Previous Guarantees Do Not Apply

The puppet had been gone for about three minutes, the huddled mass of me, Toy Chica and her older sister, and the three ponies sitting in the relative silence, each tiny sound from the halls being analyzed and listened to intently by those who were able to tell us the most useful information and leave out the rest.

We had–through sheer force of will–convinced Chica to stay put rather than rushing headlong into what would likely be a trap or end up getting one or more of us captured.  Earned me a jab to the side, but I’d rather deal with a bit more pain than losing one of our own.

Fluttershy had gone over to Chica to try and forge some sort of peace, which earned her a derisive snort from the animatronic who then closed her eyes and did the best she could to render herself immune to the meek yellow pegasus’ Stare.  Pinkie was oddly quiet, mostly from Rarity’s wishes as well as the attention she was getting from Toy Chica.

That left me to think.  Springtrap was the scariest thing I knew existed in this realm; even my short exposure to some trailers of the Sister Location game had rendered Baby tame in comparison.  It’s not saying that I should consider her any less lethal and dangerous as Springtrap–her methods were far more methodical and playful.

And if the way he had basically started this game was any indication as to his unpredictability, we were in a lot of trouble.  I remember watching my friend’s video of a spring lock suit in the game… the thought of being in one was altogether unpleasant and terrifying.

The knowledge that it would be either Chica or Springtrap putting me in one eventually was one that I tried to banish from my thoughts as soon as it entered my mind.

When the door creaked open, none of us knew what to expect.  I was prepared to have my existence come to a rather painful conclusion.  I now was wondering what my body wound undergo as I was stuffed inside one of the suits, how it would push at my body and perforate limbs, organs, my very soul potentially.

Hell, if it means I could be a force for good to rally against Springtrap, I’d accept that death with as little problem as one could.

The puppet came back in, no light in his wake as he slowly came out of his box.

His face looked as if he’d been put through a blender; scratches and marks from where something had worked at it, almost down to his exoskeleton.

They… are hungry.  They are all hungry.  If we are to survive, we will need to find another way around.”

NOW can we try my way, Whimper?”

I shook my head in the dark, admitting that I was at a loss for what to do next and that the ones that knew the place better were likely the best choice for the direction forward.

Yes, Chica… let’s go with your plan.

Good.  Sis, Fluffball, you two, follow me.  Access door shouldn’t be that hard to find, and right now I really feel like punching something.”

I quickly surmised that had the desire to stuff me in a suit not been overwhelming, the large chicken would have taken great pleasure in using my face as a punching bag.

There was a small hiss as the doorway opened into the access hallway.  It was, similar to the everywhere else in the pizzeria, dark with not so much as a trace of light.  Chica herself had to feel around the inside of the walls to make sure it was where she remembered it to be.

Well, this is the right room.  Everybody follow me, and stay close and quiet.  Mari, you need to stay behind and watch for the others.  I’ll come back for you when we’re safe.”

“That means you won’t be back at all, Chica.  There is no safe place here anymore, not now.”

“Shut up you damn pessimist.”

”I am merely being accurate about out current situation.”

Chica didn’t respond to Mari, only continuing ahead.  Toy Chica was the next to go, and the ponies and I brought up the rear.

We walked for what seemed like five minutes in the black-as-death corridor, claustrophobia playing a tune on me like an awkward friend who’d overstayed their welcome.

A door greeted us at the other end, as well as something odd; light.

Uhh, Chica, is that…?

“Probably a trap?  Maybe.  Could also be a way out to getting the ponies to safety.  Let’s see what’s behind Door Number 1!”

Another mechanical whine, and our world became a blinding flash as we had adapted to the lack of light.

The where we ended up made me confused for a second before I realized the who.

The accent in which the ballerina spoke confirmed my thoughts.

Who are you?”

Not sure if this is bad to worse.  I’m still deciding.

Shadows Aren’t Useful in the Dark

The remnant of the cupcake on my tongue turned slightly bitter as I swallowed.  Why him, and why now?  It seemed like this place simply hated me, and now there were three innocents that happened to have fallen through… some stranger inter-dimensional gap or some shit… hell with it, I’m done trying to figure out how this what is going on, because all I’m succeeding in doing is getting a headache.

Rarity’s horn glimmers in the darkness, allowing for a bit of illumination to light up the room for a moment.  She then let out a whimper of pain.

What in Equestria? My… my magic’s being pulled away from me!  Sorry, darlings, but I won’t be able to provide any illumination.

It didn’t take more than two seconds for her magic to fizzle and spark out, dropping the room into renewed darkness.

Wait…. where’s Mangle?

Why do you want her now, Whimper?”

Because she has my phone.  And it has a flashlight on it.  Which would come in very handy at the moment.

You have a phone that you take with you?  What good is that; you couldn’t make any calls with it.”

Oh.  That’s right.  Mangle seems to get it, but they don’t understand about the technological developments that we’ve done in the last thirty years.  Which… isn’t really a bad thing, because then they’d all be lost trying to get it from her.

I’ll… explain later.  Toy Chica seems to be satisfied with this response and looks around, trying to turn on her eye lights…

… which turn off the second she goes to turn them on.

Uhh, sis?  Is this normal?”

I look in the direction of where I last remember seeing Chica and hear her voice.

Normal for when that stinky bastard does his crap.  But… this feels different.  Almost…”

Pinkie, you just…

Magical!”

We all jump slightly as the party pony exclaims her observation.

It all makes sense now!  I knew I was getting some pretty weird feelings with my Pinkie sense before we fell through the door.  And there’s some pretty creepy magic going on in here… wheee!  Let’s go find it!”

“Uhh, let’s not, you hyperactive fluffball.  If I heard Stinky correctly, there’s four new animatronics wandering the halls of this place that want to put good old Whimper there into a spring-lock suit.  Also, I think that they wouldn’t mind pulling pieces off of us in case they needed anything.”

I hear the whine and cadance of the larger Chica’s servos make their way toward me.

“And just so we’re clear Whimper… I still want to stuff you into one of those.  The only reason why I’m not going and fetching them is that I want to be the one to do the honors.”

I feel one of her metal arms brush against my cheek.  It is the most unnerving feeling, the cold, slightly rusted surface touching me.  Her words come breathlessly into my ear, each one a silent dagger heard by nobody but the two of us.

Do we have an understanding?

Y-y-yes, C-Chica.

Good. Now, I think we shouldn’t stay here long because if I were a spring-lock version of myself…”

This would be one of the first places you’d look?

Well, we can’t stay here, sis.  Let’s start walking around and trying to find the exit.  We can at least get Whimper outside and his pony friends.”

Do you think he would make it that easy, Toy Chica?  Springtrap is… hungry for the innocent and blameless.  These new equines that have come into the pizzeria are like the flame for the moth.  Getting to safety will be a challenging endeavor, if nigh impossible.  I will go and scout the hallways before any of you leave.”

I can’t really argue with the puppet’s logic; even in his demented talk, he’s got a good point.

But, Mari… we can’t…”

“You can, and you will, let me do this. If we are to have any chance, somebody must test the waters, and I will be highly harder to spot if I go back into my box.  Now stay here until I tell you to go.”

There was the sound of grinding metal against the floor as he went for the exit, opening to the equally dark hallway.  A moment later, he was gone.

The silence was deafening as we craned our respective ears against the wall, seeing what we could make out of what was going on.

In the pitch black, our eyes tried to adjust to see anything we could; I could imagine the animatronics were having better luck by their general knowledge of the place.  My pony friends and I were having no luck, needing to huddle together and discuss a plan.

Ugh, I’m tired of this waiting crap.  There’s an access door hidden in the wall behind us.  Lights might be out but the power’s still on.”

“They’re not going to try and… *gulp* scrap us, are they sis?”

“Not if I have anything to say about it.”

I sure hope you’re right.

The Respite of Cute

The last five minutes seemed to be the longest in my life.  Even meeting Fluttershy in the vent was easily capped by needing to run like a man possessed from Chica and the rest of the animatronics gang.

It’s only now that I realize how much the quick climb and jumping out of the air duct has taken its toll on me.  My likely-broken left arm is now throbbing in pain, the hole that Mangle bit through in my right hand is oxidizing like mad and stings, and I’m exhausted.

I find a nearby chair and flop into it.

And all the pain in the world is nothing compared to seeing Toy Chica approach Fluttershy as a smile that gets impossibly wide without being creepy to the shy pegasus form on her mouth.

Are you really real, like for reals real?”

“Umm… yes.”

You are so… awesome!”

“Thank you.”

“What’s your name?”

I swear it was just like it happened as I thought it would.

I’m, umm… fluttershy…”

“What… oh, I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to make you nervous.  I’ll… step back a little.”

“It’s okay, I… no, I am a strong and confident pony.  My name is Fluttershy.  What’s yours?”

“I’m Chica, although everybody calls me Toy Chica.  I’ve got the best big sis in the world and the greatest friends here at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria!”

Fluttershy lights up.  “There’s a bear here?  I have a bear friend back home.”

Well, while this cute-off is going down, I get a better look of the room.

Seems that Toy Chica was the only animatronic in here… that I can see.

This is so much better than… my… I can’t even process how awesome this is!  A real life true to word pony!”

“You’re also very pretty and sweet looking.  My friends back home would really like you!”

Hugs are exchanged.

Great… now I’ll have to break your heart in a few minutes.  I think I’ll hold off on that–besides, it would traumatize Fluttershy to see this new cute thing that’s doling affection all over her bloodily kill another.

Oh, hello pain.  Yes, I forgot to make an appointment but I’m sure you’ve got an opening for me.

Both Chica and Fluttershy turn my way, concerned at the noise.

Are you okay?”

Just peachy, Chica… I mean, your sister probably broke my arm and Mangle bit my hand, but I’m great!

Of course, if I had just said that, the environment in the room would have changed radically and not in a way that I would have liked for it to.

Is there anything like a first aid kit in here, Chica?

There’s one in the break room. But, you’re not an employee so you can’t go in there.”

Right now not going anywhere is preferable.  At least until I can poke my head out without it being removed from the rest of my body.

I look to Fluttershy.  She’s the closest thing I can figure to a medic, given how she cares for animals.  Then I see that she doesn’t have her saddlebags.  Guess I’ll have to be in pain for a while, until it’s clear for anybody to go out without rising suspicion that something’s off.

Chica… let me ask you something, totally hypothetical.  Suppose that… Mangle and your sis decided I wasn’t a good person and wanted to get Springtrap involved in…

My gaze shifts to the yellow pegasus.  Have to choose my words carefully now…

Giving me a very close inspection of how Springtrap works.

But… you’re not a bad person, you brought Fluttershy here!  I should go and talk to Big Sis, she’ll underst–”

NO! I mean… not yet, we’re just playing pretend right now.

Why don’t you want me to talk to Big Sis?”

“Hang on, Chica… Whimper’s scared and hurt.”

“But… Big Sis could help him.”

Were she not fixed on ripping me in two, I think she might be so inclined.

“I could go… see if I could find what Chica looks like.”

My heart melted.  In a blind rage, with both Freddy and Bonnie awake and roaming, looking for me?

I know you’re scared, Whimper… let me be brave and see if I can talk to them.  Besides, I have the stare.”

I believe you, Fluttershy–even though this danger is likelier far greater than you’ve faced before.

“She’s just like me, Fluttershy, only a bit bigger.  I should go with you to find her.”

I was in no shape to fight with either of them.  One because she could paralyze me with a glance, the other because if pressed wrong she could end my life.

Just… be careful.  And don’t tell Big Sis I’m in here if she seems upset.

Alright, Whimper.  We’ll be back.  Come on, Fluttershy!  Let’s go meet the family!”