Question of Freedom {Freedom AU} [Book One]

Chapter Four

All eyes were on the new band leader, who was standing at the end of one of the longer dining tables. Everyone sat quietly, waiting for the bear to say something. For a moment, Freddy simply exchanged glances with everyone, trying to think of where to start. His gaze fell on Spring, as he decided to start with the obvious. "Spring Bonnie, why'd you jump on Chica like that?"

"She was poking her beak where it didn't belong." The golden bunny answered, lingering spite in his tone. Chica then quietly spoke up. "I-I was just... c-curious when I saw th-the basement door..." Looking over to the chicken, Spring commented, "Well didn't you know? Curiosity killed the duck!"

"Chicken!" Bonnie defended instantly, leaning forward a little, towards Spring's direction. The other bunny glared at his replacement, but said nothing.

"Okay, so you've clearly got issue with my crew." Freddy began, before that turned into anything more. Vaguely gesturing to Spring, the bear urged, "Let's hear it, then!" The bunny blinked. "They're our replacements, Fred! What else do you want me to say?" He nearly screeched, as though he were offended by the question. "If I may," Gold chimed in before Freddy had the chance to answer. "I think this is more than havin' issue with your band." Pausing, Freddy quietly exchanged puzzled looks with the Marionette.

"Are you alright, Chica?" The bear then asked, looking to the chicken. She gave a small, timid nod. "Yes, sir." Freddy smiled a little, and just as he was about to comment on the "sir", Puppet spoke up. "Could we have the room, please?" Bonnie and Chica both nodded, before they went to stay in the back room–Foxy following along.

Once the three were gone, Freddy pulled out a seat close to the remaining three at the table. "What do you mean, Gold?" The bear asked, looking to his brother. "I think this is about Spring Shine." Huffing audibly, Spring leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest. Pausing a moment, realisation came to both Freddy and Puppet.

"Where is Shine?" Freddy wondered, saying the question cautiously. Hesitating a small moment, Gold sighed. "You both had already been prepped to be moved to this location when it happened." He began, sounding a bit upset himself by what he was about to say. "There were businessmen who came by the Diner before we were all moved." Puppet narrowed his eyes somewhat suspiciously. "Businessmen?" Freddy questioned. "They bought Shine off the Diner's owners." Gold told with a heavy heart, while Spring's ears drooped nearly over the griefed expression on his face. "Oh... I see." Puppet quietly said.

Looking towards Spring, Freddy felt as though he had to say something. Afterall, his and Shine's relationship was something special. Not like how it was between her and any of the others. The two were basically head-over-heels for each other. "Spring, I'm so sorry." The bunny made no move to speak, or even look the bear's way.

The Marionette shook his head a little. "I should've seen something like this happening." He began. Gold glanced his way. "You can't blame yourself, Puppet." He tried to tell him. "But, I'm usually on top of what the employees and the boss do, I should've known they'd do something like this."

"You couldn't've known, it was a sudden thing." Gold refuted. Puppet sighed somewhat frustratedly, but said nothing more on the subject. He instead looked to Spring. "I am so sorry, Spring Bonnie." A quiet huff was heard in response, along with the bunny mumbling something that couldn't quite be heard.

Taking a glance to the nearby wall clock, Freddy quietly noted, "It's almost six." Pushing his seat back, Gold told, "We'll take our leave," He began. "We'll send your band out." Freddy nodded in thanks, as his brother and Spring went to leave the room.