Chapter Text
Finally, it was done. His masterpiece- other than the portal itself that causes him to be trapped in this god forsaken place of horrors. No, this was different. It would aid in stopping him. Him who tormented Stanford, who manipulated him and made him feel needed, before revealing all he wanted was to use him. After basing it on some schematics he stole from a very unusual man who he couldn't remember the name of- Blandin, was it? or was it Blending? He couldn't recall- and adding his own makeshift quirks to the design, as he had very little he could afford in supplies in this peculiar pocket dimension he found himself in. Still, Ford was sure it would work! it had too! If it didn't, well- defeating bill would be much, much harder. Surely, not impossible, but harder.
Meticulously, Ford carefully twisted the screwdriver he had 'borrowed', slowly but surely twisting the last of the securities into place. Sweat trickled down his brow as he adjusted his glasses, which had grown cracked in the left lense in his travels. Finally, he felt the screw come to a halt, no longer able to be turned any longer. Stanford placed the screwdriver down on the stone floor next to him, exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding in his chest. He looked down at the contraption in his hand. It wasn't pretty, but it was sturdy and just had to work. It reminded him of tape measurers in design, just rather than making measurements, it pulled out into different time periods, apparently working on Earth's times as most of the date correlated to different time periods on earth. Ford had learned very quickly that time works differently in the multiverse, most places not really having days, let alone minutes and hours. They ran on months, even years, of earths time. It was interesting to say the least, and most definitely strange.
Finally, he looked away from his creation, and at the expansive universe above of him. Every star and color and beam seemed to jump out at him in a beautiful dance of light. He truly would never grow tired of this sight, despite the dangers he was constantly in. Even the multiverse had space and things similar, just like his universe. Thinking about it, made his heart pang with a slight homesickness that he swiftly shoved back down. He could never hope to return there, he reminded himself. he has one goal, and one goal alone. Besides, why would he return there in the first place! He shouldn't forget why he's even here in the first place! His idiotic brother- Sure, he was a bit harsh but- Stanley had ruined his life! Had taken away his chance at a school he would truly make a difference! It made his blood boil.
He inhaled deeply, no, he couldn't let himself get riled up right now, not with the current situation. He clenched his hand, counting each of his fingers until he felt himself calm, looking back down at the tape in his hand. Might as well test it, he supposed, carefully cupping it with both hands.
His thumb flicked over the lip of the measurement tape, pulling it out of the measurer slowly. It had an odd, blue glow to it, flickering dimly, different dates scribbled onto it. He pulled it out to a seemingly random date, 1578. Nothing eventful happened that year, if he recalled correctly. Not that he was even in his dimension to effect anything. He was in an odd pocket, that was similar to a marketplace. Finally, he released the tape. It quickly snapped back into place, crackling with light and electricity. Ford felt the volts run up his spine, crawling through his nerves, it felt. He smelled smoke and burning. Suddenly, his vision whited out, blinding.
When his vision returned, he was in the marketplace, of course. However, his surroundings were just ever so slightly different. The nearby stalls outside of the alleyway he had hidden himself in were run by other people than its usual sorts, its inventory being sold something different than his original. It wasn't noticeable at first, but it was ever so slightly more primitive in objects, especially the objects seemingly that came from his dimension, or similar dimensions to his. He grinned widely. It worked! it had actually worked! He hadn't underestimated that it would, of course, however there was always that fear of failure and that fear of it... not working, in the most layman of terms.
He scurried back into the alleyway, inspecting the device for any damages caused by it. After finding none, he gave himself a proud nod. Now, he just had to be sure he could go back to his original time. Based on some calculations, he was pretty sure it was some time in 1997. Part of his mind wondered about what exactly his world was like now, how much it did and didn't advance, before he shook the thought away. Finally, he pulled the tape out once more, pulling it to 1997. He released it, letting the tape snap back. He felt the strange electricity once more, running up and down his spines, feeling it through the tips of his fingers, his vision whiting out once more.
He emerged from the brightness once more, finding himself... back where he started. Back to his original timeline. He grinned once more. It worked! It worked both forward and backward! Wonderful!! He looked at the tape, just in case of any damages, and none were found. He ran his hand through his hair, just for a moment, before looking at the wall of the alley, finding his gun carefully hidden up against it, just like he had left it. He swiftly picked it up, putting it through his belt under his coat, giving it a little satisfied pat. Finally, he left the alley way, making his way past the stalls. He wanted to be somewhere more secluded before he attempted to go where he needed to, and hopefully closer to his needed location.
He kept his head down, slipping past patrons and marketplace-goers. He didn't want an unnecessary social interaction, especially right now, with so much on the line that he couldn't begin to describe. Finally, after what felt agonizingly long of brushing shoulders with people he would never know again, he emerged at the end, the portals leading to other dimensions swirling before him. It was like a public transportation system, he learned, just instant.
He slipped off to the side, away from prying eyes, pulling the mask off of his face, and pulling the tape from his coat. He swiftly pulled out the tape again, not wasting a second. He had to go back very far, at least trillions of years. even so, he would not be swayed. He knew what he needed to do, what he must.
It felt like eternity before it reached its needed point, the date absolute gibberish to any normal person. He steeled his sudden nerves and fears and released the measuring tape. Once more he felt the shock of voltage running through his nerves and spine, his vision going painfully white.
And then he found himself once more in the marketplace, far more noticeably primitive. Intriguing, he thought. He would need to investigate at some point, but for now, he had a mission; Bill Cipher and destroying him. He was swift, making his way through the portals. He knew the basic coordinates through things he's heard, and he's simply praying they are correct.
The different universes and timelines flashed next to him, quickly coming as they were going. Finally, he found himself in what he dubbed a 'neutral' zone. a place somewhat in between universes, but not quite in the nightmare realm. If his times were correct, of course, the nightmare realm should simply be uncontrolled nightmares, as Bill is not in control at this moment in time, at this period. This was good- but that wasn't his point of interest right now. He pulled up his sleeve, looking at his refashioned watch, which had been made into a little map of sorts, reading his current coordinates and dimension number.
He began to move again, going forward, keeping his eye on his watch. It shouldn't be far, especially thanks to it being a 2D world. Ford knew its fate, learning the 'monster' who had destroyed it was his once Muse. Liberation? It was slaughter.
--
He came upon the strange, 2D world. his body went through it, most of the inhabitants ignoring him. they saw his shadow, however. They did not matter to Ford; however, he had someone to find, someone specific. he had to find them, and kill them, halting their fate and the pain they would cause.
.. then he saw it. a triangle, small with rounded out edges and a big eye, staring up at him. Not in front, or within the planes of the 2d world. No, it stared at Stanford with its big eye.
... this had to be him. He recalled his muse being able to see beyond the 2d, but... he didn't expect a child. It was innocent. Ford, despite his internal protests, felt his hatred melt away. It hadn't done anything. It was just looking up at him, confused. What sort of immanent threat did it pose that he could not avoid? He knew who it was, what it would go one to do and be. This was none other than Bill Cipher, the dream demon who tormented him into madness, who used him for the portal.
Ford tried to steel himself, taking his weapon from his coat, looking at the little triangle. He knew what he had to do, he must, he told himself. This wasn't just for him; it was for everyone. Every life he had stolen, and every life he was going to. He had to stop this demon in its tracks, before it realized what it could do, before it could become its fate. Finally, he raised the gun, its triangle shaped barrel overlapping over the child. He knew what it was, what it would be, but this felt wrong, it felt disgusting to do. It was still a CHILD. It had done know wrong yet! He bit down on his tongue, slowly squeezing the trigger of the gun.
He can't do it, can't bring himself to commit such a heinous act. He lowered the gun, not taking the shot. He stared down at the little triangle...
He couldn't just leave it either. If he did, nothing would stop it from growing into the exact thing he came here to stop it from becoming.
... would it be possible to raise it as his own?