A/N: Finally! Finally, it's back! I'm really, really sorry for the long absence and ensuing hiatus. I didn't mean for this fic to go on for this long, but here we are I guess. But, you know, life happens, right? Things just sort of get in the way, and I lose track of what I really want to do.

But, enough about that. I want to thank everyone who's stuck with this. I put extra effort into writing this chapter, and I sincerely hope that you enjoy it! Expect the next one soon! Please, remember to at least leave a review! You have no idea how much that means to me! I've been getting less and less reception recently, and I'm not really sure why. Perhaps this kind of fic is going out of style? Or, FNAF's probably just dying.

Regardless, Until Next Time!


"WHAT?!"

The Toys were absolutely floored as Jeremy told his story. They had leaned close, treating Jeremy's tale as if it was a horror story as he spoke about the noise he heard, as well as his experience with a certain pirate fox... There was shock! Horror! Distress!

...Well, aside from Chica, who awkwardly listened to the whole thing.

"S-So you went outside?", Freddy asked, holding his hat against his chest. He seemed quite worried as he tried to understand what he was hearing.

"A-And went through the Parts room?", Foxy followed up with her balled-up paws pressed against her muzzle, a similar expression on her face.

"...Without me?", Bonnie quietly finished, looking down and awkwardly pressing his fingers together...

Jeremy almost felt his heart twist in his chest as he looked at the three Toys' expressions... They looked so anxious and concerned.

It all made him feel just that much worse about going outside...

"W-Well, yeah... B-But, h-hey, look, it's not all bad!", he reasoned, putting up a hand, "I mean, I was pretty lucky that Chica here was able to rescue me!" he said, glancing at the chicken who flinched as she was mentioned.

"If it wasn't for her, I'd be mincemeat," he said matter-of-factly as he put his hands on his hips. Freddy, Bonnie, and Foxy gasped!

"She saved you?", Bonnie and Foxy asked in unison, their worry replaced with astonishment! Freddy was taken aback as well!

"I-Is that true?", the bear asked, his voice betraying his awe. Chica hesitated for a moment. She was surprised by how accepting the others were! She had expected them to be downright angry...

But then, she nodded!

"Yep!", she said with newfound confidence, putting her wings on her hips and puffing out her chest! "Heheh, wanna hear how it happened?" she asked. She grinned as she heard some shouts of approval!

"Hehe, alright then! Basically, it went sorta like this..."


Flashback, Thirty Minutes Ago...

Every night, it was Toy Chica's job to clean the kitchen after she was done using it. Well, it wasn't necessarily her job, since that was actually the janitor's duty, but the animatronic chicken just couldn't help it. After all, it made the janitor's job easier! And the cooks' too! Who'd want to work in a dirty kitchen, right? She could still remember the kitchen staff's when they found the whole room spotless. Shame that the janitor had to take the credit...

Regardless, Chica hummed happily as she sweeped the kitchen. It's not like it mattered. Especially not tonight, even though the floor was extra-dirty this time around. It was hard to be annoyed by extra work or stolen credit when she's just had the time of her life! She had to admit, her and Jeremy's time outside was a blast! The feeling of the crisp wind in her feathers was so relaxing! Jeremy even looked like he had a bit of fun too, even though he was shivering a bit!

She giggled to herself. Of course, she'd never hesitate to warm him up with a good, tight hug!

Speaking of hugs, she was so glad that he was finally starting to warm up to them! She didn't know why, but Jeremy was just so huggable!

And cute~

Chica let out another giggle as she held her broom close to her body. Now she knew how Bonnie and Foxy felt... It had been so long since they've had a proper night guard, someone to talk to at night, that she could barely hold herself back! She wondered if Freddy felt the same... He definitely seemed overjoyed as he got to know the guard!

However, a loud sound broke her out of her revelry. She shuddered, nearly dropping her broom as a loud chiming noise filled the room. She turned this way and that as she tried to find the source of the racket, her eyes soon landing on a certain something mounted on the wall.

Oh. The clock.

Chica frowned as she eyed the time.

4 A.M...

She hurriedly finished sweeping, before leaning the broom against the wall. She wondered when Jeremy was coming back. He said he wouldn't take long!

She sighed, leaning against the wall, much like her broom. No, she had to be patient... Jeremy wouldn't like it if she stormed into his office, complaining about how long he was taking, would he? No, he'd probably get angry or something.

The chicken let her feet slide out from under her until she found herself sitting on the floor. She wondered where the others were. Maybe she could talk to them!

Chica gapsed, however, as she heard another loud noise! This time, it wasn't the clock. In fact, it came from somewhere outside the room! She quickly got up and looked at the door, frowning deeply. She hoped that Jeremy was alright! She felt herself slowly walking faster as she approached the door... She rushed out of the kitchen and into the main room, not paying any mind to the other animatronics that were there, and made her way down the hall

"Jeremyyy?...", she quietly asked as she walked down the hallway, "Jerry, are you done cleaning ye-...", her words died in her throat and she abruptly stopped as she laid eyes on what was down the hall. The Parts Room's door was...

It was open!

Chica felt her stomach drop. It wasn't supposed to be open! She had made sure it was closed!

Then, she gasped as she remembered a certain someone! Jeremy! She had to make sure he was alright!

Chica broke into a run as she approached the hallway's intersection, making a left so's to head towards the office. She didn't get far, though, as she slid to a halt. Just down the hall, in the office, was Jeremy. Jeremy and one really, really tall fox...

She panicked as Jeremy turned and ran up the hall. She slipped into one of the Party Rooms, prepared to grab Jeremy as he ran past...


Back to The Present

As Chica went and told the rest of her story, Jeremy began to feel anxious. Weren't they all forgetting something? Something big? And sharp? Something that's probably out to get him?

No matter how much he tried not to think about it, his run-in with Foxy left him absolutely shaking. The fox was unlike anything he had encountered tonight! He was so big and scary, and sharp! As he thought about the animatronic's pointed teeth and hook, he was surprised he made it out in one piece!

Jeremy jerked as he felt a paw rest on his shoulder. He looked up to meet Freddy's worried gaze...

"What's wrong, sport?", Freddy asked, head cocked slightly. "You look pretty tense," he said. Jeremy looked away. The bear frowned a little, lowering his ears.

"It's just..." Jeremy began, before looking back at Freddy, "I'm worried." The hatted bear blinked.

"Worried?", the bear asked, before realizing why, "Oh, about the..." he trailed off for a moment, before pulling his hat down as his frown returned. Jeremy nodded.

"...Well, I do agree that this is quite the... s-situation," the bear said, letting some shakiness into his voice. Jeremy gulped, causing some part of Freddy to react. That wasn't helping!

"L-Listen," he began anew, tightening his hold on the guard's shoulder, "I know that this is all not what you expected, but I can guarantee that it'll all be fine in the end!", he reasoned, "No one's gotten hurt on my watch, and I'm not about to let it happen any time soon. I know it's only been a few hours, but... Jeremy, you're like family to" he then said with a warm smile, and an infectious one at that. Jeremy just couldn't help but smile when he heard that coming from the bear!

Plus, it all felt so surreal, talking to what looked like a huge teddy bear.

Man, cute animals really do have an effect on people.

"...Gee," the guard said, regardless of all of that, "Thanks, Freddy." Freddy beamed.

"Not a problem!", he replied happily, "I'd hate to see you all sad like that, just 'cause of, well, this," he said before giving the guard a good, hard pat on the back. Jeremy grunted as he was knocked forward!

"O-Oh, sorry," Freddy said, covering his mouth, "Guess I don't know my own strength, huh?" he asked with a chuckle. Jeremy rolled his eyes as he let out a chuckle.

"Guess not," he said, "Though, if you don't mind me asking, what are you, exactly?"

"And I know I've asked this before," he added before Freddy could respond, "But despite what you've led me to believe, I'm still not fully convinced that you're really robots, y'know?"

Jeremy began to feel apprehensive as Freddy looked down, putting his paws together. Did he strike a nerve? He felt like he had to say something, and fast.

"L-Look, it's not like you have to answer-"

His words died as Freddy put up a paw, signaling for the guard to stop.

"No, no, believe me, it's fine," Freddy reassured the man, "I just... Well, I can't tell you right now," he said. Jeremy blinked.

"Why not?", the guard asked.

"Because," the bear began, "It's part of the company policy! Surely, you read the papers you had to sign earlier. We can't disclose anything that could harm the company unless the employee's worked at least one night. S-Sorry, Jeremy, I really do want to tell you, but... I can't," he said. Jeremy noted that the bear sounded genuinely sad by the end of his explanation.

"But," Freddy began again, his happiness returning, "I can tell you some other stuff!", he said. "Heheh, hit me with your best shot!" Jeremy smiled. He can work with that!

"Well, why don't'cha tell me about that... fox? The pirate?", Jeremy asked. Freddy hrmmm'd...

"Good question...", the bear mused as he tapped his chin, "You see, this restaurant isn't the first locaation," he began, "Before this place was built, there was another across town. That's where he came from! As you... probably know, there were three other animatronics like him. Another Freddy, Bonnie, and Chica!", he said. Jeremy nodded as he stored that info...

"And, well, one day, the place ended up closin'," Freddy added.

"Why?", Jeremy asked.

"Well, because of a few incidents regarding the night guards and the animatronics' AI...", Freddy replied with a mysterious tone. Jeremy didn't have to think much to know what the bear meant.

He gulped.

"Ohh..."

Freddy nodded.

"And I guess that's the long 'n short of it!" Freddy then said, "S-Sorry I don't know much more about it. I kinda learned all o' that from eavesdropping on the manager a while back...", he said, looking a bit embarrassed by that fact.

Jeremy grunted as something bumped into him, throwing him from his thoughts. He looked down as he saw two white arms wrap around him, picking him up. He wriggled a little, then resigned to his fate as he heard the giggles of a certain fox.

"So, Freddy, what're we gonna do?", Foxy asked, head tilted as she held the guard protectively, turning this way and that, "We can't do anything while the... 'other' animatronics are running amok!"

"Yeah!", Bonnie and Chica agreed. Freddy hrmmm'd.

"Well...", he mused, "Once, when I was cleanin' the office a while back, I noticed a mask in one of the drawers!" he said. "Maybe we can use that!", he then added.

"But how's that gonna help us?", Bonnie asked, eyes wide with curiosity. Freddy chuckled.

"I'm glad you asked!", he said. "This is... m-more of a hunch than anything, but there's a good chance that if Jeremy put it on, he'd fool the others into thinking that he's one of them!", he said, before breaking into a grin.

The rest of the Toys blinked. Freddy cleared his throat, before beginning his explanation.

"B-Basically, here's the plan," he shakily began, "We want to get those animatronics back in the room, right? Well, Jeremy could put on the mask, gather 'em all up, and lead 'em back into the room! They'll think he's just another animatronic, and who're they to think anything's amiss?", he rhetorically asked.

"And, once they're all in there, he'll rush back out and we'll shut the door!", he proudly finished with a swinging motion of his arm, mimicking the image of a shutting door.

"B-But you guys'll be nearby, right?", Jeremy asked, "I don't know about you, but I'd rather not be alone with a bunch of killer robots," he said. Freddy put a paw to his muzzle in worry. He had almost forgotten!

"Oh, of course!" he replied, "While you take care of your part of the plan, we'll be nearby in case things go south!"

"Ha! I like the sound of that!", Chica said. Foxy grinned as she tightened her hold on Jeremy, who she was still holding.

"Oh, yes!", she said happily, tail wagging from side to side. "

Jeremy did too. As he thought about it, the plan seemed pretty straightforward. Just gather up the old animatronics, get 'em into the room, then get the hell out of dodge. Seemed simple enough!

Plus, he had some muscle to protect him!

...Soft, cuddly muscle.

What was the worst that could happen?


Meanwhile, in the Parts & Services Room...

The room was as pitch-dark as it had always been, and the air was stagnant. There was no telling how long the door had been closed until tonight, the room generally unused unless one of the Toys suffered a breakdown of some sort. It was rare, but it happened.

Four animatronics inhabited the room, each slumped against a wall and in various states of disrepair. They were as dirty and dusty as the room itself. They were larger than life too, much larger than the Toys that frequented the other rooms...

Loading FazOS – Freddy: Copyright – 1980. Progress: 80%... 90%...

"Freddy?", came a voice, "Freeeeeeddyyyyy..."

100%.

"Oi, Cap'n! Wake up!"

"BUH! Wha? What? What's going on?", Freddy asked as he jolted awake, the first thing he saw being Foxy's red muzzle all-too-close to his face. He stared for a moment.

"Foxy?", the bear asked, letting his annoyance seep into his voice, "Foxy, just what're you d- Mmph!"

"Shhh!", Foxy hissed as he covered the bear's mouth. "I suggest that ye keep quiet. We be in uncharted seas...", he said as he cautiously looked around, the end of his tail flicking nervously.

"'Uncharted seas?'", a voice asked before Freddy could offer a rebuttal. Freddy and Foxy looked to the side to see a pair of glowing red eyes. "What're you talkin' about?"

"Yeah!", came another voice, "This isn't, like, part of one of your stories or whatever, is it?"

"Ohh, Bonnie, Chica, I wish...", Foxy began nervously as he uncovered the bear's muzzle. "I wish it be one o' me stories! But it ain't! This place doesn't feel right," he continued. Freddy gulped. Foxy had a point. He didn't recognize this place at all... Foxy grinned as he looked at the bear.

"Aye, now yer seein' it too! Before th'rest o' ye woke up, I decided to go 'n venture out 'n see what I could find...", he began to explain. The other animatronics leaned closely in interest as Foxy strode into the middle of the room, passionately telling his story. He retold his experiences in the Office, making sure to mention the 'endoskeleton' he encountered!

Freddy, Bonnie, and Chica stared, though, as the fox made sure to mention the treasure he procured! He proudly held up a dark green bag for all the others to see!

"...Foxy," Bonnie began dryly, "That's garbage."

"I assure ye, fine lass, that this be only the finest of treasure!", Foxy replied defensively before ripping the bag open with his hook.

"Feast yer eyes!", he exclaimed as some of the contents spilled out! The animatronics watched as a stream of plastic cups and plates spilled through the hole in the bag and piled up on the ground.

"Still looks like junk to me...", Chica said quietly. Foxy hmph'd.

"Well!", he continued, leaving that topic behind for now, "Speakin' o' junk, take a look at yerselves! Ye all look like ye've been through a monsoon!" The animatronics gasped as they studied themselves, while also stealing glances at each other. While Freddy seemed to be in the 'best' condition, with a few holes here and there, Bonnie and Chica were in drastic disrepair... Bonnie put a metal paw to where her face would be, jolting a bit as she felt more of a... hole than an actual face. Chica, meanwhile, couldn't do anything with her digits! Mostly because she didn't have any! Her wings seemed cut off at the end, leaving a trail of multi-colored wires... Freddy began to shake.

This wasn't good.

"H-Hey, Bonnie, where're you going?", Chica asked as she heard some whirring. She reached a rather short wing out to her friend as the rabbit shakily stood up. Bonnie frowned as best as she could, muttering something as she made her way to the door.

"I'm lookin' for my face."