VERY IMPORTANT NOTE AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER! PLEASE READ IT!
Also, I'll be going back and fixing Lily's Uncle name to Dr. Johnson. Still haven't come up with a first name yet but his last name is Johnson now. And I'm getting rid of Bunzo stutter as it's starting to become a pain in going back in fixing that. He'll have a stutter here and there but not as bad.
In a light color blue room with clouds painted along the walls, some colorful round tables and chairs scattered around, a musical box playing a song sounding similar to the 'Itsy Bitsy Spider' is heard throughout the space.
"*Giggles*"
Sounds of childish laughter filled the room a young girl with long dark hair and bright blue eyes wearing a hospital gown running around the room as a purple furry toy chases after her; followed along with eight other colorful toys running around.
"Gi!"
"Aw man!"
The girl huff with a smile on her face when the purple toy had tapped her shoulder "Guess that means I'm 'It' now!" She spoke with a grin on her face "Now who should I chase…? Eenie Meeni Miny…here I come!"
The white furry toy yelped when the girl made a mad dash towards it and quickly ran in the opposite direction as the others laughed at them, before one of them yelp when the white one trip the yellow in retaliation causing them to be the new target for the young girl.
"Gigigi!" The yellow yelled at the white toy as it just laughed in return.
"Got ya!"
"GAH!?"
The yellow toy yelped when the girl pounced them with a laugh.
"Hahah, I was trying to aim for Ace, but I guess Lemon is 'It' now!"
"*Sigh*"
"So that's Lily, huh?"
Standing outside the room looking through the one-way mirror was a young woman in her early 20's with long blonde hair pulled up in a tie wearing a lab coat, as she stares into the window watching the game play out with a small smile on her face as she listens to the sound of the young girl's laughter.
"…Yes, that is her. Along with Mini-Huggies." A man in his late 20's with dark brown hair wearing a similar lab coat as the lady beside him, spoke with an annoyed tone. His right eyebrow is twitching as he stares at the window with an annoyance written all over his face.
The woman looks up to him out of the corner of her eye before she had to cover her mouth to stifle her laughter upon seeing the look on his face. The man took note of that making his eyebrow to twitch harder as a low growl escaped from his lips.
"I'm guessing those Huggies aren't supposed to be in this room?" The woman asked, still trying to not laugh at her co-worker.
"No. They are not." The man grunted pulling out a walkie-talkie from his pocket. "This is Dr. Johnson, with Dr. Stirling, the Mini-Huggies are in the playroom with Lily. Have someone check the cameras to find out how they escape their confinement."
"Hmm…wasn't there word about making nine more of those Huggies?" Amanda wounder out loud.
"Roger that."
The man let out another sigh before putting the device back in his pocket. "Yes, that is correct. Since those nine took it well with the experiments, there have been word on making more and having them station to the Game Station once done."
"That so…" Amanda mused eyes focused on Lily jumping away at the nick of time to avoid being tagged. "…Are you sure about having Lily in my care will do some good? I'm not against it, she seems like a sweet kid and all but…"
"*Sigh* We're not sure…" The man scratches his head. "Since removing her previous caretaker in hopes of creating a mother figure, she might not listen to you as you are new to her. Though hopefully with enough time she'll warm up to you."
"…" Amanda sighs putting both hands into the coat's pockets. "Project Family, if I recall correctly."
"Indeed."
"And didn't that fail, when Huggy and Missy didn't play their roles?"
"We don't consider it a full failure as it did show some success to it."
"Hmmm…" Amanda hum looking at her co-worker from the corner of her eye "Despite the not-some-what-failure of a project, why did they decide to bring that project back to life?"
"*Sigh*" Dr. Johnson heaved out a heavy sigh as he rubbed the back of his neck. "You are aware of the new material we recently gotten, correct?"
"Yes, I'm aware of it."
"And the person we are currently testing it on."
Amanda eyes narrow as she looks back to the window. "Yes, Marie Payne, she was originally Lily's caretaker till the higher-ups decided they wanted to use her for the new materials. Though I did hear there were other factors in play as well."
"Yes. One of the main factors is that Marie is the closest to a mother figure Lily has. They hope that when the experiment is done that Marie will still have those motherly feelings towards Lily, once they are both reintroduced."
"And the other?"
Dr. Johnson glared down at her with annoyance written on his face. "…I don't know why you are asking me all this, since you already know the answer."
"Heh." Amanda chuckled. "Apologize, I just curious to hear your intake is all."
"And you won't. Now let's go and introduce you to Lily."
"Fine, fine. No need to be so testy."
"Gotcha! Woah!"
In hopes of tagging Ace, Lily jumped forward to tackling him, but the clever little guy jumped out of the way in time. The cause made Lily to face-plant into the carpet floor.
"Grrr…I'll get you for that!"
Before Ace could respond the door to the room open causing all of them to freeze in their place, as they watch two adults – a man and a woman- walk through the room.
"Hm?" Amanda along with her partner both pause in their steps taking note of the quietness of the room. 'Not surprising since we just barge in, in the middle of their game. Though…' Both her and Dr. Johnson reach into their coat grabbing hold of their weapons, but not pulling them out just yet as they immediately saw the friendly smiles that were on the Mini-Huggies faces had suddenly change. Their eyes dilated and their mouths open wide showing their jagged sharp teeth as they took a defensive stance.
"Great." Dr. Johnson grumbled "Just what we needed."
"Got a plan for this?"
"As long as Lily doesn't show any kind of fear to us, then they won't attack us."
"Well, that's helpful."
Amanda kept her eyes on Lily, as the young girl slowly got back up to her feet, watching as she dusted herself off before looking over at the two adults.
Confusion was clear in her eyes as she looked over at the woman standing next to the doctor.
"Who…are you?" She asked. "I know Dr. Johnson, but I've never met you before." A small spark of realization flashed through her eyes, as Lily began to slowly hug her body, hunching in on herself. That spark the Huggies in the room to slowly start let out a low warning growl. "Are you here to take me back to that room? I already completed the assignments they gave me. I don't want to go back!"
"Not good, not good." Dr. Johnson mutter under his breath before inhaling and slowly exhaling. He looked over at Lily and tried to give her a reassuring smile. "Lily. I can promise you that's not the case here. You see-"
"That's what the last guy said, but he lied!" Lily cried out.
That caused the two Huggies that were standing closer to the two adults to snap their jaws at them, as their growls became a little louder. That made the two adults to take a step back closer to the door.
"Goddamn it, Jason, you'll be hearing a complaint about this…if we get out of here in one piece." Dr. Johnson mutters.
"How reassuring…" Amanda mumbles looking around the room to see if anything in her can help them, so they don't have to resolve in using violence. Plus, she is also sure that the scientist that made the Huggies wouldn't be too pleased upon hearing that they had to shoot some of them. Something blue caught the corner of her eye just in time to stop her fellow worker from fully pulling his gun out.
"Wait, stop!"
"Huh!?"
Keeping her eyes on Lily, she slowly removed her hand from the gun in the coat and slowly bent down, right arm out stretches to the side, taking note of Lily eye's following her every movement. "I have an idea."
"And that is…?"
"Just cover me."
"Wha-!? *Sigh* Fine."
Once grabbing hold of the item, Amanda carefully made her way towards Lily, keeping an eye on her as she tries to ignore the growling and the sounds of snapping jaws from the toys around her. She kept her eyes on Lily, who did the same, and once she was a few feet from her the white huggy that was standing the closet moved to stand in front of Lily with its arms outstretch as it bears its teeth at her.
"…" Pausing in her steps she looks down at the huggy that is currently glaring up at her. 'Looks like I'll be doing it here…' She moved her eyes back to Lily and gave her a small smile.
Lily blinks in confusion as she watches the lady slowly kneel down and bring up one of her Huggy Wuggy dolls up to cover her face and using her free hand to move the doll's hand around as she speaks.
"Well, hello there, little girl! I'm Amanda Stirling, but feel free to call me whatever you're comfortable with!" Feeling a bit embarrassed in speaking in a deep silly voice as possible. Amanda tried her best to imitate the funny voice of Huggy that she heard from one of the cardboard box cutouts. She hopes that by doing this it'll help ease the tension between everyone in the room. "I know you're a bit confused right now, but I promise that my co-worker and I just wanted to talk with you is all! You see, I'm new around here and wanted to get to know everyone—including you! So, I promise you we mean you no harm."
"…"
"…"
"…"
It was quite in the room as everyone stared down at Amanda, who is still kneeling in front of Lily with the Huggy doll held up to her face.
'This is so embarrassing!' She thought to herself as she tried to keep the blush that was trying to rise up on her face. 'I hope this works…at least the tension in the room has gone down a bit. The mini Huggies have stopped their growling, so that's a plus…probably.' Amanda slowly peaked an eye out to look up at Lily to guess what her expression was.
"…"
Lily stared down at her with wide eyes as her mouth slowly opened and closed as if she was trying to say something. Before Amanda could say anything, a quiet chuckle passed through Lily's lips.
"!?"
Everyone in the room let out some noise of confusion as they stared at Lily, who began to let out a full blown laughter as she clutches her stomach. The Huggies all look at each other in a silent communication, while they were confused, they took notice Lily lack of fear and slowly lowered their guard, however still keeping it up in case they needed…to act.
"What's so funny?" Amanda asks.
"It's hehe…It's just that Huggy doesn't sound like that, at all!" Lily laughs.
"Oh?" Amanda hums tilting her head to the side "Then what does he sound like?"
Lily smiled down at Amanda "Something like this *Roar*" Lily attempted to make a deep growling sound.
"Roar?" Amanda repeated the sound with a bit of confusion leaking through her voice. "No words?"
"Nu-uh" Lily shook her head. "Huggy can't talk. He has to use his hands to communicate what he wants." She informed them.
"That so?" Amanda caught her partner tilting his head at that info. That is some interesting news, they are well aware that Huggy and Missy are unable to speak. It would seem they—or Huggy at least—figure out a way to speak. None of the reports have mentioned that. A new development perhaps? A new form of sign language maybe? Though the main question would be how long has he done this and if the other toys can too. Then again going by the mini Huggies previous action it would appear to be the case. 'Something to write down in the book', she thought to herself.
"Yep!" Lily said popping the 'P'. "If you pay attention to his vocal growls and body movement, you can guess what he's saying."
"Really? I'll have to keep that in mind and try sometime."
"Good luck, though! It took me some time to figure it out. Oh!" Lily exclaimed as if she suddenly remembers something. "That voice you were doing earlier. Were you trying to copy the cardboard voice?" She questioned "If so, you almost nailed it."
"Oh?" Amanda blinks in shock at the sudden praise. "Well…yes, I was and thank you."
"You're welcome!" Lily smiled "Oh and…. if you ever try that voice impression again…make sure Huggy isn't in the room!"
"Why is that?"
"He hates it! And gets really angry and twitchy when hearing that voice. He smashed all those cardboard stands after finding out about them."
"That's who destroyed them!?" Dr. Johnson suddenly yelled, shocking the two and some of the mini Huggies from the sudden loud noise.
"Um…" Amanda began to speak before Dr. Johnson continued talking.
"The others were wondering who smashed all those boards!" Dr. Johnson groaned rubbing his forehead. "The question is how the he—" He paused looking at Lily, who tilted her head at him—before continuing "—heck did he find that room."
Lily blinked before speaking "Oh, we stumbled upon it when he was taking me back to my room."
Dr. Johnson stared down at her in disbelief eyebrow twitching as he processes the info "Back to your—Lily! How many times do we need to tell you to stop sneaking out of your room!"
"But I didn't!"
"Bullshit!" Dr. Johnson snapped all attempts at trying to censor himself blown in the wind as his anger was growing "You expect me to believe that? Out of all the times you snuck out!?"
"…Uh…guys…"
"Yes! I'm telling the truth! Huggy was taking me back to my room!"
"Right. Probably after the mess you two caused and wanted to get away in order to not get caught after your curfew."
"Curfew hasn't even started when we found that room!"
"…" Amanda let out a deep sigh as the two argue amongst themselves. Standing up she look down at the Huggies wondering if they went back to defense when the two started yelling at each other. When Lily and she began to talk they had calm down and just watch. To her shock the Huggies weren't doing anything she was expecting, some of them were playing amongst themselves others were talking—which brought back to her previous that about the toys being able to understand each other. Was it because they are the same toy? They seem to understand each other through their chittering as if they are speaking in a language they can only understand. She'll have to make notes for the higher-ups about this. If they can communicate amongst themselves and they can't understand them it could spell trouble later down the line.
Back to the point at hand, she had also spotted two Huggies standing in the middle of Lily and Dr. Johnson, heads going back and forth as they argue as if they are watching some kind of tennis match going on. It's almost funny watching it happening. Though seeing as the mini Huggies weren't on edge, Amanda concluded that this isn't the first time they saw Lily and Dr. Johnson go at each other's throats. Since there are very few doctors that Lily is comfortable with it would be a giving the toys wouldn't be on edge if they are near.
Before Amanda could intervene a flash of purple and blue caught her eye. Looking down she saw two of the Huggies running around the room. She winced when the blue one picks up a cube and threw it at the purple one's head, knocking them down to the floor. The blue huggy began to laugh as the other lift its head up letting out an angry yell and proceed to body slam the other to the ground.
'And now there are two fights happening' She thought with a defeated sigh 'I should probably separate those two before any real damage begins.' She made her way over to the two huggies carefully trying to get a hold of them while trying not to lose a finger.
"…ask Catnap if you still don't believe me! They were originally going to take me back to my room."
"Hey watch it!"
"And why were you even near that toy?! Lily, we told you multiple times to not go near him."
"I don't see what the big deal is! You're fine when I'm with Boxy Boo, but Catnap is a big no? Also, I was visiting the children!"
"Lily!?"
"What!? I was curious about them; you guys don't even let me play with them! The only other kid that played with was Sophie, but she was gone! And what's the big deal if I play with them or not!"
"All right that's enough you two!" Amanda huffed as she finally managed to grab the back of both of the huggies necks and separated the two. The two were still trying to go at each other's throats despite being separated and before she could say anything a loud horn echo through the room.
The noise had startle everyone, even making Amanda drop the two huggies. Everyone looks at the direction the noise came from and spotted a white huggy holding a blow horn.
'Where the heck did, he get that?' Amanda thought while rubbing her ear as it is still ringing.
"What the heck, Ace? That was really loud." Lily complains rubbing her ears as well.
"Ge!" Ace spoke rubbing the back on his head. Probably in attempt to say sorry. Though now that everyone's attention is on him, he pointed to the wall. "Gege!" At once everyone looks over to where the toy was pointing seeing a clock on the wall reading 8:37.
"Oh crude, it's that late already!" Lily exclaimed "I need to get back to my room and you guys need to get back too!"
"Ge!"
And right before both eyes of the adults, the two could only watch in disbelief as all the huggies ran to the other side of the room were a vent is place. Then proceed to watch as the huggies proceed to climb on top of each other making a ladder of sorts. When the blue huggy got to the top they proceed to fiddle with the vent, getting it to open. Climbing inside the huggy turn around still holding the vent up as it held down its arm to lift the other toy up.
Once the other huggy got in it proceed to crawl further inside dragging the others with it. When all were in the blue huggy look back to the humans still in the room or to be specific at Lily and waved its arm before closing the vent to follow the others.
"Bye guys! Let's play again sometime soon!" Lily called out with a wave of her own.
Dr. Johnson let out a deep sigh rubbing his forehead "…Well that answers my question on how they got in here."
Amanada let out a low hum "We still don't know how they got out of their rooms though. Still no word from the others?"
"They wouldn't radio it in. I am expecting to have a file and the recording on my desk though."
"I see…"
"Um?"
The two stops in their conversation looking down at Lily.
"Sorry about before…" she apologized. "I didn't mean to yell at you. I just didn't want to do anymore tests. Still don't if that's why you came here." She grumbles the last part with a pout on her face.
"It's quite alright, Lily." Amanda quickly reassures her. "Dr. Johnson had brought me down here to introduce myself is all."
The look of confusion spread across Lily's face as she tilted her head. "Why? I've seen a lot of new workers but was never introduced to them. What makes you different from them?"
"Well…" Amanda begins "First allow me to introduce myself. My name is Amanda Stirling. I'm the new doctor here for the kids. You know to make sure your all healthy stuff."
"Oh really?" Lily's blinks when realization flashes through her eyes. "I remember hearing one of the doctors had recently left due to health issues. Can't remember his name though."
"It's fine if you don't, and yes, I'm filling in for him. While that will be my new job it's also my job to be your new caretaker."
When those words left her mouth, Lily's face instantly went blank devoid of all emotion as she bluntly said "What?"
Amanda grimaced noticing her mistake. While it's true that she is going to be her new caretaker and they were going to inform her, though perhaps she should have waited a bit more before dropping that bomb shell. After what happen not even five minutes ago, it would have been for the best to hold it off.
"Well…" Amanda began to speak but was quickly cut off.
"What do you mean by that? What about Marie? What happen to her?" Lily started asking questions without giving the adults enough time to explain the situation. "I know I haven't seen her in some time. I thought she was sick or something when I ask around, but now you're saying you're going to be my new caretaker."
"Lily…" Dr. Johnson began to speak but had the same results as Amanda.
Lily shook her head as she took a shaky step back from them clutching her head. "I'm not stupid you know! I know Marie hasn't been in the right head space since she lost her family three years ago. I was surprised that she came back not long after. I wouldn't blame her if she didn't come back or anything, but she did anyways. And she always tells me when she is leaving and when she'll be back." Her blue eyes landed on Amanda "The fact that your going to be my new caretaker can only mean that she left…" Her voice began to tremble "And she didn't say anything to me…"
"…" Amanda can't say she fully understands what Lily is feeling. For she had experience something similar with her own mother many years ago. However, there is a difference between her mother and Lily's and that's…
"Lily, you are right in assuming that Marie has left Playtime but not willing."
"Amanada…!" Dr. Johnson exclaimed in shock. She could hear the waring tone in his voice. She looks over at him and shook her head giving him a look that read 'trust me'.
"What do you mean?" Lily asked.
"Well…" Amanda begins "We also notice she wasn't doing well, and our supervisors told Marie she couldn't come back to work till she got check out."
Lily slowly nods her head in understanding; however, a frown quickly forms on her face. "But that was four months ago, wouldn't that mean she'd be back by now?"
Amanda sadly shook her head. "Sadly no, after the doctors evaluated Marie, they deem she is unfit to work."
"What!?"
"But!" She quickly cut in holding up a hand. "That doesn't mean she can't come back." She ignored the sharp look Dr. Johnson is sending her. She knows she's pushing some boundaries here telling Lily all of this. Granted it's the sugar coated version of the real truth. She honestly thinks she's doing everyone a favor by going this route, as one way or another Lily will be poking around for the truth, so giving a slight truthful answer it'll keep her from wanting to know more. "Right now, she is undergoing some treatment. If all goes well and the treatment goes as planned, she'll be back here in no time."
Even though she knows what goes on behind these doors of Playtime she still can't help the feeling of her gut curling in her stomach at the hopeful look that appeared in Lily's eyes.
"Really? She'll be back!"
"Yes. And before you ask, I don't know when she'll be back. It all depends on her and how she handles the treatment." She explained. "So…until she does come back, I'll be filling in that role in the meantime."
"…" Lily was silent for a moment as she processes what she heard. "So…you'll be a temporary care taker till, Marie comes back?"
"That's right. And I know I'm not Marie and I'm definitely not trying to replace the role she had in your life, but I do hope we can get along and become friends. Does that sound good?"
"I suppose…" Lily began "I'm not really good dealing with adults. Though as long you have a good sense of humor we might get along."
"Guess we'll have to wait and see huh?" Amanda chuckled, earning a similar one from Lily.
"...ly"
"…ily"
"Lily!?"
"…!?"
When my eyes shot right open everything was bright and blurry at first, till it slowly came back to focus. 'I passed out…again? This is going to be a major pain if it keeps happening with every flashback.' I hazily thought looking up to see the worried—or well attempted worried—faces of Huggy and Bunzo looking down. At least this time they're not right in my face like last time.
Huggy made some low growling noise as he pushes his arm under my back and another across my chest, as he helps me sit up. And wow my head really hurts. "!" A painful groan escaped through my lips as I held a hand up to my pounding forehead.
"Are you okay, Lily?" I can hear the worry in Bunzo voice as he held his paws up, unsure if he should be touching me or not.
I gave him a small smile in return. "Sort of. My head is hurting is all, from remember an unpleasant memory." I look back down at my lap recalling the memories of her death and our first meeting.
"Once Marie is all better, she'll be back in no time!"
"…A memory I wished I'd never recalled. That lying bitch." I cursed under my breath clenching my hands. After saying that I could see Bunzo tilting his head from the corner of my eye.
"I thought you like her. Unless I'm mistaken?" He questioned. "Truthfully, I was a bit hesitant in telling you what Mommy did to her."
Well…my feeling regarding Amanda Stirling have always been complicated as far as I can remember. "…" I let out a deep sigh brushing Huggy's arms off of me—giving him a grateful smile in thanks—as I stood back up to my feet. "It was more of tolerance than anything else. I neither like nor dislike her. Always felt like she was keeping stuff from me." Flashes of images of a woman with messy red hair, kind greens eyes flash through my mind.
"Sophie! Lily! Come here I have some exciting news to share with you!"
"What is it mom?"
"Yeah, what is it Mrs. Maire?"
"Haha! Lily how many times must I tell you to drop the 'Mrs'?"
"Opps? I forgot."
"*Sigh* What am I going to do with you?"
"Take her ice-cream privilege away?"
"Wha-!?"
"Hmm…that doesn't sound like a bad idea."
"What!? No! Sophie! I promise I won't do it again, Marie!"
Those warm smiles and caring green eyes always made me feel safe.
"Hmm~Hmm~…"
"Hey what's that song, Mommy?"
"Hm? …I don't know. It just came to me."
"Oh? It sounds familiar though."
"That so?"
"Yeah! From an old friend."
"I see…" Soft kind green eyes filled my view as Mommy smiled down. "So how do you want to do your hair today?"
"Braids!"
'Kind green eyes…' Now that I'm looking back Marie and Mommy both have the same eyes. The warmth and gentleness that shine through them. Or…well they did…before… "!?" A haunting thought pass through my mind 'Could it be that...?'
"Right now, she is undergoing some treatment. If all goes well and the treatment goes as planned, she'll be back here in no time."
Could it be that Marie and Mommy are…No! It's too soon to tell, but the possibility is still there. There's a fourth month gap from when I last saw Marie before meeting Amanda and seven months later when I first saw Mommy.
Large pink figure covered in wires and dark stains that she could make out. Green eyes look up at her with confusion written in them.
"…" I narrowed my eyes at that passing memory. Thinking about it I don't recall Mommy ever mention her past life before…or asking. Damn it younger me! If only you were a bit more curious, I could have some answers solved by now.
"Lily?"
"…Huh?"
I was snapped out of my thoughts at Bunzo voice. Looking over I can still see the worried look in his black glassy eyes. Thinking about Marie and Mommy situation had me remembering asking Huggy if he recalled anything—to which he did not—I could ask Bunzo if he knows but…we are a bit on crunch time. Still though…
"Sorry. Got lost in thought again, but I'm okay now!"
Bunzo tilted his head even further and if he could frown, he would definitely be doing that, seeing I can feel the disbelief rolling off of him.
"I promise I'm fine! Anyway…" I bent down picking up my recorder from the ground. "I know we should hurry up and complete Mommy task, but it's been some time since we last played. How about we play again? For good old time's sake."
I can tell Bunzo is delighted upon hearing that as the smile on his face grew and had a small hop in his steps as he ran to pick up his cymbals from the ground.
"Someone is happy!" I chuckled watching him clip them back on.
"Of course! It's been over 10 years since we last played!" Bunzo chirped back excitedly, before looking down at his instruments with a look of nostalgia appearing. "After you left…I honestly wasn't quite sure if we'd ever get the chance to play again."
"…"
The small tinge of pain that shot through my heart upon hearing that. Even though it wasn't my fault, I still can't help but feel a bit guilty for leaving…and not remembering them. I got to live a decent life and yet they…
"Well…I'm here now! And I don't plan on leaving ever again." I told him. I don't know how, but once I remembered everything and finding the others, I won't be leaving them behind again. It'll be tricky figuring out how to take them all back with me. Much less figuring out living situations, no way is this place still livable and going back home is a big no.
"Here's to praying that muscle memory is on my side. It's been sometime since I've last played this."
Bunzo held his cymbals up "Should I just play a random sound in go from there?"
"Might be for the best." I sheepishly chuckled then look over to Huggy. "Hey Huggy, do you want to play along?"
Huggy twitch in surprise when I called out to him, pointing a hand to himself in a questioning manner.
"Yeah, you can hum along if you want. I feel a bit bad in leaving you out since there's no other instruments here."
"You sure about that, Lily?"
"Hm? What do you mean?" I asked Bunzo.
"I mean Huggy doesn't have the greatest signing voice compared to Kissy. To be frank, he's terrible!"
"…"
I have no words to respond to that. Huggy on the other hand did.
THWACK
"OW!?" Bunzo yelp holding a paw up to his head glaring up at Huggy—who return the favor— "The heck was that for!?" A loud angry growl and waving his hand around is the response he got. "Well, I'm sorry you can't handle the truth!"
"Alright that enough you too!" I hurriedly cut in, stepping in between the two before a fight broke out. "Glad to know your relationship hasn't changed after all these years…" I mumbled before letting out a sigh before looking over at Bunzo. "Bunzo!" At the tone of my voice Bunzo instantly straighten up "Whether Huggy was a good signing voice or not, it's not right to poke fun at him."
"But—"
"But nothing!" I looked over at Huggy, who seemed a bit pleased at me scolding Bunzo, though that quickly changed when I turn my ire on him instead. "And Huggy, even though Bunzo made fun of you it's not right to hit him."
"!?" Huggy gapped down at me in disbelief. Probably remembering the times, I lash out at others when I was younger. And yeah, probably a pot meets kettle moment, but I was young! I would like to think I mature a bit after all these years. Huggy grumbled under his breath rolling his eyes as he turns away with a pout.
Well. Someone's a bit grouchy.
"Honestly you two…" I groaned. I'm starting to understand how Marie and Mommy felt when they were dealing with my troublesome self. Sorry Marie but if there was a way I would go back in time and apologize! "Alright, enough of the pouting, we got a song to play!" I cleared my throat holding up the recorder to my mouth. "Let's see if I still remember the basic notes first."
Just as I was about to blow into the mouth piece. Bunzo head suddenly shot up as if he remembered something. "Lily, wait! I forgot to clean it!"
"Hm?"
By the time I register what was being said I had already blown into the instrument and a big ball of dust burst out.
Poof!
"Wha-!?" In my shock I accidentally inhaled some of the dusk, proceeding me into having a full blown coughing fit.
"Lily!?"
"Gah!?"
Both Bunzo and Huggy cried out in shock as I kneeled over hacking my lungs out trying to clear the dust from my throat.
So…this is how I'm going to die huh?
Hell of a way to go…
"Ahh, Lily hang in there! Water, do you have water!?"
Ah…water sounds nice right now…
But it's the one thing I forgot to pack…
"…Ha…ha…ha…HHHAAaaaa…" I groaned out rubbing my throat still feel some dust tingling in the back. "God that was awful…"
"Are you feeling better now?" Bunzo ask handing me the—now—clean recorder.
"Yeah. I'm good now." I cough one last time brushing Huggy hand off my back giving him a small thanks. Grabbing the recorder, I held it up to my lips one more time—and also praying we don't have a repeat again.
"Alright, your move, Bunzo."
Bunzo nods his head holding up his cymbals and started to lightly tap them together in a gently rhythm. Increasing the sounds here and there. As I listen, I slowly began to play the recorder testing out some sounds before finding a good rhythm and in no time a song begin to form. There was no particular name of the song, just music filling the air as it was just long lost friends coming back again to play, after some many years of separation.
As we played gentle memories of the past flowed in of the times the two us and other toys got together and played random songs. Most of the time the beat was always off but we didn't care, just enjoying the fun we had.
I could faintly hear Huggy humming in a low tone every now and then, feeling my body slowly swaying.
When the song came to an end, a deep feeling of nostalgia filled me as I look down at the recorder. "…" Gripping the instrument, I quickly wiped my eye that was starting to get a bit watery. "Feels good to play with you again after all these years." I chuckle, putting the recorder in my bag.
"Hm." Bunzo nods looking down at his own instrument. "It really is. I'm happy."
"…" I blink at his response before a soft smile form on my face. "Me too." I look over at Huggy "Looks like you've been practicing too, Huggy! You sound much better from last time." Huggy twitch in response before shyly turning his head with a grunted. Awe…someone's blushing! Well…if he could, but the point still stands!
"Hmph, I guess he did improve a bit." Bunzo grumbled, which spark Huggy to start growling at him.
"Hey, let's not do this again!" I cut in before another fight breaks out. I hope these two don't keep acting like this the whole time, or this trip is going to be a nightmare.
"Sorry/Rgh." They both of apologize. Yeah…a long journey ahead of us.
I heavy a deep sigh of exhaustion already feeling tired. "Let's…just get out of here, we've delayed a bit to long for my liking."
"R-Right." The two nodded and moved on over the bridge ahead of us, as I was getting ready to follow them a flash of pink move from the corner of my eyes.
"Huh?" I paused in my steps looking over at the exam room. "Was that…?" It couldn't be right? I thought Mommy had already left. Maybe I'm seeing things.
"Is something wrong?"
Hearing Bunzo voice I look back over to seem already halfway across the bridge.
"Sorry thought I saw something!" I responded and moving along. The two made it fully across the bridge when I got over. However halfway through a loud groaning noise was heard. "What the…?"
Before I could do anything a loud snapping sound echo throughout the room and the next thing, I know the front part of the bridge collapsed down and I go sliding.
"!?"
"LILY!?"
Everything felt like it went in slow motion when I fell down. The gate to the Musical Memory shut down in front of me, blocking Huggy and Bunzo on the other side as the last thing I saw was their panic faces.
And then, when I tumbled to the ground a loud snaping sound was heard along with the screams of me yelling out in pain.
SNAP
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
Heyo do I see an update after all this time!
Jokes aside I do apologize about the wait, a lot of things went down and this chapter was a massive pain to write. I'm not full proud of it but it's what was working with me so it is what it is.
Anyways I have some VERY IMPORTANT ANNOCUMENT!
I have some good news and some bad news!
First the good news!
This story just received it's very first fanart by Mewx42! It's a picture of Lily and Craftycorn from the smiling critters. Thanks again for the lovely art and also a big thank you for helping out with some ideas for the story! You can see the image on AO3 under the same username.
Also I'll be posting a side story later called Memories of the forgotten past. (And credit again to Mewx42 for help coming up with the title) This story will hold memories of Lily and other characters that couldn't make into the main story without it making it VERY LONG. There's so much I want to tell but a lot of times I don't know where to put it at and just cross them out. So I'm going to put them over there. We'll have past memories and Pov of other characters to get some more insight of what's going on.
Right now the first three chapters will be told through Poppy, Huggy (Though still debating on that one) and Amanda (Hers is the continuation of the flashback of this chapter. There were a lot more I wanted to share but couldn't because I would have to split the chapter...AGAIN! So it's going over there) There will be one with Lily's Uncle, don't know when I'll do that one.
And also bigger news though it's not link MultifandomWriter445 had wrote a story inspired by this story called Poppy Playtime: Shattered Memories so go check it out! Is also on AO3.
So now on to the bad news.
This story is going to be on a temporary hold. And I know some of you might not like this after all this wait for chapter 7 but I do have a good reason and it NOT because I'm losing interests in this story.
Let me explain.
I have stated some time ago that I'll need to go back and do a massive overhaul of this story once I know the timeline of things. And well after the game trailer of chapter three we see the date 1995 and a lot of us believe this is when the fall of playtime took place. So if you add 10 years the game will take place in 2005 not what ever date I had mark down (I forgot what I wrote.)
So, as of now I'm going back to rework on chapters 1-4 plus a bonus chapter. And I HIGHLY recommend that when they are reposted to PLEASE go back and reread them! Because I'll be adding new stuff that I think are important to know.
Now as for the bonus chapter it'll be label prologue as I have been thinking of a better way to write this story and wanted to do that. (You'll see what I mean when it's posted).
I'll make things a bit easier for the older readers and will leave notes at the top of each chapter explaining what to read. Chapter 1 you got mail, I recommended you read the whole thing. Chapter 2 A tight squeeze, read the beginning part up till she meets Huggy and read the part when she meets Poppy as there will be more added scenes to the story. The in-between will be the same not much to fix there. Chapter 3 will probably need you to reread the whole thing but I'll let you guys know in the notes. Don't know about Chapter 4 just yet that needs to be fix but will let you know.
I am thinking of deleting chapter 5 and moving it over to the side story. Since I only posted it to just get something out there, and a lot of times I still think it's out of place to the main story. I don't know just yet but what do you guys think?
And lastly for the news, when you get the news and see a chapter called prologue being posted that means all four chapters have been fix and I'm currently working on chapter 8. I'm hoping to get all the editing done before the new years but since I'm going to be busy I do know if I will or not.
Sorry again for the wait and also the news but I believe I need to go back now and fix things while I can and not worry about it later.