Here it is chapter 28, nearly a month since the last one, but these things take their time and I appreciate your patience. :-)
At the same time, I want to say that FNAF 6 has dropped, although no doubt you are properly all aware of that and...that's it, Five Nights at Freddy's is over, done and dusted.
Felt like it would have gone on forever, although obviously it can't, but still.
However we do have another story on the way after the Twisted Ones and the film which I hope does well when it finally turns up.
Apparently according to Scott Cawthon it has an 'exciting' cast addition. ;-)
This chapter is a little bit bigger than the last one, but I'm proud of it.
There is a song in this one, it's Purple by MandoPony and I think it fits quite well.
Plus there a few new developments and references in this one...
Also yes, GoldenToyChica, thank you for your review, yes the Nightmares are in for one hell of a time...much later on.
Enjoy
Edit - Hey all, just to let you know, the next chapter will properly come out in the New Year, so Merry Christmas and Happy 2018. :-)
Chapter 28.
A Light In The Dark.
"In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present."
Francis Bacon.
The constant humming of the electrics, the subtle whispers of the endoskeletons and the sound of the wind rippling against the rough surface of Lake Michigan outside could only temporarily break the silence that engulfed the cockpit.
Vincent sat slouched back in the pilot's chair with his eyes closed.
He wasn't asleep as his appearance might suggest, but rather was resting his eyes, as he mentally tossed and turned in deep thought.
What was on his mind disturbed him greatly, he needed the silence to truly focus and silence his thoughts.
"Would it matter if they knew why I did it?" he asked, voicing his thoughts out loud.
"Would they understand…would they even care?"
He sighed, slumping forward, thinking of what action could be taken next, he was good at planning, but it was hard at times to get everything right.
Without the Nightmares around, he could at least have some time to himself.
xxx
"Sometimes it feels like I'm in a dream…or…a nightmare."
"But I'm awake, and, I'm doing things but…I'm…not meaning to do them."
"And even though it's a nightmare…I feel…happy inside."
xxx
At times he had wondered how things had so easily spiraled into chaos, had things been simpler before 1983?
It hadn't been made any easier by the tragic event in 1977, which had brought about the ugly incident outside Fredbear's Family Diner a year later. The past held a romantic nostalgia to it, seeing it through rose tinted glass and Vincent liked it.
It meant he didn't need to look at recent events, like the ones which had carried him to this point in time.
xxx
"I've done some things in my life that you may think are crazy."
"A little different from the rest, I get my pleasure from the pain."
"I've got some ghosts who follow me, you may think I'm crazy, but in the night, I know I feel alright."
xxx
Before him on the cockpit desk lay several folders each one from the archives of the now dead Fazbear Entertainment company.
When the company collapsed in the early to mid-1990s, it was a frantic free for all as every employee took whatever they wanted from the company as it no longer held any assets. Thus, it was quite easy for Vincent who had been with the company since 1980, to just walk in, grab what he needed and leave.
It was part of his long-term plan, rebuild, scheme and wait…let the Fazbears fall into a false sense of security and then strike. He soon found out that a lot of the company's former assets which had been left behind held no financial value.
But value doesn't always have to be financial…
To his complete surprise with some help from the files which he took, he discovered an abandoned depot stocked with rows upon rows of idle endoskeletons. It was understandable if one were to ask what was the point of having endoskeletons around if the entertainers were all humans?
The reason for the endoskeletons existing in the first place was because back in 1981 when the company was booming with financial success, they had decided to set up several quote on quote 'Sister Locations' with the entertainers being robots designed to look like humans. The overall result they hoped was to be a massive increase in revenue and popularity, as using robots would be far more cheaper than hiring actual people.
And judging by the vast number of endoskeletons Vincent found stored inside the old depot, they clearly had big plans.
xxx
"I SEE SPIRITS ALL AROUND ME AS I TRY TO UNDERSTAND, WHAT MAKES ME DO THE THINGS I DO, TO EVERYONE AROUND ME!"
"AND I BET YOU NEVER KNEW I COULD HAVE REGRETS
FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU SEE RED!"
"BUT ALL I SEE IS PURPLE INSTEAD!"
xxx
Unfortunately, fate thought otherwise with the Bite of 1983, quickly followed by the First Missing Children's Incident.
Those events derailed everything with the company's assets losing value so they couldn't sell them, but nor did they wish to destroy them in case an opportunity for establishing a sister location ever reappeared.
So they took the third option and proceeded to put all of the endoskeletons into storage, where they remained for a complete decade until Vincent found them and put them to good use. A little re-wiring, a little bit of essential reprograming and soon before you know it you have your own endoskeleton army, loyal to bitter end and capable of fulfilling all sorts of tasks.
Vincent smiled at the idea of robot entertainers, why not make them into animals with Freddy being a robotic bear, Bonnie being made into a robotic bunny, Chica was now a robotic chicken and Foxy turning into a robotic pirate fox.
It could work, children did like animals after all.
However, with the Fazbears being possessed by dead children, then every night, when the establishment closed up for the day and nightguard began their six-hour shift, the robots already possessed would roam the place, stalking the nightguard. Vincent could see it being played out in his mind's eye, the night guard would have to survive by carefully preserving their power supply, watching the cameras, checking the lights and closing the doors to stop them from getting into the office.
Finally, if the nightguard lived to see six am, then the robots would follow their basic programing and return to the stage.
If not…then the nightguard would have the most unfortunate experience of being stuffed alive inside a suit and crushed to death.
A lightbulb lit up inside his head.
"Now that…" he stated, laughing in the process.
"Would make a very good horror game."
He clicked his fingers.
"In fact, note to self, alternative career path…horror game developer."
However, he was in no position to create such a thing, but maybe if someone else had a creative talent for gaming, then perhaps such an idea would come to life.
His mind then shifted back to his original subject…. the purpose of what he had done, the reason behind everything.
xxx
"I smile in the face of what's to come, we can try but we can't run from the fate we bring upon ourselves."
"It's just a dream, it's just a dream, but that doesn't mean my waking life is not a nightmare."
xxx
He had resigned himself to whatever fate may befall him, he accepted it before the first Missing Children's Incident.
He would follow the Fazbears to the bitter end, to the ends of the earth, even if it meant his death.
Why…for what exact purpose?
xxx
"I SEE SPIRITS ALL AROUND ME AS I TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MAKES ME DO THE THINGS I DO, TO EVERYONE AROUND ME!"
"AND I BET YOU NEVER KNEW I COULD HAVE REGRETS FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU SEE RED!"
"BUT ALL I SEE IS PURPLE INSTEAD!"
xxx
The truth is that he did have regrets for what he did...although he had never shown it to anyone.
When he was alone he could question himself, his actions and whether it was all worth it. Everyone else suspected he was having issues…but they never dared to ask, he was just the suit specialist, helping other staff members fit inside the SpringBonnie suit at Fredbear and Friends, a suit which turned out to be very useful later on…for murder.
The same could be said of his time at Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria, he just fulfilled his role as the average daytime staff member.
Slowly he reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out an object, the same object which he had previously held back at the factory.
xxx
"This is the end of me…they got the best of me."
xxx
He then reached into his other pocket and pulled out another object, holding it alongside the first.
xxx
"Now justice has been served."
xxx
Item wise they were the same thing, a slightly different design and different colour, but still the same.
xxx
"Oh well live and learn..."
xxx
He felt them in his hands, running his fingers softly against their texture, yet these items weren't meant for people his age.
xxx
"I SEE SPIRITS ALL AROUND ME AS I TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MAKES ME DO THE THINGS I DO, TO EVERYONE AROUND ME!"
xxx
Old memories, happy days, somewhere inside him he could feel his older self…the part of him hiding behind the cold emotionless eyes as he conducted his killings.
Killing had given him power, power over life and death, something he desired, so everyone else could feel what he felt.
xxx
"AND I BET YOU NEVER KNEW I COULD HAVE REGRETS FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU SEE RED!"
xxx
The past was now a distinct memory, lost to the mists of time, yet he clung to it as a source of inspiration to see this feud through to its bitter end, whatever the outcome might be.
There was no room for mercy, pity, sadness or grief…just resentment, anger and hatred, the Fazbears hated him and he hated them in return.
xxx
"BUT ALL I SEE IS PURPLE INSTEAD!"
xxx
And his reason for doing so lay hidden within Goldie's memories…if he could just retrieve it that is.
There was a loud solid knock on the cockpit door, instantly in his shock, Vincent quickly shoved the objects back into his trouser pockets.
He stood up from his chair, turned round and opened the door, revealing an endoskeleton on the other side.
"Yes…your reason of disturbing me is?" he asked, putting on a blank yet stern face with a tone of annoyance.
"The Nightmares are now back," the lone endoskeleton replied plainly.
"Well, that's good, might as well as inform them of my recent discoveries," Vincent stated, maintaining a serious face as he walked pass the endoskeleton who watched him go.
Again…no one needed to see his pain…no one.
"Well…that was a long and drawn out family meeting," Nightmare Foxy stated, stretching his neck, testing his newly repaired body. "At least we know what to do next, with all that's happened," Nightmare Bonnie replied, standing up tall. "Still it was great to see the others again, I do miss that place sometimes," Nightmare Chica stated, feeling her recently healed legs which dangled off the edge of the table she sat on.
"At least I'm not anywhere near Nightmare Mangle," Nightmare Freddy muttered, dusting himself down.
"She's very grabby."
"Pity, you two make quite a cute couple," Nightmare Chica giggled, earning her a death's glare from Nightmare Freddy. "In your opinion only," he stated sternly, which only made her giggle some more.
"I quite like the change of plan, in fact I think-"
Nightmare Bonnie instantly closed her mouth as soon as Vincent entered the room, however, he didn't appear to notice Nightmare Bonnie cutting herself off in mid-sentence.
"Aaaa, I see your back and by the looks of things your visit to Nightmarionne went well," Vincent commented, seeing the Nightmares walk around without a single scratch on their bodies, it was like nothing had happened to them.
"Yeah, she's crafty when it comes to magic, I'll like to see her take on the Puppet someday," Nightmare Chica replied, looking extremely happy with her newly healed body as she tested her hands and legs.
Back to normal, it was like she had never been shot in the first place.
Nightmare Foxy walked passed Vincent with his head in the clouds, however he was sharply brought back to reality as Vincent whispered something in his ear which made him stop instantly. His eyes turning serious, Nightmare Foxy whispered something back to which Vincent nodded in confirmation. He then asked something else to which Nightmare Foxy sighed deeply, but he answered Vincent's question.
None of the other Nightmares could hear what was being discussed, but they could easily guess judging by the low voices and serious expressions.
Besides Nightmare Foxy would properly tell them later, so there was no need to interrupt.
For now he could enjoy the wonderful sensation of not being in constant pain for a change.
Flash back
Nightmare Fredbear was enjoying his new found position of power as the Nightmares Freddy, Bonnie, Chica and Foxy remained trapped underneath him. He stretched some more, watching Nightmare Chica's cupcake hopped around on his stomach.
He could feel something wiggling away beneath him, looking down he saw a lone Freddy Head trying to make a break for it by slipping out from underneath his armpit. A quick smack with his fist pinned it in place and whilst it was stunned he grabbed it.
Lifting it up and bringing it in closer revealed its full body in detail to which Nightmare Fredbear examined in interest.
"Didn't you have a body last time I saw you?" the Nightmare asked out loud, as he dangled the Freddy Head by the tip of its tail before him like a snake.
Once it had an actual body with legs and arms to match, often seen close by Nightmare Freddy, but now all he saw was a long spinal creature with a barred tail and a face very similar to Nightmare Freddy. It twisted and turned about in all angels snapping into thin air with its jaws, trying to attack Nightmare Fredbear who held it at arm's length, continuing to observe it before finally muttering.
"The perfect snake, this change actually suits you, it is much better than your old form."
He then dropped it to the floor, allowing it to slide around on the carpet like a serpent.
"Faster and deadlier."
He shifted about, trying to get comfy on top of what was basically a lumpy cushion.
"Hey, get up fat boy, move it!" Nightmare Bonnie yelled, trying her best to elbow him in the back to promoted him to move.
The response was Nightmare Fredbear shoving her back hard in the chest with his elbow. "What's the magic word?" He asked softly, although there was a clear undertone of sternness.
There was a pause before Nightmare Bonnie responded sheepishly. "Please can you get off of us Nightmare Fredbear?"
And the Nightmare compelled just like that, pushing himself off them before rising to his full height.
"You need to work on your manners N-Bonnie," he remarked smoothly with a sneering undertone, even though Nightmares had no conception of manners. Once he was off, the other four Nightmares crawled and rolled away as fast as they could, in case their escape turned out to be nothing but a ruse.
However, it was not as Nightmare Fredbear was far too busy stretching his back.
"You four are not easy to lie on," he mumbled clicking his spine back into place. "Well what the hell were you expecting!" Nightmare Freddy yelled, poking him hard in the chest, evidently angry.
This made Nightmare Fredbear scowl.
"Not much really, other than to see how long you would keep resisting for, it's my way of keeping your ego in check," he remarked, pushing the younger Nightmare back as he continued.
"You need to keep your mind on the mission, we're all counting on you four to deliver our end of the bargain to Vincent while he does his bit."
"Yeah, well we're wasting valuable time as it is with you sitting on us," Nightmare Foxy retorted, throwing his arms up in the air to display his frustration.
"No more gloating or getting distracted got it!" he hissed, now pointing his hook straight at Nightmare Fredbear who clasped his claws together.
"I'm glad you got the message N-Foxy," he replied smoothly before asking.
"So, we have no more problems then?"
To which Nightmare Foxy replied plainly, lowering his hook arm.
"I suppose so."
"Well if everything has been sorted then we should be taking our leave?" Nightmare Chica muttered, dusting herself down.
"True, however I will admit that we have one more matter that needs urgently attending to," Nightmare Fredbear announced, turning away from the group and staring out into the darkness. "We have an eavesdropper and it isn't Plushtrap," he muttered, before calling out in a cheerful tone.
"Come here Tommy."
There was no reply to his demand.
Frowning slightly Nightmare Fredbear called out again.
"Come out boy, I know you're there."
Again, no response...only silence, making the Nightmare sign evermore in frustration.
"Tommy," he began with a subtle tone of anger.
His claws closed and tighten to become fists.
"You wouldn't want to make me force you out would you, knowing all too well how that would go."
Still nothing.
"Thomas, I'll count to three and if not then I'll come and put the fear of God into you again, or I could just get the others to do it…like old times."
Nothing, not a single sound came out of the darkness.
"One."
Still all silent.
"Two…"
Evidently the Nightmare was getting angrier with each passing second, readying himself to dash off into the shadows and find his prey.
"Thre-"
He stopped in midsentence the instant he heard a noise.
A footstep…
More followed as a figure slowly emerged out of the darkness before the Nightmares, it looked as if the person was literally walking out a liquid wall of immense blackness. The figure was that of a small boy, perhaps ten at best, hugging a worn out plushie of Fredbear with his purple top hat and bowtie.
Needless to say Nightmare Fredbear was hiding his frustration beneath a false smile of satisfaction with Tommy's decision to come out into the open.
"Ahhh at last you come boy, why did you have to drag that out, there was no need to anger me?" he asked with a tone of curiosity as well as one of subtle anger.
The boy only lowered his head and hugged his Fredbear plushie closer to his chest as he approached the Nightmare in question.
"Not talking then," he remarked to which the boy only nodded in confirmation, his answer wasn't too surprising given that he rarely spoke, often hiding himself away from the others.
Clearly, he didn't want to look at the other Nightmares, keeping his baby blue eyes glued to the floor. He appeared to shiver slightly when their combined shadows fell over him like a dark sky. If he looked up now he knew that he'll face four pair of eyes staring back at him.
However, he had need not to, for those four pair of eyes came down to his level as the Nightmares got on their hands and knees.
Now he couldn't avoid looking at them, he was effectively cornered.
Rising to meet the challenge, Tommy quiten his nerves all the while he held the Fredbear Plushie close to his chest as a form of immediate comfort as he stared at his killers in the face. Of course, they weren't really his killers, but his mind's wrapped interpretation of them and boy had it done a good job of making them real.
"Spying on us laddie?" Nightmare Foxy enquired.
He sighed as he slowly patted Tommy on the head.
"It's a really bad habit."
He leaned down further and whispered.
"Do you know what happens to those who spy on others, especially if they're children?"
After a long pause, Tommy slowly nodded.
"Good, because when we find people spying on us…"
Then suddenly Nightmare Chica popped up behind Tommy and screamed.
"WE EAT THEM!"
Tommy initially jumped like a cat on a hot tin roof, however it resulted in an unexpected reaction, one which the Nightmares were not expecting.
Upon recovering from his fright, he suddenly turned around and punched Nightmare Chica hard in the stomach without hesitation.
Nightmare Chica stumbled back momentarily in her shock, Tommy hit her, he had hit her!
And she wasn't one to take things lying down.
And Tommy by the looks of it was clearly regretting his actions by the startled look on his face as Nightmare Chica rose to tower above him. "So, you want to play it that way then!" She growled, as her nightmare cupcake hopped onto her shoulder barring down at the boy with cold murderous eyes.
Suddenly she grabbed a fistful of his light brown hair and yanked him up off the ground.
Holding him afloat with his legs dangling about in mid-air, Nightmare Chica opened her mouth wide, revealing all three rows of her sharp teeth.
Her cupcake did likewise.
"It's been a while since I last ripped a face off," the Nightmare purred seductively, eyeing the fear in Tommy's eyes.
She brought him closer as his kicks grew more frantic, yet he didn't scream, although you could tell that he was on the verge of tears. The other Nightmares just stood nearby and watched the display, even Nightmare Fredbear was watching with his arms folded as he looked on in interest.
Nightmare Chica's mouth opened to its fullest extent, being more then bigger enough to fit a small child's head.
She lunged forward.
Then stopped dead in her tracks…
The others quickly caught on that she had stopped in the middle of her act. Her yellowy and orange eyes which had been so bright with vigor a few seconds previously were now widen and filled with concern. She slowly lowered Tommy back down to the floor, gently letting go once his feet touched the ground.
Once done, they could see why she had stopped.
Tommy immediately grabbed his head with both hands, dropping his Fredbear plushie to the floor as he fell forward onto his knees. He looked like he was in considerable agony and, yet no one had seriously harmed him.
His jaw was tightly clenched in agony, as he pulled on his hair in all directions.
"No…please."
"I don't want…to hurt anyone…I didn't mean…to hurt her."
Nightmare Chica could see his pupils flickering from blue to a dim red, as his eyes began to weil up with fresh tears.
"I don't want to hurt anyone, I don't want any more pain."
The switching back and forth between blue and red became ever more frequent with each passing second.
"Please…leave me alone, I don't know how to do it even if I wanted to."
He appeared to be struggling to hold in his inner rage as it was actually manifesting itself in a physical sense.
"Go away, I don't want to do it again…why won't you let me be," he whimpered, as his body rocked back and forth.
"I don't want to harm anyone."
Finally deciding to intervene, Nightmare Fredbear walked forward and lightly grabbed Tommy by the back of his neck. He momentarily stiffened only to then relax when the Nightmare clasped his claw over his mouth and nose, cutting off his airways. The boy was too busy locked up in his own internal struggle to resist and soon he fell unconscious, going out like a light.
Getting one claw under his back and the other underneath his legs, Nightmare Fredbear picked Tommy up bridal style.
"Another one of his 'moments'," he muttered, turning to face the others who stared at the unconscious boy in wonder.
"Mmm, so he still has those moments, that boy cannot leave himself alone," Nightmare Foxy remarked, softly stroking Tommy's hair with his hook.
"But can you blame him for how he sees himself at times, given how shit his life was?" Nightmare Bonnie asked, running her claw through the boy's hair like fine sand through a sieve.
"No, it wasn't his fault, although to be fair I would hate myself for not putting up a fight," Nightmare Freddy answered, holding his claw above the boy's mouth to check his breathing.
"Well…at least he knows not to overstep boundaries, most of the time," Nightmare Chica chuckled lightly, picking up Tommy's Fredbear plushie and carefully putting it back into his hands so not to disturb him.
"True, but still he shouldn't have been outside his bedroom without supervision," Nightmare Fredbear replied, shifting his claws around so he could equally distribute the boy's weight.
"I'll take him back and you four should get going," he remarked, lifting Tommy's head up slightly.
"Well we shouldn't keep Vincent waiting any longer," Nightmare Bonnie muttered, straightening her hair. "Indeed, it's time we took our leave," Nightmare Freddy said, his eyes darting from one Nightmare to the next.
"Are we good to go?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm ready to spill some blood, I can feel myself getting edgy," Nightmare Foxy mumbled, running his hook through his claws. "Yeah, I'm ready to go back, it's nice to come back here but once you've got a taste of the good life its hard to resist it," Nightmare Chica added, stretching back to relive some bodily tension.
Then the nearby front door unlocked itself and swung right open, presenting the dark, cold and unwelcoming world of Limbo.
"Good luck and try not to get yourselves injured…or worse," Nightmare Fredbear said, although he said the last bit in a stern authoritarian tone to get his point across.
"As much as Nightmarionnie likes to play the role of nurse she doesn't want to have her 'talents' wasted…"
"Got it!" Nightmare Freddy replied in a tone which betrayed his inner frustration at being told this for the third or fourth time.
And with that he transformed into a fiery ball of red and shot out of the open door, flying into the vast infinite darkness of Limbo.
"N-Freddy can be moody when he feels that he's being dominated by others," Nightmare Chica remarked, throwing her tangled mass of dirty yellow hair back.
"Ha!" Nightmare Fredbear laughed sarcastically.
"Tell me something that I don't know."
Nightmare Chica only grinned in response before turning into a bright ball of yellowy orange and darting out of the doorway, following Nightmare Freddy's trail. "Just try to keep Plushtrap from killing Nightmare Balloon Boy if you can," Nightmare Bonnie muttered casually as she walked towards the doorway.
"The former doesn't like being put down."
To which Nightmare Fredbear replied with.
"He can't help his size, still I have to admit, it is amusing to watch him verablly blow up."
Nightmare Bonnie turned to face him and smiled sweetly.
"True, very true…"
Then she morphed into a ball of bright bluish purple and was gone out the door in a heartbeat.
Now it was just Nightmare Foxy.
"Well, I don't have anything witty to say other than."
He then saluted the elder Nightmare with a mark of respect.
"See you on the flipside laddie."
He then headed towards the door, but was suddenly stopped when an arm came out in front of his chest, blocking his way.
Nightmare Foxy turned to see Nightmare Fredbear holding Tommy who was still unconscious up with one hand and denying him the right of exit with the other.
"You're may have got by this time N-Foxy, but I will warn you right now…"
He leaned in close and spoke in a calm yet authoritative tone.
"Come to us with such wounds again and you will be replaced."
Nightmare Foxy's eyes narrowed as he backed away slightly.
"You don't get to make that decision, 'Fredbear'," he said in a tone which sounded threatening when compared to the restrained tone of Nightmare Fredbear, who rolled his eyes and said.
"True, but I'm delivering a message from the person who can."
Nightmare Foxy's brown reddish eyes widen for brief second…was it in fear or realisation?
He sighed and lowered his head in acceptance and plainly replied.
"Sure thing laddie, message received and understood."
Nightmare Fredbear laughed joyfully and slapped the younger Nightmare on the shoulder.
"Just try not to die you idiot, honestly, I don't want to see you four get replaced by the other lot, unlike them you have actual experience of the real world and that counts for something."
Nightmare Foxy gave him a look of 'seriously, this is your way of building up confidence?'
Nightmare Fredbear grabbed his shoulder and turned him around on the spot, pushing him towards the open doorway.
"Just pass that along to the other three for me N-Foxy if you please," he asked, although Nightmare Foxy didn't get an actual choice in the matter.
"Goodbye Nightmare Foxy and good luck, you'll need it."
Nightmare Foxy turned to face him and waved his hook in his direction as a form of salute.
"Same to you," he said in a causal, yet somewhat confused tone.
"And keep the boy safe from harm."
His words made the elder Nightmare smile smugly.
"Trust me, it's in all our interests that Tommy is kept safe from harm, above all else."
And then Nightmare Foxy went, transforming into a bright ball of reddish brown and rushing out the door like the grim reaper himself was after him. With his departure Nightmare Fredbear was left all alone with an unconscious boy in his arms.
Well...that changed quickly as Tommy began to stir himself awake, shifting back and forth in the Nightmare's arms.
Slowly his eyes opened, revealing two baby blue pupils as his vision cleared from hazy to normal. He sighed in a relaxed tone, only to then be greeted with the grinning face of Nightmare Fredbear staring down at him, swiftly followed by the realisation that he was in his arms.
The Nightmare felt the boy's body immediately tense up when it dawned on him where he was.
"Did you have a nice sleep?" he asked softly with an undertone of mischief and sarcasm.
He leaned in close.
"What did you dream of?"
Tommy started to wiggle, clearly looking uncomfortable to be in the Nightmare's presence. His frighten reaction made the Nightmare laugh, throwing his head back.
"Well you don't need to tell me boy, whatever it was it's gone now."
Tommy was just so innocent in everything he did, surrounded by the worst kind of monsters in a sea of infinite blackness, he was the light in the dark.
A flame which refused to go out, no matter how hard the surrounding darkness tired to smother it.
Including the potential darkness which lay within the flame itself.
Nightmare Fredbear turned away from the doorway which was now closing itself shut with the other four Nightmares having since left.
"Now let's get you back to your bedroom where you'll be nice and safe from any danger," he said causally.
Then a thought entered his head.
"Do you want to play with Nightmarionne?"
Tommy immediately froze when her name left the Nightmare's mouth.
"You don't like her do you?"
Tommy shook his head in confirmation to which Nightmare Fredbear chuckled.
"Well I can't blame you boy, she is rather creepy and has a madness about her."
He was fine with Nightmares Bonnie and Chica, even Nightmare Mangle at times, but Nightmarionne…she was a different person all together and not one to be taken lightly.
Speak of the devil…
"Oh Nightmare Fredbear, can you really be that cruel?" a soft feminine voice called out from all directions. Both Tommy and Nightmare Fredbear froze in their respective positions, their eyes darting about to find the source of the voice.
"Nightmarionne…" Nightmare Fredbear began cautiously.
"I didn't notice you and I am not one who usually drops his guard."
"The student can become the master, Nightmare Freddy follows that mentality very much so," the voice replied, now coming from directly in front of the pair.
"You were watching?" he asked sternly, disapproving of her sneaky nature.
"I like to watch, is that a crime?" she asked with fake innocence in her tone.
It wasn't but the elder Nightmare did not like being spied on.
"I am here on my own accord, no one else's," she said, still from the same position as last time.
"Show yourself then," Nightmare Fredbear demanded and slowly a pair of white dots emerged out of the darkness, steadily getting brighter and brighter like two diamonds.
"Better?" she asked smoothly.
"Yes, much better."
"Are you going to take him back to his room?"
"Yes, I was just about to."
"Give him to me, I can administer a 'mother's touch…"
Instantly Nightmare Fredbear felt Tommy grip his arms tightly, he didn't want to go with her. He would rather stay with him, the Nightmare reincarnation of the person who took his life, supposedly his greatest fear among all things.
How ironic…
Yet he could sense Tommy's strong desire not to go with her.
"No Fredbear," was all he got out of the boy, his voice being a whisper, but it was enough to confirm what was already obvious.
Nightmare Fredbear tighten his hold.
"I think Tommy wants to stay with me," he stated, narrowing his eyes.
He could feel Tommy's body relax at the rapid decline of his fears.
"However," the elder Nightmare began with a tone of assument.
"You are more than welcome to accompany us."
And Tommy froze, his heart literally skipped a beat.
"Don't think I've suddenly gone soft on you boy, this is your punishment for wandering out on your own."
He walked forward with the boy in his arms, stepping into the darkness which appeared to embrace them both into its protective shroud.
"Did you enjoy being the 'nurse' again?" he asked causally, strolling forward as if nothing else had happened.
He felt her presence heavily, it was as thick as the darkness itself.
"Mostly," she teased with a tone of weariness.
"Trying to keep the four of them still was hard, they wouldn't stop moving whenever their bones cracked back together."
"Sometimes I am torn between helping them after all it is my job and then tearing them apart to my heart's delight to shut them up."
She laughed humorously with a devilish undertone.
"How's a girl to choose?"
To which Nightmare Fredbear replied with.
"They're a handful to say the least, but they're getting the job done…slowly."
Nightmarionne laughed again, this time it was dry and plain.
"If you push them hard enough they will get the message I'm sure."
Even with his night vision he couldn't spot her, she liked to blend in and watch from the shadows such was her nature. Although the fact that she wasn't a threat did ensure that both he and Tommy were in no danger. Beside she was too busy focused on getting Nightmare Freddy's job and being in the spotlight.
"If Nightmare Freddy were to fail in his task, badly if I may add, then I can assume that the mantle of responsibility will fall to me yes?"
She had a point and as much as Nightmare Fredbear didn't want the others to fail he felt that she deserved an answer.
"Yes, if Nightmare Freddy and the other three were to fail, then you would get the opportunity which you have always desired."
Nightmarionne laughed coldly before asking.
"Your good at speculating, so how do you rate their chances of success?"
"Well," the elder Nightmare began, cocking his head to one side.
"If the Fazbears with their renewed intent to find justice are anything to go by, then the Nightmares should have their work cut out for them."
"Yet when shit hits the fan, they are an unstoppable group, trust me, they are not to be taken lightly."
He could feel her presence all around him, like a serpent encircling him, propping his personal space.
"So Nightmarionne I wouldn't be so eager to shove Nightmare Freddy off his high perch anytime soon."
He paused, stopping in his stride to think before continuing with.
"Unless they were all to die the moment they return to Earth."
Suddenly he felt her presence being close to him, so close that made a whooshing sound, sending a ripple through the surrounding darkness. Tommy had sensed it to, burrowing himself evermore into the elder Nightmare's arms as a form of protection.
"Oh Nightmare Fredbear…"
Both the Nightmare and Tommy turned immediately to their left, only to be met by a pair of bright white dots for eyes, which barely illuminated Nightmarionne's face.
Even through they couldn't quiet see her, you could tell that she was smiling.
"I wouldn't wish for anything less..."
Back to the Present Day
"So, your back and in good health, I'm glad," Vincent announced, stepping pass Nightmare Foxy and returning to his usual joyful nature.
"Because there's no way in hell that I would be able to stand against the Fazbears single handed."
"You did fine in 1979, 1983 and 1987," Nightmare Bonnie remarked warmly, her words making Vincent smile at her, somewhat delighted by the point she had made.
"Correct N-Bonnie, but that was before they knew who did it and they weren't as united as they are now."
"Anyway," he continued, turning to face Nightmare Freddy. "What news to do you have to share with me from the rest of your family?"
The Nightmare in question cocked his head ton one side as he thought up the right words to speak with.
"We've decided to change our plans in the light of recent events with the return of Goldie and what the Fazbears could learn from him."
He stepped forward.
"We've all agreed that we need to put them on the backfoot, or better yet push them into a situation of our choosing."
Over the next five minutes Nightmare Freddy relayed the plan to Vincent, who would only express a look of curiousness, soaking up the Nightmare's words like a sponge.
To Vincent, the Nightmare's plan sounded like an alternative which he felt could be compared with one he himself had been thinking of.
In fact, why not integrate them into one…
"Interesting," he muttered slowly, folding his arms. "I like the premise…very sneaky…at the same time, I've been thinking of my own alternative, care to hear?" he asked, meeting each Nightmare in the eye. "We're all ears matey," Nightmare Foxy casually replied, basically speaking for everyone.
Vincent smiled as he turned round and headed off towards the cockpit, gesturing for them to follow him.
"Come, I have something to show you all."
The Nightmares followed, eager to find out what it was Vincent had in store for them.
Upon entering the cockpit, they all noted the folders which lay out on the desk.
"What are these?" Nightmare Chica asked, picking one up. She opened it, seeing different sheets of papers containing financial charts, numerous Pizzeria building layouts, endoskeleton numbers and various other schemes that Fazbear Entertainment had planned.
"Company folders from the now dead Fazbear Entertainment that once ran the Freddy Fazbear Pizzeria chain," Vincent answered, watching as the other three Nightmares picked up separate files and started to flick through them.
"However, the most important information…."
He picked up the final folder that had been left untouched.
"Lies right in here."
The Nightmares' eyes widen when they read the folder's title.
Freddy, Bonnie, Chica and Foxy Fazbear: Personal Details and Future Designs.
Vincent smiled at their expressions which spoke of complete curiosity.
He set it down on the desk and opened it up, drawing the Nightmares in closer. Their eyes scanned personal information on their counterparts, their profile pictures, their likes and dislikes, company refences on their personalities and even medical history.
"Anti-depressions?" Nightmare Bonnie asked curiously, reading the profiles of Bonnie and Chica which contained several references to anti-depressions in their medical history.
"They took them after the Missing Children's Incident, their pizzeria had closed shortly afterwards so they felt a 'little down'...the Toys weren't given any as they were meant to be 'put down', but the others got them out and hid them away in their new pizzeria," Vincent replied, shifting through various papers as none of them were the one which he wanted.
"There's something which caught my attention in this particular folder, something rather interesting and yet for some unknown reason I now can't find it."
Nightmare Foxy stepped in and rummaged through the papers until he came across something odd.
"Is…this what you're looking for?" he asked, holding up a picture.
"Cheers," Vincent grinned, taking it off him.
His eyes gleamed with inner joy when he saw the picture in full.
When the Nightmares saw why he looked so happy they understood.
The picture was one of Freddy, Bonnie, Chica and Foxy all standing in a line…except it wasn't how they normally looked.
The figures maybe called Freddy, Bonnie, Chica and Foxy, but they weren't…human.
The people in the picture were robotic animals of the original Fazbears, Freddy was a big brown bear with Bonnie being a purple rabbit with a guitar, then there was Chica, who was a yellow chicken with a cupcake in one hand and Foxy being a fox dressed up to look like a pirate with a hook and eyepatch to match.
"What are those…things, robotic versions of the Originals?" Nightmare Freddy asked, taking the picture out of Vincent's hands for a closer look. "Why would Fazbear Entertainment need robots?" Nightmare Chica asked, leaning over Nightmare Freddy's shoulder to get a better view.
"Well, apparently Fazbear Entertainment had big plans for the whole enterprise, creating robotic versions of the Originals in case you four have been wondering why there are so many endoskeletons walking around." Vincent answered causally.
"Wait, hang on, just let me get this straight in my messed up head," Nightmare Freddy stated, holding his hands up, trying to piece things together.
"Fazbear Entertainment was planning to create robotic versions of the Originals in other Pizzerias as an expansion plan, yet that never happened."
"I guess when you murdered the children and caused the Pizzeria to close they dropped the whole scheme because they lacked the money?" Nightmare Bonnie asked to which Vincent nodded, confirming her suspicions. "It was part of a massive expansion plan, they literally bought in hundreds of endoskeletons, but so far I've been unable to find the suits designed for the endoskeletons, apart from the SpringBonnie suit which I used to commit the murders."
He then filtered through the folder's contents and picked up a singular sheet of paper, he smiled knowing it was the one he wanted. "Until now, this information which I have only recently discovered in the last two hours while you four were away contains the location of the only suits ever created for the scheme and they are located…"
He flicked a switch on the desk which brought up the airship's main computer and upon unlocking it, Vincent went straight to Google Maps and typed in the suit's location on the computer's search bar.
"I have also thought up an alternative career path whilst on the side...game developer, I could create a horror game series based on the infamous history of the Fazbear Establishment, I'm currently calling it Five Nights at Freddy's or just FNAF for short, seeing how you generally have a five day working week."
The four Nightmares just stared at him dumbstruck.
"Five Nights…at Freddy's?" Nightmare Chica muttered, feeling the words roll off her tongue.
"What's a Five Nights at Freddy's?"
"It's just an idea of using the events as the foundation for a horror game based on the infamous reputation of the Fazbear industry," Vincent replied modestly, sounding proud of his idea.
He continued, giving his vision more life.
"And giving that it has a long and complicated history, I could split it up into four games, the first being about the Originals, the second on the Toys, the third focusing solely on Springtrap and the fourth one about you guys."
"I don't think it'll sell well, unless you put something original and creative into it, like giving the game a genuine sense of horror and fear," Nightmare Bonnie suggested.
"Including that you don't make the story over complicated."
"Well if I feel that it might have too many loose ends then I'll just make a fifth game to expand the story's universe, and then maybe add a sixth one if I feel that the game requires a proper decent ending."
"Sounds ambitious and somewhat out of your league, plus no offense but who would want to buy a game series off a child murderer," Nightmare Foxy remarked.
"I'm just saying with you wanting to keep a low profile and all."
"Well…like I said, it was just an idea," Vincent replied plainly, then the onboard computer went ping as it had found the desired location. At first it showed them the Earth and all the separate independent countries before zooming in on the North American Continent.
"Where is the USSR by the way, oh and on that matter why is there only one Germany and what is South Sudan?" Nightmare Freddy asked, looking at virtual map with great interest.
It was odd for them to see so many new countries as the Nightmares had been asleep since 1987 when the Cold War was ongoing and since that year a lot had happened in the world. Not that they held much interest in world politics, it was a thing that they had been aware of, hearing bits of information about the real world whilst being in Limbo.
"It's a long story and I really don't want to get into it, unless I want to kill time," Vincent muttered, watching as the computer closed in its the target.
"I don't have much interest in world politics."
If he didn't bother the world, then it didn't bother him back.
The end result however stunned them all, including Vincent himself.
"Wow…that's not far from where we are is it?" Nightmare Foxy asked, looking at the red dot which showed the suits' location and the blue pinging dot which highlight their position. "Yes…which makes retrieving the suits much easier," Vincent stated with delight, clasping his hands together in a form of satisfaction.
He turned to see Nightmare Freddy approach him with his dark red eyes showing a look of curiosity.
"May I suggest something for the sake of curriosity?" he asked, as his eyes burned into Vincent's.
"Go on," Vincent enquired with interest.
Nightmare Freddy leaned in and whispered something into Vincent's ear.
He then pulled away.
At first Vincent gave him no reaction, however after several seconds of thinking it over, his eyes went wide as he smiled mischievously.
"So, you want them…for future use?"
Nightmare Freddy nodded and replied plainly.
"I have a special idea in mind for the Fazbears...if we could possibly turn the suits into springlock ones."
"Mmm…I was actually going to give them to the endoskeletons to act as armor and the idea of the Fazbears facing off their animal counterparts did seem amusing to me."
He then waved his hand up singling a change in direction.
"However N-Freddy your demand seems reasonable, although I've never transported something over to the other side before…only souls…nothing quote on quote physical," Vincent replied, turning to see the suits' location on Google Maps.
"We can try, there is always a first time for everything," Nightmare Chica argued to which the other Nightmares all nodded in agreement.
Even Vincent commended her on it.
"Well said N-Chica, for those who have never made a mistake have never tried anything new," he said casually, setting a route to the suits' location with the cockpit controls and soon the airship started to turn round with its four propellers building up speed.
With everything now set in motion, Vincent leaned back and sighed.
"While we are heading there, I have been thinking over what you said about pushing the Fazbears into a situation of our choosing."
"And?" Nightmare Bonnie asked, edger to know more.
Vincent turned to her and flashed an insane grin that matched the creative spark in his eyes.
"I believe we could do that and even if they know that it's a trap they won't step away from it, because they value it to much and trust me I know what they hold close to their hearts."
"And how would we do that matey, how can we force them to walk the plank if they know that it risks certain death?" Nightmare Foxy asked, waving his hook in the air.
Vincent still smiling, reached out and picked up another folder, it's title being: The Financial Records of Fazbear Entertainment and its Establishments.
"In here lies the answer and an end to their hopes and dreams," he announced, opening it up and revealing its contents.
Soon the airship was flying at full speed over Lake Michigan and away from Chicago with its city skyscrapers fading away into the distance. Nightmare Freddy smiled with grim satisfaction as he gazed longingly at the picture of the robot animals, each one representing one of the original Fazbears. As he listened to Vincent going into great detail of how the folder's content interlinked with their plan, his mind turned to the imaginary pleasure of one day getting to witness a springlock failure firsthand.
The cruel immediate snapping of the springlocks with the crushing and slashing penetration of the inbuilt endoskeleton against the user as it sprung back into its original position.
In the process it stabbed its victim everywhere at once.
And it was not an instant death either, but a slow and painful one, dragged out for hours with no hope of being saved, but just waiting for the end.
He ran his claw like finger over the picture, across their faces with his twisted mind building up a very gory image.
"We have a place for you four…but it'll be a rather tight squeeze."
I am looking forward to writing Nightmarionne in alongside the other Nightmares, but I want to hold off from doing that due to there being a lot of characters already.
I want to give focus to everyone, but not all at once.
Tommy is more or less the Nightmares' punching bag, he's just lost in it all with no sense of direction.
Please Review.