Chapter Text
Pavlova Cookie took a chance to look at his new reflection in a puddle of purple jelly. Though his mother figure, Eternal Sugar Cookie, had just demanded he start making preparations for a new Garden of Sweet Delights, he stole the chance to admire his new body once she had gone away.
His dough seemed… full grown now. It had less squishy give than it had when he was younger just moments ago. His once small frame had gotten taller and broader in a few instances, and he could see the stretch marks where his dough had been morphed too fast. Was it supposed to be painful? Pavlova Cookie’s dough showed signs of rapid growth and maturity, yet he felt no discomfort or fatigue. But there was a gnawing feeling at the back of his mind that seemed to eat up at Pavlova Cookie’s thoughts. It whispered “Sugarfly Cookie, Sugarfly Cookie.”
This voice was soon stifled as Pavlova Cookie focused on his new body. His sugar-spun hair had gotten longer. New strength flowed under his dough that, although he was still a pretty lanky cookie, made him feel strong and awake. He altogether felt somehow powerful.
As he took in his reflection, that revitalizing strength gradually but quickly diminished, making his dough and head ache as if he had lounged for too long or eaten too many sweets. The influence of the Garden of Sweet Delights had set back in.
Pavlova Cookie had to stand up to keep himself from getting dizzy and as soon as his focus left himself, that voice whispered into his head again.
“Sugarfly Cookie. Sugarfly Cookie.”
He tried to stifle it, but it seemed that becoming a fully baked cookie unlocked emotions and thoughts that he had pushed down a long time ago. Was it really Pavlova Cookie’s growing up that had caused these feelings to rise back up? Or was it that perhaps someone’s grip on him had lessened like it had on his friends he watched escape this sickly sweet realm?
♡ ♡ ♡
Eternal Sugar Cookie acted as joyous and carefree as ever, but Pavlova Cookie knew she was just trying to cope with her lover, Hollyberry Cookie, escaping her grasp. Eternal Sugar Cookie had devised a new plan to build a sweeter, more extravagant Garden of Sweet Delights to make Hollyberry Cookie come back to her and assigned her son, Pavlova Cookie, as the chief architect.
Pavlova Cookie couldn’t help but feel wary of his master’s plans, thoughts running through his head of how Eternal Sugar Cookie planned to punish him once her delusions of getting Hollyberry Cookie back had worn off. Somehow those parts had gone away when he transformed, the weak, jammy points in his dough that came from Eternal Sugar Cookie’s punishments when she thought he had done wrong. Eternal Sugar Cookie would always say the same thing when she punished him, “I’m doing this because I love you,” but he knew it wasn’t true, that anything outside of Eternal Sugar Cookie’s flawless design would be forced into shape. Pavlova Cookie’s hands dug into the firm dough on his arms, which gave him some comfort that he might be able to take the torture, should it come.
“Oh Pavlova Cookie~,” Eternal Sugar Cookie cooed, making her way over to him on her sugary pink wings. Seeing Eternal Sugar Cookie do any flying besides on her cotton candy clouds made Pavlova Cookie uneasy. How far must her kingdom have fallen if the Goddess of Sloth herself was moving around on her own without the help of her relaxation magic.
“Yes, Eternal Sugar Cookie?” Pavlova Cookie replied, hoping Eternal Sugar Cookie would not have anything spiteful to say about his new form.
“Oh dearest,” Eternal Sugar Cookie said, a hint of disappointment in her saccharine voice, “I’ve told you time and time again to please call me ‘Mother,’ we are making preparations to build a family after all.”
All Pavlova Cookie could do was nod silently.
“And what is this?” Eternal Sugar Cookie questioned, tilting her head slightly as she looked Pavlova Cookie up and down. Pavlova Cookie prepared himself for the worst. “Has my new wish for a greater Garden of Sweet Delights had its effect on you? Have you grown out of my overflowing love for this realm and the cookies in it? Oh this is simply joyous news, Pavlova Cookie. This realm has gifted us with your new form to help rebuild and bring back my sweetest Hollyberry Cookie.”
Pavlova Cookie sighed, letting out the tension that had built in his chest. Eternal Sugar Cookie though his new body was a blessing? It was good news that Pavlova would not be berated, but did this mean Eternal Sugar Cookie planned to push him to his limits to serve her plans?
“We mustn't delay,” Eternal Sugar Cookie continued. “We have gardens to cultivate, forests to grow, palaces to erect, all for my Hollyberry Cookie’s return. Say, I have an idea for how to make my Sweetheart come back all on her own… Pavlova Cookie, I want you to design all the Garden of Sweet Delights to look like the Hollyberry Kingdom!”
Pavlova Cookie felt the instant burden of the task before him. Designing the whole Garden? Modeled after the Hollyberry Kingdom? How did Eternal Sugar Cookie expect Pavlova Cookie to do this all on his own?
“Mother?” Pavlova Cookie started. “How do you expect me to design the whole Garden after Hollyberry’s kingdom? I can’t leave to explore the architecture and culture. And how can I do it on my own?”
“Oh dear Pavlova Cookie~,” Eternal Sugar Cookie smiled sweetly. “It seems your dough has matured, but your mind is still my little naive son. You still doubt my powers? We will simply invite a Hollyberrian into the Garden of Sweet Delights so you can discuss and design. And you won’t be doing it all on your own. Once my strength is renewed, I will create enough sugar angels to get the job done. Plus, you have this new dough, so I’m sure you can work diligently in the meantime.” Eternal Sugar Cookie ended on a vaguely threatening note, confirming Pavlova Cookie’s suspicion that his master intended to use him to the fullest extent for her machinations.
“Now, I’ll see you off,” Eternal Sugar Cookie said as she readied to fly away. “I’m sure the Sugar Summoning Mirror still has enough Soul Jam in it to invite just one visitor to help get you started. If you need me, I’ll be at the top of my Castle of Delights. Have fun, Pavlova Cookie~!”
As Eternal Sugar Cookie flew off to her tower, Pavlova Cookie wiped away the tears that had formed in his eyes. There was no hope of being free from Eternal Sugar Cookie’s grasp yet.