Austin and Nightmare Fredbear sighed as they walked through Ponyville, watching the small equines walking to their daily jobs. However, the two noticed an obvious tension in the air. Ponies kept glancing behind them at random intervals, and were constantly observing their surroundings.
“To think Nightmare’s actions alone could cause this…” Austin sighed. Fredbear shrugged.
“The ponies don't know what truly is happening. They are paranoid of everything and everyone. Demons could lurk in every shadow.” The golden Nightmare Animatronic said, and Austin chuckled.
“For being a kid’s spirit, you’re pretty knowledgeable.” He said. “Do you think that pegasus in the museum made it out alright?”
“Yes, but we shouldn't let her say anything about Springtrap.” Fredbear replied. “The Dreamwalker doesn't know that we aren't trying to hurt the ponies, and if word was to spread of a physical version of us…”
“She would capture him and use him for study.” Austin finished, sighing. “He's been through enough already. But how would we keep her quiet?”
Fredbear almost looked like he was grinning. “Simple. We can either erase her memory each night, or threaten her.”
“Fredbear, we don't kill innocents. Nor do we threaten. Why don't we just tell her why she must not say anything first?” Austin suggested, and Fredbear sighed.
“There's no fun in that...but alright.” The yellow bear then noticed a bright pink pony near a building that looked like a massive pastry. Her stare almost seemed directly pointed at the two, but Fredbear shrugged it off. After all, no one can see them in the physical world. “Well, let's head back to wherever that mare is.” Austin nodded, and the two flew off to Canterlot. The pink mare blinked, watching them go, before shrugging and entering the pastry building.
“I must have had too many cupcakes last night…” She muttered, before chuckling to herself. “Silly filly, there's no such thing as too many cupcakes!”
Canterlot
Daring Doo sighed as she ceased her typing. After barely getting out of that nightmare-inducing museum, she had flown back to her hotel, gotten her typing Machine out, and got to work creating a letter to the museum owner. However, she was tired from an entire night of running.
“Maybe just a little bit of sleep...I can finish the letter when I wake up….” She yawned, trotting over to her bed. She climbed in, slipping under the covers and falling asleep almost as soon as her eyes closed.
“Daring….” A voice called. Daring Doo opened her eyes to find a massive golden bear staring at her. Her eyes flung themselves open as she quickly back up on the bed, trying to put as much distance between her and the bear. As she did, the bed-and the wall- vanished into smoke, and she fell on her rump.
“Ow!” She cried, before remembering that a big golden bear was right in front of her. Before she could run, the bear picked her up by the tail, shaking it’s head in annoyance
“Calm down already! I'm the one who helped you, remember?” It growled, a young, likely teenage male voice coming from its mouth. Daring slowly stopped struggling, crossing her hooves as she glared at the golden bear.
“Put me down.” She ordered.
“Do you promise not to run away?” The bear asked. Daring sighed, before nodding. The bear gently deposited her on the floor.
“So, what is it you want?” Daring asked, and the bear chuckled.
“Straight to the point, eh? Good.” The bear suddenly grew serious. “I'm here to ask you to not tell anyone about Springtrap.”
“Springtrap? You mean that monster in the museum?” Daring asked, anger flashing through her eyes. “Why wouldn't I tell anyone about that demon? It killed somepony, and it’s going to keep killing if it isn't stopped!”
“Currently, there are five others like me out in the world. One of them is evil, and has hurt dozens of ponies. We are trying to stop him, but the Dreamwalker thinks we all-”
“Dreamwalker? Do you mean Princess Luna?” Daring asked, and Fredbear nodded.
“As I was saying, Luna thinks we all-”
“Princess Luna.” Daring glared. Fredbear rolled his eyes.
“Fine, whatever! Princess Luna thinks we all are evil monsters bent on hurting everypony. This is untrue, but she believes that. And should she learn of something similar, or even connected to us, she might find a way to kill us all.” Fredbear growled. “Not all of us want to hurt anyone, and the only one who does is insane. We are trying to stop him.”
“So you just want to live, and knowledge of Springtrap could end up killing you all?” Daring asked. Fredbeae nodded. “Sounds like a bunch of crap to me. The needs of the many outweigh the few, and many ponies could die if Springtrap isn't stopped.”
“Listen here. Springtrap isn't evil. He is starving, and in constant pain. How do you think you would act if you were stuck in that suit, your body fused with metal and wiring, without food and water for years? Anything with meat on their bones would be food in their eyes.” Fredbear growled, his hand curling into a fist as he smashed it into the wall next to Daring’s head. She flinched slightly, but otherwise was not fazed.
“If he's suffering so much, the only thing that can help him is to end his suffering.” The yellow pegasus stated angrily. Fredbear sighed and shook his head.
“Fool. If he can help them learn how to kill me and the others, do you think they will just up and kill him?” The golden bear asked as calmly as he could be.
Daring squinted at him slightly, before her eyes widened in shock. “The Princesses would never do such a thing!”
“Let me ask you something. How far would your princesses go to protect you ponies? From how you speak of them, I'm guessing they are quite protective of the populace. Would they really not experiment on something related to the monster currently terrorizing their ponies if it could help them stop it?” Fredbear asked.
“They-” Daring began, but stopped as she thought about it. “They…. they….” She lowered her gaze. “They would, if it meant stopping something from hurting the ponies of Equestria.”
“Exactly. I'm not about to let them hurt my friend.” Fredbear growled.
“But the fact still stands that Springtrap will continue to kill innocent ponies. I cannot, under any circumstances, allow another pony to die when I could have saved them.” Daring stated, standing up.
“They don't have to.” Fredbear said. “If you were to continue being the night guard, no one else will have to needlessly die. You know how he works. You can survive.”
“....You have a point….” Daring said, sighing. “Why didn't I think of that?”
“So, do we have a deal?” Fredbear asked, extending his paw. Daring sighed, before putting her hoof in his paw and shaking it.
Daring slowly opened her eyes. The dull ceiling of the hotel room met her gaze as she slowly got up. The bedding was all messed up, so she got out of bed without having to get out of the covers. She trotted over to her typewriter, but the letter she had been writing was torn to shreds, the pieces scattered across the table.
“Did he…?” Daring asked, before shaking her head. “Oh well, a deal is a deal.” As she walked away, an idea struck her. Flying back to the typewriter, her hooves flew across the buttons, and within minutes, her letter was done. She put it in the hotel mailbox as she flew off into the city. She checked the time. It was an hour before sunset. She sighed as she looked back to see a mailpony taking the letter out of the mailbox, and off to its destination.
“What did you do?!” Austin growled at Nightmare Fredbear, the two of them outside of the hotel in an alley.
“I told you, I tore up the letter while you were talking to her.” The Nightmare animatronic growled in reply.
“How?!” Austin asked again.
“I...temporarily took over her body while she was unconscious.” The golden bear admitted, shuffling on his clawed feet.
“What?” Austin asked, confused. “Since when could you do that?”
“Since always. I just never used it. Never really a reason to, you know?” Fredbear replied in a calm manner. Austin sighed, rubbing his temples.
“Alright, fine, whatever. It might be helpful later on either way.” He glanced around. “So, what should we do now? Help that ‘Daring Doo’ Pony some more?”
“Why don't we go searching for the other Animatronics? If we want to fight Nightmare, we would need them to help as well.” Fredbear suggested. Austin thought about it.
“That does make sense. Though I want to see what Daring Doo is up to before we head out.” Austin said. Fredbear nodded, and the two flew off to the Museum.
Three Hours Later, fifteen minutes until midnight
“I am appreciative that you decided to continue working the night shift, Ms. Yearling, but I am a bit...confused by your request to add speaker systems in every room. What is the point?” Dusty Quill asked as the mechanics finished up with Daring’s request. They were currently in the Guard Office. A small tablet sat on the desk in the center of the room, with a computer chair in the back. Two different monitors also were on the desk, showing camera feeds.
“Well, Mr. Quill, it would help you manage the ponies who come here for when the museum is closing. I can also switch them during the night shift to scare away any burglars.” Daring explained, having already created the fake reasons on her way here. Dusty Quill sighed.
“I suppose that would be better than having a bunch of guides going through the rooms every day. Either way, as requested, the speakers are linked to your monitor systems. I wish you the best of luck!” Dusty said as the mechanic ponies began filing out of the room. He also left, giving Daring a wave as he left the building.
Daring sighed, sitting back in her chair. “Let's see….” She pulled up her monitor from the left, noticing a new button on the side, labeled “PLAY SOUND”. She pressed the button, and somewhere in the building, she heard a calm female voice, requesting all ponies leave the museum. She pulled up her second monitor, which had buttons for rebooting systems, and a button for switching the audio systems. She clicked it, before going back to the camera monitor. She pressed the Audio button again, and a gruff, male voice called out through the museum.
“Hey, who’s there?!” It asked. Daring smiled.
“All right then. All systems are good.” She checked her watch.
11:59 PM
“Alright then.” As she looked away, she noticed a slip of paper on the desk. Pulling it over, she found that it was a detailed map of the camera locations, probably left here by one of the mechanic ponies. She smiled, laying it in front of her. She pulled over the camera monitor, and found multiple buttons with different names.
“Well, this map will certainly help.” Daring shrugged, checking her watch again.
12:00 AM
“Go time.” Daring grinned.