Pop Goes the Balloon

"STAY AWAY EVILDOER!"

The Avenger was long gone as you reached zero. Bonnie was up top watching, though not focused on you or The Avenger. Something else up top had his attention. For now, it was just to search.

While you walked down corridors and corners, ears out for the Avenger's ambience or any feathers poking up your mind was on Sun and Moon. It had been about a week since you last checked on them though the last check they didn't act that much out of the norm. You heard reports of strange behaviour but during that checkup they were fine. They did act more subdued, but you chalked that up to low power. You assumed at the time they just had some anxiety and either needed a break or to have some support staff in the daycare. Perhaps their condition worsened in the past few days?

Seeing a yellow tuft poke up from one of the dead ends you grin. Walking nonchalantly, you start to head to the row next to it, wondering how to go about catching her.

With how much she taunted you in the last round you wanted to scare her as well. But how to scare a super-hero exercise instructor? Teasing about eating crappy food would've only pissed her off and make it her mission to get you healthy.

Couldn't make any predatory jokes about chickens. Wolves eat chickens and Roxanne and Chica were close. She probably wouldn't understand the joke. Or worse, relay it to Roxanne would be very angry that you insinuated you were a wolf. After all, she was the best wolf.

One idea did stick in your head though, causing an ear-to-ear grin. "You know, uh, Avenger, you talk so much about exercise. But can you even run? I mean, are you even that agile?"

You turn a corner, grinning still. "Eating all that food must really slow you down. How can you even stay fit with all the garbage you eat?"

She was behind the wall, and you could hear her gears within her grinding louder. It was getting under her skin. Grabbing the pull up bar next to you hoist yourself up. Your eyes meet the Avengers, she was expecting you to leap up there.

"Let's see how fast you can run." You say wickedly.

Her eyes narrow in anger as she turns and bolts off, leaping over the wall next to her. "Hmph! I'll show you!" She shouts angrily.

You let go and ran after her, keeping pace. She wasn't as fast as you but far more agile. This was her domain after all.

Gotta cut her off.

While jumping the walls may have been a challenge before you felt emboldened now, practically leaping atop walls you previously could not have. You hear Bonnie above cheering her on. Dashing, you make a left as she goes right, knowing the layout would force her to the same direction eventually.

The Avenger kept running, focusing on what was in front of her, knowing her leaps and acrobatic moves threw you off. As she grabbed the side of the wall, practically sliding past the turn you cut her off, ready to tackle her.

Smirking before running into you she jumped to the side, using the vertical wall as leverage, talon hitting the wall and she grabbed the top of hit, holding herself up. With a leap she jumped to the opposing wall, even twirling as she did, grabbing the opposing wall and gliding over it.

The Avenger did not have a cape, instead having wings beneath her arms. Perhaps if she rocked a cape, grabbing it would have been possible. Instead, she escaped your grasp, landing gracefully a row over.

"WOOOO!" Bonnie shouted, hitting the glass, the bunny practically screaming in awe at the move.

"You can't catch me! This is my home. I know this place better than you know nuts and bolts!" The Avenger declared.

It was on now.

Gathering yourself you grab the wall, seeing The Avenger already ran off, darting down another corner.

Catching her was gonna be harder than you thought, not letting her taunts get to you. She would trip up eventually.

Continuing the marathon, you chase after her, scrambling up a wall, seeing just where was running. She catches you eye as you land in the same row as her.

"What's wrong?" You taunt.

"I should be asking you that, hehe." The Avenger giggled. "Lookin' a little tired yourself."

You don't answer instead running and nearly sliding into the turn. Despite catching up she had already leapt two rows over and was going fast.

Getting tired you let her run off, figuring to catch her later. There was still time left. "You may be able to run but you sure can't hide!" You shout as he steps get quieter.

You look up to see Bonnie not paying attention to the game, back to the glass as he was looking at something else up top.

Keeping your breathing quiet you continue walking and notice something on the ground.

Crumbs. It was the remains of that muffin.

She was going to lead you right to her. Grin returning you follow the crumbs, a little mournful you still haven't got to try it yet. Even the crumbs looked delicious.

Stealthily and slowly climbing over some walls you reach a dead end; her the whirring of motors audible behind it. Now it was time to end this. With a pull-up bar present at the dead-end you smile at how you were going to literally jump her. Hand upon it you're ready to leap up, doing so as quietly as possible.

Peering over you see The Avenger crouched, hand on the side of the wall ready to leap. She was watching in front of her. Cheeks hurting from smiling you pull yourself up, ready to leap onto her like a rodeo.

"Oh, uh time!" Bonnie declared. You leapt up wrapping both your arms around The Avenger's neck into a monkey hug.

"Ah!" The Avenger screamed, running forward like a chicken without a head. "Got you!" You were only mid-air when Bonnie declared it, but damn if you weren't still going to catch her.

"The round ended!" Bonnie shouted from above as you continued to hold The Avenger, not to prove a point but for dear life as she flailed around. Eventually you did, jumping back as she jumped as well, turning to face you, eyes displaying anger.

"That didn't count!" She pouted.

You shake your head. "Fine. But I still caught you."

"How did you even find me so fast?!"

You point to the ground, a few crumbs knocked loose sitting on the ground. "You lead me right to you."

A look of embarrassment painted The Avenger's face though she didn't speak further. "Well, let's finish this. Final round!"

You nodded as you and her returned to the entrance to wrap this up. Thinking on it you doubted The Avenger was even keeping track. Bonnie didn't declare who even won the last round and if Chica did win it you lost. Since nobody had brought it up you decided it didn't really matter. She was getting the message. The Avenger walked with a slight hunch, a far cry from the heroic strutting she expressed early. You wonder if perhaps she's getting low on battery too. You decide that regardless of the next round outcome you needed get through to her.

"You know we're gonna have to clean your uniform after."

"Meh. I can do it later."

"You know, if not for the fact you were an eagle I might've though you were Chica. I mean, with the way you eat so much."

"Nuh-uh." The Avenger shook her head. "Chica doesn't eat garbage anymore."

"And you do?"

"W-well I like a taste. Especially after I win this round!" The Avenger declared uneasily.

You continue to follow The Avenger as she walked back to the start of the maze. "I suppose Chica doesn't anymore. You know if you weren't an eagle I might think you're Chica. I mean, she used to eat garbage, and you do. That's mighty suspicious."

The Avenger glanced over to you frostily before looking back. "W-well I was, uh, just trying to, uh, throw you off. Make it look like I'm Chica when I'm really someone else?" She said, almost unsure.

"Now if you didn't eat garbage; well, none of the other animatronics eat garbage so I wouldn't know who your secret identity is. You could even be Bonnie for all I know. And maybe he's a fake then." You tease.

Glancing up Bonnie was looking back again, seemingly more focused on something going on in the viewing gallery.

"Oh, well maybe I wasn't, uh, eating that garbage bag. I was going to...recycle it! Yeah! Help clean the Plex! And well you took it from me." The Avenger said, trying to save face. She sounded guilty now, though you hadn't really accused her of anything.

"Riiiiightttt." You speak. "Tell you what. Let's change the prizes. If you win,I'll make a pizza for Chica instead. If I win, well I want a fresh muffin. And let's bet it all on this round. Either way, no more garbage. And no food. You'll stain your suit."

Returning to the entrance you make a note in your phone to leave a message with the employee who helped make The Avenger's costume to repeat the same information. Perhaps they'll also help get it in her head not to 'eat on the job'.

"Deal!" The Avenger declared. "I'll tell Chica when I see her next. What, uh, kind of pizza? And what size?"

You hadn't the faintest clue, at least knowing whatever it was shouldn't stain her metal. No oil-based food. "It's a surprise. And a large."

The Avenger's eyes lit up, mind now spinning with speculation.

Up top Bonnie seemed to be still focusing on something up top. "Everything all right up there, Bon?" You call out.

"Oh! Yeah, sorry. Got distracted." Bonnie turned, rendering his attention back to the maze overlook.

"You both ready?" He asked.

"Yes." Both you and The Avenger declared. As she turned to start counting you readied yourself for a run.

"Then let's get started!" Bonnie declared, hitting the air horn a few times.

The Avenger was eager, starting the count as soon as she heard the horn. You made sure to leave your phone and watch behind again, lest The Avenger try to trick you. You bolt down maze, having a much better idea of where the twists and turns were.

As you pass by various dead ends and corners you decide against hiding. Still a little irate from the previous round you instead decide on a gamble.

Challenge The Avenger outright.

Arms at your sides you stop in the middle of one of the 'hallways'.

"Ready or not!" The Avenger declared.

"I'm ready." You mutter.

It was as if a spirit took over you, energy pumping as you excitedly wait for the Avenger to find and begin the chase. Sure, she was agile when being chased, but how would see react when she had to catch?

You hear her stomping around, getting closer.

Heart starting to race in anticipation you glance around for as many escape routes as possible. From darting down your current path, side-stepping the avenger, climbing over walls and even trying to knock one of walls over there were plenty of escape routes.

Running from the animatronics was always a terrifying experience but under safe conditions you couldn't help but feel energized.

"(Y/N)? What are you doing?" Bonnie asked from above.

Looking up you grin at him, mouthing 'watch this'.

On cue, The Avenger steps into your sights. Seeing you standing there her face takes on a look of curiosity. A look of suspicion flashed across her eyes, almost as if you are standing here was a trap of some sort.

"Well?" You say, hand out motioning towards yourself. "Bring it!" You immediately turn and run for it, The Avenger saying something as you ran.

Now Playing...

Artist: Maedasalt

Song: Take Your Breath Away

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8yuwT2_Qiw

Regardless of whatever retort she had, The Avenger was on the run, immediately climbing atop the next wall and jumping over a row, intending to cut you off.

It was cat and mouse now. The Avenger was making predictions of where you would run too. She already knew you could outrun her. Putting on a serious look she leapt walls, determining where the mouse (you) would run. Where she landed blocking you, you grabbed the wall, pulling yourself up and landing in the next aisle, using core and upper-body strength.

Even if she dashed fast as she could, she would not be able to reach out and grab you before. The only way was to match the movement, jumping a row over like you did. Climbing such a wall, The Avenger matched you though upon your land you find it's a dead end, The Avenger leaping to the other side. Turning and running backwards you just barely hear her leap the dead end, chasing you.

As you snaked the maze you could hear The Avenger climbing, bypassing and avoiding any and all restrictions to get to her. Muscles ached and though they complied you could already feel tomorrow's soreness. It was as if someone was pressing onto your joints.

Your smile as wide as could be you briefly turn back and flash it to her, unable to come up with some retort. She had a look of fury on her face, determined on all odds to catch you.

Finally, feeling the results of your workout you climb over a wall, landing in a dead end with a large workout machine. The name escapes you but the space between the two piles of stone slabs and wall provided excellent cover. Keeping your breath as shallow as possible you stand there, being still.

Predictably, The Avenger leapt over the wall in pursuit, landing in front of the machine and continuing the run, chasing where she guessed you ran off to.

"You little! Get back out here!" The Avenger declared, furious.

You wait for a minute, catching your breath. You intended to resume the chase. Just needed a little rest. She was definitely rattled though. You glance up to see Bonnie's reaction only to find him not present in the viewing gallery. He was gone, no indication of him ever presents up there. Aside from The Avenger stalking madly for you, the sound of your phone and watch ringing at the entrance also made themselves known. With no clear indication you keep still, allowing yourself to recover. As you wait and breathe lightly, you hear another buzzing sound. Though similar to The Avenger's this one was most subdued and closer.

Peering between the weight bars you see something standing at the end of the dead and, several metres off. Curious now, you step out from your hiding spot, seeing an endoskeleton standing at the end.

They were the frames of the band members. Made of nothing but a thick black metal it formed the basis of each animatronics' joints, fingers and anatomy. It was a 'skeleton' for the animatronics' of which their actual design would fit over, like skin. And like the other animatronics this one was taller than you.

The technical side of you noticed clear differences from it and the other endoskeletons. This was one slimmer, and its eyes were different, darker in colour than the typical endoskeleton. Several other differences made themselves known, something only a trained eye like yours would spot. Either way, you had never seen this particular endoskeleton before. It had the markings of a prototype, though you had no proof.

It cocked its head, eyes blinking one-by-one as it studied you.

Occasionally endos would somehow get powered on and roam the plex. It's been less of an issue since the incident. It was found a trigger variable called 'freeroam' was added maliciously. Once removed the problem mostly stopped. Still though, once in a while an Endo would make its way out of storage and seek you specifically out, like some animals may seek humans when gravely injured. In the endos case they somehow knew you were the mechanic and would present to you, their problems. And once solved they would return to the 'wild' [backrooms]. They had some kind of primitive mind.

The idea this was Chica's endo arose though you'd spent enough time with each band members interiors to know this wasn't any of them.

Image: Stalker

Artist: Me

Link: https://www.deviantart.com/odaocer/art/1132753805

"Uh, hi?" You ask.

The endo emitted a scream, voicebox distorting into static as it lunged at you. Having practiced many nights with Roxanne you had gotten excellent at dodging the 'patented animatronic lunge'. They all could do it, using their knees as a liftoff as they jumped logarithmically. You ran and slid underneath as the endo landed on the machine.

You draw your taser instantly, facing the endo as the electric weapon roared to life, a loud buzzing sound emitting from it. Originally just a generic one, management had created a Fazbear-themed one, the logo on it glowing as it was active.

You drew it fast, having become quite skilled at a quickdraw.

The endo picked itself up and turned with the same blank expression. Not breaking eye contact it gripped the wire holding in the stone slabs and ripped it, grabbing a slab thereafter. Static emitted from it's voicebox as it appeared to speak to you.

"(Y/N)!" You heard the Avenger call out.

The tazer wasn't going to work here, you decide. Shutting it off and stashing it you bolt, running down left. From behind you heard one of the slabs smash into the wall behind you.

Gotta make it to the entrance. Adrenaline pumping know you try to listen for where The Avenger was. "AVENGER! OVER HERE!" If you could get a direct hit on the endo's electrical system you could knock it out. But The Avenger would need to distract it-

A stone slab smashes into the wall you just past. Turning briefly, you see the endo standing atop the walls, perched like a bird, holding another slab.

"STAY AWAY EVILDOER!" The Avenger shouted. It turned, just as the Avenger kicked up a wall and into a jumping side kick, directly hitting the endo and knocking it and her onto the ground.

You run back, climbing over a wall to get to The Avenger.

The Avenger kept true to her namesake, using her talons as weapons. While the endo stumbled back, The Avenger wasted no time immediately jumping into a roundhouse, yellow bird foot smashing into the endo's head, knocking its eyes like a slot machine. Yep. She had become the deadliest animatronic.

Raising a leg up she rose her arms up too, holding them in front of her like wings. "Crane stance!" She declared. You get behind The Avenger, tazer charged and ready.

There wasn't much to even do. She had the situation completely under control. At such an advantage the endo realized this, stumbling back. As it looked upon you and The Avenger it turned and ran.

"That's right!" The Avenger shouted as the endo ran away, jumping over walls and retreating to the maze's other exit.

You saw no reason to pursue it. That endo learned its lesson.

"Are you okay citizen?!" The Avenger turned to face you, a brief look of concern on her face.

"I, uh, yeah. That was really cool Chi-,Avenger." You say.

"No problem citizen. It's what I do....can we continue our game now?"

"Guys, run!" Bonnie shouted from the entrance. "There's an endo coming!"

"We're alright!" You shout to Bonnie.

You shrug. "I think the game's over. Tell you what. I'll make Chica that pizza later tonight and you don't eat anything otherwise I might think you're actually Chica. How about that?"

The Avenger seemed to think about it for a few seconds before coming to her answer. "Hmmmmmm. Okay." She said, bemused.

With The Avenger with you, the two of you head back to the maze entrance. You hadn't noticed it much, but you were finally starting to feel some actual exhaustion. Though it was just hide and seek it turned into a real workout.

Back at the maze's entrance Bonnie waited, a worried expression on his face.

"You didn't see the endo?"

"See it? We fought and kicked its butt!" The Avenger declared proudly.

"Oh, oh good." Bonnie said, relieved. "Vanessa called me warning that one of them was coming here. She tried calling you both, but you didn't have your phone or watch, and you and Avenger wasn't answering. I came as fast as I could."

You look to The Avenger as she shrugs. "I didn't want anyone to give away my position."

"Was that it?" You ask. Bonnie nodded. "Yep. Vanessa saw it on the cameras, got worried."

With a nod you give Vanessa a call, putting it on speaker.

"You guys alright?" She asked without saying hello.

"We're fine. Any idea where it came from?"

"No idea. I'm still looking through feeds. Came from somewhere connected to the hall. Helluva beating you put on it. Good job, Chica. I don't think it'll be bothering us anytime."

"Er, maybe the cameras didn't see but it was I, The Avenger that knocked it out, not, uh, Chica."

"Looked a bit like a prototype." You add.

"Yeah, it did. Faster than the regular ones. Not sure where it would've come from. Hey, bunny and superhero. Got any ideas?"

"Um, well..." The Avenger said meekly. "I sort of found an area connected to my, er, Chica's bakery. Lotta water, but there was a bunch of old stuff. Oo, I even found an old model of, uh, Chica. Oh, right! Yeah, I left it in your office, (Y/N). Maybe you can use it for scrap or something."

Well that explains the body found in my office, you think.

"Well go board it up!" Vanessa said, irate. "You know there's weird stuff down there."

"Yes mam! But I still wanna turn it into my eagle cave. My secret hideout!"

"But won't it not be a secret hideout then?" Bonnie asked, innocently enough.

"W-well you still don't know where it is."

"Whatever." Vanessa cut in. "Just go board it up. I'll leave a note for management to investigate."

"Alright! Bonnie? Wanna come help?"

"Really? I can help build the super secret cave?"

"You bet! You could be like, my sidekick!"

Bonnie beamed; hands clutched together in excitement. Foot, tapping it looked as if he was about to start hopping.

"Ohmygosh, don't bring more people into it." Vanessa said, though neither animatronic heard her. They already ran off.

"They're gone."

"Ugh." Vanessa said. "Already bad enough I'm not allowed to call her Chica but now she's gonna bring him into it."

You shrugged, at first figuring Vanessa couldn't see it but then realizing she was probably watching from a camera.

"Since you're done can you head to the attendant's place? The temperature's still off."

"Sure. I'll head there right now."

"Alright. There is something weird going on with them. And not in the stupid superhero stuff kind of way."

"Still not sure what, eh?"

"No idea. They're always weird. Apparently, they're being more weird than usual. They give me the creeps. Even when I had my 'problem' I still wouldn't even go there. I don't patrol that area. Don't even have that many cameras there."

"Alright."

"Get to it and keep your phone close. If that endo tries to get you, I'll see him from awhile away." She said, a small touch of concern in her voice.

"Thanks, Vanessa."

"Good luck." She said, ending the call.

The next chapter will be called Ailments. It will be released on Saturday or Sunday.