Book of Billford

A Human's Touch

It took them not long to get back as Ford barely slept, keeping them steady in their direction home. He effectively cut the time in half, though his body was nearly shutting down.
"You're gonna pass out poindexter.. I'll take over."
"No, it'll be fine. You can go ahead and sleep."
"Move over." Stanley shoved his brother over, taking the reins of the boat. He knew it was for his own good and submitted to the cuddy. His body felt as if it was moving in slow motion as he moved toward his bunk, hearing whispers and seeing shadows in the corners of his eyes as he made his way into a deep slumber.

The boat rocked vigorously as it crashed onto shore, throwing Stanford off the bunk he'd collapsed himself onto.. how many nights ago? It should have taken them a whole week to get back to shore no matter what direction they'd steered themselves..
"Stanley?!" He leaped up from the floor and stumbled up the stairs, finding his brother throwing their things off the deck of the boat onto the send.
"What? Jeez, you look like crap." Stan tried to lighten his brothers anything but jolly mood, but to no avail. To Ford's surprise, Stan didn't look sleep deprived.. well, anymore than he usually does. Which was strange, how was he sleeping and steering them?
"How are we here already?.."
"Already? It's been a week!" Stan gave him a strange look while he tossed the rest of their things onto the stand and anchoring the boat into the sand. Had he slept the whole week? No, Stan wouldn't be this chipper if he were left alone to steer for a week. But.. Ford didn't remember anything from before he slept. Nevertheless, he shook the deeply disturbing thoughts from his mind and helped Stanley pack their things and set on their way home.

"Uh.. Mabel?" Dipper muttered, grabbing his twins attention away from Waddles who had traveled back with them from California for the summer. A strange, repetitive slapping sounded at their attic window, the pair staring at the strange rectangular shadow on the other side of the stained glass.
"What the..?" She stood from her position on her bed, the two of them creeping toward the window. They gave each other the look of approval before Mabel swung open the window with a screech. The mysterious object sprung and slammed against the attic walls and ceiling, Dipper ducking as it streaked over his head. It made its final hit against the ceiling before streaming a cloud of sparkles and floating down, a pale threadlike strand gracefully unwrapped from the letter and fell with it. Sparkles.. hair? Mabel found those familiar.
"Unicorn hair?" She gasped in discovery, hurrying over to the letter on the ground. She dusted off the sparkles as she unwrapped it, Dipper peering over her shoulder. They fell silent as they interpreted the sporadic scribbles, their faces falling as they processed.
"Oh no.. oh no no no.." Dipper backed away, placing his head in his hands.
"uh- it's okay! It'll be okay, we've done it before and we can do it again!" Mabel spirited, turning to face her brother who didn't position. She tilted her head in curiosity, stepping toward him.
"Dipper? What's wrong?" She asked as he shamefully lifted his head.
"What are you not telling me?"
"I think..- I think I brought Bill back.."
"What?! how?!" Mabel dropped the letter, Dipper rubbing his neck nervously.

The pair stared at the Bill shaped indent in the ground, but no Bill. Where his statue once resided, it was gone.
"I was back here yesterday.. and I might have.. shook his hand?"
"Dipper! Have you learned nothing?!"
"Okay, I don't wanna hear that from someone who got put in a little bubble fantasy land!"
"That's in the past.." Mabel muttered, crossing her arms. Reality hit them again.
"So.. what do you think he wants?"
"Maybe he still wants the equation that breaks Gravity Fall's weirdness magnetism?"
"But Great uncle Ford wrote that letter, that means he isn't here.. he's with him."
"That probably means they've turned back. We should shut down the mystery shack until they're back."
"Already on it, dudes." The twins jumped out of their skin, turning around to see the new man of mystery standing there.
"Soos? If you're where, who's watching the gift shop?"
"Oh, I put melody on the register! It'll be fine."
"On video call?" Mabel asked, Soos nodding proudly. The pair shrugged at each other and rushed to shut down the shack while Soos was instructed to go pick up the grunkles.