Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“NO! STOP!”

Pomegranate cookie ran into the throne room, only to be immediately blinded by a flash of light, and deafened by a clash of magic. When the dust settled, she saw Pure Vanilla cookie, standing in front of a broken jar, a magic circle around him slowly fading. Before him was her master, Dark Enchantress cookie, in front of the vanilla kingdom throne, brought to her knees.

Among the gaggle of cookies in the center of the room, knocked prone by the force of the blast, was Gingerbrave, who got to his feet, looking around at his friends. “What? Huh? We’re still in one piece!”

The king stepped down from the throne, past Dark Enchantress cookie. “Is everyone alright?” He asked, rushing towards the group.

“Pure vanilla cookie!” Strawberry cookie rose as he approached, “You protected us!”

“Thank goodness…” Pure Vanilla cookie kneeled down to help his new friends. “I was able to protect everyone… this time…”

While they were being sentimental, Pomegranate cookie ran past the group towards Dark Enchantress cookie, who was supporting herself with her staff. “No…” she groaned, as she started to fall backwards, “This cannot be…”

Pomegranate cookie arrived just in time to catch her master, who’s staff clattered to the floor. The priestess looked into her eyes, but Dark Enchantress cookie just looked past her. “My intricately crafted plan has gone to crumbs…” She looked out through the crumbled wall, into the sunset. “Was it... meant to end this way...?” She said, as her eyes drifted shut.

“Dark Enchantress cookie…” Pomegranate cookie’s eyes teared up, before she wiped them and steeled her resolve. “Though unfortunate… I shall guide you to safety…”

---

Pomegranate cookie was surprised she managed to get as far as she did, honestly. With how those pests handled her master, she assumed it would take a miracle for her to get out of that throne room. Instead, they all just... let her leave? Either they were too preoccupied with celebrations to notice, or they didn't care enough to stop her. Perhaps that confidence would be their downfall one day, she thought. Regardless, she couldn't get far on her own. Pomegranate cookie's physical abilities weren't among her strengths. Fortunately, she didn't have to make it far.

“Dark Enchantress Cookie!”
Dark Choco called out to them as Pomegranate cookie approached her allies. He ran over to support his master, with Licorice cookie and Poison Mushroom cookie close behind him.

“...is shee okay? She looks tired…” Poison Mushroom cookie asked, not fully grasping the situation.

“...She passed out soon after I arrived,” Pomegranate explained, “Gingerbrave and his allies bested her construct and freed the king. We… lost.”

The last word hung in the air for a second. They had all expected Dark Enchantress cookie’s return to be a glorious victory. They didn’t think it could go any worse than this.

Licorice Cookie broke the silence. “...W-we should get outta here. They’ve already beaten all our forces, we need to get Dark Enchantress Cookie to safety before they finish... whatever they're doing in there?” He looks towards the throne room.

"I believe they're celebrating." Pomegranate cookie growled.

"Yeah, that." Licorice cookie nodded. "Before they finish with that."

The others moved in silent agreement. Dark Choco took their master from Pomegranate, and carried her in his arms as they all began to flee the castle.

---

“Master!”

Red Velvet cookie ran to the others as the others burst from White Lily’s greenhouse. He had already rallied most of the remaining cake hounds in the castle, and was tending to their injuries as best he could before having them pursue the intruders. He had been tending to his giant hellhound, Cakeberus, when the group arrived.

“What happened? Is she alright?” Red Velvet cookie panickedly asked, looking down at his master in Dark Choco’s arms.

“She’s passed out,” Pomegranate responded with a tired voice. “I spent most of my power fending off the intruders, do we have any Skelecakes with healing magic?”

Red Velvet looked back at his few remaining forces. “...We used to.”

Licorice Cookie groaned. “Ugh, unbelievable! How did those five get this far anyway? They beat all four of us, our whole army, plus all those robots outside. What the heck!”

“Maybe you need to work on your magic more.” Poison Mushroom cookie suggested, genuinely attempting to be helpful.

“H-hey! I’m already the second most powerful dark magic user, thank you very much!” Licorice clapped back, obviously flustered.

“Ooooh, coooool!” Poison Mushroom responded innocently. “I didn’t know there were any other than you and Dark Enchantress cookie!”

“We don’t have time for this,” Dark Choco cookie interrupted before Licorice could continue losing an argument with a child. “We can regroup and recover once we’ve escaped. We’ll tend to our wounded then.”

“Right.” Red Velvet cookie raised his cake arm in the air, and slammed the end of his massive knife into the ground, with a sound echoing across the empty halls. “Cakes! To me!” All the remaining cake monsters looked towards their commander, and started running after the group, as they continued towards the exit.

---

The setting sun had the vanilla castle cast a long shadow over the rest of the kingdom, as the Cookies of Darkness ran from the castle. The fading illusions of injured cookies from Dark Enchantress cookie’s time loop inside the castle gave way to the crumbling wafflebots on the outside, without another cookie in sight. Except for one.

Strawberry Crepe cookie was laying face-first on the bridge connecting the castle to the rest of the kingdom, surrounded by piles of broken wafflebots. The dough on their arms was crumbling, and her face was damp from tears. Any energy they had as they were opposing the heroes had clearly faded.

The Cookies of Darkness initially didn’t show any signs of stopping, still panicked in their efforts to leave before anything else could go wrong. Only Poison Mushroom cookie stopped to check on the fallen pink cookie. Pomegranate cookie soon noticed them stop, and called back towards him.

“Poison Mushroom cookie, we need to leave, now!”

“...But what about Strawberry Crepe cookie?” Poison Mushroom asked in response. “They look hurt…” He sat down to look at Strawberry Crepe up close.

The other cookies of Darkness stopped running to look at the scene unfolding behind them. Pomegranate cookie started approaching Poison Mushroom cookie to get him moving again. “We’re all injured,” she said. “We need to get going, before things get any worse for us here. They’ll be ok, this is their home.”

“...But… they were nice…” Poison mushroom cookie sounded disheartened.

“Y-yeah!” Licorice cookie stepped in too. “A-and, they fought for our master! Pretty hard too, if these scraps are anything to go by.” He moved a shard of broken wafflebot out of his way with his foot, as he approached Poison Mushroom’s side. He always seemed to like finding reasons to disagree with Pomegranate cookie, but he wasn’t wrong.

Red velvet cookie picked up the leg of a broken Crepe Dragoon with his cake arm, and looked it over. “They did seem to be quite the expert on these contraptions. It could be good to have more variety in our forces. Saving more cake hounds would be good, too.”

“They would fill a niche that we don’t have yet.” Dark Choco cookie added, in a tone implying he doesn’t want to get involved in this conversation beyond this.

“Right?” Licorice piggybacked, “They’d be super useful!”

“And fun!” Poison mushroom cookie added.

“A-and fun, sure.” Licorice Cookie patted Poison Mushroom on the head.

Pomegranate cookie sighed, and looked over to the cookie laying in the dust. She hadn’t thought anything of Strawberry Crepe when Dark Enchantress cookie found them. Their fascination with her master was more convenient than anything, a means to an end. However, perhaps the others were right. They did seem to serve Dark Enchantress cookie well. It couldn’t hurt to reward this, could it?

“...Very well.” Pomegranate conceded. “We will bring Strawberry Crepe cookie with us.”

“...Really? Yay!” Poison Mushroom cookie smiled, as Red Velvet cookie scooped up the pink cookie, holding them in his cake arm.

Having settled this, they wasted no more time talking, and continued running from the castle, with the cake monsters in their wake. However, they soon weren’t alone in this. Around the kingdom, many of the remaining wafflebots scanners picked up their creator in distress. Those that functioned enough to keep pace followed behind, mixing in with the crowd of cakes. And so they went; cookie, cake, and waffle, fleeing from the castle in the sky.

Chapter Text

Strawberry Crepe cookie started to stir from their sleep. They blink a few times, groggy, trying to figure where they may be. It’s dark, maybe night had fallen, or maybe one of the wafflebots brought them inside? The last thing they remember was fighting Gingerbrave and his lame friends, then Black Raisin cookie cheating in their game and running past them with the villagers, then falling over and crying, while calling out for-

“Dark Enchantress Cookie!”

Strawberry Crepe sat up with a jolt, suddenly remembering where they were, before looking around confusedly, having no idea where they were. The darkness turned out not to be the sky, but rather a dark stone room, dimly lit with glowing red sugar crystals. It was pretty empty, the only furniture being the bed they were in, a bed stand, and an old wooden wardrobe and dresser. There was a small window on one side of the room, and a door on the other, which squeaked open while they were still getting their bearings.

“Oh good, you’re awake.” Licorice cookie said, poking his head through the door.

“Ah, it’s you.” Strawberry Crepe swung her legs around to hang off the bed. ”Licorice cookie, right?”

“The one and only!” He came in and closed the door behind him. “You doing alright? You looked pretty rough when we found you.”

Strawberry Crepe then noticed their injuries for the first time. They weren’t anything severe, but their ankle had a bandage covering it. So did their arm, her sleeve was pulled up to reveal a bandage wrapped around most of it. They realized their poncho and their headpiece weren’t on either, rather they were sitting on the dresser across the room.

“Red Velvet cookie did most of it himself, he’s better at that than most of us are. If something hurts, you can blame him.”

“Nah, I’m ok.” Strawberry Crepe rolled her sleeve back down over the bandage, to where it only stuck out over part of her hand. They got up off the bed and onto their feet. Her foot hurt a little, but otherwise she was fine. “Where are we anyway? I haven’t seen a room in the vanilla kingdom that looks this ominous.”

“Oh, we’re, umm, not in the Vanilla Kingdom, actually.” Licorice responded nervously. “I’m not sure I’m allowed to tell you where we are yet.”

“...What do you mean?” She walked over and looked out the window. The sky was an ominous orange, and the only notable landmarks were the rocky cliffs off in the distance. Crepe didn’t know where they were, but they could tell it wasn’t the Vanilla Kingdom; it’s pretty easy to tell when you’re not floating a mile in the air.

“Well, when we were leaving the Vanilla Kingdom, we found you passed out on the bridge outside the castle, and we all thought it’d be smart to bring you with us. Although, since you’re not… exactly… um, officially one of us? We shouldn’t really tell you exactly where we are.” Licorice cookie stammered a little as he talked. There’s not really a polite way to say that.

“Hmm…” Strawberry Crepe supposes that’s fair. They’d find out sooner or later, they’re smart. Maybe they’re in the Dragon’s Valley? Supposedly things are always on fire there, maybe the orange sky is from smoke? She wasn’t sure, she didn’t know much about the other kingdoms, they’d never been off the floating islands before. Actually,

“Wait, why’d we leave the Vanilla Kingdom anyway?” Strawberry Crepe turned back towards Licorice cookie. “I thought Dark Enchantress cookie was taking over.”

“Ah, r-right…” Licorice looked even more nervous now. “Gingerbrave and his dumb friends showed up with the old king, you, uh, you might have known that, it looked like they… umm…” He doesn’t say that they beat her. She looked hurt enough already. “W-well, we fought with them, a-and we captured Pure Vanilla cookie! …B-but, a-after that…”

“We lost.” A new voice said, as Dark Choco cookie entered the room. “And then, we retreated here.”

Strawberry Crepe cookie was shocked. Dark Enchantress cookie lost? But she was so cool! And so powerful! How could mundane cookies like Gingerbrave and his stupid friends beat her? Strawberry Crepe looked downwards, disheartened, thoughts running through their mind. They knew what they were made of. 70% Naivety? 100% bravery? They didn’t stack up to Dark Enchantress cookie at all! But still…Maybe if they had fought just a little harder, they’d still be in the Vanilla Kingdom.

“...Where’s Dark Enchantress cookie?” Strawberry crepe asked finally, looking up at Dark Choco. “Is she ok?”

“She’s recovering. Pomegranate cookie is seeing to her.” Dark Choco responded.

“Ah, right!” Licorice cookie butted in, “Pomegranate cookie wanted me to tell her when you woke up. I think she wanted to talk to you.”

“Oh, oh!” Strawberry crepe cookie perked up a little. They grabbed their poncho off the dresser and swung it behind them, fixing it around her shoulders in a fluid motion. She then grabbed her headpiece and put it back on their head. It clicked and whirred quietly as it turned back on. “Ok, I’m ready!”

“...You seem excited,” Dark Choco cookie said, holding the door open for the small cookie.

“Well yeah!” Strawberry Crepe began to skip out of the room as they answered, before their ankle proved to be more injured than they thought, hurting. She walked after that. “I wanted to talk to Dark Enchantress cookie anyway, so this is on the way!”

“I dunno, they got her pretty good,” Licorice cookie followed after them, as they already started down the hallway without them. “I bet she may be resting still.”

The three began walking down the hallway in an awkward silence, leaving Strawberry Crepe to think about everything that had happened. Those common cookies… what was their deal? In only a matter of hours, they found the vanilla kingdom, defeated almost all of her robots, defeated her ? They’re ridiculous! And that wasn’t even it, they beat Dark Enchantress cookie, they found the king-

“...Wait,” Strawberry cookie looked up at Licorice cookie. “You said those guys found the king? What, was he hidden in the castle or something?” 

“Hm? Oh, right, so there was this old ragged cookie that came in with them?” Licorice explained, Crepe nodding along, remembering him. “We all thought he was some vagabond or something, but when we had them at our table, he took off those rags over his eyes? Turns out he was the king!”

“That was Pure Vanilla Cookie??” Strawberry Crepe said, taken aback. “I thought that was just some weak cookie!”

“Right? It was crazy!” Licorice shared their energy. “Ruined a perfectly good feast, too.”

“...Maybe that’s why my analysis didn’t work on him? Because he was one of the ancient heroes? Maybe they have something different about them.”

“Oh right, you mentioned you were analyzing something earlier.” Licorice cookie recalled Dark Enchantress cookie talking to the child back in the Vanilla Kingdom. “What did you mean by that?” Licorice cookie asked.

“I’ve been working on a scanner to analyze the ingredients of cookies!” Strawberry Crepe cookie said, prideful of their work. “It’s going well so far too! It’s worked 83% of the time!”

“...That doesn’t sound incredibly accurate.” Dark Choco broke his silence.

“Well, it only failed to work once. I’ve only used it six times. I haven’t tried it on you guys.” Strawberry crepe cookie mused. “...yet.”

“Hey!” Licorice cookie stammered. “What do you mean yet?”

“Well I’ve got to try it sometime. You’re all so fascinating! It’d be a crime not to!” Strawberry crepe defended herself with compliments.

Evidently, it worked. Licorice smiled. “...Well, a-aright then. Just let me know first! …I-i mean us!”

“I might.” Strawberry crepe cookie returned the smile.

Dark Choco cookie stopped at a door at the end of the hallway. “We’re here.”

Strawberry crepe cookie hadn’t noticed how far they had gone. She looked up at the door. It had an ominous energy about it, almost like it held something forbidden behind it. Or maybe it was just her.

“...I’m sorry.” Dark choco said to the small cookie.

“...Sorry? What, is this not the right door?” Strawberry crepe cookie looked up at him, confused.

Dark choco cookie turned away. “...That you had to get involved in this.” He walked down the hallway, as if he had said something profound.

Licorice cookie, evidently, disagreed. “Pff. Drama queen.” He walked over to the door, and opened it for Strawberry Crepe. “I’ll, um, wait outside. Go on!”

Strawberry crepe cookie slowly walked into the room, before Licorice cookie closed the door behind her. It was dark, the only light coming from a window on the opposite side of the room. The furniture was nicer than the room they woke up in, looking newer and better cared for. Among other furniture, there was a bed with messy sheets that was currently empty, and a chair facing the window, casting a shadow on the rest of the room.

“Poison mushroom cookie, I’ve told you a dozen times,” A voice sounded from behind the chair, before Pomegranate cookie stepped out, looking irritated, “now is not the time to play-” she cut herself off, her eyes falling on the small pink cookie before her. “...Ah, you’ve awoken. How are your injuries?”

“...I’m alright.” Strawberry crepe cookie rubbed their bandaged arm. “...What about Dark Enchantress cookie? Is she ok?”

“She is recovering,” Pomegranate cookie said, exhaustion in her voice, “We have many ways of quickly treating injuries such as these. However, with the energy that she used on the curse of the Vanilla Kingdom castle, and fighting Gingerrave and his pests… it will take more time to recover.”

“...Can I see her? Or did you want to talk to me?” Strawberry crepe looked up at Pomegranate, like a guilty child looking up at a tired parent.

“We had planned to discuss your future here, once master was awake. However, your recovery was much quicker than planned, and Dark Enchantress cookie still requires rest. I will have you return when she has the strength to discuss this.”

“...I have all the strength I need, Pomegranate cookie.” A tired, yet ominous voice came from the figure in the chair, as they slowly stood.

“Master!” Pomegranate cookie returned to the front of the figure. “How do you feel? Has your power returned?” Strawberry crepe took a small step forward, but suddenly felt afraid to come too close.

The figure grabbed their staff beside them to support themself, decorated with a sugar skull with cake horns, but they stood upright regardless. “I have all the strength I need, for this.” They rested their hand on their servant’s shoulder. “You should rest too, Pomegranate cookie.”

“But, master-” Pomegranate cookie stammered, but was interrupted.

“You have done well today. I owe much of my recovery’s haste to your care. Now go, tend to yourself. I will summon you later, when you are needed.” The dark figure said, dismissing the cookie.

“...Yes, master.” Pomegranate cookie turned from the figure, and walked towards the door, glancing at Strawberry Crepe Cookie as she left.

The dark figure looked out the window, the horns of her headpiece casting a shadow on the child behind them. They breathed deeply, looking out over the desolate wasteland. Finally, they turned around to greet their guest.

“Hello, Strawberry Crepe Cookie.” Dark Enchantress cookie finally addressed the young cookie. “I’m pleased you could be here today.”

Chapter Text

Pomegranate cookie opened the door, only to see Licorice cookie and Poison Mushroom cookie, attempting to listen in. They awkwardly looked at each other for a moment, before the two awkwardly scrambled back from the door. Pomegranate rolled her eyes, and closed the door behind her. The two did not waste any time.

“So, how’s Dark Enchantress Cookie?” Licorice cookie asked almost immediately. “Is she ok?” Poison Mushroom cookie asked right afterwards.

“She’s fine. ” Pomegranate cookie answered, irritated, before regaining her composure. “Her recovery is proceeding faster than expected.  She will be active again soon, I’m sure.”

“Oh! Yay!” Poison mushroom cookie waved his arms in the air in celebration.

“And what about Strawberry Crepe cookie? What are they talking about?” Licorice cookie asked.

“I do not know. Master has sent me to recover. They wished to talk with them alone.”

“Oh. Ok.” Licorice cookie said, keeping a respectful distance from the door. Pomegranate cookie sighed, and started to walk away. She knew they would be right against the door again as soon as she left, but it didn’t really matter, she wouldn’t say anything they shouldn’t hear.

Pomegranate cookie knew her master well. Dark Enchantress cookie had a sense for power. All the members of their ranks, goofy as some may be, had immense potential. If she had an interest in Strawberry Crepe cookie, then they must be a formidable ally after all. Likewise, her master knew her just as well. Pomegranate cookie truly was tired, she desperately needed rest. She would be ready for her master’s summons, but first, sleep.

---

“How are your injuries, child?” Dark enchantress cookie asked the young cookie before her.

“I’m fine, really.” Strawberry crepe cookie was getting a little tired of people asking. “What about you? Are you ok?”

“I will recover. These injuries are not light, yet we have means of ensuring a quick recovery.” Dark Enchantress cookie tapped her staff on the ground. An ominous red energy surrounded the legs of the chair she had risen from, as it slid across the floor, turning from the window to face Strawberry Crepe. A second one that Strawberry Crepe hadn’t noticed slides from the corner, sliding next to the cookie. Dark Enchantress cookie sits down, and makes a motion inviting Strawberry Crepe cookie to do the same, which they do.

“Umm…” Strawberry crepe cookie didn’t quite know what to say. “I… guess it didn’t go to plan in the castle then…”

“...No, it didn’t.” Dark Enchantress scowled at the ground. “Pure Vanilla cookie’s arrival was an unexpected obstacle. Gingerbrave’s forces were surprisingly competent as well. I am sure either alone would have been simple to handle, however…” She closed her eyes, lost in thought. “...Well, it’s a mistake I don’t intend to repeat.”

Strawberry Crepe looked at the ground, not knowing how to look her in the face. “I’m…” they muttered to themself. “...I’m sorry…”

“Hm?” Dark Enchantress cookie looked back up at Strawberry Crepe. “For what, pray tell? Speak up, child, it does us no good to slur our words.”

“I…” Strawberry crepe didn’t know how to own up to fault. “...I didn’t… I should have stopped them. I was too curious with them. I should have… fought them harder. I’m… sorry.”

Dark enchantress cookie leaned back in her chair, a shadow covering her face while she thought on how to respond. After a moment, she spoke; “It is wise of you to recognize your folly, but do not dwell on it. It’s not only your forces that they overcame. We were prepared for a force such as theirs, and yet they overcame us regardless. They likely would have pushed past you regardless.”

Strawberry Crepe wasn’t sure what to make of that. They had expected her to be upset, but… what did this mean? Did Dark enchantress Cookie expect her to lose? Did she think she was weak?

Dark Enchantress cookie picked up on the pink cookie’s distress, and course-corrected. “Do not think I am making light of your efforts, child.” She leaned forward, as Strawberry crepe cookie looked up at her. “They did not walk into the castle relieved. They arrived at us tired, and beginning to crumble. Were it not for Pure Vanilla cookie, they never would have survived. I do not believe your efforts were not felt, and they certainly didn’t either.”

Strawberry Crepe cookie smiled, faintly. They felt a little better.

“I understand your wafflebots fought them for quite some time, too.” Dark Enchantress cookie continued. “I hear the streets of the Vanilla Kingdom were covered with their broken parts. Pomegranate cookie told me Licorice tripped over several during our retreat.”

“Ugh, yeah.” Strawberry crepe cookie rolled their eyes as they spoke, thinking back to Gingerbrave and his friends. “That’s all they did, just smashing all my stuff. They barely played or anything! They wouldn’t know craftsmanship if it hit them in the face.” They pouted, crossing their arms.

The Dark Enchantress smiled. “Yes, such arrogance. So unwilling to see the beauty in creations such as ours. I believe Red Velvet cookie quarreled with them similarly, over our cakes.” She tilted her head to the side. “How many wafflebots did you send out to attack? With how many were broken, it seemed you sent most of them.”

“Well, yeah.” Strawberry crepe looked up at her, like a puppy. “You told me I should. It was fun.”

“...So I did.” Dark Enchantress cookie’s smile widened. She rose from her seat, standing in the light of the window, her dark shadow covering the child’s face. “Strawberry Crepe cookie, I plan on destroying this broken, corrupt world of ours. I will burn it, and rebuild it into a better world for all cookies. How would you like to join us?”

“Hm?” Strawberry Crepe looked confused. “I thought I already did? Wasn’t that what I was doing in the Vanilla Kingdom for you?”

“...I will admit, I had not yet considered you among our fold. We had planned on staying in the Vanilla Kingdom for… longer than we did.” Dark Enchantress cookie looked away as she spoke, her failure evidently still leaving a sour taste. “Regardless, plans have changed, and you have more than proven your capabilities. We would be honored to have you among our fold.”

“Oh. Ok!” Strawberry Crepe cookie jumped out of her chair, maybe a little too enthusiastically. “I’ll join you, sure!”

“Do not make light of this decision.” Dark Enchantress cookie warned, before extending her hand. “Are you willing to sacrifice everything? You will have to listen to my every command. Plus, most cookies won’t take too kindly to our cause. You won’t be able to return to your old life.”

Strawberry Crepe cookie stared at her hand for a moment, before looking up at her. “Will I still get to work on wafflebots?”

Dark Enchantress cookie chuckled. “It would be foolish to stop you. Your skill working on them is an invaluable asset.”

“Great! I didn’t have anybody back home anyway!” Strawberry Crepe enthusiastically grabbed her hand. “I want to live in a kingdom where you’re the ruler. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it!”

A grin grew across Dark Enchantress Cookie’s face. “Very well.” A red aura formed at their hands, before spreading down Strawberry Crepe cookie’s arms, and into their very dough. It kinda tingled, they thought.

“As of today, you are one with the darkness. Welcome to our ranks, Strawberry Crepe cookie.”

---

“Whaat are they saying? I can’t hear anything…” Poison mushroom cookie glanced up at Bat Cat, who had joined the listening party.

“Mnyah, something about… ‘welcoming tanks’? Nyeh, it’s so hard to hear through these doors!” Bat cat responded, having one of his massive ears pressed against the hard door.

“Shh! Be quiet! Otherwise they’re going to hear us! ” Licorice cookie snapped, also trying to listen in. “...Wait, something’s moving around in there… What do you hear?”

“Nyh, let me listen!” Bat cat snapped back, leaning back against the door.

Unnoticed by the three, a crimson aura began to swell around the door handle. They wouldn’t have much time to see it anyway, as it caused the door to unlock, and it swung open from their weight, causing the three to fall into the room. Bat cat landed lightly on Poison Mushroom cookie’s head, who landed less lightly onto Licorice Cookie’s back, who in turn landed heavily onto the floor.

Licorice cookie groaned, and looked upwards. Towering over him was his master, with a smug grin crossing her face. Next to her was Strawberry Crepe, looking down on him, confused. “You ok down there?” they asked.

“Ugh,” Licorice cookie pushes himself upwards, using more strength than it probably should, to get back up, causing Poison Mushroom cookie to squeak onto the floor. “I-I’m fine! Just fine, thanks,” He stammered, bringing himself upright again.

“Licorice cookie,” Dark Enchantress cookie looked down on her eavesdropping subjects, “Would you take our newest member to the vacant room among your quarters? They will be staying there from now on.”

“What, Doesn’t Dark Choco cookie already have a room? Can’t he find it him…self…” Licorice cookie began, dusting himself off, slowly looking towards Strawberry Crepe cookie, who he sees looking up at him, beaming with pride. The hidden message in her command became clear to him. “Oh. Oh! Yes, master!”

Licorice cookie stepped out of the room, waiting for the two children and one bat to follow him out. Strawberry Crepe cookie began to follow him, before turning around and looking back up at her new master.

“Let us get some rest, child.” Dark Enchantress cookie smiled down at her. “We will discuss our future plans in the morning.” She then turned around, looking contemplatively out the window. Strawberry Cookie smiled in return, before following Licorice cookie down the hallway.

Licorice cookie barely waited until they were out of the room to start prying. “So! You’re one of us now!”

“Yep!” Strawberry Crepe said, happily skipping down the hallway, nevermind their injured foot. “So, will you tell me where we are now?”

“Hmm, I dunno…” Licorice cookie looked a little smug. “Pomegranate cookie wouldn’t tell me where we were for at least a week after I got here, maybe I should keep the tradition going.”

“Huuh?” Poison mushroom cookie trotted along behind them. “Whyyy wouldn’t she tell you we’re in beast yeast?”

“Hey!” Licorice cookie pouted, “Don’t just ruin my fun like that!”

“Beast yeast, huh? Cool!” Strawberry Crepe cookie thought for a minute. “...I don’t know where that is actually.”

“Really? I thought you were supposed to be super smart, or something.” Licorice cookie looked back towards Strawberry Crepe. “Do you just not know any geography stuff?”

“Not really. I know the Hollyberry kingdom is supposed to be connected to Vanilla kingdom by road, I think the Dark Cacao kingdom borders the Licorice sea.” They wracked their brain for any other geography information they knew. “...I guess that’s it.”

“Huh.” Licorice cookie stopped walking. “Well, I guess we’ll just have to teach you some then. First lesson! The way to your room!” After an awkward pause, he nudged a nearby door open with his foot. “It’s here. This is your room. …that joke worked out better in my head.”

“Thank you!” Strawberry Crepe cookie walked past Licorice cookie into the room. It was pretty nice, definitely better than the room she woke up in. It had relatively new looking furniture, a freshly made bed, dressers and closets, and even a big ol’ box with a key to lock it with. Even still though, it felt… empty.

“Soooo?” Poison Mushroom cookie asked from the doorway, “Everything okayy??”

“Yeah, it’s just… I guess I’m used to being around wafflebots all the time. It feels weird not having any around.” They look back towards Licorice cookie. “I guess It’ll be weird to start over my work on them.”

…Well, I wouldn’t know about starting over, per say…” Licorice cookie smiled, having knowledge that they didn’t.

Strawberry Crepe looked confused. “What do you mean?”

Licorice cookie stepped into their room, and gestured out a window. “See for yourself.”

Strawberry Crepe cookie walked over to the window, and looked at the sun setting over the horizon. Their gaze slowly shifted downwards, over other parts of the castle, before eventually resting on a pile of wafflebots, sitting in a hole. To say that they gasped dramatically would be an understatement.

“Incredible!” Strawberry Crepe cookie said, beaming with excitement. “How’d you get them here from the Vanilla kingdom?”

“They kinda just followed us, actually. We think they were following you.” Licorice said, looking out with her. “A bunch of them shut down though. The others, we had to put them in a hole to stop them from just wandering around the castle.”

“Ahh. I’ll have to look into that later. Ooh!” Strawberry crepe leaned back from the window. “Ooohhh! I’m so excited to get started!”

“Good! I’m sure we’ll get you more situated in the morning.” Licorice cookie walked back out to the hallway. “Just, uh, don’t wander around too much tonight. The castle gets dangerous after dark.”

“Alright. See you tomorrow!” Strawberry crepe cookie waved at Licorice cookie leaving.

“Gooooodniight!” Poison mushroom cookie waved, as Licorice cookie closed the door.

Strawberry Crepe looked around their new room again. It was nice enough, sure, but it really was pretty basic. They’d have to spice it up, add some functionality to it. That could come later though. They took off their poncho, and laid in bed to get some rest.

…For about fifteen seconds, anyway. They sat up, realizing they were much too excited to get any sleep. She had some tools on her, right? Surely they could get to fixing their arsenal. At least for a little bit, before bed.

They got up and put their poncho back on. They then waved her arms out beside her, summoning her two Wafflecrepe fists, which stayed in the air for a whole two seconds before clattering to the ground. This would be a good place to start. They popped open a panel on one, and got to work.

Chapter Text

“Ms. Crepe? Are you in there?”

There was a knock at the door. Strawberry Crepe cookie groaned in their sleep. They didn’t know what time it was, but they knew it was far earlier than any cookie should be waking up.

“Ms. Crepe, it’s already noon, it’s past time to rise.”

Or not.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m getting up.” Strawberry Crepe rolled out of bed. They didn’t have any new clothes yet, so they just slept in their normal clothes that they had worn before. They waved their hand, and their poncho flew off of a hook beside the door, and fixed itself around their neck. They had spent time automating this last night, before they went to bed. It already had the ability to float, having it automatically fly towards her was an easy change. Maybe they stayed up a little later than they should have working on it, though.

Strawberry Crepe opened the door. Outside their room was a cake, with brown and silver frosting, and a pair of spectacles upon their snout. They looked far fancier than any of the other cakes they had seen.  Strawberry crepe looked up at them, a little groggy still. “So, what are you supposed to be?”

“My name is Esterhazy, madam.” The cake werehound spoke. “So sorry to intrude ms. Cre-”

“Please don’t call me ms.” Strawberry Crepe interrupted.

“Apologies. What would you prefer?”

Strawberry Crepe thought for a second. It’s been rare for cookies to address them all, led alone formally. They weren’t sure. “...What do you call everyone else?”

“Most of the castle prefers ‘master,’ as it were.” Esterhazy said, with a proper tone, “The only residents who haven’t asked me to call them master are Lady Dark Enchantress cookie, Commander Red Velvet, and my brother.”

“Ok, master works then.” Strawberry Crepe cookie decided.

“Very well, master Crepe,” Esterhazy continued. ”Now I must inform you, the Meeting of Darkness is beginning soon.”

“Meeting of Darkness?” Strawberry Crepe hadn’t heard of this. “What’s that?”

“The other cookies allied with Dark Enchantress cookie are gathering to discuss their tasks and their tribulations. It was my impression that Dark Enchantress cookie wished you to be there, she sent me to retrieve you.”

“Oh!” Strawberry Crepe cookie panicked. “Ok, um, thanks!” she stammered out, before slamming the door. They slept in on their first day here! They had to get ready, quick!

They quickly ran over to their dresser, where their headpiece was sitting. They should have automated this being put on automatically first, that would have been far more useful. Later. They put it on, and moved to the middle of the room. She spread her hands out, and the two Waffle crepe fists appeared either side of her, as her headpiece flared around her. They moved her hands in front of her, and the two firsts moved with her. A little out of sync, they noticed. They’d have to fix that. Later.

Strawberry crepe burst out of their room, when it dawned on them that they had no idea where this meeting was. They looked around frantically, and saw that Esterhazy hadn’t reached the end of the hall yet. She ran to catch up with him.

“Hey!” Strawberry crepe blurted out, catching up. “Where’s the meeting at again?”

“Go down this hall, to the left, then you’ll arrive in the main hall,” the cake explained. “Then, Find the third door to the left on the far wall, and you’ll arrive.”

“Alright, thanks!” Strawberry Crepe ran past him. “Gotta go, bye!”

The young pink cookie ran down the hall, skidding to a halt at the end, before turning left and continuing to run. They ran up on a door at the end so fast they almost ran through it, and opened it quickly before running out into… “Woah.”

Strawberry Crepe looked up and around herself. This hall was huge! Intricate sugar cube patterns covered the floor, red fabrics were draped all over the walls, red crystal chandeliers hung around the ceiling, and it had decorations for days! The vanilla kingdom had halls like this, sure, but they were far more modest by comparison, along with being run down from years of abandonment. 

Strawberry Crepe looked around for a solid thirty seconds, before remembering where they were going. Or, rather, remembering where they were supposed to be going. They looked around, disoriented. They didn’t remember which door she was supposed to go in. They didn’t even remember which door they came out of! What should they do? What if they finished without her? They couldn’t let Dark Enchantress cookie down already, they just got here! Oh, what to do-

“Ah, hello! You seem to have recovered quickly!”

A new voice rang from the other end of the hall. Strawberry Crepe Cookie turned around to see a cookie with a massive cake arm where their own arm should be, as two skelecakes scrambled to close the door behind him.

“Oh, hey. Um…” Strawberry Crepe looked at the new arrival, confused. “...Have we met?”

“...I suppose not. My name is Red Velvet cookie. I command the cake hounds.” Red velvet cookie stood upright and tapped the handle of his knife into the ground, as a greeting of sorts.

The name clicked for Strawberry Crepe. “Oh! Right, Licorice cookie mentioned that you bandaged me yesterday.”

Red Velvet cookie smiled. “Yes, I carried you from the Vanilla Kingdom, and saw to your injuries while Pomegranate cookie was preoccupied. I must admit, I’m not intimately familiar with cookie anatomy, I hope that I did well.”

“Nah, I’m alright.” Strawberry crepe returned the smile.”I feel great, actually!!”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Red Velvet cookie smiled, and looked around the hall. “Now, I’m here to report an update for Dark Enchantress cookie. Has the Meeting of Darkness begun?”

“Oh!” Strawberry crepe had forgotten again. “Right, it has, umm…” They look around the hall, trying to remember where it was. She concludes that she is, in fact, lost. “...I’m not sure exactly were it is…”

“No worries.” Red Velvet walked past the small cookie to the third door to the left on the far wall, which Strawberry Crepe cookie remembers they were meant to go to as soon as he makes it there. They skip to catch up with him, and then timidly they enter the room together.

“Ugh, there he is!” Licorice cookie said as he saw Red Velvet cookie enter. “You’re always so slow!” 

“Yay, Strawberry crepe cookie is here too!” Poison mushroom cookie said, seeing Strawberry Crepe cookie enter.

The meeting room was smaller than the hall outside, yet no less grand. Carpets with swirling red patterns and crystals glowing an ominous crimson floated around a round table in the center of the room. Six chairs sat around the table, and the other cookies of Darkness were already seated, with Dark Enchantress cookie sitting in a far grander chair than the rest. She realized the folly in the arrangement as soon as the pair walked in, and she tapped her staff on the ground. After a moment, two skelecakes ran into the room, carrying an extra chair over their heads, placing it between Dark Choco cookie and Poison Mushroom cookie. Red Velvet went ahead and took his seat next to Dark Enchantress cookie and Licorice, leaving Strawberry Crepe to timidly approach the table. It looked much bigger up close.

“Welcome, child,” Dark Enchantress spoke, seeing their hesitance. “Don’t be shy, you have a place at this table.”

Strawberry Crepe smiled faintly, and approached the vacant seat. They noticed that their chair was taller than some of the other ones, as was Poison Mushroom’s, likely to compensate for height. She briefly summoned one of her crepe fists to use as a step, and got up into the chair.

“Now that we’ve all arrived, let us begin.” Pomegranate cookie spoke. “Firstly, as per usual, we will go over what progress we have made this week on our endeavors.”

“Umm, question-” Licorice cookie began to ask.

Pomegranate cookie cut him off. “No, we will not include our… tribulations, at the Vanilla Kingdom. We will address that later.” She turned to her right. “Red Velvet cookie, if you would start us off.

“Very well.” Red Velvet cookie rose to address the table, although the way he spoke was directed towards Dark Enchantress cookie specifically. “We have resumed production of the cakes at the tower. Our stronger surviving forces have nearly concluded their recovery, and we’ve begun baking cakes to replace the ones we lost. It will take some time for us to approach the numbers we were at before, but at our current rates, I estimate our forces will be commendable again within a fortnight.”

“Thank you, Red Velvet cookie.” Dark Enchantress cookie spoke for the first time since the meeting began. Red Velvet saluted, before returning to sit. The table looked towards Licorice cookie as he rose.

“Well, let me tell you guys, I’ve been researching more of the tomes we have on Dark Magic in the library, and I’ve got to say, the amount of information we have is Staggering ” Licorice cookie emphasized. “I’ve been reading a particularly interesting piece recently, “Kinsmenship with the Dark Arts,” by the late Charcoal cookie, and-”

“Licorice,” Dark Choco cookie interrupted. “You’ve been researching for weeks, yet you haven’t had any developments.”

“Hey!” Licorice cookie leaned across the table to glare at Dark Choco cookie. “I’ve been researching for far longer than that! Plus, I’m close to a breakthrough, I can feel it!”

“...So, nothing new to report then, Licorice?” Pomegranate mused.

“...no…” Licorice cookie sunk back into his seat.

Pomegranate cookie sighed. “...Poison Mushroom cookie?”

“I’m planting more shroomies!” Poison mushroom declared, enthusiastically.

“Wonderful.” Pomegranate cookie quickly moved on. “Well, that brings us to our new arrival, then.” The table turned to look at Strawberry Crepe cookie.

“...Well, um…” Strawberry Crepe cookie slowly stood up in their chair. “I’ve, um, begun fixing my arms.” She extends her hands, and their two crepe arms materialize from thin air. Dark Choco leaned out of the way some, as to not be in the way. Poison mushroom doesn’t move, they already aren’t tall enough for it to be a problem. 

“They need some work, their calibration is a little off, and there’s more latency than I would like, but… It’s, umm, a start? I’ve also done some work on my headset, and made some minor improvements to my other armaments, um…” They weren’t sure what else to say.

“You’ve done all that already?” Licorice cookie picked up the conversation for them.

“I-I’ve done more! It’s just… most of my work is, um… in the Vanilla Kingdom still. I haven’t really found more resources here yet.” They started to peter off again. “I-I know, it’s not a lot…”

“Are you kidding? That’s a ton!” Licorice encouraged the young cookie. “Did you even sleep last night? You just got here, how’d you do all that since yesterday?”

“You got them floating again, cool!” Poison mushroom reached his arms up towards the strawberry-waffle arm hovering above him.

“Your work is already proving impressive, Strawberry Crepe Cookie.” Pomegranate cookie nodded from across the table. “Take care not to discredit yourself.”

Dark Enchantress cookie said nothing, but smiled with pride at the young inventor from across the table. Strawberry Crepe’s awkward smile turned genuine. They slowly floated back down into their seat, beaming with pride as her crepe arms dispersed.

“Now, Dark Choco cookie,” Pomegranate cookie looked to the prince on the opposite of Dark Enchantress cookie. “What have you accomplished?”

“...I’ve meditated… on the darkness…” Dark Choco cookie said, looking down at the center of the table.

“...and that’s it? That’s all you ever do nowadays! Don’t you train or anything?” Licorice cookie blurted out from across the table.

“...I train, but… it’s an important task.” Dark Choco countered.

“iT’s An ImPoRtAnT tAsK,” Licorice cookie’s voice dropped an octave to mock the prince. “Please, you just say that since you’re not committed to anything!”

“...And yet, I still accomplished more this week than you.” Dark Choco’s rebuttal was quick and efficient.

“Wh-Hey! The pursuit of knowledge is incredibly important! How else is a master of the dark arts such as m… myself…” Licorice cookie could have continued all day, had Dark Enchantress  cookie not risen from her chair, towering over the table.

“Fellow cookies,” Dark Enchantress cookie addressed the table, “You are all already well aware that I am not pleased with the outcome of our takeover of the Vanilla Kingdom. I have made my feelings on this abundantly clear. I do not hold any of you in particular to blame for our failure, rather, I believe there were shortcomings from all of us. I intend to address these shortcomings, personally.” Her last word sounded more intense. “Before then, however, it is important that we decide what our next course of action will be.”

Dark Enchantress cookie stopped talking, sitting back down to open the table to discuss. Most of her minions were sufficiently intimidated, to the point where none of them spoke up immediately. Surprisingly, Poison Mushroom cookie was the first one to speak.

“Ummm, I think weee should get some things to help Strawberry! Laast night they said theeyy wanted to get started making thiings! Wee should get some things to heelp them!” Poison mushroom spoke, with a slow friendly tone, a little more straight-forward than usual, implying they had been preparing to say this.

“...Yeah!” Strawberry Crepe cookie regained confidence enough to speak. “I’d love to get started making more wafflebots! The ones that we have here should be helpful in getting set up, but I could use some more materials to actually construct them from.”

“Hmm…” Red Velvet cookie thought, “Perhaps we could set up a facility near the castle to prepare construction in? I can have some cakes prepare a mine nearby to acquire raw materials for your work.”

“Oooh, that would be great!” Strawberry Crepe perked up at the idea. “...But we’ll probably need some more advanced materials to process them. I’m not sure if we’ll have what we need here.”

“Well where are we supposed to get them then?” Licorice cookie asked. “It’s not like we can just walk back into the Vanilla Kingdom to get stuff from there.”

“Don’t worry,” Dark Enchantress spoke, “I know of a place that will supply us.”

Chapter Text

The lower city of the Creme Republic is a lively place. While not nearly as shiny as the upper city, the cookies who call the lower city home are full of energy and vigor, despite their situations. Even still, not all cookies are kind, and most of the populous of the lower half of the republic know what back alleys to avoid if they want to stay out of trouble. However, this makes many of the alleys the perfect place to hide, or, coincidentally, the perfect place to stop hiding.

In one such back alley, where nothing moves but the wind from the sea, a small red light emerged. It grew, sparking and crackling, until suddenly tearing open, forming a rift. Through it stepped Pomegranate cookie, wearing her pomegranate seed hair buns down, and a simple blue dress. Soon after followed Licorice cookie, wearing a large sailor’s hat to cover his licorice dreads and a suit that it looks like he was forced into, and Strawberry Crepe cookie, wearing their usual outfit, on account of not owning anything else yet.

“...So this is the Creme Republic then?” Licorice cookie looked around while trying to stretch the sleeves of his suit. 

Strawberry Crepe cookie looked around as well. The sky was clear and beautiful, but everything else was dingy and muddy, and smelled like salt. “It’s even messier than the Vanilla Kingdom was. Is this place abandoned too?”

“Not abandoned, merely neglected.” Pomegranate cookie began to leave the alleyway. “The upper city is filled with plentiful useful resources, it is our destination.”

Licorice Cookie and Strawberry Crepe cookie followed her out of the alley, traveling twists and turns through back alleys, passing many cookies as they traveled. Strawberry crepe cookie looked around at the passersby. Their disguises seemed to work well enough, as they weren’t acknowledged outside of strange glances. They were nervous though. What would happen if someone recognized them? What if somebody recognized her? What if they took her back to the Vanilla Kingdom? What if she had to face the king? What if they put them back in-

Someone bumped into Strawberry crepe cookie, and she let out a little yell in surprise. “Hey, watch where you’re going!” The cookie barked down at them, as Licorice cookie pulled Strawberry Crepe cookie out of the way. “...You ok? You look like a bundle of nerves. Haven’t you ever traveled before?” He asked, looking down on them as they traveled.

“...No?” Strawberry Crepe cookie thought for a minute. “...This is my first time outside the Vanilla kingdom… Other than, uh, you know.”

“Oh. Right.” Licorice cookie looked around for a moment. “Well, keep up then. You’ll be fine with us.”

“...Right.” Strawberry Crepe cookie responded, as they moved to catch up with Pomegranate cookie, who was waiting impatiently up ahead.

“...Umm… These disguises…” Strawberry Crepe cookie started to ask, “They… work, right? Nobody will recognize us?”

“Well, they seem to be working so far.” Licorice cookie talked as he walked. “Not that anybody down here would recognize us anyway.”

“...What do you mean? I thought you guys were popular?” Strawberry Crepe cookie tilted their head in confusion. “Like, you guys terrorize the world on the daily, or something? Aren’t you infamous?”

Pomegranate cookie slowed down to talk to Strawberry Crepe cookie. “Child, even if we were as… ‘popular’ as that, most cookies have no reason to recognize us individually. They may recognize our forces, or our power, however as we are, we are only cookies to them, and we have no reason to be perceived otherwise.”

“Yeah!” Licorice cookie butted in. “Plus, there’s no reason to assume they’ve even heard of us anyway. Most cookies are too busy living their lives to worry about what we get up to.”

“Huh? Haven’t you guys done a lot though? Wouldn’t they have heard of you?”

“The world is much larger than you’ve seen, Strawberry Crepe cookie.” Pomegranate cookie started to speak louder, as they approached the clamor of cookies up ahead. “No cookie can know everyone. Most are content only knowing those around them. They feel there’s no reason for them to worry about those in distant lands until they come close.”

“Besides, most cookies who know what we’re capable of don't really get the chance to talk about us to other cookies, eh?” Licorice cookie gave what was supposed to be a sinister grin, but in his outfit, it looked more goofy than anything.

“What about Gingerbrave and his friends?” Strawberry Crepe cookie asked. “They’ve talked about you plenty.”

“...T-they’re exceptions.” Licorice cookie stood up straight again. “Resilient, persistent… annoying little exceptions.”

Pomegranate cookie shushed the group, as they rounded a corner. The three came out onto a busy street, filled with booths packed so close there’s hardly room to get between them. Pomegranate cookie reached down and grabbed Strawberry Crepe cookie’s hand, and told them to stay close, before setting off into the street.

“...I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many cookies before. Definitely not in one place, at least.” Strawberry Crepe said, trying their best to balance their awe with their keeping up.

“This is the most populated road in the lower city,” Pomegranate cookie said, while cutting through the crowd. “Most of the wares here are… less than useful, however the food can be above average.”

“You sound like you’ve spent some time here.” Licorice cookie said, yelling over the crowd a little, trying to keep up. “...Wait, is this where you sneak off to and won’t tell anybody except Dark Enchantress cookie about?”

“Where I go on my own time is no business of yours,” Pomegranate cookie scowled back at Licorice cookie, “But I have spent some time here, yes. Our master asked me to scout the city, in search of possible allies.”

“Did you find any?”

“No. The Upper city is far too devoted to their ‘Divines,’ and the lower city is far too poor to care either way. No cookie I could find was particularly friendly to our cause. However, many are desperate enough that they may be willing to overlook our motives, for a price.”

“Who’re the Divines? Are they important cookies, or something?” Strawberry Crepe asked.

“They are the witches. Many cookies refer to them as ‘godly makers’ and pray for them to preserve their dough.” Pomegranate cookie looked back down towards Strawberry Crepe. “I’m sure you understand why we’re opposed to them.”

Strawberry Crepe thought for a moment before answering, “...No, not really. Why are we opposed to them?”

Pomegranate cookie stopped walking for a moment to think of a response. “...I will let Dark Enchantress cookie answer that. It is a story much better told from her perspective.”

---

Red Velvet cookie stood at the foot of the stairs leading to the Cookies of Darkness’ castle. The Meeting of Darkness had concluded not too long ago, and Pomegranate cookie had taken Strawberry Crepe cookie and Licorice cookie to the Creme republic. The others had volunteered too, but the prince was at far too much risk of being recognized, and Poison Mushroom would have simply slowed the group down. Red Velvet was the only one who didn’t volunteer. Nevermind his obvious arm, he already had his job to get back to. Now, he only needed his master to come open a rift to the Tower of Sweet Chaos, and he’d be back to work.

“Ah, Red Velvet cookie.” Dark enchantress cookie strolled down the stairs. “I presume you’re ready to return to work then?

“Master!” He saluted. “I am, yes. I only await your rift, and I will be off.”

Dark Enchantress cookie reached the foot of the stairs, and stared at something in front of her. Invisible, intangible, yet present. “You know, I’ve opened this rift so many times.” She stretched her arm out, feeling where the tear in space would be. “It’s been used quite often since we arrived at this castle, all those years ago. It’s grown rather stable, in that time.” 

She turned towards Red Velvet cookie. “So stable, in fact, I’m sure even you could open it.”

“...Well, maybe you could teach me sometime! Or Pomegranate cookie could, I suppose.” He looked away a little.

Dark Enchantress cookie approached her commander. “...Red Velvet cookie. I believe you may already know how. You’ve known for some time. You did it just this morning, in fact.”

“W-what?” Red Velvet cookie stammered. “No, no, of course not. Pomegranate cookie must have opened it and left, I-I’m not sure, I was running rather late.”

“Don’t be coy, Red Velvet cookie. Pomegranate cookie forgot.” Dark Enchantress cookie stopped before Red Velvet cookie, towering over him. “She realized she had forgotten to fetch you moments before you entered the meeting today. She’s been rather disoriented today, hasn’t she?”

Red velvet cookie opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came of it. She was right. He looked down in shame.

“Why wait for me to come down these stairs?” Dark enchantress cookie asked. “You have much work to do. Surely you wish to get back to your fellow cakes, do you not?”

“Yes, of course master. I…” He looked up a little. “...I… perhaps… I just wanted to see you off, is all. Maybe… ensure that you’ve recovered.”

Dark Enchantress cookie smiled. “Ah, Red Velvet cookie. Your loyalty shines through your concern.”

Red Velvet cookie took a step towards Dark Enchantress cookie. “Please, master… Promise me you’ll recover. Please, take care of yourself. I can’t stand to think of what happened in the vanilla kingdom happening again.”

Dark Enchantress cookie took hold of Red Velvet’s cake hand. “Your concerns are warranted, however I am fine, I assure you. Although, if it puts you at ease, I will not leave this castle until my injuries are fully recovered. It shall not take long.”

Red Velvet cookie faintly smiled. That was as good of an answer as he’d get.

Dark Enchantress cookie stepped back towards the front of the stairs. “Now, come.” She gestured towards the nothing in front of her. “Show me what you’ve taught yourself.”

“...Yes, master.” Red Velvet cookie said, grabbing his knife from his back. He stepped in front of his master, held his blade in front of him, and closed his eyes.

He focused.

He knew this rift was here, he could sense its disturbance in front of him. He had been through it countless times.

He only needed to strike it.

He swung his knife through the space, and the sound akin of a forceful ripping of cloth rung through the area. Red sparks flew as the air itself was split, and a path to the tower tore open, revealing itself. Red Velvet cookie quickly moved through it, knowing he didn’t know how to make it stay open for long. Then, with a glance backwards, and a shared smile between commander and master, the rift in space mended itself, closing again into nothingness.

Chapter Text

Strawberry Crepe cookie was awestruck.

The upper city was much more interesting than the lower city, and they were already running around, taking in all the sights. Licorice cookie and Pomegranate cookie strolled behind them, at a well enough pace to keep up with their erratic patterns.

“Look at this place! It’s so… beautiful! And efficient!” They said, amidst their bouncing between notable landmarks, which in her eyes, was practically everything. “These roads seem to be laid out to optimize foot traffic! And these drains are spaced exactly 47.5 millimeters apart! And these bushes look so well shapen, like it was just trimmed recently! Oooh! And that streetlight!”

Strawberry Crepe cookie ran over to the streetlight, using their wafflecrepe arms as stepping stools to reach the top. They looked all around the top of the pole, with the fascination of a child reading about dinosaurs for the first time. “Look at this! An initial observation would imply that they’re powered externally, likely from underground, but these panels at the top seem to power the bulb directly. I wonder what power they collect? Is it from the air? Or possibly the sun? Ooh! Or maybe-”

“Hey!” Licorice cookie called from down below. “Are you going to do this for every thing you look at here?”

“I might!” She responded from up top. “There’s so much fascinating stuff to analyze here!”

“You’ve been running around for longer than Pomegranate cookie normally spends talking about Dark Enchantress cookie!” Licorice cookie continued, ignoring the daggers Pomegranate cookie was staring at him, “What’s the big deal anyway? It’s just a street lamp, you see those everywhere.” 

“ Just a street lamp? It’s powered in a way I’ve never seen before!” Strawberry Crepe cookie floated back down to better refute Licorice cookie, in some regard making his comments successful, since they did get her back down. “In fact, there’s so much intriguing stuff here! I can’t wait to understand all of it! It’s all so detailed! And well maintained! …Actually,”

Strawberry Crepe cookie patted the ground with her foot, before stomping her foot into the ground, jumping up and down with as much force as their little body can provide.. To their surprise, not even a little dust kicked up. “Remarkable,” they mutter, before looking up, “This must be one of the cleanest places on Earthbread!”

“Yeesh,” Licorice cookie said, talking to Pomegranate cookie, “You’d think someone that small would run out of energy eventually.”

Pomegranate cookie sighed. “I suppose it’s understandable. They did spend many formative years in the ruins of a kingdom similar to this. It’s only natural that they would be curious.”

“Maybe we should have taken her somewhere else first?” Licorice cookie commented. “Somewhere… I dunno, worse?”

“...Yes,” Pomegranate cookie thought, “Perhaps the Dark Cacao kingdom would have sufficed?”

“...not that much worse,” Licorice cookie grumbled. “... never that much worse, if I can help it.”

Pomegranate cookie let out a quiet chuckle, before approaching Strawberry Crepe cookie, stopping them from following their train of curiosity down a sewer grate. “...Your fascination is truly a delight to observe,” Pomegranate said with a sort of off-handed tone, before turning away. “Now come, you may explore the city later, we have our destination in mind already.”

The three of them continued on their way through the Creme Republic, traveling through the parks and streets of the city. It took every bit of willpower Strawberry Crepe cookie could muster to not stop and inspect every individual machine they passed, and every bit of control Pomegranate cookie had to keep Strawberry crepe cookie on track when her willpower failed. Unfortunately for Pomegranate cookie, eventually a shadow from above blocked out the sun, causing Strawberry Crepe cookie to look up, in sudden awe and wonder.

“Woah!” Strawberry Crepe exclaimed, seeping with excitement. “What IS that?”

Pomegranate stopped, and looked up at the item of their fascination. “...Ah, I believe that is an airship. They are one of the republic’s main forms of transportation, they’re rather renowned here.”

“You mean there’s more of them?” the young cookie briefly looked at Pomegranate cookie in awe, before looking back up at the airship.

“There are many, yes. Now come, we shouldn’t delay, we are nearly there.”

“...You guys go ahead. I wanna try to analyze it from here.” Strawberry crepe didn’t look away from the airship as it moved, eventually having her squint directly into the sun.

“...Strawberry Crepe cookie, surely you won’t get a good view from here.” Pomegranate cookie said, starting to sound tired. “You would have to go to the port, where they dock.”

Strawberry Crepe cookie gasped. “You mean they land nearby? Can we go see them? I wanna go see them!”

“They are on the other side of the republic, we shall visit them another day, when you are more familiar with this land.”

“...Do you promise?” Strawberry crepe asked.

Pomegranate cookie sighed. “...If you serve our master well, then yes, I promise.”

“...Alright! Let’s go then.” Strawberry Crepe cookie finally stopped staring into the sun, and walked back over to Pomegranate cookie.

“Yes, let us go.” Pomegranate cookie said, before realizing Licorice cookie, too, had wandered off. “Licorice cookie? Where have you gone?”

“Hey guys, check this out!” Licorice cookie called over to them, looking into a storefront window. “They sell those sugar skulls over here! I haven’t had those things in forever!”

“Licorice cookie, please.” Pomegranate cookie walked over to him. “I can only manage one child at once.”

“Oh alright, fine.” Licorice walked away from the window, and the three continued.

Eventually, after a few more minutes of walking, and a dozen more distractions, they finally arrived at their destination, and Strawberry Crepe cookie was no less starstruck than they were when they arrived.

“Woah! What building is that?” They asked, tugging on Pomegranate cookie’s arm.

“The institute of Thaumaturgy.” Pomegranate cookie said, with all the pomp and circumstance of someone describing a pinecone falling from a tree. “It’s the main research facility in the republic.”

“Woah! Cool!” Strawberry crepe exclaimed, starting to skip towards the entrance, only to be stopped by Pomegranate cookie grabbing her by the back of her poncho. “Ah! Hey, what gives!”

“We won’t be visiting there, unfortunately.” Pomegranate cookie said, holding onto the child, not wanting to let them run off again. “We would arouse too much suspicion. We have no reason to go there today.”

“What? But I wanna see it! That’s plenty of reason!” Strawberry Crepe cookie pouted. 

Pomegranate cookie groaned, growing tired of babysitting. “Relax, child. I assure you, you will find our destination equally intriguing.”

“No way!” Strawberry Cookie flailed about, “I wanna go there! That must be one of the coolest places in the world! No way where we’re going is that cool!”

---

“...Alright fine, this is pretty cool too.” Strawberry Crepe admitted.

The three of them had entered a department store nearby the institute. Inside, there were rows upon rows of shelves and boxes, filled with all sorts of tools and mechanisms. This warehouse the three had entered wasn’t endless, but it had enough to keep someone occupied for hours trying to sort through it all. As much as Strawberry Crepe wanted to visit the institute, they couldn’t deny this place was similarly intriguing.

“So, uhh… what are we doing here?” Strawberry Crepe cookie asked, looking up at Pomegranate cookie.

“This place holds several technologies that the institute uses to build and study their robotics.” Pomegranate cookie said, looking around. “We will purchase anything you need to begin production.”

“Really? Anything?” Strawberry Crepe cookie’s eyes lit up. “Awesome!” They began to run off, before Pomegranate cookie once again grabbed her by the scruff of her collar.

“Try to get only what you need. Our resources are vast, but not infinite.”

“Alright, got it!” Strawberry Crepe cookie said, before running off, preparing to ignore that information entirely.

Pomegranate cookie watched as they ran off. She probably shouldn’t let them out of her sight, but it surely won’t be an issue, the store wasn’t that large. She stopped for a moment, taking a deep breath to regain some composure, as Licorice cookie came up next to her, with a shopping cart. 

“Tired already?” Licorice cookie asked, a bit of smugness in his voice, despite being equally tired.

“I thought that Poison Mushroom cookie was a handful, but at least his mannerisms make him easier to keep up with.” Pomegranate cookie sighed, and started scanning the market for Strawberry Crepe cookie. “Remind me to never have kids.”

“...You thought about having kids? That doesn’t sound like you.” 

“I hadn’t. This simply solidifies it.”

“Like, you went from a priestess, which I’m pretty sure don’t have kids normally, to a servant of the most evil cookie on Earthbread? I feel like those aren’t really parent-safe careers.”

“...Mhm.”

“And you’d be a terrible parent. Way to cruel. Kids would never stop crying.”

“...A wiser cookie would have stopped five sentences ago.”

“...Sorry.” Licorice cookie took the hint to stop the conversation, and scanned the store for their newest member, before realizing they had already run off far deeper than they realized. He eventually set off with the cart to look for them, with Pomegranate cookie following behind.

The two found her on the floor of one of the isles, sorting through several mechanical components. Behind her, they had already amassed a pile of technologies, stacked on top of several thick sheets of sugar.

Licorice cookie wheeled the cart over them. “Here, this will probably help.”

Strawberry Crepe cookie looked up at him and the cart, examining it for a moment. “...Uhh… I appreciate the thought, but… it looks kinda cheap. I can make a much better one at home.”

“What? No, we’re not taking it home,” Licorice cookie stammered, “It’s just to help you move stuff around here.”

“Oh! Yeah, that’s be really helpful actually, thanks!” Strawberry Crepe cookie reached dragged the cart over to her pile.

Pomegranate cookie began examining the pile of things they had already amassed. “...This sugar seems much finer than usual.”

“It is!” Strawberry Crepe cookie said, using one of their wafflecrepe arms to pick up the whole pile, and put it into the cart in one fell swoop. “It’s for the wafflebot cores, it’s fine enough to allow transmission between information sources, while still resisting damage. It was super rare in the Vanilla Kingdom, but they have a lot here!”

“...Surely, we can produce sugar this fine ourselves.” Pomegranate cookie said.

“Probably, yeah.” Strawberry crepe cookie started looking at other components on the shelves. “Do we already have any though?”

Pomegranate cookie thought for a moment. “I don’t believe so, but-”

“Then we should get it! It’ll be helpful to make more!” Strawberry Crepe cookie said over their shoulder.

Licorice cookie picked up some of the tools Strawberry Crepe had put in the cart. “Are you sure these are what we need? They seem kinda small.”

“Oh, they’re supposed to be. You use those on smaller parts, like circuits, and cores.” Strawberry Crepe cookie said, putting another component in the cart.

“Well, what about that? What does that do?” Licorice cookie asked, pointing at the new component.

“That’s a mechanical thermometer, it’s useful for precision ovens,” responded Strawberry Crepe cookie, “We’re gonna need it for baking the Wafflebot plating.”

Licorice cookie was starting to have fun with this. He pointed at another thing on the shelf. “What about that one then? What’s a photometer?”

“That’s a light sensor, it measures light levels, it’s great for adjusting camera sensitivity.”

“Ooh, and that one? A tach- ...tachometer? Is that right?”

“Yeah, it measures rotational speed, for stuff like fans and wheels.”

“How about that one? It says it’s a… hygrometer?”

“Oh, that measures the humidity in an area! it’s good to make sure internal components don’t spoil.”

“And that one?”

“That’s a… umm… huh.”

Strawberry Crepe cookie picked up the instrument. They tapped on it a little, trying to see what it would do. “...I don’t know what this one does actually. It measures something, probably?”

“Ah, an altimeter, it’s used to measure altitude above sea level,” a new cookie in a toga said as he approached. He had long, flowing maroon hair that seemed to bubble as it bobbed and swayed, with a citrus decorating his hair, and a similarly colored mustache and goatee. He picked up one of the altimeters, inspecting it. “Hmm, this seems to be a new model, actually, it’s perfect for what I need.”

“Ah, cool!” Strawberry crepe holds it high, before holding it low, seeing if they can see any difference. “Man, this would have been useful in the Vanilla Kingdom, huh?” they think out loud.

“The Vanilla Kingdom?!” The other cookie briefly looks confused, before incorrectly deducing that Crepe must be referring to the republic’s history. “Ah, yes. It would have been demonstrably useful for the early wafflebots, navigating the different tiers of floating islands.”

“Right? That’s what I was thinking!” Strawberry Crepe cookie exclaimed.

The maroon haired cookie let out a laugh, and looked towards the other two. “Your kid’s got a good head on her shoulders! Knowledge on useful applications for several instruments, and a memory for history to boot.”

Licorice cookie, remembering he was in a soldier’s uniform, realized he should probably say something. However, not having expected to meet one of the elders of the Creme Republic today, he froze up a bit. It wasn’t until Pomegranate cookie nudged him that he eventually stammered out “U-umm, Thank you! …S-sir!”

The elder looked down at the little cookie. “Apologies, I suppose I never introduced myself, I’m Mulled Juice cookie. What might your name be?” He extended his hand for a handshake.

Strawberry Crepe cookie took his hand enthusiastically. “Strawberry Crepe cookie! It’s nice to meet you, I don’t get to meet other smart cookies very often.”

Mulled Juice cookie let out a laugh. “Keep using that brain of yours, and I’m sure you’ll find yourself surrounded by other smart cookies in no time. I must be off now, but good luck with your projects!” He turned and waved behind him, as he strolled out of the isle.

Strawberry Crepe cookie waved back as he left. They hoped to meet him again.