Animus, Book 3: Lucille, Chapter 4: Everything Passes
Animus, Book 3: Lucille, Chapter 4: Everything Passes


"Great. A spectre. Like I said before, where's my exorcism kit?"
SimonBob rummaged around in his trenchcoat, throwing stuff out at random. "Oar, Kleenex, burned copy of Half-Life, demon blaster, waaay too many hankekrchiefs... where is that darn kit?"
"Wait a second!" yelled Indigo, poinging over to SimonBob. "What was this, a demon blaster? It looks like a big robot arm!"
"Oh, that'll work. Just a second." SimonBob fitted the demon blaster onto his arm and blasted away at the spectre. Lots of flashy sparks popped out of the blaster, then it backfired in SimonBob's face and left his hair in an ashy mess.
"Woo, that was really pretty!" said Indigo. "Was it supposed to kill the Spectre?"
"Let me check my notes," said SimonBob, reaching into his trenchcoat.
Before any kind of notes could materialize, however, the Spectre reached down and grabbed SimonBob. “Ack! What are you doing?!”
“RWWAAARRWARW!” screamed the Spectre. Presumably this meant something to SimonBob, because he started a conversation.
“What do you mean, you’re gonna eat me? I’m all skin and trenchcoat, I’d leave an aftertaste.”
“RNNERRERWWR?”
“Well, obviously you don’t get CNN around here, because they had a special report on that kind of toothpaste. See, it’s got these weird spider eggs in it...”
This went on for a few minutes while the others tried to come up with a plan. Actually, they spent a few minutes arguing whether SimonBob and the Spectre understood each other, but that’s a different story.

Lucille gagged again. Impossible! Could this be...my Animus is not what it seems? I refuse to believe it!

However, Lucille forgot one vital piece of information while she thought. What had become of Pokey?
Pokey was lying facedown in the hall near Lucille's office, with crumbs smeared on his face and neck. He groaned, and rolled over. "I had the strangest dream!" Suddenly, he truly jolted awake. "Lucille has done this to me! I shall have my revenge!"

Lucille sat at her computer screen, staring back at Apple Kid, still aghast. Suddenly, she looked at one of her smaller screens. "Oh no! The Spectre! He's not nearly powerful enough!" She reached for the power supply button, but was stopped when a pair of greasy hands gripped firmly around her neck.
"Let go of me, you oaf!" She said, gurgling.
Pokey cackled insanely. "Never! You play me for a fool, cakewoman? I shall invoke my revenge!"
Lucille struggled against Pokey's surprisingly firm grip, and could feel her blood rushing away from her brain. She flailed her arms, desperate for anything that would pry her from the iron clasp. Her hand brushed up against a bladed metal surface.
Aha! The magic cake! I used a knife to cut it!
She grabbed the knife, and twisted into a new position. Craning her arm high, she looked Pokey in the eye.
"I warned you!" Quick as a flash, she stabbed him in the back. He didn't even see it coming. With little blood whatsoever, pokey stared up at her and started to tip forward. Lucille knocked him down with her pinky. However, Pokey had provided a distraction for the peppy protagonists, Lucille thought. "They're already fighting the Spectre!"

"This is getting a little old..." Paula thought, as SB tried to communicate some more.
Indigo quailed under the shadow of the looming Spectre, and automatically clutched for Anna. Anna glared, and kicked her away. "Not now!"
The Spectre laughed, and shot a light beam at indigo. "Simple foolfhff!"
Anna put her hands on her hips. "Knock it off! The only person who's allowed to hit those ghosts is ME!"
She thrust out her arm, and it formed a fire sword. She slashed in midair, but the Spectre hit her in the stomach mid-swipe. She flew into the cave wall, but somehow melted away into lava.
Anthadd gasped. "What happened?" He looked down to see a Soul Consuming Flame at his ankles. Only this one had long eyelashes!
"What do you THINK I look like?" Anna said, startling him. "A PodoBoo?"
Dan snickered, being the only one to get the joke. "However, I think I’ll stay outta this fight." Anna formed into her human shape, and backed up slowly.
"He’s a good fighter!" Paula commented. "How do we hit him?"
Mika struggled with her thoughts, but suddenly got an idea.
"Hey, disembodied voice!" Mika shouted. "Yes?" It was just as she had suspected. As the Voice responded, the Spectre turned around long enough for someone to catch it with a giant glowing ball. The Spectre Staggered back, struggling on his giant legs. Everyone turned to Ness, who had cupped his hands, and was glowing slightly. "Well...quick! Someone hit him!"
Anthadd nodded. "To beat one, one needs two. Gemini Bolt!"
Two bolts came out of his hands, and struck the Spectre in the face.
"Oww! That really hurt!"
Suddenly, the Spectre stopped in his tracks. It seemed almost frozen in place. Slowly, a woman with long blond hair walked out from behind the frozen Spectre.
"It is time we meet!"

Ness' mouth hung wide open.
"Lucille?" he finally spat out, exasperated.
"Yeah." Lucille nodded. "I finally get to have revenge on you."
"What revenge?" Paula complained.
"Girlie girl again, are we, Polestar?" Lucille taunted.

"Stop whistling, stupid spectra!" Lucille whined.
She tried to tamper with the group, but failed again.
"Yield yourself to Passions, Lucille," Apple Kid beckoned.
"I will never!"
"Oh yeah. Bad TV show."

Mika, Ness, Paula and Rusty attacked together. Anna fired some flames from her hands.
"Toucan Swirl!"
Sulami threw Bon-Bombs.
"Holy Water!"
And the three-way Adekae was used once more.
But Lucille somehow negated them all.

"Haha!" Lucille taunted. "See what your Passion will do?"
"Just wait," Apple Kid warned. "They'll show you. Both of you."

Lucille swept her hand in an arc, sending the battlers back.
It was just Tracy now.
"Stop!" she cried. "Please stop!"

Lucille stared at this single girl, who dared to defy her. She reproached herself; why didn't she just destroy her now? However, Lucille let her speak her peace.
"Why should I stop? My Animus for everything around me is always growing, and nothing can stop it."
"You don't know the people you're hurting! Even people who are rather innocent, like Master Belch!"
"He was never innocent! You silly twit!"
"YOU controlled his anger! Anger is something you should never control! It isn't right!"
Lucille rolled her eyes. Suddenly, Tracy knew what to say.
"Give into your passions! There is love inside of hate!"
Lucille gasped. "Who do you think you are? The only Passion I have is for Animus!"
At that moment, Tracy smiled. "Give into your passions...you like baking, don't you?"
Lucille scoffed. "It's merely a hobby."
However, she knew this was not so. Baking was her favorite pastime! She licked her lips, thinking of her sweet cake...
"You have no Animus towards baking, correct?"
"Of course not!"
Tracy crossed her arms. "Then you lied. You DON'T have an Animus toward everything! Now what DO you hate?"
Lucille thought for a moment. "Fine. I’ll humor you... No one ever seems to like my cake!"
15 years in the future, Lucille slammed her head in the keyboard.
"No! Why am I so weak! I HAVE NO PASSIONS!"
On an afterthought, she spoke again. However, I DO like cake...but no matter! This isn't working at all!"

Tracy nodded. "Do you have any cake WITH you?"
Lucille nodded slightly. "A little!"
She pulled a mushy piece of dark cake out of her pocket, still warm from being pressed up against her body. Tracy wrinkled her nose, but quickly concealed her distaste.
"May I try some?"
"...Alright..."
She tossed Tracy a piece of the cake. Tracy looked down at the cake, and gulped.
"Bottoms up!" She whispered. She began to chew softly on the cake, and swallowed. "...Hey! This isn't bad!"
Lucille beamed. "Are you serious?"

Apple kid appeared on Lucille's monitor. "It appears you DO have passion!"
Lucille hit her head against the wall over and over. "This CANNOT! BE! HAPPENING!"
With all the blows she had taken to the head, she began to feel a bit woozy. "Perhaps...I should just abandon this project. I could always work on it later!"
Apple kid could hardly conceal his laughter. "That's the spirit! Why do today what you could put off to tomorrow?"
Lucille grabbed a piece of her cake, and nodded thoughtfully. "Yes...I'll do it later...but I WILL BE BACK! Hahahha!"

Tracy finished off the cake, leaving a small trail of crumbs in her hand. "That was really good!"
Lucille nodded proudly. "You like it? Its an original recipe!"
Tracy Nodded, and Lucille smiled. "Perhaps...we could forgive this latest little engagement. "Could we strike up a truce?"
Tracy nodded, and Lucille now grinned. "Hoorah for my delicious magic cake!"
Tracy motioned for the entire group to get up, and they immediately flocked to her.
Anna raised her eyebrows. "That was...anti-climactic."
"At best," Cyan muttered.
"Oh well..."
On the way out of the room, Tracy made sure Lucille went out first. When she was gone, Tracy spit out the magic cake that had been sitting in her mouth.

The sun was rising over Carrillon Beach, and for the first time in days, the people of Summers did not have to smell an awful stench from the southern seas. They cheered with delight, and congratulated each other with hearty greetings. The Mayor of the town agreed there was only one way to truly celebrate such a joyous occasion: a parade!"

At 8:00 AM, the Parade in Summers started. It emerged from the back alleys of Toto, and floated through for hours on end, each float more lavish then the last. Various people sat in the audience.
On one of the Bleachers, a Woman and four ghosts sat slowly.
"Mm! These Peaches sure are good!" indigo said, wiping juice from her lips. Chartreuse nodded, appreciating his favorite Rice balls. Saffron was about to agree when Anna silenced the quartet. "I have one last assignment for you four; and I promise, this will be a fun one."
She gave the four ghosts a camera, and a list of names. "Good luck!"

Luna, Skulryk, SimonBob, Dan, and Siris sat on the edge of the road, watching the various floats go by.
"We've done so much! I can't believe it's all over!"
Luna nodded, and Siris looked at her slowly. "Luna..."
"Yes?"
"Would you like...to go to the cafe sometime?"
Luna rolled her eyes. "I'll think about it."

SulamiTea stood with Ness, Paula, Tracy, and Mika on the Steps of the Hotel du Summer.
"It all ended so quickly..." Sulami said. "Is this really the solution?"
Rusty thougth carefully. "You can nevah be too sure..."
"I think it is." Mika nodded. "Lucille really seemed to turn around, once someone mentioned her cake...Boy, I could sure go for some right now!"
Paula laughed, and Tracy giggled. "We could buy it from Lucille!"
Ness went blue across the nose. "Once is enough!"

Cyan and Anthadd stood under a streetlamp in West Toto, near the edge of Summers.
Cyan looked at Anthadd, his eyes steely. "I'm going to have to go soon," he said solemnly. Anthadd nodded. "I never stay for too long..."
"I understand. Plenty more Anthadd's to meet, right?"
"Oh I don't know about that!" Cyan laughed. "I think I’ve met them all!"
Anthadd grinned, and looked up. A sparkling rainbow of fire appeared over his head, and he could barely make out a person in the sky. "Anna?"
An envelope wafted down from the Sky, and landed neatly in Cyan's hands. He ripped the edges, and emptied the contents. He read a letter that was inside first.
Dear Cyan;
Never got to repay you for letting me back in the group; here's a small gift. Hope this helps you prove that you aren’t a crackpot!
Cyan blinked, and looked at the other items. Photos!
He looked at each of the faces, recognizing people from his adventures. Multiple versions of Anthadd and Luna, a Sea captain, a Naval Admiral, a Blue haired Gangster...and a group picture of all of his latest friends.
He smiled, and looked up instinctively. "Thanks..."
Anna watched him from the rooftops, with he four ghosts sitting by her. "All in all, a good days work done. Now I can finally finish that daiquiri I stared weeks ago!"

SimonBob stood up, excused himself from the proceedings in Summers, and flew for Scaraba.

Landing on the shore of the ocean, he spotted the Sphinx sitting, staring placidly at the endless waves.
"Good view, eh?"
"Yeah, lots of fun. Hey, remember that Spectre you saw in the pyramid?"
"How do you know about that?"
"'Cuz he told me."
The Spectre flew out of the water with a loud, nearly incomprehensible growl.
The Sphinx would have smiled if several hundred stonemasons were available at that moment. "Sure, we're always up for a quick game! Right, Simon?"
"We're gonna need a fourth..."
On cue, two Krakens popped their heads out from under the water. <Poker, eh? I'll take some of that action!>
SimonBob grinned. "You guys are too much. Okay..." he drew a pack of red-backed cards from his sleeve. "I declare the Twoson Floating Poker Game back in session!"
As they played into the night, SimonBob suddenly realized he'd forgotten something. He withdrew a small rock from his pocket and tossed it over his head.
"You oughta be more careful with your stuff," observed the Sphinx.
"Naaah," replied SimonBob. "It knows where it's goin'."
They continued to bid and bluff the hours away. Nobody saw the plaid-sleeved hand that picked up the mystery rock from the desert sand, then disappeared.

Mike and Poo stood outside the Summers Restaurant, and looked inside. "I don't know if they'll ever let me back in there..." Mike said.
Poo grinned. "Why don't we find out? My treat!"

THE END...?