Little Dipper

Globnar

The games ranged from highly dangerous to actually kind of fun. Bill took charge during the dangerous ones , talking strategy with Dipper and Mabel and leading the way through the holographic terrain, and Mabel took control for the easier things. They were pretty good against Blendin, and their opponent was growing increasingly frustrated as the crowd watched in earnest.

"Okay, looks like we're on a dangerous one again." Bill said, looking around as the terrain changed once more.

"What do we have to do?" Mabel asked.

"...Race, it looks like." Bill pointed to a long pole over a lake of lava, another one identical to it. "We all have to cross this thing. If even one of us slips, we all lose this round. Just like other ones." He looked at Blendin, who was waiting for them to finish talking. "Okay, here's what we're gonna do. I'll go first, and then Shooting Star can hold onto my shirt while Pine Tree does the same with her sweater. And remember, balance."

"Stan's gonna freak out when we tell him about this." Dipper said, looking at the pole.

"Stan? Hell, Gideon is going to insist you don't go anywhere without him anymore because you get into trouble whenever you do." Bill chuckled.

"Racers ready?" The referee asked. They quickly moved to the pole as Blendin did the same. "Go!"

It was easier to talk about it than do it. It was hot underneath, and Mabel and Dipper kept looking down nervously. Bill focused his gaze on ahead of him, listening to closely to his teammates. They managed to keep up a pretty good pace, though Blendin was already ahead of them.

"We're gonna lose at this rate. Alright, time for a change in strategy! Shooting Star, Pine Tree, grab my hands! And hang on tight."

"Huh?" They looked at his extended hands and took them.

Bill held onto their hands tightly and swung them forward, pulling them both close to his chest before he took to a run. "Hang on tight, this is gonna be a bumpy ride!"

"Is that legal?" One of Time Baby's attendants asked.

"Considering we don't normally have groups against one person, I'll allow it." Time Baby said, shaking his rattle lazily.

"Okay, then. Team Pines is allowed to continue!" The attendant nodded.

"Not like I was gonna stop anyway." Bill muttered as he reached the end of the pole and stepped onto safe, dry ground. Blendin reached the end of his pole a a couple minutes later, while Bill was setting the kids down and rolling his shoulders and stretching out his arms.

"I was so close!" Blendin pouted. "Time-dangit!"

"What's next?" Mabel asked.

The hologram changed around them and a single table appeared with two chairs. On the table was a board game, which Bill knew very well.

"...Space Chess." He sighed.

"What's the difference between it and regular chess?" Mabel asked.

"Different rules. A coin is flipped to decide who goes first, for one thing. I'll take this one, kids." He walked over and sat down in one of the chairs, Blendin taking the other one.

"Flip the coin." Time Baby said, and an attendant did so. "Call it."

"Heads." Bill said.

"Ohh, I wanted heads. Fine, Tails." Blendin fumed.

The attendant moved their hand. "Heads, Team Pines moves first." Time Baby declared. "Proceed with the game."

Dipper and Mabel held hands nervously, watching Bill make his first move.