Chapter Text
Cloud Haetae’s cry snapped Black Sapphire back to reality, the one where the crumbled remains of the three Beast cookies lay in the barren sand before them.
“Haetae!” Pavlova sighed, holding the young haetae back.
Black Sapphire huffed in frustration, taking Candy Apple by the arm, “We should get out of here.”
Nutmeg Tiger glared at him for a moment before sarcastically adding, “No, really?”
Both the boys glared at her. Pavlova seemed to be giving up as he finally lifted Cloud Haetae using whatever strength he had left after everything.
“Now isn’t the time to be a bitch, Nutmeg.” Black Sapphire grumbled, Candy Apple nodded in agreement.
She growled, her fire next to her barely sparking with her anger.
Pavlova finally let a now mid-shock, calm, Cloud Haetae down, subtly supporting them as they swayed.
“Oh well, at least I know where my master is.” The tiger cookie hissed.
Candy Apple gasped, yanking away from Black Sapphire as she proceeded to argue with Nutmeg.
Black Sapphire groaned, rolling his eyes as he leaned back against Pavlova’s wing.
“Dear witches, we don’t have time for this Candy!” His staff felt heavy now, the gem scowling over at the girls.
Pavlova let his wing fold in, making Black Sapphire stumble back before he kept himself up with his staff.
“Let’s just go.” Black Sapphire glared at the two fighting.
“We can’t just leave Candy Apple, isn’t she like your sister?” The younger’s wings ruffled.
Black Sapphire sighed, “So what? She knows how to disguise herself.”
“I want to go home…” The haetae cried.
Pavlova reached a wing around Cloud Haetae.
“The Pagoda should be standing without Mystic Flour, right?” Black Sapphire wondered aloud.
The haetae broke back out into tears against Pavlovas’s wing.
The taller two winced at the sudden sound, the sugar angel glaring at the deceitful minion.
“Really?” Pavlova glared at him.
Black Sapphire hoisted Candy Apple up and away from Nutmeg Tiger, “Sorry, Pav.”
Candy Apple flailed, “PUT ME DOWN. YOU MOTHERFUCKING–”
He slapped a hand over her mouth, ignoring the continuation of muffled cussing, “Nutmeg, either tag along or don’t.”
“Like I would want to!” the tiger growled, “I’m going home…”
“To what?” Pavlova was rolling his eyes now, the ‘sugary’ tone in his voice gone, “A desert of a bunch of pissed off cookies that’ll try to kill anyone and everyone for even a hint of power?”
She hissed at the angel, limping backwards, “So? It’s better than dealing with you guys.”
Black Sapphire was smiling now, “When’d you learn to be mean, Pavvy?”
Pavlova shot him a glare at the nickname, “Pavvy?”
“What? Pavlova is just too many letters.” Black Sapphire shrugged.
“It’s two more letters.”
“So?”
They looked back where Nutmeg Tiger was, only to see her halfway down the edge of the forest.
“How the hell did she get that far?” Black Sapphire took his hand away from Candy Apple.
“–I HOPE YOU NEVER FIND LOVE!!!” Candy Apple huffed.
“Oh boohoo.” Black Sapphire teased.
A warm light caught their attention; it beamed across the sand and rubble, then a cold purple-tinted light flashed a moment after.
“That’s Silent Salt’s sword.” Black Sapphire stopped for a beat, “We need to go, the garden’s closest, cmon.”
Pavlova stopped him, “It’s not safe. It’s just gonna be a sappy death trap without Eternal Sugar’s spell over it.”
“What? Fine, uhm, shit. The Pagoda then.” Black Sapphire grabbed Candy Apple’s hand, using his staff to push Pavlova and Cloud Haetae back.
White Lily Cookie felt the magic pulling at her dough bit by bit, tears and pain blurred her vision as she felt like the jam was siphoning out of her without staining the sand beneath her.
“White Lily!” Pure Vanilla’s Voice flooded her mind. Was this her 7 minutes of memories? Was she finally about to crumble for good?
His voice shook; he’d never spoken to her that way. He was always happy. If this was her final view of her memories, why was he in fear?
“Don’t worry- I- I’ll heal you, no matter how draining, I’ve got you, you can’t leave me. Please, White Lily…”
Light and warmth blurred into her eyes until they flooded her senses.
She was pulled up to her feet by a gentle blur of deep purples.
“Pure Vanilla…” White Lily’s vision cleared, and she looked between Dark Cacao’s weary expression and Pure Vanilla’s worried and exhausted one.
He huffed tiredly, “Hey…”
She felt happy for a beat before the gears in her head whirled.
“Wait, no, no, no, what if Dark Enchantress can come back? We’re of the same- Oh my witches…” White Lily pressed her hand against her diaphragm as her breathing grew faint.
Dark Cacao held her up when she swayed slightly.
“She won’t, even if she does, we’ll figure it out.” Pure Vanilla smiled hopefully, but almost like he didn’t believe himself.
“If she does, I’ll be by your side…” Silent Salt’s voice rang out, sounding pained.
She turned, almost falling if Dark Cacao didn’t have an arm steadying her movements.
The dark knight stood only a dozen feet away, and a dark red stain showed through the cracks in his armor.
Dark Cacao’s free hand settled on his sword at his side as the one around White Lily seemed to tighten protectively.
“Silent Salt!” She drifted, pulling herself from Dark Cacao to run to the knight.
The other two ancients called her name, but she ignored them as she took one of Silent Salt’s hands in both of hers.
She laughed airily, “You’re here! Are- Are you okay? You have-”
“I’m okay. One of your erm… friends?...” He nodded over at Silverbell and Mercurial, “Helped me out…The small one…”
She looked at the faerie cookies, stifling a laugh as she noticed Silverbell flying to match Mercurial's height.
Golden Cheese Cookie yelled from somewhere, but White Lily couldn’t quite focus on it enough to pin it.
“White Lily! Watch out!? What on Earthbread are you doing?” Golden Cheese’s spear wedged between the two, pointing straight at the beast cookie.
Pure Vanilla pulled Golden Cheese back now, “Golden Cheese Cookie! He doesn’t want to hurt her…” He glanced at White Lily for confirmation.
She nodded, a faint smile tugged at her lips, “He’s not against us, don’t worry…”
The queen glared, “Okay… But if he does anything the wrong way–”
“We get it!” Hollyberry laughed wearily, “Don’t elaborate, last time you did that, Crunchy Chip was scared of you for weeks!”
White Lily turned back towards Silent Salt again, “Are you sure you would want to fight with us?”
“Of course.” Silent Salt bowed his head. He looked at the unsure and skeptical expressions of her fellow ancients and kneeled.
“Once more, I kneel before you, ‘O Freedom.” He could hear her airy laugh above him, “My guard shall follow you…”
“...Very well.”