Puppets of Fate

Chapter 1

Mabel hurried to retrieve the journal. The sooner she'd get that dumb book, the sooner she could return to finish her play before anyone would even notice Dipper had taken her place.

Well, as soon as she would help him find a way to get his body back.

She finally reached the catwalk, relieved to see the journal was still sitting inside the giant cake. Maybe Bill didn't even know it was here. Mabel climbed over the edge, reaching for the book :

"Come on, Come on!'

Much to her surprise, her other hand slipped. She crumbled into the wooden cake. Not able to support that much weight, the rope holding the cake broke down.

Plummeting down, Mabel screamed. Fortunately, the fall stopped before she hit the stage, or being noticed at all. She could hear her brother continuing with the play.

Her savior was now pulling the cake back up. She sighed in relief before immediately opening the journal. She would thank this guardian angel later.

The solution to their current situation had to be written down.

- Come on, come on now, there must be a way to get Dipper's body back!

- Oho, but why would you want to do that? Answered a familiar voice.

Mabel looked up, to realise her "guardian angel" was no other than Bill himself.

- Bill Dipper!... Bipper.

The name had just popped into her mind. It seemed appropriated.

"Bipper" drew a finger to his lips, signing her to be quiet:

- Shh! You wouldn't want to ruin the show... He pointed out Gabe, the boy whom Mabel had planned this play for in the first place.

She indeed didn't want her only shot to be wasted. Until now, he had enjoyed the show. She would not have any other chance at th-

"Whoops!"

For a few seconds, Mabel fell again, shouting in fear as she did. Bill had let go of the rope, likely to get her full attention. She glared at him as he asked, amused:

- It's slipping! How's about you hand that book over?

- No way! This is Dipper's! I'd never give it away! She answered, holding the book close to her.

- Hmm, you didn't seem to have a problem taking it for your own play"; Replied her possessed brother has he pulled her up again; "Or ditching him when he needed you. So come to your senses: Give me the book or your play is ruined!

Mabel sighed, resigned. Bill had the upper ground, there was no other way out of this predicament. She didn't wanted to give in, but she had no choice. She reluctantly began handing over the book.

- There it is. I mean, who would sacrifice everything they've worked for just for their dumb sibling?

This question struck Mabel. Because this time, she knew the answer. There was only one person she knew capable of this kind of sacrifice. One person who had already gave up too much for her. In this moment, she suddenly realised it was time for her to return the favor. Filled with determination, she raised her head, and firmly answered:

- ...Dipper would.

- Huh?

She pulled on her side in attempt to make him tumble over to her.

When she tried, Bill quickly tugged on his side as well.

- Hey ! No Take-Backs !

Much to Mabel's surprise, his grip on the rope loosened as he pulled harder. When her chest hit against the catwalk barrier, the book slipped from her grasp.

- You're making me mad, Shooting Star ! Bill snapped.

Mabel rose up once more, ready to fight for her brother's belonging.

Unfortunately, the demon had enough:

- Have it your way ! Don't say I didn't warn you !

Without letting her time to reach him, he let got of the rope.

This time, Mabel fell, without anything stopping her. She screamed as she felt the ground dangerously closing in.

In an instant, the play and the puppets were crushed, along the stage

Confusion filled the room, before the young girl who had just fallen screamed in pain. She couldn't move, a sharp pain piercing through her shoulder as she lied on stage, agonizing.

In a few instants, Grunkle Stan was on stage, soon followed by Soos and Wendy, all had witnessed the fall.

They asked her questions, looked for an explanation for what had just happened. But she couldn't hear them. She didn't listen.

Pain was invading her mind. When they tried to move her, she cried out. Her entire body aching. Her shoulder hurted. Between her cries, she could overhear Stan ordering Soos to call an ambulance, then her friends, Candy and Grenda, come to her, trying to calm her down, distracting her. Even Gabe had come to check on her.

But nothing helped. She felt only pain.

Dipper had witnessed everything, powerless, panicked. He didn't knew what to do. He had gotten out of the puppet's bodies just in time to avoid getting crush.

When he saw his sister lying on stage, crying in pain, he panicked. He called Stan for help, momentarily forgetting that his great uncle couldn't hear him. He couldn't do anything, but watch as Soos called an ambulance, Wendy forcing the confused crowd to back away from the stage, Stan trying to aid his sister, and Mabel crying in pain each time he moved her.

It was all his fault. Mabel suffered because he sent her alone to get her journal.

'The journal!" How could he have forgot? Dipper immediatly looked around the room for the book - and his body -. A terrified scream helped him find both.

At the other end of the stage, one of the main curtain caught on fire. Next to it, his possed body stood, a lighter in one hand - where had he found it?-, and the journal, now burning, in the other.

"NO!! THE JOURNAL!"!

Panic broke out in the audience, the fire was spreading fast.

No one was understanding what was going on anymore.

- Dipper, what are you doing ?! Wendy shouted.

In response, the possessed body only bursted out into laughter before saying:

- Enjoy the End of the show!

He threw the burning journal into a box full of pyrotechnics that Mabel had saved for the finale, before running away through the door.

- WATCH OUT!

- AAAAH!

- EVERYBODY DOWN!

The box exploded, sending fireworks in every direction as everyone covered themselves. Soon, the whole room was covered in flames. The crowd rushed through the exit as the fire started to ravage the theater.

Stan hurried to get out, Mabel in his arms, Soos, Wendy, and everyone that had stayed with them close behind.

Everyone but Dipper. He stood there, staring at the chaos he had unleashed. Because of him, the puppet show his sister had worked so hard for the past week was ruined. And in the end, they couldn't even save the journal, now lying in flames. Everything they had worked for gone into ashes. They had failed to stop Bill.

'Bill'. Dipper clenched his fist.

The demon had fled, but he couldn't get away with this. Even if the day was ruined, Dipper had to stop him before he caused any more problems. After giving a last glance upon his journal, powerless to save it, before going after his stolen body, without looking back.