Fallen Strings

Mabel Pines ran across the top of the stage, metal walkway swinging beneath her. She skidded to a halt in front of the wooden cake that she had lovingly crafted for the wedding scene, mentally preparing herself for what she was about to do. This was going to take balance and precision.

Mabel stepped over the edge of the railing, gripping it with one hand. The other desperately reached for the red-and-gold book that lay in the hollow center, grasping at the air. Mabel strained and leaned forwards.

"Almost got it," she whispered.

Suddenly over balancing, Mabel tumbled forwards into the wooden structure. Letting out a gasp of surprise, the twelve-year-old felt the prop beginning to fall. Before it could complete the halfway point of its descent, the painted cake abruptly halted its progress.

Breathing out a sigh of relief, Mabel started to flick through the journal.

"Come on," the brunette mumbled. "There must be a way to get Dipper's body back."

"Oh," a terrifying voice echoed above her. "But why would you want to do that?"

Mabel's head snapped up.

Perched on the walkway above her was the--the thing using her brother's body for its own sick uses.

"It's Bill-Dipper," she growled. Her eyes narrowed further. "Bipper."

Mabel stopped paying attention to the Dream Demon's exact words, and started to look for an opening as she slowly moved the journal into his waiting hands. Until he gave her the perfect time.

"I mean, who would give up everything that they've worked for just for their dumb sibling?"

Mabel's eyes gleamed triumphantly. "Dipper would."

"Wait, what?"

The young girl yanked as hard as she could, pulling the already off balance Dream Demon into the painted prop. With nobody holding the rope, the cake spun downwards into the stage. It shattered into a million shards of wood, spraying splinters everywhere.

Silently thanking her mother for making her take gymnastics lessons when she was younger, Mabel used Bill's momentary distraction to her advantage and pounced, rolling him onto stage.

"Get out of my brothers body you evil triangle!" She screamed, slamming his body against the wooden ground. Mabel vaguely heard her great-uncle shout something, but ignored it in favor of the task at hand.

The female suddenly found herself being kicked away, her brother's precious book ripped from her hands. Blinking away dizziness from when she had rolled, Mabel saw the Demon running into the wings. Jumping to her feet, she charged after him.

"Grunkle Stan, Wendy, Soos, I need some help over here," she shouted over her shoulder.
Before Mabel could reach the edge of the curtain, something picked her up by the back of her sweater.

"What's gotten in to you two?" Stan asked. Mabel shook herself free and grabbed his hand.

"No time to explain! We need to get Bipper!"

"Bipper?"

"To late Shooting Star!" Bill's voice cackled. They entire Pines family and their companions looked up.

Dipper's body was on the metal walkway, an enormous Cheshire grin stretched across his features. He waved the journal above his head in a taunting manner.

"Looks like I managed to get my hands on one of the journals after, huh old man?"

Stan's entire body stiffened. He clenched his fists.

"Bill." He growled. Dipper's body cackled, which strangely suited it. Mabel couldn't help but think that he looked awfully sinister, what with his suit that actually appeared to have bloodstains and his completely insane expression.

"That's right." Bill paused for a moment. His eyes went wide and he stumbled, hands grasping at nothing. The journal slipped free from his fingers and fell to the stage, Mabel rushing to intecept it while still keeping an eye on the Dream Demon.

"N-no, stop!" He shrieked. Dipper's eyes were swirling, changing from yellow to black to electric blue to brown. He gripped the sides of his skull.

Mabel scrambled backwards into her Grunkle's waiting arms, watching as Bipper stumbled and reeled. Her eyes widened as he stepped dangerously close to the unguarded edge.

"Watch out!" She cried. "You're going to fall!"

Just for one brief moment, Bipper made eye contact with her. His eyes were brown, the same shade that they had always been, and she felt her heart stop.

"I'm so sorry," Dipper said, in his own voice. "I love you."

Then his body fell to the stage with a sickening crunch. Mabel screamed and tried to run over, but Stan held her back. The young girl watched as Wendy and Soos ran over, play forgotten. Mabel glanced out over where the audience had been sitting. They were gone now, and she mentally thanked whoever had gotten rid of them.

Wendy and Soos came around the edge of the broken set. They both looked as if they might be sick. Soos looked shaken and Wendy had tears streaming down her face. They both threw their arms around the remaining members of the Pines family.

"I'm sorry," Wendy said thickly. "I'm so, so sorry."

Mabel screamed, over and over and over again. Sometimes it was just a sound, others it was her brother's name. Finally she stopped, hanging limply in her great-uncle's arms. Then her head raised slightly.

"Bill." Mabel growled. "I'm going to find him. And when I do, I'm going to make him pay."