Little Dipper

Cryo

"So, what have we learned from this?" Bill asked as they found themselves back at where they met F again.

"Let Bill find a map before we go into the dungeon." Wendy said in a resigned tone. "What about your Sight?"

"I can try, but it would leave me vulnerable for as long as it takes to map the place out, and even then I may not find the way out." Bill shook his head. "Nope, we're doing this the old-fashioned way. No maps, no magic Sight. Let's go this way." He led them down another direction.

"Bill, I'm getting tired of walking." Dipper whimpered.

Bill paused and picked him up then turned to the rest. "Anyone else tired?" Everyone but Wendy nodded and Bill sighed. "Okay, let's just see what's over here and then we'll stop for a rest." He coaxed, walking down the path.

"How long have we been down here?" Pacifica asked.

"About four hours. I have a very good perception of time passing." Bill glanced around. "No sign of 'F' anywhere...which worries me."

"Who is F? The real F, I mean." Pacifica walked a bit faster to keep pace with Bill and walk next to him.

"F was The Author's lab assistant. After being used to lure the Gremoblin and other horrible things and then finally an accident with that old portal in the basement, he quit." Bill explained.

"What happened?" Dipper asked.

"During a test-run, he was almost pulled in and it was only because he was caught on a cord that he didn't go through entirely. Apparently the things he saw there drove him to the point of near-insanity and he quit before he could be involved in anything more with The Author." Bill sighed heavily. "Poor guy."

"So, this...thing knew him, and is copying his younger form?" Wendy asked.

"Yeah. Why he's not just copying The Author, I can't figure out. I suppose he did the smart thing and didn't let the shapeshifter see his face." Bill shrugged.

"Wait a minute, he's seen all of us! How will we know if we're not the shapeshifter? What if we get separated?" Candy asked.

"Okay, first of all, we're not going to get separated. Secondly, if you aren't sure, then ask a question only the real one could answer." Bill said matter-of-factly. "The shapeshifter only knows our looks, he can't copy our minds and memories."

"Oh, okay. That's good to know." Candy nodded, adjusting her glasses.

"A good thought, though. Also, it'd be a good idea to yell if something grabs you, since he'd have to stash the real one away and I would hear you yelling." Bill said, looking at the group. "Got that?"

"Mmhm." Dipper said, rubbing at his eyes.

"Tired?" Bill looked at him. "Hm...I'd blast us out, but I don't know what we might be under, or how far this goes. I could flood the place."

"Can't you check?" Pacifica asked.

"Unfortunately, X-Ray is not one of my abilities. Even without most of my abilities being inaccessible at the moment." Bill shook his head.

"What was The Author thinking?" Grenda asked.

Bill opened the journal and shone the blacklight on it pointedly. "'Prepare for the end'."

"So, he was pretty far gone." Wendy remarked.

"He was far gone before I even met him." Bill shook his head. "Guy was messed in the head, instead of talking to the gnomes to learn about them, he took one and experimented on it. Remember Schmebulock?"