Little Dipper

Showtime!

"There's so many people..." Dipper whispered, peeking out a curtain.

Bill nodded, standing off to the side just out of sight of the crowd when the curtain opened. "The last time a play was put on here, there were casualties in the cast and the audience. We're not letting that happen this time."

"Nervous?" Gideon asked Mabel softly.

Mabel shook her head. "Let's put on a great show." She said, her gaze firmly forward.

"You are nervous." Gideon chuckled and took her hand. "It's going to be okay. Haven't you performed before?"

"Uhm...no, actually no. I was never chosen in the school plays..." Mabel admitted.

"You'll do fine." Gideon assured her. "You've practiced so much."

"I still might mess up, though." Mabel said anxiously.

"You'll do fine." Gideon assured her.

Candy stepped out past the curtains, dressed in a suit and tie, to start the show. "Once upon a time, there was a fair prince. This prince had been lonely for many years, never quite finding the perfect girl for him. And then, one day, a girl came from a land far away to explore his kingdom. This is their story." She stepped back behind the curtains as they parted and Gideon left Mabel's side to enter the stage.

Bill focused his attention on the backstage area as the play went on. Dipper stayed close to him, looking around anxiously. After a bit of dialogue between Gideon and one of his "subjects", he went backstage and Mabel went forward to do a musical number with some other girls about searching for love.

"Anything?" Gideon asked Bill quietly.

"No, nothing yet. I mean, I sort of sense something watching, but it's like something is keeping me from sensing what it is." Bill frowned. "I'll have to go check it out, I guess."

"Be careful." Gideon said softly. "I have to go on again in a bit."

Bill nodded. "Just please the audience, I'll handle the trouble."

Gideon nodded and turned to prepare to go back on-stage. Bill nodded to Dipper and motioned for him to follow him as he headed for the stairs for the lighting crew. He saw Gideon step out and heard him talking to Mabel, their voices clear and strong, before they started to sing together.

"They're really good." Dipper whispered.

Bill nodded, then paused. He could hear something...a blade?

Ssshnk. Sssshnk. He moved higher and gasped when he saw a blue-haired man dressed in a blue and black biker's outfit and black eye-patch...with blue skin and glowing blue eyes. On his pointed ears was a familiar shape and Bill bit back a curse before ducking back down.

"Bill?" Dipper whispered.

"Pine Tree, whatever you do, stay close to me." Bill whispered back, and then looked up at the man again. "...This is going to be tougher than I thought. That's no spirit."

"Who is it?" Dipper asked.

Instead of answering him, Bill went the rest of the way up and stood across from the man that was sharpening a knife. "Kryptos. I thought it was you."

"Bill Cipher." Kryptos said coolly, twirling the knife in his hands.

"Stay close, Pine Tree." Bill said, moving towards the other demon. "Kryptos, this ends now!"

"It's just a job, Cipher! You know how it is! Nothing personal!" He turned to him. "You know, like a certain JOB that you have to do?"

"I've abandoned that. I'm not going to risk these people." Bill shook his head. "I'm not letting them in!"