Rip Off (Poppy Playtime Shortfic)

(19.) Endgame Deadlights.

Disclaimer: I don't own Poppy Playtime (Video Game). I don't own the picture (cover). Or the song.

(qwertuno and SilentReadersMatter)

(Hope you enjoy.)

I looked around at the high shelves of toy boxes around me. All empty, all lifeless. I would be too if I couldn't stop Cuddly! My mascot allies weren't here though. They were staying far back in the shadows, watching me.

Boogie and Huggy had decided that I was the best person to bring Cuddly back to their senses ... because I was Cuddly's best friend (at the moment anyway). They had said that in a slightly condescending way. I guess that they're still awkward around friendships with humans. Hugs had agreed with the mascots, and so had the rest of the minis.

I just hope that enough remains of the real Cuddly for me to reach her. A sudden movement in the shadows on my right, caught my attention. I spun around, only to glimpse the tiniest flicker of a familiar, small shape scuttling behind a pile of boxes.

Cuddly.

They then seemed to zip out from under there like a spider running and went behind me. I turned around, but they were gone.

"Cuddly?"

Only faint giggles were my answer. Tiny shivers of fear went down my spine. I knew that Cuddly was full capable of beating me up, as she had done before. But trying to actually kill me? That was new. Poppy had upped her endgame, and so would I if I wanted to survive.

A couple of flashes of blue fur and scuttling legs across the floor in front of me made me jump. Cuddly, or rather Poppy controlling her, was drawing the hunt out.

"I know that you're loving this, Poppy, but let Cuddly go! Now!"

My voice echoed around the empty hallway. Silence had suddenly fallen. No more giggles. Or footsteps. Where was Cuddly? I backed up a few steps, before noticing a slowly growing spider-like shadow behind me.

Ah fuck.

With a vicious yowl, something fell onto my back, hands gripping onto my neck. Survival instincts taking control, I fell to the ground and rolled over, punching the thing off me.

It fell to the ground too, but sprung up onto its feet again. The small mascot hissed and growled at me. I felt my heart both sink and break inside my chest.

Oh Cuddly...

***

The memory flashed before my eyes as I stared at the burning building. All the lost souls who were tapped in the damned building would no longer suffer for Elliot's actions.

Elliot Ludwig.

The ghost stood by my side watching the burning building with the toys screaming still inside my ears. Ringing and pleading for my help, but my body wouldn't obey to go inside and rescue them.

I know they needed to be left in peace.

Even if they didn't sound very peaceful. Their souls were transferring out their bodies and into the air where they'd be free from the bodies they were forced to claim. Surprisingly, Poppy was the first to leave.

A little girl with ginger and and black eyes accompanied Stella as they appeared in front of me. Hand in hand and smiling. She cupped my cheek with one hand, placing a kiss on the other. Her way of thanking me.

"We suffered so much because of him. Now we are free to move on."

They both faded into the night away from the sight of anyone nearby. Next came Huggy, Candy, Cat Bee and Bron.

But they weren't the toys. Pierre, another two kids and Rich stood grinning maliciously. Not going to hurt me, but enjoying the suffering if the factory. Pierre smiled, then calmly shook my hand.

"Thank you."

"We beat her!"

"Aw, yeah."

The kids didn't bother saying goodbye, immediately disappearing into what I presumed to be limbo. I shook my head and laughed.

"Kids."

Rick muttered grumpily. Patting my shoulder, he didn't smile, though a quirk of his upper lip gave his off what his emotions were right now.

"Goodbye, kid."

"Heh, bye Rich."

Next was the bot himself. Boogie danced his way into my sight. My eyes widened how small he seemed in comparison to his former toy physical form. He looked so happy to be here.

"Thanks, human!"

He actually danced into the sky. Only in the clouds did he wave and ascended to wherever these spirits were going.

Finally...Cuddly. As their spirit came into view, I groaned at their antics. Even in death they wouldn't let me so who they are. Covering themselves with a blurry vision mist. Their gender undefined. Their features still visible to the naked eye.

"Like my human self, human?"

"You're an ass. Through and through."

"As always."

Cuddly paused, then sighed. We weren't meant to last forever as partners. Together until the end.

"The end of the factory."

"I guess this is goodbye, human."

Their human arms wrapped around my torso in a quick hug they'd rarely offered when we worked together battling the monsters and our own inner demons. My eyes leaked a bit. I wiped them to remain strong. Cuddly moved away and leaned into my palm as I caressed their cheek.

"Get to heaven, Rip off."

Cuddly smiled as genuine as they could manage. I and them were holding the sadness of letting one another go their own paths. Waving to them, so turned my back to eat the pain.

"Whatever, human."

The hint of fondness disappeared as they did forever out life. I'd remember our antics. I'd also remember the trauma we endured.

...You did it.

I faced the resented spirit. Anger and unrest. His punishment of forcing these spirits through things they shouldn't have ever seen as human like myself and him like he once was.

I went to find a pay phone. Inserting the coin and calling the local police if the area, I'd knew I would be arrested. I was just too tired to care about anything other than getting home and resting my eyes from this low key fucked up scenario no human would hardly ever face in their entire lifetime.

Yeah, I saved the monsters from themselves.