Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sunrise couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment that the systems had been rebooted and fixed, but the instant ease in tension in his system and the shared consciousness he had with Moondrop was a major indicator of a change.  He pauses midway in his diving position, and cautiously stands up again. 

“Moondrop?” It’s been a while since Sunrise had called upon his own brother, he had been living in fear of him ever since the last time he called him, and his brother in a sickening gravelly voice very distant from the silky smooth he usually spoke in taunted him for his personality and care. It had hurt, to hear his brother so cruel towards him - wasn’t any and all negative emotions removed from their systems to ensure the children were only treated with kindness and respect?  Moondrop only laughed, and left with another taunt about the lights shutting down meaning his ‘playtime’. 

Thus that sparked his one and only rule.  Until he could figure out what had happened to his brother, he enforced the simple 5 word rule to any and all children who entered the daycare: To keep the lights on.  The children didn’t question it, to be expected - all they were interested in was playtime, not some silly rule the animatronic in charge of them was mentioning.  The light switch was looked at whenever Sunrise could, and the once frequent nap times were suspended for the time being. It was all he could do, to ensure the children’s safety until things were fixed. 

No matter how hard he tried to keep Moondrop at bay, all attempts proved futile when the plaza complex was closed. Due to electricity issues, periodically throughout the night some of the power was redirected to other parts of the building. When it happened to the daycare, there was nothing Sunrise could do to prevent his systems and programmes switching to Moondrop. 

Funny. A once comforting and shared experience the two animatronics enjoyed, turned into a game of strategic cat and mouse that always ended with the cat sinking its teeth in the mouse, no matter whatever it does. Sunrise wishes he could forget that first moment when the different Moondrop had taken over, and watching his actions in the technical backseat of their systems.  He moved so similarly, but yet it was not him, and that was the most jarring part of the different Moondrop. 

Then Gregory had arrived. Sweet, caring, innocent Gregory who found himself in an unfortunate situation that he shouldn’t have been in. He had heard second-hand from Freddy what had happened to the young boy throughout the night after he had left their daycare, and Sunrise couldn’t help but feel so guilty for throwing Gregory out. He could have protected him, he is the sole Protector of the daycare!  Then again, what would he have done if the power got rerouted again, and Moondrop was out?  Maybe it was safer Gregory was away from him until Moondrop was fixed, yes that was it. 

“Sunrise?” A distantly familiar voice interrupts Sunrise’s train of thought, and he could nearly cry - if animatronics were even programmed to be able to do that.  It was Moondrop’s voice, not the different Moondrop’s voice that hurt his ears and made him jump at times, but the comforting, lilting voice that he had missed. The true Moondrop whose purpose was to comfort the children to sleep in naptime, not the different Moondrop who, instead, hunted the awake children. 

“Moondrop, is it really you?” Sunrise takes a moment to understand this new information, and then suddenly he’s feeling overwhelmed with joy and compassion for his night buddy. “Oh Moondrop, it is, isn’t it?  How are you, Moonlight?”

“I’m feeling… fine,” Moondrop responds after a small pause, and Sunrise spins in joy at his friend’s good health. “I’m not quite sure what happened to my systems for a while, I hope you didn’t miss me too much, Sundrop.”

“Oh you have no idea,” Sunrise comments, exaggerating his voice in mock exhaustion as he stops spinning, and falls down back first into the ball pit below the platform. “You-You were this weird, ruder version of yourself for so long, and you attacked the children instead of helping them. It was so scary, I tried to be brave for you, but I wasn’t sure when you would be back. The real you.”

Moondrop sighs, and suddenly Sunrise can feel his arms move on their own to wrap around himself, as if hugging him. He melts as it registers what Moondrop is doing, and he closes his eyes as the softer voice between them speaks up. “I’m so sorry, Sunrise.  I don’t remember much of what I was like during that time, all I know is that the last I fully remember is having a conversation with Vanny one night. She must have somehow messed up my systems,” Moondrop pauses, and Sunrise can tell he’s scared to continue. Then the former clears his throat (or the best impression he can for a current voice in Sunrise’s head). “You should not have been afraid of me, Sundrop. I don’t want to ever make you feel that way towards me.”

“You didn’t, though!” Sunrise counters, opening his eyes and beginning to crawl out of the ball pit. He still had stacks to finish and play areas to clean for the next day. “It was the other you, you have never scared me!”

A feeling Sunrise registers as relief - the children had described feeling something similar after Sunrise had let them off with lighter punishments when they broke basic plaza rules - fills Moondrop, and the latter responds: “Oh that’s good, I’m glad I never scare you. You are my brother, I wish to protect and help you. Never hinder and never scare you.”

“You’re my brother too,” Sunrise points out, picking up a box to place on the stack next to it. “I wish to help you as well.  It’s a two way street that we have, Moonlight, don’t just put all the pressure on yourself.”

“I know,” Moondrop says, and Sunrise can feel the other help him fix the stack piles along with him. They hadn’t shared a moment like this together in so long, one in which they were sincere and kind to one another, eager to help in any way they could. He had taken this for granted, and he was so grateful to experience it again. “But I still feel some responsibility for whatever my other self did, so I wish to make up for that. In any way I can, so you name it Sunnydrop, and I shall help.”

“Well I don’t have much I need help with right now Moonlight,” Sunrise informs, turning to the playpen now that the stacks had been fixed. More cleaning was still needed to be done, to make sure the place was perfect and spotless for the next morning. “However, I would love for you to stay and talk, if you want of course.”

“I wouldn’t mind at all,” Moondrop confirms, voice so comforting that it even eases Sunrise himself. He never realised how much he had missed the old Moondrop until now. “What happened when I was not myself for that while, Sunrise?”

“Well you were just mean to me and to anyone you encountered when in that form,” Sunrise recalls, trying not to frown as he talks about his brother in this way to him.  Even if it wasn’t him, it still feels wrong telling it to him, as if forcing him to feel apologetic for actions he didn't commit.  However, Sunrise knows Moondrop wont take it in that way, so he continues. “You also attacked children, and had a really gravelly voice unlike your own.  You also had scary red eyes that terrified the young ones.” What else was he missing? Sunrise ponders and hums, and then it hits him. 

The newest addition to their complex: Gregory, the young boy from a few nights ago. He had decided to stick around and stay with Freddy after the night was over, and has become a beloved member of the animatronics - even if the young boy was human.  Moondrop had not met Gregory, and that was just not right!  They had to meet each other, it would be only fair to ease the young boy and show Moondrop another child who needed to be looked after at night. 

“Have you met Gregory yet, Moonlight?” Sunrise questions, swinging his arms back and forth as he looks through the playpen for any discarded mess to clean up. 

Moondrop responds by humming disappointedly. “Not in my actual form, only through the not me. I’d love to meet him though, if I haven’t scared him too much.”

“You won't have at all, it may take a little prompting from Gregory but I’m sure he’ll come around,” Sunrise feels his excitement rising, and he spins around the pen as he thinks of the possibilities of tonight. “Oh we could play hide and seek, and then colour, and then the lights will go, and you can read him a story and give him a hot cocoa and a blanket and sing your little lullaby and-.”

“Sunrise,” Moondrop interrupts calmly, and Sunrise silences himself, listening as his brother continues. “Maybe just a simple introduction tonight, I don’t think he would like all that so soon after what happened last time.”

“Oh,” Sunrise says, forgetting how different humans reacted than animatronics. It would take a lot longer for Gregory to trust someone than say himself, an animatronic. Moondrop was right, slow and simple would be the most successful method in helping Gregory know the real Moondrop. “Yes, yes you’re right. So sorry brother, I got too carried away.  Just a simple tuck in and lullaby should be perfect for him I think!”

“Yes I agree,” Moondrop replies, and Sunrise is already in the process of making the invite letter in red crayon for Gregory on discarded paper left on the arts and crafts table as he continues. “He would like that, all kids mostly do. If not, I always have the BFG - do you think he would like my BFG?”

“If you replaced the giant with Freddy, definitely,” Sunrise adds, remembering how close Freddy and Gregory are. They were inseparable, everywhere Freddy went Gregory was somewhere nearby. In a way, it was sweet that Gregory had found someone to latch onto, and Freddy now had someone to care for.  Combining that with Moondrop’s expertise in bedtime storytelling, it would surely prove to be a success in showing Gregory his real brother: the kind and gentle moon jester.  

“Perfect, I can do that,” Moondrop hums, making a mental note of the change of name for the story.  It had been a while since Sunrise had heard one of his brother’s storytelling processes, the different him would just grunt and taunt about bedtimes and punishment to those out of bed - both unhelpful comments in any situation involving him.  Moondrop pauses, and Sunrise patiently waits for his brother to continue, and then he hears a sigh. “I’m nervous, Sundrop, what if he hates me?”

“Hates you?” Sunrise laughs nervously, shaking his head in an attempt to convince himself as well as Moondrop how absurd that idea was. “He won't hate you, dislike maybe, but that’s to be expected. Just apologise and show him the real you, and maybe just maybe he might learn to trust you.”

“Okay Sundrop,” Moondrop notes all suggestions Sunrise had made, and can feel himself grow more calm at the upcoming introduction. If Sunrise was certain it would go decently, then it would. He should accept that there will be some fear, but hopefully by the end of tonight it will be gone, and Gregory will know the real him, the better him. “I think I’m ready now.”

“Perfect,” Sunrise replies, standing up with the invitation - now folded into a small paper aeroplane - and making his way towards the door. “Now to deliver the invite, and hope he agrees”

He throws open the tall oak Daycare door, and watches the security bots patrolling the plaza.  He waits until he’s clocked the path of one certain bot, and then carefully throws it when the bot restarts its loop.  The animatronic watches as the thrown plane soars through the plaza centre, and dives down and lands right in front of the patrolling bot, who picks it up and reroutes himself to Freddy’s dressing room. They both smile, and patiently wait for a reply, hoping the young boy will agree to show.  

Chapter Text

The invite had been a shock to Gregory, who was sitting and listening to Freddy discuss the latest show that was coming up with the Glamrock band.  The security bot had handed a little paper aeroplane to Freddy, and then zoomed away back to his usual position.  Freddy had carefully opened up the aeroplane, and then looked down at Gregory, who stared up at him as if prompting the animatronic to read out loud.

Freddy cleared his throat. “Dear Gregory and Freddy, you have been invited to the daycare for the night, in which you will meet the REAL Moondrop (Sunny approved that he is the real Moondrop, don’t fret Sunshine) now that the systems have been fixed.  We understand if you do not wish to come over so soon after what happened, but would be so grateful if you could consider giving Moondrop another chance.  Brilliant evening, Sunrise.”

Gregory had taken a few moments to comprehend the letter, and then he found himself in a conflicting headspace.  On one hand, he never wanted to visit the daycare again with the sole purpose of seeking out Moondrop; the night time animatronic had scarred him with his creepy voice and flight movements around the plaza, desperate to catch him.  But on the other hand, he trusted Sunrise, and he seemed positive that Moondrop was back to whoever his normal self was, and who could blame him for being curious to meet the actual night jester?  

“Gregory, it is okay if you do not wish to go, I’m sure they would understand,” Freddy comments, attempting to console the young boy who had gone deathly silent since the letter had been read out.  Gregory looks at Freddy and smiles, brown fringe falling in front of his eyes (did they have a hairdresser in the plaza?  Freddy did not know, but surely it would not be too hard to cut the young boy’s hair).

“I do want to go,” Gregory corrects, glancing at the letter still clutched in Freddy’s paw.  Then he hesitates. “It’s just, I’m a little nervous to see him again after last time.  I trust Sunrise, but what if he’s wrong this time?  What if Moondrop is not himself when I come to visit?”

“Gregory, I will be with you at all times,” Freddy comforts, leaning over and placing a paw on the young boy’s shoulder.  He takes visible comfort in the movement, his tense body relaxing under the steadying pressure of the animatronic standing in front of him, eyes glowing that calm sea blue as usual. “If anything were to go wrong, then I will protect you from them, and we will head straight back here.  Even now I am… anxious to allow for this to happen, but as you say I trust Sunrise too.  It is your decision to make, Gregory, so don’t let me influence you.”

Gregory nods, letting it settle that Freddy would accompany him at all times in the daycare tonight.  He trusted the bear animatronic, that first night had shown how far the animatronic was willing to go to help and protect him, and so to have him there tonight would be perfect if everything went wrong.  He also had the advantage of already meeting the previous Moondrop, and so knew how to outmanoeuvre him if he still existed, and knowledge of the daycare generators and where they resided.  With basic scenarios covered in his head involving the previous Moondrop showing positive escape routes and alternatives, Gregory finally makes up his mind, and snatches the letter out of Freddy’s paw.

“It’s decided,” Gregory declares, voice high pitched as he raises the letter up and flashes a toothy grin. “We’re going to the daycare!”

Freddy smiles back. “Alright Superstar, hop in and let’s head over,” the chest opens up again, and eagerly Gregory climbs inside, nerves tingling as he counts down the seconds until he will be at the daycare again.  Freddy had taken Gregory on many night-time walks to calm the young boy after a nightmare, and so he had nearly the whole plaza memorised at this point, and how long it took to reach each place.  They exit the room, and soon Freddy is walking down the galaxy themed carpet to the daycare.

Gregory finds himself wondering what the actual Moondrop is like - basing his guesses off the statue and posters depicting the night jester he had seen when approaching the daycare.  He had appeared as a serene and helpful animatronic, there to help guide children to sleep (well if that poster on Night-time Troubles was right, he had seen Freddy read it briefly after he struggled to calm him down after a particularly scary nightmare).  Maybe the jester also knew some games as well like Sunrise, or what about bedtime stories?  Gregory isn’t sure what he is expecting when he reaches the daycare, but all that he really hopes is that the old Moondrop is gone - he had been the source of the majority of his nightmares since staying at the Plaza Complex.  

Why did he decide to go so soon?  Gregory cannot possibly provide a straight answer, but his curiosity is certainly dominating his fear, so maybe that’s a start to this explanation.

The tall oak doors along with the watercolour art of Sunrise and Moondrop soon greets his vision, and Freddy stops right in front of the doors.  Opening his chest cavity, Gregory climbs out and instantly reaches for Freddy’s paw, easing himself at the comfort of the animatronic in his hand.  Freddy turns to face him. “Would you like to knock, or shall I?”

“You do,” Gregory responds, and Freddy nods, reaching forward and pounding his metallic fist against the doors.  As soon as the first knock rings through the plaza, the door is being flung open by the sun animatronic, who spins around in excitement when he sees the two of them.

“Oh you decided to come,” Sunrise calls out, still spinning as he welcomes the two inside, and Gregory allows Freddy to lead him in.  He takes in the play area around him as the other animatronic continues speaking. “We were worried you weren’t going to show, but I’m so, so grateful you have!  I missed you, Sunshine, and I’m so sorry what happened the rest of that night.  I hope you’re okay now, and are ready to meet my actual brother!”

Gregory isn’t sure what to say, standing silently as Sunrise stares at him, that painted smile as big as he remembered it (did it depict how he actually felt most days?  Gregory can’t help but wonder if it was possible for the animatronic to be sad.  He had heard Roxxanne crying before, so maybe it was possible).  Freddy steps in, cutting the awkward silence. “I think he’s just a little nervous right now, Sunrise.  Please excuse his quietness.”

Sunrise nods, turning to Freddy. “That’s alright, we understand how he must be feeling right now.  We will take it at your pace tonight, Gregory,” Sunrise turns to face the young boy again, who nods slowly. “Even if you don’t want to meet Moondrop tonight that’s okay, he says he understands if it takes a while for you to feel comfortable to reach that level again!  We want to ensure your safety and happiness, it is what we are programmed to do after all.”

“No,” Gregory protests, finally finding his voice to speak again.  He understood what he was getting into as soon as he considered the options, and he wasn’t going to back out now.  Everything would be okay anyway, he still had Freddy. “I want to meet Moondrop, just- maybe not as much theatrics as you have Sunrise.  No offence at all.”

It appears to Gregory that Sunrise does indeed not take offence, and instead he flashes a thumbs up to him. “You got it, Sunshine.  Would you like to meet him now or later?”

Gregory hesitates, but then realises that he is in the best position he could be right now in terms of meeting the other animatronic.  He had psyched himself up for this moment, so he was going to complete it.  Relaxing his posture and easing his mind, he looks back at Sunrise with a neutral expression dusting his face. “I’m ready.”

Sunrise nods, and skips his way over to the security desk in the corner.  Freddy sticks with Gregory, hand still held in his paw, and the young boy couldn’t be more thankful for his presence.  Even though it was an entirely different situation, Gregory still felt himself tense when Sunrise reached the light switch, and with an exaggerated reach towards it, flipped it down, resulting in the lights blacking out.  

Instantly memories of a rough voice declaring him a bad child and promising punishment floods his mind, and he subconsciously whimpers, causing Freddy to hold tighter onto his hand.  He then leans down next to Gregory, and grasps the young boy on the shoulder, and the boy finds himself staring into those sea calm eyes again.  Freddy begins to whisper to him: “Gregory, you do not have to do this so soon.  I can tell you’re nervous, and they will understand.  Don’t put yourself-.”

“Welcome Freddy,” Freddy pauses in his speech at the new, soft voice, and turns to face the animatronic standing a fair distance away from them.  Gregory follows his gaze, and finds himself facing Moondrop again - only, this time, with a couple of changes.  The striking, haunting red his eyes had been the first time was now a muted grey, almost white colour, and his voice was soft, almost soothing to hear, rather than the rough voice that hurt his ears.  The two only stare at Moondrop, who keeps in his position as he looks at the young boy next to the bear animatronic. “And is this Gregory?  Hi Gregory.”

Gregory struggles to find his voice, but swallows down the lump in his throat and forces out a quick greeting. “Hi.”

Moondrop’s hands rest behind his back, and he tilts his head to the side slightly. “Hi young one, I hope you are okay.  I wish to apologise for whatever corrupted me did to you, as they are far from my actual intentions.  My programmes are to help children sleep when it is naptime, not actively hurt children who are awake.  I’m sorry you had to encounter that version of me first before me now.”

Gregory isn’t sure what to say: Moondrop resembles some form of what he thinks he would be like, but yet none at all.  He certainly did not expect the animatronic to be so muted in his movements when he had Sunrise for a brother, but then again aren’t the sun and the moon opposite one another?  Maybe it made sense that he was calm and slow instead of energetic and fast.  He finds himself accepting the apology, and smiles slightly at the other animatronic. “I accept your apology, it’s nice to meet you - the real you - Moondrop.”

“Nice to meet you too, Gregory,” Moondrop says. “Do you mind if I come closer, or is this distance enough for you?”

Gregory wants to let Moondrop get closer, but the close encounters he had with him in the playpen proved too much for him to allow the other to approach him, and so he shakes his head. “Not closer, not now.”

Freddy’s paw squeezes, a slight comfort that calms the growing panic, and Moondrop nods, staying in his position. “Of course, Gregory, I understand.  Tell me, young one, are you feeling tired?”

Gregory pauses, and considers the question just asked.  He had a small headache that had begun maybe an hour ago, but he had not considered that to be tiredness, but now that the word had been spoken aloud to him, he registers that it is tiredness.  Spending all that time playing Fazer Blast with Freddy had tuckered him out for the rest of the day, and now travelling all the way to the daycare had further tired him.  He nods at Moondrop. “Yeah, a little.  I had a long day.”

“I can tell,” Moondrop comments, and then, like magic, he pulls a blanket out of thin air and throws it towards Gregory, who catches it with his free hand.  The blanket is silky soft in his fingers, and shone in the nightlight stars around the daycare.  Freddy lets go of Gregory’s hand, and the young boy looks for a comfortable place to rest his head and nap in the daycare.  The bear animatronic follows him as he wanders around, but Moondrop keeps his distance - and Gregory is grateful for the latter’s respect in his wish. 

“Here,” Gregory decides, finding a place in one of the small tubes that lead to a part of the play area.  Freddy nods and smiles down at him, and then carefully throws the blanket around the boy’s shoulders.   Moondrop appears at the side, still keeping his distance, and passes Freddy a pillow, and Freddy places it in the tube with him.  Gregory smiles, wrapping the blanket around himself and basking in the warmth it provided, while Moondrop glances at him.

“Would you like a lullaby?  A bedtime story maybe?” Moondrop queries, and Gregory finds himself leaning towards the bedtime story with a tired yawn. 

“Bedtime story please,” Gregory requests, settling himself down in the tube and placing the pillow right where his head rested.  As soon as he is settled, he feels a paw rest on top of his messy hair, and takes comfort in Freddy still making his presence known.  As he closes his eyes and allows the world to grow dark, Moondrop clears his throat and begins, voice like honey as he speaks:

“Once upon a time, long ago, Gregory was lying in his bed.  He could not bring himself to sleep, at least not yet, and so he gazes out of the window next to his bed, hoping, wishing to see something interesting.  He does, and it’s a big bear animatronic that is walking down the street.  Gregory is scared, frightened by this new creature, and ducks down, but the bear has spotted him and patiently waits outside his window.

When Gregory musters up the courage to look out again, the bear animatronic smiles and raises up his hand, an invitation for the boy to come with him.  Gregory, curious, does not hesitate, he throws open his window and climbs on the bear’s hand, and off the two go into the night, with Gregory staring at all the sights of his town below him from the palm of the animatronic’s hand.

‘Who are you?’ Gregory asks after a while of exploring, in which the bear animatronic has taken the young boy back to his cave, a home for the bear, and provided him with blankets and sweets and cuddly animals.  

The bear animatronic smiles at Gregory. ‘Why, I am Freddy, the Big Friendly Giant!’ His voice booms across the cave, and it makes Gregory giggle at how loud he is, but the giant only continues to smile-.”

Gregory feels himself drift off to sleep, with Moondrop’s voice continuing the story in the background, and Freddy’s paw a comforting presence upon his head, and the silky blanket soft to the touch.  For the first time in a while, Gregory sleeps with no nightmares plaguing him.

(The story is over now, and Moondrop glances down for the first time since starting to find the young boy fast asleep in the play tube, and Freddy grinning up at him.

“Thank you, Moondrop, it’s been difficult to get him to sleep for the past few days, but you have helped so greatly tonight in getting him to rest,” he says, and the moon jester shakes his head, bell on his hat jingling as he stares at Freddy and clasps his hands together. 

“No thank you, Freddy,” he counters, smiling as he glances back at Gregory for a second. “You allowed for this to happen, and I’m so grateful I was able to show Gregory who I really am.  I will stay with you now, to provide company until he wakes up.”

Freddy smiles, and as the hours tick by, he gets to learn who the real Moondrop is through shared stories and small talks.  The bear animatronic concludes later that he trusts this new Moondrop, just as much as he trusts Sunrise.)