Chapter Text
Timeline: After Dark Cacao and Dark Choco's fight.
Chapter 1 in Licorice's POV
"I heard sounds of sword fighting, then someone's falling, Dark Choco was supposed to get his father's souljam, but it didn't go the way he wanted it to go. Choco stabbed his own father, I saw him standing there looking at his hand and the Strawberry Jam Sword with terror in his eyes. We caught eye contact, I wanted to comfort him, but Pomegranate stopped me, I looked at her offended when she pulled me back, going to Dark Choco with fake comfort.
- Oh my, my! So you're not as weak as I thought, stabbing your own father to get the souljam, that's the spirit Choco!
Dark Choco looked at her with pure hatred, he was terrified and she was telling him that what he did was good. He stood up, slapped her across the face, and ran away holding back tears.
- Choco wait!
I screamed wanting to run after him, but Pomegranate stopped me again, looking at me with a smirk, knowing she had power over me, because she was Dark Enchantress's favourite.
- Oh Licorice, do you really want to run after this pathetic excuse of a prince and get kicked out by our Master? You don't want to lose your job do you Licorice?~
She was right, I needed this job more than anything, I didn't have anywhere else to go. I just sighed, looking at Choco getting farther away every second, my heart was breaking just from looking at him not being able to help. Anyone barely knew we were dating, but I knew my life gonna be ruined if I followed him, I just hoped he would be okay when we came back. Time passed, our mission ended, and as always we failed, but I was relieved that King Dark Cacao was still alive, he was visibly worried about Dark Choco no longer being with us, and I think he saw it in me too. We came back to our base, Dark Enchantress waiting for us, looking disappointed as always, I didn't want to listen to her, I went looking for Dark Choco . . . Facing my greatest fear . . .
(This moment is a retrospection of what happened to Dark Choco in his own point of view [for clarification Souljams/Soulstones are cookies sources of life, something like a heart for them])
• I ran into the base, not even paying attention to Dark Enchantress, she was chuckling at me, she knew what happened of course she did, she knew my family is my soft spot that's why she sent me on the mission. I burst into my room, my chest tightening with each breath, my vision was blurring, my head spinning, the voices kept repeating that this all was my fault, that I killed my own father, I sat on the floor clucking fingers into my hair, I felt so guilty, like a monster
- It all my fault. . . I killed him, I killed my own father
I kept repeating these words to myself, then something got into me, I grabbed my soulstone hard and started to pull it out it hurt like hell, more than any punishments I ever had, My mind was focused on ending it all, I would rather die now, than live in the shame of a father killer.
- Father please forgive me for everything bad I have done to you, I'm a terrible son, brother, and friend, I don't deserve a gift of life not after I took it from you, I'm sorry, Father . . . I will join you sooner than you think
I closed my eyes, keeping on pulling my soulstone, tears streamed down my cheeks, but my mind started playing all good memories I had in my life . . . One of them was me and my father walking around the Kingdom when I was just a little Cookie, holding into his big hand looking around curiously, the other memory was a teenage me and Caramel Arrow when I was teaching her how to protect the Kingdom with Crunchy Chip running after his Cream Wolf, trying to brush its fur, and the other one was me, Licorice and Red Velvet being all together alone, few moments after we all confessed to each other, all red on faces, sitting in silence then busting into laughter and giving everyone a kiss. Then it's all stopped, my soulstone getting out with a single pop and falling to the floor, I felt dizzy, I coughed into my hand, blood leaving my mouth, I took a few steps back fell lifeless on the floor my mind going blank.•
(Back to Licorice)
I walked to Dark Choco's room, not even knocking, I knew that no one other than me, Red Velvet, or even sometimes Poison Mushroom would check on him, I walked into the room not noticing what happened in the room for a moment.
- Hey Choco, I just wanted to check on you, and I have good news for you, do you want to hea- . . .
My heart dropped when I saw Choco on the floor, I quickly ran and kneeled taking him into my arms, tears already filling my eyes
- Dark Choco! Oh- Oh my Witches . . . N-no, no, no, no, no! NO! You can't do this to me, please say something, anything! Please it can't be too late, it can't be! No . . . Choco what have you done . . . Oh my beautiful Choco, why did you had to leave me . . .
I begged for it to be just a joke, that he would wake and just laugh at me for being pathetic like everyone else laughed at me, but it never happened, his body was getting cold and stiff, his beautiful scarlet red eyes that always looked at me with understanding and love never opened again. I hugged his body and screamed in despair, crying like a little boy who fell from the bike. While my mind was blurry, I remembered Red Velvet running into the room, freezing in place when he saw Choco's body in my arms, he quickly pulled me into a tight hug, and tears streamed down his face too. That night I slept with Red Velvet in his room, well actually any of us closed our eyes that night, we just spent the whole night cuddling each other trying to process the fact that we had just lost our boyfriend.
- Pieces of shit breakfast is ready
Pomegranate called us, acting like nothing happened and we are just being dramatic, I wanted to slash her in two with my scythe, but I knew that Dark Enchantress would kill me if I did anything to her. Velvet and I got up from bed, we both were looking like the living dead, well it wasn't unusual with me, but Velvet's look got Dark Enchantress's attention.
- Oh my dear little boy, you look so miserable, have you slept?
She asked with fake concern, smirking while looking at us, knowing very well we are grieving, and she didn't care about it even a little bit
- What do you think huh?! Dark Choco is dead and you're all acting like nothing happened!!
- Oh please, it's not like he was useful anyway
Red Velvet and Dark Enchantress got into a fight, but I didn't listen, I zoned out, but I felt something grabbing my robes, it was my little sibling Mushy (Poison Mushroom), their eyes looked sad and confused
-Choco is gone? . . . Why? What happened? Have we done something wrong?
Their confusion broke me again, I pulled them into a tight hug and didn't say anything, they hugged me back, still confused but understanding that I didn't want to talk about it, at least for now.
- I HATE YOU BOTH! YOU NEVER WERE A MOTHER TO ME!! YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT POMEGRANATE., I WISH I WAS NEVER YOUR SON!!!
I heard Red Velvet snapping and he grabbed my arm, I grabbed Mushy with me and got out from the base
- Where are we going?-
- To Dark Cacao's Kingdom
- What?! But why?
- I can't live there any longer, and King Dark Cacao needs to know about his loss doesn't he? . . .
- I guess you're right . . .
I held both Velvet and Mushy hands as we walked to Dark Cacao's Kingdom, we walked into the snowy part of Crispia, Kingdom could be seen from afar, I took Mushy in my arms to keep them warm, neither of us except for Choco was ever used to temperatures like that. As we reached the gates of Dark Cacao's Kingdom, I started to shake, all the memories coming back, the regret for not running after Dark Choco hitting me hard. Mushy hugged me tighter and Velvet stroked my hand to calm me down, so I took a deep breath and knocked at the Kingdom gates. Unsurprisingly Caramel appeared on the turret and pointed her bow at us.
- What do you think you are doing here huh?! You came for His Majesty's souljam again?!
- No . . . We're not here to fight, can you let us in we need to tell his Majesty something, I-it's about D-Dark C-Choco . . .
His name barely went through my throat and my eyes were starting to get wet again, Caramel Arrow came down from her turret and opened the gates slightly so only she can exit to see us closer, her expression was angry, it was clear she didn't trust us, I didn't blame her for that . . .
- So what has my brother done again? Why isn't he here to tell it to the King himself?
- About it C-Caramel . . . Dark C-Choco . . . He- H-He-
- Caramel Arrow . . . Dark Choco, your older brother is dead. . .
Velvet said it for me, I just hugged Mushy tighter, kneeling to their level, by a corner of my eye I saw Caramel's face getting white and her expression changing from anger to shock and disbelief. Velvet put her into a light hug, he knew that information about her big brother's death would be a lot for her to handle.
- Y-you're j-joking right? . . . Why? How? What happened?!
Tears fell down her face uncontrollably, she didn't want to believe that Choco was gone forever, Velvet shook his head silently telling her that this wasn't some kind of sick joke. She took a shaky breath and sobbed into Red Velvet's chest for a good while. When she stopped crying we all walked to the Kingdom, Caramel guiding us to the throne room. The castle was filled with a hard scent of resolution and bitterness, but it was also combined with a soft scent of vanilla and tenderness.
- C-Caramel? What does it s-smell like vanilla in here?-
- Oh- Pure Vanilla Cookie came here to stay for a bit and take care of his husband
- Oh that's- that's good . . . That means that Custard is here too isn't he?
- Yeah, I will take him somewhere while you talk to the King, don't worry
- Thank you Caramel
I smiled softly at her but it quickly disappeared. We got into the throne room, where Dark Cacao and Pure Vanilla were sitting, having a small conversation while Crunchy Chip and Custard III were running around with laughter. Dark Cacao looked at us and from our state he already knew something was wrong, and it was possibly about his son, he got up but Pure Vanilla pulled him back to the throne letting us walk closer, Custard and Crunchy stopped playing for a while, looking at us with confusion.
- Papa, why are the bad guys here?
The blonde boy pointed at us and I just looked away. Caramel quickly grabbed his hand trying not to worry him.
- Come, Custard, sister will show you how to use a bow
- A bow?! Yey! I will be a great warrior just like Choco!!
His words, innocent but stabbed my heart like a sword. Caramel and Custard walked out of the room leaving just me, Velvet, Mushy, Choco's parents, and younger brother alone. I felt Velvet's hand stroking mine softly with care as we looked at those three.
- So- ekhem- what brings you here? I'm guessing is about my son, and from your expression, this isn't good. Mind to tell me what happened, and why he isn't here with you both?
I opened my mouth but no words came out, just single cracking noises, I started fidgeting with the pin I had from Dark Choco my hands trembling, so Velvet took a deep breath and started speaking.
- Your Majesty . . . We're here for as you guessed right tell you something about your son, you know he was really dear to us, and yes the news isn't good at all . . . Your Highness, we are here to tell that . . . Dark Choco Cookie, your firstborn son . . . He is dead, we found him lifeless in his room last night . . . Our deepest condolences sir
Velvet lowered his head with sadness and respect for Dark Choco's soul. The King went completely quiet dropping the sword he was holding, he looked into the floor, his body shaking, he clucked his hand into fists on his knees slamming them down on the throne standing furiously up.
- NO! IT CAN'T BE! THIS IS BULLSHIT! SOME KIND OF SICK JOKE! HE- HE CAN'T BE GONE! . . . Dark Choco Cookie . . . My son, my precious little first born . . . No . . . N-no
He fell to his knees, hugging himself looking completely horrified, realising he lost his firstborn son, and the last thing he said to him was calling him no son of his. Pure Vanilla was also terrified, he held his hand to his chest, breathing deeply trying to process everything that had happened, but the tears were already falling from his eyes. The blonde cookie walked closer to Dark Cacao and embraced him in a silent hug, both parents silently grieving their dead son.
- C-Choco . . . My big brother
Crunchy Chip sobbed holding tightly a little doll that Dark Choco had made for him before he was banished from the Kingdom. Poison Mushroom walked to him and hugged him. Crunchy looked at them with confusion but he quickly hugged them back. Velvet pulled me close and gave me a tender kiss on the forehead, I felt the warmth on my cheeks and slightly smiled at him, hiding my face in his shoulder.
- Sir . . . I'm sorry for asking, but could we stay here? . . . We ran away from our old team and now we don't have a place to go, we promise we won't cause any trouble
- Yes boys, you both and Mushroom can stay here as long as you need . . .
Pure Vanilla spoke instead of his husband to Velvet's question, the King was too deep in his mourning to even speak or even look at anyone. In the evening when Mushy and Custard went to sleep, we all stood at the Altar of the Fallen where Dark Choco's name was carved by one of the King's servants, Dark Cacao was the first to place a candle under the Altar, with his husband help they lighted it up and we all watched the small fire in silence disturbed only by a soft sound of sobbing.
- I love you so much Dark Choco
I whispered as tears were hitting the cold snow under my feet, Red Velvet held my hand, we both love him truly and without him we felt different . . . Incomplete. The night came and we all went to bed, I knew I won't be able to sleep again or I'm going to get nightmares. We lay down on the bed, I was hugging Velvet's side, resting my head on his chest listening to his heart beating softly, while he was stroking my hair, he kissed my forehead and forced me to look at him.
- Try to rest at least a little bit my Lavender, I will be next to you all of the time
- Why do you keep calling me that?
- What? Lavender? Because your robes smell like lavender and also this flower is my favourite because it keeps the nerves down
- but I'm always a bundle of nerves-
- Oh hush, imperfect or perfect, I still love you Licorice
I pushed myself up and gave him a soft kiss, and then rested back on his chest, closing my eyes trying to rest even for a while.
- I love you too Red Velvet . . .
That night I felt something cold between us, I think Dark Choco wanted to cuddle us for the last time, I missed him so much I wanted him to be here, I wished that I had run after him that time but it was too late, Dark Choco was gone and he's not going to come back and it's all my fault . . . If only I weren't so pathetic and useless, I would save him . . ."