Chapter Text
The tides lapped at the shore gently, the place where ocean and sky met was always serene and peaceful. Two timeless cookies stood side by side, their presence brimming with ancient and unwavering power. Together, they watch over their children; born of sea, stars, a combination of both, or neither, as they gather in the safe haven of their creation.
Their family was by no means a normal one, the age and power of the ones precious to them ranging in all directions, though their potential was all in equal standing. Some had been brought to this home by Sea Fairy’s quiet but soothing presence, though all of them stayed due to Moonlight’s warm and loving nature. The role the both of them played in the lives of their young ones couldn’t be more different; Moonlight constantly engaged with and doted on them, while Sea Fairy stood off to the distance, nowhere near as affectionate of a guardian but never leaving either, which spoke volumes.
Today was a rare occasion, as all of their kids were present at the forever-moonlit beach, fate kind enough to allow the whole family to coexist together, if only for a while. Of course, none of them spend their time under the watchful eye of their mothers the exact same way, and some cookies are a lot more playful than others.
The most energetic by far; Sorbet Shark, Moon Rabbit, and Milky Way, were all splashing around in the shallows, making sure not to go too deep so Moon Rabbit and Milky Way wouldn’t get soggy. Ever the instigator, Sorbet Shark used their powerful tail to send water flying toward the others, ducking back under the surface before either of them could get their revenge. Unable to retaliate much without getting soaked, Moon Rabbit and Milky Way were forced to play the waiting game, pretending to get bored of their antics and instead messing with each other. As expected, that deeply offended Sorbet Shark, causing them to leap out of the ocean to shower both of them in droplets of ocean water. This quickly backfired when Moon Rabbit and Milky Way grabbed them, throwing them into the sand and causing them to transform into their cookie form. What neither of them planned for was for Sorbet Shark to get sand in their eyes, wailing loudly at what their siblings did to them and instantly bringing Moonlight over to check on them.
None of the other kids are that surprised by this turn of events, Wizard being the only one who even bothers to look up at whatever mischief the trio got into this time. Even though Milky Way is an adult, the three are viewed as the youngest and most immature of the mismatched family, getting into so much trouble that not even the watchful Sea Fairy pays their antics much mind anymore.
Thinking of it as more than just a fun playground, the other children use the shore as a place to learn from, to varying degrees. The ever-inquisitive Wizard finds the magical haven the most fascinating, the fact that it was created by the all-powerful Sea Fairy and Moonlight incredible on its own, and the way it effortlessly stays nighttime adds to his wonder. Starfruit takes the strange way the time of the beach works to her advantage, the ever-shining stars whispering to her almost as clearly as when she’s in the chamber of the sacred Nebula Spring. Dreamweaver has a simpler reason to appreciate the haven, the constant night makes it easy for them to sleep. Ever since Moonlight showed them the way out of their Dreamscape, they were given the chance to explore the real world, instead of having to look at it through the eyes of dreaming cookies. During the day, they venture through every inch of Earthbread or get to know their family better, and when they tire they return to their duty as the upholder of dreams, easily put to sleep by the steady lull of the ocean and the constant night sky. Star Coral has a different reason to come back here than the others, they love exploring the seas. The logic of the oceans here is warped, going in any direction one way could lead you somewhere completely different than before, piquing her curiosity.
While the reasons each cookie returns are different, they all stay due to the affection they receive from Moonlight. Regardless of their origin, she loves all of them like they are hers, showering every one of them with endless affection. The dynamic each child has with Sea Fairy varies; all of them have warmed up to her by now, but the distance she keeps herself at makes it hard for most to become attached. The exception being the two she both inadvertently and directly brought home herself, Sorbet Shark and Star Coral. She has a soft spot for them, favoring Star Coral while appreciating the company of Sorbet Shark. Despite her seemingly cold behavior, she always stays at the shore with Moonlight, her love devoted to her alone, but her constant watchful presence doesn’t go unnoticed by the kids.
x x x
As soon as Sea Fairy was unfrozen and the moon and sea could coexist in harmony again, she stayed right beside Moonlight, never wanting to be separated from her again. Not the type to use words when actions speak louder, she’d constantly embrace her hand in her own, as if Moonlight would disappear if she ever let go. This always causes Moonlight to smile, not because she likes to see Sea Fairy this vulnerable, but because she’s making an effort to reach out first, something that rarely if ever happened before they reunited.
The two of them wandered the seas together; Sea Fairy gracefully flowing along the water while Moonlight followed her perched atop her crescent moon, looking for a place to finally call their own. Since they’re both beings of nature, omnipresence over their domain is a constant, something that allows them to move freely without being tied down to any one spot. But in the aftermath of everything that happened, both of them realized that even celestials can have their peace threatened, and yearned for somewhere they could finally relax, safe and undisturbed.
In their search for such a place, they crossed paths with the free-spirited Sorbet Shark Cookie. Instantly realizing that they met the one who commands the tides, they practically orbited Sea Fairy, much to her begrudging acceptance and Moonlight’s amusement.
Suddenly, the two of them had a young cookie to personally look after, something neither of them was used to. Sure, many cookies were under their protection as the guardians of the oceans and cosmos, but they were never directly responsible for them. Sorbet Shark’s seemingly endless energy and tendency to rush ahead of them quickly became an issue; Sea Fairy wordlessly bent the current to bring them back, while Moonlight gently explained why they needed to stay near them. Understanding what is wanted from them but still unhappy with it, they retaliate by leaping up from the water, splashing both of them as they curl up in Moonlight’s arms. This surprises both of them, though neither expresses it. Sorbet Shark quickly finds out that snuggling against a cookie that radiates warmth is incredibly soothing, and almost instantly falls asleep in her arms. It dawns on both of them that they’re officially this cookie’s mothers, much to Sea Fairy’s silent horror and Moonlight’s growing love for them.
x x x
Several days pass and Sorbet Shark still hasn’t swam off to other adventures, fully cementing their place as Sea Fairy and Moonlight’s child. They’ve made a habit of splashing their way comfortably into Moonlight’s arms, trying it once with Sea Fairy, only to be caught and put back into the water, to their slight disappointment. They’ve also started calling both of them “Mom”, something Sea Fairy eventually allows and Moonlight reciprocates by addressing them as “Little Wave”. The three of them adopt a new normalcy of spending a few hours searching for a small island to reside at, Moonlight playing with Sorbet Shark whenever they get antsy while Sea Fairy keeps the water calm. They also take turns caring for them whenever they tire themself out, a rare gesture on Sea Fairy’s part that doesn’t go unnoticed by Moonlight, though Sea Fairy claims it’s only out of practicality.
After drifting through the seas for a few days more, they reach an island suitable for their needs; isolated, small, and distanced from the mainland of Earthbread. Sorbet Shark watches on in awe as the two use their magic together to shape the island to their liking. They make the time constantly night, the island unreachable to any cookie who isn’t actively searching for it, and the tide going out an infinite expanse to anyone with an adventurous soul, something Sorbet Shark instantly knows is for them. Practically vibrating with the urge to explore, they look up at Sea Fairy and Moonlight for permission, being met with acceptance from both of them, even though they express it differently. After thanking them for everything they’ve done for them, they transform into their shark form and dart off to new adventures.
A steady quiet now blankets the air, Sorbet Shark’s ramblings about anything and everything on their mind now gone. Both Sea Fairy and Moonlight have lived through lifetimes of change, but neither of them has ever experienced the feeling of letting their kid go off on their own. It’s almost humorous to both of them that they even feel this way; since Sorbet Shark is bound to come back eventually; having set off to explore instead of with the purpose of leaving the magic of the island, but a parent’s worry doesn’t cease for anything, not even logic. Of course, neither of them expresses this feeling like most first-time parents would, weathered down by endless experience to know the feeling will pass. However, they do hold each other a bit tighter in their moments of connection, the other a stable and constant presence.
x x x
As expected, Sorbet Shark comes home to them a day later, amazed by the power their mothers wield. They have all sorts of new stories about the obstacles they faced on their journey and the beautiful sights that were scattered all across their path. Moonlight fully engages with them and their adventure, praising them for being brave and asking questions to get them further immersed in their storytelling. Sea Fairy listens thoughtfully, nowhere near as affectionate as Moonlight, engaging with Sorbet Shark in her own way. She doesn’t ask questions, but she does murmur out the title “Tideborn” at the end of their account, fully accepting them as hers. Their face brightens up instantly at the rare affection from Sea Fairy, earning her a warm smile from Moonlight.
Sorbet Shark immediately sets off to explore the small island, finding a small sea cave that they instantly adore, jumping in immediately and splashing water all over the place. Moonlight watches them safely out of their splash zone, while Sea Fairy gets dragged by them into the water. She floats on its surface as Sorbet Shark playfully directs a few small waves of water in her direction, but nothing that would really bother her.
When everybody feels like sleeping, Sorbet Shark cuddles up against Moonlight as usual, curled up comfortably on her lap as they both rest on her crescent moon. Sea Fairy brings part of the ocean onto the shore, making it levitate off the sand as she submerges herself in it for a peaceful sleep. Unbeknownst to the other two, Moonlight has a goal in mind for tonight, adding someone to the family who she knows of but has never met personally.
x x x
The moment Sorbet Shark and Sea Fairy awaken, they can sense the presence of a fourth on the island, lying next to Moonlight on her floating moon. Sea Fairy sighs internally, already figuring out where this is going, as Sorbet Shark eagerly wakes up the new cookie, giddy with excitement at how fun they look.
The cookie that Moonlight basically already adopted is Dreamweaver Cookie, who opens their eyes and looks around themself in awe, never having entered the waking world until now. Dreamweaver had been stuck in the dream realm since their creation, never knowing of a way out but never really needing one, content with helping cookies create happy dreams and expelling nightmares from them. However, after seeing how intricate the real world was, they couldn’t help but wish that they could see it personally, subconsciously calling out to Moonlight to have her use her magic to release them from their eternal slumber. This gave them a physical body, something they can’t help but marvel over as Sorbet Shark bombards them with a constant surge of questions.
Sea Fairy gives Moonlight a meaningful glance as she silently asks what she thinks she’s doing, and in return all she gets is a smile, realizing with dread that this is probably going to become a routine. Sea Fairy makes her way over to the crescent moon, picking up Sorbet Shark to give Dreamweaver some space to fully grasp the situation. Since physical contact initiated by Sea Fairy is incredibly rare, Sorbet Shark immediately goes quiet, happily enjoying being held by one of their moms.
Dreamweaver is amazed by all the sensations a cookie’s body feels; the soft gusts of wind along the beach, the warmth radiating from Moonlight, the slight taste of salt in the air, all of it so exciting, yet overwhelming. Despite their seemingly eternal lifespan, they can’t help but cling onto Moonlight, seeing how she was the one that brought them out of the dream realm. They look up at her, expecting to find judgment in her eyes at how they’re reacting, but are met with nothing but unconditional love, since she’s already claimed them as one of her own.
It takes a while for them to adjust to the overstimulation of senses they’re feeling, but once they do, they untangle themself from Moonlight's arms to properly meet Sorbet Shark and Sea Fairy. They’re a lot less fun than Sorbet Shark thought they’d be, only talking about dream orbs and nightmares instead of playing and adventuring. Sea Fairy has nothing personal against the newest addition to the family, she’s just mourning the quality one-on-one time she had with Moonlight, since she’s apparently not going to get a lot of it anymore.
After a few minutes of peacefully existing on the shore in their new body, Dreamweaver starts to frantically wonder how they’ll be able to return to the dream realm now that they have a physical form. Moonlight quickly puts their worries to rest, reassuring them that all they need to do is fall asleep to collect and preserve dream orbs. This causes Dreamweaver to slump in relief, thanking Moonlight profusely before easily falling asleep next to her on the crescent moon, quickly lulled to sleep by the peaceful environment of the island.
Seeing as how they didn’t get a new playmate to have fun with after all, Sorbet Shark is itching to explore the infinite possibilities waiting past the shore. They look to Moonlight and Sea Fairy, asking for their permission and receiving approving nods from both of them. Almost immediately, they jump into the ocean, transforming into their shark form and rapidly swimming off to new adventures.
x x x
A rare quiet falls over the beach, with the energetic Sorbet Shark out exploring and Dreamweaver fulfilling their duty as the upholder of dreams. Sea Fairy lets out a sigh she didn’t know she was even holding in, knowing Moonlight well enough to suspect that their family isn’t going to stop at four, even if that’s plenty for her. Moonlight’s eyes soften at her exasperation, floating over to her and holding her hands in her own, silently letting her know that everything will work out. This comforts Sea Fairy, albeit slightly, knowing that not all the kids are going to really be hers, but she’ll look after and protect them all.
Over the next few days, Dreamweaver begins to get more comfortable with their new form and parents. Moonlight is now “Mother,” always said with affection and respect for being able to bring them out of the dream realm. Sea Fairy is addressed as “Lady of the Tides” a few times, before they realize that using her name works fine too. Ever affectionate, Moonlight now addresses them as “My Starlit One,” an endearing title that never fails to make them beam. Practically attached to Moonlight at all times, they explore the island with her right by their side, feeling all the new textures of the environment around them while being amazed by all the sights and sounds of the waking world, everything feeling so much more real in person. While Dreamweaver was slightly unnerved by the ever-constant and silent presence of Sea Fairy, they quickly realized that her watching over them is how she shows she cares, beginning to find comfort in it. By the time Sorbet Shark returns, they’re already comfortable with their part in the family.
x x x
Things fall into a new rhythm for all of them, Sea Fairy and Moonlight’s family of seas and dreams a small but loving one. None of them are used to living around so many cookies at once, so they all start to figure it out together, one day at a time. Sorbet Shark and Dreamweaver get along better than they did before, nowhere near as close as siblings can be, but they’re starting to understand each other. Moonlight is positively thriving with all the love she can give to her kids; always catching Sorbet Shark when they jump up from the shore, and comforting Dreamweaver when they feel lost between dreams and reality. While it might not seem like it at first, Sea Fairy has also warmed up to them; floating on the surface of the water while Sorbet Shark splashes in the waves, and listening to Dreamweaver explain the complexity and importance of the dream realm and their purpose in it.
An unspoken general rule of the family is to not stray too far from the reach of the island, outside of the magical barrier that makes endless exploration possible and keeps unwanted visitors out. The first cookie to argue against it is Sorbet Shark, loving the thrill and potential of infinite exploration but also wanting to visit the sea they were born in. Both of their mothers are hesitant at first; Moonlight is visibly torn between making her youngest happy and keeping them safe, while Sea Fairy hides her worry behind an impassive expression. After much persuasion, they agree to let them go for the day and come back as soon as the sun sets, an arrangement Sorbet Shark agrees to eagerly.
Things go by without a hitch, and Sorbet Shark returns earlier than planned, just to show that they’re more than capable of taking care of themself. With newfound confidence, not even a day later they’re asking for more time out in the natural sea, reminiscing about how good it felt to be back in familiar waters. Sea Fairy and Moonlight find they have never been so protective over a cookie since they first met each other; well aware that Sorbet Shark can look after themself, but still wanting to keep them close to home. They both know that no matter how far their children stray, they’ll always come back, bound to this family by love and their nature, yet they still worry.
After much bargaining on Sorbet Shark’s end, Sea Fairy and Moonlight agree to let them spend two days out past the magic barrier. They celebrate by splashing everyone with small waves of water happily, leaving Moonlight and Dreamweaver drenched but bemused, and Sea Fairy completely unaffected. Once they’re done celebrating, they dart off quickly to the new adventures awaiting them, eager for more exploration.
x x x
While they had spent all of their time in their physical body on the island, even Dreamweaver was getting curious about what the outside world is like. They wanted to see everything; the oceans, the land, and all the different types of cookies they had only been able to see through dreams. Much to Sorbet Shark’s offense, Sea Fairy and Moonlight were a lot more lenient with their oldest, knowing they’re much more experienced and less naive, having seen both the good and bad of a cookie’s deepest desires. Moonlight’s approval was more apparent, proud of her oldest for deciding to explore the world on their own. Sea Fairy’s approval was quiet, but a murmured “Wanderer” was more than enough to show she acknowledged their curiosity too.
Dreamweaver set off to further explore the waking world, promising that they’d come back the same day, and they kept their word. They returned with an awed look in their eyes, amazed by how big Earthbread truly was. They were enthralled by all the little things, going into detail about everything they encountered on their journey. Not one to be outdone, Sorbet Shark interrupted them by adamantly recounting their latest adventures, managing to amuse everyone, even Sea Fairy.
x x x
One day, when their two children were out exploring, Moonlight felt the pull of a troubled cookie’s soul, similar to the one she felt from Dreamweaver. She could tell it was from the physical realm instead of the dream realm; meaning that for the first time since she, Sea Fairy, and Sorbet found their home, she would have to leave the island, and more troublingly, leave Sea Fairy. Moonlight knew that she worried every time she left her sight, let alone left her entirely, causing her to question whether bringing a new cookie home was truly worth it. Despite her worry, she could feel the desperation of the cookie’s soul growing, the stress they’re feeling increasing, making the situation more dire.
After pondering what the right choice to make was, Moonlight decided that ignoring the troubled soul’s pleas couldn’t wait any longer. She had a lengthy conversation with Sea Fairy, frowning since hearing her beloved speak more than usual came at the cost of her being more than upset. Ultimately, Moonlight convinced her to let her bring another kid into the family, though Sea Fairy was less than pleased.
She left on her crescent moon in a flurry of stars and returned shortly after with a cookie held gently in her arms. Her name was Starfruit Cookie, someone Moonlight had known about for some time but had never met; the title of the youngest High Oracle an important and heavy one to bear. Starfruit’s eyes were wide, meeting the celestial of the cosmos an absolute honor, even if she didn’t quite understand what was happening right now. All she knew was that one minute, she was in the chamber of the sacred Nebula Spring; conversing with the stars with the stress of always keeping a calm facade weighing heavily on her, and the next, she was scooped up by Moonlight Cookie herself and brought to an island with a strong magical aura. Manners that had practically been drilled into her from childhood were the only thing stopping her jaw from dropping when she noticed the silent presence of Sea Fairy Cookie, who was studying her with mild interest. The sight of two legendary celestials in one place was almost enough to make her pass out, but the steady warmth radiating from Moonlight kept her conscious.
Even though she knew subconsciously that this was inevitable and had even been told in advance, Sea Fairy couldn’t help but sigh internally at the newest addition to the family, nowhere near mentally prepared to keep watch over three children, despite two of them having the maturity of adults and all of them having experience taking care of themselves. She can see Moonlight’s adoring gaze over her latest child clear as day, frowning slightly as she’s already able to tell this one’s staying as well. Sea Fairy has nothing against Starfruit herself, but in the moment she can’t help but wish that she had stayed in the Pantheon of Starlight and dealt with all her issues herself.
Starfruit isn’t new to dealing with jealousy from others, no matter how slight it is or how hard they try to hide it, other cookies having wished for her downfall ever since she became an apprentice priest. She can’t help but feel a bit hurt at sensing it from someone she deeply respects, Sea Fairy’s quiet but firm disapproval of her presence more than apparent. She doesn’t bother trying to wonder why she’s already so disliked, knowing that it’s probably the idea of her existence rather than something personal.
Moonlight instantly catches on to the silent exchange between the two, narrowing her eyes at Sea Fairy for acting so petty despite her supposed maturity. She holds Starfruit a bit closer, as if testing whether or not she’ll act on her childish envious behavior. Sea Fairy relents, not wanting to actively argue against her beloved, especially not over something so pointless. She walks away without a word, neither approving nor disapproving of the newest addition to the family, disappointing Moonlight. She instantly turns to comfort Starfruit, knowing that she has enough on her conscience without the celestial of the sea disliking her. She easily gives her the nickname “Little Star,” refusing to use her actual name the second she says it.
Starfruit smiles at Moonlight’s unconditional kindness, before she slumps in her arms, tired due to how chaotic the day has been. This earns her a doting smile from her, proud of how she handled Sea Fairy, knowing that she can be a bit much at times. Still cradling her, she begins to sing a soft lullaby, soothing her off into sweet dreams as she waits for the return of her other children and an unlikely apology from Sea Fairy.
x x x
Sorbet Shark and Dreamweaver return around the same time, Dreamweaver being surprised at the presence of another one of Moonlight and Sea Fairy’s kids, while Sorbet Shark is already used to it at this point. They greet Starfruit with curious enthusiasm, nowhere near as cold as Sea Fairy was. While not apologizing outright, she murmurs out the title “Comet,” her own way of accepting her into the family. Starfruit is practically overwhelmed with all the kindness she’s receiving, unused to having people be nice to her beyond standard politeness. She thanks all of them profusely for being so accepting, knowing that she truly found a place where she belongs, a place to relax from the stresses of her daily life and responsibilities.
Of course, just because she needed a break from her role as the High Oracle doesn’t mean she gets to desert the position entirely. After a day of getting to know everyone; splashing in the shore with Sorbet Shark, discussing dreams and stars with Dreamweaver, looking up in awe at the forever-night sky of the island with Sea Fairy a constant presence beside her, and bonding with Moonlight while discussing the secrets of the cosmos, she knows that she has to return to her duties, however exhausting they may be at times. She bids them all farewell for now, waving her wand in one fell swoop and disappearing in a glyph of constellations. Sorbet Shark watches with wide eyes at the magic their sister is capable of; the others are unaffected by her magic, having known she was more than capable as the youngest High Oracle.
x x x
While not crowded, the small island seems to get more lively the more children Moonlight adopts and Sea Fairy accepts. While they’re never one to turn down an adventure, Sorbet Shark found themself swimming alongside Sea Fairy near the shore, either filling the silence by recounting their previous adventures to her, or basking in the peaceful ambiance of the ocean. Dreamweaver took a break from exploring Earthbread, and instead opted to cling to Moonlight, similarly to how they acted when they were first given a physical form. They’re perfectly capable of taking care of themself; they’ve lived like that for lifetimes, but something about the comfort they receive from her when they feel lost between dreams and reality deeply grounds them. Starfruit spends the most time away from home, the responsibility of being the guardian of the Pantheon of Starlight and the High Oracle weighing heavy on her shoulders. To her, the island is a place to relax and unwind away from the stress of work. Whether she’s engaging with her siblings, mothers, or the stars, she never fails to find herself at peace.
Things play out relatively smoothly with five cookies living on the island, Moonlight and Sea Fairy an unwavering presence, with at least one of their children staying with them. Moonlight is undoubtedly the more affectionate parent, positively showering them with affectionate names and endless praise. Sea Fairy is more distant, but she’s grown closer to all of them despite exchanging a minimal amount of words with them, the value of her ever-constant company apparent to all of them.
x x x
Surprisingly, the next child that came home was carried in Sea Fairy’s arms. When she had calmly told everyone that she was leaving the island, they had all been shocked, even Moonlight. Up until then, Sea Fairy had never left, always a constant presence that watched over everyone as a silent protector. She didn’t say why she was going away, not finding the reason to be that important. Other than a questioning gaze from Moonlight, nobody pressed the matter, knowing that Sea Fairy would do as she pleased and then come home.
Sea Fairy left shortly after her vague goodbye, intent on finding the child who was the most precious to her. She was searching for Star Coral Cookie, born of the sea and stars. Like all of her children connected to her through the ocean, she had been aware of Star Coral since her birth, but even then she knew there was something unique about her. She could tell that Star Coral was destined to journey to Moonlight in search of a piece of the Moonlight Crystal, and was special enough to be granted the privilege of understanding the language of stars. Just as Sea Fairy expected, ever since she had been reunited with Moonlight, she had heard nothing but praise towards Star Coral, her brief but significant interaction with Moonlight valued enough to be recounted multiple times.
While Sea Fairy tolerated then begrudgingly accepted the other additions to their family, Star Coral is the first she’s actively looking for and already welcoming towards. She had been content with watching the achievements of her favorite from afar, but Moonlight has already taken in so many kids that it’s only natural that Star Coral is the next.
As if led by the stars and moon themself, Sea Fairy’s search for Star Coral is a simple one. She faces minimal obstacles, likely due to the fear the beings of the sea have of the wrath of their recently awoken celestial. In few days, she finds herself at the foot of the Lunar Lighthouse, admittedly impressed by the light the piece of the Moonlight Crystal provides. She silently flows along the stairs of the lighthouse, sensing another’s presence as she nears the top. Unsurprisingly, she finds Star Coral asleep at the railing outside of the lantern room, staying near the Moonlight Crystal in case anything goes wrong.
Sea Fairy wordlessly goes up to her, the ancient and powerful air she possesses enough to wake Star Coral up with a slight startle. She calms as she realizes who the cookie who approached her is, her aura similar to the one Moonlight gave off. Star Coral grins up at her, already knowing what’s happening and more than okay with it, internally ecstatic about having the chance to learn from the cookie incarnation of the sea and moon. Sea Fairy gently scoops her up, a soft and rare smile on her face as she descends the lighthouse, the newest addition of the family held snuggly in her arms.
x x x
It’s instantly apparent who her favorite child is when Sea Fairy returns home with Star Coral cradled in her arms, the small smile on her face making it that more obvious. She receives multiple nicknames from Sea Fairy, each of which being as affectionate if not more than Moonlight’s. Sea Fairy never calls Star Coral by her name, the least affectionate nickname she receives is “Child of the Shore”, with fondness woven throughout it. Moonlight has a similar philosophy, proclaiming her “Little Reef”, though not in an act of favoritism since she does this for all her children. The way Star Coral addresses both of them is more formal, though caring. She admiringly uses Moonlight’s name, and Sea Fairy is instantly “Mother Sea”, her devotion to her clear.
The other kids are surprised by how adoring Sea Fairy is of Star Coral, though not that jealous. Regardless of how they feel about it, none of them hold it against Star Coral, accepting her as quickly as their parents did. Sorbet Shark instantly recognizes her as another adventurous soul, quickly explaining the fascinating way the ocean around the island works, and swimming alongside her rowboat as the two of them explore the infinite possibilities of Sea Fairy and Moonlight’s combined magic. She has a much less energetic dynamic with Dreamweaver, instantly understanding them wordlessly and opting to appreciate their company silently as the both of them connect under the moonlight instead of initiating small talk that would be ultimately pointless. Star Coral and Starfruit contemplate the sea and sky together, both of them able to listen to the whispers of stars. Starfruit is amazed that she’s capable of this without being an apprentice priest, let alone a High Oracle. Star Coral’s explanations of how she’s skilled enough to do so are vague, wanting to keep the truth of her journey to restore the Lunar Lighthouse between herself and her Grams.
While the most soft spoken of the kids, Star Coral’s voice is firm whenever the topic of her lighthouse is brought up. Unwaveringly, she states that its light is so strong it will never go out, thanks to the piece of the Moonlight Crystal that Moonlight granted her. Nobody tries to argue against her, though Starfruit is endlessly curious about how such a small piece of the crystal can bring with it such powerful brightness. She questions Moonlight about it multiple times, though is met with the same vagueness she received from Star Coral, much to her disappointment. Of course, Star Coral’s duty to the Lunar Lighthouse means that she spends half her time keeping watch over it, but that just makes the moments she spends on the island more meaningful.
x x x
Things play out relatively smoothly despite Sea Fairy and Moonlight now looking after four younger cookies, mostly due to all of them being able to take care of themselves. Sorbet Shark is undoubtedly still the youngest of the family, their boundless energy and search for adventure making them a bit less mature than the others. Dreamweaver’s place as the oldest is practically cemented by now, their lifetimes’ worth of knowledge making them more experienced than the others. Star Coral and Starfruit are seen as the middle children, with Star Coral viewed as a bit older by Sea Fairy and Moonlight despite Starfruit being an adult; Starfruit’s naivety and trusting nature being her own detriment.
Of course, everyone is aware by now that new children being added to the family is practically routine, and were next to unaffected when Moonlight came home from her visit to the City of Wizards with the explorative Wizard Cookie held lovingly in her arms. His eyes were wide from meeting Moonlight Cookie again and passing through the potent magical barrier around the island, his surprise growing as he met the gaze of the one and only Sea Fairy Cookie, someone he had never met despite his many journeys throughout Earthbread.
Dignity put aside in place of curiosity, he began to squirm in Moonlight’s arms, desperate to properly meet such an esteemed celestial. Knowing that one day her high reputation would mean being bombarded by questions from cookies seeking knowledge, Sea Fairy sighs internally as she looks down at Wizard eagerly looking up at her. Wonder is written all over his face, a million questions brimming in his head as he tries to figure out which ones he should ask first.
Sorbet Shark, Dreamweaver, Starfruit, and Star Coral watch the interaction with varying degrees of amusement, with Starfruit disappointed since she knows personally that Wizard is capable of behaving more maturely than this. Moonlight hides laughter behind her hand politely, the sight of her beloved so silently stressed a rare but humorous one.
After receiving nothing but short and curt answers from her, Wizard figures that Sea Fairy doesn’t readily give out information about herself, something that both disheartens and intrigues him. He lets her go after a few minutes, actually taking in a moment to look at his surroundings and new siblings, and in doing so recognizes Starfruit. He notes that the assortment of cookies living on this island is a strange one, but he can’t judge since his group of travel companions is an odd one too. Worn out by all the excitement he’s experienced today, he walks up to Moonlight and promptly passes out on her crescent moon, something he’ll adamantly deny doing when he wakes up.
x x x
Having gotten used to meeting all sorts of different cookies by now, Wizard has no problem fitting in with the rest of the kids. Amazed by Dreamweaver’s vast knowledge, he constantly rapid fires questions at them, much to their bemusement. However, after getting to know them a bit more, he tones down his energy and engages in quiet intellectual conversations, ranging from dreams to sorcery. While he had been respectful to Starlight when they met before, despite both their varying opinions on how magic works, now that he knows her better they have full arguments on the subject. Wizard sticks to scientific reasoning, while Starfruit believes that magic is a gift from the universe itself, meant to be wielded but not fully understood. While Wizard found Sorbet Shark to be mostly uninteresting at first, once he learns they were gifted a cookie form he tries to study the rationality behind it, to no avail. Wizard and Star Coral interact the least; even though Wizard is intrigued with the power behind such a small shard of the Moonlight Crystal along with Starfruit, Star Coral herself isn’t much interest to him. When they do interact, it’s in quiet moments, exchanging whatever is on their mind with each other.
Wizard has two vastly different dynamics with his new mothers, though he acts similarly around both of them. He bonds with Moonlight effortlessly, since she indulges his relentless questioning and rambling. She doesn’t outright correct the mistakes he overlooks, she gently nudges him in the right direction, something he secretly loves since it means she’s taking him seriously. She immediately becomes “Mother Moonlight” to him, a term that’s both formal and parental, and in turn, he’s never addressed with anything less encouraging than “Little Scholar”. With Sea Fairy, he doesn’t call her by anything other than her name, having tried “Master of the Ocean’s Magic” once and had been completely ignored. While just as amazed by Sea Fairy’s magic as he is Moonlight’s, he knows better by now than to expect her to thoroughly answer any of his questions. Instead, he simply observes the ways Sea Fairy commands the waves, studying the magic she uses to do so. She never outright teaches him anything, but at the same time, she doesn’t push him away, which speaks volumes. Due to his inquisitive nature, it takes Sea Fairy a bit longer to warm up to him than the others, but the approving “Stormweilder” she murmured while watching him practice his magic meant everything to him.
x x x
The moon and stars of the ever-night sky shone down on the small island, illuminating the shore where the whole family was currently residing. Wizard and Sorbet Shark had just gotten back from exploring Earthbread, while Star Coral and Starfruit were taking a break from their occupation to spend some time with their family. Dreamweaver had taken a liking to venturing over the seas of Earthbread instead of exploring the land, always finding their way home no matter how far they wandered off.
As always, Sea Fairy and Moonlight were constant presences on the shore, looking after their children caringly, even though they expressed said care in vastly different ways. Moonlight showers each and every one of them with affection; whether it be in the form of physical contact and words of encouragement, or less outgoing means such as quietly singing timeless songs during the decided time everyone falls asleep, helping lull the kids to sleep without them even having to ask. Sea Fairy’s methods were more distant than Moonlight’s, but she looked after them just as much. The fact she never strayed or abandoned the island and its residents said enough on its own. Still, she watched all of them improve themselves in their own way, even acknowledging this growth through rare, hushed nicknames that never fail to be appreciated.
x x x
By this time, all the island residents have been made aware that this unique family is an ever-growing one, and know that Moonlight is more likely to return with a child than not when she announces her departure to the full moon celebration. Before she leaves, she disguises herself and her celestial aura so she can attend the festivities without getting recognized, wanting to appreciate the source of her powers along with everyone else.
When Moonlight arrives at the celebration, the boundless energy of a certain cookie immediately catches her attention. Said cookie is happily handing out a seemingly endless supply of rice cakes free of charge, gathering a small crowd around herself. Moonlight smiles gently as she instantly realizes that she is meeting one of her own, a rabbit born of the moon that pounds rice cakes purely for the enjoyment of others. She makes her way over to the lively soul, receiving a rice cake from her and quickly noting it’s one of the best ones she has ever had.
Upon seeing Moonlight’s satisfaction, Moon Rabbit Cookie is swift to introduce herself, having been able to see through her illusion from the start and knowing exactly who she is. While not disengaging from the cookies that were promised free food, Moon Rabbit begins trailing after Moonlight, effortlessly drawn to and intrigued by her. She offers her an onslaught of rice cakes, which to her slight disappointment begin to be politely declined after the fifth. Overall undeterred, she follows as Moonlight enjoys the occasion, flitting from stall to stall as she takes in all the celebration has to offer. When the time comes to light the bonfire, Moon Rabbit cheerfully holds onto one of Moonlight’s hands, her beaming smile brighter than the glow of the flames.
When the moon begins to set and the sun starts to rise, it’s well-decided that Moon Rabbit is now directly under Moonlight’s care. Worn out from staying up so late and spending so much energy; Moon Rabbit is comfortably slumped against her, the rise and fall of her chest slowing to a rate that suggests she’s fast asleep. Moonlight smiles down at her affectionately, already deeply attached to her newest and undoubtedly youngest child. Continuing what has basically become tradition, she scoops Moon Rabbit into her arms, discarding her disguise as she calls her crescent moon to her and travels back home.
x x x
From the moment she awakens at her new home, Moon Rabbit quickly becomes the liveliest resident there, surpassing even Sobret Shark’s energy. Naturally, this makes her endlessly intriguing to them, leading to the two becoming chaotic playmates and partners in crime. Their combined liveliness exceeds anything the island and its inhabitants have ever seen before, quickly exhausting everybody, including a bemused Moonlight and an exasperated Sea Fairy. Moon Rabbit quickly adopts the tendency to excitedly bounce around Starfruit while she tries to concentrate, easily adapting to their newfound younger sibling energy. The sheer number of cookies Star Coral has helped and guided with the Lunar Lighthouse amazes Moon Rabbit, motivating her to do the best she can to impress her, even if her efforts are only tolerated. At first glance, her dynamic with Dreamweaver is purely one-sided, but the fact they always let her stay by their side says everything. Wizard becomes her favorite to annoy, his easiness to fluster with just the slightest amount of physical affection highly amusing to her.
She’s the closest child to Moonlight by far, constantly trailing after her like a lost cake hound, and is next to physically inseparable from her. This of course earns her the ever-affectionate nickname “My Sweet Bunny”, a term that is used nearly constantly. Moonlight in turn is addressed as nothing less than “Mama-Moon”, easily the most adoring title she’s been given. While Moon Rabbit quickly figures out that Sea Fairy is less appreciative of being adorned with care, she never fails to accept the rice cakes offered to her, despite the fact she doesn’t eat often. Instead of using any parental names most of the time, Moon Rabbit sticks to calling her “Miss Sea Fairy”, reserving “Ocean-Mom” for meaningful moments. Since Moon Rabbit is born of the moon instead of the sea, Sea Fairy takes a bit longer than most to bestow a term of endearment to her. However, she eventually comes around with the rarely used “Moonlit Tide”, which never fails to cause Moon Rabbit to hop up in the air and twist around with joy.
Being the youngest allows Moon Rabbit to get away with more than the other children can, though not by too much thanks to Sea Fairy’s watchful eye. Moon Rabbit doesn’t use this to her advantage that often due to her thoughtful nature towards others, but that doesn’t mean she lets the opportunity go to waste. A common trick she picked up from messing with Wizard is to stay unusually quiet, hiding out of the moonlight's reach, before surprising her target by hopping onto their shoulders. This works without fail since she’s the smallest cookie on the island, though is a bit awkward to pull off with Sorbet Shark due to their similar height. Her favorite stunt by far is to turn into her rice cake bunny form and send all the sand around her flying, a tactic that has unfortunately been banned due to how often it got sand into at least one cookie’s eyes. Due to Moon Rabbit’s young age and innocent nature, not even Sea Fairy can’t stay mad at her for long, the way she hands out rice cakes in apology for her antics making it difficult to do so.
x x x
Now finding herself directly responsible for six younger cookies, Moonlight relents from actively searching for new members of the family, deciding to let the next addition come to them on their own, much to Sea Fairy’s relief. This leads to the longest amount of time Sea Fairy and Moonlight have gone without finding a new cookie to care for, excluding Sorbet Shark. The peace this brings to their home is nice, but nobody is surprised when everything gets thrown into chaos.
The island’s residents were deep in their slumber, when suddenly, a giggling cookie fell out of the sky, plummeting toward the beach. She breaks her fall by using her horn to manifest stars under herself, but does nothing to stop sand from billowing up into the air, the cloud blanketing everybody aside from her and waking them all up in the process.
Though everyone was less than happy about being rudely awakened by a new arrival on the island, it was quickly made clear that they would receive no apologies from the cookie, since she found this whole situation hilarious. Apparently having some form of manners, she’s halfway through introducing herself as Milky Way, when she suddenly realizes that the Slumbering Moon is standing right in front of her, and is apparently wide awake.
Milky Way makes a beeline straight towards Moonlight, instantly fawning over her while asking how she was able to wake up from her slumber. Moonlight politely allows her to gawk over her existence, since Milky Way had thought her to be an incomprehensible deity. Moonlight engages in her onslaught of questions, more than familiar with answering them after spending so much time with Wizard.
The others take a minute to wake themselves up before meeting the new cookie, already knowing the routine of things to know that Milky Way is their newest sibling, even if she hasn’t yet realized it herself. While she’s nowhere as enthusiastic talking to them as she was with Moonlight, she at least makes an effort until she notices Star Coral and Wizard. Milky Way left on neutral terms with Star Coral, but Wizard is a whole other story.
The second Wizard realizes who just arrived on the island, he instantly freezes. There’s no way it’s who he thinks it is, right? It can’t be Milky Way Cookie, whose train distorted his body into an elongated mess then switched his staff’s candy with his hat, and gave him no apology for it whatsoever. Not only that, she also pettily refused to elaborate on the World of Dreams, probably just to spite him. Wizard seethes at Milky Way until she finally notices him with newfound glee in her eyes, running right up to him and pestering him with all sorts of creative uses of her personal favorite insult, “flat”.
Despite the varying levels of amusement this brings to all the other kids, Sea Fairy quickly puts a stop to Milky Way downright harassing Wizard, and instead asks her how she ended up on this island in the first place, since only cookies actively searching for it are allowed past the magical barrier. Eager to talk about herself, Milky Way quickly switches topics and describes how she fell off the Sugarcloud Express and in her rapid descent to Earthbread wished that she could see Moonlight Cookie before she inevitably crumbled in the sea, before an island appeared out of nowhere and provided her a safe place to land.
Troubled by the fact that one of her own almost died, let alone whilst wishing to meet her, Moonlight quickly scoops Milky Way up into her arms, receiving only minimal complaints from her about being treated like a child, due to how exhausted she is from almost crumbling. Milky Way quickly drifts off to sleep, comforted by Moonlight’s calming aura. Wizard is shocked that a cookie so passive aggressive as Milky Way can be calmed so easily, before brushing it off as a one time thing.
x x x
The peace that falls over the island after Milky Way’s sudden appearance is quickly interrupted when she wakes up, since she remembers that she had left the Sugarcloud Express on its own without an operator. Moonlight is quick to reassure her that Sea Fairy went and brought the train back to the station while she was sleeping, which calms Milky Way down enough to not actively panic. She slumps with relief in Moonlight’s arms, before scrambling to get out of them; both due to embarrassment at how parental her hold of her was, and surprise that Moonlight Cookie herself would be so gentle and caring with her.
Moonlight lets her go without any protest, figuring Milky Way’s pride would stop her from relaxing in her embrace the moment she woke up. She smiles as she watches her newest get to know her other siblings more than she did during their introductions, even putting in the effort to get along with Wizard. Milky Way might not know it yet, but from the second she crashed into the island’s beach, she was already part of the family.
x x x
After a considerable amount of denial, Milky Way finally accepts her place as one of Moonlight and Sea Fairy’s children, though only after it is made clear she can continue to be the conductor of the Sugarcloud Express and guide wayward cookies through the World of Dreams. She stubbornly claims to be the oldest of the children, despite being one of the most immature. Since neither Moonlight nor Sea Fairy feels the need to point this out to her, she is completely unaware they view her as one of their youngest.
Milky Way instantly gets along with Moon Rabbit and Sorbet Shark, the chaotic duo quickly becoming a trio as the three cause mischief in every square inch of the island. Since she’s now on better terms with Wizard, sometimes she’ll listen to his theories and explanations on how the World of Dreams works. They don’t make any sense to her since she believes it’s all the doing of Moonlight’s magic, but it’s nice to listen to him talk just for the sake of it. She’s highly intrigued by Dreamweaver from the moment she met them, since they’re directly responsible for the Dream Realm. Milky Way manages to convince them to take a trip on the Sugarcloud Express, which earns her bragging rights for the next few weeks. Of all the cookies she now calls her siblings, Star Coral is the coolest to her, so she tries her best to impress her, though the most she receives for her efforts is bemusement. She doesn’t understand how Starfruit can be so caught up in the specific details of her job as the High Oracle, since she conducts her train with minimum plans of how things will turn out. Despite their differences, the two bond over their shared passion for their occupation, and spend the most time away from their home to be there for the cookies that depend on them.
Despite denying it every time it’s brought up, Milky Way is deeply attached to Moonlight. Her admiration for her is still present, though she now views her as her mother, made clear by the endearing terms “Mom” and “Mama”. Like most of the other kids, Milky Way is more distant from Sea Fairy, and it takes her a while to understand the importance of her presence on the island. When she does figure it out, the respectful term “Ocean Guardian” is replaced by the more formal “Sea Fairy”, though she still says it politely.
x x x
The tides lapped at the shore gently, the place where ocean and sky met was always serene and peaceful. Two timeless cookies stood side by side, their presence brimming with ancient and unwavering power. Together, they watch over their children; born of sea, stars, a combination of both, or neither, as they gather in the safe haven of their creation.
As Moonlight watches over her resting children lovingly with Sea Fairy’s soothing presence next to her, she can’t help but appreciate the rare moments such as this where everyone is present on the island. Moonlight feels herself reflect on how far their family has grown; from the two of them looking after a wandering Sorbet Shark to Milky Way falling from the sky right into her arms. She smiles softly as she feels immense pride for her kids, and toward Sea Fairy; who has stayed by her side despite being directly responsible for seven more cookies than she’d prefer.
Their family was by no means a normal one, and the role the both of them played in the lives of their young ones couldn’t be more different, but the care they felt towards their children and in turn received from them couldn’t be more palpable. As Sorbet shark is the first to blink awake sleep from their wide, excited eyes, both of them can already tell that it’s going to be another eventful day on the island.