Animator vs. Animation Season 3

how does bro even end up in these situations gng 😭😭😭

POV: Acid

But nah, the video literally JUST started bro. If you're like me, you're probably wondering: How on earth did Orange end up in this Regular Show ahh scenario? Unfortunately, it doesn't get any better. EVERY episode in Animation vs. Education starts something like this, and there's no clear or confirmed timeline to go off to see how ts even started. Fortunately, I have many theories as to how the series works. So today, we're gonna be going over the timeline of Animation vs. Education, to see how Orange could've possibly gotten into this typa situation in the first place (spoiler alert: yap fest).

Now, I believe the first event of this series is Animation vs. Math. Now how Orange got there in the first place? ...We're not sure. Though, I do have a few theories on it. What's important is that, at the end of the video, Orange is transported out of that specific location into a different one by Euler's Identity, or E. Where does Orange go after this? The Physics episode is next, so he probably ended up there, right?

Well, I actually believe that the next episode chronologically is the geometry episode. You see, while it's obvious that Orange's intentions with being teleported were to go home, it's very unlikely that old buddy Euler was actually able to do this. For one, he has no idea where Orange's home is. Also, Orange likely just asked for a portal out of that area, and didn't specify where. Now why do I think he transported him to the geometry dimension? Well, if it wasn't already obvious, Euler's identity is math. That whole dimension is math; and geometry is just another branch of math. I doubt that E's portals could really extend beyond math, so it probably just transported him to the closest branch outside that area. And it makes much more sense for his portal to be connected to the geometry plane than the gatdamn domain expansion he finds himself in during the physics episode. This is further proven by the fact that, at the end of the episode, we see that E is friends with Phi, who is the deuteragonist of Animation vs. Geometry.

Speaking of which, now Animation vs. Geometry. Now the main antagonist of that episode is a hypercube, which is essentially a shape (cube) of higher dimensions than the 3 we're limited to (for convenience we'll call it the Tesseract, which is a 4D hypercube and the most popular one, even though I think the one in this episode had more than 4 dimensions). Anyways, at the end of the episode, Orange and Phi are (somehow) able to create higher dimensional shapes on their 2 dimensional plane, and use these shapes to trap the Tesseract into higher and higher dimensions, until Phi uses itself to essentially kill it for good, resulting in a mega hypercube with tons of dimensions. These dimensions are reflected off the walls of the shape, and back onto Orange. One of the versions of him we see is the one from Animation vs. Physics, wearing the cowboy hat. The main Orange sees this and is startled, causing him to fall inside of the hypercube as it closes, swallowing him whole.

Now the fact that we see the Orange from Animation vs. Physics in this proves to me that most of these episodes with Orange are probably happening at around the same time through these different universes, which supports a theory I'll explain later. For now though, we should focus on what exactly happened at the end of the episode. If we assume that Animation vs. Geometry led straight into Animation vs. Physics, then we'd now have an explanation as to how Orange got into that f.ckass situation at the beginning of the video in the first place. Animation vs. Physics specifically supports String Theory, which suggests that the universe is made up of various hidden dimensions, around 10 or 11. The hypercube is an object that has various dimensions contained within it, and is obviously higher dimensional; so Orange falling into said hypercube and ending up in a higher dimensional space (the one seen in Animation vs. Physics) makes sense. It definitely makes a lot more sense than him ending up there from E's portal in Animation vs. Math.

Anyways, moving on to Animation vs. Physics. I believe this to be the last adventure Orange (chronologically) goes on in the Animation vs. Education series. I'll explain why later. After falling into the hypercube, Orange ends up here. He is aided by future versions of himself to his destination through a white hole, effectively creating a time paradox. How did the time paradox start in the first place? Idk bro. But it doesn't really matter; and besides, if we could definitively answer how it started, then it wouldn't be a very good paradox then, would it? Anyways, after his huge adventure through space, traveling at light speed on his rocket, and falling through a black hole, he falls into the singularity. He discovers String Theory, quarks, the world sheet; all the particles that make up the universe, before eventually being pulled directly to the wormhole. As we know what happens through future Orange, while guiding his past self to his location, he learns the secrets of the universe; how matter works, alternate universes, time manipulation; all through this wormhole that, as he controls it, is projected to past Orange as a white hole. After finishing his job, he leaves. Taking his hat with him, Orange can finally return home, having unlocked the knowledge of the universe for his own.

That's the end of his story. A satisfying conclusion to this saga. But I know you probably still have a bunch of questions: "What about Yellow? What about Orange in the addiction episode? How did either of them even get there in the first place?" To answer the first question, in all of my interpretations of this, Yellow's story is completely separate from all the episodes Orange appears in, so don't worry. For your other questions, I have 2 main theories and 1 sub-theory (no dream theory, that's a lazy cop-out):

Theory #1: Real Theory (implies Multiverse Theory)

Theory #2: Test Theory (also kind of implies Multiverse Theory but more simulated)

Now, as the Real Theory implies, everything that's happening is (mostly) real. These mostly apply to Orange's episodes, it doesn't really matter too much for Yellow's episodes. Now, if all this is real, then how'd they get there in the first place? The Real Theory suggests that Orange just got here through good old fashioned Alan Becker absurdities, or basically just Regular Show BS. Something like Orange breaking the "calculator rules" and being sent to the Gojo Prison Realm for math or something stupid like that. Maybe he got trapped in the calculator app, or maybe he slammed it too hard; some Regular Show-like plot like that. It wouldn't be too off brand, as Alan Becker does stuff like this all the time in recent episodes (ex. Glitched Green, Lucky Block, etc). Anyways, that's how Orange got there through the Real Theory. And Yellow might've gotten to his spot through a similar manner, as he seems to be stuck in his coding app somehow, or maybe in his computer.

Now it's time for the Multiverse Theory. Remember the web of Oranges seen in Animation vs. Geometry? Those were all implied to be windows to different universes, as shown by Physics Universe Orange. Well, I believe that this episode is simply a different universe from the main trilogy storyline Orange had been following up to that point. Maybe Orange was scattered through time and space when he fell into the Hypercube, and different versions of himself ended up in different places, with the main one ending up in the Physics Universe. Or maybe the Orange in Animation vs. Addiction was looking through the glass at our Orange while already in that universe like the Physics one, or maybe he was still at the hypercube but fell into a different universe than our Orange did. Maybe it's the opposite and this IS our Orange, and the Physics Universe is a different universe entirely. It doesn't really matter. What does matter is that this universe is separate from the original trilogy that Orange ended up in where Blue (or at the very least, a version of Blue) was struggling with a hard addiction.

The second theory implies that everything that happens in Animation vs. Education is just a simulated test on Orange and Yellow, conducted by Victim and his team during the events of AvA S3. Orange would've really discovered the secrets of the universe, but he also would've been breaking a simulation in the process with his paradox in the physics episode and lethal actions in the math episode. Yellow's coding adventure probably would've been a similar thing, basically just as a simulated test for his coding ability.

While this theory thrives where the Real Theory lacks in terms of Yellow, for everything else, it doesn't really make sense. Why would they test Orange on math and science? Why would they make an entire multiverse as part of a simulation? The theory really only held ground when Orange and Yellow were the only characters seen in it, because they were the ones specifically captured by Victim, but as of Animation vs. Addiction, it doesn't really hold up as much. You could argue that they tested everyone else too, but there isn't enough proof; and how would they know about Blue's addiction problems? And why would they try to help him overcome it when they're actively trying to weaken them? You could argue it's another test on Orange, but the fact that it's so Blue-centric kind of makes that a weird outcome. And besides, why would they be trying to strengthen their bond? It's still technically a possible outcome and it held up much better a few months ago, but as of right now, I feel as though the Real Theory dwarfs it in pretty much every way.

Besides, like Dream Theory, the Simulation/Test Theory is also kind of a cop-out. I know Alan Becker said he wasn't sure if the series was canon or not, but assuming that it is is always much more fun than assuming that it isn't. Anyways, let me know if you have any theories of your own or whatever. I may or may not read them. peace

Thanks for everybody for your support in AvA 11!

As you can see, this predict is about The Dark Lord's return in AvA. In this predict, I suppose(and I firmly believe) that Dark is alive and whole background story is according to my AvA 5.5 story.

Btw, except some certain time, most dates in victim's memory are just fabricated.

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As usual, all feedback is welcome, be it positive, negative, or neutral. Thank you all for reading, liking, and commenting! It means a lot to me, and I can't thank you enough!

OK, let's begin!

Time: June 13th, 2022

===DARK'S POV===

I was doing research while Chosen came in. After I knew how strong the technologies that victim had, I began to work in my lab to develop some tools to against them. Chosen, however, didn't agree with me. He said he was strong enough to beat them, but he didn't stop me.

While I was resting, Chosen looked up to the sky. There was a hole.

"You should do something to fix it." said Chosen, turning his head to me.

"I know, and I am working on it. But as for now, it should open." I answered.

"Why?" He asked.

"Let's wait and see." I replied, looking at that hole which connected with ALANSPC.

Time: April 29th, 2023.

===DARK'S POV===

It was almost 7:30 p.m. now. Chosen wasn't home. I paced around home anxiously. He always came home before 6 o'clock.

Suddenly I remembered something. Chosen once told me that if he was lost, I should go somewhere marked on the map. I walked into his room and took out the map. Then I flew directly to that location. That must be victim's organization.

===GREEN'S POV===

Blue, Red and I woke up. I felt dizzy, and I believed they were all the same. Then, I suddenly realized something.

"Yellow! Yellow was taken!" I yelled loudly.

"Then let's go to save him!" said Red, clenching his fists.

"But how can we do that? None of us can beat him. We have to figure out other ways." said Blue. He was the calmest.

All of a sudden, a voice appeared in the sky: "Hello, my friends." After that, he landed on the ground. He was a red hollow-headed stick figure.

I soon recognized him. He was the stick who killed us 5 years ago! We began to run, but he stopped us. Then he said:

"I know you guys are afraid of me. But first of all I apologise to all of you for my behavior 5 years ago. And after that, I come here to save my friend, Chosen. He's that black hollow-headed stick. "

"We knew him, " Blue said, "and we are here to save Second and Yellow."

"Ah, I see. Since we are here to rescue our friends, why not we work together? The enemies are very strong and we must teamwork. Oh, by the way, my name is The Dark Lord. You can call me Dark." Dark said, reaching out a hand.

We saw each other and answered together, "We agree." And we took his hand.

===SECOND'S POV===

I was locked in a totally black jail. I was completely confused with my hidden power. Did they really exist? If yes, why can't I use them?

SUddenly, I heard someone running and shouting outside. And the jail was broken. I saw Red, Blue, Green and a red hollow-headed stick. I ran to them and hugged Red and Blue and Green. Then I turned to the red stick. He said:"Hello, The Second Coming. We met five years ago, and that time you beat me, using a kind of mysterious power. My name is The Dark Lord, and that black stick is The Chosen One."

"You... know my power?" I asked with shock.

"Of course." He replied. "You used it to beat me, remember?"

"I can't remember anything about that." I told him.

"Well, it doesn't matter now." Dark said. Then, Red carried Yellow, and Green carried Chosen. Both of them were in coma. Dark thought for a while and shook them heavily. They woke up, and told us what happened.

"There's no doubt that Alan is in great danger now. They knew where he was and they are ready to attack." Dark said.

"Dark, I lost most power, what can I do?" Chosen asked.

"It's not a problem." Dark said. Then his arm showed a list of symbols. I instantly recognized that they were flash tool, and the leader of the army had one too.

"These are flash symbols, and it, " he pointed at one symbol, "can change your personal attributes, like this." He selected Chosen and moved the slider. Chosen instantly regain his power.

Then he selected me. "Hmm... Most datas are average, some are high, but one is extremely high-the ability to protect his friends." He analyzed.

"Where's victim?" Asked Chosen.

"Who's victim?" I asked.

"He is a dark gray, hollow-headed stick figure. He's the one who leads that strong army and who wants Chosen. He is the first stick figure that Alan made. But he wants to revenge." Dark replied.

"What? But why?" I asked continuously.

"Alan did something very bad to him..." Dark answered.

"Look, they are leaving!" Yelled Yellow at the window, pointing outside. We saw victim and at least 20 stick figures flying in the sky.

"Chase!" Dark yelled...

TO BE CONTINUED...

All right. It's the end of AvA 12(Predict). Next one will be AvA 13(Predict). The title is The Sky Battle.

And I've finished the next chapter! Enjoy!

Previous chapter: Dennis Chapter 12 | Fandom

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“But is it really stealing if we’re stealing it back?” Red continued.

“No, it’s still stealing, but it was ours in the first place, so it’s justified,” Green

said, with perfect confidence.

“Circumstances being what they are, it’s not stealing,” Yellow joined in, “But there’s a very thin line between stealing and… what we’re doing.”

Dennis listened to the exchange with a smile. He didn’t really have anything to add. As they walked down the hall on the way to the lab, he didn’t say a word. There was nothing to say. He only wanted to observe and admire. Dennis couldn’t understand how they remained so calm. They must’ve done this a bazillion times before. Justified or not, stealing or permanently borrowing, Dennis had never taken anything that wasn’t his. He wouldn’t be able to do it alone. But he wasn’t alone. He had six highly-trained stick figures by his side. They knew what they were doing. Their very presence was reassuring. It was a sign that everything would turn out all right.

All they had to do was retrieve the pencil and find Chosen. This was no longer an impossible task. It wouldn’t be a cakewalk, either, but at least it was achievable. It was nearly 10:00 P.M., but no one would come in until 6:00 A.M. They could find Chosen in that amount of time. Then, they could leave this horrible place forever.

It was only yesterday that he had entered the doors, eager and hopeful. His first job ever… and he blew it after two days. He hardly had time to process it all; things were moving so fast. The thought of leaving would’ve made him indignant mere days ago. Now, nothing seemed more desirable.

Then they arrived. The doorway to the laboratory was right there, beckoning to him. This was going to be his future. His lifelong dream. Dennis paused for a moment. Something, an emotion that he couldn’t name, was stirring up inside of him. He needed a second.

“This is it,” Dennis said, looking back at Orange and his friends, “They keep the pencil on that shelf over there in the briefcase.”

Purple popped open the briefcase and picked up the pencil. “And the lab rats really couldn’t figure out how to use it?”

“Well, they figured out how to draw things, but couldn’t create life,” Dennis said.

Orange laughed softly. “Yeah, it’s not quite as easy as it seems.”

“Guys, come look at this!” Yellow called from the next room.

They followed him. The room was filled with filing cabinets and metal briefcases; stacks and stacks of briefcases. Briefcases that were identical to the one that held the pencil.

“Animation tech?” Blue asked.

“Probably,” Dennis said, stepping forward. His curiosity couldn’t handle such a temptation, and he found himself clicking one of the briefcases open before really realizing it.

Inside, there was a dotted rectangle and a computer mouse, connected, yet separate. Dennis held it up to his friends. “Anyone recognize this?”

“It’s an Animate free transform tool,” Orange said, “Used to manipulate the size and rotation of an object.”

Red, having opened a briefcase of his own, spun around with a cry of, “Heeya!” He threw a small device at Green. It hit him in the back of the head and bounced away.

Dennis expected him to react in disapproval. Instead, Green froze in place. His body was stiff, his face was unamused, but more importantly, he was utterly and completely still. Red looked at him for a moment, only mildly concerned. Purple waved his hand over Green’s eyes. Green’s expression didn’t change, but Purple’s eyes widened with amazement. “Um… hello?” Purple said.

“Not again…” Yellow said, groaning.

“What did you throw?” Orange asked.

Red held up the devices in his hands and shrugged. “He’s fine… probably.”

“Pause buttons,” Orange said. He shivered, almost imperceptibly. “Throw him another one.”

Red obeyed. Green came back to life, shooting Red an annoyed look.

“Hilarious. Now can we get back to business?”

“It wouldn’t have killed to wait a few miuntes before unpausing him.” Red grumbled.

“Before what?” Green said, feigning anger to hide his own curiosity.

“Nothing,” he said, before whispering to Dennis, “Here, take some. You might need it later.”

Dennis obeyed and slipped two pause buttons into his pocket. It didn’t occur to him at the moment that he was stealing. In the excitement, he had forgotten entirely, considering nothing but the fact that Red was offering him an advantage. There might be some form of conflict yet, and if there were, Dennis would need every advantage possible. He wasn’t a fighter, and if he had to take part in a fight, he’d give it his all, but emotion can only carry you so far. He didn’t have brute strength or delicately trained skills. He’d need a leg up if he wanted to contribute.

“Green’s right. We still need to find Chosen. And in this place… it could take all night.” Orange said, “Dennis, do you know where Vic’s office is?”

Dennis nodded. Mr. Victim had been toying with Chosen personally. It was possible that his office might contain some clue as to where Chosen was being held. Highly improbable, but at this point, they needed all the help they could get.

“Okay. Dennis, Green, Red and I will go into the office and search the second-floor rooms. Purple, Blue, and Yellow, search the first floor. Leave no metaphorical stone unturned. We’ll meet in the warehouse in three hours.” Orange said, with a commanding air.

Everyone nodded and grouped themselves accordingly. While Red, Green, and Orange started discussing the plan with hope, Purple approached Dennis.

“So what’s next?” he said.

“Well, Orange says I’m going to lead him to Mr. Victim’s office and do some snooping. And you’re looking for The Chosen One if I understood correctly.” Dennis answered.

Purple smiled. “I mean, after this is over. Going home, getting some sleep, and then what? Orange said that you worked here. I think it’s a safe bet that you’ll be fired for this. What then?”

Dennis’s face clouded. “I don’t know. I’ve kinda been working towards this for my entire life. Never meet your heroes, huh?”

“Yeah, they might turn out to be psychopath torturers. I’m pretty sure that’s how the saying goes. Anyway, my father… My father owns a diner, and he was talking about wanting some help the other day, and I can’t cook to save my life… Well, I was wondering if you’d be interested. I could talk to him tomorrow morning if you want.” Purple said.

Dennis couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He had to fight, beg, and plead for this position. He hadn’t even been fired, and another position was just going to be… given to him? Just like that? His mother was an ingenious connoisseur of delicious flavors, and while he didn’t cook much, he enjoyed it, and did it well. In any case, he could learn the recipes. It didn’t really matter what the work really was, after all. That he was given an opportunity at all was too good to be true. The words to describe his appreciation were hard to come by. He hoped that his gentle grin and eager eyes displayed his gratitude better than his words did.

“I’d– I’d love that. Thank you.”

“No problem,” Purple said, turning to Yellow and Blue.

“Speaking of the King, how did you convince him to let you come?” Yellow asked.

“He doesn’t want you to call him that. And… I have my ways.” Purple said.

“What ways?” Yellow persisted.

“I told him the truth. He said he had some things to take care of first. I don’t know when he’ll get here, but it shouldn't be long now.”

“In that case,” Dennis said, “I look forward to meeting him.”

Purple nodded in acknowledgment and then disappeared down the hallway with Yellow and Blue behind him. Dennis looked over to Orange, Red, and Green, and Orange motioned for him to follow. Enough dawdling. It was time to get to work.

Be ye warned, the pacing is a bit slower in this installment, but exercise a small bit of patience, and we'll get to the exciting parts soon enough.

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Previous chapter; Dennis Chapter 11 | Fandom

Dennis was lost. The endless hallways and labyrinth of rooms would’ve been confusing in the daytime, let alone in the dark, when everything becomes a shadow and apparition. He would've deemed the task impossible if he didn’t have Orange and Yellow by his side. Even now, as their precious time ticked away, failure seemed inevitable.

Dennis glanced at his friends. Orange wasn’t panicking. He was stern, but even in the dark, hope was in his eyes. He really thought that they could find Chosen in time. Dennis felt a tinge of guilt. He wasn’t nearly so optimistic. As much as he wanted to convince himself otherwise, he could only believe that this was going to end badly. He’d made a mistake, somewhere, and now, it was going to ruin him, and his newfound friends.

How could he forget The Chosen One? He was the catalyst that started this entire thing. He was also the only one who could save them should everything go awry. And at this point, it probably would. Even if they found Chosen right this minute, there was nowhere near enough time to sneak out. And that was the best-case scenario. It would probably take them an eternity and a half to check every room. They had… less than ten minutes.

It was a possibility that Dennis hated to consider, but was too important to ignore. Chosen might not have survived the torture. He might not be here at all, anymore. They could continue the search but to no avail. At what point would they call it quits? If they had all night – which they didn’t – they still might not have enough time.

He couldn’t pinpoint these fears, let alone voice them. Amidst all the chaos and uncertainties, the only thing he was sure of was that the burning feeling in his heart was dread.

Dennis looked down a familiar hallway and heard a crash. His heart went racing. Someone was here. They were going to get caught. And probably killed. They had to hide.

Dennis ducked into one of the offices, Yellow and Orange close behind. This was it. They had waited too long. They should’ve left while they could. A voice came from the hallway, loud and reckless.

“Security guard successfully incapacitated!”

Dennis heard the words but didn’t understand them. Whatever their meaning, they sent Orange and Yellow into a frenzy. Sounds of footsteps echoed in the hallway. Dennis’s muscles grew tense. He glanced back at his friends. The looks on their faces utterly confused him.

“Guys?!” Orange sprang from his hiding spot, unable to contain his excitement. Without a moment’s delay, Yellow appeared beside him.

“Orange! Yellow!” A million voices spoke in unison.

Dennis couldn’t believe what was happening. The friendly noises and crazy laughter sounded too good to be true. Once he recovered from surprise, he looked out into the hallway. His heart sang with joy.

Four stick figures stood with Yellow and Orange. They talked over each other and talked fast. They embraced the two ex-captives and asked questions. Dennis couldn’t do anything but watch. They loved each other, more than life itself. In a strange way, it was beautiful.

“Dennis,” Orange said, with a proud smile, “let me introduce you to my friends.”

Dennis stepped forward. He was among heroes. He, on the other hand, was just a gray stick figure. He had no battle scars or stories to tell. The most adventurous thing he’d ever done was happening tonight, and Orange and Yellow had already served to recount the night’s events several times over.

“Boys,” Orange said, his voice rising clear above the chaos, “This is Dennis. He facilitated our escape. Dennis, these are my friends, Green, Red, Blue, and of course, Purple.”

“Nice to meet you all,” Dennis said, smiling. He had briefly forgotten his troubles, but now the sense of dread was coming back stronger than ever.

“Don’t we have to leave or something? We’re totally going to get caught.”

“Eh, we can take them,” Red said offhandedly.

“Yeah,” Green said, “And besides, we have work to do.”

“What are you talking about? Dennis already broke Orange and Yellow out.”

Purple said incredulously.

“We’ve still got to find Chosen,” Orange said.

“And the pencil,” Yellow added.

“And then we’ll burn this place to the ground!” Red joined in.

“No, we’re not doing that,” Blue said. The others all mumbled something to that effect. Dennis felt a new feeling within him. It was bright, and it was powerful. It was hope. With these valiant heroes by his side, nothing was out of reach.

Annnnd it's here! I had so much fun writing this one. Enjoy!

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Chapter le previous: Dennis Chapter 10 | Fandom

The warehouse was dark and creepy, but it was also Dennis’s best bet at getting in. He looked around for cameras. For the next forty-five minutes, their operator would be completely distracted, but it still made him uneasy. He had to take every precaution, just in case.

He tiptoed to the door, trying to silence his motions entirely. He fished into his jacket for the key and slipped it into the lock with as much precision as his cold fingers could muster. He waited for the click and smiled. He was finally doing it. A real-life rescue operation. He was on a heist for the good guys.

Dennis felt his way through the warehouse, half-tripping over boxes in the dark. So much for being stealthy. Well, if he were right, nobody but Security Gary would be able to hear him anyway. And Security Gary couldn’t care less about his job, preferring to watch Psych reruns over the cameras. Dennis didn’t have to worry about him. Still, he needed to get out of there with Orange and Yellow as fast as possible.

Dennis ducked around each corner. Someone must’ve known what he was planning. He was about to get caught. The hallways seemed to endlessly prolong his panic, the dark doorways constantly teasing him and letting him know that he wasn’t in control. Dennis was not built for scary situations, but he only had one shot at this. It was already too late to turn back, and even if it wasn’t, he couldn’t bring himself to return. He’d do what he said he’d do. Because he said he’d do it, and because it was the right thing.

The prison seemed transformed in the dim light. The containment chamber in the middle of the room glowed eerily, but not enough to actually shed much light in the room. Dennis could only make out dark shapes, adjusted to the dark as his eyes were. It didn’t matter, though. He knew the room better than he wanted to and found his way to the console near the containment chamber.

He felt the edges, looking for the small indentation that would indicate a power button. He heard some stirring in the adjacent cell and jumped.

“Orange!” he hissed in a loud whisper, “Wake up!”

There was some indistinct mumbling, and then silence.

“Nah, dude, you really gotta get up! Come on, I’m breaking you out!” Dennis said, making the console whirr to life.

“Uh, Dennis,” Yellow said, “these walls are made of carbon steel, and then rebar behind that. Breaking in isn’t really an option.”

Dennis tried to focus. He wouldn’t have been able to break in if it were made of aluminum foil. But that was why he didn’t count on breaking it. He just needed to open it.

“Yep, thanks for the input!” Dennis said, scanning the various commands.

“What does the screen say?” Yellow said.

Dennis didn’t know how to respond. He knew he was just trying to help, but Yellow’s attitude only made him more anxious. He could’ve listened and read out the words on the screen, but he knew he could do it himself. He just needed a second to think about it. So, he ignored Yellow’s words, leaving an awkward air of silence as he tried to focus.

Dennis had never been good at focusing during stressful situations, and that did not change. Half of his brain was trying to get through the security system, and the other half was trying to prove to Yellow that he could do things on his own.

From Orange’s stories, Yellow was an expert on these sorts of things. He could’ve probably figured it out in seconds. But Dennis didn’t want Yellow to figure it out. He knew it was irrational and ridiculous, but he wanted to save Orange himself. He’d already committed to it. After all he went through to get the key, all the worrying, planning, and everything he was giving up to do this, just for Yellow to save the day? Would he slip back to being a background character? He knew it was wrong, but the terror and stress of the situation wouldn’t allow him to accept help, even if it did expedite the process. Even if it would save his friend’s life more effectively.

Dennis felt the weight of guilt hanging on his heart. He should put away his fears, apologize, and accept Yellow’s help. He was in the wrong, once again, but before he could summon enough courage, he had found a solution and had complete control of the doors. It was fine. He would apologize later.

The mechanical grind of the blast doors covered up the sinking feeling in his stomach. He had done it. He had won.

Dennis sighed in relief. Orange woke up from the noise and looked out in utter confusion. Confusion, a little bit of terror, and, most of all, gratitude. All the doubts that Dennis had, fears that he would be left in the dust, revealed themselves as irrational and vanished. Even if Orange never said a word of thankfulness, that one look was sufficient. It was sincere, intentional gratitude.

Dennis smiled, opening the second barred door with as much grace as he could muster. Then, the sweet music stopped, and he remembered that time was of the essence. They had to get out, and quickly.

“Let’s go,” Dennis said, “I mean, we should be good for the next forty minutes-ish, but let’s not take any chances.”

“We need to find Chosen,” Orange said, with grim resolve, “Do you know where he is?”

“And the pencil,” Yellow said, “We’ve got to get that pencil back.”

Dennis’s stomach sank. He had forgotten The Chosen One. They couldn’t leave him behind, but he didn’t have the slightest clue where he was. His plan was vague and flawed. He had thought that the hardest part was over, but reality was sinking in. The night was young, and there was a lot to do.

Ooh, we're getting into climax territory! I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy writing this one.

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Previous chapter: Dennis Chapter 9 | Fandom

Dennis held his breath. There were only a few minutes left before five o’clock. This was his last chance. He had never stolen anything, but now he had to become an expert pickpocket. He was a fast learner, but this was different. Under any other circumstance, he’d shudder at the thought. This was important. This was the right thing to do.

A distraction, and then slip. That’s all it was. The distraction was easy. Any number of things could make Kevin bend over or look the other way. The hard part was positioning himself to take advantage of it, especially without Barbara noticing. She watched Dennis like a hawk, which only added to his tension. As if his nerves weren’t already exploding.

He took a breath. It was time. Now or never.

With one swift motion, he reached for a clipboard and backed into Kevin. Kevin let out a cry of frustration.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” he said, but he wasn’t sorry. Not in the least. The key in his pocket was enough to assure him of his success and make any feeling of regret fly out the window.

The adrenaline was running its course. Dennis had just conquered the world, but a looming feeling of dread towered over him. He was going to get caught. Surely Barbara had been this maneuver and guessed his intentions. Howard and Larry probably noticed his inattentiveness. Everyone must’ve been looking at him.

The clock struck five. Like magic, the tenseness in the room lifted. No one gave ten cents about Dennis’s clumsiness. There was one unanimous goal, a goal that blocked out the strangest of behaviors. The scientists wanted to go home. Howard and Larry disappeared without a minute to waste. Barbara and Kevin refused to talk to each other as they each set about their preparations for the night. Dennis watched them sort notes and shut down computers, trying to look disinterested while observing the most minute of details. They couldn’t have known how vital the information was to him. They definitely didn’t know that lives were on the line. But Dennis knew this, and it only added to the pressure.

He felt like he was missing something. His stomach was doing weird things, and his brain was in constant agitation. He was tired of moral dilemmas and decisions. As important as the night ahead of him was, he wanted to go home. It was going to be a long and gruesome night.

If Barbara would just pack up the pencil and put it away, Dennis could leave! He watched her with a subtle sort of frustration. He couldn’t break Orange and Yellow out until nine when Security Gary would start watching Psych reruns. Then, they had exactly forty-five minutes to escape, or Gary would pick them up on the cameras.

Dennis was never good with deadlines. This was the same thing but with real stakes. His friends’ lives were at stake. And he’d be fired.

Dennis watched Barbara pick up the pencil with bubbling excitement. He couldn’t suppress a smile when she slipped it into its briefcase, and took it into the next room, setting it on its proper shelf.

Dennis stayed a few seconds longer for good measure.

“G’night, Kevin. I’m going home. Bye, Barbara!” he said, walking out the door.

“See ya,” the two scientists said in unison, only to turn to each other with a look of disgust.

Dennis walked down the hallway, triumphant. In three hours, he would return and set his friends free. In three hours, he would execute the heist of a lifetime. But until then, he would be at home, surrounded by the people he loved.

“Hold on,” Barbara said, “I need to have a word with you.”

Dennis turned around. Of all things, he hadn’t expected Barbara to actually want to talk to him. “Yes, ma’am?”

“You should really be ashamed of yourself. That pickpocketing job was just… unacceptable. If Kevin weren’t so dumb in the first place, you would’ve been caught red-handed. Look, you’ve got to cover up the motion of slipping your hand into his pocket with another, similar motion. Bumping into him was fine, but just way too obvious. Making him bend down would’ve worked. Or, you could’ve spilled coffee all over him, which wouldn’t have worked, but it would’ve been fun to watch.”

Dennis nodded. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Actually, it made perfect sense, but he still wouldn’t have guessed. He watched the scene unfold with a confused sense of awe.

“How did you learn these things? Were you a thief?” Dennis asked. He knew he was pushing his luck, but his curiosity wouldn’t let him ignore it.

“My brother. I thought he was the best thief in the world. We took out countless marks. Then he made a mess of a job, got caught, and then burned to death.” She said, hardly flinching under the gruesome words.

“They still burn people to death here?” Dennis said, wholly unable to stop the words from coming out of his mouth.

“No, genius, he crashed the car, something malfunctioned, and the flames took care of it from there.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Dennis said, doing his best to compose himself sympathetically

“Yeah, well, there’s nothing anyone can do about it anymore. My point is, steal better,” she said, turning her heel and leaving with the angry precision that was unique to her.

Dennis didn’t know what to make of that. He had been caught, but… encouraged to continue. She couldn’t have known what he was planning, or she never would’ve encouraged him. Either way, he was free to go home and continue his operation completely unaffected.

Three hours, and he would return to this place, probably for the last time. Yeah, he would screw up the job of a lifetime, but at least he would be saving Orange and Yellow’s lives. Orange might introduce him to the rest of the gang, and maybe they’d become good friends. Maybe he could host a barbecue, and they’d all come over and have a party – well, that was hopeful thinking. They were probably busy.

Dennis drove home. No matter how crazy the rest of his life was, home would always be the same. His dog was patiently waiting for him by the door and his mother was watching the clock anxiously. For the next three hours, there was nowhere else he’d rather be. In three hours, he’d pull off a brilliant heist, but for now, he was home.

Hey, look, I got the next (consecutive) chapter done in 3 days! Hope you enjoy!

Dennis Chapter 8 | Fandom

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Dennis did his best to control his hurricane of emotions. It couldn’t be helped anymore. Orange wouldn’t accept his help. He should just give up, and return to his job. He had work to do. The day was almost over.

Dennis knew that the moment he stepped into the lab, he would have to face Barbara. He didn’t have anything to show for his absence. He didn’t have an explanation to satisfy her. He definitely didn’t have enough energy to handle her berating.

It didn’t matter, though. Nothing could be accomplished by standing outside. He took a breath, tried to put Orange out of his mind, and stepped in.

Kevin was brooding over one of the computers. Howard and Larry were clutching their clipboards. Barbara was in the containment chamber with the pencil, smiling. She was actually smiling. That was new.

Barbara started drawing. Her strokes were clean and calculated, as if she had practiced the manuever a dozen times. She must’ve been pleased with the results, as she was glowing with pride. Like Dennis’s drawings, hers remained suspended midair, stiff and lifeless, but that didn’t kill any of her joy.

“That’s really good!” he said, “I love cats!”

Barbara shot him a death look. “It’s not a cat, idiot.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, both to her and to the growing feeling of shame. He was sorry about a lot of things. Most of which, he couldn’t afford to think about right now.

“Yep, looks great, Barbara!” Larry said, with Howard nodding in agreement.

“I know,” she said, “See, Dennis, this is what it looks like to draw. I could give you some pointers, you know, but I already know it would be a waste of time.”

“Thanks anyway,” He said. It was like he was trying to juggle fire. He could give the wittiest and most satisfactory response, and he’d still get burned.

Dennis glanced over his shoulder. Kevin was quiet, and that was concerning. This was more than just Barbara getting on his nerves. Something was wrong.

Dennis slipped into the chair next to him. “What’s wrong?”

Kevin hardly looked up. “Nothing.”

Dennis looked at him intently. Kevin’s face showed intense signs of bottled-up frustration. Dennis nodded. “No, I’m pretty sure something’s wrong. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No, Dennis. You can’t help me.”

He had heard that far too many times in one day. He was going to help someone, whether they wanted it or not. Neither side wanted his help, and he was sick and tired of it.

Yellow didn’t want his compassion because he was still on the company’s side. The scientists didn’t want his help, ever, because they were proud jerks.

“DENNIS!” Barbara said, “Take notes or something, don’t just stand there!”

Dennis ignored her. He had more important things going on. He was so close to a solution to his inner turmoil, it was almost palpable. He just needed a few more seconds to himself to sort it all out. Yes, his conclusion, once internalized, was crushing in its simplicity.

He was on the wrong side.

His passive watching of incredible injustices was wrong. An apology wasn’t enough. He was on the wrong side, and he was there intentionally. Even after learning of the terrible things that Mr. Victim was doing, directly or indirectly, he continued to worship his hero. That was wrong. He had made a mistake, and he had to fix it, come what may. It was just like Sheila had said. No more room for error. He could dance this balancing act all day long, but Yellow and Orange didn’t have that much time. He had to act.

He was so stirred up, he could’ve turned to Barbara in sweet defiance and stormed out. However, that wouldn’t have helped Orange, and it also would’ve drawn far too much attention to himself.

No, he had to snap out of it. Any attempt would become impossible if he wasn’t able to slip away at quiet intervals. Yes, it was at a quiet moment when no one was looking that he would slip out, and save his friends.

Dennis found a clipboard in one of the drawers and a pencil on Howard’s desk. Every few minutes, Barbara would yell something to him, and he wrote it down. Dennis was quite happy with this situation, as it meant he had time to think in between intervals. And Barbara had a habit of talking in such a way as to draw immediate attention to herself, and this was no exception. She broke through his train of thought with her piercing yell, and to all other eyes, Dennis appeared to be quite attentive.

He had watched enough Mission: Impossible movies to feel a rush of adrenaline at the thought of a prison break. And from watching the company as only an intern can, he knew that he didn’t know near enough about this place to facilitate an escape. Yet, he didn’t have too much of a choice.

“See,” Barbara said, “I knew you weren’t a retard.”

Dennis couldn’t help but feel touched. That was the closest thing to a compliment she would probably ever pay him. And even more so, it was genuine. She was actually pleased with his work. And she was happy.

This one felt bad to write XDDD.

Dennis Chapter 7 | Fandom

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“What is it?” Orange mumbled.

Dennis’s heart sank. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Not really.”

Dennis didn’t know how to respond. His own plan seemed ridiculous and unlikely now. He continued, despite the feeling in the pit of his stomach, “I want to help. I… just don’t have that much influence in the company, you know? I mean, I’m just an intern. B-but maybe if I could help them, they’d listen to me. I know it’s a long shot, but… well… can you teach me to animate? I mean, that’s all they really want, isn’t it?”

Orange’s silence made Dennis more and more convinced that this plan was stupid. It wouldn’t work. He was being optimistic. Sheila would never just… let him go. Was he dangling the possibility of freedom in front of Orange when, in his heart, Dennis knew that it wouldn’t be that easy?

“It’s not,” Orange finally said. “They want Alan.”

“The… the guy on your computer? Why would they want him?” Dennis said. Why would a company this big go after a mere human? And go to such preposterous lengths to get him?

“I don’t know. Chosen said that’s what Victim wanted. He wanted to know where Alan was.”

Dennis gulped. There was no way that he could convince Mr. Vic to let them go, no matter how big his contribution to the research was. “Did… did he give in?”

Dennis could hear Orange smile faintly. “You haven’t met Chosen, have you? No, he didn’t. That’s what was happening when we walked in the other day. And then there’s Yellow…”

“Yellow?” Dennis echoed. Something must’ve turned the tide of the fight after he was knocked out.

A voice came from the adjacent cell. “Hi.”

The guilt tugged at Dennis’s heart. He had assisted (or at least tried to assist) in Yellow’s capture. He did it completely unknowingly, but it was still his fault. He really did deserve that kick from Green.

“So what happened to the others?” Dennis said, almost afraid to ask, “That was kinda the worst rescue attempt in history.”

“And you’ve done much better? You haven’t even tried. The others… they escaped, anyway.”

Dennis’s heart sped up. Yellow was right. Dennis hadn’t done anything to prove that he was on Orange’s side. He hardly knew which side he was on himself. He couldn’t help both of them, no matter how much he wanted to believe that he could.

“I want to help–” Dennis started.

“Then do it.” Yellow said, “Break us out. Swipe a key! Something. Literally anything would help. Anything but your pity.”

“I’ll get fired…” Dennis said, his eyes darting to the floor, “You don’t understand, this job is kind of a big deal for me… I mean… not more than… than your lives, but I mean…”

“Chosen was tortured, Dennis,” Orange said, “At Victim’s own hands. That’s why he went after Yellow.”

Dennis’s stomach lurched. He wanted to believe that Kevin’s comment was an empty promise. A meaningless threat. Or that he was playing with Dennis. Even a mean prank would’ve been better than this development.

“You’re serious, aren’t you?” Dennis said, finally.

“Yeah.”

“I’m– I’m sorry. And I– I will find a way out of this.” Dennis said, “But I need you to trust me. Please. Teach me to animate.”

Orange hesitated. “I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“We don’t negotiate with the enemy,” Yellow said.

“That’s wet cardboard. My life isn’t at risk here. It’s yours. I’m trying to help, I don’t know how to convince you of that.” Dennis said, exasperated.

The silence was thick with heavy thoughts. Dennis could finally pinpoint the sinking feeling that had been haunting him. The danger was real. If Mr. Victim could break someone like Chosen, it wouldn’t be good for Yellow.

Dennis couldn’t help them escape until Orange taught him to animate. Orange wouldn’t teach him until he helped them escape. Something had to be done. There was no time to wait it out.

“Orange, I need to learn how to use that pen. Right now, I’m the dust beneath their feet. If I can learn how to use it, then I’d be worth something. They wouldn’t need you to facilitate their tests. They could let you go.” Dennis said, trying to stir up hope once again.

“You don’t get it, Dennis. Victim doesn’t give two cents about the pen. It’s personal. There’s no diplomatic way out of this.” Orange said, his words bitter with frustration.

Dennis knew that he was right. He knew that Mr. Victim truly had tortured Chosen. He knew that there wasn’t much hope for him being able to escape from this scathe-free. He didn’t know what to do anymore. The first part of his plan had failed before even being set in motion. The reality was, he couldn’t help Orange. He couldn’t help anyone.

He left the room. Whatever this feeling was, he wanted it to stop. He had just come to the realization that he was powerless. He’d never fought a fight in his life. He couldn’t take on an entire megacorporation. Negotiating was as fruitless as his mother’s pear tree. Nothing could be done. And yet, something had to be done.

I'm super happy to say that I finished the next chapter within a reasonable time frame! I'm not gonna say too much, but I believe I can finish them a whole lot faster now.

Previous Chapter: Dennis Chapter 6.5 | Fandom

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Everyone had left. Dennis woke up alone in the middle of the parking lot with a piercing headache. This wasn’t exactly what he was hoping for when he had followed his coworkers. He hardly wanted to get up and return to Peter’s dreary office, but to remain on the ground and get run over by a car wasn’t a pleasant outcome either.

He stumbled to his feet with a groan. Orange wasn’t kidding about his friends. They were crazy. Dennis checked his watch. It had only been a few minutes, but the place was completely deserted. He would have no cover to sneak back inside, but maybe he wouldn’t be noticed.

Dennis cracked the door open. Sheila was inside, talking to the strange stick figures. He would probably be seen. His presence wouldn’t likely be missed if he waited just a few minutes longer. Then again, maybe Sheila was too preoccupied to see him.

One swift glance shattered Dennis’s hope.

“Donald!” she said.

Dennis wanted to turn away. He wanted to pretend not to notice until she said his name correctly. However, his reflexes were too fast and he already made eye contact with her. He was caught, and it was too late.

Sheila walked over to the doorway, her high heels clacking rhythmically. She looked concerned. “Are you okay? Don’t tell me you got caught up in all of this!”

“Well,” Dennis paused, “It depends on your definition of ‘caught up in’.”

“I’m listening,” She said, her mask of sympathy slowly slipping into sternness.

“I just wanted to see what everyone was up to… I didn’t think it would hurt to watch. At least, I didn’t think it would hurt this much.”

Sheila’s face was a confusion of disapproval and amusement. It finally settled into an even look of impatience. “I understand. I know it’s a lot. There are a lot of moving parts in this company, and you want to see them all. Well, while you’re gaping at someone else’s job, you’re neglecting your own. We’re growing faster than we can keep up with. There’s no time to lose.”

Dennis’s head was already wringing with pain. Now his blood was boiling, too. “Sheila, I can’t be an IT guy. I have no idea what I’m doing. Let me be the guinea pig again.”

Sheila sighed. “You’ll learn.”

Dennis was too upset to stop on a dime. All the disappointment, all the confusion, and horror that had balled up inside him was released, and he said something so uncharacteristic, that he could hardly believe that he had said it at all.

“What did I do to you to deserve this?”

His face was hot and his palms were sweaty, but his voice was quiet and even. That made the impolite words sound even more horrific to him.

For a second, Sheila’s eyes were genuine. They were apologetic, but only for a second. Then the mask fell into place once again, and it became cold, lying pity. “It’s for the best. I’m just trying to look out for you.”

A lump formed in Dennis’s throat. Barely audible, he said, “No, you’re not. Please. Let me go back to the lab.”

Dennis listened to the silence, unsure what to make of anything anymore.

“If that’s what you really want,” Sheila said, her voice becoming ominous and strong, “But there’s no more room for mistakes.”

Dennis walked away from the conversation, his knees buckling. It was impossible to keep his face composed, let alone his body language. He walked straight for the lab, trying to straighten everything out in his mind.

He had it. He had another chance. Another chance to become someone, another chance to earn his coworkers’ respect, and another chance to save Orange. It could all work out yet.

But how? His head was spinning with emotion and a growing headache. The hunger he had forgotten thus far was coming back strong and insistent. He was as physically agitated as if he had just heard some life-threatening news. No one would’ve guessed that he was the happiest stick figure on earth.

There it was. The doorway to the lab. The adrenaline rushed over him in the same way as the day before, and Dennis paused. He was back. This was it.

He walked into the room with long strides. He’d go ahead and pretend that he didn’t feel like a kid in a candy shop. He’d act like he never left, like he never suffered extreme boredom at Barbara’s malicious hands. He’d act like he knew what he was doing.

Barbara was berating Larry over something or another. Kevin was talking to Howard with a newfound sense of panic.

“Hey guys, I’m back!” He said.

Barbara turned and made a sarcastic smile. Kevin looked up and greeted him with a friendly wave. Larry and Howard didn’t pay him any mind.

“Oh, hi Dennis,” Kevin said, turning back to Howard and continuing his discussion.

Barbara seemed genuinely happy to see him. Almost smug. Was it possible that she was just having a bad day yesterday?

“Glad you’re back, Errand Boy,” she said, “These idiots are driving me crazy.”

“Thanks,” Dennis said, “now, how can I help?”

The room was quiet. In the past day, nothing had changed. The scientists didn’t want help, but Dennis couldn’t do anything else. He had no other skills.

If only he knew how to animate. Then he’d have something that the scientists didn’t. He was willing to learn, if he only had a willing teacher. Then, something clicked.

“I’ll be right back,” Dennis said, running out of the room.

The prison room was now familiar. Dennis ran to Orange’s cell without a second glance, hardly noticing that another cell was sealed shut.

“Orange! I have a plan!”

I'm sorry this one's a bit short, and it took so long... but this is the first free afternoon in forever XD. Also, I know that it isn't timed canonically. Pretend it's an alternate universe or something, I don't know.

Previous chapter: https://animatorvsanimation.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000000160965

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Dennis was really, really bored. It should come as no surprise that, upon hearing panicked voices, he was happier than he should’ve been. The hall, which was a ghost town mere minutes before, was flooded with stick figures. The rhythmic thumping of many shoes hitting the metallic floor made Dennis smile faintly. He was rescued from the monotonous sound of Peter’s voice.

“What’s that?” Dennis asked. Among the sea of cookie-cutter gray employees, four strangers stood out. They were unique in appearance, but their demeanor was also very different. Everyone else ran. They walked.

Peter hardly looked up. “Eh?”

“The alarms, the screaming, the strange stick figures? Is this normal?” Dennis said, standing up suddenly, “Is there a fire or something?”

“Probably not,” Peter said, “But you can go see.”

Dennis darted out the door. The group seemed a lot smaller now, with only fifteen or so ordinary stick figures, plus the strange ones. Except, these weren’t normal stick figures. This was an organized group. Dennis didn’t belong here. He should turn back. He wasn’t invited to this party if it could be called such a thing. Each member talked with a sense of unease, a sense of panic. It was as if they were dreading the moment when they would finally meet their destination. This was all apparent. Should he still follow?

He remembered Peter’s office. He couldn’t go back, not while this was happening right down the hall. While Peter’s office was hot and sweaty, this air was cold, sweet, and full of adrenaline. Besides, he was already doomed to a lifetime of a boring job and stale snacks. He could at least enjoy this excitement now and figure the rest out later.

Dennis tried to stay away from the strange stick figures. They seemed like the only ones who were calm enough to spot him. Much to his relief, they didn’t pay him any mind. They actually seemed entirely unaware of the little army. The strange stick figures were living in their own worlds.

He was a little ashamed to call them that, even in his internal dialogue, but he had no other name. One was tall, brown, and chalkish. One was thin and black with dark sunglasses. The next looked like a model for road signs, and the last was pixelated and short. They were all perfectly calm with an expression that was both awesome and terrifying.

Dennis did his best to blend in as he followed the crowd through the facility. They passed the laboratory and Dennis couldn’t help shooting a glance inside. Barbara and Kevin were inside, arguing. Dennis shrank back.

Who was he kidding? They wouldn’t recognize him in a crowd of similarly-colored stick figures. They worked with him for less than a day and weren’t too fond of him either. He’d hardly been given half a chance. Would they really remember him in a passing glance?

Apparently not.

Dennis followed the crowd outside and into the parking lot. It would be harder to hide himself now that the hallways had disappeared, but if he stood tall and watched carelessly, his presence might not be noticed.

The crowd stopped, cautiously surrounding something. Dennis, emboldened by curiosity, pushed his way through to see what the purpose of this excursion was, and whether it was worth getting caught.

Dennis found himself standing next to four brightly-colored stick figures. Orange’s friends.

“Hands in the air!” one of the workers said.

They exchanged looks. The yellow one, the green one, and the blue one surrendered. The red one smiled.

The red one rushed forward and punched two workers with a maniacal smile. Dennis felt his stomach lurch. He had to help his coworkers. He ran forward, but the next thing he knew was burning pain. And then he was out cold.