Chapter 18 (First Version)

I stood there, dumbfounded by the animatronic's words. Was he really expecting that I would willingly become the very thing he is right now?

"Why the hell would I do that?" I questioned, glaring at the golden bear a bit.

An eerie chuckle echoed throughout the room. "Haven't I already told you?" He asked. "You will gain the powers of this suit so that you can protect the children here."

I scowled at him. "The children don't need protecting anymore." I stated. "The only thing that would be a threat to them is you." A crossed my arms. "And when you leave then this place will be safe."

The animatronic sighed. "Perhaps for a bit, but who's to say some other bastard won't show up and harm the children here?" He asked.

"Well I think the security here now can handle that." I retorted.

The golden bear shook his head. "It's not enough." He stated. "Nothing these people do will ever be enough."

I glared at him. "Why can't you just lay to rest?" I asked. "Why do you have to claim one last life in order to do so?" I sighed. "There's been enough death here, can't you just end it all already?"

The bear snorted as he glared back at me. "Are you being a coward once again?" He questioned. "Are you trying to run away? Are you going to leave this place and let others die because you were too afraid to protect them?"

I flinched at his words, taking a step back. 'No…' I thought. 'T-that's not it…' I looked down. 'I'm…' I began to think about his words. 'Am I being a coward? I mean… I'm afraid to die and have my body be possessed by the suit yes… but… am I only saying that it's not necessary because I don't have the balls to do what must be done to protect these kids?'

"Mikey…" I heard Sarah speak up behind me and I looked back to see her giving me a concerned look. "Don't…"

I then began to think about how I had left Sarah to die. 'Am I doing the same thing again?' I thought. 'Am I just running away because I'm scared? Too scared to protect someone again?' I looked down. 'Am I just letting others die because I'm afraid to do what's right?'

"This place needs a protector." The bear stated and I looked up at him. "You must protect the children, and look after them when I leave this place." The bear then walked a bit closer to me. "Don't run away from your responsibilities again… don't let another child die because of your own cowardice!"

"It wasn't his fault!" Sarah shouted, glaring at the animatronic.

"It was his fault!" The bear shot back. "He could have saved you if he didn't run like a coward and hid away!" The bear then looked back to me. "And you can save countless other children if you stay here, and watch over them." He took another step forward. "Don't let your fear overcome you again! Do what you know is the only way to keep this place safe!"

I stood there for a long while, contemplating over what I should do. Sure, this place was probably safe enough as it is, and it was unlikely that another murder would happen here. But, then again, this pizzeria had a terrible history behind it, and who's to say some nutjob won't come here and harm more children. If anyone ever died here again, I could never live with myself, knowing that I could have in fact stopped it, if I had just taken the bear's offer.

I looked back at Sarah once more, the memory of how I had left her here burning in my mind. I remembered my fear, my mistake, and my payment for making that mistake. I had lost her, I had felt so guilty for it, and I couldn't take the chance of making that mistake again.

'I can't...' I thought as I looked down. 'I can't let that happen... I can't let someone die because of me again...'

I turned to the bear. "I'll do it…" I stated in a defeated tone.

"Mikey no!" Sarah shouted as she rushed over to me. "You can't!"

I kneeled down an put my hands on her shoulders. "Sarah, don't worry about me." I stated. "You are free from this hell, but I have to pay up for my mistakes."

"You've done nothing wrong Mikey!" Sarah exclaimed. "Don't do this!"

"I have to Sarah." I replied. "I can't let someone else die because I was too afraid to protect them."

Tears began to fall from Sarah's eyes. "No one else is going to die Mikey!" She shouted. "Please don't…" Sarah sniffled. "Don't do this…"

I shook my head. "Sarah, just be free…" I stated. "Don't stay here, not because of me."

Sarah glared at me. "I'm not going until you leave here safe!" She shot back.

"Sarah, you've suffered here long enough." I replied. "It's my turn to pay the bill, you deserve to be at peace after all that happened here."

Sarah shook her head. "I'm not going… not until you leave." She stated.

I was about to reply, but the bear interrupted me.

"I will take her with me when I go." The bear spoke up behind me and I turned to look at him.

I raised an eyebrow. "I have your word?" I asked.

The bear nodded. "Yes, I assure you she will pass on, and be free." He promised.

I stared at him for a moment, before I turned back to Sarah. Tears were streaming down her face as she looked at me with a face of sorrow.

"P-Please Mikey…" She sobbed. "D-don't…"

I frowned a bit, before I brought her into a warm embrace, holding her tight. Sarah sniffled and returned the hug, crying into my shoulder. We held the embrace for a long while, until I slowly released her and leaned back. Sarah let go too and looked down, tears still falling from her eyes.

I smiled a bit and lifted up her chin. "Don't worry Sarah…" I whispered. "Everything will be fine…"

Sarah looked up at me. "It won't be fine for you…" She stated.

I smiled a bit once more, knowing that she was right, but I knew what I had to do.

"I love you little sis…" I stated as I smiled at her.

Sarah sniffled once again. "I love you too big bro…" She replied.

I then stood up and turned to the golden bear. "I'm ready…" I stated.

The bear nodded. "Good." He replied.

He then waved his hands a bit signaling something. Freddy and Chica then walked off the stage, the two of them walking over to the bear and standing next to him. The golden animatronic then looked back to me.

"We'll make it quick." He stated.

The golden bear then inhaled deeply, before his body went limp, it was about to fall to the floor but it was caught by Freddy and Chica, the two holding it up. Freddy then took the head off the golden bear, and looked over to me, an expressionless look on his face.

I swallowed hard, my throat becoming dry as my palms began to sweat, knowing what was about to happen. I began to tremble slightly as Freddy walked towards me, raising the golden bear's head up a bit. I flinched as I felt something grip my waist, and looked down to see Sarah hugging me tightly.

"Mikey… don't…" She wept, fresh tears streaming down her cheeks. "Please…"

"S-Sarah." I stuttered, still frightened of my current situation. "Sarah, be free… don't stay here to watch what's about to happen."

Sarah shook her head and gripped me even tighter. "I won't let you Mikey… you can't do this…" She stated.

I was about to reply, but a hand suddenly fell on Sarah's shoulder, and I looked to see that the hand belonged to Max.

Max gave Sarah a sympathetic look. "Come one Sarah…" He spoke, rubbing her shoulder a bit. "You don't want to see this…"

Sarah shook her head once again. "It doesn't have to happen!" She exclaimed as she shut her eyes tightly.

"It's your brother's decision." Max pointed out. "So, you should honor it."

Sarah looked up at me with pleading eyes. "Mikey... everything will be fine here... you don't need to do this…" She said.

I frowned and kneeled down to her eye level. "I can't let it happen again Sarah…" I stated. "Not after I let it happen to you.."

Sarah gave me a small glare. "But you're letting it happen to yourself!" She shouted.

"Better me than anyone else." I stated.

"Better no one than anyone!" Sarah shot back. "It doesn't have to happen Mikey!"

I put my hand on her shoulder. "Sarah, if I don't do it… then he'll stay here." I stated as I pointed to Max. "And he'll probably make someone else do it if I don't."

Sarah turned to Max with pleading eyes. "Max… it's over now…" She spoke. "It's all over… don't take another life… it doesn't need to be done…"

Max shook his head. "Take one life to save many lives." He replied. "And your brother can protect the children here… he freed you and the others after all."

Sarah was about to speak up but I interrupted her. "Sarah." I spoke up. "I need to do this…" I looked down. "I don't want this to happen… but it has to happen." I looked up at her once again. "I can't let another child die… I can't let my fear stop me from protecting the children here."

Sarah nuzzled my side. "M-Mikey…" She wept, a defeated look on her face.

I patted her on the shoulder, tears starting to well up in my eyes. "Goodbye Sarah… I love you." I stated.

I heard the sound of animatronic joints moving and looked to see Freddy advancing towards me as he held the golden bear's head in his grasp. My heart skipped a beat as he did, my stomach churning as I thought about what was going to happen.

But I held my ground, knowing that I had to do this, that I had to protect the children here, no matter the cost.

I felt Sarah grip my leg tighter. "Mikey d-don't!" She exclaimed, trying to tug me back from Freddy.

I held my ground and kept my eyes forward, not wanting to have to look upon her as she wept. I then felt Sarah lose her grip on me as I heard Max speak up.

"Come on Sarah… it's time for us to go." Max stated.

"No!" Sarah shouted and I heard her struggle a bit. "I won't l-leave him here!"

Freddy then stood before me, an emotionless gaze on his face as he stared down at me, lifting up the golden bear's head a bit.

"Sarah…" Max spoke up once again. "Come on, you don't want to see this…"

"No!" Sarah screamed. "Mikey don't do it! P-please!"

Freddy lifted up the golden bear's head up over my head and I stared up at it. Seeing all sorts of metallic objects that would plunge into my skull. My body began to tremble all over as I stared up at my doom, second thoughts starting to enter my head. But I quickly shoved them out and shut my eyes, looking down as I prepared for what had to be done.

"MIKEY!" Sarah shouted one last time.

But I kept my head down, tears streaming down my face as I awaited my fate. The only words in my head being: 'This has to be done.'

I let out one last breath, and spoke.

"I love you Sarah."

Then, everything went black.

'…'

'…'

'…huh?' I thought as I awoke. My head was foggy and my mind was in a jumble, I had no idea what was going on nor where I was. And I stayed in that state of mind for a little while, until I realized something.

I couldn't feel anything.

I couldn't feel my face, I couldn't feel my hands, I couldn't feel anything at all. I began to panic, trying to recall just what had happened to me. My vision then blurred as the room around me came into view, and I made it out to be the Pizzeria.

That was when all the memories of what had happened prior to this rushed back, my sister, the suit, everything.

'Wh-what?' I thought as I tried to move, and though I couldn't feel anything, oddly enough my limbs did began to move.

Though all I could do is bring myself to a kneeling position, my entire body weak as I struggled to keep myself even slightly off the ground.

But, as I sat there kneeled on the ground, I saw that my hand didn't look normal. Somewhat confused I brought it up to my face for a better view, what I saw froze my very core in horror. My hand was golden, and blood streamed down it, seemingly fresh. My jaw dropped as I saw this, and I quickly overlooked the rest of my body. It was all golden, blood leaking out of every crook in this new animatronic body, my blood.

That's when everything came rushing back, I had been stuffed in the golden animatronic bear, and now I possessed it. I would have vomited if I had intestines left, realizing that the blood was coming from my body as it was crammed and deformed within the suit.

'Oh… god…' I thought, my mind in complete shock and horror as I stared down at my metallic bloodstained body. 'Is this… is this actually…' My mind was trying to process what was happening, though no matter how hard I tried I couldn't accept it, the fact that I was dead, and that I was now controlling this suit.

I heard rattling, and I realized that it was coming from my animatronic body as it shook vigorously. I wanted to cry, but I had no eyes to do so, I wanted to scream, but I had no voice, all I could do was tremble in horror at the sight before me.

I had become the golden bear.

'What have I done…?'

…

There's not much else to tell after that. I had dragged myself down into the basement, not wanting anyone else to see me for what I had become. I managed to get to the so called "secret" room below, and I hid. I don't know for how long, but it seemed like ages.

Until, Fazebear found me.

He was horrified at first, thinking that the golden bear had just killed me and that he was still here to lay terror onto this place. But I managed to calm him down when I figured out how to communicate with him.

After I managed to do that Fazebear had asked what had happened, asked where Max went, and if his family was safe from him. I told him everything, every damn thing that had happened. I managed to stop Max, I set all the children free of their torment, and I had made a deal with Max, a deal where I had to pay the largest price.

Fazebear was practically speechless after that, he didn't say a word for a full five minutes, until he did something I didn't expect.

He hugged me, with tears in his eyes, saying "thank you" in a very sincere tone. That was when I realized just how much Fazebear had been affected by this, sure he could have stopped it, but he would have had to pay a larger price than even I had to if he did. This whole event had taken a large toll on him for years, sending people to their deaths, his families lives on the line, and having to just sit there and act like everything was fine.

When Fazebear had finished his embrace, he looked me in the eye and swore that he would do as much as he could to make sure that my torment inside the suit would be as painless as he could possibly make it be.

Though I appreciated the gesture, I didn't think he would be able to do much. I hardly felt pain at that point, and to this day, I hardly feel anything at all anymore.

Fazebear did get his crew to clean my body out of the suit, hoping that would do something to help. But I still occupied it, and I would probably occupy it for a long time. Thankfully the crew didn't say a word to anyone, since they were the ones who worked on the killer robots after so many years.

I've wanted this place to be closed down, I have told Fazebear countless times to do so, but he's refused, each time saying that he wants this place to continue keeping the kids happy, which despite all the hell that happened here, it still doesn't fail on that part.

Over the years I have watched kids come and go over the years. And though that might seem hard being in this room down here, being a possessed animatronic gives you some pretty weird abilities. I've been able to watch the children as they all laughing and playing the animatronics with glee as they all didn't have a care in the world.

Its been nice to watch them all over all this time... But now here I sit, on the floor of the room where I found the Marionette, granted they cleared out the puppet a little while after I began my stay here. The pizzeria managed to stay open even after my disappearance, granted there was one final investigation, but they never found me down here in my new body.

Fazebear had asked me if I wanted to see my parents, saying that he'd bring them down here if I wanted him to. But I told him to leave them be, I'd rather have them remember for what I was rather than what I am now.

A god damned golden animatronic doomed to live out the rest of his existence in this horrid suit.

Was it fair for me to suffer in this suit like my sister had suffered in hers? After two years of thinking about it, I don't know…

Either way, life isn't always fair, and at least I feel as if I'm repaying the debt I owed. Laying in this pitch-black room while I watch over the children above me. Over the years I managed to master the supernatural abilities that this suit had given me, and I was able to see everything within the pizzeria. Granted nothing interesting or horrible had happened over these two years, and thankfully I have never had to use my abilities to harm anyone yet.

Still, it gets a bit lonely down here, so I'm glad someone out there will now know what really happened in this god forsaken place. So, do with this information what you will, and hopefully you managed to get something out of this story.

But, now I suppose I'll- wait… someone's coming…

Oh, it's just Fazebear… but who's with him?

Within the secret room…

Mike eyed the door curiously from his golden suit, the light coming from outside the room revealing that Fazebear was standing in the doorway, but there was someone with him.

It took Mike a minute to realize that it was Tyler, Fazebear's nephew. Mike was surprised at this, sure Tyler had always visited the pizzeria from time to time, but he had never come down into this area. The now golden animatronic felt a bit uneasy at this, thinking that Tyler would be afraid of him if he moved his animatronic joints.

"Is this where he is uncle Fazebear?" Tyler asked curiously.

Fazebear smiled down at the boy. "Yep, this is where the golden protector lives." He replied. "Watching over all the children here down within his secret lair."

Tyler went wide eyed as he spotted Mike slumped down at the end of the room. "Cooool…" He spoke in awe.

Mike remained silent and unmoving, still not wanting to scare the child.

Tyler titled his head to the side, giving Mike a curious look. "Does he move?" He asked.

Fazebear nodded. "Yep, he's just a bit shy." He replied before looking over to Mike. "You can move Mike, I told him all about you."

Mike was hesitant at first, not sure on whether or not to believe Fazebear. But he decided to trust him as he gave a small smile and slowly lifted his hand up, waving at the boy.

Tyler's eyes widened at the display. "Woah…" He said in awe.

Mike looked over to Fazebear. "You didn't have to do this…" He said in his static filled voice.

Tyler's eyes practically bulged out of his skull as Mike spoke, his jaw dropping in the process.

Fazebear smiled at the golden animatronic. "I know, but I wanted to." He replied. "You've been stuck down here alone for too long." He then gestured to Tyler. "Which is why I brought him… to give you some company."

Tyler slowly approached Mike, a look of awe and wonder plastered on his face. "You're so cool…" He spoke.

Mike smiled a bit and shook his animatronic head. "I'm not that cool kid…" He stated.

"Yeah you are!" Tyler exclaimed. "Uncle Fazebear told me all about you and how you saved the pizzeria!"

Mike was somewhat surprised at this as he looked over to Fazebear. "Really now?" He said.

Tyler nodded with a smile. "Yep! He told me about how you saved kids who were trapped here!" He explained. "And that in order to keep this place safe you sacrificed everything!"

Mike gave another small smile at his explanation. "Well… I guess that's kind of true…" He replied.

Tyler smiled back and stared at animatronic for a moment, before he suddenly wrapped his arms around the bear and gave him a tight hug.

Mike was surprised by this, not expecting the child to right out hug him out of the blue.

"Thank you for keeping us safe!" The boy exclaimed as he held Mike tighter. "And thank you for freeing those kids!"

Mike was at a loss for words in that moment, shocked by the boy's actions and his words. He never really had been thanked this profusely for what he had done, and to be honest, it felt kind of nice.

Mike then felt something he hadn't felt in a long while…

Happiness.

It creeped up on him unexpectedly, the feeling slowly rising within him. Mike then grew a sincere smile on his face and patted Tyler on the back gently.

"No problem buddy…" He said softly, his smile getting a bit larger.

Fazebear was also smiling at the display, happy to see that Tyler was indeed bonding with the golden animatronic like he had wanted.

"Why don't you tell him the story from your point of view Mike?" Fazebear suggested. "But without all of the… you know."

Tyler let go of Mike and stared at him with eyes full of excitement. "Could you!?" He exclaimed. "That would be awesome!"

The golden bear stared at the child for a moment, pondering on whether or not he actually should tell of his story. But as he saw the boy's excitement, he knew that he probably wouldn't be satisfied until he told him.

So Mike smiled and nodded a bit. "Sure." He replied.

Tyler smiled. "Awesome!" He shouted before he sat down, crossing his legs and looking up at Mike with anticipation.

Mike gave one last smile, before he began his tale.

"It all started with this crazy dream…"

A/N: And here it is, the last chapter… Or at least the first version of it anyways. I don't really know how to end stories like this, so I thought I would try two endings and you guys could figure out which one you personally would like to be the official ending.

So, once the second version is out (hopefully sometime here soon, I've already started writing it) you can decide which one you like better.

Note I won't be declaring an official ending, so it's up to you to decide.

And for those of you who wish to stop here and not see the other ending, thank you so much for your support on this story, sincerely it just means a lot to me seeing this fic go so far because of you guys.

So, hope you enjoyed and see you in the second version (or not).