The Original Four are back in Faztopia, along with Springtrap and his son Crying Child. The Puppet's party have been rescued. But what about the Phantoms and the other Nightmares at the mountains?
Enjoy.
I'd like to thank SuperSmasher123 for reviewing the previous chapter.
To SuperSmasher123: I'm glad you're liking this story. As for your ideas/predictions, I will say that a couple of your predictions are on point. You'll find out which.
RXQ revealed to The Puppet that the Nightmare Animatronics have discovered the secret to travel from Faztopia to the Nightmare Realm, which must've occurred between The Puppet's last meeting with Nightmare and Nightmarionne breaking the Original Four. In the Gold-Rust Mines beneath Black Metal grave is a secret portal. With this knowledge, the Nightmare Animatronics can guard the portal from unwanted visitors.
Right now, Phantom Puppet is escorting some Nightmare Animatronic back to the Nightmare Realm through this very portal. Nightmare Freddy, Nightmare Bonnie, Nightmare Chica, and Nightmare Foxy were stuck on the highest peak of Snow-Dust Mountains, until the Phantom Animatronics came and helped them. Phantom Puppet showed up late and offered to take the Nightmare Animatronics back to their dark realm.
"Remind me again why it's just you escorting us, Phantom Puppet," Nightmare Foxy asked.
"To make sure that when The Puppet's prized children return, they'll be greeted with an unpleasant surprise," said Phantom Puppet.
"Just stick with us, Phantom Puppet, and you'll have more than just a bigger territory," said Nightmare Bonnie.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" asked Phantom Puppet.
"New plans on the table," said Nightmare Chica. "You will know when our master allows it."
"Nightmare better stay true to his word," said Phantom Puppet.
The four Nightmare Animatronics stay silent. The Phantoms don't know yet that Nightmare is dead and that Nightmarionne has taken over as the Nightmare Realm's ruler. They would tell her, but not without Nightmarionne's approval. That's one of the first things they'll be taking to him about when they get back. And they'll back in just a few seconds, because they made it to the portal...
Which is guarded by what appears to be a 15-foot-tall robotic owl (imagine that the average animatronic in Faztopia is 6 feet tall). Its left eye glows red, while its right eye glows green. It has a bunch of purple lights on its body, and it's accompanied by two floating satellite-like devices.
"And this is the new security system for the portal, I assume," Phantom Puppet guessed.
"And you might want to keep your distance. We haven't programmed this thing to recognize the Phantoms as allies," said Nighmare Bonnie.
"If you fully prove your loyalty, then our master will allow you into our realm," said Nightmare Freddy.
"In that case, I better take my leave," said Phantom Puppet. "I have to make sure my children are behaving."
Good news: The Withered Four have finally escaped the Nightmare Realm and returned to Faztopia. Bad news: The inter-realm transporter took them back to the Snow-Dust Mountains. Fortunately for them, the dark portal spat them out at the bottom of the tallest mountain, which meant they have a direction to follow this time. Unfortunately for them, they picked up two unwanted passengers during their portal trip. Their murderer Springtrap and his son, who takes the form of a child's ghost who perpetually cries.
"Ah, barnacles. Who brought them along?" Foxy complained, referring to the green bunny and the crying child.
"Well, I did say we should bring Springtrap with us," said Freddy.
"Well, Nightmarionne showin' up created panic. Panic caused a change of plans," said Bonnie.
"Oh, well. They're here with us now. I'll take it," said Chica.
"Quick! Restrain him before he runs," said Foxy.
Just as Springtrap starts to get back up, Freddy and Foxy jump at him and hold him down. Springtrap struggles as much as he could, but Freddy and Foxy keep him pinned to the snow.
"Play nice, Spring-Punk, or Chica will bite your head off," Foxy threatened.
"Uh, I think The Puppet would prefer it if we bring him back with his head intact," said Chica.
"Hey, where's the kid?" asked Bonnie.
Crying Child is cowering behind a snow-covered boulder. While he wants the animatronics to leave his dad alone, he's too scared to say or do anything. All he can do is hide and cry.
"If only we didn't look like monsters. We could calm him down," said Chica.
"It won't do you any good. He'll be frightened no matter what," said Springtrap.
"I knew it," said Foxy.
"Then what can we do?" asked Freddy. "We can't just leave him here. We need to bring him to The Puppet so she can set him free."
"Wha... no!" Springtrap objected.
"What? Do you want him to follow you into down there?" Foxy questioned. "Then again, what has he done wrong in his life?"
"Nothing," Springtrap answered.
"Then a ticket to up there is certain," said Freddy.
"DAD! HELP!" Crying Child cried.
To Springtrap's dismay, Phantom Chica shows up out of nowhere and drags Crying Child out from behind the boulder. Bonnie and Chica act quickly and rush towards the phantom-like chicken. Bonnie uses an eye beam, but Phantom Chica dodges the red-colored blast. Chica spins a full 360 degrees, launching her cupcake. The cupcake hits Phantom Chica in the face, freeing the Crying Child.
"C'mon, kid. Get behind us," Bonnie pleaded.
Instead of listening to the faceless blue bunny, Crying Child goes back to cowering the same boulder he was in just a few seconds ago.
"Or just stay there until it's safe, I guess," Bonnie gave up.
"Hey, that hurt!" Phantom Chica whined.
"You must be Phantom Chica," Foxy guessed. "Ye look like a charred watermelon, missy."
"Hey, take that back!" Phantom Chica shouted, triggered.
Phantom Chica throws cursed sludge at Foxy, hitting him in the face. This causes Foxy to let go of Springtrap as the sludge's magic starts to take effect. Foxy wipes the sludge off his face and dashes towards Phantom Chica. However, everyone notices that Foxy seems to be moving in slow motion. It's the sludge. It has slowing magic.
"What... is... going... on?" Foxy asked. He also talked in slow motion.
Suddenly, another Phantom Animatronic appears. It's Phantom Foxy. He pops up near his counterpart and sticks his leg out, tripping Foxy. In slow motion, Foxy falls face-first onto the snow.
"Surprise, matey!" Phantom Foxy taunted.
Without Foxy, Springtrap is able to break free of Freddy's grasp. He grabs Freddy by the arm and throws the withered bear at a nearby boulder. Springtrap carries his son in his arms and starts to run away, intending to get somewhere far from literally everyone.
"Don't worry, son. We're safe now," said Springtrap.
Unfortunately, another Phantom Animatronic decides to jumpscare them. It's Phantom Freddy, just popping out of nowhere to stop Springtrap and his son from escaping.
"We're supposed to be on the same side, you idiot," said Springtrap.
"Maybe, but Phantom Puppet asked us to make sure anyone we find comes with us," said Phantom Freddy.
"And where is the Phantom Puppet?" asked Springtrap.
"Escort mission," Phantom Freddy answered. "Until she comes back..."
Phantom Balloon Boy shows up and says, "We get to have some fun."
Phantom Mangle comes jumping down from high place and says, "And some payback."
Phantom Mangle first annoys/disorients the Withered Four with the loudest garbled sound it can make. With the Withered Four distracted by the ear-piercing noise, Phantom Freddy uses a gloomy spell to lower the defenses of the Phantoms' targets. Phantom BB pelts toxic balloons at all four of them, damaging them and poisoning them. Phantom Chica throws sludge not just at Foxy but on all of them, slowing them down greatly.
"That's for calling me a watermelon," said Phantom Chica.
"Now we're talking," Phantom Foxy cheered.
Phantom Foxy pounces at Foxy and slashes the withered fox with his hook, throwing him at the mountainside. Foxy sees the phantom fox running towards him, so he tries to swing his hook, hoping that he'll land a hit in time. Of course, Phantom Foxy sees the slow-motion attack coming and nonchalantly blocks Foxy's hook with his own.
"No... more... games," Bonnie said, in slow motion.
Bonnie manages to fire an eye beam, which for some reason doesn't move in slow motion. The laser hits Phantom Chica. And just in time, too, because the slow spell wears off.
"I've had enough," Freddy snapped.
Freddy ends up roaring like a bear. His microphone picks up the sound that actually casts a spell. All the Phantoms suddenly feel like their view is glitching out.
Chica uses her cupcake to heal her friends back to full health. She then runs up to Phantom BB, grab his head with her mouth, and throws him at Phantom Freddy.
Bonnie decides to use an eye beam at Phantom Foxy, stunning him. Foxy hooks Phantom Foxy across the face before pouncing at him, slamming him to the snow.
Bonnie simply fires another eye beam at Phantom Mangle, stunning it. Bonnie then grabs Phantom Mangle by the "neck" with his metal hand, which somehow casts a spell that causes Phantom Mangle to spaz out and faint.
"That's weird," Bonnie said as he looked at his one hand. "Must be an unscrewing-type effect."
The Phantoms gather around each other and take their moment to recover. As for the Withered Four, they just stand there and let the Phantoms heal. This is because they don't believe the Phantoms are the enemy. To the Withered Four, the Phantom Animatronics are just lackeys for the Nightmare Animatronics. They believe The Puppet can convince the Phantoms to turn, one day. Kicking them while they're down is not an option for them... unless necessary.
"We've been tasked to bring you back alive. Don't make us change our mind," Phantom Foxy growled.
"We don't have time for this, you guys," said Freddy. "This war is bigger than just you phantoms."
"Then we'll make you think differently," said Phantom Freddy.
"NO MORE!" A ghoulish voice bellowed in the distance.
A bright light appears and Phantom Puppet comes out of it, inflating her head and jumpscaring the Phantom Animtronics, forcing them to stop fighting. This is confusing for both parties, as one would think that Phantom Puppet would jumpscare the ones attacking her children.
"That's enough from you," said Phantom Puppet. "All of you."
"What the heck, Phantom Puppet?" asked Phantom Foxy, enraged and confused.
"No more harming each other. I mean it," said Phantom Puppet. "Now, let them go."
"But you ordered us to find them," said Phantom BB.
"I did, but that's as far as you'll go," said Phantom Puppet.
"Why?" asked Phantom Chica.
"Because I says so," a little girl's voice echoed.
That little girl's voice belongs to none other than The Puppet, who floats down from above and looks directly at the Withered Four. Springtrap takes his son and hides behind a boulder, not wanting to confront her.
"My friends, I'm glad to see you made it," The Puppet said to her children.
"Barely in one piece," said Bonnie.
"Don't worry. BB and JJ can take care of that," said The Puppet. "You had me worried, you know. I feared the worst had happened."
"So did we," said Freddy. "It was Nightmare Puppet... or Nightmarionne, as we just learned."
"You didn't go to the Nightmare Realm, did you?" asked The Puppet.
"It was an accident," said Foxy. "Thanks to one of these things." He held up the inter-realm transporter that he still had.
The Puppet asks Foxy to give her the device.
"I've seen this before," said The Puppet. "The Nightmare Animatronics found out how I was able to travel between realms. They took that away from me. But with this, I can go back there."
"If it's not busted," said Foxy. "Either it's me one hand or it's hard to make work. At least I still have two arms."
"Hey, I heard that. Let's see you try living with only one arm," said Bonnie. He felt insulted since he lost half an arm.
"C'mon, you two. Let's not do this again," Freddy pleaded.
"Hey, don't blame me. Blue boy here lost his brain along with his face," said Foxy.
"I warned you, Foxy. Leave Bonnie alone or you're gonna lose a head," Chica threatened.
The Puppet can only giggle at the sight of this. They're friends, but they're bickering like little children. Little children. 'Cause that's what they are. Maybe their minds have matured here in Faztopia, but at the end of the day, they're all just children.
The Puppet wraps her arms around the Withered Four and pulls them closer for a group hug. This calms down the four. The Puppet has always radiated a motherly aura, but even her touch is motherly. The hug makes them feel protected and loved. Chica puts her arm around Bonnie. Bonnie returns the favor with his one arm around Chica. Freddy hugs both Bonnie and Foxy. Even Foxy joins in on the group hug, making it feel complete.
"I really am glad to see you all again," said The Puppet.
"And us, too, seeing you again, mo..." Chica paused. "Puppet. Um, sorry."
"Call me Marionette instead of mom and I'll let it slide," said The Puppet. "After all, what a mother should be..."
"Is understanding," Phantom Puppet finished.
"Huh?" Everyone (but the puppets) reacted.
"But a mother should be more than that," said The Puppet. "A mother should be honest..."
"With herself and with her children," said Phantom Puppet.
"What is happening here?" Phantom Freddy asked, confused.
"I am her. She is me. But she is a lie, forged by my lie," The Puppet said poetically.
The Puppet puts her hands on Phantom Puppet's head, starts doing... something... causing the light in Phantom Puppet's eyes to disappear. The phantom leader collapses and falls like a lifeless puppet. In The Puppet's hand is a bluish-white orb of life. A soul.
"She stole Phantom Puppet's soul!" Phantom Mangle shouted.
"No, it's not her soul. It's mine," said The Puppet.
"What?!" Everyone reacted, now extremely confused.
The Puppet turns around and looks at the Withered Four again. Staring at the fragment of her own soul in her hand, The Puppet prepares to be what she believes she should've been all this time. Honest. Honest with herself and with her children.
The Puppet tells her story. "Not too long ago, the Phantoms were causing trouble here in Faztopia. They wanted bigger territory, but they were too wild to be around others. I couldn't let them keep causing trouble because it would just lead to more unnecessary conflict. The Toys, the Funtimes, the Rockstars, they have all voiced their complaints, as well as making a possible decision to drive the Phantoms away by force. Knowing the Phantoms, they would not only welcome conflict but also be less merciful than the rest. I told them it wasn't necessary and to let me deal with them. But they wouldn't listen. The Phantoms refused to listen to me because I am not one of them. When one of them mentioned a Phantom Puppet, I started to think and search. But there is no Phantom Puppet. She doesn't exist. And I wondered, why? The Phantoms remember there being a Phantom Puppet, but why has she never come here? That's because she did, but she also didn't."
"What?" Bonnie is confused.
"The Phantom Puppet... is me," The Puppet revealed.
The Phantom Animatronics all step back in shock. Their leader, the one who cared for them like children, has been The Puppet the whole time? Phantom Puppet was fake?
"I remembered," The Puppet continued. "A horror-themed attraction that turned the horrific crimes of the past into a joke. I couldn't let the legacy of our pizzeria live on, no matter what form. Springtrap was there, but there were also mentions of phantoms. Phantom Freddy. Phantom Foxy. Phantom Chica. Phantom Mangle. Phantom Balloon Boy. But the Phantom Puppet... it was me. I was there, and in a way, I too was a phantom."
"But what does this mean about Phantom Puppet?" asked Chica.
The Puppet continued her story. "I thought that maybe I could convince the Phantom Animatronics to make peace with us if they had a leader. A leader who is one of them, one who they trust. So, I created her. The Phantom Puppet. Only, she's a hollow shell. How was I gonna convince the Phantoms with a lifeless puppet? I borrowed Springtrap's notes on experimenting with souls. I know it's mortifying for me to even consider performing such immoral deeds, but I needed a solution. I could transfer a fraction of my soul into the Phantom Puppet's body. I brought her to life, but there was an unexpected catch. I could be in two places at once. I could see through the Phantom Puppet's eyes, as if I was controlling her. She and I could be in the same room and I could make it seem like we're two different entities. All I needed was to learn how to modulate my voice and it was the perfect act."
"So, you've been lying to us this whole time?" Phantom Freddy asked angrily.
"I have," The Puppet answered sadly. "I didn't want to keep up the charade for long, but then the Nightmare Animatronics made you an offer. I wanted to refuse, but you wanted to accept. I had to play along even further. But after some... self-reflection... I realize that I couldn't do this anymore. You, Circus Baby, and the Nightmares were right about one thing about me. I do pull strings. Even with good intentions, I can't make excuses for my actions. I swear, my dear Phantoms, all I ever wanted was to find a way for all of us to live in peace. You made me desperate, and I didn't know how to handle desperation. So, I turned to the thing I knew how to do best. Manipulate everyone's strings like puppets."
"Wait, the Phantoms said that Phantom Puppet sent them here to the mountains to find us," said Freddy.
"I didn't know if you were really here, but the clues I found led me to believe that you could be here," said The Puppet. "Yes, I sent the Phantoms here to save you guys. I ordered them to bring you back alive, for reasons that should be clear. What I didn't anticipate were the Nightmare Animatronics and the force field that was blocking the border to the mountains."
"Eh, it wasn't that hard to get past it. Just dig under," said Phantom BB. "Or, if you're a Phantom, just phase through the ground and come back up on the other side."
"I can't believe you tricked us, Puppet!" Phantom Chica yelled.
"All chances of peace are nonexistent now," Phantom Foxy said angrily.
"We will never join you and your so-called family," said Phantom Freddy.
"I know," The Puppet said sadly. "And I deserve your eternal contempt, as well as your refusal for an alliance."
The Puppet pushes the button on the inter-realm transporter, opening a dark portal near the Phantom Animatronics. Is she sending them to the Nightmare Realm? It seems like it.
"And another thing, Nightmare is dead," The Puppet said to the phantoms.
"The Nightmare Animatronics who attacked us mentioned that," said Freddy. "But we didn't mean to kill him. We just wanted to weaken him."
"It wasn't you. It was Nightmarionne," said The Puppet. "He killed Nightmare to take his position as overlord of the Nightmare Realm. All Nightmares Animatronics and their allies answer to Nightmarionne now."
"Well, thanks for that, at least," Phantom Freddy said sarcastically. "C'mon, Phantoms. Let's get out of here."
All of the Phantom Animatronics jump through the portal. This is going to be their first time in the Nightmare Realm. They may have allied with the Nightmare Animatronics, but they didn't want the Phantoms in their realm until they have proven themselves trustworthy. But now, with The Puppet's secrets brought to light, the Phantoms' increased hatred of her might just convince the Nightmare Animatronics that they're trustworthy.
After closing the portal, The Puppet sighs. That sigh signifies her sorrow, as well as disappointment at herself.
"Puppet," Freddy called gently.
"We'll discuss this later," said The Puppet. "Right now, we have very important matters to deal with."
The Puppet turns around and looks at the very boulder that Springtrap and Crying Child were hiding behind. Springtrap ducks behind the boulder quickly, hoping that she didn't see him. Unfortunately, The Puppet teleports right in front of him, startling him.
"Springtrap," The Puppet said with scorn.
"Puppet," Springtrap greeted with angry eyes.
"Who is the child?" asked The Puppet.
She's obviously referring to Crying Child, who is still cowering behind his father. The Puppet uses a jumpscare to scare Springtrap away from the child. However, that jumpscare also helped make Crying Child more afraid than he already was. The Puppet slowly approaches the child, trying to assure him that he shouldn't be afraid of her. The Withered Four surround Springtrap as they watch The Puppet converse with this mysterious child.
"It's okay. You're safe," said The Puppet.
"Please don't come closer," Crying Child begged. "I just want my family."
"What's your name?" asked The Puppet.
"I... I... I don't remember," said Crying Child.
"Then let me help you," said The Puppet.
The Puppet slowly reaches for Crying Child. The child is still too scared to get close, especially since The Puppet reminds him of Nightmarionne. With a gentle "shh" and a calm wipe of his tear, The Puppet calms the child just enough for him to allow her to get closer. She places her hand on his head. What was supposed to be a comforting touch turned into something unexpected. The Puppet started seeing images in her mind. She started to feel what the child feels. She started to see what's in the child's head.
The Puppet soon removes her hand from the child's head as she processes what she "saw."
"It's you," The Puppet realized.
"Ch-Charlie?" Crying Child uttered with shock. "Is it really you?"
The Puppet nodded.
This is getting heavy, isn't it? As it turns out, those who accuse The Puppet of pulling strings were not completely wrong. She has good intentions, but at her core, she's a puppet master. Yeah, this story is getting a bit grey, isn't it? For a story like FNaF World, it would've been easy to settle who's good and bad. But, nope, here I am adding another layer to The Puppet's character. She may be good, but it's a lot more complicated than that.
...
Notes/Explanations:
1. The revelation of Phantom Puppet being The Puppet the whole time is a reference to the theory that The Puppet is the Phantom Puppet from FNaF 3. I wanted to use that theory is some way in this story. The real challenge was trying to execute this plot twist in a near-flawless way. For all I know, there's a plot hole I'm missing... but the twist was intended from the very start.
2. Oh, and in case you're gonna ask, "Who leads the Phantoms now?" The answer is Phantom Freddy.