The Empty Chest
Summery: Her only desire was for everyone to remember him, the broken down bot left to rot in his Cove. She was loyal to her captain, a determined soul, and out numbered. But come hell or high water, she was going to restore that stolen treasure from his empty chest, even if it meant losing him.
"Are y'ull ready?"
The cheers of the children pierced through the air, the rays of the last of morning sunlight glittering their way through the semi cleaned windows of the old establishment, dust clouds sparkling in whirlwinds amongst the young ones rushing through them. Toddlers, children, and the like weaved in and out of each other's paths, the young and innocent gazing upon the stage at the performing characters, the older and more experienced, addicted to the game room. It was a proper balance of things as staff maneuvered to each party's table, serving nachos, cheese, and pretzels for the eager tots, stuffing their faces as they laughed, danced, and participated in the show's interactive performance. Parents bounced their babies as they reached out with learning hands, rocking from side to side, maintaining balance somehow, and yet, still dedicated enough to feel the music flow through them.
"Do y'ull know how bunnies dance? They hop around with ants in their pants! Now hop! Hop! Hop! Hop!"
Thuds tumbled through the air as the young ones leaped in sync to the beat, clapping their hands as the rabbit on stage strummed his base, foot tapping in time. The songs encouraged hyperactivity, a crime to most, but by the end of the visit, nearly every parent was grateful, for their child would be on the brink of exhaustion and ready for an instant nap the moment they got home. It was a pleasant deal. The rows were wide enough between tables for the children to throw themselves about, the coordinated chaos kept in check by their very own, Freddy Fazbear. He towered over them all, adults included, but bore them no threat, instructing them softly in his mellow, smooth as silk serenade. He took front of stage again as the blue rabbit shuffled back to his place near the speaker, a chubby thumb curving to his right.
"Alright...now let's take a minute to breathe in...and out...in...and out...Can you tap your head? Can you reach your toes? Keep your eye on Chica. I bet she knows."
The yellow chick's eyes lit up brightly as she reached above her head and leaned forward (though not entirely to the floor, but no child held it against her), shuffling from side to side in her dance.
"Up! And down! Up! And down!"
"Hop, hop, hop! Hop, hop, hop!"
"Up! And down! Up! And down!"
After a solid few minutes, the children had broken into a healthy sweat, some seated due to the cramps they had endured from eating and jumping, others dancing with their parents, and some dancing behind their parents, for the characters on stage were certainly different than the plush toys they carried with them. Their young minds hadn't quite accepted them into their world yet, but they wouldn't mind watching from afar. Just as long as the creatures stayed exactly where they were, at the distance they were, everything would be a grand experience.
Freddy clicked from side to side as he sang gently, balancing the hyper orders of his band mates. The show was a success, as it often was: cake, candy, and tokens for all once everyone was settled down, for as settled as they could be. To gorge and run off to the game room, a Fazbear tradition. The slower eaters, or younger ones, would take their time, discuss what they had witnessed, and chat amongst themselves, not quite as eager to fight off older children for control of the game room. Some paced the floor, interested in dropped treasures and tokens. And some, very curious and very determined, clung to their parents as their elders walked by the stage, providing them a full head on experience of the Fazbear Band.
The first child in particular had clung onto his father dearly, perhaps no older than four. The young man gripped him firmly, but tilted him to the side in order to see the robots up close. "Look, buddy? See? It's alright. They don't leave the stage."
The boy hugged his father's neck tightly, head pressed into his chest, but trusted the man enough to at least peek at the creatures looming over them. The father lifted a hand and offered a short wave to Chica directly in front of them, chuckling in surprise when the bot's eyes lit up, waving back.
"Chica waved at us. You saw that?"
The boy nodded, fist clenched with his father's button down.
"She's gunna stay there? I don't want them to come. She's gunna stay there?"
"She'll stay there. They don't walk around anymore. When I was your age, they used to walk out on the floor and hug kids and do the dances here. I guess they changed the rules over the years. I haven't seen them get off the stage in a long time. But it was fun. Did you like the show?"
The boy nodded, tapping his head, "I did the dance the whole time. Him," he pointed to Bonnie, "and her." he added, turning to Chica.
The young man smiled, "Yeah? Who's your favorite, bud? That's Freddy over there, and Chica, and Bonnie."
"I like...I like Freddy...and I like Chica...and I like Bonnie."
The man chuckled, rolling his eyes, "Pfft...so they're all your favorite?"
"Mmhmm." the boy nodded, leaning back into his father's shoulder, rubbing his face. His blond locks swayed to the side as he peered into his father's neck, yawning lightly.
"Daddy?"
"Yeah, bud?"
"Who's your favorite?"
"My favorite?" the young man repeated in slight surprise, not entirely expecting the question, but he needn't think too hard on it. He glanced about at the band on the stage, patting his son along his back. So many memories this old establishment had for him. His generation, and now his future generation. It was something he could appreciate. Something he could share. Except for one small factor.
"My favorite was Foxy. But I don't think they have him around anymore." he said quietly with a light shrug.
"...What's Foxy?"
The young man smiled, "He was a pirate fox. He was a little different than the band, but they were here when I was little, too. Foxy had his own room with a ship, and he would sing sea songs and say 'Arrrr' with his hook." he explained, tickling the boy's ribs with his hooked finger, and the child squealed. "He would tell us stories about his adventures with whales and mermaids and a big squid called the kraken. But, uh, I haven't heard about a party with Foxy in a long time."
"I wanna see Foxy and the boat. Is it in the water?"
"No, no, his boat was like this stage, and the room was painted like the outside, and the lights would change with his stories. Actually, I remember his room being right over there, but there's a sign on the door that says we can't go in."
"How come?"
"I don't know. Maybe he broke."
"Mmm...If we put a bandaid on Foxy, will he get better? Can he say the stories?"
A light chuckle escaped the father, wishing he could remember a time when such innocent thinking truly could fix the bigger problems of their world. For the child, anything could be fixed.
Anything.
"Something tells me he needs a lot more than bandaids, buddy. But maybe they'll fix him one day. They still have his prize toy in the Game Corner. If we win enough tickets, maybe we can get him for you."
The child seemed to suddenly forget his shyness as his arms jolted into the air, a large grin curving into his cheeks, "I wanna play the games!"
The young man chuckled, swinging the boy as he turned on his heel toward the game room, "Then let's go play some games!"
The boy giggled, clinging back onto his father's neck, and offered a tiny wave to the yellow chick waving good bye.
Author's Note: Working on this and another fnaf story, just because it's still in my system. And we all need more Foxy the Pirate.