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Universe Cookie was sitting in a rocking chair within the nursery of Solar Flare Cookie’s Star Survey Station, cradling her new little bundle of joy in her arms. About 30 minutes had passed since she left Solar Flare Cookie down on the surface of the colony with Blueberry Comet Cookie, she was starting to wonder if everything was okay down there. The Celestial looked lovingly at her new daughter while she slept, her thoughts becoming distracted because of how tiny she was compared to herself, even in her shrunken down form!
“Oh my little Cosmic Cookie, it’s so relieving to have you home..” Universe Cookie said softly, her index finger gently running over Cosmic Cookie’s little tuft of hair. “You will never be without a mother again, little one. I make this promise to you.”
The Celestial’s words were filled with love and protection, she meant every word she spoke into existence.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and a voice spoke from the other side.
“Excuse me, ma’am?” The voice called out, pausing for an answer.
“Yes, you may enter!” Universe Cookie responded, recognizing the voice of one of Solar Flare Cookie’s station attendants.
With her permission given, the attendant opened the door and stood in the doorway, her hands held politely behind her back. She bowed to the Celestial before speaking again.
“Pardon me, ma’am, I just wanted to inform you that Solar Flare has returned from the surface. However…” The attendant paused, looking to the side before continuing. “..the other one is with him— Blueberry Comet Cookie.”
Universe Cookie looked mildly surprised by this information. To her knowledge, Blueberry Comet Cookie was supposed to be relocated from the surface to somewhere safer since the planet was to be destroyed by the star it orbited.
“Is that so? For what purpose is he up here, I wonder…” The Celestial questioned quietly before addressing the attendant again. “Thank you, Star Sprinkle, I will talk to Solar Flare about him. Would you mind staying here with Cosmic while I do so?”
“Of course, ma’am, I would be honored to!” Star Sprinkle Cookie answered with a little smile on her face as she eagerly stepped into the nursery, going over to Universe Cookie’s side by the rocking chair.
“Thank you, Star Sprinkle.” The Celestial smiled at the Astral before sighing softly, looking back down to Cosmic Cookie in her arms.
“What has your father agreed to this time, little one?” She asked rhetorically, standing up from the rocking chair and going towards the bassinet. She couldn’t help but feel a little unsure about knowing that Blueberry Comet Cookie had accompanied Solar Flare Cookie back to the Survey Station, but she put those feelings aside for the moment and gently placed Cosmic Cookie into the bassinet, addressing Star Sprinkle Cookie once more.
“If she for whatever reason becomes inconsolable while I’m away, do not hesitate to call me. Alright?” She instructed, to which Star Sprinkle Cookie nodded understandingly. Universe Cookie smiled at the Astral before turning and leaving the nursery, heading down to meet Solar Flare Cookie and Blueberry Comet Cookie.
~ ~ ~
Solar Flare Cookie and Blueberry Comet Cookie were in one of the meeting rooms when Universe Cookie had found them, they were talking about something when she opened the door, causing the both of them to look up at her.
“Solar Flare!” She said firmly, not being happy about the change of plans regarding Blueberry Comet Cookie’s presence. “It would have been nice to know of this ahead of time—”
Solar Flare Cookie held a hand out to tell her to stop talking. “My love, there is no need to be upset; though I understand your frustration.” He said calmly, gesturing to Blueberry Comet Cookie. “Meet our newest attendant, Blueberry Comet Cookie.” He introduced the Astral, which garnered a slightly confused expression from Universe Cookie. “You remember him, I trust?”
Blueberry Comet Cookie bowed his head politely to the other Celestial. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, My Lady.” He said, sounding nothing like he did before when they were all on the surface a little bit ago. He sounded completely normal compared to the sniveling and pleading he was doing earlier.
“Hello again, Blueberry Comet…” Universe Cookie answered, confusion laced within her voice as she eyed him. Her gaze shifted over to Solar Flare Cookie as if to ask him what was going on. Solar Flare Cookie took notice of her gaze and motioned for her to come over to him before looking over to Blueberry Comet Cookie.
“Would you be so kind as to wait outside for a moment, I just have to share the details of your employment with my wife.” He said more like he was telling the Astral to do so rather than like a question, to which Blueberry Comet Cookie obliged.
“Of course, sir.” Said the Astral, who nodded and walked out of the room. Universe Cookie watched as he left and closed the door behind him, turning to Solar Flare Cookie once they were alone. The Celestial placed a hand on her hip as she gave her husband an expression of confusion and mild irritation.
“So he’s working for you now? When did this get decided?” She asked with a raised eyebrow. Normally it wouldn’t have been an issue that Solar Flare Cookie brought another Astral to work at the Station, but the fact that this Astral was the one they had confronted on the surface didn’t quite sit right with her. “It would have been nice to have been told beforehand…”
Solar Flare Cookie remained seated as he listened to Universe Cookie’s inquiries, being able to tell that she wasn’t happy with the change of plans. “Our little Astral here has so graciously offered to work aboard the Station as a custodian,” he explained nonchalantly, a smile on his face. “Blueberry Comet Cookie had a moment of clarity after you left, saying that he would like to make something of his life now that he has nothing. His words.”
“Is that so…?” Universe Cookie questioned, she was surprised to hear that he would want to work for the Celestial at all after their encounter. “I didn’t think he would want to be near us after what happened— is he really alright with this arrangement?”
“He is sad about the loss of his wife, sure, but seeing as he also no longer has a daughter, he has no other priorities. Besides, I already have a job in mind for him that I think would suit him.” Solar Flare Cookie said with a hint of deviousness in his voice, causing Universe Cookie to grow suspicious of him.
“What did you do…” She asked slowly, her voice holding an edge to it as her expression shifted to one of accusation and concern.
“Now now, my dear, I didn’t do anything too rash to the Astral.” Solar Flare Cookie said with feigned innocence, continuing. “All I did was shift his memories, nothing has been altered to be lies. He believes that he lost his daughter the same time when his wife crumbled, and has no recollection of our visit with him today.”
“You what!” Universe Cookie was shocked to say the least, she was mostly concerned with the wellbeing of the Astral and how he must have been coping; thinking that his daughter was now crumbled. “You swore to me that you would stop that disturbing practice of yours— and what about him??”
“He will be fine, my queen.” Solar Flare Cookie chuckled softly, seemingly unperturbed by her reaction. “Besides, the job I have for him will keep him busy enough.”
Universe Cookie gave him a look of suspicion. “And what job will that be?” She asked, crossing her arms in front of her. “Because if you have him doing anything akin to punishment or torture, I will not hesitate to—”
“Relax, Universe.” Solar Flare Cookie interrupted, a hint of irritation in his tone. “It will be nothing like that, I assure you. In fact, I think you will be pleased to know that he will be placed in the same area of work as that winged Astral that will be joining the Station soon; data entry. I also figured that, as an occasional side job, he could be a custodian for Cosmic Cookie only when one of us can’t care for her.” He said with an innocent looking smile even though he was anything but innocent. “He was a father, after all.”
Universe Cookie’s expression shifted slightly after listening to his explanation. “I suppose that’s fine about his job, but are you sure he should be looking after Cosmic Cookie?” She questioned, she was glad to hear that the Astral would have a normal job aboard the Station, but the last part he said was what concerned her. “Wouldn’t that just negate the altered memories you gave him?”
“Ah yes, those concerns of yours are indeed valid, my love; but rest assured, the likelihood of him reverting memories is low. Especially since his contact with her will be extremely limited, and thanks to me altering his memories, he won’t recognize her as his late daughter.” Solar Flare Cookie said with confidence, standing up from his seat and moving closer to Universe Cookie. “You trust me, don’t you, my queen?” He asked softly as he reached out to take her hands in his, looking into her eyes as he placed a kiss on her knuckles. Universe Cookie blushed at the gesture, she couldn’t stay upset at him.
“Of course I do, darling. I just have my reservations about Blueberry Comet being around Cosmic so… soon.” She answered with a bit of hesitation in her voice, she just didn’t want anything to happen to her daughter or to have to do something she didn’t want to do to the Astral. “You are sure it will be alright?”
“Absolutely, I will even have him be supervised for the first handful of times he watches her if it eases your worries.” Solar Flare Cookie added, he spoke in a softer, more reassuring tone to her. Universe Cookie hummed in acceptance and nodded her head, feeling a bit better about the situation.
“Alright. Since you’re so sure, I will allow it.” Universe Cookie then took her hands out of Solar Flare Cookie’s hands, gesturing with her head toward the door. “We should probably go get him now that I’ve been made aware of the situation, don’t you think?”
Solar Flare Cookie’s gaze shifted to the door. “Yes… let’s go introduce our little Astral to his new life on the Station.” The Celestial said with a grin, walking towards the door with Universe Cookie in tow. He opened the door for her and let her leave first, following behind her and looking down to Blueberry Comet Cookie, who had been waiting in the hallway obediently.
“Astral,” Solar Flare Cookie addressed him, his tone firm and authoritative. Blueberry Comet Cookie’s attention was now on the Celestial. “We will be giving you a small tour of the Station now, please keep up.”