just got back from an international internship but that won't stop me!
Goldie: only bad internet connection or writer block will stop you
*huge grin* I do not have to worry about the internet, what I have now is really good!
Goldie: so, only writer block?
I wish, but my education school demands most of my time *sighs* so annoying... but it will be worth it in the end.
Goldie: *chuckles*
enjoy the story!
"Rena and Thomas installed an entertainment program into you. I am unsure how much it will affect you, but I will ask Rena to remove it now there's no longer a need for it." Mike explains to his friends while eating the pizza Chica made for him. He does almost choke on the pizza when Spring remarks awfully casual. "Oh, that's why I suddenly remember a bunch of stories. Found that a bit weird."
Recovering from almost choking on a piece of pizza, Mike tells the hare. "Rena installed you and Goldie to read up for the kids. Jeremy is the one who came up with what books she should install." And asks a bit worried. "Should I ask her to remove them?"
"No need." Spring waves Mike's question off, he's not at all bothered by it.
Right, but what about the others? Mike turns to his four friends. "What about you?"
"I would appreciate it if you removed the stories stuck in my head." Foxy replies as he prefers to make them up on his own.
Mike says he will ask Rena about it, for he doubts he should try. "I'm not a computer technician; probably screw something up if I try."
"Doubt you can screw up Foxy further." Bonnie remarks grinning, that grin does disappear right away when Foxy suddenly pulls one of his ears. "Auv! Stop that mutt!" He snaps and whacks out after the now grinning fox.
"Hey, Mike, I think something is wrong with long-ear here." Foxy calls as he pretends to give Bonnie's trapped ear a scan for damage. "For, all I am seeing are lot of loose bolts inside his head!"
"Buzz off!" Bonnie sneers and pushes Foxy down from the table, he then shoots Chica, Mike and Spring a glare from laughing at the whole thing.
Theo in the other hand: "I don't get it..." He muses, thinking that Bonnie literally has loose bolts inside of him. Which would be a painful affair, but from how the others are laughing; he has a feeling it's more of a joke than a need for repairs.
"You will understand it someday." Spring tells the confused kid, still chuckling at the small mocking scene between Foxy and Bonnie.
Mike laughs lightly, however broken by a yawn.
"Someone seems a bit tired." Chica remarks and checks the clock with the suggestion. "You should get some rest."
But Mike doubts he can, he is still so happy that his friends are back. "I can handle a single day without sleep." He tells her.
Chica shrugs and lets him be, but does say. "Don't come whining if you fall asleep on the job."
Bonnie smirks of the mental image he gets of Mike sleeping while standing. If that happens he will seriously take a picture.
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Mike did go to bed an hour later, and with Mike back in bed. Goldie figures he better put the others up to date of what has been happening. "Mike didn't mention it, but we have been gone for a year." The others either gasp or their eyes wide in response to this news.
"it's really been that long?" Spring asks quietly and his worries increase of who they had left behind without a warning. "How are the others? My brother, my son, Scott? Are they doing alright?" He has this weird looming sense that his brother is not doing well. Goldie turns to him, the gleam in those red eyes does not ease his worries.
"Your boy and Scott are doing fine." His friend replies but it does help on this bad feeling Spring has.
"What about my brother?" Spring presses, the golden bear hesitates which did not really help. "Did something happen to him?"
The others' eyes Goldie, now worried too.
Goldie had hoped he could've waited on this but, well, maybe it's best they know what has been going on lately. "Jeremy was attacked by a black spirit; a ghost corrupted by negative emotions. He is alive but this black spirit has left its mark on him. A woman- Mrs. Grey is currently having therapy sessions with him that should help him recover."
Chica straightens up slightly by hearing that name, she does recall her last name as a human is the same and remembers Mike told her grandmother is a psychotherapist, she does wonder if she can meet her again.
Freddy too recalls something, but not from when he last was possessing this body. "A black spirit attacked Jeremy…?" He muses in ponder but no matter how much he tries he cannot grasp these memories peaking up from the surface of his mainframe. Eyeing his brother. "I- I don't know why, but what you said sounds awfully familiar. Like... I have been in a fistfight with this person- or thing."
"I'm surprised you even can recall this much." Goldie remarks surprised that Freddy has memories of the encounter with the Twisted One. He ended up telling them all about Soren and Hope and their former guardian got corrupted by the black spirit the children went to call the Twisted One. "Kate's husband is a lawyer and the same man who helped Scott gaining to rights to us at the former restaurant." He explains them and tells that Askr needed papers from the children's father/uncle in order to help them gain the guardianships right over them. Jeremy volunteered to go and get William Afton's signature. "We knew there was a danger doing so, that's why I asked you to follow Jeremy. And in a lucky stroke out of a ton of bad luck, you warned Mike of what had happened even after you got quite the beating from the Twisted One. Because of this, Mike got to Jeremy in time and Spring saved his brother from the Twisted One's control."
Spring's ears raise in recognition of what Goldie has told them. "Now that you mention it, I do recall protecting someone important against something evil and twisted." And shivers just thinking about it. "I do not want to meet that monster again…"
Neither will he but from what has Goldie told them. "I think we will see to Twisted One more in the future…" Everyone eyes Foxy when the fox points out somberly. "People with such obsessions won't stop until they get what they want." Adding with a shrug. "And I have no idea how I know this."
BonBon whimpers at the mere thought that a monster will attack their home, Chiara folds her wings over his shoulders as comfort and asks the older animatronics. "Isn't there something we can do?"
Fortunately, there is good news in all of this mess. "There is; as a black spirit, Twisted One gains strength on negative emotions such as anger and fear, while positive emotions such as happiness and the bond family share weaken it." Goldie waves his arms out to their home in the form of the restaurant. "As long this place is filled with joy; no black spirit will approach the place."
"That black rabbit spirit did." Chica points out and asks Goldie. "Won't the Twisted One be able as well?"
"True, but back when that spirit came here, the restaurant was filled with dread from what happened to the others— let me explain this first." Goldie interrupts himself when Freddy opens his mouth. Freddy closes it and Goldie turns back to explain what he has observed with the black spirits and his own powers. "When things return to normal, us entertaining people and have fun doing it. Then that rabbit black spirit would've been greatly weakened and thus completely harmless. And if Twisted One attacks on a more bad day then both I and Spring can fight it."
"Huh?" Spring blinks at what Goldie said. "Last I recall, I do not have powers like you." Goldie smirks to him and explains, much to the hare's confusion. "Your powers only show when those you care about are in danger." Okay? Spring frowns by this but for now will leave it at that, as there is no need to know more right this moment.
With this settled, Goldie now can answer whatever question Freddy has. "What is it that bothers you?"
"Before… we died again, I remember Vincent revealed... he was our killer." Freddy says.
"WHAT?!" Bonnie exclaims in shock, the Toys and the others minus Spring are quite startled hearing this. BonBon is more scared though since he always got bad vibes from that man. "That sonofabitch!" Bonnie shouts and for once Freddy did not call out he swore. And if Vincent is the killer then; Bonnie has a bone to pick with him. "Where is he now?" He demands angrily, not sure what he would do, only that it will hurt a hell of a lot on the man who took their lives all those years ago.
"Vincent is dead." Goldie replies Bonnie calmly, well, as calmly he can about that whole topic about their murder. "Marion killed him and for some reason, that caused the release of our souls." Can't say he feels sorry from how Vincent died, but he does towards Marion as he did exactly what he was trying to fight against. He fully thought Marion would be gone for good, but it's clear the puppet is still around, watching over them as he did fulfill their wishes in returning them back to their animatronic forms. Why the puppet didn't do it sooner is a mystery. "I admit it came as a big surprise when Marion showed up tonight." Goldie tells the others since the puppet made it very clear the last time that he did not want to be in the realm of the living.
"I have a feeling he still has some unfinished business." Spring muses and that Goldie can fully agree on, too bad they can't help Marion with his problems but it's hard to help someone who does not want their help.
Freddy checks the clock and although he still has a lot of questions, they do have responsibilities and in order to perform their best, they need to charge for the rest of the night. "It's getting late, we better rest up so we are ready for the show tomorrow." He suggests. The others nod and after have cleaned up from the night snack, the animatronics heads to each of their stages.
Joining Spring at the book corner, Goldie is relieved he can feel his body's drowsiness from low battery and for once sleep the lonely hours away.
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Early the next day, a very excited Mike calls Rena and tells her to come to Freddy earlier than she usually would, adds: "Oh and bring Thomas with you."
Rena is very confused to this request. "Um okay? Something wrong with the animatronics?" She asks, not aware of the miracle that happened last night and Mike really want her to find that out herself. Keeping his mouth shut is quite hard though. "Just come as soon as possible, it will be worth it." He tells her and decides to end the call before he starts opening his mouth about what has happened.
Rena stares at her phone, annoyed and confused to Mike's weird behavior. "This better be worth it." She grumbles and starts to pack her stuff. Jess leaves the bathroom, hair still damp from the bath and he frowns when he notices she is leaving, usually it's him leaving the apartment first. "You're leaving early." He remarks and grabs a clean blouse from the cupboard. "Something wrong with the robots at Freddy's?"
Rena shrugs. "Don't know, Mike wouldn't tell. Only it sounded really important that I and Thomas got there early." She kisses him goodbye and leaves.
Like the other times, Rena drives over to the Fitzgerald family home and has to explain to Thomas's mother that his side job acquires him so he needs to skip today's lessons at his school.
"Must be very important." Annabelle muses, Rena sure hopes so too, Jeremy told her and Mike that Thomas only should be called from his school if something broke and they needed that machine really badly. "Mike wouldn't have called if it wasn't." She tells the mother and Mike better have a good excuse for this, otherwise she will be more than miffed at this stunt he pulled off.
Annabelle nods and calls Thomas school, fortunately, they let him get the day off to attend his apprenticeship. The moment Thomas returns, Rena signs him to jump into the car and the two head to Freddy's.
The mute young man eyes her confused but all she can tell him that Mike made it sound very important. "He refused to tell me why, though, but he sounded like he won a million." Thomas raises a brow at this, but Rena did take notice of the anticipation expression he got and even she admits she feels a certain excitement as well. Winning a million wouldn't cause Mike this form of excitement, only one thing would and that is something they all have been hoping for.
They arrive at Freddy's, Thomas apparently can't endure the suspense for barely has she stopped the car before the old teen leaps out and runs to the restaurant. Rena follows soon after but does at least try and do it in a calm and collected manner.
This all got thrown out from the window the second she sees the animatronics moving around and has a gleam of life in their eyes never seen when they weren't possessed. She squeals and before her brother in form of Freddy can prepare himself, she tackles him into a hug and only his bigger and heavy size kept him from toppling over. "You're back! Oh, I am so happy- I've missed you sooo much!" Rena cries into his furry chest.
"I missed you too..." Freddy replies weakly, his face twisted in pain from practically getting attacked by his overjoyed sister, he does wonder how Rena knows the truth but figures Mike told her in this one-year timespan. Casting a glance at the brunette he, did indeed guess correct from the shrug along with a smile Mike gives him.
Rena notices his discomfort and steps back. "I'm sorry!" She apologizes with hands up to her mouth and asks worriedly. "Something wrong with your systems?"
Caressing his chest pounding in pain from the tackle, Freddy explains her and the two other humans. "No no, systems fine. It's just, well getting your soul stuffed into a robot body hurts and takes some getting used to."
"Hope did mention this." Mike realizes and this does make him ponder if they made the right choice in wishing for the souls to return to animatronics'. "How bad is it?"
"Don't worry Mike, we are used to this." Foxy replies, carefully folds his arm over Vixy's shoulder as a one-armed hug. "We went through this back when Marion put us into our robot bodies the first time and that hurt a lot more back then."
Spring nods in agreement, smiling down to his son on his lap. "These bodies are way more comfortable than our past forms." Thomas smiles falter for a moment, and Spring realizes he unintentionally reminded his boy about his broken form- the form that caused Thomas's muteness. Spring breaks the eye contact, regret welling up in him, does snap out from it when Thomas puts a hand on his face. His son's eyes show no sign he wants any form of revenge, only the genuine joy he is here at his side again. Spring smiles, the regret might never fade but the genuine joy that Thomas still loves him overshadow these negative emotions and he hugs his son, who is as well so happy to be reunited with his father again.
Mike watches the heartfelt scene between father and son, hard not to smile at it. Does fade as he turns to his friends, asking them. "Should we be more careful with you being extra sensitive to pain?"
"Nah," Bonnie replies and starts to strum on his guitar, it's a bit hard with his soul partly struggling against the seal holding him in this body and he is not fully in sync with his sensory system anymore. "Takes more than this before I start crying." He tells the humans.
Freddy rolls his eyes at Bonnie's words, although he does sorta agree. "Don't worry about us, we will tell you if it gets too much. But-" He eyes the Toys, unlike them, the kids' threshold for pain is not as high as theirs. "I suggest you will be more mindful around the Toys. They are after all still kids."
"We can handle it." Vixy grumbles, she has endured similar pain back in their former home. Chiara does have other ideas though. "Not all of us are as thickskinned as you." Vixey shoots the other girl a small glare. "Oh, excuse me, princess." Which Chiara returns and angrily nods down to BonBon who is not handling it so well. The youngest of the animatronics has tears in his green eyes and keep stroking his hands over his chest. Vixey's ears drop in regret but are too proud to apologize that she hasn't been considering BonBon's feelings.
Theo does not speak, unbeknown to anyone, his mind is wandering to the man he thought cared about him but turned out to be the person who ended his life as a human and used him as an animatronic. That puts his thoughts on a dark path in wondering; does anyone truly cares about him…?
"We will be extra mindful around the Toys." Mike promises to Freddy, not aware of the conflicts going on with the kids of the robots. He is just too happy to notice anything other than the joy that things are living up again for the restaurant.
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About a half hour before opening, Scott and Jeremy arrive and like the others, the great surprise and sheer joy to see the animatronics back is nothing but heartfelt. The gang all gather around Scott, one although they know is not; still sees as their father. While Jeremy's full attention is on his brother, he wraps his arms around the hare's head, hiding his tears in between the hare's ears. Spring is more open in showing his tears from the genuine emotions to be once again reunited with his brother who has endured so much pain these past weeks.
Soren and Hope join them soon after, Hope is more than caught off guard seeing the spirits been sealed into the animatronics and she casts a question glance to Soren, but gets no answer from him other than he too looks quite confused but also worried. She is too, for does this mean they no longer can stay? She asks the managers about it, however, it is the brown bear animatronic that replies her.
"This place is as much your home as it is ours." Freddy tells the two children, they might not have been those who brought them back but Goldie did mention to him that he suspected that Marion only brought them back because of these two fellow Mediums. Soren and Hope need their protection and Freddy will not tolerate them being thrown out to the monster of Twisted One when they can offer them a place to call home. "You are welcome to stay here so long as you like."
The two Mediums lets out a breath of relief neither knew they held and more at ease, they head to the kitchen for some breakfast.
Freddy calls for the others attention, reminding them that they have a duty as the restaurants animatronics. "I hate to cut the reunion short but we should get to our stages before the employees arrive."
Goldie laughs. "Good idea, they didn't take my return very well. So I figure if we do not behave just bit like robots, we will deal with a mass quitting." And along with the chuckling Spring, heads back to the Game Room.
The Toys is about to follow but Spring stops them and tells them. "It's alright if you want to skip the show for a time. I'm sure the show can handle it without you for a week or so."
Theo, Chiara and BonBon look quite relieved by this while Vixey still has this tough girl attitude going. "I have dealt with worse, few aches won't bring me down." and she heads over to Foxy's cove. Spring notes himself to remind Foxy to keep an eye on her in case Vixey is overexerting herself.
Turning to the others who have fortunately learned it's alright to step back and recover. "I'll tell the others you will be off the show for a time." They nod and walk downstairs. Spring gets hold on Scott and tells him that Chiara, BonBon and Theo do not feel up to doing the show.
"Better tell Rena this, she programmed you all to do a Halloween show." Scott replies and is not sure how much that program will affect them.
Spring blinks at this, seems like he hasn't noticed that program before now. "Huh? Oh, better tell her then." The hare agrees and heads out to find her.
Mostly just catching up a conversation between the animatronics and also bit more heartwarming reunion between them and their families. I remember some of you really wanted Rena to know who Freddy really is. In Facing the Past, she learned the truth but back then Mike thought Freddy and the others were gone for good.
So it's good to know he was wrong and the two Legrand siblings can get reunited once again. Same with Jeremy and his brother Martin, although I think Jeremy is really hating on how much he is tearing up lately XD
suggestion to future chapters will be really nice, and it will give you a chance to get scenes you want to see in this story.
but until then: I will see you the next time