Year 1973...

Children's POV

Susie jumped out of the car and race into the Freddy's Pizzeria for another day of fun. Against the walls were a bunch of arcade games. On stage was Freddy, Bonnie and Chica. Near by was Pirate's Cove, where Foxy stood, entertaining children with stories.

"Susie! Over here!" A voice called. Susie looked around. At one of the tables, she could see her three friends; Jeremy, Gabriel, and Fritz. Jeremy waved her over.

Susie's eyes lit up as she spotted her friends. She darted past the other tables, the bright lights and sounds buzzing all around her. Her friends were seated at a table near the stage, where Freddy, Bonnie and Chica were performing a lively tune.

She reached the table, breathless and grinning. "Hey, guys!" she exclaimed, plopping down in the seat next to Gabriel.

You missed it!" Fritz said with excitement.

Susie tilted her head. "Missed what?"

Jeremy leaned forward, practically bouncing in his seat. "Fritz was so close to beating the high score on Bonnie's Bass Blast-but then he choked at the last second!"

Fritz groaned, flopping back in his chair. "I did not choke! The buttons stuck! That machine is rigged!"

Gabriel, who had been quietly sipping his soda, gave a small shrug. "From what I heard it was another kid who raged after failing the last level."

Maggie walked up to the table, holding her notepad in her hand and giving Fritz a playful scowl.

"It was his fault!" Fritz blurted, pointing at Jeremy.

Maggie raised an eyebrow, tapping her notepad against her hip. "Oh? Jeremy, you sabotaging Fritz's gaming career now?"

Jeremy smirked, holding up his hands in defense. "Hey, I didn't do anything! Fritz just can't handle the pressure!"

Fritz gasped dramatically, clutching his chest like he'd been mortally wounded. "I CAN handle the pressure! The game was rigged! Tell her, Gabriel!"

Gabriel, still calmly sipping his soda, just shrugged again. "I dunno. Looked like a choke to me."

Susie giggled as Fritz threw his arms in the air in exasperation. Maggie shook her head, scribbling in her notepad. "Alright, sore loser, what are you eating today? Lemme guess-whole pizza, two minutes flat?"

Fritz grinned. "You know it!"

Maggie sighed in mock defeat. "One of these days, you're gonna give yourself a stomachache, and I am not letting you blame me."

She turned to the others. "Susie-extra pepperoni, right?"

Susie beamed. "Yep!"

Maggie jotted it down before glancing at Jeremy and Gabriel. "And for you two?"

Jeremy stretched his arms behind his head. "I'll take the usual-extra cheese, and a soda."

Gabriel hesitated for a second before quietly saying, "Just... a small pizza. Pepperoni...I guess."

Maggie nodded, giving him a reassuring smile. "You got it, kiddo." She flipped her notepad shut. "Alright, I'll be back in a few! And Fritz-pace yourself this time."

Maggie walked off toward the kitchen. The four friends looked at each other.

"Soo...what do we wanna do?" Susie asked.

"We can see if Foxy is telling any new stories today," Fritz suggested, already turning toward Pirate's Cove.

Jeremy shrugged. "When does he not?"

The group stood up and wove their way through the maze of tables, the familiar hum of the arcade games and chatter filling the air.

Fritz, already in the lead, started humming a pirate song, making exaggerated swashbuckling gestures with his arms. Jeremy followed, throwing in his own dramatic voice. "Arr matey, ye best watch out for the scurvy crew!" he said, doing his best pirate impression.

Gabriel trailed behind, a small smile tugging at his lips, though he was quiet as always. He was probably more interested in hearing the story than acting out one.

As they reached Pirate's Cove, Foxy stood by the curtain, his bright red fur a stark contrast against the dimly lit corner. He stood tall, almost looming, with his one visible eye glinting in the light from the stage. His hook gleamed as if it were a part of the story he was about to tell.

"Ahoy there, ye scallywags!" Foxy's voice boomed, startling a couple of nearby kids. He grinned, a wide, toothy smile that almost looked mischievous. "Ye come to hear tales of the high seas, eh?"

Fritz didn't hesitate, practically leaping toward the stage. "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

Foxy chuckled, adjusting his hook. "Aye, ye scallywags! Gather 'round, gather 'round! Let ol' Foxy tell ye a tale of the high seas!"

He cleared his throat dramatically, his lone eye twinkling mischievously. "There once was a ship-a grand, fine ship-called the Sea Serpent. Now, this ship wasn't your ordinary vessel. She had an appetite, you see. Not for food or drink, but for sailors."

The kids gathered around, wide-eyed and intrigued, as Foxy's voice dropped low, pulling them into the story.

"Every time the ship set sail, the crew would hear strange sounds coming from the depths of the ocean. Rumors spread-whispers of a monster that lurked beneath the waves, a beast whose hunger could not be satisfied. Some said it was a serpent so huge, it could swallow a man whole. Others said it was the ship herself, hungry for the souls of those who sailed her."

Fritz leaned in, hanging on every word. "Did the crew ever escape?"

Foxy rubs his chin. "Aye, but when the captain finally laid eyes on the beast... turns out, it weren't no serpent at all! It was... a giant sea chicken!"

The kids burst into laughter. Chica turned her head, her eyes squinting at Foxy.

Foxy nods, serious as ever. "Aye, an' ye know what happened next? The ship's cook-Ol' Salty Sam-offered it some crackers. An' wouldn't ye believe it? The beast gobbled 'em up an' started dancin'!"

Chica blinked, facing the crowd again.

"From that day on, the ship had a pet sea chicken, an' the crew never went hungry again!"

The children clapped, applauding Foxy's storytelling.

Maggie then walked up to the group. "Pizza's ready kiddos. Go eat it before the sea monster gets it."

The kids looked back at their tables, where hot plates of pizza were sitting.

Fritz gasped. "MY PIZZA!"

Without hesitation, he bolted toward the table, nearly knocking over a kid on his way. "Outta my way, landlubbers!" he shouted, making a dramatic leap into his chair.

By the time the rest of the group made it back to the table, Fritz was already halfway through his pizza, scarfing it down like he hadn't eaten in days.

Jeremy plopped into his seat and gawked at him. "Dude. Breathe."

Susie giggled as she picked up a slice of her own. "You eat like Foxy's sea monster is actually after you."

Jeremy snorted. "At this rate, you're gonna turn into the sea monster."

Fritz, still chewing, pointed at him. "Better than bein' sea chicken food."

Maggie strolled up, arms crossed, giving Fritz a look. "You better not be inhaling that pizza in two minutes flat again."

Fritz swallowed dramatically. "No, no, this time I'm goin' for one minute flat."

Maggie groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I am not calling an ambulance for you, Fritz."

Gabriel, quietly nibbling his slice, mumbled, "At least let him finish first."

Susie grinned. "Or we can tell Foxy to save him for the sea chicken."

After stuffing themselves with pizza, the kids head straight for the arcade. Fritz, still seething from his loss earlier, slams a token into Bonnie’s Bass Blast. "This time, I’m gonna win. No distractions. No sabotage. No rigged buttons.”

Jeremy smirks. "You mean no choking again?”

Fritz gasps dramatically. “I DIDN’T CHOKE!”

Susie giggles. Gabriel just takes a sip of his soda.

Fritz starts the game, laser-focused. His fingers fly over the buttons. His score climbs higher and higher. The others actually start cheering. Could this be it? Is he finally gonna do it?!

Fritz hits the last note… but the button sticks again. 

“No, no, NO!”

The screen flashes—GAME OVER.

A single ticket comes out. One.

Fritz stared silently at the single ticket.

Jeremy immediately loses it. “PFFT—” 

Susie tries to hold in her laugh but fails miserably.

Gabriel takes another sip of his soda. “Tough break.” 

Maggie, who just happens to walk by at that moment, stops and sees the one ticket, then pats Fritz on the back. “Hey, at least you can buy, like… half a Tootsie Roll.” 

After a few more games, the kids gather their tickets. Jeremy dumps his onto the counter. “Alright, let’s see what we got.”

Susie plops hers on top. Fritz dramatically throws his single ticket onto the pile. 

Gabriel silently drops a massive stack of tickets. 

Everyone stares.

Fritz shook his head. “…Where were you getting all of those?!”

"Skee-Ball.” Gabriel replies. "Can I have the Freddy Plush?"

The employee nodded with a smile, reaching for one of the large Freddy plushies on the top shelf.

Fritz stares at Gabriel’s towering stack of tickets, eyes wide. "Skee-Ball? Skee-Ball?! You’re just sitting there throwing balls into the hole for HOURS?!"

Gabriel, totally unbothered, shrugs. “It’s the best game.” 

Jeremy laughs. “Dude, you could’ve literally won the arcade if you’d used those tickets for something cool, like a slingshot or one of those glowing rings. But nooo, you’re going for the big plush.”

Gabriel doesn’t even flinch. “I like Freddy.”

Fritz groans, rubbing his forehead. "I’m stuck with this one ticket, and you’re getting a Freddy plushie?"

The employee, who’s clearly heard this before from multiple kids, just smiles and grabs the plushie down from the shelf, handing it over to Gabriel like it’s no big deal. 

Meanwhile, Susie was already plotting to spend her own tickets. “I’m getting the little puzzle.” 

Jeremy’s busy eyeing up the little prizes. "I want something cool, like a toy sword or sunglasses."

Fritz, still pouting over his single ticket, raised a brow as Gabriel pushed his left over tickets towards him.

"I just wanted the Freddy plushie. You can have these." said Gabriel.

Fritz blinked, completely caught off guard. He stared at the pile of tickets Gabriel had just pushed toward him like they were golden treasures, as if they'd somehow become magical in that instant.

Fritz squinted at the glorious pile of tickets before him, then turned to the prize wall. So many choices. So much power. He could get something practical, something cool…

He slammed his hands on the counter. “I want the biggest thing you got.” 

The employee raised an eyebrow. “Uh… you sure?” 

Jeremy and Susie exchanged looks. Gabriel cuddled his Freddy Plush.  

Fritz nodded, dead serious. “Give me the Gator.” 

The employee hesitated, then turned and pointed to the prize.

Sitting on the highest shelf was a five-foot-long plush alligator. Bright green, slightly lopsided, and utterly majestic.

Jeremy’s jaw dropped. “Dude. There is no way you’re carrying that thing around.” 

Fritz grinned. “Watch me.” 

The employee passed down the massive gator plush. Fritz immediately hoisted it over his shoulders like some kind of warrior carrying a legendary weapon.

Jeremy smirked. "Happy now?"

Fritz nodded.

Year 1987

Markiplier(Mark)'s POV

Mark arrived at Freddy's Pizzeria for his night shift, and took a deep breath preparing himself for a long night of monitoring security cameras. The pizzeria looked calm and quiet from the outside, bathed in the soft glow of the streetlights.

Mark settled into the dimly lit security office, the soft hum of old machinery filling the silence. The desk fan buzzed, the sound more annoying than not being able to get past level one-wait no that's more annoying.

The monitors flickered as he cycled through each camera feed, observing the still and silent animatronics.

"So far, so good," Mark muttered to himself, flipping through the camera views. The cameras showed the stage area with Toy Freddy, Toy Chica, and Toy Bonnie standing still, the Kids' Cove with Mangle still laying on the floor, and the prize corner with the Marionette's box closed and playing music.

Mark stared at the prize corner camera for a moment, nodding to the music.

The phone began ringing. Mark stared at the phone for a moment before he picked it up.

"Uh, hello?"

"Hello?"

"Oh...it's you..." Said the voice on the other end.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't... uh... The Disembodied Phone Gremlin." said Mark.

"I have a name!" Said the voice on the other end.

"Right...what was it again?" Mark asked.

"Lixian. It's Lixian!" Lixian barked.

"...Anyways, I'm here to talk you through some of the things you can expect to see during your first week here and to help you get started down this new and exciting career path," Lixian started.

"Yeah! Exciting!" Mark said sarcastically.

Lixian sighed. "Now listen, apparently, the animatronics are all tied into some kind of criminal database, so they can detect a predator a mile away. Heck, we should be paying them to guard you."

Mark scoffed. "Right?"

"The first guy finished his week but complained about... conditions. We switched him over to the day shift. He said something about certain characters that seemed to move around at night and even attempted to get into his office. And the, uh, fan... was making him uneasy. But from what we know, that should be impossible. That restaurant should be the safest place on Earth." said Lixian.

Mark spun around in his chair. "Uh-huh."

"Anyways there's a music box over by the Prize Counter, and it has to be wound up remotely. So just, every once in a while, switch over to the Prize Counter video feed and wind it up for a few seconds. It doesn't seem to affect all of the animatronics, but it does affect one of them."

Mark couldn't help but tease. "So, if I understand this correctly, my job is basically to play babysitter with some creepy animatronics?"

Lixian's exasperation was almost audible. "Mark, just focus, okay? I'm trying to help you here. If you keep the music box wound up and use the mask when needed, you'll be fine. It's only a few nights."

"Yeah, yeah, I hear you," Mark replied, spinning around in his chair again. "I'll be just fine. Besides, I've got you on the other end of the line, right? You'll keep me company when things get spooky."

Lixian sighed again. "I'll call you again tomorrow night to check in. Just... don't do anything stupid, alright?"

"No promises," Mark said with a grin.

"Goodnight, Mark," said Lixian

With the call over, Mark returned his focus to the monitors. The pizzeria was still quiet, the animatronics unmoving on the stage. He exhaled slowly, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. This might not be the most glamorous job, but it sure was interesting.

Mark turned his attention to the monitors. The Show Stage was normal with Toy Freddy, Toy Chica, and Toy Bonnie standing still. The Prize Corner camera showed the Puppet's box closed and playing its usual calming music. Although the lack of doors and the open vents kept him on edge.

As he flipped between the camera feeds, he noticed something peculiar. The camera in the Game Area flickered briefly, a momentary distortion that quickly corrected itself. Mark frowned and switched to the feed for the left vent, checking for any signs of movement. Nothing seemed out of place.

Mark's eyes shifted from the camera feed to the left vent. "Why do we even need cameras for the vents? It's not like anyone is going to crawl through those dusty things!"

A soft, almost inaudible creak echoed through the security office, causing Mark to glance around nervously.

He took a deep breath and refocused on the monitors. The night was still young, and Mark needed to stay alert. He checked the Prize Corner camera again, and wound up Puppet's box.

"Someone remind me again why I have to keep this thing wound up?"

After a few hours of absolutely nothing happening, Mark spun in his chair, more bored than he was before.

"That day shift guy should get himself checked for schizophrenia," Mark muttered. "I have been here for three hours and nothing has happened!" Mark shouted.

Mark dropped his head on his desk with a deep sigh. The hum of the old fan was the only thing breaking the silence. "This place is dead," he grumbled, rubbing his temples.

He sat back up, giving the monitors a half-hearted glance. Everything was still in place: Toy Freddy and the others were standing stiff on the stage and the cameras were showing the usual empty hallways and rooms. He checked Prize Corner and wound up the music box. It was so routine, it was almost painfully dull.

He spun around in his chair again, trying to shake off the boredom. The minutes dragged on, and even the caffeine from his energy drink was starting to wear off.

Mark was about to close his eyes for just a minute when something caught his attention. On one of the cameras-the one pointed at the stage-Toy Bonnie's head was tilted slightly. Almost as if it were staring at the camera.

"Huh." Mark muttered.

...****************...

The boredom crept back in just as quickly as it had left. Mark found himself back to spinning in his chair, his mind wandering aimlessly. He thought about what he'd eat for breakfast after this shift, maybe hitting the drive-thru on the way home. Anything to break the monotony.

"Maybe I'll help myself to something in the kitchen. Ya know. Make my own pizza."

A faint click echoed in the room, and Mark paused mid-spin. He squinted at the monitors, but everything looked the same as before. "Probably just the vents settling," he muttered, shaking off the slight unease.

Mark flipped back to the cameras. He noticed something he hadn't seen before. Toy Chica was now missing from the stage. Mark stared at the screen, his heart rate picking up.

"That's strange..."

He leaned in closer, focusing on the dimly lit feed. Was it just his imagination, or had Toy Chica actually moved?

Mark's eyes narrowed as he studied the screen. He stood up, peaking out into the dark hallway.

"Lixian? LIXIAN!"

He turns his flashlight on. Nothing.

"LIXIAN! I SWEAR, IF YOU'RE SUMMONING DEMONS IN HERE, I'M GONNA KICK YOUR A-"

Clang.

Mark flailed back into the office, slamming the mask on his face. The night was only halfway through, and something was already making his skin crawl. Mark shuddered, trying to push the thoughts out of his head. He needed to stay focused, to keep watching the cameras, and to make it through the night.

He leaned forward, hands still slightly trembling, and checked the monitors again. Mark's eyes widened as he scanned the monitors, his pulse quickening again. The stage was completely empty now-Toy Freddy, Toy Bonnie, and Toy Chica were all gone. It was like they had vanished into thin air.

Mark turned on his flashlight, pointing it at the hallway. Nothing.

Mangle was still in Kids' Cove, thankfully, but that was small comfort. He quickly checked the Game Area, the party rooms, and even the hallway in front of the office, but there was no sign of the missing animatronics. The eerie emptiness of the screens sent chills down his spine.

How could they all just disappear? he thought, his mind racing. He didn't know where they were or where they might be headed and that uncertainty gnawed at his nerves. If they were all on the move, it meant they could be anywhere by now-maybe even right outside his office.

Mark turned his flashlight on again, illuminating the hallway. Still nothing. He cautiously took off the Freddy mask. But only because it was hard to see the monitors with that thing over his face.

"Where are you...?" he whispered, his eyes darting between the screens, searching for any sign of movement. The minutes felt like hours as he waited, the tension building with every passing second.

But just as he was about to check the vents again, a sudden flicker caught his eye on the Game Area camera. Toy Freddy's face, just barely visible in the shadows, staring directly at the camera.

Mark cursed quietly, his hands shaking as he quickly switched to the other Party Room cameras. Toy Bonnie was in Party Room 2, standing still in the corner of the room.

The left vent feed flickered again, and this time, Toy Chica's face was right in front of the camera, eyes shimmering eerily in the dark. Mark screamed in panic, dropping the Freddy mask. He reached down for it, hitting his head on the desk as he bent down. "Ow."

Seconds felt like hours as he listened to the sounds of movement in the vent. The scraping grew louder, and he could almost feel the cold, artificial presence nearby. His pulse thudded in his ears as he waited, hoping the mask would do its job.

Then, just as quickly as it had begun, the sound stopped. The vent went silent. Mark held his breath, listening intently. Toy Chica walked in front of Mark, staring at him, her head tilted as if to be curious.

Mark's heartbeat quickened. "Toy Chica, listen to me, I'm Freddy! I'm like you! See?" Mark stammered as he pointed at the Freddy mask on his face.

Toy Chica's eyes locked onto Mark's, her face inches away from his. Her expression was unnervingly curious, as if trying to determine if Mark was really one of them. Mark tried to keep his breathing steady, knowing that one wrong move could give him away.

She tilted her head slowly to the other side as she continued to inspect the mask. Stay calm... Stay calm... he thought. She's buying it... right? His fingers tightened around the edge of the desk, his knuckles white under the strain.

Toy Chica leaned in closer. Her fingers reached out, gently tapping the mask as if testing it. Mark forced himself not to flinch, his heart pounding so loudly he was sure she could hear it. The seconds dragged on like hours as she stared, her gaze searching for something-anything- that might be out of place.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Toy Chica seemed to accept the disguise. She straightened up, her eyes losing their intensity, and with a clunky turn, she slowly walked back toward the left vent, disappearing into the darkness.

Mark let out a deep breath....

"Wait..."

He quickly cycled through the camera feed until he landed on Prize Corner. The puppet was just peeking out of its box. He quickly wound up the box.

Suddenly, a soft, scraping sound came from the right vent. Mark's heart jumped, and he quickly switched to the right vent camera, hoping it wasn't Toy Chica or one of the other animatronics trying to sneak in. The right vent camera showed Toy Bonnie's face.

"Why? Why? I just got rid of one of you guys and now you show up?" Mark complained.

The minutes felt like hours as Mark cycled through the cameras, keeping a close watch on Toy Bonnie. The scraping sound grew louder, and he could almost feel the presence of Toy Bonnie just beyond the vent.

"Go away!" Mark yelled. "GO AWAY!"

It felt like an eternity. The scraping sound finally stopped, and Mark glanced at the right vent camera. The feed showed nothing but empty darkness.

Mark huffed. "That's what I thought."

He then checked the other cameras. Toy Freddy was still in the Game Area, Toy Chica was nowhere to be seen, and Toy Bonnie had moved away from the right vent. For now, at least. Mark looked at the clock. 5:58am. Just a couple more minutes.

"Am I forgetting something?" Mark muttered to himself.

Suddenly, the familiar music of jack-in-the-box that now echoed through the pizzeria. Mark looked through the camera feed. Toy Chica was still in Party Room 2, Mangle was still in Kids' Cove, Toy Freddy had moved to the hallway in front of him and was standing there, staring, the halls were empty and Toy Bonnie was back in the vent.

Mark looked at the Prize Corner camera. The box was open. He tried to wind up the box. But Marionette would not return. He looked up from the monitors, staring back at the hallway. The clock ticked closer to 6:00 AM.

Mark flashed his flashlight at Toy Freddy. But as he did, he noticed something in the distance. He turned his flashlight on once again. Marionette was floating towards him at an alarming speed.

Mark quickly put on the Freddy mask. Hoping Marionette would fall for it, like all the other animatronics have. His eyes darted between Marionette and the clock. "6:00am 6:00am. Come on, 6:00am!" His heart pounded in his chest as he held the Freddy mask tightly to his face, praying it would somehow protect him.

Mark glanced anxiously at the clock, hoping for that magical moment when the shift would end. The second hand seemed to crawl along, each tick a reminder of the threat closing in on him. And just as he thought his life was going to end, the clock struck 6:00 AM.

However, Marionette did not retreat immediately. It hovered there for a moment longer, its gaze fixed on Mark with an unnerving intensity. Then, as if recognizing the shift's end, Marionette slowly began to retreat, fading into the shadows.

Mark pulled the mask off and took a deep breath, his body still trembling from the intense fear. He stared at the cameras, waiting for any final signs of movement, but the pizzeria was eerily quiet. The animatronics seemed to have returned to their designated spots, and the sense of impending doom had lifted-at least for now.

He slumped back in his chair, exhausted and shaken, as the clock's minute hand finally ticked over to a new hour. The ordeal had come to an end, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.

Year 1983

The Children's POV

Susie grabbed Gabriel's arm and pulled him towards the pizzeria. "Come on, Gabe! Hurry up!"

"Why do we need to hurry?" Gabriel asked.

"Because we need to get inside before Fritz!" Susie said, determined to beat Fritz inside.

Gabriel stumbled behind Susie, trying to keep up as she pulled him toward the entrance. His face turned slightly pink as he struggled to match her pace. "But... Fritz is already inside!" he protested between breaths.

"Exactly!" Susie said, glancing back at Gabriel with a competitive gleam in her eye. "If we don't hurry, he'll get to all the cool stuff first!"

Just as they reached the door, they saw Fritz and Jeremy already darting past the game area, their laughter echoing through the brightly lit pizzeria. Fritz was ahead sprinting towards the main stage. "Come on, Jeremy! Bet you can't beat me to Foxy!"

"Hey! Wait up!" Jeremy shouted, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he pushed himself to run faster, his laughter mixing with Fritz's.

Susie groaned in frustration, watching Fritz pull ahead. "Ugh, he's always so fast!" she huffed.

Gabriel caught his breath, tugging his arm out of Susie's grip. "It's okay, Susie. We can still check out the animatronics, right?"

"Yeah, yeah," Susie grumbled, determined not to let Fritz have all the fun. "But we're still gonna get to Chica before he does!"

The two of them hurried inside, dodging past the families and other kids who were lining up to watch the animatronics and join the games.

"No running inside the-ugh." Maggie sighed. "Whatever."

The pizzeria was alive with excitement, the animatronics' song filling the air. Freddy waved from the stage, Bonnie strummed on his guitar, and Chica danced along, much to the delight of the crowd.

Susie and Gabriel gasped for breath as they stopped in front of the stage. She did it. She beat Fritz. Gabriel rested his arms on the stage, looking up at the animatronics with a small smile.

The group was silent for a moment. People applauded the animatronics for their show. Fritz looked back at prize counter. "I really want that glow in the dark yo-yo."

"I want the pencil," Gabriel murmured.

"A pencil? Really?" Fritz scoffed.

Jeremy shrugged. "They have good designs."

"Yeah. But I'd rather get a bracelet." Susie said.

"Boorring!"

The group turned around. A girl with long black hair worn up in pigtails was laying upside down from the table. "Why would you want a bracelet? You know it's just gonna break."

Susie frowned at the girl's comment. "Not if I take care of it! Besides, it's got little charms shaped like stars and hearts!"

The girl rolled her eyes and flipped over. "Whatever. I'd still go for something cooler, like the giant robot hand from the claw machine. But no way anyone can win that thing."

Fritz smirked. "It's rigged, that's why. I saw some kid put in a whole bunch of tokens and barely even moved the claw."

Freddy, who was walking around, stopped by and looked at the girl. "Please do not stand on the tables-"

"I'm not standing on the tables you dumb robot!" the girl shouted over Freddy's talking.

Jeremy raised a finger. "But you are laying on it."

"So what if I'm on the table? I'm not hurting anyone!" the girl barked.

Freddy's eyes blinked as he processed the girl's retort. "It is against the rules to sit, stand, or lay on the tables. It's for everyone's safety."

The girl sighed dramatically but slid off the table, crossing her arms. "Yeah, yeah, I got it. Happy now?"

Freddy nodded, his eyes blinking with a friendly glow. "Remember, fun is best when everyone follows the rules!"

Freddy wandered off to greet more guests. Susie frowned a little at the girl's attitude. "Well, you could've just said 'okay' instead of yelling at him."

The girl waved her off. "Please. It's not like he has feelings. He's a robot."

Fritz chimed in, grinning. "Yeah, but that's Freddy. He's the boss of the animatronics, right? You probably wouldn't wanna make him mad."

Cassidy scoffed at Fritz's comment, giving him a sideways glance. "Pff, I'm not scared of some giant bear stuffed with wires. What's he gonna do? Sing me to death?"

Fritz chuckled, but Gabriel shifted uncomfortably, eyeing Cassidy with a hint of disapproval. "He's just doing his job. You don't have to be mean about it," he said quietly.

Cassidy rolled her eyes and leaned against the table. "Whatever."

"There's a new game in the arcade. It's called Balloon Pop," said Fritz, "Do you want to come with us Cassidy?"

Cassidy gave a small nod as she joined the group. "Fine, but only because I want to see if it's as hard as everyone says."

The group arrived at the arcade, greeted by the sounds of electronic beeps and the flashing lights of the games. Kids were crowded around various machines, trying to win tickets or beat each other's scores. In the corner, they spotted the new "Balloon Pop" game. The screen showed colorful balloons bouncing around while a digital timer ticked down.

"There it is!" Susie pointed, rushing over with the others right behind her. "Who's going first?"

Cassidy stepped up with a confident smirk. "Let me show you how it's done." She popped a token into the slot and grabbed the controls, her eyes focused on the screen. The game started, and Cassidy quickly aimed the virtual darts, trying to time her throws perfectly.

"So what's your name?" Gabriel asked shyly. "My name is Gabriel."

"Cassidy," Cassidy simply said.

"I'm Susie!" Susie chirped.

"I'm Jeremy. And this is Fritz," Jeremy said.

"Nice to meet you. Now shut up and let me concentrate," Cassidy grumbled.

The group went quiet, watching as Cassidy focused intensely on the game. The balloons bounced unpredictably across the screen, but Cassidy's aim was sharp.

Fritz leaned in, grinning. "You better hurry, Cassidy. The timer's almost up."

Cassidy ignored him, biting her lip as she took one last shot. The dart hit a balloon right as the timer hit zero. A bunch of tickets spilled out of the machine, and Cassidy grabbed them, a triumphant look on her face. "Ha! Told you I'd beat it."

"That was awesome!" Jeremy said, impressed.

Gabriel nodded, his shyness fading a little. "You're really good."

Cassidy smirked, clearly pleased with herself. "Of course I am. Now, who's next?"

Susie stepped forward, her eyes lighting up. "Me! Me! Me! I want to try!"

She stuffed a token into the slot with all the confidence in the world.

Susie gripped the joystick with all the intensity of a kid who believed this was her one chance to become a legendary arcade queen. "Okay, okay, here we go!" she said, eyes practically sparkling.

The screen lit up again with a fresh wave of bouncing balloons, and a cheesy 8-bit version of a circus tune played through the machine's speakers. Gabriel covered his ears. "It's kind of loud..."

"It's supposed to be loud," Fritz said, nudging him with an elbow. "That's how you know it's fun!"

Cassidy watched with crossed arms, her smirk still intact. "She's gonna miss the first three darts, calling it now."

"Don't jinx her!" Jeremy said.

Susie made her first throw. Pop! A bright blue balloon burst on screen. She gasped. "Did you see that?! I told you I was good at this kind of stuff!"

"Beginner's luck," Cassidy muttered under her breath.

Second dart. Miss.

"Okay, okay, the balloons are slippery or something," Susie mumbled, narrowing her eyes.

Jeremy leaned in. "They're not real, Susie."

"Shhh! Let her focus," Gabriel whispered, completely invested now.

She made her third shot. Pop! Another balloon exploded. Tickets started trickling out again-not as many as Cassidy's pile, but enough to make Susie beam with pride. "Two balloons! Beat that, boys!"

Jeremy raised his hands. "Alright, my turn! Time for me to destroy this game like Fritz destroys pizza."

"Hey!" Fritz whined. "I chew! Sometimes."

Maggie's POV

A couple hours later...

Maggie leaned against the wall near Pirate Cove, arms crossed, chewing the end of a red Twizzler. Cassidy and Fritz were chasing each other in manic circles around a booth, laughing so hard they almost knocked over a tray of leftover pizza slices. Chica gave them a lazy wave as they whirled by, completely unbothered.

It was good to see Cassidy like this. Actually smiling. Actually... being a kid.

When Maggie had first seen her stomping into the pizzeria with that oversized attitude and those pigtails of doom, she figured Cassidy would scare off every kid within five feet. But somehow, she'd found her people—Fritz, Jeremy, Susie, Gabriel. Total opposites, but somehow it worked. Like an arcade machine held together by duct tape and pure chaos.

Maggie smirked and shook her head. "Bossy gremlin," she muttered affectionately.

Susie zipped past next, waving a strip of prize tickets like a flag. "Look, Maggie! Look how many I got!"

"Whoa," Maggie grinned. "At this rate, you'll be able to afford, like... half of a plastic ring."

"I want the slinky!" Susie chirped, proudly holding up her loot like it was gold.

Maggie chuckled, then caught sight of Freddy strolling by in the corner of her eye. He was on his usual routine: waving to guests, giving polite reminders about "safety protocols," and saying weirdly formal things like "Please remember to keep arms and legs inside the party zone at all times!"

Meanwhile, Bonnie was looking down at a crying toddler, his ears twitching curiously. He gave a little wave before walking towards other guests.

Maggie raised an eyebrow as Freddy did a slow pirouette in the middle of the room, his fuzzy brown legs moving in what could only be described as robotic elegance. The sight made her grin. "Graceful as ever," she muttered to herself, her gaze flicking back to the kids.

At that exact moment, Cassidy shot past her again, this time clutching a glittery plastic bracelet like it was a treasure she'd discovered on a desert island. "Check it out, Maggie!" Cassidy said smugly, flicking her wrist.

"Nice," Maggie replied dryly, resisting the urge to smirk. "Did it come with a matching crown? Because at this rate, you might be the new princess of Freddy Fazbear's."

Cassidy shot her a half-glare, half-smile. "You think I need a crown to rule?" she asked, flipping her hair back dramatically.

"Girl, you're already ruling this place with that attitude." Maggie reached into her pocket and pulled out another Twizzler, savoring the sweetness.

"Yeah, well, I'm the only one with enough guts to demand a crown," Cassidy said, her voice thick with challenge. "It's a kingdom in here. And you-" She pointed a finger at Maggie, "You're just an advisor."

Maggie bit her lip to hide the grin. "And yet, I'm still the one with the candy," she retorted, dangling the Twizzler.

Cassidy paused, eyeing the treat. "Okay, fine. I'll be the queen... but only if you make sure Fritz doesn't try to steal all the tokens."

"Deal." Maggie held out her hand, and Cassidy shook it, her intense gaze softening into a mischievous grin.

Meanwhile, Jeremy and Gabriel were deep in discussion over something-probably the best way to avoid Fritz's relentless teasing. "So, uh, Susie," Gabriel started awkwardly, "You think the balloon game will be here next week?"

"Definitely," Susie piped up, bouncing on her heels. "If we're lucky, they might add a new game too! How about... how about a dance game next time?"

Fritz overheard and whipped around from the arcade machines. "I'm gonna beat you all, you know that, right? You might as well just hand over the tickets now."

"I'll take the challenge!" Susie yelled back, grinning. "But first, we need to win more prizes!"

As the kids scattered to their next chaotic adventures, Maggie watched them, feeling a bit nostalgic. This place, these kids... it almost felt like something out of a dream, or maybe just a weird, sweet slice of childhood.

She took another bite of her Twizzler, but her gaze remained on them. She didn't know how long this kind of peace would last-not with the strange things that always seemed to happen around Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. For now, though, it was good to see everyone laughing. Even Cassidy.

Cassidy's POV

Hours later...

The day came to an end. Cassidy's eyes narrowed as Susie threw her arms around her.

She blinked.

"Bye Cassidy!" Susie chirped, before releasing her and running to her mom.

Cassidy stood frozen for a second, still feeling the ghost of Susie's arms around her shoulders. Her brows knitted, and she dusted off her overalls like she could wipe away the weird feeling crawling up her spine. Except it wasn't a bad feeling. Just... confusing.

"Hmph," she muttered, crossing her arms and looking in the opposite direction as if she totally hadn't liked it. "Weird girl."

She glanced over her shoulder and watched Susie skipping off to her mom, waving back at the others with both hands. Susie's laugh echoed faintly as she reached the parking lot. Cassidy's lips twitched, the corner of her mouth trying very hard not to curl up.

Fritz was already gone, his mom dragging him off while he loudly protested that he was so close to beating the high score on Space Blaster 3000. Jeremy had left a few minutes before that, high-fiving everyone and promising they'd hang out again soon. Gabriel had given a quiet "bye" and shuffled off with his dad, clutching a Freddy Fazbear balloon.

Now, it was just Cassidy.

She stood in the middle of the nearly empty pizzeria, neon lights dimming as staff started to clean up. The sounds of mop buckets and distant closing announcements echoed through the halls. Bonnie, Fredy and Chica were heading back to the stage with slow mechanical waves.

Bonnie passed by and gave her a slow wave. His eyes blinked, mechanical and serene. Cassidy stared at him.

"Don't suppose you know why someone would hug a person and not be making fun of them, huh?" she asked.

Bonnie said nothing. Just blinked once and continued toward the stage like he had better things to do. Typical.

A car horn beeped outside. Cassidy looked toward the front doors. Her parents. Finally.