We Never Left

4rd Just Loves Being Center of Attention

*Bills Point of View

Fez is back in town. I let him be. He won't be a problem to me alone and he can't get to the other Pines. Its just some, say, entertainment. Time killer.

Shooting Star seems to love her new perfect world. As I expected. I did make it for her. Shes having the time of her meaningless life. Meanwhile Pinetree wanted something bad to happen. To be out of his jail. So I separated them. And now hes living in a waking nightmare, repeats of his greatest phobias and deepest fears. Much longer and he'll be like Fiddlesticks. I hope Sixer gives in by then. The kids mind is sharp. Easily molded. I bet I could make something out of the meatsack or atleast get some fun. But I need his mind for that.

Speaking of Sixer, hes getting boring. I ripped out his fluffy hair in chunks. Burnt him to a crisp. Electrocuted him to death and back again several times. I haunted every dream he had- which isn't much. I hate insomniacs for that specific reason. Nothing broke him. He has faith in his stupid family. I can fix that.

My henchmainiacs are taking care of him right now. Parading him along the border. Its drawing some of my unwilling subjects out to look. My throne always needs to expand.

I play the piano while I wait for them to come back. Its no fun to sit above everyone on my throne if there is no everyone.

Eventually they bring back good old six fingers. I snap my fingers and they all leave. He is on his knees, exhausted. I float over and lift his chin up to face me. Even Zanthar has a prettier face. I fix it up for him with a snap. Now he looks, ehh. Humans are all ugly if you ask me. Zanthar still comes out on top here.

"So IQ, are we playing dumb anymore? Or are you willing to talk?" I ask him. He makes a determined face with his extra features. Like mouth and nose. Completely overrated. The eye(s) are all that matter. And his all but lost the fire in his. Its over. I just need to crush that last ounce of hope.

"Today was quite eventful. Your idiot brother came back. I saw him before he even put a step inside the border." I say and silently create a stone statue of Stanley. I pull it up as if from the throne. Sixers eyes widened.

"Now, thanks to Pinetree and Shooting Star, I know people in your family care about each other for some reason. Even if you don't show it. I've been in both of your minds. Time to put that to the test." I toss the stone figurine in the air and catch it by the ankle. Fordsy screams like Pinetree! But that fire is still there.

"How do I get out?" I demand, growing large and red. I can't help being frustrated. Why is he talking so long to break?

"Please! Let him go, I'll do anything! Just l-leave them all alone. Leave all of them alone!" He begs. I like that.

"Begging Fordsy? Thats beneath you. Do it again." I smirk. He doesn't.

"I said AGAIN!" I rage and thrust the statue towards him. He awkwardly gets into a bowing position.

"Please. Don't hurt my family." He says a bit more calmly. I don't like calm.

I slam the statue into the ground and it shatters all over the place. Fordsy makes this weird choking sound. I didn't even know meat sacks could do that without physical pain!

"I'm loosing my patience Sixer. Tell me how to get out of here and I might spare those kids!" I boom.

"You killed him!" He whispers in shock. I don't think I've ever made the guy cry before. Broke him? Sure. Caused hysteria, insomnia, and just generally made him go insane? Yep. But crying? He never has. But tears are running down his face. Water to drown the fire. I have finally won.

"Its not too late for the rest of them. Shooting Star is in a bubble. A world where everything she could want to goes right. So is Pinetree, question mark and Red. I'll let them stay there. Just tell me. Don't be dumb, IQ. This is more than in your favor. If you do exactly as I tell you, I'll put you in one too. Just tell me the equation." I tug him off the ground and into the air.

"I'll do it, I'll do anything. Bill, anything. Just bring Stanley back. Please. And you can't touch them. Keep them in a perfect world. Together. Do whatever you want with me, just please. Bill. Please." He begs. I rather like this. I don't usually bargain, but I happen to like this offer. This way I might not get to keep Pinetree in his special prison but I got an upgrade. Good old Six Fingers is back.

And I know even I can't exactly bring back the dead. But Fez ain't dead. So this will be easy.

"Its a deal!" I proclaim and stick out my hand. The fire in his eyes spark and he pulls away. Shoot, so close.

"Not until I see my brother. Alive." He spat at me. Let's call that a temporary set back. Stanley is in the protected Shack, and Shermy would be a great loophole, except hes lost in space and time.

Man, the pines hate their kids. Mason and Mabel, then Stanley, Stanford and Shermy.  And I thought I was evil. Then theres those Shmipper and Smabble kids. Trippy.

"You will. It might take a while. Days, weeks. Maybe even months. But you help me here and you'll see your twin again, alive." I offer my hand. He turns away stubbornly.

"I'm not playing your games Cipher." He says. I sigh and trap him in a blue pyramid.

"You might not, but Pinetree and Shooting Star will." I say to him and zoom away to the penthouse.

From there, I can watch the world burn at my pleasure. I can manipulate the children in their bubbles. And the others too. Everything is going exactly as planned.

The game is over and I have won
Now its time to start the fun
I always love corrupting lives
Now lets see which Pines survives