The falls

chapter 52

The mountain path was rough, every step feeling more treacherous than the last. Lilien, Neomi, and Jessica moved cautiously, staying low to avoid detection. Below them, the chaotic storm of Weirdmageddon raged on—demons poured from the bottomless pit, angels soared through the sky, and nightmare creatures swarmed the shattered remains of Gravity Falls. The rip Bill had created had unleashed everything—heaven, hell, and the nightmare realm all spilling into their world.

They continued their ascent, desperate to stay hidden from the creatures battling below. The air was thick with tension, and each of them could feel the strange power coursing through their bodies after the weirdness wave hit.

"What did that thing do to us?" Lilien whispered as they climbed higher, her heart racing with confusion and dread.

"We need to find out, but right now, we just need to stay out of sight," Neomi replied, keeping her voice low, her eyes scanning for any threats.

They neared a ledge, and just as Neomi began to pull herself up, the ground beneath her gave way. She let out a sharp scream as she tumbled down into a deep pit, her fall hidden by the shadowy depths below.

"Neomi!" Lilien and Jessica shouted together, rushing to the edge of the hole.

They stared down in horror, but to their shock, Neomi wasn't lying broken at the bottom—she was floating. Slowly, she rose back into the light, her wings glowing softly in the dimness. That's when they realized—Neomi wasn't the only one with wings.

"Oh my God," Lilien gasped, taking a step back. "We all have wings."

Jessica glanced over her shoulder, and sure enough, brilliant, shimmering wings—massive and angelic—spread out behind her, just like Neomi's. And Lilien could feel it, too—the weight of her own wings on her back, a part of her she had never imagined possessing.

Neomi's voice was filled with shock and disbelief as she hovered before them. "What is happening to us?"

They quickly pulled themselves together and scrambled to the ledge to meet Neomi. Their hearts pounded with confusion and fear, but they knew there was no time to panic. They needed to figure out what had happened to them.

"We need to test what else might have changed," Jessica said, her brow furrowed as she inspected her wings. "This can't just be it. There has to be something more."

Lilien nodded, trying to focus despite the surge of emotions swirling inside her. "Let's figure it out."

The first discovery came quickly. As they experimented, Jessica began to radiate a strange green mist—a pestilence that seemed to spread through the air when she summoned it. Lilien took a deep breath and reached within herself, and the earth rumbled in response. A fiery sword materialized in her hand, the flames licking at the air.

Neomi clutched at something cold forming in her hand, and when she looked down, a large black scythe had materialized in her grip. The blade was sleek, deadly, and seemed to pulse with the energy of death itself.

"I don't just have wings," Neomi murmured. "I think I can... feel souls. I can guide them to their next destination." She paused, gripping the scythe tightly. "But with the rips between dimensions... it's too dangerous to guide them anywhere right now. Heaven, hell—they're all connected in ways they shouldn't be."

Then, Lilien took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to feel whatever power had been placed in her. There was a moment of silence, and then a deep rumble shook the ground. Her eyes snapped open, and she found herself wielding a sword that shimmered with flames. Her heart dropped into her stomach as realization washed over her.

Jessica's eyes widened as she pieced it together. "Lilien... you're the Angel of War."

Lilien's hands trembled around the hilt of her sword, her mind spinning. "No... No, this isn't right. I can't be... I'm not a leader. I'm not even... I made so many mistakes."

"Lilien..." Neomi's voice was calm but firm. "We know what you've done, but that's not what this is about. You didn't choose this. You were chosen for a reason."

"Neomi's right," Jessica added, stepping closer to Lilien. "You're the one who's supposed to lead this battle. Maybe it's because you've made mistakes. You know how high the stakes are. You know how dangerous Bill is."

"But I..." Lilien shook her head, her heart pounding with guilt. "I betrayed you. I helped Bill understand more about the rip. I risked everything just to satisfy my own curiosity. How could I possibly lead us?"

Neomi reached out and placed a hand on Lilien's shoulder. "Because you care about us. Because you care about this world. You're not perfect, but none of us are. That's what makes you the right person to lead."

Lilien looked between them, her chest tight with emotion. Her eyes stung with unshed tears. She wanted to believe them, to trust in what they were saying, but it was hard to shake the weight of her mistakes.

"I don't know if I can do this," she whispered.

"You can," Jessica said, her voice soft but resolute. "And we'll be right beside you. We're in this together."

Lilien exhaled, nodding slowly. She looked down at the sword in her hands, feeling its warmth pulse through her. War. It wasn't a title she ever imagined holding, but maybe—just maybe—they were right. Maybe this was her path, her chance to make things right.

"Alright," Lilien said quietly, determination slowly building inside her. "I'll do it. I'll lead the fight against Bill."

Neomi smiled, her wings stretching out behind her in approval. Jessica gave a small nod, the green mist still swirling faintly around her hands.

Together, they stood at the edge of the mountain, looking out over the chaos that had become of Gravity Falls. Demons roamed the streets, angels fought in the skies, and nightmare creatures crawled through the shadows. This was the apocalypse. And they were the Horsemen.

It was time to prepare for the final battle.

Lilien raised her sword, the flames dancing across the blade. "Let's finish this."