Author's Note: as mentioned in the first book when it came to the crew, here is some art by Pole Bear for Springtrap. Again for reference but it's completely up to interpretation, happy reading.
~Nightmare
"The ritual. It worked." Goldie's words replayed like a broken record inside your mind. Looping over and over with no end. It worked. What you and the others fought so hard to stop, ended up succeeding anyway. But this can't be the truth. There's no way this is the truth.
"What?" Your voice was quite, barely above a whisper as you met his white pupils. Disbelief in your voice.
"B-but that can't be true. H-how could he have succeeded?"
The room was quite. No one seemed to know what to say, much less how to explain the situation to you. Their eyes all avoided you unwilling to meet your gaze. That was until finally Freddy cleared his throat earning your attention.
He pulled a chair from out of one of the tables near by, scooting it towards you with one hand on the back. The other gesturing for you to take a seat.
"Perhaps you should sit down." He grinned hesitantly.
"This will be a long story."
You looked over the room one last time, the guilty side eye treatment continuing as you took the time to gaze upon everyone. Maybe they really won't talk till you did. With a sigh you took a seat, crossing your arms in an attempt to hold yourself.
"What is going on guys? We're in this together I-I mean I'm-im dead now because of it. Why won't anyone give me a clear answer?" You shifted in the chair, a frown etched deep on your face. Before you understood why no one wanted to tell you the truth behind all of this. You were alive and had a choice to leave, they didn't.
You know that you've just woken up, this world as a spirit was going to be confusing and you're aware of that. You're still a bit shaken up by the thought, yet somehow felt more calm than you should be. Maybe it had something to do with that voice and the little boy in your dream. But the point was, they can't leave you out of this anymore. You had to know what's going on, because you can help now.
"We care a lot about you (Y/N)." Freddy broke the silence, gently placing a hand upon your shoulder.
"You're the one who brought us all together when we were little, and because of you we've stayed together as family." Chica took your hands in her own holding them close to her heart as she leaned over.
"You're the heart of the group."
"Aye, you've made us realize we be more human than we thought. That our past doesn't define us despite our mistakes." Foxy was behind you as he spoke, standing along side Freddy.
"Yeah, not to mention bringing us more together than before." Bonnie pulled a chair up to sit beside you, draping his arm over the back of it.
"I mean to be fair we had no idea what happened to you the day you just disappeared on us, but we never forgot about you."
"We just-" goldie stood before you. He seemed sad as he met your gaze a smile gently creeping against his lips.
"We just want to make sure that you'll be safe. No matter what."
You couldn't believe it in a way. You knew deep down who really cared the most. But to also know everyone else felt so strongly for you, and wanted to keep you safe, made your heart soar with love. This was your family and always had been even when you all were younger. If only fate hadn't been so cruel. None of you would be in this position now.
"I love you guys too." You laughed a little finding it the only thing you could do as you pried your hands away from Chica to brush away a few tears.
"But keeping me from the truth is what got me in this mess to begin with."
"I know." Goldie shook his head.
"But your memories were locked for a reason."
You wanted to ask what the real reason was, somehow you didn't believe that they were only locked to keep shadow from finding you to begin with. Someone like that seemed ruthless when searching for something.
"Then let me catch you up on everything you've missed these 6 years you've been asleep." Goldie clasped his hands behind his back, beginning to tell you a tale you half expected to read about in a book.
You've been asleep for 6 years. Had it really been that long? As you listened you learned the man who called himself Vincent was actually a man named William Afton. The very person who marked you first to be killed in this on slaughter of innocence.
Hearing that name felt strangely familiar to you. Like once when you were very little, you knew a man like that. But the faint familiarity soon left as Goldie explained his deal with shadow. How very particular the rules were.
That man who stalked the hallways as the golden Bonnie from Fredbear's Family Diner, was killing to bring his daughter back. And despite the fact he broke his deal with the dream demon, the words in which started the ritual could not be unbroken.
When he had stuffed you into the suit you were trapped in now, he had killed you. What little life was left in you shattered by his hands just as was instructed by shadow years ago. Now he defied him, had no interest in working with him again. And yet you learned the gang had no interest in working with him one more either.
It made sense why though. He may not have been the one to really lull them, that had been shadow, but he was still the one who tricked them. The one who let himself be possessed to kill.
Now caught up in what happened to you, Goldie went on to explain the place you were in. Just like Vincent had done. Though this time goldie explained that you were all gathered under one roof, all including someone whom he called the puppet.
He then went on to explain that the puppet was similar to a dream demon, but far from it at the same time. Though you couldn't really wrap your head around that explanation.
"I'm not sure why we're all gathered here," Goldie looked away fiddling loosely with his bow tie, "but it's for a reason."
"W-what about shadow." You scooted closer to goldie in your chair.
"We don't know what's going on with him." Bonnie shrugged.
"We haven't really heard anything about him since you've...you know."
He gestured towards your form now, then looked away seemingly embarrassed with himself.
"However we do know that there is another dream demon here under his command." Freddy sounded unusually venomous as he spoke. You craned your next in an attempt to look at him.
"Who?" You shifted in your chair anxiously. This was a lot to think about.
"He calls himself shade." Foxy answered instead.
"Is that all we know?" You turned to look at foxy now.
"For right now. I've seen him." Chica shuddered as she recalled her encounter.
"Hidden in the shadows, I thought he was Bonnie for a second, but when I went to take a closer look I realized those eyes didn't belong to him."
"I mean, I am more handsome." Bonnie shrugged again with a smirk. Freddy whacked him over the head.
"Ouch!"
You laughed a little at the sight. Bonnie rubbed the back of his head giving Freddy a slightly irritated look, before looking to you smiling satisfied that at least it was enough to make you smile a bit.
"The point is," Goldie spoke a bit louder to talk over Bonnie's muttered whines, "we aren't the only ones here. And we certainly can't let him know you're awake now either."
"Why not?" You crinkled your nose in confusion.
"I mean, I-I'm not about to walk up to him seeing as he's a dream demon like shadow. But what would he do if he found out I'm alive again?"
Suddenly the atmosphere felt heavier than before. Goldie's eyes met your own, a dark storm swirling behind his gaze as he narrowed his eyes. He said nothing.
"Goldie, what would he do if he find out I'm alive?" You decided to repeat the question.
"Come on guys, it's not fair to leave her in the dark about this." Chica frowned at your side stomping her foot down in defiance.
"She deserves to know!"
"Do you really wish to know (Y/N)?" Freddy's voice was soft, barely above a whisper as it gravitated close to your ear. His breath brushed against your skin causing you to shudder involuntarily. You nodded hastily. (Unaware of the looks Freddy had received for his closeness.)
"To reunite you and the puppet with your father." Goldie spoke slowly. What? Did you hear him right? The puppet, your father?
"What?" You smiled confused.
"I-I don't understand. What does my father and the puppet have to do with anything."
"(Y/N), your father is the man behind it all. And the puppet, is someone very close to you. Your brother." Goldie took a step closer, leaning down to be more eye leveled.
"My father abandoned my mother and I, I-I know that before my memories were unlocked that I pretended I had (parent/s). But I know now that my mother is all I have-I-I mean had, left. I don't have any siblings, and I haven't heard about my father in years. Why-why now would this suddenly come up?" You were talking quite fast. The shock was too much, your heart pounded against your ribs at what felt like a thousand miles per second. It almost felt hard to breath.
Goldie lifted his hand from his side, now resting his index finger against your chin, pushing you to look up into his darkened eyes.
"Take a deep breath." Goldie spoke lowly, waiting for you to follow his instructions. Your body shook in anxiety but inevitably followed his directions. Taking a slow deep breath before releasing it. He nodded satisfied allowing his fingers to brush against your skin as he pulled his hand away.
"I know this is a lot of information."
Goldie stood up, motioning for everyone to give you some room. Despite the muttered defiance everyone moved back allowing you to gain some space to breath a bit.
"And yet there's still a lot you don't seem to know." Goldie smiled as if he was reminiscing about something bittersweet.
"I know that this is very strange and confusing." Freddy walked from behind you, standing before you as Goldie was.
"After all you've just awakened and are still trying to get a grasp upon your memories. We all understand that feeling of fear and confusion. Perhaps now would be a good time to cut this conversation. You should get some rest, we can always talk about this another day."
Everyone muttered in agreement to Freddy's words. You looked down at your lap despite their kindness, you just couldn't wrap your head around all this information. Maybe it really was too much?
"Hello?" There was that voice again. That little kid calling out to no one and yet somehow it caused you to look up quickly unable to hide the fact you were startled.
"Looks like the night guard's lookin' for ya princess." Bonnie hummed resting his elbow against the back of the chair, his cheek resting on his fist. Legs crossed comfortably.
"Oh i forgot all about him." Chica sighed.
"We were so busy trying to fill her in we forgot to mention that poor guard."
"You should go on back out there (Y/N)." Freddy nodded as he spoke.
"We don't want him to think you're missing."
"Besides, it be almost 6 am, best to head back to where you woke up and rest until midnight tomorrow." Foxy's voice startled you once again. He had been so quite up until now, but he made a good point.
"O-okay." You stuttered rising to your feet.
"Where will I see you all again?"
"Right here silly." Chica hummed.
"We don't walk out of here often, it's nice and out of sight. We can talk more tomorrow!"
Despite it all Chica seemed to be in good spirits. Bouncing back and forth on her heels with a smile. Maybe she was just trying to make you feel better. You nodded.
Stepping close to the door, you waved goodbye to everyone, eyes lingering upon (him/her) the longest. Maybe it was selfish of you, but you wished that you had more time to spend with (him/her). To talk about everything. To feel (his/her) warm embrace. For now though you trudged forward stepping out into the hallway feeling alone.
You glanced up at the camera that was pointed away from the room, watching as it turned red showing it was in use. Closing your eyes you attempted that same feeling as before, only this time in reverse. The world felt heavy, and when you opened your eyes you were met with the harsh reality that you really were an animatronic now.
Regardless you walked on, heaving back down the path you had followed. Trying your best not to get lost returning to the room in which you had woken up in. Sitting down slouched over just as the 6 am bell rang. And with that, you closed your eyes.
______________________
"Ah! No, no, no. Where is he?!" Vincent could hear the guard panicking alone in the security office. Frantically flicking between each camera in search of him.
He laughed to himself creeping up towards the door. He peered into the window that sat across from the hunched over guard. He seemed to be oblivious to his presence here. Maybe he's finally make it into the office tonight and give him a real scare. Not a cheap one like they set up in this dumb attraction.
But just before Vincent could make another move, the guards head shot up as fast as lightening. His terrified expression only grew worse as he gazed up at Vincent. His eyes widened.
"Hello?" The audio played from down the hall. Vincent slid his eyes to look at where he had heard it sighing. Well by his rules he followed the child's voice, pretending to be distracted by it in this game of cat and mouse he liked to play with this man. Caught again.
Begrudgingly Vincent turned to follow the voice only to stop hearing the 6 am bell chime.
"Oh thank god!" He could hear the guard celebrating another night survived. He shrugged to himself stalking back towards his stage. Oh well.
But as he walked, Vincent failed to notice the eyes that followed him as he returned to his room. Watching carefully with sinister intentions.
A smile crept onto the face of the stalker, red eyes crinkling in their happiness. They've, unknowingly to him, been keeping an eye on Vincent for a while now. And tonight finally revealed exactly what they had hoped to find out about when sent on his mission.
Disappearing into the darkness the watchful eyes disappeared as the bell tolled 6 times. Vanishing to tell their master their findings.
This was it. The final battle.