Back in Dimmsdale, A.J. woke up with a yawn and a stretch. For some strange reason, he had a good night's sleep. But, that's when he realized something. Lionel wasn't there. He didn't 'poof' in like he usually did and wished A.J. a good morning. A.J. ran downstairs, forgetting to change. A.J. didn't even see his parents. A.J. darted out of the room and outside of his house. He had to find Lionel and his parents. But, things went from strange to stranger as A.J. looked down at his body and saw that he was reasonably older...around 21 years of age the young genius thought. That's when he realized something. He had to be dreaming. That's when he saw Timmy riding a bicycle.
A.J. called, seeing him, "Timmy!"
Timmy stopped his bike and A.J. noticed that he looked slightly different. He had no bucked teeth and he was also 21 years old. And more importantly, it looked like he had been crying. A.J. perked up at this almost immediately. What was going on?
Timmy warned, crying a bit, "I have no time to talk, A.J."
A.J. was completely worried at this point as he asked, "Timmy... Buddy, what happened?"
That's when Timmy backed away from A.J. instantly. A.J. perked up at this, the feeling in the pit of his stomach growing.
He hissed, the tears falling freely, "Don't 'buddy' me, A.J. We haven't been friends since my sixteenth birthday."
A.J. froze. Timmy was mad, upset, and vulnerable all at the same time. What did he mean that they hadn't been friends since his sixteen birthday? They were only 12 years old right now. So why was this happening? He had to figure this out.
A.J. stated, "I just want to help."
Timmy shook his head and yelled, "All you want to do is show off how smart you are compared to me. Who got the dream job of being in astronomy? You did." A.J. was surprised at this. Timmy had a passion for astronomy? Timmy continued, "Who isn't stuck in fifth grade? You aren't. Who didn't lose the only family that they ever had today? Let me tell you, 'buddy', it wasn't you!"
A.J. felt awful right now. He didn't know what was going on.
He asked, "Who did you lose today?"
Timmy yelled, "Everything! Everything that ever meant the world to me. All because of a stroke! All because of a..."
That's when Timmy broke down and started to cry…really cry. A.J. was heartbroken at this. He had somehow become his older self from that future 'cross time' that Lionel had shown him. In that timeline, Timmy was stuck in the fifth grade, trying to keep his fairies. A.J. and Chester didn't even stick around. There was no one around, except for Anna. They all left him behind in fifth grade. But, who was Timmy talking about and where was Lionel? A.J. decided to take a chance. He had nothing to lose.
A.J. asked, "Timmy, what about Lionel? And who did you lose today?"
Timmy looked up at him, tears rolling down his cheeks. He was about to say something that A.J. would soon never forget.
Timmy answered, chocking on his tears, "I don't know what you're trying to do. And I'm not going to play that game. I'm not going to let you set me up and then smack me down. Alex Jason Johnson Jr., for all I know, our friendship ended on my sixteenth birthday. And you're not going to get me while I'm already down. Oh, no. I already got that from my parents, Chester, and I don't need it from you. My only true friend is Anna. She never betrayed me. And I had another true friend but thanks to stroke…" Timmy turned away from A.J. and continued to cry. Through his tears; Timmy added, "Go and live your dream that I, an average kid, could never have. After all, you are a genius."
With that, Timmy started to pedal away but A.J. stopped him.
A.J. huffed, "Timmy, tell me what you lost."
Timmy spat, "Like you care that I lost Doc!"
A.J. let go of Timmy's bike realizing on how hurt he was and he also realized another thing. In this horrible so-called 'future' he lost the truest family member of all….to a stroke. Timmy pedaled off with tears in his eyes. A.J. was choking back tears when he saw Chester coming up to him.
Chester asked, "A.J.? What was that about?"
A.J. looked at him and answered, "I don't know, Chester..."
That's when Chester said something A.J. wasn't expecting.
He stated, "You and I both know he isn't worth our breath."
A.J. turned to him and huffed, "What are you talking about?! He's our best friend, Chester! He needs us!"
Chester pointed out, "Are you kidding me? Timmy Turner has been acting like a kid ever since he learned he was being held back in the fifth grade the very first time. He's trying to hang onto something. That something, whatever it is, sure is pathetic."
A.J. hissed, "How dare you! He is our friend, he needs us."
Chester rolled his eyes as he replied, "Listen, you can do a charity case on him if you want to. But believe me, Timmy Kuhn isn't worth saving."
A.J. immediately perked up at this and corrected, "Turner."
Chester shook his head and re-corrected, "Kuhn. A.J., he's gone off the deep end so badly that he invented the fact that he was adopted by a man and woman named Ricky and Ranee Kuhn. Apparently, this couple has one child - Timmy's older sister - Amie."
A.J. couldn't move for a second as he felt a presence behind him. He shivered, turning around. When he saw a woman there, he saw that he was completely alone. Just him and this girl. This girl looked menacing, licking her lips. Her hands started to glow of a blue light, smirking at him. A.J. saw this, immediately paling.
She asked, "A.J. Johnson, that's your name, isn't it?"
A.J. stammered, "Y - yes...?"
She smirked as she stated, "My name is Mabel Gleeful, from Gleeful Falls. And what you just saw wasn't a nightmare, it was a crosstime."
A.J. replied, stammering still, "Y - yeah, I already came to that conclusion..."
Mabel suavely responded, "Aren't you the smart little boy...?" She walked over to A.J., whom kept shaking. She smirked and added, "Wow, you are really afraid of me. I like you already..."
A.J. told her, "L - leave me alone!"
Mabel laughed as she commented, "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm only here to scare you and your friend." With that, she snapped her fingers. With a flash of blue light, Chester appeared, in chains. She added, "Isn't that right, Chester?"
Chester whimpered, "Let me go!"
A.J. gasped, "Chester!"
Chester warned, "A.J., be careful! She's powerful!"
A.J. turned to Mabel and stated, "Look, I don't know why you are here in my nightmare but you should leave."
Mabel laughed again as she replied, "Nightmare Ridge is a second home to my brother and I. We're not leaving. We have our orders from Bill Cipher."
A.J. perked up and asked, "Who's Bill Cipher?"
Mabel eyed him as she answered, "Of course you wouldn't know him. Your pink hated friend does." A.J. looked surprised as did Chester. She added, "It doesn't surprise me that you two don't know him."
Chester huffed, "Just let us go! We aren't even the Chosen One!"
A.J. added, "And we won't let you hurt Timmy Turner!"
Mabel laughed evilly as she explained, "The Chosen One of the fairies is a threat, yes. Especially since he is in Kids Network Studios with Luigi and Amie."
Chester questioned, "Luigi Mario? He's real?"
Mabel explained, "Actually, it's Luigi Manfredi. And yeah, he's real. Just like the island, N. Sanity Isle."
A.J. was in awe and asked, "And Amie is real too?"
Mabel rolled her eyes as she huffed, "Geese, you two are really dense, aren't you? Yes, she is real! She's Butterfly, Bill's toughest adversary."
"Hey kid, do me a favor. Whomever you are, get out. Get out right now. I am going to die because it is my time, ya know? I want to die to help these animantronics...these kids. I'm hoping my sacrifice won't be in vein. I hope that by dying here, they won't get out into our world. Cause if they do, we can expect hell breaking loose. And I don't want that to happen. I've lived my life to the fullest. I have no regrets, kid. And you know what, you shouldn't either. I don't want anyone else taking my place. Let me die and let those that follow get out fast before it all ends too quick. I wouldn't want to wish this job on anyone. Not even Michael Afton. That kid...that kid is just trying too damn hard to prove a madman is sane. And I know he is trying, especially after his brother's and sister's death. You can lead a camel to water but you can't make him drink. So I'll see you on the flipside, kid. This is my last ride...forever."
The recording stopped there, the tape rather worn down by this time. Michael "Mike" David Schmidt cried, his shoulders shaking. He had been working at this old pizzeria, Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Sure, he had heard that the place was bad. Mainly because kids have gone missing around the place. He looked over at his family photo on the coffee table, the tears in his eyes. It was from when he was younger. In the photo was a man, a young girl, a teenage boy, and a young boy. Mike sobbed harder. He was trying to avoid the fridge, as it was packed with beers that Bill Alana had bought him.
Bill Alana was the new CEO of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza after Henry Cecal was found dead in his home, years ago. Bill was in his 50s, he has salt and pepper hair, brown eyes, wearing a black dress jacket, a white undershirt, a red tie, black dress pants, and black dress shoes.
He remembered Bill telling him one time, "Sure, Henry and I often didn't see eye to eye but why did he have to kill himself? Sure, Sammy wasn't being found but everyone was trying their hardest. Especially William. He was trying even harder than Joe was."
Mike still didn't know who Joe was, but he must've been important. Every time Bill had mentioned the mysterious Joe, he took a swig out of his secret stash. Mike took a look at the mysterious key that he had gotten. He frowned, still curious by it.
His thoughts were broken when he heard a knock at the door. He stashed the key in his pocket, getting up from the couch.
He groaned, "Yeah, I'm comin'." He wiped his eyes quickly as he opened the door. There, was Maya Richards. Maya was the same age of Mike. She had long curly blonde hair, brown eyes, wearing a short sleeved purple butterfly shirt, black skirt, white stockings, and white heels. He greeted, glumly, "Hey Maya."
She decided to cut to the case and stated, "Izzy said that you were in a bad way."
Mike complained, "She doesn't know when to keep quiet..."
Isabella "Izzy" McHaels was one of Mike's best friends. Mike loved hanging out with both girls during college. However, he only saw Izzy as a little sister. Izzy was the same age of them. She has long golden hair, hazel eyes, wearing a short sleeved simple purple dress, white stockings, pink heels, and a white was always the one liked more.
Maya asked, sounding worried, "Can I come in?"
Mike shrugged his shoulders and answered, "It's a free country."
Maya entered the apartment, Mike closing the door behind him. Maya sat on the couch, seeing the family photo on the coffee table. She was about to pick it up when Mike put it down, face first.
She complained, "Oh come on, Mike... Your family can't be that bad."
Mike stated, stone faced, "Believe me, it is bad."
Maya waved her hands in defeat as she replied, "Okay, okay! I give."
Mike breathed a small sigh of relief. That was way too close. He didn't want anyone knowing the truth. Especially his friends. That's when Maya saw the tape. Her face softened as she took it carefully. She placed the object into the palm of her hand, as if it was the most important thing in the world. He knew what she was thinking.
He whispered, "Phone Guy..."
Maya nodded slowly and replied, "I know... This is the last tape Bill had."
Mike fought back tears, trembling a bit. It was true that the mysterious man on the phone had saved his life. Mike was hoping that if he made it through the week, he would go to Bill and ask who Phone Guy was. Sadly, it wasn't meant to be.
He grumbled lowly, "That guy even didn't wish this job on Michael Afton."
Maya asked, "William's oldest son?" That question earned her a nod. She sighed as she added, "That Phone Guy sure is a saint."
Mike raised an eyebrow and questioned, "What makes you say that?"
Maya sat up from the couch a bit and answered, "Well, if you think about it, William Afton is the child murderer. He had been caught in the backroom. He knew how the animantronics worked. He even had secret added details in the blueprints for the animantronics in Circus Baby's Rentals and Entertainment."
Mike started to say, "I know but..."
Maya added, "And another thing. Why did he skip town if he was supposedly innocent? It doesn't make a lick of sense. And why come back to town completely skinny and wrinkled?"
Mike picked up on this and asked, "Wait. Back up. William Afton is in town?"
Maya confirmed, "Yeah, going by the name of Dave. He's out at the cheesy motel outside of town." Mike quickly got to his feet, grabbing his coat. This surprised Maya, more than she expected. She asked, worried, "Where are you going?!"
Mike zipped up his coat, stroking her cheek and answered, "You just wait here, okay? I'll be right back."
With that, Mike walked out the door. He didn't bother to lock the door but he went straight to his car. He immediately started it up, driving off. In his hast, he had forgotten that he left the big part of his secret just laying on the coffee table. Maya saw her chance, taking up the photo. That's when she saw the family and gasped.
She breathed, "Wait... This is William Afton and his family... What's Mike doing with it...?" That's when she realized something big. She whispered, in shock, "Oh my God."
That's when she dropped the picture. The picture shattered into four pieces. One piece for the little boy (Steven), one for the little girl (Lily), one for the teenage boy (Michael), and one for William Afton himself.
Wishmaker1028: Michael Schmidt and Michael Afton are the same person in this universe. This chapter and the next one were borrowed from "Storm Inside" and changed to fit this story. So I hope to not only expand on this old idea but enjoy it too. Also A.J. and Chester in deep trouble! Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!