Sixteenth Summer - A Dipcifica Story

Chapter Eight: More Mysteries and Waffles

Dipper woke up to an empty room. Where Mabel and Pacifica had been sleeping were empty spaces. Dipper sat up and sighed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Sleep had evaded him last night, which only made him more anxious. Dipper had to go downstairs and see Wendy and Pacifica. His anxiety levels had never been so high. Clenching his jaw, Dipper slipped out of bed and changed, digging through his suitcase to find a fresh t-shirt and shorts. Finally, when he was ready, Dipper stood in front of the mirror, hat in hand. He stared himself in the mirror, determined. Still, his mind kept drifting back to last night.

Pacifica's not feeling so good...I feel terrible. I hope she's okay. 

Dipper exhaled slowly and headed downstairs.

"Soos! These aren't pancakes, they're WAFFLES!" Mabel shouted, pointing a fork at Soos. She was sitting at the table with Pacifica and Wendy while Soos made what were clearly waffles.

"I'm sorry Mabel, but all I want are waffles today-"

"Hey look, Dipper's up," Wendy started with a small smile. "Good morning."

Dipper blinked. His stomach twisted and he coughed. "Uh yeah, good morning." He made his way to the table, sitting beside Mabel and as far from Wendy as he could. "Is Grunkle Ford not back?"

Mabel shook her head, then grabbed Dipper's shoulders. "Dipper, I had the craziest dream last night!"

Dipper inhaled. "Oh boy. Is this actual crazy or YOU crazy?"

Mabel punched him in the arm. "No Dip-dip, this dream was scary. Because you know who was in it."

"Voldemort?"

Mabel punched him harder this time, knocking Dipper off his chair. He held his arm and scrambled back on the chair as Pacifica giggled. "Okay, okay, jeez. I'm sorry."

Mabel shifted in her seat. "I dreamt of Bill."

Dipper tensed while Soos dropped a waffle. Dipper couldn't find the words. He couldn't be back. He knew it was a possibility, but it was something he just didn't want to think about. "Mabel," Dipper said, "tell me what you saw."

Mabel's eyes grew wide and she gestured wildly as she spoke. "So it wasn't Bill invading my dreams of course! But he was glowing a bright red like he was MAD then he suddenly screamed and turned a bright BLUE and-and-and-"

"Mabel, calm down," Dipper said as Mabel gasped. "I don't understand...he was changing colors?"

"No," Mabel shook her head. "He was losing his powers."

The group went silent. Then Pacifica asked, "how do you know?"

"Because he screamed 'oh my gosh I'm losing my powers!'" Mabel said. "It's pretty simple actually!"

Pacifica's brow furrowed. Then she shrugged and went back to eating.

"Wait a sec..." Dipper paused in thought, considering. "Mabel, do you think this was real? Maybe a vision that Bill has returned or someone has his power?"

Mabel nodded. "Well, maybe. I was stuck inside his cuckoo prison once, so maybe that messed with my dreams or something."

Wendy shuddered, hugging herself. "Don't remind me."

Soos looked at Dipper. "What should we do? Do you think if we tried to summon Bill-"

"NO!" Both twins shouted at the same time. 

Soos jumped, waving his hands. "Sorry, sorry, bad suggestion."

Dipper rubbed his arm. "All we know is that people are falling unconscious and Bill might be back without his powers." He sighed. "Any ideas?"

Wendy lifted her chin. "That storm. The night Stan went unconscious. The clouds were full of blue light, just like Bill's own power used to be. Maybe Bill still has his powers and it's all a trick?"

Everyone murmured their agreement until Pacifica piped up. "Um, I never did tell you guys what I saw when Alesha passed out, did I?"

"You told Mabel and me, just not them," Dipper nodded to Wendy and Soos.

Pacifica quickly told them what had happened, and her eyes began to water. Soon enough, she was crying again, and Dipper was too shy to even reach over and comfort her.

"Pacifica, it'll be alright," Mabel reached over and hugged her, looking back at Dipper with the most disappointing expression ever. Dipper started squeezing his arm.

"Guys, we should probably do something," Wendy said. "Make a plan, decide our next move."

"Wendy's right," Soos said. "Why don't Wendy and I check on Stan once Ford comes back? We don't want you three on your own."

"Actually, I should go home," Pacifica said, tucking her hair behind her ear. "My parents are probably worried about me. Or something."

Dipper's stomach lurched. "No, Pacifica, what if Bill gets you next? We can't risk it."

Pacifica stared at her empty plate of waffles. "You guys got it under control." She offered Dipper a weak smile. "You're the Mystery Twins, remember?"

Dipper held Pacifica's gaze, hoping he looked pleading enough. Mabel looked between them as a smile grew on her face. A wondering smile.

A knock on the door interrupted everything. Dipper and Pacifica looked away as Mabel leaped out of her chair. "I bet it's Ford or some tourists! No, worries, I got it!"

Dipper heard the door swing open with a bang. What he didn't expect was Mabel's scream. Dipper jumped, eyes widening. "Omigosh, Mabel!"

Dipper rushed to the door when the sight of it stopped him in his tracks. Mabel was standing beside him, equally as confused at what she saw before her. It looked like an old man-it had to be-but it was so...so unnatural. Like nature had messed up the recipe on humans and created...this.

It was dressed in yellow. It wore a top hat. And it had a cane.

And in Bill Cipher's exact voice, it greeted Dipper.

"Hey Pine Tree. Long time no see."

Hey all! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'm so happy to finally introduce canon Bill Cipher to the fanfic! If you want to see more of Dipcifica and Bill, make sure to vote, comment, or follow to help this story out! Thank you and happy Saturday!