Alright. I'm going off on a tangent. You have been warned. (TW: Swearing)
We all know the scene from BY 9 where Pavlova was giving everyone a love analysis, don't we? It was a very interesting scene, which a lot of people freaked out over upon realising that it could make WildChip canon. However, that's not what stuck out to me about that scene.
Pavlova's diagnosis to Hollyberry felt really odd at first, because basically every Cookie on Earthbread knows that she's one of the friendliest sillies you could ever meet, right? How could her heart be cold? It sounds impossible.
Which is why everyone acted like that in response. I acted like that too, to be fair. I was OUTRAGED.
But, if you think about it, it's really not that shocking at all.
You see, Pavlova wasn't giving her a personality analysis. He was giving her a love analysis. Which, pretty much by definition, means romance and romantic feelings towards others. So what he meant by "void and empty" wasn't that she was a mean or inconsiderate person, because obviously she's not. He meant that she's incapable of being in love with someone, e.g. harbouring romantic feelings for another cookie.
Now, for my second clue...
COME ON!! THE EVIDENCE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, PEOPLE!!
Personally, I was really surprised that nobody seemed to clock the meaning of this scene, or even acknowledge it's existence at all. Now I realise that it's because SOME shippers are so obsessed with their beloved "toxic yuri" that they can't be bothered actually caring about Hollyberry's character beyond Hollysugar. Which kind of pisses me off. But that's just me.
Anyway, I feel that this scene COULD NOT BE CLEARER in it's message. I mean, Royalberry had to have a father at some point, right? And why is that father not around now? Why have we never seen him in the story?
Naturally, it's because he left.
We've all heard those emotional heartbreaking stories about some guy leaving to 'get the milk' and never coming back again. Well apparently, Devsisters decided to give Hollyberry that route. Unfortunately, Devsisters, it seems that NOBODY GIVES A SHIT ABOUT HER BACKSTORY.
EXCEPT ME. (and like, the three other people I've seen talk about this. Shout out to y'all!)
After this event, it can be infered that Hollyberry gave up on love altogether, and closed herself off, which is a pretty valid response. I mean, having to run a kingdom, deal with the weight of being an Ancient Hero and raise a child all on your own is gonna really take a toll on your mental health.
(Probably the reason for all that alcohol escapism stuff but if I start talking about all her mental problems that nobody cares to notice we'll get way off topic)
This combined with various comments from cookies like Eternal and Smilk about her heart breaking from the inside out (and other stuff like that) is extremely compelling towards my argument, I think.
I guess that's my main point out of the way. But do you wanna know what's makes this so much funnier?
I'm gonna tell you anyway!! :DD
This is Hollyberry's Aegis Cake Hound description. If you look at the last line, you'll have my second main point, which, honestly? I'm rather proud of.
"Its cheerful spirit, shining even in the most dangerous places, has turned the hearts of other Cake Hounds pink... But this lovable buddy hasn't noticed one bit!"
Not only is our beautiful angel here on the aroace spectrum, but she is also canonically FUCKING ATTRACTIVE. INSIDE AND OUT.
IT'S THE LETHAL DUO, HOLY SHIT!!!
If "turned the hearts of other Cake Hounds pink" isn't a metaphor for making other cookies fall in love with her, I don't know what is.
And plus, IT LITERALLY TIES BACK TO MY FIRST PIECE OF EVIDENCE!!
"Countless cookies love and care for you"
LOOK!! IT'S ALL FALLING INTO PLACE!!
The second sentence makes it even better. "But this lovable buddy hasn't noticed one bit!"
She is so closed off to any form of romance that she doesn't understand what romance even looks like anymore, so much so that when other cookies are OBVIOUSLY in love with her (cough cough Eternal Sugar cough cough), she forces herself to ignore the signs, or just doesn't recognise them at all.
And now, perhaps my most inclusive clue...
HOLLYBERRY AND PAVLOVA'S KINGDOM INTERACTION!! *confetti blast*
This one has SO MUCH TO UNPICK it has me kicking my feet and giggling :33
The first line from Pavlova honestly combines everything I've said previously. Hollyberry not noticing cookies who "care for her", which we all know by now in Pavlova's language means "love her".
EXCEPT NOW it's implying that she PRETENDS not to notice. ON PURPOSE.
Then his second line is actually unlike any of the stuff I've talked about so far.
"Don't you feel bad for them at all?"
As most of us know, unreciprocated love can hurt a lot. Especially if you're showing so much love and affection and dropping so many hints, but they still refuse to acknowledge your feelings.
Which is exactly what Hollyberry is doing, isn't it? Ignoring them, because she's so worried about getting her heart broken again that she tells herself the feelings don't exist in the first place. It saves her the trouble of addressing it, and her past.
Her reply to his question suggests this too. She's being vague, trying not to go too deep into the subject for fear of dredging up unwanted memories.
So she just says she's "learned from experience". To be fair, it's not a lie. But it is still a very slippery answer.
And for those of you who are going to come at me like "Oh well Hollyberry said that she'd give love another chance after her awakening!"
That's nice and all, but you may be forgetting that I'm getting some of my evidence from her AEGIS Cake Hound description. Aegis as in, POST-AWAKENING.
You also may be forgetting that the interaction I've just shown also has an updated version specifically for Awakened Hollyberry. And the only thing it changes is the ending, where it adds on two simple lines:
Not much to back you up here, huh? I thought so!
And, I mean, who hasn't told a fib to get someone off their back? I know I have.
The best part about my "Hollyberry is canonically a popular celebrity crush" theory is that we have two examples of this already!
Example 1: Eternal Sugar. I don't think I need to elaborate on this much. I will say that this woman has gone as far as harassment and abduction to keep Hollyberry to herself. If that's not a MASSIVE, WORLD-ENDING CRUSH, then I'll be damned.
Example 2: Royal Margarine. I get that he flirts with everyone, but did you see him in LotRD!?? He was FAWNING over her! There was a whole lament and everything, plus all those extra comments he made throughout. (Did not get a reaction from her at all, by the way, it was HILARIOUS)
Honorary 3rd Example: The adventurers at the Dragon City bar. They were practically BEGGING for a handshake or an autograph from the legend herself, "Sweet Pinkyberry Cookie". That could just be classic platonic fangirl behaviour (like something I would do), but I'm almost sure at least a few of them had crushes on her.
That's about all I have to say! If you made it this far I'm very impressed. How can you read my rambling for so long!?!? What!?!??!?
Anyway, here's a summary of my points:
Hollyberry is almost certainly aroace, or at least somewhere on the spectrum
She has countless cookies practically at her feet in hopeless love, but she doesn't give two shits about any of them (go queen!!)
She's had a past relationship that ended REALLY BADLY, which resulted in lasting, severe trust issues concerning romance
(I kinda just wanna point out rq that I don't blame any of those cookies for simping. Personally, she's not one of my fictional crushes, but have you seen her new outfit!?!??! THAT WOMAN IS SO FINE AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT, THOSE COOKIES ARE DROOLING RIGHT NOW AND I ABSOLUTELY SEE WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM)
(Edit: ALSO want to point out that I am not trying to stop any of you from shipping Hollyberry with Eternal Sugar or Pitaya or people like that. I'm a HUGE Hollycheese fan myself, but this is just my opinion on canon events that have transpired. You all can go crazy thinking whatever you like, don't let this post discourage you!!)
Hope you enjoyed! Have a nice day pancakes, stay safe and drink lots of water!! 🫶
