Counting Stars (Mabifica)

Chapter 9

Dipper Pines turned to Bill, confused. "Evidence?"

Bill didn't reply, his eyes were glued to the fire, his eyebrows knitted together. Dipper turned back to the house, little shaken but thankful that he was alive and safe. His sister had come unexpectedly, maybe she heard screaming? Was she in the forest with her friends and came across the shack?

Mabel held her grappling hook in one hand, the other in her sweater pocket, yes, she made little pockets to store candy in her sweaters, frowning.

Bill took in a deep breath and ran a hand through his, well Preston's, hair, a grin painted onto his features. His eyes were bright. "Well, nice seeing ya pine tree" bill walked forward, trying one last time to make a grab for the journal, but mabel kicked him in she shins. His smile faded into a wince as he turned to dippers twin "shooting star" he nodded and limped dramatically off, leaving to twins to watch him go, confused.

"Why didn't he attack us?" Mabel asked.

Dipper wasn't sure if she was talking to herself or if the question was directed at him but he answered "maybe because of what was in that shack. He said 'evidence' and I think the copies of the journals were still in there" he stepped forward, careful of the burning debris. His eyes scanned the fallen shack, in hopes of clues.

"Don't sweat it bro-bro" mabel placed her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it "whatever was there is gone, and we can always come back here next summer to check it out" she suggested.

Dipper sighed but nodded "okay, but I think next summer would be too late, we should check in a couple of days" the twelve year old followed his sister through the woods, watching her hair bounce as she skipped happily back to their shack. Their temporary home for the summer.

Dipper shoved his hands into his pockets and looked up at the sky. It was getting dark. He jogged into the shack and into the kitchen, spotting Wendy slouching on a chair, Soos applying bandages to her cuts. She turned to the twins when she heard them walk it, relief flooding her features.

"Oh my god, I though you were gonna get killed" she grinned weakly, obviously tired to the days events "did you get bill?"

Dipper frowned and shook his head "no, he's still in Preston's body" he felt somewhat guilty for not getting bill. He had let the demon go without a chase.

"Hold still, dude" soos took Dipper by the shoulders and led him to the other chair, sat him down and placed multiple brightly coloured plasters onto his arms.

He then checked Mabel for any injuries but found none.

Wendy stood up, wincing as she put weight on her bad leg, which was put in a makeshift cast. She waved goodbye and limped out to the golf cart, driving back to her house and promising to return the vehicle the next day.

The twins sent upstairs quietly, changing into their pyjamas and settling down. Mabel fell asleep almost instantly, her face buried in a stuffed tiger that she held close to her chest.

Dipper lay on his bed, covers half off, staring at the ceiling. Preston Northwest, Pacifica's father, seemed to be working with Bill Cipher, which could mean pacifica could be part of this too. Maybe she was just acting nice to gain their trust and take the journal. Dipper blinked, unsure. Mabel seems to trust her, so she must be good, right? He turned to his side, watching mabel as she squirmed under her blankets, smiling into her stuffed toy. Watching her made Dipper smile, he couldn't even begin to say how much he cared for his twin. Smiling slightly, Dipper shut his eyes.

∆ ∆ ∆

Mabel Pines followed her brother back to the shack three days later. She was wearing a striped sweater, one of her personal favourite's as there was a large pocket at the front where she kept her grappling hook just in case. There were only about two days until they left for Piedmont and she was beginning to dread it.

Dipper stopped dead in his tracks and mabel did the same. They now stood in front of the ruins of the old shack. The woods was burnt and so was pretty much everything else. There was that desk, still standing. And the bookshelves, although most had collapsed. He carefully stepped over some charred wood and took out a book. The pages were ruined but he could make out small drawings of triangles with what looked like top hats? Bill. Dipper flipped some pages, they were all covered with bill.

Mabel had decided to look at the desk, opening the drawers inside to reveal a little pile of pens. She took one out and tried it on a piece of stray paper. It worked. She pocketed it and closed the drawer, crouching down to look below the desk.

After what seemed like hours of searching for clues, neither twin had found what they were looking for. Dipper had found some books that had miraculously survived and mabel had several old pens and a small notebook with cool looking doodles in them.

They stepped out of the ruins and turned to each other, brown eyes shining.

"Agree to come back here whenever we come back?" Dipper asked, clearly excited by all this.

Mabel nodded, grinning, showing off her braces. "Agreed".

Sorry this is somewhat shorter than past chapters. I didn't think I would update today since I felt ill earlier but I managed to find time :D I might update this weekend but it depends. Hope you liked this, goodnight (or morning or evening)

(Edited)