Not by the Strings, Please.

Never Alone

I let out a yelp, jumping back away from him, only to collide with another metal body. I snapped my gaze on the one behind me, only to see Toy Bonnie. I let out another cry of fear, trying to get away, but having my only escape be blocked by Toy Chica.

"L-let me go!" I managed to say, my hands trembling. A hand snapped over my mouth and neck, yanking me into a tight grip against a metal body.

"Shh. It's okay. You're safe now." A soothing female voice whispered in my ear before the grip gently fell away. I glanced around the three of them, and found their expressions weren't what I was expecting. The three of them didn't have a malicious look on their faces like the old ones did constantly, instead, it was a happy look. A welcoming look.

"Wh-what's the meaning of this?" I rubbed my hands nervously. Toy Freddy stepped forward and put a hand on my shoulder.

"You have a kind heart, Marionette," He said in a baritone voice. "this is something I can easily take a liking to."

"I...don't understand..." I whispered, tilting my head. Freddy shook his head, chuckling quietly.

"You helped us. You talked like you cared about us. This has...never happened to us before." Toy Bonnie spoke quietly, his emerald green eyes gleaming brightly. I perked up, understanding what they were telling me.

"O-oh, you mean...when I came with BB..." I said quietly, letting a smile hush onto my face. Toy Freddy nodded once.

"It meant a lot to us, and we all made a decision to come and help you deal with these four." Toy Freddy glanced briefly at Toy Chica, who was helping Mangle and Balloon Boy back onto their feet, her face a beakless smile.

"They've been nothing but trouble for us, too." Toy Chica said, walking to join the other two toys. I felt ready to cry tears of joy. I have never known such a warmth. To know they were all willing to be friends with someone like me...it made my spirits soar. I let my face spread into a full smile, and it felt good to finally do so.

"I...don't know what to say..." I whispered, looking up at the three toy animatronics standing around me.

"Then don't say anything! We toys gotta stick together, right?" Toy Bonnie exclaimed, jumping around to face the old animatronics, who were slowly recovering from their surprise attack. I turned with them, readying myself to face my worst fears. Beside me, I heard Mangle's metallic shuffling as she stood beside me.

"Thanks for sticking up for me." Her voice was barely a whisper. I sent her a small smile, but quickly returned my gaze to the withered animatronics standing before me. Foxy, Freddy, Bonnie and Chica were all on their feet, their fists clenched and their cold, glowing eyes full of hatred and anger as they all locked on me.

The overpowering loathing that rose in the air squeezed the air out of my throat and made me feel ready to collapse. My four worst antagonists...all standing before me with their claws curled, wanting to rip the fabric away from my body. Foxy's head twitched violently again and again, the twisted metal in Chica's beak shuddered with wrath, Freddy opened and closed his mouth eerily, and Bonnie simply let a low, electronic drone escape into the air.

Under normal circumstances, I would have long since gave way to my fear. But for some reason, I felt different around my enemies. I was scared, that was for certain, but something in my heart wasn't letting me back down. Perhaps it was the feeling I was feeling deep inside. Perhaps it was my memories. Those warm, happy memories of Mangle and of Balloon Boy...they were turning me into something besides a lonely, afraid, and timid doll living in the Prize Corner. They were filling the emptiness in my heart. They were making me feel less alone.