//------------------------------//
// The Animator 
// Story: Doctor Whooves Episode 14: Work of Fiction 
// by Doctor Perseus 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 3: The Animator


Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, New Jersey, America, Earth, Summer, 2012 A.D.

For a moment, Twilight Sparkle and Tara Strong locked eyes. Here they were: voice actress and character meeting at last for the first time. Tara then said nervously, "I must be going crazy."
Twilight gave a similarly nervous smirk before saying, "Don't worry, you're not." Tara backed up and gasped. The other voice actors followed suit. Twilight, with no other choices in mind, focused and disappeared in a flash of light. 
Whispers began moving amongst the audience.
"Was that real?" asked one man.
"It couldn't have been. There must be a hologram somewhere," guessed a woman dressed as Octavia.
"The voice actors don't seem to know about it," said another man.
"Maybe that guy knows something," said a fan in a Pinkie Pie outfit. Alex quickly realized that everybody was beginning to turn their attention towards him. He needed to get out of there, and fast. But he could see that people were beginning to block his path. He could see a few stupefied security guards making their way over to him. Quinn had disappeared in the crowd. He was alone. 
"Where's the Doctor when you need him?" Alex asked himself. Then he saw it. Sitting at his feet was a silver key with a chain. "No way." Alex quickly picked up the key and looked at it. He instantly recognized the key as one of the makeshift perception filters that the Doctor had made in The Sound of Drums. Alex then quickly threw the filter around his neck. Some people gasped and others rubbed their eyes vigorously as they realized that they could no longer identify where Alex was standing. This was his chance. He made a mad dash through the crowd. There was no clear path out of the room so he was forced to push his way past people. People would notice him for a second only to lose sight of him the next second. It wasn't until Alex was almost out of the room that he noticed something else; there were two figures in the room that he could focus on clearly: the Doctor and Derpy. Alex felt his heart soar. He was confused, frightened, but excited as well. He wasn't crazy. The Doctor, Twilight Sparkle, and Derpy Hooves were actually here! They existed! They appeared to be worried about something. Alex could assume that they were worried about Twilight. Alex made his way over towards the room's exit. The Doctor and Derpy made it out of the room first but Alex was hot on their trail. He looked around for a few seconds hoping to see Quinn somewhere, but she had disappeared. "Quinn...where are you?"
Alex then turned his attention back to the Doctor and Derpy and continued to follow them towards the exit.

Meadowlands Starbucks, Secaucus, New Jersey, America, Earth, Summer, 2012 A.D.

Twilight fell to the floor following her teleportation. Her heart was still beating at nearly a hundred miles an hour. She was starting to regret having come to this universe. She needed to find the Doctor and Derpy, get in the TARDIS, and leave as quickly as possible. But...then there was that man. What was he up to? She couldn't leave knowing that there was a man here who was obviously up to no good. She also had a feeling that what that man did was not considered normal in this universe. She knew that there was something wrong with him, but it was apparent that nopony was more aware of this than the Doctor. Well, the Doctor and that boy. What did the boy have to do with any of this? Twilight stood up and examined where she was at. She had teleported into the middle of a café. The smell of fresh coffee and chocolatey pastries wafted through Twilight's nostrils. She suddenly had the urge to make her way back to Sugar Cube Corner. There was nobody or nopony else in the shop, there wasn't even anyone behind the counter. However, it seemed like the shop was still in business. Twilight, for some reason, felt the need to walk up to the counter. She walked up to and leaned over the counter. She realized that she wasn't alone. A cashier was lying on the floor behind the counter. He was unconscious. 
"I made sure that we wouldn't receive any interruptions, Ms. Sparkle," said a cold voice. Twilight turned around. The man in green was standing in front of the doors. She could tell that the doors had been magically locked. She tried to teleport out but realized that no magic was coming forth from her horn. "Try as much as you like. You won't be casting magic here." Twilight was in shock. The man chuckled upon seeing her surprised expression. "Yes, I have that kind of power. Are you feeling afraid yet? You should be." Twilight felt her heart start to beat faster again. Whoever this man was, it was clear that he was incredibly powerful and not one to try and fight unprepared. The man walked over to a nearby booth and sat down. He beckoned for Twilight to follow suit. "Please, sit."
"Why should I?" Twilight asked with a suspicious glare.
"Because I asked nicely. I could easily lift your body and force you over here, but I am a gentleman at heart and I will not force a woman nor a mare, especially one as beautiful as yourself, to do something against her will...unless I'm in a terribly bad mood." The man beckoned again and Twilight slowly walked over to the booth. She wanted to make a break for it but knew that her efforts would be in vain. She sat down in the booth across the table from the man. He smiled coldly. Twilight didn't like his smile nor did she like his green goggles. The more she looked at him the more she was tempted to just give him a good smack.
"You don't belong here, in this universe I mean. I can tell that you're not from here." 
"This is true. I did not come from this universe. I came from another one, far at the edge of the multiverse."
"Why are you here?"
"I could easily ask you the same question. You and your friends clearly don't belong here. At least I can fit in. You ponies...well...you're not exactly the spitting image of humans, to put it simply."
"It was an accident. We were supposed to travel to the Doctor's universe. Now, I'll ask again, why are you here?"
"I got bored."
"Bored?"
"Yes. My old world wasn't exactly that fun once the fifty-second world war had run its course. I used my abilities to create a dimensional jumper and I just took off."
"Who are you?" The man looked at Twilight and chuckled.
"Much like the Doctor, I'm not keen of giving out my true name."
"Why hide your name?"
"You can probably guess that for yourself. I'm sure you've spent many a night wondering why your dear Doctor would never even care to trust his closest friends with his name." Twilight was silent for a moment. The man smiled coldly again. Twilight realized that she was giving off a sad expression and she quickly shook it away.
"Fine. Then what do you go by?"
"I've been called many names: the President, the Master, the Doctor, the Magician, the Ruler, the Creator, the Scientist, and the like. However, there is one name that I prefer to go by above all the rest. It's a name that I think truly represents me and my abilities. Ironically, it's a name that was bestowed upon me by my greatest enemy."
"And this name is?"
"The Animator." The man's cold smile grew slightly bigger following the uttering of his name. Twilight felt a chill run down her spine and through her tail. 
"Fitting name, as with what I saw you do to that stuffed Princess Luna."
"Yes. I can bring any inanimate object to life with just a thought. Though, in this new world, I have new limitations to overcome. It matters not in the long run. I'll be up to my full power soon and then I'll be able to face my enemy."
"And who's this enemy of yours?" Twilight thought back to the boy. "Is it the boy?"
"Alex Stevens? No. He's just the link to my enemy. My enemy is nearby...though I can't pinpoint his exact location. In the mean time, I hope you don't mind but I've decided to use you to my advantage." Twilight felt her heart begin to race. 
"What's that supposed to mean?" The Animator nodded over to a nearby booth. Twilight looked and gasped. A teenage girl was bound to the table by ropes that appeared to be alive. Twilight turned back just in time to feel a powerful force knock into her. Ropes wrapped around her legs and pulled her over to where the girl was. The Animator chuckled as he walked over and looked down at Twilight and the girl.
"Twilight Sparkle and Quinn Thompson: the first pawns in my deadly game." He turned from Twilight to Quinn. "Don't you just love BronyCon?"

Meadowlands Plaza, Secaucus, New Jersey, America, Earth, Summer, 2012 A.D.

The Doctor and Derpy ran across the plaza as fast as they could, unaware that Alex was following them in hot pursuit.
"We need to find Twilight!" Derpy said.
"I know, but we also need to find that man," the Doctor added.
"Do you know who or what he is?"
"Sadly, no. What I can assume is that he's a very powerful being from another world. And it's also obvious that he's a person who prefers to use his powers for evil rather than good, making him a threat to this world."
"We're gonna stop him, right?"
"Of course! But first we need to find Twilight!" The Doctor clapped his hooves and the TARDIS doors opened. The two ponies ran inside. The Doctor ran over to the nearest console and began working the controls. "The TARDIS should help us find our lost unicorn!" Derpy watched as the monitor presented an aerial view of the area they were in. A red dot then appeared above a part of the map. "There we go! This way to Ms. Sparkle!"
The Doctor and Derpy turned towards the TARDIS doors and stopped dead in their tracks. Alex Stevens stood in the doorway, Twilight's perception filter still wrapped around his neck. His eyes widened as he took a few more steps into the TARDIS. Everything seemed to slow down. Alex began to smile and laugh. He was living every Whovian's dream: he was standing in the TARDIS. 
"It's...incredible!" he gasped. He then turned to the Doctor and Derpy and his smile grew even bigger. "You're incredible!"
"Thank you!" said Derpy with a smile. 
"Yes! It's your original voice! Thank God! Screw those soccer moms, you're perfect just the way you are, Derpy Hooves!" Derpy blushed a bit and shuffled her hooves slightly. Alex then turned his attention to the Doctor. He didn't know what to say. The Doctor stepped forward, his face nearly emotionless. 
"I would be happy if you gave my friend's perception filter back," he said sternly. Alex's smile faded slightly. 
"You need to find Twilight don't you?"
"Please give me the perception filter."
"Let me help you find her!"
"This doesn't concern you."
"The hell it doesn't! I kept running into and seeing you all over BronyCon! Then that man attacked me and my girlfriend! It damn well concerns me, Doctor!"
"He's got a point, Doctor," said Derpy.
"No. I'm not letting anymore innocents get involved!" the Doctor snapped as he looked back at Derpy. He then turned back towards Alex. Alex wasn't feeling as happy as he had when had first walked through the TARDIS doors. Great. First he makes himself look like a crazy person in front of Andrea Libman and Tara Strong, and now he's getting into an argument with the Doctor. Alex was beginning to consider the fact that he just wasn't destined to have normal encounters with celebrities. "You have no idea what you would be getting yourself into."
"Bull! Doctor, I've watched you for years now! I know about the type of crap that you've faced!"
"Oh yeah. I keep forgetting that I'm a television character in this world. I'm still not used to that fact."
"Please let me help you, Doctor. I think this man, whatever he is, is after me or somebody I know for some reason. He threatened me. He caused a stuffed Luna to come to life and attack me and my girlfriend! Please let me help!" The Doctor thought for a moment but then shook his head. 
"Sorry. I can't let you help any further. Now hand over Twilight's key and head off back to BronyCon. Don't tell anyone of our encounter!" Alex sighed in defeat. He knew he couldn't win an argument against the Doctor. Besides, he really didn't want the Doctor to resort to using force to get the filter away from him. Alex took the filter off his neck. Even though the Doctor and Derpy were still wearing their filters, Alex found no problem in seeing them clearly. His head didn't even heart nor did his ears ring. 
"Why would I tell anyone? It's not like anyone's going to believe me," Alex groaned as he handed Twilight's key to the Doctor. The Doctor had just grabbed the key when a hologram suddenly appeared in the middle of the room. It was the man in green.
"You!" said the Doctor, Derpy, and Alex at once. The man chuckled.
"How cute, you all remember me. I'm not surprised. I do have a habit of leaving an impression on all creatures alike," he chuckled. "Before you ask questions, I'd like to establish my pawns."
"What do you mean?" asked the Doctor.
"These." The man snapped his fingers and holographic images of a tied up Twilight and a tied up Quinn appeared next to him.
"Twilight!" Derpy gasped.
"Quinn!" gasped Alex. The man snapped his fingers and Twilight and Quinn disappeared. 
"Don't worry, Mr. Stevens. I promise not to lay a finger on them...yet," the man chuckled.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"I am called the Animator."
"Let Quinn and Twilight go!"
"Oh, I can't do that. They're my pawns in my side of the game, just as you and Ms. Hooves are the pawns in the Doctor's side of the game."
"Pawns?" asked Derpy.
"This isn't a game, Animator!" snapped the Doctor.
"Oh on the contrary, Doctor. This world is my new playground. My first playground was destroyed by my people's idiocy and my second was sealed off from me by my greatest enemy. This world, my third playground, shall be my greatest achievement of chaos!" announced the Animator.
"Who are you? Discord Junior?" asked Alex.
"No. I'm just a man with powers who wishes to use them however he wishes. Is that so wrong?"
"It is if you put innocents in the way," the Doctor replied.
"Oh shut it, Doctor. I hear enough from my enemy, I don't need to hear it from the awesome and amazing Doctor Whooves."
"Who is this enemy that you keep talking about?" asked Alex.
"You would know, Mr. Stevens. You're quite close to him." Alex was still a bit confused by the Animator's remarks. "Here's a hint. You two look a lot alike." Alex gulped. He had an idea of who the Animator was talking about, but none of it made any sense. "Doctor, it's time for us to finally clash our proverbial swords. Meet me in the Exposition Center tomorrow at the Lauren Faust panel with your pawns in place. That's when our game shall begin and a new age shall dawn on this world: the Age of the Animator. I look forward to our duel." The image of the Animator then disappeared. 
Alex's heart was beating at ninety to nothing. His girlfriend and Twilight were being held by a man from another dimension and said man was going to battle the Doctor during the Lauren Faust panel at BronyCon. Alex scratched his head.
"Why do I feel like I've just fallen through a hole in reality and am now stuck in somebody's bizarre fanfiction?" he asked himself. He then felt something poke his side. He turned to see the Doctor presenting the key-turned-perception filter. 
"Welcome aboard for now, Mr. Stevens," said the Doctor. Alex smiled as he took the key and placed it on his neck. 
"It's nice to meet you! Although, I wish we met under better circumstances," said Derpy.
"The feeling is mutual, Derpy," Alex replied. "My name's Alex by the way."
"Prepare yourself, Alex. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow," said the Doctor.

Meadowlands Exposition Center Parking Lot, Secaucus, New Jersey, America, Earth, Summer, 2012 A.D.

Tara Strong walked out to her car. She was still baffled as to what had happened at the panel earlier. Had Twilight Sparkle really appeared? Nah.
"This is what I get for tweeting instead of eating breakfast," she said as she entered her car. She was about to start her engine when suddenly her side window was smashed in. Tara tried to scream but a large hand reached out of nowhere and covered her mouth. Tara found herself getting pulled out through the side window of her car. She looked up to find herself staring deep into a pair of green goggles.
"Sleep now, Mrs. Strong. You have a long fight waiting for you tomorrow," chuckled the Animator. Tara's eyes rolled up into her head as she proceeded to black out.