Chapter Text
"Knock knock!" Burning Spice Cookie yells out as he knocks a fist against the Hollyberry castle gates, hoping to get the attention of one of the rulers or Hollyberry herself.
"Who goes there-" the guard trails off as they turn the corner to face Burning Spice, a beast of old, a being of destruction. Years of training allow them to hold back a scream that could shake mountains as they are stared down by the beast.
"Hello, it is I, Burning Spice, I've been sent to meet with Hollyberry... if she is available." Burning Spice explains his reasoning for showing up with an awkward wave, completely forgetting for a moment that he is still the Beast of Destruction in the eyes of the people.
Instead of replying the guard rushes inside the castle, blocking the massive door behind them and making a mad dash for the alarm system. Burning Spice just sits down on one of the steps leading to the gate, awaiting the fight he knows will ensue.
Maybe he should've sent a letter first? Or had Golden Cheese come with him? Meh, it'll be fine, probably.
"Beast! You dare attack my kingdom?!" The one and only Hollyberry cookie shouts as she drops from atop the balcony built above the castle gate, shield in hand and sturdy as ever.
"No, Golden Cheese sent me here." Burning Spice clarifies as he blocks a charge from Hollyberry, carefully dodging rather than attacking back as to keep the peace.
"And why exactly would my sister-in-arms send you here?" Hollyberry asks with a tone of surprise and distrust, as if she'd have any reason to trust Burning Spice in the first place.
"... I'm bored. Destruction is just so monotonous, I hit something and it breaks." Burning Spice explains as he dodges another attack, choosing to give the short answer. "It's too simple, too much of the same. I need something new."
"So let me get this straight," Hollyberry begins, keeping her guard up but no longer attacking. "The Beast of Destruction... wants my advice?"
"Yes... Golden Cheese said that passion is more your expertise." Burning Spice admits, causing Hollyberry to snicker at his lack of prior knowledge of the ancients. He's almost proud at how well that landed, maybe he should've gone the comedy route.
"Alright, alright." Hollyberry waves off those words jokingly, discreetly focused on every move Burning Spice makes. She knows tricks and lies, but this feels so oddly genuine, so for now she will welcome Burning Spice like any other guest... with a bit more supervision.
"I'll have someone set up a room for ya somewhere. Just try not to terrify too many Hollyberrians." Hollyberry continues as she opens the gates, letting a group of anxious guards see an equally anxious Burning Spice cookie standing behind her. The guards don't speak up about their fears, but they run off when Burning Spice grows near.
"I think I failed that already Hollyberry..." Burning Spice whispers as servants and assistants scramble away from he and Hollyberry in the hallway.
"They'll get used to you, I hope." Hollyberry jokes as she escorts Burning Spice to the nearest empty room, knowing that she's going to hire a carpenter or five to make proper furniture for the beast's sleeping quarters.
"I hope so too." Burning Spice adds back as he enters the room, hoping that Hollyberry is as enthusiastic as she was on the battle field many moons ago, even if he never fought her directly. "Do you mind... just talking for a little while?"
"Not at all, whatda you want to talk 'bout?" Hollyberry asks, sitting on the bare floor across from Burning Spice as he begins a story, one he'd heard of Hollyberry herself. Both are entertained by the creative liberties in the story he had overheard, joking around like friends within minutes.
And just like that, Burning Spice feels a little fire relight in his soul, a faint and familiar feeling he hasn't felt in many many centuries. That feeling of belonging, a feeling that died many years before he became a beast... it's nice to feel it again.