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He had no home anymore. The garden was gone because of the death of Eternal Sugar. All the power that held up the garden was gone when Dark Enchantress drained the lights from each of the souljams. Pavlova was alone, with nowhere to go. Going to the faeries meant death; the others who followed their respective Beasts were annoying to him, and he refused to follow any of Dark Enchantress’s minions. He was utterly and truthfully hopeless.
For a week after the events of the war, he fled around Beast-Yeast. Monsters were terrifying with hearts as dark as the sea that surrounded the continent. Just a few hours prior, he had narrowly escaped one such raging creature with only a few scrapes. Pavlova was running out of options fast; each area he fled to only ended up in more terror.
Currently, he was hiding in the branches of a tree; below him were a few hound-like monsters, searching for him amongst the twisted forest. He dared not move; they would climb the tree to reach him if a single sound was made. So, he sat still, fearful and alone.
An arrow shot down one of the hounds, shouts erupted from below him, and he dared not move, glancing down to see cloaked and armored cookies moving about. Two of them chased after the fleeing hounds while one remained to inspect the monster they had slaughtered. These strange people weren’t from this land, dressed in clothes that seemed slightly burnt, faces with scars from attacks; nobody ever survived attacks in Beast-Yeast. These three people appeared to be skilled hunters, having come to this continent to get things to sell.
Pavlova watched them for a while; the two that ran off returned with one of the hounds, dragging its body behind them. The third hunter had left momentarily to bring a cart. As a group, they lifted the two hounds into the cart and cheered together at the successful hunt.
“Well, I’ll be damned, this might just be the last thing we needed for a good sellout!” One of them spoke, their voice was gruff and aged; a man of hardship indeed. Their hearts were a bit dimmer, but held to a love they had back wherever they’re from. They pat the back of another hunter, a smile beaming upon their face as they looked over the cart. “I saw we prepare the boat to leave by morning, it’s best to get out of this continent fast.”
A hum came from the third hunter, this one wielded a bow, the one who killed the first hound. “Indeed, after the war, it seems as though every creature in this continent is all wound up.” Without waiting, they began to move the cart back to where they came from. If they were planning on leaving, I could get off this continent. Pavlova thought to himself as he followed carefully after the hunters.
He moved silently, attentively monitoring their movements until the forest opened to a rocky shore. He dared not go past the forest, for fear of detection; his outfit was odd for the area, but his determination to get to a safer place drove him to remain alert. They began loading the things from the cart, and Pavlova became aware of how hungry he was. His last few jellies from the garden had long since been depleted, and he watched the hunters bring out jellies and other foods of their own.
The hunters had a small camp down along the shore; they were smart for that. No monster dared to leave the forest, for fear of things that resided around, but these cookies were skilled with weapons and not to be messed with. Nightfall quickly approached, and the three hunters returned to the small camp, sitting and chatting around a small campfire for a while before snuffing it out and going to their tents to sleep. This is when Pavlova makes a move.
With slow, cautious steps, the Cupid-Like cookie approached the camp. He saw the food they left out and quickly snagged a small amount; it’d take an attentive eye to see that a small portion was missing. He made haste in eating it before approaching their boat; a clipboard that held a list of items aboard was already checked off. The hunters had already taken stock of everything they had and were prepared to leave at first light. He stepped down into the Cargo Bay, packed with several of the hunter’s goods. A crate wedged between a few others caught Pavlova’s eye.
Unsuspecting and marked as empty, Pavlova ran a hand over the lid. A small tag on it drew his attention. It once held rations already used as bait. The hunters knew it was empty and would not check it, especially in this corner. He glanced around one last time before climbing inside and shutting himself in. This was his only chance at leaving Beast-Yeast, and he would not waste it. This continent had nothing for him anymore. Pavlova’s eyes felt heavy as he curled in on himself in the box. Holding his bow close, he let sleep come to him.
˚₊‧꒰ა . ——— ˗ˏˋ ✮ ˎˊ˗ ——— ˖ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
The sound of water hitting the side of the boat startled Pavlova awake. He glanced around, still within the box. Everything swayed, and he hit into the side with a yelp. Slowly, he lifted the lid slightly to peek out at the space around him. The belly of the boat was dark, lit only by the few glowing treasures that the hunters had scavenged. From what Pavlova could see, there was no water in the interior of the boat; they had just hit a rough patch in the sea. He lowered the lid once more and groaned to himself.
Why had he decided to leave Beast-Yeast? He had nowhere to go and knew of no places on the main continent. What would happen to him there? Would he be found by the hunters before they even made landfall?
Pavlova mentally kicked himself to stop the waves of worry that tried to engulf him. He had no choice but to leave Beast-Yeast. He could live on his own, he was sure of it. From what he heard from those Hollyberrians in the garden and these skilled hunters, Crispia isn’t as deadly as Beast-Yeast. He’s sure he could make it to some civilization and start anew.
He rubbed his temples with a hand as his wings wrapped around himself. It would be okay; he would find somewhere to go. Maybe a small village in which he could become a farmer. No, he hates working. He could become a matchmaker; he’s got the talent for that. Yeah, that would work; he just had to find a village once he got off the boat. To do that, he had to get off without the hunters noticing that he was even there.
What of his clothes? Surely he’d look out of place; a toga, leaf halo, and large wings surely weren’t common in the mainland. He’d have to get a change of outfit. Once more, he peeked out of the crate, looking around the room. No one was there, and he heard three voices from above, all talking about the condition of the sea. He could get out and look through the crates for anything to wear.
Heaving the crate open, Pavlova began to climb out. Just as he was about to go over the side, the boat swayed, and he fell to the floor. Fighting the rocking of the boat would be hard. He got up, brushing off his toga as he moved slowly around, his footsteps light on the wooden floorboards.
It was hard to read in the dim lighting, but the Cupid-Like cookie remained determined to find a crate with something in it. He clicked his tongue upon finding a crate labeled ‘cloaks’. He opened it to find a few dark colored cloaks, one of a brown coloration caught his eye. It was a little ragged, but it would hardly be missed by the hunters. Upon lifting it, a pair of boots was revealed beneath it, and Pavlova looked down at his own feet.
A few cracks were along them from fleeing monsters. He bit his lip and squinted slightly before hastily taking the boots. Once he closed the crate, he quickly fled back to the one he had taken as his hiding spot. The boat swayed, and he crashed into the side of it, gritting his teeth at the loud sound.
He hurriedly threw the cloak and boots in before forcing himself up and over the side, landing hard in the bottom. Footfalls overhead made his blood run cold with fear; they had heard the crash. Pavlova quickly grabbed the lid and narrowly got it closed just as a hunter opened the trapdoor. He held his breath.
Slowly, the hunter stepped down the creaky staircase, inspecting each box. Nothing was disturbed, and with a shrug, he walked back up and shouted to the others. “Just a box moving, these waves are really knocking things about, glad we’ve not got much longer.” Perfect, they’d make landfall soon.
As Pavlova sat in the crate, he moved the cloak over himself, treating it like a blanket, as his eyelids felt heavy once more. One small nap couldn’t hurt; he was exhausted after all.
˚₊‧꒰ა . ——— ˗ˏˋ ✮ ˎˊ˗ ——— ˖ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
“Ah, this road just gets rougher and rougher.” A voice rang out from outside the crate.
A bump stirred the Cupid-Like cookie awake. There was light seeping through the small lines of the crate. His eyes groggily blinked as he was lightly jostled around. It’s only when he hears the sound of cart wheels moving and hoofbeats that he realizes the situation. By some divine sleep trace, or extreme exhaustion that Pavlova didn’t want to acknowledge, he slept through the crate he resides in being moved from the boat to a cart, and quite a ways of travel.
A sinking feeling bubbled within Pavlova as each rock in the road rattled the cart he was on. How long had they been traveling? Where were they heading? Had they discovered him? Each new question leads to the urge to flee. He carefully lifted the lid; it wasn’t locked, earning a light sigh of relief from the Cupid-Like cookie. There, the three hunters sat in the front of the cart, two in the leading spot, guiding what looked like horses, and one sitting in front of the crate. The one in front seemed to be counting coins and putting them back into a small satchel. Now was Pavlova’s chance.
He opened his wings, knocking the lid off as he leaped from the crate in which he’d been hidden. In a moment, he seized the small satchel with about half of the coins the hunter had been counting and jumped off the side of the cart. It was larger than he thought it was, carrying quite a few crates. A few other carts followed this one, but Pavlova cared not to stay and count how many. He took to the air before any shouting erupted, or maybe he had too much adrenaline to hear them over his own heartbeat.
He had always been fast at flying, and now was no exception. The wind whipped the cloak he stole as he headed for a rock formation a little way from the carts. He caught his breath while ducking behind the rocks, gripping the satchel close to his chest as he leaned against the solid feeling. After a few moments, he slowly allowed himself to turn to look around the rock; the carts had carried on down the path, ignoring him entirely.
With a sigh, Pavlova lowered his arms, dropping the satchel and his bow to the ground as he rubbed his hands down his face. He was on the mainland, in an unknown area. It was only then that he felt the sun's heat on him. Of course, this place had to be warm. A sudden movement in front of him caused him to grab his bow once more.
There before him was what looked to be a small dragon. Well, if he remembered correctly, they were called wyverns. Pavlova was on his feet before he could process the creature fully. The satchel was held tightly to his chest as he opened his wings and took flight once more. He flew for a while, hearing the cries of the wyvern as it gave chase; it was gaining on him. Terror filled him as he glanced back and saw how close it was.
His bow was drawn back in an instant, firing an arrow directly at the freakish lizard that pursued him. It let out a roar as he released the arrow, striking it in the side as he closed his wings to dive down out of its raging path. As he dropped, he saw a forest to his right. If he entered it, he could lose the wyvern there.
He turned his course to head for the forest with all the energy he could muster into his speed. A shadow overhead had him slowing to track it with his eyes. A larger Wyvern dove down and struck the one that was after him. Pavlova wasted no time in watching the fight between the terrorising beasts. Upon flying down into the forest, it became harder to navigate; each winding turn led to a near-collision with another tree. As he dipped to avoid a low-hanging branch, a vine caught his wing and dropped him to the forest floor.
He staggered to his feet slowly, brushing himself off and adjusting his wings slightly. A sharp pain shot through his left wing, the one that had been snagged by the vine. The Cupid-Like cookie winced hard as he curled in on himself; he’d have to carry on by foot. Weird noises surrounded him with each step he took further into the lush land.
From birdsong to animal cries, it felt lively, but not as deadly as the snarls of Beast-Yeast. That was, until a roar erupted from somewhere behind him, he took off running once more.
˚₊‧꒰ა . ——— ˗ˏˋ ✮ ˎˊ˗ ——— ˖ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
He was exhausted from running for too long to even remember. The sun had set long ago, and Pavlova’s feet gave out. He shouted as his knees hit the dirt and grass below him. Every limb of his was hurt from the lashes of unseen branches or the wounds of close calls with animals. His stomach rumbled as he clutched the satchel that he somehow still had across himself. After running for so long, one would think a village would have been found, but it seemed as though Pavlova had just no luck in these kinds of things.
He forced himself from the ground, looking up at the tree in front of him. He needed rest, desperately, and now was a good chance for some shut-eye. No monsters were after him as of this moment, and the forest seemed to be calming down. A small bush caught his eye, one with berries on it. They looked like berries found in Beast-Yeast, but just duller. He slowly picked one, observing it.
They looked similar to those in his homeland and the ones within his own halo. Bringing it to his nose, he sniffed it wearily. It smelled just like how a berry should, semi-sweet and fresh. There was hesitation as he slowly bit the berry, firm and ripe. It tasted exactly like a berry, and there was no lingering taste that would hint at it being deadly. After waiting a few minutes, he finished the berry and picked a few more, putting them in his satchel before climbing a nearby tree.
He swung his leg off a branch while slowly eating the berries, looking up through the foliage to see the star-littered sky. It was beautiful, just like the one he’d look at in the garden. He missed the safety and serenity of it. Sure, he hated his duties and feared any anger of Eternal Sugar, but he couldn’t help but miss the moments where he’d lie in the grass and feel secure. He missed Eternal Sugar like a child misses their mother; she had been like a mother.
Pavlova raised a hand towards the sky, pretending to grab the stars in his limited vision. He wished he could hold them and keep their glittering peace with him forever, just like the garden. Maybe Eternal Sugar had become one of the many stars that looked down at him. Maybe she was still giving him her protection. He ate his last berry and leaned back against the branch. Sleep befell him as he thought of the garden; he missed the feeling of love it carried.
˚₊‧꒰ა . ——— ˗ˏˋ ✮ ˎˊ˗ ——— ˖ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
He felt love, an engulfing, smothering amount of love. His eyes shot open, moving a hand over his chest to hold onto the feeling. Upon opening his wings, he was painfully reminded of the injury one has sustained. With a sigh through gritted teeth, he descended from the tree, stretching upon reaching the forest floor.
The deep feeling of love struck him again, from his left. What was over there that caused such a large feeling of love? How had he not felt it last night? His feet carried him towards the sensation before he could question it anymore. No monsters tried to attack him this time as he got closer to the strange phenomenon.
The sunlight through dappled leaves made the forest around him feel more welcoming than when he had first entered it. Everything seemed to have calmed down around him as he began to pick up his pace. He wanted to know why such a strong fondness appeared only now. Before long, he found a dirt path that went through the forest, going the way he was. Following it made his journey easier.
Up ahead, he saw the forest opening up with something large and bright beyond what he could see. The Cupid-Like cookie’s strides halted as he saw the giant kingdom, bubbling with life. He glanced around, checking for any traps or signs of illusion, but nothing came. It was bright, lively, pink, and oh so very passionate. Ah, so this must be the Hollyberry kingdom. He couldn’t help but smile as he looked upon it.
This would be where he makes a fresh start. Sure, some people might recognize him, but he could just hide on the outskirts. No going to the palace or near any noble houses. He began walking down the path, adjusting his halo to rest upon his head like a circlet; his bow was slung around him. At the end of the path resided what appeared to be a guard post. He could start anew here as a matchmaker. No, someone would recognize him for that. A strange winged cookie giving out love advice would be flagged quickly by someone, and they’d alert the palace, and he’d be found.
“Hey! I haven’t seen you around before.” A voice called out from in front of him. He froze and looked up to see a berry-like guard standing watch. She gave him a warm smile of intrigue. Her heart was big, cherishing family the most of all. “What brings you to the Hollyberry Kingdom?”
Panic washed over Pavlova for a moment as he scrambled to think of something. “Oh! I’m, uh, moving here from, uh, a village!” He looks down at his feet for a moment before gesturing behind him. “It’s down the path quite a ways.”
He was sure his bluff would be called out as he sheepishly smiled. The guard looked him over before shrugging. “Well, everyone comes to the Kingdom of Romance to find true passion!” Her smile was beamingly bright as she nodded to him. “What’s your name, stranger?”
“Oh, it’s.. Strawberry Shortcake cookie.” It sounded more like a question as he blurted it out, unsure if the cookie would continue to question him. She squinted slightly at him before giving a firm nod. Pavlova’s shoulders eased slightly as she stepped to the side.
“Welcome to the Hollyberry Kingdom, Strawberry Shortcake.” He gave a curt smile to her before stepping through the gateway. It wasn’t that far of a walk before he was inside a bustling market. Cookies of all kinds rushed about, chatting and laughing as they did. Each of their hearts held a form of love, from deeply passionate to hopelessly yearning; it really did help the Kingdom live up to its reputation.
After a few minutes, it became rather overwhelming to navigate. Glancing at the sky, he noticed the sun beaming directly down. It was about noon and terribly humid. The Cupid-Like cookie began to fan himself as he moved through the busy space. His stomach rumbled as he looked upon a small store. A scent of freshly baked sweets drifted through the air, drawing him towards its doors.
A small bell chimed as he entered the shop. He took note of an elderly man behind the counter, setting a pie into the small display box. Pavlova couldn’t help but approach as his mouth watered.
“Hello there! Would you like to order a pie?” The elderly cookie’s voice was smooth and caring. His heart was calm and at ease, clearly happy with life. Pavlova only nodded as he looked over the pies, his eyes catching upon one in particular. “Ah, I see you eyeing my homemade Sweet Berry Pie!”
“I’d like one of those, please.” Pavlova rushed to say as he began to reach into his satchel. “This place is rather cozy, free from the hectic crowd outside.” He moved to hand a few coins to the man, but he held up a hand.
“Please, this one’s on me. You look hungry, dear stranger.” His smile was gentle as he brought out one of the pies. Pavlova stuttered out his thanks, earning a small chuckle from the man. “It’s the least I could do. Are you new here?”
“Yeah, I just got into the kingdom after a long bout of traveling.” He didn’t know why he was talking to a stranger this long; maybe it was the friendly atmosphere of this foreign kingdom. The old man nodded as he handed the pie on a plate to Pavlova. He smiled widely at him in thanks as he took the dessert, being handed a fork afterwards.
“Feel free to stay as long as you’d like here. I know how the streets can get crowded.” The elderly cookie sighed as he turned to close the display shelf. “I’ll be in the back, holler if you need anything, sir.” Before Pavlova could say anything, the old man was through the doorway behind him, likely into a kitchen of some kind.
He stood still for a moment before walking towards one of the small tables, pulling a chair back to sit in while setting down the pie. There was no hesitation in eating this time as he shoved forkful after forkful of pie into his mouth. Its flavor was perfect as he continued to eat, growing sweeter with every bite. Pavlova couldn’t help but wonder if every Hollyberrian was as nice as him?
He began to think back to those who stayed in the garden. Some were kind, giving him smiles and waves while they stayed briefly in the garden. Then, some were too uptight or emotionally restrained to even give him anything other than a stern look. Oh, but how those cookies had the most interesting hearts. That bodyguard, Wildberry cookie, was his name, had the most interesting. A deep yearning that he could still feel now; his foolish love for a cookie in a far kingdom.
A small snicker left him as he set the fork down; the pie was all but gone. He began to think more of the kingdom, such as where he could go to get away from all the bustling life. Pavlova must’ve sat there for thirty minutes while flipping a coin in his hand before the man came back out from the back with a cart of more pies.
“Ah, you were so quiet I thought you had left.” The old man let out a small exhale as he moved the cart to sit behind the counter. Upon seeing the confused look on the stranger's face, he smiled at him. “I’m just baking pies to get ahead of the late-noon rush. I have several orders to fulfil.”
The Cupid-Like cookie gave him a nod before standing and bringing the plate back to the man. “I thank you for the meal, sir. I’ll have to come back again after I find an area I can get away from the crowd.” The old man hummed, taking the plate from Pavlova. “I plan to become a matchmaker. I have a knack for reading people’s hearts! The least I could do is advise those who seek it.”
The old man’s face remained bright as he listened to Pavlova. He looked up at the winged cookie and closed his eyes. “Well, I wish you luck with that. I know of countless cookies who could use relationship advice.” He made a small hand gesture as he spoke, which reminded Pavlova of the Sugar Angels. “If you seek a place to hide out, I recommend the Royal Gardens, just don’t get caught by the gardener, they get pretty peeved when someone’s in their garden.”
Pavlova nodded before looking up at the old man. It seemed as though he read the Cupid-Like cookie’s mind as he spoke once more. “It’s to the left of the Palace, impossible to miss unless you’re blind.”
“Thank you for everything, sir. May you have a wonderful day and greet your wife for me.” The man’s eyes widened at Pavlova’s words as he turned and left as swiftly as he had entered. That strange cookie wasn’t lying; he could read hearts.
˚₊‧꒰ა . ——— ˗ˏˋ ✮ ˎˊ˗ ——— ˖ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
The heat hit him once more, making his dough feel sticky as the blinding sun caught his eye. Maybe he should’ve stayed in the shop a little longer. A sigh left Pavlova as he ducked his head slightly. Cookies moved quickly in front of him as he tried to get past.
It took several minutes to get through to a plaza area. It was wide with fewer cookies. His eyes drifted over a statue in the center, one depicting Hollyberry cookie with her shield raised high. He made it out of the market and was now in an area the lead to the Palace. Its design struck him as beautiful as he stared at it; each detail was made with deep care, and even from afar, he could tell it was loved.
He looked to the left of the building, seeing just what the old man had said he’d see. It was larger than he had pictured, but it was a garden no less. The hedges held some flowers on them, possibly roses. After staring for a bit, Pavlova began to head towards it. He took note of each statue of the Ancient Hero who built the kingdom. These people truly did regard her as a savior of sorts.
His footsteps halted as he ran a hand over the marble archway that marked the entrance to the garden. The Cupid-Like cookie was only able to take a few steps in before being met with a giant plant creature that wielded an equally giant pair of shears. He let out a shocked exhale as he jumped back. The flower spoke.
“Why have you entered my garden, stranger?” They held no anger in their voice, looking over him with squinted eyes. “This place is not open to the public.” The Gardener leaned closer to Pavlova, gazing at the circlet on his head.
“I’m sorry, I just wanted to find a calm area away from the crowd. I’ll leave.” He turned towards the exit, but a leaf-like limb brushed against his arm. His head snapped back to see the Gardener’s leaf-like arm moving towards his head.
“Stay, stranger. You have a uniqueness to you,” and without any explanation, they turned and left down one of the paths of the garden, leaving Pavlova to stand puzzled. He adjusted his halo that sat on his head before beginning to wander through the garden.
He had to have been in there for a long time, finding every dead end possible in the strange, winding space. How large was this place? Pavlove let out a huff as he turned another corner, grumbling to himself upon being met with yet another dead end. Just how many were there?
Giving up on finding a more secluded area, he stepped further into the corner, moving to lean against one of the hedges. It was far too late when he realized they were vines; he fell backwards and hit the floor, knocking the air from himself. Pain shot through his injured wing as he coughed. He had shut his eyes upon falling backwards, and upon opening them, was greeted by a gorgeous sight.
Pavlova sat up quickly, turning around to see a small area. Large hedges, carefully tended to, lined the garden. A small fountain that gently churned sat between two stone seats. Small vines with berries on them twisted into the small space. Getting to his feet, he saw an assortment of berries and flowers that came from the hedges of the small area, and more details of this hidden location became known to him. The fountain appeared to be like a small wall fountain, and a gem-shaped berry decor rested upon the top of the fountain’s wall.
The space was beautiful, truthfully. It held a peace in the air, and whoever tended to it took great care of each vine and flower. The peace that wafted over the Cupid-Like cookie brought to his attention how tired he was again. He shrugged, might as well rest now. He looked through the quiet garden corner, noticing a pot with a large leafed plant inside that sat at just the right angle to hide him if he sat behind it, just in case someone came to the area.
He moved slowly, pulling the pot forward so he could sit comfortably behind it. A calm exhale left him as he leaned against the hedges; they were surprisingly comfortable. Pavlova let his eyes close as he basked in the light feeling of love in the air.
˚₊‧꒰ა . ——— ˗ˏˋ ✮ ˎˊ˗ ——— ˖ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
The sound of a twig breaking caused Pavlova to stir awake. He glanced around the pot and froze when he saw the cookie that moved to sit beside the fountain: the uptight Bodyguard. He was without his gauntlet but still wore the rest of his armor. His face was more relaxed than at any other time the Cupid-Like cookie had seen it.
When he sat down, Pavlova saw the quill set that the cookie carried. Clearly, Wildberry had the intention of writing something. He squinted at the Bodyguard, looking into his heart with meager amusement. A soft heart, yearning for a cookie in a far land as always. It was a pitiful display, just like a caged bird longing for a bird outside.
Wildberry unfolded the small set, the carrier acting as a flat surface to write on, the inkpot sitting in a divet on the side, a piece of paper now sitting on top. He fidgeted with the quill in his hand before dipping it into the ink.
Pavlova felt a shift in his heart; it grew adamant on seeking this witless love. It astonished the Cupid-Like cookie that, even now, the Stoic Bodyguard still held out hope that he’d make the relationship work. To guess, it seemed that Wildberry wished to follow a lie that he could make something work from the love he holds dear. As the guard wrote a bit, Pavlova rolled his eyes.
He let out a small scoff-like sigh while muttering to himself. “Foolish indeed…” The Cupid-Like cookie froze as Wildberry’s eyes shot to stare at him. Neither of them moved for a while, keeping eye contact as birdsong resounded around them. Slowly, Wildberry moved to place the makeshift table on the floor. This action caused Pavlova to start to panic, quickly putting his arms in the air, removing his bow from around him, and tossing it amongst the vines on the floor.
“I’m homeless!” That hadn’t been what he intended to say, but it was all the winged cookie could think of saying. To some degree, at least, it got the taller cookie to be stunned still. He cleared his throat before continuing, “The garden’s gone, and I have nowhere to go. Please don’t kick me out, I just wanted to rest a moment because it’s peaceful. Why is this kingdom so crowded and rowdy?”
Pavlova’s words were rushed; he spoke faster than he had wanted to, confusing the Bodyguard, who, sometime within the spiel of words, raised his hands in the air as well. “...Okay,” he was hesitant to continue, squinting at the winged cookie that cowered in the corner of his section of the garden. “Could you repeat that?”
A small nod was given before Pavlova talked once more. “The garden’s gone, destroyed, and now littered with monsters. The power that Eternal Sugar had used to keep it hidden was lost when she died, and yes, she’s really gone. I swear I’m not a spy.” Wildberry made a gesture for him to continue. A small shift occurred in the heart of the Hollyberrian before him, something akin to an understanding of his situation. How strange? “I have nowhere else to go now, and I’m tired of fleeing for my life. You know the hassle just as much as I do now.”
Wildberry let a small frown form on his face. “Indeed, I know what it’s like to have nowhere to go… How did you get here from Beast-Yeast?” The winged cookie blinked slowly as he thought of ways to explain the way in which he got off the continent. He opened his mouth, closed it, and opened it again. He probably looked like a fish out of water to the Bodyguard that sat across the small space from him.
“Well.. I lived in a state of terror in Beast-Yeast. I hid in a shipping crate of strange hunters, stayed in the crate too long, and ended up in a cart heading to who knows where. I got out of the crate and was chased down by horrid Wyverns in some place, uh,” He paused, looking around. He couldn’t remember the directions. His silence made Wildberry nod a bit.
“Near Dragon City, I assume. Was it by a forest?” The sincerity of the guard’s words made Pavlova confused. Why the change of heart? It just gets stranger and stranger here; everyone’s kinder.
“Yeah, I fled into the forest, a stupid vine injured my wing, and I had to flee on foot away from monsters. I slept in a tree and woke up to an immense feeling of bursting love and followed it to this kingdom. A kind fellow in a pie shop told me about the garden here, and the Gardener let me in.” He shrugged at the end of the story, relaxing as Wildberry followed along with his words. Whether the Bodyguard believed him or not was unclear, but sympathy began to spread through the heart of the stoic cookie.
“And the Gardener let you in? Willingly?” The question struck Pavlova as confusing. He slowly nodded, his puzzled expression only made the Hollyberrian all the more baffled. “Well, you had to have intrigued them enough that they’d let you in, let alone wander the place.” His face grew dark for a moment as he stared at the Cupid-Like cookie. “How did you find my corner?”
“I fell through the vines when I tried to lean on them.” He let out a huff of irritation at all the questions he had to answer. “Anything else you’d like to ask, dearest Achilles?” His face became displeased as he pretended to brush dust from his outfit. The Bodyguard let the stoic guise he wore morph into a more peeved look, likely because of the nickname.
“Why do you act so relaxed now?” Pavlova’s hair stood on end at the phrasing of the question. His eyes widened slightly at the threatening tone, pushing himself further into the corner. Upon seeing this reaction, Wildberry sighed and closed his eyes before rubbing his face. “You can’t stay in the garden forever. Do you have a place to stay?”
“I’m homeless. I said it already, or did you forget that?” He frowned while crossing his arms in front of himself. Wildberry’s questions felt dumber the more he asked them. These things were pretty obvious. “I have nowhere to go but right here.”
Another nod from the taller cookie made Pavlova wish they’d fought instead of him being interrogated with obtuse questions. The Bodyguard tapped his fingers on his knees before patting them. If this is how he fidgeted while thinking, it was hard for him to imagine the strain it’d take to figure out the phrasing for a love letter.
Suddenly, Wildberry was on his feet, walking toward the winged cookie, and he braced for any attacks thrown at him. He closed his eyes tightly, raising his hands to protect his face. When no punches were thrown at him after several minutes, he slowly cracked an eye to look at Wildberry. A hand was being held out to him.
“Get up, I’ll take you to talk with Hollyberry.” His voice was monotone, more casual than intimidating. Pavlova looked at his hand for a long time, eyes flicking to Wildberry’s face several times before hesitantly taking the outstretched hand. He was pulled to his feet almost immediately. “She’d most likely allow you to stay here.”
The Cupid-Like cookie said nothing; his eyes remained on the face of the Stoic Bodyguard. After a few moments of silence, Wildberry nodded his head towards the vines that marked the entrance and exit of the small garden corner, and he began to walk away. Pavlova stayed still for a moment before picking up his bow from the ground and trailing after the taller cookie.
Wildberry moved with ease through the garden, having memorized each turn within the almost identical hedges. It amazed the winged cookie at just how differently the guard before him acted. He seemed a little looser in his stature. He regarded Pavlova as harmless, possibly even assuming that if he were in danger, he’d easily lose the Cupid-Like cookie amongst the winding hedges, and he was right to assume so.
A sigh left the winged cookie as they went around another turn, the sun hitting Wildberry’s right side, showing the scars that littered his arm. “How did it feel to sacrifice yourself?” He hadn’t meant to ask the question so intrusively, smacking a hand to his head as he heard the Bodyguard’s footsteps halt. His eyes watched the stiffened figure in front of him carefully.
“Painful.” It was gruff, low, and almost threatening as he tilted his head slightly to glare at Pavlova. The turn in hostility didn’t strike him as anything other than defensive. Wildberry turned to continue walking as the Cupid-Like cookie cleared his throat.
“I saw how you held off Dark Enchantress for a moment.” The Bodyguard turned to face him, his eyes scanned for any sign of the Cupid-Like cookie’s mocking manner. He looked a little saddened, more than anything. “I wish I could have had enough courage to interfere with…” The words died in Pavlova’s mouth as he averted his gaze to the vines that tangled within the hedges; Wildberry’s eyes remained on him.
A small hum left the Hollyberrian as he walked toward the winged cookie, his shoulders dropping slightly. “We fight differently. I was trained to defend and act as a cover for Hollyberry. If all I was to the Witch was an ant in her way, at least I distracted her briefly.”
Pavlova turned to look long into Wildberry’s eyes; there was a detached look in them. The Bodyguard blinked a few times, likely fending off memories from the war-torn land. It still confused the Cupid-Like cookie as to why the one he tormented was giving him such respect, enough to talk with him. He had been cruel, poking fun at his heart, and certainly not an invitingly kind guide when they were in the garden. Yet, Wildberry held no hatred in his eyes now.
“I just wish I did something more than cower.” There was a bitterness within Pavlova’s words as he remembered seeing the one who cared for him limp on the ground. When she needed him most, he had failed her. A small sigh from the Bodyguard caused an air of confusion to consume the winged cookie. He let his eyes fall closed as Pavlova’s own scrutinized him.
“Don’t beat yourself up because of it. There was nothing more that could be done the moment the Ancients and Beasts gathered.” Their eyes met once more, those of the Cupid-Like cookie slowly soured with anger. “We can only live on to honor the fallen.”
“Oh, how noble of you to say! I was starting to think you’d understand, but your life is still as peachy as it was before!” A finger began to jab at Wildberry’s chest as Pavlova lowered his head. “I don’t understand why you’ve changed how you act, or how you can just move on from all that happened!”
The winged cookie’s head shot back up, laced with anger and pricked with tears. The taller cookie’s face remained stoic, a bit softer, but there were no emotions revealed from them. A growl left Pavlova as he moved to open his wings, trying to intimidate Wildberry into an attack, or something akin to the stubborn guard he remembered from the garden. Pain hit him once more, and he yelped, lowering his wing’s back around himself.
“Life has changed.” Wildberry’s face slowly grew into a more fond expression; it sickened Pavlova. “We have to change with it, or drown in its tides.” An odd phrase, but it made sense if one were to think on it more. Sure, things can happen, but to survive, you must carry on.
Without waiting for the Cupid-Like cookie to respond, the Hollyberrian turned to continue walking, relieved to hear a set of footsteps follow after him. Just as they approached the door to the palace, the cookie that followed him spoke. “I know all you had written on that letter was ‘My Dearest, Crunchy Chip.” His face grew flushed as he turned to look at the sly smirk of Pavlova.
˚₊‧꒰ა . ——— ˗ˏˋ ✮ ˎˊ˗ ——— ˖ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
A firm knock on her door made Hollyberry turn her head sharply. She had been debating between two dresses to wear for the upcoming ceremony, and both seemed like good candidates. She cleared her throat as she waited for whoever was on the other side to speak. “We have a guest, Queen Mother.” Ah, it was Wildberry. He had the day off, and there was no one supposed to be coming until the end of the week.
“You’re welcome to enter. I’ve just been staring at two dresses for the better half of an hour now.” She sighed as the door clicked open, revealing the taller cookie. He wore his armor even when he was off duty; all he lacked was his gauntlet. Giving him a small nod, she ushered him over. “Come, come! I need help picking. Before you say any protest to this, I know you don’t have an eye for fabrics, I just can’t pick, and need someone to say one or the other.”
The taller cookie beside her let out a deflated sigh as he looked between them. “The ceremony is meant to be one commemorating White Lily, correct?” She gave a saddened hum, looking back between the two dresses that the mentioned cookie had loved. “Go with the flower-like one, it seems to be closer in looks to that of a lily.” His words were methodical and keen.
Hollyberry smiled as she patted Wildberry’s shoulder, earning a small huff from him. “Thank you, dear boy. I couldn’t pick on my own.” Her arm slowly slid from his shoulder, resting on her hip as she closed her eyes for a moment. She heard the cookie beside her shift awkwardly, drawing her eyes back open as she gave him a puzzled look. Oh, right, there was a guest.
Her eyes glanced at the doorway, widening upon seeing a familiar cookie standing there. The cloak and boots were new, but there stood Pavlova with a nervous face. Upon realising she had taken notice of him, he let out an exhale. “He’s right about the dress, it looks more like a lily.”
The Queen Mother started laughing, leaning on Wildberry while clutching at her chest, startling both the Bodyguard she clung to and the winged cookie in the doorway. Tears fell from her eyes as her laughter turned into choked sobs.
It was a few minutes after the sudden burst of emotions when Hollyberry regained her composure, wiping her face and moving to sit on a small bench at the end of her bed. Two sets of footsteps approached her as she looked down at her hands. Wildberry was the one who spoke first.
“Are you alright?” His voice was delicate, as if she’d break again if he said the wrong thing. She nodded a few times before raising her head to look at Pavlova. He looked a little ragged, and one of his wings rested a little lower than the other, likely injured. Hollyberry frowned, her face slightly blotchy from the sudden tears.
“I’m sorry for the outpour. I don’t know what came over me there.” Her voice was exuberant, as if the sudden breakdown hadn’t occurred. She chuckled lightly to herself as she held a small smile on her face. “You seem pretty rough, Pavlova. How did you get here from Beast-Yeast?”
He squinted his eyes and clicked his tongue before speaking. “I snuck on a boat, got chased into a forest near the uh,” He trailed off, looking over at Wildberry while making a small gesture with his hands. The Bodyguard sighed while shaking his head.
“Near Dragon City.” He spoke with an air of annoyance, as if he had said it before. The Cupid-Like cookie clapped his hands together while nodding vigorously.
“Yes, that place! I was chased into the forest near there by a Wyvern, ran for hours, and ate strange berries. Upon waking up, I felt an immense feeling of love and followed it here.” His voice sounded a little triumphant, as if he had rehearsed what he said. The Bodyguard beside him closed his eyes while lightly shaking his head.
The Queen Mother looked at Wildberry with a raised eyebrow. “The Gardener let him into the Royal Gardens, and he stumbled into my corner.” She let out a knowing hum while looking between the two. Why had he brought Pavlova to her rather than chasing him out of the kingdom? It’s what she expected he’d do if he saw the winged cookie again.
As if he read the Queen Mother’s thoughts, the Cupid-Like cookie’s face grew a little forlorn. “The garden’s gone. I didn’t have anywhere to go, and I learned the hard way that I had to get off of Beast-Yeast. The monsters are more heartless than ever after what Dark Enchantress did!”
He sounded a bit miffed by the whole thing, making Hollyberry’s expression ease. The cookie before her had ended up in this kingdom by chance, fate even. “Well, it seems you’ve had quite the journey, and it’d be rude to send you away.” Pavlova raised an eyebrow, looking between the Stoic Bodyguard and Hollyberry with a growing perplexed look. “You’re welcome to stay in a spare room, I’m sure Wildberry could show you to one.”
“Why are you being so generous? I show up out of nowhere, and you’re acting like I’m an old friend! I don’t understand why you’re both so… calm about all of this. It makes no sense that you, of all cookies, would brush off all that occurred.” Pavlova stepped back a few times, glancing around the room for any trap or sign of manipulation; it was what he was used to. The small smile on the Queen Mother’s face grew larger as her eyes held a deep sadness in them.
“You have nowhere to go?” She tilted her head at the baffled cookie. A slow nod came from him as he stared at Wildberry, whose face revealed no emotions he could see that would hint at the whole situation being a trap. “Consider this a second chance at life. You’re free with no one you could be spying on us for.”
Hollyberry stood and slowly approached Pavlova while her Stoic Bodyguard remained still, watching each movement carefully. “It would be unlike me to turn you away. If I did such things in life, I wouldn’t be the way I am, or have the people I do in my life.” She passed a glance to Wildberry, who gave a curt nod.
Pavlova had seen into Wildberry’s heart and heard from Eternal Sugar that Hollyberry had taken him in, but he didn’t think of it as a second chance until now. She had saved the taller cookie, and that’s why he remained so loyal to her. That’s why he was willing to sacrifice himself for her without thinking of how he’d be injured. He got defensive because it was his nature, not out of anger or hatred of himself, but out of instinct.
“He lived on the streets of that hectic market.” Pavlova looked at Hollyberry with a sudden awareness in his eyes. The Bodyguard behind them stiffened, just as expected. “You found him and gave him a second chance, even if he had been rude. You knew that was his nature to be defensive, and through that, you knew he was passionate. What do you see in me?”
The Queen Mother’s face remained a bittersweet smile as she took a moment to think of how to respond. “I see her in you. A want deep within to grant happiness.” Pavlova was taken aback, stiffening just as Wildberry had during the Cupid-Like cookie’s tangent. “Something in our first encounter during the heart readings gave it away, but I hadn’t realized it until back here. You are different from her, but hold the desire to give happiness to others, just as Wildberry has the desire to protect those he cares for.”
As Pavlova remained still, Wildberry cleared his throat. “I’ll show him to a room now, Queen Mother.” He moved to usher the Cupid-Like cookie along, only stopping when the winged cookie before him started to shake his head.
“That can’t be the only reason. Just because I’m ‘like Eternal Sugar’ isn’t that convincing to me.” His wings fluffed up slightly as he planted his feet, refusing to move. He wasn’t angry; he doubts he could be angry right now, but he needed a better explanation, something more. A sigh left the Ancient Hero as she looked at the Stoic Bodyguard. She had to have telepathically said something to him because of the nod he gave her before stepping out of the room. She waited a bit after the taller cookie left before speaking to the Cupid-Like cookie.
“You’re much like Wildberry when he was younger, it’s something in the eyes.” Pavlova was shocked by the comparison, watching Hollyberry as she shrugged before nudging his shoulder. “He’ll leave you if you don’t follow him soon. He has limited patience while being sent around like an errand boy.”
He slowly turned to leave the room, not saying another word to the Queen Mother as she moved to put one of the dresses away. What in his eyes made him like Wildberry? Hollyberry’s eyes remained upon Pavlova’s back as he reached the doorway; she remembered his drooping wing.
“Oh, do get that wing checked out. There’s no need to risk further injury.” He gave a nod, not turning back to face her as he stepped back into the hallway. The door closed with a gentle click, and footsteps slowly vanished from outside her door. The Queen Mother sighed to herself, glancing at her nightstand where several pictures of those close to her sat.
There was a photo of her son’s wedding, the day she held her two granddaughters, a photo of her and her friends from many years ago, and one of her and a young boy she gave a second chance to. He didn’t smile, but there was a glisten in his eye that showed his gratitude. That small boy grew to be a Stoic Bodyguard, one who remained resilient through thick and thin. She saw herself in him all those years ago, and now she sees that within Pavlova.
Sure, he had already grown into his own person, but she saw the passion he carried for his craft. That’s what Hollyberry had seen time and time again: a passion burning deep in the souls of those around, one way or another.
˚₊‧꒰ა . ——— ˗ˏˋ ✮ ˎˊ˗ ——— ˖ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
Wildberry was leaning against a wall, his patience growing thin as he waited for the winged cookie and the Queen Mother to finish their private conversation. He already knew what was being said, for he had drawn the connection long before leaving his garden corner. It hit him when he saw the cookie cowering behind a pot, quick to defend and scuffed from the strain of the world in which they lived.
He saw a version of himself at first, before realizing that it was Pavlova. They had their differences, but they both were loyal to their purposes. He had held a burning passion within himself, a reminder to do whatever he could to keep that flame alight. The Cupid-Like cookie held a desire to keep others happy by looking into their hearts. In the end, they both held loyalty, wishing to fulfil those duties to some degree.
Pavlova was much like Wildberry when he was younger, a bit cockier and far more sly, but the resemblance was prevalent. He’d personally never neglect his duties, but there were times when they were tedious to him. When he first started training to become a guard, he found it foolish to train for so long. He wasn’t a strong kid, but Hollyberry saw something in him that not even he saw: a desire to protect. Maybe what gave it away was the way he fought her for a slice of pie all those years ago.
Pavlova stepped into the hallway just as the Bodyguard was moving to leave. He closed the door before looking at Wildberry for a long moment, waiting for something. Right, he’s showing him to a room. With a small nod, the two began to walk down the towering halls, even though he had aged; these walls were still vastly sized. Each marble column that lined the hallways made him feel like a small child again, peering up in awe. Windows of many panes lined some areas as they walked; the curtains were drawn to the sides, magnifying the sheer size.
They took a few turns, coming upon a hallway lined with countless portraits of the Royal Family. Wildberry slowed as he looked upon them; they were never boring to him. Pavlova halted in front of one, staring up at those depicted in it. The whole Royal Family was depicted on it. Hollyberry stood on the far left, Royal Berry at her side, Princess to his side, and Jungleberry on the far right. It was a beautiful painting, one done in the Royal Garden with the berry hedges in view. A large fountain behind them held the golden sunlight that breathed warmth into the moment in time.
“Why aren’t you in this one?” Pavlova’s voice echoed slightly in the large hallway, startling the Hollyberrian from his mystified gaze. He forgot he had moved to stand beside him, having been lost in the painting. The Cupid-Like cookie studied the Bodyguard closely, trying to figure out various puzzle pieces within his head.
“I’m not sure I understand what you mean,” Wildberry spoke smoothly, glancing at Pavlova before his eyes returned to the large portrait. “This is a depiction of the Royal Family of the Hollyberry Kingdom.” He couldn’t decipher what had confused the winged cookie beside him; it was pretty simple to understand.
“You’re a son of Hollyberry, why aren’t you in it as well?” The Stoic Bodyguard furrowed his brows before turning to face Pavlova. His face was speculative, and he slowly blinked his eyes while pursing his lips. “Do they just not like you?”
“I assure you that the Royals do like my company. I wouldn’t have had to babysit the Princess for years if that hadn’t been the case.” He let his lips turn into a small smile, recalling the fond memories with the younger cookie. “As for your comment, I wasn’t adopted by Hollyberry.”
“She took you in from the streets and gave you a home here with a new life, that’s adoption at its finest.” A huff left the winged cookie as he looked back at the Painting. “Four is such an odd number of people to paint; it feels like it’s lacking symmetry.” The taller cookie’s face grew a bit solemn as he lowered his eyes.
“There were two princesses.” It was quietly spoken. In his peripheral vision, he saw Pavlova whip his head to look over at the Bodyguard. He knew Pavlova loved tragic stories, but he really didn’t wish to go into depth. “One was taken from the palace when monsters attacked many years ago, when they were newly baked.”
An intrigued hum left him as he looked back up at the painting. “I figured there was more. Four just felt wrong.” He pointed over to another painting, one of a scene of Hollyberry fighting the Greenish Red Dragon. “Why hadn’t she prevented the attack like that depiction?”
“She left.” His voice began to grow tense as he kept his eyes from looking at the cookie beside him. “Let’s move on.” Wildberry could feel the bemused expression Pavlova wore tracking him, but he didn’t turn to look back. They continued walking past countless paintings, but the Cupid-Like cookie didn’t question anymore.
One last turn led them to an area of the palace with a few rooms, and a servant swept down the hall. “You can pick any of the rooms here. If you wish to find the main staircase, follow the right walls and take about four right turns.” The smooth tone of the Bodyguard’s voice was back. He turned to leave when a hand caught hold of his arm.
“My wing. It’s, well y’know what happened. Do you have a place I can go for healing?” Pavlova spoke quickly but quietly. He looked down at his feet while removing his hand from the Hollyberrian’s arm. He hummed and tilted his head, signifying for the winged cookie to follow him.
They walked for a bit. Just as the Bodyguard had said, after four right turns, they found the main staircase. Wildberry explained that the infirmary was near the training grounds because guards get injured often, and it was best to have an area where they can get seen nearby. Each new area discovered within the large palace only further confused the Cupid-Like cookie. This place was vastly bigger than he could’ve imagined.
Wildberry stopped a little way ahead of Pavlova and motioned towards a door down the hall. “That is the infirmary; the healer there will look over your wing. I’ll be over there,” He cocked his head to motion to an archway. “That’s the training area. You can ask a nurse to retrieve me, or you can find me yourself. I’ll take you back to your room.” Pavlova merely nodded before walking towards the infirmary.
˚₊‧꒰ა . ——— ˗ˏˋ ✮ ˎˊ˗ ——— ˖ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
This place was so different from the garden, hectic and loud. It was a hard contrast to the peace and quiet of Eternal Sugar’s garden. He opened the door and was met with the smell of herbs. His eyes met those of a robed cookie.
“Whose been hurt this time? It was one of those trainees, wasn’t it?” They moved towards Pavlova in the doorway, grabbing a small aid kit and their staff. Their heart was tired of constant work, but they seemed at peace. This kingdom surely had several injuries that occurred on a daily basis. “I swear I’ll replace their swords with pool noodles if they keep this up.”
“Ah, no, they’re fine, I think.” The Cupid-Like cookie raised his hands, and the healer halted, glancing back to look at the two other cookies in the room. They were likely the nurses that Wildberry had spoken of. “I’m here to get my uh, my wing looked at.” He stepped forward and nervously grinned. The healer hummed before hooking their staff on Pavlova’s arm, pulling him roughly forward.
“Let me see.” They examined him closely, running a hand down his back. A pain zapped through him, and he hissed through gritted teeth. “Seems like either a small fracture or a sprain, a lucky injury; broken bones hurt worse to heal.” Pavlova swallowed awkwardly while glancing around. The healer grabbed his arm and dragged him towards the back of the room. A door was there that he hadn’t noticed before, decorated with small berry details.
When they walked through it, an area of small medical beds was revealed, some had curtains for privacy, while others were there likely as a spot to put resting cookies. This was nothing like the sugar clouds Eternal Sugar used to hold injured cookies. Pavlova looked over and saw a younger cookie with his arm in a sling, another sat beside him apologizing for whatever reasons he had to apologize for.
Each heart in this room held passion, for various reasons, but it was to be expected for the kingdom of passion. The nurses held a passion for their duties, while those who were being healed had hearts that longed for others or a desire to return to their training. The desires that others held to do things made Pavlova tired. Why does everyone in this kingdom want to work so hard for things?
The healer pointed to a bed behind a curtain. “Go there and remove that cloak. A nurse will be there shortly. It’ll make it easier for me to put bandages on all those scrapes that litter your dough.” He sighed and walked over, closing the small area of the curtain before looking at the bed.
Shucking off the cloak, he sat on it and took off his boots, observing to see how badly the cracks on his feet were. As he adjusted himself on the bed, a cookie entered in, she held a small cloth and a small bowl. “Oh, you’ve got quite the scuffs. Did you fight a monster?” She approached him while setting down the bowl. The small talk was strange from a cookie with a skittish heart.
“Yeah, several actually, from several places.” Pavlova huffed as she began to wipe at his various wounds; her hands were rougher than those of the Sugar Angel’s back in the garden. As she moved to dampen the cloth, he moved his wings slightly, gritting his teeth as pain struck him once more. “You’ve injured that wing pretty badly.” He startled at her words as she brought the cloth to one of his legs to clean a few scrapes.
The Cupid-Like cookie snatched the cloth from her as his feathers fluffed up. “Thanks, but I can do the rest, just tend to the stupid scrapes.” He frowned while quickly rubbing each scrape on his legs and feet. She shrugged and moved to grab some bandages.
Once his wounds were wrapped, he let out a deep exhale. He looked like a mummy. The nurse left with the cloth, and the healer entered while holding a few bandages, a bowl filled with a weird green paste, and a flat stick. “Could you move the toga from your shoulder? I need to have access to your wing to fully tend to it.” He nodded while untying the back, moving to have his wings facing the healer. They planted a hand firmly against the base of his injured wing, and he winced at the pain that the contact brought.
Slowly, a warmth spread through his back before the healer moved to grab the bowl, using the stick to spread the healing remedy over the base of his wing. It no longer stung when the healer would prod at it. “Did you heal it with magic?” He asked while glancing over his shoulder. A small chuckle left the healer as they looked up at him.
“No, no, I merely made you unable to feel the pain of the wound so I could easily work.” It was fascinating to learn about this new way of attending to wounds. Negating the pain to work efficiently is rather smart if direct healing isn’t available. “It’ll only be a moment more before you can go. Where’d you even come from anyway?”
“Oh, I traveled here; the Bodyguard of the Queen Mother brought me to your infirmary.” The healer’s face lit up at the mention of Wildberry. They put a little bit of pressure on the base of his wing at an awkward angle, drawing out another gritted hiss of discomfort from the winged cookie. They kept their hand there while grabbing for the bandages.
“Ah, Wildberry cookie is quite the reckless fighter.” They snickered to themself while wrapping bandages around Pavlova’s wing. “Just a few days ago, he had trained so hard that cracks formed in his hands. He does that so often now, straining himself to the limits of his very dough. That trip to Beast-Yeast most likely made him insecure. You’ve surely seen the scars on him.”
They talked of him as if he were a child; it baffled the Cupid-Like cookie. Their heart held a nostalgic fondness at the mention of the Stoic Bodyguard. Had they known him since he got to the palace? The healer hummed while looking at Pavlova, seeming to read his puzzled expression. “I’ve tended to that boy since he was but a frail thing brought in by the Queen Mother. He’s always been dismissive of wounds of his own. I swear he cares more about the injuries of others than the ones that he sustains.”
They sighed while finishing the bandage wrap around the base of Pavlova’s wing. “This is gonna hurt a bit, but I have to secure your wing to your other one so it can heal better on its own.” Pavlova went to reply, but the healer had grabbed hold of his wings and pulled them together behind his back. He shouted and tensed, biting his tongue as he held in all kinds of obscenities.
The healer worked quickly, wrapping his wings together with hardly any room to move them. They moved their hand over the base of his left wing once more, and the warmth occurred once more. It remained this time, likely due to the strange paste the healer had put on it; they cleared their throat. “I’ll get a nurse to go get Wildberry for you. I assume he’s your guide right now?”
He nodded while looking at his wing. “Stay here for a bit, the paste has to dry, it’ll only be a few minutes before you can go, likely the time it’ll take to get that stubborn guard from the training grounds.”
“How’d you know he was there?” Pavlova had a twinge of curiosity about how well the healer was able to predict things when it came to the Bodyguard.
“Oh, you aren’t the first, and certainly won’t be the last person he’ll bring here.” They turned to leave but stopped when they saw Pavlova’s wrapped feet. “Are your feet cracked?” Without waiting for him to respond, they left through the curtains. That cookie was certainly strange.
Pavlova turned around on the bed, moving to sit further back, but not far enough to injure his wing. He sat there a minute before the healer returned with a bit more of the paste, moving to unwrap the bandages on his feet before putting the paste down. It was cold, now that the Cupid-Like cookie could feel it. It took the healer only a moment to put the paste on and rewrap the bandages. “There, I already sent a nurse to the training grounds. Just sit tight for a bit.”
“Thank you,” he said softly, softer than he’d ever said those words. It felt wrong, unlike what he was used to. A smile formed on the healer's face as they gave him a nod before leaving. He hated waiting, but this felt different. It wasn’t anything he was nervous about; he felt more relieved than anything. Nobody had been overly kind; they didn’t use things to their advantage, and they treated him as an equal. It was nice for once.
He sat there, reveling in the feelings around for a bit before he heard some shouting. “I told you to watch that hand of yours countless times! Am I just a suggestion to you?” It was the healer shouting at someone; he couldn’t see from around the curtain, but judging by their teasing manner and previous statements, it was likely Wildberry. He moved to fix his toga, tying it behind his neck and just under his wings so they could be outside of the fabric.
Donning himself once more in the cloak and boots, he got up from the bed and pushed open the curtain, looking to see the Bodyguard with the healer treating his right hand. They weren’t joking when they said he strained himself. The Cupid-Like cookie slowly walked over to the two while slowly blinking. “You’ve got to start taking people’s advice more.”
A huff was all he got as a response from the taller cookie as the healer wrapped his hand. “Don’t go punching things for the rest of the day. If I find out you do, I won’t be helping you.” They shoved his shoulder as he stood from the bed with a nod. “Do take that winged cookie to a room. He looks exhausted, and maybe get him some food as well. He’s as frail as you once were.”
A scoff sounded from both Wildberry and Pavlova at her words. He wasn’t frail; he just had a nimble figure. “Have a good day to you, too.” The Winged cookie had never heard such an attitude from the Bodyguard; it was a funny thing. The two left soon after, strolling back through the halls, side by side this time.
“How, in such a short time, did you manage to crack your hand?” Pavlova gave a perplexed glance to the guard’s hand, looking over the bandages that now wrapped it. He had only been away for maybe ten minutes; that’s a rather short timeframe for something like that to happen.
Wildberry sighed as he moved to run his left hand over the bandages. “I got carried away.” He didn’t talk much, but there was something that he wasn’t saying. His heart revealed it, whether the Stoic Bodyguard wanted it known or not. He had a sorrow within, one for his foolish love. Seems as though he’d been reflecting on Pavlova’s words.
“More like stuck in your head.” Pavlova let out a small breath as he looked over the ornately detailed walls. “When I said your love was foolish, I meant it in the sense of how you regarded it.” Wildberry turned to face him as the Cupid-Like cookie smiled lightly. “You care so deeply about making it work, and yet you won’t take the first steps needed to achieve your desired result. I guess we’re similar in that.”
Pavlova sheepishly brought his head to meet the eyes of the taller cookie. He looked a bit hesitant, but something was clearly on the mind of the cookie beside him. Giving the guard a small head tilt, it seemed to persuade him to speak what was on his mind. “You were right, it won’t work out.” A small gasp came from Pavlova as he brought a hand to his chest. “Don’t give me that, we have loyalties to our kingdom that, even with the end of the war, still prevent us from having a stable relationship more than being friends.”
“Break that mindset.” The Cupid-Like cookie gave him a stone stare; his face withheld his own thoughts for once. Wildberry’s jaw clenched as he furrowed his brows, not out of anger but a deep pondering. “You think it won’t last, but you have no proof. Resolution and Passion burn in you both, two things that work well together, supplying the why and how of a relationship’s structure.” Something changed in the eyes of the guard, a flame burning brighter. “Don’t say you can’t when you have hardly tried; that’s your emotions talking.”
“Thank you, Pavlova, truly.” Pavlova made a dismissive exhale as he waved a hand in the air. He continued walking ahead of Wildberry; they were near the staircase anyway he could find his way on his own.
“I’m just giving advice, I’m good at that.” He looked back to see Wildberry quickening his pace to catch up with the winged cookie. They walked in silence for a bit as the Stoic Bodyguard stared at Pavlova, waiting. With a sigh, he spoke once more. “You have to think about each detail first. Have you noticed any clear signs that you’d be rejected?” Wildberry shook his head, earning a small hum from the Cupid-Like cookie.
˚₊‧꒰ა . ——— ˗ˏˋ ✮ ˎˊ˗ ——— ˖ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
It amused him now, the change in Wildberry’s character. No longer was he the stone-cold stoic menace, but an attentive and love-struck listener as he awaited the knowledge that Pavlova had. He had judged the Bodyguard wrongly, not taking into account just how much depth he had. He was more than a foolish heart and an expressionless face. It was a fault on Pavlova’s part for hastily drawing that conclusion.
They talked for a while as Wildberry guided the Cupid-Like cookie around the Palace. He was taken to the kitchen, where he told the Hollyberrian the things he had to look for within their friendship that might hint at an interest in being more. The food was a delicious bonus to their chat. As they strolled back, he instructed the Bodyguard on how to convey his emotions through the letters he insisted on writing.
Upon reaching the hallway of rooms, Pavlova finished up his pep talk to Wildberry. “You’ve just got to you for it.” He smirked at the cookie that walked beside him as they approached a room. “Sometimes you have to take that risk; jump into the oblivion and pray that it’s just fog, y’know.”
“I suppose your words hold merit to them.” The Stoic Bodyguard gave him a smile, small but genuine. The smirk on the Cupid-Like cookie’s face grew into a wide, toothy grin. “I’ll write the letter while you rest.” The Bodyguard turned to leave when he heard a small scoff from the winged cookie behind him.
“And I don’t get to judge every word you write? Rest can come later, I’m invested in what you’ve got going on now!” Pavlova wagged a finger in the air while amblingly approaching the guard.
The Cupid-Like cookie was stopped by the Stoic Bodyguard, resting a hand on his shoulder. “If you rest now, I’ll let you read it later. I doubt I could stop you from doing that.” He let the options weigh in his mind for a moment before nodding.
“Fine, fine, but I get to read it! What you’re writing is nothing short of a rough draft!” The Cupid-Like cookie turned, purposefully moving his leg to knock off Wildberry’s balance. “Whoa, don’t let your giddy heart upset your balance now, Achilles!” A scoff left the Bodyguard as he stumbled forward a bit, turning to watch the tail end of Pavlova’s escape into a room. He shook his head to himself before leaving to go back to his corner of the garden.
˚₊‧꒰ა . ——— ˗ˏˋ ✮ ˎˊ˗ ——— ˖ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
Upon entering the room, the calming atmosphere of it made his exhaustion falter his movements slightly. The bed looked incredibly plush, and the bright colors of the windows made him realize the time. The sun was setting rapidly over the kingdom. He’d spent several hours criticizing the guard, growing more and more entranced by his sad love life. You can’t blame a cookie for loving a little entertainment.
Pavlova had set Wildberry on the right course to confessing his feelings, and after analyzing each thing about the bodyguard’s crush, it became obvious that the Cacaoian harbored similar feelings for Wildberry. Come on, who lets their loud exterior become softer around someone they see as “just a friend”? He giggled to himself as he flopped down face-first onto the bed.
It was as cozy as he had imagined. As he lay there, reflecting upon the day, he couldn’t help but imagine the garden. He missed the safety it brought, but the Hollyberry Kingdom wasn’t so bad. Maybe that was Eternal Sugar’s final blessing to him, helping to guide him to a place that’d keep him safe, and who else would do that besides her other half?
He let a sigh escape him as he closed his eyes while stretching across the bed before lying on his right side; the left wing had begun to hurt again, but it felt better than before. He somehow made acquaintances with the Hollyberrian he mocked before, something he didn’t think he would be granted the chance to do. He wasn’t lonely anymore; he had a home.