"This is what is to be done." Such simple words, held the most tremendous weight to them. The puppet was talking, standing not too far from goldie within the dreamscape, despite his permanent smile and stretched eyes there was a frown in his words.
Goldie knew it was unwise to argue with the puppet, he knew of his full power and just what he could do. Not to mention he still felt guilty for causing trouble all because he wanted guidance just once more. He felt like a scolded child all over again, even though it's been a long long time since he was actually a child.
Goldie dared not to meet the puppet's gaze, instead stared at the ground with a bowed head, awaiting the next sentence to follow after. The puppet didn't wait for him to respond, and continued anyway. (Whether he said something or not.)
"Tonight, shade is going to try something," the puppet began his premonition, "there's no need for alarm however this is right on schedule. Shade likes to play around with his victims, as you know, which is what makes tonight so important."
Goldie finally found the courage to meet the puppets gaze, his heart beating rapidly on his chest as he tried to imagine just what shade would do. Would you be safe? No he couldn't put you in danger a second time. He just couldn't.
"Relax," the puppet leaned over goldie patting his head from his towering height, "what ever happens know (Y/N) will be safe."
Goldie had no words as he craned his neck to look up at the puppet. It was quiet as the puppet moved away, now turning to have his back to goldie. Staring off into the distance of the dreamscape. (It was different than how it normally looked when the two met like this, more space like this time than looking like the puppets childhood room or the pizzeria back in its days of operation. Goldie knew that it was for a reason, though what that reason might be he wasn't sure.)
"What is it that we will be doing then if shade plans to make his move? Is it our turn to move?" Goldie swallowed thickly before speaking, hesitantly asking the question that lingered in the back of his mind. Was it time to make a move?
The puppet turned back around, his permanent smile seemed to stretch more into an actual smile as he shook his head.
"Not yet, at least not you and the others." The puppet responded vaguely.
"But you do have an important job this evening."
Goldie narrowed his eyes at the notion. What sort of important job? He'd do it but he was curious. It was almost time he knew that, their happiest day was upon them or so he hoped and at least these two dream demons and their master would be no more. So the world would suffer a little less even if no one would notice.
"What do you want us to do?" Goldie looked up, feeling the room shift. The puppet was silent for a while before leaning down to meet Goldie's height.
"You may find me cruel for this." The puppet muttered sounding almost apologetic. Goldie waited for him to go on.
"But I'd like it if you and the others could find a way to push (Y/N) from out of your circle."
"What?" Goldie couldn't help but blurt out. The puppet chuckled sounding almost sad.
"I know I warned you it would be a cruel request. But it's for a good cause, trust me." The puppet looked off again lost in thought.
"(Y/N) is the key to stopping the dream demons. Believe me or not, this is the truth. I knew sooner or later after I locked away her memories and kept her safe after that awful bite Afton had wired fredbear to do at the time that they'd find her again. She was going to be the first in the ritual for his revival. But she ended up being the last. She's narrowly escaped death more times than she realizes, and on her own too I had no part in keeping her that safe. That's what makes her so important. She needs to realize that she's just as capable as you all, and this time alone for her will guide her on a journey to remember fully who she truly is, and what she's meant to be in our fight for our happiest day."
Goldie couldn't believe it. While the puppet made sense, he still was apprehensive. It felt cruel as he said, but would pushing her away really do that?
"Forgive me if I'm ignorant, it's just, I don't see how this will guide her to a better path." Goldie frowned deeply as he spoke. The puppet merely looked at him again, hallowed eyes with a faint white light flickering between the darkened sockets looking down intensely.
"All I ask is you trust me this is what's to be done. It'll all work out in the end, according to my plan." The puppet hummed quietly, his words melodic in a way like a music box.
"You'll know when to act."
Goldie just stared up lost in thought before he had nodded. For what else could he do?
So when the time came, and though it didn't play out exactly like he thought it would, it was the most difficult thing he had to do.
Your heartbroken stare. Your flabbergasted gaze upon him. Goldie could not say a single word about it all. Instead he had stood there, as you turned and left. Leaving him and the others to stare after you.
Then 6 am chimed, and the others faded away unseen until midnight, leaving goldie to stand in the room alone.
His feet felt glued to the floor and his eyes closed, along side his fists which clenched at his sides.
Forgive me.
Goldie thought to himself.
But it has to be like this.
_________________________
The day had come and gone rather fast, and goldie was left to observe at a distance. Perhaps it was creepy of him, but he lingered near the room they kept you in, staring down at your animatronic form as you sat there slumped up against the wall. No doubt sleeping, or perhaps even lost in your own thoughts unaware of his lingering gaze.
Guilt was a familiar friend at this point, he had put you in danger merely a day ago, and now he had to push you away so that you could go on this path of self discovery. How could you love him, after all that he's done now? Could you still find it in your heart to forgive him at the very least?
At least he got to tell you, again, that he loves you. So that you could hear him and register properly what he was saying and not through dying breaths. Shouldn't he be content with that fact? (Perhaps he was selfish because he wasn't. And he took a moment to think about how different things would have been, if neither of you had died and given life like this.)
He sighed closing his eyes wistfully thinking before his mind wandered to the conversation he had with the others last night, just before finding you with shade. (Who had taken his form, how unoriginal.)
"When the time comes, we will have to push her away. Let her find herself, while we plan our next moves. The puppet said we will know when that time is when it comes. But you best brace yourselves. It won't be easy." His own words came to haunt him now as the bell chimed midnight signifying to him that his brother and the rest of them were pulled back into this plain rather than stuck in what was labeled as the in between.
He casted one last look at you, before he disappeared, teleporting himself into the room his friends called sanctuary.
They were all a bit uncharacteristically quiet. Bonnie foxy and Chica were whispering to one another, their eyes glancing towards Freddy and goldie as they did. Goldie found he had nothing to say to their whispers despite the obvious fact they were talking about him.
"You alright?" Freddy approached goldie, a warm smile on his face despite the hopelessness of their entire situation. Goldie always envied his brother. Jealous of the things he had been handed. Though now he sees it as a petty jealousy that wasn't needed it lingered even still.
Like in this particular moment. Freddy was relaxed, a comforting smile on his face and a concerned glimmer in his eyes. He was the one the others had appointed as leader, at least the face man of the group. He always had been, and goldie had always been in the shadows even when he was alive. (He was jealous that Freddy, despite the odds, was able to keep up his appearance. To keep smiling and be hopeful.)
"I'm fine." Goldie pointedly spoke, arms crossed as he gazed across the room, wanting nothing to do with this conversation. If he didn't have to be here to boost the moral and express this is the puppet's wish some more, then he'd be else where lost in thought.
"I know you can hear my thoughts. What's really wrong if you don't want to share out loud?" Freddy's thoughts entered Goldie's head. Welcomed but unwanted in a way. Goldie looked at Freddy, eyes narrowing a calculated expression taking over his face. But he sighed, it wasn't Freddy's fault. None of it was.
I think you can guess.
Goldie responded back with a shake or his head.
"(Y/N)?" Freddy raised his eyebrow.
The way she looked at me...first I put her in danger with my desire for knowledge now I have to behave as if I'm purposely keeping her in the dark so that she will stay away from us.
Goldie explained with a heavy expression.
"No one said this was going to be easy," Freddy began seeming like he was heavily thinking about his words, "if it's all the same to you though I think you're doing a great job leading us lately. I'm sure when we're able to explain what's going on she'll forgive you."
You don't understand.
Goldie responded a little frustrated.
How could she possibly forgive me for all the things I've done? I know that I'm not like the other dream demons, that I'm better in a just aspect, but to her I must be some sort of monster.
"That's not true." Freddy laughed aloud despite his words being in his mind.
"If she really loves you, she'll find time to try and at least listen to an explanation. And with everything going on in this moment, if it were me I'd find it hard to be upset if this is what we have to do. We're in an impossible situation, who we are what we've been through doesn't feel real. If it was want for the remnant in the metal of our suits that reside here hallowed now the four of us wouldn't be here with you. We didn't choose to walk this path but we can choose how we deal with it. And (Y/N) has always been a kind and understanding person. I'm sure she will understand."
Goldie didn't know what to say to Freddy's words. They were wise, but to be fair Freddy had always been like that.
"Thank you." Goldie spoke, barely above a whisper. Despite the jealousy, despite the bitterness, Freddy was still his brother. His twin. His other half in a metaphorical sense. Even in death they were twins. Blood family. Goldie really was thankful for his brother.
"You're very welcome." Freddy spoke aloud too, smiling reassuringly at goldie.
"I trust you and so do the others. No one said being leader was easy."
Goldie just scoffed, in a playful sort of way, as he turned his head to the side shaking it. At least he still had his brother.
"Um, hey?" Chica's voice suddenly broke the silence between the brothers. Both of them now looking to her, she seemed nervous to interrupt, but impatient at the same time.
"Are we gonna get filled in on what to do next? If we wanna do this right we gotta know what to do next don't we?"
Goldie and Freddy shared a look between each other before looking at everyone else nodding their heads at once. They had spent long enough in their own conversation, it was time to get back to the matter at hand. Their next move.
"Right, of course you're right Chica. Goldie if you'd please we should all get on with the plan." Freddy nodded respectfully at his brother, something that made goldie feel he was actually seen and not just another person in the background like he felt he had been his whole life till now.
Still, knowing that everyone was looking at him, expecting answers and to be led forward was unnerving. The truth was he didn't have much to say about what to do next. The puppet never said, but he didn't want them to loose hope either. What a tough situation.
"Well," goldie hesitated weighing all his options, "I...I don't know what's next. But, I do know that he's growing restless. The longer we draw out this little game shade is playing, the faster he'll show himself. As far as I'm aware, shadow will be on the field before he shows himself. The last piece until the end. At least that's all i had heard from the puppet."
"Well that's great and all but what are we supposed to do while (Y/N) is out there alone!" Bonnie was exasperated just as the others were about the situation. Goldie shot him a dark look at his response. Did he not think he felt the same way?
"I mean! Come on guys, did we really need to push her away like that?"
"Yeah, Bonnie's right, we don't even know what we're doing next and treating her like that feels a little cruel to me." Chica spoke up again, gripping her apron anxiously.
Did they all think he was heartless or something? Did they think he wanted to push you away? Goldie felt irritation swelling in his chest that he had to keep in check as he looked between Bonnie and Chica. They were ignorant weren't they? They had no idea just what was really happening and he couldn't get mad at them for that. In their eyes, he was just doing as he was told with out a second thought behind it.
"Look," goldie pinched the bridge of his nose with a deep breath to keep calm, "I don't know. I just said I don't know. What the puppet has planned is beyond me. What any of it means is beyond me. I just know I'm the one who's supposed to protect you in his stead. That's why I'm here, I'm the one who you guys look to when you need answers from the puppet. But, I don't have them! I don't. I wish I did but I don't. All I can say is she needs to be alone...at least for now. As for us, we need to brace ourselves for what's coming."
He thought maybe being truthful that he didn't know would help ease their doubts. But unfortunately Bonnie kept pushing.
"And what is that exactly?! You keep saying that but what even is coming!" Bonnie was getting loud now. Frustrated with Goldie.
"This whole thing feels like we're running in circles!"
That!-
Goldie sucked in a deep breath as to not loose his temper. He doesn't understand that's why he's acting like that. (Or so goldie tried to rationalize Bonnie's behavior.)
"If you'd just listen-" goldie grumbled, being sure to give Bonnie a sharp look only to be cut off.
"We have been! You just aren't making sense!" Bonnie puffed crossing his arms almost as if he was challenging goldie.
Goldie couldn't let that continue, about to teach Bonnie not to question him as he stood up to him with a scowl. Who did he think he was? Did he have all the answers? Did he think this was easy? That stupid rabbit !-
"That's enough." Freddy had intervened. Pulling goldie back away from Bonnie to keep the peace.
"We're behaving like children again, we know better now."
"The captain is right. This isn't our fight anymore, it be theirs." Foxy, after a while of just staying quiet and watching, said at last. Motioning with his hook towards goldie when he mentioned the fight was his.
How he wished this wasn't his fight. But the time had come and goldie knew this was up to him you and the puppet when it came down to the final "battle" as they'd say. He took this time to calm down. (Bonnie did as well, moving away to go pout sitting down in a chair a bit away from everyone.)
"Is there really not anything we can do except play along with what the puppet wants right now?" Chica's voice was soft as she looked at everyone. She wanted an answer, but her question had no kind answer.
"No." Goldie finally muttered. Dejected.
"No, there's really not. We can't take on shadow and shade. Not like this."
In a way everyone already knew that, but hearing it out loud was a reality check.
"I just don't understand why this is all happening still." Bonnie huffed setting his feet up on the table.
"Don't you think he'd of move on already? Didn't he kill himself? Even if he's the reason we're all really here, I'm just kinda over it."
"There's more to it than that." Goldie stared Bonnie down as he spoke. Hands back behind his back. (There was much more to it than just that. But Goldie's knowledge was limited even if he knew more about him than anyone else in the room.)
"Shadow's master," Freddy trailed off a thoughtful expression settled across his face, "the purpose of our ritual..it's hard to grasp the point of it all I suppose is what Bonnie is trying to say."
Goldie guessed that was a good way to put Bonnie's ignorance. Even still it was frustrating, though how frustrating was it for them not knowing what was going on with the dream demons and the puppet? He decided it was best to try and answer even if he intended to keep it vague.
"Dream demons work differently than anything you've all ever known. Their hierarchy works differently than ours," goldie explained, "so when he had become their master is hard to say. But I remember the suicide. Even the puppet explained it vaguely. It was his way of getting more power, to reverse what had been done to both his children using darker means."
"Like a ritual." Freddy spoke lowly, resting his chin in his hand in thought as he stared at the floor.
"Similar to how we were used. Except six children needed to die for him to be granted power, to save his children. But, he died before Afton set his sights on taking (Y/N) next. Couple of days before her birthday, correct? So in that case, does that mean he got stuck in the in between, and the cruel twist of fate being that his own daughter granted him his return to life as a dream demon?"
Freddy looked at goldie hoping for a verification. Goldie knew the truth to this one, but he couldn't say yes or no to Freddy's theory. So he avoided it, changing the subject.
"For now it doesn't matter." Goldie dismissed. Telling him self he was only trying to keep everyone on the right track.
"I say, for our next move we keep low and quiet. Let the puppet do what he must with (Y/N) until we're given the word on what to do next."
No one could disagree with that. After all what more could they do? Stuck to play this part until the bitter end. But as they say the show must go on.
Despite it all though, everyone disagreed with the puppet in the moment. His methods now seemed unorthodox, creating unnecessary chaos in everyone's eyes. (But what more could be done. Everyone had to accept it even if it was hard to do.)
With that, everyone went their own ways separating into their own sections in the room to process the information. To process what you must be going through. They all had just nodded in response before dispersing, leaving goldie to stand alone once more.
He left the room to step out into the hall, the hall in which just a few nights ago he got to speak with you about that night. About his love for you.
Goldie stared off into the distance wondering how things were going for you. We're you okay? Would you forgive him? He hoped you would.
He couldn't imagine his happiest day with out you by his side. But for now he'd have to take things as they came, no rushing into a future that may never be. Even still the thought lingered.
Would you find it in your heart to forgive him of his sins?