Chapter Text
The pizzeria doesn't take customers.
It's decorated as if it does, with plenty of tables and a menu on the wall advertising an assortment of pizza, but no human has entered the building for years. Freddy hasn't even seen a real human before.
Instead of entertaining guests, the animatronics are left to entertain themselves. It can be difficult. Freddy sits on the side of the stage, watching as Bonnie performs a long guitar solo. Chica is sharing a pizza with her pet, Mr Cupcake, and Foxy is asleep on his stage with the curtains drawn.
Freddy frowns. Foxy has been sleeping a lot lately. Maybe he should talk to him.
Bonnie ends his solo, "Hey- how'd you like it?"
Freddy flinches and smiles, "Oh, it was very good, Bonnie. You always do a great job."
"Yeah! You sound amazing." Chica agrees before taking another bite of pizza.
"How about you guys join me and we all play together?" Bonnie offers, "It'll rock!"
"I'm actually about to see Foxy." Freddy says.
"I prefer just listening." Chica says, pulling Mr Cupcake into her lap, "You sound so good, I can't compete anyway."
Bonnie's ears fall, "Oh- alright. Maybe next time."
Freddy pushes himself off the stage, "Yeah. Next time."
Pirate Cove is off in a shadowy corner with a small stage and flimsy cardboard cutouts of pirate characters.
Freddy peeks behind the curtain, "Foxy?"
Foxy is asleep, curled into a ball of red fur. His ear twitches when Freddy speaks, however.
"Are you awake?" Freddy asks.
Foxy groans and lifts his head, "What do you want?"
"I'm just checking in." Freddy climbs onto the stage and pulls the curtain shut behind him, "You haven't hung out with us in a while."
"I'm just tired." Foxy says.
"How are you tired? We don't do anything." Freddy chuckles.
Foxy's ears flatten and he shrugs. He pulls himself up until he's sitting, "It doesn't matter. I'm fine."
"That's good." Freddy watches the stars on the curtain as they gently shift back and forth, "I guess it just gets a bit… boring in here without you."
Foxy stares at his hook, "I can't help being the most interesting of us."
Freddy laughs and they sit for a while in silence. He still isn't convinced that Foxy's okay, but isn't sure what could be wrong with him.
"Actually, there is something I wanted to tell you." Foxy says quietly.
Freddy leans forward, "What is it?"
Foxy opens his mouth, but slams it shut again as Bonnie pulls the curtain to the side.
"Hey. What are you two doing here for so long?" Bonnie asks.
Foxy looks away and Freddy groans, "Bonnie. Leave us alone. We're in the middle of a serious talk."
"You never have serious talks with the rest of us." Bonnie says, ears twitching, "First Foxy thinks he's too cool to spend time with everyone and now you just want to do the same, huh?"
"What? That's not it at all." Freddy says, exasperated, "Just go back to the stage."
Bonnie glares at Foxy, "Come on, you two, we haven't even sung together in forever. Stop splitting us up like this."
"Nobody wants to be in your stupid band, Bonnie." Foxy snaps, "Stop acting like a child."
"Stupid?" Bonnie and Foxy are now practically growling in each other's faces, "How dare you? You think you're so mature, hiding from everyone like a spoiled brat!"
"I'm the brat? You're the one who needs everything to be his way all the time!" Foxy retorts.
Chica hurries over, nervously wringing her hands, "Come on, guys. Aren't we all friends?"
"Sure- friends who are stuck together 24/7 with no privacy!" Foxy says, "So don't blame me for being a little ticked off when this stupid rabbit can't go ten minutes without everyone fawning over him!"
Bonnie's red eyes widen and he raises his voice, "You called me stupid again! You know what? I'm tired of being stuck with you all the time! Do you know how lonely it is to have only three and a half friends in the whole world and one of them doesn't even care about you?"
Foxy curls his lip, "Do you want me to apologize and say how much I really do care? Well, I don't. You're right."
Freddy steps between them, "Hey- stop it. Bonnie, Foxy just needs his space from time to time. And Foxy, you don't mean that. Let's just take a few minutes to-"
"No, I do." Foxy says, his ears flat against his head, "I hate this place and I'm tired of everyone here. Face it- we're only 'friends' because we're all prisoners together anyway. If we had a choice, we'd never even talk to each other."
Chica makes a noise of dismay, "That's not true. I'd talk to all of you. I love you."
Freddy nods, "Same here. I know we don't always see eye to eye and we were kind of… forced together, but we're a team. A family."
"A band." Bonnie says.
"Yeah." Freddy gives a small smile, "We're the Fazbear Band and I think we still would be, even if we had the choice to split up."
Foxy still doesn't seem convinced, "Maybe you three are a band, but I'm not a part of it."
"Don't say that!" Chica frets, "Come on, Foxy. You're just as much a part of the band as the rest of us."
"Maybe I don't want to be." Foxy says, "I want to leave. I want to go somewhere else."
"Well, you can't!" Bonnie snaps, "You're stuck with us, unless you've found some genius way out of the pizzeria."
Foxy doesn't say anything, but his eyes betray his thoughts. Bonnie's ears push forward, as if by listening he can read Foxy's mind.
Chica gasps, "You found a way out?"
Freddy shakes his head, trying not to get everyone's hopes up, "You know there's no way out. We've been looking for one for years."
Foxy looks away, smiling slightly. He still says nothing.
Freddy stares at him, "You didn't…"
The three confused animatronics follow Foxy behind the stage, unable to believe until they see the proof with their own eyes. Foxy slides behind the curtain and starts sifting through stacks and stacks of cutouts and old props. He reaches the cement wall and gestures to a power box affixed to it.
Freddy slumps his shoulders in disappointment, "The power? We already knew this was here."
Foxy gives a tiny laugh, "Yes, but we never thought about why it's here."
Bonnie crosses his arms, "Uh- to power the pizzeria? How do you think lights, ovens and stereos work? Pirate magic?"
"The people keeping us here don't need to give us power for food or stereos." Foxy says, rolling his eyes at Bonnie, "But they do need power for other things. Things like the cameras… or the doors."
Chica tenses, "No! It can't be that simple. Can it? Oh gosh… all this time?"
"That can't work." Freddy decides quickly, "I mean- we don't know what's out there. If we power down the front doors, who knows what's waiting for us outside? We're safe in here."
Foxy crosses his arms, "Well, I'm doing it and leaving. I don't need you three to come with me. I'm just telling you as a favor."
"Gee. The loyalty is astounding." Bonnie says sarcastically.
Chica begins to fidget, "But what if you get hurt? What if you leave and we can't hear from you again? What if-"
"You're not going on your own, that's even more dangerous than doing this in the first place." Freddy says.
"You'll either have to come with me, or find a way to trap me then." Foxy says, "Because I am not staying here anymore."
Freddy sighs, trying to think of any way this could possibly work without anyone getting hurt, "What's your plan?"
Foxy stares blankly at Freddy, "Weren't you listening? Shorting out the power will open the doors and turn the cameras off."
Freddy presses his face into his paw, "That's not a plan Foxy. What are you going to do when the doors are open? Are you going to run for it? Hide somewhere? Map out the surroundings? Any plan at all?"
"I was mostly just going to… leave." Foxy admits.
"You're going to die." Bonnie laughs incredulously.
"Well, what's your plan, carrots?" Foxy snarls.
Bonnie narrows his eyes, "How about we don't run away and actually stick together as a team?"
Chica raises a hand, "Are- are we actually making a plan to escape? Or is this hypothetical?"
There is silence over the small group. Foxy opens his mouth to give an answer, but Freddy speaks over him, "I will think about it." He says slowly, "If I can come up with a plan I'm confident in, maybe we'll try it. Okay?"
Foxy scoffs, "Well, think fast, Fazbear. In five nights, I'm leaving. With or without you."
One by one, the other animatronics go to sleep, leaving Freddy on his own, laying awake as he considers Foxy's proposition. He wants to leave as badly as the others, but is freedom worth the cost of safety?
Of course Foxy is fine just running away, alone and without a plan. He isn't responsible for the group. Freddy has to think about the wellbeing of everyone else. The problem is, he has no idea what's behind those doors. It could be perfectly safe and he could be worried over nothing. On the other hand, it could spell instant death for them all.
He closes his eyes and tries to get some sleep, hoping that the answers will come to him after some rest. As he drifts off, however, he hears a voice tugging at the corner of his mind. Slowly, Freddy finds himself dragged into a dream that isn't quite dreaming.
The pizzeria is blueish, filled with bright lights and colors. The entire world seems blurred slightly, as if he is squinting. He looks down and sees his own sleeping body beneath him.
"Freddy." A voice says gently, "How do you feel?"
Freddy turns around and sees a golden bear, sitting on the stage. His black eye sockets have single white points of light inside that bore into Freddy, as if they can see his very soul.
"Golden Freddy." He hops onto the stage and sits next to him, "I… could feel better, to be honest."
Golden Freddy nods, "Understandable. You have an important choice to make, don't you?"
"You could say that." Freddy sighs, but then perks up, "Say- you don't know what's out there, do you? Is it dangerous?"
"I have seen the world outside." Golden says, "It is filled with danger, yes. But also good things. And places that are both safe and free."
"So we could be safe, but still come and go as we please?" Freddy breathes, "Could you lead us to a place like that? If we left, that is. I'm still not sure if we should."
"You want to." Golden says.
"Of course I do." Freddy says, "We all do. But I have to think about the others. I can't lead them all to their death just because I'm bored being stuck here."
"So you want me to give you assurance that if you leave, none of you will be harmed?"
Freddy nods.
"I can't."
Just as Freddy begins to deflate, Golden Freddy continues, "But just as the world out there is rife with potential danger, so is this world here. Don't you realize that the ones keeping you here can do whatever they want with you? You're entirely at their mercy."
"But they've never even shown themselves- let alone tried to hurt us. Why would they start now?" Freddy asks.
Golden looks grimly at the stars on the ceiling, "They were watching you. Analyzing you. Once they feel they understand you, their goal is to destroy all evidence of your existence. And that means destroying you."
Freddy tries watching the stars as well, but quickly grows bored and instead starts counting the black and white tiles beneath them, "If that is true, we really don't have a choice. We need to leave."
Golden nods, "It won't be easy or safe, but if you all stay together, you can protect each other."
"That won't be easy with Foxy." Freddy says.
"I've already spoken to Foxy." Golden says, "I can't tell you what he told me, but I think you need to trust that he is more loyal than he lets on."
Freddy nods, having to restart his count, "I thought so. I'm just worried he's going to run off. Or that he'll cause problems between us with how… abrasive he can be."
"Isn't it your job to keep that kind of thing from happening?" Golden asks, "You're the leader."
"Yeah, but…" Freddy disregards counting entirely to look up at Golden, "But why? Why am I the leader? What makes me special?"
"You're Freddy Fazbear." Golden says.
Freddy furrows his brow, "So I'm the leader because this restaurant just happens to be named after me?"
"You're named after it, technically."
"That's worse."
Golden laughs, "This journey may not just lead to a new home. It may also lead you to discover the truth about who you are, Freddy."
Freddy isn't quite convinced, but tries to drop the subject, "Where can we go, anyway? Once we get out, what do we do?"
"I will give you directions when I can." Golden says, "I know of a place where you can all be safe. However, before you go there, there are other places you must go."
"What? Where? And why?" Freddy gets all his questions out at once.
Golden Freddy lowers his voice, "There are others."
"Other places to visit? What do you mean?"
"Other animatronics."
For a moment, Freddy can't speak. Other animatronics? Like them?
"They are trapped in their own locations, just like you. I can help lead you to each location. Then you can free them and go to your new home together."
"Other… animatronics?" Freddy is still reeling over that revelation, "Who are they? How many? What are they like?"
Golden smiles, as if amused, "I cannot speak any longer. When you leave, I will be watching you. I will help wherever I can. Good luck, Freddy."
"Wait, you didn't answer any of my-"
Freddy's eyes snap open. He's awake. The stars on the ceiling aren't shining like they did before. He sits up. The pizzeria looks even smaller and dingier than normal. Freddy's fur itches at the thought of staying there even a second longer.
It's decided. They have to leave.
He hops to his feet and runs to the stage, shaking Bonnie, who is asleep behind the curtain, "Wake up. We need to have a meeting."
Bonnie snorts and his eyes fling open, "Huh? Wha-"
"Morning, Bon." Freddy tousels Bonnie's ears teasingly, "How'd you sleep?"
Bonnie looks up at Freddy with a sour expression, "Not well. I kept dreaming about Foxy running off and us having to go out and bring him back. Something tore my face off in the dream."
"Ouch." Freddy tries not to imagine anybody losing their face, but the imagery has already been implanted in his mind, "Well, don't worry because we won't have to chase after anyone. We're leaving together."
Bonnie twitches, "You're not serious."
Freddy nods, "I am."
Bonnie springs to his feet, shaking his head, "Foxy's plan is going to get us all killed!" He insists, "We can't go out there! He's- he doesn't even know what he's talking about! I doubt the doors will even open!"
Freddy takes Bonnie's shoulders, "Hey- calm down."
"How can I possibly be calm when you're speaking like you've lost your mind?" Bonnie pulls away.
"I spoke to Golden Freddy." Freddy says, "He said we don't really have a choice in the matter. We need to leave."
Bonnie shakes his head, "But- But this is our home. This is all we have."
"That isn't true." Freddy says, "We have each other. That's what's important. And there's also another thing."
Bonnie doesn't seem willing to listen, "I don't care what else he told you. Nothing can make leaving worth it."
"There are other animatronics out there." Freddy says.
Bonnie's ears straighten up like antennas trying to pick up a good signal. His entire body goes stiff, "What?"
"There are other animatronics, just like us." Freddy repeats himself, "If we leave, we can make so many new friends. You won't even need Foxy anymore."
"Others…" Bonnie blinks several times, taking it in, "So, we aren't alone…"
"Nope." Freddy says, sending Bonnie a reassuring grin, "So what do you say? Is it time for this band to go on tour?"
Bonnie meets his eye and returns the smile, "Let's rock and roll!"
Freddy lets Bonnie get himself ready to leave while he goes to find Chica. He enters the kitchen, hearing pots and pans rattling around inside. Chica is making a pizza, sloppily combining more ingredients than is probably necessary.
She jumps when Freddy enters and accidentally drops some cheese, which Mister Cupcake gobbles down as soon as it hits the floor.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you." Freddy says, "A bit early for that, isn't it?"
Chica finishes adding her toppings and slides the pizza into the oven, "You know I eat when I'm nervous. I wasn't able to sleep very much last night…"
Freddy sees a stack of pans and pizza boxes by the corner and winces, "So you've just been snacking?"
"Yeah…" Chica groans, "I hate it when everyone fights. Why can't we just get along like we used to?"
"Foxy and Bonnie are both… going through stuff." Freddy admits, "I don't think either of them realize how hard it can be to watch them fight."
"Well, I wish they would realize." Chica says, "I'm just picturing Foxy running off and getting hurt."
"He won't do that." Freddy says, "We won't let him go alone."
"Are we… actually leaving?" Chica asks.
Freddy nods, "We have to. It won't be safe here forever."
She takes a shaky breath, "So many things could go wrong out there. We could be separated, or someone could get hurt. What if Foxy and Bonnie still can't get along and they try to split up?"
Freddy puts his paw around Chica's shoulder, "That's why we need you to come with us. You're like the glue that keeps our team together. No matter what happens, I know you look out for us."
Chica gives a tiny smile and leans against Freddy's fur, "Is that a nice way to say I worry about everyone too much?"
"You just care a lot." Freddy says, "Nothing wrong with that."
"Thanks, Freddy."
Freddy squeezes her gently before letting go, "There's also something else I need to tell you. Another reason why we need to leave."
After explaining the situation to Chica, Freddy leaves her to get ready to go. He steps out of the kitchen, ready to head to Pirate Cove, but stops when he sees Foxy already in the dining area.
"So, when do we leave?" Foxy asks, standing up from a table.
Freddy gestures for him to sit, "As soon as everyone is ready, I guess. No point in waiting."
Bonnie hops down from the stage and sits at their table. He slides Freddy's microphone across to him, "Don't want to forget this when we go."
Freddy gives the microphone a glance, "Why would we need to take this?"
"What do you mean? It's your microphone! There's not one poster in this building that shows you without it! You can't just leave it behind." Bonnie says.
Foxy rolls his eyes, "We don't need to take a bunch of junk to keep track of."
Bonnie gasps, "How can you say that? This isn't junk! It's got sentimental value! It's like our drawings."
"We're not taking any of the drawings." Foxy says.
Freddy raises his hands to stop them as the two start to devolve into another argument, "Bonnie can take whatever he wants, as long as he keeps track of it and it doesn't slow us down."
Bonnie nods, "I have space in my guitar case."
"You're bringing the guitar?" Foxy groans.
"Come on, Foxy." Freddy elbows him, "Asking Bonnie to leave his guitar is like asking him to leave his ears."
Foxy sighs, but concedes, "But if it comes between survival and your 'sentimental value', I'm picking survival."
Bonnie gives Foxy a glare, but doesn't cause any more arguments. Instead, he heads off to fill his guitar case with whatever he can't stand to leave behind.
"Go easy on him, okay?" Freddy says quietly, "We're a team."
"Whatever you say…"
After a few minutes, Chica comes out of the kitchen with a pizza to share, "We can't travel on empty stomachs."
"Technically, I don't think we need to eat." Foxy says, taking a slice anyway.
Bonnie sits down and also grabs some pizza, "We should enjoy this anyway. Who knows when our next pizza will be once we leave."
Chica fidgets nervously and shoves a slice in her beak. Freddy puts a paw on her shoulder to keep her calm.
"Are we all ready to leave after this?" Freddy asks.
Bonnie nods, "I'm all packed."
"I don't even need to pack." Foxy says.
"I just need to take Mister Cupcake and he's right here." Chica says, gesturing to the cupcake, who is under the table eating some fallen crust.
"Perfect." Freddy takes a slice once he knows everyone else has gotten one, "Foxy will kill the power. While he does that, Bonnie and I will watch the doors, making sure the coast is clear. Chica will stay with Foxy and make sure he doesn't electrocute himself."
Foxy scoffs, but doesn't protest.
"Once the power is out, Foxy and Chica will meet us at the doors. When we leave, Bonnie will take point and scope out our surroundings."
Bonnie nods, "I do have the best eyesight."
"Chica, you'll be carrying Mister Cupcake, so just stay close to me." Freddy decides, "All you need to worry about is not letting him run off. The last thing we need is to chase down a runaway cake."
Chica gives a nervous laugh, but gives a nod of understanding.
"Foxy, you can bring up the rear." Freddy says, "If anything comes from behind, show them why they shouldn't mess with us. You also need to make sure we don't leave an obvious trail."
"Easy." Foxy grins, showing off his sharp, golden teeth.
"Good. If we all know what we have to do, then…" Freddy takes a breath to prepare himself, "I think it's time to go."