Will sped through the forest, in the direction of the highest point of the mountain. Every once in a while, a surge of fear appeared in his veins, but he ignored it.

That was, until a form leaped into his path, causing him to halt abruptly. Will crashed into the mysterious figure, and when they both toppled to the ground, it was revealed to be Wendy.

"What are you doing here?" Will asked, surprised.

Wendy stood up, and shot him a stern look. "Stopping you from making the biggest mistake of your life."

The boy blinked, then shook his head. He tightened his grip on the spear, and tried to walk pass the redhead. "I don't know what you mean."

She narrowed her eyes. "Don't try to lie to me, I've been watching you, and I know you've been hanging out with those hairy buff morons."

"The Manotaurs have been nothing but helpful," Will shot back, turning to face her. "And, at least they didn't make fun of me..."

Wendy's expression softened. "Will, I'm sorry about what happened back in the diner, but killing an innocent creature won't make you a man."

Will gripped the spear tighter. "It's not about being a man!" He snapped. "I just...hate being weak all the time."

The redhead knelt down, and looked him in the eyes. "Will, you may be paranoid, but that's just makes you one of the bravest kids out there, because even though you're scared, you still jump headfirst into danger like it's nothing."

"If that's so..." He started, softly. Will slowly turned away, facing the mountain in the distance. "I might as while prove it."

Wendy's eyes widened. "Will, please--"

"Don't follow me," Will told her, then bolted off down the path.

He felt bad for leaving Wendy behind, but he told himself that this will all be worth it in the end. So, he continued down the path towards the mountain, and his so called destiny.

❇❇❇

"Hello?" Will called, his voice echoed against the stone walls.

He had entered the cave a while ago, and was now venturing deeper into it. So far, he hadn't caught any signs of this Multi-Bear.

Does it even exist?, Will questioned.

He got his answer a second later.

As a something stirred at the end of the cave, it was the size of a boulder. With his heart rate increasing, Will shakily rose his spear and stepped forward. As he did, the creature rose slowly, and stepped into the light. He took in the sight in complete terror. The Multi-Bear was huge! And like it's name implied, it had multiple heads, with snarling jaws filled with rows of teeth.

It towered over Will by several feet, and the main head glared at him. "Why have you come here, human?" It growled.

Will forced himself from shaking, and stood as tall as he could against the monster before him. "I'm here for your head... Or, at least one of them."

"Don't be foolish," The head spat. "Leave here, or die."

He took a breath, and rose his spear determinedly. As result, all the bear heads bared their teeth in aggression.

"Very well," It growled, before charging forward.

Will narrowly dodged a slash from it's claws, and rolled across the hard ground, before making a stop by a cave wall. The Multi-Bear stopped by a pile of bones, and swiped them in his direction. The bones clattered against his skin, making him cry out in pain. But, he quickly avoided the rest of the attack, by hiding behind a rock. Will heard a loud roar, and saw the beast charging at him again. After a moment of hesitance, Will jumped out from his hiding place with a warrior yell. As the Multi-Bear tried to pounce on him, he managed to jump on one of it's heads. He dodged the snapping jaws, until he finally reached the top. Then, he used his spear to choke the main head. It roared in outrage, trying to knock him off with his paws, but it had failed in the end. It collapsed to ground with a heavy thud, and Will stood on it's chest triumphantly.

"It's no use, I won!" He panted, raising his spear to strike.

"Wait!" The Multi-Bear pleaded. "Before you end me, please, grant me one last request."

Will frowned, lowering his weapon a little. "Um, sure."

The creature nodded. "I would like to die, listening to my favorite song." Then, he turned to one corner of the cave.

Will followed his gaze, and only now noticed a tape player on a stool nearby. He approached it slowly, while keeping a cautious eye on the beast in case it attacked him with his back turned. He realized the tape was already in there, so he pressed the play button.

Music immediately emitted from the box. "Disco girl...coming through.."

Will's eyes widened, and he turned back to the Multi-Bear. "You listen to Icelandic pop group BABBA? I love BABBA..."

"I thought I was the only one," The Multi-Bear sighed. "The Manotaurs would make fun of me, because I know all the lyrics to the song Disco Girl."

The boy smiled softly. "Oh, you mean...Disco girl..."

"Coming through..." The creature sung.

"That girl is you!" Both sung, cheerfully. "Oo-oo Oo-oo!"

"This is amazing!" Will beamed. "Finally, someone who understands fine music, and...Oh wait, I'm suppose to kill you, ain't I?"

"I...I accept my fate," The Multi-Bear said, sadly.

Will frowned at him, then shook his head furiously. "No! This isn't right," He decided, already heading for the exit. "I'm sorry for troubling you."

He stepped out of the cave, feeling a wave of guilt rushing over him.

"So, you didn't do it?"

Will looked up, and saw Wendy's face. "No, I didn't. You were right all along."

Wendy patted Will on the back. "It's okay, in the end, you did the right thing," She smiled. "Now, let's break the news to those cologne wearing bozos."

❇❇❇

"YOU WHAT?" Leaderaur roared.

Will glared coldly. "I let the Multi-Bear live."

The giant Manotaur blew smoke from his nostrils in fury. "And, why is that?"

"Because this whole thing is stupid!" Will snapped. "The Multi-Bear is a great guy that deserves better, and if killing him makes me a man, then I don't want to be a man at all!"

Leaderaur sneered viciously. "So, you rather be weak?"

"Actually..."

Leaderaur and the rest of the Manotaurs turned to the voice, and were taken aback in shock, when Wendy stepped into the cave. It was noted, that she was not in her human disguise, and once again had her pelts on, recognized as the Spirit of the Forest.

"You guys are the weak ones here," Wendy stated. "You weren't man enough to kill the Multi-Bear on your own, afraid of my wrath, so you let a innocent boy do your dirty work."

For the first time, a visible look of fear appeared on Leaderaur's face. "Spirit of the Forest! I didn't--"

"Save it," She said, calmly. "Here's what I want you to do: leave Will and the Multi-Bear alone, or else..." She rose her axe, and plunged it into the hard ground, causing a massive crack to split open in the rock.

The Manotaurs trembled in response, and Will almost did too. He forgotten how scary Wendy could be.

"Of course!" Leaderaur said, quickly.

Wendy nodded in approval. "Good," She said, then smiled at Will. "C'mon, let's get you into some clothes."

Will nodded, and followed the redhead out.

❇❇❇

He dragged Stan into Greasy's Diner, with Mabel in tow.

"Bill, what exactly are you planning?" She asked.

"You'll see," He replied, while looking around.

Bill's eyes caught on Lazy Susan yet again hitting the pie trolley, and he dragged Stan towards her.

"Lazy Susan!" Bill called.

The waitress turned to them. "Yes, how may I help you?"

"Uh..." Stan said, nervously.

Bill spoke for him. "Listen, there's no sugarcoating it, you both are old and lonely, and will properly die from boredom or sadness, so there's no better time to lower your standards," He stated, before gesturing to the Day Guardian. "That being said, would you like to go on a date with Stan here?"

Stan smiled awkwardly, and Lazy Susan squinted at him. Then, her mouth formed into a smile. "Sure!"

"Wait, that worked?" Bill said, in disbelief.

Lazy Susan wrote something in her notepad, before tearing the page out, and giving it to Stan. "Here's my number, call me! And hey, have a pie on the house!"

"Yes!" Stan exclaimed, triumphantly.

A few moments later, the three sat at the table, and a pie was served for Stan.

"This is so exciting!" Mabel beamed. "When are you gonna call? Should you call now? Do you have a phone? Let's buy a phone! I don't have a credit card. Let's get a credit card!"

"Mabel please, let a man enjoy his pie," Stan told her.

Bill breathed, and sat back in his seat, when the sound of a bell caught his attention. He perked up, when Wendy and Will came up to their table. He was astonished, to see Will had a mass of grime and twigs stuck in his hair.

"Jeez, what happened to you?" Bill gasped.

Will sighed. "Well, I ran into these humanoid bull-like creatures, and they wanted me to do this horrible thing, and I just couldn't do it."

"You were you're own man, and you stood up for yourself," Stan said, while eating his pie.

Will looked at him. "Huh?"

The old man shrugged. "You did what was right, and you stood up for yourself, sounds pretty manly to me."

The boy smiled in return. "Thanks."

Stan nodded in return.

Will then turned to Bill and whispered. "By the way, who is that guy?" He asked, pointing to Stan.

"I'll explain later," Bill promised.

"OK, good," Will said. "I guess everything turned out well in the end."

Lazy Susan's voice then shouted from the kitchen. "WILL, YOU TOOK TOO LONG ON YOUR BREAK, YOU HAVE TO CLEAN THE GREASE TRAP AGAIN!"

Will sighed, taking his apron from the rack, and walking to the kitchen. "Coming..."

As the boy left, another person entered the diner, quite aggressively as the door slammed against the wall.

"GRUNKLE STAN!"

"Hey, Dipper," Stan replied, calmly.

Bill watched as Pine Tree stepped forward. Dipper looked exhausted, with heavy bags under his eyes. Yet, there was a blaze of fury in his eyes.

"I've spent hours looking for you!" Dipper snapped at his uncle. "And why did you stack things on my head!?"

Stan stood up, and messed his nephew's hair playfully. "Sorry about that, what do you need?"

Dipper rubbed the bridge of his nose furiously. "I wanted to discuss important matters to you involving the rift, but you disappeared!"

"Oops, my bad," He chuckled. "How about we talk later?"

The brunette looked like he wanted to protest, then rolled his eyes. "Fine. I'll see you both back in the realm," He told Stan and Mabel, before walking out of the diner.

Bill watched him go, and bit his lip in hesitation. Then, he quickly turned to the others. "I need some air."

Not giving them a chance to respond, he rushed out of the building. He found the Guardian nearby, and called to him. "Hey, Pine Tree!"

Dipper paused, and turned to him. "What is it, Bill?"

"I have a question for you," Bill said, shuffling his feet nervously. "Before the massacre... what was I like before?"

Dipper stared, as though not expecting that question at all. He fidgeted his hands, looking like he wanted to be anywhere but here.

"You were exactly like you are now," He finally answered. "Cocky, reckless, sometimes an idiot."

"I'm flattered," Bill responded, sarcastically.

Dipper smirked in return. "If that's all, I should be going--"

"Wait!" The blond stopped him. "What was I...to you?"

The Guardian eyed him up and down. "What?"

"Before your home was destroyed, what was I to you?" Bill asked, seriously. "A friend? An enemy? A stranger, even?"

Dipper looked away, turning pink by the ears. "Why does that even matter?"

Bill huffed. "I know it took me a while to properly register this, but I had another life that I know nothing about, that can make a guy curious," He pointed out. "So, do I have an answer, Pine Tree?"

The brunette knitted his brow together, and murmured softly.

The blond looked at him in confusion. "What was that?"

"You...you were special to me," Dipper said, softly.

Bill blinked, for a moment, he was speechless. Then, despite his mild embarrassment, he teased. "Aww! Pine Tree, I'm touched by your words! So, we were friends?"

Dipper bit his lip shyly. "You can say that..."

Did that explain what happened last night? Bill vaguely remembered Dipper being gentle to him. It was weird. And to make matters worse, Bill kinda liked it. For the entirety of today, the blond had been questioning why the brunette had done that, now he had his answer. Parentally, Dipper felt a smidge of care towards him, something that Bill wasn't sure how to feel about yet.

"You learn something new everyday, huh?" Bill chuckled, then he softly added. "So, Pine Tree? You think you'll ever see me as a friend again?"

A heavy silence drifted into the air, then it was broken by Dipper's voice.

"Probably not," He said, bluntly.

Wow. Bill was not expecting that to sting as much as it did.

"But," Dipper started. "Who knows, you may just surprise me..."

The Guardian gave Bill a smile, which the boy returned. Then, Dipper walked off without another word.

Bill watched him leave, before turning towards the diner once more.

❇❇❇

Much later, at the shack, Bill and Stan were playing a game of cards. Their betting money was in the center of the table.

"So, how did your date go?" Bill asked.

Stan crinkled his brow. "Not good. Turns out, she wanted it at her house."

"The problem with that is?"

"She has eleven cats."

"Oh, deal breaker," Bill said. Then, he smacked down his cards, with a triumphant smile. "Haha! I won, Fez!"

Stan sighed heavily. "Very well, I'm an honest man, and I know when I've been beaten--DISTRACTION!"

He reached into his pockets, and threw out a cloud of glitter into Bill's face.

The blond gripped his face in distress. "AH! MY EYES!"

Stan quickly grabbed the money from the table, and ran for the exit, on the same time when Will came into the living room.

"Remind me to thank Mabel," He told the boy.

Will looked at him in confusion. "Oh, okay."

After Stan left, Will noticed his brother was rolling across the floor, while screaming at the top of his lungs.

"You good, bro?"