Horrible news
Au belongs to @cuppajj
Tw ig character is mentioned to be trapped in a tomb. Won’t say more but it’s claustrophobic to imagine
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They noticed. Everyone noticed. Celestial’s cry echoed through the desert.
The change was instantaneous. She smiled far less. She frowned like a god having been wrong. Fought like a wrathful angry god having been wronged by its followers. Precious gold clanged against the floor as the queen cried out in anger. Then she fell to the floor and sobbed, a rare moment of vulnerability none of the cheese birds dared to mention. Her cries would echo through the golden prison of a castle.
Eventually, she began to bury herself in work. Project after project was produced. The smiles returned until she walked by Cream cheese’s room where trashed jewels and furniture sat untouched since their destruction.
The neo-beasts noticed the change. Then Saint vanilla revealed something.
He had seen Cream cheese.
A meeting was called immediately. Pink ember arranged it the same as last time. All the evidence was laid on the table on top of the map that had seen many revisions in the past.
“Setting up the meeting?” Dragon flower’s sly voice asked.
Pink ember looked at her. Her hair flowed side to side as it burned once more. Today, she was dressed in a pink hanfu with orange dragons to symbolize how important she was. Pink ember stood silent, choosing her words carefully. She recognized the god she once praised better than anyone. A god who knew where each of their followers had gone. A god who saw through her spells, yet said nothing about them.
“Yes.” She replied.
“Don’t forget to make the evidence fire proof. I will be attending the meeting.”
“Of course.” Pink ember sighed.
For a moment, the room was quiet. Everything was set. Then Pink ember asked a question.
“Why do you protect me?”
Dragon flower smiled, “I simply see no need to tell my love.”
“You know what I’m doing.”
“Yes.” Dragon flower replied, “I see no need. As of now, not even I know which side will have the advantage.”
“You’re going to choose the winning side, aren’t you?” Pink ember questioned.
“Of course, though I hope I don’t lose this luxury.”
Pink ember sighed, “always for yourself I see…”
Dragon flower simply smiled and walked out. She did not give affection, not at this moment when all the neo-beasts were tense. Pink ember walked out to greet them at the door but Saint vanilla was already awaiting them.
“Could you open the door? I’m not as young as I used to be.” Saint vanilla politely asked.
Pink ember nodded, opening the door and backing away as Celestial cheese stormed in.
“You didn’t think to tell me you saw Cream cheese!?” She snapped.
Midnight lily held her back with vines. Vines which Celestial cheese fought against as she tried to get closer to Saint Vanilla. Saint vanilla didn’t move, smile still on his face. Dragonberry walked over, shouting at the golden queen to stop fighting with him. Celestial cheese grumbled but stopped. Midnight lily released the vines.
“She is right.” Midnight lily spoke, “Cream cheese was the only lead we had on the mini-Souljams.”
“I had hoped she would return.” Saint vanilla answered, “she said she would return.”
Celestial cheese scoffed, “She was lying! She’s clearly not the same child anymore since she dared to escape from me.”
Dragonberry sighed, “Let’s go into the meeting room. There’s wine to drown your sorrows.”
The neo-beasts silently agreed and followed after. Though Frigid cacao was noticeably missing. Instead a strange cookie stood in his place. Dark chocolate skin with a candy cane patch of skin around her eye. She was dressed in a white kimono, decorated with black dragons made of melted licorice to show her importance. A clear sign not to harm her. She appeared to be an advisor by the hair pins that held up her ponytail.
In the meeting room stood Dragon flower, standing next to Dragonberry’s seat. All eyes turned to face the god, who looked at them with eyes resembling flames.
“Who is this?!” Celestial cheese snapped, offended by the thought of someone higher than herself.
The god laughed, only pissing off Celestial cheese further.
“She’s the ex-god you said didn’t exist.” Dragonberry answered with a smug smile.
Saint vanilla walked up to her, bowing and kissing her hand as a sign of respect. Her body didn’t begin to fade away. In fact, her hair glowed brighter. She smiled and helped him off the ground.
“How polite of you.” Dragon flower replied, “Your mission makes me very happy.”
Pure vanilla smiled brightly. Dragonberry grumbled, glaring him to back off before he got too comfy for her liking. He saw the glare and stood back.
“Sit down.” Dragonberry commanded.
Everyone sat down besides Pink Ember, who stood in the corner and said nothing.
Saint vanilla sighed, “I would also like to mention she murdered a lamb.”
Everyone was silent from shock before Celestial cheese shot up out of her chair.
“She WHAT!?”
“I was informed the lamb I had sent with her was being eaten by the birds. His face having been stabbed through and robe taken.” Saint vanilla answered.
Midnight lily looked slightly alarmed, “What could have pushed her to do that? She was always impulsive but the attack was clearly thought out. An impulsive decision would have left the lamb with their robe.”
“Yes… you’re right.” Dragonberry replied, “It doesn’t make sense.”
“Something must have been going on in her head, silently.” Frigid cacao’s advisor spoke.
The neo-beasts went silent.
“Wait a minute, who are you?” Celestial cheese finally asked, “Normally he sends his second watcher.”
“I am the new advisor.” They spoke with a hand on her chest, “My name is DTCM.”
“New advisor?” Midnight lily questioned, “He just hired a new one? Whatever happened to the previous?”
“It seems he fell out of favor and ran away.” DTCM replied.
“Hmm… I suppose you’re trustworthy if he sent you in his place.”
“I like this one more than the second watcher.” Dragonberry added.
DTCM smiled, “How kind of you! I appreciate such words from a strong warrior.”
Dragonberry’s eyes gleamed at the words spoken. Pink ember noticed it immediately, the way she stroked their egos and commanded their attention. The skills of someone who relied on the foolish and twisted. Someone familiar with the personalities of the neo-beasts. Someone having grown up leeching off these types of people. She understood why Frigid cacao picked her. She knew how to gain his approval. How to worm her way in and suck all the use out of him like a parasite. Dragon flower eyed the advisor carefully, sensing it as well. However, she said nothing. Revealing one would reveal another. Something she didn’t want to do.
“Has she not been through the war, the digital city, then the reality awaiting her upon revival?” DTCM spoke.
“She never died.” Celestial cheese spoke.
Saint vanilla immediately turned to her, “She was alive?”
Celestial cheese was quiet as she spoke.
“Tar, noticing the damage, had put her in a tomb to keep her safe. I was unaware until I shut down the digital city.”
Saint vanilla’s face filled with horror at the thought. Eyes wide, tears still falling. The concern was visible like an open wound. Everyone stared at Celestial cheese with wide eyes of concern as they all realized what that meant.
“How…” Saint vanilla struggled to ask, “How long was she in there..? Was she scared?”
Celestial cheese took a breath, shaking as she forced herself to form the words for speech.
“She was banging on the tomb inside for an hour before I found her. Her face was streaked with dried tears. She was still crying. Her wings had been compressed for so long she could no longer fly.”
The room went silent once more. The only one not horrified was Dragon flower. She sat next to Dragonberry quietly, hands sat elegantly in her lap. Saint vanilla was the most horrified. DTCM spoke first.
“With that in mind, it seems there was a silent storm brewing from within.”
Saint vanilla nodded, “It seems most likely.”
“Perhaps this is the key to unlocking the power of the mini-Souljams.” Midnight Lily added, “After all Darkberry seems to unlocked his after death.”
“He states he went through hell last I managed to see him.” Dragonberry mentioned, grumbling as she spoke.
Midnight lily looked slightly concerned but noted the information regardless.
“Search everywhere for her.” Dragonberry ordered, “Share any information you get. We need all of it. If you can capture her. She will not return.”
Saint vanilla lowered his head slightly, but nodded.
“For now.” Dragon flower spoke with a smile, “Let’s have a feast. I would love to get to know you all.”
“Yes, that would be optimal.” DTCM replied for everyone.
Pink ember walked towards the door and led everyone to the dining room. The feast, was eaten in silence. Saint vanilla ate even less than usual. It was the one time Celestial cheese and Dragonberry didn’t bicker.
