Like a doomed prisoner, you slowly move into Frederick's office. Your mind races with ways to word your pleading to let you stay; how you won't go near Foxy again and you would try to make it up to him and the rest of the people here. The portly man sits on a beautifully polished mahogany chair (that sags with a slight creak) and he gives a sigh. One hand is lifted up to massage his brow as if he is deep in thought about what has happened. You wait silently like a naughty school kid. If you speak out of turn you could end up heading home with no pay at all.
After several long moments, Frederick turns as much as he can to look at you. The disappointment in his eyes stings you a little. "We've not had a meltdown like that for a couple of months," He says in a voice which is oddly quiet, "I told you to make sure you were never alone with him."
"But sir, he was there when I came out from the store." You plea as respectfully as you could.
"Still. You knew what I had said to you yesterday." He reiterates and you brace yourself for those three horrible words, eyes looking at your feet. "But-" You look up hopefully. "Foxy did seem to really like you. I've never seen him that friendly to a new colleague."
'I think you and I have different definitions of friendly.' You say in your head yet nod to Frederick.
"So long as you make things up to Foxy somehow and continue to work hard and manage to keep your temper in check…you can stay." He says before opening a drawer and reaching inside for some papers.
"Thanks so much Mr. Fazbear. I'm really grateful." You express, taking a step toward him.
"Well, I know coming by jobs is tough nowadays and you seem to fit in well here. But don't take my generosity for granted." He warns before indicating to the papers. "Here is the script we mostly use for the shows. The parts where you have to set off which fireworks and when are listed on the sides."
Studying the very beautiful joined handwriting, you give a nod and ask "What do I use to set them off?"
"There's some stairs behind the purple curtain by Bonnie's room. Head up there and you should come to a black room with a thin window and a bunch of fancy control boxes. You only need the one that says Fireworks, naturally." Frederick explains. "Take the script with you and just make sure you pay attention to the performances as you'll be given visual and audio cues. The performances will be starting shortly so I'd better be getting ready and you give yourself some time to look over the scripts so you're prepared."
"No problem." You say, picking up the papers and heading up the stairs as directed.
In the dull room, you find a stiff, chipped chair and an old, mouldy smelling cushion. You try your best to read the lettering on the sides. You can only just make out faint white writing of "Fireworks" on the side of the panel so you pull the chair up and sit down on the cushion where a hideous waft of mustiness hits you as air expels from it. With a gag you pull the chain on a mystery switch and an almost dying bulb flickers into life providing only the slightest extra bit of light for you to read the script. Quite easily from here, you can see the performance ring down below where Bonnie was busy getting herself warmed up and stretched for her performance. She was amazingly limber and could near fold herself in half backwards! You weren't even sure a human could bend that much.
After a few minutes Chica and Frederick (now dressed in his bright red coat tail jacket and pinstriped trousers) push out a heavy looking float with mysterious figures hidden underneath a thick velvet sheet. The figures underneath seemed to be as tall as Frederick but not all the same shape. You wonder if they are some kind of robots for the show.
Chica and Bonnie share a few words which you can't make out but you see Bonnie give a sneer and flick back her wavy purple hair. Chica shakes her head sadly in response which makes you think they might be talking about what happened with Foxy earlier. You feel a sting of embarrassment yet have to accept that stories will spread through the tiny cast like wildfire. Though by looking at Bonnie's face she really isn't that bothered about Foxy. You turn your attention back to the script and scan over what audio or visual clues you need to watch out for to keep the show running smoothly and attempt to memorise their order. "View. Red button. Hand in air. Purple. Chica. Blue. Fire. That one…," You mumble, acting out gestures that will be made so that it stays in your mind. It doesn't take you long to have them mostly correct and with the script it would make it a lot easier. The control panel next to you seemed to hum into life suddenly and the lights beyond your little office dimmed. A small thrill of excitement ran through you as you assumed it meant the show was starting soon. It was surprising how dark it was despite being late morning. Then vague shapes lead a trail through the middle of the ring. Squinting, you just manage to make out Bonnie and Chica leading several people dressed as clowns. 'No, wait, they said they used robots,' You told yourself as you scowled down at the machines as they seemed to move in an almost human-like manner. There was no jerking or twitching like you'd see from most publicly used robots. And all of them had every possible inch of skin covered by their outfits, wigs or masks. And the masks, what you could make out anyway, seemed very disconcerting. Sure, they all had half grey, half white masks with smiles and purple streaks coming from their eyes but they were anything but inviting. It was unclear how many there were. Twenty? Thirty? All the Clown-bots seemed to have become all one mass and merge into one through the murky centre ring. Bonnie and Chica paused to give instructions to them and pointing in the directions to take and what to do. A couple of them were pushing carts with candy floss machines or popcorn makers attached. Others were holding bags of items such as flashing wands, swords or whatever other novelty item a child might like to have bought. Bonnie pulled one out to inspect it and check that it did indeed light up before pointing the clowns in the direction they needed to go.
"Clowns to your performance zones." Chica bellowed so loud you could hear her. "Await your cues before proceeding with acts!"
En mass the clown-bots turned to place themselves either around the ring or return to the backstage area. You can hear their feet shuffling the ground and you swear you could hear one of them coming up the stairs. If there was one thing you did not want it was to be in a room with one of these creepy robots. Worse, you realise the door is still open and there is a flickering light outside. Your skin prickles at the thought of seeing a clown face suddenly appear in the doorway and you hastily jump and rush to shut the door, fumbling with the lock to get it fully shut. You return to your seat but turn it so that you can keep an eye on the door.
The lighting control gives another hum and the seats surrounding the ring are lit up. They are simple wooden benches but could easily hold a large crowd. Surely enough, guests to the circus begin to arrive with a buzz of excited chatter. Families with young children. Older couples who haven't been to a circus in years.
Teens who think that this entire thing will probably be lame. The stalls quickly fill up. It's roughly another twenty minutes before yet another control panel sparks into life, making you almost fall off your chair in fright. "Ladies and Gentlemen," A pre-recorded voice announced from the speakers, "The show will start in 5 minutes. Please take your seats and turn any communications equipment off as it may interfere with the animatronics used throughout our performances. Anyone caught using these devices will be asked to leave the premises immediately. We thank you for your co-operation."
You frown at the message. It sounded a little overly strict for an audience because there was always that one person in the theatre who was checking messages or some social media site but they were never evicted just for the occasional use. 'Frederick was strict about it on the phone to me too,' You remind yourself, 'Why should it be any different for guests?'
There were murmurs arising from the audience as they switched off their items before waiting for the show to start. Suddenly the lights panel buzzed loudly as it seemed to struggle with the next command. The audience was swamped in darkness and there was the slightest nervous whispers in the dark before a bright spotlight shone down on the previously covered float. You could only see the back of them but there were three bulky, yet ugly animatronics. They were stained all over with unknown substances and moved in an unnerving jerky fashion-not at all like the smooth motion of the clown-bots. From the shape of them you could see one appeared to be a purple rabbit holding a guitar, another you're assumed was a chicken or duck holding a cupcake on a plate and at the front of both of them was a bulky brown bear wearing a top hat. "Is this why they have those weird animal ears?" You asked yourself quietly before the animatronics begin to sing to the tune of Carmen Overture:
We're here for five nights, five nights on-ly;
So come and sit. Be filled with glee.
We have so many treats in store for you;
Make sure you get a good view!"
Halfway through the song you realise that this is your first cue and on time you press the correct button. Fireworks explode around the animatronics and everyone has to cover their eyes for a split second before you see that Frederick, Bonnie and Chica have swapped places with their respective model.
"Welcome one and all to Freddy Fazbear's Family Entertainment Circus!" Frederick announces loudly which is met with a loud and excited cheer from the crowd. "I am Freddy Fazbear himself and we have a wonderful show for you today, yes indeed. We have our very own Bonnie to perform the most wonderful and amazing stunts and horse riding.-" Bonnie waved at the crowd and bowed. –"And we also have our fierce fire breathing Chica to give a stunning display of fire breathing as well as a favourite throughout all of the towns we have travelled, Foxy the Animal Tamer."
There was a surprisingly loud cheer and you had no idea Foxy was so popular-or that he was able to go on after that episode earlier. You also noticed that even on the stage where the circus crew once stood there was no space for Foxy's animatronic either; if he had one. It was weird as he seemed like such a favourite.
As the performance began properly, Frederick called for the creepy clown-bots to come and entertain the audience with him as he performed some pretty spectacular magic tricks. He cut one in half with a huge saw, then made one disappear and suddenly reappear at the peak of the big top on the acrobatic's platform, another he levitated so high it met it's fellow robot on the platform (and you couldn't spot any strings on the thing at all) and made himself seem to enter a very wide mirror before emerging from a second way across the centre ring. It was obvious that Frederick was a master at illusions and you had to wonder if he had been a children's entertainer before he'd begun this circus. You began clapping as his half an hour long performance came to an end before you realised almost a second too late that you had some more pyrotechnics to set off. Again the clown-bots entertained the audience with silly tricks such as hitting each other with pies and getting into an awful state before a tiny car pulled up and several more piled out resulting in a huge pie fight. Even some of the kids in the audience began throwing pies back and squealing with delight. A couple of the robots nearest the edge of the ring froze mid-act and turn to look at the children. It made you shiver slightly at how long they looked. More than a couple of seconds. The stare was something more than "Who is making that noise" and looked more as if the robots were calculating something. One approached a young boy who was almost entering the centre ring, pushed him back towards his father gently and wagged its finger warningly before resuming the act.
After a fifteen minute set, Bonnie's performance began with her riding two beautiful white horses-stood on top of a perilous perch of course. She looked graceful as she pulled herself into handstands, one handed balances and contorting her body with ease. As in the script you set off the correct fireworks at the appropriate points and you were impressed by how the horses did not even flinch at the bright lights and loud bangs. It was almost like they didn't even perceive them. Bonnie even got the horses balancing on objects and dancing to music. She made the horses bow and return to two robots who lead them back stage before climbing up high to perform her acrobatics. The music swelled as she presented the swing and the other robots climbed up to be her assistants and you felt yourself drawn into her performance. She was just as ease up high as she was on the horses and almost more balletic. Bonnie moved from swing to swing with twists and somersaults, even hanging off one on the trapezes by a single foot, and the robots caught and flipped with her.
Halfway through her set Chica appeared and set alight the ring below. The audience gasped and oohed with anticipation, leaning further in their seats as did you. She stood by ready for her set as Bonnie performed her final manoeuvres. For a fraction of a second it seemed like Bonnie had slipped and fallen as she hurtled towards the ground, spinning like a top. The flames rose along with this and you cried out in fear as did many of the audience. The flames swiftly died down and you saw that Bonnie was absolutely fine as she stood with her arms raised in a very confident pose. You could see a trail of robots who had caught her leading out of the ring of fire to the backstage. The crowd exploded into applause and cheers. Bonnie took a gracious bow and strutted towards where the robots had gone with a smug look on her face. Briefly she glanced at Chica who responded by sticking out her tongue.
The lights console gave a loud whirr beside you and almost all lights in the arena went out aside from the spotlight on Chica. Tense music started to play as the music box shuddered to start. In time with the music Chica's torches lit and she raised one in each hand, somehow making eye contact with you as she raised her right arm and giving you a confident wink. A part of you knew that she meant for you to keep up with her if you could. This set was the one that had the most in terms of pyrotechnics. Chica thrust her right torch out and you pressed for the right side of the ring to light up with flames along the edges. You both did the same for the left. There was barely any time to pause as you seemed to be constantly keeping in time with Chica's dancing. When she leapt high, you rose the flames in line with her. When she crossed over her body, you made the outer flames chase the torch. At one point as she was twirling the torches and herself it was almost like you were both creating a flaming spiral.
It was by far the most intense set you had to do. The big finale was what seemed like Chica's signature move. She took a large amount of paraffin in her mouth and sprayed a huge fireball into the air. For a moment you could see every amazed face in the audience. As the fire died you killed the lights and the entire arena was plunged into darkness. The light sprang on and the audience rose out of their seats and were giving Chica a standing ovation. Even you had to give her one too and as you moved you realised that you were almost as sweaty as she was. As she passed through your line of sight you could see the young woman give you a subtle thumbs up after she gave a bow. Some of the feathers on her outfit were slightly singed but at least she hadn't fully caught fire.
The creepy robots rushed out to erect what seemed like caging around the ring and placing balancing tables out before rushing back to safety. Frederick's voice seemed to emit from the speakers, "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, get ready to welcome your favourite animal tamer, Foxy!"
The children cheered much louder than the adults as Foxy came rushing out wearing a tuxedo and black three quarter trousers which really didn't seem to suit him (like the other members of the circus he sported a pair of fox ears and a tattered tail too). Their parents were slightly taken aback by this obviously scarred and half robot-looking man. "Har, har, I be seeing we have some new shipmates today," Foxy announced, looking around the audience, "Are ye ready to see me beasts from lands far away?"
"Yeah!" Came the loud response from the children, many of whom were bouncing out of their seats.
"I can't hear you!"
"Yeaaaahhh!" Screamed the children eagerly.
"Aye, bring 'em out, bring 'em out me hearties." Foxy signalled and one by one emerged two lionesses, a white and a bengal tiger, three leopards, a large liger and a very majestic looking male lion. Obediently they followed Foxy's instructions and stood in a line, all their predatory eyes on Foxy. "This be Pearl and her sister Goldie,"- He pointed at the lionesses with a long training whip who both snarled and pawed at it-"And here be Ruby, Opal, Saphy, Emerald, Diamond"- He moved and pointed to the two tigers and leopards. One of them yawned lazily. –" And me two sweethearts, me favourite girl Shanty-" Foxy gave the large beast a hug around it's head. The liger gave a slight whine before he pulled away. "-And me best star, Leo." Foxy gave a cue to the lion who gave a roar so loud it seemed to make the whole tent shake. The strange man did not even flinch and began to explain that he'd owned the animals for years and that they practised every day. As he spoke, he signalled to the animals to lie down and roll over in unison in time with the music. The animals then sprang up at the end of their roll and sat up on their hind legs and raised their paws to "beg". "To yer places crew!" Ordered Foxy and the animals leapt to their balance tables. Goldie the lioness and Opal the white tiger seemed quite restless as they were stood on their perches and growling. Foxy firmly cracked the whip and the two animals sank with supressed growls. The clown-bots brought out a large hoop stuck to the top of a high table. They retreated swiftly from the ring. "Now fer you to earn yer keep! C'mon ye scallywags." The leopards leapt through the ring with ease as did the orange tiger before the thing was set alight. The liger gave a loud snarl at it and continued to grumble in a weird way as her trainer ordered her to jump back and forth through the fiery ring. She attempted to swipe at the man who met her paw with a harsh tap with the whip. Shanty scowled at him as she retreated back to her table. All the animals were then instructed to leap through the flaming hoop except for two leopards and one tiger.
Next the male lion and the white tiger were ordered to leap over each other before "high fiving" each other and returning to their tables. As Foxy attempted to speak Leo rushed towards him when his back was turned and the tall man spun to strike the lion's face. With a bruised pride the lion slinked back towards his table. "Har, har, he always be attempting mutiny me first mate." Laughed the pale man and a couple of people laughed nervously.
As his big finale, Foxy had the animals sit on a tall podium with space for each of them. He joined Leo on the top where it span slowly while he waved to the children in the audience and the rest of the people clapped with an impressed expression. "Thank ye, thank ye very much landlubbers!"
Frederick appeared at the front of the cages, thanked the audience for their attendance and expressed for them to return before you pressed the buttons for the finale fireworks. They exploded, span, crackled and twirled into the air.
The lights dimmed just enough to allow the audience to leave. There was a low mumbling of people discussing their favourite part of the performance or what they were impressed with.
You just sat back in your chair with a breath of relief and glad that you hadn't screwed up your role at all. After a few moments of basking in the happy afterglow of doing your job right, you realised that it was time to make lunch as your stomach made a loud growl.
Leaving the script on the chair, you began to creep your way out of the control room-hoping you didn't meet any of the creepy clowns nor Foxy on the way out.