Got to keep my calm, and carry on
Stay awake until the sun will shine
But I'm not so strong, and they're not gone
They're still out there to take what's left of mine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You know, if I had to be relieved of one thing, it would be the fact that Nightmare Mangle couldn't hear my heartbeat because holy crap is my anxiety high at that moment.

I felt her presence practically hovering so close to mine. I had to make sure she wasn't looking my way. I took the risk of looking over the bushes, the second head couldn't see anything and was, as far as I was aware, whimpering from the pain I had inflicted on it. It almost made me feel sorry, but I had to protect myself.

Nightmare Mangle's head was indeed away from where I was hiding. Readying my lasso, I started swinging the lasso as I tried my best to quietly exit behind the bushes.

I was so focused on the lassoing that I hadn't noticed the twig until my foot connected to it, my weight crushing it, creating a snap that echoed seemingly across the forest. I honestly might as well just die at this point.

The Nightmare fox practically whipped her head towards me and released a blood curdling scream that left my ears ringing.

Without wasting any time, I threw the lasso and, to my amazing luck, lassoed Nightmare Mangle. I pulled with all my strength until I reached a tree, doing my best with my small hands to tie the wire like rope to it. It was difficult, with Nightmare Mangle pulling and thrashing.

I thought I had her trapped but I was also reminded of the other wires connected to her broken body. I had to get those wires, too.

I watched closely to each wire waving my arms around to get Nightmare Mangle's attention, "Hey! Over here ya metallic monster!"

Apparently she didn't like that, because she screeched and sent a wire towards my way. I waited for the right moment to dodge the wire, letting it penetrate the ground, getting it stuck. I quickly grabbed the wire and pulled it to another tree, tieing that one around it.

Even though I was sure Nightmare Mangle knew what my plan was, she still sent wires after me, only getting herself entangled and trapped by her most used weapons.

At this point, my breath was quick and tired while I watched Nightmare Mangle thrash about to escape. I used another wire to lasso her mouth shut because there was no way in hell I was going to let her try anything with those monstrous jaws of hers.

I grabbed the stake and made my way to Nightmare Mangle, stopping just a foot away from her.

"Sorry about this, but I have to do it." I muttered raising the stake above my head. Just when I was about to, I stopped.

I don't know what stopped me, maybe it was the way Nightmare Mangle was looking at me with only one eye. It was filled with fear and sadness. It almost looked like tears were dripping down her broken cheeks.

I pitied her. I felt like what happened to her wasn't exactly her fault. I couldn't possibly kill her.

I dropped the stake and knelt down, carefully putting a hand on her head. She flinched, but for once, she seemed relaxed.

"Who did this to you?"

Nightmare Mangle couldn't speak because of the wire around her mouth, but the second head twitched and opened its endoskeleton mouth.

"M-M-a-ri-onnnnn-e-t-tte...."

God, I should have known. I placed both hands on Nightmare Mangle's muzzle and lifted it up more as I stood, "After all this, I'm gonna get you fixed, I promise."

For once, she looked relieved to hear that. Nightmare BB and Nightmarionne must have treated her like a dog forced to fight her kind. I didn't know exactly how Nightmarionne influenced her, but I was sure that whatever it was, I was gonna fix it.

My lips twitched upward at the thought of her finally receiving the clarity she deserved. She could be an Auntie! I wonder what sort of love interest she could have, or what she'd like to do for fun.

A low growl interrupted my good thoughts and looked back down at Nightmare Mangle, who hunched away from me. A frown appeared on my face, "Mangle? What's wrong?" She didn't answer, but the second head started to laugh hysterically, which really creeped me out, but come on when has anything creeped me out, I live with a Nightmare family for crying out loud!

The second head stopped laughing and abruptly twisted its head around before stopping to look at me with those empty eye sockets.

"Did you really think I'd let you tame my wild beast?"

It was very clear, and I quickly assumed it was Nightmarione speaking though the second head.

I didn't have time to think because Nightmare Mangle broke out of the lasso around her jaws and opened them, showing off her teeth.

I backed away from her with wide eyes, "Mangle, no! Don't let it control you!"

That didn't work, Nightmare Mangle lunged her head forward and tried to tear me apart. I was able to dodge it, shouting to her once more, "Mangle, please, remember what I said! I can fix you!" The second head's growl was sinister as a reply to my words.

"YOU CAN'T FIX WHAT'S ALREADY BROKEN!"

A wire I didn't see break out from a tree slammed against my stomach, I felt myself cough up blood from the impact. Before I knew it my body hit a tree. The impact must have hit my head, everything was blurry and I couldn't even bring myself to get back up.

My eyes made an attempt to look back to Nightmare Mangle, I could only see her form thrashing and screeching. I tried reaching a hand out to her, but I was too weak to even do that.

No matter how much I fought, I was slipping away in seconds.

I tried to reach out to her again, "Ma-ngle..."

Not again! I can't be doing this again!

I had no choice but to succumb to the darkness that surrounded my vision as I slipped into unconsciousness. The only hope I had was to be able to fight out of whatever memory Nightmarionne tries to trap me in.