Chapter Text
warmth hums through out the room, golden rays dancing around them. Peaceful as one may say. The radio on the coffee table next to him started playing a song, the instrumental felt playful but the lyrics sounded so sad.
*How do my plans fit in with yours? Your such a doll and I'm a boy. where did my parents go? I'm not in Italy.*
Pure Vanilla has never felt more relaxed, or perhaps its been to long since he and his little friend had a moment of peace like this. The room was a comfy lounge area in the vanilla castle, not too big or grand just simple and cozy. GingerBrave was sleeping on the couch next to him, his chest rising ever so slightly with each breathe. Strawberry and Wizard where busy helping the other ancient heroes with setting up their rooms.
*They like vacation homes much more than they love me.*
It continued on in the background.
Another meeting was going to be held now that all five heroes have returned. They're going to discuss on what their next plan of action was, but for now they should relax and take it easy after their encounters with the beasts.
The young boy shifted ever so slightly on the couch, his face faltering from the peace expression at moments. The former king watched from the corner of his eye, prepared to comfort him if he had a nightmare; it has been happening ever since the spire, nights of restless sleep. Every time someone would ask if he is alright, its always the same: "I'm fine, its just stress." But those dark circles under eyes told a different story. It left the holder of truths heart aching, he's been there before and it wasn't a wonderful experience, and now one of his closest friends was going through.. he need to do something about this!
Strawberry Cookie said something about weighted blankets? he believes there's a few weighted blankets in the castle, somewhere. He can go look and even grab a few extra pillows, he would just be gone for a few minutes. He looked back at the sleeping figure on the couch; last time Pure Vanilla left while they were asleep, horrible things happened.
The child gained an attachment to him, following his shadow constantly now. maybe this could be healthy for him, to show that there's no need to worry. But maybe he should leave a note..
He got up from where he was sitting and headed towards the door. as he looked back to make sure the boy was still sleeping he couldn't help but feel worried, maybe he also gained an attachment. He shook it off and left the room, where only silence remained.
a young cooking wearing tattered baggy clothing was busy walking beside a tall and elegant cookie, the two appearing to be on different levels and yet could understand each other. they talked like another cookie would with family. they were smiling before the young cookie asked one simple question
"has anyone left the castle before?" the young cookie asked Innocently, his wings flapping slightly. "no, not exactly. no one hasn't made it out here with their soul intact," the taller woman with cream hair said. "that's why that maybe you should stay here, where its safer."
he shook his head, his smile never faltering. "I have to leave, so i can help the cookies outside the castle!" she gave him such a sad smile, a look he only saw once before. "are you sure? what if you don't make it past the castle grounds? no has yet."
he looked up at her, his eyes beaming with stars.
"Then I'll be the first!"
he woke up, panic rising in his chest. when he looked up to see her face, nothing was there, nothing but staticky blur. "just- it was just a dream."
he looked around the room, the panic rising even faster, wheres Pure Vanilla? he looked to the coffee table in front of him, a note laid there saying; "Be back soon. :)" totally not vague or worrying. His hands started to shake uncontrollably, his breathing fastened. he stumbled from the couch, his legs trembling as he got up. he tried to move towards the door, intending to look for the healer, but fell onto his face after a few short steps. "Ugh.." he grumbled.
The door creaked open, a tall figure at the doorway holding a massive pile of blankets obscuring their face.
"Hm?" Pure Vanilla looked over the heap of blankets to see the boy face first on the floor flat. "Oh my! are you alright GingerBrave?" he briskly tossed the blankets to the side, more focused on the fallen child.
"Mhm, I'm perfectly fine!" he lifted his face up to smile, sharp canines gleaming in the light, except one hanging lose. GingerBrave sat up right, crossing his legs. "see, I'm fine-" he didn't get to finish before the healer held his face in his hands, carefully looking him over for any injuries. the healers hands felt warmer than usual, or maybe he was colder than usual.' "hmm, it seems you loosened a baby tooth. if you want i can carefully pull it out."
GingerBrave paused for a moment, licking the loose tooth, he didn't even notice that. "okay, just please be more careful the Chili pepper was when she pulled Pancake's tooth out." he shivered remembering how she used her motorbike to pull the poor kids tooth out.
Pure Vanilla smiled, "no promises," he lightly joked. he grasped the ray of light from the window, pulling it to his whim, it shaped itself to a thin line. "Whoa! I didn't know you could do that! The only cookie I knew who could shape light was- was my mother." the image of the cookie with a missing face surfaced, reminding him of the past few nights of restless sleep.
the healer blinked for a few moments before speaking," Really? She could do this? that would mean she's a high level mage since this spell is difficult for most light users. what did she create with it?" he asked, wanting to know more of the vaguely mentioned cookie.
"all kinds of things. one time she made a whole flock of birds! it was so pretty! i wished you could've seen it." his voice was always so bittersweet when ever he would mention her. The ancient hero recounted the last time the child mentioned her, during a panic attack no less. he wondered if he hadn't fallen into doubt he would've comforted him more..or acted less cold.
no better time than the present. "it sounds like she's very skilled, maybe one day we could meet." GingerBrave just silently stared, stars gleaming in his eyes. "I think you two would get along really well."
Pure Vanilla motioned for him to open his mouth and wrapped the string around the loose tooth "Alright now hold still, this may hurt for a moment." he quickly yanked his tooth out, it came out smoothly.
a black substance came from his mouth, covering his lips and a bit of Pure Vanillas gown. "oh. uh hold on, let me get a cloth." he didn't ask why his jam was black, just got up to grab a cloth from a dresser draw near them. "sorry about your gown," GingerBrave shyly apologized.
"you don't need to apologize for something that naturally happens. I should've grabbed a cloth much sooner before we pulled it out," he calmly said. he came back, gently cleaning GingerBrave's face.
the healer casted a small spell to stop the bleeding, saying nothing while smiling. it felt nostalgic like someone did this for him before; for a split moment a cookie with golden eyes and cream hair appeared in front of him, holding the same smile. but just as she appeared she quickly vanished when he blinked he placed the cloth and the tooth on the table next to them. he grabbed the boy's hand into his, reassuring him quietly, he could tell something was bothering him.
GingerBrave seemed to lighten up at that. The healer got up to grab the forgotten blankets to wrap around them, "I noticed you've been having trouble resting, thought i could help with this. i even got a book for us to read; i know it's childish but it even helps me relax a bit, thought it could help you."
he wrapped his arms around the boy, letting him lean against his chest as they read the book.
*Izzy, Izzy, Izzybell Likes to stay in my house. Please come out and play with us now!*
the radio sung, somewhat getting louder.
"have you heard of this story?" the healer asked. "Little red riding hood? I have, I even read it to my siblings when they got restless. its sorta nice to be read to instead of reading it for someone else," he yawned his last few words, exhaustion settling in.
*M-A-M-A-B-O-Y, mama's boy, mama's boy M-A-M-A-B-O-Y, mama's boy, mama's boy
Mama's boy, mama's boy*
as they continued, the more his vision and mind blurred. one moment he's listening to a tall elegant cookie with wings and the next he's listening to a cookie with mismatched eyes. both wearing white gowns with a golden glow around them, warm and peaceful. at some point the two mixed, he couldn't tell who was who, at least now the cookie from the dream had a face.. maybe now he can finally sleep.
*M-A-M-A-B-O-Y, mama's boy, mama's boy M-A-M-A-B-O-Y, mama's boy, mama's boy M-A-M-A-B-O-Y, mama's boy, mama's boy M-A-M-A-B-O-Y, mama's boy, mama's boy.*
the radio echoed before Pure Vanilla turned it off so he wouldn't be woken up from his long over due nap.