Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Save for the ocean and chaos of the time veil, it was dead silent. Everyone stood and held their breaths. They gathered to watch as a shrunken, battered Longan Dragon Cookie laid on the ground of their own palace’s island. Standing before them, hovering with a determined look, was Gingerbrave, clutching onto his candy cane. Beside the both of them was a sobbing Dragon Eye Cookie, who had already begged and pleaded with the boy to let their mother live.

Longan Dragon Cookie could only keep one eye open, but a sliver. The blurry visage from their dreams has finally become reality. This young, basic looking crunchy being who happened to hold the very weapon to kill them. They didn't know how the Spear of Greater Cataclysm hadn't wiped them out, yet this cane will. Such a pitiful, disgraceful way to perish.

Their heartbeats became immensely loud, reverberating throughout their innards. Their draconic gemstone laid vulnerable, its cracks glistening as its shine synced with their blood flow. As they watched their final moments, waiting for this stupid child to vanquish them already, their hearing had failed them. A deafening ring silenced all other noise and they forced their eyes shut in a wince, unknowingly letting stray tears descend from their eyelashes. Once the ringing had subdued, and they hadn't the strength to open their eyes, they were sure they were finally deceased.

“...”

For but a moment in the lifespan of a dragon…

“..n…”

“Lo…… on…..”

Why did they suddenly hear such a warm, familiar voice?

Outside of the blackened mind of the Ivory Dragon, Gingerbrave was at a standstill on whether he should kill someone. Whether he could. Was it braver to rid of this foul, horrible creature once and for all, or to spare someone who could, in the slightest, change for the better? When he learned that he was the one destined to slay Longan Dragon, the more he pondered on what was running through their mind, seeing those visions. He shuddered even imagining being able to see almost exactly how he would die. Still, this entire genocide on Cookies isn't exactly forgiveable.

His grip tightened and loosened as he noticed every little detail about Longan now that they were up close. The voices around him, shouting, crying, whispering, growling, all were melting together. Soon, his arms had grown tired of his reluctance and raised upwards.

Just before he began to swing, the top of his cane was being pulled and a blinding light shined behind him. His hands slipped, and he turned around.

In all his glory, in all his docility, and in all his mournful contortions, there he appeared.

The Millennial Tree.

……

Longan Dragon awoke, defying every single one of their senses and feeling as though they had just been born and taking their first breaths. They could hear their exasperated and agonizing gasps for air. Everything still hurt, and they felt even more sensitive now. They realized they hadn't any control of their orbs anymore, and for some reason, their mind felt.. clearer. The light above them was blinding, to them at least, and they flexed their fingers gently to ground themselves in reality for the first time in years. Within a few minutes, their eyesight had adjusted, and they realized they were in a forest, though they should've guessed from the wafts of wind and the scent of the crisp air.

They let their eyes move within their sockets first, almost unsure if their surroundings were real. Then, they tried turning their head. Oddly, the trees seemed lined here, and grew in unnatural ways to form a kind of shelter. Once Longan had moved their head downwards, they were in disbelief at the sight of Millennial Tree extracting dew from a large leaf into a wooden cup, then walking towards them with a grace and softness they never deserved.

“Ah, you've finally come to.”

“I don't need your sympathy.” Their voice sounded much weaker than they thought it would, than it should've been.

“Darling, do not believe that I am not horribly crossed with you. I will clear everything up once you've taken this.”

He raised the cup to their lips and waited for them to part. Whether from stubbornness or exhaustion, Longan took a minute before they finally consumed the liquid, tongue lapping at their chin after finishing to catch any stray drops. They didn't know why they let him treat such a great dragon like this, or why they complied.

That awfully sweet giggle from the tree had the audacity to displeasure the ears of Longan, causing them to droop and bring a warmth to their face that they hadn't felt in ages. They attempted to sit up, but their back had stung so painfully that they had to be held by the other just to lower back down slowly.

It was awfully humiliating, and awfully comforting.

“Dear, dear, please, let yourself rest. You'll be in my care.”

Longan gazed at Millennial Tree wistfully, coming to terms with a few things. First was how focused their eyesight was. Second was dreading being nursed to health and whatever will come after by the Tree. The third was how stunningly radiant he appeared now, his face dimmed by the sunlight shining on his back, yet his freckles and spots and eyes glowing that magical olive yellow. It was so superficial to see him in this form, but it was much easier to recognize each detail of him, too…

They were taken out of their admirations when he shifted, slightly frowning.

“... I'm sorry for doing all of this. I tried to stop you many times, but I had to intervene before I lost you. I… couldn't imagine this world where you had been slain and your blood on Gingerbrave’s hands…”

Their heart felt cold hearing this. “So you've changed fate…”

“And.. to atone for those who wanted you gone, I've agreed to take you in.”

“What of my child?”

“They're asleep.”

“Could you bring them to me..?”

Millennial Tree rose from his seat and walked through the grove, Longan’s gaze lingering. For just a moment, he disappeared behind a wall of trees, where there was the rustling of leaves and a whine that grew louder. Once Dragon Eye was in view, Longan immediately reached out. Upon having the hatchling in their arms, they cradled them and lightly bounced them while making draconic chirps to calm them down.

They froze for a second when they noticed the Tree crouched down, leaning in to lightly peck them on the cheek. That warmth returned even stronger, and they growled low, almost like a purr.

For the first time in a long time, they felt a sense of serenity, despite it all.

Chapter Text

They weren't quite sure about the passage of time, but they knew they were sleeping a lot. Every time they've awoken, they stirred with a similar dizziness as the first. Hardly could they recall a dream or vision. Luckily, they have been regaining strength a little, and can now sit while leaning back upon the giant floral pillow. They could see the grove much more clearly now.

One side of it was a partial cave at the bottom of a cliff, where many polished stones mimicked the appliances that Cookies used. The rest of the tools were pottery, made with a rare mahogany clay. There were a variety of vines and greenery drooping down, some dripping water into a large pot. Between Longan and the ‘kitchen’ was, curiously, a tree stump with mushrooms surrounding it uniformly, acting as seats. The benevolent Tree, using one of his own as a table? Nevermind the mountains of dragon bones in Longan Palace. Still, they weren't used recreationally. For whatever reason, Longan felt a slight shiver.

The left side of the grove had an opening covered by dangling buds hanging just above the grass. Then to the right was a large buttercup being used as a cradle for their child. Dragoneye was sleeping, and already in different clothes. A part of them wanted to protest so much being done without their input. Yet they also knew deep down that they had lost such a privilege.

Soreness and aches persisted as they attempted to simply stretch. It was not good for this type of body, nor their stem, to be down for this long. They put a hand on their other shoulder and yanked forward until it cracked to their satisfaction, and then did the same for the other side. Then they raised their arms upwards, expecting their fingers to graze by their second set of branches.. to then pat their head frantically and realize most of their stem had been ripped clean off from the final battle.

They couldn't believe it took them this long to notice, and now they felt petty panic set in as one of the few things they kept well on them and treasured was the long wooden horn. Despite not being able to feel past the first attachment at the top, there was a certain sting that crept from the base. They felt so unnatural and exposed, imperfect. Their image was ruined.

Eyes trembling and nervous, they couldn't help but look down at themselves, despite how much worse it would make them feel. There were scars strewn about, and… a completely unfamiliar robe was fitted on them. When did they put this on..? It fit well around the chest, yet the tops of the sleeves were loose, letting the fabric slip past their wrists. As they lifted and turned their arms to examine, they heard the rustles of the forest and a sharp gust of wind. From the blurred corner of their eye, they saw the buds swing around as the Millennial Tree came back.

“Oh! You've awoken, I see.”

“Please, you know how each second spans out across the entire Earthbread.”

“I don't have to always pay attention to that, do I?” He smiled with such a warm, soft glow, and Longan convinced themself they were pissed off at it. He continued, “do you feel any better? I tried to make you as comfortable as I could.”

He walked, though his gracious movements are more accurately a waltz, to the injured dragon and sat beside them, one arm holding him up as he turned to his side to face them. In return, they could only stare with as much subtle malice as they could muster, from the chin raise and downward look. Though, their hands couldn't help but stay pathetically in the air, one holding the other's wrist awkwardly. Yes, they are imperfect now. Such realization happened a moment after the first glare, turning it sour and sad.

“I didn't mean to upset you, dear..” as if he was meant to even notice, “please, let me know anything that I can do to help you. I can't really heal you if you're not letting your body be healed, after all…” His words trailed off and he looked away, a slight frown appearing. For some reason, this affected Longan when it really shouldn't have. Their head lowered and leaned over to him absentmindedly. His eyes lifted back up and had a sparkle of hope hidden beneath the deep olive.

“What is most upsetting is your insistent concern for me. Are you out of your mind?”

Oddly, he snickered.

“Oh, maybe I have! How silly of me to be so involved with this powerful dragon who almost took over the world. Though, all this napping must have conjured many strange new visions for you, no?”

Longan huffed through their nose. “I wouldn't tell you if I had any at all.”

“Hmm.. My hunch is that you foresee a future for us and the child, then.”

“What? No, that's-”

“Oh, so you don't have your visions anymore?”

Longan’s eyes widened at the ridiculous form of interrogation that the Tree was so successful at. They grumbled as their brows furrowed and they turned away, arms slightly crossed. He dared to lay his head on their shoulder and rub their bicep slowly. “Dear, I promise it's a good thing. I want to be happy with you.”

“Cease that incessant seduction at once. I am far beyond such frivolous… activities.”

“Well, as your intervention from chaos and destruction, I am prescribing this to you. You have to take it, somehow.”

Curse this Tree and his words stabbing pleasantly in their barely beating heart. With a sigh, they let their muscles relax and laid their head back down. In hindsight, the lack of discomfort from laying down on their back should've been a telltale sign of something wrong with their stem. And in hindsight, it might be better that much of it is gone. Millennial Tree continued his embracing advances effortlessly, Longan beginning to feel a comfort that they had forgotten about.