Chapter Text
Laughter fills the halls of Castle Vanilla.
It sweeps across the floors in waves, rising and falling as the tide does before crashing into the ears of those nearby. The staff smile fondly at the sound, even as they make certain to clear a path for the mess of children which will most assuredly be coming through.
Sure enough, once the laughter is heard, next comes the bright eyes and cheery smiles of the youngest of the castle. A blur of pink flashes by, squeals echoing off of it. The nearby staff move aside as a dragon barrels through the corridor, the children of the castle clinging to their back.
"Slow down!!" The first of the two squeals, grasping onto the dragon's horns like her life depends on it. Primrose Cookie's eyes are squeezed shut, even as a smile stretches across her face.
Her younger sister, Radiant Cream Cookie, is laughing gleefully, hugging her sister tight around the waist to keep from slipping off the back of the dragon. "Faster! Faster!" she shrieks.
The dragon--Snapdragon Cookie--obeys the second command, of course. She speeds up, nearly slamming into the wall as she turns a corner before heading down the next corridor, forcing proceeding workers out of the way.
They barrel onwards, cheers and cries sounding before Primrose and Radiant Cream realize Snapdragon's destination. There's an open window at the end of the hall, a cool breeze flowing through it, and Snapdragon Cookie is locked on.
Even Radiant Cream Cookie screeches once she realizes where they're heading, squeezing Primrose tighter with a, "wait wAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT!!"
It's too late, though. In an instant Snapdragon is leaping through the open window and into the sky, wings beating against the air.
Primrose and Radiant Cream cling to them desperately, looking down at the kingdom below them. They're not terribly high, but high enough to see the Vanilla Kingdom stretching out in all directions, candied paths weaving and curling around an impressive and budding town.
Snapdragon Cookie--even oldest of the crew and biggest by far--can't stay in the air long enough to appreciate the view, though. They immediately turn their attention to a nearby balcony a floor below and fly towards it, crash-landing against the ground.
Primrose and Radiant Cream tumble off of Snapdragon's back, laughing as they're scattered across the floor.
"That was horrifying," Primrose says, clutching her chest.
Snapdragon returns to their cookie form, stretching their arms above their head lazily. "Oh, please, I had it completely under control the entire time."
Radiant Cream Cookie laughs, picking her hat up from off the floor and plopping it back onto her head with a jingle of its bell. "Even when we ran into the chef?"
"Even then!"
"We should apologize," Primrose says. "And help clean up."
Snapdragon and Radiant Cream exchange glances before shrugging and saying, "Nah," earning an eye roll from Primrose
"Irresponsible."
Radiant Cream sticks her tongue out at her sister. "You sound like dad."
"Do not!"
"Do to!"
"We could ask him," Snapdragon says.
The two look up to find Snapdragon pressed against the door leading back inside. Their eyes are narrowed, watching through the windows as, sure enough, their father walks inside.
Pure Vanilla Cookie steps into the room, holding the door open behind him as more follow.
Primrose squeaks in alarm, tugging Radiant Cream and Snapdragon aside and out of sight.
"We're outside dad's study, aren't we?" Primrose says, alarm rising in her voice. "We're gonna be in so much trouble."
"Relax," Radiant Cream says. "Only if he catches us. It's just him and his eyesight sucks. We'll be fine."
"Does White Lily Cookie's eyesight suck too?" Snapdragon asks.
Radiant Cream frowns, peeking back through the window to see that, sure enough, their mom has stepped inside as well.
"That's tougher," Radiant Cream admits.
She watches, then, as two others follow White Lily inside, Hollyberry Cookie and Pitaya Dragon Cookie following along.
Snapdragon Cookie pales at the sight of their parents, swallowing. "Okay. We're dead."
"Just stay quiet," Radiant Cream Cookie says. "They won't even know we're here."
Primrose sighs, resigned but with no other options than to sit out of sight on the balcony and wait.
The door is thin, though, thin enough that they can hear footsteps approaching. Radiant Cream holds her breath, entirely prepared for them to step out onto the balcony, but the door never opens. Instead, they take seats just inside the door, close enough that she can hear them speaking now.
"--advise against it," Pure Vanilla Cookie is saying, his voice low and calm as per usual.
White Lily Cookie speaks next, though her voice betrays some panic she must be feeling. "I agree. Nothing good came from us being there."
"I disagree," Hollyberry Cookie says. "We all walked away from Beast Yeast better and more connected with our Soul Jams."
Radiant Cream frowns, looking at Primrose and Snapdragon. Beast Yeast?
"And arguably broken," Pure Vanilla says. "The things we faced there... and you want to bring a child along?"
"What alternatives do we have?"
"Leave them here with us, at least."
"You forget," Pitaya Dragon Cookie says, "That they are not a cookie. They are a dragon and need to be held to the expectations of such."
Pure Vanilla Cookie sighs, some sense of calm wavering. "Why return?"
"You know why," Hollyberry says pointedly.
There's silence for a moment, and the three kids look at each other, echoing it. It's a conversation they, certainly, shouldn't be hearing, but one they are privy to regardless. They have no choice but to listen, at this point.
"Hollyberry..." White Lily says softly. "It's been years."
"Years for change. Years for growth."
"Years for stewing in despise."
"She let me go."
"So why go back?"
Silence again.
"Who are they talking about?" Radiant Cream whispers.
Snapdragon shrugs, just as clueless as the rest of them.
"You can't keep this from them forever," Pitaya Dragon Cookie says hollowly. "Your protecting them is a lost cause. They will figure it out soon enough."
"They won't," White Lily insists.
But Pure Vanilla Cookie, cookie of Truth, stays silent.
"They're connected to that land," Hollyberry insists. "They'll figure it out soon enough. Now would be a perfect time to--"
"No," Pure Vanilla Cookie says coldly. There's a rustling of cloth, and Radiant Cream assumes her father must stand.
Footsteps approach, and Radiant Cream holds her breath as he approaches the window. His voice is close now, and Radiant Cream hopes he doesn't have his staff to see.
"They're too young," he says.
"Primrose Cookie is fifteen," Hollyberry says pointedly. "Radiant Cream Cookie just a few years behind her. They're old enough to know."
"No," he says again. "I know what it's like to have responsibility forced on you at a young age. To have your destiny predetermined. They--they don't deserve that."
Silence again until, finally, Pure Vanilla sighs. Radiant Cream hears him turn back towards the group. "When will you set off?"
"At the end of the week," Hollyberry says.
"And you're taking Snapdragon Cookie with?"
"It's for the best," Pitaya Dragon says.
Radiant Cream and Primrose both look at Snapdragon, focused on them. Are... are they leaving...?
White Lily Cookie sighs. "We'll miss you, friends. It's been wonderful having you around."
"We will return," Hollyberry promises.
There's the sound of chairs moving, and the voices fade, the conversation shifting to something regarding dinner tonight.
Soon enough they're gone, and the trio outside all exhale, easing the tension they had been holding in.
"What was that about?" Snapdragon asks.
"Sounds like you're going on a trip," Primrose says. "'Beast Yeast'. Where's that?"
"Outside of Crispia," Radiant Cream says, easily combing her mind for memories of what she’s read regarding it. There’s a few books on it in the library, none that she’s read deeply, but that could easily be changed. "It's another continent. One known for having dangerous creatures."
"Cool!" Snapdragon says, pumping a fist in the air. "That'll be awesome! I can't wait!"
"But you'll be gone," Primrose says sadly.
Snapdragon looks at Primrose softly, who is frowning deeply, eyes beginning to water. They smile, head tilted in careful consideration of the cookie across from them. "Hey, only for a bit. They said we were coming back, right? It'll be a month. Tops."
"That's still long," Primrose says.
"It'll be okay, Rosie Posie. Besides, I'll bring you back something good!"
"And me," Radiant Cream insists.
Snapdragon laughs, ruffling Radiant Cream's hair. "And you too."
"They were talking about us too, though," Radiant Cream points out. "Dad's keeping something from us. Something about destinies?"
Primrose chuckles, gently rubbing Radiant Cream on the back. "It's dad . He couldn’t even lie to us about the Tooth Fairy Cookie without the stress eating him alive. There's no way he's keeping something from us."
"No, there's something. Something big he's hiding, I swear it."
"Don’t worry,” Primrose says, a gentle smile on her face that eases her little sister’s worries. “We should focus on Snapdragon Cookie. If we've got only a week left, let's make the most of it. Agreed?"
"Agreed," the two others say in unison.
And, smiling, the three do.