Dipper sat impatiently as time kept passing. He had never been this anxious since his first attempts to woo Wendy at the Dusk 2 Dawn. Stress sweat trickled down the side of his neck as he remained sitting, waiting…
He tapped his fingers on the cold floor nervously. For the millionth time he checked his watch. He had set a timer for one hour, and every few seconds he would check the timer again wondering if the time would drastically change. Unfortunately for Dipper, it didn't.
He checked his watch yet again. There was still another 20 minutes left. Dipper sighed in annoyance.
Why are they wasting time like this? It's not like they have anything better to do other than loaf around and mill about. If the training is as vigorous as Blendin says it is, why isn't this in priority of Time Baby? He did say the universe was at stake, but what could possibly be more important than my training? Dipper thought to himself, still wondering the motives of Time Baby.
You should be more careful when you're thinking, young Dipper. Boomed a deep voice in Dipper's head.
Dipper jumped up in surprise and looked around the large, poorly lit room.
"Who goes there?" Said Dipper, trying to sound manly, but unfortunately voice cracks when saying so. "Who? I'm warning you, I faced some sort of demigod and held my own, so don't mess around. Who's there?"
Dipper felt the presence of something very large behind him. Instinctively he dove and rolled on the ground to gain distance from the being and took a defensive pose, grabbing the nearest loose object, that being his own journal four and faced where the foe would be.
But there was nothing there behind where he was.
You're confused… I can sense it. The voice echoed again in his head.
Dipper took a couple of steps back. "What the hell's going on?"
This is beyond your comprehension, and not even remotely discovered in those journals you possess. Not even the one in your hand.
"I'm not going to ask again, who are you?" Said Dipper, looking around himself to find the being possessing his head. It didn't make sense. How is the unknown being able to communicate in his head?
I am one you know. Said the voice. Someone you know that you will encounter in the near future. Someone with near limitless power. Someone aiming at the target right on your back.
"That can be anyone." Said Dipper. "I don't know why, but I have a lot of enemies."
It's a shame I found you right before your 'training' session with Diaper Rash, otherwise you might actually stand a chance against me.
"You! How in hell did you get here?" Said Dipper to the being, still not knowing where it is.
It wasn't that hard, after all, I am still largely in control of time itself. You can't hide yourself from me forever, young Dipper.
"You don't scare me. Show yourself!"
I can sense your fear. You're a smart boy. You would make a great apprentice of mine. You know, it's never too late to join me.
"Are you kidding me? I'd never work with you! Not a chance!"
What a shame. The cold voice echoed. You could've been an excellent right hand man of mine.
"The hell I could!" Shouted Dipper angrily at the voice in his head. He knew the voice was getting the better of him, and he allowed it. "After what you've done to my great uncle there's no way I'd fall for your tricks!"
The voice laughed. You said that right before that sock opera. Despite what you think, you're not as mentally strong as you think.
Dipper scowled. "Things have changed in the last three years. You of all people should know that."
Another round of laughter. In my billions of years of existence, I've learned that humans are creatures of habit. Only the strongest in will are able to break that. Even as I'm reading your mind I know that though you are well on your way, you still aren't able to change. You've defeated me a handful of times but you still fear me. Why?
Dipper paused. Never before had he ever had his greatest enemy ask such a sincere, interesting and innocent question. The voice had a point too. Why was he so scared of his enemy when he's defeated him plenty of times before?
"I…I've always had this one fear of you that I haven't admitted to anyone. Not even my sister." He started.
Go on.
"I've always feared that in every time we faced, you were holding back each time, because we're kids." Said Dipper. "I'm more scared now because I know you won't be holding back on us if you obtain infinite power. Honestly, I'm just trying to act brave for Mabel so she doesn't flip out. I'm not supposed to be the coward! I'm supposed to protect her!"
You're not really doing a very good job.
"I know that!" Snapped Dipper. "Thanks for telling me!"
If it makes you feel any better, I won't kill them until you show up again.
"How's that supposed to make me feel better?"
During recent times, especially right now, you are desperate for any optimism. Honestly I'm doing you a favor.
"I believe the exact opposite." replied Dipper. "You've been saying the same things over and over again. You're all bark and no bite. So why are you here, other than being redundant?"
I am here and I am not here. I am in every single thought in your head. I am every nightmare you've ever had. I can see every one of your fears.
"That doesn't make any sense. What are you trying to say?"
A shadowy wisp of smoke emerged in front of Dipper. Two blood red eyes glowed like rhinestones. What fears you most?
"What kind of question is that?"
What fears you most,boy? I already know it, so spit it out.
"How do you know if I don't even know?"
You fear failure. Failure to stop me. The failure to save your loved ones. However, this isn't your greatest fear, isn't it?
"Then what is?"
It was difficult to reach, but once I attained it, it was pretty simple.
Dipper got more curious now than defensive. Could the figure be dropping clues to defeat himself? He let down his guard. "Tell me."
The crimson blots morphed into an electric blue fire. Your deepest, darkest fear is… the shadowy figure paused, probably for dramatic effect, or to annoy Dipper. Either way, the reasons showed.
The Unknown.
Dipper stared at the figure blankly. "What the hell does that mean?"
It means anything and everything. Every single thing unknown to you in existence. Your greatest fear is what's in this town. The legends. The myths. Everything but the facts, and as you of all people should know, something is most dangerous when it is unfamiliar. The Spanish explorers to the Native Americans is the best example I can think of. Most supernatural theories share this as well, like the famed Gobblewonker and Bigfoot.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Great question. That's why I have respect for you. I'm just saying that you may or may not need that information. Also, it's never fun to murder someone when he doesn't even have a chance.
The eyes shifted back into red. Well, that about sums up my time here. Enjoy your little training montage, kid.
Dipper opened his mouth to say something, but the smoke dissolved before he could utter a word. The coldness of the dark room warmed back up.
Suddenly a fire emerged on the floor. Its waves danced and leaped and spelled out three words.
BEWARE THE UNKNOWN
"Beware the unknown?" he read to himself. "Why is that so important?"
The wisps of fire burned out, leaving the large, empty room in its original state.
"What the fuck?"
Suddenly a loud sound erupted, splitting the silence of the room wide open. Dipper looked down to where the noise was coming from.
The pings belonged to none other than Dipper's watch. The timer had finally run out.
I wonder if he even remembers I'm in here. He thought to himself. I even doubt it
The door opened. Out loomed the largest baby in existence. Dipper started walking towards him, about to flood him with questions.
Before he could say anything, the time lord raised his hand for silence.
"Your training starts now." boomed the baby.
Dipper put his hand down and nodded. The presence of the time lord humbled him greatly. The infant behemoth turned to him. "What did he say?"
Dipper raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What did who say?"
"Cipher. What did he say? I must know. This information is extremely important."
"He said something about fear of the unknown. He kept repeating that phrase as he left."
Time Baby pondered a bit, then nodded. "Then that changes some plans." he said. "You will have to start with the mental training first."
"Mental training?"
"You will learn how to defend your mind. This is essential for survival against enemies like Cipher." he said. "Only those with the strongest mental disciplines have the slightest chance of victory."
"Slightest? How good are my chances now?"
"You have an approximate one in six-hundred eighteen trillion chance right now." said Time Baby frankly. "A pretty slim chance, but, once you complete both training aspects, you will have a one in seven-hundred thousand chance for succeeding. Although it is still a slim chance, it is a much greater chance."
Dipper grinned. "I've faced worse odds."
"No you haven't." corrected Time Baby. "Your odds are at least twenty times worse than before."
Dipper's smile vanished. "Beating him three years ago felt like doing the impossible."
"Well, if a one in thirty-five thousand chance is impossible, the odds now are almost zero."
"How did you calculate that?"
"I am a lord of space and time. There is an infinite number of dimensions, each with a different timeline. I see over every timeline. And about one in every thirty-five thousand dimensions, you would be victorious three years ago. Likewise with one every 700,000 and six-hundred eighteen trillion."
"There are multiple Bills?"
"Not quite. In your equivalent to three years' time, he has control over most of the dimensions that have beaten him in Weirdmageddon."
"So why is this battle so important if there's countless others going on as well?"
Time Baby sighed. "This will put a large burden on you, but your dimension is a staple dimension. All the universes ave at least one staple dimension. For your universe, there are four staple dimensions, each uniquely different from the other. However, your dimension is the root of all the other staples, and this universe."
"What you're saying is I'm the most important Dipper?"
"In this universe, yes, but don't let that get in your head. Your other selves, while they're not quite as smart as you, but most of them are more powerful than you."
"Oh. Well what does this mean about defeating Bill?"
"You will need all three of the other staple Dippers in order to gain the maximum potential and free all the other dimensions."
"Why is it that I must do it?"
"Think about it. There's only one of me. I mainly station at your dimension."
"Where are you going with this?"
"All of the dimensions in this universe is connected to this one. If Cipher takes over this dimension, the entire universe is doomed. If he takes over here and kills you, you will die in all the other dimensions."
Dipper's eyes widened. "Damn. That puts a lot of pressure on me."
"Along with countless lives on your back."
"Thanks." Dipper said sarcastically.
The Time Babby closed his eyes and waited. Dipper stared at him, speechless, mostly out of confusion. Suddenly the entire room started disappearing, even the floor under his feet. He gasped as he and the Time Baby started floating in space, where billions upon billions of stars encompassed the vast majority of space on the dark purple surrounding. To Dipper, it looked very familiar.
"Where are we?"
"You've been here." said Time Baby, still not opening his eyes. "Approximately three years ago you faced Bill for the first time."
"I'm in Stan's mind again?"
"Close. You're in the mindscape. It's a very open domain, but through the course of the universe, only one exists. Every single mind to ever exist in the universe is here, even the alternate versions and the deceased."
"Cool, but why am I here?"
"In order to have the slightest chance of defeating Cipher, you will need all of the information from your staple counterparts. This is the only place to meet them safely and not risk destroying the fabric of reality."
"I get to meet the other me's? That's mind blowing! When will this happen?"
"You will meet them in due time, but only after you accomplish the mental training. Then you will apply your new skills from your counterparts in the physical training."
"Great When can we start the mental training?"
Time Baby smiled. "You are very persistent. We may start now." He lifted up his finger and gently placed it on Dipper's forehead. For Dipper a very great and sharp pain coursed through his head, causing him to scream violently. Time Baby lifted his finger up.
Dipper felt blood come up and pour out of his nose. He dry heaved. "What the hell was that?!"
"You wanted to get started, so I got started." Time Baby replied. "That was a demonstration. In order to outwit Cipher, you must learn to be patient. What I did right there, in case you were wondering, was that I attempted to give you only a small fraction of all-knowingness. In that split second you have learned more than all that was ever learned in the world."
"I just learned all of mankind's history and more?"
"You would have, but your current mental capacity rejected it. You must first learn to control your brain's neurological patterns in order to absorb this necessary information. Then you can be able to unlock new abilities."
"So I need training for the training, in order to apply to the other training, only to have the smallest chance at pulling it off?"
The Time Baby nodded.
"Alright, let's do the impossible."
A/N: Holy hell, it's been awhile since I updated any of my stories. Well, here's Chapter 20! This helps you guys with how the Falls universe. I'll do my best to write as much as I can over the holiday break, but I'm not guaranteeing it. Thanks to you guys for the continuing support of this story! I really appreciate it!