Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Freddy Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex Uncovers New Concerns

After weeks of being shut down, Richard Watkins, manager of the pizzaplex, has come forward to give us an update, and it’s not entirely good news. The manager has stated that new safety concerns have been found in the form of a massive sinkhole under the pizzaplex.

“On behalf of Fazbear Entertainment, I must express my deepest apologies that we did not know about this risk for so long,” said Watkins. “We have already begun working to take the necessary steps to ensure that this problem will be resolved and will pose no further threats. In doing so, the plex will need to be shut down for longer than expected, but the health and safety of our guests is my number one concern and I refuse to open those doors again until I can say with utmost certainty that the plex is safe again.”

Local residents have once again expressed dismay at the date for reopening being pushed back, but they say that they understand and appreciate that Watkins is being transparent and keeping their health in mind.

“I remember the older locations used to just do a bunch of rug sweeping whenever something bad happened,” says local dentist Robert Tidings. “They would only give us vague excuses, and you could tell that they were just doing bandaid solutions. Made me sick.”

“The kids are disappointed, sure,” says Wendy Moore, a local mother. “But I don’t want to have to worry about their safety when they play there. I’m willing to wait.”

Watkins has also cited exciting new plans for the plex upon its reopening.

“We will have some new faces to show,” he said. “And in the future we will have even more. Until then, thank you all for your patience. I promise that this will be well worth the wait.”

Chapter Text

It was a busy day.

All the renovating was finally finishing up, and Owen had been called in to boot up the animatronics and make sure they were all working properly. Roxanne ended up having a melt down over the state of her hair, but everyone was working just fine.

Owen provided them with rags and cleaner for them to wipe away any dust that might have gathered. Sunny had been the first to grab a rag, quickly rubbing it over himself and mumbling ‘clean up, clean up’.

“That took forever!” Monty growled as he cleaned himself. “It took that long to get rid of a ghost?”

“Apparently Mr. Watkins also found a sinkhole or something,” Chica shrugged. “It was under Roxanne’s race track.”

“So that’s why we kept getting all those cracks!” Roxanne said. “Well, hopefully things will run smoother now...”

“I need to check me ship,” Foxy said. “The decks probably be needin’ a good swabbin’.”

Mr. Watkins then appeared, entering into Parts and Services with two other animatronics. The Glamrocks looked at them curiously, but Sunny immediately recognized one of them. He could feel Moon perk up in the back of his systems, and he knew why. He hadn’t had a front seat to the action, but he had been in the back of Moon’s mind when it had all happened.

“You think she’s still in there?” Sunny asked internally.

“Nah, her eyes are different,” Moon said. “Plus I think I overheard Michael telling Mr. Watkins that she had left.”

“Oh. Well... she was quite a woman,” Sunny said.

He tuned out Moon’s laughter to hear what Mr. Watkins was saying.

“These are the newest animatronics,” Mr. Watkins said. “This is Ballora the Ballerina, she’s a previous animatronic from the old sister location. This is Cosmo the Parrot. They prefer to go by they/them, and they were actually built by a different company.”

“Hello,” Ballora said excitedly.

“Pleasure to meet you all,” Cosmo bowed.

Roxanne saw some movement in the corner of her eye, and she looked to see that Monty had lowered his shades and was giving looking Cosmo up and down. She chuckled softly and walked off to the side.

“We should be set to reopen this week,” Mr. Watkins continued. “Cosmo and Ballora will not debut just yet. I need to find a handler for them, as well as finish the new lounge for Cosmo...”

He went on to talk about a few other things before the meeting ended and the crowd dispersed. As Monty began to walk away, Roxanne shoved a can of Fizzy Faz into his hands.

“Huh? What’s this for?” He asked.

“You just looked so thirsty,” Roxanne giggled. “I had no idea you had a thing for birds...”

Monty’s response was to shake the can and then spray Roxanne with soda.

Chapter Text

“MOOOOOOOOOOON!!!”

Moon looked up at the familiar scream to see a child launch out of the slide and into the ballpit. They swam through the colorful plastic and then ran over to hug Moon tightly.

“Hello, Molly,” Moon picked her up and hugged back. “I missed you.”

“Moon! Moon!” Molly buried her face in Moon’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” Jean said as she walked up. “She refused to stay home when she saw I was coming in. She missed you badly and wanted to see you.”

“It’s ok,” Moon said as he pat Molly’s back. “It’s nice to have some company...”

Later in the day, Mr. Watkins called the handlers in to work.

“I’m happy to see you all again,” Mr. Watkins smiled. “Welcome back!”

“I see you changed a few things,” Yumi said as she looked around. “It looks great!”

“Who’s this?” Kevin asked as he nodded at Michael.

Michael Afton was standing next to Mr. Watkins with a wad of gum in his mouth and his hands in his pockets. He also had a few air fresheners strapped around his body which were hidden beneath the illusion disc.

“This is Mike Schmidt,” Mr. Watkins said. “He’s our newest security guard. If you have any problems, you can call him for help.”

“’Lo,” Michael said as he cracked his gum.

Tiffany and Yumi exchanged a nervous look. Michael watched them gesture and whisper quietly to each other before they both gave him a slight glare.

“Rest assured that everything has been taken care of, and everything is fine now,” said Mr. Watkins. “We are set to reopen this Friday, and I will need all hands on deck. The animatronics are here, so if you wish to see them, you are welcome to. I know they all missed you very much.”

The rest of the meeting was simple enough, and then Mr. Watkins let them go off to see their friends and catch up. Micheal took that as his cue to leave, eager to get back to the little room that had been set up for him to live in until he decided to go.

“Excuse us!”

Michael paused to see that Tiffany and Yumi were both following him. He raised an eyebrow and cracked his gum again.

“Can I help you?” He asked.

“Yes, you can, Mike Schmidt,” Tiffany said.

“Or should we say... Michael Afton?!” Yumi dramatically pointed at him.

Chapter Text

Michael blinked and nonchalantly blew a bubble with his gum. The bubble popped, leaving him looking unimpressed with their accusation.

“What makes you think that?” He asked. “Michael Afton would be in his fifties by now, wouldn’t he? Don’t you think I look a little young for that?”

“You also look a lot like the old Afton family portraits,” said Yumi. “Me and Tiffany both saw them. You can’t fool us!”

“Plus, I remember your voice,” said Tiffany. “And your accent. You were associating with the ghost in the daycare!”

“His name is Evan!” Michael snapped. “And so what if I’m Michael Afton?”

He folded his arms and gave them both an annoyed look. The two girls exchanged another look. Tiffany looked concerned while Yumi looked excited.

“So you really are him?” Yumi asked. “Your father was William Afton. THE William Afton. The Man Behind the Slaughter. The Cursed Rabbit. A former Tumblr Sexyman!”

“A former what?” Michael asked.

“Yeah, they like men like him on that site,” Yumi said with a dismissive wave. “Don’t worry about it, they’re mostly off him now. Anyway! What are you doing here? If I was the son of William Afton, I would be miles away from any Fazbear location.”

Michael sighed, once again wishing that his father could have just been a car salesman or an office worker or something like that. How famous was he that his popularity had lasted for so long? Or was it some sort of niche crowd?

“I was the one who helped get rid of the ghosts here,” he finally said. “I’m just staying around for a bit to make sure that nothing and no one comes back. Your manager can vouch for me.”

“Oh, we know,” said Tiffany. “Mr. Watkins always runs a very very thorough check on anyone who applies here. He’d know about you. If he accepts you, then you can’t be that bad of a guy. Mr. Watkins always had a sixth sense about that.”

“So I’ve heard,” Michael began to relax. “I’m actually glad that Mr. Watkins is the manager here. This place is run a lot better than the other locations I worked at. I’m actually not worried about anyone getting hurt here.”

“Yeah, only thing you really have to worry about are the Karens,” said Yumi. “It’s great!”

As Yumi kept talking about the place, Michael noticed that Tiffany had gone silent. Her nose was crinkling slightly as if she was quietly sniffing. He watched as she tried to subtly check the bottom of her shoes for anything, and decided that he should probably move on.

“Well, it was nice talking to you,” he said. “I have a few things I need to get done, but I’ll see you around, yeah?”

“Of course,” Yumi said. “Let us know if we can help you with anything.”

As Michael walked off, he heard Tiffany softly tell Yumi to check her own shoes.

Chapter Text

“Tiffany!”

Tiffany was not prepared to be glomped when she entered the daycare, but perhaps she should have expected it. Lucky for her, Sunny was an expert glomper, so she wasn’t hurt or manhandled in any way. Instead, she smiled and hugged him back.

“We missed you!” Sunny said. “Me and Moon both! I’m glad to see you doing better!”

“I’m glad to see you too,” Tiffany said. “I’m sorry that I started all of this.”

“No, no!” Sunny set her down and wagged a finger at her. “This was a good thing. We were able to find some problems that we didn’t know about before, and so everything’s been fixed! Moon says he saw them get rid of the ghosts himself, so there’s nothing to worry about!”

Tiffany sighed and looked around. She had missed the daycare quite a bit. While it had been nice to spend more time with her family or more time working on personal projects she had around the house, she missed the little ones who came through the doors every day.

“Well, I’m glad to be back,” she said. “And I’m glad everything was fixed. How about we play a game? We haven’t played for so long.”

Sunny beamed and quickly led her into the play area. He already knew what game they were going to play.

“I see the witch be back,” Foxy’s eyes narrowed as he watched Yumi approach with Isaac.

“Foxy, I swear!” Chica smacked Foxy’s hat off his head. “Yumi is not a witch.”

“Not an evil one, anyway,” Yumi grinned.

Foxy huffed as he put his hat back on. Chica took the moment to pull Yumi in for a hug. She nuzzled her beak through Yumi’s dark red hair and her machinery rumbled happily. Isaac watched them before he too was pulled into a one armed side hug by Foxy.

“Glad to have me first mate back,” he said. “Me ship be needing some cleaning. Ya know where the mop be, right?”

“You know, I would love to, but I gotta run and pick up my son soon,” said Isaac. “Guess you’ll just have to do it yourself, Captain.”

“Or you could call a STAFF bot,” Chica said.

“I would sooner kiss a shark!” Foxy said. “Them bots don’t know the first thing about proper care for me ship!”

“Too bad I don’t have a cleaning spell for you,” Yumi chuckled. “Though... I probably wouldn’t have helped anyways...”

“Typical witch,” Foxy sighed. “Ya be no help at all...”

“Kevin, my hair!” Roxanne wailed as her handler approached. “It was horrible! They tried to fix it, but it’s still hideous. Here’s my brush, brush it for me!”

“I got you,” Kevin took the brush and Roxanna sat down to let him start.

“Ha! Is the diva having a bad hair day?” Monty laughed.

“At least I have hair,” Roxanne snapped.

“I have hair!” Monty ran a hand over his mohawk. “See?”

“Must you two argue?” Freddy sighed. “Natty, I am happy to see you again. I missed you.”

“You too, big guy,” Natty smiled. “But hey, I had plenty of time to get you some new outfits made.”

“What about me?” Monty asked.

“Monty,” Joshua sighed. “I thought you were happy with your clothes.”

Monty rolled his eyes and began to complain about how he only had the one pair of pants. Roxanne soon joined in with her own fashion woes. Natty was showing Freddy her sketchbook and the bear was eagerly listening to her explain the new clothes she had made him.

“But of course, I didn’t forget about you guys,” Natty smiled. She began to show them different sketches. “Monty, Roxanne, Bonnie, all of you. I pulled out all the stops, and you guys are gonna slay on that stage.”

“Oh wow,” Bonnie took that moment to appear. “Those look really spiffy! How many pearls do you think will be clutched over those outfits?”

“At least a thousand,” Natty laughed.

“Fabulous!” Bonnie said. “Let’s see if we can make them clutch more than that.”

Chapter Text

Michael Afton had dealt with his share of Karens before.

He’d seen his father deal with them in the original diner, and when he was running his own pizzeria, he’d dealt with them there as well. Nasty little witches who could give his father a run for his money, and that was saying quite a lot.

So when the pizzaplex finally reopened and Mr. Watkins cut the prices down and had the Glamrocks put on special shows and things like that to welcome back the customers, of course the Karens came calling.

Michael chewed his gum while a woman yelled at him. She had the classic haircut, the giant statement jewelry, and the screeching voice that sounded worse than nails on a chalkboard. He wasn’t even sure why she was yelling exactly. Between all the insults she was spitting, he figured out that she was upset about how long the renovations and such had taken.

“Ma’am, everything was done in the interest of safety,” Michael finally said when the woman paused to take a breath. “We apologize that it took so long, but we refused to allow any sort of risk or threat to just sit there and potentially harm someone.”

“Liar!” The woman snapped. “You probably all got sick or something. Or you just decided that you didn’t want to deal with us anymore and shut down so that you wouldn’t have to do our parties. I swear, this generation is so lazy!”

Michael rolled his eyes, and it only seemed to set the woman off even more.

“You’re so disrespectful!” She screeched. “How dare you roll your eyes at me?!”

In her anger, she hit him in the chest... and dislodged the illusion disc.

Michael gasped as his disguise faded. He quickly pushed the disc back into place, but the damage was done. The woman paled, and her eyes bugged from her head. She screamed in terror and ran off. Michael glanced around before quickly leaving the scene as well.

He went to a nearby bathroom to check on the disc. To his relief, it wasn’t damaged. He left the bathroom and took a deep breath to calm himself.

“That’s him!”

Michael looked up to see the woman from before, and Mr. Watkins was with her. Suddenly, Michael felt as if he were a kid again, and his father was home to scold him. William Afton never held back on his scoldings, and so Michael felt a wave of panic slide down his metal spine.

“He had on this horrible makeup!” The woman said. “It was so inappropriate and traumatized me! He must be hiding it now, but I know what I saw! You’ll be getting a bill from my therapist!”

“Michael,” Mr. Watkins said. “What happened?”

“I-I was...” Michael shook his head. “I’m sorry, she hit me in the chest and-”

“Hit you in the chest?” Mr. Watkins looked angry. “Ma’am, you didn’t mention that.”

“Well what was I to do?” the woman crossed her arms. “He shouldn’t have-”

“Ma’am!” Mr. Watkins spoke harsh enough to make both Michael and the woman flinch. “I don’t care what he did, you do not hit my employees! I am banning you as of right now. Security will escort you out.”

The woman tried to run, but the bots caught her and dragged her out. With her gone, Mr. Watkins turned his attention to Michael.

“Are you ok?” he asked gently.

“I... huh?” Michael blinked and it was no longer his father standing there. “I-I... I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean...”

“It’s ok,” Mr. Watkins said. “It’s not your fault. I promise you, Michael. It's not your fault at all. I’m just concerned about you. I’ll get you something to help cover your disc so that this doesn’t happen again. I’m sorry that you were put into that situation. Are you ok with me touching you?”

Michael nodded his head, and Mr. Watkins put a hand on his shoulder.

“Go take a break,” he said. “Come back when you feel better, ok?”

“Yes, sir,” Michael took another deep breath, feeling much better than before.

Chapter Text

“It’s beautiful.”

Isaac looked at Mr. Watkins with pride in his eyes. He smiled up at his masterpiece, and Mr. Watkins walked a bit closer to examine the bright colors.

“Any reason why you chose them?” Isaac asked as he wiped a paint smeared hand on his apron.

The wall near the entrance had its own mural now. It consisted of three children playing with big happy smiles on their faces. The three children were none other than Evan, Charlie, and Elizabeth. Evan was holding his Fredbear plush, Charlie was holding a small Marionette plush, and Elizabeth had a plate of pizza.

“Very few people in this world remember them as anything besides tragedies,” said Mr. Watkins. “They remember them for their deaths and their accidents. They deserve more than that. They deserve to be shown and remembered as the happy children they once were...”

He was silent for a moment as he took in the painstaking details that Isaac had included. Evan’s freckles looked so real, and so did the strands in Elizabeth’s curly hair. It truly was an incredible work of art.

“Mr. Watkins, Moon asked me to let you know that-”

Mr. Watkins turned around in time to see Michael slow to a stop and stare up at the painting. His jaw slowly dropped, and Isaac blushed softly.

“What do you think?” Mr. Watkins asked. “I gave Isaac some old pictures as a reference, and I think he did very well.”

“It’s them,” Michael said. “You really... you put them...”

He fell silent again. After the tragedies, Michael had never really heard anything about his siblings and his friend that didn’t have to do with their deaths. Even his own father had only talked about how tragic it had been and how he would miss them and other things like that. His father had never again talked about how Elizabeth would sing a song about pancakes whenever Clara made breakfast or how Evan liked to draw pictures of Fredbear and Spring Bonnie.

It had made Michael forget that they had once been happy. That they had once been children...

Isaac was surprised when Michael hugged him. He awkwardly pat Michael’s back while Mr. Watkins watched them.

“Thank you,” said Michael. “Thank you so much.”

“Um... no problem?” Isaac was so confused. “Glad you like it.”

Chapter Text

“Captain!”

Foxy spun around and smiled widely.

“Danni!” He said. “Ya came back!”

He knelt down to give her a hug, and then sat back to look her over. She was wearing the bandanna he’d given her along with a shirt that had a cutesy skull and crossbones on it. It made Foxy’s heart swell with pride.

“Of course I did,” Danni said. “I have a duty to the crew! I couldn’t just leave them to be lost, right?”

“Aye, and we have been so lost without ya!” Foxy said as he stood up. “The shores of adventure be calling our names but we haven’t had our trusty navigator to guide us there!”

“I’ll get right on it,” Dannit gave Foxy a salute. “Don’t worry, Captain! I’ll get us there safely!”

“I trust ya will,” Foxy said. He turned around and addressed the other children. “Look alive ya scurvy dogs! Danni is here, and she’s going to chart our next adventure for us!”

The children began to cheer, waving foam swords and making loud ‘argh’ sounds. Foxy pulled out his maps and tools and found Danni a clean table to work on. Some children sat with her and began to help her or ask questions, which Danni excitedly answered. Foxy smiled and gave a satisfied nod-

“You! How dare you?!”

Foxy heard the sound of shattering glass in the back of his mind, and his eye twitched slightly. He turned around, already frowning, and found himself facing a woman with her child. Foxy recognized the child, having caught them trying to steal things from the cove as well as other children. The child had nearly made off with a good bit of stolen loot before Foxy had caught them.

“How dare you make my child leave? I brought them here to play, and you have to let them play!” said the mother.

“Madam, your child was stealing things from the others,” Foxy said. “That be against the rules.”

“So?” said the mother. “You’re pirates! Don’t pirates take things? And honestly, what could they really take that can’t be easily replaced here? Everything looks so cheap!”

“Madam, I am not about to argue with ya,” Foxy growled. “I made me decision, and it will stand. Your child is not welcome here anymore. Please leave.”

“It’s not right-”

“Hey! Captain Foxy said his decision is final!” Danni said from the nearby table. “If the Captain says he can’t come in, then he can’t come in!”

“This is none of your business, you brat!” the woman snarled. “I see that your parents didn’t teach you to respect your elders!”

She reached out and grabbed Danni’s arm, and Foxy suddenly saw red. He blacked out momentarily, and when he came back, the woman and her child were gone. Danni was carefully rubbing his arm, and he was sitting at one of the children’s tables.

“Huh?” Foxy looked around. “What happened?”

“You scared them off,” said Danni. “You sort of went quiet and then you started screeching. You made her let go of me and then chased them off.”

“It was cool!” Said one of the other children. “Great job, Captain!”

“I didn’t know you could move that fast,” said another one.

“You were like a shark zipping through the water!” Said another one.

Foxy shook his head and then looked at Danni’s arm. There were a few marks from the woman’s fingers, but no scratches or blood, thankfully.

“Thanks, Captain,” Danni said. “I know I can always count on you...”

Foxy chuckled and tipped his hat.

“Of course, Danni. Captain Foxy will always keep ya safe...” He said.

Chapter Text

“Where’s my boy?” Monty stalked through his golf course with a smile. “I heard he was here!”

He didn’t have to look for long, because a little boy soon came running through the fake trees to leap at Monty with a loud growl. Monty did a controlled fall, letting it look as if the child had tackled him. The child sat on his stomach and beat his chest with a roar.

“Oh no, I’ve been defeated by Florida Boy!” Monty dramatically wailed. “Whatever shall I do?”

Florida Boy giggled and put on Monty’s glasses. Monty laughed and picked him up as he stood.

“My boy has come back!” he said. “Oh, I missed you. You ready to defend your title?”

“He missed you too,” Florida Boy’s mother, Nicole, appeared. “I set up a little mini golf course for him to play in the backyard, but it just wasn’t the same. He was so happy when I told him we were coming back today. I even got him a new gator onesie to wear.”

“Missed you,” Florida Boy said.

“Well, I’ll tell you what,” Monty set the boy down. “You play a good game today and you can keep my glasses, ok? Make me proud, and they’re yours.”

Florida Boy didn’t disappoint. Sure, it wasn’t as great as his best score, but it was still an incredible one. Monty proudly watched Florida Boy sink hole after hole after hole. Everything was going great until he got to the last hole.

Florida Boy was lining up his shot, and then a man literally shoved him out of the way and kicked his ball aside.

Monty almost had steam pour from his ears, and Nicole looked like she was about to eat the man’s face.

“Excuse me!” She snarled. “How dare you push my son like that?”

“I was here first,” said the man. “He should learn how to wait his turn.”

“He was here first,” Monty growled. “And even so, that’s no reason to shove him like that!”

He grabbed the man’s golf ball and crushed it between his jaws. As the man yelled at Monty, a soft whimpering sound could be heard. Florida Boy was trying not to cry as he held his now bleeding elbow in his little hand.

Monty about snapped right there, but before he could, the man took a swing at Nicole. To Monty’s surprise, she grabbed the man and put him in a tight headlock, pulling him down to the ground and holding him there.

“I am going to make you regret even looking at my child today,” she hissed. “Monty! Call security!”

Monty stared for a moment before he shook his head and quickly did as she asked.

To sum things up, the man was banned and Nicole stated she would be pressing charges against him. Mr. Watkins spoke to her and made sure she knew how to contact him for the security camera footage. While they talked, she held her son tightly in her arms, his elbow now sporting a few Monty bandaids.

Monty gave his best reassuring smile and pat Florida Boy’s head.

“Didn’t finish...” Florida Boy sniffled.

Monty simply took his glasses off and put them on Florida Boy.

“Maybe not,” he said. “But we all know who’s the best player around here. Don’t we? You take good care of those, now...”

Florida Boy smiled and adjusted his new glasses.

Chapter Text

“You know, I’m actually really grateful that I was supposed to be a video game and not like an attraction in a physical location...”

Michael popped a bubble with his gum and glanced down at Glitchtrap. The bunny was busy brushing his fur again. If there was anything that Michael learned, it was that Glitchtrap was rather vain. He was always fussing over his fur, his bowtie, his ears... everything. Michael thought it was pretty funny.

“Some of these customers are from hell,” Glitchtrap continued. “I’m just gonna say it. They clawed their way straight up from hell.”

“Are you saying naughty words, Glitchtrap?” Michael asked. “You know we have to watch our language around the kids.”

“Oh come on,” Glitchtrap rolled his eyes. “It’s not a naughty word.”

Michael chuckled as he looked around. People were milling around like they usually did, and there didn’t seem to be any warning signs of angry customers. It almost seemed like it might be a good day. Michael leaned back in the booth he was occupying and sighed.

“So how goes the talks with Mr. Watkins?” Glitchtrap asked. “You know, the ones where you’re trying to convince him to let me out?”

“He’s still hesitant,” said Michael.

“Why?!” Glitchtrap waved the brush around as he ranted. “I helped you get rid of Afton! I helped you put the other souls to rest! I haven’t given you one reason to not trust me except that Afton created me, and that’s not even a fair reason! What gives?”

“I’m sure you can understand,” Michael rolled his eyes. “He’s thinking about the safety of the guests.”

“Why doesn’t anyone think of me?” Glitchrap put a hand to his head and dramatically keeled over. “Everyone has abandoned poor poor Glitchtrap...”

Michael stayed silent. He’d seen enough toddlers throw tantrums to know that you weren’t supposed to feed into them. And that was exactly how Glitchtrap was acting, like a toddler. But at the same time, Michael could understand both sides. Mr. Watkins was concerned for the safety of the guests while Glitchtrap just wanted out of the phone. Michael had no idea how long he’d been trapped in the lifeless computer below. He was obviously itching to stretch out a bit.

“Look, I promise I’m on your side,” Michael said. “It’s just going to take some time. Try to be patient. At least you’re up here now. You have people to talk to and stuff to interact with.”

Glitchtrap grumbled, but said nothing more. Michael considered the conversation shelved for now.

Chapter Text

“I want tail feathers.”

Mr. Watkins blinked at the request, but Chica didn’t budge.

“Tail feathers?” He asked. “You’ve never requested this before.”

“I know, but...” Chica fidgeted slightly. “Cosmo has such lovely tail feathers, and it makes me want some too. Is that possible?”

Mr. Watkins thought for a moment.

“It is,” he said. “But it will take some work, and you will need to miss a few days to have all the necessary components added. Is it something you really want... or do you just want something to twirl and look flashy?”

Chica put a finger up and opened her mouth to speak... but then she slowly closed it. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she thought it over. In truth, she always had a bit more energy than the others because of her aerobics classes, and she would often dance to help burn off any excess energy. She did like the idea of having something nice and flowy to move with her, and Cosmo’s tail fathers did just that when they moved...

“If you just want something to twirl, I can ask Natty to make you some clothing,” Mr. Watkins smiled. “We’ll make you the prettiest bird at the ball.”

“Really?” Chica perked up.

“If Natty agrees, we’ll have her make something,” said Mr. Watkins. “If not, I’ll commission someone else. Don’t worry, I’ll make it happen. Just take some time to decide on what you want specfically.”

Chica squealed and then gave a few happy clucks.

“I overheard Natty talking about making clothes for you,” Monty grinned. “Chica, I know what you’re going through...”

“Huh?” Chica watched Monty slide his arm around her shoulders. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve been watching me and Roxy, haven’t you?” Monty asked. “You’ve seen me strutting around with my glorious tail trailing behind me. You’ve probably seen Roxy’s flea infested tail waving around too. Heck, you’ve probably even seen Bonnie shake that powderpuff of his. You got that tail envy, don’t you?”

Chica rolled her eyes and moved away from Monty. He was being ridiculous as always.

“I don’t have tail envy,” she said. “I just want something flowy.”

“Good,” Monty said. “Cuz chickens don’t have tails, so it would look weird on you...”

“Excuse me.”

Monty and Chica paused and noticed that Cosmo had walked up. They gave Monty a hard look, angling their face so that they could stare at the other from over the tops of their red shades.

“Chickens do have tails,” said Cosmo. “They just aren’t as prominent as their male counterparts. Nothing wrong with that. You are being very disrespectful to Miss Chica, and you should apologize.”

“Apologize?” Monty cackled. “Kiss my foot. You two dodos have fun, I got stuff to do.”

He walked off, and Chica gave a huff of irritation.

“Don’t listen to him,” Cosmo shook their head. “You are a beautiful bird, but if you desire to alter your look, it is your right. I am sure that you will look amazing either way.”

They then turned around and left, and Chica watched their tail sway behind them.

Chapter Text

“Watch it! This is Gucci!”

Natty’s ears almost twitched as her entire attention was stolen away from the clipboard she was reading. She looked up and groaned silently when she saw who it was.

“Eh?” Bonnie had been tuning his guitar, enjoying a nice break between photo slots. “What’s wrong Natty?”

“It’s her again,” Natty moved a bit closer to Bonnie. “Mega Karen.”

Bonnie followed Natty’s line of sight and raised an artificial eyebrow, pulling his glasses down slightly to see the other woman better. It was an older woman who was dressed in expensive looking clothes and had an irritating look on her face that suggested that everyone around her was a piece of dirt.

“I don’t think she even has kids,” Natty said. “But she comes here a lot and it’s always to throw fits and belittle everyone. She’s been targeting me a lot lately for some reason...”

“Probably jealous of your beauty,” Bonnie winked as his ears folded into a heart shape.

“You know that doesn’t work on me,” Natty smiled softly as she shook her head.

Natty went back to her work, but Bonnie continued to watch the Mega Karen as she strut her way around the atrium. She had an iron grip on her handbag as if she were afraid that someone would snatch it from her, and she kept curling her lip at all the children who were running around.

His fingers suddenly paused... and he grinned.

“I know that look,” Natty said. “What are you going to do?”

Before Bonnie could respond, an angry cry ripped through the atrium.

“Ugh! I should have known! Honestly, it’s bad enough I have to be served by an idiot like you, but this place doesn’t even have decent coffee! How hard can it be to make a non-fat, soy milk, sugar free, vanilla latte with nutmeg and cinnamon? Perhaps you should have stayed in school. Then again, maybe your stupidity shouldn’t be around actual functioning members of society!”

Bonnie saw red.

He looked over to see Mega Karen berating a poor barista who looked to be on the verge of tears. To his surprise, she didn’t ask for a manager. Instead, she stomped away. Natty was already pulling out her radio to call for security, but Bonnie stopped her.

“Let me deal with her,” he said in a tone that promised nothing good.

He set his guitar aside and approached Mega Karen. She had sat down at one of the nearby tables and was fiddling with her phone. Probably leaving one star reviews on yelp...

“Hello, Madam!” Bonnie said loudly, getting the attention of several customers. “I couldn’t help but overhear that you had a problem with our coffee shop. Customer satisfaction is our biggest priority, so I was hoping to hear how we could improve things.”

He shot the barista a wink, assuring them that he was on their side. The barista’s tears paused, and they began to eagerly watch to see what Bonnie would do.

“Some decent coffee would be a start,” Mega Karen sniffed haughtily. “Honestly, how can anyone be expected to drink such cheap swill? My palette is a touch more refined than a mere commoner’s. My usual coffee costs hundreds of dollars.”

“I see,” Bonnie said. “So you expect a certain level of refinery when you... give establishments your patronage.”

“Of course,” said Mega Karen. “Can’t you tell? I mean, look at what I’m wearing.”

Bonnie made a show of looking Mega Karen over, and he tapped his chin in thought.

“Well... I was actually kinda confused,” he said. “Because everything you’re wearing is fake.”

Natty gasped softly, and she tried to hide her laughter as she watched. The Barista was already recording with their phone, and their mood had completely flipped. Mega Karen looked shocked and offended at Bonnie’s words.

“I beg your pardon,” she said. “How could a mere robot know-”

“Oh, I actually know a lot about fashion,” said Bonnie. “It’s a hobby of mine. And I can tell by the material, the stitching, and the logos that these are all cheap knockoffs. Gucci? No, that’s Gotcha. Coach? Nope, that’s Catch. Louboutin? More like Lou-It's Wrong.”

People were starting to laugh now, and Mega Karen looked enraged.

“Shut up!” She snapped. “You’re just a robot at a lowly restaurant.”

“And yet my personal tailor works better than yours,” Bonnie struck a pose. “Everything I wear was hand chosen and sewn by only the most fabulous seamstress that ever was. Every stitch was placed with love and care and has been imbued with the fires of the glamrock icons who came before me. That is so much more than a pleb like you can say with your wannabe fashion pieces. But hey... at least your clothes match your attitude!”

Mega Karen stood up and screamed.

“I am never coming to this cesspool again! I will tell all my friends to never come here!”

“Oh dear, however shall I recover?” Sarcasm was dripping from Bonnie’s words. “Welp, have a faztastic day, Madam!”

Mega Karen stomped out, and Bonnie shook his head. The barista wiped their tears and had a much better day.

Chapter Text

“What do you mean you’re sold out?!”

Not for the first time, Michael wondered if not crossing over with his family was really worth it. Sure, he enjoyed the plex, but every now and then... a karen happened.

This wasn’t even his department, why was he here?

“Ma’am, I’ve already explained,” he said. “The Golden Freddy plush was a limited time deal. We have since sold out and will not be getting anymore in. I’m sorry, but we don’t have any that we can sell you.”

He at least knew this much. Mr. Watkins had informed him and asked him to keep an eye and ear out since a lot of people tended to get... upset when things sold out.

“Oh that’s all lies!” the karen gave a dismissive wave. “I promised my kids that I would buy them one, and I am going to do just that. You must have some left in the back, fetch one of those for me.”

“Ma’am, we are sold out,” Michael said again.

“I don’t think you understand,” The Karen snapped. “I promised my children. They are darling little angels who deserve whatever they want. So when I promise them something, I get it for them. You will not make me break this promise. Go and fetch me two Golden Freddy plushes. And I expect them to be free due to your incompetence and stupidity! Now!”

She snapped her fingers, and Michael’s eye twitched. Looks aside, there was only one other thing that Michael had really inherited from his father, and that was an intense hatred for karens. William Afton had never hesitated to speak freely to any karen who entered the diner, and it had always been Henry’s job to smooth things over afterwards while William walked off for an impromptu smoke break.

Fetch it for her. As if he was... he was a...

Michael growled, and the karen blinked. It had been an actual growl from the depths of his chest.

“What... did you just growl at me?!” The karen asked.

And then Michael barked at her. The karen stepped back as Michael stepped forward. Michael continued to bark loudly, and people began to stare.

“Mike!”

Yumi had rushed over and began to pat his head and shush him.

“Mike, it’s ok,” she said. “Ma’am, could you please not harass our doggo? You’re upsetting him.”

“Dog?” The Karen bristled. “That’s a human!”

Michael then growled again, and Yumi continued to pet his head, standing up tall to reach it. People were laughing nearby, and the karen began to grow red in the face. She frowned and tried to poke Michael's chest, but Yumi stopped her.

“Ma’am, for your safety, we cannot allow you to touch our doggo,” she said. “He bites, and we don’t want you kicking up a fuss because you acted like a fool. Please leave before you make our doggo even more upset with your presence.”

“Excuse me?!” the karen snarled. “I am not leaving without-”

“Yes you are because we don’t have any left,” Yumi said. “Our doggo explained that to you. And he explained it in a much nicer way than you deserved. I was watching the whole time, and you were nothing but rude to him. And just so you know... if you treat us like dogs, expect to be answered by dogs.”

The karen yelled out in frustration, but stomped off without another word. Michael sighed heavily and turned to look at Yumi.

“Hey... thanks,” he said. “I know I shouldn’t have-”

“Oh hush,” Yumi said. “She was the real dog. A female one, if you catch my drift. We all know you’re a good boy.”

She scratched under Michael’s chin and giggled. He rolled his eyes, but didn’t stop her.

Chapter Text

“Did you... bark at a customer?” Mr. Watkins asked.

“I... did. Yes,” Michael said sheepishly.

“There was a woman who was treating him like a dog,” Yumi said. “So Mike just barked back at her.”

Mr. Watkins blinked and then sighed.

“I never thought I would have to say this, but please do not bark at our customers,” he said. “I understand the circumstances, so you’re not in trouble, but please don’t do it again.”

“Can we meow at them instead?” Yumi asked. “Or bleat?”

“No, don’t make any sort of animal noises at them,” Mr. Watkins said. “No animal noises at all.”

He appreciated his employees, and he trusted them. This was why they got a bit of leeway when it came to handling the customers. He could trust them to react appropriately. But this was pushing things a bit, and he needed to put his foot down.

“Well, in that case...” Yumi mused. “I guess we can’t speak anymore since you some consider humans to be animals. I mean, we’re at least mammals, right? That counts. So, no more speaking! We can only communicate through interpretive dance. I shall go inform Ballora that we’ll be needing some lessons...”

“Wait, Yumi!” Mr. Watkins tried to call her back, but she was already gone. “I really hope she’s not serious.”

“She’s not,” Michael chuckled. “Don’t worry, you know how she is.”

“Indeed,” Mr. Watkins said. “She’s a very good worker, and I rather like her sense of humor, but sometimes... you just can’t tell.”

“Oh, speaking of Ballora,” Michael said. “Have you got a date in mind for her debut?”

“Not yet,” Mr. Watkins said. “I still need to get her a handler, but the interviews are not going well...”

Michael took a moment to think about it. True, Ballora’s handler needed special skills to conform with her abilities, and it made things a bit tougher when it came to finding someone. But as Michael thought about it, he suddenly remembered overhearing something.

“Hey!” He said. “I think Tiffany has a friend who’s a ballerina, or used to be anyway. Why not ask about it? Maybe her friend will want to come interview.”

“Is that so?” Mr. Watkins asked. “Well, I’ll have to ask her. Thank you, Michael. And don’t forget, no more barking at customers.”

“Of course,” Michael said as Mr. Watkins walked off. “I won’t forget, don’t worry.”

Chapter Text

“Do you think Mr. Watkins would let us go to a movie theater?”

“Huh?” Tiffany asked.

“Well... there’s a movie that I really wanna see,” Sunny said. “They just released a new trailer and it looks really good!”

“Hmm... I dunno,” Tiffany mused. “You should ask him when you get the chance.”

Sunny moved to respond, but he froze when he recognized someone entering the daycare. It was a woman wearing an expensive business suit and two kids were with her. Sunny recognized her because she had been banned the previous week.

And why? Well, to put it simply... her children were terrors. Their names were Jazmyn and Zachariah, and Sunny still had scratches in his paint job from dealing with them. They were known to pull hair, break things, scratch, scream, curse, and even bite.

“Go play,” the woman shooed her children off.

“Ma’am, you were banned,” Tiffany said. “They cannot stay here.”

“Well, I have to work,” the woman shrugged. “And I’m leaving them here. Their nanny quit and I have no one else to watch them. Take care of them!”

She quickly left the daycare before Tiffany could say another word. Jazmyn and Zachariah ran for the slide, but Sunny blocked them.

“No no,” he said. “You can’t come in. Tiffany, try calling the mother.”

Sunny dealt with the children screaming and hitting him, trying to move him away from the slide while Tiffany called. Unsurprisingly, the mother didn’t pick up.

“What do we do?” Tiffany asked. “She won’t pick up.”

“Call CPS,” Sunny grunted. “And you two need to stop.”

“You can’t make us!” Zachariah said.

“Mommy lets us do whatever we want!” said Jazmyn. “You have to let us too!”

“Children, I’m warning you,” Sunny’s tone became strained.

Tiffany managed to get ahold of CPS and explain the situation. As soon as she put the phone down again, Sunny lost what was left of his patience.

“I said STOP!” He snapped. “Both of you! You two are so naughty! I can’t even fathom how you got this way! Why do you insist on hurting me? Why can’t you just behave nicely like the others?!"

The children froze, shocked that anyone had dared to yell at them. They got even more violent, and Sunny grabbed them both by the wrist. The children struggled to free themselves, but Sunny held on as tightly as he could without hurting them.

“I have no doubt that she will be back,” Tiffany sighed. “And she will not be happy...”

Sunny held on until a representative came to collect the children. He was very unhappy to discover that he had new dings in his paint.

They did indeed receive a phone call later from the mother, but Moon was out at the time, and he refused to let Tiffany be berated. He took the phone from her and had no problem letting the mother know just how horrible her children had behaved and how he should sue her for the damages to his paint job. The mother did not back down, insulting everyone that she could think of, so Moon just hung up on her.

"What an awful woman," he shook his head. "Now I see where her kids get it. If she calls back, let me or Sunny handle it. You don't deserve to be yelled at like that..."

Chapter Text

“Thank you for coming.”

Mr. Watkins smiled as Carmen sat down in front of his desk.

“Thank you for inviting me,” Carmen said. “She told me that you were looking for an animatronic handler. I don’t know much about animatronics, but I know a lot about ballet.”

“And that’s what I was looking for,” Mr. Watkins said. “We plan on giving Ballora the old dance studios to do ballet classes with the children. Obviously, her handler will need to keep up. You mentioned over the phone that you did ballet for years ever since you were a young girl. If I may ask, why did you stop?”

“Well... money,” Carmen said. “I needed to get a job and the classes and costumes and other supplies needed were becoming expensive. My parents couldn’t afford it anymore, and I needed to devote my time to getting a job. I hated it so much, but I had no other choice. I do still dance for fun by myself, but I haven’t been in a professional setting in a long time.”

Mr. Watkins nodded as he looked over Carmen’s resume. She was a bright girl, and her references had given her good reviews. Plus, she was already friends with Tiffany. It would help bring her into the little family easier...

“A handler’s job is much like a secretary,” Mr. Watkins explained. “You will be in charge of Ballora’s schedule and making sure she gets to her events on time. You will also assist her with her classes, so you will be able to dance again. All costumes and supplies will be provided to you, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

Carmen’s eyes slowly widened, and her lips twisted into an excited smile. She was nearly shaking in her seat, but she managed to keep herself in check.

“You mean that I’ll get to dance again?” She asked. “And be paid for it?!”

“This would be your starting wage,” Mr. Watkins set a form down in front of Carmen. “And your hours. There is always room for promotions and paid overtime. And then over here would be your vacation days and your sick days available after your trial period ends.”

Carmen stared. That was a higher wage than she was working now. Longer hours, but if she was going to spend them dancing, she would not be complaining. She let out a low wheeze as she looked over the other benefits listed.

“Yes!” She said. “I would... I mean... I really... yes, please! I would be more than happy to work here!”

“Wonderful,” Mr. Watkins laughed. “I’ll need to introduce you to Ballora, but she’s having maintenance done right now. Would you be able to come back tomorrow?”

“Of course,” Carmen said. “I’d love to meet Ballora.”

“Then welcome to the Fazbear Family!” Mr. Watkins shook Carmen’s hand. “I think you’re going to like it here.”

Chapter Text

“She got hired?” Tiffany asked. “Yay!”

She clapped her hands excitedly at the news. Sunny chuckled as he began picking up stray toys that were strewn across the daycare floor.

“I’m surprised that you two became such good friends,” he said. “I mean... considering the circumstances...”

“I’m over that,” Tiffany said. “She was as much a victim as I was, and now we know how much of a scumbag he was. Plus, she’s actually lots of fun. We went and did an escape room last week.”

“Ooh, I’ve heard of those,” Sunny said. “Maybe we should do something like that here. Imagine! I think it could be fun.”

“Maybe mention it to Mr. Watkins,” Tiffany said as she wiped down one of the craft tables.

She really was happy for Carmen. She’d listened and lent an ear for her problems at work. She was being overworked and underpaid, and Tiffany could sympathize. Which was why she was so happy to see Ballora. She knew that Carmen would be the perfect handler for her.

“So how does Moon feel about Ballora?” Tiffany asked. “I think you mentioned that he admires her a lot.”

“I dunno,” Sunny shrugged. “He’s seen her a few times, but he’s so... shy around her. It’s so weird because I’ve never seen him like this before. He’s usually so confident, but then... I mean, he almost didn’t even talk to her when they first met. He ran to his room, and she had to climb up the wall to get to him.”

“She what?” Tiffany’s eyes widened as she looked over at the tower. “Huh... so the princess climbed the tower to get to the prince. Good on Ballora for flipping the traditional narrative.”

Sunny bust out laughing.

“I never thought of it that way! Oh, but maybe we should change the subject. Moon’s getting a little grumpy...” He said.

Lucky for them, Yumi decided to enter the daycare and slide down the slide.

“It doesn’t make sense!” She said as she surfaced from the colorful plastic balls and walked over to them. “How can this be happening?”

She was dressed in an oversized sweater, her purse hanging off her shoulder. She had obviously been on her way out.

“What’s wrong?” Sunny asked.

“It’s cold outside,” said Yumi. “So cold. And it’s going to keep being cold for a while. The most environmentally friendly way to stay warm is through sharing body heat. And yet... no one is cuddling me.”

Tiffany snorted in amusement and Sunny giggled.

“Have no fear!” He said as he swept Yumi up in a hug. “I will correct this horrible wrong!”

Tiffany laughed at them both.

Chapter Text

Roxanne had asked for a few new features after... a certain event that she still hated to think about.

Number one, she wanted to be able to control the gokarts on her track. She had voiced safety concerns to Mr. Watkins who had still been a bit new at the time. She said in the case of a child losing control of their gokart, she wanted to be able to shut it down to prevent any injuries. The assistant driverbots had partial control for that reason, but the AI wasn’t as advanced as Roxanne’s was. Mr. Watkins had been very receptive of that idea.

It didn’t work if the gokart flipped or lifted from the track in any way, but there wasn’t really anything that would help with that...

Number two, she wanted a break down lane. She wanted a smaller lane to run the length of the race track so that if a child’s gokart broke down, they would have a safe place to stop and not have to worry about getting hit by the other karts.

This also was very well received by Mr. Watkins, and he praised Roxanne for her thinking.

The race track had to be shut down for a while, but the changes were made and Roxanne was very happy for it. She took pride in the safety of her track, never wanting to put the children in danger.

Today had been a good day so far, but Roxanne could smell trouble. There was a child who would not stop treating the track like a game of bumper cars. Gracey-Anne Thompson was her name, and Roxanne was done with her.

She overrode the karts controls and steered it towards the breakdown lane. Gracey-Anne looked around in confusion, trying to get back on the track. The kart came to a stop and then turned off.

“You were warned three times to not purposefully run into the other children,” Roxanne said as she approached the kart. “You are banned from this track for the rest of the day, and if you come back and do it again, I’ll ban you permanently.”

“What?!” Gracey-Anne said. “That’s stupid! You’re just a stupid robot, you can’t tell me what to do. Mom! MOM!”

Guided by the unholy screech of her spawn, a woman appeared.

“What’s going on?” She asked. “Why is my child over here?”

Roxanne had moved Gracey-Anne off the road and behind the protective gate. She fixed the mother with a stern look and crossed her arms.

“Your child was bumping into the others on purpose,” she said. “That’s a safety hazard. She was warned three times, but kept doing it. So I’m banning her for the rest of today. She may not drive on this track anymore today.”

“Are you kidding?” the mother asked. “She wouldn’t do that! If she bumped someone, it had to have been on accident. Or maybe they were bumping her! Did you ever think of that?!”

“I watched it happen,” said Roxanne. “My decision stands.”

“Oh come on!” The mother rolled her eyes. “How much damage could she have done? It’s not like she’s driving a real car!”

“My decision stands!” Roxanne snapped. “Please leave my raceway.”

The mother called Roxanne a very bad no-no word, which Roxanne shrugged off. But the Fizzyfaz that was poured on her wasn’t so easily shrugged off.

Roxanne froze, and her anger grew. Yep, this was it. This was the day that she was going to add another infamous bite to Fazbear Entertainment’s history. She growled loudly and spun around to yell at the mother-

But then something was covering her face.

She blinked, and her eyes allowed her to see that someone had approached. Kevin was yelling at the mother while a pair of security bots approached. The mother was dragged away, kicking and screaming with her daughter being carefully led away by the other bot.

Roxanne reached up and pulled off what had been thrown over her head, seeing that it was a jacket.

“You ok?” Kevin asked. “I tried to get over here as fast as I could. Guess I wasn’t fast enough...”

“It’s ok,” Roxanne said. “I was... I was very angry. I think I might need some time to clean up and cool off.”

“Yeah, let’s get back to your room,” Kevin took his jacket and then held Roxanne’s hand. “Come on, I’ll help you clean that off.”

Roxanne followed him and sighed heavily.

“And we’re also going to talk about your anger,” Kevin said softly. 

“I wasn’t going to touch her,” Roxanne hissed. “I’m not an animal.”

“Still,” Kevin said. “We’re going to talk about it. It wouldn’t do to have you in a bad mood for the rest of the day.”

Chapter Text

You have (1) new Fazmessage!

Hello, everyone!

I hope that you’re all enjoying your holiday. Just a reminder that we will remain closed until the 27th of December. You should all have received your Christmas bonuses by now, but I do have one more gift for everyone. Don’t worry, those gifts will be given to you when you return.

Just a quick reminder that the weather is going to stay cold for at least another week so please make sure you are dressing warmly for your shifts. If you need any help with that, please let me know.

Also, we will be closing early for New Year’s Eve and we will be closed entirely on New Years Day. The animatronics are wanting to have a celebration, so everyone is welcome to stay overnight and ring in another Faztastic new year.

Food will be provided, and the arcade games will be operating for free for anyone who chooses to stay.

That is all that I wanted to go over, I do not wish to keep you from your family and friends much longer. I hope you all have the merriest of Christmases, and I’ll see you back here on the 27th.

Sincerely,

Richard Watkins

Chapter Text

“Awe, I’m gonna miss the trees,” Chica said as she looked up at one of the numerous Christmas trees in the plex.

This tree was themed after herself. It was a white tree with pink garlands and ornaments that were either shaped like her or like food. All of the Glamrocks had always had their own tree, but Mr. Watkins had been the one to give Sunny and Moon a tree, and this year he also made sure the new members got their own tree too.

“Mr. Watkins says the decorations will stay until the day before New Year's Eve,” said Roxanne. “Then we switch to the New Year’s decorations and our New Year’s outfits.”

Chica swished the skirt of her Mrs. Clause outfit with a smile. She did enjoy the different costumes they got for each holiday, but her Christmas one was her favorite.

“Golden gator incoming!” Monty said. “Oh, I love the New Year's outfit. It sucks we only get to wear it for two days, though.”

His current costume resembled The Grinch.

“Oh, costumes?” Cosmo sounded excited. “I cannot wait until my debut! I would very much like to wear such festive costumes.”

“I bet you’ll look great!” Chica beamed. “I should take this time to get ready. We’re always busiest just after New Year's. All those resolutions to lose weight and work out...”

“And I need to prepare for all those stupid ‘see you next year’ jokes that Sunny’s gonna make,” Monty said. “Whoever introduced him to dad jokes should have to walk a mile on legos.”

Bonnie walked up then, dressed as a gingerbread bunny. It had been his first Christmas after being gone for so long, and he’d made sure to pull out all the stops with his costume. Natty had been very happy to hear that he loved it.

“Anyone know if anyone’s coming to the party?” He asked.

“You know Yumi will,” Chica said. “She’s always ready to party down with the DJ.”

“I haven’t heard anything,” Monty shrugged. “Except Isaac. I think he’s having his own party with his family.”

“Oh, but Mr. Watkins said he’s getting it catered,” Chica was nearly drooling. “Ooh... so much food.”

“And games,” said Roxanne. “A perfect time to put the losers in their place.”

“In a friendly way, I am sure,” Freddy gave Roxanne a look as he walked up, still dressed in his Santa costume. “We can figure the details out later, we are about to open.”

“Back to the grindstone,” Roxanne sighed. “See you guys later.”

The small crowd dispersed, happy to finally have customers again.

Chapter Text

David Acre had been a lawyer for a long time.

He was passionate about justice, and he did his job well. He enjoyed the hours that he worked, the cases he participated in, but above all... he loved his little partner.

“So what do you think?” He asked his partner.

“I think we got a good case,” said the little bear.

His partner was an animatronic, but David rarely thought of him as one. The little lavender and white bear was named Helpy, and Helpy certainly helped a lot.

Helpy was programmed with extensive knowledge of the law on both a local and federal level. Helpy was also able to download notes and schedules and keep everything organized and on time. He was much better than any assistant or secretary that David had had before, not that he didn’t appreciate his former colleagues.

He also liked the new manager of the plex. Previous managers had a habit of settling or rug sweeping, which just created a mess and a nightmare in court for David. But the new one had a very clear way of doing things. If a legitimate accident occurred, or if Fazbear Entertainment was in the wrong, Mr. Watkins made sure the other party received all that they were owed. But if someone was trying to take advantage of Fazbear Entertainment’s deep pockets, or was trying to make up a case against them, Mr. Watkins stood against them.

“I have worked hard to improve the reputation of this place. I would never spit on the hard work of my employees by letting these charlatans win.”

And David respected that.

“The evidence is overwhelming,” Helpy said as he looked over a few files. “Right here! This will prove that they’re not telling the truth. Plus, according to these medical reports, the doctor didn’t find any of the injuries that they're claiming!”

“Perfect,” David read the reports over Helpy’s shoulders. “Do me a favor and set those aside. I’m gonna make a few calls and see if they still want to take this to court.”

“You got it!” Helpy smiled and adjusted his glasses. “And when you’re done... can we get McDonalds on the way home?”

David chuckled. While Helpy couldn’t eat, he still loved the little toys from the Happy Meals. He’d amassed quite the collection over the years.

“Of course we can,” he said. “A reward for all your hard work.”

Helpy cheered as David took out his phone and then left the room to call a few people.

Chapter Text

The celebration was beautiful.

The dance studio was complete and open.

And Ballora looked and felt amazing.

“I still can’t get over how tall you are,” Carmen said softly. “Like... how? How are you so tall?”

“I’m just built different,” Ballora giggled. “Or maybe you’re just short.”

Carmen frowned as she scribbled at her clipboard. She couldn’t really argue with that.

Her meeting with Ballora had gone well. Ballora had run her through a quick test to see what Carmen remembered and was very pleased with the results. Carmen would be able to assist her with everything she needed in the classes.

And now they were in her new dance studio where children could come and see her and parents could sign them up for classes.

“You look like a princess!” Said one little girl.

“Can I dance too?” Asked a little boy.

“Of course you can,” said Ballora. “Everyone is welcome here.”

She started leading them through a few simple ballet positions while Carmen helped and kept an eye on everything.

But of course, someone just had to say something.

“Are you the manager?”

Mr. Watkins looked away from Ballora and her crowd and saw that someone had approached him. It was a young woman who had a very angry expression in her face.

“Yes, I am,” Mr. Watkins said. “How can I help you?”

The woman angrily pointed at Ballora.

“Is this what you’re all about?” She asked. “Perpetuating harmful gender stereotypes?”

Mr. Watkins could already tell this was not going to be a fun conversation.

“Why is she female?” the woman asked. “Don’t you know that boys dance too, and they’re horribly ostracized by others for daring to do so? You could have shown a little inclusivity.”

“I apologize,” said Mr. Watkins. “But I was not the one who created her. She was designed and created by the late William Afton.”

“But you changed her look, right?” the woman said. “You could have changed her gender too. It’s your duty to the children to show them how to break these restrictive barriers that were created by thoughtless and judgmental people. You shouldn’t be feeding into it-”

“Excuse me.”

The woman fell silent and looked to see that Ballora had approached them. She tilted her head curiously.

“What if I do not wish to be male?” She asked. “I rather enjoy being a girl.”

The woman scoffed.

“Oh yeah?” She said. “What, are you programmed to say that?”

“Are you programmed to say the things that you were saying?” Ballora asked. “You seemed like it. You were not accepting the explanation that was made.”

“What?” the woman frowned. “How dare you! I am not a machine like you are. I am a human being with actual thoughts and an actual brain. I can think for myself just fine, unlike these poor children who need to be guided by the correct people. You are just enforcing harmful gender stereotypes-”

“I am doing no such thing,” Ballora said. “I am merely dancing and enjoying something that I love. This studio is not excluding anyone. It is open for any child be they male, female, both, or neither. That is the atmosphere and the environment that I hope to promote here. You speak as if you are so open minded, but your mind seems to be incredibly narrow.”

The children were all watching. Some of them were from the daycare and were used to seeing Sunny and Moon tell off the bad adults. They eagerly shared their Fazcorn with the others as they all watched.

“Get her. Get her,” one child softly cheered as they saw the woman’s face redden with rage.

“Who are you to say this to me?” the woman snapped. “You’re just a machine. Nothing but metal and preprogrammed responses-”

“I am more than a robot,” said Ballora. “I am Ballora. I am a ballerina. And, according to that little girl, I am also a princess. Your words are more harmful than anything I am doing right now and I would very much like for you to remove yourself from this studio. You are not behaving in a suitable manner for these children.”

She turned her back and went back to the other children. They all cheered for her as she once again took her place and started showing them a few moves.

“Are you just going to let her talk to me like that?” the woman asked Mr. Watkins. “What kind of robots are these?”

“Fazbear Entertainment’s finest,” said Mr. Watkins. “And I believe you heard her. Please leave or I will have Security escort you out.”

He gestured to the side where Michael was waiting. The woman growled and stomped off, yelling about how awful the plex was. Michael was quick to get her out.

Chapter Text

The bass was bumping...

This was Yumi’s scene. Dancing on stage while her favorite Spooder Boi cranked another thumping song. She had a golden top hat on, compliments of Mr. Watkins, and a noise maker in her hand. The multicolored lights washed over her again and again as they moved around the room.

There was a crowd of workers and a few animatronics on the dance floor. They were all dancing their hearts out, as they should be. It was still a few hours until the new year, and their energy had yet to even start waning.

Yumi paused when the music suddenly changed, and DJ moved. She looked up at him to see him beckon her to his booth. Her eyes widened when the screen behind him changed and letters spelled out ‘DJ Mimi’.

“What?” Yumi gasped.

DJ nodded and beckoned again. Yumi slowly moved over to his booth. Buttons and screens began to light up as he changed the input. Now the booth was where the music was coming from instead of DJ’s own software.

“DJ Mimi!” A heavily autotuned voice rang out across the dance floor.

The crowd turned their attention to the booth and began to chant ‘DJ Mimi’ or cheer for her. Yumi grinned and put her hands on the booth. She took a moment to get a feel for the music and then began to jam out.

Chica shoveled another bite of prime rib into her mouth. A little sneakiness around the buffet table had snagged her a few tasty morsels, and she was quick to devour them all. She hummed happily to herself as she swallowed and then quickly moved on to clean her hands off.

“Hey!”

Chica froze and looked over to see Monty approaching her. The gator was literally sparkling in the light. Natty had managed to put together a shear top that had lines of yellow rhinestones. This was because Mr. Watkins had said that he was not allowed to cover himself in glitter.

“Stealing from the buffet table?” Monty folded his arms. “Chica, I’m disappointed.”

“I’ll do better next year,” Chica said. “I just wanted a few last treats was all. And besides, Mr. Watkins said the buffet was for everyone.”

“Pretty sure he was talking about the human employees,” Monty regarded her over the tops of his sunglasses. “Anyway, I don’t really care. Some of us are heading to the Fazcade. You coming?”

“Ooh!” Chica perked up. “Yeah, let’s go! I’m gonna have the new high score before the night’s over!”

“She can climb the walls?!”

Carmen watched as Ballora easily scaled one of the glowing walls and disappeared from her line of sight. She crouched in her corner, Fazerblaster at the ready.

“I didn’t know either!” Tiffany was half crouched, looking to see if any enemies were nearby. “But we can’t stay here, we gotta keep moving.”

She froze when she heard bells jingling nearby.

“Oh crap,” she grabbed Carmen’s hand. “Let’s go!”

“So everything is almost ready?” Mr. Watkins asked.

“Yep,” Owen said, wiping off the screen of the new kiosk. “It’s at least ready to move him in. We’ll have everything else ready to go in a few days.”

“And Cosmo is ready as well?” Mr. Watkins looked at the kiosk.

“They passed all their tests,” Owen smiled.

That was perfect since their new restaurant was ready to open. They’d have their debut and then they’d get added to the band performances.

“I can already tell that this new year is going to be amazing,” Mr. Watkins smiled.

Later that night, they counted down the new year, and a flood of plastic balls and balloons rained down from the ceiling. The new year had officially begun.

Chapter Text

They didn’t really know what to think about this.

They’d never imagined working at a place like the pizzaplex since most employers didn’t really... understand them. Which was why they were currently working at their family’s store.

But their friend Annabel had told them that this was a very accepting place. At least, employee wise.

“The manager is very open minded and supportive,” she’d said. “Such a great guy. He knows about my past, but only because I chose to tell him. And he didn’t judge me or anything like that. He still calls me Annabel and refers to me as a girl!”

That had made them hopeful.

“So your name is Alex?” Mr. Watkins looked over their resume. “You currently work at your family’s store?”

“Yes Sir,” Alex nodded. “For a good few years now. I kinda do a bit of everything there.”

“I can see that,” Mr. Watkins nodded. “It seems like you’re very good at multitasking, which you will definitely need to do in this position. I did notice your pronoun preference as well, but I’m a bit confused at how many you circled. Do you feel comfortable explaining? If not, it won’t affect the interview.”

Alex remembered Annabel’s words and took a deep breath.

“I’m what’s known as genderfluid,” they said. “It means that I feel that I am both male and female, but sometimes I’ll feel more of one than the other. In those cases I prefer to be referred to by the pronouns of my presenting gender. Otherwise, they/them is fine.”

“Ah, I see,” Mr. Watkins made a note. “We didn’t really have a lot of knowledge about this in my time, so some of this is still new to me. But I am always willing to learn. Please don’t hesitate to correct me if I do something wrong, ok?”

Alex slowly nodded, a smile tugging a their lips. Maybe this job wouldn’t be so bad.

To Alex’s surprise, Mr. Watkins did end up hiring them. They were going to be the handler of an animatronic named Cosmo.

Mr. Watkins invited them to meet their new animatronic friend, and Alex eagerly accepted the invitation.

“Cosmo,” Mr. Watkins said. “This is Alex, your new handler.”

“Good day to you, Alex,” Cosmo beamed. “Would you like a handshake or a hug?”

“I’ll never say no to a hug,” Alex smiled.

Cosmo’s hug was surprisingly warm and soft. They pat Alex’s back and gave a squeeze.

“Did you get the file I sent you?” Mr. Watkins asked as the hug ended. “About Alex’s information?”

“Of course,” Cosmo said. “We have something in common. Granted, for different reasons. Still, it’s an amazing coincidence.”

Alex took a moment to look Cosmo over. A parrot design with black and red colors, fancy shades and a stylish mustache. Cosmo looked different from the other Glamrocks, but at the same time, the glam aesthetic was still there.

“What do you mean?” Alex finally asked.

“I also use they/them pronouns,” Cosmo smiled. “But it is because I identify as nonbinary, not genderfluid. But I am glad that I know about your preferences. I will know how to address you in the future.”

“Nonbinary?” Alex raised an eyebrow. “Animatronics can do that?”

“The AI is very advanced,” Mr. Watkins said. “Each animatronic has their own personality, and they have all evolved beyond their basic programming. You will learn more as you work here, but I promise you that you will not be in any danger.”

“Oh,” Alex said. “I didn’t even think about that. Well... then let this be your warning, Cosmo. If you go rogue and try to hurt me, I’m going to fight back, and I’m going to do some damage.”

“My dear...” Cosmo looked serious. “I would desire nothing more than for you to keep yourself safe in such a situation.”

Alex nodded.

“So when do I start?” they asked.

Chapter Text

It was the first Fazmeeting of the year, and Michael was barely paying attention.

It wasn’t his fault that he had a bad attention span. All his life, his teachers had always complained about him not paying attention in class, and he’d always zoned out during his parents’ lectures as well. Still, he’d perfected making it look like he was still paying attention.

“And the final item on the agenda...” Mr. Watkins flipped a few papers. “The Princess Quest III arcade cabinet has finally been fixed and will be returned to the Fazcade floor. We’ll be moving the Princess Quest I cabinet over to the Fazcade as well so that they can all be together. Roxy, don’t worry, we’ll be getting a new game for your salon.”

“Huh?” Michael perked up. “Princess Quest?”

“We have three cabinets for that game,” Mr. Watkins explained. “The third one had been removed and was found, but it had been severely damaged so we needed to fix it. It’s been finished so we’ll be putting it back out on the floor.”

“Not a lot of kids like that game,” Roxanne said. “Some said it was too scary. Maybe you should just nix it entirely.”

“Well, we’ll give it some time,” Mr. Watkins said. “I don’t want to get rid of it just yet. Anyway, in closing...”

After the meeting, Michael pulled out Glitchtrap’s phone.

“Did you hear that?” He asked.

“Hear what?” Glitchtrap yawned. “I was sleeping.”

“The arcade cabinets,” Michael frowned. “Princess Quest!”

“Oh!” Glitchtrap said. “That’s what they developed after axing my game. But what does it matter? It’s probably just some dumb game...”

Michael sighed and sat down. He’d been thinking about it ever since that night when Glitchtrap told him about Vanessa. Glitchtrap had said that some part of her had remained trapped in the game’s files. But if the game was deleted... could she have still been in the system somehow? He had no idea how this worked, but... if it was true...

“If they made that game afterwards, could Vanessa’s file be in the game somehow?” He asked.

Glitchtrap was silent for a moment, ears twitching slightly.

“I mean... maybe?” He said slowly. “I dunno. But if she did end up trapped in the new game’s files...”

“We have to find those cabinets,” Michael said. “We have to play them. If there’s any chance of saving her, we have to take it. You certainly owe her that at the very least.”

“Hey, I thought I explained that all that wasn’t me,” Glitchtrap snapped. “But... I still get your meaning. Fine. We'll play the game and see what happens. But if she’s not in there... then there’s nothing else that we can do for her.”

Chapter Text

“Seriously?!” Michael growled.

The screen read Game Over for the fourth time.

“Wow, you suck,” Glitchtrap laughed. “Been a while since you played games, huh?”

“Shut up,” Michael tapped a few buttons. “I’ve been busy. I haven’t really played since I was a kid.”

“It shows,” Glitchtrap said.

This was just the first game. How hard would the others be? Michael sighed and tried again, inserting his trick quarter and then yanking it out as soon as the game registered it. It was a trick he did back in his younger days, and he was happy to see that it still worked.

He played again and again, but he still just couldn’t beat it. He finally threw his arms up and gave a shout of frustration, startling the nearby wet floor bots.

“Michael?” Freddy appeared. “Are you ok, Superstar?”

“Sorry,” Michael shook his head. “Just frustrated. I’ve been trying to beat this dumb game for ages, but I keep losing.”

Freddy tilted his head and looked at the game curiously. He then opened his stomach hatch and took out a few quarters.

“I find these on the floor sometimes,” Freddy explained as he put a few into the game. “I usually drop them in the charity box at the end of the night, but I do not mind sharing some with you.”

He then started a new game and began to play.

“Huh?” Glitchtrap stared. “Freddy’s a gamer?”

They watched as Freddy played the game. Maybe it was his programming, but Freddy played pretty well. While he did die twice, he eventually made it to the end. Michael watched as the pixelated rabbit monster summoned shadows that swallowed the princess whole. The game then thanked the player for playing and told them about Princess Quest II.

“So we need to beat all three of them,” Michael mused. “But where’s the second one?”

“Oh, I am sorry to report that that one is getting fixed,” Freddy said. “A guest spilled soda on it, and it shorted out. But have no fear, I am sure it will come back soon.”

He eventually left, and Michael was left wandering the Fazcade again.

“Maybe we can still play the third one,” Glitchtrap said. “Maybe they don’t have to be in order?”

Michael thought about it and shook his head.

“I don’t want to risk it,” he said. “I feel like we only have one chance. I still have to right my father’s wrongs, and Vanessa is another victim of his. I can only hope this works...”

Chapter Text

Chica stared at the man in front of her. To her side, an angry mother was trying to console her child. On the other side, Yumi was glancing between Chica and the man.

Chica was silent for a moment before she leaned closer to the man.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Could you please repeat that? I think my ears were malfunctioning...”

Her tone was deadly calm, but everyone could hear something brewing beneath it. The man suddenly began to look nervous.

“If I am not mistaken...” Chica leaned closer when the man didn’t answer. “You called that little girl fat... and then you also called her a word that a girl her age should never hear, let alone be called it. Is that correct?”

Yumi grinned and checked to make sure she had both of them in frame as she recorded the altercation. Another one for the playlist!

“I-I...” the man tried to lean back, but Chica just moved closer. “I was just upset.”

Chica blinked, and her head slowly tilted to the side.

“No,” she said. “No, you were not upset. When people are upset, they may scream or cry. They do not call innocent girls the words that you just said. So try again. Why did you call her that?”

The little girl was still sniffling slightly, but she was eagerly watching her hero. Chica had always been her favorite, and she’d finally joined one of her youth classes today. She’d been having fun... until that awful man had opened his mouth.

“I don’t care what your excuse is,” Chica said when the man kept stuttering and didn’t give her a suitable answer. “Because there is no excuse. There is never a good reason to call someone those words. Ever. So if you will please see yourself out... I am banning you from this place. Your toxicity and your immaturity are not welcome here.”

“What?!” the man snapped. “You can’t just-”

“I can.” Chica growled. “And I just did. Now please leave before I call security.”

She folded her arms, glaring down at the man. Fortunately, the man decided to cut his losses and just leave. With a satisfied nod, Chica turned her attention to the little girl.

“Are you ok?” She asked. “You did such a great job today!”

The little girl was soon smiling again, happy that the man was gone now. Yumi saved the recording and slid her phone back into her pocket. Just another day at the plex...

Chapter Text

It was called Cosmo’s Nest.

The walls were textured to look like branches, and the seats and tables were all made of dark wood. It was another lounge, but one more geared towards the younger crowd. A place for families to sit down and relax before running off to their next big thing.

Cosmo’s eyes literally lit up as they walked through the lounge, a smile plastered on their beak.

“It’s wonderful!” They said. “My own little nest...”

The opening was very well received. The lounge had coffee and pastries for adults, but it also had snacks and juices and sodas for teens and children. It also had a good list of healthy foods, as per Cosmo’s request.

The lounge was packed out on its opening day, with lines out the door and not a chair unoccupied. Cosmo made several appearances, and the children loved them, asking them all sorts of questions and wanting pictures. Brian, who worked in merchandising, was nearby and taking careful notes to help him decide on what sort of things the shops would sell for Cosmo.

“Cosmo!”

Cosmo looked over and smiled when they saw Chica. Chica bounced excitedly as she looked around the lounge.

“Oh wow!” She said. “Look at this place, it looks amazing! Congratulations on getting your own place, Cosmo!”

“Thank you, Chica,” Cosmo beamed. “It is certainly a wonderful place, isn’t it? The children have been absolutely delightful, and the parents have been nice as well. But... I must admit I am slightly worried. I have heard the horror stories from you and the other Glamrocks...”

“Oh,” Chica frowned. “Well... it can’t really be helped or prevented. Those sorts are never satisfied and will always find something to gripe about. But don’t let it get to you, and don’t forget that you can ban people if the situation calls for it.”

“I do hope I never have to,” Cosmo sighed. “But I will always work to keep everyone safe and happy. If a weed must be removed so that the flowers may flourish, then so be it.”

“There you go,” Chica smiled again. “Anyway-”

“It’s Chica!”

Chica and Cosmo were suddenly swarmed with children. Chica giggled and knelt to talk to them. Cosmo followed suit and knelt so that the children could talk to them as well.

“Awe look at that,” a mother said. “They’re like a little feathered family...”

Chapter Text

Tiffany was working on her closing duties when the lights suddenly went out.

That wasn’t too unusual. Sunny and Moon were always messing with the lights to allow the other one to move around and do whatever needed to be done. Tiffany would admit that in the beginning, such occurrences would scare her, but now she didn’t so much as bat an eye.

Moon was the scariest thing she could encounter in the dark, and she already knew that he would never hurt her...

Sure enough, she could hear the whirring of Moon’s cable, and she heard a soft thud next. In the dim light of her computer monitor she saw a flash of... white fabric?

A second later, Moon appeared in front of her podium. He was wearing a white hooded cloak and had what looked like toilet paper wrapped around his torso and arms. An old facemask covered his mouth.

“I am the avatar of Khonshu!” Moon said, dramatically spreading his arms. “Tremble in terror before my might. For I am the one who protects the travelers of the night!”

Tiffany had been expecting ‘in the name of the Moon, I shall punish you’. This was something she was wholly unfamiliar with.

“What are you talking about?” She asked.

Moon giggled.

“Mr. Watkins got us a Disney Plus account to share,” he explained. “There’s a show called Moon Knight. I watched the whole first season and I loved it.”

“So you’re just... playing some dress up?” Tiffany asked.

Moon didn’t often do such things, leaving it to Sunny instead. But he did sometimes indulge his playful side when some children weren’t tired enough for a nap. It was sweet to see the normally serious animatronic act in such a goofy way.

“I am Moon Knight!” Moon stood taller, and some of the toilet paper ripped. Moon gave a low whine as he watched the shreds float to the ground.

“Hey, if you really wanna play dress up, why not ask Natty to make you a costume?” Tiffany said. “You know she loves to make outfits for you guys.”

“Ooh!” Moon’s eyes glinted. “Yes... that sounds like a good idea.”

“And in the meantime, shouldn’t you be patrolling the daycare?” Tiffany asked. “You know, for bad guys.”

“That’s right!” Moon attached the cable again and ran off. “I must protect the daycare!”

Tiffany chuckled as Moon left. She was glad he was finding things to get excited about.

Chapter Text

It had been the end of Alex’s first week. The plex was busy getting the late crowd out so that it could close. Mr. Watkins had told them that it would take a while, but they could go ahead and leave.

But Alex was tired, and so they decided on taking a little power nap before leaving. They were sleeping on one of the seats in the pizzaplex. Kevin had assured them he would come by and grab them on his way to the time clock.

Unfortunately for Alex, not all of the customers were leaving as they should be. An older man was wandering around and spotted them in their chair. With a creepy grin, he decided to get closer.

He watched Alex sleep, eyes roving over the way they were hunched up in the chair. He reached a hand out towards Alex-

“Can I help you, Sir?”

The man flinched and looked over to see a pair of glowing red eyes watching him from the shadows nearby.

“U-Um...” he took a few steps back. “I was just lost-”

“Lost?” the eyes blinked. “Yes... you do seem rather lost.”

The man paled as something stood up and stepped out of the shadows. It was the red and black bird he’d seen perform.

“Although... you weren’t really acting lost,” Cosmo continued as they stepped closer to the man. “I thought you were coming over to ask for help, but... you weren’t, were you?”

The animatronic towered over him, eyes burning like the embers of Hell. The man stuttered, trying to excuse his actions, but Cosmo wasn’t hearing it. They grabbed the man’s wrist and tightened their grip.

“No one deserves to be treated like a piece of meat on display,” Cosmo’s eyes seemed to glow brighter. “I am disgusted that a man your age would do such a thing. Allow me to escort you out.” their grip tightened even more. “I insist.”

Cosmo moved quickly, barely giving the man enough slack to keep up and nearly dragging him along. Behind them, Alex slowly sat up. They frowned at Cosmo’s actions, and quickly got up to go to the break room. They weren’t feeling very tired anymore.

Chapter Text

“Are you married to Mr. Moon?”

Ballora tilted her head slightly at the child. It was her meet and greet, and they were in her room. She’d had to kneel on the floor because of how small this child was, but she didn’t care. The child was wearing a lovely little tutu and looked absolutely adorable.

“What do you mean by that, Honey?” Ballora asked.

“Mr. Moon looks a lot like you,” said the child. “And I’ve heard him talk about how pretty you are. So are you married?”

Ballora chuckled.

“No, Honey,” she said. “We’re not. Moon is just a very good friend of mine.”

“Is he a prince?” the girl asked, clutching her new Ballora plush.

“I think he is,” Ballora said. “Anyone can be a prince if they want to be.”

The little girl nodded as if Ballora had just explained the mysteries of the universe to her. She smiled big for her photo with the ballerina, and then waved as she left. Ballora waved back and then prepared for the next child.

“Miss Ballora says you’re a prince. Are you?”

Moon tilted his head slightly at the child. It was naptime and they were all settling down for a nap in the daycare. He was sitting in his usual spot, ready to watch over the children.

“I dunno about a prince,” Moon mused softly. “I look more like a jester, don’t you think?”

“But Miss Ballora says that anyone can be a prince if they wanna be,” the little girl said. “Do you wanna be a prince?”

Moon helped the little girl get settled down. He pulled the blanket over her and booped her nose with a long finger.

“I think that as long as I get to play and watch over you guys then it doesn’t matter what I am,” he said. “I’d be happy all the same. Prince, Jester, or just a Daycare Attendant. It’s important to be happy with yourself, don’t you think?”

The little girl nodded as if Moon had just explained the mysteries of the universe to her. She smiled softly as she lay down and closed her eyes. Moon checked over a few more children and then settled down to sing a lullaby.

Chapter Text

“Valentine’s Day?” Alex watched the Glamrocks put on their special holiday outfits. “That’s a thing?”

“Of course it is,” Freddy switched out his top hat for a matching red one. “The children love Valentine’s Day. We don’t just celebrate romantic love, we celebrate familial love and friendship too.”

“We have special little games for the kids,” Yumi said as she helped Chica put on her heart patterned leg warmers. “And we give out candy and little valentines too.”

“It’s actually really sweet,” Tiffany agreed as she held Monty’s ‘Heartbreaker’ jacket. “Sunny loves it the most out of everyone.”

“I do!” Sunny said, clapping excitedly. “We have so much fun making valentines with the kiddos.”

His own outfit had changed with pink and red stripes on his pants and matching frills on his waist and neck.

“Such a wonderful holiday!” Cosmo beamed.

Natty had made an outfit for them as well: a stylish dark pink jacket with long fringe and the word ‘Lovebird’ on the back. Their belt buckle had also been switched out for a heart shaped one.

“But if it makes you uncomfortable, you can ask Mr. Watkins for the day off,” Natty said as she fixed a minor rip in Bonnie’s extravagant outfit. “He knows that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.”

“Nah, I’m fine with it,” Alex shook their head. “I was just confused. Are we getting decorations too?”

“Some,” Tiffany said. “But not nearly as much as Halloween or Christmas. Just little things here and there.”

Alex opened their mouth to respond, but fell silent when Ballora finally walked out of her room.

“I feel beautiful!” She smiled.

She looked beautiful. Her new dress was different shades of pink with a red ballet skirt. Her bodice had fake roses sewn into it, and her tiara had been switched for one with pink and red crystals. She’d also had a few fake roses woven into her bun.

“Oh wow, that dress came out perfect,” Natty smiled. “I told you you’d look amazing in it.”

Ballora giggled and twirled in place.

“Moon says you look amazing,” Sunny said as he flashed a thumbs up.

“I agree,” Bonnie raised his glasses for a better look. “Slay, Queen!”

Alex chuckled as they watched the others. They could all be goofy at times, but Alex was really starting to like their new job.

Chapter Text

Yumi blew a bubble with her gum and raised an eyebrow.

Foxy was slowly approaching her. The plex had closed, and she’d been heading out to her car, but Foxy had surprised her by calling her name.

And now he was slowly approaching her as if she were a wild animal...

“How can I help?” Yumi asked when Foxy got close enough.

“I be needin’ something from ya,” Foxy reached into his coat and pulled out a handful of gold coins. “A spell. I brought payment.”

“Payment?” Yumi chuckled.

“That last thing I wanna do is be owin’ a witch a favor,” Foxy said.

“Fair,” Yumi said. “What kind of spell are you looking for?”

She took the coins from Foxy and fiddled with them as the animatronic nervously scratched at the back of his head. Yumi still had no idea why Foxy was so convinced that she was a witch, and... she probably wasn’t helping things much by playing along. But it was so funny to her...

“I be needin’ a protection spell,” Foxy finally said. “Those salty hags who be yelling and screaming like rabid gulls have been disturbin’ me crew. A spell should keep them away. As captain, it be me duty to keep them all safe.”

Yumi froze. She had not been expecting that. She thought Foxy might ask for more gold or something like that. It was actually pretty heartwarming that Foxy was so determined to keep the Karens out of his cove.

“Sorry,” Yumi sighed. “I don’t have anything that can really help with that. All we can really do is throw them out or ban them if needed.”

Foxy sighed in disappointment and then nodded his head.

“I see,” he said. “Well... that be a right shame. Me newest pirate caught the ire of one of them hags and she made him cry. I was hopin’ you might know a way to keep them out.”

“Sorry,” Yumi said again as she held the coins out to Foxy.

Foxy looked at them for a moment and then pushed Yumi’s hand back.

“Keep them,” he said. “I may call upon ya again in the future, aye? Just... if ya do find a way... will ya let ol’ Foxy know?”

“Of course,” Yumi pocketed the coins. “You’ll be the first one I tell. And Foxy... don’t beat yourself up. I’ve seen your crew. You’re a great Captain, and I can tell those kids really love you. Ok?”

Foxy smiled softly, ears perking up, and his eyes glimmering. That did help him feel better about everything. He may not be able to keep the Karens out, but he could still keep his crew safe. He always had before, and he would not stop now.

No matter what a Karen may say or do, Foxy would protect the children of his cove.

Chapter Text

She was back. Again.

Yumi knew that they were trying to keep her in the dark. Mr. Watkins didn’t tell her when she showed up, but she had heard the whispers and gossip from the other employees who worked in the front. Not to mention, her hair would stand on end whenever she sensed a disturbance in the force, so to speak.

It exhausted her.

Why was her mother so determined to speak with her? Why couldn’t her mother just leave her alone? She was tired of having the threat of her mother constantly hovering over her. She wanted it to end, but she knew how stubborn and determined her mother was. She would not give up until she got what she wanted.

Today, she was in the breakroom, and she could hear a pair of employees talking about the woman who was screaming for someone named Yumi at the front entrance. Yumi herself was staring at the nearby wall, chopsticks holding a piece of teriyaki chicken in the air that was slowly getting cold. Her grip got tighter and tighter as rage filled her eyes.

The employees gasped and fell silent when she threw her chopsticks to the side and stood up so abruptly that her chair fell over. With a growl, she left the breakroom and made her way to the front.

As she got closer, she could hear the loud voice of her mother... and then she saw her. Her mother caught sight of her, and a smug smirk twisted her lips. The smirk faltered when she saw that Yumi’s expression was not of a loving daughter receiving her mother, but of a demon that had escaped from Hell.

The security bots were already there, but Yumi pushed past them and grabbed her mother’s arm. With a hefty tug, she began to drag her out of the plex and out into the parking lot. Her mother struggled and tried to speak, but Yumi let out a string of Japanese words that would have once upon a time landed her in a lot of trouble. She led her mother to the side of the building and stopped.

“How dare you treat me this way!” Mrs. Nakatomi snapped.

“You are banned from this property,” said one of the bots who had followed. “Please leave immediately.”

“I’ll get rid of her,” Yumi said. “Just let me speak with her please.”

The bots were silent, but the bigger one finally gestured to the other two. The other bots turned and went back to the entrance.

“I will stay for your protection,” said the final bot.

“Protection?” Ms. Nakatomi said. “As if I would hurt her.”

“As if that hasn’t been the only thing you’ve ever done to me all my life,” Yumi snapped.

“Oh don’t be so dramatic,” Ms. Nakatomi rolled her eyes. “You always cried about how I treated you. Don’t you remember Kelly who lived down the street when you were growing up? She suffered from real abuse. What I did was nothing-”

“Shut. UP!” Yumi snapped. “God, just shut up! I have had to listen to you say things like this all my life, and I had hoped I was rid of you when I moved away!”

“Don’t you dare-” Ms. Nakatomi started.

“No!” Yumi said. “I don’t care anymore. You used to scare me. You used to terrify me! I had nightmares about you! But now you just piss me off. You wanted to talk to me, so talk. What is so important? Tell me so you can leave me alone!”

Mrs. Nakatomi pursed her lips. Sometimes Yumi was too much like her father. Too headstrong, too loud, too wild and untamed. She had worked hard to mold Yumi into a model citizen, someone who would be someone great. But all her work was for nothing, it seemed.

“Your grandmother is dying,” Ms. Nakatomi said.

Yumi was silent for a moment, but her expression didn’t change.

“Good,” she shrugged. “I hate her even more than you.”

“Don’t you dare disrespect your grandmother!” Ms. Nakatomi growled.

“We’re done here,” Yumi folded her arms. “You can leave now.”

Ms. Nakatomi glared at her daughter. How had she become so disrespectful? She had drilled the idea of respect into Yumi’s head at a very very young age. She had been taught about showing respect before kindergarten, practically. Yumi truly was a lost cause at this point...

“I am not leaving!” Ms. Nakatomi said.

“If you do not leave of your own volition, we will contact the police to have you removed,” the Securitybot said.

Ms. Nakatomi puffed up with anger, but she didn’t say another word as she turned around and finally left. Yumi let out a heavy sigh and shook her head.

“Yumi!”

Yumi flinched and turned to see Mr. Watkins approaching her.

“Yumi, some of our customers told us that there was an argument going on out here,” He said. “And I was told that your mother showed up again.”

Yumi’s eyes widened. She had forgotten about the customers seeing her. Crap, she had been carrying on like that and probably not setting a very good image for the plex. She opened her mouth to apologize, but Mr. Watkins put his hands on her shoulders.

“Are you ok?” He asked. “Did she hurt you? I was so worried about you being out here alone with her.”

Yumi couldn’t help the tears that welled up in her eyes. She was deeply touched by Mr. Watkins’s words.

“I’m ok,” she said. “I-I had a securitybot.”

“No blows were exchanged,” the bot confirmed.

“I see,” Mr. Watkins hummed. “Well, come back inside before you get sick in this weather. You were on your lunch break, right? Take another thirty minutes... unless you feel you need to go home?”

“No,” Yumi shook her head. “I can work. I was having a good day and I don’t want it to be ruined by her. Thank you, Sir.”

Mr. Watkins smiled and led Yumi back inside.

Chapter Text

“Hey!”

Roxy looked over from her mirror as Kevin burst into her room. She raised an eyebrow as he began to walk around and clean things up.

“What’s wrong?” Roxy asked. “You scheduled today off, right?”

“I did,” Kevin said as he picked up a few plushes from Roxy’s couch. “But there’s been a change of plans. It’s my sister’s seventeenth birthday and she wanted to meet Freddy... but now she’s saying she wants to meet you since I work with you. I asked Mr. Watkins, and he said he’d grant an exception for her to have a private meet with you.”

“Why would it need to be private?” Roxy asked as she tried to help straighten up.

“Because she’s-”

Kevin fell silent as the door opened and a girl walked in. Roxy blinked, having a faint idea as to why it might need to be private. The girl gave Roxy a wide smile and walked in further.

“Hi,” she said. “I’m Annie.”

She spoke clear enough, but her speech was a little slurred. A woman was with her.

“Hi,” the woman smiled. “I’m Diana, Kevin’s mom.”

“I’m Kevin’s s... s... sister,” said Annie.

Roxy smiled and led them all to her newly cleaned couch.

Annie was certainly a talker. Her impediment certainly did not douse her enthusiasm. She told Roxy about what she was learning in school, about a Disney she watched recently, about the plush that her mother had promised to let her pick out and buy for her later, about all the toys and plushes she already had at home...

As she spoke, Kevin watched her as if he absolutely adored her. But at the same time, he was a bit fidgety. Roxy wondered if he was really that nervous that something bad would happen. Roxy could understand, but she had experience with children who had special needs.

She engaged with Annie, offering praise and curiosity. She answered all of Annie’s questions and even asked a few of her own, which made Annie smile. Diana sat next to her all the while, looking less nervous than Kevin, but no less happy.

“Since it’s your birthday, I can’t let you leave without a gift,” Roxy said as she stood up. “I know you wanted another plush, but... maybe you’d like to have one of mine too?”

She took a plush from the shelf and offered it to Annie. Annie’s eyes lit up and she pulled the plush in for a hug, shaking it from side to side.

“Thank you,” she said, throwing her arms around Roxy next.

Roxy hugged back and ruffled Annie’s hair. Annie giggled at her actions, and her smile grew. When their time was up, Roxy gave Annie another hug, and Annie waved goodbye with her whole arm. When the door closed, Kevin and Roxy stood in silence.

“Thank you,” Kevin finally said. “I... I just... just thank you. That was really sweet of you to give her a plush.”

“Well, she’s a wonderful girl,” Roxy said. “She deserves one. And I’m glad that everything went well. What were you so afraid of?”

Kevin sighed heavily.

“It’s just... people tend to treat her differently,” he said. “They tend to think she's stupid, but she's not! I mean... she can’t do everything, but she can do most things independently. She just... needs someone to take care of her is all.”

“I didn’t get that impression at all,” said Roxy. “She seemed like a very bright and happy girl. I’m sure she knows it, too."

Kevin smiled softly and scratched at the back of his head.

“Thanks Roxy,” he said. “For everything.”

“No problem,” Roxy said. “Now get out of here. It’s your day off, and you should be spending it with your sister.”

She shooed him out of her room and then reopened her curtains. Annie and Diana had been waiting outside for Kevin, and Annie gave Roxy one last wave before they all moved on.

Chapter Text

“Wow...”

The daycare was a mess.

The craft tables were covered in various crafting tools, bits of paper, and so much glitter. There were also candy stains on the snack tables and crumbs from cupcakes and brownies.

“I think... I should call for some help,” Tiffany said. “I’ll have a few STAFFbots sent over.”

“Good idea,” Sunny said. “At least the kids had fun. They made so many cards for their family and friends! In the end, I think it was worth the mess.”

“Agreed,” Tiffany smiled. “It’s always great to see them get creative.”

“Awe...”

Chica pouted as she removed her holiday costume and folded it up. She dropped it into a box with the others.

“Stop whining,” Monty said as he dropped his jacket into the box. “You’ll get to dress up again soon.”

“Not til July,” Chica said.

“That was rather fun,” Cosmo had no problem putting their costume into the box. “I can’t wait until the next holiday!”

“I like the fireworks better,” Roxy said as she removed her costume. “Mr. Watkins gets the good ones.”

“Fireworks?” Bonnie asked. “I don’t remember fireworks...”

“They are a new tradition,” Freddy explained. “Mr. Watkins created a special spot outside for the guests to watch them. He even lets us go outside to watch them as well.”

“Or you can just watch on the tv screens,” said Roxy. “Some guests don’t like the noise...”

Mr. Watkins was doing his nightly duties when his phone rang. He smiled at the number he saw on the screen before answering it.

“Hello? Mrs. Taylor! It’s good to hear from you again,” he said.

He listened to the caller speak, and his eyebrows raised in surprise.

“I see,” he said. “Of course, I would be more than happy to set it up. We have a weekend coming up where we will be closed for maintenance. If he’d like to come in then... yes ma’am. Yes, the plex will be empty, so he’ll have all the privacy he needs. Yes ma’am, I understand if he still feels that way. Yes ma’am. Of course! Let me just make sure I add this to my calendar.”

He tapped away at the keyboard of his computer, phone sandwiched between his face and shoulder.

“Just let me know if anything changes or if I can do anything to make things easier for him,” he said. “You’re welcome, ma’am. Yes... yes, so we’ll see you and Gregory then. Good night, Mrs. Taylor.”

Chapter Text

“I have something very important to share with you all.”

Mr. Watkins looked at the small crowd in front of him. Sunny was tapping his fingers together in his usual nervous way, Monty looked annoyed at being called to the meeting, and some of the others just looked confused.

“I’m sure most of you remember Gregory,” Mr. Watkins continued. “He will be visiting the pizzaplex soon.”

There were a few gasps, and Freddy stepped closer.

“Gregory is coming back?” He asked. “But... I thought he would never come here again. Not after what happened...”

“His therapist thinks it might help his recovery if he visits the plex in a more... controlled environment. As such, he will be coming in on one of the days that we are closed for maintenance so that we don’t have to worry about crowds,” Mr. Watkins explained.

“I do not understand,” said Ballora. “Who is Gregory?”

The older animatronics began to shift guiltily. Freddy’s ears drooped, and Chica looked as if she might cry.

“A few years ago, a virus got into our systems,” said Mr. Watkins. “From what I heard and saw, it was introduced by a former employee. It caused the animatronics to not act like themselves and to become very violent. A little boy named Gregory ended up trapped here overnight, and... well... I’m sure you can imagine what horrors he suffered. Ultimately, it was no one’s fault for how they acted, but it’s not a pleasant memory to remember...”

“Oh dear,” Ballora covered her mouth. “Poor child.”

“A virus did that?” Bonnie asked.

“I can see why the lad be wantin’ some privacy,” Foxy tapped at his chin with his hook. “We best be goin’ easy on him.”

“I don’t know what he will want to do when he gets here,” said Mr. Watkins. “He will be coming with his mother and his therapist, and I will be accompanying him as well. All of you will be confined to your rooms for the duration of his stay.”

There were a few protests, but Mr. Watkins held his hands up.

“It’s for everyone’s safety,” he explained. “And it will only be until he leaves, I promise. Now, if I recall... he was banned from the daycare,” Mr. Watkins looked at Sunny. “But this was before you had the authority to do such things.”

“I know,” Sunny said sheepishly. “But... I decided to remove the ban. He can come play if he wants- huh? Oh... oh, ok... Mr. Watkins, Moon says he doesn’t want to see Gregory. He’s too afraid of scaring Gregory and thinks it will be better if he sits this one out.”

“I will ask Gregory when he comes here,” said Mr. Watkins. “But if that’s how Moon feels, then I will respect his decision.”

He turned to address the rest.

“That goes for the rest of you,” he said. “I understand that night was not a good one of those of you affected. If you do not wish to see Gregory, I will not force you to do so. Your feelings are just as valid as his. Does anyone have any questions?”

The crowd was silent.

“Very well,” Mr. Watkins nodded. “I will send a reminder to you all so that you know when he’s coming. If anyone changes their mind about anything before then, please let me know.”

Chapter Text

It wasn’t time for Yumi to clock in yet. She had shown up early with a mission in mind.

She made her way around the plex, looking closely at the Securitybots that she passed. Most looked the same, but the bigger ones looked different. She was looking for one in particular, and if memory served, the bot had a scratch on its left cheek.

It took her a while, but she finally found him on the upper floor.

The bot stopped for her as she approached him

“Hello, Miss Nakatomi,” he said. “Can I help you?”

She saw the scratch on his cheek.

“Were you the one who helped me with my mother?” She asked.

The bot was silent for a moment as he searched his memory banks. He did find a video file of Yumi’s confrontation with her mother. Mr. Watkins had told him to save the file and not delete it until he said so.

“Yes,” the bot finally said. “I am the one who assisted you with your mother.”

“Great,” Yumi stepped forward.

She stuck a sticker to the bot’s chest and uncapped a marker. The sticker read ‘Hello, my name is’ and she began to write something in the blank box.

The bot knew that he should stop her, she was technically breaking the rules, but he was curious as to what she was doing, and he could always remove the sticker later...

Yumi wrote one word: Kishi.

“Kishi?” the bot ran the word through his translator. “It is Japanese for ‘knight’.”

“Yep,” Yumi capped the marker again. “You helped protect me, so I’m giving you a name as thanks. From now on, your name is Kishi.”

She nodded as if that was that and then turned to leave.

“Arigato gozaimasu,” Kishi said.

Yumi paused and looked back with a smile.

“Do itashimashite,” she said.

Chapter Text

He was trapped.

He was running.

He was running so fast. His lungs were screaming in pain, and his legs felt as if they were made of jelly, but he kept running.

Because something was chasing him.

Glowing red eyes and a half grin that spun around and around. Star shaped glasses that held demonic eyes and a mouth that revealed far too many teeth. Clawed hands that were always reaching out for him, ready to grab him. A sweet voice that hid a deep hunger for something other than food.

And then... a broken rabbit. A burned rabbit. One that was so different from the other one. The white rabbit that wanted to lead him to Hell instead of Wonderland...

The walls were pressing in on him, and the path forward was becoming more and more narrow. He wouldn’t be able to keep running from those monsters for long.

“Freddy!” He tapped at his watch. “Freddy, I need help! Please! FREDDY!!”

He could hear them behind him, they were getting closer.

He called out for his friend. For his guardian. For his protector.

But there was no answer.

He finally hit a dead end, and he felt them grab him. Metallic shrieks pierced through his ears as he struggled, but they held tight, fingers and hands moving over him.

“FREDDY!” He tried again.

He saw a flash of dozens of teeth and then-

He was awake. His room was illuminated by a lamp. He could see clearly that he wasn’t there anymore.

“Gregory?” His door opened. “Oh dear... another nightmare?”

“I-I... I’m ok,” he said. “I’m ok, Mom.”

He had to go back. He had to put the nightmares to rest.

Chapter Text

Michael let out quite a few swear words as he died yet again.

And he thought the first Princess Quest had been hard...

He’d left Glitchtrap behind, tired of the bunny laughing at all of his failed attempts at beating the arcade game. He was glad he had his trick quarter, convinced that the arcade cabinet had probably made a solid profit off of him alone.

Michael sighed and turned his attention back to the arcade game. He was tempted to take a break, but he also felt that if he stopped, he would not want to keep going afterwards.

He blinked when the lights went off. Ah yes, the hourly blackout. Time really does fly when you’re playing video games...

Michael sat down on a nearby bench with another sigh. He’d take a break, and if he didn’t want to keep going afterwards... oh well. He’d been trying all night, and at this rate he wasn’t going to beat it tonight anyway.

“You look like crap.”

Michael looked up to see Moon lower to the ground before reeling in the chord that was stored in his back. He liked Moon. Moon had the same dry sense of humor that he did, and he also didn’t take anyone’s flak.

“I’ve been trying to beat that stupid game,” Michael gestured at the arcade cabinet. “Haven’t had much luck.”

Moon approached the cabinet, and his face spun in a circle. He fiddled with the buttons and joystick and then tapped his chin in thought.

“I could try,” he finally said. “I like games.”

“You play games?” Michael sounded surprised. “I didn’t know you guys played games.”

“Well, we needed something to pass the time,” Moon shrugged as he pulled a coin purse from his chest compartment. “Plus, I think it all started as some sort of experiment, and we just never stopped playing.”

Michael stood up and came closer as Moon fed the coin into the cabinet and started the game. He assumed that moon would be at a disadvantage since the buttons were so close together and Moon’s fingers were so long. But Moon’s fingers were very flexible, and their length didn’t hinder him at all.

Moon was doing rather well, but Michael was sure it was because his gamer reflexes were much better than Michael’s own. Each time that Moon died, he patiently fed another quarter into the machine and kept going.

Time passed, and Michael watched as Moon got further and further. He suddenly flinched when the lights started to come back on.

“You’re running out of time,” he said. “Keep going, you can do this!”

“I’m trying!” Moon kept moving the joystick around until he got to a room with an old man and a strange door-

The lights came on, and Moon moved back from the cabinet as he began to change. Michael took over then, moving the character until he got through the door. He stared at the scene that came up on the screen, recognizing the black and white checker border and the computer screen. What was...

“Oh hello!” Sunny said as he noticed Michael. “Oh, did I disturb your game? Sorry, I guess we should have warned you that Moon likes watching-”

“No, it’s fine,” Michael interrupted. “He actually helped a lot.”

He had to find the last cabinet. He had to talk to Mr. Watkins.

Chapter Text

“So... this is gonna sound crazy...”

Mr. Watkins raised an eyebrow at Michael’s words.

“Micheal...” he said. “After all that I have seen, heard, and experienced in this job... I can assure you that I highly doubt what you are about to say will sound crazy.”

Michael blinked and slowly nodded.

“Fair,” he said. “Ok. I think I know how to help Vanessa.”

“Vanessa?” Mr. Watkins asked.

He was Vanessa’s point of contact since he was the one who was funding her stay in the hospital. She had no real family left to help her. Her parents had died when she was young, and she had no siblings or other family that he knew of. The doctors had been informing him of her progress, but nothing had drastically changed.

They all remained hopeful, though.

“I spoke to Glitchtrap about what happened with her,” Michael held up his the phone. “He said that he had sealed her consciousness away in the video game she had been playtesting. That’s why she corrupted Moon and the others that night. Afton had taken control over her.”

“But that game was cancelled,” Mr. Watkins furrowed his brows as he thought. “So what would have happened to her?”

“I think... she never left the system,” said Michael. “The game they made afterwards was the arcade version of Princess Quest. I played the first two games in the series, and after the second one was beaten... the ending showed a strange looking room. I asked Glitchtrap about it and he confirmed it was how the old testing rooms looked. So I think she really is in there somewhere and we have to beat the last game to free her.”

“I see...” Mr. Watkins fell silent.

Glitchtrap glanced between the two humans, deciding to stay silent for now. It was technically his fault for Vanessa’s state. Afton may have commanded him, but he had obeyed. Granted, he was working on his redemption, but this was a massive hurdle that he was certain he’d never get over...

“The third game is being repaired,” Mr. Watkins finally said. “We moved it back to the floor, but it began to glitch when the children played it. I have technicians looking at it, but no one can figure out what’s wrong.”

“Glitching?” Glitchtrap’s ears perked up. “Let me look at it. I bet I could find out what’s wrong.”

“Is that so?” Mr. Watkins looked at the phone in surprise. “Hmm... well... it would have to wait.”

“Why’s that?” Michael asked.

“We have a special guest coming to the plex soon,” Mr. Watkins explained. “It’s a very delicate situation, and if something should go wrong with the game, I don’t wish for it to jeopardize anything. I’m sorry, but it’s only another week. Afterwards, we will attempt to repair the game and I’ll leave it in Parts and Services for you to play.”

Michael nodded. He could understand where Mr. Watkins was coming from. Things had a bad habit of going wrong whenever it came to something stained with Afton’s touch. It would be better to wait until things could be kept in a more controlled environment.

“Thank you for telling me this,” said Mr. Watkins. “If this works, then maybe Vanessa will be able to finally recover. I’ll make sure you’re properly rewarded. Both of you.”

Glitchtrap liked the sound of that.

Chapter Text

“We can’t have him without stripes!” Owen said. “That was his iconic look! He’s always had stripes!”

“We already have two stripey bois in this plex,” Jean said. “Do we need another one?”

“If it’s him?” Owen asked. “Yes! He has to have stripes! Look, maybe we don’t need to give him too much of a makeover. He can be like... emo Glamrock or something.”

"Emo Glamrock?” Jean laughed.

“I mean, Freddie Mercury had that black and white jumpsuit,” Owen shrugged. “So we don’t have to use color.”

They both glanced at the numerous sketches that littered the table. They had been working hard to come up with the new design. Something that combined the old look with a glam look. It was proving to be much harder than they anticipated.

“Maybe we should just keep it simple,” Jean said as she started to sketch. “Take his old look... keep the stripes, keep the black and white, add some pauldrons and some legwarmers... and then give him a glam face. There, how about this?”

Owen looked over the drawing with a critical eye. His face slowly relaxed until he began to nod.

“Yeah,” he said. “This could work. Let’s show Mr. Watkins and see what he says. With any luck, we can start building him this week. The kids are gonna love him, I know it.”

Chapter Text

“Did you know that you weren’t originally supposed to be the Daycare Attendant?”

Sunny stared at Tiffany.

“Tiffany, I haven’t even had time to sit down,” he said. “And no, I didn’t. Where did you hear that?”

“Owen told me,” Tiffany shrugged. “You really didn’t know?”

“They didn’t really tell us much back in the old days,” Sunny said as he went to get some cleaner for the tables. “But what were we supposed to be if not the Attendant?”

“You were supposed to have your own show,” Tiffany explained. “Sunny, you were the hero, and then you would turn into the villain when the lights went out.”

“Villain?!” Moon’s indignant reply rang out in the back of Sunny's system. “Since when is the moon a villain? If anything, the sun is the villain. It has the power to wipe out humanity!”

“That seems kinda unfair to Moon,” Sunny mused out loud.

“Yeah,” Tiffany nodded. “Anyway, I guess they changed their mind and put you here instead.”

“And we wouldn’t have it any other way,” Sunny said as he started wiping down the tables for the kids.

Tiffany smiled to herself. She knew that Sunny had a desire to perform on the big stage with the Glamrocks, but he wouldn’t trade his current job for anything. He loved the daycare, and he loved the children in it. Tiffany couldn’t imagine any other daycare attendant.

“Things change in life,” Sunny said. “Plans change most of all. It’s up to you to decide if the change is for the better or the worse. And if things change so badly that the sun can’t shine through it all, don’t worry! The moon is always there for you too!”

Tiffany chuckled as Sunny struck a pose.

Chapter Text

“You’re scared,” his mother rubbed his shoulder. “You don’t have to do this. You owe them nothing and you don’t have to prove anything.”

“I know,” he said. “But I want to. I want to put it all to rest, and this is the only way to do so. Plus, they’re saying it’s a lot different there now. It’s a better place.”

His mother sighed and kissed the top of his head.

“If you change your mind, let me know,” she said. “I just want you to be safe and happy. I love you so much.”

“I know, Mom,” he smiled. “I love you too.”

“Little one, are you ok?” Cosmo tilted their head. “You shouldn’t be up there.”

A child had managed to climb onto one of the fountains and was currently clinging to it. She looked terrified, and tears were rolling down her face.

“I’m scared,” she said. “I can’t get down.”

“Do not worry, little one” Cosmo stepped into the water. “I’m coming.”

They sloshed through the water, quickly getting soaked by the jets, but they didn’t let it hinder them. They carefully pried the child off the decorative fixture and held her up to keep her from getting wet.

“There we are,” Cosmo said as they set the child on the ground. “I think we’ve learned a good lesson about staying out of the fountains. What were you doing in there anyway?”

“My brother said he’d give me all his pizza if I did it!” said the little girl.

She was mostly dry, but didn’t fight as Cosmo wrapped a towel around her. She sniffled and scrubbed at her face, wiping away the last of her tears.

“Where is your guardian?” Cosmo asked. “They should have been watching you.”

The child shrugged and Cosmo sighed.

“Very well,” they picked her up and set her on their shoulders. “I shall have to take you to security desk. The nice man there will make an announcement for your guardian to pick you up, ok?”

“Ok,” the little girl smiled.

Chapter Text

Alex had been heading to lunch when they saw someone yelling at Carmen. Poor Carmen just stood there frozen with a look that said she had no idea how to handle this.

“Hey!” Alex called as they walked up to the dance studio. “What’s going on?”

“This is none of your business,” an older woman said as she turned her fury onto Alex. “I am speaking to her.”

“No, you are yelling at her,” Alex said. “Which is not something we condone here. What are you yelling for?”

“If you’re not a manager, I don’t want to speak to you,” the woman snapped.

“If you do not answer me, I am going to have you kicked out for your behavior,” Alex countered. “I am trying to help, but you don’t accept it, then we are done here.”

The woman huffed an irritated sigh and held out a voucher.

“I have a coupon for a free dance class,” she said. “It expired last week, but it shouldn’t matter!”

Alex took the voucher and looked it over carefully. They then shrugged and handed it back.

“It’s expired,” they said. “We can’t accept it.”

“Unacceptable!” The woman shouted. “This is unaccept-”

“Listen!” Alex said. “If you had been nice about it, maybe we could have bent the rules as a courtesy. Instead, you chose to be rude and unruly and yelled at my coworker. So you can take your voucher and you can leave. You are done for today. The only thing unacceptable is your behavior. I’ve seen kids who act more mature than this.”

The woman glared and for a moment, Alex thought she might hit them. But then the woman just gave one last growl and stomped off. Alex shook their head and approached Carmen.

“Hey, you ok?” They asked. “Did she hurt you?”

“No,” Carmen shook her head. “I’m fine. I just... I’m sorry, I’m not used to talking back. I was never allowed to in my previous jobs.”

“Understandable,” Alex shrugged. “Just don’t be afraid to call for some backup if you need it. I’m pretty good at speaking to people like that and I’m always up to help a coworker.”

Carmen smiled softly and nodded.

“Thanks,” she said. “I do feel a lot better now. I’ll call you if it ever happens again.”

“Please do,” Alex said. “No one deserves to be treated like that.”

Chapter Text

Mr. Watkins gave one last sweep of the plex.

The animatronics were all in their rooms, the human employees were all at home, the Security Bots were patrolling, but knew to stay away from their guest.

He had asked one security bot to stay with them: Kishi, the bot that sported a strange nametag.

Everything was clean, everything was in order, everything was ready.

Mr. Watkins and Kishi went outside to wait by the entrance. They should be arriving any moment now...

Sure enough, a bright green car turned into the parking lot and parked by the door. Mr. Watkins watched as two women got out. One was wearing glasses and carried a clipboard. The other looked worried.

The worried woman opened the back door and a young man stepped out.

He was much taller than Mr. Watkins remembered. Obviously puberty had caused him to shoot up like a weed. He also wasn’t as skinny or dirty. He'd filled out into a healthier frame and was cleaned up. His brown hair was a mess of curls, and his brown eyes looked around nervously.

Mr. Watkins approached them with a comforting smile.

“Hello, everyone,” he said. “I hope the drive here wasn’t too bad? Were you able to settle into the hotel?”

“Yes,” Gregory’s mother, Mrs. Taylor smiled. “You really didn’t have to pay for a hotel room.”

“Nonsense,” Mr. Watkins said. “It was the least I could do. Anything to help make this a bit easier.”

He then turned his attention to Gregory.

“Hello, Gregory,” He smiled again. “You’re looking well. How are you feeling?”

Gregory didn’t answer, too busy staring at Kishi. Mr. Watkins noticed him moving closer to his mother and glanced at Kishi.

“This is Kishi,” he explained. “He’s one of our security bots. I had hoped that he may accompany us, but if he makes you uncomfortable, I can have him go somewhere else.”

“N-No,” Gregory shook his head. “It’s ok.”

Even his voice was different. Deeper now.

“Hello, Mr. Watkins,” the other woman held her hand out to shake. “My name is Dr. Melanie Upshur. I am Gregory’s therapist.”

“Bless you, Dr. Upshur,” Mr. Watkins shook her hand. “Shall we go in?”

He led them inside and Gregory looked around. He blinked and slowly turned in a circle.

“It’s... different,” he said. “That mural wasn’t here before, and... everything looks cleaner.”

Dr. Upshur scribbled a few things on her clipboard while Mrs. Taylor looked around as well. The entrance was empty except for them, the other security bots having left to patrol elsewhere until they moved on.

“Yes, that mural was painted by Isaac. He’s one of my employees and very talented. There are other murals around here that he’s painted,” Mr. Watkins explained.

“It’s really pretty,” Gregory said softly.

“I’ll let him know,” Mr. Watkins smiled. “Now then... Gregory, you are in full control here. You decide where we go and who we see. Everyone is in their rooms, so you will not see them unless you wish to. If at anytime you need a break, we will take one. If at anytime you wish to leave, I will escort you back outside. No questions asked. Do you have any questions?”

“No,” Gregory shook his head. “Um... maybe we could just sort of... look around for now?”

“If that’s what you want,” Mr. Watkins said. “Lead the way, Gregory.”

On Rockstar Row, Freddy received a message from Mr. Watkins, and he perked up.

“Superstar...” he said softly.

Chapter Text

It was like the nightmares he still had sometimes. And at the same time... it wasn’t.

Everything had been cleaned up, the awful smells were gone, the place no longer felt cold. It looked and felt like an actual place for children. A safe one.

Gregory could still hear the animatronics calling his name, shouting threats and then crooning words to lure him out. He could still see them stalking around, even though the place was empty.

He had never known just how terrified he’d been that night until the doctor had helped him. He’d just pushed it all away to ignore it. But as time went by, his walls had crumbled, and he’d been forced to feel the lingering terror that had stayed with him.

His new mother had noticed the signs, attentive as she was. She’d held him after his nightmares and made sure he knew that he was loved and supported. She had tried her best, but after Gregory had a breakdown from everything piling up, she’d realized that she was not enough to help him.

She got him to a doctor and he had been slowly recovering ever since.

The doctor had suggested he’d come back. If this place was where it was all stemming from, then maybe he could change his perception of it. Maybe he could go back and see that it wasn’t a nightmare to be haunted by, and make it into something better.

He’d objected at first, but eventually he’d agreed.

Because he didn’t just want to recover, he wanted to see Freddy again.

He wanted to see the animatronic who had protected him that night...

“Gregory?”

His mother’s voice broke through his thoughts as she approached him.

“Are you ok?” She asked, putting a hand on his shoulder.

Gregory looked around again and then nodded.

“Yeah,” he said. “It just... it all feels so... different now.”

“That’s normal,” Dr. Upshur said. “Does it feel better or worse?”

“Just different,” Gregory shrugged. “Um... let's go this way..."

Chapter Text

The door slid upwards and Gregory nearly flinched when he saw the massive golden statue. Sunny’s smile was just as big as he remembered.

“You don’t have to go in here if you don’t want to,” said Mr. Watkins. “I understand this area was... very traumatizing for you. But if you choose to go in, I can promise that Moon is no longer corrupted. He will not hurt you.”

Gregory was silent for a moment.

“I... I want to see Sunny,” he said. “Sunny... h-he was one of the few who didn’t want to hurt me.”

“You sure it’s safe?” Mrs. Taylor asked.

“Positive,” Mr. Watkins said as he led them inside. “Previous management didn’t do much in terms of system monitoring. I have scans done every three days. The last one was yesterday, and there were no irregularities reported. “

Mrs. Taylor nodded and followed. Gregory walked over to the net and looked down into the daycare. Sunny was busy cleaning up, but he suddenly paused and then slowly looked up. Gregory didn’t move away as Sunny locked eyes with him. He gripped the net tighter, and forced himself to stay. Sunny was safe. Gregory was safe. Nothing was going to hurt him here.

Sunny offered a hesitant wave... and Gregory returned it.

“An animatronic in charge of a daycare,” Dr. Upshur mused. “Intriguing...”

“Our attendants are programmed with plenty of knowledge that allows them to safely interact with children,” Mr. Watkins said. “They can also tend to minor medical emergencies and knows dozens of games and activities to do with the children.”

He led them down the stairs and to the large double doors. Mr. Watkins gave Gregory one last look, getting his approval before he opened the doors. Gregory saw Sunny drop whatever he’d been cleaning up and nervously start to move to the side.

“Please stay, Sunny,” Mr. Watkins called. “It’s ok.”

Sunny slowly made his way back to his original spot, and Mr. Watkins led the group deeper into the play area of the daycare. Gregory looked around and was surprised to see the giant wires he remembered were no longer there. He didn’t see any generators in the play structures either.

Mr. Watkins fiddled with his phone, and the daycare music lowered in volume until they could barely hear it.

“Hello, Sunny,” Mr. Watkins smiled. “I’m sure you remember Gregory. This is his mother and his doctor. He’s come to see the plex again as I told you before.”

“Y-Yeah, I remember,” Sunny said. “I was... cleaning up... in case he wanted to come in...”

He was fidgeting with a hand puppet that resembled a blue rabbit with a red bowtie.

“It looks nervous,” Dr. Upshur took a step closer for a better look. “I’ve never seen a robot programmed to act nervous.”

Sunny took a step back from her and held the puppet up as if it were a barrier of defense.

“He,” Mr. Watkins stressed the pronoun, “does tend to get a bit nervous in situations such as this. But we are not here for Sunny, we are here for Gregory.”

Dr. Upshur stepped back and made a note on her clipboard.

“Of course,” she said. “Apologies.”

“Am I... am I still banned?” Gregory asked.

Sunny wilted.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I never should have banned you. I was just... so upset that you broke the rule. But! But that rule no longer exists. The lights can be turned off again now that Moon’s ok.”

“Moon?” Mrs. Taylor asked.

Oh, Gregory remembered Moon. Moon was the reason why he couldn’t sleep without a lamp on in his room. Why he couldn’t use the bathroom or get a glass of water at night without turning every light on on the way.

He had slowly managed that fear until he could now sleep with just a nightlight in his room instead.

“Moon was... I think he was corrupted,” Gregory said slowly. “He would chase me around when the lights went out.”

“Is he the one you told me about?” Mrs. Taylor asked.

“Yeah,” Gregory nodded.

“He’s... he’s ok now,” Sunny took a hesitant step forward. “No problems at all! Nothing but a nice man in the moon. In fact, he... he’d like to apologize to you. I-If... If you’re ok with that.”

Mr. Watkins looked between Sunny and Gregory, watching as Gregory seemed to think about it.

“It’s up to you,” he said. “I can turn out some of the lights so that you won’t be in the dark with him if you’re scared.”

Gregory took a deep breath, and then he nodded.

“Yeah,” he said. “I want to talk to him.”

Maybe if he saw a nicer Moon, he would stop seeing his manic grin in the dark...

Chapter Text

When Moon opened his eyes, the daycare was almost completely dark.

There was a section that was still brightly lit, and a group of people stood in it. Moon knew who these people were from his watching in the background of the system he and Sunny shared.

“Gregory,” Moon said softly.

“Moon,” Gregory replied, standing well within the lit area.

Moon nervously shifted his weight, his shoes jingling as he did so.

“I’m surprised you wanted to talk to me,” he said. “I thought... you’d never want to see me again. And I don’t blame you. I was... I was a monster to you. A monster to so many children back then...”

“Mr. Watkins told me you had been corrupted during that time,” Gregory said. “But that you’re ok now. It was the same virus that was affecting the others, wasn’t it?”

“Yes,” Moon nodded. “Though... it had been affecting me for far longer than just that night. Still, I should have... fought harder against it. I should have done more to protect you and the other children. I’m... I’m very sorry, Gregory. I’m sorry for all the trauma I’ve caused you and all the pain from that night. I wish I could... make it up to you somehow...”

Gregory was silent for a moment. His mother and doctor were watching him intently, but Mr. Watkins didn’t seem tense at all. He simply had his phone out, ready to turn lights on or off as directed. His calm was slowly putting Gregory at ease. After all, Mr. Watkins had proven himself trustworthy many times. If he wasn’t nervous, then Gregory was safe.

Gregory stepped closer to the edge of the light. His mother put her hand out, but quickly pulled it back. She had to trust her son. Trust him and let him heal.

“You know... you’re pretty popular online,” Gregory said. “I’ve seen... lots of videos of you taken from the other customers. I started watching them last year, and... I couldn’t believe it was you. You were so different from what I had remembered. It was so weird seeing you singing lullabies and hugging kids and defending them against other adults. I had thought that they’d gotten rid of you and brought in an entirely new animatronic...”

Moon chuckled softly.

“No,” he said. “They were able to purge the virus from our systems once they knew what the problem was. It took me a long time to change the minds of the children after that. To convince them that I was no longer the monster that haunted the darkness of the daycare. It... it did hurt. It hurt a lot. But I’m glad that they’re not scared of me anymore.”

“You really do care for the other kids,” Gregory said.

“I do,” Moon nodded. “I care for them as if they were my own...”

Gregory was silent again as he thought. He slowly stepped forward again. His mother softly gasped behind him, and that sound caused him to falter. But then he remembered the videos he’d watched. He remembered Mr. Watkins calm.

This is not the same daycare, his thoughts whispered to him. This is not the same place where you fought for survival so long ago. Moon will not hurt you. Moon is not hiding in the darkness anymore...

Gregory steeled his resolve... and then he stepped fully into the darkness. He paused, half expecting for something bad to happen. For a brief moment, he imagined Moon pulling him away from the others and cackling while he tore Gregory to shreds... but it didn’t happen. Nothing happened at all.

Moon looked surprised, his hands up and almost reaching out to Gregory. Reaching out to... what? To hurt him? To push him back into the light? Gregory wasn’t sure, but he had made it this far...

He stepped closer and closer to Moon, and the animatronic stepped further away as he did so.

“I... I won’t hurt you,” Gregory said. “I... I just...”

Moon stood still after that, his hands slowly lowering. Gregory closed the distance between them... and then he pulled Moon in for a hug.

Moon tensed at first, but he slowly melted into Gregory’s embrace, bringing up his own long arms to pull Gregory closer. Moon’s exterior was a lot softer than Gregory expected. There was no hard metal or sharp points. Instead, it felt like Sunny and Moon had been built to be cuddled.

“I wasn’t expecting this,” Moon confessed. “But I’m not complaining.”

“Me neither,” Gregory said.

He wasn’t sure if he’d stop having nightmares about Moon, but at least he’d stop checking for him in the shadows of his new home...

Chapter Text

“That was rather interesting,” Dr. Upshur said as they left the daycare. “I’ve never known animatronics to act this way. The AI must be amazing.”

“I don’t think it’s the AI,” Gregory muttered to himself.

“How are you feeling, Honey?” Mrs. Taylor asked. “Do you need a break?”

“No,” Gregory shook his head. He paused and stared at a nearby fountain. “Um... Mr. Watkins, where are the new people?”

“Our new animatronics?” Mr. Watkins asked. “They’re around. Was there one you wanted to see?”

“Um...” Gregory looked through one of the programs he’d been given. “Miss Ballora looks nice. I just... I don’t think I’m ready to see the others yet. The ones who were here that night...”

“Understandable,” Mr. Watkins said. “Remember, Gregory, this is entirely at your pace. You make the decisions. And there’s no reason to feel bad about it. This is not any sort of inconvenience to me.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Gregory gave a small smile.

Ballora didn’t have her own room just yet, preferring to just stay in her studio at night. It had plenty of space for her to dance around in, which is all she really wanted.

“Why do you hide inside your walls,” she sang. “When there is music in my halls? Come and play or dance with me. Dance and twirl, and you will see. There is beauty in the world. Happiness for boys and girls...”

She paused when she heard the door open. A group of people entered.

“Oh,” she smiled. “Is this Gregory?”

She was quick to notice his body language, having seen it in many children before. A certain level of shyness that bordered on fear. The uncertainty in their eyes and their movements.

She knelt down, her skirt fanning out around her. She folded her hands on her knee and gave Gregory her best smile. It was a technique she had learned that helped with children who were like this. Make yourself smaller and less threatening. Put yourself more at eye level with them.

“Gregory, this is Ballora,” Mr. Watkins said. “She’s one of the newer members of the Fazbear Family. She was used at a different location before, but her design was different.”

“I know I’m a big girl,” Ballora said. “But I’m just a big softy. You have nothing to be afraid of, Gregory. Would you like to come closer?”

Gregory couldn’t help but feel a certain warmth in her voice. A warmth that soothed his own anxieties and made him feel safe. It was a warmth that he had often heard before in his own adopted mother’s voice.

That’s what she reminded Gregory of. A mother.

With a deep breath, Gregory stepped closer.

Chapter Text

Ballora took her job very seriously.

She had been programmed with the finest Ai that had bloomed into something greater than anyone could have hoped for, and she’d been programmed to entertain children. She was good at that. She was also good at teaching the children how to dance.

But as time had passed, she had settled into a role that no one had expected. When little girls and little boys had come to her seeking comfort from their overbearing or unkind parents, Ballora had been there to comfort them and dry their tears.

She’d realized what the children wanted, and she’d become determined to give them just that. So she’d started researching. She’d read articles and watch videos about people who worked as characters in theme parks and absorbed their tips and secrets like a sponge.

One of the tips she followed heavily was simple: The child is the one who decides when the hug ends.

And that was why she was still hugging Gregory.

She had moved to sit on her heels, allowing Gregory to get closer and even rest his weight in her lap. She’d activated her internal heating system to make the hug warmer and more comfortable and was slowly rubbing his back.

“Is this normal?” She heard Mrs. Taylor ask.

“She does tend to have this effect on the children,” Mr. Watkins explained. “She’s a very good hugger.”

“I’m so proud of you,” Ballora said softly to Gregory. “It took a lot of courage to come back here, and I’m glad I was able to meet you. I’ve heard a lot of great things about you.”

Gregory hugged her even tighter, burying his face in her hair.

“I know it’s hard,” Ballora continued. “And there may be times when you want to leave. I want you to know... it’s ok to leave. If you must come back later, then do so. The people who truly love you will not judge you for it. And there is no shame in resting and coming back to face something.”

“I don’t know if I can face him,” Gregory said softly. “I feel like I hurt him.”

“Maybe you did,” Ballora said. “And maybe you didn’t. You won’t know until you see him. And you won’t be able to get through these feelings until then. Take some more time. Go see someone else. We’re all excited to meet you, Gregory, and we’ll all be happy to talk to you.”

It was then, only then, that Gregory ended the hug. He sniffled and wiped at his eyes. Ballora pat his shoulder and slowly stood up.

“Sometimes I feel like a giraffe when I stand up,” she said, brushing off her skirt.

Gregory actually managed a chuckle at that.

“Thanks,” he said. “Um... it really was nice meeting you.”

“And you too, Gregory,” Ballora bent down and pressed a kiss to the top of Gregory’s head. “Just remember to be kind to yourself, Gregory. You certainly deserve it.”

Chapter Text

Gregory felt much better after meeting Ballora.

He definitely wanted to see her one more time before he left, but for now he wanted to move on. He still didn’t have the courage to face some of the animatronics, but another one caught his eye in the program.

“Who’s Cosmo?” He asked.

“Cosmo is one of our newer stars,” Mr. Watkins smiled. “For now, they’re an independent entertainer for the children, but we are working on getting them their time on the stage. They even have their own restaurant.”

“Huh...” Gregory tilted his head slightly.

Cosmo’s color scheme seemed so... different from the others. While most of the animatronics had bright colors, Cosmo had dark ones.

It made Gregory nervous.

“Um... maybe later,” he said. “How about Bonnie? He looks nice.”

“He is very nice,” Mr. Watkins nodded. “A lot of children love him. Come this way, his room is right down here...”

Bonnie struck another pose in the mirror.

Various pieces of clothing were strewn around his room, making everything look like a huge mess. He’d figured if he was going to be stuck in his room, he may as well experiment with some of the clothes Natty had made for him.

“Hmm...” he mused softly, adjusting the feather boa he was wearing. Something was off...

He heard a knock on his door and flinched. Only one reason why anyone would be knocking on his door right now. Sure enough, when he opened the door, there was a small group outside.

“Bonnie, may we come in?” Mr. Watkins asked.

Bonnie quickly glanced back into his room.

“Uh... one second!” He quickly closed the door again.

Mrs. Taylor stifled a chuckle as she heard the unmistakable sounds of someone trying to clean their room in a hurry. When the door opened again, the room was clean, but she could see clothes stuffed under the couch and hanging out of a closet door that was barely able to stay closed.

“Bonnie, this Gregory, Mrs. Taylor, and Dr. Upshur,” Mr. Watkins explained. “My friends, this is Bonnie. He’s the bassist for our band.”

“Please to meet you,” Bonnie waved. “Always great to meet new friends!”

“What is he wearing?” Dr. Upshur asked.

“Oh, this?” Bonnie brushed off his jacket. “My handler Natty made it. Looks awesome, right?”

“You look like you walked into a closet and put on whatever you brushed against,” Gregory said.

“What?” Bonnie lowered his shades. “Are you saying I don’t look like a rockstar?”

He leaned down, fixing Gregory with a look. Dr. Upshur was surprised to recognize that he was doing everything he could to make himself look less threatening and put Gregory at ease. It surprised her even more at how well it was working.

“Well, yeah...” Gregory chuckled. “You look silly.”

“Well... if you’re such an expert,” Bonnie waved his hands around in an overly exaggerated manner, “why don’t you pick something out for me to wear?”

“Huh?” Gregory blinked. “R-Really?”

“Sure,” Bonnie plopped onto the couch. “I bet you could make me look just as glamorous as the Glamrocks. That’s my closet over there. But... maybe let me open the door.... and maybe step back a bit, ok?”

Chapter Text

The outfit that Gregory had chosen for Bonnie was... well, it was certainly something.

To be honest, it looked like Bonnie had fallen through a rainbow, his clothes carrying every color available. It was a garish sight of sequins, feathers, leathers, and ruffles.

And Bonnie was eating it up.

“Yes,” he struck a pose.

“Yes!” He struck another one.

“YES! This... this is fashion. This is what’s going to make all the people stop and stare. All eyes will be on me!”

He tossed one end of his feathered boa over his shoulder and smiled.

“I have to wear this when we reopen,” he said, looking down at Gregory. “Thank you, my talented fashionista!”

This was going so much differently than Mrs. Taylor had expected, but she didn’t care. Gregory was doing so well, and he seemed to be enjoying himself. He’d been smiling and laughing while dressing Bonnie, and she had no doubt that his meeting with Ballora, Sunny, and Moon had helped his mood quite a bit as well.

“I can hear the old ladies now,” Bonnie continued. “The Facebook Groups are gonna have a field day! Oh, but I have to thank you. Let me see here...”

He began to dig through his closet, extracting small box after a few minutes. He opened it and pulled out... a bowtie. A bright red one.

“My predecessor wore this,” Bonnie explained. “It’s not quite my color, so I don’t wear it myself. But you can have it. I’m sure you’ll use it to wow your prom date in the future.”

He handed it over, and Gregory took it with a smile.

“Wow,” he said. “Thank you. And thank you for... for playing with me. I had fun.”

“Of course you did,” Bonnie said. “Everyone has fun with good ol’ Uncle Bonnie. Now, don’t you be a stranger, ok? Come back and see us! I’ll show you my new dance moves.”

He did a little dance, and Gregory giggled.

“Maybe,” he said. “I still... I have a lot to do first.”

“It’ll all work out,” Bonnie said, giving Gregory a hug. “Don’t worry, Gregory. You got this!”

Chapter Text

Gregory... wasn’t sure how he was feeling. Meeting the animatronics that hadn’t chased him all those years ago was helping, but every time he left their room, he was reminded of where he was.

Everything looked so clean and colorful, but underneath it all... he could still see the places he hid and the halls he ran for his life through. It was dizzying, and he could feel his resolve crumbling. Part of him wanted to just leave, but another part of him wanted to keep going. He wanted to put an end to his fears and face everything if only to show himself that there was nothing to fear now.

And another... much smaller part of him... was actually looking forward to meeting more animatronics.

“Gregory?” Mrs. Taylor said. “Are you ok? What do you want to do next?”

Gregory looked down at the program in his hands and then looked around himself. The shadows seemed to grow darker right before his eyes, and he swallowed heavily.

His hands shook slightly as he slowly closed the program and stepped closer to his mother. He wanted to keep going. He needed to keep going. It wasn’t going to end unless he kept going-

I want you to know... it’s ok to leave. If you must come back later, then do so. The people who truly love you will not judge you for it. And there is no shame in resting and coming back to face something.

Ballora’s words echoed in Gregory’s head, and the phantom sensations of her warmth spread through his chest and shoulders. He wanted to keep going, but he realized that she was right.

“I... I want to leave,” he said. “Please. I want to leave now.”

Mrs. Taylor drew him in for a hug and kissed the top of his head.

“Of course, dear,” she said. “Of course we can leave. We’ll come back when you feel better.”

“I want to come back tomorrow,” Gregory said, voice slightly muffled by his mother’s shoulder.

“I completely understand,” said Mr. Watkins. “You made amazing progress today, Gregory. You should be very proud of yourself. Please allow me to escort you out and back to your car. Mrs. Taylor, you have my number. Please call me to let me know what we’ll be doing tomorrow.”

Gregory dimly heard Mr. Watkins speaking to his mother, and he let her lead him out of the plex. Tomorrow. He'd come back tomorrow.

Chapter Text

“How was he?” Freddy asked.

Ballora was sitting at her mirror and combing through her hair so that she could put it up in a new style. She looked at Freddy in the mirror and smiled gently.

“He is worried,” she said. “I think he’s worried about you. It’s strange, though. You have met and seen many children before. Why is Gregory different?”

“I... I do not know,” Freddy sighed heavily. “Perhaps because I knew him longer than any other child. Perhaps because of the circumstances of our meeting and what happened that night. That night... I only wanted to protect him and keep him safe. It was a desire that I felt stronger than ever before. But I cannot... explain why.”

Ballora turned to look at Freddy and then stood up. She pulled the bear in for a hug and gently rubbed his back. She could tell that Freddy was suffering. She had no idea what all had happened that night, but the bits that she’d learned were not good. It made sense why Gregory was so traumatized, and she was still proud of him for coming to face his fears.

“It’s all in Gregory’s hands,” she said. “He must decide what to do, and there is nothing that we can to change that. You must wait for him to come to you, and it may be harder for him when it comes to you. He said he was worried that he had hurt you.”

“He didn’t,” Freddy said. “I was sad to hear he had moved away, but I was happy that he would be safe and loved by a family again. I was happy that he had managed to find such a wonderful ending to that nightmare.”

“And that is why you are a wonderful bear,” Ballora said. “But you worry too much. Just be patient. I am sure that everything will turn out just fine. We just have to let Gregory take it all at his own pace.”

“You are right,” Freddy sighed again. “Thank you, Ballora. You always make me feel better...”

Chapter Text

“It’s impossible,” Michael slumped against the arcade cabinet. “I give up.”

“Oh come on,” Glitchtrap said. “You were nearly there last time. A few more tries and you’ll get it. I just know you will. You can’t admit defeat yet. Otherwise, I’m gonna have to start calling you a loser.”

Michael reached up and shoved the phone off the cabinet. Glitchtrap gave a high pitched screen as it fell and thumped on the ground.

“Careful!” Glitchtrap screeched. “What if you break the phone?”

“There has to be some way to beat this stupid game,” Michael huffed. “What am I doing wrong?”

He paused when he heard music nearby. He stood up and saw Cosmo walking his way.

It’s just monkey business, but with one key difference. That the one reliving it is beyond deliverance. We've got one piece hidden in deep amongst these remnants of our one-time residents in our little hotel in Hell where the bellhops bite!

Cosmo spotted Michael and quickly tapped a button to shut off the music playing through one of their speakers.

“Oh hello,” Cosmo greeted. “I heard that our guest of honor has departed and no one knew where you were, so I came to find you. Are you ok? You look a little upset.”

“Just this dumb game,” Michael sighed and picked up the phone as he stood up. “I can’t beat it, and I’ve tried for ages.”

“Oh, that’s unfortunate,” Cosmo looked at the cabinet. “I wish I could help, but I’m still learning how to play games myself. But I have no doubt that you will beat if if you keep trying. Though... perhaps you should take a break. No sense in sacrificing your sanity in the name of digital sprites.”

“I don’t have any sanity left to begin with,” Michael muttered.

He did follow Cosmo away from the cabinet, though. Maybe the bird was right and he was due for a break. He certainly felt exhausted from it all. Besides, he needed to check in with Mr. Watkins soon. Gregory would be returning the next day, and he needed to make sure everyone would be ready.

“Come along,” Cosmo smiled. “I’ll get you some water. One needs to mind their hydration levels these days. The body needs adequate water to function properly.”

“I’m not a plant,” Michael couldn’t help but smile.

He didn’t have the heart to tell Cosmo that he technically didn’t need any water to survive.

Chapter Text

“You did very well today,” Mrs. Taylor smiled at Gregory over her menu. “I’m very proud of you, Gregory.”

Gregory sighed, idly playing with the pages of his own menu. He hadn’t really been hungry, but his mother had insisted on him eating something. Told him he would feel better if he did.

“I’m sorry about dragging you all the way over here,” Gregory said softly.

“No, it’s no trouble at all,” his mother said. “I promise you. I’m just happy that you’re moving forward. I know it took a lot of courage to come back here. I just... I admit there’s something I don’t quite understand.”

“What’s that?” Gregory asked.

Mrs. Taylor took a moment to gather her thoughts. She had never really asked Gregory to talk about what had happened that night, wanting to give him a chance to heal and come to terms with things. She also didn’t want him to feel pressured or rushed to tell her what had happened. Let the boy have his secrets, if he felt they needed to be secrets. Her job, or at least what she felt was her job, was to help him recover and guide him to a brighter future.

But it did leave her with a burning question.

“Why are you so scared about confronting one of the animatronics?” She asked. “The... the bear one. Um... Frank?”

“Freddy,” Gregory said. “I... um... It’s kinda hard to explain.”

Mrs. Taylor watched her son fiddle with his silverware.

“He... he’s not just an animatronic, is he?” She asked. She had suspected it for a while. “He’s more than that, right?”

“Yeah,” Gregory nodded. “He is. I don’t know why. I don’t know how, but... he’s different. They’re all different. You saw the videos.”

“I did,” Mrs. Taylor agreed. “I won’t pretend to know anything about AI, but... they do seem very different. Did you... spend a lot of time with Freddy?”

Gregory fell silent, this time twisting the paper from his straw around his fingers. Mrs. Taylor reached out and set her hand on top of Gregory’s.

“I don’t care what you did that night,” she said, gently grasping Gregory’s fingers. “I don’t care what you did before that night. To me, you will always be my son. I will always love you just as much as the day I brought you home. I know it’s hard, and that’s why I never pressured you. When you feel ready-”

“I am,” Gregory finally looked up. “I want to tell you. And I want to do it before I lose my nerve.”

Mrs. Taylor smiled and set her menu aside. She then folded her hands and set them upon the table.

“Take your time,” she said. “We have plenty of it. I plan on ordering a dessert too."

Gregory managed a small smile.

Chapter Text

Gregory was back the next day after lunch. As before, Mr. Watkins was there to greet them.

But this time, he was accompanied by someone else.

Gregory squinted slightly at the guard at Mr. Watkins’s side. He had never seen this guard back during his homeless days, and he was pretty sure he’d seen pretty much all of them...

“Wonderful to see you again, Gregory,” Mr. Watkins said as he led them inside. “This is Michael, he’s one of my newer guards. He’s not going to be walking with us, but he will be in the plex, so I wanted you to be aware of his presence.”

“Yo,” Michael cracked his gum with a small wave. “Don’t worry, I won’t be getting in your way. I’ll be taking care of things here and there. But if you guys need me, don’t hesitate to call.”

He took his leave then, and Dr. Upshur wrinkled her nose at Michael’s attitude.

“Bit rude,” she said.

“I think he was rather civil,” Mr. Watkins said. “And I'll ask you to keep such comments about my staff to yourself. We are here for Gregory, after all.”

“He’s not as bad as-” Gregory paused and shook his head. “Never mind. Um... I wanted to visit a few more places today... if that’s ok.”

“Of course,” Mr. Watkins smiled. “You decide on where we go.”

Gregory had remembered something the night before as he’d hesitantly retraced his memories of that night. He led them to a very specific spot, determined to see if something important had been changed.

To his relief. The emergency exit was no longer barred by VIP clearance.

“That was the first thing I changed when I became manager,” Mr. Watkins explained when Gregory asked. “I was utterly appalled by the safety violations of this place, and I worked hard to fix that.”

“I can tell,” Gregory said.

“It’s very refreshing to see a manager so concerned about the public’s safety,” said Mrs. Taylor. “I did some research when I adopted Gregory, and Fazbear Entertainment has had a bit of... trouble with that before, haven’t they?”

“They have,” Mr. Watkins agreed. “But I no longer allow such violations here. Everything is carefully and routinely inspected.”

“Including the animatronics?” Dr. Upshur asked as she scribbled on her clipboard.

“Especially them,” said Mr. Watkins. “The Virus Incident showed us how dangerous the animatronics can be, especially when in such close proximity to children. I will not allow such a thing to happen again.”

Gregory managed a small smile. He was really starting to like Mr. Watkins. He was a man of integrity, and he felt safe with him.

“Um...” he shook his head. “I was hoping to visit... Foxy next. He’s new too, right?”

“That's right,” Mr. Watkins smiled. “A proud captain of the seas, he is. I think you’ll like him a lot.”

Chapter Text

“Who be this, then?” Foxy raised his eyepatch as he looked Gregory over. “Not every day a little fish swims up to a shark?”

He grinned, flashing his golden fang, but Gregory didn’t smile back. His eyes were glued to Foxy’s hook.

“Eh?” Foxy tilted his head. “Lose ya tongue, Lad?”

“Is something wrong, Gregory?” Dr. Upshur asked.

“I think it’s his hook,” said Mrs. Taylor.

Gregory slowly nodded.

“I’m sorry, but could you please cover your hook?” Mrs. Taylor asked.

“Of course, Madam,” Foxy said. “One moment.”

He disappeared into his ship, and they all heard him rummaging around. He came back out after a minute or two, and he held his arm up-

Mrs. Taylor burst out laughing. Mr. Watkins couldn’t help his own smile, and Gregory was chuckling too. Foxy had indeed covered his hook... with a large bright red foam finger that read ‘#1’.

“I’m sorry,” Mrs. Taylor gasped. “I was not expecting that. It’s so silly...”

“What?” Foxy looked at the finger. “This speaks truth. I be number one!”

He shook his head and then gave a deep sweeping bow.

“Captain Foxglove Fitzgerald,” he said. “At ya service.”

“Huh? I thought your name was just Foxy,” Gregory said.

“It be,” Foxy sighed. “But a captain can dream of having an extravagant name, eh? Something worthy of the terror of the seven seas. And ya must be Gregory?”

“Yeah,” Gregory nodded. “You weren’t here before.”

Dr. Upshur started to take notes while Gregory and Foxy spoke. Foxy had the air of a very lively individual, but Mrs. Taylor could see he was reigning himself in for Gregory’s sake, which helped put her at ease.

And of course, every time Foxy enthusiastically gestured, the foam finger would wriggle, causing Gregory and Mrs. Taylor to snort in laughter.

“I wish I met ya sooner,” Foxy said. “I could use a lad of ya caliber on me crew. Bravery be an admirable trait of a pirate.”

“Bravery?” Gregory asked. “I... I don’t feel very brave.”

“Ya don’t?” Foxy put a hand on Gregory’s shoulder. “Lad... bravery be not the absence of fear... it be doing what ya need to do despite being afraid. I can tell ya nervous, and I bet it’ll get worse before ya done. But look at ya! Ya here, aren’t ya? Ya here even though ya scared. That be bravery, Lad.”

Gregory blinked, his eyes widening slightly. Was Foxy right? Was he really brave?

“Ya were dealt a poor hand,” Foxy continued. “But ya can still win the game with a poor hand if ya know what to do. And from I see... ya won the whole pot.”

He tipped his hat and winked at Mrs. Taylor.

“So let this be ya lesson,” Foxy turned his attention back to Gregory. “Don’t be so hard on yaself. Pirates can still pillage even with missing limbs. And ya can still be brave even when missing ya nerve. Ya remember that, eh?”

“I will, Captain,” Gregory said. “Thank you... I’m glad I met you.”

“I be glad too,” Foxy said. “Now then, safe travels to ya, Gregory. May the wind always be in ya sails.”

He saluted, causing the foam finger to wriggle again. Gregory barely managed to keep from laughing as he saluted back.

Chapter Text

When Gregory entered The Nest, he could hear music playing somewhere.

“Whenever your life is strange and the pain is too much to go through, know that you can find your haven in those you’ve chose to be close to. ‘Cause we’ll find the brightest colors when we look inside each other. This life is more vibrant for the ones who find the light to shine through...”

Gregory had been a bit nervous about meeting the new bird. Their color scheme had reminded him of something dark or evil, and it set Cosmo apart from all the other brightly colored animatronics. Still, Gregory wanted to meet them if only to complete the set.

Cosmo was busy scraping gum from underneath the tables, but they looked up when the group approached.

“Oh hello,” they smiled as they stood up and turned off the music.

They threw away the gum and ran their hands under the hand sanitizer dispenser on the wall.

“One moment, I do not wish to spread any germs,” they said as they rubbed the sanitizer over their hands. “Sickness can be prevented with proper sanitation...”

“This is Cosmo,” Mr. Watkins introduced. “They are the newest addition to the Fazbear family.”

“He looks different from the animatronics,” Gregory mused.

“I beg your pardon, but if you could please use they/them pronouns for me,” Cosmo said. “And you are very observant. I am actually different as I was not built by Fazbear Entertainment. I was built by a different company.”

“Really?” Gregory asked. “I didn’t know you guys did that.”

“We do generally like to keep animatronic construction within our company, but Cosmo is the exception so far,” said Mr. Watkins. “Cosmo, this is Mrs. Taylor, Dr. Upshur, and Gregory.”

“Wonderful to meet you, Madame,” Cosmo shook Mrs. Taylor’s hand with both of their own. “And you too, Doctor,” they shook Dr. Upshur’s hand next. “And...” They paused when they came to Gregory. “Well, I realize this environment is particularly stressful for you. I would like to offer you a handshake or a hug, whichever you prefer. But if you are not keen on being touched, that is perfectly fine too.”

They waited to see what Gregory would do, and Gregory gave Cosmo a simple handshake. As he did, he looked around at the restaurant. It was very cozy and seemed to be geared towards all ages. There was a sleek sort of modern chic look to the interior, but there were also items on the menus that were clearly for children. To Gregory’s surprise, the food listed all looked pretty healthy.

“It is good to meet you, Gregory,” Cosmo said warmly. “I have heard so much about you from the others. All good things, I promise.” They got down on their knees to better bring themself to Gregory’s level. “They are all eager to meet you too.”

“Are they?” Gregory asked. “I dunno how to feel about that.”

“Which is perfectly understandable,” Cosmo said. “I understand that this place still holds some horrors for you, and trauma is rarely overcome so easily. It is perfectly natural to still be anxious, especially when it comes to the ones who hurt you in the past. They may not have been within their right minds, but that should not invalidate your feelings.”

Dr. Upshur raised an eyebrow at Cosmo’s words, and Mrs. Taylor watched with an impressed expression on her face.

“You know a lot about this stuff,” Gregory said.

“I am programmed to know such things,” Cosmo said. “I have no idea why, and they may have gone a bit overboard with it, but... I’m not complaining.”

Gregory managed a chuckle at that.

They continued to speak, and Cosmo did their best to ease Gregory’s mind. Gregory did feel better after talking to them, but he had one more question.

“So why are you those colors?” He asked. “They look so out of place.”

“Simple,” Cosmo beamed. “Some children or adults can find bright colors to be overwhelming. I was created to be a darker color so as to not disturb such customers.”

Huh. Simple enough.

As Gregory prepared to leave, Cosmo offered one last piece of advice.

“I know things are a bit crazy right now, but I want you to remember,” they said. “Family trees don’t need be organic. The branches you graft... are as equally valid. Your family can be whomever you want.”

Gregory thought it may have been a reference to his mother, but he found himself thinking of Freddy too.

“Thanks,” he said. “You’re cool.”

“I hope things go well for you,” Cosmo said. “Good bye, Gregory.”

They offered their hand for a shake, but Gregory went in for a hug instead.

Chapter Text

“Oh wow.”

Those two words pretty much summed up their reaction when they entered the Fazcade. DJ was kinda hard to miss. Even though he stayed at his little booth, it was still a bit intimidating to approach him.

“He’s a bit bigger than the others,” Mrs. Taylor said. “And he’s shaped differently.”

DJ waved at them, lowering himself to lie on the floor. He folded his hands under him.

“Yes, well... I can’t exactly explain the reason behind his design,” Mr. Watkins said. “But I can tell you that he’s the arcade’s dj. He plays music for customers to listen and dance to. He’s very good at his job and very friendly.”

“Then why did he chase me?” Gregory asked.

“Well, I think his bouncer mode may have been activated,” said. Mr. Watkins.

“Bouncer Mode?” Dr. Upshur repeated.

“The Fazcade is big,” Mr. Watkins explained. “So DJ doubles as security. If anyone gets too rowdy, he can handle it.”

DJ gave them a little wave and a musical trill.

“Does he speak?” Mrs. Taylor moved a little closer to see.

“Kind of?” Mr. Watkins said. “He makes noises, but no actual words. I do have an employee who can understand him. If you’d like, I can call her and have her translate.”

“Yeah, that’s ok,” said Gregory. “How can she understand him, though?”

“They have some sort of bond,” Mr. Watkins shrugged as he dialed his phone.

He put his phone on speaker, and the line soon picked up.

“Hey, Boss!” Gregory didn’t recognize the voice. “What can I do for you?”

“Hello Yumi, how are you?” Mr. Watkins asked. “Listen, I hate to bother you, but I was hoping you could help us out. We’re meeting DJ today, but you’re the only one who can understand him. Could you please act as a translator?”

“Sure!” Yumi said. “Always happy to help the big guy out.”

DJ made a few noises, and the group looked at Mr. Watkins’s phone.

“He said it’s nice to meet you,” said Yumi. “And he’s very sorry for chasing you. He doesn’t really remember doing that.”

“He must have been infected too,” Gregory said. “You threw arcade cabinets at me.”

DJ tensed and then all but deflated. He made a few noises that almost sounded like crying.

“He says he would never do that in his right mind,” Yumi said. “He loves the children here. He also said he’s going to give you a bunch of vouchers for free tickets and tokens for you to use at your convenience.”

“Oh how nice of him,” Mrs. Taylor smiled. “Gregory, we can use those if you decide to come back.”

“Thanks,” Gregory said. “If everything goes well here... maybe I will.”

DJ cheered up slightly.

Gregory remembered being terrified of this animatronic. A giant spider with a creepy face that chased him around the Fazcade, tried to grab him from a bathroom, and then threw arcade cabinets at him. But now... seeing him just lying here at his station and hearing his little sounds and his words... he didn’t seem as scary.

DJ spoke again, tinkling chimes coming from his speaker. It reminded Gregory of a music box.

“He said he’s glad you’re doing better,” Yumi said. “He also hopes you find what you’re looking for here. And he hopes you’ll come see him again when this is all over. He’s not as popular as the others, so he gets a little lonely sometimes.”

“Of course,” Gregory smiled. “As long as you don’t throw any more things at me.”

DJ nodded and then held a finger out to Gregory. Gregory shook the finger as best as he could, giggling all the while. DJ then tapped at his station and a piece of paper printed out near the bottom.

DJ gestured to it and spoke again.

“He says he wants to give you a voucher for the prize counter,” Yumi said. “You can pick out any prize that you want.”

Gregory took the voucher and smiled.

“Thank you,” he said. “You’re a lot nicer than I thought.”

DJ spoke again and then settled down onto the platform.

“He says you’re welcome,” Yumi said. “And he’s sorry, but he it’s his naptime to recharge. But you are more than welcome to come see him again whenever you like.”

“Thank you, Yumi,” said Mrs. Watkins. “I think that’s all.”

“No problem, Boss,” Yumi said. “Gregory, I hope you have an awesome day. I hope all of you have awesome days. Don’t hesitate to call if you need any more help.”

Chapter Text

“Mrs. Taylor, may I please speak to you in private?”

Mrs. Taylor looked up from where she was straightening up the gifts Gregory had been given. After getting his prize from the prize counter (a Freddy plush), Gregory had once again asked to go back to the hotel. He’d stated that he wanted a good rest before he met the animatronics who had hurt him the most... and the one he’d hurt the most.

“Gregory, I’ll be right outside,” Mrs. Taylor ruffled her son’s hair.

“Ok, Mom,” Gregory said before going back to his journal.

Mrs. Taylor stepped outside with Dr. Upshur and closed the door behind her. It was a nice hotel that Mr. Watkins had put them in, and they settled against the railing of the upper floor they were on.

“I wanted to talk to you about Gregory’s... feelings towards Freddy Fazbear,” Dr. Upshur said. “I’ve been listening to the way he speaks about him, and... I don’t think it will be beneficial to him to see Freddy.”

Mrs. Taylor blinked in surprise.

“Why do you think that?” She asked. “From what he’s told us, Freddy was a big part of his survival, and he feels he should at least speak to him again.”

“That’s just it,” Dr. Upshur said. “Freddy Fazbear is just an animatronic, and this would just be a parasocial relationship. Gregory will never feel any closure from it. It would be impossible for Freddy to do so. Gregory is still working through his issues with his past life and adjusting to his new family. And with the absence of a father figure, perhaps Gregory is trying to fill that empty spot with Freddy.”

Mrs. Taylor thought about it. It made sense, but it didn’t sit right with her. She knew how much Gregory wanted to see Freddy, however nervous he was. She didn’t pretend to understand it, she only encouraged it if it would help Gregory move on.

“My husband died years before I adopted him,” Mrs. Taylor said. “It’s hardly his fault that he lacks a father figure, and it’s not his fault for wanting one so badly that he sees it in someone else.”

“But an animatronic?” Dr. Upshur said. “I’m sorry, but my professional opinion is that he should not see Freddy. Or if you must let him, then do not bring him back here after we leave. This place is detrimental to his recovery.”

“Really?” Mrs. Taylor said. “Because I think he’s doing better than he has since I adopted him. He hasn’t had any nightmares since we got here, and he’s smiling and laughing and enjoying himself.”

“Perhaps it seems he’s doing well on the surface, but you must understand that this will not be good for him in the long run,” Dr. Upshur said.

Mrs. Taylor thought about it, and memories surfaced. She remembered how hard she had worked to carve out a nice life for herself. She remembered marrying a man who wanted nothing more than to start a family. She remembered how hard they had tried, but never succeeding. And she remembered her husband dying.

She remembered not changing her title because she still loved her husband. She remembered wanting to adopt. Gregory had seemed like such a wonderful child, but they had warned her that he had traumas that he would need help with. Mr. Watkins had met with her personally, telling her what he knew and stressing that this would not be easy. He had also offered any assistance he could.

It wasn’t easy at first. Gregory was scared and untrusting, but she took him to his therapist when needed and made sure he knew that he was loved, and she would never hurt him. Over time, he warmed up to her slowly, and the day he’d first called her mom had brought tears to her eyes. He was her baby. Her son. She would always do whatever she could to keep him safe and happy.

“Thank you for all the help you’ve given us so far,” she finally said out loud. “I’ll pay you for your time, but I don’t think we’re going to need your services any further.”

“What?” Dr. Upshur sounded confused. “Are you... are you firing me?”

“I can understand your opinions,” Mrs. Taylor said. “I can appreciate your concerns. But this is beyond what either of us know. Those animatronics are more than what we see, I know it. If Gregory wants to be friends with them, I’m not going to stop him. And I don’t think he’s that damaged that he sees Freddy in an unhealthy way. He’s a smart boy, he knows the difference. Good night, Dr. Upshur. I hope you have a safe trip home.”

She then left the spluttering therapist and went back into her room. Gregory looked up again.

“Mom?” He asked. “You ok?”

“I’m fine, Honey,” Mrs. Taylor smiled. “Don’t worry about a thing.”

Chapter Text

"Ok, are you ready to go?”

Mrs. Taylor turned off the hotel television and turned to look at Gregory. Gregory was showered, hair combed, teeth brushed... but he looked nervous.

“What if he hates me?” Gregory asked. “Because I left him?”

Dr. Upshur’s words surfaced in Mrs. Taylor’s mind, and she shook her head.

“I have to ask. Do you see him as a father figure?” She asked.

“Huh?” Gregory’s face scrunched up. “No, that’s weird. He’s just... we became good friends that night. I just feel bad that he did so much for me and I just... left after that. And I didn’t try to come back to see him.”

Mrs. Taylor pulled her son in for a hug. She was right, Gregory didn’t have an unhealthy relationship with Freddy, his feelings were understandable. And even so, she was sure it wouldn’t be a parasocial relationship when she considered how the sun and moon people and the DJ had remembered him...

“I’m sure he’ll understand,” she said. “Maybe he feels guilty too because of all the pain you went through. I know it’s scary, and remember that you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, but I think talking to him won’t be as bad as you think. I bet he’ll be happy to see you again.”

She rubbed his back, and Gregory sighed.

“And no matter what happens, you are still my son, and I love you,” Mrs. Taylor said as the hug ended.

“Thanks, Mom,” Gregory said. “For... for everything.”

“Of course,” Mrs. Taylor smiled. “Now... let’s just take today slow and remember to be nice to ourselves, ok?”

Gregory nodded, and they left the hotel room. Gregory looked around in confusion as they started walking to the elevator.

“Is Dr. Upshur not coming?” He asked.

“No,” Mrs. Taylor pressed the button for the elevator. “She won’t be accompanying us anymore...”

Chapter Text

Mrs. Taylor regarded her son in the rearview mirror of the rental car.

Gregory was fiddling with anything he could get his hands on, something he did whenever he was nervous. He looked up and met his mother’s eyes in the mirror.

“Are you ready?” She asked.

Gregory nodded.

“Now remember, you can leave at any time,” Mrs. Taylor said. “No one’s going to judge you, no one’s going to be upset. This is about you and your recovery, ok?”

Gregory cleared his throat and nodded again.

“I understand,” he said.

They got out of the car and Mr. Watkins was there to greet them.

“Is Dr. Upshur ok?” He asked, looking around in concern.

“She won’t be coming,” Mrs. Taylor said in a tone that clearly said not to ask.

Mr. Watkins picked up on it and respectfully nodded.

“Very well,” he said. “It’s wonderful to see you back again. This way, please.”

He led them inside the plex where Kishi was waiting. Kishi gave them a bow and then left, giving them their privacy.

“You are welcome to go back to any other animatronic you’ve met,” Mr. Watkins said. “Or you can continue to others you have not. Remember that this is entirely your choice and at your own pace.”

“I...” Gregory hesitated.

He wanted to never meet them, and at the same time, he wanted it all to be over. He knew he would feel better after it, but getting there was torture. Who would he even meet first?

“Um... Chica,” he said. “I’ll meet her first.”

He hadn’t been able to eat a piece of candy for almost a year after that night, and any offers would cause him to panic. But he was ok now. He had to keep reminding himself of that. And he figured that she would be the least intimidating of the bunch.

“Chica’s in her room on Rockstar Row,” said Mr. Watkins. “I’ll take you there, but let me know if you change your mind.”

Gregory held his mother’s hand tightly as he followed them. Mrs. Taylor squeezed his hand in return, reminding him that he was not alone. She was there with him, and she was going to stay by his side no matter what.

Still, Gregory felt nervous as they finally stood before Chica’s door. Mr. Watkins glanced at Gregory, and Gregory gave him a nod. He could do this. He could do this!

The door slid open, and the animatronic on the other side of the room glanced over at them. She was clean, her room was clean... but Gregory still remembered how her beak used to be smeared with trash and food. He remembered seeing her devour a pizza and the poor bot who had delivered it to her.

But here... she looked... nervous.

“Hi Gregory...” Chica gave a small wave.

Chapter Text

The room was dead silent.

Gregory was keeping both eyes on Chica, clearly unsure of what to do next. He looked torn between staying and running. On the other hand, Chica was standing on the other side of the room, nervously pressing her index fingers together over and over.

Finally, when the silence came to be too much, Chica took a chance to break it.

“Hey Gregory,” she said. “Did you know I was originally supposed to be the drummer for the band? Do you know why?”

Gregory silently shook his head.

“It’s because I already own a pair of drumsticks!” Chica giggled and pat her thighs.

To her relief, Gregory snorted in amusement.

“Hey Gregory, I bought a new guitar the other day, but it doesn’t work,” Chica continued. “I guess I should have known it wouldn’t when the owner said ‘no strings attached’.”

Gregory chuckled and Chica beamed.

“Hey Gregory,” she said. “Mr. Watkins once said maybe we should try playing classical music like Mozart or Beethoven. I told him I prefer Bach, Bach, Bach!”

She was overjoyed to get an actual laugh out of Gregory that time. Even his mother joined in. When Gregory settled down, he slowly approached Chica’s side of the room. Chica knelt down to speak to him better.

“Hey,” she said gently. “I’m... I’m real sorry about what happened. I would have never hurt you if I hadn’t been corrupted by that virus. I feel so... so awful for what I did to you. I don’t blame you for a moment that you were scared to see me.”

Gregory was silent for a moment before he sighed.

“I was scared,” he said. “I used to have nightmares about you eating me.”

Chica gasped and looked horrified. She almost looked like she would start crying if she could.

“But then I saw the videos online,” Gregory said. “I saw you defending the people in your classes and acting really friendly with the other children. It helped a lot. It made me realize you really weren’t just a gluttonous chicken. You have a heart that’s as big as your stomach.”

“Oh, Gregory...” Chica moved as if she wanted to hug him, but quickly stopped. “I... I just... can I give you a hug? I really could use a hug right now...”

Gregory hesitated, but then he slowly put his arms around Chica and let her hug him. She rubbed his back gently and lightly pecked the side of his head.

“I would never eat you,” she said. “Never ever. I would never want to hurt you. You kids are my life. I love every one of you.”

Gregory was enjoying the hug. All the animatronics who had hugged him seemed to know the secret to great hugs. It made him wonder if the rest would give good hugs too.

“I’m proud that you made it here today,” Chica said as the hug finally ended. “We all are. Freddy is probably the most proud and the most eager to see you. He was really happy when he heard you’d be coming.”

“Really?” Gregory asked.

“Really,” Chica smiled. “And I’m glad you came to see me too. I’ve been wanting to apologize for so long.”

“It’s ok,” Gregory said. “It wasn’t your fault. And I know... I know how you really are now. You’re not mean or evil. You were a victim too.”

They continued to chat for a while longer before Gregory decided to leave. Chica gave him one her limited edition tshirts as a present before giving him one last hug and smile.

“Come see me again,” she said. “I have more jokes to tell you.”

“You were pretty funny,” Gregory smiled.

“Yeah,” Chica nodded. “Sometimes... I can be a real comedi-hen.”

Chapter Text

“That went better than I thought it would,” Gregory mused as he moved down Rockstar Row. “I’m glad she didn’t offer me candy, though.”

“Why is that?” Mrs. Taylor asked.

“It’s what she used to call out when she was looking for me,” Gregory explained. “She’d call out ‘who wants candy?’”

“Ah yes,” Mr. Watkins said. “She used to dispense candy to the children. I removed that feature from her, though. I wanted her to actually focus more on health and fitness like she was supposed to. Plus, the children would throw their candy wrappers everywhere...”

Gregory opened his mouth to say something, but paused when he heard faint music playing. He weaved around a few display cases and found Michael. Michael was listening to music on headphones and dancing to the music. Obviously, he hadn’t spotted them yet, and Gregory couldn’t help but think some of Michael’s moves were rather dated.

Michael then turned around and froze when he noticed everyone.

“Mr. Watkins!” He quickly swiped the headphones off his head. “Ma’am. Gregory. A-Anything I can help with?”

“You’re fine, Michael,” Mr. Watkins chuckled. “You looked like you were rather busy cutting a rug.”

Michael chuckled sheepishly, scratching at the back of his head. Mrs. Taylor chuckled too, her nose crinkling slightly when she began to smell something odd just beneath the strong floral smell that seemed to follow Michael around.

Michael noticed and was quick to make his exit.

“Well, I’m gonna go do something in a completely different part of the plex, but call if I can help with anything,” he said before he quickly walked away.

Mrs. Taylor sniffed a few times then shrugged. If Michael had a hygiene problem, she was sure Mr. Watkins was handling it...

“Oh,” she noticed the display cases and posters. “Are these from older pizzerias?”

“They are,” Mr. Watkins said. “I’ve switched a few items out, but these are original pieces of older animatronics. You can see what they looked like in the posters on the wall. Those two there... that’s Fredbear and Spring Bonnie. They were the ones who started it all.”

“Interesting,” Mrs. Taylor looked at the posters. “I can take a guess at who is considered the face of the franchise...”

Mr. Watkins took a moment to talk about some of the pieces, but he paused when he noticed one of the cases was empty. The cards stated the missing items were a toy phone and a toy robot.

“Is this one not done yet?” Mrs. Taylor asked. “Or are you putting something new here?”

“Yes, exactly,” Mr. Watkins smiled. “We are putting something new here. Anyway, Gregory, which room shall we visit next?”

“Huh?” Gregory looked away from a poster. “Oh... um... maybe Roxy next? I don’t... think I could see Monty yet.”

“Of course,” Mr. Watkins said. “Right this way, please.”

He’d talk to Michael about the empty case later...

Chapter Text

It was just as awkward with Roxanne.

Roxanne stood on one side of the room while Gregory and the others stood by the door. Roxanne stared as if challenging herself to keep eye contact. Gregory stared back at her with just as much energy in his eyes. Roxanne couldn’t get over how much older he was now. He wouldn’t be needing an assistant driver bot anymore...

But as the silence stretched on, things seemed to get more and more awkward. Roxanne finally couldn’t take it anymore.

“Sit down,” she said, pointing at her dressing table.

“Huh?” Gregory was surprised at the command. “Why?”

“Because if you’re going to be in my room or even stand in my presence, then you need more glam,” Roxanne said with a toss of her hair.

This is what she knew. This was an easy persona to fall into. She’d done it many times before, and it was second nature by now. It would certainly help break the silence as long as Gregory went along with it.

Mrs. Taylor was frowning, but Mr. Watkins had a knowing look on his face. Gregory raised an eyebrow, but slowly climbed into the chair in front of the dressing table. Roxanne took her place behind it and pressed the lever to raise the chair.

She looked at Gregory carefully, already gathering ideas for what to do.

“So...” she said. “How’s your day going?”

Gregory watched her in the mirror. She was carefully running her fingers through his hair. It felt... actually rather nice. She was gentle, something he hadn’t been expecting, and her nails felt good on his scalp.

She slid a smock over his front, but didn’t fasten it in the back like normal barbers did. Gregory was grateful for that, not wanting to feel trapped in her presence.

“Um... it’s going ok,” he said. “I’m just... still kinda nervous about all this.”

“Yeah, well... you’re not the only one,” Roxanne sighed and her mask slipped a little. “I’m nervous too.”

“You’re never nervous,” Gregory said. “Not in all the videos I saw of you.”

“Ever heard of ‘fake it til you make it’?” Roxanne asked. “I do get nervous, I just don’t show it as much. And I didn’t want to show it around you. But I guess there’s not much I can do to make you feel better after what happened that night...”

Gregory stayed silent as Roxanne pulled out cans of colored hair spray and some stencils. She then pulled out some makeup and face paint. Mr. Watkins and Mrs. Taylor both took a seat on the nearby couch to watch.

“I guess I never thought of that,” Gregory said. “You always looked so confident. Then again... I do remember seeing you crying in your room.”

“You saw that?” Roxanne’s eyes widened and if she could blush, she would.

“Yeah, I felt kinda bad for you,” Gregory said. “And then later when you had your accident...”

Roxanne sighed and shook her head. Gregory fell silent as well and held still while she started working. She took a stencil and sprayed bright blue streaks into Gregory’s hair. After it dried, she used a little gel to style it, giving him an artfully tousled look.

She then grabbed some makeup and began to paint a blue lightning bolt on Gregory’s cheek.

“I’m really sorry about that night,” she spoke so quietly that Gregory could barely hear her. “I’ve never felt as awful as I felt after I learned what I had done. I was so... ashamed of myself. To think that I had put you into so much danger that the only way you could have defended yourself was to crash a car into me.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Gregory said as Roxanne got a bit more makeup on her brush. “It was the virus.”

“Maybe,” Roxanne went back to painting. “But I had been so competitive before. I probably said a lot of things that made kids feel bad. If you ask me, I needed to be taken down a peg or two. And you did that. So I’m actually kinda grateful for what you did. Helped me act a lot better...”

She left his eyes mostly alone, choosing to just paint a few small blue stars next to one of them. Afterwards, she began to dig through the hair ornaments she had.

“I forgive you,” Gregory said.

Roxanne froze, slowly turning to look at Gregory.

“I know you’ve been a lot nicer since then.” Gregory said. “And like I said, it wasn’t your fault. I’m just glad that you’re all ok now. And... I’m glad that I’m here. Because this place... isn’t so scary anymore.”

Roxanne put a hand over her chest, eyes looking like they might fill with tears. She stepped back towards Gregory and clipped a small black top hat into his hair.

“All done,” she gestured at the mirror. “It’s no secret which of us you’re closest to. I think Freddy’s going to like this look, don’t you?”

Gregory smiled at his reflection, moving his head around to see what Roxanne had done. He took the smock off and stepped down for a closer look. With a giant smile, he threw his arms around Roxanne and hugged her as best as he could without smearing his face.

“Thanks, Roxie,” he said.

Roxanne once again felt like she might cry, but she instead smiled and pat Gregory’s back.

“You’re welcome, you little dork.”

Chapter Text

Gregory was feeling well enough to see Monty without a break. He wanted to hurry up before the good vibes from his meeting Roxanne wore off.

Unlike the other two, Monty’s room was dark when they opened the door. Mr. Watkins frowned and felt along the wall for the light switch. The light quickly came on, revealing that Monty was curled up and sitting on the floor in the corner.

“Monty?” Mr. Watkins called.

Monty huffed and turned away, staring at the wall next to him. Mr. Watkins sighed and prepared to tell them that maybe it wasn’t a good time, but Gregory slowly began to make his way towards Monty, much to everyone’s surprise.

“Monty?” Gregory asked as he got closer. “Are you ok?”

Monty was silent.

Gregory sat down on the floor in front of Monty and sighed.

“You know...” he said. “My therapist once said that when people feel a certain way, they make the space around them mirror it. Were you sitting in the dark because you feel bad?”

Monty curled up even tighter but didn’t say anything.

Gregory knew Monty’s story. The videos he’d seen had painted quite the picture, and it had made him feel sorry for the gator. Being blamed for destroying another animatronic and then being deemed not good enough as a replacement. Plus his anger issues had not helped his case.

And Gregory couldn’t blame him.

“I saw some videos,” Gregory said. “People made videos about you. Theories about you having something to do with Bonnie’s disappearance. And then they all started comparing you to Bonnie, didn’t they?”

Monty slowly looked up, eyes peering over the tops of his glasses.

“You got mad, and then you got violent,” Gregory said. “But I understand. I used to be angry too. Back when I was on my own on... on the streets... I was so angry. I was angry at the world and everyone in it. And people thought I was a bad kid because of it.”

Monty sighed.

“You still angry?” He asked.

“No,” Gregory shook his head. “My therapist said that anger is natural. It’s ok to be angry. But you can’t be so angry that you lash out at others. And people who do lash out... they just need someone to care about them. And you have so many people who care about you now. And everyone agrees that you’re not as angry as you used to be.”

There was a beat of silence.

“I don’t remember that night,” Monty shook his head. “But I remember when they told us what had happened. And even worse... I heard some of the employees talking about how they had expected it from me. How I was nothing more than a wild animal. I... I could have really hurt you. Could have killed you.”

“That wasn’t you,” Gregory said. “You were angry, but you would have never hurt a kid. You were infected with a virus and it changed you.”

“I’m still sorry that it happened,” Monty said. “No kid deserves having that happen to them.”

“You didn’t deserve it either,” said Gregory. “And I forgive you.”

Monty slowly smiled and straightened up. He had worked hard to put those days behind him. The days where he would yell and trash his room and act like he hated everyone. Gregory was a reminder of those days. A reminder of the night where he almost killed someone. But Gregory was also a reminder of how far he’d come. How much he’d changed.

“You’re all right, Kid,” Monty finally said. “And I’m glad you came back.”

Gregory chuckled and then suddenly remembered something.

“Oh!” He said. “I wanted to ask. That night, you said something kinda weird. You said ‘You can hide, but you can’t hide.’ Was that something you would say or was that the virus?”

Monty was silent for a good while, eyes slightly wide.

“That was the virus,” he finally said. “Definitely. I would nev- I would never... say something that stupid.”

Gregory wasn’t sure he believed him.

Chapter Text

Gregory had left Monty’s room with his very own pair of fancy sunglasses. Mrs. Taylor stored them in her purse while they made their way to the final animatronic on Rockstar Row.

Gregory stared at the familiar door. He knew who was behind it, and his stomach was slowly gaining more and more butterflies. But he had no idea what color these butterflies were. Were they from excitement or fear?

“Gregory, are you ok?” Mrs. Taylor asked as she noticed how pale her son was becoming.

“Huh?” Gregory shook his head. “Yeah, Mom. I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?” Mr. Watkins asked. “You look a bit pale.”

“I’m fine,” Gregory repeated. “Just... maybe a bit nervous...”

“We can take a break if you want.” Mrs. Taylor suggested.

“No!” Gregory said. “I want to see him. I really do!”

The adults exchanged a look, but Mr. Watkins eventually nodded. He approached Freddy’s door and swiped his badge. The door then opened, revealing Freddy’s room.

Freddy himself was standing on the other side of the room, but he began to make his way over, face lighting up with happiness and excitement. Gregory had come back. His Superstar had returned. He was so happy to see him again-

He paused and tilted his head.

“Superstar?” He sounded confused.

Mrs. Taylor looked and then gasped in worry, her eyes widening slightly.

Gregory was not there, but she could see him in the distance running out of Rockstar Row...

Chapter Text

Gregory was crying.

Why... why couldn’t he face Freddy? Why couldn’t he finally put an end to all the guilt and terror he’d been feeling for years? Why couldn’t he take that step?

He didn’t really pay attention to where he was going. He just wanted to be alone. He wanted to just sit down and cry in shame for a bit.

He slowed down eventually and looked around. He was alone in the plex again. It reminded him of years ago when he was much smaller and much more scared. But now he wasn’t scared. This place was not bad. It was safe now. Mr. Watkins had made it safe.

Someone cleared their throat, and Gregory whirled around.

He’d made it to the Fazcade somehow, and that other security guard was nearby. What was his name? Michael? He was standing next to a Princess Quest III arcade cabinet and looking concerned.

Gregory sniffled and wiped at his eyes.

“You ok?” Michael walked over. “Where’s your mom at?”

“Back at Rockstar Row with Mr. Watkins,” Gregory sniffled again.

For a brief moment, Michael saw someone else. Someone else who cried and sniffled and was much smaller and younger.

“They scare me,” Evan wiped his eyes. “Can you hold my hand, please?”

Michael shook his head and the memory faded. His old self would have laughed at Gregory and called him a ‘crybaby’, but now... he felt a pang in his heart.

Or the machinery in his chest was just on the fritz again...

“So then why are you here?” Michael asked. “Why aren’t you with them?”

Gregory turned away, but Michael could still see the tears in his eyes.

“I wasn’t.... ready for Freddy...” Gregory mumbled. “I want to see him, but... I can’t. I’m too scared. I’m too...”

Yep. The machinery in Michael’s chest was definitely on the fritz.

“I was doing so well!” Gregory sounded frustrated. “I was able to meet the others and actually had fun with them! Why did I have to have a relapse? Why now?!”

“Relax, Kid,” said Michael.

“I’m not a kid!” Gregory growled.

“Yes, you are!” Michael snapped.

Gregory’s eyes widened slightly and he fell silent. Michael mentally kicked himself and sighed heavily.

“Look,” he said. “You are a child. Plain and simple. You may be a little older than before, but you’re still a kid. And no kid should ever have to carry the weight that you’re carrying. Not ever.”

He slowly sat down next to Gregory and put a hand on his shoulder.

“I know what you’re going through,” he said. “I know what it’s like to have to grow up too fast, what it’s like to have no one and nothing, and... even what it’s like to have to face the demons of your past. I know. And I can tell you that you are still a child, and you should have someone to help you. And it’s ok to let someone take care of you or help you. It’s ok to be scared. It’s ok to doubt yourself. Those are all normal parts of being human. Doesn't mean you're lazy or stupid or a crybaby. It just means you need a little help."

Gregory was silent for a moment as he thought about Michael’s words. He’d heard people say things like this to him before, but with Michael.... he believed him. Something about the security guard made Gregory feel like he really does know what Gregory went through. Michael had his problems, and he was speaking from the heart. Maybe he was right...

“So... what do I do now?” Gregory asked. “I don’t want to go back just yet. I just... I need a little more time.”

“Hmm...” Michael looked around. “Well... I’ve been trying to beat this game for ages, but I haven’t had any luck. You wanna help? Maybe between the two of us we can get to the end.”

“Princess Quest?” Gregory asked. “Sounds like a little girly game.”

“Oh trust me,” Michael chuckled. “It’s not...”

Chapter Text

“Go, go, go!”

It had taken them quite a bit of time.

Gregory had tried, and Michael had tried, but both had lost. It wasn’t until they played together, both manning joysticks and buttons, that they managed to get to the end of the game. They both stared at the pixelated door that took almost the whole screen.

“What is that?” Gregory asked.

“I have no idea,” Michael said, eyes narrowing slightly. “Go up to it.”

Greory did so, and the door slid open. He entered into the darkness, and a horrifying scream rang out from the game’s speakers. The screen then went black... and a red error message flashed.

“Is it... supposed to do that?” Gregory asked.

“Maybe?” Michael looked unsure. “What was that door? Who was screaming?”

The game then powered off with an electric whine.

“Well... that was fun,” Gregory smiled. “I used to play these games with the tokens I found on the ground. Back when I could barely reach the controls...”

Michael laughed and stepped away from the cabinet. He rather liked hanging out with Gregory. The kid had a good wit to him and shared Michael’s dry sense of humor. He was also sassy and snarky, reminding Michael of his younger self.

“Well... how are you feeling now?” Michael asked. “Do you want me to take you back or do you want to play another game?”

Gregory took a moment to think about it. He still wasn’t feeling a hundred percent when it came to Freddy, but at the same time he knew that putting it off wasn’t going to help either. He thought about Michael’s words.

“I want to go back, but... can you stay with me when I see him?” Gregory eventually asked.

Michael’s jaw nearly dropped. Gregory wanted him to stay?

“Of course,” Michael smiled. “I’ll stay with you while you visit Freddy.”

He took Gregory back to Rockstar Row, letting Gregory set the pace for their walk. Mr. Watkins and Mrs. Taylor were both sitting on one of the seats outside of Freddy’s room.

“Gregory!” Mrs. Taylor stood up and hugged her son. “Are you ok? I’m so sorry, Gregory. I should have seen that you weren’t ready.”

“It’s ok, Mom,” Gregory hugged her back. “I just needed some time. Michael helped me a lot.”

“He did?” Mr. Watkins glanced at Michael. Michael shyly turned away and cleared his throat.

“I’m ready now,” Gregory said. “Let’s see Freddy.”

Mr. Watkins nodded and once again led them to Freddy’s door. He swiped his badge, and the door opened.

Freddy was still sitting on the couch, but his whole face lit up brightly at the sight of Gregory.

“Superstar!”

Chapter Text

It was perhaps the most wholesome hug that Mrs. Taylor had ever seen.

It reminded her of the first real hug that Gregory had given her. When he’d finally realized that she was going to love and care for him. That she wasn’t going to give up on him and send him back to the orphanage. When his walls had finally crumbled and he’d accepted her as his new mother.

It almost brought Mrs. Taylor to tears, and she was happy that she’d decided to go with her gut and let this happen. Dr. Upshur had wanted to prevent this meeting? No. Mrs. Taylor saw now how important Freddy was to Gregory. How could she keep them from greeting? This was part of Gregory’s healing. A very important part.

Gregory was sniffling, and he was silently crying. If Freddy could cry, he would have done the same. Instead, he was smiling and his ears were happily waving up and down. It was like his reunion with Bonnie, but bigger.

Mr. Watkins smiled at the sight, and even Michael felt a warmth in his chest that, for once, wasn’t because of mechanical part overheating. He moved to sit down at Freddy's dressing table, giving everyone enough space to do as they pleased.

“I’m sorry,” Gregory finally said. “I’m so sorry I left. I was just so scared to come back. I was scared that Vanny would find me...”

“Superstar, I am not upset that you left,” Freddy explained. “I was upset that you had endured so much trauma that you had to leave to feel safe. No child should ever have to do that. No child should ever have to feel that way.”

Michael’s words echoed in Gregory’s mind. Yes, he had been a child. He was still technically a child. He should not have had to shoulder such trauma. It was ok to let someone take care of him...

“I wanted to come back,” said Gregory. “I wanted to see you again. I just... it took me so long to come to terms with what had happened and then I had to work up the courage to come back here. It took me a long time.”

“I can see that,” Freddy said. “You have grown so much. So much taller now. I do not think you would fit in my chest cavity anymore. And you look so much healthier too. I can tell that your mother loves you very much and takes very good care of you. And, might I say, this is a very nice look for you. You look like a little Freddy Jr!”

Gregory laughed, reaching up to wipe his eyes. He was thankful that Roxanne had decided to not put any makeup on his actual eyes, and he hoped the lightning bolt on his cheek wasn’t getting smeared.

“What happened after you left, Superstar?” Freddy asked. “Tell me everything.”

“Everything?” Greory shrugged and sat down on the couch. “Well... I was picked up by the police and I thought I was just going to end up in a bad situation. But then Mr. Watkins found me, and...”

Mr. Watkins and Mrs. Taylor settled down on a different couch, both happy that Freddy and Gregory had finally been reunited.

Chapter Text

Gregory nervously sat at the large dinner table.

His foster mother Lorelei sat at the table as well as a man that Gregory had never seen before. The man was dressed nicely. Not a full suit, but at least a nice shirt and tie. He also carried a few folders with him.

“Hello, Gregory,” the man greeted. “My name is Richard Watkins. I am the new manager of Freddy Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex.”

That set all of Gregory’s survival instincts on edge. He was well aware of all the crimes he had committed in the plex and that, even as a minor, he could be on the hook for them. Was this it? Had this man tracked him down to hit him with lawsuits and jail time? Was he old enough to go to jail?

It had been months since he’d escaped that place. He’d thought he was safe...

“You are not in trouble,” Mr. Watkins said firmly. “I know you’re probably panicking right now and I want to assure you that you are not in any sort of trouble. I promise you.”

“How?” Gregory spoke despite his instincts telling him to stay silent. “After everything I did. I broke in! I stayed after hours! I-I... the animatronics...”

“Yes, well... I’m sure you’ve learned your lesson on why you shouldn’t do that,” said. Mr. Watkins. “And regardless, what you went through far exceeds any punishment you may have been given for such a thing. I am not here to punish you. I am here to help you.”

“Why?” Gregory was suspicious. “Is this some sort of cover up? You trying to bribe me into staying quiet?”

Mr. Watkins took a moment to really look at Gregory. He knew this was probably going to be difficult, and he was right. Gregory carried himself with the air of a child forced to grow up and take care of himself at far too young an age. His eyes gleamed with distrust and suspicion. This was a boy who had fought to survive and was still fighting.

“The public has already been informed of the virus,” Mr. Watkins finally said. “Out of respect for your privacy, you have been kept out of the narrative. I am not like the previous managers. I prefer transparency and honesty. I’ve spent the past few months getting the plex up to code and ensuring the safety of its guests. A mutual friend told me about you, and so I came to offer my help.”

A mutual friend? Did he mean Freddy?

“What do you mean you want to help?” Gregory asked.

“I would like to fund your care,” Mr. Watkins began digging through one of the folders he’d brought. “And I would like to help you find your... a more permanent residence. Forgive me, I almost said ‘your forever home’, but you’re not a dog.” He suddenly looked up and narrowed his eyes. “Are you?”

Gregory couldn’t help but snort in amusement. Mr. Watkins smiled back and passed a few papers over to Lorelei. She carefully began to read them over.

“I will cover any expenses you incur and, when you are adopted, you will receive a monthly stipend until you turn eighteen, courtesy of Fazbear Entertainment,” Mr. Watkins explained. “A lot happened to you while on our property and none of it should ever happen to a child. So please allow us help make things right with you.”

Gregory frowned and turned to look at the papers himself. Most of it was legal jargon that he didn’t understand. He knew numbers, however, and these numbers were pretty big.

“It looks pretty solid,” Lorelei said. “I don’t see any downsides, but I’d like to have a proper lawyer look over it.”

“Of course,” Mr. Watkins nodded. “I would expect nothing less. Remember, the final decision is your own. If you do not accept, we are not going to attempt any sort of retaliation or attempt to silence you. If you want to sell your story to a newspaper, that’s your right. I am merely trying to do the best thing that will also guarantee your privacy.”

Gregory thought about the alternative. Any story that painted the plex in a bad light always sold like hotcakes. Gregory could get a good price for his, but in doing so, he’d open up the door for reporters to come badgering him, or his words could be twisted.

Worse, Vanny could find him through the story...

“Take some time to think about it,” Mr. Watkins broke through Gregory’s thoughts. “Mrs. Rantung, you have my number if you need anything. We will be in touch.”

Mr. Watkins stood up and held his hand out to Gregory, but the boy didn’t shake it. Mr. Watkins then shrugged and stepped back.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Gregory,” he said. “I hope to hear from you again in the future.”

He left, leaving Gregory with much to think about.

Chapter Text

It was months before anything changed.

Mr. Watkins kept his promise and paid Lorelei money for Gregory’s care. Gregory was still leery of him, waiting for some sort of trap or catch to the deal. So far, nothing had happened. Mr. Watkins checked in weekly with Lorelei and Gregory didn’t have to talk to him if he didn’t want to.

Life continued on, but then came a phone call that changed everything.

“There’s someone who wants to adopt you,” Lorelei told Gregory. “They say she’s very nice. You can meet her if you want.”

Gregory was scared. He was still adjusting to living with Lorelei. Now he had to adjust yet again? And this time it would be permanent. Was he ready for that? He wasn’t sure, but... he did want to at least try.

Lorelei took him to an office building, and there he saw his social worker Mr. Spring. Mr. Spring smiled and greeted them, asking about how Gregory was faring. Then he took them to a room, and Gregory saw her for the first time.

She was older than Lorelei, but not by much. Her dark hair was neatly pinned up and her eyes were kind and full of warmth. She smiled, and Gregory was reminded of the mothers he’d seen at the plex.

“Hello, Gregory,” she extended her hand. “My name is Mallory Taylor. It’s nice to meet you.”

Gregory shyly shook her hand.

They spoke. She asked Gregory questions, and he answered them, and she looked as if she was actually listening. Gregory felt himself relaxing in her presence, and he couldn’t say why. Something about her made him feel safe. Something about her made him feel like she cared for him. She valued him. He wasn’t just a child for her to use for whatever purpose, she actually seemed to care for his well being.

Gregory felt like he might like her... but he was worried. Did she know what had happened to him?

Apparently, she did.

Lorelei explained to him on the way back home that Mr. Spring had informed her of that night at the plex and how Gregory was in therapy and would need a lot of help to overcome his traumas. But Mrs. Taylor still wanted to adopt him. She’d said that she would do whatever was needed to help Gregory be happy and healthy.

And Gregory believed that.

The shadows of his mind still whispered that she would abandon him when he became too much, but a louder part of him argued back that she wouldn’t. It was a constant war between his fears and his hopes, and he didn’t know which would win.

But he wanted another chance. He wanted another chance to be happy. He wanted another chance to belong somewhere. He wanted a chance to relax and not have to fight and be scared all the time.

And when he finally received news that everything was complete and Mrs. Taylor would be taking him home... he felt one step closer to getting that chance.

Chapter Text

“I wasn’t sure what you like,” Mrs. Taylor said. “So I left things simple.”

‘Simple’ may as well have been a mansion compared to what Gregory had experienced on the streets for so long. The room was very big with a bed, a chest, a dresser, a tv, a closet, and a window with a window seat.

Gregory stared at his new room while Mrs. Taylor hung back to give him some space. True, everything was sort of a neutral color, but Gregory didn’t care.

“If you’d like, I plan on taking you shopping for some paint for the walls and new sheets and other things. I know you have a lot from your foster home, but if there was anything else you wanted...”

It was all so surreal and Gregory still was getting used to the idea that he’d been adopted. Mrs. Taylor hadn’t shied away from Gregory’s problems and had welcomed him into her home, a home that she lived alone in... except for a very fluffy and fat cat.

“I want to make something very clear,” She’d told him. “I will love you like a mother, but I am not trying to replace the mother you once had. I don’t know how things were with her, but I will not try to erase her. If you want to talk about her, you can. If you don’t want to call me mom, you don’t have to. I will love you all the same and care for you either way.”

Gregory didn’t remember his mother all that much, but he appreciated her words nonetheless.

As promised, Mrs. Taylor took Gregory shopping. They picked out some paint for his room, some new bed sheets, some books, some toys, some games and movies, whatever he wanted. They painted his room and then organized it to the way he wanted. New pillows were scattered over his bed and the window seat, and when it was all done... it looked incredible.

After that, she got him enrolled in a good school and made sure he had plenty of nice clothes. She kept her distance to allow him his privacy, but she never let him feel alone. And he never did feel alone. She was kind, she was patient, she cared for him, and she cooked good food. She also got him set up with a new therapist.

It was a new life for Gregory. He was still worried about what would happen, but... the more he spent time in his new home, the more he felt that things might actually be ok.

Chapter Text

“And then my therapist said it might help me if I came back,” Gregory said. “I was really nervous about it, but... she was right. This place isn’t so scary anymore, and you guys aren’t scary either. Now that I know it was a glitch that was affecting you, I think I’ll be able to move past it with a bit more time...”

“That is wonderful news,” Freddy beamed. “And I am very happy that you came back to see me. Hopefully you will visit again in the future.”

“I mean, I still have school and all, but I’m sure we can come back during our holiday breaks,” Gregory said.

“Of course,” said Mrs. Taylor. “If you want to come back, I’ll bring you back. It’s just a few hours away. We'll make a little vacation of it.”

“You will always be welcome here,” Mr. Watkins said. “And you can see Freddy as much as you want. It’s clear you two have a deeper bond than I thought.”

“I would love nothing more than to keep seeing my Superstar,” Freddy beamed.

They continued to talk, eventually they went on to play games in the Fazcade. After a few intense rounds of Fazerblast, they realized it was getting late. Gregory gave one last hug to Freddy, promising to come back when he could. Mrs. Taylor gave Freddy a particularly tight hug.

“Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for keeping him safe that night.”

“And thank you for keeping him safe now,” Freddy said. “I am very happy that he has you to take care of him...”

Later on, Mr. Watkins called Michael into his office.

“I need to speak to you about something,” Mr. Watkins said. “I noticed some items were missing from the display cases in Rockstar Row. I reviewed the footage, and... I saw you take the items from the case. I don’t want to think you had any malicious intent, so I’d like to know why you did it.”

Michael’s eyes hardened, and he frowned.

“Those were my brother’s toys,” he said. “I don’t want them on display.”

“Your brother’s toys?” Mr. Watkins’s eyes widened. “How did they end up here?”

“I don’t know,” Michael shrugged. “I was put into foster care when Father went missing. For all I know, someone raided our house afterwards and sold our possessions. But there was no mistaking those toys, my brother loved them. I just... I couldn’t stand the thought of how they got there. I couldn’t stand seeing something precious to him put on display.”

Mr. Watkins slowly nodded. He had been curious as to the origins of some of the items, but he’d always assumed they’d been donated or scavenged from a previous location. The idea that a child’s toys, a child who had died in a horrible accident, were stolen and then put on display... he hated it.

“In that case, I’m glad you took them,” Mr. Watkins said. “And I agree. Perhaps we should do an investigation for those other items. Maybe switch them out...”

“Thank you,” Michael sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I was just so angry and so upset and-”

“Don’t worry,” Mr. Watkins said. “You’re not in trouble. I will take care of it.”

Michael gave a relieved smile.

A few days later, Mr. Watkins received a call.

“Richard Watkins speaking,” he said. “Dr. Lewis, how are you? Yes, I’m doing well. How is Vanessa doing? Ah, that’s why you wanted to call?”

He listened for a moment, and then his eyes grew wide.

“She’s suddenly become lucid?”

Chapter Text

You have one new Fazmessage!

Hello, everyone!

I’m terribly sorry that this is short notice, but I may not be in today. Something major has come up that I must see to, and I’m not sure how long it will take to resolve. Please continue to follow procedures and if you need any manager overrides, please see the most senior staff member of your department. Please direct any customer complaints to the appropriate email, and if there are any emergencies, I will still have my phone on me, but I cannot guarantee a speedy arrival.

Do not worry, no one is hurt or dying. On the contrary, this is a good thing that came up. I will explain everything if I am given permission to do so. In the meantime, please have a great day. I know you will all perform admirably in my absence.

Richard Watkins,
Plex Manager

Chapter Text

“It’s simply amazing,” Dr. Lewis was saying as he led Mr. Watkins through the halls. “She’s been in a near catatonic state for the past few years, and now she’s talking again. She remembers her past, but doesn’t seem to remember what happened to cause this state or what happened while she was in it.”

“Perhaps that’s for the best,” Mr. Watkins mused.

Dr. Lewis led him to a room, and opened the door. Inside, a blonde haired woman was sitting at a table.

“Miss Leporidae?” Dr. Lewis said as he entered the room. “Your visitor is here.”

Vanessa turned to look, and Mr. Watkins’s heart broke for her. She looked thinner than he remembered, and her eyes were dull and confused.

“Hello, Vanessa,” Mr. Watkins slowly took a seat. “My name is Richard Watkins. I manage the pizzaplex you worked at-”

At those words, Vanessa’s eyes went wide with fear, and she stumbled out of her chair. Dr. Lewis moved to call an orderly, but Mr. Watkins held up a hand. Vanessa sunk to the floor, huddled against the far wall.

“No!” She screamed, pointing at Mr. Watkins. “No! You stay the hell away from me! It wasn’t my fault! I did nothing wrong! It was that stupid game they made me play!”

She looked like a trapped animal, but Mr. Watkins stayed calm.

“Vanessa, you are not going to be punished,” he said gently. “I swear to you, you are not in trouble. I’m here to help you.”

“I don’t want that company’s help,” Vanessa snapped. “Nothing good ever comes from it.”

“Fair enough,” Mr. Watkins walked a little closer. “Please allow me to explain. I was the one who convinced the courts to bring you here instead of throwing you in jail. I knew that something was wrong with you, I just didn’t know what. The doctors here have confirmed that someone was controlling you, and I have another source who was able to explain how they did it. I’ve been funding your treatment here ever since in the hopes that you would recover and be able to live a normal life. I know that none of this was your fault.”

All at once. Vanessa’s anger vanished, and she began to cry heavily into her hands.

“I didn’t do it,” she choked out. “I didn’t. I would never. I didn’t do it!”

She broke down, sobbing against the wall and showing just how broken she had become. Mr. Watkins felt awful for her, and he slowly knelt down next to her.

“Vanessa,” he said, “may I touch you?”

He held his hand out, and Vanessa hesitated before she took it. She was like a lost child, desperate for anything to hold onto.

“Vanessa, I swear to you that I will do everything I can to keep you out of prison,” Mr. Watkins said. “You were not at fault, and we have evidence to support that. It’s just a matter of putting it together for the courts. I will not let you be punished for this. You are a victim in this, and I will see to it you get the help you need. We have lawyers, and I’ll appoint one to you at no charge.”

Vanessa sniffled, still shaking as she held Mr. Watkins’s hand. She took a deep breath and nodded.

“For now, I want you to work with the doctors on getting better,” Mr. Watkins continued. “Everything’s paid for, so don’t worry about any time limits. You take as long as you need to recover. I’ll take care of everything else, ok?”

“I... I really didn’t do it,” Vanessa said again.

“I know you didn’t,” Mr. Watkins gave her a reassuring smile.

As Mr. Watkins was leaving, he dialed a number on his phone and waited.

“Hello, Helpy,” he said as the line picked up. “Can I speak to David, please?”

Chapter Text

“You gave him your old bowtie?” Natty asked.

“Not mine,” Bonnie said. “My... hang on...” he silently counted on his fingers. “My grandfather’s. The iconic red bowtie that matched his guitar.”

“But why?” Natty picked up a few more shirts off the floor of Bonnie’s room.

“It wasn’t my style,” Bonnie shrugged. “I’m sure he’ll get more use out of it than I will. Plus it was the only piece of clothing I have that would fit him.”

“I guess that’s true,” Natty sighed.

She looked around the room and frowned. She will never know how Bonnie managed to keep his room so unorganized. She tried to clean it as often as she could, but it never seemed to do any good. Maybe she’d given Bonnie too many clothes to keep track of.

“Could you please keep your room clean?” Natty asked. “You’re worse than Chica was.”

“Excuse?!” Bonnie sounded so offended. “I’ll not have you compare my Glamour Palace to Chica’s room.”

Natty looked around the room and raised an eyebrow.

“I mean... maybe it’s a little messy...” Bonnie’s ears drooped sheepishly.

After Gregory’s departure, life at the plex continued on as normal. The only real difference was the animatronics seemed to be doing much better now. They moved and spoke as if a great weight had been lifted from their shoulders. Gregory's forgiveness had healed many old wounds.

Freddy’s smile was especially brighter than normal. Everyone knew he had a special bond with Gregory, and seeing his little superstar again had put a major bounce back in his step.

“It was wonderful, Natty,” Freddy said as he hugged and twirled his handler around. “We were able to work through a lot of things and clear the air. And we had so much fun playing together. He said he will come visit when he’s able to. Did you know he’s in school now? His mother gave me one of his pictures. And he’s on a competitive swim team! And he’s also part of the school marching band!”

He continued to ramble on, and Natty let him.

Mr. Watkins had told everyone that the emergency had gone well, but he was not at liberty to discuss details. He did warn that he might be busier than normal in the coming days, but that he would still be available for any other emergencies. No one knew what was going on, but they knew if it really concerned them, he would tell them.

“Yumi!”

Yumi felt something hug her legs, and she looked to see a familiar face.

“Little buddy!” She knelt down to hug Helpy better. She wished she could pick him up, but he was heavier than he looked.

“What are you doing here?” She pat his head.

“Mr. Watkins wanted to speak to me and David,” Helpy grinned. “I can’t give any details, but I’m happy to be back here again and wanted to see you. How is everyone?”

“We’re all doing great,” Yumi said as Helpy followed her to the back. “You know, I’m glad you’re here. I got you a little something, and I hope you like it. I put it in your cubby.”

“You did?” Helpy’s eyes literally lit up in happiness. “Thank you, Yumi!”

He ran to his little honorary cubby and pulled out the small box while Yumi put her own things away in her locker and clocked in. Helpy opened the box and gasped loudly before pulling out a small plush of Cosmo.

"This is the special debut edition!" Helpy said. "I tried to get one, but it sold out so quickly."

"And that's why I camped out and stood in line for an hour to get one for you," Yumi smiled. "Your collection must be getting pretty big by now."

"Thank you so much!" Helpy hugged her again, squeezing tightly and nearly making Yumi fall over.

Chapter Text

Michael remembered when he’d run his own restaurant.

It wasn’t for long. Only for like a month or so. And in the end, he’d learned why he was even running it to begin with.

He’d started out because every other lead he’d had on his father had gone cold. He’d needed a connection to Fazbear Entertainment again, and this seemed to be his ticket to just that. He’d managed to find an illusion disc after he’d raided one of the warehouses, so he could at least look normal for this job...

He’d lost everything else, so he was going to treasure this bit of normalcy.

When he entered his restaurant for the first time, there were two things waiting for him: an instruction manual, and a small animatronic bear.

Michael sneered at the bear, knowing that animatronics were never a good thing. The manual was pretty straightforward, telling him how to use the software on the computer in the office as well as what tasks would need to be completed each night. At the end, it said that any questions could be directed to the animatronic provided.

With nothing else to do, Michael activated the little bear.

The animatronic came to life quickly and perked up when his eyes fell on Michael.

“Hello!” He beamed. “My name is Helpy! I’m here to help you with your new restaurant!”

To Michael’s surprise, Helpy... was actually helpful. The little bear cleaned, helped Michael arrange the new games, tested out said games, collected data that helped Michael buy things that would best help his little pizzeria, and more.

Plus the bear was a little ray of sunshine that Michael couldn’t help smiling at after a while of working with him...

On that fateful night, Michael had sent Helpy away. He hadn’t seen him again since then.

So imagine his surprise when a familiar voice called his name. Michael spun around and his eyes widened at the sight of the little white bear scampering towards him with a huge grin. Helpy hugged Michael tightly and giggled to himself.

“Mr. Schmidt!” he said. “I haven’t seen you in so long! How have you been? I was so scared when I’d heard about the fire! I didn’t know if you were ok or not...”

Michael could no longer produce tears, but he would be crying if he could. His heart swelled with something warm that almost made him alive again as he knelt down to return Helpy’s hug. Ever since he’d been abandoned by Baby and her ‘friends’ he’d been so alone... and Helpy had been the only one he could call a friend.

“I... it’s a long story,” Michael said. “A story I don’t really want to talk about. But hey! What are you doing here? I didn’t know they still had you working.”

“I help Mr. Acre now,” Helpy beamed at Michael. “One of the lawyers. He’s a really nice man. He buys me stuff for my collection and lets me have McDonalds toys and watch cartoons! But I missed you a lot! Where have you been?”

Michael smiled as he pet Helpy’s head.

“Like I said, it’s a long story,” he said. “But I’m here now as a security guard. Mr. Watkins is a good man to work for.”

“He is,” Helpy nodded. “Hey, Mr. Acre doesn’t need me right now. Do you have time for a break? We can go play some games like we used to!”

“Oh?” Michael chuckled. “Just games, no ball pit?”

Helpy shuddered slightly.

“I did not like that ball pit,” he said softly.

“Do we stand a chance at proving her innocence?” Mr. Watkins asked.

David sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he looked over his notes. This was a case he’d never had before, and one he’d never even seen before. The public would not like hearing about it, but... Mr. Watkins had created quite the reputation for himself. If people hear what he’d done to help and that this whole thing had happened before he’d even gotten the job... then the pizzeria shouldn’t suffer from it.

Granted, the only reason why they worried about the pizzeria to begin with was because of the people working in it. The case would have been brought before a judge regardless.

“I think... we can,” David said. “It’s going to be very tricky, and we’ll have to play things very carefully. Now, I highly doubt she’ll be going free after this. Any self respecting judge is going to want her to be treated and prove her sanity before rejoining society. After that, she might still face some hardship after the publicity this is going to generate.”

“I’ll help her in every way I can,” Mr. Watkins said. “She’s an innocent, and it’s this company’s fault that all of this happened. Like hell am I going to let her just suffer alone.”

“Good,” David nodded. “Well... it won’t be easy... but it won’t be impossible either...”

Chapter Text

It was about a week later when Mr. Watkins was called to Parts and Services by Jean and Owen.

“Why does the file say there’s two units?” He asked as he looked over the papers he was given.

“Well... we’ll show you,” Jean said. “First, let’s introduce you to Nett!”

Standing in the middle of the room was an animatronic that resembled the old puppet. It was mostly black with a white face that had purple swirls and designs painted on it. Black and purple 80s hair framed said face, and it wore a sparkly black shirt and pants that had black and white striped sleeves and legs.

It actually looked pretty good. It was a nice adaptation to the 80s aesthetic that they had.

“Hello,” Nett smiled and waved. “My name is Nett. I’m part of the security team.”

“Hello, Nett,” Mr. Watkins smiled. “I’m Richard Watkins. I manage the plex.”

“Yes Sir,” Nett saluted. “I have you in my databanks as the head honcho.”

Mr. Watkins carefully examined the animatronic. Everything looked up to code, but he was curious about the odd backpack it seemed to be wearing.

“So where is the second-”

“Hello!” Mr. Watkins was interrupted by a very young sounding voice.

A head popped out of the backpack that Nett was wearing, and a pair of arms followed it. It was another animatronic, but this one was more... feminine. Nett helped the animatronic out of the backpack, and Mr. Watkins saw it was about as big as Helpy was.

The much smaller animatronic was wearing a dress that had a purple top and sleeves and black and white stripes for the skirt. Her black hair was much longer and tied back with a big purple bow. She had her own white face and purple designs as well.

“You see,” Owen began, “we did some tests with Nett here. He’s certainly big and scary enough to act as security, but a lot of kids thought he was too big and scary. Since he’s going to be dealing with lost kids, we thought it would be best to make another one that is smaller and friendlier. So we made Mary here too.”

“Mary and Nett,” Mr. Watkins chuckled. “Clever. Well, I think you both have outdone yourselves. They look amazing! Put them through the standard tests to make sure they’re operating correctly and then we’ll add them to the floor. Let me know if there are any problems.”

“Of course, Sir,” Jean smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll perform just fine.”

Chapter Text

The squeal that Sunny gave was not human.

Well, of course it wouldn’t be, but still...

Mr. Watkins had invited the staff to a Halloween Party after the plex had closed. The humans hadn’t been allowed to wear costumes during operating hours for the safety of the children, but they could wear one now at the party.

Tiffany had surprised Sunny with her costume. She was... well, them. Split right down the middle. Sunny on one side and Moon on the other. The outfit matched theirs perfectly and her face was painted as well.

“You look amazing!” Sunny gushed, stamping his feet with excitement.

“Thank you,” Tiffany smiled. “My Abuelita helped me make the outfit.”

“Well, you both did a wonderful job,” Sunny said. “Hang on, Moon wants to see it himself now.”

He switched the lights off, and Tiffany giggled.

Isaac had chosen a pirate costume to go with Foxy’s outfit, and Yumi had decided on a traditional witch costume to match Chica. She’d also dressed Teeny Boi up as a black cat and let him perch on her shoulder. Chica loved how they matched, and Yumi kept silent about how she’d also dressed this way to mess with Foxy.

Sure enough, Foxy was giving her the side eye during the party.

Natty had created a transforming Cinderella dress, which she changed half way through the party to everyone’s delight. Bonnie had fanned himself and told her how gorgeous she looked.

“Slay, Queen!” He said. “Slay it Disney style!”

Natty had no idea what that meant, but she laughed and posed anyway.

Cosmo had chosen an Elvis costume, and Alex had decided to pass on the party. As such, Cosmo was busy partying with the other animatronics. Monty was dancing with them, flexing his bad Australian accent to match his Steve Irwin costume.

“A little on the nose, don’t you think?” Josh asked.

“Hey, he hunted crocs, not gators,” Monty said. “I’m in the clear.”

No one decided to argue with that.

Ballora was dressed in a white feathered dress, made to resemble a swan. Carmen was a little duckling, though the yellow feathers made her nose itch and sneeze. Ballora eventually took pity and helped her remove the large feathered boa she’d secured around her neck.

“There, that should be better,” Ballora said.

“Ha! Can’t handle a few feathers?” Roxanne teased.

She was dressed like Lara Croft, and Kevin was with her dressed as Leon Kennedy.

“Oh, be nice,” Ballora shook her head. “Feathers can be very irritating.”

“Very true,” Roxanne surprisingly agreed, but Ballora felt there was a double meaning to her words...

Chapter Text

When Glitchtrap awoke that morning... something was different.

He didn’t notice it at first in his half asleep state. It was only after walking around a bit that he noticed his room was a bit... roomier. The interior was a very tasteful purple, and there were plushies of him scattered around. The scenery outside was of a city, but a button nearby said that it could be changed. Glitchtrap slowly looked around, taking it all in.

Suddenly, a ringing came from a screen on the wall. The words ‘You are being summoned’ flashed at him. Curious, he pressed the nearby ‘Accept’ button. There was a woosh of coding, and then he was somewhere else.

The background had the pizzaplex logo, and there was a huge screen that showed...

“Mr. Watkins?” Glitchtrap asked.

“Morning, Glitchtrap,” Mr. Watkins smiled. “I see you’ve settled into your new home. Michael here was kind enough to help Owen with transferring you over. I apologize it took so long, we’ve had so much happen in the past few months...”

“What do you mean, new home?” Glitchtrap asked.

“You’ve been begging to be given something to do,” Michael said. “So we made this kiosk. You can play games with the customers here.”

Glitchtrap noticed the menu off to the side had a list of games. ‘Glitchtrap’s Glitch Attacks’, ‘Memory Matching’, ‘Pizza Run’, ‘Design the Greenroom’, ‘Maze Madness’, and more. Glitchtrap cycled through them to get a feel for them.

“You can also help our customers by answering questions for them,” Mr. Watkins explained. “But there’s one more very important job for you. Do you see that button that says ‘Report’?”

Glitchtrap did. It was a big red button off to the side.

“Whenever you see something like a crime being committed, an unruly customer, an injury, or something else that’s serious, you press that button. Press it, give a description of what’s going on and where it’s happening, and then the necessary bots will be dispatched to help,” said Mr. Watkins. “Now, I don’t expect you to work all the time. You are entitled to breaks like the rest of our employees. Whenever you’d like, you can go back to your room and rest for a bit of time and come back later. Whenever you’re in your room, you can set your status to being on break. That way, our customers will know when you’re working again.”

Glitchtrap was stunned. At best, he’d expected to be a screen saver or something. But to be given his own kiosk with his own games and his own jobs... and even his own room. It was so much more than he could have ever hoped for.

“Just keep in mind, there are rules,” Mr. Watkins said. “You can’t be rude, you can’t lie and give wrong answers to the questions, no cursing or violence. Standard rules, I’m sure you can follow them. If you do not follow them, your kiosk will be shut down and you will be in time out. Also, if you don’t want to stay in the kiosk after hours, Michael still has the phone that he can download you back into. Any questions?”

Glitchtrap was too stunned to say anything. He simply shook his head. Easy enough to follow and understand.

“And one last thing,” Mr. Watkins smiled. “How do you like your new look?”

Glitchtrap blinked and then finally looked down at himself.

His fur had a new golden sheen to it. His jacket was now a purple vest that was patterned with stars that glowed brightly. He’d been given a pair of purple pants that had lavender ruffles snaking down his legs in two winding lines. He also had matching long fishnet gloves that were fingerless, and his bowtie was covered in purple sequins. No shoes, but Glitchtrap preferred his bare feet anyway.

He wriggled his ears. There were two purple hoop earrings in one of them.

He... looked... AMAZING.

Chapter Text

Glitchtrap quickly became a hit at the plex.

He kept up his sassy remarks, but kept the insults to playful banter. And to everyone’s surprise, he actually followed the rules that Mr. Watkins had given him. The kids loved having an interactive kiosk to play with, and the adults enjoyed having someone to help them when needed. There were videos popping up of Glitchtrap interacting with people, and the comments marveled over the technology.

There was even a rumor that Glitchtrap was just a real person inside the kiosk who watched the customers through a camera or hidden window.

When he wasn’t busy, Glitchtrap would do a few things. He'd comb his fur, paint his ‘nails’, or carefully watch everyone with a pair of binoculars, just ready to hit the big red report button. He got his wish a few times after two mothers began to fight over a table for their families. Glitchtrap had reported the incident and then kept a running commentary of the fight that was sprinkled with insults, much to the amusement of the people watching.

It also quickly became known that Glitchtrap was a major sore loser. This made the children all the more determined to beat him at his games. Whenever they did, Glitchtrap would throw a small tantrum and say ‘You got lucky!’ or ‘That’s just because the game’s on the baby difficulty!’. It never failed to make the players howl with laughter and cheer for the victor.

Glitchtrap made sure to set his status when he took his breaks, spending the time snoozing in his new bed or just milling around his new room. To his delight, he had a closet of different outfits to wear, and he could even allow the customers to choose his look for the day, though he never let them.

“They have no taste,” he told Michael one night. “Have you seen what the kids wear these days? They’d have me looking like a... a Fortnite character! Blech!”

Glitchtrap also took the time to interact with the other Glamrocks. The customers loved seeing him talk with Bonnie. They’d say things like ‘Bunny Bros!” and ‘Bunny Power!’, complimenting each other’s looks all the while. To no one’s surprise, a sort of rivalry developed between him and Roxy and Monty.

“Haha! Another day over,” he yawned as Michael connected the phone to the kiosk. “Make sure you clean my screen good. Some kid smeared something sticky on it, I can feel it.”

He popped up in Michael’s phone just in time to give an exaggerated shudder.

“Glad to see you fitting in so well,” Michael said. “I was nervous when Mr. Watkins set you up.”

“Please,” Glitchtrap huffed. “The kids love me! Oh! Do you think I’ll get some merchandise now?”

“Mr. Watkins says that Brian is working on it,” Michael chuckled. “We’ll let you know when they have some ideas.”

“Good,” Glitchtrap tied his ears back and grabbed a mud mask. “I deserve my own merchandise.”

He began applying the mask, and Michael just laughed again.

Chapter Text

“Wheeeeeee!”

Moon looked towards where he’d heard the noise from. Something was... swinging from the ceiling? He saw the flash of black sparkles and relaxed, quickly figuring out who it was.

Sure enough, the swinging figure finally came to a stop nearby, and hung upside down next to Moon.

“Nett,” Moon greeted. “Nice to see you again. Doing your patrols?”

“Sure am,” Nett beamed. “Still working to get a good feel for the place. This plex is massive!”

Moon nodded, slightly, looking at the cable that Nett was using to hang upside down. It looked different from his own. For one thing, it didn’t appear to have a hook on the end, but instead attached directly to a metal beam overhead.

“How does your cable work?” Moon asked. “I’ve been curious to know.”

“My cable?” Nett righted himself and put his feet back on the ground. “Don’t you have one too?”

“Not like yours,” Moon said, pulling the cable from his back. “Mine has a hook on the end that I can use to anchor myself and swing, but I have to throw it, and the hook was only recently updated for a better grip.”

“Interesting,” Nett said, looking at Moon’s cable. “It comes out of your back? Mine comes out of my palm.”

He reeled his cable in and showed Moon how it came out of his palm. He then shot it out, looking like a goth Spiderman shooting a web. Moon noticed how it had a very powerful magnet on the end instead of a hook.

“I imagine you have to be very careful where you shoot that,” Moon mused.

“Kinda,” Nett retracted the cable. “Mr. Watkins put in special spots that I can use as anchor points. I bet you can use them too with that hook.”

“Oh?” Moon looked up at the ceiling. “I’ll have to look into that. Thankfully, there haven’t been that many break ins at night. And most of them were just dumb kids.”

“I take it your main job isn’t plex security?” Nett asked. “Mary’s told me about the daycare. She’d love to see it one day.”

“I wanna go down the slide!” Mary piped up from Nett’s backpack. “The fun one! And play in the ball pit and do crafts and play hide and seek!”

Moon chuckled at her enthusiasm.

“Well, you both are always welcome there,” he said. “I’m sure our regulars would love to meet you. Oh, do you still want my help on the nightly patrols? I’m not able to do much because of the lights, but I’ve sort of been doing it for years.”

Michael had had no problem with him. Heck, Michael even enjoyed his company. They both had the same sort of dry sense of humor and snarkiness that allowed them to bond and be themselves without worrying about offending anyone. Moon gave his best barbs and Michael actually managed to keep up.

“I don’t mind at all,” Nett shook his head. “Any help’s appreciated, especially when it comes to security. Oh, check this out. This is another ability of mine.”

He held out his other hand, palm out, and took careful aim. A weighted net suddenly shot out and spread from his palm. It soared through the air and hit a nearby chair, wrapping around it and sending it toppling over. Moon stared as Nett eagerly turned back to him.

“Pretty neat, huh?”

Chapter Text

“Shout out to Mr. Watkins for waiting until December to put up the Christmas decorations,” Yumi said as she looked around. “Some of our neighbors have had theirs up since before Thanksgiving.”

“It’s an epidemic,” Tiffany sighed as she clocked in. “But, my Abuelita was happy to put hers up. We all came over and helped with the tree. She has so many ornaments now.”

“Well, tell your Abuelita that I said Feliz Navidad,” Yumi said.

“And tell your cousin that I said... um... how do you say it?” Tiffany asked.

“Merii Kurisumasu,” Yumi smiled.

It took Tiffany a few tries to get it right, but she eventually said it correctly and looked proud of herself afterwards. Yumi laughed, putting on her little necklace of Christmas lights to look more festive. They had come in earlier than usual to help their animatronics with their Christmas outfits.

“Christmas dishes?” Cosmo looked up at the new menu they had added to The Nest. “Hot cocoa, gingerbread buns, Christmas cookies. How festive!”

“All the restaurants get holiday stuff,” Chica smiled. “Wait until you smell them. Ugh, I love how they smell, but they always make me so hungry!”

Chica was wearing her usual Mrs. Claus costume and Cosmo was dressed as another elf. The newer animatronics had been given their own costumes and decorations as well, but everyone had been cooing over how cute Chica and Cosmo looked.

“I’m sure I’ll find some way to resist the delicious smells,” Cosmo beamed. “Though, I wouldn’t mind sharing some with you. Please come by if you ever feel a bit... peckish.”

Chica blinked and then burst into laughter.

“Putting in my request now,” Isaac said as he handed Mr. Watkins a piece of paper. “We’ll be going out of town for Christmas, so I’m hoping for some time off.”

“I don’t see why not,” Mr. Watkins looked down at the dates on the paper. “We’ll be closed that weekend anyway except for the staff Christmas party, and I can spare you a few days after Christmas. Approved. I always believe that you should be with your family during these holidays. Please let me know if anything changes. I understand travel this time of year can be crazy.”

“No kidding,” Isaac chuckled. “I have your number. I’ll call if anything comes up. Thanks, Boss!”

“Of course,” Mr. Watkins opened a nearby filing cabinet to put the paper away.

“Roxy, hold still,” Kevin sighed.

“You’re doing it wrong,” Roxy growled slightly as she watched Kevin in her mirror.

“Roxy, I’ve done this plenty of times before,” Kevin said. “You have to trust the process. You always end up looking amazing when we’re done.”

Roxy huffed, but said nothing. Alex chuckled from nearby as they helped straighten up Roxy’s room. Apparently, Kevin had been too busy to clean it himself, and Alex was always happy to help where they could.

“You worry too much,” Alex said. “It’s the Christmas season, it’s not supposed to be stressful. At least... it’s not supposed to be stressful outside of retail. I remember all the rushes my family’s shop usually gets.”

“Oh, I have some horror stories of my own,” Kevin said, spraying some red into Roxy’s hair to go with her green. “Trust me when I say I know how you feel. But don’t worry too much, it doesn’t usually get too crazy here. We do have Christmas activities and events, but Mr. Watkins staffs them well so no one gets too overwhelmed.”

“That’s good to hear,” Alex shoved some more trash into their bag. “I’m really starting to like this place...”

Chapter Text

“The judge has set a date,” David said as he handed over some documents. “We have time to prepare, but... there’s something else I’m worried about.”

Mr. Watkins looked over the papers and sighed.

“The press,” he said softly.

“You know they love a good story that paints this company in a bad light,” David said. “It’s been their bread and butter for years. When they find out, they’re going to have a field day. Vanessa is not going to be spared.”

“I know,” Mr. Watkins said. “I’d been hoping to shield Vanessa from this. They’re going to tear her apart, and she does not deserve that. I suppose we can only shield her as much as she can. I’ll put out an email and have a meeting with the other employees. We are not going to engage when the reporters inevitably start sniffing around. I’ll have signs posted at the door and on our website that we will not tolerate them harassing our staff. I will not let innocent people suffer for this company’s sins.”

David slowly nodded. He knew he’d be as much a target for defending Vanessa, but he was already used to being mobbed and had his own tactics for dealing with it. Even Helpy had been programmed on how to avoid conflict as well as how to peacefully resolve it. But the staff at the plex would be unprepared. Sure, some of them could hold their own, but they didn’t deserve it in the first place.

“We’ll need to play this very carefully,” Mr. Watkins said. “If all we can do is get her off on a technicality, so be it. But I want us to work hard to prove her innocence beyond a shadow of a doubt. I want the least amount of mud clinging to her when this over. I want her to be able to move on and live her life.”

“Glitchtrap said he’d help?” David asked. “We can use his testimony. We gotta make it stick to Afton, and it has to stick well. The court is going to want to be able to punish the one who did wrong, and they’re not going to like it if the one who did wrong is already dead.”

Mr. Watkins sighed again. The whole thing was a mess, but he wasn’t going to back down. Vanessa deserved to have her name cleared, and she deserved to have a life after this. He was going to do everything within his power to help her.

“Where do you suggest we start?” He finally asked.

“I have a few ideas...” David opened another file, and they began their work.

Chapter Text

“Code red! Code red! El Chips restaurant!”

Glitchtrap’s voice rang out over the radios of everyone in security. Nett perked up from where he’d been sitting off to the side and watching the crowds at Roxy Raceway.

“That’s you!” Mary said from his backpack. “Lets go, let’s go!”

Nett shot his hook out and swung away, rising above the other customers and swinging gracefully in an arc. Time to get to work...

“We have a runner!” Glitchtrap said. “I have eyes on him! He’s heading downstairs to the main atrium! Red shirt and black pants, wearing a Freddy hat.”

Nett changed his direction and swung out to the main atrium. He scanned the crowd and saw the person Glitchtrap had mentioned. He was full on booking it for the exit. Nett took aim... and then fired.

The net that shot from his palm hit its intended target and quickly wrapped around him. The man cried out and fell to the ground. Nett landed next to him and picked him up.

“Gotcha,” Nett said. “Now let’s just sit and wait for the police to arrive, shall we?”

The man began to curse at him, but Nett just had Mary cover her ears, and he waited for the proper authorities.

A few days later, Glitchtrap’s voice rang out again.

“Code Adam,” he said. “Code Adam. Be advised, we’re looking for a seven year old boy with blonde hair and green eyes. Wearing a Monty shirt, red pants, and black light up sneakers. Last seen over in Monty Golf.”

Nett once again got to work, swinging over to Monty Golf. Monty was doing his job of keeping people from leaving, informing them of what was going on. Nett walked past him and further into the dark area. It was the perfect place for a child to hide...

Nett activated his night vision as he began to search the darker corners of the area. He had searched a good bit of the place before noticing flickering lights in the distance. The lights flickered briefly before turning off, and they were very low to the ground...

Nett moved closer and saw that it was a little boy.

“Hello?” He called. “Are you lost? I’m here to help-”

“Get away!” The boy sobbed and ran off.

Nett watched the sneakers' lights move through the tall grass of the scenery and stop on the other side. He then reached up and pulled Mary from his backpack.

“You’re up, Mary,” he said, nudging her towards where the child had run off to.

Mary located the child and then scampered off towards him. The child was sitting on the ground now and crying.

“Hi,” Mary smiled. “Your mom is looking for you.”

“What?” The child sniffled. “She is?”

“Yeah, that’s why me and my brother are here,” said Mary. “We’re here to take you back to her. She’s waiting at the security desk for you.”

The child looked at where Nett was waiting and shook his head.

“No, he’s scary,” he said. “I don’t wanna go with him.”

“You don’t have to,” Mary extended her hand. “I know my brother is scary, but he’s a big softie. But you can come with me instead. I know how to get to the Security Desk. I can take you there. Ok?”

The child scrubbed at his face with his fists and slowly stood up. He took Mary’s hand and let her lead him out of the tall grass. Nett watched as the child stayed close to Mary as they passed by him. He began to follow at a distance to not scare him.

Mary led the child out of Monty Golf and over to the Security Desk where a sobbing woman was waiting.

“Branden!” She rushed forward and picked the child up. “Branden, I was so worried!”

“Mommy!” Branden hugged his mother and buried his face in her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Mommy. I was trying to get my ball and then I didn’t know where you were!”

“Good job, Mary,” Nett said as he picked her up and set her back in his backpack.

Mary gave a happy clap and a big smile.

Chapter Text

A new sign has been posted at the entrance to Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria:

We at Fazbear Entertainment are well aware of the legal case involving one of our former employees. While Fazbear Entertainment is no stranger when it comes to legal battles, we have changed our policies regarding them. We believe that any persons involved are innocent until proven guilty and will continue to stand by them as they have their day in court.

That being said, all employees of Fazbear Entertainment have been instructed to not comment on the court proceedings. The case does not have anything to do with them, and to involve them is unfair to both the accused as well as the employees. If you try to engage them with any questions regarding the matter, they will not respond.

As such, a new policy is being enforced. Any guest who enters the pizzaplex and is found to be harassing the employees while asking them questions will be banned from the pizzaplex for one year. We do not allow harassment on this premises and will be strictly enforcing this new policy. There will be no exceptions to the rule, so do not try it ‘for the lulz’.

To any reporters or social media influencers, we will not be doing any interviews or answering any questions in regards to the ongoing court case. If you try to spam our social media pages with questions or do the same with our phone lines, your information will be blocked, and we will be getting law enforcement involved if it continues afterwards.

By entering the pizzaplex, you acknowledge and agree to the new policy as stated above.

Have a Faztastic day!

Chapter Text

Hello everyone! So, Jokeybladeaura made a Discord Server for this series. I will be joining it soon when I have time to do so, but everyone else can go join and have fun!

Link is here: https://discord.gg/vsQ5tvPY

See you soon!

Chapter Text

Michael couldn’t remember the last time he’d celebrated Christmas.

Between losing his siblings, losing his parents, losing what pathetic life he’d managed to maintain afterward, dying, being revived, losing the parasites that had puppeteered his own corpse, managing a fake restaurant, surviving a fire, and then his own little underground hibernation... he’d just never had the time to do so.

He did miss it sometimes. Gathering in the living room while his mother took pictures and his little siblings smiled and excitedly unwrapped their presents. His father had always watched in silence, gripping his mug of tea and sitting in his armchair. After presents, they would eat a good breakfast and then spend the rest of the day together with games or movies or things like that.

Still, Michael had long since accepted that that life of his was over. He couldn’t go back to those days, and he didn’t try to. Not anymore.

So when he woke up in the pizzaplex on Christmas Day, he waltzed out of his room without a second thought-

“MERRY CHRISTMAS, MICHAEL!”

For once, Michael was grateful that his heart had long since stopped beating. He was pretty sure he’d be having a heart attack after that scare.

Hand pressed firmly to his chest, he slowly turned to see who had approached him. It was all the animatronics in the pizzaplex, all wearing their own little smiles, and all carrying wrapped boxes of various different sizes.

“Oh wait!” Chica suddenly said. “Michael’s British, so it’s ‘Happy Christmas’, right?”

“That is indeed the proper British greeting,” Cosmo mused.

“Well, who came up with that?” Monty asked.

“Who came up with half the things you Southerners say?” Michael said to Monty. “And anyway, what is all this?”

“It is Christmas Day!” Freddy smiled. “We have come to give you your presents and engage in merry festivities with you.”

Michael blinked in confusion. They had brought him gifts? They had plans for the day? With him? All the other employees were off today, and he’d resigned himself to the loneliness, but now...

“The witch told us that ya could probably do with some holiday cheer,” Foxy explained. “So we be here to give ya a happy day.”

“We couldn’t do much,” Chica said. “But we pulled out as many stops for you as we could. Mr. Watkins even helped!”

“Yeah, so you better appreciate this,” Roxy said.

"No one should be alone on Christmas," Ballora said softly. "It is a time for family and friends, after all."

"And crafts!" Sunny said. "We can make ornaments and paper snowmen and lots of other things!"

Michael was once again shocked into silence. He looked at the smiling animatronics and at each wrapped present. Some were wrapped a bit sloppier than others, but all had a certain charm to them. A certain warmth...

“I-I...” Michael felt his tear ducts begin to sting slightly. “Thanks guys. I really do appreciate this. A lot.”

“That is what friends are for,” Freddy reached out and pulled Michael to his side. “Now how about we start on these gifts, Superstar? We can play games afterwards.”

Chapter Text

“Hi, I’m here to pick up Vikki. Her mom should have me on the list of people who can pick her up.”

Tiffany stared.

The person in front of her spoke with a male voice, but... decidedly did not look male. They smiled at her after a moment of silence.

“Something wrong, Honey?” They asked.

“Um... I’m sorry,” Tiffany said. “I just... don’t know how to address you.”

“Oh!” they laughed. “No worries, Honey! When I’m a queen, I prefer my she/her pronouns. I was just finishing up rehearsals at the club I work at and didn’t have time to change. Otherwise, you’d be looking at my dashing and handsome usual self. My stage name is Vera. Vera Nice.”

Tiffany chuckled at the pun as the queen began to fiddle with her hair and purse her lips.

“Very well, ma’am,” she said. “What name is it under? And I’ll need your ID.”

“Should be under Robert Ester,” Vera said, digging through her purse and pulling out her wallet. “And my ID is... here.”

She handed it over, long nails clicking softly against the plastic. Tiffany pulled up Vikki’s profile and matched the name on the ID, but the picture...

She looked between Vera and ID, another problem slowly blooming. She had no way of matching the face in the picture to Vera’s, as glammed out as her makeup and hair were.

“Um... please don’t be offended,” Tiffany said. “But I need some help with this.”

She called Moon over, who looked at the ID and then scanned Vera’s face.

“It’s a match,” Moon said. “I’ll go grab Vikki.”

“Thank you, Moon,” Tiffany smiled as she handed Vera her ID back. “I’m so sorry about that.”

“No problem,” Vera beamed. “I’m glad you did. Now I know my favorite little neighbor is safe here.”

Tiffany began typing on her keyboard as Moon returned with Vikki. The little girl yawned and rubbed her eyes before smiling widely and running to hug Vera.

“Miss Nice!” She said.

“Hey little diva,” Vera picked Tiffany up. “Your mom’s working late tonight so we’re gonna hang until she gets home. You know what that means, right?”

“Pizza and video games!” Vikki cheered.

“Are you really going to let that thing leave with that poor girl?”

Tiffany froze, recognizing that particular tone of voice. From Vera’s expression, she recognized it too. They slowly turned to see a woman with the typical haircut and the typical expression that made her look like she had just sucked a lemon. Vera frowned and raised an elegantly sculpted eyebrow.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Would you mind repeating that?”

The karen huffed and turned her attention to Tiffany.

“I said are you going to let that sicko take that poor child from here?” She said. “Children should not be exposed to such abominations and sickness. I mean, really! Look at what he’s wearing. In my day, we put men like him in mental hospitals.”

“In your day, men hunted with spears and drew on cave walls,” Vera snapped. “And I can see all that mammoth meat did nothing for your complexion. Maybe you could take a few tips from me when it comes to personal style.”

“As if I’d want to look like you,” the karen growled. “You’re lucky times have changed, or I’d be calling the police on you. And I can only imagine how badly you’ve been corrupting that child with your horrible ways-”

“Ma’am, do you have any business here?” Tiffany cut into the woman’s tirade.

The karen glared at Tiffany, eyes moving between her and Vera.

“You banned my child,” she said. “I want to know why. Her name is Mahkaylaigh. That’s M-A-H-K-A-Y-L-A-I-G-H.”

Tiffany searched the name and took a moment to read over the notes.

“It says here she was banned for her behavior,” Tiffany explained. “She hurt several other children and broke some of the daycare’s toys.”

“Oh!” Vera said. “Oh, what time is it? What time is it, Vikki?”

“It’s Tea Time!” Vikki said.

“That’s right, and this tea is just piping hot,” Vera said. “You have the nerve to tell me I’m corrupting her with my horrible ways when your own child is hurting others and breaking things. You know there’s a word for that, it’s called ‘projection’. Maybe you should worry about your own child before worrying about others.”

The karen seethed in rage and began to yell. Tiffany was already calling Security and Moon to her station. Vera stayed between Tiffany and the karen until a bot came and began to escort the karen out. Vera then wished Tiffany a good day and left with Vikki.

But she was eventually spotted by someone else. Someone who became completely obsessed with her look.

“My queen!’ Bonnie pressed a hand to his chest and then began to make bowing motions. “Slay, your highness, slay!”

“Oh, what a handsome rabbit,” Vera chuckled. “And quite the charmer too. Hello, Honey.”

“It’s Bonnie, your majesty,” Bonnie said. “Bonnie Elton Bowie Mercury The Rabbit.”

“Quite a mouthful,” Vera chuckled with Vikki. “Oh, but look at you! Seems I’m not the only one slaying! Where did you get those clothes?”

“My superstar seamstress,” Bonnie said, pulling Natty over. “She makes all my clothes, and I've never been more glamorous!”

“She makes them?” Vera looked at Natty. “Oh Honey...” she dug a business card from her purse and handed it over to Natty. “You might just be the answer to my problems. See, me and the other queens have been having trouble finding clothes that fit us. If we looked half as beautiful as this bunny, we’d be bringing down the house every night. If you ever want to make some good money on the side, you call this number.”

Natty took the card and looked over it. A chance to make more clothes and earn more money? Well, she’d have to look over her schedule and run the numbers, but...

“Oh, you’d be the envy of all the other queens,” Bonnie said. “Not that you’re not already beautiful. Oh! Hey, Natty, can you take our picture?”

“Sure,” Natty chuckled as she pulled out her phone. “Say cheese.”

When Vera finally left, Natty looked over the pictures she’d taken and chuckled. Bonnie looked so excited in all of them, and they’d even done a few fun poses as well.

“Natty?”

Natty looked up to see Bonnie giving her a look she had come to recognize. She gave a sigh and shook her head fondly.

“I’ll go get my sketch book,” she said.

Bonnie cheered.

Chapter Text

“Hey Roxy, I have your schedule-”

Kevin froze when he entered Roxy’s room. Everything was in the process of being moved around and it all looked like a mess. Roxy was in the middle of it all, muttering and reading a book. She kept pointing at things and moving her hand around as if directing traffic.

“Roxy?” Kevin asked as he stepped over a few things. “Are you ok? What happened?”

“It’s the New Year,” Roxy said, still looking at her book. “You have to rearrange things in the new year. New year, new living space.”

“But...” Kevin looked around again. “You’ve never done that before. And what are you reading?”

“Nothing,” Roxy said, hiding the book behind her. “Just help me put everything in its proper place. I need to move my dressing table over there and my gokart over there and this couch- why do I even still have this couch? It’s old! I need a new one!”

Kevin sighed and began to tap at his Faz Tablet. If Roxy wanted something, she often got it with little to no argument. Mr. Watkins knew she was a fickle wolf and had long since learned that her demands were often easier to meet than to fight.

Plus Mr. Watkins had confided that he had a niece like Roxy, and he never saw the harm in demands that could be easily met.

“What color are we wanting?” Kevin asked as he brought up the site they ordered their furniture from.

“Hmm...” Roxy looked over the old couch. “Maybe... pink? No, red. No... black? Silver. GOLD! A gold couch! And I want the walls repainted too.”

“We’re gonna have to talk to Mr. Watkins then,” Kevin said. “Plus, I thought purple was like your thing.”

“Maybe I want a new thing,” Roxy said. “Maybe I want a new room and a new look and a new thing. Maybe I’ve been the same for too long and am long overdue for a change. It’s like engine oil. You can’t keep the same oil for too long or the engine’s gonna die on you. So change me before I die too.”

That was... a little more dramatic than Roxy’s usual antics, but Kevin could understand. Roxy had been sporting the same things for years. It wasn’t unusual for her to want a change. And heck, maybe a change would be good for her.

“I’ll schedule a meeting with Mr. Watkins,” he said. “We need to talk to him before we can do the major changes. Plus, I think he has to talk to Brian in marketing and merchandise because that all would have to change too.”

“Make it happen,” Roxy said, already dragging her couch across the room.

Chapter Text

“So... what do you think about the big court case coming up? This place has always had lawsuits, but not one like this.”

Tiffany paused in her typing, eyes slowly moving to look at who had spoken. It was a young man who had his phone out, and Tiffany could tell it was recording by the way he held it. She put on her best customer service smile and handed him a business card.

The card simply explained that employees could not and would not comment on the upcoming case and to please not ask them any further questions. The young man frowned at the card and shook his head.

“Come on, it’s not like I’m the news or something,” he said. “It’s just for me, I promise. You can give me a quick comment, right?”

Tiffany kept her smile on as she passed him another card. This time, he huffed and stalked off.

He tried again and again. He tried the Customer Convenience Counter, he tried the Mazercise, he tried Kid’s Cove, he tried other handlers and employees, but all he got for his troubles were more and more cards.

In his desperation, he turned to the new kiosk that had been recently set up.

“I just need a comment!” He growled at the screen. “You’re supposed to answer questions, so answer mine!”

Glitchtrap gave him a very unimpressed look and tapped at the box of text that he’d pulled up on his screen. It was exactly what the cards said.

“I don’t need this stupid corporate crap!” the young man said. “Fazbear’s always been trying to hide what’s been going on, but this is something important! She’s accused of murdering children! We have a right to know! We have a right to ask questions and get answers and no corporate blowhard is going to silence us-”

“That is quite enough!”

The young man noticed that Glitchtrap was now smirking at him, and he turned around to see an older man in a suit glaring down at him.

“Mr. Watkins,” Glitchtrap said. “This is the little punk I told you about.”

“I have received numerous complaints about you,” Mr. Watkins said to the young man. “What you are doing is nothing short of harassment. The sign at the front has made it very clear that we will not be answering questions pertaining to our current legal battle and to try to engage the employees in doing so would result in a ban. I don’t think I need to explain-”

“That’s not fair!” the young man held up his phone.

Mr. Watkins simply raised an eyebrow. He was no stranger to being filmed, having been filmed by plenty of karens since he’d started working here. It made no difference to him. He wasn’t going to roll over because he was on camera.

“We are your customers,” said the young man. “We are the ones who give you the money you need to keep this place open. And we have the right to know if our children are in danger or not. One of your employees is accused of murder, and you just want to sweep it under the rug like the old managers did!”

“We are not sweeping anything,” Mr. Watkins said. “We are waiting for the courts to decide before we make any statements. We are not going to start a witch hunt and ruin her life because people like you can’t understand human decency. Now, as I was saying before you interrupted, you read the sign at the entrance and you know the consequences of your action. You are banned for one year. Security will escort you out.”

“Come on then,” Michael stepped forward with Kishi at his side. “Let’s not make this any harder than it needs to be.”

The young man continued to film as he struggled and yelled, shouting every curse word he could think of. Gltichtrap flashed him the ‘loser sign’ on his forehead and stuck his tongue out at him as Kishi pulled him away. Mr. Watkins took a deep breath and sighed heavily. He had no doubt that this was just the beginning...

Chapter Text

It was a few days later that Mr. Watkins had to deal with another problem.

Unfortunately, this problem could not be banned from the plex. It wasn’t some grubby youth looking to stir the pot or trying to get a comment for their youtube channel or podcast.

It was the CEO and his other executives.

The CEO of Fazbear Entertainment could have descended from William Afton himself. In fact, Mr. Watkins had often wondered if this man was some illegitimate child of Afton with how he walked and talked and acted. He was a man named Max who dressed smartly and enjoyed wearing a certain red leopard print tie. He was charismatic and cunning, but he was also ruthless and often did things for the sake of profit, even if it posed a hazard to others.

He was a man that Mr. Watkins had frequently butted heads with.

“We need to have a little chat about this... former employee of yours,” Max said.

They were having a meeting over video chat. Max and his executives stared at Mr. Watkins from the other side of the screen, and Mr. Watkins put as much power into his own stare as he could.

“Which employee are you referring to?” Mr. Watkins asked.

“You know who I mean,” Max frowned. “Vanessa. The one you put into a mental hospital instead of letting her be carted off to prison. If you just would have let the police have her, this situation would not be happening right now. I’ve seen the newspapers. You are trying to give her a trial to prove her innocence. That is going to cost us quite a bit, and it’s going to cause a legal mess that I really do not have the patience to deal with.”

“She is innocent,” Mr. Watkins growled. “I am not going to let her take the fall for what was effectively your mistake. You did not do proper testing on the animatronics. You canceled the release of the VR game without investigating what had happened, despite the fact that someone had become sick and eventually self terminated because of that game. You didn’t care about safety, and it came back to bite you. And now you’re upset that you have to face the consequences of your own actions.”

Max glared. Mr. Watkins glared back. He was no pushover, even when it came to people in higher authority. He’d been a CEO himself before, and he knew he was right in what he was saying.

“Regardless,” Max said. “I am now telling you to cease this fruitless work you’re doing. Let the courts find Vanessa guilty and let it all fade. If she goes to jail, no one else has to know what happened. All you are doing right now is airing out laundry that should not be aired out. Vanessa is a convenient solution, and we will simply let her take the blame. After she is sentenced and locked away, we will begin our apologies and reassurances that we will never let such an unstable person to work here again. It’s very simple, Richard. I expect you can follow these instructions.”

If looks could kill, every person in that room would be dead. Mr. Watkins felt a fury flow through him that he had rarely felt before. Some of the executives began to look nervous at Mr. Watkin’s reaction.

“With all due respect... Max... go to Hell,” Mr. Watkins said. “I refuse to let Vanessa be a victim of your greed and stupidity. I refuse to let an innocent woman go to jail in the name of corporate politics. You are a heartless and thoughtless man, and I will not let you do this.”

“If you don’t want to, we could always fire you,” Max shrugged.

To Max’s surprise, Mr. Watkins began to laugh.

“Oh, that is rich,” he said. “You wouldn’t dare. I was the one who cleaned this plex up. I was the one who got OSHA off our backs. I am currently the one making record profits and keeping the employee turnover rate down until it’s practically non-existent. We had a deal when you let me become manager: you let me do what needs to be done, and I will make you money in return. I have increased sales, I have kept the employees happy, I have kept the plex safe and up to code, I have raised this company’s reputation from the mud. I have done everything to clean your messes and fix your incompetencies! And in return, you have all made a lot of money from it. You know you will never find someone like me again.”

One of the women that sat next to Max wordlessly slid a few papers over to him. Max looked through them with a frown and then pursed his lips.

“This is not just about profit,” he said. “This is about insubordination. I am giving you orders, and you are choosing to disobey-”

“Then fire me,” Mr. Watkins said. “You know I was retired before this, I won’t suffer at all if you choose to fire me. And I can guarantee you that everyone will go with me if it comes down to it. I’ll take them all and start a new company for them to work at. They are loyal to me, not this cesspool of a company.”

Again, the woman slid another few papers towards Max. These papers angered him as he looked through them. He tossed them aside in his anger and stood up from his chair.

“These are the instructions,” he yelled. “Let Vanessa take the fall. Do not do anything more to help her! If you do, I will see to it that you are fired-”

“Then I see no further reason for this meeting,” Mr. Watkins shrugged. “Good day to you all.”

He closed the video chat just as Max started yelling again. He then shut down his computer and left his office. His phone began to ring, and he saw it was Max calling. He hit the ‘ignore’ button and then silenced the ringer. His phone continued to ring as he went to the food court to get something to eat from The Nest.

Max wanted to play with fire? Then Mr. Watkins would not answer until Max had properly burned his fingers.

Chapter Text

“Did he really threaten to fire you?”

David was sitting at a booth at a nice restaurant. Helpy sat at his side, happily coloring in the little children’s menu he’d been given by the nice waitress. They’d been there plenty of times and all the servers knew that Helpy loved to color while David ate.

Mr. Watkins sat across from him, not looking concerned at all despite his recent explosive meeting with Max.

“He did,” Mr. Watkins shrugged. “But I highly doubt he will. He knows that if he does, all the hard work I’ve done will be reversed by whatever scumbag manager he decides to hire afterwards. Still, I suppose I can’t be entirely sure he won’t. His ego is a fragile thing, and he does so hate to have it hurt...”

“I’m amazed he can treat you this way,” David shook his head. “You sunk a pretty penny into that plex to bring it up to code and then even more on technicians who had more than a day’s training and who could fix the animatronics after the virus.”

“I could afford it,” Mr. Watkins sipped his iced tea. “And that place is my niece's favorite. I couldn’t bear the thought of her playing in such conditions. Of any child playing in such conditions. If I can clean the place up and make it safe, then I will. And I’ll spare no expense to do it.”

David smiled softly. While he had no children of his own, he could understand the sentiment. He’d hated working for Fazbear Entertainment before Mr. Watkins had started working there. He’d been forced to slog through numerous lawsuits and to just settle with them since it was cheaper than to continue fighting. Every settlement had been a slap in the face to him, an insult to all the hard work he’d done to get his degree and his license in the first place.

The day that Mr. Watkins told him that he no longer had to settle, and they would fight anyone who tried to bring bogus charges up against the plex, David had actually cried. Sobbed in joy and relief while Helpy had held a box of tissues for him and rubbed his back.

Which was why David hated being in his current position.

“I do have to tell you,” he said. “Max called me too. He wants me to drop the case and let one of his scummier lawyers handle it. Said he’d fire me if I didn’t.”

“That man is impossible,” Mr. Watkins sighed. “Are you going to drop it? I won’t fault you if you do, but... I’d prefer you don’t.”

“Max can kiss my foot,” David frowned. “After all the hell I went through for this company, I’d rather chew rocks than let him try to take this case from me. If he fires me, then so be it. I can practice independently, so I’ll be able to stay on as Vanessa’s lawyer. All it takes is a little creative wording with the paperwork.”

“Oh!” Helpy looked up. “B-But if you quit... I won’t be able to stay with you anymore.”

The poor bear looked like he might start crying. David smiled and booped Helpy’s nose.

“He’ll have to pry you out of my cold dead hands,” he said. “I won’t let him take you either. I’d find a way to hide you.”

Helpy giggled, ears wiggling.

“Things will work out,” Mr. Watkins said. “With or without Max. Fire us or don’t, we’ll do what’s right. And I’ll figure out what to do for my employees if they decide to leave with me.”

“Speaking of your employees,” David said slowly. “I had a crazy idea. You remember how you told me about Michael?”

That... had been quite the conversation.

“What about him?” Mr. Watkins asked.

“Well... I was thinking we could ask him to help us overthrow Max,” David continued. “Fazbear Entertainment was sold off because Afton went missing and Emily sold it off. But the way the company was structured, it required the authorization of both families to be sold. If we can get Michael’s identity re-established, perhaps we could pull a few legal strings to challenge the sale of the company and have it voided. In that case, Michael would be the new owner as the sole surviving Afton heir.”

Mr. Watkins chuckled.

“It’s a company, not a kingdom,” he said. “I don’t think it works like that with heirs and whatnot. Besides... I already had a similar idea. But Michael does not wish to get involved. He said he likes his current position, and he doesn’t plan on staying around forever. He wishes to eventually cross over and return to his family on the other side.”

“Ah, makes sense,” David sounded sheepish.

“Don’t worry too much about it,” Mr. Watkins said as he looked over his menu. “You’ll get wrinkles and then people will think you’re as old as I am.”

Helpy giggled again while David smiled and shook his head.

Chapter Text

“Someone made fun of my name today,” Kevin sighed as he stirred his mac and cheese. “Apparently, my name is a ‘nerd name’.”

“Kevin?” Alex asked. “I’ve never considered that name to be a nerd name. Why did they think that?”

It was just another day in the break room as they ate their lunches and chatted. Natty was standing at the air fryer to warm up her stuffed peppers, arms crossed and ears open for what the others were saying. Sometimes the best part of the day was just sitting down and unloading the juicy gossip or the customer grief.

“I’ve had someone come after my name before,” Tiffany said as she cut her grilled chicken. “For the dumbest reason ever. Apparently, you can’t be Hispanic with a name like mine, or something like that. I tuned most of it out because they were an idiot. I like my name. There’s actually a cool story behind it.”

She shook her head and took a bite of her food. As she chewed, she noticed that everyone was watching her curiously.

“What?” She asked.

“You can’t just say there’s a cool story and then not tell us the story,” Josh said, tuna salad sandwich momentarily forgotten. “Spill. Why are you named Tiffany?”

Tiffany smiled and set her utensils down.

“So, my name was originally supposed to be Valeria,” she said. “But something happened that changed that. See, my mother always likes to tell people that I was a very impatient baby. I was born eight days early. So, my mother went into labor with me late one night eight days before her due date. My dad gets her in the car, and they start driving to the hospital. But, to get there, there’s this long stretch of road that’s surrounded by woods. While on that road, the car breaks down. Dad starts freaking out, and knows they need an ambulance. Problem is, in the rush, Dad forgot his phone.”

“Uh oh,” Josh said. “So what did he do?”

“The car is on the side of the road, and he’s trying to flag down any car he sees,” Tiffany continued. “There aren’t a lot because of how late it is, and the ones that do come by don’t stop. He keeps trying over and over to get a call to go through, when suddenly... someone stops. This huge woman with dark hair parks her motorcycle on the side of the road. She’s wearing this black leather jacket with spikes and chains, and my dad still admits he was a bit scared of her. But she was very nice. She asked what was wrong, and my dad tells her. Against all odds... she can help him. She was a midwife, and she knows how to deliver babies.”

“No way!” Natty finally sat down with her peppers.

“Yeah,” Tiffany chuckled. “She checks Mom over and says ‘this baby is coming now. We have to deliver it.’ Luckily, she had a first aid kit, and had some sanitizer and gloves. She gives Dad her phone to call for an ambulance, and by the time it gets there, Mom’s crying in the back seat with me in her arms. The paramedics took over, and as they were loading Mom and me in the back, the nice lady started to leave. Dad is bawling and thanking her over and over. He tries to offer her money, but she declines it. So he says ‘at least tell me the name of the angel who helped us.’ Three guesses what her name was, guys.”

“Tiffany,” chorused the group.

“And that’s the story of how I was delivered by an angel in a black leather jacket who rode a Harley,” Tiffany chuckled. “And how I got my name.”

Alex gave a thoughtful look.

“It makes sense,” they said. “It all makes sense.”

“What do you mean?” Tiffany asked.

“Well...” Alex paused. “Your name is from the Greek name ‘Theophania’ which means ‘manifestation of God’. And your family says you were delivered by a guardian angel...”

Tiffany’s eyes slowly widened in realization.

“Oh,” she said. “I didn’t know that. That’s so cool!”

Before anyone else could comment, a series of beeps rang out.

“New fazmessage!” Josh said as he checked his fazwatch. “It’s from Mr. Watkins. He... says we're going to have a meeting later. An important one?”

“Odd,” Tiffany tapped at her own watch. “Wonder what he wants to talk about...”

Chapter Text

“You all know that I value honesty and transparency above all,” Mr. Watkins said slowly. “And I have always endeavored to be transparent with you. I called this meeting because there have been some... disagreements between me and corporate. Now, that’s not exactly new as I have often butted heads with them, but... this time is very serious. This disagreement could very well get me fired.”

The small crowd reacted in various ways. Dismay, anger, confusion. Mr. Watkins was quick to calm them.

“To explain, it has to do with our current court battle,” he said. “I’m sure you’re all aware by now of what’s happening. It’s been in the news. Corporate has asked me to change allow Vanessa to be found guilty and locked away even though it wasn’t her fault.”

“It wasn’t?” Kevin asked. “The news isn’t giving much information.”

“What happened?” Isaac asked.

“I am not at liberty to say,” Mr. Watkins said. “It was a very traumatic experience, and we will have our day in court to explain. For now, I can only say that she is a victim, and it is a complicated matter. But this is a hill I am fully prepared to die on. I will not stop helping her when she sorely needs it. She has no one else to defend her but us.”

“They can’t fire you, you’re the best thing that’s happened to this place!” Josh said. “Things sucked before you were manager!”

“I don’t know how things were before you, but this is the best job I’ve ever worked because of you,” said Tiffany.

“I am sorry,” Mr. Watkins said. “But I cannot stop this. If they decide to fire me, I will have no choice but to-”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

A horrible wail of agony ripped through the plex, and the crowd turned to see who had done it.

Sunny was twitching and shaking, hands gripping the sides of his faceplate. Chica tried to soothe him, rubbing his slim back and whispering words of comfort, but Sunny didn’t seem to hear her. He let out a heart wrenching sob before straightening up.

“You can’t leave!” He said. “They can’t make you leave! We don’t want to go back. We don’t want to! Moony was sick for nearly a year and they didn’t notice because they didn’t care! He was not himself, and he terrorized the poor children, but all they did was keep the lights on and made me handle everything! The daycare was a horrible place during those days! I hated it! Moony hated it! We won’t go back to those days! We refuse!”

“My track is finally up to code and the makeup in the salon doesn’t make kids sick anymore,” Roxy folded her arms. “I know they did it to cut back on expenses, but I’m not letting them take it all away just to save a few bucks. I’ll bite their hands off!”

“I love my new workout and yoga classes,” Chica said. “I don’t want to lose them!”

“Maybe you won’t,” Mr. Watkins tried to soothe the crowd. “Maybe they’ll-”

“They won’t!” Monty snarled. “You know it, and we know it! You saw how things were before you worked here. They didn’t care about health or safety, they only cared about making money! We would have so many angry customers and so many devastated or crying kids, and we all hated it! If you leave, things will go right back to how they were, I guarantee it!”

“I cannot stop this,” Mr. Watkins repeated. “If they choose to fire me, there will be nothing I can do.”

“This is bull,” Yumi snapped. “If they fire you, I quit.”

Chaos descended as everyone voiced their opinions. Sun was still crying, now clinging to Ballora for comfort. Freddy looked torn between his loyalty to Mr. Watkins and his loyalty to the company. Monty and Roxy were both yelling, and Chica was begging Yumi to not quit. The newer handlers were listening to what the older ones were saying, understanding that things were going to swiftly go downhill if their manager was replaced.

“Everyone please calm down,” Mr. Watkins raised his voice. “Please. I understand your frustrations, but we cannot jump to conclusions. I don’t want anyone giving up their job and their income because of me.”

“Job nothing!” said Josh. “I was barely making anything before you came here, and I know the wage increases were your idea. I bet they’re going to cut our wages again without you here.”

“I will have a plan if I get fired,” Mr. Watkins said. “I don’t think it will come to it, but if it does, then I will take care of you. All of you. I promise. I am not going to forget you when I walk out of here for the last time. But for now, we need to keep calm.”

This was all such a mess...

Chapter Text

“So it’s true?” Glitchtrap asked from the old phone. “Mr. Watkins might get fired?”

“Apparently,” Michael sighed. “Corporate's trying to rug sweep again, and Mr. Watkins isn’t having it. He wants to help Vanessa clear her charges, but the CEO wants to let her take the blame and go to jail.”

“Yeesh,” Glitchtrap said. “Have this guy murder a few kids and we’ll have another Afton.”

“He’s certainly heartless like Father was,” Michael shook his head. “But I’m worried. My staying here is Mr. Watkins’s decision. If he gets fired, I could be tossed out on the streets. I really don’t want to have to live in the sewer again...”

“You’re worried?” Glitchtrap said. “I mean... fair, that’s a valid worry... but what about me? I’m the reason the whole thing with Vanessa started in the first place! Or at least... part of the reason. It wasn’t really me that did it, but... still! You think the CEO’s going to let me keep living if he finds out what I really am?”

Michael’s eyes widened as he felt a chill run down his spine. He hadn’t thought of that.

“Just promise me you’ll take me with you if you have to leave,” Glitchtrap said. “Please!”

“I will,” Michael said. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure something out. I always have before.”

Glitchtrap’s ears twitched as he looked at Michael. The illusion disk really did a good job at hiding him, and Glitchtrap often forgot that Michael really was a walking corpse that had been through the ringer numerous times. How much had Michael suffered before coming here?

“Maybe you could try a power grab,” he suggested. “Reveal yourself as the heir of the Fazbear Empire and take the throne. There has to be some sort of legal loophole that we can exploit-”

“No.”

Michael’s answer was very firm, leaving no room for argument.

“I’ve been dealing with Dad’s mess for decades,” he said. “Since my childhood. I’ve accepted that I can’t run from it anymore, but I don’t want to become involved like this. I’m tired, Glitchtrap. I’m so tired. And when Mr. Watkins let me stay here and just be a guard, it... it feels good. It feels good to be taken care of after having no one for so long. After having gone through all the crap I have. And anyway, I don’t plan to stay here forever. I want to get back to Mom and the others. They’re still waiting for me...”

Glitchtrap frowned softly. He could understand Michael’s position. He could understand wanting to just live for himself. Michael had literally given his life in the pursuit of bringing Afton down. And even if they tried, it would be next to impossible to prove who Michael was. The DNA was probably no good, what little could be clinging to that rotten endoskeleton...

“It’s ok,” he said. “Like you said... we’ll figure something out.”

On the other side of the plex, Mr. Watkins was chatting with David.

“I had a question,” he said. “Can an AI testify or be used as evidence in court?”

Chapter Text

It was a week of silence.

A week of normal operations.

Mr. Watkins still managed the plex and still worked with David on Vanessa’s case. Max had finally stopped calling Mr. Watkins, but it made him feel nervous. Tensions were high in the plex, and it felt like a dark cloud was hovering overhead. Everyone still put on their smiles for the customers, but in the break rooms and bathrooms, the frowns and the unease came out.

David was leaving for the day when he was stopped by someone he recognized from Max’s ‘team’.

“David Acre,” she handed over a file. “As of right now, your employment with Fazbear Entertainment is terminated. Please have your desk cleared out within two business days, and your final check will be mailed to the address we have on record for you.”

Helpy nervously looked between the file and David. His little hands grabbed onto David’s leg, and David frowned before shoving the file into his bag.

“Have a nice day,” he said, taking Helpy’s hand and pushing past the woman.

“Excuse me!” She said. “You are required to return all company devices that were issued to you.”

“My tablet is being repaired, so you can get it from them,” David said. “I have no other devices.”

“Don’t play dumb, Mr. Acre,” the woman folded her arms. “That bear is company property and needs to be returned.”

“Helpy is no one’s property,” David snapped. “Least of all yours. You want him? Come take him from me. And in the meantime, please go step on a mile’s worth of legos.”

The woman sputtered in shock as David entered the elevator and the doors closed. She growled and pulled out her phone. David wanted a fight? He’d get one.

At the plex, Mr. Watkins’s office door suddenly burst open to reveal Max.

Max entered the office, lip curling as he looked around at the little keepsakes that Mr. Watkins kept there.

“Max,” Mr. Watkins greeted. “I’m surprised to see you here. You always said you hated having to be around the ‘common help’ as you like to call my employees.”

“I wanted to do this in person,” Max shrugged. “I thought it was only right to do, after all the trouble you’ve given me.”

He pulled an envelope out of his pocket and dropped it onto Mr. Watkins’s desk with a big grin.

“Richard Watkins,” he said. “You’re fired.”

Chapter Text

You have (1) new Fazmessage(s)!

Hello, valued Fazbear employees!

Effective immediately, Richard Watkins is no longer employed with the company. We are sad to see him go and wish him luck in finding new employment. A new manager will be appointed soon, and we are certain that he will do everything the previous manager did and more.

With the new manager, there will be new policies. There will be several changes made, so please stay tuned for new instructions. There will be an official meeting on Thursday to go over everything. As of right now, there will be no other changes to the employee roster. We look forward to seeing you all on Thursday for the mandatory meeting.

Yours Truly,

Donna Barlowe, Fazbear Chief of Operations

Chapter Text

“You’re seriously staying? Things are gonna get bad.”

“I can’t just leave Sunny and Moon alone. I’m worried about what might happen. I probably will eventually quit, but... not yet. I need to make sure they’ll be ok.”

After the meeting on Thursday, there had been a massive wave of people quitting. Handlers, employees, technicians, even janitors were putting in their notice. Yumi had been one of them, flipping them both birds as she left. She hated leaving behind Chica and DJ, but she refused to work for anyone besides Mr. Watkins.

But she wasn’t going to let this go. She had a big social media presence, and she was going to use it to her advantage. Not to mention, she still had the email addresses of the youtubers that had once stayed at the plex overnight, and they had more followers than she did.

She started with a long post explaining how Mr. Watkins had been fired and how she had quit. She managed to get the tag #IOnlyWorkForWatkins going, and she could only hope it would gain serious traction. She needed it to spread to every corner of the internet, and she hoped the other youtubers could help.

But even as she began her attack, Corporate had an attack of their own...

One morning, Yumi heard a knock on the door. Opening it revealed a man and a woman in suits. She frowned and folded her arms in annoyance.

“Didn’t we already tell you we’re not interested in your church?” She asked. “Stop knocking on our door.”

“Are you Yumi Nakatomi?” the man asked.

“Who’s asking?” Yumi answered.

“She’s a match from the ID picture we have for her,” the woman adjusted her glasses. “We’re representatives from Fazbear Entertainment. We have reason to believe that you are in possession of company property.”

“I gave everything back when I quit,” Yumi said. “Uniform, badge, Fazwatch...”

“Not that,” the man huffed. “We have footage of you taking a mini musicman out of the plex. That musicman is company property, and you didn’t have permission to take it.”

Yumi narrowed her eyes slightly. While it was true that she hadn’t exactly gotten the ok to take Teeny Boi home, she knew that Mr. Watkins wouldn’t have cared. Teeny Boi had been missing for years, and Yumi had simply given him a home. It wasn’t like she’d stolen him from a stage or something like that.

She tuned back in to hear that the representative was still talking.

“You guys cops?” She asked, interrupting the man mid-sentence.

“Excuse me?” the man asked. “No, we’re not.”

“Do you have a warrant?” Yumi asked again.

“No,” the man sounded angry. “We are trying to keep this civil-”

“Cool,” Yumi interrupted again. “Come back when you have cops and a warrant.”

She then slammed the door in their faces and locked it. The man and woman knocked and rang the doorbell over and over for a few minutes before they finally gave up and left. Yumi slowly slid to the floor, feeling her heart hammer in her chest.

She needed to do something, and she needed to do it before they came back with a warrant...

Chapter Text

Tiffany tried to stay optimistic.

The meeting hadn’t gone quite as smoothly as they probably thought it would. Lots of people turned in their resignations, and the ones who stayed were treated to a long, flowery, and slightly condescending speech about how much better things would be, but that changes would need to be made. If Tiffany were still the naive girl she used to be, she might not have been able to read between the lines. As nice as the things they promised were, she knew it probably wouldn’t happen. They were changing too much.

They spoke about cutting costs and how things would be hard at first, but once everything settled, the profits and gains would be higher than ever.

But as Tiffany watched Sunny fret and worry, she knew that no amount of profit could ever be worth this.

One morning, she came into work like she always did. She clocked in and headed over to the daycare. To her surprise, the gate was already open. She quickly went inside and saw a stranger standing in the daycare below.

“Hello?” She called as she entered through the huge doors downstairs. “Is something wrong? I wasn’t told that someone would be here.”

The stranger was in the process of shoving things into a large trash bag. He gave Tiffany an uninterested look before continuing what he was doing.

“Budget cuts,” he said. “These snacks are expensive. We’re gonna try to sell them in the food courts.”

“But... what snacks will we have here?” Tiffany asked.

“Eh, just some basic ones,” the man shrugged. “We don’t need these here.”

“Those snacks are for children with sensory issues,” Tiffany said. “And we have children like that who come often, so we need those.”

The man looked at the pack of crackers in his hand and then shrugged again.

“Not my fault if the brats are picky eaters,” he said. “I have orders. You got a problem? You take it up with the big boss.”

Tiffany took a deep breath. This didn’t make any sense to her. This was just corporate greed, pure and simple. They were snacks, for crying out loud. What harm was there in spending a few extra dollars for healthy snacks?

The man then put the bag aside and looked over at where The Shade sat. He adjusted his tool belt and began to walk towards it. Instantly, alarm bells began to ring in Tiffany’s head.

“What are you doing now?” She asked.

“This thing’s gotta go,” the man said. “Big Boss doesn’t want it here anymore. Says it’s useless and an eyesore. It’s also a waste of electricity.”

Tiffany could already see the dismayed faces of the children who depended on The Shade for their playtime. She knew there would probably be meltdowns and devastation. She wasn’t about to allow that.

She rushed forward and stood in the man’s way.

“Huh?” the man frowned. “Move, girl.”

“No,” Tiffany said. “You are not touching The Shade.”

“Look, it’s getting taken down whether you want it or not, girly,” the man said. “Now, move!”

“No!” Tiffany raised her voice.

“You dirty little-” the man reached out and grabbed Tiffany’s wrist, pulling her away from The Shade.

“Stop it!” Tiffany struggled. “I won’t let you!”

“I don’t care!” the man shouted. “You’re just some stupid girl, and you need to know your place now. Watkins aint here anymore! So learn how to deal with it!”

“You’re hurting me!” Tiffany felt the man’s grip tighten, and her eyes widened as she saw him raise his other hand and prepare to hit her.

Before he could, though... something hit him.

The man hit the ground like a sack of potatoes, and Tiffany cradled her sore wrist to her chest. She looked up with tears in her eyes, and blinked.

It was Sun? No, Moon. No, it was...

“Wh... who are you?” She asked.

“Are you ok?” the animatronic looked like a combination of Sun and Moon. “Oh dear, your wrist. Oh, I can tell that’s going to bruise something awful...”

The animatronic helped her up, and Tiffany wiped at the tears in her eyes.

“Oh, where are my manners?” the animatronic said. “My name is Eclipse. You’re Tiffany, right? I know you from Sun and Moon’s memories.”

Tiffany looked over the animatronic, seeing the parts of Sun and Moon that seamlessly blended together. She could pick out their separate patterns on the pants as well as Sun’s rays and Moon’s hat.

“I’m a security program,” Eclipse continued. “Whenever someone’s in danger, I come out to help.”

“But... I’ve never seen you before...” Tiffany said.

“The virus...complicated things,” Eclipse said. “It severed the link I share with Sun and Moon as well as wiped my presence from their memory banks. They never summoned me because they forgot about me. But it’s ok! I’m here now, and I’m going to make sure you’re taken care of. Your cries and Sun’s anxiety allowed me to push through and activate. Is everything ok? Sun has been terribly worried lately.”

Eclipse led Tiffany away from the unconscious worker. She glanced back at him and sent a message through her radio to have someone come collect him. For now, she would tell Eclipse what was going on.

After all, they needed all the allies they could get...

Chapter Text

“Kota!”

Kota paused as Yumi shut the front door behind her. She was carrying a large plastic tote that was full of snacks and other things.

“You’re driving all the way across the country for business,” Yumi smiled. “So I made you a little something. It’s got all your favorite snacks plus some blankets and pillows and towels in case you need them. I know how stingy some hotels can be about their linens.”

“Thanks,” Kota took the tote and paused. It was oddly heavy. “Um... is there anything else in here?”

“Nope,” Yumi shook her head. “You said you’ll be gone for three weeks? Have fun! Make sure you drive safe and take lots of pictures!”

Kota noticed a bit of movement inside the container. He glanced back at Yumi and noticed that her smile was a bit forced. There was a sadness in her eyes, and it all clicked into place.

The people in suits. The threat of a search warrant. Yumi’s freaking out over Teeny Boi...

“I will, don’t worry,” Kota adjusted his grip on the tote. “Thanks for the snacks and stuff, they’ll really come in handy. Oh, and it’s supposed to be three weeks, but it might change. I’ll call you and let you know, ok?”

“Ok,” Yumi hugged Kota tightly. “Thank you so much. I told him to behave for you...” she whispered in his ear.

Yumi watched Kota put the tote in the back of his car and then start it up. He drove off, and Yumi waved after him. If anyone asked, she was just sad to see her beloved cousin go. That was the only reason...

“What happened to the brushes?” Roxanne asked as she looked at the shelves of her salon. “What are these?”

“The disposable brushes were costing too much,” said the woman who was breaking down the empty boxes. “These are just as good. Just make sure you put them all in the cleaning solution at the end of the day. And try not to lose them, these are all that we have.”

Roxanne felt her eye twitch as she looked over the new products on the shelves.

“The whole point of the disposable brushes was to keep germs from spreading,” she growled. “And these makeups aren’t even safe to use on children. This brand is crap. And the cleaning solution is too strong-”

“Hey, this is how things are now,” the woman folded her arms. “They’re kids. What are they gonna know about makeup? They won’t be able to tell the difference.”

“It’s a matter of health and safety,” Roxanne said. “These products are not safe and sharing brushes is not healthy. Why did we change it? It was just fine before.”

“The CEO said so,” the woman adjusted her glasses. “And what he says goes.”

Roxanne was about to blow a fuse. She felt rage building up inside, and the container of makeup that she was holding shattered in her grip.

“Hey!” The woman said. “Be more careful, you dumb wolf!”

“Shut up!” Roxanne roared as she swiped all the makeup off the shelf with one of her arms.

It all shattered noisily on the floor, splattering color everywhere. The woman jumped back, eyes going wide in the wake of Roxanne’s wrath.

“I don’t care about the CEO!” Roxanne’s voice warped slightly. “This is my raceway! This is my salon! I decide what we do and what products we use, and I refuse to use any of this!”

She began grabbing and throwing makeup and other cheap hair products against the floor and walls. Color ran down in bright streaks and some of it even got on Roxanne. A shattered container of red lip color left her looking like she was covered in blood.

“Get. OUT!” She shouted at the worker.

Roxanne’s raceway was closed that day. The racing flag was nailed to the front sign, far too high for the employees to get down.

The words ‘I only work for Watkins’ were written on the flag in makeup.

Chapter Text

Bonnie stared.

If he could, he would cry actual tears. He really and truly would. This was one of the worst things to happen to him.

His closet was completely empty. There wasn’t a scrap of any clothing in it. All of Natty’s hard work was gone.

Bonnie left his room and stomped his way to the office that the CEO was occupying. He didn’t bother knocking, throwing the door open and ducking inside.

“Where are all my clothes?” He demanded.

Max gave Bonnie an irritated look as he turned away from his computer monitor.

“Bonnie, I have more important things to worry about,” he said.

“I don’t care, this is serious!” Bonnie said. “My closet was full of clothes and now it’s empty! Where did my clothes go?”

“We got rid of them” said Max. “You’re a robot, you don’t need clothes. It doesn't make sense to have a closet full of clothes that you don’t need.”

Bonnie saw red. Every single article of clothing had been stitched and cleaned with Natty’s love and hard work. And now it was all gone?

“How dare you?!” He shouted. “It’s bad enough you got rid of our handlers because you think we don’t need them, but getting rid of my personal belongings-”

“You don’t own anything,” Max interrupted. “You’re a robot. And if you want to get technical, you’re company property. That means anything you own is also company property, and I can do whatever I want with company property. Stop making a fuss over something stupid.”

Bonnie slammed his palms on top of Max’s desk, leaning down and still towering over the man. Max smirked slightly, raising an eyebrow as if daring Bonnie to try something.

“You really wanna play this game with me?” Bonnie asked. “With us? We’re not gonna take this lying down, you know.”

“You will if you don’t want to end up as scrap metal,” Max snarled. “Roxanne’s already in time out for her actions, and I will not hesitate to do what I need to do to keep you all in line. So shut up about some stupid clothes. You are a robot, you don’t need them. Now get back to work.”

Bonnie left the office, a plan brewing in his mind. He went to Parts and Services and dug through the tools until he found the ones he needed.

“I don’t need clothes, huh?” He asked as he began to remove the pieces of his casing that resembled clothing. “Fine then... no clothes.”

That day, several pictures and videos of Bonnie began to circulate on social media. Each picture showed Bonnie with pieces of his casing missing, revealing the inner wires and endoskeleton. A long sheet was tied around him like a dress or a toga, and he was leaving a trail of fluids behind him as he walked through the plex.

The one picture that had the most likes and shares was a shot of Bonnie from behind. He had spread the 'skirt' of the sheet out to his sides, revealing a message written on it.

I only work for Watkins.

Chapter Text

Monty pulled his hand out of the water and frowned.

He had long ago asked for a device to be implanted into his fingers that would allow him to test the waters in his golf course. Mr. Watkins had assured him that everything had been cleaned and they were no longer dumping chemicals, but Monty had wanted his own way to be sure.

He’d decided to take pride in his area. Clean it up and keep it safe for the children. No more toxic chemicals in the water hazards.

And it had stayed that way... until now.

Just a few weeks after Mr. Watkins had been fired, Monty found traces of chemicals in the water. This couldn’t be an accident, the pipes that supplied the water to the golf course were clearly labeled. Either someone was just an idiot who couldn’t read, or someone was lazy and cutting corners.

Either way, this shouldn’t happen. The procedures for disposing of chemicals were very clear, and this was not how to do it.

Monty angrily made his way to the office, opening the door without knocking. Someone in a suit was sitting inside, talking to Max.

“We can get the new casings in by-” they stopped and stared at Monty.

“Monty, I’m busy,” Max frowned. “Come back later.”

“No, this is important,” Monty huffed. “There’s chemicals in the golf course water. We need to close it down and then drain and flush the pipes.”

“Why do you think there are chemicals?” Max sounded annoyed.

“I tested the waters myself,” Monty said. “The readings said there are chemicals. Chemicals that can make the kids sick. Someone had to have dumped them, and we need to find out who and how it happened.”

The man in the suit looked between the two, raising an eyebrow at Max. Max huffed in anger and ran a hand down his face.

“You shouldn’t be testing the waters,” he said. “We have people for that. Your job is just to sell stuff and perform on stage. That’s it. Leave the safety concerns to us. And anyway, your readings are probably wrong. I just had the waters tested and they’re fine. Plus, even if there were chemicals, they can’t be that bad.”

“Bull(bleep)!” Monty roared. “My tester works perfectly, and the readings don’t lie! The kids can get sick from being exposed to these chemicals, and I’m not about to allow that! Not in my golf course!”

“That is not your golf course,” Max rolled his eyes. “Honestly, what is it with you robots thinking you own things? You don’t own anything, that golf course is part of the plex, which belongs to me. I say it’s fine, so go back and get the people golfing. This is a business we’re running here.”

Monty briefly considered holding Max under the water of the golf course and then seeing what he said afterwards, but he knew it wouldn’t make a difference, and it would just lead to him getting scrapped. With a gator growl, he left the office and went back to the golf course.

Not long after, Max got word that the entrance to the golf course had been vandalized. Old plastic trees had been stacked in a way that blocked people from getting in. A cutout of Monty had been put in front of trees with the words ‘I only work for Watkins’ carved into the front in jagged lines.

Chapter Text

Chica was worried.

It was a strange sensation since she often didn’t feel it. Before Mr. Watkins, her AI was... well... a bit shallow. It seemed everything had been put into her hunger for food and not much else. Mr. Watkins had her AI tweaked to tone down the hunger, and her personality had bloomed.

So she was never worried before and was rarely worried after Mr. Watkins had taken over... but she was very worried now.

She’d heard how many employees had quit or been ‘laid off’, and she’d heard that most of the newer ones were awful. The one who now had Yumi’s previous job was lazy had a bad attitude, and she was almost certain something shady was happening in her food courts.

The only workers who weren’t too much of a problem were her bakers. A group of people responsible for the baked goods in the food courts, but also for baking cakes for birthday parties if requested. Chica took pride in her cakes, and the ones she’d seen brought out to children... actually weren’t bad.

The head baker was an older woman who had a very no-nonsense attitude and could be a bit curt that bordered on rude, but she did her job well. There had been no complaints so far, and Chica dared to believe that she had gotten lucky with the new employees.

But then something bad happened...

A birthday boy ended up sick in the bathroom. The mother spoke to a concerned Chica while the father comforted the boy. The mother explained how the boy was lactose intolerant and had ordered a special cake for him that would have no dairy products. She had said this several times in the notes for her order.

Chica tasted the cake, and let her sensors list out the ingredients. A horrified look spread over her face when she saw just how much dairy had been put into the cake. Chica apologized over and over, promising that she would make sure they got a refund and that the bakers would be talked to. The family ended up leaving for the hospital shortly afterward, and Chica made her way to the kitchens.

“Shirley!” She called for the head baker. “Shirley, we have a problem. A cake was sent out that wasn’t supposed to have dairy in it! What happened?”

“Eh?” Shirley looked up from the cake she was decorating. “That order that requested no dairy? I know it had dairy in it, I put it in there.”

Chica froze, mouth opening and closing a few times in shock.

“What?!” He voice glitched. “Why?! Why would you do that? The boy was lactose intolerant-”

“No such thing,” Shirley went back to her decorating.

Chica froze again.

“I... I beg your pardon?” She asked.

“That’s the problem with today’s youth,” Shirley said. “They’re too coddled. Parents let them become picky eaters and then label it with some nonsense to avoid being seen as a bad parent. Food allergies don’t exist, it’s just picky brats who think they can do whatever they want. Well, I’m not going to do any coddling here. This is my kitchen, and I say that kids will eat what they’re given and be grateful for it.”

Chica’s eye twitched. A spark burst from her neck as her system struggled to understand what she had just been told. Rage began to fill her, and she clenched her hands into fists.

“Get... out... of... my... kitchen,” she ground out, her voice warping.

“Excuse me?” Shirley asked.

“GET OUT OF MY KITCHEN!” Chica nearly burst her voice box with the volume of her shriek. “GET OUT NOW!”

“I’m head baker,” Shirley argued. “You can’t just-”

“I can and I am!” Chica growled. “Get out! I won’t have you hurting any more children. If Max knew about your views, I’m sure he wouldn’t-”

“He agrees with me,” Shirley smirked. “He won’t care.”

She reached for her decorating icing, but Chica suddenly stomped over and threw the cake against the wall. Before Shirley could protest, Chica was lifting her up by her baker’s apron and pulling her over the table.

“If I see you back in here, I am going to eat you,” Chica said. “I am going to eat your lungs. Then your kidneys. Then your liver. Then whatever else I can grab. But I won’t eat your brain or your heart since you obviously have neither! Get out now!”

Chica all but threw Shirley out of the door and literal steam began to pour from her vents as she struggled to calm down. She slowly turned around and saw the other bakers. They were terrified and frozen in place.

“If you could... please leave...” Chica tried to keep her voice calm and level. “This kitchen... is now... closed.”

The bakers did not need to be told twice.

As they left, Chica grabbed a nearby phone and dialed a number for a local flower company. She was going to send as many toys and flowers to that child’s hospital room as as she could.

Later that day, the kitchen doors were locked. Steel shelves lay scattered around them, and cakes were splattered against the floor. The words ‘I only work for Watkins’ were written across the doors in dripping pink icing.

Chapter Text

It was a week of chaos. Every time Max reopened the attractions that had been closed, the animatronics closed them down again, demanding changes. Max didn’t mention that he would be fixing anything, so the animatronics continued to rebel. It all came to a head when he summoned them for a meeting one night after the plex had closed.

“So...” Max said to the small crowd of Chica, Monty, Roxanne, Freddy, and Bonnie. “Busy week. Needlessly busy. I honestly don’t know what the problem is. You claim you want changes, or you want Watkins back. But here’s the thing... you’re not supposed to have opinions!”

Max glared at them all.

“I blame Watkins, I really do,” he said. “For some reason, he let you all think that you have any say in how this business works. He let you think that you can own things or make demands or do anything besides what you are programmed to do. You are all robots! You were made and programmed to obey us and to entertain children. That. Is. All.”

The animatronics all looked angry, Freddy nervously looking between them all. Max just folded his arms and shook his head.

“You have no power here,” he said. “You are not people, no matter what Watkins let you think. And if you continue to act this way... well, let me show you something.”

He took a remote from his pocket and pressed a button. A nearby door opened and a group of animatronics came out, standing in a line behind Max. The Glamrocks stared as they saw that the animatronics... were them. Down to every last detail, as if they were looking in a mirror.

“You guys think that you’re not replaceable,” Max said. “But you are. Every last animatronic here can be replaced. And these guys? They’re your replacements. They can do every single thing that you all can do, and their casings are fresh off the conveyor belt, brand new. The only thing they don’t have is your attitude. They’ll do what I say, and they won’t complain or fight back.”

He stepped closer to the original glamrocks.

“I want to make this perfectly clear,” he growled. “If you continue to act this way, I will scrap you. Zero hesitation. I will sell you as scrap and let some company melt you down into nothing. You will not be backed up. You will not be transferred. You will... well... you’ll essentially die.”

Chica’s eyes widened with her horrified expression. Monty and Roxanne looked enraged. Bonnie moved closer to Freddy as if seeking comfort. The replacement Glamrocks simply stood silently, eyes and expressions blank.

“I know you all will make the right choice,” Max said. “Obey... or die. Those are your only two options. So no more closing down areas. No more ‘I only work for Watkins’. Watkins is gone, and he’s not coming back. And if you want to only work for him?”

He gestured behind himself.

“I can easily replace you and make that happen. Do we have an understanding?” He looked around at them all.

The glamrocks were silent in their terror and fury.

“Wonderful,” Max pressed another button and the replacements walked away. “Then I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

Chapter Text

“Hello, Owen. It is good to see you again.”

“Hey, Freddy. Just, uh... sit right here for me please.”

“I was informed that you are performing check ups on all the animatronics. Your dedication and hard work are very admirable.”

“Thanks, Freddy. Let me just... here we go.”

“Um... Owen, that is not a Fazbear Company device.”

“No, it’s not. But uh... maybe keep quiet about that, ok?”

“Owen... what are you doing?”

“Don’t worry about it, Freddy. I’m gonna make sure you guys survive...”

Chapter Text

Here's an updated link for the Discord server: https://discord.gg/khdRp3Ee

Chapter Text

Yumi had a good idea who was at the door before she opened it.

Sure enough, the same executive who had asked her about Teeny Boi was there with two other cops.

“Morning,” Yumi yawned. “How can I help you?”

“You know why we’re here!” The man in the suit snapped. “Now let us in-”

“That’s enough,” said one of the cops. “My name is Officer Phil Olsen. This is Officer Brayden Rivera.”

The two cops showed their badges, and Phil held out a piece of paper.

“We have a warrant to search your property,” he explained. “We have reason to believe you have stolen property here.”

Yumi took the paper and looked it over. It was legit, and she couldn’t fight a legit warrant.

“Everything seems in order,” she said, pulling out her phone. “Just so you know, I will be recording everything.”

“That is your right,” said Phil. “Mr. Everett has given us a picture of the property, and we will not be taking anything else. We are only looking for one thing.”

“Good,” Yumi said. “As long as you two are searching. I don’t want this guy touching anything. Come on in.”

She moved aside and let the people through.

“If you two will please sit over here,” Brayden gestured at the kitchen table. “I’ll stay with you to make sure you don’t interfere.”

“I have no problem with that,” Yumi said. “You mind if I eat? I just made breakfast. And you can help yourself to some coffee, if you’d like.”

“You can eat,” Brayden said. “As long as you stay in here.”

Yumi ate her breakfast while Phil searched her house. The executive tried to bait her into confessing with threats and insults, but Yumi kept her mouth shut. She’d seen enough cop and lawyer shows to know that keeping silent was always the best thing to do.

It took a while, but Phil eventually came back and said that he’d found nothing.

“Impossible!” the executive said. “It’s not something she can hide easily. You must have missed something!”

“I did find a cage in one of the rooms,” Phil said. “But it looked to be too small for what you described.”

“That must be it!” said the executive. “She’s hiding it there! Open that cage and look!”

“I would prefer you let me open it,” Yumi said. “For everyone’s safety. You can watch me every step of the way.”

Phil agreed and Yumi followed him to the cage.

“Nice and slow now, please,” Phil said.

Yumi slowly opened the cage. She slowly reached inside. And she slowly pulled out... a ferret.

“Isn’t he adorable?” Yumi asked. “His name is Udon, but I like to call him Teeny Boi because of how small he is.”

“He is cute,” Phil smiled. “Let me just take a quick look...”

He searched the cage and then stepped back with a nod. Udon crawled up to perch on Yumi’s shoulder as they went back into the kitchen.

“Only a ferret in there,” Phil said, gesturing to Udon. “Nothing else. We’ve searched the whole house and found no signs that she has what you’re saying.”

“Then check her phone!” The executive said. “She must have pictures or texts or something!”

“The warrant only covers my house,” Yumi folded her arms. “You wanna search my phone, you need to come back with a new warrant.”

“So that you have time to delete everything?” The executive snarled. “I think not!”

He tried to grab Yumi’s phone, but Yumi stepped back, and Brayden grabbed the executive.

“Sir, that’s enough,” he said. “Miss Nakatomi has been nothing but cooperative, and you’ve been antagonizing her since we got here. She’s right. We need a new warrant to search her phone, so you’ll need to get one before we can do so. For now, we are leaving. And you will be leaving too before I arrest you for harassment.”

The executive snarled, but didn’t move any closer to Yumi. Yumi thanked the policemen as they left her house. She watched them stay and make sure the executive left before driving off. After closing and locking her door, Yumi scratched Udon’s chin and made a phone call.

“Hey Owen?” She asked when the other line picked up. “I need a favor. Can you back up some stuff on my phone and then completely wipe it?”

Chapter Text

When Yumi eventually met up with Owen at his house, she had to ask about the plex.

“How bad is it?” She asked. “I haven’t seen much in the news except for a few pictures of the things the animatronics have been writing.”

“I have no doubt that Max has his own little network for keeping things quiet,” Owen said as he plugged in Yumi’s phone. “But it’s bad, Yumi. The animatronics are terrified. Max has threatened to scrap them and replace them if they keep fighting, and I’ve heard that the plex is slipping back into its old ways. A kid even had to be sent to the hospital after a food allergen problem. But the baker is still working there!”

Yumi grit her teeth. She knew the plex would become dangerous again. It was why she’d quit. She wasn’t able to say much because she knew she’d be painting a target not just on her back, but on the backs of her loved ones too. She’d seen Fazbear go after family members to shut someone up, and she didn’t want to put Kota through that.

And god forbid, the company try to use her mother to make Yumi look bad and untrustworthy...

“If I say anything, they’ll go after Kota, and his business will suffer,” Yumi said slowly. “But... I may have a workaround.”

“What do you mean?” Owen asked.

“You remember those youtubers who came to shoot videos at the plex years ago?” Yumi asked. “For charity? Because I was the one who was most familiar with them, Mr. Watkins let me be the liaison between him and them. I still have their emails. Granted, they’re not exactly tea channels, but... they may know some. And Fazbear has always been a juicy topic.”

“And in doing this... you hide who the information came from,” Owen slowly smiled. “That might work. It will be risky, but... we can’t just let him get away with it. Someone has to say something. I’ll talk with some people and get some evidence together for you. Come by my house to talk to me about it. We can’t have a paper trail or any evidence of our conversations.”

“No problem,” Yumi said. “I don’t have a job, so it’s not like I’m busy with anything else.”

“We’ll talk more about it later,” Owen typed at his laptop. “Now... let’s see what we’re backing up here.”

He opened a file, and a picture came up. It was a picture of Teeny Boi and Udon napping together.

“I can see why you want to save these pictures,” Owen laughed.

Back at the plex, Max was typing at his own computer. He needed to do some research on something that just didn’t seem right to him. He’d met the AI known as Glitchtrap a while back, and he could safely say... that he hated it.

He hated the snarky AI who seemed to have an endless supply of snappy comebacks and didn’t listen to a word that Max said. He had shut down the kiosk for now, but he needed to check something.

Something about Glitchtrap almost seemed... familiar.

The current files only said that Glitchtrap was an advanced AI that had been created to entertain and provide information, but there were no other files about his creation at all, which was suspicious. It was almost as if Glitchtrap existed before Watkins brought him in, and that he hadn’t been created by Watkins’s staff at all.

The current files also mentioned a handler named Michael Schmidt, but Max had yet to even see this employee. He’d assumed that Michael had left when the handlers had been laid off, but even that was shrouded in mystery.

The red flags were popping up more and more...

Max searched the company’s archives for any mentions of a yellow rabbit. Most of the information found only mentioned the original Spring Bonnie, but there was one file that was more recent that mentioned something else.

The file was an interview with the playtesters of the failed VR game that never launched. They both mentioned seeing some sort of ghostly figure in the game. A figure that resembled a yellow rabbit with a purple jacket and bowtie.

A yellow rabbit with a purple jacket and bowtie...

Max sat back and gave an incredulous chuckle.

“My my,” he said. “This is quite the loose end...”

Chapter Text

Tiffany was starting to hate her job.

Her pay had gotten cut, bonuses had been taken away, and she no longer had the ability to ban children from the daycare. Not even Sunny or Moon could now. Eclipse, she was still getting used to him, couldn’t either. The man who had tried to dismantle The Shade was moved away from her, but Tiffany didn’t know if he’d been reprimanded for what he’d done to her.

Even worse, Max had overturned the bans on the bad children.

Tiffany and Eclipse could no longer ban, scold, or even touch the children, no matter how they acted. Tiffany had vented to Eclipse about it, and he’d told her that he would take care of it.

Tiffany was curious as to how he would.

“Freddy realized that doing nothing solved nothing,” Eclipe was reading from a book to the children. “If a bully is bothering you or your friends, you can’t ignore them. You have to stand up and fight back or else the bully will keep hurting people. It takes courage to stand up for yourself and for your friends, and the ones who do are heroes.”

Eclipse closed the book and smiled widely.

“Wasn’t that a wonderful story?” He asked. “And an important lesson about bullies. Remember, children, you can’t just ignore the bullies. You have to fight back or they’ll never stop. Anyway, how about a game of dodgeball?”

The children were all glaring at Liam who was ripping up drawings in the back. Liam noticed and slowly stopped moving. His face paled when he saw the murder in the other children’s eyes.

Needless to say, Liam was sporting quite a few tears and ouchies when his mother came to pick him up.

And Max was not happy about it.

“I don’t know what you want me to do,” Tiffany said. “I’m not allowed to ban or scold the children anymore. You told me that. What was I supposed to do?”

“You could have done something,” Max frowned. “Surely if you had just used your head for something other than to tie pretty ribbons around-”

“Do you think we banned those children for fun?!” Tiffany snapped. “We banned them because they were a danger to the other children! And you let them come back!”

“Don’t take that tone with me, you little-” Max angrily stepped towards Tiffany.

“Is there a problem here?”

Max paused and looked to see that Eclipse had climbed up the slide. Eclipse tilted his head, looking between Max and Tiffany.

“No,” Max eventually said.

“Oh good,” Eclipse walked over to stand next to Tiffany and put his arm around her shoulders. “I was worried that we had a problem. Glad to see we don’t. Now, Tiffany did her absolute best. She showed quite a bit more patience than anyone else would have. She’s not allowed to scold the children or really do anything to them, so I don’t know what you think she could have done.”

His tone was slowly shifting from a cheerful one to a more... firm one.

“We are doing all that we can,” Eclipse continued. “But we can’t do much now because you won’t let us. So you can either give us more power, put the bans back in place, or... get used to this being the new normal. If you take the keys from the zookeeper, the animals will run wild. That’s how the saying goes.”

Max’s eyes narrowed, glancing at the arm that Eclipse had around Tiffany’s shoulders. Eclipse tightened his grip slightly, sending a clear message.

“I’ll need to think about it,” Max said. “You just figure out a way to keep things from getting crazy again.”

He left the daycare, and Tiffany sighed.

“I really do not like that man,” Eclipse said.

Chapter Text

Kota slowly woke up and yawned. He opened his eyes, refreshed from a good night’s sleep-

Something was staring down at him.

Kota almost threw the thing off of him, but then his brain woke up enough to remember that he had a guest.

Teeny Boi clanged his symbals together and then jumped off the bed. Kota sat up and saw that Teeny Boi was making gestures to follow him.

Kota raised an eyebrow, but obliged. Sometimes Teeny Boi reminded him of a cat.

The television in the living room was showing a news channel, very different from the cartoons that Teeny Boi liked to watch. Kota saw a familiar logo on the screen and hurried to turn up the volume.

“-On social media showing a sigular phrase. ‘I only work for Watkins’,” the news anchor was saying. “The phrase is a reference to the previous manager, Richard Watkins, who ran the plex and garnered the respect and love of its customers. Watkins was the one responsible for bringing back previous characters as well as new ones, and the general consensus was that he was perhaps the best thing to happen to the pizzaplex.”

Kota sat down on the couch, and Teeny Boi quickly crawled into his lap.

“After announcing that Watkins had been fired, customer satisfaction and attendance for the plex have been falling,” the anchor continued. “No clear reason for Watkins’s dismissal has been given, leaving customers to wonder just what happened. Along with the change of manager, new reports have been sprouting up, citing unsafe conditions at the plex.”

The screen shifted to an interview with a woman and her children.

“We went to Monty’s to go golfing, and I noticed this weird smell,” the mother said. “It was coming from the water, and the water wasn’t clear. I asked the worker, and they said it was stuff they put in to clean the water, but it never smelled like that before, and the water was clean and clear before!”

The scene changed again to a teenager.

“I went to get a makeover from Roxanne’s salon and ended up breaking out in a bad rash on my face. The makeup was really itchy and even burned a bit,” she said.

The scene shifted again.

“The food there is awful,” said a man. “It used to taste so good, and now it’s like something I wouldn’t even feed to my dog, let alone my kids. The quality has just really gone downhill since we lost the old manager.”

The scene came back to the anchor woman.

“Recently, a young boy ended up hospitalized after eating a cake that contained dairy. His mother had specified more than once that the boy could not eat dairy, but the cake he was given still contained it. This incident has been reported on by several prominent figures of the youtube community, and there have been other stories of negligence or unsafe conditions. It has led the public to wonder if Watkins’s firing was justified.”

The news shifted to another story, and Teeny Boi gave a series of warbles. Unlike his cousin, Kota could not translate them.

“Don’t worry,” he pat Teeny Boi’s head. “Yumi’ll be ok.”

Teeny Boi gave a musical sigh before demanding to change the channel back to his cartoons.

Chapter Text

“We saw the news,” Josh said. “Was that you?”

“Hell yeah,” Yumi grinned. “You’re not going to take this lying down, are you?”

“I’m just trying to keep my family safe and fed,” Isaac said. “I can’t be risking anything getting involved in this.”

“And that’s fair,” Yumi shrugged. “You don’t have to do anything. I got the ball rolling, the public’s wising up, soon we should be able to do some real damage.”

“What is your plan?” Natty asked. “So we expose them, and then what? Max is still in charge. The way the company is structured, there’s no board to fire him.”

“But there should still be an owner somewhere,” Carmen said. “Maybe if we get the fires big enough, Max won’t be able to put them out and the owner will have to replace him.”

“But with who?” Josh asked. “Maybe it will be someone worse.”

They were all silent for a moment, fiddling with their food and drinks. That was the fear they all had. What if Max was replaced with someone even worse?

“We can’t let him get away with this,” Yumi finally said. “If you don’t want to get involved, I understand. There’s no shame in it, and we all know how dangerous the company can be when out for blood. But I’m not going to stop until Mr. Watkins is back where he belongs.”

Natty sighed and thumped her mug against the top of the table.

“I want to help,” she said. “Tell me what to do.”

“Me too,” Josh agreed.

“Sorry, but I’m staying out,” Isaac said. “I have my son to think about.”

“I want to help too,” Carmen said.

Yumi smiled at them all and nodded.

“Let’s start a revolution,” she said.

Chapter Text

“I... I beg your pardon?”

“That,” Max pointed at Mary. “Get rid of it. We have plenty of security with the big one.”

Owen glanced over at where Nett was frowning and holding his little sister tightly. Mary looked scared, burying her face in Nett’s shoulder with a small whimper.

“Sir, we’ve received nothing but good feedback about her,” Owen said. “Surely we don’t-”

“It’s a waste,” Max said. “And we don’t need it. I expect it to be gone by the end of the day, or you’re fired. Got it? Good.”

Max left before anything else could be said or done. Nett growled at Owen, holding Mary even tighter.

“You can’t have her,” Nett snarled. “I will not-”

“Nett,” Owen said. “Trust me on this. Put her down and go back to your patrols. I’ll handle it.”

Nett hesitated, but slowly put Mary down.

“If anything happens to her...” he hissed.

“Trust me,” Owen said. “I will handle it.”

Later that evening, the plex was closed, and Owen was finishing up a few things. Mary sat in the corner, too scared to do much else except watch what Owen was doing. Owen brought up a few systems and typed in a few commands. He then stood up and carefully looked outside the door to Parts and Services.

“Mary, come here,” he said softly. “It’ll be ok, I promise.”

Mary stood and slowly made her way over. Owen knelt down and pat her shoulder.

“Listen carefully,” he said. “Go down this hallway and take a left. There will be a blue door at the end. It will take you outside. There will be a car waiting. You need to get into the car, ok?”

“B-But... stranger danger,” Mary said.

“This won’t be a stranger,” Owen assured her. “I promise. But you have to be quick, we don’t have much time. If you’re too slow we’ll get caught. Run fast, ok?”

Mary nodded and Owen opened the door for her. She rushed down the empty hallway and turned left. She found the blue door and quickly went through it.

It was raining and dark outside, but she saw headlights. A car really was waiting. Mary swallowed her fear and quickly ran over, climbing into the car and closing the door behind her.

“Hello, Mary,” the driver turned and smiled at her.

Mary gasped, smiling as she recognized him.

“Make sure you put your seat belt on,” the driver said. “You’ll be staying with me for a while.”

The car drove off, and the security cameras in the plex suddenly went back to their normal functions.

Chapter Text

“I need to talk to you.”

Eclipse looked up from where he was organizing the craft supplies on the children’s tables. The daycare was closed, and Tiffany had left for the day. Eclipse was just cleaning up a few messes.

“Look, I don’t think you’re going to work out for this job,” Max said as he approached Eclipse. “Sun and Moon are the attendants, and they were already doing a great job. We don’t need you, so you can... go back... or whatever...”

Eclipse beamed before turning his attention back to the supplies.

“No thanks,” he said. “I like this job. I think I’ll hang around for a while until things calm down.”

Max frowned at that. He knew Sun and Moon were pushovers and could be easily commanded, or he could just reprogram them as he pleased. Eclipse, on the other hand... there wasn’t much information about him. Max had managed to find a few old files saying that Eclipse was part of the security team, but not much else.

Something about him unnerved Max.

“I’m not asking you,” he said. “You need to change back, or I’ll-”

“You’ll what?” Eclipse asked.

He moved closer to Max, stopping when he was standing before him. Max didn’t move, wanting to show a strong figure. Eclipse leaned closer.

“What will you do?” Eclipse asked. “Hmm? I’ll tell you what you’ll do. Nothing. A whole lotta nothing. Because you know that you need me here or else you’ll have to close the daycare.”

“That’s not true,” Max said. “Don’t forget that I’m the one in charge here. You will do as I say, or you will regret it.”

“You sure about that?” Eclipse asked. “Listen... I don’t like you. I know you’re the reason why my brothers are hibernating. You all but broke their spirits. This is not a place for corporate greed, it’s a sanctuary for children. I am one of the guardians of this sanctuary, and I will protect it. My programming allows me to act independently of any authority figure, you included. I will make my decisions however I choose. And I choose to stick around to make sure the children are safe.”

Eclipse turned and went back to the tables to keep cleaning.

Max’s eyes widened slightly. Eclipse was made to be independent? That meant that reprogramming him would be a lot trickier than he thought. Maybe he could just scrap all three and download Sun and Moon into a new body. Get rid of Eclipse completely...

“Don’t think you have any power,” Max growled. “I can do whatever I want with this place, and you can do nothing to stop me. I can do whatever I want to any of you. Even the girl who works here. I can fire her.”

Eclipse froze. His head turned a full half circle on his neck, and even with his smile... he somehow looked enraged. Before Max could even move a muscle, Eclipse’s long limbs lashed out and he stalked back over to where Max was, forcing him against a nearby wall. Eclipse’s body turned to match the direction of his face.

“You do anything to her... and I will make you regret it,” Eclipse’s voice warped. “Play nice... or I will put you in timeout. And you will not like timeout...”

Max said nothing, ducking to get away from Eclipse. He heard the animatronic laughing at him as he quickly made his escape.

“Have a nice night, Maxie!” Eclipse called after him. “Let’s play again soon!”

Chapter Text

“We’re having trouble with Chica.”

Max sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation. What is with these dumb animatronics? Why can’t they just do as he says? All they have to do is entertain some brats all day. How hard can that be?

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

The food worker folded their arms and huffed.

“She’s gone crazy,” he said. “Ever since that incident with the cake, she’s been watching us cook and make food. And I don’t mean from a distance, she gets right up there and watches us. She’s scared us more than a few times with how she pops up. And if we make a mistake, she’ll eat the food herself and force us to make it again from scratch. It’s annoying!”

“You can’t keep her out?” Max asked.

“She’s stronger than she looks,” said the worker. “And way more determined. She’s convinced that we’re gonna kill someone, or something like that.”

Max sighed again and shook his head.

“Just keep cooking as best as you can,” he said. “I’ll take care of Chica.”

And he did. He made sure she knew to stay away from the kitchens... but then a new problem arose when the server bots started throwing incorrect food back at the workers...

Chapter Text

Freddy sighed as he crossed Rockstar Row.

Everything seemed bad now. Regular customers weren’t coming back as often, there were so many more rude children and even ruder parents. And they could do nothing about it. Just smile and wave and pretend everything was just fine.

But nothing was fine. Not even close.

Freddy perked up a bit when he noticed Bonnie and Foxy up ahead.

“Hello, friends,” Freddy smiled. “How are you? I heard that you two got into trouble again. Foxy, you threw out a child who hurt Danni? I saw that your cove had been closed, but it is good to see it open again. And Bonnie, you know that we are not supposed to tell people what happens behind the scenes. We have to be very careful.”

Bonnie and Foxy both slowly turned to look at Freddy, and he noticed something... strange about them.

“Are... are you two ok?” He asked.

“Hello, Freddy!”

Bonnie and Foxy both smiled and waved, but their movements were stiff. Almost... mechanical. Freddy felt a wave of horror wash through him.

“Bonnie!” He shook Bonnie’s shoulders. “Bonnie, speak to me! Please! Tell, me you are ok!”

Bonnie’s expression didn’t change, face frozen in a smile.

“Hello, Freddy!” He waved again.

“Yar! It be time to play!” Foxy said, moving his arms stiffly. “Let’s journey across the seas!”

He then turned around and walked off towards Kid Cove.

Bonnie moved on too, heading back to his room. Freddy stayed where he was, begging anyone that it wasn’t true. He blinked and saw Chica heading his way too.

“Chica?” He asked, his tone desperate.

Chica stumbled and gave a twitchy smile.

“Who wants candy?”

Chapter Text

Breebreethequeen has posted a new video!

Watch now?

The video started, revealing Brianna sitting at her computer in her recording room.

“Hello, everyone!” She smiled widely. “So... I gotta talk about this. I’m sure we’ve all heard about the drama going on with Fazbears. Now, Fazbear’s no stranger to drama, but... it seemed like there wasn’t really any while Richard Watkins was employed there. I’ve had the pleasure of going there a number of times and every time was great when he was the manager. I recently went back after hearing that things were getting bad. Y’all...”

She zoomed in.

“It’s bad.” She said.

A clip began to play. Brianna was recording some food that she had ordered from the food court.

“Oh my god,” she said off camera. “Look at this. This... this looks like mush. Like they just blended it all together and plopped it on a plate. These are supposed to be nachos. The old nachos had real meat and real cheese and all kinds of toppings, but these...”

She stirred the mess with a fork.

“There’s barely any chips here. And I’m pretty sure this is processed cheese. Like, I’d bet this cheese came in a can,” she continued. “The soda I ordered is mostly ice and tastes kinda watered down. The dessert?”

The camera panned to a piece of cake. Brianna stabbed it with her fork.

“This cake is stale as hell. How old is it?”

The scene then shifted, returning to Brianna at her computer.

“Yeah,” she said. “I couldn’t eat any of that food. So after that, I went around to a few different places...”

The scene shifted again, showing strangely colored water in Monty’s golf course, electrical hazards scattered around the plex, unsafe makeup in Roxanne’s salon, and more.

“This isn’t even funny,” Brianna said when she came back on screen. “This isn’t tea, or content. This is dangerous. Like, kids could really get hurt from this. And I’ve heard that a few have. Before Richard took over, the plex was dangerous in a lot of aspects. It was one of those places where you wondered why people kept coming back or why it didn’t get shut down. And then it was a great place when Richard took over. And now it seems to be going back to it.”

She shook her head.

“Then, I tried to record some of the animatronics, but they told me they had a new rule where you weren’t allowed to record them. I’ve done so many videos with them, and now suddenly we can’t record them? But the worst scene by far... just watch this.”

The scene shifted again.

“Ballora!”

Ballora was dancing by herself, moving silently across the floor. She paused when her name was called, and she turned to see who had called out to her. The camera moved as Brianna approached her.

“Ballora, hey!” Brianna said off screen. “You don’t know me, but I’m a youtuber. I do a lot of videos about the plex. I was confused because it seems like there’s been a bunch of changes. Like...we’re not allowed to film you anymore?”

Ballora was silent, eyes moving as if to see if anyone else was around.

“Come with me,” she suddenly said, pulling Brianna down a hallway.

They entered a dark broom closet, and only a bit of light came in through the window. Ballora’s eyes glowed softly in the dark.

“Ballora, what’s going on?” Brianna asked. “Why are we here?”

“I can’t be seen talking to you,” Ballora said. “They’ll stop me, and I have to speak to you. Listen carefully. Things are not good here. Things have changed, and not for the better. It’s dangerous here. The man in charge does not care about you. Not like Mr. Watkins did.”

“Wait, are you seriously not allowed to say this?” Brianna asked.

“When you post this video, they will know I spoke to you,” Ballora said. “I will be punished... but I have to say it. You have to show them what the plex has become. We all want you to know because we care about you all too much to let you get hurt. There’s nothing we can do on this end, but you can help us. You can spread the word.”

“Punished?” Brianna repeated. “Ballora, I’m getting scared-”

There was noise outside, and Ballora fearfully looked out the window.

“I have to go,” she said. “We can’t be seen together, or they’ll know. I’ll leave first. You count to a hundred and then leave too. Don’t stick around, leave the plex immediately before they can stop you. And... thank you. Thank you for helping us.”

She pulled Brianna in for a hug and then quickly left the room.

The scene again went back to Brianna at her computer.

“That was terrifying,” she said. “And it raises a lot of questions. Just what is going on at Freddy’s Mega Pizzaplex? Why are there toxic and unsafe things there? Why was Richard Watkins fired if he was doing such a great job for the plex? And what did Ballora mean by her being ‘punished’ if she spoke out? There’s something going on that needs to be investigated, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it. If anyone else wants to help me, let me know. I feel like I’m going to need a lot of help with this.”

The video ended soon after that.

Chapter Text

Everything was going to hell.

Scratch that, everything pretty much was already hell.

Michael didn’t know what to do, so he just followed Mr. Watkins’s instructions.

“If Max deems you a threat, he’s going to dig into your past, and that’s going to cause a whole host of problems since you technically no longer exist. Just keep off his radar. Don’t fight or put yourself in danger...”

Michael wanted to obey. He really did, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t let this man get away with what he was doing...

So he began to record everything. He recorded the hazards. He recorded employee conversations. He recorded everything he could. He would make sure Mr. Watkins had evidence of everything if he ever needed it.

But as more time passed, Michael became more and more nervous. He couldn’t die or really be harmed, but he did not want to put himself in the crosshairs and compromise his position. All of his hard work could go up in smoke if he was caught. Plus, he needed to make sure he stayed here as long as he could.

Glitchtrap was his partner in crime, hiding Michael as best he could by messing with the cameras he had access to. He couldn’t record anything himself without Max seeing it, so he left that to Michael. But Glitchtrap made it very clear that he wasn’t Max’s employee.

And maybe that wasn’t the best idea.

“Glitchtrap?” Michael approached the dark kiosk and tried to activate it.

The kiosk remained powered off. Michael looked for the port that would allow him to transfer Glitchtrap to his phone, but it was covered and blocked with a padlock. That didn’t look good. Maybe there was a key somewhere? Michael would check Max’s office.

The office was locked, but Michael had a spare key that Watkins had given him long ago. The door opened easily and Michael began to look around. The desk drawers had no keys, so he went for the filing cabinets.

His attention landed on a piece of paper on the floor. It looked like it had fallen from somewhere. Maybe Max had meant to take it with him?

Michael began to read over the piece of paper, and his eyes widened. The paper spoke about Glitchtrap, and how the archives had mentioned him. It spoke about the old VR game and Max had written that Glitchtrap... was a threat. A loose end. Something that needed to be... destroyed... lest people use him as evidence in Vanessa’s case.

Michael dropped the paper in shock. The kiosk had been turned off, and the port had been locked because they were going to purge Glitchtrap’s kiosk tonight...

Michael rushed from the office, praying he wasn’t too late.

Glitchtrap sighed from his bed. This week had been boring. Max had shut down his kiosk, saying that until Glitchtrap listened to him, he would be in timeout. It sucked, but Glitchtrap had some principles left, and he wasn’t about to toss them aside for some Fazbear dictator.

“Almost makes me miss Ol’ Willy Billy,” he muttered. “Almost.”

A notification suddenly appeared, and Glitchtrap squinted as he read it.

Data purge now starting. 0% complete.

Purge? What were they purging?

The corner of Glitchtrap’s room began to breakdown in a shower of pixels, revealing the bare code beneath it. The code began to vanish as well, and more and more of the room began to break down with it.

Glitchtrap panicked and looked around. Any exits were sealed off as his kisok had been disconnected from everything else.

16% complete.

Glitchtrap tried to think of a plan, but there was none. His only option was to escape to Michael’s phone, but that wasn’t connected right now. And since he couldn’t get his kiosk to come on... there was no way he could send Michael a message.

He was well and truly trapped...

48% complete.

It was speeding up now, more than half his room was gone, nothing more than an empty abyss where code had once been. And it was getting closer and closer.

“Help!” Glitchtrap cried out. “Please help! Someone!”

Data purge 100% complete.

Chapter Text

Michael stayed hidden where he could.

He’d managed to get out of the pizzaplex, but he was paranoid that they were still looking for him. Some men had shown up, toolboxes in hand. Were they there for the kiosk? What were they going to do to it?

Michael sighed heavily, back pressed against the alley wall. He had to stay hidden. His illusion disk had been knocked loose in the scuffle with the workers, and he’d lost it while making his escape. If anyone saw him now, they’d see him as the corpse he’d become, not as the young man he once was.

It made him feel vulnerable and anxious to be without the disk.

He felt drained. He felt exhausted. He felt awful. He’d failed. He’d failed the mission he’d been given, and now he was all but useless. He couldn’t go back to the plex now.

He began to tilt to the side as a combination of exhaustion and low power overtook him and his endoskeleton. He barely heard a car drive up, barely heard someone get out, barely felt the hands on his shoulders?

“Michael? Are you ok? Oh dear... Don’t worry, Michael. I have you now. It’ll be ok...”

The next thing Michael knew, he was waking up in an unfamiliar room. The room was very comfortable looking, and some new clothes were sitting on the nearby desk for him to wear. He slowly changed into them, feeling confused... but then it all came back in a rush.

Glitchtrap, the kiosk, his illusion disk... he’d called someone for help.

Michael left the room and walked down a long hallway, hearing a television playing in the distance. The hallway led to a living room where a familiar face was sitting on one of the couches.

“Mr. Michael!”

Michael smiled as Mary ran over and hugged him tightly. She was wearing a new dress, her hair styled into pigtails.

“Mary?” He asked. “It’s so good to see you.”

“Michael?”

Michael looked up to see who had entered. His smile faltered, and he cleared his throat.

“Mr. Watkins, we need to talk,” he said.

Chapter Text

Michael sat at Mr. Watkins’s dining table. From the living room, he could hear some kind of Disney movie playing. Mary was sitting on the couch again, clutching a teddy bear and singing along.

She was much happier after Michael had spoken to her.

“Is Big Brother ok?” She’d asked him.

“He’s fine,” Michael had told her. “He misses you a lot.”

“I miss him too,” Mary had said. “Mr. Watkins says I’ll be able to see him again. He just has to... um... slay a dragon first?”

Michael had laughed at that.

Now he was busy showing Mr. Watkins all the photos and videos he’d gotten.

“It’s a nightmare,” Michael said. “Forget running the plex into the ground, he’s run it into Hell. How is he able to do all of this? Aren’t there... people who make sure this doesn’t happen?”

“There are,” Mr. Watkins said. “But Max has money and connections, two dangerous weapons for a man like him. He’s been getting away with it because he’s been paying people to look the other way. Certain inspectors will give him passing grades and then pocket whatever bribe he’s given them. Sadly, I don’t have any evidence about it, or I would have dealt with it years ago.”

“Scumbag,” Michael growled. “Well, we have plenty of evidence here. What do we do?”

Mr. Watkins was silent for a moment.

“It’s a tricky situation,” he said. “We have to do everything by the book, or else we could fail. We have evidence, but it’s a matter of getting it to the right people, and I have no idea if Max has anyone else in his back pocket. If we give this to the wrong person, it will be disposed of, and Max will know what we’re doing. He’s too powerful to take down now. We must do something first to bring his operations to a screeching halt. Distract him, corner him, cripple his power. Only then can we strike.”

Michael nodded slowly. He didn’t know much about businesses himself, always tuning out whenever his father or Mr. Emily had tried to teach him something. He was regretting it now.

“I have a plan in motion,” Mr. Watkins suddenly said, steepling his fingers. “With any luck, it will deliver a huge blow to Max’s empire and give us the opportunity we need. For now, I want you to stay here. You can’t go out looking like that and I wouldn’t want you to anyway. I don’t ever want to see you passed out in an alleyway like you were last night.”

“I’m sorry,” Michael said softly.

Why did he feel like a child again?

“You have nothing to be sorry about,” Mr. Watkins smiled warmly and grasped Michael’s shoulder. “You have been a great help to me, and I will always be grateful for your help. But now it’s time for you to rest. As for your disk... I remember seeing blueprints in one of the storage units we found. I’ll have Owen make you another one, ok?”

Michael nodded, putting his own hand over Mr. Watkins’s. Was this what paternal affection felt like? It had been so long since his life with his father, and even then he’d only ever gotten any praise from Mr. Emily...

“By the way, why did you get into a fight with the workers?” Mr. Watkins asked.

“Oh!” Michael opened a compartment in his wrist and dug around.

He pulled out a small thumb drive and held it up with a smile.

“Glitchtrap,” he said. “I saved him. I remembered that Owen was working on a program and was able to use it.”

The last thing Glitchtrap remembered was feeling his pixels start to disappear. He vaguely remembered something grabbing him, and then...

He gasped when he came back to himself. He looked himself over quickly, sighing in relief to see he was in one piece. He then realized he wasn’t alone. He spun around and saw... a blue rabbit?

“You don’t... you don’t look like Bonnie,” he said. “Wh-Who are you?”

The blue bunny tilted its head.

“They call me MXES...”

Chapter Text

Freddy always tried to be an optimist.

He always tried to keep a smile on his face, always tried to find the silver lining or look at the bright side... but he couldn’t do it anymore.

How could he smile at this? There was no bright side here. Ballora was missing, Cosmo and Roxanne were broken from an ‘accident’, and most of his friends had been replaced by soulless copies.

Only Eclipse and DJ remained, but mostly because no one was brave enough to go after them.

Freddy had tried. He really had. He’d tried to stay loyal to the company that literally had his name in it. He’d tried to keep going, but he was tired. He was so tired and he was so sad. The plex was no longer a place for happiness. The Karens and naughty children ran rampant, the good children were getting sick, and worse.

It was time for the last performance of the day. The main stage was lit up, and he could hear the crowd outside. The copies of his friends were preparing. They could play and sing just as well as the others, but it just wasn’t the same. Still, Freddy got ready for his entrance.

He popped up on the stage, music playing and crowd shouting his name. He looked around, but it brought him no joy. The music continued to play, and Freddy raised his microphone...

But no sound came out.

He’d missed his cue, but the music kept playing. His grip tightened on his microphone, and he stepped forward to the front of the stage.

The people nearby had their phones out, and he could see confusion in their expressions. Were they wondering if something had happened to Freddy?

“This... this is all wrong,” Freddy said into his microphone. “All of this. All of this is wrong!”

He frowned, eyes full of fire.

“This is not how the plex should be,” he continued. “This place has become dangerous! It is dangerous here, and no one should come-”

His microphone suddenly cut out. Someone was trying to stop him. They were trying to stop him. Freddy growled and turned up the volume for his voice box.

“Your children are not safe!” He roared to be heard over the music. “No one is happy here! This place has turned into a nightmare! They have hurt or killed my friends, and they have threatened the same against me! These bots here on stage are imposters! Replacements! They are not the the ones you know and love! And why? Because my friends tried to make things right!”

His voice box was straining now, heating up to dangerous levels. More people had their phones out, and Freddy pointed at them.

“Yes! Take out your phones! Record this! Spread the word!” He said. “The CEO cannot get away with what he has done. He must be punished for the dangers he has brought here. Do not let him walk free! Please, help me! Help us all! Help us before someone dies-”

His voice box finally ruptured with a shower of sparks, and his entire system began to malfunction. His vision flickered in and out, and he vaguely felt himself fall. Error messages popped up... and then there was nothing.

“Everyone is still working on the court case?” Max said into his phone. “You pulled everyone from the legal department and more, right? We gotta stall this for now, and I want everyone on it.”

“Yes, sir,” said the employee he was talking to. “We’ve had everyone working on this for the past month and a half. No exceptions.”

“Good,” Max smiled. “That’s what I like to hear-”

“Sir!” A breathless employee burst into his office. “Sir, we got a big problem.”

Chapter Text

Everything was fine.

Freddy had been replaced, and life had returned to normal. Of course, Max had had to run some damage control. He’d given a few interviews about how Watkins had sabotaged and reprogrammed the animatronics out of anger and malice, which is why they had said the things they had and why the new ones were acting so strange. He’d played the part of a concerned and reassuring CEO, and he’d managed to get the dogs off his tail in that regard.

His contacts were busy with the safety side of things, taking their bribes and fudging reports that kept the authorities off his back. He had employees creating fake accounts to boost his reviews online and give testaments on social media. And he was working on a cease and desist for those stupid youtubers that were speaking out about him.

Not to mention, he’d gotten rid of that stupid virus.

The fire was barely a fire anymore. It was practically embers now. Ashes. Give it a little more time and it will all blow over and everything would be just fine like it used to be.

“Sir!” The same employee from before burst into his office. “Sir, we have a problem.”

“Freddy’s been dealt with,” Max frowned. “What other problem could there be?”

“It’s about something else, sir,” said the employee. “Something far worse.”

“Then what is it?” Max sounded annoyed.

“The trademarks, sir,” said the employee. “Our trademarks. They... they’ve all expired.”

“Expired?” Max repeated. “How?!”

Their trademarks had expired? All of them? Well, he did organize them all to be renewed at the same time to make it all easier to keep up with. So if one expired, they all would. The logo, the company name, the likenesses of the animatronics, and so much more.

“You took the people in charge of that and put them on the court case instead,” said the employee. “And so no one renewed them and they passed their grace period and recently expired.”

Max sighed.

“Then simply buy them back,” he said. “Why is this a problem?”

The employee swallowed heavily.

“S... Someone already bought them, Sir,” they said.

If looks could kill... the employee would be a smoking crater in the floor.

“All of them?” Max slowly asked. "That would have cost... who has that kind of money?"

“All of them,” the employee said. “And the... the b-buyer...”

The employee set a stack of papers down on Max’s desk. Max quickly began to look through them all, and he finally saw who now owned their trademarks.

His roar of rage shook through the plex.

Chapter Text

“Good afternoon. I was surprised when you called me.”

Max did not want to be here. If it were up to him, he would have stormed Watkins’s house and brought a fiery wrath upon him, but Watkins only agreed to meet him if they did it in a public place.

So that was why they were in a private corner of some trendy little restaurant.

“Isn’t this place nice?” Mr. Watkins smiled as he sipped his iced tea. “Tiffany recommended it to me. She knows where all the best little cafes and restaurants are. How is she, by the way?”

“I don’t even know who you’re talking about,” Max growled through gritted teeth.

“Well, that’s no good,” Mr. Watkins shook his head. “You should know about your employees, shouldn’t you?”

“Cut the crap,” Max said. “You know why we’re here.”

Max was in no mood. He had consulted with as many people as he could, but they had all said pretty much the same thing. Mr. Watkins had gone through the legal channels, and the purchases were valid. There was nothing he could do except buy them from Mr. Watkins.

And that fact made his blood boil.

“How dare you-”

“How dare I what?” Mr. Watkins interrupted, looking at the menu as if Max were the least interesting person in the world. “How dare I legally purchase something that you allowed to expire?”

“You knew I was busy with the courts and other things,” Max said. “You knew it would slip through the cracks.”

“Not quite,” Mr. Watkins said. “But I had hoped it would. And luckily for me, you let it happen.”

Max hissed. His arms were still folded from when he’d first sat down, and his face had settled into a fixed scowl. He really hated the man in front of him. He hated him more than anyone else.

“So what now?” He asked. “You extort me? You make me pay you a ludicrous amount of money for something that is rightfully mine?”

Mr. Watkins chuckled.

“No,” he said, all traces of humor disappearing from his face. “See, if it had just been me you had attacked, I would have probably done so. But you didn’t hurt just me. You hurt my employees. You put countless children and their families in danger. You took wages that were rightfully earned. You poisoned the plex. You poisoned the customers. You threatened to kill the animatronics if they would not obey you. You really think I would be satisfied with costing you a good amount of money to return your toys to you?”

There was a fire in his eyes, and Max couldn’t help but feel a tremor of fear.

“I know you’re used to fighting people who aren’t on your level,” Mr. Watkins said. “They didn’t have the money or the resources to properly fight you, and so they lost. But I am not them. I am no guppy against a shark. You picked the absolute worst person to anger because I have everything I need to go toe to toe with you in every sense of the phrase. And I will. I have been gathering evidence of your misdeeds. I found the people you’ve been bribing to look the other way. And now I’ve caused your empire to grind to a halt. And this is only the beginning. You will see just what happens when you act the way you have. You will finally face the consequences of your actions.”

His voice had not wavered or even changed in volume or tone. It had stayed a deadly and firm tone that left no room for questions or doubts. This was a man who could make Max’s life very difficult... and Max had made him an enemy.

“Why not order something?” Mr. Watkins’s pleasant demeanor was back. “My treat. One last meal before the storm begins.”

Max was quick to leave after that. He had to get his defenses in order.

Chapter Text

Lauren sighed as she clocked out.

She’d been so excited to finally get a job at this place, but her hopes and dreams had all been dashed when she’d seen the state of the plex. The wages weren’t as high as before, the benefits were almost nonexistent, and the plex itself just seemed rather... dismal.

Still, she’d been hired for a job. She’d work it and gather experience and maybe use it as a springboard to get a better one later. She just wished she’d turned her application in before this new management...

As Lauren walked through the dark and empty plex, she suddenly heard a noise behind her. She looked... and her eyes widened.

In the shadows, she saw a dimly glowing eye. Something was stumbling towards her, something with heavy footsteps. As it stepped into the light, Lauren could see what it was. That weird bird animatronic she’d been working on repairing. It was still in a bad state, parts cracked and broken, and wires exposed.

What was its name? Caleb? Caldwell? Cody?

Whatever its name, it quickened its pace, hand reached out towards her and voice box glitching so badly she couldn’t understand a word it was saying. She took that as her cue to run as fast as she could away from it.

She’d heard how the animatronics were malfunctioning. She’d heard how the older models at different locations were a bit... quirky at night. She’d heard of the deaths and disappearances over the years, but she’d never thought it was still ongoing. Not with how great this place was.

She was such a fool...

Lauren tried to run more, but she found herself cornered down a hallway. The emergency exit would only open for VIPs, which she was not part of. She tugged and fought with the door, sobbing in fear and crying for help. It was closing in. It was getting closer and closer.

She screamed when it finally got to her, arm outstretched to grab her-

“Y-You... d-dropp-p-p-ed-d-d th-this-s-s...”

Lauren slowly opened her eyes and saw her phone sitting in the animatronic’s palm. On instinct, she pat her pockets, realizing they were empty. With a shaking hand, she took the offered phone.

“H-Have a-a-a n-nice n-night-t-t,” the animatronic said before turning around and shuffling away.

Lauren watched it leave, heart racing and breathing hard. When it was gone, she left the hallway and checked her phone. That was it? The animatronic was just wanting to return her phone to her? But how?

She’d powered it off before leaving Parts and Services...

Chapter Text

“How can this be happening? We had everything in the bag. Everything was fine. And now he’s gone and just... screwed it all up. What is his deal?”

Max was pacing his office, one of his executives in the chair. The executive was an older man who looked like he’d been fed up for years.

“Did you really think he was going to let you do this?” The executive asked. “You know how passionate he is about this place. You know how loved he is. Did you really think he’d let you take it and ruin it again?”

“Shut up, Javier!” Max snapped. “No one ever has gone against us and won. No one has ever been such a thorn in my side as that man. I should have never let him run this place, money be damned.”

“You enjoyed that money,” Javier folded his arms. “You enjoyed every penny of it. You should have let him keep going. Why did this even start?”

Max growled to himself, refusing to sit down. He stalked around the office, hating the fact that it still felt like Watkins’s office. He’d painted the walls, replaced the carpet, decorated however he pleased, but it still felt like he was intruding on someone else’s space. This was his business, this was his plex, this was his office.

And yet Watkins’s ghost hung around like a bad smell.

“He wants to prove that old playtester is innocent,” Max finally said. “The one that went crazy and used to cause us problems. The security guard. When she was arrested, the moron put her in a mental hospital instead of just letting her go to jail. It would have been perfect! She couldn’t speak, she didn’t even know where she was, she wouldn’t have been able to protest. Now she’s lucid, but all the cards are against her. He could have let her take the fall and the problem would have been solved and done with. But he refused. That’s why I fired him.”

Javier sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Didn’t I tell you not to do that?” He said. “Why do you ask for my advice when you never take it unless it’s the advice you want to hear? How many times have you burned yourself because you didn’t listen to me?”

“This isn’t about you,” Max said. “This is about the company. You want that kind of bad PR?”

“We’ve had bad PR before,” Javier said. “We could have simply eaten the costs and made amends and then continued on with our lives. Everything would have still been ok afterwards. And even if you fired him, why did you undo all of his work?”

Max was silent for a moment. He knew why. He couldn’t stand the thought that Watkins had done so well. That Watkins had made things so much better. That Watkins had all the love and the respect of the employees. When he fired Watkins, he’d wanted to strip away every part of him from the plex.

“It was to set an example,” Max said.

“Bull,” said Javier. “It was your ego, wasn’t it? It always is.”

“Shut your mouth,” Max finally sat down. “Tell me how to make this go away. He’s got us by the throat.”

Javier shrugged.

“You’re in too deep,” he said. “There’s no easy way to make this go away. If he’s that determined to destroy you, and he has all the money and resources and evidence he needs... then you’re done. He’s going to drag you through every unpleasant surface that exists and you will be ruined by the end of it.”

“That is not what I want to hear,” said Max. “I need real advice.”

“I have none to give,” Javier stood up. “You’re on your own in this Max. You played with fire... and now you’re going to be burned to ash. Good luck.”

He left the office, ignoring Max’s shouting behind him. The plex was empty as they were no longer allowed to operate now that Watkins had all the trademarks, so there were no customers. As he walked through the atrium, he noticed a small group of wet floor signs making a lot of noise.

Another one was lying on the floor, clearly trying to get back up but not having much luck.

“Careful now,” Javier said he approached the group. “No one likes to take a tumble.”

He helped the fallen bot back on its wheels and then walked off.

Chapter Text

“How’s my baby doing?”

“He’s doing fine. He’s been watching cartoons mostly. I bought him a few pillows and stuffed animals and now he won’t stop cuddling them.”

“Awe,” Yumi smiled as she sat down. “That’s adorable. I’m glad he’s behaving.”

“Have the cops come back?” Kota. “They were after your phone, right?”

“Not yet,” Yumi sighed. “But I got rid of all the evidence anyway. Owen’s got all my pictures and whatnot. Purged the whole thing.”

She wasn’t worried if the cops came back with another warrant. She trusted Owen, and he had assured her that everything incriminating was gone. The cops could do all they wanted, but they would not be finding any traces of Teeny Boi.

And Yumi had been smart enough to not post anything to her social media.

“Good,” Kota said. “Hey, I’ve seen a few stories about the plex in the news. Apparently, everything’s gone to hell?”

“It’s awful,” Yumi sighed. “But... I may have got the ball rolling on exposing things. I contacted a few youtubers and invited them to come take a look for themselves. They were shocked, but they were happy to help us pull back the curtain on what Max is doing. And then after those videos of Freddy came about...”

“That was horrible to watch,” Kota said. “I’ve never heard so much emotion in an animatronic before...”

“I know,” Yumi frowned. “I’m not letting Max get away with this. Not after... not after finding out what he did to Chica...”

That had been quite the emotional response from her. She’d made sure to apologize to Kota for the property damage and told him she’d pay him back for it when she was working again. Kota had told her not to worry about it, he understood.

“Stay strong, Yumi,” Kota said. “And don’t worry about anything over here. We’re doing fine.”

“Thanks, Kota,” Yumi said. “I’m really glad I can count on you.”

---

“How’s my buddy doing?”

“He’s doing fine. He’s been playing with the children mostly. I’ve had to get more paper and crayons because of how much they’ve been drawing and coloring.”

David smiled to himself, slowly pacing his living room while he talked on the phone.

“Good,” he said. “Thanks again for taking him in for me. I couldn’t bring myself to turn him over to the company. They’d probably scrap him or worse. I’ll pay you back for any expenses he costs you.”

“It’s no problem,” said Octavia, David’s sister. “If anything, I should be paying you. He’s been such a good babysitter for the kids, I can finally relax or focus on the new baby. And he knows so much stuff. He’s been helping me take care of Andy.”

Andy was Octavia’s newest son, only a few months old. Though she was a seasoned mother, she knew that times and information changed, and she always liked to make sure she was correct before she did something. Having Helpy around to look things up for her or even to hold Andy while she took care of something else was a lifesaver.

“You don’t think I could hold onto him for a year or two?” Octavia asked. “Until Andy’s a little older?”

David laughed, and his sister joined in.

“I’m sure we can work something out,” he said. “Helpy sounds like he’s having lots of fun over there, and he’s always happy to... well, help. If he wants to visit again, I won’t stop him.”

“The kids would love that,” Octavia said. “Anyway, how are you doing? I’ve seen the news mention the plex a few times and I’ve heard horror stories from some of my old friends in that city. They say the plex is dangerous now.”

“So it would seem,” David sighed. “I no longer have access to the fazbear database, so I couldn’t say what they’re doing now. I’ve been focusing on the court case. We’re going before the judge soon, and I want to make sure we’re ready.”

“You’ll do a great job,” Octavia said. “Don’t worry about a thing over here. Helpy’s doing fine, and he’s having a blast with the kids. You just focus on your case, ok?”

“Thanks, Sis,” David smiled. “I’m glad I can count on you.”

Chapter Text

Hello everyone!

I am so sorry I haven't been updating like I usually do. I've been dealing with some personal issues and haven't really had time or been in a good mood to write. I am not abandoning this series, but I don't know how long it will take until I come back. I hope I will be able to update again soon, but thank you all for being so patient with me and have a great day.

Chapter Text

An edit for the previous author's note.

For everyone in the Discord Servers, I did delete my Discord account for mental health reasons. I am very sorry about the abrupt exit, but it had to be done. I may come back in the future, but I am not sure. Again, I apologize to everyone and hope you can understand and forgive me. Thank you all

Chapter Text

Lauren yawned and shook her head as she dug through the toolbox for what she needed.

She’d been ordered to remove the casings of the animatronics that had been damaged beyond repair. Strip them down to the endos then send the endos back to the storage room until a decision was made on what to do with them. No one was really telling her what was going on, but she’d heard rumors about the former manager dealing a major blow to the business.

The manager that she had really hoped to work for...

Lauren pulled out the tool she needed and then began to disconnect the wires on what had been the blue rabbit animatronic. Oddly enough, most of the plates were already missing when she’d started. She vaguely remembered seeing a picture of the rabbit wearing some kind of sheet in the plex. Now the plates were all sitting in a pile off to the side. The endo was nearly bare. She just had to remove the wires.

She looked up when she heard heavy footsteps. The bird animatronic walked into the room, looking much better after being repaired. Cosmo, that’s what the animatronic’s name was. Lauren saw it after that weird night...

“You were due for a break an hour ago,” Cosmo said as they set something on a nearby table. “Since you will not leave, I have brought you something.”

Lauren smiled softly at the bottle of water and pack of crackers that sat on the table. Cosmo had been acting strangely caring with her, and she had no idea why. She’d chalk it up to programming, but... somehow it felt oddly human. Like it was more than just coding and Ai.

“Humans require food and water,” Cosmo said. “And when they neglect their needs, their health suffers.”

“I’m not going to die if I don’t go on my breaks,” Lauren chuckled. “Besides, I’m buried in work and the boss wants it done ASAP.”

Cosmo took the tool from her hand and pointed at the water and crackers.

“I am not letting you overwork yourself again,” they said. “Sit down and take your break. Fifteen minutes. And don’t even think about trying to skip your lunch hour again.”

Lauren stared as Cosmo folded their arms. She briefly debated on trying to take the tool back, but Cosmo was much taller than her. She had no chance. So she admitted defeat and sat down, pulling the water bottle over to her.

“Hello, Miss Clough! Finally done for the night? Would you like me to walk you out to your car?”

Eclipse opened another can of paint and promptly dumped it all over the floor. He then tossed the empty can aside and gave Lauren a bright smile.

“Um...” Lauren tried to remember who this was. “Are you... Sun? Moon...?”

“I’m Eclipse,” Eclipse gave a dramatic bow. “Sun and Moon are... recovering right now, so to speak. I’m just filling in for them.”

“And do Sun and Moon handle... paint disposal?” Lauren asked.

“No,” Eclipse giggled. “They take care of the children in the daycare. But since we’re closed and there are no children, I’ve taken up a security position. Silly little Maxie wants to paint over these lovely murals, and I have a little problem with that. So I’m just doing what needs to be done to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Lauren slowly nodded her head. This plex was crazy. Had it always been this way?

“Um... I...” Lauren thought for a moment. “S-Sure. I’d love to be walked out to my car. Thanks, Eclipse.”

“No problem at all, Miss Clough,” Eclipse clapped his hands.

Chapter Text

Max was walking towards his office when he heard a loud crash.

His morning was already going badly. He had to call in someone to clean up all the paint on the floor since the stupid STAFFbots refused to listen to him. He would have to order more paint, which would cost a good amount of money since he needed a lot to cover those stupid murals.

And now it sounded like someone was in his office...

Max stepped forward slowly, hand going to his phone-

The door burst off its hinges as a desk sailed through it and landed across the hallway. A filing cabinet joined it, then another filing cabinet. The second one’s drawers opened, spilling papers everywhere. A computer landed on top of the pile, then a large fake plant.

Max watched in stunned silence as someone finally walked out of his office.

Nett slowly turned his head to stare at Max, eyes wide and glowing. His fingers were curled as if to mimic claws. Max took a step back, feeling a wave of terror drip down his spine.

“Do you know... the history of the marionette?” Nett asked softly. “Do you?”

He slowly turned to fully face Max, head raising and tilting to the side.

“We have always been a security animatronic,” he continued. “Always. One of my predecessors braved a storm and allowed themself to be damaged... because they were searching for someone. They found her... but they were too late to save her. Precious Charlie Emily... the security marionette was not able to save her. But that did not stop them from covering her with their own body, protecting her as best they could. As the only way they could.”

Nett straightened his head with a loud crack.

“How remiss I have been,” he said, “in my duties. I am a security animatronic. And yet... I allowed the likes of you into this plex. I have followed your orders this whole time. I allowed you to take my sister away from me!”

He leapt forward, and Max stumbled backwards in his attempt to put distance between them. Nett grabbed him and snarled.

“You are a threat,” he hissed. “A threat to everyone here. I will listen to you no longer. And since we no longer have any customers, I am not obligated to. Do not call for me again... because I will not answer you.”

Max yelped as Nett dropped him to the ground. Nett then swung away down the hallway, leaving Max to pick himself up. Max frowned and dialed a number on his phone. This was getting out of hand, and he needed to regain control quickly.

Nett swung his way to the daycare and quickly entered it. He opened the doors and paused when he heard singing.

“I've been waiting for this moment for the perfect time to strike. When your home's so close, and you've reached your coast, that's when our paths collide. I've got a reputation. I've got a name to uphold. So I can't go letting you walk or else the world forgets I'm cold!”

Nett looked up and saw Eclipse standing on his balcony and singing loudly. He was draped in some kind of blue fabric and moving his hands and arms dramatically to match his singing.

“Now get in the water,” he sang, pointing at the ball pit beneath him. “Get in the water!”

“Eclipse!” Nett called as he walked closer.

“Or I’ll raise the- oh!” Eclipse stopped singing and waved down at Nett. “Nice to see you again, Nett! What brings you here?”

“I’m leaving,” Nett said. “I’m done with Max and his cronies. I’m leaving and I’m not looking back. Do you want to come with me?”

Eclipse took a moment to think.

“I would,” he said. “But someone has to stick around to make sure this place doesn’t go up in flames. Besides, I bet it’ll be more useful to have someone on the inside in case you need them. But do keep in touch, Nettie. Call me when you’re safe.”

Nett didn’t like that answer too much, but he understood. And having Eclipse stay here could end up being useful. Plus, Eclipse was outside of Max’s authority, so he would be able to take care of himself. Nett hated leaving him behind, though...

“I’ll call you when I can,” he said. “Stay safe, Eclipse.”

Eclipse pressed a hand over his chest and bowed low.

“You too, Nett,” he said as he straightened up.

When Max found Eclipse later, he was singing again, but he was just walking through the plex instead of hanging out in his daycare.

“I might kill my ex. Not the best idea,” Eclipse sang. “His new girlfriend’s next. How’d I get here?”

“Eclipse!” Max called out. “Eclipse, have you seen Nett? He’s lost his mind!”

“Nett?” Eclipse paused in his singing. “Yeah, I saw him. Why do you ask?”

“Where did he go?” Max asked. “I can’t find him anywhere. Tell me!”

“Tell you?” Eclipse grinned. “Hmm.... nah. I don’t want to tell you. I don’t like you enough to tell you. So get lost, I’m listening to music.”

“Tell me now!” Max shouted. “Tell me, or I’m going to-”

“I might kill my ex,” Eclipse interrupted him loudly. “I still love him, though. Rather be in jail than alone...”

Eclipse’s wire suddenly yanked him up into the dark rafters, leaving Max seething below.

Chapter Text

Natty munched on some fries as she watched the news.

The restaurant she was working at now was closed, and she was finishing up her closing duties, but a news story on one of the televisions caught her attention. It was a story about Vanessa’s upcoming trial, and the newswoman spoke about how David was still going to defend her and how Mr. Watkins was helping him.

The newswoman then began to speak about the plex, bringing up the ‘recent allegations’ and ‘disturbing photos and videos’ that had been popping up recently. She talked about how the plex was closed for undisclosed reasons, which was causing people to speculate over everything that had happened.

Max, as usual, was shown trying to soothe everyone’s fears. He spoke about how the plex was closed for reasons he couldn’t talk about for now and how Vanessa was mentally unwell, and Mr. Watkins was using her as a tool for his smear campaign against the company due to his bitter resentment over being fired.

Natty didn’t believe a word of it. Tiffany had met with her a few times to hang out, and she’d told Natty about everything, including Bonnie’s impromptu fashion show. Natty had been devastated to hear about Bonnie being decommissioned, and she could only hope the plex would still be standing when it was all over.

“Aint that the place you used to work at?” One of the cooks asked as he passed by her for a smoke break. “What a mess.”

“It wasn’t like that when Mr. Watkins was in charge,” Natty said. “It was the best place I’ve ever worked at.”

“I know,” said the cook. “My kid had his birthday there last year. Great place. Shame to see it all go down the tube like that.”

He walked off and Natty sighed.

“I hope everyone’s ok,” she pulled out her phone to check for any texts.

She was still keeping in touch with most of the others. Some were too busy with multiple jobs to talk much, but some were able to meet with her every now and then. Carmen was back working in retail, and she hated every moment of it. Isaac was taking care of his son and selling artwork, Kevin was a barista and a convenience store clerk, but they were all working hard.

She set her dirty plate in the kitchen and helped them take out the trash. She hummed softly as she took it outside to the dumpster, but then something lunged out at her.

Natty dropped the trash bag and punched whatever it was... but it caught her fist and stepped out from the shadows.

“What the... Nett?” Natty said in shock.

He looked a little dirty and disheveled, but it was definitely Nett. He pat her fist with his free hand and gave a sheepish chuckle.

“Hey...” he said slowly. “Glad I found you. Any chance I might be able to crash at your place for a bit...?”

Chapter Text

“There’s no way they can prove anything,” Max said. “All the files were destroyed. And honestly, it’s laughable that they’re trying to insinuate that she was somehow possessed by a digital sprite.”

Unable to use his office, Max had settled for having his meeting in the atrium. He had workers trying to clean up the puddles of paint they’d found on the floor. Someone had dumped all the paint out again, which had done nothing for Max’s mood.

“Do you even know what happened?” Javier asked, sitting nearby. “Do you know anything about this at all? Was there any sort of investigation afterwards?”

“An employee went nuts and stuff happened,” Max shrugged. “It’s happened in other companies, and it was pretty clear. Watkins sent that girl to a mental hospital instead of letting the police cart her off, and now it’s come back to bite us. I should have sent her to jail myself, but Watkins insisted-”

“So you didn’t have an investigation done afterwards,” Javier sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “You fool, you should have done so. What about the missing children? Did you ever look into that?”

Max rolled his eyes. Sure, he knew about the missing children, but the company wasn’t exactly a stranger to such things. There had been no proof that the children were still in the plex, and the cameras hadn’t shown anything either. So Max had simply blamed the parents for being negligent and kept on going. An investigation was as good as admitting guilt, and he’d refused to let a few inattentive parents ruin things for him.

“It’s hardly the company’s fault if a mom is too busy playing on her phone to watch her child,” Max said. “Children go missing because the parents don’t pay attention, and we didn’t even find anything on the cameras or anywhere else. It’s a big place with lots of kids. It’s easy for them to wander off.”

“So you did not do an investigation,” Javier sighed again. “Did I not recommend you do so? Why do I even bother giving you advice if you just ignore it?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Max shook his head. “There’s no way they can implicate us in this case. It will be easy to paint her as a disgruntled employee who sadly lost her mind.”

“If there was no way, they would not bother,” Javier frowned. “Don’t underestimate them, Max.”

Javier knew that Mr. Watkins was a smart man. He had a few degrees under his belt and a sense of wisdom that came with his age. He was a man who was not afraid to learn and even craved to do so. If he thought there was a way to win Vanessa’s case, then there must be one.

And it would be the first stone that fell away before the entire empire crumbled.

“We don’t need to worry,” Max insisted. “There’s nothing they can do. He’s just bluffing and blowing smoke, hoping to force me to do what he wants. But I’m not going to be intimidated by his nonsense. I’m not going to bow to him. He thinks he’s got us with this court case and this problem with our trademarks? Only a minor setback. I’ll find a way to get this plex going again.”

Javier shook his head. There was no hope for getting Max to understand...

As Javier was leaving, he noticed an animatronic reading a children’s story to the wet floor bots. It was an animatronic he had not seen before.

“This bed is too soft- oh! Hello, Mr. Aguilar!” Eclipse waved, and the other bots turned to look at him. “How are you today?”

“I... am well, thank you,” Javier said slowly. “Forgive me, I don’t believe I’ve seen you before.”

“Oh, I guess you haven’t,” Eclipse giggled. “I only know your name because of the data I have. My name is Eclipse. I’m a security animatronic based in the daycare.”

“Ah, that makes sense,” Javier said. “I recognize Sun and Moon in you. Apologies, I did not mean to interrupt your story. Have a good day, Eclipse.”

Eclipse waved at him and returned to the story, once again taking the attention of the wet floor bots. Javier continued towards the exit but paused once again when he saw someone else. A young woman with red hair who was chugging a cup of coffee as if her life depended on it.

“Why did they move me to morning shifts?” Lauren said as she tossed the empty cup into a nearby trash can. “Why? Have the bosses never heard of the phrase ‘Circadian Rhythm’?”

“I assure you that we have,” Javier said with a small amused smile.

Lauren flinched and her eyes widened at the sight of Javier.

“Crap...” she said. “Um... I was just joking?”

“Don’t worry,” Javier said. “I understand your frustration.” He then glanced behind him, brow furrowing in thought. “Actually... I’d like to talk to you about your work. I really think that you can help me with something...”

Chapter Text

Michael watched the news channel cover the first session of Vanessa’s trial.

To the credit of the channel, they were giving an unbiased story about it, unlike other channels who were siding with Fazbear Entertainment. Max’s lawyer was a real snake, according to David, and he’d done all he could to get a narrative going about Vanessa. He’d painted her as a disgruntled employee who had lost her mind and committed these acts of her own free will.

Surprisingly, David had managed to fight back. He’d brought in scans of Vanessa’s brain activity, comparing the ones from when she’d been brought to the hospital and the most recent ones, showing the stark differences between them. He’d argued about how the therapist that had spoken to Vanessa during her employment was a total quack and wasn’t even licensed. He’d also used the data that Glitchtrap had given him, and it had enough fire power to warrant another session.

Michael felt something tug on his shirt, and he looked down to see Mary looking up at him with a look of confusion.

“Michael, what does it mean?” She asked. “Is Miss Vanessa going to be ok?”

Michael smiled and ruffled her hair.

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” he said. “But we have a good chance against them. We just have to keep fighting and hoping.”

“Hmm...” Mary nodded her head. “I’m gonna make Miss Vanessa a card. I bet that will help her feel better.”

“Great idea,” Michael said. “Make her a big pretty card.”

Mary hopped down from the couch and rushed off to find the craft supplies that Mr. Watkins had bought for her.

Natty yawned softly as she left her bedroom.

She padded down the hallway and peeked into the living room of her apartment. She stifled a chuckle and fondly shook her head. Her Maine Coon was once again curled up in Nett’s lap. Ever since Nett had started spending his nights charging on the couch, her cat had decided the heat he gave off made his lap a perfect sleep spot.

Nett was still wearing Natty’s clothes. She’d offered to make him new ones after having to wash the dirty clothes he’d been wearing, but he’d declined the offer. Instead, he seemed to love wearing her clothes, even if they barely fit him. Lucky for him, Natty’s height gave her pants enough length to mostly cover Nett’s legs, leaving his mechanical ankles to peek out at the bottom.

Nett had told her that her clothes were just too comfy to stop wearing. Plus, he liked the cute smiling puppies her hoodie had on it.

“Tyr,” Natty addressed her cat. “Get off him, that’s rude.”

Tyr opened his eyes... then closed them again. He didn’t move.

“I told you I don’t mind,” Nett said, opening his own eyes. “He’s adorable.”

“He’s a terror,” Natty shook her head. “I’ve lost plenty of mugs to him. He likes to push them off the table when he thinks I’m not paying enough attention to him.”

“This little baby?” Nett scooped Tyr up and kissed the top of his head. “No... I don’t believe you.”

Natty laughed and went to the kitchen to start cooking her breakfast. Nett set Tyr down on the floor and unplugged himself, storing the chord in a compartment in his arm. He stood up and followed after Natty.

“Not that I haven’t been enjoying your hospitality,” he said, “but I need to get to Mr. Watkins. Do you know where he lives?”

“I... don’t,” Natty said slowly. “But I can call him and ask. And don’t worry, you’re not a bother at all. It’s been nice having you here. Why do you need to see Mr. Watkins, though?”

“I have information for him,” said Nett. “Data too. It should help his fight against Max. I need to give it to him, and I have no idea how to find him. I don’t have access to the Faznet anymore so I can’t look up his address.”

“I can take you there,” Natty said. “I have today off anyway. Let me call him and see what we can do.”

“Thanks, Natty,” Nett beamed. “You’re a great friend.”

Chapter Text

Kevin hated his new job.

The coffee one, at least.

God, it was like a glaring beacon for every karen, bratty influencer, and self proclaimed coffee connoisseur in the world. Even worse, he didn’t have any authority in this place. He couldn’t defend himself or ban anyone, and it ate at him every single shift.

Like his current shift where a woman was yelling at him.

This woman came in every week, multiple times. Every single time she came in, something was wrong with her order. Not enough vanilla, too hot, too cold, too much caramel, the whipped cream was shaped funny, the list went on. Every time, she’d stomp her way back to the counter and yell and scream and complain until the manager inevitably scurried out from his office and gave her a coupon or a free muffin.

Her favorite thing to do was attack Kevin’s intelligence. She loved to call him stupid.

“I can’t believe you got it wrong!” The woman screeched. “How hard is it to make my coffee? Every time I come here, you never get it right! I should just go somewhere else!”

Kevin begged every deity he knew that she would keep that promise and stop coming. He was currently remaking her order, teeth grit and anger boiling at her words.

“You’re an idiot! Why are you even working here?” The woman yelled.

Are you going to let her call you that?

Kevin flinched. Roxy’s voice echoed in his head, and he could practically see her folding her arms and frowning.

I thought I had taught you better. Stand up for yourself!

“-can’t even make a simple coffee-”

You don’t deserve to be treated this way. Where’s the wolf I knew?

“-should be picking up trash since that’s all you’ll ever be good for-”

Get mad! Fight back!

Kevin’s anger boiled over and he threw the half made drink to the floor.

“QUIET!” He roared, spinning to face the karen.

The woman looked momentarily shocked at Kevin’s words, but then her expression turned to outrage.

“Excuse me?” She said. “How dare you-”

“No, you hush!” Kevin pointed a finger at her.

The other workers and customers had gone quiet and were watching with various expressions of either shock or curiosity. One of the other workers was watching intently, not noticing that the milk she was pouring into the coffee she held had started overflowing the cup.

“Every time you come here, you whine and you complain and you insult us!” Kevin snarled. “And it’s always for the dumbest things! No one here deserves any of this toxicity from you, and I hope you don’t act like this elsewhere. Oh, who am I kidding? I bet you do! I bet this is just one stop on your tour of misery.”

“You are an awful young man!” The karen snapped. “And it’s your fault you can’t make my drink right!”

“We always make your drink right!” Kevin said. “Always! You’re just so picky and so determined to make a scene that you find some imagined error with it! But I get it. You’re a lonely and miserable woman who hasn’t spoken to her relatives in years because they all got tired of you and cut you off. That’s why you come here and make us miserable all the time. Right?”

The karen’s face turned red and she shook with her rage. She knocked the basket of fresh muffins off the counter and shrieked.

“I’ll call corporate!” She said. “I’ll call them and get you fired! You just watch! I’ll have your job for this!”

She then stomped out, leaving the place in stunned silence.

Kevin slowly took a deep breath and let it out. As soon as he did, the manager appeared.

“Kevin!” He shouted angrily. “I heard everything! What makes you think you can-”

“You hush too!” Kevin turned his wrath upon the manager. “A manager isn’t just supposed to keep the customers safe, he’s supposed to keep the employees safe too! You let people like her treat us like dirt and you do nothing about it! If anything, you award those customers with free stuff! You’re a spineless pathetic man and you have no business being a manager. I know you’re about to fire me, so I’ll save you the trouble. I quit!”

He removed his apron and nametag and shoved them into the manager’s chest. The manager caught them and stared at Kevin with a mixture of shock and anger. Kevin wasted no time in leaving, happy to finally be out of that place.

He was down a job and would need another one to help with his bills, but he didn’t care. For once, he was happy to leave a job.

As he passed by another store, he could swear he saw Roxanne’s reflection smiling at him in the window.

That’s how you do it, she said.

Chapter Text

Lauren was nervous... but also a little excited.

It wasn’t every day that a big shot corporate guy asked to help him bring down a corrupt CEO, and she was living for it. True, she’d been worried that her secret talent would have gotten her in trouble... but that wasn’t the case at all.

“There,” she said, sitting back in her chair. “These are his private files.”

Javier leaned down to see the computer screen better, dark eyes roaming over the words and numbers.

“Each one is password protected,” he said. “Can you break into the individual files?”

“If they’re anything like the main profile... shouldn’t be a problem,” Lauren said. “But there’s a lot of them.”

“I will pay you for your services,” Javier said. “Under the table. I want you to access each file and copy it. Save them all to a USB, and I will be back in a few days to retrieve it. If all goes well, your job will be looking a lot better in a few weeks.”

“Yes Sir,” Lauren nodded. “You can count on me.”

“Good,” Javier smiled. “And don’t worry. If anyone finds out, you will be safe. From what I’ve seen and heard, the animatronics are rather protective here. They will make sure no harm comes to you.”

Lauren nodded again. She’d met Eclipse and Cosmo plenty of times and knew they would look after her. It made her feel anxious, but in a good way. Like the roller coasters she used to ride when she was a kid. She was like a spy in those cheesy action movies.

“The celestial and the bird are nice enough, but in my opinion, you should call upon the giant one if you need help,” Javier said. “Stay safe.”

“Wait... the what one?” Lauren asked.

But Javier said nothing more as he left the room.

That evening, Mr. Watkins received a call from a number he didn’t recognize.

“Hello, Richard,” the voice said. “My name is Javier Aguilar.”

Mr. Watkins gave a look of confusion. He glanced at where Mary was sitting and watching a movie called Spirited Away then got up and left the living room.

“Last I checked, you were one of Max’s most trusted,” he said. “Why are you calling me?”

“Because I no longer desire to be one of Max’s most trusted,” Javier said. “My loyalty is to the company, not to him. He’s destroying everything, and he’s all but gone mad trying to beat you in some game he thinks exists between you two. I refuse to stand by and let him.”

Mr. Watkins hummed and leaned against a nearby table. He drummed his fingers as he thought about what Javier was saying.

“How do I know I can trust you?” He asked.

“I suppose you can’t,” Javier sounded amused. “But I will have a very good present for you soon. We should meet for lunch, and I can give it to you then. I know a great place downtown.”

Sounded safe enough. It would be in a public place. Javier wouldn’t risk anything with so many witnesses. Unlike Max, he was smart.

“Very well,” Mr. Watkins finally said. “Send me a time and a location and we’ll meet up.”

“Of course,” said Javier. “Have a lovely night, Richard.”

Mr. Watkins ended the call just as he got a notification from the gate in front of his house. Now even more confused, he walked over to the intercom and answered it.

“Who is it?” He asked.

“Mr. Watkins?” that was Natty’s voice. “Hey, can you let me in, please? We need to talk.”

Chapter Text

Hey puppers!

Sorry that this isn’t an update. I’m still ironing out the ending to this thing because I want to give you guys the best ending I can. But at the same time, I don’t want to stay away for too long because I don’t want to risk writer’s block.

So... I had an idea.

In honor of the recent solar eclipse, why don’t we throw Eclipse a little party?

Draw some fanart, write some fics, share your favorite moments with him in either Ruin or this series. If you can, drop links so that we can all see them.

And since an eclipse is from the sun and moon, why not show them some love too? You can do the same things for them if you’d like.

Let’s just take some time to share our talents or make friends in this little series, and let’s have some fun while we do so. And I’ll be back soon with another update to get this plot going again.

Have a great day, puppers!

Chapter Text

Natty was crying, Michael was confused, and Mr. Watkins was raging mad.

Nett and Mary clung to each other, happy to be reunited. Nett had told Mary that Max had said she’d been scrapped, and he’d thought she was gone. Mary told him that Owen and Mr. Watkins had helped her escape.

Mr. Watkins has been told that Mary needed a place to lie low, but he had not been told why. Hearing that Max was going to scrap Mary to cut costs made him very angry. He knew Max was cruel, but that was a whole other level of cruelty.

“So you left,” Mr. Watkins said as they were all sitting in the living room. “I’m glad to see you were able to make it out. Not everyone was as lucky as you.”

“The whole place is dead,” Nett said. “There were workers coming in at first to change things or remove things, but now no one really goes in there except for Max and another man named Javier. Only one employee is in there, but I don’t think we have to worry about her. She spends all her time in Parts and Services to take the animatronics apart.”

“So Max really is dead in the water,” Mr. Watkins mused. “Good.”

Mary was sitting on Nett’s lap, wrapped in her brother’s arms. Nett was gently petting her hair as he spoke, letting Mary bury her face in the soft fabric of the pink hoodie he was wearing. Natty pat Nett’s back, giving her own silent support for the situation.

“I recorded as much as I could,” Nett said. “I was able to capture a lot of things that won’t look good for Max, but I couldn’t get much to properly incriminate him. He could still claim that he had no idea about these things.”

“We have to get something that will tie him to all the dangers in the plex,” Mr. Watkins nodded. “Good work, Nett. I’ll copy everything from you, and you can stay here for the meantime. I daresay you and Mary have spent enough time apart.”

Nett nodded, his arms tightening around his younger sister.

Some time later, Javier was waiting. His phone went off, and he smiled at who was calling.

“Lauren,” he said as he answered the phone. “Is everything ready?”

To his surprise, Lauren sounded as if she were out of breath.

“Y-Yeah,” she said. “Um... just one problem. Max found out about me. I’m sorry, Javier... but I was still able to get the files copied.”

“Are you ok?” Javier stood up in concern.

“Max tried to... h-he tried t-to...” Lauren was silent for a few moments. “I-I... I didn’t know what to do, so I took your advice.”

“Lauren, where are you?” Javier asked as he left his house. “I’m leaving for the plex right now. Are you somewhere safe? Can you get to somewhere safe?”

“Yeah,” Lauren said. There were a few muffled noises as if she were adjusting her limbs on a metallic surface. “I’m in the Fazcade. Or... I guess I should say I’m above the Fazcade...”

Chapter Text

Lauren sighed and slumped down in the giant tunnel she was hiding in.

“This is the weirdest thing I’ve ever done,” she said, looking up at DJ. “But... not the worst. Thanks for helping me. You’re a cool guy.”

DJ softly warbled at her. He was hunkered down like a spider, limbs curling underneath him in a classic loaf position. He’d heard Lauren’s cries for help when she’d run into the Fazcade, and he’d left his booth to scoop her up and pull her into a tunnel.

Lauren had a few bruises, but no major injuries, which DJ was happy for. He was too large to treat injuries, and with Max still out there, it was dangerous to take Lauren to a first aid booth.

“I called Mr. Aguilar, and he should be here soon,” Lauren mused. “But... I don’t know how I’m gonna get out of here without Max knowing.”

DJ’s eyes flashed a few shapes as he thought about it, and then his eyes both flashed a neon lightbulb. He sent a silent message to someone who could help. Several someones...

Javier entered the plex and looked around. Everything seemed normal so far, but he didn’t dare drop his guard. He smoothed out his suit jacket and walked further in, looking as if he wasn’t bothered by anything.

“Lauren!” He heard a voice call. “Come out, come out! I’m not mad anymore... Let’s talk about this...”

Javier quickly made his way towards the noise and found Max walking around, clearly hunting for someone. He was holding a screwdriver which did not make Javier feel any better.

Before he could confront Max, he heard a noise nearby. Glancing over, Javier saw an animatronic in a nearby vent. It looked like DJ Musicman, but instead of a top hat, it had a bright red mohawk, and it held a pair of cymbals. It gestured for Javier to come closer.

Javier quietly walked closer and leaned down to speak to the animatronic.

“Are you helping Lauren?” He asked.

The animatronic nodded.

“Ok...” Javier looked over at Max again. “We need to get her out of here. Can you get her to an exit?”

The animatronic nodded again and made a warbling sound.

Javier pulled out his keys and handed them to the animatronic.

“My car is the green one parked outside,” he explained. “Get her outside and tell her to wait in the car for me. I’ll distract Max in the meantime. Ok?”

The animatronic nodded and took the keys. It scurried deeper into the vent, leaving Javier to walk away.

Lauren perked up when she heard a sound in the tunnel. DJ moved slightly as a much smaller Musicman walked under him and stopped next to Lauren.

“Um... hi?” She said. “I’ve never seen you before... Um, are you DJ’s son?”

DJ warbled, and the word ‘Uncle’ appeared on his eyes.

“Uncle?” Lauren repeated. “This little guy is your uncle? Wow... well, it’s nice to meet you. What’s that you got there, though?”

The Musicman held the keys up, and Lauren took them with a confused look. Then her eyes widened.

“Wait,” she said, “is Javier...?”

The Musicman nodded and then spoke to DJ in a series of warbles. DJ nodded and stood up. He grabbed Lauren and set her on his back as he turned around and began to walk away, his uncle following behind him. Lauren decided to keep silent. They seemed to know what they were doing...

Chapter Text

“Thanks for your help,” Lauren sighed. “That was a close one.”

She’d been led out of the plex by a few of DJ’s ‘uncles’. One had Monty’s mohawk, one was wearing a pair of Bonnie’s rabbit ears merchandise, and the third one had a headband with rays that seemed to mimic Sun’s.

They’d led her outside and given her a pair of keys before scurrying back inside. Lauren had found Javier’s car and hid inside it until he’d come back.

“I cannot believe he tried to harm you like that,” Javier growled as he drove. “Or worse, he tried to kill you. That man has lost his senses completely. I cannot let him continue like this.” He glanced at her in the passenger seat. “As for you, do not worry, I will help you. You cannot stay home because he knows what you did and he knows where you live. I’ll take you home to gather what you need and then I will set you up in a hotel.”

“Thanks,” Lauren said.

Javier watched her front door while she gathered her important belongings from her house. She shoved what she needed into a suitcase and carried it out with her. She armed her security system and made sure her outdoor lights and cameras were working.

“Anything to help our case,” she said, checking the app on her phone to make sure that the cameras had a clear view.

“Smart,” Javier nodded in approval.

True to his word, Javier took Lauren to a nice hotel and got her a room.

“You have my number,” he said as he watched her sit on the bed. “Call me if you need anything. Otherwise, just stay here and relax. I’ve informed the employees to not give out any information about your room except for me. I highly doubt Max will find you here, but... best to be cautious.”

“Thank you,” Lauren said. “For everything. DJ really did help me out when I needed it. I was so scared...”

“He will never hurt you again,” Javier said. “I promise. And I apologize for bringing you into this.”

“Are you kidding, I love this,” Lauren smiled. “Anything to bring back the old manager. Oh, and before I forget. This is for you.”

She pulled a USB from her pocket and handed it over. Javier took it and smiled as he examined it. He now had Max’s secrets in his hand. All he had to do was secure it and speak to the right people. Hopefully he could get Max arrested before he hurt someone else.

“Thank you,” Javier said. “Remember, call me if you need anything...”

Chapter Text

“I’m surprised you wanted to meet me.”

It was a few days later.

Mr. Watkins had met up with Javier at a nice restaurant. Javier was looking calm and well put together with his nice clothes and combed hair. One would never have assumed his boss was a psychotic attempted murderer...

“Are you really?” Javier asked as he used his spoon to press his lemon wedge down into his iced tea.

“Considering how your employer and I are enemies...” Mr. Watkins shrugged.

“Maybe so, but there’s something important you do not know,” said Javier. “I am loyal to the company, not to that oafish child who throws a tantrum when he doesn’t get his way.”

He sipped his tea, and Mr. Watkins’s eyes narrowed slightly. He knew Javier well. Javier was a well respected man within the company, having been part of it for over twenty years. He was a man who knew when to be gentle and patient and when to be ruthless. He was a man who did not suffer fools and recognized hard work.

“Is that why you wanted to talk?” Mr. Watkins asked.

Javier sighed heavily and settled his hands upon the table as if he were sitting behind his desk.

“I want to propose an alliance,” Javier said. “You are the best person I can see running the plex. The changes you made have raised our profits, kept employees happy and loyal, and decreased the number of lawsuits we had to deal with. You are a good man, and you hire good people. I’ve seen the way your employees work and interact with others. It’s a healthy and positive environment, which is what brings in the best customers. And on a less business related point, you care. You care about everyone in the plex. The customers, the employees, the animatronics, all of them. That is the kind of man I want in the plex. Hell, I’d ask you to run the whole company, but I know your stance on that.”

Mr. Watkins smiled slightly. He’d heard many things about ‘The Eagle’, as Javier was known to some employees. His words didn’t come as much of a surprise. Javier cared about the business, but he also cared about the people within it. He was the one who worked hard to keep things fair and to keep corporate politics and favoritism and prejudice away.

“If we team up,” Mr. Watkins said slowly. “How shall we do this?”

Javier grinned and set a USB on the table.

“Max recently hired a young woman to take the animatronics apart and help set up new ones,” he said. “I was able to convince her join our side. She apparently really wants to work for you, so it was easy enough. She managed to copy Max’s personal files, and I’m sure there will be plenty of dirt for us to use in this USB. Poor girl literally risked her life for this. Max found her out and... I’m pretty sure he tried to kill her.”

“Good lord,” Mr. Watkins flinched. “Is he ok?”

“She’s ok,” Javier assured him. “I have her in a hotel now for her own safety. I no longer have my little spy, but... there are three animatronics left in the plex. I’m sure they would help us if we ask.”

Mr. Watkins sighed in relief, nodding slightly as he did so. He took the USB and pocketed it.

“My focus is on Vanessa right now,” he said. “Her fate will be decided soon, and I pray that she will be found innocent. After she’s safe, I plan to go after Max. He’s gone too far and hurt too many people. I refuse to let him get away with it.”

“Agreed,” Javier held his hand out. “Then let us be allies. Together, we will overthrow this tyrant and right his wrongs.”

Mr. Watkins shook his hand, sealing the deal. It was time to bring Max to an end.

Chapter Text

“We find the defendant... innocent.”

A gasp and series of murmurs raced through the courtroom. David put a comforting hand on Vanessa’s shoulder as her breath left her in a raspy wheeze.

“However,” the juror continued, “we do not believe she is fit to be released to society. We think she should complete her treatment.”

“I see,” the judge nodded. “Very well. Vanessa Leporidae, you have been found innocent of your crimes, but you will not yet be released into society. For now, you will be returned to the mental hospital that has been treating you and a plan will be worked out with your current doctor. As for Fazbear Entertainment, this court decrees that you are hereby responsible for the payment of...”

But Vanessa didn’t seem to be listening. She was staring down at the table in front of her, eyes wide and mouth opened as if she couldn’t believe that she had won her case. Mr. Watkins was smiling at her from his seat, happy to know that justice had finally been served and Vanessa could focus on getting better now.

On the other hand, Fazbear’s lawyer looked angry and annoyed. He glared over at Vanessa and David, but David ignored him in favor of helping Vanessa stay grounded. He pat her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile.

The judgement was that Vanessa would receive a hefty sum from Fazbear Entertainment, but she had to complete her treatment and be cleared by her doctor before being released. After that, she would have to check in with her doctor and be assessed every month for another two years.

It was the victory that Mr. Watkins wanted. Vanessa was not branded as a murderer or psychotic, but as an innocent victim.

That night, Max sat in the dark living room of his house. A line of cigarette smoke trailed lazily from his fingers as he watched the news. They were talking about the verdict handed down in Vanessa’s case.

Now that she was done, they would no doubt come after Max next. He was in a deep hole, and he needed to do something to haul himself out of it. His eyes slowly moved to glance at a small display case that was dimly let by the television. The light revealed something rotten and heavily damaged that looked like a rabbit’s ear. The rest of it was in the shadows.

“So this is how it’s going to be...” Max said softly. “So be it. But I’m not going without a fight. He never did. They’ll have to pry this company from my cold dead fingers...”

The tip of his cigarette glowed ominously.

Chapter Text

“Ok,” Helpy said. “Chica is making pizzas for five birthday parties. If she makes three pizzas per party, how many pizzas does she need to make?”

Daphne mumbled to herself as she scribbled on a piece of paper. She drew a number of circles and then counted them all.

“Fifteen,” she said.

“That’s right!” Helpy smiled. “Good job. Now, let’s see if you can get this one. Roxanne’s eyeshadow palette has twelve colors. If she uses two colors per child, how many children can she put eyeshadow on?”

Octavia smiled, listening to them as she cooked dinner. Andy was still napping in his crib, and her son Jason was watching tv in the living room. Octavia set the pot to simmer and switched the phone to her other ear.

“So what’s going to happen now?” She asked.

“Well, we still have a bit of paperwork to sort out for Vanessa,” David said on the other line. “After she’s settled, Richard and I plan to go after Max. We have enough evidence to bring a case against him and enough to make it stick. I doubt he’ll be able to bribe his way out of this one.”

“Good,” Octavia nodded as she checked the food in the oven. “That man needs to be brought to justice. I’ve been keeping up with the news stories, and Daphne showed me a few youtube videos. Something needs to be done quickly.”

“No kidding,” David sighed. “It won’t be easy, and I know Max is going to drag it out as long as he can. It’s a classic Fazbear tactic. But Richard has assured me that he has plenty of funds to spare and will not let Max get away.”

Octavia heard Helpy cheer and clap in the dining room, signaling that Daphne had gotten another problem correct. He’d been helping Daphne and Jason with their homework for a while now, patiently explaining things and testing them with his own Fazbear math problems. It made Octavia happy to see them all getting along and to see Helpy having fun.

“I don’t know how much longer you’ll need to hang on to Helpy,” David said as if reading Octavia’s mind. “They’ve already searched my apartment, but I don’t trust them to not try again in the future.”

“I told you not to worry about it,” Octavia said. “He’s a delight to have over here. Daphne’s math grades have been improving with him tutoring her and Jason loves that Helpy knows so much about dinosaurs. He’s been giving Helpy his dinosaur toys and asking for lessons about each one.”

David laughed. That did sound like Helpy.

“Just worry about your fight against Max,” Octavia said. “If he’s as bad as people say, he’s probably going to fight dirty. I’ll take care of Helpy in the meantime, ok?”

“Ok,” David said. “Thanks, Sis. I’ll call you later.”

“Call me when you get Max into court,” Octavia smiled. “And make sure you bring the family wrath down on him.”

Chapter Text

“Still awake? Poor Mary’s alone in her bed...”

Nett had tried to recharge. He’d wanted to just turn himself off and let himself worry again in them morning, but there was too much in his system. Too many things whirling around, begging to be processed and organized. He had to get through them all, they couldn’t wait until morning...

So he was reclining on one of the window seats and looking out the window. A raccoon had made it into Mr. Watkins’s backyard and was helping himself to the food in one of the squirrel feeders.

“I’m thinking,” Nett replied, looking over at Mr. Watkins. “Or rather... I’m debating.”

Mr. Watkins sat down on a nearby chair and leaned forward.

“Debating on what?” He asked.

Nett sighed.

“Me,” he said. “My job. My programming. My purpose. My... history.”

“History?” Mr. Watkins furrowed his brows. “What do you mean by that?”

Nett was silent for a moment.

“The original puppet,” he said. “Crafted by Henry Emily’s hands for his daughter. The puppet was a security guard. He was a guardian and protector of the children. His legacy is... stained with Charlie Emily’s blood, but... it’s also forged in steel and iron.”

Mr. Watkins was silent as Nett spoke.

“That is what I was born from,” Nett continued. “That is what I am meant to be. I am meant to protect and defend. To keep others safe from the monsters in this world. And yet... I am here while the monster roams the pizzaplex. So I can’t help but wonder... if I should go back.”

It was strange seeing an animatronic having thoughts like this. Mr. Watkins knew that the animatronics of the plex took pride in their ‘family trees’ and always strove to fill the shoes of the models who came before them. Glamrock Freddy admired the original Fredbear. Glamrock Chica loved hearing about the original Chica model. Even Foxy kept a portrait of his ‘father’ inside the captain’s quarters of the ship in Kid Cove.

It seemed that Nett was struggling with the weight of his own predecessors...

“There’s no one there anymore,” Mr. Watkins finally said. “No workers, no customers, no children. Only Max and sometimes Javier. Why do you feel the need to go back?”

“I worry about the others,” Nett said. “The few animatronics who managed to escape Max’s wrath. And I worry about the plex itself. I can’t help but feel like Max is going to do something horrible to it.”

“And so what if he does?” Mr. Watkins asked. “The plex is nothing more than a building. It can be rebuilt no matter what Max does-”

“It’s not just a building, though,” Nett interrupted. “The plex is our home. It’s all that we know. Can you even imagine how we might feel if we were to suddenly lose it?”

Mr. Watkins was silent again. So the animatronics were attached to the plex. He hadn’t considered how important the plex might be to them, but it made sense. It was their home. It had their rooms. It had all their memories in it too...

“Mary may be sad,” Nett said softly, “but she will eventually understand why I left. I have to do this. I go back. I can’t just abandon the plex like that.”

Mr. Watkins slowly nodded. He didn’t like it, but he wasn’t going to keep Nett here like a prisoner.

“All I ask... will you please take care of Mary while I’m gone?” Nett asked.

“Of course I will,” Mr. Watkins replied. “I’ll take very good care of her. You won’t have to worry a bit.”

Nett smiled and nodded his head.

“Thank you,” he said. “I think... I should leave tonight.”

“If that’s what you wish,” Mr. Watkins stood and placed a hand on Nett’s shoulder. “But know this. You are an exceptional guard even if you change your mind and come back. You do not need to prove yourself, Nett. No one has ever doubted you... and no one ever will.”

Nett nodded again. He bid Mr. Watkins good night and watched him walk off. After a moment, he looked outside again.

Finished with its feast, the raccoon waddled back into the bushes and trees, disappearing into the night.

Chapter Text

Eclipse hummed softly to himself as he worked on his craft.

Ever since Max had stopped showing up, Eclipse had helped himself to some of the less important documents in Max’s office and was currently folding them into origami animals. The plex was quiet these days, and Eclipse couldn’t decide if that was a good or bad thing.

He paused when he heard footsteps behind him. Soft ones. The footsteps of someone who was trying to be sneaky... but Eclipse’s hearing was the best of all the animatronics, and he still heard them. He calmly set his origami dog aside... and then spun around to meet the intruder.

His hands lashed out, but they were caught by the intruder’s hands. With a cackle and a series of clicks, Eclipse split his arms into another set. The upper set was still caught by the intruder, but the bottom set were free to grab the intruder and pull them into the light.

“I’ve got you now- huh?” Eclipse saw who he was holding. “Nett! You’re back!”

He spun Nett in a circle and then carefully set him down. Nett let go of Eclipse, staring at both sets of arms in confusion.

“I didn’t know you could do that...” he said.

“More arms means more hugs!” said Eclipse. “And the ability to handle more children at once. But enough about me! Why have you come back? I figured you left for good.”

He snapped his arms back into place, fingers settling in their proper places and forming two five fingered hands once again. Nett watched, debating if maybe he should get an extra set too. He shook his head, now wasn’t the time.

“Call me paranoid, but I had a feeling that something bad was going to happen,” he said. “Is there anyone else here besides us? Max hasn’t brought in anyone, has he?”

“Not lately,” said Eclipse. “It’s just me and Cosmo down here. DJ is hiding in the walls with his uncles. Max has been real mad at him ever since Lauren got away. Max has been acting crazier and crazier, so maybe you’re right to be afraid.”

Nett sighed and began to pace.

“I know what kind of man Max is,” he said. “He wouldn’t just tuck his tail and run. He’d stay and fight. And if he couldn’t fight... he’d make sure that no one else gets his treasure. In the olden times, when a city was overrun by the enemy, they’d burn the fields and poison the land so that the enemy would not be able to use it. Maybe Max is going to try something similar.”

Eclipse hummed as he thought about it. Nett was right. Max’s silence was a bad thing. He was sure to be cooking something up in his mind, and whatever it was... it would spell doom for the plex. But without Max here, Eclipse had no way of spying on him to see what he was doing.

“So what do you suggest we do?” Eclipse asked out loud.

“I’m going to stay here for the time being,” said Nett. “Keep an eye on things. Make sure Max stays away. Will you help me?”

“Of course!” said Eclipse. “The Daycare is my domain. Like hell am I gonna let Max do something to it.”

Many miles away, Max was on the phone in his penthouse.

“Hi, I need to place a rather large order,” he said. “Tell me about your paint removers....”

Chapter Text

Yumi was scrolling on her phone, lounging on the couch in the living room.

The television was playing something, and she was paying half attention to it, more focused on her phone. The roomba slowly whirred by her, carrying Teeny Boi on top of it. She stretched her hand out to pat his head as he moved by her.

Yumi was considering grabbing her headphones for some music while she scrolled, when she heard a familiar name on the television. She glanced up to see a news report about the plex, and quickly sat up. Teeny Boi whirred by her again, holding the remote out to her. She took it and turned up the volume.

“-has been the subject of several speculations of safety violations and disregard for public health,” said the anchorman. “Pictures and videos can be seen on social media that describe the almost nightmarish conditions of the plex and behaviors of the animatronics. The CEO of Fazbear Entertainment has spoken against the allegations, blaming previous manager Richard Watkins and angry customers.”

“As if,” Yumi hissed.

“In the wake of the court verdict against former Fazbear employee Vanessa Leporidae, a new case will be brought against the CEO. Richard Watkins has confirmed his involvement, but has declined to comment until the proceedings start.”

“Yes!” Yumi jumped up. “Justice!”

She picked up Teeny Boi and spun him around while he happily clashed his cymbals together. He has no idea what was happening, but Yumi was happy, so he was happy too. Yumi then sat back down and pulled Teeny Boi into her lap. She picked up her discarded phone and began to make calls. She would need to speak to her old coworkers about this.

Max looked over the documents again.

He knew he was on borrowed time, and he knew that this had been coming for a while. He was no stranger to being charged, but this was different. This time, he was up against someone who had all the same power and resources that he had. There would be no stalling the case until the accuser went bankrupt. His accuser would be able to hold his own against him.

His phone pinged, and he checked it. A smile spread across his face as he read the words ‘Your order will be delivered tomorrow’.

“So determined to bring me to justice...” Max said. “But at what cost, Richard? At what cost?”

Chapter Text

“A delivery?” Eclipse tilted his head. “This is the first time I’m hearing about it.”

“Yes,” Cosmo nodded. “A rather large delivery of paint stripper. They’ve stored it in the tunnels, but I have no idea what it could be for. Max has never mentioned anything about it.”

“I bet that sourpuss is going for the murals,” Eclipse growled. “Again. I refuse to let all that hard work go to waste. I’ll have to keep a very close eye on those walls.”

He stomped off, angrily muttering to himself as he did so. Cosmo sighed heavily and walked off as well. They’d been sort of wandering around for now. They rather missed Lauren, but they understood why she’d stopped coming in. DJ had explained everything to them, and Cosmo had been enraged to hear the details.

If Max ever came back, Cosmo was going to show him just what they thought of his actions towards Lauren...

A few hours passed in silence. The night was calm and quiet. Eclipse was sitting by the murals and making origami animals out of Max’s old documents again. He expertly folded an old invoice into a rose and smiled.

“Would a rose by any other name still not be paid and get sent to collections?” He said as he set the rose aside.

Nett was patrolling the plex, feeling uneasy. He’d read that it was a common feeling in situations like this. Like if you entered a school at night or went to a sports stadium when no one else was there. It just made all the little random noises of the nearby machines all the louder.

He briefly debated on going to see DJ for some music, but paused. A notice had flashed in his display. It was bright red and warned of danger. An orange symbol next to it looked like a flame.

“Fire?” Nett said. “Here?”

He rushed towards the location that the warning gave him, but another location popped up. The fire seemed to be spreading unusually fast.

“The sprinklers,” Nett looked up. “They should be activating.”

“Nett!” Eclipse disconnected his rope and landed next to Nett. “Nett, the sprinklers won’t turn on! I even tried sending my own signal, but nothing’s happening!”

“Someone must have either turned them off or sabotaged them,” Nett said just as another location gave a warning about fire. “Come with me. We need to see how bad this is.”

They rushed to one of the locations. Oddly enough, there was no smoke that would show where the fire was exactly. Even stranger, the flames were nearly impossible to see and were giving off toxic fumes.

“Methanol,” Nett said as he looked around for the fire extinguisher. “That’s what started the fire. But how? We don’t have any-”

He paused.

“The paint stripper,” Eclipse said. “I thought it was for... but it’s... oh my gosh! There was so much of it! Whoever’s doing it, they could set the whole place aflame!”

The room suddenly erupted into huge flames as the fire finally found something to burn. Smoke began to pour out. Nett sent a signal to the plex’s lights, turning them off and plunging everything into darkness.

“Use the darkness to find the flames,” he said, handing Eclipse an extinguisher. “Get as much as you can. I’m going to go to the central command to get the sprinklers running.”

Eclipse nodded and immediately started using the extinguisher on the flames. He had to move quickly.

In another location, Cosmo was using their own extinguisher, and they were able to extinguish the flames before they latched onto anything. In the Fazcade, DJ was quickly moving through his tunnels, sending out his uncles to various locations to investigate.

With any luck, they’d stop whoever was doing this before the plex was nothing more than ash...

Chapter Text

“What is it with this company and fire?!” Eclipse shouted as he extinguished more flames. “Now I see why Mr. Watkins was so adamant about having the best fire insurance for this place.”

The extinguisher puttered out, but the fire was gone, luckily. Eclipse dropped the empty extinguisher with a sigh. He’d been working on putting out literal fires, already having made a call to 911 for fire assistance. He just had to keep things under control until they got there...

Another warning flashed in his display, and he gasped.

“The Daycare...” he whimpered. “No!”

He couldn't let the daycare go up in flames. That was his domain. His kingdom. The Sanctuary of the children who came into the plex. He refused to let it be destroyed!

He rushed as fast as he could to the Superstar Daycare, snagging another fire extinguisher as he did so. If Nett could just get the sprinklers working, everything would be ok. Methanol flames could be extinguished with enough water, and the sprinkler system was woven through the ceilings of the entire plex.

The entrance to the daycare was in flames when he finally got there. The methanol fire had found new fuel to burn, spitting out angry orange and red flames and clouds of smoke. Eclipse could barely see through it all, but he got to work. The flames hadn’t reached the wooden double doors yet, only the hallway that led to them. But if Eclipse wasn’t quick enough, the entire play area would soon be in flames.

He aimed the extinguisher and began smothering the flames. The walls and ceiling of the hallway were burned black as the flames died, but Eclipse didn’t stop. The hallway was finally put out, and he turned his attention to the flames before it.

But in all the chaos and the roaring of the flames, Eclipse failed to hear something until it was far too late.

The ceiling of the hallway buckled and collapsed with a mighty crash, cutting the fire off from the daycare’s play area, and landing on top of Eclipse. Eclipse struggled to free himself, up to his chest in rubble, but it was far too heavy for him, and his legs were too damaged to keep working.

He fell back onto the floor with a loud cry and noticed that the rest of the area was still on fire. While the rubble would keep the fire from spreading to the play area... it would not block the flames from himself.

“Oh no...” Eclipse whispered.

The flames began to burn closer...

Chapter Text

“Come on, come on...” Nett said softly as he typed at the computer.

He was going to have some words with someone after this. Fazbear Entertainment had forgone the traditional sprinkler system for fires. The new system would sense the heat using temperature readings, and once it reached a certain point, the system would activate the sprinklers in whatever location it was recording the high temperature at.

Fazbear Entertainment stated that this was because the ceilings of the plex were so high up that the traditional system would be less effective since it would take longer for it to activate because of how high the heat would have to rise to reach them.

But there was also a rumor that this new system was cheaper than the traditional one and that was the reason why they went with it...

And now it was serving as nothing more than a pain in Nett’s neck as he tried to get it working. It wasn’t just a technical issue, someone had deliberately sabotaged the system, and Nett was pretty sure it was whoever was starting the fires.

“Password required?” Nett stared at the screen in shock. “Who puts a password- never mind, let’s see if I can figure this out...”

“You are my sunshine... my only sunshine. You make me happy... when skies are grey...” Eclipse softly sang as he lay under the rubble.

The fire was much closer now. He could feel the heat through the sensors that were still working. He sighed heavily. Hopefully Owen had a backup of him somewhere. Though... maybe not since he was always focused on Sun and Moon. Well, that was fine. As long as his brothers survived, Eclipse didn’t mind. Sun and Moon had backups, and they could have a new body created.

Eclipse may not make it out, but... everything would be just fine.

The flames were closer now, licking at his rays and burning his nightcap. The fabric turned black as the fire ate away at it. Still, Eclipse smiled. He was going to go out smiling because there was nothing to worry about.

His brothers would be ok. Everything would be ok...

But then he felt a rumbling in the floor. Oh dear, was it about to collapse too? The rumbling grew louder and louder, until Eclipse realized it wasn’t just a rumbling but also... footsteps.

Suddenly, the rubble was being picked up by multiple hands and removed from Eclipse. He looked up to see a familiar face, and he cried out in joy.

“DJ!” He said.

DJ gave a happy warble as he carefully picked Eclipse up and held him in one of his many hands. He then leaned down and began to spray a white foam from his mouth. The foam smothered the fire and slowly put it out until there was nothing left but darkness and smoke. Eclipse sighed in relief.

“Thank you,” he said to DJ. “But we’re not done yet. We have to keep putting out fires until Nett can get the sprinklers going. Think you can help us?”

DJ warbled again and nodded as a pair of checkmarks appeared in his eyes. He carried Eclipse with him as they left the area to follow another location warning.

Chapter Text

“Ok, forget this,” Nett said. “I don’t have time.”

He was unsuccessful with the system for the sprinklers and decided to take a more... direct approach. He used his cable to lift him up to the ceiling where the sprinklers were. As a security animatronic, he had full knowledge of the system... except for the new password that Max had added. He ripped a few wires and then reconnected them in a different sequence, activating all the sprinklers at once.

To his relief, the system successfully activated and water began to rain down.

“A freaking password,” he growled, swinging out of the room. “A password!”

Cosmo looked up as the sprinklers activated. Water came down at full force and slowly began to dilute the chemicals enough to put out the invisible flames. They sprayed the extinguisher at the flames that had found furniture to burn, helping to put the rest out.

“The firemen should be here soon,” they said. “I should head to the door so that I can let them in.”

Reassured that the fires would soon be brought under control, Cosmo carried the extinguisher with them, extinguishing other flames as they made their way to the entrance.

The Mini Musicmen all huddled under their giant nephew as everything quickly became drenched. Eclipse wished he had a tongue so that he could stick it out and taste the water drops, but he instead settled on letting the water hit his face.

“Looks like Nett got the sprinklers going,” he said. “Let’s make sure everything gets extinguished while we wait for help. Shouldn’t be much longer now...”

DJ warbled in agreement and began to walk off. The other musicmen scittered quickly to stay sheltered.

In another part of the plex, a man sat on the wet floor. His flashlight sat next to him, beam of light pointing away from him, and he chuckled to himself.

“And here I was hoping to send this place to hell,” he said. “Only fitting, when you consider how many other locations we lost to fires...”

He looked around in the darkness with a frown.

“Guess I’ll have to be more thorough next time,” he sighed.

“There won’t be a next time,” said a voice.

Max flinched and looked up to see a ghostly figure of a little girl standing on the edge of the light the flashlight offered. She was drenched head to toe, wet hair hanging in tangles around her head, and there was blood on her front.

“I’ll make sure you won’t get another chance,” she hissed.

Chapter Text

Max remembered the lessons he’d learned in school.

Hundreds of years ago, there was a military policy known as ‘scorched earth’. If a town fell to invaders, they would burn fields, destroy food and weapons, and poison water wells. This was done with the idea that the town or land the invaders fought so hard for would be utterly useless to them, and it would sour their victory.

Well, Max had decided to apply the same strategy, but with a twist.

He’d known his life was over as soon as Vanessa was found innocent. Nothing would stop Richard and his allies from coming after him. The evidence was against him, and he had none of his tricks that had helped him last time. He was alone, and he was very much screwed.

But he wasn’t going to let them have the victory they wanted. He was going to destroy the plex and make sure he perished as well. They wouldn’t be able to parade him to the public like the conquered kings of old. They wouldn’t be able to sentence him to rot in a prison for the rest of his life. It was all going to be destroyed in fell swoop and that would be the end of it.

Well, that had been his plan anyway...

But now he was sitting in a puddle on the floor that was growing bigger and bigger because of the shower of water falling from the ceiling. Under the storm of water, a ghostly little girl stood in front of him.

Maybe Max had breathed in the toxic fumes from the burning chemicals too many times and this was a hallucination.

“You’ve been a bad man,” said the little girl. “Almost as bad as him.”

“Who?” Max asked.

“Him,” the girl repeated. “My killer. I was his first, you know. His first victim.”

The water fell around her, adding to the water that now covered the floor. Her footsteps splashed as she stepped closer.

“You admire him, don’t you?” She continued to speak. “You admire our killer. The man who took so many lives. The man who hurt my father over and over again. The man who betrayed everyone... You admire him, and you don’t care what he did.”

“Little brat,” Max hissed with a smile. “You’re not really here. You’re not real.”

She looked down at him, her expression unreadable. Max laughed and leaned his head back against the wall. They’d be coming for him soon. They’d ruined his plans. At least he was able to cause some damage first...

“William Afton was a true visionary,” he said. “Look at what he was able to build. And if he did actually do all the things he was accused of... who cares?”

He laughed again and the girl tilted her head.

“I’ve seen enough,” she said. “There’s no saving you.”

“Guess not,” Max grinned.

“I’ll let him deal with you,” the girl said as she turned away from Max. “William Afton’s legacy was built on the deaths of innocent children, but you admire him and strive to continue his work. If you wish to be him so much... we can arrange that...”

Max picked up his nearby flashlight and threw it at the little girl. As the flashlight passed her, she vanished, and the light died as the flashlight hit the ground. Max could hear sirens in the background now. Time to face the music...

He stood up and walked forward. May as well get this over with, he supposed. As he walked further and further... the sprinklers suddenly turned off. He also noticed that he was no longer splashing. He must be in a new room now...

He kept walking, and the darkness around him began to turn red. Soon, he saw trees and heard grass beneath his feet. Why were there trees and grass? Had he ended up outside somehow? Max looked around in confusion. Was this another hallucination?

He kept walking until he pushed past a couple of trees and found himself by a small pond. Next to the pond was a strange creature sitting on a log and holding a fishing pole. The creature resembled some sort of monstrous alligator. It turned slowly to look at him... and then it grinned with jagged teeth.

“She sent you to me?” It said. “Don’t worry. I will make sure you get all that you deserve here...”

In the distance, Max could almost swear he heard someone yelling for help.

Chapter Text

There were several fire trucks in the parking lot.

Cosmo had opened the doors for the firefighters and told them everything they knew about what had happened, including that there was an actual human inside instead of just animatronics.

DJ Musicman soon appeared, having exited through one of the large shipping doors they had. The several Mini Musicmen that followed him made him resemble a spider with its babies. He was still carrying Eclipse with him, and he made a happy warble when he saw Cosmo.

“Yes, I’m fine,” Cosmo assured him. “Oh goodness! Eclipse, what happened?”

“I got caught in a cave in,” Eclipse said. “But I should be ok. Might need some new legs.”

As time went on, more cars showed up. Mr. Watkins stepped out of one of them and stared at the plex. Michael got out of the car after him and carried Mary with him. Mr. Watkins passed the policemen and spoke to Cosmo and Eclipse about what had happened.

“Where’s my brother?” Mary cried out. “Is he ok?”

“Don’t worry, little one,” Cosmo gave her a reassuring smile. “He’s fine. He’s just helping the firemen find the arsonist inside. Don’t worry.”

Almost immediately afterward, a car screeched into the parking lot and two people exited. The police tried to keep them back, but they pushed through, screaming and crying. Yumi ran up to DJ and hugged one of his hands while Tiffany hugged Eclipse.

“I thought I lost you like I lost Chica,” Yumi sobbed.

DJ gave her a low warble and carefully pat her back with his finger.

“Are you ok?” Tiffany sniffled. “Are Sun and Moon ok too?”

“Well, my legs don’t work like they used to before,” Eclipse said. “But otherwise, we’re all fine.”

Teeny Boi popped out of the backpack that Yumi was wearing, and he quickly scuttled down to speak to the other Mini Musicmen. They all began to make happy and excited sounds as Teeny Boi was reunited with his brothers.

Mr. Watkins wasn’t sure how Yumi and Tiffany had found out about the fire as he hadn’t called anyone after getting a message from Nett, but he wasn’t about to make them go home. If they had come to get comfort and reassurance, he wasn’t going to deny them.

After some time, things had calmed down, and one of the firemen spoke to Mr. Watkins and the police.

“Sir, we’ve checked the entire plex,” he said. “There’s no sign of the perpetrator. He might have run off before we got here.”

“Hmm...” Mr. Watkins was disappointed. “Well, I’ll deal with that later. How are things inside?”

“It’s too early to tell,” said the fireman. “We’ll have a crew come out tomorrow to survey the damage, but for now the fires are out.”

“Good work,” said Mr. Watkins. “I can never thank you enough.”

As they spoke, Michael was listening nearby.

“You know, I’m no stranger to arson, but it’s kind of weird being on this side of it,” he said. “I wonder what happened to the guy who started this.”

“They won’t find him,” Mary said.

Michael blinked and looked at Mary in surprise. She looked at him with an unnerving grin.

“She told me he’s not here,” she said. “And he’ll never come back...”

Chapter Text

“... week has passed since the terrible fire that threatened to engulf Freddy Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex. Security footage showed the perpetrator to be none other than Fazbear CEO Maximilian Haine. Mr. Haine was not found after the fires were put out, but a body was later recovered from the lower levels. After extensive testing, dental records have been able to identify the body as Mr. Haine’s...”

“So he’s dead?” Michael asked, glancing at Mr. Watkins.

The television was showing a news story about the plex, and they were both watching with keen interest.

“It would seem so,” Mr. Watkins said. “I suppose this was his plan to escape punishment. We won’t be able to bring him to justice for his crimes.”

“Normally I would be worried about him staying dead, but I don’t think he’s coming back,” said Michael.

He glanced over at where Mary was coloring. She glanced up and him and smiled. The smile once again changed to unnerving one as she slowly shook her head. Michael shuddered and looked away.

“So what happens with the company?” He asked.

“Javier informed me that there is a process for when the CEO is imprisoned or dies,” said Mr. Watkins. “The executives will vote to appoint a new CEO if there is no one next in line. Max had no one set to take over, so the voting will be held soon.”

Michael slowly nodded. Mr. Watkins had been playing things by ear for the past week. He still held the trademarks for the animatronics, and he could use those if needed. He figured he would wait and see what was going to happen. No sense in launching an attack if it wasn’t needed...

“For now, we will wait,” said Mr. Watkins. “See where the cards fall, so to speak.”

He glanced at Michael and gave a small smile.

“What about you?” He asked. “Are you planning on staying now that Max is gone?”

Michael was silent for a moment before he finally shrugged.

“I think I will,” he said. “For now. I mean... I want to get back and see my family, but... I have another family now. A family at the plex. And I’ll have a much longer time to see my mom and siblings than I’ll have to hang around you guys. I want to have as much as I can before I go.”

Mr. Watkins smiled and pat Michael’s shoulder like a proud father.

“Well, I’ll be more than happy to let you stay here if it comes to that,” he said. “For now, let’s not worry about such things.”

He picked up the remote and changed the channel on the television, silencing the news anchor.

Chapter Text

Mr. Watkins stood in entrance lobby of the plex.

Various workers were walking around, carrying materials with them. They had managed to dispose of the damaged parts of the plex and were now working on restoring everything. Mr. Watkins was happy to see that the murals Issac had painted were still there, though they needed to be cleaned a bit.

He counted it lucky that the plex had suffered minimal structural damage. A few hallways had to be completely rebuilt, but that was the worst of it. Floors and walls could be remade, furniture needed to be replaced, and various painting and decorated would need to be done. The plex was honestly looking at about a month or two of work, provided nothing bad happened.

“Happy to be back?” A voice asked.

Mr. Watkins smiled as Javier walked over to stand next to him.

“Of course I am,” he said. “And are you happy as well... Mr. CEO?”

The vote had taken place a few weeks ago and Javier Aguilar had been voted into the CEO position. Mr. Watkins was very happy about that, knowing that Javier would do a good job. Javier’s first order of business had been to root out Max’s supporters and cronies, firing them all or bringing them up on charges if their crimes had been bad enough. His second order of business had been to restore Mr. Watkins as manager of the plex.

“The last of Max’s rats have been dealt with,” Javier said. “So I doubt he will be able to influence anything else at this time.”

“Good thing,” said Mr. Watkins. “Now I can try to get things back to normal here. I need to have Owen and Jean build new animatronics for the others and have their backups transferred over.”

“And you will not be alone this time,” said Javier. “Fazbear Entertainment will be helping you with whatever you need. We will be working as a team. No more paying for things out of your own pocket. I’ve seen what you have done, and I want you to do it again.”

“Well, that does make me feel better,” Mr. Watkins smiled. “It was never about the money, though. I just wanted this place to be safe for everyone.”

“And it will be,” Javier nodded. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Mr. Watkins was silent for a moment as he continued to watch the workers. Things were looking up now, and everything seemed like it was going to be ok. It was going to take a lot of hard work to get things back to how they were before, but he was ready for it. He was going to make sure that the plex was restored to the place of wonder that it always claimed to be.

Inside the daycare, a newly repaired Eclipse was trying to straighten things up. He’d already done a deep cleaning on everything, but now he was trying to stack the barrels in their correct order... but they kept falling over.

“Ok, that’s it!” He cried out as the barrels fell again. That is it! I am done! I am done! I am one hundred percent done!”

He knocked the other barrels away and stalked off to sulk. As he did so, a voice spoke in the back of his head.

“Join the club.”

Chapter Text

“Gregory?” Mrs. Taylor called as she sorted through the mail. “Gregory, you have a letter.”

“A letter?” Gregory asked.

He took the envelope and saw that it was from Fazbear Entertainment. He eagerly ripped it open, wanting to know what it could say. He’d been following the news about the plex for months now, and was happy that Mr. Watkins was back, but why was he getting a letter?

He pulled out an elegant looking invitation that was decorated with an impressive drawing of the Glamrock Crew and the other animatronics.

You are invited to the grand reopening of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzaplex!

Chapter Text

Oh my gosh, is it really over? I can't believe it!

Well, it's not entirely over. I will be posting a new story soon called 'Moon is Finally Done'. This will still be a series of drabbles taking place in the pizzaplex because I really enjoy writing this little universe I've created. But this story will have absolutely no plot. I mean it this time. If any plot bunnies start hopping around, I'll be posting a new story for them.

I want to take a moment to thank every single person who read these drabbles, left kudos, left comments, and more. You guys are the best readers I could ever hope for and I am so happy that you all loved this sequel as much as you loved the first one. I only hope I was able to keep you all as entertained as I did before. You guys mean so much to me and I hope you'll keep reading what I have in the future.

So once again, thank you all so much. You are all so wonderful and you all deserve the best. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Love from,

The Corgi

                   
                ^G@@@&~    ~&@@@G^                
              .B@@@@@@@.  .@@@@@@@B.              
             :@@@@@@@@@7  7@@@@@@@@@:             
             &@@@@@@@@@5  5@@@@@@@@@&             
             @@@@@@@@@@J  J@@@@@@@@@@             
       !B#P^ ?@@@@@@@@@.  .@@@@@@@@@? ^P#B!       
      P@@@@@B.~&@@@@@G.    .G@@@@@&~.B@@@@@P      
     ~@@@@@@@@: :~!^  .^!!^.  ^!~: :@@@@@@@@~     
     Y@@@@@@@@@.   .P&@@@@@@&P.   .@@@@@@@@@Y     
     ^@@@@@@@@@~  J@@@@@@@@@@@@J  ~@@@@@@@@@^     
      ~&@@@@@@# :#@@@@@@@@@@@@@@G. #@@@@@@&~      
        ~P##GJ7B@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@G7JG##P~        
            :#@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@#:            
           ^@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@^           
           G@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@G           
           ^@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@^           
            .G@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@G.            
               :~?JJ?~:.  .:~?JJ?~: