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Vanilla Rose was enjoying the night so far.
This was one of the rare nights her kingdom had an extravagant celebration like this, and she cherished it.
It wasn't as loud or crowded in the celebrations of the Hollyberry and Golden Cheese kingdoms, but that didn't matter.
There was good food and drinks, lots of cookies for her to talk with, and a distraction from all the thoughts in her head.
The thoughts that would start out related to what had happened that day, only to jump to…completely different thoughts entirely.
Thoughts of where Dark Choco could be and how he was doing.
Thoughts of how different life could have been if the war hadn't happened.
Thoughts of what their life could be like if she hadn't been abducted, or if he hadn’t taken that sword.
Thoughts of what could have changed if he had chosen to stay.
Thoughts of what would've happened if her mother hadn't become Dark Enchantress Cookie.
Thoughts of how everyone could have turned out if Dark Enchantress Cookie never existed and the war never happened.
Was there something she could have done to prevent all of…this?
Had there been a way to fight against fate that she simply hadn't seen?
Was this all her-
Ugh! She's thinking again.
She's not SUPPOSED to be thinking.
She's supposed to be putting all of that aside and fully enjoying this while it still lasts.
But NOPE!
Her brain decided to continue being all over the place, as it always has and always has been her entire life.
She forced herself to focus on what was going on around her.
She was sitting by a table with her main friend group (aka The Neapolitan Sextet).
There was her brother, White Orchid Cookie. He rarely ever attended events like this, but she was glad he did today. Locking himself up in his room 24/7 isn't really healthy.
Then there were all three of her Aunt Holly's children. Her sons, Wildberry and Royalberry, and her only daughter, Beautyberry.
Dark Choco, her lover and Dark Cacao Cookie's only son, was also part of this friend group. However, he was not here due to…certain reasons.
She spent the first hour or so conversing with them, listening intently as they all caught the others up with what's been going on in their lives.
After that hour was up, White Orchid went straight to bed.
One of Beautyberry's favorite songs began to play, and she immediately dragged her brothers to come and dance with her.
She (Vanilla Rose) herself had been asked to come along, but she declined and said she'd join later. She misplaced her sugar pills two days ago and has not been able to find them, so she couldn't really move much without the world spinning.
Her solution to this? Eat pastries and drink some glasses of (imported) berry juice as a replacement to compensate for the insufficient amount of sugar in her jam.
So while that was going on, she saw Clotted Cream Cookie and quickly teleported near to where the food was laid out so he could see her.
He quickly spotted her and smiled, taking his bodyguard's hand.
She immediately hugged him. “Clotted Cream Cookie!”
“It is good to see you, Princess Vanilla Rose Cookie.” The Consul replied, returning the hug and giving her a pat on the back. “I truly am sorry for being quite tardy.”
“It's alright, kid. Don't worry about it. How have you been doing?”
“We're both doing alright. It has been quite busy in the Republic, so this is a much needed reprieve.”
She smiled. “Glad to know that! The both of you look absolutely spectacular, by the way!”
Clotted Cream Cookie wore a white suit with golden accents on the blazer and pants and matching Oxford shoes. His hair was also styled differently than usual.
Financier Cookie wore a white sleeveless dress, white tights, brown boots, and a tiered white cape with golden roses embroidered onto it. Her hair was tied into a low bun with some curled strands left out, and she wore a golden flower hair clip and golden dangling earrings.
“Thank you.” Clotted Cream Cookie said with a genuine smile. “You look quite beautiful as well.”
Vanilla Rose grinned and gave him a pat on the head. “Danke (Thanks)! I spearheaded the cooking and ensured that a little bit of everything is here, so you can find the scones…”
She turned and pointed to a big plate of said scones alongside a knife, a big bowl of cream, and an assortment of jams.
“There.”
She gave Clotted Cream Cookie a pat on the head.
“You have a good time, alright?”
“Of course.” Clotted Cream said. “You as well.”
She gave him a small peck on the cheek, and it was then that she noticed that he and his bodyguard were holding hands for the entirety of their conversation.
“Have fun with your ladylove, kiddo!” She said with a smirk.
Clotted Cream Cookie went red in the face, unable to reply to that.
Financier turned to him. “I didn't know you had a lover, Consul.”
Clotted Cream became even redder. “I- I do not, Ser. I have no idea who she is talking about.”
Vanilla Rose cackled as she walked back to her table (or at least in the direction she thought it was).
“I believe that is the exit you are walking to, princess.” Financier Cookie said.
Vanilla Rose sheepishly chuckled and immediately went the other way.
As she walked, she noticed Dark Cacao in the corner and frowned.
He was quite agitated, panicked even. One of his hands turned to claws, and he hid it behind his back as his breathing began to pick up.
Her frown grew as she walked faster.
She hates him and, under any other circumstance, would leave him to bleed and die.
However, panic attacks are something that she would never wish on even her worst enemy.
And she'd rather he suffer by getting his ass beaten, than suffer at the hands of his nervous system.
***
Dark Cacao stood in the corner for the entirety of the event, watching as his sister, his friends, and his witchchildren (aka godchildren) went about.
Dark Ganache Cookie and Hollyberry Cookie laughed and danced together, their lips close to touching but never doing so. This “will they, won't they” of theirs has been going on for far too long, and Dark Cacao had to resist the urge to just make them kiss.
Golden Cheese Cookie danced alone, but was having just as much fun.
Pure Vanilla Cookie and White Lily Cookie had also been dancing together, but eventually walked off. Whether it was for White Lily to decompress or for…something else, he wasn't sure.
Then there was Beautyberry, Wildberry, and Royalberry. Beautyberry had dragged both of her brothers to the dance floor and somehow managed to get them to dance with her.
White Orchid went out of sight many hours ago, something which Dark Cacao understood as he also wanted to walk out and never come back.
Vanilla Rose was interacting with that…Consul and his bodyguard. The fact that she had grown close to them was a surprise. But then again, she was friendly with others unless they did something that would truly give her a reason not to be.
The night went on, and soon everything suddenly began to become too much.
Everything was too loud, too bright.
His clothes became uncomfortable to be in, and he wanted nothing more than to rip it off.
The crowd of people suddenly began to close in on him, and their chatter soon became so loud that it had to be screaming at this point.
He hated it.
He hated how easily overwhelmed he was.
He hated how loud this was.
He hates how crowded it was.
One of his hands turned to a dark, inky claw and he began to tremble.
WHY CAN'T HE BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE?
WHY CAN'T HE JUST ENJOY THESE EVENTS?
WHY MUST EVERYTHING BE TOO MUCH FOR HIM?
HE'S A WARRIOR.
HE'S A KING.
HE'S SUPPOSED TO HOLD HIS HEAD UP HIGH.
HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO SUCK IT UP AND HANDLE THIS.
SO WHY CAN'T HE?
WHY-
“Dark Cacao Cookie?”
He locked eyes with Vanilla Rose, and he noticed that there was no one else was with them.
The room was different, meaning that she had moved him.
He wasn't there anymore.
So why was he still feeling overwhelmed?
Why-
Hands were put on his shoulders.
“Breathe. Just…breathe. Follow after me, okay?”
She started with inhaling, holding it for a few seconds, then letting out.
He tried to copy it, but ended up coughing.
“It's alright. Let's try that again.”
So he did.
Over and over again until his heart stopped pounding and his lungs stopped straining for air.
“Shall we go somewhere else?”
Dark Cacao could only nod, and Vanilla Rose smiled, teleporting them somewhere else.
***
The place they ended up in was a living room.
There wasn't much besides a dining table, a kitchen, and wooden walls and tiles.
His eyes widened. “Is this…”
“Yep! This is me and Choco's treehouse. I sleep here every night.”
She sat him down on the chair.
“Just this once, you can stay here for as long as you like.”
He frowned. “Why are you being nice to me?”
“We may hate each other, but I'm not that much of a bitch.” She replied. “Your nervous system shitting on you is NOT a fun experience, and I don't wish that on anyone.”
“Not even me?”
She nodded. “Not even you. Not even my worst enemy.”
“...Thank you.” He found himself uttering.