No Matter What

Chapter 10: AXOLOTL

For the first time he could remember since entering the multiverse, Dipper felt warm.

Soft material was draped over his chest, and he could tell without opening his eyes that bandages were tightly wrapped around his torso and legs. A few moments passed, in which Dipper struggled to recall what had happened. Blazing triangles were stained in his mind, and he suddenly longed for the comforts of his home in Gravity Falls.

Though warm, there was an undeniable soreness and tenderness to his body. It forced him to keep his eyes shut with a grimace.

"M'bel?" His mouth worked to produce the first name that came into his mind. When no answer was received, he tried again. "Gr'nkle St'n? Gr'nkle Ford?" He muttered.

Silence answered.

It's enough for Dipper Pines to, despite his body massively protesting, sit up and gaze around the room he was currently residing in. Its walls were scarily familiar, a place he knew better than himself.

Dipper, confused, stared around what appeared to be an exact replica of his room in Gravity Falls, right down to the mould on the ceiling. However, he noted that there was a slight unease that made this room different from his own. The walls, though appearing to be the same wooden planks, were quaking and trembling, scattering dust on the ground. There were none of the usual sounds that echoed from downstairs, such as an unfortunate microwave meeting it's explosive demise or one of Grunkle Ford's monsters getting loose and running rampant. The silence is unnerving, and he hated it.

"Where am I?" Dipper asked, wincing as his bruised throat throbbed. He felt a presence in the room with him, making him shiver. "Who are you?!" He swallows down the fear in his voice, fully prepared to hear Bill's manic laughter answer him. He was expecting the demon to be playing one last tortuous trick, to tip him over the edge of hopelessness – but instead a deep, gentle voice replied.

"Calm yourself. I mean no harm."

Out from what was seemingly a shadow, a figure stepped into Dipper's view. It's hauntingly familiar features stuttered Dipper's heart. Because he was fairly sure that Mabel was opposite him, reunited at last.

"Mabel?" He breathed. He reached out an arm, but hesitated as the figure stepped closer. Like his "room", he could tell immediately that this creature was not his twin. Like an aura, a soft glow surrounded her subtly, and her eyes were a pale gold. No familiarity sparked in its face, just a blank gaze. It looked far too graceful to be his clumsy, colourful, chaos of a sibling.

"You're not Mabel, are you?" Dipper laughed bitterly, regretting it when his ribs flared in pain. He muttered a small "ouch" and lay back partially into his pillows, watching the creature carefully. Though his instincts urged him to trust the creature, he refused to act on them too quickly.

"No. I only copied the most comforting figure in your mind. I did not want to scare you." The figure spoke again, stepping closer until they were beside Dipper's bed. "You still need rest. Not many can say they survived a demon's assault the way you did."

Dipper recognised the voice now, understanding why it felt familiar.

"You...you pulled me out of there, didn't you?" He asked, and the creature nodded. "Who are you?"

The figure chuckled, almost looking like Mabel for a split second. Before answering his question, they lay a hand on his chest. Light spread from under their palm, and suddenly the pain in his body lessened.

"I go by many names." They replied. "But I am commonly known as AXOLOTL."

AXOLOTL sat at the edge of Dipper's bed in silence, watching the walls tremble around them.