"Why on earth did you get a job at a kids place?" the creamy coated mare next me asked. I shrugged.
"I couldn`t find any other jobs in this tiny town, so I was left with this" My voice came out flatly, more monotone than anything.
The mare nudged me, her blue hair waving in the wind as we trotted down a cobble path.
"You could have tried asking Twilight. Im sure shed accept help in the library" her voice was high-pitched, but had a regular tone to it.
"Ive told you before we dont really... Get along" I replied, though I got an off glance from my friend.
"Twilight Sparkle is the princess of getting along, Stargleam. What are you talking about?" she poked my black fur.
I rolled my eyes in annoyance.
"How many times do I have to tell you? We just, never got to a good start" my voice was a bit cracked, but I swallowed and hoped for the best that she wouldn`t notice.
The creamy coated mare sighed.
"Alright. Well, good-luck, filly keeper" She teased me. I shot her a glare, but my mouth was slightly curved upward.
"Daisy, i`m watching robotic ponies, not children" I nudged her side as we neared the door to my job.
"So? Those robots are probably dumber than children!" she giggled out. I rolled me eyes and trotted up to a double glass-door.
"Well, ive got to go. See you tomorrow!" we waved at each other, before parting ways. My three colored hair stuck to my face, blurs of purple, blue, and cyan blocking my outer-most view.
I shook my head and unlocked one of the glass doors. The key I held was enveloped with a blue aura, which moved its way to the rectangular shaped hole in one of the door knobs.
click!
I willed the door to open with my magic, and continued to trot through and into the building.
It was called 'Freddy Fazbear`s Pizza'.
'A place for children and adults alike'.
I rolled my eyes. This place was a foals nursery. Pizza was thrown everywhere, not bothered to be cleaned up. Coke was spilled on every tile, now a sticky mess of fur and cheese.
I maneuvered past these monstrosities, and only stopped to get a good look at the robotic piles of junk on stage.
There were three ponies in all.
In the middle stood a brown one, whom had a red mike for a cutie mark and short dark brown hair. It also had a red bow on it`s chest, and a mike stand stood in front of it.
The children all called it Freddy Fazbear, though for what reason I was unknown of.
Yeah yeah he was the main character, but why would you name a pony robot Freddy? That`s like trying to make the new Freddy Cougar, for foals.
With a shiver, I studied the next pony.
It was the only one modeled to be a mare.
She had a yellow coat, and golden wavy hair. She wore a bib reading, 'LET`S PARTY!!!'', and in her left hoof was a small plate, and on that was a robotic cupcake.
Her muzzle was orange, for the sake of being modeled after a chicken.
"More like a duck" I muttered happily.
The one to the left was blue, and had two robotic metal bunny ears accompanying his head.
Each different joint on his body, like the other robots, was separated with a small gap, showing some of the endoskeleton inside. The hair on this one was a deeper blue, more aqua than anything.
Rosy cheeks painted his, Freddys, and the yellow one, Chicas, face.
With a heavy sigh, I picked up the pace towards a long hallway in front of me.
I only stopped to look towards the Prize Corner, a small room with a large open door. Inside, a large blue and red striped present box sat along the farthest back wall, and a small melody played near it.
I turned back and made my way to the end of the hall, and turned down another large one- the main party room hall.
Four rooms- two on each wall- adorned the hall. I passed them, making my way to the room straight at the end of the hall.
It had a desk in it, and a fan facing a leathery black swivel chair.
I entered the room, my hooves tapping the tile floor continuously, a soft rhythm of sounds against the eery soundless pizzeria.
I took to sitting in the totally ~~trash-worthy~~ comfortable chair.
It was around 11: 58, so I had time to spare before my shift started.
"Time to test the equipment" I mumbled before grasping a small tablet with my magic. It levitated in front of me, a seven inch Asus brand monitor programmed with only camera footage.
With the decision to check out some of the camera`s, I turned the tablet on. It took a little bit to fully load and activate.
Every room had a camera installed in it, some in the corner of a wall, and a few in other spots.
The six closest cameras, all within the party room hall, were clear, of course.
The stage held the main three robots, and the Prize corner was empty.
I flipped to the game area, seeing a small colt robot smiling, facing some unseen wall. He held a small sign that said 'Balloons!' in his mouth, and an actual yellow balloon was strapped to his right hoof.
He wore a small propeller hat, adorned with blue and red vertical stripes, and bore a small shirt with the same colors and patterns.
I switched to the Kids Cove, a mass of some robotic pony laying near the door. A small dining table for a party sat in the room with this animatronic, whom was named Mangle.
Her name was actually Foxina, but over a while...
She seemed to be a put-together-pull-apart toy, her head barely intact with the robotic wires that hung around her. She had the same painted rosy cheeks, and fangs.
Mangle was missing an eye, which was on the floor. With a shudder, I changed the camera.
Cam 07 gave a view of the main hall, overlooking where the bathrooms and parts room was. Nothing was there, of course.
I flipped to the parts and service room.
Two withered looking animatronics laid, as still as possible, on the cold tiled ground. (couldn`t really see Chica)
Both represented the main three, except without rosy cheeks- whelp, and without some of their limbs.
Freddy- to say the least, was the most intact one, having a few holes and hanging wires. I couldn`t see his signature hat, so I assumed it got put with toy Freddy.
The other one, Bonnie, was.... Demolished, to say the least.
He had no front face, that being only wires and crossbeams. He was missing his front left arm, and more than a few holes tore through his skin.
I couldnt really tell what color he was, due to the sucky lighting system for the cameras. But all in all im pretty sure he`s purple.
A small chime reached my ears, and so I pulled down the monitor.
It sounded a bit like a bell, just... With more of a high pitch I guess.
12:00
My shift started
"Okay... This should be easy" I shrugged, as I decided to lay back and relax.
"Just-" I threw my hooves onto the desk- "Sit here, I suppose".
I closed my eyes to relax, as the soft chiming stopped.
This job was gonna be easy! No robbers would even think about coming here, and it`s not like anypony would call this-
Ring.
"Who in their right mind would call this place at night?!" I found myself shouting to the air. In my stubborn mood, I attempted to answer the phone.
All I got was another ring.
"Eh... Okay then" I mumbled, releasing my aura from the phone. It was an old wired one, a seemingly forgotten brand painted on one side.
Ring.
"Please tell me this won`t go on all night" I grunted, before resuming my relaxed pose. The phone seemed to make another sound, as if it was just picked up.
I perked up, waiting for another sound to emit from it.
"Hello? Hello?" a clearly male voice emitted from the machine. I took my hooves off the table, now having my full attention to the phone.
"Hello, oh uh hey!" the voice continued.
"Hi?" I asked in confusion.
"Well, um, w-welcome to your new summer job!" the voice continued.
"Summer? Dude, it`s November" I waved a hoof.
"I`m here to help you get started, so... Let me start with the basics".
"Can you even here me?" I asked the phone... Guy?
"There`s a monitor in front of you, hopefully" he continued.
I glanced at the tablet within my magical grasp.
"Yep" was my only answer.
"Just in case you, um, don`t know how to use it- press the tiny rectangle button on the side".
Phone guy went through a boring explanation of how to use it.
"Then there`s the lights!" he perked up, and I heard a small click from the voice recording thingy. It clicked again.
"Sorry, I was busy for a s-second. Um, the lights here can be used to check the two vents to your left and right, along with the main hallway" he explained, in which I then tested out the terribly designed flashlights.
They flickered on and off, but overall worked fine.
"There`s also a light in each room installed with a camera. Though I already told you about that earlier, so- "Click, click"- yeah".
"What are you using the lights for?" I asked myself, as the same clicking sound came forth about four more times before stopping.
"And then theres your Freddy mask!" he nervously laughed. I looked around the desk I sat at. There wasnt any mask on it...
"If you cant find it, dont worry. Check under the desk". I did as he said, silently thanking him as I spotted a large brown pony mask on the ground. It seemed to be built to go around a whole head, kind of like a costume.
I tried it on, finding it unsettlingly fit me perfectly.
"The Freddy head isn`t really a major thing to worry about", I threw the thing off with that, "it was just requested by the guard before you".
I raised an eyebrow.
"He said the animatronics... Roamed? I dont know, but hes in the day shift now, so there`s nothing to worry about, trust me". I glanced around the room.
"Thanks for creepin` me out" I growled.
"Eh, y-you may see them in another- "click"- room, but thats impossible. God I suck at this, um, im sure youll do fine, okay?" Phone guy seemed a bit more... Lets just say, nervous.
"Okay..." My voice trailed off.
"Ack! One more thing! Keep the music box wound up!" Phone guy desperately cried, as I heard a small melody play on the phone before hearing what seemed to be a cranking sound along with it.
"Its in the prize corner, im sure you can work it out! Have a great night!" the phone cut off, leaving me by myself.
It was also surprisingly already 2 am.
With a bored sigh, and a slight shiver from Phone Guys previous words, I flipped the tablet up to my face. Nothing seemed off, I mean the withereds were in their places, Balloon bi-Boy was standing as derped as ever, and Bonnie was in-
A part room.
My eyes shrunk, actual little dots like tiny ants.
I stared at Bonnie, whom was holding his guitar in a singing pose.
-dont move, dont breath-
He stared at the screen, a stationary smile on his face. Oddly, even IN his position, he made no movement what-so-ever.
I stared at him for a bit, probably about ten minutes, until I heard metal hooves stomping on the ground.
My heart thumped around in my chest. Who, besides Bonnie, was wandering around?
I flipped around the camera`s seeing no pony.
Until I got to cam 07.
Chica stood right in front of the camera... Staring at me. Her... Beak, was gone- only having a large toothed smile to replace it (that smile being completely flat).
She had completely black eyes, save fore a small white dot to serve as the pupil.
Gaping, I put down the tablet.
The hall in front of me was empty, and the vents showed nothing. I decided to check with the monitor, flipping it up and moving around the party cams.
Bonnie wasnt in the same room, and so I took to hunting him down. Sadly, I found him in cam 2, bending down near the vents, as if to go in.
He was right by the right side vent, crouched down.
Within seconds, he climbed in.
In front of my eyes, the thing looked back to the ungrated vents, and crawled in.
I was wordless, really.
So I *dropped* the tablet, and rushed to jam the light button. I couldn`t see him yet...
I willed the tablet over to me, and checked the vent cam.
Luckily, it showed the other bend, as they made a right angle. Bonnie was there, just, staring. At the camera.
"Are you TRYING to give me a heart attack?!" I growled under my breath. Bonnie seemed to be smiling, unless that was just a continuous thing in his design.
With a few shallow deep breaths, I moved back to the desk, but didn`t sit down.
"You know what? I can just wait it out, it`s already 2:30" I decided.
Yeah, that was until I heard a bit of loud thumping in the hall in front of me.
My hoof slammed the light button, and to my horror, I saw toy Chica in the hallway. She was just standing there, posing with her cupcake, those creepy eyes staring into my soul.
A cold shiver went down my spine, as we stared at each other.
That is until my light went out.
"W-what?!" I tried pressing it, but it did nothing.
"N-no, work work work..." My heart basically thumped out of my chest.
The light flashed on again.
"Oh thank Arcue-" My eyes shrunk. Chica was gone.
I felt light-headed.
Flipping up the tablet, I switched between cameras, until I stopped at the one leading to the left vent. Chica was also bending down towards it, her cupcake still on it`s platter.
"NO, Chica stay away... Just don`t go in there" I ordered silently.
-Bonnie probably moved-
I changed the camera back to the vent footage, getting nothing.
"Where are you...?" I asked myself. In a frantic hurry, I lowered the tablet. My hoof ran into the vent`s light button. Bonnie was staring at me.
"GAH!!!" I screamed, and my hooves felt their way across a felt mask. The Freddy head.
I swung it over my head, the large circle holes in them allowing me to see through it. Dear Sithis this thing was humid.
Bonnie got out of the vent, and studied me carefully.
He had a face-recognition software built into him, I knew that much. All the toy animatronics did.
Would he attack me?
Toy Bonnie stepped closer, and so all I did was step back.
The blue robotic pony then looked away, before trotting off and through the hallway, disappearing into the darkness of the hall.
"Oh dear Arcues I lived" my words were shallow and shaken. It was 3:00 now... I could live, right? (yes time goes by faster, like the game).
I resumed my post, checking the cameras for Bonnie. He was back on stage, with Freddy.
Mangle was in her spot, the old ones in theirs. Balloon boy was still as derp as usual.
All I had to deal with now was Toy Chica.
She was in the left vent, clearly smiling at the camera (of course her design didnt really have anything but a smile in it). I left the camera, deciding she wouldnt move for the time being.
As was- things were normal.
I checked back towards Chica, whom was still in the vent, though she seemed- closer.
"Stay there, duck" I ordered, "Duck duck duck suck suck suck"- I began to randomly hum a song.
"Duck duck duck duck you suck suck suck" my voice carried on through the halls, echoing back slightly.
4:00.
I checked the left vent again, seeing a blank spot of static. I quickly lowered the tablet and jammed the light button- and then proceeded to stuff my face in my Freddy mask.
Chica got out, her smile plastered on her face.
She studied me, like Bonnie had. Her eyes suddenly seemed to become mad, and she stuck her nose in the air, walking away. Her cupcake eyed my on the way out.
As I slowly took the head off, a confused look came over me.
"What, does she not like Freddy?" I asked. Putting down the Freddy Mask, I resumed my position- watching cameras and shining the light on different spots. No pony was coming it seemed.
Oh but life isn`t that fair, is it?
No, of course not.
That`s why I hate it.
A small melody began to play, much like, if not being, Pop goes the weasel. There were no lyrics in it, but it intrigued me.
Where was the music coming from?
It seemed distant when I put down the tablet, so I took it back up, switching to the kid`s cove. No... Not there, but it was louder.
I checked the stage.
Then the game area.
And then... The prize corner.
I shined the light on the room. Why was the present box open?
Why was the music getting louder?!
My frantic mood caused me to switch between cameras, flashing around until I saw the one thing that would have honestly given any pony nightmares for weeks.
The puppet.
It stared at me in the main hall, its no eye sockets seemingly staring into my soul.
It had three stripes on all of its legs, which were about my height. This thing had an infinite smile, and rosy cheeks.
Its eyes were purple tears streaming down to its mouth.
"T-The puppet..." was all I could say. Cam 07 went static.
I put the monitor down.
-Just stay calm-
I pressed the light button for the hallway, which showed me the monstrosity.
It walked forward slowly.
"Stay away... Stay away..." I pleaded out loud. Maybe it would be fooled by the mask!
I threw it over my head with baited breath.
The puppet got closer.
And closer.
And only closer.
5:00.
It stopped right at the edge of the hallway, and so I stopped using the light.
And then- it disappeared before my eyes.
I flashed the light, but it wasn`t there. I slowly pulled of the mask.
It was just... Gone?
I heard nothing, except that light pop goes the weasel theme, which for some reason hadn`t yet played the last part...
Well, great for me jinxing it.
'Pop goes the weasel'.
The tune stuck to my head as it played.
-oh God-
A white and black blur rushed at my face, two long hooves stuck out to get me.
It screamed as it came at me.
I suddenly felt light headed at the soon to be death, until...
A rather loud bell was heard.
I was awaiting the puppet to shred me to pieces... It never happened. With a bit of doubt that it even left, I opened one eye. Nothing was in the office.
I took a look at my clock.
6:00 am.
"Its the end of my shift..." I found myself whispering. The prize corners present box was closed, and every pony was in their rightful places.
With a heavy amount of effort, I left the office, holding the Freddy mask within a blue aura.
Slowly, but surely, I made my way to the locked front doors.
I unlocked them, and switched a small sign around, reading 'open!'.
"What have I gotten myself into?!".
Author's Note
I never finished this chapter, but I figured I may as well post it. I may even finish this story one day
Night 2- where are you?!
My hoof taps slowed as I reached the large spruce doors to a similar castle.
It was fully crystal, emanating light EVERYWHERE, and was basically the worst house I could ever live in. Good thing I didn`t.
I raised my right hoof, making small tapping noises on the door after.
"Shed better know whats going on" I noted to myself silently. One of the large doors creaked open, revealing a Purple alicorn, whom stared at me with confusion.
And a little rage.
"Why`r you here?" she asked a bit rudely.
With a sigh, I pushed past her.
"You know Freddy Fazbear`s, right?" I asked more assertively than passively. Twilight nodded slowly, her mood a bit droopy all of a sudden.
"Y-yes, I do. What does that have to do-" I cut Twilight Sparkle off.
"I work there, thats what" I snapped at her. She flinched, but didnt move.
"So?".
"So, they almost killed me" I waved a hoof in the air.
Twilight almost laughed.
"Killed you? Pah! That`s ridiculous!" she began to snicker.
"It is NOT!! They move at night, alright? They MOVE. Bon Bon and Chica got into my office!" I growled. Twilight muffled her laughter, and continued a fake straight face.
"Really? Oh wow, did they- sing a song and dance for you?" She teased. I blushed with rage.
"You don`t understand, Twi. They were gonna attack me!" I snarled at her. She hid her mouth with a wing.
"Yep, they sure were. What`s knew, talking animals?!".
"We are talking animals" I pointed out, shutting Twilight right up.
"Whelp, still, sounds stupid to me, Stargleam. Why did you really come here?" she asked firmly.
"Because of the animatronics. That`s why" I replied flatly. Twilight trotted up to me.
"Stargleam, are you okay? We may not get along, but come on. Some stupid prank isn`t enough for me to believe you" she stared behind me.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"That thing" she pointed a hoof in the direction of above my head. With my nerves building up, I slowly turned my head. Was there something behind me?
I twisted my body so I could see everything behind me.
There was nothing.
Nothing except a glass hallway, and that stupid light bending into my eyes.
There was... Nothing.
"Hey, why`d ya-"
"Boo".
"GAH!!!" I fell back. Twilight was laughing her flank off.
"It`s not funny!!!" I pushed her, half playfully.
"Yeah it is!" she poked me, then wrapped a hoof around my shoulder, "Look, your just paranoid, okay?".
I thought on it for a second.
"N-no i`m not, well, no I saw what I saw" I grunted.
"Well, you wont have a job if you dont go back" Twilight pointed out. I sighed.
"And then I can`t pay you back, right. That was the only free job..." I stared out of one of the glass windows. Nighttime was approaching fast.
"Exactly. So, id just go work for the night" Twilight shrugged, then added, " If you bring me proof of walking robotic ponies then ill believe you". I shook my head.
"Uh-huh. Whelp, I guess I should get going then..." I began to trot away towards the exit.
"Bye!" Twilight waved. I waved back, until disappearing behind the a wall corner.
"This is gonna be a long night".
My hooves tapped the tiled floor as I entered my open no-door office.
It was currently 11:57.
"I have a few minutes, maybe I should... Set things up".
With that, I climbed into my leather chair, and took to turning on the tablet. As with before, it took about a minute or so.
I flicked the lights on and off, and practiced changing cameras for the last two minutes. The now familiar chime played in my ears as it signaled the start of night 2.
I immediately changed to the stage, awaiting Bonnie to move.
And still, the phone went off again.
"Another message?" I asked the phone, which of course answered with another ring.
The phone finally picked up the message. It was 12:00.
"Hello? Hello? Uh, hey there! See you`ve made it to your second night!" Phone Guy seemed cheerful.
"So... I hope your okay, one guard... Ended his so called 'misery'. Id uh, like to not go into that, im sure you can sum it up".
I sighed, "That feels like me right now".
"Um, Bonnie might come out tonight... And by that, I mean the old one, you know, the one in the back? Mangle and Balloon Boy MAY... But I highly doubt it. Look, just keep up the great work!".
"Great work? This line of work`ll get me killed!" I spat.
"I trust you! And maybe, uh, maybe youll get a raise, I dont know. Just hang in there, okay?" Phone Guy seemingly asked- but answered before I could- "Okay. Goodnight!".
With that the phone turned off.
"Yeah, goodnight" I whimpered.
The rooms seemed normal, maybe Bonnie wouldn`t move tonight?
Of course, the other animatronics- namely Mangle and the withereds- seemed as if they could be turned off forever, considering the untidy features.
I lowered the monitor in front of me, glancing around the room.
"I shouldn`t waste electricity, for one" I noted.
"That would get me fired. Why? I dont know, just stay calm and-" a few banging noises prickled along my ears, "... And dont die".
Bonnie had made his way to the same party room from before, holding his guitar as if going to play it.
"Stay there, freak" I commanded.
He made no extra movements.
"So, it seems I wasn`t paranoid after all!" I cheered for myself. That cheer became a frown as I heard more metal hooves stomping around, and found that a white fox ear was poking out slightly above the hall camera.
"Mangle?!" I gasped. Yeah, it was her. Mangle wasn`t in sight within her tiny cove.
I sighed.
"So... Its two now, Phone Guy said there might be two other ones... Who were they again?" I tapped my chin. Apparently id been too focused on deciding how I would survive than his message.
"Right, but now, heh, maybe I can live better...?" My words weren`t exactly coming out right. With my head just not focusing with the bloody thoughts in my head.
I flipped up the tablet, and went straight to the prize corner.
My hoof held itself on the music box, until it was full again from being half gone- or empty?
Chica was in the hall, her face with those nasty eyes and no-beak again. Mangle was gone.
"Chica.... Stay away. And Mangle? Where are you-" I lowered the tablet to find the hallway light wouldn`t work.
"Great".
Whence it turned back on, Mangle was hanging some distance in the hall, her hand out as if to wave. Guess what I did.
My hoof was in the air, moving a bit- I decided to say hello! Why not, it wouldnt be like this thing would move.
Yeah... Mangles hand/paw began to move left and right too.
"O-okay Mangle, now stay away for the night" I called out slightly.
