PART 1:note
In the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, two women spread out a picnic while their children pretend to be sword fighters a ways away. The women start arguing about one of them checking the weather before they left, clouds rolling in despite the predicted sun. The little girl 'knocks' the little boy down against a stump before the boy starts acting like a scary wizard. His sister actually looks scared though, the boy apologizing before realizing she is actually scared of something behind him. The kids run screaming to their still arguing mothers as a storm picks up, telling their moms they saw a monster. One tries to say monsters aren't real when a gust of wind hits them, a bat-like wing protruding from the stump. Another gust reveals another wing and the body of the creature with at least a 20 foot wingspan and glowing red eyes. The family runs back to their van and drives away, the monster reaching a claw out to the abandoned picnic materials before flying away.
Back in Pittsburg, Soos has just finished his hour-long explanation of what happened with Kelly. Dipper and Ford, who had been taking notes the whole time, say that they are doubtful about the truthfulness of everything, particularly Kelly and Bill being siblings. Soos mentions both of them acting like they have had issues, and when Wendy mentions how she felt before the timeline was changed and how much power would be required, they decide to assume everything is true for the time being.
Ford says Kelly is probably as or even more powerful than Bill is, at least as far as making deals are concerned. He says that, with Kelly able to influence the past and change history, she can do practically anything... provided someone gives her permission, which is why she hasn't been able to make 'Planet Kelly' or something. Dipper wonders aloud just how much of the 'history' they know has been caused by Kelly making deals with people, everyone taking a minute to contemplate this.
Then Dipper's phone rings, Zander's voice telling everyone that they need to get on the move ASAP, as they intercepted an order from the Rising Grasp to A) move in on Operation Green Flame, whatever that is, and B) hunt down and kill the five of them. Zander assures them they are safe for the moment, he and his crew having caused a distraction in Mississippi to by them some time, which they desperately need as the percent of magic in the world continues to grow.
He tells them that they need to go find a stash of Starkissed in Pine Barrens, New Jersey, shocked at their optimism at hearing this, although he is unable to see Ford begin pacing when he tells them the destination. Dipper asks if there is somewhere specific, Zander saying there is but he doesn't exactly know where it is, as he hasn't been able to track it down. Ford starts to question Zander sending them to it, everyone confused by Ford's unwillingness to go there. Ford and Zander eventually say that the Pine Barrens are supposedly home to the Jersey Devil, an ancient cryptid even Zander admits is dangerous, especially with magic returning. He says that they need to get the Starkissed though, as they only have a few hours before Graupner and the Rising Grasp come looking for them, and he's hopeful the long-lost stash will give them enough to fix everything.
The five of them get back on the road, Dipper concerned that both Ford and Zander said the Devil was dangerous. They make it to the outskirts of the Pine Barrens, stopping at a combo gas station/antique shop/restaurant, a bunch of Jersey Devil merchandise in the window of the building. Ford says they're in the right place- only people who know about the Devil would have so much stuff showing it. They go inside to see almost everything in boxes, a woman on the phone behind the counter yelling that they are closed. She tells Wendy to take whatever's left in the gas pumps and allows Soos and Mabel to take anything Devil-related they want from the boxes, no longer caring since the business is closed.
She says that everyone is leaving after the last sighting, herself included. Dipper starts to mention the Devil, the woman cutting him off before he says it's name. Ford grumbles about adding to the legend as the woman says the sighting have skyrocketed in the past few weeks, all the sane locals getting out of dodge. She says no one has been hurt- everyone bolts before it can do anything- but she doesn't want to be the first, grabbing as many boxes as she can before walking out, telling them they can use the building for whatever they want.
They set up a base of operations, Dipper and Ford gathering information for an evidence board so they can come up with a plan. They eventually come to the conclusion that it only appears when people with food get close, their calculations being that it has already taken tons of food. They mention the possibility of the Devil reproducing or other Devils showing up as more magic returns, the current theory being that this Devil is stockpiling in case that happens. Soos and the girls get to work on setting up the trap while Ford and Dipper grab food and debate the best way to have everyone positioned.
In the dying light of the woods a few hours later, everything is set up, the girls with air cannons on the ground across from Dipper and Ford, Soos suspended in the air with his own net cannon, everyone focused on the pile of food in the clearing. Ford admits he's concerned about Soos' abilities, but Dipper defends his friend, mentioning that Soos, with a bit of help from Wendy, was able to hold his own in the alternate timeline. The conversation then turns to his relationship with Wendy and how similar it is to Ford's experiences with women, accidentally making Dipper slightly less suspicious of Ford.
Then Wendy mentions getting a weird feeling, instantly putting everyone on high alert. Dipper asks Ford for signs of the Devil's presence, Ford mentioning wind and the sky gets dark quickly. They look up to see storm clouds moving in, Ford saying he doesn't think the Devil has any control over the weather. He describes it as a man/deer/bat hybrid, but he says he doesn't know what it sounds like before telling Dipper to stop asking questions and focus on-
Something growls nearby the two, glowing red eyes bright enough to light up the whole clearing appearing twelve feet in the air, allowing everyone to see the Devil. It roars in Dipper's face, sending him sprawling into the clearing as it emits a blood-chilling roar. Ford pulls Dipper to his feet and the two run towards the food until Soos fires his net cannon and accidentally hits Ford. Dipper tries to untie Ford while the girls attack the Devil, firing bolas from their air cannons and knocking it down by Dipper. Ford tells him to attack it as the girls show up, Dipper saying he's not as good a fighter as them, but Ford tells him he doesn't have to fight like the girls to be helpful.
Dipper pulls the Journal out as the Devil pins Wendy to the ground and grabs Mabel by the face, putting them both out of commission. After saying something to increase the power of the spell, he puts the Journal back then repeats the lighting spell he used against Graupner in Florida a few days ago. The Devil turns to Dipper just in time to be blasted by lightning, both it and Dipper being blown apart by the force of it, Mabel dropping to the ground by Wendy. Dipper and the now-six-foot tall Devil stand back up, the devil beginning to ask Dipper how he did that just as Soos to dive-bombs it and sends it back to the ground.
The girls congratulate Soos, Dipper telling Ford that Mabel won't understand or be supportive of his use of magic, so he's fine not getting any recognition. They walk over to where Soos is still pinning the Devil down, Dipper asking it why it attacked them. The Devil says they attacked it and that his only intention was to scare them away from the food. He says that he grown a lot since the Stone was destroyed, and his normal diet is no not enough for him, so he needs the food for himself, not any baby Devils. They offer the Devil a deal- he gets all the food in exchange for giving them the Starkissed. The Devil mentions 'him' not saying other people would find out about his holding it for him, Dipper asking if he knows Zander/the Guardsman. The Devil shakes his head and mentions someone with a stone in his eye, both sides agreeing to an info exchange as well as the Devil giving them his useless old box, everyone gathering the food and following the Devil to his cave.
PART 2:note
As they walk, Dipper asks the Devil why he doesn't come forward like other species have, the Devil responding that he has been hunted by humans for hundreds of years and, with the exception of one person, he has no interest in dealing with humans. Dipper then asks where he comes from, the Devil saying he was born human somewhere on the coast, but he started changing about 250 years ago for unknown reasons. They arrive at the Devil's cave, the Devil elaborating that the man he met before only gave him the box he keeps the Starkissed in, not the pieces themselves, which he has always owned.
They enter the cave, a pile of chip bags in one section, a pile of bones in another, the entire space littered with old boxes, tapestries and other objects, Ford complementing the collection. The Devil says he is the third person to compliment it, grumbling that the first, his human friend, said it belongs in a museum. Dipper asks for details about this guy, believing it to be the Guardsman in a disguise, but the Devil just says the man asked him to protect a box in exchange for the man denying the Devil's existence. He says that his friend also told him how valuable the Starkissed is, which is why he put them in the box, and he describes the guy as a dashing rogue, honoring the promise he made to not reveal the man's name.
Dipper mentions their mission to save the world, the Devil getting excited at the prospect of reducing in size if the magic returns to normal levels. He hands over the box with the Starkissed in it and says they can have any information they want, asking if Dipper wants to know about his old friend or the most recent person he spoke to when Dipper asks for more info about who he spoke to. Ford mentions the Devil saying three people had admired his collection earlier, the Devil saying he was concerned for his safety when his most recent guest visited, comparing the feeling to the one he gets from Wendy.
Everyone faceplams when they realize the visitor was Graupner, everyone quickly becoming paranoid that he is somehow keeping tabs on them. The Devil says he's pretty sure Graupner put a spell on the box, Ford performing a spell of his own to reveal an eye on the box, certain that it is a tracking spell of some sort. The Devil grabs the box and hurls it at the wall, breaking stone while the box clatters to the floor, undamaged, the objects inside rattling. Ford says the box is made of string material and they need the key to open it, the Devil revealing that they key stayed with the person who gave him the box.
Then he freezes and looks to the cave opening, Wendy saying that she hears a helicopter as something metal is throw into the cave. Everyone ducks for cover, but the Devil just steps on the grenade and absorbs the explosion before running outside, the other following behind him after grabbing the box, keeping to the cover of the cave as gunfire and explosions ring out. Wendy starts trying to see what's going on as a voice begs their master to save them, the body of the speaker being hurled to the wall outside the cave and collapsing, unmoving, to the ground in front of Wendy.
They pass the armored man as they leave the cave, stopping when they see that the Devil has killed the other three people that came for them, the still-on jeep illuminating the carnage. The Devil tells them to take the Jeep and leave before taking flight, wanting to defend his home. Dipper tries to pull Mabel away from the scene but is unable to do so before more cultists show up. They dive and everyone makes their way to the jeep in any way possible, Ford using a spell to make a sonic scream and buy Soos time to start driving away.
Graupner's voice comes through the radio communicator in the jeep, asking why the squad is retreating. The twins pick up the radio and start trading insults with Graupner, who says he was able to send small group to them while dealing with the Paths' distraction in Mississippi. He says their luck is running out but Dipper mentions Ford using magic before Ford punches the radio to bits. Through a bit of charades, he says that he can't talk without the sonic scream happening again, and he writes on his arm that Graupner could have been using the radio signals to track them.
The helicopter from Florida appears and starts following them, Dipper able to see Graupner order something as three more jeeps and a group of three mountain bikes start trailing them as well. They all duck as one of the bikers gets within firing range, but the Devil intervenes, taking one down directly and causing a second to swerve and crash. Wendy gives the warning to stay down just as a jet of blackflame is aimed at them, Ford repeating his sonic scream as soon as he gets the chance, sending the helicopter spiraling away for a few seconds.
Ford writes that he can only do the sonic scream one more time as a military-grade truck starts pushing its way through the trees to them. A man in the vehicle fires a large weapon at them, the rocket fired from the bazooka exploding the ground to their side. The man fires a second shot, which hits the ground several feet in front of the jeep and explodes, The Devil swoops in to prevent the jeep from flipping and throwing them out, but he is shot by a rifle and is forced to put the jeep down instead of flying away.
Ford uses the last sonic scream to stop the truck from coming after them before everyone turns to check on the Devil. He tells them to leave before swiping a wing around them, blocking a number of tranquilizer darts fired at them from the returned helicopter. Several make it past, however, and Soos and Mabel are knocked out. Wendy moves to the drivers seat, the Devil offering to give them some cover while they escape. Dipper says he won't stand a chance against Graupner's magic, doing the locked-lips thing to promise Wendy he'll come back before climbing onto the Devil's back, the Devil taking off and heading for the helicopter.
The Devil swerves to avoid blackfire, passing over the now-burning forest as Dipper searches the Journal for a spell. He eventually finds the lightning spell, informing the Devil that he needs a clean shot at the helicopter to use it effectively. The Devil flies directly at the helicopter and bucks, launching Dipper into the air over the helicopter, giving him the chance to blast it with electricity, catching fire instantly as Dipper begins to fall. The Devil reaches out to grab him, but the tail of the helicopter comes off, the blade slicing one of the Devil's wings off its body. He passes out, Dipper desperately trying to use the nearby trees to slow his fall. Luckily, Ford casts a spell that makes a huge glowing hand catch Dipper a few feet above the ground.
Dipper climbs off the hand just as the helicopter and the Devil crash to the ground in succession, the Devil eyeing Dipper warily. Dipper apologizes for what happened, the Devil commenting that that's the first time a human has apologized to him before telling them to get out of the forest. Dipper asks who they should go to for the key to the box, the Devil says to look for a guy with two talking dogs, unable to remember the person's name. Wendy leads Dipper to the jeep, Ford now in the driver's seat, taking them away from the Devil and the flaming forest. After a brief stop to sabotage the jeeps at the edge of the forest, everyone gets back on the road.
Some hours later, they have checked into a motel room, Soos and Mabel still out of it. Wendy says they will need to get on the move soon, Ford saying that they can as soon as he gets the tracking spell off the box of Starkissed, sheets doing the job for the moment. Dipper realizes how bad things are getting if Graupner is able to handle two things at once before he tells Wendy and Ford about what he did with the lightning spell. Wendy reprimands him for not telling Mabel about using magic, Dipper insisting it's better if she doesn't know, admitting that he's not as good at the Paths that she is and he needs magic to keep up with her. Mabel stirs, Dipper promising to tell her about what happened when she's more awake, swearing to Wendy that he will tell her when they get on the move again. Ford says that could be in about an hour, heading into the bathroom to handle the tracking spell while Wendy leaves to keep watch and Dipper tries to figure out who has the key for the box. Eventually the pieces click, Dipper realizing they need to go find the now-retired Montana Jeffreys.
After the Author's note in which EZB mentions these pages, we go back to the burning forest, where the remaining members of Graupner's forces have just moved the wreckage of the helicopter, allowing him to climb out. As he puts a new cloak on, one of the men telling him the twins and their friends have moved north, although they don't know exactly where. He grumbles that Alvis is better than them and yells at one who questions why they don't just kill the twins, Graupner saying that he needs them live for his deal with Bill about Wendy. The Devil chuckles and tells Graupner tat he lost and is not in control of anything, Graupner getting steadily more angry. He comments that he likes the Devil's horns, killing it with blackflame and adding to the fires. He tells one of the people to send the horns to the base so Alvis can attach then to a hood or something, telling everyone to let the fires burn before getting in a jeep and leaving the forest.
Cryptograms:
Gsv Wvero zmw srh wfwv,
low kzoh nvg olmt ztl,
gsvb nzwv z wvzo gl xloofwv.
Lmvh mld zhs, hldm rm mrtsg,
Gsv wfwv hkvvxsvh uli xzhs,
Fmzdziv lu xlnrmt kortsg.
The Devil and his dude,
old pals met long ago,
they made a deal to collude.
Ones now ash, sown in night,
The dude speeches for cash,
Unaware of coming plight.
Biq xi sio unnuwb byups bilhm ni u biix? Fcey, nbun xiymh'n guey uhs myhmy. Gusvy by'ff qyfx nbyg ni bcm meoff? Oab. Alimm! How do you attach heavy horns to a hood? Like, that doesn't make any sense. Maybe he'll weld them to his skull? Ugh. Gross!
Wlz Lpymga dsmmqe omqmd rr. Vb eki zvo rj twfu vzdtha, nij vshmekmio ylgz imryo ptp, eil xdcwm slw nxtumo etop vvdzim wyh upmdwmjv. Bxinbtrrn jpzemm- qrv nxzlpzzd zmgt mh egtzziy. Keyword The Devils spirit lives on. At the end of your review, say something nice about him, and maybe his spirit will answer one question. Questions beware- for spoilers will be allowed.
