Chapter Text
In most fairy tales the main character has a wish. Normally, it’s to marry a prince (or at least become a royal), but has anyone ever thought about what a prince's wish is?
Bill doesn’t really know any other princes wishes, but he has one himself. He wishes he could have a normal life (or at least as normal a life could get within the kingdom of Gravity Falls).
‘Normal’ can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people- some view it as when magic doesn’t go sideways, and some when it does. Luckily, Bill fell into the former category.
For Bill, having a normal day is following the same routine he does everyday. It's not that he doesn’t like shaking things up, he would just prefer if things were in control- and it just so happens that his routine falls under that category.
Every morning Bill is woken up by Steve, his personal courtier who, despite not having any related family, views him as a dear brother.
It is when Bill is woken up is that he gets dressed and is told any updates of the kingdom, although being part of the royal family he still doesn’t get much news of what is happening throughout the town, this is because although he loves his dad, the man doesn't trust him- and who can blame him? Bill truly is the prodigal son.
Bill made the most of these rather short updates by either forcing more out of Steve or voicing his own thoughts on them in the hopes Steve might transfer them to his father.
However, during this morning's updates Bill was informed that today would be his first day attending a school. Before today Bill had gotten an education from his time reading old books in his library and practicing magic with the private tutors his mother had hired.
Finding out about this sent Bill over the moon, as he had dreamed of this since before he could remember. Being a prince would make it a big deal, as this will be the first time in centuries that a royal member had gone to one.
He began to get ready right away, packing a bag with as many books, stationary, or any other things he thought he might need. “Bill, l assure you the school would provide many textbooks across all classes,” Steve stated while moving across the room to the now overflowing bag, and taking unnecessary items out. He continued,
“and your parents are waiting in the carriage.”
Bill, now finally taking a pause and walking over, sighed.
“Okay, okay!. I’m just really excited, but knowing my parents we mustn’t keep them waiting,” walking past Steve and with more pep in his step over to the door, gaining the hint Steve walked over with him.
During the ride over, Bill's parents reminded him that he is to become a prince meaning he must set a good example, while also being informed that his hair would need to be put up. Bill hated putting his hair up, it was long, almost at his ankles. Anytime he needed to put it up he would get Steve to help braid it.
“You must understand that having your hair done is apart of the school dress code,” Euclid asserted, while his son sat across from him with a despised look on his face while Steve sat next to him braiding.
Before Bill wished he had come up with a remark, his braid was neatly placed on his shoulder, “how public is this whole situation?” He questioned.
“Oh, very little. This whole ordeal was only told to the principal of the school,” Steve answered with the same cheerful tone that was plastered on his face, “and according to him, you’ll be put in the high classes, and accompanied by one of their top students.”
That put some ease into Bill knowing that and him being with an actual student could make him one step closer to gaining a friend that wasn’t one his parents' choices. Soon after they arrived, he immediately realised that the information must have spread as he could see multiple students waiting at the main entrance door.
Once they exited the carriage the students walked over but still kept their distance, “hello! I’m Lucy, head president of the council for Gravity Falls High! We are so glad that you chose us,” the main girl who stood further in front of the other 3 students continued, “these are the other members who are just as excited as every other student here.”
As she continued talking about the same topic of how excited they are, Bill looked around the exterior of his now school. It was clean like it had just been washed, everything was sparkling, Bill wondered if they only had them cleaned for him or they really liked cleanliness.
“And, that concludes our school's history,” Lucy exclaimed, bringing Bill back to the girl feeling slightly embarrassed on how he zoned out, “now we will make our way towards our Principals office.”
———
Ford and Stan had different options on school, Ford saw it as an amazing place mainly because he found most of the subjects easy, Stan on the other hand hated it as although still being smart just could never seem to find the appeal for it.
But both of them had the same reaction when they found out that the King Euclid's son would be attending their school, confused. It’s not that the school was bad, it just wasn’t a place they thought a prince would go to.
“Okay, what if he needs specific classes with specific teachers?” Stan questioned, he had spent his morning thinking of ridiculous ideas on why Bill would come to their school.
“I’m sure with whatever reason it is he finds the education he needs here,” Ford had been ignoring the ideas his brother had come up with, mostly because they were all not worth the argument on how it was the most stupid reason, “anyway l need to meet him at the principal's office to show him around, I’ll see you and the rest of the group at lunch.”
Rushing to the office Ford was trying to come up with a good message to say, l mean it really isn’t a normal thing to have a conversation with a royal member. Eventually making it, he knocks on the door only entering once he hears a ‘come in’.
“Ah, Stanford! My top student, so glad you’re here, as you are well aware you will be showing our prince around the school,” the principal beamed jestering towards Bill, “now l know you most likely wanted this conversation longer as do l, but being a principal for a school is a full time job!”
With that done Bill exited the room following after his family, Steve still by his side, and having Ford behind him. “Now remember what we talked about, William,” Scalene declared, turning around, “Don’t do anything that a prince wouldn’t do, and Steve l’m counting on you to help,” returning a nod from Steve, then soon exiting the school door and along with her husband back in the carriage.
Watching as it rolls away, Ford turns to the two boys, “l’m guessing you already have your schedule? If we get a look at that we can find what rooms you will be going to today,” he tried to say without making a fool of himself, but thanks to the expressions they gave it seemed like he was able to pass it.
“Oh! Yes, l have it in here somewhere,” Bill responded, digging around in his bag for it, soon handing it over, “so, Ford was it? What magic are you able to do? I assume you would cover multiple subjects because you are the ‘top student’.”
God, Ford hated that he knew it was coming, he knew that with this question would come 100s more, “oh, l actually don’t have any magical abilities. I was born without them, sad but true fact,” Ford laughed off, handing back the schedule, waiting for the unavoidable questions he had answered so many times before.
“Oh my stars, l am so sorry l didn’t know,” Bill whispered, putting a hand over his mouth.
“I mean how could you? And anyway l’m used to it now,” Ford reassured, “but we should really get going, don't wanna be late.” Moving away from the door and gaining a look at Bill's first class, “it seems you would have a potions making class, thankfully magic is not entirely needed my brother and l will be there alongside you.”
“Does your brother not have magic as well? If you don’t mind me asking,” Steve chimed in wanting to gain more knowledge of those who will be in contact with Bill.
“Heh, no he does have magic, l’m the only one sadly,” Ford knew that many people saw him less than as of this fact, saying this to the heir to the throne didn’t help, “between my hands and that l really stand out, huh.”
Bill sinkered at that, not in a rude way but more of understanding, he himself knew what it was like to ‘stand out’. Growing up he realised that he was going to be raised differently than other kids not only for being a royal, but also because of his eye. It was off, Bill was nearly blind out of it due to an accident he had when he was younger, healing magic was able to fix most of his vision but the iris still stayed slightly lighter than the other.
But Steve couldn’t care less at Ford's comment, even ironically out of the three of them Steve stood out the most, he was tall even for a 15 year old, he stood almost at 6 feet, but that wasn’t what stuck out, it was his arms (or lack there of), where his arms should have been there were metal replacers, it was the first thing Ford noticed about him, heck the first thing anybody would’ve noticed. Yet nobody seemed to point it out.
Once Bill entered his first class he immediately noticed that everyone was looking at him, soon after introducing himself, him and Steve took a desk seat behind Ford and his brother, Stan.
After what seemed like an eternity of the teacher talking, she finally gave the class some time to work on potion making. Leading Stan to turn around and try to start a conversation with Bill. “So, l got a question?”
“Is it about my hair or eye?” Bill asked, he knew that when anyone wanted a question answered it was most likely due to any of those two topics.
“Uhh no, l was going to ask about why you chose to come here,” Stan pondered, he sure was going to ask about them at some point or another.
“Well, it was between here or some other random school with kids like me,” responded Bill, “I mean not exactly like me but more of the rich snoopy kind, you know?”
Stan had a confused look on his face, and without a second thought just blurted out “aren’t you a rich snoopy prince?” soon quickly covering his mouth, trying to apologise.
Unexpectedly Bill started laughing, heck Steve joined in as well, who knew calling someone that could make them laugh so hard. “Stars sake, l don’t know what's funnier,” finally composing himself but still trying not to laugh again, Bill continues,”that you think l’m just a rich snoopy person, or that you can’t understand how to be a prince.”
“But aren’t you a-” Stan tried to speak out before he was rudely interrupted by the bell, packing up to move to his next class Bill brought out his schedule again.
———
He was quick with learning new things, finding classes weren’t an exception. This class was one of Bills’ favourite forms of magic, monster making. He found joy in creating different forms of different things, he was glad they had a class for this, as if he wanted to do it before he came here he had to persuade his parents for it.
But what he hated was having to explain to each class that yes, his name is William, he prefers to be called Bill. It’s not ‘cause people didn’t like the idea of someone having a nickname they wished to be called, it was more so the fact that it was coming from someone of higher power than them.
Bill wished that people would view him the same as they would if he was a normal kid walking on the street.
Unlike other classes, monster making didn’t have regular desks, it was more of a big layout with desks spread out, barely any students were actually at them, instead they were near them making a monster (wow who knew!)
Steve suggested going to a pair who wasn’t actively working and see if he could sit with them, Bill agreed and soon started walking around. Many stared as they walked around, Bill trying not to return the contact, while Steve only stood close and analysed the area like he always does.
Noticing a desk where only 2 students sat, unlike the other desks where they had 4 or the occasional 5. Walking over and asking if they could sit, once the two students introduced themselves, the girl on the right who had one eye in the center of her head was Pyronica, with the boy on the left who had slightly wavy golden blonde hair was Jesse.
The two stated that they were working on a monster that could have a form of welded metal incorporated into it. Bill had some form experience with trying to incorporate different things into a monster, suggesting making a metal sort of armor plate and fists. Drawing up a sketch of what it could look like, Jesse started the welding, while Pyronica started the actual monster making, stretching parts, adding new ones, till it could look somewhat like the drawing.
After the bell went, Pyronica invited Bill and Steve to their lunch table, only having a very short time there they agreed, they knew that Ford would have his own group to sit with and he would be fine with them going with others.
———
Making their way over to the table that he always sat at with his friends, Ford noticed someone else, actually two new people walking closer he realised that it was the prince and his courtier. He was glad that during the classes Bill had that he was able to make friends with those he knew.
The conversation, to know one's surprise was on Bill, talking about why he chose to come to this school and what being a royal is like, and so on and so forth. Something Bill seemed to hate was when someone called him a ‘prince’, not because he didn’t like the reminder (although that did play a small role), it was because no one really understood that, yes although being the son of a king he isn’t quite a prince yet. “I need to have my coronation first, then l will be a prince,” he stated, correcting the group he is sat with.
“When does that happen?” Pyronica perks up. “In a few weeks, when l turn 16,” Bill replies, “it normally happens when l get recognised as heir to the throne but my father can’t let that idea be true.”
The conversation continued on. Talking about the similarities of how Bill lives compared to everyone else, what rules he has to follow, and how he wants to live as a royal.
While talking, Lucy and the rest of her squad came over. Standing at the head of the table, “Bill, hey we haven’t seen you around since this morning, how are you?” She said it is a far too real sweet expression.
Bill responded with a simple answer, he felt something off about Lucy’s cheerfulness, already sensing that she is going to ask for something. Lucy persuaded the conversation, asking if he needed help around or if he was lost on looking for a room.
Bill was getting uncomfortable, he found something about her voice unsettling, giving Steve a look that they both knew what it meant ‘get me out of this mess’, they rarely ever used it only on events Bill was forcefully dragged into. Normally Steve could come up with a perfect excuse on the fly, but now he was stuck there wasn’t really anywhere to go, he could only drag Bill to the slightly empty hallways.
Saved by the bell was all Bill could think of when he heard the lunch bell ring, being able to leave the question unanswered. Only having a few classes left, Bill was, although excited for having the opportunity, was glad that the day was ending.
———
Bill's last class was cut short due to him being needed to leave early, to escape the rush of students leaving. As Bill was leaving Steve collected the work that needed to be done, catching back up to Bill.
They walked in a comfortable silence, only having the clamour of students in their classes be heard, walking all the way through to the front door, and there patiently waiting was the carriage and the driver by the door. Bill entered first with Steve following behind, sitting in the same spots they sat earlier that day. Returning home in the same silence.