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Chapter Text

Truthless Recluse gasped as the pain in his abdomen sent him doubling over. He staggered into a tree and groaned as a shock of agonizing pain rippled through his dough.He grabbed the excess fabric of his robe and pulled it around to his front, as if that would smother the pain. He grit his teeth and panted heavily, then looked over his shoulder.

He was still alone.

Good.

Heart thudding in his chest, Truthless Recluse took the time to lean on the tree and lift his foot. He struggled with the zipper on his boot and cried when it got stuck, but he managed to yank his foot free. He put his barefoot back down, shocks of pain raced up his leg.

Truthless Recluse bit his lip, then let it go, then bit it again and harder, before lifting his other foot and yanking that shoe off as well.

He sighed as his feet hit the bare earth.

It’d been so long since he was free.

His hands fell to his sides, and while he wanted to do nothing more than bask in the afternoon sun, he knew he needed to make it back to the remains of the Vanilla Kingdom before it was too late.

Before he discovered he was gone.

Panting heavily, Truthless Recluse pushed himself off the tree and kept running. Free from his heels, Truthless Recluse could run faster, and when the next searing twist of pain struck him, he kept running. He groaned and grit his teeth through the pain, but he kept running.

He had to.

He had to.

He wasn't entirely sure how far out his spell had put him, but he knew it was only a matter of time before he’d be found out. If he wasn't already.

What had he said?

“This entire Spire is part of my dough.”

It was meant to be comforting. Truthless Recluse didn't feel comforted. 

Another bolt of pain squeezed his abdomen, tears burned his eyes and he gasped for air.

Maybe he already knew Truthless Recluse was gone, maybe he was already caught, and now his freedom was just a toy that would be taken away. Why else would that book with that spell have called to him?

Truthless Recluse kept running.

He did have to stop, eventually, as he came upon a familiar river.

The Sour Dressing River.

Now, normally, cookies would use boats to cross the river as it was known to be very wide and very deep. Even if the current was not strong, it just was not something most cookies risked.

Truthless Recluse did not have that kind of luxury. Nor did he have the time to find it.

He rolled up the oversized robe and tied off the excess fabric as much as he could before sitting on the river's edge and slipping down the riverbank until his toes could no longer touch the slick bottom. Truthless Recluse was a short cookie, so even the shallow parts of the river were a struggle for him to cross. His head just barely bobbed along the surface as he struck his feet out behind him and paddled as fast and as hard as he could go with his arms.

He swallowed a few mouthfuls of the sour river water, but he kept moving forward.

He hoped with the river hiding his tracks, he could maybe taste freedom for just a little longer.

He knew it was hopeless. He’d be found sooner rather than later. It was inevitable.

But he had to try.

He had to.

Truthless Recluse reached the other side and threw both his arms up on the riverbank. Shaking, he pulled himself, soggy dough, soaked robes, and all out of the river.

He crawled forward until his arms nearly gave out, and he collapsed onto his side.

His lungs burned and his dough throbbed with waves of pain. 

Still…

He wasn't safe yet. (Maybe he’d never be safe again). 

He had to keep moving.

Truthless Recluse struggled to push himself up, he looked down at the soaked robes and couldn't help but feel the fire of defiance burn comfortingly in his chest.

The robes were ruined, no doubt about it. Soaking wet, dripping in sour dressing liquid, stretched and rumpled, muddy and scuffed.

He couldn't help but smile.

With his strength renewed, Truthless Recluse staggered to his feet. He took a few deep breaths, whispering a small pep talk to himself before he took off running again.

He came to the remnants of the Vanilla Kingdom, the city fallen from the sky upon his descent into madness. His once proud and idyllic kingdom was now nothing more than a pile of rubble, a lone peak of crumbling waffle cone structures in the Raisin Deadlands. 

Truthless Recluse could have cried seeing his home. The state of decay was not what tugged at his heartstrings, rather he cried due to the bittersweet scent in the air and the memory of what it had once been…

What he had once been.

Who he had once been.

But it wasn't the time for tears.

Truthless Recluse got to work. He reached into the shadows of the world, drawing on dark moon magic to summon his dark orchid staff to his hands. As soon as he pulled his staff out of the darkness he slammed the end into the ground.

Dual lines shot out in opposite directions from the tip of the staff.

The lines circled around the peak, runes of protection, bounty, and concealment burned into the ground and floated into the air.

The seal came together on top of the peak with a small -pop-

Barely audible over the ringing in his ears, but Truthless Recluse heard it nonetheless. He collapsed to his knees, supported only by his staff.

He wasn't sure if it was the adrenaline, the river water he’d consumed earlier, or his body betraying him as usual, but he hunched over and threw up everything in his system.

The bile burned his throat, and caused him to tear up again, but Truthless Recluse didn't care.

He had escaped.

He’d done it!

Truthless Recluse let his head hang after the last spur of vomit pushed out of him. And he wept.

No.

He sobbed.

Loud, painful, Earthbread shattering sobs. The kind of sobbing that left snot and drool dripping from his face. The kind of sobbing that made his dough too hot to touch, and left him shivering. His heart rattled with every scream that ripped from his throat.

Had there been anyone left in his kingdom, they surely would have heard him.

The years of agony he’d endured, both as a prisoner of his mind and as a doll to him poured out of him.

And, as if the world was mourning and rejoicing with him, the sky cracked open and a downpour of soaking cold rain washed away all of his vomit, snot, drool, and tears.

Truthless Recluse panted heavily, his throat scratchy from the abuse he’d just put it through.

Priorities.

He had to get out of the rain. 

Truthless Recluse picked himself up and turned to find shelter when a gust of wind nearly knocked him over.

“RECLUSE!”

His heart pounded in his chest. He turned on his heel (loving the feel of the mud on his dough) and just barely staggered back as The Fount of Knowledge slammed into the shield around his kingdom.

“Wh-what are you doing here, little one?” The Fount tilted his head, starlit curls impossibly dry despite the rain.

Truthless Recluse gripped his staff tighter.

The Fount pawed at the shield, his eyes scanning over something only he could see. 

He couldn’t get through.

Truthless Recluse took half a step back.

The Fount’s eyes were on him.

He froze. 

The rain was so cold on his dough he was shocked it hadn’t frozen into sleet or hail.

“Wh-wheeeerrrre are you going, little one?” His pupils were slits, as if in his anger he’d deformed himself into some kind of feral animal.

When neither moved or said a word, The Fount tilted his head to an in-cookie degree and tried to smile. “Come here, my doll.” His voice was so small despite his beastly stature. He could hardly be heard over the sound of the rain.

Truthless Recluse’s stomach churned. He didn’t move.

He wouldn’t…

He couldn’t.

Sensing his lost grip, The Fount pounded his fist on the shield, “Come here, now!”

He began to shake his head and he glared at The Fount through his wet hair.

The Fount let out an animalistic scream, “WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?! GET! BACK! HERE! NOW!” Each word was emphasized with a double punch to his shield. 

Truthless Recluse squeezed his eyes shut. He continued to shake his head. Such a tiny movement, but it made his vision swim and his knees buckled. His heart was hammering in his throat and more bile threatened to spill out of him.

“Doll?” The Fount’s claws scrambled for purchase on the shield, “Doll, please, l-let me in. Y-You need me, Doll.” He continued to whisper and beg for him to let the shield down, to let him in, to step back out, to go back.

Truthless Recluse took a staggering step back and opened his eyes.

The Fount was still impossibly dry despite the rain. His shield glowed a brilliant blue and black light wherever The Fount touched it. 

But The Fount could not get through.

He continued to ramble though, “A-and look at your feet, love. You’re filthy. P-please. Just come here a-and I’ll be sure to take care of you. Anything you need, Doll…just p-please…come here.”

Truthless Recluse took another step back.

The Fount’s breath fogged against the shield. He seethed through his teeth, “Come. Here.”

Truthless Recluse’s resolve did not falter. He squared his shoulders and shook his head.

“YOU CANNOT STAY IN THERE FOREVER, PURE VANILLA!”

He flinched at the use of his true name, but otherwise he did not react.

“You’ll have to come out eventually!” The Fount growled, “You will come home, or so help me, Witches, I will drag you back, kicking and SCREAMING IF I MUST!!” He launched himself at the shield, screaming and clawing at the air, but the shield (mercifully) held. Water splashed off the shield every time The Fount pounded his fists against it.

Truthless Recluse would not give in to his threats.

He couldn’t.

Not when freedom was so close.

He tried to hide his wince as a sharp pain wrapped around his abdomen and crept up his spine to settle on his shoulders, but The Fount saw.

Of course he saw.

“You cannot possibly think you can stay here, Doll.” The Fount hissed, “You have to come home. Now.”

Truthless Recluse panted through his nose and shook his head, water droplets flinging themselves free from his hair.

He wouldn’t.

He couldn’t.

“Who will take care of you like this? Who will ensure you are safe? Fed? Warm?” 

He would. He could take care of himself.

The Fount was starting to sound desperate, but Truthless Recluse knew it was an act. Something to get his guard down. It wouldn’t work.

Then, as if realizing he’d truly lost control, The Fount let out another road and slashed at the shield, “PURE VANILLA COOKIE YOU CANNOT KEEP MY CHILD FROM ME!! COME HERE, NOW!”

He did not move.

Light and dark magic exploded across the shield, the runes protecting him shimmered brightly, but held firm.

And so did he.

The Fount panted as the dust settled and he saw no change. Snarling, he growled, “Fine. Stay in there. Rot for all I care.” Then he broke into a maniacal grin, “But the second you step out of your little hidey hole,” He swept his arms out, gesturing to all of Earthbread, “You. Will be. Mine.”

Truthless Recluse took a shaky breath, heart trembling in his chest. He hated the tears that threatened to spill over and refused to let them fall in front of The Fount.

The Fount chuckled, then he giggled, and finally he threw his head backwards and laughed a dark and malicious laugh. “And if you even think,” He threw his head forward and pressed it to the shield, “For one second, that I will not try to take back what is mine, then your stupid, pretty, little mind is more broken than your or I could have ever conceived!”

He would not fall for the bait.

The Fount stared at him through half-lidded eyes and purred, “I’ll be back for you soon, Doll. Trust.” And just as suddenly as he arrived, he vanished.

Truthless Recluse let go of the breath he’d been holding and collapsed to his knees. Immediately, his free hand went to his swollen belly. 

His purpose, his world, his reason for escaping. 

For living.

“It’s okay,” He whispered, “We’re safe now…” He glanced up at the sky. The storm showed no signs of letting up any time soon. 

He was alone.

Utterly and completely alone.

A wrecked king in a wrecked kingdom.

He swallowed, his mouth and throat painfully dry and corrected himself.

“For now.”

Chapter Text

Truthless Recluse was shocked his teeth hadn't shattered. His fingers dug into the earth under him and his jaw was so tight it’d be a miracle if he could ever move it again.

He panted heavily, spit flying from his lips as a cold sweat broke out across his forehead.

Another contraction hit him and he choked down a scream.

He counted.

Sixty seconds for (most of) the pain to subside.

Sixty seconds wasn't that long. Not really. Not in the grand scheme of things. It was a minute. Just a minute.

He could handle —

WITCHES they were getting closer together!

He could see red when he squeezed his eyes shut. He had to be in active labor by now, he just had to be! He couldn’t imagine this getting any worse!

Truthless Recluse let his head fall back as tears rolled down his face, burning his dough. A whine broke free from his throat despite his best efforts to keep himself muffled.

He might not have stepped out of the circle of protection in the past two months since he’d made it, but he never knew if The Fount was watching.

Listening.

Waiting.

And he couldn't risk The Fount coming back now to try and lure him out of his protective bubble.

Not when —

“AAAAAUUUHHH — OHHHH!!!” He leaned forward and curled himself around his abdomen. 

“Ohh, ohhh,” he panted, the pain was unbearable, but he hadn't had the time nor the foresight to grow something that might've helped with his labor.

He tried to think back to his days as a healer. He was past the early stages of labor, that much he knew for sure. That had begun nearly twenty hours ago (was he panicking that it was nearly a month too early? Maybe, but he refused to leave the circle of protection). His contractions were happening every four minutes or so, getting closer and closer together.

Just as he thought that another contraction tore through him. He groaned, no longer able to muffle himself.

It felt as if he was being peeled open by his spine, everything from his breast bone down felt as if it was on fire!

He began to cry, and — desperate to stop the pain — he began to push.

Truthless Recluse squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for each contraction (now nearly indistinguishable from the pain that lingered behind them) to push.

Four pushes later (which felt like an eternity), he sobbed when he heard a small, pitiful cry.

Another contraction tore through him, preventing him from moving to pick up his baby. Feeling more pressure, Truthless Recluse began pushing again.

To his immense surprise, a second baby was pushed out of him, silent and still.

“N-no.” Truthless Recluse hadn't gone through months of misery in the Spire and hadn’t spent the past two months of total isolation just to lose one of his babies.

Pushing past the pain that threatened to knock him out, he leaned forward and scooped both jammy babies up in his arms.

The little blue-doughed baby was screaming, crying, squirming. Alive.

The little vanilla-doughed baby was still. Silent. 

He, gritting his teeth through the pain, crossed his legs and cradled the little blue-doughed baby on his lap. He held the little vanilla-doughed baby in his arms, rubbing its chest. He even stuck his finger in his mouth as if to check and ensure nothing was blocking its airway.

“Shhh, shh,” he tried to soothe his crying baby while looking over his dying baby.

“Please, please!” He whispered. In a last ditch effort, he opened the baby’s mouth and blew into it, fat, hot tears blurring his already horrible vision.

Nothing.

Sobbing, he cradled the cold little dough close to his chest. He could feel his heart breaking. It was a worse pain than when he’d discovered the truth about cookiekind, and he thought that truth would crumble him.

“I - I’m so sorry!” He sobbed, “I - It’s all my fault! I failed you!”

He felt a jerk and tried not to get his hopes up.

Another jerk.

Coughing!

Truthless Recluse pulled back, the vanilla-doughed baby began to cough and gasp for air.

“Ohhh, my starlight!” He kissed the little baby’s forehead. He resituated the vanilla-doughed baby into one arm, then he scooped the blue-doughed baby up into his other arm.

He'd never felt happier holding his babies in his arms. He hadn't been expecting two, but that just gave him more to love.

Every part of his dough screamed as he stood on wobbly legs. Truthless Recluse shuffled, one slow foot in front of the other, over to a small basin he’d found to collect rain water. He was very careful as he grabbed the fabric scraps hanging on the edge and piled them into something resembling a nest on the ground next to the basin. Then he knelt down and laid both babies next to each other.

Truthless Recluse sighed and let his head hang. His eyelids fluttered and he nearly dozed off right there…until one of the babies began to cry.

He inhaled sharply and got to work. He picked up the small hand towel he’d been using to keep himself clean and rinsed it in the water before turning and cleaning both babies of all the birth jam that was sticking to their fresh and soft dough.

Now that he could actually look at them, he realized the blue-doughed baby was a girl and the vanilla-doughed baby was a boy. 

The girl had a small tuft of blue hair and two golden eyes with mismatched pupils. Her eyelashes were white and wet with tears. She had not stopped crying since she’d come into the world. A bitter part of Truthless Recluse didn't blame her. She looked too much like her father.

The boy had a few small blonde and blue curls and two blue eyes (although one was a softer sky blue and the other was a deep cerulean blue). The lighter blue eye had black eyelashes, and the darker blue eye had white eyelashes.

With a frown, Truthless Recluse realized both children had just enough attributes to match their father and serve as a near constant reminder of what he’d gone through.

“No, no,” Truthless Recluse shook his head, “they are innocent. They had no say in this. You wanted them...you can handle this...” 

He looked at each child.

They needed names.

…

He hadn't thought of names.

But they couldn't just be called “girl” and “boy”! They needed real names!

The Fount would have known what to call them…

No!

No, no, no!

Truthless Recluse shook his head. He could do this. He didn't need, nor want, The Fount or his help.

Taking another breath, he looked over each baby. The girl had finally stopped crying, but she was still making miserable little sounds as if she was the one in pain. The boy was asleep — he was asleep, right?? 

Truthless Recluse put his finger under his nose and waited until he felt the boy's breath before he relaxed back.

…

Maybe names could wait…his mind was too frazzled as it was. He needed to feed them.

Luckily, that had been one of the few things he’d prepped in his time alone. And even more so lucky, a flock of cream sheep still lived nearby. He had a decent sized stash of cream sheep milk on standby.

Truthless Recluse shuddered to think of what The Fount might have done to him — to his body — had he stayed and given birth at home — in the Spire!!

Not home.

Not his home at least.

Or…maybe it had been his home…maybe it could have been his home…if The Fount hadn't ever started those stupid experiments.

…

But it was his fault…he’d wanted it too…at least, at first he had.

The girl began to cry again.

Snapped from his thoughts, Truthless Recluse finished cleaning both babies and then himself.

Truthless Recluse was too scared to leave the babies unattended on the floor, so he carefully picked them both up and carried them to their food.

While, yes, the Pure Vanilla Kingdom had fallen out of the sky, some things remained intact. For example, there were a handful of houses that looked as if they'd come fresh off of a cookie tray!

Okay, so some of the walls had crumbled from the years of neglect, but he hadn't compared them to coming off of a nonstick cookie tray. 

This particular home he’d been squatting in was a modest two story, though most of the second story was condemned by the half collapsed roof and missing fourth wall.

Hello.

While no electricity ran through what remained of his kingdom, he had been able to use his own magic to make due with the bare minimum.

“Although now…” Truthless Recluse thought with a frown, “The bare minimum must be changed.” He had two additional lives to look after now.

He was careful feeding both babies. His mind slipping out of his body to simply observe. 

Truthless Recluse tried to cling to his consciousness. 

He really did.

But the reality of his situation dragged him under and drowned him.

He was alone. 

In a desolate land.

With two babies.

Two virtuous babies.

He at least had the mindfulness to lay his babies down on the small bed he’d made from pillow and fabric scraps before he curled up into as small a ball as his body would allow.

He screamed into his knees and his body shook with heavy sobs.

He was surprised (but not really) that it took The Fount another week before he showed up.

In that week, he still hadn’t given his children proper names. He kept them clean and fed and warm, and he tried his best to be aware and present when they were awake.

He didn’t know if babies could dream, but if they could, then his daughter suffered from nightmares nearly every time she went to sleep. She’d scrunch her little face up, her whole body would shake, and then she would cry. And cry. And cry.

Even when Truthless Recluse would pick her up and gently hum and rock her, she would just tremble and cry. His heart ached, wishing he knew how to help her. When she was awake, she seemed to be a happy, curious baby, which made her loud cries all the more painful to bear.

His son, on the other hand, was almost terrifyingly silent. The boy barely made a peep beyond the occasional deep breath he took.

Truthless Recluse wondered if perhaps he was to blame for his son’s silence…

Most, if not all, of his day was spent with his children, but occasionally (usually when they were sleeping between meals) he would venture outside of their hovel of a home and scavenge through what remained of his kingdom.

Now that he was not nearly eight months pregnant with twins, climbing through wreckage and squeezing into small spaces was much easier. Anything he thought remotely useful, he would carry home.

Which was not the intention for his outing when he found The Fount.

He wasn’t entirely sure of the spell he had used to seal himself inside and keep The Fount outside, so he ventured away from the center of his circle to stretch his legs and ensure the runes were still in place.

That was where he found him.

The Fount was muttering to himself on the other side, glaring at where the shield met the ground as if it offended him on a molecular level.

Truthless Recluse tried to back track, to turn, to run, to escape. But he felt trapped, just seeing him there…

The Fount glanced up and did a double take, “Oh theeeerrre you are, Doll~!” he purred and grinned like a Cheshire cat.

“I was wondering when you might…” he trailed off as he noticed Truthless Recluses’s belly (or lack thereof) and he slammed his fists against the shield, “D-Doll? Wha - whe —,” His face twitched and his eyes hardened. He reeled his shoulders back, standing perfectly poised, almost calm.

But Truthless Recluse knew he was anything but calm and he thanked his lucky stars that the children were asleep back at the home. His grip on his staff tightened, he wouldn't even think of them right now. He wasn't entirely sure if The Fount could read minds…

“Where is my child, Doll?” The Fount’s neck snapped as he tilted it curiously.

Truthless Recluse felt a small amount of relief upon realizing The Fount had no idea he’d had twins.

“My Doll, did you,” He swallowed, “Did you give birth…without me?”

His dough crawled.

“That must've been very painful, Doll.” The Fount frowned and let his hands slide down the shield. “You must've been so scared.”

Truthless Recluse’s grip on his staff lessened. He eyed the Virtue up and down.

“Are you well? Have you any fever or aches?” The Fount’s expression softened. “Please, is our child well?”

Truthless Recluse found himself nodding before he could stop himself.

The Fount sighed with relief and rested his head on the shield, “Oh, thank the Witches.” He closed his eyes.

Was The Fount…crying?

His shoulders shook and he hiccuped. Milkcrowns blossomed under his feet, and he quickly wiped his tears away. 

The Fount looked up and Truthless Recluse froze. He hadn't even realized he’d taken two steps forward. 

“A-are you well, My Doll?” The Fount asked, lower lip trembling. “Please, do you need anything? Food? Shelter?” He sounded so concerned.

Truthless Recluse shook his head. His heart told him to run, but his body felt too weak.

“You look positively ragged, Doll.” The Fount frowned.

Truthless Recluse unconsciously pulled the neck covering of his body suit up around his chin to hide the few small sprigs of facial hair that had returned now that The Fount wasn’t able to suppress his body hair.

“A-are you plenty warm at night? Is our child warm?” The Fount asked, sounding desperate for anything, a crumb of an answer.

He nodded. He felt he at least owed The Fount some peace of mind when it came to their children. His throat felt tight, like he couldn’t breathe.

“Please, may I see our child?” The Fount tilted his head curiously, innocently.

Truthless Recluse realized he was much closer to the shield than he wanted to be. If the shield wasn’t there at all, he could have been grabbed. He took a step back.

When had he gotten so close?

Why had he gotten so close??

The Fount’s pupils narrowed to slits, but he kept his innocent, sad look on his face, “Doll? Please. Let me see our child.”

Truthless Recluse took another step back.

The mask dropped.

Shattered.

The Fount banged on the shield, “YOU CANNOT KEEP ME FROM MY CHILD, PURE VANILLA COOKIE! GIVE ME MY CHILD OR I WILL CRUMBLE YOU WHERE YOU STAND!”

Truthless Recluse turned his back to The Fount. He glared at him over his shoulder.

The Fount snarled like a feral beast.

Perhaps in his youth he would have said something snarky, something with bite, something to goad The Fount into reacting to him leaving. But now, Truthless Recluse just eyed him up and down, then turned back around and left.

He tried to keep his breathing even and his pace slow so he wouldn’t bring anxious energy back to their children — his!

They were his children.

Not The Fount’s.

His.

He could hear The Fount banging and screaming at the shield, but Truthless Recluse kept walking.

Chapter Text

Truthless Recluse worked hard to rebuild even a tiny part of his former kingdom. When he didn't feel comfortable leaving the twins at home, he would fashion himself a sling made from scrap materials and carry them with him. One on his back (the girl, because at least she’d make noise if she needed something), and the other on his chest (the boy, because he was so quiet and Truthless Recluse worried about him).

He still didn't have names for them.

They were never before recorded flavors, a mixture of The Fount’s virtuous blueberry-starlight flavor and his nearly erased vanilla flavor. How was he supposed to name them??

Right now though, he was the only person they had. The only person (besides The Fount, and Truthless Recluse doubted he was sharing the information with anyone) that knew of their existence. So…names..? They could wait…right?

Truthless Recluse had to carry supplies back in smaller, hand held pieces since he couldn't strap anything to his back or around his shoulders and hips. Despite it being autumn it was still miserably hot out. He tried to work in the shade whenever he could to avoid exposing either of his children to the sun and heat for too long.

His daughter kept track of time crying every few hours to remind him that they needed to be fed and changed.

Taking care of them was routine. A mindless routine that Truthless Recluse had to constantly fight to stay lucid through.

It helped to talk to them, but some days he couldn't even bring himself to do that.

Today, though, he could. 

“You need to make some kind of noise so I know you’re in there.” He told his son. 

He worried, constantly, that his own…submission… had somehow influenced his son’s quiet nature.

He hoped his son would not go down the same path he had…

He cradled him close and cried.

It wasn't fair.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

When he was younger, Pure Vanilla Cookie had always wanted a family. He’d romanticized the idea of having another cookie by his side to hold and be held by. To love and be loved. 

As he got older and he began to see the suffering in the world, he had tried everything in his power to find happiness for all of cookie-kind.

Instead, he’d founded his kingdom and took in all manner of cookies to give them a place to call their own, to give them a place to rest, to provide comfort and shelter to those that needed it.

He hadn't necessarily wanted to be king, but he could make more cookies happy by being king and protecting their happiness.

But it also meant shelving his own dreams. Putting away his childish dreams of love and having a family so he could focus on his people and his growing kingdom. But the hope that maybe one day…he could be happy, too, never fully went away.

So, when he’d heard rumors of a cookie who had gone to the Witches to seek the betterment of all cookies, he had followed.

And he had been horrified.

Now, any thoughts of happiness, of a family, of love seemed so hopeless. He’d stopped governing, caring, maintaining his home. His people tried to carry on, but…

Well, he was now living in what remained of his kingdom…

So it hadn't gone well for any of them.

And while he ached and hurt, Truthless Recluse would have been…fine? Content? He had accepted his fate, to be forever bound to his former kingdom to serve as a warning that not all truths were worth seeking out.

For years he guarded his fallen kingdom, and pushed away those cookies that came seeking the truth from him. 

But then The Fount of Knowledge had come along. 

His Dark Moon Magic had tried to protect him, but The Fount had simply waved it aside. He tried to speak to Truthless Recluse, but he couldn't respond.

What was the point in answering when it would change nothing?

The Fount invaded his mind to find the answers he sought…perhaps that should have been his first sign. Perhaps he should have resisted, fought back, done something! But he hadn't, and The Fount had scooped him up and taken him back to his home on Beast-Yeast.

At first, Truthless Recluse didn't care what The Fount did to him. Sure, it felt wrong to be so clean after neglecting himself so long, but it made The Fount happy.

And maybe a small part of Pure Vanilla still wanted to be happy and make others happy.

Maybe that's why when the touching and the kissing started he still didn't fight back. Because even though he knew the horrible truth about cookie kind, what fate awaited those that did not survive the ovens (and even the fate of some who did), he wanted to be a little selfish and claim the happiness the Witches Virtue gave him as his own.

The tiny spark of hope that was still Pure Vanilla clung to that happiness, that childhood dream of having a family, of being held, of being loved, even when The Fount pushed the boundaries of what Truthless Recluse knew to be acceptable.

He didn't want to make love all night, every night. He didn't want to be pinched and bitten until his dough was bruised. He didn't like being stuffed full over and over again. He hoped that by falling asleep The Fount would leave. Instead, he found himself still being made love to every morning.

He loved being loved, but it was becoming too much. His body constantly ached from being folded and stretched and held. Even after The Fount would clean him, he could still feel his cum dripping down his thigh throughout the day. He tried to resist, to cry, to shake his head, to do anything to tell The Fount ‘no’ and to stop. But The Fount would insist that Truthless Recluse was too good to deny, so good at taking him, perfectly made for him, and that he loved him.

Which was why, when The Fount informed him he was pregnant, he wanted to selfishly keep it. Maybe he hoped The Fount would stop making love to him (he didn't), or that he would be more accommodating in how he was dressed (he wasn't), or that maybe he could tell him exactly how he felt (he loved him, too, he just felt used) (and he couldn’t). 

The small part of him that was still Pure Vanilla had been the thing to push him towards escaping.

How could he be happy and raise a child in a home where he was suffocating? What kind of example was he setting for his child? That it was okay to be hurt after making love? That life was meaningless, so better accept love wherever and however it came to you?

The girl started crying, breaking Truthless Recluse out of his thoughts. She’d finished eating and now her tummy was upset.

Truthless Recluse sighed, pushing the thoughts of The Fount out of his mind so he could take care of his children.

After burping both babies, he re-secured them to the sling and got back to work. As he walked back and forth between their home and the debris field where he was currently scavenging, he realized he was wet and grimaced.

He hated what The Fount did to him.

Even now his body reacted to the thought of him.

Returning home, Truthless Recluse had done a fine job fixing up what he could. He had started rebuilding the fallen wall and now they at least had four walls to call their home. He’d also readjusted their living space to accommodate two children and himself.

For now, the twins were sharing a crib, and Truthless Recluse laid on a small futon beside them. He knew as they would get older they’d need their own beds and their own space, but for now Truthless Recluse wanted to keep them all together.

He fed and cleaned both babies and laid them down in their crib.

They still had no names.

Truthless Recluse let his head hang and he sighed.

What was he doing? He wasn't cut out for this! 

He looked back down at his babies…

He had to be cut out for this. Otherwise what would happen to his babies?

They needed names.

Truthless Recluse took a deep breath and laid down.

His stomach churned. After months of being fed daily, his body had grown used to food. He had to retrain his dough to survive. But that was a problem for tomorrow, tonight, he just wanted to sleep.

He was plagued by nightmares. Constant cackling. Shadowy claws ripping his dough. Screaming. His babies were screaming. He was screaming.

Truthless Recluse woke with a start, panting heavily as sweat clung to his dough.

The girl was whimpering in her sleep. Another nightmare for her, too.

“Shh, it's okay,” He stood as quickly as he could. His vision blacked out for a second, but he recovered quick enough to bend down and scoop her up before she could wake her brother.

“It’s okay, sweetie, I’m here.” Truthless Recluse sat back down, cradling her to his chest. She squirmed, and whimpered, but did not cry (thank goodness). He gently rocked her back to sleep, occasionally looking over his shoulder to ensure his son was still asleep. He stuck his hand through the bars of the crib to lay a hand on his chest.

Yup. Still breathing.

He ended up cradling the girl all night. Every time he thought she'd settled down, she started whimpering again.

“Why can't you be more like your brother, hm?” He whispered teasingly. 

Truthless Recluse blinked wearily and sighed as the sun came up. He was exhausted, and the nightmare (on top of having to comfort his daughter all night) left him feeling empty and drained.

“No rest for the wicked…” he frowned.

He fashioned the sling around his back and chest and secured the twins to their respective spots on his back and his chest. He grabbed his dark orchid staff and left home. He walked to the border of the protective circle and began inspecting the runes. They hadn't faded or diminished in any way, which was comforting.

And The Fount hadn't been able to break it for some reason, which was also comforting.

It took him roughly four hours to walk around the entire circle. He’d encompassed all of the former Vanilla Kingdom and then some, but at least that meant supplies. Resources.

But for how long..?

Truthless Recluse shook his head. He was resourceful, he could figure out a solution later. Write letters to old friends, flag down passing trade caravans, start gardening again, something.

The girl wriggled on his back, whining. She was hungry.

Truthless Recluse stopped to feed both. “You know,” He told his son as he laid them both on a soft patch of grass, “We wouldn’t have to adhere to your sister’s schedule if you would speak up as well.”

His son just blinked sleepily at him, he didn’t much like being woken up by being removed from Truthless Recluse’s chest sling. 

They needed names.

Truthless Recluse sighed.

He didn’t want to do it…

The idea had been swirling around his head for hours now…

He didn’t want to do it…but he was getting desperate. As much as he felt The Fount had no right to his children, they were…unfortunately…his children, too. 

He rationalized his decision to seek The Fount out as him just…looking for inspiration. If he didn't like the names The Fount would give him then he’d think of something different. Something better.

He found a spot where he could sit and lean back (he took the girl off his back first) to wait. He laid his dark orchid staff on the ground, he didn’t need it right now. 

He wasn't actually sure if The Fount would show up, but he was close enough to the edge of the protective circle that he’d be seen if he appeared nearby.

He put both babies on his lap and watched each of them. The girl reached out to her brother and patted his face. He flinched every time her tiny hand touched his cheek, but didn't make a peep.

He gently grabbed the girl’s arm, “I don't think he appreciates that.” He chuckled.

His little girl squeaked and wriggled so her hand was wrapped around his finger. She tugged and pulled his finger.

He smiled down at her, “You’re so strong.” He tried (but not really) to pull his finger away.

Her brother must’ve wanted to play ‘pull my finger’ because he began to wriggle his arms and huff.

Truthless Recluse chuckled and offered his other finger to him.

The boy grabbed his finger and shook it excitedly, a wide, toothless grin breaking out across his face.

“Goodness, there’s my happy boy.” Truthless Recluse was secretly relieved his son was showing something beside quiet curiosity. He bent down low to nuzzle his nose against his son's. He got a few excited puffs of air out of him. His smiled widened and he did the same with his sister. She kicked her feet happily and cooed.

“Doll?”

He gasped and looked up. His heart jumped into his throat so suddenly he nearly threw it up.

The Fount was just on the other side of the shield. His gold and cerulean eyes were shimmering.

“T-twins?” 

Truthless Recluse wanted to scoop his babies up and run away. This was a bad idea. 

This was a very bad idea!

“Why didn’t you tell me, Doll?”

Truthless Recluse swallowed his heart, forcing it back down into his chest. Very carefully, he pulled his fingers away from his children. The girl blinked, confused that their game was over, and the boy wriggled, upset that he was no longer being touched or held.

Truthless Recluse moved carefully, keeping The Fount in his peripheral at all times as he picked his children up.

“Doll? Please…” The Fount was trying hard to see them.

Truthless Recluse wanted to shield them in darkness so he could never look at them again, but he stomped his fears down. Carefully, even though the shield had held thus far, he stepped just close enough to the shield so The Fount could see both babies.

The Fount’s shoulders relaxed and he smiled, “Oh, my precious Doll…they’re beautiful.”

Truthless Recluse agreed, but he didn’t say so. The girl put her hand on her brother’s cheek again. He tried to squirm away from his sister, but Truthless Recluse had a tight grip on both of them.

“What are their names?” The Fount looked from the twins to him expectantly.

Truthless Recluse opened his mouth to answer, but saying, ‘I haven’t named them yet’ felt like asking for disaster. He closed his mouth.

“Please…please just tell me their names, Doll, and I’ll ask for nothing more.” The Fount pleaded, his forehead and palms pressed against the shield.

Liar.

“I haven’t named them…” He admitted quietly.

The Fount pulled back, shocked, “Oh, my poor Doll…it must’ve been so hard for you.” 

Truthless Recluse found a patch of grass to stare at and willed himself not to fall for The Fount’s pretty words. The girl patted her brother’s face again and this time he patted her back. She squeaked in shock.

“Giving birth alone. Rearing them alone all this time. It’s no wonder your precious, broken mind couldn’t think of names.” The Fount’s silver tongue was a blade to his throat.

Truthless Recluse didn’t even realize he’d started crying until he forced a breath into his lungs. He shook his head, “Their flavors…”

“I know, Doll, I know.” The Fount cooed, “They have virtuous dough, so they need virtuous names.”

No.

The very last thing Truthless Recluse wanted for his children were virtuous names.

“May I hold one?” The Fount asked.

Truthless Recluse recoiled away from the shield as if it had burned him.

Realizing he’d misstepped, The Fount curled his hands into fists and seethed through his teeth, “I just want to hold my children, Pure Vanilla Cookie.”

Truthless Recluse shook his head. He would never allow his children outside the circle of protection.

The Fount slammed his fists against the shield, “LET ME SEE THEM!” He shouted.

Truthless Recluse took two more steps away from the shield. The girl began to cry, and the boy scrunched his face up, scared.

“Please!” The Fount began to cry great big gummy crocodile tears. “Please, don’t go! Don’t! I just want to see them!”

But Truthless Recluse was far more invested in soothing his children. He carefully sat back down and pulled his knees up so he could lay the girl between his legs and gently rock her. And he cradled the boy in his arms and rubbed gentle grounding circles in his tiny palm to relax him.

The Fount stayed a blue blur in his peripheral vision, watching them.

“Shhh, it’s okay.” He comforted both children, “It’s okay. I’m here.” He whispered. His son calmed down much quicker than his daughter. He carefully switched them, laying his son on his lap so he could hold his daughter.

She didn’t relax until Truthless Recluse laid her on his chest and rubbed her back comfortingly.

“Wh..what are they?” The Fount asked quietly.

Truthless Recluse sighed. This was his fault — coming here, seeking The Fount out. He had no one to blame but himself…

He nodded to his son, now blinking sleepily as Truthless Recluse slowly rocked his legs side to side, “Boy.” Then he quickly pressed his cheek to the top of his daughter’s head, “Girl.”

“Please…” The Fount floated down until he was seated on the ground.

Like some common cookie.

“Please, Doll…come back over here…I just want to see them.”

Every ingredient in his dough screamed at him to run. 

But he didn’t.

Very carefully, he scooted himself and the twins closer to the shield. 

The Fount craned his head as best he could to look at the twins.

“Starlight Vanilla.” He whispered, looking at the boy.

Truthless Recluse looked at him curiously.

“He has my hair, although I see some blonde near his roots…and his dough is primarily vanillian.” The Fount explained.

Truthless Recluse looked down at his son.

Unfortunately, Starlight Vanilla fit him perfectly.

The Fount tilted his head to look at the little girl still cradled to his chest. “Pure Starberry.” He smiled.

Truthless Recluse gave him another curious look.

“You are Pure Vanilla Cookie. But she is primarily a berry cookie, same as me. And Star just goes well with her brother’s name, don’t you think?” The Fount looked up at him and smiled.

He hated him.

Both names were perfect.

Truthless Recluse took a breath and stood up.

“Doll? Wh-where are you going? Please, can’t I see them? Just a little longer?” The Fount pressed his hands to the shield.

He didn’t answer as he secured Pure Starberry to his back and (the now sleeping) Starlight Vanilla to his chest. 

“Please, Doll! D-don’t take them from me! I just want to see them!” The Fount pounded his fists on the shield.

Truthless Recluse nudged his staff up onto his foot, then kicked it up and grabbed it. 

“You can’t stay in there forever, Pure Vanilla Cookie!” The Fount’s composure completely dropped, and he snarled like a feral creamwolf.

Truthless Recluse gripped his staff and turned his back to The Fount.

“PURE VANILLA COOKIE!”

He walked away and let The Fount beat his fists on the shield and blast it with magic to no avail.

“PURE VANILLA COOKIE!!”

Truthless Recluse continued to walk away.

Chapter Text

The Fount of Knowledge was…random in his visits.

Sometimes, Truthless Recluse could hear him for days on end, constantly shouting and blasting his shield with magic. Sometimes he’d curse the Witches for locking away his ability to access Dark Moon Magic (that was good to note), sometimes he’d curse Truthless Recluse for haunting and hurting him like this (it only bothered him a little bit).

Sometimes, he’d go for weeks without seeing or hearing him. But just as he would get his hopes up and think he could leave the protection circle to find aid and better resources, The Fount would be back.

The worst times were when he’d be patrolling the circle and The Fount would be there. 

He was always so sweet and charming, asking Truthless Recluse if he was well, if he was eating, if their children were safe and healthy. Sometimes he critiqued how Truthless Recluse appeared (he hated his facial hair, the new clothes he was wearing, and the fact he was walking around barefoot, but Truthless Recluse didn’t care). But then he would try to get Truthless Recluse to step out of the circle, ask to see his children, ask to hold him, to hold them. And when Truthless Recluse would refuse or step away, he’d be back to screaming and cursing his existence.

And it hurt.

Truthless Recluse hated him.

Hated how The Fount made him feel.

Hated how much he still cared.

How much he still...

Truthless Recluse rubbed his freezing hands together. Winter was harsh and bitter, and settled coldly on his dough like a blanket of sharp, painful forks.

He blinked and stared at the fire he’d made. He poked at it with the stick he’d set aside earlier. Next to him was a sickeningly familiar blanket and a bundle of other blankets and clothes. A tiny rabbit in a waistcoat had been standing by the pile just on the other side of the shield. When it had seen him it had pushed the bundle through the shield then turned and hopped away.

He’d intended to burn them.

He didn't want a reminder of his bed in the Spire — of what had happened to him.

But…

He hadn't tossed them on the flames yet…

He couldn't bring himself to burn them.

Maybe he could cut and rip them into scraps and reuse them another way…

Embers fizzled and spat themselves out of the pile of wood. He could have used magic to keep himself warm, but the cold was…oddly reassuring.

The bite reminded him where he was.

He was free.

He looked beyond the fire at the house that was nearly rebuilt (he just had to fix the roof…but the ice and wind made working up high too dangerous). He might not’ve used magic for himself, but he used it for his twins.

He could feel pulses of magic coming from the house, reassuring him that both babies were still sound asleep and nestled in warm shadows.

He looked back at the fire.

The flames danced wildly in the winter wind. Warm, yet not enough.

He stuck one hand into the crackling flames.

It immediately burned and Truthless Recluse gasped and covered his mouth with his free hand to muffle his scream. He pulled his hand back and cradled it to his chest, hissing in pain.

Swallowing the pain, Truthless Recluse tried to push healing magic into his dough. He struggled to recall even the most basic spells, but slowly a shimmering mist of black and blue magic settled over his burns. The dough healed itself, leaving him with just a warm, tingling feeling.

His hand shook and he let out a single sob.

Why had he done that?

Burying his face in his hands, Truthless Recluse began to sob. He hoped he was far enough away to not wake the twins. He cried and cried until his cheeks felt frozen and his dough felt achy and hot all over.

He didn’t know when he’d done it, but at some point he must’ve laid down on the bundle of blankets and drifted to sleep because he woke with a start at the sound of Pure Starberry crying in the distance. The fire was out, and had been for a while if the cold and hardened wood was any indicator.

He gasped and shivered, all the warmth rushing from his body as his panic pushed him to stand before he was ready. His vision blacked out and he staggered and fell to his knees.

When had he wrapped the blanket around him?

Never mind! It must've just been instinct from the cold.

“I - I’m coming!” He called out, knowing fully that she couldn’t understand him. He just hoped she could hear his voice and know he was near.

Truthless Recluse pushed past his vertigo and stumbled to his feet. He ran back to the house and back inside. “I’m here!” He tried to keep his voice down, but Pure Starberry was screaming.

It was a miracle her brother was still asleep.

“I’m here! It’s okay, I’m here!” Truthless Recluse bent down and scooped her up into his arms. Immediately, he sat down and laid back against the crib. He laid Pure Starberry on his chest and began to stroke her back, adding pressure to her spine as his hand came up to force her to regulate her breathing. 

“I’m here.” He quietly reassured her. “It’s okay…I’m here.” He began to gently rock them both side to side when a small noise in the crib caught his attention.

“Oh, now look what you’ve done.” He gently scolded his daughter. He clicked his tongue and turned over onto his knees. “I’m here, I’ve got you, too.” He stood up, then bent down to scoop Starlight Vanilla into his arms. “I’ve got you.” He turned and sat back down.

For the first time ever — since being born four months ago — Starlight Vanilla’s face scrunched up and he began to cry.

“Oh, no, no no,” Panic shot up his spin, “No, sweetheart, please. I’m here.” He nuzzled his twins and began to cry, “No, no, no. I’m here…I’m here.”

Even Pure Starberry seemed startled by her brother’s behavior. She squirmed in Truthless Recluse’s arms and rolled over to cuddle up beside him.

Starlight Vanilla hiccuped and patted his sister’s cheek. Realizing she was beside him once more, Starlight Vanilla settled down and stared at her.

Truthless Recluse watched as the twins looked at each other. Actually looked at each other.

Pure Starberry cooed curiously.

Starlight Vanilla’s eyes twitched as if he was trying to squint but couldn’t quite figure out how to do it. He patted her cheek again, and she giggle-squealed and patted him back. 

Soothed by each other’s presence, the twins cooed and tiredly patted each other until they fell back asleep.

Truthless Recluse was speechless.

Not only did Starlight Vanilla cry, but he got his sister to stop crying.

He blinked his own tears away and curled up around his twins. 

What was he doing?

Whatever he’d been doing must’ve been fine because the twins were progressing as well as any other child might’ve (especially given their circumstances).

One morning, as he was using the last of the robes the Fount had dressed him in to make a quilt, he noticed excited wriggling and giggle-squeals coming from where he’d laid the twins on the floor.

He looked up just in time to see Starlight Vanilla roll himself onto his tummy and inchworm his way over to his sister. He laughed and threw the quilt aside to lay on his stomach and watch them. His heart fluttered and for once it didn’t make him feel sick.

Pure Starberry looked at her brother in shock, unsure how he was able to get on his stomach while she was still on her back.

When Starlight Vanilla noticed Truthless Recluse was watching them, he giggle-squealed and inchwormed his way over to him.

“Oh, well hello, little one!” He smiled and reached out to steady him as his head wobbled like a bobble-head toy. He laughed, “Aren’t you the daring one?” He glanced at Pure Starberry, “And what of your sister? Shouldn’t we help her?”

Starlight Vanilla just bobbed his head and Truthless Recluse nodded sagely, “I see…I, too, would tire of her crying.” He smiled wider and pushed himself up, “But she looks so lonely over here.” He stood over his daughter and grabbed her arms as she reached up for him, “Here, sweetie, try this.” He started to tilt her to one side. 

Pure Starberry rolled over and shook her head as if trying to straighten out her vision.

“Wonderfully done, sweetie!” Truthless Recluse beamed down at her proudly. He turned and sat back down beside Starlight Vanilla, “See? That wasn’t so hard.”

Starlight Vanilla huffed excitedly and inchwormed his way back over to his sister.

Quilt and The Fount forgotten (for now), Truthless Recluse just smiled and watched his twins play and socialize together.

As winter melted into spring, the twins were able to sit up more and began to play more. Repairing the roof was put on hold for just a little longer as Truthless Recluse waited patiently for a herd of wild cream sheep to cross the protective circle barrier. He herded them into a small area and used magic to reconstruct the fence that was half-decayed into the earth. Old instincts kicked in and he was able to recall how to sheer the most overgrown of the flock. 

Appreciative of the haircut, the cream sheep bleated and nuzzled his legs.

Truthless Recluse smiled. He had to scavenge for a few days until he could put enough scraps together to make a pick brush and untangle the matted cream wool.

Everyday as he worked, he watched his twins learn and grow a little more.

They filled his heart with so much warmth and happiness.

When the wool was clean and straightened, Truthless Recluse scrounged around until he found a pair of knitting needles in another half-crumbled house.

He thanked whoever had lived there before and got to work. He knitted a little plush cream sheep for each twin, then stored the extra wool away for later.

The twins loved their — honestly — rudimentary toys, and that made Truthless Recluse’s heart swell with pride.

With the twins satisfactorily occupied (with the toys and each other) he could get to work on the roof. It was hard work, which would have been made easier with magic, but Truthless Recluse knew if he was going to survive out here he needed to be able to do things without his magic. Witches forbid something happen and the magic was suddenly gone. He didn’t want their home to come crumbling down around them.

Spring passed with no appearance from The Fount.

Truthless Recluse wasn’t sure if he should be grateful or feel hurt.

But he didn’t have time to dwell on it.

He was confused when he woke up in the middle of the night to a strange noise. He squinted at the ceiling, trying to determine the source of the dry, painful sound. His eyes widened as he realized it was coming from the crib.

Truthless Recluse flung himself off the futon and crawled over to the crib.

Starlight Vanilla was coughing, and when he stopped to wheeze for air, he shivered and cried.

“Starlight!” He stood up and bent down to pick him up.

His dough felt as if it was one fire!

“No, no, no, no!” He panicked.

Why was this happening!?

Truthless Recluse cursed himself for not keeping a basin of water in the house as he ran outside. The early summer night was warm and muggy, which he was sure was not helping with his fever.

“Shh, shh, it’s okay, I’ve got you.” Truthless Recluse teared up as he ran around the house to the water basin and knelt down beside it. He wrung out the towel that hung off the side and dipped it into the lukewarm water. 

He dabbed at Starlight Vanilla’s forehead.

His son shivered and cried out in pain.

He tried to push healing magic through his dough, but it just shimmered over him and refused to sink in.

“What?” He gasped, “What?? No! No, no no!!” His heat felt like it going to explode from his chest.

Why wasn’t it working?!

Was it because of his virtuous dough?? Was his magic not enough?? How was he supposed to heal him??

Truthless Recluse began to spiral and he collapsed back against the house, cradling his sick and crying son to his chest. He knew his panicking heartbeat probably wasn’t very comforting to Starlight Vanilla, but he was drawing a complete blank on how to help his son!

He mindlessly went back to dabbing his forehead with the damp towel.

Starlight Vanilla cried until his little voice gave out.

Truthless Recluse cried with him, apologizing profusely for being unable to help him.

He stayed curled up outside, trying desperately to keep his fever down. When Starlight Vanilla’s eyes fluttered shut, he feared they’d never open again.

The Fount would know what to do…

A little, traitorous voice whispered in his mind.

The Fount hasn’t been by in months.

Truthless Recluse pulled a map of Crispia up in his mind. The next closest kingdom with a proper healer was the Golden Cheese Kingdom across the gooey fondue river. Without thinking, he stood up and ran to the eastern border of the protection circle.

His only thoughts were on getting Starlight Vanilla somewhere safe where other healers could try to help him. He half climbed, half leapt over fallen debris, and anything he couldn't safely get over with his son in his arms, he ran around. He was sweaty and panting heavily by the time the border came into view. He ran past the cream sheep pen but skid to a dead stop just before crossing the threshold to the protection circle.

“No…” His heart skipped a beat.

The Fount’s words echoed in his head, “the second you step out of your little hidey hole — You. Will. Be. Mine.”

His heart stuttered and stopped.

It wouldn’t have surprised him if The Fount had done something to his dough and soul to track his whereabouts. If he left…even just teleporting away…he ran the risk of being found and dragged back.

The thought of returning to the Spire, to be a prisoner once more, sent him spiraling.

He at least had the foresight to set Starlight Vanilla down before he sat down, turned away and threw up.

He couldn’t go back.

He wouldn’t go back.

He threw up again, the bile tearing up his throat as it came up. His nose burned and snot dribbled down his face. Something had to be done about his anxiety, but it was a problem for later. Wiping his mouth, Truthless Recluse turned and crawled back over to Starlight Vanilla.

His son was whimpering, crying big fat tears, and hiccuping for air.

Truthless Recluse’s head was swimming, all he could do was apologize and hold his trembling son.

It took three days and four nights for Starlight Vanilla’s fever to finally break. And for those three days and four nights, Truthless Recluse didn’t eat and hardly slept. All of his energy was going to ensuring Starlight Vanilla was cooled and comfortable, and keeping his poor sister away from him. She didn’t like being separated from him as much as he didn’t like being separated from her. But Truthless Recluse didn’t want whatever Starlight Vanilla caught to transfer over to Pure Starberry.

When his fever finally did break, Truthless Recluse hoped his smiley son would bounce back, but he was very lethargic for the first few days after seemingly getting better.

Even more concerning was the lack of response Starlight Vanilla had to anything around him. He was a heavy sleeper, but nothing would rouse him from his sleep unless Pure Starberry patted him or Truthless Recluse touched him, and he always jumped as if he was startled.

Truthless Recluse sat behind Starlight Vanilla as he watched his sister play with her cream sheep. Out of curiosity, he put his hand right next to Starlight Vanilla’s ear and snapped twice.

Pure Starberry immediately turned to look at him.

Starlight Vanilla didn’t react at all.

Swallowing his fear, he did the same to his other ear. 

Pure Starberry laughed and clapped her hands.

Starlight Vanilla still did not react, but upon seeing his sister clapping he giggled and clapped (albeit, slower).

Truthless Recluse buried his face in his hands and wept, “I’m so sorry.” He whimpered.

He did a few other tests, namely making loud noises to try and get Starlight Vanilla’s attention, but the boy didn't react to any of them.

If he had just stayed at the Spire, stayed with The Fount, stayed his perfect doll, maybe Starlight Vanilla would have never gotten sick. Maybe he could have healed him. 

He was deaf.

And it was Truthless Recluse’s fault.

Chapter Text

Cool, clawed hands rubbed his swollen belly. Truthless Recluse stared blankly ahead of him, hands tucked up under his head so The Fount could freely let his hands roam and grope him however and wherever he wanted.

The Fount hummed and smiled against his neck, “You’re coming along so nicely, Doll.”

Doll.

That’s all he was.

Doll.

D̵̯̫͎̼͐̏̒̕o̸̥̓͐͜l̴̡̆l̴͔̱̖̋

D̸̦͔͇̤̉̅̅͠o̸͍̊ļ̸̗̮͍̯͓̽̏̀͐͠l̴̯̥̣̤͚͓̗͗̊͂͝͝ͅ D̸̦͔͇̤̉̅̅͠o̸͍̊ļ̸̗̮͍̯͓̽̏̀͐͠l̴̯̥̣̤͚͓̗͗̊͂͝͝ͅ D̸̦͔͇̤̉̅̅͠o̸͍̊ļ̸̗̮͍̯͓̽̏̀͐͠l̴̯̥̣̤͚͓̗͗̊͂͝͝ͅ D̸̦͔͇̤̉̅̅͠o̸͍̊ļ̸̗̮͍̯͓̽̏̀͐͠l̴̯̥̣̤͚͓̗͗̊͂͝͝ͅ

D̷̡̢̲̟̱̥̤̫͕̽͌̈͑̍͗̒ͅơ̴̡̡̘͇̜̠̜̯͇̼͒͌̽͛̋̋̍̇̌͆̀ͅl̴̩͈͈̠̳͚͓͋̓̈̈́̈́̀ḽ̴̨̫̦̥̙͉̥̹͓̻̰̀ D̷̡̢̲̟̱̥̤̫͕̽͌̈͑̍͗̒ͅơ̴̡̡̘͇̜̠̜̯͇̼͒͌̽͛̋̋̍̇̌͆̀ͅl̴̩͈͈̠̳͚͓͋̓̈̈́̈́̀ḽ̴̨̫̦̥̙͉̥̹͓̻̰̀ D̷̡̢̲̟̱̥̤̫͕̽͌̈͑̍͗̒ͅơ̴̡̡̘͇̜̠̜̯͇̼͒͌̽͛̋̋̍̇̌͆̀ͅl̴̩͈͈̠̳͚͓͋̓̈̈́̈́̀ḽ̴̨̫̦̥̙͉̥̹͓̻̰̀ D̷̡̢̲̟̱̥̤̫͕̽͌̈͑̍͗̒ͅơ̴̡̡̘͇̜̠̜̯͇̼͒͌̽͛̋̋̍̇̌͆̀ͅl̴̩͈͈̠̳͚͓͋̓̈̈́̈́̀ḽ̴̨̫̦̥̙͉̥̹͓̻̰̀ D̷̡̢̲̟̱̥̤̫͕̽͌̈͑̍͗̒ͅơ̴̡̡̘͇̜̠̜̯͇̼͒͌̽͛̋̋̍̇̌͆̀ͅl̴̩͈͈̠̳͚͓͋̓̈̈́̈́̀ḽ̴̨̫̦̥̙͉̥̹͓̻̰̀ D̷̡̢̲̟̱̥̤̫͕̽͌̈͑̍͗̒ͅơ̴̡̡̘͇̜̠̜̯͇̼͒͌̽͛̋̋̍̇̌͆̀ͅl̴̩͈͈̠̳͚͓͋̓̈̈́̈́̀ḽ̴̨̫̦̥̙͉̥̹͓̻̰̀ D̷̡̢̲̟̱̥̤̫͕̽͌̈͑̍͗̒ͅơ̴̡̡̘͇̜̠̜̯͇̼͒͌̽͛̋̋̍̇̌͆̀ͅl̴̩͈͈̠̳͚͓͋̓̈̈́̈́̀ḽ̴̨̫̦̥̙͉̥̹͓̻̰̀ D̷̡̢̲̟̱̥̤̫͕̽͌̈͑̍͗̒ͅơ̴̡̡̘͇̜̠̜̯͇̼͒͌̽͛̋̋̍̇̌͆̀ͅl̴̩͈͈̠̳͚͓͋̓̈̈́̈́̀ḽ̴̨̫̦̥̙͉̥̹͓̻̰̀ D̷̡̢̲̟̱̥̤̫͕̽͌̈͑̍͗̒ͅơ̴̡̡̘͇̜̠̜̯͇̼͒͌̽͛̋̋̍̇̌͆̀ͅl̴̩͈͈̠̳͚͓͋̓̈̈́̈́̀ḽ̴̨̫̦̥̙͉̥̹͓̻̀ D̷̡̢̲̟̱̥̤̫͕̽͌̈͑̍͗̒ͅơ̴̡̡̘͇̜̠̜̯͇̼͒͌̽͛̋̋̍̇̌͆̀ͅl̴̩͈͈̠̳͚͓͋̓̈̈́̈́̀ḽ̴̨̫̦̥̙͉̥̹͓̻̰̀ D̷̡̢̲̟̱̥̤̫͕̽͌̈͑̍͗̒ͅơ̴̡̡̘͇̜̠̜̯͇̼͒͌̽͛̋̋̍̇̌͆̀ͅl̴̩͈͈̠̳͚͓͋̓̈̈́̈́̀ḽ̴̨̫̦̥̙͉̥̹͓̻̰̀

Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ D̶͔͇̥̘̯͐̎̉̎͂̚͝͝͠ơ̵͙͚̔́͆̈́̈́̒̄l̸̤̜̼̥̗̈ͅḷ̷̢̳͈̮͔̥̗͋̅ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍ Ḋ̵̲̬̗̳̇̃o̸̩̯̩̗͌̍ľ̵̢͇̠͝l̶͔̍

Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎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̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠Ḍ̸̣͇̖̺̣͔̥̝̹́́̽̏̎̽̀̑̚͝͝ơ̵̢̢̰͓̹͈̬̘͔̳͙͓̗̲͖̱̭̫͇̈́͗̅͐̿̈́͌̇̉̊́̃̐͝͝l̵̡̺̺̖͖̥̪̫͈͕̙̞͛͋l̴̨̟͖̤̫̉͋̃̈́͒́̍̈́͆̉̌̍̐͌͘͠͝͝͠

“Pretty soon, your robes won’t even fit you.” The Fount sighed.

Truthless Recluse’s heart stuttered.

No. Please, no…

“I’ll just have to spend some time crafting new ones for you.” He kissed Truthless Recluse’s neck. 

He sighed with relief. He hated how good it felt, hated how he melted back into his arms. 

“It shouldn’t take more than a day, but I hope you’ll forgive me if I keep to myself to get the work done.” The Fount sighed sadly and nuzzled him.

Truthless Recluse didn’t care, but he let The Fount cup his chin and turn his head to accept the kiss he was given. His heart fluttered, his chest felt warm and tight. 

Loved and pained.

As always, The Fount took more than what Truthless Recluse wanted to give, rolling over him to claim and take what he wanted.

Truthless Recluse sat up with a gasp, his head swimming as the nightmare — no, the memory — clawed at his mind. He wrapped his arms around himself as if that could stop his shaking. His chest heaved, but he refused to throw up.

He refused.

He dry heaved a few more times, but he kept his palm pressed firmly to his mouth to keep from throwing up.

Truthless Recluse swallowed. His cheeks were wet, he had no clue when he’d started crying, but he was now. Mind swirling, he carefully laid himself back down. He rolled over to face the crib.

The twins were, thankfully, asleep. Starlight Vanilla was on his stomach, which made Truthless Recluse frown. Were babies that young allowed to sleep on their stomachs? He sat back up and stood up. He didn’t want to risk it. 

He bent over and gently turned Starlight Vanilla over. Once he settled the little boy back down, he brushed his blonde and blue starlight curls away from his forehead. He feathered his finger down the boy’s nose and very lightly booped his little baby nose.

Starlight Vanilla’s face twitched in his sleep, but otherwise, he didn’t wake up.

Truthless Recluse smiled.

He looked next to him at Pure Starberry and chuckled.

She’d been sucking on her index finger but now it hung half out of her mouth, still covered in drool. She kicked her legs a few times in her sleep and wriggled.

“Oh no you don’t.” Truthless Recluse whispered, walking around the crib as she rolled over to lay on her stomach, “None of that.” He groaned quietly as he bent down and rolled her back over. “You don’t even like tummy time, why do you sleep on your tummy?” He chuckled and stood back up.

Back on their backs, Pure Starberry’s hand flopped beside her until she found her brother. In his sleep, Starlight Vanilla reached up and grabbed his sister’s hand.

Truthless Recluse’s heart skipped a beat and tears burned the corners of his eyes as the twins settled back down hand in hand. 

“We’re coming along quite nicely, aren’t we?” He whispered, his voice breaking.

The next morning, Truthless Recluse put the final touches on the roof. When he went back inside he took a deep breath and looked around.

Their little hovel was looking less and less like a hovel these days. With basically all of the kingdom up for grabs, he’d been able to furnish the house with the nicest mishmash collection of furniture he could find. Nothing matched, not the couch or the armchair, not the table or chairs, but that just made their little home feel cozier. 

It didn’t have to be perfect.

It wasn’t the Spire.

It was theirs.

Their home.

And as long as he had his twins and a roof over his head, Truthless Recluse didn’t need anything else.

Well…perhaps a garden would be nice…Truthless Recluse had basic gardening skills from his day as a king, tending to his garden…

He turned in the direction he knew the castle was. He’d been avoiding the peak of debris for as long as possible. He’d lived there, been there, when The Fount had found him.

A small part of him was terrified he’d be there again, even if the shield had proven to be just the thing to keep The Fount away from him.

Still, he knew his castle would have (nearly) everything they’d need to be self-sufficient. He could keep eating vanilla bean stew (it was the only thing he didn’t throw up these days, anyways), but the twins would need real food and real nutrition soon…they’d been living off cream sheep milk, vanilla bean paste, and vanilla bean paste with any herbs and edible roots he could mash up for couple of months now. But soon, that wouldn’t be enough.

Truthless Recluse looked back at the twins. They’d be one soon!

Currently, Pure Starberry was clapping and giggling at Starlight Vanilla, who was squishing her cheeks in his hands and laughing.

He must’ve blinked. 

Since when were his babies so…big?

He laid his hands on his lower abdomen. He still remembered how full of warmth and love and fear he’d been when The Fount had told him he was pregnant. 

Pure Vanilla’s dream of having a family was finally within his reach, but Truthless Recluse’s nightmare was crescendoing.

And what’s worse was, he loved it. 

He loved when The Fount would hold him from behind while in bed. He’d interlace their fingers together and rest them on Truthless Recluse’s pregnant belly and he’d whisper little prenatal facts to him until he fell asleep.

“We have to keep the room warm so the baby’s dough won’t collapse.”

“At this stage, they’re no bigger than a yeast spore. Such a tiny little thing. But still so precious to me.”

“They should have all their fingers and toes by now. Can you imagine it, Doll? Tiny little hands and feet to kiss and hold?”

“I should keep my lectures close to home, the baby is able to hear us by now and there’s never been any harm in getting a headstart in life, right, Doll?”

Now, it was only his hands on an empty womb.

Truthless Recluse’s hands jumped back to his sides as if he’d been burned by his own dough. His sudden movement caught Pure Starberry’s attention and she smiled and giggled at him.

Truthless Recluse exhaled shakily and smiled back at her.

Starlight Vanilla wriggled and rocked on his bottom so he could turn around, he smiled and clapped when he saw Truthless Recluse.

He chuckled and started to walk over to them, “Well, the house is finally all fixed, what shall we start on next..?”

He trailed off as he saw Pure Starberry plant her hands on the ground and push herself up to her feet.

Truthless Recluse dropped to his knees, speechless, “Pure Starberry?” He held his arms out.

Pure Starberry looked down at her feet. She took one, very wobbly, determined step forward and promptly fell onto her brother and he crumpled forward, his head hitting the floor.

Since his back was turned to her, Starlight Vanilla was startled and the fall only solidified how scared and in pain he was, so he began to cry.

“Oh!” Truthless Recluse scooted over to them and picked them both up. “Maybe next time,” He kissed Starlight Vanilla’s forehead where it had hit the floor, “You try holding on to something that isn’t your brother.” He told Pure Starberry, who put on the cutest pout and let a few silent tears dribble out of her eyes.

“Now, now,” Truthless Recluse nuzzled both of them, planting small kisses on their noses, “None of that. You are safe. I’m here.”

Soon enough they were back to giggling and playing together. Truthless Recluse smiled and sat back to watch them.

A small, hidden part of his heart thanked The Fount for giving him twins. They’d never be alone. Even if something happened to him, they would always have each other.

With the rest of his summer free from fixing up the house, Truthless Recluse decided to push off going to the castle for just a little bit longer. He focused on maintaining the herd of cream sheep, scavenging roots and herbs, and watching his twins grow and learn more each day.

The Fount was almost entirely gone from his mind.

The twins were really starting to grow up fast, he was almost afraid to blink for fear of missing something, so he wanted to spend more time with them. Pure Starberry was starting to babble, Starlight Vanilla seemed confused whenever she did, but he would clap slowly along to whatever she was doing.

Truthless Recluse still did some work around the house, namely textile, sewing and crafting at least two additional outfits for him to wear (he thanked whoever had lived in the house before as they seemed to have been a practical, no-nonsense merchant and had a surplus of fabric in one of the downstairs rooms).

Pure Vanilla would’ve remembered their name.

Truthless Recluse did not.

But, after making his own outfits — modest and plain, not at all like the robes The Fount had dressed him in — he got to work making clothes for the twins.

So far they’d been living in scrap clothes made from the oversized robe Truthless Recluse had escaped in.

One of The Fount’s robes…

But Truthless wanted them in something better. Something that didn’t belong to The Fount.

He sat in the armchair and hand-sewed everything by eye. There was no way he was going to be able to get two squirmy babies to sit still long enough for him to measure them. Plus, he held, carried, fed, bathed, and changed them enough to know roughly how big to make their clothes.

And if they were a little on the big side, well, they’d grow into them.

Pure Starberry babbled, and then got louder.

Truthless Recluse glanced up from his handiwork.

Pure Starberry was standing!!

She was standing and took one - no, two - three steps towards him! She giggled and made grabby motions with her hands.

“Oh, sweetie!” Truthless Recluse set aside his sewing and bent down to catch Pure Starberry as she staggered and stumbled into his arms, babbling happily away.

“Oh! My big girl!” He stood up and held Pure Starberry above his head, “Look at you go! So confident!” Pure Starberry giggled and squealed and kicked her feet excitedly.

He sat her back down and watched her try to walk over to her brother — who was unaware of what had just transpired as he was busy making his well-loved cream sheep plush bounce along an unseen trail.

Pure Starberry only got two more steps in before she fell on her butt, but she just giggled and clapped and then began to hit the floor.

Truthless Recluse tilted his head curiously, but was shocked when he realized she’d gotten Starlight Vanilla’s attention.

Starlight Vanilla turned around and Pure Starberry babbled and clapped excitedly. Starlight Vanilla didn’t know why they were clapping, but he clapped along with his sister and smiled.

It didn’t take long for Pure Starberry to grow comfortable on her own two feet, and after a few days of getting used to this new milestone, she helped Starlight Vanilla stand on his own feet. He didn’t have quite as much luck as his sister did in walking, but he did think her trying to run around was hilarious. Truthless Recluse found himself smiling whenever they’d giggle and laugh together.

Seeing that the twins were wanting to communicate, Truthless Recluse made a mental note to find the castle’s library whenever he did decide to go back to the peak of debris. He was almost positive there were books on sign language in Pure Vanilla’s old library.

Having one child walking was a bit of a blessing and a curse. Truthless Recluse now had to make sure the house was baby-proof. Not that he kept anything inherently dangerous out where the twins could grab them, but the windows and doors had to be locked at all times unless all three of them were leaving. Pure Starberry had this lovely habit of trying to run away the second Truthless Recluse took his eyes off her.

He was grateful she wasn’t very fast or coordinated right now, but he knew it’d be an issue later if he didn’t start taking precautions now.

Like today. 

On their birthday.

Truthless Recluse carried Starlight Vanilla on his hip and held onto Pure Starberry’s hand as he walked them outside.

“Stay with me, Starberry.” He told the little girl. She tugged at his hand and babbled excitedly.

Truthless Recluse smiled but was able to keep her in his grasp as he walked them away to the cream sheep field. As he’d been removing debris around looking for something to muzzle a particularly snippy sheep with, he’d uncovered a small patch of sleeping vanilla orchids.

Back when Pure Vanilla had dreamt of having a family, his dream was to gift a flower crown to his dream-upon child for their first birthday.

Flower crowns were a traditional gift in the Pure Vanilla Kingdom, people gave them out at birthdays to children, newly weds would braid flower crowns directly on their new spouse’s head at the end of the ceremony, there was — used to be — a whole festival in the spring where the kingdom celebrated the arrival of spring by braiding and threading wreaths and garlands of flowers from every door and lamppost. People used the festival as a backdrop for proposals, offering their most heartfelt words to their loved ones while gifting them a flower crown.

…

Truthless Recluse wanted to braid them each a flower crown.

He was slower walking alongside Pure Starberry, but he knew if he tried to pick her up she’d just squirm and want down. Ever since she’d gotten confident walking she didn’t want to be held unless she was tired, eating, or upset.

Such a strong, independent little girl.

He wanted her to stop growing up so fast!

Truthless Recluse hummed as he walked, and he smiled when Starlight Vanilla rested his head on his shoulder.

At least one of his kids still wanted cuddles.

Truthless Recluse nuzzled his starlit curls and kissed the side of Starlight Vanilla’s head. His dual blue eyes fluttered shut.

It took longer than he’d anticipated, but they finally made it to the cream sheep field. Pure Starberry cooed and squealed excitedly at the cream sheep, but allowed for Truthless Recluse to gently pull her over to where the corner of a building still stood. Nestled in the corner was a patch of sleeping vanilla orchids. There were a few other flowers in the corner, some primroses, a few lilies, and a handful of slightly-wilted violets.

Truthless Recluse sat down and laid Starlight Vanilla down next to him. The little boy immediately turned onto his side and curled against his legs to nap. He managed to get Pure Starberry to sit on his lap, and the walk must’ve tired her out because she didn’t squirm or fuss for once.

He smiled and began to pick a handful of flowers. 

Nowadays, he thought the whole flower festival and tradition of flower crowns was foolish at best and futile at worst. How were flowers meant to show eternal love and dedication when they wilted within a few days of being plucked?

Still, the little part of him that was still Pure Vanilla was warm and happy being able to weave flower crowns for his children.

He smiled as the old instincts came back to him. He arranged the flowers how he wanted them in a line, then got to work weaving them directly onto Pure Starberry’s head.

She was very curious about each flower, so he brought each one up to her face and explained them before he wove them onto the slowly growing braid around her head.

“This one is a sleeping vanilla orchid.” He twirled the yellow flower in front of her face and she giggled. “I created a tea with it once. It made me feel as if every bad memory was simply a foggy dream.” 

“This is a lily…I introduced them to the kingdom a long time ago to…to remember my friend.” He swallowed hard, looking at the soft white petals. “White Lily…”

Last he knew of her, she had gone to Beast-Yeast, seeking information on how cookies were made.

If only she knew…

It might be the only thing that could have stopped her from her research.

Truthless Recluse sighed, there was no point dwelling on memories and could-haves. He especially didn’t want to think about Beast-Yeast. Not today.

“This is a primrose. They’re said to protect you from evil spirits.” He was glad there were primroses still growing here.

“And these are violets.” Truthless Recluse smiled, “They symbolize love and wisdom.” Satisfied with the flower crown, he clapped twice, “Alright, let me get a look at you.” He helped Pure Starberry stand, then turned her around.

She giggled and smiled and looked absolutely precious in her first ever flower crown.

Truthless Recluse thought his smile might break his face, “You look beautiful, sweetie.”

He turned to pick up Starlight Vanilla, but blinked in shock when the boy was missing from his side.

“Starlight?” He scrambled to his feet and looked behind where he’d been sitting, “Starlight?!” 

Starlight Vanilla was missing!

A giggle was swept up by the wind. Truthless Recluse’s heart was in his throat as he turned back around and squinted in the bright summer light. His mouth went dry.

Starlight Vanilla was nearly on the other side of the cream sheep field.

Close to the shield.

Truthless Recluse acted on instinct, “STARLIGHT!!” He knew his son couldn’t hear him, but the scream just ripped out of him as he ran towards his son. Truthless Recluse grabbed the fence and hopped over it. As soon as his feet touched down he took off running again.

“STARLIGHT! COME BACK!!” He screamed.

Starlight Vanilla crawled under the fence and there were only a few wobbly steps between him and the shield. 

Truthless Vanilla saw what had drawn his son away.

A stupid rabbit in a waistcoat hopped just ahead of him, glancing back to ensure the boy was still following him. A puppet of The Fount's, no doubt.

“NO!!!” He screamed.

Starlight Vanilla was slow to rise to his feet which gave Truthless Recluse just enough time to catch up to him.

He launched himself up and over the fence. He scooped Starlight Vanilla up in his arms and rolled to a stop, his back outside the shield.

Truthless Recluse shoved Starlight Vanilla back towards the cream sheep field and dragged himself back inside the shield just as soon as a pair of clawed hands slammed into the ground and sent dirt flying and shattered the rabbit puppet into pieces.

Truthless Recluse scooped Starlight Vanilla up in his arms and scrambled as far from the shield as he could go before his back hit the fence. He forced himself to breathe, panting heavily as he absentmindedly patted Starlight Vanilla up and down to ensure he wasn’t hurt. Starlight Vanilla began to cry, but Truthless Recluse just shushed him and pressed him close to chis chest.

The Fount looked more like a wild animal than he remembered. Now, along with stars twinkling in his celestial hair, a few blackened eyes blinked at him. His grin was feral, too wide, too sharp. And his pupils were slits in his gold and cerulean eyes.

As soon as The Fount realized he hadn’t caught him, he sat back, eyes twitching.

“Apologies, Doll…I’ve been gone for soooo long.” He bent his neck at an unnatural angle, the grin never leaving his face. “Did you miss me?” He asked, pupils dilating just enough to make him look like a cat just before they pounced on their prey.

Truthless Recluse clutched Starlight Vanilla to his chest and trembled.

The Fount began to ramble on, “My poor Doll, you look absolutely dreadful. Why have you let your stubble grow so much? So unclean. Tsk, and your feet? We worked so hard to fix those…and let me guess, your lips are chapped and you’ve done nothing about it? And oh! Your robes! Where is the robe you stole from me??”

Truthless Recluse wanted to disappear, he turned his head away from The Fount and brought his shoulders up around his head, hoping to hide from him as much as possible. He began to hyperventilate and his vision swam.

“It doesn’t matter. I’ve got thousands of them.” The Fount waved a dismissive hand. “Unfortunately, I was unable to visit due to some pesky hero who decided to challenge my dear friend, The Herald of Change, to a fight. The hot head’s been missing ever since. So we’ve been managing his duties on top of our own.” 

Truthless Recluse didn’t care!

He squeezed his eyes shut. This was just another nightmare. 

It had to be another nightmare!

“Ohhh, my Doll…Truly, I did not mean to frighten you.” The Fount cooed and relaxed his body even more.

Truthless Recluse peeked an eye open. Starlight Vanilla squirmed on his chest.

“I’ve really missed you, my precious Doll.” The Fount frowned. But Truthless Recluse saw how his pupils contracted as he glanced down at Starlight Vanilla. “I don’t think Starlight likes being held so tight, Doll.”

Truthless Recluse did not lessen his grip on his son. He opened his mouth to say something. 

To scream at him to leave. 

Unfortunately, luck was not on his side today.

Something behind him caught his eye, and The Fount launched himself into a hover, his hands pressed to the shield. Slowly, his hands curled into fists and he glared down at Truthless Recluse, “You left our daughter alone?”

Pure Starberry!

Truthless Recluse gasped and scrambled backwards under the fence.

“Pure Vanilla Cookie?”

He ignored The Fount and ran for his daughter.

She was smiling and petting one of the lambs, a fistful of vanilla orchids in her hands.

“PURE VANILLA COOKIE!!”

He scooped his daughter up and ran home. 

“PURE VANILLA COOKIE!!”

Pure Starberry cried and it took him until he plopped the twins down onto the couch to realize it was likely because he’d accidentally knocked her flower crown off.

Truthless Recluse panted heavily and held himself up on his knees, “I - I’ll make you,” he collapsed to his knees and rested his head on the couch between the twins, “I’ll make you another one…” He promised.

Chapter Text

“Starlight, look!” Pure Starberry giggled as she held a rock up, “jelly worms!” She scrunched her nose up and giggled, “Gross!” She looked up at her twin brother.

Starlight Vanilla blinked, unimpressed. He lifted his foot and stomped the rock back down. He tapped his thumb to his forehead with his fingers spread, then pointed two fingers off in front of his face, then he finger-spelled a word, “Papa said to look for supplies.”

“I know,” Pure Starberry sighed, “You’re no fun.” She climbed up on the half crumbled remains of a structure, “Don’t run, don’t climb, papa said not to go near the magic wall,” She half-signed as she balanced precariously on the structure, “Haven’t you ever wondered what’s out there?” She asked. She craned her head back and looked at the dimly shimmering magic dome above her.

Some candied cranes flew overhead.

She wished she could follow them.

Her brother tapped her arm and she looked at him.

“No.” Her brother signed, deadpanned.

Pure Starberry rolled her eyes.

“Let’s go.” He signed again, “Papa wanted us to get sleeping orchid roots.”

Pure Starberry huffed and readjusted her scrap bag around her shoulders, “I think we have plenty.” Her bag was stuffed full of the woody roots and yellow blossoms.

Starlight Vanilla tapped her shoulder to get her attention again, “And lavender.” He reminded her.

Pure Starberry sighed again, “Fine.” She didn’t like the smell of lavender, nor did she enjoy how it tasted, but their papa made her drink it nearly every night.

It was supposed to help her sleep. Keep the nightmares away.

It never did.

But she’d never tell papa that.

Pure Starberry took her brother’s hand and let him guide her back down to the ground. 

“Can you carry the bag?” She asked as they set off walking.

“What?! No!!” Starlight Vanilla signed, his mouth open, aghast at his sister’s question. “Besides, you’re just gonna wander off like you did last time!”

“I did not wander!” She corrected her brother, signing just as wildly as he was.

“Did so!”

“Did not!”

“Did so!”

“Did not! You could totally see me from the field!” Pure Starberry huffed and crossed her arms. She didn’t wanna talk to him anymore.

“Papa said not to go near the glowing border! And you were right next to it!” Starlight Vanilla signed.

Pure Starberry kept her arms crossed. She didn’t get why being near the border was so bad. It gave off the same warm magical energy their papa did, and their papa wasn’t a bad cookie.

Sure, sometimes there were days where Starlight Vanilla and Pure Starberry had to pretend-play as the parents, but he’d always come back to them. And his smile would reassure her that everything was going to be okay.

“DON’T GIVE ME THE SILENT TREATMENT!!” Starlight Vanilla signed furiously.

Pure Starberry refused to sign back.

The twins walked in silence.

Pure Starberry frowned and watched her steps as they continued walking. Was the world outside the border really so bad? It never seemed like it..?!

Pure Starberry looked down at where Starlight Vanilla had interlaced their fingers. Seeing he caught her attention, he raised his free hand to his chest and made a circle.

“I’m sorry.” He frowned. Then he added, “For yelling.”

Pure Starberry frowned, “I’m sorry, too.” She signed back. “I know not to go near the border…it just…it feels nice.”

Especially on the days when papa would be quiet and they’d have to take care of him. Escaping to the border when neither of them were looking, she would lay down next to the border and let the magic wash over her. She always felt better wrapped up in her papa’s magic.

Besides, there was almost always a pretty new animal to look at: a blueberry bird, a blue raspberry racer snake, a cotton candy fox. She wished she could keep one as a pet, but her papa didn't seem fond of animals. Hence, the walk they needed to take to collect flowers.

The twins made it to their little garden. It wasn’t far from home, just far enough away that any animals that did venture into the circle looking for something to eat wouldn’t be near their house.

Starlight Vanilla got to work digging up lavender and handing the stalks and blooms to his sister. 

Pure Starberry wiped as much dirt off the roots as she could before stuffing it into her bag.

They collected enough to last them the week, then held each other’s hands to walk home.

Starlight Vanilla hummed an old tune their papa used to hum to them — he didn’t hum it anymore — and Pure Starberry hummed along, though she knew he couldn’t hear her.

She sighed, bored, but perked up when home came back into view and she could see their papa out hanging up laundry.

“Papa!” She shouted and started running. She could hear her brother on her heels.

Truthless Recluse looked towards his name being shouted and smiled.

“Papa! Papa!” 

He knelt down and opened his arms embracing both of his children tightly.

“You're awake!” Pure Starberry was relieved. She nuzzled his beard. She loved the feel of his scratchy icing on her dough.

“I am. I’m here.” He chuckled. He pulled back so he could sign to them as he spoke, “Did you get the plants like I’d asked?”

Pure Starberry nodded, “Yup!” She pulled the bag around and opened up the flap so that papa could look inside.

Starlight Vanilla signed, “We saw some candied cranes, too.”

“Candied cranes?” Truthless Recluse signed back before he took the bag from Pure Starberry.

Starlight Vanilla nodded.

Truthless Recluse frowned. If the candied cranes were already passing by…that meant that summer was fast approaching…his twins would be five soon.

They should have been starting preschool…

Not trapped in here with him…

His mind began to wander as Pure Starberry recounted their whole trip, from the sleeping vanilla orchid field out by the cream sheep, to the garden nearby. Starlight Vanilla signed along with her, but Truthless Recluse thought back to The Fount’s last visit.

“You know they can't live in there forever, Doll.”

He looked worse. Nowadays, not a single star twinkled in his hair. A strange mark had appeared over his gold eye, which wasn't even gold anymore, it was a bright cyan color. There were bags under his eyes, and the blackened dough around his claws had crept up his hands and wrists.

“They need socialization, schooling,” With every note The Fount had on child rearing, Truthless Recluse gripped his staff tighter. “You had your fun. Now it's time to get back to reality, Doll. Come home.” His voice was gentle. He laid his hand on the shield.

Truthless Recluse looked at his hand.

It was getting harder to keep Pure Starberry away from the shield. And since Starlight Vanilla was always with her, he feared one day they’d vanish on the other side.

Luckily for him, the twins were never with him whenever he went to check the border, so they’d never met their father.

And he knew that burned The Fount. Enraged him.

He didn't care.

“They have socialization.” Truthless Recluse’s voice was quiet.

“Those friends of yours from the Dark Cacao Kingdom and the Golden Cheese Kingdom hardly count.” The Fount scoffed and rolled his eyes.

Truthless Recluse gripped his dark orchid staff tighter. 

“Oh yessss, Doll, I know allllll about them.” The Fount purred, “What are they calling them these days?” He tilted his head in mock thought, “The Dragon Lord Light of Resolution and The Immortal Light of Abundance, blech,” He stuck his tongue out and shook his head, “What a disgusting mouthful. Seunim of Volition and Herald of Change are so much easier to say.”

After the twin’s first birthday — and nearly losing Starlight Vanilla — Truthless Recluse had been desperate. He’d managed to convince a blueberry bird to come to him, and then he spent months training it to take and receive small things. His hard work had paid off. He was able to send letters to his friends, explaining his absence and asking for help.

It had been some of the most humiliating things he’d ever written, but it needed to be done, so there was no point in beating around the bush.

Dark Cacao, White Lily, and Golden Cheese had written back. Dark Cacao and Golden Cheese offered to help however they could, regularly sending convoys with resources Truthless Recluse couldn’t grow or make himself. And occasionally the monarchs themselves would come for a visit. The first time they had, they’d broken down crying upon seeing their old friend and his children.

White Lily had offered her condolences to his plight and offered to look into more stable magic to protect them (he hadn’t heard from her ever since).

Hollyberry hadn’t responded.

“But my point still stands.” The Fount kept talking — did he ever shut up? — “One or two visits a year is hardly the kind of socialization and mental stimulation my children need.” He waved his hand dismissively, “And I’ve already picked from my students the ones that will be the best company for them. We’ll have to be mindful of The Apostle of Happiness, she’s managed to convince some poor cookie to bake a child with her the old fashioned way —,”

Truthless Recluse’s grip on his staff tightened to a near painful degree. “We are never leaving my kingdom.” He finally seethed out, interrupting The Fount.

The Fount blinked once.

Twice.

Then doubled over laughing.

It was a sharp, ugly sound that made Truthless Recluse’s mouth go dry.

“Look! Look!” Pure Starberry’s voice knocked Truthless Recluse out of the memory. She pointed up, “More candied cranes!”

Truthless Recluse shielded his eyes and looked up. Sure enough, a flock of candied cranes were flying overhead. He took a deep breath.

Starlight Vanilla patted his arm.

“Hmm, yes?” He signed as he looked down at him.

“You okay?” Starlight Vanilla signed, frowning, “Are you sleeping?”

Truthless Recluse smiled sadly.

Sleeping.

That’s what they called his…moments. The times when memories and feelings would overwhelm him and he’d be unresponsive for hours. He felt a small (large) tinge of guilt over the fact his own children had to look after him during those hours.

“No.” He shook his fist, “Just thinking.” He signed. “Now,” He took a breath, “Let me take these,” he patted the bag at his side, “I’ll get started grinding them up.”

“Can I help?” Starlight Vanilla signed.

Truthless Recluse smiled. He felt a small tinge of pride at him wanting to help and he nodded. Then he looked at his daughter, “Pure Starberry, would you like to help?”

“Uhm…” She didn’t really want to grind up flowers, “Can I go to the peak instead?” 

Truthless Recluse grimaced, “You know I don’t like you going to the peak alone.”

“Please? Please, please, please, papa?” Pure Starberry clung to his knees and looked up at him with her big eyes. “I’ve read every book we have! I want a new book!”

“I can write to Dark Cacao and have him send you a new book.” Truthless Recluse reassured her.

Pure Starberry groaned, “But that will take forever!”

“Stop whining.” Starlight Vanilla rolled his eyes.

“I’m not whining!” Pure Starberry whined, “Papa! Starlight said I’m whining!”

“Well, you are.” Truthless Recluse sighed as he walked back inside, both twins on his heels. He walked over to the kitchen and began to pull out everything he’d need to grind and preserve the flowers and roots.

“Am not!”

“Am not!”

He knew even without looking that the twins were arguing again. They did that a lot, mostly over petty things, and they always made up right after —

“I’m sorry…”

Ah, right on time.

He turned around and picked Starlight Vanilla up. He plopped him down in one chair and turned to Pure Starberry, “Last chance, would you like to join us?” He asked.

Pure Starberry pouted, “No.”

Truthless Recluse sighed, “Then you may read, or draw, or play with your toys. You can do so in here, or —,” 

Pure Starberry’s eyes lit up and she ran to the room she shared with her brother.

“Or…in your room…” He finished and frowned. Starlight Vanilla was already getting started on separating the orchids from the lavender, so Truthless Recluse went over and sat across from him so they could still talk.

In her room, Pure Starberry stacked her books one on top of the other and stood on top of them. She stretched as high as she could go on her tip toes and just barely managed to flick the lock on the window open.

She looked back at the door. It remained closed. She hurriedly jumped down from her pile of books.

“Are you alright in there?” Her papa called.

“Yes!” Pure Starberry called. She grabbed her favorite book and her cream sheep plush and climbed back up her escape stack.

Excited, Pure Starberry pushed the window open and climbed up and out of the house.

She fell to the ground and took off running. She ran all the way to the border and then she stopped and smiled.

Her papa’s magic engulfed her and she felt warm. Sighing, she flopped down on the soft patch of grass. Squeezing her cream sheep under one arm, she lifted the book above her head and started reading.

It was a book she’d read a dozen times before. She’d read it so much her little finger left grease and oil on the pages under the words. 

“Once upon a time…”

“Isn’t that how all stories start, dear?” A voice startled her.

Pure Starberry shrieked and rolled away from the border. She looked around, but all she saw was a dog.

A very big dog.

It had shaggy black fur, though a patch of fur was white around one of its ears and eyes, and there was a patch of white fur on one of its front paws. The scruff around its neck was also white, though Pure Starberry swore she saw deep blue and black eyes snapping shut in the fur.

“Hello, puppy dog.” She said quietly. She stood up and looked around. No one was with the dog.

Who had just said that..?

Was she imagining things?

The dog sat and watched her curiously.

She gasped and smiled, “You have eyes like my brother!” One eye was cyan, and the other a deep cerulean.

One of the dog’s ears twitched. It sounded like a jingle bell. She tried to remember what her papa had said about beckoning birds or cream sheep, not that a dog was nearly as docile or small as a bird or a cream sheep.

Pure Starberry crouched down and held her hand out, “It’s okay.” She tried to keep her voice soft, “I won’t hurt you.”

The dog stood and paced back and forth.

Could it not cross the border?

Pure Starberry crawled closer. Her papa’s words of warning about the border kept her feet firmly on her side. 

“It’s okay,” She whispered, "I'm here."

The big dog got as close to the border as it could, then he laid down and sighed. He looked up at Pure Starberry with big blue eyes.

Pure Starberry giggled. Even if the dog couldn't cross the border, she could still enjoy its company. She picked up her discarded book and toy and laid down in the grass right next to the big dog. If the border hadn’t been there, she could have leaned over and felt his fur.

“I like reading out here,” Pure Starberry said as she reopened the book, “because the magic makes me feel like papa’s holding me.” She smiled, “I like papa’s hugs. I especially like his beard, it’s so soft and scratchy.”

The dog huffed and groaned as it stretched.

Pure Starberry giggled, then glanced back in the direction of home. She looked back at the dog. She wondered if his fur felt like her papa’s beard. Maybe…if the dog couldn’t come in…she could reach out?

Very carefully, and keeping an eye on the dog's face, she reached through the magic barrier and pressed her hand to the dog’s side. His strong muscles twitched and he craned his head around to look at her.

Pure Starberry giggled and scratched the dog’s side, his big fluffy tail inadvertently started to wag.

“You’re soft and scratchy like papa.” She said, pulling her hand back. The dog settled back against the border and she turned back to her book.

“Read to me, Pure Starberry.” A soft voice requested.

Pure Starberry looked around. It was still just her and the oversized dog. She snuggled closer to her papa’s magic and the dog and looked down at her book. 

“Once upon a time, there was a hero cookie. He was kind and pure and just.” Pure Starberry always thought the blonde cookie in the picture book looked like papa, but he just smiled and said it wasn’t possible. She pointed out this detail to the dog, who seemed disinterested in the pictures.

“One day, the hero cookie went on a journey to find the key ingredient to a cookie's happiness.” Pure Starberry was about to turn the page when she heard someone shouting for her.

“PURE STARBERRY!”

“Papa?” Pure Starberry sat up.

How had she been found out!? So soon?!

The big dog stood and began to pace back and forth, snarling.

“Puppy dog?”

“PURE STARBERRY! GET BACK!” Her papa came running across the field, his dark orchid staff glowing in his hands.

“Papa?” She was confused.

Her papa pushed her behind him and glared at the puppy dog, “Go home, Pure Starberry!” He ordered, panting from his run. The dog barked twice, flashing his sharp teeth. 

“Papa?” Pure Starberry grabbed his leg. 

“NOW!” He shouted.

Pure Starberry ran, leaving her toy and book behind on the wrong side of the border.

Chapter Text

Starlight Vanilla was hiding under the kitchen table, face buried in his knees as if being deaf and blind to the world would hide him from whatever had scared his papa.

He’d signed that he was going to check on his sister — apparently, she was being quieter than usual — and the next thing he knew his papa was signing for him to hide and stay hidden until he came back. He picked his dark orchid staff up and ran from the house.

So, like a good kid, Starlight Vanilla did as he was told. He was hyperventilating, he couldn't help it, his chest felt too tight and his dough still rattled from how the house had shaken after his papa had slammed the door open and shut on his way out.

Someone grabbed his shoulders.

Starlight Vanilla shouted and flailed his arms around wildly until he realized it was his sister shaking his shoulders. She looked as scared as he felt.

“Where’s papa?!” He signed with shaky hands.

Pure Starberry half signed half spoke, he couldn’t follow any of it and he began to cry, overwhelmed by everything happening all at once. Papa running out, having to hide, and now being unable to understand his sister! It was too much! Pure Starberry shook his shoulders, but he flailed his arm out. He didn’t want to be touched.

He could feel the door being slammed open and shut again and he curled up into a tighter ball, crying harder than before.

Strong arms pulled him out from under the table and Starlight Vanilla cried into his papa’s shoulder, clinging to his warm robes and wishing he could disappear. He could feel his papa’s voice through his chest. He was yelling.

Starlight Vanilla whined and cried louder, nuzzling his papa’s shoulder and wishing he’d stop yelling.

He must’ve because he stopped feeling the vibrations in his chest. He sniffled and suddenly found his papa’s hands, wrapped in his sleeves, dabbing away at his tears.

He looked up at him and saw he was breathing deeply, purposefully, so Starlight Vanilla tried to match his breath.

Truthless Recluse glared at something over his shoulder, probably his sister, and he signed, “What happened?” Hoping to get his attention off of her.

Truthless Recluse sighed, “Later.” He signed.

He sat Starlight Vanilla down and started moving around the kitchen.

Starlight Vanilla saw his sister was under the table, curled up as small as she could be. He crawled under to sit beside her and signed, “Okay?”

She nodded, tears streaming down her face.

Mimicking their papa, he wrapped his sleeves around his hands and dabbed away at her tears, “What happened?” He signed.

Pure Starberry’s hands were shaky as she signed back, “Snuck out.”

Starlight Vanilla gasped. He tapped his forehead, then brought his hand down and closed his middle three fingers to his palm, “Why?”

“The magic feels good.” Pure Starberry signed slowly. She flinched. Starlight Vanilla looked out from under the table and saw their papa walking around. He must’ve been loudly setting the table.

While her excuse was flimsy at best, that still didn’t explain why their papa was so mad.

“Dog.” He saw his sister sign out of the corner of his eyes.

“What?” He signed back.

“There was a dog.” 

Starlight Vanilla sighed, he realized when she snuck out she must’ve gone to the border. That was why their papa was so mad.

“I told you to stay away.” He signed.

“I KNOW!” Pure Starberry signed, screwing her face up as a dark blue blush blotted her cheeks.

The twins both let out startled yells when their papa ducked his head under the table and signed, “Dinner.”

The twins shared a scared look and crawled out from under the table. Practiced, as this was their routine, Starlight Vanilla pulled out a stool from under the sink and Pure Starberry helped him climb up. Both twins obediently washed their hands, even scrubbing their hands for longer than usual as their papa stood behind them and washed his hands as well. They waited until he’d finished drying their hands before drying their own.

When they turned around, Truthless Recluse picked them both up and carried them to their respective chairs.

Starlight Vanilla looked at supper. Leftovers. Leftover jellybean cream lamb stew and leftover biscuits. 

When their papa sat, he didn’t eat, he just buried his head in his hands, closed his eyes, and halfheartedly signed, “Eat.”

Neither Starlight Vanilla nor Pure Starberry moved to eat.

Neither of them had ever seen their papa so angry. 

He must’ve sensed or heard they weren’t eating because he sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Eat.” He signed again, then he added, “Please.”

Still, neither twin moved.

Starlight Vanilla glanced across the table. Pure Starberry had her head down and her shoulders were shaking. He wished he could comfort her, but he didn’t want to upset his papa any more.

Shakily, he reached out and grabbed his spoon. He sipped a spoonful of stew. It tasted like ash on his tongue. He frowned and put his spoon down.

Sighing, their papa stood without a word and walked into the living room where he collapsed into his armchair.

Pure Starberry rested her head on the table and cried silently.

Starlight Vanilla wasn’t hungry. He wriggled and scooted out of his chair, then he walked around and poked his sister. She blinked and looked at him, her inverted pupils were blown wide as fat tears poured themselves down her cheek and onto the table.

He offered his sister his hand. She took it.

He helped her out of her chair and walked them both to the living room.

Their papa was curled up in his armchair, hand covering his mouth and tears streaming down his face. His eyes widened and he unfolded himself when he saw them. He said something, but forgot to sign it.

Starlight Vanilla didn’t care too much, though. He just wanted to be held again. He crawled up into the armchair with his papa and could feel Pure Starberry doing the same.

Nestled in on either side of him, the twins only relaxed when he wrapped his arms around them.

“Sorry.” They felt him sign.

Starlight Vanilla saw his sister tear up and bury her face in his side. She was saying something, but was too overwhelmed to sign it.

“No, Pure Starberry, never!” Their papa signed. He sighed and sat back, “I think it’s time for a story.” His signs were hesitant, as if he was unsure he wanted to actually share the story.

Both twins resituated themselves to be comfortable on their respective sides of their papa.

“There was once a young, brave, foolish cookie.” He spoke as he began to sign. “He hoped and dreamed to one day find a way for every cookie to live long, happy lives.” The vibrations of his papa’s words were comforting, far better than the loud vibrations of his yelling.

“But the cookie was hurt in his quest for answers.”

“Hurt?” Starlight Vanilla signed.

“How hurt?” Pure Starberry asked.

“So very hurt. The sky turned grey and cookies crumbled in pain for him.” He signed and sighed.

Starlight Vanilla didn't like this story. It was sad.

“And then, many years later, another cookie arrived to see the hurt cookie for himself.” Truthless Recluse continued. “He saw the hurt cookie and took him back to his home to heal him.”

“Did it work?” Starlight Vanilla signed.

“Did he heal him?” Pure Starberry asked.

For a long time, their papa said and signed nothing.

Starlight Vanilla was worried he missed something, but he couldn't feel his papa’s voice, just his erratic heartbeat and his heavy breaths.

“No.” Their papa signed slowly. “He made the hurt worse.” 

The twins looked up and saw their papa crying. They shared a look and turned to sit on their knees. They both pulled their sleeves down over their hands and patted their papa’s tears away. He laughed and cried and squeezed them both tightly to him.

He kissed the tops of their heads and cried harder.

The story didn't feel over to Starlight Vanilla, but if it was going to make his papa cry, he didn't want to hear anymore of it.

Slowly, his papa pulled away and signed, “Sorry. Go eat.”

Starlight Vanilla laid his hands on his chest.

“Not hungry.” Truthless Recluse smiled sadly. “Please. Eat.”

Neither twin wanted to leave their papa, but they both climbed down as he reassured them he would be fine. They climbed back into their respective chairs, but didn't eat much, only enough so that when their papa came over to check on them a few minutes later he smiled again.

“Go wash.” He signed, “I’ll be by shortly.”

Already it was evening, so the twins did as they were told. They washed their feet, then took turns showering and cleaning up their shared room (Starlight Vanilla made Pure Starberry put all the books back on the shelves by herself).

By the time their papa came to their room, the sun was just above the horizon and the whole house was aglow with orange light. He had a cup of tea with him, but he set it down on the nightstand between their beds and did not touch it.

He tucked Starlight Vanilla into bed first.

“Good night, my little star.” He signed, “I love you, with all my heart.”

“Good night, papa.”

“I’m sorry our day was cut short. And I’m sorry if I worried you.” His papa frowned, “I was scared.”

“That's okay.” Starlight Vanilla signed, because what else was he supposed to say? His insides trembled with anxiety. 

What had his papa so scared?

The dog his sister talked about?

His sister being so close to the border?

What was so scary about the other side?

Truthless Recluse smiled and signed, “My brave boy.” He leaned down and kissed his forehead, “Good night.”

“Good night.” Starlight Vanilla signed.

He rolled over to watch their papa switch over to Pure Starberry’s bed and tuck her in as well.

He didn't sign to her, so Starlight Vanillacouldn't tell what they were saying, but he assumed he apologized to her as well because she sniffled and said something back.

Then their papa bent down and hugged her tightly.

He made her drink the tea he’d brought. Starlight Vanilla knew she hated it, but she drank every drop without a complaint for once. Their papa made sure the window was closed and locked, then he took the empty cup from Pure Starberry’s hands. He signed he loved them and wished them good night again, then he turned off the lights.

Starlight Vanilla didn't need a light to go to sleep, but Pure Starberry did, so their door was kept ajar and the light in the living room stayed on. He nuzzled his pillow and easily fell asleep.

He hadn't even gotten to dream when he felt his bed shift. He slowly blinked his eyes open and squinted at his sister, who was climbing into his bed.

“Sorry.” She apologized quickly as she scooted to be as close to him as possible.

Starlight Vanilla didn't mind. This was normal. They didn't like to be in separate beds every night. It was much more comforting to fall asleep with the other one within reach than it was to be on opposite ends of the room. 

Starlight Vanilla just scooted back enough to accommodate her and give her some space on his pillow. He began to drift back to sleep when he realized his sister was shaking.

“What’s wrong?” He signed tiredly.

“I think I left baabaa outside.” She signed back, keeping her hands close to her so she didn't accidentally whack him in the face.

Starlight Vanilla frowned. Baabaa was the name of her cream sheep toy.

“I think the wolf got it.” She added.

Wolf?

Starlight Vanilla thought it had been a dog. No wonder papa had been so scared. Wolves were classic bad guys in all the fairytales papa told them.

He rolled over in bed and grabbed his cream sheep toy, then he rolled back over, “Here, you can have Creamy for tonight.” He signed.

“But he’s yours!” Pure Starberry tried to shake her head.

Starlight Vanilla didn't mind sharing, “He’ll protect you.” He knew his sister had nightmares, and usually only papa or Baabaa could help her get over them. But if Baabaa was lost outside (or worse, taken by the wolf), then his sister was doomed.

“But, who will protect you?” She signed and poked his chest.

“Papa.” He signed tiredly.

Pure Starberry finally accepted Creamy and hugged him close to her chest. She touched her fingers to her chin and turned her hand down. 

“Thank you.”

Starlight Vanilla’s eyes were droopy again, but he managed to smile and press his hand to his chin, then turn it down to his chest.

“You’re welcome.”

Chapter Text

The Fount of Knowledge stroked the well-loved wool of the toy cream sheep. His daughter, in her haste to retreat from him, had kicked the toy and her book through the barrier.

Not that she knew it was him per se, but he’d been priming her for as long as he knew she’d been born. Every night, in her dreams, he pulled his daughter’s mind into the other realm. He whispered magic spells into her soft, supple mind, bending and warping the lines between reality and illusion. He wanted her to question everything, to be his lure for his Doll. If he had her, he had the boy, if he had them both, he’d have his Doll.

His Doll had demanded the toy back, but why should he have listened? His Doll was very naughty in keeping his children away from him. Now, he finally had something of theirs. 

He smiled as he flew up the central staircase of the Spire. Up on the very tip top story, high above the lesser cookies and worries of the real world, he came to a stop outside of a room.

Pure Starberry’s room.

Only differentiated from her brother’s door — with carved stars that shimmered in the shadows cast over the door — by the twisting vines of blueberries that were carved into her door. He twisted the crystal doorknob and floated inside.

Inside was a room fit for a princess.

Naturally.

Because she was his princess.

She just didn't know it yet.

The large semicircle bed was draped in fine, silk, purple bedsheets that twinkled and shimmered with stardust. A canopy of stars lazily swirled above the bed.

Surrounding the wall behind the bed was a floor to ceiling bookshelf, but The Fount did not put the picture book there.

There was an ensuite that connected her room to her brother’s room.

On the left wall was a pair of windows with a balcony door nestled between them. Currently, the velvet blue curtains were drawn over the windows and balcony door. On the right wall was a closet, filled to the brim with as many dresses and shoes a little girl might possibly want, and a vanity stocked with a hairbrush and bows of all different sizes and colors.

Circling in a lazy, slow waltz in the high vaulted ceiling were a collection of puppets and dolls The Fount had been cultivating just for her. Their playtime was suspended, waiting for the little girl that was destined to play with them.

The only thing missing was the princess herself.

But soon…

The Fount’s grin widened as he laid the stuffed toy and the book on the pillows of the bed.

Soon, his Doll and precious children would be home with him where they belonged.

Where they should have been all along.

His peaceful silence was broken by a familiar high-pitched, “Bluuuuu-uuuue~!”

The Fount rolled his eyes and teleported out of the room and down to the foyer where The Apostle of Happiness was floating lazily on her sugar cloud.

“Bluuuuu-uuuue~!” She called out again, not realizing he was already beside her.

“What?” He asked bluntly.

“Oh!” She rolled over and blinked her sleepy eyes open, “Blue, I didn't realize you were down here.”

“What do you want, Sugar?” The Fount huffed, irritated that his peace and quiet had been shattered.

“I was just wondering how things went visiting your little toy?” She devolved into giggles as her feathers fluffed up.

“It went well,” The Fount grinned, “I saw my daughter.” He added quietly, as if sharing a secret.

“You did?!” The Apostle pushed herself upright and her eyes widened excitedly, “Oooo is she as perfect like you’d always dreamed?”

“Even more so!” The Fount couldn't help but beam proudly.

The Apostle of Happiness was the only Virtue that knew about the Truthless Recluse and his children. It was what had encouraged her to pursue having her own child, but she used the old-fashioned double-bake method to have her son. 

The Fount didn't trust the other Virtues with his little Doll. They’d probably tell him to give up or that it was a passing phase and he’d find another cookie to play with.

But The Fount wasn't one to give up, and he certainly had no intention of giving up his precious Doll or his children.

The other Virtues just wouldn't understand.

For starters, The Seunim of Volition had been — basically — held prisoner in her own pagoda by that damned Dark Cacao Cookie’s soldiers. Then there was the gnawing absence of The Herald of Change. He’d been missing for years now after his battle with that golden gnat. And The Saint of Solidarity was too close with the other half of his soul jam. And he knew from his Doll’s memories that he’d been close with her once upon a time, so sharing the information with The Saint was out of the question.

But The Apostle he could trust. She’d been the only one to keep the other half of her soul jam happy, content, and contained. Granted, the few times he ventured to the Garden of Happiness, he was faiiiirrrly certain that the Hero of Passion was drunk out of her mind, but hey — happy is happy, right?

The Apostle sighed dreamily, “I can't wait to meet your precious little ones,” she closed her eyes and smiled, “Ohhh can you imagine it, Blue? Your little ones and my little one, running around and playing as we used to?”

The Fount snorted a laugh, “Since when did we ever run around and play?”

“You don't consider all the fun we had before we were sealed to be play?” The Apostle asked, resting her chin on her interlaced hands.

Ah, right.

The chaos and destruction they’d wrought across Earthbread before they’d been sealed in the Silver Tree. The Witches compared the corrupted Virtues to children who needed new toys to keep themselves occupied, so they split their soul jams in two and gave them away.

The Fount just so happened to be lucky and received his beautiful little Doll as his other half. So broken and pliant, so easily obtained. He could have taken his soul jam back at any point, but he was having too much fun taking care of his Doll to mind his missing half.

So it burned him and infuriated him when he’d discovered his Doll was gone. Even worse, now he was keeping his children from him!

The Fount huffed to calm himself down and shrugged, “Mindless games, more like it.”

“You seemed to have more fun than even Spice.” The Apostle floated her cloud around so her sharp-tipped tail could run under his chin. “As I recall.” She giggled again.

The Fount scoffed, “Did you just come to reminisce on old times?” He grabbed her tail and pulled.

The Apostle let out a yelp and pulled her tail back to her, “That isn't funny, Blue!” She scolded him as he laughed.

She crossed her arms and let out a “hmph!” 

The Fount calmed down long enough to say, “Besides, I’ve already picked out who my children will have as friends.” Which reminded him, his student was almost ready to perform illusory magic on himself. He’d need that kind of magic to have his student sneak into the former Pure Vanilla Kingdom with the next convoy.

If he knew his Doll — and he knew his Doll — he’d be calling upon his friends for comfort.

He should have been the one comforting his Doll. 

The disobedience had gone on for too long. He needed to put his plan into motion sooner rather than later, or his children would suffer. Why couldn’t his Doll see that?

The Apostle pouted, “But they need immortal friends, too, Blue.” Her whine pulled him out of his thoughts. “It's so heartbreaking to watch regular cookies grow, wither, and crumble. And Sugar Glaze Berry needs normal friends.”

The Fount rolled his eyes, “Fine, I suppose your little sugar gnat can come by every now and then — but I will not let my children visit your garden.” He added quickly.

The Apostle huffed again, “Why noooot? I’m sure my other half would love to spend some time with your little toy. It could be like a double date!” She grinned.

“If you think I am ever letting my Doll out of my Spire again, your brain is more crumbled than that other half of yours.” The Fount growled. “No, no, no. My Doll needs structure and routine. And I know how you treat your guests, Sugar. There is no way on this wide Earthbread I am leaving my children alone with you.” He didn't need her filling their minds with jam and drugging them into mindless love zombies.

The Apostle laid a hand on her chest, “Blue, I am hurt you’d think I’d ever hurt my little niblings in such a way.”

“Am I wrong?” The Fount cocked up an eyebrow. He knew her other half and son were in no better a state.

The Apostle pouted.

“That's what I thought.”

Starlight Vanilla and Pure Starberry were still eating breakfast when their papa suddenly got up from his armchair and walked out the door.

Starlight Vanilla looked across the table at his sister and raised his eyebrows.

She finished her last bite of biscuit and wiped her hands off on her dress. “I think papa was writing.” She signed, her cheeks stuffed full of food.

Ah. A letter.

Starlight Vanilla wondered to who. 

Golden Cheese? She was lots of fun, and the stuff she always sent them was so pretty and yummy.

Dark Cacao? If so, he hoped he’d come to visit. He always brought his grandson and the prince was a lot of fun to play with. Plus his papa was always so happy with the other cookie around.

Sadly, if it was to either monarch, it would be a while before they arrived.

Their papa came back inside and made himself a cup of tea. He had a frown on his face and looked like he hadn't slept a wink last night.

Truthless Recluse’s hands were shaking, and he hoped his children couldn't tell.

Yesterday had been one of the scariest days of his life. Perhaps even more so than when he’d attended the Witches Banquet. The Fount could shapeshift, he knew that from experience, but to shapeshift into an actual beast to lure his daughter away?

Seeing the massive wolf laying beside his little girl had him calling upon magic he hadn't used since he’d wandered his broken kingdom as a mindless recluse, guarding the truth from foolish cookies who sought him out.

The panic from nearly losing her had left him feeling shaky and sick.

And he’d been so scared, he yelled at her. He very rarely, if ever, yelled at his children.

And poor Pure Starberry, she’d never been yelled at like that before, she’d even asked if he hated her.

If he hated her!

He didn't even know she knew what hate was!

He’d been so careful to only fill their small world with love and support, how his daughter knew about hatred escaped him.

He’d made sure to reassure her last night and this morning that he did not hate her. In fact, he loved her so much that he had been so scared of losing her that it all just exploded out of him in a way that was not very nice of him.

She’d accepted that, but now he worried she’d always have that little feeling of doubt in her heart. That feeling that someone who was supposed to unconditionally love and support her might also hate her.

His head was pounding and the world was turning sideways as he tried to sip his tea. He needed something, anything, in his stomach to quell the nausea that threatened to roll out of him.

“Who were you writing to?”

He looked up at Pure Starberry. He swallowed the tea he’d been sipping and set his cup down. “Dark Cacao.” He answered. 

“Oh.” Pure Starberry answered.

“I just…” Truthless Recluse sighed. He knocked on the table by his son to get his attention. He needed to get this information too. When Starlight Vanilla looked up at him he sat back and signed as he spoke, “Papa’s really struggling here. You two are growing up so fast and I need help.”

“We can help you!” Pure Starberry sat forward.

“We can help.” Starlight Vanilla signed at the same time.

“It’s not,” He began to sign, then he sighed and grimaced, “It’s not something you need to help with. It’s…it’s adult help. Papa needs help from another adult.”

The twins blinked and furrowed their brows, confused.

He sighed. Of course it seemed silly or strange to them. All they’d ever known was him taking care of them. He hadn't needed help before (even if his friends generously offered and sent help anyways), so why did he need help now?

Well, for starters, Truthless Recluse felt more of himself slipping away every day. The Fount’s words continuously taunted him.

“You know they can't live in there forever, Doll.”

“They need socialization, schooling, a real home, and a real family.”

“You had your fun. Now it's time to get back to reality, Doll.”

“Come home.” 

And now, with Pure Starberry aware of the hatred that could be in the world, his mind was spiraling.

Was he…a bad parent?

Had he failed his children somewhere along the way?

Why else would Pure Starberry sneak out? Why would she deliberately disobey his one rule?

He needed someone who was a parent and had — let’s be honest — failed at being one before righting their wrongs and mending that bridge.

Of course he called on Dark Cacao for help.

He just needed a little support. Someone to see for themselves and tell it to him straight if he was doing the right thing by keeping his children here. By keeping them from their father.

Of course, he also had to be mindful of Dark Cacao’s biases. For as much as he claimed to respect Truthless Recluse’s wish to keep their relationship respectfully platonic and civil, the old king sometimes caught himself slipping into old habits.

…

Not that Truthless Recluse stopped him…but when had he ever stopped someone's advances..?

Hell, that was why he was in this situation in the first place. His gut twisted painfully and he pushed his cup of tea away.

Perhaps he should have also written to Golden Cheese…or maybe even White Lily (though she'd stopped responding after her first letter back to him, so that seemed like a lost cause).

And Hollyberry hadn't even responded. None of his friends knew where she was.

But, the blueberry bird carrying his hastily written note was already long gone. If he wanted someone else to come, it would have to wait until the bird returned.

Blinking back to reality, Truthless Recluse continued to sign and say, “It's nothing you two did. Papa just needs help. Okay?”

Slowly, after sharing a look that only they could understand, they both nodded.

Truthless Recluse smiled, “What did I do to deserve such wonderful children?” 

Starlight Vanilla smiled, but Pure Starberry still looked sad and worried.

Perhaps he needed to spend some time with her — one-on-one — and show her he still loved her.

“Hey,” he reached over and gently pinched her chin so she had to look up at him, “What do you say we go to the peak together? Just you and me? We could look for a new book?” He tilted his head curiously.

Pure Starberry’s eyes lit up, “Really?” She smiled.

Truthless Recluse smiled, “Really.”

“What about Starlight?” Pure Starberry asked.

Truthless Recluse shrugged, “He doesn't care for the peak anyways. But I’ll ask if he’s okay staying home today.”

“Today?!” Pure Starberry stood on her seat excitedly.

“On your bottom.” Truthless Recluse pointed down to her seat. Then he turned to Starlight Vanilla and got his attention again. “Would you like to go to the peak with your sister and I?” He signed.

As expected, his son wrinkled his nose up at the idea. “Do I have to?” He signed.

Truthless Recluse chuckled and shook his head, “Not if you wish to stay here.”

“I want to stay here.” He signed back.

“Will you be okay if we go to the peak today?” Truthless Recluse signed.

Starlight Vanilla nodded.

Truthless Recluse smiled and ruffled his curls, “My brave boy.” He signed.

Chapter Text

Starlight Vanilla sighed and stared at the wall.

He was bored.

Part of him wished he’d gone with his papa and sister to the peak.

But the peak was big, and dark, and scary. And papa would always be upset the longer they stayed there. Plus, Starlight Vanilla just didn't like it.

It always felt like the peak was gonna collapse on top of them.

But, papa and Pure Starberry had wanted to go, so Starlight Vanilla promised to behave and patiently wait for them to return.

And he was soooooooooo boooooored.

He sighed again.

Then he remembered his sister’s lost book and toy! He knew she hadn't asked papa about it because she didn't want to upset him, but maybe he could go walk around the border where he knew she liked to hide and check for himself if it was there.

He could do it all on his own.

After all, he was papa’s brave boy!

With that in mind, Starlight Vanilla climbed down from the couch and went to the front door.

He paused as his hand touched the door knob.

He didn't usually go wandering without his papa’s permission…

“I’ll be back before they are.” He reassured himself. He was just going to check and see if his sister's toy and book was out there. Nothing else.

Nodding to himself, he took a deep breath and stepped outside. He made sure to close the door behind him, then he took off running in the direction of the border.

Starlight Vanilla knew exactly where to go. There was a patch of grass near the border that was softer than any other patch of grass and it was his sister’s favorite spot to sneak off to. She claimed the magic was best there.

Starlight Vanilla liked the grass there too, but he only went there when papa would walk the border and he’d walk with him (not that papa let him come often).

As he got closer, his heart sank.

No Baabaa, and no book.

Still, he got as closer to the border he stood on his tip toes — as if that might help him see what so obviously wasn't there.

Nothing.

Nada.

No. Such. Luck.

He frowned, his shoulders sagging. 

What a waste of a trip. 

He walked back home, disappointed he couldn’t find his sister's things. Sure enough though, he made it back home before his papa and sister. He resumed his spot on the couch and stared at the ceiling.

He wondered if his papa would let him use his scrap fabric to make a new cream sheep toy?

Popping back up, he ran to his papa’s bedroom. He felt weird being in there without his papa, not that the room was off limits, he was just used to seeing his papa knitting or reading a book on the bed.

Still, he knew his papa kept a ton of scrap fabric in his room. His papa didn’t know that he knew, but Starlight Vanilla had seen him carry loads of fabric into the house when he thought the twins were asleep.

He didn’t know where the fabric came from, because Golden Cheese and Dark Cacao usually sent stuff in the day time, not at night.

But, no, his papa always took the night time deliveries straight to his room. 

Come to think of it…his papa never shared what the deliveries were.

How odd.

Starlight Vanilla opened his papa’s closet. They all lived fairly modestly. His papa only had four robes that he rotated between, washing and drying clothes every other day if the weather allowed it. So the only things hanging up were the two clean robes he had right now. 

But sure enough, he found what he was looking for. Folded piles of fabric, nearly as tall as he was, all different colors (though mostly blue, gold, and black). 

Starlight Vanilla ran his hands over the fabric. They were softer than any of the clothes he, or his sister, or his papa wore. He wondered why his papa didn’t make clothes out of this fabric. 

He frowned.

None of them were good enough for a new toy.

Or, at least, they weren’t what he’d been picturing. He closed the closet. Papa had sheared the cream sheep back at the beginning of summer, surely they hadn’t used all the wool since then?

He looked under his papa’s bed, in his papa’s bedside table drawers — why did he keep all of Dark Cacao’s letters? Sometimes his papa was weird — and even went into the bathroom they all shared to see if maybe the wool had been stashed there.

No luck.

He sighed.

Guess the weird soft fabric in the closet would have to do.

He went back to the closet and opened the door. He looked over his choices again. He decided to go with a black and blue fabric that stretched as he tried to pull it out from the middle of the pile where it was.

Grunting, he tugged and pulled, and pulled and tugged until —

PHWHOMP!

Starlight Vanilla stumbled back with a shout of shock and landed on his butt with the fabric clenched tightly in his fists. The whole pile he’d been tugging at had collapsed.

He grimaced and shoved the fabric back inside. It wasn’t stacked nearly as neat as his papa had it, but he was able to get the closet shut so…maybe he wouldn’t notice..?

Starlight Vanilla went back over to his papa’s bed and looked under the bed. His papa’s sewing and knitting basket was there and he pulled it out. He tilted his head curiously. He’d seen his papa knit and sew things maybe a million times, so how hard could it be?

Thread!

He’d need thread, annnnd a needle — he was extra careful holding it — and scissors? He looked at the bundle of fabric in his arm. It was a lot of fabric. Scissors for sure. He didn’t have anything to stuff the not-yet-made toy, but he figured he could just use the extra fabric to stuff it.

What else?

Starlight Vanilla figured that was all and he nudged the basket back under his papa’s bed. He walked back out and laid everything out on the living room floor. As he did so, he realized the fabric wasn’t just fabric.

It was clothes.

Specifically, it was a large, papa-sized robe. Like the ones he wore every day, but way fancier. He wrinkled his nose up. He didn’t like them. He was glad his papa didn’t wear them, and he felt no remorse in cutting them up.

He had the vague shape of a cream sheep in his head, and he chewed on his tongue as he very carefully snipped and cut and trimmed. It was messy, the lines weren’t straight, but he had…something?

It looked more like a cloud with sticks coming out of the bottom and he frowned.

The lights flickered and he looked back in the direction of the door.

“What are you doing?” His papa signed.

His sister excitedly ran over and blocked him from answering, “Look! Look!” She signed and excitedly pointed to her new book. It was blue and had a picture of a star map on the cover.

Then she looked at what he was doing and wrinkled her nose.

Starlight Vanilla blushed and shoved his hands in his face, “Nooo!” He said out loud, smushing and shoving her back.

The smushing and shoving resulted in a pitiful shove-slap fight which their papa promptly put a stop to by picking Starlight Vanilla up. He turned and said something to Pure Starberry.

She stuck her tongue out at Starlight Vanilla and he stuck his tongue out at her.

Their papa repeated himself and Pure Starberry picked up her book and scurried off to their room. Starlight Vanilla absentmindedly rested his head on his papa’s shoulder and nuzzled his beard.

He felt him laugh and pouted as he was put back on his own two feet. His papa sat down and signed, confused, “What are you doing?”

“I wanted to replace Baabaa.” He signed back.

His papa’s eyebrows shot up, and he looked at the fabric he was using, “Where did you get this?” He signed, a distant, sad look on his face. He pinched the fabric, rubbing it between his thumb and index finger.

As small as he could, he signed, “Your closet.”

His papa inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, “Don’t go in there again without my permission, okay?” He signed.

He nodded sheepishly.

“Would you like help?”

He nodded and smiled.

Truthless Recluse smiled. He got to spend the morning with his daughter, and now he was spending the afternoon with his son.

He couldn’t think of a more perfect way to spend his day.

Dark Cacao and his convoy of guards and supplies came later than expected. Normally, Dark Cacao planned his trips down to the minute, but they’d run into an unexpected problem in the form of the berry wizard currently sitting behind him on the cart.

He kept his eyes forward, but his other senses were focused entirely behind him. 

They’d nearly gotten over the Giant Icing Ridge when they’d spotted a cookie on the side of the road. He was injured, claiming he’d been trying to make it over the ridge to travel home to the Crème Republic after visiting a friend in the Dark Cacao Kingdom, when he’d been attacked by a Dire Creamwolf.

Of course he wouldn’t let the cookie bleed out on the frozen road.

But that didn't mean he trusted him.

What cookie was foolish enough to travel the Icing Ridge Road unprepared? He couldn’t even say ‘unarmed’ for the young man had a magic staff. He claimed to be a wizard, and he had proven his skills when rain had slowed them down through the Jelly Swamps. He’d cast a spell to encase the convoy in a bubble that kept them and their supplies dry.

So why had he been unprepared for the ice and snow and dangers of the road?

“I like visiting because you can see all the stars at night at Mr. Vanilla’s house.” His grandson had been rattling off the young man’s ear for the past three days. Most of the conversation had been about all the lessons Choco Caramel Drizzle was excited to be learning, what he wished he could learn, how he thought magic was so cool and wished he could learn magic, but now he was talking about Pure Vanilla and that put Dark Cacao on edge.

“Stars? Every night?” The young man asked in a melodic voice, “Imagine that.”

“Choco Caramel?” He turned his head just enough to call over his shoulder.

“Oh, excuse me.” His grandson remembered his manners and crawled forward on the cart to pop his head onto Dark Cacao’s shoulder, “Yes, grandfather?”

“Perhaps you should stop speaking of our friends, yes?” Dark Cacao suggested being mindful of the ears that were listening. His grandson tilted his head curiously. “Remember, Mr. Vanilla is a very protective cookie, and we wouldn’t want our friends to be in any danger, hm?”

“Oh.” Choco Caramel blinked as if just realizing what he’d been doing. “Yes, sir.” He nodded obediently.

“Good boy.” Dark Cacao smiled and turned back around to face the road.

The soldier leading the cart glanced sideways at him but said nothing.

Dark Cacao sighed, “Go ahead.” 

The soldier opened and closed their mouth and shook their head, “Nothing, sir.”

“Out with it, soldier.” He ordered, deadpanned.

The soldier was subtle in checking his surroundings, then he tilted his head down and whispered, “Why is he still traveling with us?”

“Our routes are the same.” Dark Cacao answered plainly, “Only he is heading further and moving past our destination to the Crème Republic.”

“But…I thought you wanted to limit who knew about his majesty?” Old habits died hard for the soldiers. They all still referred to Pure Vanilla as his majesty, even though he had pleaded with them to not to.

“He will stay outside the barrier.” Dark Cacao answered plainly. “With the rest of the convoy.”

“Sir?”

“Things are different now that we have a…guest with us. We’ll set up outside the barrier and I will go in alone to greet Pure Vanilla.” Old Habits. “Truthless Recluse.” He corrected himself.

The name was like smoke in his mouth. 

It reminded him that he had lost his beloved cookie. 

It reminded him of the pain, the torture — the rape — that his beloved had endured at the hands of The Fount of Knowledge.

All in silence.

All because he thought life meaningless.

All because of that stupid fight.

Maybe he’d never get Pure Vanilla back, but he would do everything in his power to accommodate and remind him that he was loved. Dark Cacao had failed him once, he wouldn't fail him again.

And if that meant dropping everything the second a tiny, winded blueberry bird braved the sleet and frozen rain to deliver to him a letter from Pure — Truthless Recluse — then so be it.

The convoy carried on. Two carts of supplies. Four guards. The prince. The…wizard…and him. 

The sun dipped below the horizon, blanketing the world in a velvety, dark blue hue. He hardly did more than raise his arm to accommodate his grandson curling up by his side and resting his head on his lap.

Dark Cacao smiled and brushed his grandson’s hair absentmindedly. His smile didn’t last long, quickly fading as he thought to Pur — to Truthless Recluse’s letter (folded neatly in the breast pocket of his cloak). 

He wrote about how he’d found his daughter by the shield, and The Fount — shapeshifted into a great, bestial wolf — was laying right beside her. Shoulder to shoulder. His fears were through the roof and he was scared if he took his eyes off them then they would vanish. He needed Dark Cacao to come reassure him that he was doing things right, that he wasn’t going crazy. He needed him because he wanted him. His comfort.

Of course he’d dropped everything.

The dome of protective runes rose above the dark tree line, glowing a midnight blue against the darkened sky. Dark Cacao’s heart beat in his throat, as it always did the closer they got to the former Pure Vanilla Kingdom.

The wizard gasped, “My…that is an impressive feat of magic.” He breathed right over Dark Cacao’s shoulder. His dough crawled with disgust.

They could just barely make out where the shield met the ground.

“We stop here.” He said suddenly. As soon as the convoy was pulled to a stop, Dark Cacao hefted his grandson up into his arms and turned to jump out of the cart. 

“Set up camp here. I will come for you when…I will come for you when you may enter.” He said. His grandson remained asleep on his shoulder even as he jumped down.

“You heard his majesty.” The soldiers began to unload their camping equipment.

Dark Cacao walked the rest of the way to the shield. He paused on the outside. Walking through always felt like walking through flames that did not burn. For something born from Dark Moon Magic, he expected it to be freezing, but perhaps the unnatural heat was part of why The Fount of Knowledge could not break through. Perhaps it wasn’t even Dark Moon Magic as they all suspected.

Regardless, it was a slightly uncomfortable heat, but a heat Dark Cacao would bear a thousand times over if it meant seeing…Truthless Recluse.

He readjusted his grandson in his arms and squared his shoulders. He stepped through, only feeling a moment of resistance from the magic before it let him pass. He walked through the field, expertly walking around the small mounds of earth that he could only see from the dome of protective runes illumination.

He rounded a small hill and saw the light was on at Truthless Recluse's house.

No doubt he was still —

The door swung open and Truthless Recluse stepped outside.

Even in the moonlight, he seemed to glow with an ethereal light. His blonde hair shimmered under the blue light of the shield, and in his nightgown he looked absolutely angelic.

As if drawn to him, his yellow and blue eyes fell on him and his body nearly collapsed with relief, “Dark Cacao!” He ran towards him.

Dark Cacao opened his free arm and immediately caught and embraced his beloved friend. He was breathing heavily, as if he’d forgotten to do so since their last meeting. Dark Cacao wasn’t sure if he’d truly breathed since their last meeting.

“You came. I - I mean you actually came.” Truthless Recluse squeezed him tightly.

“Of course, I came.” Dark Cacao answered.

“I - I wasn’t sure if you’d…” The smaller cookie trembled in his arms.

“We ran into a speed bump, but I’m here.” Dark Cacao buried his nose in his neck, inhaling the still present oaky and creamy scent of vanilla. His fists closed around his soft nightgown and he pressed the smaller cookie to him, “I promised you I would be. And I am.”

Chapter Text

Pure Starberry and Starlight Vanilla were thrilled to wake up and see their friend on their couch! They jumped onto the couch and woke the young prince with their excited antics. (They were so excited, they didn’t even notice that Dark Cacao followed their papa out of his room).

The three little doughs all chatted — Well, chatted in Prince Choco Caramel’s case, signed and chatted in Pure Starberry’s case, and signed in Starlight Vanilla’s case — about what had happened since they’d last gotten together a few months ago.

Truthless Recluse smiled at the scene and immediately got to work on looking at what he could make for breakfast, “You could go tell your men that they may enter.”

Dark Cacao frowned, “No. With our guest, I would rather not risk it.” He shook his head.

“I’m sure your guest means well.” Truthless Recluse pointed out. It was that little bit of Pure Vanilla that remained so trusting.

Dark Cacao stood behind Truthless Recluse as he washed his hands, “I will not risk your safety.” He said quietly, breath fanning over Truthless Recluse’s exposed neck and giving him goosebumps, “Nor the safety of your children, for the comforts of a stranger.”

Truthless Recluse’s heart hammered in his throat and he swallowed it back down to where it belonged. He turned around, finding himself pinned between the monarch and the sink. 

He opened and closed his mouth a few times, words failing him until he heard Pure Starberry loudly complain that the boys were both being gross, “A-and I appreciate that…” He squeezed by him, “But as a king, shouldn’t you be a bit more gracious?” He tried to tease.

Dark Cacao grabbed his wrist before he could fully walk away, “Not at the risk of losing you again.” He answered plainly.

Truthless Recluse’s entire body felt as if it were on fire. He took a breath and pulled his hand away. He turned and managed to catch Pure Starberry as she flung herself at him.

“PAPA! THEY’RE BEING GROSS!” She whined. He picked her up and she immediately nuzzled his beard.

“Boys.” He said warningly, and signed a warning to his son to behave.

Both boys quickly hid their spit covered hands behind their backs.

“Haven't I told you, Choco Caramel,” Dark Cacao stepped up beside Truthless Recluse, “That when you're mean to girls,” he grinned mischievously and winked at Truthless Recluse. He looked back at the boys, “A beast comes to eat you!”

“RUN!” Prince Choco Caramel grabbed a confused Starlight Vanilla’s hand and ran away.

The boys laughed and squealed excitedly as the former king chased them.

Truthless Recluse smiled and sighed, then he squeezed his daughter, “Want to make breakfast with me?”

She nodded, still clinging to him.

“I’m thinking…apple coffee cake?” He sat her down on the counter next to the sink and she immediately began to wash her hands.

“Ooo! Apples?!” She loved apples.

“Yes.” Truthless Recluse smiled, “Dark Cacao said he stopped by the Hollyberry kingdom and picked some just for you.”

“Ooooo!!! Thank you mister Dark Cacao!” Pure Starberry shouted over the boys playing.

Dark Cacao had Starlight Vanilla hanging around his neck and Choco Caramel on his back, but he still turned, “Hmm?”

“For the apples!” Pure Starberry smiled.

Dark Cacao stood up, “Ahh, putting them to —!” He grimaced as both boys slid down him, pulling at his clothes and nearly choking him, “to use already, I see.” Then he blinked, “Hm! Ah, they're still with the convoy. Allow me to go get them.”

Before Truthless Recluse could stop them, both boys ran out the door with Dark Cacao.

Truthless Recluse rolled his eyes and turned to get started baking.

Outside, Choco Caramel rambled off to Starlight Vanilla about their trip. The little boy grabbed Dark Cacao’s hand — out of habit of holding his papa’s hand when going on walks — and just watched the prince in confusion.

Dark Cacao tried to remain calm as the little boy squeezed his hand. He cleared his throat, “Remember, Choco Caramel,” he spoke up, “Starlight cannot hear you. You must sign.”

“O-oh! Right!” Choco Caramel paused and looked at his hands. He’d been practicing for years now (they both had), but was still nowhere as fluent as Starlight Vanilla and Pure Starberry were. “We,” he spoke slowly as he signed each word, “saw a…lot of…jellybears.” 

Starlight Vanilla snickered and Choco Caramel blushed.

Starlight Vanilla came to a stop by the border and Dark Cacao realized he didn't want to let go of his hand. It was the first time Starlight Vanilla had initiated contact and he didn't want to break it just yet. He could see the convoy, so he called out to his grandson — who just kept walking and hadn't realized he'd crossed the border — “Choco Caramel!”

He turned back.

“Let the soldiers know they can come. And to unpack the apples!”

“Okay grandfather!” Choco Caramel nodded, then took off running towards the convoy.

Dark Cacao gently shook Starlight Vanilla’s hand to get his attention. The little boy looked up at him. “Are you okay?” He signed, his free hand was slow to cooperate.

Starlight Vanilla nodded and smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes.

He didn't know how to sign ‘scary’, but he was able to sign 'yesterday’ a few times and he hoped the boy understood he was trying to ask about what had happened.

Starlight Vanilla, bless his little heart, slowed his signs down enough for Dark Cacao to translate out loud.

“Papa was scared. I was scared.” Dark Cacao smiled softly, “But you,” he signed slowly, “are papa’s brave boy.” He had to say his words out loud as well, lest he forget what words he wanted to sign.

Starlight Vanilla smiled again, then signed, “I like you. I can hear you."

Dark Cacao blinked in surprise. From what Truthless Recluse had told him, Starlight Vanilla was completely deaf and couldn't hear —

Starlight Vanilla giggled and pressed Dark Cacao's hand to his throat. Then he hummed.

Ah! That was what he meant. He could hear the vibrations of Dark Cacao's voice. Dark Cacao squeezed his hand, trying not to tear up at the fact that Starlight Vanilla liked "hearing" his voice.

“Papa likes you.” Starlight Vanilla added with blue blush on his cheeks.

Dark Cacao cleared his throat, “Does he?” He asked, forgetting to sign.

Starlight Vanilla tilted his head curiously, but Choco Caramel walked back over with a bag of apples slung over his shoulder.

The wizard was carrying the other bag, “He asked for help.” The young man answered his unasked question, “The other soldiers were busy.”

“Busy…” Dark Cacao wondered what kept them so busy they couldn't help their prince.

“These are heavy!” Choco Caramel panted dramatically, “But I’m strong!” He smiled proudly.

“Here.” The wizard held the bag out to Starlight Vanilla.

“I’ll take that.” Dark Cacao reached out to take it before Starlight Vanilla could grab it, “Thank you.” 

“Can Hemlock come play with us?” Choco Caramel asked.

It took Dark Cacao a moment to remember that was the wizard’s name, “Ah…” he didn't want to appear rude or dismissive, “perhaps after breakfast.” He said.

“Yes! Let’s go, Starlight!” Choco Caramel readjusted the bag over his shoulders and grabbed Starlight’s hand. He pulled him out of Dark Cacao’s grip and he watched them go.

He smiled and walked behind them, not noticing Hemlock’s sudden interest in the runes on the shield.

Dark Cacao wished he could stay longer. He wished he could stay forever. But Truthless Recluse was right, as usual. His kingdom still needed him, even though he had stepped down from his throne for his son to step up as king, and he would never abandon his kingdom.

Not even for Pure Vanilla, or Truthless Recluse.

And Truthless Recluse was safest inside his shield, so he would not dare ask him to leave for him.

Even if Dark Cacao loved him and his children deeply and even if it pained him to say goodbye, keeping Truthless Recluse and his children safe was his number one priority.

He got back to the house just as his grandson popped out, “Finally! Slow poke!” He laughed and ducked back in.

Of course, the Vanilla twins were a tiny bit of a bad influence on his grandson. They were just a liiiiittlllllle bit too wild for his taste. But, Dark Cacao knew that Truthless Recluse had done the best he could given the circumstances.

He stepped back in to find what looked like chaos but felt like home.

Truthless Recluse was cutting up apples while he told his daughter what to pour into a mixing bowl. Starlight Vanilla was tugging at his papa’s leg and signing something to him, and Choco Caramel was standing on Truthless Recluse’s other side and talking about his trip and the wizard that joined them.

“Shoo, you little choco voles.” He waved the two boys away and stood behind Pure Starberry as she tried to crack an egg. “Would you like help?” He asked.

She craned her head back to look up at him, “Wash your hands!” She laughed.

“Ah, of course.” Dark Cacao nodded.

Truthless Recluse chuckled and turned his head away so his hair could hide his blush.

Dark Cacao washed his hands until Pure Starberry approved their cleanliness, then she let him help her.

“Is Dark Cacao helping you,” Truthless Recluse grinned, “or is he doing all the work.” He bumped his hip against Dark Cacao’s.

Dark Cacao’s cheeks burned.

It was just like old times.

“I’m helping!” Pure Starberry chirped, “See?” She dumped a teaspoon of vanilla extract into the bowl.

“Careful.” “Watch it!”

Truthless Recluse and Dark Cacao said at the same time as the vanilla extract jar nearly slipped from her hand.

“Whoops!”

They both blinked in surprise as shimmering white magic caught the slosh of liquid and dumped it back in the container.

Pure Starberry blushed, “Caught it!” She beamed up at them.

Truthless Recluse and Dark Cacao shared a wide eyed look.

“Did she — ?” Truthless Recluse asked.

Dark Cacao nodded.

With the energy in the room shifted, Truthless Recluse scooped his daughter up and set her down on the ground, “Sweetie, why don't you go play with your brother and the prince?”

“But —!!”

“Please, sweetie?” Truthless Recluse tucked her hair back. “I promise we won't finish baking until you come back. Papa just needs to talk with Dark Cacao for a minute.”

Pure Starberry groaned dramatically, “Fiiiine.”

“Thank you, my heart.” He kissed the top of her head and she ran off to join the boys. Dark Cacao stepped closer to him as he stood back up, “What am I going to do??”

“Do? Truthless Recluse, this is wonderful, is it not?” Dark Cacao asked.

“Neither children have ever shown any magical prowess before! I can't teach them, my magic is…” Truthless Recluse hugged himself, “tainted.”

“I have never heard something more untrue come out from your mouth.” Dark Cacao said comfortingly.

“I am being serious.” Truthless Recluse deadpanned.

“As am I.” Dark Cacao answered back smoothly.

Truthless Recluse sighed, “I can't teach them.” He turned and rested his palms on the counter, letting his head hang. “But…someone must.”

“I will scour all of Earthbread if I must find a tutor you trust.” Dark Cacao vowed.

“There is only one person who knows and can teach virtuous magic…” Truthless Recluse whispered.

“No.” Dark Cacao shook his head. There was no way Truthless Recluse was seriously considering letting that beast teach his children??

“So now you see my plight.” Truthless Recluse frowned. 

No, of course he wouldn't.

But if Truthless Recluse felt himself unable to teach her…Pure Starberry could get hurt. Children who had no outlet for their magic often pushed the boundaries of what their magic could do. And that resulted in a lot of broken bones, burned dough, and — in worse case scenarios — shattered minds.

And no one understood how dangerous a shattered mind was than Truthless Recluse.

Dark Cacao laid one of his hands over Truthless Recluse’s, “We’ll figure something out.” He said quietly.

Truthless Recluse’s eyes flitted over something, as if he were seeing something Dark Cacao could not, then he turned and looked up at him. “Okay…” He quietly relented.

After that, he called Pure Starberry back into the kitchen to help them finish baking.

Both boys complained they were hungry and Dark Cacao said he’d give them a real reason to be hungry if they kept complaining.

“Papa?” Pure Starberry was sitting on the counter next to the stove.

He hummed in acknowledgement as he closed the oven door and set a timer.

“Why can’t mister Dark Cacao stay all the time?” She asked.

Truthless Recluse’s face heated up, and he knew it wasn’t from the oven. “Well…Dark Cacao has his own family and his own home.” He answered plainly and honestly.

Pure Starberry blinked, confused, “He does?”

It was Truthless Recluse’s turn to blink confused, “Yes? Sweetie, where do you think Dark Cacao is every time he isn't here?”

“I thought we were his family…” She frowned.

“What?” Truthless Recluse’s heart stammered and skipped in his chest.

Sensing she’d made a mistake, Pure Starberry blushed and shook her head, “Nevermind.” Before he could stop her, she hopped off the counter and ran to join her brother and friend in the living room.

Dark Cacao walked back into the kitchen and watched her go curiously, “What was that?” 

“Nothing.” Truthless Recluse answered too quickly.

Dark Cacao raised his eyebrow but said nothing more. The pair sat in silence at the kitchen table. Truthless Recluse kept an eye on the children, smiling as the twins convinced Prince Choco Caramel that only smart cookies could lick their elbows. 

Dark Cacao couldn’t take his eyes off Truthless Recluse. 

Even after all the pain and suffering he’d been through, his smile was still the same smile he’d fallen in love with all those years ago.

As the timer ticked down on breakfast, Dark Cacao ensured each child washed their hands. He got a small bit of satisfaction in making Pure Starberry clean her hands until he was satisfied with her cleanliness. 

Eating together, glancing across the table at Truthless Recluse, Dark Cacao couldn’t help the bitter jealousy that twisted his heart and jerked his stomach into knots.

Had things been different, he might have been eating breakfast with Pure Vanilla in his kingdom with their children. He would have been smiling at their children and the silly stories and anecdotes they’d say.

But things were the way they were. He’d been hurtful and spiteful to Pure Vanilla in their youth and he had lost him. Now he was sitting with the love of his life and his two (wonderful, nonetheless) children from another partner. One that had raped and taken and culled everything that was light and pure-hearted about Pure Vanilla and left behind the shell of the cookie that now sat across from him.

He received a grounding kick under the table. Not hard, but definitely not tender or teasing.

Truthless Recluse glanced at him as if he could read his mind and wanted him to shut up and enjoy this breakfast in peace.

So he did.

“Can we go play with Hemlock now, plleeeeeeeaaaaaaaassssse?” Choco Caramel pleaded after the kids finished the food on their plates.

Before Dark Cacao could come up with a reason for why they shouldn’t play with the wizard, Truthless Recluse spoke up, “If Dark Cacao is with you, I don’t mind if you three go play.”

Dark Cacao wished he could have just stayed inside with Truthless Recluse, but he also understood that his visits were one of the few times the twins got to socialize with another child close to them in age. And one of the few times Prince Choco Caramel Drizzle could be a regular cookie without all the titles and honorifics that followed him around back home. So, he nodded and gestured for the kids to go ahead of him.

Excited, all three ran outside.

Just as he began to follow them, Truthless Recluse grabbed his arm, “Thank you.” 

He looked back at him.

“For coming. For caring.” Truthless Recluse clarified.

Dark Cacao smiled, “I told you — you will always have my heart. And should you need me, I’ll be there.” He gently took Truthless Recluse’s hand and raised it to his lips.

They could hear the children shouting excitedly outside for him.

“You better get going.” Truthless Recluse smiled, “I’ll clean up here.”

Dark Cacao smiled and held his hand for as long as he could before he turned and followed the sounds of the children.

He came around the hill and saw the children all sitting at the border. The wizard was there, sitting on the other side, a spread of cards in front of him. As he got closer he realized he was performing a simple slight-of-hand trick (much to the children’s delight).

Choco Caramel was the only one to reach through to grab or touch the cards as the wizard instructed.

Dark Cacao stood behind the children and watched with a bemused smile as the wizard cleverly slipped his tricks right past the children’s eyes. 

For as much as the young man set off alarm bells in his head, Dark Cacao had to admit…he was good with kids. All three were completely entranced by him. He was charming, but his smile verged on being too kind. 

“How about you, young man?” Hemlock Berry smiled at Starlight Vanilla and laid his cards out once more, “Pick a card. Any card.” 

Starlight Vanilla hadn’t heard him, he was watching his sister and friend to see their reactions.

Dark Cacao nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard his soldiers screaming in the distance. Pure Starberry and Choco Caramel also jumped, which made Starlight Vanilla look around in a panic.

Hemlock Berry hardly reacted.

“Children, stay here!” Dark Cacao ordered. He unsheathed his sword and ran through the barrier. He ran back down the path he knew well and skid to a stop about fifty yards away from where he’d left his convoy the night before.

One of the carts was flipped over, a soldier crushed underneath and unmoving. The other three had their own weapons drawn and were attacking a massive —

“No.” Dark Cacao breathed. His vision went red.

Snapping and snarling and prowling between the shadows of the trees was the beast himself.

The Fount of Knowledge.

Disguised as a wolf, but no less recognizable to Dark Cacao.

The wolf leapt out of the shadows, barking and snarling. The jaws of the beast snapped down over the head of one of his soldiers and the beast yanked him off his feet, shaking him viciously like a cakehound would do to a chew toy.

He tightened his grip on his sword and was ready to charge when he heard more screaming.

The children were screaming!

Panic seized his heart.

He turned around as another one of his soldiers was swiped at with a massive paw and flung into a tree trunk. He could hear the soldier’s dough snapping through the scream of his armor bending and breaking.

Pure Starberry and Choco Caramel were holding onto Starlight Vanilla and pulling with all their might, but Hemlock Berry had his arms around the flailing and screaming boy and had him halfway out the barrier!

“STARLIGHT!” Dark Cacao turned, but had barely made it two steps when a massive weight pushed him down and crushed him. He grunted in pain, his pulse hammering in his head, his chest — his whole body thrummed with pain.

“FOUL BEAST!” Dark Cacao squirmed and managed to roll over. He screamed and brought his hands up just in time to catch the jaws that threatened to close around his neck.

“GRANDFATHER!”

“DARK CACAO!!”

“LET GO YOU LITTLE GNATS!”

Everyone was screaming. But Dark Cacao could hardly hear them over the rush of jam in his ears. The wolf’s drool made his grip loose, but Dark Cacao just grit his teeth and pressed back as hard as he could.

“P-PAPA!!”

That was a voice he hadn’t heard before.

Dark Cacao struggled to crane his head back, but he was able to do so just in time to see Hemlock Berry kick his grandson to the ground (taking Pure Starberry with him).

“NO!” Dark Cacao screamed.

With the momentary distraction, the wolf pulled his jaws back and swiped a paw down on Dark Cacao’s side, the metal of his armor screamed as it was shredded by massive claws and he could feel hot jam running out the wound.

Hemlock Berry now had the kicking and screaming Starlight Vanilla in his arms and was running away. As he ran past Dark Cacao and the wolf, he seemed to watch them go by in slow motion.

Hemlock Berry had dark energy smoking off of his shoulders. Starlight Vanilla’s face was blue and there were fat tears streaming down his face. And then he heard that same unrecognizable voice.

It was Starlight Vanilla.

“P-PAPAAAA!” His pronunciation was unsure, but his desperation was palpable.

“STARLIGHT - AAAUUGH!!” Dark Cacao grunted as the wolf pounced on him again, this time, his massive paws landed on his chest and knocked the air from his lungs.

Hemlock Berry didn’t make it much further before a bolt of electricity, surrounded by dark matter hit him square in the back. Hemlock Berry grunted and collapsed to the ground, dropping Starlight Vanilla.

That finally got the wolf off him. It turned and bounded down the path towards Hemlock and Starlight Vanilla. Dark Cacao rolled over and tried to push himself up, but the burning pain in his side had him collapsing back to the ground.

He pushed himself up once more, determined — if nothing more — to crawl to Starlight Vanilla with the last of his strength!

Another bolt of dark lightning shot past his ear, clipping the dough and sending energy buzzing through his skull. The lightning fizzled as soon as it hit the wolf.

The wolf’s jaws closed around the screaming boy and he picked him up.

“NO!” Dark Cacao shouted, jam spilling from his lips.

Hemlock Berry disappeared in a puff of smoke, fading into the shadows of the world. The wolf bounded away, disappearing with Starlight Vanilla clenched tightly in his jaws.

“N-NO!” Dark Cacao could not give up — would not give up! He pushed himself to sit up, using his sword as a crutch. He could smell jam (his or his soldiers, he didn’t know). He could still just barely make out the massive black shape running away. 

“STARLIGHT!” 

His arms gave out, his jam ran hot down his waist, and the last thing he saw was the world turning sideways.

Chapter Text

Starlight Vanilla kept his hands over his eyes.

This was a nightmare!

It had to be!

There was no way it wasn’t!

Yes…

Yes, he’d open his eyes and be back in his room and his sister would be drooling on his pillow because she couldn’t stop chewing on her knuckle at night and his papa would be there to let him know breakfast was ready and —

And this had to be a nightmare!

Because Starlight Vanilla had never been beyond the magic border. He never wanted to go beyond the magic border. He never even dreamed of going beyond the magic border!

He peeked out between his fingers. 

He began to hyperventilate. 

He wanted his papa. He wanted his papa, now!

Everything looked different! Everything looked wrong! The trees were too tall! The sun was too harsh! The clouds were too thin!

Even the air was different! There was a faded sweetness in the air at home. This air was stale. Dry.

He hated it.

He wanted his papa! He wanted his home! His sister! His friend! Dark Cacao!

He thrashed in the wolf’s jaw again, but it tightened its grip. Not hard enough to break dough, but hard enough to be a warning. It growled at him.

Stay still.

The further from home he got, the more his heart rate skyrocketed until at last his vision began to black out. He let out a single, hiccuping sob, and fainted.

Sensing his son had gone limp, The Fount slowed his run to a trot, his trot to a walk, and then he stopped altogether. He slowly lowered his head and gingerly laid Starlight Vanilla on the ground.

For a moment, the massive beast stared down at his son, ears flicking and listening for any sound that might have given away he was being followed (he’d made it back to Beast-Yeast in an hour, so he doubted his slow Doll and that even slower Dark Cacao Cookie could have followed him).

When he deemed the coast to be clear, he shapeshifted back into his virtuous form. He shook off the last of the glamour magic clinging to him and bent down to scoop up his child.

He let his guard down for just a moment to hug his son close to him.

“Oh, my son.” The Fount sighed with relief as if some weight had been lifted off his shoulders. 

He teleported the rest of the way home, to the top of the Spire, where he went to the door with stars carved on its surface. It opened for him and The Fount carried his son inside.

Inside was a room that almost perfectly mirrored his sister’s room. However, instead of being dressed in purples and blues, Starlight Vanilla’s room was in blues and golds.

He laid his son down on his bed, tucking him in and fixing his messy curls. 

Honestly, the level of care his Doll had given his son’s curls was atrocious. 

The Fount sighed, yet another thing he’d have to fix.

While a large part of him wanted to stay with his son until he woke up, a smaller (nagging) part of him reminded him that he still had a job to do.

Leaning down, he kissed his son’s forehead, “I’ll be back soon, my little prince.” He grinned and vanished into the shadows.

He reappeared outside his Spire, where his student was waiting. 

Black Sapphire cookie was a tall, gangly cookie. He had curly black and violet hair, which he was constantly fighting out of his face, and pale lavender dough. He’d been studying under The Fount for about five years, and recently had been brought in for private lessons in Dark Moon Magic. 

The Fount might not have been able to access Dark Moon Magic for himself, but nothing was stopping him from using another cookie as a conduit. And Black Sapphire was so eager to learn. Eager to please. 

Upon seeing him, Black Sapphire immediately let his head hang in a submissive bow. “Master of Knowledge, I —,”

“You failed the one task I gave you.” The Fount seethed, disappointed. The eyes in his hair all glared at him.

Black Sapphire grimaced and blinked a few times to collect himself, “I did.”

“Do not hurt my children. And what do you do? You kick my daughter. You throw my son.” The Fount wanted a good reason for both transgressions, or he’d be looking for a new student.

“I - I kicked the other boy — the prince — not the girl.” Black Sapphire defended himself, “A-and I merely dropped the boy after I was hit.”

The Fount glared down at him, “Turn around.” He ordered sharply.

Black Sapphire blushed, “Master, I - I hardly —,”

“Turn. Around.” The Fount did not like repeating himself.

Black Sapphire swallowed hard and did as he was told.

The Fount grabbed the young man’s wings close to the flight muscles, Black Sapphire grunted in pain and tensed up, but did not move and did not speak. The Fount stretched his wings out — Black Sapphire attempted to draw them close in pain, but The Fount forced them open — and inspected them. The thin dough was bruised in spots where the lightning hit him and his veins seemed to be standing on end from the buzz.

The Fount grimaced and pushed healing magic into his wings. “And this is what happens when you fail.” He informed his student, “You get injured.”

“Yes, sir.” Black Sapphire obediently answered, “I understand.”

“Do you?” The Fount gripped his wings again and tugged him back. 

Black Sapphire let out a startled sound and tensed up. “Yes, sir.” He nodded.

The Fount let him go and sighed, “And now further adjustments need to be made. My precious Doll isn’t just going to let my daughter come to me, no, no, no.” He shook his head and floated back into his Spire. He snapped twice to signal Black Sapphire to follow him.

His student did so obediently, silently.

“And my poor princess must’ve been so startled to see me pick up her brother in that form. I’ll need a new form to use for when I return for them.” The Fount sighed dramatically. 

He didn’t mind creating disguises. It was fun, pretending to be someone, or something, he was not. But he’d have to start the whole process over, gaining his daughter’s trust, sneaking around, luring her out.

And then there was his Doll.

Now why did his precious Doll shoot him?

It hardly fazed him, barely tingled his dough, but it was clear the aim had been to hurt.

As soon as his Doll was back in his arms, he’d let him know just how little he appreciated being attacked.

“And of course, you will need a new form as well.” The Fount shook the distracting thoughts of his Doll from his mind.

“Yes, sir.” Black Sapphire nodded.

“But for now, your new task — and you’d better not disappoint me, Black Sapphire — is to wait for my son to wake up. Get him acquainted with the Spire, but do not let him out of your sight.” The Fount outlined exactly what he could and could not do, then he asked, “Is that simple enough for you?”

Black Sapphire nodded, clearly upset he’d been relegated to being a babysitter, but The Fount didn’t care, “Yes, sir.”

The Fount nodded to himself, “Good.” He had some crafting to do.

Choco Caramel Drizzle held Pure Starberry in his arms. She’d been sobbing loudly for the past hour, and silent tears streamed down his own face. His head hurt, and his whole face felt bruised after he’d been kicked there.

His grandfather was laid out on Truthless Recluse’s couch, and the former healer was silently pushing healing magic into his dough.

Choco Caramel watched with disgust as his grandfather’s massive, gaping wounds slowly stitched themselves closed. The exposed muscles twitched and writhed like angry licorice monsters, draining more jam onto Truthless Recluse’s couch and carpet.

Choco Caramel had been the one to grab and carry his grandfather — dragged was more like it — back to the safety of the shield. As soon as Dark Cacao was within reach, Truthless Recluse had lifted the fallen king into his arms and ran for home.

Pure Starberry sniffled and let out another wail. Her blue dough was dark, raw with tears, sweat, snot, and drool. Choco Caramel barely noticed he was being used as a tissue, but he hardly would have cared regardless.

The past hour felt like a dream…

No, a nightmare.

One moment, they’d been watching Hemlock Berry perform magic tricks.

Then there was shouting and screaming, and then Hemlock Berry had his arms around Starlight Vanilla and was trying to pull him through the barrier. Choco Caramel and Pure Starberry had pulled and pulled with all their might, but then he’d been kicked in the jaw and he fell backwards onto the younger girl.

Truthless Recluse had sensed the change in the shield and had come running with his dark orchid staff.

Nothing changed. He was still living in this nightmare.

Hemlock Berry got away. His grandfather was gravely injured.

Starlight Vanilla was gone.

Truthless Recluse hadn’t said a word since ordering Choco Caramel to grab his grandfather, but as the last of his dough stitched itself shut, he sighed and collapsed back onto his bottom.

Immediately, Pure Starberry ran over to him and crawled onto his lap. She screamed and sobbed and clung to him. He could almost make out what she was saying.

She was begging for her brother back, begging for her papa to fix things.

Truthless Recluse curled himself around his daughter and held her tight.

Choco Caramel crawled over to his grandfather. Truthless Recluse had ripped his armor off and it laid scattered on the floor, so now he could see the shallow breaths his grandfather took. 

“Grandfather?” He gingerly reached out to touch him.

He felt cold.

Unnaturally so.

Was that because of the magic? Or because of how much jam he’d lost?

“Cho…co..?” His grandfather’s violet eyes fluttered and struggled to open.

“Grandfather?” He sat up on his knees. 

“Star…Van..?” He wheezed.

“He’s…” Choco Caramel’s chest hurt, “He’s gone, grandfather.”

“P-Pure…” His hand came up.

“Pure Starberry’s still here, grandfather.” He said quietly, “Y-You should rest.” Isn’t that what cookies would say to each other when one of them was hurt? It’s what his mother and father always told him when he was sick, maybe the same thing applied here.

He’d never been around injured cookies. At least…not this injured.

The sight of his muscles, shredded, and pulling themselves back together was burned into his eyes.

“No…” Dark Cacao groaned and tried to push himself up.

“Grandfather —!?”

Dark Cacao managed to get himself halfway up before he could go no further. He gritted his teeth and panted heavily, “H-how long?”

“I - I don’t know…granfather, wh-what are we gonna do..?”

That seemed to snap Truthless Recluse out of his stupor. He unfolded himself and stood up.

“Papa?” Pure Starberry was still a sniffling, teary mess. “Papa, wh-where are you going?”

Truthless Recluse picked up his dark orchid staff.

“Papa? Papa?? Please, papa!” Pure Starberry pulled at his robes, “Papa! No!”

Dark Cacao glared at the blonde, “Pure ‘anilla —,” His ribs rattled with every breath.

“What? What’s happening?” Choco Caramel looked between his grandfather and Truthless Recluse.

Truthless Recluse gripped his staff, “I know what I have to do to get him back.”

“Papa, no!” Pure Starberry kept crying and clinging to him. “No, papa, no!”

Dark Cacao gripped the couch and rolled over, ready to stand, even if his body refused to cooperate, “Pure…‘nil’.” He panted, “Wait.”

“Wait?!” Truthless Recluse shouted, “For what?!” He turned around. Silent, furious tears in his eyes refused to fall. “He took my child! I am not going to sit around anymore!”

“STOP IT!” Pure Starberry screamed up at him.

Truthless Recluse blinked and looked down at her in shock.

“STOP! STOP! STOP IT! YOU CAN’T GO TO SLEEP NOW!” She bunched her hands into fists and stomped her feet on the ground. When she stopped, she panted heavily, her whole body trembling with the weight of agony no cookie should have endured.

No one moved.

No one dared to speak.

Seeing his opportunity, Dark Cacao put pressure on his injured side and dragged himself to sit upright, “Pure Vanilla —,”

“Stop.”

Dark Cacao ignored him and ignored the concerned voice of his grandson as he forced himself to stand. His vision swam, and his grandson — bless his heart — tried to steady him.

“You cannot go out there to face him.” Dark Cacao grunted in pain as he found his footing.

“Like hell I can’t. He took my BOY, Dark Cacao.” Truthless Recluse’s grip on his staff was painful, and he knew Dark Moon Magic was dripping off him like batter off a whisk.

“I know.” Dark Cacao panted out. Every word, every breath, was a chore.

“So I have to go back out there!” Truthless Sage snarled at him. “That’s my son!”

“And what about Pure Starberry?” Dark Cacao snapped. “She is your daughter! She is here!”

Truthless Recluse recoiled as if he’d been slapped. He staggered back and had to use his staff to catch himself. He blinked and looked down.

Pure Starberry’s wide yellow eyes were watery, a near constant stream of tears flowed down her face. She had a little bit of jam running from her nose and mixing with the snot that dripped when she’d been loudly sobbing. Her cheeks were flushed a blotchy dark blue, and her tiny body was shaking like an autumn leaf in a winter snow storm. Her face was screwed up, as if she was ready to scream or explode or both, and her fists were shaking and clenched by her sides.

His daughter…

She needed him.

If he just left —

He was just going to…

But he hadn’t meant…

He didn’t…

Truthless Recluse clutched at his head as it began to throb painfully.

“If you go back out there to confront him…” Dark Cacao lowered his voice, “He will try to take you.”

“He won’t succeed.” Truthless Recluse shook his head, but his eyes never left his daughter.

She hiccuped, barely able to catch her breath, and she didn’t blink or look away from him.

“And you are willing to risk that?” Dark Cacao asked. “I know you want Starlight Vanilla back.” He took slow, agonizing steps forward. His bones felt like fragile twigs, bent just to the point before snapping. He needed to comfort his friend — and he needed to make sure he wouldn’t just run out into the forests and get taken himself again.

“He doesn’t even know he’s deaf.” Truthless Recluse finally let the tears fall from his eyes. 

They hurt.

Everything hurt.

“He’s so little…a-and The Fount can be so mean,” He tried to stop crying, he really did, but it was futile, "e-especially if something isn’t perfect.” Spit and tears flew from his lips, “B-but Starlight,” He collapsed into Dark Cacao’s open arms, “Not my boy, not my baby.” He sobbed and clung to his friend.

“I know.” Dark Cacao ran a soothing hand up and down his back. “We’ll get him back.” He couldn’t promise him anything, for he truly didn’t know how, or even when they’d get Starlight Vanilla back, but Dark Cacao silently vowed to never rest until the boy was home where he belonged.

Chapter Text

Strange…

Normally, when Starlight Vanilla took a nap, his papa would hold him and rub his back. He'd sleep and wake to the feel of his papa's heartbeat (which was his favorite thing in the whole world).

So...why was he in bed?

His hands grabbed at his bedsheets.

Stranger still...

His bedsheets were…wrong.

That was the only way Starlight Vanilla could describe it. His bedsheets were wrong. They were soft, sure, but stiff, and too heavy.

He scrunched up his face. He was stiff and his dough felt too heavy.

He rolled over onto his side before he opened his eyes and gasped.

This wasn't his room.

This wasn't even his house!!

He quickly pulled the blankets up around his head and squeezed his eyes shut. His heart hammered in his ears and he could feel the world turning sideways.

“This is a nightmare! This has to be a nightmare! Papa! Papa, please! Wake me up from this nightmare!” He thought as he began to cry.

He wanted to be held. He wanted his papa!

His crying grew louder.

Someone pulled at the blankets over his head and Starlight Vanilla flailed out, kicking and screaming. As the blankets were ripped away from him, he saw a strange cookie glaring down at him and saying something.

Starlight Vanilla shook his head.

The mad cookie kept talking.

And Starlight Vanilla kept shaking his head.

What was happening?!?

Where was papa?!?

The mad cookie looked even more mad. He was saying something again.

Starlight Vanilla shook his head. He covered his ears.

Now the cookie looked mad and confused. 

Starlight Vanilla squeezed his eyes shut.

Nightmare!

This was a nightmare!

He wanted to wake up!

Why wasn't papa waking him up?!?

He began to hyperventilate, his head felt swimmy, and minutes seemed to drag by like hours.

When he peeked his eyes open he was still in this strange room, but the mad-confused cookie was gone.

The room he was in was the size of the kitchen, living room, and his room combined! Floating above him was a parade of toys of all shapes and sizes. They all played silent instruments and twirled tiny batons, waiting for their director to give them their next cue. The walls were the color of a cloudy midnight sky and — and was that a shooting star that just crossed the curve of the wall??

Starlight Vanilla backed himself up against the wooden headboard and pulled his knees to his chest.

Nightmare.

Nightmare.

Nightmare!

He kept telling himself he’d wake up soon. He’d be in his papa’s arms, feel his scratchy-soft beard, maybe even see mister Dark Cacao playing with his sister and Choco Caramel. He’d nuzzle his papa and get a nuzzle and a kiss back, and he’d be safe and happy and awake and not in this nightmare!!

He tried to remember the breathing exercises his papa taught him. 

Breathe in for five seconds.

Starlight Vanilla inhaled, trying to force down a hiccuping sob that was building.

Breathe out for five seconds.

He couldn't do it!

He began to cry.

Why wasn't papa waking him up?? 

“This had better be good.” The Fount growled as Black Sapphire led him to his son’s room, “If you're telling me you can't handle a simple —,”

“He can't hear.” Black Sapphire cut him off.

The Fount blinked. “What?”

“He can't —,”

“I’m not deaf. But how do you know my son is?” The Fount asked. This he could understand interrupting his class for.

Black Sapphire just opened the door to his room and walked in.

The Fount’s heart skipped a beat seeing his son curled up in a small ball and shaking with loud sobs.

“Watch.” Black Sapphire said. Then he clapped his hands and shouted, “Come on, let’s go!”

“Don't order him around!” The Fount smacked his hands down.

But he watched as Starlight Vanilla didn't even acknowledge them. Frowning, he stood beside his son’s bed and reached his hand out to his ear. He snapped his fingers twice.

Nothing.

It was as if Starlight Vanilla had no idea they were there.

…

Because he had no idea they were there.

“Damn you, Pure Vanilla Cookie.” The Fount cursed under his breath. He hovered his hand over the boy's head.

Shimmering magic coated the boy's head and a mist appeared above his head. Starlight Vanilla gasped and sat back. He screamed when he saw them and The Fount frowned.

“Can you fix him?” Black Sapphire asked curiously.

“I could have.” The Fount grumbled, “If I had known.” 

Starlight Vanilla crawled away from them, or rather, he tried to. His body was tangled in the sheets and he only managed to flop down onto the bed away from them. A strange tangle of magic shimmered in the mist above Starlight Vanilla’s head. 

“His brain has been completely rewired from that of a hearing brain.” The Fount sat on the edge of the bed with a heavy sigh, "To fix him now would require me to deconstruct and then reconstruct his brain." It wasn't a fun task, nor was it safe, and The Fount was not willing to do it.

“So…he’s just…like this?” Black Sapphire didn't hide his aversion very well.

The Fount’s inky blue and black eyes glared at him. “He is still my perfect boy. He will just need a little bit of work now, that’s all.” 

He turned around when he heard a -whumph- and saw Starlight Vanilla had fallen off the bed. The little boy picked himself up and immediately ran for the door.

Black Sapphire flew over and blocked the door, “Oh no you don't!” He jumped left and right to mirror the boy and keep him from reaching the door. “Stay still!”

The Fount followed behind at a leisurely pace. He bent down and scooped Starlight Vanilla up into his arms as he was trying to make a fake out and jump around Black Sapphire.

Starlight Vanilla vocalized and flailed wildly, but The Fount held him tightly and hummed absentmindedly as he walked back over to the bed.

Starlight Vanilla froze.

How did this strange cookie know his papa’s song?

He eyed the strange cookie curiously as he was dropped back onto the big bed. He could feel his heart hammering in his head as he slowly raised his hand to his head and signed, “Papa’s song?”

The Fount furrowed his brows. He knew sign language, but he’d never used it before. It was one of those things that, after learning it, he’d stuffed the knowledge away as it wasn’t practical for him as a Virtue to practice daily. Not like weather tracking, star gazing, or runic study.

He inhaled deeply and exhaled quickly. “Black Sapphire?”

“Yes, sir?” Black Sapphire stood at the end of the bed.

“Go to the village stonecutter, and buy every blue stone they have. Do you understand me?” The Fount asked, sitting back against the headboard.

Starlight Vanilla looked between the two with wide eyes. 

“Buy the blue stones from the stonecutter.” Black Sapphire repeated.

The Fount waved a finger, “I am not saying ‘some’, I am not saying ‘a few’. I am saying ‘every’.”

“Every blue stone.” Black Sapphire nodded, he turned to leave, but stopped and looked back, “Why blue stones, sir?” He asked.

The Fount blinked, deadpanned, “Blue stones are conduits for vocal support.” Then, as if he’d just thought of it, “And buy any amethyst or tiger’s eye as well.”

Black Sapphire blinked, confused, but nodded, “Every blue stone. Amethyst or Tiger’s eye.”

“Good boy.” The Fount waved him off.

Black Sapphire bowed and could not leave fast enough. Anything to get out of babysitting.

Starlight Vanilla stared wide eyed at the eyes in the strange cookie’s hair. The eyes blinked out of sync at him. Some eyes flitted between him and the other cookie — who’d just left. 

The big cookie turned and looked down at him, his actual eyes were trying to be gentle, but they made Starlight Vanilla want to curl in on himself and scream.

Then, the big cookie opened his arms. He wasn’t necessarily forcing Starlight Vanilla to sit beside him, but the invitation was loud and clear.

He eyed him up and down.

He had blue dough, like his sister, and dual blue eyes, like him. And his hair wasn’t entirely blue and black (with weird, creepy eyes), the very tips of his curly hair was shimmering with stardust. He looked normal enough…but then he smiled and Starlight Vanilla saw a row of sharp teeth and he swallowed hard.

Still…

The strange cookie knew his papa’s song…

Maybe the strange cookie knew papa…

Maybe he had rescued him from the big wolf and the strange wizard cookie that had pulled him away from his sister and papa!

Suddenly feeling safer, Starlight Vanilla scrambled over and climbed onto the strange cookie’s lap.

The Fount’s eyes lit up as he watched his son slowly process his appearance. True, he’d let himself go the past few years, but he’d been so worried about his children and his Doll.

And when Starlight Vanilla climbed onto his lap, he couldn’t help the stutter in his heart.

Starlight Vanilla nuzzled his chest and clung to him, pulling his robes as if he wished to hide in them. 

The Fount knew he had to get back to teaching. Black Sapphire had so rudely pulled him from his class on negating the effects of long-term faerie magic…but The Fount didn’t want to leave his son now that he had him.

Ah well, if fifteen minutes passed, his students knew they were free to leave.

The Fount cradled his son and gently resumed humming to him. It was an old song, one he often hummed when his mind wandered as he worked. He used to hum it all the time when his Doll was living with him (his Doll had a way of making his mind wander), he was glad it seemed to calm Starlight Vanilla down.

“Don’t worry, son.” The Fount whispered, though he knew now that Starlight Vanilla couldn’t hear him, “I will fix this. I will fix everything.”

Dark Cacao stepped up besides Truthless Recluse. The smaller cookie had his arms crossed and his eyes (as well as the eyes on his staff) focused on a point across the room.

Neither one said anything for a while.

“I’ve caught her sleeping in his bed every night this week.” Truthless Recluse finally broke the silence with a whisper.

Dark Cacao glanced at Truthless Recluse before looking back in the twin’s room. Pure Starberry was curled up on her brother’s bed, clinging to his toy cream sheep and blanket, crying in her sleep.

Truthless Recluse swallowed hard and turned his head to face him, but kept his eyes down, “She’s been sneaking food in the room.” He nodded his head towards the window between the twin’s beds.

Dark Cacao looked at the window. A plate of food was precariously perched on the sill. “Perhaps she thinks it will lure the beast back.” He whispered.

“She said she hopes the wizard that took Starlight will take the food to him. She’s scared he won’t know his favorite meals and Starlight won’t eat.” Truthless Recluse’s throat was tight.

Dark Cacao didn’t know how to respond to that. He was quiet for a moment until he finally did find his words, “She’s very thoughtful in that way.”

Normally, such a comment would have earned him a smile, a snicker, something.

Now, Truthless Recluse just blinked slowly and turned back to look at his daughter.

Dark Cacao frowned. He didn’t want to, but he knew he had to leave in the morning. Not only did his son and daughter-in-law want their son home (they’d been gone a week longer than anticipated), he owed it to the soldiers who had crumbled at the hands of the Beast to get them home to their loved ones.

A part of him was crumbling, knowing he’d have to leave Truthless Recluse in this state of mind. He feared this would be the last time he’d see him. 

He feared he had lost him again.

Truthless Recluse broke the silence, “I should go back.” His voice broke.

Dark Cacao was slow to look at him. His brows furrowed, “Go back?”

“To The Fount…to the Spire.” Truthless Recluse’s voice was hardly louder than a breath.

His heart stopped, “No. Pure Vanilla, you don’t really want that.” He shook his head.

“He has my son.” Truthless Recluse hissed through his teeth to keep his voice down. “If I go to him of my own volition. If I do…” He swallowed, “If I do what he wants…then at least I’d have my son back.”

“And what of your daughter?” Dark Cacao knew the only thing keeping Truthless Recluse here was his daughter.

Pure Starberry had hardly left the house the past week, the world outside was suddenly too big and too scary for her.

“I’d take her with me.” Truthless Recluse answered immediately.

“Pure Vanilla, use reason.”

“What reason is there to have when the truth is as clear as day?” Truthless Recluse seethed. “The Fount has the upper — no — The Fount has won.” He finally looked up at him. “Every day has been more agonizing than the last.” He took a shaky breath and shook his head, “What happens next is inevitable. And if it gets me back to my son sooner, then I will do what I must.”

“But you left.” Dark Cacao reminded him. “You left The Fount of Knowledge and the Spire because you wanted a better life for your children. You knew you could give them a better life than what The Fount could. You knew they would be happier away from him. You would be happier —,”

“My happiness does not matter.” Truthless Recluse snapped.

Pure Starberry sniffled in her sleep.

All of the tension melted off the smaller cookie and he stepped into his children’s room. He turned back as if he wanted to say more to Dark Cacao, but he closed his mouth and gripped his staff tighter.

“Pure Vanilla?”

His shoulders tensed up again.

“You cannot go back. I swear to you…I will do all in my power to help you get your son back.” Dark Cacao laid his hand over his heart. “But you cannot give in to him again.”

Truthless Recluse eyed him up and down, but said nothing and sat on the floor beside his son’s bed. He rested his chin on the small mattress and watched his daughter sleep.

Dark Cacao frowned, “You need to sleep, Pure Vanilla.”

Truthless Recluse did not outwardly react to his words.

“In your own bed.” He added. He moved to step into the room, but Truthless Recluse gripped his staff and aimed it at him.

A silent, yet deafening warning.

Go away.

Dark Cacao frowned. He’d clearly crossed a line. He bowed his head respectfully, “Good night, Pure Vanilla Cookie.”

However, worried his friend might try to run in the middle of the night, Dark Cacao sat on the floor in front of the front door. Realistically, Truthless Recluse could escape with Pure Starberry out the window, but he could see straight into the twins room from his spot on the floor, so he’d see it if he tried.

Fortunately for him, Truthless Recluse did not attempt to escape. Instead, after an hour of just watching his daughter sleep, her small sniffles and tired cries knocked Truthless Recluse out of his thoughts.

Dark Cacao couldn’t hear her, but he was sure it was what they’d been hearing all week every time the little girl broke down in tears. 

She asked if Starlight Vanilla was really gone. She’d blame herself. Then she’d ask her papa to fix things.

Truthless Recluse climbed into bed with his daughter and wrapped his arms protectively around her. Pure Starberry’s cries were muffled by his robes.

The next morning, the whole house was slow to rise.

Dark Cacao made breakfast for everyone. Something filling, as none of them had had much of an appetite the past week. And he made lots of it because he had a sneaking suspicion that Truthless Recluse would neglect himself once they left.

Choco Caramel helped without needing to be asked. He set the table, plated everything, and helped start the clean up process while Truthless Recluse got himself and his daughter washed and dressed for the day.

Instead of putting his daughter in her chair, Truthless Recluse kept her in his arms and sat in his seat.

Dark Cacao said nothing about it.

He fixed Truthless Recluse and Pure Starberry a plate of french toast and a small bowl of cream of wheat, then he fixed a setting for his grandson and then himself.

Truthless Recluse whispered to Pure Starberry, likely begging her to eat. She got one pitiful nibble of french toast down before she began crying.

Dark Cacao’s heart broke for the little girl.

She came into the world with her brother and now he’d been viciously ripped away from her. She was like a soul that had been cleaved in two.

When it became clear she wouldn't eat more, Truthless Recluse sat back with a sigh and held his little girl close to his chest. 

Choco Caramel slowly pushed his half eaten bowl away from himself and looked down at his lap.

Dark Cacao sighed and leaned over to whisper to him, “You need to eat. We have a long trip ahead of us.”

“I’m not hungry.” Choco Caramel whispered back.

Dark Cacao took a deep breath. It seemed like everyone’s appetite was still gone…

Choco Caramel and Dark Cacao silently cleaned up the kitchen, packed away food for themselves and food for Truthless Recluse and Pure Starberry, then cleaned and picked up the house.

Truthless Recluse and Pure Starberry stayed cuddled together in Truthless Recluse’s armchair. 

Dark Cacao ensured all of their things were packed. They were down a cart, but most of their supplies had been too damaged to recover anyways, so their load would only be weighed down by…by the crumbled soldiers…

He told his grandson to wait in the house while he loaded the bodies into the cart. Then he covered them with what fabric Truthless Recluse had available. It was hard (mentally and physically) but he got them all loaded up.

Finally, the dreaded hour was upon them.

“It's time.” Dark Cacao told his grandson. He watched, confused, as he went over to Truthless Recluse and Pure Starberry.

Pure Starberry, to his surprise, unfolded herself from her papa’s arms and shimmied off of his lap onto the floor.

“I promise,” Choco Caramel laid his hand on his heart, “I will train and get big and strong and I will bring Starlight Vanilla home.”

Pure Starberry looked at him, her cheeks tear stained and nose blue, “Promise?” Her voice broke.

“If you promise to be here, then I promise to bring him home.” Choco Caramel nodded.

Pure Starberry was quiet for a long time. Then she nodded, “Okay.” And she took his hand and walked him to the door.

Truthless Recluse was quick to stand and follow her. Dark Cacao followed him and they watched the two children walk towards the border.

Dark Cacao glanced at Truthless Recluse as he stood beside him.

“You promise you’ll bring him home?” Truthless Recluse gripped his staff with both hands.

Dark Cacao’s heart gave a painful jerk. He thought back to his grandson’s words and stepped closer to Truthless Recluse, “If you promise to be here, then I promise to bring him home.”

Truthless Recluse took a shaky breath and a single tear escaped his eye, “I promise.”

Dark Cacao’s heart broke as he leaned down, “Then I will bring him home.” He kissed his cheek

Chapter Text

Starlight Vanilla still didn't like this strange new place.

When it became clear that he wasn't having a nightmare, and everything had — in fact — been real, he had refused to leave the room.

H-his room?

The room.

The mad cookie had tried to get him to leave the room once. 

Once.

But Starlight Vanilla had kicked and screamed and wanted nothing to do with him or anything outside the room. The mad cookie always went to get the big blue cookie if he kicked and screamed and ran away for long enough.

The blue cookie always looked exasperated, but would smile and hold Starlight Vanilla while the mad cookie glared at him.

He still wanted to go home. 

He still cried every night. 

He missed his sister and his papa, but at least the blue cookie was nice enough to offer him food…and the room was…nice.

He didn’t like showering here — wherever here was. The first time the blue cookie tried to take care of his hair, Starlight Vanilla had cried and screamed at him. The blue cookie looked frustrated, but was patient with him.

Now his hair looked weird.

Too curly.

Like the blue cookie’s hair.

Right now, he was curled up on the too big bed and glaring at the mad purple and black cookie.

The mad purple and black cookie glared back at him, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Stupid.” Starlight Vanilla signed. Papa said it was an unkind word and that he shouldn’t ever call anyone ‘stupid’. But he thought the mad purple and black cookie was very stupid.

And mean.

And he was always cranky.

Why was he always cranky and mean and stupid?

“Stupid, stupid head.” Starlight Vanilla signed, frowning.

The mad purple and black cookie said something, his lip twitching up in a snarl. Then his head snapped up and he looked off at the door. He said something then turned back and put his hands on his hips.

Starlight Vanilla knew that look. It meant the mad purple and black cookie was about to make a grab for him. His heart hammered in his chest as the mad purple and black cookie said something to him. He immediately made a mad dash for the opposite end of the bed!

He rolled off onto the floor and then tried to crawl under the bed.

He didn’t want to go anywhere with the mad purple and black cookie! Not unless he was going home!

He screamed as his ankle was grabbed and he was yanked out from under the bed. He screamed and flailed, which usually worked to get him to let go, but today, the mad purple and black cookie dragged him across the floor to the walk-in closet.

Starlight Vanilla wriggled his legs, trying to free them from the mad purple and black cookie’s grip. He tried to dig his fingers into the rug covering the majority of the stone floor, but it was too thin and had very little give or grip.

The mad purple and black cookie closed both of them into the closet and Starlight Vanilla was finally able to get one foot free. He kicked the mad purple and black cookie in the side of the face — which felt like revenge for kicking his friend! Take that! — and freed himself from his grip.

He pushed himself to his feet and ran to the door. But the second his hands closed around the golden handle, a pair of arms wrapped around both of his and put him in a hold. 

“N-NO!” He could feel his vocal chords moving, he just hoped the stupid cookie heard him and would let him go! 

He didn’t want to do whatever it was the stupid cookie wanted him to do! He wanted to go home!!

“PAPA!”

The closet door opened, and the big blue cookie stepped in looking very unimpressed and disappointed.

Both younger cookies stopped their thrashing. The stupid cookie’s grip on him lessened just enough that Starlight Vanilla could squirm his arms free and he ran to the big blue cookie.

He grabbed his robes and hid behind him.

He could see them talking to each other, and when the stupid cookie looked at him, he stuck his tongue out at him. The stupid cookie’s wings flapped furiously by his waist and his cheeks burned dark violet.

The big blue cookie bent down and picked him up. Then he floated down the length of the closet and paused at a section that had a number of robes. All of them were varying shades of blues and black. Starlight Vanilla instinctively rested his head on the big blue cookie’s shoulder, uninterested in the different clothes he pulled off the rack and showed to him. He could feel his voice vibrating, but he wasn’t signing and he wasn’t bothering to try and charade what he was saying, so Starlight Vanilla didn’t care.

After the third suit and robe was shown to him, Starlight Vanilla whined and buried his head in the big blue cookie’s shoulder.

He wanted to go home.

This place was stupid.

No one signed.

The stupid cookie was always so grumpy and mean.

And even if the big blue cookie knew his papa’s song and was nicer to him, he wasn’t papa. And Starlight Vanilla wanted his papa. 

He sniffled and teared up.

He missed his papa. He missed his sister. He’d even take waking up with his sister’s drool all over his pillow for a whole month if it meant waking up back at home!

The big blue cookie carried him out of the closet and stood him in front of a vanity. Starlight Vanilla sniffled and looked up at him in the reflection of the mirror. He had one of the suits and robes draped over his arm.

Starlight Vanilla hiccuped and began crying harder.

He didn’t like the clothes here, but the stupid cookie had taken his favorite robe after the first night he spent here and he hadn't seen it since. The clothes here were too restricting and heavy, they also reminded him of the weird fabric his papa had in his closet.

His chest hurt. He missed his papa.

He let his head hang and he cried as the big blue cookie took his nightgown off over his head and began to dress him in the stupid clothes. He didn’t have anymore fight in him, and he let the big blue cookie move his limbs how he wanted to slip on a shirt, suit jacket, pressed pants, and robe.

Thankfully, he left his feet bare.

Starlight Vanilla wished he could go outside, the stone floor hurt his feet.

Once he was dressed, the big blue cookie made a motion with his hands and a stool was pulled out from under the vanity and scooted around behind him. Starlight Vanilla hated this part. It hadn’t happened every day, but any day doing this left him feeling miserable.

The big blue cookie reached around him and grabbed a spray bottle. Starlight Vanilla squeezed his eyes shut as he absolutely drenched his head with water. When the fine mist finally stopped, he opened his eyes and watched the big blue cookie put something on his hands. He began to run it through his hair. Starlight Vanilla grimaced and whimpered as the big blue cookie worked his hands through his hair, starting at the ends and working his way up. He was trying to be gentle, but Starlight Vanilla hated this whole process.

Why couldn’t he just shower and wash the way he always had like he had back home?

After coating his hair in the yuck-stuff (that’s what Starlight Vanilla called it since neither cookie would sign and tell him what it was), the big blue cookie wiped his hands off and then put another yuck-stuff-thing on his hands and began to grab and coil Starlight Vanilla’s hair.

He made the mistake of glancing into the mirror.

The stupid cookie looked mighty smug and when he saw Starlight Vanilla looking at him, he stuck his tongue out at him.

Then, the big blue cookie snapped his fingers and Starlight Vanilla’s hair dried curly.

He hated it.

He didn’t look as much like papa when his hair was curly.

The big blue cookie picked him up and carried him out of the room. Starlight Vanilla relaxed when the big blue cookie began to hum. He clung to the big blue cookie and closed his eyes.

Maybe…if he closed his eyes…he could pretend he was at home, papa was humming again, he was safe. 

He opened his eyes as he was set back down on his feet.

He wasn’t home.

Instead, he was in a new room. Not as big as the room he’d been staying in, but still bigger than any singular room back at home. Two of the four walls were covered in shelves and those shelves were sagging with books and other strange objects that glowed and pulsed and throbbed with energy. There was a blackened fireplace on the third wall, a big pot hanging in its center. 

Furniture that didn’t really seem to fit in was haphazardly scattered around the room, and nearly every flat surface was overflowing with bits and ends that made no sense to Starlight Vanilla.

Papa would have hated this room. Too cluttered.

The big blue cookie lifted something off of a very cluttered and messy table. It was about his height, gold, and looked almost like his papa’s staff. There was a bloom at the top of the staff, with the outermost petals stretched up to hold a blue gem over the center of the bloom.

He turned and held the staff out to Starlight Vanilla.

Starlight Vanilla looked questioningly between the big blue cookie and the staff. “What is this?” He signed.

The big blue cookie just motioned for him to take the staff.

Starlight Vanilla reached out, his hands brushed the cold, golden staff. He quickly pulled his hands back. 

Magic.

But not warm magic like his papa’s magic.

This magic was sharp, and cold.

He looked back up at the big blue cookie and shook his head. He didn’t want this. He didn’t want whatever this was.

Still, the staff was pushed towards him.

Whimpering, Starlight Vanilla reached out and accepted the staff.

“See? Patience is all that’s required.” A strange voice filled his head.

Starlight Vanilla screamed and dropped the staff.

The big blue cookie quickly snatched it up and handed it back to him. Starlight Vanilla fumbled with it as another voice filled his head.

“Well if the — if your son would just cooperate when we need him to do something.”

“What is happenin — AAAH!” Starlight Vanilla threw the staff, his thoughts receding back into his mind. Why could he hear his thoughts out loud??

The big blue cookie’s hand shot out and magic caught the staff before it could clatter to the floor again. He put it back in Starlight Vanilla’s hands.

“Sir…” The stupid cookie sighed.

“Patience, Black Sapphire.” The big blue cookie warned him. Their voices sounded muffled, as if he was hearing them through thick puffs of cream wool.

Starlight Vanilla grimaced and winced, “T-Too loud.” He thought, his voice breaking. His thoughts projected into the room and made it louder, and his voice sounded static-y as it came from the gem.

“It will take a while to get used to sound,” The big blue cookie said, not bothering to lower his voice, “But, your staff will now allow us to communicate properly.”

“C-communitate?” Starlight Vanilla watched the blue gem on the staff brighten and dim with each syllable.

“Communicate.” Black Sapphire rolled his eyes, “Master Fount, sir,” He shook his head, “I fail to see how this will help. The —,” he sighed, “Your son is…temperamental.”

“Stupid.” Starlight Vanilla grouched, not realizing all his thoughts were being projected.

“What?!” Black Sapphire growled.

“Black Sapphire,” The Fount’s tone was warning. Then he turned to Starlight Vanilla, “We’ll have to work on your impulsivity.” 

“Impultivity?” Starlight Vanilla frowned. What were all these strange words?

He hated this. He let go of the staff and pushed it away from him. His dough crawled.

That wasn’t natural. It wasn’t right.

He didn’t want to hear everything. He didn’t want to hear anything.

Magic caught the staff and forced it back into his hands.

“Don’t do that again, Starlight.” The Fount’s voice was sharp, “Your father worked very hard on it.”

“Papa?” Starlight Vanilla perked up. His papa was here?

“Oh, crumbs.” Black Sapphire huffed and crossed his arms.

“Uh, no, Starlight Vanilla.” The Fount said. “Me.” He laid a clawed hand on his chest.

Starlight Vanilla just blinked up at him, “N-no? Papa?” His heart hammered in his chest.

“No.” The Fount shook his head again, “Starlight Vanilla, did your…papa,” He seemed to hate that word, “not tell you?”

“Tell me what?” Starlight Vanilla winced, still getting used to hearing things. 

“Oh, well, where to start?” The Fount conjured a chair and reclined in it. He crossed one leg over the other and smoothed out his black robes. “You are a very special cookie, Starlight Vanilla.” He smiled, flashing his sharp teeth. 

Black Sapphire exhaled loudly through his nose and Starlight Vanilla glared at him for being so loud.

“You,” The Fount’s voice caught his attention and he looked back at him, “Are my son.”

Starlight Vanilla didn’t understand, “But…papa?” His head felt swimmy again, and he screwed his face up, trying to block out all the new distracting sounds he was hearing.

“You are also your — eeeugh — papa’s son.” The Fount didn’t bother to hide his disgust. “He took you from me. Took you and your sister from me. And he has tried to keep you hidden from the whole world. From me.”

“Papa…” Starlight Vanilla clung to the staff and sniffled, his eyes burned with tears. What did he mean ‘hidden from the whole world’? Dark Cacao knew about him, Golden Cheese knew about him, they didn’t live at home, they had their own homes.

“And I have spent your whole life trying to find and bring you all home.” The Fount ignored his sniffling. He frowned, “Unfortunately, your papa refuses to come home. He has caused us all so much pain.”

“P-pain?” Starlight Vanilla was confused.

“Oh yes, my dear,” The Fount stood up, “I have ached every day since your papa took you away from me, missing you and your sister.” He floated over and picked Starlight Vanilla up, “That is why I had your rooms made and ready for you.”

Vanilla fumbled with the staff as he rested on The Fount's hip. He struggled to use his hands with the staff, but still signed as his voice came out of the stone, “But…why?” His papa would never willingly hurt…anything!

The Fount sighed and shook his head, he began to walk out of the cluttered room and snapped for Black Sapphire to follow. “That, my dear, I do not know.” He said, carrying Starlight Vanilla back through the Spire. “Everything you and your sister could have possibly needed or wanted has been here. I have always only ever wanted the best for you, your sister, and your papa. I do not know why he has kept you from me.”

Starlight Vanilla’s head hurt.

He was trying to make sense of…everything?

The Fount hummed absentmindedly as he floated along.

“Papa’s song…” Starlight Vanilla unwillingly thought out loud.

“Papa’s song?” The Fount scrunched his nose up in disbelief, “No, no, no.” He raised his eyebrows curiously, “My song.” He corrected, “I taught your papa that song.”

Starlight Vanilla shook his head, “No, no, no.” Was everything he knew wrong?? Was it all a lie?

Was he really The Fount’s son? Had his papa really taken him away from him? Why?? He seemed nice enough…a little scary looking, but Starlight Vanilla was already getting used to his…features.

“What must I do to convince you?” The Fount sighed sadly.

“You could show him the portrait, sir?” Black Sapphire suggested.

“An excellent idea, Black Sapphire.” The Fount beamed proudly at his student, “Now you are being useful.”

Black Sapphire grumbled.

The Fount carried Starlight Vanilla to a corridor that had several covered portraits and smashed statues. It was dark here, and Starlight Vanilla curled up closer to him.

Towards the middle of the corridor was a large portrait that was only half-covered, but Starlight Vanilla would have recognized the cookie in the frame anywhere.

“Papa!” He reached out.

The Fount kept Starlight Vanilla an arm’s length away, not allowing him to touch the portrait.

His papa stood in front of a bush of milkcrown flowers. He wore a long blue, black, and gold robe — like what Starlight Vanilla was wearing today — and his eyes stared straight at them. The only thing that looked weird about him was his lack of beard and the frown on his face, which made Starlight Vanilla frown.

“I had this made when your papa first joined me in the Spire.” The Fount explained, his voice quiet. “We were happy. And when you and your sister came along, we were so excited to have you here and raise you together.”

“But…papa…” Starlight Vanilla’s gem glowed as he spoke, illuminating the dark corridor.

“Stole you from me.” The Fount finished. He reached forward and stroked the painted cheek of his papa. 

It was the same way Dark Cacao would touch his papa, and Starlight Vanilla understood.

The Fount was his father, and papa had kept them all separate.

Chapter Text

Pure Starberry laid on her papa’s bed hugging herself. Ever since Dark Cacao and Choco Caramel Drizzle left she hadn't wanted to sleep in her own room. It was too big. And she didn't want to sleep on the couch either because then she could see the glow of the shield around their home and that made her cry.

She kept her eyes closed, slowly petting the lumpy, handmade, black cream sheep plush her brother had made her. Maybe if she kept her eyes closed, she could pretend she was in her brother’s bed and he was still there and everything was okay.

She wouldn't have to spend her birthday alone.

She forced her eyes open.

She wasn't technically alone. But her papa had been asleep for a while. Which was another reason she was in his bed.

She missed him.

Papa was staring at the ceiling with half-lidded eyes. His breathing was even, deep, and he didn't move aside from the steady rise and fall of his diaphragm.

Pure Starberry sighed and snuggled up closer to him.

She knew from past experience that she should try to clean and feed her papa, but she had no energy to do so by herself. He'd been laying in bed for two days.

Her stomach growled.

She hadn't eaten since lunch the day before. And it was a pitiful lunch too, the last few bites of the food Dark Cacao had made and saved for them. Papa had refused to eat.

Her face felt hot and she scrunched her face up to try and hold back her tears. She nuzzled her papa’s arm, hoping for some kind of response.

…

She began to sniffle and cry, “Papa..?”

Truthless Recluse didn't react. He didn't even blink. 

She grabbed his arm with one tiny hand and began to pull his sleeve, “Papa??”

Still he didn't react.

She was done with him being asleep.

She was done being alone.

A fire burned in her chest, she screwed her face up and began to cry loudly, “Papa?? Papa!!” She shook him as hard as she could. When he still didn't react, she got up on her knees and began to shake him with both hands.

“Stop it!” She shouted, “Stop sleeping! I — I miss you! Wake up!! Wake up, Papa!!”

She flung herself down onto his chest and began to beat his chest and shoulders with her tiny fists, “It’s not fair, it's not fair! Wake up!”

She accidentally punched him in the throat and that got a reaction.

Truthless Recluse choked on air and spit. He pushed himself upright and coughed to clear his assaulted airway.

Pure Starberry tumbled off him, startled and still thrashing, but now she was just mindlessly wailing with all the sorrow her poor little body couldn't hold in anymore.

Truthless Recluse blinked away tears as he slowly managed to cough and clear his throat. He looked down at his lap where his daughter was still thrashing like a caged beast and screaming her head off.

“Star —,” he tried to grab her hands, “Staberry??” 

She couldn't hear him over her own screaming.

“Pure Starberry!!” He raised his voice just enough to get her attention and stop her screaming.

Pure Starberry panted heavily and stared up at him. Then she glared at him and scrambled off his lap. She stood on his bed, but before he could say anything, she began to punch him again!!

“O-ow!! Young lady —!” He began to scold her. Her tiny fists didn't really hurt, but it did startle him. His daughter wasn't normally the violent type!

“It’s not fair!” She shouted at him, “I hate you, I hate you!” She was hitting him anywhere she could. On his cheek, his shoulders, his chest, his stomach.

Truthless Recluse blinked in shock and he let his daughter hit him until her tiny arms tired out. Being sleepy and hungry, it only took a few minutes before she sank back onto his lap. She still tried to hit him even as she snuggled against him, but her attempts to actually hurt him had weakened significantly.

He wrapped his arms around her and readjusted them both so he was sitting back against the wall and she was properly on his lap. He gently rocked her back and forth and, for the first time in a long time, he began to hum.

It was a song The Fount used to hum around him all the time while he was being…taken care of. It was almost like a slow waltz, and whenever The Fount had hummed it, his mind felt like it was covered in warm honey. He didn't have to worry about anything and he could almost feel happy again. 

When they’d discovered he was pregnant, The Fount would sometimes lay his head on Truthless Recluse’s growing belly and hum the song in between all his ‘grand plans’ he had for their child.

Truthless Recluse could never figure out if the song was magic, but it stuck with him.

Any time the twins were upset beyond what his normal methods of comforting could do, he would hum it to them. And it always calmed them down.

Just like it did now.

Pure Starberry stopped trying to hit him and stopped crying, although she was still hiccuping trying to get her breathing back under control.

Once she’d calmed down, Truthless Recluse began to pet her, “I’ve been a horrible papa, haven't I?” He asked quietly.

Pure Starberry nodded.

“And you're right, that it is not fair.” Truthless Recluse sighed. “I know you miss your brother as much as I miss him.”

“It hurts.”

Truthless Recluse squeezed his daughter tighter, “I know.” He said quietly. He’d lost his son, but Pure Starberry had lost her other half.

“Papa forgot to be a papa, and I am so sorry.” He curled himself around her, hugging her closer. “I have no excuses.” He teared up, “Papa was scared — papa has been scared for a very long time…and all his fears came true when your brother was taken.”

Pure Starberry sniffled, but said nothing.

Truthless Recluse had never planned on telling his children anything about The Fount. He’d tried beating around the bush with stories and half-truths, but it was clear now that he needed to come clean. He had learned the horrible truth, it was time his daughter learned her own horrible truth. He needed to protect Pure Starberry and prepare her in case she ever needed to defend herself from him.

He took a deep breath, his heart rattling in his chest and —

“I don't really hate you, papa.” Pure Starberry began to cry again.

Truthless Recluse smiled in spite of everything happening, and he nuzzled the top of her head, “Oh, thank goodness.” He sighed with relief.

For a long time, both of them were quiet. Then, Pure Starberry grabbed onto his robe and asked, “can you hum again?”

Truthless Recluse took a shaky breath, “I think I need to tell you something very important first.” He said. He kept her swaddled in his arms and continued to gently rock them back and forth.

“Do you remember the story of the brave cookie who got hurt?” He asked.

Pure Starberry nodded.

“That cookie was me.”

He could feel his daughter stiffen in his arms. “But…you said another cookie hurt him worser..?” Her voice was so tiny.

“I did.” Truthless Recluse nodded, he didn't feel like correcting her grammar today.

He could almost feel her brain clicking the puzzle pieces together. “You were hurt worser?” She whispered.

“I was.” Truthless Recluse answered.

“That's not nice.” Pure Starberry said, and it hit Truthless Recluse just how young and sweet his children were.

Children…

Child…

His heart felt tight and his dough felt clammy. “No…it’s not.” He quietly agreed. He swallowed hard, “But the cookie that hurt me is also…very important,” he took another shaky breath, “To you. To me…to all of Earthbread.”

Pure Starberry’s grip on him tightened, “Why?” She asked, her voice so small and scared.

Truthless Recluse took a deep breath, and swallowed the bile that threatened to spill out of him. He hadn't gotten sick in so long, he refused to get sick now. 

“Because he is your father.”

Again, he could almost feel Pure Starberry figuring out his words. Her brilliant, tiny mind shifting and reorganizing her whole world view right in front of him.

“But…papa?” She was confused.

“I am your papa, yes.” Truthless Recluse rested his cheek on the top of her head, “But he is your father.”

“I hate him.”

Truthless Recluse sighed. It seemed like that was her new favorite word. “No, sweetie, you don't.” He said almost instinctively.

“I do.” Pure Starberry huffed and puffed out her cheeks.

Truthless Recluse grimaced. It hurt to hear her say such a thing, but he also couldn't blame her.

It was his own fault for hiding so much of the truth from her.

When he’d discovered the truth about cookies, he had vowed to never hide the truth again.

And he’d failed.

“Why did he hurt you?” Pure Starberry asked, her voice tiny as she rubbed the excess fabric of his sleeves between her fingers.

Truthless Recluse felt hollow as he answered, “I’m not sure it was his intention to hurt me.” That made everything better, pretending it was all an accident, or a mistake. 

“But he did. I hate him.” Pure Starberry huffed again.

Truthless Recluse frowned. “I don't.” He said truthfully. He hugged her closer, “Because if he had never found me, and never cared for me, then I wouldn't have had you and your brother.”

That gave Pure Starberry pause.

“I think he was lonely.” Truthless Recluse admitted quietly. “But he hurt me too much and too often…I didn't want you or your brother to be hurt by him, too.”

“I still hate him.” Pure Starberry muttered. She was quiet for a beat, then asked, “How did you get away?”

Truthless Recluse swallowed hard. “I escaped. I ran away. And I sealed us in here with the shield.”

Pure Starberry thought about that. She thought about the promises Dark Cacao and Choco Caramel made, she thought about how brave her papa must’ve been to escape with her and her brother, how strong he must’ve been to protect them with the shield.

“I wanna be strong.” She whispered, not really intending for her papa to hear her.

But he did, “Would you like to learn how to be strong?” He asked.

Pure Starberry looked up at him, “How?”

“With magic.”

She looked torn between ecstatic and confused, “But…I don't know magic.”

“I could teach you.” Truthless Recluse smiled, “Papa knows a lot of magic.”

Pure Starberry tweaked her frown to the side, “Really?” She didn't believe him.

Truthless Recluse blinked slowly, “Yes. Really. In fact,” he remembered what today was and, in an attempt to save what little pride and dignity he had left as a papa, he stood and carried Pure Starberry to the kitchen table, “Papa is so magical, he made this while we were talking.”

Pure Starberry gasped at the small cake sitting in front of her chair.

He nuzzled her, “Happy birthday, my heart.”

Neither one acknowledged the extra flower crown sitting in front of the empty chair at the table. They could cry about it later, right now, they needed just a small drop of happiness.

Chapter Text

“You have to hold —,” Black Sapphire jumped away just in time to avoid being hit with a golden staff being thrown at him.

Starlight Vanilla crossed his arms. Then he quickly unfolded them, pointed to himself, flicked both hands at him, and pointed at him, “I hate you.” He signed.

Black Sapphire bent down to pick up the staff and forced it back into his hands, “Hold onto your staff so we can talk!” He said sharply, his voice far too loud for comfort.

“NO!” Starlight Vanilla made that clear and then he threw the staff again. He pointed to himself, then made a grabbing motion with his hands, pointed both index fingers away from himself, and finally touched his hand to his cheek, then further back closer to his ear.

“I want to go home!”

He didn’t care if his father made the staff. He didn’t care if the Spire had all the toys in the world! He wanted to go home!

“I want my papa!” He signed.

Black Sapphire grabbed the staff again and forced it into his hands (again), but this time he kept his hands around Starlight Vanilla’s hands. “Your father is going to be very cross with you if he catches you throwing his gift around like that!” He growled.

“I don’t care!” Starlight Vanilla snarled and bared his tiny teeth at him. Being only five, it wasn’t very intimidating. 

Black Sapphire sighed dramatically and hoisted Starlight Vanilla up under his arm in such a way that the staff was pinned against his hands. 

“PUT ME DOWN!! LET GO OF ME!!” Starlight Vanilla kicked and screamed.

“No can do, ya gnat.” Black Sapphire answered deadpanned, “Your father wants you to start at the academy today, so you’ve got to get into your uniform.” He walked over to the closet.

“I don’t want to! PAPAAA!!” Starlight Vanilla wriggled. 

“Well too bad,” Black Sapphire kept him tucked up under his arm while he pulled the Blueberry Yogurt Academy uniform out of his closet.

He didn’t want to play babysitter, being the top student at the academy at his age wasn’t meant to come with the task of taking care of The Fount’s feral child. But that's where life had put them both, so Black Sapphire was going to suck it up to get it done and over with.

The Blueberry Yogurt Academy was the most prestigious university in all of Earthbread, founded and hosted by The Fount of Knowledge himself, cookies applied from everywhere and made the pilgrimage every semester to the grandest school in the world. Starting with just five basic degrees, the school had developed over the millenniums to cover more than a dozen schools of knowledge.

In recent years, The Fount of Knowledge had expanded the curriculum beyond just advanced studies. The Academy offered everything from early childhood education to college degrees.

Starlight Vanilla was meant to be starting in the preschool today. But so far, getting him up, fed, dressed, and out the door had been a battle. An uphill battle.

Black Sapphire would be lucky to get the gnat there in time for snacks or recess or whatever it was snot-nosed children did during the day.

He walked back out of the closet and made the mistake of setting Starlight Vanilla down. The gnat threw his staff away again and bolted for the door.

“Son of a bitch!” He chased him, catching him at the door because the stupid gnat wasn’t quick enough to figure out a stupid door knob. He glared ahead of him as he dragged the squirmy boy back over to his bed.

“NO!” That was the only thing Starlight Vanilla ever said without the use of his staff. Black Sapphire grit his teeth and forced the boy to sit on his bed, then he ripped his nightgown up and over his head. 

It took another five minutes — plus a kick to his gut — but Black Sapphire was able to get Starlight Vanilla into his uniform — he even managed, after three tries, to get his shoes on! Yes, he tied them tighter than he should have. And YES, he tied as many knots as the laces would allow. He didn't care that it made the boy whine and kick him again. He sat back, sighed, and looked at the clock on the wall.

Okay! He was in luck! They had five minutes until preschool officially got started. He picked up Starlight Vanilla’s staff with one hand, and grabbed the little boy’s wrist with the other.

Starlight Vanilla pushed and squirmed and did his best to try and wriggle loose from his grasp, but Black Sapphire was older, bigger, and stronger. He half dragged, half walked Starlight Vanilla down to the base of the Spire and then out into the private gardens that surrounded the Spire.

It was a beautiful sunny day, late summer-early fall, and the campus was alive once more with activity as the new semester was kicking off.

The Spire of All Knowledge was housed in the rear gardens of the Blueberry Yogurt academy, which itself was on the western peninsula of the Gooey Coast. The preschool was fairly close, located just two buildings away from the Spire on the sprawling campus. And that was by design.

Black Sapphire held his head high despite the looks and stares he got from students and staff.

Why was he, Black Sapphire Cookie, hauling a squirmy and squealing kid across campus?

He’d have to do damage control later for his reputation, but for now, his only job was to get Starlight Vanilla to the preschool. He could be the teacher’s problem then.

Luck was again on Black Sapphire’s side as he approached the preschool and spotted The Fount outside, already speaking with the teacher. He sighed with relief and squeezed Starlight Vanilla’s wrist. The little boy’s squirming and squealing died off as he realized his father was nearby.

What a manipulative little brat, acting all innocent and frightened when just moments ago he was kicking and screaming like some kind of wild animal.

Black Sapphire loathed the gnat.

“He is more precious to me than anything.” He heard The Fount say as they approached, “He may be a bit wild, as a product of his unfortunate upbringing, but I am hopeful that once he sees how wonderful school can be, he will calm down.”

Parfait Yogurt, the preschool head teacher, nodded solemnly, “Of course, Headmaster, sir.” She was a vanilla-dough colored cookie with whipped frosting hair pulled back with fruit clips. She wore the traditional Blueberry Yogurt Academy professor robes, and carried a parfait staff with a golden cherry on top.

She smiled when she noticed Black Sapphire and Starlight Vanilla (who had finally stopped fighting him and now stood obediently still with his head hung low), “Good morning, Black Sapphire.” She looked down, “And you must be Starlight Vanilla?”

Black Sapphire remembered at the last second to thrust the staff into the boy’s hands. 

He fumbled with it, but clung to it like a life line. Everything outside was too loud. Since when did trees make noise?? Had they always made noise?? And what was that weird high-pitched sound? It didn’t happen constantly, but it happened enough to make him jump out of his skin whenever it chirped.

He looked around at the sky, there was noise coming from everywhere! He hated it!!

“No no no no no.” His voice came out of the staff, scratchy and glitchy.

“Starlight,” His father cooed gently, “Say hello.” 

Starlight Vanilla gasped and looked up at him. He knew it wasn’t a request, but he kept his mouth shut. His voice came out of the staff regardless, “Hello.”

“Isn’t he darling?” Parfait Yogurt smiled at him.

“You know the approved list of students he is allowed to work with?” The Fount asked.

“Yes, headmaster, sir.” Parfait Yogurt nodded. “I assure you, you have nothing to worry about.” Then she giggled, “Even normal parents are nervous on their child’s first day of school.”

The Fount just hummed absentmindedly as he looked down at his son. “Yes, well, just be sure he is well taken care of.” 

“Of course, headmaster, sir.” Parfait Yogurt smiled again.

Black Sapphire watched as The Fount uncharacteristically landed on his feet and knelt down in front of his son.

“Starlight? I will be in that building,” The Fount pointed to the central most (and biggest) building, “Right over there. If you need me at any time today, let Mrs. Yogurt know and she will have someone come get me. Okay?”

Starlight Vanilla nodded timidly.

“Seriously? What is with this kid?” Black Sapphire’s lip curled back in a silent snarl. Shouting and screaming and being an all around demon spawn one moment, and a scared little kid the next. No wonder The Fount warned Parfait Yogurt that he was feral. If this was how children on Crispia were raised, Black Sapphire considered himself lucky to have been born on Beast-Yeast.

After watching the world’s most awkward hug between the father and son, The Fount stood up, snapped for Black Sapphire to follow him, and the pair left.

Starlight Vanilla immediately made a move to throw his staff and make another break for it, but Mrs. Yogurt gently (but firmly) grabbed his staff hand. She pulled him into the small white, blue, and gold building.

At least inside it wasn’t as loud as outside, but there were still too many noises. Starlight Vanilla squeezed his eyes shut and tried to remember his papa’s breathing techniques. 

In for five.

He inhaled slowly.

Out for five.

He exhaled slowly.

Why was his breath so loud?

“Starlight Vanilla,” Mrs. Yogurt’s voice broke through the noise of everything else, “Let me introduce you to some friends you’ll have here.”

All Starlight Vanilla could think about as Mrs. Yogurt pushed him into the classroom was how much he missed his sister, and his face screwed up as a blue blush spread across his cheeks and he began to cry.

“Breathe in,” Truthless Recluse’s voice was gentle. He counted to five in his head, “and out.” 

Pure Starberry did as he instructed, keeping her eyes closed.

“Feel the energy from the plant, the sun, the wind,” Truthless Recluse watched as magic tried very hard to manifest between Pure Starberry’s outstretched hands and the small choco bamboo sprout they’d planted yesterday for their experiment today.

It was useless to plant a choco sprout here, the former Pure Vanilla Kingdom didn’t get cold and stay cold long enough for the sprout to properly thrive.

But with a little magic…

“Feel your own energy.” Truthless Recluse tried to remember his own learnings, but those were so long ago, and he’d given up White Magic after the Witches Banquet.

He laid his hand over one of hers. She was shaking.

“Relax.” He whispered, “Let it come to you.”

Pure Starberry screwed her face up in concentration.

He might’ve pushed just a little bit of magic through the gaps in her fingers, but it was enough to kickstart her own magic and the choco bamboo sprout straightened up with a shimmering of green magic swirling around its shoots.

Pure Starberry gasped and her eyes lit up ecstatically, “Papa, look!”

“You did beautifully, my heart!” He nuzzled her.

She nuzzled him back, giggling before she dropped herself to her stomach to look closer at the plant.

Truthless Recluse leaned back on his hands and smiled. Pure Starberry was a natural — sure her magic was a little slow to react, but she was still only five. Most children showed magical abilities by the time they were three, and they started training their magic when they were six, so he only had a little bit of catching up to do. Just some of the basics. If they worked hard, she would be ready for more textbook and structured magic right on time.

He should have been trying to teach her all along…He should have been trying to teach them both. If he hadn’t been so scared of The Fount breaking through the shield, he could have spent more time teaching his children the basic spells for defense and healing. 

Maybe then his son wouldn’t have been taken.

But Truthless Recluse knew The Fount would find a way to force his way through. 

A cold chill ran down his spine, despite the fact that it was late summer-early autumn and the winds were still warm, at the memory of how forceful The Fount could be when he was denied something.

He shivered in disgust at the phantom tongue between his legs, and he squeezed them shut to ignore how wet he suddenly found himself to be.

“PURE VANILLA COOKIE!”

An outraged voice echoed across the field. They were in the orchid field closer to the cream sheep pen, closer to the eastern edge of the border, and that could only mean one cookie.

Pure Starberry glanced back at him, “I think that was Auntie Goldie.” She said quietly.

Truthless Recluse sighed, but smiled, “I think it was too.”

Golden Cheese was half marching, half flying through the shield and over to them. “You — Pure Starberry, my darling treasure, cover your ears.” She was alone, as she usually was, and boy, was she mad.

Pure Starberry did as Golden Cheese said, but she could still just barely make out Golden Cheese’s shouting.

“You sanctimonious bastard! You mealy-mouthed son of a bitch! How come you did not immediately call for aid when The Fount took Starlight Vanilla? How come I had to find that out through Dark Cacao’s letters!?” She was furious, her golden eyes were ablaze with rage and the feathers in her wings twitched with barely constrained fury.

“Golden Cheese! Watch your language!” Truthless Recluse shouted back, blushing. He sighed and picked up Pure Starberry as he pushed himself to stand, “Your current reaction is exactly why I did not want to bother you —!”

“Bother?! BOTHER?!” She shouted incredulously, “Pure Vanilla, we already lost you once, don’t you dare make us endure losing you again!”

“Well as you can see, I am not lost.” Truthless Recluse huffed and blushed a deeper shade of vanilla.

Golden Cheese put her hands on her hips and sighed, “Pure Vanilla,” She shook her head, “Why didn’t you tell me?? I could have helped! No — I will help!”

Truthless Recluse opened and closed his mouth. There was no way he was getting out of this conversation unscathed, so instead he asked, “How?”

Golden Cheese blinked in surprise, expecting more of a fight from him. She landed, flapping her wings irritably a few times, “W-well…” She crossed her arms, “for starters, I’m sending Smoked Cheese Cookie to come at least once a month to give Pure Starberry lessons in Smoke and Charm magic.”

“That…isn’t necessary.” Truthless Recluse grimaced. 

He doubted Smoked Cheese Cookie even wanted to teach lessons to his daughter. The former criminal turned war general was part of Golden Cheese’s court of advisors and Truthless Recluse always thought the devious, smokey cookie had ulterior motives.

“Nonsense. She needs exposure to all kinds of magic if you hope for her to defend herself against the origin of magic.” Golden Cheese waved a hand dismissively, “Dark Cacao and I also discussed going to visit White Lily. She’s hidden in her research for far too long, and last I heard she is buddy-buddy with the other half of her soul jam, so having a Virtue on our side will do us no harm.

Truthless Recluse frowned and hugged his daughter closer, “You sound as if we’re going to war.” Pure Starberry slowly uncovered her ears as she realized they were done yelling at each other.

“The Fount of Knowledge kidnapped the prince of the Pure Vanilla Kingdom —,”

“I am not king anymore, Goldie.” Truthless Recluse sighed.

“If that is not a declaration of war, I don’t know what is.” She continued, ignoring his interjection.

“I hate him!” Pure Starberry chirruped.

“That’s the spirit, my treasure!” Golden Cheese cooed and took Pure Starberry from Truthless Recluse’s arms. The little girl giggled at her malice being encouraged.

He sputtered and sighed, “Pure Starberry, we talked about that word. You must stop using it.”

“And why should she?” Golden Cheese huffed, “He’s hurt you plenty, and now he’s taken your son. She has a right to feel upset.”

“But that does not give her the right to say such cruel things.” Truthless Recluse didn’t like when his friends tried to overrule his parenting decisions, but he kept his fists clenched by his side and said nothing about it.

“Why should she not express herself?” Golden Cheese huffed.

“Like how Rich Cheese expressed herself?” The bitter mumbled escaped Truthless Recluse before he could stop it and he quickly pressed his lip into a thin line as his friend tensed up. He hadn’t meant to mention the crumbled princess.

“I,” Golden Cheese inhaled shakily, “Will ignore that for now.” She held up a warning finger, silencing him, “Because I know you are still emotional.”

Truthless Recluse frowned, “I’m sorry, Golden Cheese.”

Golden Cheese readjusted Pure Starberry on her hip, “As I was saying, I’ve also invited Black Raisin to join Smoked Cheese on his lessons, so she’ll be coming as well. Dark Cacao is sending his best soldier and he will meet and come with one of Hollyberry’s knights, and —,”

The more she talked, the more Truthless Recluse’s head was spinning. “Black Raisin is alive? A-and hold on, you spoke with Hollyberry?” He asked.

Golden Cheese paused in her rambling, and frowned, “No. Still no news of her from Royal Berry. And of course Black Raisin is alive. After your kingdom fell, she evacuated several citizens to my glorious domain. She's been a part of my royal advisory council for years."

Truthless Recluse felt his chest flood with relief. All these years, he thought his friends had all crumbled with his failings, but some had escaped. Some had survived!

Golden Cheese kept rambling, "BUT Dark Cacao and I aim to seek out Hollyberry's other half when we visit White Lily in the hopes she may know where our juice-laden friend has disappeared to.”

Truthless Recluse sighed and rested his head against his staff, “This is all too much.” His head was swimming and he had to take a few deep breaths to regulate his spiked anxiety. 

“Which leads me to my next point.” Golden Cheese reached out and pinched his chin, “You look atrocious. Go shower.”

Pure Starberry giggled.

Truthless Recluse blushed and pushed her hand off his face, “I’m fine, Golden Cheese.”

“You’ve lost your child. You look like you haven’t showered in weeks. Go. Shower.” Golden Cheese said, “I’ll watch Pure Starberry for a few hours.”

“Hours?? Golden Cheese, I am trying to teach her magic.” Truthless Recluse blinked, deadpanned as Golden Cheese pressed her perfectly manicured finger to his lips.

“Go. Shower." She deadpanned, "Take a nap, have some tea, relax.” Golden Cheese reassured him, “You don’t have to do everything alone anymore, Pure Vanilla.”

He opened his mouth to protest, but his daughter spoke up, “Go, papa. It’s okay.”

She sounded so much older and wiser than he remembered. She smiled at him.

Truthless Recluse sighed and stepped closer to Golden Cheese so he could nuzzle his daughter, “Very well, my heart. So long as you promise to behave for Auntie Goldie.”

“I promise!” She beamed up at him and nuzzled him back.

Truthless Recluse laid out exactly where Golden Cheese could take his daughter, and that she was under no circumstances allowed to fly with her. He looked at his daughter one last time and turned in the direction of home.

Golden Cheese waited until he was out of sight before she nestled her nose down in Pure Starberry’s hair, “You don’t have to be strong for him, little one.”

Pure Starberry blinked, “But…”

“Your papa is a strong cookie, but it is not your job to be strong for him. It is his job to be strong for you.” Golden Cheese turned her on her hip so she could properly look at her, “And you miss your brother, don’t you?”

Pure Starberry nodded. Every waking moment, all she could think about was how much she missed her brother. Her face screwed up as a blue blush spread across her cheeks and she began to cry.

Golden Cheese squeezed her into a hug and rubbed her back comfortingly, letting the little girl be little again.

Chapter Text

“Welcome to the Silver Kingdom.” A knight greeted the Dragon Lord Light of Resolution and the Immortal Light of Abundance.

Golden Cheese looked around the Silver Kingdom with a great amount of disinterest, and Dark Cacao’s eyes scanned the perimeter of the landing pad out of habit.

Neither had returned to Beast-Yeast since confronting their Virtues years ago, but their own reservations were pushed aside by thoughts of trying to help their friend. They had their missions to complete.

First and foremost, they had to check in on White Lily Cookie. She’d stopped responding to letters after telling Truthless Recluse that she would look into the magic that kept The Fount of Knowledge away.

Then, they had to travel to the other side of Beast-Yeast to confront the other half of Hollyberry’s soul jam in the hopes she may know where their friend disappeared to.

The more cookies they had on their side when they went to confront The Fount, the better.

Golden Cheese and Dark Cacao had no pleasantries to share with the guard, and so they were silently led through the glittering, glowing kingdom of faeries.

“So, what do we remember of our elusive Lily?” Golden Cheese asked quietly as she flew just a few inches off the ground so she could be at the same height as Dark Cacao.

“She came to Beast-Yeast the same time Hollyberry and I did — Not long before Pure Vanilla disappeared.” Dark Cacao answered, “She quickly found and reconciled with the other half of her soul jam, and has been living here in the Silver Kingdom ever since.”

“And why do you think she has been neglecting our letters?” Golden Cheese asked.

Dark Cacao chuckled, “Knowing White Lily, she probably found a really good book.”

The guard took them to the throne room, where the king of the faerie, Elder Faerie, was busy looking over some paperwork.

“Your majesty.” The guard bowed, “Lights Resolution and Abundance, King Dark Cacao Cookie and Queen Golden Cheese Cookie.”

Elder Faerie was a dark doughed cookie, with long silver hair — that was currently pulled back in a ponytail — and despite not being a warring kingdom anymore, the king still wore his silver armor over his long white and navy iridescent robes. His massive wings were folded behind him, almost disguised as a long cape, though both monarchs knew that wasn’t the case.

After an awkwardly long silence, Elder Faerie looked up at them through his long white eyelashes, “Greetings. You must be friends of our Queen, White Lily.”

“Queen?” Golden Cheese looked between Dark Cacao and Elder Faerie in shock. When had White Lily been made queen??

“Queen Consort, to be exact. Do not worry, it is simply a title.” Elder Faerie frowned at one of the papers on his desk before removing and folding his glasses shut. “What may I do for you, wielders of light?”

“Well, we need to speak with White Lily, whatever her honorific may be.” Dark Cacao kept his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, non-threatening, just to make sure the king knew they were there on official, and serious business.

Elder Faerie hummed, his silver eyes flickering down to his sword before addressing them again, “I see…come, she is with the Commander.” He waved them to follow him through a separate door, which led them down a long hallway. Half of the hallway was made of several floor to ceiling windows which overlooked the central gardens of the Silver Kingdom.

A sprawling octagonal garden, filled with plants that shimmered and shined under the light reflection off the Witches Silver that served as the foundations of the castle. Trees with sighing branches that dipped low into pools of dark, calm water, flowers with bright blooms that offered the faint scent of something tantalizing and dangerous.

And at its center…

The Silver Tree.

The prison designed for the Virtues back when they first began to fall for temptations and corrupt from their virtuous purposes. 

Golden Cheese continued to fly after Elder Faerie, but Dark Cacao paused. If he had things his way, he would have locked The Fount of Knowledge in the deepest roots of the Silver Tree where no one, not even the jellyworms could hear him scream.

He only faltered for a moment before stealing his gaze ahead of him and following the quiet faerie king. 

The king’s footsteps were so soft, Dark Cacao wondered if he was actually walking, or if he were somehow flying without the use of his wings and simply making the sounds of footsteps with magic.

They came upon a grand double door, carved with intricate figures of butterflies and the Soul Jam of Freedom, but reversed.

“I ask that you forgive the mess.” Elder Faerie sighed as he opened the door, “Commander? White Lily? We have guests.” He stepped in and held the door open to the two Heroes.

Golden Cheese and Dark Cacao shared a questioning look before they stepped inside.

Inside, they saw precisely what the king considered to be a mess.

The walls were lined with bookshelves, all covered in scrolls and books that must’ve dated back a millennium, maybe more. There were tables covered with scrolls and parchment covered in half-scribbled notes and half-scribbled out notes. There were several half-drank cups of cold tea scattered around nearly every flat surface — on the tables, on the arm of the armchair, under the armchair, on the mantle, on the floor, on the window seat, everywhere. The only light coming into the room was from the two bay windows on the far wall, and judging by the dismal state of the candles scattered around, it seemed like that had been the only source of light for a while.

The great Saint of all cookies, Shimmering Salt, was standing still as a statue in the center of a room, with one arm wrapped around himself to prop up his other elbow. He had a thoughtful hand to his chin and his head was tilted down in thought. He wore a mixture of white and silver iridescent armor, and white flames swayed gently from the plume of his helmet. His soul jam was embedded in the chest piece of his armor, and — like Dark Cacao — he kept his sword on his person at all times.

“But perhaps if we take the line of this rune, which means protection and turn it — wouldn’t you say that looks an awful lot like the rune Pure Vanilla provided?” White Lily was bent over one of the tables, furiously writing something down and comparing it with something else beside her.

“My Lily,” The Saint’s voice was low, quiet, thoughtful, “We’ve tried that already. It caused the shield to implode. The idea is to help your friend, not send him to an early grave.”

Neither cookie had acknowledged them.

Elder Faerie gave them a knowing, but apologetic look and turned back to the Saint and White Lily. He cleared his throat, “My dears?”

Finally, both cookies looked at him.

“We have guests.” He said again.

White Lily’s eyes lit up, “Dark Cacao! Golden Cheese!” She walked around the table and the pair could see her in full.

Her hair was in a braid, as it almost always was, but several strands had fallen free from her (apparently many hours of) running her hands through it. She'd shed her green dress for something that looked more like a wedding gown than a dress or robes befitting a Hero. It was composed mostly of white lace and silks, however, the skirts faded into shades of blues and purples and were traced with a wing pattern like a faerie’s wings. 

But, despite how regal and royal she looked, she was still their silly little nerd friend. Upon closer inspection, she had ink smeared on her hands and wrists, there were bags under her eyes indicative of the lack of sleep she’d been getting. And when she threw her arms around them, they could smell that she only smelled of tea and probably hadn't been eating lately.

“Oh, my friends! How wonderful of you to visit!” She squeezed them tightly.

Dark Cacao and Golden Cheese hugged her back. 

“It is good to see you, too, White Lily.” Dark Cacao smiled briefly.

“We decided you’ve spent enough time with your head in your books,” Golden Cheese said, and White Lily pulled away with a confused look on her face. “And we need to discuss a new plan for the longevity of Pure Vanilla’s safety.”

“Wh-why, but that is what I am working on!” White Lily said, confused, “We,” She gestured to The Saint as she walked back over to the table she’d been at, “Have been deconstructing the runes Pure Vanilla sent to us. They don't match any recorded White Magic or Dark Moon Magic runes, nor are they a charm, smoke magic, alchemy, culinary, elemental — nothing!” She said excitedly.

As she spoke, The Saint walked by the Heroes and quietly greeted the faerie king. “She’s convinced she’s on the verge of a breakthrough.” He whispered.

“With you helping her, I have no doubts, my heart.” Elder Faerie replied.

White Lily looked up at them, a wide smile on her normally calm face, “It’s as if Pure Vanilla has invented a new school of magic.”

“A new school of magic?” Dark Cacao repeated, he stepped forward to investigate what she was looking at, but The Saint put his large hand on his shoulders.

“Careful.” The Saint nodded to the floor, “She’ll be mad if you ruin them.” On the ground, in a circle, were the same runes that shimmered and drifted across the shield around the former Pure Vanilla Kingdom.

Dark Cacao brought his leg back, corrected his course, and walked across the room. Golden Cheese followed, flying so as to avoid ruining any of the runes on the floor.

White Lily eagerly showed them her notes, which looked like a completely foreign language to both Dark Cacao and Golden Cheese.

“This one here means ‘protection’,” She pointed to a rune that looked more like someone gave up writing a sideways ‘z’ and stuck a flag off its top most point. “But these,” she waved her hand over the table at several other pieces of parchment, “Are also runes of protection.” The runes on the paper looked vaguely familiar to Dark Cacao, and intimately familiar to Golden Cheese.

“I’ve never seen that one before.” Golden Cheese nodded to the one in White Lily’s hands. 

“Exactly!” White Lily squealed quietly. “I spent hours —,”

“Days.” “Weeks.”

Elder Faerie and The Saint both corrected her quietly, but White Lily kept talking.

“Studying all the different schools of magic, looking for these runes — I even tried looking at the academy’s library as their records are far more comprehensive than ours, but they. Don't. Exist!” White Lily bounced excitedly on her toes, “Can you believe it?!”

It wasn't totally far fetched. Pure Vanilla had developed and perfected White Magic after dropping out of school. It was a school of magic primarily focused on defense and healing. 

Dark Cacao frowned. It had been a sticking point in his arguments against Pure Vanilla. Why did he need to find total happiness for all cookies when he had done a fine job helping just a few cookies live happier healthier lives?

“How do you just…make a new school of magic?” He mused more to himself than to his friends.

“It is fascinating! And to do so with no errors?!” White Lily sighed and fell back into the chair at the desk. 

Golden Cheese and Dark Cacao shared a knowing and amused smile.

Classic White Lily, throwing herself headfirst into research and losing herself to her excitement.

She didn't stay down for long, popping up once more to run to the bookshelves, “So, once we figured out Pure Vanilla likely invented a new school of language, we began to look into runic and shape language,” She began to pull books and scrolls off the shelves, “Seeing where he pulled his inspirations from, to try and decode —,”

The Saint silently crossed the room and laid a hand on her waist, “Lily?” 

She blinked out of her rambling and looked up at him.

“Remember, we promised Elder Faerie our time this evening. We need to keep the office clean so we are not stuck here cleaning it.” The Saint’s voice was soothing, reassuring.

“O-oh.” She blushed and hurriedly put the books and scrolls back on the shelf, “I - I forgot.”

“It is fine,” Elder Faerie spoke up from where he was still standing by the door, “I know how you get when you are working, dear.”

“No, no, Salt is right.” White Lily blushed as she walked back over to her desk and attempted to tidy up her notes and books there, “I’ve been neglecting you both for a few weeks —,”

“Years.” Both men deadpanned and corrected her, but it wasn't in malice. They were amused.

“And I promised to spend time with you both this evening.” She sighed, then looked apologetically at her friends, “I will just have to inform Pure Vanilla of my discoveries later.”

Dark Cacao’s brows furrowed, “White Lily…when do you believe Pure Vanilla last wrote to you?” He asked slowly.

It was White Lily’s turn to look confused, “I…not that long ago…surely not…not more than a few weeks?”

When Golden Cheese and Dark Cacao grimaced, her heart dropped to her stomach.

“No…oh no…tell me I didn't…” Her face grew red, “How long has it been?” She asked.

“Over five years.” Golden Cheese answered.

“Five??” White Lily asked in disbelief. She looked at Elder Faerie and Shimmering Salt for confirmation.

Elder Faerie nodded solemnly.

“Wh-why didn't anyone stop me?” She asked, distressed, “You all know how I get!” Then she gasped and covered her mouth in shock.

Dark Cacao and Golden Cheese shared a look of concern.

“Precisely, Lily. We know how you get.” Shimmering Salt joined her at her desk, “And we tried many times to get you to engage in events outside of your studies.” He laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“You were very determined to solve this puzzle.” Elder Faerie added. “You only wanted what was best for your friend.”

White Lily lowered her hands, “Pure Vanilla must think I’ve forgotten about him! Oh, he must think the worst of me!!”

“Not at all, White Lily.” Dark Cacao reassured her. “He knows how you can be…attentive to your interests.” Although, Pure Vanilla had expressed disappointment in his closest friend seemingly forgetting about him, he also was too forgiving and always followed it up by stating that White Lily was likely just busy.

White Lily hugged herself and sighed deeply, “I must make it up to him somehow!”

“You might," Golden Cheese laid a hand on her other shoulder, “Be able to help with that.”

“We come bearing more news.” Dark Cacao cut to the chase, this trip would be meaningless if they continued to beat around the bush. “Pure Vanilla’s son, Starlight Vanilla, has been kidnapped by The Fount of Knowledge.”

White Lily staggered back into her chair, “The Fount was able to get in? I - I’m too late?” Then she gripped her chair arms and sat forward, “Is Pure Vanilla alright?? What about his daughter??

“He wasn’t able to get in, thank goodness.” Golden Cheese reassured her.

“Then, I am confused.” Elder Faerie spoke up, his brows furrowed, “How was Starlight Vanilla taken? And why by The Fount of Knowledge?"

White Lily tensed up, "I...might have omitted a few facts about Pure Vanilla's children to you..."

"Lily..." Elder Faerie sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, irritated.

"You mean to say The Fount of Knowledge...has children?" The Saint asked, his voice hollow with disbelief.

"They are Pure Vanilla's children." Golden Cheese huffed, "The Fount merely contributed to their ingredients."

Dark Cacao hated this line of conversation. He tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, and answered Elder Faerie's first question, “I was tricked by a cookie that was following The Fount’s orders.” He shouldn’t have run to his soldiers. He should have stayed with the children, or at least sent them back to the house. Anything to give him the chance, the opportunity, to save Starlight Vanilla…

The poor boy’s tear stained face haunted his dreams. His screams echoed in every sound he heard.

“You couldn’t have known.” The Saint tilted his head, he sounded sympathetic. “The Fount has always been…tricky.” He sighed, “Even before our fall..." He shook his head.

Dark Cacao shook his head, “No. I should have known.”

Golden Cheese tried to reassure him, “Dark Cacao —,” 

“Pure Vanilla has lost his son because I failed to trust my instincts. I knew that cookie was no good and I allowed him near the children regardless.” Dark Cacao would only start to forgive himself when he could safely return Starlight Vanilla to his papa.

“I will do whatever I must to ensure his safe return.” Dark Cacao turned away, ashamed. Not a day had passed that he didn’t blame himself. 

“How can we help?” White Lily asked.

“White Lily,” Elder Faerie sighed.

“No,” White Lily shook her head and stood up, “I was so caught up in how Pure Vanilla was able to create a new school of magic, I completely forgot why he had to in the first place.”

“If The Fount of Knowledge has the boy,” The Saint added, “It will be risky getting him back.”

“How risky?” Golden Cheese put her hands on her hips. She was always up for a challenge.

“Going about this the wrong way could risk war.” Elder Faerie answered, “Not only on your own nations,” He gestured to both of them, “but ours as well.” He laid a hand on his own chest.

Dark Cacao’s chest felt tight, “It is a fight I am willing to start —!” 

“What Dark Cacao means to say is,” Golden Cheese elbowed him, then turned to the three other cookies, “What can we do?”

Elder Faerie and White Lily both turned to The Saint. He silently tilted his head down in thought for a moment, then raised it and asked, “Have we confirmed if the boy is with The Fount?”

“I don’t see why he wouldn’t be.” Golden Cheese frowned, confused.

“Yes, but there is a difference in being with The Fount, like a shadow, and with the Fount, as in, simply residing in his realm.” The Saint answered.

“You don’t mean to suggest we sneak into his home, do you?” Dark Cacao asked incredulously.

“No.” The Saint shook his head, “But first, we should confirm if the boy is indeed with The Fount.”

“And how do you propose we do that?” Golden Cheese crossed her arms.

The Saint turned to Elder Faerie.

“No.” Elder Faerie immediately put his foot down.

“Fae…” The Saint tilted his head down, as if pleading.

“Absolutely not.” Elder Faerie shook his head.

“What?” White Lily asked, “What is he suggesting?” She looked between her partners, confused.

“He is suggesting we use our son as a means to enter The Fount’s academy.” Elder Faerie frowned, “We are not pulling our son into this.”

“Fae…” The Saint said again, quieter this time as he crossed the room back over to the king. “He would be completely safe.”

“Until the moment we take the boy away from The Fount and he discovers our ploy, and what then? We ruin Silverbell’s education? His opportunities to grow and be independent? To lure war to our home? I won’t have it!” Elder Faerie’s wings twitched behind him.

“Oh, please Fae!” White Lily stood beside The Saint and held one of Elder Faerie’s hands in her hands. “We will ensure no harm comes to our boy.” 

Golden Cheese and Dark Cacao watched silently, unsure how they could help their current situation.

“We cannot possibly predict how The Fount of Knowledge will react to his boy going missing!” Elder Faerie protested.

“All we need to know right now,” The Saint laid a comforting hand on Elder Faerie’s cheek, “Is if the boy is there. Surely no harm will come to our boy by simply visiting him and having a look around?”

White Lily seemed to understand what The Saint was doing, “Oh, yes, please, Fae? Can’t a group of concerned parents visit their son as the new semester starts?”

Elder Faerie glowered between his two partners. He glanced at Golden Cheese and Dark Cacao, then sighed, “It seems I am outnumbered.”

“Oh! Thank you, Fae!” White Lily smiled and pressed her lips to his knuckles.

“But if any harm —!” Elder Faerie frowned, but was cut off as The Saint bent down to rest their foreheads together.

“Of course we will keep our boy safe.” He said quietly.

Elder Faerie chewed on his words for a moment before he sighed again, “I will have the staff make preparations for our departure.” The Saint and White Lily shared a look of relief. As the king turned to leave, he threw over his shoulder, “And you both still owe me your evening!”

Chapter Text

Dark Cacao frowned.

Because of course Pure Vanilla still had some lingering feelings for the Kingdom of Knowledge.

It was as if it had been perfectly made for him.

Instead of a castle, the capital of the Kingdom of Knowledge was a sprawling academic campus —with buildings of blue, white, and gold stones and colorful, beautiful stained sugar glass windows, with sprawling gardens and secret gazebos where students could hide from their stresses, with a labyrinthine library that rivaled every other library on Earthbread combined, and knowledge and truth at its center. It didn't help that, being situated on the peninsula of the Gooey Coast, the weather was almost identical to even the most idyllic day in the Pure Vanilla Kingdom.

Of course Pure Vanilla ached for it.

He’d practically been baked to love it. To want it. To live here.

Dark Cacao’s frown deepened.

“Could you at least try to look optimistic?” Golden Cheese sighed beside him. 

They were tucked into a garden outside of one of the academic halls.

White Lily was with them, as The Saint and Elder Faerie were speaking with their son and his professor of international relations.

The king and commander were there under the guise of wishing to bring some of the queen's former companions (Golden Cheese and Dark Cacao) by for a tour of the grounds as well as offer insight for the students. Really though, they were trying to get as many students to see The Saint of Solidarity as possible in order to lure The Fount of Knowledge to one, highly visible spot on campus, so that White Lily, Golden Cheese, and Dark Cacao could slip off and try to find Starlight Vanilla.

“I will feel better when we know for sure where Starlight is.” Dark Cacao kept his arms crossed over his chest.

“I’m sure he’s fine, Dark Cacao.” White Lily hummed, investigating the patch of vanilla orchids growing in a shady patch of grass. “While The Fount of Knowledge may have been a dangerous Beast at one point, he does have a soft spot for children.”

“You do not know Starlight Vanilla as I do.” Dark Cacao snapped, harsher than he’d intended. “He is,” he sighed and let his head hang. Pure Vanilla’s tearful breakdown, knowing The Fount’s cruelty firsthand and the fear for his son that was now exposed to him with no one to protect him. “So little.” He finished under his breath.

Dark Cacao laid a hand on his chest as if that might ease his own pain.

“O-oh…” White Lily stood back up, “I…I didn't know you and Pure Vanilla had —,”

“What??” Dark Cacao whipped around to look at her, “No! We…we haven't.”

Golden Cheese pursed her lips and stayed quiet, interested to see how this played out.

“Oh!” White Lily blushed, “My apologies, then, I did not — I mean — with how determined you are to help this boy, I assumed —,”

“You’ve been gone for over five years. Do not assume anything about me.” Dark Cacao huffed bitterly and returned to his stoic post, keeping an eye out on the blinding white pathways that crisscrossed across the open quad between the buildings.

White Lily was quiet and Golden Cheese raised her eyebrows questioningly. She watched White Lily turn back to the flowers before she stepped over beside Dark Cacao and stretched her wings so they acted as a barrier between them and the faerie queen.

“We all knew she was likely too focused on —,” she began gently.

“Am I the only one who cares that Starlight Vanilla has been kidnapped?!” Dark Cacao’s harsh whispers exposed how choked up he was.

“No, you're not.” Golden Cheese gently shook her head, “But are you really saving Starlight, or are you saving Pure Vanilla?”

Dark Cacao blinked. Then his face burned and he screwed his face up into a scowl, “What kind of question — of course I’m trying to save Starlight.” He grumbled.

Golden Cheese just hummed and looked back out at the quad, she grabbed and yanked at Dark Cacao’s collar, “There!” She whispered.

Crossing the quad, with a cookie on his heels, was The Fount of Knowledge.

He was looking a little less virtuous these days, but he was nonetheless an impressive looking cookie. Perhaps it was the fact that he still had stardust lingering in his curly hair, or the fact that he had a serving of cookies approach him all clamoring for one thing or another and he handled them all swiftly and professionally, but he was…damn good at his job. And it was clear he had not lost all of his virtuousness.

The cookie that had been on The Fount’s heels was dismissed when The Fount reached the building where Elder Faerie and The Saint were currently doing their half of the mission. Dark Cacao watched the gangly cookie run back towards the back end of campus and his eyes narrowed.

“We follow him.” He said, and he grabbed the hilt of his sword to steady himself before he took off at a brisk pace to follow the cookie.

He could hear Golden Cheese and a protesting White Lily behind him, but Dark Cacao only had eyes for the cookie walking swiftly ahead of them.

He followed paths on the campus with confidence, unaware that he was being followed by three Heroes. 

“Wait!” White Lily grabbed his arm just as the cookie slipped into one of the smaller buildings. “Going inside means a possible dead end and a confrontation.”

“You know, the thing we’re trying to avoid.” Golden Cheese quietly reminded him.

The three slipped off the path to hide in the shadow of a nearby building and waited.

It only took another two or three minutes, but the gangly cookie came back out of the building and was dragging Starlight Vanilla beside him.

“Starlight.” Dark Cacao breathed out. He saw red when he noticed how tight a grip the tall cookie had on the little boy’s arm, and how tearful and blue-cheeked the little boy was.

He made a move to charge, but both women held him back.

“If you reveal yourself you are putting my son and kingdom at risk!” White Lily tugged at his arm.

“You’ll put all our kingdoms at risk!” Golden Cheese wrapped her arms around his shoulder and had to use her wings to help pull him back.

Dark Cacao’s heart broke as the gangly cookie had to fight and struggle against Starlight Vanilla’s thrashing and hitting.

“No! Go away! I want my papa!” 

It was that same voice that haunted Dark Cacao’s nightmares, only tinny, and static-y.

“What??” Even Golden Cheese was confused.

“NO! I DON’T WANNA! I DON’T WANNA!!” Starlight Vanilla thrashed against the tall cookie and screamed, “NOOOO!! NO NO NO!!” as he was picked up under his arm, like some kind of wriggly pillow, and hauled off to the towering Spire surrounded by high walls overflowing with ivy.

Heart hammering in his ears, Dark Cacao stared at the Spire as if through his sheer will alone he could force it to give him the boy. “I should have grabbed him.” He breathed out. Panic settled on his shoulders, “I should have called out to him! Why did you two stop me?!” He wheeled around to accost his friends.

“War. Have you not been listening?? Do you want to bring a war to Pure Vanilla’s front door? Do you want to put him and his daughter in even more danger??” Golden Cheese scolded him, “Besides, Starlight wouldn't have heard you, but that other cookie certainly would have.”

“But he could talk!” Dark Cacao pointed out, “Perhaps something has happened, a spell, some kind of magic trickery from The Fount, perhaps Starlight Vanilla can hear again!”

“I think we should reconvene with Elder Faerie and Salt.” White Lily’s eyes darted around, “No doubt The Fount will be by soon, and you two aren’t meant to be here right now.”

“She’s right.” Golden Cheese tugged at Dark Cacao’s shoulders, “There’s nothing we can do right now.”

“But…” Dark Cacao wanted to protest. He wanted to storm the Spire and take Starlight Vanilla back by force if he had to. He knew…he just knew if the boy had seen him…he’d run to Dark Cacao and they could escape…

But both women were right. If he made a scene, if he took Starlight Vanilla now, it would bring The Fount’s wrath down on all their kingdoms and on Pure Vanilla and Pure Starberry.

It broke his heart to turn away from the Spire and follow them back across campus to the rendezvous point in the garden.

“White Lily!” Elder Faerie grabbed her as soon as she was within reach, “How did it go?” He pulled back and looked at the other two heroes, “Were you able to find the boy?”

Golden Cheese nodded, “Yes.” She noticed a small boy with silver curls standing beside The Saint. “He isn’t entirely trapped within The Fount’s Spire.”

“That is good, then.” Elder Faerie noticed her gaze and cleared his throat, “Golden Cheese Cookie, Dark Cacao Cookie, allow me to introduce to you our son.” He turned and gestured for his son to step up, “Silverbell Cookie. Lights Resolution and Abundance.”

“It’s an honor to meet you both.” Silverbell bowed his head politely and smiled.

“So, the boy?” The Saint asked.

“Who is the cookie following The Fount’s orders?” Dark Cacao asked.

“Oh!” Silverbell perked up, “You must mean Black Sapphire Cookie.” He smiled.

“Black Sapphire Cookie?” Golden Cheese tilted her head curiously.

“Mhm,” Silverbell nodded his head, “He’s been a top student at the academy since he enrolled. Even back when he was still in the lower education levels.” It wasn’t said in envy, rather in praise. “Rumor has it, Black Sapphire was offered private lessons by The Fount in forbidden magic a few years ago and he’s been acting as The Fount’s right hand cookie ever since.”

“What was his school of study before?” White Lily asked.

“Political science, same as me.” Silverbell answered, “All my professors talk about Black Sapphire’s work in class.”

“Why would The Fount take on a political science student?” White Lily wondered out loud.

“What, aside from his grades, make him impressive?” The Saint asked.

“Oh, uhm…” Silverbell chewed on his words for a moment, “L-lots of cookies think he’s very charismatic, and when The Fount took him on as his personal aid, he dropped poli-sci to study runic magic. He apparently tested out of all the preliminary classes. Everyone says he’s a natural.”

“Which would lend credence to the ‘forbidden magic’ rumors.” Elder Faerie mused.

“Wonderful, shall we go straight to The Fount and ask for the boy’s transcripts?!” Dark Cacao snapped.

“No, but you of all cookies should know that knowing our enemy is half the battle.” Golden Cheese said, “How much are you willing to bet that foul wizard cookie you traveled with was Black Sapphire in disguise?”

And now all Dark Cacao wanted to do was return to the Spire and slash at the young man with his sword until he was nothing but crumbs. He glowered down at his radiant companion.

Sensing she’d pushed too far, Golden Cheese cleared her throat, “Well, now we’ve confirmed the boy is here, what are our next steps?”

“It is likely The Fount will have Black Sapphire watching the boy when he cannot.” Elder Faerie mused out loud.

“Yes, The Fount sent Black Sapphire to him when he appeared on campus.” White Lily nodded.

“So we must find a way to get The Fount and Black Sapphire away from the boy.” The Saint tilted his head in thought.

The three Heroes, the king, and the virtue all thought in silence for a beat.

“I could help.” Silverbell offered.

“Absolutely out of the question.” Elder Faerie shook his head, “You —,” he paused, “You should be back in class!” He scolded.

“But father, I could help!” Silverbell said again, “Since my professors all talk about Black Sapphire anyways, I have the perfect way to get his attention!”

“I don’t want his attention on you.” Elder Faerie shook his head.

“You’re father’s right.” White Lily shook her head, “This isn’t safe. You should return to class, hun.”

“Baba? Please!” Silverbell flew over and tugged The Saint’s arm, “I can help!”

The Saint was quiet for a long time.

“Salt.” Elder Faerie’s voice was a warning.

“You’re the one who told me I should stand up for what is right and defend the defenseless.” Silverbell pleaded.

“This is none of your concern, Silverbell!” Elder Faerie snapped.

The Saint held a hand up to quiet him, then he tilted his head down to look at Silverbell, “You understand the danger here, yes?”

Silverbell nodded his head quickly.

“You understand failing could mean war for our home? Our people in danger?”

Another quick nod.

“What is your plan?” The Saint asked.

Elder Faerie looked exasperated and turned to White Lily for help. She looked helplessly between her partners, unsure how to intervene.

“Well, my upcoming project in international treaties requires an interview with a cookie from another kingdom. A mock treaty between Kingdoms. Seeing as I am from the Silver Kingdom, but Black Sapphire is native to the Kingdom of Knowledge, I could say I wish to interview him. I could learn his schedule, learn The Fount’s schedule.” Silverbell seemed excited about his own plan, “I could get close to…who?”

“Starlight Vanilla.” Dark Cacao’s voice broke, “He is a little boy. He just turned five.” He clenched his hands around the hilt of his sword to ground himself, “He is the son of Pure Vanilla Cookie…and The Fount of Knowledge.” He added the last part under his breath.

Silverbell’s excited expression slowly fell, “Oh…Well, I could get close. I could help get him out.”

“You will do no such thing.” Elder Faerie shook his head.

“Silverbell, please, listen to us.” White Lily tried to stay calm.

“You, and Father, and Baba are always telling me that I will be king one day and that a king must make hard decisions.” Silverbell snapped at them “And sometimes those decisions have disastrous results.” 

The royal family was quiet. 

Silverbell clenched his fists by his side and squared his shoulders, “But if it is the right thing to do, then it is the only thing to do.”

Elder Faerie glared at The Saint and White Lily grimaced at him.

The Saint suddenly felt warm in his armor, but he stayed silent.

“And we thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Silverbell.” Golden Cheese hugged him. 

Silverbell smiled and hugged her back.

Golden Cheese pulled away and flew back to Dark Cacao’s side, “And we must be off.” 

Dark Cacao was glaring at the Spire over the tops of the buildings.

“We need to find our friend, Hollyberry, and hopefully…she will also aid us.” Golden Cheese sighed.

While Elder Faerie, The Saint, White Lily, Silverbell, and Golden Cheese all solidified the plan and said their goodbyes, Dark Cacao continued to glare at the glittering blue and gold roof of the Spire.

“I will come back for you Starlight.” He thought to himself. “I swear it.”