a garden of flowers, my name on a rock... @a-lilyinthevalley - Tumblr Blog

*ahem* the air splits open for a moment and a very fluffy porple trips and falls into Lily's vicinity, accompanied by a surprised squawk and falling books

- @feathery-faeries Sapph

Dark Enchantress jumped nearly a foot in the air at the new cookie's appearance. Lily didn't seem too affected, other than tensing up for a moment.

"Ah," she said, "That's..."

"Black Sapphire?" her Bug said, head cocked.

"...Yeah."

At the edge of the Silver Kingdom? Why?

He seems to have dazed himself, one of the books he'd fallen with having landed on his head. Doubtful he'll be down long, but dazed nonetheless

She looked over at White Lily, who was in turn looking at Black Sapphire, a blank expression on their face. They didn't seem to care that a cookie had appeared out of thin air.

Dark Enchantress moved forward.

"What's a minion of Shadow Milk doing all the way out here?" the dragon asked him, offering him a hand up.

He gives a mildly confused look, clearly still dazed, at the question. Then shakes his head with "A what of who?" as he reaches to take the offered hand, blinking his way back fully to clarity

The dragon pulled him up, "Shadow Milk? Big poofy jester of a cookie? Beast of Deceit?"

She felt White Lily peek over her shoulder at the now-standing Black Sapphire. They hummed, breath tickling her neck, "...not ours."

Dark Enchantress looked between the faerie and the purple cookie in front of them. Multiverse theory again?

"...Nevermind. Why- or, I suppose, how-- did you end up here?"

"I... was in the library, looking for childcare books! I guess one of the Rifts in there opened up. It happens sometimes, not that often usually, but sometimes!" He seems to be being honest. And the books that had been brought into the area with him certainly are centered around taking care of and making dough babies. But why would he be looking into that? "One time, it resulted in a squid appearing in the middle of the library. Papa was really excited to home-make ink, though, so it was ok!"

"Hm," is all she can muster. She'd met stranger cookies. The dragon bent down to pick up one of the books, So, You Want To Be a Parent?, and huffed, "I have this one. In my personal library. Do you need advice, perhaps?"

Bug did not sound pleased at the idea, a low noise of protest making its way out of her dough. Their claws nicked the sleeve of her shirt as they growled a low, "No time."

Ridiculous, really. It wasn't as if either of them were going to crumble soon.

"Oh, I'm just looking into it right now - Bells wants a pack! And I still need to find papa's Oven first!" Now why would a Sapph care about a Bells having a pack (è^ê)? "And I wanna learn everything I can before we... y'know.., do anything..?" Ah. He's definitely blushing now.

"Bells..?" Lily muttered, something in her tone begging Dark Enchantress to look over at her.

They looked... empty. Like something had reached inside them and removed whatever made them feel emotions. It was more than a little unsettling to see.

Right. There was a Silverbell that was her son. In the thick of everything, I... forgot. Though she doubted that this Black Sapphire was talking about that Silverbell Cookie.

More curious was the... "You mentioned an Oven?"

Bug jolted from beside her. Aha. Seems like they wanted information, too.

He nods, "Yeah! He has one somewhere in the Spire, always said it would be nice to oversee a couple using it for a kid again too! He also seems sad when he mentions it, but I'm not sure why? It's not like helping others is bad or anything."

"Fascinating." And more than a little concerning.

A hand on her shoulder. White Lily cleared their throat, so the dragon stepped to the side as they spoke, "Helping others can have unwanted consequences, gemstone. It's likely he's paid the price for helping someone at one point or another."

The faerie fell silent once more. Dark Enchantress resisted the urge to look at her again. Question after question was racing through her mind. She needed to talk to her missing half once they were alone again.

"Are you able to get back on your own?" White Lily spoke up once more, "We have places to be, gemstone. Wi- Cookies. To see."

Witches to kill, the dragon's mind supplied almost automatically. Right.

"Dee, do you want to kill the Witches?"

I'm content to follow her lead.

But was she really?

"...Yeah," she eventually breathed, far too aware of how quiet she had been. Too long. Too long without a reply, and she could feel her Bug's eyes boring into her, "Yeah, we need to get going, soon."

The faerie relaxed minutely, a ghost of a smile flitting across their face.

Sapph nods, "Yeah... I just need a moment to get the books back together and cast the spell to reopen the Rift, and I should be good!" He seems... somewhat confused by Lily's behavior, but after a moment, he gives a small smile and says "Good luck with... whatever it is that has you in a hurry!"

"And good luck with your research!" the dragon called back, White Lily already having deemed the conversation over and set on getting both of them to their next destination as fast as possible via dragging Dark Enchantress away, "I think you'll do great!!"

Bug mumbled something under her breath at that, but she couldn't parse what exactly it was beyond a, "...won't."

With a slight twirl, she fell into step alongside the faerie, leaving the entangled Silver Kingdom and Black Sapphire behind them.

#e-sides #crooked cracks #thread end

He waves as they leave, calling back "I'm sure you will, too!"

*ahem* the air splits open for a moment and a very fluffy porple trips and falls into Lily's vicinity, accompanied by a surprised squawk and falling books

- @feathery-faeries Sapph

Dark Enchantress jumped nearly a foot in the air at the new cookie's appearance. Lily didn't seem too affected, other than tensing up for a moment.

"Ah," she said, "That's..."

"Black Sapphire?" her Bug said, head cocked.

"...Yeah."

At the edge of the Silver Kingdom? Why?

He seems to have dazed himself, one of the books he'd fallen with having landed on his head. Doubtful he'll be down long, but dazed nonetheless

She looked over at White Lily, who was in turn looking at Black Sapphire, a blank expression on their face. They didn't seem to care that a cookie had appeared out of thin air.

Dark Enchantress moved forward.

"What's a minion of Shadow Milk doing all the way out here?" the dragon asked him, offering him a hand up.

He gives a mildly confused look, clearly still dazed, at the question. Then shakes his head with "A what of who?" as he reaches to take the offered hand, blinking his way back fully to clarity

The dragon pulled him up, "Shadow Milk? Big poofy jester of a cookie? Beast of Deceit?"

She felt White Lily peek over her shoulder at the now-standing Black Sapphire. They hummed, breath tickling her neck, "...not ours."

Dark Enchantress looked between the faerie and the purple cookie in front of them. Multiverse theory again?

"...Nevermind. Why- or, I suppose, how-- did you end up here?"

"I... was in the library, looking for childcare books! I guess one of the Rifts in there opened up. It happens sometimes, not that often usually, but sometimes!" He seems to be being honest. And the books that had been brought into the area with him certainly are centered around taking care of and making dough babies. But why would he be looking into that? "One time, it resulted in a squid appearing in the middle of the library. Papa was really excited to home-make ink, though, so it was ok!"

"Hm," is all she can muster. She'd met stranger cookies. The dragon bent down to pick up one of the books, So, You Want To Be a Parent?, and huffed, "I have this one. In my personal library. Do you need advice, perhaps?"

Bug did not sound pleased at the idea, a low noise of protest making its way out of her dough. Their claws nicked the sleeve of her shirt as they growled a low, "No time."

Ridiculous, really. It wasn't as if either of them were going to crumble soon.

"Oh, I'm just looking into it right now - Bells wants a pack! And I still need to find papa's Oven first!" Now why would a Sapph care about a Bells having a pack (è^ê)? "And I wanna learn everything I can before we... y'know.., do anything..?" Ah. He's definitely blushing now.

"Bells..?" Lily muttered, something in her tone begging Dark Enchantress to look over at her.

They looked... empty. Like something had reached inside them and removed whatever made them feel emotions. It was more than a little unsettling to see.

Right. There was a Silverbell that was her son. In the thick of everything, I... forgot. Though she doubted that this Black Sapphire was talking about that Silverbell Cookie.

More curious was the... "You mentioned an Oven?"

Bug jolted from beside her. Aha. Seems like they wanted information, too.

He nods, "Yeah! He has one somewhere in the Spire, always said it would be nice to oversee a couple using it for a kid again too! He also seems sad when he mentions it, but I'm not sure why? It's not like helping others is bad or anything."

"Fascinating." And more than a little concerning.

A hand on her shoulder. White Lily cleared their throat, so the dragon stepped to the side as they spoke, "Helping others can have unwanted consequences, gemstone. It's likely he's paid the price for helping someone at one point or another."

The faerie fell silent once more. Dark Enchantress resisted the urge to look at her again. Question after question was racing through her mind. She needed to talk to her missing half once they were alone again.

"Are you able to get back on your own?" White Lily spoke up once more, "We have places to be, gemstone. Wi- Cookies. To see."

Witches to kill, the dragon's mind supplied almost automatically. Right.

"Dee, do you want to kill the Witches?"

I'm content to follow her lead.

But was she really?

"...Yeah," she eventually breathed, far too aware of how quiet she had been. Too long. Too long without a reply, and she could feel her Bug's eyes boring into her, "Yeah, we need to get going, soon."

The faerie relaxed minutely, a ghost of a smile flitting across their face.

Sapph nods, "Yeah... I just need a moment to get the books back together and cast the spell to reopen the Rift, and I should be good!" He seems... somewhat confused by Lily's behavior, but after a moment, he gives a small smile and says "Good luck with... whatever it is that has you in a hurry!"

#e-sides #cookie run roleplay #crooked cracks #GODS im ill

"And good luck with your research!" the dragon called back, White Lily already having deemed the conversation over and set on getting both of them to their next destination as fast as possible via dragging Dark Enchantress away, "I think you'll do great!!"

Bug mumbled something under her breath at that, but she couldn't parse what exactly it was beyond a, "...won't."

With a slight twirl, she fell into step alongside the faerie, leaving the entangled Silver Kingdom and Black Sapphire behind them.

*ahem* the air splits open for a moment and a very fluffy porple trips and falls into Lily's vicinity, accompanied by a surprised squawk and falling books

- @feathery-faeries Sapph

Dark Enchantress jumped nearly a foot in the air at the new cookie's appearance. Lily didn't seem too affected, other than tensing up for a moment.

"Ah," she said, "That's..."

"Black Sapphire?" her Bug said, head cocked.

"...Yeah."

At the edge of the Silver Kingdom? Why?

He seems to have dazed himself, one of the books he'd fallen with having landed on his head. Doubtful he'll be down long, but dazed nonetheless

She looked over at White Lily, who was in turn looking at Black Sapphire, a blank expression on their face. They didn't seem to care that a cookie had appeared out of thin air.

Dark Enchantress moved forward.

"What's a minion of Shadow Milk doing all the way out here?" the dragon asked him, offering him a hand up.

He gives a mildly confused look, clearly still dazed, at the question. Then shakes his head with "A what of who?" as he reaches to take the offered hand, blinking his way back fully to clarity

The dragon pulled him up, "Shadow Milk? Big poofy jester of a cookie? Beast of Deceit?"

She felt White Lily peek over her shoulder at the now-standing Black Sapphire. They hummed, breath tickling her neck, "...not ours."

Dark Enchantress looked between the faerie and the purple cookie in front of them. Multiverse theory again?

"...Nevermind. Why- or, I suppose, how-- did you end up here?"

"I... was in the library, looking for childcare books! I guess one of the Rifts in there opened up. It happens sometimes, not that often usually, but sometimes!" He seems to be being honest. And the books that had been brought into the area with him certainly are centered around taking care of and making dough babies. But why would he be looking into that? "One time, it resulted in a squid appearing in the middle of the library. Papa was really excited to home-make ink, though, so it was ok!"

"Hm," is all she can muster. She'd met stranger cookies. The dragon bent down to pick up one of the books, So, You Want To Be a Parent?, and huffed, "I have this one. In my personal library. Do you need advice, perhaps?"

Bug did not sound pleased at the idea, a low noise of protest making its way out of her dough. Their claws nicked the sleeve of her shirt as they growled a low, "No time."

Ridiculous, really. It wasn't as if either of them were going to crumble soon.

"Oh, I'm just looking into it right now - Bells wants a pack! And I still need to find papa's Oven first!" Now why would a Sapph care about a Bells having a pack (è^ê)? "And I wanna learn everything I can before we... y'know.., do anything..?" Ah. He's definitely blushing now.

"Bells..?" Lily muttered, something in her tone begging Dark Enchantress to look over at her.

They looked... empty. Like something had reached inside them and removed whatever made them feel emotions. It was more than a little unsettling to see.

Right. There was a Silverbell that was her son. In the thick of everything, I... forgot. Though she doubted that this Black Sapphire was talking about that Silverbell Cookie.

More curious was the... "You mentioned an Oven?"

Bug jolted from beside her. Aha. Seems like they wanted information, too.

He nods, "Yeah! He has one somewhere in the Spire, always said it would be nice to oversee a couple using it for a kid again too! He also seems sad when he mentions it, but I'm not sure why? It's not like helping others is bad or anything."

#e-sides #oof death sucks #<- unfortunate really #cookie run roleplay #im so normal about them actually

"Fascinating." And more than a little concerning.

A hand on her shoulder. White Lily cleared their throat, so the dragon stepped to the side as they spoke, "Helping others can have unwanted consequences, gemstone. It's likely he's paid the price for helping someone at one point or another."

The faerie fell silent once more. Dark Enchantress resisted the urge to look at her again. Question after question was racing through her mind. She needed to talk to her missing half once they were alone again.

"Are you able to get back on your own?" White Lily spoke up once more, "We have places to be, gemstone. Wi- Cookies. To see."

Witches to kill, the dragon's mind supplied almost automatically. Right.

"Dee, do you want to kill the Witches?"

I'm content to follow her lead.

But was she really?

"...Yeah," she eventually breathed, far too aware of how quiet she had been. Too long. Too long without a reply, and she could feel her Bug's eyes boring into her, "Yeah, we need to get going, soon."

The faerie relaxed minutely, a ghost of a smile flitting across their face.

*ahem* the air splits open for a moment and a very fluffy porple trips and falls into Lily's vicinity, accompanied by a surprised squawk and falling books

- @feathery-faeries Sapph

Dark Enchantress jumped nearly a foot in the air at the new cookie's appearance. Lily didn't seem too affected, other than tensing up for a moment.

"Ah," she said, "That's..."

"Black Sapphire?" her Bug said, head cocked.

"...Yeah."

At the edge of the Silver Kingdom? Why?

He seems to have dazed himself, one of the books he'd fallen with having landed on his head. Doubtful he'll be down long, but dazed nonetheless

She looked over at White Lily, who was in turn looking at Black Sapphire, a blank expression on their face. They didn't seem to care that a cookie had appeared out of thin air.

Dark Enchantress moved forward.

"What's a minion of Shadow Milk doing all the way out here?" the dragon asked him, offering him a hand up.

He gives a mildly confused look, clearly still dazed, at the question. Then shakes his head with "A what of who?" as he reaches to take the offered hand, blinking his way back fully to clarity

The dragon pulled him up, "Shadow Milk? Big poofy jester of a cookie? Beast of Deceit?"

She felt White Lily peek over her shoulder at the now-standing Black Sapphire. They hummed, breath tickling her neck, "...not ours."

Dark Enchantress looked between the faerie and the purple cookie in front of them. Multiverse theory again?

"...Nevermind. Why- or, I suppose, how-- did you end up here?"

"I... was in the library, looking for childcare books! I guess one of the Rifts in there opened up. It happens sometimes, not that often usually, but sometimes!" He seems to be being honest. And the books that had been brought into the area with him certainly are centered around taking care of and making dough babies. But why would he be looking into that? "One time, it resulted in a squid appearing in the middle of the library. Papa was really excited to home-make ink, though, so it was ok!"

"Hm," is all she can muster. She'd met stranger cookies. The dragon bent down to pick up one of the books, So, You Want To Be a Parent?, and huffed, "I have this one. In my personal library. Do you need advice, perhaps?"

Bug did not sound pleased at the idea, a low noise of protest making its way out of her dough. Their claws nicked the sleeve of her shirt as they growled a low, "No time."

Ridiculous, really. It wasn't as if either of them were going to crumble soon.

"Oh, I'm just looking into it right now - Bells wants a pack! And I still need to find papa's Oven first!" Now why would a Sapph care about a Bells having a pack (è^ê)? "And I wanna learn everything I can before we... y'know.., do anything..?" Ah. He's definitely blushing now.

#e-sides #cookie run roleplay #i may die

"Bells..?" Lily muttered, something in her tone begging Dark Enchantress to look over at her.

They looked... empty. Like something had reached inside them and removed whatever made them feel emotions. It was more than a little unsettling to see.

Right. There was a Silverbell that was her son. In the thick of everything, I... forgot. Though she doubted that this Black Sapphire was talking about that Silverbell Cookie.

More curious was the... "You mentioned an Oven?"

Bug jolted from beside her. Aha. Seems like they wanted information, too.

*ahem* the air splits open for a moment and a very fluffy porple trips and falls into Lily's vicinity, accompanied by a surprised squawk and falling books

- @feathery-faeries Sapph

Dark Enchantress jumped nearly a foot in the air at the new cookie's appearance. Lily didn't seem too affected, other than tensing up for a moment.

"Ah," she said, "That's..."

"Black Sapphire?" her Bug said, head cocked.

"...Yeah."

At the edge of the Silver Kingdom? Why?

He seems to have dazed himself, one of the books he'd fallen with having landed on his head. Doubtful he'll be down long, but dazed nonetheless

She looked over at White Lily, who was in turn looking at Black Sapphire, a blank expression on their face. They didn't seem to care that a cookie had appeared out of thin air.

Dark Enchantress moved forward.

"What's a minion of Shadow Milk doing all the way out here?" the dragon asked him, offering him a hand up.

He gives a mildly confused look, clearly still dazed, at the question. Then shakes his head with "A what of who?" as he reaches to take the offered hand, blinking his way back fully to clarity

The dragon pulled him up, "Shadow Milk? Big poofy jester of a cookie? Beast of Deceit?"

She felt White Lily peek over her shoulder at the now-standing Black Sapphire. They hummed, breath tickling her neck, "...not ours."

Dark Enchantress looked between the faerie and the purple cookie in front of them. Multiverse theory again?

"...Nevermind. Why- or, I suppose, how-- did you end up here?"

"I... was in the library, looking for childcare books! I guess one of the Rifts in there opened up. It happens sometimes, not that often usually, but sometimes!" He seems to be being honest. And the books that had been brought into the area with him certainly are centered around taking care of and making dough babies. But why would he be looking into that? "One time, it resulted in a squid appearing in the middle of the library. Papa was really excited to home-make ink, though, so it was ok!"

#e-sides #cookie run roleplay #i COULD stop putting bullets in my chekhov's gun #but why would i do that

"Hm," is all she can muster. She'd met stranger cookies. The dragon bent down to pick up one of the books, So, You Want To Be a Parent?, and huffed, "I have this one. In my personal library. Do you need advice, perhaps?"

Bug did not sound pleased at the idea, a low noise of protest making its way out of her dough. Their claws nicked the sleeve of her shirt as they growled a low, "No time."

Ridiculous, really. It wasn't as if either of them were going to crumble soon.

*ahem* the air splits open for a moment and a very fluffy porple trips and falls into Lily's vicinity, accompanied by a surprised squawk and falling books

- @feathery-faeries Sapph

Dark Enchantress jumped nearly a foot in the air at the new cookie's appearance. Lily didn't seem too affected, other than tensing up for a moment.

"Ah," she said, "That's..."

"Black Sapphire?" her Bug said, head cocked.

"...Yeah."

At the edge of the Silver Kingdom? Why?

He seems to have dazed himself, one of the books he'd fallen with having landed on his head. Doubtful he'll be down long, but dazed nonetheless

She looked over at White Lily, who was in turn looking at Black Sapphire, a blank expression on their face. They didn't seem to care that a cookie had appeared out of thin air.

Dark Enchantress moved forward.

"What's a minion of Shadow Milk doing all the way out here?" the dragon asked him, offering him a hand up.

He gives a mildly confused look, clearly still dazed, at the question. Then shakes his head with "A what of who?" as he reaches to take the offered hand, blinking his way back fully to clarity

#e-sides #cookie run roleplay #crooked cracks

The dragon pulled him up, "Shadow Milk? Big poofy jester of a cookie? Beast of Deceit?"

She felt White Lily peek over her shoulder at the now-standing Black Sapphire. They hummed, breath tickling her neck, "...not ours."

Dark Enchantress looked between the faerie and the purple cookie in front of them. Multiverse theory again?

"...Nevermind. Why- or, I suppose, how-- did you end up here?"

*ahem* the air splits open for a moment and a very fluffy porple trips and falls into Lily's vicinity, accompanied by a surprised squawk and falling books

- @feathery-faeries Sapph

Dark Enchantress jumped nearly a foot in the air at the new cookie's appearance. Lily didn't seem too affected, other than tensing up for a moment.

"Ah," she said, "That's..."

"Black Sapphire?" her Bug said, head cocked.

"...Yeah."

At the edge of the Silver Kingdom? Why?

He seems to have dazed himself, one of the books he'd fallen with having landed on his head. Doubtful he'll be down long, but dazed nonetheless

#e-sides #flowerbox #crooked cracks #cookie run roleplay

She looked over at White Lily, who was in turn looking at Black Sapphire, a blank expression on their face. They didn't seem to care that a cookie had appeared out of thin air.

Dark Enchantress moved forward.

"What's a minion of Shadow Milk doing all the way out here?" the dragon asked him, offering him a hand up.

#e-sides #GRAHHHHHHH

*ahem* the air splits open for a moment and a very fluffy porple trips and falls into Lily's vicinity, accompanied by a surprised squawk and falling books

- @feathery-faeries Sapph

Dark Enchantress jumped nearly a foot in the air at the new cookie's appearance. Lily didn't seem too affected, other than tensing up for a moment.

"Ah," she said, "That's..."

"Black Sapphire?" her Bug said, head cocked.

"...Yeah."

At the edge of the Silver Kingdom? Why?

(to lily and dee) How does it feel to have *technically* committed cookie cannibalism via goo

-suspiciously black and green colored butterfly

"No one expects the black goo to be made of cookies. At least we're partners in eating weird things."

That seemed to cheer Dee up.

The pair continued walking, the thorns in the forest parting before the two as they made their way out of the faeries' domain.

#lilytalks #flowerbox #white lily cookie #dark enchantress cookie #crooked cracks #cookie run roleplay

so!!!!!! what's the plan, our silly silly villy? gonna go hunt down a witch? go back to the castle? visit an ancient? something else?

She huffed, "But... with the Silver Kingdom dealt with, I suppose I'd like to hunt down a Witch. Now that we know for sure that there are some on Earthbread, that changes our priorities a bit."

Dee would want to see the Cookies of Darkness, at the very least. Fallen Star that she was, the faerie would follow her. To make sure nothing unsavory happened to her. Just in case Wisp needed her.

Though, some part of them twinged at the thought of Wisp devouring the dragon. They ignored that part, shoving it into the flames that colored the lantern. It didn't matter.

"Then. Bring said Witch's head to my lovely contractor, and fulfill my end of the deal."

#lilytalks #flowerbox #white lily cookie #crooked cracks #cookie run roleplay

Silverbell had.. quite of bit to process after his vacation. It was a lot, though he couldn't be surprised. After the engagement and entire relationship with Sapphire was called off, Silverbell had left and didn't think he'd ever return. Yet, he had and now he was likely about to get into chaos and drama yet again. He was bound to, and given the information he currently had..

Goodness, this was going to suck.

Though, there was a very good question at hand; how the hell had a flower managed to throw him so damned far?!

Oh hey, a conveniently open window. Oh no, a wall.

[ @bells-of-silver ]

White Lily was laying on the rug in the middle of her tower. The perfect place to space out and think. And also the perfect place to not look at the doorways leading to the balconies.

Her stomach rumbled. She paid it no mind. The butterflies, for whatever inane reason, had decided that their speaking to them was an invitation for more to arrive. They should've just stuck with ignoring them.

The faerie's wrists twinged. With a soft sigh, she sat up, wilted flowers drifting out of her hair and onto the rug. It was supposed to be a sign of health, the flowers - their hair only grew them when they had enough nutrition to sustain them.

They wilted far too quickly, though.

Lily took a tiny sip from a cup of water that one of the butterflies had brought to her tower; the only useful thing any of them had done today. She sighed again, unwinding the bandages from her arms and inspecting the damage underneath.

If nothing else, they were healing nicely. No signs of mold or other infection - just more lines joining the ones from their Blueberry Academy days. She started to reach for a new roll of bandages, resisting the urge to rip her dough apart-

They were interrupted by a scream.

...White Lily knew that scream.

One second, she was alone. The next, there was a tangled heap of limbs and wings and silver hair on her floor.

Oh, stars.

That was Silverbell.

Ow.. That certainly hurt, but at least he wasn't too badly injured? His head certainly felt the opposite, but that is what happens when you land smack against a wall. Then a floor.

He laid there, rather pathetically for a moment, before lifting himself. He stretched his wings, glad they hadn't been damaged, but it certainly ached. His whole body did, but he had to get it together, especially when he sat up and looked only to be met with his mother figure staring back at him.

She looked.. different, certainly. He had seen her once after learning she was alive yet it still felt so surreal. Something felt off, though, but he brushed it off as hitting his head just a bit too hard.

Slowly, he lifted a hand and waved.

"..Hey, nice to see you again.."

"Stars, you're real, I- I thought maybe I was just imagining you again, b-but... oh, stars," they managed to choke out between sniffles and more tears.

She was careful not to let her new claws poke any holes in his shirt - though it was a very near thing - as she clutched him tighter. Some irrational part of Lily was convinced that if she let go, Bell would vanish into thin air.

Oh, stars. When was the last time they had hugged someone? When was the last time they had been hugged?

Silverbell froze at first, not quite expecting.. well, any of that really. Though, he was soon to return the hug, just happy to be able to actually hug his mother again. He had truly thought he would never be able to again, but the Universe has funny ways of working, he supposed.

Witches, seeing her again and seeing her cry made him want to cry, but he held off. He wanted to be an anchor for her.

"Of course I'm real, I promise.. it's alright- I missed you.. so much."

His voice was soft as he talked, allowing them to hug him for as long as they needed. Clearly, they seemed to have needed it a lot. Which, made sense — she had been dead and then suddenly.. wasn't. Then he left, and then came back and- oh Witches, he felt horrible. Not exactly feeling at fault, more so empathetic.

"How.. how have you been, Mom?"

He felt stupid asking, but simple questions usually helped cookies ground themselves. He hoped this was the case here too.

"I'm- sorry, I'm fine... been better, but... well, that's... you can't exactly help with that," they gave him one more squeeze, then pulled away.

Silverbell looked to be doing relatively well for himself. Lily hadn't seen him since the box - unless you counted the visit they made as a ghost. All things considered, he looked put together. She, on the other hand...

Her hair wasn't the nicest - she could feel the uneven ends sticking up here and there. Her face probably... wasn't much better. They grabbed the edge of their curtain-cloak and scrubbed at their face, wiping away tears and food crumbs alike.

"Bell, I'm... how are you? Did Time give you my letters at all? A-and... are you okay..? Do you need a bandage? Some ice, maybe? I don't want you to- to get a concussion or anything..."

The faerie fretted over her son, relief at seeing him alive battling with worry for his well-being and bringing back a nervous energy Lily hadn't felt for longer than she wanted to admit.

Their teeth were sharper, their eyes duller, flowers in their hair wilted, but Bell was in front of them. That was all that mattered right now.

"Don't apologize.. you have nothing to apologize for."

The truth for one isn't the truth for all, but is it the truth if you've only grown accustomed to it? Silverbell's eyes followed his Mother's movements closely, as if worried she'd clumsily fall or something. She looked very fragile, though he had no doubt in his mind that was only physically. Death messes with a person, afterall.

"I'm doing alright, better. I got back from my 'vacation' recently because I felt drawn back if I'm being honest.. and I'm glad I did. Time did give me those, yeah- And I'm okay, don't worry. Maybe a little bruised but I feel fine otherwise."

He rubbed his arms upon realizing he no longer had a ring to fidget with on his finger. He'd have to look into one of those spinny rings one of these days. Regardless, Lily's currently unbandaged arms didn't slip past him. Not much did, but he didn't think right now would be a good time to ask about those other minor details.

He waved a hand, gesturing to her arms, "I could ask you the same thing, though. Are you okay? Physically, I mean. Nothing to do with being.. here?"

He didn't have much trust in his mother's other half, especially considering literally everything that happened in the past. He was just worried for their safety, just as he had always been. Even if he wasn't exactly a knight anymore, at least not currently, he still made an oath. Mother or Queen, he would protect Lily even if it killed him.

You have failed once before, little archer.

I don't know what to do if he's injured, what if he has brain damage, or something worse? What if this is the last time I see him? What if-?

White Lily blinked. Digested his words. Just bruised.

They smiled then, albeit shakily, "Good, that's... that's good."

She patted his shoulders, ignoring the butterfly on the bookshelf behind him. She was doing such a good job of not wondering what it was doing there that they almost missed his next question.

They followed his gesture down to their arms. Ah. I didn't finish re-bandaging them.

"Oh, these?" the faerie tried for a lighter tone, but even she could tell it wasn't convincing, "Heh, it's nothing! Just me being Silly Lily. Clumsy, you know me. Dee's been quite kind, it's not... her fault."

What was she supposed to say? Tell the truth? Say what she was thinking?

It's my fault for being idiotic enough to fall for the Witches' trickery. I know better. And if I don't let those feelings out with my jam, I'm worried my emotions will have no way to escape, and I'll simply shatter!

Yeah, right. That would just worry him even more. The faerie wouldn't- couldn't - put any more stress on Silverbell's shoulders. They could handle themself. They would be fine.

They just had to believe it, first.

"I've been staying here, actually!" Lily said abruptly, trying to steer the conversation away from the half-healed lines on her arms, "This tower is very... nice! Despite the lack of bed. There's lots of books! And the... butterflies... were having a hard time finding their way up here for a little while, so that was nice while it lasted. And now you're here! This is great! Everything is wonderful!"

...Okay, I went a little hard on the sell. Hopefully it'll balance out.

Silverbell tilted his head, a look of suspicion crossing his features but if he truly didn't believe her, he didn't say anything. They both knew, in some way, but mother like son; avoidance was temporary comfort. He wouldn't push, unless it became a bigger problem.

"I'm glad you're doing.. well, at least. That's always good to hear," It was better than the alternative, that was for sure. "The dark and gloomy really, uh. Contrasts."

His wings shifted as he looked around. If Lily wasn't here, he was certain he'd be incredibly uncomfortable. Their description of Dark Enchantress also was unnerving, but he knew he held grudges so he could admit that was probably a biased opinion.

He honestly couldn't wrap his head around why Lily would want to be here, when she could come home and be with her family! That'd be better than here. Sure, Dark Enchantress was, technically, Lily but they were still their own person now with their own thoughts and opinions. Lily couldn't be properly thriving here, especially not after dying and being brought back.

He didn't have experience in it, but he could guess that must've been horribly traumatizing. She didn't need to be here, she deserved to be with her family.

"Are you here willingly, though? Like, this is the last place I'd think you'd be after.. everything. I'm just worried."

"Am I... willingly?" Was the faerie at the Castle out of obligation, or did she truly want to be here?

Where else could I really go?

Faeriewood still... hurt. Whenever she thought about going back, the idea filled her dough with dread. The other Ancients' Kingdoms were also an option, but she had not seen any of them in years. The chances of them accepting her were slim to none. Even so, surely most cookies could not possibly want to stay in a place with cold stone walls that whispered of death.

And yet, after everything White Lily had endured, they had made no movements to leave the Castle and go far, far, away from everything and everyone within.

"Is it... wrong... to say it's for Dark Enchantress Cookie?" she murmured, barely audible despite the stillness of the room.

They looked up at their son, hand dropping from their arm as they turned toward him, "She really, truly, isn't a bad cookie. She... she saved my life, Bell. And she cares. Sure, she's bad at showing it, but there's always these moments, where you can see bits of it coming through her tough exterior.

"I think... Bell, I think there's merit in what she's trying to do. What she's trying to accomplish. It's not just amassing power, it's saving cookiekind. And... and maybe I want to help her."

She gave me a body. The least I can do is give her a hand.

"She saved my life".

Right.

The one job he failed at. Funny how even evil was better at his job than he was.

The Faerie glanced away from his mother as she spoke. He didn't like this at all. Not after everything, not after finally having his mother back. Yet, she goes to somebody who has — regardless of their reasons — hurt so many? It didn't make sense, and it most definitely didn't make sense to him that Lily even thought she had any point in what she was doing. Silverbell was once a protector, and even if he had failed, at least he never harmed the innocent.

"Help her, what? Hurt more people? I get saving cookiekind, I'd want to as well — but with her? She has hurt how many now? The end doesn't justify the means. She's likely just using you, that's the type of cookie she is. To go along with anything of hers.."

Silverbell sighed, looking back at his mother with a frown, and a nearly desperate plea hidden behind his eyes.

"I just don't want to lose you again.. physically or otherwise. I just don't want you to be dragged down with that woman."

Just like she had be dragged down by Elder Faerie. Or Salt. Or any of those awful people.