Greeting: Today, I realized that we might get over 100 chapters on this one. If not, it's going to be close.
Anyway, Freddy's is secure but Storm Jr. is still possessed by a beast witch. Let's see what happens!
( The Shadow blade. Backstage of Freddy's)
The request, made by Marionette and Freddy, had been heard. The sword was lying there on a shelf like any other inanimate object.
There were other objects, just like it, around it. Using only one's eyes, there was no difference between the sword and everything, around it.
To see its true self, one was required to go deeper.
It was active and stirred. The sword hadn't been like that in centuries.
The last time had been during the last battle. When Ornica had lunged at Black but failed due to her feelings for him.
The sword had lost grip of its queen and that connection hadn't come back in a long time.
Guarded by the stony animatronics of ancient times, it had waited for a signal from above.
The world had been magically stable for such a long time, it hadn't been needed.
The coming of the Apocalypse witch had started it up again.
The current world was unstable and all magic had fallen dark. Everyone felt it in their own way but the sword knew its true meaning.
Its time had come once again.
Still, it was lying there on the shelf with no signs of energy or consciousness. The backstage was silent with some faint noises coming from the outside.
Then suddenly, the curtains moved aside and a wolf snout peeked in.
" Storm Jr. We shouldn't be here. I don't like this", Thunder said behind the curtains.
Storm Jr. walked in and grabbed his hand.
" Aren't you interested, Thunder? I can't imagine what is so special about this sword", she brought him inside.
Thunder felt something but he was frightened. The sword wasn't a toy.
Marionette had been serious about no one entering the backstage.
Storm Jr. smiled at him and glanced at the shelf.
" It looks beautiful, doesn't it? Somebody would kill for this", she smiled at the sword.
" Rachel claimed it to be dangerous. You heard what happened to Scarlett", Thunder reminded her.
Storm Jr. was about to touch the sword but then she pulled her hand back.
" We could try, you know. You touch it. Something tells me you'd love it", Storm Jr.'s voice changed a bit.
Thunder backed off.
" No! I don't want to get hurt. Why don't you try it first? It was your idea", Thunder asked her.
Storm Jr. glanced at the sword swiftly.
" The Shadow blade reacts to beasts! It desires to hurt them", Marionette had told some animatronics.
Storm Jr. just wanted Thunder to touch it. She knew that the sword was the enemy of her kind.
" Scardy cat. You have to be brave. I want to test it", she smiled jokingly.
When Thunder seemed still scared, she got an idea.
" It only reacts to beast witches. Neither of us have anything to do with them so it won't hurt us", she told him.
Storm Jr. reached for the sword but didn't touch it. There was a gap between the sword and her palm.
She could still feel it react to the presence of her hand.
" See?", she pulled her hand away.
Thunder thought that she had touched it and nothing had happened.
" I guess I could. But Marionette said never to...", Thunder started.
" Forget him. We are young, we need to break the rules a bit", Storm Jr. grinned and then smiled.
Thunder thought that he might as well touch it a tiny bit.
He had no idea of why Storm Jr. wanted him to do it but he knew she wouldn't stop talking about it.
" Okay then. I'll touch it. The sword is beautiful and after all, just that, a sword", Thunder replied to her.
" That's the spirit", Storm Jr. smiled joyfully.
She would have wanted to stop being a wolf and tell Jenner who they were. If she did that, it may not actually give Jenner his memory back.
She would compromise herself in that case. She just had to manipulate Thunder into doing things.
He liked Storm Jr.'s body and the beast was pretending to be her very well.
Thunder went closer to the sword with uncertainty in his eyes.
The brown wolf was visibly shaking. He was afraid of the sword and his hand refused to get near it.
He reached out to touch it and Storm Jr. was getting excited behind him.
Thunder felt his connection with the sword but didn't know what it was right then. He thought it was fear but it wasn't.
He put his hand onto the sword and grabbed it from the shelf. He wanted Storm Jr. to see how brave he was.
He was holding the Shadow blade and it felt him. Thunder's soul was corrupted, Leslie was absent.
The sword was stirred up by the hand and Thunder felt it as warmth.
The sword was in the hand of its queen, there was no doubt about it. Thunder was about to gasp when he felt the power.
Then the sword found his soul and saw no signs of Ornica. Leslie's soul was there but the true Ornica, Leslie himself, wasn't.
The sword calmed down and became just an object in Thunder's hand.
" Can you feel..something?", Storm Jr. asked him.
Thunder swung the sword around a few times and put it down again.
" I don't. It was just a sword as I said", Thunder smiled proudly.
Jenner was showing his old self at that moment. He thought Storm Jr. was amazed by his courage.
Truth was that she had been shocked by the fact that nothing had happened. The sword hadn't accepted Jenner even though he had Leslie's soul.
The sword was too smart for him. The new Storm Jr. got over it and focused on smiling like the real Storm Jr. would.
" You are so brave, I knew it", she giggled and went closer.
Before she knew it, she kissed Thunder on the cheek. She regretted it instantly.
As soon as Jenner woke up, he would kill her soul for kissing him with her dirty lips.
Thunder blushed and tried to hide it.
Storm Jr. moved on and patted him on the back.
" I love brave wolves", she told him.
They looked at one another and stopped in place.
" You are very friendly, Storm Jr. Thank you", Thunder thanked her.
" You have seen nothing yet", she giggled at him.
" Excuse me", Harriet said beside them.
Both wolves looked at her and got further away from each other.
" Hi, Harriet. Are you without Julisa?", Thunder asked her.
Julisa came through the curtains.
" I told you not to come to the other side", Julisa told her.
" I'm sorry", Harriet apologized.
" Have you two girls been spying on us? That's naughty", Storm Jr. petted Harriet's head.
" And you two are trespassing. Marionette said that no one can come here", Julisa was serious.
Thunder looked down.
" We just wanted to see the sword. You two don't have to worry about us", Storm Jr. smiled kindly.
She leaned forward and kissed them on the cheeks.
Julisa knew she would have to pay attention to Storm Jr. The kiss was way too long for Storm Jr.
" Are you kissing us so we would be happy and not tell Marionette about this?", Harriet asked her.
Storm Jr. smiled.
" Marionette knows already. He always does", she chuckled.
Thunder came closer.
" We were just curious. But we're finished now. Let's go girls", he told them.
Harriet took Thunder's hand and they walked out together cutely. Julisa glanced at Storm Jr. who was looking at the sword.
" Let's go", Julisa beckoned her to come.
Storm Jr. was woken up from her daydreams.
" Okay. Let's go", she began to walk towards Julisa.
The little girl walked out but Storm Jr. stopped by the curtains.
She was curious for real now. She wanted to touch the sword just to see what it would do.
She couldn't resist it one little bit.
She simply had to at least try.
Storm Jr. walked back to the sword, it was calling for her.
" Come to mama. I want you", she smiled wickedly.
Her fear drained away quickly as she grabbed the sword and held it in her hand.
Storm Jr. felt it latch onto her and it refused to let go.
" I know what you are, Marianne. You are no Storm Jr. You are no wolf", the sword told her and she quickly put it back.
She was shocked by it but not as much as she probably should have.
The sword had said her real name. She had almost forgotten it inside the Joy of creation.
She had lost her individuality and connection with her mind. The sword was powerful and it knew what she was.
Storm Jr. shook her head and looked angry.
" I can't touch it. Annoying", she grinned angrily.
Before Julisa had time to come back into the room, Storm Jr. came out.
Julisa had been just about to walk inside when the wolf came out.
" What were you doing in there?", Julisa asked her as she came out.
" I was just looking at the sword. It really traps you once you look at it", was her answer.
Storm Jr. went to a couch and sat down. Julisa went to Harriet.
Thunder was on Harriet's right side and Julisa was on the left. Harriet loved holding hands with the animatronics.
She was comforted by such a simple act.
Julisa tapped her left shoulder and got closer. Harriet didn't like it but Julisa was trustworthy.
" Do you like Storm Jr.?", Julisa whispered into her ear.
" Of course I do. Ever since Thunder came she has been acting differently but that's alright. He's really cute", Harriet leaned towards Thunder's side.
He rubbed her head without knowing why she did that. Thunder didn't listen to what the girls were saying.
" She isn't okay. Storm Jr. isn't like that normally. She had a boyfriend but he went away.
Storm Jr. is weird now and I don't trust her", Julisa whispered into Harriet's ear.
Harriet got scared and didn't trust Storm Jr. anymore. Julisa was older and older children always knew better than Harriet.
She wished she could trust Thunder at least. The brown wolf was kind and happy most of the time.
Harriet liked him, Bonnie and Springtrap.
As long as she could trust them, she wouldn't freak out.
" What do you suggest I do, Julisa?", Harriet asked her.
Julisa hadn't thought about that.
" Keep your eye on her. Don't let her notice that you don't trust her.
If she does something scary or weird, we must tell Freddy, Foxy or Marionette", Julisa told her.
" I don't want to be near Foxy. I know it was an accident but I don't want to tell him. Can I tell Bonnie instead? She is friendly and sweet", Harriet inquired.
Julisa thought about it.
" Okay. I trust Bonnie. But you can tell Freddy or Marionette if she isn't around. Marionette is old and wise.
I also trust Freddy because he is Bonnie's boyfriend", she answered.
" How do you know for sure?", Harriet asked Julisa.
" They have kissed each other on the lips. Long and loud", Julisa lowered her voice even more.
Harriet made a sound of disgust and stuck her tongue out.
That made both girls giggle. Harriet liked that more than talking about Storm Jr.'s problems.
She couldn't have cared less about it. When Julisa spoke of it, she was serious and doubtful.
Just like when Harriet had been rescued. She liked the giggling Julisa more, not the serious Julisa.
Harriet did the same expression again and Julisa copied her. Girls forgot what they had been talking about for a while.
Thunder looked at them and chuckled.
Springtrap would have been happy to see that. Julisa trusted Harriet more than she dared to admit.
Julisa could have let anyone know about her concerns but she chose Harriet before the others.
They could find out about Storm Jr.'s problems and what had changed her.
Their advantage was that Storm Jr. would never consider little children a threat.
She was more focused on Marionette's ever-present mind. The good forces in the universe still had at least one trick up their sleeve.
No beast witch would have guessed that but it was true.
Julisa and Harriet were giggling as Thunder watched them.
Toy bonnie walked past them as she was making her way to Mr. Fazbear's office.
" What's making the girls so giggly today?", she asked, smiling at them.
Harriet showed her the expression. She had her other eye closed and her tongue was out.
Toy bonnie made the same face at Thunder and the girls giggled again.
Thunder smiled and then chuckled himself as well.
Toy bonnie understood why the girls had so much fun. The girls also had a connection between them now.
They were on a mission to find out what was wrong with Storm Jr. That mission of theirs would deepen their friendship.
There certainly were better ways to do so.
If only Julisa had known the truth or even how severe it was.
Toy bonnie played with the girls for a while before moving on.
After that, Thunder left Julisa and Harriet into Springtrap's capable hands.
They hadn't finished the conversation completely but that was how little girls behaved.
They could get distracted by something and forget about their conversation for a while.
Harriet was getting a tiny bit tired after playing for a while. She hadn't slept in a long time.
Julisa had started drawing people and buildings and Springtrap commented them every now and then.
Storm Jr. was brought up once Springtrap saw her walking by.
Harriet was trying to play with dolls but everyone saw how tired she was.
Storm Jr. noticed her as she yawned, she was lying down on a carpet.
Springtrap was right next to Harriet.
" I think someone might be tired. If I was you, Springtrap, I'd take her to bed", Storm Jr. stopped and told Springtrap.
The golden bunny tickled Harriet's cheek with his finger.
" I am needed here right now. She likes to sleep in the nap room but there are no animatronics in there now", Springtrap told Storm Jr.
Harriet couldn't hide that she was a bit afraid of Storm Jr.
No wonder after Julisa's frightening speech.
" I could go there. I bet Harriet isn't the only one, tired right now. I can put them to sleep", suggested Storm Jr.
Harriet shot up from the carpet and seemed reluctant to go.
" I can stay here. I don't need to go there with you", she told Storm Jr.
Harriet was scared to be in a dark room with no other animatronics than Storm Jr.
Even being in there with no animatronics at all would have been better. Julisa heard her and was relieved that Harriet hadn't told Storm Jr. everything.
Storm Jr. was suspicious since Harriet should have loved her.
" Are you sure, Harriet darling? You are yawning and closing your eyes all the time. It's been a long time since you slept.
And Rachel's arrival was quite scary. You are tuckered out", Storm Jr. leaned towards her.
Harriet didn't want to sleep with Storm Jr.
Julisa had brought her inherent uncertainty out.
" I want to stay here with Julisa and Springtrap", Harriet leaned backwards, away from Storm Jr.
Julisa stopped drawing and came to them.
" She can sleep here if she is indeed tired", Julisa tried to make Storm Jr. give in.
If Storm Jr. insisted enough, Harriet would freak out eventually and tell her the truth.
" Nonsense. It's too noisy and bright in here. Come on, Harriet. I'm just as good of a guardian as any of the others", Storm Jr. told her.
Harriet glanced at Julisa.
" What do I do?", her gaze asked Julisa.
" I have no idea", Julisa's gaze answered her.
Storm Jr. was getting suspicious of Harriet, she couldn't stay calm. Harriet was just a young child.
Maybe Julisa had given her more than she could handle.
" Come on, Harriet. It's me! Storm Jr. I'm your friendly wolf!", Storm Jr. said more loudly.
It sounded a tiny bit angry, fierce and threatening.
Springtrap saved the situation, Harriet was close to saying something bad.
" Quiet down, Storm Jr. You are scaring her. If Harriet doesn't want that, don't insist.
I know you only want what's best for them but forcing them to sleep with you isn't how to do that. So let it go", he told Storm Jr.
Springtrap was serious but gentle. Storm Jr. hid her own anger.
" Are you giving me orders, slave? You don't tell me what to do. I could rip you in half", she thought in her head but smiled.
" Okay. You are right. I'm sorry, Harriet. I don't want to force you into sleeping with me.
I just thought it would have made you happy", Storm Jr. said to Harriet.
She nudged her gently with her own snout. Harriet sighed a bit when Storm Jr. walked away.
She went to see if the others wanted to come sleep with her. Springtrap let out a whimper.
" Poor Storm Jr. She would have loved to sleep with you, Harriet. I'm sorry that I don't have time to come to the nap room right now", Springtrap told Harriet.
He thought that Harriet wanted to sleep with him specifically.
" It's okay. I can sleep with someone as long as it's not Storm Jr.", Harriet told him.
That made Springtrap raise his eyebrows.
" What? I thought you loved Storm Jr. She is so nice and sweet", Springtrap asked her.
" She isn't. She is creepy and behaves weirdly. Julisa said so", Harriet insisted.
Julisa looked at the floor.
" What did you say, Julisa? Is that true? Did you say scary stuff like that to our little Harriet?", Springtrap glanced at her with a shocked face.
Julisa opened her mouth.
" Storm Jr. has been acting weirdly. I get creeped out when I look at her. Like when I saw Harriet the first time.
That woman, inside her..", Julisa looked at him.
Harriet shivered at the thought of the woman. Springtrap hugged and kissed her.
" It's okay. That woman can't hurt you anymore", Springtrap held her for a second.
" What about her, Julisa?", then he glanced back at Julisa.
" I think I felt that woman when Harriet came. Now Storm Jr. gives me that same feeling.
I don't know where it comes from but I feel it", explained Julisa while her breathing got faster.
Springtrap got worried.
" Are you sure it's her? She has been different but not that different", Springtrap knelt down and petted Julisa's hair.
" I can feel it. She has a secret. She knows something", Julisa told him.
Springtrap was sympathetic and gentle.
" If there is something wrong with her, we will fix it", he nodded to her, smiling.
Julisa wasn't sure but right then she felt something around her. It was faint but her soul heard it.
" That's right! She isn't me! Get me out of here! She will hurt you if you don't release me!", it shouted from a far away place.
Julisa wasn't sure if she had heard it or if it had been in her head.
Springtrap didn't think that Storm Jr. had anything wrong with her but Julisa seemed to think so.
He couldn't tell someone like Storm or Fang about it because they might do something foolish.
On the other hand, Springtrap was scared that Julisa may get into trouble.
The woman, inside Harriet, hadn't been friendly.
If she had something to do with it, Julisa and Harriet would be in danger.
Unlike Julisa, Springtrap wanted to tell someone about it. They needed to act.
The animatronics had to know but Springtrap didn't want to freak everyone out in case he was wrong.
He hugged Julisa and Harriet.
" Don't worry, girls. We will solve this and everything will be fine. You can trust me", he told them and meant what he said.
Farewell: The beast is losing the fight. If she doesn't act quickly, she will fail her master.
For our sake, I hope she will. THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE IS TO WRITE.
