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Chapter Text

The halls of the Hollyberry Palace smelled of mulled wine and sweet spiced bread, the air thick with celebration. Laughter rose and fell like waves breaking against the shore, echoing in the wide marble corridors as soldiers and attendants toasted her name again and again. Hollyberry Cookie smiled—because that was what they expected—but the curve of her lips felt stiff.

She had been back for four days now. Four long days of raucous drinking, endless congratulations, and a parade of familiar faces all eager to welcome their queen home. Her body ached in a way no battlefield had ever inflicted: not from wounds, though there were plenty of those, but from the weight of her own thoughts.

Her wounds had been cleaned and bandaged by careful, reverent hands, and yet the faint, saccharine scent of crushed petals still clung to her senses like an invisible chain. No matter how many goblets of berry wine she downed, the memory did not fade.

Tonight was no different. Hollyberry pushed open the heavy steel doors of her chambers, the hinges groaning like an old soldier. The familiar scent of Raspberries and firewood greeted her, and for a moment she felt grounded again. Her boots thudded against the polished floor as she stumbled toward the table, already tipsy from the revelry below. She poured herself another drink—this one heavier, darker, a vintage saved for moments of triumph—and let the thick liquid swirl in her goblet before taking a long pull.

The wine was sharp and warm on her tongue, nothing like the cloying sweetness of the Garden of Delights. That wine had been like nectar, too perfect to be real, just as the air there had been perfumed and heavy, each breath laced with something that dulled the edges of thought. She remembered it now, unbidden: the weightless haze, the aching temptation to set her shield aside and surrender to stillness.

She growled low in her throat and took another gulp.

Back. I’m back. The kingdom needs me—papers to sign, soldiers to commend, roads to rebuild.

But even as she thought it, her mind slipped traitorously into memory.

“I will not let you go.”

Eternal Sugar’s voice had been as soft as spun sugar, but it cut through the air like a blade.

“You cannot set foot outside my garden… Why, dearest? Why do you wish to leave my side?”

Hollyberry could see her now—ringlets cascading like magenta waterfalls, wings spread in a grotesque mockery of serenity. The Beast of Sloth’s smile had trembled then, cracked at the edges.

“Don’t leave… for if you do, it would mean that the happiness I’ve grown and nurtured was wrong.”

Hollyberry had kept her grip tight on her shield. She had told herself to stay firm, to ignore the pleading in that singsong voice. And yet… the look in Eternal Sugar’s eyes—bright magenta, filled with a love so fierce and desperate it bordered on madness—still lingered in her mind.

“No other cookie on Earthbread understands you like I do. Please… must I beg you?”

The sound of her voice had shifted then, dissolving into something brittle. A low, broken laugh bubbled out of Eternal Sugar’s throat, so unlike her. It rose higher, louder, until it echoed wildly through the garden.

Her laughter cracked like glass under pressure before collapsing into ragged sobs. “Don’t leave… don’t leave... don’t leave, don't leave, don't—”

Hollyberry had stepped forward then—not to strike, —but to lift her shield as marble columns came crashing down around them. Debris rained like judgment, and though every instinct screamed at her to run, she had stayed just long enough to protect the Beast from being crushed.

Why? she asked herself now, draining her goblet. Why couldn’t I let them fall?

She remembered the moment Eternal Sugar looked up at her from beneath the protective curve of the shield, eyes wide and glassy, brimming with adoration and something darker—something that pulled at Hollyberry like a tide she could not resist. Love, yes, but also possession. Admiration, yes, but tainted with longing so deep it felt bottomless.

Sweet and sinister, like the Garden itself.

Her hands were trembling. She hadn’t realized she’d poured herself another drink, hadn’t noticed her grip tightening around the goblet until wine sloshed over her hands. Hollyberry cursed softly and knocked the rest back in one swallow.

Forget her. Forget that place.

The Garden’s scents lingered anyway—honeysuckle and candied berries, cloying and too perfect. She slammed the goblet down and pressed her palms to her temples.

I’m home now. This is real. The kingdom needs me.

But the words felt hollow.

Her eyelids grew heavy, the wine blurring the sharp edges of her thoughts. She staggered to her bed, collapsing with a sigh. Sleep came swiftly, but peace did not.

In her dreams, she stood once again in the Garden of Delights.

“You can’t leave me, Hollyberry.”

Eternal Sugar stepped forward, barefoot on the sugar-petal floor. Her wings glowed faintly in the golden light, her halo dim but unwavering. She reached for Hollyberry’s face, her hand trembling.

“Stay. Here, there is no pain. I’ll make you happy.”

Her voice was sweet, but her expression was cracking— eyes wide with desperation, lips quivering. She dropped to her knees.

“Please, I beg you. Don’t take my happiness away. Don’t take you away from me.”

The air thickened around Hollyberry as vines curled at her feet, as if the Garden itself mourned her impending departure.

Then, as the dream’s colours twisted and darkened, Eternal Sugar began laughing again, the sound hollow, frantic. “You’re mine. You’ll always be mine.”

And then she was screaming—not in rage, but in despair.

“Please… don’t leave me alone.”

Hollyberry reached for her shield, felt its weight, felt the crush of stone and marble pressing down. She saw Eternal Sugar lying in the rubble, wings shattered, halo cracked, yet still smiling faintly at her.

“Even now… you still protect me. How cruel you are, Hollyberry.”

The dream began to collapse in on itself like the Garden had, and Hollyberry jerked awake with a gasp, sweat prickling her brow.

The lights in her chambers had gone dim. The air smelled faintly of firewood and berry wine, but underneath it lingered something sweeter, something that didn’t belong.

Hollyberry pressed a hand to her chest. Her heart was hammering too fast.

It was just a dream. She’s gone. The Garden is gone.

But even as she whispered it to herself, she wasn’t sure she believed it.

She pressed her fingers against her temple and cursed softly.

“Hah… again with this blasted headache.” Her voice was hoarse, tinged with irritation at herself more than the ache. She sat up slowly, the sheets tangling around her legs.

As she dragged herself upright, the fragments of her dream clung to her mind like thorns. Eternal Sugar’s voice still lingered in her ears—soft, saccharine, and laced with desperation.

“You’ll come back to me, won’t you? When your heart has healed… when you’re ready… you’ll stay this time.”

Hollyberry squeezed her eyes shut, trying to drive the words away. She had said something like that, hadn’t she? Her voice, ragged and tired after the battle, promising that if— when —Eternal Sugar was in a better state of mind, she would return to her side. At the time it had been easier to say it, to placate the weeping, broken figure clutching her hand in the rubble.

She sighed heavily and reached for the berry juice on her bedside table, pouring herself a generous swig and downing it without hesitation. The sweetness burned on her tongue. She wasn’t even sure if she liked the taste anymore, or if she simply needed it to dull the edges of her thoughts.

But no matter how much she drank, the memories wouldn’t leave her be.

The Garden had been beautiful—perfect in a way Earthbread never could be. The air had always smelled faintly of honeysuckle and warm sugar, every breeze soft and inviting. Time seemed to slow there, or perhaps it had stopped altogether. She had wandered its paths for hours, days maybe, lulled by Eternal Sugar’s soothing voice and gentle laughter. There had been no burdens on her shoulders, no kingdom to govern, no wars to fight.

For the first time in what felt like centuries, she had felt happy —genuinely, deeply happy. Every word Eternal Sugar spoke had seemed meaningful. Every smile had been for her alone. And though she knew now that the Garden was nothing more than a gilded illusion, she couldn’t help the small pang of longing that stirred in her chest at the memory.

She slammed the empty goblet down onto the table, scowling at herself.

What in blazes am I thinking? she growled inwardly. I have my family here. My kingdom. My people. My son…

Her son.

She had been an irresponsible mother, hadn’t she? Always running off on some reckless adventure, leaving Royal Berry Cookie to grow up without her steady presence. How many nights had he gone to sleep wondering when his mother would return? And then, after the Dark Flour War, she hadn’t returned at all. She had turned her back on everything—her family, her kingdom, her friends—and fled because she hadn’t the will to lead anymore. She had drowned her sorrow in berry juice, laughing too loud and living too recklessly to avoid the crushing weight of failure.

And still, even after all that, her people had welcomed her home with cheers and open arms. As if she deserved their love. As if she hadn’t failed them all.

She had been the shield of the Ancients, the protector, and yet… she hadn’t been able to protect them. Not White Lily Cookie. Not her kingdom. Not herself.

Perhaps the truth was that her people would be better off without her. She was no queen—just a foolish, broken cookie clinging to memories and drowning in berry juice.

But Eternal Sugar…

Hollyberry’s hands clenched at her sides. She hated to admit it, but she had grown attached to the angelic cookie with the soft smile and the maddeningly sweet voice. Eternal Sugar had understood her in a way no one else ever had, hadn’t she? Maybe it had all been an illusion. Maybe it hadn’t. But in that garden, she hadn’t felt like a failure. She hadn’t felt like a coward. She had felt… wanted.

Once again, Hollyberry decided to be selfish.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood, her movements sluggish but determined. She splashed cold water on her face at the basin, wincing as the chill chased away the last haze of sleep. Her reflection stared back at her from the rippling water: tired eyes, deep lines of guilt and weariness etched into her dough.

“Enough,” she muttered. “This kingdom needs a better queen, and they’ve found one. I’ve given them all I could.”

She moved swiftly now, pulling on a travel cloak and filling a small satchel with provisions. Her shield leaned in the corner like an old friend; she reached for it out of habit. But she knew. This journey wasn’t one of protection or war. It was her own.

The halls were quiet as she slipped through them. The soldiers outside her door were drunk from celebrating and easy enough to avoid. Hollyberry pulled the hood low over her face and stepped into the cold night air.

The stars stretched overhead, glittering like gems against the velvet sky. She took a deep breath and began to walk, her boots crunching softly on the moist grass.

I’ll find her, she thought. I’ll find Eternal Sugar Cookie and this time… I’ll stay…

The wind carried the faintest hint of honeysuckle.

*****

The sun had just begun its slow climb over the Hollyberry Kingdom when Wildberry Cookie approached the queen mother’s chambers. He walked with deliberate steps, his massive frame silent despite the armour clinking softly against itself. In one hand he carried a small pouch of candied berries—her favourite—and in the other a folded map. He had noticed the hollowness in her laughter since their return, the shadow lingering in her bright pink eyes no matter how many toasts were raised in her honour. Today, he planned to suggest a trip to the Dark Cacao Kingdom. Perhaps visiting her old friend Dark Cacao Cookie would lift her spirits.

The excuse felt thin even to him—though he wasn’t one to overthink these things. Still, the truth it veiled was embarrassing: he wanted to see Crunchy Chip Cookie again. They weren't seeing each other per se, but… there were threads between them Wildberry hadn’t found the words to name yet. The thought of Crunchy Chip’s cheeky grin and bold remarks was enough to stir something restless in his chest.

But as he reached Hollyberry’s door, the unease that had been gnawing at him since their return sharpened. The guards posted outside were gone, no doubt sleeping off last night’s revelry. The air here felt too still.

He knocked once. No answer.

“Your majesty?” His deep voice echoed softly through the halls.

Silence.

Wildberry’s brow furrowed. He pressed his ear to the door but heard nothing within. Carefully, he tested the handle. It turned without resistance. The room beyond was empty.

Her bed was unmade, the sheets tossed aside. The faint smell of berry juice lingered in the air, mixed with something sweeter, subtler… honeysuckle?

His gaze swept over the room, taking in the missing cloak, the empty weapon stand where her shield usually rested. A satchel was gone from the wardrobe. On the bedside table sat a half-finished goblet, the red stain of juice clinging to its rim.

Wildberry’s jaw tightened.

“She’s gone,” he murmured to himself. His hands curled into fists. He didn’t need to ask where. He already knew.

The Garden. Eternal Sugar Cookie.

Foolish woman.

*****

The wind stung Hollyberry’s face as she trudged across the snowy expanse, the cold biting through her cloak. Her boots crunched against frost-hardened grass, her breath rising in faint white clouds. She had been walking for hours, or maybe even days. She had stopped keeping track of time.

The Hollyberry Kingdom was far behind her now. The stars had given way to a gray morning sky, but she barely noticed. Her thoughts were heavy, circling back on themselves like a predator stalking its prey.

You’re a coward.

Each step seemed to echo with the accusation. She had abandoned her family once before after the Dark Flour War—fled when the kingdom needed her most. And she had been doing it again ever since her return, hadn’t she?

Royal Berry deserved a mother who stayed. The kingdom deserved a queen who fought. Instead, they got me.

She had failed White Lily Cookie, too. Failed to be the shield her friends needed her to be.

Some hero. Some protector.

And yet… when Eternal Sugar Cookie had looked at her in the Garden with those soft, mournful eyes, Hollyberry had felt—needed. Wanted. Not for her shield or her strength, not for what she could give to others. Just… for herself.

It was selfish, she knew. But she was tired of being selfless.

The memory of Eternal Sugar’s voice floated in her mind, warm and cloying.

“Stay. Here there is no pain. Here, I can make you happy.”

Hollyberry’s hands shook as she pulled her cloak tighter. The snow crunched louder under her boots now, or maybe her hearing was sharpening in the quiet.

She couldn’t deny it any longer: she missed Eternal Sugar cookie. Missed the Garden’s perfect stillness, the way her burdens had melted away in that sweet, golden light. Even if it had been a lie, it had felt real . And wasn’t that enough?

The ache in her chest deepened as she thought of her kingdom. Her son. Her friends. They deserved better than her. Wildberry, loyal as ever, had tried so hard to keep her tethered, but even he couldn’t understand.

They’ll be better off without me. They always were.

The snow grew deeper as the path narrowed. Hollyberry stumbled, her body growing heavier with every step. Her fingers, stiff from the cold, brushed against the Soul Jam she had tucked deep in her satchel. She hesitated, pulling it out just long enough to stare at the soft pink glow emanating faintly from within.

“Eternal Sugar,” she murmured, her voice catching. “I’m coming back.”

She pressed onward, her boots sinking into the drifts. The Garden might be gone, but she would find her. She had to find her.

Behind her, the horizon was warming with dawn light, but Hollyberry didn’t look back.

*****

The oppressive heat of Beast Yeast pressed down on Hollyberry Cookie like a suffocating blanket. Her boots dragged across the moss-covered ground, the air thick with the hum of unseen creatures and the cloying scent of fermenting fruits. Days had blurred together since she had left her kingdom and stumbled into this lush, wild territory. She hadn’t stopped—not for food, not for water, not even for sleep. Each step forward felt like defiance against her failing body.

Her dough trembled violently, her hands cracking from clutching the strap of her satchel. And yet, the memory of Eternal Sugar Cookie kept her upright. The sound of that sweet, lilting voice lingered in her ears like a phantom, each syllable dripping with warmth and devotion. She wanted that again—the illusion or reality no longer mattered. She craved it like an addict craves their poison, desperate to dissolve in the Garden’s embrace, to silence the void clawing at her insides.

A beast erupted from the underbrush, its claws slicing the air. Hollyberry swung her fist weakly, her blows lacking their old power. It snarled and lunged, but her shield arm moved on instinct, bashing the creature aside. She didn’t wait to see if it lived or died. Her legs kept moving though they screamed for rest.

The ground tilted beneath her boots. Her vision grew hazy, colours bleeding together like paint left out in the rain. Her body betrayed her at last. Hollyberry fell forward, collapsing into the ferns and moss. The thick jungle air wrapped around her as her eyelids fluttered shut.

In her fading thoughts, she saw Eternal Sugar’s smile—the kind that promised peace while hiding chains. Love and something far more dangerous glimmered in those eyes as the world went dark.

Chapter Text

“Well now,” he murmured, his voice missing its usual theatrical lilt. “This is… sooner than expected.”

Pavlova Cookie stood over her still form, staring in muted surprise.

Hollyberry Cookie. The indomitable queen of passion, now lying here, her breaths shallow and uneven. She looked almost fragile in the dappled sunlight, her pink hair tangled with leaves. Even in ruin, she was formidable—like a monument toppled but never forgotten.

Pavlova crouched low and brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Dear Hollyberry… what have you done to yourself?”

With a small grunt, he hoisted her onto his shoulder. Her weight was less than he remembered, though still substantial. He adjusted his himation and began the journey back through the jungle.

As he approached, his mind swirled with unease. The days since the Garden fell had been quiet—too quiet. Every silence had once been filled with song or laughter, but now it felt hollow. The absence of Eternal Sugar’s music and light gnawed at him in ways he didn’t like to name.

He looked to the side, examining the face of the dishevelled Queen Mother on his shoulder. Why had she come back? It’s not like he wasn’t expecting her; Eternal Sugar cookie was very versed in the art of manipulation, he knew that better than anyone. But so soon?

Love, he thought suddenly, his lips forming the word before he realized it. This must be love. If you truly love someone, you don’t let them go. Not ever.

But even as the thought comforted him, a fissure opened inside his chest. His mind wandered to Sugarfly Cookie—the delicate, radiant creature who had flitted through the Garden like a dream and left just as suddenly. When she disappeared, Pavlova had felt himself shift, his boyish, airy form shedding into something sharper and heavier. Adulthood had come crashing over him in her absence. Was that love? Or simply possession? He knew something had changed that day, but he hadn’t quite figured it out yet.

Do I really love her? The question cut deeper than expected.

Even if he did, it seemed meaningless now. The Garden was a pale reflection of its former self, its glory decayed into silence and shadows. Eternal Sugar had changed too, though he dared not speak it aloud. And Sugarfly… wherever she was, would she even want to return?

Were any of them truly happy—within the Garden’s embrace or beyond its gates?

Pavlova mused to himself, “ Had the two of us met somewhere other than the Garden , we might have hoped for a different kind of happiness…”

His sandals crunched over damp leaves as he arrived, adjusting Hollyberry’s weight on his shoulder. The remnants of the Garden loomed ahead, its broken arches visible through the foliage. White stone cracked and weathered, ivy creeping across its surface like veins. The air still carried the faint fragrance of sugar blossoms, but it was stale, like a memory grown sour.

The sugar angels emerged from the foliage, their wings dulled but faintly glowing. They drifted toward him with cautious reverence.

“Take her,” Pavlova said authoritatively, lowering Hollyberry into their waiting arms. “She’s come home.”

*****

Hollyberry’s consciousness drifted back like a sluggish tide, her body heavy and stiff as though she had been encased in syrup for centuries. She let out a low groan, her lips cracked and dry. Every inch of her dough screamed in protest, her stomach a hollow pit gnawing at her resolve. It felt as though she had been trampled by a hundred beasts—and, considering the last few days, perhaps she had been.

She blinked against the golden light filtering through fractured marble arches above her. The air was thick with the faint scent of candied flowers and something else—decay. Slowly, Hollyberry forced herself to sit up, her hands trembling as they sank into the dust-laden floor.

This was the Garden of Delights… but not as she remembered it. Once, it had been paradise itself, a sanctum of ethereal beauty where every petal seemed to glow and every sound was like a lullaby. Now, the grand colonnades stood shattered and overgrown, vines strangling the delicate carvings until only faint outlines of angels remained. The fountains no longer sang; their waters were stagnant, reflecting the dull sky above.

Her gaze swept across the space and caught on the sugar angels who drifted silently nearby. Their once-pristine wings were crumbling, feathers trailing to the ground like melting icing. Broken horns crowned their bowed heads, their faint luminescence flickering in and out like dying embers. They were barely holding together, haunting remnants of the paradise Eternal Sugar Cookie had so carefully crafted.

And then Hollyberry’s eyes landed on a figure in the distance. Her breath caught.

Pavlova Cookie.

But… not the same Pavlova she recalled. The giggling, childlike angel-boy was gone. In his place stood a tall young man, his features sharper, his posture straighter. His once-innocent eyes now held a strange gravity as he moved among the ruins.

Am I losing my mind? Hollyberry wondered. Or has that little imp actually grown into a man in the span of a few weeks? Exhaustion clouded her senses, but the sight of him felt too vivid to be a hallucination.

Pavlova turned then, and their eyes met. Surprise flashed briefly across his face before it softened into something unreadable. He approached, his steps unhurried but deliberate.

“You’re awake,” he said quietly, his voice deeper than she remembered. “You should eat something. There’s food prepared for you… and a change of clothes—”

Hollyberry barely heard him. Her parched lips parted, her voice raw and hoarse. “Where is she?”

Pavlova faltered mid-step. The light in his magenta eyes dimmed, a shadow crossing his expression.

“Eat first,” he murmured. “Rest. You’ll see her soon.”

But Hollyberry pushed against the cold stone beneath her palms, forcing her weary body upright. “No. I need to know. Is she here? Is she—” Her voice caught, thick with emotion she hadn’t intended to bare. “Is she all right?”

For a moment, Pavlova’s carefully composed mask slipped. The corners of his lips twitched—not into his usual smile, but something sadder, heavier.

“You’ll meet her in due time,” he said softly. “She’s… waiting for you.”

The weight of his vague answer wrapped around Hollyberry like a chill. Her heart thudded dully against her ribs as she stared at Pavlova. T he somber gleam in his eyes lingered with her, and for the first time since she’d stumbled back into this place, Hollyberry felt the faintest prickle of unease.

*****

Hollyberry stared down at the modest plate of jam and warm bread Pavlova had placed before her. Her stomach growled despite the weight in her chest, and she forced herself to eat slowly, chewing as if every bite was a small act of defiance against the weariness pressing on her. When she finished, Pavlova set down a folded bundle of fabric beside her—a gown of soft, luminous white with hints of pink and gold catching the light.

“This was prepared for you,” Pavlova said quietly, “By her own hands.”

Hollyberry blinked, her fingers brushing the delicate fabric. The thought of Eternal Sugar Cookie sewing each stitch sent a strange heat crawling up her neck. She shook her head, muttering under her breath, “Sentimental little thing…” But her voice lacked its usual fire. Instead, it was soft, almost wistful.

She rose unsteadily and made her way to the small chamber nearby. It smelled faintly of roses and spun sugar. Hollyberry slipped out of her tattered cloak and into the new garments.

The gown draped over her like a second skin, cool and silken to the touch. The white fabric flowed in layered folds, diamond-shaped pink accents and gold trim catching the fading light. A red sash crossed her torso diagonally, golden floral decorations blooming along its edge as though Eternal Sugar herself had breathed life into them. A belt adorned with tiny roses cinched her waist, and as she adjusted it, she caught sight of her reflection in a cracked mirror.

Her long hair—magenta-pink and dulled from the journey—had been brushed and styled by the Sugar Angels while she’d slept. Now it fell in soft waves, a braid weaving down her shoulder, threaded with delicate blossoms in reds and purples, green vines curling like eager fingers. White hairpieces shaped like wings crowned her head, almost too beautiful to bear.

For a moment, Hollyberry froze. She did all this for me?

A blush crept up her cheeks before she could stop it. She quickly averted her eyes and straightened her posture. “Get a hold of yourself,” she muttered, pressing her lips into a thin line.

But even as she tried to compose herself, her thoughts kept returning to Eternal Sugar. Hours had passed since she’d dragged herself back into this ruin, and yet she had not laid eyes on her.

Hollyberry stepped out of the chamber, her sandals slapping softly against the worn stone as she began to wander through the Garden. The sugar angels watched her in silence as she searched the ruins desperately, their crumbling wings fluttering lazily.

Her steps slowed. The Heart of the Garden.

That was where most of their time had been spent. The intimate moments, the heated glances, the conversations that had seemed to stretch into eternity. Hollyberry’s breath caught in her throat as she turned down the overgrown path leading deeper, her heart thudding in her chest.

Then she heard it: a faint, delicate sound. The strings of a lyre, plucked lazily, notes drifting like petals in the breeze. Her feet carried her forward, faster now, the sound growing clearer with each step.

And then, she entered the Heart of the Garden.

The air here felt different—lighter, sweeter. While the rest of the Garden had fallen to ruin, this place seemed untouched. No, not untouched. Perfected. The flowers bloomed more vibrantly, their colours impossibly rich. The grass was thick and soft, the air warm and humming with life. It was as though Eternal Sugar had poured every ounce of her remaining power into preserving this single place.

At the centre stood the tree where so many of their memories had taken root. Its trunk twisted gracefully upward, blossoms glowing faintly in shades of pink and lavender. Leaning against its left side was Eternal Sugar Cookie.

Her wings were tucked away. She sat curled on the mossy roots, knees nearly to her chest, her silver circlet catching the light. In her lap rested her crystal ball, and her fingers plucked idly at her lyre, soft notes mingling with the sound of her faint humming. Her eyes—downturned and tired—watched the empty ball as though the entire world lived inside it.

Hollyberry froze at the edge of the clearing. For all her determination to find this Cookie, now that she was here, she felt rooted to the spot. Eternal Sugar looked so small—so fragile—as though she were barely holding herself together.

And yet, she was still achingly beautiful.

The sight of her sent a pang through Hollyberry’s chest, and though she tried to summon the fire she was known for, only quiet longing came.

“Eternal Sugar…?” Hollyberry whispered, the name slipping out before she could stop it.

*****

The sound of distant movement rippled through the Garden—low voices, rustling wings, the crunch of footsteps on fractured marble—but Eternal Sugar Cookie paid it no mind. Whatever disturbance it was, it did not matter. Not anymore. The only thing that could rouse her from this strange, heavy stillness would be seeing her other half again. Only Hollyberry could pierce the veil of numbness draped over her like a funeral shroud.

Her pale fingers lingered over the lyre’s strings, plucking out a quiet, aimless melody. The Heart of the Garden was all that remained intact after the ruin, its sacred grounds somehow spared by her frantic preservation spells. Even when her domain crumbled, this sanctuary persisted—an anchor she clung to in her darkest hours. Here she had worked tirelessly to weave two garments: hers and Hollyberry’s. Floral threads and shimmering silk, intertwined with the memory of their joined laughter. 

After Hollyberry’s departure, she had watched—oh, how she had watched through her crystal ball, the mighty queen’s journey back to Crispia. Her strong figure standing tall despite her wounds, her companions rallying around her. At first, Eternal Sugar felt hope bloom like a fragile bud in her chest. Perhaps Hollyberry would keep her promise. Perhaps she would return. Perhaps she would remember the warmth they shared. But as days stretched into weeks, and weeks blurred into a suffocating eternity, that bud withered. Hope became a brittle, dangerous thing.

She had persevered nonetheless, playing her lyre for hours on end, humming old hymns into the lonely air. Sometimes, Pavlova would linger by the edges of the Heart, eyes hollow with worry, but she never acknowledged him. Her focus remained fixed on the image in her crystal ball—Hollyberry’s laughter, her pensive silences, the way her hands flexed restlessly even at rest.

But lately, her visions had grown faint, fractured. One evening, she had stared so long at the swirling mist in the ball that she barely noticed when her fingers began to tremble violently. The visions slipped away, and in their place was her own reflection—hollow-eyed, a smile cracked at the edges.

She remembered the night Pavlova came to her, his voice breaking slightly as he placed warm bread in her lap and whispered, “She will return.”

But his words had only deepened the ache in her chest. She had wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe she had not ruined everything. Eternal Sugar had seen what clinging too tightly could do. And yet, she could not stop. If Hollyberry never came back, then what was she? What meaning would remain in this hollow paradise?

One night, when the moonlight bled silver across the Heart of the Garden, Lady Azure arrived, walking up the cracked marble path with her wicker basket of blueberries balanced on her hip. Her serene face betrayed nothing of her thoughts, but Eternal Sugar’s lips curled into a bitter line as soon as she caught sight of her.

“Leave,” she said sharply. Her voice lacked its usual saccharine lilt; it was raw, stripped bare. “I will not entertain you. Not tonight.”

Lady in Azure tilted her head, her cool smile unshaken. “Oh, Bringer of Happiness, you wound me,” she crooned in her airy tone. “Not even a hello?”

“I said leave, Shadow Milk.”

But Shadow Milk, in true jester’s fashion, only let out a silvery laugh. It rang like crystal chimes at first, then cracked into something shriller, mocking. “I warned you, did I not? Ease your grip on her, or she would slip through your fingers. But no… you clutched all the tighter.”

Eternal Sugar’s nails dug into her palms. “You know nothing of her—of us.”

“Ah, but don’t I?” Lady Azure knelt smoothly, plucking two blueberries from her basket and rolling them in her hand. “Here. Let me show you.”

One berry gleamed, plump and vibrant. “Hollyberry,” she said with a flourish. The other sat duller by comparison, its skin puckering as it began to wrinkle and darken. “And you.”

“Stop this,” Eternal Sugar murmured, her breath hitching.

But Lady Azure’s smile widened cruelly. “She thrives without you. She laughs, she drinks, her kingdom adores her. And you?” The dull blueberry began oozing rot, its sweet scent turning acrid. “You’re wasting away in this prison you built for yourself. She will forget you. You will be nothing.”

“Lies!” Eternal Sugar’s voice cracked, her chest heaving.

“Truths sweetened with a little poison, my dear. Isn’t that what you love?” Lady Azure’s shrill laugh echoed across the Heart as she rolled the healthy berry between her fingers. “You will rot, Bringer of Happiness. And she will never look back.”

The words wormed deep under her skin, sharp and burning. Eternal Sugar’s breaths came faster, shallow and uneven. Her vision blurred at the edges, and her trembling fingers slipped from the lyre.

“Stop… please stop…”

“Such a pitiful sight. Shall I perform for you one last time?” Lady Azure’s voice pitched higher, almost manic now. “The great Bringer of Happiness, so hollow she must drink her own nectar to feel alive—”

“GET OUT!”

The scream ripped from Eternal Sugar’s throat as she hurled her crystal ball with all her strength. It missed Lady in Azure by a hair, shattering into a thousand jagged pieces that rained across the marble floor as it connected with it.

The blue Cookie’s form flickered violently before unravelling, her skin slithering into shimmering scales. In an instant, Shadow Milk’s form changed—a long blue serpent with gleaming eyes and a mouth full of fangs. He coiled mockingly around the broken pillars.

“I’ll leave you to your despair, Bringer of Happiness,” he hissed with a smirk. “But know this: you will never stop bleeding for her.”

And then he vanished into the shadows, his laughter lingering like venom in the air.

Eternal Sugar sank to her knees, staring at the wreckage of her crystal ball. Her hands trembled violently as her gaze fell to a single shard glinting in the dim light. Slowly, almost dreamily, she picked it up, turning it over in her fingers.

Her thoughts scattered like frightened birds, erratic and clashing:

‘ It’s nothing.’
‘It’s everything.’
‘She’s gone.’
‘She’ll come back.’
‘She doesn’t love you.’
‘She loves you.’

A laugh bubbled up from her throat—high, fragile, and broken. She dragged the shard across her dough, wincing as a thin, crimson line bloomed across her arm. The sting was sharp. Grounding.

Everything since then had been a blur. Days bled into each other, indistinct and colorless. Pavlova had taken it upon himself to manage what little remained of the Garden while she lingered in the Heart, lazily plucking her lyre, staring into what fragments of the crystal ball she had managed to piece back together. Each time a flicker of feeling returned, she would cut again, sending herself back into the numbness.

Nobody dared enter the Heart of the Garden.

Not until now.

A sound carried faintly on the wind. A voice—low, familiar, trembling.

“Eternal Sugar…?”

The lyre slipped from her fingers. Her breath hitched, and she froze in place.

That voice. That impossible, beloved voice.

Hollyberry.

Chapter Text

The sound of that voice— Hollyberry’s voice— sank into Eternal Sugar Cookie’s mind like a blade dipped in honey, cutting her open with sweetness and pain. She froze, fingers stiff over the lyre’s strings as the last note wavered and died in the heavy air. Her chest tightened.

This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real.

How many times had she dreamed this exact moment? How many nights had her mind curled back on itself, conjuring her other half’s voice from the hollow of her longing, weaving illusions so vivid they left her weeping when the silence returned?

No. This was another trick. Another cruel illusion meant to torment her broken heart. The Garden had been silent for too long. No one dared enter the heart of it. No one ever came.

Her fingers dug into the broken crystal ball resting in her lap, glass edges biting into her dough.  She stared down at it, refusing to look up. Refusing to give in to the trickery of her own thoughts. In the cracked surface, her warped reflection stared back. Don’t look up. Don’t believe it. Hope was a poison. She couldn’t drink from that cup again. 

But then—

“Eternal Sugar…”

Her heart stuttered painfully.

The footsteps drew closer, slow and heavy like they carried the weight of years. She felt a shadow fall over her, and there it was: the scent of berries, the faint warmth radiating from her presence, that deep and grounding hum of a soul she’d once called her other half.

Still, she didn’t dare look. Her hands trembled violently as she debated: glance up and risk shattering herself all over again, or stay curled in the numbness she had worked so hard to build?

“Eternal Sugar,” the voice said again, closer this time.

A figure knelt before her.

Slowly, like a puppet resisting its strings, Eternal Sugar raised her head. And there she was; Hollyberry Cookie, eyes steady and fierce even as faint bruises shadowed her skin. She looked alive, so unbearably alive, her dough flushed from travel and her breath warm and real.

The lyre slipped from Eternal Sugar’s hands, thudding to the grass below. Her hands, trembling violently, rose to cup Hollyberry’s face. They hovered for a moment—hesitant, terrified—and then pressed gently against her cheeks; her fingers brushed over the familiar, strong features she had memorized in countless dreams, tracing lines as if to confirm this wasn’t some cruel dream.

“You… came back…” The words were a breath, a prayer, her lips trembling as they shaped them.

“Yes,” Hollyberry murmured, her voice low, steady. “I’m here.”

“You came back,” Eternal Sugar repeated, a little louder this time. Her thumbs brushed over Hollyberry’s strong jaw, the calloused skin of her cheeks. “You came back. You… came back?”

The words kept tumbling, rising in pitch and speed until they became a frantic chant. “You came back, you came back, you came—” Her fingers dug into Hollyberry’s dough, desperate, as if she could mold her into permanence, as if she could keep her from slipping away again.

Hollyberry winced slightly. “Sugar—wait—”

“You came back! YOU CAME BACK!” Eternal Sugar’s voice cracked and broke, pitching higher, desperation splintering into mania. Her nails scraped down Hollyberry’s cheeks, unthinking, leaving faint crimson streaks in their wake.

“Eternal Sugar, stop!” Hollyberry caught her wrists firmly but gently, holding them in place. “It’s alright. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Don’t leave me again!” Eternal Sugar sobbed, her voice hoarse with anguish. “Don’t—you can’t—I can’t—”

Hollyberry pressed her forehead to hers.

“Hush now,” Hollyberry said, her tone low and soothing despite the scratches stinging her face. She eased Eternal Sugar’s hands down, holding them tightly in her own. “Breathe, Sugar. It’s alright. I’m not leaving. I’m right here.”

For a moment, Eternal Sugar stilled, her frantic breathing ragged and uneven. Her eyes darted to the angry red marks marring Hollyberry’s cheeks.

“I hurt you…” she whispered, horror flickering across her face. Longing, anger, shame, and a sick, desperate kind of joy warred in her expression. “I didn’t mean—oh, Holly, I didn’t—”

“It’s alright,” Hollyberry murmured, her voice steady. “Just breathe, Sugar. Talk to me. What’s wrong?”

But Eternal Sugar couldn’t speak coherently anymore. Her words dissolved into sobs, tumbling out in a torrent of raw, jagged sound.

“I waited— I watched— I—I sewed us garments, I sewed in flowers— I kept it all alive— I thought if I just waited long enough, if I just made it all beautiful again, you’d see and you’d stay. But— but the Garden rotted and I—I rotted too— Lady in Azure said you wouldn’t come back— I couldn’t stop it— I tried, Holly, I tried—oh, I’m so tired—”

Her thoughts spiralled faster than her lips could form the words, a storm of grief and mania tearing her apart from the inside. Hollyberry pulled her close, wrapping strong arms around her shaking body.

“Shhh… I’ve got you now,” Hollyberry murmured into her hair. “It’s alright. You’re safe. We’ll figure this out.”

Eternal Sugar clung to her with a desperate strength, sobs wracking her frail form until her voice gave out and she collapsed into Hollyberry’s embrace, trembling violently as the last of her defences crumbled into silence.

*****

The Eternal Sugar Cookie Hollyberry remembered was radiant— a vision of serenity and glowing grandeur, the Bringer of Happiness who seemed untouchable, almost divine. She had been warmth incarnate, her smile effortlessly filling the vastness of the Garden with light. But now, looking at her crumpled on the grass like a fragile blossom blown around by the wind, something sharp and cold lodged itself in Hollyberry’s chest. The sight hit her like a spear to the gut.

“Sugar,” Hollyberry murmured softly, her voice almost breaking on the single word. She reached out, her calloused hand hovered before brushing aside a stray lock of that silken pink hair, now duller than she remembered. “It’s alright… I’m here now.”

But Eternal Sugar didn’t seem to hear her. She stiffened. She didn’t lift her gaze, didn’t turn. For a moment Hollyberry thought she’d imagined it—that her exhaustion had conjured a cruel mirage. But then, Sugar’s fingers tightened around Hollyberry’s chest. The faint tremor in her hand betrayed her.

“I waited,” Eternal Sugar whispered at last, the words fractured and soft. “I watched you leave. I… I kept waiting for you to come back. But every day the Garden rotted, and I—I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t fix it.” Her voice cracked, low and raw. “I broke the Garden. I broke me.”

Hollyberry’s gaze drifted down as her thumb brushed against Eternal Sugar’s arm. There, under the delicate light of the Garden, she saw them— the faint lattice of cuts and scars, the once-perfect dough marred by lines that told a story of too many nights alone. A sickness pooled in Hollyberry’s stomach.

Oh no.

No.

She felt her throat tighten as her mind screamed at her, a cruel chorus of blame. Was this her fault? Had leaving done this? Had she once again failed to protect someone she loved? She had failed her son in his youth, failed her kingdom in its hour of need, failed her friends and now, even here, even with her own heart, she had failed.

I’m never enough… never strong enough to keep them safe.

“Sugar,” Hollyberry said more firmly, her voice trembling.

There she knelt before Eternal Sugar, calloused hands cradling her delicate wrists, her fingers tracing over the rough, uneven cuts with devastating care. “These… did you dress these properly? How long have you—” Her voice cracked on the last words, her own pain nearly suffocating her.

“Why…” Eternal Sugar’s lips parted, her voice a whisper like glass scraping across stone. “Why did you come back? To see what’s left of me? To remind me how wrong I was to hope…?”

“I came back because—” Hollyberry’s voice cracked. “Because I couldn’t stop thinking of you. And now look at you... You’re tearing yourself apart!”

“You left,” Eternal Sugar murmured bitterly, her voice trembling as her fingers gripped onto Hollyberry’s garment even tighter. “You left me to rot in my own garden. I told you I couldn’t live without you, and you still walked away.”

“I left because I thought it was the right thing,” Hollyberry said, her own voice cracking under the weight of her guilt. “But seeing you like this… maybe I was wrong. Maybe leaving broke us both.”

“Don’t say that unless you mean it. I… I can’t bear it again. Stay. Please.” Her voice quivered, fragile as a spider’s web. One touch, and she’d snap. “Please, Hollyberry. I’m nothing without you. I don’t want to be nothing anymore.”

Eternal Sugar’s glassy gaze finally lifted. She looked at Hollyberry as if she were staring into the sun—awed, afraid, and fragile all at once. The disbelief in her expression crumpled into despair, and her lips quivered. “I tried to be enough without you,” she said, barely audible. “But I couldn’t. I can’t. You’re—”

A choked sob tore from her lips as her entire body shook violently. It was soundless at first, just trembling, like the first crack of ice before it shatters. Then the dam broke and the sound came, loud and keening, an ugly, uncontrolled cry that startled even Hollyberry.

“Sugar,” Hollyberry whispered, wrapping her arms tighter around her. “Hush now. It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything. Just breathe. I’m not leaving you again.”

She held her close, felt her trembling, her sobs shaking them both as Hollyberry pressed a gentle kiss to the crown of her lover’s head.

“I—I don’t know if I can fix this. I don’t even know if I can fix me. But I won’t leave you to break alone again.” She tightened her hold, determined to keep them both from falling to pieces in the hollow of the ruined Garden.

They sat like that in the stillness of the Garden’s heart, two Cookies tangled in longing and regret, as the faint echo of Eternal Sugar’s sob hung mournfully in the air. Hollyberry’s arms remained tight around her, fingers absentmindedly stroking through silken curls that seemed dimmer than before, as though the vibrant light had been drained from them. Sugar’s trembling slowed little by little, though her breaths still hitched as if any sharp movement might shatter her all over again.

“I missed you,” Sugar whispered, her voice so small and uneven Hollyberry barely caught the words. “Your warmth… your laugh... I missed all of it. Every day felt hollow without you.”

Hollyberry’s chest tightened. She wanted to scold her, to tell her she shouldn’t have let herself unravel like this… but how could she? When she herself had been so close to breaking on the way back here?

 A faint, shaky laugh escaped her, bitter and sweet. “Those long talks by the tree—I kept replaying them over and over until my head ached. It was all I had left.”

Eternal Sugar tilted her head ever so slightly, her downturned magenta eyes flickering with a strange mixture of fear and raw adoration. For a moment, she looked as if she might pull away— but instead she surged forward, pressing her lips against Hollyberry’s in a kiss. The impact jolted Hollyberry’s breath from her chest.

Their lips met hard. It wasn’t soft or graceful; it was raw and unpracticed, their teeth clashing before settling into a bruising rhythm. Sugar let out a soft, broken sound—half sigh, half sob—and Hollyberry swallowed it greedily, cupping her lover’s face like she was afraid she’d disappear if she let go.

Sugar’s hands fisted in Hollyberry’s tunic, pulling her impossibly closer until there was no space between them. Eternal Sugar’s wings fluttered behind her, a faint shimmer of light dancing off the feathers, while her spade-tipped tail curled tightly around Hollyberry’s wrist as though to tether her in place.

The Garden around them seemed to fade, every scent and sound dulled except for the sharp tang of berry wine still clinging faintly to Hollyberry’s mouth and the faint sweetness of Sugar’s breath as she gasped into her kisses.

Hollyberry groaned low in her throat, her fingers digging into Sugar’s hips before sliding up her sides, feeling every tremor, every ragged inhale. Witches, she’s so delicate now… too delicate. But she came back for this. For her.

“Say it,” Hollyberry whispered against her lips, her voice rough, breaking. “Say you want me to stay.”

“Holly…” Sugar breathed against her mouth, her voice barely more than a shudder. Her fingers clutched at Hollyberry’s shoulders like she could anchor herself there, like this was the only way she wouldn’t splinter apart completely. “Stay— don’t pull away this time. Please.”

And Hollyberry didn’t. She kissed her harder this time, rougher, dragging her tongue along Sugar’s lower lip until the smaller cookie let out a sharp gasp. One of Sugar’s hands shot up, threading into Hollyberry’s wild pink hair and tugging— hard. Hollyberry hissed, the sting only spurring her on.

“You don’t get to fall apart alone anymore,” Hollyberry whispered against the corner of Sugar’s mouth, punctuating her words with searing kisses along her jaw, down her neck. Sugar tilted her head back with a shudder, exposing more of that delicate curve for Hollyberry’s hungry lips.

“I’ll break you too,” Sugar murmured breathlessly, her voice lilting with a dangerous sweetness even as her body trembled. “I can’t—can’t help it.”

“Then break me.” Hollyberry’s teeth scraped lightly at the tender skin of her throat, eliciting a sharp gasp. “Just don’t push me away this time.”

Their mouths found each other again, this time slower but no less intense, like they were trying to memorize every taste, every sound. Sugar whimpered into her, her legs instinctively wrapping and tightening around Hollyberry’s hips.

A small whimper escaped Sugar’s throat as she deepened the kiss, her hands tightening around Hollyberry's neck. She pulled back just enough to speak, her voice thick with longing. “Lay with me tonight. Let me feel you. Just you and me, as it should be.”

Hollyberry stilled, her breath came hard and uneven, her body aching with the pull of emotion and memory. Witch’s mercy, she wanted to say yes. But she pulled back slightly, cupping Eternal Sugar’s cheek tenderly, their foreheads resting together. “Sugar… you don’t even realize how much I want to—but not like this.”

Sugar blinked, her expression crumpling slightly as confusion and hurt flashed in her eyes. “Why…?”

“Because you’re running yourself ragged, and I won’t let you fall apart in my arms,” Hollyberry said, brushing a thumb along the curve of her jaw. “Look at you, Sugar. You haven’t eaten. You haven’t bathed. You’ve been ignoring the cuts on your arms.”

Sugar’s wings twitched and tucked themselves back in tightly, as if curling into herself. For a moment, Hollyberry feared she’d protest, but then Sugar’s gaze softened.

“Only if you come with me,” she murmured, her voice small but laced with a vulnerable sort of hope. “You’ll… you’ll stay while I do it, right? If you’ll stay with me, I’ll do whatever you say. Just don’t leave me alone again.”

Hollyberry nodded, brushing a stray pink lock from Sugar’s face. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Something in Sugar’s posture loosened at that. The tension in her shoulders gave way to a fragile kind of acceptance. Slowly, she let go of Hollyberry.

“Alright then,” she whispered. “Stay close… I don’t want to let you out of my sight again.”

Hollyberry smiled faintly, despite the ache in her chest. “You won’t have to.”

****

The water was warmer than she expected—soft, scented steam curling upward in delicate wisps. The sugar angels had infused the water with crushed petals and herbs, and every breath filled her lungs with their sweet, calming fragrance. The evening sun poured through the fractured arches of the Garden, its light rich and syrupy orange, painting the water’s surface in molten gold.

Eternal Sugar lowered herself in slowly with a sigh she hadn’t meant to let out, the heat wrapping her tired body in an embrace that almost felt alive. She could feel the warmth seeping deep into her tired dough, unraveling knots she hadn’t even known were there. Her body floated for a moment, heavy yet weightless, as though the water had coaxed all the exhaustion from her bones and now held it gently, refusing to let her drown.

A faint sting licked at the cuts on her arms— freshly cleaned and dressed thanks to Hollyberry’s insistent care. The pain was strangely welcome, grounding her. She thought back to earlier, to sitting on Hollyberry’s lap and being fed soft bread and spoonfuls of berry preserves as if she were something delicate, something cherished. The memory filled her now with a strange fullness, both comforting and sharp, as if her heart couldn’t quite hold all of it.

Hollyberry, of course, looked radiant even here—lounging on the other end of the bath with her head tilted back, a goblet of berry wine resting in her hand. Her thick pink hair framed her face in damp waves, catching faint glimmers of the evening sunlight. She looked relaxed, almost royal, and Eternal Sugar caught herself staring—just staring—at her, too long and too intently.

Sugar only realized how long she’d been staring when Hollyberry’s amused gaze caught her. Heat flared across her face. Before Hollyberry could tease her, she sank beneath the water until only her eyes peeked above the surface, like some embarrassed beast hiding from its keeper.

Hollyberry’s hearty laugh rang out, filling the tiled chamber with warmth. “Are you hiding from me in your own bath, Sugar?” she teased, taking another lazy sip of her wine.

“I… wasn’t hiding.” Sugar’s voice came muffled, bubbling just above the waterline.

Hollyberry’s laugh rolled over her like warm wine. “Liar.” She tipped her goblet toward Sugar with a grin. “How’s the water feel?”

Eternal Sugar considered the question, letting herself sink deeper for a moment as she tried to articulate the sensation. “It feels…” She searched for the right word, her brow furrowing slightly. “Strange. Good, but strange. My whole body feels sore—like I’ve been away from warmth too long.”

“Well then,” Hollyberry said, setting down her empty goblet on the bath’s edge. “You deserve a proper massage. You’ve been cooped up in this Garden for witches knows how long.”

Eternal Sugar stiffened, a soft flush coloring her cheeks. “Massage…? You’d… do that?”

“Of course. Come here, don’t be shy.”

Hollyberry’s tone was so casual, but something about it made Sugar’s heart leap against her ribs.

Still hesitating, Eternal Sugar pushed through the water, her movements slow and unsure, and turned her back to Hollyberry.

Hollyberry let out a low chuckle and pulled her closer until she was nestled between her thighs, her back pressed lightly to her chest. “There we go. Witches above, you’re so tense.”

The first touch made Eternal Sugar shiver. Hollyberry’s broad hands, rough yet careful, worked their way over her shoulders and neck, massaging slow circles into aching muscles. Eternal Sugar’s tail flicked nervously under the surface.

Sugar tried not to think about how close they were. Her blush crept higher, heart pounding like a frightened animal. Nudity had never been a concern for her before; the Beasts often shared baths and springs without a second thought. Yet here she was, her skin prickling under Hollyberry’s touch. 

“I don’t know why I’m so nervous,” Sugar murmured. “I used to bathe with the other Beasts all the time… Nudity was nothing then. But now…”

Hollyberry chuckled, a deep, warm sound. “You’re overthinking. It’s just you and me. Nothing to be shy about. There’s nothing shameful about resting with someone you care for.”

Sugar hummed, unsure if that reassured her or not. Hollyberry’s hands worked lower, thumbs kneading circles down her spine, and the tension melted out of her like butter in the sun. Sugar let out a small, unbidden whimper as her head fell forward. Her wings quivered slightly—traitorous things that threatened to flare each time she tried to suppress a shiver.

They fell into easy conversation. Hollyberry spoke of her kingdom, of little stories and fleeting memories, laughing loud and often as she sipped her drink. Eternal Sugar listened, letting herself be wrapped in the sound of her voice, letting the words fill her in places that had been hollow for too long.

For a moment, Sugar could almost believe they were just two Cookies sharing an evening together, not two fractured souls trying to stitch themselves back together.

And yet, as Hollyberry spoke, Sugar’s thoughts drifted. This is all I’ve ever wanted, she realized, feeling fingers press into a stubborn knot at the base of her spine. Her warmth. Her voice. Her laughter. But even now, a poisonous little voice whispered that she didn’t deserve it. That she had trapped Hollyberry in her Garden, manipulated her, tried to twist her love into something eternal and unchanging.

‘This is all I’ve ever wanted… but I don’t deserve this.’

Back then, it had seemed so righteous, so simple: Keep them here. Make them happy forever. Protect them from sorrow. But Hollyberry had called her out—had seen through her shining paradise to the rot beneath. And in the weeks since Hollyberry left, Sugar had begun to see it too. What was I supposed to do? she thought bitterly. What other way was there to ensure Cookies were happy, if not to craft a world where only sweetness reigned?

Hollyberry’s voice broke through her spiraling thoughts. “Hey, you’ve gone quiet on me.”

Eternal Sugar glanced over her shoulder, realizing her face must have betrayed her mood.  “I…” she began, but before she could form the words, Hollyberry pulled her gently backward until she was flush against the queen’s chest.

The sudden contact startled her. Her wings flared reflexively, smacking Hollyberry in the face in her nervousness.

Sugar’s mortification was immediate. “Oh—oh no, I’m so sorry ! I didn’t mean to—” Hollyberry roared with laughter, rubbing her cheek. “I’ve taken worse hits in battle, trust me. Don’t worry about it, love. You don’t ever have to apologise to me.”

Hollyberry only pulled her closer, wrapping strong arms around her waist and nuzzling into her neck. She placed light kisses along the curve of her shoulder, her lips warm against wet skin.

The gentle words triggered something in her. Eternal Sugar’s shoulders quaked as tears filled her eyes. She tried to hold them back, but they spilled over, warm and silent.

Hollyberry noticed instantly, cupping her face and turning her gently until they were eye to eye. “Hey, hey… none of that now.” Her thumbs brushed away the tears. “You’re alright. You’re with me. You’ll always have me.”

She kissed Eternal Sugar’s forehead tenderly, then pressed a soft peck to her lips. The touch was feather-light but sent Eternal Sugar’s heart tumbling wildly.

Sugar smiled faintly through her tears, her cheeks still damp. The way Hollyberry looked at her—like she wasn’t broken, like she wasn’t some monstrous thing—it made her heart ache.

But then she remembered again—they were both naked. Her skin was flush against Hollyberry’s, every touch magnified in her overstimulated mind. Her face burned as she turned her head away in embarrassment, too flustered to meet Hollyberry’s eyes.

Hollyberry laughed again, rich and warm, and pressed another kiss to her damp hair. “Cute little thing, aren’t you? What am I going to do with you?”

Sugar ducked her head and pressed her back to Hollyberry’s chest again, trying to hide her blush. Hollyberry only chuckled softly and kissed her bare shoulders, murmuring little nothings against her skin.

Hollyberry’s voice rumbled softly against her back, still rambling as she poured another cup of wine. And slowly—bit by bit—Eternal Sugar felt her mind quiet. Her lids grew heavier, her body limp with warmth and comfort.

She wondered—maybe it was only because it was Hollyberry that she could finally relax like this. Maybe she didn’t deserve it.

But even if she didn’t, she’d enjoy this moment all the same.

Chapter Text

The Garden of Delights was steeped in silence, save for the faint hum of fireflies dancing lazily above the flowers. Stars shimmered through the boughs, their reflections caught in the pools of water scattered throughout the heart of the garden.

The bath had been warm. Sweet with crushed petals and herbs. But this—this was better. Hollyberry’s heavy arms wrapped around her in the hush of the Garden’s heart, her skin heavy with heat and salt and everything home. Her broad palm splayed over Sugar’s stomach as if she were afraid she’d vanish if she didn’t hold on. 

The world outside the garden—no, the heart—no longer mattered.

‘She stayed’, Sugar thought, her chest tightening sweetly. ‘She’s really here’.

They lay curled together on a plush cloud, suspended above the soft earth, surrounded by the twinkle of stars overhead and the rhythmic glow of fireflies blinking gently through the air.

Hollyberry’s breathing was slow and even—each warm exhale brushing Sugar’s curls. Sugar’s wings sagged bonelessly at her back, pinned between them, and she allowed herself to simply exist in this rare stillness.

The silence between them was soft, comforting even, but beneath it, Sugar’s thoughts churned.

It wasn’t just the comfort of Hollyberry’s presence—it was the heat, the scent of petals clinging to her skin, the faint scratch of calloused fingers shifting ever so slightly on Sugar’s chiton. It was maddening. She could feel every scar pressed against her bare shoulders, every rough edge of Hollyberry’s body fitting so solidly against her gracile frame.

She tried to sleep, she really did. But her mind wouldn’t quiet. Every little sensation pulled her back up—Hollyberry’s thumb twitching near her navel, her chest rising and falling against Sugar’s back, the faint rumble of a sigh.

She bit her lip. Swallowed thick. 

Sugar shifted slightly. Then again. Her tail curled, restless, flicking softly against Hollyberry’s thick thigh. At first it was innocent, a mindless movement. But when the spade tip brushed against Hollyberry’s skin again, her imagination betrayed her—

What if she noticed? What if she grabbed me by my tail? What if she rolled me over and—

She clenched her eyes shut, heat blooming under her skin. Her breath hitched as the idea took root— Hollyberry pulling her close, pinning her down, filling the Garden with sounds that had no business coming from someone with angel wings.

Stop it. 

She had promised herself she’d let her dearest rest tonight, just this one night. Sugar could be patient. She could be good.

Her tail stilled. But her heart wouldn’t. The ache between her legs throbbed faintly, insistent. She took a shaky breath, trying to center herself.

“You’re restless,” Hollyberry’s voice rumbled lowly, thick with drowsiness. “Do you need somethin’, sweetness?”

Her voice. Witches, her voice had that lazy, gravelly tilt. Innocent, maybe. But just enough to undo Eternal Sugar’s spine.

She blinked. “N-no. I’m alright. Go back to sleep.”

But Hollyberry wasn’t convinced. A chuckle rumbled through her chest, and she nuzzled against Sugar’s hair before kissing the crown of her head. 

“You’re so warm…” Hollyberry murmured, brushing her lips along Sugar’s bare shoulder. “Feels like I’ve been waiting forever to hold you like this.”

The silence resumed.

After a while, Hollyberry’s hand moved—from her stomach to her hip, fingers dragging slow and deliberate over her chiton. Her breath caught in her throat. Her wings twitched, folding tighter, unable to move. She felt Hollyberry’s calloused thumb start to trace slow, lazy circles on her thigh. Barely pressure, but the burn it left behind was immediate. 

And then came the kisses. Soft, open-mouthed pecks to her neck, her shoulder, trailing down slowly.

The warmth of Hollyberry’s breath made her acutely aware of how sensitive she was— and of how embarrassingly lewd her thoughts were getting. She squeezed her legs together tightly, friction pressing exactly where she was starting to need it most. 

Her mind swam with how she must look right now, shame fluttered in her gut. ‘Witches above, I shouldn't…’

But her body had already moved before her brain caught up. Sugar bit her lip hard, trying and failing to stifle the pathetic, trembling whimper that slipped out.

“Mmm… should I stop?” Holly murmured behind her. “Just tryin’ to help you sleep, Sugar.”

Eternal Sugar shook her head quickly, cheeks burning, thighs pressed so tight together it was almost painful now. ‘Don’t stop.’ She couldn’t say it, but her body screamed it for her.

“Alright,” Hollyberry murmured, her lips curling into a faint smile against her skin.

Her hand slid higher, cupping Sugar’s breast through the thin fabric. Her thumb brushed lazily over a nipple, drawing a soft moan from Eternal Sugar as she curled inward slightly. Her hand flew up to cover her mouth, trembling.

Her wings twitched helplessly, trapped, as Hollyberry pinched lightly, rolling the sensitive bud between her fingers.

Hollyberry didn’t stop. Her touches remained slow, deliberate—almost cruel in their restraint. Sugar's tail slipped under her dress, stroking along her thigh as she clenched her legs tighter, stimulating herself, using her own pressure just to hold on.

Her breath came in short, desperate gasps and tears welled in her eyes. The sensation was too much—her body couldn’t catch its breath. 

It was too much.

It hurt. 

It was perfect.

Finally, unable to bear it, she turned—slow, shaking and teary-eyed—to face her lover.  “H-Holly…” she managed, her voice thin and broken. She looked up at her. Hollyberry’s face was so close—her strong, scarred arms bracketing Eternal Sugar in place, her chest broad and warm, her braid slipping loose to frame her flushed cheeks.

Hollyberry raised an eyebrow. “You alright?”

Her lips parted, but only breath came out. A shaky exhale. Eternal Sugar could only whimper in reply, her entire body burning.

“Use your words, Sugar,” Hollyberry's grin was audible in her tone.

Eternal Sugar’s face burned red. She buried it into Hollyberry’s neck and whispered in pathetic, shallow, shuddering gasps. “P-please…” she managed, her voice breaking. “Touch me. I need you—I need you to touch me”

Hollyberry chuckled lowly and pulled her into a kiss. It started soft—sweet, almost—but it didn’t stay that way. Eternal Sugar melted instantly, her lips parting for Hollyberry’s tongue, her body quaking as strong hands gripped her waist.

Hollyberry’s hands slid lower— gripping her ass with a firm squeeze. Eternal Sugar moaned into her mouth, hips twitching forward as she rocked gently.

The kiss turned messy. Hungrier. Wet and open-mouthed. Sugar could barely keep up with it, still grinding her thighs together, the friction not nearly enough now.

Hollyberry broke the kiss only long enough to shift their positions. Her hands gripped Sugar’s hips and hauled her on top, setting her astride Hollyberry’s wide, muscular frame.

“Oh!” Eternal Sugar gasped, startled, wings flaring awkwardly before settling again. Being manhandled so easily flustered her

But witches, did it turn her on.

Perched on top of her, Eternal Sugar cupped Hollyberry’s face with shaking hands, leaning back in for another kiss. This one was even messier, wetter. Hollyberry’s grip on her waist tightened as Eternal Sugar began rocking forward slowly, grinding against Hollyberry’s lap, her chiton riding up inch by inch, the ache in her core sharp and unbearable.

*****

Eternal Sugar was driving her mad.

Her hair bounced with every roll of her hips, catching faint starlight and firefly glimmers as if constellations themselves had tangled in her strands. Sweat beads on her neck trailed down slowly until they vanished between the swell of her breasts. Her wings trembled faintly. Her skin flushed a sweet, rosy pink, so obscene in the low light it made Hollyberry’s mouth dry out. Hollyberry watched her—every detail burning into memory.

The sounds… witches, the sounds. The tiny gasps, the shaky little cries, the muffled whimpers every time Sugar pressed herself down harder against Hollyberry’s thigh… It was impossible not to notice how wet she was, her slick heat soaking right through the thin fabric of Hollyberry’s toga, smearing against her bare skin.

The ache in Hollyberry’s own core bloomed molten-hot, pooling low in her belly until it bordered on pain. She gritted her teeth, her jaw working as she fought to restrain herself.

Hollyberry had been content to let her grind, to let her move at her own pace and wring out every little tremor she needed. But when Sugar threw her head back, lips parted in a sharp, helpless moan, Hollyberry’s restraint splintered.

She surged upward and caught Eternal Sugar’s lips in a bruising kiss.

The other Cookie gasped in surprise but melted almost instantly, clinging to Hollyberry’s broad shoulders as her hips stuttered in their desperate rhythm.

Hollyberry rolled them over in one fluid motion, pinning Sugar down into the softness of the cloud. Their lips never broke. She felt Eternal Sugar’s legs wrap instinctively around her waist, pulling her close.

Eternal Sugar giggled breathlessly, the sound breaking into another desperate moan as Hollyberry’s hands slid down to cup her ass, squeezing until her hips jerked.

Hollyberry deepened the kiss, her tongue sliding against Eternal Sugar’s with an aching hunger. Then her lips left Eternal Sugar’s mouth to press a trail of wet, open-mouthed kisses down her cheek, along her jaw, until she found her neck. She sucked hard, teeth grazing the soft flesh as Sugar arched, a loud moan spilling out. 

“Oh fuck!”

The sound nearly undid her.

Hollyberry’s lips curved into a wicked grin against Eternal Sugar’s neck as she nipped gently, drawing another high, broken sound from her. She moved down, planting hot, open-mouthed kisses along Sugar’s collarbone, then the top of her chest, her hands already tugging at the fabric of her chiton.

But her need clawed at her too fiercely for restraint.

With one strong tug, she ripped Eternal Sugar’s chiton down the deep V. The fabric gave with a faint tearing sound, baring Sugar’s soft breasts to the cool night air.

Sugar gasped in shock, her wings flaring. “H-Hollyberry!” she stammered, face burning crimson. “Y—You’re so needy!”

Hollyberry blushed, sitting up slightly to admire the sight before her.

Witches above. She looked divine.

Sugar looked almost too beautiful to touch. Her long hair spilled around her like a waterfall, strands sticking slightly to her damp, flushed skin. Her chest heaved with every panting breath, and her bare breasts, soft and perfect, peaked from the cool night air and her own arousal

Hollyberry’s throat tightened. Her newer scars throbbed faintly from the tension in her muscles. 

She’s mine. All mine.

The desire to feel her—skin to skin—was overwhelming.

Hollyberry peeled her own ceremonial dress over her head in one rough motion, tossing it aside until there was nothing between them. The chill of the air was nothing compared to the searing heat of Eternal Sugar’s body beneath her.

She leaned back down and kissed Eternal Sugar’s chest, causing her to let out the sweetest little whimper. Hollyberry’s lips traveled, licking, nipping, sucking, until Sugar’s body trembled under her hands. She took one nipple into her mouth, rolling it lightly with her tongue as her other hand squeezed her other breast gently, thumb brushing across its sensitive peak.

Sugar’s voice broke into a high, breathy moan. “Oh fuck, H-Hollyberry!”

Her nails dug into Hollyberry’s shoulders, scraping down across the scars there until tiny blossoms of red bloomed against her skin.

Hollyberry hissed softly at the sting. “You look so damn good all marked up like this, Sugar.” 

She switched to the other breast, her teeth grazing lightly against the sensitive flesh. Kissing and biting.

Her hand slipped lower, brushing against Sugar’s clit, down to her pussy. She could feel how wet she was—soaked, hot, and pulsing under her fingers. 

“You’re a mess down here, sweet thing,” Hollyberry teased as she got back to work on her chest, letting her index finger tease at Eternal Sugar’s entrance, rubbing slow, shallow circles without fully pressing inside.

Sugar’s hips bucked, her tail twitching violently as she gasped.

“H-Holly, please, fuck, please—” she whimpered, her voice breaking as her own tail curled forward, rubbing desperately against her clit for more stimulation.

Hollyberry looked up and locked eyes with her.

Sugar was wrecked—tears streaking down her cheeks, lips trembling.

“Please, don’t— Fuck, I—I can’t take it—”

Hollyberry grinned. Her needy little angel looked too delicious like this to stop.

“Just a bit longer,” Hollyberry teased, pressing her other palm down firmly on Eternal Sugar’s stomach to hold her squirming hips in place as she kept circling her entrance, feeling how her body fluttered and clenched with every motion.

“No, please! Fuck, I—” Eternal Sugar thrashed lightly, trying to wiggle out from Hollyberry’s grip. But Hollyberry didn’t relent.

Her mouth found its way back to Sugar’s chest, biting and sucking until dark, possessive bruises bloomed across her pale skin. 

When Hollyberry finally slid two fingers in, Sugar let out a sharp gasp, her hips jerking against Holly’s hand as her inner walls fluttered tight around her.

“Oh Fuck. Fuck Holly—” she sobbed, arms flying up to clutch desperately at her lover’s neck, her tail twitching violently between them. Her body seized up as her climax hit hard, a sharp cry leaving her lips as her nails raked down Hollyberry’s back again.

Hollyberry took her finger out and chuckled lowly, kissing her forehead as she let her ride the waves. “There you go, sweetheart.”

Eternal Sugar could only cling to her, dazed and trembling, her voice barely above a whisper. “That was so good. You made me feel so fucking good”

Hollyberry nuzzled against Eternal Sugar’s neck, inhaling the sweet, heady scent of her hair, and then, she pushed her fingers in again.

Sugar’s whole body tensed with a loud, unrestrained groan.

“Oh fuck, fuck, fuck” she moaned, arms wrapping tighter around Hollyberry’s neck, her body twitching with overstimulation. 

“Fuck it’s—it’s too much—p-please, I just came. Holly—I can’t—” she panted against Hollyberry’s shoulder, biting down on it to stifle the sounds pouring out of her throat.

The sharp sting made Hollyberry hiss.

“Look at you,” Hollyberry murmured, pumping her fingers slowly, deliberately curling them to brush that perfect spot inside her. “So desperate already… you’ve been wanting this all night, haven’t you?”

Her own breath began to come harder and faster, as Sugar’s tail wrapped round her thigh and began rubbing against her clit in slow, teasing strokes. 

“W-wait—Sugar—” Hollyberry gasped as a jolt of pleasure shot through her. But the smaller Cookie only whimpered louder, tail moving more insistently now.

Hollyberry gasped in surprise but quickly melted into it, her breath growing shaky as her hips rocked against the movement.

“Fuck.” she let out a low moan into Sugar’s ear.

“Please, dearest… make me cum again,” Eternal Sugar begged between choked sobs, her nails scoring more angry red lines down Hollyberry’s back.

Hollyberry’s mind swam, overwhelmed with sensation—Sugar’s tightness, the wet, desperate movements of her tail, the sweet sting of the scratches burning across her back, and the sound of her angel’s voice calling her name like a plea.

“I’m—fuck—almost there too,” Hollyberry groaned

“Together. Let’s— f-finish together,” Sugar begged, clinging to her like she’d dissolve if she let go.

Hollyberry buried her fingers deeper, faster, curling them just right as her thumb pressed against Sugar’s clit. 

Eternal Sugar came with a soft moan, her entire body arching off the bed as her release hit her hard. Hollyberry kept moving her fingers, drawing the pleasure out until it was almost too much

Hollyberry’s own release crashed into her at the same moment, her hips stuttering as she groaned against Sugar’s neck.

“Fuck, Sugar—you’re going to ruin me,” Hollyberry gasped, her voice ragged.

Their sweat-slicked bodies trembled in tandem as Hollyberry let her head fall against Eternal Sugar’s shoulder.

Eternal Sugar loosened the grip around her neck, one hand cradling Hollyberry’s head gently. “You did so good, my dearest… so, so good”

Hollyberry only panted against her neck, too spent to speak, and finally released her hand from inside her lover, holding her close as their breaths evened out together and their heartbeats slowly synced in the silence of the Garden.

“You’re… you’re incredible,” Hollyberry whispered hoarsely.

“And you’re heavy,” Sugar teased breathlessly, still shuddering.

Hollyberry chuckled softly, rolling over to the side, pulling her close and cradling her against her chest.

*****

The Garden was still asleep.

The air clung damp and warm, heavy with the promise of morning dew. It wasn’t quite dawn yet, but the sky was shifting—inky black fading to deep indigo, with pale streaks of lavender and gold pooling lazily along the horizon. The faint hum of crickets was dying down, replaced with the first tentative chirps of birds somewhere in the trees, their little throats testing the coming day.

Eternal Sugar lay there in the hush of it all, nestled against the soft rise and fall of her lover’s chest.

Her lashes fluttered open, and she smiled sleepily.

Hollyberry was still asleep.

She looked so peaceful like this. No armor of bravado, no booming laugh shaking the air, no fire in her eyes. Just warmth; a faint, almost boyish softness to her scarred features that made Sugar’s chest ache with affection. Her braid had come loose in the night, wild strands of magenta-pink hair fanning out over her shoulders.

Eternal Sugar lifted her hand gently, careful not to wake her, and traced a finger just above Hollyberry’s brow— memorizing the strong slope of it, the faint furrow that lingered even in rest.

She thought of last night and felt her cheeks warm, her legs curling instinctively beneath her. That night had been everything she had ever dreamed of and more—messy, tender, hungry, and sweet all at once. Like pouring an ocean into a teacup, her heart felt too full for her body. And yet somehow, waking up to this—Hollyberry’s steady breathing, her lips parted slightly, her arms still loosely draped around Sugar’s waist—felt like the sweetest part of all.

Sugar smiled, her tail flicking lazily behind her, unable to stop herself from leaning closer.

That’s when Hollyberry’s lashes fluttered faintly, exposing pink irises still hazy with sleep.

A soft groan rumbled in her throat, her nose wrinkling as she squinted against the dim pre-dawn light.

“Mm… mornin’, Sugar…” she rasped, voice low and scratchy with sleep. Her lips curved into a slow, lopsided smile that made Sugar’s heart stutter.

“Morning, my dearest,” Sugar murmured, cupping Hollyberry’s face with one hand. She pressed a feather-light kiss to her forehead, savoring the way Hollyberry sighed in contentment.

Hollyberry cracked one eye open, chuckling sleepily. “Stealing my move, huh?”

She leaned forward and pressed a kiss of her own to Sugar’s forehead.

They smiled at each other.

Sugar giggled softly, brushing a strand of hair out of Hollyberry’s face. She kissed her nose this time, barely a brush of lips against her skin.

Hollyberry kissed her cheek in return.

Sugar kissed the edge of Hollyberry’s jaw. Hollyberry nuzzled her temple.

It became a quiet, playful back and forth—forehead, nose, cheek, jaw—until their lips finally brushed. A slow, tender peck. Then another.

Another.

Each kiss lingering subtly until the heat between them began to stir again.

The kiss deepened, their mouths moving in lazy, unhurried rhythm. Hollyberry’s hand cradled Sugar’s jaw, thumb stroking idly over her cheekbone as she kissed her again and again, each press of lips growing wetter, more deliberate.

Sugar’s toes curled. The heat low in her stomach throbbed faintly, hunger stirring where she’d thought she’d been sated.

Hollyberry shifted her weight just enough to tilt her backward onto the cloud. Eternal Sugar let herself sink into the plush surface.

Hollyberry’s body pressed closer, her weight solid and grounding as she moved to straddle Sugar’s thighs. Their noses brushed briefly as their kiss broke, both of them desperately both sucking in air

Hollyberry leaned back slightly, eyes raking over her lover’s form.

And dear witches—those eyes.

Sugar flushed under the attention, suddenly aware of how exposed she was, now being completely naked as she had discarded what was left of her chiton before they slept. Hollyberry’s gaze burned as it swept over her.

Eternal Sugar was no better. She admired the Queen mother towering over her, drinking in the strong curve of her shoulders, her well-built arms and the swell of her breasts. Her stretchmarks caught faintly by the low light, pale lines like the gentle ripples of water. The scars she’d earned in battle—faint but proud—only made her look more divine in Eternal Sugar’s eyes.

“You’re unreal, Sugar…” Hollyberry murmured, her voice low and reverent.

Eternal Sugar bit her lip, her breath catching as she felt that heat pulse again, deeper this time.

Hollyberry leaned down, their foreheads touching as she stared into Sugar’s wide, flushed eyes. The moment stretched soft and tender between them, a quiet that spoke louder than any words.

And then their lips met again.

This kiss was different—slower but heavier. Sugar’s hands slid up Hollyberry’s broad shoulders, fingers curling to clutch at her scarred skin as the kiss grew messier. Hollyberry’s teeth grazed her lower lip, and Sugar arched into her, until their lips parted.

“Hollyberry…” she murmured, voice already trembling with anticipation.

Hollyberry smiled against her skin and whispered lowly, “Let me take my time with you this morning, angel. We’ve got nowhere to be but here.”

Hollyberry’s mouth began to wander. Her lips trailed down Sugar’s neck, pausing to suck softly at the faint bruises from the night before.

Hollyberry moved further, leaving a hot, open-mouthed kiss at the hollow of her throat, then lower still, her mouth tracing a slow, teasing path down the curve of her ribs.

When she reached Sugar’s stomach, she paused.

Hollyberry pressed a line of kisses across the soft skin just below Sugar’s navel, her hands stroking up and down Sugar’s thighs soothingly.

Sugar whimpered faintly, her fingers twisting in the plush cloud beneath her as she felt sparks of heat pulse between her legs again.

“Fuck” Sugar whispered breathily, her face burning.

Hollyberry shifted lower still, repositioning herself between Eternal Sugar’s thighs. She began laying kisses on them—soft, wet pecks that sent jolts of heat straight through Sugar’s core.

“H-Holly…” her voice cracked, flustered heat creeping up her neck. She clamped her legs shut instinctively, trying to shield herself from the attention, her heart hammering in her chest. “You don’t have to—” she mumbled timidly.

Hollyberry didn’t answer. Instead, she placed another soft, wet kiss on her thigh, her breath warm against Eternal Sugar’s skin

Sugar squeezed her eyes shut, a deep flush spreading all the way to her ears. Witches, she knew what Hollyberry wanted.

“I—I’m still dirty from last night,” she blurted out, turning her head and pressing a hand over her face in an attempt to hide her embarrassment. “You won’t like it. I’m not clean—”

Hollyberry froze for a moment, then leaned back just enough to look her squarely in the eye, disbelief written plain across her facial features.

“Sugar,” she said, her tone somewhere between amusement and disbelief. “Do you really think I care?”

Before Sugar could react, Hollyberry’s big hands slid down and ripped her thighs apart, planting her calloused hands firmly on the insides of her thighs, spreading her open with little effort.

Sugar gasped, her wings fluttering wildly behind her, the sudden exposure making her burn hot from head to toe.

“H-Hollyberry!” she squeaked.

“Fuck, you’re perfect,” Hollyberry said lowly, her thumbs stroking the soft flesh of her thighs. “Absolutely perfect.”

Sugar’s stomach twisted, her core pulsing faintly at the praise. She planted her feet into the cloud, trying to ground herself as Hollyberry leaned down again, kissing along the tender insides of her thighs.

Hollyberry’s mouth opened wide over her skin, sucking hard enough to leave a dark love bite. Eternal Sugar let out a strangled whimper.

“Ah—!” she yelped, half sitting up. “H-Holly, it hurts—”

“Mm. Good,” Hollyberry murmured, her breath hot as she licked the mark, then blew softly over it. The cool air made Sugar shiver violently, her thighs quivering in Hollyberry’s grip.

She tried to squirm, but Hollyberry’s hands moved to the backs of her legs, holding her open as her mouth finally pressed flush against her pussy.

The first lick—broad, slow, unhurried—made Sugar’s entire body seize.

“O-oh fuck—” she whimpered, her voice muffled against her palm as her hips bucked.

Hollyberry’s tongue slid up her slit again, teasing her with just enough pressure to leave Eternal Sugar shuddering and gripping desperately at the cloud beneath her.

It felt wrong. Or maybe it felt too right. She hadn’t cleaned up, and yet Hollyberry was burying her face between her thighs like she belonged there, like her taste and smell were the only thing she wanted in the world.

The embarrassment made Eternal Sugar want to hide. The pleasure made her want to stay still and let Hollyberry have her fill.

And then Hollyberry started sucking.

Sugar’s thighs jerked inwards, but Hollyberry’s strong hands held her wide open as her mouth worked over her clit, tongue flicking quick and shallow before she sealed her lips around it again.

“Ah—ahh! Hollyberry, fuck, wait—I can’t—” Sugar panted, her voice breaking into a moan as her hand flew to her mouth again, biting down on her knuckles.

Hollyberry hummed against her, the vibration making her entire body quake.

And then one thick finger slid inside her.

Eternal Sugar’s breath hitched sharply as Hollyberry curled it, thrusting slow and gentle, coaxing open tight muscles that still trembled from last night.

The combination—the sucking, the teasing, the slow, rhythmic stretch of her finger—made Sugar’s stomach churn and knot with heat. She could feel it building, curling tight and sharp deep in her gut.

“Fuck, Holly—” she whimpered, her free hand rising to clutch at her own breast, fingers rolling over her sensitive nipple.

Another finger slid in beside the first.

Her back arched off the cloud, her wings trembling uselessly as Hollyberry’s pace quickened, thrusts deep and deliberate now. Eternal Sugar’s mind went fuzzy as tears pricked her eyes, her vision blurring with pleasure.

“I’m—ahhh—I’m so close, fuck” she gasped, her voice breaking into a desperate cry. “Please—Holly, don’t stop—I’m almost—”

But just as she felt the peak rushing toward her, Hollyberry pulled away.

Her mouth left Sugar’s core. Her fingers stilled.

Eternal Sugar’s body jolted like she’d been dropped from a great height, her release slipping maddeningly out of reach.

“No—no, no, no!” she cried out as she sat up slightly, frustrated tears streaming down her face. “Why? I—I was so close! Holly, please—don’t stop now! I’m begging you, I’m so close—please, please, please!”

Hollyberry didn’t reply. She was staring at her with a heat in her eyes that sent a thrill straight through Sugar’s spine.

“Open.” Hollyberry licked at her fingers before she raised them to Sugar’s mouth, pressing them gently against her lips. “Taste how sweet you are, Sugar.”

Sugar’s eyes glazed with desperation. She opened her mouth obediently, sucking on Hollyberry’s fingers.

The taste was warm and heavy on her tongue. Sweet—but not like clean, candied sugar. She tasted raw, tinged with the faintest salt and an undertone like melted butter and overripe fruit. It was rich and decadent, like biting into the heart of a ripe plum, the taste clinging to the roof of her mouth as she licked around Hollyberry’s fingers in slow, reverent circles.

'That’s me… I taste like this…?'

A whimper broke loose before she could swallow it down, her face burning red at the thought. She sucked harder, eyes flicking up to see Hollyberry watching her with a near-predatory look.

Sugar pulled back just enough for her lips to leave her lover’s fingers with a wet, obscene little sound.

“D-do I… really taste good?” she whispered, her voice cracking slightly.

Hollyberry’s jaw tensed as she watched, biting her lip hard. “You’re killing me, angel.”

“Please,” Sugar whimpered around Hollyberry’s fingers, her tail curling up to rub desperately against her own clit as she rutted against nothing. “Please make me cum—I’ll be good, I promise, I need it— I need it so bad. Oh my dearest, please, please—fuck— don’t tease me—I need it—need you—”

Hollyberry’s breath hitched.

“Fuck.”

Before Eternal Sugar could process what was happening, Hollyberry hooked her legs over her broad shoulders and hauled her upwards in one swift motion, her face level with Sugar’s dripping pussy.

“Ah—Hollyberry! Wait, this is—this is embarrassing!” Sugar cried out, her face burning crimson, her hands covering her face as her wings flared in startled flutters. “And my back—it’s uncomfortable like this—”

Hollyberry paid her no mind.

Eternal Sugar’s words dissolved into a high, keening moan as Hollyberry sucked her clit, her tongue thrusting deep inside her before flicking and circling in fast, messy patterns. Her strong hands held Sugar open, fingers digging into the soft flesh of her thighs.

The slight sting in her back and neck was nothing compared to the molten heat spreading through her body. If anything, it made the pleasure sharper, rawer.

“Holly—Oh fuck—Holly—fuck—, I—I can’t take it—” Sugar’s voice cracked as she clawed at the cloud, her hips bucking helplessly as Hollyberry devoured her.

Hollyberry went faster, her tongue and lips working in tandem as her grip on Sugar’s thighs tightened like a vice. Hollyberry’s tongue teased her entrance before thrusting in shallowly, her lips working in perfect rhythm.

The heat in Sugar’s core was unbearable now, white-hot and clawing its way out of her.

“Holly—I’m—fuck—I’m close again—don’t stop—please don’t stop this time. P-please—ahhh—Holly, let me—let me cum this time—please don’t stop, please don’t stop—”

Hollyberry’s pace slowed deliberately, her tongue moving in languid circles.

Eternal Sugar sobbed in frustration, her thighs trembling violently.

“Please! Please let me come this time—I’m begging you—”

Hollyberry chuckled lowly, the vibration shooting straight up Sugar’s spine as she doubled her pace, tongue relentless.

That was it.

Sugar’s body convulsed, a scream tearing from her throat as she shattered apart in Hollyberry’s hold. Pleasure ripped through her like lightning, every muscle clenching tight as tears streamed down her flushed face.

“H-Holly! Oh fuck—Hollyberry—”

Hollyberry didn’t stop—not until Sugar’s thighs twitched weakly and her breath came in shallow, broken sobs.

When Hollyberry finally pulled away, her breathing was heavy as she stared down at the mess she had made of her angel with hooded eyes. She pressed a soft kiss to Sugar’s trembling inner thigh, “You did good.”

Hollyberry let go of her legs and Eternal Sugar collapsed back into the cloud, her body boneless, tears streaking her cheeks as her chest heaved.

Hollyberry leaned forward, pressing a kiss to Sugar’s trembling stomach before laying at her side, nuzzling into the crook of her neck.

The sky was fully awake now. Pale ribbons of gold crept through the trees, catching the dewdrops on every flower petal and leaf, making them sparkle like glass. The Garden hummed softly, a lazy, quiet sound—birds beginning their morning songs, clouds shifting gently above.

“Stay.” Eternal Sugar’s hand rose weakly to stroke Hollyberry’s hair, her lips curving into a dazed, blissful smile as she whispered hoarsely, “Don’t… don’t leave me.”

Hollyberry promised, murmuring against Eternal Sugar’s skin. “I’m not going anywhere.”