Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sprout felt the elevator go deeper into Gardenview center, letting him know that he and his friends were going to continue the ichor operation orchestrated by the star of the show.

He only joined due to being worried about his friends' wellbeing, knowing how dangerous this job can be.

“All of you know the drill, right?” Sprout called out to his friends, looking back at them to see their determined faces.

“Yeah!” All of them said in unison.

Then the elevator opened, with all of them scurrying out of there in order to fulfill their tasks.

Now, it was time to play his part and find those tapes!

They've been going at it for more than ten floors without anyone going out of commission. They were doing better than the last operation they did, which was a major improvement!

Picking up some tapes from the ground, Sprout sighed out of exhaustion.

“I think that's all the tapes?” Sprout stood up, putting away the tapes while he looked around his surroundings.

He was all alone without any sign of his friends in sight. He thinks they're probably on the other side of the floor.

If Pebble wasn't the one busy on this floor to give Goob breathing room, he'd probably have more than enough tapes to last the group a few more floors.

Sprout began to walk where the elevator was, only to stop when he heard something unusual.

Heavy footsteps… stepping on leaves? There weren't any leaves on this floor. Heck, there weren't any trees at all! They were in Astro’s room!

He hasn't heard those footsteps in previous operations, but Sprout knew his friends have. He remembers they told him that the source was his twisted counterpart.

Sprout knows he'd be in danger if he'd been found by his twisted self, but he chose to try and look for them despite the danger, curious about what the twisted looked like.

He followed the sound of the footsteps slowly hearing it get louder and louder, telling him he was getting closer and closer.

There, he saw it.

A tall twisted toon fully drenched in ichor except for its right eye and right arm. The leaves on its head are long and pointy, with two leaves intertwined together pointing upwards. Its scarf was long, one end of the scarf had turned into a tendril due to the ichor. Leaves had appeared on the twisted’s back too.

Sprout watched it stand still all alone in a dark corner facing a wall. His twisted counterpart kept on staring at their clawed left hand, weeping to itself.

“...” Sprout couldn't help but stare. He wanted to cheer them up, go up to them and offer them sweets like he does with his friends.

Maybe he could try it anyway…?

"!"

Their eyes met.

“... Grr...” Twisted Sprout growled lowly at him, keeping in place before taking one step forward.

Uh oh.

"RRAAAHHH!!!"

Sprout ran the moment the Twisted screamed and chased after him, thinking he was about to die.

He hid behind some large crates after losing them, breathing heavy breaths after fleeing from a twisted version of himself.

“Phew…! That was way too close!” Sprout groaned, leaning against the crates in exhaustion.

He wants to scold himself for even thinking he can cheer them up when they can't even understand each other! But he couldn't help himself! His twisted counterpart is miserable!

Sprout stayed hidden behind those crates, thinking about his Twisted self. They'll meet again, won't they? He won't try to run away next time!

A few floors later…

Every floor that Sprout encountered Twisted Sprout, Sprout only followed the other silently from a distance once he was finished finding tapes, convincing himself that he can go up to them and try to initiate a conversation but failed to do so every single time. He took too long contemplating to the point all of the machines were done.

Well, all his contemplation had stopped now. Why?

He's been cornered by an enraged Twisted Sprout in a small room, far away from everyone else.

‘What do I do? What do I do? What do I do!?’

Sprout froze in place, staring up at Twisted Sprout who's glaring down at him letting out bone chilling groans.

The twisted growled, raising their clawed hand at Sprout ready to strike.

Accepting his fate, he closed his eyes and braced for the painful impact.

Only to feel… nothing…?

Sprout cracked his eyes open slightly, spotting the other poking at Sprout’s leafy hair with their ichor covered claw.

“Rrr…?” The other was curious about this small version of themselves. He hasn't seen someone resembling him in forever. Last time he saw this version was in front of a mirror…

Twisted Sprout continued poking Sprout’s hair, slowly getting satisfied despite mourning the loss of his original appearance.

"...???" Sprout stood there in shock.

He… didn't expect to get treated like this? He thought he was going to die at the hands of Twisted Sprout but he was getting pat (in a way) instead?

Twisted Sprout let out a sound. “Prr…”

Sprout took a shot in his heart hearing that sound.

He needs to protect Twisted Sprout immediately. He needs him safe. He needs him cared for—

“Do you—”

“Grr…!”

He was immediately cut off by Twisted Sprout's warning, shutting Sprout up. Though, that didn't stop Sprout from letting himself convey what he wants to say.

Sprout took out one of his baked sweets reserved for his friends. They wouldn't mind if he used some of his tapes! (As long as he doesn't say of course.)

“...” Twisted Sprout stared at the cupcake then back at Sprout, then back at the cupcake again.

“Would you like some…?” Sprout offered the cupcake to the other, holding it out for him to take.

Twisted Sprout didn't respond as he only stood there in silence until he withdrew his hand to take the cupcake out of Sprout’s hold.

Then, he brought it up to his face and—

*MUNCH*

Somehow, Sprout felt more inclined to protect this Twisted version of himself just watching how he ate the cupcake. (He watched him open his mouth so wide he swore Twisted Sprout's head might fall off. He won't even mention that terrifyingly long tongue and sharp teeth.)

Sprout waited for the other’s reaction with bated breath, hoping he likes it or else he'll be unable to continue his part…

“Mrr…”

"…?" Was that a good reaction or should he run away…?

Unexpectedly he got picked up by his twisted counterpart, and felt himself getting searched for something by being shook vigorously up and down.

Twisted Sprout liked the cupcake and demanded more!

“Woah! Hey!” Sprout panicked at the other searching him by shaking the items out of his inventory. “If you wanted more you should've asked! Not pick me up and shake me!”

Sprout was getting dizzy. Being shaked like that as if he were getting filmed in Dandy's show as a gag was one of his least favorite things!

“Stop! I can give you more cupcakes if you listen to me…!”

Twisted Sprout stopped shaking him and tilted his head slightly to the side at Sprout to show his confusion.

He listened to him, now where are those cupcakes?

“I’ll give you those cupcakes soon, but first, put me down!” Sprout knew the other is listening to him now. Phew… He needs to make those cupcakes but he's reserving his tapes for his friends… What can he do now?

“I don't have any on me right now, but follow me! I'll make you some more!” Sprout says the moment an idea popped into his head. 

It's a gamble, but what if he brought him to the elevator where his friends were…? It's dangerous, yet his Twisted self has kept a semblance of their sanity. Just enough not to attack him at least.

Sprout ran together with Twisted Sprout following close behind him after being put down. It was the perfect time to bring him towards the elevator too since it was time to leave the floor.

When they were nearing the elevator, someone shouted in panic.

“Sprout! Hurry! There’s someone behind you!” Cosmo shrieked.

“Come here! Hehe!” Goob shouted after, stretching both of his arms towards Sprout to pull him into a hug.

“Wait! Keep the elevator open! He's with—!”

Sprout was harshly pulled away from Twisted Sprout. Twisted Sprout didn't like that. He needed those cupcakes Sprout promised! “Rrah!”

Then the elevator door shut just before Twisted Sprout could get in, locking the twisted out from the only working elevator.

Sprout stared at the elevator door with a gaping mouth, not registering the tight hug he was in because of Goob.

“I was about to say that he’s with me…” Sprout sighed, reluctantly accepting the hug by going limp in Goob’s hold.

“That twisted was with you?” Rodger spoke up, questioning Sprout. “Did you befriend him?”

“Yeah. When he cornered me he didn't hit me but instead began to poke my hair for some reason…” Sprout explained. “I offered him a cupcake after that and he became docile towards me.”

Cosmo sighed in relief. “At least you're still alive…”

“Uhh…” Shelly made a confused noise. “Why isn't the elevator moving yet?”

Now that he thinks about it, he didn't feel the elevator moving down. The absence of that familiar rumble when descending deeper into Gardenview was proof of that.

*Creak…*

All of the toons looked towards the elevator door, only to find a claw covered in ichor preventing it from fully closing.

“Grrah!”

The toons watched in horror at the scene, watching Twisted Sprout open the elevator doors with nothing but pure strength.

Twisted Sprout glared at them while pushing the elevator door up, soon getting inside with them.

Everyone but Sprout huddled up in the corner, trying to get as far away from Twisted Sprout.

Pebble stood right in front of them, doing a stance while growling lowly at Twisted Sprout.

“Bark! Bark! Grr!” Pebble sent a warning growl, attempting to protect the other toons with its small body.

“Rrah!” Twisted Sprout growled back, clearly feeling threatened by Pebble.

Sprout got in between them and held his hands out to each of them. “Wait! Calm down! All of you!” He says, attempting to de-escalate the situation.

“How can we calm down when there's a literal Twisted version of you in this elevator?!” Vee argued, shielding Shelly from Twisted Sprout.

“He might hurt us…” Astro added, showing clear concern for himself and everyone else.

Sprout knew it'd come to this, so he faced Twisted Sprout and walked over to him.

Twisted Sprout got down to Sprout’s level by kneeling and bending over slightly, recognizing that Sprouts wanted to say something to him.

“Promise me that you won't hurt them?” Sprout asked.

Twisted Sprout stared at him as if the answer was obvious. “... Prr.” He won't hurt them as long as Sprout gives him cupcakes.

“See? He won't hurt you!” Sprout turns to look at his friends with a smile. The others were still in the corner unsure if they should trust Twisted Sprout.

Goob was the one who stepped forward, his face back to being happy and giddy as he ran up to Twisted Sprout.

He opened his arms. "Do you want a hug!?” Goob says excitedly.

“Rrr!”

“Yay!” Goob wrapped his arms around Twisted Sprout multiple times, giving him a tight welcoming hug.

Seeing this, the rest of the toons calmed down a bit, some of them even approaching Twisted Sprout.

Dandy’s shop appeared from the elevator floor a few seconds later.

“Hey! I got some goodies for— WHAT IS THAT?!” Dandy had spotted Twisted Sprout inside the elevator. How did he get in?! He made sure the Twisteds wouldn't be able to get inside!

“Oh, Dandy! Just in time!” Rodger went over to Dandy. “Now I have a few questions about him…”

With this, Sprout considers this interaction between Twisted Sprout and his friends to be a success.

Now, how can he convince everyone to bring Twisted Sprout to the surface with them?

Chapter Text

"Okay, so tell me why you want him," Dandy points at Twisted Sprout "to the surface with us?"

It's been a few floors since Twisted Sprout's arrival to the elevator. Each of the toons present had warmed up to Twisted Sprout to some extent except for Dandy, who only appears in even floors to sell his wares.

"He's friendly! Look at him!" Sprout points at Twisted Sprout, who was getting bombarded by the toons with intrigue.

"Grrawhh..." Twisted Sprout is currently interacting the toons, mostly Shelly, Goob, and Cosmo.

"Awh! I can give you all the hugs that you want! Makes you feel better doesn't it?" Goob giggled, letting Twisted Sprout enjoy the hug.

"Graaahh!"

"Woah... That's one terrifying growl." Cosmo comments, attempting to get used to Twisted Sprout's company.

"Terrifying? I think it's amazing! Like a dinosaur!" Shelly excitedly squealed, visibly shaking from joy.

"Rraah!"

Shelly squealed in happiness as she jumped up in down at the imitation. "That's one good roar! Do another with me!"

"Roar!" "Graaawhhh!" The two of them roared together, both of them doing the T-Rex hands.

While both were roaring, Sprout looked back at Dandy, having showed why Twisted Sprout deserved to be at the surface with them.

"He's sane enough not to hurt them, Dandy. Trust me this time for once." Sprout attempted to convince him. "I can keep an eye on him if you're still unsure."

Dandy squinted his eyes at him. "If anything happens to the toons because of Twisted you, it'd be your fault." Dandy pulled the lever right then and there, leaving Sprout and the others alone.

Sprout felt accomplished. That was a yes from Dandy! They can bring Twisted Sprout to the surface with them!

"Guys! Dandy agreed to bring Twisted Sprout with us to the surface!" Sprout announced to everyone.

"He agreed to that?!" Vee didn't take the news lightly. "Ugh, no use in complaining now..."

"Think about the pros of it, Vee." Rodger hummed. "We might get ourselves a new toon. New friends wouldn't hurt!"

Vee clicked her tongue. "For an old man you're awfully cheery."

"Why," Rodger fixed his collars with both hands by tugging at them. "it's what keeps me young and lively."

The elevator stopped, a sign that they had arrived one floor deeper into Gardenview.

"... Grrawhh..." Twisted Sprout approached Sprout, towering over him before looking down at him.

"Rrr..." He let out a worried growl, wanting to be near Sprout and feeling a sense of overprotectiveness for him.

"I'll be fine!" Sprout patted Twisted Sprout's leg since it's what he can currently reach. "I've survived many floors! This one wouldn't be that different!"

"..." Twisted Sprout stared at Sprout. He didn't want to risk his friend suddenly dying under his nose.

Sprout scratched his cheek. "... You wanna come with us...? Why not stay at the elevator?"

"Grawh..." Twisted Sprout points at Sprout, then did a familiar crushing noise using his claw.

Sprout shivered. Oh so that's why. "Alright, but you have to stay close to me, okay?" Sprout conditioned.

"Prr!" Twisted Sprout happily agreed as the elevator door opened, everyone spilling out once more except for him, Sprout, and Cosmo.

Cosmo nudged Sprout using an elbow while grinning. "You gotta tell me in more detail about how you managed to befriend your twisted self."

"Hah, maybe later."

A few machines later...

Sprout picked up one last tape from the ground, having collected seemingly all of them. "Now what should I do with you...?" He turned to Twisted Sprout who was looming over an oven, lightly tapping it and visibly becoming more upset.

Looks like he wants to bake something, but is afraid of breaking anything. "... Grawh..." Twisted Sprout let out a saddened growl, making Sprout immediately want to cheer him up.

Before he can go over and check up on him, Sprout heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Sprout? Are you here?" Cosmo spoke up, peeking from the corner and getting Sprout's attention.

"Cosmo! You're here!" Sprout happily went over to greet him. "I thought you were doing machines? What's up?"

"I let Vee, Shelly, and Rodger handle the machines for now. I'm out of heals." Looking at Cosmo, he was already on one heart! Sprout was too focused on getting tapes that he didn't notice!

"So I figured I would accompany you both a bit. There wasn't any Bandages or Health Kits I could find on this floor."

"Oh— I'm so sorry that I didn't notice Cosmo! Let me heal you—" Suddenly Cosmo shut Sprout up by putting a hand on his mouth.

"Stop, it's not your fault! I just healed Goob earlier!" Cosmo tells him. "I can just get heals next floor! Save your tapes for Pebble or Goob!"

"But what if—"

"I said I'm fine!" Cosmo patted Sprout's back. "I've got this far without getting hurt thanks to them! It's not like I'll get hurt anytime soon!"

Sprout sighed in defeat. "Well, if you say so."

*BAMF!* "Grrawhh...!"

"!"

Sprout and Cosmo turned to look at Twisted Sprout, who had accidentally spilled a sack of flour all over himself. "Grawh...!" Twisted Sprout's visibly distressed with the flour clouding his vision, his scarf limping around his leg.

"Oh no! We gotta help him!" Cosmo alarmed.

"Calm down!" Sprout called out, going over to him and taking Twisted Sprout's clawed hand in his. "I'm here! Can you crouch down for me?"

"Rrrawhhh..." With the help of Sprout holding his claw, he made sure not to accidentally crush his hand as he slowly kneeled to their height.

Cosmo and Sprout began to pat away the flour from Twisted Sprout's face, letting him regain his vision.

Twisted Sprout cried ichor out of his eye to clear his vision even more. "Mrrraughh..." Twisted Sprout growled upset, feeling awful that he had to disturb the pair of best friends like this.

"What were you trying to do...? You know you can ask us for help!" Cosmo spoke.

"We can help you with anything! It doesn't matter what it is as long as we know how to deal with it!" Sprout added on to Cosmo's talk, hoping that Twisted Sprout would take their offer.

"..." Twisted Sprout looked at the previously empty counter, which was now cluttered with tools and equipment for baking pastries.

Whisks, bowls, spatulas, cookie cutters, molding trays, piping tips, you name it! Almost everything is here!

"You want to bake something?" Sprout recognized Twisted Sprout's intent immediately. "Let us help you! It'll be easy as pie!" Sprout grinned, now letting Twisted Sprout get up on his feet. "You want cupcakes, right?"

"What if we don't have enough good ingredients to bake a single one? It's been a while since anyone came to this floor." Cosmo muttered, looking at the recently spilled flour on the floor.

"We'll just have to make do with what's available!" Sprout says with determination.

Twisted Sprout felt happy. "Prr!" Finally! He'll be able to bake again!

"Let's search for ingredients around the place!" Cosmo announced as he picked up the spilled sack of flour.

"We already got some flour, now we need some milk, butter, salt, sugar, eggs, and baking powder." Sprout lists, wondering if they'd be able to get at least some of them.

"I'll stay behind and clean up this flour, you two. I don't want to accidentally slip on this the moment we start to prepare." Cosmo points at the flour covered floor. Tisha would hate to see this.

"Alright, Cosmo! We'll be back soon!" Sprout waved goodbye at him, not realizing that he was still holding onto Twisted Sprout's claw.

"Prr!" Twisted Sprout waved goodbye at Cosmo too.

Cosmo waved back, watching them leave the kitchen area together.

... Was it just him or was Twisted Sprout's scarf wrapped itself on Sprout's arm?

A short walk later...

Sprout and Twisted Sprout looked around the place for ingredients, finding themselves encountering Astro and Pebble near a refrigerator.

Astro was on the verge of dozing off while Pebble stared at Astro silently, seemingly trying to protect him in case a stray twisted managed to find him.

"Hey there Pebble, Astro!" Sprout greeted, causing Astro to wake up while Pebble suddenly looked at Twisted Sprout warily.

"Grr! Bark, bark!" Pebble activated his ability, attempting to get Twisted Sprout's attention out of instinct, thinking that Twisted Sprout was gonna hurt them.

"... Grawr." Twisted Sprout greeted Pebble back. He was used to this already. Pebble had done this whenever he was near one or more toons outside of the elevator. Though, it didn't stop him from feeling threatened by the rock.

Astro noticed both of them. "Ah, it's the strawberries. Hello." He greets, glad to see the pair well and lively.

"Pfft, that's what you call us now?" Sprout laughed, since him and Twisted Sprout we're both strawberry toons. "Also, do try not to take a nap when we're underground. You might accidentally doze off while being chased."

"I'll keep that in mind." Astro hummed in acknowledgement. "I heard Vee referred to you two as the strawberries earlier. I think it's fitting."

Sprout nodded in understanding. He then focused back to the task at hand; finding ingredients. "Say, can we take a look inside that refrigerator?" Sprout points at the refrigerator behind Astro.

Astro turns his head to look at the refrigerator, then sweat dropped. "I'd let you, but be warned, it's almost impossible to open... I think it's stuck."

"Grawr!" Twisted Sprout stepped up to take the challenge, placing his claw on top of the fridge to keep it still as his right hand placed itself around the fridge handle.

"You think you can open it?" Sprout looked up at him, now catching a glimpse of Twisted Sprout's scarf wrapped around his arm. How did he not notice that before?

'That's so cute...!' Sprout thought.

"Mrraugh!" Twisted Sprout let out a confident growl before pulling the refrigerator door open. The refrigerator refused to open at first before it eventually opened wide, its handle now crushed.

"..." Twisted Sprout unraveled his scarf from Sprout's arm to reach inside the refrigerator, taking out a cold jug of milk and a cold block of butter.

"Oh! Nice! You opened the fridge and got two ingredients at once! Good job!" Sprout cheered, making Twisted Sprout feel a little bashful as he closed the refrigerator. "... Prr."

"Can I see if we can still use it? It might've already become spoiled..." Sprout says, reaching out for the ingredients.

"Prr!" Sprout's scarf lowered itself down to let Sprout take both ingredients. Sprout took the milk jug first, looking at the expiration date before opening it and taking a quick whiff of the milk.

"Huh, it's surprising we can still use this!" Sprout says shocked. The milk can still be used! Now what about the butter?

Sprout took a good look at the butter, and just like the milk, it can still be used!

"Got what you were looking for...?" Astro asked, watching Sprout finish inspecting the ingredients.

"Uh huh!" Sprout grinned. "We're gonna make cupcakes with these!"

"Mhm... Good luck with those..." Astro yawned, covering his mouth with one of those stars he summons.

"..." Pebble had been awfully quiet so far. Ever since Twisted Sprout took out the milk from the fridge, he suddenly sat down in front of him and looked up at him, aiming his puppy dog eyes at Twisted Sprout.

However, Twisted Sprout didn't notice this soon enough, and only the two main toons had managed to notice Pebble act this way.

"I think he wants some milk..." Astro says to both strawberries.

"... Bworf..." Pebble whined, wanting something to drink after a while. He deserves it for being such a good doggy!

Sprout immediately took action. "You want some? Hold on, I'll get you a bowl!"

He went over to Twisted Sprout and handed the ingredients back to him. "Hold these for me, I'll be really quick!"

Then Sprout scurried off to find a suitable bowl for Pebble to use, leaving Astro, Pebble, and Twisted Sprout alone.

"... Rrraugh?" Twisted Sprout watched Sprout leave, then looks at the ingredients in his arms in confusion. He wanted to follow but he knew that Sprout wants him to stay there without Sprout saying anything.

"... I'll be honest..." Astro spoke up, placing Twisted Sprout's attention on him. "I'm surprised you didn't hurt him..."

"..."

"Are you being good for him...?"

Twisted Sprout nodded. "Rrr."

"Good..." Astro sighed. "Sprout got a lot on his plate. Always thinking about us, always running around in floors, finding lots of tapes in hopes of making us live a little longer, and forcing us to get healed even if we don't need it..."

"Don't hurt him, alright...? He's a really good friend of ours, even if he comes off a bit pushy..."

"Mrrraughh!"

"I'm back!" Sprout announced his arrival, holding one small dog bowl in his hand. "I didn't miss anything, did I?"

"Bark, bark!" Pebble barked to greet him.

"Prrr!" You're back! Twisted Sprout happily welcomed him back, his scarf wagging behind him from side to side the moment he spotted him.

"Not anything particularly exciting, no... Me and Twisted Sprout just had a small chat..."

Sprout smiled. "Glad to see you two get along!" Sprout sat down and placed the dog bowl on the floor right in front of Pebble.

Sprout looked up at Twisted Sprout. "Hey, you wanna try giving him some?" He says, referring to the milk.

"... Rrr." Twisted Sprout kneeled and sat down on the floor, opening the milk jug as gently as he could, and poured some of its contents into the dog bowl.

"Arf!" Pebble barked out of gratitude and began drinking away.

"Aw, I think he's starting to like you!" Sprout says, having seen that Pebble accepted Twisted Sprout's gesture for him.

"!" Twisted Sprout looked down at Pebble, watching him drink the milk inside the dog bowl as his tail wagged left and right.

Twisted Sprout's eye squinted in happiness, making his scarf reach out to Pebble and patted his little head.

(Credits to me lol)

"Arf, arf!"

"Rrr!"

"Looks like they're getting along... Good for them..." Astro smiled warmly at the scene, letting off some tension he didn't realize was there.

"Ah, we need to find the other ingredients now!" Sprout abruptly stood up, realizing that they needed to go. "We don't want to keep Cosmo waiting for too long! Sorry for taking up your time Astro!"

"!" Seeing Sprout stand up, Twisted Sprout got up as well, withdrawing his scarf from Pebble's head only for it to immediately wrap itself back to Sprout's arm.

"Don't worry about it... Goodbye and keep safe..." Astro bid the two goodbye, now keeping an eye on Pebble.

"Rrr!" "Bye! See you both at the elevator!" Sprout waved his hand goodbye at them with Twisted Sprout before walking away with him.

A short walk later...

"Now we got both the milk and butter, there's a few more left that we need to find..." Sprout checked off a few items in the list in his head.

"Mrrraughh." Twisted Sprout replies, even if Sprout doesn't understand him.

Sprout laughed. "Haha! Let's hope we find some in here—"

*BANG!*

"Ugh!" Vee's voice sounded out after a kick to the Ichor machine. "Why won't it work?!" 

Shelly tried to stop Vee from hitting the machine any further by pulling her arm back. "Calm down Vee! Hitting it won't work!"

Rodger sighed, holding his forehead. "This is troubling... First time I've seen an ichor machine malfunction."

Seeing three of his friends, he had to go over and check up on them. "Vee! Shelly! Rodger! What's up?" He asked as Twisted Sprout followed shortly after him.

"Oh hey berry boy—" Vee smiled when he saw Sprout, but it faltered the moment she saw his Twisted counterpart. "...and him too I guess."

"Sprout! This is terrible!" Shelly ran over to him in a panic.

Sprout became confused. "What's wrong?"

Shelly grabbed his shoulder and pointed at the Ichor machine. "The machine isn't working!"

"Look at this." Rodger placed his hand on the valve and made it turn, but no ichor was getting out. "Nothing's coming out. Not even a dollop."

"I think clumps of ichor are clogging up the pipe before it can reach the blender part of the machine." Vee groans, obviously enraged.

"And we can't do anything about it! We don't know how to fix it!" Shelly says.

"Oh jeez. We're gonna be stuck here for a while..." Sprout sighed. "I don't even know how to fix that either..."

"..." Twisted Sprout stared at the machine before he approached it. He lightly tapped the machine and the pipe attached above before letting out a low moan. "Rrr..."

"Hm? Think you can fix it?" Rodger got up from the machine after kneeling on one knee for so long.

"Rrr." Twisted Sprout let out a low groan. Honestly he wasn't so sure if what he has in mind worked.

"Go for it, Twisted Sprout! We believe in you!" Shelly punched the air in cheer, hoping to motivate Twisted Sprout.

"Go on! It won't hurt to try!" Sprout attempted to motivate as well.

With those two cheers, Twisted Sprout put his clawed hand around the pipe and began to concentrate.

*Blub... Blub... Squelch...*

Somehow, the clump that's been clogging the machine was slowly being pushed out from the pipe and into the machine.

Noticing this, Vee went up and pushed a button on the machine in order to break the clump down into smaller pieces.

With this, the main problem had been solved!

"Wow... How'd you do that?" Shelly looked up at Twisted Sprout in awe.

"Rrr!" Twisted Sprout looked at the ichor inside the machine. The ichor slowly took form of a tendril, revealing how he was able to fix it.

"Good job! You deserve lots of praise!" Sprout happily congratulated, patting Twisted Sprout's back. "I still don't know how you can control Ichor, but you did well!"

"Prr..."

"Anyways, why are you two here?" Vee points at them both. "There's no tapes for you to find here." Vee crossed her arms, a little annoyed that Twisted Sprout was here.

"Oh! We were actually finding ingredients to bake some cupcakes!" Sprout answered.

"Cupcakes, eh...?" Vee hummed, covering her mouth slightly in order to think. "I think there's some sugar, salt, and baking powder at the back." She says pointing at a door.

"Thanks, Vee! I'll be right back!" Sprout thanked her as he went over to the door and went inside.

Twisted Sprout tries to follow Sprout, but he unfortunately couldn't fit through the door.

"Oh, uh..." Seeing this, Sprout told him to stay behind. "Maybe you should wait here. You might break the door."

"..." Twisted Sprout's scarf went limp on the floor, expressing that he didn't want to be left alone again. "Mrr..."

"Come on, I won't take long!" Sprout giggled as he patted Twisted Sprout again. "I won't get myself hurt. I promise you."

As Sprout went inside the room, Twisted Sprout was left alone with all three of the toons.

"Curious," Rodger spoke up. "you seem to like Sprout a whole lot."

"..."

"I think it's cute how you follow him around with your scarf attached to his arm! Are you afraid you might get lost?" Shelly asked, curious about why he had the scarf around Sprout.

"Rrr?"

"More like he's worried about him getting lost." Vee spoke up. "Put some trust in that guy, won't you? He's saved us more than a few times."

"... Rrr."

"I'm back!" Sprout reappeared with three plastic bags in his arms. "I had trouble going around some of the supplies back there. Everything was so cluttered...!"

"Mrrraughh!" Twisted Sprout immediately put his scarf around Sprout's arm the moment he came back.

"Are you two leaving now?" Vee asked, having seen that Sprout got what he wanted.

"Yeah! We just only need one ingredient left! Too bad I didn't see some eggs back there." Sprout

"Eggs? I think I saw some where Goob was distracting." Shelly says, having remembered where she saw a container with eggs inside of it.

"Oh! Thank you Shelly! Bye now!" Sprout waved goodbye at them all.

"Be safe you two." Rodger waved back along with Vee and Shelly, watching the pair of strawberries walk out of the room together.

"... Is it just me or is Twisted Sprout following Sprout around like a puppy...?" Shelly murmured.

A short walk later...

"Okay, so where is Goob distracting at..." Sprout hummed beside Twisted Sprout while walking. "We just need to take the eggs Shelly mentioned before we get back to Cosmo and bake some cupcakes!"

"Grr..." Twisted Sprout suddenly stopped and let out a low growl.

"Hey?" Sprout got worried, stopping in his tracks. "What's wrong?"

Twisted Shrimpo had appeared right in front of them and spotted the pair of strawberries, being the sole reason Twisted Sprout is on guard.

"!!!" Twisted Shrimpo scowls at them, visibly becoming angrier before immediately trying to attack them both.

"GRRAAAAAHHHH!!!" Twisted Sprout screeches and lunges at Twisted Shrimpo.

"Wait, stop—!" Sprout got forcefully dragged along.

"RRAAAAAHHHH!!!"

"Stop!!!—"

Twisted Sprout summons a tendril from the ground, but Twisted Shrimpo evades the tendril as he dashed towards Sprout.

The scarf lifted Sprout upwards the moment Twisted Shrimpo was about to hit him but—

"Ow!" Sprout felt his left arm break due to how tight the scarf held him.

"!" He didn't mean to hurt him! Out of fear for Sprout's safety, he unwillingly let go of Sprout's arm thinking he might hurt him further.

"Oh no, Sprout!" Goob appeared and stretched his arms to grab Sprout away from Twisted Sprout.

With Sprout out of the way, Twisted Sprout glared at Twisted Shrimpo.

"RAAAAAAHHHHH!!!" You made me hurt him!

In a fit of rage, he—

"I said stop!"

Twisted Sprout stopped and blinked a few times, realizing what he's done.

He'd kept Twisted Shrimpo pinned on the floor with his claw on Twisted Shrimpo's head. His clutch on him tight as if he's about to crush him into shrimp paste. Ichor started to seep out from the parts his sharp fingers were embedding into.

"Grr..." Twisted Sprout tightened his hold slightly.

"KRAAAA!!!" Twisted Shrimpo grabbed Twisted Sprout's claw and tried to escape, flailing around in the process.

"Let him go. I'm safe now, okay?" Sprout says, his hand hovering over his broken arm.

"..." Twisted Sprout let go of Twisted Shrimpo. Twisted Shrimpo immediately got out of his hold and scurried off, not wanting to deal with Twisted Sprout.

Oh god... What has he done to Sprout...?! He made him see something he shouldn't!

Sprout sighed. This was the first time he's seen Twisted Sprout act so hostile. Well, except for the first time they locked eyes.

"Sprout! Your arm! Do you feel okay?!" Goob worriedly exclaimed.

"Ah, I'm fine! I can walk this off!" Sprout attempted to convince Goob with a smile, even if it's forced.

"Are you sure...? We cant afford to have you get hurt any more than this! You should go back to the elevator and rest!" Goob worried over Sprout. He's like a big brother to him! He can't let him falter!

"Thank you, Goob. I'll do that once we're finished with baking a batch of cupcakes."

"Cupcakes?" Good beamed up immediately. "You're baking some?!" He beamed, overjoyed to hear him bake some sweets.

"Yeah! All we need left are some eggs."

"I'll get them for you!" Goob runs over to a cardboard container of eggs and took a look inside before taking it. "One dozen eggs! Here you go!" He says, carrying it over to Sprout and handing it to his working arm.

"Oh! Thank you!" Sprout thanked Goob as he got the eggs from him using his good arm.

"See you at the elevator! You better leave some cupcakes for me!" Goob giggled before walking away to search for Twisted Shrimpo.

"Bye, Goob!" Sprout said goodbye, watching Goob leave the area.

Before he could take one step towards his destination, he felt something was off.

"..."

He looked back at Twisted Sprout, who seemed to be a distance away from him. A few meters too far that is.

"What's up? You aren't going to wrap your scarf around me?" He walked up to him, confused as to why he wasn't wrapping his scarf around him.

"... Rrrawhhh..." Twisted Sprout points at Sprout's arm, looking down on it with a saddened look.

"I'm alright." Sprout tries to reassure him with words. "I like it when you have your scarf around me. Just don't drag me like that next time."

"... Rrr...?" Twisted Sprout perked up slightly.

"What are you waiting for? Come and hold me!" Sprout says, offering his other arm.

"Rrrraughhh!" Instead of wrapping his scarf around Sprout, he grabbed the items Sprout was holding.

"Huh? You're taking the items off of me?" Sprout lets Twisted Sprout take the items off of him, "Awh, you're sweet." but he didn't expect Twisted Sprout to suddenly wrap his scarf around his torso and lifted him up from the ground.

"Wait, you don't have to carry me! It's just a broken arm, not a leg!" Sprout panicked the moment he recognized the act, flailing about in the air.

"Prrr!" Twisted Sprout made Sprout sit down on his right shoulder while keeping his scarf around him, making sure he wouldn't fall down.

"You won't let me down no matter how much I try to convince you, aren't you?" Sprout sighed in defeated acceptance, patting Twisted Sprout's head.

"Prr." Twisted Sprout purred as he began to walk to where Cosmo was waiting for them.

"You're so stubborn..."

A short walk later...

Hearing the familiar sounds of leaves getting crushed getting nearer and nearer, Cosmo knew Sprout and Twisted Sprout had returned. "You two are back! And— YOUR ARM?!" He was horrified, having spotted Sprout's very disfigured arm.

"Cosmo! Don't worry! It's just a small accident—" 

"Small accident?!" Cosmo cut Sprout off. "You're on one heart like me! I doubt it's one small accident!"

"Mrraugh." Twisted Sprout groaned sadly, showing deep remorse for what he did as it gave a hint to Cosmo about what happened to his best friend.

"Anyways, I think he's gonna take over my share of baking..." Sprout says referring to Twisted Sprout. "I feel bad that I can't give you guys an extra pair of hands... No pun intended!"

"If you manage to joke like that, I guess you're fine!" Cosmo laughed, now preparing the ingredients.

"Are you going to get down from there?" Cosmo asked pointing at him.

"Grr..." Twisted Sprout growled lowly as his claw partially covered Sprout from Cosmo.

Sprout sighed scratching his cheek. "I don't think he wants me to..."

"Huh... He's a bit overprotective over you, isn't he?" Cosmo let out a small laugh, finding Sprout and Twisted Sprout's similarities to be a bit funny. "Anyways, let's start baking!"

One Baking Session later...

"We did it! We managed to make one batch of Chocolate Cupcakes!" Cosmo cheered, raising the batch of cupcakes in the air happily.

"Rraaauughhh!!!" Twisted Sprout celebrated, happy that he managed to bake something after so long.

"And now, for the event we've been waiting for; the taste test!" Sprout says, excited to have a bite of their baking. He won't admit it, but he was a bit jealous of Cosmo being the first one to bake with his Twisted counterpart.

"Sprout, let's do the honors?" Cosmo walked up to them both, raising the tray of chocolate cupcakes to them after he took one.

Twisted Sprout takes one cupcake from the tray and gives it to Sprout.

"Ah! Thank you!" Sprout happily took the cupcake and took a bite at the same time with Cosmo after peeling the cupcake wrapper.

"Mmmph!" Sprout exclaimed, finding the cupcake to be out of this world. "It's so good! I feel a little more energized!"

"Thank you so much, Cosmo and Twisted me! This is so delicious!" Sprout happily petted Twisted Sprout with his left arm, showing him his thanks.

Cosmo stared at Sprout, his hand raising up slowly to point at him. "... Did you just pet him with that arm?"

"I... I did...?" Sprout looks at his supposed to be broken left arm that suddenly turned back to normal, then to his right arm holding the cupcake.

"I feel a little bit better too... Did I just gain a heart...?" Cosmo murmurs, feeling so confused.

"How is that possible—" Sprout looked at the half eaten cupcakes and then to Twisted Sprout.

"Prr?" Twisted Sprout tilted his head a little to the side in a confused manner. What's with those confused looks in your faces?

""HE CAN HEAL US NOW?!""