After 6-7 weeks, 22 chapters, and an in-house quarantine haircut, I finally made it to the part of the story that I have been most excited for. I loved writing Mr. Hippo's monologues, The Puppet's personal story, but I finally got to focus on what is my favorite part of FNaF lore.
Anyways, please enjoy.
I'd like to thank Shade552 and Jude for the most recent reviews.
To Shade552: Concerning my view of William Afton, my answer out of your guesses is the first two. He's always been a psychopath who killed kids for the heck of it, but he did care about his family (probably not the Older Brother after what he did to the Crying Child in FNaF 4).
To Jude: You're welcome for the shout-out. And I, too, am glad to keep going with this.
Back in Fazbear Woods, the Toy Animatronics are - Toy Freddy, Toy Bonnie, Toy Chica, Mangle, Balloon Boy, and JJ - are fighting Gearrats, Mechrabs, and Boxbytes. Dee-Dee seems to be luring these hostile creatures towards her fishing pond, where the other Toys are. That's because they want her to lure the creatures to them. They appear to be practicing their combat skills on these creatures.
"Why are we doing this again?" asked Toy Chica.
"To prove to The Puppet that we're ready for war," said Mangle.
"We need to be prepared, and we don't wanna look useless," said Toy Bonnie.
"Yup, so steel up and give it all you got," said JJ.
"Good thing this place doesn't run out of these creatures," said Balloon Boy.
"Hey, Dee-Dee! Why don't you come help?" asked Toy Chica.
"I am helping. Luring the enemy to you, I help you turn them black and blue," said Dee-Dee.
Toy Freddy is just throwing his microphone repeatedly. Casting a speed-up spell on himself, he throws/calls back his microphone at a much faster rate, destroying more monsters per minute.
Toy Bonnie is casually jamming his guitar as he sends a wave of magical music notes at a group of Gearrates, destroying them with ease. Almost getting pinched by a Mechrab forced him to take it a bit more seriously.
Toy Chica has been using her cupcake to heal her friends if they get hit. Realizing she needs to be "offensive" as well, she casts a spell that... sprays water at her enemies like a hose.
Mangle summons poppers at a group of two Gearrats and three Boxbytes. Mangle stands back and lets the poppers explode, destroying everything within blast radius in an instant in a colorful explosion.
Balloon Boy is just chucking balloons non-stop at the creatures. He seems to be having too much fun with this practice battle, as he keeps giggling with every round of balloons he throws.
JJ uses her "magic touch" on a Gearrat, causing it to get unscrewed as it broke down. JJ then join BB in just pelting balloons at the creatures non-stop for the fun of it, giggling with him.
"I don't know about you guys, but I could use a break right now," Toy Chica said, a bit tired.
"Just one more," said Toy Freddy.
Toy Freddy throws his mic at the last Gearrat. Having heard Toy Chica's request for a break, Dee-Dee stops luring creatures and goes back to her fishing pond. Toy Chica, however, is not pleased with the fisherwoman.
"Do you even know what to fight?" Toy Chica criticized.
"You don't know what I got, so best not to ask or you'll be naught," Dee-Dee said ominously.
Dee-Dee can be "creepy" at times, whether it's her rhyming every time she talks or the tone in her voice that can be unreadable at times. Was she trying to be funny? Was she just trying to sing her best? They can't tell with her... and Dee-Dee just giggles at how unsettling they find her.
"It looks like you lot had loads of fun while we were gone," said the voice of the guardian herself.
The Puppet has returned, along with the Original Four, who are still kinda broken. For a second, the Toys were really happy to see the Original Four. The next, they are shocked and a bit horrified by their withered state. Freddy has rips on his body. Foxy's metal spine and left ear metal are exposed. Chica's mouth is stuck wide open and she has no hands. Bonnie has no face. The four should be offended that their friends are looking at them weirdly, but they don't blame them because they do look kinda scary.
"Yeah, we know. We don't look so good," said Freddy.
Balloon Boy and JJ couldn't help but giggle at Bonnie, because he has no face. They always thought it was a funny look on him. However, the red blink in Bonnie's "eyes" forces them to shut up.
"Ah, it's good to be home," said Foxy.
"You were gone for only a day," said Toy Chica.
"Ye sure? It felt like days," said Foxy.
"BB, JJ, care to help fix up our friends?" The Puppet asked kindly.
"No problem," Balloon Boy responded.
"We'll make them look brand new," said JJ.
Suddenly, Golden Freddy comes teleporting in, along with Lefty and Shadow Freddy. This sudden appearance startles everyone, except The Puppet. Getting used to Golden Freddy popping up whenever is not easy, depending on how easily scared you are.
"You made it back!" Golden Freddy said happily. "And still in bad shape, I see."
"Good to know you made it back safe and sound, Goldie," said Chica.
"We ended up on a small piece of land in the middle of Springlock Lake," said Golden Freddy. "But, hey, that's why you have a teleporting friend like me."
"Still freaky when you do that," said Toy Bonnie.
"Oh, and meet our new ally. Shadow Freddy," Golden Freddy introduced.
"Greetings, my new friends," Shadow Freddy greeted.
"Hi," the Toys greeted awkwardly.
"Didn't you try to eat our souls?" Mangle recalled.
"Have no worries. My hunger is forever satisfied. Right now, I crave battle," said Shadow Freddy.
"And this is The Puppet's new battle bot Lefty," Golden Freddy introduced the black bear.
"Shhhhh," said Lefty.
"Rude," Balloon Boy commented. He misunderstood the black bear.
"Oh, Toys. I couldn't help but notice that you were deliberately luring the fauna here to practice on," The Puppet mentioned. "Let me guess. This is about me leaving you out of the war."
"We just want to help, Puppet," said Toy Freddy. "Even if we're not as good at fighting as Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy, we're still as determined as they are to protect our home. I've been playing as many action-adventure games preparing myself for this."
"We just want to be part of the action. We want to help our friends win," said Mangle. "Is that too much to ask?"
"Say no more," said The Puppet. "I understand. It wasn't fair for me to leave out some of you from the war... just like it wasn't fair for me to ask so much of you, Freddy."
"What do you mean?" asked Freddy.
"I put your lives at risk, and look at what happened," said The Puppet.
"But you couldn't have known about Nightmarionne," said Freddy. "Besides, we figured out the Nightmare Animatronics' weakness. Old Man Consequences told us what and that's how we beat Nightmare."
"Old Man Consequences, huh? Don't know whether to thank him or burn his suit," The Puppet muttered under her breath.
"He tried to warm us that there would be consequences to following you," Freddy mentioned. "Nightmare even told us that you're not as pure as we thought."
"Obviously, he was trying to twist our minds, but his words and Old Man Consequences' words have some truth," said Bonnie.
"But who we believe you are is half the truth. We're just doing an important favor for a friend," said Chica.
"Sure, you pulled our strings and kept secrets, and it will not be easy to move on," said Foxy.
"Secrets? What secrets?" asked Balloon Boy.
The Puppet answers by poofing up the lifeless body of who was once known as Phantom Puppet. Those who didn't know her secret were scared at first, but seeing the body fall to the ground like a piece of cloth turned their fear into confusion. The Puppet hangs her head in sorrow once again. The soulless marionette on the ground is a harsh reminder of the worst part of herself.
"Phantom Puppet is... fake?" asked JJ, confused.
"Gather 'round, kids. Let Auntie Goldie tell you a story," Golden Freddy said as she sighed with worry.
"You knew about this?" Freddy asked.
"Goldie is the only one who knew about Phantom Puppet," said The Puppet.
"I'm her second-in-command and best friend. Of course I know," said Golden Freddy. "Wait a minute. I smell something funny here. Springlocks and rotten flesh. Could it be..."
The Puppet looks at the Withered Four and tells them to show everyone what else they brought back. Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy step aside to reveal the other two who came along with them. Springtrap and Crying Child. At the sight of Springtrap, Golden Freddy's eyes start to glow in a way that shows clear rage. The Puppet had to literally get in her way and nod her head left and right to ask her to calm down.
"Not now," said The Puppet. "We'll settle his fate after the war."
"Grr, fine," Golden Freddy agreed reluctantly.
"So, our killer has become our prisoner," said Toy Freddy. "How fitting."
"But who's the kid?" asked Toy Bonnie.
"Kid doesn't even remember his own name. How are we supposed to know?" Foxy said.
"Wait a minute," Golden Freddy interrupted. "Kid. Kid, is that you?"
Crying Child looks up, finally, and at the golden bear talking to him. That voice. It sounds familiar. A voice that stirs up memories. Painful memories. Memories that he wishes he could forget, but could never. Golden Freddy's voice, though, brings up a semi-pleasant memory amongst the endless dark memories in his mind. He feels compelled to approach the golden bear, and he does. Springtrap walks after him, but Foxy stops him by threatening him with his hook. Nobody says anything as Crying Child slowly walks towards Golden Freddy.
"Are you... is it really you?" asked Crying Child.
"It's me," Golden Freddy confirmed. "Long time no see, kid."
"Why are you with the monsters?" asked Crying Child.
Golden Freddy chuckles with pity and says, "Still afraid, are you? Kid, I promise, these aren't the monsters you should be afraid of. They're my friends. Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, Foxy, they're your friends, too."
"Are they?" asked Crying Child.
"His memory is troubled," said The Puppet. "But we can bring him peace. I just have to..."
"Puppet," Chica called. "We've got company."
Company came in the form of Circus Baby, but she's not alone. Twirling right behind her is Ballora, her right-hand woman. Baby does not look happy to be here, for obvious reasons. After all, a non-aggression contract only guarantees trade deals and sharing of workforce, not friendliness. As for Ballora, nothing on her face can tell what she's feeling right now, especially since her eyes are always closed.
"Right on time," said The Puppet.
"Make this fast, Puppet. We have a circus to rebuild," said Baby.
"Baby, please, try to be as pleasant as you can," Ballora pleaded.
"Actually, she can be as unpleasant as she wants, because I don't plan on being pleasant myself," The Puppet said with pique.
"I like where this is going," Golden Freddy said with anticipation.
"What is it, Puppet?" asked Baby.
"You intentionally withheld information from us, Circus Baby," said The Puppet. "Not only did you just give up on searching for my children but you also refused to share with us a crucial part of your journey."
"Your children are right there," Baby dodged the topic as she looked at the withered animatronics. "And I see you suffered minor damages from your journey."
"Minor?" Bonnie reacted, offended.
"You're alive. A missing face is very minor compared to death," said Baby.
The Puppet suddenly zooms closer towards Baby, startling her and glaring at her with a glint in her eye that signifies disappointment and a vague level of anger. Baby just glares back, barely intimidated.
"Baby?" Springtrap spoke.
"I see you did find Springtrap after all," Baby noticed.
"No thanks to you," Golden Freddy said bitterly.
"Should it be shocking that the daughter would protect the father?" The Puppet asked sarcastically.
"Father?!" The Withered Four exclaimed, surprised.
"Secret's out, I guess," Baby shrugged.
"Because I know who you are, Elizabeth," said The Puppet.
"And I know who you are, Charlotte," said Baby.
"Huh? El-E-Elizabeth?" Crying Child muttered in a low but surprised tone.
"And who is this kid?" Baby asked as she turned her attention to the little boy.
"Baby, it's your brother," Springtrap revealed.
"It's... it's him?" Baby reacted, surprised.
Baby tries to approach Crying Child, but the child is too afraid to get close to her. Something about Baby is making him feel very scared. He hides behind Golden Freddy for protection. The tiny glow in Golden Freddy's eyes flicker with a glaring-type of glow, making sure Baby gets the message.
"Don't be scared, little one," said Ballora. "She won't harm you, and neither would I."
Ballora walks closer, opens her eyes, and kneels down on the ground, asking the Crying Child nicely to come over. But Crying Child is still too scared to trust anyone but Golden Freddy. He continues to use the golden bear as a shield from anything that scares him.
"Oh, doesn't this seem familiar?" Ballora said. "I remember. You never wanted to let go of that stuffed yellow bear. You were always so anxious around animatronics. You would hug your toy bear every time you were scared. I remember when you told me that he speaks to you. That he knows what you think. That he comforts you. What did I call him again? Oh, yes. Your Friendly Psychic Fredbear."
"M-M-Mom?" Crying Child responded, surprised and unsure.
"What?" Springtrap reacted, shocked.
Crying Child slowly and carefully walks out from behind Golden Freddy and towards Ballora, who welcomes him with arms open wide. She gently picks up Crying Child and holds him in her arms like how a mother would hold a child. She cradles the child in such a loving way, calming him down and making him briefly forget his fears. She embraces her child, proving to him that she is who he thinks she is.
"Oh, my sweet baby boy," Ballora said. She sounded like she was gonna cry.
With the exception of Baby (who already knew the truth about Ballora), everyone was frozen with complete shock. No matter who knew what or who didn't know what, not a single soul here could have seen this coming. Ballora is more than what she seems. The Crying Child's mother... which would make her Springtrap's wife, which would make her Circus Baby's mother as well.
"Mommy," Crying Child said calmly.
"What is it?" asked Ballora.
"I missed you," said Crying Child.
"Oh, baby, I missed you, too," said Ballora. "Mommy thinks about you every night. I wished and prayed to see you again. Well, wish come true. Prayers answered."
Can animatronics cry? This question crosses some minds because something is leaking from Ballora's eye. Is that a tear? Animatronics here in Faztopia can feel emotions, but never before has any one of them actually cried... until now.
Ballora puts her child down as she looks back at Circus Baby, who is both shocked and sad. The shock will pass, but the sadness needs to be fixed. And Ballora knows how to fix her daughter's emotions.
"My boy, you have nothing to be scared of," Ballora said sadly. "You see Circus Baby? That's your sister. It's Elizabeth."
"Yes, it's me," said Baby. "Oh, wait. Here's something for you."
Baby's stomach opens and her claw comes out, holding an ice cream cone with two scoops of ice cream. One scoop is chocolate. The other is vanilla. Unfortunately, the sight of Baby's stomach claw scared Crying Child. It triggered more horrendous flashbacks that he wishes he can't see. The images in his mind, they're too scary for him to let go. Thinking that her scooper must be scaring him, Baby holds the ice cream in her hands and closes her stomach, pulling the claw back inside her.
"It's your favorite. Double scoop. One chocolate, one vanilla," Baby said in her gentlest tone. "I know what my little brother likes. Don't you believe that?"
Ballora encourages Crying Child to get closer to Baby. Crying Child takes it one step at a time. Baby places the ice cream cone on the ground. Crying Child gives the ice cream a few licks. He looks up at Circus Baby again. That rosy-cheeked face and those face plates... it's so hard to see pass that. But after one more look at the double scoop ice cream, Crying Child steps even closer. Her eyes. They were designed to be blue, but they're green... just like someone he knew. Baby puts her arms around Crying Child, hugging him tightly but not too tightly. This is my brother, she repeated in her head. My brother.
"You're really here," Baby said. Her voice cracked from happiness.
"I... I don't understand," said Crying Child.
"None of us do," said Ballora. "But what matters is... we're finally together."
"Darling. Is that really you?" Springtrap asked the ballerina, still shocked.
Ballora barely looks at Springtrap's direction. She does not seem to have a positive reaction to seeing him again. Springtrap wanted her to look at him, but she would not.
"You designed this animatronic after me, if I remember correctly. How fitting that it became the shell I inhabit for eternity?" Ballora said.
"I'm sorry to interrupt this family reunion, but the boy has to come with me right now," said The Puppet. "I have to take him to Old Man Consequences and set him free. Send him up there, so he can finally rest in peace."
"No," Crying Child mumbled.
"What?" The Puppet responded.
"No, I don't want to leave," Crying Child said as he raised his voice a little bit.
"But you can't stay here," said The Puppet. "Only I can take you somewhere the scary monsters will never be able to get you."
"But I want to stay," Crying Child pleaded. "My mommy. My daddy. My sister. I want to stay with them."
"I'm afraid you can't stay here without an animatronic suit of your own," said The Puppet. "There are consequences for untethered souls who stay in this realm for too long."
"You might wanna tone down the big words. He's just a boy," said Golden Freddy.
"Bad things will happen if you stay here too long," The Puppet rephrased.
"Can't you just put his soul in an animatronic?" Freddy suggested. "What about this Lefty guy?"
"Well, there's a Fredbear suit we never use," said Golden Freddy. "I was gonna use it myself, but... I like teleporting."
"That might do," said The Puppet.
"Be right back," said Golden Freddy.
Golden Freddy teleports away. She comes back a few seconds later, bringing back yet another golden bear animatronic. This one, though, has a purple hat and a purple bow tie. It's Fredbear, but he's a lifeless suit... until now.
"Will this do?" asked Golden Freddy.
"Please, Puppet," Ballora pleaded.
"Do you wish for him to stay?" asked The Puppet.
"We do," Baby answered.
"Don't I get a say in this?" Springtrap butted in.
"No!" The Puppet, Golden Freddy, and Ballora answered angrily at the same time.
Springtrap shuts up. He starts to step away, only for the Withered Four surround him. Their job is make sure Springtrap doesn't try to interfere or escape.
"And what about you, child?" The Puppet asked the child. "Are you okay with this?"
Crying Child didn't answer. It would seem that Fredbear is another sight that gives him nightmarish flashbacks. This suit is a big reason why he's so traumatized. It reminds him of the worst day of his life. But then he looks at Golden Freddy again. She chose this suit for him. She's testing him, he knows it. She is trying to encourage him to face his fears... by becoming what he fears the most. He turns towards his family. They are also encouraging him to accept what's coming, just so they can be together. Crying Child wants to stay here in Faztopia, and if this accursed yellow suit is the only way he can...
"I-I... I'm good," Crying Child said nervously.
"Then it's time to work my magic," said The Puppet.
The Puppet magically poofs up a gift box (white with a red ribbon) and sets it down in front of Crying Child. The Puppet kneels down, with one hand over the gift box and one hand over Crying Child. One hand opens the gift box, allowing the magic reveal its shine like a bright star. The other hand starts to cast a spell on Crying Child.
"Close your eyes," said The Puppet. "It'll be okay."
Crying Child closes his eyes as The Puppet showers him with her magic. His spirit is slowly but majestically transferred inside the gift box. The glow from within the gift box grows brighter. The Puppet carries the gift box and drops it in front of the Fredbear suit. The Puppet waves her arms like she is holding a magic wand, continuing her magic spell. The gift box glows brighter and brighter as The Puppet begins the process of giving life to the empty golden shell. The Puppet reaches into the gift box and gently taps the very bottom. This causes the glow to "explode" and engulf the Fredbear suit.
Everyone shields their eyes. As much as they want to look, the bright light will short-circuit their visual sensors. They can only hope that this explosion of light means that The Puppet's magic is doing what it's supposed to do.
The light slowly dims, allowing the animatronics to see the result.
The gift box is gone. The Fredbear suit remains.
After a few seconds of nothing happening, Fredbear's hand - which held a microphone - suddenly starts to move. His fingers curl and grip the microphone. His eyes open, allowing everyone to see the two green orbs that are his irises. He moves a foot and a leg, seemingly trying to push himself off his slumped over position. He stands on his two feet as he looks at his own hands. Wishing to see more, Fredbear walks towards Dee-Dee's Fishing Pond. He looks at his own reflection. No longer is he a white-colored ghost perpetually shedding tears. He is now Fredbear himself.
"Are you in there, kid?" asked Golden Freddy.
"I... I think so," Fredbear spoke.
"It worked," Ballora said with relief and happiness.
"Grrr," Springtrap growled.
"Okay, kid. Let's try this again. Do you remember your name?" asked Golden Freddy.
"I do," Fredbear nodded.
"Care to tell us what it is?" Golden Freddy tested.
"I... I'm... It doesn't matter now," Fredbear decided. "But I do know what does matter."
Fredbear approaches Baby (his sister) and Ballora (his mother) and puts his arms around both of them, pulling them closer for a one big group hug. Baby and Ballora quickly and happily put their arms own arms around him, embracing him as lovingly as he is embracing them. Springtrap's anger turns to sorrow because he wishes he could be part of his family's group hug.
"So, how does it feel?" asked Baby.
Fredbear turns his wrists, bends his arms, and kicks the grass beneath him. He's trying to truly grasp the feeling of being an animatronic. Metal bones. Furry skin. Other robotic parts.
"It's something I'm gonna have to get used to," said Fredbear.
Fredbear then approaches the Withered Four. Just a while ago, he was terrified of them. If he thought animatronics were scary before, seeing the four main faces of the Freddy Fazbear franchise in such withered states was a whole new level of scary. Not as scary as the Nightmares, but still unnerving to lack. But now, he can look at them for who they really are. They are...
"My friends," Fredbear greeted.
"You remember us," Chica said happily.
"How could I not?" Fredbear smiled.
"Welcome back, kid, for real," said Bonnie. "Or should I say..."
"Don't mention my name," Fredbear interrupted. "I'm moving on from that."
"As you wish, good ole' Fredbear," Foxy obliged.
"Look at us. Five lost souls, now have become the originals of the Fazbear franchise," said Freddy.
Fredbear starts another group hug, this time with the Withered Four. Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy do what they could to make this group hug feel special. The child who now possesses Fredbear, he was a good friend of theirs from their old lives. And now, they're reunited here in Faztopia.
"Okay, what's say we get ourselves fixed up?" Foxy suggested.
"As much as I love having laser eyes, I miss my face and my guitar," said Bonnie.
"And I would very much like to eat properly again," said Chica.
"But what about Springtrap?" asked Freddy. "What do we do with him?"
"He could be useful to us," said The Puppet. "After all, he is the one responsible for the Nightmare Animatronics possessing the means to travel between Faztopia and the Nightmare Realm. And he knows of their plans. We can gain an advantage through him."
"But first, there is a family matter for us to settle," Ballora said. She referred to herself and her family. "We will go to Old Man Consequences and have ourselves a long overdue family meeting."
The Afton family back together again (well... almost all of them). I was waiting so long to write this family reunion. And the Afton family reunion will continue in the next chapter, which I am very excited to write, especially since Old Man Consequences and Springtrap will be meeting again. I noticed that Springtrap didn't say or do much in this chapter, but I'm gonna rectify that in the next chapter.
...
Notes/Explanations:
1. Speaking of characters that I try to include and with a good reason, there's Fredbear. In this story, he's just an empty suit, but now, he's possessed by the soul of FNaF 4's Crying Child. Kinda messed up, considering what happened to the Crying Child at the end of FNaF 4. But that's why I added that paragraph that described his feelings about becoming Fredbear.
2. "These are my friends," Crying Child said about his plushies in FNaF 4. And in this chapter, he calls the Original Four his friends. I don't think I need to elaborate further. The connection is pretty clear.
3. Did anyone catch the Psychic Friend Fredbear reference?