//------------------------------// // Chapter 14 // Story: Freddy's New Job // by ImmaGenericWriter //------------------------------// With both of her escape routes and her only ‘shelter’ blocked off by deadly metal constructs, Zecora knew she would not make it out of the old castle alive. Oddly, the immense bone chilling fear she felt moments before was completely gone. She wasn’t sure if she was simply losing her mind or if she was so scared that she had gone full circle and felt so much terror that it no longer frightened her. Looking directly into the grotesque eyes of the rotting rabbit-like machine, she knew exactly what she felt. Acceptance. No matter what she did or how hard she tried, she would not get away from this situation. Freddy had been strong enough to lift a Manticore off the ground and not even flinch as he was repeatedly stung. If the three being surrounding her had even half the strength they could easily overpower her. She had been running all night. Outrunning the three monstrosities was no option either. With those thoughts in mind, the Zebra’s eyes snapped to the red fox, a snarl rapidly forming. If she was going down, she would at least take one of them with her. “For what you did to Big Mac, you useless chunk of tech,” she charged without warning, screaming in defiance, “I will snap your neck!” Foxy’s jaw dropped open as if mimicing a smile. He gladly answered the Zebra’s charge by leaping forwards at a speed that would have snapped the bones of any normal pony. His signature blood-curdling shriek followed closely. With the gap between them closing much more rapidly due to the fox’s leap, Zecora turned around, preparing to buck her target with whatever might she could muster. Waiting half a second more for the fox to come in range, Zecora put her weight into her forelegs, lifted her hind legs up and kicked for all she was worth. Her buck connected with nothing but a few innocent air particles, causing her to overbalance and fall to the floor. Even as she fell, she could hear the fox traveling over her. If she hadn’t fallen down, he never would have reached her at that height. Confused, she tracked the fox’s trajectory from her position on the floor. With ludicrous speed, Foxy hit the off-brown rabbit. It remained unmoved by the deadly impact; its smile suddenly seemed mocking. Zecora was reminded that she wasn’t safe yet when she noticed the slender figure that previously held her move. Its movement reminded her that she had to run. Bolting towards the interior of the castle, Zecora prayed to her ancestors for protection and sent a few prayers to Luna and Celestia as well. Huh huh uh…huh huh. Hahaha… Upon hearing the eerily deep giggle coming from somewhere deeper in the castle, Zecora sent two more prayers to Twilight and Cadence. Zecora ran and ran, never paying much attention to where she went, but rather focused on going in as much of a confusing pattern as possible. She doubted that it would confuse them for long, but it was better than doing nothing. Making one final turn, Zecora came across a room with a massive organ at the far end. Panting for breath, she sat down on the organ’s chair. She sat in silence for nearly a minute before noticing the yellow figure sitting next to the organ. After what she had just been through, his sudden and silent appearance did not affect her. “What is your sudden appearance about?” Zecora questioned, still trying to fill her lungs with air. The bear didn’t respond. “You wish me no harm. Of that, I have no doubt.” Her ghostly acquaintance remained silent. Just as Zecora wanted to go back to resting and watching the entrance to the room, she noticed a red bow lying at the feet of the yellow creature. It took Zecora five slow moving seconds to make the connection. “Where is she?!” Zecora shouted, completely forgetting that she was hiding from murderous monsters. The Golden Freddy began fading away, as if started by the Zebra’s outburst. “I must find her! She is but an innocent child. Please forgive my outburst and listen to my plea.” The yellow bear kept fading away until he was completely gone, leaving Zecora alone with Apple Bloom’s bow. Her mind raced with questions, she ignored all but one; Where is Apple Bloom? Hearing a hiss behind her, Zecora spun around. Blocking the door to the room was the same off-brown rabbit from before, only this time he was slumped over. Before Zecora could charge for an attack, the slumped figure pointed at the bow. It was only then that the Zebra noticed his lack of eyes, a trait she had only seen in one being before. Her suspicions proved true when he started fading away, his coat slowly turning yellow once more. As her only ally vanished, Zecora realized that her fear was no longer relevant. If she were to save Apple Bloom, she would have to face down the brown rabbit who had been strong enough to laugh at an attack from the fox who had attacked and beaten Big McIntosh without any effort. Zecora picked up the bow and flung it across her back. Steeling herself, Zecora walked out of the room. She immediately regretted her decision. Waiting outside was Balloon Boy. Directly behind him were Freddy, Chica and Bonnie. Even with her mind nearly locked up by now, she noted that the three bigger machines had their backs turned to them. “Hi.” Balloon Boy greeted casually, almost sounding friendly. Zecora stood frozen, unable to retreat back into the room lest she alert the three bigger monsters. “Put this on.” Balloon Boy said, holding out the Freddy Mask she had left behind. Confused, Zecora obeyed and opened her mouth to ask a question, but the small boy beat her to it, “They will not harm you. We have the same goal.” He paused for a moment, letting his smile drop. “Springtrap wants to kill again. All of us love children, we would never do anything to hurt them, but all he wants is to cause pain. “He turned us into what we are, separated us from our families!” With his smile still not present on his face, Balloon Boy waved a hand and turned around, a signal for Zecora to follow them. Having no other choice, Zecora did just that. She knew it was a risk going with the very monsters that wanted to kill her not so long ago, but if what the golden bear and Balloon Boy said had been truthful, then she had to save Apple Bloom from a true monster.