The townsfolk of Gravity Falls all witnessed the unraveling of their beloved town. The sky was painted in different hues, signaling the end of the world. At its center was a large X-shaped tear, resembling a portal to another dimension.

In the midst of this chaos floated a pyramidal demon with a deep, resonant voice that captured everyone's attention. "Alright, listen up, you one-lifespan, three-dimensional, five-sense skin puppets! For one trillion years I've been trapped in my own decaying dimension, waiting for a new universe to call my own!"

He floated down beside the statue of the supposed founder of Gravity Falls. "Name's Bill!" he announced, as if the decency to introduce himself mattered to the people he intended to subjugate. They needed to know who was about to engulf their world in weirdness and chaos.

The townsfolk were struck silent, no one daring to speak back to this floating triangle with a single, piercing eye. Meanwhile, Bill was ready to introduce his allies to the world, naming them one by one. "Now meet the gang of interdimensional criminals and nightmares I call my friends!"

As if on cue, they all flew down from the rift one by one. "8 Ball! Kryptos! The being whose name must never be said! Hah, what the heck. It's Zanthar. There's also Teeth, Keyhole, Hectorgon, Amorphous Shape, Pyronica, Paci-fire, and the eyebats..." Bill suddenly laughed, holding the middle part of his shape. "Oh, of course, who can forget Nathaniel?!"

Nathaniel emerged, a grotesque figure that seemed to embody the very essence of nightmares. His form was ever-shifting, a horrific amalgamation of limbs and faces, each one more terrifying than the last. His presence exuded an aura of dread, sending shivers down the spines of everyone who dared to look at him. "Quite the charming guy, isn't he? This is our town now, boys!"

He and his friends rejoiced, but their noises were a mix of growls, groans, and more weird noises.

Finally, one of the townsfolk spoke aloud, and it was Tyler Cutebiker, their newly elected mayor who wanted to stand up for his people. "Now see here, you unholy triangle fella. As mayor, I strongly urge you to git... git on out of here."

"Yeah!" Lazy Susan voiced out as well, finding her confidence. "Things with one eye are weird!"

Grenda joined in, "We don't like out-of-towners!"

Manly Dan as well, "We punch what we don't understand!" He said, proceeding to rip open a mailbox.

Preston was the odd one out of the bunch, stepping forward and introducing himself. "I would just like to say that as a rich capitalist I welcome your tyrannical rule. Perhaps I could be one of your, uh... horsemen of the apocalypse?"

Pacifica was appalled by this, knowing that she had already experienced the weirdest things on the daily, but her dad didn't, knowing that most of the time he was ignorant.

"Oh wow, that's a great offer," Bill said, sarcasm dripping from his words. "How about instead I shuffle the functions of every hole in your face?" With a snap of his fingers, Preston's face was horrifically rearranged, and he screamed in agony— or at least tried to.

Bill laughed maniacally. "There! Fixed you up!"

The townspeople fled in terror, now recognizing Bill as a genuine threat. He continued his rampage, zapping Durland and turning him into stone, leaving Blubs frantic and desperate. Before he could mourn, one of the eyebats swooped down and carried his partner away.

Bill reveled in the chaos, his laughter echoing through the air. He began redecorating the town, causing a large pyramid to emerge in the sky and summoning bubbles of pure madness. "The party never stops! Time is dead and meaning has no meaning! Existence is upside-down and I reign supreme! Welcome, one and all, to WEIRDMAGGEDON!"

***

https://youtu.be/uWvdqkl2UH4

***

The trio stared upon the large tear in the sky, with the wind still billowing around them. Despite the beauty of the colors painted in the clouds, they didn't like the meaning of this phenomenon.

"So this is how the world ends," Ford spoke after a moment, his voice heavy with resignation. "Not with a bang, but with a... boop-boop."

"Weirdmageddon..." Dipper muttered, the word tasting bitter on his tongue. He couldn't believe it finally happened and Bill got what he wanted.

The sky was a swirling vortex of unnatural hues, the rift glowing ominously as it pulsed with chaotic energy. Tendrils of twisted light snaked out, warping reality itself. The ground trembled beneath their feet, as if the very earth was protesting this cosmic aberration.

But it was actually various creatures emerging from the forest, ranging from small squirrels and gnomes to hulking manotaurs. They stampeded away from the epicenter, a wave of fear driving them from their homes.

Y/n watched helplessly, her heart aching as she saw the terror in their eyes. These creatures, who had lived peacefully in the forest, were now being driven out by the chaos that Bill had unleashed. She couldn't help but feel a deep concern for their safety and the loss of their homes. They were simply caught in the crossfire.

"The rift is shattered. Bill's world is spilling into ours, and every minute his powers grow stronger," Ford said, placing his hands on his hips. He turned to his assistant, determination in his eyes. "We have to find a way to stop Bill."

She nodded firmly. Meanwhile, Dipper had a sudden, chilling realization. "Mabel! The rift must have cracked inside her backpack. She's in danger! I have to find her!" He was about to dash into the forest when Ford stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

"Dipper, listen to me. Both of you, listen. We can find Mabel soon, but first, we have to stop Bill. If we can blast him back through the rift he came out of, we might be able to stop him before his weirdness spreads across the entire globe."

"Are you sure defeating Bill is even possible?" Dipper asked, his voice filled with doubt. The idea of mere mortals taking on an all-powerful, interdimensional being sounded impossible.

"No. I'm not sure," Ford admitted. "But being a hero means fighting back even when it seems impossible. Will you follow me?"

"To the ends of the earth," Dipper replied, just as gravely. Ford turned to Y/n, who nodded with equal determination.

"Good," Ford said. "Because that's where we're heading."

"WEIRDNESS WAVE!" one of the gnomes suddenly shouted, pointing toward the multi-colored wave about to wash over the Mystery Shack. The trio sprinted inside, taking cover as the wave transformed everything normal into utter chaos.

They prepared for the face-off against Bill Cipher, but nothing could have prepared Y/n for what Ford told her next: "Y/n, you stay here."

His tone suggested that this order was a last-minute decision, a change of heart. It sounded hesitant, yet firm. Those words stopped the assistant in her tracks, making her look at him as if he had just committed an unforgivable betrayal.

"What?"

Ford continued walking around the second level of the basement, assembling his Quantum Destabilizer. He had just placed the weapon inside a safe case when he spoke again. "You have to stay inside the Shack."

"But why? I have to go with you!" she argued, anger seeping into her voice. When did Ford decide to change his mind and leave her here? And why? What was the reason?

She only realized they had reached the living room when she saw the vending machine open before them. Ford was about to continue on his way, but she blocked his path. "Ford, please!"

"Y/n, it's just too dangerous," Ford said. She had heard this from him before. He always told her that, but nothing was too dangerous for her. Hearing it again frustrated her. "I don't want Bill to capture or hurt you. I just—I just can't take it. I can't."

Okay, he had a point. She understood that, but—

"I can do this!" Y/n shouted, clenching her fist with resolve. "I've always been right by your side to assist you."

She was right. Ever since the day he came to Gravity Falls and met her, she had always been a good assistant and helper. Even when he returned through the portal, she never missed a chance to lend a helping hand. But...

"This is different, Y/n!" Ford exclaimed just as loudly. "It's Bill Cipher. I've faced him before, but who knows what he'll do? He's the most powerful being in the whole multiverse." His gaze was distant, and Y/n felt like she was taken back all those years ago when Ford had shut her out and kept secrets from her. She felt like that little, underestimated kid again.

Nonetheless, she tried again when Ford moved, blocking his path once more. "You don't know that," she replied. "I can't be hurt! I'm invulnerable! I thought we already established that."

Somehow, hearing that word made Ford close his eyes. "I have to go." He managed to step around her, just as Y/n tried to follow him like a pet.

"Ford, no! Take me with you!" she pleaded pathetically. It felt like a tantrum, like a kid being left at daycare for the first time. She was desperate, desperate to come with them.

He turned around once more, now crouching down to her height. "Y/n, please." His voice softened to a whisper as he gripped her shoulders firmly. He was the one pleading this time, his eyes locking onto hers. "I can't. But while you're here, I'm giving you a responsibility. I want you to keep this Shack and Stan safe. Stay in the Shack where it's safe. Can you do that?"

Her gaze hardened as they engaged in a silent standoff. She pursed her lips, chewing on them anxiously while Ford's stare remained steady. Eventually, she nodded meekly, defeated, avoiding his gaze.

"Okay," he said, then pulled her into an embrace, which she accepted willingly. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders tightly, nestling her nose between his jaw and shoulder. Ford wanted to pull away, but she held on, making him smile slightly. "Okay, Y/n. Dipper and I should get going now, or we might be too late."

As if on cue, Dipper emerged from upstairs after taking a moment to refresh himself. He immediately sensed the tension in the room, seeing the look on Y/n's face. It was clear that Ford had said something that upset her. As she started stomping towards him, Dipper flinched and closed his eyes, bracing for impact. Instead, she pulled him into a fierce hug.

"Stay safe," she muttered, loud enough for Dipper to hear clearly. He relaxed in her embrace. She pulled away as quickly as she had hugged him. "Keep an eye on this idiot for me..." she added, nodding toward Ford, who rolled his eyes.

"O-of course," Dipper stammered. "You have my word, Y/n." He held her hand reassuringly, and she smiled at his comforting words.

://

Eventually, the two prepared to leave, ensuring they had everything they needed. As Dipper and Ford headed towards the forest, they heard someone shouting in the distance. Ford squinted, trying to make out the figure running towards them. "Stanley?!" he called out in surprise.

Stan stumbled to a stop in front of them, breathless from running. "Did you—did you see the goat turning big?" he panted, doubling over to catch his breath. When neither Dipper nor Ford responded, he added, "Good, so you definitely didn't see me running like a coward."

Ford stepped forward and grasped his brother by the shoulders. "Stanley, listen to me. Dipper and I are about to embark on one of the most dangerous missions yet."

At the mention of a mission, Stan's eyes immediately darted to Dipper's level, scanning for someone. "Where's Y/n, then?" he asked, his expression shifting to concern. "Don't tell me she's—!"

"She's inside the Shack. I made her stay," Ford replied firmly.

Stan raised an eyebrow, voicing his thoughts. "What? But I thought she'd want to go with you."

His mind raced with various thoughts. One bitter notion was that, yes, Y/n would definitely want to go with Ford, given her loyalty to him. Another, more worrying thought was that she might have been affected by the weirdness and that's why she was left behind.

"No," Ford shook his head. "You don't understand, Stanley. I carry a very heavy sea otter."

A stunned silence fell over them. Dipper furrowed his brows in confusion, while Stan subtly glanced behind Ford, expecting to see an actual sea otter. Ford felt a flush of humiliation before he cleared his throat and tried again.

"What I mean to say was, the reason for not bringing Y/n with me was this sea otter I carry."

The silence stretched on. "Uh... I don't see any otters here, bro," Stan finally said.

"Great Uncle Ford, are you okay?" Dipper asked, worry creeping into his voice. "Don't tell me you got affected by the weirdness wave! Oh no!"

Stan deadpanned. "Yeah. I know he's always been weird, but I didn't think he could be any weirder."

Ford, still lost in his thoughts, muttered, "Sea otter. Sea otter! Sea... otter. SEA OTTER!" He repeated the word like a mantra, as if trying to make sense of it. He had meant to say "burden," but somehow, his tongue had betrayed him. And why a sea otter, of all things?!

This must be Bill's doing, he realized with a sneer.

Ford returned to reality to find Stan and Dipper watching him with concern. Dipper's frown deepened, while Stan's mouth hung open, his brows furrowed.

Clearing his throat, Ford said, "Just forget about that. You have a job to do. Stan, I need you and Y/n to look out for one another while Dipper and I are gone. You got that?"

Stan gave Ford a long stare. As if we haven't been doing that for the last 30 years, he thought. "All good," he replied confidently. But Ford knew deep down that this task was more daunting than Stan let on. This guy can't do it.

So they parted ways, with Stan bolting back towards the Mystery Shack while Ford and Dipper made their way along the path to downtown, where they knew Bill was orchestrating the chaos. Downtown was the epicenter of all the weirdness; it was obvious the mastermind would be there. As they moved stealthily, evading detection, they managed to climb up to the bell tower of the town to get a better vantage point.

Throughout their trek, Dipper couldn't stop thinking about the person they had left behind. He knew that out of everyone, she was the most capable of standing up to Bill's powers. Ford had the intellect and the weapons, but Y/n was practically invincible. Whatever the demon might throw at her, she could handle it and walk away unscathed. So why did Ford decide to leave her behind?

It irked him to no end. Dipper replayed the conversation in his head, wondering if there was something he missed. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were leaving behind their best chance at defeating Bill. Sure, Ford had his reasons, but Dipper couldn't help but question their logic. Every step they took away from the Shack felt like they were abandoning their strongest ally.

From the single tall opening of the bell tower, Dipper used his binoculars to take a closer look at Bill floating among his friends. Meanwhile, Ford placed down the case containing his rifle. "Ah, my Quantum Destabilizer. I've been waiting a long time to use this. We're only gonna have one chance to take this shot," he said, propping the destabilizer against the ledge.

He peered through the triangular-shaped scope, which framed Bill perfectly. Steadying his hands, he lined up the shot, the gun humming as it charged. His fingers began to squeeze the trigger when—

"WOOHOOHOOHOOHOOHOO! I'm alive now!"

The sudden noise startled Ford, causing his shot to go awry. The blue beam blasted through Bill's hat, creating a hole and vaporizing the tree beside him.

"OH NO!" Ford exclaimed, realizing his mistake.

The hole in Bill's hat quickly regenerated, the bones and flesh knitting back together until it was whole again. "Well, well, well," Bill said, turning toward the source of the beam. "And here I thought today couldn't get any better!"

Bill fired an identical beam from his finger, targeting the bell tower and destroying it just as the tree had been destroyed. Dipper found himself lying on the ground, quickly regaining consciousness. "Great Uncle Ford!" he called out.

Ford lay in the wreckage, bruised but conscious. "Dipper! Take my journals!" he shouted, sliding the bag to Dipper. "Listen, you have to—" He stopped abruptly, hearing something behind him. "Oh, no! Dipper! Run! Get down!"

Dipper grabbed the bag and hurriedly descended the stairs to evade Bill, who was rising up with a six-fingered hand symbol in his eye. "Good old six-fingers. I've been waiting an eternity to have a chat face to face!"

With a flick of his fingers, Bill outlined Ford in red energy, levitating him.

Bill stretched his hands, presenting Ford to his friends as if he were a prize. "Everyone, this armageddon wouldn't be possible without help from our friend here. Give him a six-fingered hand!"

Bill's minions cheered, their applause clearly mocking. Ford couldn't bear their fake enthusiasm.

"Ah, but where's your darling assistant? We have to give her her flowers, too!" Bill taunted.

At the mention of Y/n, Ford stiffened, his fear palpable even through the red glow. "You won't ever go near her! You'll never get away with this, Bill!" he shouted.

Bill's eye narrowed as he mimicked Ford with a mocking tone. "You'll never get away with this, Bill!" He then crossed his arms, looking irritated. "Yeesh, why are you hero types so predictable? You know I can't stand predictable."

With an outstretched arm, he turned Ford to face him. "Don't look so glum... it's not too late to join me! With that extra finger, you'd fit right in with my freaks!"

It wasn't just a casual insult, it was a calculated attempt to undermine Ford's confidence by highlighting a feature he had always been self-conscious about, one of his deepest insecurities. Throughout his life, he had been ridiculed and ostracized for his hands, it reopened old wounds, making him feel small and abnormal. But no. He couldn't let Bill see through that.

He became defiant and determined not to let his words break him, and his resolve to fight back against the demon solidified. He clenched his fists, his anger fueling his will to prove Bill wrong and protect those he cared about, no matter the cost.

"I'd die before I join you!" Ford yelled, gathering the saliva in his mouth before spitting it out directly on the triangle's eye.

Bill's friends gasped at the audacity, while Dipper, watching from a distance, pumped his fist in silent celebration. "Yeah!" he whispered excitedly.

Bill floated in silence for a moment, his eye unblinking, until a tongue emerged to wipe the spit away like a windshield wiper.

"I know your weakness, Bill!" Ford accused, pointing a defiant finger at him.

"Oh, yeah?" the demon challenged. "And I know a riddle. Why did the old man do this?" He raised his hands, fingers forming into claws.

Ford stupidly imitated the post, as he raised an eyebrow. "This?"

Bill wasted no time, shooting a laser at the author, petrifying him. He turned into a golden statue, falling to the ground. He picked the miniature Ford, placing him on his triangle back. "Because I needed a new back scratcher!" He cackled, scratching himself as he and his friends shared a hearty laugh.

He stopped, picking up a deer on the side of the road. With the hand that held Ford, he began puppeteering them as if he was playing with dolls. "'Uh, Bill! Leave me alone! I want to enjoy my honeymoon with my deer wife!" He brought the deer close and made them bump heads with each other as if they were making out while Bill produced exaggerated smooching sounds.

The deer, understandably, did not enjoy the spectacle.

"Oh, gross, get a room, you guys!" Bill rolled his eye.

/

"I hope they're okay out there..." Y/n couldn't help but voice out her concerns as she looked out the window of the gift shop. From this angle, all she could see were the large expanse of the forest, the orange skies, and leaves being taken by the harsh wind.

Stan scoffed from behind her, who was busy gathering his food supplies. "Stan chuckled. "You worry too much. Ford's stubborn, and Dipper's tenacious. They'll make it through."

"Mm..." she hummed, going back to helping Stan. "I still don't understand why they didn't take me with them." She waited for Stan to respond, but her mind kept churning over the question, and no satisfactory answer came to her.

It couldn't be because she wasn't capable, right?

Why would Ford doubt her now?

The thought made her fist clench unconsciously. She wasn't useless.

The ground rumbled beneath their feet, and she quickly glanced outside to see another tidal wave of pink weirdness approaching the Shack. The wave washed over them, but the Shack remained unaffected, thanks to Ford's unicorn shield. However, the totem pole outside came to life, its eyes glowing bright pink as it grew arms.

The totem pole, seeing the Shack as a threat, began marching towards it, attempting to destroy it. It punched the barrier repeatedly, but the unicorn shield held strong. Stan looked at the symbols with worry, fearing the shield might not last long. Y/n, however, watched with a steady gaze as the totem pole continued its assault until the weirdness wave wore off, and it returned to its normal, inanimate state.

"What the? What just happened?!" Stan exclaimed, running his hands through his hair in disbelief.

"The unicorn spell worked. It shielded the Shack from Bill's weirdness," Y/n explained, moving back to the supplies. They worked together, rationing the food and discussing how to make it last as long as possible. Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a loud knock on the door.

They exchanged a wary glance. Y/n furrowed her eyebrows and turned to the door. Any of Bill's henchmen wouldn't have been able to bypass the barrier, so who could it be?

She looked back at Stan, who was already watching her, waiting for her plan. "Get down," she commanded.

Despite their height differences, Stan followed her lead, ducking behind the pile of supplies. "Be careful," he whispered harshly, peeking out slightly.

Y/n picked up the nearest weapon, Stan's baseball bat by the couch, and approached the door cautiously. She cracked it open, raising the bat above her head. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw McGucket, looking even more disheveled than usual, as if he'd gone through a hurricane. He was limping and clutching his laptop. Behind him were a few creatures, ranging from injured gnomes to... Rumble McSkirmish?!

"Fiddleford, are you okay?" She asked, lowering the bat in shock.

McGucket looked up at her, his eyes wide and frantic. "Girly! Thank goodness yer here! We barely made it out alive!" His voice was shaky, and he clutched his laptop tighter, as if it were his lifeline.

Behind him, Rumble McSkirmish gave a thumbs-up, despite his own battered appearance. The gnomes were huddled together, looking terrified and injured.

She didn't hesitate for a moment. She stepped aside, opening the door wider. "Come in, quick."

F brought his things to a chair, while the small pack of gnomes scurried their way inside. Rumble walked in an animation, like 8 frames per second.

"What, are you guys gonna crash here now?" Stan asked once he came out of hiding. He dusted his suit with an irritated huff.

She ignored him, tending to the gnomes' wounds. They displayed gashes in different parts of their small bodies. The Shack fell into a silence; McGucket had tended to his computer, Rumble situated somewhere in the corner of the gift shop, while Stan continued tallying.

As Y/n finished bandaging Carl's leg—the gnome had introduced himself as Carl—there was another knock at the door. This time, Stan answered, seeing that Y/n was occupied. He opened the door slightly and saw Grenda, Candy, and several other townsfolk.

She quickly stood up to meet her friends at the door. "You guys!" she exclaimed, embracing both Grenda and Candy in a tight hug. "Are you okay?"

That's when Y/n realized that it wasn't just the two of them. Pacifica, Sheriff Blubs, a random biker, Gorney, and many others were there as well. Her eyes widened, and she quickly ushered them all into the Shack.

Stan grumbled, rubbing his face tiredly as he glanced at the increasing number of people and then at his ration of canned goods. When he asked the powerful gods to bring more people to his tourist trap, this wasn't what he had in mind!

Grenda debriefed Y/n about what had happened downtown with Bill. "He even started singing! You know, I love musicals, but his singing voice was not it!"

Pacifica even opened up about her father and how his face was all messed up now. Y/n had to resist the urge to laugh at his misfortune, offering only a small, "That's awful."

She listened to everyone's stories, tending to their injuries. Y/n was relieved to see they were in better condition than when she first saw them from the other side of the gift shop door. Blubs was the most affected, not physically wounded, but emotionally and mentally shaken by the sight of his loyal partner being taken away. Y/n tried her best to console him, but it was best to give him space for now.

Throughout the day, more stragglers knocked on the door, and Y/n let them in. Stan couldn't really object, knowing he wouldn't leave them outside either, and Y/n was just better at handling the situation.

Besides, it was a good distraction from the fact that Ford and Dipper hadn't come home yet.

Talking with the new arrivals helped, but every time there was a knock, Y/n hoped it would be the two boys with huge smiles, announcing they had sent the demon back to his dimension.

They were supposed to have defeated Bill hours ago. Ford should have shot the triangle with his Quantum Destabilizer, or they would have moved on to plan B, requiring the eleven people to complete the Cipher wheel.

"Hey, Y/n, do you have anything extra in the clothes department?" Grenda called, snapping the girl out of her thoughts.

The girl spent several minutes gathering old clothes for Grenda and the others, who had tattered outfits. She had learned to sew quickly, as it was similar to stitching up wounds. Grenda found a rugged scarf, and everyone agreed that fashion didn't matter in the apocalypse. Even Pacifica settled for a potato sack, shocking everyone.

"When Mabel comes back, she'll sew you guys more comfortable sweaters!" she reassured the group, who nodded meekly.

Candy approached her and spoke in a hushed tone. "Speaking of Mabel, where is she?"

"She..." Y/n sighed, unable to pinpoint Mabel's whereabouts. She didn't want to suggest that Mabel might have been captured by Bill, fearing it might be true. "She'll be back, with Dipper..."

And with Ford.

=

Shandra Jimenez stood in front of a camera, delivering the latest news. "We are on day three of this strange cataclysmic event, which some are calling 'Weirdmageddon' or the 'Oddpocalypse.' Today's weather calls for black clouds, blood rain, and frequent showers of Eyeball Bats turning people to stone. Speaking of, we have someone to interview right here."

She turned to Dipper, who looked up at her in surprise. "Little boy!" she began, her TV voice resonating. "Our viewers want to know: how has the end of the world affected your life?" Shandra pointed her mic at the brunette, but it was actually a rat, which screeched in his face. Dipper was speechless. "That's right. I've lost my mind!"

He ran away from the crazy lady until he found a wall to lean against and catch his breath. He wasn't doing well, not at all.

Despite his exhaustion, he didn't want to go home until he found his sister. He knew it was a foolish decision instead of going back to the Shack to regain his strength or get help from the author's assistant, but he felt he had to prove something. He had just lost his Grunkle Ford, the journals were burnt to a crisp, and he was bruised and battered. It was all because of Bill Cipher.

He had to get to Mabel. He needed to make things right between them. He couldn't leave her alone now, especially remembering their last conversation. Dipper pulled out his walkie-talkie, the one Mabel had prepared for them, and hoped his message would reach her.

"I don't know if you can hear me, but wherever you are, whatever happens, I'm going to find you," he spoke into the gadget.

A rustle in the garbage bin sounded from his right, and two people emerged out. Dipper recognized one to be Mr. Poolcheck, and the other was he believed to be the biker from the bar.

"Child, you shouldn't be walking around in the open like that," Poolcheck warned. "You'll be safe in here."

"We're starting society over in the dumpster. You can join us," Bats Biker added.

Dipper slowly stepped back, clutching his walkie-talkie close to his chest. "Uh... I'm busy... hoarding for food..."

He ran to the other direction, turning left. A pterodactyl noise caught his attention, and he followed the sound until he came across the mall. The mall might be one of the locations where Mabel could be hiding, or at the very least, a safe space he could use for a while. Wasting no time, he sprinted across the street.

Surely, no one would want to disturb his haste or talk to him about something as bizarre as putting him inside someone's mouth...

Dipper managed to enter the mall, finding it more desolate than he remembered. He started shouting for Mabel, his voice echoing through the empty corridors. He needed her to know he was there, searching for her all along.

Suddenly, a spotlight clicked on to his right, illuminating a plate of nachos on a table. It was incredibly suspicious and perfectly convenient for nachos to appear like that, but Dipper's hunger overpowered his caution. They looked too delicious to resist.

"The last nachos on Earth..." he muttered, reaching for the plate, ready to devour them. But as soon as he picked them up, he realized too late that the plate was attached to a string. A net trap sprung up, lifting him to the ceiling. "Ah! HELP! The nachos tricked me!" It wouldn't be the first time a nacho had tricked him.

"Dipper?" A redhead popped out of a nearby plant.

He recognized her instantly. "Wendy?! Oh no! You've been transformed into some sort of... tree monster!" Oddly, this seemed like a normal occurrence in the current apocalypse.

Wendy chuckled, stepping out of the bush. "It's just camouflage. My dad made me and my brothers do apocalypse training every year instead of Christmas. Guess it's sort of cool their paranoia paid off." She took aim with her crossbow and shot a bat out of the air. "Nice! Bat meat. Let me get that for ya."

Wendy threw an ax at the net, freeing Dipper, who tumbled to the ground before running to her. "Wendy! Thank goodness you're here! Listen, I really need your help."

"Okay, okay. Don't worry, Dip. I'll help you," she said reassuringly before her expression turned serious. She reloaded her crossbow. "We shouldn't stay out in the open for too long. Come on! Let me show you to my hideout."

They sprinted towards a store called 'Edgy on Purpose,' Wendy opening the roll-up door. Once inside, she started a fire and began cooking the bat she had shot. Dipper found a random bar of chocolate lying around and unwrapped it.

"We were playing Truth or Dare in the cemetery when it happened," Wendy explained, turning the bat over the fire. "The eyeballs froze Nate, Lee, Tambry, and Thompson. Robbie almost got away but had to pause to take a selfie." She hit a button on the cash register she was sitting on and used some of the money to wipe her face. "What about you?"

"I was in a fight with Mabel when it happened," Dipper sighed. "Uncle Ford asked me to join him and Y/n as his apprentice once the summer was over. But that would mean not going back home. It would mean growing up without Mabel."

"Oh, dude," Wendy replied, her voice full of sympathy.

"Mabel didn't take it well and ran off into the forest. She couldn't even look me in the eye."

Wendy saw how much Dipper was blaming himself and decided he needed a break. They climbed to the rooftop, each with a Pitt Cola in hand. The view was eerily beautiful: yellow skies and giant monsters wreaking havoc.

"End of the world," Wendy sighed. "Man, those death metal album covers got it shockingly right."

Dipper's voice was wavering. "You know, I used to think I could get out of anything, but this? It just feels like everything's falling apart. Grunkle Ford's captured, the journals are gone, and Mabel's out there somewhere. I don't know if I can handle this."

"What about Y/n? Did she get captured, too?"

He shook his head. "She's back at the Shack. Ford doesn't want her out here. He thinks it's too dangerous for her."

Wendy raised an eyebrow at that, which Dipper quickly noticed, providing an explanation. "He's really protective. He thinks it's best if she stays safe. Besides, I need to find Mabel. I can't leave her out there, especially after our fight."

She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Alright, so we need to get Mabel back. She's our top priority. Once she's safe, we can regroup and figure out how to deal with Bill."

"Right," he nodded.

"We know that Y/n is safe back at the Shack, so that means we don't have to worry about her. We'll get to her later, once we have Mabel."

Dipper smiled, grateful to have Wendy with him in all this chaos. She always knew what to do in dangerous situations. The plan was simple but incredibly complicated at the same time. "'Kay... But how will we ever find her?"

The ground rumbled, drawing their attention to a giant, purple monster with one eye devouring a billboard. As it did, it revealed a pink bubble bound in metal chains, with a symbol in the middle.

Dipper narrowed his eyes, recognizing the insignia. "The shooting star from Mabel's sweater!" he gasped. "She's in there. I know it."

"Whoa, is that like twin ESP?" Wendy asked.

"No, we don't have that," Dipper shut the guess down with a frown. "But we do have this thing where our allergies totally act up at the same time...?" As if on cue, he sneezed cutely, making Wendy smile. "Mabel needs us. But how are we gonna get out there without being caught?"

Dipper saw an entire fleet of eyebats patrolling the area, scanning everything with their red spotlights. One step into the town, and they'd be caught in no time.

"I have an idea," Wendy said, eyeing the Gleeful's Auto Sale below them.

They made their way back to the road and reached the auto-mart. Dipper found it odd how the place was abandoned, leaving behind a bunch of cars that must've been worth something. As they searched for a tank (Wendy's choice), they were suddenly surrounded by the headlights of 4 raggedy vehicles.

"Well, well, looks like we got ourselves a pair of ground walkers!" one of the men shouted.

"Heheh! Ground walkers! Ain't got no wheels!" another chimed in, and they all laughed in unison.

"We just wanna make it to that bubble out east; we have no quarrel with you!" Dipper shouted, trying to convince them that they didn't want to fight. Besides, it'll be a waste of time. They needed to get to Mabel and fast.

A voice boomed from a megaphone. "Oh, but that's where you're wrong! Hands where I can see 'em!"

They raised their arms, slightly scared of this deep-voiced figure. He might be a threat, and they wouldn't dare mess with him.

"Y'all fellers ain't goin' nowhere."

That accent sounded familiar, too familiar.

"Wait... Gideon?!"

"That's Sheriff Gideon!" He hastily corrected his mistake. "Under the authority of Bill Cipher, I place you two under arrest!" His eyes scanned around the auto mart and noticed that they were missing one more person. It seemed that she wasn't here.

The prisoners pushed the two forward until they fell to the ground completely in front of Gideon, who was standing on the back of a truck. He was standing on a crate to make him look taller than them, but they couldn't be any less scared of the kid.

He did a happy jig. "Ma' old pal Bill figured you might try to rescue Mabel. So he appointed me, master of these wastelands, and keeper of the bubble! My precious Mabel's trapped inside and I have the only key!" He pulled out a key from his collar to show a shiny golden key with the shooting star symbol on it. "Wrapped around my... well I wouldn't call it a neck exactly, wrapped around this little pocket of fat under ma' head?" At least he was aware.

"Gideon, you have no right to keep her in there!" Dipper pleaded, irritated by this boy's power.

"Bill explained it to me nice and simple: she was always destined to be mine! And now that I have her in a cage she'll learn to love me! I have an eternity to wait!" While Gideon was monologuing, he failed to see Dipper's enraged expression, gritting his teeth in frustration. He wanted to punt this child so badly, put him in his place.

"This isn't gonna work, Gideon," Wendy called out.

The boy in blue only chuckled. "Oh? And why's that?" He feigned boredom and began filing his nails.

"'Cause after I break Ghost-Eyes' arm and steal that key from your neck, I'm gonna wear your butt on my foot like a rhinestone slipper!"

The prisoner only laughed at her, thinking that she was cracking some sort of joke. They were underestimating her. Gideon placed his hands on his hips. "Oho, and what makes you think you can do all that?"

"'Cause I'm a flippin' CORDUROY!" Wendy proceeded to execute what she said, flipping over Ghost-Eye's arm and pulling him back, making him drop Dipper. He fell to the ground and dropped to his knees, using his entire body as an obstacle that caused Ghost-Eyes to trip over.

Dipper and Wendy ran away, the redhead grabbing Gideon and ripping the key from his neck. She jumped down with Gideon still in her grasp, holding the back of this collar. "Get back!" She placed Gideon between them and the prisoners. "Get back! Or I will drop-kick him, I swear!"

They made their way to a nearby police car and unlocked the door. "You'll never get away with this, ya hear me?!"

"Guess what? We already DID!" Wendy declared, kicking Gideon into a column of prisoners, knocking them down. She hot-wired the car, and Dipper quickly put on his seatbelt as they sped off.

Dipper clutched the key they had obtained from Gideon, knowing they now had a target on their backs. "Okay, all we have to do is outrace Gideon's henchmen, unlock the bubble, save Mabel, and save the world." He frowned as the car hit a mailbox. "Uh, quick question: did you ever get your driver's license?"

"Definitely not," Wendy answered hastily. "Arm!"

They narrowly avoided the monster before continuing on.

"Watch it! Go around that bubble field!" Dipper urged, pointing out the window.

"No way around!" Wendy replied just as desperately, gripping the wheel as tight as she could. "Hold on! We're going through!"

The boy leaned in father to the edge of his seat as he braced for the impact. "What's even in there?!"

They screamed, the vehicle entering a bubble, and all of a sudden they had heads for birds. Dipper chirped next to Wendy, who was tweeting words that no one else might understand.

Eventually, the car exited out the bubble, and Dipper found himself coughing up feathers now that they were back to normal. He was coughing violently, forcing out orange plumes all over the place. "Oh, that was horrible!"

"Here comes another one, dude!" Wendy warned, eyes wide. "Brace yourself!" The car went through three different bubbles one after the other. All throughout the orbs they had changed styles; anime, meat products, and... seemingly strange oddities that were far beyond comprehension.

They briefly stopped as they observed themselves. Dipper began ogling himself, confusion in his features. "I have so many details! And fingers! Wendy, I'm a monster!"

Wendy smiled at her reflection in the rearview mirror, adjusting her bandana. "Whatever. I look good."

The two screamed again as they emerged from the bubble, only to find that Gideon's vehicle had quickly caught up to them. It rammed their car, shattering the windows. "Ah!"

Though they had successfully evaded the weirdness bubbles, the chase was far from over. Dipper shouted, "Wendy, we're almost there! We just have to make that jump!"

"Total lack of driver's training, don't fail me now!" Wendy furrowed her eyebrows in sheer determination, slamming the clutch and revving the engine to gain maximum speed, hoping it would be enough to clear the large gap.

The two screamed as the car soared through the air, landing roughly on its bonnet. The vehicle tumbled and rolled in the dirt, sending Wendy and Dipper spinning inside. Fortunately, they were wearing seatbelts.

Dipper managed to open the passenger door and fell out, crawling toward the bubble. "So... close..." he grunted, summoning all his strength to reach his sister. "Mabel..." he uttered. "I'm... almost there."

Standing before him loomed a cloaked figure. He froZe, watching intently until the stranger revealed himself with a familiar greeting, "Heya, Dipper. How's it hanging?"

"Soos!" The brunette exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh, Y/n is also here," Soos added, stepping aside to reveal the girl standing behind him. She and Dipper met halfway, embracing tightly.

"Dipper..." Y/n sighed, holding him close.

"Y/n!" Dipper hugged her back just as fiercely, relief flooding through him. "Are you supposed to be out here? Is the Shack okay?" He pulled back, hands on her shoulders.

"It's fine," she reassured him with a playful shake of her head. "Stan's safe too." Her gaze shifted past him to where Soos was tending to Wendy's wounds. Dipper could sense her unspoken question. "Where's Ford?"

His eXpression darkened, dreading her reaction. He didn't want to see disappointment in her eyes. "Uncle Ford... He got captured by Bill."

He braced himself for her fury, but Y/n remained composed, studying him intently. "He didn't kill him?"

"N-no," he stammered, thrown off guard by her calm response. "He turned him into gold... but he's alive."

She looked down, contemplative. "Then Bill must want something from him." Their eyes locked, Dipper still frowning.

"But I'm glad you're safe, Dipper," Y/n said softly, cupping his face in her hands, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Uh, I'm also here," Wendy chimed in with a smirk.

Y/n grinned, turning to the redhead. Dipper bent down to pick up his beloved pine tree hat. "You look so cool with that black eye, Wendy."

"I know, right?" Wendy agreed with a cheeky smile. "Proof that I survived!"

Soos frowned. "We may have survived, dudes, but we're surrounded!"

Gideon and his gang had indeed surrounded them, cheering. "Woowee. I dare say y'all almost had the jump on me there for a second. But this ain't your Gravity Falls anymore! Out here, I win." He ordered a conch to blow, summoning the eyebats. "Bill's hench bats will be here any minute to retrieve y'all!" He giggled. "And perfect timing, Y/n! He would be delighted to see you! MABEL'S MINE NOW! HAHAHA!"

Dipper furrowed his eyebrows at the last statement, his doubt cutting through Gideon's overconfidence. "Is she?" he dared to ask.

Gideon hesitated, clearly unprepared for Dipper's challenge. "Well, yeah. I have her trapped, ergo, Mabel is MINE!"

"Gideon, listen to me. If I've learned anything this summer, it's that you can't force someone to love you." Dipper glanced over at Wendy as he spoke. "The best you can do is strive to be someone worthy of loving." His eyes then shifted to meet Y/n's, who listened intently, her concern visible. She had no idea what he meant by that.

"Oh, I'm worthy o'lovin'! These prisoners love me!" Gideon retorted, his voice tinged with desperation.

"Everyone is worthy of love," Y/n pointed out, her tone calm but firm, "But the thing is, Mabel doesn't love you."

"Exactly, because you're selfish!" Dipper added. "But you can change! Bill thinks there are no heroes in this world, but if we work together and fight back, we can defeat him. You want to protect Mabel? Stand up to Bill and let us save her!"

"Th-that's crazy! You know what Bill would do to me if that happens?!" Gideon's voice wavered, fear creeping in.

"What, you scared of Bill?" Ghost-Eyes questioned, furrowing his brows in disbelief.

"No, I just... it's a complicated situation."

Dipper pressed on, his voice steady. "Look inside, Gideon. If all this is for Mabel, then ask yourself what Mabel would want you to do."

Gideon pulled out the newspaper article he kept hidden in his hair. He gazed at Mabel's face in the print, noticing for the first time her discomfort. Tears welled up in his eyes as he whispered, "Dipper, will you tell her what I did?"

Dipper was taken aback by the soft plea. "O-of course."

"I hope you're right about this..." Gideon trailed off before turning to his gang with renewed determination. "Guys, new plan! Bill's minions are gonna be on us in seconds. But I'm not gonna let that dumb triangle be the warden of me! Y'all ready for a good old-fashioned prison brawl?!"

Ghost-Eyes sprang to his feet, determination etched on his face. "We're behind you for life, brother!" he exclaimed.

Another prisoner chimed in, "Fighting children is boring, but fighting a chaos god sounds fun!"

"Let's do this!" Gideon shouted, leading his henchmen as they drove off towards the pyramid, hollering and whooping with exhilaration.

Y/n watched them go, a wry smile on her face. "Well, they're gonna die."

After a moment of recovering, the quartet stood in front of the supposed entrance of the bubble. A triangle keyhole waited for the key to be inserted, but Dipper hesitated before turning to his friends. "Okay, remember, guys. This is a prison bubble designed by Bill. We've got to prepare ourselves for what we find here."

"Whatever it is, we'll do it together. For Mabel!" Soos started, putting his hand in the center.

"For Mabel!" Wendy followed, placing her hand on top of his.

"For Mabel." Y/n added, waiting for Dipper to come along.

He eventually placed his hand on top of theirs. "For Mabel."

Finally, the padlock clicked open with the key, and the chains unraveled themselves and fell to the ground with a metallic clatter. The sound echoed ominously, like a harbinger of the unknown.

Y/n felt her hand being held by Dipper, and in turn, she grabbed Wendy's hand while Soos and Dipper held hands as well. Their faces were set with determination, eyes filled with steely resolve.

With a final, collective breath, they entered the bubble, hands tightly clasped, ready to face whatever horrors Bill had in store.

The shimmering surface enveloped them, and they were plunged into a surreal landscape, the world behind them disappearing. The quartet braced themselves, every sense on high alert, ready to confront the mysteries and dangers within Bill's twisted creation.

***

Hidden in bold letters, a secret unfolds,
A code to uncover, a mystery bold.
Seek through the chapter, let your quest grow,
For a magical video awaits those who know.

***

[author's note]: i hope you guys enjoyed reading! so my idea of talking about this book still stands. we'll all join the discord server after weirdmageddon 3 and just ask me questions and listen to me yap about the book for hours. or i'll simply post a q&a chapter where you'll comment down anything you ask for and i'll answer them! 

i have also prepared a chapter for when i'll introduce MY headcanon of y/n. of course, this is MY interpretation and my character, but you guys are also free to make your own headcanon of her! all headcanons of y/n are accepted, but i have mine prepared- along with other fun facts and information i have of her!

i will also post a q&a where YOU GUYS will answer! just to see the general consensus and your preferences (for example, which was your favorite chapter? etc.) but anyways, this has been fun and i'm always up for talks about this book :] and that includes fanarts, theories, speculations, and just hype. i love you all!

kimmiepines
8115 words

[random y/n and mabel bonding moment. again, this is MY headcanon of what y/n looks like]