FNaF: It's Me

Chapter 7: The Marionette

"Birthday… again… And I'm not a part of the show… again…" Marionette muttered from his Music Box, glancing at the children running toward Fredbear on the stage almost bitterly. Why wasn't he on the stage ? He was pretty sure Fredbear would love to have some help. But the manager just didn't want him to participate. What an unfair life he had when we think about it. He never had good luck. The manager and employees never liked him as much as they liked Fredbear. Of course they didn't. They weren't going to like him if he remained in his Music Box all day long.

Children didn't even know he was there. Oh, sometimes, a child or two came to him asking for a plushie or stuff like that. They didn't want to see him, they wanted gifts. And he was the one who gave the gifts.

F*cking karma.

But he felt like it was going to change. As if his life was going to be improved and his luck with kids going to increase. Maybe it was because it was a birthday party. Did he even know himself ?

"Hey, are you in there ?"

Marionette sighed before opening his Gift Box, staring at the little kid in front of him. This one seemed scared by something.

Was he scared by Fredbear ? Was it possible ? No, what a stupid idea he had… Everybody loved Fredbear, right ?

"What do you want kid ? What kind of gift did you come to get ?"

"I just… wanted to be away from the big bear…" The little one said, dashing his tears and looking at the Puppet carefully. "He's bad, I know it…"

"How could you tell if you don't approach him ?" Marionette replied, getting out of his Box and sitting on top of it, crossing his legs. "Kids are not afraid of him normally speaking, so why would you be ?"

The brown haired kid gasped and his glance hardened. "He did horrible things ! I saw it all ! He asked for the kids to follow him and they never returned !"

"You're just having some weird dreams, Fredbear wouldn't do such a thing to children." Puppet said, crossing his arms against his chest and staring at the little one. "Just try to speak with him, he's so… nice… almost naive if you asked me."

The little boy just stared at him before sitting by his side, listening to him. He frowned though. Maybe he didn't agree with what he said. "Why do you say that ?"

" 'Why not ?' would be the right question to ask…" Marionette answered back, raising an eyebrow and looking at him. "He's not the smarter being I've ever met, to say the least."

"Maybe but he's kind with you, isn't it what you want from him ?"

And… The child made a point. Puppet was absolutely speechless. What he said was totally true. He had always wanted a friend, and Fredbear seemed to be his friend. Could he blame him for not being smart enough ? It would be a shame, wouldn't it ?

He sighed sadly and took a glance at the kid who was smiling almost in a friendly way to him. "I guess you're right, lil'one." He admitted, lowering his head and glancing at his own hands.

The brown haired kid smiled even more and kissed his cheek before running away. Marionette was so astonished. He wasn't prepared for this.

Suddenly, he heard what sounded like a laughter just beside him. Right next to him. Not even a few inches away. Right there. He startled and looked beside him, only to see… himself in a more… err… burnt way ? "Woah !" He exclaimed, quickly standing up and stepping away from the ghost. "What the hell are you supposed to be !?"

"Oh, cut it out, I'm not that horrible !" Phantom Puppet replied, acting like a true jerk. She took a look at the others who were far behind, hiding under a wall, and laughing at her. "It was a DARE from some POOR, DUMB, ANNOYING PEOPLE…"

Marionette raised an eyebrow and tried to look at what the ghost was looking at, but there was absolutely nothing. "Which people ?"

"My FRIENDS, you see what I mean ?" The other answered scornfully, giving Springtrap the one-finger salute. This one was hiding and smiling widely to… him ? her ? IT ?

Let's go with 'it'.

The animatronic glanced at the children, trying to avoid their view. They weren't supposed to see what was going on. Mostly because this was absolutely strange and it didn't make any f*cking sense.

"Er, hey listen, maybe, now that your dare is done, maybe you can like, f*ck off ?" Puppet suggested, tensed. "I don't want anyone to see you."

Phantom Puppet sighed. "Yeah, I'm just gonna leave. Those sons of b*tches need to pay for that."

With that, the phantom animatronic slowly vanished, joining its 'friends' at the opposite end of the building. Marionette sighed, quite exhausted, and walked slowly toward Fredbear, who was sitting on the Show Stage, seemingly sad. He sat very slowly by his side, stroking his shoulder comfortingly while searching eye-contact with him. "Fredbear, are you okay… ?"

"I failed." was the only thing the golden bear with the purple outfit said, tears running down his cheeks as he took a look at Marionette by his side.

The Puppet just stared at him sadly, not knowing what to say. Obviously, Fredbear didn't succeed at singing the boy's favourite song. That was what made him sad. What could he say ? 'It wasn't your fault' ? No, Fredbear wouldn't accept that. "I er… I… I'm sorry." Marionette replied, stroking even more the bear's shoulder.

This one just lowered his head and didn't answer, glancing at the children. The Puppet sighed and stood up, noticing two golden eyes looking at him from the other side of the diner. He inhaled deeply before stepping toward the broken bunny. This one was just staring at him. When Mario touched him, the bunny collapsed, startling him.

"Springtrap ! Are you okay, buddy !? Please, wake up !" He shouted, trying to wake his friend up by shaking him vigorously. "Hey, stop playing around, wake up already ! Buddy !"

Un fortunately for him, the golden eyes didn't open, and even Springtrap's breathing seemed to slow down. Panicked, the Puppet slapped him. The noise made Fred come.

This one knelt before his boyfriend, grabbing his hand and squeezing them in a loving and comforting way. The Puppet took a look at him, shocked as he didn't know that this bear was here, and he knelt by his side, trying to wake up Springtrap almost desesperately. "Spring… darling… come back to us…"

Suddenly, the golden bunny's breathing stopped. He wasn't moving anymore. Shadow Freddy covered his mouth with his hand, gasping in horror while looking at his lover. "No !" He cried out, taking his boyfriend's hand and shaking it fearfully. "NO ! Wake up ! WAKE UP !"

"Guys, I think it's getting worse-"

"SHUT THE F*CK UP BONNIE !" Phantom Freddy screamed at Phantom Bonnie, dashing the tears running freely down his cheeks. "DON'T YOU SEE !? HE'S DEAD !"

Phantom Bonnie gasped when he heard that, running toward the three others. He knelt before Springtrap and took his hand, pushing violently Fred away. He embraced his counterpart, crying like never before. "SPRING, YOU CAN'T DIE NOW ! WHY WOULD YOU !?" He shouted, lowering his ears and stroking the golden one's cheek. "WE NEED YOU !"

"He's not dead." A feminine voice replied beside them, Shadow Freddy raising his head and gasping in shock when he encountered the newcomer's glance.

"SPRINGTRAP !?" The purple bear shouted, trying to quickly stand up and make his way toward the phantom animatronic. "I MISSED YOU SO MUCH !"

"Not… that much." The girl replied, pointing at Spring lying on the ground. "You replaced me pretty fast."

"I… I… I never replaced you. Not in my heart." Fred answered, grabbing her hands and squeezing them happily. "You will forever live in my heart."

Phantom Bonnie raised an eyebrow. "Then why were you so jealous when you discovered Springy's ring ? You did the same thing in the end, didn't you ?"

Fred sighed in annoyance and stared at the blue-green bunny, saying very slowly: "Shut. Up. Bonnie."

"He's right." Phantom Springtrap said, smiling mischievously. "Why were you jealous, big bear ?"

The hallucination just shook its head, avoiding its previous girlfriend's glance. "I just don't want him to love that Puppet thing again…"

"Just guys, what is wrong with Springtrap ? Why is he still 'dead' ?" Phantom Puppet interrupted, cutting Phantom Bonnie out. "He didn't wake up, just saying."

"Are you worried ?" Phantom Freddy demanded, smiling in a victorious way to her.

She gasped, seemingly upset by his remark, but she didn't answer right back. She just stared at her 'frienemy' absent-mindedly. She then sighed and looked at her boyfriend. "Alright… I might be worrying… But not that much !"

"Aww, so cute, lil' Puppet is worrying for ol' Springy…" He said in a very teasing way.

"Oh, cut it out, kay !? It's not that surprising !"

"Is it not ?"

"No ! I mean, okay I don't like him but still, he's our only hope in this !" Phantom Puppet said as if she was annoyed by Phantom Freddy's question. Maybe she was. Who cared though. She was always upset, with or without reasons.

Phantom Freddy just stared at her motionlessly for a while before admitting, looking at her in the eyes: "You… You made a point there. He's the only one who can interact with Purple Guy."

"Yup, indeed, since he's the only one real." Phantom BB interrupted, coming from nowhere, holding his balloon in his right hand and stepping between them just as if he wanted a hug from one of them.

Phantom Puppet facepalmed while her new boyfriend replied quite nervously: "Well, thanks for… clearing that up, BB…"

"Glad it helped !"

"Of course it didn't, you dumb piece of sh-"

"Can't you just go away already ?" Phantom Freddy cut Phantom Puppet off, covering her mouth with his hand. "It's truly annoying."

The smaller animatronic just left without saying anything, Phantom Puppet groaning against Phantom Freddy's palm and looking meanly at the robot boy. Still, the boy seemed amused by the situation without anyone understanding why.

Soon, Springtrap opened his eyes, Phantom Bonnie being the first one to notice it. "Hey ! Spring's back guys !" He shouted, quickly making his way toward him and kneeling by his side. "You okay bud ?"

"I-I think I am…" He answered in a low and broken voice, grabbing the friendly-looking hand Phantom Puppet was offering him and attempting to stand up. He nearly succeeded but then she let go of him, a creepy smile on her face. He fell all the way down, gasping in pain as his hand nearly broke in the fall. "What the hell is wrong with you, Puppet girl !?" He yelled at her, frowning furiously and looking at his painful hand.

"I'm not your friend, got it ?" Phantom Puppet answered scornfully, stepping back and crossing her arms against her chest.

"Then why the heck did you give me your hand !? It f*cking hurts !" Springtrap cried out, tears filling his eyes and Fred worrying.

"Let me take a look…" The purple bear said, taking very cautiously his hand in his and looking at how bad it looked.

Phantom Puppet smirked. "You should have known, bunny-bunny. Why would I give you a hand ?"

"Maybe because you're not a f*cking assh*le !?" He shouted, standing up thanks to Shadow Freddy's help. "Thanks honey…" He said to him, kissing his cheek before turning back to Phantom Puppet and shooting her a death glance. "When are you gonna accept me as I am ?"

"Is 'Never' an answer ?"

"Why would you answer that ?" Springtrap asked back, narrowing his eyes while waiting for her to answer. She never did. He smirked and took a step in her direction. Fred tried to hold him back but he escaped his grip. He stood right in front of Phantom Puppet, looking at her right in the eyes. "If there's a problem, tell me what it is so we can find a way to solve it."

Phantom Marionette sniffed mockingly. "Don't you understand, Mister I-know-all ? You are the problem. You as a person, you as a mind, you as a whole." She said, also narrowing her eyes and frowning, engaging with him a staring contest. "I know lot of things."

"Like ?"

"I can read minds and see through your memories without any kind of difficulty."

"Should I be scared ? Because I'm not. I have nothing to hide."

She smiled creepily. "Nothing, you say ? Fred, did you know that your dear Springtrap killed five children on purpose for Purple Man's cause ?"

Shadow Freddy gasped in horror when he heard what she said while Phantom Bonnie was stepping away from Springtrap, weeping in terror and fear. Phantom Freddy was blinking in surprise behind a smirking Phantom Puppet. Phantom Springtrap sighed and teleported right next to Spring who was just staring blankly at his enemy. "It's not a shame, Spring, you need to listen to me. Everyone here did bad things, even Puppet herself ! You don't have to answer-"

"I remember…" The golden bunny cut her off, his eyes filling with tears. "I thought it would give me some satisfaction at that time…"

"So that's true !?" Fred shouted at him, moaning desesperately while going slowly away from him. He lowered his ears when Springtrap's look met his' and whispered: "How… ? How did you… ? Why !? Was it painful !?"

"No, it was quick, I promise you-"

"Oh, look at that !" Phantom Puppet interrupted before bursting out laugh. "It seems that our dearest friend has a lot of things to hide finally ! Maybe we should ah-"

"Shut up, Puppet." Phantom Freddy said as calmly as he could, grabbing her arm violently and forcing her to look at him. "You've gone too f*cking far this time."

"But Fredd-"

"Don't even dare to say my name." He cut her off, covering her mouth with his hand.

Phantom Bonnie, on the other hand, seemed quite lost, looking at everyone to see their reactions. What he understood was that Springtrap was a sick f*ck who killed five children for Purple Guy and that Phantom Puppet was trying to divide the group. But why ? What was her goal ? What did she hope ?

Phantom Springtrap remained by her counterpart's side though. Was it worth it ? Was he not a mad psychopath for her ? Did he deserve their trust ?

"Spring, are you okay… ?" The blue bunny demanded after like a minute of wondering, approaching very cautiously the golden one.

"Why am I such an idiot… ?"

"Hey, don't say tha-"

"Thanks for your support Bonnie, but could you just leave ? All of you ?"

Fred seemed sad about the idea of leaving his lover alone. "Even-"

"Yes Fred, please. I wanna speak with my lil' sis'." Springtrap answered, looking at his counterpart smiling to him.

The others just left them alone, the actual Puppet returning to his Gift Box.

To be continued...