Beast ancients au belongs to @cuppajj
tw: blood mention/blood.
News spread quickly.
Feathers left behind like a secret whispered in the wind. Yellow with varying amounts of teal depending on the feather found.
Lentil’s rise of fame into the hollyberrian court. The arena itself, made of smooth marble walls and dirt brick floors. The seats made with the utmost comfort depending on your status. Blood that seeped into the cracks and was unable to be cleaned. It would sit there and brown as the stories of those who had suffered within whispered in the wind. The roars of monsters echoed, though the monster who had produced it was long but dead and floating through the wind as a ghost of what had been.
The consort herself. How she influenced the court. Influenced the kingdom. The spells she could preform. Spells most knew to be long lost to time. Ceremonies performed in front of the nobles as a show. The way the consort danced gracefully on the stage around her new guard. Lentil had stood ever so quietly, letting the consort trace strange flower paste onto their skin. The gems produced from mixtures and combinations of strange flowers. The way these were all put on Lentil. Nobles whispered of the way Lentil trembled before falling to the ground crying in pain, eyes wide with horror. They were never the same after that day. Quiet. Smirk having been wiped off their face. Gems were put on a string at the waist between two pins to keep them in place. They were taller. Much taller. Taller than the consort herself. They put on a smile in the arena, the smirk that everyone knew. Only then was it there Lentil shined, skills carved to perfection. Something noted as odd by other swordsmen.
The whispers of a curse caster. Such people having been rumored to be lost to time. No one knew where she was. Everyone said they saw her at least once. She dressed in strange clothes. Paid with strange items. Barely spoke, and if speaking it was in a whisper that left behind vague memories.
A mysterious island near the faerie kingdom. Flora unknown to any florist reached toward the sky while guards made of seashell with unmoving dress blocked the entrance to armies. No matter the army, each one was pushed away by waves and cold porcelain glares. The giant whales that’d shallow ships whole. Whales rumored to look like angry gods with hell awaiting within them for those who crossed their path.
The rumors of a warrior who fought like the late hollyberrian prince. Whispers of the ancients’ children fighting against their parents in a resistance.
Yet the resistance of the creme republic knew naught of this resistance. Nor the other one that whispered of a scientist and her assassin. In the neo-beast kingdoms information was sparse. Outside? Information ran wild. Networks spread news like wildfires. Snuck information into those within the kingdoms. No one knew who these messengers were. Few were caught. Those captured spilled nothing besides their name. A name for the poster that would be made as a warning. A last message to the networks they were caught.
The market in the hollyberry kingdom bustled. People whispered of rumors and secrets. Nobles discussed the whispers and rumors with sly smiles and interest hidden behind fans. Some slipped coins with a note into stalls selling preparation for when the worst came, if it did. Some dumped coins onto the stalls and left soon after. Some left with the lambs that showed up randomly. Lambs that searched for a feathered princess wearing a robe of theirs. Unbeknownst to them, the robe had been burned days ago by the network.
Cream cheese walked around the kingdom, holding the hood of her brown cloak over her head to hide her face. Hastily cut hair itched at her neck, coins slipped into her hand in exchange. Coins quickly sold for food from desperation. Desperation created by days of eating mere crumbs and random berries while hoping they weren’t poisonous. Nobles eyed her as she walked past, sensing the unfamiliarity. Some hoping to catch her for a good coin and some praise from her mother. One of them anyway. None got a good look, wings hidden. Not like she could fly with them anyway.
Only one of the stall owners had wings. The network had told her she could find the lost sibling in the kingdom. In the distance, she stared at the woman. Tanned desert skin, scars covered by makeup redone before every noble customer. Makeup tapped to remove slightly for every hooded figure or out of place traveler who slipped a special paper. The woman’s hair was long and braided, just like the few photos of her sister had. Though the hair was a pink with a small green fade at the end. Eyes both a berry pink. Wings that felt familiar yet entirely pink color told you not to look much further into it. As soon as the customer left, the woman locked eyes with Cream cheese. Cream cheese immediately turned the other way, running as fast as she could. Into the forest trees. Yet the woman knew the forest better than Cream cheese, swooping in behind her like a hawk. Cream cheese summoned her weapon, only for the woman to immediately snatch it by the blade. Her hand bled, yet she didn’t flinch as she grabbed the collar of Cream cheese’s cloak.
“What are you doing here!?” The woman hissed, “Do you realize what danger you’re in!?”
“What are you talking about!?” Cream cheese snapped, “I was fine before you grabbed me!”
“You’re not supposed to be here!” The woman snapped.
The woman sighed and dragged Cream cheese to a small home. The door was closed quietly. The house reeked of dye and ink. Strange flowers and seed packets covered papers. Some full of words and some only displaying a strange blueberry symbol. The woman snatched the cloak off, causing Cream cheese to yelp and try to grab it back. Yet the woman was clearly taller than her, not having been trapped in a tomb for years.
“You cut your hair!?”
“I needed money for food!” Cream cheese snapped back, still trying to grab her cloak.
“Why were you searching for me!? Are the broken pictures and spoken hatred not enough to deter you!?”
“Where else was I supposed to go!?” Cream cheese replied, “I couldn’t stay! The machines! The sounds! Witches they were so loud! The fire! Our mother…! Our father!”
The woman sighed, “I’m not someone you should run to. I’m a criminal. Not to mention the consort! Are you trying to get found out!? That woman changed a person in less than an hour, and you can’t out run her!”
“I’ve heard of the consort! I’ve heard almost everything! The network told me where you were!”
The woman went silent before sighing again, “of course they did. I’ll have to get you to Berry lily. You can’t stay here.”
“But what about you!?” Cream cheese cried.
“I tried to kill your mother twice!” The woman snapped, “Didn’t they tell you that?!”
“Yes! They told me in the virtual city, before the war. Goldenberry this, Goldenberry that. It’s been told a million times! You’re the reason I exist! You know that!”
The woman groaned, “Yes.”
“So help me dammit! I’m tired of being left in the dark! I’ve been trapped for years and I can’t even fly! Everyone sees me for who I was when I was seventeen! I’m not! I’m twenty six!” Cream cheese shouted.
Gentle arms wrapped around Cream cheese. Cream cheese froze, before finally breaking down into tears. Scared, hungry, and afraid.
“I’ll tell you everything, feed you, and then you’re going to the island. You hear me?”
Cream cheese nodded.
They talked for a while. Goldenberry preened her sister’s unkept wings, not daring to mention how they couldn’t open as far as they should. Hair was cut to look even and itch less. Slowly and carefully brushed back to softness. A bath was prepared, with plenty of time being given to enjoy the bath and calm the muscles tighter than door locks. The cloak was returned and Cream cheese led back into the forest.
“Hold your wings out.” Goldenberry instructed before taking flight.
Cream cheese gasped, then smiled and giggled like she once had before the war. The wind felt wonderful on her wings. Wings that attempted to flap but failed, unnoticed as Cream cheese smiled. You could truly see what had been Pure vanilla within her smile. What had been Golden cheese within those eyes of hers.
Her eyes sparked with joy as she looked around. Though Goldenberry noticed the tears on her dress. The lack of jewelry. The way her sister was war too light. All too similar to Ember when she was rescued.
The two land on the island softly. Cream cheese still smiling, though the innocence of the past clearly lost. The pity on Goldenberry unnoticed as Cream cheese looked around at the plants. The gate looked at Cream cheese with interest, sniffing her. Cream cheese looked uncomfortable but didn’t move until the flowers opened up the gate. Everyone stood still as another woman’s heels clacked against the cobblestone floor. Her eyes red with hair resembling Hollyberry and lilies.
“Who is this?” The woman asked.
“This is our sibling. The youngest.” Goldenberry replied.
The woman spoke almost emotionlessly and calculated. Her hands calm, holding the staff that resembled their mother’s.
“It seems our parents were impulsive as always.” The woman sighed, “what is her name?”
“Cream cheese.” Goldenberry answered.
“Berry lily.” The woman introduced.
“Oh!” Cream cheese perked up, “Your the one who disappeared!”
Berry lily chuckled, “I suppose I did, now follow me. Goldenberry your girlfriend is in her “magic room” if you’re looking for her.”
Goldenberry’s face lit up with blush, “she is not-“
“You say that every time.” Berry lily replied unfazed.
Everyone went back to what they had been doing. A woman walked up to Berry lily and addressed her as mother despite the lack of resemblance. Light green hair and strange outfit clearly made by hand. Green eyes smiled at Berry lily, mentioning a pregnancy.
“Oh, I’ll have to tell Grace ward.” Berry lily replied, “Open the doors please."
The woman smiled, “Of course mother."
The doors were opened to reveal red carpeted floors. Portraits of her siblings hung on the walls, the halls decorated with overgrown vines. Pink skinned servants with almost transparent hair walked through the halls in simple white uniforms, their faces betraying no emotion. The woman ran ahead and called out her siblings names. Cream cheese perked up when she heard the woman call Tar. And then Golden hollyberry. Then Golden vanilla.
They all ran down the hall, weapons in hand. Then they froze. Cream cheese ran into Tar’s arms, breaking down into tears once more. Glaze stood farther down the hall, talking to the woman. Strawberry buttercream stood next to Berry lily, looking much more healthy than Cream cheese last remembered. Golden hollyberry looked so much more happy, handmade bracelets covering her arms and clinking against each other. Golden vanilla looked more alive, gentle hands infusing healing magic into Cream cheese.
“Your alive!” Cream cheese cried with happiness, “Your alive!"
“We are back, yes.” Tar replied, “I’m so happy your alive. I’m sorry you had to go through all that."
“You all are so different… You look so much happier. Golden vanilla looks alive!”
Golden vanilla chuckled, “Did I really look that dead?"
“YES!” every golden child replied at once.
Golden vanilla blinked, “Ok damn-"
Tar let go of Cream cheese, letting Glaze and Strawberry buttercream get their own hugs in. No one went near Goldenberry who stood where Berry lily had a few seconds ago.
“Let’s have dinner together, before we have to go fight again.” Berry lily suggested
“Is sister joining us?” Cream cheese asked.
Everyone went silent. The gazes of distrust didn’t go unnoticed. Goldenberry sighed.
“I have to bring food to Ember. Don’t worry about me, I know what I’ve done.” Goldenberry replied with a smile.
The mood returned to normal as a servant handed Goldenberry a plate of food. Cream cheese said nothing, sighing, but turned to the rest of her siblings who led her to a dining room.
For now… everything was ok. The gem on her spear was quiet, assuring her there was no danger.
“Thank you.” Cream cheese whispered.
Though she wished Goldenberry was with them...