Chapter Text
"No."
"Pitaya please! It'll only be for an hour at most! I don't intend for you to actually be my steed long term!" He begged, "They'll have to let me back in after being so impressed by you!"
"I ssshould burn you to a crisssp for the mere ssuggesssstion!" Pitaya glared at him, as black smoke drifted from their mouth with every word, even in their cookie form, they were quite intimidating.
"What would I even be getting out of thisss anywaysss? Other then being degraded." They huffed, he knew he was pushing Pitaya to their limits with this, but it was worth a shot.
"Can't you do this for me? As a friend?" He asked, before Pitaya raised an eyebrow, "We... we are friends, aren't we?"
"I don't recall when that was disscusssssed." The dragon looked almost amused by the suggestion, a little harsh but okay, Pitaya hasn't crumbled him yet, so... that must be a good sign? Right?...
He was about to retort when he noticed Hollyberry walk up to Pitaya, who's posture immediately softened as she neared them. He couldn't help but notice the grin on her face before she covered her mouth and whispered something into dragon's ear, far too softly for him to make out.
The way Pitaya's face shifted from the previously annoyed to confused to a similar grin that the Queen Mother was wearing, he couldn't help but be a little concerned, surely it was just some inside joke, the two shared a long history together after all. He tried to settle the unease that clawed at the back of his mind.
He was about to let the matter drop when he heard Pitaya grumble. "Fine."
He froze, "What?" Turning to face them, shock evident, "You'll actually let me do this?" He genuinely didn’t expect them to agree to this, "I- Thank-"
"On the condition." Pitaya interrupted, raising a clawed hand to silence him, who quickly complied. "You will be riding Buttercream there. Only when we are clossser to the clan groundsss will I permit you to be on my back. I don't intend to belittle myssself for a sssecond longer than I musst."
The dragon... cookie? He never knew how exactly to refer to Pitaya when in their cookie form, it was safer to stick with dragon he reasoned. Their voice was laced with something he couldn't quite make out... Amusement? Glee? Surely not...
He was a little disappointed he wouldn't get to ride an true dragon for very long, he loved Buttercream but she wasn't a dragon.
He turned to Buttercream, she looked slightly insulted as if she could read his mind, he gasped and ran over to her, ignoring the snorts from Pitaya as he cradled her head in his hands.
"I swear to you, my precious Buttercream, I am not embarrassed to have you as loyal and worthy steed!" He began, she merely chirped in response, eliciting an amused noise from dragon, which he ignored, "I will always be honoured to have you by my side! I just-" He hesitated, how was he going to phrase this... "I need as much good rapport with the clan after everything! And... well... the Red Dragon certainly would do that, no?" He squished Buttercream's cheeks, an annoyed but understanding grumble leaving her.
"Sshe'sss not happy with you." Pitaya teased, he straightened up, trying his best to ignore the guilt creeping in, besides, Pitaya could be lying!
"I'll give you a bunch of sugar cubes after this." He promised, Buttercream's head immediately perked up and began to purr against his body, her tail wagging, "Yes yes, I know you love your sugar cubes." He laughed, before hearing Pitaya grumbling.
"Sssuch a pathetic creature..." He turned back, ready to defend Buttercream's honour only to see Hollyberry elbow Pitaya roughly.
"Oh and you wouldn't be the same for dragonhead stew!" She mocked, Pitaya flushed a deeper shade of red before rolling their eyes. How Hollyberry was so calm teasing a literal dragon, he would never understand.
"Well! Should we head off?" Hollyberry yelled, well not yelled but she had a naturally loud voice that one could easily mistake as yelling.
"If we mussst." Pitaya groaned as they made their way into a more open area before transforming. No matter how many times he saw the dragon transform, it was always something to behold, he'd been completely unaware that such a thing was possible! He was snapped out of his thoughts as he saw the now true dragon softly lift the Queen mother onto their back with their wing.
The souljam embedded in the shield on her back glinted beautifully in the sunlight. She looked so right on top of a dragon. He couldn't stop himself before he blurted out, "I thought you said having a cookie ride you was degrading!"
He almost instantly regretted saying anything when the slitted pupils of the Red Dragon turned to stare directly at him.
"I believe I sssaid having you ride me would be." The dragon's true voice almost shaking the ground with their words.
"Bessidessss, I... Tolerate Hollyberry. The sssame cannot be ssssaid for you."
Hollyberry only laughed in response, "You tolerate me? Is that all? You wound me Pitaya!" She said, feigning hurt, "After all we've been through-"
"Enough." The dragon bristled, somehow turning even redder, causing Hollyberry to chuckle.
"You don't want to get all sentimental, you old lizard?" She cooed, dislodging some stuck shed behind the dragon's ear frills before scratching them, one of Pitaya's back legs starting scratching the air in turn. He almost couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Ahem!" He coughed, bringing the pair's attention back to him, now it was the Queen Mother's turn to blush, had she forgotten he was right there? "I best believe we should get going." He announced, trying his best to to ignore the way Hollyberry shuffled awkwardly, seemingly embarrassed.
"Yesss. Let uss be off." Pitaya agreed before launching themselves into the air, the downward force from their wings causing him to fall backwards. Quickly getting up and dusting himself off, he grumbled, making his way onto Buttercream and following the pair into the skies. Seeing Buttercream next to the absolutely monstrous form of Pitaya, he couldn't help but think he'd made a serious lapse in judgement...
As Buttercream glided across the skies with him on her back, he couldn't help but feel guilty about what he said before, even if she understood.
"Buttercream?"
A trill, how he longed to understand her,
"I really do mean what I said before, that I'll always be honoured to have you by my side." He stroked her neck, eliciting a purr as she closed her eyes and leaned into his hand. He suddenly felt the dip of altitude and stopped quickly, allowing Buttercream to refocus and climb back up to be along side Pitaya and Hollyberry.
"I shouldn't distract you while flying, should I?" He apologised, Buttercream giving an annoyed chirp in response, "I'm sorry!"
"I am glad to have you as my partner, Buttercream. Truly." Speaking softly, "And for the record, I'd choose you over Pitaya any other time."
"It's over there, if I recall correctly!" He gestured over to a settlement on the horizon, just on the outskirts of Dragon's Valley where the hard volcanic stone transitioned into a forest.
"I sssuppossse here is clossse enough..." Pitaya mumbled, barely hiding their annoyance, before following him and Buttercream as they descended into a clearing in the forest below. He and Buttercream landed gently onto the ground, as he dismounted, he took a small sugar cube from his pocket, giving one to Buttercream, who eagerly ate it, purring for more.
"You can't have too many, sweetheart, you'll get sick!" He stroked her soft mane, before hearing what sounded like Hollyberry screaming, turning around to the source before seeing the huge dragon speeding towards them through the gap in the trees.
He couldn't stop himself from letting out a scared yelp, diving out of the way with Buttercream before Pitaya transformed into their cookie form just before the forest cover began. He got up, hoping that neither Hollyberry or Pitaya saw.
The latter of which holding Hollyberry in their arms as they slowly neared the ground. The dragon was holding the Queen Mother as one would a bride! He stared as the once hulking dragon, delicately lowered Hollyberry's legs to touch the ground, as if one wrong move would cause her to crumble into nothing, all while she laughed and teased them.
"Such a gentlecookie! Making sure I get down safely." She began to fix her hair, the braids around the buns coming loose during the descent, causing strands of hair to fall in her face. "Although I do wish you wouldn't land like that." She muttered.
Pitaya grinned, waving her off. "You cookiesss are ssso easssily crumbled! I was jussst making sssure you wouldn't get hurt."
She stared at the dragon, clearly unconvinced by their words. "But landing like that is okay?"
"I land how I pleassse!"
He watched the two bicker like an old married couple... Wait... No what he thinking?! A cookie and a dragon?! The very concept was bizarre, and hadn't Pitaya attacked Hollyberry Kingdom? Why would she be so friendly to them? The whole friendship those two had going on was far too confusing to even start to comprehend.
Although, thinking back to how the two landed, he'd sworn he'd seen Pitaya land normally before. Was the gap in the canopy too small? He hoped the clans had somewhere a bit more open, he couldn't imagine them treating him with anywhere close to the same care and softness they afforded Hollyberry.
"Well your turn now, Royal Margarine. Are you ready?" He hadn't even noticed her approach as she elbowed him in the side, nudging him towards the thoroughly unamused dragon, scowling at them both. Buttercream chirped behind him, taking the attention of the dragon away from him, for at least a moment.
"Ah! Yesss, Buttercream, there isss ssssomething I mussst disscussss with you quickly." A sinister grin crept across their face as they approached, before they began speaking to her in dragontongue. Instantly feeling the wave of distress wash over him, it made him feel wrong, out of place. In some deep forbidden room in a sacred hall. He felt Hollyberry's eyes on him, shuffling quickly, grabbing his butter knife and fixing his hair, trying to seem unbothered.
After a moment, Buttercream nodded in understanding, albeit reluctantly, Pitaya seemed satisfied with the response.
"What was that about?" He asked, maybe if he knew what was being said, he wouldn't feel so freaked out by it, it was a very unpleasant feeling.
"It isss of no importance for you to know." They dismissed his concerns, leaving a sinking feeling of unease in his stomach.
Pitaya transformed again, he really couldn't get over just how incredible Pitaya looked in this form, being a young child in the clan, hearing the legends of the ferocious Red Dragon, able to set the whole of Earthbread ablaze, a being unshackled by time. He remembered how all him and the other kids could talk about was the legend for weeks after, all saying they would be the one to tame it. He tried to hide his grin of satisfaction at being able to at least say he rode the Red Dragon if nothing else.
"Well? Are you jussst going to sssstand there?" They sounded disgusted, unwilling to even try and hide their contempt.
"Apologies!" He began to gesture over to Buttercream and started leading the Queen Mother over, as the pair got closer, as he continued talking, Buttercream began to squawk frantically, "I just need to show Ms. Hollyberry how to-"
A large tail landed aggressively between the two cookies, eliciting an terrified squeak from him.
"No." A deep growl emanating from the now furious dragon, smoke billowing out from their mouth as they leaned close to the pair, using their tail to pull Hollyberry closer, "Sssshe will be sssstaying with me."
The look Pitaya began to give him caused his stomach to drop, a predator stalking its prey. No recognition in their eyes at all.
"I meant no offence!" Lifting his arms up in surrender, hoping such an action would be enough...
The Red Dragon's eyes never left his own, he didn't even feel comfortable calling them Pitaya anymore, the beast standing before them truly living up to the more nightmarish stories he'd heard through the years, he was too afraid to even blink.
He heard the footsteps of Hollyberry come closer, not daring to break the eye contact though, until he saw the dragon's eyes refocus onto her, her shield was still on her back, he'd thought this situation would be an applicable time to use it but apprently not. The dragon's pupils going from narrow slits to large circles as she put her hands on the beast's chin. He swore he heard the dragon purr.
"Stop pouting."
Pouting?! That's what this was?!
She just stared forward, unflinching even as the dragon let out a growl, he should protect her, clearly Pitaya had gone feral and would attack at any second. Before even making a decision, Hollyberry was leaning closer to them, her forehead making contact with the beast's snout. He could almost see what would happen next, the dragon's mouth would open and-
The dragon was purring, undeniably, and even more bizarrely, their tail was wagging. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Had Hollyberry actually tamed the Red Dragon? He figured if anyone could, it would be her.
"Pitaya." She warned, they just grumbled, before shaking themselves to release the tension, going back to a much more relaxed posture, despite no physical change, they looked like Pitaya again.
They lowered their wing as they allowed Hollyberry to use it to get onto their back, she did it with the confidence that comes from experience, before she gestured for him to do the same. Hesistantly, he walked forward to follow her lead, Hollyberry wouldn't let him do this if she thought Pitaya would hurt him, right? She's far too noble. That didn't stop him from pausing at the edge of Pitaya's giant wing.
Here goes nothing. He closed his eyes as he gingerly placed one foot before the wing was pulled out from underneath him, the movement causing him to fall backward. He felt the membrane of the wings on his back as he was flung haphazardly onto the dragon's back. He felt Hollyberry's hand around his own as she pulled him into place. He was so close to her, only her shield separating them.
"I- I had it handled!" He protested, a weak attempt to salvage any dignity.
"Just figured you could use the help!" She said, clearly holding back laughter, only causing him to become more flustered.
"I appreciate your concern, Ms. Hollyberry." Once again clinging desperately to whatever respect she had left of him, quickly taking his butter knife to fix his absolutely dishevelled hair.
He looked around him for something to hold him in place, as he realised the most logical option would be to hold Hollyberry, he reached out before hesitating, would she be okay with this? Did he miss something?
He felt Pitaya begin to shuffle under him, before immediately taking off without warning with the same force as they had done before, causing him to almost fall off, only being caught by Hollyberry, pulling him back up. He felt his cheeks grow red hot as she placed his hand around her waist, doing the same to the other hand. He almost reactively let go, surely it would inappropriate for him to hold someone of such prestige and title like this? He looked down, the ground far beneath them now, if she wasn't okay with it, she wouldn't have moved his hands there, he reasoned. He was just thinking into it too much.
As the group neared the clan grounds, he was suddenly overcome with the feeling of shame. He had fled out of cowardice, they had every reason to refuse him, this was a bad idea.
"Pitaya? You okay?" Hollyberry sounded concerned, he noticed her gently rub the dragon's side, calming maybe?
"Thisss clan... They won't attack me?"
He let out a horrified gasp, a sudden well of pride for his clan opening in his chest, "The clan would never!" He yelled, not even allowing Hollyberry a chance to respond, "They are used to the sight of dragons flying overhead, there is no need to fret!"
"Maybe fly a bit lower so they can see you have riders..." Hollyberry suggested, which Pitaya followed, seemingly ignoring his assurance that they would be safe. He felt a bit better now, he still viewed the clan as his own, still felt the need to defend the clan's honour. That must count for something.
Suddenly a realisation hit him,
"I should've asked before now but... How do you... get down?" His voice was sheepish, normally he can just step off Buttercream, with the distance Pitaya's back was from the ground, jumping down seemed like a easy way to get hurt. What about sliding down the wing? Before remembering the kerfuffle over the wing before, striking that off the list too, he couldn't see Pitaya letting him even so much as touch their wings for a while.
"Oh! You slide, along the spine down the tail. The spikes fold downwards so don't worry."
The same as Buttercream? He turned, curiosity getting the better of him as he reached out to press on one of the spikes behind him, sure enough, folding downwards. It shouldn't have been as surprising as it was, both Pitaya and Buttercream were dragonic creatures, he just... didn't expect any similarities between the two.
Looking down the length of the tail, his eyes landed on the tip, suddenly realising that the end of Pitaya's tail looked... odd. Buttercream's tail tapered off to a point, whilst Pitaya's ended too abruptly, like it had been cut off. How had he never noticed that before?... He ask Hollyberry about it in private, not wanting to run the risk of offending Pitaya.
As they got closer, the small dots beginning to take shape as individuals, he saw Hollyberry's hand move towards her shield, before she pulled it away. Slightly concerning. Pitaya slowed and got closer to the ground, landing gently and properly just outside the clan grounds, a much preferred method than their previous one, the soft thud next to them signalled his Buttercream had landed as well. The dragonrider clan cautiously approached, many had weapons, perhaps the reason for Hollyberry reaching for her shield? Most were not actively brandishing them but he supposed that she was just cautious.
He calmed his nerves before sliding down the tail, trying to make it look natural, as he stepped off he offered his hand to Hollyberry as she came down, he knew she likely didn’t need the assistance but it didn't hurt to not be a gentlecookie. As she stepped onto the ground, he confidently kissed the Queen Mother's hand.
Why did he do that?! What was he thinking?!
Quickly turning to the crowd, that had definitely grown since they landed, to avoid Hollyberry's face. He needed to focus. This was it.
Taking a deep breath in, he began,
"My friends! I have returned!" Sinking deep into the character he had perfected over the years, "I deeply regret my cowardly decision all those years ago to abandon the clan, I refused to return unless I felt I had done something worthy of proving myself!"
The crowd only got larger, the quiet chatter beginning, not paying any mind to what was being said, instead he opened his mouth to continue his well rehearsed speech before locking eyes with the Eldress. She hadn't changed a bit somehow, the same steely glare that he remembered. Focus!
"I- I believe managing to tame the one and only Red Dragon itself would suffice!" He went to raise his arms to present Pitaya before he felt a blast of hot air on his back, despite the heat, his jam ran cold. They're trying to mess him up! He turned to look at Pitaya, doing his best to not allow them to distract him.
"My great steed! What troubles you so?-" A deafening roar erupted from Pitaya as they reared back, preparing to strike. He could only let out a jam-curdling scream before the Red Dragon's mouth engulfed him whole.
This is it.
He's dead.
Just like that. Although being eaten by a dragon, especially the Red Dragon, wasn't the worst way to go. He could've one day drunkenly tripped down the stairs at the Dragon City Inn. That's a far less flattering way for sure.
Suddenly he was surrounded with the blinding light, this must be it, until his eyes slowly adjusted revealing the world he just thought he'd left, feeling the texture of wet grass beneath him, now painfully aware that he felt wet all over. What just happened?....
The sound of thunderous cackling and laughter broke them out of their trance. It all coming back to him in an instant as he looked over to the source of the noise,
Pitaya absolutely losing it, the dragon transforming back into cookie form through fits of laughter only being able to remain standing by using their sword as a cane, Hollyberry was laughing with them.
He felt his face turn red.
"WHAT ON EARTHBREAD IS WRONG WITH YOU!?" He screamed, his whole body shaking with rage, "THAT WASN'T PART OF THE PLAN!"
He felt a hand on his back,
"I'm so sorry!" He looked over to see Hollyberry wiping some tears from her eyes, "How else did you think I got them to agree to this?"
She planned this?! This whole time?! He was about to yell at her before Pitaya interrupted,
"That was sssso worth it! The look on your face! The sssscream!" He had never felt so humiliated in his life. He was almost glad seeing Pitaya lose their balance and falling backwards. "You really thought I wassss going to eat you!" They were sobbing, as if that wouldn't have been the most logical conclusion, Pitaya locked eyes with him, losing themselves into another fit of laughter.
"What do you-? Of course I did!" He couldn't believe them, anyone would've thought the same! What other options was there?!
Feeling the soft scales of his Buttercream against his side, purring. No...
"Did you know about this too?!" He accused, almost begging her to say no, but the way she hid her face under her wing before chirping gave her inclusion away.
Her too?! How could she!? Surely this couldn't get worse...
He froze as he heard an awfully familiar voice behind him, "I'm sorry? What is going on here?"
He almost wished Pitaya had eaten him in that moment.
He turned to the Eldress, failing to even form a single word before Hollyberry took over. "I'm sorry Eldress," She gestured over to Pitaya, who hadn't moved, having at least appeared to started calming down. "Pitaya and I-"
"The Red Dragon?" The Eldress asked,
Her confusion suddenly causing a realisation to click in his head. How bizarre would it be to have been watching this. This was likely many of these cookie's first and potentially last time actually seeing the Red Dragon with their own eyes, having only heard of their danger and ferocity, their power. He looked over at Pitaya, who currently looked like nothing of those things.
"Yep. The legendary Red Dragon themselves." She sounded amused.
"The one and only!~" Pitaya laughed as they mimicked his voice. How much longer will they keep going? Hadn't they done enough?!
"Pitaya, that's enough, come on." Hollyberry sighed, at least she was on his side. She walked over and offered to help them up, they struggled a little, their wings extending to help with balance. He really wanted them to fall over again, but unfortunately they didn't. Instead the two just stared at each other, Pitaya bringing her hand to their cheek.
He heard bits and pieces of whispers behind him,
"That's Hollyberry isn't it? The ancient hero?"
"Didn't the Red Dragon take over Hollyberry kingdom? Why are they acting like that?"
"Do you think they're in love?"
"Since when could dragons turn into cookies?!"
He laughed at a few, especially about Pitaya and Hollyberry being in love, how ridiculous. The things people believe these days. He felt Buttercream's mane in his hand as she pushed herself into him, a soft apologetic trill leaving her. He sighed, he couldn't stay mad at her, accepting the apology with pets which she happily accepted.
"I'm sorry Eldress, Royal Margarine is a good friend and we thought it would be funny to play a prank on him."
He froze a little, as she wrapped an arm around his shoulders. A good friend? She considered him a good friend? A friend sure, he knew that, but a good one?
The sentiment made him feel all warm.
"He wants to return to the clan." She was advocating for him! He had one of the ancient heroes advocating for him. His heavily bruised ego feeling slightly better.
"He did help ssssave Dragon City, I sssuppossse there'sss that."
Pitaya too? He couldn't help the delight he felt rising in his chest.
"He'sss not alwaysss thisss... pathetic. Mosssstly."
He'll take it, coming from Pitaya, that was a glowing review.
"He's very capable on Buttercream here. Easily able to dodge many attacks!"
Well that's more credit to Buttercream than him but he appreciated it nonetheless.
He heard what he could only assume was the Eldress approach, he couldn't bring himself to look at her, even after everything.
"You wish to rejoin the clan?"
He wanted to scream, yell anything but could manage a tiny mumble. He couldn't help the way he immediately tensed upon hearing Pitaya growl and walk up to them.
"Pitaya-" Hollyberry began,
He felt the clawed hands of Pitaya grab him and pick him up, feeling slightly distressed as his felt left the ground. He nervously looked at them, terrified for whatever their plan was.
"Where isss your pride?! Ssso full of confidence that you tried to convince me that Buttercream wassssn't a wyvern?!"
What.
He didn’t expect that. He tried to answer before he was cut off,
"I did not come all thissss way, pretend to be your 'ssssteed', all for you to be embarrassssssed to ssspeak! You wanted thisss sssso bad you came to me for help!"
All he could do was stare, he felt a sense of cautious optimism as he answered.
"Are you... Are you trying to encourage me?"
"If that'sss what you want to call it, ssssure." He barely felt his feet touch the ground before being shoved back toward the clan, silently thanking Hollyberry as she caught him, giving him an encouraging smile.
"Sssspeak. Or elssse."
Calming his nerves, he looked at The Eldress, her usual stoic emotionless face looking back.
"Yes, I would like to rejoin the clan. If that's possible..."
Silence.
Why did he add that bit at the end?! Why-
She was smiling. He stared back in shock, he'd never seen her smile before.
"Well, you're definitely the first cookie that can say they've been in the mouth of The Red Dragon and lived to tell the tale. That's certainly counts for something."
Years of stress and anxiety left his dough, he heard Hollyberry laughing before her arms wrapped around his, pulling him into a tight hug. Suddenly feeling just how strong she was, it was impressive if not a little frightening. Letting him go, she patted his shoulder.
"Good luck! Make sure to keep in touch, alright?"
She wanted to hear from him? Like letters? She cared that much?
"Yes, of course! Thank you Ms. Hollyberry."
"It's no problem at all, I do apologise for Pitaya though." Glancing over at them, sighing, "You know what they're like."
He didn't even think about anything before he pulled her into a hug of his own, surprising her with the gesture. "Thank you!" He felt tears well up, this time, however, tears of joy, "Thank you..." He felt her return the hug.
Letting her go after a moment, frozen in shock as he felt Hollyberry's lips on his forehead.
He didn't move as he heard her say goodbye to Buttercream before heading over to Pitaya who looked like they were two seconds from tearing his throat out.
"I'll see you around, till next time!" She called back,
He stared blankly back at her, unable to say a word.
He watched as Pitaya transformed and helped Hollyberry onto their back before taking off.
"Until next time!" He wasn't sure if she could hear him anymore.
Watching as the silhouette of them both got smaller and smaller before disappearing completely.
"You smell feral, Royal Margarine." The Eldress' voice breaking his moment, "Go wash yourself off."