Work Text:
This was it. It's time to finally end our civilian's suffering. It's time to kill the most corrupt king of all.
CobbleCat.
Shumby's best friend.
He has been friends with him since childhood, he's always been egoistical, but he never expected him to escalate this far.
He misses who he thought Cobble was.
The air on top of the tower feels thin, breathless, Shumby feels nervous about all of this. Shumby smiles at Cobble and hands him a grape.
Cobble accepts the grape, dangling it in front of his face. "Shumby, you do know cats are allergic to grapes right?" He sighs. "That includes cat hybrids, Shumby." The cat hybrid scolds him, it almost feels like a mother scolding her child, really.
Shumby giggles. "Sorry, Cobble. It seems that I forgot~" Shumby teases, Cobble just shakes his head in annoyance, but deep down, he finds Shumby's childish behaviour amusing.
The mooshroom hybrid leans at the edge of the tower. The concrete ground would kill anyone instantly from this height. It might even kill himself.
"The sky is beautiful, isn't it?" Shumby asks Cobble. Cobble throws out the grape Shumby offered, throwing it out to the ground. The grape and the cat hybrid might have something in common later on. "It really is." Cobble responds, joining him on leaning against the edge. "It's nice that those stupid protestors have stopped, they're so annoying." Cobble complains. Shumby feels guilt dripping down his heart, his smile turns into a frown. "I guess." Shumby says.
Cobble hovers his hand over the matching earring Shumby gave him. "You really didn't need to do this for me, Shumby." Cobble smiles. "Why are you being affectionate to me all of a sudden?" Cobble continues. Is Cobble catching up to his plan? Shumby really hopes not.
A box next to him, filled with to the brim with meaningful flowers, stays still on top of the tower. One last flower crown won't hurt, he might as well make his last moments the best ones.
Sunflowers, lavenders, and white carnations.
Each flower weaved with pure devotion and years of loyalty.
Cobble watches and sits in silence as Shumby makes a simple flower crown for him.
Lilies, marigolds, and thistles.
Cobble joins Shumby in flower-crown making, each flower connected with pure friendship and care.
Deep down, they do care for each other. Even in war, disagreements, and other stuff, Cobble appreciates Shumby for staying by his side for so long. Even in hidden sorrow, disgust, and regret, Shumby still cares for Cobble and will stay loyal to him till death.
For a friend so loyal, he shouldn't plan for his best friend's death. He shouldn't push him off this god-forsaken tower. But he will. For the citizens, for the future of this kingdom, he will murder the king.
The king, who is his best friend, his closest buddy, his weakness.
CobbleCat.
The finished flower crown rests on the cat hybrid's head, and Cobble's finished flower crown rests on Shumby's.
The mooshroom hybrid stands up, taking his best friend's hand with him. The cat hybrid is confused, but complies anyway. Shumby turns to look at the ground. The cold, hard ground. The ground that's going to kill his best friend.
Shumby hugs Cobble. Of course, He's even more confused at this. But who is he to judge? He enjoys affection. Cobble notices he's standing too close to the edge.
Cobble panics. "Shumby?" He tries to call out. He receives no response. Cobble returns the hug, enjoying his bonding moments, that seems to calm himself down.
Two best friends, hugging on top of the tower. The soft breeze whispers in the duo's ear. The calm wind turns into a sudden, strong wind. Shumby takes the chance and pushes Cobble down, taking himself down too.
An honorable sacrifice for his comrades, for the people of this kingdom, for Whisp, for Low, for Mad, for Lemon, and even for his other friends that has accompanied him along the way.
Shumby sheds a tear, and Cobble is too panicked to say anything else. It's not long before the duo reaches the ground.
Blood, crimson red blood pours down from both of their heads. Flower crowns left forgotten, both their bodies shut down as their systems fail to reawaken after the fall.
Crowds of people cheer, celebrate, and laugh. They seem to enjoy the corrupted king's death.
Shumby will forever be their national hero. The one person brave enough to befriend and murder the horrendous king.
Shumby feels nothing but guilt. Although he is happy that he has saved the kingdom, he feels upset that he has killed his lifelong best friend. He feels horrible, really. His body remains lifeless.
Between a corrupted king and his second in command, a strong bond is formed even in the afterlife.
Even as a nature and sea itself, sun and moon, or simply as mere commoners hanging out on a christmas day—they will still find each other.
Even when the other coughs up flowers, gets claustrophobic in an elevator, or simply just a fluffy beach day—they will be there for each other.
Because that's what best friends do.
They will care for each other till death, or even after death. Even in reincarnation, in afterlife, and in godhood, they will forever find peace in each other.
Sunflowers, lavenders, and white carnations mean loyalty and friendship.
Lilies, marigolds, and thistles symbolize death and corruption.
That's what Shumby means by meaningful flowers. Shumby will care for and stay loyal to Cobble, and yet, deep down, he buries the feeling of disgusting fear of him. He fears for his best friend, he fears that this day will come, and oh boy it did.
He never expected it to be him that kills Cobble. He thought that it might be the civilians, or even the other guards.
Not him.
He was the last person he expected to kill the corrupted king.
He finds peace in killing him, but sadness pours down either way.
Maybe in another lifetime, another universe, they won't be doomed.
Maybe in another universe they'll find the peace they both yearn for.
But not in this universe.
Thank you for playing part in this, CobbleCat, king of the Cobble Kingdom.
Thank you for sacrificing yourself, Shumby, Cobble's most trusted right hand man.
And thank you, Mifies, For pulling the strings.
For now, they will rest in afterlife. They will be reborn soon enough, either doomed or not, they won't be able to tell.
Farewell, CobbleCat and Shumby.
May you meet in the next life, or not.
It's up to FATE to decide that.