We Belong (Bipper)

Peekaboo... Ch. 4

*Dipper P. O. V*

I sat on that log waiting for my Great Uncle Ford to find me with these creatures. In the dark. This is actually pretty creepy. My eyelids were getting heavier, it was harder to open my eyes.

  Then I opened them, but it wasn't on the dark forest, sitting on that log. It was blank, for the most part. "Oh no. Oh no no no." I whispered quietly to myself, looking around. "I know you're here, you coward!" Probably not the smartest thing to yell at a demon who almost destroyed the universe, but the words had already fallen from my tongue.

  "Hello Pine Tree." The voice I heard was familiar, but horribly different. It sounded....regretful? Maybe. Scared? Probably. Tired? Definitely.

  "We destroyed you years ago!" I shouldn't really take the offense, I mean, he almost killed us just a few years ago...silence followed my words. "Is it really you?" My voice was quiet, but not friendly.

  "Listen Dipper, I know you don't like me, but I need your help."

  My voice faltered for a moment "Have you forgotten what you did a few summers ago?!" were the words I planned on saying. Instead what came out was "With what?" Ugh! Why must I be so curious? It's like I have a knack for this kind of stuff.

Bill was evidently surprised by my reaction, he was speechless for a moment. "Just know it won't be easy, and you will need to have ol' Fordsy help you, ok?"

  "I haven't even said I'd help and you're already trying to chase me off." I scoffed. Something was most definitely wrong.

  "No!" He said immediately, "I didn't mean that."

  "Then what did you mean?" I asked flatly, I was getting a bit tired of his games. But something in his voice was different. What was it? Then it hit me. It wasn't as maniacal as it used to be. No, there wasn't even a trace of his elegant insanity like before. 'Wait! Did I just think that?'

"It's just, I don't know. I'm sorry, I'm very tired." He wasn't lying. There were bits torn from his hat and tie. His one eye was drooping and took a while to open back up.

"Why didn't you just go into Ford's mind if you needed him?"

"It was hard enough getting to you!" At my confused expression he explained "Your mind is 'Bill-proofed' fifteen percent. Sixer's has a metal plate in his head. I'm still weak from when you tried to erase me."

"Why didn't it work?" I asked out of pure curiosity. It seemed to touch a nerve with him though.

"That's a story for another time." He answered roughly without explanation. "What you need to know for your mission though is that I was deceived and possessed at times just like you, but from a much more powerful demon. I didn't want to hurt you all, any time, ever, but I had things on the line as well."

As he plowed on, I sat quietly, taking it all in. "He made a false image of what I could have so that I would do his dirty work. If that didn't work he would threaten, torture, or even possess me to get the job done. He got mad when I failed him, and he went on a rage, punishing me. I've been on the run ever since. It's taken lots of planning and research for this moment but I've finally got it."

Bill stopped talking and was kinda zoned out for a minute so I spoke, "What's the plan?"

  He glanced at me, surprise playing all over his usually joyful eye. "I need to take on-" but what he would take on would remain unknown. I heard a voice from faraway "Dipper, wake up." There was shaking, then I woke with a start.

Gruncle Ford was kneeling in front of me "Are these the only ones you found?"

I nodded, still too groggy to talk. "Stunned 'em." I mumbled.

"Good, we can look at them here and add them in the journals. How did they act?"

"The female was being kinda seductive to be honest." I replied, "She made me look into her eyes and then I saw a fantasy, but then I stunned her. Then the male came up, we had a small skirmish, but I ended up hitting him in the chest as well."

"Interesting. Do you think either would talk to us?" He asked, inspecting the two creatures.

"Definitely the girl." I responded, following his movements. "Hey, do you know why they have the necklaces?"

"Hmm..." Ford glanced at the glittering stones on each string, although now I realized it wasn't string. It was fine strands of grass, vines, and flowers woven together skillfully. He never really answered my question.

'What about Bill? Should I tell Ford about him? Maybe later, I don't want him getting really mad...' I procrastinated asking Ford to help Bill, because I "needed more information about it".

Gruncle Ford dug through his bag after adding his findings to our new journals. He pulled out a small gun-looking tool. "It'll wake her up." He explained at my questioning look.

He pointed it at her chest and fired. It was quiet, like most of his other weapons. She opened her eyes ever so slowly, and her lips turned into a sweet smile "Guess you would use that on a friend huh?" Amusement danced lightly in her eyes.

She really isn't too bad...should I have shot her so quickly? I mean not everyone who's "bad" is really bad, right? Like someone else I know.....