The Ice Storm Within

The 乇几ᗪ

Dipper's eyes flutter open. He sits up and realizes he's surrounded by stone. He looks to the nearby window and tries to rush to it.

He's pulled taut by giant shackles that fit like iron gloves. He's chained to the wall. Dipper strains to looks out a window.

Gravity Falls is outside, frozen solid and getting further buried under the ice and snow that is falling. "No.. What have I done?" He whispers to himself right as Gideon enters, he hangs a torch by the door.

"Why did you bring me here?" Dipper raises his voice a bit, but refuses to look at him.

"I couldn't just let them kill you." Tears fall from Mason's eyes. "But I'm a danger to Gravity Falls. Get Mable." Gideon looks at him with worry, "Mable has not returned..."

This causes Dipper to look out to the storm with worry. "If you would just stop the winter, bring back summer. Please.." Dipper meets his eyes, desperate. "Don't you see...I can't."

Gideon sees the sincerity in his eyes. "You have to tell them to let me go."

Gideon walks to the door, he takes the torch. "I will do what I can." He opens the door and leaves.

Mason, distraught, hears cracking. He looks down as his shackles begin to freeze over. The storm outside picks up.
                                            ———
Keyhole charges down the mountain with Bill and Mable on his back. Waddles slides along beside them, penguin-style.

Mable shivers, she's weakening. Bill takes off his hat and puts it on her head. "Just hang in there." He whispers to her.

"Come on, buddy, faster!" They arrive at the walls of Gravity Falls. Waddles slides past them, out of control. "I'll meet you guys at the castle!" Bill glances at him before looking back toward ahead. "Stay out of sight, Waddles!"

"I will!" He disappears into the village streets. "Hello!"

A woman screams, "It's alive!" Bill rolls his eyes.
                                      ———
Guards see Bill and Mable approaching. "It's Princess Mable!" Keyhole skids to a stop outside the gates. Bill slides off, holding Mable, and carries her to the gate. "I've got you."

Mable looks up at him, gratefully. "...Are you g-gonna be okay?" Bill smiles softly at her, "Don't worry about me. But hey, I'll get your brother for you."

Just then the castle gates open. Gerda, Kai, and a handmaid rush to help Mable.

"Mable! Oh, you had us worried sick." The handmaid speaks, "My Lady. You are freezing." Kai says softly. "You poor girl, you're freezing. Let's get you inside."

"Get her warm and find Prince Gideon, immediately." Bill orders as Kai thanks him, "We will. Thank you." Mable is swept away from Bill and into the palace grounds.

"Make sure she's safe!" Bill is shut out as the castle gates close on him.

Bill stands there with Keyhole for a beat, staring with worry at the closed gates. Finally, he lets out a breathe he didn't he has been holding in, turns and runs off. Keyhole quickly follows.
                                        ———
Gideon stands with the dignitaries and guards. "I'm going back out to look for Princess Mable." The French dignitary furrows his eyebrows.

"You cannot risk going out there again." Gideon turns to him "If anything happens to her-"

"If anything happens to the Princess, you are all Gravity Falls has left." The Spanish dignitary interrupts causing Gideon hesitates, realizing how much this kingdom has come to depend on him. Is he really all they have left?