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recently, a cookie had fled from the cacao kingdom. the pale aliment was a deadly disease, more and more got infected as the days went by. this traveler had left for safety.
the cookie had ended up in herbs flower shop; there weren't many plants that could grow in the cacao kingdom, so it was quite the sight.
herb kindly toured them around as he would any customer; sharing nature with others brought him joy like nothing else.
days after the traveler visited, herb began to feel a horrible sickness. he was extremely well at treating himself with the medicinal plants he gree however, so herb hoped it would pass in a short amount of time.
the next morning he was still feeling ill. herbs mind felt extremely foggy, and he couldn't do anything much but lay down. herb had gotten a few texts by then, he wished he could respond yet it felt as if he would crumble if he dared move too much. the light of screens hurt him as well. herb slept the best he could.
sparkling and herb had a date planned for the next afternoon, yet herb had now not responded to him for three days. sparkling began to overthink the situation greatly. why would herb just ignore him like this? had he done something wrong? did herb move on from him? his mind raced with thoughts constantly.
even if sparkling tried to just focus on bartending, there was an empty seat where herb was supposed to be. mint choco and vampire hadn't heard from him in days either. sparkling then thought to ask herbs friends, maybe they would tell him if something wrong had happened?
clover hadn't had a visit from herb in a while. matcha couldn't speak. poison mushroom had no sign of him. the list only went on.
his overthinking only got worse. crime was rather unlikely in the area, but sparklings mind didnt fail to convince itself that herb was in danger.
at first since sparkling thought herb was mad at him, he didnt want to rudely show up to his house. if he really was upset and needed space that would only make things worse, but now..?
herbs sickness only grew. it was nothing he had ever experienced before, or even heard of. by then he was beginning to cough up some of his jam.
he didnt know why, but he had a feeling something terrible would happen. he knew it was silly, he knew that he was probably just being foolish, yet he couldn't shake the feeling as if he would crumble soon. he was constantly reminded of his friends, and it made him cry almost every time. what if he truly were to never see them again? would they be alright without him? the trepidation only grew worse.
sparkling went up to herbs door and unlocked it. "herb..? im sorry for coming in like this but i just need to know you're alright." he said a bit sullenly. he looked around to see herb resting on the couch.
".. you really were just ignoring me?" he mumbled, and walked out.
the next afternoon came, and herb was finally feeling calm. he didnt know why, but it felt like everything was fading away from him.
sparkling hadnt slept that night, he really did want to see herb. at least some sort of communication would've helped. he went back to herbs house, this time herb was awake. "herb..?" he said, almost whispering.
"sparkling?" herb called back weakly. sparkling quickly went to his side. "herb! youre so pale... whats wrong?" sparkling questioned with worry in his voice
"nothing is wrong.. i was sick for days, and now i feel amazing." herb said closing his eyes and smiling.
"but you dont look okay. what did you have?" sparkling inquired. "i dont know.. but that doesnt matter now. nothing matters except.. i... i must return to flour." herb declared. "what the hell are you talking about herb!?" sparkling said frantically.
"shh! please.. i've never been better. i wish you could feel this too, sparkling.. i must.. return..." herb whispered shakily. slowly, his body began to crumble. his right arm now reduced to ashes, the rest followed up swiftly; becoming mere dust in the air. sparkling stared in shock, tears welling in his eyes.
"this.. n-no.. im dreaming. this..isnt real." he cried, tears running down his cheeks. "what the fuck is this!?" he yelled out, but of course that wouldn't make a difference. nothing would change. though he would never want to admit it, no amount of tears or yelling could possibly make a change.