Chapter Text
You walk into a deep, dark vault, far beneath the surface of the world, looking around. Shelving units fill the room, dust staining the wood and obscuring the names of the ancient tomes upon the shelves. The lamps along the walls show they would have been powered by oil, and no light switch could be found on the walls, marking this place as quite old.
Walking forward, you travel through the solid embodiments of history, you come upon a wall of cases holding weapons, crowns, staffs, sceptres, and other assorted items. You scan the objects, only for a gleam to catch your eye. You turn and notice the glimmering gem centred in a large shield, calling you closer. You feel a sense of warmth from it, and yet a slight chill slithers down your spine to combat the soft spectral embrace around your body.
The lid opens easily, to your surprise, and you reach your fingers out to feel it only for―
Laughter filled the pathways of the little village as pattering feet ran through the snow, children chasing each other in their little games.
The biggest of them was Hollyberry, the son of the most successful hunter in their little society under the dark Cacao Citadel and the future protector of their home. His boundless energy and strength marked him as a born warrior, and the entire community was proud of him. Some of the elders even discussed sending him to join the royal Watchers, though he never knew this. No, he was but a child, so he wasn’t told the important things, only to live and be himself.
“Holly!” called a woman from one of the little huts, her name long lost to time .
“Coming, Grandmama!” Holly said, laughing as he ran toward her, separating from the horde of children he had been playing with.
“It’s the day!” she said with a smile as he brushed the snow off his clothes.
His face lit up with excitement. “It… It is?! It’s today!”
“Come in, come in!” she said, ushering him inside the hut and pulling the drapes over the entrance shut.
“Oh boy, oh boy!” he cheered, beginning to pace in circles. “I’m gonna―”
“Calm down,” said his father, placing a hand on his shoulder and chuckling. You can’t remember his face? I don’t want to. “You don’t want to upset them when they come home.”
He nodded. “Right, right. You’re right. They need calm.” He took a deep breath and smiled up at his father. “I’m ready.”
“They should be home soon,” his grandmother assured them. “Just give them time.”
The two males took to pacing the dirt floor, to the elder woman’s amusement, only for them to freeze at the rustling of fabric outside.
A kind woman Snowberry Cookie? stepped inside and smiled at them, clutching a bundle of cloth close to her.
“Hello, my dears,” she said softly, her voice like flakes drifting down to rest on a frosted meadow, more of a feeling than a sound. “We’re back.”
His father stepped forward, chest puffed out with pride. “So? How’s the boy? Is he as strong as our first? Another warrior for us to raise?” he asked, slightly aloof.
She shook her head good-naturedly. “No, <616275736572> Cookie, it is not another warrior to raise. We have given birth to a wonderful new daughter.”
The man huffed as Hollyberry tentatively walked forward and looked into the bundle of furs.
Within the bundle was a small sleeping baby, her dark skin contrasting with the few strands of light lavender hair curling on her head. As she started to awaken, her large pink eyes staring up at Hollyberry curiously as the baby cuddled further into the furs. She was so small, smaller than many infants, but she made up for it with how adorable she was. Though strangely, even while moving and making a bit of a fuss, she never made a noise, she was quiet, barely above a whisper.
His eyes filled up with adoration as he gently pet his sister’s head. “What’s her name?” he whispered.
“Glacialberry Cookie,” his mother said sweetly. “Isn’t she perfect?”
His father scoffed. “No! What are we gonna do with a girl? We need strong men, not another homemaker! And she’s so small! She’s a runt!”
“Now, dear…” his mother began, and soon an argument went on around him, not that Holly noticed. His mother had gently handed the baby off to him so she could go talk to his father, so while the adults spoke of things he didn’t understand, he simply held the little bundle of life in his arms and adored her.
“Don’t you worry, Glacialberry,” he whispered, clutching her close to his chest. “I’m gonna protect you forever. I promise.”
“Would you like some tea, Madam Glacialberry? It’s the finest I’ve ever brewed!”
Glace giggled, making Holly smile.
“I would wuv some tea, Holly!” she said.
He tipped the wooden teapot over the wooden cup, filling it with imaginary liquid.
The girl smiled happily when he poured the imaginary liquid, even courteous enough to wait for hun to stop before taking a sip. "Thank you, I love it!"
“You are very welcome, madam Glacialberry,” he said, his voice slipping into a posh tone as he sipped his own tea. “Do you think sir Fluffersnuckles would like some tea, dear sister?”
Glace had to stop herself from giggling as she heard his fake posh accent before nodding quickly, putting on an accent of her own. "Why of course, Sir Fluffersnuckles would be happy to have some."
Holly snickered as he poured some tea for Glace’s teddy bear before asking, “One lump or two?”
She frowned in confusion. “Lump of what?”
Holly shrugged. “I have no idea. It’s what fancy people say,” he said with a laugh.
She couldn't help but giggle along with him, finding her brother's antics quite amusing despite not understanding them fully. "I wonder if fancy people also have tea time with cool teddy bears. Otherwise, they're missing out."
“I think they think they’re too busy impressing important people,” Holly said, sticking his tongue out.
"Impressing important people? Like who? You're the most important brother in the world and I don't see any fancy people coming up to you," Glace said and rolled her eyes slightly. "Missing out on the fun."
Holly laughed. “Yeah, you’re right. Those fancy people are boring. We’re so much cooler.”
“Hollyberry Cookie!” barked someone behind them.
Holly turned around to see their father stomping toward them.
Glace froze slightly at the loud voice, looking over to their father and immediately putting her teacup down. She tried her best to avoid any eye contact with the man. I hate him. I hate him so much, for what he did to you.
“Hello father,” Holly said simply.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he snarled.
“Having a tea party with the light of my life,” Holly replied.
“You are supposed to be training, not playing games with this runt!” He grabbed him by the arm and began dragging him away, causing Holly to stumble before he regained his footing.
Glace tried to get up and follow, calling out to her father slightly, though she wasn't as good at speaking up. "Father, I asked him to play. Please let him play…"
He glared at her, silently telling her to shut up. “Come along, son.”
Don’t worry, Holly mouthed to his sister as he was dragged away, I’ll be back.
Glace just nodded softly before retreating back to her room to patiently await her brother’s return.
A soft knock sounded from the other side of the door with a soft, “Glace? I’m home…”
A small groan came from the other side, Glace was already in bed and half-asleep and she wasn't getting up for the world. She liked her sleep.
“Can I come in, sis? I… I wanna stay with you tonight,” he said softly, opening the door just a tad.
The small girl looked over from her bed when the door was opened, thinking for a moment before nodding. "Come in…" she mumbled tiredly.
Holly slid in before shutting the door, crawling into bed to hold his sister close. “I… I’m sorry he’s so mean to you..” he whispered, cuddling her to his chest.
Glace just hummed quietly and cuddled up to her brother, yawning softly. "It's okay… Because I have you…" she said quietly, looking up at him with half-lidded eyes.
He smiled. “And Ma. You have me and Mama and Grandmama.”
"Yeah… I have all of you… I'm happy with that." she said before closing her eyes completely and sighing. "Next time, be a little quieter."
“Sorry,” he said again, before sighing and tugging her a little closer. “They… They want me to go to the citadel and work for the posh people who are too busy to have teddy bear tea parties. Father has been trying to convince Ma and Grandmama to make me go, but they say no. And I’m glad.”
"I don't want you to leave… I want to have tea parties and play princess and dress up all the time… I can't do that if you're not here…" Glace almost sounded upset at the thought of Holly leaving, holding on just a little tighter. "I want you to stay here forever…"
“I don’t want to go either. I want to stay right here with you,” he agreed, nuzzling her forehead.
"Good. I won't let you go. I'll… Hold onto your leg so you can't walk," she said, trying to come up with a solution to the problem. It wasn't the best but it might work.
Holly snickered. “Perfect. I can’t impress the posh people, I am stuck!” he joked. And yet here I am...
"Exactly… If I hold onto you, you can't leave. Then I'll have my big brother here forever." Glace mumbled tiredly. "Now shush. I wanna sleep…"
“Can I have Glacy cuddles while you sleep?” he muttered back.
"Hmm… Yeah, okay. Cuddles." She hummed happily and sighed.
Slowly but happily, they both fell asleep holding each other close.
Everything seemed to be fine, both of the siblings sleeping soundly until deep into the night, where Glace began to toss and turn, the girl quickly sitting up in a cold sweat, shaking as she teared up. However, she didn't scream, didn't make a noise, but the initial jolt was enough to scare her brother awake as well.
“Glace? Is everything okay?” he asked, looking up at her.
She looked back at him and sniffled before pulling her knees to her chest, curling up slightly. "Mhm…" she hummed, not even the slightest bit convincing. You were always a terrible liar...
“No, what’s wrong, Glace?” he asked, sitting up next to her.
"Nightmare…" she mumbled, not giving any more but her blunt answer.
“Oh, honey…” He pulled her into his arms, humming to try and soothe her.
She instinctively grabbed onto him, sniffling as she hid her face slightly. She found his arms to be relaxing.
“I have you,” he promised, nuzzling her softly.
“It was scary… I was alone and you weren’t there and it was quiet and I didn’t know where you were―” the young child started, not even taking a break to breathe as she rambled out her thoughts and feelings, her sobs only getting heavier and worse.
“Oh, Glace, my dear.” Holly kissed her forehead, nuzzling his sister better. “I will never leave you.”
The girl clung to him like he was the only thing keeping her safe, her eyes shut tight as she shook her head. "You weren't there and it was dark and I didn't like it and I don't want you to leave…"
“I don’t want to leave either,” he said softly.
"You promise you'll stay? No one is gonna take you away?" she sniffled slightly.
“I swear it. We will never be apart. If I go to the silly posh people, you’ll come with me.”
The small girl nodded and hugged him tightly, knowing that he would never lie to her. But still, the thought of him leaving was near terrifying. "I hope the posh people don't come… I won't let them take you…"
“And I won’t let them make me leave you. Pinkie promise,” he said, holding up his left pinkie.
She looked at him before nodding and wrapping her pinkie around his. "Pinkie promise. Forever and ever.”
But pinkie promises can be broken... I'm sorry...
“I’m sorry, Glace, but we can’t go in there,” Holly said to his six-year-old sister as she tried to go into their parents’ room. “Father said so.”
“But… I want to see them…” Glace said quietly, frowning as her face twisted into one of worry and disappointment. “I want to see them… Are they ok?”
Holly sighed and gently took her hand. “Father says they’re sick. We have to leave Ma and Grandmama alone so they can get better.”
"But if they're sick shouldn't we look after them until they get better..? That's what you do for me when I'm poorly…" Glace frowned, holding his hand tightly.
He shook his head. “Sorry, Father doesn’t want us getting sick too,” Holly whispered. “Come on, let’s go have a tea party. I’m… I’m sure they’ll get better soon…”
Glace stayed quiet, looking back at the door in upset before sticking close to her older brother's side, sniffling slightly. "You promise? I wanna see Mama…"
Holly swallowed thickly. “I… I think so. Father said she’s gonna be okay. Father… Father wouldn’t lie. I don’t think he would. Now come on, Sir Flufflesnuckles is waiting for us.”
As they walked away, neither knew that they’d never see the people on the other side of the door again, for they were children, and children do not know Death.
I wish I still didn't... But not all wishes come true...