crystalas

[crystalas]

Omg fucking god this is beautiful!

theres too many pokemon games where you play as a kid whos full of life and full of potential. there needs to be a pokemon game where you play as a college dropout who lives in a shitty apartment

[crystalas]

thank you for this!!

You know what? I believe that you can finish your writing project. I believe you can update your fic. I believe you can work on your WIP. I don't care if you think it's cringy or bad. I don't care if we've never met or interacted in our whole lives. I believe in you. Keep going - you've got this.

[crystalas]

that is just a bloody mood

*canonballs into 2024 bc i've grown inured to the horrors and am overdue to be bedazzed by the wonders* giddyeup bitch

[crystalas]

i know i'm mostly [and only known for] fanfics and fandoms but what would you guys think if i put some original stuff on here? I loved an Youtubers like Oceaniz and Curious Archive, that explore games like Subnauctia, Monster Hunter, and Rain world as it allows players to look at the world with an explorer's eye.

so i got bored this year and made up my own world and threw an explorer into it with a pokemon snap mentality to it. I'm gonna start posting it on here in the new year anyone interested?

[crystalas]

EEEK they replied!!!

i'm not sure if anyone has told you this but in the latest book of Tales from the Pizzaplex volume 6 Nixie, there is a store in the pizzaplex where you can buy a Buddytronic [basically robotic build a bear] wherein you can buy a chibi version of the characters there.

...so technically your Dolldrops AU could be canon...

Dolldrops canon?!!

...Or the Helper Bot AU, perhaps?

[crystalas]

Chapter Eight: Repair job for a broken heart

Life went on as it does in the Pizza Plex, naturally the PR department had a field day for having an actual good story to tell ‘Baby saved from storm by the Mega Pizza Plex!’ but it was tucked away in the side columns so only the most dedicated news readers saw it. Vanessa almost had a heart attack when Gregory told her what happened when she came to pick him up not even telling the bright side that despite it all he had managed to do all of his homework.

Weeks passed the story became old news and everything returned to its routine, except for Sun.

It was subtle at first, so much so that only the regulars noticed it at first. Sun would do what they normally did every day they would still play with the children, entertain them with games and puppet shows, and do arts and crafts projects but it would seems be missing something. It felt Sun was following a script and no matter how much they acted to be funny and jovial there was still a feeling of something off. They would watch them do activities but not join in unless asked by children, Sun would often stare off into space but quickly snap out of it.

“Sunny sad” one of the younger ones declared loudly. “Why are you sad?”

“I’m not sad!” Sun explained gesturing to their static grin “See? I’m smiling!”

“You feel sad” the little boy confirmed and tried to give him a hug, “It’s okay, don’t be sad”

“I’m not though.”

However now that someone had said what a lot of the children were thinking the word soon spread across the Day Care and to them telling their parents which lead to the staff finding out. The parents were concerned that their children were coming away with stories of a depressed robot.

So, this led to trips to Parts and Services which meant they had to sit through hours of diagnosis checks, however when they couldn’t see a problem as there was nothing wrong or amiss with their code, they were sent them back but the complaints would continue.

“They’re not going to find the problem you know” Chica mused as they watch Sun get marched out of Parts and Service for a second time that week.

“Huh?” Monty asked as he tuned his base. “Why not?”

“Cos silly, there isn’t a diagnosis programme designed to pick up on a broken heart” she answered.

“Didn’t they have the doll to help them with all that junk?” Roxy demanded “Why not just have that?”

“I had asked Moon that myself” Freddy explained sadly “He said the best way to describe it was that they had been upgraded to be able to see colour for the first time in high definition only to go back to low quality black and white after a few days.”

“I get it…a doll doesn’t compare to Dewdrop” Chica sighed, the Glamrocks became quiet as they mulled over the problems in their heads but they couldn’t think of any solutions that didn’t require stealing a baby.

“We better get to Rock Star Row” Freddy said softly, they all grabbed their gear and headed to their rooms. Freddy was about to head off and check to see if Gregory was in yet but stopped when he heard a voice.

“Excuse me? may I talk to you for a second?”

 Sun was back in the Day Care, they made they way around the playground picking up fallen toys and out of place blocks. Sun was nearly finished putting them away when they fell still, Sun just stood there staring at the final toy in their hand. A baby doll.

<Sun?> Moon asked gently <Sun if it’s too much I can take over>

<I’ve been thinking Moon…> Sun said after a silent minute. <Maybe it would be best if I…if I deleted my memories of Stella>

<What? Sun you can’t be serious!?>

<What else can I do?> Sun shouted abruptly holding the doll tightly to their chest. <Three strikes and you’re done! That’s the rule! They can’t fix me so I need to fix myself before they deem me a lost cause. It’s not fair that you have to suffer being decommissioned because of me!>

<I get that Sun> Moon soothed <But its not as simple as reaching in and deleting a file, we’re branching A.I you delete a memory there’s no telling what else we might lose in the process. We’ll forget Stella but we might also forget Gregory or how to care for babies or worse!>

Sun didn’t respond they just stood there hugging the doll.

<I don’t want to die…but it hurts knowing that I’ll never see her again. I don’t know why it’s affecting me this badly; I’ve must have seen off hundreds of little ones.>

<But Stella was special, for a few days you got to experience real parenthood. You got to live your dream of having a child>

<Exactly it was a ‘dream’ I need to wake up before we’re both scrapped and in order to do that, I need to forget that dream!>

Moon sighed from inside the mindscape, Sun had made their mind up and nothing was going to deter them. But what they were suggesting was a tedious fix at best; just because they had forgotten Stella doesn’t mean the others won’t remember, what if they bring her up in casual conversation by accident? Or they find photos and newspaper clippings? How would Sun react to being told that they had a baby but can’t remember them? Sun and Moon would by nature hunt down the truth till they found it and will wind up back in this emotional quagmire.

<Look I’m not saying that we’re going ahead with this but we are going to talk it out with Vanessa and the others, at least then we aren’t playing brain surgeon on ourselves!>

Sun silently put the doll back in its cubby hole when they got a ping in the security, they turned to see a man poking their head through the gates of the Day Care. Sun put on their customer service persona and skipped on happily to him.

“Ho h oho!” they laughed “Welcome to the Super Star Day Care! Unfortunately, we will be closing soon so please come again!”

“Sorry I was hoping to talk to the Day Care Attendant?” the man asked, he seemed well presented with a suit that screamed ‘office jockey’.

“That’s me!”

“Oh?” the man looked confused and then a bit embarrassed.

<Oh, great here we go again> Moon moaned, it wasn’t the first time and sadly won’t be the last that some people become very uncomfortable when talking to them or leaving their kids with a robot.

<If he starts crap just let me hit the lights>

“Is there a problem? I can get a human staff if we are not to your liking” Sun offered but internally gave Moon a nod.

“No, oh no I wanted to talk to you its just…this makes things a little harder…”

Sun just tilts their head at them in confusion.

“Never mind, I came here to enrol my daughter”

“Oh fantastic, you’re in luck we have a few spaces left!” Sun exclaimed breathing a metaphoric sigh of relief that this man wasn’t going to start a hateful tirade at them. They grabbed the tablet from the top of the desk and returned to the man, they were going to document it all in their heads but people liked being able to see actual work being done when getting their details, looks less like that they are ignoring them.

“Can I ask a question first?”

“Sure” Sun chirped.

“I read in the news paper that a baby had been left here and the Day Care Attendant found them and kept them safe till police arrived, is that true?”

Sun felt a programme pop up in their skull which spoke for them.

“This Unit is unable to answer these questions, if you have concerns regarding any media reporting of the FazBear entertainment company please call our PR department on this number…”

“Ok I get it!” the man interrupted before Sun could blurt out anymore. “How about this, nod your head for yes and shake for no okay?”

Sun nodded their head.

“What I asked before…is it true?”

Sun nodded their head.

“You found her in a store cupboard?”

Sun nodded their head.

“But you took care of her even though she wasn’t on your system in anyway?”

Sun nodded their head.

“Why? By all logical reasons she wasn’t your concern, you should have left her there.”

“As if I would leave a child alone in those conditions!” Sun cried outraged by the sheer suggestion, “I may not be a human but I am not heartless mindless bucket of bolts! I would never let a child go cold and hungry if I can help it!”

Sun realised that they were shouting at a potential customer and took a step back.

“I’m sorry for raising my voice…”

“It’s okay…its why I came to thank you”

“Huh?”

“Stella’s my daughter, I came to thank the person who kept her safe so here I am thanking you” he said, “the lady who dumped her here was my sister-in-law, we had offered her a place at ours because she was in a rough spot and just got dumped by her partner. We didn’t know she was on drugs or that she was in such a rough place in her mind.”

“I hope she is getting the help she needs” Sun said quietly, they were pretty sure humans had a Parts and Service but was unsure how they would debug a human.

“Hopefully she is, this does mean however we no longer have a baby sitter but we did get a free year pass from here and well…we can’t fault the care, can we?”

Before Sun could respond the Day Care doors opened again and a woman walked through with a baby in tow, Sun felt their circuits soar when they noticed the Sun and Moon plushies that were held in the chubby little grip.

“Stella!” They cried happily, Stella looked around at being called and it took her a moment before she began to wiggle and laugh.

“Samooo!” she babbled and Sun had already bounded over to her and was about to swoop her into their arms when they finally registered the human female, Stella’s mother holding her. They froze and shrunk back, fidgeting with their bells and ribbons.

“My apologises, I didn’t mean to scare you…”

“You’re the Day Care Attendant? I’m guessing you don’t go by Samoo?” she laughed lightly.

“Samoo!” Stella confirmed.

“No, I go by Sun mostly we were trying to teach her to say Sun and Moon and well…”

“Samoo!” Stella declared and was reaching out for the lanky robot, her mother chuckled and finally gave in to her demands handing her over to Sun, who gave her a gentle but firm squeeze.

<Oh, Stella, I missed you so much!>

“So, about that Day Care slot?” her father asked.

“Oh yes consider her booked in!” Sun exclaimed “Just gives us the dates you need!”

<You know this is only delaying this problem, right?> Moon asked sadly as Sun bounced Stella on their knee while going over the parent’s schedules for pick up and drop off. <It’s only a matter of time before she gets too big for the Day Care or they might be just using that coupon we gave them.>

<I know Moon, I know> Sun replied sadly. <But at least this way I have time to make my peace with it>

 Closing time came about as Vanessa was coming onto her shift, Gregory was rummaging in his backpack to see if he had brought the books some of the Glamrocks had requested. He looked up when he heard Stella’s voice and saw the three now heading out, he walked over to her and when she saw him, she waved her Sun plush at him.

“Hey Stella!” he chuckled.

“You know her?” the man asked, Gregory balked slightly and he could feel Vanessa’s tense up.

“Err…only in name! My sister works here and she lets me hang around backstage during her shifts sometimes and I heard Sun talk about her” Gregory said using the tried and true ‘sister excuse’ Vanessa waved as if to confirm her existence.

“So, you know Sun?”

“Yeah, sweet guy, he loved Stella”

“We did get that impression; you know when the police told us that Stella had been looked after by the Day Care Attendant, we had assumed it was some poor smuck so down on his luck they had to resort to sleeping at their work place. Our idea was to give them some money to help them onto their feet, you know get a down payment on an apartment or something but with them being a robot…makes it kind of harder to pay back their kindness.”

“We really want to make it up to them somehow” Stella’s mother said.

Gregory looked thoughtful for a second but Vanessa surprised him by stepping forward.

“I may have a suggestion…”

 Sun was seeing off the last of his charges as Stella’s mother came to pick her up. Stella was at the arts and crafts table playing with some art clay when she saw her mother. She toddled over as quick as her little feet could carry her and was scooped up into her mother’s arms.

“Hello my little sunbeam, did you have a nice day”

“Mama!” she chanted.

“My goodness she been very energetic today, she certainly gave Moon the run around at nap time” Sun explained wiping off the smudges of clay off her hands.

“Yes, my life is never boring since she figured out how to walk!” her mother laughed, “Hope you wore her out at least”

“Oh, we can only hope”

Moon was watching this but got an alert from the video feed, he brought it up to show Vanessa dumping a large box in their room. He shrugged it off as something for Gregory or the Day Care and resumed listening in.

“Dada?” Stella asked.

“Daddy will be along in a minute; he’s bringing something for Samoo”

“Oh ho? Well coloured us intrigued!” Sun laughed and soon enough Stella’s father walked in gingerly holding a cardboard box, Sun tilted their head in confusion as he placed it on top of the security desk. Stella also craned her neck to see the box and made grabby hands for it.

Vanessa and Gregory barged in as if they were in a rush but Gregory hushed himself as they noticed they were not too late for the gift. Sun looked at the box, it was plain white with small holes in it.

“My, my isn’t this a mystery? What could be in this box hmmm?” Sun chuckled seeing Gregory was looking very excited. “Perhaps some new clothes and ribbons?”

<Sun…>

“Or new puppets?” smirking to themselves as they see Gregory getting more impatient, Sun could have fun too.

<Sunny?>

“Or perhaps a whole box of glitter glue!”

<SUNDROP!>

“With googly eyes…my goodness Moon what is it?” Sun blurted out loud.

<Sun the box has a heartbeat!>

“It has a … what?”

Gregory was now giggling to himself and Vanessa had gotten out her phone as Sun gingerly opened the box, with the flaps undone a fluffy little head popped out and mewled loudly.

“That’s a kitten” Sun stated as they stared at the silver-grey little critter.

“Yup” Vanessa confirmed. “What do you want to name her?”

“Oh…I see you got Stella a pet!” Sun exclaimed but stopped and turned to Vanessa. “Why am I naming her?”

“Because we got you a kitten!” Gregory blurted out happily! Sun looked back down at the kitten who was now nosing around the edge of the box as she was too small to climb out, it stumbled back when Sun held out a hand and then extended one finger towards her. The kitten approached the finger gave it a little sniff before trying to nibble it. Once Sun was sure it was settled with being near them, they scooped her up in one hand and cradled her with the other.

“She’s mine? B…but how? I can’t be allowed a pet! It’s against the rules!”

“I spoke with management; I explained how since you’re programmed to care for little things going long times without doing so may be bad for your software. So, I suggested we get a pet for you that you can take care of during closing time and unforeseen stuff like storm days” Vanessa said.

“Don’t worry she’s had all her shots, she hypoallergenic so there shouldn’t be any problems with kids and I think Vanessa and her brother already put all the stuff you’ll need like food, toys, litter, information books and such in your storage room.” Stella’s dad said as Sun looked down at the little kitten who was looking around from such high place.

“She has her own baby jail so you don’t have to worry about her running around during the day!” Gregory declared.

“A pen, we got her a pen” Vanessa explained.

“So, what are you gonna call her?” Gregory demanded.

Sun raised the kitten up to their face and the kitten bopped him with a tiny paw.

“I’m thinking Star drop” they said after a minute.

<Good name> Moon agreed <Her fur is silver like a star.>

“Why do you name things with ‘drop’ in it?” Gregory asked as Sun lowered themselves so Gregory and Stella could see the kitten. “You called Stella ‘Dewdrop’ before we knew her real name too…”

“Well…my full name is Sun drop; Moon’s is Moon drop so it’s like letting them be a part of the family”

<Ooh in that case I’m going to make her a little collar like ours!> Moon’s already itching to get their sewing kit out. Stella and Gregory were cooing over the kitty who in return gave them an investigating sniff before mewling. Stella giggled as the kitten curled up in Sun’s hands.

“The staff will be informed of her in case we need to make any vet calls, or if they find her wandering around during the day” Vanessa explained “But Sun you’ll be her primary care giver, she’s yours to look after, ok?”

Sun looked down at this little life that was now for them to love and care for, cats don’t need to go to school, won’t grow up and leave them. Star drop was theirs now and Sun was going to give them the best life they could manage.

“Thank you so much!” Sun said quietly so not to startled the dozing kitten. “Welcome to the family my little Star drop”

Star drop yawned and started to purr loudly.

 END

Note: Gah I never know how to end these!! I’m tempted to do one or two one shots of the shenanigans Star drop will no doubt get into but I think this is it.

[crystalas]

In case anyone gave a flying flip about ‘Birthday Wish’ there is going to be an ending chapter, i’m not such a git i’d leave my fav sunny blorbo depressed like that. its just taking me a while cos of real life stuff

[crystalas]

Dear The Sun and Moon Show...

you have no right being this freaking addictive and good!! you have no idea how getting home to see your antics is the only thing that keeps me going!!

love you guys

[crystalas]

Birthday Wish part 7

Not gonna lie, I am really tempted to have a ‘Bad ending AU’ 

Chapter seven: Waking from the dream

DayCareAttendant.Sun.A.I starting up… 10% 35%...65%...100%

Sun and Moon booted back into the waking world, hands clenched and uncurled, face plate turning as their body recalibrated and checked to see if all motor functions were available. As they were starting up and check listed their programmes, they came to their vocals which had been stopped mid-way through something so like most computers when it restarted after a cold stop it resumed where it had left off.

Which is why Sun suddenly bolted up from the chair in Parts and Surfaces and shouted.

“Don’t you fucking dare hurt my kids!”

It was at this point Sun finished starting up and quickly covered their mouth as they saw Freddy sitting next to them with the control panel in paw and the others standing outside watching.

“Oh, my goodness, pardon my potty mouth!” they whispered.

<Got to hand it to you Sun, those would have made pretty good last words> Moon mumbled as he joined Sun in the functioning world.

“Everything is okay Sun, we brought you here so we could repair you” Freddy started to explain. Moon took note of their new foot and noticed their pant leg had been moved up to show their knee where the Freddy not doubt had just disconnected to replace with a functioning leg. Sun however didn’t notice or care they had something more urgent on their mind.

“Where are the children? Are they okay? Are they safe? They’re not hurt, are they? Did they get shot?” Sun rambled in panic as horror scenario after horror scenario played in their head each one worst than the last before Moon had to mentally grab them and ground them, but Sun was already overheating with anxiety.

“Sunny?” Gregory piped up, Sun looked up to see the door open and Gregory walk in with a sleepy Dewdrop in his arms. “You, okay?”

“As you can see, they are unharmed” Freddy said, Sun got out of the chair and knelt down in front of the boy. Before he could say anything, Sun swept the two of them into a tight hug.

“Oh, thank the stars!” Sun would have wept if they could “When I saw that awful man hurt you like that I thought our system was going to crash! You were both SO brave! I’m so so so SO sorry I couldn’t protect you”

“Hey it’s okay…” Gregory “It all worked out.”

“What happened? I mean after we…were shut off?” Sun asked not yet willing to relinquish the hug.

“While we were chasing the alerts one of the Minis came to us saying there was a strange lady in the security room near the kitchen, sure enough there she was. Turns out she had hacked the system to keep us busy while they tried to steal you” Chica explained “she managed to lock herself in but she quickly changed her tune when the Minis got in” she chuckled.

“Where are they now?” Sun asked finally letting go of Gregory who offered Dewdrop up to them, Sun gratefully took her who snuggled up to them and began to grip at his ruffled collar.

“They are in Lost and Found, Roxy and Monty are guarding the doors and I think the Minis are having fun stalking them from the vents” Chica giggled.

<Sun, check the time…> Moon said.

“Oh goodness its nearly 7pm already?!” Sun squeaked, “We’ve been out for almost three hours!”

“We wanted to make sure you were fixed before bringing you back online” Gregory explained “Cos you know it might hurt having your leg amputated and stuff and finding a spare leg was hard, why is all your stuff down in the basement with all those creepy endos?!” Sun shrugged.

“I think it is best if we resumed to our posts now, with the storm now passing by it will only be a matter of time before human staff and security come by” Freddy stated, Sun got up tested their new leg as they did before doing a little twirl.

“Indeed, and I bet some brave little ones are hungry!”

“Nah I made sure Dewdrop got her tea! I fed her and everything!” he announced proudly “though you may have a mess to clean up in the party room… she started a bit of a food fight.” Gregory mumbled.

 The Officer Terry and Officer James strode up quickly through the empty parking lot, the concrete gleamed with rain water that had yet to evaporate or drain away, clumps of debris like leaves and trash piled high in corners where the wind had shoved them in. The air felt fresh and cool after the storm had finally passed by and luckily there was no major structure damage except for odd roof tile missing, collapsed shed, and flooded road.

They came to the door and looked around for an emergency switch or lock, they were so busy looking for a place for a key they didn’t notice a robotic bear loom in from the shadowy building and open the door.

“Good morning!” The bear announced causing both to jolt and look at it, at another time and place this might have been funny but they were on a ticking clock and didn’t have a second to spare.

“Hello we with are with the local police…” Officer Terry started.

“Oh, good are you here for the intruders?” The bear asked politely, the police stared at him for a second.

“What? What intruders?”

“We had a break in yesterday afternoon, but worry not we apprehended them and they are currently under house arrest…or is that Plex arrest?” it wondered.

“No…no we’ll look into that later but right now we are on an urgent mission, perhaps you can help?” Officer James pulled out a photo and showed it to the bear. “We have been informed that this child had been left here just before closing two days ago and we need to find her as soon as we can!”

The policemen already had emergency supplies on hand, from what they understood as they were rushed out was that the baby had been left in a storeroom. Dehydration was going to be a big issue so they had the hospital on standby too in case of worst-case situation.

“Oh yes come this way” the bear said and lead them through the main entrance, hold up was this Freddy Fazbear that was escorting them in? Looking around they went in they realised how impossible this job was going to be. The woman had said she had left him in a store room, how many storerooms could a place like this have?!

“Okay we need to fan out and search, big guy is there any staff we can get to help us look? We can’t waste any time!” James asked.

“There is no need, Dewdrop is in the Day Care”

“Dewdrop?” Terry demanded.

“Yes, I’m afraid she didn’t have a guest profile so we kind of made a name up for her.” The bear laughed nervously, they continued to follow the bear into the Super Star Day Care past the sign in desk and to the big wooden doors. Freddy looked apprehensive and reluctantly opened the gate and gestured them inside.

The two went in blinking away the sudden loud and bright colours, they noted the dirty boot prints on the floor as well as the scuff on the wall. Was that the intruders doing? They paused when they heard a voice humming gently. They ventured in slowly not sure if they needed to get their guns out but as they came round the side of the play structure, they found the source of the humming. It took them a second to recognise the tune of ‘You are my sunshine’.

A tall lanky golden robot was sitting on the floor resting their back against a huge teddy bear, resting on their chest was a baby which they were rocking side to side gently. The baby was playing with a textile toy and would look up at the robot smiling before resuming their chewing on the toy.

“How may I help you this morning?” The robot asked without looking up.

“I uhh…” Officer Terry stammered, this was going so far into uncanny valley it was the other side.

“We have reports of an abandoned baby and came to pick them up” the Officer James claimed clearly made of sterner stuff, the robot looked at them and with one fluid motion stood up with the baby still in their arms. They couldn’t help but notice that standing as they were the baby was easily out of their reach.

“I see, well I will need to see some identification first” it said, the two policemen showed the bot their badges and it knelt down to stare at them for a second, their eyes glowing bright blue for a second before standing back up.

“Please wait…ah yes those do indeed match up with known data banks. I’m sorry about that but you know how it is with protocol!” The Day Care Attendant beamed suddenly changing their tone from quiet to cheerful. “Need to make sure people are who they say these days especially when caring for little ones!”

“We get that” Officer James said more relaxed now that the robot was giving less of a ‘I will murder you if you take a step out of line’ atmosphere. “May we now take Stella home?”

“Stella? Oh, is that your name? what a beautiful name for a beautiful baby!” the robot cooed tickling the baby before returning their attention to the officers. “May I ask what of the parents? The woman who ‘dropped’ her off did not seem sound of mind at the time.”

“Rest assured that lady was not Stella’s mother but a babysitter who was going through some things and made some pretty bad choices, Stella’s parents are waiting to hear from us as they are quite worried”

“Oh?”

“Well to be honest we were expecting the worst” the Officer Terry said finally getting the nerve to talk again “We were told the baby had been locked in a storage room for two days or more!”

“Why didn’t you come sooner?”

“Because the lady didn’t decide to tell us until yesterday evening! She was brought in raving drunk and high as a kite and decided to sleep it out in one of our cells. By the time she was sober enough to know what the heck was going on she started raving about all sorts of weird stuff including needing to go back and get her baby. We didn’t understand at first because according to all her records she didn’t have one. It wasn’t until her sister showed up reporting her and her daughter missing did we find out that it was more than just ramblings!”

“I understand…oh Stella what a relief!”

Stella gurgled happily, the robot seemed to tighten their grip for a moment and glanced at the balcony above the ball pit as if considering something before turning back around to face the policemen and hunched over so they could take the child. Stella reached out for the robot whining and fretting but stopped when the robot booped her nose gently.

“Thank you for your help” the Officer James said and they turned to leave, they made it past the play structures when...

“Wait!” the Day Care Attendant shouted suddenly, they spun around to see it covering their mouth, it took in a simulated breath [can they do that?] and walked over to the security bench and produced two party bags.

“I…I took the liberty of cleaning the clothes she had come in, and packed some snacks and diapers just in case…” Handing the first bag to them. “I also put in a year free pass to the Day Care in there in case…in case she wanted to come back, she doesn’t have to but it would be nice…oh and also!” the robot rummaged in the second bag and gave Stella a Moon and a Sun plushie which made the baby squeal happily and make grabby hands at. The robot looked like it wanted to say something else and hovered there for a moment before gentling stroking her cheek.

“Good bye my little sunbeam I hope you had fun during your time at the Super Star Day Care”

“Okay thanks we’ll be sure to pass them on!” Officer Terry exclaimed and with that they left the Day Care, Freddy escorted them to a place called Lost and Found which was being guarded by a robot wolf and gator, they both regarded the officers coldly but the wolf wiggled a finger at Stella who laughed and waved her Sun plush at it.

Sure, enough there were three humans huddled in the corner of room. The two men looked as if they had been a bar brawl and lost horribly but the woman’s face looked scratched and blotched as if someone had attacked her with suction cups. All three were staring at the computer desk that had some weird robot music thing on it like a mix of those old cymbal monkeys and a spider. Officer Terry peered into the window and his jaw dropped.

“Umm…correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t that the group of thieves wanted in like three other states?” he asked, Officer James looked in as well with Stella in tow who just cooed.

“Yup, that’s them!” turning away and grabbing his radio “We are gonna need back-up for this!”

Unbeknownst to them as they turned around, the robot spider jerked to life and waved at Stella before glaring at the three menacingly tilting its head in a jarring and glitching manner that just made the three scoots away even more. Their eyes darting to the vent where they saw two more pairs of beady soulless eyes watch them knowing that as soon as those policemen were gone their torment would continue.

 Gregory had to wait in the backstage of Freddy’s green room, taking turns between pacing his small enclosure and checking his Faz watch watching all the policemen come and go in the camera. He had to stay put, he couldn’t be discovered as well. They had taken the three intruders out of the plex and they seemed more than eager to get out of the place too. Taking evidence of photos of Sun’s injuries and the shot off foot, bullet from the stage and whatever footage that could be given. There wasn’t much due to Ballora’s tampering but luckily what there was showing the two men running around Moon had altered to show no evidence of Gregory.

By the time noon had rolled around staff had started to turn up which meant that Gregory had to make a move, he crawled into the vents giving a nod as the Minis trotted by giggling with glee to each other. Sneaking through Kids Cove he got to the Day Care and as he approached, he felt his heart sink, he had watched Dewdrop leave with the police.

He knew that Dewdrop might get picked up its why he had told Sun that the birthday wish was temporary but he had planned on being able to find the Dewdrop ‘doll’ and swapping them out so Sun would think she had changed back. But Sun must have been forced to give her up and now that small kindness he had made for them had been taken away.

He looked around expecting to see having a mental breakdown but was shocked to find Sun hard at work cleaning the Day Care. They were already scrubbing the floor to remove the muddy footprints that the two men had tracked through.

“Sun?” the boy asked “You, okay?”

“Yup I am fine” they declared brightly, wringing out the wash cloth and resumed cleaning “Though I will need to crack on, those awful men left such a mess and I was already behind on my cleaning schedule as it was!”

“You sure? What about Dewdrop?”

“Her name is Stella and you’ll be pleased to hear her parents are eagerly awaiting her return”

“I’m sorry…”

“For what?”

“For Dewdrop…ya know…not being Dewdrop.”

The bot looked at him for a second before returning to cleaning.

“Oh, right the birthday wish, well you never know Gregory maybe the birthday wish fairy is real. It just didn’t come for me”

“Wait you knew that wasn’t Dewdrop?!” he cried but paused when he looked back on it and realised that neither Sun nor Moon only ever called her by that name twice and even then it was either at the start or in the heat of the moment, everyone else had regularly called the baby Dewdrop but not them.

“Oh, Moon examined the security feed as soon as Monty suggested it” Sun claimed getting up and moving on to washing down the scuff marks from the wall.

“Aren’t you upset?”

“Why would I be upset? Stella is going home to her family that was the best outcome when you think about it, from what you told us foster care sounded unpleasant”

“No, I mean…didn’t you want to keep her?” Sun paused for a moment putting down the wash cloth and Gregory could hear the cooling fans going into overdrive as Sun tried to keep their emotions in check. Sun then turned to look at him and gave him that familiar cheerful grin.

“Come now Gregory I couldn’t keep a baby!” they laughed “I mean I could care for her and look after her here but it’s not like I could actually give her a life here!” Sun started to fidget with their hands and when they noticed what they were doing gripped them tightly. “I’m just an animatronic, property of Fazbear Entertainment!” they declared loud and painfully happy, Gregory heard a small crack and saw that Sun was digging their fingers into their hands so much it was cracking the plating. Sun continued to manically clean but slowed down, dropped the wash rag and leant against the wall sliding down to sit curled up on the floor.

“Gregory I’m such a horrible person! I wanted to keep her…for a terrifying brief moment I wanted to hide her in our room and chase the police away, and the only thing that stopped me from doing so was that wouldn’t be fair on her… I can’t give her what she really needs, I can never leave this place so I can’t take her to the park or beach…I can’t take her to the doctors if she got sick…I’d never be able to see her off to her first day of school or show her snow or…” they curled up tighter, their whole body shaking and steam was leaving their vents as they gripped their rays in such a way Gregory was worried that they’d rip them off. “I’m just an animatronic, nothing more! Just a dumb robot that has a stupid glitch that makes them want something they’ll never have!” Sun wailed.

<Sun please calm down we’re going to over-heat!>

Gregory knelt down in front of Sun and pulled them into a hug, Sun hung there limply.

“You have me”

Sun returned the hug with trembling arms and even though robots are supposed to be soulless machines that cannot feel emotions or be hurt by them, robots are incapable of feeling loss or shedding tears

Sun cried.

[crystalas]

Thank you noodilliac you have no idea how much i needed to read this

A comic to try and sort through some difficult feelings about being an artist and a reminder to not forget who you are.

[crystalas]

I can confirm this is a viable lifestyle.

Ha ha seriously tho.

[crystalas]

Birthday wish part 6

Yup this also contains head cannons on how the robots work.

Chapter Six: Hard Choices

As they scanned from on high were to go next and where the breaker box for the main stage might be a familiar hum filled the air. Neon signs and shop lights were blinking back into existence on the bottom floor and breathing life back into the Pizza Plex rapidly. Moon was about to note the good luck about not having to worry about the breaker box when a thought blindsided them.

The lights were coming back on.

Which mean Sun had to come out. This was bad.

They were high up in the rafters, while Sun was able to use the wire, they were nowhere near experienced enough to use it while juggling a baby and a ten-year-old as well. The idea of Sun panicking and dropping Gregory came abruptly to mind. Dewdrop at least was safely wrapped up snug against them so they wouldn’t need to worry…

Oh…Oh no…

Moon dropped to the third level floor as quickly as they could, the lights already flickering on that floor. Dumping Gregory Moon dived under a nearby table hoping the shade will buy them more time and began to tug at the knotted blanket.

The Day Care Attendant’s transformation was something of a technical marvel, one of its tricks was the fabric that had different patterns depending on the level of light on it. Its face plate had two layers that spun to show Sun or Moon’s face accordingly and Sun’s rays and Moon’s hat were tucked away in compartments surrounding their head. Many people assumed that their paint job changed like their pants but to have Moon suddenly glowing like a rave party seemed counterproductive to the whole ‘stealthy and quiet’ part of his job. Some thought its temperature reactive but that would hinged entirely upon the Day Care switching rapidly between being hot or cold to get the quick-change reaction.

No how they changed body colours was far simpler, the Day Care Attendant had two shell layers which would swap out in a matter of fluttering clicks. Panels would rise up slightly to allow them swap over each other with quick fluid motion, this is normally not a problem and only on rare occasions would they have a jamming problem.

However, they didn’t normally have a baby strapped to their torso, where their chest plate opens up to swap out their panels. Horrible images of fingers or worse getting sliced off or trapped were now running rampant in their mind.

<Shit! Shit! Shit!> Moon cursed now regretting doing such a secure knot, half focused on the task at hand and the other half on trying to stop Sun from taking over.

<Language! Language! Language!>

<Just shut up and focus on holding back!> Moon snapped, he could feel gears painfully grind as they tried to move as programmed; their head twitching erratically as it fought between Moon and Sun their cap being ripped from a stray sunray.

<I’ve never had to hold back myself before!> Sun whined. Try as they might it was the robot equivalent of trying to stop themselves from breathing, they could only do it for so long…

Moon tore the knot open at last, yank Dewdrop free of the blankie sling and plonked her down just as Sun lost their grip and was forced to the surface. Sun gave a pained whine as they completed their transformation programme and flopped onto the floor to Dewdrop’s amusement who crawled over and laid down next to them thinking it was a game of some kind.

“You guys, okay?!” Gregory asked.

“We’re fine just…give us a second!” Sun said cheerfully showing a thumbs up despite being on their back and still shaking slightly. Dewdrop looked at them and giggled.

“Samoo!” she laughed, Sun smiled and patted her head.

<Was that what it was like when you had to keep me from taking control?> Moon asked quietly.

<Oh no it used to be a lot worse because you fought back> Sun sighed as they got to their hands and knees and crawled out from the table, Dewdrop following them happily.

<I’m never going to be able to make it up to you for that am I?> Moon whispered sourly.

<I don’t blame you in the slightest Moonie> Sun exclaimed giving their other half a digitised hug. <Just like I don’t blame Monty, Chica or Roxy for what happened, it wasn’t your fault it was …theirs…>

Moon went quiet and Sun understood that he wanted alone time, Moon hated being reminded of what that rabbit thing forced them to do. To go against the very reason they were made, to protect children and be twisted into a monster that revel in hunting them down to ‘punish’ them still made Moon sick to their metaphoric stomach. Gregory looked up at them confused and worried as they had no idea what just happened.

“Gregory, until we know what’s going on with the lights can we ask you to carry Dewdrop?” Sun asked “We don’t want risk hurting her” The boy nodded and picked her up, Sun grabbed her blanket and made a loose sling for them to carry her in.

Power now on they just had to get to the bottom floor and the main stage, they crept down the stairs as they came to the second floor peered around to see if they could spot any danger before carrying on. All seemed well as they got to the bottom floor and the atrium.

<Sun!> Moon cried, Sun spun around to look up and saw the two men now peering from the second level balcony.

“There they are!” Balloon Boy shouted, Sun wasted no time he grabbed Gregory and Dewdrop in their arms and bolted to the main stage.

 “Fuck they’re trying to get away!” Balloon Boy cried angrily and started to head for the stairs, Bon Bon however just took out his gun and rested it against the balcony railings,

“Hey how much do you think a leg is compared to all that processing gear it has?” he asked as he made sure his silencer was on properly.

“Compared to all that A.I junk? Not much why?”

Bon Bon took careful aim as the Day Care Attendant got close to the stage.

“Take it out of my cut”

He pulled the trigger.

 The Animatronics do not feel ‘pain’ at least not in the same way humans do, but it serves the same purpose as to show where something has gone wrong or broken. However, the purpose as to why they react to pain is different because when a human screams in pain it is get attention for help. When animatronics cry out in response to damage it is not only to get attention for repair but to bring attention to whoever is damaging them of their wrong doing in hope of stopping them. After all most young children are empathic enough to stop kicking a robot if it suddenly starts going ‘owwie that hurts. The more fragile and delicate the part being attack the more anguished the screams. A child only has to hear Monty howl in pain once to realise that using the camera near him is a bad and scary idea. Limbs barely needed any reaction, at best a little yelp if they got a particularly vicious kick.

So, when Sun suddenly got shot in the leg the first thing that came out of them was…

“Owwie!” before warnings started to pop-up in their vision, equilibrium suddenly shattered Sun started to fall over in mid stride and barely managed to spin their torso around so they didn’t land on their passengers. Dewdrop gave a whimper at the suddenly thump and started to tear up.

“Sunny!” Gregory cried getting to his feet and seeing the damage, Sun was curled up on the floor cradling Dewdrop tenderly, they tried to sit up and when they did, they saw that Sun’s foot had been shot off and was now lying nearby. Hydraulic fluid was seeping out and live wire crackled and fizzed.

“Don’t worry about me!” Sun cried holding out Dewdrop “Get to the stage, call for help and get below where its safe!”

Gregory gave a nod, picked up Dewdrop who was now fussing and didn’t want to be picked up anymore. Not wanting to waste any more time by running to the side stage stairs Gregory hauled her onto the stage before clambering up himself once he was sure Dewdrop wasn’t going to fall off the stage, he grabbed the mic from the tall stand and brought it down to his face when…

He saw a gun being pointed at him. The two men were now ambling towards them as if they had all the time in the world.

“That’s close enough kid” the shorter one said “Put down the mic”

Gregory did so making sure that he stayed in front of Dewdrop, Sun staggered to their knees and clung onto the stage barely able to stand on the one leg they had left.

“Fire arms are not allowed on Pizza Plex Premises, it is past operating hours and you are trespassing please leave!” Sun demanded trying to sound a lot braver than they felt.

“This has been a fantastic run around but we’re kind of on a time crunch so I’m gonna make a deal with you nanny-bot” the taller one declared “Come with us all quiet like and we’ll leave the kids here in one piece!”

“Why do you want Sun so bad?” Gregory demanded angrily.

“Kid you have no idea how much that things parts are worth in the right circles” Balloon Boy smirked.

“Y…you’re going to scrap us?!” Sun whimpered.

“Yeah, and if you resist, I’ll shoot the brats!” Bon Bon declared coldly. “So what will it be tinman?”

Sun looked at Gregory who was shaking his head but could see from how he was trembling how scared he was, the poor child shouldn’t have to have faced death so many times at such a young age. Sun should protect the children but with their mobility hindered so horrendously they had very few options.

Priority one: Protect the children.

Sun hung their head and looked at Gregory and Dewdrop who was oblivious to the life and death situation at hand, bless her she was too busy looking at all the stuff on stage.

Dewdrop looked around this place was pretty and colourful; she could do without the shouting and everyone seemed upset. Maybe she could something about that? What makes people happy? She looked around and saw her favourite toy sitting nearby! Granted it was slightly bigger and had a tail now but it was still her toy, she grabbed it and brought it up to her chin ignoring her hand hitting something that went ‘click!’

“Do…do you promise?” Sun asked quietly.

<SUN NO!> Moon roared <You can’t be serious?! We can’t trust them!>

“Do you promise to leave them alone if I come with you?” Sun demanded louder.

“Sure thing, pinkie promise and everything but I’m gonna need a sign of good faith that you’re not just gonna go Jekyll and Hyde on us as soon as we’re out of here” Balloon Boy said “How do we turn you off?”

Sun could feel Moon raging and fighting, he wanted to come and tear them apart for even suggesting of hurting their little ones but in glaring light of the stage Moon was trapped in the back seat completely helpless.

“There are two switches… either side on the back of our face plate…you need to …to…hold them down for five seconds…”

“There we go, we get the goods the kids get to live everyone is happy” Balloon Boy exclaimed as he walked towards Sun.

“Sunny please!” Gregory cried “Don’t…” but froze when the gun was brought up again to aim on him.

“Kids should be seen and not heard” Bon Bon stated.

Sun hung his head in defeat as the man started to roughly yank his head about to get to the switches, they hugged themselves awaiting the cold dark that is being offline when suddenly…

“SAAAAMMOOOO AH BAH BAH BAH! SAMMOOOO LA LALA!” came blaring onto stage in surround sound.

 Freddy glanced around anxiously as Roxy gave a growl at another fruitless search.

“I am going to check on Gregory…I do not like all these false alerts. Something feels off” Freddy muttered.

“They’re safe with Sun and Moon Freddy but I get what you mean. I can’t help but feel we’re on a wild goose chase” Roxy agreed “Better meet up with the others, they might have had better lu…”

“SAAAAMMOOOO AH BAH BAH BAH! SAMMOOOO LA LALA!”

The bear and wolf stood there dumbfounded as baby babble could be heard throughout the Pizza Plex this would have been mildly endearing and confusing if not for the next bit.

“How the fuck did that kid get the mic?!” a gruff man demanded followed by the sounds of footsteps.

“NO! Leave her alone she’s just a baby!” another voice cried out.

“Gregory!” Freddy gasped.  

“Fuck off brat!” followed by the sound a scuffle and then something hitting the floor accompanied by a yelp of pain. Freddy didn’t hear anything else as he was already running.

“Freddy?” Roxy asked.

“Main stage now!”

 Bon Bon had wasted no time of storming the stage and stomping up to Dewdrop who looked up at him with big scared eyes, Gregory’s body moved before he could think and found himself standing between the baby and the angry brute.

“NO! Leave her alone she’s just a baby!” he shouted, but the man just raised up his gun and smacked Gregory to the floor. Dewdrop didn’t like this and started to cry, crawling away from the mean man who kicked the mic away from her and out of reach.

“Gregory!!!” Moon and Sun screamed.

Balloon Boy gave a yelp as Sun suddenly reared up trying to stand with only one leg, they attempted to pull the man off themselves but he was clinging on as he reached for the back of their head. Sun was yanking and pulling on their clothes in a crazed bid to get free and protect the children before just giving up on getting rid of their limpet and instead aimed for the man who just smacked Gregory!

“Don’t you…” was as far as Sun got before their eyes went dark and they crumpled back down like a puppet without strings, Balloon Boy went down with the robot with a heavy thud.

“Jeez that was a close one!” he grumbled as he wiggled free of the robot’s limp frame.

“Ballora, we got the prize, keep the bots away from the main stage and we’ll meet you at the check point” Bon Bon said into their coms, watching their partner starting to drag Sun away. Gregory blinked back from his daze to see a wailing Dewdrop next to him and the taller man walking over to them with gun aimed squarely on them.

“Y…you promised Sun that you would let us go” Gregory managed to say despite his mouth going dry. The man smirked a cold smile, this was a man who wasn’t doing this because he was in dire straits or because he needed the money. This was a man who was doing this job for the thrill, the rush of risking it all, winning and getting away with it. But now he had done this so many times and the high just wasn’t doing it for him anymore.

He needed a new kick, he had to admit hunting down the nanny bot and seeing it hit the floor sprawling after a well-aimed bullet had made him feel more than he had in a long while. Maybe this was a new thing to try and here was a way to test it out. After all these kids were obviously abandoned, no one of importance would notice or care if they were to vanish.

“And I should keep a promise to a gloried toy because?” he chuckled.

“Come on man, they’re just kids!” Balloon Boy declared.

“You said you didn’t want witnesses!” Bon Bon said calmly, “Are you a witness?” he asked in a polite voice that had the unmistakable under tone of ‘fuck around and find out’.

Balloon Boy was a lot of things but a selfless idiot wasn’t one of them.

“Nope but we’re gonna need to hurry because…”

The floor trembled and the repeating sound of metal hitting tile could be heard, Balloon Boy only managed to glance up in time to see an extremely pissed off robot wolf charge towards him and lunge at him. He smacked onto the floor with the wind was knocked out of him as he was now pinned to the floor and glaring glowing eyes bore into his.

Bon Bon watch this and swung his gun around to shoot at Roxy when Freddy blindsided him from side stage grabbing him and wretched the gun from his hands. The two men were no match for the seven-foot-tall robots who wrestled them to the floor especially when an enraged Gator showed up for back-up. The men soon found themselves beaten and rammed into a wheely bin each to be being taken to Lost and Found until the proper authorities could be called.

Freddy knelt by Gregory who was still trembling in shock, before he could say anything the boy leapt into his arms and hugged him tightly. Freddy held him gently as the boy tried his best to keep a brave face and only failed slightly as tears trickled down his face.

“Freddy! That man was going to kill us! Oh god if you hadn’t shown up…” he cried.

“Its alright now Gregory, you are both safe.” He said softly trying to calm him down, it took Gregory a good couple of minutes to get his breathing under control and felt safe enough to let go.

 Ballora could hear the shouts and watched from the security feeds as the Glamrocks abandoned their chases and rushed to the main stage, knowing the jig was up she grabbed her stuff and started to erase her presence from the systems.

“Sorry boys but you know what they say about honour amongst thieves…”

Glancing back on the feed she noticed something as the camera showed shots of Balloon Boy and Bon Bon being shoved into a room and blocked in by Monty and Roxy. If the bear was on stage and the those two were there…

Where’s the chicken?

She slowly looked over to the only door to the security room just in time to see a flash of white and a beak peeked through the door frame.

“Staff only!” Chica exclaimed cheerfully. Ballora rushed forward and slammed the security door shut, taking a moment to breathe as Chica banged on the door outside, she looked around. There had to be a way out somewhere!

Her eyes locked on the air vent and she laughed in relief, she had plenty of time to open that and get through before the power on the door went. With practised ease she unscrewed the vent hatch and opened it giving only enough time to give Chica the middle finger before she made her escape. As she started to clamber inside, she heard a quiet sound of a music box playing that got steadily louder, she looked ahead into the gloom and saw a pair of blank eyes staring at her chittering white teeth and six spindly legs.

She screamed as the Mini Music Man rushed up to attack her face.

[crystalas]

sooo cute

your child y/n and sun doodles are so cute! feel free to ignore this but what about moon and child y/n? 🥺💕💕

“Shiiiiiii....

Patience. Today was a very full day for Y/N. Now it is time to rest.

We'll have more fun... later :D”

[crystalas]

Birthday Wish part 5

Chapter five: The nanny-bot heist

Ballora smirked as she watched the Glamrocks head towards the loading bay but as soon as they got close enough, she hit a button on a map and they all perked up as if they heard a sound and heading off in that direction.

The security of the Pizza Plex always sounded daunting to anyone who looked into it as the company themselves boasts about the hundreds of so security drones that they had on site. However, if you checked into it further; the main premise of the pizza plex security was that the drones would sound the alarm and the main animatronics would deal with the threat so really you just had to keep those five busy. Add in that she had just blocked them from the network so they couldn’t check the feed themselves or communicate [another thing that could easily be blamed on the storm] and she had them right where she wanted them.

So here she was playing a very elaborate game of Marco-polo with A.I robots all from the comfort of a security office.

 Moon hated being off the network, he felt like he was half blind. Moon glanced at Gregory who was busy cursing out his teacher for making him dissect a long-winded boring poem for reasons that were beyond him. The Day Care Attendant both thought it best to keep quiet about how sudden and jarringly they lost connection to the others. Wouldn’t be the first time the Wi-fi went down due to bad weather or shitty wiring…

Luckily his hearing was still working at optimal levels so he heard the main gate to the Superstar Day Care open.

<That can’t be Freddy> Sun said quietly <They were heading to Monty Golf before the network went down…>

“Gregory” Moon whispered killing the nightlight “Quickly and quietly go hide in the play structures”

Gregory nodded and rushed off clambering up the slide and making his way so he could peek out from the top of the play structure, he gave a gasp and ducked lower when he saw two flashlights dance around in the gloom.

“This is it” a gruff voice said pushing the gate open and looked around.

“Where is it?” another voice asked.

A flash light shone onto Moon who smiled and wave, he liked his toys to know what’s hunting them before the game began.

“Hold up I thought we after a yellow one? This one is blue!”

“Creepy fucking thing, how the hell is that allowed around kids?”

<Wow rude much?>

<They do know we can hear them, right?>

“Look Ballora said we’re after the Day Care Attendant and we found a bot in the Day Care…so…”

“Such naughty rude boys…” Moon purred lowering himself to ground so he could crawl around like a demon spider. “Naughty boys should be punished”

“Seriously who thought that thing should be near kids?!” Balloon Boy gasped but Moon was already racing across the floor like a skittering insect before leaping up and pinning Bon Bon against the wall of the Day Care.

“Aaaw I was hoping for more fun than this…” Moon chuckled darkly as he hoisted Bon Bon up so his boots dangled a few feet off the ground. Balloon boy stood there paralyzed in fear, they had been sent to captured a nanny boy they had expected something soft and harmless not whatever this thing was!!

“Don’t worry short stack, I’ll give you a head start just as soon as I’m finished with your buddy…” Moon smirked putting his hand around Bon Bon’s neck but froze when a sound broke the tense quiet.

Dewdrop had woken up and was babbling loudly before starting to cry. Moon spun his head around to look to make sure she was safe.

In the spilt second that Moon was distracted Bon Bon pulled out a stun baton and rammed into right where Moon’s ribs should be. The Day Care Attendant screamed with both Sun and Moon’s voice as their body was overloaded with electricity, dropping the intruder and falling to the floor twitching as their systems were forced to recalibrate. Gregory gave a sharp gasp before covering his mouth and hiding further into the play structure, rapidly tapping at his fazwatch but got no reply.

“What the hell is a baby doing here?!” Balloon Boy asked looking over to where Dewdrop was crying.

“Does it matter?” Bon Bon wheezed but gave a yelp as Moon started to move with juddering stops and starts. “SHIT! It’s still moving!”

Sun and Moon were rapidly doing the numbers were not liking the answers.

Probability of securing intruders: 98%

Probability of risk of lasting damage while securing intruders: 27%

Probability of risk of harm coming to children while securing intruders: 89%

Day Care Attendant, Priority one: PROTECT THE CHILDREN.

Moon staggered to his feet and saw the two men arm their stun batons expecting round two but instead Moon spun on his heels and ran the away from them and towards the ball pit, calling down his wire as he did.

“Gregory on the bridge now!” he shouted, Gregory wasted no time and got there as Moon leapt up grabbing the boy while securing the line to his back. “Keep your mouth closed so you don’t bite your tongue” Moon instructed.

“Seriously why are there so many brats here!? This place should be closed?!” Balloon Boy cried.

Moon leapt across the Day Care in a single bound using the wire to only slow his descent for a second, he rushed in and grabbed Dewdrop who upon seeing Moon stopped crying and reach up for him. Moon wasted no time bundling her into her blanket and held her close with one arm with Gregory clinging to him in the other. As Bon Bon and Balloon Boy ran around the corner Moon dashed forward and leapt into the air using the momentum to carry them across the Day Care walls and into the rafters.

“That thing can fucking fly??!” was the last thing that could be heard as they vanished into the gloom.

 Chica and Monty had searched all of Monty Mini Golf with nothing to show for it, Monty gave a growl and lifted up a table into the air as if the intruder would be hiding underneath. He placed it down and looked around some more. A new blip as one of the drones sent out an alert and Monty and Chica rushed off.

This time they’ll catch them!”

 Bon Bon and Balloon Boy searched carefully looking high in the rafters, guns now out as well as batons close to hand. There had come across a pirate style play area and was now searching it.

“It couldn’t have gotten far, I pumped plenty of volts into it not to mention it was carrying two kids!” Bon Bon declared.

“What are we gonna do about that by the way?” Balloon Boy asked.

“About what? The kids?”

“Yeah, we waited for this storm to hit so there WEREN’T any witnesses…”

“I wouldn’t worry, my guess is they were dumped here and if it comes to worrying about witnesses.” Bon Bon said coldly “We could mess up the bodies to look like the bot did it, this place has such a fucked-up rep as it is no one will question it and the company will be so busy covering their butts they won’t even notice they’re missing a robot…”

They walked past the pirate ship climbing frame where Gregory had stashed Moon and Dewdrop, all three were huddled up under the pirate ship silent as stone. A binky bobbed up and down in Dewdrop’s mouth as they stared at the pair of lights bobbing in the dark and the boots march quietly past. They listened out for the ‘clunk’ of the door closing and then waited for another minute their ears straining for any other sounds of danger.

“I think they are gone…” Gregory whispered.

“let’s stay put for now, get some distance between us” Moon whispered back, he laid Dewdrop down on the blanket as he fashioned a sling out of it so he could keep Dewdrop close to their chest. As they finished tying the knots around his neck he looked around. There were wrappers and a blanket here, it looked like it was lived in and Gregory knew about this hiding spot a bit too well for it to be a lucky discovery.

“Gregory, how did you know about this place?” he asked as he bounced Dewdrop gently to sooth her, the boy didn’t look up at him and started to fidget.

“Can you keep a secret? I mean even from Sun?” he asked.

“I can but I should mention that if you tell me that someone has been abusing you or anything along those lines, I’m legally allowed to go kick their butts” Moon said.

<No!> Sun snapped <Being a Mandatory Reporter doesn’t mean that!>

“Fine I can’t beat them up but I am legally obligated to report them to higher authorities…afterwards I will kick their butts!”

“Its nothing like that” Gregory said softly.

“Okay then!” Moon said “Sorry Mama Sun its Uncle Moon time now!” and with that Sun was blocked off to their side of the shared mental space. “Okay kid now its just you, me and the baby and she seem to be on the level”

Dewdrop gurgled and continued to suck on her binky.

“I…I…sometimes sneak back here and skip school” Gregory explained.

“Why is someone bullying you or something?” the boy shook his head.

“Nah I just…don’t like to go during certain days…”

“Such as?”

“Family events like bring your dad to school day…sports day…ya know…”

Moon felt his metaphoric heart drop, that was the elephant in the room that no one wanted to address. The simple fact that there will never be a chance to be involved in Gregory’s life beyond these walls, Freddy can’t go to father themed events, they will never be able to cheer Gregory on at a sports game or see him graduate. There was also the chance they will never see him grow up, corporate might decide to decommission any one of them at any time for reason they had no control over. Gregory might come in one day and find his family being sold off for scraps and be completely helpless to stop it.

“Skipping school is risky” Moon said “What if they ring home about it?”

“My home room teacher is pretty cool; she understands that Vanessa is more of a sister and I don’t have… …real parents…” Gregory whispered and looked away ashamed. “I know I can’t tell anyone that I do have parents and that they’re robots without looking like an insane lying moron…”

Moon brought Gregory into a side hug.

“It’s a weird thing we have, isn’t it?” Moon sighed, Gregory nodded and sunk into the hug, Dewdrop wiggled about in her sling so she could look at Gregory before giving a smile which made the binky fall out.

“What are we going to do?” he asked popping the binky back into her mouth, “I tried calling Freddy but the network is down.”

“Not sure…normally I’d take care of it but I don’t want to risk leaving you two alone” Moon murmured, Gregory looked thoughtful.

“Wait during that night all Sun had to do to get the other’s attention was to shout ‘security alert!’ and someone always showed up in minutes” Gregory mused “Why can’t we do that?”

“Well for one it’d give away our position to the clearly nasty people with guns” Moon said “for another it was because they were already hunting you and were probably nearby to begin with. And given when we last looked everyone was heading to the other side of the plex there’s a good chance they won’t hear us.”

“What if we made it louder?”

The Day Care Attendant looked at him.

“What if we got to the main stage, Freddy’s mic stand is on there if we got a hold of that and shouted really loud ‘security alert’ there then they’ll have to come running!”

“So will the intruders”

“Yeah, but that’s the beauty of it, once we’re done, we’ll go below to parts and services you can hide Dewdrop…”

“And you”

“Fine and me, put us somewhere safe and with Freddy and the others kick their butts!”

“Risky but it’ll have to do”

<Can I come back now?> Sun asked quietly.

<Yeah, we’re done with sharing secrets we’re on ‘planning daring deeds together’ levels of bonding now> Moon smirked to which Sun shook their digital head.

Moon got to their feet and with one hand steadying Dewdrop crawled forward and peeked around, the intruders had yet to reappear, they emerged from their hidey hole Gregory realised a glaring hole in their plan.

“Crap!” he hissed “We need power for the stage to work and the storm knocked it out!”

“I don’t think it did, the fact that these bozos showed up right after the power and network went down? It’s too convenient I bet they hit a main breaker or something”

“So, first thing first? Find a breaker?”

“Yup”

Moon picked Gregory up whom wrapped his arms around Moon’s torso, he called down a wire and connected it with ease despite having his hands full.

“How is that still working in a blackout?”

“it’s connected to the same back-up power the security system has, ya know seeing as I’m part of security!”

Gregory gave a hum of acknowledgement as Moon leapt up into the air, the wire going taunt as it took the weight. Once high into the rafters Moon began to bound across the metal beams in wide almost impossible leaps, what was in reality was a minute or two felt like exhilarating hours as Gregory felt like they were soaring over the entire plex. They landed as they approached the exit and came out on the balcony of Kids Cove on the second floor, disconnecting one wire and reconnecting another he already had waiting Moon hopped from one balcony onto the other until they were high above the main atrium.

Dewdrop had taken all this in her stride this was just a big game of ‘bouncing baby’ for her, Gregory however looked down at everything and giggled from the adrenaline rush.

“Moon, you have the coolest job here!” he laughed.

<Oh no, you’re going to utterly insufferable for days after this aren’t you?>

<Uncle moony for the wiiiiiiiin> Moon gloated internally.

 “What the heck is taking you two so long Balloon Boy?” Ballora snapped over the coms after sending Roxy and Freddy further into Fazer Blast. “It’s only a matter of time before I’m booted from the system or the robots wise up!”

“You need to update your intel more!” he griped back. “You said we were after a yellow nanny bot! Not some blue starry pants spider thing that can fucking fly!”

“Wait what?” Ballora asked.

“The thing had a moon for a face and red eyes! All demonic and shit!” Bon Bon butted in.

“That makes no sense that’s the nanny bot’s night mode, its early afternoon it shouldn’t be out…” she muttered.

“You knew??!!!”

“Unless…if it’s not time set, maybe it’s light sensitive? Jeez what a dumb feature for an indoor robot”

“Ballora!” Balloon Boy snapped. “Did you miss the part where I said the thing took off like bloody Peter Pan?!”

“No that’s part of its night mode, the moon phase doubles as a security feature its why we came in during the day!” Ballora snapped and she started to scan the feeds “Right I just saw it jump out of level 2 near the pirate area!”

“Great so how do we catch a flying robot?!” Bon Bon demanded “We can risk shooting it down!”

“Don’t worry” she said with a smirk as she began to bring the power back on “I’ll clip its wings.”

[crystalas]

Birthday Wish part 4

I had orignally planned to space out submission to every week and stay a chapter ahead so I can have time to edit and add stuff between work. However I got sick with a certain world famous bug and currently stuck in quaratine. So i have plenty of time to type between fever sweats and coughing up a lung...anywhere where was I?

Oh yeah, things have been going smoothly for the Glamrocks, Gregory, Dewdrop the baby and the Day Care Attendant [sips tea] I better change that...

Chapter four: Storm Day Tournament

The minis had been watching the meal time with interest, they rarely got far enough from the safety of the vents to be involved and when Freddy noticed them staring from afar, went and found some toy plates and food for them to feel included. So, while Gregory and Dewdrop ate and the baby food discussion had gone on the three took turns tapping plastic food to their face in pretence of partaking in the meal.  After Monty had recovered from the random question of ‘if you were a baby food what you be?’ he looked to the three spider bots.

“Hey little guys!” he called, the three stopped ‘sipping’ their teas to look at him “Monty Golf is free if you want, you got two hours alright?” the three spider bots dropped what they were doing bopped up and down trilling in glee as they did. Trios and Un dashed up the slide and away but Deux stopped in front of Dewdrop who watched him, he then skittered over to where the microphone had been put down and brought it over to her as a gesture of apology. Dewdrop took the microphone with a gurgle.

“Thank you for the apology, Deux” Sun said warmly, and with that the bot was gone.

“There’s only us here, no one is gonna see them” Gregory asked. “Why the time limit?”

“Less of a limit and more of a time stamp, that way I can go back later and the security feeds can have a ‘coincidental’ issue due to the storm and I don’t have to shift through hours of footage I can just go from now to then.” Monty explained. Gregory looked to Sun and about to ask about their cameras when Sun answered.

“Moon has been editing the footage as we’ve gone along, if anyone checks they will just be blips and glitches where the Minis were. I’m not sure how but Moon has the skill down to a T” they explained.

<Thank Vanny for that> Moon grumbled <Seems only fair I put what ‘skills’ that bitch taught me to good use.>

<Language!> Sun snapped.

“Anyway, kid wasn’t there something you wanted to show us?” Roxy asked which made the boy beam with excitement.

“Oh yeah, we got it set up yesterday!” he said wolfing down the last of his fruit salad, “It’s in the Super Star theatre!”

Robots and baby alike followed Gregory who had grabbed a bag and led them to the theatre, just as they were about to enter the gloom of the theatre Sun put Dewdrop down took a step inside and being the dimly lit room, they changed into Moon. Dewdrop found this hilarious, Moon knelt down and held out their arms jingling the bells on their wrists as they did. Dewdrop took the hint and crawled up to them so Moon could pick her up.

The theatre had a small projector on the stage along with a game console, Gregory brought it to life and the cinema screen was suddenly filled with the familiar jingle of a racing game. Dewdrop found this amazing as Gregory clambered onto the stage.

“Welcome bots and baby to the first Storm Day gaming tournament!” the boy announced dramatically. “The rules are simple! We will take turns racing in pairs cos we only got two controllers and the winners of that first race will get to compete to be champion who will get bragging rights till the next storm day!”

“Sound fun!” Chica smiled.

“He’s so proud of this idea” Freddy laughed.

“As he should be” Roxy said.

Using plushies Gregory had put in the bag he randomly chose who will be racing who, so the order was thus:

Chica Vs Gregory [he used the sun plushie to represent himself in the draw]. Chica had lost but Gregory couldn’t shake the feeling she let him win to be a good sport.

Monty Vs Freddy, to which Freddy lost as racing games weren’t his strength.

“Suck it Fazbear!” the gator oh so graciously declared.

Then it came to Roxy Vs Moon.

“Are you sure you’re going to be able to handle this?” Roxy asked sweetly.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s just there aren’t many games that require actual skill in the Day care, Snakes and Ladders and Ludo seem more your speed”

“Gregory?” Moon growled without breaking eye contact with Roxy.

“Yeah?”

“Hold my baby” Moon announced coldly holding Dewdrop out to the boy. With baby now on his lap he watched the two bots glare at each other before sitting down to race. The race began and there was silence between the two as they were hyper focussed on the game, by the second lap Moon had over taken Roxy by use of short cuts he had found on the first lap. The third lap Roxy had caught up but there was still a big gap between the two.

“What was that about me not having skill?”

“What you have is beginner’s luck, skill is knowing what you have…and when to use it” Roxy purred and activated her weapon that she had picked up at the second lap. Moon only glanced over to her side of the spilt screen and gasped.

“Don’t you dare!”

“All fair in love and war” she said and let loose the blue shell.

Moon gave a strangled shriek as he tried to speed up to out run the oncoming death but he was too far ahead of anyone to let them overtake and take the blow… he could only watch in dismay as his cart was thrown into the air in an explosion and as his cart bounced back onto the road Roxy’s cart zoomed past and over the finish line.

Roxy leapt into the air punching the sky in victory. Moon sagged forward letting the controller slip between lose fingers, Gregory walked over to him with Dewdrop in his arms. The baby cooed and patted the Day Care Attendant’s hat in what look to be sympathy but she was probably after the bell on the end.

“I love you too starlight” Moon sighed and took her from Gregory.

“To be fair you would have won if she hadn’t got that power-up” Gregory said.

“But I did and that’s all that matters!” Roxy declared “Now who’s next to get their butts handed to them?”

“That would be me!” Monty declared “But if anyone is gonna get their butts kicked its gonna be you!”

“Bring it, you over grown hand-bag!” Roxy snarled.

“Should we be worried that to two most competitive animatronics are playing against each other?” Chica asked, Freddy and Moon didn’t respond but merely picked up their respective child and moved themselves to the row of seats further back. “Yeah, I thought so” Chica mused.

So, the first round of the finales was set to go; the carts had been chosen, diapers had been changed, the race track randomly set, snacks were made and now the wolf and gator sat down and there was tension in the air.

Ready. Set. GO!!

And they were off and at the first line of power-ups there was already dirty tricks as the two would try to blow or push the other off the course. As they played, they would growl and hiss at each other while they elbowed and shouldered each other roughly to try and distract them from play.

“Quit it!” Roxy snapped.

“Hey weren’t you who said ‘all fair in love and war’?” Monty chirped back.

“You did say that” Freddy exclaimed.

“Be quiet!” Roxy roared.

“She’s kind of cute when she’s like this” Chica smiled.

“You have weird tastes Chica” Gregory mused.

Second lap and they were neck and neck, trading first and second place for nearly every corner they turned. Using every power-up they came across; the track was strewn with traps already.

“Come on Monty!” Moon crowed “Kick her butt!”

“That’s the plan!” Monty declared.

“Do it for Dewdrop!” Gregory shouted.

“I’M DOING IT FOR YOU, DEWDROP!” Monty cried, Dewdrop was just finding the whole thing entertaining as heck with all the colours, bright light, snacks and everyone cheering and making funny noises this was as far as she was concerned the best day ever.

Third lap and they were still tied dodging blows and avoiding traps, they were turbo charging at every available opportunity and then the finish line came into view. In their haste they had used everything up so now it was just a mad dash for the end

“Come on come on!” Roxy growled under her breath.

“I’m gonna win! I’m gonna win!” Monty cried.

“Like heck you are!”

and then…

There was an ominous loud clap of thunder and the powers flickered out for a minute, the screen went black. There was a beat of silence in the theatre before the game console came back to life…at the main screen. Roxy quickly booted up the game to find that the last race had been lost to digital limbo.

“Hah!” Roxy declared “I win!”

“What you talking about girl? I won!” Monty shouted.

“Ladies, ladies” Gregory exclaimed standing up “we will just refer to our judge and they will decide who won” and then gestured to Dewdrop who was now chewing on a rusk.

“The baby?!”

“She looks to be a wise, unbiased person. I trust her judgement” Moon said sassily. Gregory held out the Roxy Plush and Monty Plush in front of her and she regarded both equally; with baited metaphoric breath the two awaited her decision.

She reached for Monty’s plushie and he roared in triumph before hoisting Dewdrop up and holding them aloft up like a trophy to which Dewdrop giggled in glee.

“THE BABY HAS SPOKEN!”

“Put my baby down!” Moon snapped before Monty could do a victory lap of the theatre with her.

“Yeah, you still need to beat me ya know!” Gregory declared angrily, but the lights began to flicker once again and the game reset itself once more.

“I think we might need to put it on hold until we can secure a proper power source…” Freddy answered. Gregory looked at Monty who despite having a somewhat static face had managed to look smug as hell.

“Fine we will set it up in Freddy’s room and we are finishing this!” Gregory declared.

“It will have to wait as Monty and I need to recharge” Freddy said softly to which Gregory gave a groan.

“Later then!”

 While the Tournament raged inside, outside there sat a van in the Pizza Plex loading bay as a plan was forming between three humans, the inside of the van was filled with numerous tools and electronics gear as well as what looked to be a work bench. A heavy gush of wind rocked the van like a boat in choppy waters.

“Right, so we’re clear on the plan?” a lady said, she wore glasses and kept her hair up in a tight bun to keep it out of her eyes. “I keep the bots distracted while you two secure the item and get it here where we…”

“I got a question” a short balding man declared holding up his hand.

“Yes?”

“Two actually, one why are we going by these goofy names? And why am I fucking Balloon Boy?”

“Cos you’re annoying and you steal my batteries” the woman who was going by the code name Ballora declared “I also like the irony of old characters stealing news one, as well they might be able to trace us if we use our real names. I will be able to get rid of video but audio might be an issue.”

“Okay second, we are breaking into this place. Why not snag one of the head liners? You telling me there ain’t a fazbear collector who wouldn’t sell their kidney for an authentic Freddy Fazbear?”

“He’s got a point” the second man said who was going by the code name ‘Bon Bon’. Ballora gave a heavy sigh and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

“Okay first: the main four are allowed free roaming which means that we would have to search the entire plex for just one of them in the very limited time window that we have, whereas the target we are going for is kept to only one section making it easier and quicker to find.” Ballora began as she started to get ready putting her gear into a backpack and shouldering a second smaller bag for lighter tools.  

“Secondly, we try and sell a whole ass animatronic we’re going to have the police down our throats before we could even exchange PayPal details. Thirdly the target is literally bleeding edge tech it has enough processing power to host two A. Is and is made from tough metal alloy that allows it bounce around light as a feather and still lift a tonne. Even scrapped this thing will be worth millions!”

“When you put it like that” Bon Bon said looking at Balloon Boy who rolled his eyes and grabbed his gear. “Looks like we’re stealing a nanny-bot!”

 Roxy and Chica went off to chill in Roxy’s green room if nothing more than to sooth her ego at being bested in what should be her game. Monty and Freddy left to charge which left two children and a Day Care Attendant who headed back to the Day Care. Gregory pulled out some of his homework he promised Vanessa he would do while Sun kept Dewdrop entertained.

“Come on Starling” Sun cooed “say Sun! Suuunah! Suuuunah!”

The baby laughed and babbled.

“Can you say Mooonah? Moooon!”

Dewdrop looked up at Sun and with a face that glowed with the pride of learning declared loudly.

“Saaamooo!”

“Suunah” Sun tried to correct.

“Samooo!”

“Moon?”

“Sammooo! Sammooo!”

<Look its close enough, I’d take it as win> Moon declared. Gregory chuckled as he tackled his maths homework.

 The three thieves had broken in and made their way to the nearest security room, avoiding the sparce security drones that ambled about with their flash lights. Ballora sat down in front of the computer, placing her laptop in front of herself and plugged it into the system.

“I can give you guys as long as I can maybe an hour tops, when I give the signal get going!”

The two nodded and got ready, she started to tap away quickly and smirked. The power went out, if any police looked into it, they would assume the storm had knocked it out. As the back-up power for the security booted it back up, she accessed it and started up her own programme.

“Okay robots, who here has played FNaF 3?” and with a click of a button the sound of Balloon Boy’s laugh echoed throughout the room.

 As Gregory finished his math homework Sun had put Dewdrop down for a nap, Gregory was about to ask if there was any fizzy fazz when the power went out and Moon was forced to appear. He looked up and around as if he could hear something.

“Gregory” Freddy called on the fazwatch. “Gregory, can you hear me?”

“Yeah…the power went out, are you okay?”

“Yes, I was able to get enough of a charge, but that is not why I am calling”

“There’s been a security breach” Moon growled. “Time to play”

“Moon I must ask that you stay there” Freddy said which got Moon picking Gregory up so he could hold out his arm and yell into the fazwatch.

“What? But I’m security!”

“Yes, but you are also the Day Care Attendant and while normally I would be okay with guarding Gregory myself and leaving you to your duties…I’m afraid you and Sun are the only one programme and built to look after Dewdrop”

Moon gripped his face plate with his free hand before giving a growl of resignation, it was true while the Glamrocks were able to play instruments built for them they lacked the fine motor control skills to do delicate things like handle small squishy infants and other such duties.

“Fine!” Moon snapped.

“Should we be worried?” Gregory asked.

“It is probably a malfunction due to the power going out, we will locate the source of the problem and sort it as soon as we can. Please Gregory could you remain with Moon until I can come get you?”

“Sure Freddy!”

“See you soon” and with that Freddy hung up.

“Well, it’s too dark to do any homework so…” Gregory began but was silenced when Moon produced a night light strong enough to light the table.

“Nice try kiddo” Moon said.

[crystalas]

You laugh but if my memory serves [which might be shit feel free to correct me] but wasn’t there a book where Marco was getting so STRESSED with everything happening between his dad dating one of his teachers, his mom being used a vessal for a high up alien and just the whole world saving bullshit. that he was literally loosing control of his morphing because he was so emotional?

so less turning into a red panda and more into a pissed of gorilla...or poodle...

Rachael morphing uncontrollably into an animal when she's emotional was Turning Red before Turning Red.

[crystalas]

Birthday wish part 3

Chapter three: Play time with the Minis!

Gregory had gone back to bed and after eating the Moon-drop had found sleep come far easier, listening to Moon’s lullaby as he drifted off to sleep.

He awoke in the morning to the sound of howling wind and rain shaking the plex, he looked up concerned but got distracted by a baby gurgle and saw little legs kicking the air as she tried to wiggle free from her bedding. Sun peeked in and saw them awake, he skipped over and waved happily.

“Good morning my little sunbeams” they sang softly, “we have a big day planned!”

Gregory crawled out of his bedding and got his clothes out, as he got dressed Sun came over to Dewdrop and gave her a little tickle to which she squealed in response.

“Who’s ready for breakfast?” Sun asked lifting Dewdrop up and tilted their head. “Op but first, we need to make a pitstop. Someone made a stinky winky!” nuzzling their faceplate gently into Dewdrop’s nose. “Don’t worry I won’t say who!”

Dewdrop bapped Sun’s face and babbled, Sun took the baby to the changing table as Gregory finished getting ready for the day. The three made their way to the party room that they had breakfast in and found Freddy setting down breakfast of pancakes for Gregory and a small bowl of what looked like porridge for Dewdrop.

“Awesome!” Gregory giggled and started to chow down happily, Sun sat Dewdrop down in a baby chair and started to feed her. It was funny to watch as when giving her breakfast they would hold the spoon out with one hand and make an opening mouth gesture with the other while doing the obligatory ‘here comes the choo choo train, aaaah!’. Gregory realised that they were doing this because Sun’s face was static so they couldn’t make the facial movements for Dewdrop to mimic.

Between mouthfuls of baby oatmeal and wipes of a napkin Sun asked Freddy.

“So, what did you find last night?”

“Yes…about that” Freddy stumbled.

“Freddy told me about it last night!” Gregory stepped in “You said you made a birthday wish right?”

“Yes, indeed I did”

“Well, the good news is that a fairy did grant the wish, but the problem with birthday wishes is that they are temporary.” Gregory explained “I mean it wouldn’t be a special birthday wish if it lasted forever, would it?” Freddy wasn’t sure if he was grateful or concerned that Gregory could lie so easily on the fly.

“I see…” Sun muttered while feeding the baby. “So, you’re saying that Dewdrop will turn back into a doll soon?”

“Yeah, I mean I’m not sure when but eventually”

Sun was quiet for a second and the only sound in the room was the whirring of gears and a baby chomping messily down on oatmeal. Sun then perked up and looked at Gregory.

“Then we better make these days count then!” they beamed.

Breakfast done and put away they made their way to Day Care; Gregory froze when he heard rattling and clanging in the vents. He looked up at one of the walls as a vent hatch was kicked open and little pink robot spider creature appeared clutching at cymbals, it gazed down at them with blank unblinking black eyes. It then turned around and clang its cymbals together before making its way down the wall like the spider it resembled as two more little robots of similar builds followed. They walked past the group only giving a nod of recognition as they marched single file to the ‘Slide into Fun’ slide.

“Wait a moment please!” Sun declared but they only twitched but carried on, Sun stomped their foot down. “Un, Deux, and Trois!” they snapped, this time the trio stopped and turned around to look at the Day Care Attendant who stood there with one arm holding Dewdrop and the other hand planted firmly on their hip.

“You know my rule for playing in the Day Care!” Sun said firmly as they went over to the signing in desk and pulled out an industrial size packet of alcohol wipes. All the minis made the universal moan of a child not wanting to do a thing.  “You are grubby and dusty from the vents; you need a clean first!” Sun handed Dewdrop to Freddy. “Gregory you can go ahead, Freddy can you take the little one to the infant play area I will be along shortly.”

Gregory thought about taking Dewdrop down the slide but decided against it when he saw Freddy shake his head, so instead they went through the big gate. Freddy planted Dewdrop on the baby play area and went to get some toys while Gregory watched the baby who just sat there watching him in turn. Freddy returned with the mandatory Pizza plex plushies, some sensory toys and a toy microphone. It was one of those colourful toy microphones that when you spoke into it made your voice sound big and boomy.

“Hey Dewdrop listen…we like what you gooooot…” Gregory sang into the microphone, Dewdrop laughed like it was the funniest thing ever. “La la laaaaaaa” he held out the microphone to Dewdrop’s mouth “Now you try!”

Dewdrop tried to chew on it but luckily it was too big for her mouth, he took it away and tried again.

“Like this, la la la!”

“Ah bah bah!” she cried into the microphone and when she heard her voice she beamed and started to babble into it loudly. Freddy chuckled as he watched this infant now belting out streams of baby talk into the toy only stopping to laugh and gauge her audience who would clap and cheer.

“It would seem she wants to be a singer like her Uncle Freddy!” Freddy noted with amusement.

“Too bad right now she takes after Chica with her vocals!” Gregory sniggered.

“Gregory!” Freddy gasped.

There was a rattle from the Slide into Fun as three now clean Mini Music Men came scuttling out and diving into the ball pit, only the movement in the technicolour plastic ocean gave away their location before they clambered out and quickly skittered towards the boy, baby and robot bear. They stopped a few metres from them but the first one crept forward towards Gregory slowly. The boy unsure of what was going on looked up at Freddy who seemed just as bemused as him. It came up to him and with a sudden flick of one of its legs it tapped his arm before rushing back to the others, when Gregory didn’t move it repeated the process.

“I think they wish to play tag” Freddy surmised.

“Really?” Gregory laughed getting to his feet “Then it’s pay-back time for all those times you chased me through the vents!” and with that he took chase and the three minis dashed into the play structures. Sun arrived watching the four play and Freddy watched on with a smile.

“What have you got there little one?” they asked and Dewdrop shook the toy at them.

“I better keep an eye on those four least they get a too rowdy” Freddy said rising up from where he had been kneeling, Sun picked Dewdrop up and gave her a cuddle, tickling her chin and making the Moon Plushie dance in the air in front of her much to Dewdrop’s amusement.

“Can you say Sun?” Sun asked Dewdrop pointing at themselves “Suuuun nah! Suuunn nah!”

Dewdrop looked up at the Day Care Attendant not grasping the assignment.

<Asking much for a one-year-old, aren’t you?> Moon asked.

<It doesn’t hurt to try!>

“Can you say Moon? Say Mooooonah! Moooooanh!”

Dewdrop answered by grabbing the Moon Plushie and trying to chew on it.

<It’ll be a work in progress>

 The game of tag was awesome because while the Minis had speed on their side Gregory knew the play structures like the back of his hand, he memorised where all the short cuts and entryways were which kept the game interesting for a good hour or so. At first, he struggled to tell them apart until he realised that Sun had referred to them as one, two, three in French as he observed them during play, he saw that Un had a big dent on his head. Deux had two noticeable teeth gaps and Trois had three chips missing on their cymbals two on their right and one of their left. Once he remembered those details he could tell them apart easily, which helped because they would try the old bait and switch trick a lot.

After a while all four had their turn being ‘it’ and so decided to play a different game.

“You guys know hide and seek?” Gregory asked as they took a quick breather [well Gregory did he wasn’t sure if the Minis just wanted to cool down] the three little robots nodded in unison. “Cool, hey Freddy wanna be our jailor?”

“What’s that?”

“When someone gets caught, they have to go to jail and you have to keep them there” he explained.

“Very well, but please keep it in the Day care!”

“Okay, so I’ll go first and count to ten…ready?”

The three minis trembled with glee and bounced up and down with excitement. Gregory covered his eyes and began his count down and the three little robots shot off. Gregory finished his count and looked around…and saw Deux hanging off the bridge that connected the two structures. It had made sense to the second spider-bot after all he would tell if Gregory was coming over or under the bridge and change sides accordingly to remain hidden it did however forget that Gregory would see it easily from the side.

“You’re out!” the Boy declared tapping him on the head, it spun around to see Gregory standing there smiling before it gave a groan and dropped to the floor. Freddy gave the little bot an apologetic look as it waddled over to him.

“Don’t feel so bad, it was your first game after all!” he suggested.

It squatted down in rest and watched sourly from ‘jail’ when it heard a baby babbling, it spun around to see Dewdrop now wiggling herself over the floor to get to the edge but the steep incline of the foot high ridge prevented her from going any further. Deux skuttled closer as Dewdrop brought herself to a sitting position.

The baby stared at the bot.

The bot stared at the baby.

Dewdrop broke the ice by holding out the microphone she had dragged with her, singing into it and then holding it out to Deux like Gregory had shown her to. Deux regarded this invite with silence before stepping closer and reaching forward, it slowly pinched the microphone with its cymbals before jerking back in an attempt to yank it from her.

However, the Mini Music men were protypes they were designed to show how Music Man used to be and how that design could be applied to the mobility of the larger and newer model. Which meant that while they could climb up walls and shot across floors quickly; they were not built for strength so what should have been a quick grab and run turned into a tug of war which Deux was losing at. Deux quickly realised that this was not going to work and so let go of the microphone which Dewdrop pulled back, it then rose up on its legs so it towered over her and pulled back its arms…

While Gregory and the Minis had discussed the rules of Hide and Seek, Sun had noticed Dewdrop was chewing on her fist and opening and closing her mouth.

“You hungry sweetie?” Sun asked and the baby cooed at them, plonking her down they had gone swiftly to the cupboard that held the snacks and rummaged for the baby snacks and found some veggies sticks and fruit treats. As they checked the dates, they heard a loud clashing clang and then a baby scream. Sun spun around to see Dewdrop on her back crying and a Mini Music Man making a break for it while balancing a toy microphone between its two cymbals, which was proving to be difficult. Sun rushed over to Dewdrop and checked her over, luckily she was more frightened than hurt but Sun and Moon could take an educated guess as to what happened. They picked up Dewdrop and bounced her up and down shushing her until she was stopped wailing and was just snivelling.

Deux seeing that the jig was up abandoned their loot and made a break for the wall scaling it with ease until they got to the netting. Once they deemed themselves high enough, they looked down to see an unamused Day Care Attendant glaring at them, baby in their arms who took one look at Deux and buried her face into Sun’s ruffles with a scared whine.

“You know we can come get you from there, right?” Sun said sternly, Deux responded to this by climbing higher. “You know the rules here; we share our toys, we don’t snatch, and we especially don’t scare the younger ones, and for that I’m putting you in time out!”

Deux made a rude noise which was the equivalent of a blown raspberry.

“Music Man Prototype second model!” Sun said firmly “You will come down here this instant!”

“Oooh Sunny full named yoooou” Gregory sang, the boy and the other two Minis watching this from the play structure their game now forgotten as they watched this play out instead. Deux made no movement and seemed to make themselves comfortable knowing full well that by the time Sun had called the wire down it would be safely back in the vent or at least on the other side of the Day Care.

“If you don’t come down here and get in Time Out…I’m telling DJ”

That got an ‘oooooooooh’ from the peanut gallery, for some reason that no one could understand was that these prototypes had gained some semblance of A.I which made no sense as they were just models that were to show how they moved. Vanessa’s theory was Glitch trap had used them as Remnant experiments, but whatever the reason these three were now ‘alive’ and roaming around which was another secret for the animatronics to keep. They had imprinted on DJ music man probably because of the family resemblance and now acted as DJ’s eyes and ears, which worked out well for everyone because DJ was too big to leave the Arcade [at least not without leaving a huge dent in the doorway. Moreover, DJ couldn’t stay awake during Storm days as they would need at least six generators strapped to their back to keep them functioning during a black out.

So long story short DJ Music Man was the closest the Minis got to a supervisor/dad…and Sun was gonna tell on them.

There was a moment of tense silence before Deux relented and started to climb down, Sun marched them over to the castle that sat in the corner of the Day-care and put the little bot inside. Sun pulled out a timer from the roof of said castle and turned it to fifteen minutes, with Time Out set Sun left them to it. As soon as Sun was on the opposite side of the Day Care Deux tried to sneak out.

“I hope Deux is being a good spider bot and staying in Time Out” Sun declared loudly as they handed Dewdrop her snacks “Because Moon will tell me if Deux would do something naughty like sneak away before the time is up!”

Deux gave a grumble and went back inside.

With snacks in hand Dewdrop had forgotten about the mean loud critter that stole her toy and while she gnawed on her fruit snacks Sun was getting out a plastic sheet and paper. This was followed by bottle of paint and small shallow bowls which got the attention of the boy and minis.

“Okay my little sunbeam!” Sun exclaimed picking Dewdrop up and putting a plastic smock on her before placing her on the mat in front of the finger paints and paper. “Let’s make some art!”

Sun showed Dewdrop by gentling placing her hand into the yellow paint and pressing it into the paper, she squeezed her fingers closed feeling the paint squelch and move before slamming her hand down again onto the paper. Once Sun showed her the other colours and that she shouldn’t eat it [it was all non-toxic but why take the risk?] she was well away and making a horrific colourful mess that would probably go for millions on some pretentious art gallery.

Un and Trios skittered closer and looked at the mess before bopping up and down eagerly, Gregory looked on before smiling.

“Hey Sun have you got like a really big piece of paper? Like big enough for these guys to walk on?” he asked.

“I have some old A0 sized paper for posters and banners. Why?”

“I thought we could make something for DJ seeing as he can’t be awake for this”

Sun clapped excitedly and got it out as a big roll, once placed and pinned by little sandbags [the types used to play catch with] Gregory put some more paint into some old trays. Un walked onto it and took a few firm steps to make sure their feet were covered before running onto the poster making a trail over the paper. Trios joined in and soon they had created what looked to be a steady stream of coloured dots. Sun went to retrieve Deux from time out and told him that he could join in if he behaved.

Dewdrop had created three pieces of art by the time they were done and the Minis were finished with theirs. Once Gregory was sure that it was dried, he took out a paint brush and started to add details onto the footprints making them into musical notes, this was well received by the Minis would all bobbed and clapped their cymbals in an agreement. Sun finished it off by writing at the bottom.

Done by Gregory, Un, Deux and Trios 29. 6. XX  

“Who wants Pizza?” Chica sang as she pushed the gate open with her hip, in her hands was a tray holding a pizza box, juice, a small bowl of yellowish red stuff and a bowl of fruit salad. Gregory leapt up and was about to go over and when he looked down at his hands and noticed the paint.

“Clean up, clean up!” Sun sang as they got Dewdrop cleaned up with a wet flannel, Freddy helped by putting away the pots and paints and Gregory picked up one Mini at a time and dunked them in a tray of soapy water to help soak off the paint. Once everything was clean and tidy Gregory sat down at the table and ate his pizza.

While Freddy, Moon and Sun were determined to give Gregory a diverse and stable diet, Chica couldn’t get her head around cooking stuff that wasn’t junk food. She tried bless her mechanical heart but after reading up recipes about how to use cauliflower as a substitute to pizza dough she knew that it wasn’t for her. So, she was allowed to cook once a week or more for special occasions which Gregory was happy with. Gregory was still at a point where he wouldn’t turn down any free food and being on the streets for so long meant he was never picky with what he ate. Which was both a boon and a bane for Freddy because on one hand Gregory would eat any dish at least once but it also meant he was happy to eat food he found on the floor too.

“What is that?” Freddy asked as Chica held out the mystery bowl to Sun.

“It’s Pizza for babies!”

“You seriously blended a whole pizza for the baby?” Gregory asked.

“No of course not! Its melted mozzarella, with chopped tomatoes with a sprinkling of herbs, I wasn’t sure if she could handle the pizza base” Chica explained, Sun took the spoon out and looked at the gloopy mess Dewdrop looked up at Sun and began to bash her tiny fists into the high chair table. Sun gave it to Dewdrop who took the mouthful; there was a moment and a looked of utter bafflement on her face as she tried to process what she had just eaten. Smacking her lips, she looked to Sun and opened her mouth for the next spoonful.

“I think she likes it!” Gregory laughed. “Hey we should try and get a baby food brand going for you guys!”

“Ooh!” Chica squealed “I call dibs on Pizza flavour!”

“If we are going to promote a brand of baby food it will need to be healthy at least!” Sun declared as they continued to feed Dewdrop.

“How about something like Mango and cream for Sun then?” Gregory suggested “It’ll be yellow and bright like you!”

“Oh, and you can make it swirled into stripes so it looks like your outfit!” Chica declared.

“That sounds good! Moon could have blueberries and cream…maybe with star sprinkles on top” Sun laughed.

<No make it lavender>

“Lavender?!” Sun blurted out loud to the confusion of the others.

<Lavender promotes sleep>

“Yes, as a scented oil not as something you eat!”

“Actually, you can eat lavender” Chica exclaimed helping herself to a pizza slice. “A lot of those fancy health cook books Vanessa showed me from the library uses it as a garnish”

<Told you> Moon smirked.

This conversation went on with everyone suggesting which pizza plex food could go to which animatronic and why. This led to Gregory looking up on google how the food could be made baby friendly and, in the process, found out that you can make baby friendly pizza which Chica was thrilled about and wanted to try. By the time Monty and Roxy showed up they were so deep into this idea that when Chica saw the two come into the Day care she blurted.

“Hey guys if you were a baby food what would you be?”

To the utter bafflement of the wolf and gator.