It's Been Thirty Years

Chapter 2: A Very Long Sleep

Dipper awoke in a daze. He had no idea where he was. There was not a light source to be seen. Soon it came back to him, he had fallen into a pit of some sort and fell asleep Most likely from how he felt, it had only been for a few hours. He tried kicking the ground above him. It was loose. A few kicks and soon daylight peered through.

He slowly climbed out like a zombie. The first thing he did was look at his watch. It was not working. The batteries were dead.

"Great," he said, "I just bought this thing last month!"

Dipper looked at the position of the sun for the time. It was low in the East. Early morning.

"Gosh, I was asleep for that long?" he thought, "Grunkle Stan, Ford and Mabel must be worried sick."

Getting up, he began to walk back to the camp site. Maybe the three had returned to look for him?

The scenery was much different to what he had remembered. The trees looked taller, weeds were much more prominent.

"Grunkle Stan? Grunkle Ford? Mabel?" he yelled. There was no response.

He walked to the campsite. Or at least what was left of it, for when Dipper arrived, there was nothing but trees, leaves, and broken old benches.

He now began to worry. Where was he? Was this the same place? How long had he actually been stuck?

"I gotta get back to the shack" he thought.

Dipper ran through the forest. It was much different to what he remembered. Everything looked taller...and older.

Soon in the horizon the shack appeared. But something was not right. It looked much older, the sign was now an LED and the golf cart was no longer there. Dipper grew more nervous. Where had he ended up? When did he end up?

With a heavy heart, he walked up to the front door and gave it a knock. Something about the whole place made him feel uneasy. He was about to knock again when he heard footsteps approaching. The door swung open. A tall man who looked to be in his 50's stood there.

"Sorry pal, the Mystery Shack is closed today. Come back tomor-

DIPPER"

"Soos?!" he replied.

Dipper could not believe his eyes. There was Soos, standing in front of him, but he was 30 years older.

"Dipper? Is...is it really you?" he said, "Quick, what did I shave into my head when we investigated that mailbox."

"Uh, a baby duck holding a paddleball?" said Dipper.

"Holy Toledo's it really is you, Dipper!"

Soos pulled him into a tight embrace. He was reunited with his long-lost friend.

"Yes, it's me Soos now where am-"

Before he could finish the sentence Soos lifted him up. There were a few tears coming out of his eyes.

"So, I'm not dreaming. You are here. You're alive. And still 13? Wow," said Soos.

"Of course, I am Soos," said Dipper, "I've only been gone for like a day."

Soos looked at him confused.

"Uhh Dipper," he said, "It's been thirty years since you disappeared."