Chapter Text
The smell of fresh berries flows through Wildberry Cookie’s senses, the bay air cool and refreshing against his dough. Lots of Cookies flood the market, as people shop and eat exquisite foods, and go on romantic dates. Younger Cookies opted to run around at parks with their friends.
The Hollyberry Kingdom’s prominent romantic atmosphere even had a hold on the Queen Mother’s stoic bodyguard—one of the Cookies that’s least expected to feed into the kingdom’s lovey-dovey nature.
“Wildberry Cookie,” a voice comes from his left, startling him out of his thoughts. “Are you alright?” She brings a gloved hand up to his shoulder in an attempt to calm his nerves.
His head snaps to her face, silently hoping that she hasn’t picked up on his nervousness.
“Are you nervous?”
She did.
“Not in the slightest,” he states dryly, his flat facial expression unwavering.
“Don’t lie to me, boy; I know how you look at that Cookie! You’ve got feelings for him!” She lets out a bellowing laugh, roughly patting his shoulder.
Wildberry wants to open his mouth to defend himself, but knowing Hollyberry Cookie, her opinion about the matter would not falter.
Her laughter dies down soon after, her face resting in a wide, closed-mouth smile. Her hand on his shoulder doesn’t move; it seems like she squeezed it a little tighter.
She breathes out a long, heavy sigh. “Kids! They grow up so fast nowadays!” She wraps an arm around his neck, yanking him down to her height. Her other hand ruffles through his hair, roughing up his neat curls.
“Queen Mother!” he whisper-shouts at the sudden action. She lets him go from her tight grasp, and as much as Wildberry wouldn't like to admit, his strength was nothing in comparison to the Queen Mother’s.
His hands come up to his hair, trying to fix the mess Hollyberry had made of it. She smiles brightly at him, her cheeks pushing her eyes upward.
“I remember when you were a tiny Cookie. Always getting into trouble!” She looks off into the distance, a hand on her hip.
“Now look at you. You’re all grown up! With a love interest!” Her eyes focus back on Wildberry, a deep wave of happiness in them.
“You’ve made me so proud, Wildberry Cookie.”
He smiles warmly at her words; whatever unsureness he felt before melted away. Her smile turns into one full of love. (Motherly love)
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without you, Queen Mother.”
She sighs softly, turning back to the rippling waters. He does the same.
They notice a boat rowing up to the dock, dark silhouettes of Cookies occupying the seats. Wildberry’s heart picks up in pace, assuming that those were the Cookies sent from the Dark Cacao Kingdom. Realizing that he hasn’t seen Crunchy Chip Cookie in about six months, due to their respective Beast-Yeast expeditions, a sense of anxiety sinks into his tan dough.
Of course, they kept in touch with their letters, filling each other in on the monsters and Beast Cookies they encountered. Telling each other of all the new Cookies they met, of their near deaths. No details were left out.
But this was nothing like that.
The boat parks at the dock, the dark colors contrasting with the bright pinks and blues of the vessel. Wildberry could barely contain his excitement and anxiety, his wide eyes locked on the colorful boat.
The first Cookie to step off was King Dark Cacao Cookie, draped in his usual robes. As soon as he is steady on his feet, standing up straight instead of hunched over, Hollyberry Cookie tackles him in a bone-cracking hug.
“Long time no see, old man!” She squeals, her toothy smile growing wider.
Dark Cacao huffs out a sigh, a smile spreads across his usually dull face. He pats her on the back in return.
“Hollyberry Cookie, you are not much younger than me,” he manages to croak out, despite all of the air being forcefully punched out of his lungs. She snickers at his comment, releasing him from the hug.
Wildberry turns back to the boat, watching Crunchy Chip’s “brother-in-arms” jump out eagerly, wagging his tail and frantically sniffing the ground of a new setting.
Then he sees him.
Crunchy Chip Cookie leans forward in the boat, gloved hands gripping the edge of the wooden platform to steady himself. His eyes scan the area, head whipping around quickly before his eyes lock on Wildberry.
Dark pink eyes meet bright amber ones, both Cookies’ expressions instantly lift at the sight of seeing each other. Crunchy eagerly hoists himself out of the boat, any sign of uneasiness on his face completely gone.
“Wildberry Cookie!”
He bolts over to the muscular Cookie, practically jumping into his open arms. The embrace is warm, months of tension pent up melting away in each other’s arms. They don’t want to separate, wanting to stay locked together for eternity.
But they can’t.
So they hold on for as long as possible.
“I missed ya', bub,” Crunchy Chip whispers into Wildberry’s ear, letting out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.
Wildberry’s grip on the shorter Cookie tightens, indicating that he had missed him, too. Chip laughed softly at that, sinking into his arms even more.
Eventually, they part, backing away slightly to observe each other’s features. Of course, they look different; they haven’t seen each other for what seems like a lifetime.
Wildberry’s eyes scan Crunchy Chip’s face, noticing all the differences. There are a few new tiny scars under his left eye and one through his right eyebrow. His features are slightly rougher. His amber eyes seem sharper.
“Ya’ gonna keep standing there, or are ya’ gonna show me around?” he questions, poking Wildberry in the arm. It breaks his attention on Crunchy Chip’s appearance. He chuckles, showing every tooth in his head.
Wildberry smiles at Chip smiling. He adores his smile.