Chapter 10

Like Michael J. Fox

The wind died. The whole world ceased to move. Dipper stared along the expanse of beach at the woman who had tried to make his life a living hell. She was slowly walking towards him, a smile on her face and hate in her eyes. She slowly clenched and unclenched her fingers as they crackled in silver flames. Terror filled the young boy's stomach the closer she came to him, her lithe figure seemed to radiate malevolence. Barely ten feet from him she stopped, crossing one arm over her chest while the other slowly tapped her chin.

"Dipper Pines. Dipper. Pines. What am I going to do with you? Why can't you just sit back and let the world just fall to pieces? You might have lived a little bit longer that way."

"Wh-what are you planning Jessica? No matter what we will stop you."

Jessica let her smile shift into a grin, teeth flashing in the moonlight. She raised a single finger, and Dipper found himself floating in mid-air unable to move.

"So you intend to stop me. You have no idea what I'm capable of, child." Jessica sighed. "I had hoped that you'd see my way of looking at things, but I see that I have no choice but to be rid of you. Poor Wendy, she's going to be so upset. Well, at least while she remembers you."

At the mention of his girlfriend, Dipper increased his struggle at his invisible bonds. No matter what he tried he couldn't free himself, all he could do was stare at Jessica in loathing. "I WILL STOP YOU. YOU HEARTLESS BI-" Dipper felt an unseen force press over his mouth, silencing his protests.

Jessica closed the distance between them, bringing a hand to pat his face. "There, there. Take heart in the fact you won't be around to see the next boy she falls for. Oh, and I wouldn't count on your family to do much either. If anything they're even easier to manipulate."

Jessica raised both hands in front of her, fingers now glowing like stars. Dipper heard a horrible tearing sound from behind him as she stretched her arms wide. He managed to turn his head slightly to stare over his shoulder. His mind flinched. A hole. A hole in reality, right behind him.

"Enjoy whatever hell you land in." Jessica spoke barely above a whisper, casually flicking her fingers at him. Dipper felt his body fly toward the crack in the fabric of space-time.

"WEEEENNNNNDDDDYYYYYY!" Dipper screamed as the breach began to close around him.

The wind died. The whole world ceased to move. Jessica Corduroy stared across the moonlit lake.

"Good-Bye Dipper Pines. You will not be missed."

/

Dipper's mind was assaulted with infinite possibilities of an infinite number of realities as he fell through the rift. I NEED TO GET BACK! I HAVE TO STOP HER BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. Dipper concentrated on home, on his friends, on his family. On Wendy.

A light flashed into his eyes blinding him, as he landed on solid ground. Rubbing his eyes to chase away the spots, he noticed he was on a beach by a lake. "I'm hom-." The word stuck in his throat as he took in the blood red sky, and the rottenness of the trees. Ok Dipper, don't freak out. You landed in a new reality. You just need to figure out what's different and who can help. No problem right? I am so screwed. With a heavy sigh, he started in the direction of town, completely unaware of the eyes watching him from the forest.

The sound of his shoes slapping the pavement echoed through the empty street. Dipper had been walking downtown for the better part of a half hour and hadn't seen a single person. Every shop was either boarded up, or the windows were smashed in. Where is everyone…the shops look like they were abandoned years ago. And the houses that I've passed didn't look much better. I wonder what happened in this reality to make them abandon everything. Dipper felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He slowly spun around, his eyes darting everywhere. He could feel someone, no something watching him.

"Come out! I know you're there!" Dipper shouted, his voice echoing through the empty streets.

A ragged, weathered man crawled out from behind a rusting car. His hair was long and matted, a dirty beard grew on his face. His scraps of clothing revealed a gaunt, withered frame. Shuffling toward the boy he stopped. The old man's eyes narrowed as he croaked out. "Di-Dip-Dipper Pines? Is that you?"

Dipper could only nod. Who was this old man?

"You're supposed to be dead." The old man stated simply.

"Um…I'm sorry? Look truth be told I'm not even sure where I am. See I fell through a rift in space-time, now I'm just trying to find someone who can help me get back to my dimension." Dipper explained, trying to sound like he wasn't crazy.

The old man's face split into a grin, which changed his features into someone recognizable.

"PIKE?! Is that you?"

"So she didn't kill you, that's almost a relief, well not really, considering…I hate to tell you this Dipper but you don't need to go back to your dimension. You need to go back to your time."

"What do you mean time?"

"Dipper…you've been gone for almost ten years."

The words hung in the air as Dipper struggled to process this information. I didn't land in another dimension. I got thrown through time to the future. Ten years.

The events of the night finally caught up to him, he felt his knees give out, as he collapsed in the street.

/

Dipper awoke to the sound of a small crackling fire in the center of an abandoned building. His head was pounding and his skin itched like crazy. Pike was standing in a corner of the room watching his every move. He grinned manically. "HEY MCFLY!" He snorted, pleased at his joke. "I've been waiting hours to say that."

Dipper grimaced at the bad joke.

"You're lucky it was me that found you. There's plenty of other nasty stuff wandering around now that would be happy to eat first and ask questions later. So what's the story kid? How'd you wind up here?"

Dipper was still struggling to grasp the fact that he was in the future. "She-she threw me into the rift. I was drifting…Pike, what happened? Where is everyone?"

Pike's face went cold as he looked away. "We lost kid. You were gone, no one could stop her. She threw the rift wide open. The world went haywire, magic ran wild, creatures like you wouldn't believe everywhere. Hell happened Dipper."

Dipper shuddered. "And our friends? My family?"

"Long gone, or worse. The ones who kept fighting her, she damned them. Used her magic to make them into monsters. Twisted versions of who they used to be."

"But we can save them right, we can- "

"LOOK! IT'S OVER! WE LOST! THERE IS NO SAVING ANYONE!" Rage was etched all over Pike's face. His eyes seemed to glow red in the fire light.

His eyes…oh no…oh please no. "She got you too didn't she?" Dipper asked, slowly backing away. "The one thing you hate more than anything…Stay the hell away from me vampire."

Pike smiled, putting his fangs on full display. "Like I said Dip, we lost. Now I get to live out the rest of eternity in this nightmare she's created."

"Why-Why didn't you bite me while I was asleep? You said you had hours."

"Heh. It's still me in here Dipper. I'm just a little more fangy. Every moment of my existence is pure hell to me. You think I'd make it worse by biting you? Not worth it kid." Pike blew out a deep sigh. "Now what the hell are we gonna do about you?"

"Huh? What do you mean 'do about me'?"

"Kid the fact that you're alive and here right now, it's not going to take her very long to find you. Nothing happens that Jess doesn't know about. And I really don't want to see what she'd do to you." Pike shuddered at the thought. Pike motioned for Dipper to follow him as he made his way outside. "Plus I don't think you could handle it."

Dipper stumbled as his vision blurred, the pounding in his skull growing more intense. "What do you mean I couldn't handle it?" He muttered through gritted teeth.

Pike silently cursed himself for the slip. "Let's just say she looks a little different now and…oh shit. Dipper you need to run right now!"

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Dipper looked in the direction Pike was facing. A large black dragon it's scales shimmering like the northern lights was moving swiftly in their direction. Aurora… A flash of red could be seen waving in the wind over the dragon's shoulder. "Pike is that…?"

"DIPPER YOU NEED TO MOVE NOW! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD RUN!" Pike screamed over his shoulder as he bolted into the cover of the rotten woods.

But…it's Wendy. Why would I need to run? He forced his legs to move, following Pike deep into the fetid undergrowth. "What the hell man? Is Wendy that pissed- " A hand over his mouth silenced him.

"That's not Wendy."

Dipper forced the hand away. "What the hell do you mean? Who else has hair like that?"

Sorrow was etched in every line of Pike's face. "I keep forgetting that you weren't here. Be thankful that you didn't have to watch it happen. I'm sorry Dip, but Wendy is gone."

"But…but she was…I just saw…" The realization that all his friends and family were truly gone, was starting to hit home.

"Yeah I know. You saw her, but I promise, I swear. No matter what she looks like that is not Wendy."

"Wait, what?"

"We really don't have time for a history lesson kid. We need to move fast before she decides to just burn the woods down around us."

"I'm not moving until you tell me what the hell is going on." Dipper said stubbornly.

A deafening roar echoed around them, signaling the presence of the one who they were running from. "Perhaps I can explain better."

Dipper's mind broke. There stood the girl he loved, looking more beautiful than he could remember. Her bronze hair blowing around her gently in the breeze, her green eyes, piercing his very soul. But her voice, was not the one he remembered. It dripped with malice, with such hate that he swore. Dipper's eyes flew wide. That's Jessica…oh god…what the hell did she do?

"See Oliver, I didn't even need to say anything and little Dipper here understands perfectly." She smiled. "Poor Dipper, I never thought I'd see you again. I had a little work done, Do you like?" Jessica said hatefully as she spun in a circle. "It took so much energy to open the rift, I needed a new body. Luckily I had thought to prepare one ages ago. Aren't children grand?"

Every emotion left Dipper's body save one. Rage. His hands clenched into fists hard enough to draw blood from his palms. Wendy was gone, all so this crazy witch could play god. Dipper stared at her, his eyes filled with loathing and contempt. He had nothing left to lose, if this was the future, then he wanted nothing to do with it. "I'm going to end you."

Cold laughter rang out through the night. "Oh… oh you're serious. That's absolutely pathetic. You couldn't even touch me ten years ago. And I'm sure Oliver's filled you in, my power has done nothing but increase since I opened the rift. How could you even possibly think you are a threat to me?"

Dipper smiled, a cold thin smile. "Sometimes, I'm a little slow. It just now clicked that you opened the rift and yes I'm sure that your magic is that much stronger now." Dipper paused, letting his smile grow into a grin. "I can channel rift energy, that's my power Jessica and you've infused it into Every. Single. Thing."

Jessica's face had shifted from confident to cautious. "You're bluffing. No 'Star-Child' has ever been able to handle pure rift energy before."

Dipper took a deep breath and opened his mind, letting the power flow. Silver flames flowed over his skin, brighter than the noontime sun. His headache began to ease as he released some of the built up energy. "I told you I would stop you Jessica, I just wish that I had been able to save everyone." Time to let it all go. No holding back. This is how it ends. Dipper closed his eyes and let the energy take him. As he let it go, he pulled more in constantly adding fuel to the ever growing fire.

"Heh, I always knew you had it in you kid. See you on the other side Dip."

"NO! I WILL NOT LOSE TO SOME NOTHING CHILD! NO! NO! N-" Jessica's screams were silenced as the light from the 'Star-Child' went supernova.

I'm sorry. I just wish I could have done better. Dipper could feel his body start to grow weak. He could see nothing but a blinding wall of silver. If only I had been there. I could have prevented all of this. Wendy…I'm sorry. And Dipper Pines knew no more.

/

Four children stood in the middle of the woods. Warm sunlight sifted through the leaves, creating a kaleidoscope of green light. A body lay unmoving on a bed of moss.

"Do you think he's DEAD?" The larger boy asked.

"Of course he isn't, stupid. It looks like he's either asleep or unconscious." A young girl with raven hair replied.

"I wonder how he got out here in the first place? I don't think I've ever seen him around town before." A boy with glasses offered.

"Hey, he's dressed like that one guy from the time travel movies. HEY MCFLY!"

Dipper Pines eyes flew open staring at the four teens gathered around him.

"SHUT up Ollie. This is NO time for your SILLY jokes."

"Hey take it easy. Are you ok? Are you hurt at all? My name's Jess. Do you remember how you got out here?"

Please let this be a really weird coincidence. Please don't tell me I'm…

"These are my friends Danny, Jacob, and the little idiot is Oliver. What's your name?"

Crap. Double Crap. I am so screwed. First the Future, now the Past. What do I do, what do I do? I can royally change the future just by being here…unless I'm supposed to be here. Shit.

"HELLO, you OK in there KID? Do you think he HIT his HEAD or something guys?" A young Manly Dan Corduroy asked.

"Huh, oh yeah, sorry I was just…yeah I hit my head. So um…how did you guys find me?" Dipper asked. He tried to stand but almost immediately lost his balance. His head still was throbbing after…NO don't think about it…if I can get home I can fix all of it.

Jessica's hand was on his shoulder. "You need to take it slow ok. You don't want to hurt yourself worse."

Oliver snickered. "Better watch out bro, you might have some competition." Oh hell no.

Dan didn't even bat an eye as he leveled a backhand into his younger brother's shoulder.

"Look can you just tell me where in the forest I am, I need to get back to town." And hopefully figure out a way out of this mess.

"Well, the Hut is about 15 minutes that way." Jacob said pointing over his shoulder. "My uncle owns the place."

"The Mystery Shack…"Shit. Now you've done it.

"Mystery Shack? No it's called the Murder Hut. Although Mystery Shack does sound a lot cooler."

"Yeah Jack, you should totally tell old man Pines to change the name, maybe then more people would start to show up."

"You know what Ollie, maybe I will. Thanks for the idea…wait what's your name kid?"

"Well its getting late. Thanks again for the help. I need to get going." Dipper smiled as he started to make his way past the teens and into the forest. As soon as he was a few feet past them he broke into a run. I need to get the hell away from them now!

"Hey WAIT! Wow what a WEIRD kid."

"Yeah Dan, there was something really familiar about him, but I can't quite put my finger on it."

"Whatever, Jess. Look are we still gonna go to the caves? You promised." Oliver asked.

Ruffling his hair. "Yeah come on kid, let's go see if we can find these 'Star-Caves' I read about."

/

Dipper was racing through the trees, doing his best to get as far away from those kids as fast as he could. As the trees thinned out Dipper slowed. Wait…I'm near the wisps pond…maybe I can get some help from him.

/

Night was swiftly approaching, the last rays of the setting sun making the trees cast long shadows. Dipper sat unmoving at the edge of the still pond. He had been waiting hours and still the wisp hadn't shown. "Come on. How long are you going to make me sit here waiting? I need to talk to you damn it."

As the final traces of sunlight faded away, a small orb of light appeared on the pond.

"Finally, man I was half afraid you weren't gonna show. Look I know this is gonna sound crazy but-"

"Dipper Pines. What are you doing here?"

Dipper stopped, taken back, stunned into silence. He stared blinking at the small orb the was glowing like soft starlight.

"How…wait…but...you…what?"

The wisps light began to pulse and grow, moving slowly to the shore. Light flared forcing Dipper to cover his eyes. As the spots receded, the wisp was gone. In its place stood a hunched old man, his eyes twinkling like stars.

"Hehehe. Dipper Pines. I know all my children. Now then, please explain why you are running about the past."

Dipper gulped, knew this man, he would recognize him anywhere. Once again Dipper Pines found himself in the presence of the First 'Star-Child'.

/

Stay Tuned Next Time For Chapter Eleven: Shooting Star Rising

Wow, we hit the 3000 mark. I never thought I'd even come close to that. You guys freaking rock.

SHOUTOUTS! NecroticHate, Guest, Im So Bored Right Now, thereader16, Guest Reviewer, NyaNyaKittyFace, fereality, LimboticMistisos, MorgothII, and geekngroom. Thanks for the reviews. I love getting the feedback.

We are getting close. It will all come to a head soon. You've been warned.

Peace