Chapter Text
It had taken a while to coax the Beast out of hiding. Despite his friends’ misgivings about his wish to redeem Shadow Milk, they had ultimately acquiesced. He had rarely asked them for anything in the many years and while they thought he was too kind to be able to forgive the beast after everything, they allowed him his chance to prove that the Beast could change. When Shadow Milk eventually returned telling him that he’d better be grateful he got another chance to put on a better performance, Pure Vanilla had smiled at him and held out his hand once more.
This time the Beast took it.
Together they’d settled on a few rules. He was allowed to cause mischief so long as he didn’t hurt anyone. Shadow Milk had initially protested that Pure Vanilla was being boring but the sad looks he got when he was even a bit too mean quickly caused the Beast to back down. He was also allowed to move his Spire to the Vanilla Kingdom and keep his minions once he’d regained enough strength to. He wanted to get the other Beasts back as well, something Pure Vanilla was willing to do his best to attempt. After all, his look at Shadow Milk’s past memories showed that they’d all once been heroes too, good friends, and perhaps like Shadow Milk there was the chance that they could be again.
Mystic Flour had been easy to convince, after all she didn’t care much for anything. Mystic Flour just wanted to be left alone to meditate in peace. Now that she was unable to cause the pale ailment, at least at her current power level, she was more than willing to have the rare guest at the temple so long as they agreed to be quiet. Pure Vanilla was pretty sure Shadow Milk went to visit her every week or so and just focus on his playwriting while there. He hoped for the jester’s sake they talked at least a little while he was there. When Shadow Milk complained that Dark Enchantress started becoming a pest for Mystic Flour, Pure Vanilla had offered to build her a small space in his garden as a temporary measure. The next day, Mystic Flour had been sitting in his private garden with her servants, Shadow Milk hovering guiltily behind her. He’d quickly made arrangements for a small pavilion to be made for her off the garden. He’d also offered her a room in the castle, but as far as he was aware, she never used it.
Eternal Sugar had been the second to switch sides. She was admittedly mostly interested in sleeping uninterrupted after Hollyberry left, which according to her was difficult with Dark Enchantress and her wanting the Beasts to attend meetings about her nefarious plans. When Shadow Milk offered her a place with the heroes to sleep unimpeded and the chance to see her other half again in the future, she followed him back to Pure Vanilla’s kingdom with the promise that when the war ended, she could return home. Pure Vanilla used her time in the kingdom to convince the jester to try sleeping with the promise that he could always go visit his friend in her dreams. It had worked and seemed to benefit the both of them. Eternal Sugar slowly spent less time asleep, though she still lazily drifted about, and Shadow Milk seemed more rested. Perhaps the many years of sleeplessness had been detrimental even if he technically didn’t need it.
It was less than a week after Eternal Sugar had become a guest of his kingdom that White Lily sent him a message. Apparently Silent Salt had just quietly shown up one day in the Silver Kingdom and assigned himself guard duty near the tree. She admitted to being somewhat apprehensive of his presence at first and had nearly sealed him in the tree then and there, but had decided against it due to Pure Vanilla’s wishes to try redeeming them. She asked him if he was there to cause trouble and the knight had simply shook his head, sword impaled in the ground in front of him, and continued his vigil. So she decided to make it a point to bring him tea once a day and left him to his solitary mission. The faeries had apparently made it a game to see how many flowers they could drape on the knight before he’d visibly react. Turns out the answer was a lot as White Lily told him she’d found him buried up to the waist in garlands one day and had had to chase away her mischievous subjects. Shadow Milk had laughed for an hour when he’d brought him the news. White Lily wasn’t comfortable with Shadow Milk in the Silver Kingdom so he simply sent letters from the jester to the knight. White Lily had been surprised that Shadow Milk had behaved when faced with such a boundary but to Pure Vanilla it was proof that he was learning, or at the very least willing to listen. Or maybe it was fear of getting near the Tree…
Burning Spice had taken a lot longer to convince. He wanted to fight Golden Cheese again and so he’d stayed as the sole Beast on Dark Enchantresses side for several months longer before he claimed it was too boring without his friends. Dark Enchantress was, according to him, too cautious with her planning and a coward. So he’d shown up near the Silver Kingdom demanding to see his friends. Silent Salt had alerted White Lily to his presence and the two of them had been able to facilitate Shadow Milk showing up to bargain with the Destroyer. Shadow Milk had complained about how long it took to drag him onto their side because he was so set on getting his fight with Golden Cheese, until White Lily had mentioned that Hollyberry and Pitaya used to be enemies and were now friends that sparred regularly instead. After that, Burning Spice had simply demanded to have spars with Golden Cheese whenever she had extra time. Golden Cheese hadn’t been the most enthusiastic about it but compromised as a way to further weaken Dark Enchantress’ army. Without the Wild Spices, Dark Enchantress would have significantly less fire power, pun intended, for her army. Eventually Golden Cheese had admitted that the brute wasn’t so bad to hang out with now that he’d simmered down a bit.
Dark Enchantress hadn’t taken the Beasts’ betrayal well, attempting to attack the Spicelands and the Silver Kingdom to get them to return only to be pushed out by the Beasts’ retaliations. Now she seemed to disappear to scheme some more and Earthbread was left with a tentative peace. Shadow Milk had set up magic mirrors for all the Beasts so that they could call upon each other at a moment’s notice and he could teleport them around Earthbread to whatever festivities he had demanded their attention with.
Mystic Flour and Eternal Sugar had returned to their lands, though they still visited the Vanilla Kingdom from time to time. Mystic Flour had apparently greatly enjoyed Pure Vanilla’s gardens as now she and he exchanged letters about cultivating a tranquil garden and which plants gave the most peaceful scents. She’d apparently enjoyed his vanilla orchids enough to request some seeds which he happily provided. He’d then found a peach tree sapling near the small pavilion he’d made her that he was making sure was taken care of with the utmost respect. Burning Spice had shown up to one of Golden Cheese’s colosseum tournaments and had actually played fair through it. Eternal Sugar had attended a ball with Shadow Milk in the Hollyberry Kingdom, though apparently the jester and she had been in disguise to cause some drama. It had only been a minor issue as Hollyberry had told him about it in a tone more amused than upset, so he hoped that was simply a sign that even with their chaotic nature the Beasts were learning to tone down the cruelty of their shenanigans.
Silent Salt apparently spent time traveling between the desolated flats of his region and the Silver Kingdom. White Lily said he came and went without a word each time, though she’s started to anticipate his arrivals. She thinks he’s searching his lands for something though she knows not what. She is pretty sure his departures coincide with whenever the faeries start planning to host a party, given his love for quiet and solitude.
Through it all, Pure Vanilla had managed to spend much time with Shadow Milk. It wasn’t every day, since the jester was prone to disappearing for days to visit his friends or to simply hide from Pure Vanilla when he said something a little too sincere for the jester’s delicate mental state. He’d like to think that he’d become a good friend to the man but it seemed like Shadow Milk’s absences had only increased of late.
During the redemption of the Beasts, his friends would meet in his kingdom to check on how everything was progressing, with the exception of White Lily who felt it prudent to stay away until everyone was ready to forgive her. Pure Vanilla had made sure to visit White Lily often to appraise her of the situation separately. She also made time to visit him occasionally, though she never interacted with Shadow Milk himself. It seemed Elder Faerie’s death still weighed on her heavily, but she’d admitted that she didn’t see herself as one who should complain about giving someone second chances, just that she’d need a bit more time to do so.
It was for that reason that when she’d noticed his unusual melancholy during his recent visit and asked him about it, he’d nearly brushed it off. Keeping secrets from his friends had caused too many problems in the past though and so he ultimately admitted to her he was worried about Shadow Milk.
“He’s made so much progress. Did I tell you he was reading to his minions the other day? Apparently Shadow Milk had adopted Candy Apple when she was very young so she’d never learned to read. Being in the Spire hadn’t helped with much of what was there being covered in illusion magic making everything swim.” He couldn’t help the adoration from leaking into his voice at the thought of the jester and his minions. The little family unit they were was quite cute though he’d never call them that to their faces lest he cause a commotion he was certain.
White Lily smiled at her friend’s joy. It had been many years since his worries had been so mundane. She was glad that the peace they’d managed to achieve, even if it was just another temporary measure, was serving him well.
“I think Black Sapphire has been looking at starting some form of show? He called it a pod case or something. He talked a lot about needing to get equipment for it but you know how I am with the newer technology… The Wafflebots I understand but these contraptions from the Creme Republic I’m still learning how they work.”
She listened to him continue to ramble. In turn she told him of Silent Salt’s continuing to quietly exist in her kingdom. He’d even started joining her for walks, leaving his sword behind at the base of the tree most days. Her dear friend listened well and even gave her some tips. According to Shadow Milk, Silent Salt liked strategy games that you could play quietly like chess. Perhaps she would set up a table for them at his station so that she could play with him.
She couldn’t help but notice the entirety of their conversation that Pure Vanilla was… distracted. He went over the status of each Beast and each of their friends as well for her, but he’d pause after each story or update and seemed to get lost in thought for a little while before she’d ask him a question about another of their friends. Once she was out of updates to request, having even heard a minor complaint about the Council from her friend, she finally asked what she wanted to.
“And how are you faring, Pure Vanilla?” She asked him quietly, breaking him out of another quiet moment. He looked up at her in surprise, so she elaborated. “You’ve been distant today, despite our many hours of conversation. What is it that troubles you?”
He hesitated for a moment. She was pretty sure it had to do with Shadow Milk in some way, as he’d had a wistful tone while talking about him that she recognized from when he missed home in the academy. His hands fidgeted with his staff for a moment, a nervous tick that he’d had since back then too. He’d told her once that having something in both his hands made it easier when he was anxious about something. It used to be books or his gardening tools, but ever since he’d gotten his staff, the flower had put up with Pure Vanilla’s gentle grip during times of stress, even reaching down with its vines to intertwine with his hands. Now that he was awakened and the staff alongside him, the small scrolls on the elaborate key did the same thing, reaching down to give him something to tug on and pinch between his fingers on his other hand.
“You do not have to tell me if it is upsetting you.” She reassured him. Perhaps he needed more time to ponder on it, but she wanted to make sure he knew she was willing to listen when he was ready. “I will be here to listen when you are ready.”
He actually opened his eyes to look at her. “I… am worried for Shadow Milk. He’s made great progress, but he’s still so distant. I’ll admit my feelings for him have… deepened… since he came to the Vanilla Kingdom, as well as my desire to understand him better.” He admitted with a gentle flush to his face. His eyes suddenly found the flowers around them much more interesting.
She nodded gently. Pure Vanilla was quick to make friends and she was sure sharing a soul made him desire Shadow Milk’s friendship even stronger. It was why she was putting such effort nowadays to find time to sit with Silent Salt, hoping that even if he never spoke to her that maybe he took some comfort in her talking to him or in her reading nearby. Based on Pure Vanilla’s updates, she was pretty sure that the other Ancients were similarly making up with their respective Beasts at different paces.
“But..?” She tried to subtly nudge him to continue.
“Well, he keeps pulling away from me. He seems to enjoy playing pranks on me and ‘spilling the latest tea’ with me as he puts it. He’s even been sharing a bit of his art with me, but each time I praise him or give him my full attention, he flees. He’s content to chatter away so long as I am busy watering my garden or to tease me while I wander about my palace attending to politics, but the instant I find myself alone with him with no such distractions, he’s quick to run away. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong.”
It breaks her heart a little how sad Pure Vanilla sounds as he tells her this. The worry is almost visibly gathering around him, weighing down his steps and his shoulders. This has likely been occurring for a lot longer than he would admit. She wonders if this was secretly an issue he’d been carrying throughout the redemption of the Beasts. How long had Shadow Milk been quietly hiding from her friend like this?
“All the Beasts have been locked away in the Tree for a long time.” She muses aloud, trying to give him an excuse to latch onto. Something to stop his thoughts from spiralling into believing it was his fault. “I know Shadow Milk told you that he was conscious for a good portion of that. I think maybe he’s not used to having so much attention on him, from you or your people. Maybe he’s overwhelmed? What else have you noticed that seems to specifically cause him to run away?”
Pure Vanilla pauses for a moment before nodding. “He tends to bolt shortly after I say something kind or on rare occasions he lets me give him a hug. He keeps pretending I’m lying and then leaving when I try to convince him I’m not. He caught me reading one of his old books from the academy and didn’t stick around when I told him I’d read most of his work and enjoyed it.”
White Lily ponders that for a moment. They’ve paused in their walk through one of the many garden trails of the kingdom. She shifts her gaze to the flowers around them, gently reaching out to stroke the petals of a group of purple blooms. The faeries really loved flowers, especially lilies now that she was their Queen, so the kingdom had many paths through large swaths of colorful blooms. Pure Vanilla had always loved gardens too so much of their little meetings ended up as a garden tour, maybe even indulging in a picnic. Spending time together and reminiscing or reading together or even listening to the songs of the faeries.
“I wonder if he’s still struggling to believe you because he’s not had much positive reinforcement yet. From what you’ve told me, most of the Beasts still barely acknowledge each other. Shadow Milk visits his friends, but they mostly either sit in silence ignoring him or in the case of Burning Spice, argue and fight with him. They still have very tumultuous relationships with each other.” She says at last. “They don’t seem to hang out with each other the way you and I and the other Ancients do. We all have little things that we enjoy doing together but the Beasts seem unsure how to enjoy each other’s presence after so long in the Tree. I’m sure they still need to relearn how to be friends again, since their falls seem to have somewhat tore them apart. Maybe it's the same for Shadow Milk and you?”
She turns back to look at Pure Vanilla. He seems deep in thought about it. It was true. The Beasts did not really hang out with each other like they used to. He didn’t even know what that had looked like. Shadow Milk didn’t tend to allow any speak of before their Fall for long, often dodging the subject with a barely concealed pain. The Beasts would need more help resettling into their new lease on life than he’d initially thought.
“What do you suppose I should do then?” He asked, a little lost.
She furrowed her brow. He really was deeply concerned by this. “Maybe Shadow Milk just needs time and gentler steps. You are very passive Pure Vanilla, you let your friends initiate touch rather than reach out yourself. I think perhaps I taught you that... You and I both are very quiet when it comes to our friends, enjoying their company but not saying much.” It was her turn to fidget with her staff. “Perhaps you should make the effort to start every interaction with him in a more active sense? Search him out rather than let him come to you every time and be vocal about how much you enjoy seeing him each time. If hugging is too overwhelming for him, maybe smaller gestures of physical affection would be easier, something like the small touches you do with me on my arm or to my hair when we sit together.”
She was much the same way back in the academy. When Pure Vanilla had initially tried befriending her, she could hardly stand his presence for long, though she’d never admit it out loud to him now. He’d been so bright and friendly that she’d been a little scared of him. She tried to tell him he didn’t have to stick around her or rebuffed his touch. He’d been endlessly patient and listened to her when she needed him to be quiet or when she asked him not to touch her in certain ways. In the end, it seemed he’d learned not to push other people for anything from being her friend for so long. Unlike Hollyberry who would throw an arm around you or drag you into a hug, Pure Vanilla waited for his friends and only offered affection if they sought it.
It had worked for them but she doubted that Shadow Milk was as forthcoming as she was about what he did and did not want. Especially if he himself was unsure what he wanted. From what Pure Vanilla had told her, the jester hid behind barbed words and white lies for almost everything. She doesn’t know how he can stand to try and guess at every word that comes out of the other’s mouth like that but she isn’t one to judge. If being Shadow Milk’s friend was important enough to Pure Vanilla to go against the rest of them and stand firm in his conviction to redeem the Beasts, then she’s sure he’s at the very least similarly stubborn enough to weather the jester’s behavior.
“You mean I may not be forward enough? I thought it was clear I enjoyed his company.” Pure Vanilla says, almost sounding alarmed that he may have been causing such doubt. Which is fair considering the Beast was only shakily on their side right now.
“Perhaps he just needs it stated more plainly.” She laughs to herself. “Brutal honesty has never been your way of sharing the truth but perhaps more open sincerity would only help matters.”
“That’s true. He seems to thrive on constant praise…” He said, sweeping his robes aside to begin their trek again. “He certainly spends enough time praising himself, perhaps that should have been my clue that he could use some reassurance.”
“Just be careful not to stroke his ego too much, Pure Vanilla…” She sighs wearily, catching up to his footsteps easily.
He stutters out a surprised laugh, quickly hiding his smile with his hand in the shy way he does. She still wonders why he does that. He’s done it since they met, hiding his laughter behind his hand or books he’s carrying. His passive polite smile he is fine showing to everyone, but when he is genuinely happy or on the rare occasions they can get him to laugh, he hides it. She can only hope he learns not to some day, but that’s a battle she’s long since given up as lost.
They bid farewell at his room. He will be returning to the Vanilla Kingdom tomorrow. The next time they would meet would be there for her birthday. She’d admitted to him that the faeries threw an overly extravagant party for her last birthday for nearly three months straight, luckily much shorter than the six months that they’d done for Elder Faerie or the attempted year for when she’d averted the Calamity, but that she was certain that they’d slowly increase that duration. She wanted to go visit with her friends before they trapped her in another endless festivity. He’d been quick to invite her to his kingdom and promised to try and get their friends to come visit as well. She still wasn’t sure if Golden Cheese would forgive her yet, given that she’d lost so much to White Lily’s mistake, but perhaps she could start small with the others.
After she left, Pure Vanilla closed the door and let himself release some of the tension in his shoulders, sagging against the door. The Silver Kingdom was beautiful, and his room was no exception with its silver bed frame and lights shaped like flowers gently curling from the ceiling. The faeries knew he enjoyed white lilies due to his friend and always made sure he had a fresh set in a vase on the bedside table.
He took his time getting out of the many layers he wore. While his awakened attire was beautiful, he tended to wear his simpler robes if he could help it, though he noticed the dense shadows and starry effect of his awakened cape had moved itself over to his usual ones as well. He thinks he can sometimes feel Shadow Milk hiding in them when he wanders the kingdom, but he isn’t sure if he should admit that to the jester just yet for fear of scaring him off. He wants him to feel comfortable enough to seek him out even if it's not to talk.
He pauses at the thought. Maybe that’s the wrong approach though. White Lily had told him that perhaps he was being a little too passive in his attempts to befriend Shadow Milk. He was not a wounded animal he needed to coax out of hiding, no matter how much he acted the part, but a person that could be reasoned with and wanted the attention of his friends. Next time he felt the trickster in his shadow, maybe he could smile down at it or simply say hello to let him know he knew he was there and that he was welcome?
He sat on the bed with his brush and began to care for his hair. Dark Cacao and White Lily had each sat him down to teach him how to care for his new length after seeing it slowly getting more disheveled. He’d never been good at caring for it before even when it was short and now it seemed an extra hassle. He debated if he should cut it but his friends had begged him not to. Golden Cheese told him it should be considered a treasure and he knew better than to argue that point with her.
He mused as the brush went through section after section of his hair. Shadow Milk liked to tell him gossip that he’d heard around the kingdom on his trips or from Black Sapphire’s scandal grapevines, but he never asked for that information nor shared any of the secrets he heard in return. Shadow Milk talked constantly about his art, or complained about it, but he’d never asked him to show him it, believing he’d do so on his own if he wanted to. Shadow Milk clearly liked going out into the kingdom in disguise but he’d never asked him to accompany him through his walks. He knows the Beast loves games of all kinds, but he hadn’t asked to play any with him.
He’s been a bad friend.
His brush stills in his hands at that thought. He’d been so focused on trying to help Shadow Milk and his friends with the other Beasts, he’d neglected his own other half. He’d need to try harder… White Lily was right. He had offered Shadow Milk his hand to ease his loneliness but had been doing the bare minimum to actually make good on that promise. While he’d admit that he had been slowly falling in love with the trickster’s small glimpses of softness while they worked together to get his friends back, Shadow Milk had been barely tolerating him as a friend because he was doing a poor job showing that he wanted to be.
He places his brush down on the table, quickly braiding his hair for bed. Now that the other Beasts were settled and Dark Enchantress was quiet, he would focus on Shadow Milk more. Be more forward in his attempts to befriend him like he’d promised at the top of that Spire. It was time he tried to reach into that dark crevice he’d seen in Shadow Milk’s soul.
~~~~~~~~~
“He visited her again! They’ve been talking and walking in the gardens for days.” A yellow haired faerie mused to her friend while they were picking out fabrics. Her hair laid like many petals of butter on her head that stood out against her green leaf dress. Ever since their Queen had taken the role, she’d started adding more green to her wardrobe too. She liked feeling more connected to her namesake and her Queen’s pre-awakening look.
“Oh! How sweet! Has he confessed yet?” Her friend responded, their lilac colored hair falling in a braid down their shoulder. They had a couple of hyacinths, for which they were named, tucked into the braid. Their silver wings had a hint of bright pink faded at the edges. They tended to wear longer dresses as well, though with pants tucked under them.
“No! Our Queen has barely even held his hand! Perhaps they’re too shy since it has been so long since they were friends?” She wondered aloud as they perused the fabrics in front of them. Their Queen had told them they were heading to the Vanilla Kingdom soon and they wanted to make themselves new dresses for the occasion. It would be their first time outside the Silver Kingdom and she wanted to make a good impression on the regular cookies of Crispia.
A third faerie peaked from around the corner of another isle. His hair was a dark green and fell in wild disarray. He’d made a small laurel decorated with acorns to match his tan tunic. “What?! They aren’t together yet, Hyacinth Faerie?” He asks with the tone of someone starting to hatch up a scheme.
“No!” The purple faerie responded, the stated Hyacinth Faerie. “They keep visiting and shyly dancing around it. Neither seems to want to make the first move!” They lamented loudly, throwing an arm up in a pretend faint.
“Do you have any ideas, Acorn Leaf Faerie?” She asked, fluttering to grab a couple colors from the higher shelf. Maybe some more greens?
“Hmm. Perhaps, Dandelion Faerie. Maybe we should give the Truth wielder a push? We’re all going to his kingdom in a month… We should help him court her!” Acorn Leaf fluttered closer to his new co-conspirators.
Dandelion gasped sharply. “Yes! It would mean the world to our Queen.” She fluttered her wings happily. “But wait… How do regular cookies court? He does not even have any shimmering wings to display for her!”
Hyacinth paused with their load of fabrics held tight to their chest. “What if… what if we make him some?” They said, a smile spreading across their face. “He may not be a faerie but we can make him some pretty accessories so that he can court her like one! Dandelion, you should look up how the regular cookies court too. I’m sure Silverbell could tell you since he’s been with White Lily to the other kingdoms before.”
“What if we make him a potion?” Acorn Leaf asks. “You know, the release affections one! My sister was able to court her wife with that. It’s the sweetest way to show your convictions I think.”
“I don’t know…” Dandelion says nervously, she shuffles her own load of fabric. “Would regular cookies think so? I heard they even see alcohol negatively in regards to courting. Something about not being true to oneself in an altered state…”
“What! How can that be? We party with juice and potions all the time! We’re true to ourselves all the time.” Acorn Leaf asks, puzzled that regular cookies would be so foolish. Why would they not enjoy having such fun?
Hyacinth looks between the two. “I think we should do it. If it becomes a problem, it's temporary anyway and at least it’ll push them to talk about it! Do you have the supplies for the potion, Acorn Leaf?”
He flutters his wings excitedly. “No, but I’m sure I can get the ingredients list from my sister! She regularly indulges in that potion with her wife because it makes them all sappy. Maybe she knows a stronger version that lasts longer.” He chuckles.
Dandelion looks to Hyacinth. “Then I suppose it is our job to make the Truth wielder a new outfit. Something to match our Queen! Maybe something green.” She sighs dreamily, already looking through the fabrics she pulled down and making plans.
Hyacinth nods along. “I think we should add something floral to it. They both love the gardens. Lilies might be too forward but there are other flowers we could try. Something like orchids or hydrangea.”
“Oh, hydrangea would be so romantic! They mean compassion and a want to understand someone in certain colors, right? Blue and purple I think. That’s his whole theme since awakening according to the Queen so it fits so perfectly!” Dandelion nearly dropped her fabric in her excitement. “I have an idea already… That was the perfect inspiration! You’re a genius, Hyacinth.”
Hyacinth twirls one of their free locks of hair around their finger for a moment, an embarrassed flush coming over their face. “It was nothing… I was musing on the best flower arrangements for the Ancients the other day and thought of it then. I suppose I should make the accessories. Maybe a little crown of laurels? I’ll make a set of sugarglass hair pins too.”
Acorn Leaf bounced between them. “Don’t forget wings! We need to make a pair of wings that are pretty enough to catch attention. That way our Queen will have no choice but to take notice of him and he to her!”
“Maybe in blue like his Soul Jam! It’ll be unique like our Queen’s wings and it’ll fit his status as an Ancient hero.” Dandelion was a whirlwind of ideas and planning now, dragging Acorn Leaf and Hyacinth around the store grabbing various items. “Come on, we have only a couple weeks to get this done! Go make that potion, Acorn Leaf!!”