Wow... Been a while, huh? I'm sorry it took so long to get this done, guys. I thought I'd have more time over last holiday break. As you can figure, that didn't happen... Plus I just kinda fell off the writing wagon: I lost my mood, my interest in it for a while.

But I never forgot, you know? Even though I took ages, and even though I found it hard to get the motivation back up, I knew I couldn't just leave this story incomplete forever. I wasn't going to do that to you guys.

And hey, I've got a couple weeks of peace and quiet. I've finally graduated college, with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. Got a few job applications out, but no calls just yet. So I figured, why not take advantage of the time by doing some writing?

So here it is, the final official chapter of Five Nights at Freddy's 3: One Last Tear. I hope it was worth the wait.

I stood there in the security office, batons in hand, staring out of the window in front of my desk. The darkness seemed to be closing in, embracing me… Smothering me. I shook my head, taking a breath and slowly letting it out. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash – Balloon Boy, with Faz's face once more. I ignored it, until he began to speak to me.

"A-Alex… You can't win..." I turned away. No more ghosts of the past… And as I turned, I found myself facing Mangle and Marionette. "You've fought for so long, Alex… Why not let it go…" I half-heartedly swung a baton at them, and they disappeared into black clouds of smoke… I started feeling weary, tired. Far more tired than I'd ever felt… I shook my head a bit. It was natural for me to be this worn out – I'd just finished fighting these ghosts off… I stumbled slightly as I stepped out into the hallway, trying to change my view for a moment… And saw Chica, staring at me with that haunted gaze. "We're all gone, Alex… Fighting won't bring us back…" I turned away again, facing towards the exit – and looking straight into Freddy's eyes. "Just walk away, Alex… Live your life…" He beckoned me towards the door. I knew it was locked and sealed, but it seemed to… Open. And standing there, next to my beat up old truck, was Foxy. She smiled at me, eyes glowing a bright white as she spoke.

"Alex… You've fought so long, and so hard. You've done nothing but good… For all of us." She slowly stepped towards me, and I subconsciously took a step towards her. "Please… Come with me. Be with me… With all of us…" Slowly, they all stepped out again from behind my truck, lining up.

Balloon Boy, with Faz's face – a face that I'd thought of as a friend, and that the band had seen as a father figure to us all.

Marionette and Mangle – the new band, friends found in an unlikely place, that I was proud to have inspired to make some good of the world.

Chica – the master chef, a girl that just wanted to be happy and creative in the kitchen.

Freddy, holding Bonnie – a loving couple that had faced the world together, side by side.

Foxy… My Foxy. She spoke once more. "Come to us, Alex… It's time to go home…"

Slowly, I stepped towards the door. I was still clutching my batons as I did so, beginning to head towards the exit…

Then I glanced down. Saw a gleam in the doorway. I stopped, my foot inches from hitting it… And crouched down. It was a tripwire. "Alex… What's the delay? Come now, let's go home." Foxy, beckoning me further… And as I traced the wire, I realized why.

The tripwire led to a makeshift pipebomb, settled roughly at head level with me. One final trap, one last trick to try and end my fighting. Slowly I looked up at the band, and gave them a sad smile. "Sorry guys… But I've got some unfinished business left."

I turned away from the door.

And they SCREAMED.

I fell forwards, gritting my teeth as their banshee wail screeched out, diving deep into my ears and haunting me to the core. "WHY MUST YOU FIGHT?!" They screamed out at me, black smoke surrounding me as they snapped their teeth, gnashing and crying out inches from me. In the maelstrom, I could make out their faces – burnt, desiccated, and with rage and hatred burning in their eyes. "ALL WE WANT IS TO BRING YOU WITH US, ALEX!" I grit my teeth, memories flashing through my head.

I was back in Faz's old house, examining it. I knew what had happened, and yet for some reason I was still exploring, still hunting around once more… Trying to see if there was any clue, any piece of the puzzle that I'd missed. I wandered along, heading up to his room – I remembered that the RAT folder was in there, and I opened the closet –

Instead of the box on his shelf, Faz was hanging there. It looked like suicide, and clutched in his arms was a small plush of Balloon Boy. I staggered backwards, tripping and falling on the floor as I looked up at his hanging body. Balloon Boy gazed up at me, black eyes betraying hatred and rage. "You… Did… This…" He whispered, and Faz's eyes opened – dead eyes on a hanged man, staring through me. "You… Killed… Me…"

I shook my head, gritting my teeth and squeezing my eyes shut before climbing back to my feet. When I opened them again, I was with the band, walking along the sidewalk towards Chica's restaurant.

I knew what was about to happen, so I took off running. Maybe if I was just fast enough, I could –

And then the building blew up, ruins falling all around me as ash rained down, and I was alone. The band was nowhere in sight, just the burnt remains of Chica – her costume half falling off of her endoskeleton – raising a wing to point at me. "You weren't fast enough, Alex… You were never fast enough…"

I stumbled backwards, pushing through a door into another building, just in time to turn around – it was a hospital. Bonnie was laying in the bed, her suit pale and faded as her eyes dimmed. Freddy was clutching her paw, sitting by her side. In unison, they gazed up at me. "Guys… I'm so sorry…" Bonnie went limp, her hard drive finally dying. Freddy did likewise, sitting there – just empty suits… Before speaking to me again. "You weren't smart enough, Alex… You didn't figure it out. What could it have been, besides a virus? Maybe if you were smarter, we'd still be alive…" I shook my head, my heart racing as I felt darkness closing in around me, fogging my mind as I stumbled back out the door –

And found myself at the charity event, my heart racing as I watched Foxy walking towards the car. I was surrounded by clawing hands and muttering voices, flashes of light as cameras went off. I tried to push through the crowd, tried to shout out to Foxy, but to no avail – I was being pressed in on all sides, dozens of hands grasping for me as I saw Foxy sit in the car, looking at me with a sad stare as she spoke. Over the din of reporters and paparazzi, I could hear her loud and clear. "You weren't strong enough, Alex… You couldn't tell them no, couldn't tell them to go away and leave you be. You were caught in their web, and you didn't break free…" And then the car exploded, the blast knocking me back once more.

I felt myself falling, falling… Deeper into a black hole, a dark expanse that I knew I would never climb out of. Their voices all cried out to me, jeering at me, mocking me. "Never fast enough… Never smart enough… Never strong enough! You failed all of us, Alex..." And finally, another voice spoke up, and I felt something grabbing at my shirt, pulling me back out of that blackness.

A mechanical voice, filled with malice and hatred, cackling with sadistic glee. I found myself staring into glowing white eyes bulging out of a rotted, worn out Fazbear Entertainment costume.

"And it's finally time for you to be punished!" Springtrap cackled, raising an arm back in what I knew would be a devastating blow… And suddenly, everything faded back into view. I was back in Fazbear's Fright, and Springtrap had one hand grabbing my collar and the other about to punch my skull in. Thinking quickly, I punched him square in the middle, feeling the fleshy corpse that he used as an endoskeleton giving way.

This had the requested effect as Springtrap dropped me, giving me a moment to get back to my feet – albeit dazed and confused by what had just happened. He stood to his full height after a moment, staring into my eyes. "Consider me surprised once more, Mr. Redding… I thought that if nothing else, that last attack would be the end for you. Again, you impress me with your resilience." He sighed, shaking his head before cackling. "At least this gives me the pleasure of being able to rip you limb from limb myself!" With that, he charged towards me… And I quickly sidestepped, letting him charge out the Exit door – triggering his pipebomb.

As it went off, I dove for cover, feeling a few of the fragments of hot metal burying themselves into my back and sides. He was much worse for wear, however – his ears were completely blown off, and half of the already-rotted mask had simply dissolved, revealing the red skull within, caught in a permanent howl of anguish.

"Sorry, Springy. Afraid you're not getting me that easily." Even as I spoke and grinned at him, I winced; I was hurting, really badly. I was bleeding from several locations, and the newly-embedded chunks of shrapnel that were stuck in me weren't helping. I was worn out, and felt my heart pounding in my chest like it was about to explode.

And yet I was still standing, still facing him, still grasping my batons with a death grip. He slowly turned to me, and I growled softly. "You kill my friends; ruin the life that I managed to build… You lure me here, and you use the memories of the family I had against me…" I growled even more, flicking my wrists and extending the batons once again. "You mock me, torment me, and try to kill me repeatedly." I shake my head as I stood, ready to fight.

Springtrap sighed, squaring off with me and staring through me. "Alex… You've ruined my plans far too many times. You must be removed if I am to reveal the Joy of Creation to the masses. You cannot stop me, Mr. Redding… You've tried twice in the past, and both times you have merely set me back. What makes you think you'll be able to defeat me this time?" With that, he charged.

I stood, holding my ground… And met his charge with a quick hip-toss that sent him reeling into the wall. I charged after him, bringing both batons down on his midsection, getting a solid 'OOF' out of him as they impacted. I followed it up with a few curb-stomps, feeling bones snapping as I brought my foot down on his hand and arm. He grabbed my foot mid-stomp, pulling and tripping me back, sending me falling. I cried out in pain as I landed on my back, feeling the shrapnel pushing a bit further into my body. With a growl, I got to my feet just in time to meet a football tackle to my midsection. Springtrap followed it up with a few punches to my face and chest, before I was able to kick him off and bring the handle of my baton down on his forehead.

He growled, staring back at me. "You're not leaving this place alive!" He charged, teeth bared as he attempted to bite me. I stuck a baton into his jaw, forcing it to stay open before wrenching it down, dislocating his jaw. This got a scream of pain and anger from him as he threw me back against the wall, following it up with a solid kick to my chest. I felt the CRACK as my ribs took the hit, feeling my breathing growing a bit more ragged as I tried to catch my breath from that impact. He didn't give me the chance, throwing me through the glass back into the security office, cutting up my face and hands once again.

I felt the blood running down my cheek from a cut that the glass had left me, before staggering back up to my feet just in time to see him charge around the corner and head towards me, fist reared back. I stepped out of the way, putting my hand to the back of his head as I slammed him into the wall, hearing another crack as the tiles on it shattered from the impact. I staggered backwards a few steps, before bringing both batons down onto his shoulders just as he turned around, following it up with a rising knee to his dislocated jaw that laid him out flat against the wall. I turned, getting ready to deliver a kick to his head –

And then my heart felt like it was about to explode. I knew what it was – I'd overexerted myself, and now I was paying the price as I fell, trying to catch my breath and ease my heart rate as I felt blackness starting to cloud my vision… I blacked out briefly; having to squeeze my eyes shut and slowly open them a few times.

The first time I reopened my eyes, I saw Springtrap looking at me.

The second time, he was on his feet.

The third time, he was standing over me. Laughing.

I felt a pain in my chest as he kicked at my cracked ribs, groaning and gasping for breath. He laughed again, shaking his head for a moment. "Alex, Alex, Alex… You see, even with all the damage you've done to me, I still stand…" He twitched. It was subtle, but it was there… And I heard his voice distorting.

I knew I had one shot at this, taking a ragged, painful breath as I looked up at Springtrap. He was frozen, confused… And I spoke. "F-Fritz…" I coughed, spitting out something that tasted like copper. "Fritz… Is it you…?" Springtrap twitched again, shaking his head. "I know it's you… Fritz Smith…"

He twitched again, staggering backwards. "N-no… NO! What happened to me?! I shouldn't be here, shouldn't be in this… THIS…" He gasped, slamming his head against the wall. "G-GET AWAY FROM ME! I'm sorry I killed you!" He gasped and cried out, shaking his head. "I-I'm in the suit! You can't see me! It's just y-y-your o-old pal, Springy!" He laughed slightly, twitching madly. "O-Oh god, it hurts… It hurts, it HURTS! GET ME OUT OF HE-" With one last bash of his head against the wall, the voice of Fritz Smith ended and Springtrap fell forwards, slumping against the wall.

I knew I didn't have much time. Whatever chance I'd just bought with that maneuver, I needed to make the best of it. I fished one of my tricks from my pocket – a remote detonator. Slowly I staggered back to my feet, stumbling out into the hallway and down the many halls of the building. I heard Springtrap starting to stomp his way after me, stumbling slightly as well as he gave chase.

Finally, I made it. The room with the Foxy head lamp… And, if I was looking at this right… Yes. I found a hatch in the ground, leading down to a secret basement. A safe room. I had to get down there…

And just then, Springtrap rounded the corner and cackled at me. "E-E-Excellent, trick, M-Mr. Redding! Turning the v-v-voice of the Legion after me…" He shook his head, his distorted voice finally sliding back into focus. "Though I'm afraid justice has been done, except in a more… Brutal way." He laughed darkly. "The last remnants of Fritz Smith have been deleted, lost to whatever afterlife awaits him. A pity, really… I was so enjoying his torment." He seemed to shrug, as if casual about what he had just done. "But, I cannot allow him to remain a risk in this final battle." He glanced down, seeing me scrabbling at the hatch and grinned. "Ah, so you've found my hideaway! I am impressed, Mr. Redding… However, I don't think you have any more tricks up your sleeve. It's time to end this charade." I staggered to my feet, swinging one of my batons at him.

He ducked, grabbing the arm that was swinging and – with a quick motion – cleanly broke it. I let out a scream of pain as I felt and heard the SNAP as my forearm gave way, before he tossed me against a wall. "Any last words, Mr. Redding?" He grinned, sharp teeth looking hungry for blood… And I raised the detonator.

"Yeah, a few. Hasta la vista, baby!" With that, I pressed the detonator button –

And with a loud ROAR, the firebombs I'd placed around the building went off in a series of massive fireballs, shaking the foundations of the building. It spread quickly, and I felt the heat and flame starting to work its way along the outsides, burning their way in towards where we were standing. Springtrap looked around in shock, eyes wide. I laughed softly. "Y'see…" I coughed, spat out a mouthful of crimson. "I didn't expect to walk out of this one…" He stared at me, hatred in his eyes. "All I expected… Was to bring you down with me…"

He stared, staggering back a bit. "No… You can't… You didn't..!"

I laughed and nodded, coughing up a bit more blood. "This place is coming down, Springtrap… And we're burning up with it!"

With that, I slowly got to my feet, staggering towards him. Every inch of my body burned with pain, and I felt the heat building as the flames worked their way towards us… I stumbled forwards in a sloppy swing, and he dodged it. I went down on my knees to catch my breath –

I felt like a massive explosive charge had gone off right next to my ear, picking me up and carrying me a few hundred feet and dropping me in a pile of razor wire and broken glass… An inferno rising around me, and I couldn't see the exit – I couldn't see ANYTHING except stars, stars that were glowing much brighter than normal…

I blinked a few times, feeling a massive throbbing in my skull and a ringing in my ears as I looked up. Springtrap had turned away, and was crouching on the floor. He'd mule-kicked me in the head, and by the way the world was spinning and swimming around me, it had done a number on the wet hunk of mucus between my ears. I staggered, stumbling over my own two feet as I tried to get up… And failed miserably. I sighed, realizing that it was over anyway – I'd won. The building was burning, and I was feeling myself slowly sinking down, feeling all too comfortable and warm…

Then I heard Springtrap speaking once more. "…Get the hatch open…" I blinked, my mind stirring a bit more, despite its damaged state. "…Hide in the safe room…" I realized what was about to happen. Springtrap was trying to get the door into the safety of the basement open – he was going to hide down there… Wait.

No, he wasn't going to hide down there. He was going to abandon his suit to the flames and lose himself among the internet once more. If he got on there, I would never have a chance to stop him…

Slowly I staggered to my feet. I had one more surprise for him, and fishing around in my pocket my fingers clasped around it. He had begun descending into the basement, leaving the hatch open as he went down. With pain radiating through every inch of my body, and the flames of the burning building starting to move into the room, I staggered and fell down the ladder, landing and feeling the wind leave me as I hit the floor of the basement.

Springtrap looked up, shaking his head a bit. "Again, your persistence surprises me, Mr. Redding…" The basement was fairly barren. Just an old computer, hooked up to power and a network cable, with a USB link that he was currently unwinding and moving around towards the back of his head. He stopped, leaving the hatch on his skull open, back still turned to me. I caught a glimpse of his brain, with a few different ports to plug into artificially spliced into the wetware. "I suppose even with as badly injured as you are, I should make sure you do not survive this…" With that he stood, grabbing me by the shirt and lifting me, climbing the ladder back to the main floor once more before holding me up. "Perhaps if I throw you to the flames, it will encourage you to give up… After all, Mr. Redding." He cackled softly. "You've lost. I have nobody else I have to worry about – not the police, not the military, not even the band of plastic playthings that you 'saved' from our last altercation. Nothing can stop me, and I fear no force!" He cackled with glee and malice. "So, I ask again… Any last words?"

I looked up, coughing up a bit more blood as I grasped what was in my pocket once more, flicking my thumb over it. It was a USB flash drive, one that I'd loaded with a very special program. "Springtrap… I-it's not…" I cough up more blood, before grinning. "It's not them you have to fear… Or the military, or anyone else…" I stared straight into his eyes.

"…It's me…"

With that, I jammed the flash drive into the port on his brain. His eyes widened, and he started to twitch erratically, grabbing at it futilely as he dropped me back to the ground. "Wh-wha-wa…" He shook his head. "Wh-what did you DO?!" His motions were getting more and more twitchy and erratic.

I grinned at him, blood leaking from a split lip. "You left something… With Bonnie… When she died." I grinned a bit. "I had a friend… Fix it up a bit… Make it better… Faster." I remembered what I'd done – a hacker friend of mine owed me a favor, so I asked him to spice up the copy of the virus that killed Bonnie. It worked much faster now, and was much more aggressive… As well as having the ability to transmit over any form of wireless signal. Plug it into a USB port, and whatever it targeted was as good as dead within minutes. "I figured I'd… Return it…"

I just grinned up at him as he gazed down, his eyes burning with an emotion that I wasn't sure he'd ever felt in this intensity before. Pure, unadulterated fear.

I laughed softly. "A final… Screw-you…" I gasped, coughing up more blood as he staggered. "I told you… I'm taking you… With me…" He screamed, the sound of his voice distorting with static as more and more of his data was corrupted and destroyed, deleting massive portions of his AI every second. He scrambled to pull the USB stick back out, but to no avail. As he flailed, he tripped over his own feet… And fell directly into the inferno spreading in the building.

The flames immediately started incinerating the rotted, dried out, worn suit, licking at it and burning away pieces of it with every second. I heard one final scream – one final, chilling scream – and then… Nothing. Springtrap went limp, completely lifeless.

I had won. His AI had been completely wiped, and any remaining pieces of his code would be deleted – even if he had any backups, that virus would spread rapidly and search-and-destroy any pieces of him that could have been left behind.

I rested my head against the wall, no longer even feeling the heat as the flames moved closer to me. I looked up at the Foxy head lamp… And smiled. Instead of a static decoration, I saw Foxy. My Foxy. She had her paw out, beckoning me to come with her…

And this time, I nodded, letting my eyes close once again as I fell into the abyss, ready for whatever may await me in whatever life was after mine.

Expect the epilogue by the weekend. Remember, we still have one more FNAF game to get through.

And before you ask - yes, I've seen the Sister Location stuff. No, I'm not sure what I'm gonna do for it just yet. Gonna let the game come out and then make a decision. I might not even write anything for it, not sure yet. Depends on how I feel when I finish FNAF 4's story.

Read and review, all... And...

Thank you to those of you who do read this, for sticking with me despite my absence.