Chapter Text
We jumped from our sitting and, like a pack of rats, scurried. I led the fleet with Bill right behind and Finn barely trudging along the back. Bill looked back and gave a hiss.
“Can't we just leave him behind and let old branch butt gnaw on him?”
“No.”
“Come on. He doesn't even have his powers. He's just dead weight.”
“You know I can hea-” Finn said as he tripped over a branch and fell into a coughing fit where he landed. I stopped and turned around. Bill too stopped and gave a groan.
“Come on! Just leave him and let's get out of dodge.”
“No.” Bill, about to argue stopped with a slack jaw and wide eyes.
“Dip- Pine Tree, get away N̍͒ͨ̇̈͛Oͮͫ̚W͋̂͛͊͆̚!”
“No. I'm not leaving without-” Just as I reached Finn, who was trying to push himself up, a branch suddenly wrapped tightly around his ankle.
“D-Dipper?!” He cried in a voice choked, eyes wide and full of fear as he was quickly dragged into a nearby shrub, vanishing from sight. The shrub shook and trembled before coming to a silent stop. With a heft of breath, I flew to it before halting as a figure sprung up from behind. It stood tall above me, casting a shadow so dark it was nearly black. In fact, he was black, like a living shadow. And there, in the darkness of its face were a pair of those intense white eyes, staring directly at me. It was him. The boy. The Beast. Just as suddenly as he appeared, he was gone in a blink of an eye. I quickly headed for the shrub. And on the other side I saw only a branch with a piece of cloth from Finn’s already torn pants.
“Finn?” I whispered, emotion filling me.
Then I heard a scream behind me as a tightening pain surrounded my wrists. I spun around to see Bill being held up in the air, both wrists in one clawed hand and a lantern in the other.
“This is well beyond my tolerance limit. Far beyond it, I say.” Bill yelled, kicking and wriggling to no avail. His eyes turned red as he tried to bite at the silhouet. With indifferent eyes, the clawed hand began to grow sprouts, wrapping around the struggling Bill, the sensation crawling across my own ghostly skin. “Stop. Release me a͗́t͐̍ͤ̏ ͋ͨ͌͋ȌNͥ̌Ć̂͋͛̈́͒̐E̎̋̆!” With building anger, I felt a heat rush into my core and through my limbs. Bill immediately looked over and began to shake as his eyes turned yellow, the branches still growing on him. “Rͧ̓͒͂ͧun̎͌̅̃̉̔ͧ. ͑Getͮ͆̑̿͆ ̊ͫͣo̅ͬ̑ͭ̀̚ú̌̽̅̎̑t͒̇̎͑́̏ ̓̅o̓̍fͤ̓ͨͣͬ ̏ͯͪhͬ̏̀̽ͧ̚e̔̅͛̏ͨr̈́̓̏̓eͭ̿͑͒ͨ͗.” The Beast looked over and froze. I could only imagine the fiery horror he was witnessing, like when looked at my own reflection a time ago, but I didn't care. I didn't care that I looked this way. I wanted him to b͕̳̮̺͓͌͂ư̖̳̗̱ͯr̖̻͔̎̄͋ͩ͛ͨnͤͫ͟. With cupped hands, I barely willed them to catch fire only for them to combust into raging infernos. I wanted him to burn. The Beast’s eye then turned gleeful as he turned towards me.
Bill, still in hand, getting more and more wrapped in branches, looked between me and the Beast, closed his eyes, twisted his wrist, and gave a single snap of his constricted hand.
And like that, the flames extinguished and the boiling heat within me cooled. I looked, with wide eyes, between my empty hands and chest. I glared back up at Bill and yelled,
“What are you doing?!”
“Saving the both of us.” Now he was the delusional one!
“Saving?! I was doing the saving until you-”
“Stopped you from making a horrible mista-” Just then, a branch grew over Bill’s mouth, shutting him up. Bill tried to yell only to be muffled by the spreading wood as he renewed his efforts for escape. The Beast then, detaching the wrapped branches, threw the wiggling body against a tree, sending the doll from his pocket to the ground and effectively knocking him out with a painful grunt. I felt the throb hit the back of my head, putting me into a daze as I looked down at my sleeping reflection, that had instinctively curled in on itself like a defenseless child, for at that moment, that was all he was. The Beast turned fully towards me with smiling eyes. I suddenly grew cold and unsettled beneath his stare. Bill cutting off his powers left me defenseless. Without a body or an aid of someone else, in this form, I was weak. I couldn't beat him. I turned to make a retreat only to feel myself stop. I looked back to see him holding the lantern before him, it's glass door open. And like wind through a straw, I was sucked back towards the small container. I tried to fly against it only to fail as I was pulled in with the opening closing behind me.
Once in, my spiritual body spun through the empty space from head to heels and over again. With the rowing of my arms and kicking of my feet, I soon stabled myself. I looked around at the metallic walls and spotted the door. I flew over and peered through the smudged glass. From there I could spy Bill being picked up, limp like a wet noodle covered in branches like wooden snakes. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I gazed upon the bony hand that did this. With a sudden turn, he was moved out of sight. I looked at the glass then my hands and tried to push through. And I tried again. And again. But to no avail. I looked out again to see him nearing a tree. I began pounding on the glass and screaming at it in hopes my voice would sound through.
“Let me out and let. Us. Go!” The Beast stopped, causing the lantern to swing slightly, which felt like the whole world was tipping back and forth from within. In a moment, a abrupt array of green, yellow, and red starred in, almost overtaking the whole window. Started, I jumped back, holding my hands in front of my chest and knees slightly raised. I stayed like this as I felt that single eye observe me closely, then looked behind me for a moment before fading from view. After a few breaths I flew back to the window to see it above the forest floor as it grew further away. I looked up and there I saw, in the Beast’s grasp, was the crown Bill had thrown up, or I assume he did, there. As he turned it over, inspecting it, a beam of light hit the big gem, sending a ray of light shining into my eyes, blinding me.
I flew back as I rubbed my eyes, the color of red dancing behind my lids.
“Gah! That smarts.” Then, I felt a gentle tap on my back.
“Hello.” I turned my head and peered out of one eye to see nothing but a blur. I rubbed my eyes a bit more and looked again to see a flickering light of yellow in the center, but nothing else.
“Hi there.” Said the voice again. I then looked down to surprisingly see a young boy who looked about Gideon's age. He had a white, long sleeve shirt, a pair of strings hanging from his collar, green overalls, and what I think were, stockings. He was short with a round face, button nose, and big eyes, which were staring right up at me. But what really caught my eye was the kettle sitting upside down atop his messy brown hair. He looked just like the doll from the tavern. “Are you okay?” I blinked a few times before looking back down at him.
“I- Yeah. Hey, do you know how to get out of here?”
“Here?” Repeated the boy, putting his hands on his hips. “Why the Unknown, silly willy.”
“The Un- you mean in this lantern?”
The boy then shook his head with a smile. “No. No. No.” As he said this, trees grew from the light below and ground filled in the space below my feet. Suddenly I fell to the ground on my chest, with an “ooft” as the boy on his feet. He then spread his arms out and spun in a circle. “The woods and anything within and beyond is the Unknown.”
I sat up and rubbed my chest, I left my hand to the ground, feeling the dirt beneath. “So, everything.” The boy stopped spinning and put a finger to his chin.
“Well technically yes because there's always something you don't know, even with things you do know.” He then pulled out a rock painted with a face that stuck out its tongue and held it in the air. “And that's a rock fact.” He then put it away and put his hands back on his hips. “But if you're asking about destination, then these woods are the place.”
“For the Unknown.”
“Yeeeep.” He said, rocking back and forth from his heels to his toes
“Ah.” I said pushing myself up before wiggling my toes in the dirt, looking at them. It was so.. weird to stand on my own two feet again and feel between them. I kinda miss that old pebble that always wound up in my shoe.
Then in my peripheral vision, I saw a hand appear. I looked up to see the boy standing close with his arm outstretched.
“I don't think we properly introduced yet.” He then pointed his thumb at himself, his other hand on his hip, with a big smile. “I'm Greg.”
“I- uh- Hi.” I replied, pinching my nail. “I'm Dipper.” Greg then gave a contemplative look.
“Dipper huh? Well, it's a neat name for a neat buddy o’ mine.” He said, smiling again.
“Wait, buddy? Don't you think being pals with a stranger on first introduction a little odd. Dangerous even.”
“Nope. You're not a bad guy, just make bad decisions.”
“Wait, how would you-” I placed my hand on my forehead and shook my head. “Nevermind. Now how do I get out of here?”
“The Unknown?”
“No the lanter-” I looked up and stared wide eyed at the boy. “You know how to get out of these woo-” Greg’s brows furrowed as he turned around and crossed his arms. As he did, the trees grew darker and branches more gangly, almost hand-like.
“So you want to leave. Is that it?” Black liquid began spilling from the bark, dripping onto the dying grass and cracking leaves.
“What the-” I looked around bewildered at the sight before me.
“Leave my brother all alone?” I looked over at him to see all the earth, but where he stood, begin to crumble away.
“All alone again.” Then the black liquid bursts into trails of yellow flames.
“Wh-what's going on?!” I streamed as the ground began breaking away under my feet. I looked over, seeing the flames growing closer and closer to the sources of the black liquid. I turned back and saw Greg’s back and hands clung on each arm.
“I-I-I-I’m not l-leaving your brother alone.” The flames lowered and the boy peeked his eye over his shoulder.
“Promise?” The ground gave another shudder under my feet, making me stumble.
“P-promise!” And just like that, the fire stopped, the ground came back, the black liquid went back to the trees, the trees went back to normal, the grass and leaves grew back lush and full. With feet firmly on the ground I looked at him. As I did, he spun around with a big smile on his face, staring at me with his big eyes while I felt my own face fall. What did I just do? What did I just do!? You'd think I'd learn but noooo, I gotta be tricked by this little dingus.
“Okie Dokie, artichokey.” He said, swinging his arms back and forth. I groaned as I dived my face into my hands shamefully.
“Alright, so where is your brother?” I asked, looking around.
“Oh, he's not fully in here.” Greg said with a laugh. I looked at him in condition before he pointed behind me. I looked back to see the glass window before looking back. “Wirt's out there.” That name sounded.. familiar. But from where?
“Wirt?”
“That's my brother’s name.” The boy said in cheer. I stared at him and thought harder. Then as I peered at the kettle upon his head. The kettle? The doll! The tavern.
“The pilgrim!?”
“Well, I guess you can call him that. It's better than what most people call him. But they just don't really know the situation.” Greg then hopped onto a stone on one foot and spread his arms out wide. “But you could understand him. He can't push you away like everyone else.”
“Okay? Because I'm a ghost?”
“Yes.” Greg said, hopping onto the other foot. “Can't push a ghosty because his hands will go straight through.” I pinched the bridge of my nose and gave a sigh.
“Okay. So who is your brother again?” He slowly put down his other foot and stared at me.
“He’s Wirt.”
“No I mean.. I've heard his name a few times but I haven't seen him before.” Greg closed his eyes and shook his head, still smiling.
“You've seen him before.”
I slowly shook my own head once Greg opened his eyes. He then spread his arms wide and squatted down. “He has a blue cape, like a superhero.” Instantly Finn when he was flying through the air came to thought. I then kicked the idea from my mind. Finn wouldn't have a brother. Would he? And his name isn't Wirt in the first place. Unless he lied. “His head comes to a point-” Point? Bill?! No. Bill absolutely could not have a brother or family of any kind, especially not human. … Right? And his name isn't.. Actually, I couldn't even say if Bill’s real name is Bill. A trickster is a trickster after all. “-when he wears his hat.” When he wears his hat? Seeing my confusion, the boy stood tall with his hands raised high. “He looks like a gnome when he wears it.” Like a gnome? ‘...forest druid gnome…’ My eyes widened before I quickly knelt down to the boy’s level.
“Does he have branches that stick out of the sides of his head?”
Greg then turned his head down, put his hands behind his back, and began drawing circles with the toe of his foot. “Yeah, but don't talk to him about them. Okay? He tries really hard to be a good brother, but he needs some help.” All I could do was stare at the child before me. The brother of the Beast. I could feel my fingers twitch and legs shake readying to run. I wanted away.
Suddenly the boy looked up, gazing behind me. He gave a smile and pointed.
“We’re home.” I turned around and to my surprise, I saw nothing but darkness through the blurred glass. I stood and walked closer to the glass, to try to get a clearer view. “Here, I got it.” Said Greg, who was suddenly next to me, making me jump. Paying no mind, he began wiping at the glass. As he did, the entire class became clearer and clearer until it was as crystal as water. “There. This darn thing is always getting smudged. Smudged. Smudged. Smudged.” I watched him for a moment before looking out. With the lantern the only thing giving light, I could see we were in a dark room, but not much else beyond the beam of light. Within, I could see the wooden floor, covered in dust, scratches, and occasional burn mark. The far wall having jade colored wood paneling halfway up the wall, where the upper half, once white, but had since turned beige over time, covered in a pattern of small groups of four green almond shaped spots. And on that floor next to that wall, was a small pile of branches and sticks by larger pieces of firewood sitting beside a dark, ash filled fireplace, a fire-grate, bucket, scoop, broom, and fire pick put to the side. Suddenly the view changed, showing a table full of papers, open books, ink and quill pens, a small bookshelf overflowing with more books and papers, a knife on top, a clarinet and tuba, and several chairs. One was full of blankets and quilts, another, had a shirt and trousers hanging off the back, a third and fourth sat empty. He moved closer and put the lantern on one of the empty chairs. I looked down at the seat and saw rings worn into the wood. Did he always put the lantern here? I looked over at Greg, who still had his eyes glued to the glass. How long had he been in here? I then heard footsteps, which brought my attention back outside. There I saw the beast walk toward the far side of the room, to which I saw red fainting couch, his back looking fairly slouched and lumpy. He then dropped two figures down onto the couch. He looked down at the dark shapes before turning to the fire place. He grabbed the bucket, scoop, and broom and began removing the pile of ash. After a bit he put it aside and moved over to the fire wood. He put in a few quarter logs then grabbed a flint and steel. He scraped the two together, making sparks fly, until the wood slowly caught on fire. He leaned down and gently breathed on it until it grew to a reasonable size. He moved and pulled the fire grate in front of the gentle flame before standing up, grabbing the bucket of ash, and walked out of sight, the shut if the door sounding his leave. As he left I looked closer at the figures, the fire casting a brighter light in them. And I gasped.
Bill and Finn. There they were, limp and lifeless, wrapped and covered in knotted branches. I held my breath as I stared at them with hands over my mouth. No. I felt a coldness emptied me of warmth, shaking my very limbs in its bitterness. Then Finn gave a raspy cough and Bill a shuttering breath, still as unconscious as a pair of carrots. I let go of my breath and clutched my chest, relief filling me. I then got an uncomfortable feeling at my side. I looked over and saw Greg staring at me. He continued to for a moment before looking back. I then heard the sound of a door shutting and shoe soles clicking against the hardwood. As I looked back, I saw him go over to the fireplace and set the bucket down with a clank, a few small clumps of ash getting knocked off and fell to the ground. He walked over to the two and stared down at them before turning around and walking towards us, out of sight, then walked back. I felt my ghostly heart stop as a shining blade caught my eye. I began pounding, screaming and screaming, fruitily hoping to be heard. The Beast paused for a moment before going back towards them. I pounded harder, clawing at the glass, leaving not a mark. He leaned in close, his shadow falling over the two, and sliced, halting my growing attempts. He tracked down with his other hand and began pulling and ripping, continuing to cut at their sleeping bodies. I was going to be sick, seeing him, that, pulling out their internal organs. It was disgusti- before I could finish the thought, he backed away no longer overshadowing them. And.. they were fine. There was no blood or spilling organs as I was imagining. All there was were scrapes and scratches from the unruly branches. Speaking of which. I looked over at the tall figure, who was snapping the twigs and putting them in the pile amongst the other small limbs.
Once he was done, he turned to look at the two again, a hand wrapping around his waist and the other at his chin, tapping it with his fingers. He then gave a snap and moved over to the table. At the low point where the lantern sat, I could not see what he found within the mess upon the dead wood. He then lifted the item and peered at it. I felt my brows furrowed as it came to sight. It was an old saw, the handle well worn and blade splattered black. What would he be doing with a- again before I could complete my thought, he grabbed one of his antlers and brought up the saw. With an inhale and closing eyes, he began to run the tool back and forth against the rough wood. His teeth clenched tight as he hissed between them, moving the blade faster and faster. His closed eyes began to leak tears as a black substance dripped off the edge of the blade. Soon enough, the antler was cut off, leaving just a stump against his skull, spilling black liquid down the side of his face. He took a breath as he set down the blackening wood and began on the other. The process was the same, this time leaving him panting. His eyes opened half mass, his eyes changing from color to gentle hazel eyes back to color in an instant. He went and grabbed the other branch and quickly left the room.
I stood there stunned and more confused and curious than I had began. Questions, old and new, flittered in my head quicker than I could comprehend them. And then those eyes.. changed. Like Finn’s when- Soon I had to force myself to stop as a headache began to come on. I placed my hands on my forehead, rubbing my palms into it. I then strange feeling on my side arose again. I looked over and, again, saw Greg staring at me with big eyes.
“Did you see him?”
“Who?” He continued to stare, face unchanged and oddly unreadable. I raised a single brow, rubbing one hand against my forehead, the headache slowly subsiding.
“Wirt?” The boy gave a wide smile that reached his eyes.
“I knew I made a good choice.” Before I could question him, he grabbed my hand and pulled me down then placed a hand on the back of my neck. The kid was stronger than he looked.
“What are you-” I began before getting cut off by my own scream. A burning sensation enveloped my nape. I tried to shake him off and pull away, but he kept hold. And then he stopped. He let go, causing me to tumble. Once on my butt, I began kicking back, trying to get away from my most recent inflictor of pain. “W-w-what was that for?” I reached the back of my neck, feeling raised flesh against my fingertips. I brought them to my face, seeing nothing, before putting them back, feeling the mark again. “What did you do?!” The boy smiled but did not say a word, instead he stuck out his hand as though he were holding something between his thumb and his index finger, giving his wrist a shake as though he were ringing a bell. I looked at him with knitted brows and narrowed eyes. The boy rolled his own, placing his hands on his hips, and shaking his head with a smile.
“It's a seed.” I continued to gawk at him, still trying to soothe the throbbing pain with my hand.
“A what?”
The boy was opening his mouth, and stopped suddenly, looked out the glass then pointed.
“What my brother’s giving your friends.” At that, I shot up and looked. He was back, bandages around each nub, holding two small jars of that black liquid, almost spilling over with each step, and an empty bucket at the crook of his elbow. He set them down ever so gently next to the couch. He kneeled down and looked at the two. Even from here, I could see his hands shake as he removed Finn’s cap, letting a long flowing mane fall flowing until it hit the cautions he sat on. Had he ever cut his hair before?! Equally shocked, stared at it for a moment before shaking his head. He then went and carefully moved each if their hair away from their necks, and folded down Bill’s shirt collar. He gave a swallow before grabbing the jars. With a hand above the bucket, he poured the liquid, just enough to coat the palm of his hand, he then did the same to the other hand, leaving a black print on the jar. He turned back to the unconscious bodies, rubbing his hands together. He took a deep breath and reached his hands out, hovering them over rack of their napes. He released his held breath with closed eyes and put them on. And immediately, they screamed. Their voices range in burning agony as their eyes shot up to the ceiling where the smoke from where the hands met their necks rose. I couldn't stand it. I couldn't stand the sound. I couldn't stand the sight. But I couldn't will myself look away or plug my ears as they felt like they were burning themselves. It was just so.. addictive. As their muscles began to spasm, he finally let go. They all collapsed in panting breath, necks and hands still emitting smoke.
Slowly they began to stir, giving hisses and groans. Bill pushed himself up, rubbing his neck and crack open his eye. He froze at the body lying before him. Before I could process it, Bill had jumped on top of the dazed boy, pinning him down. He let out a growl as the boy tried to push himself up, digging his shoulders into the hard floor below him. The boy blinked hard as he stared up with his hazel eyes at the steamin demon above him, eyes blood red. At the sound, Finn’s head shot up before his eyes locked onto the two, growing wide.
“Don't you ever toͨͭ̆͑u̍̐ͥc̄h͒͛̎ m̍͌͒ͧê̎ͮ͆̓̉ͫ! Eͨ̔ͭͧ͛͌̑̆̓v̂ͧ͆ͤë́ͬͪ̍͛͛ͩ͌̈͗̍͌͋̏͂̚r̆̄ͩ̊ͣ̃!” Bill screamed, digging his nails into the boy’s shoulders. The boy flinched, shutting his eyes tire with a whimper, shaking, before suddenly going lax. He reopened his eye to show an array of colors that looked upon the ferocious demon above him in seeming boredom.
“I ̛wòu͟l͠dn͡'t͡ of̢ ̸hád t͜ǫ ̷if̡ ͡yo͘u ͡h͠ad no͞t b͠een̶ ̛a thre͢a͘t̴.” He said calmly in a voice cold and lifeless. Bill gave another growl and slammed his shoulders into the wood again, slamming his head in the process, making him wince.
“A t͗ͭͭh͊̔͊r̒e͐̑a̒ͥ̂͛ͧt̎́͊̉̋̃̚ to w̐͗̂̑͆ͭhͧͫ̑ͥ̒åͮ̆̉ͦ̓t̓̉̑͋̃͛̚?!” The boy slowly opened his now moist hazel eyes.
“The Unknown and its residents.” He choked, his voice cracking body tense. He blinked again, eyes turning to colors and body again going lax.
“We did ǹͤ͂ͥ̿ô͛t̾̓̿̏hͥïͩͥ̒ͫn͛̔́̃ͭͨ͒g to them.”
“Tha͘t͜ ͡i͘s a ̷l͟ie.” He said, voice calm again. “I̷ have͜ seen̨ ̡it, ̕a̴n͠d҉ ̡I k̛now̶ w̢ha̡t̶ ỳo͏ù a͢re ͝c̢apa͝b̷l͠e of͞. I͝ can̡ ̡no͟t al̡lo̢w͝ y͝ou͏ ͟to ̴w̢oǹde̷r̢ ab͡o͝ut t̛ḩis d͢omain.” Bill tightened his grip on the boy’s collar and pulled him up until he was huffing in his face.
As Bill was opening his mouth, a hoarse cough erupted from behind him. He looked back and froze as he laid his yellow eyes on the weakly sick boy, almost choking on his tongue, behind him, eyes moist and puffy, lips chapped and red, cheeks fully flushed and hair cascading around him in a golden waterfall. While Bill was staring, he didn't notice the boy below pull his legs under him and kick him in the gut, sending him off. He stood back up only for Bill to tackle him. Finn then quickly stood only to trip immediately after. While they rolled across the floor, an object rolled out of Wirt’s cape. As Finn was picking himself up, the object caught the core or of his eye, looked at it and gasped. His crown. He glanced at the two and made a dash for it. Wirt, hearing the sound of feet, looked up and groaned.
He kicked off Bill again and yelled, “Stop!” And like that the two fell to the ground like puppets who had just had their strings cut. Wirt stood up and dusted his pants before walking over to the crown, just beyond Finn’s unmoving fingertips. Picking it up, he looked at it then at Finn questionably before going over and placing it upon the mantle. He turned around and let his cape close around him like a funnel, leaving only his shins exposed below the fabric.
“S̵t͞a͏nd̡.” As ordered, both stood, Finn’s face flabbergasted and Bill’s seething.
“͏W͝a̛l͝k͢.” Each of them moved in synch, going back to the couch. Finn opened his mouth to speak, but not a sound came out, leaving him having like a suffocating flounder, as Bill continued his scowl, deepening it with each step.
“S͟i͘t͝.” And with that, they sat. Finn's eyes darted around the room in astonishment and fear as Bill’s eyes burned holes into Wirt’s skull, metaphorically speaking. Wirt, looking them over, gave a head nod then went and retrieved an empty chair. He set it down before them before sitting down himself, back tall and straight as his hands rested on his knees in closed fists.
“L̢i̧s͡t͝ęņ.” He took in a deep breath through his nose and released it through his mouth. “I ̵ḑo n̨ot ̨kno҉w fo̸r ͏w̴h͟er̵e ͡you̡ ca͘me fŕom̴, ̀b̕ut w͟her͡ev͡er̢ ́it ҉i̢s̸,̡ i̵t is̨ n͏o̡t l̴ike ͡how ̧it is h͟e̷r̷e. ̵T͞h̵i͢s̵ i̡s ̵a ver̕y̵ d͞eli͡cat͜e pĺa͏ce, ́especi̢ally ̀at̴ t͝he͏ ́mo̢ment, a̸nd y͢o̷u̶r r͢ecȩn͝t.. acti̴v̕it͝y̵ ha̸ş ̷b͏ée͠n̢ c̢ausing͡ ͟s̛omè.. i͟ss̶ue̡s. Onès Ì'v͝e̕ beén ́and s͘t̸i̧ll ͘h͡a̷v̡e͏ to҉ d͠e͘a̶ļ w̴i͞th̢.” He closed his eyes and gave a deep sigh. “S͞o̶ ͜pardo̧n m͠y ҉cru̷d҉i̸ţy,͡ ̀b͡u͏t I͢ c͘an͘n҉o̵t̕ allow̧ y͠o͢ù ͝p̴rivile҉ge ́tơ ̷y̴our͞ ow͘n w͠hi͜m̢s, as Į ̵h҉av͟e s͠eèn̡ ẃhe͜r̶e͡ t̴h͘at̴ has̨ ͏g̡ot̴ten̢ ͠m̵e͡.” He took a deep breath as he tapped his fingers. “So, to basically say-” Wirt said, opening his hazel eyes as he leaned forward, placing his elbows where his clenched hands once resided, his fingers pressing together into a thoughtful pyramid before pointing them at the two. “-you're grounded.” Bill looked though he would combust at that very moment, his teeth gnashing together as Finn's eyebrows raised high into his hairline, his own jaw falling even lower. Wirt looked between the two before waving his hand towards Finn, who immediately spoke.
“Are you gonna bury us?!” Finn asked, worry etched into his voice. With a raised brow, Wirt shook his head.
“No. Do you know what grounded means?” Finn tilted his head and rolled his shoulders.
“Like what you do to potatoes?” Wirt’s face twisted into bemusement before shaking it again.
“It means the restriction or bandment from one thing or multiple things. Often referring to various activities, such as hanging out with friends, staying up late,-” he looked pointedly at the two, “-going out.” He observed the two before leaning further forward. “I'll elaborate. You two are prohibited from wandering the Unknown and are only allowed where I permit,” He then spread his arms out, showing burn marks on his palms. “which is here at the Mill.”
“You incongruous, a̽͋̈͒ͧr̂ͨ̾cͦa̍ͫͫ̊n̈́̿̐̉͆ͦ̚e̓ͫͦ̓ͫͯ, e̓́͋ͪͥ͗͌̓n̎͑͌͗f̋ͥaͦ̃̊͐͌̚n̓͛͛ͩͥ̀͗ͦt̽ t̓̒̀̌ͫ́̐ͭͬ̍ͭ̔ͤ̐͑̔̐̏e̽ͫ͊̍̅̽̊̑̃͌͌ͤ̈̋̚rͭ̑ͬ̊̆͒̔̾̽r͒̈́̎͋ͨ̄̆̇͗ͪ͌͆͂̚i̍͋̽̅̔͋̆b̈́ͤͦ͐̽̈́̈l̈́͒ͮͬͥͣͧe̽ͯ͊̿̐̒͆͛̾́͂.” Bill spat with a curious bite, trying to keep his voice calm, tearing at the cushions beneath his dull nails. “Do you k͌̍ͨͧno̎ͮ͆ͭͫͤwͦ̈̇̍ to whom you are speaking? Can you even comprehend what you have just d́̀̄͋o̎̿̋̐ͭ̅ͯnͩ̋̈̈́̈̅eͩ? I am no mere child to be commanded by such l̓ͩͨͬ̾̚o͌̇̿̀w͑̈́̐̄̓ ̆l̉ͧ̿͒̋͒i̊́͒ͥ̔̃̓kͧ̾͛̍̅ė̽s̔̌̍ as yourself. You are not even Hͧ̾̾̚Ỉ̂̌̓ͩ͆Mͣ̉͋͌ͩͯ. You're just a scared little kid too cowardly to see the illusion that you have been lead to believe as real.” Bill then gave a smile, wide and broadening as his eyes continued to burn in fury. “But what can I expect from a a͑̿̓̔̓̍̈́pͨͬ̔́̚p̓a͌̾̾̄̾r̾́ͣ̌ͥi͛͛̔͋ͦtͣ̃̉̚iͬ̈́ͧ̒̇̅o͗n̿̍̍̚ t͛uͧ̽ͭ̎̎̾rͬͮ̓n̓̃ͤ͆̒e̅̌̐d ̈͂̐̉ͪi͛̎m̾p̅ͩ̿̄̈́̚̚.” Wirt simply stared at him, his eyes flashing white then multi colored in less half of a blink of an eye before returning to their hazel gaze, his face stern and unmoving. Abruptly, he stood, causing the chair to scrape across the floor before tipping over, landing with a thunk.
He stared down at the ferocious demon with an apathetic glare before turning around, heading for the lantern. Bill’s smile became strained as the tall boy turned his back on him. “What? Can't handle some f̍̌̒̏̓̿acͦ͐ͭ̄̂̈͐tͨͩsͪͨ̊ͦ̃ͣ͂?”
“Facts are not always truth.” Wirt replied as he picked up the lantern.
“Uh oh. You gotta get going.” Greg spoke up.
“Wha-” I began, turning next to me to see nothing but empty space occupying where the boy once stood. Suddenly, small hands shoved themselves against my lower back, sending me through the now self opening window. As I flew out in a cloud of blue mist, gasps and a shout of confusion assaulted my reforming ears. The brume began to doctor itself back into my form, earning a call of my name.
“Pine Tree!”
“Dipper!” Okay. Name and given nickname. Once orientated, I readied to fly towards the two only to feel a sudden tug on my nape, keeping me put. I looked back to the lantern to see the small boy’s silhouette giving me a thumbs up as the holder of said lamp now held Finn’s face of astonishment, who’s now showed glee. Bill’s though, only held worry as his eyes turned dark red.
“I thought I told you to run. Get out of here. Now.” I fought and pulled against the invisible hold, but could not move.
“I can’t.” Beside me Wirt shook himself out of his daze and held up the lantern.
“Begone spirit.” It swung back and forth as he thrust it into the air as nothing happened. Wirt’s eyes grew wide as he pulled it to himself and tried to open the latch. “Come on Greg. Help me out.” He whispered.
“I am helping.” Greg replied in a echoed voice.
“If you're helping me, then why is he still here?”
“If I wasn't helping he would have left already.”
“No, that's the opposite of helping.”
“It's for your own good. You'll see.” And like that the silhouette faded from view.
“Greg? Greg?! Get back here and explain. Greg.” Wirt gave up on the latch and sent a groaned “..abstruse little..” to the sky before looking back at me with colored eyes. He reached up, earning a hiss from the aggroed demon, and grasped at my ankle only to get a handful of air. He growled before standing tall and gave me a scowl.
“Wh̨o ̢a͝r͢e̸ yòu̵ ̨a͝nd ̢wh͏at ҉are ̴y̢o̷u ̧d͡oin̢g h̶ere?” At that moment, I could feel myself look akin to a gaping goldfish before shutting my mouth with a clank and furrowed my own brows, imitating his.
“I’m Dipper. And I am with these two.” I said, crossing my arms as I floated defensively between the two on the couch and the peeved figure before me. “And if you would be so kind as to release my friends and I of your spell, hex, curse or whatever it may be, and point is in the right direction. We’ll head off, out of your hair, and leave this ‘Unknown’ like we've been trying to since we got here.” Wirt's face suddenly grew glum, slow thing ever so subtly as the words reached his ears, eyes turning hazel again.
“There is no way out.”