Chapter Text
He felt cold again.
Not an actual cold, the garden didn't have much wind or snow or any weather that wasn't blindingly sunny and bright. Yet he felt this certain chill.. like the wisps of winter itself were nipping at his body, trying to envelope him whole.
He feels this cold often nowadays. Ever since they all escaped, since she escaped. Since the butterfly that spread her wings for her freedom fluttered away from his grasp. Since the warmth she emitted flew away with her, leaving him without any light. He hadn't realized how bright she was. And when he did, it was too late.
Nowadays he spends his time in seclusion. Most of the Sugar Angels still weren't quite fond of him, despite his demeanor having changed so vastly. He hears how they talk behind his back, faintly whispering. Gossiping about how Eternal Sugar must've finally swayed him into obedience, how he must've learned better and straightened his act.
Well, he guesses he was a bit of a slacker before.
Now though, that couldn't be farther from the truth. He'll spend hours catering to his master's orders. Whether that means stringing more lights around the garden or helping the Sugar Angels with the unending renovations.. it all does give him some sense of fulfillment. Being of aid, contributing to a cause, as twisted as that cause may be.
He supposes he’ll do anything to distract himself from such a bitter longing, a pathetic loneliness.
..he can't do much about it. He'll just have to endure this cold for as long as it lasts. That's fine. He'll be fine. It's not a big problem anyway.
“Pavlova Cookie~ Where are you~?” The familiarly sweet voice called out to him like it had so many times before. Right, he’s still in the garden – her garden no less. No matter where he resides or what he does, she'll still beckon him to her when he's needed. And he'll be there to answer. He doesn't have anywhere else to be. And further, no way to leave.
“I'm here, Eternal Sugar Cookie. What do you need now?” He begins his walk over to the sugar-scented cookie. She turns to his voice, smiling in her overwhelmingly serene way. He'll just play his part. Pay attention to whatever she asks, and be a good little "servant."
Most of all, he'll reminisce about his memories with the butterfly that he was destined to watch fly just out of his reach.
She felt herself drifting off again.
Sugarfly Cookie found herself sitting on the same bench in the Faerie kingdom once more, slowly nodding off, which had become quite common since her return. She didn’t know why she kept returning here, something about it was familiar, important even, but she just couldn’t remember what. Even so, it was undoubtedly beautiful here. The bench was on the side of a small but lovely open square that laid at the edge of the kingdom. The tiling was old and grass seeped in through the small cracks, and the silver trees with their green leaves lended shade to the area. There was a floral scent in the air as per the various flowers and fauna around, and now that she thinks about it.. the scent probably wasn’t helping her consistent drowsiness.
It's been a while since Sugarfly has gotten some decent rest during her time back in the kingdom. Of course, it's been so lovely seeing all her old friends again.. she's so happy to see them all after so long! She truly is, it's just that.. her mind can't help but keep wandering back to-
“Silverfae Cookie! There you are!” Just as quickly as Sugarfly found herself nodding off, she finds herself wide awake at the call of a familiar faerie cookie whose presence is synonymous with the sound of bells chiming.
..that name, however, ceased to be familiar a long time ago.
“Oh, hello Silverbell Cookie. Did you need something?” She tries to feign a smile, but even she can tell how it comes out nervous and weary.
“..oh well uh,” the hesitation in his voice prompts a blink and a tilt of her head, “I was just wondering if you were gonna join me and the others in the festivities. We saved you a slice of jelly deluxe pizza! White Buttercup Cookie remembers that you liked it?”
Ah, right. Sugarfly vaguely remembers the food – emphasis on vaguely. She's certain if she had it again she'd remember why she had liked it in the past.. but something inside her worries. Would she even like it anymore? Would her opinion have differed after all this time..? In the garden, all the food she ever ate was as sugary and sweet as the Bringer of Happiness herself.
..well, maybe “sweet” isn't the word for her.
Nevertheless, Sugarfly Cookie is nothing but a people pleaser, “..uhhm. Of course! I don’t really remember this.. pizza? But I could give it a try..” Silverbell frowns, “You don’t need to force yoursel-” “No no, it’s fine! Really Silvie I don’t mind!” She tries another smile, hoping it’s more convincing this time – she has a feeling it isn’t. By the time Silverbell opens his mouth again, she’s already stood and grabbed his wrist, pulling him along with ease as he flounders for his balance.
“wAH- Silverfaee.. you don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” she quickens her pace, “Oh please, what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t join you all?”
Silverbell makes a small dissatisfied noise, “Well alright, if you say so Fae..”
..there’s that old name again. She still doesn't understand what emotion the name evokes in her. All the faeries immediately began calling her it when she returned to the kingdom. Meanwhile there she was – confused as to who they must’ve mistaken her for.
It dawned on her a little later that day. That was her name. Or at least, it had been. Sugarfly knows she looks different from how she did back then; she knows she’s forgotten a lot of her life before the garden, but her name? ..that was something she hadn’t even realized she had forgotten.
Well, there’s nothing she can do about it now. If Silverfae Cookie is how they’ll see her, then she supposes that’s who she’ll be.
Why would she have a problem with that?
It only takes a few minutes before Sugarfly realizes she doesn’t know where she’s going. It really is astounding how much the Faerie kingdom’s infrastructure changed from what she remembers. She looks back at a disheveled Silverbell as he catches his breath, then motions for her to follow..
A lively party, another dinner hosted by a mutual friend, or even the castle where most of the grander festivities were held. That’s what Sugarfly Cookie had initially expected. So when Silverbell brings her to a quaint cafe just a little ways away from her bench spot, she was a little more than confused.
“Uh, Silvie?” she pauses a moment, inspecting the cafe’s exterior. A large front window with several flower pots and small antiques decorating the sill. Above it lays a large sign reading Chamomile’s in big bold calligraphy.
Silverbell opens the cafe’s dark viridian door – a little door bell chimes in response. The cafe seems almost barren except for a few customers here and there. Perhaps it's a slow day. “Hm? What's up?” he questioned, holding the door open for her, ever the well-mannered one huh.. Sugarfly hesitantly walks through as she continues.
“Well.. uhm. I don't mean to sound rude or anything, my apologies, but why exactly are we herree- oh..” Sugarfly catches herself on the last word as she walks further into the cafe, spotting a familiar group of faeries at one of the middle round tables.
Osmium Cookie is headfirst in a book as always, while Agave Nectar is eagerly chatting to Orchid Cookie about something – probably one of her latest inventions again. White Buttercup Cookie is the first to notice them entering, but that's weird.. where is-
“Silverfae Cookie!” The warm and welcoming cookie stands and walks over to greet her – classic White Buttercup Cookie. “Ah! Uhm hello Buttercup.. hello everyone.” Sugarfly does try to make an attempt to sound friendly, she swears! Though she's still a bit confused on what was happening here..
“Ehehe hey there lovely~!” White Buttercup makes no delay in her hurry to give Sugarfly a hug, “You're certainly a hard cookie to find!” She pulls away, still holding on by the shoulders, “We always have to send poor Silvie to find you..” she smiles, but it looks more concerned than Sugarfly knows she meant it to be.
She winces. She supposed she has been running off a lot lately, but she didn't realize it had worried the others so much..
Suddenly, another sharper voice cuts right through her thoughts. “Haha! You look like a kicked cakehound or somethin’!” Agave Nectar giggled. “Y'know we wouldn't be frettin’ over ya so much if you'd just tell us where you're running off to every now an’ then!”
Sugarfly smiles a little, “Ahaha.. I suppose you're right, Agave. However..” she gets down on one knee, clasping her hands together in front of her chin. “I'm sincerely sorry if I've been worrying any of you! It truly wasn't my intention,” her eyes squeeze shut, she just hopes they're not mad at her..
She hears a small giggle, followed by a very quiet “Oh my..” and then an uproar of laughter courtesy of Agave Nectar. She opens her eyes, only to be met with the sight of a frazzled Orchid Cookie trying to calm the cackling spitfire. “Oh Agave hush! You're going to bother the other customers..!” poor Orchid.. with that quiet of a voice, Sugarfly isn't even sure Agave heard them.
By now a few other customers are staring, bemused sure, but not annoyed. That's good at least.
After she finishes giggling under her breath, White Buttercup comes to the rescue. “Now now Agave, let's calm down ehehe.” She pushes down on Agave’s head until she's sitting down again, still wheezing but starting to simmer down. “Sorry, sorr-eheheheee! I'm sorry y'all that was just TOO funny! Silverfae you never fail to surprise me ahaha! What's with that ridiculous pose anyways? You didn't need to do all that for apologizin’.”
Sugarfly belatedly realizes she's still crouching in the same position. “O-oh! Uhm..” she quickly gets back on her feet. “I didn't really think about it.. just a habit I suppose.”
A habit indeed. She remembers several occasions when she had made a mistake in her duties within the garden. Eternal Sugar Cookie would always soothe her and tell her it was okay as long as she apologized. So, on each of those several occasions she'd get on one knee and apologize profusely to the Bringer of Happiness that she had once revered so deeply.
It was never a problem to her, the Beast had never even asked for the grand gesture. She just felt like she.. should have back then. After all, the Bringer of Happiness was always so benevolent with her power. Everyone should've paid the highest respect to such a gracious being..
At least, that's what she had thought at the time.
“Ah well.. that's fine Fae! We're not trying to judge you, right Agave..?” Orchid Cookie pinches Agave by the cheek, it looks pretty hard. “OW OW.. YES yeah ok!! Let go of me woman geez! That hurts ya know!” Once she's let go, Agave starts massaging her cheek. “Ya didn't have to grip so hard yeesh..” Orchid giggles, “Oh please you're fine~ Now can we get back to what we were meeting here for?”
The silent faerie at the table finally looks up from their book, closing it shut after dog-earing a page, “Right. Silverbell, Silverfae, come take a seat.” The pair walk over to two of the three empty seats. Sugarfly notices a plate with the jelly deluxe pizza Silverbell had mentioned. She sits in front of it, staring at the food.. she'll just ignore it for now.
“Now then, Silverfae, we all decided to bring you here for something of an interven-”
Suddenly, the cafe door swiftly opens to reveal the very late seventh member of their group. The usually stoic Tourmaline Cookie was sweating and panting, catching his breath. Did he run here..?
Agave is the first to pipe up, “Heeyy Touri! Ya actually got here. Pshh, can't believe you're late to the intervention you suggested man.” It's clear she's just teasing, but Sugarfly notices how Tourmaline’s shoulders slump in dismay.
“I am.. terribly sorry everyone. I got caught up at the training grounds again..” he finally heads toward the table and takes the final seat next to Sugarfly. “Again?” Agave practically shrieked out the word, “Whatta they have ya do there that's so time consumin’?? This is ‘bout the fourth time you've been late because ya been there!” Tourmaline Cookie massages his temple, he almost seems annoyed? No that's not it. Exhausted?
“It's nothing, I have just been.. hard at work, is all.” Agave scoffs at that, “Oh please, you've always been so bad at lyin’ Tour. C'mon what's the real-”
Osmium Cookie loudly snaps their book shut before she can finish. Agave looks annoyed for a second, before conceding and quieting down. “..right. That's enough of that. Shall we get back to the main topic of this gathering?” Buttercup giggles, “Yes Ozzy, sounds like a plan indeed.” Silverbell, who had been quite silent for a while, speaks up as well, “Ahaha.. yes. It'd be better to get to it sooner rather than later.” He seems unsure what he'll say next for just a moment before he straightens and looks Sugarfly in the eyes, his newfound confidence apparent.
“Silverfae..”
Uh oh. That's not a good tone.
“We've all been wondering for a while.. you've seemed so distant from us ever since you returned. You keep running off to be by yourself for hours on end, and you space out all the time! Like you're preoccupied with something..”
He lets out a small sigh, almost relieved in a way, like he's been waiting for this talk.
“And well, we all wanted to have this meeting with you to ask you head on..”
Sugarfly winces, almost not ready for what he'll say.
“Fae, what is it that's bothering you?”