Bill yanked the two towards him, holding his Pine Tree close, while Sixer dangled from his magic. He felt himself go red with irritation. Who the hell was interrupting his plans this time?! Who the hell had the gall?!

"You okay Pine Tree?" He lifted Pine Tree's head, the young demons eyes having glazed over. It was never pleasant when a such a complicated spell was interrupted. Slowly, his queen blinked, the haze clearing.

"Bill? What happened? I didn't do that..."

"No you didn't. Looks like we have some company." At first, Bill had thought that his words had spurred him into awareness. Bill quickly realized how wrong he was, feeling the energy trapped underneath Pine Tree's skin.

Recoil.

Shit.

If Bill didn't get Pine Tree to release that energy, then it would cause the young demon to implode. And Bill really did not want to have to rebuild his queen. The rebuilds never came out the same way.

"Pine Tree, look at me." The constellations were glowing brighter than they ever had, the energy whirring faster and faster. "Remember when you blew up that house?" He nodded, eyes barely able to focus on him. "Do it again." He could see the confusion in Pine Tree's eyes, but was satisfied when he started to feel that energy release.

For the second time, the room exploded.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Line~Break~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dipper felt like his brain was in a microwave. A constant whirring kept his thoughts from stringing together, an overwhelming heat filled his body, his entire being. What was happening? Had he failed?

He barely understood what Bill was saying, the heat keeping him incoherent.

Do it again.

Without thinking, (not like he could,) Dipper pushed the flames out as he had the first time he'd properly used magic.

Finally, the heat was gone. Or rather, escaped. He could still feel it, but it wasn't all consuming, wasn't whirring in his head until he was dizzy.

He didn't notice the green flames surrounding him, didn't notice Sixer still dangling and barely conscious. All he could see was Bill, holding his head up. Bill, who was talking.

"-need you to wake up. Dipper, we've got some company." He shook himself out of whatever haze he'd been in.

"What happened?"

"Looks like there are still some humans left. This is their revolt." Dipper stared out what had been a wall, now a gaping hole in the Fearamid. What he saw wasn't anything he'd ever expected. Standing on the other side of the hole, was the Mystery Shack. Standing.

The Mystery Shack was standing.

With limbs.

What the hell?

"The maniacs are dealing with the walking building, we need to get to the entrance." Bill made his way to the throne room, Dipper in his arms, and Sixer dragging behind them.

"We're so close, Bill. I was almost in his head." Dipper couldn't help but feel guilt well up, feeling the disappointment start to choke him. He'd been so close, so close to helping Bill, so close to feeling useful.

"You'll get another shot Pine Tree. We just have to get rid of some maggots first." Dipper followed Bill's gaze to outside the Fearamid, seeing the maniacs struggling against the Mystery Shack. Only then did he notice the green flames engulfing the forest below. "You're powerful, Pine Tree. Always have been. I need you to stand guard here. I'll take care of that damn Shack." Dipper could see the red start to color the dream demons normally gold demeanor, could see the anger build.

"I don't know who you are, what you are," Sixer began hacking, probably from the explosion, "but that's my family out there. They'll win, Bill's reign won't last long."

Dipper had to resist the urge to roll his eyes.

"How dumb are you? Why would you say that's your family? Is that supposed to be intimidating? God, how did I ever look up to you? Admire you? You're just a self absorbed dumb ass who thinks he's so fucking smart. Just shut up!" Dipper felt what was probably too much satisfaction when he personally silenced Sixer, happy he'd learned that trick early on from Bill.

He heard the sound of parachutes landing on the stone floors of the room, turning around with a snarl.

"Well if it isn't a happy little family reunion?" Dipper felt his anger beginning to overtake him, the constellations glowing once again. He hadn't felt this angry in what felt like so long, not since before he'd taken shelter in the forest.

"Dipper?" Shooting Star looked at him, fear and disbelief clear on her face.

"What Shooting Star? Don't you want to see what you've done? What you caused? I guess I should I thank you. After all, I'd never have been able to get the rift on my own. I never would have become what I am now without you." Dipper knew he was shooting hard to start, but it would be easier to dismantle the group if they began to argue, if they stopped trusting each other.

"Doesn't matter, what matters is what she's doing now." Red spoke up, a fire in her eyes that Dipper from several months ago would have swooned at. Now, though, he just grimaced, fangs bared.

"Well isn't that disgusting. What next? Are you going to attack me with the power of friendship?" He heard Gideon directing some of Shooting Star's friends on how to dismantle the throne. It didn't matter, he and Bill could rebuild it later. With a snap of his fingers, Dipper heard the sounds of Gideon screaming, the small boy slowly being consumed by pine bark.

It was music to his ears when he heard the combined gasps and screams from the newly freed townspeople.

"So what's the big plan Red? Gonna storm the Fearamid, free the townspeople, stop the demons!" His words dripped with sarcasm, all but snarling, irritation growing with every second he was forced to be around these people. They'd barely said anything, but that was still too much for Dipper.

"Dipper... What happened to you man? "

He couldn't help it. He downright laughed, cackled at the question.

"Wouldn't know where to start." He chuckled. "What, don't like the new look?"

"Personally, I think he looks great" A grating voice spoke up from behind her, a smile curling on Dipper's face. Red whipped around, wide eyes staring at a shrinking Bill, his normal gold replacing the previous red. He disappeared just as quickly as he'd arrived, reappearing behind Dipper. He happily leaned back against the dream demon, feeling a vague hum under Bill's skin, no doubt from the magic he'd been using. With a snap of Bill's fingers, nearly all of the supposed revolt disappeared, popping back up as new decor for the throne room. It really was too bad that most of their throne escaped, Dipper couldn't help but think. It would have matched so well.

Shooting Star stood, hovering over a silent Sixer. The last glimmer of hope the humanity of Gravity Falls had left, crumbling. Dipper could practically feel their fear, could see that hope waning.

"What'll you do now Shooting Star? Sixer? What's the plan? Unless you wanted to use the flesh bags as bait, I'd say you're out of ideas." Bill was openly taunting them, a wide smile covering his face. Sixer moved in front of her, as if he could stop anything Dipper or Bill could do with his own body.

Laughable.

Pathetic.

Maybe being around demons for so long as his sole company affected him more than he thought. (Not that it mattered.)

"How about this Shooting Star, I'll cut you a deal. Give us what we want, and we'll let you and Sixer here live?" Dipper grinned, knowing exactly what future the two would have if she agreed. He could use some target practice. "How about it,? You've already helped us once, what's one more time?" Bill cackled.

Shooting Star's eyes grew even wider in fear, shaking her head no frantically.

"Didn't think so. I'd ask you Sixer, but you seem a little quiet. What, demon got your tongue?"

This time, Dipper cackled along side Bill, knowing that they'd won. Anyone who could have opposed them were decorations, and two regular humans stood no chance. Their victory was inevitable.

Dipper's grin widened impossibly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Line~Break~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sound of her twins laughter alongside that demons grated on Mabel's ears. She hated what she'd done. She knew it was her fault, all of this mess was her fault. At first, she's thought that the best way to fix it was by regaining Dipper's trust in her, in their bond. She knew now that it was a lost cause.

She honestly couldn't say whether or not she regretted floating away from that button. Yes she saved a lost member of her family, but lost who was supposed to be the most important person in her life to an opportunist demon. And at this point, one painful truth, one Mabel should have known from the moment that rift shattered, was glaringly obvious.

There was no future where both Pine's twins came out of this unharmed.

And, after the what was both the shortest but most difficult debate of her life, she made her choice.

Dipper and Bill were still cackling, sure of their victory. This was her only chance.

Using the arm that was hidden behind her Gruncle, she slowly slid the memory gun out from under her sweater, the words inscribed something that would bring her to tears for the rest of her life; Mason "Dipper" Pines.

Before the demons could notice her, or worse, she changed her mind, she fired.

A/n: Hi everyone still reading this! It's almost here! The ending! (I am determined to finish this before classes start next month.)