Chapter Text
“Aren't you scared?”
Laying head to head under a vast expanse of silverbell trees, in a respite from the rest of the ferocious, dangerous, unkempt wilds of Beast Yeast, are two cookies with mismatched breathing. On one side, immaculately dressed in purples and blacks like always, is the minion of Deceit, show host, radio host and celebrity Black Sapphire Cookie. His staff lay beside him, always ready to defend his owner against any threat that may come their way.
“Why would I be? I'd still have you.”
Opposite of him is, of course, Silverbell Cookie. Proud Silver Tree knight, high ranking faerie, practically the mascot for the brave warriors of the Faerie Kingdom while also being a right hand man to Mercurial Knight Cookie, Knight Commander of the army. And as of (not so) late, Black Sapphire's boyfriend.
“I suppose… But then, what else?”
The past few weeks had been delightful. Following the unexpected meeting of both, a relationship of secret escapades in the romantic tree lined nature of the continent formed. Late night conversations under Silverbell's newest obsession- Stars! He could spend years observing them. It made perfect sense why astrologists dedicated lifetimes to learning about the celestial bodies. Black Sapphire snuck some books on constellations out of the Spire of Deceit so Silverbell could learn. Shadow Milk noticed of course, but he was indifferent, and honestly, not very interested in any romantic affairs right now. For… reasons.
“I don't think I need anything else. You, me, Master Shadow Milk, Candy Apple…”
The past few weeks had been awful. Your work is important, sure, but sometimes… Being the host or being the mascot… Being the stars… It just means you're slightly more pampered puppets. The dressing room where you look at yourself in the mirror stops reflecting the shine in your eyes. And you need to get away but you know if you do you might not want to go back. It's suffocating, and these breaks were all they really held onto with any strength.
“...”
“That sounds nice, doesn't it?”
“I… I don't know…”
So much to gain, so much to lose.
An ideal world… Silverbell is starting to think ideals should stay ideals. Black Sapphire however…
“You're not doubting our love again, are you? I've told you this many times–”
“‘In a world of Deceit, our love would still be Truth’, yes, I know…” He looks over the horizon, a sadness tinging his expression in a way his partner notices, but lets go of. “I must go now, dear.”
“So soon?”
“Yes… I'm afraid I can't delay anymore. There is still something I must do before returning home. We've had a nice afternoon anyway, have we not?”
He leaned in to press a kiss to the other's cheek, which Black Sapphire quickly corrected and kissed him on the lips instead. Silverbell didn't complain. Standing up, the fae could spread his wings, and the purple cookie stared in awe, as always, at the glistening, glittering. The silver screen was shiny, but his boyfriend shined brighter. He fixated on those beautiful appendages like a kid in front of the TV, watching the colour and the light dance in tandem.
“I've missed seeing you fly.”
“What do you mean? You saw me fly just the other day.”
“And yet I missed it. You've forgiven me a thousand times already, but again, I'm sorry I ever let you get hurt.”
“Sigh… And I'm sorry you still think your apologies are necessary. I'm fine, am I not?”
“So fine~” He flirts, blowing a kiss to Silverbell. The faerie rolls his eyes, and responds by picking up his bow and pretending to shoot an arrow through the kiss. Ever dramatic, the purple performer throws his head back as if struck.
“I'll be here again, tomorrow, same time. Will you..?”
“Wouldn't miss it for the world. Farewell, lovebug~” Silverbell loved and hated the nickname. On one hand, aww, on the other, he was not a bug!
“In kind, fruit bat." Black sapphire loved seeing his boyfriend trying to annoy him back, but he really liked bats, and he was a fruit, so he couldn't really be upset.
“Find Mercurial, find Mercurial, find Mercurial–”
“Silverbell?”
“AH!!” The younger faerie yelps as his older comrade and superior seemingly materializes next to him. He stumbles back into the bushes of the green grove of the forest, tangling himself in all the foliage. “Where– Were you just standing there??” Mercurial helps the other out of the bushes.
“As our training dictates, I have been moving quietly and discreetly as possible, so as not to lose the element of surprise. What of you, Silverbell Cookie? Your turn must have already ended 20 or so minutes ago.” The slight lavender blush revisits the fae's face.
“Well, I was out later, yes… You know how it is…” He rubs his arm sleeve nervously, eyes avoiding his commander's. “Some cookies make you go the extra mile…”
“... Am I to interpret that as meaning that you've been… meeting with our enemy again?”
A thick silence falls over the scenery, as if the birds knew to cease their chirping, and the cake monsters knew to settle down for once. The muted sound of a heartbeat is all that permeates the quiet.
Ba-dum.
Ba-dum.
“... There is nothing new to report. We were together most of the afternoon. He didn't attempt to disrupt my rounds, and didn't mess with any other knights. He hasn't shown himself to pose any danger, in fact, I–”
“I will be the arbiter on whether Shadow Milk and his minions pose a threat to us, faeries, as well as the rest of Earthbread.” Mercurial interrupts. Not snappy, as his tone was always very controlled and exact. His nature as a faerie cookie determined that. No flavor, no smell… And as long as the topic wasn't the deceased king Elder Faerie Cookie, no emotion. Carefully planned precision in words, movements, thoughts. Not all fairies were like this, but most recognized that this quality was something to strive for. Most, since Silverbell wasn't so sure… Not since Black Sapphire, and not since his scent of silverbells began… remanifesting.
“I… I apologize, Commander. I was out of line. But as reported, Black Sapphire doesn't seem particularly keen on causing us any more harm! In fact, I think… it's time.” The archer spoke, gripping his bow anxiously. His eyes sparkled with hope, but they wouldn't sway the stoic fae leader.
“Your frankly absurd plan of reintegration… It will not work.”
“I beg to differ, sir! I have been speaking with Black Sapphire for a long time, I know he can change, and I know if we lend a hand…” The sentence didn't finish as Mercurial's boring gaze was too petrifying.
“... Silverbell. You, who against all my wishes have proven to be endlessly naïve and trusting, even on the opposite side of a bow pulled taut by an enemy… I understand how you might struggle with understanding this. But a cookie lives and dies by their dough. We are baked the way we are, and we can never hope to simply change.”
“...”
“Thousands of years, millennia perhaps… Witches know how long Black Sapphire has roamed the lands, spreading his loathsome Deceit. He has done so in spite of the pain, suffering, chaos he's caused… No, I misspoke. He has done so because of the hurt he wishes to inflict. He has shown himself dedicated to his own causes. He will not change. He cannot change. And as much as it may pain you, he has not changed for you either…”
“Sir!” Silverbell raises his voice. His legs, however, tremble as soon as he does so. He should not test his luck with a fae who's already upset at him, upset at all the covering up he's been having to do. “Forgive me this one question…”
“Questions won't change–”
“Sir, please.”
“...”
“If we cannot hope to change ourselves… Then what of us, faeries? We have abandoned our cookie features, and dedicated ourselves to the Silver Tree… But we changed ourselves, did we not? Black Sapphire can change his ways! Shed his deceit like we shed our cookie flavour! I know he can, and will!”
“You are confounding two very distinct things. The things we surge from the flames of the Oven as… Those are merely accessories. A vessel. No more. We sacrifice those, knowing they don't determine us. The things we have chosen to be, however, are immutable. And we're baked with those choices too. We chose to protect the tree, we chose to give up our flavour and scent, and he chose… To grovel at the feet of the beast. And those things are decisions that make us just as much as we make them. Trouble yourself no longer with this savior attitude. Black Sapphire… The beast and its spawn shall never change. Of this I'm certain. Keep trying at your own peril, but I can assure you… It will only get yourself crumbled.”
Poignant as ever, Mercurial lifts himself off the ground once more, and his silver wings carry him away, deeper into the forest so he can properly start doing his rounds. The night seems to have advanced considerably, as the crescent moon is now right above Silverbell, smiling down at him, or perhaps at the Sea. The archer pouts, but bites his tongue. No use pursuing a useless argument. He comforts himself knowing that if his beloved does change, that will be all the proof he needs to convince Mercurial… Hopefully…
Now all that remained… Was changing him.
“KYAHAHA!! Oh, Master Shadow Milk… You're simply too hilarious! As well as dashingly handsome, and brilliant and powerful~”
“Ha! Well, you know what they say, a jester must wear many hats! And I~ am simply the single greatest jester there iiiiiis~!” The deceitful beast boasts, breaking out into song by the end, raising his arm to the sky. Pride was always his folly, but beneath his grandiose… There wasn't much more than fear and power.
The loud but gentle click of the great doors of the Spire opening distracts Shadow Milk from himself temporarily. He had been passively juggling a couple of knives and a Candy Apple Cookie (after much insistence from the girl). But upon seeing his most loyal minion return from his long day out, he drops everything he's doing (literally) to greet Sapphire at the door.
“KUH!” Candy Apple yelps as she falls to the floor, half a dozen knives falling all around her.
“Master, I'm home!”
“Oooh, welcome, welcome! How I missed your presence here Black Sapphire! Come! Sit! You must share with me. How has your day been? And what of your little fairy friend, hm? The pair of you are really glued to the hip…”
“Like a parasite on a bat…”
“HA-Hahaha!! Settle down, Candy, settle down… Though I must agree with her!”
“Wel–”
“You've been spending an awful long amount of time out there, on your own… Frolicking through blue grass with that cute little gnat… Youth! Eh? Am I right ooooor am I right?”
“I'm well into my thousands, sir…”
“It's quite stressful for me, not having as many eyes on you as I wish I could, you know? I'm sure I've missed plenty of mischief from my most dutiful trainee. And I assume…” Shadow Milk floats closer to Black Sapphire, moving in circles, hypnotizingly. “You've planted the seeds of Deceit in him already? Stoked that flame~ Of course, Candy Apple wasn't too thrilled to find that Silverbell is your new preferred duo, but if it gets the job done it's none of my business… You are doing a good job, I presume. Maybe I should check for myself?”
“... Hu–”
“Oh! But of coooourse, your privacy is highly valued~” He says, shooting Candy Apple a side eye and grinning. She returns the look and the both struggle not to giggle.
“... Pft-”
They break into uproarious laughter, Shadow Milk bending at the waist and spinning in place midair. Their voices were awfully pitchy, but Black Sapphire would only dare say that about one of them. You can guess which.
“... I'm assuming you've been watching me then?” Black Sapphire says, a little tired. This wasn't the first time, evidently.
“Who can say! But I doubt that would surprise you, right? And what's the point of getting all prettied up in the morning if you're not expecting to get caught on the camera!”
“Maybe I just like to look my best?”
“A-Haaa, he's sassing me! He's media trained and still wants to sass me! Can you believe this, Candy?” Shadow Milk's voice went up and down incessantly, like a rollercoaster designed to make one puke. “Oh, hi-larious!! No, seriously! Let's bring back the laugh track for that one!”
The unsettling sound of a thousand voices laughing in unison reverberated through the tower, though they much resembled a choir of wailing spirits, restless in eternal rest. It felt like a mocking, or perhaps intimidation. Black Sapphire could tell something was wrong… Shadow Milk knew how much he hated to hear his audience.
The laughing, which Shadow Milk and Candy Apple both joined in on, with Candy hesitating a bit before doing so, slowly faded until it suddenly cut off completely, and the purple show host was yanked upwards by the back of his collar, like a kitten picked up by his mother. The beast dangled Sapphire from side to side, an exaggerated grin plastered on its face.
“Let's cut the charade, eh? We both know that a joke always dies when it's dragged on for too long!” Shadow Milk announced, before slinking himself back to the big couch he had previously been sitting on. Black Sapphire was thrown in the air and caught before he could land. He was starting to feel dizzy. “Many things have been dragging on as of late… And I'll be the first one to admit, I'm as much to blame as any of you! That's right, your mighty boss, too, fell for pathetic and insignificant distractions in the past few weeks. Awful distractions…” He mumbled while clutching his chest. Not his soul jam. More to the side. “Alas! I have moved on graciously, and now, you too have a choice to make!”
The minion stared perplexed for a moment, but quickly readopted his show stopping smile, just like Shadow Milk had taught him years prior when he was merely a little thief in an abandoned Raisin Village. Without skipping a beat, he fixed up his hair, trying to ground himself, and addressed his Master once more.
“If you are referring to Silverbell, rest assured I have not been wasting precious time in our operations! All my duties have been upkept, and Silverbell, bless his dough but… He's not exactly the most perceptive, and I've managed to slip some tricks by him–”
“Tricks! Ha! Ha Ha! Oh, of course, you should have led with that! You're pulling pranks? Like a teenage bully with enough ego to drown in? Well, in that case I guess I have nothing to worry about, huh!”
“... I understand your concern, Master, but I truly have been spreading mischief to the best of my abilities.” Shadow Milk's gaze lingers on Black Sapphire, cold and unforgiving. He wasn't smiling anymore.
“You had better hope this isn't your best.”
The threat was implicit.
Ever since Candy Apple got put in that playing card, it had become increasingly apparent that Shadow Milk had no qualms about endangering his minions. He would rather not have to. But he wouldn't hesitate either.
“... Of course, Master.” Sapphire said with a bow.
“Grear! Now, for business!” Shadow Milk sat in midair, legs crossed. “The matter at hand is simple. A certain knight in not-so-shining armour has recently met with a curious little flower whose powers have proven in the past to be… Hm! Annoying!” He said, voice slightly raspier and filled with thinly veiled contempt. The beast throws his arms and himself in the air, spinning his head around to face Sapphire. “She is no doubt gonna call for our help soon enough. Ha! As if we would ever lend a hand to a cookie like her! But still, it would be rude not to make an appearance… If for nothing else than old time's sake? And because you never miss a gala! I'm sure all my wonderful friends will be there, oh, the memories we can shaaaaare~ Oh! Oh! Candy Apple, that little pink cookie should be there too! Isn't that exciting?” Candy apple grumbles at the mention of Pavlova Cookie. They are not friends, and Shadow Milk knows that. Next time she sees him, she's gonna wipe the dirt with that short little twerp!
“Umm, excuse me, Master Shadow Milk, sir… There?”
“Why, yes!”
In a matter best described as posh, the blue beast claps his hands two times in quick succession, and suddenly, a cloud of smoke poofs into existence, bringing with it a small paper invitation to a so-called ‘Grand Dust Hotel’. On it, a small map leading to a secluded spot in Beast-Yeast where Black Sapphire had never travelled and a briefing of what was to be achieved. Something about an Ultimate Cookie or such… The matter to be discussed didn't particularly concern an underling like Sapphire. This was for Shadow Milk to handle. What did concern him was the date written at the bottom of the invite in crimson red ink.
“That's tomorrow!”
“Yesss, yes it is! I couldn't tell you sooner since you're oh-so busy lately… But hey! Better late than never.”
“But- Master, my show?”
“I've found a replacement~” One of Shadow Milk's bunny servants hops into the room wearing Black Sapphire's jewelry and a purple wig. It quickly hops back the way it came. “Don't tell him this but he's a diversity hire…”
“... And what of my duties around the Spire?”
“These lazy bunches can take care of your share of housework, I'm sure.”
“...” What about Silverbell? But he couldn't seriously say that.
“I don't imagine you'll have any other complaints?”
“... No, Master…”
“Great! Then we're set to leave tomorrow, 8 AM sharp! There better not be any latecomers! I never forgive my late students…”
The blue beast abruptly vanishes into shadow once more, leaving his minions alone in the great entrance hall they were in. Candy Apple giggled at Sapphire's clearly distressed look, very much aware of what was going through her brother's mind right now. The love corrupted mind he had.
“I have to talk to Silverbell!” They announce simultaneously.
“JYNX! KYA HA HA! Good luck talking to your fairy pest boyfriend now that you're CURSED!”
“... I'll tell Shadow Milk about the plush collection thing.”
“KUH!! JYNX RETRACTED, ABORT, ABORT!!”
Silverbell Cookie huddled up in a nest of blankets. His modest little home was as homely as homes could be! The fireplace was roaring, the tea kettle was whistling, and the dim yellow glow of lanterns illuminated the space. In the middle of it all, a soft bed with soft pillows and soft blankets. In the middle of that… a Cookie.
He had gotten home, arrived at his little special place that never yielded to the coldness of the Faerie Kingdom and its glinting silver, and decided he wanted to get his mind off of things. Black Sapphire was sure to come visit, as he always did in the middle of the night. Even if they agreed to meet the following day, the pair was so intrinsically tied together at this point, any level of separation left a bad taste on their mouth.
It wasn't unhealthy!
They were just… Getting used to this! To love like this- Yes, it was very unusual, and neither had ever had a partner like this, that had to be so hidden and kept far away for safety reasons.
The fairy really hoped that could change.
But anyway, after getting home, thoughts of what Mercurial said revisited him like a ghost. Every so often he was reminded of how little time he had to get his boyfriend on the fairies’ good graces. Not only was Mercurial growing restless, he couldn't help but think of what Shadow Milk might be planning… And curiously, he was also thinking of what Saint Lily might be doing at a time like this.
The unavoidable truth of the matter was this. War was coming. Enemies in war kill each other. And Silverbell needed to get the right hand man of the enemy on his side by yesterday. No time to lose.
At any moment, Saint Lily would arrive and announce what the fairies would do in the upcoming battle. The Guardian of the Seal would win, no doubt, and seal away the beasts, and if it went by smoothly then maybe that's all it would take to have Sapphire secede. But if the battle took a long time, or if he didn't take well to losing his only father… Silverbell assumed there was something of a family there at least. Although… Candy Apple didn't seem to view the beast as such… Regardless, there were risks involved with taking too long on this whole redemption thing. Risks he feared. A lot.
He always was hopelessly hopeful, so anything feared only gave way to reassurance that what hasn't happened yet can't hurt yet! But… Just the thought of seeing Black Sapphire on the opposite side of a battlefield hurt enough…
Silverbell would have to manage then. Not one to think of the worst, he didn't ponder what he would do in that situation… Not this time. This time he just put his face down and… tried to relax… sleep…
…
… But he should probably turn his kettle off first. Actually, the hissing had stopped a while ago, so that's weird. Maybe just go check on–
“Greetings, Silverbell.”
“AH!! M-MERCURIAL! What–” The commander motioned for the archer to quiet down. “Mercurial sir, what are you–”
“Would you care for some lily tea?”
“... What do you mean ‘would I care for it’, I steeped it…”
“... Yes. So you did. My apologies, I'm still getting used to tea culture. It was… one of Elder Faerie's preferred hobbies." He said with the most expressive face he could muster: Partially closed eyes and up-tilted brows.
“I see…” Silverbell answers softly, reaching his hands slowly to grab the cup Mercurial held. The knight took no time to start pouring the beverage. “That… doesn't explain why you broke into my house…”
“I didn't break in. The door was open.”
“That still counts as… Wait, the door was open?”
Silverbell repeated, suddenly a little panicked. He always closed his door. Always. And he knows he closed his door today too because he spent so long looking for his keys the neighbours started worrying. He would never choose to leave the door unopened, not because the likelihood of an intruder existing in the Faerie Kingdom is particularly high, but mostly because his separation of work and private life required actual, physical barriers of privacy, aka, the door. Needless to say, Mercurial's presence wasn't exactly thrilling. Knowing what he did about the proud Tree Knight, Silverbell was absolutely positive his superior was telling the truth, meaning someone, or something… Had broken in.
…
Witches dammit, Black Sapphire…
Scanning the room while trying best he could not to raise Mercurial Knight's suspicion, the lavender fae did his best to spot any lingering traces of the deceitful cookie's presence. Shadows that linger for a little too long. Distortions of objects that made them appear more presentable, for the audience! The vague, lingering dusting of magic, that shine of the Dark Side of the Moon… It was hard to detect, honestly.
“Silverbell?”
“Yes!?” He spoke louder than intended.
“... I come to you with a matter that… Frankly, it shouldn't be your sole concern. However, given the fracturing of our ranks, I feel forced to ail you with more responsibility.”
Setting the kettle on a side table, not directly of course, Mercurial cleared his hands so he could rummage and retrieve a scroll. An old one at that. And it was old even for old scroll standards! He did so with unmistakable caution, making sure nothing was around to spy on them… But the funny thing about the magic of Deceit is that, like any good lie, you only see what they want you to see. And the commander failed to pick up on the sensitive aura of magic in the room.
“We haven't much time, so I should be brief.” And he always was. This was mostly an excuse to do as he usually did. “We're leaving. Tomorrow. And I need you to lead the troops.”
“Leaving? Wait, are we… Is this a military operation?”
“It's more than that. Silverbell, we–”
Silverbell cuts him off. He looks fidgety and paranoid, eyes darting around the room as if looking for a particularly bothersome, but sneaky, mosquito. Mercurial is on high alert from the unusual display. The archer might be anxious at times but he wasn't the type to do… all that.
“Perhaps we would be better off… Umm, avoiding having such important conversations in a place like this? I… Don't like mixing work and personal life.” He puts some strain on the word ‘personal’, a subtlety not lost on the hidden intruder. They leave the house… for now. “But if it's a matter of such urgency, please tell me how I can help!”
“... You're right.”
“Hm?”
“This is no place for having such conversations.” Mercurial says, eyes no longer on Silverbell as he tries to detect Black Sapphire. The open secret that he was here, listening in on private and confidential conversations, would no doubt work against Silverbell later. “I'll leave you this. It should tell you all you need to know. It is of great importance however.”
Silverbell revealed just the top of the scroll and immediately saw why this was so important. The mark of Saint Lily, the insignia of Freedom. That Fleur de Lis that flew with banners of freedom and liberty. But it was inaccurate to say it was the Saint's symbol… This was older. More complete. It was the work of the Salt of Solidarity, no doubt. Maybe it was even the work of the Witches. Silverbell didn't know too much but he knew enough. He held the document close.
“I see.”
“Silverbell. Do not lose it.”
“I won't.”
“... Do. Not. Lose it.” He emphasized with genuine fear in his voice. It was the worst thing Silverbell had ever heard in Mercurial.
After leaving, the knight commander made sure to look around the perimeter to find and deal with the intruder. Silverbell was nervous he might actually find him, and as such, politely asked to be left alone, which Mercurial accepted with little resistance. Good. The younger fae had to find Black Sapphire first and talk to him about how spying is generally frowned upon… Also, the whole “leaving tomorrow” thing wasn't… ideal.
Luckily, he didn't take long to find him, as a voice called him from outside.
He rushed to the window but saw nothing.
“Hey! Psst! Up here!” Black Sapphire's voice could be heard in a whisper scream.
“Huh? Black Sapphire, what are you doing on my roof?”
“Stargazing. Care to join me?”