Chapter Text
The cloudy midnight sky crackled with mighty red lightning, the shadows of the mountains extending and shifting like tendrils of a fearsome jelly squid. Dark Choco Cookie had curled up below, huddled against the locked, pitch-dark gates of the Black Citadel as the biting cold crept over his dough. The only solace was the dim purple flames of the braziers along the walls, and even those threatened to blow out under the relentless blizzard. Dark Choco Cookie sought to rest, even if just for a moment, but the ruthless atmosphere kept him from even thinking about better circumstances.
Dark Choco Cookie looked at the ground in front of him, the unforgivingly cold snow covering all in a cloak of white. There was nothing. Nowhere to go. No place to hide. He slammed his hand against the gates behind him, hoping they'd move, but he knew they wouldn't. He wasn't welcome back in that fortress, and the inhabitants knew that all too well. In his despair and loneliness, Dark Choco Cookie couldn't help but talk to himself.
“There’s no going back. The jam has stained. The damage is done. It can't be mended. My attempts to atone are nothing but futility.”
Dark Choco Cookie sat alone with his thoughts in the bitter, freezing storm for a long time. His dough began to feel like it was some point between completely numb and in agonizing pain- he couldn't tell anymore which it was.
As Dark Choco Cookie sat against the gate, he began to listen closely to the sounds in the air: thunder crashing, wind roaring, whispers of doubt and accusation from every direction. An unrelenting cacophony. Over this sound, however, he picked up something a little more peaceful, welcoming even- somewhere, somehow, he could detect a quiet melody being played from some sort of instrument, the sound somewhere between a violin and a soulful hum. A sound he now recognized.
An erhu.
Dark Choco Cookie looked up and around, seeking the source of the heavenly noise. Not East, nor West, nor North. It was when he looked straight ahead that he finally located what he sought. In the middle of the snow, like a beacon in the night, a peach tree, its leaves and petals swaying gently despite the forces of nature around it. A beam of moonlight shone upon it through a crack in the clouds, illuminating it from branch to root. Against the trunk was Peach Blossom Cookie, who was smiling softly, dragging a wooden bow across the two strings of the erhu he held with care and precision. Peach Blossom Cookie looked towards Dark Choco Cookie with a compassionate gaze, and patted the ground next to him as a signal for Dark Choco Cookie to sit next to him.
“Come, rest with me for a while. You deserve a break.”
Looking at Peach Blossom Cookie, Dark Choco Cookie felt a sudden surge- emotion, hope, energy, all at once. So much of a surge, in fact, that despite the terrible cold air, he stood up slowly but surely. His freezing dough began to crack as he took step by step forward toward the tree, but he didn't care. Although it hurt, although the atmosphere screamed at him to despair, he pushed forward and forward, until he stood at the base of the tree. Below its leaves, the storm was weaker, quieter. The snow didn't even gather here, nor did the blizzard touch a single inch of this peaceful sanctuary. Dark Choco Cookie sat down next to Peach Blossom Cookie, resting his back against the tree and glancing up at the glowing moon. The soothing melody of the erhu continued to fill his ears, drowning out any residual sounds until he was deaf to all but the song.
It was that moment he felt it again. Peace. Finally.
“I wish this moment could last an eternity.”
***
Dark Choco Cookie’s eye began to slowly blink open as the sound of birdsong from outside woke him from sleep. His gaze drifted around the room, taking in every detail of Peach Blossom Cookie’s room. Dark Choco Cookie sat up, pushing the fluffy blanket off of him and taking a deep breath.
It was strangely surreal to think that every event from the previous day had actually happened- and yet, if it hadn't, he wouldn't be in this room at this moment. Of course, if this was all real, that means last night was real too. He broke in front of Peach Blossom Cookie, spilled the contents of his darkened heart, troubled him, all because of the scars that sword left him with. He couldn't look at red lights anymore without memories forcing their way back into his head. Even the color of his unharmed eye was a reminder of what the sword, and he, did.
As happy as he was that Peach Blossom Cookie was willing to comfort him during his time of need, a wave of guilt washed over Dark Choco Cookie when he realized that he put him through all that. Just perfect. Another sin to atone for. Dark Choco Cookie sighed as he shuffled off of the bed, his feet hitting the floor with soft thuds as he stood up.
On the end table next to the bed, he could see a small teacup full of room temperature tea from last night had been left, placed atop a small sheet of yellowed paper which appeared to have ink writing on it. Another pang of guilt hit him when he realized he had fallen asleep before he could drink the tea, which he now quickly gulped down, picking up the note to read it in the process. Between his bad eyesight and the overly detailed cursive the note was written in, Dark Choco Cookie had to squint to comprehend the penmanship.
“Good morning, Dark Choco Cookie! I hope you slept well. There is a bowl of rice for you in the kitchen. When you’re done eating, I’ll be waiting for you in the garden.
-Peach Blossom Cookie”
Dark Choco Cookie set the note back down onto the table, before opening the door of the bedroom and exiting into the hall. The pale yellow light of early morning illuminated a long path down the hallway, leading Dark Choco Cookie towards the staircase to the first floor, which he carefully walked down. He could smell a faint aroma in the air, a tasteful dance of sweet and umami that made his mouth water so much he almost forgot his guilt.
As he set foot on the final step, Dark Choco Cookie made a quick turn towards the kitchen, his footsteps echoing as he cut through the spacious living room. The kitchen appeared to have been recently used- there was a clay pot on the stove, which was still warm. Beside the barely glowing window at the back of the room, there was a pair of bamboo chopsticks along with an antique bowl made of white and pink glazed terracotta, piled high with fried rice. The rice had been darkened to a golden color, mixed with bits of egg, as well as green onions, bean sprouts and small chunks of peaches. The smell, the look, every detail was exquisite.
Dark Choco Cookie picked up the bowl and chopsticks, carrying them to the bench in the living room and placing the bowl on his lap. He looked closely at every grain of rice, every bit of egg, every cube of peach, all placed into the greater mixture of flavor and texture with thought and care. He hadn’t even glanced at food of this quality in years, with all of the class of Dark Enchantress Cookie’s banquets, and yet all the heart of a home cooked meal made by Chocolate Bark Cookie. Dark Choco Cookie picked up a cluster of rice, capturing a little bit of everything else at the same time, and placed it into his mouth.
The moment the rice hit his tongue, he was graced with an explosion of flavors that could rival the works of even the finest chefs- such flavors made him realize how hungry he actually was after walking for so long the past few days. Within mere minutes, the bowl had been entirely cleared by his ravenous eating. As the last grain of rice was consumed, Dark Choco Cookie turned his gaze to the door to the outside. Peach Blossom Cookie was outside in the garden right now, according to the note he had written, and Dark Choco Cookie knew that he had to go out to see him. In fact, he WANTED to go out to see him- however, a part of him dreaded the idea. What if he was overwhelmed by everything Dark Choco Cookie had opened up about last night? The thought terrified him. Regardless, Dark Choco Cookie knew by now that the only way to face these worries was head on. Determined, Dark Choco Cookie stepped outside, quickly washing the bowl out in the fountain before heading up the stairs to Peach Blossom Cookie’s garden.
***
The mornings in the Flour Mountains were always especially peaceful, something Peach Blossom Cookie had become very familiar with over the years. After all, every morning he would awaken bright and early, while the dew still adorned the grass, to tend to the Peach Bao trees. It was always the same experience: wake up in the garden, breathe in the fresh air, check the trees for pests or disease, and prune the branches. It was like clockwork, and it had been that way for almost as long as he could remember. Well, until today, anyway.
This morning, Peach Blossom Cookie awakened on the floor of his own room, beside his bed where Dark Choco Cookie rested, an hour later than he did every other day. Instead of eating the fruits of the earth as per usual, he fried rice in the kitchen he seldom ever stepped in. Instead of getting to work on the garden at the first sign of morning light, he began when the sun was already in the sky. This deviation from the norm was chaotic- not that he minded. So long as the trees were able to be cared for, there were no problems.
Peach Blossom Cookie stood before one of the many trees in his garden, carefully inspecting every inch of bark with great focus while holding an old metal wire in his hand. He had done this every day, until it had become muscle memory. The second he saw a hole in the wood, he’d poke into it swiftly and sharply with the same wire he’d used since the Age of the Beasts, impaling the pesky insect that made the hole in the first place; the peach borer, a species of moth, the larvae of which specifically targeted HIS trees. Usually there were no holes, and for the sake of the garden he preferred to keep it that way- but today, he had already killed at least three of those pests, to the point where his wire looked more like a maggot kebab.
“You troublesome worms, when I find you…” Peach Blossom Cookie muttered to himself, narrowing his eyes as he scanned the ancient bark. There didn’t seem to be any holes on this one, but there never seemed to be at first glance. After looking a bit harder, that’s when he saw it- a small circle in the wood, outlined by a fine, sawdust-like substance. Just a quick jab and the job would be done. Peach Blossom Cookie hovered the wire over the hole, breathing deeply.
“From hell’s heart I stab at-”
“Peach Blossom Cookie…?”
Peach Blossom Cookie’s heart skipped a beat as he gasped in surprise at Dark Choco Cookie’s voice. In his surprise, his jab into the hole missed, causing him to stab into the bark, prompting a pitiful dribble of sap from the entry wound. Peach Blossom Cookie quickly turned to Dark Choco Cookie, taking a split second to recollect himself before addressing him.
“Ah, Dark Choco Cookie, you’re awake,” Peach Blossom Cookie commented, “Did you enjoy the rice I made for you?”
“Yes, in fact,” Dark Choco Cookie stated, “It was some of the best food I’ve had in a while.”
“I am very happy to hear that. I was worried, since I haven’t cooked in so long.”
“So… why are you stabbing the tree?”
Peach Blossom Cookie looked down at the wire he was holding, realizing the damage he had done. Quickly, he pulled the wire out of the bark and hovered it over the hole once more.
“I am just clearing my garden of pests,” Peach Blossom Cookie explained, “These insects love to infest my trees, so I have to dispose of them before they cause any real damage.”
“I see,” Dark Choco Cookie responded, “Do you… need any help?”
Peach Blossom Cookie considered the idea. He had always cared for his garden on his own, because he knew exactly what the trees needed to survive, due to millennia of experience, trial and error. At the same time, an extra pair of hands could speed up the process, provided he properly instructed Dark Choco Cookie.
“If you want to, I would not be opposed. I’ll show you what to do, and then we can have a nice chat as we work.”
Dark Choco Cookie nodded quietly.
“Sounds great.”
Peach Blossom Cookie proceeded to wave Dark Choco Cookie over to come next to him. Dark Choco Cookie, upon getting closer to him, noticed how pleasantly sweet he smelled, like peaches lightly kissed by fresh dew- a scent that he had become quite familiar with last night, when Peach Blossom Cookie led him down the mountain. It was a smell that tempted him to relax right then and there, to forget why he desired to speak to Peach Blossom Cookie in the first place. Of course, he didn’t. His sense of guilt was far too strong for that.
“Tell me, Dark Choco Cookie,” Peach Blossom Cookie inquired, “Do you see this hole in the bark?”
Dark Choco Cookie looked a little closer, and, as Peach Blossom Cookie said, there was a small hole there. It appeared as if it had been drilled in.
“Yes, I do see it.”
“These holes are where the insects bore into the trees. All you need to do is stab into the hole and take out the larvae whenever you find one of these holes. While you do, I’ll prune the tree branches. With our combined efforts, we should be done in no time.”
Peach Blossom Cookie handed Dark Choco Cookie the wire and pointed at the hole.
“Give it a try,” Peach Blossom Cookie prompted, “Don’t be afraid to put some force into it.”
Dark Choco Cookie moved closer to the tree with a determined look on his face. He steadied the wire with both hands, holding his breath as he locked onto the hole.
“No need to be so serious,” Peach Blossom Cookie remarked, giggling, “It’s not like the insect is going anywhere if you miss.”
Dark Choco Cookie’s grip did not relax, however. He had seen how much Peach Blossom Cookie cared for this garden. He did not want to harm it any further. Instead, he pushed the wire into the hole a little bit, until in one quick movement…
“WHAM!”
Like a pouncing snow lion, Dark Choco Cookie stabbed into the hole with intense speed and precision. He winced as the shock of the wire hitting the back of the hole traveled up his arms. It seemed his efforts to avoid stabbing the tree were in vain, but Peach Blossom Cookie didn’t seem particularly upset.
“Nice shot,” Peach Blossom Cookie commented, amused, “I’m sure you took it out with that one.”
Dark Choco Cookie slowly pulled the wire out of the hole, gazing at the tip which was now ornamented by an impaled larva of some sort. Its thin, candy exoskeleton had cracked in a web-like pattern from the force.
“See? It is quite simple. Just repeat this with any hole you see on these trees while I prune these branches and we’ll be done in the next hour or so.”
“I understand. I will not fail you.”
Peach Blossom Cookie gave a trusting smile in response, at the same time walking over to the side of one of the many trees, picking up something akin to a knife that was propped up against the trunk. Dark Choco Cookie watched him begin climbing up the tree after, losing him among the branches before noticing his head poking above the leaves and petals. Dark Choco Cookie then walked over to another tree, beginning to look up and down for any signs of peach borers.
Starting there, they began to enter a sort of flow state with their work. The sound and chill of the breeze, the light of the sun, the rhythmic scraping sound of Peach Blossom Cookie sawing off branches and the occasional sharp jabbing sound of Dark Choco Cookie’s wire began to form a complex ecosystem of stimuli that caused them to wholly enter the moment. Well, that’s how it was for the most part- but deep in their minds there was a lingering feeling, a pressure in their chests, that hinted that something was left unsaid. Dark Choco Cookie especially felt this; every time he looked up from his wire at Peach Blossom Cookie, his pale dough perfectly illuminated by the light of the heavens above, his throat involuntarily clenched in guilt. Why? Why was it that when he finally found a place he felt like he could rest, something always came back to haunt him? Why did he have to involuntarily spread this pain to Peach Blossom Cookie? It wasn’t fair. It just wasn’t fair.
And yet, neither of them could bring themself to speak up. Other than the occasional banter between the two, nothing but silence came from their mouths for about 40 minutes. That was, until they had reached the final tree.
Wordlessly, Peach Blossom Cookie and Dark Choco Cookie stood on opposite ends to finish their work. As Dark Choco Cookie pinpointed a hole near the base of the tree, Peach Blossom Cookie grasped onto a branch above him, vaulting him into the leaves. In each other’s presence, the burning desire to say something began to climb up their throats from deep within, like a creeping spider. Dark Choco Cookie kept moving his mouth to break the silence, but every time he did, nothing came out. His frustration with himself, his guilt and his stress were all mounting as he placed the wire in front of the last hole, causing his hands to shake.
“C’mon, stay steady…” He muttered to himself, “I need to be precise…”
But no matter how much he tried, they wouldn’t stop. After about a minute of fumbling with the wire, he bit the bullet and stabbed into the hole. When he did, however, all of his pent-up emotion manifested in him using more force than intended. He heard the crack of him impaling a rather large insect as his hands slammed against the wood, shooting pain up his hands and prompting a quiet grunt of surprise and pain.
Just as Peach Blossom Cookie finished the final cut on the tree, it was then that he felt the boughs under and around him shake from a sudden jolt of force. He tried to steady himself by holding his hand onto the trunk, but this movement only further shifted the branches below him. Despite his struggle to stay within the tree, he couldn’t stop himself from falling. With a yelp, he tumbled out of the branches, covered in leaves- landing directly atop Dark Choco Cookie, who yelled out in surprise. Within a few seconds, the both of them had collapsed into a pile about a meter from the tree. Peach Blossom Cookie quickly sat up, scrambling off Dark Choco Cookie.
“Ah, I’m sorry Dark Choco Cookie…” Peach Blossom Cookie apologized awkwardly, “I really need to stop falling on you like this, don’t I?”
“No… I'm sorry. It was my fault,” Dark Choco Cookie responded.
It was now or never.
“I'm sorry about last night as well.”
“Wait, what?”
“Last night, I made you put up with all of my nonsense without once considering you. I’m sorry for causing so many issues for you. I really should just-”
Before he could say any further, however, Peach Blossom Cookie placed his hand over Dark Choco Cookie’s mouth.
“Not another word.”
Dark Choco Cookie widened his eye in confusion and bewilderment.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but you’re wrong. You did not trouble me, and saying you didn’t consider me is a complete lie. Please, stop apologizing for feeling your emotions. Nothing good can come of it.”
Peach Blossom Cookie gently removed his hand from the now dumbstruck Dark Choco Cookie’s mouth, giving him an understanding smile and brushing the hair away from his face.
“Come on… why don’t we sit closer to the tree?”
Peach Blossom Cookie crawled over to the tree, resting his back up against it and patting the ground next to him, as a signal for Dark Choco Cookie to take his place there. Dark Choco Cookie seated himself next to him, hugging his knees and looking down at the dewey grass.
“I could tell you were troubled by something,” Peach Blossom Cookie stated, looking compassionately at Dark Choco Cookie and twiddling a petal-covered tree branch between his hands, “I wanted to ask, but I figured if you really wanted to talk about something, you would make the first move. Is there… anything about last night you need to talk about?”
Dark Choco Cookie hesitated for a moment, nervously picking at the grass and dirt below him, but after a moment he spoke.
“Well, I do suppose I owe you an explanation,” He began, “It was that sword you gave me. The red shine that came off of it just reminded me of some… bad memories. Do you remember how I said I… betrayed my kingdom?”
Peach Blossom Cookie nodded, his full attention turned to Dark Choco Cookie.
“Well, that isn’t the full story. A long time ago, I was told by my father’s advisor that if I wanted to get stronger, there was a powerful weapon hidden in the sea caves near my birthplace that would instantly make me the perfect warrior… that weapon, it turns out, was cursed. It slowly ate away at my mind until there was almost nothing left of me, and when I hit my breaking point, everything came crashing down. I was exiled from my father’s kingdom and forced to wander Earthbread as a fugitive for about a decade, with nothing but my regret and that repulsive sword to my name. The only companionship I experienced was from the evil organization I allied with for a short while when I was at my lowest point. I was able to finally gain enough willpower to break free from the sword’s influence around a year ago- nonetheless, any time I see a glint of red like the glint that came from the stone set in its center, it takes me back to when I was its puppet all over again.”
Peach Blossom Cookie looked away for a moment, processing all of the knowledge which Dark Choco Cookie had revealed to him.
“I see… so last night you were reliving all of that when we met atop the mountain?”
Dark Choco Cookie nodded slowly and affirmatively.
“I suppose that explains the fear in your eyes. You’ve been through a lot, Dark Choco Cookie- I’d say much more than the average cookie. It hurts my heart just to imagine what having your mind hijacked like that must feel like.”
Peach Blossom Cookie turned towards Dark Choco Cookie again, noticing that he was beginning to shiver thinking about it. Panickedly, he tried to redirect the conversation away from Dark Choco Cookie’s past to the real topic of the conversation.
“I do want you to know though, last night you didn’t upset me at all, and you also made it very clear that you were thinking of my desires even during your moment of distress, something which is very hard to do when you’re faced with the instinct of fight or flight.”
Peach Blossom Cookie placed his hand on Dark Choco Cookie’s shoulder, causing him to turn to him.
“Dark Choco Cookie, no matter what may have happened, or how much your guilt may haunt you, you have a kind soul. Use that kind soul as a torch to light your path, and even on the darkest nights, when the blizzards roar and the wolves howl, you’ll be able to find your way to happiness.”
Dark Choco Cookie paused, looking into Peach Blossom Cookie’s beautiful visage. His mouth was set in a knowing smile, his eyes twinkling under the morning light. He was radiant and warm, like the sun. His words were calm and gentle, like a moonbeam. As he looked at him, he felt some unknowable feeling wash over him, something strong enough that he couldn’t help but avert his eyes.
“Thanks… I suppose.”
“You suppose? Do you not believe it?”
“It’s kind of hard to believe it. You’re the first one who’s ever said that to me.”
“Well it’s true. It has to be if I can tell after only knowing you for a day.”
Dark Choco Cookie chuckled slightly.
“What kind of logic is that? In my experience, it takes a lot longer to see someone’s true self. Someone could come to you saying they bring peace, and have a plot to cause your downfall loaded into their tongue like a bullet in a chamber.”
“I’ve lived for a very long time. After a while, you learn to see through people’s deceptions. Having that skill comes in handy when certain guests come around here.”
“Certain guests? Do you have regulars here or something?”
“In a way. Every few centuries, this strange cookie in a jester outfit gets lost up here looking for Mystic Flour Cookie. He always tells the strangest stories, but it’s incredibly obvious that they are naught but tall tales.”
“Any particularly notable stories?”
“I usually tune them out, since they are just lies… although there was this story he told me once, where he, a cake hound and four other cookies fought against a flamboyant time god in the Golden Cheese Kingdom. It was so bizarre, I couldn’t help but laugh at it.”
“He certainly sounds like an interesting character. Fingers crossed he doesn’t come up while I’m here- I don’t think I could handle that nonsense for very long.”
Peach Blossom Cookie laughed a joyous laugh. It almost sounded like a melody.
“Haha! Tell me about it! I rarely get tired of people, but he always tests my patience.”
“Your patience? Tested? Impossible. You’ve put up with me for a day, I thought you couldn’t be fazed by anything.”
“Oh, you’re being too hard on yourself. You aren’t troubling me by being here at all- in fact, quite the opposite. It’s been a joy having you here.”
Dark Choco Cookie furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
“Wait, really? You aren’t lying to me, right?”
“Absolutely not!”
Peach Blossom Cookie sighed and looked off into the sky.
“You know, I always thought that I was… beyond feeling anything anymore. It’s just been me up here for about the last millennium, and I’ve essentially done nothing but tend to this very garden. When you came here, however, you reminded me what it’s like to feel something. Just in the past 24 hours, my passions for all of my old hobbies began to reignite: cooking, music, even fighting. I began to feel worry, sadness, joy and contentment in a way I haven’t felt for 6,000 years- but most of all, I began to realize how lonely I was before. I suppose that when you achieve enlightenment, the joys of the world become but a distant memory… it feels nice to experience it all again. So…”
Peach Blossom Cookie turned to Dark Choco Cookie again, with a lovely grin on his face.
“Thank you, Dark Choco Cookie.”
Dark Choco Cookie froze, completely unsure of how to deal with such a genuine display of gratitude. Peach Blossom Cookie, noticing this, looked away, tucking a little bit of hair behind where his ear would be, if he had ears.
“Ah, sorry if I got a little too emotional there. I’m just… really happy, you know?”
“Didn’t you just tell me not to apologize for my emotions?” Dark Choco Cookie responded playfully after collecting himself, lightly elbowing him, “Take your own advice, Mr. Old and Wise.”
Peach Blossom Cookie laughed again. When he finally settled, the two sat in silence for a while. A comfortable silence, like they had the previous night. After about a minute, however, Peach Blossom Cookie broke the silence.
“Dark Choco Cookie?”
“Yes?”
“Would you consider us… friends? I mean, I know it’s only been a day, but… it feels like I’ve known you for centuries.”
“...Do you want to be?”
“Want to be what?”
“Friends.”
“...I wouldn’t be against it.”
“Well then, it’s settled…”
Dark Choco Cookie extended his hand out to Peach Blossom Cookie, a genuine smile on his face.
“Friend.”
Peach Blossom Cookie grabbed his hand, and Dark Choco Cookie helped him stand up.
“Well, our work in the garden is done, and we still have the whole day ahead of us…” Peach Blossom Cookie stated, “So what shall we do on such a beautiful day?”
Dark Choco Cookie thought for a moment.
“Well, if you’re up for it, I’d love to hear you play your erhu again.”
“Do you really enjoy it when I play it that much?”
“What can I say? You’ve got skill. I wish I had that kind of talent.”
“It’s not a matter of talent, it’s a matter of practice. Anyone could learn to play an instrument, even you.”
“Wait, really?”
“Of course! If you want, I could teach you. I have quite a selection of instruments in my storage you could learn to play. Any in particular that interest you?”
Dark Choco Cookie looked up into the gathering clouds, pondering.
“Would you happen to have a guitar?”