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Chapter Text

“It’s bad news, Freddy. You’re voice box is completely worn down.”

That was the news the animatronic bear got from the manager of his tech team. And it was disheartening to hear. Made all the more depressing by the fact that his ‘wife and kid,’ Roxy and Gregory, had to be present.

Just an hour ago, Freddy was at the main entrance greeting customers as they came into the Pizzaplex and farewelling those that were leaving. Suddenly, as he called a welcome to a family, his voice box started acting up and distorted his speech. He tried his best to save grace, but every attempt seemed to make the problem worse. Fortunately, the family he was welcoming contacted the staff on duty and reported the problem. He was swiftly taken to Parts and Services for examination.

When Roxy and Gregory heard the news, they immediately became worried for him and went to see him. The three were like a tight knit family. In fact, they were a family by law. Albeit one through deception via Roxy’s tech team leader, where she tricked the animatronics into signing an adoption certificate for Gregory. They never made a fuss about it, though it did reflect the bond they shared.

The tech leader re-activated Freddy’s primary motor functions and allowed him to exit the central chamber. The sombre look on the bears face spoke volumes for what he couldn’t anymore.

“Looks like all that performing has finally caught up with you,” the other member of the tech team supervising Freddy said. “And I told management this was going to happen sooner rather than later!”

“Tyrell, now’s not the time to get angry,” the tech leader said. “It’s just a component that needs changing. NBD.”

“NBD, Alex?!” Tyrell spluttered.

“No big deal,” she explained.

“Whatever. And I have a reason to get angry because there are no spare voice-boxes available!”

“You mean you can’t fix Freddy?” Gregory asked worriedly. Roxy above him also looked concerned. For her, Freddy not having a voice wasn’t just bad for their friendship, it was bad for their job as entertainers.

“‘Fraid so, kid!” Tyrell growled as he expelled his anger on the boy. “No voice-box for Freddy means no singing. No singing means no performances. No performances means NO BUSINESS!”

“Hey, leave my son alone! He’s just looking out for the wellbeing of his father!” Roxy butted in in defence of the child. “Besides, isn’t it your job to make sure spare parts are available?”

“She has a point, Tyrell,” Alex said. “Why aren’t there any spare parts?”

“Because I had to put an order in for new parts to arrive myself, and they’re all on backorder!” Tyrell retorted angrily. “They won’t arrive for a week now, at least.”

“A week?!” Roxy shouted in frustration.

“Yes. You heard me. A week! And it just had to happen during school holidays, didn’t it?!”

“Calm down, Tyrell,” Alex said. “Just because Freddy’s voice-box isn’t working doesn’t mean we can’t perform. The other animatronics are designed to sing as well. We’ll just get one of them to take their place.”

“Now, be realistic, Alex…” Tyrell argued before engaging in a full on debate with his superior.

Roxy saw this as an opportunity to promote herself. Despite having mellowed out acting as Gregory’s mother recently, there was still a part of her that enjoyed flaunting her ego and proving that she was ‘the best.’ She started to build up her pride before boldly stepping forward to make her suggestion…

Until Gregory tugged on her hand a few times and beckoned her down to his level. As she kneeled down, he whispered something into her audio sensor:

“Hey, remember that night we caught Chica singing?”

The memory flashed in Roxy’s eyes as she recalled the event. A while ago, Freddy, Roxy and Gregory secretly listened in on a rooftop acoustic concert that Chica played to the entire city. Since then, they had been trying to figure out ways to get her to perform her music to everyone but with no success. They were afraid to be upfront about it, as they feared that it might make Chica shirk away and become timid.

But now was an opportunity. If Chica had to take up the role of replacing Freddy, then it meant they could surprise her on stage.

“Oh yeah, you’re right!” Roxy said. She stood upright and then walked up to the arguing techies to provide her input.

“Hey. I think we all know who should replace Freddy.”

“They want ME?!”

Chica was stunned and lost for words. She had no idea about Freddy’s sudden fault, so she was not prepared to hear the news that he was unable to sing. Nor was she ready to hear that a consensus had been reached that she would be taking his place.

“Of course, Chica,” Roxy replied. “After all, you are the last one of the original core members. You’re next in line to take Freddy’s place.”

“But…” Chica began, still lost and confused about the situation. “But I couldn’t possibly take Freddy’s place. I mean, he’s… he’s Freddy. He’s our leader. Our friend! He’s the best singer in the group.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Roxy muttered quietly with a vague trace of a smile on her face.

“And I’m… I’m not anything like him! I mean, yeah, we do go back further than the rest of you, but he’s still so much more than just a friend. He’s always been the star. The one the kids look up to. How can I expect to replace that?”

“No-one expects you too, Chica,” Roxy explained. “People only expect to see you on stage.”

Roxy sat down on the couch and beckoned for her friend to do the same, hoping that a more casual approach would get through to Chica better.

“Look, you don’t need to compare yourself with Freddy,” she said. “People love you for who you are, Chica. Not in the same way people love me, or Freddy, or Monty. You’re loved in your own unique way. Why don’t you take the chance and let people see that?”

“But will people really take to me being… myself?” Chica asked hesitantly. “I’m not… well, I’m not really what people think.”

Roxy sighed. Chica was overthinking it and it was shrouding her judgement. And that made things all the more difficult for the animatronic wolf. She knew that Chica’s perception of herself was based on recent events. Events that belied who she really was.

“Chica, you’re a performer. An entertainer. Just keep entertaining people, and you’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?” the animatronic chicken asked. Roxy nodded in reply, then leaned in and hugged her friend. The reassurance was something she wanted Chica to feel, to know that everything was going to work out.

“I’m certain.”

Roxy released herself from Chica and got up, walking to the door that led to Rockstar Row. Before exiting, she turned around and faced her friend. “You want to practice after hours on stage? We’ll have Gregory as a private audience.”

“Uh, yeah! Sure! Great idea!” Chica replied with fake excitement. She was still nervous, but she felt buoyed by what Roxy said. If she thought everything would be fine, then maybe she was right…

Right?

Roxy exited Chica’s green room and went back to her own where Gregory was waiting for her. She walked up to her ‘son’ and knelt down beside him.

“Well?”

That was all he said. Nothing else was needed. Roxy knew what he was talking about what was asking.

“She’s on board,” she answered. She then glanced a look over her shoulder to make sure no-one else was around to hear her, and then she leaned in closer and whispered in the boy’s ear. “I also know where she’s hiding her guitar.”

Back in Chica’s green room, the animatronic chicken still felt nervous and uncertain. She desperately wanted to be believe what Roxy has told her – especially since it came from the person she admired more than anyone else – but there was something stopping her from fully committing to it.

She needed help.

“I wish you were here, Mike. I could really do with your guidance…”

Chapter Text

“One hour ‘til show time, people!”

The show manager’s voice range out through Parts and Services as last minute checks were made. Freddy, Roxy and Chica had already been checked, leaving only Monty – who was always brought in and saved for last for safety reasons. Even though the animatronic bear hadn’t sung in days, he still partook in the performances as the band drummer. There was no reason for it; it was simply leftover code from testing that hadn’t been erased.

In a twist of irony, it proved to be useful.

Gregory walked up to his ‘parents’ and looked up at them. Freddy and Roxy looked down and saw ‘their’ child watching them.

“You OK, kid?” Roxy asked, and Gregory nodded back.

“Yeah, I’m good,” he answered back. “I just want to make sure Freddy’s safe.”

Freddy lowered himself down to Gregory’s level and managed to whine something out through his faulty voice-box. It was barely audible through the bustle around them, but the message was heard all the same. “I am fine, superstar. I just h-h-h-have to wait a little longer.”

“OK.” Gregory then peaked over Freddy’s shoulder and caught a glimpse of Chica. Even though it had been a few days now since she took over her friend’s role, she continued to look ill at ease and unprepared before every show. It was apparent whenever she was on stage, as her singing would start out timid and carried a hint of stage fright. After a while she would grow accustomed to it and perform properly, but given that it kept on happening suggested that she still wasn’t used to it.

Gregory beckoned Roxy closer and whispered something to both her and Freddy. “Are you sure you want to do it tonight?”

“Yes, Gregory,” Roxy responded. “Tonight’s the night.”

They were about to go on stage for their busiest performance of the week: Saturday night. Family’s came in more numbers and with their children, so they usually had the biggest crowds on these occasions. And since it was the school holidays that made it even better for their plan.

Roxy was going to take over the mic after a set of songs. She would then take the moment to announce a sudden solo act by Chica, making the animatronic chicken perform an impromptu acoustic song that showcased her true singing talents. On the face of it, it seemed more like a prank than helping a friend. But it had to happen this way or the opportunity would be lost.

“Do you know where she k-k-keeps her guitar, superstar?” Freddy managed to breathe out.

“Yeah,” Gregory nodded. “Roxy told me the other day.”

“Great,” the animatronic wolf said as she patted the boys shoulder. “Wait until no-one’s watching, then sneak into her green room and grab it. Make sure you’re at the stage before the third song has finished.”

“Don’t worry, I got this mum…! Heh. Still feels weird saying that,” Gregory admitted with blushing cheeks. Roxy and Freddy brought him in for a hug between them.

“You’ll get used to it, pup,” Roxy said, using her little pet name for Gregory.

“It’ll take time, superstar,” Freddy only just whispered.

“Thanks, dad…”

“You’re w-w-welcome… s-s-son.”

Though the stutter was caused by the faulty voice-box, Gregory liked to imagine it was Freddy getting emotional over being called ‘dad.’

…

“OK! Checks on Monty are done!”

That signaled the final cue. The animatronic parents released Gregory from their hug and stood back up as Monty was released from the central chamber. That was the all clear signal for them to take to the stage.

Gregory again looked over at Chica and could see how nervous she was. This was going to be the biggest crowd she would take the lead for yet, and she still hadn’t come to terms with it. She tried her best to steady her nerves, knowing that after a few songs it would be alright.

“It’s OK, Chica. Just focus. Don’t panic. You’re an entertainer. They… they love you out there. Just… just do your best and don’t freak out…”

She sighed. She wasn’t sure she could do that.

As expected, the first performance was slightly shaky, but as they went along they began to improve. By the time of the third song, Chica had recovered her courage and was now performing with confidence. Every now and then, Freddy and Roxy would look over at her to make sure she was alright, but they were now at a point where she was fully encapsulated in performing and her worries had melted away.

Or at least, most of them did. Roxy knew deep down that Chica thought of herself as a sham and a lie, having to hide secrets from people and put on an excited and cheery façade just because it was what people wanted to see. A while ago, this would not have been an act but her genuine attitude. But as of late, it began to lean towards the former.

The song wrapped up and the crowd cheered. Freddy remarked that while it was loud, it was not as rapturous as it would have been if he was singing. He took a glance at Chica and could tell that she had made the same connection. He then looked beyond Roxy and off to the side where he saw Gregory in a corner. The boy waved a hand at him and gestured towards the acoustic guitar he had with him. No-one had seen him sneak it out nor had they seen him in general.

Roxy turned to look at Freddy and he nodded her to where Gregory was waiting.

It was time.

Chica looked out at the crowd before them and got ready to announce the next song. “Thank you! Yeah! Thank you so much! Great audience, everyone…! You’re gonna love this next one! Don’t be afraid to sing along either!”

Chica took up her guitar and was about to start playing when suddenly Roxy stepped forward and seized the mic in front of her. She then gestured towards Freddy and Monty and made a signal that told them not to perform – it was not necessary for Freddy since he was in on the plan, but it alleviated any suspicion.

“Actually, Chica, I was wondering… if we could try something else tonight.”

“Oh?” Chica was surprised. It was not like her bandmates – let alone herself – to make sudden requests. “What do you mean?”

“What I mean is… well, I think this might be the best way of putting it.”

Roxy turned away and walked to the side of the stage. Gregory ran up to her and handed over the acoustic guitar. As the animatronic wolf carried it to her bandmate, Chica was left stunned. She was certain that her guitar and her performances with it were a sworn secret. She realised then that it was foolish to think that it would stay a secret forever. There would always be a way for it to get out.

There was a murmur of interest from the audience who were surprised by what was going on. They had never expected to see something like this happen, not especially with the Glamrock animatronics.

“Chica… I don’t think it’s good for you to keep this from everyone,” Roxy said. “People need to here you sing. The real you, that is.”

The murmur from the audience turned to a buzz of questions and interest. This was even more unexpected than they would have ironically expected. Chica surveyed the crowd and could see the stir that was being caused. She had to find a way to gain control of the situation…

And she knew there was only one way to do it.

“How long have you known, Roxy?” she asked her friend.

Roxy shrugged in reply. “Let’s just say… a little bunny told me.”

Chica smiled, knowing what Roxy meant. “Oh, that is so like Bonnie…”

Without another word, Chica took off her electric guitar and handed it over to Roxy in exchange for her acoustic. As they did, Roxy leaned in and whispered into her friend’s audio sensor: “Play from the heart.”

Chica strapped on the instrument and took her place back in front of the standing mic, and as she did the audience applauded and cheered. This was different and exciting. For one last time she examined the audience and saw that they were looking forward to whatever was coming.

“I was told to ‘play from my heart’… I guess that means you’re all getting something different tonight.”

From the heart… What song is in my heart?

…

I know.

“I hope you enjoy everyone. This is called Shine.”

Chica closed her eyes and focused on strumming the opening chords as she played her song…

Before launching into the most heartfelt performance she could possibly play.

Chapter Text

CLICK HERE TO PLAY SONG

♪ You say, that you never had a mother and nobody needs you

♪ So cry, so cry

♪ You believe that life rolls by just to deceive you

♪ By your time, by your time

♪ You're getting old and the longer you take, the slower your pain will grow

♪ It will grow, it will grow

♪ You can close your eyes and hope that when you open them you've got a brand new life

♪ Friend you'll find, you can't hide

♪ You can give your life, you can lose your soul

♪ You can bang your head or you can drown in a hole

♪ Nothing lasts forever, you can try

♪ Look around you

♪ Everyone you see, everyone you know is gonna shine

♪ Grow up and make the best of what you've got

♪ What you've got, what you've got

♪ The days are going by – you're sitting on the kerb

♪ And you're wondering why, why, why, why?

♪ You can give your life, you can lose your soul

♪ You can bang your head or you can drown in a hole

♪ Nothing lasts forever, you can try

♪ Look around you

♪ Everyone you see, everyone you know is gonna shine

♪ Everyone you see, everyone you know is gonna shine

[Instrumental]

♪ You can give your life, you can lose your soul

♪ You can bang your head or you can drown in a hole

♪ Nothing lasts forever, you can try

♪ Look around you

♪ Everyone you see, everyone you know is gonna

♪ You can give your life or you can lose your soul

♪ You can bang your head or you can drown in a hole

♪ Nothing lasts forever but you can try

♪ Look around you

♪ Everyone you see, everyone you know is gonna shine

♪ Shine

♪ Everyone you see, everyone you know is gonna shine

...

Chica could not have predicted how well received the performance was going to be.

A full second passed after she played the final note, and then the whole audience erupted into applause and cheering. Parents and kids alike stood up to applaud the performance, giving it a standing ovation. The clapping and cheering redoubled and become more raucous. Even members of staff joined in, and so did her bandmates.

Chica opened her eyes and saw the reaction she was getting. She threw her hands to her face and covered her beak in astonishment. She took a few steps back in shock, not believing that she was getting this reception. It was bigger and louder than any she had gotten before.

She had words to say, but they never escaped her voice-box…

Oh my God!

Freddy and Roxy approached their friend and embraced her in a group hug from either side, shortly joined by Monty who encapsulated the group from behind.

“That was amazing, Chica,” Roxy said, only just managing to hold herself together.

“You are a sh-sh-shining superstar,” Freddy whispered, finding enough reserve to speak loud enough for Chica to hear his praise.

Chica felt a strange warmth inside her that she didn’t even know she was capable of. It was mostly in the face and around the cheeks. She had no idea what was causing it, but she found it comforting. “Oh, thank you guys so much!”

Freddy nuzzled in closer and rubbed his cheek against Chica’s affectionately. On the other cheek, Roxy leaned in closer and gave Chica a quick kiss.

The heat that Chica was feeling seemed to intensify…

Must be a mechanical fault, she thought.

Chapter Text

“You were incredible out there, Chica!”

That was all the praise Gregory offered, and it was all that the animatronic chicken needed. The performance for the night had gone on as originally planned, but everyone from customers to on-duty staff was talking about the acoustic performance that came out of nowhere. It was so far from expected that it had led to many questions.

All of which were positive.

Chica and her bandmates – along with Gregory – had gathered in her green room after hours to praise her for how well she did. She had been wanting to get in touch with her current tech manager and report the heat issue she experienced, but her friends weren’t letting her go anytime soon.

She didn’t mind. She found the praise she was getting comforting.

“I’ll say,” Monty said in response to Gregory’s compliment. “I had no idea you could even do that!”

“Oh, thanks guys,” Chica replied. “It means a lot to hear that. I really mean it.”

“Chica, why did you never tell anyone?” Freddy asked quietly. “S-s-surely you can say now.”

“Especially since the cat’s out of the bag,” Roxy added. “Or I suppose in your case, the chicken out of the coop.”

“I’m sorry everyone,” she apologised. “It’s just… this was always my secret between me and Mike. We were gonna share it one time, but then I had a mechanical freak-out and… It never happened.”

“And I say it worked out for the best in the end, Chica-girl.”

Chica reacted to the voice that came from behind everyone. It was accompanied by the sound of her door opening as well, which meant that someone had just entered her room.

And that voice… There was only one person it could belong to.

Chica stood up and walked past her bandmates. And there he was, wearing the same casual attire he always did; the attire that was distinctly ‘him.’ And wearing that big friendly smile that always seemed to work on her…

“Mike!”

Chica charged forward and embraced her old friend in a bone-crushing hug. Mike didn’t mind and just laughed it off as he returned the gesture. “Hey, it’s cool, Chica! Just paying you a visit!”

“It’s been so long!” she exclaimed as her voice started to emit strange sobbing sounds. “If I had tear ducts I’d be crying right now!”

Mike patted Chica’s back and gently ran a hand down it to comfort her. “I’m sure you would be.”

Chica was reluctant to let go of Mike, and it took her an enormous amount of effort to do so. Her voice-box continued to make sobbing sounds, and she desperately wanted to cry her happiness out. But alas, that was not possible for her.

Mike then turned and addressed the other animatronics. “I just wanted to come and see my friend in private if that was OK, guys? You don’t mind if…?”

“Not at all,” Roxy said. “We’ll give you two some alone time.”

“Thanks, Rox,” Mike said. He watched as the other animatronics and the boy left the room, leaving him alone with his old friend. He switched his gaze over to the robot chicken and beamed another smile. Though her animatronic features made it impossible to smile more than she physically could, his imagination allowed him to see it growing to ten times the size it was before.

“Great performance tonight, Chica,” he praised. “That was a beautiful song you played.”

“Thank you so much, Mike!” Chica  beamed. “From you, that means the world!”

“What made you choose Shine by Vanessa Amorosi, by the way? Just out of curiosity.”

Chica shrugged. “Roxy told me to play from my heart, and… That was the first song that leapt out to me.”

Mike smiled. He was happy with the decision in the end. He knew that the heart had the ability to pick out the right thing at the right time, and on this occasion it had delivered a pearl.

Then he frowned and indicated the sofa nearby. “Can we sit down for a bit?”

Chica nodded and sat down, followed by Mike who sat beside her. He turned to face her, a question already on his face before it had even left his lips.

“Chica… I am proud that you allowed yourself to be open like this with everyone. But I must ask, why did it have to take for Roxanne Wolf to give you the push?”

Chica was surprised by the question, but she realised it was fair. It was because of Roxy that this even happened… but was she really being open with everyone? It felt more like she had given a special performance, but nothing more…

No. Mike was right. By playing on her acoustic guitar to everyone, she had opened up and allowed a part of her she was hiding to be known. For months now she had been going to the roof to perform midnight concerts, but no-one was around to see them. Not that she had performed one live in front of an audience…

Chica became afraid and couldn’t meet Mike’s eyes. “I, uh… I…”

“Come on, Chica. You can tell me…”

…

“Mike, I’m a failure!”

He was caught completely off-guard. The words were blurted out in desperation. Chica couldn’t hold them in, so they just exploded from her voice box in his face.

“What do you mean ‘you’re a failure’?” he asked. “Your performance tonight was incredible!”

“I know, but…” Chica stopped and found it hard to speak. She knew she had to tell him, but she found it almost impossible. She didn’t want to say the rest, but she knew she had to…

“But I broke our promise!”

“Promise? What do you-?” Mike then remembered back to the night before he resigned from duty. Chica had made a promise to him to practice restraint in her eating, to avoid further complications. And now she was shaking her head in guilt, feeling sorry for herself.

“I tried, Mike. I tried! I thought I could go without eating anything and avoid further trouble, but… But I couldn’t hold myself together!”

“What…? What are you talking about? What happened?”

Chica did not want to admit it. But she had to. If there was anyone who would understand, it would be Mike…

“I… have been eating out of the garbage.”

“You WHAT?!” It was unthinkable; almost impossible to consider. Chica, his friend, eating out of the garbage just to satisfy her eating function?! Chica brought her lugs up and curled up into a ball. Again, she wished for tear ducts so that she could cry the pain away – the pain of misery and sadness from breaking her friend’s one singular promise.

“I know… I’m disgusting. A freak. A failure! I’m absolutely awful!”

…

“No you’re not, Chica…”

Chica carefully looked over at Mike, struggling to understand how he could be so calm and relaxed about the truth. He reached out and started stroking her shoulder with his hand, comforting the animatronic as he spoke softly to her.

“It’s OK to be vulnerable. It’s all a part of being human… or in your case, simulating human emotion.” Now it was his turn to look away in guilt. Chica realised there was something he had to admit, and that he felt bad from hiding from. “To be honest… I didn’t expect you to hold your promise. After all, it’s in your design to eat. You were always meant to encourage people to do so. I was just worried it would lead to problems among the other staff members.”

“But you didn’t expect me to become a dumpster diving trash eater, either,” she muttered back, looking away again. “You were right, Mike. All I can do is to fall… How will I ever come back from this?”

Mike could tell that Chica upset. Upset that she had broken a promise she made to him. Someone that she considered a dear friend. He thought about what he could do to cheer her up…

He knew exactly what to do.

“You already have…”

Chica faced him again. She didn’t know whether she wanted to hear what he had to say or not, but when she saw his open and honest face, she knew she needed to.

“Remember Chica, there’s no greater feeling than rising again. And if there is one person who can redeem themselves better than anyone else, it’s you. I already know that tonight was just the start of something bigger… And I cannot wait to see where you go from here.”

Mike stood up and offered his hand to Chica.

“Come on, Chica-girl. Come with me.”

The animatronic saw the extended hand and was confused. He was clearly inviting her somewhere, but where and why?

“Huh? Wh-where are we going?” she asked.

“There’s still half an hour until close-up,” he said. “What do you say we have a talk over dinner together?”

Chica didn’t say anything. She didn’t even do anything for a few moments. Then she stood up and quickly embraced Mike in another hug. She had no idea how he did it, but he always knew how to make her happy.

“Thank you, Mike… I really have missed you.”