Chapter Text
Dark Cacao Cookie seemed to have vanished into thin air, he had not been seen for a solid 3 days. The other ancients had grown confused, the ever so punctual man was nowhere to be seem. A letter sent in advance, they could only hope of wishing to receive such a thing. This time around, no letter was sent to be read. It was a trail of mystery and silence, one that most found unbearable. A silence so heavy that it could drive a grown man to the brink of insanity. Those few who found it unbearable typically showed displeasure, but not as loud as the radiant Golden Cheese Cookie.
After a silent conversation with only their eyes making contact with each other, she slammed her hand down onto the table and stood up in impatience.
"Where on Earthbread has that cookie gone?! He was here one moment, now he's ghosting us as if we were never here! I will not let this stand any longer!" Her rant was rather passionate, it earned a loud laugh from Hollyberry Cookie.
"So impatient. I'm sure Dark Cacao Cookie has his reasons, he's never one to disappear without a reason." Hollyberry assured. For now, it could soothe the ever so greedy golden queen, but it would not be long before she lost her cool once more. This predicament is what allowed Pure Vanilla Cookie's thoughts to take over his mind, paying no attention to whether he wanted them to or not. While Golden Cheese Cookie complained, his mind would not still.
These thoughts were akin to a group of snakes, unwilling to still themselves or enter a state of tranquility.
After a moment of collecting his thoughts, Pure Vanilla Cookie spoke up to ease the slight tension that had been born into the room against everybody's will.
"I will pay a visit to him to ensure everything is alright. Do not fret, my friends. I am sure that everything is fine, I will send a letter if I do not return within one day." He announced, his hands holding the table top as he stood. Golden Cheese Cookie stopped her complaining, her eyes moving over to the male. An analytical glimmer developed in her eyes, examining him.
"Hmph, it's about time someone goes to check on that cookie. Dark Cacao Cookie should know I have a lot to say to him when he returns." She added on, her displeasure with the situation had made itself known quite a while ago. However, that does not mean it lessened or diminished even a little bit. She was still quite upset with Dark Cacao's complete absence. Hollyberry, having calmed down after her fit of laughter, decided to chime in with her own thoughts.
"Yes, what Golden Cheese Cookie said. Make sure he's alive and all. Perhaps remind him that I still have to treat him to some juice." Hollyberry requested. And while she didn't seem as...complaint filled as Golden Cheese Cookie was, she was concerned. She just had a rather unique way of showing it, one that many cookies would most likely not take as 'caring' at all, which Pure Vanilla Cookie found rather unfair. But she always did mean well, the other ancients knew this fact. Pure Vanilla Cookie nodded and made his way out of the room.
In the hallway, he ran into White Lily Cookie, who gave a smile regardless of whether he could see it or not. "I heard you were heading out, I wish you the best of luck. The weather may not be as perfect as I'd wish it to be..." She spoke to him, fiddling with her hands as she did so. Pure Vanilla Cookie smiled in return, deciding to ease her worries. "Do not worry, White Lily Cookie. I will be fine. I have travelled in harsh weather before and remained unscathed." He assured, that assurance seemed to have calmed the worry she had. Soon after, she let him go.
He was aware that the journey there would take quite a while, the Pure Vanilla Kingdom wasn't nearly as close to the Dark Cacao Kingdom as one would expect. But Pure Vanilla Cookie was determined, nothing could take that determination away from him. Not even a sword could slice it into pieces. So after a moment of preparation, he had set off toward the Dark Cacao Kingdom.
It had taken several hours, maybe a day. Pure Vanilla Cookie had forgotten to eat in that time, but he paid the minor discomfort that arose from such a simple mistake no mind. As he arrived, there was a stark contrast in the soldiers that could be noticed from several miles away. Typically, they were more on the serious side of things. However, all that could be heard was constant joy and excitement. It puzzled Pure Vanilla Cookie, he had to admit.
As he walked through the crowd, all he could make out was something about a newborn child. But the rest of their speech was near incoherent, he couldn't hear as well with all the people talking above each other. It was, for lack of a better phrase, rather overwhelming despite his lack of vision. However, he persisted despite the voices all beginning to crowd into his head. He was determined to see Dark Cacao Cookie regardless of what he'd have to do.
One kind soldier seemed to recognise him, they had approached unexpectedly and asked if he was here to visit Dark Cacao Cookie. It was rather sudden, but their help was greatly appreciated, Pure Vanilla Cookie sat on a bench as he awaited that soldier's return. All he could do was wait, listening to the overjoyed words of the soldiers around him. And while it didn't get less overwhelming, it did fill him with a certain sense of wonder. What could the people be so excited about?
A gentle knock was heard against the door, Dark Cacao Cookie could only assume somebody needed his presence. He should have expected it sooner, and yet he hadn't. For the last 3 days, it had just been him and his newborn son. He had barely left, as irritating as it was to admit. Battle called, and yet his body was completely drained of all the energy he once used to fight.
"Enter." He called out. Having heard the door slide open, he turned to face the solider that had sought him. "What is it you need." He asked, though his voice betrayed his own exhaustion. Having spent 3 days with a newborn child sucked away all the energy of the new father, it was expected in some way and yet he could not help but yearn for sleep.
The solider stood straight, seemingly not intimidated by the man's tone. "You have a visitor here to see you. Allow me to fetch him once more." The solider announced to Dark Cacao Cookie, who took a moment to process it. Before he could, the solider was gone. It was not uncommon for this to be the case...
"Hmph." Dark Cacao Cookie huffed, sitting down in a chair as he awaited to see who this supposed guest was. If he had to assume, perhaps it was someone who had wanted to see the newborn. However, his assumption had been proven wrong. It was not long before Pure Vanilla Cookie had entered the room, his hands tracing the walls as a means of scoping out the layout of the room. He could not recall if he'd been in this room before or not...
"It is you. I am surprised you did not look for me sooner." Dark Cacao told him, his eyes examining the blond. The solider who had assisted Pure Vanilla had left to give the two of them some well deserved privacy. Pure Vanilla hummed as his hands continued to trace over the walls.
"It has been a while, my friend. The others have been getting rather restless..." He'd started, though he trailed off when he had picked up on a difference in the wall panelling. "Is this new panelling? It feels much different from the last one." He asked, his fingers taking in the texture of it. It was rather difficult for Pure Vanilla Cookie to continue this conversation without acknowledging this fact.
Dark Cacao nodded. "Yes, these walls were redone. We are not currently in my throne room, 'tis simply a side room that hadn't been used for anything productive before now." He explained verbally. Though, based on that explanation alone, it seemed to have gathered Pure Vanilla Cookie's attention.
"I see! I'm happy you've found a use for this room, my friend." Pure Vanilla Cookie voiced in return, that voice full of excitement for his friend. He'd taken his hands off the wall, torn between asking or remaining silent about the reason he was here. Though, it would be cruel to visit and not address why he was here, would it not?
Pure Vanilla Cookie had decided to speak once more, to address why he was here. "Like I said, the others have grown rather worried about your sudden absence and the lack of letters." He repeated, but paused after a moment. "I apologise if I am intruding, however I would like to hear your perspective." He'd stated, catching Dark Cacao Cookie's attention once more. For a man like him, it was difficult to outright say he'd had a child. So he had his own ideas.
"Hold your arms out, I will let that speak for me." Dark Cacao Cookie told the other man in the room, who listened without a second thought. Nor did his action hold any hesitance or doubt, he placed trust in his good friend. Why would he not? The two were rather close these days, much closer than they once were.
Dark Cacao Cookie, before too much time had passed, carefully placed a weight into Pure Vanilla Cookie's hands. A child wrapped in the finest silk, Pure Vanilla Cookie's eyes shot open, a light but joyful gasp being forced out of his mouth as his arms readjusted to hold the child more comfortably. And though he could not see very well, if at all, his eyes still moved downward in hopes of gaining just one glance at the child that rested in his hands.
"A child...I see now, why you have been unresponsive." Pure Vanilla Cookie concluded, his voice no louder than a murmur. His hands felt for the child's face, carefully rubbing his thumb against it. He was careful with his hands and arms, as if holding delicate glass that could break at any moment. He'd always had a soft spot for children, babies even more so. To hold one his dearest friend had...it meant everything to him. Dark Cacao Cookie watched on, his expression just as serious as it always had been.
"Apologies for being rather unresponsive toward all of you. I will write a letter to the others tonight." He announced, although it seemed to have had fallen on deaf ears. Pure Vanilla Cookie was much too involved with the child to have paid attention to anything else. Some may say he was fixated, even. Dark Cacao Cookie could see this, he was no fool. Pure Vanilla Cookie was soley focused on the newborn, understandably so. It was not often a single cookie of royalty had a child.
"If it is not too much to ask, Dark Cacao Cookie. Is this wonderful being a boy or girl?" Pure Vanilla Cookie asked after a long moment of silence from his end, though he did not attempt to give the child back to Dark Cacao Cookie. The little being seemed content in his arms, that in itself was the biggest compliment someone could be given. Dark Cacao Cookie turned his head away from the table where he'd sat to begin his letter, watching. "A boy." A simple response, but it was enough for Pure Vanilla Cookie. He was not one to force other cookies to speak.
"He's wonderful." Another murmur came from Pure Vanilla Cookie, who had slipped down to the floor. Why he did this, to prevent dropping the child. He had felt his knees trembling, threatening to force him to the ground regardless of whether he was holding a baby. He took things into his own hands to prevent harm against the small infant. He could not say why, but holding such a small being made his emotions suddenly spike. A child in his arms, and Pure Vanilla Cookie would give him all the love and joy he had. Even if he was not his child, he would not let that stop him.
Adjusting the child, Pure Vanilla Cookie held the newly born boy to his chest with his back to a wall. It was instinctual for his knees to rise to his chest as well, he was still rather overwhelmed. But unlike before, it was of joy and happiness.
"You seem to have taken a liking to him." Dark Cacao noted, though his eyes had moved to the paper in which he began to write the letter. Pure Vanilla Cookie could not speak for a moment, his attention purely fixated on the baby. "Apologies if I'm being overbearing, I just find myself adoring him." Pure Vanilla Cookie spoke, but kept his face toward the baby. The small baby seemed content, and though he would squirm every now and then, he would calm rather quickly.
Pure Vanilla Cookie was so lost in his adoration, so submerged within it that he did not notice his hands shaking. It was presumably due to the fact he had not eaten for a day, but this had once again been pushed away. Despite this, Pure Vanilla Cookie did not let go of the newborn. Instead, he continued to soothe and comfort the baby he held. Once remembering his purpose as to why he had come, here a content sigh slip out from between his rather pale lips. Perhaps he was a tad dehydrated, as well. He would deal with these issues later.
"You truly have a wonderful child, my friend." Pure Vanilla Cookie told the other, letting his hands shift slightly as the baby's hand moved to clutch onto his clothing. Pure Vanilla Cookie, upon feeling this, smiled and gently led the small hand away. "Now how, little one. Unfortunately, I cannot feed you. Despite this, I do wish good dreams upon your tiny head." He voiced to the newborn, his voice gentle and filled with joy. To Pure Vanilla Cookie, this truly was a miracle.
"Have you eaten?" Dark Cacao Cookie questioned, setting his pen down. He would like to assume that Pure Vanilla Cookie had eaten, however he had a certain track record of not doing such an act and would skip it enough that it had become consistent. Pure Vanilla Cookie hummed for a moment, nodding.
"Yes, no need to worry. I've eaten." For someone who held and carried the truth with such high regard, it was quite the lie. He hadn't, but he was far too focused on the baby to acknowledge This fact. Dark Cacao did not seem convinced of this, a frown painted his face. "Your hands are shaky, and you curl in on yourself as if fearing you'll drop him due to that shakiness, I cannot help but assume the worst based on the evidence you've provided for me." He noticed, having stood up from where he sat a few moments ago.
"I'll ask once more. Have you eaten?" Dark Cacao Cookie repeated, as if Pure Vanilla Cookie had not heard him the first time. Pure Vanilla Cookie sighed, he should've known that he wouldn't be able to keep up this lie for very long. His shaky hands were quite the giveaway, so he should've known better than to keep trying to keep up a false narrative. Dark Cacao Cookie was no moron, nor a fool. He only held competence, so Pure Vanilla Cookie should've expected this outcome.
"I appreciate your concern, my friend. But I assure you, I'll be alright." He replied, continuing to fixate on the now sleeping baby in his arms. Dark Cacao Cookie's frown only deepened, that answer alone said it all. It spoke what words went unsaid, wrapped in a veil of secrecy. 'This simply will not do,' he thought to himself as he watched on. He gently took the baby back into his own arms, cradling him with one arm. The other moved to help Pure Vanilla Cookie off the ground, which he gladly accepted.
"Then allow me to treat you to something. You cannot make your way back with no energy." Dark Cacao stated, it was no question. He was, once again, not asking for permission to treat Pure Vanilla Cookie to a meal. He was going to whether the blond cookie said yes or no. This was something that, in his eyes, was not arguable.
"Why of course. But do make sure it isn't too burdensome on your own body." Pure Vanilla Cookie voiced in return, the lack of infant in his arms felt rather odd. He had to admit this, he truly did adore his close friends child. Who would not? Such innocence and love wrapped in silk, it was hard not to adore him.
"You say that as if I have not fought countless battles and won in the end." Dark Cacao Cookie responded, leading Pure Vanilla Cookie out of the room after placing the newborn into his cradle once more.