The Displaced Flower and the Saviors’ Youngest (aka Bonnie The Kid Finds White Lily Cookie)
Concept by @potatotato-26 and @sherllockholems
PS, please ignore the eyepatch Siffrin has in some arts.
This takes place BEFORE the rouge takes the L.
Please, take care of Pure Vanilla Cookie.
In this place, your bravery and loyalty will become his best defense.
Thank you! My Light of Truth will illuminate our path so we don't lose our way.
These were the last words you could recall with clarity. A decision to diverge paths. A promise to meet again.
But that was before the smell of burnt sugar overwhelmed your senses and a tight squeeze gripped your stomach, your mind fading into darkness shortly afterwards.
Upon your (rough) awaking, it became clear that you were on a meadow. A strangely empty meadow. With nary a Cookie or creature in sight. Only the strands of (slightly larger?) grass billowing in the wind and clouds moving against the sky was proof this was no dream.
Add the lack of any familiar sightings made it clear: you were transported to someplace not in the Faerie Kingdom, nor even in Beast-Yeast. Perhaps a foreign country.
There may have been a touch of grumbling and/or screaming upon the realization of how far you (potentially) are from your friends. The irony of somehow falling into an enemy trap just as soon as you parted ways and promised to meet again is not one that amuses you. Still, you manage to pick yourself up with your staff (that thankfully still has your Soul Jam shining its ever-verdant light) and begin your trek in unknown territory. Regardless of circumstance, you still had a duty to fulfill.
As soon as you figure out where you were.
While you are unsure of how long you had been unconscious, you are now aware that it is at least a bit past midday, thanks to the sun’s slow descent. Not much, but at least it's a start. The same can’t be said for locating any signs of life. So far, attempts at finding any other Cookies have proven… fruitless. It’s… somewhat worrying that you may have been transported to a desolate island, but you brush the notion aside for now.
After all, you still need to eat. You had a long day before and ahead of you.
Gathering food wasn’t as big of an issue as you’d thought it would be. You are grateful you still possess your survival skills from so long ago. What were edibles vs non-edibles was something you managed to figure out during your long treks across Earthbread, satiating your hunger for the moment. You sigh after managing to quell your stomach. The remaining issue of your parched throat would be solved after following the sound of flowing to a river nearby. Not before cleaning up after yourself, of course. Once more, you continue your trek in uncharted territory.
It’s strangely peaceful once you arrive at the stream… Besides the obvious, not a sound echoes through the dense forestry you find yourself in. You once more sigh, horns itching, still unsure if there was anyCookie available in this barren region. There has to be some sign of civilization. You’d even take Cake Hounds at this point…
“That’s enough of that,” you slightly chide to yourself. You need to drink. Recuperate and then continue forward. Find anyCookie that could give directions and continue from there.
Plan in mind, you dip your hands into the moving water, gently cupping the water to taste-test for anything wrong. It’s… tasteless? You don’t quite taste the amount of sugar as you’d expect… Or, any for that matter. But other than that, it seems safe? Maybe there really isn’t any-no, stop that. Drink. Your head is scrambled. Calm yourself. And drink.
As you shake off the looming dread and drink from the stream, you are finally given a chance to fully… reflect.
Looking back now, you realize this must have been orchestrated by the Beast to separate you from Pure Vanilla and the others. With a sigh, you admit the worst part is the fact it was true.
Was the decision still necessary? Yes, absolutely. As much as it hurt parting so soon after being reunited… The responsibility and power entrusted to you by Elder Faerie Cookie’s last will… it was paramount in mastering. To seal the Beasts back in their trees. And of course, the Beast targeted that. You, the biggest threat to their return.
Now, here you are. Drinking out of a strangely tasteless stream. On a foreign island/country? Without a clue to get back, or master Elder Faerie Cooke’s power, or even tending to the Faerie Kingdom-oh Cheese, you’re in charge of the Kingdom now! And to make matters worse, there are still four other Beasts besides the one lurking at the Spire, with no way to contact anyo-
For a moment, you feel something grasp your body at both sides. Water you had been drinking splashes with a small plish as your thoughts are shaken.
The next, you suddenly find yourself being raised to the air.
《Wooah… qu’est-ce que tu es?》
HERE, TRY ONE! YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT!
…face to face with the monster you neverneverneverever wanted to see again.
《Hé… une petite personne bizarre? Tu n’as pas l’air d’aller bien…》
You can’t speak. You can’t breathe. You can only stare. Ahead. Into the eyes of one you once worshiped as “Creator”.
Only for everything you once believed in to betray you, smothered in dough, and then baked into a monster.
Your head. Spins. Your horns. Itch. You hear something. But as you continue to float. In the face of your creator. Your vision blurs. You open your mouth once more to cry. And squeak with terror.
Your mind goes dark immediately after.
Oh, Crab. It’s not moving anymore.
It’s not like you were trying to surprise them. But the nice smelling person/creature/Sadness(?) looked like it was gonna fall into the water, you managed to catch it. Then they went limp when you tried talking to it.
Maybe it’s like Nillie? Or Belle after a long day?
You hold the strange small person(?) in your hands as dela-cately as you can. You slightly shake them, but it doesn’t wake up. Guilt bubbles inside you. Crab…
You can’t just leave it here. It would be rude after what you did. You haven’t even said “sorry”! for spooking them.
You’ll definitely have to apologize to them properly when they wake up.
You take off your hat before gently placing them down on it, to safely carry them back to your camp. You also placed a strange looking flower stick that was near them in your hat. There was a strange shade to it, but maybe it belonged to them?
Anyways, you manage to make it back to camp, where everyone is waiting for you.
Za and Frin are together, gathering wood for the fire, and probably talking about (urgh) puns, like usual.
Belle was sitting on the blanket, checking over those weird papers again.
Dile meanwhile was currently reading a book. Musta be for her secret research.
“Heyguys…” you mumble, still worried over the little person in your hat. “I found something…” Everyone stops what they are doing and looks your way.
“Oh, Boniface you-?” Dile started. She stopped when she saw what you were carrying. “Oh-!” her eyes lit up a bit. Like when she was in that library a few towns back.
“Oh, Change-is it alright?” Belle asked. She walked over alarmed, cuz she’s naturally gonna be worried about everyone. Even strangers. That’s the sorta person she is. “What even happened?”
“I might’ve really scared them.” You bashfully admit. “They were gonna fall into the river, but I caught ‘em in time! But when I asked if they were okay, they just… stopped moving.”
“I see… they must have fainted then.” Belle mutters, looking down at the little person in your hat. “Poor thing.”
“Hey, Bonnie, did you find flowers?” Za suddenly asks. “Like… a lot of flowers?” Right, the nice smell that you followed.
“Oh yeah! It was coming from the little person.” You reveal, your eyes move down towards your little friend.
“Their right.” Belle sniffs, “It reminds me of… that flower shop back in Dormont.”
Oh Crab-”I’m sorry, Belle! I didn't mean to-”
She suddenly stops you. “It’s alright, Bonnie. I was just… reminiscing…” ugh, why she gotta be like that?
“Oh, Mira!” Frin suddenly pipes up. “I never knew you did flowers!” Uh-oh.
“I guess you're feeling BOUQUET right now?” HAH-HUrrrraaaggghhhhh…!
“FRIN!”/“Siffrin!”/“HAH!”/”Gah…”
“I’m sorry, Mira! You know lilac the ability to control myself.” Hrr…
“Stop.” you reply. As funny as it is, you gotta be more sere-us.
Frin thankfully puts his hand up. Looks like the puns shall stop. For now…
“Haaah, it’s alright now, Siffrin.” Belle suddenly sighs, “Still-” Okee, time to stop Belle being a crab.
“ALRIGHT-!” You suddenly announce. “Imma make dinner! For all of us!”
“By ‘all’, do you mean-” Dile begins.
“Yes. The little flower person too.” You answer. Then, you walk over to where your u-tin-sles are and then sit down, cross legged, hat and flower person in your lap.
“Uhh… Bonnie? What are you-?” Za stupidly asks.
“Making dinner.” You respond.
“You sure you can cook like that, Bonbon?” Frin also stupidly asks.
“Yes.” you boldly declare.
“Oh, just, do be careful not to harm your new friend!” Belle requests.
“Yes, it would be poor form to have a mess be their first real introduction to our party.” Dile added.
You carefully pick up your things, ready to get started. Hmm… Though, with your flower friend here… you hadn’t done anything with herbs since a few towns over. Ooh! Maybe make a desert too…
Towering giants. Scatter crumbs of fallen Cookies. Sound of laughter.
WELL WELL WELL, IT'S BEEN A THOUSAND LONG YEARS!
《Allez, Mira! Tu dois admettre que c'était plutôt drôle!》
AND WOULD YOU LOOK AT THESE! THEY LOOK AMAZING!
Nononononononononononowhywhywhywhywhywhy-!
《Hmph! Peut-être pour vous, mais certains d'entre nous ont des «préférences» différentes.》
PHEW! I BAKED A TON OF COOKIES!
HERE, TRY ONE! YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT!
《Sigh… Je suis d'accord avec Mirabelle. Avez-vous déjà pensé à essayer de trouver d'autres méthodes d'humour?》
T'IS ALRIGHT! LET'S JUST BAKE IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!
At this- wretched banquet?!
Run. You need to run. Run. RUN. RUN. RUN. WHY AREN’T YOU RUNNING?!
《Hé Bonbon. Je pense que ton petit ami est-》
YOU MADE A PROMISE. TO MEET THEM AGAIN. YOU WILL NOT BREAK IT. NOT AGAIN.
AND ENSNARE THE WITCH IN VINES!!!
You can barely make out what happens next-
Screaming, confusion, sounds and noises, all blend into one as your terror-stricken dough finally MOVES.
And you run. Run. RUN. RUN. AND RUN.
YOU CAN'T STAY HERE! YOU NEED TO TELL SOMEONE. YOU NEED TO-
barely manage to move your arm forward to soften your fall, barely aware that you were already falling.
You sit silently in the unexpected plant’s blessed shade.
Your head feels like a storm of hazy spices. That burning, suffocating feeling. Your vision feels blurry. Wet.
You gasp. For air. Your throat is constricted by more of that foreign spice…
Why are you crumbling again?
Even though you promised…?
Is all of this… just meant to be a reminder?
《Salut.》 A gentle voice greets you.
lays down in front of you…
《Désolé de vous avoir fait peur…》
《Tu as laissé tomber ça.》
The witch’s hand is stretched out you need to ru-
The witch… is looking away…
Is it… giving you your staff back? Your… Soul Jam…?
They never… never carried about Cookies before… And yet… this witch here… looking at you with sad, almost apologetic eyes?
And despite your instincts telling you, pleading you, to stay away, you…
A single swipe, and your White Lily Staff and Soul Jam are back in your hands…
You stare at it for a moment. Your Soul Jam.
Despite everything, it is… still shining. That same, ever-verdant light. Even though… you shouldn’t even have it back… even though… you were no better than the Witches in terms of monstrousness… You…
《Hé. Tu ressembles à ce que fait Sif quand il est énervé. Est-ce que tu… veux respirer avec moi?》 And slowly, the Witch inhales air. And then, exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
Your head doesn’t hurt as much now…
Your horns still ache. But it's not as bad now.
《Tu as l'air plutôt sympa pour une Tristesse.》
You haven’t been able to understand?
No. You haven’t. At first, you thought it was merely fear clouding your dough, but… No, this isn’t just dialect. It’s a completely different language you’re hearing.
Why, though? Even at the Banquet, at the worst… you could still make it out clearly. You could never forget what those monsters said.
And yet… Why can’t you understand now?
《Hé. Est-ce que tu… as besoin de respirer à nouveau?》
You look at them, confusion clear in your eyes.
《Tu sais. Respirer?》 They start breathing slowly again.
“Respirer”. Did they mean… breathing?
You slowly shake your head, hoping you’ve managed to say “no.”
《Oh. Alors, tu… vas bien maintenant?》
There’s a gentleness in that… you assume to be a “question”. Still, you think they're asking you if you're… alright?
You’d certainly like to convey that you're fine. But after what you just did, you’d doubt anyone would believe you, let alone a Witch. So instead, you just… stare ahead once more.
《Oh. Pouvez-vous… ne pas parler?》 The witch asks, before pointing at their mouth to start… opening and closing?
…For the sake of your sanity, you go under the belief they are asking if you can talk.
Well, after all this time. You got what you wanted.
The weird flower-smelling Sadness speaks. Or, you think it spoke. It's kinda… hard to explain. But you think it CAN talk. It just comes off as weird words you don’t really understand but somewho… do?
Crab this Sadness is weird.
Still, you sit by and let the strange Sadness speak to you. Even though you're not crabbin’ sure WHY. It… attacked Frin and everyone else. You even decided as the sole person NOT tied down by vines, you’d catch up to it to give it a piece of your mind! …But as you fixed your hat back on your head, you realized it forgot its little staff, and the jewel with the weird shade in it. For some reason, you ended up kinda feeling… bad for it. Which shouldn’t make any crabbin’ SENSE!!! But… then you caught up to it… seeing it like that…
Reminded you a bit of yourself…
«I speak. Can you… understand?»
“No.” you admit. The Sadness’s face… kinda scrunched up at that. Kinda like Frin does when something bu-fuddles them. Or a cat when you give them bad tuna.
«…» It’s looking around now. It's still a bit like Mira does when she wants to bite her nails, but suddenly it starts drawing its staff on the floor. It looks like…
A question mark? Sure, so you nod your head. The eyes of the Sadness seem to brighten at that. Then…
“? - >” Once the Sadness is done drawing, it goes back to looking at you. A question mark… and an arrow pointed right at itself. Which means… it wants to ask you what you think of it?
“Didna say it already? You’re a Sadness! A weird Sadness though…” you respond.
“Huh…? Uh, no not a ‘Trist-ease’… a Sadness! Like… WAH! WAH! Boohoo! My life’s a crab!” You suddenly pretend-bawl, startling the Sadness a little before another look appears on its face.
«Tears… Crying… », the Sadness starts. «Sorrow… S-Sadness…?» Yah, that's right.
“Mmh…!” you nod. “Sadnesses are like…” you begin to doodle on the ground. “That’s right. They uh… kinda weird smelly, nasty Crabs…! They usually just go around attacking people. Kinda like what you Crabbin’ did… but uh I don't think that you're THAT bad.” you reply, finishing your best depiction of a Sadness; a short, stubby creature leaking tears. The other Sadness is giving your doodle a funny look, before turning to look back at you with the same look.
«S-Smelly…?», it asks, and looks like it wants to cry a bit again. Maybe. You can’t really tell what’s going on with those weird Sadness eyes… Suddenly, you take whiff, and remember the scent that kick started this whole crabbin’ thing!
“Oh yeah! I came here cuz I was smelling something nice, like flowers! …And then I found you.” You explained, pointing to your nose and then to the Sadness’s flower to show you were (app-eren-tly) tracking down the Sadness’s scent. You still think it’s a little upset, though… “I mean… it’s a nice scent.” you finish, looking to the side for feeling a bit like a Crab.
«Sadness… M-Monster…? …Scent…? You-» Now the Sadness is looking at you with even bigger eyes than before, which is impressive, cuz those eyes are already big.
“Uh, yah. Kinda like what you did when you wrapped up everyone in vines…” You mutter. Dile was REALLY Crabbin’ mad when that happened. Even though it was Frin who got it worse… What even was that?”
“Yah, my friends! Or uh… “aquin-tin-ces” as Dile’d put it sometimes.” You say, as you start a new drawing featuring all your friends.
“Yep! There Dile, she’s doing “secret research” and loves reading books, then Belle, who’s pretty sweet and brave, but sometimes make herself worry over everything, and Isa, whose big and can be pretty stupid sometimes, but still nice, and then Frin, who loves to make stupid puns and carving and-” You stop when you realize the Sadness is breathing fast again.
And you see the Sadness looking at your doodle of Frin like something Crabbin’ wicked.
«W-Witch…» it seethes, «Why do you-that is a Witch…» Now it’s starting to draw its own Frin, only it looks way more bad-looking. Hey, you may not know the word, and they may annoy you, but you think that’s not nice!
“Hey! Frin’s not a “Weet-cha”! …whatever that is. Besides, what even is a ‘Weet-cha’?”
The sudden burst of anger that made your horns heat up simmers once you see the genuine confusion of the face of the Witc-... No, that’s… the fact they don’t even know- You’ve… managed to gain something of understanding with it/them?
They don’t know. Neither what a Witch is… or what you even are. Why else would they ignore wanting to snack on a Cookie like you?
Still… you grumble a bit as the… whatever they are only caught you all because of your floral scent.
“So then… Why are you here?" You ask, gesturing best you can to their Witch and then the ground.
《Euh… pour ton truc de bâton de fleur… et je suppose que je suis désolé de t’avoir fait peur plus tôt aussi.》 The Witch is rubbing the back of their head. Those same apologetic eyes… 《Mais tu dois aussi t'excuser!》 Before suddenly snapping to you in a more upset tone.
You flinch, but try to stand your ground. They don't know what you actually are, so you, theoretically, should be fine… unless they somehow know a spell or two to throw at you. “W-what? What do you mean?” You state, trying not to show much agitation beyond the bare minimum in fear they may retaliate.
They start drawing lines on top of the picture of their party. Mostly over the Witch, but some on the others as well. It seems to resem- ah.
They want you to apologize. For what you did to their party. You barely remember what you did besides summoning plant life to cover your tracks.
Your horns twitch slightly.
《Hé, tu es SÛR de ne plus vouloir respirer?》 the same gentle, if loud voice, asks you once more.
You… decided to shake your head. Their expression turns someone miffed, and yet-
《Hé. Tu veux juste… rester ici un moment?》 They ask, landing back on the ground… and looking at you with softer eyes than before.
…You feel a soft wind blowing through the grass…
You nod a bit, and they seem to understand that.
Silence reigns for a good solid minute more.
《Hé. Qu'es-tu réellement??》
Before being finally broken by another innocuous question. One that sounds strangely familiar…
They are looking at you again. The same eyes you could find at Blueberry Academy.
They want to know what you are.
How do you even EXPLAIN that?
You… you CAN’T tell them the truth. You’ll be eaten up and forgotten about in no time. And yet… right now, they think you are some… monster-”a Sadness” of some kind. You don’t think you could-
“I… do not know.” you begin, lying for your teeth. “I awoke in a meadow not far from the river you found me.” You draw your story to the best of your abilities, ignoring the rancid feeling growing in your dough. “I… was wondering where I came from. And…” you pause, once more looking at their drawing of their Witch. Your horns once more begin to itch. “Before I realized what had happened… Something terrifying. Appeared in my memory. When I saw your W-“
《Frin n'est pas un «Weet-cha». C'est le euh… «Rouge»!》
“…«R-Rouge». I… recalled a terrible memory.” You darkly admit. “What I do remember… the “Witches”… hurt me…” You look again to your sketch of the Witch, only comparable to the “Rouge” with an animosity you wish was casted aside when you were re-baked. Ignoring whatever scathing look they were giving you.
Your horns begin to flare.
“I-I… I caused you great distress, have I not?” Crumbs, this is too painful. Just stay here and do your best to convince them. You just need to say ‘Go back and tell the others you are sorry.’
You barely have to hear the other’s words.
As a bizarre, gelatinous creature you almost are sure is from the Black Licorice Abyss suddenly rises from the bush behind you.
You raise your staff, the Soul Jam flairing to life as you once more summon plant life to entangle it-
And you feel yourself swept off your feet once more. Ignoring the pain-filled screams and sobs as you are whisked away in a blur.
Crabcrabcrabincrab!!! A big-Crabbin’ Sadness Crabbin’ jumped you and your Sadness. Crab this! You gotta go!
You manage to snatch the smaller fella into your arms and attempt to bolt-
A crabbin’ shade you’ve never seen before suddenly blasts out of the little fella’s flower gem thingy and the bigger Saddness screams something fierce. Your brainhead feels the same way! Then, vines suddenly pop out of the ground and slam down on the bigger Sadness, pinning it in place. That’s gotta hurt, but you sure ain’t gonna complain about it!
“CRAB, lil’ fella!” You loudly yell as you scurry FAR away from the way uglier Sadness, “That was awesome!”
«…» You realize the flower fella isn’t saying much. When you lift them up again to your face, you see them just staring at you. Whoops!
“Ah Crab! I-I’m sorry for surprise touching you agai-”
You suddenly feel something touch your cheek. Wah? It's the flower Sadness. It's looking at you with a blank look you remember Frin having sometimes…
Before smiling suddenly. And then crying as well.
…This is a REALLY Crabbin’ weird Sadness…
“Uhh… do you… wanna cry some more?” You ask, only somewhat miffed cuz of what’s going on.
The Sadness shakes their head, and still sobs a ‘eally strange sounding laugh. Eventually though, the sobs stop, and is now looking at you again ‘cept the eyes are still leaking.
«Why did you… save me?» You think it asked.
“Uh, cuz I didn’t wanna leave you behind?” You bluntly state, now walking back to camp. “‘Sides, you still gotta apologize to Frin and the others!”
The Sadness flinches at that. You suddenly recall what they said about “Weet-chas”. Crab.
“Heyhey. Don’t fret. None of them’ll bite!” you comfort them.
You’re not sure if the noise it made to that was a laugh or a sob.
Eventually, you manage to make it back to camp before the sun set. Crab, it’s almost as bad as you left it. Belle and Dile were standing near the now torn-up picnic blanket, talking, while Za and Frin…
“Alrighty, Sif. Next one’s coming right off! Just give me a sec…” You heard Za, for once really struggling, to get a vine off.
“Mrph…” muffled Frin. Yep. They were still as tied up as you left them. They were much less of a rogue now and more of an… what did Nelle say one time? “Tray-lis”? Yeah, tray-lis than person.
“I still can’t believe that Sadness managed to do… all this.” you hear Belle say, looking at all the devy-station the flower fella caused to their campsite.
Though in fairness, it was mainly the picnic blanket and Frin.
“I suppose we should be thankful then, that our dearest Rogue managed to take the brunt of its attack.” Dile responded.
“Hghnhbmph…” Frin muttered something in response. You're not sure what.
“Don’t take it the wrong way, Sif.” Za started, still struggling to pry off the vine. “I’m sure Madame Odile is only wishing you the best. Even if she won’t say it outright.” he said with a glance towards Dile.
“How presumptuous of you to think I don’t care, dearest Isabeau.” Dile scoffed.
“Brbrgnmhmshg! Basjiashsudh!” Frin suddenly muffled-yelled!
“...I am not sure if that was meant to be one of your puns-”
“MRPHMR-MRPH! MMRR!!” Frin continued, (struggled to) point towards the clearing. And more importantly, towards you.
“BONNIE!”/”BONIFACE!”/”KIDDO!”
Everyone drops what they’re doing and runs towards you. Cept for Frin. Welp. This was gonna be awkward…
“Heyguys…” you start. Again.
“Bonnie! Thank Change you’re alright!” Belle ran up to you like usual. She checked to see if you needed any healing, which you don’t!
“Itsfine…” You mumbled. But as you get ready to explain, Dile suddenly walked up, Belle moving aside. With her “angry” look on her face.
“Boniface. Would you like to explain to us WHERE exactly you ran off to when that Sadness suddenly upended the earth and attacked our campsite?” She REALLY must not be happy with you.
“Hey, c’mon Madame Odile. I’m sure Bonnie has a PERFECTLY REASONABLE explanation as to why they disappeared on us.” Za said, giving his own fearsome stare of his own. Guh, they ALL gotta worry like this?! It’s not fair! You didn’t even get a chance to explain yourself!
…even if the story’s SUPER weird…
“It’s a really weird story, Za.” You tell him. “And YOU prolly wouldn’t bell-ie-ve me without eve-dance!” You counter Dile’s question.
“Oh?” Dile raised her eyebrow. “And WHAT perchance would THAT ‘evidence’ be?” The till-tale sign of whenever she’s doubting. But THIS time, you’re prepared! You’ve got eve-dance right on the palm of your hand!
Or, well, under your hat.
“BONNIE!/BONIFACE!!/THE CRAB???” You suddenly hear them all yell. Huh? Whaddya do?
“Bonnie, stay VERY still! T-The Sadness is currently ON TOP YOUR HEAD.” Belle squeaks as she suddenly has her hand out, aimed at your flower fella.
“Boniface.” Dile’s cold words stop you as she’s looking at you with dead eyes before she starts massaging her eyes with her free hand. “Please do not tell us you spent your time trying to track down a previously unseen, and potentially DANGEROUS Sadness. And then brought them back here. WHY???”
“‘Cuz they wanna say ‘sorry’.”
“What./W-Wha???”/“Pardon, ‘Sorry???’” They all ask, before Za steps up..
“Bonnie, I’m…” Za starts, putting a shoulder on Dile to push her to the side, “not sure WHAT could have happened, but-”
«It-» The flower Sadness fella starts. Za naturally shuts up. “It’s. Alright,” another soft voice rings out. Wha? Who was that? You look around but-
Everyone is looking at your head. But that could mean…
IT WAS THE FLOWER FELLA??? THEY CAN SPEAK?!
The voice is actually kinda pretty though…
“You can speak people now?!” You ask your flower Sadness fella as you gently pick them up and bring them to your face.
“Not… good… learning…” they say, shaking. Oh. Makes sense. You nod.
Everyone else is still looking at the Sadness. Za looks like when Frin does something Crab worthy, cept without the blushing. Belle is tilting to the side and looks like she wanna faint. And Dile… has this WEIRD look that you think is her angry look… and that wonder-ized look when she first saw the flower fella.
“...What ARE you.” Dile asked. Weird, since it didn't FEEL like a question. She still looked ready to attack it.
«I-» they cough, “I. Not. Know.”
“You… don’t know?” Belle suddenly asks. Dile snapped towards her.
“Yah! They said that, that they woke up with no clue!” you chime in.
“M-mmh… Fa- «It-» Va-egg-ly… ree-mem-ber.” The flower fella stuttered out.
Belle looked less stressed out, but still worrying-kind. Za’s mouth was a great big O. Dile… still looked like she wanted to fight it, but now looking even unsure of that. Frin… was still stink-eye looking at it. Which isn’t fair. This flower fella’s like, super cool!
“Mmm. Also, everything’s Frin’s fault!”
“MHRPHAYG HMAHPNYAH???” Frin muddle-sputters under the vines. The flower fella flinches a bit from that.
“Uhhh… and HOW exactly is it Sif’s fault???” Za asked, trying to get to it before Dile lost her temper.
“W-Weet-chas?” Dile asks, her face now looking dumb. Wow, that’s rare.
“W-W-Weet-chas.” the flower fella repeats, looking at Frin with a bit of the same look it gave your doodle. Frin looks back-and seems to give a similar look. Huh, wonder what that's about.
“Oh-OH!” Belle suddenly jumps, now looking at the fella like she would at you when you’d be ‘in trouble’ (which you usually AREN’T) “I-I see, uh… Mmm, how do-”
“Sh-she/he-ur” She reveals. Huh.
“I see. Ms. Sadness. Uhm… I am fairly certain our friend Siffrin is very much NOT a ‘Weet-cha’ like you assumed.” Belle explained.
“I. Made aware.” she states with a nod. Belle is now looking at you.
“Ah.” she realizes. “Well then. Is there a REASON why you attacked us at least.”
«Wit-» “Weet-chas… But I-” flower fella stutters a bit, still looking weirdly at Frin, before gulping and “S-Sorree…” ap-pollo-gizes as her eyes soften a bit.
Everyone but Frin (Dile too, but not as much) soften at that.
“… I see…” Belle starts, gives her trademark smile (it looked a little weird)! “Well then… thank you for apologizing, Ms. Sadness!” Yes, Belle.
“Yes, apology accepted.” Dile starts, looking at the flower fella darkly. “Now, might you kindly leave?” No, Dile!
“It’s a shattering SADNESS Boniface!” Dile starts, looking at you with a hard look. “Not an animal that can be trained. Even IF it somehow managed to gain the ability to speak coherently, do not forget…” She turns her head back towards the blanket and Frin, and your fella is already looking pained. No fair!
“But she was really nice! We talked and even did that breathing thing Frin does sometimes!” You counter. Frin’s eyes seem to grow wide at that.
“You… ‘talked’? Is that how they learned to speak?” Dile asks.
“Naw, it had its own voice! Weird to hear, but I could also understand!” you respond.
“…Has there EVER been cases of Sadnesses… talking…?” Za asks.
Dile looks weird again for a moment. The flower Sadness looks just as bad. “Yes. But only in cases where it merely repeated words spoken by their victims. There are no records of a Sadness… out right speaking in ‘its own language’… completely unheard of.” Dile finishes. But this might be your chance!
“So? That means she’s pretty cool and MAYBE we could keep her!” You say. Your flower fella looks at you weirdly, but you're not sure why. You're arguing for them to stay!
“Plus she saved ME from another Sadness! AND I saved her back! She even cried when I saved her!” you finish off.
… there's suddenly a whole lotta silence again. Everyone’s looking at the flower fella again.
“I’m sorry. You… ran into ANOTHER Sadness??” Belle askes, her face looking MEGA worried.
“Mmh! Flower fella saved me. Even though I didn’t need it. And I saved her as well! Also touched my face and started crying, but that’s prolly a Sadness thing.”
There’s another look that everyone was giving the flower fella. It’s… weird. Belle keeps looking at the flower fella with a shocked expression, meanwhile Frin is looking at you with an even dumber face than usual. Za however…
“M’dame… maybe we should all just… cool off a bit, no? MAYBE we scared her more than we thought. Just…” he trails off, before he and Dile turn to the flower fella. “Hey, uhm, flower Sadness?” Za asks.
«-?!» She jumps a bit. She's been quiet while you and Dile been arguing. “Y-yes…?”
“Are you gonna hurt us again if we let you stay?” Za bluntly asks.
“No.” She says, very zari-us. “I. S-Sorree.” she again apologized, before immediately clamming up. You think she wanted to say more, but you weren’t sure why.
Dile looks on -stares more like- at the flower fella. You're not sure what she's gonna do, but you try and be tough, just like the flower fella. But then Dile FINALLY puts her book down. Yes!
“…I don’t like this…” Dile sighs, before massaging her head, “But I would be remiss if I didn't at least act more cordially than before. For my previous behavior at least… I apologize. But I still believe this should be a vote.” Oh, like that eh?
“Hmm… I suppose that would be fair… she DID save Bonnie after all…” Belle mutters.
“Sure. Fairest way to decide things!” Za speaks, giving a thumbs up for good measure.
“Mmrrr…” you hear Frin groan. The flower fella looks at them all weird-like again.
“Yes. Fair.” The flower fella Sadness finally responds, nodding her head, but still watching Frin.
“Alright!” you raise your fist in the sky.
“Fine,” Dile sighs again, “All those in favor of her staying, for at least until the next town, say ‘aye’.”
“...Well, you DID save Bonnie. That makes you alright in my book, for now at least. Aye!” Za agrees.
“…” Belle didn’t say anything. But her hands were close to her mouth.
“Mirabelle, nails.” Dile reminded.
Belle looks at her hands before bringing them back down. “I-I’m sorry. I think I need more time.”
“All those in favor of having her leave, say ‘aye’.” she declared as she raised her own hand. Crab.
“Mrpmrgnyag…” mumbled Frin, the traitor, as they failed to lift their hand. So they settled to just move a lot while opening their hand instead.
“It appears we are tied.” Dile glumly noted. She turned to Belle, who still looked nervous at everything going on. “Mirabelle. My apologies for this, but we’ll need a tie breaker.”
Belle was looking a little more unhappy. Maybe a little stressed. “I-I am t-terribly sorry. Change, I’m not sure…” You suddenly feel like a crab, forcing Belle into this. And you're pretty sure everyone else was feelin’ it as well. Even Frin, who was angry staring at the flower fella Sadness, was looking at Belle with worry as well. She eventually turns to you, lookin’ ready to cry. “Please- don’t take this the wrong-”
«It’ll be alright.» Belle stops, and everyone sees the flower fella had walked up to Belle and placed a hand on her ankle. She looks up at her with those same big eyes before opening up her mouth. “E-fen if. Cannut stey. Hap-pi. Ye-ur fry-end. Saefe.” She mutters.
The flower fella then starts walkin’ over to where the traitor, Frin is. She suddenly raised her staff again, causing everyone to jump, ‘cept traitorfrin, who was giving her a more worried look. But rather than do anything, the vines suddenly pulled back… except for a few that had clamped over his mouth. Hah!
“Mrypap!?!?” muffles traitorfrin, who fell back and tried to get the vine on their mouth off. And failing, since they didn't seem budging. The flower Sadness seemed confused about that… till Za suddenly yelled “Crab”!
“I uh… tried slicing the vines off with Sif’s knife…” Za began, rubbin’ the back of his head “Turns out they had a strong death grip. Who knew?” He gave a shaky smile to the flower fella, who was staring at him like he was stupid. ‘Cuz he was.
“…Riveting.” Dile sighed, clearly ex-asp-erated by all of this.
Another sigh came from Belle as everyone turned to her. She was staring at Frin before turning to the flower fella. Now she seemed less stressed. “I… am happy that you saved our friend, Bonnie. I truly am grateful. I just…”
“You. shrug-giled.” the flower fella said. You think she was trying to offer Mira her simpa-fees. “Be. per-oud. Maa-nee fry-inds…” Kay, She was starting to walk past you. NOW you’re starting to feel worried again.
“H-hey, wait! You serious gonna jus-”
“Please. Wait a moment.” Belle spoke up again. Flower fella stopped walking away and was glancing back at her. You could see Belle didn’t look as stressed as before. Well, she still looked seri-us, but a little bit better than before.
Without realizing, you’ve gulped loudly. The fate of the flower fella lies in Belle’s hands!
You just hope it’ll be the RIGHT decision.
You stare ahead at the giant before. This individual you believe the smaller giant called “Belle”. A pointless apprehension grew inside your dough as you prepare to leave. You ARE thankful that you’ve managed to gain… a rather basic understanding of the current language in the short time you’ve spoken with them And saved you despite your cruel act. But even so, you listen to what the giant with a cape will decide upon And try not to think about your breakdown.
《Euh… pour ton truc de bâton de fleur… et je suppose que je suis désolé de t’avoir fait peur plus tôt aussi./…[***] before, you saved [***] friend Bon[***]. So we ARE than[***] for [***] that.》 “Friend”. They truly did care for one another, didn’t they? And despite your own reservations over all that happened, the idea of just letting someone get hurt… You’d rather have let yourself crumble! Still-
《Cependant,/However,》 they sharply add, and you think you’ve flinched as your thoughts are shaken. Despite the seemingly fragility she initially possessed, you think they were simply overwhelmed.
《Vous avez également attaqué notre camp et attaché Siffrin./[***]tacked our ca[***] tied [***] Siffrin.》
The name of the seeming Witch.
Despite your own reservations, they cared for them. So it was only fair of you to fix your mistake.
《Alors… je pense… que tu peux te rattraper. Je suis d’accord pour que tu restes./So… [***] you can make up [***]. I-I’ll agree [***] staying.》 They’re raising their hand. 《B-but only if you REALLY wish to change! I think it would be best. Everyone?》
The more well built giant was smiling. 《Mhh… mon vote n'a pas changé, et tu as raison ! Enfin, quelle est la probabilité qu'on ait un membre du parti qui PARLER DE LA TRISTESSE?!/Mhh… my vote hasn’t [***], and you make a good [***]! I mean, [***] it that we [**] TALKING SADNESS as a party [***]?!》
They’re… letting you stay?
The thinner giant was grimacing, before turning to the Witch, 《…Eh bien, il est trois heures moins deux. Toutes mes excuses, Siffrin, mais il semble que notre petite Tristesse va perdurer un moment./…Well, it’s [***]. Apologizes, Siffrin, [***] little Sadness is staying [***] while.》
The Witch could only 《Mfph…》
You can't quite put it into words right now how you feel Besides your new size and closeness to Creators and just let the commotion play out before you.
You hardly remember the rest besides wetness, noises, and a warm touch. But by the time you fully regain your senses, you are currently resting in a blanket next to the smaller giant a child named Bonnie.
《Je sais que c'est bizarre. Mais j'aimerais te demander quelque chose. Tu as un nom?/I know [***] weird. [***] wanna ask somethin'. You have a name?》
You shake your head, needing to uphold the lie Disgusting.
You snort without humor. 《Why?》
《Parce que je t'appelle «mon pote aux fleurs». Mais ça ne me va pas. Alors… tu veux me donner un nom?/Cuz I’ve just [***] ya “flower [***]”. But it don’t feels [***]. So… do you [***] name?》
You are a liar. You are determined. You are a failure. You are a survivor. You are a healer. You are a monster. You are a hero. You are a cookie.
《Lily… My name… Is Lily.》 You manage to say, feeling only a slight amount of release from this lie.
The child/giant smiled. A toothy smile. You could see they were missing a tooth.
《«Lily»… Ok. Bonne nuit, Lily!/‘Lily’… Okay. Night, Lily!》 They said, before closing their eyes and finally resting.
You look back to the sky.
Maybe… this is why you came?
To help these giants with their task?
Well. They trust you. Because you made them.
Hah. Pure Vanilla would be disgusted with you.
Stop thinking like that. One step at a time, White Lily Cookie. You’ll find your way back. You have to. For them.
At least the stars look beautiful tonight…
Hey everyone. If you reached the end of this, I just wanna say "Thank You". Because this is my first real published fanfic. It was just a weird idea I had when I saw some artwork for how White Lily would meet the party, and Tato had been kind enough to draw up new art scenes for the work.
Anyways, hope you guys like this I really put as much effort into this as I could over a couple weeks. And give a big round of applies to @potatotato-26 and @sherllockholems sparking all of this.
