Let's continue with the Afton family drama, shall we? I remember telling someone that I always wanted to write a story about the Afton family, but I was worried about using controversial theories. So, this is next best thing I can do. Include the Afton family here in the wacky world of FNaF World.
Enjoy.
I'd like to thank SuperSmasher123 for review the previous chapter.
To SuperSmasher123: The Fredbear here is simply Adventure Fredbear from FNaF World. As for Crying Child's name, I will tell you that he will only be referred to as "Fredbear" for the entirety of the plot. I don't want to make up a name for him when he's a central character in a story of mine, but calling him Michael can be considered a cardinal sin (again, I don't know what theory is/is not okay to use; I didn't have much exposure to the archive before I started writing this story).
In the strange house in the Nightmare Realm, Nightmarionne has announced that the attack on Faztopia will be happening sooner rather later, since Springtrap and Crying Child have been taken away by The Puppet's children. The first thing he did is bring Nightmare's corpse to a secret lab underneath the house, accessed through a campfire. The lab looks and feels like something out of a Frankenstein movie. All the other Nightmare Animatronics are present, not just to witness Nightmarionne's intent with the corpse but also to assist him. Without Springtrap, someone else needs to do the scientific work.
Nightmarionne rips out pieces of Nightmare and replaces it with nuts and bolts in different places, especially around the jaw. A makeshift brain sits on the desk, waiting to be calibrated.
"Are you sure about this, Nightmarionne?" asked Jack-O-Bonnie. "None of us here are mechanics like Springtrap."
"We have his blueprints. We'll make do," said Nightmarionne.
"Nightmarionne, the Dollhouse is manufacturing more endoskeletons, as you requested, as well as our brand new army of beasts," Nightmare Fredbear reported.
"These new beasts. I have my doubts. They appear useless," said Nightmare Foxy.
"Not my idea. Springtrap's," Nightmarionne explained. "All we can do is expand on his seemingly ridiculous suggestion."
"Uh, what do we do with the brain again?" asked Nightmare BB, clueless.
Nightmarionne facepalms and says, "Watch the monitor. Color-code the different parts of the brain in accordance with the blueprints. It's not that difficult. You have a syringe and a tray of colors. Even an actual human child can figure it out."
"He's even angrier than Nightmare," Nightmare Bonnie whispered.
"But maybe that's what we need now that Nightmare is dead," said Nightmare Chica.
"Well, he won't be dead for long," said Nightmare Freddy. "He will be reborn, not as the same but as a weapon for war."
"Not what I consider honoring our former master," said Foxy.
"Except that we must take extreme measures to ensure victory," Nightmarionne interrupted, having heard the other Nightmare Animatronics gossip. "The Puppet now has Springtrap. That won't win them the war, but that will give them an advantage. We must make our move quickly."
"Nightmarionne! We have intruders!" Nightmare Fredbear alerted.
These intruders are the Phantom Animatronics - Phantom Freddy, Phantom Chica, Phantom Foxy, Phantom Mangle, and Phantom Balloon Boy. They just barged in like phantoms phasing through walls without so much as an alert.
"What in the name of brimstone are you ghouls doing here?" asked Jack-O-Chica.
"And how did you get here?" Jack-O-Bonnie added.
"And where's your master Phantom Puppet?" asked Nightmare Freddy.
"Phantom Puppet was never real," said Phantom Freddy. "Just a lie conjured by The Puppet to manipulate us."
"And she sent us here with one of your portal devices, thinking we're 100% committed our alliance with you," said Phantom Chica.
"And she be right," said Phantom Foxy. "99% right, but close."
"We await your command, Nightmarionne," said Phantom Freddy.
"Well, as long as you're here, bear witness to our latest creation," said Nightmarionne. He grabs his walkie-talkie and asks, "Nightmare Mangle, is the antenna in position?"
"Yes, Nightmarionne," said Nightmare Mangle, who is on the surface managing the antenna connected to the underground lab.
Nightmare Mangle shows up a minute later to witness this little experiment. Nightmare BB has finished color-cording the brain and inserts it into Nightmare's head cavity. Jack-O-Bonnie stands by the power switch and waits for the signal.
"Pull it," Nightmarionne ordered.
Jack-O-Bonnie pulls the switch. The antenna above attracts lightning, directing all that electric power underground and into Nightmare's body. The shocking goes on and on as everyone watches in awe. After fifteen seconds, Nightmarionne signals Jack-O-Bonnie to stop. Nightmare's body stops shaking and everyone waits for something to happen. Until then, they notice a change in Nightmare's corpse. It's no longer colored black. It's a rusty brownish green, probably from rapid decay or the shocking or both.
"Did it work?" asked Nightmare BB.
On cue, Nightmare's eyes glow, as if it was being turned on. The lifeless white in his eyes turned into a haunted yellow. No iris and pupils, but he is alive... kinda. Just as everyone puts on a "wow" expression on their faces, Nightmare starts roaring and struggling. He breaks out of his restraints, hops off the wooden bed, and lets out a monstrous roar. A monstrous roar that tells everyone that Nightmare is no longer an animatronic with advanced intelligence. He's just a monster now. A corpse brought back to life.
"Welcome back, Nightmare," said Nightmarionne. "Or how about a new designation? One that will strike dread into your victims... Dredbear."
Meanwhile, back in Fazbear Woods, Fredbear and his family - Springtrap, Circus Baby, and Ballora - is going to Old Man Consequences' Lake. To get there, they need to find a glitched tree. As it turns out, there's at least one glitchy tree in each land. Fazbear Woods' glitchy tree is located Southwest, just near Springlock Lake. On their way, though, they can't help but talk. This is the first time in decades that they've been together and there is no way they can resist uttering a word. They were supposed to wait until they get to Old Man Consequences, but the family talk begins now.
"So, brother. Fredbear, huh?" Baby started.
Fredbear couldn't respond quickly because he was too busy licking his double-scoop ice cream, which he took with him before he left the other animatronics. My sister makes great ice cream, he admitted. When his sister spoke to him, he stops eating and says something.
"Well, it is who I am now, right?" Fredbear replied. "I know it's only been a few minutes, but... this feels so weird. Do you ever get used to this?"
"That's a simple question that requires complicated answers," said Ballora.
"I've grown used to it," said Baby. "So has Daddy."
"Uh, it's much more complicated than that," said Springtrap.
"This is all just very weird," said Golden Freddy. "One minute, my head hurts. The next, I hear beeping. After that, I'm here."
"I don't understand something, though. You never possessed an animatronic," said Baby. "How can you be here?"
"I don't know, really," said Fredbear. "Dad?"
"If I am to be honest with you, even I don't have a clue," said Springtrap. "But you are here now, and I wouldn't wish for it to be different."
"I wish things were different. Golden Freddy, Puppet, everyone, they say you're the enemy," said Fredbear. "And so is Baby."
"Brother," Baby said, mildly dispirited.
"You kept things from them, things that would help them win the war. You left my best friends for dead. You did all of it to protect Dad," Fredbear recalled, disappointed. "I wish I can say I don't blame you... if I didn't know what the Nightmare Animatronics were like. Most of my time here in Faztopia, in the Nightmare Realm, I spent it with the bad guys."
"Would you sell him out if you were in my position?" asked Baby.
"I... maybe," Fredbear answered half-confidently. "The Nightmare Animatronics are scary and crazy. Dad's been working with them, and I don't like it. I heard so many things from my cage. Death. Darkness. Nightmares. Fear. All kinds of bad things."
"My son, I worked with them because of you," said Springtrap. "If it wasn't for me, Nightmarionne would have made you suffer. That cage, as you called it, was to keep you safe."
"I can hear voices, Dad. I can barely sleep. You sound like you were enjoying the benefits of this team-up," said Fredbear.
"I... but... you would've..." Springtrap can't protest.
"Daddy," Baby intervened. "You never really told me the benefits. You said you wanted to use the Nightmare Animatronics' plans to your advantage and mine, but what are the specifics of those plans?"
"It's, for the lack of a better word, complex. Nightmarionne was vague at times," said Springtrap.
"Possessing this suit has helped my thinking mature quite fast," said Fredbear. "And now I realize that Nightmarionne was planning to betray Nightmare the whole time and you were working with him all along."
"My original contract was with Nightmare, but Nightmarionne offered something more," said Springtrap.
"And he threatened my soul," Fredbear added.
"You may love your son, William, but this is not going in your favor," said Ballora. She finally decided to be part of this conversation.
"And what do you have to say, woman?" asked Springtrap.
"I need some space," Ballora said calmly (or, at least, tried to sound that way).
Ballora twirls away from her family and deeper into the woods, wishing for some peace and quiet away from what would eventually become a shouting match between father, son, and daughter.
"My darling, wait!" Springtrap called.
Springtrap chases after the woman he loves.
Fredbear and Baby, on the other hand, just stand there and watch their parents storm off to get away from them. Since it's just the two of them, they might as well continue the conversation with each other.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Springtrap chases his wife for about 20 seconds before he finds her just twirling in one spot near the lake. She looks so graceful just spinning slowly with both hands above her head in a composed manner. Springtrap built the ballerina animatronic after his wife, and that was because she herself has a background in dancing, most especially ballet. Being a graceful dancer may be part of her programming, but Springtrap can see his wife's real talent shine through that shiny outer shell.
"My darling," Springtrap called.
"My name is Ballora now," said Ballora.
"Ballora," Springtrap obliged awkwardly.
"I just knew we couldn't stay separated, especially when I heard you ended up here as well," said Ballora. "Yet, a part of me wished to never cross paths with you."
"But why?" asked Springtrap. "I made a deal with the Nightmare Animatronics, yes, but I only..."
"The murders," Ballora interrupted. "The five missing children. The Funtime Animatronics. Our daughter's death. I know about the entire truth, William."
"Y-You do?" Springtrap was shocked to hear this.
"It broke my heart to find out the man you really are. The man I loved and treasured was a monster in disguise," Ballora continued. Her voice cracked from the sadness caused by the memories. "And then my heart broke literally. The lies, the horrors, I could not take it. There was no one with me when my soul gave up. And then my soul found its way into this... this... thing." She gestured to her metallic body with asperity. "And no one knew I was right there the whole time. Not you. Not our daughter. Not our son. Even I did not know. All I remember is behaving like a savage animal with an instinct to deliver death."
"I... I am sorry to hear that," said Springtrap. "But you do not understand. My intentions were..."
"Caused by your need to indulge yourself in the blood of your victims and the prospect of immortality," Ballora knew. "Do not deny it. You cared about your devious ambitions more than your own family. Were we not enough?"
"You were, but..." Springtrap paused. He didn't know what to say next.
"Our daughter is tainting her soul out of desperation to make you proud," said Ballora. "I stayed quiet because I hoped she would realize her mistake. But even after I revealed my true identity, she still lied to everyone, including me. I know you two spoke in your secret lab under The Scrapyard. She just pretended that she failed to get to you. I couldn't say much because I was horrified by how much she has changed."
"But we're together now," said Springtrap.
"Our son and I are warriors in this war. Our daughter is a reluctant ally. You are a prisoner forced to assist us," Ballora reminded. "Fredbear and I know what we intend to do in this war. You and Baby are caught up in your own self-interests. To say I am disappointed in the both of you is an understatement."
Springtrap wants to hold his wife's hand, but she refuses to give him the chance. He hated having to be in this scenario. He's kept his "work" a secret from his family for so long that he's used to hiding in the shadows. To be confronted about his past actions like this, by his wife of all people, it was something he was not prepared for. He had not prepared himself for this.
"Understand this. We are done for," said Ballora. "I'm only here because I miss my family."
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
While the parents are probably fighting, the son and the daughter are having a fight of their own. A verbal one, at least. Fredbear's distaste for Baby's actions in this war threatens to ruin what was otherwise a happy reunion between the both of them.
"You didn't even listen to Mom?" asked Fredbear.
"She didn't tell me who she was until recently," Baby explained.
"And you still wanted to work with Dad and protect him?" Fredbear questioned.
"You have no idea what I had to go through, Fredbear," said Baby. "This life, embracing the vessel that you inhabit, it can change you. I didn't know who to turn to. Who was I supposed to rely on? The Puppet? Say what you want about me, but Charlie changed for the worse, if you think about it. Protector of all animatronics? More like a phantom pulling strings."
Fredbear suddenly feels a painful jolt in his head. Baby stops talking and checks on her brother.
"Is it something I said?" asked Baby.
"No, it's just... I don't..." Fredbear couldn't describe this pain.
"What would you have me do?" asked Baby. "I can't just trust The Puppet. It's not that simple, brother."
"Maybe not, but you should know better," said Fredbear. "We're just children, Baby, but that doesn't excuse errors in judgment. Maybe Mom waited too long. Maybe The Puppet wasn't good enough. But things could've been different."
"Dad kept you a secret from me, too, you know," said Baby. "Why do you think I was surprised to see you again?"
"I've only been here five minutes and already I'm learning a lot, like everyone makes mistakes," said Fredbear.
"When you think about it, I led your friends right to you. Maybe not directly, but you would still be in a cage if things happened differently," said Baby.
"And you want me to thank you?" Fredbear questioned. "Look at me, Baby. I wanted to stay here with you. I miss my family, and I don't want to move on without you."
"If Nightmarionne gets to you, you'll suffer," said Baby.
"Now I know," Fredbear said grimly. "But we all have our reasons."
"Whether or not they're the right ones."
That was Ballora, who has returned from her moment alone. Springtrap followed her back, but slowly. He still couldn't face her, while she only wants to make sure their children behave properly, like a mother should.
"None of us expected to wind up in a place like this," said Ballora. "Poor choices have been made. Lives have been put at risk because of those choices. Had we lost someone to the darkness because of our choices..." She paused to ponder. "Let's keep moving. We will continue when we go see Old Man Consequences."
"Who is this Old Man Consqeuences anyway?" asked Fredbear.
"An old friend of your father," Ballora answered.
And so, Fredbear and his family journey from one glitched tree to the next, traveling deeper and deeper into the peculiar layers of Faztopia. The final destination is Old Man Consequences' realm, where everything is red, including the trees. The trip here was definitely weird for Fredbear. From feeling out of place in a glitchy realm to being a floating head that blends in with another glitchy realm, he can't tell know if his regret on his choice to stay has increased or decreased.
"I really don't want to be here," said Springtrap.
"You're not exactly in a position to demand comfort, Springtrap," said Ballora.
"Mommy, do you have to be so cross with Daddy?" asked Baby.
"Seriously?" Fredbear reacted to his sister's words with a raised eyebrow.
"Together again," Ballora said as shook her head in disappointment.
Baby and Ballora lead Fredbear and Springtrap to Old Man Consequences' Red Lake. The man in the red crocodile suit (and the man underneath is also red, for some reason) is still doing the same thing that he will be doing for all time - fishing. Springtrap tries to sneak away, but Ballora pulls him by the arm, forcing him to confront the fisherman. Old Man Consequences looks at his latest visitors. Two of them caught most of his attention. Aside from Springtrap, there's also the golden bear that reminds him of his not-so-humble beginnings.
"We're back, Henry," said Ballora.
"Mrs. Afton. Good to see you again," Old Man Consequences greeted.
"You figured it out," Ballora smiled.
"I just had a feeling," said Old Man Consequences. "Who else in our circle of misery would know me so well? The only member of a dreaded family unaccounted. No offense."
"None taken," said Ballora.
"Wait, this is Uncle Henry?" Fredbear asked, surprised.
"Uncle Henry. That's something I never heard in a long time," said Old Man Consequences.
"Henry, this my son," Ballora revealed. "He's here. He's really here."
"Well, this is quite the surprise," said Old Man Consequences. "How are you doing, little one?"
"I'm doing well, Uncle Henry," said Fredbear. "Well, as well as I can be possessing the very suit that killed me, but... I'm with my family again."
"And what of you, Baby?" asked Old Man Consequences. "Have you figured out what you want?"
"I... I don't know, really," said Baby.
"How does it feel to be reunited with your family?" asked Old Man Consequences.
"It feels... good... I guess," Baby said with uncertainty. "I mean, I'm happy, but... perhaps it's best to let all of us clarify."
Ballora puts her hand on Springtrap's back and pushes him forward, forcing him to look at Old Man Consequences in the eye. Even though Springtrap did not want to be here, the anger in his eyes intensifies as he looks at the masked face of his old friend. Old Man Consequences takes off the crocodile mask, revealing his cubed head, and looks at the decayed bunny animatronic.
"Greetings, old friend," Old Man Consequences greeted with subtle contempt.
"Save the fake politeness, Henry," Springtrap growled.
"It's actually a refreshing sight to see you in this light," said Old Man Consequences. "The man I worked with would hide behind a fake smile and a dishonest handshake."
"And the man I worked with would hide behind rules and regulations. Too much of a coward to take on the real problem," Springtrap insulted.
"Unlike you, I changed," said Old Man Consequences. "I ignored the terrors surrounding our business... my business... for far too long. While you decided to pervert the mysteries of life, I decided to end the nightmare once and for all."
"The Great Fire," Springtrap recalled. "You are the reason we are all dead and stuck here."
"I did what was best for the world," said Old Man Consequences. "No more death. No more suffering. The vicious cycle that our business started, it has finally ended... or so I thought."
Enraged, Springtrap rushes forward and grabs Old Man Consequences by the throat, choking him. Old Man Consequences retaliates with a couple of punches to Springtrap's face. When that barely worked, Old Man Consequences whacks Springtrap on the head with his fishing pole.
"That's enough, both of you," Fredbear interrupted.
Fredbear pulls his father away from Old Man Consequences. He stands in between the two grown-ups to keep them from pointlessly fighting each other.
"You have fight in you, Henry. I can admire that," Springtrap said sardonically.
"We were business partners, William. Friends. Brothers, even," Old Man Consequences said angrily. "Our wives would poke fun at us behind our backs. Your two youngest children would play with my daughter. We all celebrated every holiday together every year. We were like family. And you threw all that away, because why? You're insane."
Ballora helps Fredbear keep Springtrap away from Old Man Consequences. The tension between the two business partners is reaching boiling point, if it hasn't already.
"I would push you into this lake and into the fiery pits of down there where you belong," said Old Man Consequences. "But I know my daughter has some use for you. Understand, though, that after your usefulness has expired, you're going to burn again."
"Then why are we here again?" asked Springtrap.
"Because we all need this," said Ballora. "You. Baby. Especially Henry. We can't guarantee survival in this war. We all have a lot of things we need to get off our chests."
"So, you brought us here to fight?" Baby questioned.
"Yes and no," Ballora answered.
"You're basically tearing us apart again," said Baby.
"Only because our history is far too complicated for our reunion to be purely happy," said Ballora. "I prefer if we release all of our emotions before we're ready to fight."
"She's right," said Fredbear.
"What do you expect, Mommy?" asked Baby. "Monster or not, Daddy still loves us. Doesn't that count for something?"
"If he truly loves us, then he'll cooperate," said Ballora.
"I'm sorry, Dad, but you're fighting for our side whether you like it or not," said Fredbear. "Listen to me. Listen to your son. No more nightmares, please. I don't want everyone in Faztopia to suffer what I've suffered."
Baby lightly squeezes her left arm with her right hand as she replays her brother's words in her head. Springtrap can only glare at everyone. This is not what he wanted, but how can he get what he wants now?
"Face it, William. You are not the powerful man you once were," said Ballora. "You can inject yourself with as much Nightmare magic, but it won't change the fact that you're a sad and weak soul."
Those words sting Springtrap's heart, especially since those words came from his own wife. Looking at his own reflection in the lake, he reminds himself that the shell he possesses is rotting and decaying. But I can make myself stronger, he convinced himself. But is his outside appearance supposed to reflect something about him?
"Are we done here?" Springtrap asked bitterly.
"I believe we are," said Old Man Consequences. "Try not to perish. I want to see you into this lake myself, but for now..."
Old Man Consequences opens a portal in his lake, which will take Springtrap and his family back to Fazbear Woods. Without anything left to say, Fredbear and Baby grab Springtrap and jump into the lake with him.
"I'm sorry to drag you into our family drama, Henry," said Ballora.
"Don't be. As your son said, you're right. We needed this," said Old Man Consequences. "Facing William again, to look at him in the eye and tell him about his wrongdoings, it's something I never did before the fire."
Ballora holds Old Man Consqeuences' hand as she opens her eyes.
"I'm proud of you, Henry," said Ballora. "I just wish things could've been different for our families."
Ballora lets go and twirls into the lake.
Old Man Consequences freezes for a moment. The hatred-filled moment he had with Springtrap and the tender moment he had with Ballora, they were overwhelming him emotionally.
Back in Fazbear Woods, Balloon Boy and JJ are working as hard as they can to restore the Original Four back to their original state. Dee-Dee is helping as well (she, too, can handle a wrench and a screwdriver). The other Toy Animatronics also help with the repairs, as well as rearming their friends. The Original Four have suffered emotional hurdles and near death in the span of a day and they want them to be more than just 100% battle ready. Plans have changed for the group in Fazbear Woods and they're gonna try their best not to let The Puppet down.
Freddy gets his rips and tears literally patched up and his wiring rewired. He also gets a good exterior scrubbing to shine up his fur.
Bonnie gets fitted with a replica of his face, which more than suffices. He even gets a new guitar, which is shinier and more powerful.
Chica gets her mouth fixed and her hands reattached. She decides to test her mouth's condition with a couple of Fazburgers.
Foxy also gets his body tears patched up, as well as new fur coating for his left ear. Toy Chica kindly gives his fur a grooming at her parlor.
"Do you feel better, Foxy?" Toy Chica asked seductively.
"I feel like a million Faz Tokens," Foxy said, reinvigorated.
"You're worth more than that," Toy Chica replied slyly.
Freddy, Bonnie, and Chica were also at the parlor and they were feeling very uncomfortable listening to Toy Chica talk to Foxy like that. Why were they here again, other than Freddy also needed a fur shine?
"Is it ill-advised for me to start playing some smooth music?" Bonnie whisper-joked.
"Save it for after the war, Bonnie," said Chica. "Just not for them."
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Meanwhile, The Puppet is alone at her home, which is the inside of her own hill. She's been floating in circles for minutes, just thinking. Thinking about her children. Thinking about the war. Thinking about her secrets. Thinking about how many times she lied. Thinking about how Nightmarionne has messed her up mentally. Despite his sinister mind games, The Puppet wonders if she deserved this kind of treatment. All she wants is to protect her children, but has she done it in the right way? Manipulation and being clandestine. She has shown that she cares very deeply about everyone, but is that enough?
No, it's not, she told herself.
The Puppet thinks about all of the animatronics who will stand by her side in the war. The Original Four. The Toy Animatronics. Fredbear and his family. Golden Freddy, Shadow Freddy, and Lefty.
Not enough, she thought.
Desperate, The Puppet decides to record a message to send to the rest of the animatronics in Faztopia. Using an old-fashioned recording machine, The Puppet speaks her message. No script needed. This needs to be genuine.
"If you're listening to this message, this is a request for help," The Puppet started. "You all know about the threat that's coming. The Nightmare Animatronics threaten to destroy us and our wonderful world. My recent actions have provoked them and they will no doubt take action much sooner than we expected. We can't afford to let them take the fight to us. You know what I'm about to say. We must take the fight to them. To the Nightmare Realm. This is a big ask. An ask that will risk your souls. There is no peace for any of us if the Nightmare Animatronics win, I promise you. I am not demanding you to join me. I am simply asking you to consider. We all need each other. We can't win divided. We either stick together or we fall apart. This is The Puppet, but my real name is Charlotte."
The Puppet finishes the recording and sends it to Funtime Fields and Rainbow Valley. She also sends them coordinates to a specific spot in Fazbear Woods, for reasons only known to herself.
"No more strings on anyone," she whispers to herself.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Several hours later, Fredbear and his family are gathered at BB and JJ's shops. Springtrap is working on the inter-realm transporter, which is the animatronics' only easy way into the Nightmare Realm. The Puppet and the other animatronics show up to check on the progress.
"Progress report," The Puppet asked.
"Slow but there is progress," said Fredbear.
"Don't get your tentacles in a twist. It wasn't that damage," said Springtrap. "The hard part is making a second one."
Springtrap has made another transporter, using any compatible parts he can find in BB and JJ's possession. He reluctantly gives the second transporter to The Puppet. At this point, "reluctant" is how you can describe everything Springtrap does for The Puppet and her children. He's a prisoner forced to work with them, after all.
"To think, I used to call you Uncle William," The Puppet said with disgust.
"You're not my family, Puppet," said Springtrap.
"Mom, Dad, and I thought of you and your family as part of ours," The Puppet said somberly.
"And so did we, Puppet," said Fredbear. "Maybe not Dad, but we thought of you as family."
"That's sweet, Fredbear," said The Puppet. "But sweet times have to wait."
"So, why did we need two transporters?" asked Baby.
"Because you and your family will be taking the one with you to the Nightmare Realm," The Puppet answered.
"Wait, are you saying the four of us are going to the Nightmare Realm by ourselves?" asked Fredbear.
"We need to remove the Security Owl from the underground portal. I'll be leading the assault," said The Puppet. "Until we make it through, your family will be drawing attention away from us."
"So, you're using us as bait?!" Springtrap accused.
"Know your place, Springtrap," Golden Freddy warned.
"Now, if you would be so kind as to tell us what Nightmarionne has planned," The Puppet insisted. "And why it involves your son."
"Nightmare only wanted to turn Faztopia into the Nightmare Realm. Nightmarionne wanted more," said Springtrap. "The Nightmare Animatronics were created for a reason, and Nightmarionne believes it is linked to my son. His dreams and nightmares seem to have power within the Nightmare Realm. Nightmarionne had a theory. What if my son could dream them into the world of the living? While my original contract was an agreement with Nightmare, I looked into Nightmarionne's request in secret. His plan is possible. All I had to do was build a machine that can harness and amplify my son's dream energy."
"The machine we found in your lab in the Nightmare Realm," Freddy remembered.
"Dad, you were gonna use me as a power source for an evil machine?" Fredbear asked, horrified.
"It was either that or he sends your soul into the Nightmare Realm's version of down there," said Springtrap. "I could not let him do that. I had to build it, for you."
"Can Fredbear really do that, though? Are his dreams magical or something?" asked Chica.
"They do," said Springtrap.
"And you were intrigued with the idea of being resurrected, weren't you?" Ballora guessed.
"Scientific curiosity, my darling," Springtrap dismissed.
"Nightmarionne doesn't just want to destroy us. He wants to escape into the world of the living," said The Puppet. "And knowing his sick hobby of bringing everyone's worst nightmares to life... there are billions of people out there. If Nightmarionne can turn all of their nightmares into reality, it'll be a global catastrophe. Earth will know nothing else but fear."
"Does the machine even work?" asked Bonnie.
"We never tested it, but the test results on Fredbear's dreams prove promising," said Springtrap.
"Are you saying that our son is the reason the Nightmare Animatronics exist?" asked Ballora.
"I recognized the Nightmare Animatronics. That's because I see them every night, in my nightmares," Fredbear remembered. "After my birthday, I woke up in the Nightmare Realm, surrounded by my nightmares. Coincidence? I doubt it."
"Hmm, interesting," The Puppet thought.
"I had a feeling," said Golden Freddy. "So, kid, this means you're gonna face your nightmares head-on. Are you ready?"
"No, but I'm not alone," said Fredbear. "I have my family."
Fredbear puts an arm around his sister Baby, who returns the favor. Ballora holds both her children in her arms, resulting in yet another family hug. Not wanting Springtrap to feel left out, Baby grabs his arm and pulls him in, completing the family hug. It made Fredbear and Ballora a bit uncomfortable, but it made Baby happier so they just went along with it for her sake.
"Oh, if only your older brother were here with us," Ballora hoped.
"Uh, he's the one who got me killed," Fredbear informed. "By shoving me into the mouth of Fredbear... which is what I am now... this is seriously messed up."
"Well, if I ever see him here, I'll cut his head off for what he did to you, little brother," said Baby.
"Uh, thanks, sis," Fredbear said nervously.
"He asked for my forgiveness, but how could I ever give it to him?" Springtrap added. "He's more trouble than he's worth."
"One thing we can agree on," Fredbear mumbled.
Ballora chuckled as she said, "One big happy family."
"Daddy, do you think I can finally use my gift?" asked Baby.
"It's not ready," said Springtrap.
"It'll do," Baby assured.
While Fredbear and his family hug and talk, The Puppet turns to the rest of her children. From the Original Four to the Toys to the members of her party, they all stood and waited for their leader and protector to say something. They're obviously expecting her to make a pre-battle speech to strengthen their spirits and motivate them even more. The Puppet was silent for the first dozen seconds. Just like her message to the rest of Faztopia, she knew her words would have to come from her heart, not her mind.
Golden Freddy gave her friend an encouraging wink, telling her that she can do it.
The Puppet finally started her speech. "I never asked for this war. None of us did. I made some bad choices, and one of them is underestimating you. I should know better, and now I do. Tonight, we won't just be fighting this war. We're going to end it, once and for all. I can't guarantee we can all survive, but I promise you that I shall do what I have always done. Protect you. But you must also protect each other. Help each other like I have helped you. Stay together, combine your strengths, and unleash your power. The Nightmare Animatronics may be as scary as they are dangerous, but fear won't conquer us. We can't let our nightmares conquer us. Tonight, we face our nightmares. Tonight, we defeat our nightmares. Faztopia is our home and we won't let them take it away from us. Are you with me?"
"Yes," said Golden Freddy.
"Yes," said Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy.
"YES!" The rest of the animatronics shouted with battle-ready energy.
"Shhhh," said Lefty.
This has got to be the longest chapter ever, and there wasn't even any action (unless you count the brief fist fight between Springtrap and Old Man Consequences). I could've cut this into two separate chapters, but I wanted this chapter to be the "prepare for war" chapter, as well as a continuation of the Afton family drama. There were so many moments I wanted to write here, from Baby's alliance with Springtrap to how Fredbear feels about all of this.
...
Notes/Explanations:
1. "One big happy family."
2. Imagine the Afton family and the Emily family inviting each other over for Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. I like to think of the two families as one big extended family. It only adds to the betrayal and hurt that William's actions cause.
3. There is a set rule in my story. If a soul (real or artificial) possesses an animatronic, that soul will end up in Faztopia. Yet, Crying Child didn't possess an animatronic here and still ended up in the Nightmare Realm instead of up there. I don't want to explain any further, but I will tell you that this was also intentional from the start. I'll leave you to put the puzzle pieces together, if you would like... at least, as long as I didn't make the answers obvious. I'm not the best at being vague and mysterious.
4. Yes, you read it right. Dreadbear from FNaF VR's Curse of Dredbear DLC is here. His origin here is that he is a resurrected Nightmare. The FNaF VR additions don't stop here, though. You'll see.