Chapter Text
“I… do not come up here anymore. I miss him…”
Gregory looked up at the small stage in the corner of the ice cream parlor in the bowling alley, where thick red drapes had been pulled closed. A sign explaining that this “attraction” was closed and that Fazbear Entertainment apologized for any inconvenience was posted on a small metal stand in front of them. “What used to be here?” He asked as he turned to look up at Freddy, who stood with a sizable gap between himself and the stage. “Who is he?”
“His name was Bonnie.”
“Oh! The purple rabbit guy on the signs for the bowling alley?”
“Yes. He was… a very close and long time friend of mine. We used to perform together. In fact, he was the original bass player for the Glamrock show before Monty took over.”
Gregory frowned, “Why did they replace him?”
Freddy shook his head a little, frowning. “I… do not know. He was quite popular with the kids and performed very well with the rest of us. Chica knew him as long as I did, so they got along very well. He even grew on Roxi and they would play together after hours.” He glanced away, out towards the lanes of the bowling alley. “Then one night, he just disappeared, and no one could tell us what happened. Monty was introduced to take his place in the band soon after and everything continued as though nothing had changed at all, but the band did not feel the same after that.”
This knowledge didn’t sit right with Gregory. It was strange that Bonnie just disappeared and was suddenly replaced with Monty, without any sort of warning. He supposed the management of this place didn’t feel the need to explain to animatronics what was going on, just expected them to follow instructions and perform. Before he met Freddy, he would have agreed with this mindset, but now the bear felt far too human to be brushed off and treated like an object.
Looking back up at Freddy, he saw how sad he looked, his eyes gazing unforced at something far away. It made Gregory press his lips together as his heart sank. “I’m sorry, we can leave. I didn’t know this place held bad memories for you.”
Startled out of his thoughts, Freddy blinked and looked back at him, then smiled, even if it didn’t quite light his eyes. (Figuratively speaking, of course. His eyes always glowed.) “On the contrary, I have many fond memories here, but… I suppose that is why being here makes me sad. I wish it was not so. Oh, but do not apologize! You were unaware.” He knelt down as his chest panel opened for the boy, and waited patiently as he crawled inside before standing. “Where to now, superstar?” He asked as he headed towards the exit.
Gregory shrugged in the limited space, half in the conversation. “I don’t know. I guess we can check out one of the arcades, maybe find those Princess Quest games.”
“Understood!”
After a moment in his thoughts, Gregory spoke up once more, “Hey Freddy? Do you think Bonnie is still around here somewhere? I’ve seen lots of endoskeletons down in the basement and in Parts and Services.”
“I… do not know. It has been quite some time since I last saw him. If he has not been recycled, then I fear what his condition will be like from lack of updates and maintenance.”
The boy hummed in thought, but was quiet the rest of the trip to one of the many arcades in the complex.