Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It had been a year since the world had been touched into deceit. The sky, covered in blue and yellow eyes, stared down at the cookies in amusement as they fought and argued about what was true, if there was any truth in the world anymore. 

White Lily Cookie stared into the sky, her brows curled in thought. Her friends had all been struggling for the past year to protect their kingdoms. 

That is, almost all of them. Pure Vanilla Cookie had been missing for the entirety of the year. White Lily Cookie couldn't stop herself from feeling guilty. If she had just stayed with him before he entered that spire, he might be here to fight against the deceit, or even better, it might not of even gotten this bad. 

Was he even still alive? That she didn't know. She could only hope so, knowing that the world's fall was Shadow Milk Cookie's doing. He had to of done something to Pure Vanilla Cookie for deceit to blanket the world as harshly as it did. 

That's why she stood in the Vanilla kingdom's castle, awaiting her friends to answer her call for help. She sent out letters to each of them, explaining how she sought to stop the deceit one and for all and to to find Pure Vanilla Cookie, though she wasn't sure if they would actually accept. On one hand, she could see them hopping on the opportunity to save the world and in extension, their kingdoms. On the other hand, it would be extremely risky to leave their kingdoms alone with how many lies and rumors could be created in just a week. The only thing White Lily Cookie could do was wait to see if they even bothered to come. 

She peered over the kingdom out a window, about to give up until she saw a dark speck walking through the vanilla streets. She looked closer, and it was undeniable: it was Dark Cacao Cookie. Close behind him, was Hollyberry Cookie, looking nervously around the quiet streets and any shadow that got near. No Golden Cheese Cookie, though, she expected as much. 

White Lily Cookie rushed down to the entrance of the castle, watching as her friends came running over to her. 

"I came the moment I got your letter!" Hollyberry Cookie said. Dark Cacao Cookie nodded in agreement. 

"I'm so happy you came," White Lily Cookie said. "I was worried..."

"I am quite ready for these tricks to end." Dark Cacao said sternly. "And, if you think we can find Pure Vanilla Cookie...I'd take that chance any time it comes."

"And how do you know it's no trick?" Golden Cheese Cookie's voice came from above, as she soared down, landing next to her old friends. 

"Golden Cheese Cookie...!" White Lily Cookie remarked. 

"If you are so certain this is a trick, why did you come?" Hollyberry Cookie asked. 

"I came to make sure you idiots didn't get yourselves hurt," Golden Cheese Cookie scolded, "and to make sure she isn't just using Pure Vanilla Cookie's name as a cheep way to get us in one place!"

"I-I swear, I'm not!" White Lily Cookie said. "I truly did come all the way from the Faerie kingdom to the Vanilla kingdom so we could gather together and stop this disaster!"

The journey from the Faerie kingdom was grueling. She knew her friends would be able to find her much easier if she just went to the Vanilla kingdom then send the letters, but it was still difficult to navigate the seas and the ever dangerous land. Despite it all, the guilt of her knowing that Pure Vanilla Cookie was last seen entering the spire was enough to keep her going. She would have came sooner, but it was near impossible when the sky changed to even leave the Faerie kingdom, for if she put her guard down for a mere second, something went wrong. Now, the silver guards had a year's worth of practice, so she felt better about leaving. She just hoped her friend's kingdoms were just as prepared. 

"I trust you, White Lily Cookie!" Hollyberry Cookie declared. 

"I, too, still consider you my ally," Dark Cacao Cookie said, "I will accompany you on this journey to Beast-Yeast to save our world."

Golden Cheese Cookie rolled her eyes before saying, "I will be coming to! Not that I want to, but I can't let you two disappear like Pure Vanilla Cookie!"

White Lily Cookie smiled softly, cupping her hands together. "Thank you all, so much."

"Of course, friend!" Hollyberry Cookie said. "Now, let us get going! We don't have any time to lose!"

"Especially since you waited a year to get in contact..." Golden Cheese Cookie mumbled. 

"These days have been hard for us all," Dark Cacao Cookie harshly remarked, "Did you not have any struggles keeping order and truth in the sea of lies?"

"Of course I did! I just..." Golden Cheese Cookie trailed off, realizing her argument was weak. She folded her arms and looked around. "Well? Why are we just standing here, you told us we we're going to Beast-Yeast, so let's go to Beast-Yeast!"

White Lily Cookie nodded, staring to walk. Her friends followed closely, determination filling their bodies. 

***

The sea was unforgiving and relentless, tossing the poor boat White Lily Cookie fought tooth and nail to get. The journey back was definitely worse than the journey she took to get there. She had a sneaking suspicion that it was because of the sneering eyes in the sky, mocking her attempts to guide the sails in the right direction. 

"The wind is getting worse!" Hollyberry Cookie yelled, holding onto the side of the boat and looking out into the dark sea. 

"White Lily Cookie, you are exhausted," Dark Cacao Cookie said, taking the ropes attached to the sails and taking over, "I know how to get to Beast-Yeast, let me."

White Lily Cookie graciously accepted, turning to the front of the ship and staring out. 

"Try to keep it going North," White Lily Cookie called to him, "with wind this harsh, we can take advantage of it and get to Beast-Yeast swifter."

Dark Cacao Cookie gave a nod before he focused his all on navigating. White Lily Cookie turned to look at her other two friends. Hollyberry Cookie was still holding fast to the side of the boat, looking out for any land. Golden Cheese Cookie, however, stayed near the middle of the boat.

"If I could fly out and go scout," she said, "we may find land sooner and we'll be able to get off this thing faster!"

"And risk losing you? No way!" Hollyberry interjected. The other two agreed, leaving Golden Cheese Cookie to sit curled in the boat, her wings twitching at every harsh wave. 

A huge wave crash into the side of the boat, causing the four of them to stumble about. 

"Careful, Holleyberry Cookie!" Golden Cheese Cookie barked, hopping up and grabbing Holleyberry Cookie before she could fall. 

"Thoughtful as ever, my friend," Hollyberry Cookie smiled at her, "but I am fine!"

"Dark Cacao Cookie, can you get us back on track? I think the wave pushed us more East!" White Lily Cookie said. Dark Cacao Cookie replied with a grunt, pulling at the ropes. The wing grew ever harsher, blowing White Lily Cookie's hair about in every which way. She held it down with her hands, but she knew that she'd probably have to brush it afterwards. But that was the least of her concerns as another giant wave came careening at them. 

"Duck!" White Lily Cookie yelled, throwing herself onto the cold wood of the deck. Hollyberry Cookie and Golden Cheese Cookie both ducked down, Dark Cacao Cookie kneeling down and still attempting to keep the boat on track. The dark waters crashed over them, and White Lily Cookie could feel the water seeping into her dough. She struggled against the harsh waves, forcing her eyes open in hopes to find her friends. Her hair swam around her face, the waves thrashing her around. She saw their boat, tipped over and sails soaked and torn. She flailed her arms, trying to make her way back to the ship. 

Her consciousness was fleeing fast. She could hardly keep her eyes open, as they were actively blurring as she got closer and closer to the boat. She tried opening her mouth to call for her friends, but she was only met with a mouthful of water. She tried to cough, but that only made it worse. 

Panic choked her as her body went limp and she passed out. 

***

White Lily Cookie awoke herself with her sputtering coughs. The first think she noticed was that no water went into her mouth when she opened it. She could feel grass in her hands. She shakily got up, her dough still a little soggy. She looked around, vision blurry, but she saw the undeniable shape of her friend's bodies nearby. 

"My friends!" She called. "Hollyberry Cookie, Dark Cacao Cookie, Golden Cheese Cookie!"

Dark Cacao Cookie was the first to push himself up with his sword. Hollyberry Cookie and Golden Cheese Cookie wearily pushed themselves up just so they were sitting up. White Lily Cookie sighed a breath of relief, pushing herself to get to her friends. 

"I-is everyone alright?" She asked. 

"I am fine," Hollyberry Cookie said, looking around quickly and sighing in relief when she found her shield, and in extension her soul jam, just nearby. "Looks like we ended up on dry land."

"This is undoubtedly Beast-Yeast." Dark Cacao Cookie observed. White Lily Cookie nodded, peering into the forest. 

"We're surprisingly close to the...spire." She murmured. 

"How do you know?" Golden Cheese Cookie asked, finally standing up and shaking her soggy wings.

"I took scouts here a couple times, looking for anything that could help us." Though those trips were fruitless, at least they turned out some flowers later. She knew which way the spire was, though she didn't know what it would look like once they got there. She only saw it from a distance, for whenever she got remotely close, she felt in her soul that she must turn back. 

"We must stay close together." She continued. "These forests, there's creatures of deceit around every corner. Even the smallest flowers can be lies."

Her friends nodded wearily, glancing around. 

"Let us make haste," Dark Cacao Cookie said, "there is too much on the line to stop now."

"Maybe walking will make us dry faster as well." Golden Cheese Cookie added. 

White Lily Cookie took the lead, calling to her friends to follow close. Hollyberry Cookie took White Lily Cookie and Golden Cheese Cookie's hands, and following suit, Golden Cheese Cookie grabbed Dark Cacao Cookie's hand. 

"So we don't get lost!" Hollyberry Cookie said. The others silently agreed to this, walking into the deep and dark forest before them.

Chapter Text

The forest teemed with darkness, making it hard to see anything. White Lily Cookie could hardly see her hand in front of her face. She knew her friends grew weary, but they all kept their heads held high as they walked along.

White Lily Cookie slowly stepped forward on a downward hill. All the hills they encountered had ended up being tricks, either ending up with them being stuck or nearly hurt.

This one ended up being no different. She yelled as she felt tiny teeth trying to dig into her heel. Hollyberry Cookie swung her shield in front of White Lily Cookie, protecting her poor ankles from the torment.

“Be gone, now!” She commanded, signing as she pulled White Lily Cookie back.

“I know we’re all desperate to find this spire place, thingy,” Golden Cheese Cookie said, “but I’m exhausted! How long have we been out here for, only to be stopped again and again by tricks!”

“She is right,” Hollyberry Cookie said, “we can’t fight the fight if we don’t have any energy.”

Dark Cacao Cookie gave a quiet agreement. White Lily Cookie sighed, turning to her friends and trying her best to look at them all.

“Then let us find somewhere safe to rest. There has to be something nearby, right?”

But as they searched for a place to rest, they were only met with more discord and trickery. White Lily Cookie felt her hope being stripped away. Was this really worth it? Did she only lead her friends to their doom?

Just as she was about to stop and be consumed by her despair, Hollyberry Cookie pointed.

“Is that…the spire?”

White Lily Cookie looked up and saw it. It seemed bigger than before, its grand stature staggering to look up at. She walked closer to it, and found it had a large moat around its base, its creamy yogurt waves daring anyone to try and cross.

“ This is the spire?” Golden Cheese Cookie said in astonishment. “How did none of us see it before!”

She glanced suspiciously at White LIly Cookie, who only said, “The forest was dark. It was impossible to even see even what was directly in front of us, let alone a spire in the far distance.”

“Don’t argue now!” Hollyberry Cookie said. “We have to figure out a way to cross the moat. There has to be a drawbridge or something.”

She strode to the side of the moat and marched around it, searching intently at the castle. The others glanced at each other, before Golden Cheese Cookie went and followed her.

“Let’s go the other way,” White Lily Cookie said, “so we can cover more ground.”

Dark Cacao Cookie silently agreed. The two of them walked along the moat, an awkward silence lingering as they searched for a way in, only the crunching of grass under their feet.

White Lily Cookie hadn’t talked to her friends much since she was reawakened. It was difficult to communicate without being intercepted by a deceit monster, as well as taking longer than she would have liked to find someone who could run the Faerie kingdom in her absence. Despite his assurance that he trusted her, he still didn’t say much to her. He never was a cookie of many words, but White Lily Cookie still had her fears.

“So…how has your kingdom been faring?” She cautiously asked.

“As well as it can,” Dark Cacao Cookie said, “inside the kingdom’s walls have been cramped with cookies from smaller villages coming in, but…with more eyes around, there were less rumors that spread as quickly.”

“The Faerie Kingdom struggled to keep lies out,” White Lily Cookie recalled the chaos that erupted when deceitful monsters came running into the kingdom, destroying it without mercy. The remaining faerie cookies were too scared to even make honest mistakes in fear of making a rumor or lie spread, when they were so rampant and relentless without their help. “There was so little I could do, I could only encourage everyone…”

“That is all we can do. The watchers and I could only encourage everyone to seek the truth, to think rationally and logically before heeding to baseless claims.”

Silence fell over them again. White Lily Cookie sighed softly, scorning her body for being so weak against liquid, else she would just swim over the lake to fight Shadow Milk Cookie.

“The forest became dangerous. It wasn’t that bad before…It took me days to find the sea.” White Lily Cookie said once the silence became too much.

“The licorice sea, too, did change. The reflection is all wrong, and it pulled cookies in when no one was looking, only for them to resurface as… clowns .”

Dark Cacao Cookie looked down, scowling. “We couldn’t save any of them. No matter what we did, they were changed. They were hurting themselves and everyone else in the kingdom, so we…” his brows furrowed, guilt creeping on his face.

“You don’t have to tell me if it hurts.” White Lily Cookie said, placing her hand on his shoulder. “I had to hurt the faerie cookies who turned into clowns, as well…they’ll only return to normal once we defeat Shadow Milk Cookie.”

“White Lily Cookie,” Dark Cacao Cookie suddenly became very serious, “you’ve fought him before.”

“Yes, I did. I was able to temporarily de-power him to save the Faerie kingdom, but he must of regained his powers much faster than I anticipated.” She bit her lip before continuing slowly. “…Pure Vanilla Cookie, Gingerbrave, Strawberry Cookie, and Wizard Cookie all entered into this spire without knowing what it truly was. I didn’t even know it was the Spire of Deceit, it was disguised too well.”

“Those three children entered there as well?”

“Yes, but I found them unconscious outside the spire…the faeries are taking care of them now.”

She would be a liar if she said she hadn’t gone searching for Pure Vanilla Cookie after she found those three. She had never been so desperate to find someone ever, but she had been truly terrified when the world was dropped into deceit and he was no where to be found. Of course her search was fruitless, and that only magnified her sorrow. She had nightmares of what Shadow Milk Cookie had possibly done to her dearest friend, nightmares that lasted up until she finally found a way to Crispia.

“We must put and end to this all.” White Lily Cookie said, looking up at the sky, the sky looking back with blue and yellow eyes.

“It’s strange…” Dark Cacao Cookie murmured. She looked at him, confused.

“On the boat, you told us what Shadow Milk Cookie looked like. You told us he was blue, and everything he touched into chaos was blue.”

“Yes?”

“…so then why is half the sky yellow?”

“Now that you mention it…the eyes aren’t the same either…the yellow eyes are like stars.”

Staring up at the sky now, she never realized how strangely comforting that side was. The eyes weren’t as jagged or scary, they never seemed to express emotion as much the other side did.

“It’s something I’ve noticed.” Dark Cacao Cookie said. “It’s as if they’re of two different cookies entirely. It’s as if…”

“Here! Over here!” The two of them looked to see Golden Cheese Cookie flying their way. “We’ve found it! The drawbridge!”

With Golden Cheese Cookie in the lead, they ran until they found Hollyberry Cookie waving her arms.

“I’ll pull it down!” Golden Cheese Cookie said, flying up to the top of the bridge and pulling down. The other three stepped back, watching as the giant plank fell over the yogurt river and gave them way to enter into the spire. The inside was like a dark abyss, but that didn’t scare her.

It was suspiciously easy. White Lily Cookie held her friends back, narrowing her eyes.

“I fear there is something amiss, given how simple this whole thing was. Keep your guard up.”

“We should hold hands again!” Hollyberry Cookie said.

“Should there be a battle, do not fear the lies, lean on the truth and remember that we are all in this together.” White Lily Cookie said, taking her friends hands and leading them into the spire.

“We’re coming for you, Shadow Milk Cookie!” Golden Cheese Cookie said forcefully. “You’ll pay for ever hurting my friends!”

As they all entered, the drawbridge suddenly snapped up. The darkness was interrupted by a bright spotlight beaming onto the four friends, and an applause from an unseeable erupted all around them.

“Well, well, well-well-well!” The grating voice of Shadow Milk Cookie pierced through the darkness, his figure loomed above them and was also being illuminated by a spotlight. “If it isn’t our heroes! Finally found the door?”

“Shadow Milk Cookie!” White Lily Cookie hissed. The other three held their weapons at the ready.

“Happy to see me? We haven’t met for oh-so long! And, gasp! You brought your friends too! Oh, it is truly an honor to finally meet all five of you in person!”

“Where is Pure Vanilla Cookie!” Golden Cheese Cookie barked. “If you’ve hurt even a hair on his head, I’ll-!”

Shadow Milk Cookie sighed in exasperation, tutting at her shouts. “What vocal rage you got there, cheesy. But this isn’t an opera!”

With a wave of his hands, the darkness was completely removed and the four ancient cookies were faced with a quickly changing labyrinth. Looking at it too long hurt White Lily Cookie’s head.

“Come off the stage! Your fans are dying to meet you.” Shadow Milk Cookie laughed, spreading his arms out to point at all the deceit monsters coming out of hiding and pouncing towards the four friends.

“There’s so many!” Hollyberry Cookie remarked, hopping in front of her friends and pushing some monsters away with her shield.

“When I catch that beast…!” Golden Cheese Cookie shot into the air at Shadow Milk Cookie. His smile widened, and with a flick of his wrist, Golden Cheese Cookie was shoved into a door that slammed itself shut before disappearing altogether.

“No!” White Lily Cookie yelled, scowling at Shadow Milk Cookie.

“Ehehehe! AHAHAHA!” Shadow Milk Cookie wiped a tear from his eyes. “Oh! You are too easy! Who’s next? Come on, don’t be shy!”

Hollyberry Cookie stood firm, but the monsters just kept coming. Soon, there was so many that they climbed over her shield and shoved her down into a newly made trapdoor that once again shut itself and disappeared.

Dark Cacao Cookie swing his sword at the monsters, anger crossing his face. He huffed and puffed, slashing away at one only for ten more to come in its place. White Lily Cookie tried to grab him, but he too was pushed away and disappeared.

“Where have you taken them?!” White Lily Cookie yelled. Shadow Milk Cookie kept a wide grin, laughing so hard he was kicking his legs in the air.

“Oh, where have I taken them!” He mocked. “Oh, where oh where did I put them?!”

Shadow Milk Cookie sneered down at her, leaning his whole body and casting a dark shadow over her.

“Did you really think you could just waltz in here without being a player on my stage? This is MY WORLD we’re talking about! You’ll see that coming here was all POINTLESS from the start!”

The floor underneath White Lily Cookie gave way, and she fell. She clawed at the air, yelling out as she defended deeper and deeper until she hit the ground below with a loud thud .

Chapter Text

It felt like White Lily Cookie’s body itself had been shattered. She couldn’t feel her back, that which she had fallen hard onto. She tried to push herself up with her arms, but they too had taken a hit when she fell. 

But she couldn’t give up. 

It was her idea to come all the way to the spire with her friends. She felt it was her responsibility to find and help them. 

“Hollyberry Cookie fell down a trapdoor too,” she said to herself, “maybe I can find her down here…”

“Down here” was a bit strange. She was in a long hallway, paintings on the walls. She slowly forced her weary body up. Everything hurt so bad, but she couldn’t stop until she knew all her friends were safe. 

She began to walk, giving small glances to the paintings. Some of them had blue paint smeared across their surface, completely ruining what they could of been. Others, on the other hand, were just of Shadow Milk Cookie posing in different ways. The more she looked, the more disgusted she became at his vanity. 

As she approached the end, she saw one painting on a wall that split her path in two. The painting was covered by a thin veil, helping her vaguely see a familiar silhouette. 

“Pure Vanilla Cookie…” she murmured. She knew that if she pulled the veil, she’d probably be tricked. 

“…nothing more than a lie.”

She’d find the real him soon. She’d be his protector, like she should have been a year ago. 

She peered down both hallways at the fork. Both were identical, but she had a feeling that it didn’t really matter which way she went. 

Shadow Milk Cookie would put her right where he wanted her to be. 

She turned left, briskly walking past more vain paintings of Shadow Milk Cookie. 

She got to another cross road. On the wall that split the paths, was the same Pure Vanilla Cookie painting, still covered in a veil. She stopped again to stare at it, before turning left again. 

More vain paintings. Though, they all looked more sinister somehow, as if they were staring at her. 

She got to the same crossroads, with the same painting looming over her. She didn’t give it a glance, instead turning right this time. 

She walked faster, clutching her staff as the Shadow Milk Cookie paintings all turned their eyes to watch her pass by again.

The same painting awaited her at the fork in the road. 

Again and again. 

And again. 

And again. 

And again. 

Again. 

Again. 

Again. 

She was running at this point, paying no heed to the paintings that crawled out of their frames. She turned left, then right, then left again, again, again. 

She gasped for air, but didn’t dare stop to catch it. She wouldn’t let Shadow Milk Cookie break her yet. There had to be something that was different. 

Again. Again. Again. 

It was all the same. Different paintings, the same cookie coming out to try and scare her. 

The one painting that stayed constant was the one waiting for her at every crossroad. 

She knew it was Shadow Milk Cookie’s way of trying to bring her down. But she refused. She looked at it every time she turned, and told herself this was all for her friends. Not just her friends, but for all of Earthbread. 

Despite that, her legs were aching from running for so long. Her chest heaved in pain as she turned another corner into another hallway. She squeezed her eyes shut, just focusing on her legs. 

Left leg, right leg. One in front of the other, keep going. Keep going. Keep going. 

Keep going!

Keep running!

Again!

Again!

AGAIN!

She opened her eyes just as she slammed into the wall, staggering back. As a forced habit, she grabbed onto the veil to try and keep herself up, but instead it ripped away. She fell down, looking at her hands through the thin veil. Then, she slowly looked up at the painting. 

Except it wasn’t a painting anymore—It was a doorway. Stairs led upwards in a spiral, and when she peered in, she saw they went up and up, the end not being in her sight. 

She looked back at the halls of paintings, then up the stairs. 

Taking a deep breath, she walked up the spiraling staircase, her steps wobbly. Her legs screamed for her to stop, but she told herself she’d stop once she got to the top. 

Step after step, she ascended higher and higher, until she saw the end. It was still far off, but it was there. She took a deep breath and walked up faster, using her staff to push herself up the many stairs. 

She reached the end, a door lay slightly ajar. She pushed it and let herself finally rest. Her knees gave way and she fell, breathing heavily. After catching her breath, she finally looked around. Large white pillars made way to a wide staircase that had a blue carpet draped over it, ribbons curling from the ceiling down to the ground. Shadow Milk Cookie hovered just above the staircase, smiling down at White Lily Cookie. 

“Took you long enough.” He said, folding his arms. “Are you all done with your little rest? Good, because we’re just about reaching the climax!”

“Why put me through all that if you were going to just lead me back to you?” White Lily Cookie said, scowling. 

“The hero has to go through a hero’s journey, right?“

He sneered down at her, laughing before continuing, “But you’re no hero. Isn’t that right, Vanilly?”

He turned around to look at a cookie who stood at the top of the staircase. His black robes and messy hair should‘ve been unrecognizable to White Lily Cookie, but she knew exactly who he was. 

“Pure Vanilla Cookie…” she breathed. She scrambled up, running towards her friend. Shadow Milk Cookie quickly jumped in between her and Pure Vanilla Cookie, tutting. 

“Look with your eyes, guardian!” He hissed. She glared at him, craning her neck to look at Pure Vanilla Cookie. 

“You came back.” Pure Vanilla Cookie said. His expression was unreadable, though it was an expression White Lily Cookie hadn’t ever seen on him before. 

“I would always come back for you, no matter where you are!” She cried, trying her best to give a comforting smile. 

His tired eyes blinked, before his brows creased into a frustrated expression. 

“If you’re not lying, why did it take you so long?”

“W-what?”

“It’s been a year, Lily.” Pure Vanilla Cookie said, looking away, his eyes growing darker than they already were. 

Shadow Milk Cookie sneered down at White Lily Cookie, sticking himself to Pure Vanilla Cookie’s side and casually draping his arm around the other’s shoulders. “My dear Pure Vanilla Cookie kept hoping that you would return, but oh! You took so long, his hope went…pop!”

Shadow Milk Cookie popped his hand out, laughing at White Lily Cookie. 

“I had to protect the Faerie kingdom, I-“

“Once again, abandoning me for someone else.” Pure Vanilla Cookie said quietly. White Lily Cookie’s eyes widened, and she tried to fix her mistake, but Shadow Milk Cookie interrupted again. 

“What a let down! Boo, someone throw a tomato at this clown!” He sneered down at her. “I thought you’d be a little more tasteful, but-and I really hate to say this-but it seems like, just maybe-“

Shadow Milk Cookie walked closer, his jagged teeth curling into a wide grin. “-just maybe, you didn’t think an ounce about Pure Vanilla Cookie!”

“Of course I thought of you,” She said, “I just had to help the Faeries, I found them in need, and-“

“That’s enough, Lily…” Pure Vanilla Cookie said softly, but he glared down at her, “…I think you should leave now.”

“What? No, no! I’m not leaving you!”

“Yes, leave now! You traitor!” Shadow Milk Cookie laughed, waving his hand at her. 

It felt like a knife was cutting into her stomach. All those sleepless nights where she couldn’t shake away nightmares, all the searching outside the spire, all the tears she shed over the guilt she felt for leaving him to Shadow Milk Cookie’s own device, was it all for nothing?

“Pure Vanilla Cookie!” She yelled, clutching her staff. “I’d never abandon you on purpose. I should have come sooner, but I’m here now. We can fix the world together! You’re my friend, the light of truth, and you mean everything to me!-“

“Are you gonna seriously gonna believe her over me?” Shadow Milk Cookie said over her. “Come now, Vanilly! Don’t be silly, you don’t need her or any of your old friends. They don’t know who you are now, my light of deceit. But I do. I understand your pain. You only need me.”

Pure Vanilla Cookie squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing his temples before glaring at White Lily Cookie. 

“Leave.” He said forcefully. Instead, White Lily Cookie stepped forward. He sighed harshly, lifting his staff. 

“I didn’t want to do this, Lily.” He said. “But you’ve given me no choice.”

As his staff hit the ground, sparks of black and blue magic went flying out. Black mist followed, filling the whole room. White Lily Cookie coughed, waving her arms around to try and clear the mist away so she could see. 

“…you never change.” Pure Vanilla Cookie said. 

Soon, the mist disappeared on its own, but Pure Vanilla Cookie and Shadow Milk Cookie were no where to be seen. 

White Lily Cookie inhaled shakily, sniffling a little before letting herself sob. She tried wiping the tears from her eyes, but they kept coming without mercy. 

She never meant to abandon him. She had to care for the other cookies she cared for. 

She should she have tried harder? 

She thought she did everything she could. 

Again. 

Again. 

Again. 

She just kept abandoning him. Again and again. 

She was never a helpful cookie. No matter what she did, she always hurt someone. 

She chocked in her sobs, falling onto the stairs and resting her head, trying to get back up but feeling the guilt and hopelessness finally taking her over. 

Chapter Text

“Do you think I was too harsh?”

Truthless Recluse knew how Shadow Milk Cookie would answer. 

“Not at all! I think you were just right.”

He knew that if he didn’t push his…friends…away, then Shadow Milk Cookie would take care of them himself. 

Truthless Recluse told himself he shouldn’t care still, after all this time, but his insides still twisted at the thought of them being hurt. 

He knew Shadow Milk Cookie could feel his fear and worry, but he refused to vocalize it. After they were merged as one, it was harder to hide things from Shadow Milk Cookie, but on the flip side, he too could feel everything he felt. 

Shadow Milk Cookie had been so lonely. Truthless Recluse felt it through this dough when they merged. He knew that everything the so-called beast did was to get him to stay. Perhaps he weaponized his loneliness to make him stay in the spire with him forever. 

…maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. It’s not like Truthless Recluse cared either way. He cared not for the truth anymore, and whatever was going on outside the spire was no longer his business. 

“Lost in your thoughts?” Shadow Milk Cookie snickered. “Again?”

“Why does it matter?” Truthless Recluse questioned. 

“I like it when you’re present here with me!” Shadow Milk Cookie hovered above Truthless Recluse, craning his neck to look at the other. “You’re my friend, after all.”

“…why did you say it like that?”

Shadow Milk Cookie grinned with all of his sharp teeth, wrapping his arms around Truthless Recluse’s neck and resting them on his shoulders. 

“You’re having doubts about where your friendship lies, aren’t you?”

“You misunderstand…I am simply reminiscing on my past. It was…a good past to have.”

“Better than now?”

Shadow Milk Cookie’s eyes flickered with something dangerous, though Truthless Recluse felt no fear. He already knew his answer to that question.

“Of course not.” He said, a smile creeping on his face. “Deceit is so much sweeter than anything I had before.”

***

It took everything in White Lily Cookie’s frail body to force herself up again. She chocked on her tears, the spot in front of her being soaked. 

She shakily walked up the stairs, each step heavier than the last. The blue carpet felt never ending, but she could see the top getting closer and closer with each step she took. 

Soon enough, she was at the top. The top was a confusing mess of stairs and paintings, all winding around the walls and even onto the ceiling and floor. 

Staring at it gave her less hope than before, but she kept pushing forward. 

Her other three friends didn’t deserve to have the shocking revelation that their dear Pure Vanilla Cookie had fallen into deceit revealed by Shadow Milk Cookie.

Perhaps they didn’t have to know at all…she could just as easily tell them Pure Vanilla Cookie was dead-

“No…!” She shook her head. That’s exactly what Shadow Milk Cookie wanted. She couldn’t lie to them, even to spare their emotions. 

Regardless, she couldn’t explain anything if she couldn’t find them. She walked forward, looking around at everything. 

Everything was so white and blue. It was hard to know if she was going in circles or not, until she stumbled upon a strange door on the ground. She knelt down before it, tracing the doorknob with her fingers. It was the first door she’d seen since she began her search. 

Should she open it? Would it even matter in the end? 

It’s not like she wasn’t already a failure. What did it matter if she went in or not? 

She sighed quietly then opened the door. She was met with the rumble of battle, loud clashes echoing through the hall. She jumped into the door and looked around. There, she saw Golden Cheese Cookie warding off an uncountable amount of deceit monsters. She looked tired and desperate, and White Lily Cookie knew she couldn’t let her fight alone. 

Could she actually be any help?

That thought struck her. It was technically her fault her friends were probably experiencing something similar. And while she could try to make it right, would they be mad at her? Would they scorn her and tell her to leave them alone?

“White Lily Cookie?!” Golden Cheese Cookie shouted. “If that’s really you, come here and help me!”

White Lily Cookie shot her head up, clutching her staff and rushing forward beside Golden Cheese Cookie. 

“Why is there so many deceit monsters?” She asked. 

“They all came rushing me when I was thrown into that door,” Golden Cheese Cookie explained, “they just keep coming! Focus!”

White Lily Cookie looked around for the door she came in from, but she couldn’t see it anywhere. Must of disappeared…Gritting her teeth, she turned her attention to the monsters. 

“Where are they coming from?” She asked. 

“Some sort of portal.” Golden Cheese Cookie said. White Lily Cookie nodded. White Lily Cookie strained her neck to see it, and lo and behold, there it was. If she could just get there, she could probably close it. 

She would need Golden Cheese Cookie’s help, but she was breaking a sweat. Would she just be putting her friend in danger? But they would be in more danger if they didn’t close the portal. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, her arms shaking, and she didn’t know what to do. 

She gasped when she saw a golden flash jump in front of her, a golden spear stabbing a monster away. 

“Why are you just standing there?!” Golden Cheese Cookie yelled. 

“I-I…” She mumbled, trying to find her words. Golden Cheese Cookie raised her eyebrow, turning to fight once more. 

“I have an idea! If you can just get me to the portal, I can close it!” She blurted out. 

“I’m trusting you on this one! If you’re lying…!” Golden Cheese Cookie said, giving a half glare. She picked up White Lily Cookie and flew over the monsters, dodging incoming attacks from below. 

“Over there!” White Lily Cookie pointed.

Golden Cheese Cookie dropped White Lily Cookie. Using her guardian powers, she focused all the power onto the portal. She had gained some practice using her new powers to protect the surviving faerie cookies, and she felt confident that she could close this portal too. 

She could hear Golden Cheese Cookie fighting behind her, most likely covering her back. She felt incredibly grateful, but she could thank her later. Now was the time to close the portal. 

Why was it taking so long?

Was her powers not good enough? Now of all times?

She wanted to fall into despair again so badly. It would be so easy to stop and let the monsters kill her right there. 

“Stupid, stupid…!” Golden Cheese Cookie growled, wiping blood from her cheek. 

‘No…!’

She couldn’t leave behind anyone else, she couldn’t let Golden Cheese Cookie down. 

She could do this. 

Her breath was heavy and quick, panic filling her dough, but she knew she could do this. If she was going to give up, she had to wait until her friends were at least safe. 

She squeezed her eyes shut, praying, hoping, wishing this would already work. 

Her power was strong in her fingertips, but was it enough? She imaged Pure Vanilla Cookie in those black robes with those tired, sad eyes. If she wasn’t strong enough to save him, would she be strong enough to do this?

Was it all worth it?

“White Lily Cookie.”

Her arms shook, feeling the weight that came with holding up for too long. 

“White Lily Cookie!”

Her eyes opened wide when she felt Golden Cheese Cookie shaking her. 

“Enough! You closed it!”

Had she? Looking around, she saw that the monsters were all gone. No portal was in sight. 

“Geez, you’re not…looking great.” Golden Cheese Cookie admitted. 

“There’s-there’s so much I need to tell you-“ White Lily Cookie said quickly, her breath still shaky. 

“Uh, give yourself a minute to have a breather? I’m not listening to you if you can hardly talk.”

White Lily Cookie opened her mouth to reply but quickly shut it. Golden Cheese Cookie was right, her thoughts were everywhere and she had to at least catch her breath. 

Slowly, she sat on the ground and sighed. Golden Cheese Cookie did too, adverting her gaze anywhere but at White Lily Cookie. 

She didn’t know how to deliver the news that Pure Vanilla Cookie had fallen. She could see him again, the way Shadow Milk Cookie seemed to have him under his thumb like that. Pure Vanilla Cookie listened to that beast better than she’d ever seen him listen to anyone. 

Her breath hitched. What had that monster done to her friend? Could it be reversed? She would never know unless she kept going. 

She carefully looked at Golden Cheese Cookie, who sat in a way that would imply she was getting ready to strike at anything that came their way again. 

“Golden Cheese Cookie,” White Lily Cookie said, “I have something t-truly awful to tell you…”

“Well? Spit it out.” Golden Cheese Cookie said, but her brow furrowed in concern. 

She took a deep breath, “I found Pure Vanilla Cookie, but he was…”

“He was what?” Golden Cheese Cookie sprang up, tightening her grip on her spear. “What did the beast do to him?!”

“He’s been consumed, by evil and deceit. I-I tried talking to him, but Shadow Milk Cookie kept getting in the way, only adding fuel to Pure Vanilla Cookie’s fury…it’s like-“

“You must be lying!” Golden Cheese Cookie said. 

“I wish I was!” White Lily Cookie shot back. “I truly wish I was!”

Tears began to stream down her face. “It’s all my fault, I didn’t come back for him! The Faerie Kingdom needed my help, I just…”

“Enough!” 

Golden Cheese Cookie took heavy breaths, anger in her eyes. “It’s not your fault. He’s like that because of Shadow Milk Cookie, if this is true. I never thought it’d come to this, but…I love Pure Vanilla Cookie more than I hate what half of your soul became.”

She grabbed White Lily Cookie by the shoulder and looked at her intensely. 

“I will never forget what Dark Enchantress Cookie has done…”

White Lily Cookie felt a jolt of shame run down her body. 

“…but I will work with you to save my treasures. Temporarily.”

White Lily Cookie smiled, wiping her eyes from the small tears that escaped her eyes. “T-thank you!”

Golden Cheese Cookie scoffed. “I came to protect my treasures, that’s what I intend to do. Now, hurry up! I do not wish to doddle any longer.”

She turned and started down the hall, looking for any way to leave. White Lily Cookie followed, clutching her staff close to her body. 

“I see a window high up,” Golden Cheese Cookie said, flying closer to it. 

“Take me up, too!” White Lily Cookie called. Begrudgingly, the golden sovereign obliged and picked her up. Both of them flew up to the window and peered out. 

A pristine garden of many plants was just outside. Looking at each other, they knew where they were going next. 

Chapter Text

White Lily Cookie and Golden Cheese Cookie cautiously walked through the garden. The plants consisted of curly vines that trailed up walls and around other plants, eyeball flowers that stared at them as they passed, many giant leaves, purple berries on prickly bushes, and many many more strange plants that only served to increase their anxiety. But most strange were the tiny flowers that dotted the the entire garden regardless of where they were.

Golden Cheese Cookie raised her spear at every sound, her eyes darting around to try and see who made such a sound.

“S-sorry,” White Lily Cookie stammered, “it was just a leave I stepped on..”

“Hmph.” Golden Cheese Cookie kept her spear up, her eyes narrowing as her pupils darted around the garden. White Lily Cookie held her staff close, adverting her gaze with a hint of shame. She shouldn’t be putting her friend on such edge, she needed to focus on everything around her.

The two walked deeper into the garden, and yet it looked the same to everywhere else they went. The vines were just as curly, if not more, than everywhere else. The eyeball flowers stared at them continuously, giving White Lily Cookie great anxiety. Were those Shadow Milk Cookie’s eyes? Or was it just how the flowers looked? The Vanilla kingdom had flowers with eyes, but those eyes were much kinder, they blinked, they were alive. The ones here never blinked, always stared.

“These stupid flowers…” Golden Cheese Cookie growled then stomped on an eye flower. It cracked and crinkled in an unsatisfying way, its blue petals welting and the eyeball proofing away.

“Huh…” as she observed it, White Lily Cookie knelt down and picked a flower. Its eye grew wide then, without a second thought, the eye poofed away in dark smoke.

“These eyes aren’t supposed to be on these flowers.” White Lily Cookie said. “Shadow Milk Cookie must be doing this.”

“So he’s keeping an eye on us like we’re loose wild animals,” Golden Cheese said as she kicked some more eyeball flowers, “I can’t wait to kick his head in. How dare he mimic the beautiful fauna of the Vanilla kingdom and use it for such evil.”

White Lily Cookie knew Golden Cheese Cookie wasn’t immune to anger, in fact, in their time as ancient heroes, she could get very angry very quickly. Despite that, she could keep her composure very well, and she could calm down just as quickly as she got angry.

But she had seen Golden Cheese Cookie get angry like… this only a very few times.

“Let’s keep walking.” Golden Cheese Cookie said coldly. “I’m tired of this place already.”

White Lily Cookie nodded, looking at a patch of small blue flowers. They seemed to be dipped in the middle, as if someone sat in them.

“Is this fresh?” Golden Cheese Cookie asked as she examined the dip. White Lily Cookie examined it.

“I think it may be both.” She admitted. “Some of them have been crushed for a while, while others are fresh.”

“I agree. Do you think…”

Before she could finish her thought, they heard someone coming. Heavy footsteps, coming swiftly. Golden Cheese Cookie hopped behind some nearby bushes, tucking her wings in. White Lily Cookie followed, crouching in front of a small opening in the bush.

“No eye flowers back here, good,” Golden Cheese Cookie murmured before growing silent. Before long, two figures came into the patch. White Lily Cookie’s breath hitched—for it was Shadow Milk Cookie and Pure Vanilla Cookie.

‘They must know we’re here,’ White Lily Cookie panicked, holding her staff ready to defend her and Golden Cheese Cookie. Despite that, neither made any move towards them. They acted as if they weren’t there.

“I’m going to kill him.” Golden Cheese Cookie said as she began to stand up. White Lily grabbed her and pulled her back down, holding tight to her waist.

“I understand your anger, I feel the same way,” White Lily Cookie whispered, “but you cannot rush out there! They’re far too powerful together…we need a plan.”

Golden Cheese Cookie scowled before dropping down. “I do suppose creating a plan of action is smart.”

“Which flower should you be decorated with today?” Shadow Milk Cookie asked with a hum.

“There’s only two kinds of flowers here,” Pure Vanilla Cookie replied, “and they look the same…I don’t look good in flowers anyways.”

Shadow Milk Cookie scoffed. “A liar as always. I’ll use my forget-me-nots.”

He picked up an armful of them and floated to Pure Vanilla Cookie, settling down and placing the flowers on the other’s hat and hair. Pure Vanilla Cookie was perfectly still, glancing at the flowers being placed on him.

“What kind of trickery is this?” Golden Cheese Cookie whispered. White Lily Cookie looked at her questingly.

“That can’t be him.”

White Lily Cookie adverted her gaze, “it is him. I…wish just as much it wasn’t.”

“But the illusions, the lies…”

“The sky…those eyes are not just Shadow Milk Cookie’s.” White Lily whispered, scooting away from the bush. “The yellow side. They must of been Pure Vanilla Cookie’s.”

Golden Cheese Cookie growled. “I wish to kill that beast.”

Shadow Milk Cookie’s eyes narrowed to slits, a sly smile on his lips. He stood up and, after examining Pure Vanilla Cookie, clasped his hands together.

“There!” He remarked before turning and walking away. “I have someone to attend to, so stay put?”

“I know it’s one of my friends-“ Pure Vanilla Cookie said, standing up. Before he could continue, Shadow Milk Cookie harshly grabbed his arm, resulting in a sharp breath from Pure Vanilla Cookie.

“You meant ex-friends. Traitors, the past.” Shadow Milk Cookie said. Pure Vanilla Cookie softly nodded, mumbling. Shadow Milk Cookie smiled before letting go and leaving.

And, as soon as Shadow Milk Cookie was gone, Golden Cheese Cookie shot up and walked right to Pure Vanilla Cookie.

“Wait-! Golden Cheese Cookie!” White Lily Cookie said, reaching out to her. Pure Vanilla Cookie stared at Golden Cheese Cookie, eyebrows raised.

“What on Earthbread is going on here!” Golden Cheese Cookie demanded. Pure Vanilla Cookie looked taken aback, stepping away from her.

“Where did you come from…?” Pure Vanilla Cookie questioned.

“Pure Vanilla Cookie! What happened, you’ve been gone for a year! All while we’ve been struggling…you’ve been here doing what?”

Pure Vanilla Cookie’s face hardened and he clutched his staff. “I would have left if I could…but it’s far too late for me now.”

He took no glance at White Lily Cookie but spoke to her. “I told you to leave. Can you not find the exit?”

“I…” she could hardly speak. She couldn’t leave now, knowing that her friends were still in danger. Her hands shook as she stepped towards him, her eyes softening. She had to keep trying to reach out, no matter how many thorns he grew.

“I won’t leave you behind.” She said.

“You are perfectly capable of doing that, though.” Pure Vanilla Cookie said harshly. “Take our friends and leave this place. This is no place for you .”

“Listen up, Vani!” Golden Cheese Cookie said, “You’re either coming with us or we’re going to drag you out of here ourselves. What’ll it be?”

Pure Vanilla Cookie scoffed and made no attempt to move. Golden Cheese Cookie and White Lily Cookie looked at each other then nodded, both grabbing his hands and pulling him towards them.

“This isn’t you!” White Lily Cookie tried.

“Cookies can change a lot in a year.” Pure Vanilla Cookie spat.

“Even if you change you’re still our treasure!” Golden Cheese Cookie plead.

“It’s been so long, why do you care now?” Pure Vanilla Cookie slapped his hands away, tilting his head down but keeping his angered eyes on them.

“We had our own kingdoms to take care of, other cookies we cared for to protect.” White Lily Cookie argued. “We had faith that you would be strong enough to protect yourself.”

“If I had known you were here, I would have flown here myself months ago!” Golden Cheese Cookie said.

“Enough! I’ve heard enough. Please,” his voice hitched, it almost seemed like he was pleading, “just leave . This isn’t a place for you .”

White Lily Cookie kept staring at him, the most kindness she could muster in her smile. She was never as good at looking kind as Pure Vanilla Cookie, with his warm smile and his inviting appearance.

He always told her she looked just fine, more than perfect, and giving her a smile.

Even like this, with robes that closed him off, weary sunken eyes, a set mouth in an unnatural frown, he was still more than perfect.

“I don’t know what you’ve been through, for this year,” White Lily Cookie said softly, “what torment you went through, if you really did wait for me to come back. But we can work through it, together, now.”

His eyes widened and his lips parted as she held out her hand, her smile turning into a grin.  Golden Cheese Cookie held her hand out too, confidence radiating off her. Pure Vanilla Cookie stared their hands, the grip on his staff loosening. He slowly locked eyes with White Lily Cookie.

She was so close. She could see the change in his face, softening as she stared at her.

Please. Please . She wasn’t going to let him go again.

“Alright, ALRIGHT! That’s enough with the sappy program!”

The three of them looked on to see two new cookies running their way.

“Black Sapphire Cookie,” Pure Vanilla Cookie called, “Candy Apple Cookie?”

“Master Truthless Recluse doesn’t WANT to go with a traitor like you!”

“He likes us far more than he likes you!”

Golden Cheese Cookie stepped in front of Pure Vanilla Cookie, blocking the other two from getting to him. Pure Vanilla Cookie‘a response was laughter.

“Just leave .” He croaked.

A portal opened beside him and he stepped in. White Lily Cookie called out for him, rushing to the portal, but was just too late. It closed before she could even feel it.

“Hah!” Candy Apple Cookie stuck her tongue out at them, planting her hands on her hips. “Told you he likes us better!”

“If not for our master’s orders,” Black Sapphire Cookie said, “you would have been steaming, burnt, toast.”

After he said that, a portal opened and the two of them hopped in. Golden Cheese Cookie charged, yelling.

“Where is he?!” She screamed. “You can’t steal him away from me!…”

But the portal had closed. They stood alone in the garden once again.

White Lily Cookie clutched her chest, feeling the tears coming again. She was so close, they almost reached out to him.

She let out a sob, holding her hand over her mouth.

“I’m so stupid…why did I let him go…!” She cursed.

They were so close .

“Ugh…!” Golden Cheese Cookie kicked some flowers down before she began walking. “Next time I see any of those clowns, I’m tearing their faces off!”

White Lily Cookie followed after her, wiping her eyes.

“The others,” White Lily Cookie said quietly, “if we find them, we can save Pure Vanilla Cookie.”

Golden Cheese Cookie said something in response, but a mix of her anger and White Lily Cookie’s racing mind made it so she didn’t hear it.

She kept wiping away the tears that attacked her eyes. She wouldn’t cry after every meeting with him, she couldn’t be weak.

She had left him behind. Never again.

Her breath came out heavy as she tried to stop her tears.

She would save him. No matter what it took.

She was suddenly reminded of how harshly Shadow Milk Cookie grabbed her dear friend when he’d even dared call her and the others his friends. The anger the beast held at that simple word, friend… it sickened her.

Was it always like that? Was Shadow Milk Cookie always harsh when Pure Vanilla Cookie said something he didn’t like?

And his soul jam, it was dimmed. She put that fact to the back of her mind, trying not to worry about it so much as her friend.

But it was undeniable—its warm blue glow was replaced with stale gray.

And yet it still held power, but a corrupted and dark power. Something that scared her.

Was it too late?

She tried to tell herself once they found their other two friends, everything would work out.

But what if no matter what they did, would Pure Vanilla Cookie be too far gone?

Should she have really not heeded the call of her curiosity?

She could have defeated Shadow Milk Cookie easily with her guardian power and her soul jam power combined.

None of this had to happen.

And yet, it did.

She was so, so…

Her thoughts were paused sharply when she ran into the back of Golden Cheese Cookie, who had halted.

“S-sorry,” White Lily Cookie said, pulling back and looking at her friend. Golden Cheese Cookie looked forward, raising her spear.

“A door.” Was all she said as she started walking again, approaching the door. White Lily Cookie quickly followed, looking at the grand chocolate door.

Golden Cheese Cookie pushed the door open. It swung open to reveal a large and dark library. The walls were covered in books, the floor covered in a velvet rug.

“A library?” White Lily Cookie cautiously walked in, looking around. She pulled a book from the shelf and examined it. It was a story book. As she looked at more, she came to realize they were all story books.

“Who needs this many kid’s stories?” Golden Cheese Cookie asked, folding her arms.

“I don’t know…” White Lily Cookie said, “…let’s not worry about it. Let’s find out friends.”

The two of the walked deeper into the library, the darkness only adding onto their nerves.

Then, they heard it. The sound of footsteps.

Golden Cheese Cookie pointed her spear up and White Lily Cookie prepared to cast spells.

A dark cookie came running, his face turned into a scowl.

“Dark Cacao Cookie?!” Golden Cheese Cookie lowered her spear. “You look awful!”

“Where is he?” He said. “Where is that blue cookie?”

Chapter Text

Truthless Recluse stared blankly at nothing.

White Lily Cookie had came back and really did want to “save” him. Not just her, all his closest friends.

…he pitied their hope.

It was almost amusing to watch their pathetic attempts to sway him back to the truth. It mattered not what they said, he would not leave.

He felt someone grab his robes. Looking down, he saw Candy Apple Cookie looking up at him with a sly grin.

“Do you think they’ll leave now?” She asked.

“Unfortunately, no,” he replied, “but the hope is it will discourage them.”

“We can discourage them more!” Black Sapphire Cookie said. “Rough them up—we can put on a good show for you instead of all that drab pleading and begging from those whiney old-fashioned cookies.”

“No,” Truthless Recluse clutched his staff tighter, “this is something I must do alone.”

If he didn’t, Shadow Milk Cookie would. Of course Truthless Recluse wanted the world to stay blanketed in deceit, for the truth was far too cruel for any cookie to endure.

But Shadow Milk Cookie was capable of being crueler.

He didn’t want his friends to be hurt by him.

Their deal still stood until the dawn of tomorrow. He still had time to push them out.

He shook his head and began to walk slowly, his steps heavy. He simply had to endure it all a little longer.

“Master!” Candy Apple Cookie said, still holding onto his robes. “Please, can’t you tell us another story before you go?”

He paused, looking down at her. His stories seemed to have started the path to dissolving her animosity towards him, her eyes always glowing as he pulled tales from every corner of his brain.

He sighed, walking to a chair and sitting down in it. “…alright, but don’t keep me long.”

Candy Apple Cookie immediately was at his knees, leaning her head and arms on his legs and staring up at him expectingly. Black Sapphire Cookie stood nearby, leaning on his microphone.

Truthless Recluse opened his mouth, a soft sigh coming out again.

“Once, there was a kingdom surrounded by powder snow.”

***

“Blue cookie,” White Lily Cookie said, “like Shadow Milk Cookie?”

“No,” Dark Cacao Cookie said, “she was a woman. She was reading a truly awful book.”

“And that’s why you’re running around looking for her?” Golden Cheese Cookie questioned.

“No,” Dark Cacao Cookie said, clutching his sword, “but she seemed to be reading it solely to mess with my head.”

“Well then, what was it?” White Lily Cookie asked. “Why are so you upset by this?”

“Does it matter?” Golden Cheese Cookie interjected. “We have to find Pure Vanilla Cookie! He’s not safe, we have to save him!”

“I have not found any exit,” Dark Cacao Cookie said slowly, “I’ve been in here for hours and all I’ve seen are bookshelves and a single reading nook. The only other cookie besides you I’ve seen was the blue cookie.”

Golden Cheese Cookie grunted, walking forward without a word. White Lily Cookie looked at Dark Cacao Cookie, sheepishly smiling. He simply sighed and turned to follow Golden Cheese Cookie.

“Dark Cacao Cookie, what exactly happened?” White Lily Cookie asked again.

“I fell into this library,” Dark Cacao Cookie explained, “it felt like I was wandering these halls for hours. But, recently I found a reading nook…this blue woman was reading a book aloud to rabbits in dresses. It…”

He scowled angrily. “…it was about a prince killing his father.”

“Wh…” White Lily Cookie’s eyes widened.

“…it was exactly how it happened.” Dark Cacao Cookie said, “I demanded to know what exactly was happening, but she only laughed at me. She told me a little blue bird told her. The rabbits attacked me after, I fought them but she had gotten away.”

White Lily Cookie had a bad feeling about this “blue cookie” Dark Cacao spoke of. It was obviously one of Shadow Milk Cookie’s tricks.

But how did he know about what happened with Dark Cacao Cookie’s son?

It couldn’t be that… Pure Vanilla Cookie had told him.

Could it?

White Lily Cookie’s stomach twisted, as if butterflies would come flying out of her mouth at any moment. Pure Vanilla Cookie wouldn’t have.

But he was different now. He didn’t want anything to do with them anymore.

“ Leave .”

“Dark Cacao Cookie,” White Lily Cookie said, “about Pure Vanilla Cookie…”

“What?” he turned to look at her swiftly.

“He…he’s not the same,” she said softly, “Shadow Milk Cookie did something to him, he’s…”

“Basically, that beast turned him inside out and now he thinks he’s staying here,” Golden Cheese Cookie said gruffly, “he probably told him about what happened.”

“You’ve seen him.” Dark Cacao Cookie said. “You could have started with that.”

“Well-“ Golden Cheese Cookie spun on her heel to look back, walking backwards, “-you know now, don’t you? Now let’s hurry, Pure Vanilla Cookie needs us more than ever.”

Dark Cacao Cookie breathed out of his nose and hurried after her. White Lily Cookie bit her cheek as she ran after them.

After running for but a mere few minutes, they stumbled upon a line of light streaming from a doorway. Golden Cheese Cookie was the first to peer in, Dark Cacao Cookie and White Lily Cookie close behind her as she walked in.

“The nook.” Dark Cacao Cookie said. “This is where I saw that cookie.”

Inside, was a fireplace that blazed brightly. A windowsill revealed the outside, the sky still covered in eyes. An armchair stood simply in the middle of the room, turned away from them.

“It’s pretty empty now,” Golden Cheese Cookie said, “we should go back-“

Suddenly, strings wrapped around all their bodies, pushed them to the ground.

White Lily Cookie grunted, fighting against these sudden bindings. The armchair before them spun around, a blue cookie in a puffy blue dress sitting in it with a book in her lap.

“You-“ Dark Cacao Cookie said, but the blue cookie interrupted.

“I’m glad to have you again!” She said. “And you brought your friends? How sweet.”

“Shadow Milk Cookie!” White Lily Cookie growled. “I know it’s you!”

The blue cookie giggled, flipping her hair. “Was it that obvious? I think not, Mr. Grumpy didn’t notice.”

Dark Cacao Cookie grunted as he cut the strings with his sword, the little bits flying everywhere. Shadow Milk Cookie grinned widely clapping her…his…hands as his body shifted from the woman to his normal form.

“Oh, how strong you are!” He laughed. “No wonder Vanilly spoke so highly of you.”

Golden Cheese Cookie and Dark Cacao Cookie pointed their weapons at Shadow Milk Cookie, White Lily Cookie stepping forward and glaring at him. The beast laughed at them once more, holding his stomach with a grin that showed off his sharky teeth.

“You’re smart, guardian, I’ll give you that,” Shadow Milk Cookie said, “but can you figure out what my story is about?”

His body melted into the shadows, the story book he was holding falling onto the ground and opening to the first page.

“Where’d he go!” Golden Cheese Cookie shouted. “I’m not done with you, you-!”

“Once! Upon! A time!” Shadow Milk Cookie’s voice boomed as a small stage appeared before them. The curtains swayed back to reveal a puppet that looked an awful lot like Pure Vanilla Cookie.

“There was a prince that lived in a big tower, guarded by a dragon. And he was HAPPY , that detail is very important.”

The puppet’s face turned happy, going next to the dragon and hugging it. White Lily Cookie kept her eyes locked on the stage, her friends murmuring in confusion behind her.

“But one day, as the princess was happily living in the tower, some truly awful cookies came—his past, EX-friends!”

Four puppets that looked suspiciously like White Lily Cookie and her friends fell onto the stage, their faces contorted disgustingly.

“Hey! That’s just us!” Golden Cheese Cookie yelled. Dark Cacao Cookie breathed out his nose harshly. White Lily Cookie kept her eyes locked on the stage, her breath shallow.

“Hush! I’m still telling my story!” Shadow Milk Cookie cleared his throat. “Anyways…these ex-friends had so evilly left the prince all alone when he needed them the most. Luckily, the dragon had the biggest heart and saved the prince! But now these evil friends were back, and they wanted the prince back.”

The puppets shook around, yelling for the prince to come back. The prince also shook, looking around desperately.

“Now…how does this story end?” Shadow Milk Cookie purred.

“How should we know?” Golden Cheese Cookie scoffed.

White Lily Cookie thought. It was obvious what story Shadow Milk Cookie was spinning.

The prince was Pure Vanilla Cookie. The tower was the spire, and the dragon Shadow Milk Cookie. The friends were the ancient heroes, Pure Vanilla Cookie’s true friends.

“The friends don’t succeed in saving…er, taking the prince back.” White Lily Cookie said.

“RING DING DING!”

The whole stage shifted, fire burning up the puppets. The prince and dragon remained untouched, above the fire watching.

“The dragon killed the evil cookies who tried to take away the price,” Shadow Milk Cookie said darkly, “burnt them all to a crisp! And the prince was happy, because he stayed in the tower.”

The whole mini stage was engulfed in flames, only ash remaining. White Lily Cookie stood stiff, clenching her jaw.

“What are you trying to say?” White Lily Cookie asked.

“You know exactly what I mean.” Shadow Milk Cookie chuckled. “You’re lucky your dear Vanilla made a deal with me…but your time is running out.”

He laughed before disappearing completely, the room seeming to be dimmer from the fireplace’s fire growing smaller.

“We all saw that, right?” Golden Cheese Cookie asked.

“What is his plan…” Dark Cacao Cookie growled.

White Lily Cookie clutched her staff close to her chest. What did Shadow Milk Cookie mean by a deal?

Was that why Pure Vanilla Cookie was trying so hard to get them to leave?

“We have to hurry.” White Lily Cookie said. “I fear…time is running out.”

They had to save Pure Vanilla Cookie before the dragon raised its great head, spitting fire down in their frail bodies and killing them.

***

“…and so, the two great dragons were sealed within the sword, their new master controlling their powers for the good of all cookiekind.” Truthless Recluse concluded his story. Candy Apple Cookie groaned, falling backwards onto her feet from her crouching position.

“Why do the heroes always win?” She complained. “I want the dragons to win sometime!”

“Master Truthless Recluse is simply telling the stories he knows,” Black Sapphire Cookie said, “he already told you all the fables.”

“Perhaps next time I can adjust the story as I go,” Truthless Recluse said as he stood up, “just for you.”

Candy Apple Cookie squealed, giggling as she grabbed his robes once more.

“Yes! Make the dragons win! They deserve to win!”

Truthless Recluse sighed softly then turned to walk off again. He still had work to do.

Situated on a nearby wall, a clock clicked away agonizingly slow. An hourglass hung from the ceiling, the sand falling lazily onto the glassy bottom.

The deal still held up until dawn the next day. That had to be enough time.

It had to be enough time.

Chapter Text

The group of three ran out of the library, light suddenly blinding them. White Lily Cookie covered her face, peeking out after a moment to see a museum-like room. Artifacts lined the walls, each one had a bright light shining down on them. 

“I’d never think someone like Shadow Milk Cookie would have a museum.” Golden Cheese Cookie scoffed. “There must be nothing true here.”

“We must keep going,” White Lily Cookie said, “it doesn’t matter what’s in here, all that matters is that we know the truth.”

Dark Cacao Cookie nodded and took up the lead, his sword’s blade upwards ready to strike anything that came at them. As they walked, each of their heads subconsciously popped onto the artifacts they passed. 

“Hm,” Golden Cheese Cookie scoffed again, “this claims that’s treasure from my kingdom, but it’s clearly fool’s gold. It’s too shiny, too lumpy!”

“A fool made it, after all.” Dark Cacao Cookie murmured, looking at a tapestry that vaguely resembled one of his kingdom’s. The whole place was full of familiar, but not quite right, artifacts, modeled after her friend’s kingdoms. 

Despite it all, there was nothing on her. 

It gave White Lily Cookie a sense of unease. 

“No point in spending any time on a foolish jester’s lies,” White Lily Cookie said, quickening her pace, “we must find out way out.”

“Hey-wait up!” Golden Cheese Cookie called as White Lily Cookie turned a corner. She spun around to glance back at them, but was shocked to see she was suddenly in a long hallway with no turns to old hallways. It was just a straight path. 

Cursing at herself, she started to run down the hallway. 

“Dark Cacao Cookie!” She yelled. “Golden Cheese Cookie! Where are you?”

As she ran, she passed many artifacts. The further she ran, the more strange and frightening they became—blue eyes and wicked smiles, all focused solely on her. 

“Why did you come here?” A plaque asked her. 

“You aren’t fit for any of this.” A painting said to her. 

Why did this have to happen now? 

“You let this happen.” A withered flower blinked at her. 

“Leave.” Her reflection from a glass case told her. 

She just wanted her friends. 

Was that too much to ask?

“Please…just leave.”

Blue eyes. 

Wicked smiles. 

Blue eye. 

Yellow eye.

Blue eye. 

Yellow eye. 

She halted in front of an archway, that which was carved in the most beautiful way…

…just like the carvings of the Vanilla kingdom. 

She stood frozen for but a moment before slowly entering in. Her footsteps echoed in the tall room. She walked on a rickety boardwalk, below it being yogurt waters. In the center, was a circular platform. On the edges were giant statues, of Shadow Milk Cookie and Pure Vanilla Cookie. Some danced eternally in a frozen waltz, others bound together in a preserved hug. 

The one that caught her attention was the one in the very middle, though. Shadow Milk Cookie sat lazily above, his hand resting on Pure Vanilla Cookie’s shoulder. Pure Vanilla Cookie knelt, looking down, his eyes carved with the utmost care. 

White Lily Cookie stared into those eyes. Those dark eyes, those angry eyes, those unfamiliar eyes…

…those tired eyes. She’d never seen him look so tired, not even after healing a whole village of sick and injured cookies. 

Oh, to face him again. She would tell him to shut his eyes and get some rest. 

He would probably resist. 

She cared not. 

“I just want you to be ok.” She whispered to the statue, running her hand across the statue’s hand. 

“I want…” She sniffled, wiping her eyes. Her hands shook as she pulled back, finally noticing the plaque plastered on the statue’s base. 

“Best Friends” it read. 

“…I want my best friend back.” She said. 

“…he is never returning.”

She spun around to see Pure Vanilla Cookie standing there. His expression was softer than usual, but he lowered his head so his hat’s shadow obscured his face. 

“Pure Vanilla Cookie…” she murmured. She reached out, but he pushed her hand back down. 

“How many times do I have to tell you?” He said, calmly but with a hit of tension, “Leave. Leave and never return, never think of me again.”

“How could you ask that of me?” She asked. “Do you really think that he’s your best friend now?”

Pure Vanilla Cookie closed his eyes and shook his head. 

“His feelings are not mutual,” he said, “he only opened my eyes—that the truth is inherently evil, and deceit is the best path to follow.”

“I…” White Lily Cookie’s heart pounded in her chest, “…Pure Vanilla Cookie would never say that.”

“That’s because he wouldn’t. The cookie you once knew is dead, and all that’s left is I.”

White Lily Cookie’s breath hitched. He must be lying. His light must still be in there, his will to spread the truth no matter what. 

He had to be there still. 

She saw him. Behind that attempt to look menacing and cruel, she saw his softness and care, still swirling in his dilapidated and tired eyes.  

“Wake up,” she begged, walking closer to him, “I know you’re still there. I can still see you, you can’t lie to me.”

“Just stop it already, LEAV-“ he raised his voice, only to stop abruptly as she wrapped her arms around his cold body. She stroked his back and long hair, her tears freely falling onto his shoulder and down his robes. 

“Pure Vanilla Cookie,” his name came out easily, like rice falling off a spoon, “you’re so cold and tired…you need to rest, my friend.”

She remained there, embracing him. Was her body warming him up? Was her arms inviting enough for him to close his eyes? Her heart raced against his, she could feel his aching heart pound against her chest into her ribcage. 

His breath picked up, his free hand leading up to her chest. It rested there, clammy and shaky. It’s ok, she wanted to say. 

Was this it? Did she finally wake him up? He was right there in her arms. She would carry him out if she had to. 

“Pure Vanilla Cookie, I-“ she began. She was swiftly cut off by him shoving her away. She stumbled back into the statue, holding onto it for support. He stared down at her, a cruel anger etched into his eyes and his brow. 

“I want you to leave right now.” He growled. “Your clock is ticking, Lily. Leave, or if you won’t, meet me in the tallest tower and I’ll teach you a valuable lesson on listening the first time.”

He raised his staff. White Lily Cookie pushed herself up and ran towards him, calling out his name that came out so much harder this time. 

“Don’t leave!” She begged. But he was gone, black smoke replacing him. She coughed as the smoke filled her vision and lungs, still calling out even though she knew it was useless. 

Once the smoke was fully gone, she slowly opened her eyes to find she was back in the regular museum, blatantly fake artifacts all around her once again. She fell to her knees and cried. What else was she to do? She was so tired. 

It felt so selfish of her now, wanting him back. Was it true he didn’t want his friends anymore? Should she leave, just like he asked of her over and over?

She didn’t want to leave him behind. 

But if that would make him happy…

Happiness. 

She wanted to see everyone smile again. 

When had she seen a genuine smile last?

Yes, when he was still around. 

When she had left him alone in this place. 

Why did she leave him?

If she had known how badly she wanted him now, would she still of left him?

It hurt. 

She couldn’t breathe. 

Her breath came out as a wheeze. 

Her eyes stung from the tears that attacked her face relentlessly. 

Her chest hurt from the sad excuse of breathing she did. 

Her hands hurt from squeezing them too hard. 

Her stomach felt so sick, she might throw up. 

Her jaw hurt from clenching it. 

Her head hurt. 

Her mind hurt. 

Her heart hurt. 

Everything hurt so badly. 

She had him in her arms. 

He was right there. 

No, no, no, no, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO-

“White Lily Cookie!”

Strong hands supported her up. Hollyberry Cookie’s comforting eyes looked down at White Lily Cookie’s mangled form, a mess on the ground.

“Hollyberry Cookie..?” White Lily Cookie said, wiping her puffy eyes. “Is that really you, or is this a trick…?”

Hollyberry Cookie let out a soft laugh and patted White Lily Cookie on the back. “I promise I’m real, my friend. Now, what’s wrong?”

White Lily Cookie hesitated, biting her lip. Hollyberry Cookie smiles slightly and sat back, folding her legs. 

“I can tell you how I got here…I was in a garden, it was really beautiful but I was completely lost. Then, I saw an exit, which I was very relieved by. Buuuuut I got lost in here instead, with all this blatantly fake information and artifacts.”

She humphed, folding her arms with a sigh. “I really want some berry juice. I lost all mine when we were separated.”

“Well, when we leave this place, we can have a great feast,” White Lily Cookie sniffled, “but…”

She looked away, her friend looking closer at her with worry in her brow. 

“Pure Vanilla Cookie has changed.” She said, holding in her tears. “I don’t know if we can pull him from this nightmare.”

“If we all pull together, I’m sure we’ll be strong enough.”

“But what if we aren’t?”

“Then I suppose we’ll just have to try again.”

“But-“

“Lily.” Hollyberry Cookie placed her hands on White Lily Cookie’s shoulders. “If you worry about what could happen, then you’ll never know what will happen.”

White Lily Cookie’s breath wobbled as she held her chest, looking down. 

“I want to save him.” She said. 

“Then let’s go save him!” Hollyberry Cookie pulled her up, grinning. 

They heard footsteps coming toward them. White Lily Cookie looked up, and saw her other two friends running their way. 

“Hollyberry Cookie!” Golden Cheese Cookie yelled, flying into her friend’s arms. 

“Aha! It’s good to see you friend!” Hollyberry Cookie said, smiling. Dark Cacao Cookie looked around before pointing his sword at something. 

“There is…?” He questioned. White Lily Cookie looked and gasped a little. One was an exit, out the spire as far as she could tell. The other was a staircase leading up. 

“Which way?” Hollyberry Cookie asked. 

“We must go up.” White Lily Cookie said. “That’s where Pure Vanilla Cookie will be.”

“How do you know?” Golden Cheese Cookie demanded. 

“He…told me to meet him there.” White Lily Cookie’s grip on her staff tightened. “So that’s where I’m going.”

“I’ll be there right behind you!” Hollyberry Cookie said. 

“As will I.” Dark Cacao Cookie said.

Golden Cheese Cookie grunted, folding her arms. “Of course I’ll go up! If that’s where he is, that’s where I’m going.”

White Lily Cookie smiled at her friends, wiping her tears carefully from her eyes. 

“Let us make haste,” she said, striding forward. “We cannot keep him waiting.”

She would do whatever it took. 

She saw him there, behind all the darkness and all the frustration. 

She wouldn’t fumble again. She wouldn’t falter, just as he always said. 

“We’re coming, Pure Vanilla Cookie!” Hollyberry Cookie called, smiling. White Lily Cookie smiled back at her, running up the stairs with everything she had. 

***

Truthless Recluse appeared in the tallest tower of the spire. He peered down the side, the very wall he fell past a year ago. 

“What an actor you are, Vanilly.” Shadow Milk Cookie slid himself beside Truthless Recluse, his lips near his ear. Truthless Recluse jolted back, looking at him. 

“Where did…” he questioned, only to be met with laughter. 

“I always know where you are, remember?” Shadow Milk Cookie giggled. Truthless Recluse grumbled, nodding slightly. 

“But man oh man!” Shadow Milk Cookie laughed. “You’re willing to do so much to get your old friends away, but they just won’t quit!”

Shadow Milk Cookie pulled out an hourglass and shook it in the other’s face. “Time is almost up. If your way doesn’t prove effective, my way will.”

Truthless Recluse felt a shiver run down his spine. He looked away, hugging his side under his cape. 

“Aww, don’t be sad!” Shadow Milk Cookie said as he snapped the hourglass away. “It’ll be better after they’re gone anyways.”

Truthless Recluse felt in his gut that it wouldn’t be. But he had to accept that fact. He feared his friends were far too persistent for his fake anger and his begging. 

“Please,” his voice cracked, “give me a little longer. I’m so close, I-I just need time.”

“Hah!” Shadow Milk Cookie circled around Truthless Recluse like a vulture. “You know I won’t do that, my dear.”

“Please!” He begged. “I can’t…”

“You can’t what?” Shadow Milk Cookie asked dangerously. Truthless Recluse paused and clamped his mouth shut, shaking his head. “…Never mind.”

Shadow Milk Cookie smirked and patted Truthless Recluse softly on the cheek. 

“Good,” he said, “you don’t need them anyways. I’m a far better friend, right?”

“Of course.” Truthless Recluse smiled, though it was weak. The longer Shadow Milk Cookie’s hand lingered by his face, the more uneasy he felt. 

His mind wandered to the hug White Lily Cookie gave him, but he quickly pushed that away. He couldn’t be thinking about that, not with Shadow Milk Cookie so close to him. 

Shadow Milk Cookie grinned, but it wasn’t a happy grin. The beast wrapped his arms around Truthless Recluse and sighed dreamily. 

“You know I love it when you lie.” Shadow Milk Cookie laughed. “And I’m going to love it just as much when you fail to make your friends leave and I get to burn them to ashes. I can’t wait to see your tears, my light.”

Truthless Recluse pulled away, his eyes widening. “No…I will succeed.”

“Keep lying to yourself,” Shadow Milk Cookie said, “for you know you’ve failed before dawn has even come.”

He grabbed Truthless Recluse by the arms and smirked.

“But that’s ok. I’ll still be your friend even as you become a bigger and bigger failure.”

Truthless Recluse shook violently now, squeezing his eyes shut and shaking his head. 

“I’ll be your only friend,” he said softly, “doesn’t that sound nice?”

The Truthless Recluse knew that it wouldn’t be nice at all, not in the slightest.

Chapter Text

The four friends took their final steps up the staircase. The top of the tower was wall-less, only beams were holding up the roof. The sky twirled around them, blue and golden eyes keeping steadfastly on them. Pure Vanilla Cookie stood in the center, waiting for them patiently. Shadow Milk Cookie floated above, lazily hanging his arms down and closing his eyes, though the eyes on his hair stared intently at all of them. 

"You didn't listen, once again." Pure Vanilla Cookie said harshly, "You will regret it...but I'm giving you one more chance." 

With a wave of his hand, a portal opened. His friends gave him a glare, not one of animosity but one of offense. 

"We're not leaving unless you come with us, Vani!" Hollyberry Cookie said. Golden Cheese Cookie and Dark Cacao Cookie agreed, their stances holding strong

"How dare you think so little of us to leave you so easily." Golden Cheese Cookie said. 

"I know you," Dark Cacao Cookie said, "and you aren't one to push us away so easily."

"I've said everything I could possibly say to you," White Lily Cookie said, stepping forward, "You know what I think. We're begging you, come back with us!"

Pure Vanilla Cookie scoffed, raising his staff. "You...relentless cookies. You asked for this."

Dark magic shot out at them. Hollyberry Cookie raised her shield and blocked the magic, looking back at her friends. 

"Me and Dark Cacao Cookie will attack him from both side," Golden Cheese Cookie suggested, "get him down, so we can get him out."

Dark Cacao Cookie silently nodded, preparing to lunge out. 

"I'll watch your backs!" Hollyberry Cookie said. "Lily, you'll have to be ready to drag him away. I'll give you a signal, like this." She waved her arm in demonstration. 

"I-I will—keep an eye on Shadow Milk Cookie, too!"

"Come out and face me! Isn't this what you wanted?" Pure Vanilla Cookie called. Golden Cheese Cookie and Dark Cacao Cookie shot out from behind the shield, raising their weapons and slashing away the darkish magic. Hollyberry Cookie raised her shield and charged forward. 

Three against one, hardly fair but this whole situation was unfair. 

Pure Vanilla Cookie hardly flinched. He simply waved his staff, magic coming out of it every which way at his friends. White Lily Cookie cast spells to support her friends, keeping an eye on Shadow Milk Cookie's lazy form. 

"Rah!" Golden Cheese Cookie yelled, sidestepping a shot of magic and slamming the dull side of her weapon against Pure Vanilla Cookie's legs. He stumbled back, awkwardly using his staff to hold himself up. He raised his staff once more, but Dark Cacao Cookie hit it away. Without his staff, he was terribly nearsighted, so he squinted around swiftly trying to find it. 

Hollyberry Cookie waved her arm, and White Lily Cookie ran towards Pure Vanilla Cookie. She held out her hands to grab him. 

He looked at her, eyes squinted but knowing. 

She softened her expression, her heart pounding in her ears. She couldn't doubt herself now, not when the solution to her mistakes was in reach. 

"White Lily Cookie!" Hollyberry Cookie yelled. "Look out!"

But it was too late. A surge of powerful magic rammed into her gut, making her fly back. She landed on her back, groaning and trying to get up. 

Pure Vanilla Cookie harshly sighed. He watched as Golden Cheese Cookie raised her weapon again, and shot her down too. Dark Cacao Cookie was next, though he had sense to block the brunt of the assault with his sword, though he too was pushed back. Hollyberry Cookie ran to her friends' sides and shielded them. 

"You were foolish for staying." Pure Vanilla Cookie said. "I do not apologize if this next part hurts."

He'd found his staff and raised it, preparing some other kind of spell. White Lily Cookie forced herself up and tried to cast another spell to counter his, when the whole tower began to shake. A booming toll ran through the air, like a grandfather clock but a million times louder in their ears. 

"Woah-!" Hollyberry Cookie cried. "Hold onto me, my friends!"

Shadow Milk Cookie in an instant was awake—as if he were even asleep to begin with—and began circling around the tower, his body growing with each second that passed. 

"No…I'm so close!" Pure Vanilla Cookie yelled at him. "Let me just complete this final spell, if that fails then-"

"A deal's a deal, Vanilly!" Shadow Milk Cookie boomed, his twisted smile growing. "Your time is up, and they're still not out. Your way proved failure, so now it's my turn."

The ground shook under them. Hollyberry Cookie still held her shield strong in front of her friends, worry in her brow. 

"The ground...!" White Lily Cookie said quietly, not of her own volition but of realization. "It's warming up!"

Indeed, the ground was warming up so hotly that it could rival even the oven. Shadow Milk Cookie laughed as his form shifted into that of a dragon. He opened his mouth and spit out fire all around the four friends, his black scales shimmering in the blue and orange fire. 

"It's so hot!" Hollyberry Cookie gasped, her icing melting off her head. 

"It's hot even for me!" Golden Cheese Cookie said, shooting her wings by her sides as they began to melt. Dark Cacao Cookie panted, sweat dropping down his face. The ground rumbled still, threatening to break at any moment. 

White Lily Cookie locked eyes with Pure Vanilla Cookie. He reached out, tears forming, only to be pulled back by Shadow Milk Cookie's long, spiny tail. 

"Prepare for your grand finale," Shadow Milk Cookie laughed cruelly, "because you aren't making it out of this after my show's done!"

The ground finally cracked under them. A great fire raged at the bottom of the crevice that was formed, burning brightly with rage. Golden Cheese Cookie raised her wings to fly, only to be met with a large paw that slammed down onto her body, throwing her down. 

"GOLDEN CHEESE COOKIE!" White Lily Cookie yelled, reaching out to her as she flew past.

"Ahahaha!" Shadow Milk Cookie bellowed, his pointed snout peering down into the crevice and opening his mouth, shooting fire down onto the four cookies. 

The fire all around the tower fell away, as if it had never been there. The crevice stayed wide open, ash and smoke flying up from it. 

Pure Vanilla Cookie stared blankly at it. His hands shook, tears still coming down his face. He wanted to scream, but as he saw Shadow Milk Cookie shrink back down to cookie size, he knew that it would be pointless. 

It was all pointless. Why had he expected anything else?

"That was so easy," Shadow Milk Cookie said, "I was hoping they'd put up a little more fight. You must of roughed them up good, eh?"

He nudged Pure Vanilla Cookie...no, Truthless Recluse. 

As much as his friends insisted on using his past name, he no longer deserved such an innocent name. 

"Don't cry," Shadow Milk Cookie wiped the tears from Truthless Recluse's face, "you knew this was going to happen, didn't you?"

"If I did, then why am I crying?" Truthless Recluse shot back. 

"I know you too well. You are my other half, after all. You cry about the silliest, smallest, most insignificant things."

Shadow Milk Cookie cradled Truthless Recluse in his arms. 

"You are my best friend. MINE! They only came back for their own selfish reasons, so stop crying."

Shadow Milk Cookie tightened his grip around Truthless Recluse, which forced a whimper out of the vanilla cookie. 

"Stop this..." he murmured. "My friends..."

"Say that again?" Shadow Milk Cookie said, his voice dripping with danger. "I think I misheard you."

"My..." Truthless Recluse said louder, "FRIENDS."

"THEY WERE NEVER YOUR FRIENDS." Shadow Milk Cookie shot back. 

"DOES IT MATTER?" Truthless Recluse pushed away from Shadow Milk Cookie.

"OF COURSE IT DOES." Shadow Milk Cookie growled and grabbed Truthless Recluse once again, this time by the head. He pulled his hair back, holding his head still for him to stare into the other's eyes. 

"You're MY friend. We were JUST FINE before, why is NOW any DIFFERENT?"

Truthless Recluse groaned, grabbing at Shadow Milk Cookie's arms.

"YOUR FRIENDS ARE DEAD." Shadow Milk Cookie yelled. "SO STOP THINKING ABOUT THEM AND FOCUS ON ME!"

Suddenly, from the crevice, a bright light beamed out. Shadow Milk Cookie gasped and stumbled back, pulling Truthless Recluse back with him. 

"That power...!" He growled. "How is she still alive?!"

Truthless Recluse stared at the light with wide eyes. The guardian's power...

His breath quickened as he watched White Lily Cookie's form emerge. Her eyes fluttered open, and she stared at Shadow Milk Cookie. 

***

White Lily Cookie shook as she formed a shield around her friends. 

"Is everyone ok?" Hollyberry Cookie asked. Golden Cheese Cookie responded with a groan. 

"The fire is far too hot for me..." Dark Cacao Cookie said, kneeling down and panting. 

"Oh, yeah, if it's making MY wings melt, then it's definitely taking a toll on you." Golden Cheese Cookie replied. "Hey, stop trying to get up! STOP THAT!"

Their conversation was like a white buzz to White Lily Cookie. Her whole focus was on her shield. She wouldn't be able to keep it going for long, as the fire raged on, as her shaking hands failed her. 

She could do this...for him...for him...

But her hands failed her. 

She saw them shake. Unsteady, weary.

Was it fear? Anger? Anguish? All, none?

Whatever is was struck her heart. 

For she had failed. 

Even if they were to get out of the crevice, they would just fail again and again. 

Was his mind truly made up?

Was she truly the selfish one?

The heat around them intensified as White Lily Cookie struggled to keep the shield going. 

No, no, no...

"Hang on for just a little longer!" Hollyberry Cookie said. "Your wings, Golden Cheese Cookie...hide them, don't let them melt!"

"Stop that!" Golden Cheese Cookie shouted. "Stop melting so fast! Dark Cacao Cookie, my treasure...!"

"White Lily Cookie...you don't look well," Dark Cacao Cookie said quietly, "the shield, as well..."

"I..." her breath hitched as tears came back. "I'm so sorry, this was all my fault...!"

"What are you talking about!" Hollyberry Cookie asked, furrowing her brow. "You didn't get us into this mess."

"I left Pure Vanilla Cookie in search of my own wisdom, and that's how he ended up like this...if I had been with him, if I wasn't so...selfish-!"

"Yeah yeah, you made a pretty catastrophic mistake," Golden Cheese Cookie said, "you've made a lot of those."

"But!" Hollyberry Cookie shot her a look before returning her soft gaze to White Lily Cookie, "you never knew this would happen, nor did Pure Vanilla Cookie or any of us."

Hollyberry Cookie placed her hand on White Lily Cookie's shoulder. "If anything, it's Shadow Milk Cookie's fault for thinking he could get away with this! Say what, we'll get out of this hole and back up to save the day. We've been in worse situations before, right?"

But this was different. Shadow Milk Cookie was far too powerful in his spire, and he had Pure Vanilla Cookie hostage. They were actively melting, and White Lily Cookie felt her power draining by the minute. 

Hollyberry Cookie saw her hesitation and softly laughed. 

"I know these two won't give up yet!" She said. 

"Of course not!" Golden Cheese Cookie puffed her chest out and awkwardly raised her melting wings. "What's mine is mine, and no cookie will ever steal my most precious treasures—my friends—from me!"

Dark Cacao Cookie nodded. "Until I am ash, I will still fight for freedom and peace."

"We cannot give up," Hollyberry Cookie said, "we have so many cookies counting on us!"

The Faerie kingdom flashed through her mind. The silver knights, the silver tree, Elder Faerie Cookie...

That's it.

She closed her eyes and focused on her guardian power. The year following her gaining the guardian's power, as well as protecting the Faerie kingdom from the onslaught of deceit, gave her time to practice honing that power to protect the cookies she cared about. And although she wasn't perfect...

It had to be enough. With what power she had left...just a fraction of the power had to be enough. 

"My friends," she said, anxiety pulling at her skin, "stand back. I...I think I know what to do."

Her friends looked at her, concern in their brows. 

"Lily-" Hollyberry Cookie held out her hand. White Lily Cookie took her hand and smiled sheepishly. 

"I'll be ok," she said, "this way—this way we can escape with our lives."

"And Pure Vanilla Cookie?" Golden Cheese Cookie asked. White Lily Cookie nodded.

"Trust me." She said, even though she struggled to trust herself. Golden Cheese Cookie folded her arms and looked away. 

"If you can save him." She grumbled. 

"We really don't have many options." Dark Cacao Cookie sighed. "Do what you must."

White Lily Cookie looked up. The smoke didn't allow her to see very far up. She had only once used the guardian's power to defeat Shadow Milk Cookie, and that was when she was still trying to learn how to hone its powers. 

But she could get back into that form. Couldn't she?

She'd have to if she wanted to defeat the beast. 

She raised her staff and closed her eyes. She felt her soul jam responding to her call, it's power cooling her body to a positive warm instead of the harsh heat. 

A beam of light shot up, wind blowing out the fire. She waved her arm, opening light portals for her friends. 

"Head to the faerie kingdom," she said, "I'll be right behind you."

"We trust you!" Hollyberry Cookie reminded her. She smiled slightly before spreading her wings out and flying upward. 

She emerged from the crevice, back into the top of the tower. She looked down at Shadow Milk Cookie, who scowled in anger and horror. 

"You were suppose to burn!" He screamed, flying up to her level and attacking. White Lily Cookie raised her staff and sent an onslaught of magic his way, butterflies swarming him and his spire. He shot back, killing the butterflies around him as he flew towards her. 

"Oh, little guardian," he said in between his teeth, "you made a grave mistake coming here and thinking you could win. You're a foolish excuse for a cookie, half-a-soul! THE GUARDIAN'S POWER CANNOT STOP ME IN MY OWN HOME!"

She gave him a harsh expression and swung her staff at him. Magic pierced his chest, sending him flying backwards into a pillar. He shot back up almost immediately and, raising his own staff, summoned portals all around and summoned deceit monsters. White Lily Cookie fought them all, one by one going down, watching Shadow Milk Cookie from the corner of her eye. She watched as the coward opened a portal, reaching out for Pure Vanilla Cookie, who stared at her. 

At her. 

His eyes were wide, his mouth agape. He'd seen her like this before, but she didn't realize the sheer awe and admiration in his gaze. 

Her expression softened. She jumped down to him, taking his hands in hers. 

"You don't belong here." She said quietly. In a flash of light, she opened a portal for them and swiftly dragged him in. 

"You get BACK HERE!" She heard Shadow Milk Cookie scream. She felt his dark influence nip at her ankles, but she ignored it as she pushed through. 

She landed softly onto the grassy ground near the silver tree. Looking around, she saw her friends running over. Faerie cookies, too, ran towards her. She specifically saw Silverbell Cookie in the front, rushing to her side. 

"You're back!" He said. "Did you...?"

"Where is he!" Golden Cheese Cookie cried, looking around. "Where is Pure Vanilla Cookie?!"

White Lily Cookie felt a jolt in her chest as she, too, looked around for him. He had to of made it out, she was holding onto him all the way until she was on the ground. 

Soon, all eyes found him. His legs must of given way and he shrunk down to the ground, one hand resting on his staff and the other on the silver tree. 

"Is he ok, guardian?" A faerie asked. 

"Is he...safe to be around?" Another said more quietly, stepping backwards. It was true, deceit still lingered on him. But the sky, the sky was turning bluer, and not in a dangerous kind of was. It was once again baby blue, clouds breezing across the sky and the sun shining down. 

"He must be!" Hollyberry Cookie said. "The sky, it's turning normal!"

"Pure Vanilla Co-" White Lily Cookie started. 

"Guardian!" Mercurial Knight Cookie came flying. "The cookies infected into those clowns, they're turning back normal!"

"You saved us once again!" The faerie cookies cheered. 

Everyone was happy again, faeries always flying off to prepare a celebration. The once infected faeries reunited with loved ones, and the world seemed to be calm at last. 

There was only one cookie who didn't smile. 

Pure Vanilla Cookie sat up. White Lily Cookie stared at him, walking towards him and reaching out to touch him. 

"Are you-"

"Do you know what you have just done?" He asked sharply. She was taken aback, but she shook her head. 

"We saved you from that spire," she replied, "the world is no longer blanketed in deceit. It can now breathe with truth again."

He shook his head angrily, turning away and taking a shaky exhale. 

"You have angered him," he said quietly, "more so than before."

"I don't care what he feels." She wanted to touch him, but something in her told her not to go near. "He can try to enter in, but my power will protect this kingdom from him entering."

He turned away from her completely, sighing. "And I assume keep me from leaving?"

She clutched her staff, guilt beginning to form in her heart. He was right—As long as he still embraced deceit, he would be stuck inside. 

"That is not my intention," she said softly, "but I cannot let him get in again."

"I care not." He said. "It's not like I'm not used to this lifestyle."

With that, he strode off. Faeries pulled away from him, eyes wide as his great dark silhouette marched past. White Lily Cookie looked down, biting her cheek. Hollyberry Cookie gave her back a pat, as she, Dark Cacao Cookie and Golden Cheese Cookie watched him leave.

Chapter Text

The early morning rays slowly poured through the windows of the room as the sun arose, everything eventually being coated in light. White Lily Cookie arose from her bed with a soft yawn. 

Had she gotten any sleep? It didn’t feel like it. Perhaps one hour, maybe two. She wanted to stay up and try to talk to Pure Vanilla Cookie, but her friends all agreed that they should give him space, at least until the next day. So she instead tried to focus on helping the Faeries get back to normal life. 

She tried to enjoy their celebration, she really did. She did try to help the citizens of the kingdom, as well as those hurt, but she kept thinking of Pure Vanilla Cookie. She sometimes saw him watching them from afar, frustration pulling his brow into a curl. 

Before she retired for bed, she ran into him. She tried to smile, but his expression remained cold. 

“I…I had the Faeries prepare you a room.” She said. 

“Mm,” he said, “ok.”

“Can I take you there?”

“…” his silence made her nervous, watching as his eyes narrowed until he sighed. 

“…ok.”

She smiled a little and turned to lead him. As they walked, it was silent. White Lily Cookie’s stomach filled with butterflies listening to his footsteps. 

Was he wearing…shoes? That’s what it sounded like. Shoes with a slightly elevated heel? Maybe a boot. He did seem taller lately, but she chalked it up to her imagination. 

That wasn’t like him at all. 

He liked shoes that he could flip off easily, or none at all. He’d told her himself, and she’d witnessed him walking barefoot around his castle and kingdom numerous times. Even a year ago, when she had reunited with him for the first time, he wore shoes he could kick off at any time. 

She wanted to glance back at him, maybe catch a glance at his clothing better. But she better not. She felt the coldness just from behind beside him. 

Soon, she was at his room. She turned to look at him, but he was already moving to open the door. 

“Do you need anything else?” She asked. 

“No.” He said before shutting the door. She stood there for a moment before quietly walking away. 

Now, as she was awoken again, she began to walk to his room. She secretly hoped that he would be in a better mood. She wished to talk to him, questions swirling in her head.

Would he…even want to answer her questions? After all, he claimed he was upset with her for leaving for her own curiosity. 

Perhaps she should go back, have someone else talk to him first. Hollyberry Cookie was always so good at talking to others, pulling them out of their slumps and warming all the hearts she encountered. Or perhaps Dark Cacao Cookie, he and Pure Vanilla Cookie were always close. Even Golden Cheese Cookie would be better, even if she wasn’t good at emotions. She was greedy…

…not selfish. Like White Lily Cookie was. 

Her friends told her not to worry about it. Hollyberry Cookie gave her a big hug and told her she could still see the guilt on her face. 

“All that nonsense was just lies spouted out by Shadow Milk Cookie,” she’d said, “none of it is true.”

She wanted to help all of cookiekind so badly, that perhaps she had become selfish in her pursuit. 

It was selfish of her. 

For every lie had a basis of truth. For no one could lie without knowing the truth. 

She sighed deeply before turning on her heel. She needed at least one of her friends to support her. She couldn’t do this. Oh, why did she have to think so much? Darn her wandering mind, she’d never get through to Pure Vanilla Cookie like this-

She yelped as she ran into someone. “I’m so, sorry-“

“…it’s fine.”

Pure Vanilla Cookie stared at her, tilting his head. She stared back, hands growing clammy. 

“You’re awake…?” She asked quietly. 

“I have been for a while.” He replied. “But it is very early. Still, I would think someone else would be awake. Perhaps Dark Cacao Cookie?”

“I mean…our friends did just go through all that.” She noticed he visibly tensed up at her saying that. 

“…Ah, yes, yes.” He whispered. “Yeah, yeah.”

“B-but there should be some knights around.”

“Hm.”

Silence grew around them, the two of them standing awkwardly in from of each other. White Lily Cookie’s eyes traveled down his robes, and landed on his sleeve. She noticed a pretty sizable hole, revealing his arm. When he saw her looking, he quickly retracted it and looked away.

“What happened?” She asked slowly. Was he hurt? 

“Nothing,” he replied, “it’s just a hole. I’ll, uh…sew it.”

“…sew it?” 

“Yes. You heard me.”

Pure Vanilla Cookie was never a good seamstress. It was in part due to his poor eyesight, partly due to his inability to sew a straight line to save his life. Of course he never practiced, but he honestly disliked the activity. 

White Lily Cookie knew that. And by the way he was looking away, she knew that he knew that too. 

“There’s some spare clothing you can wear,” she said, “and if you really want, I’m more than happy to find someone to sew it back up.”

“But…” he clutched his staff, looking down at the hole. His eyebrows furrowed, staring at the black cloth like it was going to come alive and bite him. 

“It’s ok,” she said, “I’ll make sure your robes will get back to you if that’s what you really want.”

He harshly sighed and looked back at her. “Where are the spare clothes?”

***

“Ah…I ripped my sleeve.” Truthless Recluse sheepishly said. He was picking berries, but the bush had some nasty splinters. Shadow Milk Cookie peered over and chuckled. 

“Just sew the hole, you’ll be fine.” Shadow Milk Cookie said as he rolled back, sticking his legs in the air. Truthless Recluse silently stared at the hole, his eyes narrowing. 

“…I don’t know how to.” He said. Shadow Milk Cookie laughed, rolling back over and leaning over Truthless Recluse. 

“Is it because your eyes don’t work?” He teased, poking his cheek with his finger. “Because you never had to lift a finger in your whole life?”

“I-“

“That’s ok, I get it!” Shadow Milk Cookie pulled Truthless Recluse, leading him somewhere. “I like it, how useless you can be.”

Truthless Recluse looked down, clenching his jaw. His breath was shaky. He tried to calm himself, but he heard Shadow Milk Cookie giggling at him. 

“You don’t like that, do you?” He asked. “But I’m not making fun of you.”

He sat Truthless Recluse down and held out his arm. He produced a needle and some string. He swiftly tied a knot and began to sew the hole, careful with each dip he made at the other’s skin. 

“I would never make fun of you. I’m your best friend, best friends don’t do that. What we do is tell each other the truth. And the truth is, you’re pretty useless.”

Shadow Milk Cookie gave a toothy grin at Truthless Recluse. 

“And the truth is, I’m perfectly fine with you being useless.”

***

“Here is all the clothing,” White Lily Cookie said as she opened a storage room, “let’s see…”

She dragged out a chest with clothing that would fit Pure Vanilla Cookie. She opened it up and began rummaging through it. He hovered over her, watching as she stood back up and gave him a small smile. 

“It’s all yours to look through.” She said. 

“I…I see.” He said, though he was strangely taken aback. 

“If you don’t like any of it, I can find something else-“ she quickly said, but he shook his head. 

“…my apologies. I’m just not…used to this.”

“Used to what, exactly?”

He grew silent, staring down at the clothing. He took a soft breath out, then said with much hesitation, “…nothing.”

Before White Lily Cookie could do anything else, Pure Vanilla Cookie pulled off his cape and handed it to her. He then began pulling at his robes, and White Lily Cookie yelped. 

“Hang on, let me leave first-“ she said, face beginning to burn. 

“Oh, you’re still here.” Despite that, he did not stop. 

She covered her face and ran out. He was so casual about that. Did he truly not care, or did he have something under all his robes? She got out, pressing her back against the wall. 

She clutched his cloak to her chest, staring down at its black velvety texture. The gold bits and little gemstones that lined it glittered in the morning light, dazzling her eyes. 

…it really was beautiful. She rubbed it between her fingers, watching the textures glow beautifully onto her hands and face. 

“Guardian.” She looked up to see Mercurial Knight Cookie. He bowed, saying, “I have some news regarding the spire.”

Last night, some Silver knights left on her order to see what the outside world looked like before her friends left for their kingdoms. 

“What did you learn?” She asked. 

“We cannot find the spire.” He said. “Any trace of it is gone, except for the yogurt lake that surrounded it.”

“I see…” she was worried that might happen, “is there anything else?”

“Just the normal monsters,” Mercurial Knight Cookie said, “your friends should be safe to go back home at any time going forward.”

“Thank you,” she said, smiling. He nodded and turned, walking away. She sighed and pressed her head against the wall, closing her eyes and waiting. 

The morning light slowly faded away into regular light, and she still awaited. She rested against the wall, her eyes softly closing. She slowly slid down to the ground. 

“…” she looked at Pure Vanilla Cookie’s cloak again. It was soft enough to be a blanket, she thought. She sheepishly pushed those thoughts away. They also smelt of vanilla, sweet and pure. If she were to snuggle with it, someone was surely to see and mock her. 

…or if Pure Vanilla Cookie saw her, he was sure to be upset. 

She bit her cheek, still looking at it. He was taking forever, though, it wouldn’t matter too much if she…

No, no! She couldn’t fall asleep. She had to keep aware, if something important were to happen, like if a beast appeared, or the kingdom was in danger, or-

“…White Lily Cookie.” Pure Vanilla Cookie said loudly. 

“Oh! Are you done?” She got up and got the chance to look at him properly. He wore his black hat and held the same flower staff as before, but he now wore a simple navy robe, a golden belt, and a shawl that held his soul jam in place on his chest. He held out his old clothing, his expression unreadable. 

“Get them fixed…a-as soon as possible.” He said. 

She nodded and took his clothing, smiling at him awkwardly. 

“If they mean that much to you, then what’s urgent to you is urgent to me.”

Did his face turn a little more red? She couldn’t get a good look before he turned from her and began walking. 

“…I found the garden last night. That’s where I’ll be.” He said before walking swiftly away. White Lily Cookie watched him before sighing softly and walking the opposite direction. 

Chapter Text

“I’ll have it fixed in one or two days!” The seamstress faerie said, examining the black robes. 

“Thank you, very much.” White Lily Cookie said, bowing her head down slightly. She waved to the faerie as she walked out of the little textile building and out onto the streets of the faerie kingdom. She looked around with a small smile. The faerie cookies, while still readjusting to life, were all doing way better now. 

“White Lily Cookie!” She heard Hollyberry Cookie walking up behind her. She smiled and waved, going up beside White Lily Cookie. 

“Hello, Hollyberry Cookie.” She said. 

“So…how’s Pure Vanilla Cookie doing?” she held her shield closer, “I can’t find him anywhere, but I heard you saw him this morning.”

“Ah, y-yes. He went to the garden. I can take you there,” The two of them began to walk upon Hollyberry’s request, “also, I got word that there isn’t anything off with the outside forest at the moment. You three can leave whenever you want to.”

“Ah, that’s…splendid! But-“ Hollyberry looked around the kingdom, “I want to stay. That is, until Pure Vanilla Cookie is…better.”

They stopped in front of the garden. White Lily Cookie looked up at her with wide eyes. “What about your kingdom?”

“Me and the others sent word to our kingdoms as well as those left in the Vanilla Kingdom,” Hollyberry Cookie explained, “we’re not only doing this because we care for Pure Vanilla Cookie, but also to ensure that the past year doesn’t repeat.”

“The others are staying as well?”

“Of course. We all agreed that we had more work to do.” Hollyberry Cookie smiled and gave White Lily Cookie a pat on the shoulder. “You can’t be expected to shoulder everything, especially after what happened. Besides…”

Her voice grew hushed and she got closer to White Lily Cookie. “Dark Cacao Cookie is still…recovering.”

She recalled that Dark Cacao Cookie was still slightly melted at the party last night. She’d hoped that he would be better in the morning, but she had forgot to check on him. 

She looked down and sighed. “He can stay here for as long as he needs to…I pray he may have a speedy recovery. As with us all.”

“Yeah…” Hollyberry Cookie glanced into the garden. “Welp! I’m going in. Will you come with?”

“I…” should she? She had so many duties, and she already saw Pure Vanilla Cookie off today. 

And yet, she wanted to see him again. She should be more concerned about helping her kingdom get back into shape, but something in her pulled her towards the garden. 

“Just for a little bit,” she finally said, and Hollyberry Cookie smiled and began in.

“Pure Vanilla Cookie!” Her booming voice rang through the garden. “Come on, your pal Hollyberry Cookie wants to see you!”

Faeries who were enjoying the garden peeked up at them, smiling and waving. 

“I saw him go that way!” One faerie said. 

“Towards the back, I think.”

“To where the lilies are! I would assume so, they’re his favorite, right?”

“I was too scared to ask for clarification, but I thought about it!”

White Lily Cookie thanked the faeries as she hurried after Hollyberry Cookie, who strode in the direction the faeries told them. 

“This truly is a beautiful garden,” Hollyberry Cookie remarked, looking around, “so many plants I’ve only seen once or twice, or never at all!”

“Some of them are curated only in the faerie kingdom,” White Lily Cookie explained, “for it is impossible for them to survive outside it.”

“The outside world too harsh for them?”

“Yes, and, the soil has the right magical properties that no where else has.”

“Ahhh!” Hollyberry Cookie’s eyes glowed with amazement. White Lily Cookie smiled slightly, lifting a vine with her hand softly and watching it travel across her hand as she passed by it. 

“Oh, oh! Pure Vanilla Cookie!” Hollyberry Cookie yelled, running. White Lily Cookie looked to see in fact Pure Vanilla Cookie. He stood still as Hollyberry Cookie went barreling at him, wrapping him into a bear hug. 

“Hrk-“ he groaned as she squeezed. 

“Vani! I haven’t given you a proper hello, good to see you again!” She cried. “The others want to see you too!”

“Put…me…down…” he grumbled. 

“Come on! What are you doing in here?” She looked around, the lilies just as strong as ever. White Lily Cookie looked down to the ground and saw one on the ground, crumbled. 

“…I’m just on a walk.” Pure Vanilla Cookie said as Hollyberry Cookie let him out of her hug. He glanced at the ground, stepping on the crumpled lily. White Lily Cookie looked away from that and back at her friends. 

“Have you eaten breakfast?” The question from Hollyberry Cookie made Pure Vanilla Cookie stiffen up. He looked away and slowly nodded. 

“I have.” He said. “I ate, uh…”

“You could go for a second breakfast! I wanna eat with you, and our friends do too!”

“Breakfast sounds nice.” White Lily Cookie said. “Besides, we have plenty of food here.”

“You don’t wanna be alone in this garden all day, right?”

“Whatever you say…”

Hollyberry Cookie giggled and grabbed her two friends, dragging them out. White Lily Cookie sheepishly smiled and glanced at Pure Vanilla Cookie. He looked away from them, adverting his gaze towards the ground. 

***

The dining hall was buzzing with noise from faeries eating breakfast and cleaning up their breakfasts. They went in and out, this way and that. White Lily Cookie waved to all that greeted her, though she could feel her arm getting tired from all the waving she did. 

“There they are!” Hollyberry Cookie said. “Dark Cacao Cookie! Golden Cheese Cookie!”

“Pure Vanilla Cookie!” Golden Cheese Cookie said, hopping up and running to him. “There you are. You look very nice in these new clothes!”

He blinked at her before slowly nodding, going past her and sitting down. Dark Cacao Cookie gave a welcome nod, that which was ignored. 

“Alright! Who’s feeling hungry?” Hollyberry Cookie asked, sitting down to her plate of food. It appeared the others had already gotten breakfast and were just barely beginning. 

“Those two plates are for you two.” Hollyberry Cookie informed, pointing to empty seats with warm food. 

“Thank you,” White Lily Cookie said, sitting down. Pure Vanilla Cookie hesitated before sitting beside her, looking down at his food and picking at it. 

“What is this stuff?” Golden Cheese Cookie asked. “It’s good…not as good as the cuisine from my golden kingdom, of course, but it’s at least in the top five!”

“Ah, these are foods special to the faerie kingdom.” White Lily Cookie explained. “The Faeries take pride in foods, since they enjoy celebrations so much.”

“This stuff would taste great with some berries!” Hollyberry Cookie exclaimed as she took a bite. 

Dark Cacao Cookie remained silent, but was clearly enjoying the food. 

White Lily Cookie smiled a little at them. It gave her a sense of pride to know her friends like the kingdom’s specialties, and she was sure the Faeries all around felt the same. 

When she glanced at Pure Vanilla Cookie, though, all that pride washed away. It didn’t seem like he even had one bite. He stared at the plate silently, hands in his lap. 

“Try some, Vani!” Hollyberry Cookie encourage. He looked up, and looked around at his friends. His eyes widened upon seeing all eyes on him, so he picked up his fork and hovered it above the food. He silently picked up a tiny bite, biting down on it and slowly chewing. 

“I’m not that hungry.” He finally said and put the fork down. White Lily Cookie’s brow furrowed and put her own utensils down, turning to face him fully. 

“Please eat.” She said. “Even just a little more.”

“I already ate.” He insisted, standing up. “I’m fine.”

“Pure Vanilla Cookie-“ White Lily Cookie said, also standing up. He walked away swiftly, the grip on his staff tighter. 

The four ancient heroes sat in silence. White Lily Cookie bit her cheek as she sat down, staring down at her half eaten breakfast. 

“…I swear to the witches, if he doesn’t eat anything…” Golden Cheese Cookie grumbled, going back to eating. Hollyberry Cookie sighed and did too. 

Dark Cacao Cookie stood up. “I, too, am done. I’ll be going after him.”

The three watched him leave, as well. White Lily Cookie wanted to follow, but honestly? She didn’t know how she could even help Pure Vanilla Cookie.

She was sure she was only making things worse anyways. The way he looked so cold at her. 

Even when he wasn’t, that foreign expression made her heart skip a beat. 

***

Truthless Recluse’s stomach hurt. It begged for something more, something filling, but he couldn’t. 

Tomorrow. He would eat tomorrow. Not today. He just needed to readjust his head, get used to not being in the spire. 

He closed his eyes and could hear them all still. 

“Are you sure we can eat this?” He heard Black Sapphire Cookie’s cautious acceptance of the food Truthless Recluse had given them last. 

“You need your energy to beat up those icky thieves coming!” Candy Apple Cookie said, waving her fists in the air. 

“I,” Truthless Recluse said softly, “am not hungry at the moment.”

“But you’ll eat later?” Black Sapphire Cookie said. 

“Yes.” Hopefully, he had thought. 

“Can we eat with you?” Candy Apple Cookie squealed. “Then we can play a game!”

“…alright.”

Truthless Recluse reopened his eyes to the Faerie kingdom. 

“Fools,” he whispered, “the lot of them…”

At the moment, he had returned to the garden. He stared at the lilies once more. 

Had their scent always been so…strong? Was that a bad thing?

He honestly couldn’t tell anymore. 

He didn’t want to. 

He wanted to ignore that truth that lingered over him. 

That was far easier than confronting everyone. 

He wanted to push them away so badly, and yet…

Guilt pulled at his soul. He should have at least stayed sitting, eat just a little bit. 

He sook his head. No, he shouldn’t have. 

There was no point. 

They weren’t his friends anymore. 

He sat to the ground, knees pulled in. He grind his teeth as he stared at the flowers. 

What was it he liked about them…? Didn’t he have some in his kingdom? Wracking his memory, he couldn’t find any memory of such things. He tilted his head at the lilies. 

They were so plain. 

He wanted them in his hair. 

There was nothing special about them. 

Their scent wasn’t so bad. 

They were so easy to crush in his hands. 

Their delicacy was what made their petals blow so beautifully in the wind. 

They were so big. 

They were perfect for filling space. 

They reminded him of her. 

They reminded him of her. 

He scowled and held his head. Where on Earthbread had he seen these kinds of lilies planted? They were painfully familiar. 

Was he losing his mind?

That had to be it. 

These lilies, he concluded, were merely the same as White Lily Cookie. Which was why they were familiar. 

…that didn’t feel right, though. 

He forced himself up, grabbing a lily on his way up, and ripped the petals off. 

“Pest,” he hissed, “you cannot make me face the truth.”

He stood there, holding the ripped flower in his shaking hands. He pursed his lips and let the remains fall to the ground. He stared as they gently fell, and even after they no longer moved. He was frozen in time. 

What…

His hands planted onto his face and he let out a small, helpless sound.

What was wrong with him?

His lips quivered. He felt tears stinging his eyes, sticking his his hands. 

He blinked them away, wiping them before they could travel down his face. 

He didn’t deserve to cry. They didn’t deserve to see him cry. 

Why did he love them so still?

He looked at the lilies once more. 

Why did he love her so still?

Why?

Why?

Why?!

“…Pure Vanilla Cookie.”

He whipped his head around to see Dark Cacao Cookie. 

“Pure…Vanilla Cookie…” he said again, “…what’s going on?”

Chapter Text

A minute was all it took for the greatest actor to break character. 

He sang and played to his “friends,” the other beasts. Smiles, laughter, care. 

But Truthless Recluse knew better. 

When Burning Spice Cookie gave Shadow Milk Cookie’s back a slap, he saw the shift in his eyes. 

When Mystic Flour Cookie didn’t laugh at him, Shadow Milk Cookie’s mouth twitched. 

When Eternal Sugar Cookie asked him again how he was able to keep “his other half” so obedient, Shadow Milk Cookie became smaller. 

When Silent Salt Cookie couldn’t even look at him, he saw the anger boiling up in Shadow Milk Cookie’s deceitful performance. 

And when they all left? He turned to Truthless Recluse and would say, “They aren’t like you. They just don’t get it like you do.”

He would stroke Truthless Recluse’s soul jam. “My other half—perfect for me in every way. That’s the only thing that squeaking pink bird gets right.”

Truthless Recluse would stay silent, for he too was an actor. He held himself composed, nodding along with everything Shadow Milk Cookie said, for he had no choice. 

He didn’t know when it shifted, but he eventually began to believe that he, too, could no longer hold hope for his friends.

“You and I, we are the same. My friends…I don’t think they care for me anymore.” He murmured to Shadow Milk Cookie, who giggled and wrapped himself around Truthless Recluse. 

“Good thing I care for you!” He laughed, grinning. “Cookies always lose friends whom are not suited for them. But us? We are perfectly suited for one another. We’re a puzzle! I’m the queen piece, you the king piece.”

At the time, he didn’t know why that made him shutter so much. 

He still didn’t know. What he did know what that, no matter how hard he tried to re-carve his puzzle piece so his friends couldn’t fit, they still found a way to fit in. 

The softness that peeked through all of Dark Cacao Cookie’s harshness made his heart crumple. Did he still care? Did they all still care?

Did Truthless Recluse still have that pathetic, foolish, and useless hope that Pure Vanilla Cookie had before his soul was squashed by deceit?

“What is the matter, my friend?” Dark Cacao Cookie asked softly. When could he speak so softly? Had Truthless Recluse forgotten how this bitter cookie showed care? 

What had he missed?

He shook his head and looked away. “Why do you care?”

“I care for all my soldiers equally. They each have their own beds, a good meal each day, the perfect training routines for their field of expertise. When they fall ill, I ensure they are cared for accordingly. I ensure they know who I am, as a cookie.”

Truthless Recluse raised his eyebrows suspiciously. Dark Cacao Cookie continued. 

“…if I care so deeply about my soldiers who are strong in all areas, whom I know not very well…then imagine how much I care about you.”

“Funny.” Truthless Recluse said. “You care for the one who wrought deceit onto the world?”

“What do you think?”

Truthless Recluse scoffed. “The truth is far too cruel for you.”

“Your kindness precedes you, even when you throw bricks at me.” Dark Cacao Cookie chuckled. 

He…chuckled? Truthless Recluse was taken aback. That wasn’t normal. Had his deceit gotten into his head? He didn’t expect that, not from Dark Cacao Cookie…not that he was upset about that or anything. 

No way. 

“My friend,” Dark Cacao Cookie said, “I can hear your stomach. There is enough food for us all, come back and eat.”

“…will this truly awful speech of yours be over if I come?” Truthless Recluse said, the lie coming out so smooth yet so rough. The truth was, he didn’t want to stop talking to Dark Cacao Cookie. 

But he couldn’t handle that truth. 

“Maybe.” Dark Cacao Cookie’s face curled into a small smile. Truthless Recluse sighed harshly and began walking. 

“Fine! A maybe is better than a no.”

***

White Lily Cookie stood up from the table and walked off. After only a few bites, she realized she couldn’t eat much at all. Not after…all that. 

Besides, she had to check up on some certain cookies—Gingerbrave, Strawberry Cookie, and Wizard Cookie. 

When she found them, they were in pretty dire condition. Dire, but still living. 

They were making pretty good recovery when White Lily Cookie left to meet her friends. That made her feel good, knowing that she had protected them well. 

She hoped Pure Vanilla Cookie too would be happy. She knew how much those three cookies meant to him—how he wanted to protect them, how he loved them. 

White Lily Cookie entered into the medical wing. It was still recovering from the past year, as as the influx of recovering Faeries had been a burden. Regardless, everyone was working hard to make sure things went back to normal. 

As While Lily Cookie walked, she could hear the chattering of cookies all around. Her attention fell onto the three she was looking for. 

Strawberry Cookie was up and walking, albeit slowly. Wizard Cookie stood with his staff clutched at his side, and Gingerbrave still sat in bed, upright. Seeing their improvement gave White Lily Cookie butterflies, a smile that she couldn’t control spreading across her face. 

“White Lily Cookie!” Gingerbrave yelled, waving his arms wildly. “We haven’t seen you in so long!!”

Strawberry Cookie hobbled to White Lily Cookie and gave her a soft hug, which was happily returned. 

“We’ve heard, ahem, rumors,” Wizard Cookie said, “is it true? Is…is Pure Vanilla Cookie really here? Is he really ok?!”

“Calm down,” White Lily Cookie chuckled, giving his head a soft pat, “and yes, it’s all true. He…is here.”

But he wasn’t himself. She didn’t want to bring their hopes up. 

But she didn’t want to lie either. 

“Is he gonna come see us soon?” Gingerbrave asked. “I wanna talk to him! So badly, so badly!”

He pushed himself up further, only to be met with a harsh coughing fit. A few faerie nurses ran to his side and began attending to him. Strawberry Cookie sat down next to Gingerbrave, curing her hands and her legs in worriedly. Wizard Cookie stood still nearby, his eyes growing weary and sad. 

White Lily Cookie felt her stomach drop. After all this time, even though they were doing better, they still weren’t…better. 

She took a deep breath and turned. “I’ll…try to get Pure Vanilla Cookie in here.”

“I wanna see him so badly!” Gingerbrave reminded her. She weakly smiled and walked out. 

She wasn’t sure she could find him in a speedy manner. Maybe he went back to eat? She highly doubted that, but maybe Dark Cacao Cookie had convinced him. 

She took a shaky deep breath as she re-entered the dining hall. She saw that Hollyberry Cookie and Golden Cheese Cookie were no longer there. In fact, it was mostly empty. Mercurial Knight Cookie stood in inspection of the remaining food, and Dark Cacao Cookie and Pure Vanilla Cookie sat quietly together, eating. 

“Ah…!” She murmured, rushing over to them. Dark Cacao Cookie looked up at her and smiled slightly. 

“I heard you didn’t eat much either,” he said, “quickly now, before it gets cold.”

Pure Vanilla Cookie silently picked at his food, taking small bites. White Lily Cookie smiled and sat down, taking a bite of her own food. 

“Mercurial Knight,” She called, “come eat with us!”

The silver knight silently walked to them, sitting himself down and eating. Then, the awkward silence began. 

Dark Cacao Cookie slowly ate, his bites slow and steady and his jaw set even as it moved. 

Mercurial Knight Cookie ate swiftly, keeping an eye on everyone sitting around him. 

Pure Vanilla Cookie focused solely on his food, or so it seemed, his eyes focused on his fork. 

White Lily Cookie tried to open her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She took bites, trying to figure out what to say. But Pure Vanilla Cookie’s coldness froze her throat shut. 

Suddenly, Pure Vanilla Cookie softly sighed. “…I’m not used to eating this much.”

“Did you get too much?” Dark Cacao Cookie questioned. 

“No,” he said quietly, “I’m just used to sharing.”

“Sharing” was Pure Vanilla Cookie’s code word for “I gave my food to someone who needed it more than I.” White Lily Cookie knew that—she’d seen him time and time again selflessly giving his food, even if it were little, to cookies hungrier than him.

“I’m just sharing,” he claimed. His friends knew that was a lie. She knew he didn’t mean to skip meals, but he did in his effort to help others. 

White Lily Cookie often pretended to get full before she actually did to make sure Pure Vanilla Cookie would actually eat.

But did anyone at the spire ensure he got fed? 

“Who did you share with?” White Lily Cookie asked before she could stop herself. Pure Vanilla Cookie paused and looked at her, slowly blinking. 

“…Candy Apple Cookie and Black Sapphire Cookie,” he said, his face softening, “they don’t usually…ah…I’m rambling.”

He returned to his food and picked at it. White Lily Cookie fiddled with her dress before finally finding her voice to be thawed. “Ah, Pure Vanilla Cookie…there’s three cookies who want to see you badly.”

He paused and looked at her once more, face unmoving. 

“It’s…Gingerbrave, Strawberry Cookie, and Wizard Cookie. They’ve missed you-“

Pure Vanilla Cookie’s fork clattered to the ground, eyes wide and mouth slightly open. He stood up and walked to White Lily Cookie grabbing her by the shoulder and staring down at her. 

“What are you even saying?” He demanded, his voice cracking. “Those…f-fools are dead.”

Chapter Text

Truthless Recluse waited nervously outside the medical wing. White Lily Cookie looked back at him, urging him to go in. 

They just wanted to get mad at him. That’s why they wanted to see him, that’s it. He didn’t blame them, he was a failure after all. 

It would be a waste to let them get angry. He shook his head at White Lily Cookie, stepping back. 

“I’ve changed my mind.” He said. She huffed and walked to him, reaching out her hand. 

“Don’t worry, it’ll be ok,” she said, “they missed you greatly. They want to see their friend, their idol.”

Truthless Recluse scoffed. “Idol? After everything I’ve done?”

“You weren’t the one who hurt them,” White Lily Cookie said, “were you?”

He was the one let them get hurt, though. He let Shadow Milk Cookie push them off the side of the spire, and all he did was watch. 

There was no doubt: he was a failure to them. 

“It doesn’t matter what I did or didn’t do,” he snapped, “I’m not going in.”

“You made it all the way here. At least let them see you.” She beckoned to him, walking back into the medical wing. He hesitated, clinging to his staff. He took one step forward, paused, then another. He stood in the doorway, peering in. 

Too many cookies in there. Surly he would only bring the mood down. And yet, White Lily Cookie stood nearby, waiting. 

His face turned hot with frustration and embarrassment. He took another step in, his hands clammy, clamped around his staff. 

“You’re going to make their day,” she said. He scoffed, for he cared not for that. 

Even if their smiling faces made his heart thaw. 

…even if their memory kept him going in the spire. 

He clenched his jaw and walked further in. His heart pounded in his chest as he walked behind White Lily Cookie, trying his hardest to keep his breath level. 

“We’re almost there,” White Lily Cookie said. He didn’t say a word, only kept following, head down. 

No, no! He couldn’t face them. Not after what he did. That crime he watched passively, unmoving to ensure their safety, his heart turning cold to their kind souls-

He didn’t deserve this. 

His pace slowed, staff dragging across the ground now. He looked back to the exit. It would be better if he left, he should just-

A soft head landed on him. Looking down, he saw Strawberry Cookie clinging to him. Tears steamed down her face, and she mumbled incoherent words. His heart lurched, knees becoming weak as he placed his hand on her back, making circles in an attempt at comfort. 

“Pure Vanilla Cookie!…” she sniffled, “I thought…he took you away f-forever!”

“I…” he was at a loss for words. He looked up and saw Wizard Cookie dragging himself over. He cried too, reaching for Truthless Recluse and hugging him. He buried his head into Truthless Recluse’s side, sniffling. 

“Don’t scare us like that again!” Wizard Cookie berated, but his eyes showed genuine concern and even joy at seeing his old friend. 

“Gingerbrave,” Strawberry Cookie sniffled, “was the one w-who wanted to s-see you the most.”

Truthless Recluse raised his head to see the final child, who lay upright in bed waving to him. 

“Pure Vanilla Cookie! Pure Vanilla Cookie!” He called. “I’m so happy to see you again! It’s been so long…I missed you so much!”

Truthless Recluse walked to his side and grasped his hands. “I’m…”

Gingerbrave wrapped him into a hug, grin wide across his face. Truthless Recluse’s eyes widened, and his brow furrowed guiltily.

“You…” he murmured, “how can you still be so happy to see me after everything I’ve done?”

“It doesn’t matter what you did,” Gingerbrave said, “you’re still our friend and we can fix everything if we work together!”

“In fact, the world is getting better as we speak!” Wizard Cookie said, looking out a window. 

“We know you’re still good inside,” Strawberry Cookie chimed in, “we know you aren’t scary like the faeries said.”

“Yeah-“ Gingerbrave coughed, holding his side. He gave a grin regardless, looking up at Truthless Recluse. 

…the Recluse had not healed anyone in forever, nor did he know if he still could after his fall into deceit, but he was willing to try again. Seeing the little one’s smile, he knew he couldn’t leave him to suffer. 

Truthless Recluse knelt down and hovered his hands above Gingerbrave. Warmth filled the space, small and dark stars sparking and melting away. Gingerbrave watched in awe, his smile only growing. 

Soon enough, the warmth faded away and Pure Vanilla Cookie pulled back, looking at Gingerbrave. 

“…are you feeling alright?” He softly asked. 

“Y…yeah!” Gingerbrave threw off the sheets of the bed and stood up, kicking his legs. “I can feel my legs again! Look!”

He ran around happily, giggling and waving his cane.

“Look! Look! I can run again!”

Pure Vanilla Cookie closed his eyes in an attempt to stop the tears from coming, but they would not. They streamed down, unwilling to stop even as he covered his mouth with his hand. 

“What’s wrong?” Strawberry Cookie asked, softly grabbing Pure Vanilla Cookie’s robes. “Did we make you sad..?”

“No…no,” he stood up, clearing his throat, “you…Ah…” 

He turned his attention back to White Lily Cookie. He clenched his jaw, slowly walking to her. She visibly stiffened up, but he payed no heed. 

“Take me away,” Truthless Recluse said, “I wish not to be here.”

He didn’t need them growing accustomed to him. They didn’t deserve that hurt when h they found he could not be saved. 

White Lily Cookie silently nodded, leading him away. The little cookies watched him. Gingerbrave ran after him, calling out. 

“You’ll come visit again, right?” He asked. 

“…” Truthless Relcuse said not a word.

“…perhaps, soon.” Pure Vanilla Cookie said. 

***

White Lily Cookie watched as Pure Vanilla Cookie walked into his room, shutting the door. She stood there for a moment, reaching out before retreating her hand back. 

Pure Vanilla Cookie still had that kind spark. He could not hide it with those little cookies.

White Lily Cookie wanted to tell him it was ok to lighten up, to be soft. 

And yet…

He insisted on staying cold. 

And she couldn’t let go of the blanket she knew she had. 

For she was afraid. 

Afraid she couldn’t do anything to help him. He seemed so distant…could she break through the ice around his heart? 

She bit her cheek and turned around, hurrying off to find Silverbell Cookie. He had requested a meeting with her, he claimed it was about the beasts. 

Walking into the meeting room, she found her other friends there already. 

“Huh..?” She murmured. 

“I hope you don’t mind,” Silverbell Cookie said, “I invited them since it has to do with them as well.”

“No, it’s perfect.” She said as she sat down. “Now what was it you needed to talk to us about?”

“Some of the scouts saw some burning warriors near here,” Silverbell Cookie explained, producing some spice sand in a small sugar glass jar, “they met one of Shadow Milk Cookie’s minions, they seemed to be exchanging information.”

“And what was this information?” Golden Cheese Cookie demanded. “What does Burning Spice Cookie have to do with this?”

“We only got bits and pieces,” Silverbell Cookie explained, “all we know is that Burning Spice Cookie is heading northwest towards the Ivory Pagoda. Shadow Milk Cookie’s spire’s location is still unknown, but we’ve ruled out the area surrounding the kingdom as we have found no traces of any deceit creatures, let alone any dark magic.”

“Why would he be going to the Ivory Pagoda…” Dark Cacao Cookie murmured, “The only thing that’s there is-Ah, Mystic Flour Cookie.”

“Are the beasts trying to gather together?” Hollyberry Cookie said.

“Why now?” Golden Cheese Cookie asked. “Is it because Shadow Milk Cookie lost his influence over Earthbread?”

“It could very possibly be…” White Lily Cookie said, clutching her staff closer. “But they never were a problem while he was in power, at least to my knowledge.”

“Eternal Sugar Cookie, nor any of the other beasts, were ever a threat to my kingdom the last year,” Hollyberry Cookie recalled, “in fact, I haven’t heard anything about any of them…”

“Now that you mention it, me neither,” Golden Cheese Cookie said. 

“Do you believe that perhaps,” Dark Cacao Cookie said slowly, “Shadow Milk Cookie purposefully obscured the other beasts from our view for some sort of plan?”

Hollyberry Cookie held her shield closer. White Lily Cookie too clutched her staff tighter, narrowing her eyes and scowling. 

“They’re not hidden anymore,” she said, “whatever they do, we can now see. Our eyes aren’t covered in black veils anymore.”

She turned to Silverbell Cookie, determined. “Keep an eye out not just for Shadow Milk Cookie’s spies, but also any other suspicious cookies. We need to find out what the beasts are planning.”

“Yes guardian!” Silverbell Cookie said, nodding. “I’ll gather teams right away!”

He flew out, leaving the four friends alone. Hollyberry Cookie stood up and smirked. 

“I’ll need to get my own cookies ready!” Hollyberry Cookie said. “I hope our message to Crispia has made its way back…”

“I’m sure it has.” White Lily Cookie said, “Your kingdoms are in good hands, I’m sure.”

“Why, yes!” Hollyberry Cookie smiled with pride, “My family has things perfectly under control back home! I’m sure Dark Cacao Cookie and Golden Cheese Cookie feel the same.”

“The Cacao kingdom is in good hands,” Dark Cacao Cookie murmured, “I simply hope that nothing terrible happens while I’m away.”

“We all hope that,” Golden Cheese Cookie sighed, standing up, “I’m going to find Pure Vanilla Cookie and see if he knows anything about the beast’s plan.”

“May…I come with you?” White Lily Cookie asked before she could stop herself. Golden Cheese Cookie looked at her for a moment before nodding slowly. 

“…sure,” she said cautiously, “I guess he’s your best friend after all.”

White Lily Cookie hoped that was still true. She got up and walked besides Golden Cheese Cookie, hurrying down the silver halls. 

Chapter Text

Truthless Recluse stared at himself in the mirror.

He hadn’t realized it until now, but he had changed.

A lot.

His hair was messier than before. He looked really warn out, much more than he felt. He was paler, skinnier.

He was aware he changed whilst in the spire, but it didn’t hit him until now.

He pushed the clump of hair that lay across his nose out of his face, only for it to fall back into place

He sighed. He shouldn’t care. And yet, he closed his eyes.

“Vanilly!” He recalled Shadow Milk Cookie saying to him one day. “I think it’s time for a new outfit, don’t you think?”

“Isn’t this one fine?” Truthless Recluse asked.

“Yeah, but I,” Shadow Milk Cookie had slid his hand onto the other’s cheek, “want to dress you up.”

Truthless Recluse has wanted to snap at him to stop touching him. He hated the feeling of Shadow Milk Cookie’s hand.

He also hated that look he gave him. That deranged look that made his pupils change into hearts.

“Let me dress you up, my little puppet.”

That wasn’t a request. It was a demand . Truthless Recluse shuttered as Shadow Milk Cookie slid his hat off and threw it to the side.

No, stop it. He wanted to run away. He wanted so badly to tell him no. But his voice got caught in his throat. His breath grew heavy as Shadow Milk Cookie pulled at his cape.

“No…” Truthless Recluse chocked out. Shadow Milk Cookie paused, narrowing his eyes at the other. Then, he violently ripped the cape off.

“No?” He laughed. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

He pulled at his sleeves, the black fabric ripping under his beastly claws. Truthless Recluse shut his eyes and grit his teeth.

“Stop it,” he groaned, “STOP IT!”

Shadow Milk Cookie shoved Truthless Recluse against the wall, glowering. “I want you to quiet down, or what happens next will make you very upset.”

Shadow Milk Cookie grinned, stroking Truthless Recluse’s cheek again. “I don’t want you to be upset, it pains me to see you cry.”

“I…”

“But you’re right, for once,” Shadow Milk Cookie backed off, “you take off your clothes, I’ll go pick something else out!”

Truthless Recluse opened his eyes back up to the Faerie kingdom. He looked back into the mirror, at his new clothes.

The clothes he chose himself. Clothes that were…more comforting.

He softly sighed and looked away from his reflection to the open window. The scent of lilies filled his room. He carefully pushed the curtains away and poked his head out. Lilies grew in small patches under his room.

…he loved their scent, even after all the lies he was fed. He couldn’t remember why, but he truly did love them.

He rested his head against the wall. He struggled to remember, but he could vaguely remember a silent night in a field of lilies. Was that…White Lily Cookie with him?

He touched his lips and felt his cheeks heat up. It was such a blur, and yet it was a precious memory.

He sighed and pulled himself away from the window. He couldn’t let himself get close to them again.

He would only hurt them. He was sure of it.

He heard a knocking at his door. He turned to it, raising his eyebrows slightly.

“Pure Vanilla Cookie!” It was Golden Cheese Cookie. “Let us in! It’s urgent!”

He clenched his jaw. No, he shouldn’t…

“Please, Pure Vanilla Cookie?” White Lily Cookie called.

Oh, he was going to regret this.

He opened the door and walked out. “…yes?”

“Good!” Golden Cheese Cookie smiles before becoming serious again, “we need to ask you a very important question.”

“Please, be truthful with us.” White Lily Cookie begged. Truthless Recluse scoffed, looking away.

“What’s Shadow Milk Cookie’s plan?” Golden Cheese Cookie asked. “We know he and the other beasts are doing something, so what is it?”

“I don’t know.” He said. “I never could hear what they discussed in the spire.”

“So they did meet up in the past year?” White Lily Cookie asked. Truthless Recluse clenched his jaw and looked away.

“All I know is that they’re planning something big,” he said quietly, “…you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”

“I’ve fought that beast Burning Spice Cookie and won,” Golden Cheese Cookie said, smirking, “I can handle the others, I’m sure.”

“I’ve beat Shadow Milk Cookie twice now,” White Lily Cookie said softly, “I can protect us from whatever he’s going to do.”

“Do you know what the other beasts were doing during the past year?” Golden Cheese Cookie asked.

Truthless Recluse honestly didn’t—All he knew was that they traveled around discreetly under Shadow Milk Cookie’s blanket of deceit.

He shook his head slowly, standing stiff. White Lily Cookie softly smiled, “Thank you, Pure Vanilla Cookie.”

He turned away. “…humph.”

***

White Lily Cookie recalled the days when, despite all the stress she was under, Pure Vanilla Cookie found time to ease her mind and soothe her soul. He quietly requested her hands to hold his, and they would practice breathing slowly together. He would rest his forehead on hers, and she would smile at his silly remarks.

Those days were long gone now, but she missed them dearly. She wanted so badly to calm down by holding his hands, but she was scared to touch him now.

His coldness made her worry that he wouldn’t really be the same ever again.

…regardless…

She would accept him no matter what. Even if it was hard.

For he accepted her, even when he knew what evil she brought to the cookie world. She had to return the favor.

She watched him turn away, and forcing the courage to come up, said, “Pure Vanilla Cookie, one more thing.”

He paused and glanced at her. She clasped her hands together, a shaky smile coming across her lips.

“I just want you to know that…I…I know you’re having a hard time right now. I’ll be here for you if you need anything…ok?”

Her heart pounded in her head as she said that. How would he react? She didn’t want him to get upset.

He stared at her for a moment before turning away again.

“A-ah,” he stammered, “I…thank you, I suppose.”

He walked back into his room and shut the door, leaving the two others outside.

“White Lily Cookie,” Golden Cheese Cookie said very seriously, “I need to go talk to the others. Stay here in case he comes back out.”

“Eh…ok…” White Lily Cookie watched her leave, holding onto her sides.

***

White Lily Cookie returned to her room for the night, staring at her bed. Nothing much happened after her and Golden Cheese Cookie’s talk with Pure Vanilla Cookie.

She wasn’t tired in the slightest. Perhaps a walk would do her good before she fell asleep.

She quietly tapped out of her room, walking down into the darkness of night. The Faerie Kingdom was silent, not a noise besides her walking was created.

Alone.

The breeze blew her hair slightly to the side, hugging her body.

She paused, tilting her staff. She looked around, she could have sworn she saw something move nearby.

She saw it again—a swift movement in the bushes. She slowly approached them, moving their leaves to the side.

She saw Pure Vanilla Cookie. He stood by a patch of lilies, examining them. She watched him, his delicate hands holding up the small lilies as his eyes narrowed, his staff pointed down at them. He inhaled one’s scent, holding its cupped frame to his nose. He visibly relaxed upon smelling the lilies, and that seemed to confuse him.

Eventually, White Lily Cookie knew she had to say something. She walked towards him and called out to him.

“Pure Vanilla Cookie, are you ok?”

He turned to look at her. His eyes softened and he took a step toward her.

“Lily,” he murmured, “I…”

He fidgeted with the flower in his hands, awkwardly pulling it apart as he dropped the now ruined lily to the ground.

“You said you were here for me,” he said, “you’ll help me…right?”

“O-of course,” she said quickly, “anything you need. You’re my…best friend after all.”

“…” Pure Vanilla Cookie turned to look at the lilies again. He harshly sighed before walking towards her. He was so close, their breath touching. White Lily Cookie stammered, staring at his face.

“…there’s this memory,” he said, “it’s in my head, but I can’t seem to recall everything. All I know is that I am in a field of lilies…and you are there with me.”

“Ah, well…” she murmured awkwardly, “…I have many memories of us together in fields of lilies.”

“So, it was pointless to ask.” Pure Vanilla Cookie looked away, foot inches away from a Lily.

“N-no!” White Lily Cookie insisted. “I…I’m sure we can figure out which memory you’re trying to remember.”

“…mmm.” He hummed, turning to look back at her. “T-thank you, but it was a stupid request-“

“No it’s not!” She clutched her staff close to her heart, “I want to help you.”

“I…” Pure Vanilla Cookie’s face turned red. “…thank you…there are many more memories I can’t seem to recall…I’m sorry for the trouble.”

This sudden change startled White Lily Cookie, but she wanted to help Pure Vanilla Cookie. The pleading in his eyes broke her, made her feel weak. Besides, she was sure that his apparent memory loss was Shadow Milk Cookie’s doing. She couldn’t have that beast keep tormenting her friend even when he wasn’t around. It was just wrong.

“I’ll help you remember whatever you need to,” she said. “I promise.”

***

Truthless Recluse felt he needed to know that memory again. Try as he may, he couldn’t recall it on his own.

But White Lily Cookie came just in time. He didn’t want to burden her or give her hope that he was changing, he was far too gone.

But he needed that memory.

He didn’t understand why, but his soul told him he needed it.

“I’ll help you remember whatever you need to,” she said. “I promise.”

He stood still for a moment. He shouldn’t trick her like this, accepting her help only to turn away again when he remembered.

But he needed to know.

He needed this.

“Please,” he murmured, “thank you for your help…”

Chapter Text

The spire stood quietly atop the highest and most lonely point in all of Beast-Yeast. Its new location took all of the spire’s inhabitants some time to get used to, but none struggled more than Shadow Milk Cookie.

His room was a mess. Paper was thrown about, scribbled on hastily. There were no trees outside his window—but he didn’t want trees outside his window.

Not without Pure Vanilla Cookie to look at them with.

He could still feel it—Pure Vanilla Cookie had not regained his hope. There was still the chance to get him back.

But he wasn’t here now . Shadow Milk Cookie knew that he was in the Faerie kingdom, but he couldn’t get in no matter how hard he tried to get past the magic barrier.

He stared in as a snake, eyes slitted at seeing Pure Vanilla Cookie trapped inside with that White Lily Cookie.

He tried so hard to stop Pure Vanilla Cookie from thinking of his old friend, make him lose hope that she’d ever come back for him, only for her to slip right back into his life just as Shadow Milk Cookie succeeded in striping the last shred of hope from Pure Vanilla Cookie’s mind.

It was so unfair. Why did she, who had fallen so selfishly and wrought an evil so awful upon the world, get to win? And why didn’t he?

She didn’t deserve any of him. She didn’t understand him like HE did!

He traced the length of the window with his finger and growled.

“Master?” Black Sapphire Cookie called from the doorway.

“What?” Shadow Milk Cookie turned to look at him.

“The burning army is on their way,” Black Sapphire informed him, “Burning Spice Cookie is on his way to Mystic Flour Cookie’s temple.”

“Anything else?”

“We did notice that the Silver Knights are coming out of the Faerie Kingdom more often than before. We speculate that at some point, the gates to the kingdom will be opened and that we may be able to slip through.”

“I’m sure that stupid guardian’s magic preventing me from entering the kingdom extends to even when the gates are opened, but…” Shadow Milk Cookie examined Black Sapphire Cookie, “…perhaps someone like you could enter.”

“Yes, but the timing—it would have to be exact. Unless-“

“-unless you use your brain and shape-shift into one of them.” Shadow Milk Cookie said. “Pick off one of the guards, take their armor, and sneak in as one of them.”

“Brilliant, master! Shall I go now?”

Shadow Milk Cookie paused and nodded. “Yes. Once you’re in, make haste in finding my Pure Vanilla Cookie and find a way to get him back to me.”

“Yes, master!” Black Sapphire Cookie turned and ran out, making his way presumably to the faerie forest. Shadow Milk Cookie pushed from the window and walked the halls of his spire.

He had regained a little bit of his powers, as shapeshifting into something as large as a dragon took a lot out of him. On top of that, he had fought against White Lily Cookie at her full power.

Not to mention that tiny little upset he had after processing that Pure Vanilla Cookie wasn’t there anymore, kidnapped by that pathetic guardian. Nothing major…he just needed a nap after it.

It wasn’t like their connection was severed. Shadow Milk Cookie could still feel Pure Vanilla Cookie’s hopelessness, but also, strangely enough, confusion. But it was weaker than before. After all, they hadn’t been this far apart in a whole year. Shadow Milk Cookie couldn’t bear the thought of Pure Vanilla Cookie slipping away at any moment’s notice, especially those first few weeks before he really sunk his teeth into the submissive cookie.

He wandered into the hall of paintings, all of him. He was vain, he wouldn’t try to disprove that, but the painting he loved most was at the very end—the one of Pure Vanilla Cookie, sitting gracefully with his hands in his lap, staring blankly. Shadow Milk Cookie traced the painting with his finger before pulling back. He cautiously watched as it disappeared, leaving only a door in its wake.

“My powers are returning,” he murmured as he walked in.

Even if he couldn’t get in physically , he could possibly reach Pure Vanilla Cookie in his other world when the other fell asleep.

He sat down, crossing his legs and arms and awaited the window for him to communicate with his beloved arrived.

***

“I still cannot seem to recall any of that which you all speak of,” Truthless Recluse said, frustration laced in his words. “…this was pointless from the beginning. I’m going to bed.”

His friends all watched him get up and leave, concern in their expressions.

White Lily Cookie had called them, including Gingerbrave, Strawberry Cookie, and Wizard Cookie, to try and help Pure Vanilla Cookie remember this memory he claimed to be remembering in bits and pieces, only to find out his whole life in his memories was shattered and scattered all around his mind.

“He couldn’t hardly remember the day we all met…!” Golden Cheese Cookie said in disbelief, holding her head in her hands. “Those precious memories, gone!”

“Gone is an exaggeration!” Hollyberry Cookie said. “Those memories have just been rearranged a bit. I’m sure it’s all in his noggin somewhere, we just have to find it!”

“He remembered a little bit!” Gingerbrave said. “Like, he remembered the Dark Flour War, and he also remembered when Hollyberry Cookie and Dark Cacao Cookie came to his kingdom that one time!”

“He’s set on finding that memory of him and I in a field of lilies,” White Lily Cookie murmured, “he kept asking about that in between sentences.”

“It seems you may be the only one who can help him with that memory,” Wizard Cookie suggested, “since Pure Vanilla Cookie insists it was only you and him there.”

“But I don’t know when we were even in a field of lilies…” White Lily Cookie grumbled, sinking down into her seat. “Some of my memories are hazy too, living for so long after all.”

“I can second that!” Golden Cheese Cookie retorted. “But you must have something up there, if it was so important for him to keep remembering bits and pieces of it despite his shattered mind.”

“You will find a way,” Dark Cacao Cookie said, resting his hand on White Lily Cookie’s shoulder, “and we will be here to help you find that solution.”

White Lily Cookie smiled at him sheepishly, standing up and sighing.

“I think I’m going to walk around for a while,” she murmured, “I’ll…be back.”

She turned and walked, her footsteps echoing in the halls. She could still vaguely hear her friends chattering behind her.

“Did White Lily Cookie ever see Vani’s garden…?”

“I’m not sure, but even Pure Vanilla Cookie couldn’t remember his own precious garden.”

“Shadow Milk Cookie did a great deal on him…I hope he’ll be ok in the end…!”

White Lily Cookie’s chest tightened up. She curled a fist onto it, digging into the knot that kept her cape in place.

A garden…she knew he had a garden. But it was from a memory she wished not to remember. Surly, it couldn’t be that awful memory.

Right?

***

Truthless Recluse closed his eyes and let sleep take him over. For a few seconds, he was surrounded by darkness.

Then, he was suddenly illuminated by blue lights, giant eyes all around him staring at him.

“S…Shadow Milk Cookie?” He croaked out. The familiar laughter erupted, and the jester appeared before him.

“Oh, my darling Vanilly!” The beast cooed, cupping Truthless Recluse’s cheeks in his hands, though his hands went through his face, “oh, how I’ve missed you so my beloved friend!”

“How did you get here?” Truthless Recluse asked. “The barrier-“

“I’m not actually here,” Shadow Milk Cookie said, twirling his hair, “just a manifestation in your dreams!”

“Then is any of this real…?”

“Of course it is! Just like those times a year ago, when you still held onto the truth.”

Truthless Recluse shuttered as Shadow Milk Cookie smiled at him.

“I’ve finally gotten enough of my power back to communicate with you again—we’re still connected, ya know.”

“I can…tell…” Truthless Recluse said quietly as Shadow Milk Cookie stared at him.

“But I am here for more than just to see you again!” Shadow Milk Cookie sprang backwards. “We’ll be able to actually be together again!”

“You’ve come up with a plan already…”

“Of course! The moment you were gone, I started plotting once more. Anyways,” he clapped his hands together, “Black Sapphire Cookie is on his way to get you!”

“How will he even get in?”

“You’ll see, you’ll see!” Shadow Milk Cookie twirled around Truthless Recluse, “I don’t want you spilling anything to your captors!”

So that’s how he saw it. He was just a damsel in distress to him. It didn’t bother him, but he did narrow his eyes and clench his fists. After all this time, he didn’t trust him one bit around his old friends.

“Stay away from them.” Truthless Recluse demanded.

“Harsh, much?” Shadow Milk Cookie held his hands up innocently, “but, there is no reason for me to target them, unless they get in my way.”

“You promise? It will just be getting in and out?” Truthless Recluse clarified. “And how will you deal with the barrier?”

“You’ll see, you’ll see! Calm your pretty little face down. I promise I will not hurt your ex-friends.”

“Mm…” that’s all he wanted to hear. Shadow Milk Cookie smiled, pleased.

“Now that we’re all settled in,” the master of deceit propped himself up in the air and leaned towards Truthless Recluse, “tell me all about your time here!”

“Those fools have merely been trying to change me back,” he simply said, “there has been nothing of note.”

Shadow Milk Cookie sighed wistfully. “I love it when you lie. Come on, what’s up? What have you learnt?”

Truthless Recluse hesitated. Should he really tell Shadow Milk Cookie about that fragmented memory? How would he react, knowing that White Lily Cookie was involved somehow?

Despite that, perhaps it would be in his best interest.

“It’s about, er, White Lily Cookie,” Truthless Recluse said slowly. Shadow Milk Cookie tensed up, but didn’t interrupt. He continued. “I can’t seem to remember this memory to its full extent, but me and her are in a field of lilies, and I know I must find out what the full memory is.”

“Why bother?” Shadow Milk Cookie sneered. “Your past doesn’t matter anymore. Don’t worry about her, you have me now!”

“But I think-“

“Pure Vanilla Cookie.” Shadow Milk Cookie said harshly. Truthless Recluse stopped talking. “Perhaps, if you can’t remember most of this memory, then those parts simply don’t matter.”

“I…suppose so.”

“Good!” Shadow Milk Cookie was instantly back to being smiling and happy, “Black Sapphire Cookie will be there any day. Keep an eye out, I’m sure he’ll find you easily though! Goodbye, Vanilly! We’ll be seeing eachother soon!”

With that, the beast faded away, as did the blue eyes. Truthless Recluse found himself waking up, though it didn’t feel like he had gotten any sleep at all. He sighed and rubbed his temples.

What had possessed him to stay with Shadow Milk Cookie for this long?

***

The morning dew sparkled brilliantly. White Lily Cookie took a moment to admire it before heading to the seamstress’ house. She was instructed to come today to pick up the finished garments, and she was very glad to. Pure Vanilla Cookie kept asking about them, but she didn’t have an answer to when they would be complete.

He never seemed to care, regardless of the answer, though. He merely nodded with a hum before quickly leaving White Lily Cookie.

Trying to help him regain his memories wasn’t getting anywhere, either. The memories he did remember, he treated as myths and legends, nothing more than stories of old. And the memories he didn’t…

It hurt. It hurt knowing that Pure Vanilla Cookie didn’t remember any of the intimate moments he and White Lily Cookie shared in the past. The academy, their time as Ancient Heroes, his coronation—all he had was bits and pieces.

And she seemed to be exempt from almost all of them.

Her chest squeezed up. She had taken those memories for granted. Even when she had her life split in two, doomed to only see her friends again in the worst circumstances, she had taken them for granted.

And now she could only watch as Pure Vanilla Cookie became more and more frustrated as he and everyone else tried and failed to make sense of the puzzle that was his mind.

He was so hopeful when she agreed to help him remember his memory, but she had immediately failed again.

She stopped in front of the seamstress’ house, staring at the door. It hit here then and there that all he really knew was the coldness of deceit. Now, all his memories revolved around lies and confusion…around Shadow Milk Cookie.

Is that why he wanted these robes to be fixed so badly? Because regardless of how he felt, he always went back to that beast?

She let out a shaky exhale and entered into the house, the seamstress welcoming her warmly as she held up Pure Vanilla Cookie’s dark robes.

Chapter Text

Truthless Recluse sat silently alone, hidden away behind thick plant life. He didn’t want to see anyone, especially after last night.

He didn’t trust that Shadow Milk Cookie wouldn’t hurt his friends. Though, he wondered to himself—if he could remember next to nothing about his past with his friends, if he really had any past with them, why did he care so much?

He rubbed his eyes. He didn’t care what Shadow Milk Cookie said—he was going to try and remember that memory with White Lily Cookie. It was barely noticeable, but somewhere in his soul, he felt he had to remember.

“Pure Vanilla Cookie? Pure Vanilla Cookie!” He looked up to see Gingerbrave running over to his side and looking up at him.

“There you are!” He said. “We haven’t seen you in aaaaages! Come on out, it’s dark over here.”

“Ah, it’s not so bad.” Truthless Recluse said softly, “you can see the shiny bugs better.”

“Really?” Gingerbrave said as he squinted into the darkness, his eyes widening upon seeing sparkles flying through the air. “You’re right! I didn’t even notice them in the light! Haha, I could stare at them forever!”

Truthless Recluse shifted his gaze onto the darkness. The tiny bugs would simply be squashed the next hour or two, or drop dead to be mixed into the Earthbread below, or a particularly strong wind would smash them into a tree. Whatever it was, they wouldn’t last for long.

And yet, Gingerbrave watched the bugs in awe, as if their death wasn’t even possible.

“Hm.” Truthless Recluse grunted as he stood up. Gingerbrave followed suit.

“All done?” He asked. “Honestly, me too. I miss Strawberry Cookie and Wizard Cookie, oh! I should show them this!”

“Go ahead.”

Gingerbrave began to run, but turned around and yelled, “oh yeah! White Lily Cookie is looking for you, she has some of your clothes!”

“Thank you,” Truthless Recluse replied, though he was unsure if he actually heard him with how fast he was going.

***

Truthless Recluse had walked around for what seemed like hours trying to find White Lily Cookie and, in extension, those clothes he requested to be fixed.

He wanted them back before Black Sapphire Cookie came. He wasn’t quite sure how Shadow Milk Cookie would react to him not having the clothes he picked out for him. He could lie about it, but he would know—that phrase he liked to say all-too much, “I love it when you lie.”

He sighed harshly as he turned a corner, nearly slamming into Golden Cheese Cookie.

“Vani!” She said. “There you are, we’ve been looking for you. Your clothes-“

“-are done.” He replied. “Gingerbrave told me some time ago.”

“Heh,” Golden Cheese Cookie smirked as she turned. “I was the one to find you…that means I’ll be the winner!”

“…” Truthless Recluse slowly blinked.

“Come on, don’t just stand there.” Golden Cheese Cookie said. “I’m taking you to find White Lily Cookie. She’s the one with your clothes!”

“Right.” He murmured as he followed her closely behind.

***

White Lily Cookie softly placed Pure Vanilla Cookie’s clothes onto a table and stared at them.

“Man, where could he be?” Hollyberry Cookie questioned. “It feels like we’ve looked everywhere!”

“I’m so sorry,” Gingerbrave said, “I should have just taken him straight to you, White Lily Cookie!”

“You had no idea he would have disappeared like that,” White Lily Cookie said, “he doesn’t know this kingdom as well as I do, either. Perhaps he just got lost.”

“Besides,” Wizard Cookie interjected, “if you told him about his clothing, then he’s sure to be looking for us as well!”

“…speak of the devil.” Dark Cacao Cookie said as Golden Cheese Cookie walked in with Pure Vanilla Cookie.

“There you are!” Strawberry Cookie said happily. “Your clothes are right here!”

He silently walked over and began examining them. White Lily Cookie awkwardly watched him, before he picked them up and said, “I will be changing now.”

“Now?” Hollyberry said, flabbergasted, “in the middle of the day?”

“Oh, come now!” Golden Cheese Cookie said. “I too would immediately put on my newly fixed clothes! Not just to admire myself, but to also make sure they fit right.”

“Do you need help getting back to your room?” Strawberry Cookie asked. “So you don’t get lost again?”

Pure Vanilla Cookie scoffed. “I was never lost. It was you fools who were lost.”

“We’re not fools!” Gingerbrave said. “White Lily Cookie was looking for you with us and she knows the Faerie Kingdom inside and out.”

What a strange thing to be defensive over, White Lily Cookie thought. Was he truly confident in his knowledge of the Faerie kingdom’s layout? She supposed it was possible, but she also only saw him in few select places in the kingdom.

“I need no escort,” he simply replied.

“Oh, but we want to walk with you anyways.” Wizard Cookie said.

“Just like we used to!” Gingerbrave chimed in. “You remember our walks, right?”

When Pure Vanilla Cookie didn’t answer and Gingerbrave’s grin wavered, White Lily Cookie chimed in. “We can all walk together.”

“Make new memories!” Hollyberry Cookie suddenly suggested. “What a great idea!”

Pure Vanilla Cookie stiffened up before sighing, walking away from them. “Do what you please.”

The trio of children followed closely behind, Hollyberry Cookie following suit.

Golden Cheese Cookie huffed before flying after, “no one even mentioned how I FOUND him myself! I’m the winner!”

Dark Cacao Cookie shook his head and followed behind, a small smile on his lips.

White Lily Cookie watched them all go. Make new memories…wasn’t that what they were doing all this time? She was sure going to remember this day, trying to find Pure Vanilla Cookie for hours just to give him his dark robes. Hectic, but hardly stressful. She knew he was still in the kingdom, for he could not leave.

Guilt banged at her chest when she remembered that. It was for his own good, she tried to tell herself, and yet she still felt awful.

How dare she trap him again. She needed to see him free again, free like a blueberry bird soaring over all the cookies and trees. Coming down to land on a finger when he pleases, not to be trapped in a cage.

But she feared if she let him go again, he would fly right back into the beast’s mouth, his trap set and ready for him again.

“White Lily Cookie.” She heard Pure Vanilla Cookie yelling at her. She piped up and stared at him. He stared back, tapping his staff lightly against the ground.

“You’re slow.” He reprimanded. “Come now, we are making me new memories.”

She silently obeyed, walking behind him and beside Gingerbrave.

“Where’s your room again?” Hollyberry Cookie asked.

“It’s this way.” Pure Vanilla Cookie said confidently.

“It’s actually this way.” White Lily Cookie corrected. “You can get there that way, but it’s longer.”

“I knew that. I was testing you. You’re less of a fool now.”

“You sure like that word now,” Golden Cheese Cookie said, “fool. Heh. That’s fun to say.”

“Fool!” Hollyberry Cookie said. “Fool! Fool!”

“No, hey! You’re supposed to be-“

“Dark Cacao Cookie, you say it!”

“Why should I? It has no meaning.”

“It’s funny! See, look. Fool!”

“…fool. Hm. Heh.”

“Fool!” Gingerbrave repeated.

“Fool.” White Lily Cookie said. She didn’t think it was funny, but seeing her friends laugh made a smile appear on her face.

“This is too foolish!” Wizard Cookie said. “What are we, clowns?”

“You lot wish you had as much comedy as…” Pure Vanilla Cookie stopped himself before saying, “never mind.”

“Who? Shadow Milk Cookie?” Golden Cheese Cookie asked. “You can’t be serious. Did he brainwash you?! Is that why you can’t remember anything?!”

He scoffed. “He is nothing more than a glorified jester. All I have him to thank for is opening my eyes to the reality of our world.”

Everyone grew silent. Pure Vanilla Cookie frowned and turned his head away.

“Are we almost there, White Lily Cookie?” He asked quietly.

“Just this hallway.” She replied.

***

As soon as he got to his room, Pure Vanilla Cookie shut himself in. White Lily Cookie silently listened to her friend’s quiet whispers.

“How much can we trust his words?” Hollyberry Cookie asked.

“We can’t think about that now,” Golden Cheese Cookie said, “look, I know he’s our friend, but I have a strong feeling we should focus on defeating the beasts before we turn our attention to him.”

“I agree,” Dark Cacao Cookie said, “the source of his changing is the beast of deceit after all. It would be wise to get rid of the source.”

“But we need all the help we can get in the fight against the beasts,” Hollyberry Cookie said, “besides, with White Lily Cookie’s power, we can protect ourselves longer. We should focus on him first.”

“What about our kingdoms?” Golden Cheese Cookie asked. “They aren’t protected. For all we know, our beastly counterparts are already ripping apart our kingdoms as we speak.”

“But we already learnt that Burning Spice Cookie isn’t in Crispia, rather he’s still here.”

“How long will that last? And what about your kingdom?”

“Eternal Sugar Cookie wouldn’t destroy my kingdom-“

“-but your cookies! They could be taken away at any moment, within the blink of an eye. You saw it yourself, did you not?”

“I will be leaving at sunrise tomorrow.” Dark Cacao Cookie said. White Lily Cookie looked at him, then at her other two friends.

“As will I.” Golden Cheese Cookie said. “We’re aware of the general area our beastly counterparts are counterparts are. If we make haste, we may be able to stop them.”

“I will be staying,” Hollyberry Cookie said.

“I…” White Lily Cookie glanced at Pure Vanilla Cookie’s door, “…I guess I’m doing both by staying here.”

“Goodnight.” Golden Cheese Cookie said before flying off to her room. Dark Cacao Cookie bowed his head before retiring to his own room.

“I don’t understand them…” Hollyberry Cookie said. “We all agreed we’d stay for Pure Vanilla Cookie’s sake!”

“Some things have changed,” White Lily Cookie said. “We learnt the beasts may be planning something together, and Pure Vanilla Cookie’s predicament.”

“Vani…” Hollyberry Cookie sighed, “…Lily, would it be ok if I sent for some of my troops to come here?”

“Oh, of course.” She replied. The more troops, meant more protection and greater power.

“Right. I’ll send for them now!”

She waved before leaving to her own room. White Lily Cookie turned to look at Pure Vanilla Cookie’s room. Could he hear any of that? Perhaps he went to sleep as soon as he changed.

She softly tapped his door with her knuckles. She waited for a moment before he opened the door.

“Still awake?” He asked.

“Did you-“

“Go to bed.”  He hissed before shutting the door in her face. She bit her lip as she turned and walked away to her room.

***

White Lily Cookie had a sneaking suspicion she fell asleep rather quickly when she opened her eyes to find herself standing in a greenhouse full of lilies.

“White Lily Cookie?” She saw Pure Vanilla Cookie standing before her, holding something behind his back.

“Pure Vanilla Cookie…?”

“What do you think?” He asked sheepishly. “It took forever to get this big, but I think I’m proud.”

“I…I’m also proud of you.” She instinctively said. “It’s so beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many flowers all in one place…!”

He smiled and said, “Oh, I knew you would like it!”

“But…why?” She asked. “All this for what?”

“Well, I did it because I liked it.” He said. “I like their scent, and I like the way they look…they remind me of you.”

He stood just some paces away.

“Oh, Lily…” he suddenly said very sadly. “…I’m going to miss you.”

Her eyes widened when she realized what this was.

No, not this memory. Anything but this memory. She couldn’t bear to relive that moment.

“Lily…”

She told herself that she was going to finally confess her feelings to him. But instead she stupidly stumbled on her words and ran out, leaving him for her journey.

She wouldn’t have traded the journey for anything, but she would have done anything to change the outcome and the beginning.

She felt her whole body go limb, falling to her knees. She tried to get back up, but she couldn’t.

“Lily, why, why?”

“No, please!” She yelled. This wasn’t apart of the memory—this was just a nightmare now.

“Why did you leave me?”

She wiped tears coming down her face.

But the guilt was all too real.

“You let my kingdom go to ruin. You left me with that blue bastard. What will you do next? Hide in your safe little faerie kingdom as your friends do all the work?”

She didn’t dare look up at him.

“Keep me here until you think you’ve undone all the damage you caused?”

She awoke in a cold sweat. She laid in bed, breath wildly inconsistent.

That was merely a nightmare, she had to calm down. Despite that, she clung to her blankets and curled into a ball. Tears raced down her face, the dream still fresh in her mind.

Chapter Text

Golden Cheese Cookie and Dark Cacao Cookie stood at the gates of the faerie kingdom. White Lily Cookie watched them walk out, the Silver Knights bowing their heads in reverence to send off the ancient heroes. 

“Goodbye, friends!” Hollyberry Cookie called, “Stay safe out there, send us letters when you get home!”

Pure Vanilla Cookie stared blankly at them.

Golden Cheese Cookie waved back at them. “We will return triumphant!”

We will save him. White Lily Cookie knew that’s what she wanted to say. That’s all she and Dark Cacao Cookie said before they left the Silver Palace. 

She also overheard Golden Cheese Cookie telling Hollyberry Cookie to not only keep an eye on Pure Vanilla Cookie, but also White Lily Cookie herself. 

She still didn’t trust her. How could she? After all…She couldn’t make up the pain she caused her friends. 

The gates finally closed with a soft pound. Pure Vanilla Cookie turned away and walked off. White Lily Cookie felt Hollyberry Cookie pat her on the back awkwardly. 

“They’ll be back. Until then, I’m sure we can hold the fort down.”

White Lily Cookie nodded. “Y-yeah. We still have work to do, though.”

Helping Pure Vanilla Cookie remember was top priority. She had gotten a few more ideas last night, since she was unable to sleep after her nightmare. 

“Hollyberry Cookie, can you help me in preparing something?” White Lily Cookie asked. 

“Of course! What do you need?”

The two ancient heroes went their way. A certain Silver Knight slipped away after them, stripping his armor and shapeshifting into a faerie to fit in with the servants of the Silver Palace more. 

Black Sapphire Cookie waved at passing Faeries, as if he knew them personally and by heart. A fake smile plastered on his face, but in his mind he couldn’t stop thinking of his trapped master. 

He at first thought he’d hate having another master. His devotion to Shadow Milk Cookie was so strong, that another cookie coming in to break that scared him and Candy Apple Cookie. Probably scaring the little bratty apple more, but still. 

It didn’t take him long to get used to the Truthless Recluse, though. In fact, it didn’t take long to see that Truthless Recluse wasn’t replacing his master in any way—rather, being another piece in the great game Shadow Milk Cookie had orchestrated. 

“He’s my king piece,” Shadow Milk Cookie explained, “one of the ace cards in my deck. Just like you are my pawns.”

Black Sapphire Cookie also felt strangely loved by the cold Truthless Recluse. He always ensured he got fed, told him stories, and actually went along with his plots and ideas without complaint. He even got Candy Apple Cookie to warm up to him, which came as a surprise to him. Truthless Recluse was oddly comforting for being so distant and unwelcoming. 

He wouldn’t fail Shadow Milk Cookie, for if he did, he wasn’t just failing his master—he was failing himself and Truthless Recluse. 

He slipped into an empty hall and walked through it. He’d been trailing the recluse from afar, keeping his eyes open, not a blink. But panic struck him as he stared down into the empty hallway, unable to see him. 

“Where, where…-“ He let out a sharp breath when he felt a hand grab his shoulder. Twirling around, he saw Truthless Recluse staring him down. 

“Master-“ he said in joy, but Truthless Recluse put a hand over his mouth. 

“You’ll blow your cover,” he hissed, pulling him into an empty room. So this was Shadow Milk Cookie’s grand plan to “save him?” Truthless Recluse gritted his teeth. Foolishness, it was, to bring a being of deceit into the Faerie kingdom during a time like this. 

“Master, I’m so pleased to see you ok!” Black Sapphire Cookie said. 

“If someone hears you, they’ll know who you are,” Truthless Recluse hissed, “or is that your plan?”

“Oh, no, no! My plan is different,” Black Sapphire Cookie said as he placed his hands on his chest, “but it’s a waiting game, I hope you don’t mind.”

Truthless Recluse rolled his eyes. Of course he didn’t mind. He had this memory business he was determined to figure out. Besides, he’d come to the realization that being away from Shadow Milk Cookie was…nice. 

“And how do you plan on keeping yourself hidden?” Truthless Recluse questioned. 

“I’ll be any ordinary faerie, not a soul will suspect me until the day we leave.”

“Are you planning on telling me how we’re leaving?”

Black Sapphire Cookie smiled, nodding his head. “When the time comes, I promise! Today or tomorrow, is all I can say.” 

Truthless Recluse nodded, turned towards the door and left the room. Black Sapphire Cookie followed, close on his heels. 

“For now, I can pretend to be a Faerie servant helping you,” Black Sapphire Cookie suggested. 

“I need no help.”

“Of course not, but what else-“

“Keep your distance.” Truthless Recluse whirled around and pointed a finger in between his eyes. Black Sapphire Cookie quickly nodded, stepping back a few steps. 

“I understand, master!”

“Stop calling me that.”

***

“Pure Vanilla Cookie?” Hollyberry Cookie called into his room. Luckily, he was in there, sitting quietly on his bed. 

“Ah, there you are!” Hollyberry Cookie said, smiling at him and standing above. Pure Vanilla Cookie glanced up at her and raised his eyebrows questioningly. 

“Come on out, me and Lily have something to show you!” Hollyberry Cookie grabbed his hands and dragged him up. He begrudgingly let her, not wishing to do much moving at the moment but apparently being forced to by his strong friend. 

She dragged him all along the faerie kingdom, past the silver buildings and flora and fauna that littered the whole place. Hollyberry Cookie greatly appreciated the plant life, giving color to a rather dull kingdom of silvers and grays otherwise. Pure Vanilla Cookie never seemed to talk much about how he felt about the kingdom, but she could always see in his eyes that he cared not, in his actions of pulling leaves off vines and smashing flowers as he walked past. That wasn’t like him at all, and that honestly scared Hollyberry Cookie. 

Would they truly be able to save him? Was there really anything to save in the first place? Was he truly happy like this? He didn’t seem happy, but at the same time, it felt like he refused to change. 

“Here we are, Vani!” Hollyberry Cookie said, stopping in front of the greenhouse. This greenhouse housed thousands of lilies. White Lily Cookie hadn’t elaborated on her plan to Hollyberry Cookie, that she could do this alone, and all she needed to do was bring Pure Vanilla Cookie to her. She of course trusted her friend. She had a strong feeling White Lily Cookie had only the best of intentions for their dear friend. A passion so strong to save him, Hollyberry Cookie couldn’t ignore it. 

They walked through the garden, towards the place White Lily Cookie awaited. As soon as she saw Pure Vanilla Cookie, her heartbeat picked up. His dark robes flowed behind him like water as he stepped towards her. 

“White Lily Cookie?” He asked. “What is this for?” 

White Lily Cookie walked towards him, taking his hands softly in hers. He flinched, unsure at first, but ultimately let her do as she pleased. Whatever she was doing, probably trying to help him remember, it wouldn’t work. Nothing worked up to this point, so he had low hopes that this would work, but he allowed her to keep up this hopeful dream of hers. 

She stared at him blankly for what felt like forever. Her lips twitched, her eyes held anxiety, her composure was stiff. Whatever she was planning on doing, she was taking forever to do it. Truthless Recluse waited patiently, regardless. He didn’t care about any of this. He really didn’t. He just wanted his memory back, he told himself. Then that would be that. 

White Lily Cookie finally began to speak. “Pure Vanilla Cookie. You’ve acted in a way that I’ve never seen you act before. It’s like you’re an entirely different cookie.”

He stared, uncaring at her. She took a shaky breath beefier continuing. “And yet, I can still feel you. I know you’re still Pure Vanilla Cookie, even if everything has changed. Even if everything has changed—you’re still the cookie I-…”

She hesitated. Why did she hesitate? Because she was scared. Why was she scared? He was still Pure Vanilla Cookie, just different. But he was different. That was scary. 

“-I still like you a lot, Pure Vanilla Cookie.” White Lily Cookie said. “More than that, I, uh…”

Her face heated up, chest tightening, butterflies dying in her stomach and falling like rocks to her feet. Pure Vanilla Cookie’s expression remained unchanged—this wasn’t working. She couldn’t do this. She wanted to pull her hands away, she could feel sweat building up on them.

“What is it?” Pure Vanilla Cookie asked. “I don’t wish to stay here all day.”

“I like you a lot,” White Lily Cookie stuttered, “more than normal.”

“Oh.” Pure Vanilla Cookie said, blinking slowly. “I thought that was normal for friends.”

White Lily Cookie stared at him, before asking, “You still think we’re friends?”

Pure Vanilla Cookie stared at her for but a moment before pulling his hands away. “I want to leave.”

She watched as he tore away and sped walked off. She sighed and shook her head. 

“That didn’t work either…”

“Back to the drawing board?” Hollyberry Cookie asked. She nodded slowly, the two of them walking out tof the garden together. 

***

Black Sapphire Cookie, later that night, awoke to a dark abyss. He watched as multiple blue eyes opened up around him, all staring intensely at him. He pushed himself up to a standing position as his master materialized in front of him. 

“Finally, one of you went to sleep,” Shadow Milk Cookie muttered, “status report.”

“Yes! Today was successful,” Black Sapphire Cookie said, “two of the four heroes left, and no one saw through my disguise—except for Truthless Recluse.”

“He’s getting better,” Shadow Milk Cookie smirked, “continue.”

“He stayed in his room until Hollyberry Cookie came and dragged him out. They went to a greenhouse, where White Lily Cookie…confessed to him.”

Shadow Milk Cookie’s jaw was set tightly for a time, staring with widened eyes. Finally, he asked, “What did he do?”

“He ran away, I don’t know how he feels about it yet.”

Shadow Milk Cookie felt his insides twisting. That stupid guardian didn’t have a fat change with his Pure Vanilla Cookie. 

But he knew of those feelings Pure Vanilla Cookie held for her before Shadow Milk Cookie began ridding him of all that made him Pure Vanilla Cookie. He pretended he got rid of them when he shattered his memories, and yet, he knew that changing a cookie’s emotions was near impossible wirh mere magic. 

No. No, no, no. He refused to loose him. Those foolish heroes couldn’t keep him away from him forever, they had to know that. 

Pure Vanilla Cookie belonged to him. The cookie had told him himself. He’d stayed by his side for a year. They were one. They were meant to be. 

His breath was shallow with anger. His chest rose and fell with such force that Black Sapphire Cookie stared stunned. 

“Master? Are you-“

“When do you plan on brining him back to me?” Shadow Milk Cookie asked sharply. “There mustn’t be any delay, no matter the reason.”

“Tomorrow afternoon,” Black Sapphire Cookie said, “the gates will be opened for a time for the forest patrol to exit. He cannot leave with the guardian’s barrier being around the kingdom, but when the gate is opened, I found that magic is temporarily weakened. That way, you can come in with ease!”

“Perfect.” Shadow Milk Cookie left Black Sapphire Cookie’s mind. He had much to prepare for. 

He couldn’t wait to see Pure Vanilla Cookie. He couldn’t wait to drag him back to his spire, to stand right by his side, where he rightfully belonged. 

Chapter Text

“If you’re going to confess to him, then you better bite the bullet and just do it,” Hollyberry Cookie said, “it’s not gonna get easier if you put it off, if you really think telling him how you really feel will help him remember. Besides, it won’t be all bad! He won’t shun you.”

White Lily Cookie hunched over, pressing her hands to her cheeks. It wasn’t as easy as Hollyberry Cookie was saying it was. She was always more open and charming than her, especially with romance. Just bite the bullet, huh? What if the bullet is the size of her face?

“I’ll help you practice!” Hollyberry Cookie suddenly offered. “Pretend I’m Vani.”

“What? No, that won’t work-“

“Imagine he’s right here again, waiting for you to tell him how you really feel. He doesn’t have all day, and he’ll leave soon if you don’t start talking!”

White Lily Cookie sighed, obvious to her that Hollyberry Cookie wouldn’t let up. She opened her mouth then closed it again. She fiddled with her fingers, shaking her head.

“No, it won’t work.”

“Oh, Lily!” Hollyberry Cookie sighed and shook her head. “It’s ok, you always had more of a logical mind. Try writing it in a letter!”

“Like a…love letter?”

She supposed that wasn’t the worst idea. That way, she could revise everything to be perfect, memorize it so she won’t go off track.

“I’ll go get some paper.”

She sat up and went to her room. She needed quiet if she was going to make it perfect.

***

The night crept into her room as the natural light of the sun disappeared and she was forced to turn on her lamp. She sat hunched at her desk, her letter nearly perfect.

She just had to write the final sentence: I love you.

Her feather pen hovered above the paper. Those words were some of the easiest to spell, and yet, they held such a weight.

A soft knocking came from the door. She let the cookie in, and it was a servant. He held extra pillows and blankets.

“As per Queen Hollyberry Cookie’s request,” he explained, “she also asked me to ask how your letter is going.”

“Tell her I’m almost done, just one more sentence.”

The servant nodded, noisily peering at the letter and smiling. “I assume it’s ‘I love you’?”

Her face turned red and turned away. The servant chuckled and placed the pillows and blankets on the bed. “Love, what a beautiful thing, yes, your majesty?”

White Lily Cookie slowly nodded. “Yes, it’s just…confusing.”

“Mmm…yes, yes. Just make sure you love him enough to actually deserve say those words.”

She blinked slowly and stared at him. He smiled and shrugged.

“It would be a shame if you did all this work and could only admit to loving him a little bit. You did leave him for so long.”

She curled her fists into her dress, heart racing in her chest. “I…”

She didn’t mean to. She didn’t know she was going to fall into her demise at the Witch’s Banquet. She didn’t know the Spire of Knowledge was merely a disguise to lure Pure Vanilla Cookie in. She didn’t want any of this to happen.

“Oh, but I’m sure you actually do love him that much and not just some silly thing like the idea of him,” the servant turned to the door and stood in the doorway, looking back with a bow, “Why would our thoughtful and caring queen ever lie?”

He swooped away, bouncing out.

Her hair fell over her face as her head hit her knees.

Everyone was fighting to fix her mistakes. She caused everything to fall apart, everyone so much pain.

She caused Pure Vanilla Cookie to fall into the beast’s palm.

But she really did care for him and really did love him.

…right?

***

Black Sapphire Cookie skipped out of White Lily Cookie’s room with a satisfied grin on his face. Causing her such grief gave him adrenaline, seeing her deflate after being so determined for hours writing a pointless letter. Master Shadow Milk Cookie would be pleased with him!

“Stupid flower,” he murmured under his breath, “master Truthless Recluse loves us, not you!”

He halted at Truthless Recluse’s door and welcomed himself in, finding his other master laying awake in bed.

“Master!” He said, shutting the door and kneeling beside the bed. “Tomorrow is when we’ll leave this place!”

Truthless Recluse grunted in response as he sat up and looked at Black Sapphire.

“At noon, meet me by the gates!”

Truthless Recluse stared. He was annoyed.

“Or don’t, you can do whatever you please!”

“Leave me, I’m trying to sleep.” He said. Black Sapphire backed off and nodded.

“Goodnight master-“

“LEAVE.”

He was out before any other words could be uttered. Truthless Recluse laid his head back and sighed.

***

Truthless Recluse stood silently in his room in the Spire. It looked identical to his one in the Vanilla Kingdom, but with odd blue eyes tacked on where the shape of his soul jam used to be.

Shadow Milk Cookie crept up behind him, holding his shoulders still and smiling down his neck. “What’s with the long face?”

“You always ask me that.”

“I only ask because you always have a scowl on your face.”

He touched his face with his long fingernails and chuckled, leaning his head on his shoulder. Truthless Recluse shuttered but dared not to move away.

“Not that it’s a bad thing. You look good no matter what you do, my precious.”

Truthless Recluse looked at the ground in discomfort. “I care not for your compliments.”

“Aw, is someone shy?”

He clenched his jaw when the beast began petting his head.

“Such soft hair,” he purred in his ear, “it’s getting long too, so pretty.”

“Stop it…”

Shadow Milk twirled the other around, holding him close, and much to his dismay, kissed his nose.

“I could eat you up, you’re so cute.” He said. Truthless Recluse turned away, but Shadow Milk forced his face back towards his.

“Let me go…” Truthless Recluse hissed.

“Such pretty eyes,” the beast brushed underneath his eyes, “I’m so lucky I can stare at them when I look at the sky.”

“Stop it, please, that’s enough-“

Shadow Milk Cookie pressed the Truthless Recluse closer and gazed at him. Silence lingered over them for a long time, the minutes passing as Shadow Milk Cookie kept staring and staring.

The silence was broken when the blue cookie let out a giggle.

“You always know exactly what I want,” he said. “That’s why I love you.”

As if nothing ever happened, he let him go and strode out, leaving Truthless Recluse standing all alone. He hugged himself tightly, squeezed his eyes shut and fought hard not to scream.

Truthless Recluse didn’t like “love” if that’s what it meant he had to feel like.

***

White Lily Cookie picked at her breakfast, eyes drooping from the minimal amount of sleep she got.

“Well, are you ready for today?” Hollyberry Cookie asked cheerily, sitting beside her with a smile. The three little cookies of Gingerbrave, Strawberry Cookie, and Wizard Cookie sat beside them as well, all eating their own breakfasts still. White Lily Cookie grumbled, the letter stuffed into her pocket.

“I read it over and over,” she confessed, “all night long, I don’t know how much sleep I got, but I got it done…do I look that bad?”

“You look…fine!” Hollyberry Cookie chuckled before turning her attention to the entering Pure Vanilla Cookie. “Good morning, friend!”

White Lily Cookie stared at him as he sat down across from them, blinking slowly as to wake himself up.

Hollyberry Cookie smiled at White Lily Cookie, nudging her softly under the table. The faerie queen stiffened up.

“No breakfast?” Gingerbrave asked Pure Vanilla Cookie. “But why? The food here is so good!”

“I’m not hungry.” He said simply.

“You can just have an extra big lunch.” Strawberry Cookie suggested. “Or a little bit extra lunch and a little bit extra dinner.”

“Or a brunch!” Wizard Cookie said.

Pure Vanilla Cookie silently listened to them, though it was clear to White Lily Cookie that he wasn’t taking any of it to heart. He had that blank gaze, she recognized it when Dark Cacao Cookie tried explaining complex battle strategies or when Golden Cheese Cookie attempted to get him to go gold hunting with her years and years ago.

“What are you planning on doing today?” Wizard Cookie turned to Gingerbrave. “You told me you had plans today.”

“I’m going on a walk!” Gingerbrave replied. “I wanna see more of the kingdom, I’ve been so caught up in important stuff that I haven’t had a time to myself yet!”

“Can we come?” Strawberry Cookie asked.

“Of course! That includes you three too,” Gingerbrave looked at the three ancient heroes, “you guys need breaks too.”

“Of course!” Hollyberry Cookie said jollity, winking at White Lily Cookie. Perfect for a confession? She wouldn’t be alone, so she supposed it wouldn’t be that hard…

The six cookies, once finished with breakfast, started their walk. They began through the streets, looking at the architecture and admiring the beauty of, well, everything.

They were soon at the entrance to the gardens. The field of lilies was in there, so when they made it there, she would recite her letter. Then, a knight came flying over and bowed, “Excuse me for interrupting, but a Hollyberrian messenger has came to relay a message to her queen mother.”

“Please, take me there at once!” Hollyberry Cookie said. “You all, I will be back soon!”

White Lily Cookie watched in dismay as she left. It was fine though, the three little ones were still there. Besides, she might be back within minutes.

They walked into the garden. White Lily Cookie had seen this garden thousands of times already, and Pure Vanilla Cookie appeared to have no interest in the plant life, but watching the little cookies fawn and gawk at the flowers and ferns gave her enough enjoyment.

They were soon in a very bushy area. The soft leaves of the green bushes were very comfortable, so White Lily Cookie leaned into a big patch and smiled slightly. She heard someone follow her lead after a moment, and she assumed it was probably Gingerbrave of Strawberry Cookie. After a long moment of silence, she pushed herself out and looked to see only Pure Vanilla Cookie laying in the bushes. The other three were gone.

Her chest tightened up and she looked around.

“Gingerbrave? Strawberry Cookie? Wizard Cookie?”

“They all ran off a while ago,” Pure Vanilla Cookie said.

“Ah, uhm…should we go looking for them then?”

“Sure.” He pushed himself up, looking at her to start moving.

Leading the charge, they began to walk. Her steps were much quieter than his, she hadn’t noticed that before. She assumed it was because of his boots, they tapping against the rocky path. She’d only glanced them, but it was unusual nonetheless. She was use to his movement being silent as a ghost.

“Those shoes…” she tried starting a conversation. Practice talking casually before confessing.

“They, uh…” Pure Vanilla Cookie’s voice was nervous. She heard him gulp before saying, “Shadow Milk Cookie preferred to hear everyone’s movement. Everyone has some sort of indicator when they move…mine happen to be these shoes.”

“Are they…heavy?”

“No, not very. Just loud.”

He tugged at his robes where she assumed the boots ended. She noticed the crinkle on his nose.

“Are they uncomfortable?”

He didn’t answer. But she knew the answer was yes. He couldn’t hide it behind his dark eyes.

The scent of lilies suddenly became much more potent. She realized they were both there at the lily field, finally.

Alone.

She stopped when they got to a fork in the road, one way to the field of lilies.

“Which way?” Pure Vanilla Cookie asked. She could just wait a little longer to find someone…

“We don’t have all day. It doesn’t matter which way.”

She felt her pocket, and the letter still was there. She shakily exhaled and took the path to the lilies. She heard Pure Vanilla Cookie close behind, muttering under his breath.

This was stupid. But it was now or never.

Once in the field, White Lily Cookie turned and stared at him. He raised an eyebrow, eyes trailing down her body as she considered just reading off the letter.

Now or never. Now. Now .

“I like you,” she said.

“I know.” He said. “We’re friends.”

“Not like that. Not even like a best friend. So much more than that. You may not remember what happened to us, but I do. I remember every moment we spent together.

“Do you remember when we still attended the academy? You supported me even when I wasn’t the best friend or the best student.”

He stared confused at her, but she kept going.

“Do you remember when we first got our soul jams? I remember you said you’d use it to better the world. I didn’t think I deserved it, but I promised to better the world with you.”

She stepped closer to him and smiled. “I remember your coronation. You were so graceful.

“I remember how happy you were when I defeated Shadow Milk Cookie for the first time. I remember how much you trust me even though I mess things up constantly.”

“Why does any of this matter?” He asked. “I can’t remember any of it. It sounds pointless anyways.”

“It matters, b-because it’s why I…”

Her heart thumped in her chest like a bird fighting to be freed from its cage. Pure Vanilla Cookie curiously looked at her, watching as she took his hands in her own and held them firm.

“It would be a shame if you did all this work and could only admit to loving him a little bit. You did leave him for so long.”

“And the prince was happy, because he stayed in the tower!”

“Master Truthless Recluse doesn’t WANT to go with a traitor like you!”

“ I want you to leave right now .”

“My dear Pure Vanilla Cookie kept hoping that you would return, but oh! You took so long, his hope went…pop!”

Was she deserving of him? She knew, no matter what she or anyone else said, he would always say yes.

“Those memories, your kindness, your determination, are why I love you.”

She pressed her lips against his.

He stood stunned, staring at her before returning the kiss, wrapping her into a hug and weeping.

“Oh, Lily,” he murmured, “I remember.”

“What do you remember?” She asked.

“I remember that I love you.”

She reached for his face and wiped his tears, some of her own fighting to come out.

“I was scared you didn’t.” She said.

“You fool…how could I not love you?” He said.

“I’m sorry for hiding it for so long.”

“Don’t apologize for that…we’ve been apart for so long, neither of us had the chance to say anything.”

She wiped her own eyes and looked up, trying to push the tears away. Pure Vanilla Cookie also looked up, before becoming extremely pale.

“What time is it?”

“Uhm…it’s noon, I’d say.”

The sky suddenly was engulfed in darkness, blue eyes staring down at them. White Lily Cookie gasped and held her staff tight.

“How did-“ White Lily Cookie looked to Pure Vanilla Cookie, whose expression could only be summed up by one word, terror. She heard the horror that the beast was already committing, screams from faeries and the smoke of flames rising to the sky.

“Shadow Milk Cookie, he’s here for me.” Pure Vanilla Cookie said. He clutched his chest, looking to White Lily Cookie.

“I’m not letting you get taken again.” She said.

“I’ve hidden so much from you…we could of stopped this, I knew about all this, I’m so, so sorry-“

“You weren’t in the right headspace, Shadow Milk Cookie was tricking you and messing with your mind.” She firmly but gently held his shoulders, trying to calm him down, “Right now, we need to focus on defeating him. Will you help me?”

He slowly nodded. She smiled gently and kissed his cheek one more time.

“Let’s go.”

Chapter Text

“Oh, Vanilly!” Shadow Milk Cookie yelled over the chaos of his own hand. “Where aaaare you?”

Candy Apple Cookie and Black Sapphire Cookie were close behind. They stomped away at anyone who got in their path and looked for their beloved master, as well. 

“I’m not sure where he could be,” Black Sapphire Cookie confessed. “I tried to get him to meet us, but he didn’t take me too seriously.”

Shadow Milk Cookie scoffed. “He can’t be clueless on what is happening. I know, he’s playing a game.”

The beast looked around wirh a delighted laugh. “Ready or not, Pure Vanilla Cookie! Here I come!”

***

White Lily Cookie and Pure Vanilla Cookie made their way to the gates, only to see with terror that it was completely broken. Silver Knights laid screwed all over, Hollyberry Cookie too was nearby. Silverbell Cookie tried helping her up, struggling due to his own wounds. 

White Lily Cookie ran to her side and helped her up. “What happened?!”

“That little messenger from my kingdom,” Hollyberry Cookie coughed, “she was a little liar.”

“I’m sorry, we let Shadow Milk Cookie get in-“ Silverbell Cookie started. 

“No time for self pity.” Pure Vanilla Cookie interrupted. “We must stop him.”

White Lily Cookie smiled a little at him before saying, “He’s remembered, even just a little bit.”

“Ah!” Hollyberry Cookie smiles wide. “That’s great! One step closer to them all, right?”

Pure Vanilla Cookie didn’t answer. He honestly didn’t know. But all he did know was that they had to stop Shadow Milk Cookie before he turned the Faerie Kingdom inside out. 

“Come on!” White Lily Cookie said, “We have no time to waste!”

The three of them rushed forward into the kingdom, in hopes of finding anyone still sane and to stop the beast.

Pure Vanilla Cookie’s insides twisted. He knew he had to stop Shadow Milk, and yet, his soul pulled him away. Get away, it said. Don’t let him catch you. 

He shuttered. He wouldn’t be trapped again. Not with his friends by his side. Not with White Lily Cookie by his side. 

“Your majesty!” Mercurial Knight Cookie flew over to them. “The beast is making his way to the Silver Tree, and he’s only making destruction at every turn!”

White Lily Cookie cursed under her breath, then turned to her friends and began to speak.

“We cannot let him get to the tree, if he destroys it then we won’t be able to use it to seal him and the other beasts away.”

“What do you suggest we do?” Hollyberry Cookie asked. “I’d assume you know the tree better than any of us.”

“Shadow Milk Cookie has been planning something with the other beasts fr the past year,” Pure Vanilla Cookie said, “I think it’s a plan to keep themselves unsealed, but I’m not sure, I never heard more than a few sentences.”

White Lily Cookie thanked him, and although she wished he’d said something sooner, she knew he wasn’t thinking straight the past weeks. She’d have to press more later, but until then, she had bigger things to worry about. 

“With all three of our strength, we can push him out!” White Lily Cookie said. 

“Then why are we still standing here?” Hollyberry Cookie said. “Let’s hurry right now!”

***

It wasn’t difficult to get to the Silver Tree. Far too easy, they all thought it. 

“Where is he?” Silverbell Cookie said, “He can’t be here yet, the tree is still in near perfect condition…”

Before anyone could say anything, strings wrapped around everyone but Pure Vanilla Cookie’s limbs and lunged them up. 

“Pure Vanilla Cookie!” White Lily Cookie yelled, trying to break free of the strings that bound her. 

Pure Vanilla Cookie yelled, eyes wide as he watched as his friends were dangled mid-air by the beast that floated down to him. 

“Found you!” Shadow Milk Cookie said as he grabbed Pure Vanilla Cookie’s hands. “You really sent me for a loop there, I’ll tell you what, but look at that! You really got everyone here right in the palm of my hand. You really are something else, my precious cookie!”

Pure Vanilla Cookie thrust his hands away and scowled. “Put them down, Shadow Milk Cookie.”

“Why? They aren’t your friends anymore. I’ve full reign, and once we’re done here, we can go back home and forget about this whole dilemma.”

“They…are my friends.” He said slowly. “And I want you to let them go…”

Shadow Milk Cookie raised his eyebrows and scoffed. 

“Tel him, Vani-“ Hollyberry Cookie shouted. Shadow Milk Cookie quickly dealt with her by tightening the strings that were around them all, causing great screams to come out of their mouths. 

“No, STOP!” 

"Tell me again, how they’re your friends?” Shadow Milk Cookie gave a wicked grin. Pure Vanilla Cookie scowled. 

“Now, let’s destroy this tree,” he continued, “You don’t want your best friend to be in danger of being sealed away, right?”

“No, don’t-!!” White Lily Cookie grunted at the strings tightening around her body, but refused to stay quiet, “Pure Vanilla Cookie! Fight him, please! I know you don’t want this, you can do this!”

Pure Vanilla Cookie watched as Shadow Milk Cookie raised his arms, tilting his staff ever so slightly and smiling. “Are you ready to watch the grand finale of this kingdom, Vanilly?”

“Spare them, please-“ Pure Vanilla Cookie clutched his hands together in begging. He couldn’t stand up to Shadow Milk Cookie, no matter how much he wanted to save everyone. He looked at White Lily Cookie and felt the ping of guilt, knowing he was far too cowardly against the beast to be able to do anything meaningful. 

White Lily Cookie knew just by looking at Pure Vanilla Cookie’s that he could not raise his staff in an act of rebellion. All this time, and she only ever thought of getting him back, fixing him, comforting him of his anger and darkness, and never about how he was scared in all this. He never showed it, and yet she should have just known. 

“Pure Vanilla Cookie—“ she yelled, “please, don’t join his side again…!”

He stared at her with wide eyes, shuttering as Shadow Milk Cookie slid into place by his side and wrapping his arm around him. 

She just wanted him to stop being so scared. She would die if it meant he could get away. 

“Ready for my performance?” Shadow Milk Cookie asked into his ear. 

Pure Vanilla Cookie’s distress was too much. Transform, she told herself, use your guardian powers. She focused on her energy, only to get distracted with each and every tightening of the strings, each and every scream that escaped her friend’s lips. 

Pure Vanilla Cookie was whirled around by Shadow Milk Cookie, who began blasting the Silver Tree with magic. Pure Vanilla Cookie watched in despair, weak pleas which didn’t reach the ears of the beast who held him in place as he tore the tree to shreds. 

Chapter Text

A splinter flung onto White Lily Cookie’s cheek, blood drawn from the silver bark stuck on her face. But she didn’t even flinch. No amount of physical pain she endured could compare to pain of watching the tree being broken down. It was like the very last bit of her hope was stripped away. How could they seal the beasts away now? How could they win now?

Shadow Milk Cookie’s cruel laughter was loud and ear-grating. He held Pure Vanilla Cookie close still, admiring his work and his cookie. 

“Isn’t this perfect?” He said, “Now nothing can keep up apart, my dearest.”

“Nothing?” Pure Vanilla Cookie murmured, horror in his horse voice. 

Why couldn’t he fight? It was like he was frozen in place. Was this what it was always like? 

It was, wasn’t it? He never could raise his staff against him. This pain was self-inflicted, this beast beside him his punishment for falling so easily when his friends rose so high just as easily. 

White Lily Cookie’s rage could not be contained, but it was not enough to free her. Her power lay dormant in her body, like she was full of water sloshing around. 

She was foolish, wasn’t she? She couldn’t do anything anyways. If Golden Cheese Cookie and Dark Cacao Cookie were here, they wouldn’t be in this situation. 

All she could do was watch as all her efforts to save the one she loved crumble in around her. She was so stupid. She couldn’t even break free of some strings. Why couldn’t she be strong enough for once?

“Leave him alone…” White Lily Cookie growled, “please-“

“Hush!” Shadow Milk Cookie snapped at her. “This is what we both want, we love each other after all.”

“He doesn’t love you.”

Pure Vanilla Cookie shook his head slowly, stepping away as Shadow Milk Cookie pulled White Lily Cookie close and sneered. 

“What do you know?” He asked. “You deserter?”

White Lily Cookie let out an animalistic scream. “He doesn’t love you.”

As she said this, Hollyberry Cookie suddenly pound into Shadow Milk Cookie wirh her shield, throwing him backwards. 

The others were all freed, Gingerbrave, Strawberry Cookie, and Wizard Cookie all there with triumphant grins, and helped White Lily Cookie down. 

“We won’t let you take Pure Vanilla Cookie again!” Gingerbrave said.

“Hah, you fools managed to survive?” Shadow Milk Cookie was already up and ready to fight once again. “No matter, you all can’t stop me no matter how hard you try!”

Candy Apple Cookie and Black Sapphire Cookie were already attacking along side their master. The strings that held them before were unfortunately not destroyed, as the little cookies who helped free their trapped friends only loosened them enough for them to slip away. The very strings attacked relentlessly, tying them back up in no time. 

All the while, Pure Vanilla Cookie still only stood and watch. He tried commanding himself to move, but his legs stayed planted. 

Why should he be fighting again? Why was the Silver Tree so important? Why did he love White Lily Cookie?

Shadow Milk Cookie dangled his friends like dolls leaving them there as he pulled Pure Vanilla Cookie close again. He heard them all calling out for him, White Lily Cookie calling out for him, and yet—

“My work here is done,” he informed him, “let’s leave now.”

—why should he care? All those memories he couldn’t remember, were they ever real to begin with?

“Come on, your stare is blank.” Shadow Milk Cookie said, clearly annoyed but suppressing it, “why are you hesitating? You already know how much I love you and your pretty little face.”

No.

He didn’t remember everything, but he did remember one thing after this all: what love really felt like. 

And it wasn’t what this was. 

Shadow Milk Cookie slid a hand onto Pure Vanilla Cookie’s face, but instead of taking it this time, he pulled it away and swiftly walked back. Shadow Milk Cookie’s expression turned sour in an instant. 

“That’s enough.” He spat. “I don’t know what you’ve done to my memories, but I know you’ve tampered with them.”

“So? Why does it matter, my dear? We’re together here now, just forget about what happened here and get back here.” Shadow Milk Cookie reached to grab Pure Vanilla Cookie, but he only kept moving away. 

“I don’t have all of them back, but I know you don’t actually love me like you say you do.” He continued, now protecting himself with his staff. “Your love is misguided and confused, you never cared about me, you only cared for yourself.”

“And how are you so sure?” The beast hissed. “Stop this nonsense and get back here.”

“We can stop this right now and talk things out. It doesn’t have to be like this, Shadow Milk Cookie. But you can’t keep loving me like this, for my love belongs with another-“

Shadow Milk Cookie lunged at Pure Vanilla Cookie, but was cut off short by a beam of magic shooting out of his staff. Shadow Milk Cookie stumbled back, watching with an expression of betrayal and hatred as Pure Vanilla Cookie’s magic engulfed them both. 

“We don’t have to fight,” Pure Vanilla Cookie said, blocking advances made by Shadow Milk Cookie. “I know your heart, I’ve seen it, we can still be friends, but-“

“Stop it, STOP IT! You are MY best friend, not them, not HER!” Shadow Milk Cookie screamed. He reached for Pure Vanilla Cookie one last time, one last desperate effort to reclaim him, but Pure Vanilla Cookie knew what he had to do. 

Wirh one last burst of energy, he sent Shadow Milk Cookie back to the spire, releasing the Faerie Kingdom from his influence. 

“Pure Vanilla Cookie!!” White Lily Cookie yelled as she ran towards him, grasping his hands. While he still wore those dark robes and his hair was still a mess, his eyes finally didn’t look so tired. 

“Do you remember…”

“…no.” He answered, wrapping her into a hug and exhaling sharply, tears dotting his eyes, “all I remember is how much I love you.”

He pulled away when he saw Candy Apple Cookie and Black Sapphire Cookie. A portal was opened, and the two of them walked in. Candy Apple Cookie didn’t give so much as a glance behind, and Black Sapphire Cookie turned away when he realized his dearest Master Truthless Recluse saw the tears that had wetted his face. 

“Get back here!” Gingerbrave yelled as he ran after them, but Pure Vanilla Cookie stopped him.  

“…let them go.” He whispered softly. He knew he made the right decision for himself, but what about them?

“Pure Vanilla Cookie!!” Hollyberry Cookie yelled and pulled him into a hug. “I was so worried!”

“I’m ok,” he replied, “don’t hug me so tightly…”

The three little cookies all ran to his sides and hugged him too, relieved that he was safe. 

“Let’s clear out the rest of the of Shadow Milk Cookie’s influence,” White Lily Cookie said with confidence, though a question nagged at her mind still; what was preventing her from transforming into her guardian’s form?

***

“I’m so glad you’re remembering!” Golden Cheese Cookie cried as soon as she got back to the Faerie kingdom. “But I swear to the witches, if he comes back for you-“

“He will,” Pure Vanilla Cookie replied. “But I’ll be ready. He can’t control me any longer.”

Dark Cacao Cookie merely smiled, relieved that his friend was safe and recovering. While Pure Vanilla Cookie couldn’t exactly remember everything yet, he trusted White Lily Cookie. 

"As long as we’re together,” Hollyberry Cookie said, “we can win against the beasts!”

White Lily Cookie smiled at all her friends before slipping away, and walked to the gates of the kingdom. Silverbell Cookie stood in await there, bowing as she approached. 

“What’s the status?” She asked. 

“There have been no enemy forces spotted, and our troops have been tested and we’re all ok.”

"Good.” She smiled a little. “Keep up the good work.”

“Yes! And, uh…don’t worry so much. We’ve got things under control out here, and besides, you need your rest.”

She silently agreed. Even with a year’s worth of experience with her guardian powers, she still had much to learn, and more importantly, how to consistently activate her guardian form. Thinking of the pain Pure Vanilla Cookie was in and all she could do was watch was something she didn’t want to happen again. She had to protect him. 

“Go back to your friends,” Silverbell Cookie encouraged. “Like I said, everything will be ok.”

White Lily Cookie softly nodded before walking back to her friends, where they all welcomed her back. 

Where Pure Vanilla Cookie welcomed her back with love, the love that was true within his jumbled brain.  

Chapter Text

It wasn’t fair.

Candy Apple Cookie sat on an arm chair—his arm chair—and cried. How dare he. How dare he leave her like this over one feeling.

No, she didn’t care. Not in the slightest. No, no, no, no…

She wished he was here to give her a hug. She wished he were here to tell her a story. She wished he were here to get her a snack. She wished he were here to tell her to stop crying and to look at the bright side.

Yes, the bright side…at least Master Shadow Milk Cookie was still here.

The master who…was destroying half the spire in his rage…and told her she could kill herself for all he cared…

No, he was just mad, he didn’t actually mean it. And now, without any distractions, she could go back to being the only love in his life!

“I don’t care about the Truthless Recluse.” She lied through her tears, lied through her forced smile and pathetic laughs.

And yet, despite it all, despite her desperate attempts to lie to herself, she found it in herself to grab the book he’d written for her. She flipped open the pages and stared at the carefully written cursive, each word flowing perfectly into the next word.

There were hardly any pictures. Truthless Recluse wasn’t a very good artist when it came to cookies and dragons, nor could he capture the radiance of a castle or a dining hall. The only pictures in the whole book were little flowers on the indents, small pictures to break up the sameness of each page.

Candy Apple Cookie could read these stories a million times and dissect them word for word, memorize them and recite them to a million cookies, and yet they’d never be the same until he came back and told them all over again.

It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair.

“I want to kill them all.” She sniffled.

“I know you do.” Black Sapphire Cookie said, taking the book from her and flipping through it himself. What a precious thing—the Truthless Recluse had painstakingly wrote every word by hand just so they’d have his stories whenever they wanted them. Now it was their only relic of him.

Of course, he wouldn’t stand for that.

He couldn’t have remembered everything in such a short amount of time—it must of only been one or two memories, if that.

Needless to say, not all was lost.

Black Sapphire Cookie slid the book back into Candy Apple Cookie’s lap, patting it softly. “There’s a clear lacking of pictures. I think you should add some.”

“You always said my pictures suck!” Candy Apple Cookie snapped.

“He never did.” Black Sapphire Cookie winked. “I think he’d appreciate it.”

Candy Apple Cookie stared at him before huffing, wiping her eyes as she sprinted off with the book in her hands.

***

“What are you looking at?” Candy Apple Cookie snapped at Pure Vanilla Cookie.

“…your art is very nice.” He said genuinely. Black Sapphire Cookie scoffed, rolling his eyes.

“Don’t you see all the mess ups?” He asked. “One eye is bigger than the other, those hands are atrocious, and-“

“Isn’t that what makes it wonderful?”

Candy Apple Cookie stiffened when Pure Vanilla Cookie brushed his hand over her picture. “Nothing matters anyways, so why get hung up on the little details?”

“But I do matter!” Candy Apple Cookie screeched. “And so does my picture!”

“Hmmm…” Pure Vanilla Cookie turned and walked away.

***

Candy Apple Cookie’s stomach growled loudly. She covered her stomach with her arms, telling it to pipe down. She’d find some food later, master would bring her some food soon.

But her stomach needed something now. It hurt. Bad.

Tears dotted her eyes, but she blinked them back. She just had to wait it out a little longer, that was all. Soon, soon, soon-

A bowl of fruit jellies was suddenly in her face. The thin hand that held the bowl shook it slightly, his dark eyes staring down at her had a hint of compassion.

“What is this?” She asked suspiciously. “They’re poison, aren’t they?”

“If they were,” Pure Vanilla Cookie said, “I would be eating them myself.”

Candy Apple Cookie still didn’t budge. With a soft, albeit annoyed sigh, he took a jelly and ate it himself, swallowing it hard and demonstrating just how safe it was. She still wanted to decline, but the temptation was far too great. She ate one, then another, and another. She held the bowl close to her chest as her hands and lips got stained by the fruit’s juice.

He never judged. He simply held out a handkerchief.

The next time he brought her a snack, he wiped her hands and face himself.

***

The library was usually silent. Shadow Milk Cookie never read aloud, it was always silently to himself.

With Pure Vanilla Cookie around, things changed.

Sometimes, the library would echo his stories. Who he was speaking to, Candy Apple Cookie told herself she didn’t care.

That was, until she heard whispers of a dragon that destroyed kingdoms.

Of course her curiosity was piqued. She snuck her way to the spot he told his story. He sat in an arm chair, his head resting against the back of it. He was not very animated in his body movement, but he all but made up for it in the contents of the story.

“The great red and green dragon burnt down many cookie’s homes,” he said, “and even separated families.”

“What happened to the dragon?” Candy Apple Cookie asked.

“They were defeated, by a great hero.” He replied.

“Aw, that’s no fun!”

“Ah, but the dragon themself was pleased. They found a foe that could endlessly entertain them and quell their need for destruction, she who was matched to their power.”

“But how could one cookie do that all on her own?”

Truthless Recluse smiled at her sadly. “Cookies are wonderfully complex creatures. One cookie can sometimes be stronger than an army of thousands just with the right words and actions.”

She still didn’t understand. She poked and prodded for answers, until he made her a promise.

“I’ll tell you another story tomorrow,” he said, “one that will help you understand.”

“You better keep your promise!” She hissed. “Or else I’ll be super mad!”

“Of course.” He said.

***

Nightmares weren’t uncommon for Candy Apple Cookie. They were commonplace for a mind as active as her’s.

She awoke in a cold sweat. Her bed was messy, her blankets skewed about and her toys she slept with all on the ground, save for her Shadow Milk Cookie plush she held close to her chest.

She crawled out of bed and began wandering the hallways of the spire. Although they were usually illuminated by some unknown light source, her master would often times dim the place down for Truthless Recluse.

It didn’t make it any harder to navigate—in fact, she sometimes liked the darkness.

A soft flickering light came into her view. She stared at it as it got closer and closer, until she saw Truthless Recluse standing over her with a candle in his hand.

“…oh, you poor thing.” He murmured. “Why do you weep?”

He knelt down beside and softly wiped her tears. She looked at him with wide, wet eyes.

Once her eyes were dried, he pulled her into a hug. She nuzzled into his shoulder, squeezing her eyes to fight the tears that fought to come back.

“Why are you awake?” She asked. “I thought you asked for the spire to be darkened to you could sleep.”

“It’s embarrassing,” he said. “But I had a nightmare.”

***

Black Sapphire Cookie opened the grand doors to Shadow Milk Cookie’s study, where nothing was left unturned. His master, hidden in shadows, stared at him with glowing blue eyes. He clutched something, but hid it before Black Sapphire Cookie could see it.

“What is it?” He snapped. “What is so important that you interrupt me?!”

“Your friends,” Black Sapphire Cookie said, “Are here.”

In the entryway of the spire, four cookies stood in await for Shadow Milk Cookie to greet them.

“So will he still be able to hide our movement?” Burning Spice Cookie questioned.

“I hope not,” Eternal Sugar Cookie said, “it’s been nothing but torture to not be able to talk to my dearest.”

Mystic Flour Cookie and Burning Spice Cookie nodded in agreement.

Silent Salt Cookie stood a few steps away from them all. He wondered if he really wanted to see Shadow Milk Cookie. He may of loved the jester dearly, but the state of the spire told him all he needed to know.

“Master is ready for you all!” Black Sapphire cookie announced, opening a door to a large dining room. Shadow Milk Cookie sat at the head of the large table, his sweet smile and welcoming attitude dripping with sickly sourness.

This meeting would not go very well.