A/N:

Disclaimer:

I figured that since there's going to be a lot of names and histories popping up that are actual real people and creations in real life, and also thanks to the guidance of 'Frumouttamimind', it was time to put a disclaimer in. So here goes:

I do not own any of the Animaniacs characters or have anything to do with the Warner Brothers name or Fleischer Studio's/Paramount. All of the facts and plots/histories I put into the fic are all words of fiction and do not in any way aim to be taken as serious fact. The Animanaics crew belong to Warner Bros. and once again, it is all fiction! The only things I own are my OC characters, Talia, Flynn, Poppy and Jared. Thank you!

Please don't let this be a giant waste of time. I was only doing this for the Warner's. Okay, granted I was doing it for my own curiosity too, but it was mostly for them. This was their past that was being hidden here, they had a right to know about it. But I didn't see why we had to go to the studio. Wasn't the whole point of us meeting out of it was so I didn't feel restricted? Was he tricking me? Calm down, Talia, the Warner's are close by, there's nothing to worry about. Don't get me wrong it was a comfort knowing that they were there, but a little dejecting that I felt inclined to rely on them.

Nevertheless, I'd followed Jared back to the studio and into Plotz' office. Well I guess you could call it his office now. But old habits die hard and to me it was still Plotz' office. I looked at Jared sceptically, refusing to take a step beyond the doorway. Stubbornness was a skill I aimed to use as much as possible considering it was limited lately. Jared stopped to look over his shoulder at me, exhaling with a smile as if he expected it and carried on towards his desk.

"I'm not going to kidnap you, you know."

"Oh no way!" I said sarcastically, "Look, it's late so I'd rather you just get to the point instead of dragging me around Burbank if that's okay with you."

"I didn't drag you anywhere." He pointed out calmly, "You texted me wanting to meet up, and you wanted physical proof of my information instead of just word of mouth which brings us here."

I hated when he was right. "Which brings me back to my point of hurrying it up."

He started rummaging around in the desk draws, "You really don't like me, do you?"

That was the problem, it wasn't that I didn't like him. In fact he was too likable which instantly made me have distaste for him. Much like his eager acceptance to the mind-blowing conspiracies going on around here. Subject change, "You didn't want the Warner's to know about the Fleischer's and yet you're telling me, why?"

"It's not that I don't want to tell them, they have a higher right to know than anyone. And in all fairness I didn't actually find this stuff until the day after I found them searching; and I can't actually tell them myself because of a current contract. But by telling you, you can inform them and there's your loophole."

I could understand that. But why would he need to go to such lengths to find a loophole in a contract? "Why would you -"

"Here we go!" he announced, cutting me off and holding up a thick leather-bound book, "I had to visit Plotz' house to bring some paperwork to the studio and came across these."

He deliberately placed it on the desk so I had no choice but to enter the room fully and take a look, "How do I know you haven't tampered with them, Thief?"

"No matter what I do you're still not going to trust me, are you?" he demanded with a harsher tone, "Talia, when are you going to realise that not all humans are going to hurt you? I'm genuinely trying to do you and your friends good here, can't you see that?"

"I see it; but I don't understand it. That's what I don't like. No one with authority around here does anything for anyone without planning to gain something in return. So you can aid us all you like, but I'm not going to stop asking the questions: Why and What do you gain from this?"

"I gain peace of mind that I'm not growing a business on lies and because everyone has a right to know their own lives."

"You say that like you're taking it personally." I wondered aloud, "There has to be more reasons for your help…"

As the words left me, he froze and gave me an alienated look that gave me a shudder. After what seemed like forever, he shook himself and forced a smile like he'd just heard a joke, "Well then that's your interpretation. But at the end of the day, you can either take a look and find out, or I can put them away and we can go over this little conversation again in a few days when you can't get answers elsewhere." He shrugged, and looked at me earnestly, "I'm not the bad guy, Talia, sometime you might just see that."

Without saying another word, I forced myself closer to the desk and took a seat, pulling book towards me and opening it carefully. No doubt he'd already read through this and thus just sat down opposite me in waiting. The book turned out to be a journal of some kind. It was written in faint and neat penmanship, each entry ranging from a couple of sentences to a few paragraphs and all in very blunt statements what was bordering short hand. But it wasn't documented by day, but by month, cramming as much information into such a confined space so that the book could last longer. It didn't surprise me when I saw that the name of the owner was Plotz. However, this belonged to a M. Plotz so that meant this belonged to Plotz Senior. Trust a Plotz to be so concerned with saving time and space, and money no doubt by not wasting the pages… I started reading eagerly and was a little deflated to find nothing of value in the first few entries. But finally, my eyes skimmed over the name of Warner Bros. Studio, and that's when I started to slow down to an absorbing pace.

December, 1927: The Warner Bros. were still struggling with the death of their brother Sam, stress is becoming too much. It pains me to say that I took advantage of a mournful situation and raised my workload. It has paid off. Jacob announced that come New Year I am to be the new CEO and will take over while they mourn. I feel the need to continue to prove myself. With Thaddeus' growing aspiration, I must set an example and give him a future. But the studio is facing more trouble and I simply must think of a way to gain popularity for the studio and myself, but how? Will think of something by next entry with any luck. These are hard people to please, it will take more than a new pitches to gain a name for myself around here.

In the January of 1928 the book told me that he'd taken position while the three remaining original Warner founders went about their own projects while still keeping an eye on the studio. But there was nothing of interest. By the looks of things, Plotz Senior was just as eager for self image than our Plotz. There was nothing out of place until I came across March of 1928.

March, 1928: I can't believe that such a discovery is being written down by my own hand. I had come across an anomaly of otherworldly proportions. I was inspecting the Cartoon Production Studio centre when I stumbled upon sketches of some absurd looking characters. By some trickery they actually moved along the paper like a magicians spoof. Yet there was nothing of the sort, the animations were well and truly moving across a forgotten scrap of paper. But the joke turned out to be a reality. It seems that two of the studio's staff on the Animating production line have the wizardry to bring their doodles to a semi-living state. However when interrogated personally, the 'Creators' in question are none other than Fleischer spies; Joe and Charles. They claim to be in progress of breaking away from the shadows their brothers Max and Dave have cast, yet I believe none of it. I know spies when I see them and this anomaly they create threatens the studio, and yet saves it. But finance and pressure stop me from causing their arrest or employment termination. So I must find use for them. And as they now owe me for not pressing charges or bringing their exposure, they must repay their dept. Ideas are forming, I must see which are plausible at this time.

I looked up at Jared who had silently moved around to read along with me over my shoulder. He simply nodded for me to continue. So it was Plotz Senior who discovered the Creators. And those Creators turned out to be… some under appreciated members of the Fleischer studio? Okay, I was getting it so far. And by the sound of the 'absurd looking characters', they were the Warner's that I knew, or their younger selves perhaps? I traced the next months events eagerly.

April, 1928: A plan is set in motion. The Fleischers don't dare argue with me for fear of exposure and frankly I like it that way. My idea would save studio funding in the long term; although damage it for a few months or so, but it is necessary. It seems that the two have more than just one unusual talent, as in they are most handy with machinery. I came to think that if one could use a drawn image and create a motion picture, then what if one used a motion picture and made it reality? The creations these spies have can be used well, if tangible. They'd be cheaper than actors and the funding we'd save on cartoonists and production lines would be phenomenal. Such a machine is already in progress. The Warner Bros. shall finally take notice of my initiative; and with luck give me something to leave to Thaddeus when the time comes. If all goes well with those three, whatever they're meant to be, then this could be the start of an era. Of course they are just test subjects for now until we can be sure to use it on studio topics. I may be blunt and unexplained in these notes, but official documentation is well underway. I am not a man to repeat myself.

"He blackmailed them into a dept that wasn't even real." I spat, glaring at the page.

"You wanted the truth, no one said it was nice." Jared sighed.

"Well now you've got some big shoes too fill." I said sarcastically, "Plotz Senior put two people into slave labour, his son shut innocent toons away for years, R.J experimented on them and even on humans and back to Plotz: he forced people into unfair contracts and lied to everyone. What are you going to do?"

"Set things right with any luck. Keep reading, you're nowhere near done yet…"

And I did so. The entries for the rest of the year were full of vague descriptions of failures and thoughts of giving up. Yet there were always new attempts on the Animator and what seemed like pep-talks to himself to urge onwards. He kept reminding himself that it was for the good of the company, that the Fleischer's had a dept to pay, he would gain the Warner Bros. respect; his son would benefit from it… Here I was reading these paragraphs, knowing in some sense how the story ends, yet I was still feeling doubts that he would accomplish anything. Because of his own pride to save space, he hadn't written details on the Animator's structure, but apparently they'd been filed and documented officially elsewhere. The year went by with nothing to report. Until early the following year anyway, when the date that was shared with one of the previous photo's…

February, 1929: Finally it's been accomplished. The Fleischer's had the nerve to engrave the thing out of spite, but no matter. A success is still a success. After so long of building and research, the Animator was eligible for use earlier this month and I left it to those Creator abnormals to bring their subjects. Those charlatans chose the ones I came across last year without my permission. They were meant to use characters of an already popular show, not something they dreamed up. But no matter, they always were the test subjects to be disposed of in good time. However, I suppose the three are created on Warner territory and brought to life by a machine contracted in Warner name, just because they were drawn by Fleischers means nothing. But I could not prepare myself for the events that followed. Not only were they in the mindset of children, but they were intelligent and capable of understanding. This complicated things, for they seemed to be more human than expected. I may be in need for approval from the higher ups, but I am not in such need as to eliminate children, no matter what form they take. Subjects: Yakko, Wakko and Dot, as they've been dubbed truly are a phenomenal success. More on them shall be documented in good time. The abilities they possess are otherworldly, far more advanced than expected. I'll keep them under observation for now, this must not get out. They must not get out.

March, 1929: Children. They really are just children. I've delayed presenting them to the Warner Bros. as of yet and have kept them hidden with the Fleischers. Dare I say it, the subjects have become very attached to them. Maybe I was wrong to pursue such abnormal ways of saving the Studio, but what's done is done. Again, more on their progress has been filed already. It is strange how things change. Exactly one month ago I had the mindset of a man who was interested in saving funds and aiming to be apart of something beyond our world to set a future for my son; now here I write as a man who feels the need to set an example and protect three innocent children who shouldn't have been created in the first place. Nevertheless, I must continue. I've come too far to end this now. For now, the subjects shall continue to stay with the Fleischers, but soon enough the Studio is going to have to act fast if it wants to survive. And as CEO, it will be my duty to present the subjects. I just hope I've made the right choice.

I felt sick. It was true what Plotz Senior said about the strangeness of times changing. But this was madness. I understood it, but was still disgusted by it. He went through all of this trouble, blackmailing the two underappreciated Creators for something they didn't do; to create the Animator and bring toons to life just to impress his employers. Then when he finally achieved it, only then does he grow a conscience and think that maybe the toons are living things and not just subjects. I could picture the younger Warner toons terrified and treated coldly, all alone. And after all that, just to hide them away, it wasn't fair. He knew that this false sense of security for the Warner's was not going to last, he had built up hopes just to destroy them. And for what? Money and a bigger recognition. He could write all the crap about setting up a position for his son all he wanted; it was still vile in my opinion.

But I couldn't stop now, I had to keep reading. Many of the months were just the same basic information. He had started refereeing to the toons by their names instead of subjects. It was clear to see that he was developing an attachment to them. The toons had stayed with the Fleischers for over a year, but then came another familiar date that made so much more sense to me. This was the reason that photo was labelled 'The Last Day'.

September, 1930: This month was most trying to my sanity as well as patience. The company finally fell into its unavoidable trouble and I was forced to tell the Warner Bros. about my work. To my surprise, they were eager to start without much confusion and have ordered an entire cast to be animated at once. Perhaps the loss of Sam truly did send them mad. It was heart breaking taking Yakko, Wakko and Dot away from their parental figures, but it was necessary. Because of their background, the Fleischer's are forbidden to set foot on the studio again, also meaning that they can never see the three. But in all due respect, although they were drawn by a Fleischer; said Fleischers were Warner Bros. employees at the time and built the Animator on studio ground. By name and law, the characters are Warner Bros. property. And to ensure this, a new machine was built, advanced machinery imported from the corners of the world and built with the intention to make them forget their origins. The three are now the studio's to mould how they see fit. I am in horror at myself. They're just children, and now they won't even know the ones that took them in. Maybe it's better that way. They can't miss what they don't remember. But the three actually took a shine to the name and now call themselves Warner's. The Fleischer's never christened them with a surname, it's natural that they should want to pick the most popular around. I've vowed that although they must be used and put to work, I shall take care of them. And when Thaddeus takes over for me, I know deep down that he too shall go to great measures to protect them and whatever other creatures come from that cursed machine. Who knows what will happen in the future, but I'm sure that it cannot be worse than the inhumanity I've acted upon. The Fleischers may be out of the picture, but I will never forgive myself for the way I treated them. I'll never forgive myself for any of this.

"That's pretty much it." Jared said in my ear, making me flinch, "The rest only goes up to 1931 and the only thing that happens is the rest of the gang are Animated. They never learn about the Fleischer brothers."

I couldn't speak or move, so I took his word for it and closed the journal in disgust. It was all so much to absorb. How could a single idea grow into something as twisted and insane as this? I didn't care if he was disappointed in himself for what he'd started, it should have never have ended as it did. And what a horrible ending it was. The Warner's had been taken away from security just to be exploited for business, forced to forget the ones who had been like a family to them for over a year. By the sounds of it, the Warner Bros. were just as unjust and money-grabbing as the rest of them. I hated them all right now.

"Are you okay?"

"No." I croaked, "This is… horrible. They had no right to do this to them! They were just kids, they weren't Fleischer or Warner creations they were just kids! Not property!" I knew that he wasn't disagreeing with me, but I just needed to shout at someone about the unjustness of it, "And to make them forget is just…"

"Despicable." He finished, nodding, "Everything else you've heard about before Plotz took over and after is true. But…"

So their show was dropped after attempting to control them and they were given the toon lot to live on in freedom, I knew that. I also knew that Plotz took over from his father in the 80's. But… "But what?" I asked anxiously.

"But when Spielberg came along, he was so amazed by the toons that he brought along a guy to recreate a show for them. Tom Ruegger I think his name was; he was a big shot in the 90's and put together some shorts for them all and became even bigger. Let's just say Plotz wasn't a big fan of bringing out the toons again, but times got desperate."

I wasn't interested in the toons popularity ratings, "What about R.J?"

"He started working at the studio a good two years before you came along. But if you mean his plans… your guess is as good as mine. Gaining toon abilities for himself is one thing, but why he wanted all toons gone is beyond me."

"This whole thing is beyond me." I admitted and hating myself for it, "Wait, the Warner's were still young when they were made to forget, so why don't they remember being young now?"

"Lets just say that R.J liked to experiment long before he became the CEO. Apparently when he first started, Plotz was getting agitated by the Warner's asking questions about why they'd stopped aging and that obviously led to more questions. R.J was put in charge to fix it, and he did so. In the cruellest way he knew how."

I wanted to throw up. I didn't even notice when Jared put his hand comfortingly on my shoulder. What was wrong with these people? This was beyond evil. "And… how exactly do you know so much about R.J?"

At that, he froze and averted his eyes, "I've picked up a lot here and there. But I really don't know much more than you."

I still didn't understand something. What did R.J want? It didn't make much sense to me. He wanted toon abilities and in some sense, live forever, gain the ultimate power over everyone so to speak. But I ended up with that, yet had no next to no clue how to use it and frankly didn't want to. I didn't understand how he planned to use it for his own gain. And why did he want all toons gone? Get rid of the competition maybe? Avoid more trouble? There was only one way to answer those questions, and it wasn't inside the studio.

"I'm going to see him." I announced, "I'm going to see R.J and find out myself."

"What would it do, Talia? Think about it. What will gaining that information do? In fact, why is it even so important to know any of this?"

I knew he was just saying it to put me off the dangerous idea, but I didn't care, "The same reason you're showing it to me; because there's been enough lies. I know that my life isn't going to change that much by knowing if the toons age or who drew them but it'll damn well change theirs and they have a right to know! If you found out that you had a whole other life you couldn't remember, wouldn't you want to know?"

His hand was getting tighter on my shoulder to a state where I could feel his muscles twitching. "I… I would… Yeah…"

Prising his fingers off of me, I stood to face him directly, my mind spinning too much to care for my pride, "What you're doing means a lot, not just to me but to the Warner's too. So thank you. But I'm not coming this far and then just stopping, so if I can't get more answers here, then I'm going to R.J. Your permission isn't needed."

"If that's the case, I'm in no position to stop you." He sighed, "But I don't want it to come to that. So… come with me tomorrow night to Plotz' house and help me look for anything that can help."

That took me by surprise, I blinked in awe, "You mean break in?"

"I've got a key." He smirked.

"What exactly do you expect to find?" I asked sceptically, but wanting to take up the offer.

"Who knows, but I'd rather us look there for answers instead of you going it alone against that lunatic." He arched an eyebrow and raised his voice slightly, glancing around the room, "And by 'us' I mean it generically."

My jaw clenched. He knew that the Warners were listening in! How long had he known? Even I didn't know where they were! Should I be impressed or unnerved? Neither, I'll give nothing away and pretend I didn't notice. "Fine, we'll go after I finish work tomorrow."

He smiled, "It's a date."

"No it isn't…"

*Yakko's POV*

Smooth Jar-Head, smooth… But how had he tracked us? We were in full Michael Jordan career mode: totally invisible. He was good, and that's one thing I didn't like about him; he was too good. And as for that little scribble-pad, that was some gold-mine he had there. The sibs and I had sneaked in close enough to get a good look. Admittedly, it explained the blank spots we had, but it didn't fill any in either. Still, true to her word, kiddo had done us proud. I'll tell you, I didn't see any of this coming. Heck, we didn't even remember seeing it as it went! Okay, you know what, sure I'm a little peeved! What? Were we just some game to crack open and play with when they wanted? That's our job thanks very much! Hey, maybe that's where we get it from, hehe… Clearly those Fleischer's were a good influence on us. No, actually by the sound of it they really were. I'd never really thought of us with parent figures, obviously there was a reason why but I digress. The thought that there were some makeshift ones at some point was kind of… Okay. What, you expected some big moving drama? Move over to Real Housewives of wherever for that stuff! Bleugh!

So let's get this straight for the folks at home, and for the toons in failed hiding. Keep up now, this is a biggie: Dadoo-Plotz wanted to impress the W.B founders and found forgotten Fleischer's working in the fixture and that they had the Creator factor to flaunt. The anxious amigos assembled the Animator and acquired yours truly in tiny toddler trouble. We were hidden hastily with the handies for some time and then jolted away unjustly when the studio jacked up and then jiped us into forgetting the Fleischers. Then rest of the gang are rounded up and wrangled into the deal that destines a dime or two into the dank banks of the Brothers. And the rest is history… Once again, try and say it aloud, got ya there!

Now, on the topic of being 'got', I can see kiddo's point when wanting to get answers from the horses mouth. Nah actually that's an insult to horses everywhere. But you get the point. Sure no one can trust R.J as much as any girl would want to date him but kiddo's still got a point. I wasn't the biggest fan of the fact that he'd done stuff to me and the sibs and wouldn't mind paying him a visit myself. But, and it hurts to say this and not just because of the bad sub I ate; but I'm kind of with Jar-Head on this one. We'll save kiddo interrogating R.J as a last resort. Not quite a plan B, more of a plan 0, as in 0 chance of it happening. Her temper and his… everything, it wouldn't end well.

I looked at the sibs who looked dejected to say the least. I understood alright. It was one thing finding out about what happened in the past, but it was only making the need to remember stronger. Okay, normally this is the time in sappy media that I'd do something big-brotherly. So I put an arm around my bro and took my sis' hand. I couldn't help but think of that machine in the Waiting Room. It had brought T.P's memories back somehow, why not ours? Sure I'd promised Talia that we wouldn't go in but- Hey that's it… I promised that we wouldn't go in. And we signify a group. Well, Wakko's not a we, he's a he; just like Dot's a she. And as for yours truly; well I myself and not a we if I'm going in as just little old me! Hmm… that's not going to go down well I'm guessing. So unlike her plan 0 with R.J, this is going to be my plan D. As in Desperate measures. So I'll play the good little angel that we all know I am deep down and stay put to hear what they find tomorrow. Let's see where this takes us folks…

A/N:

Yes, lets see where it takes us. Man all that history was a real challenge to put together! Thank you Frumouttamimind who's trivia and plot ideas have pretty much written this chapter for me! XD

I know it all seemed a little rushed, but this was a Plotz writing and they've never been known for patience. I hope everything was clear and answered some questions. Also, please remember the disclaimer, none of this is to be taken seriously as fact, it's fanfiction for Pete's sake, lol XD And thanks 'Shannon23' more reminding me to Tom Ruegger, the real genius behind the Animaniacs!