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Chapter Text

Thousands of vibrantly colored flowers glistened joyfully under the afternoon sun, offering a spectacle that eased the mind.

Eternal Sugar Cookie was gracefully holding a water can in what seemed to be an orange cloud, tipping it slightly with a flick of her finger, causing the water to rain on the flowers, and subsequently the drops slid from the petals to the ground.

She was quietly humming a melody, almost cradling the flowers to sleep, until she abruptly interrupted herself and asked, “Pavlova Cookie? What’s the matter, dear?”

Pavlova Cookie was approaching the woman, bow in hand, expression grim: “Muscovado Cookie has returned from his …expedition. He is injured. Do I have permission to request aid from the nursery Cookies?” He explained bluntly, staring at the ground.

Eternal Sugar brought one hand to her cheek, furrowing her eyebrows in worry: “Why, but of course, dear! Oh, I hope he’s alright. I have warned all of you how incredibly dangerous it is to step outside my paradise of eternal happiness.” Eternal Sugar continued, sighing in disappointment.

Pavlova clenched his bow and bowed stiffly for a moment, before rushing back to the injured cookie.

Eternal Sugar preferred him as a little kid. Youngsters in their twenties were such a hassle to deal with, them and their tantrums. But, alas, there was no real reason to keep him in that form as Sugarfly Cookie had left the garden, and with her any risk of those two falling for eachother and leaving her all by herself.

She sighed again. “Sugarfly was a real sweetheart - pity that she decided to leave, hm?” she queried to a dark purple dahlia, almost expecting an answer. A drop of water trickled onto her head, and she stood up to pat it off.

Eternal Sugar decided she would go and grace the hurt cookie with her visit, however upset she might be by the attempt at leaving her paradise.

Simultaneously as Eternal Sugar stepped into the nursery, Pavlova ran in front of her, almost tripped her over as he ran with a box full of bandages in his hands: “Sorry!” he muttered, immediately diverting his eyes from Eternal Sugar’s as he met hers and realized who he had just apologized to.

She observed intently as he set the box on a small table next to a bed in which a sobbing cookie laid: “I-I’m so sorry… I never knew how cruel the world outside the garden w-was…” Muscovado Cookie managed to cry out in between hiccups.

Pavlova sushed him and laid the back of his hand on the other’s cheek in hopes to comfort him: “Don’t worry about that now. All that matters is that you make a full recovery.” He smiled weakly before lifting his hand and backing up to leave more space to the Cookie next to him that was scrambling to stitch up a particularly bad wound.

Jam gushed out of the deep cut as Muscovado Cookie winced in pain, surprisingly staying mostly silent apart from a few groans of pain.

Pavlova didn’t say a word as he stood behind the nursery cookie who would sporadically ask him to lend her a medical tool, which he would swiftly hand her as fast as he could.

“Oh, my.” Eternal Sugar exclaimed calmly: “Muscovado Cookie, my dear, I see that the forest has not spared you from its cruel claws, has it?” She continued as she stepped closer to the bed and held the hand that he wasn’t using to grip tightly at the sheets as he quivered in pain.

Muscovado squeezed his eyes shut in guilt, although he hadn’t let go of Eternal Sugar’s pitying hold.

Her thumb soothingly drew circles on his palm, as she blankly stared at the mess that one of her followers was.

Tangled hair, crumbling dough, and cheeks soaked in tears. This truly was not what anyone in her paradise was supposed to look like.

Pavlova clicked his tongue in irritation at the sight and left the nursery grounds as soon as he was certain that the nursery cookie didn’t need any more help.

Eternal Sugar, hearing his steps leaving the room, placed a kiss on Muscovado Cookie’s cheek, before straightening up and following Pavlova.

“You know I love you, right?” She whispered behind Pavlova, embracing him in a tight hug from behind: “Pavlova Cookie.” She had followed him to a part of the garden in which Sugarfly Cookie loved to dawdle in.

She had found him staring at a particular swing in which she would always sit, expression unreadably blank.

His shoulders stiffened as he felt her hands clasping together under his chest, her head touching his back. He did not reciprocate the hug.

“…Yes. I do.” He begrudgingly admitted, nails clawing at his tunic in rage.

Eternal Sugar nuzzled her head against his back one last time before finally unlocking her fingers and bringing them behind her back: “So? What are you doing on this side of the garden? You used to steer so far away from here, what changed?” She innocently asked.

“I…”

“Eternal Sugar Cookie!” A panting cookie interrupted Pavlova mid sentence, capturing Eternal Sugar’s attention: “Please, there’s no need to yell! What’s the matter?” She complained as she grabbed the cookie’s hands as she bent over in exhaustion.

“There’s a cookie at the gates that claims to know you named Hollyberry Cookie!”

Chapter Text

Raspberry Cookie looked around nervously, almost expecting one of Eternal Sugar’s followers to ambush them at any moment: “You-You’re sure this is the right thing to do, yes?” She queried to a relaxed Hollyberry Cookie, who took a sip of the crimson berry juice that a cookie had offered her on a silver platter: “But of course! And wipe that frown off your face, it is unsightly of a Hollyberrian knight to be so rudely worried!” She laughed contentedly, letting herself fall onto a stone that was covered in vividly colored flowers.

Raspberry Cookie shot a glance at Wildberry Cookie, who returned it with a deadpan expression plastered on his face.

A cookie with a beautifully intricate braid decorated by red roses and black dahlias and an off the shoulder tunic gently offered the two a pair of golden glasses containing the same juice as Hollyberry’s. They both politely shook their heads in refusal, making it their duty to stay sober and look after the queen.

The latter had initiated conversation with the same cookie that had offered her the calice, occasionally making her chuckle.

Suddenly, Hollyberry let out a sharp gasp, pale, slender arms clutching her chest plate from behind: “My dearest other half!” Eternal Sugar exclaimed, squeezing her.

The taller woman hesitated in shock for a moment, before turning around and reciprocating the hug. She lifted her off her feet, earning a yelp and a giggle.

Eternal Sugar placed a quick kiss on Hollyberry’s cheek, blushing and smiling like a lovesick schoolgirl: “Oh, how long it’s been since we’ve last met! How have you been, my sweet?” the two spiraled into an infinite loop of small talk and catching up, a little too close for everyone else’s comfort.

Raspberry still did not trust Eternal Sugar in the slightest; but her sworn duty was to follow Queen Hollyberry wherever, however and with whomever she decided to rule her kingdom, so she swallowed the heavy lump that sat in her throat and cleared it with a cough, attracting the attention of the cookies present: “Excuse me, Your Majesty, but I thought we were in a hurry…”

“You’re right! We will have all the time to catch up on our journey.” Hollyberry announced, leaving Eternal Sugar perplexed: “Journey?” she queried, slightly detaching herself from the tight embrace Hollyberry held her in: “To the Hollyberry Kingdom, of course!”

Eternal Sugar batted her eyelashes in disbelief for a moment: “You’d… allow me to do that?” she smiled: “I think there is a bigger issue than that, no?” Pavlova suddenly walked in front of the group, arms crossed and scowl evident on his face.

His eyebrows furrowed further as he locked eyes with Eternal Sugar: “You’re supposed to stay here and ensure the eternal happiness of aaaall cookies, are you not?” the pink cookie’s eyes reduced to two slits as she intently listened to Pavlova, smile not quite reaching her eyes: “Please, don’t use such tones in front of guests!” she sighed melodramatically, suddenly enclosing Hollyberry’s neck with her arms and flinging herself onto the other’s lap: “The bringer of happiness brings happiness to all cookies, right? Does that not include herself?”

Pavlova scoffed and rolled his eyes, exiting their line of sight, headed towards the nursery. Eternal Sugar watched him go with a cryptic expression, and Hollyberry, sensing the tension in the air, suddenly spoke up: “That means you will be coming with us, am I right?” Eternal Sugar’s smile suddenly painted her cheeks rose and eyes almost squeezed shut: “Of course my love! What kind of question even is that? I’d gladly follow you to the ends of the world!”
“Even to Crispia?”
“Especially to Crispia!”

Eternal Sugar’s smile brutally yanked Hollyberry’s heart to her throat, replacing every organ inside her with ferociously excited butterflies. Almost on instinct, she cupped the pink cookie’s cheek, making circles on her dough with her thumb: “Do you need today to pack your luggage and organize everything before your departure? I’m willing to wait as long as you need-“ she was interrupted by three buff cookies suddenly dropping seven bags full to the brim with clothes and such, as another cookie with glasses and a notebook tapped their pen on the cover and nodded to Eternal Sugar: “No need, I’ve got everything I need with me!”

*

“This is such an injustice!” Raspberry groaned as she fell to the ground, laying her back on a shiny bag: “Why do we need to bring that beast’s stuff? Can’t her… slaves or whatever do it for her?” Wildberry basically threw a piece of similar luggage on the dock of their ship, as five other knights struggled alongside them.

He wiped some sweat off his forehead, panting: “It’s Her Majesty’s orders. We have sworn to follow them.” he recited, exhaling deeply and laying his hands on his hips.

Raspberry groaned yet again, barely lifting off the ground and starting to push the bag she was assigned: “These… are… stupidly… heavy!” she cried as she successfully kicked the bag onto the small wooden bridge.

After sliding it next to the others, still panting, she headed to another soldier, who was also struggling greatly, offering them a hand. Wildberry followed her example and headed to the Hollyberrian next to the other two.

In the meantime, the culprit of all these struggles was contentedly exploring the ship, waiting for Hollyberry to finish the preparations for departure. She happily stroked the dark wood, somehow never catching a splinter.

Chapter Text

Raspberry and Wildberry both looked intently at Eternal Sugar, carefully monitoring every move she made; any other cookie would’ve at least felt a bit of paranoia after being controlled so vigorously, but the Beast hadn’t even offered them a look as her eyes were glued to her beloved.

A few of her followers were communicating to her the last few details of how they would handle her departure, seemingly not preoccupied of the mindless nod she was displaying as a response.

“Well,” the book in the cookie’s hands snapped shut, the pen falling into a pocket on her tunic: “We hope you enjoy yourself on this trip. Farewell.” she politely said as she slightly bowed her head down.

Eternal Sugar answered with another nod as her head laid on Hollyberry’s shoulder and she sat on her lap. She was fiddling with her magenta locks, stare vacant and lips pursed in a frown.

Hollyberry quickly wrapped up the conversation she was having and then attentively slid Eternal Sugar off her legs and onto the wooden seat next to her.

The pink haired woman quietly gasped in surprise, worry painting her face: “What’s wrong?” she asked, voice barely a whisper.

she shook her head to soothe her preoccupation: “Nothing’s wrong, my dear. I’m just concerned about how light heartedly you’re taking into consideration abandoning your Garden.” she confessed, eyes missing their usual fierce glow and stare not quite meeting the other’s.

Eternal Sugar clenched her fist over Hollyberry’s hand, leaning closer into her: “The love I feel for you could never even compare to the attachment i feel to my followers, my sweet, sweet other half. Do not worry your pretty little head with such troubles,” she said, snapping her fingers over her forehead, leaving a slightly red mark and a breath of surprise escaping Hollyberry: “I want you to focus solely on me.” she smiled, squeezing her eyes shut and placing a chaste kiss on the mark she had previously left.

Hollyberry grabbed her hand with both hands and brought it in front of her: “But that’s wrong! Your whole world can’t revolve around me, as much as I admit it pleases me to-“

“I request to come with you on the boat.” Pavlova announced, capturing both the women’s attention.

Eternal Sugar basically hissed at him, while Hollyberry calmly let go of her hand and stood up from the wooden bench: “You wish to come with us on our journey to Crispia? And why is that?” she queried as Eternal Sugar crossed her arms and sulked behind her. Pavlova blissfully ignored her, joining his hands together in front of him: “Do my motives truly matter?”

“I’d rather know them to ensure the safety of my citizens. After all, we were almost killed last time we came here and I do not want to repeat that accident again.” She explained as Eternal Sugar begrudgingly took a few steps to stand next to Hollyberry.

“Then…” Pavlova finally looked at Eternal Sugar straight in the eyes after what felt, and maybe was, days. An empty smile appeared on his face, deepening the Beast’s scowl: “I wish to accompany you to take care of my master. Is that a valid enough reason?” Hollyberry brought her hand to her chin in thought, and after a few moments turned to the other woman: “What do you think? After all, he is your follower.” Pavlova stiffened up his posture but didn’t dare utter a sound, his knuckles becoming white as he grabbed his own hand.

Eternal Sugar eerily smiled to the man, turning her face out of sight for her other half. She then quickly snapped back and smiled way more warmly: “Oh of course he can!” she stood up and hugged the taller guy: “He’s always been my favorite- but don’t tell anyone!” Pavlova grit his teeth as his arms hung limply by his sides, and Hollyberry observed silently.

*

Pavlova grabbed the edge of the boat for the hundredth time this trip, folding over on himself and puking his heart out. Raspberry rushed over next to him to draw comforting circles onto his back: “Jeez, how is it that you’ve been this sick for the entirety of our voyage? Have you never been on a boat?” she sighed: “I’ve never had any reason to leave th- ugh!” he was interrupted by his own nausea, whom forced him to violently turn back to the waves and further turn his insides out.

Eternal Sugar, obviously extremely worried about his state, was gleefully analyzing Hollyberry’s cabin and tidying where it needed to be cleaned- so basically everywhere.

It was truly shocking how bad the queen had let the state of her cabin get, the pink beast thought as she picked up the countless abandoned sock.

She happily hummed a melody that only she seemed to know as she grabbed the laundry basket and threw all the dirty clothes in there. Hollyberry came in just as she was about to exit: “What a pleasant surprise!” Eternal Sugar exclaimed as their noses grazed each other. Hollyberry’s cheeks dusted pink as she subtly backed away and nodded slightly: “What are you doing in my room?” she looked down at the basket: “…With my clothes?”

“I was just about to scold you about that. That is no condition to leave your room in!” she pouted, not really angry, and pushed on Hollyberry’s chest plate with her finger to move her out of the way. She kept on humming her melody, walking towards the bathroom.

The other woman stayed there to stare at her back too long for comfort, fiddling with her hair, before finally sighing and pushing open the already unlocked door of her cabin.

Chapter Text

The sky painted itself in orange as the ship sailed calmly over the peaceful waves; it had been six hours since the departure from Beast Yeast- Pavlova was basically passed out on the deck as Raspberry knelt next to him, absent mindedly patting his back as she stared into the distance: “H-how long… ‘till we get there…?” he sputtered out, slowly bringing a hand to his stomach to clutch it: “Should be just a few hours. It will probably be early morning,” she hesitated a second, her hand stopping mid motion: “Will you… manage until then? We can always, uh, drop you off earlier, like on an island of some sorts…”

“No! No, no. It’s fine. I’m fine.” he weakly waved his hand in dismissal, as the circles resumed being drawn on his back with a sigh.

In her cabin, Hollyberry was scribbling away on a pile of papers as an all too familiar gorgeous lady picked up a small stack to reveal her face to her Ancient counterpart: “Eternal Sugar?”

“It’s late, you shouldn’t be working at this hour.” she yanked the quill from Hollyberry’s fingers, somehow flinging it perfectly inside the ink bottle. The darker woman whistled: “Woah, nice shot!” she praised as Eternal Sugar blushed contendedly, holding her cheeks with her palms: “You think so?” she giggled as Hollyberry walked towards her.

Her hand was gently moved from her face into another hand, intertwining itself with it: “Would you like to sleep beside me?” Hollyberry asked, smile tired.

The Beast widened her eyes in shock, before hugging her: “Maybe another time, dear.” she shook her head into the crook of her neck.

Hollyberry genuinely gasped in surprise upon hearing this: “Really? Why not tonight? Have I perhaps done something to upset you?”

“Oh no, my sweet! You could never. I just… really think you need the rest.” she relaxed her feet as they got out of the strained position they had to be in for her to reach the other. Hollyberry squeezed the hand she hadn’t let go of. She parted her lips as if to say something, then seemingly changed her mind and let go of her hand: “Please let me know if you change your mind. Now, goodnight. We both need the rest.” she walked her to the door, hand on her back to gently nudge her toward it.

Eternal Sugar pressed a kiss on her cheek and started heading towards her own cabin.

As soon as the Beast left the room and the door had been locked, Hollyberry let herself go to the floor with a long and pained sigh. She brought her knees to her face and hugged them tightly, finding comfort in the darkness and warmth.

She knew Eternal Sugar Cookie didn’t mean any harm. She couldn’t have. There was no way such a terrified, frightened cookie could ever try and intentionally bring harm to others. All she wanted was everyone’s happiness, and even though her ways of gaining it were twisted to say the least, she still had somewhat succeeded in her intent, in her own way.

Obviously, none of what had happened back during her first expedition to Beast Yeast was justified by her childlike innocence and naivety, and even though she would never admit it to a soul, Hollyberry still held a grudge against her counterpart for all the pain she had caused to her knights, her friends, even her family.

And even though she was well aware it was all her fault and no one else’s, when she closed her eyes the image of the other Cookie was never malicious. All she saw was the agonizing expression she had made the moment Hollyberry had bit into the golden fruit, her desperate pleads, her attempt to take her own and Hollyberry’s life. And even though, she still wanted to hold her, and reassure her.

Tell her everything is going to alright. That she is never going to leave her again. It was as if there were two versions of Eternal Sugar Cookie in her mind; one was the Beast she had been taught and told and told again to despise and fear, whose wrath she had gotten to experience first hand, and the other was the terrified, beautiful, but oh so cruel Cookie she wanted to hold and never let go of.

She finally got up with a grunt, and she slid under her rough sheets. The empty space in front of her felt way too presently absent.

*

“That’s none of my business” she stubbornly stated as Raspberry was holding onto a barely conscious Pavlova, one arm being held over her shoulders and her own hand supporting his torso. The way taller man staggered pathetically onto her, almost making them both fall: “Can’t you- agh! Can’t you use your Beast magic or something to help him? I really cannot handle him any longer! It’s almost morning for Witches’ sake, and land is still a few hours away!” she complained, voice becoming more and more strained as the huge mass of uselessly winged cookie leaned more and more onto her. Seriously, how could such a skinny looking guy weight so unbereably much?

Eternal Sugar sighed and pulled out a small, purple berry from her tunic: “Not a word about this to him when he wakes up, understood?” Raspberry nodded tiredly, just wanting this babysitting job to be over.

She pushed it in between his lips, making him forcibly gulp it down with the little consciousness that remained inside him: “He’s probably just dehydrated, or hungry. Give him about ten minutes and he’ll be fine.” she tiredly explained, yawning.

Raspberry looked up to Eternal Sugar: “Thank y- huh?” there was nobody in front of her, almost making her think she had imagined the whole encounter due to exhaustion, before spotting a pale pink tunic quickly disappear behind a corner.

The corners of her lips tugged slightly as she gently accompanied Pavlova to the ground