//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11: Lifting Spirits 
// Story: Anon II: The Second Part 
// by 23 KM To Nerdiness 
//------------------------------//

"Sooooo why is it that Donald wears a top with no bottom whereas Mickey wears a bottom with no top?"

"Well, Wally...a duck's privates are hidden by the feathers and a mouse's is.....eh, need I say more?" you state.

"Through all the stuff you've been telling me, Anon, does he ever actually FLY? If he could sing karaoke, shouldn't he at LEAST have the ability of flight?"

"Starlight, I guess he lost his ability to fly while in the navy or something, I don't know. I told you it's nothing to really look deep into!"

It's been a while since the four of you have taken this 'treacherous' journey of average proportions at the crack of dawn. And at the moment, ToonTown, once again, cannot be comprehended by the oh, so ignorant unicorn pal of yours.

"I'm telling you, it's not rocket science."

"I think it's kinda silly....i-in a good way, I mean."

"See?! Wallflower here gets it!"

"Kaga!"

"Spirit, you are NOT a duck."

"Oh Anon, let him be a duck. Who's a cute little duck? YOU are, YOU are." Glimmy coos.

"Ack, ack!" the colt squawks loudly.

"Fine, you can be a duck."

[Just pray it's wabbit season.]

Soon, you stumble across an incredibly wide log blocking the dirt path ahead.

"Ah, would you look at that, a road block." Wally sighs in 'disappointment'. "Well, we better turn back and-"

You rush over to one side of the barricade. Spirit babbles cheerfully as you slowly lift the obstacle with all of your might, eventually flipping the log over to the other side and flexing your flabby muscles in triumph. "I have the POWAHHHHHHH- AUGH, my back!!!"

"H-How.....w-with the.....and t-the......"

"Long story short, Wally: a portal has something to do with it."

"Darn it."

"Hm, you seem to have gotten stronger, huh?" Starlight asks.

"Yup, Bulk hooked me up with a membership a few weeks back. I remember doing about 25 in the pool almost every day."

"Laps?"

"No, cannonballs."

"I shoulda known." the unicorn snickers. "I don't think that'll work for you if you keep stuffing your face on the daily."

"Now, that is not true."

"Anon, you order the 'Feeding Frenzy Special' for TWO every time we go to Windy's."

"At least he ordered two for-"

"Oh, those two were for HIM, Wallflower. I had to constantly swat him away each time he tries to swipe my dish as well."

"Those were terrible times, being swatted at like some sort of flea-bitten creature." you say, scratching your neck.

Suddenly, the sound of dirt crumbling grows louder and louder from behind. Apparently, someone must've taken that wrong turn at Albuquerque because a long mound of dirt is creeping closer towards you all. There, Wallflower turns around and stare daggers at the mound. "I thought I told you to stay home!" she barks.

The dirt stops in its tracks and out of the soil rose Mr. Jammers.

"No, I said it was too dangerous! I already said you can't come. Go back home, now."

The tall thing hangs in shame before sinking back into the ground.

"Wait." you stop him. "Maybe he can help us. You know, supply us with food or something."

Mr. Jammers' large leaves clap in excitement as he pats you on the head.

"He's a rare specimen, he's never been this far from home. H-He's-"

"A grown plant who can take care of himself. The flower must bloom eventually. Do it for your bud."

The peeved mare drops her head and sighs. "Fine, he can come too. But we're having a serious conversation young vine."

".......that was pretty bad, Anon."

"Yeah, I know, Glim."



"Roses are red, violets are blue, I just wanna tell you......where is my super sui- UGH, this is stupid!"

You and the others took a break in an open field so that Wallflower can berate the large plant. Right now, you're resting against a tree with Spirit, trying to come up with some witty pick-up lines in the dirt...

And you know how well THAT is turning out.

"Okay, let's try this again: Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm dtf......what about yo- FART NUGGET!" you exclaim, burying your face into your hands. You look up and see your greedy pal in the distance gobbling away at her FOURTH jar under the shade of a tall tree. You sigh and lay beside the baby's crate, staring at the cloudy sky.

"Spirit, do you think I have a chance with Star?"

The little colt sticks his head out and spits up a little jam on the ground.

"Thanks for the encouragement. Though, why am I asking you? You don't understand a word I'm saying, do ya?"

"Tuga-ee." he coos, rocking his crate over to its side. Spirit crawls on top of you and playfully bounces on your stomach like a freshly made mattress.

"Hey, hey! What are you doing? My belly is NOT for bouncing."

"Ba-yah!"

"No, no, no. We're gonna have to set some ground rules. FIRSTLY, the only one who's getting their tummy messed with is YOURS."

You pick up the laughing baby and blow a BIG raspberry against his tummy, causing the little one to burst into hysterical giggles as he tries desperately to escape your grasp. Spirit claps his wee hooves.

"You think that's funny now, huh?"

"Gabaha!" he squeals in delight.

"Well, better brace yourself for THIS."

Laying the baby on his back, you deal a devastating assault of perpetual tickles. Spirit bursts into absolutely adorable laughter, flailing around before breaking your hold of him and frantically crawling behind the tree.

"Hmmmm......where, oh where did that little pony go?"

You hear him snickering behind the tree.

"Could he be......HERE?"

Behind the tree, there's nothing in sight.

"Oh.....well could he be right HERE?"

Still nothing. There, you see a little shaking bump under Spirit's purple blanket.

"He must've turned invisible or something. I have absolutely no ide-AH HA!!!"

You dive for the cover and nab the sneaky kid from under, toppling around on the ground as you capture the mini monster.

"GOTCHA!"

"Ahhhh-heehee!"

"Gooooing UP."

You toss the colt a little in the air and catch him. 

"Ah, ah!"

"You wanna go again? Gooooing UP."

You toss Spirit a little higher and catch him again. "Gooooing UP!"

"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee......"

His cheerful cries fade away.

"Where'd you go?"

"Eeyah!" a voice echoes above you.

Up at the tip of the tall tree hangs the happy horse, diaper snagged on the highest branch.

"Enjoying yourself up there?"

"Ahahaha!"

"Ya know, you seem to think every small thing is entertaining, huh? Think me having to chase your crazy flank is downright hilarious, hm? And here I am, CLIMBING this tree, risking my life saving a sneaky rugrat like you." 

"Heehee."

"You can be a real goofster sometimes. But you know what.....?"

The little one continues giggling at you.

"I like you, though. You're a brave little squirt, I'll give you that."

The little unicorn starts nibbling on your thumb as you pluck him off the branch. "Aw, come on. I JUST dried that, ya little goober."

There, you set him down on his blanket...

Wait a sec.....this is a pretty tall tree. You didn't even climb down yet. Looking back, however, you notice the skinny tree bent all the way down to the colt's level.

"Oooooh, buck-"

The seemingly weak hunk of wood suddenly swings back and body slams you onto the hard ground with great force, covering your white shirt jacket in even more dirt and leaves. Spirit scurries over you and grabs a hold of your shirt and starts gumming it to oblivion. "Mmmgah!"

"Y-Yeah, I like you t-too..."

Later that night...

The five of you set up camp for the night surrounding a small, yet brightly lit fire, courtesy of Wally and Mr. Jammers, who already decided to call it a night. At the moment, your little scamp is hanging from your arms with foalish glee and an endless dose of energy.

"Sweet CELESTIA, Spirit, are you still going?!"

"Try- UGH, shoo! Try a lullaby." Starlight grunts, swatting at bugs five feet away from her.

"I'm not the singing type, you know that, right?"

"Wouldn't hurt to try- AWAY WITH YOU!"

"I'll try."

You clear your throat and hold the hyped horse eye-level with you.


"Close your eyes, shut your mouth
Dream a dream and get us ou-"


"Anon! Anything but THAT will do, thanks."

"Mr. Walkman, do your thing."



As the song plays, Spirit's shining eyelids start to collapse.

"Are you ready for nap nap this time?"

"Ah...nah." he coos drowsily.

"D-Did you just try to say 'Anon'?"

"Ah......mmm..." the cuddly colt yawns, warmly curling up on your lap and sucking his hoof as he begins to softly snore.

"Anon, are you crying?" Starlight asks.

"N-No, I'm fine, Glimmy. P-Pollen gets me teary eyed." you sniffle.

"There's no pollen around for miles here." Wally states, climbing in her vine hammock.

"W-Well I'm allergic to something, okay?!"

Starlight grabs the baby's blanket and sits beside you as she carefully wraps the tired thing up nice and snug and lays him back in your lap. "Well, you're stuck there." she adds.

"What do you mean?"

"When a little foal's on you, you're required by baby LAW not to move."

"Hey, if I'm going down..."

Spirit's head inches over and rests upon the unicorn's lap.

"So are you."

"Seriously?!" she whispers in anger. "Ugh, fine."

And so, you lay back and snuggle with your pal and your son little buddy huddled up together. All as one big, happy......group of odd individuals...