Twilight paused, eyes shifting from one corner of the room to the next, then stammered, “Wait—do you want me to go get Foxy, or—”
Princess Celestia smiled slightly at her student’s questioning demeanor, then replied, “I’m going to assume he’s not very active at this moment?”
“Uh, that’d be negative.” She shook her head. “He’s kind of . . . delusional, I’d say.”
“Oh, in that case, I say we had better bring Golden Freddy down to Foxy.”
Twilight nodded immediately and looked to the animatronic. He met her gaze. Her horn lit up and the cage began to shrink. Golden Freddy frowned as he looked up at the contracting prison. Less than a moment later, he was a mass of energy and the small magenta cube was sitting on the wooden floor. Princess Celestia smiled, using her magic to pick up the cube.
“Very good. Is this a new spell?” the celestial being inquired.
“Um, if by new spell you mean one I learned about, then yes,” the violet unicorn replied.
“Very interesting. Keep up the good work,” Princess Luna commented with a quick glance at her sister.
“Let’s go. We have business to attend to,” Celestia said, horn’s light flaring and teleporting them downstairs. In a corner of the laboratory sat a somewhat larger cage that contained the pirate inside its bars. The other animatronics were sitting in a different section—deactivated, of course.
“So, how is this going to work, princess?” Twilight asked, gazing up at her mentor.
“First, we’ll release Golden Freddy. He’ll go into Foxy and then, when he has established a good connection, he will pull Luna and me in,” the white alicorn explained. She held the magenta cube up to her path of vision. “Did you get that in there?” There was a brief lull in the conversation, and a moment later, a low voice resounded angrily in their heads:
Yes, I got that. Just let me out now.
“Don’t be snippy. Twilight will open it as soon as she deems fit,” Celestia chided. She could sense his displeasure roiling through her mind. An eyebrow rose at her student. “Ready?”
Twilight blinked, then nodded. “I am,” she responded with determination. Her horn began to glow and the top of the cube once again slid open. The coiled light that was Golden Freddy emerged and swirled around the ponies’ hooves before slinking towards Foxy’s sedated form. He submerged into his circuits. A few moments later, Foxy’s body stiffened—then abruptly released. He sank farther into the floor. The mares watched this for several seconds. Then, Golden Freddy’s voice came again:
Alright, it seems to be quiet in here, though I can sense the presence. Shall I pull you in now?
Yes, you can.
It is just you two? Not the little purple one, correct?
Celestia nodded physically in response to his question. Correct. Are you ready?
Please, I was born ready. You, however, should prepare yourselves. It might be a bumpy ride; I’ve never done this before.
Of course. Take your time; I do not wish to be obliterated trying to get in when we can easily get into his head with a spell.
Golden Freddy sighed in frustration. Then why am I doing this?
Take us in, trickster. Do not waste anymore of our time. That was Luna.
Calm yourself, dear. It’s not my fault I’m edgy. Golden Freddy’s consciousness retreated from their minds and instead seemed to constrict the two princesses. Twilight watched the process from their sides, purple eyes wide and somewhat fearful.
Celestia and Luna became translucent, the extensive amounts of magic flowing through their bodies pulsating in time to their heartbeats. Twilight had the feeling that was exactly what hers looked like, and she refrained from lifting a hoof to see if she could see the energy pulsing under her skin. Next, the two princesses began to dissolve into a sort of mist—much like Golden Freddy’s own. Celestia was a swirl of flames and Luna a cloud of stars. Hers reminded Twilight like a nebula in space. Then, as if sucked by a vacuum, the energies went towards Foxy. They dissipated into his limbs and there was not a sign of them afterwards.
Golden Freddy glanced around. He recognized this as one of the many junctions inside one’s mind. There were four hallways leading away from the small center. He very carefully examined each one and deciphered which one the dark energy was lurking down. He and the two princesses would have to follow its signature swiftly—lest it realize they were after it—but also be cautious about it. The darkness most likely knew this place better than them, for who knew how long it’d been inside Foxy’s head.
He could now sense the princesses taking physical forms behind him—that was a generous thing to call them here. Golden Freddy twisted around and faced them.
“Greetings again, Freddy of Gold,” Luna stated formally, dipping her head.
“I rather like that: Freddy of Gold,” the animatronic replied with a slightly cocky air. “However, that would take much too long to say, and even though they are of the same syllables, it just does not work.” He shook his head. “No, we must go at once, before the evil presence slips away, or worse—locates us first and launches the first attack.”
“I agree. Have you traced its location?” Celestia inquired formally. Golden Freddy twisted his head to look down the second hallway.
“Follow me, ladies, and I can assure you, we will find whatever’s haunting poor little Foxy here.”
“After you,” Celestia offered, sweeping a hoof in that direction.
“Of course.” Golden Freddy smirked and turned away, walking confidently down the dim hallway of Foxy’s mind. Celestia and Luna followed after him, keeping an appropriate amount of space between them.
Foxy moaned in pain, bleary eyes flickering open. His sight wandered back and forth from one corner of the room to another. It took a moment for him to realize he was in a cage. He tried to sit up, but could practically hear his joints protesting defiantly at this simple action. Something felt . . . off. He willed himself to move, but still couldn’t. That’s when the familiar purple unicorn appeared in front of him.
“Foxy! You’re actually awake!” Twilight exclaimed with surprise clear in her voice.
His vocal components barely worked, but he managed to choke out, “Aye—what ‘appened?”
Twilight clearly hesitated. Then, deciding it was not worth the trouble to keep the information from him, explained what had occurred in the past several days.
“This is just getting ridiculous,” Luna muttered from the back. The three beings were stuck in a room that had no doors—previously, they’d been chased by a large dog creature.
“It wasn’t ridiculous at the dog?” Celestia asked, quirking an eyebrow.
“That was somewhat justifiable. This”—Luna gestured around the no-door room—“this is unnecessary.”
Golden Freddy, while they were talking, was examining the walls. There definitely didn’t seem like there was any sort of exit. However, there was always a way . . . even if it meant a bit of self-sacrifice in the process. The animatronic braced himself and backed away, trying to make himself as large as possible. He broadened his shoulders, set a grim frown on his face, and charged.
“Oh! Goldie, what in the name of the sun?” Celestia’s startled voice rang out as a large hole appeared in the wall. She and Luna rushed over, eyes wide. Golden Freddy sat up, confused. He thought that would hurt. But no—the walls caved in like paper, surprisingly enough. He got to his feet.
“Dear—don’t call me that,” the animatronic said, dusting himself off.
“What, Goldie? I don’t know, I kind of like it,” Luna commented with a shrug of her shoulders. “It’s shorter.”
Sighing, Golden Freddy rubbed his head. “Just . . . no. Come on, let’s go. I can feel the dark presence getting closer.” He set off once again. The princesses seemed somewhat frustrated, but didn’t say anything. The end of the hallway came much sooner than it looked. The three entered the final room—Golden Freddy’s circuits tingled. A dark shape stood in the middle of the room. The door behind them snapped closed. Behind him, Luna gasped.
“The Nightmare!”
The dark shape spun around, two white eyes glowing intensely. A mouth opened and revealed sharpened teeth that glimmered as it smiled. The darkness was more of an indistinguishable shape, but as the three took in more, it formed into the shape of Foxy—a larger, more strongly built Foxy.
“Right you are, princess! I am the Nightmare!” ‘Foxy’ cried in a demonic roar. The three beings didn’t flinch. “Oh, hello, Gold One,” he greeted. (Let’s call him Nightfox, for the sake of this being much easier on me.) “You seemed to have gotten rid of me for a little while. How very interesting. You’re not even very big.” Nightfox smirked, two long and sharp canines poking out over his bottom lip.
“Please,” Golden Freddy remarked, glaring with black eyes at the Nightmare, “it was just pure talent. I could do it again.”
“Oh, really? I’d like to see that.” Nightfox grinned maliciously, putting his hands—yes, hands (he is supposed to be better than Foxy)—on his hips.
Golden Freddy balled his hands into fists and jabbed several punches at the air, bouncing side to side on his feet. “Bring it, Nighty!”
Fluttershy rapped gently at the door to the Golden Oaks Library. She waited patiently for an answer. The purple mare opened the door a few moments later.
“Oh, hi, ‘shy!” Twilight greeted, looking just a little perplexed. “I didn't expect to see you here.”
“Sorry I've left you alone. I needed a break . . . I just came over to see if you could write a letter to Princess Celestia about Mike? He really wants to go home, and I agree he should at least leave,” Fluttershy explained.
“Oh, uh, yeah. I'll definitely tell her that. I'm sure . . . I'm sure she'll agree.” Twilight shot her friend a reassuring smile.
Feeling something was off, Fluttershy quirked an eyebrow. “Twilight, are you feeling okay?”
“Of course! Of course!” the unicorn declared. “Don't you worry about anything! I will most definitely write to the princess and request that Mike be sent back!” She grabbed the door and gave Fluttershy a rushed smile before slamming the door in her face.
The Nightmare struck with amazing force, as Golden Freddy found out. Last time he'd fought this thing, it'd been spur of the moment, with no physical—or as physical as one could get inside another’s head—elements, just his force against the Nighmare’s. No, there just had to be physical contact this time!
Golden Freddy exploded into a cloud of energy, surrounding Nightfox’s body and tried to wrestle his way inside to see if he could control him. Unfortunately, the Nightmare could also do this, and soon the two energies were just a writhing mass of color. They broke apart and Golden Freddy rematerialized his head and torso; the rest of him light. Nightfox didn't waste time with this and became whole once again, and nearly matched Golden Freddy’s height even as he hovered in air.
“You are quite interesting,” Nightfox commented, a sly grin on his face.
“It just happens to be one of my specialties,” the animatronic replied snarkily.
“I'm stronger than you. I gain more power every moment I'm in here, feeding off Foxy’s anger and resentment!”
Golden Freddy waved a hand in nonchalance. “Please, don't flatter yourself.” He rolled his white pupils and caught the movement of the two princess’ as he did so. He quickly made eye contact with Nightfox again. “And seriously, why take over a robot? I don't know much about you, but I can already tell your standards could use some improvement. All I see is a coward, preying on defenseless beings.”
The Nightmare’s eyes exploded with white light, anger boiling inside of him. “You know not what you say! I am the destroyer of worlds, peasant! All I see before me is a broken, meaningless, forgotten piece of robotic trash!”
Golden Freddy sighed. “You should control your temper, dear.” He idly examined his nonexistent fingernails. “Besides,” he resumed in a cheerful manner, “isn't that why you picked Foxy?”
Nightfox raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Harsh.”
“Thank you, it's what I'm here for.”
“Enough chitchat! Now, you die.”
“Mm, no. I actually think that's their cue.”
Celestia and Luna combined their magic and sent the ever-growing blast at the Nightmare. The beam of yellow and blue nearly blinded Golden Freddy and he quickly transformed wholly into a cloud of energy, ducking down. The Nightmare was screaming in pain as he was bombarded with the harmonic magic. Celestia and Luna hovered in the air, eyes focused in on their target as their magic took its toll. Finally, the crying out stopped and they released their magic.
A blast of darkness pounded into the three beings and they all crashed into the far wall. Golden Freddy was forced out of his gaseous form and now lay halfway on top of Luna.
“FOOLS! YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD BEST ME WITH YOUR SIMPLE MAGIC! PREPARE TO DIE!” Nightfox screeched, now twice as large and hands glowing with black magic.
Golden Freddy had to react quickly—
Twilight stared as Foxy abruptly stopped talking. His eyes froze and even the quiet hum of his circuits could no longer be heard. The unicorn subconsciously backed up. Suddenly, three shots of light were cast out. Twilight screamed, leaping back. It was then that Foxy began to grow.
Princess Celestia, holding an unconscious Luna, looked over to her student with fear filled eyes. “Twilight, the Elements!”