Sleeping Beauty
Dipper was forcefully dragged down the dark corridor by two shapeless beings. The only light came from the dim candles on the wall and yellow light emanating from the creature's eyes. The floor was a dark yet shiny marble, Dipper would know it when he saw it, there was marble all over his castle. You see, Dipper was a prince. And like any prince, it was his job to rescue the fair princess. In this case he was rescuing the princess Pacifica from a horrid sleeping curse put on her by a warlock. It was too bad he got captured before he could get to her.
At the end of the hall there was a door which he and the beings went through. They descended a staircase which lead to a horrid dungeon. 'If I'm ever going to try and get out of here, now would be the time,' he thought to himself. Once one of the creatures went to open the door to what he assumed to be his cell, he put his plan into action. He elbowed the one which still had its grip on him and when it's friend turned around he kicked right in the stomach-ish area. They were blobs, he really didn't know where he was kicking. While they were on the floor, he turned to make his escape.
That's when he heard someone snap their fingers, and he froze in place. A voice then spoke, one he couldn't recognize, but it had a high-pitched and unearthly quality. "You buffoons! Maybe you could try a little harder to make sure he doesn't get away. Well, it's not like you'd get too far anyway." That was followed by a sinister laugh. "Put him in his cell. And shackle him to the wall as well."
He was then lifted up by the nightmarish creatures and they put shackles on him. He heard a snap again and he was able to move, well as much as he could in the restraints. "You can leave now, I'll be able to handle him," said the voice again. The creatures gave a chuckle at that, and then exited the cell.
Dipper was waiting and waiting, the silent air starting to choke him. "Who are you, and why have you taken me prisoner?" He demanded to know who had the audacity to do such a thing to him, he was a prince after all. That's when he saw a subtle movement in the shadows of the doorway, and a piercing blue eye came into perspective. "Come into the light where I can see you, coward!"
That just earned another round of the beings dark chuckle. It shook Dipper to his core, but he wouldn't show it. "Are you really in the position to be calling me names, Prince Pines? I believe I have the upper hand here. But, I will show you what you want to see." That's when the man came into view. He wore a long black cape with golden triangles stitched into it, and that same gold was the color of his slicked back hair. Over his right eye was a black triangular eye patch, while the other eye was an electric blue. The scepter he carried was as black as the night, and the orb on top, which Dipper assumed to be magical, was blue like his eye. His tight, black pants contrasted with his golden shirt.
Dipper had wished the man stayed in the shadows. "Well after you whining to make me come out you'd think you'd have a thing or two to say." Dipper just kept looking in shock, and the being rolled his eye. "Well to answer your earlier question, I am the infamous warlock, Bill Cipher!" He bowed after he finished his sentence.
Dipper the realized who this man was. "You! You are the one who put the curse on Princess Pacifica!" He was mad to say the least. The warlock had placed a spell on the princess to sleep until she awoke from true love's kiss, and Dipper believed he could awaken her. He had meet her in the woods a day before, but he was sure that he loved her.
"My my, you catch on fast!" Again, another evil laugh. "But not fast enough. You could have saved the princess if you had gotten to her before my henchmen got to you. But you didn't!" The warlock had gotten increasingly closer to Dipper, about a foot of space was only between the two. "Ah, the poor prince. Unable to save the fair princess from her death like sleep." That was when Dipper looked down and hung his head in shame. He had failed his princess, the girl he was betrothed to. "But, there may be another way..." The warlock slowly lifted the princes chin using the top of his staff.
"What do you mean?" Was all Dipper could get through his gritted teeth. He was not up for games after being captured, but this being seemed to be treating it like one.
"I'm glad you asked," the warlock said as he lowered his staff. An evil grin stretched across his face, one so long it should have split his face. "I think we can arrange a deal."
"A deal?" Dipper questioned.
"Ah," Bill snapped his fingers once again. The boy's mouth seemed to have glued shut at that. "That's better, can't have you interrupting. Well, I was thinking... What if I released your princess from her curse, and in return, let's say... You'd have to stay with me." Dipper's eyes widened at the idea. "Forever, in my castle. Once it comes time for the throne of your kingdom to be passed to you, I'll take the title and rule instead of you. How does that sound?" Now, the being was too close. He decided to caress Dipper's face with his hand. As if that wasn't enough, he seemed to be leaning in to seal the deal with his lips. Dipper couldn't allow to give up his kingdom to this lunatic, even if it was for the princess. He kneed the mad man in the stomach, to which the warlock stumbled back.
First the being looked shocked, and then he looked like a seeping pot of rage. "Fine, we'll see what your view on the subject is a year from now, maybe more. Enjoy solitary confinement!" The man quickly turned around, cape billowing behind him, and walked out the door. Slamming his staff on the floor, the door closed and Dipper could speak again. "Sleep well little prince! I doubt you will though." Once more, the sickening, bone-chilling laughter echoed through the dungeon. And then, complete and utter silence.
---
Only a few hours had passed, but to Dipper it felt like days. He had tried fighting out of his restraints, but that only seemed to tighten them. He had memorized a few spells in case he needed them, and he figured now was the perfect time. He started chanting under his breath, but nothing happened. "This is hopeless! I'll never get out of here, I've failed Pacifica..."
"Don't give up hope yet, Dip-Dot!" That's when Dipper looked up and saw three fairies. The one who said that wore a red dress and had long brown hair.
"Wait, you're the princesses fairies! I saw you earlier. Are you here to rescue me!"
"Well that's the plan, princey!" She pointed her wand toward the shackles and they burst into pixie dust.
Dipper rubbed his sore wrists, glad he could finally move them. "Thank you so much! But please, you have to help me get out of this castle so I can get to the princess."
"Why of course!" Responded Mabel. "Grenda, you're up!"
"Grenda time!" That's when a fairy in a green dress floated forward. She was hulking, much more like a wrestler than a fairy. "I'm giving you this rad sword, to stab evil in the face!" She pointed her wand toward Dipper and a sword appeared from thin air and into his hands.
"Great! Candy, do your thing!"
"You bet I will." The last fairy, Candy apparently, came forward. She spoke broken english and had an accent. "I'll give you this shield, so evil can't hurt your face." She pointed her wand as well, and a shield materialized on Dipper's arm.
He just stared at all the feats of magic which he just witnessed. "Thank you all so much. Really, I'm speechless..."
"You're talking right now silly," Mabel said. That little fairy had kind of grown on him. "Well, quickly, we must away. We put all the guards to sleep and have a horse ready at the front gates."
"What about the warlock?" Dipper didn't want a run in with him, the fairies seemed powerful but he didn't know if they could take him.
"He left, we don't know where. But we better leave before he gets back!" Said Candy. She pointed her wand to the cell door and it opened. They all left the small room, the fairies leading Dipper through the labyrinth of a castle. They finally made it to the front gates.
"My horse, Tyrone, you brought him here!" Dipper exclaimed. This horse was his trusted companion, and he wouldn't rather do this with any other stead.
"Yes, we must leave. Once you've broken the curse on the princess the warlock's power should decrease immensely and he shall no longer be a scourge on the kingdom," Mabel explained.
"You're right. Yah!" Dipper shouted as he used the horse's reins. They were off to the castle where the princess resided, little did they know that was just according to the warlocks plan.
---
The evil being watched through the orb in his staff, an image appearing of the prince and fairies. "Oh, the little Pines believes he can save her." He was in the room in which the princess slept, waiting for their arrival. All he really cared about was the prince though. Walking over to the princess's bed, he decided to start a little monologue.
"Well, you really are beautiful. It's a pity you won't wake up, when I take over your kingdom I want to see your hilarious expression. I can imagine you screaming as I slit open your pretty little throat." He restrained himself from digging a claw into her perfect skin. "But then again, maybe you will wake up if that naive little prince makes a deal with me." That was followed by a sinister laugh. "Let me tell you, he is perfect. And when I take over your pitiful kingdom, then the next, and next, he'll be by my side the whole time. Whether he wants to be or not. He'll eventually learn to love me, even more than he loved you. True love, please! You meet in the forest for two seconds, at least I had a full conversation with him! It's just... not fair!" He banged his scepter on the ground, releasing his rage in a ground shaking quake.
"Just, remain calm, it will all work out..." He chanted to himself. He looked over to the sleeping princess, and started, "Well, you think you're just so perfect. Beautiful girl, cursed by an evil warlock, prince on the way. Everything is working out just like a fairy tale, but not this time." He looked back to the orb on his scepter. "He's almost here." He laughed once more and then snapped his fingers. Thorny rose vines began growing down the tower, then all over the castle. "I'm waiting, my little prince."
---
Dipper was riding at a high speed, approaching the castle with the three fairies. He could feel how close he was to his goal, but he also felt something else. Something that did not seem right... That's when he saw the rose vines climbing all over the castle, emanating from one spot: the princess tower. "What's happening?" He questioned.
"When the warlock left, he must have come here!" Exclaimed Mabel.
"Dipper, you can't go now. He will be expecting you!" Candy shouted.
"He'll be expecting me any time, no better time like the present!" Dipper then noticed a large thorny wall starting to form on the bridge he needed to cross.
"But you can't take him, he's too powerful!" Insisted Grenda. The thorn wall was getting taller by the second, he had to go now.
"Well, I'll have to try!" Once again, he used the reins and this time Tyrone jumped over the thicket. He landed safely, stopping in front of the main gates which were left open. "If I don't go now, I may never get another chance!" He explained as he jumped off his horse. "Thank you all for your help, but I have to rescue the princess and now."
The three fairies gave each other unsure looks, but then all nodded. "We understand," said Mabel. "We'll show you the way to the tower and try to hold off the warlock's magic. Follow us!"
The group dashed through hallways and up staircases, avoiding the thorny vines growing. They finally made it to the door leading up to where the princess was, a long spiral staircase going up to the tower. "On three girls! One!" Mabel said.
"Two!" Shouted Granda.
"Three!" Said Candy. They all blew the door down, causing it to fall. Next they destroyed the opposing thorns.
"Charge!" Dipper shouted! He took off running, the fairies floating closely behind him. They blasted out thorns using their magic, but the vines became too much. They started entangling the small fairies, constricting their little limbs and taking their wands away. Dipper turned quickly. "Should I cut you guys out?" He asked.
"No, you're so close! Go save her, go save the princess. You have our blessing!" All three blew him a kiss, and with new determination he ran up the stairs.
Judging from how tall he saw the tower was, he was almost there. But without the fairies, the vines started to try and attach to him. He used his sword to cut them, and the door to her room was in sight. He was so close, just a few more steps. But if he were watching his steps, he would have seen the vines about to trip him. He fell face first into the steps. The vines tangled around his feet, then torso, and we're making their way to his arms. He was about to cut them off, but some more grabbed the sword, even the shield, right out of his hands. They kept wrapping and wrapping, like an evil blanket trying to squeeze the life out of him.
Then, he heard the tell-tale sound of the door opening. "My, my. Look who I caught, again!" He looked up to see the warlock in all his glory. "Let me get a better look at you, hm." He snapped his fingers, the vines bringing the boy to stand upright. "Well, if you thought rescuing her was to be easy, think again!" He laughed manically, Dipper had heard enough. "You were close though, if I hadn't overheard the plan of those idiotic fairies you probably could have woken her up. Such a pity," he said, running his hand over the boys face.
The boy shivered at the cold touch, making the being laugh. "Oh don't be afraid, this petty game of ours is almost over. Then the real fun can begin." He gave the prince a malicious grin. Bill turned the boy around, thorns obeying only him, and brought the boy into his arms. "Tell me, would you still like to make a deal?" He looked down to the boy, knowing what his answer would be. Just to make sure, he was starting to use a little bit of his persuasive magic.
"N-no... Never with you!" Dipper said trying to stand his ground, but starting to succumb to the magic.
"Why not? If you agree to stay with me, you'll end all this suffering. Your friends will be set free." The voices of the fairies could be heard, screaming and being tortured just down the staircase. "All this misery will end." The vines holding Dipper in place receded, allowing him to breath easily. This deal was sounding better and better by the minute. "And best of all, your princess will be set free." He motioned to the door, it was faintly glowing a golden color.
"Will I be able to be with her?" Dipper questioned. Bill flinched, his magic should have made the boy forget all about her. Maybe it was true love after all. But he looked so innocent, so pure; he couldn't stay mad.
"No, I'm afraid," he said, making his tone lighter. Dipper visibly slumped, falling deeper into the warlock's arms. "But I'll be here, always to love you, to care for you, to hold you above all else." He turned the boy around, and looked deep into his eyes. "Just agree, my sweet prince."
Dipper felt so off. His heart was saying this was perfect, but his mind was saying no. Even that part of him was slowly starting to succumb though. "Will you lift the curse right after our deal is made? You'll release everyone, including Pacifica, right after I agree?"
Now Bill was a little irritated. He knew that if he said no, then Dipper would be brought out of the loving trance. It would have been so much easier with no princess in the way, the whole kingdom so easy to take over while everyone was asleep. "Yes, my sweet prince, I will."
Dipper's mind was put to rest at that, and he was fully for this plan. "Okay, I agree to your deal."
Bill couldn't help but smile, but it was not his usual evil grin. It was a loving smile, it felt weird at first but then he seemed to enjoy the feeling. "Excellent. Now to seal the deal." Bill leaned in, locking his and Dipper's lips in a kiss. But, it ended just as soon as it had started. Dipper's eyes widened and he pulled back. He had learned what true love's kiss felt like that time he met Pacifica in the forest, but it was definitely not that. "And now, it's done."
The vines started to wither away and die, and Dipper heard the fairies cheer. "No, that can't be it. You, you tricked me! I wasn't in the right state of mind. You used magic!" Dipper wouldn't believe it, this couldn't be happening.
"Oh, this counts. We've sealed the deal and I've upheld my end of it, now you must up hold yours." The fairies had just rounded the corner, seeing the two there.
"Dipper, what's happened?!" Mabel exclaimed.
"Distract him!" He pleaded to the fairies. The three held up theirs wands faster than the warlock could snap his fingers, and blinded him. Dipper ran past him and opened the door to the princess room. He was relieved to see her waking up. "Pacifica!" He cried.
"Dipper?" She asked, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "Oh, Dipper, you did it! You saved me!" She exclaimed. They both ran toward one another. Dipper lifted Pacifica up by the waist and spun in a circle. He then brought her down and into his arms.
"There's not much time, the warlock who put the curse on you is near."
"But I thought you defeated him?"
"No, actually, I wasn't-" but he was interrupted before he could finish.
"DIPPER!" Was screamed from the staircase.
"Just know, I love you," he looked into Pacifica's eyes, then to her face to try and memorize her features.
"Dipper what's happening?" She asked.
"HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO ME!" Bill's voice had become more distorted, and much angrier.
Dipper then dipped Pacifica, looked straight into her eyes, and gave her a kiss. One so passionate, so pure, it could only be true love. Bill stopped to look in horror, seeing what "true love" really meant. Dipper pulled back, looking at his princess for what he assumed to be the last time. He and her stood straight, looking at the warlock.
The being just stood there, looking shocked and angry and disappointed all at the same time. "I know what true love is now," he said, looking from Dipper to Pacifica. The two looked at each other, thinking maybe the warlock had found the slightest bit of compassion in his heart for the two to stay together. "But you're still coming with me." He stalked over to Dipper and grabbed his wrist.
"No, I want to stay with her!" He cried.
"Well too bad, we have a deal." Bill was mad, he didn't care if he had lost his cool. The Prince was his now, that's all he wanted.
"Please, Bill." The warlock stopped in his tracks. "Show some compassion."
Bill turned, his blue eye now a bloody red. "Compassion? Compassion?!?" He let out a laugh, one so maniacal and crazy, it outdid any villain before him. "I'm showing compassion by not killing her, for you!" Dipper flinched back, but the warlock tugged him closer. "You're going to come with me, whether you like it or not. We have a deal." Then he snapped, one so loud in the silence that followed his outburst it sounded like a bone snapping.
Blue fire began to encompass the two, and Dipper found he couldn't move. "Better get a good look Prince Pines, this is the last time you'll see your princess." Bill grabbed Dipper and turned him, forcing him to look at the girl.
"Pacifica!" Dipper screamed.
"No, Dipper!" she shouted back. Bill saw the looks in both their eyes, true love it was called. Well, he wouldn't let that happen. He turned the boy, and dipped him just as Dipper did to Pacifica. He leaned in, and placed his lips on Dipper's. Pacifica looked on, tears in her eyes. Her true love and the villain who cursed her disappeared.