Authors Note:

Wow, boy! Uhm, hi guys! It's been so long...haha, get that reference? I'm sure you all do.

So, you may be thinking...why are they updating this 2 years after? Why is it an Author's Note and not a legitimate chapter? Well, if you haven't heard the news I made...well, 2 years ago...I discontinued this story a long while ago. I did all I can for this story - I have 3 chapters stored and scrapped through the process of writing this. I even deleted a few that won't see the light of day again. This story only went to 6 successful chapters before I decided to stop updating it altogether.

Why?

You see the Published date on this story? Yeah, it reads August 30th, 2014. The first Five Nights at Freddy's game(the original) was released August 8th, 2014. Memory was written 22 days after FNAF was even CREATED! At the time, this game had a small, small fanbase. We had no Ships, no cutesy stuff, and especially no NSFW material. All you really had in August-September was scary art and Bite of '87 theories. That's it.

So...At the time, FNAF gave me a nightmare. I was really scared of this game, and I was pretty much the first person to get the idea that: Why not make this game a little bit LESS scary? I got the idea to write a short story late at night with Foxy - he's my favorite, of course - in a Chuck E Cheese-themed type of Restaurant based on Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. I didn't really know what I was doing at the time, but...

It blew up.

When I woke up the next morning, and for the next few following days, I had hundreds of people favoriting this story. It suddenly got thousands of reads and I suddenly started getting a lot of attention. Memory was only meant to be a short story(1 chapter). But I had many people asking me to write more, so I did. I got so much positive feedback that I kept adding again and again - kind of like Scott Cawthon with his FNAF games by now.

I had tons of people requesting FNAF fanfics, which I wrote! Pretty much every other FNAF fanfic you see on my profile(besides the Bite of '87) were requested by people on Tumblr. I met a few amazing FNAF artists that said they loved my story, and I befriended a couple. Life was good. Memory was popular, and I started to see more cute and friendly FNAF material short after. I had tons of people telling them that I inspired them! I even made a temporary best friend off this story.

Well, why did you stop?

...I got harassed a lot.

While writing Memory - for those of you who have stayed with this story so far - I've had a lot of chapters come and go. I experimented with some, but I ended up scrapping many because of negative feedback. This is when children started to enter the fandom. I was getting immature and hurtful comments instead of constructive criticism, and some chapters got deleted because of all the negative feedback it was receiving, despite all the hard work I put into it.

Now, the fandom is filled with idiots and kids who refuse to look at dates. When I wrote Memory, there really WERE no theories. All we had was The Bite of '87 and the newspapers in-game to back our theories up. There was no FNAF 2, 3, 4, 5, World, book, etc. etc. etc...No, we all pretty much had our own ideas then. And for some reason, theories suddenly became a big thing about this game? Wars flamed out and the harassment started.

People neglected to view that this story was made before FNAF 1 got popular. I got tons of people yelling and criticizing my story that "this/that isn't right", even though I made the theory up before it got debunked. We didn't know anything at that time, yet I get a bunch of smug newcomers in the fandom "correcting" me because they feel they know more than I do. I still get people reviewing my Bite of '87 story and trying to tell me that Foxy didn't do it.

I hate this fandom now. I really, really do. At some point it was bearable, but children really tainted this series for me. I remember buying a Foxy short online right when it came out before Hot Topic starting cashing in on it. The plushes were new, posters were new...everything was great until it suddenly appeared everywhere. I hated it.

And yes, call me a grandpa - but things were better before FNAF 3 came. FNAF 2 was amazing, and for a moment I debated writing a story LIKE "Memory" where the new bots were friendly and stuff. But Scott kept bashing more and more into this game series - he kept forcing a story even though everything clearly was thrown around in the first game. I respect Scott and all, but the man didn't help this fandom at all. We got more games than necessary and now this fandom is...too big to bear.

So...what now for this story?

'Memory' is officially discontinued. You guys can take it and try to continue it on your own, I really don't mind, but I won't be updating it unless some miracle happens. If I made a new chapter, anyway, it'd barely get anything because the fandom has just grown so much. 'Memory' was apart of only a handful of FNAF fanfiction when it was published - now there are tens of thousands of it. To update it and see the view count drop...it's very discouraging as a writer.

But this story has really changed me. I practiced writing nonstop and I met some amazing people through it. This story has received so much praise and attention. For a long while, it was my top fanfiction until I wrote some for Undertale. And, honestly...? I'm never going to stop loving Foxy. He's my favorite character, and he holds a place close in my fandom heart. It's too bad that he was tainted by the fandom.

To answer SOME questions...this story was based around some information about restaurant chains. I once had a chapter where the gang got video tapes of cartoons - that's based off when McDonald's got a cartoon for their mascots that was only available through tapes that got handed out to customers when you bought an ice cream or something. I read a lot about animatronics and made some theories on how they can walk around - which is in the earlier chapters.

NONONONONO - THE CHARACTERS IN HERE ARE NOT CHILDREN. Memory focused on character potential rather than the animatronics alone. That's how I got rid of the scary element. If a guy goes around dressed as Chuck E Cheese, THAT GUY isn't the character. He's just playing AS Chuck E. The same applies to this story; we're talking about the CHARACTERS, and not the children who possess them. Mkay? This story also isn't Foxy/Chica - that pairing didn't exist when I wrote this. They're just friends in here. Idk where that rumor came from about this fic.

What was so appealing about Memory to you?

What I found so enticing about Memory was Foxy. I had this perfect voice in my head for him, the perfect movements, the perfect model, and the perfect programming and speech. He was such a fun character to visualize, and I've got this perfect embodiment of him that only I know of. It thrilled me to think of him as a fun robot character who was just so energetic and full of life. He was something I wanted to see IRL personally - so I wrote this story to make it SEEM like he was real.

Because of all of your support, guys...and the long wait for very few of you waiting for the next chapter...I'll please you. This won't answer any questions that this fic may have rose, but it's an ending. For this fanfic and for me, as one of the authors of this fandom. Thank you so much for waiting, and thank you for reading this fanfic.

Remember - check the dates of everything in this fandom! Keep in mind that what you know now about the game wasn't revealed a couple of years ago. I'm an old member of this fandom, so I've seen everything Scott has done, and what the fandom has done. If you REALLY want to see more from me, go on my profile and read my other FNAF fanfics if you want. That's all you can get from me after this.

I really wanted to write a Finale for you guys...I really do. I'm suddenly remembering my excitement of writing Foxy and all the notes I had for this story...but they're long gone. It's so hard to try and write for this fandom again. Instead of CONTINUING Memory...I'm going to write you guys a short about Foxy. Specifically - the ending of Memory. It's a big skip and you guys will miss all the development I once had planned, but it's better than anything.

Out of all of the emotions the animatronics can express, surprise was a rarity of them. At this point, the guards and mechanics that once monitored the robots suddenly decided to give up. From their notes, from their work, and from all the hard work they had put into their study. In their opinion, there was no point on trying to fix what they saw as possibly broken. Fazbear's plan of having perfect, roaming animatronics came to a bust. They had done so well growing as characters, but not as machines. Well, at least one didn't.

Foxy knew this now.

Ever since Day 1 had the Pirate got suspicious. He knew of the cameras, the hostile attitudes from the families, and the indifferent feelings he got from the guards, mechanics, and employees. He had been so busy bonding and working with the children around him that he had forgotten he was being watched.

He still kept with his shows. Working with Freddy, Bonnie, and Chica was an absolute delight. Pirate's Cove had grown so much, and the restaurant had been filled almost every weekend with children from all over town. The food once reached its finest quality, and the fox actually got some attention from the families. He might say that he earned some trust from the parents. His adventures of pirating and the many games he'd play with those kids would never leave his mind.

Not even now. The fox was currently sitting on his stage in the depths of Pirate Cove. His legs were dangling off the edge of the wood and he was faced with a completely dark room. The paint that had once decorated the walls were now smudged and dirty. The treasure box he once had filled with prizes for the lads and lassies was now empty. The trash left from his last day as an active member of the game still remain there.

It was dark, and it was broken. He sort of related to it, really. He knew he felt emotions, and right now he was feeling...alone.

His yellow eyes darted up from the light and spotted a temporary opening through the many boards that had been bolted on the entrance to Pirate's Cove. It was a gleam of light that peeked through and reached his head. The fox immediately sprang from the stage and landed successfully a few yards away. He quickly ran up to the opening and peeked his good eye through it. The sight was breathtaking, if he had any to spare.

Past the rusty boards was a sight filled with happiness and color. He heard various children screaming and laughing. Little toddlers were running around the game area, and he spotted some families and teens sitting at the tables indulging themselves with pizza. Everything seemed so vivid...especially the stage that sat right in the middle of all this commotion. Foxy spotted the sight of Freddy, Bonnie, and Chica standing and smiling, waving at the families down below.

Foxy rubbed his muzzle with a metal finger. "This ain't foolin' 'Ol Foxy..."

Why weren't they roaming? They pivoted, but did not move from their spots. It almost seemed like they were mounted onto the boards below them...and the instruments looked like they were glued in their hands. Foxy recognized the forced smiles they wore. The stiff movements of their bodies, yet received excited cheers from the children down below...It was like the kids themselves were oblivious.

"'S THAT what they were thinkin'?" The fox scoffed. "Stickin' 'em 'ere n' sayin' 'tis a show!'?"

The leaned down and tried to get a better view. For a moment, he saw one of the children start to head in his direction. The animatronic stiffened when they came closer. It was a young, dark-colored girl with pigtails. She had a small soda in her hand and looked up at the sign before her. When her eyes traveled over the boards(and over Foxy's eyes), she frowned and tilted her head.

"Mommy," She suddenly called. "Why is this area closed?"

"Oh, dear." A tall blonde suddenly came next to her. She eyed the exterior herself. Once her eyes met with Foxy's, the Pirate immediately concealed himself back in the darkness. He pressed the back of his metal body against the boards and waited there quietly.

"I'm not sure," The woman soon responded. "I don't even remember what was back there. Come on, sweetie. Daddy's waiting for us at the table."

Nearly every bit of Foxy was crushed as he listened to their footsteps disappear. He turned and tried to peek through the opening again, but found that it was dark once more. He released some air and quietly went back into the room. He started running around and glancing back at the old food that sat on the table. He tried to picture the vivid images back when Pirate's Cove was still open...the children that came in when things were silent, and the many games he used to play with them.

He started to go around and reminisce. He stared at the spot on the carpet where he remembered talking to Mike with. He looked over at the stage and cringed when images of his stories came to mind. The sight that affected him the worse were the drawings that were hung right next to his stage. The one that Mary drew of him and her at the jungle...the few that were drawn by Mike's sister...and the many others that toddlers drew for him. The sight crushed him.

The fox plopped down on the ground and stared at the walls silently. There was a very faint smell - though he could barely catch it. The camera in the corner of the room was off. They knew he couldn't leave no matter how hard he tried. The fox wasn't quite sure why they left him on, anyway. It was almost as if they wanted him to suffer...

He suddenly started to rock himself back and forth gently. The modifications added to him enabled him to move and curve like this so freely. At some point in his robotic life had he only been about parts and improvements. That's all the adults looked for in him, anyway. But the children...It was the children who wanted to know more about him. His stories, what he liked and disliked, how he felt about the pizza, and even of his own fears.

The children were pure. It was the adults whom were tainted.

Foxy's eyes went down to the floor. He decreased his volume to mutter. "If I had 'nother day..."

What would he do? He would go and tell every child there an enticing story - and encourage them to go to Pirate's Cove. He'd spend every moment asking the children how they felt and giving them prizes just because. He would speak of his adventures in detail and never let anything distract him from entertaining the kids. He'd be careful of his movement and try not to scare the little ones like he had done so long ago.

They labelled him as a "monster", but he was far from it. Foxy loved the children. They loved him. He was no more different than Freddy, Bonnie, and Chica...except he was more intelligent. Quicker, interesting, and talkative...but he was self-aware. Which ultimately earned him the closing of Pirate's Cove entirely. If only he had been more careful. None of this would have ever happened.

"'S not my fault," He spoke to himself. "Foxy jus'...catches onta' things quicker. Not like Freddy can..."

The fox turned his head to look at the boards that were on the entrance. What had his friends done for him, anyway? The most he got was a sympathetic message from Bonnie, but Freddy could have cared less. Chica had more important things to do. It seemed like he had always been alone; isolated in this room rather than included with them onstage and where everyone could see. He was their friend, no doubt about that...but to an extent.

"Traitors," He teased. "Th' kids wouldn't leave 'Ol Foxy...Or would they...?"

The depressive thoughts suddenly swarmed his mind again. He wasn't used to thinking like this so abnormally. They would come every now and then, but now it seemed that they haunted him every day. The images of the children staring at a closed Pirate's Cove...and forgetting about him entirely. Like that little girl a few minutes ago.

Foxy got up from his spot on the floor and jumped onto the stage. His quick movements were concerning to outsiders, but no one could see or hear him in the darkness. He could do everything he was capable of now, but to impress no one. That, itself, made everything he did here rather useless. What was the point of Foxy without his crew?

He reached out for the papers on the wall. They ripped off the staples in their corners. Foxy continued gathering them until he had a handful of fanart. He sat there and on the stage and started to glance through his new collection. All of them had Foxy in it, one way or the other. Seeing so gave him a rather warm feeling down in his circuits.

Eventually, he came across the same drawing he had seen years ago. One that nearly crumbled in his hand. It was so fragile...like the memory of it. It was the picture of him and Mary in that fateful jungle. The same day he broke down and started attention to improving himself in the pizzeria. This drawing had done more than anyone could ever think.

Foxy held it close to his chest and suddenly laid down on the floor. He curled up so he now laid in a fetal position. In his hands clutched the same pieces of paper, and it didn't look like he'd let go of it anytime soon. The darkness that circled him brought a cold feeling that climbed his limbs. His eyes absorbed all the papers before he started to mutter to himself.

"Me favorite memories..."

He took a final look through them all before he let go of them. They all fell down onto the ground just below the stage. He didn't move from his position, because something finally came into his mind. All these years...All the improvements they gave to him, all of those stories and shows, and especially all the times he spent with those kids...

They would all remain a memory. And one he was going to hold closest to his heart.