Work Text:
"Dark Cacao Cookie..."
You open your eyes and find yourself in an all too familiar void, a freezing, empty abyss you've spent far too many nights in. You've become all too accustomed to this uncomfortable atmosphere, and no matter how many times you've fought against it in the past, you've never gotten to end this nightmare early. And so you stay here, waiting for the moment any semblance of warmth returns to bring you out of this place.
"Dark Cacao Cookie..."
You close your eyes, trying to ignore that all too haunting echo of your lost friend calling for you. Despite it having been so many years since his end, his soft, sweet tone still brings a horrid chill through your ears and into your very core, and every single time that wretched taunt of a voice grated against your soul, you'd experience it all over again. Flashes of those darkened halls, waves of that awful stench of burnt butter, and worst of all... him.
No matter how much time passes, those last fleeting moments of your dear friend will always stay perfectly engraved in your mind. His blonde hair, normally perfectly combed down the middle, had been completely disheveled, and that long, warm cape billowing behind him had carried a fury the likes of which you'd never seen since.
"Dark Cacao Cookie...!"
You feel as though something was there right in front of you, and opening your eyes, you find yourself faced with a blue light. Its glow is warm and all too familiar, and yet, despite that warmth, you still find yourself unable to will yourself to move or wake up.
"Dark Cacao Cookie, please..." The light appears to be the source of his voice... "There isn't much time..."
You want to protest, to fight against this unwanted presence, and yet, you couldn't. The pain inside you from this encounter has already managed to break down your ability to resist; it is a feeling you very much despise now more than ever.
"Dark Cacao Cookie... You must find me...!" He calls to you.
As you hear those new words, you suddenly see something you never expected. The light illuminating your body shows what appears to be a Cookie. It's caged in an all too familiar brooch, and yet this brooch appears to be almost burned into the Cookie's chest, and a similar round gem seems to be burned into his forehead where a mark should have been. The Cookie's light, disheveled hair, billowing cloak covering most of his body, and closed eyes bring you to a horrific realization that the one before you is-
You gasp, sitting bolt upright in your bed chambers. You cling desperately onto your surroundings as you try to ground yourself back into reality, and yet...
...You couldn't stop thinking about what you saw.
What was that beast? Was that really...
"Pure Vanilla Cookie...?" you breathe.
Before you could ponder further, you lay a trembling hand on your blanket, and you flinch uncontrollably. Looking down at it, you remember where you got it from. It was a gift from Pure Vanilla Cookie long ago, and as much as you wanted it gone from your sight that instant, the memories of those dreams seemed to have sapped your willpower once more.
Suddenly, you notice something gleaming and look over. Your Soul Jam, resting rightfully within the Grapejam Chocoblade at your bedside, flickers with a reassuring shine. You couldn't help but reach for it, and you held your sword close as you pondered about what had happened and what you should do now.
And why wouldn't you? It is the only thing that can possibly calm you now...