Fics Written in the Stars

Of course, it was always helped by the fact that Pure Vanilla was always in her bed. He was always warm, and it didn't help that he would touch her as they cuddled (when she wanted to cuddle), speaking of this and that.

White Lily stared up at the ceiling of the guest bedroom in an empty bed.

It almost reminded her of the last time she was here.

She had missed Pure Vanilla fiercely. She had been given a warm welcome, but there had been a distance there, one that she had felt uneasy about. It didn't help that, as he drew her into a hug, she could smell a strange, tart smell clinging to him, as she had the last few times. (Now she knew why.) She had been the one to seduce him that time, confused by his insistence on physical distance between them, and he had agreed…strangely quiet.

She had ridden him, as she enjoyed, and between her moans and gasps, she had looked down and felt herself freeze.

He wasn't looking at her, not with eyes full of love and desire, with a gaze that made her even wetter and tempted her to give up her mission. His gaze had been glazed and distant, focused on the ceiling of the room. She had cum, and he had pulled away, leaving her in the bed as he went into the bathroom. He had come back but he was quiet.

She had dismissed it as a one-off, as something bothering him. She had came earlier than planned to speak to him, to offer her shoulder and support.

Instead, here she was, in a cold bed, while he was off with Blueberry Milk.

White Lily wasn't sure how long she was awake.

It was like she blinked, one moment cast in evening's darkness and the next, the morning's sunlight was sliding in.

There was also a lot of noise outside.

White Lily got out of bed with a sigh. As she dressed, she prepared for a knock on the door. Pure Vanilla surely would come to check on her. It was the first time they didn't share a bed in the Vanilla Kingdom.

Knock knock.

"Pure Vanilla! Come in!"

There was a pause, and a female voice spoke. "I'm sorry, my lady, King Pure Vanilla is busy receiving the other Ancients. I presumed that you would want to know that they had arrived."

…Pure Vanilla hadn't come?

Wait.

She threw open the door, revealing a blonde servant. "The others are here?!"

The servant backed up. "Ah, yes, for the bi-monthly summit? I presumed you were here for that."

White Lily blinked and tried to not to point out how ridiculous that was. She wasn't a ruler, only a souljam wielder. She focused on the important part. "The summit's this week?"

"…yes?"

White Lily hurried down the hall. For the moment, any thoughts of Pure Vanilla or Blueberry Milk fled her mind. Her friends were here!

She hurried into the main courtyard.

There was a familiar golden chariot and pink carriage, being guided away. There was a group of warriors in purple. There was also Pure Vanilla, Blueberry Milk on his arm as if she was his queen, and White Lily felt her gut twist before a gasp made her look. "Is that White Lily!?"

"Golden Cheese," she said before being tackled by the winged cookie.

She pulled away with a grin, gleaming in the sun as if it was her own spotlight. "I didn't know you came for the summit!"

"Ah, I actually forgot that it was this week," she admitted sheepishly before a gleam caught her eye. A triangular gem was set in her friend's headdress. "Oh, is this new?" She reached up to touch it, curiosity overtaking any jealousy. "It's lovely!" And…familiar…?

Golden Cheese grabbed her hand and lowered it. "It was a gift," she said. "I'd prefer you didn't."

A shadow fell over them. "Let her touch it," a male voice scolded as White Lily looked over to see the tallest man she had ever seen stare at them. He crossed his arms, allowing the golden bands he wore to gleam with the triangular necklace he wore, as if it would hide his six arms. "It's not like it's going to break."

"But it'll smudge!" Golden Cheese said, definitely not whined. "And I want it to look nice."

"You always look good!" Hollyberry said as the backdrop of the man's eye roll. She looked lovely as ever, holding her shield, which had a new pink heart-shaped gem set in the center. Next to her was the most beautiful cookie White Lily had ever seen, holding her arm and wearing a matching diadem to the shield. "White Lily, it's wonderful to see you, even if it wasn't planned."

"It is good to see you as well," White Lily said. "May I ask your companion's name?"

The woman opened pink eyes and smiled. "Bright Sugar," she cooed sweetly, reaching up to pat the man's broad shoulder. "And this is Cayenne Spice, my dear friend."

"And," Dark Cacao's voice rolled over her as he approached. A small pale cookie followed him, a dark veil over her hair, and a similar diadem set on her brow, the gem white and diamond-shaped like the gem in the hilt of his sword. "This is Ivory Flour." He patted her shoulder. "It is good to finally see you again, White Lily."

Ivory Flour's eyes opened, revealing them to be dark. She bowed her head and in a soft, serene voice, spoke. "Dark Cacao speaks highly of you, White Lily."

"It is good to meet you as well," White Lily bowed back.

"It has been so long since we've all been together!" Pure Vanilla's voice said brightly. She turned and felt herself make a face at the sight of him and Blueberry Milk. Blueberry Milk had changed her dress to something more formal, with a cute bow at her neck, a clover-shaped gem there. Matching her, Pure Vanilla wore a clover-shaped gem at his neck as well, matching the insignia of the Vanilla Kingdom, a call to the Fount of Knowledge's soul jam. It didn't help the mental image of her as his queen. "Please, my dear friends. Make yourself at home."

"Ah, Pure Vanilla!" Golden Cheese approached first, wrapping him in a tight hug. "I missed you!" She glanced at Blueberry Milk and White Lily expected her to ask who she was. "Blueberry Milk, always a pleasure. Did you change your route just to be able to come? I would have thought you would be in my kingdom by now."

"Perhaps I did," the actress said, with a small smile.

"You two know each other?" White Lily couldn't help it.

"We met her soon after Pure Vanilla and her met!" Hollyberry said brightly, wrapping an arm around her. "She introduced Bright Sugar and me to each other, as well as Ivory Flour and Dark Cacao. Meanwhile, Cayenne Spice and Golden Cheese were off chucking weapons at each other-"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

The question escaped her before she could stop it.

Everyone stared at her. Pure Vanilla's eyes went wide, exposing their gold and blue color. Heat crawled up her face. Even Blueberry Milk, smirking and eyeing her, looked startled.

Hollyberry broke the silence with a laugh, her hand clenching her shoulder.

"White Lily, let's go to the garden and catch up!"

Before she could say a word, she was dragged away.

-_-

"So, I heard you went to Beast-Yeast!"

"Yes, your advice was appreciated, but unfortunately, I could not talk to the Fount of Knowledge."

"Oh?" Bright Sugar set down a tea tray. She had followed into the garden, leaving to come back with tea. "May I ask why?"

"The four Virtues of Knowledge, Change, Volition, and Happiness are missing," White Lily admitted. She had hoped to talk to the Fount of Knowledge and see if he had wisdom about cookies and their purpose to share. "I…ran into the Salt of Solidarity," He had brought her to his and Elder Faerie's bed, welcoming her again and again. However, White Lily couldn't think of him, not now. "He's been searching for them for over a year now."

"…I see," Bright Sugar hummed without a hint of concern before she pecked Hollyberry's cheek. "I'll be double-checking our rooms," she said sweetly.

"Thank you, Sugar."

And then it was them.

Hollyberry poured the tea in quick, elegant movements. There was also a juice bottle, which she popped open and poured into a cup she pulled out of seemingly nowhere. The sweet smell should have relaxed White Lily, but instead she felt tension curl in her spine. With nothing else to do, she grabbed a cup.

"Is everything alright?" Hollyberry finally said. "You're usually less upset at learning something that you missed."

White Lily sighed. "I'm fine. It's just that you all seem rather close with your companions." She took a sip of her tea. "I just…wish I knew about them. It would have been nice to know."

Hollyberry nodded. "Are you upset about Blueberry Milk?"

Always so blunt. "She's nothing like I would expect Pure Vanilla to find companionship. She's…" How to explain it? Seductive? Affectionate? Bold? "Different from him."

"They enjoy it," Hollyberry said with a laugh. "Hopefully you get to see one of their debates while you and her are both here."

"She's clingy," White Lily could still see how Blueberry Milk kissed him, smearing her lipstick across his face. Nobody had batted an eye. "Pure Vanilla likes that for some reason." She took a sip of her tea. "I don't understand why."

Hollyberry sighed. "White Lily, my dear friend, allow me to be very blunt."

"…Yes?"

"I'm not sure why you're complaining."

White Lily nearly dropped her teacup. She knew the bluntness was coming, but she was unprepared for the words. "I…I'm not sure what you mean."

Hollyberry sighed again. She set aside her cup and grabbed White Lily's hand, allowing her to set her own cup down before grabbing her other. She stared into her eyes, and she fought back the urge to look away. "White Lily, I have known you and Pure Vanilla for a very long time," she said gently. "I know you've been aware of his affection for years. I know you struggle to understand what you feel for him, and you've complained about it more than a few times."

"I don't…"

"Do you love him? Romantically, as he does you?"

"…I…don't know." She had never allowed herself to consider the question. There were many more important things to consider. To her, Pure Vanilla's status in her life didn't matter. He was her closest, dearest friend, and nothing would change that. "He has never made his feelings an issue."

"No. But you have used them, and left him wanting, and gotten upset at him wanting."

The accusation hit between her ribs, and White Lily, despite herself, felt tears spring up.

Maybe she had. Maybe because she could trust them, trust him. He would never let those feelings fade. She would always be welcomed as his dear friend and lover.

Except she had. Except she had trusted too much in them. Except he had found someone else, and that lover title had been removed without a word to her.

"…White Lily, think about things." Hollyberry sighed as she stood. "Really think about what you want in life. This quest you keep insisting on… you're losing so much, and you can't see it."

Normally, she would retort, explain that everything was a sacrifice, a step closer to her understanding their purpose. Pure Vanilla had asked her to linger more than once, to enjoy things, and she had scoffed, just like when he stopped helping her back in school. Now, however, she was left questioning. How much older were Rich Cheese, Royal Berry, and Dark Cacao now? She could see a curl of grey in Hollyberry's hair, and there were wrinkles around Pure Vanilla's eyes.

How much time did she have left?

She stood. Unable to say anything, or unable to think of what to say, she walked away, leaving Hollyberry standing there.

Hollyberry's words lingered in her mind throughout dinner and drinks, through the play Blueberry Milk held. Her friends were around her, laughing and chatting like it was the old days, and yet she felt detached from it.

Blueberry Milk kissed Pure Vanilla again.

She didn't say a word, not even at Golden Cheese's whistle.

It wasn't until she was lying in bed again that she felt a sob escape her. The tears that had sprung to her eyes began to roll down her face. She let herself cry, hoping in some way that Pure Vanilla would hear and come for her.

Surely, he-

Clatter. Splash!

What?

Pure Vanilla wouldn't make a noise, not in the dead of night. For how poor his eyesight was, he was excellent at navigating the castle in the dark. So, who was it?

White Lily sat up, wiping her eyes, and headed to the door. She opened and closed it, tiptoeing to where she heard the noise. The windows of the hallway allowed in moonlight, revealing silvery hair fussing over a toppled over vase, the flowers fallen to the floor and water dripping down to join the puddle.

"Blueberry Milk?"

"Oh!" The other woman whirled around, and White Lily froze.

Her hair was a soft platinum, almost white color, and yet in the darkness of night, it seemed to glitter. No, actually, it was glittering, as if thousands of stars had been scattered across. They framed her face, where two mismatched eyes, magnified by golden-rimmed glasses, stared at her.

She looked extraordinary.

Actually, she looked like-

"The Fou-"

Before she could finish the title, the Fount of Knowledge slammed forward. She could barely process what happened before her- his?-her hand slammed over her mouth, pinning her in place.

"Shush," she hissed, staring at her over the rim of her glasses. There was an anger to her words and her eyes were wide, frightened, nothing like the seductive woman in blue she had first met. "And don't you dare say a word to the Salt of Solidarity. I can smell his stench on you."

Heat rose up in her cheeks at the blatant accusation, and it almost stopped her whirlwind thoughts.

The Fount of Knowledge was here, pretending to be a random actress? Why? Why here? Did Pure Vanilla know? She knew of the Fount's reputation before his sudden vanishing, and fear lit up her heart. She began to mentally recite a spell, preparing to blast the Virtue away and run.

She needed to warn Pure-

"Fount?"

The Fount froze, and she did too. Pure Vanilla stepped into the hallway, a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. He was blinking blearily, his eyes growing more awake as he processed the scene. "What in the world-"

She prepared to scream when the Fount spoke.

"She was wandering randomly," the Fount hissed, glaring at Pure Vanilla. Surprisingly, her dear friend didn't back down. "She recognized me, and she's Elder Faerie and Salt's wh-"

Pure Vanilla's expression darkened. "Fount, do not use that word to describe my friend," he said, and the Fount flinched. The dark look eased, replaced by tender softness. He stepped forward, and her heart did a strange mix of a squeeze and freeze as he took her hand, pulling it away from her face. "Blueberry, White Lily is reliable. Whatever her relationship to them may be, she will not reveal it. She understands why."

No, she didn't.

"I don't trust her," the Fount hissed.

"But you trust me," Pure Vanilla said gently, pulling the blanket off his shoulders and wrapping it around her. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, and White Lily stared. He pulled away, and his smile grew at the darkening blush across the Fount's face. "Right?"

The Fount didn't say a word. Instead, she looked away with a pout, mumbling something under her breath before she nodded.

"It will be fine," Pure Vanilla assured gently. "I promise, we and the others are safe." He looked at her and White Lily, despite herself, straightened. "Right, White Lily?"

She should protest. She should say something.

The love that always lit his gaze towards her was gone. His gaze was still gentle, warm, but missing that spark, a spark aimed at the cookie who huddled close, as if she was the victim in all of this.

"…yes, Pure Vanilla."