Ten

It was quiet for the late afternoon, as the last show of the day had come to a close and all the tables had been cleared of all dinner scraps. It was during times like these that the management enjoyed claiming a wide table for themselves as the day wound down and used it to their working advantage.

Dawn's main office was much too small for more than two people, and the smell of the fries she had been eating would have lingered. Out in the main room was just fine.

"Jerry, you know more about the Cove than anyone else here. Would you mind reading through the trainee booklet and see if it more or less matches up with what you remember? It would speed up the process if we have someone who knows those code words off the top of their head and can train the new roadies." she noted as she munched on her dinner, keeping the paperwork balanced on her lap, far from any crumbs or spills.

"No problem." the man nodded, leaning back in his chair, "But if it's anything like I remember, roadies won't be recognized in the Cove. It's shipmates. Different registry."

Head rotating along her neck with a sigh, Dawn clicked the top of her pen a few times in irritation.

"Of course...just another thing to slow down the process. That's...what? Five sets of face recognition?"

"Well, for Cove specific employees. You still might have to register everyone else. The system'll be new, yeah?"

"You know, I honestly haven't a clue. You and Anna know more about the tech talk than I do. We'll have to handle it as it comes. Anything else?"

"Dunno if it's bad news, but we're getting the delivery today." he shrugged, "Truck should be comin' around closing."

"Watch them not have enough guys to lift the box into the Cove. I need to switch my shift; these long nights are killing me." she grunted, but the older man only chuckled, "The biggest hurdle's been cleared. You managed to get the Cove up an' runnin' again within a few weeks. After twenty or so years of it being down, I think that's a mighty fine accomplishment. We'll throw you a big ol' pizza party."

"I can't wait." a laugh escaped the woman, clipping her pen into her board, "Actually, I'll claim the first show of Pirate Cove with that pizza. Have to make sure the test run works smoothly before we open reservations."

Looking up from the table they were sitting at, Dawn glanced at the bots to her right, Chica being the closest. Wiggling a left over straw toward the bird, the woman pouted in thought, "You said Chica was apart of the old show."

Gazing up toward the stage, Jerry offered a gentle nod, "Yes, ma'am. Foxy was the star, but Chica had her parts to play."

Cupping her hand over her mouth in thought, the manager tilted her cheek into her palm, "I...did not take that into account." With a firm sigh, her thumbs ran along her temples, eyes darting down to the paperwork and scheduling,

"Shoot. She may, or may not, need an update if she's still apart of the Cove show. Jerry, I have never missed a deadline and I'm not about to start now. We're going to have to pop open the box tonight, get whatever paperwork we can from it, and take what we need to figure out how this new show is going to work. I'm thinking this test run might have to be done tomorrow or the day after. The Cove's scheduled to open next week."

Leaning casually against his chair, the man with a mustache crossed his arms, "As long as you're in charge, this'll run smooth like butter, Ms. Dawn."

The two chatted amongst themselves, paperwork shifting between them before the hours grew long along with the shadows of day. The rowdiness of the nightly crowd died down after some time until the very last family stepped out, and only a few employees of the establishment roamed. It was odd to watch the day time crowd mingle after hours, especially once the night guard assumed his position in his office, or at least settled his items there.

It was nearly one in the morning before a fearsome rumble outside alerted everyone to the massive truck in the lot, nearly half an hour more when the doors propped open for a proper entry, and nearly two by the time a cluster of strange men carted a rather large crate into the halls with some difficulty, one doing his best to guide the trolly, and the rest doing their best to stabilize the weight.

It was loud and rambunctious and stressful -until it wasn't, a sharp crack snapping through the air a few times, and then a few hums of fascination. Words of thanks were exchanged, handshakes and farewells. A bit of rustling down the hall. Muffled chatter.

And then footsteps.

"-wasn't expecting that, but it's a nice change. It seems...safer. Especially if we're going to push for that whole interactive experience again."

A light yawn.

"Well...we're done for the night. I have my papers, you have the manual. I'll have Anna check everything out tomorrow, and the day after, you can walk her through what you know or read. Whatever applies."

The firmness in her voice wavered for a moment in her exhaustion.

"Thanks for staying late, Jerry. I don't like to accept deliveries by myself during after hours. It's just not safe."

"Oh, I hear ya'. You get some loons out there. But honestly, I don't mind at all. Besides, I wanted first glimpse anyway."

His chuckle followed them out the door, and the firm click of her keys promised the unusual disturbances of the night were at a rest.

It was nearly three when Freddy moved from his stationary pose, arm lowering to his side. His crystal blues peered to his right, sensing Bonnie was doing just the same. Chica had not moved. She simply stared at the seats the humans had sat in all those hours ago when discussing her own possible fate.

The deed was done.

It was here.

And sooner or later, they were all going to have to investigate and introduce themselves as the Fazbear Band...and induct the newest bot as the newest fourth.

It just didn't sit right with her. But there was nothing she could do. She was just as helpless as the day they carted him away. And she was expected to bare it. She had promised. Given her word. She was stronger than she looked.

Perhaps she had lied.

But she couldn't worry him. Leave him with lingering thoughts. Not that way. He wanted to be in peace. She had to let him.

Her eyes flicked up when a sharp clack echoed down the hall, much too firm to be caused by any human on patrol. The guard had already made his rounds, and none else was in the building. The edges of her wings fumbled along a propped feather, quietly listening for anything further.

A light crunch.

Twice.

Then nothing.

"Sounds like they're roamin'."

The rabbit's voice was hushed, but anxious, a firm reflection of all those years ago.

With a soft sigh, Freddy popped his microphone into its stand and brushed himself off. It had been years since he had lingered by the Cove or even entered it, but tonight was going to be a shifting change for all of them. After all, the Cove had undergone major construction. He doubted any of them would recognize it now, even the most loyal of crew.

His biggest concern lied with Chica.

But, she wasn't going alone. Whatever was in the Cove this time, they were going to face it together.

"Well...c'mon. We better give 'em a proper welcome before the sun rises."

He made his way toward the steps of the stage, his large paw pressing gently against the bird's wing.

"All of us." he noted gently, and though her reluctance showed, she slowly trailed Bonnie as the last to leave the stage.

The march was silent as could be, minus the creaks and whirs of their individual gears working through their mechanics. The thudding of their feet heavy, but casual, and nothing too suspicious to cause alert or alarm. With Freddy in the lead as the largest, they followed his path, his pace, his ease. The bear wasn't one to show panic or fear in his own home, always calm and collected in anything he did. It was how he was built, how he had been designed to be: to hypnotize and influence the hyper children who listened to his soothing voice. It worked on children. It worked on bots. And though he knew he could not fix the damage that had been done, he could protect them in the best way he knew how.

He took the first step.

The door was ajar only an inch, the room dark as night, or even darker.

With a barreled chest and tender knock, Freddy carefully pushed the door open, revealing a room most peculiar. The walls had been painted and sculpted with different layers of blue, thick and curly and textured as if to mimic the waves of the sea, the previous wall papers gone and done with, wooden railings lined the bottom half all surrounding. The floor, though carpet, resembled planks of wood, bright browns, patterned and formatted. The outside of the arena no longer looked like a ship, but resembled an old vaudeville stage, timbered and sanded, the above arch swirled in golds and iron, coming to a center at the top, and protruding from the very middle, a lone lingering ironwork lantern hanging from its ring.

The old tattered curtain was no more, a deep ruby tapestry now draped, very much resembling a classic banderole with a skewed star in the center, compass directions at each tip. What lied beyond the curtain was impossible to tell, as the material seemed firm in its make until pried apart by the anchors that guided it. The tables themselves were new as well, nothing like the metal plastic combinations lined along the main room, but firm wooden benches, each set attached to their tables as one unit. Six large tables and three solid rows creating ample space along side them.

Ample space for the three of them to walk without concern.

"Looks like it's gunna be interactive..." Bonnie whispered, eyes clicking from side to side as he admired the handiwork of the new room. It had been quite a while since he had seen the old Cove, but from his prim memory, he was well aware that it had been nothing like this. His eyes lingered above the center of the room, finding an odd black box with multiple focal scopes jutting out from a dome. Tilting his head curiously, he took a step toward it, nearly tripping over the large wooden debris broken apart just under his focus. His foot thumped the wood, just about jumping back at his lack of perception before realizing what it was.

A delivery crate.

An empty one at that.

Nothing remained inside the container save for broken scraps and debris, but nothing of importance.

"Uhm..."

His light mutter caught their attention, and both wandered over, peering at the rubbish left behind. Not a label to claim, but certainly big enough for any of them to fit inside.

Perhaps it was in stasis on the stage?

The humans would have had set up their base at the very least to power it up, especially if there was to be a test show tomorrow.

Eyes lifting in thought, Freddy peered over at the ruby curtain, clearing the static build up from his voice box.

"Hello? Anyone back there?"

Quiet.

Bonnie's ears twitched as he tilted his head, but could hear nothing more than the muggy dead air that assaulted his mechanisms. Glancing toward Chica, Freddy found himself wandering along the base of the stage, peeking up at the curtain. Too thick to see behind it.

Without a word, he shuffled up the wide side steps of the stage, finding the size of it reasonable for performing. It was enough to walk back and forth on, enough to give each table a bit of personal storytelling, or singing, or whatever was going to happen during the show, and even when the rest of the band took after his lead, there was still enough room to move decently.

Slowly reaching for the split of the curtain, Freddy paused as his fingers clutched the fabric, unsure of what they were to face. Of what Chica had been forced to face all those years ago. They should have been there together from the beginning.

Her feathered hand grabbed at the other half, violets peering up with a sense of determination. She was stronger than she looked.

"It's okay." she whispered, and with a soft nod, Freddy tugged at the curtain, pulling the fabric along the track wheels from above.

The inside of the stage resembled an odd optical illusion of the bow of a ship, as if the audience themselves were aboard the deck of a true vessel. The wooden trails fell away to a painted sky, and off to the right of the stage, a fantastically detailed helm, the wooden make of the wheel itself sturdy and carved with multiple designs, golden and majestic. But in comparison to the creature alongside it, the helm was hardly given a second thought.

Locked into a charging dock, powered down into stasis.

Fur shaggy and fresh. Not a tear to be seen. And armature fully coated.

The proper and only true captain of the Cove.

None of them said a word as they inched closer to the charging bot, but none grew so close as Chica, her eyes scanning him in fascination. In dedication. In desperation.

He seemed stuffed differently, or perhaps she had grown so used to his worn appearance that it seemed strange to her now, an actual form to his body rather than ragged shambles. The shape of his muzzle was certainly different, not so bulbous, but now fitted to his head appropriately, especially concerning his jaw. His eye patch still capped his right eye, and the dim, pulsing, silver glow of both eyes assured her that they both worked perfectly fine. They had dressed him in an odd striped shirt of green and black, purposefully tattered and hardly reaching the rim of his shorts, but it was a detail she couldn't be bothered with.

He was home.

A somewhat altered home, but still home.

The tips of her wings found the curve of his muzzle, tenderly combing bits of fur here and there to the shape of his face, nearly forgetting she was in the presence of others who had decided to spy on other things for privacy sake; but she smiled gently, tending to the creature she had missed so dearly. Perhaps, hope was birds like her who swore on everything they had for things to turn out alright. They couldn't truly have ever taken him away. He was the fourth that completed their team...and the only true commander of the Cove. She gazed upon his face, halfway filled with life in his stasis, finding it difficult to pull away, though a small voice nagged her to leave him be. He surely needed his rest. They could share their stories later, though it would never come soon enough. It would be impossible to describe what she had felt and witnessed, nor could she imagine she would understand the trauma he went through, but it had all been well worth it, had it not? Her captain was home.

"Welcome back, Foxy." she whispered, her tone ever so sweet.

And it would have stayed that way, had the silver glow not changed to golden.

Her words were ripped from her when he jolted forward, the sharp snarl startling the other band mates who realized much too late. Her sloppy footwork stumbled her back, but Freddy managed to hold his ground, arm out to balance the bird as Bonnie stabilized her to the right.

The fox pulled off his dock, head tilting as he sized them up before thrusting forward once more, a threatening finger darting, "Be ye' so bold t'stowaway aboard me ship wif'out knowin' yer fate. I promise ye', it'll be short, but merciless."

Hands lifting innocently, Bonnie took a step back from the advancing bot, wincing an eye, "Whoah, a-ain't nobody tryin' t'board-"

Swiping up his arms, the pirate curved his back a bit with a growl, "Did I give ye' clearance t'speak, rabbit? Shut 'em bucked chomps before I knock ye' sideways."

Glancing toward Freddy with a dark sigh, Bonnie said nothing more; however, the fox's ears pricked when a soft voice floated in both wonder and horror, slightly turning to glance her way, "Your hook!"

The band gazed at the fox's fists, curled to protect himself at all costs.

A solid even set.

Where the silver hook had once been was now a work glove coating all digits on his right arm, but he took no notice to their shock.

"Ye' got that right, girlie. Got me a left 'un, an' a right, an' if you lot don't start talkin', I'm swingin' 'em both!" he barked, glaring up at Freddy, "You! Bear! Explain yer'self!"

Brows knitted for a moment, Freddy gazed at the creature so vicious in his entry, finding a dark pit eating away at his circuits. Bear? That...wasn't good.

The pirate shifted back a bit when Freddy offered a slight bow, "We mean you no harm, Foxy. You're back in Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria."

The fox's brows lowered for a moment, seemingly lost on the bear's words. The golden eye peered at him peculiarly, darting to Bonnie with a glare when the rabbit shifted a bit. "Foxy..." he mouthed awkwardly, standing to a balanced posture as he thumbed along his muzzle, "What gives ye' a right t'label me so familiar?"

"You're among friends, Captain Prendergast."

His ears twitched as his eye fell on the yellow bird saluting him without a glitch in her form. Her gaze never wavered, even when he approached, though less aggressively than before. The pirate skimmed her nonchalantly, resting his knuckles along his back, "Hold yer tongue, 'less ye' got somethin' useful t'say."

"I'm the Cook of the Silver Hook, at your service and leisure, Cap'n."

His disinterest grew curious, tilting his head as he spied her closer.

"Cook...I don't recall havin' a lass aboard...I would've noticed." he chuckled to himself, arching a brow when she continued, "A great captain oughta have a great cook. We're in familiar waters, sir. Docked in the mainland, at Freddy Fazbear's. He's welcomed you t'rest here an' share your stories with young'uns. They're mighty eager t'learn from the best."

The fox hummed thoughtfully, glancing at the other two as he considered the opportunity. Familiar waters? Shouldn't that have rung a bell? He rubbed along his muzzle in thought, finding nothing catching on to her words. He waltzed around the bird, admiring the respectful dedication she held in her pose. At the very least, she seemed to know her way around sea faring folk, though her accent placed her far from familiar. He lingered a moment longer before waving a hand, "At ease, lass. I can't put a finger on ye', but ye' seemed t'know me well 'nuff, coddlin' me as ye' were." he snorted with a grin, but she seemed indifferent to his comment, her eyes trading toward the others.

"Freddy and Bonnie can tour you around if you'd like. They can answer any an' all questions y'ull be havin'."

Her voice had drained of her enthusiasm, merely feeding him the basic information he required, as she knew he would be instantly fascinated by this...new world.

Clapping his paws together firmly, Foxy spun on his heel, more nimble than ever before as he stretched his arms out with a sheepish grin, "Fazbear, is it? Seems we got off on the wrong foot. Friendly faces are far an' few were I hail from. Man's gotta protect his ship, but, uh...if this lass says these waters be safe, then I abide. She seems a faithful kind."

Glancing at the bird, Freddy sighed softly.

The vacant stare she held spoke volumes.

"You have no idea." the bear agreed quietly, stepping to the side for the pirate to walk, "Right this way."

He winced when Foxy charged towards Bonnie, but only to firmly pinch a cheek, "No hard feelin's, rabbit." the fox grinned, leaping off the stage and eager for the tour. Walking at a more casual pace, Freddy set the start for Foxy's walk around of the restaurant, leaving Bonnie to trail behind ever so quietly. Their voices echoed down the hall before he glanced back to the stage where Chica stood, staring at the crate still scattered on the floor.

"Y'awright?" the rabbit called out softly.

He doubted anything could make this current situation alright. She had been played a fool. Danced to the tune of hope and glee, and was bamboozled as the carpet was pulled from her in the most vicious of ways. Yes, the universe had returned Foxy the Pirate. But he was a blank slate, a clean and wiped square one. And from that, there was no return. Comas did not occur in robots. Memories were there...or they weren't. It worked with their firmware, and nothing more. Yes, he was Foxy the Pirate. But not the one they knew, and not the one she hoped for.

She closed her eyes for a moment before making her way down the steps, the thumps of her weight bumping along the wood. She bypassed the tables, the stage, the crate, stopping just before the rabbit's gaze, though she couldn't share in it.

"Y'pulled though mighty fine, I'd say. All...All considerin'."

His voice was weak, fearful to shatter the glass wall she had put up.

Her duty to the children, to prepare the pirate for what was to become his norm.

It startled him when her head bumped along his chest.

"I-It's not...him." she whispered, the hush of white noise clotting her words.

Patting a gentle hand along her head, the rabbit nodded ever so slightly, his eyelids capped and curved.

"...I know."

Author's Note: Got my slippers. They're hysterically massive, and I love them so. Alright, so a few chapters left on this one. And no worries, I will let you know when the story itself has come to an end. Thank you all for reading and reviewing, following and adding to favorites. It does mean a lot to me. Happy holidays!