//------------------------------// // Truth, Lie, or Honesty // Story: Anim's Adventures in Equestria // by Animatorsnake //------------------------------// Shocked and horrified, Anim was speechless to what his witnessing. He stared into the Mane 6 but, in reality was seeing a ghost of a long gone friend… someone who shouldn’t be here. His mouth agape, unable to speak at all, Anim had no idea what his own eyes were seeing, thinking his mind was playing tricks he tried to shake the ghostly figure away. “No… you’re not real… you’re not here, you can’t,” said Anim, whispering to himself. The ghostly figure stared at Anim, and spoke once more… more intent on making Anim believe than doubt. “How rude Anim is this how you treat an old friend… and to think you were supposed to be a gentleman?” said Kimila, teasingly. “I only know one person who shares that sort of humor… is it really you, Kimila?” said Anim. Twilight wasn't sure who Anim was speaking to, she looked around and didn't see anypony else behind or around them. Thinking Anim was hallucinating, she carefully chooses what words for her to say. “Anim… are you… okay,” said Twilight. Kimila's ghost moved pass Twilight and company, hovering around Anim, encircling him like a shark. She examined the mahogany pony, which was indeed Anim… stopping to a halt, Kimila smirks. “Say, mahogany really fits you,” said Kimila. “Jokes aside, how and why are you here… are you really...” said Anim. “Dead… don't know, but all I can say is that I'm indeed in your head, so don't freak out,” said Kimila. “Now, what sort of trouble you got yourself into this time?” Anim spoke to Kimila, but from Twilight and the others perspective, Anim was speaking to open air… an empty space. Rainbow moved to Anim, and waved her hooves to his eyesight attempting to catch his attention. “Hey Anim, we're over here. Hello?” said Rainbow. Anim had all his focused toward nothing, but moved his gaze toward Rainbow. He blinked a few times, and rubbed his eyes. “R-Rainbow… oh yes I forgot that you girls were here. I was just talking to a… old friend,” said Anim. Looking back where Kimila's ghost was, Anim saw nothing… Kimila was gone. Thinking he was hallucinating, Anim took the chance to focus his attention to Twilight. “I guess it was a hallucination… but, as I said. I can’t let you be in the way Twilight, for your own safety and everybody else’s,” said Anim. “Now Anim, this isn’t the time to be taking all the responsibility by yourself. We all have to share this burden, whether this doesn’t involve us… we are friends, and we won’t let you harm yourself any further,” said Rarity. Anim attempts to teleport, but his mind is too fuzzy to properly use any spells. Instead he simply trots to the side and goes around the Mane 6, only for Rainbow to block his way. “Move a step forward and, I will put you down!” shouted Rainbow, holding her ground. Now Anim would sent Rainbow across from him to a bush or something… but something inside Anim held him back. Instead Anim simply moves by Rainbow, with her to send a heavy hoof to Anim’s underbelly. Taking a direct hit, Anim moves back to sway left and right, coughing out some saliva from the sudden strike. “RAINBOW, STOP!” shouted Fluttershy. “We shouldn’t be fighting amongst each other!” Taking in quick long breaths, Anim blanks out for a second only to be caught by Applejack. “Come on Anim, don’t you go fainting on me now,” said Applejack. “Yeah I’m… okay…” said Anim, moving Applejack away from him. “That was a nice hit Rainbow, but you probably need to do it from another angle.” “Good to know that I didn’t made you faint, would be upsetting if that’s all you could take,” said Rainbow, smirking. Anim smirked back, and stood up with all hooves. His legs suddenly turning to jelly, leaning against a tree, he feels that almost all his stamina drained from the sudden punch. Hearing a small dwindling voice, Anim moves his head to see Kimila again. “Wow… can’t believe you got owned by a pony… a female one at that too,” said Kimila. “Shut up Kimila!” said Anim, laughing to himself. “You know, I don’t remember you being this annoying.” “And I don’t remember you being this depressing,” said Kimila, smiling. Anim and Kimila began to laugh, but from everyponies view it looked like Anim was talking to the air and laughing with it. Twilight didn’t know what to do, but knew persuading Anim wouldn’t work. Moving slowly up to Anim, he moves his eyes to Twilight. “Oh Twilight, look… Kimila is here,” said Anim. “Well… I think she is.” “Well, I hope you two enjoy your time together,” said Twilight, her horn glowing. “And I hope you that you’re happy with her.” Twilight horns glows brighter and sends a sleeping spell on Anim, once hit Anim eyes flutter and slumps to the ground. Before fully under the spells influence he speaks one final line. “Heh… you know, I don’t blame you for what you’re doing,” said Anim, his eyes closing shut. While the Mane 6 carry Anim, bringing him to Celestia. Mina and her group go to Celestia of their plan to capture the shadowy creature. “So exactly tell Trixie, how we’re going to convince the princess our plan?” asked Trixie. “Well simple, we tell her that the trap we set up would stun the creature. Once that’s done, we see what that thing is, and find how it’s connected with Anim,” said Doctor Whooves. Mina glared at Doctor Whooves when he mentioned Anim being connected to… that thing. “That thing… has nothing to do with Anim, nothing! His innocent, and whatever Twilight said is nothing but a lie, you hear a lie!” shouted Mina. Derpy moved to Mina to calm her down, but Mina storms off ahead of everypony. Unable to keep her feelings from within, she feels a sense of rage and hatred toward the princesses… specifically Celestia. Seeing Celestia with her sister Luna at the top of a hill, overlooking Everfree Forest, Mina starts increasing her pace, almost to a sprint. Nearing ever closer to her, she sees Twilight and her friends with Celestia and amongst themselves is Anim. “Mina, where have you been? You went missing after Anim's disappearance,” said Rarity. “Are you okay...” said Fluttershy, worried. Mina moved passed everypony, approaching the currently unconscious Anim. She stared down… pondering why his here, where his been… who done this? “Who did this?” said Mina, in a quiet voice. “Sorry Mina, could you repeat that question?” said Applejack, hearing closely. “I SAID, WHO DID THIS!?” shouted Mina, agitated. “Why is Anim unconscious here, shouldn’t he been hiding!? He wouldn’t let himself be caught by anypony… so-who-did-it?” Everypony was surprised by Mina’s sudden outburst, they could tell from just seeing Anim on the ground has awoken a terrible memory from her past. Mina examined everypony, seeing who did this… then her gaze moved Celestia, or so it seemed. “You…” said Mina, trotting slowly to Celestia. “You did this… why?” Fearing that Mina might do something risky, Luna tries defending her sister. As Mina got closer, she walks by Celestia and Mina, trotting to her true target. “Why did you do this, he was your friend, you’re his friend… he was my family! YOU’LL PAY FOR THIS!” screamed Mina, charging at Twilight. Twilight dodges Mina sudden attack, whilst running from her. Screaming in a blind rage, Mina chases Twilight as the two distance themselves from the others. Attempting to explain herself, Twilight tries talking to Mina. “Wait Mina, you have to understand, if I let Anim go away… we wouldn’t know how his connected with everything,” said Twilight. “BECAUSE HE NEVER WAS OR WILL BE!” shouted Mina. “Please understand, I don’t like doing this either… but we can’t let Anim do what he wants. You must understand this more than anypony,” said Twilight. Mina began slowing her pace, thinking Twilight convinced her… but only to realize that looks can be deceiving. “Ever since my mother died, and with my father’s disappearance… I thought I was alone in this world. When I found out I had a brother, I thought we could be a family… but it seems he too is distant from me. I was so alone, but when I met Anim… I truly felt being part of a family with him, and he’s done so much for me… I promised, that I’ll never lose another family member,” said Mina. A sudden burst of energy came from Mina, rushing Twilight she pins her to the ground. Ready to send in her hoof, Rainbow and Applejack tackle Mina… pinning her down. “ARE INSANE, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!?” said Rainbow. Mina’s muzzle was pinned to the ground, making her unable to respond to Rainbow’s question. “A Rainbow… she can’t speak, her muzzle is… well,” said Applejack. Seeing that Mina is unable to speak, Rainbow moves a slight bit so Mina’s muzzle in shoved to the ground. Free to speak, Mina takes a few breaths to respond toward everypony. “He was your friend… I… I won’t forgive any of you for this,” said Mina, tearing up. “I’m sorry Mina, I’m so sorry,” said Twilight. Mina was taken away by the guards, placed into a temporary prison until things cooled down. After that sudden event, Doctor Whooves and company finally catch up with Mina, only to lose sight of her again. “Excuse me, Twilight… where’s Mina?” asked Derpy, noticing Anim on the ground. “Better yet, why is Anim here!? Wasn’t he in hiding or something?” “Well… to put it in short—” “Twilight put Anim in a sleeping spell when we found him, Mina got mad and tried to rush Twilight only to be tackled by Applejack and Rainbow, and was sent to a cell by the princesses,” said Pinkie. “Uhm, thanks Pinkie,” said Derpy, only being able to catch half what Pinkie said. Pinkie grinned and trotted off, Trixie who also notices rushes to Anim’s side. “What happened to him, who did this, and why—” “It was me…” said Twilight, staring down at the ground. Trixie simply looked Twilight, thinking she might do the same to Twilight, everypony watched carefully. Instead Trixie simply looks back at Anim smooths his mane. “At least you didn’t harm him in any way… you didn’t right?” asked Trixie. Twilight simply nodded, and it was enough for Trixie to not give an aggressive aura towards Twilight. As today’s situation calmed down, Doctor Whooves told the princesses and everypony of his plan. Thinking of what Celestia next move should be, she decides to go with the Doctor’s plan. “If this trap of yours can catch that thing, then its best we at least try. We’ll lure the creature toward your party, and then surround it once it’s caught,” said Celestia. “Twilight, I want you and your friends to go get the elements of harmony, in case of anything were to… happen.” Twilight her friends head off to get the elements, but Twilight stares at Trixie who was with Anim… still unconscious. Twilight then asked Celestia what will happen to Anim. “Princess Celestia… and what will become of Anim?” asked Twilight. “Nothing of yet of course… but for now he’ll be locked up in a different cell than Mina’s but close anything together so my guards can keep a good eye on the two,” said Celestia. Twilight looked away from Celestia, and gazed toward the Everfree Forest, seeing trees tumble down as the creature approaches. “Celestia… this thing… by what connection does it have with Anim?” asked Twilight. Celestia could see the worry on her face… which made her too worried. “I’m not sure my apprentice… but this Doctor Whooves pony, his contraption will work, and if not… we’ll try our best to slow it down,” said Celestia. Twilight simply gaze at her master, and went off with her friends. As Twilight left, the guards that took away Mina, then took away Anim, watching him leave Trixie knew rebelling back would cause her too to be locked away… and if that were to happen then how would she be able to help protect Anim from… the shadow creature. Derpy shook Trixie’s shoulder as the two mares followed Doctor Whooves back to his trap. Meanwhile, Anim’s team finishes up their part of the plan. “Done… whew, that was a lot of dirt to dig up,” said Spike, sweating. The group had undug the massive meteor shard or in this case, a more expansive piece of the void crystal. Discord pulls out something from a satchel he was wearing, out came the void crystal, and because of Discord’s chaotic aura he too like Anim could hold it… but only for a limited time of course. Placing the void crystal shard near the giant meteor, the group now had to one phase left. “Now we commence phase 3,” said Applebloom. “Anim comes back from his little walk, activates the void crystal shard to lure that shadowy thing here,” said Sweetie Belle. “And then, we bring everypony who might help here to back Anim up,” said Scootaloo. “Yeah… except one problem, where is Anim?” said Spike, wondering his own question. Everypony was wondering the same thing but, Discord could sense that Anim’s aura was weak… thinking he might have been captured, Discord took control. “New plan, you three, go find um… Anim’s sister or daughter or whatever, and bring her here. Spiny—” “It’s Spike,” said Spike, re-correcting his own name. “Yeah whatever, go find the elements and bring them here,” said Discord. “Wait… the elements? What you want with the elements!?” said Spike, confused. “Well Anim did say he’d bring backup and since he couldn’t… you’re going to,” said Discord, grinning. Spike felt this heart drop, gulping he ran to Golden Oaks Library where the elements are now being kept. While the CMC head off to find Mina, as Discord carefully prepared the final touches. Doctor Whooves group are preparing their trap, the Mane 6 prepare to get the elements of harmony, with Celestia’s army prepare for the shadow creature with Luna beside her. Great forces surround these ponies, as an ever growing darkness is approaching. Mina found herself in a prison cell, with chains on one of her legs. Moving to see her surroundings, she sees two or guards, one protecting her cell… and the other protecting another cell. Assuming somepony is in the other, she takes a look to find the last pony to be in there. “Anim…” said Mina, trying to reach him. Anim was still unconscious, and too was chained and had an anti-spell brace on his horn. Unable to escape, and too weakened to even attempt to, Mina slumps to the ground. Falling asleep of exhaustion, she hears a whisper loud enough for her to hear. “Hey, Mina… over here,” whispers a voice. Turning her head, she sees the CMC, rising up but not to give the guard a reason to turn around, she approaches the CMC. “Girls, glad to see you here, you got to get Anim out,” whispers Mina. The CMC didn’t notice Anim, and when they looked into the other cell, they see him. Unsure how to get both Mina and Anim out together… a sudden loud thunderous noise is heard where the princesses are. “It’s here…” said Mina. A guard approaches the two guards protecting the prisoners. “EVERY GUARD IS TO BE CALLED, IT’S HERE!” shouted the guard pony, which ran to where the noise came from. The two guard ponies looked at one another and joined with the commotion, leaving the cell gates unguarded. Now with the opportunity to free them both, the CMC look around for something to free them. “What do we do girls!?” said Applebloom, out of any ideas. “We could find a key,” said Sweetie Belle. “We have no time to look for a key, we need to find a way to free them now!” said Scootaloo. “And how we supposed to do that?” said Applebloom. “Well we could… uhm,” said Scootaloo. “Girls focus!” said Mina, catching the CMC’s attention. The CMC stopped and listened to Mina, from not having any ideas to think of. “Forget about me, focus on Anim. Maybe if you try ramming something big toward his cage it could open the door,” said Mina. “But with what?” asked Sweetie Belle. Mina looked around, and sees a carriage of some sort, pointing towards it the CMC rush to it. Pushing it to Anim’s cage, the carriage rams toward Anim’s cage, breaking the lock as the door swings open. Rushing inside to help Anim up, they remove the anti-spell brace, and try to wake Anim up. Blinking, Anim steadily stands on all hooves. “Where… where am I?” asked Anim, feeling dizzy. “Anim is it possible for you to blast Mina free, Discord sent us to get her and see if we could find you,” said Sweetie Belle. “Yeah, and we got to get out of here quick,” said Scootaloo. Anim looked and saw the chain on his leg, as well on Mina too. Using his magic he free himself, and opens Mina’s cage and break her chain too. Now both free they head back… but Anim sees a familiar face, again. “And where do you think you’re going?” said Kimila. “Kimila… I’m trying to save everypony that’s what!” said Anim. “Anim who’re you talking to?” asked Mina. “An old friend…” said Anim. “Kimila, what is it that you want from me? Whether you’re a hallucination or not, you’re sure are persistent… so whatever you want me to do, just tell me.” Kimila went silent, turning to face where the noise was coming from. “To the true source of everything that’s been happening,” said Kimila, disappearing. Anim looked where Kimila was staring, and saw the cloud of dust and heard loud screams and clash of metal. Knowing that the creature was fighting Celestia’s army, Anim knew that whatever this truth that Kimila mentioned… had to do with that thing. “You girls go ahead… there something I need to check out,” said Anim, running to the destruction. “ANIM WAIT… that knucklehead, always getting himself in trouble,” said Mina, pouting. “Come on girls; lead me to where we need to go next.” “What about Anim, should we help him?” said Applebloom. “The last thing he wants is for him to worry of our safety, its best we get as far from here as we can,” said Mina, leaving with the CMC. Distancing themselves from the ensuing battle, Anim approaches to a upcoming hill, reaching the top Anim can see the shadow creature sweeping away waves of Celestia’s army. Seeing Celestia positioning her soldiers to their positions, Luna sends in her guards to support her sisters’ guards too. “Place some archers over there, and send in more spear ponies at the front!” said Celestia. Anim didn’t try to make any attention to himself, and if he were to I doubt anypony would notice considering their in the middle of a battle. Soldier after soldier are sent flying but none are severely wounded, a small scratch or dazed is the most only recent injuries that seem to be happening now. Kimila mentioned that this thing… whatever it is, is the source of everything… but the source of what? “I need to lure this thing to me… but how,” said Anim, remembering something. Anim remembers that this thing was after Twilight… and if it’s still thinking what Anim think its thinking, there’s only one option left to do. Meanwhile, Spike arrives to Golden Oaks Library before Twilight or anypony could arrive, he finds where the elements are and puts them all in a nearby satchel, before Spike could leave the door opens with Twilight entering inside with everypony else. “Spike, where have you been, I need you to—” “Sorry Twi, got some important business to do,” said Spike, quickly running pass them. Leaving before Twilight could stop him, Twilight realizes that Spike has been acting strange, she quickly trots to where the element were… only for them to be gone. With only one possible answer where they are, Twilight quickly runs outside to chase Spike. “SPIKE COME BACK HERE WITH THE ELEMENTS!” said Twilight. Unsure what just happened Twilight’s friends follow quickly behind, as Spike leads them to Discord. Going through obstacle after obstacle, he encounters the CMC and Mina. “So were you girls able to find Anim?” asked Spike. “Yeah, but he was… occupied,” said Sweetie Belle. “Well whatever it is, we got bigger problems,” said Spike. “You don’t say,” said Scootaloo, mentioning of the shadow creature. “What Scoot means is that, shadow creature is fighting the royal guard. If we don’t get ready before Anim gets here…” said Applebloom. “Nothing that’s what, Anim doesn’t break a promise, the only thing he breaks are ponies who harm his family and friends, and bad guys,” said Mina, making Anim sound like some kind of classic cartoon hero. Chased by the Mane 6, Anim appears suddenly between the two groups. He nonchalantly trots between the two parties. Then notions Mina to leave with the others while they can. Focusing toward the Mane 6, Anim stands between them and the elements of harmony. “Well… I’m back,” said Anim, outstretching one hoof to the side of his head. “Anim how did you… and… when did you…” said Rainbow, looking back where she last saw Anim. “Now before anypony starts to panic on how I escaped, I need to borrow Twilight,” said Anim. “What makes you think I’ll go with you Anim?” said Twilight, holding her ground. “Who said I was asking,” said Anim. Anim then appeared in front of Twilight, he moved so quick nopony could have seen him move by them. Immediately attempting to catch Anim, he teleports away with Twilight before anypony could reach him. “Oh, party pooper, I almost got him,” said Pinkie. Now back at the hill where Anim was recently, Twilight tells him to stop but is too late. Realizing she was teleported, Twilight immediately asks where he took her. “Anim, where are we now!?” said Twilight. “How about you, look for yourself,” said Anim pointing with his hoof. Looking where Anim’s pointing, Twilight could see that their literally close to the battle with the shadow creature, and the royal guards. The shadow creature immediately caught sight of Twilight, rushing toward her, ignoring every guard in its path. “DAMNIT ANIM, HOW COME EVERYTIME YOU JUST BRING TROUBLE WITH YOU!” shouted Twilight, running away. “Well you can’t get rid of me that easily, now could you,” said Anim, laughing. Both Anim and Twilight ran from the shadow thing, leading it to where Anim wants it to go. Seeing the creature leave, Celestia and Luna can see Twilight and Anim running from it. “What, how did he get out!? All royal guards chase that creature and catch Anim!” shouted Celestia, also chasing Anim. “I knew you find a way out,” thought Luna, a small smile forming. “Luna!” shouted Celestia. Luna followed behind, distracted by the small glimpse of her friend. As Anim and Twilight are chased down by literally everything, Trixie, Derpy, and Doctor Whooves finish their trap for the creature. “It’s coming, get to your places everypony,” said Doctor Whooves. Waiting for the creature to get closer, Anim and Twilight run by the trap, with the creature quick behind. The second the creature stood in place, Doctor Whooves released the trap onto the creature… only for his trap to be shrugged off by the thing. “But-but… I made sure, that… how… I,” said Doctor Whooves, his mouth agape. “Ah Doctor, not to um disturb you but… maybe its best we—” “RUN!” screamed Trixie, following behind Anim. “Ah so this is where you guys were… and I see you set up a trap,” said Anim. “Good for you.” Doctor Whooves mumbled under his words, saying a quiet ‘shut up’ and ‘yeah, yeah’ toward Anim. “It’s good to see you too Anim, don’t mind the Doc, stuff like this never happens to him often, so mind his language,” said Derpy. “Eh, I heard worse,” said Anim. As they run from the creature and more, Trixie jumps onto Anim, not caring she might get trampled by what chased the group. “ANIM, I THOUGHT I LOST YOU AND THAT YOU WERE UNCONSCIOUS AND THAT MADE ME SAD AND-AND-AND-AND-AND—” Anim shushed Trixie, and patted her on the head. “And I missed you too, now you mind getting of me Trixie… not that your heavy just that, we’re kind of trying to run here,” said Anim. “Oh… sorry, Trixie won’t do that again,” said Trixie, getting off. “So what was your idea exactly Anim, why you brought me here to only be chased by… that!?” said Twilight. “Well at first my plan was to lure that thing by using you, but it seems I also gained the other part of my plan,” said Anim. “And what would that be?” said Twilight, giving an annoyed look. “Getting everypony to be in one place,” said Anim. Anim noted that, the Mane 6 were still chasing Mina and the others, Celestia and Luna were following behind the creature, with Trixie, Derpy, Doctor Whooves, and Twilight with Anim, which finally led with Discord still back with the void crystal and meteor shard. All parties intertwined at the place needed, and wanted them to be at. Now all together, Anim spotted Discord and Mina with the others, at their correct positions, signaling the phase 3, the void crystal shines suddenly, giving off a bright black light. The light causes the creature to freeze in place, allowing Anim to begin the final phase. “Now we finally get to see who’s under the cloak,” said Anim. Before Anim could begin, the creature finally spoke after this whole fiasco. “You finally caught me… but will learning the truth will really help? There are far worse things than you think you know… but, if you wish to learn, then go ahead… open the veil, unlock the door, awaken the beast… that is the honesty that you so desire,” said the mass of shadows and darkness. Slowly reaching toward the void crystal, Anim saw Kimila’s ghost for the last time. “If you do this, you won’t just find the truth you seek, but so many lies will be revealed to you too… are you really ready to handle this? Are you ready to be open to your honesty?” said Kimila, acting more cryptic than usual. “Hey… I’m Anim, this is my kind of thing,” said Anim. “That’s what you think…” said Kimila, disappearing forever. Anim touched the void crystal with his horn, slowly walking away from it, as a black light directed toward both the meteor and the black mass of shadows. Both now connected with one another, the void crystal acted as a conduit, slowly draining the void aura from the mass of shadows into the meteor as a container. Slowly the black mass begun to shrunk, everypony watched but nopony dared to make a move. “Now… let’s see who the real culprit is,” said Anim, his tone of voice changing. Once all the shadows have dissipated, all that was left… was Anim’s book, in the center of where the culprit should have been. Thinking the culprit ran off or teleported, an ominous faint voice is heard. “You’re looking at your culprit Animatorsnake… are you happy?” Anim slowly moved his gaze to the ground, to the source of the voice… only meeting his eyes with his book. Anim then saw a faint black aura surrounding the book, which caused it to afloat in midair. “You… it was you this whole time…” said Anim, horrified. “I did say I was with you from the beginning, I did say you were the one I was protecting, and I did say… that even honesty can be cruel and dark,” said the floating book. Everypony was speechless; nopony would dare to say anything that Discord nor Pinkie didn’t try to make a single joke of this situation, that they both placed each other’s claw/hoof on their mouth. “I gave you the warnings… I gave you the clues you needed to find what you wanted… I gave you the powers you have now… and… I gave you the life you live now,” said the floating book. “Just… what are you?” said Anim, wanting the truth. “It’s simple to what I am… the question you should be asking… is what you are,” said the floating book. “And I can give all these answers… with a story, it started in the beginning… when my world began to crumble around me.”