Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Dipper held onto the key to Mabel’s prison as if his life depended on it. Wendy driving through weirdness bubbles threatened to shake the key loose, but through it all, Dipper held firm. Bill may have taken over Gravity Falls, but Dipper would not lose his sister.

Stealing the key had been lucky at best, with Wendy narrowly snatching it from Gideon as they broke loose. Making the jump over the crevice had been nothing short of a miracle. Now, as they speed away from Gideon’s convoy, they were being chased by flying eyes.

“Can’t this thing go any faster?” Dipper yells.

“I’m trying dude. Stan couldn’t sell this car as fully functioning.” Wendy yells back, swerving to avoid an eye beam.

Wendy was right. Stan was a conman, but he would at lest sell you something that might work more than once. This car was actively falling apart.

“Damn it.” Wendy yelled as the car swerved. An eye beam had hit a wheel and sent us tumbling. With a final groan, the car crashed and refused to move.

“We’ve got to get out of here Dipper.”

Dipper didn’t have to hear that twice. No sooner than Dipper and Wendy vacating the car was it turned to stone.

Dipper and Wendy could do nothing but run. Wendy being taller meant she pulled ahead of Dipper very quickly. Dipper realised he was starting to fall behind.

“Come one Dipper! Run faster!”

“I’m trying!” Dipper knew he couldn’t catch up. If Wendy tried to help, he’d only get both of them turned to stone.

“Wendy, catch!” Dipper yelled, and threw the key.

“Save Mabel.”

“Dipper, no!”

Dipper turned around and started waving his arms around, hoping to give Wendy time to get away.

“Over here you wannabe gorgons!”

As the eyes started focusing on Dipper, he started running sideways.

As Dipper ran, each eye beam got closer and closer as he tired. He had seconds before he was struck. Of course, Dipper tripped, focusing on the eyes and not his feet. Dipper hoped Wendy had enough time.

“Hiya!”

Dipper turned, and saw Soos throwing rocks, each one knocking down a flying eye. One that was heading towards Dipper was struck down by Wendy, her foot in its eye. She offered him a hand up

“I wasn’t just going to leave you dude. Now let’s give Soos a hand and beat up some punks.”

Dipper took her hand and started lobbing rocks at the eyes. While his noodle arms failed to hit anything, they proved to be ample distractions for Soos and Wendy.

“Thanks, Soos. I don’t know what I’d ever do without you. You to Wendy. You didn’t have to come back for me.”

“Always dood. We’re in this together. Now, what were you guys up to?”

“We’re trying to free Mabel. You in?”

“Of course, dood. You don’t even have to ask. For Mabel!” Soos yelled, turning and running towards the giant glowing ball that is Mabel’s prison.

“I guess we should follow him, huh? Us having the key and all.” Wendy asked.

“Yeah, we should.”

It took nearly an hour to walk the rest of the way to the cliffs, the ball hanging in the outline of the UFO outline. Despite that, nothing bothered them. No weirdness waves or bubbles. No eyes, no Gideon and no Bill. That worried Dipper the most. Gideon almost certainly told Bill that Dipper had the key, yet he’d done nothing. Even now, Dipper could see Bill’s henchmen leaving the weirdness barrier around Gravity Falls. Eye’s left in giant flocks, while occasionally, Dipper spied one of the monstrosities Bill called his friends coming or going. Yet they remained unimpeded.

“Anyone else find it weird that nothing has attacked us since we crashed? Like, Bill wants to stop us, right?” Wendy said aloud.

“I’ve been thinking the same thing. Assuming Bill knows we’re here, he doesn’t care. Which can only mean that once we get inside, he’s created a hellscape no one can escape from. He’s probably thinking that we’ll get trapped in there as well. Be on your guard. This will likely be the most dangerous place any of us have been.”

Wendy and Soos only nodded at Dipper, their faces determined and ready to fight for their friend. Dipper hoped they could face whatever Bill had set in their way. Touching the key to the lock, made the whole prison shake. None of the chains broke, but the lock began to shake. The metal shifted forming a doorway. Dipper looked at Wendy and Soos, and walked forwards, with them both following.

As they walked through the doorway, Dipper was blinded by light. He brought his hat down to cover his eyes, but it did no help. While blinded, the floor shatters beneath them, sending them plummeting into the abyss. Soos grabs both Dipper and Wendy, saying something about hugs, but the wind rushing past Dipper’s ears prevent him from hearing anything more than that. Knowing that the three of them together would have reached terminal velocity, Dipper braces for the impact that would end their rescue. It never comes. They crash land on a bouncy castle of all things. They look out into the prison and Dipper gasps. He understands what Bill has done. All of Mabel’s favourite characters roam the cushiony streets. The plants smile and her make belief characters make the city feel alive. The best kind of prison is one the inhabitants never want to leave. For Mabel, this would be a utopia.

A paved bridge formed in front of their eyes as a car approached them. Inside was Xyler and Craz, characters that were only given life inside of the mindscape before.

“Welcome to Mabeland! Where you can have whatever you need. You guys want a tour?” They ask in unison.

“Like, totally. But we’re on a mission to free Mabel from this insidious prison.” Soos says to them.

“No problem. Hope on in for the tour!” Ignoring Soos, something forces us into the back seats, and they drive off into Mabeland.

Driving around, Dipper is less and less sure that he can get Mabel out of here. Sure, Bill designed the prison, but everything in here is of Mabel.

“Now, while in Mabeland, there is only one rule. Follow it and you can stay as long as you like!” Xyler says.

“Who would ever want to break that rule though.” Craz says. They both laugh. They don’t say what the rule is though.

They introduce places that don’t exist in Gravity Falls. A school, constantly being pranked by teenagers, food joints with anything you can imagine. A beach with penguins. Waddles was giant, and functioned like a tram. Things though up by the deranged. Or Mabel.

“Be careful guys. Everything in here is made by Bill. Don’t trust anything. Xyler, Craz, where’s Mabel.”

“She’s in the tower over there.”

Said tower towers above every building here. It’s the only building that looks even remotely normal.

Zyler and Craz drop them off at the tower, leaving them there as they go driving off, immediately crashing into multiple things.

The tower is guarded by two wafflemen. They never stood a chance against Soos and Wendy. They enter the tower and begin to ascend. Inside, the tower is boring, everything a cold grey stone. At the peak of the stairs is a door, which Soos brings down. Inside Mabel lays asleep on a bed. Maybe she can be freed, Dipper thinks.

More waffle guards come in from behind. As they fight back, Mabel wakes. Dipper ignores her, knowing they can speak after she’s freed.

A large clap resounds through the room, and everything begins to float. He thinks this is it. Bill intervened because they got to close. But no, Mabel is sitting there, magic around her hands as she keeps everything afloat.

“There’s no need to fight guys. In Mabeland, everything’s perfect.” Mabel says, lowering everyone to the ground carefully.

The conversation that follows makes Dipper realise that Mabel is imprisoning herself intentionally. Wendy goes off with replicas of her friends to trash the school. Soos is easily taken in by the father he never knew, conjured for him by Mabel.

Dippy Fresh alone made Dipper leave in anger.

His angry storming leads him to a chocolate river. The stone he throws skips perfectly.

“What do I do Grunkle Ford? How can I stop Bill, when even Mabel doesn’t want to?” He yells to no one.

Footsteps reveal he’s not alone. He turns as Mabel sits beside him.

“You know, your perfect can be here to. There can be a Grunkle Ford for you to play games with and talk all nerdy stuff. I’m sure you could even get a girlfriend here Dipdop.” She says nudging him slightly, trying to encourage him to smile.

“But none of this is real. Bill is out there, destroying Gravity Falls, and probably the world. I watched as he destroyed the journals and turned Grunkle Ford into gold. All of this is fake Mabel, an illusion conjured by Bill so you never want to leave. We have to go home, to the real world.”

 Mabel gasped and Mabeland shook. The chocolalte river at his feet darkened and swirled. The stuffed animal tree started growling as the sky grew stormy.

“You can’t do that Dipper.” Mabel replied, a look of defeat on her face.

Waffle guards swarm Dipper, forcing him into a court house, while Mabel is escorted there. Dipper is forced to sit at a stand while a jury consisting entirely of Mabel’s appear out of thin air. Soos and Wendy are there, looking confused and concerned when they see Dipper. At least they’re real. From the bench, a cat in a wig climbs down from a scratch tower and calls order to the court.

“I’m Judge Kitty Kitty Meow Meow Face-Shwartstein, and today’s case is fantasy vs reality. Now, normally any mention of reality is met with banishment. As the accused is Laby Mabel’s brother, he will have a chance to plead his case. Upon his banishment, Dipper will be replaced by Dippy Fresh as Lady Mabel’s brother. Prosecution, you may begin.”

Dipper nearly growls at the mention of Dippy Fresh, but stays silent as Xyler and Craz begin. He notices that even in suits, they do not have sleeves. They’ve pulled out Mabel’s scrapbook, and Dipper knows that every photo is a memory.

“Your honour, our first peace of evidence is October 10^th. During school photos, Mabel’s hair was ruined by chewing gum.”

“Valentines Day, fourth grade, Dipper receives no cards and is mocked by the entire class.”

Dipper interrupts before something more compelling can appear.

“Objection, your honour, these events occurred in the past, and we’ve gotten past them. They have no bearing on what is going on out in the real world.”

“Hmmm, hmmm. Xyler, Craz, what do you have to say about that?” Judy Kitty says.

They turn towards the back of the scrapbook, bringing up memories from the summer.

“Nothing has changed. Dipper, over this summer, you’ve been rejected by countless girls, possessed, petrified and argued with Mabel more than you ever have before. Your honour, we rest our case. Reality sucks.”

The ending statement causes the jury of Mabel’s to cheer and clap, Mabel herself is smiling. Dipper turns back to see Wendy and Soos trying to encourage him to say anything.

“Well, seeing as the jury is strongly in favour of the prosecutions argument, I say case closed.” Judge Kitty declares, banging his squeaky hammer on the bench.

“Wait, I haven’t had a chance to defend myself.”

The judge looks thoughtful before turning to Mabel. Dipper knows he can’t forget that he isn’t arguing against the judge, Xyler and Craz, but Mabel herself. They would not say anything she herself does not believe. Mabel hesitantly nods.

“Very well Dipper. Take to the stand.”

“Now, I’d like to call a witness to the stand. Mabel Pines!” Dipper shouts, pointing at Mabel. Mabel doesn’t move, but the judge bangs his hammer and Mabel moves to the bench next to the judge. Good, Dipper thinks. Mabel is starting to doubt this.

Dipper took control of the scrapbook before speaking, going back to photo day.

“When Mabel got gum in her hair, we solved it together, as the Pines twins. We shaved our heads together and made it a good day. On valentines day, you, Mabel, shared some of the cards and chocolate with me to make me feel better.

Over the course of the Summer, we’ve fought gnomes, zombies, Gideon dinosaurs and Bill himself. Each time, we overcame the odds together. There’s nothing we cannot do together. We can make reality what we want it to be.”

Dippers words are met with applause and whispers. While Soos and Wendy cheer for Dipper, Xyler and Craz are whispering, lost on what to do. Dipper knows he can get Mabel to leave.

All sound in the court ceases as Mabel stands.

“Together Dipper? Where were you when I had the worst day of my life? Every year until now we’ve planned our birthday party together. But not this year. You went exploring with Ford, while I had my heart broken at every corner as not one friend could come to our birthday. Everything I planned was being ruined step by step. At the end of the day, where were you when I was heartbroken and miserable?”

Dipper was stunned to silence. No sound was made except for Mabel’s sobs.

“Well, I know where you were. You were planning to leave with Ford, ditching me like everyone else has. Reality sucks, Dipper. If you don’t realise that, I’m sorry. You, are here by banished from Mabeland, never to return. Soos and Wendy, as Dipper’s accomplices, you are also banished.”

The squeaky hammer appeared in Mabel’s hand as she slammed it into the bench. As the sounds rung out, Dipper was flung out of Mabel land. Before the bright light blinded him on the way out, the last thing he saw of Mabeland, was Mabel staring straight at him, tears streaming down her face.

Even after the storming red skies appeared before his eyes, Dipper didn’t move. Mabel was gone. A willing prisoner of Bill’s regime.

“You okay dood?” Soos said, lightly shaking him. When Dipper didn’t respond, he said something to Wendy. Dipper didn’t hear him. He didn’t hear anything. Mabel was gone.

Only when Soos started shaking him more violently, did Dipper rise.

“We need to get out of her dood. I can see more eye on their way.”

Soos led them around the crevice, back the way he came earlier. Dipper blindly followed him and Wendy as they led him back to the shack.

When he gets there, Dipper sees the shack still standing. Even once inside, seeing Grunkle Stan didn’t stop Dipper silence. He found an unoccupied couch, and cried himself to sleep.

Dipper woke in the dead of night. As he stood up, a blanket fell to his feet. Looking around, he saw both Wendy and Soos sleeping against the sides of the couch he was on, and Pacifica on another couch further away. The rest of the room was empty, everyone taking advantage of all the nooks and crannies to find somewhere to sleep. Stan’s bedroom door was firmly closed, and his snoring could be faintly heard. Dipper walked towards the vending machine quietly. If Ford and the journals were gone, there was nothing any could do against Bill. With Mabel gone, Dipper knew that there was nothing he could do. In Ford’s lab, Dipper started gathering supplies.

Blank notebooks, tools, food, water. All shoved into any bag he could carry. Both Ford’s magnet gun and memory gun made their way into the bag as well. If Dipper was to leave, he’d need weapons. Other miscellaneous supplies filled the rest of one bag. Heading back up to the shack, a quick tiptoed excursion to his room provided him with his clothes, filling up the backpack he came with. He sees Mabel’s real scrapbook. Dipper looks at it, his eyes threatening to cry, before he turns. Having grabbed everything he needed, Dipper leaves.

Even at night, the sky remains red. The full moon looks down, strangely untouched by all the chaos going on. As Dipper heads back into town, he looks around as the town he loved was destroyed. Very few buildings were still standing, and fewer still were undamaged. Swarms of flying eyes blocked out portions of the sky, they untiring bodies searching out victims relentlessly.

Dipper stumbles upon a bike, intact enough to be ridden, with a basket out front. Before Dipper even hops on, he takes off he bell. He has no desire to be followed by friend or foe. His transportation ready. Dipper leaves Gravity Falls.

As Dipper rides past a population sign on a hill, he turns back to look at the town. Its destroyed, with fires everywhere. The town is also flanked by two massive structures. Mabel’s bubble and Bill’s pyramid. Each dwarfing the town, a reminder of Bill’s power.

A push, and he leaves, riding off into the night, away from Gravity Falls.

Dipper is long gone before Bill tries to leave the town. His henchmen have been all over the country, spreading weirdness as they went. Bill looks at the frozen Ford at his side and laughs.

“Well Sixer, I think its time I introduce myself to the world at its new king!” Bill yells, laughing as he grows and floats upwards. Where his henchmen had passed though with ease, did Bill slam into a barrier.

“WHAT!” He screams.

Bill rapidly flies back to the Fearamid, and turns Ford back to flesh.

“What do you want Bill?”

“How kind of you to ask. I’ve been enjoying my conquest of your third dimension. My henchmen have been out all day spreading chaos and destruction. I even killed Time Baby. Yet, even with space, matter and time all under my command, I’m still trapped in this worthless town.”

“Well, knowing the concentration of weirdness around Gravity Falls attracts everything to it, I’d say that you’re so powerful it is pulling you with all its might. I’m sure there’s an equation to break it, but I will never make a deal with you.”

Bill doesn’t respond, just turning Ford back into gold.

“Well, then Sixer. I’ll just have to find something to make a deal with you for. I can’t touch Shooting Star while she’s inside her bubble, so it’ll have to be Pine Tree.”

But Dipper escaped from 8-ball and Teeth. Bill rages, once again foiled by the Pines family. He goes red as he grows, breaking through the peak of the Fearamid. Using his power, he broadcasts his voice all over the world.

“Spread the word. I’m Bill Cipher, your new emperor. I offer unimaginable power to whomever brings me Dipper Pines!”

Chapter Text

Pacifica didn’t know why she was still doing this. 5 years of searching through 49 states, Canada and Mexico, and here she was, in the most miserable place yet, Alaska. The cold ruined her hair, the snow her clothes, any everything was so far away from anything else. Next sign of life? That’ll be two days walk. Next safe house? Three. The next town, five. If it wasn’t for the amount of walking she’d done, and the last pair of fashionable hiking boots, Pacifica knows she’d have given up by now. At least she’d have somewhere indoors tonight. The cold didn’t bother her, but having wet clothes certainly did.

She’d arrived at Northway, and immediately hunted for whatever building served as the inn. Most of the buildings were still standing, the perks of being in the middle of nowhere. Scattered about were tents, bikes and carts loaded with whatever a traveller could need. Most were concentrated around a large building, which Pacifica headed to. This was either a shop or bar. Either way, food.

Entering the building, Pacifica discovered that despite being away from the cold, with food and drink, there was no loud talking. Just hushed whispers and clanging utensils. The bar, Pacifica decided, had seen better days. The paint was peeling, half the lights were out, and even more windows were boarded up. A half decent place then, Pacifica thought.

As Pacifica sat at the bar, the barkeep came to her, polishing a glass.

“What can I do for you missy?” He said to her.

“A room, a meal and some information would be great. What do you except as payment?”

“Same as any other place these days, trade or labour. What’cha got?”

“Are two batteries enough for all three?”

“Four.”

“Three.”

“Deal.”

Pacifica handed over the batteries and the barkeep walked into a room behind the bar. He came back holding a steaming bowl in one hand and a key in another.

“Meal is rabbit stew, and the key for room three upstairs. What do you want to know?”

“I’m looking for someone.”

“Aren’t we all. You’re gonna have to be more specific.”

Pacifica didn’t know if people were hunting for Dipper way out here. Even ten years later, she wasn’t the only one looking for Dipper Pines. So, she changed tacts.

“Anything weird happen lately? Weirder than usual?”

“Not really. Stuff still isn’t working how it should be, every so often a flock of eyes fly by. Nothing standing out.”

The barkeep stops for a moment, and tilts his head.

“Although, we did have a thunderbird move in to the Mentasta mountains a few months back. Some bloke claimed to have gotten rid of it about two weeks ago, and we saw no signs of it until a few days ago, when one tried to fly off with some of my sheep.”

“What kind of person gets rid of a thunderbird by themselves?”

“No idea. He didn’t even look like much. Skinny, not too tall, and always writing something in a book he carried around. But hey, whatever he did worked for a bit. Just wish he’d come back and do it again.”

Dipper. It had to be. No one else would have their head buried in a book and still be able to get rid of a thunderbird.

“Either way, not going south. Thank you for the food and talk. I’ll leave you be now.”

The barkeep simply nodded. Going back to his cleaning. As Pacifica ate, she looked around the bar. No one was watching her. Luckily, asking a barkeep questions about the goings on was common. Further still, the majority of the people here likely owner to the travelling gear outside, and would have done the same as her. One couldn’t be too careful where Bill was concerned. He had plenty of people working for him.

A thunderbird was odd though. They rarely travelled this far North. Conditions must’ve gotten worse while Pacifica was in Canada. If she lost this lead on Dipper, she’d have to go back empty handed.

Finishing her stew, Pacifica headed upstairs, not keen on hanging around longer than she had to. Her room upstairs was exactly what she’d come to expect from places like this. A half decent mattress, a table and a chair. Not much else you could need when batteries where the primary form of electricity, and candles were a luxury. The windows were barred and had blinds much to her relief. A locked door to boot and Pacifica couldn’t ask for more.

Laying down on the bed, she pulled out a map. It was covered in red marks. Triangles over places ruled by Bill and his soldiers, or monsters better avoided. Circles were over any town or village still standing and operating. Crosses were present any place Pacifica had been that had rumours or sightings of Dipper. She’d been coast to coast, border to border, and all through Canada. This was the eighth lead she’d had.

The first few were man hunts where those seeking power would go hunt him down, following any lead they could find. While Pacifica had no intentions of handing Dipper over to Bill, she’d been party to many of those hunts. All the more recent ones had been in Canada. Dipper had been in east Canada sometime last year, and was clearly making his way west. This marked the closest she’d ever been to catching up. She added a new cross to her current location, and the mountains, her next stop.

Sunrise came, and Pacifica was off. She walked northwest to start, to keep up the picture that she was just travelling, staying away from danger, before she headed south.

It took her the better half of a day to arrive at the mountains, and the rest of it to climb it. Luckily for her though, locating a thunderbird nest was easy for those who tried. You followed the shrieks and explosions. She found it near the top of the mountain, flying around in the clouds that followed it. Wanting to avoid a fight, she started a fire nearby and waited. Before long, the bird left, and Pacifica ascended to its nest. Even for a thunderbird’s nest, there were a lot of burn marks along the rocks. The sign of a fight.

Around the nest there were countless skeletons, most local animals. Scattered amongst it all though, were very human bones. None of the human ones looked recent however, all being a year old. Not Dipper. Other than the bones though, there looked to be no sign of any human being here. No back packs, torn clothes, or anything unnatural. Turning to leave, Pacifica felt her foot roll on something, nearly bringing her to the ground. Half buried in the ground, as a pen, with the end of it chewed through. Crouching, Pacifica picked it up. While she was sure there existed some idiot who’d chew pens, or venture into thunderbird nests, she doubted anyone did both but Dipper. He’d been here. Placing it in her bag, Pacifica stood and laughed, finally having physical proof.

Unfortunately, the thunderbird had quick hunt today. It saw her in its nest and cried, before it started sparking. It flew over Pacifica, dropping the elk it held in the nest, before coming around and screaming. Pacifica dived to the side as a bolt of lightning cracked into the ground where she’d been standing. As it flew over, Pacifica placed and bag down, and a ghostly axe wreathed in blue flames formed in her hands. As the thunderbird screamed at Pacifica, she charged at it, preparing to meet the bird head on.

The bird tried to swoop her this time, flying lower to use it talons and beak. Ducking under its head, she went under its belly and swung upwards into a leg. The thunderbird screamed as blue fire burned along the wound Pacifica made. The bird flew back around to attack her again, this time out of her reach. She saw the wings spark and hid behind a rock. She felt the ground rumble as the bolt crashed to her side. As the thunderbird prepared to make its next pass, Pacifica threw the axe. It flew far further and faster than any regular axe, lodging itself in the back of the bird’s head. With a final cry, the bird fell.

Heading over to the corpse, Pacifica pulled some feathers from the wings. They’d be good for trade. She wished she could trade in the body and rest of the feathers back at Northway, but that’d lead to far more questions than she’d like. She did however, make herself dinner. She was hungry from walking all day and the brief fight.

Thunderbird, Pacifica decided, tasted a lot like pheasant.

Camping where she was for the night, a sleeping bag and fire to keep her warm, Pacifica slept the best she had in a while. Her hunt would soon be over.

Morning came and Pacifica realised in her excitement at having a concrete proof of Dipper’s presence, she neglected to realise she still didn’t know where Dipper was, or even what direction he was in. Despite being ready to travel, she sat back down and pulled out her map.

Dipper had been headed west for ages, that she knew, but he’d also steadily been going north. He wasn’t wandering like she thought he had been. He couldn’t’ve made the time he did if he was. He had a destination in mind. All Pacifica had to do was catch up to the one person who couldn’t afford to be caught.

As Pacifica put all her things away, she felt more energetic than she had been since the whole apocalypse started. The endless hunt through the wastelands of the USA and Canada was almost over. She just had to beat Dipper to the Alaska-Russia land bridge. If he got there, no one would ever find him. With a pep in her step, Pacifica was off.

Pacifica new what she was going to do. The entire time Pacifica had been chasing Dipper down, she’d been wondering what she could say to him to make him come back to Gravity Falls. He’d left without telling anybody after seeing Mabel. Now she knew. Walking up to the shack Dipper was staying in, just outside Koyuk, Pacifica prepared herself.

Knocking on the door, Pacifica was overcome with momentary doubt that this was actually where Dipper was after so much time. Before she could give in to her doubt, the door opened.

“Who is – Pacifica?” Dipper asked, mouth open in shock.

Pacifica punched him in the mouth.

Chapter Text

Watching Dipper avoid her eyes as he tended a fire and boiling kettle made the 5 years of searching almost worth it. The bruise forming on his mouth made it even better. The hot cup of tea she was nursing made it all worth it.

“So, what brings you all the way out here, Pacifica?” Dipper asks, having finally gotten the nerve to speak up. Good, Pacifica thinks, he should be nervous around her.

“You.”

“What, why me? You’re not going to hand me over to Bill, are you?”

“Of course not, don’t be an idiot. I haven’t spent 5 years, traipsing across both the USA and Cananda, ruining my last pair of boots by the way, just to make everything worse by giving you to Bill. No, we want you to fight Bill.”

“Fight Bill? Ha! It can’t be done. Why do you think I’m all the way out here? Why do you think I’ve spent ten years running? Bill can’t be beaten. All I know is Bill wants me, and for some reason is still stuck in Gravity Falls. So I’m leaving the entire continent. Some old fisherman have a working boat still, and they ferry people between Russia and the USA.”

“So what, you’re just running. You represent the best chance the world has at returning to normal.”

“And how am I going to do that, huh? Ford is captured, the journals are ashes, and he has Mabel as a willing prisoner. There’s nothing left for me to do but run. That way I can at least stop him from having me.”

Pacifica couldn’t believe it. Dipper, who, despite thinking she was the worst, helped her tackle the families ghost curse. Dipper, who never ran away when he could help, now running.

“You selfish bastard. You think you’re the only one who’s suffered? What about all your other friends you and Mabel had in Gravity Falls? Go on, ask me about them!” Pacifica yelled. Dipper’s face was white, a stark contrast to Pacifica’s flushed face, red with anger.

“Wendy.”

“Her father and all but one of her brothers have been turned to stone. Wendy herself has been missing for seven years. She went on a mission for weapons and never came back.”

“Soos.”

“Raising his son in the apocalypse, while he tries to keep everyone he loves safe. Most of Gravity Falls would be dead if it wasn’t for him.”

“You.”

Pacifica laughed at that one. He though he could catch her off guard but asking about herself.

“Me? Well, I’ve spent the last five years chasing a prick who doesn’t want to be found, only to find him, and he continues to run anyway. My parents have joined Bill, and every moment I spent under their thumbs with that damn bell, I worked to stop them. I watched as they killed refugees, I was trying to keep safe in the manor. I tired so hard not to be a Northwest, that the ghost we exercised, has now possessed me, so I can continue to do good.”

“I – “ Dipper went to speak but Pacifica cut him off.

“No. I’ll go through everyone else nice and quick, so you can be on your merry way pretending none of this has happened. Grenda and Candy, Mabel’s friends? Grenda gone insane, we don’t know from what. Candy will never walk again. Wendy’s friends? Bill killed them all right in front of her.”

Dipper was completely silent. His eyes were downcast, and Pacifica could see tears beginning to form. But she wasn’t done. Not yet.

“Sure, half your family is imprisoned by Bill. But you didn’t even care to ask me about the rest of them. So come on, ask me about them.”

Dipper remained silent, looking down, like Pacific wasn’t even there. She couldn’t have that. Dipper needed to know everything was at stake. She grabbed him by the chin and forced him to look into her eyes.

“Your parents came to Gravity Falls, looking for you and Mabel. They’d heard Bill wanting you, so they had to run. Stan took them in, and told them everything. They were heartbroken, by both you and Mabel. Now, I don’t know how, but Bill found out they were your family, so he captured them. I don’t know what he wanted from them, but he clearly didn’t get it. He burnt them at the stake. And Stan? No one has seen him since everyone left Gravity Falls.”

Dipper still hadn’t spoken, and while he wasn’t crying, tears were streaming down his face.

“You know, when we all decided that I’d go find you, we all hoped that you’d been hunting for ways to defeat Bill. That, when you were ready, you’d find us, and take down Bill. Because that’s what the Dipper we all know would do. Now I see we were wrong. The Dipper we know is gone, and all that’s left is a snivelling coward who only wants to run. I’m staying here for the night, but I’ll leave you be in the morning.”

Pacifica started unpacking here sleeping gear, unrolling her tattered mat and bag. While she did her nightly routines, Dipper begun cleaning up his stuff. Pacifica only watched his near robotic movements, silence filling the air. Once Dipper started heading for the shack, did Pacifica lie down, facing away. When she heard the door open, she spoke again.

“I don’t know what hurts more, Dipper. That you aren’t the person we all thought you were, or how destroyed everyone is going to be when I tell them you ran.”

No sound was made by either of them as the fire crackled. After a few minutes, Pacifica heard the door close. Pacifica didn’t know it, but neither of them would sleep that night.

When the sun rose, Pacifica got up immediately. She had no desire to stick around. It didn’t take long either, so much time on the road made it easy to pack and eat quick. Some leftover dried meat from the day before made up a decent enough breakfast, and she was ready to go.

As Pacifica made to leave, the shacks door opened, revealing Dipper, who looked far more awake than her.

“Heading off so early without me? And here I thought you liked me.” Dipper said.

“You mean you’re coming back?” Pacifica asked, equally sceptic and shocked.

“Not to help with Bill, I still think you shouldn’t even be trying. But there are far too many people I’ve neglected for myself. The least I can do is go with you to tell everyone myself that.”

“If you’re coming back just to leave again, don’t bother. I’ll just tell everyone I couldn’t find you. Its better than the truth. Just give me the journals, and we’ll figure out a way to defeat Bill without you.”

“Ford’s journals? Bill burnt them to a crisp in front of my eyes. Even if we had them, any method to defeat Bill wasn’t in there, not that I know of. Any solution to our triangle demon problem remains in Ford’s head, and nothing is going to make Bill let go of him.”

Pacifica just stood there. Half the reason she wanted to find Dipper was for Dipper himself. The other half was for the journals that contained Ford’s knowledge. Between Dipper being unwilling, and the journals being gone, any hope she had was gone. What hope did any one have? Entire countries had tried dealing with Bill and his ilk. None had even come close to succeeding.

“Very well. Come along then. Luckily for us its only going to take 2 months, unlike the five years I spent chasing you.”

Dipper looked down at the ground at that. Good, Pacifica thought. He should know that she’s upset at having done all of that for almost nothing. Pacifica started walking while he did so. He looked up, mouth parting to talk, before realising Pacifica started walking. He scrambled to catch up, staying jut behind her.

 The first day they walked was silent. So was the second. And the third. As was most of the fourth. Pacifica was slowly getting angry and confused. Mostly angry. Each night, she went to get food, and when she got back, Dipper would be inside his tent. Each night so far, once he entered that tent, she wouldn’t see him until morning. What was he eating? Drinking? His bag can’t have held enough food for himself. When they set up camp, Pacifica would seek answers. They would have to wait though.

A blizzard came roaring through the tundra. Like most things since Bill arrived, it was no longer normal. Anything that didn’t move would be frozen over. They need shelter, now.

“Any bright ideas to get us out of this, Dipper?”

“Besides finding a house or cave? None.”

“Do you know if anything like those are nearby?”

 “There aren’t any buildings, kind of why we went this way I assumed, to avoid people. As for caves, in this weather, they’ll likely contain something just as dangerous.”

“An animal might kill us. This will kill us.”

“Cave it is then. If we keep walking, we should stumble upon one then. This area gets rocky soon.”

Another hour of walking led to a cave as desired. And empty, which was strange in this weather. They quickly rushed inside to get out of the snow and ice. Unfortunately, the wind blew into the cave, keeping everything just as cold as outside.

As they did the nights before, they begun to set up their sleeping arrangements. Pacifica set up her bedroll, while Dipper got to work on his tent and a fire. The wind however, did not make that last one easy. For every attempt Dipper made, Pacifica watched on, as the sparks were snuffed out by the biting wind. While Pacifica found it funny, and did not require the fire herself, figured she needed to intervene.

“The boy scout can’t start a fire? Hysterical. Move over.” She demanded.

Dipper raised an eyebrow, but did as asked. Pacifica could see him getting ready to watch her fail as she did him. She made sure to watch his face as blue flames lit up the cave, as she set the small kindling alight. Watching his readying smirk vanish for a jaw drop, Pacifica laughed.

“We’ve all had to learn new tricks, Pines. It’s not just you with secrets.”

Shaking his head in disbelief, Dipper responded.

“But how?”

“Possessed by a ghost, remember? As I’ve revealed that to you, I want to know how you are carrying so much. Not once have I seen you go hunting or looking for wood. You just keep pulling it all out of your bag.”

He doesn’t respond immediately, instead reaching into one of his many pockets for something. He pulls out a torch with a weirdly coloured lens.

“While Mabel and I were out exploring the woods, I stumbled upon some crystals. If you shine light through it, you could shrink or grow objects. I grabbed some before I left, and made this. It has by far been my greatest tool out here.”

“How many batteries have you had to keep that running for ten years?”

“Not enough. I was constantly trading everything I had to keep it running. A few months back though, I obtained some thunderbird feathers. If you know what you’re doing, and I do, they can replace batteries. So that’s what I’m using right now.”

Pacifica wasn’t surprised that he’d found the best ways to you the abundant weirdness to his advantage. He’d done it before, and he always would. It gave her hope that even if he wouldn’t fight Bill, he could at least offer knowledge that would help fight him. Before all this, Dipper would’ve been one of the best at knowing everything not normal. After ten years, he was likely the best. Especially when his biggest competition was a statue.

The rest of the night was spent in silence, as they ate and went to bed. Pacifica’s ghostly fire remained strong, lighting up the cave and keeping Dipper warm. Unlike the other nights though, this silence didn’t feel off or uncomfortable. It felt like they were actually travelling together, not separately in the same direction. Dipper knew something about Bill, she was sure of it. She just needed to get him to realise what he knew would help.

Dipper didn’t know yet, but time was running out.

Chapter Text

It turns out, that even Dipper’s shrinking trick didn’t mean endless supplies, and hunting was only so successful in the Alaskan wilderness during the apocalypse. Unfortunately, Anchorage was still standing. Cities as large as that attracted a lot of attention. Attention that neither of them wanted to deal with.

“How much more have you got to trade? The extra lumber and feathers I had are all gone.” Pacifica asked.

“Nothing I’m willing to trade. We should have enough supplies to get us through Canada and into Washington. If we can scavenge enough, we can make it the whole way to Gravity Falls.”

“Good, let’s get out of here. People trading as much as us tend to get robbed come nightfall.”

“As you wish.”

They didn’t even leave the lane before the whole market went silent. Loud rumbling could be heard as dozens of cars made their way down the main road. Each an ordinary car loaded with makeshift weapons, and people that no longer looked human. At the forefront of the motorcade was a tall, lanky green creature will rolling eyes.

“Eight-ball” Dipper mumbled, catching Pacifica’s attention.

“Huh?”

“The thing at the front, he’s one of Bill’s guys. He knows who I am and what I look like, we need to get out of here.”

“No can do. While I don’t know the overgrown goblin, I know the guys he’s travelling with. And they know me. They’re Stalkers. I’m technically one of them.”

“What!? Why are you one of them?”

“It’s in the name. We’re pursuers, all hunting for the same thing.”

“And what’s that?”

“You. I joined them to gain extra hints of where you were. They came in handy sometimes. I just happen to have a different goal behind finding you. Now, they don’t know what you look like, but Bill’s henchman does. So get behind me, keep your head down, and let me do the talking.”

Dipper seemed sceptical about all of it, but did as Pacifica asked. Good, Pacifica thought. As long as he keeps his mouth shut, she knew they would be fine. Sure enough, while Eight-ball drove past, heading to the better off part of the city, several of the cars stopped. Pacifica watched as they started bullying the citizens into giving up their wares. One of them, however, approached them.

“Ghost Girl! It’s been a while, how’ve you been?”

“Not long enough clearly, Sylvester. I was doing fine until your mug showed itself.”

“You wound me. Have we not hunted side by side enough to be friends?” Sylvester said, dramatically clutching his heart.

“You know I prefer to hunt alone unless the hoard you travel with has an actual lead.” Pacifica allowed the haughtiness from her childhood to seep into her voice. She had a reputation to uphold after all.

“Alone huh? Then who would the wimp hiding behind you be?”

Pacifica turned to look at Dipper, hoping he would go along with what she was about to say.

“Oh, him? I saved him from a thunderbird not too long ago, and he’s been following me around saying he has to repay me. I’ve just been using him as a pack mule while I’m looking for leads.”

Pacifica could almost feel Dipper stiffen and get ready to return the insult like when they were younger. Thankfully, he seemed to have grown past the automatic need to have the last word.

“Well, you’re in luck today my friend. The reason we’re all here, is because we have the biggest lead we’ve ever had. Even Bill thinks its good, so he sent one of the maniacs to ensure this is it.”

“Really? What makes this lead so good?”

“Lord Gideon finally had a vision of the damn Pine Tree. He was on his way here. We’re almost certain he’s in the city right now. You up for a hunt?”

“How could I say no. Let me find a place to set up, and I’ll meet you wherever the run down is.”

“Knew you’d be good for it! We start tonight!”

With that, he went off cheering, disappearing into the crowd.

Dipper didn’t know what to think of Sylvester. He certainly looked to normal for someone routinely running with Bill’s ilk. He wore clothes well suited to travelling, with a large pack shouldered. So, he looked closer. Pacifica was lucky she still looked human after being possessed, and Dipper and yet to meet anybody so lucky after becoming weird.

There, stretch marks around his fingers. Telltale signs of a transformation that grew claws. Likely a werewolf or something similar.

Sylvester went off to other stalkers leaving him and Pacifica to figure out a way to escape the city.

“We need to find somewhere to disguise you. We aren’t getting out of this city until they’re satisfied you’re not here, and my absence will be noted. Let’s go.” She said before heading off.

Dipper couldn’t blame her. This was the closest any of Bill’s people had been to him since he left Gravity Falls. He wanted out of this city yesterday.

“How many of the stalkers do you know?” He asked. The more he knew, the better.

“Of the ones here? Most of them. He was right about this being big. Every notable stalker across Canada and the USA is here. Not one of them is entirely human anymore. Some became weird by chance, others sought it out to better hunt you done. Every single one of them is incredibly dangerous.”

“What about Sylvester? How do you compare to him?”

“I’m up there, but no where near the strongest ones. As for Sylvester, no one knows. If anybody has seen what he can do, they haven’t shared it. In this line of work, that scares me more that most of the others. Either way though, we are not fighting our way through them all.”

They spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the market looking for supplies to help escape the city, before heading to an inn to stash their gear. It took a while, but they found one near the edge of the city. Once the sun set, Pacifica got up and beckoned Dipper to follow. It was time to hunt for himself.

The meeting was taking place in the centre of the market, now vacated for the group. Now that Dipper could see all the stalkers, he realised just how little of them resembled humans. Therianthropes made up the bulk, with the setting sun bringing out their animal traits. Vampires were spread out amongst the crowd, pointed ears are sharper nails giving away their true selves. A few even had ghostly appendages.

It was the ones that Dipper couldn’t tell what was weird about them that worried him the most. People like Pacifica and Sylvester. A foe you knew was one you could beat. None would guess Pacifica was possessed by a category 10 ghost. Any who guessed otherwise would likely lose before they revealed their mistake.

Above all though, no one here was more dangerous than Eight Ball. He could be useless in a fight, a fact which Dipper was not lucky enough to be true, but he would still be the most dangerous because he knew what Dipper looked like. No one he’d met in the last ten years had associated his face with his name. That protection would not save him here. Pulling his hood tighter over his head, Dipper watched on as the hunt for himself was started by a man next to Eight Ball.

“Welcome Stalkers!” He yelled. Where Dipper was at the back of the crowd, he could only just hear the man over the cheers sent back.

“Lord Gideon has told us our hunt is nearly over! Dipper Pines is in this very city, right now!” The crowd of stalkers roared at that statement, many raising their weapons and unleashing their weirdness to raise the energy.

“Now, I know many of us want the reward, but as a reminder, he is to be brought in alive. Whoever does that, will be personally escorted by Eight Ball, to Bill himself!” The cheering got louder if that was possible. Dipper was just beginning to understand how much danger he was in here. There were dozens of Stalkers, not to mention Eight Ball, against Pacifica and himself.

“Now, let the hunt begin! No part of this city is off limits to any of you. Let no one stand in your way. After tonight, Bill will rule the universe!” The cheering turned to howls as all the stalkers, Pacifica included, rushed out of the market square. Dipper stumbled just trying to keep up.

They both were quiet as they made their way through the city, following a path only Pacifica seemed to know. One that did not lead towards their stash of gear needed to escape.

Ten minutes of running, climbing fences and weaving between buildings later, did they stop. Dipper was bent over, panting. He could not do that all night. Pacifica however, looked none the worse for wear.

“I’ve been chasing you over two countries for a decade, how did that make you this tired?” She asked.

“Unlike you, I spent most of the time walking. All the gear I carried was made much lighter with the help of my torch.”

“Well, you’re going to have to work on that as we travel. I do not want to slow down because you can’t keep up.”

Before Dipper could respond, Pacifica put her hand up, quieting him. She looked around, before calling out.

“I know you’re there, may as well come out before I go looking.”

“One day I’ll get the drop on you Ghost Girl.” Dipper looked up as Sylvester dropped down from an escapeway above them.

“What are you doing Sylvester? Looking for me means you’re not looking for the prize.”

“Seeing as you’re allowing less than suitable people to accompany you, I thought I might join you. Afterall, the two of us working together would be very hard to beat.”

“And then what? At least bag boy won’t challenge me once I find Dipper. If we found him together, I have no doubt you’d stab me in the back. Unimaginable power is not something I think either of us are willing to share.”

“Be that as it may, I think both us would rather the other have it over the wild horde out there. Maybe once we have it, we could get to some of the more enjoyable stuff in life, if you know what I mean.”

Dipper didn’t how slimily that was said, and Pacifica clearly didn’t either.

“The answer is still no. Good luck hunting, Sylvester. You’ll need it to beat me.”

Pacifica turned and started heading away. Dipper made to follow, before Sylvester grabbed his sleeve roughly, yanking him close.

“You must be pretty special Bag Boy. Pacifica Northwest doesn’t let just anyone follow her.”

Sylvester shoved him away, and Dipper ran to catch up with Pacifica as Sylvester laughed at him.

Chapter Text

Dipper had never been more scared in his life than he was right now. Dozens of people were hunting him down in a city he couldn’t leave. He was certain he couldn’t defeat any of them without Pacifica, let alone all of them.

Sylvester’s appearance had clearly rattled Pacifica, as she was leading them in more random pattern, checking that they weren’t being followed at every turn. They were walking for an hour before Pacifica beckoned him into an empty building. Dipper quickly sat down out of sight to rest his burning calves. While Pacifica had slowed down from the near sprint they started out at, it was still at a speed Dipper could not sustain comfortably.

“We’ve probably got ten minutes before we need to move again. Get as much rest as you can.”

“Pacifica, how are we actually getting out of here? The entire city is flooded with stalkers, not to mention any monsters Eight Ball left surrounding the city. And even if we did escape, they’d come after us. We can’t out run the cars they have. You should leave me here. They don’t know you’re with me yet.”
“And then what? Bill escapes Gravity Falls? Then all this you see? That gets worse. The only reason you’ve stayed alive these ten years is that Bill can’t do anything while he’s stuck in gravity Falls. The moment he’s out its game over. The last thing I’m going to do is leave you for Bill. Now come on, the earlier we get out of here, the bigger the head start we have.”

Before Dipper could reply, Pacifica left the building. He considered not following, but realised that despite what he said, if him just not getting caught was the only thing stopping Bill, it was the only thing Dipper had left to do. He got up and followed. Opening the door, he was greeted with a breeze that chilled him to the bone. He wondered if that was death calling him. He decided he didn’t like it.

Looking around, Anchorage was lit up with the lights and fires of the stalkers prowling the city. The cacophony of howls told him a pack of werewolves were running around. That was something to stay well clear of. Pacifica was looking in the direction that howls came from, and turned completely away. There was no escaping a pack of wolves that had your scent. Pulling his coat tighter around him, Dipper continued his brisk walk behind Pacifica.

As they walked, it kept getting colder. Even Pacifica, with her ghostly fire was starting to feel it, as she zipped her jacket shut. It seemed to follow them the whole way back to their room. Once inside, Pacifica locked the door behind them.

“Grab your stuff. We’re going straight for the edge of the city. Something is wrong and I don’t like it.”

“Of course something is wrong, Pacifica. This is probably one of the most dangerous places on Earth right now. What were you expecting, a summer stroll through the park?”

“I don’t need your snark Dipper. Both our lives are on the line here.”

At his name, the chill that had been following them increased. The window frosted over and cracked, as the door blew open. At the door, Sylvester stood there, laughing.

“I can’t believe it! Ghost Girl not only managed to find the guy we’ve all been looking for before we even knew he was here, but she’s not collecting the reward? Who would’ve guessed.”

“Go away Sylvester, before I make you regret it.”

“Tsk tsk tsk Pacifica. What would your parents think if they knew you were running away with the world’s most wanted man?”

“Probably the same thing they did when I burned the manor down.” Pacifica said, before charging and tackling him down the hall.

“Run!”

Dipper didn’t think twice. He shrunk down all their remaining gear and shoved it into a sealed pocket before bolting out the window. Drawing his magnet gun, he slid down a light post like he and Grunkle Ford did all those years ago. Not a moment after he landed, Pacifica was thrown out the window into the building across the road. She groaned as she got up, looking back up at the inns window.

Sylvester stood there laughing. As he laughed his body and voice began to change. He started growing, as his limbs got longer, and his skin was pulled tight over his skeleton. His clothes tore as he continued growing. The skin over his skull melted away as massive antlers grew outwards. His laugh became deeper before becoming something much closer to howling than laughter.

“Yes, run Dipper Pines. Let’s end this decade long search with a bang.” Sylvester said, before launching himself out the window him Dipper’s direction, destroying most of the wall as he went. Turning back, Dipper saw Sylvester rapidly gaining on him. No running, he thought. No fighting either, considering Dipper didn’t know how to fight something like that. As Sylvester started sprinting, Dipper used the magnet gun to propel him to the side, narrowly avoiding a clawed swipe. Dipper watched is Sylvester scrambled for traction, carving troughs in the road from where his claws made contact with the ground.

Turning, Sylvester geared to charge again, before being hit by a barrage of ghostly fire. The white and blue fire pushed him back, but failed to ignite him. The stream of fire turned into a car, blowing it up and sending Sylvester flying down the road. Pacifica ran up from where the fire originated, and relaxing slightly upon seeing Dipper.

“What the hell is he?”

“A wendigo. Fuelled by famine and greed, there is almost nothing that can stop a wendigo that big.” Dipper said, watching Sylvester get up from the wall he’d crashed into. In the distance, Dipper could hear the howls of the werewolf pack getting closer. He had no doubt others were following.

“Especially one that is about to receive reinforcements. We need to get out of here now.” Pacifica didn’t even argue, just beckoned him in a direction away from all of the approaching stalkers and ran. Behind them, Sylvester roared, and Dipper felt the chill go deeper into his bones.

They made it to the edge of the city before Sylvester caught up to them. Pacifica made short work of the eye bats nearby, but more were flying toward them. Turning around, Dipper turned the magnet gun to a higher setting, and flung some scrap metal at the wendigo. Sylvester simply swatted it aside like it was nothing. Pacifica used the moment though to hurl several balls of ghostly fire and her axe at him. While the fires balls only slowed him down, the axe dug itself into his shoulder, and Silvester howled. He scratched at his shoulder and was unable to grab the incorporeal weapon. He snarled before charging at Pacifica, batting her to the side, and lunging after her. Dipper didn’t have time to watch as a wolf tackled him into the ground. He slammed his magnet gun into the wolf’s head, allowing him to get out from underneath it. The calvary had arrived.

Knowing werewolves were hunting him, Pacifica had given Dipper her silver knife, and Dipper was glad for it in that moment. Holding it front of him, the wolves paused. They circled him, snapping at his heels anytime he turned his back to one of them. He heard the first one lunge, sensing his preoccupation with the others. It never got a chance to hit him. A clawed hand had grabbed it mid-air, before flinging it away. A muffled yelp could be heard when it hit the ground. Seeing their comrade injured, the other wolves lunged at Sylvester, using both teeth and claws the injure him as much as possible.

“No, they’re all mine. Mine! Mine! Mine!” he screamed, tearing into the wolves. Dipper scrambled away in fear as they fought each other. When Sylvester took a bite of one of them, Dipper could see him grow.

Dipper ran to where he found Pacifica laying on the ground, bruised and battered. Hoisting an arm over his should Dipper begun slowly moving away from the melee behind him.

“Where do you think you’re going Pines?” Dipper froze before turning slowly.

Sylvester stood the covered in blood, surrounded with pieces of wolf. In one hand he held half of one, which he ate in one bite. He’d grown nearly three feet taller. Instead of approaching though, he just stood there, looking somewhat confused.

“Ghost Girl, what the fuck do you think you’re doing?” He snarled.

Dipper was confused. Pacifica was barely conscious over his shoulder. Only when he went to look at her, did he feel the knife at his throat.

“I don’t think you’ve realised it yet, but I don’t like Bill, and I don’t want him out. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure the wannabe pyramid stays trapped forever.”

As Pacifica spoke, Dipper knew she wasn’t lying. She said it herself; the last thing she wanted to do was let Bill have him. Clearly that meant killing him should that be the last remaining option. While Dipper was scared at his potential demise, he couldn’t deny her logic. If Bill had any other way of leaving Gravity Falls, he would have done so years ago.

Sylvester didn’t take it well. He roared, smashing the ground, and unleashing a chill that made the cold earlier look like a rainy spring day.

“Well, if I can’t have that power no one can!” Sylvester lunged, and Dipper prepared himself for death.

Instead of feeling cold metal pass across his neck, he felt pain as his face smacked the ground.

Pacifica knew she had Sylvester when he lunged with wild abandon. Shoving Dipper to the ground nice good, not just because it was Dipper, but because it distracted Sylvester enough to land a near fatal chop into his chest. Pacifica had become the hunter. Sylvester was roaring as his swung at random, failing to land a blow on the now flaming Pacifica.

The Sylvester she was used to was a cold, calculated killer that had tracked them through a city twice, even when Pacifica was looking for it. Now, he was but a wild creature fighting on instinct. While Pacifica could not claim to be able to kill Sylvester. This monster that barely thought ahead was well within her power. Sylvester’s death begun with a hand she sliced off, and a leg nearly severed off at the knee. She poured ghostly fire into his open wounds. Before, the winter chill he permeated protected him. Now, the fire burnt at both his flesh and soul, and he screamed. That was music to Pacifica’s ears. She ended by decapitating him, cutting off the screams and wild movement, as his limbs dropped dead. Pacifica immediately felt warmer, as the aura of frost rescinded.

Turning to where she shoved Dipper to the ground, she saw him standing there, jaw dropped.

“I, uh, wow.” That made Pacifica laugh.

“Come on, we’ve bought ourselves a little bit of time, but now we need to get out of here.” Dipper just nodded, before following her as she turned to run.

It didn’t take long before Dipper questioned her though.

“Why are we going back to the city?”

“Because they’ll find us in a matter of minutes out here, and catch us even quicker on foot. We need a car. I noticed quite a few stalkers have no need of theirs as of today.”

Dipper seemed to go green at that, and Pacifica wished she had to time to make fun of him. That would have to come later though.

They hid out in an abandoned factory for the rest of the night, almost sleeping on top of the other as they each took turns taking watch. While Dipper slept, Pacifica admired the treating he’d done for her wounds. He was almost useless in a fight, but he’d clearly picked up some skills over the decade of constant travel.

When sunrise came, Dipper woke her up to leave. Pacifica noted he’d packed as much of their gear as he could, as his head swivelled from door to door. He wanted to leave, and Pacifica couldn’t deny that she also wanted to too.

It didn’t take them long to find one of the werewolf’s cars that they could operate. A little hotwiring from Dipper had them on their way. As Dipper drove, Pacifica watched as they passed Sylvester's trail of destruction. As paved road became dirt, Pacifica could see dozens of tires marks heading away from the city. They followed along, seeing the dead bodies from the night before. Seeing them, Pacifica decided she had to do something.

“Stop here.” She told Dipper.

“What, why?” Dipper questioned, even as he stopped the car.

Pacifica didn’t say anything as she hopped out of the car and heading towards Sylvesters body. Drawing her axe, she went to work.

Hoping back in the car, and throwing her prizes in the back seat, she commanded Dipper to drive, this time away from where the stalkers had gone.

“And why do we need antlers off of a wendigo?” Dipper asked.

“Souvenirs. When all this is over, and I have my mansion back, I want to mount them on a wall.”

Dipper’s questioning look didn’t go away.

“You said almost nothing could defeat a wendigo that big. I figure that the antlers would be a great intimidation tactic when I invite people over for business.” Dipper laughed at that.

“Never change Pacifica, never change.”

Chapter Text

The crackling of the campfire was the only sound being made that night. Pacifica was quietly bandaging her wounds from the fighting throughout the day, having done Dipper’s already. For her, it was peaceful. Throughout the years of wandering alone through the increasingly dangerous wilds woods of North America, a night spent tending wounds was a night spent in victory. Dipper however, had his head buried in a book, as he chewed on the pen. Occasionally scribbling something down, before the pen made its way back between his teeth. That was clearly his comfort. Writing something down that he’d learnt throughout the day. The black five on a golden tree told her this was normal. A new day, a new page. And likely a new pen from the looks of the current one. His face though was scrunched up in either confusion or concentration. Probably both considering the day. Pacifica decided that their victory should have more celebration that bandages and fresh ink. Sitting next to him, she bumped his shoulder with hers before speaking.

“And what is the great Dipper Pines writing about after surviving yet another attempt on his life?”
He didn’t speak, simply showing her the current pages in front of him. One of the two pages bore nothing but words, some crossed out, others underlined, and some in bright red. The second page was what caught her attention. The whole page was a black and white image of her fighting Sylvester as a wendigo. The only colour on the page was the ghostly visage of her axe as it bit into the beast.

“Every time I encounter something new; I write it down somewhere. Once I learn everything I can know about it, it makes its way into a journal. This is the first time I’ve even heard of someone killing a wendigo by themselves, so I figured it was time I gave it a page, of course featuring the person who brought it down.”

“And you’ve filled out five of these?”

He looked down sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head. Pacifica realised she wouldn’t like the answer.

“Kind of. Wait here a moment.” He said as made his way to his tent. He reached inside before bringing out a bag Pacifica knew wouldn’t fit inside his hiking bag without being shrunk.

He sat down next to her and started rifling through the bag.

“I loved Grunkle Ford’s journals, I read every part of them any time I got my hands on them. My only problem was trying to find anything specific in them was impossible. So, when I inevitably started writing my own journals, I sought to fix that. I spent maybe the first year and a half trying to rewrite the three journals, anything I could remember made its way into them. In the hope that something in them might just contain the secret to defeating Bill.”

He pulled out three red books, each in pristine conditions, with a golden six fingered hand on them. Pacifica had only seen the third journal when he helped her with the very ghost that was now a part of her, but she knew that Dipper had faithfully recreated the journals as best he could.

“Once I realised that Ford if knew how to defeat Bill when he wrote the journals, I never saw it, did I give up. I kept them, but none of them have everything the original journals contain. Now, they just remain as a recollection of Gravity Falls in all its weirdness.”

Pacifica stayed silent as she watched him carefully place the journals back into the bag. Pacifica noticed that what went unsaid, was that those journals are all he has to remind him of before the apocalypse.

After placing the red journals away, he started pulling out blue journals, identical to the one next to him in all but number.

“While one, two and three are just replicas of what was in Gravity Falls, these document everything I’ve come across of. From Alaska to Mexico and Brazil. Four contains all of the weird places I’ve been, while five is all of the monsters. Six is mystical objects and items, seven is rituals, curses and events. Eight is simply what doesn’t belong to any of them.”

As each one was described, Dipper handed it to Pacifica for her to look through. Each entry had a full-page description of anything and everything you’d need to know about it, and a second page with meticulous drawings, although Pacifica noted he didn’t hand eight over. Her attention to that was quickly drawn to a different matter though.

“I’m counting nine books here Dipper.”

“Are you?” he questioned as he shoved the ninth book back into the bag, quickly followed by the eighth.

“I have eyes Dipper. I also happen to be able to count.”

“That’s a shame I only count 7 books then.”

He said, a large grin forming on his face as he also placed the first three journals back into the bag.
“Hang on, now I’m only counting four books. You should really get your eyes checked, Pacifica. Maybe the eye bats can lend you theirs.”

Pacifica hoped the look she was giving him was resting bitch face and not one of a person holding in laughter.

“Maybe I will Pines. I could turn you to wood and put you in the back of the car. Might make the trip quicker.”
“If anything, that would make the trip take longer.”

“You sure? If you were wood, I could drive as fast as I like and not listen to you go on about safety and speed limits.”

“Most speed limits are in place to make driving on that terrain safe, not make you go slow for slows sake.”

“See! We haven’t even got in the car yet and you’re complaining about the drive.”

“Well excuse me, for wanting my tombstone not to read ‘Here lies Dipper Pines. Felled not by Bill, but by a pothole’.”

Staring at each other, it was Pacifica who broke into laughter first, Dipper quickly following.

Much to Dipper’s distaste, Pacifica did speed. The car they had stolen used to be some sort of convertible jeep, although the roof was either missing, or Pacifica choose not to use it. It certainly made part of the trip quicker, so much so that they reached Canada before the car ran out of fuel. While places did exist where they could refuel, most, if not all were controlled by Bill in some manner. Which meant they were back on foot. In the rain. Again.

“Remind me again why we’re not waiting this out?” Dipper asked, speaking over the pitter-patter of rain.

“Every day we’re out here is another day we can be caught. And after our little fiasco in Anchorage, people now know you’re alive and kicking. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more stalker’s than ever before.”

“There’s nothing to track us by in this weather. Any trail we leave would be washed away in hours. We have time.”

Pacifica stopped, turning to Dipper and sighing. Dipper knew then that there was something she was not telling him.

“What don’t I know, Pacifica?”

“Honestly?” She asked, before laughing. “You know nearly nothing that’s gone on in the last decade. Bill’s winning. Even contained in Gravity Falls as he is, all over the world, resistance is failing and hope is flagging. This weirdness we’ve all been plagued by for ten years is quickly becoming the new normal. You wake up one day, someone else doesn’t. People go missing, and no one looks for them.”

She got quiet at that, looking down at the ground.

“This game of cat and mouse you’ve been playing with Bill? It’s coming to an end Dipper. And you’re the mouse. As far as I’m aware, I’m one of, if not the last person looking for you in the small chance that you have some way to beat the cat. Because no one else can.”

Pacifica was shaking at that, and Dipper could see the trail of tears forming, even against the rain pouring over them. He stood there not knowing what to say or do as Pacifica stared him down.

“I know you’re coming with me just to see everyone, but you represent something no one has had in a long time. Hope. You said you know of no way to defeat Bill? That there was the first proper loss Bill has had since you disappeared. In fact, I can count on one hand how many times Bill hasn’t gotten what he wanted, and every single time, you were in the way. Bill has been taking over the world without lifting a finger, and do you know who it is that he hunts for globally? Not governments still trying to fight back. Not the pockets of resistance fighting to live another day. He’s looking for you Dipper. Because so far, only you have beaten him. You say you don’t know how to beat him? Well Bill clearly thinks otherwise, and that means we have a chance.”

“You’re wrong about all of that. Every time Bill was beaten, it wasn’t just me. It was Mabel and Dipper, the mystery twins. Now, it’s Mabel and Dipper, siblings that haven’t spoken in ten years.”

“Then that can be the first part of our plan to stopping Bill. Freeing Mabel.”

“It can’t be done. Bill truly out did himself making it.”

“You’re only saying that because you haven’t tried.”

“Did you speak to anyone about why I left?”

Pacifica looked Dipper straight in the eyes, hundreds of questions ready to be fired, but she didn’t speak.

“Did you speak to Soos or Wendy about what happened the day I left?”

“Only that you tried and failed to stop Bill.”

“Figures. We broke into Mabel’s prison. Got right up to Mabel. The only reason we were stopped is because Mabel kicked us out. Mabel’s prison is her perfect dream. A summer that never ends.”

Dipper could see all the puzzle pieces being put together in her mind. Hopefully she’d drop it all now, understanding why Dipper had been gone all this time.

“Well, we just have to try again. We’ll get Mabel out, and with the mystery twins back together, nothing is impossible.”

“And what about you?” Dipper asked.

“Of course I will. Someone has to fight, and your nerdy noodle arms aren’t going to cut it.” Pacifica replied, smirking.

“Lead the way then Princess.”

Pacifica turned and began walking, although Dipper could tell she was standing up straighter, like some unseen burden had been taken off her shoulders. As Dipper followed, he couldn’t help but feel that that burden was now on his.

“Are you sure they went this way? I’m starting to get hungry and I see no sign of the Pine tree.”

One of Eightball’s eyes turned to look at Teeth.

He only growled however, as he took the eye out of his head and shook it. It revealed the path before them, speeding through the trees and rain. It flew past a car parked out of sight, before finishing on the two humans they were hunting for.

“Goody. None of this mud is good for my teeth. Let’s go!” Teeth said, running along ahead.

Eightball rolled his eye while replacing the other, before going onto all fours to catch up.

It wasn’t long before they found the car.