Apprentice {Gravity Falls}

The Time Traveler's Son

Madieiguess and I were up until like midnight talking about this, so here it is! Also, some parts of this are from her ideas so yee!

Ford was out exploring the forest alone. He usually brought Dipper with him, but Stan had kept him busy at the Mystery Shack for some reason or another.

So, when he heard the familiar footsteps of his apprentice, this caught him off guard. Dipper knew the forest well enough to find his way around, but the elder still preferred to keep an eye on his boy.

"Dipper?" Ford called out, as his nephew wasn't in view point. A few minutes later, rustling sounded. That must be Dipper!

And it was Dipper... except it wasn't. This Dipper wore a brown star cap, a red cardigan, and a black shirt with a planet. He looked younger than Dipper was now, and scared, "H-how do you know my name?"

Ford didn't answer, "You're not from here, are you?" The boy nodded.

"Come with me," Ford offered, "I can help get you home!" He wasn't sure of that, but he had to help! The poor kid was probably terrified, all alone in the future. Besides, Ford missed most of Dipper's earlier life due to being stuck in the portal. He could use this as a chance to make up for lost time!

Dipper reluctantly began to follow Ford back to the Mystery Shack.

"Do you know how you ended up here?" Ford asked. If past!Dipper knew how he time traveled, then maybe he would have an idea on how to get home.

Dipper shrugged, "I'd say time travel, but that's crazy."

"No, you're correct!" Ford exclaimed, "You have time traveled here."

Dipper lit up, "I'm correct? I really have time traveled here?" He questioned, "Everyone at home tells me I'm crazy. They say the supernatural isn't real and to stop wasting my time looking into it..." he sighed.

"Yeah, I heard that a lot when I was younger too," Ford chuckled. Another question began to form, "How old are you anyway?"

"Ten," Dipper paused, "But, but just because I'm only ten doesn't mean my ideas are worthless! I'm not worthless!" He said this as if he was trying to prove it to himself.

Ford frowned, "Of course you're not worthless!"

"I know!" The chuckle he gave afterwards made this statement seem false, "Sometimes the other kids at school say I am though."

"I'm so sorry, son," the elder sighed. Why were all the other kids so mean to Dipper? What did Dipper do to invoke their wrath? Nothing! His birthmark didn't give the other kids an excuse to pick on him. "It's fine, it's fine!" The boy exclaimed. Ford knew it wasn't fine.

The elder gave a small smile seeing the Mystery Shack in sight. However, another problem came up. His Dipper would surely know it was his past self. Two Dippers in the same spot could ruin the timeline.

"So, you know about time travel?" Ford questioned, "What do you know about it?"

"One little change in the past could create a whole new future!" Dipper exclaimed, "Oh! So I probably shouldn't reveal to anyone I'm from the past. I could go by a different name... like Alex!"

Ford smiled, "You're awfully smart!"

"But... what about my clothes? Wouldn't someone recognize me?"

"I'll figure something out. But, as soon as we enter that building, your name is Alex and you can't show anyone your birthmark!"

'Alex' nodded as they entered the building.