And so, we come to it at last. The Final Chapter. Let's not waste any time shall we?
I do not own Five Nights at Freddy's. All rights go to Scott Cawthon.
Enjoy Chapter Eleven: His Final Triumph {Part Two}
My Racingstar Chapter Eleven
Gregory couldn't believe it. The thing knew his name?! How?! But this… this monster or whatever it was. He looked like the real deal. What was his story? It then averted its gaze from the still shocked youth, taking it's time to take in the decrepit area around them. "This place still remains… Good craftsmanship. He always was thorough. Better than I ever was…"
As if on terrified instinct, Gregory unsheathed his Fazblaster and shot it point blank at the horrible thing's purple dotted eyes but the monster merely blinked, as the blaster light dissipated into nothing.
"An anaemic effort Gregory but I admire your courage. Even if it was an impulse reaction." The rotted human animatronic stepped out further and in response, the youth stepped back even more. He couldn't do anything…
Trying his best to be strong however, Gregory tried his attempt at pointing at the hybrid monstrosity in front of him. "What…What… happened to you…?" He mustered out in a shaky tone.
If the monster had eyebrows, you would see them raised in interest, though it didn't answer right away. "Hm… You certainly are a strange child… Very well… I was called Springtrap by my son after meeting him again after so long, taking account of my very crushed appearance and then Scraptrap/Peepaw for obvious reasons that I am quite old now, by my lovely daughter, Glitchtrap/Malhare by the girl and now, I suppose," He looked around at his rather decomposed and burnt flesh, "giving current circumstances, I suppose you could refer to me as Burntrap? I'm sure my children would have had a good chuckle at that but please, just call me William." He slightly arched his head into a sort of bow for as much as it could go.
For being a nightmare, he was surprisingly polite and well-mannered, with a sense of humour?! It didn't match up at all… "I must beg your pardon for my rather rambling nature. This is the first time I've actually had a regular conversation with someone for a very long time. Ironically, it's with a child as well." Was that a hint of sadness in his voice just now?
"J-Just... who are you... W-What are you...?" Gregory managed.
No reply.
The sound of clicking was heard, as the creature of a man began flexing his hands instead. Particularly his right fingers, them being a mixture of both flesh and metal material. Gregory didn't know what to believe. What was with this guy? With the way he talked and moved... He was almost human… He wasn't any animatronic that was for sure…
At last, after cracking his neck, which let out a very uncomfortable sound of bone scraping and solid snapping, the monster replied. "With the amount of names I've acquired, I should probably be a martyr by now. Not that I would want to be compared to them. Unrefined tools. As a reward however, since you are the first to see me upon my resurrection, I shall tell you." He raised his arms to either side. "I am William Afton. Co-Founder and Founder of Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria, Freadbear's Family Diner, Circus Baby's Entertainment and Rental, née Pizza World and the one responsible for everything around you right now. Including those so called "Friends", you have upstairs."
What in the world?! This guy?! "That's… That's impossible...! How…? But… wait... You're the reason the guys haven't been acting right aren't you...?" Anger surprisingly seeped out of Gregory's mouth.
William's corpse gave a slight jerky nod. "Simple reprogramming trickery, with a little help from the girl, using a virus, of my own design of course, to make it extra difficult to crack. Seems like it had quite the capricious effect on each of them. Although, I didn't expect them to be resistant. I have felt it was starting to get a bit out of hand above, well… more than usual for this place. I surmise you must have had a hand in that but it's of no concern now. Also, the correct term is "Animatronics". He amended in a slight smug tone.
"But... How-How did you... end up like this?"
The jaw of the creature seemed to rise into a smirk not that you could really, since it seemed like he was smirking the whole time if you weren't in close proximity to him. "Very fond of those "What" and "How" words aren't you? I suppose many would be saying that given first glance at me. Apologies, where was I?" Burntrap tapped his decayed jaw with his single rotted index finger. "Ah, yes. It's a very long story that I don't have time to say but because you have technically freed me, I can at least give you the short version. I've been crushed, burned, burned again, stabbed, bitten, slashed, strangled. Those last four continuously for what seemed like an eternity, along with being literally talked to death and yes... that can happen apparently… and most recently, I was turned into one of those plushies you youngsters and young adults like to fawn over... Not my proudest moment… but after months of careful planning and using that stupid wretch of a girl. I have come back! But I must thank "Vanny" for one thing. I haven't seen an honest to goodness child for almost four decades now. Well, with my own two eyes that is."
Four decades?! Just how old was this guy?! This was getting too much for the youth's mind to process… However, as Gregory began to take more steps back, as the thing that seemed to be a person, stepped silently closer to him even more. "A gift just for me on my awakening. So, let us end our pleasantries here, otherwise we'd miss out on all the fun. You're a child, right? You like fun, don't you? So do I. I wonder what it'll feel like ripping a child's throat again… The sensation I'm sure I'll find quite PLEASING!" Before he knew what was happening the monster lunged at Gregory with such speed, the youth only barely jumped out of the way, making William smash headfirst into the wall, which made a big dent in it but he quickly recovered and began limping after the youth, who ran down the corridor the way he came in.
"I know you were supposed to be my new vessel and this body was a contingency but I just can't help myself!" What in the world?!
"Vessel! What are you talking about?!" Gregory screamed back, while running for his dear life.
"We've been watching you for a long time now, Gregory. Vanny has told me so much about you. No parents, no family, no one to miss you... A perfect reject of society in the form of a child. Who would suspect a murderer to be inside someone that no one even cares for!"
Gregory tried his best to not cry as a horrible sound that was close to a laugh echoed down the halls. "So many candidates... All failures... Used for the remnant… but you... You are just right, Gregory!"
Despite the excitement reverberating across his entire decrepit body, the monster realised his speed was still no match for the boy's… "(This blasted suit. It's bad enough being stuck in it for all these long years but now, I still haven't gotten used to having a physical body...)" However, a sly smile then crept over William's decayed jaw as he remembered one of his specialities.
Moments past and trying to backtrack to where he first fell in and give the abomination the slip which it looked like he'd done already, Gregory ran through the layered ruined, disgusting corridors to the entrance but the thing was unfortunately, one step ahead of the youth and when the boy got close to the beginning area, a leg stuck out and tripped him up at the left door edge, making the child fall to the ground.
Scrambling and daring to look back, Gregory saw the most horrible expression on the corpse. The biggest wide grin he could ever see, with the flesh almost tearing at the edges of William's decayed jaw and his purple eyes gleaming in such delight. "So much fear and I was informed that you were quite the obstinate, vigorous little child. Now, just like all the others. Scared."
William couldn't help but chuckle as he limped closer to the boy who was scrambling back against the wall. "Ahhh… this nostalgic feeling. You remind me of - what was her name…? Yes - Charlotte. She was quite similar to you in many ways. Always talked so much but like all children filled with vitriol, when faced with reality, they all coddle in the end. But the one thing you both truly have in common however... No one ever really cared. Absolutely pathetic!" Burntrap went in for the kill, while Gregory covered himself, not daring to look as he felt something clammy and cold grasp his arm. It was so disgusting. A sensation he never wanted to feel or thought was possible. He almost wanted to throw up but at the same time, the force in which the hand grabbed him gave him the feedback of a crack in his shoulder that made him scream in pain. Now he waited for the end to come but then... nothing came.
The child carefully opened his eyes to see the monster merely staring at him. His clawed hands were slowly retracting back. His face… It was… conflicted…?
William merely stared down at the child before him. In this moment, he did not see Gregory but someone that he was reminded of when he looked at the child. There was a boy with a similar t-shirt and dirty hair and… he was crying… Sentimentality? He thought he was devoid of such things now… However…
"A momentary relapse in weakness…" Burntrap spoke aloud as Gregory tried to process what he meant and why he hadn't struck him. "But just like him… You have no friends… NO ONE!" Swiftly resuming his attack, the creature was suddenly struck, when…
"The kid does have friends and you're about to find out what happens when you mess with one!" William was sent flying back by a hard kick right to his sternum, smashing right into the opposite end wall, enough to make it crack but not break.
Taking it in his stride, Burntrap slowly recovered and got to his feet once more, smiling at the newcomer. "More visitors. Ahhh, you must be the infamous Roxanne Wolf! A new variant of Foxy I presume?" William asked politely.
Roxy after checking on Gregory, growled back up in response to being called out. "Wished I could have met him. A good lad from what I heard. You knowing me and your murky appearance, means you're the creep that's tried to control us. Yeah, I can feel it… I remember you in my head… Watching us from all corners… Made our programming go haywire. Caused all these glitches to happen and made our lives so hard..."
William gave a mocking bow for as much as his decrepit body could go but then gestured his hand to show off the area. "And take a look around. All of this. All of it is mine. I am everywhere in this place. This entire complex is my home now and you... You are trespassing. You know what happens to unwelcome guests, don't you?" As if on coded command, out from the doors came deformed endoskeleton robots, two pairs of each from both entrances, that slicked over to either side of Afton.
Roxy was unphased and went on the attack at William who dodged the silver wolf's clawed strike for his chest and head butted her back which made the Glamrock disoriented for a moment. A sound of metal and bone clashing and cracking made Gregory wince in disgust and terror.
"Vigour is unwise in your current circumstance. It's not the first time I've tangled with someone of your calibre."
Roxy bared her teeth but couldn't help but smile at his last words. "Thanks. You said someone, not some-thing." William tilted his head. Almost fascinated at the animatronics' choice of words but quickly returned to having the killer in his eyes.
"Hm. My one regret is I won't be able to do it with my bare hands." His grin widened. "Kill her."
Try as she might to fight back, Roxy proved no match for the endos by herself, only managing to get a few good hits in. The repairs done to her body were not enough to hide the fact that she had been operating on extended time and her gears and metal bones finally, were starting to feel the effects of it.
The Endos proceeded to beat her to a pulp while Gregory could only watch on in horror and William grin in sadistic delight, as it came to the end of the savageness.
Roxanne screamed in pain as the bots ripped through her plating, deep into her chest which caused an excruciating feedback loop throughout her entire body. The bots were about to continue but not before William held up his hand and commanding, "That's enough!" the damage was already done however…
The silver wolf lay battered and wrecked on the floor. Her plating almost non-existent, showing every part of her endoskeleton apart from the small part that connected her chest and neck, her lower legs and arms and a small part at the front of her nuzzle, her jaw was now completely dislocated and her tail was now totally torn off.
"ROXY!" Gregory called out.
"You see. I'm not so bad after all, am I?" William turned his attention to the youth, who gritted his teeth and glared daggers at the horrible man.
"Go to hell…!" Gregory spat.
William's expression reacted in slight surprise but merely gave a stone-faced response. "An adamant libel boy but where do you think I've been? Be at least grateful she's not completely destroyed."
"Gr…eg…" A weak desynchronised voice called out.
"Roxy!" Gregory ran over to her side, while William made a gesture for his robot guards to go back into their original positions at the sides and into safe mode once more.
Roxy's cracked eyes turned to look at Gregory with relief. "I'm… glad… y…ou're… not… hurt…" Her voice wasn't matching up at all with her lip flaps and it made Gregory so hurt to see her in such a state. "I'm… sor..ry… I… couldn't… prote..ct… you… like… I promi…sed…" She apologised.
Gregory gripped her metallic hand and gave it a squeeze as best he could. "No… You did your best…"
The moment was interrupted by the corpse rabbit giving a small cough and Gregory once again stared daggers into the monster. It didn't matter what he looked like. The anger he felt for what this thing had done to Roxy pushed away any terror he was feeling.
"Yes, this is all very touching but it's time we got back to business, Gregory." His purple eyes glowed in pleasure at seeing the child's fear return of what he had planned.
"Gre…g! R.u..n!" Roxy shouted as best she could and Gregory followed her advice, sprinting to the right of William and the Alpha endos, who didn't even try to stop him but before he could even leave the room, he bumped into and was stopped by two familiar white, pink, palm dotted costumed hands.
"And where do you think you're going Gregory? The fun's just beginning." Vanny peered down at the child who shouted in surprise and the costumed rabbit increased the pressure around the boy's arms to keep him in place and inspected the wide area, her eyes behind her red ones rising in admonishment at who was standing inside the room. "We've been waiting a long time for this…"
"Vanny. At last, we meet in the flesh. Well, physical and not virtual that is." William acknowledged his faithful servant.
"Mr. Afton… you..." Vanny tried to find the words.
"Yes, it worked, though not in the way we original hoped. Still, we needn't worry now. He is here. Did you carry out the other request?"
"His traps have been dealt with." Vanny replied in honour.
"Excellent. I'm not one for being burned again. Especially by these particular foul contraptions. I have to appreciate their craftsmanship however. Thank you for your hard work and diligence." Burntrap nodded to her in surprising gratitude.
"It-It… has been my honoured pleasure sir… I am grateful…" Vanny bowed her head in reverence. Gregory almost wanted to puke at this reunion. He wanted to escape but his shoulder… and that he had almost no strength after all that had gone down these past few hours… Was this it…?
"Keep him there." William began his slow tread to both. Despite his supposed victory, Burntrap couldn't help but think that something was just not right. It was in the air. The atmosphere was wrong. Not that that was a bad thing but it was like… something was watching this situation unfold.
Vanny held the child extra tightly as she put his arms behind his back, the left in particular she jolted very harshly, which made Gregory scream, the arm she tugged was the one he had hurt his shoulder with and Gregory could feel himself crying and wincing from the pain still, while William ceased the useless thoughts dancing in his head.
"Don't... you-you dare-dare...!" Roxy snapped through her twitched voice.
Ignoring the pique, Vanny held Gregory in place and the child turned to look at the rabbit woman who had fixed him with a stare. Gregory glared at the person that had hunted him for the entire day but in a small moment, through her mask, he could just make out a green coloured eye and blinked when he thought he saw it close and open for a second.
"Step back from him." William limped forward as Vanny stepped to the left of the abomination in compliance. He'd calmed down from his bloodshed and now his original plans could finally be realised. "Finally, a new body. At laaaargghhh!"
William screamed in pain as the rather large knife that Vanny had brought out swiftly, was now lodged into his kneecap. Turning, he just managed to see a blur of white take the knife and stick it into his other knee but further up, making him shout again in pain. Trying to take the weapon out and stab William again, the light rabbit was then grabbed by the throat and winced at the pressure.
"You chose very poorly Van-" Before he could continue, Vanny had already thought one step ahead and double kicked him using his weight as a push off point. Stumbling back and releasing his grip, William noticed he was now on the outside of the door to the main area and quickly went to enter through it again but the door slammed down as soon as he thought it. Incensed, he began punching it in anger, trying to break through.
On the other side, Vanny gave him a small taunting wave through the vertical rectangular window and then turned around to address the young man and Glamrock wolf. "Are you okay?" The Alpha endos in the room suddenly fell to the floor in a heaped mess.
Gregory's mind had drawn a blank. "Vanny...?"
"No," The rabbit shook her head and unmasked herself. "Vanessa." She revealed, as her ponytailed blonde hair fell to one side, she also ripped off parts of the costume, that of which would come off, revealing a long purple tank top and boxing shorts of the same colour, giving her a rather contrasting look.
"VANESSA?!" Roxy and Gregory both shouted in united shock.
"Yes, it was me. But please don't worry anymore. I'm not her anymore. Vanny, I mean." She quickly stated making her way over to Gregory, who backed away from the young woman, still distrustful.
It hurt Vanessa to see the child like this but then she couldn't blame him. "Please… Don't be afraid Gregory. I'm back. I was Vanny but now I'm Vanessa, so, though I'm wearing her costume and I might look like her, talk like her and was once like her, I'm not her..." She looked around for approval. "Everyone follow...?"
"N-No..." Gregory admitted.
"But ke…ep going… Van…. I'm s..ur..e we'..ll catc.h... on." The broken Roxy chided in on the floor, who didn't know what to believe. Seriously, she wouldn't be surprised if she was hallucinating right now.
Vanessa merely sighed. "Well… I set that one up…"
Just now, the young man moved his left shoulder and despite the slight pain, it seemed to have mostly gone. "Is you shoulder feeling better?" Vanessa smiled hopefully at the child.
"My shoulder?" Gregory then felt his upper arm and remembered when she'd tugged on his shoulder before.
"When I grabbed you, I could feel that you had dislocated it, so, I snapped it back into place for you. I'm sorry that it had to be so rough and you had to experience the awful pain, it must have been horrible but it was the only way to help you." The blonde apologised.
With that, Gregory's thoughts on Vanessa slowly began to lighten some but there was something he was unsure of, "But-But why are you back now like this? I don't understand…" Gregory asked.
"The game... was finished..."
"Game? What game?"
"The arcade one."
"I don't get what you mean… I didn't do anything other than play the arcade games around the place and the one up in your… hideout?" Gregory was slowly piecing it together but was still mostly lost.
"That was you then?"
"Yeah…?"
"I knew it. You did save me. When you got to the locked door outside. The key and mask being so close to it was enough for me to get my mind back. That machine is more than a game, it's my mind and you freed me from William's delusional bull. Can't believe I was suckered in by him... I've done… unspeakable things but… I don't want to do them anymore…" She smiled genuinely at the young man. "Thank you, Gregory. I'm sorry about before and you too Roxy..." Vanessa gave a saddened look at the broken Glamrock but both Gregory and Roxy's minds were focused on another factor.
"Your… mind... The… game… is… your mind..." Roxy dared to think about it.
"An arcade game called "Princess Quest" is your mind...?" Gregory stared dumbfounded and glanced at Roxy who had the same exact expression.
Vanessa took note of them and put her hands up in defeat. "Well... sort of… It is but it's not, it's connected… I know... It's a long story but we don't have-"
"Ehem." They all turned to see the security door had been ripped off its hinges and now stood a very irked but intrigued William, holding the knife and looking at them. "Fascinating. So, the boy was actually able to complete the quest inside the game? That explains the resistance. A single child... You chose well "Vanessa". Still, I am extremely disappointed in you."
"I don't care about your approval anymore! After all the horrible things you made me do, at least I can finally make up for them! Even… if you are my father!"
"YOUR FATHER?!" Roxy and Gregory both shouted in unison but it was eclipsed by the bellowing laugh coming from Afton.
"You simp, fool of a girl. You are not my daughter; you are not even a follower! Could you really not see what I was doing? The memories of your past are from the imprint of my memories, not yours! This was merely to make you more than willing to do as I pleased. Your eagerness just made it all the more easy. The next thing you'd believe is Gregory was some sort of robot based on one of my sons or something. Utter dribbled nonsense." William drooped the knife to the ruined floor, while keeping himself from laughing anymore into a coughing frenzy.
"No..." Vanessa couldn't believe it.
"Did you really not find it strange that you had two completely different backstories of your past, despite what I told you? Even your own therapists were able to see through the deception! But I suppose that's the trouble with youth today. Wilful ignorance on the promise there's something better on the other side. Truly pitiful."
"Why...? Why did you do that... H-How could you do that to me...?" Vanessa gritted her teeth.
William merely shook his head, while dragging his body ever closer to the poor, confused woman. The others could do nothing, only stare in shock. "You are just another wasted piece that is not necessary anymore. Remember what I told you? When I first found you, you were nothing, you were small, pathetic... You were only more because I let you share a glimpse of my vision. Nothing more, nothing less. Ironically you were more with your family then you could ever be with me. You have done the work I needed. You've been a good piece, now die!" Burntrap sprang his claws forth to pierce the confused and scared woman.
Before he could do anything else however, a crash was heard, that forced William's attention elsewhere. "What is this, some kind of VIP room?" He seethed.
Three silhouettes had jumped down from the opened ceiling above. "Hope we're not too late, are we?" a fatherly warm but serious voice stated through the smoke of the impact.
"Took the longer than expected but here we are." A southern gruff voice apologised.
"Where is the chump?" A high but snarky voice demanded.
The smoke cleared and the rest of the Glamrocks stood tall in the decrepit area of the old PizzaPlace eyeing the freak of nature that had possessed them previously.
William looked on in wonder at the newcomers recognising their designs almost instantly. "Well, this is a surprise indeed, Gabriel, Suzy and a discount Jeremy, though, I am not a fan of these odds. I must congratulate you however, Gregory. Not many have managed to have me outnumbered like this. I take it that the endos didn't live up to expectations?"
"If you're meaning we turned them into scrap metal then yeah, you're right on the money. The upstairs was really unstable and most of it was blocked off thanks to that collapsing rubble, which came in handy when your boys tried to make a fast one." Monty snarkily remarked at the burned man.
"Pity, if only they had kept you all busy for long enough but no matter. Everything is still on schedule. Please, welcome, make yourself at home." William replied calmly and politely, which unsettled the newcomers due his appearance not matching his sophisticated voice at all. There was an intelligence behind it but also something unrelenting and sinister. Like something was about to lash out at any moment.
However, William then noticed something behind Monty, which the Glamrock took notice of him eyeing it. "Hey, take a map!" Monty snarled and chucked the now robot straight at Burntrap who reacted in surprise when he heard the Map bot repeat what the green gator said many times over to an almost ludicrous level. William almost missed the charge station at this point...
Not giving him a chance to react after the monster smashed the map bot into the wall and breaking him to make sure his annoying waffle would end, Chica quickly shouted at the others to cover their ears as she screamed at William point blank which sent the man flying back into the wall with the vent in the upper left corner.
It still wasn't enough however, Burntrap went to lunge out at the Glamrock but Freddy came to his bandmate's rescue by shoulder tackling the monster and swiftly opening his index finger's edge to reveal his small flame accessory.
This would not be for lighting candles this time but for burning the creature before him and he did just that, while Burntrap staggered to get up and growled in frustration at the attempts they had made to hinder him while being set alight. It unsettled everyone that the abomination of a man wasn't even screaming.
To finish off, Roxy heaved her broken body and used her last remaining spark of power to jump and deliver a flying single legged kick straight to the face of William who was sent packing into and through the middle wall. Roxy sadly, collapsed right back down to the ground with no flames luckily getting on her but she had bigger worries.
"N-No…" Chica stuttered.
"All that?" Monty exasperated.
"And he's still kicking?" Freddy gasped.
"Walking more accurately. Make those three burned attempts now… Surprising that the endos can keep up with your exaggerated movements…" William chided and carefully picked himself up and out through the hole he'd just made. The flames were dissipating due to the abomination hitting an enclosed water pipe it appeared. "Commendable my friends. Commendable. But with the agony I've been through, this is nothing."
"We. Are. Not. FRIENDS." Freddy spat back which was met by a light chuckle from William after his small surprise at the Glamrock bear's venom.
"Of course. I beg your pardon. Hm..." He tilted his head ever so slightly, nostalgia in his eyes. "You remind me of my son, Freddy."
"I'll take that as a compliment. He must have been a nice person compared to you." Freddy continued his glare against the creature of a man.
"Well… You're probably right on that." William's purple eyes shifted for a slight second.
"Save it. You're done." Monty remarked.
"You might think that. But unfortunately and once again, you are woefully mistaken!" William then spread his arms and as soon as he did that, something akin to a pulse reverberated out of his hands and the three standing animatronics began to scream in pain almost immediately.
"What's going on! What are you doing to them!" Gregory gasped.
"What does it look like you fool! I'm going to control them! You brought them down here, just so they could fall! Everything has gone according to my design. Perhaps not all as I thought but mine all the same! Now, suffer! Suffer like all the others!" Vanessa went to stop Afton but she was restrained at the foot by a nearby barley consciousness Endo that had risen from the parts on the floor.
Breaking free she made a rush at Afton but the creature violently kicked her with his metal fleshed foot right into her sternum, that sent her back to the floor and coughing violently, while clutching the part that had been kicked, reeling from the intense pain. Trying to fight through it she quickly turned to look at the young man.
"Gregory run! Get out of here! Save yourself!" She cried at the youth.
With all that had happened, Gregory could see that everyone including Vanessa had been manipulated by this horror of a man… The boy didn't understand all the feelings but he knew he would stay beside them "...I can't...I can't just leave you all... Not even you Vanessa!" Vanessa's expression turned to gratitude for the child's consideration but it changed to hatred when William's terrible laugh interrupted.
"How touching. Despite your grievances, you decide to stay, even for her sake. Your compassion is admirable even if it makes me want to vomit. But by all means stay. You may all witness my final triumph, as I possess your body and at last feel free to walk amongst the living! IMMORTAL AT LAST! Nothing will stand in my way now! NOTHING!"
"No... William... Not this time..."
And suddenly, from those few words, Burntrap stopped everything, releasing the animatronics from his grip who fell down recovering. It was like a white shadow had cast its light reflection upon the burned wreck of a human. William didn't say a word but suddenly turned and ran as fast as his crippled legs could carry him through one of the nearby doors into the corridor, to the back area of the lower complex.
That voice… Gregory recognised it… He heard it all through the PizzaPlex, it guided him down here…
And as if on instinct, Gregory ran after Burntrap despite pleas of his friends to not go and after running through a few layered corridors led by the clicking and scrapping of William's decayed metallic body, the boy then saw a sight, he thought he'd never see. A terrified William was trapped in a single small room with the only exit being on the east and west and the way he came in but it was like the monster couldn't move and was chained to his spot, staring right at what appeared to be a young child, slightly younger than Gregory.
Gregory didn't recognise the child but William realised who this was. It was what was causing the irregulates in his virus, the reason why he could feel something was always watching him these passing months, the thing that had always been in his shadow… He believed it, yet he didn't want to believe it. All the agony and torture were now fresh in his mind like it was moments before…
"No… It's you… It can't be you…" Burntrap dared to utter. As if trying to deny what it was in front of him.
"It's me William. This time there's no escape." It was him! Gregory knew it! This was the person he could hear before! It was incredible and scary at the same time, as Gregory watched on at this confrontation.
William was almost at a loss for words, the only word he could spurt out was a taintless "No…"
"It's time William… No more games, no more dreams, no more torture, no more over and over. This is the end."
William finally found his voice. "Cassidy please… I never… I didn't want to…"
"Save your pleading for Satan. I assure you; he's waiting with patted breath." The ghost child reprimanded the abomination.
"No!" William went for one of the nearby doors but it shut right on him. He turned only to meet the eyes of his 2nd victim. The child he should not have killed and their ghastly sockets were staring right at him.
"Don't worry William. You won't be in hell alone. They're all waiting for you… especially your daughter. Michael and Henry send their regards as well."
Almost immediately, a burst of incensed hatred rose from the killer's mouth. "Curse you!" He spat. "Curse you, you pissant of a child! I'd kill you again and again! Give you a thousand times the torture you gave to me!" William spat out again at the ghost. "You are nothing! DO YOU HEAR ME! NOTHING!"
"And there he is. The deceit, the pitiless, the rage, THE BURNING! OF A MAN WHO BUTCHERED UNTOLD INNOCENTS!" The spirit returned in kind the poisoned vitriol. "THE ONE WHO TOOK ME AWAY FROM MY MOMMY AND DADDY, JUST LIKE CHARLIE AND SO MANY OTHERS!" Shrinking back by the child's outburst, William managed to get out of the ghost's macabre aura and limped to the back area of the room to try and punch it to escape, only to find Cassidy standing right there but his form now seemed to morph in and out of reality and something else was coming through. Briefly a flicker of the old suit of Golden Freddy/Fredbear was seen, before…
The form of another child could now be seen wearing a striped black and white shirt with brown hair and a distinct crying face. William was in shock on who it was. His corpse frozen. "Father…?"
In that moment, the killer's eyes of Afton were replaced with woe, like an entirely different person had taken his place. The mangled form took a step back and then forward, undecided of what to do. "E-Evan…?" He asked.
"It's me, father… Cassidy and I are both here…"
He was shaking. Memories of a distant past, long forgotten by many decades of buried years. In those he remembered cradling the small child when he was still young… when he still had his family…
A single moment came as he saw a table with seven people himself included, with two guests and his family around it, on a birthday no less. His youngest son, smiling a beautiful smile with his close friend, who was the daughter of his best friend, as the rest laughed and William looked on tranquil but now, the smile on his son turned to a stoic one as he turned to look at his father. The look, it was replaced by loss and blackness, staring right into him, into now, at this very moment.
"Evan… My… son… M-My… boy… I…" William's voice quivered as he went to reach out for his child but he hesitated and ceased his attempt at the last moment.
"I forgave Mikey, father…"
What was that…
"I forgave Elizabeth."
No…
"But you…"
Not them…
"You, I can't forgive."
Not the hands of his creations coming out from the darkness of the back… There was nothing but a wall there before...
Evan lowered his head, downcast and his essence soon was replaced once again, by Cassidy with a flicker of the golden bear. "Take comfort William. I'm coming to hell with you. A frequent visit. A personal request. We will be together. Best. Friends. FOREVER."
"NO! You can't do this to me! I'll be back! I always come back! I-" His life… It was flashing before his eyes… "Michael… Elizabeth… Charlie… Henry… E-Evan…" This was it… "NO! NO! NOOOOOO!" William screamed in terror at the realisation that there'd be no next time and that he was truly damned as his sins took hold of his scattered body and began dragging him back into the darkness. A scream that echoed throughout the entire facility, even the PizzaPlex above and beyond.
After that rather horrifying and chilling spectacle one of the many things that had dragged the helpless man made its presence known to Gregory, the thing that he had seen before falling into this strange place. It was the massive blob with a Freddy head attached to it as a face and it was looking to attack him, drawing itself back as if to launch itself like a snake which made Gregory brace himself for anything and the three able Glamrocks suddenly then burst into the scene and rushed to his aid.
"Get back!" Chica shouted raising her arms wide to protect the youth.
"We're here Gregory, don't worry!" Monty shouted in defiance.
"That's… me?" Freddy stared admonished, wide eyed at the big conglomerate of wires and animatronics in front of him but readied himself for anything.
But before anything could happen, the mysterious figure of the now gold bear, materialised in front of it, making everyone just stop but the blob was adamant about doing something and was about to continue forward its attack, the faceplates of its Freddy head opening to reveal the endo skeleton, when the gold bear raised his hand, stopping it.
"No. He and the rest are not our enemies. They are our friends. They helped us to finally end him and have suffered under him just like us. They are the same… They are friends." Golden Freddy reassured the massive blob of animatronics and when doing so, seamlessly turned back into the familiar child and effortlessly reached out and touched the face of the pink and white Freddy face in easing comfort. "No more despair for you, no more agony."
The blob tilted his head and looked at Gregory and the Glamrocks and then back at the metaphysical boy, almost as if he was frowning. After a moment of staring, the blob simply nodded its head and receded back into the upper portion of the room, almost reaching into the ceiling but still present and watching but in a much more docile state.
"They will not harm you now." The yellow child reassured the four.
"Thank you... Cassidy...?" Gregory asked, perplexed and slightly on edge.
"Yes." A small smile was forming on Golden Freddy's lips and he turned around fully to address Gregory. He kind of looked like a normal young boy, if it wasn't for the darkness around his eyes and his slightly warped voice. "I should thank you. If it wasn't for you; I wouldn't have been able to return here and help your friends. I'm sorry if I scared you before. You must have been very confused. But I couldn't make my presence felt too much, less William find out about me. I'm sure you understand."
"The yellow aura…" Freddy gasped at the realisation as did the other Glamrocks, remembering the certain colour on their screens now resembling the small mist like substance emanating from the young ethereal child.
"You helped me and got the others back to normal, didn't you? That's why it became easier to help them." Gregory said surely.
Cassidy nodded. "We were blocked out by William's influence over this place. The virus he infected caused an eclipsing barrier but that was broken when you played those certain games. I soon was able to pierce and slowly build myself up before I could undo his evil." The child sounded disappointed in herself at the end.
"I don't what else to say other than thank you..." Gregory said sincerely which got the spirit to shake its head.
"Don't just thank me. Someone else also played their part. I wouldn't have been able to help you without their help."
"Who?"
"That you will have to find out for yourself but it's someone you know quite well."
"Great, more cryptic stuff... Why can't things be more normal..." The youth sighed.
Surprisingly Cassidy's rather emotionless face gave a light chuckle. "I understand your distress. Cryptic is kind of our thing." In the moments he said those words the form of the child and bear began to slowly mesh and now fade. "My time - has finally come. I can rest in peace… Join mommy and daddy like the others… What a strange feeling this is... I feel a bit scared but I know what awaits on the other side. I hope Evan also finds peace with his brother and sister."
"Thanks again." Gregory bowed his head to the metaphysical being who nodded back but gave a last word
"And Gregory, don't forget what happened here. Be kind to them." Cassidy addressed the Glamrocks who nodded at the generous acknowledgment, still keeping silent to the important exchange. "They have suffered too long just like us and the happiness and comfort of a child gives them life and love that transcends even words. Always be kind. Be well and I pray for your safe life ahead."
Gregory gave a final nod to Cassidy and as they took one last look at Gregory, remembering the sparkling of the decorations, the laugh of their friends, the smiles of their parents... they hoped that the child before them would receive that innocent grace forever onward...
Gregory noticed as the Golden bear faded, silhouettes of a girl, a young man and an older man. He could just make out their smiles and they slowly bowed their heads to him before joining Cassidy and the children that were Golden Freddy, finally left the physical plane to join their loved ones, while Gregory went to join his.
The Glamrocks after witnessing the amazing spectacle made their way to the young youth.
"That was… something…" Monty was still blinking from what transpired.
"Are you okay Gregory?" Chica asked the child.
"Y-Yeah… I think so… I've seen a lot of stuff tonight and that was the most far out thing I've seen." The young man replied, smiling slightly.
"But with it, some well-earned knowledge." Replied Freddy, who looked into Gregory's eyes, who looked right back and there was understanding between both of the meaning behind the events of what just happened. "Meanwhile, some of the Alpha bots and endos will still be on automated standby. We better take care of them. Gregory you should-"
However, the boy was way ahead of them when he remembered and simply uttered out "Roxy." And ran as fast as he could back to the entrance.
As the young man did, Freddy took off his hat and held it to his chest in condolence, while Monty and Chica gently held their bandmates shoulder and rested their heads on it in solace. Not knowing what would happen next.
Meanwhile, back in the main control room, Vanessa was seated next to the broken form of Roxanne. She had made peace quickly with the other three Glamrocks as they went to go help Gregory. It wasn't a long conversation but there were greater things at stake. She just hoped that she could have that same solace with the Glamrock in front of her.
"Spa..cin' out… V…an?" A voice broke her deep thought and she saw Roxy looking at her.
Vanessa was at a loss for words. "Roxy… I…"
"I know…" The silver wolf interrupted and gave her a comforting and assured look. "Yo..u weren't… the one in… control o..f yourself… from what I g…ot fro..m that… weird… thing about… your …mind being a… game… thingy anyway…" The sound emitting from Roxy sounded like a laugh but it came out as a poor imitation.
"Roxy… I… Thanks so much… You can call me Van as much as you want as well…" She gave a small smile while trying not to break into relieved tears.
"…It'll be… hard to get us..ed to you… liking it… since yo..u disliked… it so… much b..ut I'll manage…" Roxy joked. "Say… Van… could you stay-stay… with me… wh..ile I re..st for a bit… I'm no…t g…oing away… I just… need to… rest for a bit…" Roxanne asked her hopefully.
"Sure. Go ahead." Vanessa continued to try her best to keep the water back and stayed strong, as Roxy nodded and her head tipped to one side, her body still slightly moving and speaking in her slight rest.
Minutes past and making it back, Gregory saw a sad Vanessa, seated near the sliver wolf and quickly ran over to the motionless Roxy's side, as she lay in her dissembled state on the floor. "Roxy! Roxy! Are you okay?! Please let me know if you're okay..." There was no response and Gregory quickly thought the worse, when Vanessa spoke up.
"She's resting at the moment. She dips in and out of consciousness but she's still there." Gregory felt a huge wave of relief after hearing that. "Did you speak with Cassidy?" The youth turned to look at Vanessa in shock who bore a solemn expression. He then thought back to Cassidy's words.
"You know about them?" Gregory asked, amazed.
Vanessa nodded back. "They helped me find you guys. I sort of… had a heart to heart with them… Well, as much as you can have with a spirit I suppose." She lightly joked but her expression turned serious again. "I never did want to hurt you, you know… I'm sorry for scaring you, toying with you and hunting you throughout the entire day but… I… well… you know…"
Gregory saw the hurt and pain in the woman's green eyes as she tried to form words and he was about to respond, when in a second, he could see an arm move up and a hand forming into a thumbs up, with a familiar face turning to look at him. "Roxy?!"
"I'mmm... s-s-till he..re Greg... Nice… to… see you… I just... need-need a little work done... Should ha..ve checked-checked innnnnto the salon..." The animatronic tried to manage a smile but her dislocated jaw made it look like a half one. At least she still hadn't lost her upbeatness but it made Gregory even sadder and without a second thought, tried to pry Roxy's face plates off in stress to no avail.
"I can fix you… It's alright… I can fix you just like the others, it's okay… I… can… fix you…" The boy was now crying and couldn't keep a grip and at the same time, felt something metal touch his arm, looking to see Roxy giving a reassuring smile but also to cease. Doing so, Vanessa gently patted Gregory's shoulder.
"Let's get her onto that mattress." She said and Gregory's brow shot up.
"Yeah! You just need to rest! That'll help you." Gregory forced a smile. The robot closed her heavily damaged eyes for a moment but opened them again and nodded.
With that, Gregory and Vanessa tried their best to help Roxanne to her feet as little as it would help and with a bit of wobble finally and carefully spread her out onto the bed after a bit of stumbling from the Glamrock.
Gregory stood over the animatronic wolf, trying to keep a brave face. "It's gonna be alright Roxy... It's gonna be alright... You're gonna get better and be fixed up in no time... Yeah…" He was still crying. Damn it but once more he could feel the tears being washed away...
"Hey… Hey… Wh..at did… I tell… you…? Crying... doe...sn't... s-uit... a tough... g-g-uy like... you... wouldn't... you... say...?" She patted his face again gently and Gregory only nodded through small snorts...
In that moment, Roxy's full attention was on Gregory as her eyes gave him a humbled, sincere look, "Gregory... Because... of... you, I-I... have... the-the... con..fidence... to trust... in myself... and... not... that... hack that... I pretend to be… in front... of-of a mirror... I always had... what it takes, I was... just too... blind... to see... And you..." she cradled the young man's teared cheek. "You helped me realise that... You're... a... star... sport..."
"Roxy..." Was the only word the boy could utter since more tears were falling down...
"Hey... what... did... I tell... you… before...? Aw... heck... But-But you-you know… what? I think… there's… some…thing …that …would …cheer you… up... W-We... ca..n hav..e a race... on... my... track... It's not open yet... closed... due... to... mainte..nance... but... you... can... get... the… special onetime offer and... we can... have a... race... against... each... other. That... should... make... th..ose g..o away. Shouldn't they...?" Roxanne tried her best reassurance.
Gregory managed one in return and nodded "Yeah..."
Roxy nodded back and then slowly relaxed by staring up at the open ceiling. "We'll... go... soon... I ju..st... ..d to re..st... ne..ed to re…st... Need to rest…" Her voice began glitching out and the boy assumed the worst, when she spoke again. "Gregory..." She looked right at him, reached out and smiled the most generous smile. "Even... if... we... don't... go... You've... already… won… the race... Because… You… Are...My... Racing-" A sound of power going down was heard and Roxanne Wolf's body went limp, with her jaw still slightly open and her destroyed arm falling to the side.
The boy let out a wail that could be felt everywhere and Gregory fell to his knees in anguish at the silver wolf's unmoving form before him.
Ever so slowly, Vanessa who was also tearful, came up and held him close. Giving him as much comfort as she could give. Gregory thought he could hear Vanessa apologising to him but it was drowned out by an intense feeling and in moments, he felt that he was losing himself and falling.
"Gregory…? Gregory…! Gregory, no! Stay with me! Stay with me, please!" He heard her shout; he could now feel her tears falling onto his face as she continued to beg him not to go. Despite it… He was glad at least Vanessa turned out to be nice and was here for him at the end… It was comforting…
It was enough…
And with that last thought, Gregory saw black.
The End...
Nah, I'm just messing with yous. Stay tuned for the Epilogue! Poor Gregory and Roxy... What did you guys think of old Willy boy and Cassidy/Evan at the end? I'm excited to know! On the subject of Afton, I understand that Steel Wool did not get PJ Heywood back to voice William, in Security Breach which I found a bit strange and sad at the same time. The guy makes William with that awesome voice of his. I've heard conflicting reports on why Matthew Curtis replaced PJ but I do hope he gets to reprise William again at some point cause between you and me... Matthew mate, your William sounds terrible. Just my two sense. My personal favourite role of Mr. Heywood's is still Michael, however. The depth he gives that sad guy with only a small monologue is awesome. I just want to give Mike a hug, sad zombie corpse and all. As always, review at your leisure and have a good one!