Disclaimer: I don't own Poppy Playtime (Video Game). I don't own the picture (cover). Or the song if I put one in.

(qwertuno and SilentReadersMatter)

(Hopefully this shows how fucking terrified I am of Miss Delight lol. Still, she's a bit hard so, eh.)

(Hope you enjoy.)

She struck at them time and time and time again. Never missing with her swings, and striking their stomach, gut, and even getting a few cuts on their shoulder for good measure. No longer playing the game she set for herself, and also her sisters before death came for them all.

Still, credit where credit was due, they were good at evading her attacks. Repeating a process they'd done before with similar being who wished for their demise. They sent the hands in her direction, only causing her to flinch a few seconds before striking once more. Having enough of her old method, and going for the kill.

'Stop it! I can help you!'

Miss Delight never missed when it came to capturing her prey. Pinning them to one of the desks, and forcing the human to sit as she examined their appearance. She placed them here years ago. Before they convinced her to show them the slightest hint of mercy.

She sighed. Tutting as she held Barb, inaudibly muttering plans and other ways to teach the human how to avoid a sharp blade. This reminded of them high school again. They also remembered it as mental torture.

'What's the point of all this?'

With a hand on her hip, Miss Delight turned to her newest student. Casually spinning Barb around in her other palm, the half-eaten former teacher somehow grinned at them in the weirdest fashion possible. In the blink of an eye, the human rolled to the side, although Delight predicted this, jabbing their arm before pinning them still to the ground.

She leaned in real close, and whispered those words they hated hearing form her lipless mouth.

"CatNap would've gotten you by now."

'...I suppose he would've.'

"And you barely survived Mommy and that bluish one. I forget his name, though he may not be important if I can't recall it."

The human stood to their feet with a hand from the humanistic mascot. Blondish hair stained with crimson, her eyes and teeth and nose all but exposed for the world to see. It was disturbing how they'd grown used to the scene. Finding any allies was their priority, and they'd take Delight over him any day of the week.

'...Huggy. His name was Huggy.'

"Oh...I don't really care for that. Now, shall we get a move on? Barb and I grow tired of this old location."

It was how she cooperated that proved their biggest problem. Hunger and the endless demands from 'the pit' as Delight dubbed it left them stumped. She proposed a mutual agreement. One that would benefit them both.

"Hello? Is anybody there?"

The human seized up as Delight took in the helpless mini toy, eyes shifting to those black voids with the white pricks. Then leaping from their side onto the little thing who cried and begged for help. And the human was helpless to stop it.

"Quit fighting, little one! It makes it so hard to eat these days!"

"Stop! Stop! Stop!"

Delight then raised Barb, and the ex-employee looked away as blood sputtered all over the room. In the walls, Delight and Barb, and even them standing a few feet away from the whole incident. Returning to normal, Delight putting a skip in her step to show off her happiness.

"I'd forgotten what food tastes like! This may work out for us then!"

'...Yeah, I guess.'

In order to secure Delight's loyalty to them, she had to feed. Barring a few exceptions, of course.

***

Which is how jarring it was to witness the former teacher sticking by their side, once all was said and done. The visible skip in her step ever present, and one of her hands holding their arm in case Delight's injuries caused any damage to her legs. She was quick on her feet, although not smart in the streets.

Growing with anything but intelligence and betrayal taught Delight nothing on the concept of fairness. Even CatNap waited until his allies were down to deal with them himself. Granted, he never had to fight his literal siblings like Delight, the realistic mascot delightfully enduring any of her questions on her former family. Before the massacre, and the hunger corrupting anyone it infected.

"We weren't always...close, but I could have relied on them for assistance. Then we were locked away by him. And they targeted me first. Because I was weak, human. They thought me foolish, but we showed them! They were wrong about us!"

One of Delight's fingers prodded utensil off her weapon, showing it off to the ex-employee to give the imagery of the blood and carnage that took place before their arrival. She appeared quite proud of herself, although Delight's eyes and softened tone conveyed a different story. Contrasting the other versions with mixed signals and a confusing ending to it. All they did was rest a hand on her shoulder, allowing the giant doll to lean on them for comfort.

Usually they weren't so touchy feely, but these toys hadn't been show any kind of affection for years. The flinching and expectations of attacks told them all they needed to know.

You and Barb make a good team, you know?. To last this long, Dee...

Unsure of where to go with their response, the ex-employee trailed off to leave this discussion with little words. Delight shrugged, humming off the awkward and grabbing their wrist to lead them near the council building. Red smoke leaked through the he windows as a warning, but Delight didn't seem as bothered of going into the beast's lair to search for any useful tools.

"It's nothing now, dear human! The past is in the past, right?

They nodded. Realising that Delight gave them an out for this painful topic, they took it without a second thought. Shoving it to the back of their mind, secretly storing it for any later use.

Good point, Del. Let's just...carry on.

Delight saluted the ex-employee like a soldier to its army general. Where she learned it, they weren't so sure they wanted to find out. Giggling at their flabbergasted expression, the human sized mascot seized the ex-employee's wrist, tugging them forwards in the direction she wished to go instead.

"Come then, human! We don't have all day!"

The humanistic hurriedly shoved them to the council house, the human not witnessing Delight's face darkening with dread and rage. She was in a stare off with him, the betrayal and confusion reflecting for all to see within. Another of ally of his being turned to the human's side, frustration replaced the signature smile CatNap was known to wear. Perhaps the human finally proved themselves as a worthy threat to him.

Okay, geez! You're going to hurt me if you keep this up!

As if she hadn't already done that when they'd met. Delight merely ignored them, continuing to giggle menacingly as she pushed them inside, bolting the sight of red smoke covering the main area they were just in. With her connection to CatNap, Delight remembered how his patience eventually wore thin, and he would come looking for them to avenge his God. For stealing Delight as an ally away from him, and managing to stay alive even after all their enemies tried to hard to kill them.

"Hurry up the pace! You never know what lurks in these parts!"

The human shuddered at the implications of that sentiment.

***

Games were a favourite pastime for the former teachers. Anytime they got bored, a simple idea planted along with meticulous made for an enjoyable experience. Picking up any tolls and scraps they found to build anything from the junk, then invent an activity to pass the days and hours they were trapped in the school. It took years for CatNap to unlock it.

Where only Delight remained.

"Too slow, human!"

I'm trying!

She laughed as they rolled out of the way of the falling debris. Due to CatNap sabotaging their progress, the building's structure wasn't strong enough to support their weight, and it crumbled right underneath. Hands hooked under their arms, and the ex-employee was dragged from a fallen pile of wood and metal. Splinters off the chairs, the knobs from the cupboard bounced off their bodies as Delight guided them through the rubble. She would know her way around the abandoned area, so they (somewhat) trusted her judgement to lead them out of this mess.

How in the hell did this even happen?!

"CatNap does get petty from time to time. He once ended the life of a toy because they called him, 'Kitty Cat', I believe?"

...They snorted. Delight pulled them from the building's wreckage, and they brushed the dust and ash that made its way onto their jacket. The human-like mascot copied their actions, more of mocking than anything else.

No, he didn't.

"Oh, my dear human, he did."

Even in their current predicament, the human couldn't help but laugh. The imagery of CatNap holding onto his animal instincts to rip those who insulted him to shreds. Imagining this beast after them offended by a mere comment-

They wheezed from their cackling.

Oh my God.

Delight tilted her head in confusion.

"...Who is your God?"

The human paused. Spattering and stuttering their response, they sighed and waved offf Delight's question. She just shrugged at it, placing Barb in her holster until she was needed. Most likely soon, if the other toys were after them.

...No one. Just leave it.

"If that is what you wish."

She rushed ahead of the human, leaving them to catch up with the former teacher as she left them by the wreckage. The ex-employee looked at the aftermath, mourning at the loss of a good few spare parts to fix the grabpack. Catching up to Delight, they pressed the blue to another door, opening it as it slid to let them through to another area of the Playcare.

You're weird.

"...I am not the one who looks over their shoulder every time they walk."

It's called self-preservation!

Delight merely looked over her shoulder. A 'shit-eating grin' as she heard the human used adorned her half-eaten mouth. Putting both hands on their shoulders, and leaning in real close until their faces were inches from touching. Emphasizing the point she was about to make.

Oh, goodie.

"...Self-preservation is the protection of oneself from harm or death. Perhaps you are just paranoid, human. Not like I can blame you, with these threats and everything."

She let go of them with a soft chuckle, carrying on as if nothing happened. It took the ex-employee a few seconds to recover, then their cheeks flushed and their face turned red with the embarrassment.

...Shut up, Dee.

They hurriedly ran to catch up with the former teacher as she left them behind. Pausing as she spotted a fresh looking toy scuttling into their domain, drawing her best friend from the holster she placed her in long ago. It was only ten minutes, but Delight loved to draw things out. Dramatics and other meaningless activities were some of the only things that kept her sanity to a minimum.

"...Barb and I will meet you at our next location. There is a meal we wish to harvest."

The ex-employee shrugged, and watched as Delight scurried off to find her new prey. At least she weren't targeting anybody else. They nearly crapped themselves thinking about.

And besides, Del's as capable if she survived over a decade in this building.

It wasn't as if Delight couldn't keep herself safe.

***

Scratch that, Delight could take care of herself, but not without chaos in her wake. They heard the clanging of metal underneath where they stood, and dove out the way as a trap door under a rug banged, and then tossed itself around the room. Curiosity crept through their bones, and they found themselves opening the slot of the hatch to it flying open to reveal endless darkness in the abyss below. They sighed at the obligation of having to go down into this potentially dangerous area.

...Guess being in home sweet home has its benefits. More places to explore. Yay.

At first they assumed it to be Delight struggling to get her prey as they ventured inside. Climbing down the ladder, the ex-employee lit up the flare to light a few feet so they could walk without hitting themselves on the head. Again. Just like in home sweet home before meeting Miss Delight in that damned school.

...Dee, you here?

"...Yes, human."

The ex-employee located the power generator for the room, sending the green hand to place in another before lighting the entire place. Not really paying attention, they went over to their new ally to shake her shoulder, silently urging her to come along with them back to upper levels. She merely ignored them, continuing to sit with her back turned, on her knees with Barb at her side.

...Is everything okay?-

Delight batted their hand away, shocking the human with how normally touchy she was. Usually she accepted any kind of praise or gesture, but not now. No, she instead waved around the room for their gaze to follow. A hollow laugh coming from her as she did.

"Look around you, sweet thing. Get a great look at where we are."

...The ex-employee froze in their tracks as they witnessed Delight sitting in the basement of home sweet home, taking in the sight of her sisters' mangled bodies when they were all trapped together. Alone. With no one else but each other. Bits and pieces surviving the carnage from years and years of resentment and hunger plaguing the sisters until they gave in. Devouring each other one by one so that only one remained by the end.

...How long did it take?

Delight turned to the human, allowing them close to wrap their arms around her shoulders. An attempt at comfort, which worked to an extent. The anger that the former reach repressed finally releasing, albeit through yelling and expressive gestures of her own.

"I loved them. And they turned on me without a second thought!"

Then she casted her gaze to the bodies. In the distance, the ex-employee noticed two white pricks observing the moment. He didn't dare intervene, not unless CatNap had a death wish off an emotionally unstable doll. Those eyes then looked down in...shame? Indifference? The ex-employee wasn't quite able to tell from their angle.

"We...we could've figured something out. But no, they suggested I be the first to die, human! So many years in that place! It was only a month before they went insane! Barb was my only protection, and the others forgot I existed once I started to...avoid them. It was for the best, really, who could like monsters such as ourselves?"

The result of the insatiable pit within Delight. A never ending mass of darkness and organs that wouldn't let her have peace. The memories of her sisters' betrayal showing clear even after a decade of imprisonment. There was no trust between them. Only hatred and resentment of their less than favourable punishment.

...The notes were right. Catnap ruined every life down here.

The ex-employee dared to glare at the observant feline. In return, he only kept watching as Delight pulled away, sobs echoing through, but no tears visible due to her lack of ducts for them. He appeared to extend a claw, then drew it back from...nerves? A second split decision? The ex-employee wasn't sure, but damn did this raise their drive to rid the Playcare of its grim reapers. Coming and claiming every life as they pleased. They wouldn't stand for it anymore.

Don't worry, Del. We'll set things straight. Who knows? Maybe Poppy will let you join the team.

They pulled Delight to stand, watching CatNap crawl away since the area was too small for him to fit in. How lucky for them. It was what they needed after this...not so pleasant trip down memory lane. Deciding to take Delight away from the bodies, peeking back one last time to register their states to keep the boost of confidence they had in dealing with CatNap. Figuring out his weakness was the last step for it.

They all have it. We just need to...exploit what it may be.

Every bigger body had one. Mommy, Huggy, they just needed to find it before luring CatNap somewhere he wouldn't come back from. With the help of their friend, and some more toys if they found any on the way to end this madness.

"...Thank you, human."

No worries, Delight. It's what I'm here for.

She squeezed their shoulder in appreciation, not intending on letting go of their arm to help her balance. The emotional strain of seeing her sisters in that state, the image of those former faces who loved long ago would burn for a while until she forgot. As they arrived to the Playcare, the questions from Poppy and Kissy began, the ex-employee answering for the two smoothly. Brushing any concern with a valid excuse each time suspicion arose.

We're just lucky.

Delight chimed in every now and again, explaining who she was and waiting on Poppy's decision regarding her worth. According to her, trust had to be earned. And she wasn't exactly the friendliest with her human. But they defended her anyways to allow her to join them.

We'll need all the support we can to deal with CatNap.

Neither mentioned the lack of delivery on both their ends. Sometimes, actions spoke louder than words.