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Princess groaned as colour swam back into her vision, bringing the pink-gray of the ground she was lying on to attention. The floor was cold, and hard, and dust was now covering her dress, not that she was all that fussed about it, and she straightened herself, looking around at her surroundings.
The gray-pink of the walls immediately clued her into where she had found herself, namely the Hollyberry caves, a cave system that Princess hadn’t even been seeing being used in the entire time that’d she’d left the oven. The caves were abandoned in all their loneliness, though Princess had come down here once or twice to feed that curious itch she so adored. Well, it was with Knight of course, her father wouldn’t let her go very far without him anyways, despite her being an adult. Anyways, that was all in the past, and besides the point.
Princess looked around in the caves, sugar crystals were hugging every angle, and cutting off access to what would’ve been the ore veins, if ore was even still there to be mined in the first place, after all. The sugar crystals themselves were an almost blinding purplish pink, nothing like the usual hot pinks that Cookies from Hollyberry were used to. Also, crystal-wise, they were quite newly formed too, as if some power source had sped-run their growth to harvestable. Also scattered on the floor were red-pink flecks that almost looked like the scales Pitaya shed every so often when they had visited the palace, no doubt to see Princess’ grandmother.
Oh. Pitaya.
Princess felt her mood sour as she thought back to the Dragon. They were supposedly marrying Hollyberry, which would have been a surprise, yet not an unwelcome one, if it hadn’t been for the fact Pitaya had been acting exceptionally odd. At least, odd for what Princess knew of the Dragon. Its irises had been an oddly purple-pink recently as opposed to their usual hot pink, which was normal for the Dragon as it was for the Kingdom itself, and, Princess hadn’t had the chance to discover why, but whenever it would talk, something felt… off. She’d only heard them speak rarely, but there was a particular element to their speech, that she somehow felt wasn’t there anymore. Like that trait of Pitaya’s had completely up and left it and now it was acting like it had never displayed the trait at all, and that wasn’t the only thing.
Pitaya had been acting oddly dominant as well, in a way that in the short time Princess had known them, she knew wasn’t normal. Sure, the Dragon had always liked a good fight, they’d even sparred with Princess herself as well, but this new version of Pitaya was too aggressive. Regularly, there was always a jovial undertone in Pitaya’s spars, almost a sense of camaraderie between the two engaged in the fight. Pitaya enjoyed fighting, but almost in a playful way, but this recent Pitaya?
This recent Pitaya…
Almost acted in the stereotypical way you might expect such a creature to act.
And Princess knew one thing: Pitaya, if nothing else, did not fit the stereotype at all.
Hollyberry fell for them for some reason, correct? And Princess trusted her grandmother enough to trust her judgement, and Hollyberry had never spoken ill of the Dragon, at least, in Princess’ opinion. Plus, the way Pitaya had been acting recently, and honestly made Princess think about what Hollyberry saw in them, despite her better judgement.
In fact, Princess had been beginning to suspect, this Pitaya might be an impos-
“Oh what’s this? The little princess all alone, and without her Knight.” Princess whipped around at the voice to find the picture of Pitaya reflected on a wall of the scattered sugar crystals. The coldly amused tone in their voice echoed around the walls of the empty cave, their purple-pink gaze, looking downright evil, and causing a rage to build in Princess. “I do hope your enjoy your prison,” the reflection continued, and there was that odd feeling of their voice not sounding quite like theirs, but Princess couldn’t place it. “We can’t have little insects running around on my special day, can we?”
At the ‘insect’, Princess rushed at the sugar wall and hit it with her scepter, the reflection of Pitaya laughing maniacally. The reflection didn’t seem all that fazed by the banging on the wall, it only made it start laughing harder.
“Now that I’ve gotten rid of this little issue,” the reflection of Pitaya said from another sugar wall, “the day can go ahead as planned. It’s too bad that you won’t be there, but I cannot have you getting in my way. I’m sure you won’t be missed.” Princess leapt at the wall, trying to get rid of what was obviously only a magic trick, and the sugar wall cracked, a piece of it falling off, and revealing something red underneath. Princess blinked at the flash of red, as whatever it was quickly vanished back into the wall. Above her, Pitaya started taunting. “All your friends think you’ve gone insane, you know that right? All you’ve done is go and run off your head, and now all they think you are is jealous. It’s sad, really.”
“Y-you crussst…” came a low voice from behind the crack, and Princess blinked.
Someone was behind this wall?
“All you are to them is some jealous and resistant to change little girl,” said the reflection of Pitaya, but Princess ignored them. She was more focused on the voice coming from below her. They appeared to be trapped underneath whatever the sugar wall was hiding, and she lifted her scepter. “W-what are you doing? Stop,” said the reflection, but Princess ignored them, beginning to hit the wall some more until the crack grew larger and broke entirely.
Scarlet wings shielded the falling debris of sugar crystals, though the creature flinched at every hit of the crystal, as if bruised, and Princess looked down at the floor.
Gray-brown seeds, as well as red scales, and pieces of white mane littered the floor, making what seemed like a trail to the red lump on the floor at the back.
Pitaya was rocking back and forth, looking disheveled, and its mane of hair was patchy, as if it’d been pulling its hair out itself. This prompted Princess to take a look around Pitaya’s prison, noticing how small it was, and though this Pitaya was acting nothing like the Pitaya currently roaming around the Hollyberry Kingdom, Princess still needed to test something, just to make sure that this wasn’t another attempt at a trick by the strange Pitaya.
“…Pitaya?” She called out slowly, and the Dragon’s head shot toward her. Their crazed eyes seemed to calm upon seeing a familiar face, but they were still rocking back and forth. “Pitaya?” Princess asked again, softly. Pitaya’s tail was flicking back and forth in the uncomfortable way, and they were hugging their knees. Their scales were creating a sea below them and Princess blinked once she realized.
They’re stress-shedding scales. They’re stressed.
Without a word, Princess led the Dragon out of the small prison and into the larger section of the cave, where they near immediately stopped rocking back and forth. Then, Princess felt that she could ask the dragon for some answers. “Pitaya, what in the oven is going up there? Your irises are a weird colour you’re acting more aggressive all of the sudden. What’s going on?” Pitaya took a breath and then looked at her.
“That’sss not me. It’sss sssomeone elssse. I don’t know what ssshe wantsss with her, but I don’t remember much. All I remember isss one minute getting ready for thisss marriage thing, asss Hollyberry callsss it, and the next minute, I’m in sssome dark, and… sssmall cave with no idea how I got here.”
That’s what made the imposter’s speech so strange, Princess realized as Pitaya continued speaking, the imposter’s speech had lacked the distinct hiss that Pitaya had. The lack of the drawn out S had been what seemed so off, and she found the fact that the imposter hadn’t even cared to try to imitate it to make the folly less obvious particularly vindicating. She had been right! There had been something wrong with Pitaya! Because, it hadn’t been Pitaya at all! She was right! And everyone hadn’t believed her! She’d have a lot to talk about later with those who had not believed her, haha!
“I have a good idea of how you ended up here,” Princess stated, the vindication leaking into her voice. “This imposter, ‘she’ as you call them wants all of the people in her way, well out of her way! She probably did what she did to me, to you! We need to get back up there right now! We don’t know what she could do Hollyberry, or what her goal is, but the point is, she’s sullying your good name, Pitaya Dragon Cookie!” She stood up, and Pitaya gave her a fondly amused expression.
“You really sssounded like your grandmother right then,” they stated. “I sssee that ssshe’s had sssomewhat of an influence on you. But, ‘sssullying my good name’? What isss ssshe doing?” Princess looked at them.
“Well, for one, she’s making you act like a stereotypical dragon,” she answered, and Pitaya seemed to flinch and groan at the prospect.
“Well, I’m not sssure I’m that much better, but there are othersss that are worssse, ssso…”
“Pitaya, at least according to Hollyberry, you’re very far removed from the stereotype. I choose to trust my grandmother’s judgement on that front. And I mean, you didn’t torch me that time you sparred with me,” Princess said with a smile and shrug, Pitaya turning a little red out of embarrassment.
“I don’t like torching Cookiesss anyways,” Pitaya murmured. “Leassst of all now that I’m marrying one.”
“Exactly! If you were the stereotype, I don’t doubt you wouldn’t think like that.” Princess looked over at one of the sugar crystals. “Plus, I think she has Hollyberry under a spell or drugged or something. She’s also been acting quite odd. Almost as if she’s being puppeteered.”
“What?” Pitaya suddenly growled, their eyes glowing ominously, and if Princess were a stranger, she didn’t doubt that they wouldn’t hesitate to torch her in this moment. If any action would’ve fit how the imposter was presenting them, this would be it. Princess, however, wasn’t all that bothered.
“Mhm,” Princess continued. “Her thoughts don’t seem to be hers anymore. She literally yelled at me, and if I know my grandmother, that’s highly out of character.” Pitaya growled again.
“We need to get back up there. That crussst issss doing my wife wrong. Ssshe’s not only sssullying my name but hersss too. Come, letsss find the way out of here.”
The two of them started running throughout the bigger area of the caves, trying to find any semblance of entrance or exit. However, that was proving difficult as they kept seeming to find themselves running into the same area, and Princess found herself getting irritated, and Pitaya didn’t really look too happy about the prospect either. “Has she jinxed the caves to make sure we never get out?” Princess wondered aloud, Pitaya snorting in response.
“I’m not sssure,” Pitaya replied, looking around after yet another round of running around with no end in sight. “Then again, I don’t know much of her tricksss…”
“She probably got rid of you in the beginning, as you were the main threat,” Princess added unhelpfully. “She wanted to get to Hollyberry for a reason, though I’m not quite sure of the reason. And, the wedding is almost upon us,” she murmured dejectedly. “I didn’t even get to try on my new dress, not that I really care about it, but still, this is a special event for my grandmother, and I wanted to be there.”
“I’m sssure Knight isss missssing you,” Pitaya responded, flexing their wings. There was something off in their voice, though this time, Princess recognized it.
“You’re worried, aren’t you?” Princess asked after a while, completely ignoring Pitaya’s Knight Cookie statement. She didn’t want to think about him at the moment. Pitaya went quiet and walked over to the mine cart the two had just discovered. There they scratched their claws along the edge of it and sighed. “Pitaya…” Princess murmured quietly.
“Issss it obviousss?” They murmured. “Of courssse I’m worried. I don’t like the idea of Hollyberry being with a fake. Esssspecially a fake who only caresss about completing a goal, and doesssn’t truly care for her. What kind of life isss that? Being married to a fake that only aimsss to leave you once their missssion isss done? No true love of any kind? Why be ssstuck with sssomeone who doesssnt love you? Esssspecially when you’re nothing but a ssstolen prize?” Princess felt herself smile at this tirade from Pitaya, as it was almost sweet. Nothing like how the imposter was displaying them, at least.
“I think that’s the deepest and most sickening thing I’ve ever heard you say,” Princess teased, causing Pitaya to blush.
“I-!”
“It’s sweet, granddragon.” Pitaya’s tail flicked in embarrassment.
“Ssstill, Hollyberry doesssn’t dessserve that. Ssshe doesssn’t. Hollyberry dessservess sssomeone who caresss for her. I-I care about her. Passion lightsss up her eyesss and caussses her to laugh raucousssly. Ssshe treatsss everyone like a friend, and perhapsss that’sss a flaw, but I don’t care. Ssshe regardsss me with sssuch fond expressionsss sssometimes. Ssshes alwaysss ssso willing to help anyone ssshould they need it. Ssshe helped me get my home back, and I’ll alwaysss be thankful for that. Ssshe treatsss everyone with ressspect, letting them ssshow themssselves to her before ssshe passes her own judgement. And if that failsss she dealsss with them promptly. Ssshe… sssaw good in me I guesss, and doesssn’t just sssee me ass a dragon. I can’t help but feel admiration at that. Ssshe’s consssiderate of othersss in a way that I ssshouldn’t fall for, but I did. There’sss sssomething ssso… infectiousss about her. Plusss, ssshe’sss quite… enticing.”
Princess had long tuned out Pitaya’s rambling, and was more focusing on the mine cart that Pitaya was half lying on. It was big enough to hold the both of them and the track was long broken off into some sort of ramp. It wouldn’t get them out of the cave, but a higher vantage point could help them find an exit. “Pitaya? Could you maybe hop into the mine cart for me real quick?” The Dragon blinked, but it did as it was told and Princess attempted to push the mine cart a few times.
This ended up in the two taking turns trying to push the mine cart with other in it. Pitaya was starting to get antsy, and Princess could understand why. The would-be wedding was very quickly approaching and they were very quickly running out of time. Princess looked at the dragon as she got an idea. “Hey, Pitaya? How about we try with that true form of yours? That might be our only way of getting out of here and crashing the wedding on time.”
“I can’t.”
“What?” Princess yelled, dumbfounded, causing Pitaya to wince in response. “What do you mean ‘you can’t’?! Isn’t it easy to change? I swear you won’t squash me if you do so.”
“It’sss not that,” Pitaya responded. “Believe me, I’ve tried, but sssince getting put in here, I’ve been unable to. I- I think ssshe did sssomething when trapping me in here. I’m not sssure what it would be though.”
“Great Witches! That overbaked pile of ash!” Princess swore, causing Pitaya to blink. “Of course the imposter would do everything in her power to make sure we couldn’t use our most powerful ability. Wait, didn’t something similar happen when Hollyberry helped you with your home?”
“You’re sssaying that impossster isss messssing with my home?” Pitaya looked around the cavern before returning their gaze on Princess. “Hop in, I want to try sssomething.” With a blink, Princess obeyed, hopping into the mine cart with her granddragon. She looked around, trying to figure out what Pitaya had planned, when suddenly, they blew fire at the rocks surrounding the cart, surprisingly melting them and then Pitaya pushed off the ground, making the cart careen down the rickety track, and making Princess feel a bit sick to her stomach.
She wasn’t quite sure when she had closed her eyes, but a soft flap next to her made her squint her eyes open curiously, only to discover Pitaya flying through the air, Princess held tightly in a sort of hug. “You okay?” Pitaya asked after a while, looking down at her.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Thank you.”
“There’sss no need to thank me,” Pitaya responded, finally landing the two on an upper ledge, only for the two to be greeted with yet another wall. This time, Pitaya’s sigh sounded more dejected, and Princess was also starting to feel antsy. There wasn’t much time left to actually crash the wedding, and it was quite saddening. “We won’t make it, there’sss no time,” Pitaya murmured. “Hollyberry will be connected to a fake.”
“Pitaya, don’t give up! We’ll find an exit.”
“Find… an exit… they will,” said a voice, and both of them whipped around, causing the newcomer to retreat behind a crystal stalagmite, merely a flash of teal and orange. “Exit… there is…” the voice said again, braving a look around the stalagmite. It appeared to be a Cookie around Princess’ age, teal hair appeared to be flowing down by her neck and back and she was sitting atop a tiger.
To Princess, something about her appearance seemed familiar but that wasn’t really important right now.
“Me… help…?” The Cookie offered, eying them cautiously. “Know these caves… very well… I do.”
“That would be wonderful,” Princess said, relieved. “You see, there’s this wedding we’re trying to attend, but we got lost in these caves, so we’d really appreciate your help.” The other Cookie ran her hand across the tiger’s flank as if trying to calm herself, and she went quiet for a while.
“Follow… keep distance…” the Cookie murmured as the two followed her through the cave. “Wedding… I know…” Pitaya looked over at the Cookie before turning their gaze on Princess.
“Oh you do?” Princess asked, making small talk. The teal-haired Cookie glanced at her. “How much do you know about it?”
“Know… a lot… Kingdom… Hollyberry… I know. Dragon… there is, never… myself seen…” the Cookie responded. When the tiger she was on alerted to something, the Cookie stood to attention, looking around as if looking for the danger she clearly sensed. “Danger… I feel. Stand… back. Protect… I will.” The small group continued onward, the Cookie on high alert. It wasn’t long before she leapt on something and Princess and Pitaya heard a small scream, causing the two to race over to the sight, still keeping their distance from the Cookie on the tiger. “Danger… found. Wedding… not safe. Me… come with,” the Cookie murmured simply staring at the Cookie caught in the tiger’s jaws. He was flailing about, his wings flapping helplessly, and his bow was discarded on the ground. The tiger was growling at the Cookie and as Pitaya passed by the Cookie, his already pale dough seemingly whitened.
“Oh witches… she won’t like that-“ he wasn’t give much time more to say anything as the tiger bit into his leg, drawing the jam blood, and he screamed before whimpering.
“Keep distracted,” said the teal-haired Cookie. “Without me… go… protect… from sidelines… I will.” Princess nodded at her and then grabbed Pitaya by their claws and together they raced towards the castle, their only hope being that they weren’t too late.
The halls of the Hollyberry castle were frighteningly quiet, and Princess could tell that Pitaya was extremely apprehensive. They were almost there- they just had to get there before the ceremony was completed. They had to save the day, as who knew what the imposter would do once she gets on the throne? And what would she do once her mission was over? Princess was quite sure that these were the very thoughts that were running through the Dragon’s head as they traversed through the very same halls that Princess walked through everyday, Pitaya less so.
The halls seemed endless as the two ran through them, yet they knew exactly where they were going. Pitaya was starting to slow down and Princess turned back around only to see them fighting with some yellow Cookie trying to drag them away. She was about to offer her assistance when out of nowhere Knight Cookie appeared and pinned the offending Cookie down to the ground. Princess blinked at this, as last they’d talked, Knight hadn’t believed her when she said there was something off with Pitaya. So, why now of all times was he acting like he had believed her all along? Was he just trying to save face? “Go, your Highness, and… your greater Highness! I’ll keep them distracted! We can discuss this later!” He suddenly yelled out of nowhere, but Princess decided to not dwell on it right now, opening the door for the ceremony hall.
The door slamming indicated their arrival, the entire hall turning to face the newcomers, even the fake Pitaya standing in front of Hollyberry, who was uncharacteristically quiet. The imposter’s face quickly fell from surprised confusion to a glare, eying the real Pitaya angrily, before she glanced at Princess, though the imposter looked no less angry. Then the fake started sniveling as if trying to move the emotions of the surrounded crowd. “Why do I have to deal with so much stress on the happiest day of my life?”
“Ugh,” the real Pitaya growled. “That doesssn’t sssound like me at all. That’sss a pretty terrible job of trying to imitate me, you beasssst.” The fake Pitaya blinked at them, before the imposter let out a small chuckle.
“You’re certainly smart for a creature of your ilk,” the fake said, completely dropping the act. She sauntered towards the dragon, slowly, and calculated. “Most of your kind just go for the kill, they don’t care for Cookies at all, and yet, a Dragon is the closest thing to Hollyberry these days? Unheard of! I’ll have you know I’ve done good of your species, making you appear like the rest of them.” She’d reached Pitaya by this point, and Princess tightened her grip around her scepter. Pitaya was growling at the imposter, and it was no surprise why. The words were nothing short of cruel, and clearly meant to try and belittle the dragon, but Pitaya wasn’t budging.
“Hollyberry knowsss well that isssn’t true,” Pitaya growled. “I’m sssure that ssshe would know if I wasss acting odd.” The fake merely smiled sweetly.
“Would she though?” The fake turned her head towards where Hollyberry was oddly quiet. “Dear, would you know if this dragon was acting odd? I’d think not.” Hollyberry’s actions were clearly not her own, as they were eerily puppetlike. Pitaya let out a conflicted noise.
“Hollyberry… you’ve… you’ve changed her,” Pitaya said with a small shake for their head. “But… I know what to do.” The dragon raced over to where Hollyberry was standing. “Hollyberry… can you hear me?” It asked quietly, to no response. The fake let out a disbelieving chuckle, lolling her head to the side. She was still in her Pitaya visage, but she had long dropped the act.
“Hm, I would like to see you try,” the fake commented. “Her Soul Jam’s almost drained anyways. Good luck switching her back.” Her tone was uncaring, and she simply rubbed Pitaya’s claws on herself.
Princess watched as Pitaya ignored the imposter, their focus entirely on Hollyberry. They grabbed Hollyberry’s hand and placed it on the jewel like object on their chest, something that Princess had never quite figured out what it was. Anyways, Pitaya was talking in a soft voice, as if trying to get to their soon-to-be wife. “Do you remember that vow we made, in Dragontongue? The day you helped me get back my home? The one where you usssed your Sssoul Jam to help my plight? I want you to remember that right now, ssso I’ll repeat it.” Pitaya took a breath, and recited something in a language that a Princess didn’t understand. “Ssso, let me help you, thisss time.”
Pitaya brought the puppeteered Hollyberry into a hug, making sure that the jewel touched where Hollyberry’s heart would be. “Let my love give you ssstrength, my holly…”
“What a wonderful and silly sentiment,” the fake twittered, leaning back on a pillar in a mock swoon. Princess was more curious about Pitaya’s words, as she’d never known the dragon to use pet names, but it was sweet.
“I would have hoped I wouldn’t have to do thisss in thisss way, but, I have no other choice. Forgive me, Hollyberry…” Pitaya brought up the puppeteered Hollyberry’s face. “I love you.” The dragon leaned down and kissed their would-be wife on the lips, right in front of every gathered Cookie in attendance.
Immediately, it was like a spell had been shattered.
The Pitaya visage of the imposter melted off as the Soul Jam on the shield in the corner sprung to life again, revealing her true form in front of everyone. The imposter blinked as she stared at herself, her gaze changing from her two sets of wings, to the thin tail with the spike on the end, to the white dress that now adorned her. She then gazed at Pitaya, practically enraged. Pitaya, meanwhile, had caught Hollyberry when she’d fallen after the kiss. “You- Dragon-!”
“Pi… Pitaya?” Princess suddenly heard her grandmother’s voice, exhausted beyond belief, but specifically her grandmother’s. Nothing like the dead, quiet, and emotionless way it had been before Pitaya broke the spell.
“Hollyberry,” Pitaya said, relieved, their tail wagging like an excited puppy.
“You’re… forgiven, you old Lizard,” Hollyberry chuckled quietly, and Pitaya looked at her.
“You heard that?”
“Every word. Even the vow,” she said tiredly. Pitaya’s eyes lit up. Hollyberry straightened herself and turned to face the imposter. “You have a lot to answer for, Beast. You knew that I would notice a change in my spouse,” she said, despite them not being married yet, “so you not only decided to keep them away from me, but you also meddled with me. What you have done is no less than a crime, and for that, you must be dealt with.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, my dear,” the imposter replied, twirling her hair. “For you see, the others have already made landfall in further kingdoms, and this was merely a distraction. In fact! I should go meet with them now.” The imposter then jumped out of the window, using her wings to carry her her away.
“You crust,” Hollyberry yelled trying to follow after her, but she stumbled on the ground before Pitaya caught her and held her there. Princess saw this as her opportunity to do something.
“Grandmother, you appear weak. How about you spend time recovering until the rest of us can get it under control?”
“Your greater Highness,” said Knight Cookie, obviously finished with distracting the Cookie from earlier. “I agree with Princess Cookie, and am willing to do my due diligence to keep her safe from all harm that might befall her. Also, I feel I owe her an apology, and I feel like this would be a perfect time for that.”
“But..” Hollyberry tried.
“Friends,” said Pure Vanilla, White Lily and Dark Cacao flanking him on either side. “I feel that we should head back to our kingdoms to defend against this upcoming threat, and Hollyberry, I agree with your granddaughter. Spend time recovering with Pitaya, and we’ll do our best to curb the threat.” Hollyberry nodded.
“Okay, I understand. Pitaya, can you take me to my room please?”
“Of courssse, Hollyberry.”