Chapter Text
"Lily?" Pure Vanilla Cookie pushed through the crowd of cookies. The plaza was always crowded with cookies looking to get a good deal on tailored items.
"I'm here!" A familiar voice called back from the crowd, White Lily Cookie's moonlight white hair was barely visible in the hordes of surrounding cookies. Vanilla pushed through, a cacophony of "sorry" spewing from his lips as he bumped into cookies left and right. Finally, his hand grasped for hers, just barely reaching. "Shall we go somewhere else?" He asked, being shoved forward by another wave of cookies. Lily nodded, her eyes widening with concern.
Vanilla navigated expertly through the waves of cookies, his robes sweeping behind him as he led Lily across. "Just a little more," he assured, giving her a kind smile. Where should I bring her? The thought hadn't crossed his mind at all until now. Lily seemed to be able to pick up on his distress as she said, "Why don't we go to that new cafe? Holly's been wanting to go for a while. I can Cookiechat her if you want." With her free hand, Lily grabbed her phone, typing one-handedly to what Vanilla could only assume to be Hollyberry Cookie.
Finally the kingdom was visible in the distance as they entered the forest. Chocolate leaf foliage covered the forest floor as light dappled through the trees. A sight to behold. "It sure is beautiful out today," Vanilla breathed, the breeze tickling his face. Bluebirds chirped somewhere deep in the forest, their vibrant blue hidden by the green leaves. "Yeah," Lily sighed, Vanilla let go of her hand, letting her wander to a patch of gumdrop flowers. "These don't usually bloom this early in the year," she pointed out, touching the flowers' petals.
"Really?" Vanilla looked down at the patch of blue flowers, bending over to tuck hair behind Lily's ear. Her breath hitched as his hand brushed against her ear, "These normally bloom in June or July, not May. Well, I suppose it is quite late in the month." She stood up, brushing off her robes. "It might just be a little hot this year."
The two cookies continued the rest of their walk in silence, reaching the entrance of the kingdom. The sound of clamoring cookies and the sweet scent of hollyberry jam filled the air. A cheesebird flew by them, its wings tickling the leaves of the tree. Holly stood in the distance, her braid blowing in the wind. Her face was triumphant, as if she had proved something. "I brought Cacao if you guys don't mind," she called, waving her stubby arms.
At the base of a chocolate tree, Cacao leaned against the sweet bark, clearly uneager to be there. "They don't mind but I do," Vanilla thought he heard Cacao grumble. But at the corner of his mouth, a sly smile touched his lips. Just barely there.
As Holly and Lily trudged ahead, likely talking about new plant derived flavors, Cacao and Vanilla trailed behind in silence. "I wonder if the food's as good as they say it is," Holly commented, stretching her arms out in front of her.
"Always nice to see new cafes around town," Vanilla chirped, glad to break the silence.
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"Welcome!" The bell on the door jingled. Herb Cookie greeted them with his lilting voice and a pleasant smile. His rumpled hair was even messier so Vanilla guessed he had just tended to the garden.
Another voice sounded from the back, "Cust'mers? Hi hi!" Fig Cookie pranced out of the back, their sweet scent mingling with that of Herb's. They pranced around the counter, blowing their Jelly Horn. "Welcome to 'erb's cafe! I'd bet'er git to work then!" They gracefully hopped back to the kitchen.
Lily's eyes drifted to the menu. "What do you guys want to get?" She asked.
"You should get what you want, Lily," Holly pointed out. "Look at you! All skin and bones. My treat today!"
"I couldn't accept that!" Lily protested.
"Too late." Holly whipped around, turning to Herb. "Can we have one of those, and two of these..." She spoke rapidly, pointing at different spots on the menu. Herb rushed to scrawl down their order. After she'd finished ordering, they sat at a booth facing the forest.
"She isn't wrong, Lily," Vanilla admitted. "You haven't had lunch in ages."
"My research...I-"
"Can't research on an empty stomach," Holly cut in, handing a hearty rye to Lily who reluctantly took a bite.
"Thanks, Holly," Lily savors the morsel of bread in her mouth. Vanilla can't help but admire her expression when she enjoys something. A true look of sheer bliss.
"Glad you like it," Herb gives the table a small smile, the creases in his eyes a reflection of the wisdom behind them. Although everyone in the group is older than him somehow.
Cacao hasn't said a word since they sat down, his eyes on Holly as she flaunts her latest berry additions to her hair buns. He takes a sip of his Jellybean Latte, relishing in the sweet sugar mixed with the bitterness of the coffee. "You look exactly like Lily when she's enjoying something!" Holly lets out a hearty laugh. Cacao grimaces, that was not the impression he was going for.
"You do!" Vanilla laughs.
Lily looks astonished, "Do I really look like that?"
"Sometimes," Holly shrugs, "but it's cute." Vanilla nods along in agreement.
The four spend their afternoon talking about their old battles and the friends they made on their journies.
[End of Chapter 1]