((Art by RisingDawn on Discord))

The mission wasn’t going as smoothly as you'd hoped. The Twisted, those eerie, corrupted creatures lurking in the world, were relentless. Your stamina was draining fast, each breath heavier than the last as you sprinted through the shadowy corridors. You tried to dodge attacks, but one managed to graze your side, stealing a heart from your health bar. Desperately, you ducked behind a stack of crates, hoping the Twisted wouldn't spot you as it slithered past. You held your breath and waited.

A few tense moments later, the coast seemed clear. You slowly peeked out from your hiding spot, ready to move—

“Boo!”

You nearly jumped out of your skin as Berry popped up from the shadows, his mischievous grin catching you completely off-guard.

"Whoa! Hey! Chill out, it’s just me!" Berry laughed, his voice bright like the sparkles in his chocolate glaze.

Still catching your breath, you stared at him, heart racing from the scare. But Berry, being the kind choco strawberry he was, gave you an apologetic look and reached into the little cosmic satchel slung over his shoulder.

"Here, take this," he said, gently placing a cupcake in your hand. Its icing swirled with cosmic patterns, resembling the stars and galaxies—clearly inspired by Cosmo’s vibrant essence. The cupcake smelled like sweet strawberries, with sprinkles shaped like tiny planets. "This should heal you up—and it’ll give you some temporary immunity, too."

You bit into the cupcake without hesitation, warmth spreading through your body as the lost heart regenerated in your health bar. Berry smiled, pleased to see you looking better already.

"Try to be more careful, okay? I can’t always swoop in at the last second," he teased, giving you a playful nudge. Then, with a wink, he added, "But lucky for you, I don’t mind saving the day every now and then."