As promised, I wrote the chapter here on AO3. I did have more time for it like I thought but I also almost posted an unfinished chapter. Close call. Start the fic.

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The dungeon they were in had taken an odd turn. The walls now looked like they were made out of tombstones. Each one had Stanford's name on it along with his birthday and the exact date he had suffered the heart attack. Of course their triple summoned monster had vanished and they were all left their normal dice.

"Well this is unsettling."

"It's a reminder." explained Ford. "Of exactly what is at stake. I guess this is his way of saying that we've been having too much fun in this game of life and death."

"I might have snake eyes now but I'm still rolling them. Fun is the best part of life! For example: I roll to change my snake type back to its original version!"

"You know you'll need a..."

"Twenty-one or higher, I know."

Pacifica smiled and rolled her dice getting a twenty-eight.

Pacifica got her wish and changed back to the version she was at the beginning of the game. Unfortunately, this also meant that she was a bit too big for Dipper to lug around like a belt sash.

Both gave a yelp of surprise and fell to the ground.

"Dipper... If it wouldn't be too much to ask..."

"You want to be small again, don't you?"

"Yes, please!"

Dipper rolled a thirty-two and Pacifica shrunk again.

As she started to slither her way up his sleeve, Dipper couldn't help but lovingly smile at her.

"You really like it in there, don't you?"

"Let's put it this way: it is physically impossible to be any closer to you this way."

Helping Dipper to his feet, a strange glow caught his attention.

If ever there was a time for a puzzle, it would make sense for it to be now.

Ford silently motioned for Dipper to follow him and they trekked down a stone tunnel where they found themselves before a circular opening.

Above the tunnel were some words, glowing green, written in Latin... backwards!

Ford took out a pen and paper and started to decipher the words right away.

"At least he's trying to make this challe-oh."

"What is it, Ford?"

"Looks like he's on to us a little bit. It says that beyond this point summoned creatures cannot be called upon."

"That's not fair!"

"Neither is life, Dipper. You see?"

"Well I guess I'll have a chance to use the rest of my equipment then..."

"Right, let us venture forth then!"

"Fine." Pacifica's voice came from a lump in Dipper's tunic. "If this leads into another maze, some underground layer, or some kind of underground labyrinth then I am going to be, like, so pissed."

Ford lead the way but Dipper lighted it with his flaming dragon sword.

"So," Ford gave Dipper a humored grin. "Your girlfriend was a little oddly specific back there."

"It's been a colorful career and she hasn't had the best experience in those situations."

"I... might be willing to listen to a few of those adventures."

Dipper smiled. "Well, okay. Did Mabel and I ever tell you that we met the actual Jack Frost?"

"Like from the song?"

"Yeah!"

"HE'S A DICK!" Dipper's personal chest buster shouted with pride.

Ford laughed lightly at Pacifica's declaration.

"He really is, but that's only because he's lonely and craves attention."

"He's also been around so long he's outlived his friends which is why he's a little afraid of making new ones."

"Sounds like the two of you have developed quite a psychic profile on the lad. I suppose I can relate to him a little bit given how I outlived Stanley."

"We all miss... Oh! That's right! Pacifica and I had an adventure where we time traveled back to Gravity Falls! I got to see him one last time!"

"Really?! That's amazing, Dipper! What did you say to him?!"

"Oh! Well, I couldn't actually say anything new to him. You know, given..." "The time stream. Of course. Still, what was it like to see him one last time?" "It was a little jarring if I'm being honest."

Dipper's chest lump started to move again.

"He was like a deer stuck in the headlights."

"It's true. I couldn't tell him that I was me but talking to him was like talking to a ghost. I almost blew my cover when I first saw him but Pacifica was able to stop me."

More motion happened under Dipper's tunic.

"I tackled him into the bushes!"

"It's true. She did."

Ford let out a forlorn sigh. "Still, it must have been nice to see Stanley one last time."

"I never blew my cover with him but I think somehow he always knew who I was and when I was from. Before I left I heard him talk about how he would be 'in marvel at the man that I would become'. I was hiding but I think he knew that I was within ear shot."

"Sounds like Stanley. He might not have been book smart like you and I but he knew when someone was lying to him. I still miss him so."

"Me too. I looked up to him... The same way I do with you."

Ford turned and placed his hand on Dipper's shoulder.

"I might not be Stanley but I do know one thing. He WOULD be in marvel at the man that you've become. I know that because I'm in marvel right now."

Dipper almost hugged the man but a quick jump from Pacifica stopped him.

"I'm still in here, you know?!"

"Sorry."

The trio eventually found their exit but where it lead to wasn't by any means any comforting. It was a massive graveyard, as far as the eye could see.

The tombstones all still had Ford's name and such but now they were in front of empty graves.

They cautiously moved forward but nothing jumped out at them.

"So, I'm thinking zombies are next. What about you?" asked Dipper.

"I highly doubt it. All the graves are mine! So what; a zombie army of MES are going to come at us? I don't think so."

"Zombies are, like, so played out anyways."

Dipper smiled. "Would you rather it be vampires?"

"Who do you think I am?! Mabel?! If they can't see themselves I mirrors them how do they know what needs touching up? Besides, don't they have, like, a weakness for every power they have? You know... Turn into mist but are also garlic intolerant, can't be shot but can't enter a house without invitation... A numbers game."

"Depends on who you're asking I guess. This game for Ford's life is the only one we should be concerned with anyways. Are you sure you don't want to be out here with us?"

"... Give me a moment to do my chest buster thing."

Pacifica popped out from under Dipper's collar and grimaced at the sight.

"Ugh! Why would I want to? Nothing but empty graves and dead trees."

Dipper laughed a little bit. "You made the face again!"

"Again with this? For the last time, I don't make a face."

"Sure you do! Ford, you've noticed Pacifica makes a face when she goes 'Ugh' right?"

Ford laughed lightly. "I'm afraid I haven't been around long enough with her to be a fair judge."

Pacifica stretched herself out to look Dipper in the face.

"I don't make any faces of any kind, Mister!"

Dipper laughed again. "Yes you do, but that's okay because I love that about you too!"

Pacifica blushed lightly and avoided eye contact for a moment.

"... That being said... I suppose I could try the scarf angle instead of the xenomorph angle."

She lightly coiled herself around Dipper's neck to the point where she was basically cheek to cheek with him.

"There. I'm, like, basically at the max level of being with you through this way too. Happy now?"

"I'm always happy when you're with me, Pacifica."

Pacifica watched Dipper's face intently for a moment and thought 'He doesn't know this but as soon as we're back to normal, and as soon as we're alone in the RV... I'm going to jump him. He'll never see me coming but I really want to do The Deed with him after all this. He's earned it and you know what?! So have I!'

The three continued onward with only an eerie silence for company.

"I'm starting to think maybe there isn't a threat here!" grumbled Ford. "That maybe this part is just meant to be depressing!"

Dipper started to see the thought process Ford was on and new what he was going to say next. He tried to stop him but it was too late.

"It's too easy!"

Pacifica grimaced and Dipper facepalmed. "Tell me you didn't just say that."

As if on cue, a terrible shrill cawing echoed throughout the dungeon.

From above descended bird like creatures. Their feathers were as black as the night sky, and their claws were as curved and as sharp as scimitars. Their heads, while still horribly ugly, were oddly human.

These were harpies.

"At times like this, I believe Stanley's nickname for me is accurate. I really am a Stupid Genius."

"It's YOUR turn, cast something!" shouted Dipper.

"I cast...uh... Shield of Shielding Spell... Party Sized!"

Ford's dice landed on a twenty-seven and three giant transparent green shields materialized in front of Dipper, Ford, and Pacifica. Because of her proximity to Dipper, Pacifica's shield ended up on the other side of them. It was almost like they were sharing two shields together, Dipper's on the left with Pacifica's on the right.

The shields did their jobs as the harpies' attacks were stopped. They struggled to get through or around the shields, but for the moment the spell was working.

Ford was playing the role of an elf but he would never stop being a scientist. He looked at their feathers analytically, something was a little off.

One of the harpies almost got around Pacifica's shield but she stretched herself out and looked the beast in the face. Her eyes started to swirl with a many of different colors. The harpy's own eyes started to swirl with the same colors.

"Back OFF, you ugly crow freak! You aren't going to attack Dipper from behind on MY watch! Why don't you go bother one of your friends instead?!"

The harpy nodded mindlessly in obedience and attacked the harpy on Dipper's left.

"What? ... Wait... Did I just hypnotize that hideous crow thing?"

"Well I guess we now know what kind of snake you are, Pacifica. You already know that you don't need to hypnotize me though, right? I'm already at your beck and call!" flirted Dipper.

Pacifica swiveled her hips a little. "Are you trying to snake charm me, Mister?"

"They're not crows!" corrected Ford.

"Huh?"

"They attacked in a pair of threes, and their tail feathers are different. They're ravens!"

"Ravens are bigger than crows but crows are more likely to be found at the graveyard. Why use ravens instead of crows?" asked Dipper.

Ford's harpy grinned evilly before croaking out "Nevermore!"

"Ah." Pacifica made a noise of understanding. "Looks like the Grim Reaper is a little more poetic than people think."

"You will see Stanley..." started one harpy.

"Nevermore!" finished another harpy.

Ford stared out silently in a moment of hurt shock.

"Okay, that's crossing the line!" declared Dipper. He moved to tilt his hat forward but forgot he wasn't wearing one this time.

"Nevermore!" came another cry.

"You will be remembered..."

"Nevermore!"

'I guess it's time to see what the rest of these magical weapons can do!'

Dipper took out the weird green vine whip and cracked it against the ground at a much louder volume than his normal goop whip would do.

*CRACK!*

"Poetic nothing! These birds are just being a bunch of feathered jerks!"

One of the harpies managed to tackle Ford to the ground.

"You will see your parents nevermore!"

"Get off of me!"

Dipper lashes out with his new whip, wrapping it around the creature's neck.

A firm yank was enough to pull the harpy off of Ford. It raised up it's wings to its throat but they quickly got tangled up in the goop excreting from the whip.

Ford shoved the harpy into one of the open graves and almost took Dipper's whip with it. It was only thanks to a quick pull that Dipper was able to reel it back.

In the grave itself, a open coffin grew out of the bottom and started to pull the harpy towards it with a force like that of a vacuum. The harpy tried to fly away but the pull was too great and she ended up falling into the coffin.

The lid closed tight on the harpy and then dirt came pouring down, burying it.

Ford was stuck in a state of shocked horror at the sight but Dipper was still dealing with the other two.

He rolled on the ground and brought out his crossbow.

"Pacifica, load me up!"

"You got it, Baby!" Pacifica loaded a red arrow into the crossbow. "These are supposed to be the magical equivalent to the laser feature, right? Well let's see what they can do!"

Dipper fired at one of the harpies and the arrow exploded on contact.

"Meh. It's flashy, but I think I still prefer the laser."

The second harpy lunged at them but Dipper was able to jump back just in time to avoid her. A click sound alerted Dipper that Pacifica had reloaded the crossbow with another arrow.

He fired and a blue arrow shot out and hit the harpy in the head. Ice started to creep over her head until it was frozen in a giant block of it.

Ford, now back to his senses, pushed the harpy into another open grave where the same thing happened like with the other one.

"Talk about a 'brain freeze'!" joked Dipper.

Pacifica stretched out again to look Dipper in the face.

"Puns? Again?! Really?"

"Are you saying you don't enjoy my wit?"

"Wit is fine, I just feel like you're better than a bunch of puns."

Dipper couldn't help but smile at how cute a small, snake-like Pacifica could be when embarrassed.

"Well, even though you're small I think you're doing great! There was almost no wait time for reloading!"

Pacifica happily hissed out her forked tongue. "That's because we make a great team!" She then gave Dipper a little peck on the nose.

"Oh, by the way Sweetheart... When you're like this? No hickeys. Okay? Better safe than sorry."

"Fine. But you can't say you aren't curious about what kissing me with this forked tongue would be like."

Dipper stared off into space for a moment.

"Dipper?"

"Let's put it this way, human Pacifica is the best Pacifica."

While this conversation was going on, Ford was wrestling with the last harpy. The explosion arrow had weakened it considerably so he was winning.

With a final kick, Ford sent it to be eaten up by another empty grave.

"Ford, are you okay?"

Ford rested a hand on his knee while he caught his breath.

"No! *PANT!* I am not... *PANT!* Okay."

Dipper ran over to him and helped him stand up straight.

"I'm sorry, man. I should have helped more. I guess I just got lost in a moment with Pacifica and..."

"No!" Ford nearly shouted. "I'm not talking about the fight with the harpy! I mean this place! This was a psychological challenge and I almost lost! The empty graves reminding me of what's at stake, the raven harpies preying on my dark insecurities, shoot! Even the finality of the graves themselves being a trap was glaring reminder that my own future might not be anything more than a grave!"

Ford stared down at the bottom of one of the graves. "A fate which awaits for us all... Some might just have a shorter wait than others."

Dipper placed a hand on Ford's shoulder. "I'm sorry Great Uncle Ford. You're right, and we'll do better. This is a game but the stakes have never been higher."

Ford gave him a sad smile and Dipper gave a confident one back in return.

"Eyes front, Mr. Scientist! We aren't done yet!"

A shrill cry echoed sharply throughout the dungeon from up ahead.

"What was that?" asked Pacifica.

"The mini-boss of the dungeon. Norlog, Devourer of Numbers."

Omake

Ford's lab...

Without the presence of our heroes the lab was understandably quiet.

That is, until a portal opened in mid air and out popped Lenny.

"Beware, Dipper Pines! For I, Lenny have..." Lenny trailed off as he realized that the lab was empty. "Hello? Dipper? Pacifica?"

Only silence answered Lenny.

"You guys really shouldn't try to play hide and seek with a giant eyeball. It never ends well!"

Lenny waited a moment but nothing happened.

"That's strange. I'm usually spot on with where I can find Dipper... GASP! Maybe he turned invisible! What an ingenious way to defend oneself from an evil eyeball! Well his invisibility won't mean anything if I just KNOCK HIM DOWN!"

Lenny sped through the air, racing all around the lab yet curiously not running into anything.

Eventually he got bored and slowed to a stop.

"Okay, I'm starting to think that MAAAAAAAYBE he didn't turn himself invisible. But if he didn't turn invisible..." Lenny spotted some of Ford's lab notes fluttering slightly from his previous racing. "THEN MAYBE HE JUST TURNED HIMSELF REALLY TINY INSTEAD!"

Lenny used the bulk of his body to knock over the papers.

"REVEAL YOURSELF, DIPPER PINES! FOR I, LENNY HAVE-ACK PAPER CUT! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH! MY ONE WEAKNESS!"

In a fit of pain panic, Lenny tossed and writhed knocking over everything within reach.

"CURSE YOU, DIPPER PINES! EVEN IN YOUR ABSENCE, YOU STILL FIND A WAY TO BEST ME! I will return to my home dimension but rest assured, I will take your life one day!"

A portal opened up and Lenny slowly went through it.

"I mean... How do you even TREAT a paper cut to the eyeball?"

That's it for now! I hope THIS chapter was up to snuff. If you enjoyed it, please leave me a review.