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Chapter Text

The cold wind stung Pure Vanilla’s face as he trudged to the shoreline. The water was impossibly black, devoid of any light, and crashed loudly upon the black rocks on the distant cliff side. The bleak, gray, and desolate sky scattered snow down onto them, and Pure Vanilla could see them land on his sleeves without disappearing.

“When we saw the maps during our days of the academy of the Licorice Sea, I didn’t think the ink used for the water would be so… accurate.” White Lily said quietly.

She walked over to the shore as well, observing the way the water moved. To Pure Vanilla’s surprise, she crouched down on the black sand and scooped some of the water with cupped hands.

“L-Lily!” Pure Vanilla stuttered.

“Lily!” Hollyberry exclaimed, “Are you out of your MIND?!”

The tall woman ran up behind her, effortlessly pulling White Lily away from the water.

“For gods’ sake, that water is FREEZING. You’ll catch your death!”

White Lily blinked, looking dazed, and let the water spill out of her hands. She shook the liquid off and hugged her hands to herself.

“I’m s-sorry. My curiosity got the better of me.”

“As it always does!”

Pure Vanilla warmly chuckled, then held out his staff for Hollyberry to take. She accepted, and he took off his outer cloak to wrap around her shoulders. With no sight, he could feel White Lily’s cold hands hands wrap around his. A ‘thank you’ left unsaid.

“The castle has to be here…” Pure Vanilla announced.

Hollyberry returned his staff, and the orchid’s eye fluttered open. Pure Vanilla took in his regained ability to witness his surroundings carefully. His gaze drifted to the cliff again, and he realized the rocks were the same shades of obsidian as the city atop it overlooking the sea.

“There. Atop the cliff. We’re close.”

Hollyberry squinted.

“How can you see that? And HOW do we get up there?”

“It’ll be more apparent when we’re closer.” White Lily chimed in. She gripped her staff tighter, “I do hope the Cacao Kingdom is kind enough to allow us to stay.”

“If they’re not, I’m giving them a piece of my mind. We came a long way to find the Cacao Kingdom-“

“Now Holly, they didn’t respond to our letters.” Pure Vanilla pointed out, causing Hollyberry to cross her arms, “but that might now be intentional. They’re very closed off.”

“Literally.” Hollyberry remarked. Pure Vanilla knew she was referring to the massive wall lining the coast as well.

The trio continued onward along the shore.

The kingdom’s history was unknown and very isolated from the rest of Earthbread. The group knew of its existence, but they were not open to trading with the Vanilla or the Hollyberry Kingdoms, causing a natural rift that shrouded the kingdom in mystery.

Pure Vanilla looked warily at the high and imposing walls of the citadel. It wasn’t decorative, but for protection. He could gather that much.

But protection from what?

A scream pierced the air, snapping Pure Vanilla out of his thoughts.

Hollyberry went forward with her shield ready, and White Lily took Pure Vanilla’s hand tightly. White Lily’s face was solidified with a newfound determination.

They charged to the sound of the screaming, closer to the cliffs, as fast as their legs could carry them. Despite the fact they had been traveling for what seemed like an endless amount of days, the prospect of someone in trouble gave them all the strength they needed.

“Please! Ancestors! HELP US!” A man cried out.

The three slowed to a tide pool just before the black rocks lining the towering kingdom wall.

A woman was lifting a crying baby into the hands of a man standing elevated above on the rocks. A second child, a toddler, was wielding a tiny bow in front of their mother.

There were monsters. Their black bodies seemed to be thick blobs lurching towards the family trying to scramble up the rocks to safety.

The toddler smacked one of the monsters.

The man took the baby, and the woman quickly lifted the toddler in his direction as well. The toddler protested, but they grabbed onto the rocks, and the burly father used his other arm to lift both children away from the mother.

“GO!” She ordered. She readied a large bow, and began to pull back an arrow. One of the monsters got hold of her leg. She yelped and stumbled, her back slamming against the black rocks as the creature tried to drag her back into the water from whence it came.

Hollyberry dropped her enormous backpack to charge into battle and White Lily began to cast a large green Lily of Magic to sprout from the ground.

“Foul BEASTS!” Hollyberry snarled, smacking the creature away from the woman. The woman clutched her leg.

Pure Vanilla began to cast his own magic, giving Hollyberry and White Lily strength. He sensed the woman was wounded, the creature gripped her with an otherworldly strength, so he pulsated soothing magic through her.

One of the creatures howled. Blue glowing eyes trained on Pure Vanilla. He flinched and hit it across the face with his staff. Black mucous traces stuck to his brown cloak.

White Lilly was doing a good job blasting them back into the sea, but more kept lurching from the water towards them.

Holly protected them all, kept barraging the swarm at bay with her heart shaped shield the best she could. Their goopy bodies splattering across the sand and the rocks.

“Vanilla, behind you!” Hollyberry shouted.

Pure Vanilla turned, and one of the creatures got way too close for his comfort. His body tensed. The creature tried to pounce, but an arrow struck in between its melting eyes.

His head whipped around, and the woman they were trying to save was firing arrows faster than Pure Vanilla could count.

The woman kept precisely hitting her targets, but more creatures kept coming.

“MY LORD! MY LORD, PLEASE! HELP US!” She screamed. Tears ran down her cheeks.

The goops of the creatures were reforming, Vanilla realized. They kept getting struck down and coming back.

Dozens and dozens of them were forming a swarm on the beach.

The creatures began to grip onto their cloaks, claw up their legs, and pull them towards the sea.

They couldn’t keep going. It was only 4 of them. The woman was running out of arrows.

“My friends, get back, shield your eyes!”

Pure Vanilla raised his staff.

Holly grabbed White Lily, freeing her from the creatures, then tackled the archer.

Pure Vanilla closed his eyes.

He could protect White Lily. He could protect Hollyberry. He WILL protect the family struggling for survival.

“I WILL NOT FALTER!” He yelled, calling the light.

A blinding light illuminated the darkness of the beach and sea. The creatures all let out deafening squeals. They scurried back into the water, a cowardly retreat.

His legs felt weak, he steadied himself with his staff. The immense power he used for attacks like that winded him, but he was getting better at recovering quickly.

Pure Vanilla huffed out a breath, then turned to see Hollyberry crushing White Lily and the visibly uncomfortable archer into a hug.

He breathed out a laugh. They were victorious once again.

They needed to get out of here-

The ground began to rumble.

Pure Vanilla gasped.

Out of the water rose a large… amalgamation of horror triple his size. All the creatures seemed to be fusing together, multiple heads sprouting from everywhere. They loudly shrieked, and it lurched forwards to the sand in front of where Pure Vanilla was standing.

“VANILLA! Get out of there!” Hollyberry yelled. She charged at the creature, but it sprouted a limb that outstretched way too far and struck her body to the side. She FLEW into towering wall. With an immense slam, she fell to the rocks below.

“Holly!” White Lily screamed.

“Get to safety, White Lily!” Pure Vanilla yelled as well, “Take the family and alert the kingdom!”

The archer’s eyes widened, seeing something past Vanilla, and she fought against White Lily’s grip.

“How did she- No!! Save her!”

“Please, stay back!” White Lily urged.

Pure Vanilla turned, and the little toddler from earlier stood head on to the monster.

With her tiny bow, the girl shot an arrow and it hit directly in the center of the monster’s body.

It shrieked again, louder out of pain, and began to scream as it scurried to consume the little girl. The girl pulled another arrow, and was ready to shoot with fearlessness.

Pure Vanilla ran to her. She yelped as he pulled her close, hugging her tightly. He didn’t think, he didn’t consider this could be the moment he crumbled, he just held the girl and shielded her from the beast behind him.

A violent slash boomed through the air.

Pure Vanilla froze. Nothing happened to him.

The girl was still trembling in his arms. But they were alive.

“Dark Cacao…?” She asked, peeking out over his shoulder.

Pure Vanilla slowly turned to face beast once again.

An enormous sword stabbed into the flesh of the creature’s dominant head while its other heads wailed. An armored figure with black hair pressed the blade deeper, and the creature screamed louder than Pure Vanilla had ever heard before. A gust of sand flew through the wind, stinging his eyes.

The blade was pulled out, and jam was oozing out of the creature. But the figure shouted a chilling war cry as they stabbed the weapon into the creature a second time.

They slashed the monster.

Again.

Again.

And AGAIN.

The figure violently struck the thing, furiously, until the creature wasn’t moving. In a grotesque heap, it slowly collapsed back into the water. The figure jumped off of the corpse landing on one knee on the shore, just before the never ending sea.

The warrior raggedly panted. With each breath, the sword they were clutching sunk deeper into water and the wet sand.

Pure Vanilla sensed restlessness. Pain all over the body. Fatigue from lack of sleep. Freezing at the hands and feet. The massive sword was the only thing keeping the armored person from falling to the ground and going out cold.

The girl, stared in awe at the person kneeling in the water.

Pure Vanilla slowly let the girl go, telling her to run. She sprinted to her sobbing mother’s opened arms.

White Lily stared with furrowed pale brows at the newcomer, pointing her staff.

With shaken legs, Pure Vanilla walked to the person. His ankles were repeatedly splashed with the freezing water, as if pins and needles were being stabbed into him.

He couldn’t see a face behind the black cascading hair curtaining it.

Pure Vanilla willed healing light into his fingers, and he glowed.

He was going to place his hands over the other persons. There were many painful, split open callouses he sensed on the warriors palms and fingers gripping the blade.

Pure Vanilla was going to heal them. Thank them.

The last thing he saw was bared teeth before they let out another warrior cry. The armored person swept their leg, the air was forced out of Pure Vanilla’s body. His back slammed onto the ground, and the freezing water splashed under him.

The blade against his neck was somehow colder than everything around them.

Purple eyes pierced Pure Vanilla’s very being.

His heart hammered at the enraged man before him. His dark complexion, his dark hair down to his shoulders, the dark sky and sea. Pure Vanilla’s staff had to slowly adjust to take in the hardened lines, square jaw, broad yet sharp nose, the rise and fall of broad shoulders due to ragged breaths, the twitch of his brows. A thick white streak came loose and trickled down his face.

His eyes combed over Pure Vanilla as well. A brief calm, possibly hesitation, crossed his face.

“You…” the young man began with a sharp inhale.

“Release him!” White Lily yelled the best she could, despite how soft spoke she was in nature. She was holding out her staff.

“Let Pure Vanilla GO!”

It was none other than Hollyberry, pink hair buns slightly unraveling but strong as ever. She slammed the shield into the stranger, and he fell back into the water with a slash and a thud

“Hollyberry!” Pure Vanilla and White Lily breathed out in disbelief.

She effortlessly lifted Pure Vanilla up out of the water, like a cat by the scruff of its neck. His teeth slightly chattered.

“Oh come on, you two. Did you ACTUALLY think one chocolate wall was going to put ME out of commission? This is just getting interesting!”

A grin crossed her face. She tightened the strap of her shield.

Pure Vanilla opened his arms and blocked Hollyberry from attacking again with his wingspan.

“HOLLYBERRY, STOP!”

The stranger stood up, well composed despite the injuries Pure Vanilla sensed aching him.

Hollyberry put one arm on her hip.

“Nothing to say, lad?” She laughed, tilting her head.

With a stone cold expression, the man held up a fist.

“HOLD YOUR FIRE!” He barked at the top of his lungs.

The three heroes turned. The top of the wall was lined with archers, bows drawn back and aiming arrows directly at them. In the center had to be the king, taller and more imposing in stature, with a sharper crown.

Pure Vanilla felt a chill down his spine.

Pure Vanilla was suddenly restrained all at once. He struggled, but more soldiers with armor stormed the beach.

His staff was ripped out of his hands.

It was disorienting whenever it was forcibly taken from him. His vision vanished all at once, like was he was forced to closed his eyes and couldn’t open them again. Even if he opened them wide, he saw nothing.

He stumbled as he was dragged by soldiers, their armor clanging as they marched in the beach.

“DON’T TOUCH ME!” said Hollyberry, “OR MY SHIELD! Get your hands-“

“I-It’s alright, Hollyberry.” Pure Vanilla said, “trust when I say, violence isn’t the answer!Just comply.”

He heard Holly grumble, something about how she is capable of making a clear path through the soldiers, but White Lily called loudly.

“Who do you think you are, outsiders?” A voice, the voice of the king, boomed from the top of the wall “Whispering to the beasts so they can do your bidding?!”

Pure Vanilla swallowed.

“We did no such thing! Please, we do not wish to fight you or your people. If anything, we would like to help. Let us explain-“

“Treason!” The king cut off.

Pure Vanilla could hear footsteps, likely the man who slayed the beast, getting further away from him.

He next heard White Lily.

“WAIT! You are the prince, are you not?!”

No reply. The waves crashed against the rocks loudly.

“A-a prince such as yourself, you must have honor!” White Lily continued, “You’re here to answer the cries of one of your soldiers and her family! That is honor in a form many do not have!”

Pure Vanilla didn’t hear a response, just the sounds of the crashing waves. He heard the metallic rub of armor, but no words. The wind picked up, howling in their ears.

The freezing air was almost numbing against his face at this point.

“My best friend, came into this world without sight. That staff is his eyes. It is linked to his sense of vision in a magical bind,” She continued. Pure Vanilla didn’t understand the relevance of that information or the reason for her urgency until she said, “Please. If you BREAK that orchid… he will not be able to see again. Perhaps not EVER.”

Pure Vanilla paled. A million thoughts raced in his head. How he would return home, protect his friends, find another of the rare flower to replace the staff he made all those years ago-

“Is that not how he enticed the beasts? With that very staff?” The deeper and angrier voice of the king billowed from the top of the wall, shouting over the picking up wind.

Pure Vanilla shook his head.

“I tried to stun them! Make them retreat. It did not work, but we were overwhelmed and I had to do something. I swear, I meant no harm. WE mean no harm.”

He heard a low hum nearby, but further in the distance, the king.

“Dark Cacao!” The king snarled.

Pure Vanilla’s heart clenched, but he felt something press into his free hands.

His eyes fluttered, and his vision restored. He could see right in front of him, prince Dark Cacao looking back at him with his intense purple eyes. His hair was flowing wildly in the harsh wind.

He gave a haughty look to the eye orchid. It blinked slowly, and Pure Vanilla rubbed his thumb over the handle of the staff to ease himself.

Dark Cacao, the prince, took a knee and bowed in the direction of the wall, where his father stared down in scrutiny.

“Forgive me, my king. But they speak the truth-“

“THAT’S ENOUGH!”

The prince stiffened, bowing further.

“He will call the monsters again!”

“Not if you allow me escort the prisoners! Once in his holding cell, I will confiscate the staff myself.”

The king crossed his arms.

“Dark Cacao…” he snarked, “what is the meaning of this?”

The prince rose to his feet and looked up to the king.

“I feel breaking the staff is too cruel without proper judgement, your grace.”

Pure Vanilla took notice of the king’s cold expression towards his own son, a look more similar to disgust than frustration.

“Pray for your sake that the outsiders are not deceiving us.”

Dark Cacao’s hand clenched at his side.

“WE MARCH!” The king ordered.

The last they could see of the king from below was the flick of his long cloak.

Dark Cacao exhaled a shaken breath.

Pure Vanilla stared in awe.

“Thank you-“

“One move.” Dark Cacao snarled.

He turned back to Pure Vanilla, jabbing a calloused finger into his chest.

“One WORD uttered to try to call the beasts” he said quietly so no one else heard him, “and I will not hesitate to behead before your ancestors hear you scream. Do you understand me?”

Pure Vanilla gulped, but nodded.

“Use your staff to watch your step. The rocks are sharp.”

———————————

The three were escorted into the citadel, past an imposing gate along the top of the cliffside walls. The Licorice Sea from down below looked as though it could swallow you whole. From so high up, you could see Choco Cone Spruce trees along the distant mountains.

Purple dark chocolate tiles lined the entire citadel floor. Torches were lit with purple flames. Beds of Star Jelly flowers encircled a statue of the very king they met with his sword prepared to battle.

They saw warriors training. Sparring with each other and striking dummies of hay with swords. Shooting targets with archery. There were even scribbling on clay tablets to educate on the use of choco cannons.

A door opened, and the remaining guards lined on either side of the door, bowing at Dark Cacao.

A servant brought a purple torch, and Dark Cacao accepted without a word.

The dungeon was made simply of stone, and Dark Cacao silently put each of them into their own cells.

Last was Pure Vanilla, put in a cell across from the two keeping White Lily and Hollyberry.

“Thank you.” Pure Vanilla attempted again, because he could not imagine what being dragged up the mountain and down the stairs to the dungeon would’ve entailed without his orchid.

Dark Cacao, stoic as can be, held out his hands to receive the staff.

Pure Vanilla surrendered it.

“Please. Take care of it.”

“I make no such promises.” Dark Cacao said cooly.

It was dark again, and Pure Vanilla accepted it.

Dark Cacao’s hand pressed onto his shoulder, and Pure Vanilla didn’t resist. His body lowered and he felt a firm, but workable bedding underneath him. With that the door was closed and locked.

Hollyberry and Pure Lily remained silent until the dungeon door closed, leaving them alone.

“That BRUTE.” Hollyberry began, likely pacing in her cell, “that absolute BARBARIAN-“

“My friend, it’s not that simple.” Pure Vanilla replied, “what we saw on the shore today is a testament to why this kingdom is keeping its guard up. The king has his reasons, I’m sure.”

“He was cruel.” White Lily said, “but I’m not surprised. I don’t think they have anything close to the same kinds of magic we have in the Vanilla Kingdom. They might be afraid of that.”

The howling of the wind from above served as a ghostly melody.

Pure Vanilla’s thoughts drifted to the sound of his war cry, slaying the beast with desperation. The hardened look in his eyes.

The fear of his own father was the worst of it.

————————————

Pure Vanilla jolted awake from the sound of the lock of his cell jingling and the door swinging open.

“On your feet. The king demands your presence at once.” He heard a soldier say.

Anxiety crept into Pure Vanilla immediately.

He rubbed his eyes, suppressing a yawn, and the soldier tossed something into the air.

“The prince ordered this returned.” The guard said in disgust.

His staff. He knew the sound of it clattering on the ground.

Pure Vanilla hesitantly knelt to the floor, his fingers feeling for it. It was excruciating, the fact that the guard was surely watching him struggle.

At last he found it, and the orchid blinked to reflect Pure Vanilla’s fatigue. He took in the exact same surroundings as before, with the guard looking slightly amused at the cell door.

He gave Hollyberry and White Lily an assuring nod as he was pulled out of his cell. The other two were led right behind him.

He trudged up the steps first, praying he wasn’t going headfirst into conflict. That they didn’t need to fight. That the king would listen and understand their want for an alliance.

They trudged through the paths made by previous steps in the fallen snow once they left the dungeon door. Little kids darted back and forth in courtyard of the king’s statue, throwing snowballs at each other.

It was quiet in this part of the citadel, aside from the giggling of the children. Almost as if haunted.

As Pure Vanilla neared closer with the two guards in front and two more behind him, the children fell silent. They scurried behind the king’s statue, peering with their tiny faces.

One of the boys whispered into the other’s ear.

Pure Vanilla grimaced at the heavy scrutiny of the childrens’ gazes.

They came across two large doors, and slowly the doors seemed to swing open by themselves.

The massive throne room was grander than expected, and Pure Vanilla felt a wash of warmth over his body from the adequate heating of the room compared to the outside.

A painting depicting two dragons, one black and one white, circling the sky in ink draped over an entire wall. The ceiling had massive norigae charms suspending downward, curtains of purple cascading down to the floor on either side of the throne.

Several massive sets of steps, purple torches lining them led to the throne and served as the light source in the dark room.

Black wood carved into intricate designs made the throne, and atop was the king.

Silky black and deep brown layers of fabric for an intricate hanbok clothed him and a solid black cloak with thick white fur draped over his shoulders.

The king’s sword was lying across his lap, handle in the grip of one of his hands.

Next to his throne, the Prince was standing. His longer hair was half pulled into a short ponytail and half cascading down to his shoulders as opposed to his father’s tight bun. His hanbok was a purple tinted grey and tied tightly with a royal purple cord around his waist.

His posture was straightened, proper, at attention.

Before, all he had was his crown and his armor. Now it felt like they were staring at a prince.

The archer from the beach was kneeling on the floor. She bowed at the bottom of the steps, her forehead touching the ground.

“You are relieved of your post.” The king billowed.

Whispers from his court, all dressed in black, purple, and white hanboks, filled the throne room.

The woman flinched.

“My king-“

“Silence.”

She bowed again.

“Your disobedience is dishonorable at worst. And careless at best. I never want to see your face inside this citadel again.”

Dark Cacao looked to his father, stunned.

But he did not protest.

“I just wanted to protect my CHILDREN-“

“That is not the concerns of a watcher on duty. You are banished at once.”

The woman rose, and at Pure Vanilla, Hollyberry, and White Lily’s faces, she teared up even more. She abruptly wiped her face with her sleeves and two guards gripped each of her arms.

Despite her crying and thrashing, she was dragged out of the throne room doors.

Pure Vanilla cleared his throat, but before he could say anything, the king spoke first.

“I wish to speak with the prisoners alone.”

“Your Majesty-“ the soldier holding Pure Vanilla began.

“Everyone. Out.” The king said to the room.

The soldier unlocked the tight cuffs as he was told.

The various guards, members of court, and scribes in the room bowed, then all left through the same heavy doors in an orderly fashion.

The room echoed as they slammed closed behind them.

The king shifted in his throne, but didn’t say a word. His eyes were as black as coal, and were full of scrutiny, demanding an explanation.

A period of silence followed. The wind of the snowstorm continued to howl, whistling against the shudders.

The crackle of the purple torches were the only sense of life in the room, for not even the King’s breath could be heard. Dark Cacao clutched his holstered sword’s handle.

“Your Majesty, we meant no harm whatsoever.” Pure Vanilla began, “My name is Pure Vanilla Cookie, king of the Vanilla Kingdom. This is Queen Hollyberry, and this is White Lily.”

Nothing.

“We came seeking an alliance with your kingdom for the good of Earthbread, you know.” Hollyberry added rather audaciously.

The king drummed his fingers on the arm of the throne.

“Do you know how many have waltzed in this room to siphon my power. Claiming it’s for the ‘good of Earthbread’?”

“This is nothing like that.” White Lily said calmly. “An alliance of our influence can keep the realm safe from anything that comes our way-“

“Forgive me if I am not naive enough to weep at your noble words.”

White Lily flinched.

He pulled something from his lap.

A large grey stone. He harshly gripped it with bare fingers. He grated the stone across his sword, piercing the air with the deafening screech of metal. It was unnerving, sending a chill down Pure Vanilla’s spine. Dark Cacao remained expressionless.

The king repeated the motion.

“What basis do you have to prove your intentions?” He asked, not looking at him. “And where,” he continued, grating the stone against the blade with almost each word, “was the worth of your allianceship-“

The king tilted the sword in the light of the flames near his throne.

“-when the Licorice Sea was brewing more creatures to slaughter my warriors? If Dark Cacao, of all people, hadn’t stepped in and heard desperate cries… I think you know what would have happened to them.”

Pure Vanilla grimaced at the slight inflection of mockery.

“I’ve never encountered a creature like what I saw today before.“ he admitted.

“Of course not. Vanillians know nothing of survival.”

The king slid his sword against the forearm area of the sleeve of his hanbok, slow and with intent.

“I can’t help but wonder what kind of kings and queens you are, to abandon your kingdoms”

White Lily shot back, “Perhaps the kind unafraid to fight for it.”

The king paused.

With a slight movement of his jaw, Pure Vanilla knew Dark Cacao was slowly gritting his teeth.

“Why did you punish the archer?” Pure Vanilla found himself pressing.

Dark Cacao’s gaze shifted to Pure Vanilla. Perhaps in warning.

“She abandoned her post,” the king replied, “did not report her sightings, and tried to fight the creatures in combat by herself. That is selfish. And not behavior of a Cacaoian Watcher. She’s lucky she’s still alive.”

“How is that so? Was she not protecting her family? Is that not the ways of a warrior-“

The king rose up from his chair, slamming the sword’s tip into the floor.

The throne room vibrated.

“I did not ask for your insight!” He spat.

He outstretched his sword to point at Pure Vanilla.

“And how DARE YOU and your comrades waltz into my domain and expect me to lend you sanctuary, my army and my sword!”

Pure Vanilla quietly swallowed. He took a breath. The king was furious and Pure Vanilla desperately didn’t want to escalate things. Hollyberry clenched her fists at her side, and White Lily’s eyes widened.

“Dark Cacao.” The king said.

The prince slowly turned to him.

“For someone so eager to speak out of turn against me, you’ve fallen silent. What do you think of this?”

Dark Cacao looked to the three, and immediately the king barked, “Speak.”

“I don’t see the harm in negotiating, my king. If we open trade, we can make more weapons, more materials to expand and fortify our defenses. They are not hostile.”

Dark Cacao locked eyes with Pure Vanilla once again.

“In fact, they are far from threatening in the slightest. Even if they really wanted to.”

Hollyberry’s brow twitched. Meanwhile, the king tilted his head in consideration.

“What harm is there to hear their demands?” Dark Cacao continued, tone shifting to the same mocking one of his father, and Pure Vanilla realized he was doing this with purpose, “if we don’t like them, they can go back to where they belong. Outside of the wall. I hardly think their performance of light tricks can save them from the hunger of cream wolves.”

It worked.

The king remained stoic, but there was a slight glimmer of enthusiasm in his eyes.

“GUARDS!” He called abruptly.

Several of them burst through the doors immediately.

“Thanks to the guidance of our wise prince-“

The king placed a hand on Dark Cacao’s shoulder, gripping tighter than necessary.

“-we are going to treat these outsiders as our guests. I leave all arrangements to him and his capable hands until I return. I’ve wasted enough time already.”

The prince’s brows furrowed, but he didn’t protest. He did, however continue to stare a hole into the ground rather than look his father in the eyes. The king descended from the stairs of the throne. His steps echoed in the room, and the guards opened the doors with a bow for the king to exit. As he crossed paths with Pure Vanilla, Hollyberry, and White Lily, he lowered his sword and allowed the tip of the blade to grate against the tile for an uneasy screeching sound.

And with that, he exited the throne room.

One guard scurried front and center to the stairs leading to the throne.

“W-What are your orders, my prince?”

Dark Cacao straightened himself, then spoke clearly.

“Have servants prepare chambers for each of our guests with drawn baths. And we need measurements.”

“Yes, my prince!”

“Measurements?” asked White Lily.

Dark Cacao snapped his fingers.

Pure Vanilla felt a tug. His handcuffs were unlocked by the guard.

His cloak was taken off his shoulders, and a handmaiden with a long cord began to check his height.

“Your things will be returned.” Dark Cacao said, and Pure Vanilla jolted that Dark Cacao was somehow standing next to him, “I believe first we should get you all with attire fit for the blizzard and fully rested before we attempt any diplomatic conversation.”

“Thank you, for convincing the king, allowing us to stay-“

“You could have done without the insults.” Hollyberry grumbled.

Dark Cacao glared at her, but didn’t answer.

————————-

Pure Vanilla, with red cheeks and stammering words, insisted he could bathe HIMSELF to the servants waiting by the tub of hot water.

It took a lot of convincing, but Pure Vanilla eventually did get to wash the grime and sweat of travel off alone. He wasn’t fond of the provided soap, too bitter in its fragrance, but he brought his own toiletries. When he was finished, he dried himself with a plush black towel.

In an unassuming box with what must have been the Cacaoian seal, there were intricate robes, layers that Pure Vanilla didn’t know how to put on.

He swallowed. If he put it on WRONG, who knows how much lower the Royal family’s opinion of him will drop…

Pure Vanilla covered himself with the parts he understood, the undergarments, and a bathrobe, then gently slid open the door.

“Need help?” A voice piped up immediately.

He poked his head out.

A woman in a solid black hanbok smiled back at him. Her brown hair was short in a curly bob.

“Yes. The dress I’ve been provided is lovely but-“

“I understand. Let’s have a look, shall we?”

He ushered her inside the bathroom to the box with the robe.

Efficiently, she layered the pieces in his body.

“You smell… sweet.” She observed.

“Ah, yes. I had my own soap.”

“We don’t get alot of sweet cookies around here. It’s strange, I don’t think I’ve ever met a Vanillian before.”

Pure Vanilla nodded. She held up two sashes and compared them.

“I’ve never met a Cacaoian before the prince today.”

The maiden pursed her lips. She decided on one of the sashes, then began to wrap it around his waist.

“Ah yes. Outside the wall. I heard the story. Consider yourself blessed it was the prince and not the king who saw you first. It is well known the king’s protection stops at the wall.”

“What do you mean by that?”

She tied a knot, calmly explaining, “not much else to tell. The king does not aid or defend outsiders, he sees it as an expense to his own. And any Cacaoian outside the wall is an outsider. It’s how we keep ourselves safe.”

With a satisfied expression, she turned him towards the mirror.

His robes were white, lined with lavender floral details.

“Dinner will be ready shortly, I’ll have an escort for you.

Pure Vanilla nodded, and the woman bowed before leaving the room.

To say he felt uneasy would be an understatement.

———————————————

The expansive brown wooden table was layed out with four places of food. Dumplings, soups, and colorful assortments of vegetables, very modestly layed out.

Pure Vanilla jumped at a servant pushing in his chair as he sat down.

Hollyberry wore a purple dress, her hair pinned up into an intricate bun with cacao flowers.

White Lily’s hanbok was similarly styled with rich browns, making her complexion even paler along with her braided hair laced with creme colored ribbons.

“That will be all.” Dark Cacao announced. He took the seat next to Pure Vanilla, balancing the seating arrangement.

The servants bowed, swiftly exited, and the room was left with only the howling of the winds outside.

“Where is the king, this evening?” White Lily asked politely, eyeing the empty larger chair at the head of the table.

Dark Cacao didn’t make eye contact. He took a pause before replying, “His majesty was due to leave this evening for a hunting expedition. He sends his regards.”

They ate in silence, and Pure Vanilla was struggling to think of a question or sentence to break the ice. His staff leaning on his chair would make glances at the prince, but he remained unreadable.

His white eyelashes casted shadows on his cheeks, darkening his already sunken eyes and the bags underneath. Other than that, there was not much expression from Dark Cacao. He seemed to simply be focused on the meal.

The food was… bitter. The most bitter tasting that any of them had ever had. He could tell by the looks on Hollyberry and White Lily’s faces. Even the tea.

Pure Vanilla didn’t mind the cuisine. It was different for his pallette, but it was a welcoming sort of different. Almost cleansing.

“Any chance I could get a goblet of grape juice?” Hollyberry suddenly asked.

Dark Cacao’s hand holding his chopsticks froze.

“It would go… nicely with the meal, I’d say.”

Dark Cacao swallowed his bite, then spoke.

“We don’t have that here.”

Hollyberry shrugged, then abruptly pulled out a basket from seemingly nowhere. Inside was a bottle of berry juice from the Hollyberry Castle and heart shaped tarts she had been saving.

“Consider this a gift from the Hollyberry family! Perhaps more to come if we settle on future imports!” She said proudly with a toothy grin.

Dark Cacao’s eyes widened a fraction.

“Is this… an attempt at humor?” He asked blatantly.

Hollyberry’s smile faltered.

“P-pardon?”

“Are you joking-“

“No, prince Cacao. This is a GIFT.”

The prince was uncomfortable. He turned his head away and beckoned one of the servants taking away dishes over.

He muttered something to the maiden, and she paled at his words. She looked at the basket, perhaps in horror, then nodded to the prince.

She quickly took the basket from Hollyberry,

“Where- where is she-?”

Dark Cacao didn’t say anything. The maiden froze.

Hollyberry’s face morphed from confusion to anger. She sputtered, outraged, before she yelled, “Don’t tell me she is DISCARDING that!”

Dark Cacao looked to her, haughtily, but took another sip of his tea.

“She is, isn’t she? You sir, are RUDE.”

Dark Cacao shook his head, and the woman understood. She left the basket next to Hollyberry again instead before she left.

“I’m rude?” He asked genuinely, “Juice aside, you think we would accept such… juvenile confectionaries?”

The worst part was Dark Cacao seemed truly confused. No malice, just stunned.

White Lily bit her lip, eyes pleading to Pure Vanilla.

He attempted to cut in, “That’s not-“

“Juvenile-! You could have delivered them to the king, at least. He would have recognized the intention and appreciated the gift!” Hollyberry grumbled.

Dark Cacao paled slightly at the proposition. He shot back, “I know my father better than you, Queen Hollyberry, he would have been outraged and banished all three of you if he saw such a thing.”

“Why YOU- you BRAT!”

White Lily put a hand on Hollyberry’s shoulder to keep her from rising out of her chair.

“That’s uncalled for, your grace! You didn’t even taste them and you’re insulting her family-”

“I don’t need to taste them to know she’s insulting mine.” Dark Cacao snapped. He glanced at Pure Vanilla.

His anger disappeared, likely from Pure Vanilla’s stunned expression. He took a deep breath to collect himself then pinched his nosebridge with a deep sigh.

“My lady, surely you must know… Cacaoians… we don’t indulge in such things?”

“Oh? Why is that?” Hollyberry asked, slight tone of not believing his words.

He stuttered incredulously.

“Because.. because in the Cacao kingdom, it is for literal children! To come of age is to abandon all sweet confections in favor of food that is bitter to the tongue. It keeps us honorable and builds character!”

He looked to White Lily and Pure Vanilla.

“Did NONE of you question till now why the meal tastes the way it does?!”

Silence fell over the table.

That is, until Hollyberry snorted.

“And here I thought you just hated us! Are you telling me you are eating the same things as we are?”

Dark Cacao’s face actually tinted with RED. Pure Vanilla couldn’t believe it.

“It’s a sign of respect. We make all flavors as bitter as possible when welcoming guests. It’s recognizing the honor among the table.”

Hollyberry cackled. She popped open the bottle’s cork and poured it into a goblet she had inside the basket.

“My friend. Forgive my hasty judgement. I think we have a lot to learn about each other, yes?”

“Clearly.” Dark Cacao muttered.

————————————

Their discussion devolved into sharing about their homelands.

Pure Vanilla blushed as White Lily passionately told the story of how he founded the Vanilla Kingdom, searching for the end of suffering. Their specialty with Magic, healing, peace, and maintaining harmony seemed to intrigue Dark Cacao, but he remained quiet.

“We grew up together. At first he was a Shepard, of all things. After enduring the trials, the settlement grew… it’s as if we never were a kingdom from the start.”

Hollyberry with pride explained that in her kingdom, they threw exquisite parties. They weren’t afraid to dance, sing, or indulge.

She showed scrolls of their songs, legends, and stories.

“And THIS is my greatest battle. After the defeat of the Tortan, I was coronated as Queen and we became prosperous!”

Well into the night, after their histories had been shared, Dark Cacao still remained quiet about his own.

They didn’t press, but Pure Vanilla remained curious.

—————————

On his bed, Pure Vanilla took the opportunity to read from the small collection of hand bound books. They had interesting approaches to medicine without magic that he wished to learn from, and Dark Cacao didn’t stop him when he asked to borrow them and read in his quarters.

He lost track of time, and boredom settled in. He closed what he was reading and placed the stack on his bedside table.

In the silence, the howling echoing the walls made the hair on his neck stand on end.

He surveyed the room, taking in the simple and dark decor. The quarters weren’t as grand as say, the Hollyberrian guestrooms, but Pure Vanilla was never one to demand such luxuries. He noticed his new cream wolf cloak was still on the dresser. And his normal clothes were washed and neatly folded on the dresser.

When did they get returned? Perhaps when he was reading?

Pure Vanilla strode over to the clothing. His fingers delicately plucked the clothes, and he found a distinct scent clung to them. He closed his eyes and inhaled a mix of sweet and bitter of vanilla and cacao beans. A mix of familiarity and new in one aroma.

A door or shutter slamming outside his chambers vibrated the room. It snapped Pure Vanilla more awake than before, and a blush blossomed over his cheeks at the realization of what he was doing.

———————————

Sleep did not come to him.

The bed was comfortable, no matter what position he tried to rest, but none of them lulled him to sleep. It was less of an issue of comfort and more of his mind, curious about the kingdom he resided in.

And the prince.

An eternity passed before he willed himself to grab his staff again. He wrapped the cloak around his shoulders, slipped on fur lined shoes, and gently opened his door.

There were no guards like during the day in the halls, perhaps in the dead of night they were atop the wall?

Pure Vanilla extended his staff around corners to see, ensuring he wasn’t going to be caught and questioned. It would be too awkward of a conversation to endure, to reveal that like a child he couldn’t go to bed.

He found a door leading to the outside, partially from memory. Due to the wind and build up of snow, Pure Vanilla grunted and pressed his body weight into it to make it open.

The cold wind stung, harsher than before, but he wasn’t quitting. He gripped his staff harshly, using his entire back to close the door as quickly as possible.

He huffed out a breath.

The ghostly courtyard filled him with a sense of melancholy, the moonlight twinkling the snow like crystals.

Among the howling of wind and occasional wolves, he heard a… crashing, and with that he felt a rush of wind. It was constant, like a rhythm.

He wandered aimlessly following the sound. Snow crunched under his feet as he made is way to the outer areas of the citadel. The maze of paths took him through different sections, and he slowed to find a truly condemned clearing. The snow was thicker, up to Pure Vanilla’s calves.

Just before doubt settled in, he realized from the other side of the area that there were footprints. Holes where someone stepped through the thick snow that led to a ladder against the wall.

His eyes followed up, and sure enough where was a gap. You COULD walk among the high wall.

Pure Vanilla, prepared for an obstacle like this, used a strap to secure his staff across his back. The orchid blinked, eye stinging from the cold, but Pure Vanilla could still see over his own shoulder well enough to make the climb.

The snow was cold enough to be slightly hardened. He gingerly stepped and strained to pull his leg out of each indentation he made. It was a slow go until he stood at the ladder.

His fingers trembled, his hot breath puffed through the air, and his face felt numb. There was a rhythm to the crashing he heard, and it got louder as he slowly ascended as to not slip and fall back to where he started.

Pure Vanilla reached the top and did end up slipping trying to stand. His heart nearly leapt out of his chest, a thick cacao barrier was keeping his from on whatever drop was in the other side. Instead he fell to his knees and his hands clung to the stone.

Pure Vanilla took a breath to calm himself.

He pulled himself up, off of the snow, to see over the barrier.

It had to have been the most beautiful view he had ever seen.

The air was clear. In the moonlight, faint snowflakes rained over everything in sight. Down below, the black beach was submerged in water from the high tides. The water twinkled across the surface to almost looked like glass.

And the tides were STRONG. Black water crashed into the rocks, roaring like Pure Vanilla had never heard before as the water slammed into the wall in massive waves. Below-freezing water misted the air above, Pure Vanilla gasped as he felt it caress his face.

With each wave, the air became thick and the view became invisible till it slowly emerged back into clarity. When the water began to draw back, Pure Vanilla could barely discern where the beach, the water, and the night ended and began. It was infinite in his eyes.

He smiled in awe.

The water crashed into the wall, and again came the freezing air with the water from the sea.

His eyes fluttered, reacting to the moisture in them. The waves kept crashing, and it eventually began to feel more like a periodic rain than mist.

Pure Vanilla was entranced.

But he got pulled out of it as soon as he felt himself getting yanked by the arm.

The eye orchid of his staff swerved to see beside him.

Under a hood, it was Dark Cacao.

The prince harshly pulled him by the arm, and Pure Vanilla slipped, nearly on the floor again.

“Are you MAD?!” he hissed frantically. His hair was slightly mussed, falling into his face.

“It’s alright, I… What are you doing awake?”

Dark Cacao reached to touch his face. Pure Vanilla felt his face flush, but Dark Cacao only lifted a lock of blonde hair, frozen stuff.

“You’re drenched in the middle of winter! If you didn’t fall off the wall, you were going to freeze to death!”

“Fall off the wall? I didn’t think-“

Waves crashed on the wall again, this time slamming over the stone ledge and pouring in behind Pure Vanilla, the water soaked his shoes, his cloak, and the side of his body facing outwards.

Dark Cacao shielded his eyes with a curse and Pure Vanilla curled into himself to cope with the shock of the temperature.

“W-What is happening?”

“High tide.” Dark Cacao grumbled, “It’s a full moon.”

“I-I didn’t think the waves were going to keep climbing even higher!”

Dark Cacao gritted his teeth, looking to the side in thought.

The water was pulling back into the sea. His eyes widened in fear.

Dark Cacao gripped Pure Vanilla’s freezing hand.

“This way, we have to hurry.”

He didn’t wait for Pure Vanilla to speak before dragging him along.

“Where are we-“

“Trust me!” Dark Cacao shouted, “Now, or we’ll be swept off the wall!”

Pure Vanilla blinked in shock, then nodded.

They headed down the path of the citadel wall, trying not to slip as the waves continued to spill over and wet the ground and slush beneath their feet.

The water flooded over the wall. Pure Vanilla’s teeth chattered, but he focused on the reassuring hold of Dark Cacao’s hand.

Several minutes of struggling led a ladder to a tower at the wall’s corner.

The waves were only getting stronger.

“Can you climb?” He asked firmly.

With shaken hands, Pure Vanilla nodded and did so. It was immensely taller than the previous one.

“Brace yourself!”

With another rush of water, the ladder rattled.

Pure Vanilla felt his leg slip on one of the icy rungs. Dark Cacao gripped his pant leg before his whole body lost balance.

Pure Vanilla gulped, and Dark Cacao slowly let him go.

He pressed forward, and Dark Cacao climbed after him.

The suddenly stopped at some sort of ceiling.

“Push. It’s a door.” Dark Cacao said from below.

Pure Vanilla felt, and sure enough, there was a latch.

Pure Vanilla climbed up to a solid stone floor, crawling and clawing at the floor to push himself up. He nearly collapsed on his stomach in the process, not so gracefully. He quickly tried to offer Dark Cacao a hand.

It wasn’t needed.

Dark Cacao was already on his feet, closing the hatch, and Pure Vanilla took in their surroundings.

It was a circular stone floor with a raised stone edge and a roof held up by four pillars. It was spacious enough for about 5 people with a lit firepit in the center.

Pure Vanilla looked below. At this point, the water was rushing over the outer citadel walls violently with each wave.

Dark Cacao truly did save his life. They were residing in a watchtower far above the water now.

Pure Vanilla panted. He untied his staff and dropped his soaked cloak with a shiver.

“Here.” He heard.

Into his trembling hands, Dark Cacao slipped a hot cup with a chocolate fragrance.

“Th-thank you.” Pure Vanilla managed.

Dark Cacao hummed. He gently wrapped a blanket around Pure Vanilla’s shoulders with a nod.

Pure Vanilla held back a gasp, but Dark Cacao didn’t waste a second to linger. In an instant he was wringing out the water of his own hair.

They both settled on a bench near the fire, the crackling as music to their ears and sipping the bittersweet beverages.

The silence was comfortable. Pure Vanilla trembled as drank his beverage. He relished in the warmth down his throat and radiating in his body with every sip.

Dark Cacao stared into the dancing purple flames. With the proximity, Pure Vanilla could once again sense the toll on his being, an intense expression on his hardened features and the gentle tapping of his finger on his cup.

“You were already up here?” Pure Vanilla asked, gesturing to the hot cups in their hands.

Dark Cacao nodded again.

“Please… keep this between us.” Dark Cacao said quietly.

“Of course… may I ask why?”

“This watchtower is not supposed to be in use. I came here to…”

He trailed off.

“Quiet your mind?” Pure Vanilla finished.

Dark Cacao side eyed Pure Vanilla.

“I didn’t mean to disturb you, I apologize for letting my curiosity get the better of me. I… found myself unable to rest. I often find solace when the rest of the world is asleep.”

He had a habit of getting up at night since he was a child and making use of the quiet. He would study the stars, practice magic, or simply enjoy the sounds of crickets in the fields.

“It’s alright… I understand the sentiment.” Dark Cacao said, still not looking him in the eye, “this place… it’s like a sanctuary…”

He shifted in embarrassment, “I find peace in it. It seems all but forgotten as the walls and citadel slowly expands.”

Pure Vanilla shifted with hesitation, realizing their knees were too close. To the point they could touch way too easily.

“We are still constructing the Vanilla castle as well. We realized through magic combined with engineering we actually can make towers of the castle that float independently of the main structure”

Dark Cacao turned to Pure Vanilla in disbelief.

“Float. As in, in the air. By themselves.”

“Don’t believe me?”

His face gave away the answer.

“I believe in what I see.” He said instead.

Pure Vanilla barked out a laugh, then took another sip of his drink.

“My ‘sanctuary’ is a conservatory close to the top of the castle. In the moonlight, stained glass lights up the entire room. I’m a little selfish with this place so this must remain a well kept secret as well. I trust you’ll keep it, yes?”

A scoff came from him, the closest to amusement Pure Vanilla had seen from him yet.

“My lips are sealed, your grace.”

Pure Vanilla grinned.

“Who knows, maybe I’ll show you when you visit the Vanilla kingdom.”

Dark Cacao’s lips formed a fine line response, a solemn mood change that formed a pit in his stomach.

Perhaps that was too much.

“I mean-“

“I think I’d like that.” He replied softly.

They met eyes. Dark Cacao’s focus and sincerity shined, and Pure Vanilla’s heart skipped a beat.

Silence fell on both of them again. Pure Vanilla looked out to the mountain scape and the rustling trees that were barely perceptible to his orchid’s eye.

“If you don’t mind me asking, is your father going to be alright… with the cold?” Pure Vanilla asked before he could stop himself.

Dark Cacao looked out to the mountains as well. He heaved out a sigh, words did not come immediately.

He picked up a pike and stabbed the firewood.

“My family and I have moved across these mountains since I came to be.”

Pure Vanilla tilted his head.

Cacao brushed some loose strands of hair out of his face with a sigh.

“Our tribes kept perishing, a cycle of death and rebirth that spanned across all my years. If not from battling each other, then from battling them-“ he pointed to the ceiling with the pike, “when they crash down from the sky.”

Pure Vanilla’s orchid looked up.

The same creatures from the tapestry in the throne room. A high painted mural of one black and one white dragon inside the roof, circling the among painted wispy storm clouds.

The painting flickered from the light of the fire, making them seem alive.

“That is what he is hunting tonight. It’s all he ever does.”

There was venom in his words, resentment.

Pure Vanilla gripped his staff.

“Where did they come from?” He asked solemnly.

“I’m unsure. The dragons were split from a singular entity thousands of years ago.” Dark Cacao said bitterly, “They yearn to be together, whole. But they are cursed to battle till the end of time. No matter what gets in their way.”

“That’s why your kingdom was so hard to find…” Pure Vanilla realized out loud, “While our kingdoms are flourishing with time-“

“It is going to be the 3rd year since my father decided we could fortify a tribe for ourselves.”

“Don’t be ashamed of that, your kingdom will grow-“

“Pure Vanilla, he’s not trying to make a kingdom.”

Dark Cacao gritted his teeth, pondered his words before providing them.

“The king is using his authority recruiting soldiers for a hunting fortress. That’s all this citadel is for to him. He’s beyond yearning for revenge for the devastation they have caused. He wants the title: slayer of the dragons of north and south. All of our resources are drained to his obsession and he doesn’t allow anyone to live within our land who can’t aid in his goal.”

“And you?” Pure Vanilla asked.

Dark Cacao’s brows furrowed. He gritted his teeth, agitation settling in.

“What about me?” He muttered.

“Something tells me that is not your goal.”

Dark Cacao shuddered out a breath. He dropped the pike, and the clanging sound echoed in the room.

“I just yearn for peace. That our families are fed, and they can sleep peacefully through the night without fear of it being their last. That they never suffer what I have. To know I can protect my people, no matter if they are useful.”

His words hung in the air, underlined with pain but clear conviction.

Pure Vanilla smiled. He layed his staff on the ground. With his newfound loss of vision, he gingerly reached out. His knuckles bumped into Cacao, and upon feeling Vanilla realized he had a hand.

He cradled Dark Cacao’s hand in both of his own.

“As a healer, I can tell a lot about someone by their injuries. I can sense pain and someone’s state of being underneath their appearance. From the second I met you, I knew you were a warrior whose purpose is to protect. And your will is unlike any I’ve ever seen. You are fortified, disciplined, and strong in the mind, but underneath-“

Delicately, his thumbs spread Cacao’s hand from the tense state of curling in to gingerly opening. They grazed his palms, making a map of his skin.

Callouses. Blisters. Split open wounds along his palms.

He heard Cacao shudder.

“-you’re neglecting your own needs. You protect all but yourself. And I must warn you from experience: You must nourish and protect yourself to do the same for your kingdom. If you promise you will do this, then I swear I will be right behind you to aid in any way I can.”

“…Why?” Dark Cacao asked quietly.

Light magic surged through his fingers. He shined the light into Dark Cacao’s hand. Like water coursing through a river, he flowed the energy throughout the rest of his body.

He gave him strength to stand, mended flesh that was split and cut, eased aching or bruised muscles and tissues, and even enveloped his skin in warmth for good measure.

Everything short easing his mind, which Pure Vanilla could not do.

There air was still. Dark Cacao sighed deeply, and Pure Vanilla couldn’t gauge if he upset the other.

“Because I know we could win any battle that came our way.”

Pure Vanilla’s hand was guided upwards. The faintest press of warm, chapped lips on his knuckles, and then hot breath whispered against his hand.

“I promise.”

Chapter Text

The chirp of a blueberry bird awakened Pure Vanilla. It was a sound too familiar to his ears, and he found himself jolting in excitement.

He pawed for his orchid staff at his bedside, and he eventually did graze his fingertips on the handle.

The room came into focus. Pure Vanilla yawned, stretching out before gliding to the window, the sun barely rising. It was by design, the time he received his letters, so he could read them before he whisked himself off down the steps of the castle to begin his day.

“There you are!”

He unhooked the latch of his double-doored window, and in came a bird with an actual parcel than just the usual letter. The bird landed on his bed, then perched on top of his mirror.

When Pure Vanilla left the Cacao Kingdom, he immediately began to send letters to Dark Cacao to keep him updated on aspects on their kingdoms’ affairs such as important updates on routes for trade. With those letters, Pure Vanilla couldn’t help but try to strike conversation.

To his surprise, Dark Cacao sent BACK his letters with brief replies scribbled in black charcoal underneath.

Under ‘how have you been faring?’ Dark Cacao would write things like ‘as good as this winter allows’ and ‘not terribly’. Under ‘anything eventful in the citadel?’ he would scrawl ‘a certain blue bird has sparked the interest of the watchers. Fortunately their arrows keep missing’.

There was even an instance where an entire letter was sent back with the only addendum was ‘I would be dead otherwise, Pure Vanilla’.

This was a response to ‘staying warm?’

Pure Vanilla was stunned at that. He told Dark Cacao that the blueberry birds did NOT deserve to fly from one kingdom to another for a single sentence.

Slowly but surely, after weeks of writing, Pure Vanilla and Dark Cacao were sending letters with no political affiliation. The weeks became months and the letters became clockwork.

A routine that Pure Vanilla felt intergrated into his busy life as a ruler way too well.

Over his letters, Pure Vanilla learned about him. That Dark Cacao’s rite of passage to adulthood was killing a wolf on his own, unable to return from the wilderness until the task was done. That through lifelong training he was skilled in combat with every weapon imaginable, but preferred his confidence in the sword. His pastime
reading novels. That he adored when he was in charge of the children of lords that begged to hold his sword or see his scars. That he started to sweeten his tea recently and will take that fact to the grave.

Meanwhile, Pure Vanilla would share day to day duties that entailed being a king. The construction of the castle, beasts he fended off from the land with White Lily, being an ear for his subjects when they had troubles. Different spells of healing he worked hard to perfect without taking too much of a toll on his energy.

Pure Vanilla felt… childish. Each letter exchanged was making him more elated than the last.

Now, the blueberry messenger bird he always sent to the Cacao Kingdom never took this long to return, and he became impatient.

In his bedside drawer, Pure Vanilla found the bird’s favorite seeds in a pouch waiting. He poured a small pile in a special dish and placed it on the table.

With a chirp, the bird flew to the bowl.

Pure Vanilla smiled at its eagerness at first, then faltered. Along the side of its round body there were scratches and a bandage was wrapped around its tiny leg.

“What happened?” He asked out loud.

And who tended the wounds?

He sat on his bed cross legged and opened the parcel. Along with a scroll, a letter addressed to him with dark brown paper.

Pure Vanilla,

I foremost should tell you that there was an incident with the messenger bird. It is now before sunrise and I was awoken by a series of screeching. Cacaoian crows, like all Cacaoians, are territorial. I believe since they have been nesting on our roofs, the blueberry bird was seen as a threat. Luckily our messenger was chased into my window and your letter was delivered. For an animal, it’s very dedicated to its job. Just now, I did the best I could to nurse its injuries. I would appreciate it greatly if you could heal the wounds as best you can, if it’s not too much to ask.

Pure Vanilla smiled, imagining how delicate Dark Cacao had to be to administer first aid to such a small creature.

He obliged with the request. Pure Vanilla pet the bird with his fingers, pulsing healing energy. It didn’t take much. The bird perked up, and the cuts disappeared. The feathers smoothed, as if the injuries had never happened.

Since I am awake and cannot return to my slumber even if I tried, my main reason for this letter was to tell you that I’ve found what we’ve been searching for. I had to transcribe several documents, since they cannot leave citadel walls, but it is real. The golden city is a real place in the desert region and I now know of the sovereign. Their name is Golden Cheese. I’m not sure about the depictions of them hatching from an egg, but they are a real person. Another Golden Cheese, likely the same one, kept a journal describing their hunt for some treasure a long time ago. Based on this journal, various accounts, sources, and my own investigations attached, I’ve found the general area the city is.

If you wish to seek the city, however, I must ask you proceed with caution and don’t travel alone. In fact, I insist on accompanying you. Since the king has become more open to economic opportunities, he has granted me permission to seek the kingdom as an envoy. Even if the consensus seems to be that those who try to find it never return, think it’s safe to say the four of us can ensure we return to tell the tale ourselves.

“My king?”

Pure Vanilla jolted. One of his handmaidens was at the door sheepishly peeking in.

“Breakfast will be served shortly.”

Pure Vanilla cursed himself. He took too much of a leisurely pace reading the letter.

“O-of course. I will be there soon. Thank you.”

The girl nodded, closing the door behind her.

I will meet you and White Lily in the Hollyberry Kingdom on the day of the Spring Festival. I’ve already received an invitation to the event, so we can embark after it’s concluded with Hollyberry.

Dark Cacao

There was a thick black line of ink over his name. But it was a different color than the heavy handed writing of cacao charcoal he used to write the letter.

Pure Vanilla hummed. Should he?

…

His curiosity got the better of him.

Pure Vanilla closed his orchid’s eye. He traced over the dry ink. With his fingertip, and he found the indentation of the covered letters among the smooth parchment. He managed to read the sentence.

I look forward to seeing you again.

Pure Vanilla smiled, but only for a moment. He heard the strike of the clock on the hour. He groaned, realizing his day was already running behind, and began to shuffle through the itinerary in his head.

————————————

Dark Cacao closed his room door with a huff, and immediately went for the straps of his almost suffocating breastplate.

Despite how cold the air was outside still, he felt grimy and hot from the physical exertion.

The king scrutinized him, circling outside of the sparring ring until every strike on his command against an opponent was perfect in time and execution.

“I’ve seen your form, you are getting sloppy.” He sneered, “You will not set foot outside of the kingdom for any reason until I see you are fit. You must prove you are capable.”

The king belittled him, counting on that Dark Cacao would give up, forgo his plan to leave the mountains.

But Dark Cacao was stubborn and never to shy from a challenge.

Dark Cacao did not stop until he earned it.

And so, until the king was silent and gave him a simple look of approval, Dark Cacao trained for hours. Not even a nod, just a neutral look of approval to put an end to it and his back turned to leave to his chambers.

It finally happened after the captain he was sparring insisted over a dozen times that Dark Cacao was doing everything right. It fell on deaf ears, of course, but Dark Cacao still appreciated the kindness.

Which lead to the late hour in the night.

He slammed the breastplate to the ground, relishing in the weight off his chest. His palms ached, and his legs felt shaken. Then he unhooked his wrist guards, and peeled the leather off of his raw and chafed skin while clenching his teeth. The indentation in his flesh from the belt straps holding them stayed. He slid his thumb over one of them with a hiss.

He let his hair down. Running his fingers through his hair, he felt his scalp sting from the pain of it being pulled back so aggressively. It was his own fault, it kept getting in the way.

Dark Cacao almost felt disgusted with himself, it was as though he were a dog being trained by a master. He wondered if the king shouted an order tomorrow, would his body would lose autonomy and strike whatever was in his path from pure muscle memory? It sickened him, these tests that Dark Cacao nearly crumbled from the pressure of every time. He worked himself to the bone, but never felt satisfied.

The dark room suddenly had a chirp, snapping Dark Cacao out of his bitter thoughts.

The plump blueberry bird soared through the air, circling over his head a few times, before perching on his shoulder with an envelope.

“Ah. You stayed quiet to keep away from the crows, didn’t you?” He muttered, toeing off his shoes.

Dark Cacao cringed at the animal touching him, but gingerly accepted the letter.

It had the signature Pure Vanilla elements, a golden wax seal, blue envelope, cream parchment, fancy penmanship.

Dark Cacao,

I must keep this letter short, I have many things to attend to and wanted to send this as soon as possible. Forgive me if my words seem hasty in craft.

Hollyberry and White Lily agree with your proposition. We need to go find the Golden City, before the heat in the desert where we suspect it to be located becomes unbearable and dangerous. Since we are all attending the Hollyberrian Spring Ball, it is logical we depart afterwards.

I’ll have you know I would have believed your word, if you had said you knew where it was and had sources. But the fact that you transcribed the archival pieces by hand is commendable. I thank you for trusting me with copies of the documents, truly. Upon looking them over, I have no doubt that we will, like you said, find the kingdom and live to tell the tale.

I must leave now, something to do with Cake Boars terrorizing the poor sheep. I will see you at the ball.

Good. Perhaps this was what Dark Cacao needed.

At the end of the letter, when Dark Cacao was ready to put it aside, his eyes widened at the signature.

I can’t wait to see you again either.

Many blessings,

Pure Vanilla

Damn. Pure Vanilla read what he tried to scratch out. He was more clever than Dark Cacao gave him credit for.

Through their exchanges, Dark Cacao felt disgustingly fond of the little hints of sweetness in his words, to the point he tried to dissect Pure Vanilla’s every written mark like a puzzle. He couldn’t help it.

The envelope, like every other one, had that hint of vanilla oil to give it a sweet fragrance. His face flushed, and he gingerly folded the letter.

Dark Cacao closed the envelope, tilted it under his nose, and took a soft, deep inhale.

For a fleeting moment, he wasn’t within black walls and sore from head to toe.

His stomach felt warm, and the image of white robes, a gentle smile and a comforting touch came to fruition. It pulled at his heart with strings, inching him away from what he knew to be true. The state of mind he built his entire life on-

His eyelashes fluttered before he opened them again. Dark Cacao had to take the fragments of such a ridiculous thought, crush it with his fist, rip it out at the roots.

He didn’t have time to consider a single thing right now.

He had to leave in the next few days.

————————————

Pure Vanilla had never seen the Hollyberry Kingdom so jovial.

Pink and cream colored roads shined in the sunlight, and a fruity aroma followed wherever you went. The tropical breeze rustled the palm trees that lining the square, where a live orchestra played on a pie patterned stage. Happy citizens swayed to the music, wearing their best and raising their glasses to another prosperous season. Booths, shops, and restaurants all seemed to be operating mostly outside to take advantage of the celebration all around the kingdom, but they were heading to a more traditional garden party.

It was livelier than ever before, and Pure Vanilla felt himself grinning at the infectious joy as him and White Lily’s gondola floated down to the garden they were staring at.

She took his hand, and the gondola slowly approached the dock near the square. Their things were already at the Hollyberry castle, but the Queen was somewhere here among the festivities.

“You seem nervous.” White Lily said with a gentle squeeze.

“Nervous?” Pure Vanilla asked with a laugh. He felt… anticipatory, if anything.

She tilted her head slightly and smiled. He was rubbing his thumb across his staff.

“Let me guess… it’s not the expedition. You keep looking around, searching.”

Oh.

“Lily-“ he said.

“Sorry. Just… don’t stress.” She advised.

Pure Vanilla breathed out a laugh.

“I’m serious.” She insisted, “I know that look. I’m not sure what it’s about but now is a time for festivities, yes? We’re safe and can unwind.”

Pure Vanilla felt a knot in his stomach.

She didn’t know what he was searching for.

“This is us.” She said with a grin.

They gingerly stepped out of the gondola to solid ground. Pure Vanilla’s staff was searching, antsy for a certain prince.

Pure Vanilla huffed out a breath to control it better. He had to focus on what was in front of him.

“There she is!” White Lily exclaimed.

Hollyberry let out a bubbly laugh loudly, proudly clinking her goblet against the drinks of a group of aristocrats. In a long and thick braid, her hair went past her waist. Her dress was thick layers of pink and white, thick puff sleeves, and a golden armor-like bustier. Her wrist guards and floral crown were the same gold material.

Her eyes wandered, and she lit up seeing her comrades.

“Oh, you two!”

Pure Vanilla and White Lily curtsied. She was a Queen, after all.

But that didnt stop her from pulling both into a bone-crushing hug, not spilling a drop of juice in the process.

“Are you weary from your travels?”

Pure Vanilla shook his head.

“How could we be when the Hollyberry Kingdom is in such bright spirits?”

“For you, my friend.” White Lily said, holding out flowers she promised last time they saw each other.

“Oh, what a lovely bouquet!”

Hollyberry accepted it taking a deep smell of the home-grown lilies. She then spun to a guard residing nearby the stage.

“Guard, take this to a vase with water.” She ordered.

The guard obliged, and Pure Vanilla asked honestly, “Is there something special about this spring in particular? It’s livelier than I’ve seen in years in the rest of the capital.”

Hollyberry seemed taken aback, but then relaxed into a smiled.

“My friends. I wanted to tell you in person. Do you remember Huckleberry?”

White Lily and Pure Vanilla looked to each other. He was the head of the Hollyberrian Army, and a strong one despite his boisterous laugh and tendency to tell bad jokes. It was night and day when he was commanding troops to defend their land versus when he was tripping over his own feet when he finally got to dance with the Queen after hours of patience.

“How could we forget?” White Lily said, “Did he win another battle?”

“Oh yes, Lily.”

Hollyberry held up her left hand, and a golden ring with a ruby in the center was on her finger.

“The battle for my affections. We’re getting married!”

Pure Vanilla gasped.

“Holly!”

“Oh my goodness!” White Lily gasped, gloved hand raising to her mouth “how- when-“

“We will have plenty of time for juicy stories when on the road. Here, it would be scandalous,” Hollyberry said, wiggling her eyebrows. She put down her goblet and a servant immediately gave her two more glasses, “for now, we drink, eat, and celebrate how far we’ve come. And the fact that I’M ENGAGED!”

“Although I am surprised at this development… Huckleberry suits you well, Holly.” Pure Vanilla said warmly, surveying the party, “where is he?”

She picked up her goblet, sliding her finger along the rim.

“Cranberry Forest. Duty still calls, I’m afraid. He’ll be back before sunset. I’m almost dreading it, accepting his proposal… it rejected many others.”

With a slightly soured face, she took another gulp of grape juice.

————————————

After hours at the garden party, they entered the castle and got dressed for the Spring Ball.

Pure Vanilla tried to keep his spirits high, he really did. Hollyberry’s energy was at a different pace from his own. He would never admit it in fear of hurting her feelings, but he actually was drained from traveling by carriage for so many hours and the mingling that followed.

In his chambers, he dressed himself in special pastel blue robes for the occasion. His waffle cone cape adorned with blue flowers fluttered with his steps to the dresser. With some contemplation, he decided on a headband that made him appear to have a halo of brass angel wings. The humidity made his hair wave, but he didn’t bother to try to change that. Instead he parted it down the middle and brushed until it looked somewhat intentional.

Then, the night was in full swing.

The Hollyberry Ballroom’s pink tiles glittered as the attendants were whisked into dancing along to the string quartet. A crystal chandelier with cascading pink and red jewels illuminated the room. There was a heavy air of refinery, class, and wealth among the guests dressed in oat couture gowns and the finest waistcoats you could buy.

Glasses perched in their fingers, Pure Vanilla knew parties like this were a time to display status. He knew some of the lords and ladies to be kind and generous, but the grape juice in their systems made them eager to flaunt and gossip. And the ones who already wore their wealth on their sleeves for all to see and envy, it just gave them more confidence to boast with a lack of taste.

“Queen Hollyberry.” A man with blue ringlets past his shoulders and a dazzling outfit to match said with a bow.

White Lily, in the middle of talking, silenced a pout. She tried to curtsy with her emerald green ballgown, but Holly put a hand up to indicate it wasn’t necessary.

“Ah, Lord Blueberry. I trust everything is to your standards?” Hollyberry asked. She was smiling, but it didn’t reach her eyes in fully.

“Exquisite. But I must ask, it keeps me up at night, my queen. Will you hear my question?”

Hollyberry blinked, “Absolutely not. My dear friend, White Lily, was in the middle of speaking. I will not tolerate that.”

“If I had been first to propose-“

“So where did they come from?” Hollyberry asked Lily, ignoring the man trying to get her attention.

White Lily cleared her throat.

“We… still don’t know.” She continued, avoiding eye contact with Lord Blueberry. Pure Vanilla noticed Lord Blueberry muttering, then walking away and grabbing a cup of grape juice to take a large gulp, “it seems Cake Boars have just been getting bigger, there’s an entire hole in the wall of one of the farm houses right now to show for it.”

“Good grief. Have any of those enormous ones crossed into MY borders?”

“No, we would have seen them by now.” She reasoned.

“You two can keep them.”

“Yes, but I would still inform Huckleberry-“

The main doors to the ballroom opened, and none other than the tall, burly with curly indigo hair with a thick, curly beard and mustache opened the door for a certain prince.

Dark Cacao himself.

Instead of shining gold and bold pinks to be expected, he wore ink black robes lined with silver embroidery to look like mountains glittered, catching the eye in an instant. The black fabric produced a violet shine against the light.

Pure Vanilla took note of Dark Cacao’s hair being longer, tied up into a black ponytail with white strands cascading down to between his broad shoulder blades.

The ballroom fell quiet save for the music. Dark Cacao, although dressed quite regally, stood out like a drop of ink on a paper.

“GET THIS MAN A DRINK!” Huckleberry announced, still in his Hollyberry armor, “Dark Cacao, prince of the Cacao Kingdom, saved my life! He deserves the finest grape juice we can offer!”

Dark Cacao surveyed the room as Huckleberry lifted his arm and a round of applause broke out across it.

He turned, expression unreadable, to meet eyes with Pure Vanilla.

The guests whispered among themselves, and there were even ladies behind fans whispering to each other while eyeing Dark Cacao.

Huckberry dashed across the room to Hollyberry, pulling a very uncomfortable Dark Cacao along with him.

“Huckleberry, what is the meaning of this?” Hollyberry asked incredulously, “he ‘saved your life’?”

Everyone at the ball stared at Huckleberry in curiosity as well.

“My queen! There I was, returning from my patrol from hours on end, warding off the Cookieverous plants when a BUTTER TIGER pounced from the shadows! The animal nearly bloody scared me to death when it tackled me to the ground. The coward used my moment of weakness! My weapons knocked away, I was cornered, I thought I was done for! It gave me a good scratching, you see.”

His words were slurred, he was inebriated, but passionate. He cupped Hollyberry’s face like he was acting in a tragedy.

“I started praying and I said, ‘PLEASE! All I want is to return to my beautiful queen who is now my beautiful fiancé and spend the rest of my life with her as both my beautiful wife AND my beautiful queen!”

Hollyberry blushed profusely. By her smile, Pure Vanilla could tell it was not out of embarrassment, but flattery from his affection.

“And THEN-“

He pulled his hand away and spun around.

Huckleberry rose his goblet to Dark Cacao, nearly spilling the liquid all over him, but luckily it trickled to the ground.

“A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR!”

He muttered back to Hollyberry, “Metaphorically, of course, but carrying a sword all the same.” She nodded as if that insight was crucial. Then Huckleberry continued loudly again, “He jumped to my defense and the beast was actually TERRIFIED of this man. Sir, you were sent by the gods!”

Dark Cacao grimaced, then gingerly patted Huckleberry on the shoulder.

“He… he’s been refilling his goblet in celebration our entire way here. I’m sorry for the disturbance-“

His words fell on deaf ears.

Huckleberry lifted Hollyberry by the waist and spun her in a circle (which was a feat itself, because Hollyberry was taller and equally as muscular as him), incomprehensible while praising her beauty.

He set her back down and Hollyberry’s shook her head with a giggle.

“It’s… quite alright.” She replied to Dark Cacao, “I’m happy to see you, my friend, but I have a more alluring man to give my attention to.”

“Is that so?” Huckleberry asked, twirling her large braid with a finger.

Hollyberry gingerly took his goblet, handed it to a nearby servant, then patted him on the cheek harshly, startling him more lucid.

“Very funny, General. We are putting you to BED. Dark Cacao, please enjoy yourself and forgive this oaf. He cannot handle his juice like I can.”

Dark Cacao shook his head.

“No need. Congratulations on the engagement, by the way.”

Holly smiled warmly, then led Huckleberry off the dance floor.

The air calmed after they left, and Dark Cacao sighed heavily.

“A butter tiger?” White Lily asked genuinely.

“Yes. He was not exaggerating. I barely found him in the forest when it was going for the neck.”

“And you… scared it away?” Pure Vanilla asked.

Dark Cacao then pulled up his sleeve.

Several puncture wounds from the Tiger’s jaws on the outside of his forearm. Pure Vanilla’s eyes widened and White Lily covered her mouth. She was faint at the sight of such things.

“No, it’s dead.” He said blatantly, “I had no choice. He made me swear not to breathe a word of it to Hollyberry in fear of upsetting her.”

Pure Vanilla without a second thought, placed his free hand on the wound. Dark Cacao nearly protested, but with a faint glow and a warm tingling sensation throughout his skin, his wound wasn’t changing much, but he didn’t feel anymore pain.

White Lily managed in shock, “Vanilla, you can’t.”

Dark Cacao looked Pure Vanilla with those deep, purple eyes, and Pure Vanilla’s tongue felt as though it had become sand.

It was true, his ability had improved greatly, he didn’t feel as disoriented healing injuries like that, but the fact Pure Vanilla had been traveling for so long before the ball meant he wasn’t at his fullest potential to use magic.

Now he was weak, and his hands were trembling, but he clenched his staff for support and tried to press on with healing.

Those eyes, suddenly filled with concern and intensity, might be seeing right through him. Pure Vanilla rubbed into his staff with his thumb, hoping Dark Cacao wouldn’t say anything.

White Lily sighed, then grabbed Pure Vanilla’s hand to pull it away from Dark Cacao’s arm.

“I think I should assist Holly.” White Lily said, “If Huckleberry has any injuries as well-“

He felt dread at the idea, but offered, “Of course, let me-“

“No, you should rest.” She said, stern in a way Pure Vanilla almost couldn’t take seriously, “Please don’t forget I can heal as well, Pure Vanilla. I’ll come find you if I need assistance, okay?”

He wanted to retort she skipped a lot of the lessons at the academy regarding healing, but he didn’t. Pure Vanilla knew she was coming from a place of caring, but he also felt a strange sense of… inadequacy. That he, as a skilled healer, needed someone else to fulfill the role.

White Lily smiled knowingly to his orchid, then curtsied to him before heading out of the dance floor as well.

Dark Cacao watched in slight confusion as she left and Pure Vanilla swallowed. He opened his mouth, but quickly shut it, for he wasn’t sure how to start talking.

“Are you alright?” Dark Cacao decided to ask, and Pure Vanilla flinched at his hand suddenly on his shoulder.

“I’m fine.” Pure Vanilla muttered.

“That is an understatement. You’re as pale as-“

“Our finest, sir.” someone said.

Dark Cacao narrowed his eyes and turned, he was handed an open bottle of juice by a bowing servant.

“Pardon?” He asked them.

“Huckleberry ordered you to get the finest drink we could provide, your grace. This comes from our cellar, a Hollyberry delicacy. Oh, let me grab a glass-“

“That’s not necessary, thank you.” Dark Cacao replied bluntly.

Dark Cacao accepted the bottle, and waited until the servant left before turning back to Pure Vanilla.

“I’m sorry for being so… winded while healing, that was reckless of me.” Pure Vanilla tried to brush off.

“There’s no need to apologize… I have an idea.”

Pure Vanilla tilted his head, but Dark Cacao took his hand and began to walk.

—————————

It was quiet, the area of their quarters.

Dark Cacao opened the door to one Pure Vanilla assumed to be his room, gesturing him to come inside.

His room had some belongings neatly placed along his bed: a cloak, his sword, a drawstring fabric bag.

He traveled light, Pure Vanilla noted.

“I have something for you.” Dark Cacao said abruptly. handed out cloth-wrapped box of some sort. It was bound with a thin line of white ribbon.

Pure Vanilla took a half step back.

“Oh, Cacao you didn’t have to-“

“I’m aware.”

Dark Cacao outstretched the gift, and Pure Vanilla gingerly accepted it. Dark Cacao picked up his things and haphazardly put them on the starkly contrasting fancy pink dresser.

“This hardly feels fair, I didn’t get you any gift in return.” Pure Vanilla admitted.

Dark Cacao, lighting his bedside candles with matches, shrugged.

All at once, the room was illuminated by the small flames rather than just moonlight.

“Think of it less of a gift and more…practical item. Especially for right now, since you’re insisting.”

Dark Cacao sat atop the bed, and Pure Vanilla swallowed as he took hesitation in sitting next to him.

Pure Vanilla put the sizable box atop his lap and hesitantly pulled at the ribbon, effortlessly unraveling the layer of black cloth. He tried to focus, for Dark Cacao was looking over his shoulder.

It was a neatly arranged box of… supplies. Different sizes of rolls of bandages, pads of cotton, a small sewing kit with curved needles, tiny silver scissors, vials of different herbs, small wrapped pure cacao bars, and at the bottom, a small version of what appeared to be a book Pure Vanilla had read before.

“Is this a Cacaoian doctor’s kit?” He asked in awe and a slowly emerging fondness.

“You were fascinated in our combat medicine, so I had a comprehensive guide and kit made for you.”

Pure Vanilla opened the pages. There were embossed letters on every page.

“And these… is this for…?”

Dark Cacao nodded.

Pure Vanilla decided to test that. He leaned his staff on one of the bedposts, surrendering his sight.

In the absence of (visually) what was in front of him, he trusted his hands to read the book. He flipped to a random page and used his fingers to find the letters. With a single finger, he began to read the elevated grooves of the letters that contrasted the smooth pages.

“made of-“ he backtracked, it wasn’t the start of the sentence, “The bars are made of the purest ground cacao the land has to offer. A single square portion, or even just a simple nibble of a corner brings one back to their senses from a state of confusion or altered perception.”

“I’m happy it works well.” Dark Cacao muttered beside him.

Pure Vanilla, since his orchid was close enough in range, willed the eye to open. It fluttered, but began to take in it’s surroundings.

It focused on the supplies in front of him, and he got to work.

“Let me see what I can do.” He said calmly, “you have water?”

Dark Cacao nodded, handing him a canteen from his bedside table.

He pulled up his sleeve, and Pure Vanilla crossed his legs to be directly across from him.

He wiped the entire area with a cloth he dampened, then found the cream he was looking for. Dark Cacao winced at the first contact of it.

Dark Cacao sighed, then abruptly said, “You need to practice what you preach.”

In confusion, Pure Vanilla pursed his lips.

“What preaching are you referring to?”

“Think to the first night within our walls.”

Pure Vanilla thought about what that meant, then the words said when he healed Dark Cacao the first time came crashing down.

“Contrary to what you believe,” Pure Vanilla said cooly with a smirk to his lips, “I respect myself enough to know when being accused of hypocrisy and not to stand for that”

“Forgive me,” Dark Cacao said, obviously not begging forgiveness in the slightest, “but you DO see how this is similar?”

Pure Vanilla let himself chuckle a bit while he pondered that question. Dark Cacao had a point. He applied a cotton pad to flushly cover the entire area.

“No, it is.” He answered quietly, “old habits don’t die easily, you know.”

Dark Cacao hummed.

“But may I ask,” Pure Vanilla continued, “what were YOU doing coming to the ball after just getting MAULED by a butter tiger?”

“I was expected to be there.” Dark Cacao said, like it was obvious, “mauled is a strong word.”

Pure Vanilla huffed, then grabbed a roll of gauze.

“Whatever we call it, it’s a reasonable excuse not to be punctual. You could have suffered infection.”

Dark Cacao huffed out an amused breath.

“Perhaps. Then again, I have been stabbed in the abdomen and expected to join my father for dinner in the same evening. My point of reference as to what’s important might be unusual.”

And that it was, because what was Pure Vanilla supposed to respond to that? His orchid looked directly at him, and Dark Cacao had no hint of jest in his face.

“This ‘gift’… you’re not… afraid I won’t be able to heal on our journey, do you?” Pure Vanilla asked, half teasing and half out of uneasiness.

Dark Cacao was taken aback.

“N-no. Not at all. This is for you to use at your disposal.”

Pure Vanilla nodded, but Dark Cacao elaborated, “Seems as though you’ve been working yourself to the bone to perfect your craft. But if you feel you’re going to give too much of yourself to heal any of us… I want you to have another way.”

He was staring at Pure Vanilla’s face, his orchid realized.

When had controlling his orchid’s gaze become such a feat?

“I know without question, you’re capable.” Dark Cacao finished.

Pure Vanilla huffed out a laugh.

“Here I was afraid you thought the opposite.”

From physically seeing each other a fleeting week to not for months, the present was as if recalling a dream. On one hand, Pure Vanilla felt as though this Dark Cacao was almost stranger, a fleeting memory, a sense of Deja Vu his head was itching to recall. A completely different person with hardened edges accentuated by candle light rather than who he spoke to in writing.

But on the other, Dark Cacao was polite (although blunt) and kind (although gauche). A friend he knew well enough to confide in that he felt as though he never parted with.

He was slowly blurring them together along with the foreign feelings he felt with it.

“You look nice, by the way.” He heard.

Pure Vanilla’s orchid shot up in surprise, faster than his face. A person who could see would simply glance up in surprise with more tact. Meanwhile, Pure Vanilla looked obviously flustered in moments like this.

If Cacao found it odd, he didn’t say.

Rebellious, silky locks of his hair swooped down his chiseled face to loop back tucked behind his ear. He looked better rested than all those months ago and Pure Vanilla selfishly pondered if he had anything to do with it. Dark Cacao glanced at the orchid’s gaze, but he mainly was searching Pure Vanilla’s face for a response.

“So do you.” Pure Vanilla said honestly, heat rising in his cheeks.

Dark Cacao’s brow twitched, and Pure Vanilla immediately stammered, “I’m- that was wrong of me-“

He didn’t seem angry, at the very least, but Dark Cacao swooped the hair over his face behind his ear more securely.

“It’s alright… I don’t… mind it…” he replied.

Pure Vanilla tied the gauze, then placed his hands along the wrappings to soothe any residual pain.

“To be frank, I don’t know what to say.” Pure Vanilla said, words tumbling out.

Dark Cacao shrugged noncommittally.

“I don’t have expectations. Anything you’re thinking.” He said softly.

Pure Vanilla could trail his hands down to reach Cacao’s wrist, and he could reach his hand, lace their fingers together…-

“See, there. What did you think just now?”

Pure Vanilla swallowed. The thought must have crossed his face.

That was dangerous territory that would be entered, to share out loud his… ridiculous thoughts. Dark Cacao was the prince of another kingdom, Pure Vanilla was the KING of his.

“I was thinking…I was thinking about getting back.”

He pulled down Dark Cacao’s sleeve, then quickly closed the medicine kit.

“White Lily might find this useful. A-and you should be able to enjoy the ball. I can’t recall, you’ve never visited the Hollyberry Kingdom, have you?”

Dark Cacao pursed his lips, slightly off put, but answered as normally as the situation called for.

“I hardly stray far from Cacaoian borders these days. All I’ve ever seen is mountainous terrain. So this-“

He gestured to the room around them, the grand bed canopy, the cream walls with swirling floral patterns, the enormous wardrobe.

“-is unlike anything I’ve seen.”

Pure Vanilla smiled warmly.

“Well, you should be free to enjoy it while you’re here, I don’t want to take up your time.”

“You haven’t-“

“I should… see if everything is alright with Huckleberry.”

Dark Cacao had his eyes trained on him as Pure Vanilla grabbed his staff, then rose out of the bed to walk to the door.

He took one last look at Dark Cacao.

“Thank you, for this. I’ll treasure it. Seriously, enjoy the ball, Prince Cacao.”

Pure Vanilla forced himself out the door, heart pounding in his chest at what he feared his feelings were for the prince. He knew what budding affection was, he wasn’t ignorant to that, but he couldn’t pursue something like that.

The prince seemed disappointed, Pure Vanilla realized. He didn’t trust himself to try to figure out why that was. Wishful thinking would cloud his judgement, surely.

Chapter Text

Dark Cacao twisted the reigns of his horse in his fingertips, surveying the busy square as they walked to the outer wall of the Hollyberry Kingdom.

“For the last time,” Hollyberry said with a huff, “A guard would only slow us down.”

Huckleberry walked on foot next to Hollyberry while she guided her horse.

“And you think I would too?” He asked with a lopsided grin, “You wound me so, my queen.”

His lighthearted tone had a gem of sincerity, Dark Cacao knew that much.

“I need you here.” Hollyberry said clearly, “Who knows if any invaders will try their hand at storming the castle while I’m gone? Durians, the lot of them, they certainly would. You stay and keep our people safe HERE while I take care of making peace out THERE.”

Huckleberry looked up ahead and saw several guards chatting in front of the wall.

“Make way for the Queen!” He shouted.

The group of them jolted, scurrying to clear their path and open the gate.

“The Parmesan desert is where many go and perish.” Huckleberry continued, “If there truly IS a city amidst the sand, there’s going to be many monsters in your path.”

“I have extensive experience with monsters.” Hollyberry retorted.

“I am warning as your former guard and your general, Hollyberry. Beware of the kingdom you seek: all that glitters in the sun is not gold. Do not risk your life for it. And you, Prince Dark Cacao!”

Dark Cacao looked to Huckleberry, mildly surprised he was part of this conversation.

“In your wisdom, you’re leading the queen through bandit country. Keep your head sharp and your sword sharper. Understand, boy?”

“Huckleberry-“ Hollyberry tried to cut in.

Dark Cacao nodded, putting his hand on the handle of his sword.

“That’s why I’m here. I swear on my life, General. She’s in good company.”

Huckleberry smiled with approval while Hollyberry rolled her eyes, but didn’t retort. She put her hand up and waved her gloved hand.

By the opening gate, White Lily was next to one white and one cream colored horse. She looked up from a large parchment, likely a map, smiled at the recognizing Holly, and waved back.

“Where’s Pure Vanilla?” Hollyberry called out, coming to a stop in front of her.

“Taking too long in the infirmary.” She said with a halfhearted shrug, cocking her head to the large tent along the inside of the wall.

“We need to get going, don’t we?”

Huckleberry turned to Dark Cacao.

“Go fetch him, will you?”

Dark Cacao nodded and passed the reigns to one of the wall guards.

—————————

Inside the infirmary, some men stripped of their armor were sitting on cots. They were either lying down under blankets with fever, getting examined by doctors, or laughing playing cards.

“Let me have a look.” A familiar voice said among the chatter.

Dark Cacao turned. In the far corner, a soldier lying in his cot, pale and fatigued. His torso was propped up by pillows.

He clutched his bandaged shoulder with a red stained hand, shaking his head with a weak smile.

“It’s a bit unsightly, your highness. It’s not worth the trouble.”

Pure Vanilla sighed, an angelic smile crossing his lips.

“Let me make that decision.” He said gently.

Pure Vanilla shrugged off his cloak and placed it on a nearby chair. He wore a chestnut colored, sleeveless shirt with a collar extending to cover his neck. His cream colored pants were tucked into his brown boots.

Despite having an unassuming appearance, he carried himself with dignity, elegance, and ethereality.

Dark Cacao couldn’t dare to interrupt. He crossed his arms and watched stoically in fascination.

Doctors undressed the shoulder, gingerly while the man sat. He seemed almost numb to the pain.

The wound told a story, an enormous set of jaws sunk its teeth into the man’s body, stained with red all over. The fact his arm wasn’t detached from the socket was all but a miracle.

“Cookievorous plant.” The man said bitterly, “Biggest one I’ve ever seen. I’m sorry, your grace, it’s still out there, I couldn’t kill it-“

Pure Vanilla leaned his staff over the wound for closer examination.

“You did all you could. You’re blessed, you survived.” Pure Vanilla said earnestly.

“I’m lucky Huckleberry was there.” The solider corrected.

Pure Vanilla closed the staff’s eye and set it down on the cot next to them.

“Take a deep breath.” He ordered softly.

The soldier obliged.

Pure Vanilla took steps closer to the cot. He closed his own eyes and began to mutter to himself.

Dark Cacao was still fascinated by his gift, every time he witnessed it. He watched his hands glow, as if Pure Vanilla’s hands radiated their own sunlight. The chatter in the room ceased, all watching in silence as Pure Vanilla’s fingers danced like a pianist concentrated on a delicate symphony.

The golden light danced through the air and into the wound, continuing the incantation.

Pure Vanilla’s eyes fluttered open, one sky blue and sun yellow, with a glow.

The flesh began to mend, as if immune to the flow of time. The skin of the soldier’s face began to flush with color, his eyes fluttered.

Then, all at once, the glow stopped, the gold light absorbed into his body.

The soldier, stunned, looked down at his smooth skin.

“Your grace…” the soldier choked out, “you…!”

Pure Vanilla smiled, putting his hand on the shoulder he just healed, sighing in relief.

“You still need to rest. Sleep and you’ll be-!”

The soldier pulled Pure Vanilla into a hug. The man shakily sobbed ‘thank you’s over and over.

Pure Vanilla recovered from his initial shock immediately, rubbing the man’s back and shushing him in reassurance.

Dark Cacao found himself almost smiling.

Almost.

It was a foreign feeling to his face, he brought his hand to his mouth to confirm the shape of it.

When was the last time that had occurred, he did not know.

He turned away, slightly out of shame.

He didn’t feel too joyous for long, he saw someone.

A hooded person. Behind the spectators and the cots of the sick, lurking outside the infirmary tent, watching… it had to have been Pure Vanilla. The view was perfect to observe him.

Dark Cacao slowly moved his grip to his sword. He narrowed his eyes.

The prince walked to get to the opening of the tent. The figure glided out of view.

Dark Cacao ran outside, turning frantically to see if there was anyone.

No one was by the tents. In the distance, where people were perusing the street stalls and getting into gondolas, no one looked remotely like the black hooded figure.

Gone. As if Dark Cacao was seeing things. Even though he most definitely wasn’t.

“I thought it was you.” He heard.

Dark Cacao turned. Pure Vanilla, in all his splendor, lifted the flap of the tent with his staff to join him outside. His cloak was draped over his other arm.

“Are you alright?” Pure Vanilla asked him.

His pale lashes, his gentle eyes, his sunkissed skin. He was too angelic for Dark Cacao to handle.

Dark Cacao’s cheeks flushed, he swallowed before answering.

“Hollyberry said we need to depart.” He said instead of answering the question.

The orchid eye narrowed at him, as if it were more all-seeing than anyone thought.

Dark Cacao cleared his throat to compose himself, to not give away a single thing on his mind, “But…I saw someone watching us. Watching you.”

Pure Vanilla was taken aback.

“Watching me? Are you sure?”

“Yes, they fled before I could confront them.”

“Maybe they needed help.” Pure Vanilla thought out loud.

Dark Cacao knew that wasn’t the case. He knew when to trust his intuition. No matter how full of paranoia he appeared, his instincts were rarely wrong.

“Whatever the reason is, just be discreet with your magic going forward-“

Pure Vanilla put a hand on Dark Cacao’s shoulder.

A faint warm sensation traveled under his skin down his arm. For a brief moment, light partially shined through his bandages from the night before, then disappeared.

Pure Vanilla hummed with a smile.

“Was that discreet enough?” Pure Vanilla asked innocently.

Dark Cacao felt like his mind was foggy, he didn’t process the question in favor of the warmth in his stomach and an affinity of Pure Vanilla’s touch.

His face felt scorching.

Pure Vanilla didn’t point it out. He pulled his hand away with a grin.

Dark Cacao swallowed. He slowly unwrapped the bandages to reveal his skin was smooth as can be, as if he was never injured.

“That’s… better. Thank you.”

—————————

The Cranberry Forest was massive. A canopy was formed above, so the air was cooler and more humid than the actual Kingdom grounds. Luckily there was a clear path for their horses to travel on, and White Lily had a map and compass she was referencing.

Among the dull hum of insects, Dark Cacao found his ears picking up on squeaks. At first he assumed there were rodents, but little patters of feet drew his attention.

A few bulb shaped creatures scurried up the trees, wandered the forest floor. Their plump bodies were wrapped in spiked vines.

“Cookievorous seedlings” Hollyberry answered, she must have noticed by riding her horse beside him just how bewildered Dark Cacao was, “just ignore them.”

They were live PLANTS, Cacao realized, responding to the sound of her voice. They were watched with beady red eyes before resuming their own treks.

From the canopy, leaves rustled from above. Truly, he did try to ignore it. That is, until something plopped down on Dark Cacao’s head.

He froze. So did Hollyberry.

The creature squeaked, slithering vines over his scalp to get a grip.

“And what is your suggestion for this?” Dark Cacao asked, rigid all at once.

From behind them, He heard White Lily and Pure Vanilla stop their horses as well.

“Made a friend, Cacao?” Pure Vanilla asked.

Absolutely not.

Dark Cacao gingerly reached for his hunting knife, he harshly ripped one of the vines away from his head-

“Wait, don’t!” White Lily exclaimed.

She hopped down from her horse, then ran to appear beside Dark Cacao. She extended her staff, and a calming aroma of lilies wafted through the air.

The creature happily chirped. The vines began to retreat. It hopped onto her staff, clinging to the lily sprouting from the top with its vines.

She pulled her staff back next to her, then with fascination in her eyes, tickled the creature’s… cheek? The side of its face, she gave it a gentle stroke of her finger, as if petting it.

To say he was appalled would be an understatement.

“Here.” He grunted.

Dark Cacao flipped the knife, extended the handle to White Lily.

“What do you want me to do with that…?”

Her smile vanished in realization.

White Lily lowed her staff, and the creature gingerly let go of its grip and scurried away.

“No need to be so rash.” She said.

She meant nothing by it, Dark Cacao knew this.

But he still found his jaw clenched.

He immediately remembered the guard Pure Vanilla just healed, nearly at the door of death because of one of these creatures living to adulthood.

Dark Cacao sheathed the knife on his waist, and he didn’t have a response that was remotely positive or in agreement. He snapped the reigns, and his stallion continued to walk.

White Lily pursed her lips, but got back to her horse as well.

————————————

Dark Cacao tightened his cloak as he walked down the wall, guards bowing as he passed them.

In the dead quiet, his boots echoed with every step, along with the scurry of one of the commanders behind him.

“Are you sure?” Dark Cacao asked firmly.

“Yes, but it was impossibly far away and above the sea and- my prince, you should evacuate to the lower level! You are the only heir!”

“Do not patronize me.” Dark Cacao spat, “We have more pressing matters to address.”

“YOU are the most important matter! The king is north, and if something happens to him-“

“Caramel, would you dare to throw me off the wall?”

Commander Caramel froze.

“I-I would never!” He stammered.

Dark Cacao turned to the armored man, whispering low.

“That’s the only reason I would not be here right now. Although I wouldn’t advise you to try such a thing; you will not succeed. So drop the matter of my protection.”

Dark Cacao looked out to the clouds. It looked like the start of the thunderstorm, but he knew better. The ground shook in gentle pulses to confirm his suspicions, there weren’t bolts of lightning. Instead, the thick clouds above suddenly glowed in the rainfall, and reptilian screeching filled the air.

“What of our artillery?” He asked.

Caramel stammered, but looked at his clay tablet.

“My prince, we have all the cannons loaded, each with at least 4 more rounds. They are positioned along the wall.”

It was happening.

They weren’t ready, they couldn’t possibly fight without immense casualties.

Much less win.

“Do the king’s orders remain the same?” Dark Cacao asked, clenching the wall with gloved hands and shaking fingers. He already knew the answer, but he was desperately clinging to some semblance of hope that it wasn’t true.

A hand gripped on his shoulder and pulled him away from the sight in front of him.

“Wait! Prince Cacao? I must speak to-!”Another voice asked.

Dark Cacao turned to a watcher. He was pale, younger than him, and glassy in the eyes.

Caramel grabbed him by the arm with a snarl.

“How dare you?! The PRINCE has no time for your INSOLENCE! Get back to your-“

“NO!” He screamed, making Dark Cacao flinch, “Let me speak!”

“Unhand him.” Dark Cacao ordered, to which he was ignored until he said, “UNHAND HIM!”

The soldier trembled as he was let go.

The cloudy night sky pulsed with illumination. Blinding white light of mythic fire pulsed above the clouds, as if it was endless lightning with no thunder to come.

The soldier- by the gods, a teenager- looked to the sky, shaking like a leaf.

Dark Cacao swallowed, gripping the boy’s shoulders.

He was a boy. A boy in soldier’s clothing. He wasn’t supposed to be here, why the gods’ name did his father allow that to happen-

His gaze drifted to the sky once again, and Dark Cacao ordered.

“Don’t look up, watcher. Look at me.”

The boy did as he was told, trembling like a leaf.

He remained silent. Tears started spilling down his face.

“You wanted to speak, yes? I am listening.”

“M-My prince, we… can’t…” he blubbered, “I was there with the king when we tried the cannons, nothing we have pierced their scales. He gripped Dark Cacao’s garments, balling the fabric desperately in his fists, “Swords, arrows, nothing! My prince, I’m sorry but I don’t wish to die here. We will LOSE!”

Dark Cacao’s heart sank, but he couldn’t let it sink far. He would reach into his own chest and rip it out to keep his sanity, if that’s what it took. He clung to his sword at his side like a lifeline, mind racing.

The king’s orders were to battle the dragons. But how? He never told Dark Cacao about the failure of the canons and the new weapons weren’t going to save them.

A series of shouting, an explosive splash.

Dark Cacao turned to the sea, something massive had smashed into the water, enormous gushes of water shot into the air in a ring.

It was deafening, it was screaming, it was a battle they weren’t going to win.

Not yet.

“I have an important mission for you.” Dark Cacao said, calmly as he could, “you are going to find every light, every torch, and every source of fire on the wall and snuff it out. As you go, tell everyone to stay low along the wall’s edge so they cannot be seen from the outside and to remain silent. Do you understand me?”

The boy wiped his tears with his sleeves.

Unfortunately, they didn’t have time to cower.

“You said you don’t wish to die? Then prove it and follow my orders. Do you understand me?!” Dark Cacao shouted.

The boy straightened up, then saluted.

“Yes! Yes, your majesty!”

Dark Cacao unclipped his canteen, then tossed the water on top of the fire pit in the center of the wall to extinguish it. The boy ran, shouting and taking torches from wall guards.

The frenzy began, and Dark Cacao ran to the ladder to descend down the wall.

“What about the orders of the king?!” asked Caramel.

“We are forgoing them. Hide.”

“But he SAID-“

“Let me deal with him, if I live.”

Dark Cacao slid down the ladder, to the steps that led to the beach. He ran despite his heart hammering inside his chest, his fear, and expertly maneuvered the black rocks, till the sand crunched under his feet.

He had a plan, one he thought he would never have to use, in the horrid scenario of the dragons finding the citadel.

Dark Cacao found it, under a black tarp to camouflage like the rocks and sand. A small rowboat. He pushed the boat to the water, cutting through the black sand. His eyes trained on the sea. He didn’t see anything, which was infinitely worse than if he did.

He hopped into the boat and began to row.

Dark Cacao waited until his home appeared as though it could fit inside his palm before coming to a stop in the sea, despite his arms wailing in pain from his vigorous rowing.

The entire time, he was trying to gauge WHERE such a massive creature could be hiding. It was somewhere in the endless water, and every unusual rock of his boat kept Cacao on edge.

He gripped his sword, as if it would do something, peeking over the edge of the boat. It steadily bobbed in the water, and no crackle of light came from the sky to in the last 10 minutes.

It was still.

Until it wasn’t.

On the shore of his kingdom a dragon slivered out of the water. The black dragon. It arched its body to survey the area with its snake-like body still half in the water.

From the pocket of his robes, Dark Cacao pulled out a glass water whistle, half full.

His blood went cold. The dragon slivered upwards, and the serpent huffed little gusts of flame, making the climb up the wall.

Dark Cacao took a shaken breath, closed his eyes, and blew into the whistle.

————————————

Dark Cacao jolted awake.

He tried to sit upwards, but his abdomen ached, he groaned in pain.

It was dark, and he could see his construction of a tent around him.

That’s right, they were in a cave. They hadn’t seen an inn to rest in for the last few days, and this was the best they could come up with to keep shelter tonight. The thunder rumbled outside, echoing the walls.

No wonder his dreams were affected.

“Cacao…?” A voice ask.

Damn it all, Pure Vanilla was awake.

Despite how awkward it was at the start, Dark Cacao and Pure Vanilla shared a tent while the women shared another. Mostly because Pure Vanilla and Dark Cacao refused to sleep in the same tent as Hollyberry. She was engaged and that would be a scandalous situation for her to be found in. Dark Cacao slept facing away from Vanilla, towards the wall of the tent everytime, because heaven knows he would be staring too much.

“Yes? I didn’t mean to wake you.” He said, groggy and realizing his throat felt lumped and thick.

“Are you alright?” he heard, and he realized Pure Vanilla was standing outside the tent, “and you didn’t, it was my shift anyway. I just… heard you and-“

“Heard me?” Dark Cacao asked.

He could only imagine what kind of sounds he was making. Silence fell between them.

Pure Vanilla didn’t answer, instead he said, “Tea?”

“No, you don’t have to.”

“Nonsense, I have extra. We’re having tea.” He decided.

Dark Cacao heard Pure Vanilla’s footsteps, and he pulled himself up. It was an illusion of choice, wasn’t it?

He wiped the wetness off of his face and tried to compose himself before he stepped outside of his tent.

In the vast cave, they situated themselves pretty comfortably given the circumstances.

Pure Vanilla had a small fire to boil a kettle and a blanket across the rocky cave floor. Perched in an iron holder, he was keeping track of time with a burning candle. When the candle was finished, it was time to switch who kept watch.

He poured Cacaco a cup, and poured something from a small satchet into the tea.

Right. Sugar. He admitted to that.

Pure Vanilla stirred the tea with a smile, then patted the ground next to him.

Dark Cacao obliged, and Pure Vanilla handed him over the cup.

Dark Cacao blew the liquid, then took a tentative sip.

Chamomile tea. One of Pure Vanilla’s favorites.

And it was perfect.

Pure Vanilla clutched his cup in his hands. His staff was lying on the ground nearby, but he couldn’t bother.

“Was it a nightmare?” He asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you want to-“

“No.” Dark Cacao cut off, too harshly for someone who cares. He winced at himself.

Pure Vanilla sighed with a knowing smile.

“That’s okay. You don’t have to.”

“Sorry, I… don’t want to dwell on it right now.”

Pure Vanilla nodded, seeming to understand.

The thunder boomed again, and Dark Cacao flinched, looking past Pure Vanilla to see the entrance of the cave. It hadn’t started raining yet, but the dark view of the outside made him uneasy.

“You know, I used to have dreams that the sheep would be floating in the air.”

Dark Cacao mind halted and focused on Pure Vanilla in front of him, rather than the outside.

“When I was little,” Pure Vanilla clarified, “In some of those dreams, I would try to feed them by stepping on a ladder and offer them bundles of grass. In others, I would hang onto their feet. Mine would hang in the air, but I got too scared of going any higher and let go.”

The image of that was laughable, and out of place on so many levels.

“Are you serious?” Dark Cacao asked in bewilderment.

Pure Vanilla cracked a grin.

“I told others about these dreams, and before I knew it, me and my peers at the academy decided that clouds are actually just sheep’s wool. Angels trim them in heaven so they can prance more freely in the sky. I would climb up every towering tree and structure I could find and try to touch the clouds to prove it.”

“That doesn’t make a single grain of good sense. You could have hurt yourself.”

Pure Vanilla rose an eyebrow.

“Are you, Prince Dark Cacao, choosing to quarrel with the sense of wonder of a child? Honestly, you sound like White Lily, if anything. She was always like that when we were children.”

That was a surprising thing to hear. Dark Cacao knew for a fact he was nothing like White Lily. This journey proved it.

Dark Cacao would see a sentient deadly poison mushroom creature and ready his sword, she insisted on leaving it alone.

Jelly Worms broke into their food, and she extracted them with a small smile, like a disappointed mother.

Cake hounds ambushing them during rest, she blocked them with her vines in the form of a dense barrier until they decided to leave on their own. And she made the barrier so tall, Cacao could not step over.

White Lily was kind to all creatures, shooing them away, alluring them with her staff, always filled with patience for them.

Dark Cacao felt… annoyed at her approach to these problems. He did as he should, raise his sword, and he knew White Lily was uncomfortable at his own actions.

He couldn’t find it in himself to care. It was either his companions or them.

Pure Vanilla seemed to be judging Dark Cacao’s silence to his statement.

“So…you don’t like her, do you?” Pure Vanilla asked, not dancing around the subject.

“She’s… fine.” Dark Cacao answered, respecting that Pure Vanilla held her in high regard, “I think her magic, to my understanding, is strong enough that she could use it for REAL combat. The fact she chooses not to can affect us all. That is what I don’t like.”

Pure Vanilla tapped his cup with his finger. He sighed with a slightly dampened expression.

“A pacifistic route isn’t wrong-“

“She can do whatever saintly approach to our conflicts she wants. So long as it doesn’t interfere with me, my sword, or our safety.”

Pure Vanilla’s lips formed a fine line, but he didn’t say anything else.

He abruptly he held out his hand and splayed it across Dark Cacao’s chest.

“What-“

Through his night robes, a faint glow, and the soreness of his abdomen was gone.

“W-Why did you-“

“When the body curls in on itself,” Pure Vanilla explains, “with such intensity when we sleep, it can make you ache. I sensed it, just now.”

Dark Cacao nodded, but he barely could focus on Pure Vanilla’s kindness. His heart was hammering nearly out of his chest, and Pure Vanilla had to have FELT it.

“Do you… see something?” Pure Vanilla asked with a whisper. He seemed to tilt his head to listen.

“No, nothing like that.. I…”

He didn’t know what to say. Which might be the problem, Dark Cacao realized.

“I just see you.” He said quietly.

Silence fell between them.

“But your heart-“

“I know.”

A small smile.

“Don’t tell me you’re SCARED of me, Dark Cacao?” Pure Vanilla had the audacity to tease.

Dark Cacao breathed out the closest thing he had to a laugh.

Pure Vanilla’s brows furrowed.

“Well, you terrify me.” Dark Cacao admitted pathetically.

Pure Vanilla didn’t answer right away. His face blossomed a rosy shade of pink, and he whispered an “oh” before trying.

“Why?” He asked, barely audible.

“I think you know.”

They fell silent. The crackle of the fire, the rain and thunder filled the space between them.

He laid his hand over Vanilla’s on his chest.

“Just… please.” Dark Cacao said, “Tell me if it’s just me. I want to believe you feel the same as I do, but… I don’t want to make that mistake. I must know, and I will never speak of it again, if it’s just a delusion on my part-“

“Cacao…” Pure Vanilla said tenderly, and he brushed a small lock of Dark Cacao’s hair behind his ear. A chill traveled down Dark Cacao’s spine, but Pure Vanilla still continued with, “I… I do, of COURSE I do, I just don’t want to hurt you-“

“Then don’t.” Dark Cacao insisted, ashamed at how desperate he sounded.

Their surroundings dimmed slightly, and Dark Cacao saw the candle next to Pure Vanilla burn out. The smoke wafted in the air.

Pure Vanilla ducked his head.

“It’s not that simple…” he whispered.

Dark Cacao bit his cheek.

Surely he wasn’t-

“I… I can’t… right now…” Pure Vanilla admitted, and sure enough he was, Dark Cacao felt his chest crush into itself, “I’m… I’m sorry that I can’t-“

“Don’t apologize for this.” Dark Cacao said firmly, “It’s okay if you need time…”

“I don’t even know if time is what I need.” Pure Vanilla said, and Dark Cacao felt there was just a chasm where his heart used to be, “I don’t want to compromise our paths.”

Dark Cacao couldn’t think of a path he was on at any point that couldn’t afford to be altered.

“That’s the intent, is it not?” He asked.

Pure Vanilla shook his head.

“I am the king of one land and you are the prince of another… I would never forgive myself if I led you astray.”

Pure Vanilla let out a shaken breath, and by gods, he was crying. Barely audible, but there were tears there.

Dark Cacao fluttered his eyes to keep himself from falling apart then and there.

He didn’t understand WHY he felt hollow in that moment. It wasn’t a cruel denial or anything remotely similar to something that should hurt. It was logical, it was responsible and sound judgement.

But here Cacao was, about to come undone.

“Let me take watch, this time.” He said, trying to keep his voice even. “I-I’m already risen and it’ll be sunrise afterwards. Get some rest.”

He gingerly swept away Pure Vanilla’s tears with his fingers. His eyes were too beautiful to be shedding them.

Pure Vanilla took a breath, rose to his feet, and Dark Cacao gritted his teeth, using all his willpower to stay firm.

Dark Cacao felt warm hands creep under his jaw. His head was tilted upwards, and he was pried from his thoughts with the faintest press of lips on his forehead.

“See you in a few hours.” Pure Vanilla whispered tenderly against his skin.

Before Dark Cacao could muster any response, Pure Vanilla had already closed the flap of their tent behind him.

That spot just below his hairline, it felt like the most precious part of his body. He huffed out another shaken breath.

—————————

The rain fell onto the trees above, and Dark Cacao’s boots began to squelch in the mud of the forest floor. Along the main path, the one they were traveling on, the rain came down heavier without the protection of trees as dense any longer.

Dark Cacao’s chest was going to burst inside of the cave, he only needed a moment to collect himself. No matter rain or shine, just a mere moment of silence that wasn’t deafening.

There was a steep incline by the path, marking the start of a small branching mountain road. Dark Cacao’s eyes wandered until he saw them.

The hooded person was still, leaning on a tree. In the dark, he could barely make out their tall, built stature.

Dark Cacao’s eyes combed over the entire surrounding area. Every shadow, every tree, every empty space. But nothing was hiding among them.

“There’s no one here but us, my prince.” A sweet voice said, with a strange inflection. As if Cacao was a child who insisted there were monsters in his room.

“You’re Cacaoian.” Dark Cacao realized, turning back to the person.

The beads of water hit his face and trickled down, but he didn’t care. He watched as the hooded person turned to face Dark Cacao. In the shadow, he barely made out that aside from their eyes, their face was covered with a black cloth.

“Not exactly.”

They effortlessly glided down the ridge. With a small jump they stood right in front of Dark Cacao. He took a hesitant step back, pale eyes with highly constricted pupils stared back at him.

“Maybe, in another life, I would be. Perhaps even soon.”

The person slowly reached behind them. With the grate of metal, they unsheathed a naginata staff. The blade caught his eye to be already stained.

“Do you know why I’m here?” They asked.

Then they struck.

Dark Cacao countered their attack, and their weapons clashed with a sharp ring.
He could see their eyes narrow. They struggled against Cacao’s sword.

“What do you want from us?” Dark Cacao snarled.

“Don’t worry. My patron wants nothing from your companions.”

An assassin, huh? Too bad he had too much to live for and protect to let them succeed.

He knew what he had to, there was no place for his emotions. His heart had to controlled, every beat had to course focus into his being.

He took a deep breath, and he gripped his sword with intent.

Their staff slid across Dark Cacao’s sword, and they sidestepped to try to slash at Cacao’s feet. With a dodge, Dark Cacao jabbed at their exposed side. The assailant blocked, and they began to slash with fury.

They fell into a rhythm, a ballroom dance of their weapons. The clang of metal pierced the air, over and over, over the rain pouring harder and the thunder roaring in Dark Cacao’s ears. Dark Cacao would strike over, they would angle their blade to the counter. They went for the ankles, and Dark Cacao blocked.

Dark Cacao was kicked in the stomach, and he nearly fell to the ground, but he regained his footing swiftly to block the overhead strike with a vicious cry from the assassin.

With a twist of his sword, Dark Cacao spun his body, then tried to disarm them with a strike to the hands. They blocked, and the clashing began once again.

They were fast, to the point Dark Cacao was barely keeping up. The assassin was making a crucial mistake, however; they were too passionate, too strong with each strike.

Passion here, on a sacred ground of sheer strength and will, it was only a matter of time before they had no energy left.

And so, they began to stumble, and Dark Cacao took the opportunity to kick the handle of the staff in half.

What a waste of a good weapon.

They fell on their back to the ground, the mud splattering as they landed.

They tried to get up, and Dark Cacao outstretched his sword to graze their chin. He kicked away the staff’s blade with ease.

“Enlighten me as to who wants me dead.” Dark Cacao ordered.

The assassin didn’t answer.

They DARE be silent.

Dark Cacao lifted them upwards while they struggled to their feet, pressing the sword further to their neck, even breaking the skin to show he WOULD follow through on his threat.

He leaned down and growled.

“This is your last chance. Tell me. NOW!”

The assassin had no fear in their eyes.

They tsked.

“So curious, your majesty.”

A glass crunch.

A grey smoke broke out between them.

Dark Cacao didn’t realize in time.

He inhaled, and suddenly his throat felt hot.

His throat BURNED.

Gasping for air, his grip weakened.

The assassin slipped out of Dark Cacao’s hold with ease.

Dark Cacao couldn’t breathe. His vision became blurry.

His legs lost feeling, and he collapsed to the ground. He tried to scream, but the assassin covered his mouth.

His vision bled into black, he began to numb, and nothing seemed to matter other than the pain he felt.

How he failed.

Dark Cacao’s hand twitched, it was the only thing he could do.

The assassin unsheathed a large dagger.

“Make peace with this, your grace.”

He didn’t, but he wasn’t strong enough to stay awake.

————————————

Crystal clear, the whistle pierced across the water.

The Dragon stopped its ascending on the wall and tilted its head in curiosity.

Dark Cacao blew into the whistle more frantically, sounding like a strangled songbird.

It was working. The dragon took a sharp turn, snapping its jaw shut and dipping back into the sea.

Dark Cacao felt his boat rock violently. It was coming, and he didn’t have time to do anything else.

He stood on his feet, making the whistle screech to the point it deafened his own ears. The dragon formed slopes with its serpent body, dipping in and out of the sea making its way towards him until it finally submerged itself entirely.

The creature bursted out of the water. The crash of the cold sea water was deafening against his ears. The boat snapped upwards from propulsion, and Dark Cacao fell backwards, then slammed back down into the water. He landed on his back inside the boat.

The black dragon had circled around his boat and was arched, like a cat stalking prey, and was taller than the castle. Its serpentine eyes glowed white. Its tail flicked impatiently, rocking the boat, and flared its nostrils.

The dragon’s head lowered. Cacao felt warm huffs of air almost pin his entire body to the boat’s floor. Dark Cacao braced himself on his arm to unsheathed his sword.
Directly in front of the beast’s mouth, its tongue flicked and nearly grazed Dark Cacao’s face. Dark Cacao gingerly pulled himself to his feet.

“Have your people learned nothing?”

Dark Cacao screamed, falling backwards again and catching himself on the boat wall, still holding his sword out to the dragon.

“You and everything you have ever known and loved are mere crumbs, waiting to be dusted off into the abyss of time.”

The dragon… could speak.

It wasn’t moving its mouth, it was a voice permeating inside of Dark Cacao’s skull. It was either speaking or Cacao had succumbed to the cruelest of the worst madness one could.

Dark Cacao charged, swung his weapon, shrieking at the top of his lungs as he sliced over the creature’s eye.

Like a glass met with stone, his sword shattered into pieces. Some scattering into the boat, some into the sea, and Dark Cacao was left with the measly hilt.

And not a scratched on his target. The dragon tilted his head.

“And you waste your fleeting existence raising your sword?”

Dark Cacao gritted his teeth.

The dragon huffed out another hot breath.

“Did you really believe I didn’t know it was you?”

That wasn’t the dragon.

Dark Cacao gasped and turned behind him.

His father looked back at him standing on the stern of the boat

—————————

“-purified the poison, but he’s still really hurt! Come quick!”

Dark Cacao felt a strong grip on his shoulder.

“No no no no, Cacao? Wake up. Please, don’t do this.”

Dark Cacao’s eyes fluttered open, White Lily’s ghostly face stared back at him. A relieved smile spread across her face.

“Let me go you… WITCH!” A voice wretched from above. Dark Cacao looked past Lily’s gaze and saw the person who tried to kill him, wriggling upside down in the air. They were tied up with vines cascading from the trees above.

He heard more voices, but he was pulled back to the boat.

————————————

“What are you doing here?” Dark Cacao asked.

“Answer me.” The king said instead.

Dark Cacao stepped back, holding the pathetic hilt of his sword.

“What are you?”

“I’m your king.”

“What is this?!”

“You gave an order directly against mine, didn’t you?”

His father began to walk towards him.

“I… I did what I thought was right-“ Dark Cacao stammered.

“You only delayed the inevitable, Dark Cacao. You could have followed my orders. But you couldn’t put an end to it. COULD YOU?”

Dark Cacao was kicked in the stomach, off the boat and into the cold water.

He plunged under the surface, the freeze shocked his muscles.

He felt his legs getting grabbed, he thrashed and thrashed until he escaped the hold of whatever thing was trying to drag him to the bottom.

He rose up for air, and his father stared down at him like an insect. Dark Cacao grabbed the boat to hoist himself up, heavy from his soaked cloak.

“It was not… the time…I had no choice. I saved-we lived!”

The black dragon snarled and his father remained expressionless.

“You are NOT my king!” Dark Cacao snarled, clinging to the truth, what actually happened that night.

This wasn’t real, he was dreaming.

This was a nightmare-

“Does it matter, Dark Cacao?”

Dark Cacao felt his hair get pulled, he was risen effortlessly out of the water. His father’s eyes weren’t his anymore. They were the glowing eyes of the dragon.

His father opened his free hand, and it was the water whistle.

He crushed his fist around it. Red gushed out of his hand. He opened it and in his palm, white feathers lied perfectly clean.

His father tilted his head.

“You survived, but you are worse than dead.”

Dark Cacao looked at the king, and looked at him with pity, something Dark Cacao had never seen.

“You know this, don’t you?”

“Let go of me!”

“Fine. Have it your way.”

Dark Cacao was dropped, but this time, he couldn’t swim. He was yanked by the cape. The water was too much, he sunk faster than possible.

The little light from above disappeared and he could see his father walk away from the edge of the boat.

He dared to look below.

A faint grey glow of eyes greeted him from below. A thick body covered in white scales slivered through the water.

It encircled his torso, and Dark Cacao couldn’t move anymore. He was squeezed, the constriction squeezed all air out of his body. His chest was crushed.

It didn’t matter. He couldn’t fight. He couldn’t move.

He couldn’t-

———————————————

With a pounding skull and an aching chest, Dark Cacao woke up. He tried to sit upwards, and a hand pressed him downward.

“Prince Dark Cacao?” He heard, along with shushing, “please, be still. It’s alright.”

Shapes danced into his view, and some assertive blinks brought him his vision back.

“You’re safe.” A familiar voice assured.

It was White Lily’s face, hair sloppily braided with strands coming loose.

“Where… where are we?”

“Back in the cave.” She said quietly.
Dark Cacao could see that now, they were inside of their tent again. He wriggled and realized he was propped up with pillows to sit up and covered in many blankets. Lily was cross legged, looking at the map.

“Is everyone alright?” He rasped out.

“Everyone is fine. I found you just in time, and your attacker is being taken to a Hollyberry outpost to be held. She can’t hurt you anymore.”

Dark Cacao’s eyes widened.

“Your majesty, wait. Look at me, calm down.” She pleaded, stopping Dark Cacao as he tried to rise, a hand on his chest.

“She’s not Hollyberrian. She’s from the Coffee Tribe-“

“You told us already.”

Dark Cacao’s brows furrowed,

“In your sleep.” White Lily clarified, picking up a canteen, “You… likely don’t remember, you’ve been in and out of slumber. You told us to tell your father. Pure Vanilla is already sending a letter as we speak. He wanted to stay here, but he’s better with directing the blueberry birds than I am.”

Dark Cacao’s heart clenched in fondness that Pure Vanilla tried to care for him.

Then again, he cared for everyone.

He took the canteen and swallowed a gulp, his throat felt soothed over in an instant.

“How are you feeling, your grace?” White Lily asked.

“My chest aches… and my mouth still burns.” He went with, because he was not ready to bare himself emotionally AGAIN, “And please, Dark Cacao is fine.”

White Lily brushed her white frizzy hair behind her ear.

“Dark Cacao” she self-corrected, “I’d advise you have some honey elixir, it will help your throat.”

She began to open her bag, pulling out a vial of golden syrup. She popped open the cork and handed both to him.

“Pure Vanilla healed it pretty well, but this should help anything left.”

Dark Cacao tried, he really did, but the sweetness was foul for his own taste. It was almost worse than the poison since White Lily was watching him and he was overwhelmed with the need to be polite.

He took one sip and closed it immediately.

“Perhaps when I’m more rested.” He said as politely as he could.

He could barely talk… that masked woman did real damage with her poison.

“I’ll leave you to it. I’ll be just outside.”

She gingerly rose up to walk out of the tent, but Dark Cacao cleared his throat to ask one more thing.

“Lily, is Hollyberry transporting the assassin by herself?”

White Lily pursed her lips. She flicked open her hand, and vines grew out of her palm. The tendrils wrapped around her fingers.

“Well, not without help. The vines have a good hold on the prisoner. She won’t be giving Hollyberry any trouble.”

She tilted her head thoughtfully.

“Dark Cacao, was subduing someone sent to take your life considered me engaging in ‘real combat’?”

His heart clenched.

Oh dear gods, she heard them.

No wonder she was first to come to his aid.

She had a ghost of a smile on her lips. Dark Cacao sighed.

“I…misjudged you, madam” he admitted.

“Are you sure? Or perhaps do you have other criteria-“

“Out.” He snapped.

White Lily flinched, then obliged. He didn’t fail to notice a small smile still gracing her face.

He didn’t want to close his eyes, so he opted to grab the map instead.

————————————

A letter explaining in great detail an attempt upon the prince’s life.

So close to news that would bring joy to his heart.

It would have been the greatest source of happiness, that the Cacao Kingdom would have lost the sole heir.

The king was easy to sway. Too easy. Too blind to his court, too prideful in his goal to slay the dragons, too high on his self-made pedestal to realize it crumbling under his feet.

He rehearsed it so many times, telling the king the news of the death of his son. How he would stutter his words, as if fearing the king’s reaction. How he would fall to his knees and beg for forgiveness for not being good enough in training the prince to be stronger.

But the assassin failed and the exceptional power at Pure Vanilla’s fingertips ensured Dark Cacao was coming back alive after his expedition. He had to ensure that pathetic excuse of a mercenary, however, didn’t.

“General Galão!”

Commander Caramel bowed next to him.

“The Licorice Sea… more creatures are overwhelming our shores-“

“Of course.” The General said calmly, discreetly tilting away the contents of the letter from view, “gather a watch group. Wait for my command.”

“Yes, General.”

The commander let him be in the throne room, slamming the large doors behind him.

Galão held the parchment to one of the ostentatious purple fire pits of the disgusting throne room. He relished in the warmth, the heat consuming the letter and leaving nothing but ash.

The king would never know.

Being referred to as ‘General’ wasn’t as musical to his ears as the future title paving itself for him.

He could hear it, echoing in his heart, calling to him before everything was done.

‘Your Majesty’ was much, MUCH more beautiful.

Chapter Text

The Parmesan Desert was like being stranded in the middle of the ocean. Everywhere you looked, it was seemingly the same, dunes upon dunes upon dunes rather than water.

The heat was uncomfortable during the day, and during the night the air dropped into freezing conditions.

And the damned yellow sand. The wind gusted, and a cloud of sand barraged their way.

The desert was unpleasant in every way for Dark Cacao, mostly because of his hair. Although he wasn’t vain, he prided himself in the length of it and his overall appearance being well maintained.

But with the sand in his scalp and how often it was getting plastered to his face, it was tempting to grab his sword or a pair of scissors to end his progress.

It was getting more difficult to keep up with brushing it, he was exhausted after each night. Tonight he decided to get the job done.

It was sunset. Pure Vanilla and White Lily were working on cooking a stew, so he had some time before dinner to try. They set up a smaller camp, close together to conserve heat.

Dark Cacao sat a good distance from the fire as the meal was prepared. He barely started brushing, only ridding of one knot, and the brush itself was becoming caked in a layer of sand.

He hated it. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“You sound like you’re going to rip your hair out.”

He turned, and it was Hollyberry, hand on her hips with a smirk.

Her hair was pinned up in a large, messy bun and she pulled a thick cloak over her nightgown.

“Yes. Something like that.” Dark Cacao grumbled. Out of desperation, he sunk the bristles into the top of his head, then harshly pulled downward. He ignored the stinging in his head, and the abrupt jerk of the brush coming across the knot.

“Goodness, Dark Cacao!” White Lily piped up, and Pure Vanilla was looking at him as well, “ARE you trying to rip your hair out? Didn’t anyone ever teach you to brush it?”

“What is there to teach?” He gritted out.

Hollyberry grimaced.

“Plenty, apparently.”

Pure Vanilla walked over and knelt beside Dark Cacao. He held out his hand to receive the brush.

“No.”

Pure Vanilla’s face slowly devolved into a smile. His orchid staff in his hand stared with scrutiny.

“Absolutely not.”

“Okay.” He said innocently.

Hollyberry snatched the brush instead, he casted her a haughty expression as she began to grab his hair.

Dark Cacao glared at Pure Vanilla as well. Pure Vanilla shrugged and inched closer to the fire to warm his hands up.

Hollyberry was gentle. She patiently showed him how to brush starting from the bottom, and slowly but surely, the section of hair was becoming smoother. He got the hang of it, but Holly insisted he turn around.

“Just this once, I’ll do it for you.”

Dark Cacao faced away from her, and he felt occasional pulling, but no pain.

“You have such a gorgeous mane, so I expect you keep it that way.” Hollyberry teased, “such thick locks...”

“That’s… good?”

Pure Vanilla and White Lily snickered.

“Good? Even I’m jealous!” Hollyberry declared.

Dark Cacao gradually relaxed into her brushing.

It was nice.

“Thank you” he said after a period of silence.

“You’re welcome, my friend.” Hollyberry said. She didn’t ridicule him for his lack of expertise, and White Lily and Pure Vanilla didn’t tease anymore.

She hesitated, then continued.

“I’ve been meaning to ask, but it seems like we keep getting occupied. How are you faring?”

“We do, don’t we?” Dark Cacao said, “well, this trip is taking its toll. I feel as though I’m on edge, day and night. I just have a lot on my mind.”

That was partially true. After the attempt on his life, they continued onward to find themselves battling more creatures and bandits. It exhausted him. Today was the first one in a long time that they didn’t have an encounter.

Then there was Pure Vanilla.

They remained friendly to each other after what happened in the cave… but it wasn’t the same as before. There a newfound sense of fragility between them that was borderline driving him mad. He wasn’t sure what to say, if he was being too kind or too mean.

“Well,” Pure Vanilla said, “at least have peace and know your attacker is NOT finding us again? She should be at your kingdom for questioning by now.”

“That brings me plenty.”

Now that? That was a blatant lie. She wasn’t acting alone. His father had not sent word, despite Dark Cacao showing him how to send a letter back if he used a blueberry bird to ever send a message on his journey. The assassin never identified herself or who sent her.

The mystery was a dangerous one.

“What did Huckleberry report?” Pure Vanilla asked Hollyberry.

“Only that she was dead silent. Refused to talk no matter how he confronted her. Sorry to say, but there’s not many that Huckleberry can’t crack. Your kingdom has its work cut out for them.”

“Speaking of Huckleberry…” Dark Cacao said to distract from that point of stress, “He seems kind to you, but to be frank…I wasn’t under the impression you… wished to be married.”

Hollyberry faltered in her brushing. Momentarily.

“Well… I don’t.” She said softly, “I mean, I DO love him, but… I don’t YEARN to be a married queen, obviously.”

Obviously?

Dark Cacao turned to face her, brows furrowing.

“I don’t follow.”

“Holly…” White Lily asked, pausing adding vegetables to the pot, “you weren’t… PRESSURED by Huckleberry to be married, were you?”

Hollyberry pursed her lips. She shrugged.

“N-Not by HIM. It’s more that my court has been advising me, day in and day out. ‘House Blueberry will bring you wealth!’ ‘House Raspberry has a line of skilled swordsman!’ ‘House Meringue has farmland AND has a good selection of bachelors that will ensure you bear a son as soon as possible!’”

She huffed in frustration, but forced a smile and batted her lashes.

“None of my achievements shine bright enough. No, I must be married, have a child, legitimize my position as Queen to be worthy of my throne.”

All four of them fell into silence.

That… thoroughly disgusted Dark Cacao.

She turned his head back away. Pure Vanilla took a drink out of his water canteen, unfortunately, right as Dark Cacao voiced his thoughts.

“Look, I’m unsure if this is a cultural difference…” Dark Cacao began, “but when did matters of your womb become the only thing that makes you a worthy regent?”

Pure Vanilla coughed, choked even. Water gushed all over the sand.

Dear gods, he was RED, coughing all he had frantically while White Lily was right behind him turning a similar shade at the face.

“Excellent question.” Hollyberry muttered.

She started maneuvering sections of Cacao’s hair.

“What are you-“

“I’m seeing how to braid it, Dark Cacao. You hear me in distress, this will bring me joy!”

White Lily sat down next to Hollyberry. The stew was cooking, covered, in the meantime.

“Oh, you’re right! His hair IS lovely!” She praised, and there was a SECOND set of hands in Dark Cacao’s hair.

“I did not consent to this.” He grumbled.

“Oh hush, you!” Hollyberry remarked, “let us make you BEAUTIFUL! Straighten up, soldier.”

Dark Cacao rolled his eyes, but did. Pure Vanilla covered his mouth, he was smiling at Dark Cacao’s expense.

“Hollyberry, in all seriousness,” Pure Vanilla asked with a new and sudden sense of concern, “do you WANT to marry Huckleberry?”

Dark Cacao heard a chuckle behind him.

“Of course. It’s the best outcome, albeit not under my own terms. There’s no one else I want more. And if at our wedding someone asks how quick I can get pregnant, Huckleberry is uncouth enough to bash some skulls! Thats what makes him a cut above the rest…”

She never sounded prouder.

“You promised to tell us how this happened.”Pure Vanilla said, taking over the stew now that White Lily was collaborating with Hollyberry. You said his proposal caused a stir.”

“Oh, alright.”

————————————

“-and then of course, I said yes! It was a scene, in front of my whole court.”

Hollyberry grinned.

“Dark Cacao, you look magnificent.”

She handed him one mirror and used a second to reflect behind him.

Dark Cacao saw himself. The product of what seemed forever. He had half his hair swept up with a myriad of braids. He liked it.

But oh, the back. She went wild with a thick ribbon braid like a garland framing the remaining cascading locks of hair. Among the loose hair were smaller rope braids. Holly and Lily even were strategic in using his white steaks to make the details stand out and added some decorations.

“Why are there flowers- where did those even come from?”

At that, White Lily just smiled proudly.

“My friends, the stew is ready!” Pure Vanilla interrupted from the other side of the campfire.

Hollyberry rose to her feet, helping Dark Cacao rise to his feet as well.

“Come see our glorious work first! Doesn’t he look like the most dashing prince you’ve ever seen?”

Pure Vanilla’s orchid looked to Dark Cacao, who was being turned to show the final product.

“He might just be.” He said with a gentle smile, and Dark Cacao finally understood what it meant for his heart to skip a beat.

The stew was good, for being in the middle of the desert. But the warmth Dark Cacao felt within was beyond the meal.

———————————

Pure Vanilla awoke to the sound of chirping from outside the tent.

Finally, it must have been from the Cacao Kingdom.

“Dark Cacao.” He slurred out. He cracked his back with a yawn.

The prince, sound asleep on the other side of the tent, didn’t move. Not from what Pure Vanilla heard.

“Dark Cacao.”

No answer. Pure Vanilla reached over to touch him, but was shocked to find his hand sink into layers of blankets rather than touch a shoulder. He kept feeling, but he was alone in the tent.

He was too curious to fall asleep again. Pure Vanilla grabbed his staff, and the orchid fluttered open to a dark tent.

He brushed open the flap of the tent.

The fire was still going, but he didn’t see Dark Cacao.

But he did hear the chirp again.

Dark Cacao was farther from the camp, on a higher dune. With a blueberry bird landing on his shoulder, he was reading with one of their timekeeping candle to illuminate the page of the letter.

Pure Vanilla trudged up the dune, feeling slightly shaken at the legs from the movement of sand.

About halfway up, Dark Cacao noticed him. He folded the letter and stuffed it into his cloak.

“What are you doing up here?” Pure Vanilla asked.

Dark Cacao took his hand, helping him as he found a stable place to sit.

“Well, since I have watch, I thought taking in the sunrise wouldn’t hurt.”

“Ah, it’s rising soon?”

“Any minute now.”

The blueberry bird hopped down onto the crook of his neck, burrowing under the layer of warmth. It turned to look up at Dark Cacao with beady black eyes.

“News from your kingdom?” Pure Vanilla asked, not addressing the bird cuddling against him.

Dark Cacao nodded.

“Something like that.”

He didn’t look happy. Pure Vanilla didn’t pry. The wind picked up, and he was going to pull the cloak to himself tighter…

But Dark Cacao’s hand was between them, resting on the sand.

The sun began to peak from the dunes, making the dull brown come to life into yellows and golds.

It was still freezing, but Pure Vanilla ignored it in favor of the glistening of the sand, the steady presence next to him.

Despite the fact that Dark Cacao was more alluring than all of it.

Pure Vanilla knew what he felt. He wasn’t going to pretend for a moment that his heart didn’t quicken with him. That he wasn’t hyperaware how close he was to Dark Cacao at all times, especially confined in their tent. That he was treasuring every second of the journey simply because Dark Cacao was present.

It was blind trust, infatuation, and a sense of attraction that shook him to the core. He yearned, he wanted to be selfish so much it almost hurt.

Pure Vanilla curled his own fingers, balling his hand next to Cacao’s in a fist.

Dark Cacao didn’t say a word.

Pure Vanilla wished his own words weren’t lodged in his throat.

—————————

In the morning, it was hot all over again and their trek continued on horseback. They only had a few days left before they needed to turn back to keep themselves from getting stranded without supplies.

Pure Vanilla found himself halting his horse a few times, every few hours.

Poor thing, the trip was getting to her, she seemed to be slowing more easily.

The golden city… they should have come across it by now. They weren’t MISSING it, it was hard to miss a settlement when the entire earth around them looked the exact same. With his staff strapped to his back, looking over his own shoulder, he would have seen it.

Now, late into the day, his horse was being hesitant again.

“Sorry, my friends. Let’s halt here.”

Dark Cacao’s brows furrowed.

“Does your horse need water again? At this rate, we shouldn’t go any further.”

Pure Vanilla dismounted his horse, then stroked her mane.

“What are you sensing?” White Lily asked, stopping as well.

“She’s… stressed. I don’t know why, maybe I just need to comfort her.”

Hollyberry and Dark Cacao glanced at each other, sharing looks of bewilderment. Pure Vanilla knew they didn’t fully understand Pure Vanilla’s empathy of animals, being that their kingdoms did not use ample amounts of magic.

“Anything we can do?” White Lily asked, stroking her own horse’s mane as well.

Pure Vanilla felt his horse’s heartbeat. It was beginning to race.

“I’m not sure.”

Pure Vanilla’s staff, tied to his back, kept glancing at his friends. Dark Cacao’s breath was heaving and Hollyberry was patting her face with a cloth.

Pure Vanilla grabbed their water canteens from his horse’s saddle and handed them to each of them.

“Rest yourselves.” He insisted.

Hollyberry obliged, unmounting her horse. Dark Cacao stayed put, staring out into the distance.

Pure Vanilla got to work with an apple, trying to feed his mare. They were her favorite, after all.

Dark Cacao looked down at his canteen in contemplation.

“Maybe this is why many don’t come back. They have delusions of grandure, travel to the desert, then end up dehydrated to the point they lose their senses. The golden city is them making peace with their gods before dying a miserable death.”

He took a swig of the canteen, expression soured.

“Do you think,” Hollyberry began, and Pure Vanilla saw her smile next to him as an omen of mischief, “that this golden sovereign hatched from an egg?”

White Lily squinted.

“I… I’m going to assume not.”

“Okay, but what about the scrolls we’ve seen? They all seem to point to the same story of origin.”

“That doesn’t make them true. And did you not hear what I just said? Have we considered that nothing is here?” Dark Cacao grumbled.

White Lily shrugged.

“Well, we don’t know for SURE. I’ve heard of and seen all sorts of magical things that exist in this world, there may be a gift of nature we have yet to see.”

Pure Vanilla held the apple closer to his horse. She turned her head away from him.

“I believe in what I see.” Dark Cacao grumbled. “Take… the myth of the black and white dragons. I’ve been told by elders since I was a child that they split because a goddess was infuriated that they challenged the sky. That she was able to wield lightning like a weapon. Now, I’ve seen the dragons. But where is this goddess?”

“She might be too busy for us mortals.” Hollyberry remarked.

Dark Cacao rolled his eyes.

“No, my point is she doesn’t exist. And maybe this grand kingdom doesn’t either.”

Pure Vanilla frowned and hummed in thought.

“Well, Myths and Legends like that…” Pure Vanilla explained, “may be dramatic, but often come from a place of truth to be passed down. Accounts maybe said that one strike of lightning led them to be split into two. But one thing lead to another, and suddenly it was a Goddess. Or maybe there really IS one you have yet to see. There’s something out here, Dark Cacao. Chin up.”

“Do you DO believe this Golden Cheese hatched from an egg?” Dark Cacao asked.

Pure Vanilla barked out a laugh.

“My dear friend, you leave no room for nuance!”

“You should respect your elders. Dark Cacao,” Hollyberry laughed as well, “What happens if the goddess of lightning makes an appearance one day?”

“I will raise my sword and march right up to her. Maybe even ask where on earthbread has she been not fixing her own problems. She gave my people TWO serpents.”

He jutted his finger at her.

“Your people only have one.”

Hollyberry nodded in agreement.

“You do that, let me know how that turn of events goes!”

Pure Vanilla’s mare… she wasn’t taking the apple. She was jerking her body, and he tried to hold the reins steadfast.

“Easy, girl. What’s the matter?” White Lily muttered to her own horse.

White Lily’s horse began to step away from her, yanking her with its strength while she held the reins. She could barely keep her footing.

Hollyberry chuckled.

“Seems like they don’t want to do anymore work. See, this is why you TRAIN them properly.” Hollyberry said. Her own horse huffed heavy breaths.

Something caught Pure Vanilla’s orchid’s attention.

The sand. The sand beneath their feet was shifting ever so slightly.

What was disturbing it?

Pure Vanilla frowned. He willed his orchid closed.

Without his sight… he felt it. Slight shifting from below them, beneath the dunes.

“Is something here?” He asked.

His orchid’s eye snapped open.

His three companions looked perplexed at his words. They fell silent.

They all looked around, and as expected: nothing. Just them and the dunes in the blistering sun.

“Pure Vanilla, what are you saying?” Hollyberry asked with a yawn, “is the heat getting to you? It’s just us.”

“No, I just…”

He looked to the ground. The sand wasn’t moving anymore.

“Did none of you…?”

“Pure Vanilla, do you need rest?” White Lily asked gently.

Did he?

“I… I don’t know. Forgive me, I thought I felt something?”

Dark Cacao looked further ahead, narrowing his eyes.

“Maybe I am tired, I just-“

“Felt something?”

Pure Vanilla looked up at Dark Cacao, and he looked serious in that familiar, hardened way.

“In the ground?” He asked, and he flipped open his satchel.

“Yes, I don’t know why-“

And Dark Cacao pulled something out, along with an arrow.

“What is that?!” Hollyberry asked.

“A crossbow, Hollyberry. You know your weapons.”

He loaded the wooden weapon, then hopped off his horse. He tilted his head to aim.

“There’s movement among the sand but there’s no wind.”

He took a deep breath.

“And I’m not too fond of taking chances”

He fired, and the arrow shot through the air to soar across the flat desert floor to lodge itself into the ground.

The air became still, but the sand began to move. As if it were a sinkhole, a large area of the desert before them began to funnel deeper, swallowing the tiny arrow.

Dark Cacao swore.

“No one take a step.” He ordered.

The horses didn’t obey that.

They neighed and escaped their owner’s grips, bolting in the opposite direction. Dark Cacao grabbed the reigns of his just in time, shushing the stallion with a hardened look of anger.

The rapid pounding of the escaped horse’s hooves echoed across the air.

The dip in the sand began to move.

The sinking sand formed a deep ridge, slivering across the surface of the desert.

It traveled past them, but went straight for the running horses.

Something massive.

It burst through the ground, sand gusted into their eyes.

Pure Vanilla’s orchid blinked the best it could to see, and among the gust a large creature, a worm, something enormous.

The horses squealed, and he saw them struggle as they sunk into the sand. The creature rose up from the pit it created. A myriad of teeth drooling yellow liquid, almost like honey, for a face. It dove its long body sectioned body over his mare, the mare he raised since it was first born, and she was gone.

Pure Vanilla shook and he didn’t get to scream into the air, a hand clasped over his mouth. His horror was muffled and suffocating, he fell backwards to the ground. His orchid tore its gaze back to find Dark Cacao, clutching him to his chest with a stoic, almost blank look at the scene before them. When Pure Vanilla looked back in front of him, all the horses were gone, and the worm was moving on.

The ground rumbled, and Pure Vanilla could hear further in the distance, out of his view, Dark Cacao’s horse neighing before letting out a strangled cry.

Then it only silence.

White Lily and Hollyberry looked horrified and pale.

Pure Vanilla pulled Dark Cacao’s hand away from his face. He turned to see everyone, allowed himself to breathe.

“What WAS that THING?”

Dark Cacao put his hand on Pure Vanilla’s mouth again, then put a finger up to his own lips.

Pure Vanilla felt a surge of anger, being silenced, but upon a closer look he saw Dark Cacao was trembling. His brows, usually tense with anger, twitched slightly.

He was afraid.

What kind of hellish mess were they in if Dark Cacao was afraid?

Hollyberry beckoned everyone close. Pure Vanilla and Dark Cacao gingerly joined to kneel in a circle.

She opened her mouth, and spoke barely a whisper.

“Where do we go?”

They waited.

The worm didn’t appear. Whispering was safe.

Dark Cacao replied, somehow almost quieter, “There has to be somewhere we can seek shelter.”

“If we press onward, we might be dead before we find it.” White Lily argued.

“Are you daring to say we stay here?” Dark Cacao hissed, “oh, that has to be your greatest plan yet, Lily-“

“Dark Cacao…” Pure Vanilla tried, but White Lily jutted a finger at Dark Cacao.

“You want to recall about a great plan? YOU just woke up whatever THING just devoured our horses to parade your crossbow!”

Dark Cacao clenched his fists.

“Pure Vanilla felt it through the earth, it’s been stalking us like prey. Would you rather it have devoured us while we slept?!”

Her red eyes narrowed, staring daggers into Dark Cacao’s.

“Both of you!” Hollyberry snarled, quiet but with authority, “that’s enough! If we move, WHERE do we go? Pure Vanilla, raise your staff. Is there ANYTHING?”

White Lily brushed her messy hair out of her face with her fingers with a huff.

Pure Vanilla stood, he held up his staff to see the world around them.

The area here was mostly flat, but in the distance, to the north, there were sloping dunes… and perched higher…

“Theres… something. A settlement. I can barely see it, but due North, there’s something there.”

How did they miss it before?

Hollyberry spoke again.

“We must move quietly, but that’s our goal. It’s going to be longer without horseback, but we can make it before the sun goes down.”

Pure Vanilla’s orchid traced a path with its gaze.

Just at the edge of the sand worm pit-

A person… a child, it had to be, waving their arms frantically and jumping.

“There’s someone over there.”

The child had a dog like mask over their eyes. Beside them, they had canines sitting at attention, almost as tall as them.

They pointed at thier dogs, looped thier fingers in a circle, then brought their hands to themself, bunching them into fits at their chest.

“Pure Vanilla, what’s going on?” White Lily asked with urgency.

“They want us to come over, but I don’t see how-“

The dogs began barking, startling all 4 of them.

They dashed across the sand, and the rising ridge of the worm’s travel followed them.

Pure Vanilla pulled Hollyberry and White Lily to their feet by their hands, they sputtered in confusion, but Dark Cacao turned, and he saw the child.

“They’re distracting the creature in the sand.” He realized. “We have a straight path to get to the other side of the sandpit!”

No other words needed to be exchanged, they ran as fast as their legs could carry them.

————————————

After tirelessly running, they approached a steep incline marking the end of the pit, they panted, searching for a way up.

A rope ladder flung down before their eyes.

“COME ON!” A small voice yelled.

Without hesitation, Dark Cacao scooped up White Lily so she could reach the ladder.

The child came into view, they fidgeted with their hands. The mask covering their eyes was black and yellow, lined with gold details.

It was a jackal mask, Pure Vanilla realized. The child kept looking back behind themself, anxiously awaiting them.

Pure Vanilla climbed up after White Lily.

The child pulled her up when she got far enough up.

“Hurry, before he gets here!” He called out, leaning down for Pure Vanilla’s hand.

“Who?” He heard White Lily ask, “little one, are you hurt?”

“BURNT CHEESE COOKIE!” Another voice boomed.

Burnt Cheese gasped, but grabbed Pure Vanilla, struggling to pull him up, until White Lily helped him.

In the distance, someone on horseback.

Pure Vanilla found his footing, then looked down. Hollyberry was right behind him, and Dark Cacao began to make the climb.

The ground shook, and the worm was making its way towards them from the center of the pit.

The horse, it was drawing the creature to them.

It stopped, and a taller man hopped off the horse.

He wore a headdress resembling a bird of prey, burgundy feathers with golden accents. His yellow eyes and catlike pupils trained on the group.

Vanilla and Lily pulled up Hollyberry and she immediately looked down into the pit.

“Dark Cacao, hurry!” She screamed, only to cover her mouth in horror.

Dark Cacao was halfway up, and the worm was traveling faster under the sand, the ridge formed in the sand proved it.

He faltered, there was fear in his eyes from looking behind him.

Pure Vanilla reached down, outstretching his hand as far as he could.

“CACAO!” He yelled, “Cacao, get UP!”

Dark Cacao took a breath, and with renowned vigor, outstretched his hand as far as he could.

Their fingertips grazed, then Dark Cacao slipped.

“Enough of this!” The man from the chariot growled. Pure Vanilla’s orchid glanced back, and the man had taken a knife and cut the ladder’s rope. He rose and slammed his staff’s handle onto the sand. The top of his staff radiated smoke.

“Wait!” The boy yelled.

“Get behind me, Burnt Cheese!”

Pure Vanilla leaned down further, almost falling into the pit, but White Lily supported him. He grabbed Dark Cacao’s hand tightly as the only thing keeping him in the air, for at that exact moment, the ladder slid down into the pit.

“No!” Hollyberry demanded, “Our friend is still down there!”

“You dare raise your shield at me?!”

Pure Vanilla smelled the strong aroma. His head began to pound, and the importance of what he was doing began to drift.

“Pure Vanilla?” White Lily asked.

Let go.

What?

No.

Let him go.

PULL HIM UP!

Pure Vanilla felt urgency, screaming in his head, trying to will his muscles to work, but nothing in his body responded. He trembled, he was trapped in his own body.

“Pure Vanilla?” Dark Cacao asked, sounding more fearful.

“Smoked Cheese, STOP!” Burnt Cheese yelled, “Let me judge them! Her Majesty wouldn’t want this, you know it!”

“You are endangering us all by helping these foreigners!”

Pure Vanilla took a breath, collecting his thoughts.

You can’t save him.

You have to save him.

You must let go.

He smelled the familiar fragrance of lilies.

Pure Vanilla’s eyes shot open wide in lucidity.

NEVER

In a moment of strength and clarity, out of the haze, he harshly pulled. He cried out, and White Lily pulled him by his waist. Together, they dragged Dark Cacao out of the sandpit.

Dark Cacao came to safe ground, and he landed on his knees, panting heavily.

Pure Vanilla’s head was reeling.

“Oh my- Cacao, I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened, I-“

Dark Cacao squeezed his hand.

He never let go of it.

“Your eyes changed.” Dark Cacao said clearly, looking straight into his eyes with conviction, “You weren’t yourself.”

White Lily rose to stand.
“It wasn’t your fault. He-!” And she turned and pointed at Smoked Cheese Cookie, stunned, and blocked by Hollyberry, “-used a hypnotic smoke.”

Dark Cacao looked at Pure Vanilla, then to Smoked Cheese.

“You tried to make him drop me?!”

Dark Cacao withdrew his hand from Pure Vanilla and reached for his sword.

Smoked Cheese’s eyes, boldened by black makeup, narrowed. He used his arm to block Burnt Cheese from stepping any closer.

“I was saving us all, you fools.” He hissed quietly, looking at Dark Cacao with disdain, “my smoke keeps the monsters at bay. And it has… effects of delirium.”

They all turned.

The sandpit… the worm wasn’t pursuing them anyone.

“There’s a reason we haven’t been DEVOURED.” He spat.

Smoked Cheese turned to the child he took a deeper breath, clenching his fist.

“You are supposed to be in the pyramid.”

Burnt Cheese didn’t answer.

Smoked Cheese effortlessly lifted him up and carried him with one arm, propped on the hip, and his staff in the other.

Smoked Cheese slowly used his dormant staff to slightly lift Burnt Cheese’s mask. No one saw a view of his eyes except him.

“What am I to do with you?” He grumbled, no real teeth to his words.

The boy didn’t answer.

Smoked Cheese let out a sigh.

“Can you at least tell me why?”

“I recognized them, Smoked Cheese.”

Smoked Cheese’s eyes narrowed, he looked at each of the four companions.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes…I just wanted to help. You think I can’t do it, but-“

Smoke Cheese sighed.

“If you take such responsibilities on days like today, when you’re not ready, they will crush you. Until the time comes, you leave matters of the city’s protection to me.”

Smoked Cheese gently lowered Burnt Cheese’s mask.

“Come with me.” He grumbled to everyone else.

He beckoned them, and they walked towards the gates of the wall.

“Our gatekeeper is only one who can grant access to the city besides our sovereign.” He explained coldly, “Either way, your souls will judged and regardless if I approve or not, we must allow you to enter. That is, if your intentions are pure. You will wait outside the wall until you are judged. Beware: it might take a while.”

“How long does judging a soul take?” Hollyberry asked, clearly not happy with Smoked Cheese being a voice of authority.

Burnt Cheese yawned and wiped his eyes. Smoked Cheese lifted him to sit on his horse’s saddle.

“It’s not judging the soul that will take time. It’s the gatekeeper.”

Smoked Cheese looked to Hollyberry with a mischievous smile.

“He’s six.” He mouthed, cocking his head to Burnt Cheese.

Without another word, he mounted the horse. He snapped the reigns, leaving the everyone behind in stunned silence.

Chapter Text

The towering wall was even taller than the Cacaoian one, given it started at the ground rather than a cliffside.

The sun began to set.

Smoked Cheese was waiting for them at the gate, holding Burnt Cheese wrapped in a blanket in his arms. Two women with white dresses stood to hold his staff and the reigns of his horse.

They… made Pure Vanilla uncomfortable. The two must have been twins, the same hair, face, and blank grey eyes, staring forward with no focus.

“We’ll see about your judgement later.” Smoked Cheese whispered.

“You are just going to LEAVE us here?” Hollyberry hissed in disbelief.

Smoked Cheese rose an eyebrow.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m doing. Our gatekeeper is hungry from his day’s work.”

To prove his point, Burnt Cheese’s stomach grumbled and he bundled tighter with a shiver.

“See? My hands are tied.”

Dark Cacao crossed his arms.

“You really expect us to believe-“

“Ah ah. Whisper, please.” Smoked Cheese interrupted. His lips spread into a smile, too pleased for the situation at hand.

Dark Cacao inhaled deeply, but whispered, “You really expect us to believe that this child bears the responsibility of gatekeeper for your territory? Has the ability to weigh our souls?”

Smoked Cheese looked down at the child.

“To be frank, I myself don’t care what you believe. He can’t judge you now, and you can’t come inside the city before then.”

“Unless it’s our expected guests…” a sweet voice interrupted.

A woman emerged from the shadows near the arch leading to the gates.

Golden accessories from her wrists and white dress jingled in time with her graceful steps from her bare feet. Her face was striking, turquoise eyes with bright blue makeup to contrast her tanned skin, thick white lashes, and a playful smile on her lips. Atop her long, pale hair lied a headpiece with a golden piece of cheese.

“You saw.” Smoked Cheese said cooly, not even turning to look at her, “some help you were.”

“I observed. Your welcome could not have been colder.”

The woman leaned to whisper into Smoked Cheese’s ear, and his face morphed into a look of interest.

She pulled away from him with a smile, and Smoked Cheese smirked at her knowingly.

He turned to walk in the direction of the gate.

“Welcome, your highnesses. My name is Mozzarella” The woman said, clapping her hands together, and bowing, “Allow us to formally welcome you into paradise. Welcome to the Golden Cheese Kingdom”

————————————

The Golden City was alive and it was beyond anything Pure Vanilla, Dark Cacao, Hollyberry, and White Lily expected.

The outside was barren, and in the city it was as alive as a heartbeat.

The black paved streets were packed with chariots and carriages, lined with high torches of green flame, casting a ghostly glow. The buildings towered into the sky, shining with gold plating. The golden tiled roads were packed with people of all kinds in fancy togas, animal headdresses, and costumes. The sky had fireworks, green lights in different shapes, and even strange projections of warriors in combat.

The technology to achieve all of this was nothing short of astounding.

“Take it all in, your highnesses.” Mozzarella said, turning graceful with outstretched arms, “this is all the work of our ever radiant goddess and her greed.”

To say they were stunned would be an understatement.

“Goddess?” White Lily asked.

“Golden Cheese, of course!”

She gestured to a a large square pond with lotuses scattered across the top, reflecting the star sparked sky.

In the middle of the pond stood a towering statue, a powerful depiction of a woman with wings. With a dynamic pose of victory, she brandished a spear.

“Isn’t she magnificent?”

Around the pond, people that saw them were whispering as they navigated their way around them.

“Yes, yes, very.” Hollyberry insisted, “But we would like to see her in the dough?”

“Of course, in due time. Right this way.”

Mozzarella walked to lead them down a path towards a towering pyramid, where more statues of the aforementioned goddess resided in either side of the entrance.

Pure Vanilla grabbed his staff from his back to get a better range of view.

Everything glittered, everything was pristine and lively… and fun. Every surface of the kingdom had gold or jewels or an allure.

“Pure Vanilla,” White Lily insisted, taking his arm as they walked, “I’m not sure about this… how did Mozzarella know she was speaking to royalty?”

“I think it has something to do with what Burnt Cheese said before: that he recognized us. Maybe this kingdom is less isolated in terms of knowledge of the outside than we suspected.”

————————————

The steps up the massive pyramid, the golden palace, were exhausting to trek through. At the front doors, Smoked Cheese was waiting for them.

The glamor of the pyramid was a sight to behold as well. The first step into narrow main hall, there were papyrus plants in gold vases, iridescent green curtains draping over the archways of each branching hall, and wall murals depicting the same figure: Golden Cheese.

And again, the same servants with different hair colors but identically styled hair and faces. They stood in a line at the end of the hallway with their eyes closed, as if asleep standing up.

Mozzarella pulled out a golden bell and delicately flicked her wrist.

The ring pierced the air through the palace, and the servants eyes shot open.

“Marzipans, please take their things and escort each of them to their own rooms with all the amenities they require. They need attire for an audience with our queen tonight.”

“Yes, Mozzarella.” they said in unison.

The servants moved forward. Their long dresses gave no view of their legs, and Pure Vanilla almost believed that they glided through the air instead of walked.

They were ghostly, and Pure Vanilla cleared his throat at one of the servants, again, blank in the eyes, trying to grab his bag.

“Oh, that’s alright, thank you-“

The servant did not listen, they pulled his backpack right off of him without a word. He clutched his staff close, and luckily that was not taken.

The same thing was happening to White Lily, Hollyberry, and Dark Cacao.

“This way.” One said to White Lily, gliding off with her staff. White Lily looked to Pure Vanilla warily. He nodded, then she walked quickly to catch up to the servant.

Hollyberry handed over her things, her backpack, and her shield, and the servant took them with ease.

Which was unusual, considering the weight of them, and the servant lifted the items without so much as a small hint of struggle. In hesitation, Hollyberry followed to her room as well.

Dark Cacao only reacted to his things being taken when it was his sword being grabbed from where it was attached on his belt.

“Hey, hey! Don’t touch that!”

The servant froze.

Then, to Pure Vanilla and Dark Cacao’s surprise, the servant turned to Mozzarella and Smoked Cheese.

“Experiencing interruptions at this time. Try again?” She asked in a strange, monotone voice.

Silence was left in the hall.

Mozzarella grinned, twinkling in her eyes.

Dark Cacao sighed, bowing his head.

“Forgive me, I shouldn’t have raised my voice at-“

Mozzarella let out a bubbly giggle, echoing in the quiet hall.

“Apologizing to the Marzipans? Now that’s unheard of! Interesting, very interesting!”

She pulled out a scroll, then opened it and began to scribble with a quill.

“Smoked Cheese!” She said, and he responded with an eyeroll, “We need a new dialogue option to that prompt… finally something to add to the next patch!”

“Is that necessary?” Smoked Cheese asked.

Mozzarella didn’t answer, smile on her face as she drafted. Dark Cacao looked to Pure Vanilla with confusion. The Marzipan assisting Cacao was still staring blankly in Mozzarella’s direction and the other helping Vanilla had already walked off with his backpack.

“Prince Dark Cacao, we don’t allow weapons in the rooms.” Smoked Cheese explained, “no exceptions.”

“We will keep it safe for you!” Mozzarella chimed in. Smoked Cheese ignored her and continued.

“Marzipan, how many contraband items are on his person?”

“Five, not including individual pieces of ammunition.” Marzipan answered flatly.

Dark Cacao stepped back, hand returning to the handle of his sword once again.

“How do you know my name, and how does she know what is in my bag? She hasn’t opened it.”

Mozzarella pursed her lips, scribbling more notes.

“We’ve been expecting you and our radiance has been studying other kingdoms as of late. I forget you aren’t from around here, version number 6.4.2 entailed the Marzipans being able to inspect without opening sealed containers and bags. Oh heavens, none of them have even SEEN their privacy policy-“

“What are you talking about?” Pure Vanilla asked because truly, nothing she was saying made sense.

He realized in horror that he felt no life in either Marzipan’s being.

“Wait, are they-“

“Alive? Please. You don’t need to talk about the Marzipans like they’re people” Smoked Cheese replied calmly.

“If your servants are not people, what is standing before us?” Dark Cacao asked.

Mozzarella scoffed, then rang her bell.

Marzipan straightened up, and she held out her hands.

Smoked Cheese put a hand on his hip.

“Ah, I forget your cultures are… more primitive.” And Dark Cacao’s face looked almost enraged.

Mozzarella elaborated, “The Marzipans are illusions. They’re servants created for enforcement and menial tasks. It might be too complex for your heads to wrap around.
How about this? If you simply remove the contraband weapons from your things, we won’t need to have them taken by force. Or detain you for treason.”

Pure Vanilla looked to Dark Cacao, face painted with barely contained anger. Pure Vanilla wasn’t doing much better.

“You wouldn’t want that, would you?” Smoked Cheese asked.

Dark Cacao kept glancing at Pure Vanilla, until he took a breath.

“Fine.” Dark Cacao grumbled.

He opened his satchel, and he handed the Marzipan servant several items.

His crossbow and a handful of arrows.

He took a knee and pulled a hunting knife from a sheath on his pant leg, another smaller knife on his boot, and a small hammer in his belt.

Finally, he handed over his sword. The Marzipan’s arms were quite full.

“All weapons accounted for.” Marzipan announced.

Dark Cacao scoffed.

“Well, your servant missed something in her calculations. But since I’m courteous, I’ll just provide it.”

Dark Cacao reached inside his robes and pulled out a sizable dagger from his chest area that Pure Vanilla wasn’t sure how it was possibly even there. He tossed it at Smoked Cheese and Mozzarella’s feet, and it loudly clattered onto the floor.

“You can keep that one. For yourselves.” He grumbled.

Smoked Cheese gritted his teeth. Without another word, Dark Cacao stormed with his Marzipan servant to their rooms.

Pure Vanilla cleared his throat, and decided to follow.

————————————

Pure Vanilla made a note to himself to write a handwritten apology letter for ever teasing Dark Cacao via letter about how they were first received into his kingdom. This was beyond anything he could have predicted in terms of stress.

And it kept getting worse.

The bath was drawn, and there were dormant Marzipans in the vicinity he had to order to leave. He normally didn’t like giving harsh orders, because anyone who serves him is a person that deserved his respect.
But he couldn’t ask, he couldn’t be gentle, he lost all his patience before he resorted to barking, “Leave!”

He knew they weren’t people, but he felt terrible regardless.

Then, as if things couldn’t get worse, one of the Marzipans actually began to unpack his things for him and put them on in the closet. Another stood at the side of his enormous bed. He had to dismiss that one too.

So no, his bath was not restful.

Pure Vanilla dressed himself in what was probably the most comfortable robes his skin ever touched. He looked in the mirror, the robe was embroidered with golden flowers and had petal patterns around the loose neckline.

A knock at his door filled him with dread.

“Who is it?”

“I’m not a Marzipan.” A deep voice grumbled.

Pure Vanilla took a breath, preparing himself, before opening the door.

He didn’t prepare enough. Dark Cacao looked striking in white, his new clothes fit him nicely. It was a different sight compared to seeing him in only black cacaoian robes. His robes were a lose cut at the sleeves, and the length of the pants only went down just above the knees. Purple and red geometric patterns decorated the belt that was tightly fit around his waist.

He joined him inside the room, and Pure Vanilla closed the door behind them, trying not to stare.

“Hiding from them too, are you?” Pure Vanilla asked.

“Yes, but also no. I didn’t want to say anything but, um.”

Dark Cacao took a breath, and Pure Vanilla found himself holding his.

“Can you see- if it’s not too much to ask- my shoulder has been throbbing and-“

Oh.

“I just made the mistake of lying on it…”

Pure Vanilla nodded.

“Oh! Of course.”

“I think it was from the sandpit, maybe.” He said. The shame in his voice was evident, and he looked awfully sheepish for his stature.

Pure Vanilla found himself grinning.

“It’s quite alright. You don’t have to justify yourself. This is what I’m here for, after all.”

Pure Vanilla patted a spot on the bed, and Dark Cacao sat down hesitantly next to him.

“Can you remove your shirt?” Pure Vanilla asked, without thinking, and NOW his face had to be red if it wasn’t already.

Dark Cacao nodded slowly, taking off the belt and trying to pull the tunic over his head.

He winced from the pain of bending his arms, and Pure Vanilla felt foolish asking that of him.

He found himself assisting him, grabbing the hem of the shirt without thinking.

“Easy, easy.” Pure Vanilla warned, pulling the fabric up for him.

Once he had unveiled his face, Dark Cacao’s hair spilled over his face.

Purple eyes slowly blinked and looked over Pure Vanilla with an expression he couldn’t place, it felt like scrutiny… but it wasn’t.

Pure Vanilla swallowed and took a faltered breath.

Even if it was Dark Cacao, Pure Vanilla tried to keep his head straight. He averted eyes but… he was scarred, all over his torso. Pure Vanilla swallowed at the number of them. From his experience of seeing wounds and how they healed, he knew they came from battle. Slashes of weapons, scratches and bites of animals, and even burns.

Dark Cacao’s eyes darted to the side, and his hair began to come loose already from the minute movement of his head.

Pure Vanilla cleared his throat.

“Which one? Which shoulder, I mean.”

Dark Cacao cocked his head to the left, the side closest to Vanilla anyway, and turned accordingly so Pure Vanilla could see his profile.

Shades of brown and purple splayed across his left side, and Pure Vanilla hover his hand over the shoulder.

He called the light under his breath and it answered, illuminating his hand as he continued observation with his orchid staff in hand.

“It’s not in proper place… Dark Cacao, this wasn’t from today. I think the climb from the sandpit only made it worsen. Your arm is misaligned.”

Dark Cacao didn’t turn, but he did reply with a hum. It was too nonchalant, too NORMAL for him to reply with.

“When did you hurt yourself?” Pure Vanilla asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Please, don’t lie to me.”

A scoff came from him.

“I’m not. I don’t have a reason to hide that from you.” Dark Cacao said firmly, “Sometimes I don’t notice things like this. I noticed now, so I came to you.”

Pure Vanilla swallowed, brushing off just how upsetting that was.

“Don’t misunderstand, I’m glad you did. I know you don’t feel anything normally when I heal, but… it’s going to be painful when everything fixes itself into place. I have to put your shoulder back to normal before healing the actual tissue and bone, or it’ll damage further.”

Dark Cacao sighed, then straightened up with a wince.

He turned to give Pure Vanilla a reaffirming nod.

“Just focus on breathing, okay? I’ll be quick as possible.”

“I’ll be alright.” He said, in a tone that seemed to imply he really didn’t have a choice.

Pure Vanilla whispered his words, pulsed more light, soothing the pain as much as he physically could, but it wasn’t enough. Dark Cacao’s face contorted, his hands bunching the comforter under him with vigor, twisting in twitching motions.

His shoulder popped, loud into the air, and Dark Cacao jolted from the pain so viscerally that Pure Vanilla almost wished he didn’t agree to this. He hissed through his teeth and Pure Vanilla’s magic soothed the tissue, the bruises, and for good measure, he pulsed calming energy for throughout Cacao’s body.

When he finished and the glow dissipated.

“You weren’t kidding.” Dark Cacao groaned.

Pure Vanilla swallowed. He grabbed the tunic and handed it back to Dark Cacao rather abruptly.

Dark Cacao stretched his arms up to put his tunic back on, and Pure Vanilla averted his orchid from staring at his musculature.

It (and he) really needed to get a grip.

He looked out the window.

Pure Vanilla rose up walked to the curtains. Upon drawing them open, he saw the glimmering city and heard the bustling noise coming from the streets. The sky had no stars, only strange green projections of different scenes of sparring, close ups of glamorous faces, and strings of strange characters and numbers rising above to infinity.

Pure Vanilla realized Dark Cacao had walked to stand next to him, and he gingerly stepped to allow him the view of the kingdom as well.

Dark Cacao was rigid, his arms crossed as he stared at the land before them.

“I know our intentions of coming here.” He began, “But we need to keep our guard up. The fact that this city, a city THIS advanced has been hidden from all three of our nations… it fills me with unease.”

Pure Vanilla was almost surprised he admitted that. And truthfully, he was almost with the same point of view.

“Your nation was similar in nature not too long ago.” Pure Vanilla pointed out quietly.

Dark Cacao’s expression formed a scowl, a gentle one of disappointment.

“We’re never hidden in the snow. Our culture is show the blade in your hand for your enemy to see so the decider of the battle is your strength.”

He gestured to the outside, then his arm dropped down to his side.

“This is magic and technology far above our own kingdoms’ capabilities that can be used against us at anytime.”

Pure Vanilla’s orchid looked to Dark Cacao’s face. It took in the detail of the brow twitching.

“And again, you were in a very similar position, your people thought my magic’s purpose was cruel. But you learned and you understood me.”

Dark Cacao gritted his teeth.

“Dark Cacao, I understand your concern, but we need to try to understand THEM-“

“I’m not asking you to abandon your principles, Pure Vanilla.” Dark Cacao snapped, pinching his nose bridge, “just for you to consider the fact that this city-!”

He outstretched his arm to gesture to their view,

“-was out of reach for a reason. I should have seen it, and if for ANY reason I can’t protect YOU-“

Dark Cacao fell silent at voice cracking, cutting himself off and his composure cracking at the seams.

Pure Vanilla’s chest tightened, and Dark Cacao raked a hand through his hair and dropped his arm to his side again.

“You need to protect yourself. Because if I can’t, I NEED you to.”

Before he could think, Pure Vanilla smiled. He reached out his arm and pulled Dark Cacao closer by the tunic. Their foreheads touched, and the proximity rendered his orchid useless, unless for some reason he had the orchid be a strange spectator.

He didn’t need it, so he let it go. Pure Vanilla could feel the warmth of Dark Cacao’s breath, it tickled his cheeks. He gingerly traced his other hand up Dark Cacao’s chest and splayed his fingers over his heart.

It hammered, and Pure Vanilla had to collect himself before finding his voice.

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten.” He said, barely about a whisper. “We live to tell the tale. That includes me-“

Pure Vanilla barely suppressed his breath hitching at Dark Cacao, gently enveloping his hands over Pure Vanilla’s that rested in his heart.

Nevertheless, he continued.

“-and that includes you. And it will stay that way.”

A deep chuckle resounded in the air like a song.

“If I didn’t know any better, that sounded like a confession.” Dark Cacao muttered.

“Maybe you don’t have to.” Pure Vanilla said without a single thought. His selfishness. He let it take the reins.

For once, he wanted. And he wanted to express he wanted.

“I don’t have to…?” Dark Cacao asked.

“Kn-know better.” Pure Vanilla stuttered.

And a knock pierced the air.

Dark Cacao stepped away, swearing under his breath. Pure Vanilla groaned in frustration.

His staff. Dark Cacao handed it to him, and his sight came back.

Pure Vanilla swallowed, his face felt hotter than a flame. Dark Cacao stepped away further, more terrified than he had ever seen, and Pure Vanilla looked around frantically.

“O-one moment!” He stammered.

He grabbed his satchel, and inside the medical kit was.

Pure Vanilla beckoned Dark Cacao, and despite his perplexed expression, sat him down next to the kit, opened and turned to a page about…

Ah, an anatomy chart. Fine.

Pure Vanilla set the book down, upside down on the bed next to Dark Cacao, then rushed to the door.

White Lily was waiting outside, like he assumed she would, wearing a similar outfit to him with the touch of her own shawl draping over her shoulders.

Next her, Hollyberry was leaned on the stone wall.

He ushered them both inside his room.

“How are you?” Pure Vanilla asked, closing the door behind him.

“Adjusting to the world around us.” Hollyberry said, “hey, Dark Cacao,” then she was pulling the curtains to look outside his window, “I don’t even feel like this is a part of earthbread anymore.”

“As for me, I’m wary.” Lily admitted, “I’m afraid of what’s to come.”

They weren’t even asking?

Pure Vanilla could work with that. He didn’t have to lie if no one asked.

“I’m more wary of the sovereign.” Hollyberry said, “We haven’t seen her yet. Is everyone allowed to come and go as they please?”

White Lily began pacing.

“Well, if we are rejected from the city, who knows what will happen to-“

Pure Vanilla sighed.

“No one is going anywhere. If what Smoked Cheese said is true, it’s based on our souls.”

“Judgement of a soul could be arbitrary in a million ways.” White Lily said, “A-and what if one of us is deemed ‘impure’ in the eyes of the child?”

Pure Vanilla frowned.

“I don’t see any reason to be worried about that.”

“We should be prepared nonetheless.” She said firmly. She was not eased by his words, to Pure Vanilla’s surprise.

Hollyberry chucked, using Pure Vanilla’s mirror to observe her dress. It differed with a green and blue plunging neckline.

“Lily, the four of us are going to pass this test with ease. There isn’t a single one of us who is close to being unjust, I feel. Don’t you agree?”

White Lily didn’t answer. She crossed her arms to herself.

Hollyberry turned back to her.

“Lily… you… you do agree with me, don’t you?”

White Lily paled.

“O-of course.”

“So are we all bonding over the lunacy of this Kingdom’s hospitality?” Dark Cacao asked. “Because it’s not even close to hospitable.”

“Something like that…” Hollyberry admitted, then playfully smirked at him, “Are you ready to have your soul judged to ensure we keep getting it?”

Dark Cacao rolled his eyes.

“Ready as I’ll ever be. I’m curious what the procedure is for such a thing and what determines ‘purity’. Because I know damn well I’m not leaving without a fight regardless.”

“So you’re not worried about your own soul?” White Lily asked.

Dark Cacao paused. He tied hair to a high ponytail.

“Why do you ask? Not thinking I’m going to be the black sheep, are you?”

White Lily’s eyes widened.

“No, of course not.”

Dark Cacao tilted his head in thought.

“Well, that’s a matter we can worry about when the time comes. As for these… Marzipan… things. Dismiss them all, if you can. I fear it may be a way for us to be spied on. And they’re unsettling.”

“I’ve been throwing my shoes at them.” Hollyberry admitted, “that makes them disappear into the air. Physically, they’re some sort of illusion-“

Hollyberry paused.

She took off her slipper and threw it with intense speed, past Dark Cacao’s unfazed face.

The slipper hit the wall, completely through the body of a Marzipan standing in the corner of the room.

In a tiny flash of green light, the servant disappeared into the air.

A knock at the door, and Hollyberry huffed, storming up to the door.

“We don’t need any assistance!” She yelled, swinging it open.

It was Mozzarella. She flinched, and Hollyberry realized her mistake.

“Oh dear!”

“Her majesty will see you now.” Mozzarella said, bowing.

————————————

The four were led down a series of halls that expanded bigger and bigger, until a grand set of solid gold doors, sparkling with engravings of large wings. In the center, a large triangle shaped jewel sparkled, solid down the middle for the partition.

Mozzarella pulled the massive door handle and knocked.

They were greeted with silence. Pure Vanilla gripped his staff in anticipation.

The doors opened for them, as if on their own.

The throne room was massive. It was the size of the Vanilla Kingdom’s largest chapel.

Massive fountains tricking water were on either side of the room, and Pure Vanilla even saw little jelly frogs leaping from lotus pad to lotus pad within them.

The floor was lined with light yellow ornate tiles, decorated with patterns of papyrus and geometric patterns.

The throne room was not just for the queen. It was an elegant common area, and all kinds of people were sitting at the fountains, discussing academics with scrolls, and even the far wall was lined with tables with devices unrolling parchment and being scribbled on with quills by what Pure Vanilla assumed were scholars working on some sort of research. Among the people were little orange and yellow birds.

They walked in the path formed by moats of water, to the bottom of the once again, yellow cheesetone stairs.

They trudged up, and the green, iridescent curtains seemed to pull themselves apart to unveil the platform where the throne resided.

More of the birds, cheeping in a circle and even turning to wave at them with one wing.

“High Priest, may we have the room?” Smoked Cheese asked, and the four turned to find Smoked Cheese, holding Burnt Cheese’s hand, ascending the stairs behind them, “We must speak to her majesty. Our travelers have arrived.”

The largest bird nodded, and Pure Vanilla assumed it was a coincidence. That is, until it spoke.

“Of courze!”

Then the bird chirped, and all of them flew away, out of the curtains.

White Lily’s eyes widened, but in absolute delight. Hollyberry and Dark Cacao looked to each other, horrified.

“Don’t look so surprised, your blueberry bird told me of your journey and we knew to receive you.”

It was a new voice.

From atop her throne.

She had bright yellow eyes, striking green makeup akin to warpaint and aside from her darker complexion, she looked like a golden statue. Golden Cheese had yellow hair, like a lions mane. Her golden neckpiece, wrist guards, arrow-like staff, and crown with a bright jewel in the center like the doors.

Perched on her finger, Pure Vanilla’s blueberry messenger cheeped in recognition and leapt to soar.

It fluttered in circles around Pure Vanilla and sat atop his head, and Pure Vanilla’s orchid turned to see the plump bird flapping its wings excitedly.

“I was wondering where you went! I didn’t know you could speak!” Pure Vanilla exclaimed.

“You didn’t? Interesting. He said you treat him quite well.” Golden Cheese rose to stand, “his accent is quite thick, but we’ve gotten used to it.”

Golden Cheese spread her wings. They were real, but instead of being organic, they seemed more armored in nature and encrusted with green jewels.

“You’ve traveled quite a long distance to see my treasures. If you are simply thieves-“

White Lily shook her head.

“Oh, we are not-“

Golden Cheese put up her hand, silencing her.

“Then I admire your boldness and the elaborate story your little bird has told me to cover it up. And applaud your greed!”

She stepped forward, radiating confidence as she got a good look at each of them during her pacing.

“But if not, and you ARE from other lands…”

She pointed to each of them, “Pure Vanilla, White Lily, Hollyberry, and Dark Cacao”

She matched each name to the right person.

“Then I wonder what kind of desperate situation you all are involved in to seek my help?”

“Nothing of the sort,” Hollyberry explained, “we are mapping Earthbread and are seeking kingdoms to form treaties and alliances! Perhaps open borders and negotiations for trade to benefit us all”

Golden Cheese’s confident smile split into a a wide grin. She laughed, echoing in the space around them.

“But will it?”

The air grew still. Pure Vanilla swallowed, she shook her head with a smile.

She spread her arms, and her wings as well.

“We have everything we need! And if anyone doesn’t, I provide it.”

Golden Cheese turned and tilted her head, almost in sympathy, “So what would the point of any sort of treaty?“

“Well, if any danger arises-“ Pure Vanilla suggested, but Golden Cheese shook her head.

“Danger? I take care of my own and if you are not my own or in my land, you are of no concern to me.”

She leaned to Hollyberry, “I KNOW of your kingdoms, of course.”

Then she poked Pure Vanilla in the nose, “Yours is especially… quaint… but I just don’t find them entertaining enough. I’m sorry.”

She even leaned to Dark Cacao.

“And yours? Well, I’m not impressed.”

Pure Vanilla flinched, and she chuckled again before turning to ascend to her throne.

“We came all this way, and you are meaning to say we are lesser than you?” Hollyberry said, clear as day.

Golden Cheese put a hand on her hip and turned back. She raised a cocky eyebrow.

“Meaning to say? You are beneath me.”

Pure Vanilla’s eyes widened.

Golden Cheese sat down, crossing her legs.

“I have no malice intentions with my words, it’s just… fact. Just because YOU made the journey here due to YOUR own ambitions doesn’t mean you’re entitled to my riches. I’ve seen your kingdoms, half our size and not nearly as abundant. Let’s not pretend that you have anything close to something that would benefit me or come close to my-“

She stopped herself.

Golden Cheese fluttered her lashes, tilting her head as if to hear something.

“My queen?” Mozzarella asked, “are you well?”

Her crown. The jewel on her crown glimmered.

“I…”

Golden Cheese’s hand slowly lifted to touch the jewel adorning her forehead.

As if a look of realization, she looked at the four.

“I… need evidence. I need their souls judged to make my decision.”

She straightened herself, then spoke with a more assertive tone.

“Burnt Cheese, come here.”

A small pair of footsteps scurried across the floor.

Burnt Cheese, in the presence of the queen in his jackal mask, bowed before her. In his arms, a stuffed animal of an orange bird was being held tightly.

“Little one, I’m going to ask a lot of you today.”

She extended her staff and used it to gesture.

“I need you to judge four souls today and tell me what you see. Is this too much for you?”

Burnt Cheese shook his head, then silently held out his plush toy and waddled over to her throne.

Golden Cheese giggled, accepting the toy.

“I’ll take good care of her.” She said with a wink.

Burnt Cheese raised his hands over his head.

With a blue glimmer, a staff appeared out of thin air for him to grab.

“Outsiders” He exclaimed, “prepare yourselves!”

With a sweep of the small staff in front of him, he created a golden scale, suspended in the air.

“So lad,” Hollyberry asked with amusement, heading first into the challenge, “what is this test?”

Burnt Cheese, with all his might, slammed the staff’s handle to the floor.

“It’s simple.” He said, “Your soul must be pure enough to weigh lighter than-”

He opened his palm.

“-the feather of a sugar swan.”

Burnt Cheese gently put the feather on the scale next to him, then pursed his lips.

“Can you all sit down? I’m smaller than you.” He said flatly.

It’s true, they were all looking down on him and the scale.

Hollyberry snickered, but Burnt Cheese was serious. She cleared her throat. They all sat down in a line: Hollyberry, White Lily, Dark Cacao, and Pure Vanilla.

Burnt Cheese walked up to Hollyberry first.

“You might be dizzy for a moment.”

He reached a hand out, then looked back at Golden Cheese.

She nodded, leaning forward with interest.

Burnt Cheese took a breath.

Hollyberry’s chest area began to glow, at first faint, but then blossoming with color. An essence began to float outwards towards Burnt Cheese’s hand. She paled, but White Lily put a hand on her shoulder.

“You have so much love,” he began softly, the energy beginning to shape, “it feels safe and strong, like nothing harm will come to me.”

He tilted his head as the soul solidified into a concentrated ball the size of his torso.

“And it’s pink.”

“Yes, Burnt Cheese, it seems to be.” Golden Cheese noted, full of patience.

He took the glowing orb to the scale, and gingerly placed it down.

The scale side of Hollyberry’s soul slowly rose, and Hollyberry grinned.

“You pass, Hollyberry.” Burnt Cheese noted.

He turned to Mozzarella watching the scene.

“Take note, please?”

Mozzarella nodded, opening a scroll in her hands and scribbling.

“What is she noting?” Hollyberry asked.

Burnt Cheese didn’t answer.

When Mozzarella was finished, he gave the soul back to Hollyberry. It turned back into pure energy and she breathed it in.

“Are you alright, Holly?” Pure Vanilla asked.

“I’m quite alright. It wasn’t too bad.”

Burnt Cheese approached White Lily next.

“You’re pretty, so I hope your soul is pure.” He admitted.

White Lily’s face turned red and he outstretched his hand.

Her soul was green, and Burnt Cheese stared in awe as it whisped through the air.

“It’s very warm, free, and caring. It makes me feel like I’m dreaming.”

Once in the orb, he gingerly placed it on the scale.

Her soul gingerly shook the scale, up and down, but still lighter than the feather.

“What does that mean?” White Lily asked quietly.

“Souls are hard to weigh. My power is not exact.” Burnt Cheese insisted, “but you pass, easily.”

He took the soul and the energy swirled through the air over her head before entering her chest.

She turned and nodded and Dark Cacao and Pure Vanilla.

Burnt Cheese approached Dark Cacao.

“Your turn.”

Dark Cacao nodded.

The process was starting similar, but nothing happened when Burnt Cheese outstretched his hand.

“Sir.” Burnt Cheese huffed, “I can’t take your soul without your permission.”

“Okay, you can take it.” Dark Cacao said.

“No, you have to let your soul… go. Relax.”

“I am relaxed.”

“Relaxed people don’t say that.”

Dark Cacao rolled his eyes, then closed them with a deep breath. Pure Vanilla patted his back.

“Do you want me to go before you?”

“No” Dark Cacao said firmly, putting up his hand, “okay, just… try again.”

Burnt Cheese held out his hand again.

Purple. His soul flowed out of his body a lot quicker, swirling like a whirlpool around Burnt Cheese’s hand.

“Yours is… fierce. And energizing. I feel powerful and like I can do anything.”

In an instant, the soul solidified and Burnt Cheese caught it.

Pure Vanilla watched Dark Cacao keep a firm gaze on his soul in anticipation.

Burnt Cheese gingerly let the soul go, and Dark Cacao breath hitched.

It was lighter than the feather, without question.

“There you go, you pass-“

Like a strong wind, the soul separated all on its own and floated in a gust, straight back to Dark Cacao’s chest.

Dark Cacao gasped, clutching his chest from the impact.

“What was that?!” He croaked out.

Burnt Cheese held up his hands.

“Not me! Your soul doesn’t like leaving you. That’s alright, we got what we needed. Right, Mozzarella?”

Mozzarella nodded with a smile.

“Little one, are you feeling alright?” Golden Cheese asked, “you can take a break if you need.”

Burnt Cheese shook his head.

“I’m fine, your majesty.”

“Then proceed.”

Burnt Cheese looked to Pure Vanilla.

“Don’t strain yourself,” Pure Vanilla whispered with a small smile.

Burnt Cheese held out his hands, one last time.

Pure Vanilla felt a warmth blossom in his chest.

It was surreal, using his orchid to watch his essence leave his own body. It enveloped around Burnt Cheese’s shoulders, like a blanket, then swirled into his hands. He felt lightheaded, and focused his energy keeping his weight centered where he sat.

Burnt Cheese, for the first time since Pure Vanilla met him, began to smile.

“Yours is kind. I feel happy and cared for… it’s…”

Burnt Cheese looked down at the glimmering orb, Pure Vanilla’s soul. He didn’t finish the thought.

“Burnt Cheese.” Smoked Cheese said firmly, “what’s wrong?”

Burnt Cheese didn’t answer. His smile faltered. He sunk to his knees and bowed his head under the mask, clutching the soul. The orb began to shake in his hands.

Dark Cacao tried to rise, but Smoked Cheese rushed to the child’s side before him.

“Burnt Cheese, I asked you, what’s WRONG?!”

“What has happened?” Golden Cheese asked, rising from her throne.

Smoked Cheese pulled off Burnt Cheese’s mask in one quick motion. Black, shaggy hair covered his face, and Smoked Cheese sweep his hair back.

His eyes were glowing the same blue, the same as Pure Vanilla’s soul, and stared forward blankly.

The soul… it cracked, and gusted throughout the room.

Everyone ducked, wind suddenly picked up. The blue energy lit up the expanse of the ceiling.

Pure Vanilla tried to stand, but Mozzarella blocked their paths.

“None of you pass! Don’t! Interfering can hurt your friend.”

Pure Vanilla’s vision became blurry.

“Only Burnt Cheese can handle his soul…” he heard her say, “him and…”

Golden Cheese.

Pure Vanilla’s orchid peeked behind Mozzarella.

Golden Cheese rose her hands the soul made its way to her hands.

Burnt Cheese slumped in Smoked Cheese’s arms.

Golden Cheese walked to the scale and observed the glowing soul floating in her hands.

“It has to be…” she muttered to herself, but Pure Vanilla heard it crystal clear inside his head.

Her fingers dipped into the energy, and Pure Vanilla felt his chest began to shoot with pain.

He cried out, and Dark Cacao was speaking to him, but it was incoherent.

Pure Vanilla tried to stay awake, his orchid was failing and his hearing started to diminish.

He heard several voices say his name, but they all blurred together and his eyes fluttered shut.

———————————————

Dark Cacao caught Pure Vanilla before he collapsed to hit the floor. He was shaking, paler than healthy, and Dark Cacao felt his heart hammer from his pulse.

“That’s enough! Return his soul at once!” Hollyberry demanded.

“NOT YET!” Golden Cheese said firmly, “Unless you want him to never awaken, you will not interfere.”

“Is that a threat?” White Lily yelled, plants already splitting the cheese stone below her feet.

Dark Cacao watched Golden Cheese, unraveling the orb on the scale, like fabric from a spool, and sifted her hands through the energy.

It was lighter than the feather. He passed but…

“What is she doing?” He asked Smoked Cheese, who coldly lifted Burnt Cheese and turned his back to Dark Cacao.

Pure Vanilla was gasping in his arms, clutched his chest.

Was he suffocating?

“What are you doing?!” White Lily asked, “let me GO!”

Two Marzipans restrained her, and she kicked to try to free herself.

Hollyberry was tacked and restrained by two more, pinning her to the ground.

“Golden Cheese!” Dark Cacao snarled, and he had no choice but to let Pure Vanilla go. Marzipans were grabbing him by his arms, and he couldn’t drag Pure Vanilla along.

With a gasp, Golden Cheese looked back. Her eyes immediately locked on Pure Vanilla, lying on the floor.

A look of panic crossed her face, she shook her head and pulled the soul apart FASTER.

The Marzipans tried to restrain Dark Cacso, but he refused to stop resisting.

“WHAT IS IT YOU WANT?” He yelled, “WE DID WHAT YOU ASKED!”

Golden Cheese didn’t listen, and Pure Vanilla slowly was ceasing shaking.

“Your majesty…!”

Golden Cheese flinched.

Behind her, Burnt Cheese pulled himself out of Smoked Cheese’s grasp. He made the scale vanish with a wipe of the hand.

He pulled her wing, shaking his head with tears down his face.

“You’re hurting him… please. The soul is true, he’s not lying to you!”

Golden Cheese didn’t look down, and Burnt Cheese pulled in her wing again.

“Please… your majesty!”

Golden Cheese ducked her head.

“MARZIPANS! SHUT DOWN!”

The Marzipans froze, even while trying to restrain Hollyberry, Dark Cacao, and White Lily.

In a blink of an eye and a glimmer of green, the Marzipans disappeared into thin air.

Golden Cheese dropped to her knees and let the soul return to its owner. It soured through the air and entered Pure Vanilla’s body.

Dark Cacao’s gaze shot back to Pure Vanilla, groaning as he tried to pull himself up.

His staff.

Dark Cacao rushed to his side, providing it for him, and Pure Vanilla gingerly gripped the staff.

The fluttered the orchid eye open.

Dark Cacao locked his gaze onto Pure Vanilla, and the orchid was gingerly taking in their surroundings.

“Oh, Pure Vanilla!” White Lily cried. She collapsed in front of him and pulled him into a hug, “You’re awake!”

Hollyberry did the same, asking him if he was alright.

Dark Cacao rose to his feet and turned.

Golden Cheese stood directly behind him.

They locked eyes.

“What in the hell was that?” He snarled, and he was grateful he didn’t have his sword within his reach.

Instead, he harshly shoved her. She stumbled, but didn’t react in the face.

She remained stoic.

“I was searching. But he hasn’t found it. But that just proved that he will.”

“What does that mean? That’s not good enough, you almost KILLED him-“

“I HAD to be sure!” She snarled, “You couldn’t possibly understand!”

“Then make us understand!”

Pure Vanilla.

Despite how weak he was, he walked up to Golden Cheese, using his staff to support his steps.

“We did not come here to fight. But I am not leaving with nothing but your foreboding words! Give us an explanation.”

Golden Cheese grimaced, then looked to her subjects.

“NOW!” Pure Vanilla yelled, tears in his eyes.

Golden Cheese turned away from his look of anger.

“Ensure Burnt Cheese gets plenty of rest, no one gave their souls judged until he is better.” She said.

Smoked Cheese and Mozzarella bowed. Golden Cheese crouched, and Burnt Cheese was fidgeting with his hands, looking away from her.

“Burnt Cheese… I’m sorry. I should have never put you through that. I should have took care of this myself if there was even a sliver of a chance of their souls being-“

“It’s alright my queen.” The boy said somberly, ducking his head.

Golden Cheese, with a flick of her wrist, made the stuffed bird float into Burnt Cheese’s arms.

She rose to stand, and with a quiet voice spoke again.

“You are too generous to me.” She said, surprisingly soft, “Goodnight, my treasure. I’ll take care of everything from here.”

Her subjects dismissed themselves, and Golden Cheese summoned her staff from the throne to gravitate toward her.

“Follow me.”

“For what?” Pure Vanilla asked firmly.

“Answers. You asked. And I’ll provide.”

Her gem on her forehead began to glow.

The ground began to shake.

The throne began to slide to the side, and underneath the slab of cheesestone it rested on was an entrance.

She took the first steps, it was a staircase downward, then looked over her shoulder back at Pure Vanilla with a coy smile.

“Don’t keep me waiting. I think 300 years is enough, don’t you?”

Chapter Text

Pure Vanilla walked among the sunset that bathed the arid landscape around him in an orange glow. His fingertips gingerly brushed the fuzzy wheat stalks lining the path, barely surviving from the drought.

It was routine at this point, the long walk returning home for his days of rest after ones of endlessly pursuing studies at the Blueberry Academy.

He could see a glow of hearth from inside his home, but only because of the pendant around his neck holding a freshly cut eye orchid. The familiar voices from those that lived there were muffled among the bleating of the sheep from their field.

Pure Vanilla gingerly pushed open the door, and he pulled the pendant of his orchid necklace to peek into the home.

The house didn’t have much to hide, it was essentially one room of stone that was split into different ones by implied boundaries (rather than walls and doors).

It was small, but it was home.

No one was in their beds at the furthest wall or at the dining table, and Pure Vanilla shifted his pendant to where they cooked.

All three of his brothers were were about to serve themselves dinner, the eldest one was stirring the cauldron.

Pure Vanilla pulled back his hand with the pendant and this time simply walked inside.

“Welcome home” He heard Vanilla Orchid immediately say warmly as he neatly hung his cloak and school bag on the hook stabbed into the wall, “how was the walk this time. Not too troubling, was it?”

“Fine. My necklace has lived for hours this time, we’re getting close to a breakthrough with our research.”

Before the academy proposed a remedy for Pure Vanilla, a strange temporary cure to his blindness, one of his brothers would escort him home. They were too poor for a carriage and it was agreed upon that making a horse endure carrying two people so often would be detrimental to the animal’s health.

But now, Pure Vanilla was granted a form of independence with his newfound ability to see and being tested if he knew the way countless times.

Orchid hummed in response, scooped some stew with a large ladle, and handed out the first serving.

“And beforehand? You almost missed the chance to eat. Where were you young man?” asked Vanilla Bean with no real sternness and a goofy smile, sauntering past him to put his bowl down at the table.

Pure Vanilla heard voices from outside, bickering likely from the elder couple next door. Vanilla Bean shut the front door window shudder with an eyeroll.

“I was helping White Lily at the academy.” Pure Vanilla explained, “it ran long.”

“Well, you look pale.” Vanilla Orchid pointed out.

Pure Vanilla shrugged, then grabbed himself a wooden bowl, the last one from the usual stack of them.

His second oldest brother, Pastry Cream, looked unconvinced at that explanation. Orchid scooped some of the stew into his bowl.

“Was anyone else around when you were ‘helping’ her?” Pastry Cream asked, quirking an eyebrow.

Pure Vanilla’s face flushed.

“N-No! I wasn’t-!”

Pastry Cream turned away with a smirk and a dry chuckle to take a seat before Pure Vanilla could firmly deny it.

Vanilla Orchid rolled his eyes, then scooped some stew into Pure Vanilla’s bowl.

“You make it too easy, Pure Vanilla.” He commented.

The amount of stew in his bowl was larger helping than Pure Vanilla would have liked, but Orchid ruffled his hair and effectively ended the argument before it began.

“You’re going to need it after all the work you did today.”

Pure Vanilla and Vanilla Orchid took the last two seats at the table, and Orchid put down a plate with a small candle to light between the four of them.

He put up a finger seeing Vanilla Bean try to take two toasted slices of bread from the center of the dining table.

“Ah ah ah.” Vanilla Orchid warned, “share.”

Vanilla Bean halted. He took the second piece of toast and put it back on the tray with an eyeroll. Meanwhile, Pastry Cream was already digging his spoon into his stew and about to take his first bite.

With a single narrowing of his light brown eyes, Orchid got the point across. Pastry Cream put down his spoon.

“Qualm your hunger for a little longer while we THANK above for our meal, would you?”

They all linked their hands in a circle around the table, bowing their heads. Pure Vanilla leaned up in his chair, still a bit too small to reach without being on the edge of his seat.

“Ever-radiant light,” Vanilla Orchid began, “we accept this meal as a blessing from your warm hands, this day as a treasure, and the night shielded from the elements as a reminder of your watchful eyes protecting all that they come across.”

He paused, and looked to the ceiling in thought. With a deep sigh, he continued.

“I ask you to watch over this family, our sheep, and our crops so they may survive this drought. If in your will, bring us rain. And that each of us shall take steps with purpose into a future of prosperity.”

Vanilla Orchid nodded, and Pastry Cream continued.

“I pray that your wisdom guides me… that I pass the entrance exam and get accepted to start my journey as a paladin.”

Vanilla Bean pursed his lips, thinking of his piece.

“I… pray for the sheep to behave so we can sleep through the entire night.” He said sheepishly.

Pure Vanilla shook his head with a grin. His small flower’s eye wasn’t going to survive much longer, it looked at the tired faces of his family and took them in, committing them to his memory and heart.

“Radiant light,” Pure Vanilla said, “I pray that you allow me to better my gifts in order to heal all. To provide a future of happiness where no cookie crumbles and peace is eternal. And give me the strength to forge that future.”

A blue light flickered outside the kitchen window, and Pure Vanilla stiffened.

His brothers didn’t seem to notice, but did seem off put by Pure Vanilla’s hesitation.

He nodded to conclude the prayer.

And with that, they began to eat. There was a period of silence, because understandably they were hungry, but Vanilla Orchid didn’t allow it to be long.

“I understand your professors say your healing is excellent” Vanilla Orchid began, and Pure Vanilla felt his stomach begin to knot at this conversation, “But again, you are still not ready to be tending the injured and the sick.”

Pure Vanilla heard commotion still. The neighbors must have been having a dispute?

“But I am ready,” Pure Vanilla tried calmly, “just today, I stayed later and helped in the infirmary-“

“What is it that you want?!” A voice, strangely familiar but not, yelled from outside, “WE DID WHAT YOU ASKED!”

Pure Vanilla looked to the door.

Who was that?

“That should have never been allowed to take place.” Vanilla Orchid continued, not addressing the commotion outside.

And that made sense, right? He frequently warned them as the eldest to keep their noses out of things that they weren’t involved in.

“You’re exhausted enough… it’s still not safe to exert yourself.”

Pure Vanilla took another bite of the stew in thought before replying.

“If I never try, how is it possible for me to know if it’s safe?”

“You’re not old enough to decide to take such risks. You’re not strong enough to take such risks.” Vanilla Orchid said sternly.

His necklace was losing sight, so Pure Vanilla exerted himself to give it strength. A small piece of his own energy.

Vanilla Orchid came into focus. His pale, almost straw colored hair styled into a thin side braid. His straight posture he got from his training as a squire. His compassionate eyes, his scar that sliced down from his right collarbone and disappeared down into his tunic. His flower earrings of his namesake.

“Look, he’s not saying you always will be” Vanilla Bean piped up, “but it’s not healthy for you at this moment in time.”

Pastry Cream nodded in agreement, “Someday you will.”

Knocking from the front door shook the house, and a muffled voice on the other side was yelling.

“You’re hurting him… please. The soul is true, he’s not lying to you!”

Pure Vanilla tensed, Vanilla Orchid’s hand rubbed his shoulder with assurance.

“He’s right. I didn’t mean to be harsh. Someday, all you pray for will come to fruition. Just… finish your food.”

The fresh cut flower watching Vanilla Orchid finally succumbed to its withering state.

—————————

He could see again.

Pure Vanilla used the eye orchid to take in the room. It was his staff. He had a staff, he had been using the same one for years.

Dark Cacao was in front of him, brows twitching with worry and possibly anger.

What was he wearing?

What am I wearing?

They were in a golden throne room…That’s right. The Golden City…

White Lily nearly toppled him over with a hug.

“Oh, Pure Vanilla! You’re awake!”

Hollyberry joined in on the hug too, nearly crushing them both. Pure Vanilla hesitantly hugged them back, confused why he was on the floor.

“Are you alright, Pure Vanilla?”

Pure Vanilla considered the question and stiffened.

Reality hit him all at once. He wasn’t home… well, his home was the Vanilla Kingdom now. He was older now. He wasn’t worried about trivial things like childhood crushes or his own stupid choices skipping classes.

He wasn’t hearing the voice of…

Pure Vanilla swallowed.

Grief entered his body like a punch in the stomach. Whatever that was, a memory his mind had locked away, it was sickening that it was buried.

Pure Vanilla hadn’t thought about that house… or about him in so long.

“Whoa, Pure Vanilla?” Hollyberry asked. She swiped a thumb over his cheek.

He was crying.

It was cruel, to be thrown into the past like that, but he couldn’t dwell.

“I’m fine, I… I’m fine.” He stammered, even though he most definitely wasn’t.

————————————

His demand for answers from Golden Cheese was being heard.

Under the throne, the only illumination was coming from light at the bottom of the cheesestone staircase. Specifically, a set of doors waiting for them and the crack underneath it.

The air was still, sound for the gentle steps of Golden Cheese leading everyone else to descend farther. She gradually slowed to a stop once they reached the last steps, and stepped aside for Pure Vanilla to pass.

Once again, her gem glowed, and the doors began to swing open on their own.

“After you.” She said simply.

Inside was a seemingly infinite hallway, to the point the construction of the room puzzled Pure Vanilla, and lit with green torches and a chandelier of candles.

On either each wall, shelves were filled to the brim with different colors of scrolls, parchment, and books. The shelves were sprawled with maps, leather bound books, and quills lying haphazardly, to the point some ink was splattered on loose sheets of papyrus.

Golden Cheese walked to a side room, where a large table greeted them. Instead of a table for dining or studying, it wasn’t a solid surface but rather a sizable dish of sand packed down to form a flat, even area.

White Lily traced her fingers along the large, annotated map of Earthbread hanging on the wall. Despite the shapes of everything being unrefined, the placement of their nations were accurately marked.

“You stand in the Archives of Abundance.” Golden Cheese said suddenly, “consider it a privilege. It’s not for the eyes of my subjects, you see.”

“Don’t flatter yourself” Dark Cacao muttered, keeping his arms fully crossed while he observed the room step by step.

“What purpose does this serve under your throne?” Hollyberry asked, just as wary and angered as before.

Golden Cheese’s fingers traced the shelf.

“Within these walls is where I keep everything. As the years progress, I must preserve my kingdom’s history and all my memories. Time can be cruel to them.”

Her memories?

“That begs the question.” Hollyberry scoffed, “how old are you?”

Golden Cheese looked to Hollyberry, clutching her chest with drama.

“My, have things changed! I was under the impression you should NEVER ask a lady such a thing.”

“At least three hundred.” White Lily answered, “You don’t have a lineage, do you? You founded and have been the ruler of this kingdom all this time?”

Golden Cheese didn’t deny it, a smug expression crossed her face and Hollyberry’s eyes widened.

“Perhaps I should start from the beginning.”

Golden Cheese grabbed a scroll from the shelves. She gingerly untied it, then nodded at seeing the contents.

“This is it.”

She pulled out a chair for Pure Vanilla to sit down in at the table, and everyone else found their own seats as well. Pure Vanilla’s orchid took in Dark Cacao sitting directly across from him, looking at Golden Cheese with his guard up, and Hollyberry joining him.

White Lily took a seat next to Pure Vanilla, taking his hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Golden Cheese crouched to the side of the table, where a circular slot resided, and slid the scroll inside. With a turn, she locked the scroll into place.

Despite not touching it, images seemed to draw themselves into the sand on their own.

Meanwhile, Golden Cheese closed her eyes and took a breath, and a still image of someone standing in the desert formed, holding a spear.

Pure Vanilla felt like a spectator of a much more elaborate shadow theatre than he had seen before.

Golden Cheese’s eyes opened, and the glow of her irises slowly dissipated.

“When I was young, I had nothing.” Golden Cheese began, “I didn’t dwell on such things, however. It meant nothing to lose, and everything to gain.”

The images began to MOVE like a drawing in motion. The figure slid down one of the dunes and took off in a run.

“I was an eager and ambitious treasure hunter, before. And I had heard of a treasure in this desert. But it wasn’t like finding my spear or anything I had ever found before.”

The figure leapt and slashed. She used her spear to ward off jelly worms, jackals, and snakes as the tale continued, often in defense of others along her way.

“Oh no, this was much more interesting. This was a promise of riches beyond the imagination and I was going to chase it tell my last breath.”

The image of Golden Cheese stumbled, but leaped again, this time defending a large cheese bird. She silently catches her breath, then ruffled the feathers of the plump bird with an exhausted grin, and little chicks popped out from under it and jumped in happiness.

“I spoke with the locals,” Golden Cheese continued, as the sand image of herself tossed the birds seeds, “and they warned me of the perils of the ruins, again and again. I was not easily swayed, I had a mission. This treasure haunted my dreams, like a calling. And for some strange reason, my heart told me it was going to be the last treasure I would ever search for.”

Golden Cheese swept her hand, and images on the sand disappeared.

Different ones formed: the figure reaching up with trembling hands, reaching for an upside down rounded triangle.

“I found a cavern underground, searched tirelessly, and at last I had found it. The jewel spoke to me before I could touch it.”

The figure stopped and jolted back in fear in the sand drawing, stumbling to the ground.

“It called itself the Light of Abundance. ‘Well done, hero.’ It said, ‘Your ambition, and greed for all that glitters is strong enough to be the holder of my power. Take this jewel, and you will never slumber in hunger or fear for your life again’”

The sand image depicted Golden Cheese rising to stand, hesitantly taking steps forward.

“The Light of Abundance spoke to me through this…a Soul Jam.” She said, tapping the jewel in question on her crown. Then continued to quote, “‘I see your goal, to bring prosperity to this land. Take it.”

The sand mural of Golden Cheese touched the Soul Jam before her. Her appearance changed, she sprouted wings and the Soul Jam became her crown. Her mural self looked down, then grinned at her new form with a twirl. Rather than simple attire, she wore a dress and her hair had grown to cascade down to her ankles.

“‘In exchange for this power, heed my words: you must allow yourself to be guided by Truth, by Freedom, by Passion, and by Resolution when the time comes. Across this land, there will be others with souls like your own. Guide them, and your light will shine brightest, it’s the only way to ensure your eternal rule and have the fullest extent of my power!’”

The figure took off into a run and flapped her wings to soar into the air.

The Archives echoed with her laughter, despite Golden Cheese remaining quiet.

The real Golden Cheese hugged her arms to herself and chuckled with no joy.

“And then, the years went by.”

The sand depicted a new scene, a small image Golden Cheese upon her throne, and the city growing around her.

“All the power at my fingertips allowed me to grow my city in the harsh desert, my kingdom of prosperity. The soul jam gave me powers, wings, and yes. Slowly but surely my aging came to a halt. I do my best, but we still are plagued by monsters and threats to our land. Smoked Cheese and Mozzarella work wonders to shield us, but it’s not enough.”

The city in the sand mural was suddenly surrounded by monsters, larger and more threatening. A few buildings vanished.

“I refuse to work so hard for those ungrateful. The cornerstone of my land is the treasures within. Including my people. So every soul is judged under the same merit. This is how I determine who gets to be my citizens.”

The mural changed, and it became the throne room. One by one, souls were being judged by different people as Golden Cheese watched from her throne. Her legs were crossed, and she had her chin propped in her hand out of boredom.

“I’ve kept a close eye on the souls being judged, but none of them were what I was looking for…that is, like mine.”

The sand Golden Cheese stood, and with a yellow glow, her soul bursted out of her chest. Several gatekeepers tried to contain it by condensing it into an orb, but the orb shattered to be free again and again.

“Mine, that radiates power and cannot be contained. Until…”

Golden Cheese looked to Pure Vanilla.

“Burnt Cheese judged yours. I have never seen another soul so powerful, to break a conjured physical form. I thought for sure you were a holder of a Soul Jam… I thought you already had one.”

Golden Cheese groaned in frustration, then swept her hand the sand herself to disrupt the display with a gust of air.

“But alas, you don’t. I searched your soul, through your memories even,” and Pure Vanilla sharply inhaled at her words, he found himself clenching his fist where it held his staff, “just to be sure you weren’t feigning ignorance in the throne room. But-“

“You what?” Hollyberry gasped, “you… you can’t just DO THAT!”

White Lily rose in anger, taking her hand away from Pure Vanilla, “You could have killed him! At the very least, move ONE THING out of place and Pure Vanilla’s mind could have been broken beyond repair! Intruding in the mind like that… it was deemed a forbidden art!”

“Oh calm down, he’s fine.” Golden Cheese replied, waving it off, “it wasn’t some measly spell with room for error, I had full control the entire-“

“Golden Cheese.” Pure Vanilla cut off.

She turned to him, and Pure Vanilla took a shaken breath.

“Do not speak for me. Don’t you DARE try to trivialize what you just put me through.”

Golden Cheese looked at him incredulously.

“I had no intention of doing such a thing.” She explained, “But what matters now is that somewhere out there is a Soul Jam! One that is YOURS. And others! If they fall into the wrong hands, it can be used to wreak havoc on Earthbread.”

Dark Cacao asked through gritted teeth, “How can we be sure that this power is not something you wish to gain for yourself?”

Golden Cheese turned to him with an unamused expression.

“Even if your story is true,“ Hollyberry cut in, “You watched Pure Vanilla’s writhing body in the throne room and didn’t stop yourself from prying apart his soul!”

“You… PRIDE yourself in greed and your treasures shamelessly,” Dark Cacao pressed on, rising as well, “and you expect us not to believe that if we lead you to the gem… you wouldn’t take it and use it for your own gain?”

His words held weight, stunning the room into silence.

Golden Cheese chuckled absently before making work of withdrawing the scroll from the table.

“Before any of you existed, I was waiting for this. For all of you. Three hundred years… of warding off monsters, enduring loss and triumph, searching endlessly, knowing I would never be whole unless I found someone like me.”

She slid the scroll back onto its shelf with a sigh. Golden Cheese turned back to the group with a serious expression, taking off her crown.

“I am not asking you all to trust me, but to think of the future. You want an alliance of kingdoms? You want them to SURVIVE?”

She turned to Pure Vanilla specifically. She shook her crown for emphasis.

“This. This is how we do it.” She finished.

Pure Vanilla looked back at her. Her sincerity was impossible to ignore… but he wasn’t going into an agreement with her aimlessly.

“Sign a treaty so your kingdom opens borders and can be added to our established trade routes.” He said calmly, “we can discuss further conditions, but that is my terms.”

His three companions were stunned. Dark Cacao in particular looked appalled by this.

“Our?” Golden Cheese laughed, then shook her head, “there is NO guarantee that the other Soul Jams are going to be wielded by someone in THEIR kingdoms.” And she gestured at Hollyberry and Dark Cacao with that.

“I have loyalty to my allies, not to you.” Pure Vanilla said, firmer, “If this Soul Jam is going to benefit you, this is the cost. If you want ANY sort of association with the Vanilla Kingdom, it’s involving them. I am not going against my allies for a queen I most certainly do not trust.”

Golden Cheese’s eyes narrowed, putting her crown back on her head. She looked to the other people in the room in scrutiny.

“Oh really?-” She began, and she looked like she had plenty to say on the matter, but she halted her speech.

From above, muffled through the cheese stone, they heard the sound of horns.

Golden Cheese stood straighter.

“…what could possibly…?”

The Archives shook, Pure Vanilla rose and touched the stone of the wall.

A definite rumble.

Golden Cheese grabbed her spear, and with a glow of her gem, the Archives opened.

“To the surface, everyone.” She ordered.

————————————

Golden Cheese ascended the stairs and once everyone was above ground, she closed the entrance with a flick of her wrist. Her throne assumed to normal position.

“What is happening?” Golden Cheese demanded to the throne room.

From below, her subjects were roaring with commotion. A cheese bird fluttered and hovered in front of her.

“Your Majezty! The wall! A colozzal zandworm is attacking the zouth wall!”

“Are you sure?” She asked.

A Marzipan approached. With a glow of its eyes, a large green projection appeared over the Queen.

The wall had a sizable hole, and outside of it, a large jellyworm continually bashed the wall. The cracking became bigger and bigger, and the worm showed no signs of stopping its assault.

“The size of it…” she muttered.

“Yez! It’z angry! Zmoked Cheeze and Mozzarella ordered everyone to take cover. The wall could break any minute!”

Golden Cheese stiffened.

“Where are they?”

“Defending the city! They sent a diztrezz zignal!”

Golden Cheese’s expression hardened.

“Thank you.”

She turned to see her subjects down below. With a slam of her spear, she demanded the attention of the room.

“Everyone in the palace is to shelter themselves immediately! As your Goddess, I will take care of this threat! Marzipans, initiate protocol for a breach!”

The throne room boomed with a round of applause, but it became staggered quickly as Marzipans began to appear and urge the citizens to safety.

Golden Cheese turned to Pure Vanilla and his companions.

“Stand back.” She ordered.

They obliged giving her space, and she spread out her wings in a quick flick. Her Soul Jam glowed again, and this time, the top of the palace pyramid began to glimmer. Instead of the ceiling coming to a peak, it expanded for a square hole to open.

“You all should heed my orders as well.” She said to Pure Vanilla, serious and hardened, “you may not trust me, but you won’t be able to trust anyone if you all become corpses. I have a sandworm to slaughter.”

Golden Cheese closed her eyes and walked backwards. She allowed herself to free fall off the throne platform.

She disappeared off the edge.

“Golden Cheese!” Pure Vanilla shouted.

With a gust of air, Golden Cheese soared. Her wings flapped, and she propelled into the air and out of the palace through the new exit point in the roof.

“Hold on! S-She can actually FLY?!” Hollyberry sputtered.

Pure Vanilla stared in awe at the ceiling as well, then shook his head to focus.

———————————

The city was chaos, everyone was getting to shelter, abandoning their carriages and horses, and leaving everything they owned behind. At the entrance of the palace, projections were still shining in the night sky, images of the worm in real time trying to snake it’s way into the wall, gnawing with its teeth the edges of the chasm it was creating with brute force.

Pure Vanilla took a breath, calming himself from the helplessness of being too far from the destruction.

He held out his hand and pulsed a calming energy into the air. The horses in the streets around him slowed, despite the citizens running in a frenzy, and they took the chance to grab horses by the reins.

They took horses and galloped through the streets, to the site of the commotion.

“We have to help her!” Pure Vanilla called out, dismounting first.

“How?” Dark Cacao asked, dismounting as well, “she took our weapons.”

“Grab new ones,” White Lily answered pointing behind Hollyberry, “there were some vendors with weapons on our way here, maybe they can be of use slaying the beast!”

“Dark Cacao, how’s this one?” Hollyberry asked.

Dark Cacao turned, and she already found some. She ran up next to him, brandishing a hefty golden shield, to showed him another golden weapon, he pulled it out of its sheath to reveal a jewel encrusted longsword.

He took it and examined it with a wrinkling nose.

“It’ll do.” He grumbled with an eye roll, “although, doesn’t this feel like stealing?”

“It’s borrowing!”

“No, It’s stealing.”

Another boom, and the worm’s teeth began to poke through the stone.

The wall boomed again.

It pushed and it pushed until the sandworm hit the ground, successfully breaking the wall and sending a pulse rippling through the city in a heavy gust of dust.

Pure Vanilla’s throat stung breathing in the sand, and he coughed harshly. His staff couldn’t see through the thick air, but he still tried to look.

In a brief moment of stillness, the dust settled and the worm’s mouth came into his view. It drooled and snarled, Pure Vanilla clenched his fists over his staff.

He felt a gust of wind blow his hair out of his face.

Fight it!

You’re dead.

Give up.

Pure Vanilla recognized the smell of smoke, the disorientation, and he felt his shoulder get grabbed.

Smoked Cheese pulled him back, expelling smoke from his staff, trembling with bared teeth. Pure Vanilla fell to his knees, his vision blurred.

“Your Majesty!” Smoked Cheese called out, “I-I have the sandworm frozen, but… I… I can’t-!”

Smoked Cheese fell to his knees.

He clutched his side, stained with red and scratched.

In a blur, she swooped over them.

Golden Cheese snarled, she tried to stab into its head with her spear. It didn’t pierce its flesh.

She shook her head, then fluttered her wings, gaining its attention. She circled it in the air.

“Get to safety, you two! And YOU!” She snarled at the worm, “Try and catch me, you bastard!”

You two?

Pure Vanilla rose to stand, and White Lily began to sprout vines from the ground. The fragrance of lilies wafted through the air.

“Heal him, Pure Vanilla!” She shouted, and Pure Vanilla was brought back to his senses.

“SMOKED CHEESE!” Mozzarella screamed, rushing to his side, “Smoked Cheese!”

The smoke of his staff dissipated, and Smoked Cheese’s stared at the ground with glassy eyes.

“I… I couldn’t... It’s in the walls.”

The wound was massive, the worm bit his torso. Pure Vanilla put his hands on the wound and pulsed his magic into him body. Mozzarella took Smoked Cheese’s free hand and bowed her head.

“I need to focus!” He said to White Lily.

She nodded firmly, then rushed to the distracted sandworm.

“I’ve failed.” Smoked Cheese whispered.

“Stop talking, you fool!” Mozzarella scolded, lip quivering.

Meanwhile, Dark Cacao tried to slice with his sword, and it almost seemed to bounce off with each powerful strike. The worm surged in anger, and Hollyberry shielded him from its wrath, but still got knocked back against Dark Cacao.

They crashed into the side of a cheese stone building, and Holly barely held back the Jellyworm as it sunk its teeth around the shield.

“It’s… it’s impermeable!” Hollyberry shouted, trying to brace the shield away with her foot.

“No it’s NOT!” Dark Cacao snarled as he did the same, leg trembling as the he gradually pushed the Jellyworm’s head away from trapping them against the wall, all with his own strength, “there’s a weakness somewhere!”

White Lily casted vines to wrapped around the body of the worm, then blasts of green light with her staff to no avail.

It only got its attention off Hollyberry and Dark Cacao.

Pure Vanilla took a breath, his magic coarsing through his veins already, then swooped his staff overhead.

A dome of shimmering light encased them, including White Lily. The sandworm bashed and squealed trying to get to them, and White Lily constricted the vines tighter to no avail.

Pure Vanilla swallowed, his magic was diverted, his healing was slowed now.

Hollyberry tried to use her shield to stop the Jellyworm from its pursuit, barely keeping it at bay with each slam against its array of teeth.

The lucidity in Smoked Cheese’s eyes was leaving.

“I’m going as fast as I can, Smoked Cheese,” Pure Vanilla assured, “but you need to hold on!”

Mozzarella grabbed Smoked Cheese’s shoulders and shook him with a cruel amount of force that made Pure Vanilla’s stomach twist.

“Has greed failed you?! Are you the pitiful man in the footnotes of our kingdom’s history who crumbles like this? Or are you going to survive and make us greater? MAKE THE CHOICE!”

That reignited his eyes, and to Pure Vanilla’s shock, Smoked Cheese’s body accepted the magic quicker with his newly regained life force.

Golden Cheese from above rose her hands, summoning a swarm of golden arrows in the direction of the Jelly Sandworm. The arrows lodged into the creature’s body, but didn’t weaken it. It became enraged and resisted the restraint even more. With a violent smash of its head, Pure Vanilla’s shield cracked.

“I…I can’t hold this forever!” Pure Vanilla called out, “I… have to heal him, I-“

The crack expanded across the shield.

A familiar war cry snapped him out of his panic, and the slamming against the shield stopped.

Pure Vanilla’s orchid shot a look to outside of his barrier.

Dark Cacao had abandoned his sword. He wrapped his hands to be coiled tightly by the vines, and in a feat of otherworldly strength, was pulling the Jelly Sandworm away from the magical barrier.

With a ragged breath, he jerked the beast almost five times his size away from Pure Vanilla, despite its cries and thrashing. His plum purple eyes were ignited with fury and determination, his feet were firmly planted on the ground, and Pure Vanilla was hit with a breathlessness that paled every moment of awe of his entire life in comparison.

“WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?” Dark Cacao snarled at him with a desperation and anger that Pure Vanilla found borderline terrifying.

Pure Vanilla gasped. He pulled all of his magic back to himself from the shield and surged it into Smoked Cheese.

The color returned to his skin, and Pure Vanilla and Mozzarella wasted no time gently pulling a half conscious Smoked Cheese to his feet.

The chaos continued. White Lily’s staff shook trying to keep up with the snapping vines and repairing them, Dark Cacao took firm steps to pull it back, Hollyberry kept the creature’s hungry mouth at bay, and Golden Cheese continued a barrage of arrows.

Its body… it twisted from the struggle against the never-ending vines and Pure Vanilla could see the black and yellow sections were some kind of outer shell. With each movement, he could distinguish that between the plates of color there was access to the flesh underneath.

“It’s armored!” He called out, “pierce underneath the outer shell, between the piece!”

Dark Cacao’s eyes widened in realization. He nodded firmly, then pulled the vines harsher with a grunt, bunching more vine back to himself. Like the reins of a steed, the Jellyworm was under his will, became bended to his will, literally folding backwards.

“There, I see an opening. Hold it still!” Golden Cheese called out from overhead.

Dark Cacao’s eyes widened. Pure Vanilla didn’t understand why, until it was too late.

Golden Cheese dived into the creature, piercing between two of its middle sections of shell. The Jelly Sandworm screeched out of pain, then convulsed and whipped its body in a last, furious attempt to escape the spear driving deeper, curling inward out of pain.

The vines that Dark Cacao held snapped into pieces, and the beast squealed to charge at him.

Dark Cacao didn’t dodge it. It hit him straight on, sending him flying through the air.

Straight into the direction of the wall.

Pure Vanilla covered his mouth. Dark Cacao disappeared in the blink of an eye, through the air like a rag doll, and all that remained was the grotesque sound of a crunch in the distance where he had to have landed.

The Sandworm didn’t get to escape, White Lily’s vines finally got the beast pinned to the ground. Hollyberry jumped and used her weight to drive her shield into the wound, bashing it over and over again. Golden Cheese held it down with her spearand finally, Hollyberry severed the creature in two.

There was cheering, Pure Vanilla didn’t know from who. Mozzarella pulled Smoked Cheese away from Pure Vanilla’s arms.

“Find your friend, I can handle this.” She said quietly. It was pitying, out of condolences, and it made Pure Vanilla sick.

Pure Vanilla nodded, his legs were already moving faster than his head could consider what could have become of Dark Cacao.

—————————

Past the rubble, past the dust, past the ruins and the destruction in the darkness of the night, Pure Vanilla ran as fast as he could.

“DARK CACAO!” He shouted, nearly tripping on his own sandals.

His heart became erratic, with each hammer against his chest he feared a heart attack would come over him before he found Dark Cacao.

He could save him. He was here.

Pure Vanilla’s vision blurred, he couldn’t stop himself, his breathing was too fast and he found himself gasping for air.

Tears rolled down his face and it was too SILENT aside from his steps.

“DARK CACAO!”

He stopped at the wall, and he couldn’t find him. It was dark, it was cluttered, it was impossible to see.

He HAD to find him, he had to heal him. Pure Vanilla wasn’t LEAVING without him.

“DARK CACAO, SAY SOMETHING!”

Pure Vanilla tripped, and his body slammed to the ground, the sharp rocks stabbed into his palms. His staff clattered somewhere, and everything was dark.

Pure Vanilla rose and tried to listen for breath, for SOMETHING.

“DARK CACAO!!!”

Pure Vanilla’s hand tugged before he could take off into a run again.

“I’m here.”

Even without his sense of sight, Pure Vanilla knew by his voice.

He moved and a coarse, steady hand took his.

But he was injured, Dark Cacao was injured, and Pure Vanilla’s hands were on him in an instant. His senses went crazy, he sensed many broken bones, forming bruises, and punctured pieces inside him.

He didn’t have long in this condition, and Pure Vanilla was once again stunned he was standing while enduring so much pain.

Pure Vanilla called the light and pulsed all the energy he had, pressing his hands onto the junctions of where his shoulders met his neck. He didn’t have enough magic to give, he tapped into his own energy to give Dark Cacao enough to just survive.

Dark Cacao weakly tried to grab Pure Vanilla’s wrist and pry his hand off.

“Stop, you shouldn’t-“

“Dark Cacao, for the love of all things holy, shut your mouth.” Pure Vanilla shuddered, “Just… stop talking.”

Dark Cacao tensed not from his words, but the pain of almost every part of his back, shoulders, and arms snapping into back into place at once. He

He doubled over, grunting from the pain and letting out an obscene slur of profanities, and Pure Vanilla’s legs gave out at the same time as well.

Despite everything, Dark Cacao was still supporting Pure Vanilla’s body to keep him from collapsing entirely to the hard ground. Instead, he pulled Pure Vanilla into his lap as he slumped against the wall and slowly let himself sit on the ground.

The amount of magic Pure Vanilla used to ease his pain was disorienting, to the point it dizzied him, but it did the job. It healed Dark Cacao faster than Pure Vanilla had ever healed fatal wounds before. He leaned forward, and he felt his head come to a stop.

Their foreheads were touching, he realized, and Pure Vanilla swallowed.

“I’m sorry, you’re leg is still broken, I think it was you landing-“

“You’re apologizing for that.” Dark Cacao said, his voice as deadpan yet indicating he was alive, well, and perhaps winded. Pure Vanilla was used to that, and a fondness washed over him.

“Yes, I am. Because you can’t stand now. And I’m… frankly, I’m not going to try to heal that… or stand either.”

“Good call. If you want your staff is- hang on.”

Pure Vanilla swallowed, and with a struggled shifting of Dark Cacao’s body, his staff was pushed into his palms.

The orchid shifted orchid opened, excitedly, and Dark Cacao came into his view, healing any parts of Pure Vanilla’s heart that threatened to be crushed. It wasn’t a trick, he was here and alive, albeit weak.

His hair was a mess, curtaining over half his face, but still shining from the distant light of the city.

Pure Vanilla didn’t hesitate, he took one of his hands away from his staff to brush back his hair from his face… his beautiful face that gave him stoic yet soft looks and serious eyes that bewitched Pure Vanilla from the beginning.

Pure Vanilla tucked his hair behind his ear, then skidded his fingers down to hold his cheek, shuddering from the gentle prickle of stubble. Dark Cacao’s white lashes fluttered from the sensation of the touch, leaning in slightly, but guarded.

Their noses brushed, and Pure Vanilla felt his lips be tickled by Dark Cacao’s hitched breathing, warm and gentle and everything Pure Vanilla wanted.

He didn’t stop himself, he didn’t think, he listened to his heart and their lips grazed. The little contact between them set Pure Vanilla’s core on fire, and Pure Vanilla was sick of not giving enough.

He wasn’t afraid anymore.

Not of Cacao.

Not of this.

The fear of losing him and finding his body trumped all of that and Pure Vanilla hated himself for needing that to be the final push.

Pure Vanilla scrunched his brows and kissed him, like it would be the only one they would ever have. Dark Cacao’s breath hitched as Pure Vanilla gingerly leaned his staff against the wall and pulled Dark Cacao closer by the shoulder.

Pure Vanilla’s lips didn’t feel anything. Dark Cacao wasn’t kissing back.

Pure Vanilla gingery broke the kiss, sighing deeply to collect himself. His feelings could have changed. It could have been a mistake, to just assume-

Dark Cacao’s arms pulled Pure Vanilla closer, further into his lap, his fingers spreading to hold him by the waist. His lips gingerly pressed onto the center of Pure Vanilla’s forehead, directly on his birthmark. He remembered over a campfire Dark Cacao in passing called it a guiding star, rendering Pure Vanilla silent the rest of the evening.

Dark Cacao tilted his head, and they kissed again, fully against the wall, and everything became real and everything Pure Vanilla felt bubbled to the top. His chest was going to burst any second, being held by Dark Cacao like this, but if THIS was the cause, he couldn’t care less. Pure Vanilla felt warmth blossom with every touch, and Dark Cacao in turn snaked his fingers through Pure Vanilla’s hair to pull him even closer, deepening the kiss further. The bitter taste of Cacao intoxicated him.

The fatigue of battle turned their touching languid, and they parted once they were both completely breathless, to the point it borderline hurt Pure Vanilla’s chest. He quietly panted, rested his forehead against Dark Cacao’s while he did the same. It took everything not to kiss him again.

There was time for that later, when Pure Vanilla wasn’t on the verge of tears and literally fainting on the spot. When they could hold a conversation.

Dark Cacao shifted and buried his face in the crook of Pure Vanilla’s neck, and Pure Vanilla had to suppress a jolt at the feeling.

“I thought… I thought you died.” Pure Vanilla choked out, his fingers lacing through soft black locks of hair.

“I didn’t.” Dark Cacao murmured.

Pure Vanilla swallowed. He didn’t. That was all that mattered. He firmly nodded, more to reassure himself.

“You didn’t.” He repeated, and that was all he needed for the moment.

Chapter Text

“What are you doing up here?”

Pure Vanilla knew who it was, he didn’t bother pulling himself up from lying down on the roof’s incline.

“Looking at the stars, before the flower dies today.” He replied simply, stroking the petals of the eye orchid. It was getting weaker, “I didn’t realize there were so many… it’s beautiful.”

His brother took a seat next to him, and Pure Vanilla picked up in the corner of his vision Vanilla Orchid pulling his knees close to himself. He was terrified of heights, but he never let Pure Vanilla be alone on the roof if he could help it.

They stared up at the stars together. It was quiet, serene, and beautiful. Pure Vanilla heard crickets, felt the cool breeze on his face… it was nice.

Too nice to last.

This had already happened.

“I’ll never forgive myself for forgetting your face.” Pure Vanilla admitted.

Vanilla Orchid chuckled warmly, and it was too warm for what Pure Vanilla deserved.

“You didn’t have the ability to see too long before he was gone. He could never fault you for that.”

Pure Vanilla swallowed.

He. Not I.

Vanilla Orchid looked down at him, smiled, and ruffled his hair. He always used to. It bothered Pure Vanilla then, but now it was just something he yearned to have.

“You remember his voice.” Vanilla Orchid, or whatever apparition this was, continued with a sigh, “His actions… his actual words he said, don’t you?”

“Of course I do.”

Vanilla Orchid raised to stand and offered a hand. He shined in the moonlight, not affected by hunger, stress, or overworking himself.

That meant it wasn’t him.

“But do you remember your home?”

Again, your home. Not our.

Pure Vanilla frowned.

He gingerly pulled himself up, and Vanilla Orchid took his hand. They began to walk, but Pure Vanilla had no fear.

The scenery changed, he felt the earth beneath his feet instead of the edge of the roof.

The little house stood small in the distance, glowing blue inside. It was desolated, clouded in darkness, and the path was almost completely gone under their feet from drought, dust, and time.

“You’re not my brother,” Pure Vanilla said firmly, “what are you?”

The person shook their head, then gestured to the landscape.

“It’s about time you revisit your beginnings.” They said, not answering the question.

“What are you?”

They didn’t answer, only gave an enigmatic smile.

—————————

The turquoise water of the large lotus fountain in the square glistened against the rising sun. The day hadn’t started for most of the citizens, so the city was still asleep as Pure Vanilla and White Lily enjoyed the quiet, putting their shoes to the side and pulling up their robes to allow their legs to be submerged to mid calf.

“It keeps happening to me too,” White Lily said quietly in response to Pure Vanilla recounting his dream from the previous night. She slowly shifted her legs to glide through the water, “a repeated dream, I’m surrounded by wild grown flowers… but also thorns… and there’s a voice calling me to find it. A flash of green light and then I’m awake. Is it… do you think it’s like Golden Cheese? Dreams beckoning us to find something?”

Pure Vanilla pursed his lips.

The other topic of discussion that kept occurring among trade agreements was how to find the soul jams. There were five, to Golden Cheese’s knowledge, of different virtues and it starts with a beckoning, a call, and with Golden Cheese, it was dreams.

“I don’t know.” Pure Vanilla answered, “despite how difficult it would be to get to now, my dreams keep occurring in the same place… for yours, is there anything identifiable about that field of flowers?”

“What stuck out to me was the Madonna Lilies… my instincts tell me the Fig Forest. Maybe further… at most a few days from the Vanilla Kingdom and I’ll be able to investigate fully. They only grow in so many places. But your old home all the way in WholeGrainia? It’s been abandoned for years, I should protect you.”

“No, it’s something I have to do myself.”

“Maybe Hollyberry and Dark Cacao-“

“Hollyberry has to return to her kingdom for her wedding preparations. And Dark Cacao…”

Pure Vanilla sighed deeply, keeping his feelings in check, “…he was almost assassinated. He’s almost been killed several times. He- They’ve done so much already, I can’t ask them to guard me through uncharted territory like that.”

White Lily hummed at that, Pure Vanilla shifted from her knowing tone.

“What?”

White Lily took a moment to respond, audibly wincing in hesitation.

“Alright.. um… I must ask… what is the story between you and him?”

Pure Vanilla’s jam went cold. His instinct was to say ‘nothing!’ or ‘he’s a good friend’ or feign ignorance… but he didn’t have the heart to lie to her.

“Why do you ask?” He said quietly instead.

“Pure Vanilla… I overheard you both in the cave the night Dark Cacao was attacked.”

Pure Vanilla’s eyes widened.

“It was about to be my shift,” she continued nervously, “so my internal clock- I was awake and heard you declare it was mutual. And then I started paying attention… he looks at you with the most adoring eyes, hangs onto your every word… But lately you both have been closed off from each other.”

Pure Vanilla took a deep breath, as full as his chest could take, then exhaled with a shudder.

“I kissed him.” He admitted, trembling, “I kissed him and I shouldn’t have, and I KNOW I ruined everything.”

“When?!” She squeaked.

“When I found him after the battle with the sandworm.”

That was days ago. Since Pure Vanilla used all of the natural magic he had to heal Smoked Cheese, he tapped into the essence of his own life force for Dark Cacao: what kept his heart beating, his skin flushed with color, and his ability to breathe. He used his hands to heal him, and with the kiss breathed the last of his strength he could. It wasn’t even with intention to push himself that far, but Pure Vanilla didn’t regret it. He only regretted the aftermath of White Lily needed to care for him.

They fell quiet. White Lily seemed genuinely stunned, and Pure Vanilla wondered if it was too much to put on her at once.

“Do you want my advice as a friend or an advisor?” She asked. “because as an advisor… I’d have to say that was a very… unwise decision. This could be bad. If word of this got to anyone, got to his father, who knows what could happen in terms of our alliance with his nation? Dark Cacao could suffer greatly in terms of his future-“

“White Lily, I know that. I KNOW.”

Truly, Pure Vanilla had pondered all of that. It terrified him to no end something so selfish he’d done could hurt Dark Cacao. The Cacao King… he was cold, callous, and Dark Cacao never spoke of him treating him otherwise.

“But as your friend,” White Lily said, softer than before, “l don’t want you to get hurt… but I don’t want you to have regrets either.”

Pure Vanilla sighed

“Is that advice?” He asked with frustration.

“My advice is to speak with him. I still don’t know how I feel about this… you and him… but… see it through if he makes you happy.”

Pure Vanilla swallowed, and White Lily put her hands over his and squeezed it.

“You didn’t ruin anything, I’m sure of it. You’re being too unforgiving with yourself. At the very least, you should resolve the matter.”

“You’re… you’re right…” he muttered, “ it just hasn’t felt like the right time…”

“It might never feel like it, Pure Vanilla, but you must.” White Lily assured.

————————————

The idea of how his first kiss would occur wasn’t something he gave much importance before.

Dark Cacao assumed it would be in a circumstance that lacked a strong amount of feelings or attachment: a passing impulse with one of the watchers his age, a tryst not meant to last because of his status, or even a sealing of an alliance through marriage if he had to.

But no, it happened with someone he cared about. It happened with Pure Vanilla in a foreign land when he was hurt beyond measure.

It was a blur. Pure Vanilla became limp, Dark Cacao rushed him to everyone else, and thanks to a life powder elixir and additional healing from White Lily, Pure Vanilla recovered swiftly.

And since then, he hadn’t had a moment alone with Pure Vanilla to clear up how to move forward. Or rather, Dark Cacao didn’t allow there to be.

He’d done enough.

Dark Cacao collapsed on a bench aside from Golden Cheese’s sparring grounds, having just finished sparring with yet another dummy until it was in pieces. He huffed out an exhausted breath, gritted his teeth once again reading the last letter he received from home.

Prince Dark Cacao,

Last night, the prisoner had arrived at our walls. She was quiet, too quiet, and she was discovered to be already dead in the carriage she was transported in. The mortician’s report found poison within her system.

In fear of her traitorous secrets being extracted, she must have drove herself to the grave. It would make sense, she poisoned you. It is not uncommon for assassins to take the route of death when the idea of facing worse consequences from their employer or even justice lurks around the corner. We have yet to identify her or her coconspirators. These things take time, but I am working diligently. Rest assured, I will do everything in my power to fight for the crown.

I am relieved that you are alright after such an incident, but the king has been stressed at hearing about it and has reiterated: you have to be sharp. You are the sole heir of the Cacao Bloodline. Your life is not yours to lose.

Let me know if there is anything I can assist you with.

Stay safe, my prince

General Galão

Dark Cacao folded the letter and shoved the envelope in his pocket. He raked his fingers through his hair. He tried to focus on the efforts of sharpening his blade.

It was true.

His life wasn’t his. He wasn’t supposed to be desiring someone outside of his kingdom, a king no less.

But he couldn’t stop thinking about the feeling of Pure Vanilla’s lips, connecting perfectly with his own like a puzzle. Like they were meant to complete each other (Dark Cacao inwardly cringed at THAT thought, how smitten he was). The softness of his pale blonde hair laced through his fingertips. The almost searing touch of his hands holding Dark Cacao, clinging to him with fervor yet a tenderness he didn’t deserve.

The point was, Dark Cacao re-experienced the moment in his mind countless times. It felt perverted although it was hardly anything.

He couldn’t sleep from the turmoil of it all. After a barely eaten breakfast, he was practicing with his sword like a maniac just to think of anything else. With failure, of course.

He switched to using a polishing cloth.

The kiss made him happy, of course it did. Immeasurably, but with strings attached. His heart soared, but it was fluttering too close to the sun, and he was awaiting the moment when he got burned. After all, Pure Vanilla fell unconscious immediately afterwards and Dark Cacao wasn’t even sure if he was going to remember doing such a thing. And if he did, he was probably delirious and not thinking clearly in the moment it occurred.

Dark Cacao was preparing for a rejection. One that either Pure Vanilla was going to be gentle with or he would have to instigate himself. He could imagine it viscerally: Pure Vanilla would apologize profusely, say it was a terrible mistake he made and that was all their-

Relationship didn’t feel like the right word to use, did it?

Whatever it was between them, it wasn’t going further but they both valued it.

Dark Cacao would accept that with grace, pride intact, all while forcing himself to not do anything otherwise. Then they would be cordial, go back to their respective kingdoms, and Dark Cacao would busy himself until his feelings died.

But on the off chance that Pure Vanilla DID have confidence in his feelings for him…Dark Cacao wasn’t HOW he was going to look him in the eye and muster the strength to end things.

He had to, didn’t he?

…

Didn’t he?

“DARK CACAO!” a voice shrieked in his ear.

He jolted, and Hollyberry leaned away from him to straighten up with a grin.

“Hollyberry Cookie, I have a WEAPON in my hands!” He snarled.

“Well, I tried to get your attention! Several times! Goodness, your brooding is impenetrable.”

She looked to the pile of wood that was formerly several training dummies.

“Is everything alright?”

No.

“I’m just… preoccupied.”

“With what?”

“It’s… hard to explain.”

Hollyberry pursed her lips, but didn’t press further.

Dark Cacao sheathed his sword with a huff, grateful for that.

“Ready to leave paradise?” Hollyberry asked instead.

In relation to the mission, Golden Cheese agreed to a treaty in gratitude, and for days they have been cleaning the destruction, going over conditions of the trade agreements, and mapping the entire continent with accuracy. So all was well on that front.

Dark Cacao pulled his hair into a low and lazy bun, just to get it out of his face.

“Absolutely. I’m not thrilled, however, that we will have a ‘goddess’ in our party.”

Marzipans were already cleaning the remains of Dark Cacao’s sparring, so he and Hollyberry wasted no time making their way to the meeting spot.

“She’s a bit conceited,” Hollyberry admitted as they left the arena, “but her heart is in the right place. Some time outside of her own domain and seeing the world once again will do her some good, bring her down to Earthbread. The Vanilla Kingdom is beautiful this time of year, by the way.”

Dark Cacao nodded. Upon map reading, Pure Vanilla concluded that his kingdom was the closest to Golden Cheese’s and the consensus was made for it to be the next destination. There, the finalizing of their treaties under his court’s guidance could be done. Then, Hollyberry and Dark Cacao could embark on the journey back to their own homelands.

A tweeting emerged from above, and a blueberry bird (different from the one that gave Dark Cacao letters. This one was a deeper indigo color) perched on Hollyberry’s head. It leaned down to show her a hot pink envelope in its beak.

With a hum, Hollyberry broke the seal. As they continued to walk down the cheese stone road, past a busy bazaar, she read the letter.

“Everything alright?” Dark Cacao asked when she began to close it.

A small smile spread across Hollyberry’s lips.

“It’s just a letter from Huckleberry.”

“What does it say?”

“Oh, nothing serious. A personal letter, Cacao.” She said, and Dark Cacao instantly felt guilt at being nosy, “Looks like he’s been dealing with the onslaught of my court about the wedding.”

She stuffed it into her satchel, and the bird fluttered out of sight with a job well done.

“Poor thing, he has enough on his plate already.” She sighed, fixing her hair.

Dark Cacao and Hollyberry stopped at the fountains, the ones Mozzarella first showed them when they arrived.

She took a seat on the spacious edge, like many other citizens across the square were.

“That’s one of the biggest reasons I’m anxious to leave, you know.”

“To see Huckleberry?”

“To see my FIANCÉ. We haven’t spent enough time together after the engagement. Well, that and to keep him away from any decor choices for the wedding. He can pick the juice, the food, but not anything about the setting. He’s not equipped to plan such things.”

Such a silly topic, but she had a fondness in her eyes. Dark Cacao nodded, hesitantly sitting next to her.

“Hollyberry?” He asked, before he came to his own senses.

She looked expectantly at him. His consideration of vulnerability dissolved.

“I… nevermind, it’s not-“

He took a breath, and found himself gripping the gold edge of the fountain.

Don’t. It’s ridiculous to ask…

“Don’t worry about it.” He finished lamely.

Hollyberry snorted.

“No, I’m interested now. What has you curious?”

“It’s a foolish-“

“Go on, spit it out!”

Dark Cacao flinched. He felt his face grow hot. Hollyberry would be relenting, there was no point in stonewalling her.

“Alright. You and Huckleberry… you have different statuses… different lives… pressure from your crown at odds against you, and yet you accepted his proposal out of love, no matter the expectations…”

Hollyberry’s brows furrowed. Dark Cacao continued.

“How… did you do such a thing? It’s such a great decision to make, I just have trouble fathoming it.”

A brief silence fell between them as Hollyberry pondered her answer.

“I give my crown everything.” She said hushly, “My valor. My passion. My strength. And for years, Huckleberry has been by my side to witness it.”

She looked around to make sure no one was listening, then continued, “Without anyone knowing, I mean ANYONE, we started seeing each other. We both have our obligations, and with work we had a delicate balance of our responsibilities and our courtship.”

Hollyberry straightened up and cleared her throat. She looked down at the ring on her finger.

“The others don’t know this but when the time came to decide who I marry… I almost chose a different person.”

She looked to Dark Cacao with a sad smile.

“I was so afraid of jeopardizing his position… I actually ended things the night before. I thought I had ruined us, and that he was going to stay out of my life because of my own doing. But then the next evening, despite not warning me… he stormed into the throne room, got down on one knee… and I realized had to be true to myself. The crown can have many things, take everything I am… but not my heart. I vowed to be strong enough to protect mine. And his, come what may.”

Dark Cacao found himself gripping the handle of his sword. Not out of anger, but as a grounding source of comfort.

“That’s… respectable.” He muttered, casting his gaze aside, “You deserve happiness.”

Was Dark Cacao strong enough to make such a promise?

Did HE deserve such a good thing?

Hollyberry rose an eyebrow, then put a hand on his knee.

“So long as we are trading secrets… how long have you been pining, melting in your shoes for White Lily?”

Dark Cacao’s mind halted. Truly, it did. The silence following that was so deafening, he could almost hear the conversation from a family across the busy road from them.

“What?” He shamefully croaked out.

“Answer the question, Dark Cacao.” She said smugly.

“For no time.” He said firmly, “Not for- I don’t have feelings for-“

“It’s alright, Dark Cacao. You can be honest with me.” She whispered.

Dark Cacao blinked several times. The agony. Oh the agony was unbearable.

“I am.”

Hollyberry wasn’t buying it.

“Oh, please. Past all your bickering,” have mercy on me, Hollyberry , “and all her concern for you,” not romantically “you still protect each other and she’s always saving you” no, Hollyberry, “I think it’s clear there’s something brewing-“

“Hollyberry, I am bewitched by a man.” He blurted.

Hollyberry froze, and her eyes widened wider than he’d ever seen out of genuine shock.

Oh, that was a horrible thing to say, but it felt so liberating to tell someone. He couldn’t take it anymore.

But why did Dark Cacao Cookie, prince of the Cacao Kingdom and heir to the throne, think it was any semblance of a good idea to say that-

She looked everywhere around her, then asked with a hush voice, “Are you serious?! WHO?!”

Dark Cacao’s face could not have felt hotter, he wanted to dunk his head under the water of the fountain and scream into the darkness he would find there. Come to think of it, Hollyberry wasn’t aware of Dark Cacao and Pure Vanilla’s talks in private, their letters or anything of the sort.

He put both hands on Hollyberry’s shoulders and took a deep breath. He said calmly, “Hollyberry. Hollyberry, we are traveling with only ONE other man-“

Dark Cacao, from the corner of his eye, saw familiar brown robes on a figure approaching them.

“Pure Vanilla.” He announced loudly, “W-White Lily.”

Pure Vanilla and White Lily halted. They looked to each other, and Pure Vanilla was the first to crack a nervous smile, his staff staring into Dark Cacao’s soul.

“Um… good morning?” He chuckled, the embodiment of grace before Dark Cacao’s very eyes.

“Are you feeling alright?” White Lily asked.

“I am so splendid it physically hurts” Dark Cacao gritted out, relinquishing Hollyberry.

Pure Vanilla’s face morphed into a look of concern, but Dark Cacao avoided looking at it.

“Well then!” Hollyberry announced, lsurely putting the pieces together. Then cocked her head to the west gate of the palace, “we shouldn’t keep Golden Cheese waiting!”

Dark Cacao obliged, standing up.

She stared at him but shot her a look in return, one warning her that the private subject was not to be discussed anytime soon.

————————————

Pure Vanilla set ground rules for Golden Cheese if she were to be traveling with them:

1. converse with everyone as equals, respectfully
2. No announcing herself as the Golden Goddess at every location
3. Keep wings hidden from strangers, including flying.

“Seems like you all are jealous of my ability to fly.” Golden Cheese said boldly, adjusting the saddle of her steed.

At the gate of the west wall, Pure Vanilla watched as White Lily unrolled the scroll of their new map of the continent, and the agreed route for their journey.

“It would only serve to draw more attention to ourselves.” He said, gentle but assertive.

“And that’s a bad thing because…?”

White Lily huffed out a breath.

“Your Highness,” she began carefully, “a creature with wings in the sky… you could attract dragon hunters. Or you could lead enemies right to us if they study where you land. Or-“

Golden Cheese rolled her eyes.

“Oh, fair enough!” She flexed one of her golden wings to her hand and gingerly stroked her fingers over it, “But my wings are not something that just disappear.”

Dark Cacao scoffed as he finished putting the reins on his horse last, finishing equipping all five of them.

“You can alter many things about your appearance, change outfits on a whim. Your wings can’t be invisible?”

“I can get close, but not make them vanish. But do not fret! Mozzarella?”

Mozzarella bowed and approached the queen with a tan colored cloak.

Golden Cheese extended her arms, and her Soul Jam glimmered.

Before their eyes, she lost her golden accents, her jewels, and her hair became longer.

Her hair was still fluffy, whisping every which way, but a longer, thinner of section of her yellow hair tricked into a ponytail down to her ankles. She had a simple teal blue tunic that exposed her midrift, white harem pants, and an orange sash around her hips.

Her Soul Jam was not nestled into a crown, but rather a headchain with cascading chains down the sides of her head to connect to the cuff holding the ponytail together.

She wrapped the cloak around her shoulders, pulling in her wings, and a she had impressively reduced her silhouette. Unless you looked close, you couldn’t see any trace of her wings under her cape clasped around her neck. She picked up her staff, slammed it into the dirt, and put a hand on her hip.

“How’s this?” Golden Cheese asked, “I can still expand them at any time.”

“You look like a passerby. A regal one at that!” Mozzarella said proudly.

“You’re missing shoes, your grace.” Smoked Cheese said as well, bowing his head as he offered a pair of leather sandals.

As Golden Cheese toed them on and tied the cords for them to wrap around her calves several times, Smoked Cheese made an announcement to the group.

“The path to the Vanilla Kingdom is shorter than the one to the Hollyberry Kingdom, but remain vigilant. You can get out of the desert quickly if you make the most of daylight since the Sandworm is no longer a problem. A freeze is approaching tonight, so we took measures to provide you with more than enough to keep yourselves warm.”

Smoked Cheese looked down. The entire time, little Burnt Cheese had been chasing his own tail (of his costume) and its shadow made by the sunrise.

“The Queen is departing, Burnt Cheese.” He said firmly.

Burnt Cheese halted his efforts, shaking his head to seemingly snap out of it, then waddled up to Golden Cheese.

“You’re going?” He asked quietly.

Golden Cheese grimaced.

“Yes, my treasure.” She said, pulling him into a hug against her legs. “I must. For the future. Fear not, you are in good hands.”

He held up his hand, and she gingerly accepted something from his tiny palm.

“Ah, a jackal charm.” She chuckled.

“It’ll protect you!” He said.

Golden Cheese smiled, then put on a necklace with a golden pendant with pride.

She mounted her horse with her head held high, then turned to her subjects with a sad smile.

“Mozzarella?” She said.

The woman in question bowed, awaiting a reply.

“Don’t leave Smoked Cheese with all the responsibility of Burnt Cheese. Your coding and luxuries can wait from time to time, you know?”

Mozzarella stiffened. Her face reddened, and Smoked Cheese bowed with a grin.

“Your wisdom is unparalleled. Safe travels, my queen.”

Golden Cheese narrowed her sharp eyes.

“You will feel the wrath of a thousand suns if my kingdom is any less beautiful than the way I left it.”

“O-of course.”

—————————————

The first day went smoothly on horseback, but the first night was difficult.

It was the coldest one everyone had experienced in the new terrain of the desert, and the wind made it hard to keep a fire going since it was repeatedly getting snuffed with clouds of sand.

They ate cheeses and cold meats in their own tents to not get their food caked with dirt, then opted to go to sleep earlier and rise before the sun.

Golden Cheese curled up into a ball covered in blankets in the spacious tent, her wings wrapping her in a dome. Hollyberry was under a mountain of blankets as well, getting by, and White Lily was in the other corner shivering.

“Lily, get over here.” Hollyberry huffed.

“No, I’m alright! J-just getting used to-“

“You’re shaking like a leaf! Get in here!”

White Lily hesitated, likely because she didn’t want to impose, but caved when another gust of wind blew open the flap of the tent. She shakenly rose up and tied the tent’s entrance closed, then dashed for cover with Hollyberry and allowed herself to be submerged in an avalanche of shared blankets.

“I hope Pure Vanilla’s alright.” White Lily murmured, accepting a pillow to situate herself. She lied on her side next to Hollyberry.

“The boys are fine,” Hollyberry replied.

“I know Dark Cacao is.” White Lily said, like that was obvious, “But Pure Vanilla has to be miserable, he’s not used to the cold.”

Hollyberry lied on her side, facing away from White Lily in thought.

Dark Cacao… pining after Pure Vanilla.

Where did that come from?

She SUPPOSED they had plenty of time to bond over the trip… or maybe that was the reason Dark Cacao had always been more attentive and patient with him? Then again, Pure Vanilla had a calming and pleasant presence to everyone.

No, it was serious. Dark Cacao was serious about this.

The question was: Was there any hope for the two of them?

“I have a question about the Vanilla Kingdom.” Hollyberry said hushly, turning.

White Lily hummed quizzically, turning and swaddling herself further into her blankets. The only peek of her now was her curious fuchsia eyes looking at Hollyberry expectantly.

“Who is heir to the throne?”

White Lily pondered the question.

“There isn’t a concrete answer. Pure Vanilla intends for succession to be based on who best fits the role of king, rather than directly determined by bloodline.”

Hollyberry propped her head on her palm.

“Really?”

“Well, yes. Pure Vanilla is the end of his own but his brothers each have children. Pastry Cream’s eldest is of age as well… if something happened, heaven forbid, Pure Vanilla trusts his brothers to decide the next ruler among themselves.”

Interesting. Hollyberry genuinely didn’t know that.

“He doesn’t plan on having an heir? A child? Or… to have an intended?”

White Lily’s pale brows furrowed slightly.

“I don’t think so. As far as I’m concerned, he has no interest in marrying for the sake of it.”

“But does he have an objection to… romance? Or marrying entirely?”

A pause fell between them. White Lily casted her gaze to the side, to the entrance to the tent.

“What is the meaning of your questioning?” She asked quietly.

“What do YOU think is the meaning?” Hollyberry shot back.

White Lily didn’t answer, her anxiety of the topic was growing with each passing second.

“Do you know something?” Hollyberry pressed.

“D-Do YOU know something about the matter?”

Hollyberry didn’t answer.

“You mean how Pure Vanilla and Dark Cacao are courting?” A voice cut in.

Both Hollyberry and White Lily froze.

WHAT.

They shot upright, and Golden Cheese hadn’t risen from her nest of blankets. She peeked through her wings with a clear look of irritation instead.

“Are you two REALLY acting as though it’s a secret? Honestly, here I was thinking you were discussing something interesting.”

“How do you-“ Hollyberry began, but White Lily cut her off.

“Nothing of the sort is going on!” She said firmly.

Hollyberry scootched over to Golden Cheese with a look of curiosity.

“But… why do you think that is?”

“HOLLYBERRY!” White Lily scolded.

Golden Cheese sat up as well, pulling her wings back and crossing her legs.

“Their blueberry bird messenger told me a lot, you see, when he rested in my palace. They write each other letters frequently.”

White Lily flinched.

“Not THAT often…” she insisted.

Golden Cheese waved her off with an eyeroll.

“Please. Dark Cacao’s penmanship went from chicken scratch to that of a seasoned poet from their often conversation alone. The quality of his words as well.”

Oh.

“The blueberry bird LOVES the opportunity to travel, but it brought him the greatest joy to see each of them light up with excitement at a new letter-“

“Enough!” White Lily squeaked, “There’s NOTHING going on!”

“-He was gushing on and on about how fulfilling it was helping such an unexpected romance to blossom.”

Hollyberry rose her eyebrows.

White Lily took a breath, then looked to Golden Cheese specifically.

“That is not information you should be sharing, and I do not want anything else to be said on the matter! If there was a WORD of the subject spoken to the wrong person it could completely destroy their reputations. Understand me?”

Golden Cheese had a playful glimmer in her eyes, but it became subdued as she pursed her lips in thought.

“Perhaps you’re right, the messenger could have…misconstrued things? Regardless, it’s none of our business…”

White Lily grimaced, avoiding Hollyberry’s perplexed expression.

“Your loyalty is admirable,” Golden Cheese commented.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” White Lily muttered, abruptly lying back down and turning away from both of them.

Golden Cheese lied down fully as well, covering herself with her wings and leaving Hollyberry more confused (and curious) than before.

————————————

It was quiet, Dark Cacao was TRYING to sleep, but it wasn’t coming to him.

Why would it?

His eyes kept wandering, over his shoulder to the other side of the tent, where Pure Vanilla lied back on a pile of thick pillows to slightly prop up his torso. He traced his delicate fingers over the pages of the very book Dark Cacao gave him. Out of all of the possessions that could have been recovered from being lost to the desert predator, Dark Cacao was stunned that the medical kit was something Pure Vanilla cared about. Dark Cacao remembered how he lit up with joy at Smoked Cheese nonchalantly presenting him his sandy knapsack from the desert floor.

It filled him with fondness, seeing Pure Vanilla entranced in his own method of reading, despite it being dark, cold, and well into the time he should be resting.

They were the same distance as before when they shared a tent, but Dark Cacao felt farther than ever from Pure Vanilla. It was isolating silence instead of curious questions about methods of meditation or comparatively strange Cacaoian practices of treating certain wounds.

Instead, it was Dark Cacao being a cowardly fool, peeking at what was out of reach, hoping that Pure Vanilla wasn’t feeling the weight of a gaze or reaching for his staff to confirm the eyes on him.

Pure Vanilla’s hands turned crisp pages once again, and Dark Cacao noticed them slightly tremble, pinking at the fingertips.

Dark Cacao took a breath and swallowed.

He was cold, of COURSE he was. Dark Cacao knew his jam wasn’t thickened for such conditions.

“You’re cold” He croaked out, his words barely distinguishable from a deep rumble.

Pure Vanilla’s fingertips stopped.

“Pardon?”

Dark Cacao realized that was not the most tactful way to disturb him.

“You… you’re shaking” Dark Cacao elaborated, sitting up and deciding he might as well just commit to his concern.

Pure Vanilla turned to face Dark Cacao’s direction, and sure enough he was reddening at the nose and cheeks as well. Dark Cacao leaned over and grabbed his folded cloak.

“Aren’t you?” Pure Vanilla asked gently, “Golden Cheese said it was going to be harsh tonight so I assumed-“

“No. This is a better day in the mountains for me.” Dark Cacao said, moving closer to Pure Vanilla, “meanwhile, it looks like one of your worst.”

Pure Vanilla shifted reluctantly, but Dark Cacao draped the cloak over his shoulders before he could protest. It easily enveloped him. His pale lashes fluttered, and his fingers laced into the thick fur of the collar drooping over his chest. Dark Cacao witnessed Pure Vanilla’s lips quirk as he felt the fabric, exploring with his sense of touch.

“Cream Wolf fur.” He said, “thank you.”

Dark Cacao nodded.

“Of course-“

“A-Although the best source of warmth is the presence of another, you know.”

Dark Cacao didn’t reply, but his face burned and Pure Vanilla gingerly lifted the side of the cloak with his arm.

It was a reluctant invitation. Pure Vanilla smiled sweetly.

Dark Cacao was dumbfounded. He wasn’t sure what was the appropriate response to this was. Pure Vanilla’s swallowed, then gingerly lowering his arm with a gentle sigh.

“Thats alright.” He chucked, and the red in his cheeks was less from the cold and more from embarrassment, “I-I don’t know, I just thought-“

“Give me a moment.” Dark Cacao ordered, to Pure Vanilla’s surprise.

He grabbed his own pillow, gingerly setting up a spot next to Pure Vanilla. He situated himself next to him, draped a blanket over his lap, and pulled the cloak to half droop over his own shoulders as well.

Pure Vanilla was right. It was warmer. Not that the cold bothered Dark Cacao in the first place, but he still welcomed how warm it was to have their shoulders touch.

Pure Vanilla and sighed, closing the book.

“You don’t have to stop,” Dark Cacao said, “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

“It’s alright,” Pure Vanilla admitted quietly. He rubbed his hands together, trying to warm them up, “now that I’m thinking about it, there’s a reason I was struggling to read, I can hardly feel my fingers-“

Dark Cacao wrapped his hands over Pure Vanilla’s. They stung, they were cold as ice, but Dark Cacao didn’t shy away from the touch.

Pure Vanilla paused.

“Is that better?” Dark Cacao managed to ask with a reassuring squeeze.

Rather than a verbal response, Pure Vanilla chuckled. He gingerly laced his fingers with Dark Cacao’s.

Despite everything, Dark Cacao felt a semblance of tranquility. Pure Vanilla always had that effect on him. He was a steady, calming presence, effortlessly made him feel comfortable. And without uttering a single word, he could send Dark Cacao into a whirlwind of emotions he had never felt before.

Pure Vanilla sighed, gingerly brushing his thumb against the knuckles of Dark Cacao’s.

“What a silly question.” Pure Vanilla chuckled, and before Dark Cacao knew it, Pure Vanilla was leaning on him, head on Dark Cacao’s shoulder, and yawning “You always make things better.”

Dark Cacao swallowed and despite his restless mind screaming that this was just making things worse, he relaxed his body slightly.

It infuriated Dark Cacao, that his internal walls he’d built and tried so hard to fortify were useless against Pure Vanilla’s smile, his voice, his little acts of compassion. Not that Pure Vanilla made them come crumbling down, but it was as if he’d waltzed into his life with the key perched between his fingertips.

“Dark Cacao?”

“Hm?”

“I… I want this.” Pure Vanilla managed to say, and Dark Cacao’s heart stopped, “it’s okay if you don’t have an answer but I want you to know: I want this.“

“What is… ‘this’?” Dark Cacao asked, not daring to move or look at Pure Vanilla. He stared at the tent floor with a tense expression.

“You and me.” He answered softly, voice cracking with the words despite how simple they were, “in whatever form you desire, I want it and I want to be with you. I want… a future with you in it.”

He didn’t say anything else.

Dark Cacao internally cursed himself. Pure Vanilla was patient, he was kind, and he was beautiful and it wasn’t fair because Dark Cacao wasn’t meant to have someone like him-

“I want this too.” He said clearly, and his gut churned and tightened.

But Dark Cacao… he was stubborn. He was too selfish to deny this. He was a fighter in every aspect of his life. Why would this be different? He was a fighter, he was STRONG, and no, he wasn’t letting Pure Vanilla go. He was certain what he wanted.

Pure Vanilla lifted his head up and pulled one of his hands away from holding Dark Cacao’s.

Without sight, since his staff was resting, his hand traced up the lapel of Dark Cacao’s robes, charting a path to his face and cupping his cheek. It was freezing, but Dark Cacao didn’t shy away from the touch. His free hand gingerly rested on Pure Vanilla’s waist.

Dark Cacao looked down Pure Vanilla’s stunned face with adoration.

“I thought…” his brow twitched, “I wasn’t sure if we were in a good place. If you were angry after I kissed you-“

“I wasn’t.” Dark Cacao said gently, “Just… overwhelmed, to put it simply. I have to meet obligations, I have to put my kingdom first.”

Pure Vanilla’s thumb tenderly stroked Dark Cacao’s cheekbone.

“I know.”

Dark Cacao swallowed.

“I don’t know how this is going to work.”

“I’m not going to pretend I do either.” Pure Vanilla said, and he was trembling, perhaps in fear of his own words, “I just… know how I feel. Is that alright?”

Dark Cacao was going to nod, then realized Pure Vanilla couldn’t see him. Instead he leaned down, pressing his lips to Pure Vanilla’s cheek.

It was adorable, how a blush blossomed over his face, how lashes fluttered in surprise, how a smile spread across him face in response to something so little.

“Thats all I need.” Dark Cacao finished, rather lamely. Pure Vanilla didn’t seem to mind it. He grinned and pulling him close to lie down comfortably side by side.

Dark Cacao indulged, he buried his face into the crook of Pure Vanilla’s neck, relishing the sweet scent of his skin despite his entire life being taught such things should be scorned. Then Pure Vanilla pulled him closer by the waist, and everything felt right.

Admittedly, it was the most peaceful night’s sleep either of them had in a while.

———————————————

The landscape changed, little by little, and they almost didn’t notice the desert become semiarid and the semiarid landscape become grasslands.

“Something I’ve been wondering.” Pure Vanilla had said to Golden Cheese, “has your city not been discovered by locals?”

Golden Cheese shrugged.

“From such a distance, we are camouflaged among the Parmesan Desert. It’s an enchantment I used myself. There’s also creatures at risk of attacking at all times… and anyone allowed in my city doesn’t necessarily want to ever leave. It’s why so many explorers never returned. They never perished, they just didn’t come back. So it’s not IMPOSSIBLE to remain unknown, you know.”

Golden Cheese at first seemed to have no interest in the land around them. As the days, went by, however, her interest piqued at the songs of different birds that flocked around her and hid among the trees. The sensation of the grass between her fingers.

She even stopped to stare at the first river they happened upon during their trip in fascination.

With ginger steps, she followed the river’s edge. Pure Vanilla urged the rest of the group to wait, rest and water the horses.

Pure Vanilla watched as she slowly came to a stop where the river roared, cascading down into a waterfall and into the mouth of a massive lake.

“Isn’t it lovely?” He asked her.

Golden Cheese flinched, and Pure Vanilla realized her eyes were glassy.

“It’s… it’s nice.” She said solemnly.

She hesitantly sat down on the grass just before the small cliff. Pure Vanilla joined her, carefully letting his feet dangle off of the edge as well. The mist from the waterfall cooled their toes.

“It just… angers me.” Golden Cheese said, not allowing her eyes to leave the sight of the lake, “there’s… so much water here. When I was a child, we wouldn’t see it for days.”

She bitterly chuckled. There was a pain in her eyes that was heavy.

“You don’t know how many people when I was young suffered just for such a basic thing. If I had been greedier then… I could have found this myself and ended it. If I was greedier in my youth- there’s so much water for the taking, just not close enough for anyone in the desert to reach it. Even now.”

Greed. Golden Cheese tossed the word around in her vernacular. It was something to strive for, to be ambitious rather than selfish.

“Your kingdom and people.” Pure Vanilla said, “they do not know of such burdens. We can keep it that way.”

“That doesn’t change the past.” Golden Cheese said with a bitter chuckle.

“It doesn’t. It never will…”

Pure Vanilla took her hand.

“… but it can guide your present.”

According to the map, they had reached the outskirts of the Vanilla Kingdom’s territory.

“I can set a water outpost here. I can set several. We can get it purified and distribute where you see it’s needed, and you can grow your kingdom.”

Golden Cheese’s eyes widened.

“More people, good people, can come within your walls. MORE can be saved. Be greedy enough to accept the help of others and your people will prosper.”

This took her aback. She looked below, at the water twinkling across its surface in the sunlight.

“You’re not alone, Golden Cheese-“

She crashed into him, pulling him into a firm hug.

He nearly squeaked, but kept it inward to not ruin the moment.

“Thank you. For… everything. And I’m sorry, Pure Vanilla.”

She pulled back and held his shoulders.

“I saw your memories,” she said quietly, her golden eyes boring into him, “and I am deeply sorry for the pain I put you through resurfacing them, and-“

“I forgave you, Golden Cheese.” He said gently. It did hurt, but it felt fated, “I needed to see them.”

She looked back to the waterfall again with a gentle smile.

“It’s calling you, isn’t it?”

“I think so.”

“Good. You deserve to wield it.”

And Golden Cheese left it at that.

———————————————

That night, they inevitably came across a small village with an inn to sleep in rather wilderness.

They stopped at the dusty road in front of the inn, and Dark Cacao dismounted his horse. Around, there were rugged travelers at barrels and tables playing cards or poker, drinking ale, or simply chatting among themselves leaning against the walls outside.

“Seems crowded.” Hollyberry commented.

Hopefully not.

“Put the horses to the stables, everyone.” Dark Cacao ordered.

Despite Pure Vanilla, White Lily, and Hollyberry ready to do so, Golden Cheese dismounted her horse as well.

“Well, I want to see inside!” She reasoned.

Dark Cacao grunted, but allowed her to follow.

He swung open the door of the dimly lit inn, and it WAS bustling. The wooden tables and barrel stools were filled with patrons, all drinking to their heart’s content or dancing to a tune being played by a bard. Everyone with free hands clapped to the music of their lute, and Dark Cacao weaved his way through the crowd to get to the desk of the innkeeper.

“Good Evening” He greeted the disinterested keeper behind the counter, scribbling with a quill.

“Room and board?” The innkeeper asked.

“Yes, sir.”

The man flipped through a thick, leather bound book, then took a look at the wall behind him. A myriad of hooks lined along the wall, but a single key was left.

“We have one room left, two beds.” The man said with a shrug.

Golden Cheese put her hands on her hips.

“That’s it?!” She asked.

“It’s a busy night, madam. Lover’s suite’s are fully packed, and travelers are in large groups. I’m afraid for you two to stay, you need to pay for two beds.”

“We have a group of five.” Dark Cacao clarified.

The innkeeper looked at Golden Cheese, then back to Dark Cacao.

“Trying to get away from the children?”

Dark Cacao’s face flushed.

“Five ADULT travelers, sir- you know what? We’ll take it.”

The man shrugged, then accepted coin from Dark Cacao’s hand in exchange for the key.

Golden Cheese scoffed.

“We should have kept looking.” She commented.

Dark Cacao tossed the key in the air and caught it firmly.

“It’s the best we’re going to get, this village doesn’t have another inn.”

He didn’t like how others were staring. Specifically at Golden Cheese. He led the way, wrapping his arm around her to nudge her back, weaving through people once more to try and find a table for them to sit and eat supper.

“Dark Cacao.” Golden Cheese said, pulling his sleeve with a please look on her face.

She managed to snag a table along the wall of the tavern area, enough to seat everyone.

It didn’t take long for the rest of the group to join them to seat at the table.

“Two beds isn’t the WORST arrangement we could have.” White Lily insisted upon hearing about the room after finishing their plates of roasted meat jellies and mashed potatoes.

Golden Cheese disagreed.

“Easy for you to say. I’m not going to FIT with another person. Someone is sleeping on the floor, and it’s not going to be me.”

It was true, her wingspan was going to make the ordeal difficult. Still, Dark Cacao was already getting sick of her complaining.

“Maybe we could still use a tent?” Pure Vanilla offered calmly.

“And what, spike it into wooden floor?”

“Enough!” Hollyberry cut in, “I think it’s time to do what I’ve been wanting to for weeks: drink to our hearts’ content!”

Hollyberry snapped her fingers, and a passing bartender stopped in his tracks.

“What drinks do you recommend, good sir?”

“Well, we got some imports of fine juices“ the man began.

“Oh, you know what would be fun?” Golden Cheese interrupted. She turned to Pure Vanilla, “what’s a Vanillian drink?”

Pure Vanilla pursed his lips, pondering the question.

“Sir, do you have Vanilla Whiskey?”

“Of course.”

And to Dark Cacao’s surprise, Pure Vanilla confidently replied, “Bring the bottle.”

————————————

Rather than simply take drinks, Golden Cheese proposed a game. Each person will get the chance to say ‘I have never’ done something, and whoever actually had done said thing took a drink.

It was simple.

Dark Cacao wasn’t sure what the point of this was, but decided to forgo making sense of it all and instead decided to go first.

“I have never… had a drink of liquor before.” He muttered.

Everyone drank but him.

Hollyberry snorted.

“Oh, Pure Vanilla, what in the name of the gods is this?” She asked, wrinkling her nose.

“It’s Whiskey, Holly.” Golden Cheese said smugly, but her face did contort as she swallowed her own.

White Lily and Pure Vanilla took the shots effortlessly in one gulp. While Lily slammed her glass, Pure Vanilla rotated the little thing in his hand.

“How?!” Hollyberry asked in response to Pure Vanilla’s nonchalance.

“Vanilla Bean.” White Lily answered, “he MAKES this stuff, remember?”

“Nearly destroyed my body in the process of perfecting the recipe.” Pure Vanilla muttered, “all those taste tests.”

“You’re next.” Dark Cacao said to him.

Pure Vanilla tilted his head.

“I have never lived on the Great Frosting Ridge.” He said, eyeing Dark Cacao from across from him.

White Lily smirked, and Dark Cacao looked back at him, not lifting his shot class.

“Giant Icing Ridge.” He corrected, “nice try though.”

Hollyberry pursed her lips.

“I think we should have a rule. Pure Vanilla said a something incorrect, so he should drink.”

Pure Vanilla’s eyes widened.

“Ah ah!” White Lily said, “his statement still is true. The incorrectly named place doesn’t exist, so he hasn’t lived there!”

White Lily was loud when she was drunk, and only one shot in. It went through her body in an instant. Goodness.

“Um… Moving on.” She said, getting self conscious all of a sudden, “I have never raised a Cacaoian steel sword.”

Dark Cacao swore.

A maniacal giggle erupted from Hollyberry as she poured herself and Dark Cacao a drink.

“Here’s to breaking your perfectly sober record.” She said, clinking his glass with his.

She took a swig, and she slammed the cup down, face contorting as she loudly hissed from her throat.

Dark Cacao looked down at his tiny, unassuming glass. What was the reaction for? Vanilla in general was sweet wasn’t it?

Everyone was staring at him, so he decided to brace this supposed challenge. All at once, he poured the liquid into his mouth.

oh

OH.

It BURNED?

Dark Cacao gagged, slamming the table with his fist then swallowed everything. It was sweet, but it was the swallowing and the settling into his throat that seared like a hot coal. He violently coughed, Hollyberry and Golden Cheese were SOBBING from laughter. White Lily was laughing into her arms to hide it, and Pure Vanilla looked stunned.

“GOD-“ he hissed angrily, coughing some more, “what- you VOLUNTARILY drink this shit?”

Pure Vanilla didn’t answer. The burning was dissipating at least.

“Are you alright?” He asked with a slightly pitying smile.

“Wait, Hollyberry, when did you raise a Cacaoian sword?” White Lily asked.

Hollyberry wiped her tears from her eyes and evened her breathing.

“Oh, oh, we got some weapon imports. I have one as a gift from-“ she chucked some more, “great heavens, I am CRYING Dark Cacao.”

Dark Cacao’s face burned.

“Glad my suffering is amusing. Golden Cheese? Your turn if you can form a sentence through your laughter.”

“Alright, I have never had long, black hair.”

A silence fell over the table. Dark Cacao gritted his teeth. He grabbed the whiskey, poured himself a shot, and looked her in the eye.

“You, miss, can go fuck yourself.” He said firmly.

He took another shot, this time holding it down well, and keeping his face almost even.

“CACAO!” Hollyberry scolded.

He cleared his throat.

“Sorry, I mean MADAM-“

“HUSH! You know what, my turn. I have never used a staff in combat.”

Dark Cacao groaned. He poured himself a drink, but Hollyberry cut in, “sparring doesn’t count.”

Dark Cacao put his shot on the table, then handed the whiskey to Golden Cheese.

“What?! My arrow doesn’t qualify.” She protested.

“It’s a staff.”

“It’s more of a javelin or a spear.”

“It’s a staff, you walk with it everywhere!” Hollyberry insisted.

“Hollyberry are you targeting me because I’m blind?” Pure Vanilla asked innocently.

They all turned to Pure Vanilla, who poured himself another shot of whiskey. The silence was awkward, and he took the next shot like it was water.

“Oh, relax. I’m joking.” He said with a smirk, “Golden Cheese, you have a staff.”

——————————————————

The game ended after a just a few turns and completely losing its structure. They got too loud, too rowdy, and Pure Vanilla came out the most sober out of all of them. He always had a higher tolerance, close to that of Hollyberry, but he also just wasn’t part of the squabble of targeted ‘I have never’ statements.

Pure Vanilla was STUNNED at how quickly Dark Cacao was drunk. Sure, he didn’t drink, but he figured his bulky stature would give him more of a tolerance. But nope, each shot just made it worse, he was stumbling with each step up the stairs. Even with Pure Vanilla’s guidance, it took an eternity.

“We’re going to retire for the evening.” Hollyberry said, then tossed Pure Vanilla a key, “we checked one more time with the innkeeper, you guys have a room.”

“Ah, thanks Hollyberry.”

Golden Cheese effortlessly carried White Lily in her arms. White Lily was reaching her fingers into Golden Cheese’s hair.

“I got Dark Cacao, just take care of Lily, please.”

“Sure thing.” Golden Cheese said calmly.

“Your hair is soft and pretty~” White Lily giggled.

“I-I know that.” Golden Cheese replied, and to Pure Vanilla’s surprise, her cheeks flushed.

Pure Vanilla shook his head, and the door closed for the two bedded room.

In the empty hallway, Pure Vanilla led Dark Cacao to their separate room. He looked back at Dark Cacao, who was staring at Pure Vanilla with glassy eyes.

“Are you feeling alright?”

Pure Vanilla stopped and unlocked their door. Bless Hollyberry, she already put her stuff inside, all on the single bed however. It was dark, save for moonlight, so Pure Vanilla lit the bedside candle.

“You have pretty hair too.” Dark Cacao said seriously.

“I- what?”

“You’re pretty.” He repeated.

Oh.

“Thank you…” Pure Vanilla said awkwardly, with a raging blush, “where do you want your things?”

“I can do it.”

Pure Vanilla picked up their bags.

“No it’s alright! Oh, she put your sword on the floor.”

“You can’t lift my sword.”

Pure Vanilla crouched down and looked up at Dark Cacao.

“Oh, You don’t want me to?”

Dark Cacao shook his head.

“I trust you but you can’t. Physically. Like you just can’t wield it. It’s too much for you.”

Pure Vanilla scoffed, using one hand to prop himself with his staff and the other to reach down to the handle.

He pulled, but it wasn’t moving.

“I told you.”

Pure Vanilla looked to Dark Cacao’s amused face, then put his staff down.

The sword was HEAVY. But heavy was an understatement. It was like a sack of bricks was compressed into the metal, he shook and even tried to push off the ground with his feet, only move it off the ground barely an inch.

Suddenly, the sword escaped his grip.

Pure Vanilla frowned, grabbed his staff, and to his surprise, Dark Cacao carried the sword across the room and put it down to lean against the wall with no ease.

“Is it a weight distribution trick?”

Dark Cacao flopped down on his back and let his hair splay all over the comforter without answering the question.

For him, this was uncouth behavior.

Pure Vanilla joined him on the bed, sitting comfortably on the edge.

“I didn’t take you for a lightweight.” Pure Vanilla teased instead of asking more about his sword, poking Dark Cacao’s nose.

“I weigh more than you.” Dark Cacao retorted, “oh, because I’m a little drunk?”

Little?

“Yes, that’s it.”

Pure Vanilla ran his fingers through the strands of Dark Cacao’s hair.

“Oh, you have some knots. Can’t let YOUR pretty hair be unkept, can we?”

“I’m not pretty.” Dark Cacao grumbled.

Pure Vanilla grabbed his hairbrush, sat down own the bed again, and gingerly pulled Dark Cacao up to brush it.

“Suuuure you aren’t.”

Dark Cacao looked him, and Pure Vanilla felt butterflies in his stomach. He looked so soft, so unguarded, so starstruck-

“Do you know the… the one story of the story of the moon and the sea?” Dark Cacao asked seriously.

Pure Vanilla did. At least he thought so. He began to brush gingerly.

“Tell me.” He said anyway.

Dark Cacao, to Pure Vanilla’s surprise, looked solemn. Pure Vanilla swept all of his hair to one side to keep watching him.

“The sea, she always admired the moon. She looked up at her peaceful face and sang songs. They met through dreams, and they talked for hours on end about Earthbread. The ships that crossed the sea, the dreams the moon got to see, the mermaids dreaming in the ocean, and the stargazers studying the constellations across the vastness of the moon’s hair.”

Dark Cacao sighed.

“Years of this. Of brief times together, only through dreams, distant songs and memories. The sea couldn’t think of anything else, longing for the moon above everything. Always watching the sky, yearning. She fell in love with something she couldn’t have.”

Pure Vanilla paused. He put the hairbrush on the nightstand and Dark Cacao situated himself down on the bed, abandoning his staff with Dark Cacao’s sword.

Pure Vanilla swallowed, allowing himself to lie on Dark Cacao’s chest.

“The sea became selfish.” Dark Cacao continued, in a bitter tone, “She wanted the moon so badly, that the full moon compelled her to try to leave everything behind. She reached, using her power to rise above into the sky. But the moon didn’t reach back. The sea rose higher and higher, but it was too cold. She extended her hand, called for moon, but the moon did not answer.”

Dark Cacao sighed deeply.

“The sea froze… when she reached too high.”

Pure Vanilla waited, but Dark Cacao fell quiet.

That wasn’t how Pure Vanilla remembered the story. He remembered being told the story with a more lighthearted tone, a narrative that wasn’t scorning the sea or serving as a cautionary tale.

But then again, with Dark Cacao’s upbringing, Pure Vanilla wasn’t surprised.

He pulled himself up.

“She may be frozen.” He said calmly, finding Dark Cacao’s hand, “But her heart isn’t. The moon loves her and she loves the moon. It’s the purest love that keeps her warm, and the sea still thrives despite how cold it can feel to the touch. Despite how she hurts, the sea still pulls towards the moon every night. And when the moon looks down at her, a twinkle in her eyes, her tides are still strongest.”

Pure Vanilla swept the black and white hair out of his handsome face and gingerly placed a kiss on Dark Cacao’s forehead, surging healing magic into his head to fend off any cruel headache in the morning.

Dark Cacao’s eyes fluttered closed.

“Hm. I like your interpretation better.” He decided.

And Pure Vanilla did too.

Chapter Text

It didn’t matter that the coffee was terrible.

As Dark Cacao sipped the debatably fresh liquid from his mug, he had to suppress making a disgusted expression. The entire breakfast was lackluster (like everything else in the tavern) but he couldn’t care less.

It was an early, peaceful morning. Everyone else staying at the inn was likely asleep, making Dark Cacao and Pure Vanilla the only two sitting in the dining area. The occasional patter of footsteps or the jingle of a returned key was the only thing that could be considered noise among the comfortable silence between them.

Comfortable. That was it. It was calm, quiet, and comfortable. It was seldom on the entire expedition for all three of those things to coexist.

“We should be nearing the capital soon.” Pure Vanilla said gently. It was such a simple sentence, but his lips formed a fine line.

“Hm.”

That fact the journey was almost over filled Dark Cacao with anticipation. In both a positive and a negative sense. His curiosity was growing over what the Vanilla Kingdom was like, what a domain ruled by the cookie in front of him truly was. He yearned for a real bath, a bed in safe walls, a moment to collect himself.

But another thing clawing into his mind was dread. Once the treaty was signed, once things were finally settled and done… Dark Cacao would return to his homeland. The dreadful feeling he was experiencing, it wasn’t for his safety, or the time it would take, or even plunging back into the endless winter-

Dark Cacao felt a soft press on his face.

Pure Vanilla, blue and golden eyes twinkling with mischief, poked between Dark Cacao’s eyebrows with his pointer finger.

“You’re going to get stuck like that.”

It was this. Truly, the reason Dark Cacao felt his stomach knotting itself was knowing he was leaving Pure Vanilla behind.

Dark Cacao’s thick brows relaxed under the warm touch and the smile from Pure Vanilla’s face. He felt a defeated attempt at a smirk cross his own, serving as more of a grimace of acknowledgement.

“I haven’t already?” He asked noncommittally.

Pure Vanilla gave him a small smile, pulling his hand away.

“Maybe.”

Dark Cacao shrugged. He stared into the coffee, as if it was a lake of wisdom that would give him solace rather than reflect right back at him.

Pure Vanilla tried again.

“Is something ailing you?”

Heavily.

“Nothing specific.” Dark Cacao lied, “I’m just tired, I think.”

“Well, you’re better off than everyone else. You’re not too hungover.”

With another sip, Dark Cacao shrugged.

“Huh. I guess I’m superior in one aspect of indulgences.”

Pure Vanilla pursed his lips.

“Well…”

“Well, what? I’m telling you, I don’t normally boast about anything. But I cannot wait to rub into Hollyberry’s face that she’s in bed while I’ve risen as if nothing occurred last night.”

Pure Vanilla covered his mouth.

“Oh. Oh honey, no.” He snickered, and the pet name made Dark Cacao blush wildly, “No, you would still be in bed, too. I essentially cleansed you with healing energy to prevent any sickness.”

Dark Cacao narrowed his eyes, but Pure Vanilla didn’t reveal a joke.

“You’re welcome.” Pure Vanilla added, making Dark Cacao’s stomach flutter.

————————————

After breakfast, Pure Vanilla insisted that they go to a small market down street.

“Let’s give them more time to rest.” He insisted, hooding himself with a cloak to be inconspicuous, and Dark Cacao followed him.

The dirt and gravel crunched under their feet as they walked under the gentle sun. With the concentration of clouds, Dark Cacao suspected possible rainfall soon. It wasn’t as hot, but the air made up for that in humidity.

With excitement in Pure Vanilla’s eyes, they came across a booth with assorted pieces of clothing.

“Buttercream Alpaca wool.” Pure Vanilla pointed out, holding out a baby blue scarf.

Dark Cacao gingerly touched the pristine fabric.

“It’s… really soft.” He said, with lack of other words to say.

Pure Vanilla didn’t mind it.

The actual animals themselves were in its own pen next to the booth. Two buttercream alpacas had white wool coating its body, but a dark brown tone of skin and hooves. Their beady black eyes with long lashes were slightly hidden under fluff, but regardless looked relaxed as Pure Vanilla approached the fence.

Dark Cacao watched as Pure Vanilla reached out a hand, then gently scratched one of the creatures behind the ears.

It was like a fluffy horse… but smaller… with a long neck?

“You look bewildered, my friend.” Pure Vanilla chuckled.

“It’s bewildering me.” Dark Cacao noted, “It’s… a strange being.”

“Do you want to pet her?”

He stepped closer, but the alpaca began to let out a strange noise, akin to chirping or squeaking.

The alpaca stepped back, and Pure Vanilla shook his head at the alpaca.

“Aw, don’t do that. It’s okay, he’s friendly.”

“I scared it?”

“Well…”

The alpaca walked to the other side of the pen, facing the opposite direction.

“Oh…”

“It’s alright.” Dark Cacao said.

The alpaca was a little unsettling to him anyway. Pure Vanilla rose an eyebrow, but didn’t point the fact out as they kept walking.

They saw almost every booth (except the one with homemade soap that made Dark Cacao nauseous just passing by). Dark Cacao sighed inwardly at how endearing Pure Vanilla was. He never minded Dark Cacao’s silent nature, and in turn Dark Cacao was eager to listen to him praising his own kingdom’s fineries. He wasn’t just teaching Dark Cacao about objects: he was sharing his life and passion for his culture with Dark Cacao.

They tasted freshly baked raisin buns from a bakery and Pure Vanilla praised the work ethic of rising early to make such a delicious confection, giving extra coin to the cookie who made them and told him a joke.

Pure Vanilla snickered, but Dark Cacao remained quiet with a blank expression.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know how to laugh.” He said to the baker’s concern face.

When Dark Cacao slowed at the table lined with old books, Pure Vanilla pointed out not just classic literature, but novels that Dark Cacao himself would enjoy reading for pleasure.

“This is the kind of parchment I use to write to you.” Pure Vanilla beamed sweetly, and Dark Cacao found himself sighing softly at that.

Even something as trivial as plants captivated Cacao simply because of how excited Pure Vanilla was to share about them.

“These look familiar.” Dark Cacao pointed out. He picked up a pot of familiar yellow flowers, “Eye Orchids?”

Pure Vanilla’s staff peered down at the potted plant. The small flowers had distinguishable closed eyelids.

“Yes, they are.” He said, “watch this.”

Pure Vanilla pulled up a sleeve, then his finger gingerly brushed the petals of the flowers. Dark Cacao watched the little flowers seem to ‘awaken’, fluttering their eyes open to sleepily squint.

They looked strange as well… but almost cute?

“They’re not fully bloomed?” Dark Cacao asked.

A nod.

“A few more days and they will actually be able to see what’s in front of them. This is when they are cut and used to aid the blind, one day at a time.”

The little flowers seemed to curl into the touch of Pure Vanilla’s hand, nestling into his palm and curling their vines around his fingertips.

“They rely on touch when they’re still growing.”

When he withdrew, the eyes closed and they returned to slumber.

Dark Cacao found himself looking at Pure Vanilla’s staff.

“How did your staff’s flower get so strong?”

“It’s complicated. Selective breeding and lots of trial and error granted me the ability to have a staff for everyday. It depends on my life energy to continue to survive and function. It’s a mutual relationship.”

The market was rather small, so Dark Cacao and Pure Vanilla leisurely walked side by side on their way back.

It took everything for Dark Cacao not to take Pure Vanilla’s hand, but sometimes Pure Vanilla looked too knowing when their fingertips ‘accidentally’ brushed against each other.

As they approached the inn, they came across a new vendor, setting up a table later than the rest with a happy grin.

“Textiles, murals! Hand-woven of our lovely king!”

Dark Cacao’s eye lied upon the proudly displayed tapestry.

It was Pure Vanilla, unmistakably, surrounded by holy light and stained glass windows. His face was rounder but still donned a similar angelic, enigmatic smile. The clothes Dark Cacao didn’t recognize. White robes with a waffle cone cloak and he donned a cone headpiece to give him a distinguished silhouette. Perched in his dainty hands, a blueberry bird rested. The threads created a beautiful picture of a benevolent, godly ruler.

Notably, his eyes were closed in the tapestry.

Dark Cacao recalled that his true eye color was not common knowledge among his people, since he was blind and those he has an audience with tended to not to see up close when his actual eyes opened. His eyes were closed in every image of him: every illustration, every piece of art, and every account.

Dark Cacao felt a tug on his sleeve, and he realized that Pure Vanilla’ shouldn’t be seen near a tapestry depicting himself. It would cause commotion. Pure Vanilla seemed to think the same, warily looking around, and they headed to the inn’s stables to check on the horses like they planned.

————————————

They were silent as they fed the horses.

Again, comfortably.

When Dark Cacao brought the last pails of water from the nearby well, Pure Vanilla was sitting on a pile of hay in the back corner of the stable. He seemed pensive, but calmly smiled as he listened to Dark Cacao serve the water to their last two steeds.

No words were spoken as Dark Cacao settled on prickly, but cushioned spot beside Pure Vanilla.

Dark Cacao felt a sappy, fond part of him bubbling to the surface. In the roofed and shaded stable, he didn’t have to hide it.

He gingerly pulled down the hood over Pure Vanilla’s head, then put his hand over Pure Vanilla’s. With slow movements, he tenderly leaned to kiss his cheek.

That is, he tried to.

Pure Vanilla’s head turned, unable to see the intention, and Dark Cacao’s lips met the corner of his.

He froze. It was clumsy, but it wasn’t a problem.

They paused for a moment. Dark Cacao could see the beauty of his two differently colored eyes, a treasured part of him so obvious, but still so uniquely secret. And it was right there for Dark Cacao to witness.

Pure Vanilla’s lashes fluttered. He chuckled beautifully, then took the reins, snaking a hand to cup Dark Cacao’s face.

Without his staff in his hands, he relied on touch. Pure Vanilla leaned closer and although it was slow and careful, their lips came together seamlessly.

It was simple at first, chaste.

Then Dark Cacao felt a gentle press against his mouth, a prodding, a gentle plea, and of course, of COURSE Dark Cacao obliged. Dark Cacao pressed deeper as well, almost shuddering at the contact of their tongues. He pulled Pure Vanilla by the small of his back to make their chests flush with each other. He could feel the quickening of their heartbeats.

Pure Vanilla kept leaning closer, and Dark Cacao with lack of any grace, fell back to lie on the pile of hay.

They both gasped in surprise, but kept kissing and Pure Vanilla shook with held back laughter as he hunched over Dark Cacao, skidding his fingers to the front of his tunic to play with the hem.

Dark Cacao tasted traces of the coffee, the raisin bread, the natural taste of Vanilla and the natural taste of his own bitterness all in a strange, exhilarating flavor that he wanted to drink until he had satiated every last drop.

Their kissing was gentle, warm, and tender. But somehow still intense enough to pool a deep yearning in Dark Cacao’s gut he never felt before. He could feel the curve of Pure Vanilla’s smile when Dark Cacao sighed into him, feeling too much at once to put into words or form a complete thought.

Neither of them knew how long they stayed like that, finding a slow pace of taking breaths only to bring back lips together.

But for a brief moment, they were alone
without worry, and it was all that mattered.

Pure Vanilla wasn’t untouchable on a tapestry or on a throne.

He was in Dark Cacao’s arms.

————————————

The main road to the capital was more apparent now, and after Pure Vanilla gave everyone a little help to heal their morning alcohol sickness, they were determined to make the use of the daytime.

The boom of thunder echoed in the distance. Dark Cacao had to assure himself that yes, it WAS due to a storm.

It was just a storm.

The rain began to drizzle. The lightning cracked the sky and thunder boomed louder with strike.

It was just a storm.

But he still felt uneasy.

He didn’t know why.

“Can we stop here?” Dark Cacao asked the rest of the group.

“Don’t tell me you’re tired.” Golden Cheese griped, turning to him with an eye roll.

“Relax, I just want to stretch my legs” Dark Cacao justified, then looked to the rest of the group, “Just a few minutes, I swear.”

Hollyberry nodded and stopped her horse.

“Golden Cheese, he NEVER asks for a break.”

They dismounted their horses, and Dark Cacao left Hollyberry and Golden Cheese to their own bickering with Pure Vanilla reluctantly mediating.

Dark Cacao walked some paces away from the path, just to look at anything else, and leaned against one of the trees.

He stared out into the forest, he could hear faint chirping and the patter of raindrops on the leaves of the trees.

He couldn’t shake this feeling, perhaps one of being watched.

Dark Cacao sighed, he rolled his ankles, popping the joints, and stretched his arms to maybe energize himself in some way.

“How do you STILL have hay in your hair?”

Dark Cacao side eyed White Lily, who was holding a piece of in her fingers. She must have plucked it out. Keeping himself composed, he had to lie earlier that one of the horses made a mess of a bale and that’s why his hair had bits of it between strands.

No other reason.

“We should be nearing a paladin outpost.” White Lily noted, seeing he wasn’t interested in small talk, tapping her map, “we’re going to make a stop.”

“Why?” Dark Cacao asked, “it’s just another detour, isn’t it?”

She nodded.

“Yes, but it’s an important one… to Pure Vanilla.”

Somehow she didn’t seem convinced at her own words. They were laced with dread.

“And they can give us safe passage to the castle directly.” She added.

Well, if that’s his will, Dark Cacao wasn’t going to argue.

She pocketed the map and took a breath.

“Does… thunder scare you?” She asked quietly.

Dark Cacao didn’t answer. He shot a look at White Lily although she seemed nothing but kind in the face.

“It’s just… multiple times you…”

She trailed off. He relaxed his own expression, then turned to the forest.

“Not thunder… just… thunder sounds similar to… to dragon fire.”

White Lily closed her eyes. She didn’t speak, and then thunder boomed.

She was listening.

“How?” She asked, opening her eyes.

Dark Cacao swallowed.

“It crackles out of their throat, echoes in the sky. We are trained to listen for it, and… I can’t help but be reminded everytime there’s a storm. I can’t help but feel alert, like it’s going to suddenly change and I’m going to be fighting for my life.”

White Lily was taken back. And that was fair, because vulnerability wasn’t Dark Cacao’s strong suit.

She rested her hand on his shoulder.

“Close your eyes for me.”

“What?”

“Please. Take a breath.”

Dark Cacao went along with her, closing his eyes.

The aroma of lilies filled his nostrils. He inhaled deeply, and he felt deep inside his body a sense of calm. A grounding feeling of control. Although he heard the thunder again, and he had a clear thought.

No dragons can harm me here.

And this time it felt right, and he believed himself.

His eyes fluttered opened. White Lily’s flower staff closed, and she smiled sadly at him.

“I know it’s not a cure, but sometimes our mind and body need to be realigned. I don’t know if it helped-“

“Thank you, White Lily.”

White Lily’s eyes widened. She smiled, this time pleased.

That was, until a knife came upon her neck.

They both stiffened, and Dark Cacao didn’t need to look down to know there was a knife on his neck too.

Behind White Lily was a masked person, covering their mouth with cloth and eyes with goggles.

“Not a sound. Drop your staff, miss.” The person ordered.

White Lily’s eyes widened, she looked to Dark Cacao.

He was yanked, kicked behind his knees to kneel on the ground.

“She has gifts, doesn’t she?” A smug voice asked in his ear.

Dark Cacao didn’t answer. He nodded to Lily, urging her to comply, and he then felt his hair be yanked.

“Doesn’t she?!” The person holding him asked.

Dark Cacao remained quiet, gritting his teeth, but White Lily dropped her staff.

“Yes, yes, I c-can use magic! Please, don’t hurt him! He’s just a swordsman as my hired escort-“

The one threatening her said behind their mask, “Don’t lie to us. The king and his most trusted advisior, traveling with commoners?”

Dark Cacao’s jam went cold. A cackle went through his ear.

Where was Pure Vanilla?

“The most painless way to go about this is just for you, sir-!” And Dark Cacao felt his roots cry out from being pulled, “-to answer. Who are you?”

“I’m a swordsman, as she said.” Dark Cacao answered.

White Lily trembled, and her attacker pulled the knife closer to her neck, to the point it touched her. Her lip wobbled.

“Not good enough.” Her attacker answered, “last chance or she’s finished. Or at the very least, uglier than before.”

Dark Cacao swallowed. He saw her fear, her shaking.

White Lily was innocent. She was kind and she had no violence on her hands if not for the sake of others.

She was INNOCENT.

It made him angry, seeing her afraid.

It ENRAGED him.

He took a breath.

“M-My name is Dark Cacao,” he said quietly.

In an instant, before his own attacker could react, he grabbed the knife near his neck. They struggled under his grip, and Dark Cacao pulled the knife away from himself.

“A prince?!” Both of their attackers asked.

“You won’t escape to tell anyone.” Pure Vanilla cut in.

The person holding White Lily tried to make good of their word, but a shimmer of light surrounded the knife. It was frozen still, and Pure Vanilla pulled White Lily towards him.

Her attacker moved, and the enchantment wore off on the knife. They tried to slash at them, but Hollyberry intercepted and the knife clanged into her shield.

Meanwhile, Golden Cheese effortlessly grabbed the moron threatening Dark Cacao and threw them against a tree.

She pointed her spear at their throat.

“Now who are YOU?!” She snarled.

They didn’t answer her, they whistled instead.

A swarm of cookies dropped down from the trees above, all dressed in ragged clothes with coverings of different kinds on their faces. They landed on their feet, brandishing weapons.

Dark Cacao reached for his blade.

They were being followed all this time. They were outnumbered.

“Golden Cheese. We need a goddess.” White Lily gritted out, grabbing her staff from the ground.

Golden Cheese tossed her cloak. She spun her staff with a wide grin, then slammed it into the earth to magically change her appearance. With a glimmer of gold, she was in her element, her attire for battle and her full wingspan realized.

“I thought you’d never ask!” She beamed.

All at once, pandemonium broke out.

Glowing vines sprouted from the ground to wrap around the legs of some of the cookies, lighting up the dark forest with bright burning lilies of magic. Pure Vanilla conjured a healing circle for their stamina. Energy coarsed through their veins.

Hollyberry slammed her shield at everyone who tried to attack White Lily and Pure Vanilla while they casted their magic, dodging anyone trying to jump at her.

Golden Cheese was grabbed, but her wings flexed and knocked a few cookies down. She spun her spear and shot arrows from her Soul Jam at targets.

Dark Cacao trained his eyes on several people trying to close in on him.

“What are you waiting for, bastards?” He growled.

The first cookie lunged with a sword, and Dark Cacao’s crossed theirs with a loud clang of metal. Still in the stalemate, he elbowed the other swordsman into a tree before he got close.

Then saw a cookie try to sneak behind Pure Vanilla.

Hollyberry didn’t see them.

Dark Cacao shoved the person he was dealing with down to the ground.

“Down!” He shouted, and Pure Vanilla ducked, missing a blow to the head with a club.

Dark Cacao charged, slicing their wooden weapon in half before slamming the hilt into their face to make them collapse.

Pure Vanilla winced, but stayed focused on his task at hand. His eyes still glowed, and his energy radiated from his body. Dark Cacao felt energized.

“I can beam a light into the sky for the paladins to answer.” He said, meanwhile Dark Cacao was clashing with the same bandit’s sword again, “but for it to be seen from the outpost, it’s going to take-“

“All your energy?” Dark Cacao finished, kicking the bandit in the stomach, “no, we can handle-!”

Dark Cacao lunged at the swordsman again, this time clashing weapons with them.

“You’re not doing that again!” He finished, struggling against his opponent, but finding their opening. He disarmed them and slammed them to the ground, stabbing his sword into their loose sleeve. He didn’t pierce flesh, but he pinned the stunned man.

“Stay down.” He snarled, and the man nodded frantically. The enemy’s sword was out of reach anyway.

Dark Cacao withdrew his sword from the mud to turn to Pure Vanilla, who shook his head.

“No, I swear, it’s only going to take a moment for me to recover-!”

Pure Vanilla gasped, then ran in front of Dark Cacao. He swung his staff and slammed it into someone lunging at Dark Cacao from his blind spot. Hollyberry got to them before they could try to rise again.

Some healer you are, Pure Vanilla.

“It’s just going to leave me winded, but it’s an opening nonetheless.” He finished.

Dark Cacao nodded firmly.

“You have my protection.”

Hollyberry backed up closer to them, looking over her shoulder.

“Hurry! Golden Cheese is unstoppable, but these people are stubborn…”

To prove her point, Golden Cheese flew past them and was shooting arrows at a group of the bandits trying to chase her. White Lily kept sprouting vines but they kept getting cut.

“Quickly!” Hollyberry ordered.

Pure Vanilla nodded, gripped his staff with vigor.

“LOOK AWAY!”

Dark Cacao screwed his eyes shut, and he felt a powerful gust of wind run through the air and the familiar warmth of Pure Vanilla’s magic permeating it.

He heard a few shrieks, the rustle of the trees, and then silence.

Dark Cacao opened his eyes.

Pure Vanilla’s irises returned to normal after in color while his orchid lazily blinked.

Weak at the knees, he stumbled, and Dark Cacao caught him with one arm before he could hit the ground harshly.

“Hey. Hey, are you alright?” Dark Cacao asked, gingerly lowering him and Pure Vanilla’s hazy expression formed a small smirk. It was short lived, he hunched over and was breathing heavily as he talked.

“I… I’m fine, I think. Why…is it…quiet?”

Dark Cacao wasn’t sure.

He looked around, and surely enough, everyone was stunned. Across the forest floor, their assailants were either injured, unconscious, or curling in to shield their eyes with groaning.

“I think your magic has gotten stronger!” Hollyberry huffed out, using her foot to poke one of the cookies she knocked out herself, “There should be NO issue with arresting these hooligans.”

That didn’t please Pure Vanilla. The remorse on his face was evident.

White Lily watched as Golden Cheese landed next to her.

“Well, that was short lived. Why were they after you?” Golden Cheese asked, squeezing water out of her hair.

White Lily bit her lip.

The words weren’t coming easy, and Pure Vanilla panted, “she’s… she possesses magic. It makes us targets for…MY kingdom’s enemies… or those desperate enough… to do their bidding for a reward.”

Dark Cacao noticed Pure Vanilla’s hands shake, clinging to his staff. His guilty expression.

Thunder boomed again.

Pure Vanilla tried to stand, but Dark Cacao shook his head and tightened his grip on his sword.

He stood up himself, and kept a hand on Pure Vanilla’s shoulder to keep him from rising.

“Stay here. We should-“

CRACK!

A heavy fist crossed Dark Cacao’s face.

Before he could comprehend what happened, WHO did that, he fell to the ground.

He was grabbed by his cloak and kicked through a path between several trees.

Dark Cacao landed on the hard ground, crashing into a log.

A shooting pain shot through his back from the impact. His head throbbed, particularly his jaw from the punch, and so did his stomach, but he ignored it the best he could.

It wasn’t over.

With gritting teeth, he rose to stand with his sword. This time, he came face to face with someone in white armor. A yellow cloak wrapped around their shoulders, their face was obscured by a helmet, and their gold sword was bigger than Dark Cacao’s.

It was almost impressive.

Dark Cacao spit on the dirt, and crimson splattered against the soil.

He rose his sword to face this new opponent.

“HEY!” Golden Cheese snarled, and she tried to approach the knight.

They spun the sword in their hand with ease, and a strange magical barrier formed, glimmering with a paler, platinum color. It made Dark Cacao’s hair on his neck stand on edge. It encircled Dark Cacao and the knight. Hollyberry intercepted, tried to block the energy with her shield, but the sheer force knocked her to the ground as well, crashing into Golden Cheese and another tree trunk.

“STOP! RELEASE HIM!” White Lily cried out.

The knight coldly turned back to Dark Cacao, marching forward.

Words didn’t need to be spoken. Dark Cacao was enraged and he was fluent in the blade.

The knight dashed and slashed first.

Dark Cacao focused, parried his attack, and started to fight back.

The knight in full armor deflected all of Dark Cacao’s attacks in rapid succession. The clashing of their swords became a quick rhythm. The knight was fast, but was visibly surprised at Dark Cacao’s skill as well.

Dark Cacao could read them like a book. Armor was heavier, so Dark Cacao used his speed.

He went defensive, dodging every strike, making the knight move continuously. They kept going for lethal strikes. Dark Cacao was disadvantaged because he wasn’t, but he made due.

His balance was waning, and Dark Cacao was getting tired.

It was time. He used all his strength to knock the knight to their knees. With a charge, Dark Cacao slashed the pristine white armor’s breastplate.

A gash crossed the chest, damaging the metal but not deep in their dough. A scratch. It served as a warning. They cried out as their sword came loose in their hand, and Dark Cacao snatched it.

One sword in each hand, he crossed them in an X, the junction of the two lingering in front of the armored knight’s neck.

The helmeted knight gasped in shock.

“Who do you serve?” Dark Cacao asked as calmly as he could, getting to the chase immediately.

“The Divines.” They said under the helmet.

Sure you do.

“You know damn well what I-“

“I am a paladin. I serve the Divines. I serve my king. And my flaw is I serve my family. And I will kill anyone I have to in order to protect them.”

Dark Cacao’s brows furrowed.

“Dark Cacao!”

Pure Vanilla ran up to the shield. He hit his fist on the barrier, then flinched at the contact. He clutched his hand, shaking, and Dark Cacao’s eyes widened.

The barrier was painful.

“I have to be dead in order for it to vanish. The barrier.” The knight explained, Dark Cacao shifted, realizing there was still no way out, the raindrops echoed against the shield. “Kill me or not, I will ensure you die a painful death in your cell for putting a hand on him before any trial. It will be done in my honor.”

“Dark Cacao, listen to me! Release him!”Pure Vanilla yelled.

Dark Cacao stiffened.

The fear in Pure Vanilla’s eyes made his stomach churn.

He took a breath. Pure Vanilla KNEW this person, surely. With a calming breath, he decided to trust Pure Vanilla.

He dropped the swords to the side.

“Sir, there’s been a misunder-“

The knight lunged, taking the words out of Dark Cacao’s mouth. With the full force of the metal armor he was tackled to the ground.

“No, there hasn’t!” The knight barked out, using one fist to grip the front of Dark Cacao’s neck, pinning him to the damp ground and the other to try to reach for his sword.

Their metal fingertips brushed against Dark Cacao’s weapon.

“Stop.”

Another light flashed, the warmer kind that was Pure Vanilla’s magic.

The barrier around them disintegrated. The knight looked to the blades being carried by whisps of gold energy.

From the ground, Dark Cacao witnessed swords levitate on either side of Pure Vanilla. His eyes illuminated once again on his stern expression.

“Stand down.” He said clearly.

The knight’s gauntlet loosened from Dark Cacao’s neck, only slightly.

“My king-“

Pure Vanilla’s orchid staff illuminated brighter. He pulled down his hood, his strands of hair began to drift weightlessly.

He didn’t raise his voice, he didn’t even show threat of force. It was all in his hardened face. He illuminated the dark forest, and Dark Cacao stared in awe.

“That’s an order. As your king, I command you.”

“And as my brother?”

Pure Vanilla flinched.

The knight pulled Dark Cacao up by the tunic.

“Did he hurt you?” He asked with an accusatory finger towards Dark Cacao, “that’s all I need to know.”

“Pastry Cream?”

“Answer me.”

Pure Vanilla shook his head firmly, like it was preposterous, and Dark Cacao felt a wash of relief. After calming himself, the raw power and glow disappeared from Pure Vanilla’s eyes and staff. The swords clamored to the forest floor.

“No, he’s- these are my allies- so much has changed-“

“Clearly.” The knight, Pastry Cream said quietly.

The sounds of horses echoed through the forest.

———————————

Dark Cacao knew OF Pastry Cream. Oldest living brother of Pure Vanilla and paladin commander. But the firsthand experience (literally, Dark Cacao’s sore jaw for evidence) with the man was surreal. He took his helmet off in the carriage: His hair was shorter and wavy, an even paler blond, and his grey irises were eerie, but the similarities were striking with Pure Vanilla. It was like a version of him that was older and drained of color.

Pure Vanilla was going to heal something with Hollyberry, but Pastry Cream had cut in, “we have healers at the base. Save your strength.”

Dark Cacao didn’t mind it, waiting to be healed, even if the stinging of his jaw was insistent. He would live, he survived his entire life without knowing healing magic existed.

Dark Cacao was sitting across from Pastry Cream, Pure Vanilla, and White Lily.

Hollyberry next to him was slumped back into the carriage bench, and Golden Cheese had returned to her civilian form.

It was dead silent in the carriage save for the occasional jolt at feeling a bump.

“Forgive me for my actions.” Pastry Cream said suddenly.

Dark Cacao looked to him, and sure enough, he WAS apologizing to Dark Cacao.

Pure Vanilla met eyes with Dark Cacao. Not pleading, more as if he wanted to leave the acceptance of the apology at Dark Cacao’s discretion.

“You’re forgiven.” He decided flatly, “you believed I was an enemy. I would have done the same if the roles were reversed.”

“Would have? You did.” Hollyberry commented, “Remember when we happened upon the Licorice Beach?”

Pastry Cream’s eyes narrowed.

“Thanks for that, Hollyberry.” Dark Cacao muttered under his breath.

The carriage stopped.

White Chocolate steps, heavily guarded by other knights, led to a rather open, circular tiled room floor but still dim because of the cloudy sky. The stained sugar glass for the dome roof pattered with rainfall, echoing through the building. There were large gaps in the walls in the shapes of arches, likely to allow for cooling during the hot days. It was probably why everything was so white, to adapt to the temperature.

The paladin base was more akin to a temple, if anything.

A curved staircase led to the upper level of the building. Paladins, squires, and students marched down the stairs, lounged against the walls, or practiced with their swords, laughing and in conversation.

Upon seeing Pastry Cream, they were silent.

“That’s where you all will sleep. We’ll make adjustments.” Pastry Cream said calmly at Dark Cacao looking above. “we’re going to tend to your injuries. Dinner is at sundown, and we expect all who stay to be in attendance.”

————————————

The healing was painful when it wasn’t Pure Vanilla.

The healer taking care of him snickered at Dark Cacao’s visceral reaction to the pain, more because he wasn’t expecting to feel anything than because of the severity.

“Ah, virgin to healing touch, I see.” He commented.

It took a lot not to punch the man. Dark Cacao felt too embarrassed to speak.

When they were finished it gave Hollyberry a clear view of Dark Cacao across from her. She had a smug smile.

“Pure Vanilla’s a gifted healer for a reason.” She noted.

He felt a nudge on his arm, and Golden Cheese was grinning madly.

“You’ve been spoiled~”

“Stop it.” He demanded, but it fell on deaf ears as she continued to poke him.

———————————

Pure Vanilla’s tapped his fingers on the large dining table. He was at the head, watching Pastry Cream and White Lily talk… well, argue. The second he saw the expression on Pastry Cream’s face in the carriage, that calm anger that meant ‘we need to talk, now’, Pure Vanilla was prepared to be exhausted.

Pastry Cream said firmly, “He was NOT protected. Don’t tell me you think that’s acceptable?”

“You are misconstruing the situation-“

“What, your incompetence? What kind of entourage for a king is this?”

White Lily flinched.

“Don’t talk to her like that.” Pure Vanilla warned.

“Two strangers, a queen, and an unstable magic user… not a single guard was in my presence- I’m not misconstruing a single thing.”

Pure Vanilla glared at him.

“Two Queens, a prince, and White Lily, my friend-“ and Pastry Cream was glaring back, “-all with fighting prowess. The fact you don’t respect them is different. It was a diplomatic mission, I didn’t NEED soldiers.”

“Queens and White Lily are not going to save you.” Pastry Cream insisted, and White Lily rolled her eyes, “You’re a KING. Whether you act like it or not, you are. And you will be until the day you die. And if I say nothing, that’s going to be soon.”

Pure Vanilla gritted his teeth, but was still taken aback.

“You’ve been gone for almost a year, Pastry Cream. You do not get the privilege of lecturing me.”

“I was protecting my kingdom, protecting YOU and you can’t even protect yourself! Did you not get attacked? Multiple times? You nearly died in this ‘Golden Cheese’ kingdom, Vanilla Bean told me. You had ONE swordsman that could protect you.”

“Commander.” A voice cut in.

A paladin came from the outside and pointed his thumb to where he came from.

“They are readying to serve.”

Pastry Cream nodded, then turned to White Lily.

“Go fetch the others of your party.”

White Lily looked to Pure Vanilla, and before he could speak, Pastry Cream added, “Now.”

Pure Vanilla wanted to scream, he wanted to defend her. But at the same time, he couldn’t find the words. He was tired, thankful his brother was back, and a familiar frustration bubbled in his throat. It was a mix of emotions that left his tongue dry.

“Does the mother of your children know that you disregard every woman you come across? Or does she already know that?” White Lily asked calmly.

Meanwhile, Pastry Cream tilted his head and leaned forward.

“My brother may be swayed by your words, White Lily Cookie, but I am not. If I disclosed your blasphemy, you wouldn’t be allowed here. But I am silent. That, my lady, is called respect. You should learn the concept. You are dismissed.”

White Lily took a shuddered breath. She loudly rose out of her chair, the wood scraping the floor, staring him down.

Pastry Cream didn’t move.

With a huff, White Lily grabbed her staff and stormed out of the dining room.

A tense silence followed. Pure Vanilla clasped his hands tighter around his staff.

Pastry Cream leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. He looked tired, stressed, and worst of all simmering with anger.

It felt like an eternity.

“I swear, Pure Vanilla, she is LUCKY you’re here. If she brings up my wife against me again-“

“Does my entourage choice anger you because it had three women, or because I had no guards?” Pure Vanilla asked, getting straight to the point.

Pastry Cream rolled his eyes.

“Both. Happy?”

“Don’t you EVER to talk to her like that again. Keep your opinions to yourself.”

“Or what, you’ll demote me? It’s indecent, it’s immoral… you understand I’m concerned for THEIR safety, don’t you?”

Pure Vanilla didn’t know how to get through to Pastry Cream. He understood: the school of paladin training that he went through was harsh, instilled skewed traditions. And a big one was that men fought and protected. Women provided and supported mens’ pursuits. Alone, it wasn’t as harmful of a belief itself, but Pastry Cream was, of course, a diligent student. It was a perception of roles that stemmed from CREATION itself to him. There was a way a man and a woman should behave because that was what they were MADE for.

The academy changed him. And with that change, Pure Vanilla didn’t meet his standards.

Pure Vanilla firmly believed in pacifism, didn’t pursue combat even with suggestion, and didn’t uphold EVERY SINGLE tradition of the Divine’s houses in his laws. He forgave White Lily for the magical mayhem she caused at the academy with her experiments rather than call her practices heresy.

Inwardly, Pure Vanilla could laugh. How would Pastry Cream react to what was happening with him and Dark Cacao?

Was that another way Pure Vanilla was disappointing him?

“You know where I stand on this.” Pure Vanilla said, “White Lily’s mistakes do not define her and I will not have you act like they do. And if you REALLY care about the safety of my comrades, my friends that HAPPEN to be women, you express it with kindness. You express it with LOVE, you don’t confine them and insult them. Do you understand me?”

Pure Vanilla saw him actually consider his words, but then again, Pastry Cream wasn’t one to change his opinion easily.

Pure Vanilla sighed, digging his thumbnail into his staff’s handle.

“I wanted to see you because I received word you were back, you know that? I missed you. But if you don’t-“

“I wanted to see you.”

Pure Vanilla looked him directly eye for the first time in a year.

His grey eyes softened.

“I wouldn’t have answered your beacon if I didn’t.”

“You were fast.”

“Of course. I FELT your magic and I was terrified. You might think I was harsh-“

“Understatement of the century, Pastry Cream.” Pure Vanilla cut in.

Pastry Cream’s face turned red.

“But all I want is your safety-“

They would have continued, but plates began to be brought into the room.

Dark Cacao was in the doorway.

Pure Vanilla straightened. Dark Cacao’s face of disdain told Pure Vanilla everything.

He pulled out the other chair next to Pure Vanilla, unclipped his cape, and sat down with it hung on the chair.

“Concerned about the ladys’ safety, my ass.” Dark Cacao muttered in Pure Vanilla’s ear while Pastry Cream accepted salutes from other paladins joining the table.

Pure Vanilla kept his face even, avoiding smirking.

“I agree, but don’t be crass.”

Dark Cacao hummed.

————————————

The paladin assigned shutting the door for dinner had way too joyous of a face when he was about to do so.

That was, until a golden spear made it through the remaining crack.

Pure Vanilla covered his mouth, and Dark Cacao propped his cheek in his fist.

The door bursted open, knocking over the paladin, and Golden Cheese stood over him while Hollyberry and White Lily hurried to some seats.

“You SAW us.”

“Door closes when commander says!” He said, “what took YOU so long?”

Golden Cheese didn’t dignify with an answer. She slammed the wooden door closed herself.

Dark Cacao was proud.

Pastry Cream narrowed his eyes at Golden Cheese.

“Tardiness is punishable by missing the meal, and we don’t like to make exceptions for anyone, miss.”

“Your paladins misdirected us, commander.” Hollyberry said frankly, “we only made it here because we followed some of the later ones.”

Pastry Cream rolled his eyes, but proceeded with saying grace.

Dark Cacao adjusted the best he could to the… etiquette.

He was handed a bowl of water, and he almost thought it was soup decorated with jellyflowers. Following Pure Vanilla’s example, he found out it was actually for cleansing the hands.

Why they didn’t just do that in another room, he wasn’t sure.

He stared awkwardly at the table as he linked hands with his neighbors. Everyone seemed to know the words of the prayer, but Dark Cacao didn’t.

He felt a reassuring squeeze from Pure Vanilla’s hand, but nonetheless, he said the words perfectly.

They dug into the hearty meal: cake boar roast with mixed greens and sautéed mushrooms. The paladins excitedly talked about the arrests they made, pride in their faces, to Pure Vanilla.

“Your help apprehending them all was admirable. Thank you all for your contribution to ensuring justice is served.”

But Pure Vanilla, however, was NOT pleased at the way they recounted seeing the battle from afar. That Golden Cheese was running away, that White Lily was huddled in a corner, that Hollyberry was making herself scarce while Pure Vanilla and Dark Cacao fought valiantly.

Dark Cacao could see Pure Vanilla’s discomfort, trying to correct the interpretation, piping up about how it was a TEAM effort.

“Of course, your majesty!” Someone would say, only to continue perpetuating that Dark Cacao was the hero of the story. That got eyeroll from Hollyberry across the table.

It was… annoying.

“Prince Dark Cacao?” A young boy with messy black hair, a squire, asked from next to him.

Dark Cacao looked down at him, making the boy shrink.

“Yes?”

“Where did you get your sword? It’s so cool… and…”

“Don’t bother him with a question like that!” One of the paladin graduates scolded from across the table.

“Easy, now. It’s not a bother.” Dark Cacao assured, and the table was quieter now that Dark Cacao had spoken.

Dark Cacao looked to the wall, where his sword was hanging on a rack.

“It was a gift from my father. I received it after my rite of passage.”

“Rite of slaughter, correct?” Another older student asked, then clarified, “I read about your kingdom, your highness.”

“I commend you.”

“Tell us about the story of the hunt!” A younger student yelled from across the table.

Pastry Cream shot the boy a look, and the boy added, “please?”

Dark Cacao fell quiet. He looked to Pure Vanilla for help, and he seemed interested as well. Then he looked to Hollyberry, Golden Cheese, and White Lily-

“Actually.” Dark Cacao began, getting an idea, clearing his throat, “my hunt wasn’t impressive, no. Now my father… he began his journey as a KING with his hunt. I think that would be a better tale to tell, no?”

The paladins, graduated or in training, all ages, were listening. Good.

“I brought to my parents a cream wolf. But my father’s prize he yearned to display to his people, to prove his courage, was an even more dangerous creature…”

Forastero felt prepared.

He set beartraps of Cacaoian steel, nets invisible under the snow, found a clearing to camp. It was more advanced of an effort because his rite of passage wasn’t just hunting a wolf like the others his age.

He was hunting a Prowler. How else would he establish himself as a hunter, so young, already gaining true respect of the elders? By killing the toughest creature there was, aside from the dragons themselves.

It wasn’t going to be as easy as setting a simple trap, he knew that. They only served as a chance to slow a beast down and give Forastero the chance to slay it.

Maybe in the mean time catch a cream rabbit or ferret to eat, fresh while he tracked the creature down could do him wonders. That’s what he was expecting to be the reason he heard the recoiled snap of one of his nets, just before the sunset when he was returning to his campsite.

It definitely wasn’t the Frozen Peak Prowler, too quiet.

Under a net weighted down by stones, Forastero wasn’t sure what he was looking at. It was a mix of light fur and fabric, struggling inside the net.

To his surprise, an arm slipped out of one of the holes with a struggle, brandishing a large hunting knife.

“He killed a PERSON?”

“Wafer!” Pastry Cream scolded.

“Don’t.” Forastero said firmly, and it was surreal to hear his own voice cut into the frozen air, considering he hadn’t spoken while on the hunt in days, “put the knife away.”

The person- the THING- halted, turning its head.

From inside the heap, Forastero couldn’t make out a face. Or at least a real one. Instead a large mask depicting a sharp grin with teeth and feline eyes faced him. The mask was wood, carved and painted to the likeness of the creature Forastero was hunting.

The face of the Frozen Peak Prowler? What kind of sick joke was this?

Forastero gingerly approached. He took note of the person’s erratic breathing.

“Look. I’m not going to hurt you. This trap isn’t for you. I can help.”

That seemed to calm them, slightly. And he didn’t want to sacrifice a good net he still needed.

“I’m helping you now.” He narrated as he began lifting one stone at a time to free the person from being pinned.

The second they saw an opening, they scrambled out, faster than Forastero could grab them.

The masked person shifted to take in their surroundings, probably checking for more traps. Their robes and coat looked similar to Forastero’s own, white to blend in with the snow, but they were not his people.

Despite being shorter in stature, meaning they were no older than him, the mask still gave them an eerie appearance.

“Who do you belong to?” Forastero asked, then corrected himself, “what tribe are you from?”

The person shifted warily.

“You don’t have one?”

Then the person went rigid. Their shoulders tensed.

Could they be feral? They seemed to understand what he was saying. Or were they from an isolated people?

It didn’t matter, Forastero didn’t have time to be responsible for another cookie.

“Fine. Don’t answer. You need to leave.” He grumbled.

The person straightened, they shook their head more vigorously, holding out their hands.

“No, you can’t stay. This is MY hunting ground-“

The person let out a strangled noise.

Forastero flinched, and they yanked him by his robes and covered his mouth.

He realized in horror what he was looking for was approaching.

“The Frozen Peak Prowler” Dark Cacao explained, “is an enormous feline species, it scurries along the peaks but comes down from high elevations for food, then drags whatever they don’t eat to their high caves. It has a bushy tail, enormous paws to tread the snow silently, and claws that tear through trees like paper. My father, thirteen years old, wanted to bring one of THOSE THINGS dead to his village.”

Forastero didn’t realize the creature was that BIG, towering over both of them and staring with that haunting grin he was always warned as an omen of death.

It was slowly stalking them.

The stranger with the mask hissed.

The prowler, the real one, seemed confused at the imitation, tilting its head with pulled back ears. It stepped back a few steps.

“Go. Now.” The stranger whispered in Forastero’s ear, then shoved him away from the Prowler.

He didn’t try to leave, he stood, stunned at the person hissing and snarling at the large animal.

The prowler growled, crouching.

Its pupils began to dilate.

It was going to lunge. And the size of it, it could eat this person whole.

Forastero swallowed.

“Follow me. We’ll catch it.”

He wasn’t missing his chance and he wasn’t letting another be harmed on his behalf.

The masked person pulled out their knife and continued to snarl.

“How?” They whispered quickly before continuing to intimidate the Prowler.

“Bear trap. Behind me.” He urged, and the masked person stepped back slowly, surely realizing the Prowler wasn’t being patient anymore.

Forastero turned and began to run. He put his fingers to his lips and let out a piercing whistle.

“Oh no!” The boy next to Dark Cacao shrieked, “DID HE DIE?!”

“My father is alive, little one.”

“HEY!” Forastero snarled to the beast.

The prowler growled, then leapt past the stranger with a roar.

But Forastero had already taken off.

He was fast, but not fast enough to outrun the creature. His heart pounded at the advancing speed, the ragged panting of the prowler behind him as he himself huffed hot breaths into the frozen air. He didn’t look back.

He kept moving.

It wasn’t far. The gleam of metal against the pearly white, a bear trap. Forastero leapt over it, as far as he could before landing in the clearing of the dense trees.

SNAP!

A deafening roar shook the ground beneath Forastero, but he rose to face the product of his work.

The creature’s paw was caught in one of his traps, it shrieked and whimpered, trying to soothe itself.

Forastero felt himself smirk. He pulled himself out of the snow. He readied his bow and aimed for the creature’s head.

He took a deep, satisfied breath.

But didn’t shoot.

“Remember,” Dark Cacao said, “My father was trying to prove himself.”

It squirmed, and it was in pain.

Stupid creature…

On second thought, it wasn’t going anywhere. His prize should look perfect for when it was mounted on the wall.

Forastero shot an arrow at the beast’s side instead, as to not damage the head. Through the thick fur, the arrow pierced the flesh.

The Prowler wailed, but turned its attention to Forastero with enraged eyes.

Despite struggling to stand, the Prowler advanced, reaching out a paw, reaching him with ease.

Its first strike was after his bow, slamming it out of his hands and crushing it to pieces on the ground.

The second strike, the Prowler’s claws sliced his leg, making him stumble.

He cried out in pain, falling back onto the snow. Red stained his pant leg and his flesh throbbed, like sizzling. It dripped onto the snow.

The Prowler snarled, the third was just beside him. It gingerly sunk its claw into the fabric of the bottom of his pants.

To his horror it began to pull, feline pupils dilating and drool dribbling from its teeth, and Forastero uselessly began to try to crawl away from it.

It began to purr, like a cat indulging in hunting a mouse, and Forastero with shaken hands tried to unsheathed his sword. It felt so heavy in his grasp, his body shook out of fear and the burning sensation of his thigh being shredded into. His back slid through the snow.

He wasn’t going to die like this, damn it! No, not with the last thing ever saw being that wretched smile-

A vicious cry cut into the air.

The Prowler froze.

On its back, the other person leapt. The cookie in the mask was crawling, hiking up the creature’s fur with fury. The Prowler howled, trying to shake them off like a pest, but failed. The masked person whipped around, losing footing, had a grip strength unlike any other.

Forastero used the chance to get out of its range and stab the creature’s free paw into the ground with his sword.

It howled again, and this time it jerked sharply, sending the masked person flying into Forastero.

They both grunted, they both fell onto the snow of the clearing.

Forastero hissed in pain, being pinned under the masked person. The odd mask stared back down at him, and he pushed them off immediately.

They clutched their side as they gathered themself. Then with a huff, they shot up, ran back to the Prowler with a fierce cry of battle.

With its two front paws injured, the Prowler tried to snap with its jaws. The cookie dodged, and with an incredible speed, charged to silently stabbed the creature into its neck.

The younger students flinched.

“Your father didn’t kill it, then” White Lily said.

“Exactly.” Dark Cacao answered.

Forastero flinched. The creature screeched. The masked person grabbed the Prowler by the mane to sink the blade in deeper, forearm almost disappearing into the Prowler’s fur.

The light left the Prowler’s eyes, and the creature’s body collapsed into the snow, sending a flurry of fresh, sparkling frost into the air.

The forest was quiet again.

That is, aside from the panting of the masked figure looming next to the Prowler’s head that was the same size as them.

They gasped for air, then grabbed onto their mask and pulled it off like they couldn’t breathe with the thing any longer.

In the faint sight of sunset, their face glistened with sweat, mouth agape as they breathed. They had a short, brown, shaggy mess of shoulder length hair with strands sticking to their face.

A girl?

The amount of gasps at that was borderline ridiculous. Pure Vanilla seemed to enjoy it, and so did Golden Cheese and Hollyberry. White Lily was just better at hiding it, Dark Cacao assumed.

“WHAT?!” the boy next to Dark Cacao shrieked, “No way! It couldn’t have been! How did he know?!”

“You doubt my king? He knew a girl when he saw one! But he wondered if anyone would believe her… that SHE killed a beast like that? It would be very easy to take the glory.”

She clutched her side, nearly falling to her knees, but supported herself with a nearby tree.

Forastero swallowed.

She was weak. Her fingers dug into the bark as she panted.

It was an opportunity.

He had to take the kill back to his village, he NEEDED this.

With ginger steps, he withdrew his sword and pointed the blade at her.

“This hunt is mine.” He said firmly.

The girl looked at him with a frown, a stunned one that made his stomach churn.

“Step away from it.” He said.

“What?” She gritted out. Her disbelief made him sick, Forastero felt sick.

He stepped between her and the Prowler’s corpse.

She eyed the blade with a tired look.

“It’s dead because I trapped it-“

“That’s bullshit and you know it.”

Forastero inhaled sharply, straightening to seem taller and more confident.

She walked past him with a second wind, and he let her despite everything. The girl leaned down and pulled the knife out of the dead Prowler’s neck.

“Now go. I’m not asking. This prize is mine.” He asserted.

She laughed darkly, exhausted and seemingly offended.

“You WOULD have killed if it weren’t for your stupidity.” She shot back. He had no doubts anymore, her voice that was a dead giveaway she was, in fact, a young girl.

A girl, his age, out in the wilderness? It was preposterous. It was shameful she bested him.

Forastero stiffened.

She saw him have the clear target and not take it.

She saw him not go for the head.

“Is this your rite of passage?” She asked quietly.

Forastero swallowed.

The girl gestured to the dead animal with her glistening knife.

“It is, isn’t it? Pretty ambitious. You want to make a NAME for yourself, don’t you?” She mocked, “And you have the nerve to threaten me to take it?”

She stepped closer to him without fear, even let the tip of the sword line with the dead center of her neck.

“Go ahead. Have your coming of age be based on a lie.” She spat, her burgundy eyes boring into him, seeing Forastero for what he was, “then kill me so no one else finds out what a COWARD you are.”

Forastero gulped under her glare. Her intense, commanding eyes.

“DO IT!” She screamed with enraged eyes.

Pure Vanilla leaned close to Dark Cacao.

“Did he?” He asked quietly.

Dark Cacao took a moment, letting the suspense settle in.

She was crazy.

She was insane.

But… he couldn’t.

He didn’t move.

The wind rustled the trees. In the night sky, Forastero could see snowflakes dance, falling from heaven to land on the messy locks of her hair.

Forastero swallowed.

“That’s what I thought.” She muttered, then flipped her modest knife in the air and caught it perfectly. It was wet and sticky with the Prowler’s jam.

He lowered his blade, sheathing it with shame. He felt a thickness in his throat and felt his lip tremble.

He was disgusted he would consider such a thing, hurt someone to advance.

He fell to his knees.

He was tired. He wasn’t worthy. He-

The girl watched him with an expression Forastero couldn’t place.

“Th-thank you.” He stuttered, raking his hands over his face, “for saving me-“

“I would have been mauled if you hadn’t freed me from the trap. Make your first kill one with integrity if you truly want to thank me.”

She had to be a hunter already.

“How old are you?” He asked.

“My rite was months ago.”

Then, to his surprise, she knelt in front of him. She reached out with the knife and he honestly thought she was going to stab him. He braced himself, but she slid the blade on the flat face of it to smear a stain into his robes, red against the pure white, and Forastero didn’t dare move.

“There’s one west. The scent will draw it close. It’s not as large, but it’s impressive for a first hunt.”

“I-“

The girl put down her knife and cupped his face, and he didn’t mind the jam smearing on his chin.

“You’re as good as dead if you dwell on every dark thing that crosses your mind. Redeem yourself, learn.”

Forastero nodded firmly.

“Do not let the darkness within hold power over your heart. There’s some righteousness to you, isn’t there?”

Forastero swallowed. She turned and unlocked his trap from the dead creature’s paw with ease.

That last sentence, it was probably a noncommittal response but it restarted his heart, reinvigorated him.

She’s so skilled… and she sees righteousness in me?

“My father followed her advice. Headed west, found a Prowler that was tired from starvation. He nearly lost again, but he took the life of that animal himself. He EARNED the glory of killing the beast with a pure heart.”

Dark Cacao pulled out the blade, the one the girl used that day, and got ‘ooohs’ and ‘aaahs’ from the table.

“If not for HER valor, her words, my father would have never become a king, because he first needed to gain the trust and admiration of his people. He NEVER would have survived the night. Whether literally… or his soul.”

He made it a point to look Pastry Cream in the eye.

“Every story of a man’s victory… there’s a mother, sister, or a mere girl that molded that man, fought by his side, or aided him that is overlooked and never remembered. Our writings of our king’s rite are forbidden from omitting mentioning the girl.”

“And why is that?” Pastry Cream asked, perhaps pushing back because he realized the purpose of the tale, “it’s not a necessary detail. It just makes the story longer-“

“That girl was my mother, sir. Allow me to reiterate: there would be no king if not for her guidance.”

Pastry Cream didn’t reply.

———————————

Dark Cacao got some air after dinner, while everyone got situated in their rooms. Hollyberry, Golden Cheese, and White Lily voiced how much they loved the story, Pastry Cream’s face. That a few paladins actually spoke to them. Dark Cacao felt a sense of pride in his chest.

But now after that, he felt… hollow.

He sat on the steps of the paladin base, observing the his mother’s black blade shine in the moonlight.

“That was objectively out of line.”

Pure Vanilla sat beside him, donning a white set of robes.

“And?”

“And…” Pure Vanilla said, smirking, “it was a good story.”

Dark Cacao scoffed, eyes drawn back to the knife.

“Are you alright? You disappeared after dinner.”

Dark Cacao sighed.

“I… I need to return home soon.” Then Dark Cacao ended up saying, probably because he was already on the streak of talking about her, “This is the longest I’ve gone without paying my respects at her altar. I know, she knows why I’m not there, but-“

“Cacao. It’s alright, I understand. I take no offense.”

Dark Cacao didn’t know what else to say. Literal crickets chirped to fill the silence.

“My oldest brother, Vanilla Orchid.” Pure Vanilla said, surprising Dark Cacao, “He passed away when I was on my pilgrimage. I need to pay my respects too.” A dry smile formed, and it hurt to see Pure Vanilla force one, “I haven’t since I the first time I did.”

“It’s far, isn’t it?”

“WholeGrainia. But… I have to… I have to return home as well.”

Dark Cacao nodded.

“Anything you need-“

“I know.”

It was dangerous, Dark Cacao knew it. But he couldn’t find it in himself to stop Pure Vanilla from making the journey. He deserved peace more than anyone.

Pure Vanilla put his hand over Dark Cacao’s.

He was going to advise against it-

“So how did they find each other again? How did they fall in love?”

Dark Cacao rose an eyebrow.

“My parents? Oh, my father was very straightforward.”

“A-Are you betrothed?” Forastero blurted.

The girl stiffened. She turned back to look at him, taking her attention off the dead animal, seeming to analyze his appearance and his face.

Probably trying to determine if he was serious.

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t ask that.” She went with saying.

“Don’t, because I did. Are you?”

She rolled her eyes.

“No. And if I’m blessed, I’ll never marry-!”

She extracted the Prowler’s paw from the metal trap with a grunt.

“But if you had to… would you consider me if I was a great hunter?”

The girl paused again looking at him with furrowed brows.

“Depends. Do you know where the Criollo tribe is?”

“Um…”

“Exactly.”

“I’ll find out! And… I’ll ask you to marry me when I’m worthy. You could say no!”

The girl abruptly turned away so Forastero couldn’t see her face.

“You never will be if you keep wasting your time here.”

Forastero nodded firmly.

“Till we meet again.”

“You’re probably going to be dead in hours.”

He marched through the snow.

“You can boast about it in the afterlife!” He called out when we got far away enough to know he would get the last word, “I’ll see you again regardless!”

The girl shook her head.

She looked at the blade in her hand.

In truth, she knew his tribe from the clothing alone. But the lack of recognition at the name of her own… the poor kid didn’t know how far apart they lived.

He probably wasn’t serious.

But if he WAS-

She stabbed the knife into a nearby tree trunk before thinking too hard about it. It was engraved with markings. If he was smart enough, it would lead to her people.

“I’ve been meaning to get a new one, haven’t I?” She reasoned with herself out loud, even though she was blatantly sacrificing her favorite knife for this kid on an impulse.

Chapter Text

At an early hour, Pure Vanilla descended the stairs of the paladin base. The white choco marble was tinted a blue-grey in color from the overcast sky.

The tiling of the floor formed a mosaic of the Divines, basking in a holy light and surrounded by cherubs. The art would instill a sense of blind faith and awe to anyone who came across it.

For Pure Vanilla, it wasn’t that simple.

“Your grace.” Someone deadpanned.

With a gentle gasp, Pure Vanilla turned and looked at his brother. Pastry Cream was leaving the chapel and closing the door behind him. Despite being unarmored and in refined robes for visiting the palace, he still carried himself with a warrior’s stature.

“You look remotely approachable.” Pure Vanilla teased.

Pastry Cream nodded and managed a dry “ha, ha” before he unraveled a scroll he had holstered in his belt.

Under the stained glass roof, his face was illuminated…he looked…

Unwell.

It was the only way to describe it. Sunken, bloodshot silver eyes darted across the parchment in his hands.

“I just did my morning cleansing.” He explained, “I’m sorry, were you-“

“No. Not at all. I prefer the privacy of my chambers, anyway.”

Pastry Cream looked as though he had something to say about that, but he didn’t comment on Pure Vanilla’s worship practices.

This time.

“Well, then” Pastry Cream went with instead, trying to nonchalantly sniff before adding, “I… I think we need to prepare for your arrival-“

“Pastry, are you alright?”

Pastry Cream blinked. He looked to Pure Vanilla blankly.

“That’s a preposterous question, is it not?”

He walked past Pure Vanilla and took a lantern off the wall.

“What do you mean?”

“I just did my morning divine cleansing. I am a new and awakened man on this day. I really need it. After all, The Divine Houses punish me day in and day out.”

This felt…

“Because of you , your majesty.”

Wrong.

“I wonder… do you truly think you deserved to be called that?” Pastry Cream asked.

Pure Vanilla blinked.

In that instant, his surrounding changed and he wasn’t in the temple base. He stood in that familiar desolate field of dead grass and crumbled houses in the dead of night.

His old home, he recognized it to his left.

“Pure Vanilla Cookieeeee.” A haunting voice sing-songed in his ear.

Pure Vanilla gasped, walking backwards and tripping on his own feet, then collapsed onto the dusty road beneath him. His feet throbbed in piercing pain.

Vanilla Orchid looked down at him.

He smiled a wicked grin.

————————————

Dark Cacao was shaken awake. He lazily blinked, but found he wasn’t alone in his room.

“Wh- Hollyberry?”

“Wake up!” She whispered.

He shot up in his bed. Golden Cheese, Hollyberry, and White Lily were all standing in his room fully dressed. He was too tired to feel uneasy about it.

“It’s the middle-“

“Pure Vanilla is gone.” White Lily whispered.

Dark Cacao groggily wiped his eyes and frowned.

“What… what are you saying? What do you mean he’s GONE?”

“I don’t know where he went!“

“Well, I’m sorry. I don’t either,” Dark Cacao grumbled, irritated they were waking him up for this, “He‘s probably somewhere outside, getting fresh air-“

“Dark Cacao.” Golden Cheese said, more composed than White Lily, “All three of us have searched the paladin base… he’s not here…. and his door was ajar. His staff was left behind. His royal garments are missing.”

His stomach clenched. Hollyberry put a hand on his shoulder.

“We don’t want to assume the worst-“

She didn’t get to finish. He shot out of bed and ushered them outside his door.

“How long?” Dark Cacao asked through the door, taking off his nightshirt and putting on something decent as quickly as he could.

And WHO was behind this? Enemies of the Vanilla Kingdom? Thieves looking for a ransom? Or was this something they hadn’t encountered before?

Was there even a crime?

Something had to be wrong. Pure Vanilla wouldn’t leave his staff in his room. And if he did by choice, he wouldn’t have gotten far enough off the base by himself that he wouldn’t have been found already.

“It’s been close to an hour since I noticed his door open.” White Lily said, “I… I don’t want to cause a panic.”

He grabbed his sword and wrapped his belt around his waist.

Alerting the paladins was a last resort.

Especially Pastry Cream.

“We’ll find him.” He said firmly.

Please.

Please be nothing.

————————————————-

His eldest brother stood over Pure Vanilla, thin and sickly. His clothes were painfully loose on his frame.

“What’s wrong, Nilla?” He asked with a pitying sigh, and Pure Vanilla trembled in fear, “Is it sinking in yet? How selfish you truly are?”

“What are you saying…?”

“Only what you know deep down… you don’t DESERVE to answer to a higher calling, do you?”

Vanilla Orchid crouched down to Pure Vanilla’s level and tilted his head. His eyes… they glowed blue.

Two… different shades of blue? With slits for pupils?

“What are you talking about?” Pure Vanilla tried again.

“After all, you let me die. You LEFT ME to die.”

“N-No. I didn’t- You’re not Vanilla Orchid. Whatever you are, you’re not real!”

“I don’t have to be. Come on, Pure Vanilla, you don’t have to lie and hide. You don’t have to deceive yourself anymore. How can you believe you’re a rightful king deserving of an immeasurable power like your new friend has when you’re just a selfish coward?”

Pure Vanilla sharply inhaled.

Did he mean Golden Cheese?

This cruel image of his brother grinned, in a grotesquely cheerful way considering how sickly he looked.

“You let me die.” He reiterated.

Pure Vanilla felt sick.

The apparition morphed into Pastry Cream, spoke with his voice.

“You let me be punished.”

Pastry Cream then morphed into his third brother, Vanilla Bean. He tilted his head and tapped at the thick scarring on his cheek.

“You let me be silent. All for YOU. Just what kind of king are you?”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about! What is it you want from me?!” Pure Vanilla asked, trying to stand. The pain in his feet was too much, he yelped and almost collapsed.

The thing caught him and snarled,

“I want you to stay away from what’s MINE!”

—————————

They split up and searched the Paladin base’s surrounding forest. Despite the rapid pouring rain and the mist, they were determined and not stopping until Pure Vanilla was found.

Dark Cacao clenched his jaw.

Where is he?

Dark Cacao didn’t hear a carriage or horses. He was a light sleeper, he would have caught that. There was no rainwater tracked into Pure Vanilla’s room, not a single indication of a struggle, or even just a note that he had to go somewhere else. Golden Cheese quickly determined there was no one on the main road during the late hour, she could get a pretty high vantage point from the paladin watchtower.

They had to carefully evade the patrolling guards to leave the base, so wouldn’t have Pure Vanilla’s captors had to do the same?

It didn’t make sense.

Dark Cacao stopped upon noticing something on the ground.

In the mud, indentations.

Tracks?

He dismounted from his horse, then leaned down to observe.

Unmistakable. A single set of bare footprints, barely starting to fill with water. Considering it had been pouring for some time, this had to mean these were fresh.

“Pure Vanilla?” He called out.

Dark Cacao scanned the woods, following the footprints slowly to ensure he wasn’t walking into some sort of trap.

At the end of the tracks weaving through the forest floor, he saw him. His royal garments drenched in rain, hair over his face, slowly stepping forwards in the direction of-

“Pure Vanilla?” Dark Cacao called out.

A river. A rapid river. Pure Vanilla was shuffling to the edge of a small cliff, not stopping his shaken stride.

Dark Cacao began to walk faster.

“No. Wait- STOP! PURE VANILLA!” He yelled, quickening to a run, but Pure Vanilla didn’t react. Didn’t turn to look at him. Could he not hear Dark Cacao nearby with the rushing current of the water and the rainfall?

Dark Cacao sprinted, nearly missing grabbing Pure Vanilla by the back of his robes before pulling him away from the edge.

Pure Vanilla didn’t react, his body was almost limp as he was spun to face Dark Cacao. Pure Vanilla’s head hung low.

“What on earth are you-?!”

Dark Cacao’s voice halted.

Pure Vanilla’s blond hair was still plastered to his face from the rain. Dark Cacao gingerly brushed his hair back to find his eyes glowing.

Not gold, not his normal magic essence.

This was a bright blue color of light shining through him.

Dark Cacao recognized this energy. It was the same color and intensity as when Golden Cheese weighed his soul.

“Pure Vanilla?” He asked, shaking him, “Pure Vanilla! Can you hear me?!”

He didn’t respond. His body was limp, not reacting to being shaken or yelled at. He stared forward absently, frozen, as if THROUGH Dark Cacao’s chest. Too expressionless. Dark Cacao gripped his shoulders tighter.

“Pure Vanilla! What has become of-“

Dark Cacao observed a slight sway to his stance. He looked down.

His feet were bruised, filthy, and cut. Dark Cacao had to come on horseback to find him this far from the Paladin base… did Pure Vanilla walk all this way? Whatever trance this was, it had a hold on him and his senses.

Dark Cacao swallowed the forming lump in his throat.

Damn it. He couldn’t brute force his way to fixing this. As carefully as he could, he hooked one arm under Pure Vanilla’s legs, supporting his back with the as he lifted him off the ground.

“I… I have you.” Dark Cacao muttered softly, pulling Pure Vanilla’s drenched body close,“Nothing… nothing will happen to you. I’m here.”

No answer came. There was still the blue shimmer illuminating Pure Vanilla’s eyes. He was cold as ice, trembling.

“You’re safe.” Dark Cacao said through hitched breath and he felt as though his words only served to try to convince himself.

————————————

Pure Vanilla awakened with difficulty.

His body ached all over. As he tried to turn, he audibly groaned at the shooting aches through his legs. Even his skull was throbbing incessantly…

Slowly shifting, Pure Vanilla groggily tried to get up and stand. The second he put his weight on his feet, he involuntarily cried out to the point he felt he had to cover his mouth. It felt as though his heels were being STABBED with needles.

“Don’t strain yourself.” He heard.

“D-Dark Cacao!?” Pure Vanilla asked in surprise.

Pure Vanilla felt Dark Cacao’s fingertips brush with his knuckles, with his hand that was clenching his bedsheets.

“Yes. I’m here. How are you feeling?”

“To be frank, I’m in pain. But… what are you doing in my room? N-not that I’m opposed to your presence at all, it’s just…”

You didn’t knock. I can’t see you but I know you had to have been sitting on the chair in the corner of the room while I was ASLEEP-

“I was watching over you.” Dark Cacao replied bluntly.

Pure Vanilla’s face burned at the thought.

“Oh. No, I didn’t mean-“

“Dark Cacao, my staff?”

“Yes, of course.”

Pure Vanilla heard footsteps. Upon hearing them get closer, he held out his hand to take the staff.

His staff groggily opened, adjusting to the light of the day into the room, and took in Dark Cacao slowly sitting down next to him on the bed. He looked stiff, worried, and exhausted.

“I’m confused.” Pure Vanilla began, “why were you- how did you even get in here?”

Dark Cacao huffed out a breath and gritted his teeth.

“I take it you don’t remember anything from last night?”

“No.” Pure Vanilla replied, “I don’t. Did something happen?”

The urgency and uncomfortable feeling was rising in his own voice.

Dark Cacao cleared his throat.

“Last night… White Lily found you weren’t in your room. She had us search for you and… Pure Vanilla, you were…”

Dark Cacao took Pure Vanilla’s hand and squeezed it.

“I don’t know how to say this without alarming you, but… the truth is you were wandering in your sleep. You somehow walked outside of temple grounds and just disappeared.”

Pure Vanilla flinched at this news. He looked down at his nightgown. It was a different one that the one he went to bed with.

“You…” Dark Cacao continued, “I don’t know what had its hold on you but you somehow walked deep into the forest and without being aware walked-“ he stopped himself, seeing Pure Vanilla’s stunned face, “After we returned, I watched over you to make sure you nothing happened again.”

Pure Vanilla looked down at his bandaged legs and feet.

“Heavens…” he whispered, then kissed Dark Cacao’s knuckles tenderly, “thank you.”

That didn’t ease Dark Cacao, not even a little.

“Please.” He said firmly, “Tell me, is there anything you remember? A single moment from the night before?”

Pure Vanilla pondered the question. It was all a haze, but he definitely dreamed something.

“I’m having trouble with the memory… I had a dream, it was familiar to me. You see, ever since Golden Cheese tested us in the throne room, I have been having dreams of my past. My old home. I conferred with White Lily and we think it might be something to do with another Soul Jam-“

Dark Cacao’s brows furrowed.

“White Lily KNEW about this?”

“Just that my dreams have been having a common thread: my first home, my family, a message from a figure with glowing eyes to return to WholeGrainia.”

“Blue? Glowing blue eyes?”

Pure Vanilla nodded, but Dark Cacao’s widened eyes made him falter in the confidence of it.

“Yours were illuminating the same way last night.” Dark Cacao said, “Are you saying you wish to FOLLOW these dreams?”

“I think I have to.”

Dark Cacao was stunned.

Pure Vanilla continued, “Last night was some sort of irregularity. A nightmare. The pull must have been so strong, it made me try to search for what’s beckoning me in my sleep. I might have to leave to resolve whatever this is sooner than I thought-“

“Wait, leave?”

“Yes. To WholeGrainia.” Pure Vanilla clarified.

Dark Cacao inhaled, gently waving his free hand to signal for them to halt the conversation.

“Wait. I… I thought you wanted closure, to pay respects to… you want to go to- from the what I’ve heard- to a deadly, inhospitable region for… a hunch? For a Soul Jam that MAY be there? That MAY not exist at all?”

Pure Vanilla nodded.

“It’s a risk I have to take. I have multiple reasons for the journey. And if there IS a power out there that ensures my kingdom’s further prosperity, should I not seek it out? If it’s calling to me-“

“No. I don’t think you should.”

Pure Vanilla grimaced. Dark Cacao was looking to him as if Pure Vanilla was going mad before his eyes. Pure Vanilla brushed his thumb over Dark Cacao’s knuckles.

“Dark Cacao. I understand you have reservations, but I need to at least investigate the matter-“

“Why? So you could just get yourself killed? Pure Vanilla, because of this apparent ‘Soul Jam’ beckoning you, you nearly walked into a high current river without a single trace of hesitation in your body! That’s not a strong calling, that is something evil.”

Pure Vanilla tensed at that.

“You don’t know that for sure.” He said quietly.

The dream last night was… different. Foggy, he couldn’t remember all of the details. But before they were always under the guise of GOOD memories but this wasn’t. Something was wrong but he couldn’t abandon his original plan.

If there was some sort of corruption or someone else out there who could get their hands on this power, he had to stop it.

“Cacao, there’s nothing to worry about.” He tried, “I have to follow my instincts to-“

“Your instincts are wrong.”

Pure Vanilla flinched. Dark Cacao locked eyes with him sternly.

“You CANNOT be foolish enough to follow whatever this is that’s luring you.”

Pure Vanilla felt his chest tighten. He cleared his throat, trying to bury how insulted he felt.

“I’m sorry, my friend.” He said calmly, but full of assertion, “I’ve already made up my mind about this.”

And with that, Dark Cacao pulled his hands away. He rapidly blinked, rose to stand, and grabbed his sword.

“I don’t see why you’re apologizing for a clearly intentional choice.” he grumbled.

“Dark Cacao-“

“Take your time recuperating,” Dark Cacao said, pausing at the doorway, “we made up excuses for Pastry Cream that you were feeling unwell this morning to buy you some. I’ll send for Lily to assist you.”

He looked back to Pure Vanilla. His face softened.

“Perhaps later we can discuss this further.”

Pure Vanilla grimaced and nodded.

He was almost grateful Dark Cacao was gone, closing the door behind him. He let out a shuddered breath.

You let me die.

You let me be punished.

You let me be silent.

All for you.

He looked out the window of his room, he saw the arrival of a royal carriage.

Just what did that apparition mean?
———————————————

Everything was damp outside, but the sun was shining after the previous night’s rainfall.

The rustle of trees from the breeze soothed all that heard it, but Dark Cacao refused to let anything diminish how uneasy he felt about what Pure Vanilla said. He stewed in the uneasiness all throughout breakfast, and now as he was getting ready.

He was shocked how AFRAID he felt on Pure Vanilla’s behalf and how it was falling on deaf ears.

With a huff, Dark Cacao closed his window and finished tying his celebratory robes, the same ones he wore for the Spring Ball.

Pure Vanilla didn’t see himself. He didn’t see his limp body and the way he shivered in his own bed after being changed out of the soaking wet clothing that was freezing him.

In the face of fear, Dark Cacao normally met its eyes. He ripped the feeling to pieces to get whatever duty he had to done. Dark Cacao sighed deeply as he went to join the others in the front of the base.

But what was he supposed to do if his fear was losing-

At the bottom of the steps, a man Dark Cacao hadn’t seen before was laughing with Hollyberry and Golden Cheese, who were wearing gowns fit for the palace.

The man’s hair was chestnut brown and wavy, parted in the middle, but pulled into a low ponytail down to his mid back. His face was covered in dark freckles, and his eyes were a pale blue. Across his left cheek, a set of deep, long healed scars were with uneven tissue. His modest tunic and trousers were dark brown, but his cape was cream colored with very tiny specs of black decorating the entire fabric.

“Pure Vanilla raved about the technology…” he chuckled, “meanwhile I’m JEALOUS over here!”

“Ah, I don’t blame you.” Golden Cheese said with a grin, “All can’t help but be envious in the face of my treasures. Even if they’ve only heard of them in writing.”

She met eyes with Dark Cacao, then cocked her head to him, notifying the unfamiliar man and Hollyberry of his presence.

Hollyberry outstretched her hand to pull in Dark Cacao by the arm.

“Come meet Pure Vanilla’s other older brother!” She exclaimed.

The man bowed and introduced himself.

“Vanilla Bean Cookie, at your service.”

The resemblance of this man to Pure Vanilla in the face was evident. Just like Pastry Cream.

Dark Cacao held out his hand.

“Dark-“

“Oh, I know who you are. You needn’t tell me, sir.”

Vanilla Bean gave a firm handshake, firmer than Dark Cacao expected. Typically Dark Cacao felt he had to hold back his strength in his greetings… this time it felt like he was getting crushed.

He had a look in his eyes too knowing for Dark Cacao’s comfort.

“I’ve heard abundantly about you-“

“WHOAAAA! Mister! What are you MADE OF?!” A voice asked.

Dark Cacao flinched. He looked down to find a two little girls looking up with excited eyes.

“Pardon?” He asked.

They both had golden blonde hair was pulled back by a brown bandanas. Their baby blue eyes shined with excitement. Aside from their dresses, they looked identical.

“Your ingredients!” The girl who initially asked the question continued, “You’re not a Vanilla cookie are you? You don’t seem like a cheese or berry or flower cookie either!”

“Well, I’m not.” Dark Cacao admitted. Surely she wasn’t one of the paladin students? He hadn’t seen a single girl their entire stay.

They both reached out and grabbed the fabric of his sleeves. His gut reaction wanted to pull away, but he held back the thought.

They were just was curious children, after all.

“So pretty!”

“I really love your hair!” The other girl piped up, “It’s so long!”

“Are you a warrior? I think you are because you have a sword!”

“But why is your hair is long? Doesn’t it get in the way?”

“Are you a knight? Are you a paladin?”

Dark Cacao, in all honesty, felt overwhelmed at the bombarding of questions.

Vanilla Bean Cookie grinned.

“They’re… curious ones. Girls, this is Prince Dark Cacao. He’s going to be another guest at the palace along with Golden Cheese and Hollyberry.”

They looked up at him, starry eyed.

Dark Cacao found himself scrambling for words already, but the sight behind them took his breath away.

The Vanilla King, exiting the Paladin Base.

Pure Vanilla dressed for his arrival appropriately. This meant in all his kingly glory: with his golden crown, royal wafflecone cloak, and a pensive smile. He wore a sleeveless turtleneck underneath, the cloak loosely wrapped around his shoulders. The entire look was tied together with a gold closed orchid brooch.

He looked-

“Dark Cacao, pick up your jaw.” Hollyberry whispered.

In a panic, he reached to touch his own face.

His mouth wasn’t open.

Dark Cacao glared at Hollyberry. She hid a snort behind a gloved hand.

“Diplomat! Meringue!” Pure Vanilla exclaimed, giving his staff to White Lily. He crouched down with a wide grin.

“UNCLE NILLA!!!” The girls hollered.

They darted up the steps with little patters of their feet, leaping into his open arms for a warm embrace.

“We missed you!”

“I missed him more!”

Pure Vanilla chuckled and kissed each of them on the head.

“Now, now it’s not a competition!”

He outstretched his hand towards White Lily, and she gave him his staff again. His orchid opened excitedly to look down at the children. Its vines grew outward and tickled their noses.

“EWWWW!” They both squealed, dodging the staff’s attention.

Dark Cacao turned his attention to White Lily, curtsying before Vanilla Bean. Her dress was a gradient of white to a vibrant emerald green, glimmering with cascading crystal beads from her waist. For the first time, her hair wasn’t in a large, slightly messy braid. Instead, her white, wavy locks of hair were down to her feet and only half pulled back into a braid.

“White Lily” Vanilla Bean greeted, bowing as well, “Is our king in one piece?”

“Of course.” She said quietly with a polite smile, “And what of the castle?”

“For safety, we pushed back the castle ascension date. I want to be thorough. The towers are still holding strong, but the entire structure… I need to get the king’s approval and keep checking my calculations-“

White Lily pat him on the back.

“I wouldn’t worry too much, I’m sure you’ll have nothing but the best fruits of your labor.”

He kept talking, and Dark Cacao found himself looking around without much aim.

Pure Vanilla was chatting away happily with his nieces. And Hollyberry was looking smugly at Golden Cheese, whispering something to her.

Golden Cheese… why was her face tinted with pink looking at White Lily and Vanilla Bean? She pulled up her wing and hissed something back to Hollyberry. Whispering, but definitely hostile.

Hollyberry cackled back.

Dark Cacao felt clueless as to what was going on with those two, but he didn’t press.

Well, maybe he could later.

When Pure Vanilla got to hug Vanilla Bean, it was nothing short of bone crushing.

Hollyberry and White Lily had no reaction to it, but Dark Cacao couldn’t help but wince at the harshness of it.

Vanilla Bean pulled back and smacked Pure Vanilla’s shoulder.

“So! You visited the Parmesan Desert, found a kingdom of legend, returned with their glorious queen- I think it’s safe to say the need for adventure is out of your system, yes?”

“Well-“

“Good! Because although everything runs like clockwork, you have pending matters to attend to!”

“I-“

“Worry not, I have a full itinerary for you and the first item begins in an hour.”

Pure Vanilla blinked rapidly.

“Not even a ‘welcome home’, Bean?” White Lily deadpanned.

Vanilla Bean pursed his lips. Everyone else seemed stunned by his words as well.

“Welcome home! Anyways, we have a lot of parchment to get off your desk, builders to meet, we have an hour-“

“No. No we do NOT.”

Pastry Cream exited the carriage and jutted a finger at Vanilla Bean.

“Don’t start your sh-“ Pastry Cream cleared his throat, realizing royalty and children were watching him, “your… EXCESSIVE planning. He has been traveling for weeks. And mind you, the first order of business should be that he NEEDS to make audiences with court and address the apprehended individuals for punishment. AND since I just came from the border-“

Vanilla Bean rolled his eyes, forcing a smile.

“Ah, you WOULD think the world runs around you damn dirty divinist.” He muttered.

Pastry Cream gritted his teeth.

“I beg your PARDON-“

“Or perhaps,” White Lily piped up, “perhaps the king can decide his own day to day?”

Pure Vanilla gave her an appreciative smile. He cleared his throat and straightened.

“We’ll keep the itinerary to a minimum for our internal affairs, just until we settle all the alliance agreements with our guests… it will only take a few days, we settled mostly everything at the Golden Palace.”

Pure Vanilla looked to Vanilla Bean.

“Have documents gathered of things that we have settled over our correspondence over the trip. They’re fresh in my mind, we can get them taken care of fastest.”

Then he looked to Pastry Cream.

“Open investigation: who ambushed us last night, why, and who hired them. I’ll be able to make a better judgement with this knowledge. And in addition, I would like a report regarding the situation of the border.”

Pure Vanilla took a breath. He seemed to be calculating the compromise in his head.

“For the time being, let’s allow for me and our guests to settle in without pressures. And is it too much to ask for me to spend time with you both? With my ADORABLE nieces?”

His brothers didn’t answer.

“Good. Let’s embark then.”

——————————————

Whenever Pure Vanilla described his kingdom, he did so with fondness and modesty. Over letters, Dark Cacao received illustrations of things like the churches and the castle from books. But somehow it paled in comparison to the real thing.

The surrounding farmland was lush green meadows and crop fields sparkled with dew and sunlight. Dark Cacao watched in fascination the herds of cream and cotton candy sheep grazing the fields from the carriage window.

The capital city was a sight to behold. In a quaint, quiet sense. While the Hollyberry Kingdom was bold and boisterous, the Vanilla Kingdom was more subdued in its beauty. Cream and blue ornate tiles made up the walking areas for citizens. Shops and bazaars like what Pure Vanilla and Dark Cacao had peruse before. The darker blue tiles of the roofs stood out against the sky, and the sunlight shining through the stained sugar glass windows turned into reflected colors. The warm hues of everything around them brought a sense of calm.

Dark Cacao squinted, and he could see people on high balconies tossing flowers from their houses to the street.

Celebrating the arrival of the king.

As they got closer to the castle, more of the buildings looked unfinished, and builders were carrying materials to different places and working.

“It’s coming along quite lovely.” Golden Cheese commented, looking out of her side of the carriage with a thinly veiled interest.

On Dark Cacao’s side, some cookies in robes were waving their hands over a pile of bricks.

“What are they doing there?”

Across from him, Pure Vanilla leaned closer and looked out the window himself.

“Ah. They are making The Academy of Healing.”

The bricks began to glow, and the grinning Magic users began to levitate them, guiding them to the where they were to be laid.

Pure Vanilla opened the window’s latch.

Fresh scents wafted through the carriage, the kind of fresh baked bread and fragrant flowers.

Dark Cacao took a breath of it, then peeked his head slightly out to take in the view of the upcoming castle.

It was massive.

Golden Cheese’s palace couldn’t be beat, but Pure Vanilla’s castle was bigger than the entire Cacaoian citadel still. Crème, gold, and blue glistened in the sun. The numerous towers with pointed roofs proudly had flags waving in the wind. It looked like a fairy tale, a fantasy land, a utopia.

Heavens above. There ARE floating towers.

—————————————

The carriage stopped at the carpeted steps leading to the massive castle doors.

Pastry Cream looked… preoccupied. He stepped out first and looked around. Searching for something with a hardened look on his face. He didn’t even seem to pay mind to the servants accessing their things or the anyone around him.

Dark Cacao took the chance, offered a hand to Pure Vanilla.

Pure Vanilla’s orchid looked to Dark Cacao in surprise, but Pure Vanilla still hesitantly took it.

Although Dark Cacao was simply helping him step out of the carriage, Pure Vanilla laced their fingers together for a brief moment.

The touch felt reassuring and warm. Pure Vanilla found his footing on the ground and Dark Cacao notice of the orchid watching Dark Cacao rather than where Pure Vanilla stepped.

“Worried about assailants, commander? You seem nervous.” Vanilla Bean asked Pastry Cream while helping his excited daughters out of the carriage. Pure Vanilla jolted, pulling his hand to himself.

Dark Cacao didn’t take offense. They had time to talk.

“N-No.” Pastry Cream stuttered, “Nothing like that. Where are they? They’re supposed to-“

He froze when the palace doors opened.

Two guards were opening them from the inside, and in the middle stood a group of people. A woman with a her brown hair styled in a braid crown and two boys.

Pastry Cream, for the first time since Dark Cacao met him, smiled. A genuine one that slowly grew on his face.

The younger of the two boys beamed, dragging the teenager by the sleeve.

The woman paled, rushing forward.

“Wait! Careful down the steps!”

“No worries.” Pastry Cream chuckled.

Although the children nearly toppled him over from the sheer force of the two, Pastry Cream found his footing and pulled them into a hug.

“DADDDYYYY!” The younger of the two exclaimed, “DADDY, YOU’RE BACK!”

“Yes I am.” He choked out, “You… you’ve both grown so much…“

Pure Vanilla grinned.

“Let’s give them space, shall we?”

———————————————

Pure Vanilla led the way to the council room, dismissing the maids and servants to bring the guests’ things to their rooms.

“I must say.” Golden Cheese admitted, “this land is way more valuable than from when I last saw it.”

Pure Vanilla rose and eyebrow at her. To Hollyberry and White Lily, this wasn’t new, but to her it was new and intriguing.

Meanwhile, Dark Cacao was starring at one of the planters of primroses like it held the secrets of the Earthbread.

“My friend, are you alright?”

Dark Cacao snapped out of his trance.

“I… I just…” he tried. He huffed out a breath and gestured to the potted planter, “what is the purpose of…”

He pressed his finger onto the rim, applied pressure. It tilted, but remained levitating in the air.

“WHY do you have these?” Dark Cacao asked.

“Flowers?” Pure Vanilla asked, “They’re pretty… they bring life into the hall. The aesthetics-“

“I think he means why does it need to float?” Hollyberry chimed in.

Pure Vanilla pursued his lips and shrugged.

“Ah, that. Well… the maids can easily move them… and… I guess for the same reasons I said before.”

Dark Cacao flicked his finger off of the rim of the planter. It wobbled, but remained levitating by itself in the air.

“You have floating plants for… looks?” Dark Cacao deadpanned.

Pure Vanilla tilted his head.

“Yes. What of it?”

“Keep in mind” White Lily chimed in, “You are a guest in his castle.”

“I think it’s inspired.” Golden Cheese said smugly as well.

Dark Cacao looked at everyone else with blank eyes.

“Ah. Well. What do I know about… aesthetics?”

Pure Vanilla covered his mouth, stifling any laughter before opening the vast council room.

“Pay no mind to the temporary windows here.” Pure Vanilla advised, “we’re still deciding on a color scheme.”

Everyone entered.

“The table floats too?!” Golden Cheese asked in glee.

“And the chairs!” White Lily added, making her way around the round table, “it’s strange to get used to, but it’s all about just treating your seat like a normal stool!”

Pure Vanilla smiled, then got to word unraveling the scrolls across the table.

Everyone tentatively took seats, and Pure Vanilla found it utterly adorable how concerned Dark Cacao was about the literal physics of the floating circular stools. He seemed uncomfortable, but busied himself grabbing a parchment.

“So, in terms of the outposts-“ Pure Vanilla began, “I know we agreed-“

“Wait.” Hollyberry said, “we need to address now that we’re in private.”

She grabbed Pure Vanilla’s wrist, face turning to one of concern.

“Are you alright? Last night, you gave us all quite a fright.”

Pure Vanilla’s mouth went dry.

“Oh.” Was all he could muster.

He wasn’t expecting anything more to come up of the incident, somehow.

“You should alert your royal physician.” Golden Cheese said, “it could be dangerous.”

“W-Well, that’s not necessary-“

Pure Vanilla swallowed.

“There’s actually something I need to share.”

He shared his dreams since the Golden Cheese Kingdom. The theory as to the calling of the Soul Jam. The pull to WholeGrainia. The concerning content of the most recent dream.

“That’s excellent news, Pure Vanilla!” Golden Cheese exclaimed, clasping her hands together “I knew it was only a matter of time before you found your Soul Jam.”

White Lily had a small smile, Golden Cheese was estatic… but Hollyberry and Dark Cacao looked at each other with hardened looks.

“But what about last night?” Hollyberry asked, “was it because of the proximity to the border that made you wander?”

“That’s a theory.” Golden Cheese said, “if the magic is that strong, how soon can you leave?”

With widened eyes, Hollyberry shook her head.

“We can’t possibly- he can send for someone to grab it for him, can’t he? The risk is too great, I fear.”

“The incident will surely repeat itself anyway, so the risk seems rather equal, don’t you think?” Golden Cheese asked.

“The palace can take precautions, ensure he doesn’t go anywhere.”

White Lily frowned.

“How do you propose they do that?” She asked, “By locking Pure Vanilla in his room? Or by tying him down while he sleeps?”

“Maybe I can search for it.” Golden Cheese offered, “after all-“

“Wait.”

Silence fell over the table. Dark Cacao, surprisingly, was the one who spoke.

“Regardless of our agreement…” he said carefully, “You all shouldn’t- WE shouldn’t be interfering in pursuing the Soul Jam. No matter how much risk we can envision, we cannot bar him from or make any choices for him.”

Pure Vanilla rose his eyebrows. Dark Cacao met his eyes- or rather, eye- across the table with a reassuring nod.

“He’s king, after all. If this IS the Soul Jam… it’s his kingdom’s prosperity on the line. He should be the one to speak on what actions are to be taken.”

Pure Vanilla swallowed. Despite Dark Cacao’s own reservations, he silenced the room for Pure Vanilla’s voice to be heard.

Despite his blatant disagreement with Pure Vanilla’s wishes.

“I’ve made up my mind.” Pure Vanilla announced, “I will pursue the Soul Jam ALONE. Please respect me wanting to keep this secret… I do not wish in having this open for debate.”

Pure Vanilla’s orchid noted a slight grimace cross White Lily’s face at that.

He picked up a parchment and kept his orchid in check to look at that instead.

—————————

Supper with his family and friends was everything he wanted in theory. Tales of the journey to the Golden Cheese Kingdom were recounted. The food was warm and delicious. Bickering between his brothers were to a minimum. His nieces and nephews were smiling brighter than the sun.

And yet Pure Vanilla felt burdened.

He couldn’t stop thinking about the nightmare. He couldn’t comprehend what it meant.

You let me die.

You let me be punished.

You let me be silent.

All for you.

Were the smiling faces of his family even genuine? Was he causing PAIN-

“I don’t think Vanilla Bean has any fondness for me.”

Pure Vanilla sighed and turned.

In the garden, where the twilight sky made the clouds pink and the blue a deeper purple, Dark Cacao made his way to Pure Vanilla. He stopped to stand beside him to look at the flowers. They weren’t alone, other residents of the castle got the similar idea to peruse the royal garden. Married couples held hands, some children chased the butterflies… it wasn’t a bad way to pass the time.

The sunlight peeking through the distant towers cast colors from their stained glass down. Rays of light shined onto the flowerbeds. Even specks of color had found their way to Dark Cacao’s stoic but kind face.

Pure Vanilla chuckled. All at once, he felt at ease being beside him.

He wanted to reach for his hand.

“I wasn’t under the impression you were seeking his approval.” He replied instead.

“I’m not… but I can’t help but feel as though I have to gain SOME kind of favor.”

Pure Vanilla’s staff looked to Dark Cacao. His eyes were soft as they combed over Pure Vanilla rather than the garden before them,

“Oh? And why is that?” Pure Vanilla pressed further, smile carefully creeping up his lips.

Dark Cacao turned his head to look forward.

“…Diplomatic purposes.”

Sure

“Hm. Whatever the reason is, I think that’s sweet of you.”

Dark Cacao glanced at him.

“Sweet?” He asked, voice low, “Don’t dare insult me, your majesty.”

Pure Vanilla chuckled at that, but still swallowed a heavy lump.

It had to be tonight.

It was a full moon, after all.

“So literal. My apologies, Dark Cacao.” He said, keeping his voice steady and relaxed as he could, “I’ll leave you to enjoy the view. Although… I would argue there’s a better one.”

Intrigue crossed Dark Cacao’s face.

————————————

Dark Cacao, by all means, wasn’t a vain man.

And it was borderline maddening how much he was caring for his appearance so late at night.

He put on his freshly washed tunic and pants. He scrutinized his hair for a period of time that was embarrassing, settling on it simply letting it out of his ponytail.

He looked FINE. There was nothing wrong with his appearance, but he still felt his heart hammer in his chest.

Through the blue carpeted halls, Dark Cacao narrowly avoided guards to ascend to the king’s quarters in the dead of night.

Dark Cacao peeked around the corner. The massive doors of Pure Vanilla’s room, of course, were guarded as well.

He anticipated this, so he went to an adjacent tower. He gingerly, quiet as a mouse, stepped out of a high window and carefully walked up the tiles of the azure roof.

The breeze was cool against his face, contrasting the humid, warm weather.

He picked a good place, adjacent to Pure Vanilla’s balcony. He walked a good few paces back of the steep tower, calculating the distance to the balcony’s stone railing.

I must be out of my mind

Dark Cacao took a breath.

“Were you planning on jumping?”

Dark Cacao gasped, whipping his head to find Pure Vanilla gingerly climbing to meet him. His face felt as though it was steaming.

“Well- I don’t- you- I was thinking-“

“It’s alright, Cacao. One could say it’s awfully romantic, actually.”

In his more casual wear and his staff strapped to his back, three eyes looked to Dark Cacao’s flustered face.

“A-Anyways.” Pure Vanilla hummed, tucking some of his blonde hair behind his ear, “I wanted you to see something.”

“Ah yes, the view?” Dark Cacao said, “it IS beautiful.”

From atop the tower, they could see the entire castle, and even the glow of light from the city below.

“Thank you. But think higher.”

Pure Vanilla cocked his head above them.

One of the floating structures slowly descended from the sky. Dark Cacao stiffened, but Pure Vanilla’s lack of fear kept him at ease.

“This will serve as transportation.” Pure Vanilla explained as it came to a slow stop in front of them. He effortlessly stepped through the arched gap, similar to the surrounding tower windows. He turned with a grin and extended a hand to Dark Cacao.

Dark Cacao, of course, took it.

It was strange inside the circular room, it was spacious enough for them to stand together, maybe have two other people as well. Pure Vanilla hummed to himself as he grabbed a lever from the wall and pulled it upwards.

The whole thing began to rise into the air. Dark Cacao’s eyes darted to the ground and the castle getting farther away.

“Close your eyes.”

Dark Cacao looked at Pure Vanilla beside him.

“Trust me.” Pure Vanilla insisted, eyes kind and deserving of all the trust in the world.

And truly, Dark Cacao did. He obliged in closing his eyes and heard Pure Vanilla chuckled. They held hands, the tower continued to rise.

After a moment of silence, they felt the structure they were standing in come to a stop.

“This is it.”

Dark Cacao felt himself be pulled, still with his eyes closed, and he was careful with each step.

“Do you remember the first night Hollyberry, White Lily, and I stayed in your kingdom?” Pure Vanilla asked, footsteps coming to a stop.

“I do.” Dark Cacao admitted, “I found you along the top of the wall admiring the ocean’s waves. You were freezing and I took you to the abandoned watchtower to warm up.”

“You took me to your ‘sanctuary’, as you called it.” Pure Vanilla said, “Despite the fact the tides eventually calmed… we stayed there until the sun rose. You shared a secret place with me. And I said I would return the favor.”

Dark Cacao’s eyes fluttered open.

The conservatory.

The ceiling and surrounding windows were lined with pastel greens and yellow stained glass windows, and the moonlight made the entire room around them glow with a kaleidoscope of bright splotches of light. Garden beds of flowers and eye orchids lined the perimeter of the room, and the center of the stone floor had a lovely arrangement. Layers of blankets, some cushions, and even some candleholders were already lit.

“Pure Vanilla…” Dark Cacao said in awe, stepping to the center of the room to look up at the intricate ceiling, then down at the makeshift sitting area.

His voice trailed off.

Beautiful?

Thoughtful?

More than Dark Cacao possibly deserved?

Words didn’t come to him, they all paled in comparison to how he actually felt.

“Forgive me… is it too much?”

Dark Cacao whipped his head around.

“No, of course not-“

In a quick stride, he took one of Pure Vanilla’s slightly shaken hands in his. He leaned down, kissing his knuckles tenderly.

“Pure Vanilla, it’s PERFECT.” He breathed out, “I… I’ve never been involved in such a gesture…”

A smile of relief crossed Pure Vanilla’s lips.

————————————

With a switch, Pure Vanilla opened the roof of the conservatory.

He had brewed tea ready for them both, and after finishing with them, they lied back to look up at the stars in the comfortable silence.

That was, until Pure Vanilla said, “Thank you, by the way.”

Before Dark Cacao got the chance to ask for clarity, he added, “for making room for my voice. I… I know that you have your reservations but I am thankful that you’re allowing me to decide the path going forward.”

Dark Cacao nodded slowly, but his face was hesitant.

“I’m not allowing you to do anything.” He went with, “You don’t need my permission. About this morning-“

“It’s alright, Dark Cacao.”

“That’s my point.” Dark Cacao said with a firm head shake, then turned to Pure Vanilla, “It’s NOT alright. I… I apologize for degrading you to try to steer your judgement. You…don’t deserve that, no matter how much I want to protect you.”

Pure Vanilla was stunned.

“I’m sorry.” Dark Cacao finished.

Although his expression was still hardened, Pure Vanilla knew he was at his most vulnerable.

It was an effort on his behalf to do such a thing.

Pure Vanilla shifted, away from his orchid staff so it could lie on the floor, pulling Dark Cacao close into an embrace. It felt as though it were half a hug, for Dark Cacao was still stiff as a board.

“My friend, I assure you. You’re forgiven.”

“Stop doing that.” Dark Cacao grumbled.

Pure Vanilla pulled back and tried his best to conceal his worry.

“Doing what?”

“Calling me your friend like that. It’s unnerving considering how physically affectionate you are.”

Oh.

“Pure Vanilla. Don’t laugh.”

It was obvious. Pure Vanilla shook a little from holding back his laughter, but he also snaked his hands over Dark Cacao’s chest and shoulders. He leaned close and carefully brought his lips to the shell of DARK Cacao’s ear.

“Maybe I wouldn’t make that mistake if I saw more… evidence of otherwise coming from your side.” Pure Vanilla whispered.

It was a tease, really. Pure Vanilla knew Dark Cacao had his own way of making his feelings known… they both did.

And yet his statement still achieved the intended effect happened. It still grabbed his attention.

Dark Cacao pulled him into a deep, languid kiss. He sighed into him, and Pure Vanilla couldn’t help but smiled. Dark Cacao’s hands were slow, as if he was relishing the feeling of Pure Vanilla under his fingertips.

For the time being, the night was theirs.

————————————

The Silver Tree kept a hold on the former Sage Of Truth’s consciousness. He had to fight tooth and nail to get a glimpse of how Earthbread was changing from the outside. It was a battle of will, to not be consumed by the bark and succumb to the deepest slumber.

He was losing the light of knowledge. This new holder, this THEIF… they were getting closer to the Soul Jam. The connection was growing with it every day, and using the little energy he had left, he intercepted the bond.

Pure Vanilla Cookie was still steadfast. He wasn’t steered away from the Soul Jam despite the torment and using his painful past against him.

I suppose I can try again. Pure Vanilla Cookie is asleep.

Shadow Milk screwed his eyes shut, and there he saw him.

A taller cookie with black and white hair, gingerly lowering Pure Vanilla’s sleeping body into his bed with all the care in the world.

Shadow Milk watching as this cookie hesitate, they were about to leave to the balcony, but instead opted to sit in the bed beside Pure Vanilla.

Open your eyes Shadow Milk commanded out of curiosity.

Pure Vanilla’s eyes flicked open, glowing blue. The other cookie gasped, but remained calm.

“Pure Vanilla?” He asked quietly.

Shadow Milk’s lips split into a grin. This person. They were the one who interfered before. He felt a fondness, and upon pressing further, using all the energy he had.

He got a name from Pure Vanilla’s memories.

He got a whirlwind of feelings.

There was Love.

Shadow Milk relinquished control, Pure Vanilla fell back into slumber. Dark Cacao sighed heavily, but did relax.

That look in Dark Cacao’s eyes. Shadow Milk had seen it countless times before.

It was feelings requited.

It was PERFECT.

Perhaps… Shadow Milk had to try a different angle.

The shock of using Vanilla Orchid was wearing off. Now, he had different way to be rid of this pest. Dark Cacao was a reliant one for Pure Vanilla’s endeavors.

It was time to use that.

A new form, a trump card for the right moment that Pure Vanilla would absolutely listen to.

Shadow Milk first needed to build his strength.