Catch you on the flip side 4

"Ah, I've been waiting for you to call!" the thing said cheerfully. 

For once in their lives, Dipper and Mabel were slack-jawed. The creature in front of them was the spitting image of Bill. He had the same triangular shape, one single eye, and Bill's trademark hat and bowtie, but he was a cheerful golden yellow that rivaled their servant's dull blue color. His gait was the exact opposite too— even his simple greeting was vivacious and sounded all too cheerful.

"Well, well, you're not Shooting Star and Pine Tree, that's for sure." He scratched his "head" as he looked them over. "How about I just call you Birthmark and Pin Stripe for now."

They eyed each other self-consciously. 

"And you are?" Dipper piped up first. 

"The name's Bill Cipher! But I'm sure you knew that already."

"Yes. I'm-"

"I already know who you are, Dipper and Mabel Pines. Well, the other Pines as far as I'm concerned. You were orphaned when you were five years old, then you went to live with your Great Uncle. You've been doing your magic act for him since then. Am I right or am I right?"

Dipper did a double take. "Y-you're right."

"Good. Hey I notice the blue guy isn't here with you." His eye darted all around. "Any reason?"

Mabel cleared her throat. "He sent us here, having apparently acquired some kind of spell without our knowledge. We haven't been able to find him and we're hoping you could help us."

"So, uh, how are you?" Mabel asked sheepishly. 

"Um, okay." the man's reply came out more as a question than an answer.

 

Dipper looked back and forth between them nervously. After they met in the woods, and the stranger explained himself, the three of them went back to the Mystery Shack. The conference had been nothing short of awkward. Mostly they were just sitting there in uncomfortable silence. 

"Okay, so let me get this straight." Dipper asked. "You're saying that you are Bill Cipher, but not the Bill we know."

"That's right." he mumbled. "You're not the twins I know either."

"What do you mean "not the twins you know?"

"I mean, at least I think, that you two are parallel versions of the Pines twins I serve, and the Bill you know is somehow a parallel version of me."

Mabel's eyes lit up. "Wait, does that mean that there's other versions of us somewhere?" She pointed to herself and Dipper.

Bill nodded. Mabel squealed with delight and practically threw herself at him. "Ooh! What are they like? Is the other me nice? Does she like cats? What's her favorite color-"

He cut her off. "I assure you, she is not nice." He shuddered. "Neither is her brother."

Mabel's face fell. Dipper looked up at the man curiously. "Wait, if you're Bill, then why do you look like this?" He motioned at the man's well-dressed form.