The front doors burst open as kids of every size, shape, and background came pouring through to see the new high-tech mascots on the stage.

"The four er...five newest mascots created by William Afton, owner of Fredbear's Family Diner!" said the announcer as the children gathered at the stage. "We have a returning character that has been refurbished, Funtime Freddy and his friend Bon-Bon! They make party time a joyous occasion!

"Another returning character from the United States, Funtime Foxy! He's always on time to give the audience a good show!

"Next we have Ballora! Her and her 'Mini-reenas' dance along their stage with great excitement and fun!

"And lastly but not least-ly, the star of the show and the restaurant's namesake, Circus Baby! She serves ice cream all by herself without the use of an outside machine! Isn't that grand?"

William put his face in his hands. "Whose idea was that cheesy script..."

"It was actually yours Dad," explained Michael as he arrived with a cardboard box of party hats.

"Damn it..." he said as he began to laugh and took a look at Michael. It was hard to see that the little boy who was playing with little Charlotte at the Emily's house had grown into the one standing before him. What had Henry said over the phone....a spitting image of himself.

The customers noticed it too. One of the regular Fredbear's customers said, "Looks like you're growing a clone of yourself, Afton." They laughed as they continued about their visit.

But William was not here for the niceties.

*****

Ever since returning to the UK to open his new restaurant, William spoke of his magnum opus. His greatest work he'd be doing. He designed and designed. Revised, scrapped, redesigned, etc. All for the purpose of making his one goal more efficient. Soul gathering.

The inconvenient process of gathering souls from manually killing the children was a hassle. So he designed these new mascots with special mechanical ways to lure children, distract parents, and extract remnant. 

So he snatched up a few kids(snatching was easier back then), and went to experimenting. Finding out what efficiently collects remnant, what lures children the best, and what distracts parents most effectively. All a plan to achieve his immortality. His magnum opus.

*****

Elizabeth, who was also at the grand opening, asked her father, "Can I go play with Circus Baby now?"

"Elizabeth, she's alone right now. That may not be the best idea," said Afton knowingly.

"But didn't you make her just for me?" she pleaded.

Afton replied, "That I did, but just like some people like to be alone, so does she. Go with a friend."

Elizabeth ran off in search of a friend.

Just then, the phone rang. William picked it up.

"Hey Afton! I was gonna ask how it was going, but your turnout sounds pretty swell from all of the noise!" said Henry.

"Yeah...it's going pretty great so far Henry," spoke Afton with a sigh of relief. "This was a long project, so I pray it turns out well."

Henry responded, "So do I, Afton, so do I. Well I leave ya right to it!" Henry hung up.

Afton knew Henry would probably be calling in for the next few days and sighed.

Tristen ran up to his father. "Daddy Daddy, can I go play with the older kids?"

Afton smiled. "Just be careful okay?"

"Okay dad!" Tristen exclaimed as he ran off.

Afton put his head down on the table and slept after an exhausting week.

*****

Afton awoke in a bed that he loosely recognized, but not fully.

He got up and took in his surroundings. First-place sports trophies. A bundle of clothes covered in blood in the corner. A picture of his young self with his father on a fishing trip, before he started drinking. There was no doubt about it. This was William's old bedroom.

He decided to go towards the hallway only to find his father stumbling towards him with another bottle of liquor.

Afton Sr.'s breath smelled of hard whiskey as he leaned down to his son and said, "Today's the day son." He pulled a knife from behind his back. William backed up in fear only to notice that he had become his teenage self.

Afton Sr. continued to make his advance as William continued to back up down a seemingly infinite hall. Then Afton Sr. morphed into the Spring Bonnie suit that William used to disguise himself at Freddy Fazbear's pizza. William turned into Cassidy. And still continued to back down the hallway as Spring Bonnie advanced slowly.

Cassidy turned to Fritz. Fritz turned to Jeremy. Jeremy turned to Susie. Susie turned to Gabriel. And at the end of the long hallway, Gabriel turned back into teenage William as Spring Bonnie turned back into Afton Sr., bottle and knife in hand. William began to back into the wall as Afton Sr. got closer and closer still.

When Afton Sr. was about to be on top of him, William backed up and fell through the wall. He picked himself up, looked back, saw an open door, and began to run through the cold landscape.

*****

Circus Baby's showroom was empty. Children had come in and out of it, enjoying her show and the ice cream that came from her ice cream machine. Balloons as well.

But now the room was lifeless. Circus Baby continued her automatic motions even though the room had no occupants besides herself. Then Elizabeth Afton entered the room.

Elizabeth's blonde hair and green eyes made her stand out among her peers. Most had brown hair or brown eyes. She did not. Her young innocent look also gained favor from many adults, including her own father. She wasn't as young as she looked, but it made no difference to the adult mind.

Now she stood before Circus Baby in all her glory. Circus Baby's completely metal frame and colorful designs were a sight to behold as there was nothing like it previously. As Elizabeth began to stare, a whirring sound came from Circus Baby. The ice cream machine.

Her false microphone opened up to reveal the ice cream on what was literally a silver platter. Circus Baby's hand lowered so that Elizabeth could reach the ice cream cone from where she stood. But it wasn't low enough. So Elizabeth climbed onto the stage to reach the ice cream. What Elizabeth did not know is that just then, her younger brother Tristen had entered the room.

He watched from beyond and called out to Elizabeth, "Sister, can you get ice cream for me too?" Elizabeth nodded her approval and continued to reach for her ice cream. But as her hand closed around the cone, a fast snapping sound was heard as Circus Baby's midsection split apart and a giant claw dove in Elizabeth. The girl was crushed entirely as she was drawn back into Circus Baby's midsection. No screams were heard. No blood to be found. 

Tristen began to run away.