her, the teen in question rose to his feet, perplexity plastered on his face.

"No, that came from the garage," he clarified, wiping his mouth and politely scooting past the other's chairs and opening the door to the garage. Dipper, equally curious, followed the larger kid and was shocked by what they saw. Laying under the minivan like a mechanic was a green, overalled goblin, picking at the complex underbelly of the vehicle.

Sensing their presence, the goblin slid out from under the car and looked up from his work, revealing bright yellow eyes and a mischievous grin that stretched across his ugly, wart-ridden face. Thompson gasped, staggering backward in surprise, catching the attention of those still sitting at the table. The goblin wiped his hands on his legs and clambered out from under the minivan, dusting off his overalls with a satisfied huff.

"Hey there, kiddos!" the goblin greeted cheerfully, his voice surprisingly friendly. "Just doing a bit of tinkering on this ol' girl," He winked, smile unfaltering. "Guess that woman ain't the only one that lives here." He rubbed his chin in thought. "Thought it was just her and that weird dog." A faint shiver wracked his body. "That thing gives me the creeps."

"We don't have a dog." Thompson recovered from his initial surprise and leaned down to whisper to Dipper; the rest of the group now congregated in the doorway. "Is that the Gideon guy?" Before Dipper could say 'absolutely not,' the Goblin spoke up again.

"Oh, there's a whole lot of ya!" He exclaimed. "Where are my manners?! Name's Beauzle!" He held a grimy hand towards Dipper since he was the closest one height-wise, but instead of matching the friendliness of the apparent home invader, the preteen crossed his arms. Dipper, being the nerd he is, knew the basics about cars, but he was unsure what treasures would be held in a Chrysler older than him.

"What are you doing in my friend's house?" It was clear to Dipper that this Goblin was searching for riches or valuable items in the garage, as boxes were overturned and their contents spilled onto the floor. He mentally noted this behavior matched his previous encounter with one of these conniving little creatures. Although it was brief and indirect, he had witnessed a goblin swindle Old Man Mcgucket's golden tooth and scurry away with its new prize. The poor hillbilly went berserk, trying to catch the thief to no avail. Call it a hunch, but a goblin rummaging through your garage seemed like bad news to the boy in the pine tree hat.

"Ah, straight to business," the goblin said, grabbing the straps of his overalls with admiration and a hint of caution in his eyes. "I like you, kid."

"Answer the question, short stack," Robbie butted in.

"Ohh dude, get it," Lee exclaimed. "Like a stack of pancakes, HA!" Nate punched him swiftly in the arm.

Robbie clenched his fist. "No for real. If this guy doesn't answer my question, I'm feeding it to Thompson." The teen in question gulped at Robbie's two-sided threat, knowing full well he would be forced into it against his wishes.

Despite being outnumbered and severely outsized, the Goblin chuckled, "That's nonsense!" Beauzle stepped closer to emphasize his point. "I know your human diets do not include sentient flesh, and I assure you I mean no harm." He clasped his hands behind his back. "I am simply looking for items you humans would not miss, collecting them as a sort of trinket, if you will."

"So you're stealing," Dipper accused.

"I like to call it 'taking advantage of your resources.'" He winked at the perplexed group before him. "I've been staking out this joint for a while now, and there are plenty of things that woman doesn't touch."

Thompson's face palmed. "My mom is going to kill me if stuff starts going missing."

Feeling sympathy for the older boy, Dipper decided this issue was now his. He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out the journal; the glistening emblem of the mysterious six-fingered hand attracted the Goblin's interest. Dipper began to mindlessly flip the brittle pages, searching for an account of this creature and a guide on how to make it go away.

"Look," Dipper began, "Mr. Bugle, I think you've outstayed your-"

One of the yellowed pages slipped out of the journal and careened slowly to the floor in an elegant yet menacing manner. The paper landed softly on the ground, and its illustration caught the attention of all in its presence. The dark eye of the triangular creature seemed to paralyze the teens in the room, invoking shivers down their spines. They couldn't explain it, but somehow, they associated this picture with fire, agony, and laughter.

"Huh," Beauzle blurted out, snapping the humans out of their trance. "That'll do just nicely." With unexpected speed, the Goblin jolted forward, snagging the paper in his grimy hands. He leaped up onto the hood of the minivan, now standing on equal footing with the tall teens. "Thanks for the drawing, kid!"

"Hey, that's mine!" Dipper exclaimed, desperately swiping at the small creature. Smile still not faltering, Beauzle dodged the grab with deceptive agility and rushed to the corner of the room. Before anyone could reach him, he leaped into an undiscovered burrow in the ground.

"Tally-Ho, lads!" The Goblin shouted, with roaring cackles echoing through the tunnel.

#

"Have a great day! Thank you for visiting the Mystery Shack!" The door shut with a creak, and I slumped back in my chair. Only an hour into the business day, and it's already dragging.

"You're really good at that," Wendy observed, standing beside me.

"What?" I glanced at her. "The customer service thing? Back home I-"

"I meant lying to people. Especially about how you feel."

"What the heck are you even-"

"The second the gift shop bell rang, you perked right up with a smile when you were moping just seconds before."

"Gee. Thanks." I set my head on the desk, not wishing to participate in this conversation, but Wendy persisted.

"If I didn't know you, I never would have assumed something was wrong."

"Nothing's wrong!" I exclaimed, sitting up. Wendy just raised her eyebrow, prompting me to sigh and set my head back down. "I don't really like talking about my feelings, alright?"

"I'm not asking you to." She sat next to me. "But I still want you to talk."

"About what?" I asked, exhausted.

"About your twin sister, your home, your world. I'm not super big on the whole feelings thing either, but I can tell you're hurting, buddy. All I'm saying is that maybe just talking a bit might help you." I opened my mouth to respond, but Wendy's phone suddenly came to life. "Sorry, dude." She pulled out and silenced it, but it started ringing again almost immediately after. She glanced at me with a slight frown.

"It's ok, Wendy," I replied, sitting up and crossing my arms, gazing at the ceiling now. "It could be important.

She pointed at me and said, "This conversation isn't over." I just sat there and hoped she would forget all about it. It seemed like my prayer had been answered after she flipped open her phone and set it to her ear. Her face went level, and I heard somebody frantically speaking on the line. After a couple 'yeahs' and 'uh-huhs', she locked eyes with me and handed the phone over with slight concern laced in her voice. "It's for you." Perplexed and a little intrigued, I took the phone from her grasp.

"Hello?"

"Matt! Matt! Matt!" The voice yelled.

"Relax, Lee, I'm right here. What's up?"

"Ok, so, long story short: Me and the gang are at Thompson's house, right? and this green little troll came out of nowhere, started making a mess, and totally yoinked one of the pages in Dipper's book!"

"Did you guys capture it?" An uneasy feeling made its way into my chest.

"No, it slipped away with whatever that paper was."

"What was it? Did you see what was on it?"

"I have no idea, but it had a drawing of a triangle with arms and legs. It looked super whack!"

My blood went cold, and I shot to my feet, startling Wendy. "Are you sure?"

"I might have failed geometry, but I know my shapes, dude!" I heard him physically shiver. "I don't know what that thing was, but it felt like it was staring into my soul. No offense to the two gingers, of course." What sounded like a loud slam on the other line made Lee yelp.

"What are you doing?" Robbie's voice came through, fainter than the other teen. "The kid said not to call that Matt loser!"

"He can help us, and you know it!"

"Give me that phone!" A struggle was heard, and then the line went dead.

Wendy looked at me, worry plastered on her face. "What was that-"

"Do you know how to get to Thompson's house?"

"Yeah. What's going on?"

I rushed over to the employee door, grabbed the golf cart keys, and tossed them to the other redhead.

"I'll explain on the way."

#

"Matt! Wendy! Where you freeloaders at!" Stand Pines exclaimed while walking into the gift shop, looking sharp for a round old man wearing his suit. As he walked further into the room, he noticed a note lying on the cashier's desk in rushed handwriting. "What's this?" Stan inspected the note, flipping up his eyepatch. "'Out raiding a goblin's hoard, be back soon with treasure.'" A wicked grin found its way onto the greedy old man's face. He tossed the note aside and walked out the door, saying, "As long as they come back with Soos' weight in gold, I'm fine with it."

#

The golf cart sped down the winding road, the hum of the electric motor barely audible over the wind whipping past. Sporadic trees lined both sides, the towering pines' needles casting skinny shadows that moved with the wind. After a few moments of zipping down the road, I quickly surmised that no golf cart should be able to move this fast, assuming Wendy convinced Soos to beef up its engine. As we drove, I relayed what Lee had told me and recounted what I had told her after the ghost and gnome inconvenience, painting the severity of the situation quite clearly. Surprisingly, She didn't ask any questions and only pushed the pedal to the medal.

Despite being midday on a Monday, the town seemed alive as we raced past. Greasy's diner was packed with patrons after being closed for Pioneer Day, and even the Tent of Telepathy had many patrons lining the car sale lot next door. Other vehicles littered the road throughout our path, becoming quite the obstacle and slowing us down tremendously. Wendy, thinking quickly on her feet, pulled us off the road and claimed to know a shortcut. As we veered onto a narrower path, the forest closed in around us, the air cooler and filled with the scent of pine and earth. The golf cart bounced over the uneven terrain, but with admirable skill for someone without a license, Wendy kept it steady, eyes fixed on the road.

Breaking through the dense wall of trees, Wendy and I finally arrived at Thompson's house to find the double garage door open with the group of teens gathering around a hole in the floor. After Wendy parked outside, I noticed two people missing as we rushed over.

"Where are Dipper and Robbie?" I asked, glancing at the teens.

"They went after the goblin!" Thompson exclaimed, pointing at the shallow pit.

"Tell me everything that happened."

After a brief exchange of notes, I had a solid idea of where this Goblin was headed. I hoped I was wrong, but all signs pointed to it.

"So this Beauzle guy was here looking for valuable items and had an overly friendly demeanor?" The teens nodded. "Almost business-like in nature?"

"I guess you could say that," Nate replied. "He sounded like one of those pushy car dealership guys, like Bud Gleeful."

Lee snapped his fingers. "Yeah, he told Dr. Funtimes that he liked that he was 'straight to business' or something."

"Great!" I threw my hands up in the air. "That's just great!"

"Why are you asking things like that?" Wendy inquired. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"You know black markets, right? Well, I want you to imagine that atmosphere but full of supernatural creatures and oddities. The vendors and patrons are all sketchy monsters that try to haggle and barter with one another, and if you're a human and discovered down there, you're as good as dead, and your body parts will be sold to the crypt keeper!" The group before me went silent at this revelation. "And now a twelve-year-old and a brooding jackass are probably about to walk straight into it."

"Does this place have a name?" Wendy asked, speaking up.

"The Crawl Space."

I stepped forward and pulled the amulet out of my pocket, peering into the dark hole. The jewel faintly glowed as I held it up, casting a soft, ethereal light into the darkness below. The teens watched silently, unsure of how to proceed and obviously intimidated by-

"Are you an alien?" Lee asked.

"What? Dude, no!"

"Just making sure."

I rolled my eyes at the stupid question. "We need to go after them," I declared, my voice steady despite the rising apprehension in my chest. The crawlspace was something that was hardly explored nor explained, appearing only once in the graphic novel released years after the show ended. I had a vague idea of what to expect, but Dipper and Robbie had no clue what they were about to stumble into and would probably need all the help they could get. "Who's coming with me?"

Wendy nodded and stood beside me, tapping the hatchet housed on her waist.

"Wendy, did you not hear what he just said?" Nate asked.

Supporting his friend's idea, Lee said, "Yeah, I don't want to be sold as spare parts!" He rubbed his arms. "I like my parts."

"Hey man, it's your choice whether to tag along, but I'm going," she replied. "No way I'm leaving my two friends down there like that."

"Oh, who am I kidding?" Lee stepped forward. "I can't leave my bros to fate like that."

I addressed the other three teens. "Look, I can tell you guys want no part in this, and I don't blame you. Just stay here and wait for us to get back." I was standing on the edge of the hole now. "Or go get help if we don't." Without a second thought, I leaped right into the darkness and ignited the shield to cushion my quick descent. The fall wasn't far, but the tunnel ahead seemed to go deeper underground and become narrower as it went. Wendy jumped down beside me, tucking into a roll to ensure her safety. Lee was a different story. Instead of letting gravity do the work, he got on his knees and climbed down, presumably how Dipper and Robbie managed to get down.

I raised my hand up, encasing our bodies in a bright red light. "Ready?"

Wendy nodded, her eyes reflecting the glow of the amulet. "Let's do this."

The three of us ventured forth into the darkness, the tunnel narrowing and twisting as we delved deeper underground. The air grew colder and heavier, carrying with it a musty scent that made me wrinkle my nose in distaste. Wendy walked beside me, her hand resting on the handle of her hatchet, ready for whatever may come our way. Lee trailed behind us, his breaths quick and nervously clinging to his limbs.

As we navigated the winding path, the soft glow of the amulet in my hand illuminated our way, casting eerie shadows on the rough walls. The silence that enveloped us was suffocating, broken only by the distant sound of water dripping somewhere in the depths. I held the amulet high, trying to see what lay ahead.

We continued down the winding tunnel, the atmosphere growing more tense with each step. The air was thick with an oppressive stillness, broken only by the occasional drip of water echoing through the darkness. As we rounded a corner, the tunnel opened into a larger cavern, with a space bustling with activity like how I had described: A secret underground black market where supernatural creatures congregate and conduct their business, dimly illuminated by flickering torches mounted along the walls. I extinguished the light of the amulet, not wanting to attract unwanted attention to our vantage point above the shop square. Stalls made from old wooden crates and tattered cloth lined the walls, each one overflowing with an array of magical goods and an equally magical creature behind them. Bottles of shimmering potions, enchanted trinkets, and mysterious artifacts were displayed enticingly. Creatures of all shapes and sizes milled about, moving freely throughout the cavern, while some hid their appearances under cloaks and hoods, casting suspicious glances at those bustling through the market. The air was thick with the scent of incense and exotic spices, mingling with the earthy aroma of the underground space. In addition to the torches, soft, eerie lights from enchanted lanterns hung overhead casting strange, dancing shadows across the walls. The murmur of hushed conversations, the clinking of glass bottles, and the occasional haggling over prices made its way to our ears.

"This just might be the wildest thing I've ever seen," Lee announced in a whisper full of awe, eyes glued to a werewolf that looked like the mailman with a sly grin offering a rare moonstone to a bunch of gnomes.

"I'll say," Wendy agreed, watching a hand witch in the next stall demonstrate the power of a cursed ring to a group of fairies flitting around her table, offering luminescent flowers and enchanted herbs as trade. It was clear each stall offered something unique, and the air was charged with the promise of discovery and danger.

"Any sign of them?" I asked, scanning the area below, ironically looking for something normal rather than out of the ordinary.

"No, not yet," Wendy replied.

"Dude, I think I might need glasses or something," Lee chimed in, squinting hard at the figures below.

"Yeah, me too," I agreed with a scoff. "We should get down there for a closer look."

Lee looked at me incredulously. "Are you serious?"

"Don't worry, I have an idea."

#

"Alright, kid," Robbie whispered to his acquaintance. "You've got guts; I'll give you that, but this is crazy! We are way too deep right now." He raised his voice only slightly. "Literally!"

Dipper was creeping slowly just in front of him, sticking to the shadows with every step. They had managed to venture far into the underground black market, their eyes wide with a mix of wonder and trepidation, expecting danger at every turn. The stalls around them were teeming with magical items and creatures, unlike anything they had ever seen before. Just ahead, down the alley the pair were navigating, Dipper saw a small group of gnomes get kicked out the side door of the pub. Not wanting to push their luck, he and Robbie ducked behind some trash, avoiding detection. They did not avoid the smell, however, and Robbie had to cover his mouth to prevent himself from vomiting. They heard a voice saying something about 'trafficking butterflies' and the slam of the door followed by a few mutters and a downcast 'Shmebulock.' Despite ending on good terms, the young boy was unsure of his standing with the gnomes. Not wanting to find out, he made sure to stay hidden until the group of little men disappeared.

Robbie was the first to stand up, spitting on the ground in hopes of relieving himself of the stench. "That's it!" The smell lingered. "I am so over this!" He crossed his arms. "I don't even know why I came with you in the first place."

Dipper didn't even look at him, ready to press forward. "Look, if you want to turn back, that's fine with me." He started to walk forward. "I have to get that paper back."

"What's so important about a little triangle anyway? His hat looked so freaking stupid."

"That's none of your business."

"You sound like Matt," Robbie scoffed.

Dipper whirled around to face the older teen. "What did you say?"

"You heard me, dipshit." Robbie smiled, taking a liking to this new nickname. "I seriously don't know what you think you can achieve without him."

Dipper stepped up to the teen, not intimidated by his size. "I don't need him or you! You'll just slow me down or get in my way!" Dipper's voice was laced with a mix of frustration and anger as he locked eyes with Robbie, refusing to back down.

Robbie raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by Dipper's fiery defiance. "Oh yeah? And what makes you so sure you can handle all of this on your own, huh?" His tone was mocking, but there was slight intrigue in his eyes.

Dipper clenched his fists, feeling a surge of frustration at Robbie's taunts. "I have the Journal! I have knowledge and determination. That's more than enough to take on whatever comes my way."

Robbie let out a derisive snort. "Knowledge and determination, huh? Bold words for a kid who's in way over his head."

Before Dipper could retort, a sudden commotion broke out in the market at the end of the alley.

"We have had it with idiocy, Beauzle!" A voice yelled.

Dipper's scowl turned into a cocky smirk at the words the pair overheard, prompting Robbie to roll his eyes at the preteen. "Ahh, what the heck. I'd love to stick it to Matt anyway." Dipper nodded in agreement, and they set their eyes forward to the scene before them.

Two hulking creatures stood over the goblin, a mighty cyclops with spiky shoulder pads and an orange beard and a towering ogre with leathery skin and a dull rounded head, both wielding clubs the size of Robbie. Beauzle cowered on the ground, his small frame trembling as he tried to reason with the intimidating creatures that loomed over him. His green skin seemed to pale as he trembled, his hands clasped together pleadingly. His high-pitched voice echoed through the square, filled with desperation, "I swear, I didn't mean no harm! I didn't know what it was, honest!"

The cyclops snorted, a sound that was half-laugh, half-growl. "You expect us to believe that, goblin? You brought a cursed incantation into our market. Do you have any idea what that could have done?"

The ogre nodded, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder. "The boss doesn't take kindly to threats, even accidental ones."

The cyclops raised his club menacingly. "You're not welcome here anymore, goblin. The boss has decided. You're to be banished."

Beauzle's eyes widened. "Please!" He lowered his head, seeking forgiveness. "Ask him to reconsider! I'll do anyth-"

"The boss has already made up his mind," the ogre declared, lifting Beauzle up by the neck and bringing him up to eye level. "Pray he doesn't change it, for it will be your head next." The goblin gulped at the threat and was hurled across the square, landing at the alley's entrance where the two humans were hiding, prompting them to pull behind cover once more. After rising to his feet, Beauzle held his head down low, dejectedly walking into the darkness.

Realizing that the thief would walk right past them, Dipper and Robbie exchanged a glance. Dipper set his fist into his palm, and Robbie smirked, waiting for the goblin to take the final step. Once he did, Robbie grabbed him, lifted him, and pinned him to the wall by his shoulders. Dipper swiftly revealed himself as well, his brow furrowed as he locked eyes with the startled goblin.

"Hey Beauzle," the boy began, and Robbie tightened his hold on the goblin, making sure it couldn't attempt a sudden escape. "What happened to the paper you stole?"

Beauzle, quickly recognizing who his subduers were, scowled. "You! Why didn't you tell me your drawing was one of pure evil!" He balled his fists. "It just cost me everything!"

In truth, Dipper had not known the true extent or content of the paper he was tasked to give to Gideon. While the words he heard to describe the incantation were concerning, the promise of answers to Matt's lies was too good to pass up. The preteen did not know how Gideon would uphold his end of the bargain, but he certainly sounded like he knew what he was doing.

"I need to get that paper back. Now," Dipper stated. "It's very important."

Robbie leaned in closer, his voice low but firm. "Where is it? Tell us, and maybe we can help you out of this mess, short stack."

The goblin looked at the two blankly. "Do you even know what you had in your possession?" He pointed a finger down the ally. "My boss was terrified when he saw that drawing, and nothing, and I mean nothing, scares him!"

"Did he say what it was?" Dipper asked, hoping to get an answer.

"A demon named Bill Cipher." Slight fear made its way into the goblin's voice. "The boss said he's one of impossible power, able to enter the minds and dreams of others when summoned." Clarity dawned on Dipper's face. Matt couldn't hide anything if this Bill could read the redhead's thoughts. The truth would finally be revealed after so many lies if Dipper got this paper to Gideon and completed their deal.

"So that's why you want it," Robbie said, looking at Dipper. "To look inside Matt's head, right?" Not wanting to lie as he had been lied to, Dipper nodded. "Makes sense, I don't trust that guy either." Robbie shook the creature in his grasp. "Where is it?"

Beauzle raised his hands defensively. "The Boss took it from me!"

"Where would he put it?" Dipper questioned.

"In his horde," the goblin answered. "That's where the boss keeps all his valuable items, but I don't know where it is, only the building.

"Take us to it."

"Are you nuts?!" The creature raised his craggy hands in the air. "Didn't you hear what those two hulks said? They'll kill me if they find me down here!"

Robbie pulled Beauzle off the wall, holding him in the air. "Then we'd better be discrete, so they won't have your hide."

Silence enveloped the small group as Beauzle thought it over. "Ah, what the heck." The goblin laid his arms at his side. "If my former boss is mad at me for a misunderstanding, then I should at least give him a real reason to be mad." The two humans glanced at each other, surprised at the switch in loyalty.

#

Illuminated by candlelight, within the halls of Northwest Manor, Gideon Gleeful sat before active monitors and other instruments, a stark contrast from the vintage walls around him. He stared intently at the screen, fitted with a large headset that was quite suitable for his exorbitant hair. Soundwaves bounced around the screen as he listened intently to the murmurs his target produced. A map of the Gravity Falls Valley was displayed on an adjacent monitor, a singular red dot transmitting its location, seemingly just beyond the outskirts of the small town. However, Gideon knew there was more to it than just that.

The menacing ten-year-old had been listening in from the device he had given Dipper Pines for quite a while now. He had been concerned with the setback the young Pines boy mentioned but refused to elaborate earlier that day. He was not willing to put this little partnership at risk, ensuring that his prize was returned—not his newfound acquaintance with Dipper, no, but his fruitful business with Preston Northwest. After comparing notes, it seemed the two had similar interests regarding the supernatural entities of this town.

Mr. Northwest had come to Gideon first, which was quite a surprise given the man's stature and fortune. The Gleefuls may be an influential family within the town, but they weren't exactly drowning in money like Northwest's usual associates. It seemed power was the only common trait required to be held in good standing with the patriarch, and Gideon was not going to complain about that.

"Has my funding increased the effectiveness of your scheme, Mr. Gleeful?" a voice from behind asked, prompting Gideon to swivel around in his chair, taking off his headset. In the doorway, Mr. Northwest stood with crossed arms, an expectant gaze peering at the monitors.

"Yes indeed," Gideon replied. "Thanks to you, I now have eyes and ears everywhere."

The billionaire gave a curt nod. "Just one of the perks of my generosity. How about our particular person of interest?"

"I know exactly where he and the incantation are."

"Splendid. Is there anything more you require than the armor my scientists have been working on?"

Gideon placed a hand on his chin thoughtfully. "Dynamite."

"Anything else?"

"And that minion your associate utilized to carry out his plot. This 'Crawl Space' seems to be quite the freak show."

"Consider it done."

#

Our disguises were flimsy but necessary as we tiptoed deeper into the Crawl Space, a den of monsters and supernatural beings. I gripped Lee's arm tightly, trying to keep him from stumbling in his paper bag "mask" we found and dawned on his head

"Stick close, Lee," I whispered, trying to keep my voice low to avoid detection.

Wendy snickered, adjusting her flannel cuffs to hang loosely. "This is insane. I can't believe we're doing this. Vampires and gorgons? Really?"

"Do you have a better plan? Just stick close and follow my lead," I whispered, pulling my hood lower to obscure my face. "If anyone asks, just hiss or growl or something. We're here to blend in, remember?"

Lee stumbled slightly as we reached the shop square, a bustling hub of bizarre and eccentric creatures peddling their wares. The atmosphere was thick with the smell of musty books, strange herbs, and who knows what else.

A creature with the body of a raccoon and the wings of a bat swooped down, holding up a glowing jar. "Eyeballs of Newt, guaranteed to give you 20/20 vision! Only five Slime Coins!"

"Uh, no thanks," Wendy said, trying to keep a straight face. "We're just passing through." Lee just hissed, making the creature back off.

Seeing that we were no longer being hassled, a sentient cactus wearing a tiny sombrero waddled up to us, jingling a collection of enchanted pins, presumably from its own body. "Pins of Power! Each one grants a unique ability! Buy three, get one free!"

"Not today, buddy," I said, steering Lee away from the cactus to ensure he didn't get a face full of spines. "We're in a hurry."

A furry creature with multiple eyes and a monocle eyed us suspiciously. "Who did you say you were?" Me and Wendy shared a look. "Haven't seen your kind around here before."

"We're new. Vampires from deep in the forest," Wendy said smoothly. "Just here to...uh, pick up some supplies."

The creature studied our group, eying us up and down before leaning in closer. "Be careful around here. The Crawl Space isn't friendly to newcomers. And watch out for the Crypt Keeper—he's always on the hunt for fresh bodies." I heard Lee gulp at the weight of her words, causing them to sink in. We couldn't afford to get caught. Dipper and Robbie's defiant mission was more dangerous than they knew, and we had to find them quickly.

"Yeah," I replied. "Thanks." I pushed past her with Wendy and Lee in tow. I did not give a second glance, but the creature continued to eye us as we went on our way, passing under a stone arch that added a second level to the square.

As we ventured deeper into the dark, damp Crawl Space, a sense of foreboding settled over me. The musty smell of old rot and decay filled my nostrils, and I could feel the weight of the creatures' gazes on us. This was the first time I was completely surrounded by all sorts of zany creatures - from tiny goblins to towering cyclops - and the reality of our situation hit me hard. The Crawl Space was no joke, despite all the idiotic creatures around us.

"See anything?" Lee whispered, his eyes still concealed behind the paper bag.

"Nothing," I muttered, frustration seeping into my voice as I scanned the maze-like pathways ahead. "They've got to be around here somewhere."

Our footsteps echoed off the stone walls as we pressed onward, trying to ignore the unsettling noises coming from hidden corners and crevices. "There's that cactus thing again. Are we going in circles? Where could they have gone?" Wendy muttered, her frustration creeping into her voice.

"Keep your eyes to the edges of the square, alleys, and things like that. Dipper and Robbie would have had to travel discreetly to get this far," I reminded them, trying to keep myself calm even as my heart pounded in my chest.

"Maybe they found a secret passage or something," Lee suggested optimistically, but he stumbled slightly and I steadied him, feeling a prickle of unease.

Wendy shot me a quick glance before turning her attention back to our surroundings. "Keep moving. Act natural." Natural. Right. As if leading a "gorgon" and pretending to be a vampire was natural behavior.

Suddenly, a deep voice boomed from behind us, accompanied by heavy footsteps. "Halt!"

We spun around, coming face-to-face with a towering cyclops and a hulking ogre blocking our path.

"Vampires and a gorgon, eh?" the cyclops rumbled, squinting at us with his singular eye. "You don't look like the usual suspects. Guess that tip about suspicious creatures was true."

"We're just passing through," Wendy said, trying to sound casual and failing miserably. "No need for trouble."

The ogre sniffed the air, a puzzled expression crossing its grotesque face. "You smell...odd. Not like any vampire I've met."

"Must be a new cologne," I joked weakly, inching backward as the stench of rotten fish wafted from the ogre's breath. "Eau de Blood."

The ogre snorted, its hot breath hitting us in the face. "Humans, more like. Think the Crypt Keeper will pay well for 'em?"

Panic surged through me as I realized our ruse had failed and we were in serious danger. "Look, we don't want any trouble," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt. "We were just leaving."

"Oh, you'll be leaving alright," the cyclops sneered, reaching out with a massive hand to grab me and Wendy, while the ogre hoisted Lee over its shoulder. The crowd of creatures parted, their whispers and snickers growing louder as we were carried away.

"Great plan, Matt," Wendy muttered sarcastically, her fear barely concealed behind her words. "Pretending to be vampires. What next, werewolves?"

"Hey, it almost worked," I shot back weakly, my mind racing as I tried to come up with a way out of this situation. But as we were dragged deeper into the Crawl Space, surrounded by mocking creatures and unknown dangers lurking in every shadowy corner, I couldn't help but wonder if we had made a huge mistake coming here.

"What a day, huh, Percy?" the ogre asked following the cyclops.

"Sure has," the creature replied. "First, that lying Beauzle and now a set of humans."

Lee tore off his disguise. "Wait, did you say Beauzle? The Goblin?" The two hulking creatures stopped in their tracks.

"Yeah," the ogre replied. "What of it?"

"That's the guy that stole from us!"

The ogre and cyclops looked at each other and marched to a corridor away from the crowds and market. Surprisingly, the two set us down, backs to the wall, and blocked the only way forward.

Puzzled, I let out a slow drawl of "Okay..." as we were set down. "Is he important or something?"

The Cyclops scoffed. "Hardly. It's what he had that was so important."

"The incantation?"

Once again, the two creatures shared a look. "How do humans know of this?"

"I stole it from somebody trying to summon the dream demon and held onto it for safekeeping, and then that goblin broke in and took it from us," I partially lied, emphasizing my words. "We came here to get it back."

"Hmm," the cyclops considered my words. "The boss would probably like to speak to them then."

The ogre agreed, "Yes, it seems we will have to postpone their trip to the crypt keeper."

The three of us looked at each other gratefully, Lee most of all, before the two creatures picked us back up.

#

Dipper and Robbie crept through the dimly lit tunnels under the Crawl Space, their only guide a flickering lantern held by Beauzle, the sly goblin held a twisted grin. The creature had led them to a hatch under a rug in his now evicted flat, a secret passage that led directly to the "Boss's" building for easy exchanges. The air was thick with dust, and as they breathed in the musty air, it left a dry and dusty taste in their mouths, making them thirsty and uncomfortable. In the silence of the tunnel, they could hear the faint echoing of their steps. The goblin's footsteps were barely audible as he led them through the narrow passage. The only sounds were the soft shuffling of Dipper and Robbie's feet, the occasional flickering of the lantern, and the distant echoes of the Boss's minions, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

"Remind me again why we're trusting this guy?" Robbie muttered, glancing suspiciously at Beauzle. "This guy looks like he's straight out of a bad fairy tale."

Dipper was flipping through his journal, attempting to find any information of what lay ahead in the wavering light, his expression serious. "We don't have a choice, Robbie. If Gideon really has answers about Matt, we need to get that incantation. And Beauzle's the only one who knows how to find it."

Beauzle chuckled, his eyes gleaming in the lantern light. "Ah, humans. Always so quick to doubt. But worry not, young ones. Beauzle will lead you true."

After a few more moments of wandering through the dark, the goblin halted the group, an iron hatch above them. The faint sound of heavy footsteps could be heard on the other side. Dipper motioned for silence, his heart pounding. They pressed themselves against the wall, peering up at the hatch when Beauzle suddenly began climbing up Dipper and stood on his shoulders.

"Hey!" the boy complained. "Watch it!" Robbie found this amusing until the goblin leaped to his shoulders next.

"What are you doing?" The teen exclaimed, a little too loud.

"Quiet!" The Goblin whispered. "Do you want them to find us?" Beauzle then pushed the hatch up ever so slightly, allowing light to flood in through the crack and gazed at what lay above. "There are two guards at the door, armed."

"We're never getting past them," Robbie whispered, frustration evident in his voice. "This is insane, Pines."

Dipper frowned, his mind racing. "Matt's been lying to us, Robbie. He's hiding something big, and Gideon's the only one who seems to know the truth. I want answers."

Robbie rolled his eyes but nodded. "Fine, but if this goes south, it's on you."

Beauzle grinned mischievously and slipped a small vial from his coat. "Don't worry, lads. I got something that will send 'em running." He unsealed the capsule, and some sort of essence began to seep out of it, mixing with the air above.

"What's that smell?" Dipper heard one of the guards ask.

"I dunno," a second voice replied.

"AW, DUDE!" the first exclaimed. "Did you fart?"

"What? No! I don't even—" The second voice suddenly gagged in disgust. "That was clearly you! Mine don't smell that bad!"

"Yes they do!"

"Whoever smelt it dealt it!"

"Whoever made the rhyme did the crime!"

"Whatever! Let's just get out of here and leave the door conveniently unguarded."

They heard the sound of retching, followed by running footsteps. When the noise had dissipated, Beauzle dared to open the hatch a little wider, peering out before sliding gracefully through the opening with a satisfied grin. Dipper and Robbie exchanged a hesitant glance before following suit, emerging to see the entrance of a grand building etched into the cavern wall.

"This is it," Beauzle declared, hands on his hips, peering at the door before him. "Let's go find that vault."

#

The cyclops and ogre marched us through a grand building etched into the wall, their heavy footsteps echoing ominously. We twisted and turned through dark passageways, lit only by flickering torches casting eerie shadows on the stone walls. The tension in the air was palpable as we approached what I assumed was their boss's lair. We were led into a magnificent chamber, the walls lined with shimmering crystals and glowing fungi. The cyclops and ogre stopped before an imposing, shadowy figure sitting atop a throne carved from obsidian, lined with gold. The figure was shrouded in darkness, with only a pair of glowing green eyes visible.

"Master, we have brought intruders," the cyclops announced, his voice trembling slightly. "They know about the incantation to summon Bill Cipher. That's how Beauzle the goblin obtained it, he stole it from them."

The figure leaned forward, and the atmosphere grew even more tense. "They were the previous owners?" the deep, gravelly voice rumbled. "Bring them closer."

We were shoved forward, our hearts pounding in unison. The room fell silent as the figure slowly rose from the throne, the anticipation building. Wendy and I exchanged a nervous glance, bracing ourselves for the monstrous reveal. The figure stepped into the light, and we all gasped. But instead of a terrifying beast, a small, green-clad leprechaun with a bushy red beard and a tiny top hat stood before us. He barely reached the cyclops's knee, and his eyes twinkled mischievously.

"Well, well, well," the leprechaun said in a thick Irish accent, rubbing his hands together. "What have we here? A couple of vampires and a gorgon? Or should I say, a couple of humans playin' dress-up, meddling with things they shouldn't be?"

Wendy burst out laughing, unable to contain herself. "You're the boss?" she asked, incredulous.

The leprechaun puffed up his chest, looking indignant. "Aye, I am! Name's Seamus O'Reilly, and I run this here place called the Crawl Space. Don't let me size fool ya. I've got power ye can't even imagine!"

"Uh, sure," I said, trying to keep a straight face. "Look, Seamus, we don't want any trouble. We were just looking for our friends and the incantation and got a bit lost."

Seamus narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing us. "Lost, ye say? In my domain? That sounds mighty suspicious."

The cyclops cleared his throat, attempting to get back on track. Size appeared to be a touchy subject for the Irish creature. "Master Seamus, as I said earlier, they know about the incantation to summon Bill Cipher."

Seamus's expression shifted from one of pride to one of anger. "Ah, yes. Bill Cipher, that accursed triangle. Ye dare mess with such dark magic?"

"We didn't mess with it," I said quickly. "I had it for safekeeping, having stolen it myself from someone attempting to summon him, but Beauzle the goblin stole it from me."

Seamus's eyes narrowed. "For safekeeping, ye say? And yet, it was stolen. Seems it wasn't very safe with ye, was it?"

Wendy elbowed me lightly, noticing a hint of rage in my eyes. "Look, Seamus, we didn't mean for any of this to happen," she explained. "We just want to find our friends, get what was ours, and get out of here."

Seamus's gaze softened slightly as he looked us over. "Wait a minute...ye two are gingers, like meself!" He broke into a wide grin. "Why didn't ye say so earlier? We redheads have to stick together."

Wendy and I exchanged a bewildered glance. "Uh, yeah," I said. "Gingers unite?"

Seamus chuckled, suddenly more friendly. "Ye know, decades ago, that Bill Cipher tried to strike a deal with me. Thought he could charm me into givin' up me gold and lucky charms, I'd wager. But I saw right through his tricks. Never trusted that shifty triangle."

"Smart move," Wendy said, playing along. "He's bad news."

"Indeed," Seamus agreed. "Now, about that incantation. Ye say ye had it for safekeeping? Bah! As I said, it's obviously not safe with ye, considering it was stolen."

"We just want to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands," I said earnestly. "We need to get it back."

Seamus scoffed. "Leave that to me, lad. It'll be much safer with someone who knows what they're doin'."

Wendy raised an eyebrow. "And you think that's you?"

"Aye," Seamus said confidently. "I've dealt with all manner of magical threats in me time. That incantation will be far safer with me than with a couple of kids."

"Ok, but we also need to find our friends," Lee protested.

Seamus waved his hand dismissively. "Shut ye trap, blondie!" Lee did just that. "You mentioned friends, miss…?

"Wendy," she answered.

"You mentioned friends, Miss Wendy," Seamus replied. "Are they human as well?"

"Yes, they wandered down here in search of the paper, too, and we have no idea where they are.

"Tell ye what, I'll help ye find yer friends. But the incantation stays with me. Deal?"

I hesitated, knowing we didn't have much choice. Our friends could easily become some monster's lunch if discovered. "Deal," I said finally.

Seamus grinned, clapping his hands. "Excellent! Now, let's get movin'. We've got friends to find and a goblin to track down."

As we followed the surprisingly cheerful leprechaun deeper into the tunnels, I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, we'd find Dipper and Robbie and get out of this mess in one piece. And who knows? With a bit of leprechaun luck on our side, anything was possible. However, as we followed Seamus and his hulking guards, the anticipation and dread seemingly seeping from the ground grew with every step. The guard's frantic warning about the vault echoed in my mind, ricocheting around my skull until it was my only thought, replacing my optimistic thoughts. I couldn't help but allow this torrent of thoughts to warp my mind, worrying about the consequences of what Dipper and Robbie might unleash if we didn't get to them in time.

Soon enough, much to my joy, we reached the massive, intricately carved door of the treasure vault, its edges glowing faintly with protective runes. Much to my dismay, the door was ajar, a clear sign that someone had forced their way inside. I gripped the amulet, its heat burning in my pocket.

"On three," Seamus whispered, his voice low but commanding. "One, two, three!"

We burst through the door, weapons raised and ready for anything. The scene before us was chaotic: Dipper, Robbie, and Beauzle were frantically stuffing the incantation and various treasures into a bag.

"Dipper! Robbie!" I shouted, my voice echoing in the vast chamber.

They froze, eyes wide with a mix of guilt and defiance. "Matt? Wendy?" Dipper stammered. "What are you doing here?"

"What are we doing here?" Wendy shot back with an angered scoff, her voice dripping with exasperation. "What are you doing here, stealing from a leprechaun?"

Before either human could answer for themselves, Beauzle hissed, his eyes darting around for an escape. "It's too late! We've got what we came for!"

Seamus's eyes turned a deep shade of red, matching the shade of his hair, his tiny fists clenching. "Ye think ye can steal from Seamus O'Reilly and get away with it? Think again!"

"We need this, Matt." Dipper clutched the incantation tighter, his eyes blazing with determination. "You don't understand."

My heart ached at the sight of my friend so conflicted. "Dipper, please. This incantation is too dangerous. If you or anyone else so much as utter those words, you WILL doom us all!" The franticness infecting my tone made Dipper's eyes grow wide, undoubtedly opening his own waves of excessive thoughts. "We have to keep it safe!" He shook his head vigorously at the

"Safe?" Dipper scoffed. "You mean like how you've kept everything else safe? How do I know you're not hiding something else from us?"

Wendy stepped forward, trying to diffuse the tension. "Dipper, we're on the same side. We're your friends. We just want to make sure no one gets hurt."

Robbie, standing protectively by Dipper's side, glared at me. "Yeah, well, maybe we're tired of being kept in the dark. Maybe it's time we made our own decisions."

Seamus stepped up, his eyes blazing with fury. "Enough of this nonsense! That incantation belongs to me vault, and ye'll hand it over this instant!" Despite being who knows how far underground, clouds started to form overhead, swirling over the leprechaun.

Dipper shook his head, backing away. "I can't. We need it to understand what's really going on. We can't just ignore the truth."

Beauzle, sensing the rising tension, bared his sharp teeth. "We're leaving. Try and stop us, and you'll regret it."

I took a deep breath, trying to reach Dipper through the chaos. "Dipper, listen to me. I know I've made mistakes, but trusting Gideon and using that incantation is not the way to find the truth. It's only going to bring more danger."

Dipper's eyes softened for a moment, conflicted. "But how do I know you're telling the truth now? How can I trust you?"

Before I could answer, a deafening explosion rocked the vault. The ceiling above us crumbled, and we were showered with debris. I instinctively covered Wendy and Lee with the shield provided by the amulet, knocking aside the dangerous rocks from above. As the dust settled and the sunlight penetrated the vault from above, two rather large figures cast ominous shadows onto the recovering group below. The two descended with brave leaps into the chamber, and with a mighty clash, they caused the vault to shake. A double knot twisted my stomach when I realized who had arrived. The amulet noticed as well.

"Hello, friends!" Gideon's voice boomed from the loudspeaker of the smaller, sleeker, and certainly more agile Gideon Bot he was encased in. "Thanks for finding the incantation for me. Now, be good kids and hand it over-" his tone turned dreadful with the bot's eyes matching the child maniac's demeanor- "or else my associate here will start to tear you a limb. From. Limb."

My gaze shifted to an all-too-familiar ugly creature beside Gideon. It smirked, fangs sharp as ever, clearly eager for a rematch. Its green, hairy skin was tense, daring anyone from our party to make the first move. A shiver ran down my spine as I locked eyes with the Gremloblin, red eyes of its own staring deep into mine. Here, the eleven of us stood in a triangular standoff, clearly all with the same triangular prize in mind.

"Oh, yes, that's right!" Gideon continued. "You've met my associate before, haven't you?" I held fast, the heat of the amulet igniting and racing across the shield in a glorious red flame in the face of its abuser's taunts.

"Yes, Gideon," I replied as cooly as I could, fighting back the amulet's burning influence, "we've met, and just like before, he will be running for the hills when we're through." Although I felt its presence, the amulet did not seep into my mind. It, too, felt as if it were waiting. No, that's not it. I gripped it tighter, allowing its intentions to wash over me. It was plotting, plotting to unleash the rage Gideon had channeled through it right back at him. Right now, however, I had to object. I needed to remain conscious in order to reason with Dipper. Surrendering my body, even given what was at stake, may prove disastrous. Regardless, Gideon could not get his hands on the incantation.

However, this wouldn't be as easy as kicking aside the runt as I had done at the shack party a few days prior. Instead of being a four-foot menace topped with half a foot of perfectly groomed white hair, Gideon brandished a large exoskeleton suit resembling his likeness. This bot was a fraction of the size it was in the show but resembled a similar size to that of Gideon's apparent new and very dangerous companion. I couldn't fathom an idea as to where the lil' shyster obtained such an impressive piece of hardware and how and why he was teaming up with the gremloblin.

"I sense you have questions, Matthew." Gideon prodded, making me scowl. "Get the incantation from Dipper over there, and I will tell you all I desire." I stepped forward, shield raised, flames burning bright, their warmth soothing my sore muscles from the previous day. "Eh, worth a shot." The Gideon bot raised its hand, re-constructing it into some sort of cannon. Instead of pointing the weapon in my direction or Dipper's, as I had anticipated, Gideon set his sights on his ally and fired. A wave of confusion rushed over me but was not nearly as strong as the wave of water that suddenly spewed from the cannon, completely dousing the Gremloblin, causing it to hunch over and writhe on the ground, doubling in size with wings sprouting forcibly from its back.

"Dipper! RUN!" the preteen didn't need to be told twice, having read the entry on the mutating creature. He bolted toward me with Robbie and Beauzle in tow, thankfully cognitive enough to trust and comply with my demand. A spine-chilling roar filled the chamber, piercing our ears and causing the very pillars to tremble. Hunched over on all fours, the gremloblin stared our party down, a menacing yet pained, twisted smile exposing its jagged teeth.

I've dealt with one of its kind before, lads," Seamus declared, staring directly at the monster. "Clearly, we have a common enemy. I will hold it back while ye escape with the incantation." Dipper, once again not having to be told twice, gladly listened to the leprechaun and bolted straight out of the chamber through the grand doors behind us. Watching its prey escape, the winged gremloblin opened its maw and fired a ball of flame at the preteen. Seamus extended his arm and shot a projectile of his own; a rainbow beam collided with the fire, resulting in an explosion that scattered gold coins and trinkets across the floor. Our party stood in shock, piecing together how the tiny ginger creature had amassed such a massive horde of valuables. I certainly didn't want to get on his bad side.

"The stories of gold at the end of the rainbow are true, you know," the leprechaun remarked in the stunned silence. "It works on organic matter, too." He winked and blew on his finger as if it were a smoking barrel. "Fly, ye fools." On cue, Gideon charged forward with a great leap, closing the distance between us. With no desire to become a human pancake, I rolled aside with my friends doing the same.

"You heard the leprechaun!" I yelled, helping Lee to his feet. "Let's move!" We rushed to the door, Wendy quickly overtook us due to her natural athleticism. I glanced back to see the cyclops and ogre assisting their boss, trying to tackle the mutated Gremloblin to the ground. The hulking monstrosity seemed to be enjoying the skirmish, its twisted grin never vanishing from its face. I assumed that was the case, at least considering its eyes had not shifted to that dreaded shade of ghostly yellow. It seemed a creature like this lived for the fight. Another glance back revealed the sight of the beast flapping its grotesque new wings, its claws tearing chunks out of the vault walls as it attempted to cut down those in its way. The rainbow-slinging Seamus and the cyclops were doing their best to hold it off, with the ogre wielding a massive stone pillar as a club. I wanted to help but pressed forward. The security of the incantation was top priority.

If this sudden and unpredictable alliance was any indication, something big was happening behind the scenes. How did Gideon manage to ally himself with the mighty beast? Was it possible they shared a motive, or was the Gremloblin expendable muscle? The thoughts shaking in my brain with each stride seemed to blur into each other, forming an incoherence in my brain, suffocated by the constant demand for oxygen. I had to focus on the task at hand.

Dipper's frantic footsteps echoed off the cavern walls just ahead, clutching the incantation close to his chest. Robbie and Beauzle scrambled after him, both panting frantically from their exertion.

"I never signed up for this!' Beauzle exclaimed. The goblin's little legs left him at a severe disadvantage, lagging behind Dipper and Robbie, clearly disheartening the creature. His eyes darted around the corridor, landing on a crevice small enough for only him to slip through. "Screw this, I'm outta here!" And just like that, the goblin vanished from sight, leaving us to fend for ourselves. Granted, there probably wasn't much he could do to help us, and it would prove to be a delicious snack for the gremloblin if it was into cannibalism, something that didn't seem unlikely.

Suddenly, the amulet burned hotter in my palm, like a warning. I peered over my shoulder, watching a silhouette accompanied by metallic thuds flicker in the shadows down the corridor. Gideon either slipped past or dealt with Seamus and his bodyguards and was coming straight for us, splitting from the gremloblin. Either way, if our group was divided, there was a far slimmer chance we could escape without letting the incantation fall into the wrong hands.

"Dipper!" I yelled, chasing after him with Wendy and Lee hot on my heels. "Stop! Just—just listen to me for a second!"

The clang of Gideon's exo-suit thumped and echoed behind us, sending chills down my spine. The amulet in my hand pulsed with heat, almost as if it were feeding on the chaotic energy around us. It whispered at the edges of my mind, tempting me to let it loose, to let its power deal with both Gideon and the Gremloblin in one fell swoop. But I couldn't risk it—not yet. Not until I had Dipper somewhere safe.

Ahead of us, Dipper skidded to a stop, his sneakers kicking up a small cloud of dust. He spun around to face me, his chest heaving, his eyes wide and wild like a cornered animal. Robbie wasn't far behind, staggering to a halt a few feet away, doubled over and panting, clearly not built for the kind of marathon sprint we'd just been forced into.

"Stay back!" Dipper shouted, his voice cracking as he clutched the incantation tighter. His hands trembled, and I could see the weight of everything bearing down on him like the entire Crawl Space was collapsing around his shoulders. "Don't come any closer, Matt."

I slowed my pace, raising my hands in a placating gesture. Behind me, Wendy and Lee stopped, too, the tension in the air thick enough to choke on. The glow of the amulet in my hand flickered against the walls, casting an ominous orange hue across the narrow passage.

"Dipper," I said, keeping my voice steady despite the chaos pounding in my ears, "I just want to talk. That's it. I'm not gonna hurt you. I just need you to hear me out."

"You always want to talk," Dipper spat, his voice trembling with anger and something deeper—fear. "But every time, it's just more lies, more secrets! How can I trust you? How can I trust anyone?"

"Because we're on your side, dude," Wendy said softly, her usual cool demeanor cracking just enough to show the concern underneath. She stepped forward slightly, her hatchet at her side but non-threatening. "We just don't want you getting hurt."

"You don't get it!" Dipper shouted, tears forming in his eyes as his grip on the incantation tightened like it was the only thing anchoring him. "You don't understand what it's like to always be the one in the dark, to know something huge is happening but not be allowed to know the truth! I can't—I can't do it anymore! I have to know!"

"And I want you to know," I said, my voice softening, even as my heart twisted at the sight of him breaking down. "I really do. But summoning Bill Cipher? That's not the way, Dipper. You know it's not."

Dipper hesitated, his fingers twitching around the edges of the incantation. His gaze flickered toward the dark tunnel behind me, where the sounds of metal clanking and guttural growling were growing louder by the second. He was running out of time to decide, and he knew it.

"Dipper!" Wendy shouted, her voice urgent. "We don't have time for this! Please!"

"Dipper, Gideon's lying to you," I said firmly, stepping closer. "He doesn't care about the truth. He just wants to use Bill to get more power. Do you really think summoning Bill is going to make things better? You've read about him. You know what he's capable of."

For a moment, Dipper faltered. His grip on the incantation loosened, his resolve cracking like a dam under pressure. "I don't know," he whispered, his voice small and defeated. "I just... I'm so tired of not knowing. Of being lied to."

I stepped closer, slowly, carefully, the shield glowing faintly in my hand. "I get it," I said gently. "I really do. You're not wrong to want answers, Dipper. But this isn't the way to get them. You have to trust me on this. Please."

"I can't—Matt, I can't—" he stammered, clutching the incantation tightly.

"You can," I said firmly, stepping closer. "We'll protect you. All of us. But you have to trust me. Give me the incantation, and we'll figure this out together."

The sounds of pursuit grew louder and closer. Wendy tensed beside me, her grip on her hatchet tightening as she glanced over her shoulder.

"Dipper, please," I said, my voice almost a whisper now.

Finally, with a shaky breath, Dipper nodded. His hands trembled as he held the incantation out to me, his gaze flickering between me and the tunnel behind us. I stepped forward and took it, tucking it securely into my pocket.

"Thank you," I said, my voice full of relief.

Our reunited group pressed on, sticking to the shadows yet remaining just ahead of the robot. The passage opened up ahead of us, spilling out into the sprawling market square of the Crawl Space. The dim glow of bioluminescent lanterns lit the bizarre bazaar, where creatures of all shapes and sizes peddled their wares. The crowd was dense, the noise deafening, but it was our only chance.

"We can lose him in the crowd," Lee pointed out.

"Ugh," Robbie groaned. "I do not want to go back into that freak show."

I placed a hand on his shoulder. "You got a better idea?" Not waiting for a response, I pushed forward, setting my hood on my head and leading the group down the steps from Seamus's lair. Not wanting to be noticed, we stuck to the outskirts of the market square and headed down an alley. I noticed Robbie and Dipper plug their noses, anticipating a dastardly scent. Wendy kept her head on a swivel, twirling her hatchet in suspense.

"Guys, look," Lee exclaimed, pointing to the far end of the alley. "There's a ladder! Maybe I don't need glasses after all," he added with a smirk.

"Speak for yourself," I replied, squinting to see the rungs poking out of the outside wall of a suspicious pub. I ushered Dipper up the ladder first, remaining at the base until everyone climbed up the building. From this new vantage point, we noticed a rush of commotion in the square. Gideon's robot had burst through Seamus's doors, sending debris everywhere and the creatures into a panic, even pinning a few under the heavy weight of rocks and stone. The amulet, linked to my mind, began to burn my palm even hotter than before.

That monster will pay.

The chilling words echoed in my skull, and I felt an encroaching darkness on the edge of my consciousness. My own set of rage entered my heart as well at the sight of Gideon's recklessness and disdain for the supernatural world. He felt like a god through his privileges of humanity's creations, towering above the fleeing shopkeepers.

"It won't take me long to find you!" Gideon exclaimed, his voice projecting throughout the entire cavern through the robot's speakers, its gaze sweeping the market and eventually scanning over the pub, prompting us to duck from sight. I could feel Gideon staring directly at us through the relatively thin stone barrier. The amulet's voice seeped into my mind.

Run.

I chose to trust it, but instead of moving, I set the shield in front of me, covering my body and offering protection to those closest to me.

An explosion rocked my body. Its force slammed into my shield like a freight train, the impact sending a fiery shockwave rippling through my arm and rattling my bones. The heat was unbearable, searing my skin even through the protective barrier of the amulet's runes. My knees buckled, and for a moment, I thought the sheer force would knock me flat, but the shield held—barely. My ears rang from the deafening blast, and when I finally lowered the shield, my hand trembled, the amulet's heat still pulsing in my grip like a living thing. It seemed hurt, too. The stone floor around me was scorched black, and debris scattered everywhere, but we were alive. I gritted my teeth, pushing back the burning ache in my muscles. There wasn't time to think about how close I became to becoming barbecued.

"Everyone ok?" I asked, coughing away the remaining smoke, fighting to compromise my lungs.

Wendy glanced at the group, patting out a smoldering spot on her flannel sleeve. "Just a little shaken up, but we'll manage."

"Good, because he's not finished."

Another rocket fired but missed its mark above us, colliding with the craggy ceiling of the cavern, crating a shower of debris and stalactites ready to crush us. I knocked a few away while the others dove out off the way, scraping their elbows on the buildings roof. Gideon cackled and sarted walking toward us, ejecting a casing from his wrist that clattered on the floor.

"Impressive what you have been able to achieve with my previous prize," He stated, mechanical eyes locking with mine. "It speaks to you doesn't it? It seeps into your mind, makes you stronger."

"We have to get out of here," Dipper said, drowning out Gideon's monologue, and leading the group to cover.

"Our best bet might be going back through the tunnel that Beauzle guy dug to Thompson's house," Lee suggested.

I nodded in agreement. "We have to split his attention. Moving together as a big target makes us an easier target." I glanced at the group, their faces lit with tension and resolve under the flickering bioluminescent glow of the market. Splitting up wasn't ideal, but Gideon's focus was locked on us—and the longer we stuck together, the bigger the target we painted.

"All right," I said, gripping the shield tighter and feeling the amulet pulse like a second heartbeat. "Wendy, take Lee and Robbie. Work your way around through the lower level and aim for Beauzle's tunnel. Keep quiet, stay in the shadows, and don't stop for anything. Dipper and I will distract him."

Wendy frowned, clearly not a fan of the plan. "You sure that's a good idea?" she asked.

Dipper nodded. "His attention will be on us." He glanced at me with a shrug and a slight smile. "We got history."

I was proud of his bravery and gave him knucks. "Damn right we do." I let out a deep breath and closed my eyes, focussing. Taking on a robot wasn't anything necessarily new, we were pros at playing keep away at this point. Yet, I had to temember this was no Mcgucket we were dealing with, I was going to have to push myself. I hated the idea, still being worn out from my spar with Mr. Northwest the day prior, but it didn't look like I had any choice. Luckily, I brought something to boost my energy, which gets my blood pumping no matter how tired I am. I pulled my earbuds out of my pocket and handed one to Dipper. He reached out for it but before he could take it I said with a smile, "If you lose this, you won't get any secrets outta me. Got it?" He smiled back.

Robbie rolled his eyes. "And how exactly is that gonna help?"

What I said next made his eyes light up. "I'm a metalhead dude. What's better than running from a giant hunk of metal while blasting heavy metal?"

A faint, rare smile appeared on Robbie's lips. "Not much." I pressed play, and the riffs of a guitar filled my ears with an invigorating surge.

Just close your eyes for a moment of truth

See with your heart and a new hope will bloom

"We got this," I said firmly, not letting the group see the doubt gnawing at the edges of my confidence.

Wendy nodded, pulling Lee and Robbie toward the far edge of the roof. "Don't die, okay?"

"Wouldn't dream of it," I called after her, though the way the amulet flared in my hand told me it wasn't entirely convinced. It could tell I was holding back.

The moment they were out of sight, I turned to Dipper. He was already watching Gideon's robot like a hawk, calculating every move it made. The machine moved with terrifying precision, its towering form crushing the market stalls beneath its feet as it scanned the square. The creatures below scattered like mites, some vanishing into hidden tunnels while others dragged the wounded out of harm's way.

"Are you ready for this?" Dipper asked, his voice low but steady. There was a flicker of fear behind his eyes, but he stood his ground, flashlight clutched in one hand like it was a sword.

I smirked, raising the shield slightly. "Ready as I'll ever be. Let's make him regret ever stepping into this place."

Gideon's robotic gaze locked onto us as soon as we moved. His laughter rang out, sharp and mechanical, filling the cavern like the sound of grinding metal. "There you are!" he boomed, his robotic hand lifting to point directly at us. "Did you think you could hide from me? From this?!" He gestured to the hulking form of the robot, its weapons systems clicking into place with an ominous whir.

"Move!" I shouted to Dipper, and the two of us bolted across the rooftop, ducking low as Gideon unleashed a barrage of projectiles. The rockets exploded behind us, sending shrapnel and stone fragments flying, but we didn't stop. Our goal wasn't to fight—we just had to draw him far enough away to give Wendy and the others a head start znd then escape ourselves.

The robot's massive legs began to move, shaking the very ground as it pursued us. Dipper and I vaulted over a gap between buildings, the force of the robot's steps nearly throwing us off balance. I could feel the amulet feeding off my adrenaline, the shield in my hand glowing faintly as its energy coursed through me.

He's close.

You can stop him.

You have the power.

"No," I muttered under my breath, gritting my teeth. "That's not the plan."

"What?" Dipper asked, looking back at me with confusion.

"Nothing," I said quickly, pushing the voice aside. The last thing I needed was the amulet taking over now.

Gideon's voice cut through the chaos, loud and taunting. "You think you can outrun me forever? You've got something I want, boy. And I will take it. The incantation belongs to me!"

My grip on the shield tightened, and I could feel the amulet's anger flare in response to Gideon's words. He didn't know I had the incantation. Not yet. As far as he was concerned, Dipper was still carrying it—and that was our only advantage.

"Keep him talking!" I hissed to Dipper as we darted across another rooftop, the market square stretching out below us in chaotic disarray. "He doesn't know I've got it. If he thinks it's you, he'll focus on you instead of the others."

Dipper nodded. "Got it." Then, turning back toward Gideon, he shouted, "You want the incantation? Come and get it, you overgrown tin can!"

The robot's head swiveled toward Dipper, its glowing red eyes locking onto him like a predator targeting its prey. "Brave words for someone so... squishy," Gideon sneered. His robot raised one massive arm, aiming a cannon directly at Dipper.

I didn't think. I just acted.

Raising the shield, I leapt in front of Dipper just as the cannon fired. The blast slammed into the shield with a deafening roar, knocking me back a few steps. My knees buckled, and the heat of the explosion scorched my arms, but the shield held firm. The amulet's energy surged in response, deflecting the worst of the impact, but I could feel its strain—the way it burned hotter, its whispers growing louder.

He is nothing.

A worm.

You can end this now.

"Shut up," I growled through gritted teeth, forcing myself to stand. I glanced back at Dipper, who was staring at me with wide eyes. "Run, Dipper. Now."

"But—"

"Go!" I barked, my voice leaving no room for argument.

With a reluctant nod, Dipper turned and bolted, leading Gideon's attention further away from the others. I stayed behind, gripping the shield as Gideon's laughter echoed in my ears.

This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

Just then the lyrics of the song we had blasting echoed our situation.

Keep the faith alive, don't give up the fight

Remember, in the burning heart

There can never be surrender, at all

Dipper vanished into the shadows, slipping between crumbling stone buildings and jagged alleyways as Gideon's robot thundered after him. The ground trembled with every step of the machine, loose bricks and debris rattling off rooftops. My heart pounded as I crouched behind the corner of a low wall, catching my breath for a moment before moving again. I couldn't let Gideon figure out the truth—or worse, catch Dipper.

The amulet pulsed harder this time, its heat sinking deep into my chest, its voice coiling into my thoughts like smoke.

Why run?

Why let him toy with you?

You hold the power to strike him down.

Use me.

End this.

I pressed my hand against the warm sensation at my chest, gritting my teeth as the whispers began to scrape at my mind. "Not now," I muttered, forcing the shield to dim its glow. "You don't get to call all the shots."

But the amulet didn't take well to rejection. A faint shiver of anger rippled through my veins, its presence digging into my thoughts like claws.

You think you're strong enough on your own?

Without me, you're nothing.

You'll fail, just like before.

Just like your parents marriage.

I shook my head and pushed forward, tuning out its voice as I moved between the skeletal remains of old market stalls. Ahead, I could hear Gideon's distorted voice booming, taunting Dipper with every step.

"You can't hide forever, Pine Tree!" Gideon shouted, his voice laced with smugness. "You've been clever so far, but I'll win in the end. I'm smarter. I'm stronger. And I've got a bigger stick!"

A thunderous crash echoed across the cavern as the robot's arm smashed through a stone archway, sending rubble scattering in all directions. I cursed under my breath, realizing Gideon was systematically tearing apart every hiding spot he could find. The chaos would buy Dipper some time, but it wouldn't last.

I spotted Wendy, Lee, and Robbie making their way toward the tunnel from the shadows of a narrow alley. They moved low and quick, darting between stalls and avoiding the panicked crowd. Robbie clutched at his side, his face pale but determined, while Wendy kept her hatchet raised, her eyes constantly scanning for threats.

Good—they were still on track. But I couldn't focus on them for long. Dipper needed me to keep the heat off him, and Gideon wasn't going to stop until he had the incantation.

Somewhere to my left, I caught sight of Dipper again, sprinting up the steps of an old stone temple that jutted out from the market floor like a jagged tooth. The building's height would give him an advantage, but it also made him a glaring target. Gideon's robot spotted him immediately, the red glow of its mechanical eyes locking onto the temple like a predator stalking prey.

"Come now, little Pine Tree!" Gideon's voice dripped with mockery.

"Stop calling me that!"

"You're just making it harder on yourself. Just hand it over, and maybe I'll go easy on you. Well... probably not, but it's the thought that counts!"

Dipper darted inside the temple, disappearing into the darkened interior. Gideon's robot paused, its massive frame too wide to fit through the narrow entrance. For a moment, I thought Dipper had outsmarted him.

Then the robot raised its cannon.

"Dipper, move!" I yelled, breaking cover and sprinting toward the temple as the cannon began to glow with a fiery red charge. My voice caught his attention, and he bolted out the opposite side just as the blast hit. The temple erupted into a shower of stone and dust, chunks of debris raining down as I raised the shield to protect myself from the fallout.

The amulet flared with energy, feeding off my adrenaline and amplifying my movements. I slid to a stop near Dipper, grabbing his arm to pull him into cover behind an overturned cart.

"Are you trying to get crushed?" I snapped, my breath coming in short gasps.

Dipper shook his head, his face pale but determined. "I wasn't just running—I was trying to distract him long enough for you to get into position."

"For what?" I asked, but before he could answer, Gideon's robot turned toward us again, its glowing eyes narrowing.

"I don't know! Don't you have some sort of plan?!"

"There you are," Gideon growled. The robot raised both arms, one cannon and one clawed hand ready to strike. "Time to finish this game."

The amulet's whispers surged in my mind again, louder and more insistent.

Let me take over.

Let me give you the strength to destroy him.

To bring justice.

"No," I hissed, shaking my head. "Justice is not killing."

If you don't, you'll die here.

And so will they.

Gideon's machine took a step forward, the ground quaking beneath its massive weight. Dipper gripped my arm, his voice low and urgent. "We need to take him out somehow. That thing's too fast—we can't just run forever."

I clenched my teeth, torn between the growing weight of the amulet's voice and the reality of our situation. Gideon was closing in, the others were counting on us, and time was running out.

"Fine," I muttered, gripping the shield tighter. "But we do this my way."

This is acceptable.

Steeling myself, I stepped out of cover, raising the shield as Gideon's robot loomed over us. Dipper stayed close, his eyes darting between me and the machine as if calculating our odds.

"Yo, Greaseball!" I shouted, my voice echoing across the market square. "You want your precious incantation? Come get it."

Raging Willpower Unleashed from below

Nothing can stop you

There's nothing that strong

The robot paused for a fraction of a second, its glowing eyes narrowing. Then it charged.

The Gideon-bot's advance was nothing short of terrifying, its metal feet slamming into the cavern floor with thunderous force, each step sending shockwaves through the ground. Stalls toppled, bioluminescent lanterns shattered, and panicked creatures scrambled to escape its destructive path.

I didn't move. The amulet burned hotter in my palm, its light flaring brighter with each step Gideon's monstrosity took toward me. I raised the shield, the glowing runes along its surface sparking to life like embers catching in the wind.

"You think you're clever, don't you?" Gideon sneered, his voice crackling through the robot's speakers. "That little trinket of mine—it's still mine, you know. No matter how hard you try to wield it, you'll never be strong enough to control it."

"That's where you're wrong," I shouted back. "Its not a matter of control. Its about cohesion."

The amulet pulsed, almost as if it were responding to both of our words, its whispers clawing at the edges of my mind.

He doesn't understand.

You've already taken me from him.

You've proven yourself stronger.

You've proven us stronger.

I didn't have time to argue with it—or him. The robot swung its clawed arm down toward me, a massive, gleaming limb that could easily turn me into a smear on the cavern floor. I shifted my stance, planting my feet as the amulet's energy coursed through me. The shield expanded slightly, its glowing surface shimmering like a barrier of molten light, and I braced myself for the impact.

CLANG!

The claw slammed into the shield with a force that rattled my entire body. My knees buckled, and the sheer weight of the blow sent me sliding back several feet, my boots digging furrows into the ground. The heat from the impact seared through my arm, but the shield held. Barely.

"Not bad," Gideon said, his voice oozing mockery. "But let's see how long you can keep that up."

The robot reared back, its cannon arm charging up again, the red glow intensifying until it was almost blinding. Dipper darted out from behind the overturned cart, his face set in grim determination.

"What are you doing?!" I shouted, my voice strained as I struggled to keep the shield steady.

"Helping!" he called back. He darted toward the robot's base, weaving between its massive legs with the reckless bravery I'd only ever seen from Dipper Pines. In his hand, he clutched a jagged shard of bioluminescent glass, its faint glow barely visible against the chaos around us.

Gideon's focus shifted slightly, his robotic head swiveling to follow Dipper's movements. "Oh, what's this? You trying to poke me with a glow stick, Pine Tree?" he sneered. "Adorable. But pointless."

"Not pointless," Dipper muttered, dodging a sweeping claw and jamming the shard into a cluster of exposed wires near the robot's ankle joint. Sparks erupted, and the machine staggered slightly, its balance momentarily thrown off.

"Nice one!" I shouted, taking advantage of the distraction to close the distance between me and the robot. The amulet flared with energy, feeding off my anger and determination, and the shield began to hum with power.

Strike now.

Its voice was sharp and commanding.

While he's vulnerable.

I raised the shield, the runes along its surface glowing brighter than ever, and charged. The robot swung its clawed arm at me again, but this time, I was ready. I ducked low, sliding beneath the arm and slamming the shield into its side with all the force I could muster.

BOOM!

The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, the glowing runes on the shield leaving a scorched mark on the robot's metal plating. Gideon's laughter faltered momentarily, replaced by a furious growl as he was knocked to the ground.

"You little pest!" he snarled, the robot stumbling slightly as sparks flew from its damaged leg. "You think you can take me down with a toy? My benefactor built this thing to be unstoppable!"

"And yet here we are," I shot back, circling around to keep the robot's attention on me. "Maybe you should've spent less time monologuing and more time bolting this thing together. Who is this benefactor by the way, I'd love to meet him."

Gideon's rage boiled over, and the robot lurched forward, still on the ground, its clawed hand swiping wildly. I dove to the side, rolling to my feet just in time to see Dipper climb onto the robot's head, clutching another shard of glowing glass.

"Dipper!" I shouted, my heart leaping into my throat. "What are you doing?!"

"Improvising!" he yelled back, jamming the shard into another exposed cluster of wires. This time, the effect was immediate—the robot jerked violently, its movements growing erratic as sparks and smoke poured from its joints.

The amulet surged with energy, its whispers growing louder and more insistent.

Finish it.

End him.

I hesitated, the weight of its voice pressing down on me like a storm. But I couldn't let it take over—not completely. Not yet.

"Dipper, jump!" I shouted, raising the shield again as the robot's cannon arm swung toward him.

He leapt just in time, landing hard on the ground as the cannon fired, the blast narrowly missing him and slamming into the cavern wall instead. The explosion shook the entire market, sending a cascade of rocks tumbling down and cutting off one of the main tunnels.

"Let's go!" I yelled, grabbing Dipper's arm and pulling him to his feet. The robot was still flailing, its systems glitching from the damage we'd inflicted, but I knew it wouldn't stay down for long. We had to move—now.

Together, we bolted toward the tunnel, the sound of Gideon's enraged shouting echoing behind us. The amulet pulsed one last time, its voice whispering a final, chilling promise:

This isn't over.

The tunnel loomed ahead, dark and narrow, its uneven walls glowing faintly with traces of bioluminescent moss. I tightened my grip on Dipper's arm as we sprinted, both of us stumbling over loose rocks and debris from the earlier explosion. Behind us, the Gideon-bot's glitching movements were still thunderous, but it had slowed, struggling to get to its feet and recalibrate after the damage we'd done.

"This way!" I urged, pulling Dipper toward the tunnel entrance just as Wendy, Lee, and Robbie emerged from the shadows near the edge of the market square. Relief flooded through me as I saw them alive and still moving.

"The Goblin's entrance was caved in!" Wendy called out, skidding to a stop next to us. She was winded but uninjured, her hatchet still firmly in hand. Lee was close behind her, dragging Robbie, who looked even paler than before.

"Yeah, we had a close encounter with some collapsing rock," Lee said, panting. "And Robbie tripped. Twice."

"I wasn't the only one!" Robbie shot back, wheezing as he clutched his side. "You're the one who stopped to argue with that creepy fish guy over a map you didn't even take!"

"Guys, not the time!" I snapped, my eyes darting to the lumbering shadow of Gideon's robot in the distance. "We need to move. Now."

The group followed my gaze, and the situation's urgency seemed to hit all at once. Wendy nodded sharply, taking the lead. "I saw another tunnel. This way!" We followed, desperate to get out of the confined space with a twenty-foot robot.

The passage she led us to was tight and winding, the walls pressing in on us as we hurried through the dimly lit space. The sound of the robot's footsteps grew more distant, and the frustrated yells of the lil' shyster filled the air.

As we ran, the amulet's heat began to fade, its glow dimming slightly, but its presence in my mind was still sharp, like a blade poised just behind my thoughts. It wasn't speaking now, but I could feel it watching, waiting for the next moment to assert itself.

"Where does this even come out?" Robbie asked, his voice tight and panicked as we wove through the twisting passages. "We're not just running into a dead end, are we?"

"Keep going," Wendy said, glancing over her shoulder. "It's better than staying out there and waiting for Gideon to step on us."

Dipper was next to me, clutching his side and struggling to catch his breath. "Do you think he'll follow us down here?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"He'll try," I replied grimly, glancing back toward the entrance. The sound of the robot's movements was growing fainter, but I didn't trust it. Gideon always had another trick up his sleeve. "But that thing's too big for these tunnels, so we just keep moving."

"Fantastic," Lee muttered.

We came to a fork in the tunnel—a wide split in the passage that led in two different directions. Wendy stopped short, holding up a hand to signal the rest of us to pause.

"Left or right?" she asked, her voice low but urgent.

The group hesitated, looking at one another in confusion. There was no way to tell which path was safer—or if either of them would actually lead us out. Both tunnels looked equally dark and uninviting, with no sound or movement to give us a clue.

"We don't have time to debate this," I said, stepping forward. The amulet stirred slightly in my palm, and I hesitated for half a second.

Go left.

It's the only way forward.

I clenched my teeth. I knew this thing had its own motives, its own agenda. But something about its tone this time felt different. Calculated. Focused.

"Left," I said finally, glancing at Wendy. "We go left."

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded, trusting me without question. "All right. Let's move."

The left tunnel was steeper than I'd expected, forcing us to slow down as we navigated the uneven slope. The air grew colder the deeper we went, and the faint bioluminescent glow began to fade, leaving us in near-total darkness. I raised the amulet, shining its light to guide our way.

The tunnel twisted and turned, the walls growing wider as we pressed on. The air shifted subtly, going from the damp chill of underground stone to something fresher, cooler, and tinged with a faint breeze. My steps faltered for a moment as I noticed it, and I glanced at Wendy. She must've felt it too—her grip on her hatchet loosened slightly, and her shoulders relaxed.

"There's air coming from somewhere ahead," she said, her voice low but steady. "We might be close to an exit."

"That's good, right?" Robbie asked, though his tone was anything but confident.

"It's better than staying trapped down here," I replied, urging the group forward. My heart raced, a mixture of hope and dread battling inside me. If we could find a way out, we might finally have a chance to lose Gideon for good—but wherever this tunnel led, it had to be better than the market behind us.

The passage began to slope upward, the faint glow of bioluminescent moss fading as natural light began to take its place. The sounds of the cavern—the echoes of panicked creatures and the distant, rhythmic thunder of Gideon's robot—grew muffled, replaced by the low whisper of wind.

Hanging flora hung ahead, casting shadows onto our faces as a cascading natural light blinded our group. I pushed the plants aside, revealing a breathtaking sight after my eyes adjusted to the sun's powerful rays. About a thousand feet below us resided the sleepy town of Gravity Falls. From up here, the tiny town seemed even smaller; I could squish the buildings in the distance like ants. Beyond the town stretched the endless woods, where sunlight filtered through the trees, creating a magical green glow. The waterfall cascaded down with such force that it made a mist hover above its base. The distant sound of rushing water filled the air as the roaring waterfall crashed below. Birds chirped and fluttered their wings in the trees of these endless woods. The wind whistled through the trees next to us, a symphony of rustling leaves and creaking branches. The distant roar of the waterfall echoes off the cliffs, sounding like a distant thunderstorm and those occasional calls of birds added to the peaceful yet wild atmosphere.

The trees took shades of red, orange, and gold, while the sparkling river and shimmering waterfall added touches of blue and white. The town looked small and insignificant from this height, a mere speck in the grand scheme of nature. It was a sight and sound that could only be described as nature's symphony, with the town as its stage and the endless woods as its orchestra, all leading up to the explosive grand finale of the roaring waterfall, a breathtaking experience that made one feel both small and mighty at the same time.

Who would ever want to destroy this kind of beauty?

Lee stepped forward, placing his hand on his brow and peering into the valley. "I think I see my house from here." Wendy jabbed him in the side, a swift punishment for breaking the serenity.

"Ya know," Robbie remarked, squinting at the water tower in the distance, "from way out here, it really does look like a muffin."

Dipper smirked. "Told ya."

The older teen pushed the boy's hat over his eyes. "Shut it, shortstack."

#

The fading light painted the forest in dusky shadows, the uneven ground crunching beneath our feet as we climbed the steep hill, attempting to find a way down. My legs burned from the scramble, but I didn't dare slow down—not with the memory of that hulking robot fresh in my head. Every so often, I glanced over my shoulder, my heart pounding as if I could hear the thing stomping behind us. The trees were still, and the forest was quiet except for the rustle of leaves in the wind. Too quiet.

"We definitely lost him, right?" Robbie asked, his voice breaking the silence. He sounded out of breath, clutching his side as he leaned against a tree. "Like, there's no way he could've made it through that cave system."

I hesitated, unsure how to answer. "We should be fine," I said, though I wasn't sure I believed it. "Those tunnels were a maze. No way Gideon could've followed us through all that without getting stuck."

"Yeah, and don't forget those rockslides he caused down there," Lee added, throwing up a finger-gun gesture. He grinned, trying to lighten the mood, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I mean, come on, the dude's a joke. Even with that robot of his, there's no way—"

Wendy cut him off with a sharp hiss. "Shh. Quiet!" Her head snapped toward the direction of the mine's entrance at the edge of the cliff far below. She squinted, her shoulders tensing. "Do you hear that?"

The five of us froze, and for a second, all I could hear was the faint rustling of leaves and the sound of my own breathing. But then, there it was: a faint hum, deep and steady, vibrating in the air. It grew louder by the second, the sound rising and falling like the slow, mechanical exhale of something… alive. My stomach dropped.

"What is that?" Robbie whispered, his voice barely audible.

"No way…" Wendy muttered, her jaw tightening as her eyes scanned the shadows below. "It can't be—"

Then we saw it. Emerging from the blackness of the mine's entrance, the gleaming white and blue armor of Gideon's robot reflected the last rays of sunlight. Its glowing blue eyes flickered as they scanned the area, and the faint hum of its engines was punctuated by heavy, deliberate footfalls. It stepped out into the open on the minecart rails suspended in air, pausing as if sniffing the air for us.

"How did he find us so fast?" Wendy hissed, taking a step back. "He should be throwing a tantrum right now. He should still be stuck down there!"

I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came. It didn't make sense. The plan had been airtight—lead him into the tunnels, double back, and lose him in the labyrinth. There was no way Gideon could have tracked us unless…

My stomach twisted as a thought clawed its way to the surface. My hand instinctively went to my pocket, brushing against the cold surface of the phone I'd swiped from Gideon's robot earlier. I'd been so smug about it at the time, proud of the intel we might be able to gather from it. But now, as the robot's head tilted in our direction and the glowing eyes seemed to lock onto me, my heart sank.

As if cutting the tension, a faint vibration sounded in Dipper's vest pocket, then another and another. All eyes, including the preteen trained on it. Since when did Dipper have a phone? I stepped forward, reaching into the pocket, ignoring his protests, and revealed the most luxurious phone I'd ever seen. The sleek black screen almost blinded me with the sun's waning rays. When I turned it on, a number dominated the screen with a green and red button below it. I raised the device to my ear and picked up the call.

Gideon's voice flowed through the speaker. "I'm going to give you one more chance. Hand over the incantation or-"

I cut him off, my eyes finding Dipper's. "You took a phone from the little runt? I thought this was supposed to be a simple exchange between you two, not a full-on collaboration." I continued to ignore Gideon's words, knowing full well he was giving the whole villain speech.

"It-it was supposed to be!" Dipper exclaimed. "I got sidetracked with that stupid goblin!"

"He definitely has been tracking us with this. That's how he was able to find us so fast." I sighed, turned, and chucked the phone into the valley. "What's done is done. Let's not make any smart choices like that again, okay?"

"Yeah, real smart," Robbie muttered, his voice dripping with even more sarcasm than mine. "You basically just gift-wrapped us for him!"

"Save it!" Wendy shot back, her eyes darting toward the robot. It was moving now, its pace quickening as it stomped up the hill, and the low hum of its foot jets began to build."We need to move!" she shouted, already backing up. But before we could even think about running, the hum turned into a roar. Bright orange jets of fire burst from the robot's feet, and in one smooth motion, it leaped across the rails and onto the other end of the bridge, dramatically closing the distance between us.

"What do we do!?" Lee exclaimed.

"We can't go back to the shack; he'll just tear it apart, and we can't just stand here; he'll squish us." My gaze surveyed the surrounding area, scanning for a dead spot of trees. "We need help, and luckily, I know just where to get some." I bolted forward up the remaining slope of the hill. We weren't too far.

#

The hill stretched endlessly, each step heavier than the last as my legs screamed in protest. I could hear Wendy's labored breathing just ahead of me, her usual steady pace faltering under the strain. Behind me, Robbie and Lee stumbled over loose rocks, their gasps of effort blending with the ominous hum of Gideon's robot, which seemed closer with every passing second. The glow of its foot jets cast flickering shadows over the trees, and the ground shuddered faintly with each calculated leap it made to close the distance. "Keep going!" Wendy shouted, though her voice wavered, and I knew we were all thinking the same thing: how much longer could we keep this up? My lungs burned, my heart pounding as we crested the hill, and the forest suddenly thinned, revealing a clearing up ahead. The skeletal remains of trees jutted from the ground, their stumps appearing as blemishes upon the open field. It looked desolate, exposed—hardly a safe haven—but hopefully, the sudden commotion would awaken the valley with certain hormone-filled beasts.

"There!" I yelled, hoping to inject some shred of confidence into my voice. But the truth was, I didn't know if we could reach it in time. Behind us, the sound of the robot's thrusters roared to life again, like an engine revving for the kill. "We make our stand here!"

Robbie was gasping for air as he approached me. "Are you serious? The friends you told us about are a bunch of blue cut-down trees?" He took a few more breaths. "HOW IS THAT GONNA HELP US!"

Wendy, recognizing the area, exclaimed, "For the love of God, trust him!"

I took a few breaths myself, igniting the shield. Feeling its heat beginning to burn, I watched the trees in the distance shake ominously before becoming completely flattened. The ground began to shake as Gideon pushed closer.

That monster.

Imposing his will on the forest, on nature itself.

Just to get to us?

Pathetic.

I shook my head and steadied my feet. "I couldn't agree more."

The robot's glowing eyes pulsed rhythmically, breaking through the treeline with a mighty slash. The low hum of its engines had an ominous undertone as Gideon's voice crackled through the loudspeaker. "Y'all just don't know when to quit, do you?" His drawl was sharp, cutting through the tense silence like a blade. "Runnin' around like headless chickens, thinkin' you could outsmart me? Bless your little hearts, but you're just wasting time."

Wendy squared her stance, glaring up at the robot. "You're the one wasting time, Gideon. Don't you have a stupid show to run or something?"

"Oh, sweet Wendy," Gideon's voice oozed condescension. "You think you can fight me? Look at you, all huddled together, out of breath. Meanwhile, I've got the most advanced piece of machinery Gravity Falls has ever seen."

"Good for you," Robbie praised dryly under his breath, though his knees were visibly shaking.

I could feel the weight of everyone's gaze on me. My grip on the amulet tightened as I tried to steady my breathing. This was bad. The robot's jets flared briefly, sending a hot gust of air over the field, and Gideon's voice rang out again. "Hand over the incantation, and I might just let y'all crawl away."

"I'd rather eat dirt," Dipper shot back, stepping forward despite the apparent trembling in his voice.

Gideon laughed, the sound cruel and mocking. "Suit yourself. But don't say I didn't warn you."

Before the tension could snap, a thunderous roar split the air. The sound reverberated across the field, shaking the brittle trunks of the dead trees. Everyone—including Gideon—froze as the ground began to shake. From the cliffs overlooking us, figures began to emerge.

First came a familiar face, Akila, her club resting casually on her shoulder, though her eyes burned with righteous fury. "Who dares disturb our game night?" she bellowed, her voice echoing across the clearing. A group of womantaurs flanked her, each armed and ready for battle.

A herd of manotaurs charged into view from the opposite side, Chutzpar leading the way. "I told you it wasn't us!" he shouted, gesturing toward Gideon's robot. "See? It's a big metal tin can!"

"Silence, manotaur!" Akila snapped, though her grin betrayed a hint of amusement. "We already know who's to blame. Let's just say the game has changed."

Gideon's voice wavered slightly as he tried to regain his composure. "What... what are these... things?"

"Things?" Akila scoffed, twirling her club. "We're womantaurs, sweetheart. And if you think you can come stomping around our valley like you own the place, you've got another thing comin'."

The robot took a cautious step back, its footjets firing briefly. "You—y'all—don't know who you're messing with!"

"Oh, we know," Akila said, her voice low and dangerous. "We just don't care." She raised her club high, and the womantaurs released a unified battle cry that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Looks like you've got your hands full, Gideon," I said, finally finding my voice. "Maybe you should've stayed home."

For the first time, Gideon hesitated. The manotaurs and womantaurs were closing in, their combined strength a force of nature. And for the first time since this nightmare began, I felt a flicker of hope.

For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. The womantaurs and manotaurs pressed forward with unshakable determination, their roars blending into a thunderous war cry echoing across the clearing. Even the trees, stripped bare and lifeless, seemed to tremble at their approach. Gideon's robot shifted uneasily, its glowing eyes flickering as if processing the unexpected threat. My heart, pounding moments ago with dread, steadied for a moment. Maybe—just maybe—we could do this. And then, as if ignited by that sliver of hope, the battle erupted like a wildfire.

The chaos of the battlefield raged around us. Womantaurs wielding clubs swung with precision, their strikes echoing against the metallic plating of Gideon's robot. Manotaurs charged headfirst into the fray, using their brute strength to batter away at the machine's lower limbs. All the while, Dipper stood atop a nearby stump, shouting directions with a surprising air of authority.

"Chutzpar, target the joints on the legs! They're reinforced, but you can weaken them!" he called, pointing to the robot's knees. "Akila, keep the others away from the foot jets! They'll burn you if you get too close!"

The manotaurs and womantaurs alike obeyed without hesitation, their trust in Dipper evident. Wendy and I stood side by side, moving between the groups, relaying additional guidance, and jumping in when the fighting got too close. My shield flared to life in a brilliant burst of light, deflecting a stray rocket that streaked across the battlefield, while Wendy swung her hatchet with practiced ease, breaking apart pieces of fallen debris to clear paths for the others.

Nearby, Robbie and Lee stood frozen, their faces pale and mouths agape as they watched the spectacle unfold. Lee opened his mouth to say something, but no sound came out. Robbie shook his head, rubbing his eyes as if to confirm he wasn't hallucinating.

"Is that… a cow-lady fighting a robot?" Robbie finally managed to croak.

"Yes," Lee muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "And the robot's losing."

Wendy and I moved through the fray, aiding where we could. My shield flared with crimson light, blocking another projectile that had veered dangerously close to a group of womantaurs. Wendy hacked through debris with her hatchet, creating paths and clearing obstacles so both tribes could press the attack.

The hum of foot jets briefly cut through the chaos, drawing our attention as Akila and Chutzpar emerged from the melee and strode toward us. Akila's club rested casually on her shoulder, though her eyes were sharp, flicking between us and the towering machine. Chutzpar, his chest heaving, wore a confused but determined expression.

"Humans," Akila began, her tone curious but firm. "What in the name of the Occult Trees is that thing?" She gestured to Gideon's robot as it swung one of its arms toward a manotaur, narrowly missing as the warrior dodged.

"And why is it here?" Chutzpar added, tilting his head. "We've seen many strange things in the forest, but nothing like this."

Wendy and I exchanged a glance, and I took a quick breath to explain. "It's a machine—a robot, to be specific. It's being controlled by Gideon Gleeful. He's a... let's say, a very determined enemy of ours."

"He's using it to try to take something from us," Wendy added, gripping her hatchet tighter. "And, honestly, we could use your help to stop him. That thing's tough."

"A machine?" Akila repeated, raising an eyebrow. "And here I thought the manotaurs were the most bizarre thing I'd seen."

"Hey!" Chutzpar protested, though his tone was more amused than offended.

Wendy smirked. "Don't be like that. You're all way cooler than this thing."

Chutzpar crossed his arms, nodding thoughtfully. "If this 'Gideon' is your enemy, we shall deal with him as such. After all, we owe you for fighting alongside us and helping solve the mystery of our land's destruction."

Akila's grin widened, and she patted her club against her palm. "Besides, I've been looking for a challenge. You can count on us, humans."

Dipper called down from his perch, catching their attention. "If we work together, we can beat him! Focus on the legs and keep away from the jets!"

Akila gave him a mock salute while Chutzpar thumped his chest in agreement. "An enemy of my friend is my enemy, noble humans!" he declared, his voice ringing with conviction.

With that, they turned and rejoined the fight, their roars and battle cries blending with the chaotic symphony of combat. Wendy gave me a quick grin. "Looks like we've got an army after all."

"Let's just make sure it's enough," I said, gripping the amulet tighter as the robot loomed above, its eyes flashing with menace.

The ground trembled as Akila and Chutzpar surged back into the fray, their voices rallying their respective tribes. The womantaurs charged in unison, their movements swift and deliberate, while the manotaurs brought raw power to bear, slamming into the robot's legs like battering rams. Sparks flew as Gideon's machine struggled to maintain its balance, the whine of its engines rising in a desperate, metallic scream.

Dipper shouted another command, his voice barely audible over the chaos. "Aim for the stabilizers on the ankles! If we knock them out, it'll lose mobility!"

The tribes responded instantly, converging on the robot's legs with renewed vigor. A womantaur swung her club in a precise arc, smashing into a joint with enough force to send shards of metal scattering like confetti. Beside her, a manotaur slammed his horns against the same spot, leaving a visible dent in the once-impenetrable plating.

Wendy elbowed me, nodding toward a cluster of manotaurs struggling to dodge the robot's sweeping arm. "We need to help them," she said, already moving.

I followed without hesitation, raising my shield as the massive limb swung down. The impact sent a shockwave through my arm, but the shield held firm, its red glow crackling with energy. "Now, while it's off-balance!" I shouted, and Wendy darted forward, her hatchet glinting in the light. She severed a bundle of exposed wires with a well-placed swing, causing sparks to erupt in a dazzling spray.

"Nice one!" I called, but there was no time to celebrate. The robot's jets roared to life, launching itself into the air, landing with a thunderous crash that sent several manotaurs and womantaurs sprawling.

Dipper scrambled down from his perch, rushing toward the fallen fighters. "Stick together!" he yelled, waving his arms to get their attention. "If we keep it surrounded, it can't pick us off one by one!"

Robbie and Lee finally snapped out of their daze, their wide eyes darting between the chaos and each other. "We're seriously fighting a robot with, like… bull-people?" Robbie stammered, his voice cracking.

"Focus!" Wendy barked, pointing her hatchet toward the robot. "Either grab something and fight, or get out of the way!"

Robbie swallowed hard but nodded, grabbing a thick branch from the ground. Lee hesitated, then followed suit, muttering something about how this was going to be the weirdest story of his life.

Above it all, Gideon's voice crackled through the speakers once more. "You think this ragtag bunch of misfits can beat me? I'm invincible!"

"Keep telling yourself that, Gideon!" Wendy shot back, her grin defiant.

The battlefield was a storm of chaos and sparks, but the tides were unmistakably in our favor. The robot's movements were sluggish now, its joints groaning under the relentless assault from manotaurs and womantaurs alike. Smoke poured from its damaged limbs, and the bright glow of its eyes flickered erratically. Gideon's once-confident voice blared over the speakers, now laced with panic.

"No—stay back! You don't know what you're doing!" he shouted, but his words only fueled the tribes' resolve.

"Press on!" Akila roared, her club striking the robot's side with a resounding crash. "Show this little coward the strength of the valley!"

"Manotaurs, with me!" Chutzpar bellowed, leading a charge directly into the robot's legs. Their combined strength was enough to send the hulking machine teetering, its balance faltering as it swayed dangerously.

Dipper darted to my side, his voice urgent. "We need to bring it down completely! If Gideon tries to use the jets to escape, this whole fight could start over!" The amulet, hearing the preteen's voice spoke calmly yet asservtivly in my mind.

Throw me.

I decided to trust it.

"On it," I said, gripping it tightly. The shield of red light flared to life in my hands, and with a grunt, I hurled it like a discus. It sailed through the air and struck the robot square in its remaining stabilizer, shattering the mechanism with an explosion of sparks. Yet the amulet itself remained in my palm, only sending the energy that dissipated on impact. That'll definitely come in handy from now on.

Good hit

I didn't know what to say to this apparent praise from the sentient amulet. "Uh, thanks."

The robot let out a mechanical whine as it collapsed onto its knees, shaking the ground with the force of its fall. Its arms flailed weakly, trying to push itself upright, but the womantaurs and manotaurs swarmed it like an unstoppable tide. Clubs, horns, and fists battered the metal exterior, prying open panels and tearing through its armor piece by piece.

Inside the cockpit, Gideon's voice crackled again, shrill and desperate. "No! Stop! You'll destroy it—you'll destroy me! I give up!"

The tribes didn't slow. With a ferocious roar, Chutzpar and Akila leaped onto the robot's chest, their combined weight causing the metal to groan ominously. Akila raised her club high, and with a single, decisive swing, she smashed through cockpit like glass. The shattering sound cut through the battlefield like a gunshot, and for a moment, everything went still.

Inside, manning the failing controls, Gideon cowered, his hands raised defensively as shards of metal rained around him. His wide, terrified eyes darted between Akila and Chutzpar, who glared down at him with equal parts disgust and triumph.

"Alright! Alright! You win!" Gideon screeched, his voice cracking. "Just—just don't hurt me!"

"Pathetic," Akila sneered, grabbing Gideon by the collar and lifting him effortlessly from the cockpit. "This is the great mastermind we were supposed to be afraid of?" She held him out at arm's length, his legs kicking uselessly in the air.

"P-please! I surrender!" Gideon whimpered, his bravado gone entirely. "You don't need to do this—I can help you! I can—"

"Silence," Chutzpar growled, his booming voice enough to make Gideon clamp his mouth shut. He turned to Dipper, who had joined us at the wreckage. "What shall we do with him, Destructor?"

Dipper hesitated for a moment, glancing between Gideon and the gathered tribes. Then he straightened, his voice steady and authoritative. "Take him prisoner. He's dangerous, but we're not monsters. He'll answer for what he's done."

Akila snorted but nodded, tossing Gideon unceremoniously to the ground at the feet of two womantaurs. "Tie him up. Make sure he can't wriggle his way out of this."

As Gideon was dragged away, still pleading for mercy, I let out a long, shaky breath. The battlefield was quiet now, save for the crackle of flames licking at the robot's remains. Wendy stepped beside me, leaning on her hatchet with a grin.

"Well," she said, smirking, "I think that went pretty well."

#

The journey back to the shack was a slow one, each of us worn thin by the battle. The woods felt unusually quiet now, as if the trees themselves were holding their breath after witnessing the chaos. The setting sun cast long shadows across the forest floor, and a faint chill crept into the air, tugging at the edges of my exhaustion.

"Do you think Gideon's benefactor he mentioned will come looking for him?" Wendy asked, walking beside me with her hatchet slung across her shoulder.

"Probably," I admitted. "But if the manotaurs and womantaurs stick around for a while, I doubt anyone will try anything. Not unless they're feeling courageous. Or really stupid."

Walking a few paces ahead, Dipper didn't join in the banter. His head was down, his journal clutched tightly to his chest. I could tell he was thinking about the incantation—what it meant, what it could do, and why so many people seemed willing to fight over it.

Robbie and Lee trudged behind us, still looking shell-shocked. Robbie muttered something about needing a nap for a week, and Lee grunted in agreement.

Then, out of nowhere, a burst of golden light flared before us, making me stumble back with a startled yelp. The light spun and twisted like a cyclone before vanishing, leaving behind a familiar figure: Seamus, his emerald green coat pristine despite the forest grime and his crimson beard as fiery as ever. His boots clicked on the ground as he straightened, a wide grin splitting his freckled face.

"Well, well!" Seamus said, his rich Irish brogue filling the air. "If it isn't the gallant heroes themselves! I've been wonderin' if I'd see yer faces again." He crossed his arms and gave a pointed glance at the group. "Wasn't sure if ye'd survive?"

"Seamus," Dipper said, relief and wariness mingling in his voice. "What are you doing here?"

Seamus feigned offense, placing a hand over his heart. "Ah, now, is that any way to greet a fella who's been off fightin' monsters on yer behalf?" He shot Dipper a wink, then turned to me and Wendy. "That Gremloblin's a nasty beast, I'll tell ye that much. Took the better part of my day wranglin' the thing."

One of his towering bodyguards stepped out from the trees, his shoulder heavily bandaged. The cyclops gave a curt nod, his expression stoic despite his clear pain.

Seamus gestured toward him with a flourish. "Poor Percy here took a swipe from the big brute. But don't ye worry—we gave as good as we got. The beastie won't be causin' any more trouble."

Wendy lowered her hatchet, tilting her head at him. "You're saying you took it down?"

"Course we did!" Seamus replied, puffing out his chest with pride. "Now, I believe we had a we arrangement, didn't we?" He leaned toward me, his grin growing sharper. "I help ye track down yer pals, deal with a big nasty monster, and in return, ye give me somethin' I guard for safekeeping."

I hesitated, glancing back at the group. I didn't feel right surrendering something I just fought all day to reclaim, yet…

"He did hold up his end of the bargain," I said reluctantly.

Seamus's grin softened, and he held up his hands. "Ah, don't look so grim, lad. I've no interest in usin' the thing meself as I said earlier. Ye have my word as a leprechaun."

Wendy arched an eyebrow. "No offense, but is that supposed to make us feel better?"

Seamus laughed, a rich, hearty sound that echoed through the woods. "Fair enough, lass. But I've yet to break a deal, and I don't plan on startin' today." I sighed, reached into my pocket, and handed it to him. "There's a good lad," Seamus said, tucking the page into his coat. "You've got a strong heart, that one. Keep it that way, eh?"

Before I could respond, Seamus snapped his fingers, and another swirl of golden light engulfed him and his bodyguards. "Until we meet again!" he called, his voice fading as the light swallowed them whole.

And just like that, they were gone, leaving us standing in the forest once more.

"Well," Lee said after a long pause, "that's one way to say goodbye."

#

The familiar silhouette of the Mystery Shack came into view, its misshapen roof and crooked sign bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight. The ride back had been mostly silent—Lee and Robbie had barely said a word before being dropped off, their stunned expressions speaking volumes about how surreal the day had been.

Now, it was just the three of us.

Dipper hopped out of the car before it had fully stopped, his journal clutched tightly to his chest. Wendy and I exchanged a quick glance before following him up the steps to the front porch. He didn't wait for us, throwing the door open and heading straight for the living room. By the time Wendy and I caught up, he was already pacing, muttering under his breath.

"Dipper?" I started, stepping inside.

"What's the deal with that incantation?" he snapped, rounding on me. His voice was sharp like he'd been holding it in the entire drive. "What does it mean? Why did so many people risk their lives for it? How do you always know more than you let on?"

"Dipper, calm down," Wendy interjected, her voice low and steady. "We're all tired—maybe we should talk about this later."

"No," he said firmly, glaring at me. "We're talking about it now."

I sighed, running a hand through my dirty red hair. "Dipper, this isn't the time—"

"Then when is?" he shot back. "Because every time I try to figure out what's going on with you, you just dodge the question or give me some half-answer. But you've been lying to me. From the start. Haven't you?"

The words hit like a punch to the gut. "It's not like that," I said quickly, stepping forward, attempting to stop the same argument from yesterday occuring all over agian.

"Then what is it like?" Dipper demanded. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you don't trust us enough to tell the truth. Or maybe you just think you're stronger than us and can handle everything by yourself!"

"Dipper, stop," I said, my voice rising despite myself. "You think I don't know I can't do this alone? I know that. I've always known that."

"Then why can't you tell me what's going on?!" he yelled, his face flushed with frustration.

"Because if I tell you, it puts you in danger!" I snapped. "It puts everyone in danger!"

Dipper faltered, his eyes narrowing. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means," I said, taking a shaky breath, "that if no one else knows, no one else gets hurt. I'm the only one at risk if I keep it to myself. I can take the hits. I have to. But you? Wendy? Mabel?" My voice broke. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you guys because of me."

The room fell silent except for the faint hum of the refrigerator. Wendy observed us both, her arms crossed but her expression softening.

"You don't get to make that decision for us," Dipper said quietly, but there was no mistaking the anger in his tone. "How do you think we feel, being kept in the dark all the time? You're not protecting us—you're just shutting us out."

I shook my head, the amulet in my pocket burning hot against my skin, feeding off the storm of emotions inside me. "I'm not hiding something dangerous from you guys. I'm not planning anything sinister. It's just… a fact. One simple fact that would change everything you know—and everything Bill knows, if he found out."

Dipper frowned, his brow furrowing. "Bill? What does he have to do with this?"

"I don't even know where to start," I admitted, my voice cracking under the weight of it all. "But I'm trying to keep you safe. That's all I've ever wanted."

Dipper looked like he wanted to say something else, but Wendy stepped between us, holding up a hand. "Alright, enough," she said, her voice calm but firm. "You're both stressed, and this isn't helping anyone." She glanced at Dipper. "Look, I get where you're coming from, but maybe you should give him a chance to figure out how to explain it, yeah?"

Dipper hesitated, then let out a frustrated sigh, dropping onto the couch. "Fine. But this isn't over."

I nodded, grateful for the reprieve, even if it felt hollow. "I know."

The room was heavy with unspoken words, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. As Wendy slumped down at the table in the corner of the room and Dipper flipped open his journal with a huff, I leaned against the wall, staring at the floor.

All the lies I've told, the half truths and deceit. They were eating at me. Was this really the best way to handle everything? To shoulder a burden even I don't fully understand. I allowed my body to slide to the floor and set my head in my hands.

"Having doubts?" a voice asked.

I peered through my fingers and realized the setting completely shifted to a field under the stars. Alex's figure stood over me with crossed arms. I pushed off the ground to my feet.

I walked past him. "Long time no see."

"Indeed." A silence enveloped us.

The stars glistened overhead, thousands penetrating the black with their twinkles. A soft breeze touched my face and played with the blades of grass at our feet. The field went on for miles, seemingly a wasteland devoid of monuments or structures.

"Am I making the right choices?" Alex stayed silent, sensing I had more to say. I did. "Do you know where we are?" He stayed silent. "This-" I gestured around us- "Is the infamous field of Verdun, the sight of a single battleground where the first world war was ruthlessly raged over a hundred years ago for over three hundred days. Hundreds of thousands of men died right here-" I pointed to the very ground we stood upon- "all because of questionable military leadership. All because one side thought they had the upper hand on the other." I sighed. "All because the other side was ready to throw everything they had for even a few feet of ground."

Alex remained silent.

"What if I'm wrong? What if that situation is happening to me right now?" I sat down, fingers running through the dancing grass. "What if I don't have the upper hand over Bill at all? What if my decisions have only been hurting those closest to me? Creating a rift that can never be mended?" I gazed at the endless sky. "What if my decisions get people killed."

Alex sat next to me and set a hand on my shoulder. "War is unpredictable, but taking risks is the only way to win a war. No one gets out unscathed. No one goes home the same."

"Should I tell them? Tell them everything?"

"If it is a risk you are willing to take. You and your friends would be stronger for it, but no one could possibly know what the consequences may be. It's just-"

I closed my eyes and cut him off, "-A risk I'm going to have to take." When I opened them, I was back in the shack with Dipper and Wendy sitting silently. Only I had the power to break the tension.

"I wasn't lying when I said I was from another dimension," I started, catching their attention. "In my world, I'm from New Jersey. I have a twin sister named Madison and a whole life of my own that vanished before my eyes fell into this world." I sighed, locking eyes with Dipper. "I don't know why, but I was chosen to stop Bill Cipher from returning and turning this universe into his personal playground." I stood and walked toward the gift shop. "Let's go to the roof. I'm not explaining this in a musty, gloomy living room."

Wendy and Dipper shot to their feet.

#

I cracked open my third can of pit cola from Wendy's cooler stash and took a long swig, Wendy and Dipper watched me intently. "So, to sum it all up: your world was created by mine, and everything that happens here is confined to a few comics, books, and a masterpiece of a television show that began when I was nine and finished when I was twelve." I chuckled to myself. "I idolized each of you, especially you two." I took another swig. "The paranoid but brave twelve-year-old and the chill, badass, yet secretly stressed out lumberjane." I paused, taking a glance at them, their faces expressionless. "I know so much about you guys."

"Prove it." Dipper broke the following silence. "Prove what you're saying is true."

I chuckled weakly. "What would you like me to say, Mason." Dipper's face went pale.

"Wait, your real name is Mason?" Wendy asked, looking at the preteen incredulsly. "I thought your parents just hated you or something."

I took another swig. "You're one to talk, Blerble." She reached over and slapped my shoulder, her face turning an equal shade of white. "Would you rather me call you what the kids in high school do?"

"NO!"

Wendy's outburst hung in the air, cutting through the cool night breeze. She folded her arms and leaned back against the roof's railing, giving me a pointed glare that didn't entirely hide her flustered expression.

Dipper, meanwhile, was still frozen, his pale face illuminated by the soft glow of the stars above. "You… you shouldn't know that," he finally managed to stammer, gripping the edge of the cooler like it was the only thing anchoring him to reality.

"Yet I do," I said, setting the now-empty can of Pitt Cola down with a soft clink. "And I know so much more." I glanced at Wendy and back to him with a sly smile. "Like how you-"

Dipper's face turned scarlet as he glared at me. "Okay, okay, we get it! You know a lot of embarrassing stuff about us! But that still doesn't prove you're telling the truth about being from another dimension."

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "Dipper, I know it's a lot to take in, but you have to believe me. I'm not trying to mess with you. I'm not trying to make myself out to be the big hero or anything. I just…" I trailed off, searching for the right words.

"I just want to do the right thing," I said finally. "I don't have all the answers. I don't even know if I'm cut out for this. But I was brought here for a reason, and if I don't try, then…" I hesitated, my voice dropping. "Then I'm afraid everything will fall apart."

The weight of my words seemed to settle over the three of us, the silence stretching out as Dipper and Wendy processed what I'd said. Wendy was the first to speak, her tone surprisingly soft.

"So, what now?" she asked, leaning forward slightly. "What's the plan?"

"The plan," I said, looking up at the stars, "is to stop Bill Cipher before he can come back. But I can't do it alone. I need you guys. I've always needed you guys." I turned to Dipper, meeting his gaze. "I'm sorry for lying, for keeping you in the dark. I thought I was protecting you, but I see now I was just pushing you away."

Dipper was quiet for a long moment before he finally nodded, his expression serious. "Okay. I still don't fully understand everything, but… I'll help. Whatever it takes."

Wendy clapped him on the back, her usual grin returning. "Guess that makes three of us. I mean, if we can take down a giant robot with a bunch of bull-dudes and half-human warriors, what's a dream demon, right?"

I smiled, the tension in my chest loosening for the first time in what felt like forever. "Right," I sighed again. "Unfortunately, however, things have been changing drastically from their outcomes in the show, and I'm now in the dark as much as you guys are."

"Like a butterfly effect?" Dipper asked.

"Exactly." I smiled at him. "But thanks to you guys, Mabel, Soos, Stan and everyone else, we've stood a fighting chance." We all set our gazes forward.

"Here's hoping it stays that way."

I chuckled softly and wrapped my arms around the two of them, pulling them into a warm embrace. They leaned into me, their heads resting on my shoulders as a quiet calm settled over us. Together, we tilted our gaze toward the vast expanse of stars above—a sky I had once shared with Alex. But this time, it wasn't over a barren wasteland. This world was alive, filled with things that mattered, things I couldn't bear to lose. It was filled with people I cared about—people who cared about me in return.

I wouldn't let them down. _

A/N

Yes, I'm alive, and I'd like to thank each of you for your support. The only explanation I can offer is that life gets in the way of passion, but if you genuinely care about something, you'll find a way to work it in, and that's what I'm doing now. I would look every week at the reviews you guys have left, the kind words, the suggestions, and your utter desire for more content. I am happy I can FINALLY deliver it to you. You guys have helped me more than you know. So much has changed since I started this story, and your support means the world to me. 466 favs and 532 follows is about 466 favs, and 532 follows more than I thought I'd ever get.

I know I always say this, but please leave reviews. They motivate me (and guilt-trip me) to write more.

I'll see you soon,

Matt