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“It’s just not the same without you, Captain.” The words hurt to admit. Even if he didn’t have organs, he still felt his ‘heart’ twist and turn into an ugly knot. The feeling settled in the middle of his chest and reared it’s hideous head.
He stared at the plush in his hands. It was a colorful thing; sharp orange fur, a bright blue vintage tail coat, and intense yellow eyes. The eyes were the same as Roxanne’s, though hers were less piercing.
Foxy’s eyes had always been biting . From the moment Marionette gave him New Life in the form of that old animatronic, his eyes had always stood out. It was like he could see straight through you, always knowing and always thinking.
Maybe that’s why those two got along so well. The thought made Freddy laugh sadly. He missed the both of them, dearly. Though a critical part of him knew that Marionette was exactly where she wanted, and needed, to be. Not that he knew where that was.
“I guarantee you would have a guess as to where The Marionette is, wouldn’t you?” He brushed his thumb pad over the plushie’s snout, letting the silence answer him. “Bonnie’s back,” He said after a pause. “Officer Vanessa has a friend who fixed him up. He’s super fluffy now.” Usually, talking about having Bonnie back would bring Freddy an unbridled amount of joy.
Right then it just made him feel empty.
He sighed softly as he set the plush down on the table. “I miss you, Captain.” He whispered. With one final glance back, he stood up and started the trek back to his green room.
He was standing in front of his door, waiting on the automatic censor to work, when he felt something hit the back of his head. Immediately he spun around and tiredly, but kindly, bit out, “Gregory, I apologize but I am just not in the mood for playing right now.” before realizing that no one was behind him.
He paused and glanced around, even up in the rafters to briefly check for The Daycare Attendant. After finding no-one, he called out a faint, “Hello?”
“Y’know, I’d bet me hook that the ol’ Puppet’s in hell.”
Foxy was an observer. She’d sit back and watch closely, always ready at a moment’s notice to jump in. She was a lurker. You’d never know she was there until she spoke. She was a listener. The type of person you would go to and just rant about anything and everything to, while she just sat and nodded along.
Foxy was kind.
Foxy loved performing.
Foxy was scared of the light.
Foxy hated that he scared children.
Foxy loved to sing.
Foxy glitched a lot.
Foxy was gone.
Foxy was dead.
Foxy was not coming back.
Foxy was never coming back.
Foxy was gone.
Foxy was gone.
Foxy was gone.
Foxy was gone.
Foxy,
Foxy was standing right in front of him, now.
Foxy had strolled out of Roxanne’s green room, and was standing in front of him.
Foxy had a new casing.
Foxy…
Foxy was walking towards him.
Foxy bent down to pick up the plushy.
Foxy tapped on his forehead with her hook.
“Freddy? Matey?”
Suddenly, as if someone had pressed unpause on a video, Freddy zoned back into the world around him. Foxy was there, standing in front of him, asking if he was okay. If he was okay!
He didn’t think twice before wrapping his friend into a tight hug. Foxy was taller than him by a considerable amount, so he settled for pressing his face against the skull emblem on Foxy’s pale chest-plate. He felt the other return the embrace.
Freddy knew that if he could shed tears he’d be sobbing. “How are you back?” His choked voice only further proved his point. Static intruded on his normal baritone.
Foxy hummed softly, resting his muzzle on the top of Freddy’s head. “Well, Boss Bear,” Freddy laughed wetly. “that Vanessa girl said that she sent in an appeal to bring me back a few weeks ago. Somethin’ ‘bout Bonnie bein’ back made them agree. Guess it’s like they be bringin’ the old ones to the stage again.”
Freddy slowly pulled out of the hug and clasped his paws onto Foxy’s shoulder pads. He had to tilt his head up to look into her eyes. They haven’t changed. Still just as calculating and intense. “You are staying?”
Foxy laughed, sharp white teeth shining in the LED lights around them. “Yup! Not like I be plannin’ to go anywhere.” He glanced down to meet Freddy’s eyes once again.
Looking at her now, Freddy’s metaphorical heart swelled. All of his friends were safe and happy. Chica’s voice-box had been restored, Bonnie had been repaired, Monty had his legs and hands back, Roxy had her eyes re-installed, Gregory was safe and happy, Vanessa was freed from His control, and now Foxy had been brought back.
He couldn’t ask for more, really.
“Oi, Fred,” Not even Bonnie’s allowed to call me Fred. It has been a while since I have heard that. “you be the first person to have seen me, besides the officer and the kid.” She put a mischievous smile on her face. “Kiddo said that the others are practicing, wanna surprise ‘em?”
Freddy blinked. He removed his hands from Foxy’s shoulders and instead placed them on top of his head. “You’ve met Gregory?”
Foxy nodded, something on him jingling as he did so. “Yea, apparently he’s the one that designed me.”
“Really?”
“ Yup , now are ye’ comin’ or not, mate?” She gently pushed his shoulder as she walked past him, shooting him yet another smile as she went. Freddy laughed softly as he followed her.
Foxy’s tail was longer than it had ever been, sweeping across her mid-calves as she walked. She strolled with an air of confidence about her, almost similar to her Funtime days. There were a few dangling piercings on the tip of her tail, So that’s where the jingling came from. that matched the gold of the ones lining her ears.
He was dressed in baggy, black leather pants that had yellow, almost gold LED strips sewn in to make fake rip patterns. His pants were held up by a gold studded belt. His chest he’d been left barren like Freddy’s own. It was colored a dark red, with a much paler shade for his belly area.
Painted along her torso were golden scar-like streaks. Some were in the shape of claw marks, others like sword slashes. She had been given a black colored mullet of fluffy hair that stopped just below her shoulders. Some strands had been colored differently and braided, No doubt by Gregory, and tied with beads.
The longer Freddy looked, he started to realize that there were five braids. One was brown with bright blue running through it. One was white with pink and neon green. One was purple and red. One was grey and pale pink. The fifth wasn’t a braid at all, simply a section of black hair that had horizontal white lines through it.
One for himself, Chica, Bonnie, Mangle, and Marionette.
She must miss those two dearly. He himself never found any signs that his Toy counterpart was even remotely sentient, the same for Toy Chica and Bonnie. Though Mangle most certainly had been, even if she hadn’t been able to speak she had shown it in other ways.
The Marionette and Foxy had always gotten along. When Foxy was first given New Life he, unlike all of the others, did not lash out at The Marionette. He simply sat and listened as she explained. In fact, he’s the only one who ever really got along with her.
“Hey, Foxy,” Freddy suddenly called, picking up pace to walk along side her. She turned to look at him. “did you say something about The Marionette being… wherever you said.” He looked away sheepishly as his language filters prevented him from cursing. If I actually try to say the word then he’ll tease me relentlessly for the squeak that censors it.
Foxy’s ears perked up, almost as if he wasn’t expecting Freddy to bring it up. Before the bear could get a single word out in apology, worried his friend didn’t want to talk about it, Foxy had already begun talking in that gravelly voice of his. “Aye, I have reason to believe she’s down below. She always spoke about a…” He hesitated, eyeing Freddy.
“If it’s a secret, don’t tell me.”
“Still bad at keepin’ secrets, eh?” He laughed softly. “But eh, yea. She always talked about how a certain someone was gonna’ create a personal hell for the Purple Guy. Mari said she was gonna be the one pullin’ the strings, tho’.” Foxy shook his head fondly at the memory. “So, yea, if she ain’t around here yet then she’s probably… busy.”
Freddy blinked, eyes wide. He wasn’t being sarcastic then. Before he was able to formulate a response, the two had arrived at the doors of the band’s practice room. Bonnie’s mellow guitar tune and Monty’s loud laugh carried out into the hallway.
“You ready, Boss Bear?”
He gave the fox a smile as he nodded eagerly. “The others are going to be so excited to see you, Foxy. We’ve all missed you dearly.” Foxy’s natural fast pace had prevented Freddy from being able to squeeze in that he had, in fact, missed the other. So he took the chance he got. “You are very dear to us, even if we neglected to show it sometimes in the past.”
Foxy opened his mouth to speak but Freddy shushed him. “Let me speak. I know you have forgiven us, but my point still stands. When you were officially decommissioned, never coming back, it made us all take a step back and realize that we have to cherish every moment we have together.” He put a single paw onto Foxy’s shoulder, meeting the sharp stare.
“Not that I am telling you to worry every second of every day about when the next time one of us is getting scrapped, no, I am positive that Officer Vanessa and Gregory would simply not allow that, I am taking about before them.” He shook his head, taking his other paw to drag down his face. I am rambling. “Listen. Foxy. Your absence had left a hole in each of our hearts. And I am glad to have you back.” Even if his head was still spinning from how quickly the past ten minutes had gone by, that remained solid. He was happy.
Foxy’s ears folded down like a shy cat’s. He never broke eye-contact. “Shucks, mate.” He laughed out, placing a hand on the back of his neck. “That means a lot, Fred. Thank you.”
The two smiled at each-other. Their soft moment was only broken when a static filled scream was heard through the door.
“Monty!”
Foxy looked to Freddy with wide eyes, but he only sighed and opened the door. “Montgomery, please, stop trying to paint Chica’s guitar.” He pleaded, raising his baritone voice just enough to call all attention to him. “Anyways, look who’s back!”
Foxy entered the room when Freddy gestured towards her. She smiled at the group up on the practice stage, tail flicking in excitement. Only shocked silence met her. She sighed and crossed her arms. “Oi. I ain’t gonna stand here all day.”
Apparently all it took was for him to talk before Chica was running towards him with her arms spread wide. She was babbling incoherently all the while. Foxy let out a loud laugh as she ran towards him, spreading his arms wide as to let her hug him. He almost lost his footing when they embraced, Freddy moving closer to them incase they fell.
“You’re back! You’re actually back! Are you going to join us on stage? How are you back?” Chica spewed out question after question at her friend, holding him so tight Freddy feared she might crack his new casing.
Slowly, as to not startle Chica, Foxy unwrapped one arm and gestured Bonnie forwards. “C’mon, Easter Bunny, you’re joining.” He called over. Bonnie’s ears pinned down to his head in fake annoyance at the nickname, his rush to join the hug gave him away.
With those three holding each-other tight and Foxy explaining everything she said to Freddy, he moved to join Montgomery and Roxanne on stage. “That is Foxy The Pirate, the old friend me and Chica have mentioned before.” He explained, smiling fondly.
Roxanne shifted on her feet, looking almost cautiously at Foxy. “The one I replaced.” She whispered it to the best of her ability, but she was programmed to be loud and boisterous. A symbol of confidence for the kids. Freddy heard her easily.
“Roxanne,” Her eyes shifted to the floor and her ears pinned down. “I can assure you that Foxy will have no hard feelings. In fact, I think she’s going to absolutely adore you.” Freddy grinned at the wolf, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t let yourself get down.”
Roxy sniffed, looking back to Freddy. She nodded tightly and smiled. “Yeah, okay. She seems nice.” She glanced back to where Foxy was now laughing with Chica and Bonnie.
Monty had his eyebrows furrowed as he stared at Foxy. “So, eh, what are Foxy’s pronouns?” He asked, crossing his arms across his chest.
“Foxy uses he/him and she/her pronouns interchangeably, with no preference to either one above the other.” Freddy responded, watching as Monty’s red eyes glazed blue as he updated his member’s log.
“Aye! Roxanne Wolf an’ Montgomery Gator, right?” Foxy called out as he walked towards them, Chica and Bonnie in tow. He hopped up on the stage and put his hands on his hips. “Nice ta’ meet ya’.” He held out his hand for each of them to shake.
“Hey, Foxy, what are you going to be playing in the band?” Bonnie piped up after their greetings, looking up at Foxy with bright eyes. “I’m bassist and lead guitar, Chica’s electric guitar, Freddy is vocals obviously, Roxy is on keyboard, and Monty’s the drums. I can’t think of anything else to add, really…” He trailed off with a twinge of sadness in his voice, ears lowering.
Freddy furrowed his brows. Bonnie is right. There isn’t another instrument we need. Thinking about it now, he never did say he was joining the band. Just that he was staying. Also what about his hook? Just as he was about to ask if Foxy was or was not even joining the band, he cut him off.
“Ah, ye’ lot could use a bit of the ol’ violin, don’tcha’ think?” She laughed as Bonnie’s eyes widened in excitement. “Miss Officer says that they wanna add a bit of me pirate theme into the music now that I’m back.”
Freddy smiled. I’ve been doing that quite a lot, haven’t I? “That sounds wonderful.” The others made various noises of agreement. “However, I have to ask, how are you going to play with your hook?”
Foxy just shrugged. “I’m a animatronic at the end of the day, lad. All it takes is a little programmin’.” And, yeah, that makes sense. “Anywho, one of ye’ better be givin’ me a tour ‘cause I got lost tryna go to Fred’s room and ended up in Bonnie Bowl.” He was quickly swept away by Chica before he even finished talking, Bonnie and Roxanne following.
Monty hung back a little bit and Freddy decided to match his pace. “He seems a lot more… hyper than y’all said.” The gator whispered as Roxy showed the newcomer all around her raceway.
Freddy hummed in thought. “I think he is just excited to be back. I am sure that within no time he will go back to his old, lurker self.”
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