Chapter Text
As the Triple Triumph team cheers and congratulates each other, the announcer yells into the loudspeakers, the crowd roars with applause, Licorice has his eyes on only one cookie, Green Tea Mousse. The one who knocked him unconscious by beating him while he was down. He remembers his head spinning as he looked up into her piercing green eyes, gripping her boots. It was terrifying, the pure violence in her eyes, a look he had only ever seen from Pomegranate and Dark Enchantress.
"Huuuhh.... Licorice.... what are you staring at.....?" Poison Mushroom muttered under their breath.
"What? No one. No one at all." He waved his hand at Poison Mushroom, his eyes still fixed on the Green Tea Mousse.
"Huuhh..." Poison Mushroom peeks over Licorice.
"Ohhh... the green one..."
"Huh? No?! No, my eyes just happen to be looking in that direction," finally tearing his eyes away from her, Licorice snaps his head back at Poison Mushroom, clearly flustered.
"What's so interesting about her? She's a monster." Choco Brute chimes in, "Those girls clearly joined just so they could beat other desserts to a pulp!"
Licorice is silent for a moment, clearly thinking about something.
"Licoricee... what are you thinking about…..?"
"That woman... her strength... makes me envious." Licorice continues to stare at her, biting his nails.
"I never got her name."
"Hey, don't tell me you're trying to befriend her?!" Choco Brute asks.
"What? No! I'm just going to... ask her something."
Choco Brute and Poison Mushroom eye each other, what exactly was Licorice planning to do?
After taking a deep breath, Licorice grabs the base of his scythe and treads toward Green Tea Mousse.
"Ahem." He coughs.
Green Tea Mousse turns to face the sound, looking Licorice up and down before deciding to turn her full body toward him.
"Oh, it's you." She says in a chipper tone, "I'd say good job out there… but you didn't do very well." She teases.
Licorice scoffs. "Well lucky for you, I've moved past that."
"Heyyyyy who are you to talk to big sis like that, huh?!" Pudding à la Mode reveals herself from behind Green Tea Mousse, "You're just a weak little nobody!“ She cackles.
Licorice curled inwards towards his scythe, staring daggers at the little girl.
"Now, now, baby sister... maybe he has something to give us." Green Tea Mousse said slyly with a gleam of greed in her eyes.
"No, actually, I have something to ask of you."
"Oh?" Green Tea Mousse perked up, curious as to what he could possibly want. Compensation? A rematch? She was dying to know.
Licorice groaned. He didn't want to ask her in front of her sisters, but he wouldn't get another chance.
"I... was wondering if maybe you could... teach me a little. Like how to be... stronger." He muttered, staring at the ground.
"Ohh." Green Tea Mousse grinned and stepped forward, her eyes shining with wonder.
"And what do I get in return?"
"Um. Well, what do you want?" Licorice asked, knowing it wouldn't be easy to get her to teach him, he came prepared with some gold coins. He had heard rumors that Green Tea Mousse was crow-like, wanting anything and everything shiny.
"Hmmm...let me think..." Green Tea Mousse tapped her finger on her chin.
"100,000,000 coins!" She flashed him a smile.
"Wh- WHAT!” Licorice rapidly searched his robes for the pouch of coins and presented it to her. “I only brought 10,000!" He had a feeling it wouldn't be enough, but he was too broke to sacrifice more.
"Aww, that's too bad… anyway, I'll see you around, Licorice!" Green Tea Mousse turns to leave, but Licorice's voice stops her.
"WAIT! Please? You are... ugh. Amazingly strong. And… I want to be that strong!" A silence washed over the two, Green Tea Mousse looked Licorice up and down again, he was visibly nervous, eyebrows furrowed and body trembling. But she could tell he was sincere.
"Okay..." She teased, "I'll take the ten thousand." Licorice's eyes widened, he hadn't expected her to accept.
"WHAT!!! Sis, you can't accept such a measly amounts of Shinys!" Pudding à la Mode yelled from beside her.
"Better than nothing, I suppose." Green Tea Mousse puts down one of her shields, snatches the pouch from Licorice's hand, and gives it over to Pudding à la Mode.
"Could you hold this for me, baby sis? I have no pockets." Pudding à la Mode begrudgingly took the pouch and stuffed it into one of her dress pockets. Green Tea Mousse then rummages through the crevices of her shields until she pulls out a small note.
"Here's my number," she presents the note to Licorice, who hesitantly takes it.
"Call me when you're ready to 'train', okay?"