Four hours had passed since they escaped the soldiers at the destroyed command post, the pair had quickly retreated back to Marionette's house and calmed down. When they arrived, they skipped the formalities and had Goldy help fix Mangle's arm, the pair having to pop it back into position since it had slipped from its socket.

After a quick snap, a short cry, and Foxy having to calm her down after the immediate pain, they quickly got past it.

After a brief explanation to the bear, a chewing out that while less directed at them, caused Claire to take Kimber out of the room. It took a few minutes, but he eventually calmed down, and the main question was; "What now?"

That's a common question after major events which drastically alter the current situation of thousands of people, and usually the answer is to fix it…

But how?

Mangle sighed as she sat down on the couch, she'd been thinking about what would happen "now." Not the immediate now, because there was technically never one that we can talk about, but the tomorrow. What would happen when they finished this- when would they finish this, even?

She remembered how Foxy had said that he wanted to live peacefully after this, but what would happen? How would they? It was an odd question to her.

There was a simple answer: just live peacefully!

But it really wasn't that simple.

They'd have to rebuild, to rebuild meant to grieve now, but now they had to fight, but…

She stood up from the couch and walked over to the sliding door, feeling the airtight seal give-way as she pulled it open, a brisk breeze flowing in past her as she walked out to the deck. A stiff wind had blown away most of the ash, disintegrating from sight as it flew away. She closed the door and walked over to the railing and leaned against it, the wood pressing up against her arms and fur as she looked out.

She was beginning to understand why Foxy enjoyed this spot so much.

The sight of the city wasn't pretty in all honesty, but the surroundings made it beautiful; the sun was getting low, shocking since it was morning just earlier, but due to the time of year it made sense. The sight of the trees, park, and lights in the town were beautiful as well, but the ugliness was shown from the fighting. The streets seemed bathed in blood, gunshots were everywhere still, but toned down.

It was terrifying, too…

Some people had lined up soldiers and would shoot them, slaughtering them like cattle…

It was saddening to her, the fact that they would murder people like that, the possibility that people could do this, when they were so close to it themselves. It's sickening.

Her stomach was knotted as she looked, both from the thoughts on the slaughter and the future.

Mangle's thoughts quickly went back to when the vulpine had said he wanted to have kids with her, the thought seemed weird, but she liked it. It made her feel giddy inside, specifically that he wanted her, granted, in his own words, "who else could he choose?"

Though, that circled back around to her first thoughts; how would they rebuild to do that?

Her mind was muddled, a frenzy of emotions and trauma she never expected to feel. Especially at such close timing. In the few days that had passed, she felt like she aged years, her body felt slower and stiffer than usually. The stress was getting to her.

Much to her own disdain, she had partaken in killing people…

She felt disgusting; both physically and mentally, she felt disgusted; herself and her surroundings…

Yet, she couldn't help but think that she finally understood what Foxy was going through all those months. Her clothes were no longer stained with black, neither was her body, but she held herself tightly, the feeling of blood coating her body still a present feeling.

It choked her mind, blanketing her entire body with black as she leaned against the rail, now shaking with a chill that she couldn't tell was from-

"Hey, are you alright-"

The sound of Foxy's voice pulled her out of her thoughts as he grabbed her shoulder, walking up to her left and settling in as he rested his arm around her back, looking into her eyes with a piercing gaze.

He knew what she was going through, knowledge was gained through a bitch called enlightenment. The first time you experience something, your amateur experience is something you'll remember. You make mistakes and learn…

He learned that killing someone was painful, in all possibilities. That seeing someone die is terrifying, the shocking realization that you and the people you know are not invincible… How easy it is to just slit someone's throat, shoot them, or drown them… The fragility of life is a lesson learnt exclusively the hard way.

She knew he could see it in her, just by her eyes alone he knew that she was feeling the aftermath of it all, and even though he had experienced it, he had no idea how to help her, but he knew how to comfort her. Even when you're hurt, in the most gruesome way possible, a hug can help.

He pulled her into the crook of his shoulder, leaning against the rail with her as he rested his head against the top of hers, feeling the tensity in her shoulders, how on-edge she was. As soon as he came in contact with her he felt it melt away, instead replaced with her leaning against him, tears in her eyes as she squeezed him tightly.

"Shh, it's alright," He whispered to her, hugging her tightly against his worn frame.

"I just- It… It hurts," She gasped out, any breath in her being lost as she sobbed and heaved. A deathgrip on the vulpine kept her upright and he held her just as tightly towards him.

Mangle let out silent wails, the sounds of her whimpers pierced his soul just as much, if not more, of what his eyes did to her. A sense of inability, that feeling that no matter what you do, you can't help, plagued his mind, but he pushed it aside so he was able to focus on her.

No, this wasn't what he could do to help her, it's what he could do to comfort her.

He wasn't sure if she could take it, this wasn't anything you just dealt with. It would plague you for the rest of your life, you'd wake up in cold sweats and nightmares, clawing at your skin to get the feeling of blood staining it off of you. How it would blanket over and choke you in your sleep.

No, this was a battle of will, and while he was strong, he couldn't be strong for her with this. Not directly.

All he could do was hold onto her and hope for the best.

"I know why you wanted to keep me from this," She gasped out, once again having the words spew out as quickly as possible.

Her chest ached, any breath she gained was heaved outwards, hurting her even more. She could feel her claws digging into Foxy's back, the vulpine continuing to hold her as comfortingly as possible as she inadvertently sliced his back open though his shirt.

He didn't bleed, thankfully. Her claws couldn't actually slice through his shirt, but it sure felt like it to him as he grunted with a stoic face; his resolve steeled to help see her through this.

They stood together on the deck for at least an hour, maybe more, as she bawled, muttering incoherently to the vulpine who just rubbed her back, a vain attempt at easing her anguish. Eventually, the onslaught of emotions that was vehemently pillaging her mind subsided, allowing her to loosen her grip around his chest, resting her head against him.

"Are you better?"

He reached out a bit further, grabbing her around her arm and hugging her from there, listening to her breaths as she caught her breath.

"Yeah, just… I didn't- I-I never thought it could be that painful," She finally choked out.

Foxy looked at her face, pulling up his opposite hand to wipe her cheeks which were absolutely soaked with tears. It even shocked him a bit, but he didn't let it show. She pressed her face against his hand; the feeling was a soothing alleviation.

"Come on, let's go lay down. It's been a long day," He told her, gently trailing her up to their room.

They passed through the entertainment room, the others giving them odd looks but he brushed them off, telling them not to worry, soon going upstairs and to their room where he let her lay down before laying down himself. It was mostly silent in the room, the sounds of gunshots being heard from down the hill, but it had grown negligible.

He looked at her, brushing some loose fur into place along the top of her head, before circling around and cupping underneath the side of her jaw. Her eyes were tightly closed, as if she were trying to hide them due to the tears, but he didn't mind it. Though, soon, he saw them unclinch, opening slightly for him to catch a view of her bright yellow eyes through her tears.

She opened her mouth for a second, then shut it, obviously contemplating saying something, until even she seemed shocked she said something.

"How did you… I don't know… Deal with it? I remember you were like- like this, how I am now, but… you grew past it. How," Mangle trailed on, shaking her head in confusion as she stared at him.

She watched intently as he grabbed one of her hands, pulling it up in front of his maw and holding it affectionately in his as he looked at them. They were stained and cut, now. Not near as bad as his, they could be cleaned and healed, but she'd shed blood. Something that would weigh on them forever. But he kissed her hand, holding his lips against her for a few seconds as he sighed deeply, then took a breath.

"I never truly grew past it, I never will… But you were there, and you helped me endure it, to soothe it whenever it got unbearable. Maybe not at first, but once I stopped being an asshole," Foxy chuckled as he recounted how they met. He was still angry with himself for grabbing her like he did, but he was able to look back on it and laugh now. He'd grown, and now, it was his turn to help her. He'd said it earlier, and he meant it, but now he had to act. "Once we became friends, you were there for me, a rock I could catch my grip on in the river of life. When we ran away you came with me. I don't know why you did, but I have a clue…"

He pulled back from her hands and looked at her directly, using one of his hands to cup her jaw once again, feeling her subconsciously lean into it once again.

"You wanted to protect me, not in a traditional sense, but you wanted to make sure that I was okay… We both want to protect each other, to help each other." He once again brought her hand up, looking at her, while having her focus on their intertwined extendages, showing her the new cuts she had. "When you get hurt, it hurts me. You are an extension of myself, just as much I am you, we're one in the same. We want to protect each other… I think that's what love is, honestly. A relationship built upon wanting the other to be safe, cared for, and helped. Built upon an unweathering trust."

He leaned forward and kissed her for a second as a grin creeped up her maw, soon pulling back. She stared at him for a few seconds, thinking about what he said before something entered her mind.

"When did you learn to speak like that?"

"I've had a lot of time to think," He told her with a sheepish grin, watching her features intently as her grin broadened to a smile.

She leaned forward, placing her head against him, listening to his chest and sighing as she heard the pump within him whirring. In response, he wrapped his arm around her head to pet her, leaning down and pressing his snout against her as well.

"Are you good, now?"

She once again sighed before speaking, "I don't feel horrible. But I'm not great… I guess I'm just enduring."

He rubbed her shoulder gently before kissing the top of her head again and pressing his forehead where he kissed her.

"Enduring is okay. It means you're surviving."

She looked down at his lap for a few seconds, contemplating everything that had happened, soon hearing a thought run through her head.

'I was wanting to help you, but instead… you are helping me.'

Gunshots sounded off from both directions as people rushed towards the other, the street was filled with bodies and rubble. The skies were darkened, a sickly gray hue filling them. Birds flew by through the chaos, seemingly unphased as androids below took up arms against each other. At that moment the sound of an engine was heard, wheels rolling out into the street as a large gun shot at buildings which were filled with resisting androids, fighting back against the soldiers with everything they had.

An IFV, infantry fighting vehicle, it was the standard for some militaries, designed to fight enemy infantry directly, a Stryker. It was considerably large as it rolled through the streets, the loud .50 caliber sounding off every once in a while as shells fell down onto the roof and onto the street. How the company could afford, more-or-less have the option to buy one, was questionable. But they had one.

Currently, it was moving towards the inner street of the eastern district, however, it was meeting stiff resistance. They weren't giving up their land just yet, and they weren't turning themselves in, but as they staged the assault, the IFV stopped a good 50 meters away from their position. Curious, they looked out to see what was going on, but were instantly met with gunfire as the Stryker unloaded soldiers and the .50 caliber locked onto their position.

The thing about a .50 caliber is that it's anti-material, and most buildings on the island weren't made with materials that would withstand it…

The rounds pierced the walls, hitting androids left and right as they attempted to find cover in vain. The rooms were cleared in seconds by the MG as it simply sprayed room-by-room, building-by-building.

It was at that moment a figure appeared on the roof beside it, a rifle in hand as he aimed at the machine gun and fired several rounds at it until it stopped firing.

"What the hell happened to the gun," One of the soldiers shouted, quickly looking around until they looked up and saw the last thing they wanted to ever see.

"Take this, ye traitorous dogs!"

Foxy pulled back a molotov, throwing it excessively hard as it flew through the air and soon came into contact with the IFV and lit aflame. Screaming followed as the engine overheated, fuel lines melted, and it blew to smithereens. The dust that kicked up went at least a hundred yards high, billowing through the air in waves as it began to settle, though slowly.

Death was disgusting, but… He had to admit that the sight of the dust cloud was beautifully terrifying. The sounds of cheering erupted from below, a few of the others who had hid with them walking out. Of course, it seems even the hound from all those months ago had stuck around.

"Damn, now that… That was something!" He shouted, looking over at the IFV which burned behind him, some random gunshots were also heard, other's shooting anyone who survived.

"Y'know, I'd have thought they'd have given up by now," Foxy said as he walked to the edge and looked out over the wartorn district.

The sight was something only seen in the video games he'd seen Jeremy play; houses were demolished or spewing out smoke, painting the sky with smog, screaming was also heard, wails of pain from people who'd been injured from the IFV or similar. The island had fallen far from the glimmer of hope it once was for him, but he believed they could fix it still. They could rebuild this.

"Alright, Yukiel, I'm heading out. Tell the others that me and Mags are moving south to help clear out the rest of the soldiers down that way. I'm going to keep a lookout for anyone that's in need of help, if I see anyone I'm sending them your way." He moved towards the hole in the roof which led to the attic, about to climb down as the hound walked over to him as well.

"Got it, I'll tell them that. You make sure you haul your ass there quickly, though."

He nodded to the dog, climbing into the attic and proceeding down and out the building, but not before telling the vixen to follow him. It was a swift jog through the district, the alleys breezing by as they continued onward. They had gotten Mangle a better gun, a 9mm PP-2000, where the company had gotten ahold of the weapon was once again questionable, at best, but it didn't matter to them at the moment. The main goal was to fight, and that's what they were going to do.

They heard gunshots growing louder as they ran, quick piercing sounds blasting every couple seconds, getting closer.

"Come on, we're almost there," Foxy shouted to her as he quickly sprinted towards a building ahead of them, soon sliding to cover as he hit the foundation of the building and aimed down the street.

Said street was empty, no one around for seemingly miles, a thankful sight as he ushered Mangle inside and followed in after her. Taking a moment to examine the room; he found that it was mostly trashed. Destroyed furniture, broken glass, and pieces of the ceiling coated the floor. This was sadly the sight for most of the border of the eastern district. While he wasn't sure if the people who had owned the building had died or abandoned it, he felt a bit of guilt from it, however, he didn't let it get to him.

Foxy walked through the building towards the other side of it, towards the next street, Mangle following close behind as they ducked through the windows and gaps. Eventually, they came to the end of the block, seeing the gunfight across the intersection where soldiers were trying to push up.

"Alright, looks like we have a good position to sneak up on them. A medium squad, nothing like that vehicle… Looks like they're running thin," He mumbled to her as he pulled up his ASR and walked to the left, trying to get behind the squad.

It didn't take long, either. Soon they were behind them, perched up in the second floor window of a building with a great view, maybe 50 yards away from them. He readied his rifle, taking aim and quickly hitting one of the soldiers who slunk down, black liquid leaking down onto the debris as the soldiers got into cover, pulling their dead comrade down as well.

One of them looked fed up with it, taking a grenade and pulling the pin, but was silenced quickly by him as he shot him in the chest, the grenade dropping and them all trying to find cover, but it had already been too late.

The squad was blown away in those few short seconds, pieces landing across the intersection as he stood up with the vixen and began walking down to meet up with the others. In those minutes of silence as they walked, they were on edge. It felt odd that they sent that tiny squad out here like that, but they must have been a probe… Though, why wouldn't they have fallen back?

There was the sound of whistling as they stopped, their hackles rose as the sound grew louder and soon they were knocked to their feet as the ground shook, the tremors rocking them to their cores as the building around them trembled, creaking and groaning with effort as it tried to stay in one piece.

Foxy rolled onto his side as he felt himself retch, throwing up anything in his stomach while he became nauseous.

It stopped all at once, the whistling was gone and replaced with silence once again as they both groaned from the vibrations which still reverberated in their ears. Soon he got to his hands and knees, looking for Mangle as he soon caught sight of her, curled up in a ball of herself on the ground to protect herself from whatever had happened.

Foxy crawled towards her, pulling himself past all the debris and dust as he rested a hand on her shoulder and shook her, she jumped, throwing her feet and arms out in a desperate attempt to move away as he instead held her in place and shook her to open her eyes.

"Open your eyes, Mags! Come on!"

He was shouting at her, now, and once she opened her eyes he pulled her to her feet, picking up her gun and handing it to her as he grabbed her free hand and ran, albeit awkwardly, but he ran. It felt like hours as they did so, the disorientation and nausea not helping an ounce, however, they made it to the other group.

When they arrived, they were met with open arms, but the arms were torn and battered, much like them. A lot of them were bandaged, or sewing clothes back together. Some of them even sewn themselves back together. One wolf had his feet wrapped with blackened cloth, sitting down with a rifle in his lap as he napped, one of his ears was torn up, the other filthy, and the rest of his body was pretty much the same.

Once again, he felt like back at the pizzeria, covered in dirt, blood, and everything in between. The both of them hadn't been back to Marionette's in a week, however, they still made no progress other than pushing the soldiers out of the eastern district… Though, they had people running to the eastern district every day. That's why they were truly out here.

People would run across the battlefields to get away from the occupied territory, and they would run through the battlefields to find them and point them towards safety. Even then, though, a lot of people couldn't make it through. He was concerned for Andy, the old man hadn't heard from them since before the compound, and Victoria hasn't been at the bar either. Nobody had heard from her after that night she closed at the bar..

Both of them lived in the western district, so it wasn't really a guess why.

"Ah, you two are here," Someone said as he turned over, looking to see a bull who was carrying a rifle. "It's a pleasure to have you both here."

"Thank you, but… What was that… that- whatever it was," Mangle asked as they both looked up at the bull.

"The whistles? We aren't really sure. Some people have said it's called artillery, but we haven't seen what it is," He replied, turning around as he motioned for them to follow. "We've been hiding in the basements and cellars of the houses, breaking and tunneling out between them so we can move a bit more freely, but it's a tedious process, and it's not healthy living conditions."

"How can we help out," Foxy asked him as he pulled out the notebook from the compound, flipping through the pages until he found a page covering the weapons and tactics of the soldiers, also a list of enemy positions in the southern district.

"Well, getting rid of whatever they have causing the bombs would help a lot. We've been stuck because of that near entirely. Also, just arming the locals over there. That would help as well," He expressed, sighing before continuing. "They've executed a lot of people, anyone who ran has said the same, if anyone gets any ideas, they shoot them."

Foxy sighed as he heard it, but it fueled him just a bit as well, the burning hatred towards whoever was behind this growing more as the bull continued on… He just couldn't fathom why they would do that. What was the point?

"Listen, whatever it is… We'll get it done," He told the bull, looking back down to the binder to see the listed positions.

It probably wouldn't help much by now, but knowing their tactics helped a lot more than he could admit. It's just that he was afraid they'd catch on, earlier with the IFV was an instance they didn't follow their tactics completely, they abandoned it and went to attack from range which would've worked if he hadn't been in the building there in-case. They needed to hit them quickly, because soon the novelty of their tactics would wear off, and they'd switch up from the norm.

They needed to gain more ground, and quickly, before they could fully catch on. Another thing he realized was that they must not have had that artillery anywhere else, meaning they still had the advantage at the moment. They could take it out in a single strike and prevent any more catastrophe.

He could remember when he was reading the binder days ago as well, this was one of their major sectors with pawns in it. It may sound like a bad idea, but if he and the vixen could simply make a repeat of the eastern district, they may be able to shift the tide.

'Hopefully…'