Chapter Text
The journey home felt absurdly long, but soon Hollyberry Cookie arrived through the gates of the palace, guards bowed and the denizens that had been taken to the Garden dispersed throughout the kingdom. The Ancient Cookie got a few steps into the throne room before being tackled to the ground. The wind was momentarily knocked out of her but as she opened her eyes a smile chased up her face. Pitaya Dragon Cookie sat on her chest, white eyes examining her carefully. They nuzzled the side of her face and growled, whipping their head back up. Nose scrunched up.
“You sssmell of rot and sssick” Pitaya grumbled, getting off her to help her up.
“Well, I’ve been off in Beast-Yeast for the last…”
“2 Weekss” Their teeth were bared, claws curled, and wings raised.
Hollyberry noticed as she looked around the amount of black seeds scattered about that had fallen from their hair, and the high amount of fallen scales, stress shedding. They had been scared? Or maybe, worried about her. The thought made her smile once more before it fell. Had she told them she was leaving? She was sure she had but their reaction suggested otherwise.
“It wasn’t that long, and I’m back in one piece aren’t I?” The Queen Mother cupped her dragons face and forced a smile despite the guilt that filled her.
How had she forgotten to say goodbye? What if she had crumbled? Been overcome by sloth? The memories of the vivid hallucinations the Beast had given her flashed in her minds eye, Pitaya crumbling. If they had crumbled while she was gone? A loud cry brought her thoughts back to the present, allowing her to reign in her emotions as she removed her hands from their face.
Royal Berry and Jungleberry embraced their daughter tightly, whom had been sitting on the throne about a 100 feet away. Princess Cookie laughed as both her parents nervously fussed over her.
“Im okay! Im okay! Geez” The girl laughed, her smile lighting up the room.
“Do you promise? Did anything happen?” Her son fussed nervously, to any outsider his anxieties about his daughter would seem absurd but the whole kingdom knew of that night nearly 20 years ago when her twin had been lost.
Yet his fussing only made the princess laugh, “Yes I promise Papa, everything went well. I even had help” She turned and smiled at Pitaya.
They didn’t return her grin but gave her a gentle nod of acknowledgement. Jungleberry shot them a look which was quickly returned. Royalberry chatted with his daughter a little more before signaling her to relax. Pitaya turned and retreated farther into the throne room, and down a hallway. No doubt to her quarters. She bid her children and grandchild goodnight, following them swiftly.
Much like the first time, the room was a mess of shattered decor, bed twisted back with its walls of clothes and blankets. Pitaya was gently sweeping it up with their tail. Face twisted into a grimace.
“Taya.. let me get a broom for that” Hollyberry gently insisted but they shook their head firmly.
As they tidied up some, notably leaving the nest untouched, the room echoed with clangs and clicks as she started to work through undoing her armor. It was oddly enough very light for how strong and well it held up. Soon she was changed into a stray nightgown that had been saved from the nest (and was interestingly enough the only thing left in her drawers).
Care not to mess up her mate’s hard work, she got into bed, beginning to undo the long bubble braid on the side of her head. Suddenly, cool claws gently bumped into her fingers, taking over undoing and brushing her long hair.
“It’sss very sssoft” Pitaya commented quietly, slowly working through the knots that had accumulated after the trek through the jungle and subsequent journey home.
“Thank you, Im not sure what Im going to do with it now to be honest”
“Why would that be?”
“Its much longer than it used to be and all, I doubt it’ll fit into two buns” She laughed
They chuckled with her, her eyes drifted shut and she let the world fall silent around her. Waves of exhaustion rolled over her like fog, but rather than the suffocatingly sweet waves from the garden it felt,,, gentle, loving, safe .
Soon the bed enveloped her, the long, soft, pink locks now tied into a long braid. A gentle wing covering her side as Pitaya cuddled up. Sleep called to her but before it took her, 3 words slipped through her lips without a second thought.
“I love you..” Hollyberry whispered causing them to purr, the world going dark around her.
As she slept they smiled down at her, pressing a feather light kiss to her head. “I love you too.. sssilly cookie.”