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Chapter Text

The fighting was endless, cookies crumbling for their own kingdoms, the ancients scrambling to ready more troops, the beast defending their claims. There was never a moment of peace for anyone. Sugarfly Cookie wouldn’t trade it for anything.

It had been several months since she had escaped the Garden, and since the Faerie Kingdom had accepted her once more as their own. After leaving Hollyberry Cookie and her company, she had feared what her previous kingdom would say about her, what they would think about what she did, the choices she had made. Mercurial Knight Cookie took some convincing, but Silver Cookie was more than happy to see her. Upon her arrival, and her acceptance, she learned the horrible truth about his majesty Elder Faerie Cookie, and his untimely demise, to which she mourned. However, in that same breath, she was able to meet with her Highness White Lily Cookie, the new Guardian of the Silver Tree. Her kindness knew no bounds and soon, with time, Sugarfly Cookie regained her once high status on the Guardian’s Counsel.

She couldn’t be happier, she couldn’t have felt freer. The syrup that once coated her wings had fully melted. Though the color had faded, the way they glistened in the light, and rode upon the air made her remember all she had lost, and now all she had regained. Still, even with her silver wings, and her place regained with the Silver Tree, she only wished for one more thing… one more Cookie that could fulfill her happiness completely. But he would never come, he would never acquiesce, even if he was free to do so.

So that left Sugarfly Cookie here, front and center in the battle between the Beast and the Ancients, happy to server her Majesty White Lily Cookie, and to even see Hollyberry Cookie once more. She wasn’t in the fray, she merely stayed behind, keeping head count, tallying supplies, calming Mercurial Knight Cookie. She longed to help her fellow cookies, but her years in the Garden left her still physically weak. As well, her wings were still fragile, and they would need many more years to heal. Best to stay out of it all…

“Sugarfly Cookie, we need more Berry Bombs for the canons. Fetch some more from the Cellars at once.” Mercurial Knight Cookie’s orders snapped Sugarfly Cookie out of her trance. She nodded quickly and set off to complete her task. Anything for Mercurial Knight Cookie, anything for the cause.

The Cellar wasn’t far from camp, but just secluded enough to where enemy forces couldn’t crack its location. Only certified personnel knew of its specific coordinates. On her walk, Sugarfly Cookie’s mind began to wander once more. It always did that. After so many years in the Garden, she couldn’t focus as well as before. She still loved what she was doing, and the cause she fought for, but she wished she still didn’t feel so alone through it all. Silverbell Cookie is good company, sure, but even he has companions she longs for. Her thoughts continued to stray from her mind, until even she had strayed from her path.

“Oh no…. no no no!” Sugarfly Cookie whipped her head around quickly. Where had she walked too? Where was the Cellar?? If she didn’t get those Berry Bombs back to camp soon, Mercurial Knight Cookie would-

Rustle

The leaves from the nearby bushes shifted and crackled. Sugarfly’s face paled as she stared through a grove she could not recognize. Was she in enemy territory? Was this it? Would Eternal Sugar Cookie find her and take her back to the Garden? She couldn’t go back, she just couldn’t!

Her thoughts were quickly broken as an arrow zipped past her head. Slicing off small strands of her thin hair, it pierced the trunk of the grey tree behind her. Her breath quicken as she gripped her chest. The trees were too thick here, she couldn’t just fly away. And the underbrush would give way to the noise of her footsteps, and she’d surely be pursed. There was no where else to turn. This was it.

“…Sugarfly Cookie…?”

The voice was so soft, Sugarfly Cookie was sure she didn’t hear it correctly. Turning back to the bushes, her usually clouded mind saw clearly for the first time. That soft voice, young, yet deeper than she had last heard it, did belong to the Cookie she had sought for since she left the Garden of Eternal Happiness.

“Pavlova Cookie?”

The latter stepped out of the foliage, brushing off loose leaves from his toga, Sugarfly Cookie could see him fully now. She hadn’t seen his true form in many years, and oh how she had missed it. He was tall, taller than she even, and most Cookies his age. His hair was longer, but still two toned with the baby pink and red hues. His wings were gorgeous, large, full, and made with strong, yet soft feathers, contrasting Sugarfly’s delicate glassy set. What struck her most was his eyes. They still had that soft red color, but the hearts that were once his pupils had now changed. They were upside down, and almost looked cracked with heartbreak. This was not a Cookie who knew the love the Eternal Garden was supposed to show.

“What are you doing out here? I could have killed you!” Pavlova Cookie’s voice came out harshly, and cut Sugarfly Cookie more deeply than his arrow ever could have. She could hear, however, that beyond the anger he felt, it was fueled by the fear that he did actually hurt her.

A hand soon brushed through her hair, where the arrow had almost pierced the side of her head. “I almost did…” his voice trailed off, softer now, embracing the fear and regret that charged his earlier words.

Sugarfly Cookie leaned into the touch, “But you didn’t. And how could you have known it was me? The brush is too dense here, and I’m about as grey as the trees behind me.” Her last sentence came out in a chuckle. She wanted to lighten the mood, but she also wanted to shake the tremble she felt in her frame.

They two held each other in the silence for longer than they should have. Yet the feeling of the soft breeze, the silence only interrupted by their breathing, and the small glances they gave each other were enough to keep the two fixed like they had been trapped in jam jars.

“It’s good to see you again. I’ve missed you ever so.” Sugarfly Cookie cut through the silence, taking her own hand and placing it atop the one that cupped her cheek. This made Pavlova Cookie chuckle.

“As have I,” he replied sweetly, “You look well, though your colors have dulled, your sweetness never wavered.”

Sugarfly Cookie smiled at this, and her wings, almost as if they had a mind of their own, began to flap slowly. Pavlova Cookie’s eyes widened as he removed his hand from her and stepped back in awe.

“Oh! I’m sorry, sometimes I can’t control them.” Sugarfly Cookie tried to fold them back up, but her wings refused, almost as if they wished to show off to Pavlova too.

“No no, they’re beautiful…” Pavlova shivered at the sight, “They look as if they were crafted from stained glass. The light that reflected off of them is prettier than any amount of stick syrup Eternal Sugar Cookie could pour on them.”

Sugarfly Cookie felt a swift fire rise to her cheeks. His words set her ablaze in a way she had never felt before. And they way he looked at her, like she was the most beautiful flower in all of the Garden, it almost made her heart full again.

Eventually, Pavlova Cookie did avert his gaze, his eyes shifting slowly to the ground.

“I’m not going to hurt you, nor will I take you back to Eternal Sugar. But you need to leave. Now.”

The smile that had crept on to her face from Pavlova Cookie’s lovely complement now vanished into concern. What did he mean? Was he not happy to see her anymore?

“Pavlova Cookie I-“

“There isn’t time, you need to go, more Sugar Angels could be on their way, and I don’t want you to get caught in the fray.”

Pavlova Cookie began to turn away, to retreat back into the bushes, to go back to the Garden, the place that encased him, the place that trapped him just as it had trapped Sugarfly, and she would not have it. She grabbed his hand roughly, making his head turn.

“Please Pavlova Cookie, come with me.”

For a split second, she could have sworn his eyes lightened. Maybe some secret color making their way into his irises, or maybe the light had shifted his pupils back to hearts again. But just as quickly as she saw the light, it dimmed once more.

“I can’t Sugarfly, my home is in the Garden, it’s with Eternal Sugar Cookie. I can’t leave-“

“But I did! Please Pavlova Cookie. I’m so happy here in the Faerie Kingdom, and you could be to! Her Majesty White Lily Cookie is so kind! She will surely let you in. I miss you so dearly, My Pavlova. My happiness isn’t complete without you!”

The words came out faster than what her brain could control. But she did not regret what was said, she had only wished she could have said it differently. For maybe the outcome would have been better.

“Your happiness could never be complete with me, My Butterfly. I weigh you down, I trap you here. You can never be who you need to be if I am at your side. I only bring false hope and ideas of grandeur. I can only bring the happiness that Eternal Sugar Cookie creates, I can’t bring you the happiness you need. It isn’t meant to be. Go now before I am forced to hurt you again. Go now before I am forced to hurt again.”

In one swift motion, Pavlova Cookie’s wings opened to their full span. Letting go of her hand, and leaving Sugarfly Cookie with a look of desperation, and yet contentment, Pavlova Cookie took off into the skies. All she was left with was the echo of his voice, commanding Sugar Angels to follow him away from her location.

Turning away from the sky, Sugarfly Cookie walked towards the tree behind her, and forcefully pulled out the arrow that had pierced its bark. She held it in her hands for a while, grazing over each mark and divot.

“Sugarfly Cookie! Where have you been? We need those Berry Bom-“ She could hardly hear Mercurial Knight Cookie clambering at her, nor could she feel him take her hand and guide her back to camp for inspection. Her mind was elsewhere again, and this time it wasn’t alone. Her heart traveled with it, in the hopes she could one day find her true happiness again.

Chapter Text

It had been weeks since their fateful meeting in the groves beyond the Faerie Kingdom, and Pavlova Cookie treasured every fleeting moment of that memory, for it would most likely be the last he would ever see his butterfly again.

Eternal Sugar Cookie was not happy that he had not returned with the stolen stash of Berry Bombs and stories of a ransacked Hollyberry Cellar, but it mattered very little. Pavlova Cookie would still be her general, because she had no one else left among her ranks who could carry out the position.

After Sugarfly Cookie left, and Hollyberry Cookie and her company had defeated the last of any of Eternal Sugar Cookie’s hopes of a fruitful future together, her benevolence had crumbled. She was a shell of her former self, and though she continued to preach the need for peace and the joys of her everlasting paradise, even she could not hide her growing insatiable lust for her other half. That is why, when Shadow Milk Cookie approached her to insight the current conflict, Eternal Sugar Cookie agreed without hesitation. Anything to get her soulmate back.

The pain Pavlova Cookie had experienced from everything that she had done to him since Hollyberry Cookie’s triumph was immeasurable, however, he did sympathize with her plight. They had both lost dearly beloveds that day. Yet, when he thinks about his butterfly, his Sugarfly Cookie, his heart simply aches from the void it is left with. He cannot even muster up any malice if he tried, all he is left with is despair and longing. No one had ever told him that love could hurt. And yet, here he was… yearning.

Now, back at the Garden, Eternal Sugar Cookie sought counsel with Pavlova Cookie to plan their ultimate action, an action that could turn the course of the war in favor of the Beasts. Pavlova Cookie wasn’t just trying to find the Cellar to ransack it, he was also trying to find the heart of the Faerie Kingdom. For eons the faeries that inhabited the area shrouded it in mystery, protecting it and its Silver Tree with their lives. However, the war had made their priorities shift. Still it remained heavily guarded, but now its foundation sustained some cracks. Cracks that could be exploited. At the end of their meeting, a full on assault was planned for the Faerie Kingdom, with Eternal Sugar Cookie at its head.

Though he had agreed to the plan, and orchestrated most of its movement, his mind was elsewhere. As he planned a front sweep, he also planned to make sure Sugarfly Cookie was anywhere else at that moment. If Eternal Sugar Cookie saw her, she would surely be taken back to the Garden, her freedom stripped from her once more. Pavlova Cookie couldn’t bear it. Her call to join her echoed in his mind once more. It was such a sweet offering, sweeter than anything the Bringer of Happiness had in her Garden. But Pavlova couldn’t take it. Sugarfly Cookie’s happiness is his upmost priority, even if that means he can’t be in the picture. It’s just as he said, he would only weigh her down, she deserved to be in the sky, not hiding beneath the canopy of the forest as Eternal Sugar searches for her missing general. Her happiness is above all else, even his own.

“Pavlova Cookie? My dear, are you feeling alright?”

Her words cut his thoughts swiftly and cleanly, as if he was never even thinking about his beloved. He slowly turned to face her, too slowly, she would surely notice that.

“Yes, your Benevolence. I’m just making sure our plan is executed to completion.” He responded. A straightforward response, a planned response.

“I know you’re thinking about her, my dear.”

Pavlova Cookie’s eyes widened, and he could feel his heart pounding out of his dough. Any sense of composure he felt vanished instantly. It always did underneath that knowing gaze. He was cursed to obey it.

“It’s alright, I understand your grief,” Eternal Sugar Cookie started after Pavlova hadn’t responded promptly enough, “She was a dear friend to you, your only cohort in my vast Garden. You two were almost inseparable, I saw your love play out before me. A loss like that cuts deeper than what even the joy from my Garden can heal.”

Did she… understand him, understand his plight? He still felt frozen in place, as if he spent too long in the oven, and his dough had turned brittle. His hand was placed gently over his heart, to hide its reckless beating. He, himself, was also surprised that the sweet scents and ripe berries from the Garden could never bring him back to his childlike sense of love and wonder. It was almost as if, when Sugarfly Cookie left, she had taken a piece of him with her, a piece that was central to his functioning. Without her, he was broken, without her, no amount of joy or love could heal what she had taken from him.

So deeply had Pavlova Cookie fallen into his thoughts, he didn’t notice how Eternal Sugar Cookie slowly leaned in to embraced him. Her wings folded delicately around his frame, and she guided him to the ground under a nearby tree. Still frozen in place, all he could do was acquiesce, and allow himself to fall against her light, but protective frame.

“It’s just as I had instructed Hollyberry Cookie to do all those years ago. You need to let go of the past, your mistakes and regrets, and embrace the peace and tranquility my Garden can provide you. It’s a hard truth, but a steadfast one: you will never know happiness again until you move on from her, My Cherub.”

Her words dripped from her mouth like a honey flowing from a jar, gracing his ears in their sticky, sweet sentences. Her hand combed through his thick hair at a steady pace, sending shivers down his spine, and releasing him from his fear induced trance. Her chest to which he had laid his head upon was softer than any cloud that dotted the skies. He felt as though he was no longer in Beast Yeast, not even on Earthbread. He longed to resist her sweet temptations, but no one could, not even himself.

“Besides, My Cherub, if she had truly loved you, why would she ever leave you? Her desires were selfish and pitiful. She longed to return to the wings she once despise? She is fickle. She had true happiness and peace for the rest of her days here with you, with us. And yet… she almost broke her wings at the chance to fly again. She is a foolish cookie, foolish for believing she deserved my paradise, and foolish for believing she deserved you. You are strong, My Cherub, and full of romance and determination. You see what others cannot see, you see the void in their hearts and souls, clearly you should have seen how empty her heart was, even with you?”

Pavlova Cookie would never admit it, but he had never looked into Sugarfly Cookie’s heart, he was too afraid that he would break from what he found hidden within. But he continued to let his eyes close, and his breath slow.

“I have provided you with everything you could ever need, and I have never once abandoned you, my sweet. My heart is full and content, and you, my little Pavlova Cookie, create most of the happiness I feel.” At this point, Eternal Sugar Cookie had lifted up Pavlova Cookie’s head, forcing his eyes open to gaze upon her. Her eyes were full and bright, it was as if every word she uttered made them shine with more and more intensity.

“You are my angel, my sweet, My Cherub. And I am all you will ever need here. You have no reason to put yourself through this needless suffering over a cookie who fled at the first sight of an exit. I will never leave you, Pavlova Cookie, so long as you stay loyal to me. And if you do, once this is all over, we can go back to our quiet and peaceful life in the Garden. I may even let you take back your childlike wonder. This form, this body you possess, is only temporary, but it is prolonged the more you let yourself suffer. Release yourself, Pavlova Cookie. Relinquish yourself to me. Let me bring you happiness.”

His form, his body, himself. Everything he knew about himself came from that of Eternal Sugar Cookie. His only identity was her. All he had ever known was her. She had given him everything, and she was everything. But even with the life she had given him, could there not be more to it? Of course the pain of loss hurt, but there was joy within it. He felt it knowing Sugarfly Cookie was ok, knowing that, she too, wanted him as much as he longed for her. Maybe there was more happiness he could find outside of the Garden. But he could not utter any of this blasphemy. All he could muster was a nodding of his head.

Eternal Sugar Cookie slowly ushered him to his feet, as she rose to stretch her wings. Yawning, she fixed her eyes to him.

“We attack at nightfall, round your sugar angels and meet me at the West Gate.”

“Yes, your Graciousness. It shall be done.”

“Excellent!” A smile graced her face, lighting up the Garden in a way no sunlight could rival, “And remember what we discussed today, My Cherub. You will always be my favorite denizen, don’t ever forget that.”

“Thank you, your Eminence.” Pavlova Cookie turned away, but he only took one step before familiar words graced his ear.

“I love you, Pavlova Cookie.”

…

“I love you too, Mom.”

Chapter Text

“Sugarfly Cookie, are you alright?”

The sound of Silverbell Cookies’s voice had startled her, she was so lost in her thoughts she hadn’t even heard him enter the Cellar.

It was nightfall, the sun was grazing the line of the horizon. Sugarfly always loved when the sun rose and fell over that line. It was at the most perfect angle to cast its rays through the canopy of the trees, and it lit up the heart of the Faerie Kingdom in a blaze of light. Everything, and everyone seemed to glow in those times, the leaves of the trees glistened, the hard brick and stone of their grand houses and temples glittered. But Sugarfly Cookie’s favorite part was how the light shone through the wings of the kingdom’s denizens. Pavlova Cookie was right, and she hadn’t noticed it until he had made the claim, but the wings of the faeries do shine like fresh stained glass. It was the most beautiful sight, and though t filled her with love and awe, it filled her with guilt, the guilt she felt whenever she thought about her old desires to leave this place. How could she have been so foolish to leave her people. How vain she was.

Of course, tonight, she could not gaze fondly at the way the light danced with her people, for Mercurial Knight Cookie put her on organizational duty for the Cellar. Ever since her fateful meeting with Pavlova Cookie, he could not seem trust her with the duties she had once carried out without error. White Lily Cookie agreed, and while she did not lose her status, she did lose the opportunity to work in the more intense parts of her job. Not that she minded this, the monotony of organization allowed her thoughts to wander freely and uninterrupted. Until now, of course.

“Oh! Yes, Silverbell Cookie, I’m fine.” She hadn’t noticed that she had been sorting through the same pile of berries for the past half hour, for in that time, her mind took her to dance, sorting through precious memories of her beloved, her Pavlova.

“I just wanted to let you know, once you finish that box, Mercurial Knight Cookie says you are dismissed for the night.” Silverbell Cookie finished, hovering ever so slightly off the ground so he could see her progress. The intensity of the way he flapped his wings made Sugarfly Cookie’s own pair ache. She was still weak, another reason Mercurial Knight Cookie had voiced his concerns.

That’s the one thing she could not stand. She was fine with being given mundane jobs, she was fine with staying out of the fray. What she could not handle was being seen as weak. Physically, she could be better, but no one in this kingdom knows the half of what she went through. No one knows the pain and suffering she experienced everyday under the vise of “happiness.” Her wings ached and tore from how much she had endured, not because they are so brittle they shatter like glass with one gust of wind. She had endured more than any faerie in this kingdom could ever bear, and yet she stayed silent. She completed her tasks without fuss, and let them think she was weak. What was the point? After all she had done, after all she had went through, they wouldn’t see her as anything more than that, a weak minded and willed little butterfly. The thought once again brought her back to her lonely state. She would never go back, but she had to admit, even the Garden was more accepting than her own domain.

“Thank you, Silver, I’ll finish up.” She whispered, as Silverbell Cookie was already starting up the stairs.

CRUNCH

Sugarfly Cookie’s head turned to the sudden noise. Silverbell Cookie’s frame stood motionless for a moment, before falling back over the edge of the last step to stumble down the staircase. Racing towards him, Sugarfly Cookie was able to catch him in her arms before his fall could crumble him further. The sounds she had heard now had a visual to accompany it, as an arrow had pierced the dough of Silverbell Cookie’s leg.

“WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!”

Mercurial Knight Cookie’s voice rang out over the sudden chaos that broke out from above. She could make out nothing, only the sounds of running feet and flying arrows. Shadows of frighted cookies and faeries alike were cast on the steps through the open Cellar door.

Oh… oh no

The Cellar door was OPEN.

Sugarfly Cookie scrambled to her feet. There would be no time to clean up the berries she was sorting, and certainly no time to close the door. As carefully as she could, she scooped up Silverbell Cookie’s light frame into her arms. Scanning around, she located a precariously stacked pile of unorganized boxes, a perfect place to hide. Sugarfly Cookie rushed to the back of the Cellar and, tip toeing through the crates and boxes, made a makeshift barricade where she could tend to Silverbell Cookie, and my did he need tending.

Gingerly, she set him down on the dusty floor. She wished she had a better work space, but it would have to do. Ignoring how painfully familiar the arrow in his leg looked to her, she focused more on swiftly removing the foreign object, and to curb the bleeding that would follow.

“Hold still, this is going to hurt.” She whispered as gently as she could. Gripping the shaft of the arrow, she took a deep breath, and pulled with all she could muster. The arrow popped out with little effort, and a soft groan of pain was emitted by the wounded faerie. Setting down the arrow, Sugarfly Cookie hovered her hands over his wound, and spread her wings. The two used to have classes together when they were young at the Silver Academy, and both found a love for spells and magic, especially those of the healing varieties. Sugarfly Cookie prayed to anyone who would listen that her time in the Garden hadn’t damaged her magic, and she began to enact one of her mending spells.

“Well well well, what do we have here?”

Sugarfly Cookie gasped softly and immediately stopped her casting. Silverbell Cookie groaned again, whether it was from the return of the pain or at the nearby voice, she couldn’t tell. That voice, how did she know that voice? It was familiar to her, but not in the way she would like. Only once did its owner step into Cellar did she make the terrifying connection.

“Black Sapphire Cookie, what have you found?” That voice belonged to one of the sugar angels, a voice she could never mistake.

“It appears to be that old Cellar that poor little Pavlova couldn’t find. Oh ho ho their majesties will be thrilled! Angels? Tear this place to bits.”

Sugarfly Cookie could barely make out his last phrase, as sugar angels had already begun tearing down shelving and ransacking crates full of precious supplies. There was nothing she could do, she could only silence Silverbell Cookie as much as she could so they would not be found. Through the clammer and clutter, there was one sound she could make out with crystal clarity. Footsteps.

Tap…Tap…

Silverbell Cookie shuffled, Sugarfly Cookie held him down harder.

Tap…Tap…

Unconsciously, her wings twitched in fear. Her whole body was shaking. Silverbell Cookie was strangely calm underneath her.

Tap…Tap….Tap.

Black Sapphire Cookie’s breath was hard and fast, he was so close she could almost smell the deceit that lay permanently stained to his tongue. She felt like she was back in the Garden. She swore she could feel the grass in-between her fingers, and the breeze wash over her wings, and the gaze of Eternal Sugar Cookie burning holes through her dough. The fear was all encompassing. She was no longer in her body. She was floating somewhere beyond. She was a ghost, spectating over the world. No longer in control, only longing to be anywhere by here. But as she hovered, she could only watch herself in horror as her wings twitched and bumped into a nearby crate.

“Why, hello there!”

In one swift motion, she was back in her form, and her eyes were fixed with those of Black Sapphire Cookie. She could say nothing, she could do nothing, she could only hold his gaze.

“Eternal Sugar will be delighted to see you again, little butter-“ Before he could finish his taunt, his eyes had shifted from being fixed upon her, to scanning over Silverbell Cookie’s injured frame. The smile he wore with such callousness suddenly vanished. She had never seen a cookie loose their composure so fast.

“You, Angels!” Black Sapphire Cookie suddenly turned his head and pointed towards some passing sugar angels, “Take Sugarfly Cookie to Eternal Sugar Cookie immediately. The rest of you,” His attention now turned towards the rest of the ransackers, “Continue carrying out your orders, I want this places scrapped and useless.” Finally, Black Sapphire Cookie turned his head back to face the cowering pair, “Leave the faerie to me.”

As quickly as the order was given out, two sugar angels lifted Sugarfly Cookie out of her makeshift barricade and escorted her to the Cellar stairs. She struggled against their grip, but they only tightened around her. She opened her wings, but the confining walls of the Cellar only made them fold in upon themselves. If only she was stronger, if only her wings weren’t so frail, she could escape, and tear Silverbell Cookie from the clutches of that purple snake. Maybe Mercurial Knight Cookie was right, maybe she was too weak for this fight. Maybe she was better of at mundane tasks. Maybe the Garden was the place for her after all. She felt herself loose grip of her body once more, and go limp against the sugar angels that carried her.

Her soul became one with her body once more when the light of the moon shone on her frame, and the screams of terrified faeries hit her ears. Yet she couldn’t bear to look up, for she knew who would soon be gazing upon her.

“Bringer of Happiness, your excellence, look who we found!” The sugar angel to her right practically bounced with pride, as if he was a small child showing his mother a pretty stone he found at the playground.

“My sweet Sugarfly Cookie, it just couldn’t be!”

Chapter Text

Pavlova Cookie despised working with the cookies of deceit.

They were just so calloused, so malicious, and all for the love of the game, not from any heartbreak, not because of the pain of the world. They lie for the joy it brings them to see cookies suffer. He supposed that’s why Eternal Sugar Cookie was so fond of them, for they acted for their own selfish happiness, just as any cookie did in the Garden.

Candy Apple Cookie fought for the love of her master, a goal that Pavlova found nothing but disgust for. Maybe it was because of his own relationship to his beast that tainted his judgment, but he could never fathom finding comfort or joy in any of the Beast Cookies. Shadow Milk Cookie fought for the chaos deceit brought. He loved how one simple rumor could ruin the lives of so many cookies, even if it wasn’t remotely true. He believed cookies to be so naive and foolish. No one could ever simply seek the truth without finding lies and liars in its wake. Candy Apple Cookie and Shadow Milk Cookie’s goals were clear and well known to Pavlova Cookie, or to any cookie who cared to pay attention. There was only one issue.

He could not figure out what brought Black Sapphire Cookie happiness from deceit.

He thought it was for the love of chaos, similarly to his master. And though that did stand, it was not his main goal. He thought maybe it was for the love of his master, similarly to his cohort, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Pavlova Cookie had a unique ability to read other cookie’s hearts, as gifted to him by his mother. Candy Apple Cookie’s love was obvious, and rather distastefully boring. Shadow Milk Cookie’s love was all for the bloodshed. But no matter how hard he looked into Black Sapphire Cookie, his heart remained guarded and chained. Maybe he was similarly hiding something from his master, just as Pavlova had to keep his beloved away from Eternal Sugar. Maybe they were not so different after all. But, then again, who could a deceitful cookie love other than the game?

So it shocked Pavlova Cookie to see, after gathering his sugar angels to the West Gate, the cookies of the Spire consulting with Eternal Sugar Cookie. The two beasts chatted joyfully together, while Candy Apple Cookie kicked a nearby stone with her foot out of boredom, and Black Sapphire Cookie organized his deceitful denizens for war.

“You have returned to me, Pavlova Cookie, and what an army you have built!” Eternal Sugar Cookie began, her smile widening at the sight. Her smile had always sent chills down Pavlova Cookie’s spine, as it was mostly filled with sincerity, but hidden beneath it lie a greed and selfishness only he could read. His power was both a blessing and a curse.

“We will be working with Shadow Milk Cookie and his forces increase our power-“ “And hopefully snuff those no good rotten faerie cookies out!” Shadow Milk Cookie finished, pounding his fists together to give a visual to his gruesome words. His heart sank to his stomach. The army of the Garden was weak and lazy, for that was all they had ever known. They had never had to fight, nor the training to fight, like his mother required him to undergo. He had hoped their mission would be a failure because of this, but, of course, Eternal Sugar Cookie is wiser than that.

“That is… excellent, your Graces.” Was all Pavlova Cookie could muster. Now he only had one goal in mind: find Sugarfly Cookie and get her out as quickly as possible. This would be the bloodiest effort the Beasts had put into this war yet.

“Now then! If you are ready, my dear, let us take to the skies!” Shadow Milk Cookie’s voice boomed over the sea of soldiers. Each sugar angel attached themselves to one of the deceitful denizens, and raised their wings to the open sky. Row by row, each took off, with Shadow Milk Cookie, Candy Apple Cookie, and Eternal Sugar Cookie at the head. Black Sapphire and Pavlova Cookie would be the last to take off, as the generals of their respective troops, they held back to make sure take off was orderly.

“I hope you’re ready for carnage, Pavlova dear!” Black Sapphire Cookie turned to him with a smile after that utterance, and expanded his devilish wings. Pavlova Cookie watched as he followed the last row of soldiers into the air. His own wings twitched in anticipation, or maybe fear, Pavlova Cookie could not tell, as his mind was already racing. Sugarfly Cookie must get out of harms way, she must! She had worked so hard to earn her freedom, and Pavlova would be sure she would keep it.

The flight did not take long. Pavlova hated that. However, what he hated more was the way Black Sapphire Cookie kept smiling at him.

“Are you sure this is where you spotted the faerie soldiers, my Cherub?” Eternal Sugar Cookie asked him sweetly. Once they had neared the grove, Pavlova took the lead of the force, and swooped down once he had recognized the pattern in the trees. Upon his landing, a wave of comfort flowed through him. The light shining through the canopy, the breeze rustling the leaves, everything reminded him of their fateful meeting. He swore he could even make out Sugarfly Cookie’s form and figure, or even make out the pattern of her wings on the ground where the light refracted. His bliss was only broken by the light pink hand that rested on his shoulder, and a question that brought back his sinking feeling.

“Yes, your Benevolence. I could not go any father than this, the soldiers would have surely found me.”

“A pitiful excuse.” The grating voice of Black Sapphire Cookie had landed just as gracefully on his ears as he had floated to the ground, “A good general moves silently, and is able to think on his feet. This way.” Black Sapphire Cookie took charge immediately, leading the patrol through the dense underbrush, all with a smirk on his face.

“And how do you know the way from here? No one has yet to penetrate the borders of the Faerie Kingdom, let alone know its location.” Pavlova Cookie tried to combat the rage he felt for the smug cookie seeping into his words. He had hoped their lack of knowledge on the kingdom’s whereabouts would delay their assault. But, of course, Black Sapphire Cookie had to know everything. He is a cookie of deceit, not a cookie of knowledge!

“A good general can always get his bearings no matter where he is… and ta da!” By only moving a simple bush to the side, Black Sapphire Cookie had revealed the entirety of the heart of the Faerie Kingdom, just down the cliffside. The soldiers gasped in awe at the splendor and divinity the setting sun casted upon its denizens. The buildings and archways glistened under its rays, and the wings of every faerie in the square glittered and sparkled, making waves on the ground as if the grass had turned to water. Pavlova Cookie betted that Sugarfly Cookie’s wings would have shone the brightest.

Sugarfly Cookie…where was Sugarfly Cookie?

Pavlova Cookie’s eyes darted frantically across the square, searching for his sweet butterfly. No faerie he found had matched her frame, her hair, her wingspan, none were his Sugarfly. This both worried him and relieved him. Maybe she was out of the fray? Maybe she was safe, tucked away in her quarters. They could carry out this mission smoothly without her being in harms way. He let go of the air he didn’t know he had been holding.

“Excellent work Black Sapphire Cookie!” Shadow Milk Cookie had appeared from behind the forces to give his minion a slap on the back, “Your general should be taking notes, Sugar.” He playfully teased.

“Now, how to enter. Should we make a scene? Oh! YES! I’ll enter in first in a puff of black smoke, then Candy Apple Cookie will-“

“Actually, Shadow Milk Cookie, I have another idea,” Pavlova Cookie turned his head to the sound of his master, as Eternal Sugar Cookie had made her way to the front as well. She placed her gentle hand on his shoulder once more, “Do you see that faerie cookie down there? The one farthest in the back?” Pavlova Cookie follower her hand down towards the square, beyond the Silver Tree and the bustling Marketplace, to a small hole in the ground, where an even smaller faerie emerged.

“Shoot them.”

Her words could have shot him through his head harder and faster than any arrow he could make fly. The gazes of his army, and the cookies of deceit burned into the back of his head. They were waiting on him. With a gulp, he raised his bow, and locked one of his arrows in place. When he was a child, a real child still, with real hopes, real dreams, and a real child frame, for his 10th birthday, Eternal Sugar Cookie had gifted him his bow. From that day for the next two years, she trained him in the art of archery. And within those two years, the Garden of Happiness did not bring him much joy, for the Bringer of Happiness was merciless in her teachings. At least now, the archer never missed his mark.

Inhale

He pulled back the string.

Exhale

The arrow released.

Bullseye.

The square went deathly quiet, even the snap of his string could be heard echoing through the market.

“NOW!”

Eternal Sugar Cookie’s rallying call rang throughout the land. Hoards of sugar angles flew across the sky, dropping the deceitful denizens into the square. Other cavalcades poured down the cliffside where the generals and their Beasts were positioned, flooding the streets. The Beast cookies took to the skies to watch the havoc from above, gazing down like theater patrons at the show they had created. Their generals hovered above the carnage, directing traffic flow, and making blows themselves.

Pavlova Cookie does not wish to discuss how many faerie denizens he had shot down that night.

Wings were torn, blood was spilled, cookies had crumbled. Both the faerie cookies and sugar angels took hard loses in increasing numbers. In this time, Pavlova Cookie had lost sight of Black Sapphire Cookie. He questioned this very little, as his snarky comments began to wear him down. Finally, he could attack in peace. Surprisingly, the faerie cookies had scrambled their troops together in quick time, and were creating quite the defense. Even the ancients had appeared from the quarters, confirming a theory that Eternal Sugar Cookie had posed at one of their last meetings. The Ancients and their entourages resided here in the Faerie Kingdom between onslaught attacks within the Beast Cookie’s domaines. Their masters would use that. What foolish cookies.

But Pavlova Cookie had to admire the Ancients, and the dedication they gave to their people, even if they were not from their kingdom! Pure Vanilla Cookie, even though he was only a mere healers stayed by the Silver Tree, taking in as many crumbling cookies as he could to heal them, even though Pavlova noticed he was beginning to crumble himself. Dark Cacao Cookie was in the heart of the fray, slicing and dicing each sugar angel until they were nothing but the fine powder used in their baking. His strength was unmatched, yet his years were beginning to weigh heavily upon his shoulders. Golden Cheese Cookie took to the skies, shooting down his armies with deadly aim, that even put his own to shame. He envied her accuracy, and her ability to keep coming up with quips to Dark Cacao Cookie’s teasings all at the same time. White Lily Cookie managed her troops, calling out orders and organizing new strategies quickly and efficiently. Though she was not in the heat of the battle, she made her presence known through her planning skill, and devotion to her people, the people Elder Faerie Cookie entrusted her with. Finally, there was Hollyberry Cookie. She looked about the same as when she had left the Garden, but the fire in her eyes, and in her heart, was back. She, like Dark Cacao Cookie was in the mists of the battle, but instead of attacking head on, she protected those who needed time to ready their fire, or created safe passage to those who needed Pure Vanilla Cookie’s healing. All with a smile on her face. Pavlova Cookie paused withheld his fire just for a moment, as he longed to read Hollyberry Cookie’s heart. Just as he had expected, it was full of life and love. He couldn’t understand, how could she feel joy and love without a cookie by her side? It could never make sense to Pavlova Cookie.

The one thing that did make sense to Pavlova Cookie, and the one thing he admired about the Ancients, is their loyalty. His Beasts stayed far away from the onslaught, watching, waiting, allowing their people to be slaughtered. The Ancients have resigned themselves to go down fighting with their people, for their people. They would never dream of allowing themselves to go unscathed while their cookies died on their behalf. It made Pavlova Cookie’s heart soar, and yet also sink. Why couldn’t Eternal Sugar Cookie see the good in people, her people, the way the Ancients could?

Suddenly, Eternal Sugar Cookie revealed herself from the top of the canopy, swooping into the camp with a fervor that he had not seen from the beast in many years. Why was she coming down here? He had thought they’d agreed the Beasts would only reveal themselves if the fight took a turn for the worse. They had lost many lives, of course, but none that could not be replaced. She had that smile again, the smile that pierced his heart with an arrow of fear.

“My sweet Sugarfly Cookie, it just couldn’t be!”

He had almost lost the rhythm of his wings and fallen to the ground with that one simple word. Sugarfly. Following her gaze, Pavlova Cookie whipped his head around in a flash to find his butterfly, limp in the hands of two sugar angels. His breath caught in his throat as she was hoisted up into the air by four gummy cherubs, her wings dangling behind her as if they were still immobilized by sugar. He had almost thought her dead, ravaged by the sugar angles who had found her, but she slowly picked up her head to face the cookie who had stripped her of her freedom.

“Oh my dear, I am just so delighted we have found you!” Her words molded into the same honey like consistency that she had used to convince him in the Garden that he no longer needed Sugarfly Cookie. The same sultry language she used on any cookie she needed to stay right where she wanted them. Sugarfly Cookie remained motionless, still gazing up at her, but this time with a defeated expression. His jam started to boil.

“And look at you! Your poor wings, they have lost all their color! You look about as dull as the trees that make up this grove. Not to worry, my sweet! I can have you right as rain in no time.” With a small clap of her hands, more gummy cherubs flew to Sugarfly Cookie’s side, but this time, two by two, each had taken hold of each of her pair of wings.

“I will dress you in my finest sugars and sweeteners once again, my sweet Sugarfly Cookie, and you will be even more beautiful than you were before… on one condition” Pavlova Cookie watched as the gummy cherubs grips tighten, and Sugarfly Cookie’s expression twisted into one of pain and fear.

“You may never fly again. We can’t just have you leaving my garden again!”

“NO!”

Pavlova Cookie will never know what came over him in that moment. All the rage he had ever felt towards his mother, this Beast, boiled his jam until the created steam could no longer be contained. Raising his bow, he shot down every last gummy cherub, sticky limbs and chewy hearts cascading to the ground, until nothing supported Sugarfly Cookie, and she began to plummet.

Dropping his bow, he dashed to the sky. The air pummeled him sending his hair into a frenzy. He felt feathers in his wings come undone. It didn’t matter to him. Sugarfly Cookie could not fall, she couldn’t, he wouldn’t let her. Once he did reach her, her body fell delicately into his grasp. It had been so long since he was able to look at her, to feel her, to see her, and he wished it hadn’t been like this. She was even smaller, even more fragile than when she was trapped in the Garden. This was not his Sugarfly Cookie, this was not the strong cookie who single-handedly freed herself from the temptations of a Beast Cookie. Making his way to the ground, he gently placed her in the soft grass and sturdy roots by the Silver Tree.

“Heal her please-“ He tried to tell Pure Vanilla Cookie, but as soon as the words left his mouth, sugar angels had grabbed hold of his legs, his arms, and his wings. He struggled under their grip, and he now understood why Sugarfly Cookie could not escape their grasp. He was passed off to gummy cherubs, and hoisted into the sky, just as his beloved was minutes prior. However, instead of fighting their overwhelming presence, he chose to stay, to hover, to meet Eternal Sugar Cookie’s gaze.

“Did you just disobey your protocol?” Eternal Sugar Cookie’s tone was flat. It wasn’t filled with anger, nor filled with shock, simply straightforward and simple. Pavlova Cookie would have rather had either of the former. At least then he can work with that, at least then he can find the hidden emotion within. Here, he couldn’t find anything. Her heart was just as chained as Black Sapphire Cookie’s.

“She has no loyalty to you anymore. You have no reason to punish someone who is no longer under your jurisdiction. Either kill her or let her go, do not torture her needlessly.” He wished he did not have to encourage the death of his beloved, but when reasoning with a Beast, you have to cut corners somewhere. His logic was safe and sound. He was reasonable, without giving away his true intentions. She couldn’t argue with logic that structured.

“Hm. It seems you still haven’t fully grasped what we discussed in the Garden. But do not worry, My Cherub, if you will not learn through lecture, you will learn with hands on experience.” Pavlova Cookie felt a sudden shockwave of pain up and down the folds of his back. Turning his head, he saw not two by two, but four by four pairs of gummy cherubs gripping his wings in all areas, from the tips of his phalanges to the base of his scapulars. He felt his body slowly turning away from the gaze of Eternal Sugar Cookie, as he now faced the Silver Tree, where his beloved lay, gazing up at him in fear.

Another pair of gummy cherubs rose to meet him, holding his bow and a singular arrow. He felt the grip of the cherubs behind him loosen, a sign for him to grab the weapon bestowed to him. Once he had his hand on the bow, their grips constricted even more brutally than they had ever had before. The pain was unbearable, both from the ripples flowing up and down his back, and the way Sugarfly Cookie looked at him in this moment.

“Your problem still lies in your attachments, my dear. Your happiness is stunted when you do not allow yourself to feel the joy you deserve. You fret over a lost love that can no longer stand, and you allow the loneliness to needlessly consume you.” For once, there wasn’t anything behind her words, she spoke the utter truth, a tone he had rarely heard from her, only saved for whenever she wished to tell him she loved him. For once she was talking to him mother to child.

“Clearly, you are still too young to leave these lost loves behind, but do not worry, that is where I come in to help. Sometimes, all you need to do is make it easier for them, all you need to do is give your child a choice. So, Pavlova Cookie, here is your choice.” Was his body shrinking? Was he becoming young again? He knew it couldn’t be true, but her voice sounded so much more commanding. The entire square had grown still, gazing upon the scene unfolding before them. Not even the Ancient raised their soul stones. All weapons were down, all eyes were up. His bow felt heavy. Sugarfly Cookie gazed at him in alarm.

“Shoot her, and lose your false love, or refrain, and lose your false freedom.”

The grip of the cherubs was more than he could bear. One false movement, and his wings would rip without the cherubs even trying. Looking down below him, he finally found the courage to look Sugarfly Cookie in the eyes, but he did not find any fear or alarm, rather a peaceful look came over her eyes. It was full of love and hope, but also resolution. She wanted him to be free, she wanted him to let her go. She wanted him to kill her.

How could she want that? How could she throw away everything she had worked so tirelessly for, just so that he, a selfish beast, could live? How could the love she holds for him triumph over all she had accomplished? Hollyberry’s call finally seemed to make sense to him. She found love through her passion. Her passion to protect her denizens and all cookies under her, her passion for her kingdom, her friends, her family. That is where here love and fulfillment came form, that is how her heart was able to thrive without a cookie by her side. That is how even Sugarfly Cookie is able to risk everything at the smallest chance he could live. He let Sugarfly Cookie go, because his passion for her lies in her freedom. He is filled with warmth, joy, and even happiness knowing that those he loves are happy. He finally understands, in a way that Eternal Sugar Cookie, his mother, could never understand. Her love is selfish and self indulgent. Her passion lies in the happiness she feels other cookies need with her. She can only be happy when other cookies follow her definition of happiness. How could he be so blind, how could he not see what was right in front of him! He should have left with Hollyberry, he should have escaped with Sugarfly Cookie, his Sugarfly. But he can’t, he has made his choice. But just because he lost his chance, doesn’t mean Sugarfly Cookie has to.

Meeting her eyes, he smiled warmly towards her, his eyes betraying his thoughts, as Sugarfly Cookie began to loose her smile in turn. Taking his arrow, he began to lock it in place along the string. He fidgeted with the etchings and chips of the arrow’s shaft. His mother had crafted them just for him, on his 12th birthday, after finally mastering his craft. No longer did he have to use plush arrows, he could do real damage. With a smile, his mother had told him never to use these arrows to harm, only to find his, and help others find their, happiness.

Flicking his eyes back up to Sugarfly Cookie, he nodded his head to her solemnly, and drew his bow.

Inhale

Pavlova Cookie swiftly turned his body away from the Silver Tree to face Eternal Sugar Cookie head on.

RRRRIP

Exhale

His arrow released.

CRACK

No matter the situation, the archer never lost his mark.

Chapter Text

Sugarfly Cookie wished she had spent more time with Pavlova Cookie in the Garden. Or at least made more of an effort to. Every time she would approach him, just to ask about his day, or maybe to help him with a task her majesty Eternal Sugar Cookie had assigned him, he would send her away, making sly comments and jabs as she left. She never held these actions against him, she knew where his pain was kept, as being seated at the right hand of a Beast Cookie was no simple burden. She knew, deep within his heart of hearts, he never truly meant what he said to her, those were the calls of a desperate, lonely cookie, who feared anyone get to close to him, and face reprimand from the beast beside him.

She had only seen his true form once, when she had first wished to entered the Garden. She had flown so far from home, and had found herself lost in the wilds of Beast Yeast. Yeast spores had cornered her on all sides, and she had nothing but the wings on her back for defense. A stray arrow had zipped past her face, and claimed the life of a yeast spore mid air who tried to strike. The cookie who had shot the spore down was young and striking. His frame was tall, yet structured. His hair was layered like the frosting of the pastry he was named after, with small, cute curls just hitting his shoulder. His wings were so much more dense than her own, and yet so much softer, she longed to reach out and touch a single feather along its line. What struck her most, however, was his eyes. The deep, yet pink toned red gazed upon her in curiosity, and his heart shaped pupils intrigued her, mostly because she had wondered why they were upside down.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Are you alright?” The strange cookie flew down towards her, and landed just a few inches from her face.

“Oh! Yes, thank you. Those yeast spores would have torn me up for sure.” She chuckled, trying to hide the rising heat coming to her face, and the beating of her heart.

“What are you doing so far from the Faerie Kingdom? Your people must be worried.” He circled her, inspecting her for any signs of damage, her wings twitched in reply.

“I’ve actually come to seek out Eternal Sugar Cookie’s Paradise. I want to join her in the happiness she can provide. It’s… my wings. Faerie wings are just so dull and colorless. I wish to seek her kindness to add the beauty to my life that I have long sought.” Sugarfly Cookie began to smile at the thought, gazing back at her poor, simple wings.

The stranger finally stopped circling her, and began to peer into the depths of Sugarfly Cookie’s eyes. She squirmed underneath its intensity. It was almost as if he was looking for something. He soon averted his gaze, looking towards the ground disgruntledly.

“You are in luck,” he replied after a brief moment, gazing back up at her, “I am a denizen of the Garden of Paradise. I shall take you to her myself,” he outstretched his hand for her to take, “My name is Pavlova Cookie."

“Sugarfly Cookie, it’s so nice to meet you!"
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

He had saved her life all those years ago, it was now time to save his.

“Shoot her, and lose your false love, or refrain, and lose your false freedom.”

Eternal Sugar Cookie’s words rang in her ears, and Pavlova Cookie’s horrified eyes pierced through her heart. She knew this would come, it was inevitable. Their love could not last, one of them would have to fall. Sugarfly Cookie had come to terms with this, and was ready. All she had ever wanted was her freedom back, and her people back, and she had successfully achieved both means. She was happy again, she was herself again. Her wings, though torn still, could send her sky high, and her people, though still wary of her, had accepted her back with open arms. If she were to die tonight, at least she could die as the cookie she was, and not the cookie she pretended to be under pounds of false sugar and jam. She had only wished not to see her beloved Pavlova like this, she wished to remember him in fondness, like their first meeting, or their fateful one in the groves of Beast Yeast.

Pushing herself upright, with the help of the benevolent Pure Vanilla Cookie, she gazed up at her despaired lover. Swallowing the fear that gripped her heart, she smiled warmly to him. A loving smile. An accepting smile. She had achieved her happiness, Pavlova Cookie still has not. She can die happy, he could not. He has so many opportunities for life ahead of him, if he only wishes to seize them. And by the witches did she hope he would.

After a moment, Sugarfly Cookie noticed his eyes shift, and his body forcing a small nod of his head. He raised his bow, and locked his arrow in place. The square was deathly silent, you could almost hear the twinkling from the light of the moon cascading over the ground. This was it, it was her time. She hoped Elder Faerie Cookie would be pleased to see her, maybe her mother too. She held her gaze firm with Pavlova Cookie, she would not look away, she would die with their eyes locked together, hearts intertwined.

Until Pavlova Cookie turned from her.

That night will forever be known as the crumbling heard around Beast Yeast, but the sound that petrified Sugarfly Cookie more was the hard tearing of soft, beautiful wings. After the arrow flew and hit its mark, Pavlova Cookie’s wings were as good as gone. Gummy cherubs held all that was left, as feathers fell to the ground like the first snow fall of winter. Like mother like son, both cookies began to plummet towards the earth.

“PAVLOVA COOKIE!” With the last amounts of energy Sugarfly Cookie had left, she opened her wings and pushed herself up into the air. Pavlova Cookie had broken her fall, now she must break his. The air was thick and warm that night, she felt old scars on her wings begin to peel open once more as the wind cut through her frame. They burned and hissed from the sudden agitation, but she had to keep flying. Reaching his body, she caught him mid fall. The sudden weight of his body colliding with her own cause he to drop suddenly, but she was able to pick herself back up, and glide back down towards the ground. By the witches, he was so small, so frail looking. She held him bridal style, flush against her body. At some point during his plummet, he had lost consciousness, and now lay limp in her arms, his eyes closed and face contorted in agonizing pain. His limbs bunched as close to his body as he could muster. Worst of all, his back was bare and bloody. Sugarfly Cookie could not see it, but she could feel the two lumps where luscious wings should sprout, and she saw the blood dripping down her forearms. He should never look like this, he should be the strong and passionate Pavlova Cookie she had come to love, not this husk of doubt and self sacrifice.

“PLEASE, SOMEONE HELP HIM!” Sugarfly Cookie cried into the crowd to anyone who would listen upon her landing. The blood was splattering on to the grass now, making each blade sag under the weight of the fluid. Sugarfly Cookie herself was almost drenched, lines that once started on her forearms now flowing down her sides and to her legs. Even her wings caught stray droplets as they descended. From beyond the crowd of on lookers, those too mortified to move, Pure Vanilla Cookie and Dark Cacaco Cookie pushed their way through.

“We will take him.” Pure Vanilla Cookie ushered Dark Cacao Cookie forward as he spoke. With gentle care, Sugarfly Cookie transferred the still body of her beloved to the strong hands of the Cacao warrior. Her eyes betrayed the fear she felt in giving him away so soon, but Dark Cacao Cookie met her gaze, and returned it with a look of comfort and security. She should trust the ancients. They have dealt with far more severe injuries than this, and yet she couldn’t not stop her body from trembling, as her legs gave way beneath her. She fell to the ground in a swift motion, her hands catching her from falling face first into the grass. Tears streamed down her cheeks and fell into the earth, mingling with and rehydrating the blood that had already dried there.

“You… YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!” Sugarfly Cookie could not turn around, but she recognized the voice of the Beast to Deceit regardless. She watched as sugar angels, each holding steadfast to a deceitful denizen, took to the skies from whence they came. The feet of Black Sapphire Cookie and Candy Apple Cookie raced past her to aid their conniving master in lifting up what remained of Eternal Sugar Cookie. Once the last of the sugar angels had departed, the beasts took their leave, and the square was quiet once more.

Sugarfly Cookie did not know how long she had stayed groveling to the ground, begging for the witches to protect her Pavlova. Her wings burned with newly opened wounds, her limbs ached from the weight of her body and her burdens. And even with this pain, her mind was elsewhere. All of the fear she held, all of the pain she experienced, it was far too much for any cookie to bear. She hovered over her body once more, the terror pushing her soul out of its home, and burying itself within her in its vacancy. Everything seemed so far away, everyone seemed so far away. She was back to the Garden now, Eternal Sugar Cookie dressing her wings in her finest syrups. She had never felt happier. She had promised Hollyberry Cookie she could bear the pain that comes with discovering her true happiness, but she never knew that this was the pain the world would give her. Was she even meant to find her true happiness, or could not even that exist for her?

“Sugarfly Cookie, my dear please get up.” A voice so soft, so tender graced her ears. She did not know if she had misheard a false cry, until a gentle hand was placed on her shoulder, forcing her soul back into her body once more. Blinking away her tears, and fighting the weight of the world, she lifted herself back up from the ground to the call of her Majesty White Lily Cookie.

“Y-Your Majesty, my apologies.” Was all Sugarfly Cookie could muster. Her voice was hoarse and her throat was dry. She sounded so weak, she hated that.

“Nonsense, my child. Pure Vanilla Cookie is tending to Pavlova Cookie as we speak, but you look worse for wear yourself. Come, we have much to discuss.” All Sugarfly Cookie wanted to do was sleep, sleep for a thousand years until this war was over, and no one remembered her name. But this was her captain, her queen, the one cookie who saw faith in her even after betraying her people. The one thing she could do in return for all she had given her is to at least acquiesce.

Gathering as much of her failing strength as she could, Sugarfly Cookie held on steadfast to her queen’s hand, as the two set forth towards the hall of the Faerie Kingdom.

Chapter Text

“PAVLOVA COOKIE!”

“PLEASE… HELP HIM!”

“We… take him.”

“You… YOU WILL… THIS!”

“Please, my love, wake up…”

Pavlova Cookie could not remember much after his fall. He writhed in pain as his body ached, as cookies spoke too loudly all around him, as the air felt too warm on his fragile dough. The only feeling he could remember was Sugarfly Cookie’s sweet sent enveloping him as she, at least to his lack of knowledge, cradled him in her arms. He wanted to stay like that forever, held together by her love and desperate sobs. Once he had left her arms, he had no reason to hold on, and he allowed his body to succumb to whatever awaited him beyond this moment.

“GAH!” Pavlova Cookie didn’t know if the sound he made when he jolted back to life was from the pain, or just from the shock of living once more. He didn’t know where he was, and though his eyes had opened, he could not see, he could not hear, he could not feel. All his senses fled from him, for all he could feel was excruciating pain. It racked his body, flowing up and down his frame like venom flowing through each vein of jam. Each sharp bolt of pain was worse than the last. His eyes shut as tears treated to spill. He felt his body curl into itself as he dug his hands into his forearms, anything to drive his mind away from how little it wished to be alive right now.

“Please, Pavlova Cookie, do not do that.” What was that voice? It wasn’t Sugarfly Cookie’s, he could tell that immediately. It was soft, like his mother’s voice would be, but sincere in a way it never could. Only once a hand pressed itself gently into his own, and his eyes opened at the sudden contact, could he identify the gentle tone of Pure Vanilla Cookie.

“Do you know where you are right now? Do you know who I am?” Pavlova Cookie wanted to answer him, but no words could come out. His tongue felt foreign to his lips, and his throat was dry, overcooked and flaking. All he could muster was a simple nod, but even that sent more shockwaves down his spine. Wincing, his hands instinctively went back to digging into his forearms. Pure Vanilla Cookie had noticed, but chose not to say anything this time, allowing him what comfort he needed

“I have been able to stop the bleeding for now, but you are still at risk for infection. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do about the pain.” Pavlova Cookie believed it to be a funny thing, that a healer could not stop the pain of the injured, but upon gazing at the monarch of the Vanilla Kingdom, he began to understand why. He was, disheveled, it put it bluntly. His hair was matted and messy, pulled back into a bun that was not of the Crème Republic style. His staff was no were to be seen, so he bumbled around the small medical tent with pitiful accuracy. His gown was tattered and torn, stained with the jam of countless cookies. Pavlova Cookie could have even sworn he saw crumbs sticking to the train. Pure Vanilla Cookie’s face stood out to be the worst. Long, dark eye bags seeped into his very dough, and his dough itself was wrinkled and misshapen from the heat of his work melting and reforming him. The healer was a mess, that was for certain, and it surely was seeping into his power. He felt pity for the old king, he did not know that even the ancients could succumb to stressors.

“Pure Vanilla Cookie?” A new, gruffer, dark voice called from beyond the small medical tent. The light that flowed in from the small opening of its flaps burned Pavlova Cookie’s eyes, and the heat from its rays made his pain flare more than he could bear. He heard quick crunchy footsteps as Pure Vanilla Cookie rushed to close the flaps behind the newcomer.

“Please, you must be more careful around the patients!” Pavlova Cookie had never heard, nor known, the healer so stern.

“My apologies, I just came to check on you.” The newcomer, now identified to Pavlova Cookie as Dark Cacao Cookie replied softly.

“As I’ve stated before I am fine. Now please I am still working.” That was a lie, a funny thing to come out of the pervader of truth. Though unconscious, Pavlova Cookie could feel everything to such a high intensity, and he knew Pure Vanilla Cookie had not tended to him in a while.

“When you are finished, would you care to join us in the square? The generals have organized a feast for us. We will announce the plans we have discussed to the troops since the accident.” The accident? What accident?

“I will have to decline, I have more cookies to attend to after I am done with Pavlova Cookie.” The healer sounded even more weary than before. After a moment, he heard something collide with an open table, creating a sound that burned through his ears.

“Pure Vanilla Cookie that is enough! You are working yourself to death and everyone is worried about you! Your friends are worried about you, I am worried about you.” Dark Cacao Cookie’s last statement came only in a soft whisper. Pavlova Cookie felt a sense of guilt for overhearing, but he knew the Cacaoian warrior did not know he had awoken.

The tent became deathly quiet after that, Pavlova Cookie could only make out the sounds of light breathing, and muddled huffing.

“Please, My Orchid, how can you stand to heal other cookies when you cannot heal yourself? Let us care for you.” His words sent chills down Pavlova’s spine, and he heard Pure Vanilla’s breath hitch in his throat. After a moment, light footsteps made their way back to his bedside.

“I have done all I can do for you today, if you need anything, anything at all, the guards at your tent side will call for me.” Pure Vanilla Cookie raised his hand to gently brush stray curls out of Pavlova Cookie’s face. The latter meet the former’s gaze with reassurance. Their small squabble had felt eerily familiar to Pavlova Cookie. It was as if, in another life, they mirrored himself and his beloved, one, desperately trying to heal her people, and the other, desperately trying to get her to heal herself. Though his pain lingered, it would not go away with the king’s presence. He could survive.

Seemingly satisfied with his reply, Pure Vanilla Cookie slowly made his way back to the warrior awaiting him. Opening the flaps of the tent once more, the two exited as quietly as they could, even with Dark Cacao Cookie letting as little light in as possible before sealing the tent off. Now, Pavlova was left alone with his thoughts.

And his thoughts wandered back to one key aspect in the ancients conversation: what was the accident? Had something happened recently in the shifting tides of the war? The Beasts had not made any real decisive moves in months, much to his chagrin. He had tried, and successfully failed, at convincing the Beasts they needed to strike, or provide some kind of offensive. The longer they waited, the more they were at risk of attack. And yet they did not waver. Had the Ancients made a reach? As a general he most certainly would have heard if that was the case. He would need to converse with his other beastly hosts, he would need to plan counter strikes. This isn’t something Eternal Sugar Cookie would have…kept…from…him.

Eternal…Sugar…Cookie…

…Mom…

Oh Witches.

How could he have forgotten, how could he be so FOOLISH. The grove meeting, the garden meeting, the comforting words, the sickening betrayal, his beloved… in danger. His life… in danger. His… choice. Turning his head slowly, Pavlova Cookie gazed behind him to what was, or now wasn’t, there.

His wings were gone.

His WINGS were GONE.

He began to tremble at the sight. Where two luscious golden wings should be, caked in soft downy feathers and as light as the air itself, now housed two heaping mounds, covered in sticky, bloody, jam soaked gauze. He watched as they twitched with each beat of his heart, it was as if they pulsated to their own heart beat. He averted his gaze from the lumps to further down his body to the bedside, where lumps of jam soaked feathers lay scattered across the tent. Did he even have any left? Was there nothing left of him?

He wanted his momma. Oh where was his momma? He wanted her soft wings to envelop him, to tell him everything would be alright as she stroked his back. He wanted her soft embrace and her even softer kisses. But he couldn’t have that anymore. She was gone. He had killed her. He killed his momma, the one cookie who understood him was gone.

His hands tightened their grips to his forearms, until he swore he felt them crumble under the pressure. He brought his knees up to his chest and buried his head deep, deep within them, choking up pools of tears and snot. His throated flooded, his eyes flooded, he could not breathe under the weight of it all. He shook as each tremor of pain road through him. He felt his heart pounding in his chest, and where his wings used to be.

Without warning, he suddenly felt soft, gentle arms wrapping around his back and landing upon his shoulders. A touch that severe in scale and surface area should have sent him howling, but that one touch had done more for his pains than any spell or concoction Pure Vanilla Cookie could have created. Lifting up his head slowly from his knees, he saw the little tent painted in a deep golden color, with light seeping into every corner and wrinkle of the fabric. It was beautiful, hauntingly beautiful. The tent flaps were closed but it was as if the dawn had welcomed himself into his chamber.

The color and warmth was everywhere, except the shadow he casted. It was shaped like him, no mistaking that, but with the addition of… wings? Beautiful wings, large and mighty, but not his. Their shape, their span, their consistency, those were not his wings. This light was not his, this feeling did not come from him, but from somewhere more, much more special.

“Oh my sweet Pavlova.”

Chapter Text

“So, it has been decided.”

It had been several days since the ambush upon the Faerie Kingdom by the Beast Cookies. The square was still war torn, with jam and crumbs seeping into the very foundation of the market. Reconstruction progress was slow, but it was healing, they were healing. Tents were built throughout, housing injured cookies. Some only lost crumbs, others lost jam, some lost whole limbs, even wings. The finest healers and supports from every kingdom in Crispia tended to the sick. Some were at their wits end, others powers were fading quickly. Even Sugarfly Cookie herself assisted with some cases after healing from her own damages. She tried to insist that she was fine, that others needed care more than she did, but when her majesty White Lily Cookie orders it so, how could she refuse?

White Lily Cookie had not left her side since the incident. She would come to her bedside, asking her questions and tending to where her cohort, Pure Vanilla Cookie, could not. She had a kind, gentle countenance, something that was foreign to Sugarfly Cookie. The only kindness she had ever received was coated in sugar to hide its imperfections. Her Garden, her wings, her master, all covered in sticky, sweet lies. This was real, genuine care that melted away the saccharine deceit she had been fed for so many years. It was a treat for her master, no, her ruler, to truly love her people and to love what she does. Sugarfly Cookie could see why Elder Faerie Cookie chose her to be his successor. Though not a faerie cookie herself, her spirit and love for her people glowed brighter than any wings she could possess.

Once cleared of her minor scuffs, White Lily Cookie insisted she attend the Aftermath Meetings. These would be a set of gatherings consisting of the 5 Ancient Cookies, and their most prominent generals, to decided what would be done following the death of Eternal Sugar Cookie. Sugarfly Cookie felt wildly out of her ranks while sitting next to the likes of Wildberry Cookie and Mercurial Knight Cookie, but she did find comfort in seeing her Hollyberrian friends once more. Though she knew little of the war plans being discussed, there was one topic to which she was extremely knowledgeable. The time soon came where they were to discuss what to do with Eternal Sugar Cookie’s most esteemed general, her dear Pavlova Cookie.

Sugarfly Cookie suddenly realized why White Lily Cookie had invited her among the most esteemed cookies in all of Earthbread. She fought for Pavlova Cookie with everything in her being. She provided anecdotes of his kindness to her in the Garden, how he subtly defied Enternal Sugar Cookie’s direct orders, insubordination that could have gotten him killed. Even how, on multiple occasions, he had spared her life, or the lives of others, because he simply could not bring himself to force the kind of love onto others the way his beastly master subscribed to. Her gaze shifted across the room as she shared her evidence. She saw nods of encouragement from both her queen, and Hollyberry Cookie. But she also noticed looks of distant from her Radiance Golden Cheese Cookie, or outright hostility from Dark Cacao Cookie’s general, Crunchy Chip Cookie. She knew it was a hard sell, and no one had ever seen Pavlova Cookie the way she could see him, seeing as the Garden was sealed away to only those who sought its comforts. Nevertheless, he had fought for her right to live, now she fought for his right to stay. She spent two grueling days in court, reliving her most gruesome memories of her master, just so her beloved would live. Oh her beloved Pavlova, she had been so busy trying to defend his life, she hadn’t the chance to even see him. The only news of his health she received was from that of Pure Vanilla Cookie. He rarely attended the meetings, as being the head healer, his skills were needed elsewhere. But when he would arrive, if only for a brief moment, he would tell her post haste of his progress. Sugarfly Cookie appreciated that she was informed even before her queen.

Now came the final day of the Aftermath Meetings. Dawn had just broken, shinning down through the trees of the Faerie Kingdom, illuminating the stillness of the square. The rays of light almost giving small rays of hope. It warmed the market and Sugarfly Cookie’s wings as she entered the courthouse. Taking her seat next to Wildberry Cookie, he offered her words of encouragement before White Lily Cookie began to speak.

“So, it has been decided. After days of deliberation, we all come together to place our votes on the life and strife of one, Pavlova Cookie. Hollyberry Cookie, may we start with you?” Her words were strong for a voice typically so soft. It made Sugarfly Cookie’s heart soar, for she was so similar to her queen. She too could be strong, despite how she appeared.

“I, for one, have always believed he could be saved. I saw the passion within him from the moment he took us into the Garden, he was simply misguide. I believe he is on the right path now, his passions are admirable,” her gaze shifted to Sugarfly Cookie, offering her a smile as Sugarfly Cookie’s cheeks lit up. “He has my vote! He could be a valuable asset to our efforts.”

“Excellent, we have one vote cased in Pavlova Cookie’s favor. Golden Cheese Cookie, we move to you.”

“I am all for doomed passions,” her radiance’s voice rang out in a thunder, echoing around the court. Did she know how to lower her voice, Suagrfly Cookie wondered? “But can we really trust him. Your stories are sweet, Sugarfly Cookie, I do not doubt that, but how can we be sure his love is not solely for her benefit. Our numbers have been greatly weakened, we cannot have a cookie so close to one of our greatest enemies parading around this kingdom disguise as a lovesick fool. He should go back to his Garden, before more chaos reaps this land.”

Could Golden Cheese truly believe her own words? Sugarfly Cookie’s wings flapped in rage, how could she believe such things about her beloved, after all he had done to save her, and possible turn the tide of this war? A small cough knocked Sugarfly Cookie out of her angry. Turning her head, she saw her queen hold up her hand in refrain. Sugarfly Cookie could not let her emotions get the better of her. That is how Eternal Sugar Cookie lost, and it could be how Pavlova Cookie looses too.

“Very well, we have one vote casted against Pavlova Cookie. Dark Cacao Cookie, your words?”

“If I may, your Majesty.” Before he could even open his mouth, Dark Cacao Cookie was rudely interrupted by his subordinate, Crunchy Chip Cookie. “We know next to nothing about this traitor. Even though he betrayed his own Beast, how do we know he won’t betray us? He’s a lone wolf, I know the type! They roam our mountains, untamed by me or any cookie. They may seem friendly at times, but at others, you remember why they fight for themselves. It’s just too risky-“

“That is enough, Crunchy Chip Cookie.” Finally, after Sugarfly Cookie was prepared to pounce upon this Cacaoian Warrior, Dark Cacao Cookie silenced his ramblings. “But I must agree, he is unstable, a risk we do not need. He may have crumbled his master, but he still served another. Shadow Milk Cookie’s army also ravaged your lands that day. He could still be in contact with them.”

“Actually, the Garden was a solitary place. Eternal Sugar Cookie never-“ Again, a cough from White Lily Cookie interrupted Sugarfly Cookie’s interjection. But how could she not interject, Dark Cacao Cookie hadn’t the foggiest what he was claiming! They had never, not once worked with Shadow Milk Cookie before that point, her master had forbade him even entering her Garden! Even still, she sat back down in her chair and folded her wings, trying to calm herself as her frame shook.

“Even as that may be,” Dark Cacao Cookie faced Sugarfly Cookie from across the table, holding her gaze with a look of dejection. It was as if he did not want to cast his vote this way, but his hand was forced. “We need to look out for our own in these times. He cannot stay.”

“I see, we have another vote casted against Pavlova Cookie. Our penultimate vote comes from Pure Vanilla Cookie, and though he could not be with us, he relayed his vote to me personally through this sealed envelope. I will open it now, and read.” Clearing her throat, White Lily Cookie delicately tore open the envelope and pulled out the paper it contained. She read:

“My dearest Ancients, generals, and sweet Sugarfly Cookie, my condolences that I could not attend this finally meeting of our court, Nevertheless, my vote for the life of Pavlova Cookie has been requested, and this letter holds my casting. I have been single handedly caring for Pavlova Cookie throughout his healing journey, due to the severity of his wounds. No magic from that of healer nor support can bar the pain from seeping into his frame. Even with his unconscious state, his face twists and contorts in pain with every spell I cast. It is almost too much for him to bear. Regardless of my loyalties, I am a healer first and foremost, and the protection of my patents comes first. If we force him to leave now, he will not survive the night. He is in not state to traverse Beast Yeast. That is why it is my best judgement that he must stay. Regardless of his allegiance, previously or now, his life must be protected. Now, I must return to my duties, as you all must return to your court. I send my best regards to the counsel. Signed, Pure Vanilla Cookie.”

Sugarfly Cookie’s respect for the sovereign ruler of the Vanilla Kingdom increased tenfold after White Lily Cookie finished sharing his words. Golden Cheese Cookie and Dark Cacao Cookie held the same beliefs, they must look out for their own, and their own alone. Their kingdoms must prevail, and of course they hold those beliefs. Dark Cacao Cookie’s kingdom is secluded in the snowy mountains by the Licorice Sea, their survival was a day to day battle. And Golden Cheese Cookie’s own kingdom crumbled into dust before her. Their stances, though frustrating, have their patterns. But Pure Vanilla Cookie stands for all cookies, even those beyond his kingdom. His roots as a healer hold steadfast above all else, and his oath to serve cookie kind did not waver when he was crowned. If only Eternal Sugar Cookie was that benevolent. If only she could think of herself over others. Maybe she would not have befallen her fate.

“I suppose this leave us to a tie. Pure Vanilla Cookie and Hollyberry Cookie have casted in the affirmative, while Golden Cheese Cookie and Dark Cacao Cookie have casted in the dissent. It is down to my vote.” The whole courtroom held its breath in anticipation. Sugarfly Cookie met White Lily Cookie’s gaze in fear, but she soon saw a smile creep slowly across her face.

“A war was waged against my kingdom, against my people. In the face of unjust cruelty to one of my subjects, Pavlova Cookie stood his ground, and subdued the beast. He disobeyed his orders, his mother, and his life for that of Sugarfly Cookie’s, and I see no reason for that to be a punishable offense. For protecting my people, and turning the tides of this war, not only do I cast my vote for Pavlova Cookie to stay, but I shall offer him citizen ship as a denizen to the Faerie Kingdom.”

Sugarfly Cookie could have almost jumped out of her seat and soared to the very top of the courtroom. Her wings flapped rapidly in her chair to keep herself grounded as her smile increased in intensity. After speaking, White Lily Cookie met her gaze once more with a comforting smile, she had won. No, Pavlova Cookie had won. She was overjoyed at the prospect, not only did Pavlova Cookie get to stay, but he got to live with her in the Faerie Kingdom! Oh there was so much to do, so much to show him! She had to tell him the news, she had to tell him at once.

“The decision is a 3 to 2 vote. Pavlova Cookie is now a full denizen of the Faerie Kingdom. Our counsel is dismissed for today. And Sugarfly Cookie?” Sugarfly Cookie held herself together as best she could when her queen addressed her, “Would you be a dear and inform our new citizen of our decision?” Sugarfly Cookie could not hold herself down any longer. Her wings expanded and in a burst of air she pushed herself to the ceiling, squeeing all the way down back to White Lily Cookie’s side.

“I will be on my way at once!” Sugarfly Cookie grabbed her queen’s hand and shook it with a fervor before flying straight of the courthouse. The dawn now turned into mid day, and the square was bustling with activity. Faeries selling goods in the market, soldiers brandishing their weapons, denizens of the kingdoms of Crispia swapping stories with Faerie Kingdom denizens. It was nice to see all of the cookie kingdoms mingling so nicely. The long standing friendships of the five Ancients still held firm in their families and their troops.

Sugarfly Cookie made her way down to the earth towards the medical tents. Hundreds had been set up since the beastly ambush, lining the back pathways by the central square. Some had cookies piled on top of each other, trying to save space and resources, while more serious cases got their own individual tents. Sugarfly Cookie slowly made her way down the alley, stepping as quietly as she could as to not disturb the sleeping, or unconscious patients. After passing four or five tents, a small cough caught her attention some ways down. Reaching where she believe the sound to have come from, she opened the flap just slightly and peered inside.

“Sugarfly Cookie?” That soft voice only belonged to one cookie she knew.

“Silverbell Cookie! It’s so good to see you!” Sugarfly Cookie fully stepped into the small tent, closing the flap behind her. Walking towards Silver Bell Cookie’s bedside, she noticed his injured leg. The arrow she had removed back in the Cellar had left terrible cracks traveling almost up to his torso. However, instead of being concave and crumbly, each crack seemingly had been filled, like smoothing over cracks in the pavement by the square.

“Sparkling Cookie took some donated dough from previous faerie cookies who had passed to fill in my cracks. It took several days of firing to get the batter to stabilize.” Silverbell Cookie had seemed to notice her staring, and after explaining what had happened to him, he began to rub up and down his calf, wincing in pain.

“Where is Sparkling Cookie now?” Sugarfly Cookie asked, taking a seat next to his bed.

“He’s off helping other cookies now. He used to come in almost every hour. But now that my leg is healing more and more, to the point where I can even walk on it, I guess he doesn’t see a reason to come around as often anymore.” The last sentence came out breathy and short as he increased the pace to which he rubbed, “It still kinda hurts, I think my dough just needs to get used to it.”

“Here, let me help you.” Sugarfly Cookie raised her hands together and cupped them around the sensitive area of Silverbell Cookie’s leg. Spreading her wings, she harnessed her energy into the mending spell she never got to finish in the Cellar. Light from her figure spread across the tent, dappling the walls in its honey glow. Her wings periodically twitched as she allowed her energy to flow through her and transfer to Silverbell Cookie. As she finished, the light from herself dimmed like the setting sun, until the tent was dark and cool once more. Closing her wings, Sugarfly Cookie looked to her friend for a response.

“That feels… so much better! Thank you Sugarfly Cookie.” Rubbing it once more for good measure, Silverbell Cookie removed his hand and sat up on his bed. Turning to face her, he leaned in for an embrace. Sugarfly Cookie gladly accepted. It was nice to have loving friends again. It was nice to feel appreciated for what she did, that she had made an impact. In the Garden, nothing ever changed, no one was ever hurt or in pain, so she slowly forgot her love of healing and helping others. No one needed her help in the Garden, the only assistance she could provide was allowing the glow of the sun to refract through her wings. Though pretty, it was a dull, mundane life to live.

“Why were you over by the medical tents?” After pulling away, Silverbell Cookie looked at her with intrigued as his head it his pillow.

“I’m heading to see Pavlova Cookie! The Ancients held a vote today to see what would be done with him, and her Majesty White Lily Cookie granted him full citizenship within the Faerie Kingdom!” She couldn’t help letting her last words come out as a squeal. Her wings began to flap again in anticipation as she grasped her hands together to her chest.

“That’s great! I’m so happy for you two.” Sugarfly Cookie couldn’t help but notice the slight dejection in his tone. She sensed the true happiness he felt for her, but there was something hidden underneath. Her mind suddenly flashed back to their time in the Cellar, just as the ambush had broken out. That cookie, Black Sapphire Cookie, and his smirk as he made his way towards their boxed in shelter. The look of horror that his face twisted into upon seeing Silverbell Cookie’s injured frame. She hoped it wasn’t true.

“Silverbell Cookie. What did Black Sapphire Cookie do to you after I was taken out of the Cellar?” Her voice was soft, yet firm.

“I-I…” Silverbell Cookie began to stammer, rubbing his hands together like a small child who was found getting into something he wasn’t supposed to. Sugarfly Cookie met his gaze with comfort.

“You can tell me. I know I’ve been a denizen for a while, but most forget my Beastly allegiance.“ She chuckled towards the end of her sentence to lighten the mood. She wanted him to know he was safe.

“He tried to heal me, but he only ended up giving me false promises instead.” Silverbell Cookie lamented, sighing quietly to himself, “It’s what I get for trusting a deceitful cookie. I was a fool for thinking anything more of him.” He spat, crossing his arms and averting his gaze. He couldn’t meet Sugarfly Cookie’s eyes, she would know what hid within them.

“Oh don’t say that now,” Sugarfly Cookie grabbed one of his hands and held it close to her, forcing Silverbell Cookie’s eyes to meet hers, “Sure, he’s the general of a liar, but that doesn’t have to make him a liar himself.” Silverbell Cookie simply raised an eyebrow in response.

“Ok look,” Sugarfly Cookie started, releasing her grip from Silverbell Cookie’s hand, “I never thought, in all of my time in the Garden, that I would ever get out, that I would ever find my true happiness ever again. And I was partially right. Because even though I was happy here, with my people and my wings, it wasn’t complete. I longed for the one cookie introduced me to the Garden, the one cookie who could not stand me, the one cookie closest to Eternal Sugar Cookie, the one cookie who watched me leave, who gave me up thinking it was the only way to set me free. He may not show it in the best way, but you must consider the stakes, you must know his situation. I’m sure, regardless of where he comes from, or what role he played in that ambush, that Black Sapphire Cookie loves you deeply. And one day, he will show you, just as Pavlova Cookie did for me. Do not give up your passion, do not give up your love, just because you think it could never be. You never know what could happen.”

Silverbell Cookie looked towards down towards his bed. Holding up his hands, he examined them closely. Sugarfly Cookie watched his eyes, she watched them try to decode what she had said, try to process it, to learn it, to fight the overwhelming despair that clouded him. Closing his eyes briefly, Silverbell Cookie placed down his hands and met Sugarfly Cookie’s gaze once more.

“Thank you, Sugarfly Cookie. I… I won’t.” He smiled at her, a true smile. There was heartbreak within it, but also hope at it side, comforting it as it wept. Sugarfly Cookie smiled back at him before picking herself up and heading towards the tent’s entrance.

“Oh! Sugarfly Cookie!” Just as she had placed her hand upon the flap to open the tent, she swung her head back around to face Silverbell Cookie “Tell Pavlova Cookie that he has impeccable aim.” He smirked at her, chuckling to himself as she giggled in response.

“I’ll be sure to! Rest well, Silverbell Cookie, and if there’s anything you need, don’t be afraid to ask for me.” Turning her head back towards the tent exit, she opened the flap and ducked her way out. Her eyes pained slightly as she adjusted to the light. Finding her footing again, she continued along her way to finally see her beloved.

It seemed as though Sugarfly Cookie had walked for days, trudging past more and more tents than she could count, full of cookies who’s moans and groans disturbed her ever so. Evidently she had reached the section of tents populated by cookies and faeries with the most severe injuries. Sugarfly Cookie would have to ask Pure Vanilla Cookie soon if there was any help she could provide to them now that she was dismissed from the courthouse.

Finally, after walking what seemed to be miles, she had reached the tent, his tent. By the witches did the excitement grip her to her jam. As she approached, she was surprised to find Pure Vanilla Cookie and Dark Cacao Cookie exiting Pavlova Cookie’s tent. She understood why Pure Vanilla Cookie was exiting, has he assigned himself to the primary care of her beloved, but Dark Cacao was another question. Nevertheless, Sugarfly Cookie approached them steadfast.

“Good afternoon, Pure Vanilla Cookie, Dark Cacao Cookie. How is Pavlova Cookie doing today?” It was the same question she had always asked the kindly king each courthouse session he would attend. They had made a routine out of it that she had liked.

“Suagrfly Cookie, good afternoon! I take it by your expression that the votes casted in your favor.” Pure Vanilla Cookie had taken notice to the way her smile almost cracked the dough in her cheeks. She simply could not help it. All the work she had done, all the effort she had put in had paid off in full. Her freedom would now be complete with Pavlova Cookie in hand, “He has awoken, finally, however he is a bit shaken, and his pain has now increased since being conscious. Tread carefully.”

His words of warning shot daggers of despair straight through Sugarfly Cookie’s heart. Of course with the injuries he sustained, the pain would be immense, almost unbearable. But the thought of what he must be enduring left her heartbroken. Pure Vanilla Cookie himself looked worse for wear, as Pavlova Cookie was not his only patient. Clearly his care was taking a toll on both cookies. Sugarfly Cookie smiled slightly in response, meeting his gaze with gratitude as the two kings walked down the path she had just traversed. She followed their footsteps as she watched Dark Cacao Cookie reach for Pure Vanilla Cookie’s hand in comfort. The healer leaned his head onto the shoulder of the Cacaoian Warrior in return. Sugarfly Cookie hummed quietly to herself, satisfied that the weary healer would be getting some much needed rest, and she turned to face the opening flaps of her beloved’s tent.

Breathing in and out, to curb her excitement, Sugarfly Cookie gingerly opened the tent to enter, but what she say dampened her eagerness almost immediately. There sat her beloved, her one and only, her savior and the helpless, curled deep within himself, sobbing as if the rivers and soda seas needed to be refilled. Her heart ached at the sight, the pain he must be in was unfathomable. Walking further into the tent, his sobs only grew louder and more desperate. This could not be just from pain, at least just from the physical. Finally she had reached to his bedside, gazing upon his pitiful form. His wings, oh his beautiful wings were gone. She scanned over the lumps that remained, tattered and bloody, she swore she could even see them beating with his heart. The gauze that was wrapped around them already soaked in jam, even though the drier parts looked brand new. Her eyes moved to him now, as she saw what with such fierce grip he held to his forearms, and how tense he held himself, as if he was coated in a shield of armor. The sight made her heart break, she may not be able to stop what swarms his mind, but she could at least stop the bleeding.

Gently placing herself on his bedside, Sugarfly Cookie gingerly wrapped herself around her beloved, placing her arms around his neck, and her chest to his back. Opening her wings, she began to recite her mending spell once more, but this time to such a greater intensity. Closing her eyes, she allowed the flow of energy to coagulate within her heart instead of her hands, and flow into the back of her beloved. She felt him move and shift under her touch, but soon still. His sobs and choking breaths ceased as the tiny tent filled with her magic. Finally when she had expended all she could, she continued to hold steadfast to him as the light she produced dimmed, and her wings folded back down.

“Oh my sweet Pavlova.” She whispered quietly, not wanting to hurt him more than he already was. Feeling a slight shift, she opened her eyes to find Pavlova Cookie’s head turned just slightly to stare at her. His gaze filled with pain, shock, and almost horror, as if he had seen a terrible vision. After a moment, his gaze soften, as water welled back up to his pupils. In a swift motion, he fully turned to embrace her, sobbing hard and fast into her clothes. His head hit just below her chest, and his arms wrapped around her back, gripping her shoulders as if she was about to fly away from him, and Pavlova Cookie had to use everything within him to keep her there. Though startled by the sudden movement, Suagrfly Cookie quickly melted into his touch, and, while resting her head upon his, rubbed calming circles in his back, just between where his wings used to be.

They held each other like this for what seemed like hours. Though this was not the exciting meeting Sugarfly Cookie had hoped for, it was the meeting the two needed. The last time they had held each other this closely was their fateful meeting in the grove. Now, there were no restrictions, no rules, they had won. The cost was great, but they had paid the price for this one moment, their moment. She listened to Pavlova Cookie’s siren song of sobs slowly dissipate. After a quiet moment, he lifted his head up to meet her eyes.

“Your clothes…. I ruined them.” He mumbled softly, his words sounded dry and pained, only coming out in a whisper. Sugarfly Cookie looked down at her bodysuit. It was covered in two perfect circles of jam, then drenched in pools of tears, snot, and whatever else Pavlova Cookie could expel from himself after being unconscious for days. The comment had caught her so off guard, she giggled quietly to herself, but then erupted in laughter she could not contain. Pavlova Cookie looked up at her in confusion, and a bit of fear, as she roared out in breathy laughter.

“It’s… it’s ok, my love. It happens.” Finally catching herself, she allowed her giggles to dissipate before responding, “Here, let’s get you some fresh gauze.” Pulling away, she stepped off the bed and head towards an open table full of medical supplies. The most abundant material was that of the gauze, as beside the table lay two waste baskets full of tattered, jam soaked gauze. Sugarfly Cookie wondered to herself how her beloved was even alive with the amount of blood loss he had suffered. Fear gripped her momentarily until she turned around once more to face him. Pavlova Cookie sat on his bed, face downturned like and upset cake hound who’s owner left for work. The fear that gripped her melted away under the smile she grew as she looked at him.

“Turn around dear.” As Sugarfly Cookie returned to his small cot, Pavlova Cookie slowly shuffled his body to face the tent wall. Even this small movement pained him greatly, as Sugarfly Cookie watched his whole body tense and tremble with each shift. Now facing his back, Sugarfly Cookie began to delicately remove each layer of gauze from each wing. Surprisingly, this action did not make Pavlova Cookie tense, rather he relaxed into her touch as each stump was soon exposed to the open air.

“I come bearing good news,” Sugarfly Cookie began after a moment of peaceful silence, “The Ancients have casted their votes in your favor, and White Lily Cookie wants to make you a permanent denizen of the Faerie Kingdom!” Her voice squeaked towards the end of her sentence, causing Pavlova Cookie to flinch once more. Noticing his sudden tension, Sugarfly Cookie began to rub calming circles into his back once again, until she felt his dough become malleable once more. The fell into another bought of silence, but instead of it feeling calm and tender, the air filled with tension and strain. She continued to wrap new sheets of gauze around his stubs, until both were fresh in sparkling white. She took the old, jam stained and feather ridden bandage and tossed it into the waste basket. All the while, Pavlova Cookie sat motionless.

“Is she sure?” Pavlova Cookie muttered after a moment. Sugarfly Cookie thought she hadn’t heard him correctly, as it was came out so quietly, “Is White Lily Cookie positive this is what she wants? That I am what she wants?” His voice began trembling once more. Where were these thoughts coming from, Sugarfly Cookie wondered? Of course he deserved this, he deserved more than this! He deserved his own suite, with faerie maids to care for his every medical whim. He deserved to be hailed as a hero among cookies for the sacrifice he made. His hesitance confused Sugarfly Cookie ever so.

“Of course she is sure, my love. She was the one to break the tie, and decide your fate personally.” After another moment of silence with no response, Sugarfly Cookie continued, “Something is troubling you, Pavlova Cookie, please, speak to me.” Placing her head gently upon his back once more, she wrapped her arms around his frame, and settled them within his lap. She suddenly felt Pavlova Cookie take her hands in his and sigh.

“I do not feel like a hero the Ancients describe me as. I still feel wicked, I still feel… trapped.” His grip around Sugarfly Cookie’s hands tightened.

“What do you mean? You are just as free as I am, my sweet. You can finally live your life free of scorn and scrutiny.” She felt for his palm under the grasp of her hands, and began to rub it with her thumb in a circular motion.

“I am not free. I will never be free. I killed her, Sugarfly Cookie, I killed my own… my own mother…” He began trembling once more, “Her jam flows through me, her dough created me. What if I am nothing more but a bringer of false happiness. I still see her everywhere I turn, I see her eyes shooting through my soul. She’s still judging me, making sure I stay in line, making sure I am still her perfect little cherub.” Sugarfly Cookie felt tears dripping slowly onto her dough, “I don’t want anyone to have to hurt because of the happiness she seeks, especially you, my butterfly. I fear myself, even when I am alone, what could I do? She trained me to be the most perfect weapon, to carry out her acts of love in the most cruel way possible. And her Majesty White Lily Cookie simply… accepts me? Knowing the threat I pose, knowing what I am capable of. I couldn’t join you then, my love, because I fear what she would make me do to. I refuse to join now because I fear what I would do you.” His last thoughts began to morph into sobs that racked his body once more.

“Pavlova Cookie, look at me.” Sugarfly Cookie released herself from his grip, and pivoted her body around so Pavlova Cookie would not have to move so suddenly. After the latter had moved as much as he could, Sugarfly Cookie cupped his face and held his gaze.

“You are nothing like Eternal Sugar Cookie, nothing at all, despite what your dough may contain. In ever instance where Eternal Sugar Cookie would have forced her own happiness above others, you chose their freedom first, even before your own, knowing the pain it would bring. You sacrificed your form, your wings, for not just my life, but the lives of countless soldiers and vulnerable cookies across Earthbread, You sacrificed your freedom for me, because your love is so strong, so pure and real, that it defies even your own happiness. You are a selfless cookie, Pavlova Cookie, and you have endured more than any other cookie I know. Please, Pavlova Cookie, let me release you from this hold Eternal Sugar Cookie has over you, and free yourself the same way you had freed me.”

Sugarfly Cookie pressed her forehead to Pavlova Cookie’s, and sighed deeply, allowing whatever tears that still needed to escape him to spill. His sobs and hiccups were the only sounds to break the peace of their quiet tent. Sugarfly Cookie had moved her hands down to Pavlova Cookie’s lap, and held his own hands tightly. After a moment, Pavlova Cookie moved his head away to gaze upon his sweet, his butterfly. Sugarfly Cookie met it with all the warmth baked into her dough. Sugarfly Cookie could have swore she saw his pupils flip right side up, as his eyes held the warmest hearts she had seen in a long time. While memorizing each line and indent within his face, Pavlova Cookie had moved his hand from her grasp, and cupped her cheek, just as she had done to his. Slowly, the two inched closer, until Pavlova Cookie closed the gap. Sugarfly Cookie’s wings opened in an instant, and she felt like soaring. This is the freedom she had longed for, this was where her true happiness lied. Their kiss only lasted a fleeting moment, but to the two cookies, it was the start of their new lives.

“No matter what happens now, we will fight together. We have both earned our freedom and our happiness, and I am not going to lose it again.” Sugarfly Cookie held his gaze once more, determination flashing within her eyes. She spent the rest of the day within that tent, tending to his wounds, and sharing stories of their times apart, for now that she had him, she would never let go of what made her truly happy again.