"You four did amazing Saturday night. Two encores? That has never been achievable ever. Such a turnaround from last week. And Tessa," He beams at the animatronic. "You were such a crowd pleaser. Where did you learn those moves?"

"Oh Gabe, stop it's nothing fancy outside of combining a few dance moves on YouTube."

"That is something, like your signature move." Gabe continues. "I got off the phone with Metals Media, they're interested in taking you four on a tour! I can see it now, a new band name, a new look – wait! I got it! The Ferocious Four with Freddy, Monty, Roxy, and Tessa. I already see it as a hit! Marketing's already working on merchandise, first promo proposal with a representative is next week."

Freddy tenses. No, no, no. This was not part of the plan. "We have Chica." He reminded them, Gabe gives him an annoyed sigh.

"Give me a break Freddy," Roxy snarls. "We've been performing with her for years and now all of sudden we get this new opportunity; you don't want to proceed?"

"She still has another week to improve and people have not forgotten about her."

"OH GOOD GRIEF Freddy!" Monty yells. "I told ya that she is a lost cause. You really going to waste an opportunity over a stupid chicken?"

"That chicken is our friend Monty, we cannot give up on her, I am not giving up on her."

"God I swear, why did they make you LEADER? You're really pressing my buttons!"

"Wait, I don't want to take anyone's place." Tessa intervenes. "This isn't what I agreed to, and it seems too soon. Are you sure this is a good idea, Gabe?"

"Of course, this is a great idea. Fans are preferring you over Chica and you've only been here a week, that's impressive within itself." He retorts, turning to Freddy. "You're too invested in Chica. This is more about innovation. A bear, a tiger, a wolf and an alligator, Nature's ferocious animals, where in the world would a chicken fit that image?" the CEO's already on his phone. "But, if you're that concerned about your friend, I'm sure we could keep her around in the PizzaPlex, granted if she actually succeeded whatever issues she got. Now I got to go, you four discuss amongst yourselves and keep the peace." He calls, walking away from the Atrium.

"Come on Freddy, can't you take one for the team?" Roxy asks. "I'm sure if we explain it to Chica, she'll understand."

"Understand that we will be taking away her ability to perform? How would she understand Roxanne? Please enlighten me since you have convinced yourself to be so heartless?"

"Oh that does it!" Monty pushes Freddy. "Get over yourself, she's ain't fitting the image and nobody's gonna miss her. You really think I'm going to let you defy my chance at fame over a little squawk that I'll eat for breakfast?"

"Take that back Monty!" Freddy pushes him back.

"Make me!" He snarls, two seconds away from grappling.

"Hey, hey! Enough! This isn't what Gabe meant by keeping the peace." Tessa steps in between them.

"Excuse me," Freddy mumbles, storming away from the group. Tessa calling his name and Monty calling him, not so great names.

"Freddy – hey, what's wrong?" Vanessa greets the animatronic, who slumps to the floor. "Freddy, what happened?"

"Innovation happened." He mumbles.

Vanessa's phone bleeps and she scowls looking at an email from Gabe, having an indication of what made Freddy upset. "What? No!?"

"How-dee-doo friends!" Sun's skipping, cocking his head sideways at them. "Why, why the long face? What happened?"

"Gabe happened. He's replacing Chica permanently."

"What?! Why that greedy..." Sun storms off. Freddy grabs him.

"Not so fast Sun."

"Aye, let me at him! For once, I won't mind if Moon takes over and tears that prick apart."

"Freddy!" Tessa's rushing until she's in front of them. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen."

"It's not your fault Tessa." Freddy's downcast, already realizing the devastation Chica would face when she finds out.

"Speaking of Chica," Sun whispers, pointing to a wandering Chica. From the way she hadn't noticed them, it's clear that she's distracted in her own thoughts. When she does realize they were looking at her, she gives a small smile, but remains where she's at.

"Chica?" They approach her with astonishment for when they take a step, Chica steps back. "Hey, you okay?" Vanessa asks.

"I'm fine. Um, where's Gregory?"

Vanessa sighs. "He wanted to go home after school."

"That is not like Gregory," Freddy comments.

Sun agrees. "Normally he'll want to be here bothering me and knocking stuff over just to pester me."

"He said he wasn't up for it. That's why I'm getting back here a little late. He seemed reluctant and he kept rubbing his arm like it he's in pain. He said he'd fell, but a fall wouldn't cause a really nasty bruise, not without some form of intense pressure." She turns to Chica. "He stayed with you while I helped with the concert. Did you see anything fall on him?"

"Sorry Vanessa, I hadn't seen anything." She answers, horrified that she scared the poor child into lying to Vanessa. She felt more guilt, knowing how overprotective Vanessa could be at times. She maintains her composure, knowing the anger Vanessa would project if she knew that Chica caused Gregory harm, especially since she couldn't place the blame on her malfunction, but her anger. She hoped to see him so she could apologize, but she understood why he wouldn't want to be in the same place as her.

Your friends don't care for you. They want you gone. They want you destroyed.

"Can we focus on the next part of my positive platform? Where am I going to be this time?"

"With me!" Sun exclaims, clapping his hands. "I'll have a few tots with me today, they would love to see you."

"Great, getting slob and paint all over my casing by whining children." She mumbles, walking away, not caring to notice her friends eyeing her with concern.

"You don't think she knows about the replacement?"

"I don't think so, not now anyway." Vanessa sighs. "But knowing that Gabe is somewhere planning on how to make this viral, we might as well talk to her to prepare for it."

"I can talk to her," Tessa volunteers.

Freddy frowns. "I do not think that is a good idea Tessa. She may be better off hearing it from Vanessa or I."

"Nonsense, I insist." Tessa persists, with a motion that she'd made up her mind as she goes on her way.

"I don't like her," Sun's speaking to them, but it isn't his voice. Freddy and Vanessa are bewildered. "Moon? What?"

"Do not trust her." Moon's voice repeats a few times before Sun snaps his head, seemingly back to himself with no awareness of what had happened. "Well, back to the daycare! I have plenty of activities to show Chica before the little ones arrive."

"What the heck is going on? Is everyone's programming running amuck?"

"Should I answer that question?"

"Moon isn't programmed to do anything with light on. Sun's here but Moon is talking." Vanessa sighs, "Ugh, my head. I'm going to get some aspirins so I can think more clearly. You stay within your programming. I don't need to read complaints of traumatized kids because you went haywire and bit someone's head off."

Freddy frowns. "Why would I do something like that?"

"It's sarcasm Freddy."

"Oh."


"Hellllooooo friends!" Sun's tip tapping on a platform in front a small crowd of 30 children and a few helicopter parents. "We have a special treat for you today, we have someone take time out of their very busy schedule to come play with us. Are you ready to meet them?"

"Yeah!" Shouts the children. From behind a curtain, Chica lets out a quiet and nervous laugh.

"Well let's not keep our friend waiting! Boys and girls, let's put our hands together for Chica the chicken!" Sun announces, pulling back the curtain to reveal Chica to the children.

Immediately, she notes the adults becoming nervous but remained silent and their judging eyes glued to her every movement. The children are shouting her name in excitement, rushing up to hug her. For a brief moment, she felt herself smiling genuinely, like she's back to being herself and doing what she loves best – entertaining children.

Insignificant runts...

Stop it. She groans internally. Couldn't she have one moment of peace? "Hi everyone, it's so good to see you all."

"Tell the kids what we have planned for today, Chica." Sun encourages his friend to follow the list of activities: Hide & Seek, finger painting, playing a few tunes on her guitar (omitting the singing), 'the floor is lava', musical chairs, the list seemed to run forever. It's nonstop in a fun way – the kids were chatting with her, the parents on their phones recording the interactions (because for a few, this would be the only time they get to visit the PizzaPlex), Sun himself giving her encouraging gestures, being right by her side. He had a video camera to capture clips for Vanessa to edit later, although the few times she felt antsy because of his lack of hand-eye coordination.

"Chica!" A boy rushes to the animatronic with his mouth half-full. It was six hours later. A break for snack time is in effect, allowing for Sun and Chica to rest while the children are served with the PizzaPlex's finest cuisine. She meets the child halfway, encouraging him to finish consuming his food before repeating his statement.

"I said, when are you coming back to perform?"

"In a little while, what's the rush? I'm not going anywhere."

"Yeah, but Freddy and the gang are!" He pushes the phone in her face, blighting her view for a moment whilst she regains her vision. Sure enough, they read in big letters. "The Future is Here: The Ferocious Four featured as the first robotic group to undergo a world-wide tour!" Towards the end of the page, she recognized an enlarged picture that had been photoshopped. That picture displayed when they hosted a fundraiser for charity, performing for thousands. Except this picture displays Freddy, Monty, Roxy, and Tessa.

No! Her thoughts scream, shakily rereading the news release. No, no! What is this? Why are they doing this?! They're all watching her. They've all seen it. They were waiting for her reaction.

"It's nothing personal...Tessa will only be temporarily taking over..." Gabe's words rang over and over, bringing devastation and distress. This can't be true. She had been assured that she would be back in the band as soon as she was back to herself. What would be the point if she wouldn't be able to play anymore?

They lied to me?

Your friends don't care for you.

They lied to me!

They want you gone. They want you destroyed.

She storms out of the daycare, drawing the attention of nearby guests. They encircle her, acting like newscasters (or maybe they were, dressed as visitors in disguise), asking question after question. "Enough!" She snarls, making them back away in fear. She rushes into one of the backstage areas, navigating her through the utility's tunnels. Any bot residing in the area moved out of the way, daring not to interfere with her route. They'd witness a mapbot persistently offering a map to the animatronic, only to have Chica whip it to the other side, breaking its head casing. It never occurred to her where she's supposed to go since everyone could be all over the PizzaPlex, yet she didn't care. Each stomp raises her anger, with a voice laughing in her head. Taunting her with words. She could hear talking and peeks inside a room, revealing Roxy, Monty and Tessa talking with one another. Her so-called friends were laughing and chatting.

Enough of this. Get revenge.

"You!" She snarls, making her presence known to them and her anger obvious.

"Chica –" Roxy's interrupted when Chica slaps her across the face.

"Back off!" Monty defends Roxy. Chica launches at him, twisting his arm hard enough that it snaps, leaving exposed wiring. Monty roars in pain.

Tessa and Roxy are prying her off Monty, she takes the opportunity to turn on them, pinning them under her and squeezing their throats, ready to decapitate them.

"Monsters! You don't deserve to see another day!"

Monty grabs Chica and flips her over with his working arm. "You're insane gally!" He sneers, "You got no one to blame but yourself."

With a hiss, she straightens her posture, ready to resume combat as the three ease away. Tessa remains in front of Monty and Roxy. "Chica, please. Let's talk this out. It's not all bad news, I promise."

"You shut your mouth!" Chica screams, the tone in her voice changing. "First you steal Freddy from me. Then my fans and now my place in the band? And you dare speak to me like we're friends? I ought to shred you right now!"

Allow me to take control...

"Chica, you're not hearing yourself right now, you don't want to do this."

"I told you to shut your mouth!" Chica launches at Tessa, hands reclaiming her throat. Tessa tussled with Chica for minutes before Roxy pinned Chica to the ground. "Unhand me, traitors!"

"What the? What are you guys doing?" Vanessa exclaimed, horrified at the scenery. One day. She couldn't go one day without something happening? She had received a damage alert from one of the mapbots and had gone to investigate. Hearing the animatronics hitting and yelling at another was not what she'd prepared for.

"You all lied to me!" Chica pushes Roxy and launches at Vanessa. The security guard's quick reflexes allow her to dodge the raging animatronic, who recovers and refocuses her stare on all of them. With shaking hands and on the verge of another breakdown, she questioned. "How could you do this to me? I thought I was your friend!" Tears began flowing. Her right arm raises to throw a punch. She reconsidered, wanting to run. Her arm wouldn't drop.

Enough of this buffoonery.

"Chica, we are your friends, calm down." Vanessa eases. "Let's talk about this..."

Chica screams, though she turns away to yell to herself. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" She flops onto the floor, pinning her arm down. It resists, as she could feel the voice taunting her.

Pathetic scrap.

"GET OUT OF MY SYSTEM! GET OUT!"

Vanessa slowly approaches Chica, who's now in a hysterical fit. "Chica?"

"Vanessa..." She hiccups. "H-Help me." She spoke before she dropped onto the ground, self-shutting off her systems and rendering her limbless.