Little Dipper

Choose

"You're...done?" Keyhole looked at him, tilting his head a bit.

"And when were you planning to tell us this?" Pacifier asked, smirking a bit.

"Just...just go back through the rift, or through a portal or something, because I'm not letting you mess with this town. Why...why would you WANT to, anyway? It's so simple! So...so innocent! These guys barely realize the Multiverse exists!"

Pyronica exchanged amused expressions with Pacifier and Keyhole. "Why, it's Stockholm Syndrome, that's what this is! He's been a captive here so long, he thinks he BELONGS here!"

Bill frowned. "I DO belong here."

The other demons laughed and Pyronica walked over and stroked Bill's cheek with a finger. "Poor little Billy, you've been hurt so much! But, now that we're here, we'll make them all pay for what they did to you." She cooed.

"They haven't done anything to me." Bill said firmly. "Just leave them alone, Pyronica!" He punctuated her name by slapping her hand away from his cheek.

"Leave them alone?" She tsk'd. "Bill Cipher, when have we EVER left anything alone? Your world was just one of trillions we have destroyed. And why do we do it? For fun!"

"Fun?" Bill frowned. "You think this is FUN?! I've been having more fun here, with them, then I EVER had while killing people and destroying things with you! What you have isn't FUN, it's...it's PSYCHOTIC!"

Pyronica raised her eyebrow. "Are you kidding me right now?" She laughed a bit. "Come on, Cipher, don't have a cow. This is what we do! Come on, let me demonstrate it to you." She placed her hand on his shoulder and turned towards the crowd. To Bill's surprise, she started to sing.

"Look at all the people gathered around; most of them too terrified to make a sound." She sang, chuckling a bit. "But you know what would be really neat? How about we TURN UP THE HEAT?" She snapped her fingers and fires started to sprout up around the buildings and terrified humans.

"Pyronica!" Bill protested. Keyhole and Pacifier stayed close, while the other demons stepped back and started to talk amongst each other. The humans were trapped, Pyronica was singing - dinner and a show! A few of them, those with hands, started to rhythmically snap their fingers.

"You know you don't belong here, this isn't your home." Pyronica coaxed him. "Let's set fire and cause pain, dear, then run off and roam." She stepped forward and then turned to face him. "I can't believe that you would just slap away my hand. Well, I think it's time I forced your silly dreams to land!" She shoved him lightly and he just crossed his arms in response.

"Come on now, you used to be a king." Pyronica pleaded.

"Even if not a good one." Pacifier and Keyhole sang in unison.

"You used to cause such pain and not feel a thing." Pyronica reminded him, touching his chest. Bill swatted her hand away before crossing his arms again.

"We'd wreck 'til everyone's gone." Pacifier and Keyhole sang wistfully.

"But, now you stand between us and them." Pyronica shook her head, sighing. "Cipher, you've gone off the deep end!" She sang, Pacifier and Keyhole joining in.

"This is ridiculous! It's one stupid planet, why are you so hung up on it? Just get lost! Go away! I'm done with you!" Bill turned away from her to find himself face-to-face with Pacifier now.

"Come on, Cipher, don't be a dick." Pacifier shoved him, harder than Pyronica did, and Bill stumbled back to keep from falling. "It's really not a hard choice, just go ahead and pick. You've planned this party for so many years. Foolish child, dry your silly tears." He mockingly brushed an imaginary tear from Bill's face and Bill angrily smacked his hand away.

"Did you just call me a child? Really?" Bill snapped.

"Well, you're acting like a spoiled brat. All we've done for you, and you want to be with these pathetic, tiny-lifespan slaves instead of us?" Pacifier laughed before he continued singing. "You know that you'll outlive them, and then you'll be alone. And we won't ever take you back until you've atoned." He shrugged, chuckling,. "But, let's not be dramatic, it doesn't have to come to that. Just give this all up now, there's no need to be a brat!"

"You..." Bill growled, then gasped when Pyronica wrapped her arms around him from behind.

"Come on now, you used to be a king." She coaxed him. Bill ignored her, glaring at Pacifier.

"Time to get your head straight." Pacifier and Keyhole sang in unison.

"You used to cause such pain and not feel a thing." Pyronica held Bill a bit tighter.

"You know, before it's too late." Pacifier and Keyhole sang warningly.

"And still you stand between us and them?" Pyronica turned Bill to face her, staring into his eye.

"Cipher, you've gone off the deep end!" They sang in unison as Bill pulled away from her, twirling a bit before he fell at Keyhole's feet.

Keyhole knelt down and grabbed Bill's hand, pulling him to his feet. "You can't bring back what you have lost." He sang, shaking his head. "And to replace him? Wow. And what great cost!" He reached up and touched Bill's head comfortingly. "Cipher, I know you still have some sense in there. Think about it..."

Bill tensed at his touch, eye widening, as Keyhole continued. "Does your lost brother even care?"

Bill pulled free of him and walked backwards slowly as Pyronica chimed in. "It's not too late, we can still create our Utopia. Our dreams can still come true!"

"It's time for you to make a choice." Pacifier sang firmly. "Be smart, kid, and don't raise your voice."

Bill stopped between them all and Pyronica approached him, taking off her cape. "Come on, now, you used to be a king." She coaxed, wrapping her cape around his shoulders.

"Would you rather be a pauper?" Pacifier and Keyhole asked as Bill shrugged off the cape.

"You used to cause such pain and not feel a thing." Pyronica sighed and put her cape back on.

"If so, we'll surely make you suffer." Pacifier and Keyhole sang aggressively. Bill glared at them, but said nothing.

"How could you ever choose to be with them?" Pyronica implored.

"Cipher, you've gone off the deep end!" They sang together as Keyhole and Pacifer started to circle the two.

"Cipher, on you it all depends!" They sang as they moved closer to him.

"Cipher, it's time for you to choose." They sang as they stood around him, trapping him in.

"Cipher, do you really want to lose?" They sang, Bill closing his eye silently.

They stepped back, letting him have his personal space back. "So, choose." Pyronica said firmly. "Us or them?"

"I think you already know the answer to that question." Bill snapped his fingers and the fire dropped around the trapped humans. "Tad, I'm going to need some help."

Tad nodded, releasing his human disguise and looking more demonic. "Anything you need." He glanced at Gideon, who was using a potion on Stan to accelerate his body's natural healing ability.