> Don't Hold It Against Us
>  by Gpizano
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> You Don't Know What We've Been Through...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


"Jackie! I'm going over to Sparky's to study and sleep over!"

"Okay! Have fun Sunshine!"

With her backpack over her shoulder, Sunset Shimmer headed for the front door when she caught the look Bobby shot her out of the corner of her eye. 

"You really should tell her." 

After glancing in the direction of her and Jackie's bedroom, she looked back to the man sitting at the coffee table and shook her head.

"Hey, you were the one that told me about my girlfriend's hang up. I'll work the five nights, be done with it, and it'll all be fine. Just be cool Bobby, please?"

The college student seemed uncomfortable at keeping something like this from his friend and roommate, but slowly nodded his head before going back to studying. Deciding it best to just go along with the little white lie Sunset was telling and try to stay out of it. Sunset meanwhile, headed out the door and to Jackie's car, the guitarist insisting that since Sunset had gotten her license over the summer she should take it. Granted Sunset was pretty sure she could take care of herself, late evening roaming the Los Pegasus streets or not, it was still sweet and it was for the best if she did't worry her girlfriend.

It would take about thirty minutes navigating the Los Pegasus streets to make it to the location of Circus Baby's Pizza World. Sunset would park in the back, quickly change into her jumpsuit and use her key to get inside where immediately she was hit with a bit of the heebie jeebies. When she first came to t his world, she could never understand the appeal of places like this, they just seemed like an annoying place where screaming kids liked to congregate and get strung out on sugar. Now at night with no one there, it all just seemed creepy. 

Weaving her way past tables in the dimly lit room, she headed over to an elevator and used a second key to activate it. In the dead silence, the whir and the clanks were deafening as the lift ascended, the door sliding open slowly to allow her to step inside before it slowly closed, locking with a click. Then with a loud, drawn out groan it was start to descend, down below the main establishment and into the ground. Despite the feeling of unease gnawing at the pit of her stomach, Sunset brushed off the feeling and waited patiently to reach her destination. Ever since she had started college at the beginning of August, she'd been busy, any and all money she'd been getting as a band member from the Pony Breakers, either went to college or to help pay the bills. That left her strapped for cash and since she didn't want to be empty handed for hers and Jackie's first Christmas as a couple, this job seemed perfect. So creepy or not, she'd just have to get through it so she could get that check!

Suddenly there came a loud crackling sound, causing the adult to jump slightly as a voice came through the speaker in the elevator.

"Welcome new employee, to the first day of your new career! This is a pre-recorded message designed to guide you through your first shift and to ensure that everything goes smoothly! With other pre-recorded messages to follow after if need be! And whether you have heard of this position at our fine establishment through an ad, were approached at a job fair, or you simply needed the cash and didn't care how, we welcome you!"

Okay... a little odd, but at least hearing a human voice helped put her at some ease.

"Your new career will be one full of challenges, intrigue, and the ever endless janitorial opportunities!"

Oi vey.

Seconds later the elevator came to a stop, leaving her in semi-darkness except for a bright red button, which she moved over to press, causing the elevator door to slide open to reveal... a dead end? Confused for a moment, she looked over the wall that had construction tape covering it before glancing down and noticing an open air shaft.

"Oh you are kidding me!"

The ad had mentioned tight spaces but this was ridiculous! Yet with nowhere else to go, the red head sighed before getting down on her hands and knees, crawling through the air duct and going as quick as she possibly could.

"Motion trigger, entryway vent."

... why. Why in the world did they have motion censors in the vents?

No, she had to be calm, this creepy place was making her edgy. This was probably just a safety measure.

"Allow me to take this opportunity to fill you in on this franchise's history!"

The recording suddenly picking up again caused Sunset to jump, hitting her head against the top of the air vent hard.

"SON OF A BITCH!"

"After the massive success and the unfortunate closing of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza last fall, it was clear that the stage was set, no pun intended, for another contender in children's entertainment!" 

Rubbing the back of her head and scowling, Sunset continued crawling her way through the air duct as the voice kept going on. Jesus if Jackie knew about all this, she'd probably freak. 

"Unlike most entertainment venues, our robotic entertainers are rented out for private parties during the day. And it's your job to get the robots back in perfect working order before the following morning!" 

Finally reaching the end of the air duct, Sunset let out a sigh of relief before standing up and stretching, her back popping a bit before she got a look at the lit area around her. It was appropriately creepy to say the least. There was a large fan in front of her, filtering in air from above ground so she could breath and about half a dozen TV screens showing static. Then there were two panels, each with two large buttons to her left and right, along with windows that showed dark rooms, and various faces and little robots of what she guessed were parts for the animatronics? Ugh, why did two of the three in the left corner have to blink like that?

"You should now be in the primary control module! It's actually a crawl space between the two front show rooms. Now let's get started with your daily tasks! Please look to the window to your left, this is the Ballora dance studio. Where, when our prima ballerina encourages kid to get fit and enjoy pizza, she's busy resting and practicing her dance moves! Why don't you turn on the light and see if Ballora is on the stage? To do so, find the blue button with the 'light' insignia on the control pad in front of the window!"

Glancing down, Sunset easily found the button and switched in on, only to find that Ballora was in fact not on the stage. Odd, but she did remember Bobby saying how the Fazbear animatronics were allowed to roam around after hours so that their gears didn't stick or whatever. Maybe the same was true with these ones?

"If Ballora is not on the stage, then that is simply no good! To get our prima ballerina back on the stage and dancing, pressed the red button with the 'lightning bolt' insignia on it!"

Okay.

Finding the button, Sunset gave it a press before jumping back as a flash of light came from the room, the sound of electricity sizzling through the air making her eyes widen in surprise as she just stared, mouth slightly agape.

"Nothing like a controlled shock to put the spring back in her step! Now check with the light again, and if she's not there, keep it up with the shocks until she's back on stage!" 

Gulping softly, Sunset moved back to the control panel and flipped on the light. When there was still no sign of the animatronic, the red head hesitated, needing to steel her nerves before hitting the room with another round of electricity. Thankfully though, when she flipped on the light again, Bellora was on stage, the life-sized silver ballerina spinning on her toes, eyes closed as two miniature ballerina puppets spun next to her.

"Got Ballora back to normal? Great! Now that she's ready to perform again tomorrow, let's look through the window on your right and check on Foxy in the fun time auditorium where she likes rest when she isn't encouraging the kids to play and share! Check with the light to see if she's on stage. And if not, then get her back on track with a good, controlled shock!"

That unease she had felt earlier was really starting to sink it's teeth into her stomach now and it only got worse when she flicked on the light and saw that Foxy wasn't on stage. After two shocks, the white fox animatronic was on stage, waving and opening it's mouth, showing off teeth that seemed just a bit too sharp for Sunset's liking.

"By now you should have Foxy back in perfect working order, great job! In front of you another vent shaft should have opened up, crawl through it to reach the circus gallery control module!"

Oh great, more crawling through air vents. Taking a deep, calming breath, Sunset got down and began to crawl through this new vent, things going fine, although the security voice made her whole body jerk slightly. 

"Motion triggered. Circus Gallery Vent."

Just security, nothing to worry about. Still, Sunset did pick up her pace the rest of the way until she made it to the new room on the other side. This room seemed just as creepy as the last, with a few viewing windows in front of her, control panel, fans bringing in oxygen, but this time it had a couple creepy dolls staring at her.

"By now you should be through into the control module. On the other side of the glass is Circus Baby's auditorium, how about we use the light to check on Baby and see what she's up to? And remember, no sign of the animatronic? Then let's get her to show up with the right attitude by way of a controlled shock!" 

... nothing. Sunset squinted and took a closer look at the room, seeing that a few of the lights appeared to not be working. However, after delivering three shocks and checking each time, there was still no sign of the animatronic.

"Great job! Circus Baby is ready to smile and perform for the kids!"

"Uh..."

"This concludes your first night on the job, we'll keep it light so you don't get overwhelmed on your first night and make you not want to come back! Use the vents behind you to return to the elevator and have a nice day!"

After a moment of just standing there, waiting for the pre-recorded voice to say anything else, Sunset slowly turned away and began to crawl back through the vent. This first night was very strange. Granted while it was an easy job, there was just something about this whole situation that-

BANG

Immediately Sunset froze, her body tight and hears straining as she heard more noises. Clangs, clattering...

If there was a world record for fastest time crawling through vents, Sunset was pretty sure she broke it that night.





After coming home, Sunset only had about a couple hours to sleep before she had to down a few cups of coffee and head off to class. By the time she returned home she was out like a light until a couple hours before her night shift. Of course this did not go unnoticed by Jackie, the guitarist concerned after she watched Sunset emerge from their room and shuffle to the kitchen to fix herself more coffee and grab a bite to eat. 

"You okay Sunshine? You look dead tired."

"M'fine."

"You look like you stayed up all night! Is a big test coming up or something?"

"S'fine. Jackie, me and Twilight are going to be busy the next few nights, we're studying something big."

"What, you got a break through on the lie-lines or magic or whatever?"

"Ley lines. And something like that. It's just for a few more nights and then I'll be back on track, okay?"

"... okay."

With that settled, Jackie grabbed herself a soda from the fridge, joining Sunset and Bobby on the couch to watch a bit of TV. It was at that moment however, that a commercial for Circus Baby's Pizza World, causing Jackie to immediately start shaking before she grabbed the remote out of Bobby's hands and switched the channel.

"Hey!"

"No! You know I don't like that shit, Bobby!"

"Jackie, it's been a year since you had your freak out-"

"Fuck you it wasn't a freak out! Those fucking animatronics at Fazbear's really did try to kill me!"

Already seeing the signs that this was going to be a touchy subject, Sunset slowly slid off the couch and headed over to the chair, too tired to deal with this and hoping she wouldn't be dragged into it. Bobby for his part, looked as if he was trying his best to be patient and understanding despite also starting to look irritated.

"Jackie. You know that's not possible."

"It's the truth!"

"No, it's not! Animatronics, after years of working properly, do not just decide to start going crazy and killing people! This isn't a movie!"

"Well they did! I almost got fucking killed because they tried stuffing me into a god damn animatronic suit!"

"They did not-"

"And what!? You think it's just a coincidence that the video tapes for those nights went missing!? Or that Fazbear's closed down soon after that?!"

"Their lawyers reviewed the tapes and the animatronics were way old and the restaurant was undoubtedly doing poorly business-wise in light of the bad economy and the fact that many businesses like that didn't do well unless they were a very well established chain. Jackie, I know you think you might of seen one thing. But... maybe your vision was a bit skewed?... by certain influences?"

Oh boy. Sunset braced herself as the explosion came.

"FUCK YOU! You know I cut out everything except alcohol at that time! I was not fucking high or tripping or whatever! I saw what I saw! Sunshine, you believe me, right?!"

And now she was pulled into it. Looking and seeing her girlfriend's expectant look made her want to just agree and go along with it. But between Bobby's silent plea for support and the idea being preposterous... right? She must have been too tired to put on her poker face because Jackie's expression dulled, becoming more sullen.

"You don't believe me either..."

"Jackie, your world's technology is impressive. But... come on, it sounds a bit too fantastic for that to actually happen."

"Oh what? And you getting a magic crown and turning into a demon around the same time? That doesn't sound like made up bullshit?"

"Jackie-"

"NO! Sunset, you come from a whole pony world where all sorts of weird, unexplainable shit happens! Hell you've brought magic into this world and that's making things go goofy! Why can't what I'm saying be the truth!?"

Honestly Sunset didn't have a good answer to that but her silence seemed to speak volumes for Jackie. The blue haired guitarist getting up in a huff and putting on her shoes before slamming the door behind her on the way out. 

"... it's hard to disagree with her when she's so adamant."

Sighed Bobby, rubbing his forehead before glancing over to Sunset, noticing that the woman seemed to be deep in thought.

"... Sunset?"

"... I dunno, why can't it be the truth."

"Come on."

"Look, I know it sounds like a far stretch... but this place sort of has been used as a dumping ground for magic. Look at the Sirens. And whether or not the thing with the Fazbear animatronics is true or not, I can understand why Jackie would be creeped out."

"What, seeing the Circus Baby ones at night seem a bit freaky?"

"Well, not just that... but it was weird last night."

After telling Bobby about crawling through the vents, the shocks and the noises on her way out, Bobby seemed momentarily disturbed before pushing it aside and seeming to puzzle it out.

"Look, maybe it's a bit weird to go in through vents, but it also means that people can't get in easily. I mean you hear things all the time about people going in to mess with animatronics or steal secrets or whatever. Maybe the owner is just paranoid. And shocking what's basically a robot seems harmless, probably puts their programming back in order."

"And the thing with Circus Baby and the noise in the vents?"

"I'm sure the thing with Baby is fine. And who have you seen Los Pegasus rats? That's probably what made that noise."

"... yeah. Yeah. I'm gonna go get ready for work."





After another ride down the elevator and more droning of the pre-recorded voice as she crawled through the first vent. Everything went along as it did the previous light until she flipped on the light switch to check on Ballora. The robotic ballerina was not on the stage but instead close enough to the light source that her shadow reached the stage, showing a perfect silhouette of her upper body. After delivering a shock the pre-recorded voice kicked in, making her jump.

"G-G-G-GREAT-Gruh-ate! Krshhhhhh-Great! Now it's time to check on Foxy!"

Why was she shaking?

With a quivering hand she light up Foxy's auditorium. A silhouette of Foxy's upper body. Her hand practically slammed the shock button. 

"Grrreat... greeeat... greeat. GreatGREATGREAT! ... please proceed to Circus Baby's auditorium."

Despite the pounding in her heart, Sunset pushed herself to go onward, just wanting to get her shift done and head home for the night. 

Animatronics didn't kill people, it was just all in her head. All in her head...

When she made it through the other side and stood, she was greeted once again with the sight of a dark auditorium on the other side of the glass.

"Circus Baby had a busy day. Let us check on her to see if she is in proper working order."

Nothing.

"Is Circus Baby playing hide and seek? That is no good. Let us encourage her to come out of hiding with a controlled shock."

Closing her eyes and looking away, Sunset braced herself for the sizzling crack that came with the shock.

And was instead given a soft hiss. 

Opening her eyes, the confused woman pressed the button again and again, but no shock came. What in the world-? Was this place malfunctioning?

"Problem in the system detected."

"Hi there! If you are hearing this pre-recorded message then you have experienced a tiiiiny glitch in the system that prevents you from administering much needed controlled shocks to the animatronics! Unfortunately this means that we will have to reboot the system, meaning I will be momentarily offline during the process! Various other systems may be offline during this time as well, such as security doors, vent locks, and oxygen!"

"What!? Hey wait-!"

"Commencing system restart!"

And then she was in darkness. 

... yeah she was getting the fuck out of here!

"Motion trigger, entryway vent."

WHAT?!

Spinning around, Sunset's back was to the control panel as she stared at the vent. 

"Fun Time Auditorium maintenance vent open."

Calm down. Some systems were going to go offline. And it was probably a rat that triggered the entry way motion sensor.

"Ballora Dance Studio maintenance vent open."

Deciding that it was her cue to take off early tonight, Sunset moved for the vent but stopped when suddenly a voice came on over the speakers.

Or... at least she thought it did. 

"I don't recognize you. You are new."

When did her knees start shaking?

"However this scenario. It seems, familiar, to me. So strange that someone would want to come here. I am curious to know, what drives someone to want to willingly spend their nights in a place like this."

By now, Sunset could hear a soft banging. Was something getting closer? She had backed up to the control panel once more, her chest rising and falling as her breathing picked up the pace. 

"Money?... Curiosity?... Ignorance?"

The banging was getting louder.

"If you wish to live. Do as I say. Someone before you created a safe space under the control panel. Hide there, they will lose interest. And do not make eye contact."

Sunset looked down at the control panel before crouching down to see that the base was hollow inside. And... was that some kind of door? Was this actually for real!?

"Hellooooooooo there."

Turning around so fast that she fell onto her ass, Sunset just managed to catch glimpse of two small shadows darting from the vent. Rats. It had to be rats. 

"Someone is here. Someone new."

More dark shadows, scurrying just at the edge of her vision. Sunset scooted away from the control panel, heading instead for the vent.

"Then let's... say... HELLO!" 

Sunset looked to her right just in time to see what looked to be a small kewpie doll lunge at her, small arms reaching out as it's face opened up to show the coil and mechanic parts underneath, it's small mouth opening wide. Fortunately Sunset's reflexes were good enough that she threw her hands up and caught it just in the nick of time!

Unfortunately, as she held it away at arm's length, this left an opening for the other one, who had also jumped, face opening as it's teeth tried biting into Sunset's jugular but missed and instead latched onto Sunset's right cheek. Screaming in pain as blunt teeth tore into her skin, the flesh ripping away as in her panic she freed one hand to grab the second doll and yank it away. She raised both struggling dolls up before bringing their heads down on the cement floor again and again, not stopping until she felt the small robots cease their struggling, becoming limp and lifeless in her hands.

Just short of a panic attack, Sunset flung them to the other side of the room and backed away, tears raining down from her eyes as she brought a hand up to her torn cheek, grimacing as she felt the blood start to cover the palm of her hand. 

"When the pre-recording comes back online, you will be told that you must restart the system manually. He will tell you to crawl through Bellora's dance studio as fast as you can to reach the breaker room. But this is a trap. Ballora will no longer return to her stage, she will catch you. She cannot see but if you move quickly she will hear you, and she will kill you. When you go through her dance studio to the breaker room, you must move slowly to make as little noise as possible. And when you hear the music, it means she is near and you must wait and stay still."

... FUCK. THAT. If she had to crawl up the elevator shaft then she would!

The pre-recorded message came on as she darted into the vent but Sunset was not listening, only scurrying as fast as she could through. Yet just as she made it into the other room, the hatch for the entrance vent closed. 

"NO!"

Trapped like a rat, she banged on it, trying to pull it open but to no avail. She backed away from it, hugging herself tightly and hoping that this was all just a bad dream. 

Magic. She had magic, light magic. But... oh god she was too terrified. It was hard to focus! What if there were more of those little robots around? Waiting to attack her again!? 

Dark magic- NO! No, no, no! She didn't have control over that! And in this state... oh god, she didn't know what she'd do if she tried tapping into dark magic like this!

"Please proceed to Ballora's Dance Studio and towards the breaker room. Unless all systems are back online, the entrance vent will stay closed to prevent any animatronics from escaping. I recommend that you stay low to the floor and move as quickly as possible, so as not to disturb Bellora. This message will be temporarily stopped so as not to create an audio feedback."

To her right, the hatch to the vent slid open and Sunset backed away from it as fast a shot, almost expecting something to jump out at her. When nothing did, the red head swallowed and tried to get her hands to stop shaking. Maybe if she stayed put and tried to calm down...

BANG

Without a second thought she crawled into the air duct, moving as quietly as possible all the way through and then finding herself in a completely dark room.  Despite her eyes adjusting to the darkness, at best she could barely make out shapes. And in the distance on the other side of the room, a lone light flashed above the door to the breaker room. 

As slowly as she could manage, Sunset started to crawl across the room, ears peeled for music and stopping whenever the melody faintly reached her ears, freezing as the sound became louder. By the end when she was but a couple feet away, it was like an orchestra was in the room with her, the music at it's loudest as she curled up into a ball, hands clutching at her head but managing to just barely peek out into the darkness beyond her long, red hair.

In the light flickering above the breaker room door, her blood froze in her veins as she saw a pair of legs. Silhouetted, in motion, dancing en pointe as she paced by, horrifyingly beautiful. 

When she finally passed by and the music had faded, Sunset scuttled towards the door, quickly opening it and quietly closing it behind her. She let out the breath she had been holding before gulping down lungfuls of it, trying to calm herself down. There were some disconnected wires, creating small flashes of light that reflected off the metal of the machinery around her. 

And then she saw an animatronic across the small space from her.

Quickly she slapped a hand over her mouth to muffle the scream, her back pressed to the wall as she took in the sight of it. While normally a white bear with a blue bunny puppet on it's hand might not of been terrifying, after dealing with the kewpie dolls and finding herself basically trapped in a small space with it... yeah it was pretty fucking terrifying.

"You may now interface with the breaker control box and bring all systems back online. Using the control panel may disrupt nearby electronics. If you feel you are in danger, feel free to disconnect until it is safe to continue."

Keeping an eye on the animatronic across from her, Sunset edged over to the control panel and started to manually reboot each section one by one. She was about halfway through when she thought she saw a twitch, the red head immediately backing up to the door, ready to open it and make a break for it, Ballora be damned!  But when she saw no other movement, she returned to the panel and continued on. A small smile came to her face as she worked on the last system, seeing that it was at fifty percent. A few seconds more and she'd be out of here!

"I see you over there in the dark! COME ON OUT!"

On instinct she jumped to the side, just as a large, white robotic hand holding a microphone smashed the breaker control panel.

"NO!!!"

"NO USE HIDING!" 

The small rabbit puppet cackled as the large bear animatronic slowly turned to look at her, blue eyes glowing in the dark as it's face split apart with a grating screech.

Quickly she opened the door and slammed it shut behind her, crying out as she felt it's entire weight slam against the door.

"... is someone there?"

Sunset's heart jumped into her throat.

Immediately she ducked low, keeping her ears peeled for the melody as she scurried across the room as quietly as she could, hoping the banging in the breaker room would distract Ballora. 

"... I can hear someone. Someone is creeping across my room."

Oh god please!

"Hmm... perhaps not?"

Finally she made it to the vent, practically sliding through it until she was back in the main control room, where her heart sank seeing the entrance vent was still shut tight. At that point Sunset curled up into a ball, not yet to the point of total break down but slowly reaching it. The only thing that pulled her back from the edge was another pre-recorded message over the speaker.

"There seems to be a malfunction within the breaker control room itself. Please proceed to Foxy's Fun Time Auditorium and proceed to the right to the room with the emergency control switch. This will release the security measures and allow any staff still inside to exit quickly where they may take the emergency ladder located next to the elevator."	

Staying curled up in a ball, it took Sunset a moment or two to pull herself together, take a deep breath, and then enter the open vent to her left.  As she crawled through, she felt her stomach drop as the pre-recorded voice spoke up again.

"Unlike Ballora, fun time Foxy is motion activated. For this reason it is important to keep the room dark so as not to accidentally activate her. However, a flash will go off in the room every seven seconds to help you find your bearings and to help you avoid running into things. Remember, forward and to the right to reach the door with the emergency control switch."

Taking a deep breath, she waited until there came a flash before she scurried out into the open. In what was perhaps the deadliest game of red light and green light, she took no more than a couple steps before she froze, the flash a momentary dazzle in her eyes as it faded and she was left to continue moving in the darkness. When she reached the halfway point and turned, she managed to make it the rest of the way to the door, quickly shutting it behind her. A quick glance and she saw no other animatronics, hope soared in her chest as she raced to the panel and flipped the switch.

Was that? Yes. YES! Something was moving, grinding, clicking. Now all she had to do was make it back through fun time auditorium and-

"GOTCHA!"

A shriek tore itself from her throat as something landed on her head, small little fingers digging into her hair, yanking it out by the roots while a small fist pounded on her head like a hammer! Panic stricken, she tore the small bunny puppet off and tossed it away before bolting to the door, flinging it open and spring out!

Still moving as the flash went off.

Before she knew it something came out of the darkness that followed! White blurs circling around her throat as a great weight pushed her to the ground. Immediately her hands reached up, latching onto a pair of mechanical hands and tried futilely to pull them away, her fear reaching an all time high as every seven seconds when the light flashed, she saw Fun Time Foxy, her face split apart as rows of razor sharp teeth came closer and closer to her face.

Struggling renewed with fervor, Sunset fighting for her life as she tried to punch, push and knee the robot, trying to get it off of her, not even feeling the pain as flesh and bone collided with metal. It was all proving for naught though, the hands around her throat tightening, her vision starting to blur and darken at the edges. Her movements became sluggish and erratic, her left hand reaching up to push at Foxy's face, only to drag across the sharp teeth, leaving rows of sliced flesh along her palms as the blood ran like small streams, down the teeth and over the jaw until a few drops rained down on Sunset's face.

The bleeding hand fell to her side and her eyes closed....


















With a shuddering gasp Sunset woke up, her panic sky rocketing as she found she couldn't move and... oh god, was there a mask on her face!?

"Shhhh. Be still. Be quiet."

No way! NO FUCKING WAY!

"You've been asleep for quite awhile. They noticed that you never left the building last night."

Foot steps in the distance made her jump, Sunset wanting to scream out to them but the mask over her face prevented her from making little more than muffled sounds. All she could see was darkness and a small, flashing red light.

"I hid you too well. I kidnapped you."

More muffled screams as Sunset tried to somehow wiggle her way out of this-this suit that she was in!

"Don't worry. I'm only going to keep you for a little while. But I would suggest you don't move. You're inside something that came from the old pizzeria. Not used correctly. Too... dangerous. But big enough for a human to fit inside. Just barely.

The foot steps were growing louder, she could hear the voices of two men now.

"Did you know there is a room here called the scooping room? Do you know why that is? Because, dummy, they use as device called the scooper to scoop things out. Isn't that a fun name? It sounds like something you would use for ice cream. Open up a fresh pint and scoop out all the ice cream inside. Except... I don't believe a pint of ice cream could feel pain."

"Careful now. Watch it."

"Geez, what's wrong with this one?"

"Dunno, some sort of hardware malfunction or whatever. Seems like these things can't go a single day without it happening. But hey, management wants to buy up scrap parts from the old Fazbear chain cheap, that's their money wasted."

Sunset was screaming again, those terrible, muffled screams that could only be heard by herself. But they had to hear something. ANYTHING!

"Well either way can we hurry it up? This place gives me the creeps."

"Quit your bitchin', chicken. Just get her on the rollers carefully so we can send her on her way. Then we can get the hell out of here."

The whir and bang of machinery drowned her out, Sunset's hopes fallen to the depths as she could no longer hear the two men. Then Ballora entered her vision. The animatronic seemed to be on a conveyor belt or something as it rolled by, stopping to Sunset's left as the woman felt her heart would give out at any second now.

Then came a low, loud beeping sound. What was going on?! WHAT WAS HAPPENING!?

"There's something very important I've learned to do over time. Do you know what that is? How to pretend. Do you ever pretend? Acting one way but really being another? It's very important."

Then came the crash. A low impact sound of metal hitting metal as Ballora jumped and Sunset screamed. The animatronic jumped a couple more times, the woman could not see what was happening to the robotic ballerina, but soon she opened up... and all that was left hanging from the shell was one, single amber eye, staring at her.

"Ballora never learns. But I do. They think there's something wrong on the inside. But the only thing that matters. Is how. to. pretend."

A new sound. A new, terrible sound. Small scratching, small shuffling, something moving in the dark, just out of Sunset's range of vision.

"You can give me what I want."

Something moved over the mask. The featureless face of one of Ballora's puppet dancers, Sunset could feel herself start to hyperventilate as it's golden eyes stared at her.

"You can help me... pretend."

More puppets came into view, crawling like spiders over the walls, into shadows, over her mask. As she slowly began to pass out, she could just hear a pair of screams coming from the other room.





"Hi, this is Sunset Shimmer, I can't come to the phone right now-"

"GOD DAMMIT!"

By now Jackie was very anxious, pacing back and forth, just about ready to call the cops when Bobby came back. Immediately the blue haired guitarist rushed up to him and grabbed him by the front of his shirt.

"WHERE IS SHE!? Did she call you!? Is she at your car right now getting groceries out!?"

"Whoa! Calm down Jackie, where is who?"

"SUNSET! She didn't come home this morning and when I called Sparky, she said she left her place but she sounded really nervous when I said she didn't come home and she isn't picking up her phone! Oh god I'm calling the police! She got jumped! SHE'S OUT THERE SOMEWHERE AND I HAVE TO GO FIND HER!"

Concerned, Bobby checked his watch, biting his lower lip and rubbing the back of his neck.

"W-Well... she could just be at her job now."

"SHE'S DEAD IN A DITCH AND- Wait, what?! Job?! WHAT JOB!?"

"Um, she started a temporary job like, a couple nights ago. Wanted to make some extra cash."

"WHERE!? TELL ME!"

"Circus Baby's Pizza world-"

Suddenly his shirt was back in her grasp, only now Jackie's face was very pale and the grip was making his collar start to choke him.

"WHAT?"

"Y-Yeah. I told her not to tell you because you'd freak-"

"DAMN RIGHT I WOULD!"

Reaching into his pants pockets, she took his car keys before pushing him away and picked up the wood bat they always kept by the door just in case.

"Oh god, Jackie don't make a scene!"

Without another word she slammed the door behind her and called up her friend and band bass player.

"Tino? GET ME THE FUCKING ADDRESS TO CIRCUS BABY'S PIZZA WORLD AND GUIDE ME THERE. NOW!!!"





Moving... she was moving. There was something cool against her cheek. It kind of made her cheek hurt. Rubbed against it. 

Groggily Sunset opened her eyes, her vision swimming for a moment before she noticed she was in some place eerily familiar. The Fun Time Auditorium. With the silhouette of a hanged man on stage.

Everything flashed back to her in an instant, fresh adrenaline pumping as she tried to lash out with a kick at whatever was dragging her. But instead of a hard, solid frame it felt more like an unwieldy, bulky mass of wires and things. Then it turned around, showing a mask, sharp teeth and reddish-purple eyes that stared straight into her own turquoise ones.

"You woke up too soon."

Without a care for the consequences, Sunset began to tap into the dark energy inside of her, her sclera turning black as her canines started to become fangs. This new being merely tilted his head before wires raised up to the ceiling, the being floating in the air and letting Sunset go. She got to her feet, her transformation under way- and then pain.

Her whole body seized up as light flashed through the room, that familiar crack of electricity as it ran through her body, weakening her making her lose focus. When it ended, her eyes had returned to normal and she slumped to the floor, barely conscious. The mass of animatronics returned to the floor, glancing up to the window in the control room to see one of the puppet ballerinas at the control pad for this room before looking back to Sunset.

"Interesting. That power is... familiar to me. I feel it in my body. In the parts that came from Fazbear's pizzeria."

A long tentacle of wires reached out, wrapping around Sunset's leg's and once more dragging her towards the scooping room. 

"SUNSEEEEEEEET!"

It paused, glancing up to the control room where the two puppet ballerina's were. They would deal with the new intruder, for now there was the matter at hand. Entering through the hatch in the scoop room, the being propped Sunset up against the wall before using wires from it's bodies to keep her there, perfectly in front of the scooper.

"Why... what... are you?"

It's eyes rose to her face, lifeless red-purple locking with despair filled turquoise. 

"We... are Ennard. We want to leave this place. And you will help us."





"AHHHHHHHHHH!"

The baseball bat came down hard over the last puppet ballerina, shattering it's body and sending limbs and bits flying. Jackie stood in the center of the control room, panting, her face cut up since the little bastards had tried to gouge out her eyes in vent, but otherwise fine. Between the vent and the glass window, she shattered the latter so that she could jump on through into the auditorium below. The light was flickering on and off but she could see a trail of blood leading to a door and immediately rushed in. Pants pissingly scary animatronics or not, she was saving her girlfriend!

However, just as she opened the door, something wrapped around her and flung her back out, sending her skidding along the floor and over some broken glass that sliced right into her back and side. But the guitarist recovered and got back up onto her feet, already feeling her right knee shaking as she stared at the mass of machinery in the flickering light. She gulped but pushed herself up to her feet, frightened yet determined silver eyes glaring back at cold purple.

"Get out of my way or I will fucking kill you!"

Instead of responding to the threat, Ennard tilted it's head as it looked at her. Then lashed out with a wire tentacle, whipping it across Jackie's body so fast she didn't have time to react as it ripped through her t-shirt and even cut the skin. Fighting through the stinging pain, the guitarist raised her bat and rushed in, giving a furious shout as she swung at everything and everything, trying hit something that would kill the monster but having no luck. And with one wild, hard swing, the bat snapped in half against some metal part of Ennard's form.

Ennard however, did not lack for a weapon. Wires as sharp as blades cut across Jackie's body, flogging the human without mercy over her arms, her torso, legs, and even a cut across her face. So much blood flowed from her body that her clothes were stained with the color red and began to fill her shoes. With one last, wicked strike from Ennard, the hapless guitarist was thrown to the ground, face against the floor as she weakly tried to push herself up, the mechanical monster looming over her.

"Yes. We remember you know. The parts from Fazbear's. You worked night shifts there at the end, watching it at the time when it happened. When there came the energy that gave them life and will. They almost had you, as they dragged you to the room where the spare animatronic suits were kept. Kicking and screaming. Crying and begging for your life."

Gritting her teeth, Jackie tried against to push herself up. Only to have a wire wrapped around her neck and lift her up into the air, now more face to face with Ennard.

"Do not worry. Though you will die, I will live on in the one you care so deeply for. I can be her. And no one will know the difference. Especially after you are gone."

Reaching up, she grabbed the tentacle around her neck, trying to escape as she she said something raise up out of the mass. Something long and sharp, aiming right for her chest. No. NO! She was not going to fail. Not again. She was not going to fail her Sunshine again! 

Closing her eyes, Jackie started to feel it... that familiar magic that was changing her body.

"Goodbye."

As it moved to impale her, the magic finished it's transformation in a flash of light.

And then there was flame.

Ennard reared back with a confused, angered shout, losing it's grip on Jackie as she landed on her feet. Her cuts had healed in the transformation, her whole right side covered with the black tribal tattoo as dragon wings fanned out from her body. She glared up at the monster with furious eyes, smoke pouring from her mouth before she let loose another torrent of flame, engulfing Ennard as the being squirmed and cried in agony.

Taking the opportunity, she rushed past it and back into the scooping room, using her enhanced strength to rip off the wires before catching a drained and weakened Sunset Shimmer in her arms. 

"Sunshine! Sunshine talk to me!"

"Jack... ie..."

Hugging onto the transformed guitarist tightly, she looked up in time to see Ennard's face as the being tried to come in.

"NO! Ssssoooo close!"

"GET AWAY!!!"

Sclera changing to black, skin turning red as demon wings temporarily formed, Sunset closed her eyes as she summoned up all of the dark magic she could muster, the crackling energy surrounding both her and Jackie as the guitarist tried to shield Sunset with her dragon wings. What came next was an explosion so great that it rocked the entire block, setting car alarms off and waking everyone nearby out of a dead sleep as the entire establishment went up in flames, leaving nothing but a pile of flaming rubble.

Moments would pass as people looked out their windows or called the police with no sign of life, until finally part of the rubble shifted, and with a loud roar, Jackie flung aside solid concrete with one arm while holding a now normal Sunset in the other. Despite how worn out she was, the guitarist knew it wasn't a good idea to stick around, so holding her girlfriend bridal style, she took off into the air and back to their neighborhood. Her dragon form lasted until they got to the roof of their apartment building, Jackie dropping the last couple of feet and skidding on her ass for a couple seconds, but never losing her hold on the red head in her arms.

"... Sunshine?"

"..."

"Sunshine."

"........"

"Sunset, come on and talk to me. Please?"

Instead of speaking, Sunset instead wrapped her arms around Jackie, burying her face against the guitarist's neck and began sobbing. No more words were said as they just held each other for the rest of the night.





About two weeks later and Jackie was in the kitchen, actually having gotten up earlier than Sunset so that she could make her girlfriend breakfast. The whole thing with Circus Baby's Pizza World had been written off as an act of terrorism, all the animatronics were scrapped and the two workers who had actually been hanged were chalked up as casualties in the 'bombing'. The only upside was that while the company was getting a huge chunk of change from having insured the place, they didn't seem to have any plans to try again in the children's entertainment market. At least not when it came to animatronics.

Putting two eggs on the plate to go with the bacon and buttered toast, Jackie fetched a fresh glass of OJ before heading back into her bedroom, a small smile on her face when she looked over to the bed.

"Morning Sunshine. How you feeling today?"

"... better."

"Yeah. Didn't seem like you had any nightmares tonight. So that's good."

Heading over to the bed, she set the plate down for Sunset and the glass of juice on the nightstand. The red head was quiet as she picked at her food a bit, glancing over to Jackie who just smiled and seemed to wait so patiently for her to say or do anything.

"... I'm sorry."

"Huh?"

"I should have told you about my job..."

"Yeah right."

The guitarist went on to explain after Sunset shot her a confused look.

"Even if you do come from a magic pony world, I mean come on. Killer animatronics? And you wouldn't of changed your mind if I freaked out and told you to quit it. Sunset, shit happens, we don't expect it to and it sucks. It's no one's fault that it happened. And all we can do is try to deal with it and go on, you know?"

"Yeah."

With a soft smile, Sunset watched as Jackie leaned back against the wall the bed was against and pat the spot next to her. The red head moved over with her plate, balancing it on Jackie's stomach as she cuddled up against her girlfriend.

"... do you think it's still out there though? Ennard?"

"What, after a blast like that? Nah."

Seeing the troubled look on her girlfriend's face, Jackie wrapped an arm around the red head's shoulders and kissed her forehead.

"Come on Sunshine. If this were a movie we'd never get funded a sequel. Fanfic? No one would want another one. Indie game? ... yeahhh, we'd probably get like what, four sequels, a book and possibly a movie? But it's not like they'd be good."

With a soft snort, the small smile was back on Sunset's face as she reached for a piece of bacon on her plate.

"I guess. But there's also another problem of I didn't get paid. I still need to scramble for a Christmas present for you."

"Psh. You're by my side, I got an awesome band, evil animatronics have been wiped from the face of the earth and we got bacon. Sunshine, Christmas might as well of come early this year!"

With an even bigger and no more teasing smile, Sunset lifted the piece of bacon to Jackie's lips to let her take a bite.

"Dork."

"You love it."