Finals. God, how can one word evoke such dread in so many people? All of my classmates - myself included - are dreading what's coming. Admittedly, the only final coming up is "Intro to Animation," but that's a seriously important class.
I've been working on my final project for this class for quite some time, since I found out what it was going to be, in fact. I was a little nervous about it, considering I'd seen minor animation create real events, but when I brought that concern to Bugs, he told me there were safeties in place to prevent the student films from coming to life. He then questioned me in great detail about how I made the fish, and seemed...excessively pleased with what I told him.
Admittedly, my choice of material for the cartoon I'm making is...well, let's just say it's film noir, as they say. Or at least, it was going to be...until I noticed that nearly everyone else is making a comedy. I don't want to waste all the effort I went to making this - especially since I did most of it alone - by starting over, but I don't see how I can get a joke...
Actually, now that I think about it, there just might be something I can do. It will take some quick work, but at least now I can make use of the other aspects of animation...voice actors.
It doesn't take long to talk Fifi into doing the voice work for the cartoon, although she is plainly confused as to why I only need two lines from her.
Here's hoping it goes over well...or at least doesn't frighten too many people. But...I need to do this. Maybe the only way to get this out of my head...is to get this out of my head.
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It's the festival now. Buster is announcing the cartoons. So far, the judges - Daffy, Bugs, and Hamton - haven't had much good to say about what's been shown. We just saw Hamton's "My Worst Nightmare." It was the name of his toon that actually inspired me to make this. Here's hoping it goes well. Buster's on stage.
"And now," he says, "another toon of the film noir genre, coming from a new student." He looks at the card. "'Despair,' by Frisk Paws."
The toon begins.
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It's a silent toon, right at first. It's shot from the first person perspective, beginning with darkness. Then a text card appears.
"What happened? Why does it hurt so?"
The screen shows an effect meant to show the slow, blinking opening of eyes. I think I did a good job with that. The scene that appears is greyscale, completely black and white. Another text card.
"Where is everyone?"
The camera moves, bouncing to show a running gait. Another card.
"I smell blood..."
The speed of movement increases. Then the camera stops and suddenly turns. Another card.
"No..."
Buster and Babs lie on the ground, their faces full of fear and their eyes glazed with death. Their bellies are ripped open, showing the manner of their death. Another card.
"What could have done this?"
"I have to get help."
The camera jolts along again, then tumbles. It looks very much like what you see when you trip over something and fall to the ground. The view spins, showing Hampton lying there, one arm missing and deep furrows across his face, showing bone. His neck is broken. Another card.
"It can't be. Why?"
Running again. It isn't long before others are discovered dead as well. Shirley, Plucky, Dizzy, Furball...each are found nearby, ripped apart. At long last, the camera reaches the junkyard. All is still. Another card.
"No...please God, no..."
The camera moves into the junkyard slowly. Two cars are set aside, seperate from the rest of the junk. One is done up like a room, Fifi's room. The other has been torn to shreds from within. The camera approaches Fifi's room. Another card.
"Please...don't let it be..."
The door is opened. Inside, Fifi lays there, lifeless, her neck a bloody mess, a deep bite mark plainly visible beneath the blood. The camera moves back. Another card.
"No...no..."
"...why is my face damp?"
The camera looks down. A cat's paw - my paw - is plainly visible, the fur sticky with wetness. The tip raises to the camera. Another card.
"Blood..."
"...I did this..."
*CRASH!*
The camera spins. The bodies of the dead toons have risen, come to seek vengeagce. Their silent, shuffling approach would be easily outrun...but the camera sinks downward, as though someone had fallen to their knees. Slowly, almost afraid, the camera turns. Fifi's body has also risen, and slowly approaches. The camera's eyes close. Another card.
"I'm sorry...I'm so, so sorry..."
...
*chu*
...Huh?
The camera moves backward as color comes to the scene. In the light of color, it is plainly visible that the horrific injuries to the others is screen makeup, as I stare around at them. Fifi has leaned over and placed a light kiss on my cheek. She pulls back.
"Happy Halloween, Mistah Frisk," she says pleasently, the first sound from the cartoon.
In the film, I faint dead away.
Fifi looks at the camera. "Was it somezing I said?"
Last card.
"End."
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I can feel the shock and horror in those around me. It's so quiet in the auditorium I can plainly hear the judges comments.
Porky: "...I think I just wet myself..."
Daffy: "That boy is seriously disturbed."
Bugs is silent for some time. Then he speaks loud enough for everyone to hear. "Mister Paws, please report to my office after the festival. Buster, if you would be so kind as to introduce the next cartoon?"
"Yes, sir," Buster says quickly, running up to the stage. I can see the way my friends are looking at me. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea...
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After the festival, I report to Bugs office as directed. The last time I was there, I was being drawn. I can hear an arguement in the office.
"Bugs, that kid is dangerous! You saw that film he made! Can you really allow someone like that around the other students? He's a menace! A danger to us all!"
"Daffy, there are things going on here you aren't aware of. Leave Frisk Paws to me."
"But Bugs!"
"Daffy, this is important. There's more going on here than you know about...more than I know about, for that matter. I will find out what led Frisk to make such a cartoon, and then take what action I deem neccessarry. Please, Daffy, as my friend, leave this to me, I beg you."
Daffy was silent for a time. "Wow Bugs," he said at last. "This is a lot more serious than I thought." There was more silence, then he continued. "Alright Bugs, I'll trust you in this."
"Thanks Daffy. Send Frisk in on your way out, since he's right outside the door."
Daffy stepped out and glowered down at me. "Eavesdropping is a bad habit," he said angrily. "Don't let me catch you at it again."
I grinned. I'd seen enough Bugs and Daffy cartoons while human to know what to say. "Understood, sir. In the future, I'll make sure not to let you catch me."
Daffy glowered at me. "You're incorrigible." He gestured. "Get in there."
I went in, the door closing behind me. Bugs spoke up. "Why did you make that cartoon, Frisk? Where did you get the inspiration?"
I swallow. "It's straight out of my nightmares...nightmares I've had every day since I became Frisk Paws. I thought...if I put it on film, I'd get it out of my head."
Bugs nodded. "I see...where does the nightmare end and your creativity begin?"
I know what he's asking. "I usually wake up screaming after finding Fifi's body."
I notice a ghost of a smile breifly cross his face before he gets serious again. "And why did you give it the ending you did?"
"...the projects supposed to be funny, isn't it?"
"I see..." Bugs was lost in thought, staring at me. "The nightmares derive from who you were before, of that much I'm certain. If we can find what the trigger is, we may be able to purge the nightmares. Have you any idea of the trigger?"
I nod. "The Neko Ken training."
"I beg your pardon?"
I explain. "When I was six years old, my father put me through a training for a martial arts technique called the Neko Ken, or Cat Fist. It was supposed to give me access to a technique that would increase my speed and strength, as well as enable me to shred through most substances with my fingertips, as though I had powerful claws."
Bugs tilted his head. "I still don't see-"
"The training involved wrapping me in fish sausage and throwing me into a pit of starving cats."
"By Barbera!" Bugs gasped. "Your own father did that to you?"
I nod. "The end result of the training...instilled a pathological fear of cats. When the fear reached a breaking point, I would begin to act like a feral cat. It was only in this state the technique could be accessed."
"By Hanna..." Bugs whispered, his eyes as wide as dinner plates.
"That's why, when you asked me what animal defined me, I said cats."
Bugs shook his head, looking like he'd just seen a ghost, shaking all over. "Frisk...you were supposed to tell me what animal you wanted to be...not one tied to insanity." He managed to get control of himself. "At least, now that I know what's causing these nightmares, I can do something about them for you." He managed to calm himself down. "Shirley the Loon is good at helping people find balance in their auras. I think you should see her about stabalizing yours. Don't know how much good it will do, but it can't hurt. Also..." He looks me straight in the eye. "Explain to Fifi about the nightmares, if not the cause...assuming you haven't already. Having someone that close to help you deal can only be good for you. In fact, the more of your friends who know about your nightmares, the more help you can get." Bugs stood up. "I'll be looking into a few things, to see if I can do more than this for you. For now...go about your life as usual."
I nod. "I've mentioned the nightmares to the others already, although I hadn't gone into great detail regarding their nature...only that they made me fear becoming a monster, a threat to them. They...figured out before I came here that the film was of the nightmares."
Bugs nodded. "Our students aren't dumb by any stretch of the imagination."
I nod. "I'm glad they were understanding." I don't mention how they had reacted.
Buster and Babs had been quite understanding, surprised at the kind of emotional baggage I'd been drawn with. Both had said if I ever needed to talk with them about anything to give them a call.
Hamton had rested a hand on my shoulder, saying I shouldn't be afraid of myself, and that we all had our own inner demons to contend with.
Plucky had thought it was cool. Everyone had glared at him.
Dizzy had said that nightmares made him hungry, and suggested eating before bed to keep them away, and after waking to banish what made it through. Although we all laughed, I might actually try it.
Shirley had already volunteered to help me find balance with my aura. When I'd mentioned I already knew how to meditate, she offered to guide me through a deep meditative state to repair any damage my aura had suffered.
Furball hadn't said anything. He had merely rubbed his head against my hand, purring comfort.
Fifi had held me tight, making soothing, comforting sounds. Oddly enough, I found the fears inherent from the nightmares melting away in the warmth of her embrace.
Remembering that and something else, I turn back to Bugs. "There's one other thing. Even when in the grip of the Cat Fist Madness, I wouldn't bring harm to someone I trusted implicitly. If there was someone of whom I had no fear and held in deep regard, with that person I would behave as an affectionate kitten, curling up in their lap. Might...finding such a person here help to hold back the madness, and the nightmares?"
Bugs thought for a time, then nodded. "Quite possible. I hope a more permanent solution is found, though. And keep a reign on your violent impulses, alright? They feed this side of you."
I nod. "I'll remember." I turn to head home.
Home...I meant the junkyard...do I really think of it as home, now?