[Pitaya Dragon Cookie's POV]

"What jussst happened..."

Y/N Cookie, who had been completely fine a few ssseconds ago, was now fainted on the ground.

Did I do sssomething wrong? Nah, she ssseemed to jussst get a ssstupid fright. In fact, she'sss probably ok.

"Y/N Cookie. Get up, pleassse. This is no time for sssilly games!" I said, poking her.

She didn't move, only breathed. That wasss it. Literally it.

"Pitaya Cookie!" An angry voice demanded from behind me. "What have you done to Y/N Cookie?!"

Great. It wasss that clod.

"Nothing! I can promissse you I did absolutely nothing at all! She just fainted!" I glared at Wildberry Cookie.

"Just... carry her inside the inn, alright?" Hollyberry Cookie sighed.

"On it..." I grumbled.

I picked Y/N Cookie up, and, surprisingly, she was fairly heavy. 'That'sss what happensss when you turn into a Cookie...'

She looked so peaceful, and I felt as if I never wanted her to ever wake up...

[Y/N Cookie's POV... 1st Person]

"Well, ain't she so small and adorable! She's the smallest outta y'all."

I grumbled and slowly opened my eyes, only to be met with Pitaya Cookie's. Mine widened in surprise, and I felt my face heat up. He lifted his head, averting my gaze.

"S-sorry," I said, realising he was carrying me.

"It'sss fine... I don't mind," He replied. "You were so peaceful..."

I didn't catch that last part. "Did you say something else?"

"N-no! I d-didn't sssay anything at all!" He stuttered nervously, carefully placing me down.

I scratched the back of my neck, quietly chuckling. 'This is so awkward...!'

"Even with her standing up, she's still so small!" It was the same voice from before.

"Huh?"

The Cookie had pale curly cream hair. She looked pretty old, and her eyes were filled with kindness.

"Look at everyone around you, young one! Everyone's so much taller than you in your little group!"

It was only then that I realised how tall the boys were, Pitaya Cookie especially. He was huge!

He looked down at me with a straight face, but his eyes gave away how awkward he felt.

"Wait! Where's P/N?!" I shouted, shoving Pitaya Cookie out of the way and sticking my head out the door, looking left and right frantically.

"Y/N Cookie! They're fine! They're jussst over here, inside." Pitaya Cookie pulled me back from the door and spun me round to look at P/N.

"Oh, thank goodness...!" I ran over to my furry friend and hugged their wide neck.

They let out a yelp in surprise but soon started to wag their tail and lick my face.

"My, my, Sweet Pinkyberry Cookie! She seems to have just as much passion as you! I can tell."

"Sweet... what?" I asked, turning my head.

Hollyberry Cookie shuffled over to me and whispered: "It's just an old alias, but I suggest you call me that here."

I nodded.

She then said the same thing to Wildberry Cookie, who seemed to find it hard to accept.

"Y'know..." The old Cookie turned to me. "You remind me of two very special Cookie's, and those Cookie's... were your parents..!"

"Wh-what?! You knew my parents?" I was shocked; but it made sense. She was fairly aged, which meant she had knowledge.

"Yes! Of course I knew them!" She laughed. "You have your mother's eyes and determination and your father's passion. It's no wonder how I could recognise you're related to them!"

"Oh!"

"But they haven't been back here in a long time... I fear they've been crumbled."

"Yeah. They knew that their hearts were set on adventure, but with me, it was going to be a hard choice. That's why they left me at the Hollyberry Palace, at only two years old..."

I sighed sadly while she gave me a soft pat on the shoulder.

I could feel multiple eyes staring into my back, but I ignored it. Then, a hand rubbed my back. I looked up at Pitaya Cookie's blushing face. His gaze slowly landed on me, and he smiled a bit, his expression softening.

I couldn't help myself, so I just... hugged him. I didn't care what he thought, so I just hugged him. It was the only thing I could think of: hugging him.

"Awww...." Hollyberry Cookie's voice sounded from beside us. "That's adorable, especially from you, Pitaya Cookie! I never expected you to get so soft!"

"Well, I jussst thought she deservesss a bit more... uhh..."

"What? Love, hmm?"

I wasn't listening. I was too busy hugging.

"What?! No! I'm jussst being nice! ... For your sake, sssince you don't want the huntersss to recognise me that badly..."

Hollyberry Cookie snickered. "If you say so! Now then! Get me some of that Dragonhead Stew and your finest fireade! I've been dreaming about that for ages!"

Pitaya Cookie soon wrapped his arms around me, embracing me into a much more proper hug. Both of our faces were red, I could just sense it!

"You four must be starvin'! The food and drinks will be comin' right up!"

I soon got lost in my thoughts again. The only thing in my empty thinking space was just me, and Pitaya Cookie. I wasn't sure what to think of him. He was being really nice to me, and we got along well! But I couldn't help but think...

"Rah! I'm ravenousss! Bring food! And drinksss!" Pitaya Cookie interrupted my thoughts.

I opened up my backpack and brought out some treats for P/N. Pitaya Cookie released me from the hug, so I was free to play with them.

"Who's a good little P/T? You are! Oh, yes you are! Yeah! You so are!" I cooed. P/N let our little barks of excitement. And bounced around. Despite their size, they were awfully light on their paws.

I threw some treats to them, and they snapped them up gratefully with a smile and a tongue lolling out. They wanted more.

"Alright, alright. I'll give you more. But only if you can do some tricks!"

P/N loved doing tricks. It made them feel special, and that they were the best pet in existence.

"Sit!"

P/N sat.

"Lay down!"

P/N lay down.

"Roll over, then back!"

And P/N did exactly that!

"Stand up, back paws!"

P/N stood, toungue still hanging out of their jaw.

"Now dance!"

So, P/N did a little prance!

(A/N Help, why do I feel like Dr. Suess...)

"Good job, P/N! Here, you earned this."

I gave a bigger treat to P/N, and they chowed down like it was nothing

"Wow! Impressive! In all the years that I haven't seen you and P/N, they are so good at tricks!" Hollyberry Cookie smiled.

"Thanks!"

I sat down beside Pitaya Cookie and began to pet his head. His face read that it felt like a massage since his eyes went all droopy, and his smile was so relaxed. He even purred!

"I didn't know dragons could purr!" I whispered to him, giggling.

"Well, now you know that they-"

I began scratching the very top of his head.

"Oohhhh...! Yes please, keep scratching me riiiight there... ahh, that's the spot..." He slipped down from his seat as I kept scratching him, continuing to purr.

"You're so adorable." I accidentally said out loud.

Pitaya Cookie shot his head up and stared at me in surprise. "D-did you just..."

I blinked, processing what I just said.

"Uhm, maybe?"

I was so lost in thought I didn't notice Hollyberry Cookie hiding her laugh.

I stopped scratching his head as Pitaya Cookie sat up straight. We both looked away from each other, blushing.

I didn't realize our meals had already been served.

"... This, uhh, ssstew. Isss there... really a dragons head in it? Uhh..." Pitaya Cookie asked uncomfortably.

"Ha! Who'd put such precious meat in an everyday stew?! Relax, it's just a name!" Hollyberry Cookie reassured him.

Pitaya Cookie gave a questioning look at the stew and eventually slurped most of down. "Ah...!!! DELICIOUSSS!!!"

I, myself, had a spoonful of the soup, and it actually was good! My face brightened at its taste, so I gave a spoonful to P/N so they could try some too.

"My crumbs...! Is that... Sweet Pinkyberry Cookie..?!" A Cookie said.

"Huh..?" Pitaya Cookie turned around. P/N's ears pricked, and I turned around, too.

"I've heard so many stories..! It's-... It's an honour to meet a dragon hunter of such renown...! Please... just one handshake..!"

There was now a whole crowd of Cookies surrounding the table. Hollyberry Cookie seemed to look a bit overwhelmed. I couldn't blame her; questions were being asked left and right!

Wildberry Cookie had to quickly cut in and tell them off, so at least some peace and quiet was earned. P/N just sniffed the crowd of Cookies without a care in the world.

"Are you, uh, famousss here? Or..." Pitaya Cookie asked.

"Well, the monster-hunter community is rather tight! Besides, I used to stick around here all the time back in the day..." Hollyberry Cookie explained.

"Oh? Are my eyes finally failing me...? I see my beloved long-lost other half!" Someone said, making me jump.