Chapter Text
The remaining ancients stood there for a few moments, watching the last of their fellow hero and beloved friend fade away with the wind. Just mere minutes after Dark Enchantress had crumbled, White Lily followed.
It made sense, in a cruel way. They were the same person. One person just split into two different bodies. But just because something made sense didn’t mean it changed.
Hollyberry pulled her shield off the ground, whipping away tears with the back of her hand. And even though sobs threatened to climb up and escape from her lips, she refused to let it happen even though she wanted to. Because she could see them.
The three cookies they had fought in the jungle, all three paces away. The youngest was very clearly sobbing into the oversized sleeves of her dress. While the older two just stared, one’s expression was unreadable and the other looked upset no doubt but was ultimately keeping a cool facade. Probably for the sake of the youngest.
Hollyberry remembered that they were made by Dark Enchantress, her children technically. Therefore also White Lily’s children. Children she would have cared for without hesitation because they were hers at the end of the day. So she cautiously walked over, shield kept low and she stood a respectable distance away.
The oldest, Venom Dough, looked up as she approached. Their face was calm despite everything, still stood tall and at the front like they could protect their siblings from harm.
“The tales say you’re a hero.” They mutter.
Hollyberry’s face softened slightly, but her posture remained rigid. “I am. That is the title given to me because of my Souljam.”
The white and purple haired cookie laughed, almost sneered as if the idea was laughable. “If you’re a hero then why is our mother dead?” They ask, the bitterness, the resentment clear. And the berry Queen couldn’t answer that question without saying that there was nothing she could do, which was true but still no nowhere comforting. That’s not something a child ever wants to hear nor should they hear.
Moments pass and neither speak. Only broken by the quiet sobs from Pom-Pom Dough on the other side of the oldest dough siblings.
“Some hero you are,” Mold Dough’s voice breaks the fragile silence. It’s strained from the control it takes to hide his emotions for the sake of strength. “So much power and yet you can’t save somebody you swear to care for.” Ever so subtly there’s a tremble to his voice, something he’s fighting back because even if he’s not the oldest he’s the strongest, and he has to stay strong. For them, at least. “Can’t even fulfil your purpose.”
Golden Cheese Cookie, who had just pulled herself together, slowly glided closer. Remaining off the ground until she was right next to her fellow Queen. For a moment, she just looks at them, trying, hoping, to see something from White Lily in them, the closest is Venom Dough and Pom-Pom Dough’s partially white hair, other than that? Nothing. Just something so simple that was just a result of Dark Enchantress’ dough, even if she could try and trick herself into believing that they did get something from her.
”I…” She starts. Then words fail her because she can’t find anything to say. Comfort? Useless. Apologies? Wouldn’t be accepted, understandably. An offer of some kind? She only has gold to offer and she truly believes that would not even scrape the surface of what these three need.
It’s pointless.
Or at least it seems that way.
For once, the Golden Sovereign has nothing to offer to soothe the pain of those that are in agony. Even if it’s not a physical scar or something they’re expressing.
”Your mother… she was,” She tries again. The acidic sting of tears already starting again, that lump forming in her throat. “Lovely. Kind, caring, so… considerate.”
It feels strange to say this when she’s spent so many decades conflicted on what she should think about White Lily, but at the end of the day they were still friends— as children, as teenagers, as adults both before and after their Souljams.
Unfortunate things just happened.
“Were you not the one cursing her?” Venom Dough asked as they stepped forward, tilting their head up to stare the winged Queen in the eyes. No fear, much like their mother when the situation came to it. Just very different circumstances. “You blamed her for the actions of Dark Emchantress.”
”They were one at- “ Golden Cheese starts.
”Years ago.” The other scoffs. “If you wish to speak about our mother, do not speak as if you didn’t blame the sins of our creator is all her fault.” Another step forward. “Even after she apologised.”
A hand pressed against Venom’s shoulder to pull them back a few inches. Mold Dough, as much as he could understand his older siblings frustration, knows that forgiveness is not given just because of an apology and that getting in the face of an ancient is not a good idea. “Venom, it’s not worth it.”
Despite how satisfying it would feel to just punch an ancient, Venom Dough backed off and instead moved their attention to a still crying Pom-Pom who has now throughly soaked the sleeves of her dress.
”You can stay with us.” Hollyberry offered, holding a hand out to Mold Dough who just barely looked at the berry Queen.
”We can survive on our own.” He said.
”You’re young.” She insisted, stepping forward to place her hand on his shoulder. The same action she does with Wildberry when she needs to remind him that he’s good despite what his brain might scream in his lowest moments. All she wants is for these three to understand that they worthy of care and love, even if White Lily isn’t around to give them that love. After all, if anything happened to any of the ancients, she wouldn’t have hesitated to take care of their children or descendants.
”I assure you, we’ll be just fine.”
Mold Dough roughly pulled away from Hollyberry to return to his siblings who had already started walking away. The area is now vast with very little places for hiding so all four remaining ancients watched as the trio of siblings walked away until physically out of sight.
Pure Vanilla’s grasp on his cane tightened, knuckles turning white as he shakily wiped away tears. Pushing himself to his feet. Trying but failing to compose himself.
Dark Cacao cleared his throat, already ordering Crunchy Chip and Caramel Arrow to help any survivors that were injured. Defaulting back to being a ruler because it’s easier to be a ruler than it is to process the fact you just watched somebody you grew up with crumble. That was something he could think about when he had enough berry juice that he’d black out with.
Golden Cheese landed, finally, wings curled into her back.
Everything felt… wrong. Sure, Dark Enchantress is dead, that was always the end goal. But now there’s a new threat with whatever’s happening with Shadow Milk. And they lost a close friend. It felt surreal, like it was a bad dream she’d wake up from and just forget it ever happened. However, this is reality. A painful reality.
Hollyberry took in a deep breath, shoulders rising and falling as she composes herself. At the end of the day, they made a choice and if that choice was to be on their then the ancients shall honour that choice. Even if it seems like a bad idea given the state of their bodies.
”If they require our help, they know where to find us, Golden Cheeze,” She smiled. “There is no point in fretting.”