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Chapter Text

[Ollie]

Olivine Nguyen was a simple person who liked the simple things in life, and it showed.

She was a rather scruffy-looking Asian girl with thick, rectangular glasses and a body built like an overstuffed teddy bear. But that didn't matter when all she did was just sit around all day and do homework.

She liked to kick back, listen to her friends chat online while drawing digitally and sipping a nice, sweet cup of Thai tea. It was hard to get a break these days with how much time she's spending in college, but hey, it's winter break!

Ollie lets out a snicker as she finished up a sketch, hearing her friends talk about the weirdest things they've eaten. "Have any of y'all eaten sand before? I'm pretty sure I've eaten at least a bucketful of that stuff when I was a stupid kindergartener, haha..."

"Nah, man, that's rookie stuff! I've eaten birds nest soup- although, I got hella sick after that..."

"You're wrong- bugs are where it's at! I've eaten fried grub before, it's surprisingly crunchy-"

She hums as she starts on the lineart, but she's interrupted by her mom opening the door. "Ah, shit- sorry guys, I gotta go- my mom's tellin' me to do something."

"See ya!" With that, she takes off her headphones and levels a slightly miffed expression at her mother. "Mẹ ơi - kỳ ý ạ? (Mom, what is it?)"

"Giúp nấu ăn với em - cô và cậu đến thăm. (Help your brother cook - your aunt and uncle are coming over.)" Her mom hurries her into the kitchen, and Ollie makes a face, taking her laptop and carrying it over to the counter.

She sees her younger brother rolling out some cookie dough- the kind you'd see pre-packaged in an American supermarket. "Oi, shitass-" Her mom hisses at her to not curse, and Ollie sighs. "You're baking now? I thought you only knew how to cook."

"Mom over here-" Her younger shoots an annoyed glare at the older woman, who crosses her arms at his tone. "Said that since it's gonna be Christmas soon, I gotta be baking some cookies."

"Tch, as if you know how to bake." Ollie drawls, using her laptop to pull up a recipe. "Chocolate chip?"

"Mhm." Her brother confirms. She's left helping him preheat the oven, and she squints as she scrolls down the cooking website to see how exactly to bake.

The hierarchy of cooking skill in her family went like this- it went from her mother (the designated main cook fo the family), her brother, herself, and then her father. On one end, her mother could cook a mean beef curry and rice dish, but didn't have a lot of experience in baking. On the other hand, once her father burnt a microwave pizza so badly that it was nothing but a hard, black disc.

Yeah. This wasn't going to go well, wasn't it.

Ollie sets the tray with cookie dough inside the oven, and glances to her brother. He's already finished his job, so he's already scuttled back to their room to play more Roblox or something.

Ollie shrugs. Shit, guess I'm supposed to be the one watching the cookies.

She pulls out her phone, idly swiping through Tumblr until she sees some fanart and is reminded- oh yeah, I've got that game they recommended.

The girl had seen all that fanart of that blue jester twink, and her friends had recommended she played this gacha game for the hell of it. She wasn't really keen on spending money and time on it until they said that it was full of cool lore (and hot men and women), and then she decided to give it a try.

She found it cute. Ollie progressed rather slowly on the story mode because she was a gambling FIEND and preferred to spend her time reading fanfictions or looking at fanart of said hot characters, so yeah. She'd only progressed through six episodes of the first continent.

Currently, she was just collecting all of the materials from her farms, organizing her kingdom, reading up on the lore of the new cookies she pulled...

"Aughhhh WHY. WHYYYY." She complains out loud, after having lost the Game of Cards again. "FUCK you Royal Margerine Cookie, you absolute hack- that's my fifth black joker in a row! Fuck you!"

Again, she'd just lost five cookie cutters to him, so she's pissed. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath and calms herself. "It's okay, I've got like one more try left..."

"..."

"FUCK." She's lost again. Ollie really does have shit RNG, huh.

After an hour or so of just wasting her time managing her kingdom and playing through story mode, Ollie sniffs the air and her eyes widen.

"Oh damn it, did I forget-?" She rushes over to the oven, and squints her eyes. It's practically smoking inside, the glass pane obscured with grey smoke and the cookies probably long ruined.

"Damn it! Ozwald and mom's gonna be so mad at me- I gotta make this right-" She leans down and opens up the oven, ignoring all the warning signs.

Immediately, there's a loud 'FWOOSH-BANG!' as the oven fucking explodes in her face, sending her body flying back and a chunk of scalding hot metal through her head.

Her vision goes BLACK and PAIN, SEARING PAIN- then it quickly fades to nothing.

The only lucky thing about her death was that it was quick enough for her to not feel that much.

H-huh... what was I- wait. FUCK. Damn it, I've made a mess of the whole kitchen! Mom and Dad are going to be so mad at me!

Wait, no, I died... shit, that makes it even worse! Now they're gonna freak out and have to call the cops to clean up my dead body! That isn't cheap, I don't want them wasting their money on cleaning up my own mess!

... How odd. You've died, and yet the only concern you have is of your family's plight. Does it not matter to you that you have just left the mortal coil?

Dawg, in this economy? Me dying is just one less mouth to feed for them. And- wait, who the hell are you?! Where am I?!

You're dead, little mortal. Is that not obvious?

Well, YEAH, but where AM I now. Heaven? Hell? Nirvana? I doubt that it's the first one, but hey.

You are in the in-between of reality, little mortal. Your soul floats endlessly through the voidsea, and you are at a crossroads in your path. Fortunately, a higher being such as myself has a little proposition.

Huh... shit, this is the beginning of one of those isekai plots, isn't it? It's exactly like those manga and manhua I read!

Very good! You seem to be familiar with the premise, little mortal. Or should I refer to you as little Ollie?

How do you- oh wait, right. Godlike knowledge fuckery, I guess. Call me whatever, I don't give a damn. Just- where am I going to be isekai'd?

Hm... perhaps it is obvious. Or do you need a refresher on those very tropes you know?

...

You've got to be shitting me. Earthbread? From Cookie Run Kingdom?! I barely know the lore- I'd be a sitting duck!

Ah ah ah, little Ollie- I would not let my dear source of entertainment die so quickly and be so helplessly boring. Due to your... promising future, I'm willing to bestow you several boons, one of which you get to choose yourself.

So you're giving me a power? Any power, in return for me being 'entertainment'? You're a typical god aren't you... trying to wring entertainment and chaos outta me.

Please, little mortal- don't you humans do the same with your video games and books and movies?

... You make a fair point. Let me think my boon over- it should be something that'll help me the most.

Very well then.

...

...

I would like to take my knowledge with me to another world. Please, allow me to bring my laptop to Earthbread, and give it access to everything on the Internet. I want to know EVERYTHING, and... I want it to only be able to be used by me and me alone.

I cannot let knowledge that only humans know fall into the hands of the cookies. It's only a recipe for disaster.

Hehehe... as always, little mortal. You are a rather curious little thing. It's what I've liked about you, Olivine.

... Why do you talk like you've met me before? Have you been... stalking me?

Hmm, nothing of that sort. It's more of like I'm familiar with someone like you.

Ah, well. Might as well get it over with. Now- did you grant my wish?

Only after your new body gets made, little one. It's a rather fascinating process, you see- you might have to face a bit of a tribulation before you awaken once more.

Tribulation? What... what do you mean?

Oh, don't you worry your cute little head, mortal. Think of it as an unskippable cutscene. Gotta go through it to get your other powers, if you wanna survive on Earthbread!

W-wait! What do you mean?! It's not gonna hurt, is it?!

Hehehe... if it wasn't a sin to lie, I'd tell you that it'll be sweet and easy.

But it isn't. Toodle-oo, little mortal!

The Tale of the First Kitchen was something that almost every cookie knew. Although, most of the facts were lost to time, with the witches being revered as their creators rather than the malevolent forces they were.

But there was another legend less known amongst the cookie-kind, one that was lost to time after the record-keepers and archivists of the chaos of iron and flame crumbled.

Legend says that the Divine Witches had a helping hand in their midst- a magic-less witch that helped them diligently knead the dough and stoke the flames of the oven.

She was only known by her title: Gretel.

The cookies of the ancient times say that this holy being was taken under the wing of the Witches, studied the divine magic of creation, and helped them discover the secret of Life Powder.

But... that was not how the true story went. Just as how the Witches went from eating cookies to being benevolent figures in their mythos, the true tale of Gretel had been distorted with time and mystery.

In reality... it went a little something like this.

Gretel was only one of two siblings who had stumbled upon the Witches' hut, having been lured in by the sugary-sweet appearance. Hungry and tired from their time away from home, they eagerly accepted the delicious food that they had given them.

Alas! It was only a cruel deception. Unlike the story you and I both know, they were far less perceptive and far more desperate. Gretel's own gluttony led her to eat far more than she'd needed, and Hansel's own envy of his older sister meant that he was more focused on upstaging her than actually trying to run away. And so when the witches asked them to both check if the First Oven was hot enough...

Both the sister and the brother were shoved and locked inside. They screamed and pleaded, cried out for their mother and father, cried out for anyone who could save them.

... Neither of them left the Witches' hut.

[Dark Enchantress Cookie]

"Ahahaha! Oh, it feels so good to be finally back, after all this time!" Dark Enchantress Cookie gloats, stretching out her arms and swinging her staff. "I've been trapped in that dreadful magical confinement for ages... to think that I still feel as strong as before!"

"Indeed, master!" Licorice Cookie looks practically star-struck and overjoyed at seeing his previous master, bowing in reverence. "It's been so long! We greet you with all of our loyalty and dedication!"

"Ah, truly it is a fortuitous occasion,  Master." Pomegranate Cookie flourishes her mirror and bows as well, deeper than Licorice Cookie in order to one-up him. She narrows her eyes, and Licorice Cookie's eye twitches.

Dark Enchantress Cookie regards all of the other cookies present with her, having teleported them back to their old base at the Cake Tower. Dark Choco Cookie regards her distrustfully, and Schwarzwälder is cheering in the back.

Poison Mushroom Cookie is hiding behind Licorice Cookie, tugging at his dark robes and shyly tilting their head. Red Velvet Cookie is in front of all of them, kneeling with his sword planted in front of him. "We have awaited your return, Dark Enchantress Cookie."

"It seems like you all are here, my loyal suboridinates." Dark Enchantress Cookie chuckles, and rubs her chin. "Although you have suffered some losses from those... upstarts, I suppose you have all done well."

"Thank you, Master! We only wish to do the best for you!" Licorice Cookie says. He's the most enthusiastic out of all of them for Dark Enchantress Cookie's return, although Pomegranate Cookie is similarly pleased, just hiding it inside. 

"Hm. All of you- perhaps we need to bolster our forces a bit more. I heard that those cookies from the new Cookie Kingdom... yes. I've heard that they've bested you in combat."

"Tch. Of course they did- you sent Licorice Cookie and Pomegranate Cookie." Red Velvet Cookie crosses his arms. "Those two are at each other's necks almost all the time."

"Are you insinuating that I am unable to complete my missions out of- petty rivalry?!" The former priestess spins her mirror, and glares at Red Velvet Cookie. "Watch your mouth! I am not as foolish as to jeopardize my Master's plan!"

"Is not! She's just being all uppity again and trying to get in the way of our plans!" Licorice complains.

"SILENCE!" Dark Enchantress Cookie shouts, and the two of them cease their arguing. "Apologies, Master." "Sorry, Master."

"As much as I appreciate your efforts towards my noble goal, you all are being beaten by those fools. How?"

"W-well, it's perhaps because they're summoning more cookies as allies?" Licorice Cookie stutters. "I recall those four... brats having new companions every time they go out to defeat us. Are they using..."

"Hmm... Cookie Cutters, yes? I see." Dark Enchantress Cookie narrows her eyes.

Cookie Cutters, to the residents of Earthbread, were rare one-use artifacts used to summon a random individual to you. Due to their scarcity, they were often found in the hands of more powerful individuals, either used as quick transportation or getting more manpower during the Dark Flour War.

They also were used to make Cookies, but that was something only the Witches could do with their magic and Life Powder. Dark Enchantress Cookie thought this over.

"So those fools have been relying on luck alone to obtain more allies? Hmph!" Dark Enchantress Cookie gets an evil smile on her face. "Let's show them how a real summoning is done- with the help of my dark magic!"

"Come along now- let us go to the First Oven!"

Her followers trailed behind her, walking the long distance while Dark Enchantress Cookie simply floated along with her own magical power. She stops in front of the massive, fiery gates of the First Oven.

"Behold! Although it has long since been unmanned by the Witches, at this point- the First Oven still has all it's power since the Dark Flour War." She smirks. "Red Velvet- surely you remember how your dear cakes were created here?"

"Indeed, Master." He bows his head. "I must thank you, for without your permission, the Cakes would have not been as prosperous and well-spread around Crispia. Their lives are all thanks to you."

"Yes, yes. But that is then, and this is now." She flairs her staff out, levitating a single, shiny Cookie Cutter. "What you are about to witness is far different- a cookie summoning, conducted at the First Oven!" 

The dark cookies whooped and hollered, excited to see their Master's power. Dark Enchantress Cookie laughs. "With this- we'll welcome a new member to our merry band! If fate favors us, then- we'll have another powerful underling under my command!"

She takes some raw dough, and rolls it down with her magic. Dark Enchantress Cookie wields the metal Cookie Cutter, slamming it down on the dough and cracking the surface. It gleams with orange-yellow magic, and her dark magic seeps into it as she places it into the fiery pink depths of the First Oven.

Dark Enchantress Cookie begins to chant. "Double, double, toil and trouble; fire burn and caldron bubble! Summon power unheard of before, from lands yonder and from times yore!"

"Rise, my new minion!"

The fire explodes with power. It flares up, rising to five times the size of a normal cookie, licking and consuming the dough inside.

"Yeees... YEEEES!" Dark Enchantress Cookie cackles, anticipating the best. "With this cookie- we'll eventually be able to overthrow the witches! Rise!"

The blaze of orange glory dies down into a peaceful simmer, leaving nothing but the smell of delicious chocolate and spice. There's a coughing, wheezing sound from inside the First Oven as the dark cookies looked inside, curious to see who was summoned.

It's a rather pathetic-looking thing, shorter than the rest of them by a good margin. Not as small as Poison Mushroom Cookie, of course, but she was only bigger because of her big, poofy hair and the two wafer antennae on her head. They twitched as she got up from her knees, unsteady.

The new cookie had glasses on her face, with slitted pupils similar to Red Velvet's left eye. Her form was wider to accentuate that pitiful stoutness of hers making the cookie seem more like a lazy, gluttonous bug than any real fighter.

"Are you kidding me?! All of that magic, for- this?!" Licorice Cookie exclaimed, looking the arrival up and down. "That was a single Cookie Cutter, wasted on the likes of that!"

"Tsk, you dare question Master's results?" Pomegranate Cookie hisses at her coworker. "Surely the great Dark Enchantress Cookie summoned someone worthy to be on our side! To question her summon is to question her!"

"Hmph." Dark Choco Cookie looks at the new cookie, who's slowly getting to her feet and wobbling, stumbling forward in a panicked manner. "She smells like chocolate, but not of the Dark Cacao Kingdom's sort."

"Who... where..." She rubs her eyes, panting heavily. "I- no, no... not this damn oven, get me out of this damnable oven-!"

"Hmph. You there, little insect-" Dark Enchantress Cookie points her skull-staff directly at the newcomer, who yelps in shock and leans back a little. "What is your name?"

"I- um..." She stutters a bit, looking at all of the cookies in front of her with shock and surprise. "I... Choco Thai Tea Cookie. Just call me Thai Tea, if you've already got another- um."

Her eyes dart around, and she takes a deep breath. There's an awkward silence for a few minutes, and she speaks.

"Why have you summoned me here." Thai Tea's voice is different from before, more strained and serious. She sounds like she's carefully considering the situation. "What do you intend for me to do."

"Why, serve me, of course." Dark Enchantress Cookie chuckles, and lowers herself down from her levitation in order to look down on the new cookie. "Seeing that you haven't been screaming at us and calling us monsters or heretics- well. It leads me to assume that you're interested."

"I'm just... considering my options." Thai Tea carefully words her response. "I'm a very careful girl, after all. Mama told me never to sign any contracts without knowing what's in store."

"Your mother was a very clever woman, in that case." Dark Enchantress Cookie response. Schwarzwälder, Pomegranate Cookie and Licorice Cookie already seem bored by all of the talking, but Dark Choco and Red Velvet Cookie are assessing their newest hire. Poison Mushroom Cookie doesn't seem to care.

"Thank you." Choco Thai Tea Cookie clears her voice, and Dark Enchantress Cookie leads her to the banquet hall. The rest of her followers take their seats at the table nervously, while Thai Tea politely pulls a chair out and sits on it.

"Come on, come on- have some food. It's my treat."

"My mother also told me not to accept food from strangers, especially spellcasters." There's a twitch in Thai Tea's eye. "As... gracious as this is, I would like to politely decline. Thank you, and I am sorry."

"Ah, no need." Dark Enchantress cookie regards the newcomer in a more analytical light.

Clever and cautious. She seems to have some promise, after all. She folds her hands on the table. "So tell me- do you know the true purpose of Cookies? The reason why we have been brought to life?"

"..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie narrows her eyes. "If you're talking about what happens during the Banquet of the Gods... you don't need to tell me. I know."

"Ah, so you see my dilemma." Dark Enchantress Cookie relaxes. And she's already seen the truth. Hehehe- a perfect new subordinate! "Isn't it unfair? For our own creators to make us with our own hopes and dreams, only to dash them and consume us like cattle?"

"I suppose so. But life is often unfair, even without the Witches conspiring against us."

"Yes, yes! So my plan- the crux of my whole mission- is to find a power greater than the Witches themselves. Find a way to rebel against their wicked machinations, and give peace and freedom to both Cookies and Cakes!" Dark Enchantress Cookie feels her heart race at the idea of her goals.

Thai Tea, on the other hand, seems to think it over with more apathy. "Are they not leagues above us in power? Even with your... magic." She spits out that word with some vitriol, as if she was uncomfortable with it. "They still physically and magically overpower us."

"What part of 'finding a power greater than them' did you not understand?" Dark Enchantress Cookie scoffs.

"Yes, I heard you right the first time. But tell me-" Choco Thai Tea Cookie folds her hands together. "Do you even know their names? How they function? How their own brand of magic works?"

"Do you understand the very process of our creation? The way they have created Earthbread and placed us under these... skies?"

The mood in the room seems to shift to a more uncomfortable one, as the rest of the cookies begin to see how this unassuming, weak-looking cookie is more than she seems.

"Fascinating... you're thinking that far ahead." Pomegranate Cookie muses. "As disgraceful as you appear, there might be some use for your sorry little existence..."

Dark Choco Cookie raises an eyebrow. Dark Enchantress Cookie herself seems to consider her words.

"My, my... are you perhaps more of a scholar than a fighter, little one? Do you wish to learn more about the witches for our glorious mission?"

"And what if I am?" She tilts her head, tapping her hand on the table. "You seem to have no need for intellectuals. You already have a... you are a priestess, correct?" The cookie levels a glance at Pomegranate Cookie. "You already have a priestess at your side. And you seem to favor fighters, not thinkers."

"Perhaps I can make an accommodation for you, then." Dark Enchantress Cookie smirks, and holds out her hand. "I see that you have potential- just think of what you can discover about the Witches when you join our side!"

"And then, once we've learned every nook and cranny of their power... we'll take them on and overthrow them!"

There's a beat of silence. Choco Thai Tea Cookie pauses her fiddling, and slowly gets up from her seat.

"Ah. I see how it is." She turns to the rest of them, and glances them all over. "You're still indulging in that... frankly, impossible mission."

"Excuse me?!" Licorice Cookie gets up as well, his scythe in hand. "You DARE question our Master-?!"

"Honestly? I think it's something that no cookie can be able to do without irreparably destroying your world and yourself." She turns her nose up at Dark Enchantress Cookie, but politely pushes the chair back and turns away. "I am sorry- but goodbye. I will not join you on your... foolish suicide mission."

Dark Enchantress Cookie blinks, and the tension in the room doubles. Hmph. I guess it was a mistake to try this little experiment out, after all... summoning a cookie doesn't guarantee their loyalty.

However... I can't just let her walk out. She's seen too much of our plans and our base.

"And who says you had a choice?" Dark Enchantress Cookie points to her with her staff, and commands the rest of the dark cookies. "Dark Choco, Werehound Brute- stop her."

The prince of the Dark Cacao Kingdom looks conflicted at having to do this to someone so much smaller than him, but the both of them block the door out. Thai Tea's face morphs into confusion, and then slight panic.

"See, I summoned you here with the hopes that you would help me and my subordinates thwart some new upstarts." She drawls. "I can't have you running about, telling them about my plans- and right after you've seen the Cake Tower, too."

"Let me go." Choco Thai Tea Cookie's voice is strained, trying to remain calm as possible. "I assure you- I will not. My objective is to live a quiet life and continue my research in peace-"

"Ah, that research. Can't have such precious knowledge and potential fall into the hands of those who are unworthy, hm?" Dark Enchantress Cookie smirks. Pomegranate Cookie readies her own magic, and uses it to assess Thai Tea.

"She has naught but a small lick of magic, Master." She said, her tone condescending. "I suggest you dispose of this insect instead of keeping her around."

"My, my." Licorice Cookie grins as he summons three Licorice Servants, raising their blades. "Master! Please let me do the honors of disposing of her!"

"Very well, Licorice. Do as you please." Dark Enchantress Cookie waves her hand, and Licorice Cookie's grin gets wider.

"Minions- attack!" He points at Thai Tea, and they rush towards her.

[Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie]

No no no no NO! She's panicking, not sure of what to do. Come on, what am I supposed to do here?! I'm gonna die! AGAIN!

She panics as she balls her hands up into fists, and whips her head back. Dark Choco Cookie looks down at her with an apologetic, guilty look, and her way out is blocked. Damn it! NO!

"NO!" She dashes forward, seeing only one way out of this dilemma- fighting. Thai Tea grits her teeth, her mouth instinctually forming a wide, toothy grin- and she slams her hand into the first Licorice Servant.

It flies across the room and directly into Licorice Cookie's gut, sending him flying as well and he slams into the wall with a loud 'crack'.

Everyone goes quiet. The two other Licorice Servants (and the one that hit it's master) had poofed out of existence. Licorice Cookie is knocked out, the solid wall behind him having some cracks.

"W-wait... what?" She looks down at her fists- er, her nubs for hands in the shape of fists. They seem completely normal for an average cookie. How did I...

"Hm?" Dark Enchantress Cookie furrows her brows. "No, that cannot be right- tch! Red Velvet! Deal with her- Licorice has proven himself a failure once more!" She'd expected Licorice to fail, seeing that the dark mage was a frail cookie without his magic.

"Yes, my master!" Red Velvet Cookie takes his sword, and points it at Choco Thai Tea Cookie. "You there- stand down, and I will make your death quick. I do not wish to harm someone smaller than me!"

"I- I-!" Thai Tea panics, and she barely dashes to the side before the sword crashes down where she once stood. "Ack! Leave me alone!"

Dark Enchantress Cookie regards the cat-and-mouse chase of the little cookie in front of her with some annoyance and frustration. Here she was, wasting a Cookie Cutter only to get an uncooperative cookie, and not a new servant as she's expected.

"Come on, give up! Either join us or die!" She yelled. The enchantress spins her staff around, pointing it at Thai Tea Cookie. "I can give you all the power you want! All the fame, all the riches- anything!"

"Agh- as if I have any need for those things!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie scrambles under and around the table of the banquet, creating a mess as Red Velvet Cookie swings his blade down and accidentally destroys a chair instead.

"Fine then! If you're going to be so stubborn- then I'll end you right here and now!"

And that's when Dark Enchantress Cookie makes a grave mistake. See, she didn't know it- but Choco Thai Tea Cookie Ollie had a thing against magic. She'd been forced into that memory about Hansel and Gretel, forced to feel herself get tricked and captured by the witches, forced to feel as they used magic on her and cooked her alive-

So the magic chains that snapped around her arms and legs made her freeze up, and begin to spiral into a frantic terror. Dark Enchantress Cookie slowly drags her body up to look her in the eye, threatening her. “You have one last chance, foolish insect. Either join me now, or face my wrath.”

“A-ah- no, no no no- no! Let go of me! Let-!” She struggles against the chains, getting more and more scared and desperate as her rationality slips away.

”No? Well, what a shame.” Dark Enchantress Cookie spins her staff, and magic begins to crackle around the air. “I thought I wouldn’t have to do this… but goodbye.”

Ollie’s fear reaches a crescendo as the familiar feeling of magic makes her body react in visceral terror, remembering the last time she Gretel had been trapped and bound by magical means.

”Get AWAY FROM ME, WITCH!” She screeches, throwing her head back and yanking her body against the chains.

Despite Dark Enchantress Cookie’s prowess in the dark arts, they shatter like glass with that desperate tug, something interrupting the very matrix of the spell and rendering it useless. Dark Enchantress Cookie only has a second to react before Olivine lunges at her with all the fear, desperation and violence of a cornered animal.

SHE’S A WITCH SHE’S GOING TO KILL ME AND EAT ME AND BURN ME TO ASHES- 

And when animals are cornered, when they see no way out and they’re surrounded by the possibility of death…

They bite.

Ollie opens up her mouth, feeling her jaw snap and her teeth bare (wait, she didn’t have teeth in this form) and the skin around her lips contort into a feral grin-

It’s a blur to her, her vision getting worse as she panics. All she remembers is the sound of a resounding ‘click’ like when her teeth snap shut, and the taste of red velvet cake and jam fill her mouth.

She’s delirious, her head fuzzy with stress and her eyes unfocused. She tastes the massive chunk of cake she’s just bitten into, so big and full that she does what her instinct tells her, which is to swallow.

Ollie- Choco Thai Tea Cookie- gulps it down. It travels down her throat and settles in the pit of her stomach, giving her a sense of fullness that filled the empty void, for now.

Delicious.

She hears… screaming? Yelling? The girl blinks her eyes a bit and her vision refocuses to see the dark cookies in front of her, all with varying expressions of shock, horror, aggression-

And Red Velvet Cookie stumbling in front of Dark Enchantress Cookie, his mismatched eyes wide as his cake arm was completely gone.

Oh FUCK.

[Red Velvet Cookie]

He’s loyal to Dark Enchantress Cookie and Dark Enchantress Cookie alone, because as cruel and callous as she could be at times, she was also the only cookie that cared about him and the Cake ‘monsters’. She’s give him his arm, saved him from being eaten by the Witches- why wouldn’t he dedicate his life to her?

So when that ingrate broke out of his master's spell, of course he'd jump in front of her to strike her down! It was his job to protect Dark Enchantress Cookie as the commander of the darkness!

"Stop right there! I command you to- AAAGH-!"

There's a sharp, guillotine-like feeling on his arm as a menacing 'CLACK!' fills the air, making it disappear into thin air. He stumbles, dropping his saw onto the ground with a metallic clatter.

"RED VELVET!" The other cookies react in various ways- some in horror, some in shock- honestly, he didn't expect Pomegranate Cookie to look so surprised at what had happened, nor did he expect that sort of terror from Schwarzwälder.

Licorice Cookie can't really react because he's knocked out, but oh well.

He turns his head up to where Dark Enchantress Cookie is standing, but instead of her usual smug or malicious expression, there's a hint of fear in that completely stunned expression.

"What... was that?" She whispered to herself, and from the looks of it, even his master didn't expect what had just happened. "What sort of magic..."

Choco Thai Tea Cookie is hunched over, her face obscured by her massive chocolate hair. She tilts her head up, her eyes glazed over with an unresponsive look, but there's a glimmer of hunger that terrifies even Red Velvet Cookie.

His arm is gone. His arm is gone. He's just processed that, looking back to where the limb was- and he sucks in a horrified gasp. Her antennae twitch at the sound. Everyone else is screaming for him to get back, as Thai Tea blinks and the awareness returns to her eyes.

"Ah-? Aaaah- AAA-!" She scrambles back, also terrified. It's like she has no idea what she's just done as well. "AAAAA-!"

She lets out a screech that crescendos, and charges forward with all of the desperation of a fleeing animal. She pushes aside Pomegranate Cookie, knocks Schwarzwälder to the ground, and barrels through Dark Choco Cookie in order to smash open the door, running through the halls.

"After her!" Dark Enchantress Cookie commands, using her magic once again to try and ensnare the fleeing cookie. The chains break once more, tearing like paper as Thai Tea keeps on going.

Red Velvet Cookie is tagging along, running as fast as he can while several Cake Hounds follow him. He can't exactly fight, but he can still command the Cakes to go after her.

Dark Enchantress Cookie opts out of trying to bind the cookie again, growling as she summons fireballs and curses, hurtling them at the small cookie. While she manages to dodge some of them, others manage to land true on their target.

The magic slides off of her like soda off a Gem Mermaid's tail. The spells instead explode on the ground and walls, making it harder for Dark Choco Cookie and Choco Werehound Brute to chase her.

"How?!" Dark Enchantress Cookie screeches, charging up a stronger attack. "How are you doing this?! Those would crumble a normal cookie!"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie is still panting heavily, running as fast as her legs could take her. There's an end to the hallway, but the crystal-candy door is bolted shut with the strongest chains they had-

Aaaand it all proceeded to go to hell once the little bug-like cookie slammed directly through the door, cracking it to pieces and shattering the candy-brick walls of the room.

"..."

"..." There's a shared silence between Schwarzwälder and Dark Choco Cookie while they slow down sightly, eyes wide at the sight. They would have had difficulty breaking down that door, and she just went through it in a panic?

"What are you doing, you imbecilic fools- keep on going after her!" Dark Enchantress Cookie screeches. "Pomegranate Cookie- stop her with an illusion!"

"Face your darkest fears in the name of my Master, pathetic insect!" Pomegranate Cookie waves her mirror, and the world shifts around them hazily as she casts the powerful spell.

There's a beat as Thai Tea punches through the mystical Illusion as well, shattering it to pieces and making Pomegranate recoil with a slight wail. "Ah!"

It's a dead end, with only a brick wall leading outside to a sheer drop downward. Choco Thai Tea slams through the wall, screaming in terror as she falls down to the dirt hundreds of feet below.

What they don't know is that for a human like her, that height would have only been the size of a kitchen counter or so. And when she finally hits the ground arm-first, her dough holds and she doesn't crumble at all, instead recoiling and stumbling a bit before skittering off into the dark forest.

"DAMN IT!" Dark Enchantress Cookie roars, absolutely infuriated. "Everyone- I want that cookie CAPTURED! Not dead!"

"I want to know what sort of monster  I just summoned!"

Chapter Text

[Ollie]

Run run run, as fast as you can- because if you don't you'll get eaten again!

Her heart is pounding. Her vision is narrowed only to what's in front of her and she's kicking up dirt as she runs, her feet digging into the candy-floss grass.

Ollie- Gretel- Choco Thai Tea Cookie- she doesn't have the time to get an identity crisis. All that matters is getting away from that witch and getting out alive.

"H-help! Help!" She shouts out, panicked. Ollie's clouded mind doesn't really comprehend the fact that there's nobody here to help her, and that nobody knows that she even exists.

How sad. A new start at life, and she's left all alone, with no brother, no mother, no father. Just herself.

Nobody's here to help.

Her mind is still in overdrive half an hour after her escape from the Cake Tower, panting as she keeps pushing her straining muscles- no, her dough? It's unclear to her now. She pushes herself to keep on running, to endure.

You are not safe, her mind tells her in a hissing, violent whisper. Run. Keep running. You can never run too far.

But there's only so far that paranoia and adrenaline can take you. Her body begins to ache, and her breathing gets erratic as she slows down. She ends up leaning against a gnarled tree in order to catch her breath, and finally coughs her lungs out.

"A-agh..." She wipes her mouth, feeling her saliva dry up against her hoodie. "Am I... safe? How far..."

She looks back behind her. The Cake Tower is still in the distance, but it's far enough away that the massive, imposing walls and hard floors of the place were small against the horizon. And there were also the trees of the forest she was hiding in, which would make it hard for them to spy on her.

"How did I even get out of that alive?" Ollie has the urge to slide down the trunk and sit down, maybe even take a nap or rest- but no. She's still too close. She needs to see the Tower of Sweet Chaos far gone from the horizon, and maybe run a few more miles away to even feel safe enough to let down her guard.

She glances down at her new hand-nub-thing, flexing it to see how her body works. Ollie runs a hand down her other arm, feeling the grainy, doughy texture of her 'skin'.

It's weird. Feeling her new body, feeling the pressure and sensation of the action, but instead of feeling soft velvety human skin, she feels the slightly uneven, crumbly texture of cookie dough.

I should get a mirror. Ollie thinks. See how I've changed. Do I still have my hair? It looks brown, but... weird...

She doesn't know cookie anatomy. Ollie uses the temporary peace to mull it over, as she takes a more slow and steady pace of walking away to recover.

I can still see- but how? She raises her hand to where her eyes should be, and pokes it. "Hmph." I closed my eyes, and it felt like icing. But when I tried to rub it off, it didn't budge- just kind of smudged.

I should check what I have in my backpack, see if that weird voice kept it's promise...

Ollie pulls off her backpack, stopping to kneel on the grass as she digs through it. She pulls out something that felt familiar- the cold plastic-and-metal of her laptop. The metal laptop was completely different compared to the bright, whimsical world she was in- even the dark forest was a dark magenta hue.

Her own laptop was unchanged. Black screen and keyboard, grey casing. Nothing too special. Ollie notices a sticky note on the inside, and reads it.

"Hello, Ollie! I've taken the liberty of adding a few quality-of-life updates to your laptop. You'll see that it's absolutely unbreakable, and will always return to you, even if lost."

"That's not all- it's got all the information you requested within it, too. Nobody will be able to see what's on screen- it's completely polarized, with only your eyes being able to see it. Have fun!"

"Signed, [REDACTED]- your sponsor!"

"Really, now." Ollie sighs, and boots up her laptop, clicking on the web browser and checking if she can still access the internet's knowledge.

She finds that yes- she's still able to get on the Cookie Run Kingdom wiki, she's able to save stuff on her computer with no storage limit, holy fuck- but when she tries to comment on a Youtube video as a test, it simply displays an error message.

She can access Youtube, see other people's social media posts- just not interact in any way. And by seeing how it's constantly updating, Ollie figures that it'll be a good source of knowing what's happening at home.

"Alright... let's get to it, then... map, I swear to god let there be a map of Earthbread or Crispia or- ah ha!"

She pulls up the wiki and finds the interactive map. "Hallelujah! I'd kiss the guy who had this idea, but then again- I'm dead as hell." Ollie squints, and gets the gist of where she is.

Her plan was to get to the Cookie Kingdom nearby and beg for help. The protagonists, from what she's seen so far, are good-hearted but naive. As long as she doesn't act comically, blatantly suspicious, she'll get somewhere to hang out and recover.

And I'll be free from Dark Enchantress Cookie! Haha, take that, bitch!

She almost feels relieved at finally having a plan to follow, almost has her mind cleared from all the previous panic and terror- but then something else rises inside of her.

It's a familiar feeling. She feels a pull from her stomach, a sort of pseudo-hunger that she's always felt throughout the day in her everyday life. Ollie's signature flaw was that she was a glutton, and that had impacted not just her body, but her mind as well.

When you're so used to having a large, filling meal, you tend to expect that meal day in and day out. The hunger hormones, leptin and ghrelin, end up decreasing and increasing respectively.

But for Ollie, who was now stuffed in a smaller body that was far less effective than a human's body, had that hunger rise up and hit her once again. It gnawed at the pit of her stomach, clawed up her throat and made her teeth itch to sink into anything.

I... wha... Ollie flicks her eyes across the landscape, confused as to why she was feeling hungry right now, right after she'd just eaten Red Velvet Cookie's cake arm. "How the hell am I hungry again?" 

It's not maddening, per se- she still has the mental capacity to feel horrified at her own instincts. But her mind keeps on telling her to find something to eat and she feels so uncomfortable.

"Why, why..." She thinks back to the moment she was summoned, what she was capable of while running away from the cookies of darkness.

Smashing apart walls with monstrous strength. Magic bouncing off her body, as if it wasn't real to her. Her ability to snap her teeth and eat a chunk off a Cookie capable of killing her with a swing of his saw.

Am I still human, in some weird way? She realizes. It might explain all of those impossible feats she's done. Is my strength and power all dependent on... that?

Fascinating... but ugh! I can't! She shakes her head. This is a huge problem! It probably means that I'm gonna get hungry a lot, just like my old body! And I'll... I'll-!

She does NOT like the idea of getting too hungry, losing her rationality, and attacking a living, breathing person like a monster. She doesn't want to be a cannibal, as delicious and appealing as those cookies might look to her.

"No... no." She sucks in a breath, her steps slowing down as she pushes onward. "No, I refuse... I don't want to..."

And as if the world was playing some sort of cosmic joke on her... she stumbled across a dead body. Or rather, a dead cookie.

She'd briefly seen dead bodies, fragments and crumbles of cookies long dead since she's arrived, when she'd run away from the Cake Tower. Ollie had ignored them all, trying not to think of the implications and was much more preoccupied with running.

But now that she's safe enough, now that her mind is clear from panic and she can comprehend what she's looking at, it's... terrifying. Sad.

Ollie hasn't ever seen a dead body as a human. Her grandparents' funerals were closed-casket, and she didn't even have the heart to go up close to say her last goodbyes.

There's a disconnect between her and the dead cookie in front of her. All cartoonish, with a slightly stale but still aromatic smell of strawberry gummies.

There is a fork stabbed onto the ground, strawberry jam coating it's prongs. It seems to be the deceased's own weapon, used against her in her last moments.

The cookie in front of her has her entire upper right side broken off, leaking strawberry jam. She is wearing a white veil reminiscent of a nun's habit, with a chocolate-gold headpiece and a dark blue dress.

She was pretty. Prettier than what Ollie would ever be. Her 'hair' was a girly pink with a long-gone shimmer, and a weary, sorrowful look.

If Ollie was like her brother, she would have been envious of this cookie's looks. But she was her own person, and it was gluttony that defined her, not envy.

"A-ah- no. No no no..." Ollie grips her own jaw with her hand, but without her fingers, she couldn't squeeze her cheeks as strongly and a trickle of drool falls down her hand.

It becomes numb, for a second. She quickly pulls her cookie-hand back, tasting the dough that made up her skin. The place where her saliva had touched had went numb, a small tingling feeling.

Ollie recalls a fact about human saliva. Saliva contains the enzyme amylase, which breaks down starches into sugars. She makes a mental note to be careful around her own mouth- even her own body seems to be dangerous to herself.

You're human, Ollie. She tells herself internally as she stares down the peaceful corpse cookie. Cookies are made for eating. You are their natural predator- a wolf tossed into a world of little sheep.

It's better to eat the dead than to attack the living. Better to be a vulture than to be a wolf. Her hands twitch, and she looks down at the nun. "I..."

"I'm so sorry... but... I'm so hungry."

She didn't really... know how she managed to eat Red Velvet Cookie's arm. It was just her closing her eyes and snapping her mouth out of instinct. Did she do something?

If I was human, and it's affecting me... I probably have to try to find a way to bring out that "human" part in me. My new mouth, the one on my cookie body, isn't big enough to eat and swallow his entire arm in one bite.

So if I... She closes her eyes, and opens her mouth. Ollie makes that same biting motion as she leans forward, but nothing happens. She bites down on air.

"H-huh..." She tries again. Nothing. "D-don't tell me I have to..."

"No... She pales.

I have to actually eat her. Piece by piece.

Ollie almost drops the thing entirely, grabbing the fork off the ground and licking the strawberry jam off it's prongs. She almost convinces herself that the old jam is enough.

But no. Her stomach churns and screams with her with all of it's might. She's used too much energy running away from Dark Enchantress and doing those unnatural feats of strength.

Eat. Or else you'll end up eating SOMEONE instead of SOMETHING instead.

Ollie lets out a whimper. There's the sound of her non-existent stomach rumbling- an ominous thunder-like sound on a clear sunny day.

She kneels down, and opens her mouth for her first bite.

[Gingerbrave]

"Aw, man! I can't believe we just let her get away like that!" Gingerbrave complained, still upset at what happened back at the abandoned academy. "We really let ourselves get tricked by Dark Enchantress Cookie?!"

"Ohhh, this is bad, very bad!" Wizard Cookie is just as panicked, even though all of them are safe back in the Cookie Kingdom, having escaped the Academy using their hot air balloon. "She's one of the most wicked, evil cookies in all of Earthbread- with her freed, the only cookies able to defeat her now are the Ancient Heroes themselves!"

"T-that doesn't sound like good news... can we even find the Ancient Heroes to stop her?" Strawberry Cookie is curled up besides them, watching as Wizard Cookie flips through books and Gingerbrave paces back and forth. All of them were busy in the small library in their 

Custard Cookie the III pouts as he swings his legs back and forth from his seat. It's Chili Pepper Cookie who voices her annoyance the most. "Tch- I bet we can beat that old hag if we manage to find them! It's not like she's going to win, as long as we work together!"

The five of them were all trying to make sense of what was going on, after that battle with Licorice Cookie and his minions. He was really working with Dark Enchantress Cookie, huh?

"There's an awful lot of suspicious cookies, all working with Dark Enchantress Cookie... first there was Licorice and his minions, then there was that Choco Werehound Brute, and now Pomegranate Cookie!" Gingerbrave huffs. "Who knows what other cookies work for her!"

"Really, Gingerbrave..." Strawberry Cookie gently tried to comfort him. "You don't have to worry about that all the time. If we do find another one of her minions- we can always defeat them, just like we have before!"

There was comfort in the reassurance of his friends. Their journey was only just starting, their tribulations about to become more heavy and unsettling on their minds.

But for now, their only problem is planning on how to deal with Dark Enchantress Cookie.

"Cookies! Cookies!" One of the Sugar Gnomes rushes towards them, opening the door. "There's someone at the Kingdom!"

"Where?!" Gingerbrave jumped up, and was the first to go confront the Sugar Gnome. "Who are they?! Is it a bad guy?!"

"Well- we don't know..." He says. "But they just collapsed at the edge of the forest! It's a Cookie we don't know!"

"Oh my!" Custard Cookie gasps. "We gotta help them out! A new subject for my kingdom!"

"Hey hey hey!" Chili Pepper Cookie butts in, still suspicious. "We were JUST talking about all those suspicious cookies working for Dark Enchantress Cookie! What if she's a spy or something?!"

"That quickly? It's only been two days after we ran away from her!" Wizard Cookie exclaims. "I say we check her out- if she's trouble, we can deal with it!"

"So, what to do..." Gingerbrave thinks it over, humming. "All in favor of checking out the new cookie and being nice?"

Custard Cookie, Strawberry Cookie, and Wizard Cookie all raise their hands. Chili Pepper Cookie crosses her arms, pouting. "Dang it!"

"Alright, guess we're greeting them!" Gingerbrave opens the door, and walks outside into the clear blue sky and green grass. His friends follow behind him, seeing the Sugar Gnome waddle over to the place with an enthusiastic "doopity-doo!'.

They both stop in front of a cookie laying face-down on the dirt, clearly knocked out. She's got massive, fluffy chocolate hair with almonds in it, and a caramel-marshmallow topping drizzled above. Two wafer sticks are placed atop like antennae, completely still as she's snoring away.

She's wearing a comfortable hoodie like Strawberry Cookie, but black, and has orange pants. There's a massive fork gripped in her hand.

"Huh." Gingerbrave and the others didn't expect this. The new cookie appeared similar to how Gingerbrave passed out and was found by the Sugar Gnomes.

"Do you think she's dead?" Chili Pepper Cookie is already rifling through the stranger's backpack, and Gingerbrave has to pull her away with his candy cane. "Hey, don't do that!"

"Whaaat? She's like, super sus!" She complained. The stranger's antennae twitched at that word specifically, as if it was funny. "See?! Is she even really knocked out?"

Wizard Cookie turns her over with his staff, and he sees that she's actually sleeping, her rectangle glasses askew on her face. "Hmm... she looks like she's actually sleeping."

"Ah, ptooey!" The thief looks disappointed at that. "Well, at least I can nab her stuff..."

With the sunlight streaming down her face and all the chattering, the cookie begins to stir, her eyes cracking open. "U-ugh... that was so tiring..."

"Hey! She's awake!" Wizard Cookie exclaims. His friends turn around, and see the stranger sit up, rubbing their head blearily as they get adjusted to the light.

"Her eyes are pretty..." Strawberry Cookie shyly notes. It seems like the stranger heard her, because her antennae twitch and she blinks, as if surprised at the compliment.

"H-huh? Oh, thanks!"

"Wowie! A new subject!" Custard Cookie the III taps his scepter on her shoulder. "Hiya! Do you wanna serve under me as one of my loyal attendants?"

"Wha- huh?" She's even more confused at that.

"Ah, guys, guys- calm down! I'm pretty sure she's all confused from just waking up here!" Gingerbrave calms all of his friends down. "Hey- my name's Gingerbrave!"

"U-um... hello, Gingerbrave." The cookie holds out her own hand for a handshake. "I'm Choco Thai Tea Cookie- or Thai Tea for short."

"Oh wow, that's a long name..." Strawberry Cookie whispers. Chili Pepper Cookie scoffs, rolling her eyes as she looks the newcomer up and down. She doesn't trust Thai Tea in the slightest.

"Well, it's nice to meet you too, Thai Tea!" Gingerbrave chirps. "These here are my friends- Wizard Cookie, Strawberry Cookie, Custard Cookie, and Chili Pepper Cookie!"

The stranger regards them with some sort of curious fascination, strapping her fork to her back. "Oh wow..." She tilts her head, focusing on Wizard Cookie. "You are a magic-user, correct?"

"Well, duh, I'm Wizard Cookie, after all..." He says. Thai Tea hums a bit and her brows furrow.

"I dunno if I'm comfortable next to a magic wielder..." She says, slightly nervous. "After all, I just had this horrible encounter a day ago or so..."

"Oh my!" Gingerbrave exclaims. "What happened?" Custard Cookie also frowns, albeit in a more childish way.

"Well, I was just minding my business, doing my studies and such- when suddently, I was yanked far away from my home in front of this big, scary oven!" She complains. "Some rotten cookie used a Cookie Cutter to summon me, and I'd ended up in one of the Cake Towers!"

"Oh, that sounds terrible..." Strawberry Cookie says, worried for the new cookie.

"And get this- she was all old and scary and threatened me to join her. I said no, of course- and she attacked me!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie flared out her hands, waving them about. "Talk about a foul mood! I had to dodge all of these creepy cookies, and ran away into the forest nearby to escape!"

"Wait, creepy cookies?!" Gingerbrave exclaimed. Could it be?! "What was the name of the cookie who summoned you?!"

"Why, she said her name was Dark Enchantress Cookie! Terrible, no-good name, if you ask me!" She wails. "Oh, the horror!"

A-ha! So I was right- she DID run into Dark Enchantress Cookie!

"Why, that's terrible!" Wizard Cookie exclaims. "How did you get away?!"

"I had to jump out a window, and luckily, I landed somewhere I could run." She sniffled. "I ran until my legs hurt, and then I walked all the way here to try and find help..."

"Well, it's no problem- we can help you!" Gingerbrave exclaimed. "After all- we're trying to defeat Dark Enchantress Cookie somehow!"

"B-but she's so powerful..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie trembles. "I barely escaped..."

"Ahaha! Don't worry about that- we'll keep you safe in the Cookie Kingdom!" Custard Cookie exclaimed, all excited to see her be reassured by his words.

[Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie]

Ooooh my god. These guys are so naive. She thought. If this was an anime, she'd have one of those little sweat drop expressions.

They'd just... believed her like that?! Well, Chili Pepper Cookie was still suspicious, but she's a thief- that's to be expected!

"Really? Oh, thank you!" She exclaims, relieved. Sure, she was playing up her emotions, but there was an actual sliver of relief in her mind, because she does NOT know how the other kingdoms function.

If I stay in the Cookie Kingdom, and especially this early- it'll be easier to get used to! She gives them a smile, and sighs. "If there's a place I can stay, I promise I can do my own share of work..."

Chili Pepper Cookie scowls. "What do you do, anyways?"

"Oh! I'm a scholar!" Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie smiles, closing her eyes cutely. "I don't have a lick of magic in me except for my life powder, but I research biology and the life sciences!"

Well, in a sense, that's true. Thai Tea muses internally. I went to college for public health. Of course I know basic biology and such.

"Oh, wow..." Wizard Cookie seems to be happy at having another scholar in the Cookie Kingdom. "You study the beasts and animals of Earthbread?"

"Not exactly... I specialize in cookie biology!" Thai Tea says. "I'm looking for more texts and materials on the beasts and animals, so I can somehow compare them to cookie biology. It's a long and arduous task to find them!"

God, PLEASE let cookie biology be simpler than human biology or at least somewhat adjacent! She prays.

"That sounds so cool!" "Yeah, you can be like, a doctor or something!"

"A-ah, I'm not a doctor, only a scholar! I haven't finished my training-" OH DEAR GOD I DON'T WANNA COMMIT MEDICAL MALPRACTICE-!

And thus, she'd been welcomed into the Cookie Kingdom. Ollie had her own little cookie house with cookie furniture and such- it was still odd seeing herself wake up in a bed with a mattress made of sponge cake and blankets made up of fondant.

So weird... It feels as natural as sleeping with pillows and blankets of cotton, but I can also notice the oddities if I focus. Is this my human side remembering the differences?

Her new schedule went a little something like this- wake up late near the afternoon, when everyone was out and about. Get some breakfast from a nearby shop, which sold some fruit (thank the GODS they still had fruit) and meat jellies. It was... odd, eating meat that she knew wasn't meat.

It had this off-brand jelly texture that made it WEIRD to bite down into, but the taste was fine- amazing, actually!

She then went around in either the Jellybean Farm or the Sugar Quarry, depending on who needed it first. Funnily enough, she sometimes saw Custard Cookie the III work in the quarry as well.

The children yearn for the mines! She thinks, giggling as she sees him struggle with the pickaxe. "Need some help, squirt!"

"Please! And don't call me 'squirt'!" He pouts, stomping his feet.

"Alright, alright..." She chuckles, rolling her eyes. "I'll get to it, your majesty."

"Much better!" The young cookie beams, happy that she played along with his idea of being a future king.

"Ah, dang... to think I'd be doing- ugh! This!" She swings the pickaxe, breaking the sugar stones into smaller chunks and placing them into baskets. "I'd always thought I'd be stuck at that college, doin' my homework until I get out and get a desk job, haha..."

"Eh?" Custard Cookie looks confused. "College? What's that?"

"An academy, Custard." She explains. "Nevermind that- I'm about as satisfied as I can be. Adult stuff like jobs and responsibility is very hard and tiring- so have fun in your youth."

"You sound old!" He laughs, sitting on one of the sugar cubes and kicking his legs. Choco Thai Tea Cookie blanches. Oh god, I DO sound old! Please, I'm only twenty!

"A-ah, not that old..." She lets out a laugh, breaking down some more sugar cubes and hauling them off to a pile. "I think I'm... only a bit younger than Chili Pepper Cookie?"

"Pbbbt! Oooold!" Custard Cookie makes fun of her, and she sighs. "Aw man, I guess I am old..."

She thought that she was pretty damn swell at the sugar mines, since she was damn strong in her new body. Choco Thai Tea Cookie had to tone down her strength when the others were around, unless she wanted to look suspiciously powerful- but when she was alone, she could split the stones into four one-handed.

Jellybean Farming, on the other hand, was much more difficult for her. She wasn't the best at growing plants, but luckily for her, they acted just like regular green beans- that is to say, they grew quickly and easily.

She hums, watering the soil and patting it down with a gloved hand. Wizard Cookie is waving his staff, trying out a levitation spell on a watering can and having it water the Jellybeans.

"You've watered the Jellybeans with enough soda for now, Thai Tea... you're probably going to drown them at this rate!"

"Ah! Whoops, sorry!" She tilted the watering can back up. One thing that she was incredibly miffled about was that all water in Earthbread was replaced with... you guessed it, soda.

Water was way more dangerous to cookies compared to soda, even when in comparison to milk. It was necessary in their creation, yes, but in excess, it would get them soggy, and that was a sure-fire way to get a cookie to crumble.

However, soda provided a completely different problem for Thai Tea- she did NOT get the nutrition she needed from soda, and the added sugar content was a surefire way to make her (very HUMAN) teeth to rot. She'd taken to just relying on milk for hydration, and the occasional unsweetened lemonade.

Her mind drifted to her own dietary adjustments in Earthbread. She may be a cookie, but her stomach was still human. She's gotta keep it fed with at least SOME semblance of healthy food- so she's taken to eating bread, omelettes, fruit, and such. ANYTHING but candy and sweets, because she was already surrounded by them, and after gnawing on some candy vegetation, she's already tired of sweets.

"Helloooo? Earth to Choco Thai Tea?" Wizard Cookie waves his staff in front of her face. She snaps out of her thoughts, blinking awake and starling. "H-huh? Yeah, sorry-"

"Why are you zoning out so much here?' Wizard Cookie looks worried. Thai Tea doesn't want to sound suspicious by saying 'nothing', so instead she improvises.

"I'm just thinking... why are we only planting jellybeans here? Isn't the soil depleted of it's nutrients if we only grow one crop?"

"Huh?"

"Well..." The scholar hums. "If you grow one crop, all the nutrients in the soil get used up by that crop. You need to switch the crops around for maximum efficiency and yield- grow one crop that uses one nutrient and replenishes another, and then grow another crop afterwards that uses the replenished nutrient."

"Can't you just... use a spell to revitalize the soil?" Wizard Cookie looks confused. "It's how all of the kingdoms grow their crops into the biggest, tastiest food for their subjects."

Thai Tea freezes. Oh, shoot! Magic can do that?! I forgot that this place probably has workarounds- dang it!

"U-um... it's from an old study I read." She adjusts her glasses, making sure that the glint in the sunlight hides her eyes. "The cookies writing it were all bad at magic, and they ran a small farm... it's what they found out when not relying on magic."

"Oh! That sounds so interesting!" Wizard Cookie's eyes shined. "Do you think if we try planting different crops like you said, we'd get even more Jellybeans?"

"Yeah- crop rotation's the name of the technique." She lets out a sheepish laugh. "We can try it out on a small scale, and then implement it into the Jellybean Farm if it works well."

"Sounds like a fun experiment!"

Of course, the others had to go back after a few days and try to confront Dark Enchantress Cookie. Choco Thai Tea Cookie secretly knows that they'll meet Pure Vanilla Cookie for the first time in their next mission.

There's not really a spot for her in Gingerbrave's team, and she's proven herself to be the gluttonous sort. Thai Tea straight up told them that if she were to join their adventure, she'd wipe out a week's worth of food supply in three days. "I like you guys and all, but you do NOT want me goin' along!"

"So you're saying that you'll stay behind to guard the Cookie Kingdom?" Gingerbrave asks. She nods. "I'm... not that good of a fighter, but I'll make sure to drive away the weaker Cake Hounds and Cake Warriors!"

Thai Tea even waves around her fork to prove her point.

"If you say so!" Gingerbrave says. "Please stay safe while we're gone! We'll come back after we deal with Dark Enchantress. Apparently, she's inside the Vanilla Kingdom..."

"Don't worry!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie laughs and gives him and the others a hug. "I'll be fine! You guys are the ones marching into danger- I should be wishing you a safe journey!"

She doesn't see it, but Choco Thai Tea Cookie hears Chili Pepper Cookie scoff and narrow her eyes. Ah, she still doesn't trust me... she's got good intuition, if that's the case.

Ollie feels kind of sad at that, but she knows that she's a genuine danger to cookies with her gluttony. If it weren't for the Cookie Kingdom having some small trade partners that had cheap food, she'd already have went to the forest to hunt.

"Alright! See ya, Thai Tea!"

"Make sure to keep my kingdom safe!" Custard Cookie exclaims, running off. "I'll make you head of my Royal Guard for that!"

"A-ah- make sure to water the Jellybeans!" Strawberry Cookie says, stuttering.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie waves them off as well, watching as they take the balloon out. When she turns around, it's Ollie who lets out a sigh of relief.

"Finally, some peace and quiet... I gotta do the tasks, maybe? Mine some more sugar cubes- but no!" She shakes her head. "It's probably more important to keep the kingdom safe!"

I should do that by clearing the forests, expanding it like in-game... Ollie muses. She spins the massive fork around, setting it firmly up like a spear and glancing to the woods.

"Heya! Sugar Gnomes?" She approaches their small houses, gently knocking on the doors. "Do you mind helping me? I'm planning on expanding this kingdom's land and clearing out the dangerous forests.

"Oh, doo-di-dah! Really?" The Sugar Gnome pops his ehad out, and Ollie nods. "Well that's just swell! We'll be gettin' our mallets and tools- you do all the clearin' of the woods!"

"There's cake monsters in them, right?" Ollie tilts her head. The Sugar Gnomes nod, and she gives them as gentle of a smile as possible. "Well, I'll be dealing with them myself. Shout for help if there's any trouble, alright?"

"No problemo!" The Sugar Gnomes give her a high-five, and Ollie sets off into the forest bordering the Cookie Kingdom. Her smile begins to strain a bit when she stands in front of the woods, glancing at the wilderness within.

Guess it's time for me to do a little cake extermination. she frowns, remembering that one cutscene she saw from a Youtube- the one about the Tower of Sweet Chaos. The one with Pastry Cookie.

Wait- OHHHHH. Oh. So THATS who that dead nun was. The former human's mind flashes back to the pink-haired nun that she'd eaten, and she flinches. Fuck. Now I've got to keep myself quiet- because those zealots would most definitely kill me for being an Antichrist or something. Ugh.

She shakes her head, and continues down the forest, fork in hand. Her hand traces it's handle, feeling the simple decoration on the aluminum weapon.

Ollie knows that the Cookies and Cakes should have been equal. She agrees with Red Velvet's ideas that they should have been created with a mind equal to the Cookies.

But... they weren't. They were opposed to the 'protagonists' of this world, and they were subjected to losses as per the whims of fate. The Cakes will lose- and therefore, she will choose to be on the winning side instead of joining with Dark Enchantress Cookie.

... Also, I'm feeling vindictive from what she's done to me before. Fuck that bitch. Ollie narrows her eyes, and sighs.

A growl interrupts her thoughts, and she sees several Cake Hounds approach her from the dark forest, their strawberry ears pinned back and their teeth bared.

"Please." She points her fork at them. "Leave this kingdom's forest at once- or else I will be forced to kill you."

The wild Cake Hounds continue to growl and circle around her, looking agitated. Ollie feels her heart squeeze as she remembers that they are dog-like beings, and her love of dogs is being tested.

"Please." She begs once again. "Please. I do not wish to do this. Turn back now."

The Cake Hounds either don't understand her, or refuse to listen-because one sprints towards her, it's maw wide open. The others dash in, getting ready to overwhelm her.

Ollie closes her eyes. She lets out a long, suffering sigh.

"Fine then. You see me as nothing but a feast." She hunches over, her massive chocolate hair spiking up to look like a feral, intimidating beast.

Her eyes glaze over and become more animalistic, and she bares her teeth- not the fake frosting teeth of the cookies, but the dull, flat teeth of a human meant for gnashing and tearing apart cookies and cakes alike.

"You are the feast here. Not me."

And she rushes forward to meet the Cake Hounds.

It's a blur- she feels nothing but the weight of her fork when she stabs the Cake Hounds, and the taste of strawberry-cream cake as she snaps her mouth shut. The growls and barks of the Cake Hounds gradually turn into whimpers and terrified yelps, and they begin to flee deeper into the forest.

Ollie is in a frenzy, trailing her ponytail on the ground as she goes back and forth between defending the forest perimeter of the Cookie Kingdom and hunting down the Cake Hounds, driving them deeper and deeper into the forest with her savage snarls and snapping teeth.

It's only when the sun is setting and the light glints off her fork's metal that she gradually loses her appetite and energy, wiping her brow full of sweat.

"Ah... I think that's good enough." She picks herself up, and starts heading back to the Cookie Kingdom. "I think I went overboard, but... overall, a resounding success!"

She passes by the Sugar Gnomes working on clearing the forest's trees, and gives them a smile and a wave- thankfully, she was deep enough into the forest that they didn't notice her bloody- jammy?- rampage.

"Great job on the work, guys- thank you so much!" Ollie praises them. "I'll be going to sleep now- so you should probably do so as well- don't want the cake monsters to attack you, haha..."

"Of course!"

(As Ollie suspected, she did her job a bit TOO well. The Cake Hounds are shivering with terror back in their dens, hiding away from the area where the Cookie Kingdom was.)

(Even though they were only intelligent as dogs, they still could communicate about the monster with gnashing teeth and spiky fur that roamed the forests' south border. How terrifying!) 

Chapter Text

[Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie]

The kids were gone for a week or so. She's getting worried,

How long does an expedition usually take? Ollie wonders. I don't really have a baseline for this- it WOULD take a long time to travel on hot air balloon, and longer to fight off enemies.

She helps one of the Sugar Gnomes construct another Sugar Quarry, hauling the log-roll cakes in her hands. "Yo, where do you need me to put this!"

"Right down here, doopity-doo!" The Sugar Gnome cheers. She sets it down near the entrance of the new quarry, helping by holding up the beam as the Sugar Gnome hammers down nails. "Yippee!"

"Ah, that should do it, right?" Ollie hums, tilting her head. It's the second support beam- she's not tall enough to hoist up the third one.

"Yes! You can go take a break now- you've been helping us for hours!" The Sugar Gnome chuckles. "And you're looking pretty hungry!"

Oh shoot, really?! Ollie internally panics, having lost track of time. "A-ah- thank you! I'll get to lunch!"

She waves goodbye and dashes off to one of the food stalls that was filled to the brim- and she grabs a quick bite, munching on the sandwich as she sips on some milk.

Ollie hums to herself as she enjoys her meal, making sure to trick herself into feeling full. She often liked to deconstruct the sandwich while eating it, munching on her least favorite part of the food (the lettuce, duh) and then working her way up to her favorite.

She picks out the tomatoes and onions, then slowly pops the pepperoni slices inside her mouth. Ollie makes a purr-chittering noise akin to a locust, her antennae folding back from satisfaction. "Ahhh, that hits the spot..."

The former human savors the taste as long as possible, licking her chops as she goes on to rip apart the bread with her teeth.

"Mmm... how the heck is there even meat in this world?" Ollie mutters to herself. Her eyes narrow at the sandwich remains in confusion. "I'm... not gonna question it. It's probably meat jelly, even though they just call it meat."

She finishes up her meal, wiping her mouth with her black hoodie. "Eh... I should probably restock the food supplies- more traders are coming in, right? And I just repaired the train station, so I can send over supplies for food..."

Ollie had made a bunch of things while Gingerbrave was away- made a Jammery and an extra smithy, which wasn't that bad! She's reminded of all her kingdom-building back in the game, but it's much harder when doing it as a cookie.

Who knew all that hard work went into setting up the buildings? She chuckles to herself. Gotta add manual labor to my resume, if I ever go back home.

She walks around, her fork in hand as she glances at the forest.

There's the sound of rustling bushes, and she tenses up, pointing her fork at where the noise came from. "Who goes there?!"

It's probably a Cake Hound or something- even though I haven't seen one get near the kingdom in two days.

She's proven correct as a pair of candy-pink eyes and pink hair pops out from the bush, all curious and excited. There's a tiny crown perched on her head, and she's wearing one of those pink puffy princess dresses Ollie always saw in storybooks.

"Oh wow! Hello, hello!" The cookie gives her a wave, smiling. "It's great to see another cookie around!"

Eh? Princess Cookie? But isn't she supposed to join later? Ollie is confused, but she has a role to play. Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie bows her head slightly, responding. "Yes, yes- it's good to see you too. Are you not royalty?"

"Why, of course!" Princess Cookie looks proud at being recognized. "I am Princess Cookie- heir of the Hollyberry Kingdom!"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie is amused at the princess' excitable behavior. She seems to be around twenty-something years old, but Thai Tea thinks this sort of enthusiasm far exceeds any other person her age would be like back in her world.

She's got that sort of happy innocence that someone that doesn't have to pay taxes has. She shakes her head, smiling. "Well- Princess Cookie, I welcome you to the newly-founded Cookie Kingdom." Choco Thai Tea Cookie bows. "The current rulers... inhabitants? Yes, they are away on a mission."

She plants her fork in the soft soil and grins proudly. "I am the kingdom's first guard! They have tasked me with protecting it from any Cake Monsters in the forests!"

Princess Cookie claps and cheers, and Thai Tea sees another cookie stumble into the clearing, pointing his candy-striped lance at her.

"Back off from her Highness! Who are you?!" Knight Cookie shouts.

"Ah- sorry!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie backs off, her hands held up. "But you've stumbled into the Cookie Kingdom's territory- I was merely greeting her!"

"Hmph... you do not seem to be trustworthy." Knight Cookie still has his weapon pointed at her. "Why should I trust you?" Thai Tea knows that it won't even lay a scratch on her with her durability and strength, but she still backs off in respect.

"Well, how about I show you around the Kingdom to gain your trust?" Choco Thai Tea Cookie lowers her voice to a more gentle tone. "You're not Cake monsters, and as long as you don't cause trouble, I'll let you stay overnight if you need to."

The duo agree, with Knight Cookie being a bit more hesitant. Choco Thai Tea Cookie leads them to the production facilities, showing off the Jellybean Farms and Sugar Quarries.

"As you can see, we're self-sufficient. However, seeing that our only residents currently here are the Sugar Gnomes, I'm working overtime to get the supplies." Ollie sighs. "It's such hard work... the others should be back, but it's been a week."

"What are they doing, anyways?" Knight Cookie asks. Ollie shrugs. "Apparently, they're trying to defeat Dark Enchantress Cookie... she's returned, and she's in the Vanilla Kingdom somewhere doing something evil."

"Oh no! That sounds terrible!" Princess Cookie says, all concerned and worried. "Are they okay?"

"I... don't know. But knowing how strong they are, I'm certain they can make it out." Choco Thai Tea Cookie lets slip a small, genuine smile.

I'm actually fond of those five... I wouldn't eat them even if I somehow lost my way. They're not even flavors that I like.

"Here's the Jammery- it's kinda right next to our second Sugar Quarry, which is now being built." She waves at the Sugar Gnome working, and they wave back. "Everything's kind of a mess, so apologies for such a sight!"

"It's fine!" Princess Cookie laughs and waves it off. "You've got a fine kingdom here, miss!"

"Oh, please..." Thai Tea chuckles, waving it off. "I'm nothing but a guard here. It belongs more to Gingerbrave and his friends."

At this point, Knight Cookie has come to gradually let down his guard. Choco Thai Tea Cookie has deliberately been as inviting and non-threatening as possible, hunching over in a way that makes her look smaller despite her massive ponytail.

"We've got a spare gingerbread house here, so make yourself at home!" Choco Thai Tea bows, and lets them roam around as she heads over to the Sugar Quarry being constructed. "I've got to go help out with the building, so please, don't cause trouble!"

[Gingerbrave]

Currently, he and his friends were fighting off the Wafflebots as Strawberry Crepe Cookie laughs at them. "Oh wow- this is so amazing! Your fighting capabilities far exceed my calculations!"

"Aw, come on! We're gonna get you, just you wait!" He and his friends continue to attack the Wafflebots, with Wizard Cookie summoning another thunderbolt to strike down the last wave. "Now, come down and face us!"

Strawberry Crepe Cookie floats down, their giant crepe arms blasting in front of them. "Very well then! Let's see how you fare against my invention!"

Healer Cookie is behind all of them, waving his staff and healing them from all the previous damage as Custard Cookie does the same. "

The battle was long and tedious, but finally, they managed to break both of Strawberry Crepe's Cookie's mechanical floating arms, making them fall to the ground with a yelp.

"I... lost...? No, no, NO! That wasn't FAIR!" They whine. "Let's call this a practice round!"

"LIKE THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN!" Wizard Cookie complains. Gingerbrave nods. "That's what you get for picking fights with other Cookies! Shame on you!"

Strawberry Crepe Cookie shakes their head, still not willing to compromise. "I never said we needed to have a REAL fight! You were supposed to LOSE, easy-peasy!" They complain. "Let's go, one more time! Please? PLEASE?! Just one more...!"

Gingerbrave wants to go to the Vanilla Castle as quick as possible, and stop Dark Enchantress Cookie- but with how tired everyone looks from fighting all the wafflebots and helping the villagers from Black Raisin Cookie's village, he thinks they need to take a break.

"Should we let them take a break?" Strawberry Cookie whispers, tapping Gingerbrave's shoulder. "Everyone's tired, and we need to check on our kingdom."

"Oh, right!" Gingerbrave Cookie face-palms, and he goes up to Healer Cookie and Black Raisin Cookie.

"Hey, before we go into the Vanilla Castle, we should take a break." Gingerbrave says. "Our kingdom's only a day's flight away from the Vanilla Kingdom, and we need to stock back up on supplies. Do you two want to go with us?"

Black Raisin Cookie thinks it over, furrowing her brow. "I'm not leaving my villagers behind- this is my home."

"But aren't you tired, Black Raisin? You've protected the kingdom for so long, and the Wafflebots are all destroyed now." Wizard Cookie gently reminds her. "It's not very healthy to work that hard without rest..."

"Still! That- kid's just gonna build more of them!" She points over to Strawberry Crepe, who's still moping and whining over their broken mechanical arms. "We can't just stop for a few days when they're gonna be a danger to us all!"

It's Healer Cookie who proposes a solution. "Why don't we take the little one in, and keep a close eye on them in the kingdom? I suppose that it'll be a good way to reform them as well."

"Aw, come on!" Chili Pepper Cookie complains. "What if they're a danger to the kingdom?! They're just going to mess everyone up if we let them have free reign!"

"Maybe we can have Choco Thai Tea Cookie look over her!" Custard Cookie the III said, all excited. "I bet she's strong enough to keep them from causing any trouble!"

"Didn't she say she was a scholar, Custard?" Wizard Cookie asks. "I doubt that she's as physically strong as Strawberry Crepe Cookie's inventions... although she might be able to outwit them, instead."

"Ooo, that's a great idea!" The little king exclaims, waving his staff. Chili Pepper scowls at the mention of the other cookie, which makes Black Raisin Cookie raise her eyebrow at that. "Who?"

"Tch, she's just someone in our kingdom." Chili Pepper Cookie rolls her eyes. "She just showed up one day, passed out in front- apparently she'd run away from Dark Enchantress Cookie after she tried to summon her."

"Oh my." Healer Cookie puts his hand to his mouth. "I can't believe that such a thing has happened- has she truly decided to kidnap a helpless cookie?"

"With a Cookie Cutter, yeah!" Gingerbrave says. "It's no good! Choco Thai Tea Cookie's been helping us run the kingdom while we're away, so I wonder how it's going..."

The cookies got into the hot air balloon with them, while Strawberry Crepe Cookie had to be gently tossed inside like a mopey cat. The balloon lifts up as they turn on the burner, letting themself soar over the sky as the wind guides them.

It's slow and peaceful, and Gingerbrave shares some of the rations with Healer Cookie, Black Raisin Cookie, and Strawberry Crepe Cookie. Strawberry Crepe denies the food, shaking their head as they simply stare down at the trees and rivers below.

"Ahhh, delicious." Healer Cookie munches on some jellies as he sits down in the basket, looking at the other cookies surrounding him. "Who made this, by the way?"

"Oh, it's a team effort- we've got a Jellybean Farm back at home, and the few traders that visit the place exchange meat and food for them!" Gingerbrave replies. "But if you're asking who cooks back in the kingdom, it's usually Chili Pepper Cookie and Wizard Cookie, haha!"

Black Raisin Cookie holds her own sandwich with her one arm, letting the Raisin Crows peck at the bread and have their own share of food. "It's hard to come by food at the village..."

"Oh no..." Strawberry Cookie mutters. "Do you need help with that? We'll gladly send over our own Jellybeans, if it helps..."

"If you can, it would be greatly appreciated, outsider." Black Raisin Cookie closes her eyes. "It's difficult to get the supplies needed since we're so close to the ruins of the Vanilla Kingdom..."

"It's okay! You can have your Raisin Crows take care of that!"

"I do not know if they can carry much, but I will try."

It takes a while for them to land back in the landing pad of the Cookie Kingdom, but when they do, Gingerbrave's mouth drops. Healer Cookie looks quite impressed. "You have a very well-made kingdom here, dear Cookies. I didn't expect it to be this bustling."

There's three Sugar Gnomes working all at once, building more gingerbread houses. The place is organized with paths leading across all of the facilities, from the quarries and farms to the workshops they had. Even the fountain and the abandoned castle looks to be in better shape.

Gingerbrave spots Choco Thai Tea Cookie working with one of the gnomes, heaving up the log rolls and helping them with the icing. She spots him, and her face light up in a grin. "Oh! What a relief- you're back!"

The others step out of the balloon, tying it down as Black Raisin Cookie and Healer Cookie stay behind Gingerbrave and the others to look around.

"Woah... it looks way bigger than before!" Gingerbrave exclaims. "How'd you do this?!"

"My kingdom's lookin' all big and mighty now!" Custard Cookie the III exclaims, spinning his staff. "We'll have more cookies in here in no time!"

Thai Tea raises her hands up, rubbing her head sheepishly. "Ah, it's nothing but a lot of hard work. I've been getting up everyday and working with the Sugar Gnomes to speed up all the building- and the forest was really easy to clear for me, too!"

Wizard Cookie looks happy to see that everything is in order, and Strawberry Cookie is helping Strawberry Crepe Cookie out of the hot air balloon, keeping an eye on her while they went about.

"Oh, and before I forget to mention!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie gestures to one of the Lumberjack Lodges, which has a new cookie chopping wood while a cookie in a crown and dress watches him, cheering him on. "We've got new guests here!"

"Who are they?! Why didn't you tell us?!" Chili Pepper cookie narrows her eyes and confronts Choco Thai Tea Cookie about it, while the latter simply looks a bit embarrassed.

"I can't exactly turn them away- Princess Cookie there is apparently the grandaughter of Hollyberry Cookie. I wouldn't want to turn away royalty, after all..."

"Wait, Hollyberry Cookie?! You're saying that cookie right there is related to one of the Ancient Heroes?!" Wizard Cookie exclaims. Gingerbrave sees Healer Cookie perk up at this, as if interested in the topic.

"Yeah! Apparently her ma and pa are... Royal Berry Cookie and Jungleberry Cookie? Beats me, I've never been to the Hollyberry Kingdom." She shrugs. "But I don't know how she ended up so far away from there and stumbled upon here."

"She's Hollyberry Cookie's granddaughter, you say?" Healer Cookie sounds especially fascinated by this, and Choco Thai Tea Cookie's attention turned over to the newcomers.

Gingerbrave is confused at how her eyes narrow, then widen comically large, and her mouth opens up in shock. "Wait- you- you look familiar!"

"You're Pure Vanilla Cookie, are you?!"

[Pure Vanilla Cookie]

He pauses as the rest of Gingerbrave's group and the others become surprised at the revelation. Pure Vanilla Cookie himself is surprised that this single cookie deduced his identity.

"WHAT?! Pure Vanilla Cookie?!" Gingerbrave shouts. "You've got to be kidding me or something! Is this some sort of joke?!"

"He doesn't look like Pure Vanilla Cookie at all!" Chili Pepper Cookie says. "Pure Vanilla Cookie's got that big waffle-cone hat in all the murals, and he's wearing fancy robes! Healer Cookie's wearing rags!"

"Eh?! What?!" Even Strawberry Crepe Cookie, who was previously disinterested in the conversation, butted in to express her shock. "What do you mean that's the former king?!"

"Ah, what a surprise..." Pure Vanilla Cookie muses. "How did you figure out it was me?"

"I know how the legendary Ancient Heroes look like- I've seen so much art of them!" She says, looking slightly shocked and nervous at meeting the former king. "Sure, you look different- but your hair looks exactly like his, and that staff you've got wrapped up has a suspiciously similar size."

Pure Vanilla Cookie seems a bit embarrassed at that. Was my disguise that flimsy? Ah, no- the others have not commented on it...

"A-again, it's such an honor to have your royal majesty visiting our humble kingdom here..." The short cookie gives a respectful bow.

"Oh, there is no need to bow." He chuckles warmly. "I am simply a foolish king that was unable to save my kingdom... I have not donned my crown and regalia in ages."

"A king still deserves respect, even if he is off of the throne!" The young cookie insists. "Ah, it is rude of me to not introduce myself- I am Choco Thai Tea Cookie, or simply Thai Tea Cookie. I have been tasked to look over the Cookie Kingdom while Gingerbrave and his friends were away."

"And you're doing a really good job! Wizard Cookie gushes. "Wow, I can't believe it- the Pure Vanilla Cookie, right in front of us!"

He doesn't know how to react to all this praise and attention, right after he'd seen the remains of the Vanilla Kingdom. It doesn't feel real at all, seeing new cookies that are willing to defeat Dark Enchantress Cookie, and have the potential to do so...

"So you're the former king?" Black Raisin Cookie looks at him with a piercing gaze. "Then why... why didn't you return for us?"

"Believe me, if I had my memories..." He mutters. Pure Vanilla Cookie sighs. "I was gravely wounded after that fight with Dark Enchantress Cookie, all those years ago... She had sealed my memories away, and with it, I was to roam the land without knowledge of who I was."

"Now that she's broken free from her imprisonment... I suspect my memories have returned with the Light of Truth's assistance."

There's the usual talk about how to defeat Dark Enchantress Cookie, what he's been doing during his time at the village, all that. At this point, he's taken off his blindfold and the wrappings on his staff, letting his heterochromatic eyes gaze upon the lush land.

It's calm and peaceful. It reminds him of home away from home. Gingerbrave and his friends are an enthusiastic bunch, taking on Dark Enchantress Cookie... it reminds him of his friends.

Pure Vanilla Cookie sits down on a modest bench near one of the Cookie Kingdom's paths, still unpaved and uneven. He hums, letting the sunlight stream down on him.

"I wonder..." He mutters. His gaze falls upon Choco Thai Tea Cookie, who is just a blob with his less-than-perfect eyesight. "Ah- Choco Thai Tea Cookie, was it?"

She freezes in place, and then gives him a shaky laugh. "O-oh wow... I'm being acknowledged by a king?"

Poor thing. He thinks. Am I scaring her? She appears to be nervous- I am not that intimidating of a king, am I?

(Unknown to him, Choco Thai Tea Cookie is losing her shit internally, trying to keep herself from bolting off in fear. He has the Light of Truth, and although she didn't know the lore that well, something called the literal Light of TRUTH would be a huge problem to her disguise.)

(Terror, guilt and unease settles in her gut. She's curious about him, yes- but it's a risk she's currently calculating.)

(... Fuck it. You only live once twice three times.)

"U-um..." She rubs the back of her head. "I've never met someone as... powerful and influential as you before, sir, so- pardon me if I'm a bit skittish." Thai Tea lets out a small laugh. "Really!"

He knows it's a truth. She seems to be meek and unassuming despite her massive ponytail and those eye-grabbing wafers on her head.

"There is no need to fear, little one." Perhaps I should address her gently? Yes, that might make her less afraid... "I am not a strict ruler, nor will I chastise you for your informality."

"O-oh, yeah..." She still seems skittish, but there's a spark of curiosity in her orange eyes. "May I... sit down next to you, sir? N-not that I would if it's impolite-!"

"Why would it be? Go right ahead."

"Thank you!" She cautiously steps forward, and gently lowers herself on the seat, letting her ponytail drag on the ground.

"Is it not messy, having your hair that long?" He questions her. "Certainly it's icing has been picking up choco-dirt crumbs from the ground..."

"Haha, yeah..." She looks away, embarrassed. "I don't mind. My hair's chocolate, anyways- what's the difference between it and the dirt?"

"Hm." A rather reductionist way of thinking- they are two different things. But- ah. Does she not think highly of herself?

"I assure you," Pure Vanilla Cookie gently states. "Your hair is much more important and pretty than dirt. Don't be devaluing yourself now."

"Am I doing that?" She looks genuinely taken aback by that. "O-oh, sorry."

"No need to apologize, little one." By the Witches, she's that sort of cookie, then... poor thing.

"You were rather sharp, noticing my disguise. I haven't been recognized by the others for ages." He compliments her, as if trying to boost her confidence. Heavens forbid that girl needs it, he thinks.

Instead, it seems to have the opposite effect, having her freeze up and completely avoid eye contact with him. "A-ah- no... it's- nothing."

Oh dear, I've scared her again. Pure Vanilla Cookie seems aghast at himself. I should have expected it... I am still the king of the Vanilla Kingdom to her. She must be so overwhelmed, having me say such things...

(Internally, Choco Thai Tea Cookie was screaming incoherently. 'ABORT MISSION ABORT MISSION DID HE NOTICE OH GOD OH FUCK-')

[???]

"Hm? Oh, it looks like someone recognized him! Hehe, how interesting!" A shadowy figure floats around, twisting dramatically as he gazes upon Pure Vanilla Cookie's current situation. "Clever, very clever..."

"That Gingerbrave was very entertaining, yes- but I have a feeling that this little cookie here is going to be my second-favorite toy." He leans in closer, grinning widely. "Now, let me just..."

He attempts to prod at Choco Thai Tea's past, to use his divine knowledge to glean anything he can on her- but he gets hit with the sensation of running into a brick wall.

"ACK-!" He blinks, his smile actually dropping as a flash of shock graces his features. "What-?"

"..." There's silence. He didn't expect this! How fascinating!

The mysterious figure tries again. Another prod, and the feeling of a brick wall returns, cold and unforgiving. It's stalwart and strong against his advances, preventing him from seeing the other side.

"Now, who are you, little cookie?" He giggles. "My oh my... never in my countless centuries of life have I run into something, someone who can stand against me."

"This just makes me even more curious!" He tosses the crystal ball up and down, letting the stars swirl around him as countless eyes open up. "What's preventing me from seeing your past, eh?"

He pokes and prods, again and again. He uses his magic, runs it against that metaphorical wall- ranging from a 'punch' to just a slight trace. It's completely solid and cold, but he's taking 'samples' of the magic, in a way.

The mysterious being jester grins wider as his trace pulls back to reveal a taste of magic unknown to him- it feels like the inky blackness, with stars similar to his twinkling in his mind. However, there's also the distinct feeling of the ocean, like those Gem Mermaids...

"Oh, so it's not her that's doing this... she's a little puppet too!" He laughs. The cookie is about to continue inspecting the traces of magic before a chill fills the air.

He stops. Completely, utterly stops- because his own prison hasn't changed since he was sealed within it millennia ago. This sort of cold, eldritch chill that washes over the beast isn't natural, it isn't coming from him-

His curiosity quickly turns into a freezing sort of fear as he realizes that he might have prodded a bit too far in his hunger for knowledge, like he'd done before. This time, he doesn't know what it's coming from.

"Now, don't make me intervene, jester." A cacophony of voices rings out. "It's expected that you'd snoop around, yes- but that would be awfully anticlimactic if you'd gotten your way."

The voices... voice? The awe-inducing voice that addresses him seems to come from everywhere, consisting of many identities at once. He hears a sly, conniving male voice, and a chipper voice with a nerdy accent. He hears a wizened, old rumble from an old lady, a rough, tired growl that seemed to ooze with the exhaustion of a scientist-

It reminds him of himself, except amplified to a hundred and lacking his signature amusing flair. "Oh? It looks like I have a guest!" He quickly covers up his shock and slight fear with a cackling laugh and wide smile. "I haven't redecorated in a while, but welcome! What brings you here?"

The jester Shadow Milk Cookie knows. He's deduced that this is a powerful being- not sure what, but presumably someone with the same domain of power as him. The (former) Light of Knowledge.

"I'm positively beaming at having another cookie here! Although, I doubt that you're a cookie... after all, you're in here without breaking me out of my prison!"

"Yes, yes, indeed-" The voice sounds bored, and there's a sass to it. "Can you not try to mess with the plot? You have your plans, I have mine." Ah, there's the flair that he has! Shadow Milk Cookie expected it.

"Awww, but that's no fun! You of all being should know that I looooove to have fun!" He grins. "We seem to have similar powers and goals, stranger!"

"Ah ah ah- no." The chorus of voices corrects him. "I am here for fun, yes- but it is the business sort of fun. I have a story to tell and a company to report back to."

How fascinating indeed! Shadow Milk Cookie didn't expect that. "Company, eh?"

"Oh, you would love working at it. Our whole deal is writing and monitoring stories for fun, after all." The voice lets out a little chuckle.

"Oh, that sounds positively amazing! Please tell me if they are taking any hires- with assistance, of course." Shadow Milk Cookie bows dramatically. "My current predicament would be such a hindrance on that type of work, hehe..."

"Oh, no no no. You wouldn't do as an employee, haha!" The voice laughs like a laugh track, but ramps up to a bit of a manic giggle. "You're part of the entertainment, silly!"

"... Pardon." His smile gets a bit sharper, and he looks around to see the source of the voice- settling on looking up into his void. "That's awfully rude of you! Coming from a Beast like me- you should be careful of how you address me."

"And YOU should be careful of how you address me, cookie." The voices spit out. "I must admit, it is humorous being back-talked by a mere dessert, but you are treading the line."

"Watch your mouth." He hisses, but the growing sense of dread is there again. "I do not care if you are a witch or wizard, I shall not be-!"

"You dare associate me with those LOWLY LINES OF C̶̤̓O̴͖͂D̷̥͠E̴̻̕!" The voices scream out cacophonously, and Shadow Milk Cookie is knocked back, his head feeling as if it was filling with static and stardust.

He lets out a groan of pain and holds his head, cracking his eyes open and looking up. His vision is blurring, but when it comes back it makes his jam run cold.

Eight purple eyes stare down at him, dwarfing the cookie in the void. They're arranged in a compass-like formation, a halo spinning in the cold void of his prison. The stars begin to shift, and Shadow Milk Cookie panics when he realizes that he's lost control of them.

"I can break that fragile little mind of yours simply by speaking my true name, you pathetic little crumb." The (witch?) being hisses, the stars glinting a light purple before the very darkness begins to crawl up his form, feeling like slime and sea salt. "I can open up one of my actual eyes, watch as your head literally explodes from information overload- I can tell you truths that would break you worse than you have broken others."

"Do not refer to me as ANY of your... pathetic lower-reality beings." The chorus of voices spits in disdain. Shadow Milk Cookie is struggling, gasping for air as the void around him and his own stars suffocate him as if he's being thrown in the soda sea, dragged down to abyssal depths he can't comprehend. "Do you get it?"

"Y-yes! Yes! Fine, just- let me GO!" He screeches. The feeling recedes with an elastic snap, and he's left panting in the void, the control of the stars returned to him.

"Glad to see you cooperate, Shadow Milk Cookie." The voice says, it's tone bubbly and amused. It's a total 180 from the previously insulted and disgusted tone, and Shadow Milk Cookie can't help but feel fear.

H-haha... so this is how I feel to other cookies, huh? He thinks to himself.

"Yes. Yes it is."

"..."

"Yes, I did read your mind. You just thought of the three of spades, as well. Think you're so clever by not choosing the Joker, the most obvious one you'd pick?"

"Tch-!" It's getting way too tense for him right now- his curiosity is there, but it's already getting overwhelmed by the massive amount of "HOLY FUCK WHAT THE FUCK" going around inside his head. Shadow Milk Cookie can only put on a half-facade. "H-hah, going down here just to taunt me?!"

"Consider it a little warning for trying to spoil my story and look at my pawn. Don't go telling the little king that she's not what she seems."

"Damn it all, ruin my fun, will you?!" He stomps his feet, gritting his teeth-icing.

"On the contrary. It'll be more fun to let it play out." The voice purrs. "Don't be so sour, Shadow Milk. The audience loves you, and it'd be a shame if you got killed off so unceremoniously."

"..." He doesn't take the threat lightly. "Fine."

"Good." The eight-eyed halo flickered out, and he was just left in his own void alone again.

Shadow Milk Cookie, however, can't help but be curious at the being that's just overpowered him so completely. "Tell me- before you go. Just oooone little question!" He smiles widely. "Who are you?"

"Ah, just when I said that my real name would kill you if spoken?" The voice taunts. "Befitting of the Light of Knowledge and Deceit, haha! It's [REDACTED] for your own safety."

"Ohhhh, come on! Just oooone little hint! Please?" Shadow Milk Cookie plays innocent and coy, trying to get a reaction out of the higher being. He knows that it knows that he's acting.

"Hm, very well." The voice concedes with a chuckle.

"You may be the Light of Knowledge, yes- but I am not knowledge. Not exactly."

"Embodiment of Discovery, here to entertain."

[Black Raisin Cookie]

"I'm telling you! You shouldn't trust her one bit!" Chili Pepper Cookie exclaims, shouting at Black Raisin Cookie.

The raven handler shakes her head. "I did not trust you as well, outsider. Or did you not remember the test I gave you?"

"The raisin bread?! I apologized for that!" Chili Pepper Cookie complained. "It's just bread! I said I didn't like it, and that's all!"

"Food must not be wasted! And that raisin bread is the staple food of our village!" Black Raisin Cookie tosses a crumb up to the Raisin Crows circling her, and one manages to catch it. "If you are so insistent on her untrustworthiness, then let me test it myself."

She sees the short cookie stumble out of her little chat with Pure Vanilla Cookie, looking shy and embarrassed. "You! Cookie with the messy hair!"

"H-huh?!" She whips her head around, and skitters over to the duo, turning her head curiously. "Uh- yeah! Hello! You're one of the new guys, uhhh..."

She holds out her hand awkwardly, but then realizes it's the wrong hand and that it was held out for Black Raisin Cookie's missing arm, and so she yelps and holds out her other hand. "Sorry!"

"..." Black Raisin Cookie doesn't take the hand, so it's just an awkward stare-down. "Hello."

"A-ah..." The other cookie, Choco Thai Tea Cookie, turns her attempted handshake into a dejected wave. "My name is Choco Thai Tea... but you probably already heard that from Chili Pepper, haha..."

"Hm. Here. Have some raisin bread." She holds out the raisin bread she was just eating- there was even a single chunk from where she'd bitten it off.

For her, giving outsiders raisin bread was a good test of their trustworthiness. It meant that they were willing to get down and eat like the poverty-stricken, unfortunate villagers that she lived with. It meant that they saw past social status, and that they were more likely to be sympathetic of their plight.

"Oooo, thank you!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie takes the raisin bread and eats it in large bites, her eyes sparkling. "Mmph- I love this!" She chews on it, closing her eyes happily. "Grandma used to buy this all the time- how'd you know?"

"..." "..." Chili Pepper Cookie just looks at her with a slack-jawed expression of annoyance and disbelief, while Black Raisin Cookie nods her head. "You have passed the test."

"Eh? What test?" She looks completely clueless. "Like, thank you for giving me free food- I should repay you or something... drat! I don't know how to cook well, so are you fine with eggs and bacon?"

"..." Even more silence. Black Raisin Cookie snorts as she glances at Chili Pepper Cookie, who is fuming. "Oh come on! You gotta believe me!"

"Eh? About what?" Thai Tea asks. Chili Pepper crosses her arms and looks at her distrustfully, muttering. The messy-haired cookie pauses for a minute, as if trying to figure it out, and then makes a sad face. "Oh... you still don't trust me..."

"YEAH!" Chili Pepper Cookie shouts. "You just show up out of nowhere, say that you ran away from Dark Enchantress Cookie, and just start... working for us?! How did you even get away from her if she's so powerful, huh?!"

"I... don't know." Choco Thai Tea Cookie says, still upset. "Um. If... you still don't trust me... if I show you my important research, then will you trust me?"

"Research?" Black Raisin Cookie echoes. Ah, so she's a scholar, hm? This cookie is wearing all black, and she doesn't look like a magician...

"Yeah! Um- follow me, it should be in my room..." The short cookie hops and skips over to one of the gingerbread houses, opening the door to reveal a cozy, yet messy abode.

The kitchen looked well put together enough, but the bedroom next to it seemed more of like a study than an actual bedroom. There was a bunk bed with the mattress on top, cupped by tall wooden railing and stuffed to the brim with frosted, cotton-candy bedsheets and fondant pillows. Below it was a desk and dresser combo with shelves filled with books and such.

Her backpack lay in the corner of the room with several bookcases, which were also beginning to be filled by books. Papers were placed everywhere in neat piles, with a massive sponge-cake corkboard in the middle of the room pinned with multiple drawings and notes.

"A-as you can see, welcome to my little house and research station!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie stutters, her dough turning a bit pink on the cheeks. "It's such a mess, I'm so sorry- but here is where I make all of my discoveries!"

Black Raisin Cookie lets one of her crows land on her arm, and she examines all of the notes. They seem to be describing... processes? And odd organs and parts that seem entirely foreign to her. What in the name of the Witches is a 'mitochondria', and why is it the powerhouse of a cell? Does it have to do with a prison?

"I said my specialty was in cookie anatomy, but that's not all!" She flourishes her hands, and her grin widens. "I'm researching the anatomy of none other than the Witches themselves! Amazing, isn't it?"

"Whaaaat?!" Chili Pepper seems completely mindblown by that. "The Witches?! You're trying to study the divine Witches themselves?!"

"Hehe, surprising, isn't it?" Choco Thai Tea Cookie gets gradually more confident and passionate as she talks about her research. "Honestly. It fascinated me- I got a book from my parents once when I was younger, and apparently it was some really, super-secret tome."

"They knew I was unable to do magic entirely, and decided to take pity on me." Choco Thai Tea Cookie has a fond look on her face. "They're amazing parents. I... miss them, a lot, and by studying the Witches... I'm keeping their legacy alive."

Oh. Black Raisin Cookie seems to get it now. She's an orphan, I see.

"Ah, don't give me that pitying look!" Choco Thai Tea's expression is happy but... strained, in some way. "I really don't want you both to worry about me... I've made some amazing memories with my parents. It's only... recently that I've lost them, but- I'll be fine."

Chili Pepper Cookie looks like she's just accidentally kicked a cute Cake Hound, and she backs off immediately. "O-oh. Um. Sorry."

"No no no, it's fine! I understand why you're so suspicious of me, both of you!" Thai Tea says. "I- well, my line of research is entirely unique to me, and some cookies even say it's blasphemy. I'd be tried and executed if the St. Pastry Order knows about this, haha!" She laughs nervously.

"But... please. Keep this a secret, will you? At least... don't let word of my research spread past this kingdom." She shushes them. "It's the only thing I have left."

Ah. Black Raisin Cookie can probably make out what happened to the poor cookie in front of her.

A bright and curious cookie, kicked out of her old kingdom for her family's research on the witches. Her parents could have either died from the Dark Flour War or Dark Enchantress Cookie- it didn't matter. What happened next was obvious.

Dark Enchantress Cookie wanted to overthrow the Witches. Choco Thai Tea Cookie was kidnapped for her knowledge on them, and had to escape with her life because they were unwilling to kill her and lose the opportunity to figure out the Witches' weaknesses- if they even had any.

"S-so... um." Choco Thai Tea Cookie goes over to her kitchen, and opens her cabinet to take out some eggs. "About the egg and bacon..."

[Strawberry Crepe Cookie]

Ughhh it's so boring out here! Strawberry Crepe Cookie lounges around on one of the benches, looking at all those other cookies go about doing their work. "All you're doing is menial tasks! I've already analyzed all of you- including that Princess Cookie and her Knight!"

"Hey! When did you manage to sneak up on her Highness?!" Knight Cookie glares at Strawberry Crepe Cookie while they simply ignore him. "Don't do that!"

"I got so many samples already..." They whine, floating in the air as their crepe fists twiddle their strawberry fingers. "And there isn't anywhere to test my weapons!"

"Why don't you go bother Choco Thai Tea Cookie instead?" Knight Cookie snarks. "She's apparently the researcher in this kingdom, anyway."

Their interest in piqued at the mention of another cookie that might interest them. "Ohhh, right! Her! I almost forgot about her- yeeees, the one with the wafer antennae and the almond-chocolate hair, correct?"

"Almond? Oh, right- those specks in her frosting..."

"I have to go analyze her and take a few samples, tee-hee!" They quickly zip around, their eyes darting across the kingdom to see if their target was there. "Now, where are you..."

She sees the familiar bushy ponytail sprawled out on one of the benches, munching on a meat jelly platter as they relax. "Oh, there she is!"

While Choco Thai Tea Cookie was eating, Strawberry Crepe Cookie does a diagnostic scan on her. It takes a while, but the basic external ingredients pop up on their visual display.

20% Thai tea powder, 40% milk chocolate, 10% caramel, 10% marshmallows, 5% wafers, 5% almonds, 10%... eh? Strawberry Crepe Cookie looks up at the last ingredient. It's marked as '???' within my databases! How fascinating- an ingredient I don't know!

They run the diagnostic scan again, and that same question-mark issue happens again. When Strawberry Crepe Cookie leans in closer to do a deeper, more complex scan-

The percentage increased! The '???' was now marked down as thirty percent, outnumbering the rest of the ingredients. "Wow!"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie startles with an 'eek!', looking up to see Strawberry Crepe Cookie hovering over her. "Ah! You scared me!"

"You are quite an anomaly, Choco Thai Tea!" The young cookie-robot chirps, their eyes scanning the researcher's face. "I've taken the liberty of scanning your components- and you seem to have an unknown seventh physical element!"

"H-huh?" She doesn't seem to get it. Strawberry Crepe repeats their analysis.

"20% Thai tea powder, 40% milk chocolate, 10% caramel, 10% marshmallows, 5% wafers, 5% almonds, 10% unknown." They drone on cheerily. "And that was from an external scan, only! The more I analyze you, the more that unknown ingredient keeps popping up!"

"..." The cookie seems to be stunned silent, before muttering under her breath and covering her mouth. "Please do your scans with permission next time, kid."

"Hey! Don't call me a kid- I'm the smartest Cookie around here!" They pout. "And how am I supposed to get an unbiased sample while my subject knows, ha?"

"Well, I could always just give you a sample."

"That would mess up my results! Unless it's a jam sample, I'm not going to learn anything!" They complain.

"Okay, okay!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie rubs their head, sighing. "Fine, how about we make a deal- you show me how you make your robots, and I give you some samples. Is that fair?"

"Oh! Someone else is interested in magichanical engineering?" They tilt their head, smiling. "It's good to see a fellow engineer share the same fascination with nuts and bolts that I do, tee-hee!"

"Hmm..." The researcher pushes up her sugar-glass spectacles, and tightens up her ponytail. "You and I might learn something new. Wait a bit so I can procure some samples, and I'll get to it."

Strawberry Crepe Cookie waits outside Choco Thai Tea Cookie's house as the latter proceeds to do their tasks. They'd seen her take out their fork and use one of the prongs to carefully puncture a small hole in their dough (which admittedly make them feel queasy).

Choco Thai Tea Cookie collects the small bits of crumbs and the jam, placing it on a plate. She then snips some frosting off her hair as they watch, picking off one of the almonds in the hair.

"Should this be satisfactory?" She asks. Strawberry Crepe hums. I was expecting some from the caramel on her head, or the marshmallow- but this is good as well! "Very much so! I look forward to analyzing this myself!" Strawberry Crepe Cookie uses one of her crepe fists to gingerly pick up the plate, carefully separating the samples and putting them in wrappers.

"Now, I believe we had a deal..." The scholar crosses her arms, and pushes up her glasses. "How about you lead me to one of your wafflebots, and take it apart so you can explain how it works?"

"Ah, I don't have any of the wafflebots with me currently- but I do think I can take apart any mechanical things and construct a model, haha!"

Thai Tea hands over a broken radio and some spare parts from a stereo system. "I've got these, if that matters? Some traders stopped by and I was able to take this off their hands for free..."

"I bet I can make a better speaker system than these two on their own! Here, let me show you!" Choco Thai Tea stands beside the cookie child, watching as they pry open the chocolate casing of the speakers to reveal the complex wafer-circuitry and licorice-rope wires inside.

"See, this here is the cone, and the suspension- the voice coil connects the to the basket, which allows it to move up and down with the sound..." Strawberry Crepe Cookie rambles on and on about the components of the speaker, talking about how magic ran through the wires and how the wafer circuits channeled them into logic gates.

"It's waaay more complex in the Wafflebots, and I could go on and on about how you can combine all that magic and technology- but the basics are there!" They giggle, and spin around, twirling their capelet in a flair. "A genius like me can process all of this in a few seconds!"

"Wow, that's really smart!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie's eyes are wide as she examines the parts, gingerly picking them up and squinting at the wafers. "How's magic flow through the circuits, then?"

"Well, as you can see, parts of it are coated in chocolate drizzle to connect to the licorice wires..."

[Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie]

She's eating up this knowledge, amazed at how technology worked on Earthbread compared to back on earth.

From Strawberry Crepe's explanation, she learned so much. For example, while some of the tech did run on electricity or electric magic, most of it usually went with the generic 'magic' that mages used for simple spells. It was akin to using the energy directly at it's source, and due to it's less-than-complex nature, this element-less magic could easily be controlled and directed.

While human engineering would make robots out of code, metal, and electric wires, cookie engineering replaced electricity with magic as it's power source, making it much less volatile depending on the type of magic you used. Magic, in itself, was found everywhere in Earthbread, maintaining the ecosystem, the living beings, heck, possibly even the rules of this reality.

Magic was physics to them- a totally unknown set of rules that seemed completely bonkers in comparison to human physics, but then again, human physics also stated that light was both a wave AND a particle and could change when observed. Perhaps both magic and physics were batshit insane, and Thai Tea was the dumb one here.

"My word... how do you prevent magic overloads in some of the more delicate parts of the wafers? Surely sometimes, you would need to limit the amount of power..."

"That's where this comes in!" Strawberry Crepe Cookie points to a small, tootsie-roll like candy on one of the circuits. "This here is a regulator chew! It's meant to regulate the flow of the magic current in the circuit, so that it won't overflow!"

Oh! A resistor- I know these! Choco Thai Tea may be a complete novice when it comes to circuitry and technology, but even she can recognize one. Her family all used to work as electricians once, after all. "What direction does the magic flow, from the power source?"

She points over to a battery-like apparatus on the radio, which was meant to power it by gradually soaking in environmental magic. "Like, from here to the display."

"Pssh, it's simple really! It goes from this end here, to the other end!" Strawberry Crepe Cookie points out.

"Uhhhh..." Is that the negative end or the positive end?! I don't know! "What end is that, again? Positive or negative?"

"Eh? That's not what you call it!" The young engineer pouts. "You're supposed to call it the start and the end, dummy!"

"Huh." Right, right- they aren't using electrons. I can't just find out if it's conventional current or electron current. Drat.

Instead, Choco Thai Tea decides to ask Strawberry Crepe a question. "Has there ever been an invention like this without magic? Like-" She struggles to find the words. "Can anyone build robots without using magic in their technology."

"Whaaat? Are you crazy?!" Strawberry Crepe Cookie laughs. "You've got to be insane to think that! That's completely impossible- nothing in the field of technology, especially this complex would be possible without magic!"

Ah, so I see how it is... since Earthbread's laws of reality are presumably governed by magic, because their world is literally DEPENDENT on it to survive- it would make sense that magic is required in most things they do.

Maybe it's like... a secondary set of laws. Physics may be the absence of magic, like what happens without magic's interference.

"I see." Choco Thai Tea tries to look disappointed, while internally filing that discovery away for later. "That's such a shame... I lack the ability to use magic at all. And to think I could have made up for it with technology."

"Silly cookie! Everybody has magic in them- we're made from it, after all!" Strawberry Crepe Cookie laughs. "You simply have less magic, and therefore rely on only your Life Powder to keep you going!"

"Yes, I know. It's just..." She sighs. "I keep on seein' magicians and fighters use their own brand of magic, over and over again... I just feel left out not being able to do so, you know?"

"I find it interesting!" Strawberry Crepe Cookie says. "You would make a great control for many experiments, if that is the case!"

"I'd rather not take part in experiments, thank you very much." God, if they found out what I REALLY was...

Choco Thai Tea Cookie... doesn't feel so well at that thought. She dismisses Strawberry Crepe Cookie. "Ah, thank you for teaching me so much about technology and stuff... but I think I should take a break."

She frowns, looking away. "But... all this talk about magic's really making me tired. So uh- thanks. I'm just gonna... go home and take a nap."

The former human gives Strawberry Crepe Cookie as polite of a wave as they can muster, and they trudge back to their house. That sense of paranoia's coming back at full force, grasping her heart as she closes the door gently... and locks it.

Choco Thai Tea Ollie doesn't have the energy to do more research today. Too many close calls, from Pure Vanilla Cookie to Strawberry Crepe's invasive scan... she doesn't... feel good.

She feels terrified. She needs a moment to relax, to process everything and think up of a plan and put back on that shy and cheery facade. Come on Ollie, you can do this.

She climbs up on her bunk bed, and buries herself in the pillows. Ollie hugs one of the fluffier pillows close to her, snuggling in it while she has a terrified look in her face.

Experiment. You heard what the kid said. Her mind whispers. They're going to experiment on you, if they ever find out.

But who's to say that they won't find you horrific, instead? Who's to say that they don't see your human nature, learn how you could eat them all in a matter of seconds and destroy their kingdoms- and they decide to hunt you down instead?

They'll think you're a monster. A ravenous beast to be put down. Ollie whimpers at her own thoughts, and buries her face in the pillow. Your very being is meant to kill and consume them. Who's to say they won't turn on you if they knew the truth?

It's only a matter of time with those two around. ESPECIALLY that Pure Vanilla Cookie.

Ollie buries herself more into her bed, not exactly sobbing but... she's still crying. Wailing and hiccuping won't get her anywhere. She's yelled out, cried, screamed out for help- but that didn't help her before, did it? She still died as Gretel, squished in that oven with her brother Hansel and burned to death.

And even as Ollie, even before that memory as 'Gretel'... her parents didn't like it when she cried loudly. Crying is only quiet. It's less of a disturbance that way.

That way, they won't have to hear your annoying voice. You're twenty now, not a fucking kid to be coddled.

 It doesn't feel good. At all. But hey, if she... lies down in bed and cries for a few hours, it'll all be fine. She'll get it out of her system and shove that problem away for later.

She'll be fine.

Meanwhile, as her salty tears stain her pillows and bedsheets... someone begins to awaken.

Gummy-pink hair, and the veil of fondant fabric over the nun's head falls over as she blinks her icing eyes blearily, taking in the appearance of the room she's in.

"Where... am I?"

Ollie is too busy hiding herself under the pillows to notice a ghost flicker into existence in her room. "Hello? Anyone?" The voice calls out, louder this time.

Ollie freezes, quickly wiping her tears away and poking her head up from the bed. "H-hey, don't you know it's rude to enter my room without permission-"

And she locks up on the spot, terrified and guilty, as she sees the ghostly figure of the nun she'd eaten previously.

"Ah- can you please explain to me what happened?" The St. Pastry nun asks, disoriented as her ghostly form flickers in and out of existence. "All I recall is being in battle with those unholy Cake monsters... how did I get here? And who might you be?"

Some Doodles!

Sorry I was unable to draw the interactions with Black Raisin Cookie and Strawberry Crepe Cookie, hehe...

Chapter Text

[Choco Thai Tea Cookie Ollie]

"Uhhhhh..." Her mind blanked at seeing a face. that shouldn't be staring back at her. In front of Ollie was a cookie with blue eyes and her gummy-like hair tied in two buns. The white veil trailing covering the back of her head was even more transparent, dissipating like some sort of ghostly mist.

It's the nun from before. The corpse she'd eaten in a fit of hunger, desperate to have something that wasn't overly-sweet cake or fondant from her surroundings.

This isn't supposed to happen! She's not supposed to come back! Ollie panics. Her eyes widen, and she buries herself under her blankets and pillows. Is she going to haunt me as a vengeful ghost?! Am I going to be a horror movie protagonist or-

No. No no no- Ollie does her best to slow down her breathing, thinking closely. Think it over. She looks- normal, if not for being transparent?

"At ease, dear... I assure you, no harm shall befall you as long as I am here." The nun tries to reassure her, and Ollie hears her stepping forward. The former human tenses up.

Voice is normal, if not slightly melodic. No signs of aggression, and seems to be trying to comfort me. Ollie's fists clench and unclench. Conclusion- she is unaware of me eating her deceased body. Memory loss, and judging from how she previously asked me where she was- perhaps only has memories up to her death.

Best course of action- act as a normal cookie would. Childish and comedically scared.

"G-ghost!" Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie squeaks, trembling in an exaggerated way. "Get away! Eek!"

"Ghost?! Where?!" The nun from the St. Pastry Order whips her head around, and frowns once she doesn't see anything out of the ordinary from Thai Tea's room. "It is not good to lie. While I do not know why you are scared, it is no excuse to-"

As the nun reaches out, she tries to pull the blankets away from Choco Thai Tea Cookie. Her hand passes through the fabric and the cookie's own hand, with no sensation except for a slight chill.

The nun freezes. She waves her hand again, seeing it pass through the living cookie as if she wasn't there. Choco Thai Tea lets out a screech of faux-terror, scrambling back as it begins to dawn on the ghost.

"Wait, no- am I...?" The nun spins around and tries to pick up a plate from Ollie's sink, as if confirming it- and her hand passes through it again. "No. I- I refuse to believe this- no!" She keeps on trying to pick up the plate, again and again. It doesn't work. "No!"

Her voice rises in a panic. "I am not dead! I'm here! I- I can still think and feel, I'm still-"

The door opens up, and both Thai Tea and the nun turn their heads to look at the door. Choco Thai Tea Cookie, quickly switching into character, greets the cookie at the door. "Eh? Gingerbrave, what are you doing here?"

"There was a scream- are you okay?" The young teen looks worried, and Thai Tea acts convincingly spooked. "I saw a ghost! Like- it's in my room!" She complains, pointing towards where the nun would be. "Like- it was just right there, I swear!"

"A ghost?" Gingerbrave seems surprised and spooked. "A-are you sure that you didn't just have a nightmare? Nothing's there!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie frowns, and buries her head in her blankets again. "I-I don't wanna go to sleep anymore... it's so stupid, but- I'm sure she was right there..."

As Gingerbrave frets over Choco Thai Tea Cookie, she internally keeps track of the ghost, who was still visible and standing in her kitchen area. He can't see her, meaning that other cookies most likely would be unable to as well- so that means I don't have to keep up my act 24/7 like I'd feared. Thank god...

Thai Tea can see the nun look visibly distressed, waving her arms and trying to get Gingerbrave's attention. "D-dear! Little one! I'm right here! Can't you see me?! I'm- I'm here!"

Choco Thai Tea feels a pang of guilt. She knows what it feels like to scream for someone to help her, and for nobody to know she was there. After that experience as 'Gretel'...

...

Let's not think about that anymore. We've got bigger problems here. Choco Thai Tea hugs Gingerbrave, and convincingly wipes her eyes, acting sad and scared. "I-I'm- fine, I guess... just scared. Maybe it was just a nightmare or something..." She sniffs, and looks outside. "it's getting late anyways, and I should probably go to sleep so I can help you guys tomorrow..."

"Are you sure?" Gingerbrave looks worried. "If it's a bad nightmare, I can get some hot chocolate for you?"

"We have that?" Choco Thai Tea hums. "I- guess that would be fine, but maybe later..." Preferably AFTER I deal with this ghost.

"That's okay! I'll have it for you tomorrow if you meet up- you look tired." Gingerbrave gives her a genuine smile. "You should get a good night's sleep instead of researching all night, haha!"

Choco Thai Tea actually looks sheepish at this. "How'd you know?"

"Your lights are always on under your curtains." He points out. "Waaaay after everyone's gone to sleep."

"Oh. Whoops." I did that intentionally, but still... really embarrassing to see my shit sleep schedule get called out by a kid.

"Alright, see you tomorrow! Good night!" Gingerbrave closes the door, and Choco Thai Tea Ollie lets out a relieved sigh. She rubs her face with her hand.

"Hhhhh... that was-" She doesn't know what to say. "Damn it all."

"I- I'm here... please..." The nun says, her hand outstretched towards the door. "Please- I'm- I'm not dead, I'm not-"

"Hey." The nun whips around to see Ollie, sitting on her bed with her legs crossed. "You. Miss nun... are you okay?"

"You- you can see me! Right!" She hurries over to Ollie, trying to hold her hand but passing through. The nun decides to instead clasp her hands in a prayer as she speaks. "I- by the Witches..."

Ollie flinches a bit as the Witches are mentioned, but manages to keep it in and focus. "Yes. And I would like to know who you are, exactly. It isn't nice, appearing into my house randomly and making me all scared."

"A-ah, right." The nun coughs, and bows slightly. "My name is Pastry Cookie, and-"

"You're part of the St. Pastry Order, right?" Ollie tilts her head. "All of them are called Pastry Cookie... it'd be so confusing if I called you that..."

"I left my name behind long ago, just like my sisters." She says, still resolute. "I would never introduce myself in any other way other than Pastry Cookie, because it would be disrespectful to the Order and-"

"Miss." Ollie says, exasperated. "You're dead. Are you really going to say that, when you don't even need to serve the Order anymore? I wouldn't want to die without anybody knowing my name, and I doubt you do, either."

The idea of being a ghost seems to settle with the St. Pastry Nun, and she looks concerned. "But... my oath..."

"I have no idea what kind of oath that- church made you take." Ollie nearly calls the St. Pastry Order a cult, but catches herself. "But you've already fulfilled it. You're dead. No need to spend your afterlife serving them as well."

The nun mulls this over. She looks conflicted, like she didn't expect to be back as a ghost- but she concedes. "Very well then."

"I am... Strawberry Gelatin Cookie." Strawberry Gel sucks in a breath, as if unfamiliar with hearing her own name come out of her mouth. "I am of the third tray of the St. Pastry Order, and the messenger for the expedition towards the Cake Tower."

"Hm." Ollie nods, even though she barely has a grasp on the ranking and importance of Strawberry Gelatin Cookie's words. "And you died? How?"

"I- I am unsure." She's distressed at the thought, but shakes it off. "I do not recall much except for fighting off the hordes of cake monsters... to think Dark Enchantress Cookie took control of such a holy place!"

"Mhm." Ollie purses her lips. "How... long ago did you die again?"

"I- We are still at war, are we not?" Strawberry Gel's expression hardened. "Dark Enchantress is still out there, and-!"

"Ah." This just got much, MUCH more complicated. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news but..."

"You've been dead for a long time, if that is the case." Ollie's brows furrowed. "I do not know why your body was- intact, or how your weapon has not rusted- but the Dark Flour War has ended ages ago. Dark Enchantress Cookie was sealed, but-"

"Truly?! The war is over?!" The nun looks absolutely relieved at this, almost jubilant, but Ollie interrupts her-

"I said bad news, Miss Strawberry Gelatin Cookie." Ollie wrings her hands. "Dark Enchantress Cookie has... broken free of her prison, and is currently recovering her strength. The ancient heroes are either occupied or missing- we only have Pure Vanilla Cookie, who as recovered recently."

"..." Strawberry Gelatin Cookie seems shell-shocked at the news, and Ollie wonders if it was a bad idea to have dropped such a bombshell on someone who'd just recently woken up. Man, this reminds me of the scene in 'Captain America: The First Avenger' where he gets defrosted and panics...

""I... well, it's not the best situation, for me to be telling you this." Ollie sighs and looks down. "If anything, the only silver lining is that Dark Enchantress Cookie seems to be rusty with her magic. The others plan to get going after tomorrow, and confront her again..."

"..." The nun is still silent from shock. Ollie sighs, and sits down on her couch, rifling through some papers. Guess she needs some time to process all this.

That's fine. I can wait.

Ollie refuses to sleep when she's got a literal ghost in her house. Just because other than her can see Strawberry Gelatin Cookie doesn't meant it'll stay that way in the future, so the former human is just being cautious.

She doesn't sleep, even though her eyes are getting blurry and she feels like she wants to sink into the couch cushions. She's used to staying up late- it's no big deal.

It's about... maybe an hour or so before Strawberry Gelatin Cookie speaks again. When she does, it's with a quiet, withdrawn tone. "Everything I've fought for, all these years... how much has it changed?"

Ollie looks up from her papers with a sigh. "I wouldn't know. I've lived kinda far away from all the kingdoms my entire life."

"Still. It is..." The nun doesn't have the words to express how she feels. Ollie sighs, and tries to change the subject. She feels guilty for giving the older cookie an existential crisis, and she feels guilty for having eaten her dead body in the first place.

"The past is the past. As much as it could have been different... you'll have to move on." Ollie tilts her head. "Do you... want to talk about something else? And- oh, I... haven't really told you my name yet."

"I'm Choco Thai Tea Cookie. You can just call me Thai Tea, if it's a mouthful." She gingerly holds out her hand and gingerly tries to wave. "I... how are you a ghost? I'm sure I saw your..." She trails off convincingly. "Your- I don't think I can say it..."

"There was so much jam. So, so much jam..."

Ollie puts up her disturbed act, shrinking back. "I was running from Dark Enchantress Cookie, and- I- you..."

She stumbles over her words, and gradually cranks up the unease in her act. "I... I'm scared. Are- you sure you aren't going to kill me?"

Strawberry Gelatin looks distressed at seemingly making Ollie uncomfortable and scared. "I assure you, I will not. I am just a soul who's just woken up."

"I don't know."

Ollie, at heart, is an actor and an artist. She knows how to sell an illusion and a persona. So she presents her innocence as earnestly as possible, 'opening up' to make Strawberry Gelatin Cookie trust her.

"I... she pulled me away from my home, because I was important to her plans. Me and my family... we've been tied to the witches for a long time."

Ollie pulls out some of her notes, more specifically the human anatomy ones. Her sketches are rudimentary, more anime-like and rudimentary, but it gets the point across.

"I've been researching the witches... their nature, their being, their anatomy..." Ollie mumbles. "They're... fascinating. So different from cookies."

"W-what?" The St. Pastry Order nun is taken aback, as if not expecting this. "You... you are attempting to-"

"I know." Ollie closes her eyes- eyecing? It's difficult to adjust to these new terms. It's difficult to be a cookie. But it's easy to lie.

"What you are doing... it's blasphemy." Strawberry Gelatin's tone turns disgusted, her friendliness turns on a dime. The nun looks at Ollie like she's speaking dangerously. "You dare try and learn forbidden knowledge about the divine?"

"It- what?" Ollie furrows her brow, taken aback by the sudden hostility. "But- it's the only thing left of..."

"I refuse to talk to a heretic who dares to do such- reckless actions! You are trying to discover things not meant for any cookie!"

[Strawberry Gelatin Cookie]

Pastry Cookie- no, Strawberry Gelatin Cookie, did not expect to be alive again.

She lived for the St. Pastry Order and died for the St. Pastry Order. Strawberry Gelatin left behind her home in the Hollyberry Kingdom and found solace in religion.

The St. Pastry Order knew the truth of the world. They knew what cookiekind's true purpose was. And as much as it was hard to swallow, it was how the world was like.

They were meant to be eaten. They were meant to feed their own gods.

Strawberry Gelatin Cookie remembers when she was first made privy to the Order's secrets. She'd cried, she'd lamented, she'd questioned her faith- but through it all, she'd never lost her purpose.

The St. Pastry Order accepted what the divine witches had planned for them. In fact, Strawberry Gelatin Cookie agreed with their dogma after she'd gotten over her little... tantrum.

After all, it was the original sin of cookie-kind to have escaped from the witches' ovens in the first place, turned away and forgot their true purpose. Partaking in the Witches' feast and becoming one with their creators was the greatest honor any cookie could have.

And here she was. Dead. She died a noble death in the name of the order, but she won't ever become one with the divine. Then this... heretic comes up to her, wakes her up, and dares to try and learn about the divine witches-

"I- I was just curious..." Choco Thai Tea mutters, drawing back. "I know it sounds scary, but its the research my parent wanted me to do. It's the only thing I have left of them, now..."

"Your parents were involved in this too?" Strawberry Gelatin Cookie glares down at her. "I cannot believe this..."

Perhaps I cannot blame her- her blasphemy may be from her foolish parents, and it may be their influence that made her turn out this way.

Nevertheless. She is still a sinner. The nun looks down at the pages distastefully, noticing how they indeed resembled the witches, without their flowing robes and towering, graceful hats.

"This- drivel that you've brought in front of me is nothing but a disgrace to the very Order, and you bring it in front of me?!"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie shrinks back even more, and Strawberry Gelatin forgets that to the younger cookie, she appeared as an angry, terrifying ghost. She glides forward, glowering as she towers over Thai Tea.

"Did you have something to do with me coming back as a ghost?!"

"I-I don't know, I- I woke up one day and-"

"Silence! I refuse to believe the words of a heretic." Strawberry Gelatin Cookie hisses. "Although you may be mislead by those... heathen parents of yours, there is no need to follow in their footsteps and-"

"Don't. Don't talk about my parents in that way."

The younger cookie's voice becomes serious and unexpectedly angry, glaring up at the nun. Choco Thai Tea was previously skittish and soft-spoken, trying to explain herself and taking her time with Strawberry Gelatin, but now...

Now she looked pissed. The nun had struck a nerve that she shouldn't have, and she pauses, looking at how Choco Thai Tea Cookie reacted.

"If your parents were the ones who told you to commit such a sin against the divine witches, then I shall say it as it is. They are nothing but sinners."

"I said- don't talk about my parents." Choco Thai Tea says through gritted icing.

Strawberry Gelatin has had enough. If antagonizing this cookie was the only way she can get her to stop doing such a blasphemous act against the St. Pastry Order and their beliefs, then so be it.

"And I warn you, one last time- if you do not burn all your research down to the ground and turn yourself into the Order, I will haunt you and make your life a living nightmare." The nun says, her voice resolute. "All in the name of the Witches."

"The Witches? Them?" Choco Thai Tea Cookie snarls, snapping at the nun. "Like HELL I am! You don't think I know what they've done?!"

Strawberry Gelatin is taken aback. She looks as the smaller cookie gets up from the couch, the shadows of the dark house making Choco Thai Tea's face look unnatural and terrifying. Her eyecing's pupils lock on to the ghost, staring her down with visible anger. Her mouth is contorted in an unnatural way, looking more like something... solid and unidentifiable rather than icing.

"If you're in the St. Pastry Order, and you're oh-so devoted- I'm sure you know what's up with the Witches." Choco Thai Tea Cookie leans in closer, hissing quietly. "Just between you and me- leading us like cattle to be slaughtered and eaten seems like more of a sin than me being curious, no?"

The nun freezes. Her shock and anger rises once more. "You- you know. Nobody but the most dedicated members of the Order should know-!"

"And maybe, just maybe- you don't think that the Witches are still baking cookies to this day?" Choco Thai Tea snarls. "That some of them may have escaped and known this?"

"I sure as hell know what it's like to be trapped in an oven, feeling my skin burn into a crisp and banging on the door and screaming for help and-!"

The stout cookie pulled back, gritting her teeth and letting out a deep breath. She breathes in, then out, then in, then out, all to calm herself down from her anger.

Her breathing slows. Choco Thai Tea Cookie looks back up with a frustrated expression, but there's less hatred than before. "Look. You follow the Order for- whatever reason. And I... dislike the Witches for reasons of my own. Whatever we do, we're still stuck together."

She's right. This... heathen is the only one who can see Strawberry Gelatin Cookie's spirit, and since she doesn't have her soulstone on hand for some reason, it's the only way through.

It doesn't mean she likes doing this. "Fine. But heed my words- the St. Pastry Order WILL learn of this blasphemy, sooner or later."

"Then it's a deal. You don't bother me about this, and I ignore your whole... disdain with me."

[Wizard Cookie]

"As much as I dislike you, your magichanical engineering is extraordinary." Wizard Cookie straightens out his robes, and leans over as Strawberry Crepe Cookie is tinkering with a broken radio.

"Of course it is!" Strawberry Crepe Cookie sniffs, as if it was unbelievable that their craft was anything but the best. "It takes lots of talent and hard work to even know how magic interacts with the mechanisms in a predictable way!"

"It reminds me of how wizards approach things..." Wizard Cookie muses. "I wonder if they had magichanical engineering as complex as this?"

"Ha! As if anyone could be better than me at this!" The young cookie pridefully crowed. They finish up tinkering with the radio, screwing the candy-shell casing back into place. Soft music plays from the speakers as they turn the volume knob up.

"See? I fixed this old thing in less than five minutes." They place it on a table and pat it. "And it would've been shorter too, if I didn't have to slow myself down so you could se, haha!"

Wizard Cookie hums, tilting his head. "I wonder if I can use my lightning magic to power your magichanical engineering?"

"Ha! Don't think about it!" Strawberry Crepe Cookie shakes their head. "Your raw magic is far too unwieldy and unrefined. If you flood the whole thing with electricity, it'll overwhelm and break the delicate machinery!"

"But surely there's a way raw magical energy can be converted into energy for magical machines?" He rubs his chin.

"There were generators for that back in the Vanilla Kingdom, but... hmph!' Strawberry Crepe Cookie crosses their arms underneath their cape. "They're all for non-elemental magic! Any other magic than 'base' magic and it's too unpredictable!"

Strawberry Crepe Cookie waves him off. "Please- lightning magic has no use in engineering. It's far too destructive and unpredictable."

"Excuse me?!" Wizard Cookie is offended, rightfully so. "Are you saying that my magic is useless?!"

"Yes, when it comes to engineering!" The two of them begin to argue, with some of their friends looking at the pair from the distance.

"Ha! Looks like that little squirt is making Wizard Cookie all bothered!" Chili Pepper Cookie comments. "I haven't seen him this mad since... well, I've only known you all for a few weeks."

"No, he's just annoyed. I've seen him get madder." Gingerbrave says. "He gets really passionate about magic, especially lightning magic. It's the first elemental magic other than the basic magic he's learned."

While Wizard Cookie and Strawberry Crepe Cookie continued to argue, they didn't notice Choco Thai Tea Cookie stumble out of her house with a tired yawn. She blinks her eyes, having woken up in the afternoon. "Eh? What's with all the racket..."

"Choco Thai Tea Cookie!" Gingerbrave Cookie grins, and waves her over. "You're finally awake! Did you sleep well?"

"Not really. Stayed up until... maybe sunrise, took a nap for a few hours." She rubs her chocolate-icing hair and picks out one of the almond flakes, flicking it aside. "What's up?"

"Wizard Cookie's arguing with Strawberry Crepe about magic." Gingerbrave says. "Can you help break it up?"

"Oh yeah. No problem- I should probably see what's going on." Choco Thai Tea Cookie walks over to the two, watching them argue as they sit on the table outside of the houses.

"Hey- what's wrong? What's with all of the ruckus?" She tilts her head, and Wizard Cookie points at Strawberry Crepe Cookie.

"They're being all pretentious! They said that my lightning magic has no place in engineering, and that its useless!"

"What, am I wrong?" The child huffs and turns away. "It's too messy and powerful for the complexity of magichanical engineering!"

Thai Tea watches the two of them begin to descend into bickering again, but she holds out her hand to stop them both. "Wait wait wait- Strawberry Crepe Cookie, you're saying that electricity has no place in engineering?"

"Yes?" They look annoyed. "At least in the type that the Wafflebots and the Vanilla Kingdom use."

Choco Thai Tea lets out a muffled snort. Then, a slight giggle that blows up into full-blown snickering. "E-engineering and robotics? Without electricity?"

Wizard Cookie and Strawberry Crepe Cookie are so confused at her sudden laughter that they stop their fighting. The older cookie rubs her tears of laughter away, and catches her breath. "Ohh, sorry, I just... It's kind of funny to me because of something I've learned."

"Sure, magical engineering and robotics, like what Strawberry Crepe Cookie practices, might not need electricity or lighting magic- but non-magical robotics is impossible without it."

"Eh? Non-magical robotics?" Strawberry Crepe looks like if someone just told them that cats said 'woof' and dogs went 'meow'. "That's impossible! Don't be silly!"

"Oh, it's very much possible, and only with electricity." Choco Thai Tea sits down next to them, folding her hands and grinning. "Magic isn't everything, and although I'm a biologist first and foremost- I've got a bit of knowledge on other topics as well."

"How does the world work without magic?" Thai Tea asks. Wizard Cookie's mind blanks on the question, and Strawberry Crepe Cookie laughs. "Is that a trick question? Earthbread wouldn't exist without it! Cookie's wouldn't be alive, and nothing would make sense!"

"You're correct- Earthbread wouldn't exist without it. But for example- when a person's not casting a spell, why do things work the way they do?" Choco Thai Tea Cookie hums. "Why does an apple fall to the ground, and why do the stars twinkle? How does light work, and why do liquids always fill the container they are in?"

That... actually sparks some curiosity in Wizard Cookie's mind. "Well, I only know the answer to the first question... the wizards say it's because of 'gravity'."

"Correct! But do you know what exactly is gravity?"

"..." Wizard Cookie can't exactly answer that. Choco Thai Tea Cookie Continues to lecture.

"The study of the world without magic is science, as you might know. But there's so many branches of science!" She spreads her arms out. "There's chemistry! Physics! Non-magical biology!"

"It's all there, just neglected in comparison to cookie-kind's discoveries in magic." She gives the both of them a grin. "With non-magical electricity, robotics is possible. It's a lot harder than magical engineering and robotics, but it's possible."

Strawberry Crepe Cookie huffs, and crosses their arms. "I don't believe you!"

"That's alright- you don't have to. I'm just someone rambling about her theories and some old things I've learned, after all..." She yawns, and shoots them both a smirk. "It's not like it's really niche, secret information..."

That wins Strawberry Crepe Cookie over. "No no no- tell me, then!"

"Aw, fine. If that's what you want..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie turns around, and sighs dramatically, grinning. "Now, what do you two know about atoms?"

What followed was the most mind-blowing theories he's ever heard- well, at least non-magical theory. The idea that everything in the world was made out of little particles, kind of like flour, was interesting enough. Then came the fact that those littler particles had something called 'electrons' that jumped about and bound things together, and how they determined what things were made up of...

Choco Thai Tea talked a lot. A lot about atomic theory, about how electrons could be passed through a metal wire and how electrical currents were related to magnetism and atoms and all that. She explained how non-magical engineering and circuitry depended on the conductive properties of metallic atoms and how electricity did work in order to turn on lightbulbs and perform tasks.

And then she connected it to lightning. Wizard Cookie's own magic was fascinating, but it was even more fascinating to learn how it functioned without the laws of magic.

"Lightning is just a really, really big example of friction." Choco Thai Tea says, rubbing her hands together. "Have you two ever rubbed your feet against a wool carpet, and then when you touch someone's hand, you feel a shock?"

"Yes, that's static electricity!" Wizard Cookie chimes in. "It happens because of all the energy built up from the motion!"

"Oh, you've got it!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie smiles. "Static electricity is an imbalance of positive and negative charges on the surface or inside of something. When you rub your feet against a carpet, the friction between your feet and the carpet builds up a negative charge."

"So when we touch something metal..." Strawberry Crepe Cookie trails off. Choco Thai Tea claps her hands. "That's right! The difference in charges gets transferred, and you get a small jolt of electricity!"

"Lightning is similar to this in how the friction in storm clouds causes them to be negatively charged at the bottom." The older cookie tries to illustrate the idea for the two. "And they get this charge from all the rain or snow being circulated inside the cloud. They bump into each other and cause their electrons to get knocked out of the molecules."

"The ground, on the other hand, is positively charged on the surface." Choco Thai Tea holds her hands parallel to each other. "So when enough negative charge is built up on the bottom of the cloud..."

"It tries to make itself equal to the charge on the ground by transferring those electrons, which makes electricity!" Wizard Cookie cheers. Choco Thai Tea Cookie gives a thumbs up. "Mhm! You're correct!"

"How'd you know all this stuff?" Strawberry Crepe Cookie asks her. The older cookie pauses, and sighs. "It's just... a long time ago. From some old textbooks."

"Must have been some really interesting textbooks, if that's the case!" Wizard Cookie's eyes are sparkling with the idea of reading more. "Do you remember what it was called?"

"Ehhh..." Choco Thai Tea pauses, and seems to think it over. "I don't remember the title... it was something about 'earth sciences' and whatever. And I don't think the book is in print anymore..."

"Aw, what a shame!" Wizard Cookie complains.

(True to her word, Ollie DID learn it from a textbook- but it was her old sixth grade textbook, and she had to brush up on that knowledge with her laptop. What they don't know won't harm them.)

(She's just teaching a few kids some science. What's the harm in that?)

Chapter Text

[Chili Pepper Cookie]

'What a weirdo.'

She sees Choco Thai Tea Cookie ramble on and on about science out of all things- does she do this because she doesn't have magical talent?

'Eh, not like I care! I don't wave a wand around like the know-it-all there, and I still get tons of coins and treasures!' Chili Pepper snickers to herself, taking out a gold coin and flipping it in her hand.

'Ping!' It lands in her hand with a click, and she continues to flip it as she absently thinks about what to rob from the Vanilla Kingdom.

'It's all rubble and debris outside- but the Vanilla Castle is still kinda good enough... ha! I bet I can make a great heist outta it!'

'Ping!' Goes the coin. She furrows her brows. 'But still... Gingerbrave and that Pure Vanilla Cookie... they wouldn't be happy with me looting the place.'

'Ah, well. I'll get paid for this later.'

Choco Thai Tea Cookie finishes her impromptu rambling, slightly out of breath but beaming ear-to-ear. "And that's how electricity works! Neat, isn't it!"

"Bravo, bravo! Absolutely astounding!" Wizard Cookie claps his hands together. "To think lightning magic might be based on such a thing... are the wizards even aware of this?"

"They probably are... it's probably a basis for all of their electric-based spells. But they might do it intuitively without really needing to explain it to others, so the knowledge might have been lost." Choco Thai Tea Cookie rubs her chin in thought.

"I wonder if I can implement this into my Wafflebots... or better yet! Even re-model them to accept electricity as a backup power source!" Strawberry Crepe Cookie chirps. The older cookie lets out a chuckle. "It'll be difficult to do it non-magically- you'd have to find a lot of metal for the circuitry and wiring, and I myself am not well-versed in engineering..."

"Oh, right... I forgot you researched biology." Strawberry Crepe Cookie hums. "The samples were really useful, by the way! But my scanning equipment broke..."

"Ah, that's... a shame. I'll try to help you find spare parts to repair it, if I can find them." Choco Thai Tea waves the two goodbye, and gets to working with the sugar gnomes again.

If Chili Pepper had to describe her schedule in one way, it would be... boring. All Choco Thai Tea Cookie did was work all day, get some lunch, work some more, and then just go back to writing stuff and doing her booooring research back in her house.

'I don't even know how you can be a researcher interested in the witches and be THIS boring. Are all eggheads like this?'

Chili Pepper Cookie just spends the time she has working on cutting log rolls and working in the smithy, so there wasn't much else to say. She was, however, joined by none other than that same nerd once she finished up clearing the forest.

"Heya, Pep." She says a bit too casually, and continues her work, all bored and unbothered. "You doing well today?"

"Tch, what's it to you?" Chili Pepper Cookie isn't very interested in small talk, unless it's the means to an end- usually when she swipes someone's valuables.

"I dunno. Just testing out nicknames." Choco Thai Tea Cookie yawns as she splits another log with Chili Pepper Cookie. "Man, I REALLY need to start sleeping more..."

"How many nights did you stay up?!" Chili Pepper complains, crossing her arms as she pauses her work. "I think the only Cookies I've heard that are able to stay up that late are the Coffee Tribe of the Dark Cacao kingdom!"

"Huh? You've been to the Dark Cacao Kingdom before?"

"No, but I've heard of it! Who wouldn't know about the best messengers and spies in Earthbread!" She tells Choco Thai Tea why exactly she knows about them. "A ton of thieves envy their natural ability to stay up for several nights on end and their near-endless energy..."

"It's because of all the caffeine in their dough, I suppose?" Choco Thai Tea Cookie hums. "Hmm... I wonder how much caffeine in one's dough is proportional to their ability to stay awake. I've got a decent amount of it in mine."

"Wait, really?!" The thief leans forward, continuing to chop the log rolls while talking.

"Yeah- Thai tea is a type of caffinated drink. If I recall, it's... similar in taste to sweetened coffee, but it's actually made from black tea and other spices watered down with milk." Choco Thai Tea squints her eyes, hoisting her axe over her shoulder. "My dough has powdered Thai tea in it."

"I... think it's enough caffeine to have similar traits to cookies of coffee descent, but I don't have enough data to figure out how much caffeine I have exactly in my dough."

The scholar mutters to herself, rubbing her chin. "Maybe if Strawberry Crepe Cookie can do a deeper scan on me- I can figure it out. And then I can collect more data on other cookies from the Coffee Tribe and otherwise..."

'Sheesh, she's a total egghead, just like those two! No wonder she yapped for hours with them...' Chili Pepper Cookie thinks. 'But... she's pretty strong for a nerd! She's not sweating like Wizard Cookie when he tries to cut wood!'

The two of them continue to chop wood until they're sure they have enough for the Sugar Gnomes to continue working on their next building. Chili Pepper can see the short little guys happily hammering away at a new house for them.

"Wow, they're certainly hard-working." Choco Thai Tea Cookie says, rubbing the back of her head.

"Yeah, I wonder. Do they even take breaks?" Chili Pepper Cookie worries.

"Oh, don't worry! They do!" Choco Thai Tea reassures her. "They just like to work in shifts! Two of them take the morning shift, and two work during the evening. And when they do take breaks, they prefer to eat lunch or rest at the construction site."

"Huh. You really seem to be close to the Sugar Gnomes." She says, snickering. "What, are you trying to be a builder like them too?"

"I help them with the construction work once in a while!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie says, proud of herself. "I like learning about anything I can get my hands on, and doing stuff is how I best learn!"

"Which reminds me..." Choco Thai Tea rummages in her hoodie pockets and shows off some gold coins. "I'd like to learn from you, too!"

"... Eh?"

"Oh come on! You're the only one I can go to for this!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie complains, trailing after Chili Pepper Cookie like a lost kitten.

"I said beat it, kid! What do you need to learn pickpocketing for, anyways?!" She huffs, stomping off and attempting to go back to her room in the house the Sugar Gnomes built for her.

Unfortunately, Thai Tea still follows her, even though she slams the door on her face. The short cookie stares at her through the window, and Chili Pepper Cookie feels annoyed and creeped out at her blank state.

"Ugh..." She narrows her eyes at Thai Tea's sugary-sweet enthusiasm. "I thought you said you were lazy?!"

"Only on some days, haha!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie jokes. "But in all seriousness- I tend to have bursts of inspiration once in a while."

"And it had to happen now?!"

"Come on! Pleeeeease?" The young cookie begs. "Can't Earthbread's greatest thief teach me some tricks?"

Being called the "greatest thief" makes Chili Pepper Cookie swell with pride, and she blushes- but keeps her cool and coughs into her fist. "Tch! I mean- I am the best thief in the world, and I'm really good at what I do... but no!"

"Pleaaase? I'm begging you?" Choco Thai Tea whines.

"No! I'm not gonna teach some snot-nosed brat like you-"

"I'll pay you."

"You've got a deal."

The young scholar giggles a bit from the sudden switch-up from before, and procures a small pouch of coins. "I've got an idea on how you can teach me!"

She opens the pouch, and places some coins in each of her different pockets. "You can 'steal' your payment from me, and show me how you do it! In return, I'll try to steal some back!" She tosses the empty pouch back to Chili Pepper cookie.

Chili Pepper Cookie feels a bit competitive, and grins sharply. "Oh, it's on!"

What follows is something akin to a small game of tag- Choco Thai Tea wanders around the kingdom, going about her day while Chili Pepper Cookie proceeds to run her pockets dry.

Choco Thai Tea cookie stops at a food stall, waving at the cookie running it and ordering a large sandwich- before rummaging through all her pockets and realizing that they've been picked dry.

"Aw, dang it! I was watching the entire time and tried to be careful!" She pouts.

Chili Pepper Cookie appears behind her with a laugh and holds up the pouch, this time full of coins. "Wasn't careful enough, haha! Your treasures are mine!"

"You got me there..." Choco Thai Tea has a toothy grin on her face, enthusiastic at being beat. "You really are the best at this!"

Chili Pepper Cookie has never seen someone so happy to be robbed before. She scoffs, grinning and flipping her ponytail. "I've got a bounty for a reason, kid! You can't catch me!"

"I'm gonna at least try!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie pouts, stomping her feet- and she lunges at Chili Pepper trying to grab the bag of coins from her hands. The thief laughs and dodges, making the short cookie fall face-first into the dirt with an 'oof!'

She feels bad for making Choco Thai Tea Cookie eat dirt, so Chili Pepper Cookie pays for the sandwich with the stolen coins and hands it to the little scholar. Choco Thai Tea takes the sandwich with a huff and munches on it, her hair bristling in slight annoyance.

"Here- I'll even stand still and you can try to steal some coins back." Chili Pepper Cookie takes a few steps back and turns around, dropping the coins in her pants pocket. "I'll even do this with my eyes closed.

Chili Pepper Cookie waits a bit. 'Closer, closer... there!' Her hand shoots out and grabs Choco Thai Tea's wrist. "Gotcha!"

"Aw, man! How's you even feel that?!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie has her hand in Chili Pepper's pocket, not even able to take a single gold coin.

"You've gotta have light fingers, kid! And you're slow as molasses!" Chili Pepper Cookie cackles. "Pickpocketing's all about speed, and you've got none of that!"

The two of them continue their little game of thieving, with Chili Pepper outplaying Choco Thai Tea Cookie over and over again. The younger cookie manages to steal only five coins back from Chili Pepper Cookie, and only at the end.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie manages to quickly swipe the coins from Chili Pepper's back. Chili Pepper Cookie can feel her hand, so it's not a perfect theft- but it's quick enough that Choco Thai Tea manages to scuttle away quickly, snickering under her breath.

The thief can't help but give a small, proud smile at seeing her finally making some progress in learning what she wanted to.

'What an annoying little brat...' She thinks, exasperated but still happy.

[Pure Vanilla Cookie]

Pure Vanilla Cookie was liked by most cookies- he prided himself in his virtue and his kindness to others. Even though he mainly wielded the Light of Truth, it didn't mean he couldn't be compassionate to everyone around him.

Gingerbrave, Strawberry Cookie and Wizard Cookie all crowded him at first, curious and eager to know what an Ancient Hero like him was like. Black Raisin Cookie, who he knew for many years under his guise as Healer Cookie, seemed to be upset that he'd unintentionally deceived her, but was understanding once he'd apologized over and over again for losing his memory.

He finds Chili Pepper's determination rather commendable, even though he disapproves of her being a criminal and a thief. Strawberry Crepe Cookie is just a very misguided child, and he hopes that they find the right environment to nurture their talents.

All of them were glad to be around him. He's rather happy to have people around him once again, even though he misses his friends.

Princess Cookie seems to have set off with her little knight once again for more adventure, but Pure Vanilla is sure that other cookies will come by the kingdom and stay for longer. It's a very nice place.

He's humming as he packs up some supplies, bartering for them despite the traveling vendors insisting that he just take them for free. Of course, he refused to not pay them, because that was bad manners.

The Cookie Kingdom, along with other kingdoms like his and his friends', often let in merchants that facilitated trade. Many cookies would often come and go from kingdoms instead of staying in one place, and those cookies often only settled down when they were much older and the dangerous wilds in between settlements was too hard to traverse.

Even with such a small, new kingdom, Gingerbrave and his friends still received a lot of traffic from these wandering traders because it was a nice rest stop between the Hollyberry Kingdom and the Dark Cacao kingdom.

'Speaking of which- I miss my friends dearly. I must get into contact with them after we deal with Dark Enchantress Cookie, and get the rest of the Ancient Heroes ready!'

He picks up the pace a bit, and doesn't notice where he's walking, running into someone. "Oof!" Pure Vanilla Cookie is knocked back a bit (surprising, because he's incredibly study, despite being a healer), and the cookie in front of him yelps. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry!"

They help him up, and he realizes that it's Choco Thai Tea Cookie. It takes a second for her to realize who she's just picked up, and she lets out a small squeak. "Pure Vanilla! It's you! Ah-"

"Please don't be so afraid! I'm not as serious and formal as you think I am." He says, holding out his hand. "I've noticed that you're awfully afraid of me, and I haven't noticed you around as much."

"S-sorry." Choco Thai Tea stutters out. "I'm- not really the best with authority. It just makes me really nervous when someone powerful is around." She draws into herself, and steps back.

Pure Vanilla feels bad for her. He has the feeling that she's a troubled soul, and that she has her own demons to deal with- but Choco Thai Tea seems reluctant to reach out for help and doesn't feel comfortable around him.

"I see. There is no need to be scared, then- here, we are both equals." He gives her a compassionate smile. "Do you wish to sit down and talk about it?"

She pauses. The look on her face is conflicted, hesitant. "I..."

The young scholar looks away from him. "I don't know. Maybe... maybe not now." She rubs her arm. "I barely know you."

Still, she takes a seat on the bench next to him, rummaging in her backpack and pulling out a sandwich. Choco Thai Tea is about to eat it before she glances over at Pure Vanilla Cookie again. "... Are you hungry?"

"I'm fine, little one." He says, his voice gentle. Truth be told, he's never really sure when he's hungry, because the feeling often went ignored. Choco Thai Tea Cookie furrows her brow, and sticks her hand in her backpack again to pull out a bag full of berries and nuts.

"You look thin and pale, sir. Here, have some of these." She hands him the bag of food. "I collected them myself."

"Ah, thank you very much." He takes the gift, and puts it by his side. "Although, why give me such a gift if you are afraid of me?"

"What? Just because I'm nervous around you doesn't mean that I'm going to be a douche!" Choco Thai Tea exclaims, looking upset. "I might be scared, but it won't stop me from helping someone who's hungry."

"Now-" She kicks her feet back and forth. "If you eat some of those berries and nuts, I'll tell you a bit about myself. At least... the parts I'm comfortable with."

"You're rather insistent that I eat, little one." He chuckles, and the eye on his staff looks at the bag while he holds his hand out and takes some berries, munching on them.

'They're sweet. Not a bad meal.' He thinks. Pure Vanilla uses his staff to see where the berries are, and gently picks the blueberries to eat first.

"You remind me of my friends a bit. Always insisting that I eat." He smiles. "Thank you for reminding me, I suppose."

"Oh, it's nothing! I'll try to remember so that I'll remind you again." Choco Thai Tea Cookie's mouth twitches a bit in a nervous smile.

He continues to eat the berries, slowly but surely, while Choco Thai Tea munches on her sandwich. "So- what do you want to know about me?"

"I suppose I would like to know about your hobbies. What do you like to do for fun?" Pure Vanilla Cookie asks.

"I... like learning stuff." She says, smiling. "I'm not good at it! I have bad memory, I mess things up a lot- but I like doing it." Choco Thai Tea Cookie continues to ramble. "Chili Pepper Cookie taught me how to pickpocket, and Strawberry Crepe Cookie talked to me about magichanical engineering!"

That, Pure Vanilla Cookie can relate to. He's taken back to his Academy days with White Lily Cookie where they both endlessly pored over books and scrolls.

"Ah, to be young again and be so eager to learn everything." He sighs, reminiscing about the past. "I used to have a friend that loved to do the same- although, she wanted to learn because she was curious about cookie-kind."

"Me too!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie perks up. "It's honestly so fascinating- Chili Pepper actually gave me the idea to figure out how much caffeine in a cookie's dough affects their ability to stay up at night! I'd love to have more samples from a wider array of cookies rather than just myself..."

"Ah, yes. You're a tea cookie." He smiles. "There might be some papers written on that topic- it's bound to have happened with how many cookies there are out in Earthbread."

"I hope so! It'll help me out greatly."

The both of them talk about research and such- Pure Vanilla Cookie recounts some stories about his time at the Blueberry Yogurt Academy and the things he's learned. Choco Thai Tea Cookie listens to him with rapt wonder.

"What were the classes like? I heard that Gingerbrave and his friends went through the place, but it was all abandoned."

"The classes? They were very much hands-on with magic, but the professors assigned a lot of work." Pure Vanilla Cookie giggles. "I remember having to do three of them in the span of a week- my hands were all sore! I thought they would actually crumble!"

Choco Thai Tea seems a bit horrified at the idea of writing that much. "Three essays, all by hand!? That's wild!" She groans, running a hand down her face.

"Oh, it wasn't all that bad. I quite liked the assignments- they made me learn a lot about the healing magic I use today."

"I typed my own essays, kinda." The young scholar rubs the back of her head. "I went to a university- it's like an academy but for non-magical stuff- and I studied biology and public health for a while."

"Public health? You study sanitation?" Pure Vanilla asks, curious.

"Kind of! Public health is the science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health within a community or society!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie seems to be reciting something from memory. "Public health workers are different from doctors in how they focus on the prevention of a disease rather than curing it, and their patients are the entire community instead of just one person!"

She sounds passionate about her studies, the kind of passion that can't be faked. "I studied it for two years before I... had to leave. But even though it was difficult, I still pulled through!"

"Fascinating." Pure Vanilla Cookie says, his staff closing it's eye for a while. "And what would you have been after your studies and training?"

"I planned to work as a... government medical official? Yeah, that's the word." Choco Thai Tea taps her hand on her chin. "The job I wanted was to communicate to the public about health and such."

He's reminded of the street sweepers and food inspectors in his old kingdom. There was a small part of the council that focused on sanitation and health regulations within his kingdom, but most of them were former tradesmen and workers themselves, not specifically trained researchers.

"You seem to have planned this out very well. I think you'd have been good at it." Pure Vanilla Cookie gives her a gentle smile. "But why did you have to pause your studies?"

"..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie goes silent. Pure Vanilla realizes that he might have touched upon a sore topic, because she squeezes her eyes shut and exhales loudly. "I don't want to talk about it."

'I see. Something very grave must have happened to this cookie...' He can see the metaphorical weight on her shoulders press her down. Her eyes, strange as they were, seemed to cloud with grief.

"I apologize for asking, little one." He says, his voice gentle. "Perhaps we can go back to talking about your... university? It sounds rather prestigious."

Choco Thai Tea Cookie nods, and she lets out a smaller sigh while mumbling. "I guess so..."

[Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie]

Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie was not dumb. She may be sorta smooth-brained and forget almost everything after a final exam, but she's got enough wits to know that lying to a guy that literally is called the "light of truth" was extra dumb.

'Damn it! I had to let down my guard and get all sentimental!' She curses internally. Pure Vanilla Cookie would most likely sniff out any lies she told directly.

'So I've got to tell only half-truths and make things as vague as possible.'

She then proceeded to talk about her daily life commuting to school. "It was rather boring at times- my parents dropped me off every weekday so I could go to lectures and discussions. I spent most of my day on-campus doing my homework and studying, and went home at really late hours."

"The place was pretty big, and had all these towering buildings full of classrooms. There were a lot of... students, seeing that the university was split into a ton of other schools under it's domain." Choco Thai Tea Cookie feels odd describing her own college to Pure Vanilla Cookie, missing the place- but she can't afford to let her guard down and let something slip.

"Oh? I've never heard of a school so big that it would have many other schools in it." Pure Vanilla Cookie seems intrigued at the idea.

"It was a non-magic school, so there was a lot of variety. We had the school of biological sciences, the school of the arts, the school of business... I was under the school of public health."

Choco Thai Tea Cookie grumbles to herself. "My parents wanted my to get into the school of medicine, but I didn't score high enough for that."

She hates to admit it, but she's a little jealous at the fact that Pure Vanilla Cookie had such powerful healing magic. 'If humans back in my world had healing magic, then those who are good at it would have been lauded as great potential doctors and nurses.' She thinks.

What rotten luck. Choco Thai Tea Cookie pushes that thought aside, reasoning that she wouldn't have been good at healing magic anyways. 'After all, I can't do a lick of magic in this world. Who's to say it'll be different back at home?'

Pure Vanilla Cookie looks at her with a tilt of his head. "You sound upset... did you perhaps want to study medicine at first?"

"... I did, but I changed my mind once I learned about public health." Choco Thai Tea Cookie brushes him off. "It fits far more with my interests in people, and being a doctor is much more difficult than being a public health worker. I'd rather not make a mistake while curing someone and risk their life!"

The two of them talk until Pure Vanilla Cookie is approached by Gingerbrave to talk about the next mission, and Choco Thai Tea Cookie slips away from the conversation with a quiet 'see you later'.

She strolls around the kingdom, seeing the sugar gnomes work and the cookies prepare for their trip back to the Vanilla Kingdom's ruins.

'If I recall, the Créme Republic is what's left of the Vanilla Kingdom's citizens once they evacuated...' She thinks. 'Shit, I really need to brush up on the lore. I might even have to read the Ovenbreak Wiki on my laptop, if that's the case!'

"What are you scheming, Choco Thai Tea?" A voice calls out from behind her.

"Ack!" Ollie jumps up in shock, swinging her head around to see the ghostly form of Strawberry Gelatin Cookie loom over her. "Dang it, Strawberry Gel! Why do you have to sneak up on me like that!"

"You have nerve, talking about such trivial things in front of Pure Vanilla Cookie." She says, crossing her arms. "How long do you think it will take until he realizes that he's talking to a heretic like you?"

"Shut up about the 'heretic' thing already. And besides, he's got the Light of Truth. He probably knows about the Witches and what they do already." Choco Thai Tea Cookie grumbles. "He probably doesn't tell anyone about it, though. God knows they're going to freak out."

"That's because the common cookies do not see it as the honor that it is." Strawberry Gelatin Cookie sniffs, turning up her head at the thought. "Becoming one with the divine, giving them the sustenance they need to create new life and rule over Earthbread..."

Choco Thai Tea has to grit her teeth and resist the urge to say that the Witches were not divine, they were just ordinary humans given too much power- so instead she focuses on what the St. Pastry Order cookie said.

"Becoming one with the divine... tell me. Is that what the Order truly thinks?" She asks.

Strawberry Gelatin Cookie turns to Choco Thai Tea Cookie with a stern, resolute look. "Us cookies were made of dough, icing, and foodstuffs. Our very purpose is to grow up, worship the witches, and be eaten. Why else would we be made of what we are? Why else would we crumble so easily?"

What scares Choco Thai Tea is that Strawberry Gelatin seems to genuinely believe this self-sacrificial, dogmatic word. It's like seeing a cultist fully indoctrinated by the cult- it looks extreme, but Choco Thai Tea knows that this comes from years and years of conditioning since joining.

'How terrifying... despite being in a fantasy land of candy and rainbows, I suppose the techniques cults use are all the same. And scarily effective, too.'

There was also the fact that the Order's dogma was half-correct, in a twisted sort of way. Cookies were made to be eaten. Every part of them was made for a human being's sustenance and enjoyment. Choco Thai Tea can't deny it, and Ollie can't deny it.

"Maybe that's correct. Maybe that was our original purpose- but things can change." Choco Thai Tea Cookie says, making sure that there wasn't anyone around. She'd walked into the forest, glancing behind her shoulder. "We can always make our own destinies. Make our own meaning of life."

The two of them were at odds with each other. Strawberry Gelatin Cookie doesn't know it, but the both of them were dead souls discussing the meaning of life. Choco Thai Tea would find it humorously ironic, if not for the fact that she saw the St. Pastry Order as a serious threat.

'Fuck, weren't they supposed to be secret? Why did I tell Chili Pepper Cookie and Black Raisin Cookie, then?! Let's hope they don't run into any Order members and let it slip...'

Choco Thai Tea Cookie ignores Strawberry Gelatin Cookie's indignant sputtering, and turns her attention to Gingerbrave, Strawberry Cookie, and Wizard Cookie lugging some supplies over to the air balloon.

"Hey, hey- let me help!" She jogs towards them, and hefts up one of the massive backpacks with a grunt, placing it in the balloon's basket. "Ugh, that was heavy..." Choco Thai Tea lies, exaggerating her tiredness. "But you need to get some help packing before you go back to confront Dark Enchantress Cookie, right?"

Strawberry Cookie nods. "T-that's true... we've got to get a lot of food, because after this, Pure Vanilla Cookie says that we're helping the Raisin Village rebuild in the old Vanilla Kingdom!"

"How noble of him! If that's the case, I should go cooking some more food for the locals..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie muses. "But first, let me tell you about some dangers that might await you if you 

She helps them carry over supplies, and huffs as she lugs over the packs of food and drinks. "As you can- see before... Dark Enchantress Cookie's army consists of mostly cake monsters. But a few cookies follow her dark goal!"

"I've- had the misfortune of meeting some of them, and had to escape their grasp." She pants, taking a small break. "Pure Vanilla Cookie!" She shouts, seeing him in the distance. The Ancient Hero perks up. "Do you want to hear about some possible foes you might fight?!"

"Preparation would be crucial in our fight against Dark Enchantress Cookie, yes." He says, his voice calm and gentle as ever. He walks over to the adventurers, and Choco Thai Tea Cookie begins warning them of Dark Enchantress Cookie's followers.

"Okay, okay, does anyone here have some paper and pen? I think I can doodle out what her lackeys look like..."

She takes the pen and paper from Pure Vanilla Cookie with a quiet 'thanks', and gets to doodling. "There's Black Licorice Cookie, a summoner with Black Magic. His summons are mostly Licorice servants, and he's a pain to deal with from afar. Despite his magic, he's pretty weak up close, so if you see him, rush up and deck him in the face before he starts casting!"

"Hey, we know him! He's the guy with Bat-Cat by his side!" Gingerbrave exclaims.

"Close combat is the weakness of most magicians, like me!" Wizard Cookie says. "You have a good point!"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie nods. "That's true. But he covers his weakness by going with Choco Werehound Brute- you probably already met him, too. I heard from some rumors that he used to be from some noble family before running away."

"No way! He's from some fancy upper-class family?!"

"He doesn't like to be reminded of his past there, and I respect him enough to not think of him as dainty or aristocratic. Even if he's on the opposite side." Choco Thai Tea Cookie says, setting down some more supplies.

She spots the other adventurers and calls them over. "Dark Raisin Cookie! Chili Pepper Cookie!" Choco Thai Tea squints her eyes. "And- ah, Custard Cookie! Come listen to this too, okay?"

They similarly join her in her little explanation, with Chili Pepper Cookie rolling her eyes. "The rest of Dark Enchantress' minions can't be that powerful, if you managed to escape them..."

"Oh, they're powerful alright. I'm sure they're just recuperating their strength." Choco Thai Tea Cookie's expression darkens. "After all, Dark Enchantress Cookie's only recently been freed. The longer she's around, the more powerful she will grow, and so will her minions."

"S-scary!" Strawberry Cookie exclaims.

Pure Vanilla Cookie furrows his brow. "You are right, Choco Thai Tea. Time is certainly of the essence- who knows what she'll do if we take too long to confront her."

"I agree. But it's best if we take our time to assess what we're marching in to." Choco Thai Tea Cookie clears her throat and continues. "There's also a former priestess that you should be careful of- Pomegranate Cookie's magic is especially powerful, and she specializes in illusions. If I didn't escape in time, she would have tried to trap me in my own mind and made me face my own darkest nightmares."

"We've also met her before... she's really mean and the priestesses at the Sacred Pomegranate Tree really dislike her!"

"Mhm. Although, I feel like you can use this little tidbit of a rumor I've heard against her-" Choco Thai Tea Cookie smiles slyly and leans forward in a conspiratorial whisper. "I hear she follows Dark Enchantress Cookie because she has a little crush on her. How shocking!"

"Eh?!" The group seems to be taken aback. Chili Pepper Cookie sputters. "She does?! How do you even know this?!"

"Oh, just a little guess! But nobody's that doggedly loyal to someone unless there's a little bit of love between them." Choco Thai Tea Cookie snickers. "I don't think Dark Enchantress Cookie cares, though- or at least she doesn't talk about it."

Pure Vanilla Cookie raises an eyebrow at the idea of Choco Thai Tea spreading rumors, but the young scholar seems to genuinely believe her hunch instead of it being made-up.

"Hm... up next would be- oh right! Poison Mushroom Cookie!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie snaps her fingers. "Poor little kid- I think he's attached to Dark Enchantress Cookie because she's the only one who isn't affected by his poison mushrooms."

"Honestly, I feel bad for the kid. He doesn't know what he's doing is wrong, but anyone who tried to take care of him in the past probably succumbed to his poison mushrooms." She continues.

"Oh... that seems... a bit sad." Wizard Cookie comments. "Yeah!" Strawberry Cookie says. "Can't we get him out of Dark Enchantress Cookie's dark hands?!"

"You can try." Choco Thai Tea Cookie says, sounding regretful. "But I think it'll be very hard. Make sure to watch out for any big, purple mushrooms- they can knock you out and cause hallucinations. Those spores mean serious business!"

"Other than them, there should be..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie racks her mind for the last two cookies. 'Who are the last two involved at this point in the story? In Timeless Kingdom, there's... right!'

"Oh! Right, you should watch out for a cookie with a large cake arm!" She exclaims. "His name's Red Velvet Cookie- he's half cake monster, and half cookie."

"Half cake monster?! How is that possible?!"

"I suppose he's lost his arm from a young age, and Dark Enchantress Cookie helped transform him so he could regain his arm..." Choco Thai Tea muses. "He's very loyal to Dark Enchantress Cookie, and believes that Earthbread should be transformed into a world where cakes and cookies are equal."

"A noble goal, but he's making the wrong decision, placing his trust in Dark Enchantress Cookie." Choco Thai Tea Cookie concludes. "Watch out for his cake hounds- he's fiercely protective of them. And I hear rumors that he has a massive, cake-hound like monster."

"How worrying..." Pure Vanilla Cookie says, lowering his staff a bit. "Do you think we will face him in battle?"

"Maybe, but it's more likely that you'll face off one of his cake hounds." The scholar says. "I suggest being respectful of them, even if they are your enemy. As evil and vile as Dark Enchantress' followers are, some of them at least had good intentions at the start."

Back when she was human, she developed her own sense of justice and morality when it came to the stories she liked. Choco Thai Tea Ollie felt that it was difficult applying this to real people, but to fictional characters that she could analyze and characterize.

She understood that not all cookies were created equal, that as bright and as 'better' as Earthbread was compared to the real world, they still had problems such as discrimination and war. And so Ollie could understand why cookies like Poison Mushroom Cookie and Red Velvet Cookie were so loyal to Dark Enchantress Cookie.

'The only thing that separates me and them,' Ollie thinks. 'Is that I'm on the winner's side. The 'good guys' side.' Because in no world was a cannibalistic, gluttonous monster like her a paragon of purity. All she could do is try to be good.

"You have a lot of information on Dark Enchantress Cookie's minions." Dark Raisin Cookie says, narrowing her eyes. "How did you get that information?"

"She kidnapped me with a cookie cutter, and proceeded to try to sway me to her cause. I rejected, of course." Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie sniffs in disdain. "She then proceeded to send all of those Cookies after me- and I had to evade capture until I ended up running here."

Dark Raisin Cookie nods, and seems concerned at that. "They have cookie cutters as well? That'r rather concerning..."

"I know, right?!" Gingerbrave says, worried. "What if one of us gets nabbed by them? I mean, it'd be really bad luck!"

"Gingerbrave is right. But I'm rather sure that even if Dark Enchantress Cookie has cookie cutters, they're few and far between. Those are rather rare, if I recall." Choco Thai Tea Cookie says.

"What a relief! If she'd gotten more of those, who knows how many innocent cookies she'd kidnap..."

"And, for the last cookie that's working with her..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie winces, and thinks it over. "He's... far more reluctant than the others. The cursed Strawberry Jam sword he wields forced him to commit a terrible crime with it's corruptive power, and he joined the Cookies of Darkness due to his guilt."

"If you see him... don't be too harsh on him. I feel like he is being manipulated, just like the others." She says. "His name is Dark Choco Cookie. He's got a scar over his eye and wears black armor- and he's Dark Cacao's son."

"Dark Cacao?! His- son?!" As expected, Pure Vanilla Cookie is the most startled out of all of them. "He has a child now?!"

"You've been gone for a long, long time, Pure Vanilla Cookie. A lot has changed, and I..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie closes her eyes and looks for the right words to say. "... I suggest not talking about his father. He deeply regrets and is traumatized by what that cursed blade made him do."

"I... we will keep this in mind." Pure Vanilla Cookie seems to sweat from worry. "What else have I missed in the years I was gone? My dear citizens of the Vanilla Empire, my dear friends... how have they fared without me?"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie has to reassure Pure Vanilla Cookie that yes, his people were okay, and that they re-established themselves somewhere else as the Créme Republic. He'd been relieved to hear that most of his people were now living peaceful lives.

Choco Thai Tea, on the other hand, knows that the St. Pastry Order had something to do with the place. 'I might not be that far into the Cookie Odyssey storyline, because holy SHIT is it annoying- but I know from the wiki that some Order goons have a hold on the place.'

She gently reminded herself to not say that out loud, because she can't share all her information at once and needs to have her cards close to her chest.

The scholar is standing in front of her kitchen, packing up the non-perishable food in packages. She repeats the motions over and over as she thinks about what's about to happen.

'After this, they're meant to go to the Hollyberry Kingdom, which has a problem with Pitaya Dragon, if I recall correctly. ' She folds up the parchment paper, and sighs as she packs the loaves of bread into the box. 'My appetite's the main problem with travelling- but if the Hollyberry Kingdom is that abundant with food, both in and around the cities, then I'll be able to control my hunger.'

The real reason why Choco Thai Tea Cookie refuses to go to adventures with Gingerbrave and the others isn't because of her being a coward or being weak- far from it. It's the fact that long-distance travel, along with fighting off hordes of wild monsters with her excessive strength, would make her hunger act up.

Back at the Cookie Kingdom, she could work with the Sugar Gnomes in construction and fight off the wildlife, no problem at all. Even if she did use some of her human strength and her gluttony acted up, she could just buy food from the traveling vendors and hunt in the woods without the fear of her cannibalistic tendencies being spotted by a Cookie.

But to go on an expedition with the others? The path to the other kingdoms needed to be filled with lots of wild food to forage, and going to kingdoms themselves, which would most definitely involve a lot of fighting, need to be well-stocked or Choco Thai Tea is going to accidentally eat all of the food stores.

'I'm certain that the Hollyberry Kingdom adventure is the only place I can travel to with them. The Vanilla Kingdom's abandoned and I sure as hell don't want to face Dark Enchantress Cookie again!'

'The Dark Cacao Kingdom's snow is probably powdered sugar, and I can't eat that raw- even though there's a lot of wild beasts to eat, it'll freak out the others and my cover will be blown.'

'The Golden Cheese kingdom is WORSE. I fuckin' LOVE cheese, and since it's a desert there won't be a lot of food! They're screwed if I lose my mind to hunger!'

All of Choco Thai Tea's Ollie's options ended in ravenous hunger and resorting to cannibalism if she ever lost herself to her gluttony. So staying at the Cookie Kingdom most of the time is a good idea...

"Hey, Strawberry Gelatin Cookie." She says, her voice quiet. "Staying here... there'd be a lot of cookies coming over, right? With how Pure Vanilla Cookie plans on contacting the other Ancient Heroes?"

"Indeed. This place is shaping up to be something much bigger." The nun says. She glances over at Ollie, and furrows her brow. "Don't you dare tell them about the Order's secrets."

"Oh, I don't need to. I have a feeling that some cookies escaped the Witches' ovens, and they won't hesitate to tell the others if it means that they don't join the Order's clutches, old hag." Ollie snarks.

"Old hag-?!" Strawberry Gelatin Cookie shouts indignantly. "I'll have you know that I died when I was only twenty-one! My whole life was dedicated to the order!"

"Twenty-one?!" Ollie whisper-yelled, snickering. "From the way you look and the stick up your ass, I thought you were at least in your late forties! Haha!"

"LATE FORTIES?!" Strawberry Gelatin screeches, even more offended at Ollie's guess. The former human continued to cackle, her wafer antennae twitching at the ghost's annoyed yelling.

"But in all honesty, I'm surprised that you're only like, two years older than me." Ollie says, scratching the back of her head. "I thought you much older, because you said you were a soldier for the St. Pastry Order."

"Tch, all good warriors start their training at a young age. As long as you're old enough to hold a sword, you can fight."

"What in the fuuuuck man." Ollie mutters under her breath. She knew that old-timey people had completely different standards when it came to child labor- but come on! "How old were you when the order first trained you in combat?!"

"I was twelve, mind you! The best fork-wielder in the convent!" Strawberry Gelatin Cookie brags, unaware of the implications. Ollie makes a face and shakes her head. 'Telling her how wrong that is won't work- I'm sure the other cookies have started training just as young, if not younger, from how dangerous Earthbread is.'

"I... see. You're a very hard-working cookie, even if I don't agree with who you're working for."

Ollie sighs, and shakes her head. 'Dealing with Strawberry Gelatin is so frustrating... but I've got to get used to her. Maybe I can change her mind about the Witches, but that will take a LOT of time and effort.'

She looks over at the rest of the cookies, who are boarding the massive air balloon to go back to the Vanilla Kingdom's ruins. "Good luck, guys! I'll be here once you drive Dark Enchantress Cookie away- so stay safe!"

"Hey! Choco Thai Tea Cookie!" Wizard Cookie shouts, pointing at the castle for the Cookie Kingdom that's been set up. "We have more cookie cutters in the castle, so if you can somehow use those- we'll be glad to have new visitors to our castle and helping hands!"

"Eh? Cookie cutters?" Ollie tilts her head, and smiles. "I'll go check them out! Again- good luck, and see ya!"

Chapter Text

[Gingerbrave]

"That was... a lot. I'm tuckered out just thinking about all that's happened." He lets out a sigh, wiping down his brow as he sits down in the air balloon.

"I know, right?! I had to use my magic so much just to fight off those cake monsters... I think I'm going to be tuckered out for a few days!" Wizard Cookie complains.

"I-it was really scary..." Strawberry Cookie comments. "I don't want to do that again! I feel like we nearly crumbled a few times during battle!"

Gingerbrave and his friends had fought off Dark Enchantress Cookie and her minions from the Vanilla Kingdom Castle. It was a hard battle, and there were many times where they'd come close to death- but they persevered.

Pure Vanilla Cookie and Black Raisin Cookie also helped a lot during the battle- if it weren't for them, they'd be crumbs!

Custard Cookie the III lets out a victorious laugh. "Yeah! We defeated all of them- as expected of a king and his soldiers! We had this in the bag!"

Gingerbrave smiles at his friend, and they look down at all of the forest that stretched along the horizon. Pure Vanilla Cookie had decided to stay behind with Black Raisin Cookie and Strawberry Crepe Cookie to take care of the Vanilla Kingdom, so they were going back to see how Choco Thai Tea Cookie, Princess Cookie, Knight Cookie and the others were doing.

"Right there, in the distance!" Chili Pepper Cookie points over to the Cookie Kingdom, which they were rapidly approaching. "Woah, this place already looks more lively!"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie had managed to build more production buildings and houses within the kingdom's lands, expanding it more. There's also far more cookies around working the production buildings, with Choco Thai Tea leading them to their tasks.

"Muscle Cookie- you can pick up Ninja Cookie's tasks and work on chopping logs, right? Thanks!" She turns to another one. "Pancake Cookie... eh, child labor's not that bad here. You can go do something easy, go to the Jammery."

She leads said child over to the Jammery and tosses them a spoon, which they clumsily catch. "Make sure not to eat too much, kid!"

"I won't!"

"Uhhh Beet Cookie, you can tend to the Jellybean Farm. It's not too bad-" She directs the hunter over to there, and pulls up a scroll with a table scribbled on it. "Uhhh... what else..."

"Hey! Choco Thai Tea Cookie!" Custard Cookie waves at her, beaming from the hot air balloon's basket. "We're back!"

The cookie perks up and looks at them, giving them a toothy grin. "Hey! I'll meet you at the landing pad- I made a ton of progress with the kingdom while you all were away!"

Choco Thai Tea trails the hot air balloon before it comes to a gentle landing. She brushes her hair back with a hand and helps Gingerbrave get out of the balloon. "So, how did the journey go? Are you all safe?"

She looks over them, pulling out some bandages and fretting like a mother hen. "Oh no, what if those cuts get infected, what if you have broken bones..."

"Eh? Bones?" Wizard Cookie blinks. "We're not skeletons!"

"Oh! Right, right." Choco Thai Tea Cookie clears her throat. "Apologies, I'm just- really worried. You all went to go fight Dark Enchantress Cookie, out of all cookies!"

"Don't worry!" Gingerbrave grins. "Pure Vanilla Cookie's a great healer! He protected us all from harm and made sure to kick Dark Enchantress Cookie in the butt!"

Choco Thai Tea blinks, and lets out a small sigh. "That's a relief." She glances over to Chili Pepper Cookie. "And you too- did you manage to find the treasures that you were looking for?"

The thief shakes her head. "Ah, ptooey! There wasn't much left anyways- most of the place was abandoned or in ruins!"

"That's a shame. I would have loved it if you found some historical records to bring back..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie muses, before shaking her head. "Ah, nevermind."

She leads them across the road, over to where the production buildings are. Several cookies wave at them. "I've expanded the production buildings and managed to find some new inhabitants for the Cookie Kingdom! Some of them were summoned by the Cookie Cutter, yes- but there were also a few who stumbled upon it by chance and decided to make a home here."

Ollie smiles and shows off the new paths and roads she's built with the help of the Sugar Gnomes. "We've been hard at work making this place a proper trading hub, too!"

"Woah..." Chili Pepper Cookie marveled at all the new people here. "More suckers to rob! Hehehe..."

"Hey! Don't do that!" Wizard Cookie pouts.

"Anyways- since everything's in order, I'll be at my house if any of you want to talk! I've got some research to conduct and sources to cross-reference..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie sets off with a spring in her step. "See ya!"

Gingerbrave glances back to his friends, rubbing the back of his head. "Woah... she's really working hard since we were gone. And all for this?"

"I say it's pretty nice of her! Chili Pepper Cookie laughs, and stretches her back. "I'm going to go straight back to my house, and have a niiiice nap! All that fighting's made me really tired!"

"Me too!" Custard Cookie the III says, yawning. "I need to get a better bedroom... Pure Vanilla Cookie's chambers looked way more comfy." He trots off to take a nap as well.

Gingerbrave Cookie is left with Wizard Cookie and Strawberry Cookie behind him. The three young cookies glanced at each other, unsure of how to proceed after such a long and arduous battle.

"Do you... want to get a meal together or something?" Wizard Cookie asked. "We didn't eat much at Dark Enchantress Cookie's banquet, because it was far too suspicious."

"I guess..." Strawberry Cookie muttered. "But it's kind of hard to eat after... that."

The threes' mood immediately soured at the reminder of what Dark Enchantress Cookie did.

'Putting Cake Monsters into the food when she herself had an army of them... isn't that cruel?' Gingerbrave Cookie wonders.

All three of them had one deep, dark secret that they all shared.

They knew about the witches eating Cookies.

Gingerbrave had personally escaped a witch's oven and met up with Strawberry Cookie and Wizard Cookie, who were both not from Earthbread. All three of them had stumbled here by accident, thinking that they were safe- only to run into the hands of another evil.

Gingerbrave Cookie isn't afraid of Dark Enchantress Cookie- he's faced worse! There's no way that someone like her is going to make him lose his nerve!

It just... doesn't feel good, to be reminded of what the witches do to cookies.

The three had their conversation in their own house, far away from prying eyes or ears.

"Dark Enchantress Cookie knows." Wizard Cookie says. "She knows that the witches are eating cookies- but how?"

"I guess that's why she's trying to do this..." Strawberry Cookie hides her face in her hoodie. "It's... terrifying... remembering what the witches were like. I don't want to think about how everyone here doesn't know."

Gingerbrave Cookie is clearly troubled. Despite the things they've faced, both of his friends were around his age. All three of them were still kids, despite being strong enough to defeat their enemies.

"Do you think Pure Vanilla Cookie knows?" Wizard Cookie asks.

"He probably does." Gingerbrave says, thinking it over. "He looks like he knows a lot, and he's got the... Light of Truth, right? So he must know the Truth!"

"I guess so..." Strawberry Cookie looks away, clearly uncomfortable. "Why didn't he tell anyone else?"

"It must be really terrifying... I don't think we should tell anyone else about what the Witches do." Gingerbrave Cookie thinks out loud. "He probably felt the same way. The cookies here really seem to have faith in the witches..."

It's too complicated. As smart as Wizard Cookie is, as brave as Gingerbrave is, as strong as Strawberry cookie is- all of them were out of their depth here.

This won't be something they can fight. Fighting the witches was foolish- because they had far more power and magic than any cookie could ever hope to gain in their life.

Gingerbrave ends up taking a break to clear his mind. There's not a lot of cookies he knows he could talk about this other than Wizard Cookie and Strawberry Cookie, and those two were clearly tired of all the talk about the witches.

Dark Enchantress Cookies' words keep ringing in his head. He feels guilty about having to hide this from Custard Cookie the III and Chili Pepper Cookie.

'Who else would know about the witches? I'm curious about them, but I don't know if anyone would know about them aside from the obvious.'

'If only there were someone who possibly has more information on the witches...'

Gingerbrave thinks back to Choco Thai Tea Cookie. She's the one researching the witches, right? Chili Pepper Cookie told him that she's a bit weird, but she might have the answers.

She's an awfully friendly face- undoubtedly important to their kingdom, seeing that she's helped it grow so big. Gingerbrave walks up to her house, and knocks on her door.

There's no response at first. "Hey? Choco Thai Tea?" He calls out. The sound of heavy footsteps approach, and she opens the door.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie looks visibly tired and disheveled, a fountain pen stuck in her hair and papers strewn about. Her expression flickers from exhaustion, to shock, to a tired smile. "Oh! Gingerbrave- I uh- didn't expect you."

She lets him in, and her place is much more messy than before. There's a shelf full of scrolls and notebooks, a ton of spare pens, posters and drawings of the witches.

Or at least he assumes it's the witches. The people in the drawings don't all wear the pointy hat and robes usually associated with witches. Maybe they're just... magic-less witches? Humans?

"Come in, and make yourself comfortable. It's not the most comfortable place, I know- but I tried to make it better." She says, placing down a cup of tea. "What do you need?"

"I was wondering if you had some stuff on the witches." Gingerbrave says. He takes a seat down on her couch, and drinks some of the tea she offered. "It was just on my mind after fighting Dark Enchantress Cookie, and-"

"She told you about that too, huh? About the witches eating cookies?"

"Yeah, she- hey wait a minute!" Gingerbrave jumps up. "You know about that too?!"

"'Course I do. Sure, it's forbidden knowledge- but I research humans. Witches just fall under that category." Choco Thai Tea Cookie shrugs. "It's... disturbing stuff, but I've gotten used to that."

"Woah... I didn't think there was anyone else here that knew about the witches." Gingerbrave said. "But- why didn't you tell us?!"

"I didn't know if you were going to freak out or not. And besides..." Choco Thai Tea takes a sip of her own drink. "A lot of the cookies here worship the witches. They don't know what they were... originally made for."

"Oh." Gingerbrave visibly wilts. "So it is true, then... all cookies were made to be eaten by the witches."

"Not exactly." Choco Thai Tea takes one of her notebooks from the shelves, and flips through the beginning pages. "From my research here, it shows that while non-sapient cookies without life powder were definitely meant as food- cookies like you and me seem to have been baked with a different purpose in mind."

"I've been researching old legends- about the Witch of Light and her twelve disciples." The researcher adjusts her glasses. "Back then- the human world wasn't so kind to witches. Feared them and their power."

"The Witch of Light and her followers wanted to cleanse the world from darkness- so they baked the first batch of cookies with Life Powder, and attempted to harness Life itself."

Choco Thai Tea Cookie squints at her own notes. "My own research gets more vague and unclear here- but one thing is certain. The spell to try and harness Life failed for some reason, and the Witches crumbled to the wind, their bodies turning into the Life Powder that makes up Cookies and Earthbread today."

"Fascinating, isn't it?" The cookie's wafer antennae perk up and twitch. "I hypothesize that the original intention of these witches were lost to time in their community, and with how you- I mean, us cookies resemble our non-sentient brethren, it wouldn't be a stretch for later witches to assume that we were meant to be eaten..."

Gingerbrave eagerly listens to her. "Woah... this is all so crazy. I think Wizard Cookie would really like to hear this."

"Yeah, I assumed so. If he has the time, tell him to visit me too, if the whole truth about the witches bothers him." Choco Thai Tea sighs. She gives Gingerbrave a worried look. "I... assume you were sort of like me. Escaped right from a witch's oven, right?"

"Yeah. It's... scary." Gingerbrave wonders if the other cookies he was baked with were ever alive, or if they just didn't have enough life powder to come to life like him.

Either the witch that baked him was snacking on empty corpses that would have never been alive in the first place, or she was eating living cookies. Neither idea sat right with him.

"Can't we do anything to change this?' Gingerbrave asks. "Are we safe here in Earthbread from the witches?"

"Yes, I'm sure you're safe from the witches- as long as you don't enter the places where their plane of reality connects to Earthbread." Choco Thai Tea Cookie nods. "Most places in Earthbread are either too small or protected from the witches- and besides, it's not the witches you should worry, about, but cake monsters and evildoers."

"That's a relief!" Gingerbrave wipes his brow. "Phew! I thought I'd have to be running away from the witches again..."

"You won't, unless you actively seek them out." The researcher tugs on her hoodie strings, bored. "If you need more information on the witches, or humans in general- give me a call, I'll do my best to answer it."

[Choco Thai Tea Cookie Ollie]

'Man, all that research I did into the lore of Cookie Run is REALLY helping me out now... but I can't believe that I still have HOURS left of videos to go over!'

Choco Thai Tea Cookie waves goodbye to Gingerbrave, and lets out a visible sigh of relief when the door closes and she can finally go back to being Ollie. She kicks back on her couch and relaxes, cuddling into her black hoodie and the warm throw blanket.

Finally, she can get some rest- Pure Vanilla Cookie, as nice as he was, posed a great threat to her secrets. And she can't have the other cookies freaking out about having a monster in their midst, after all!

"Ahhh... I should really stop pushing myself too far with my research." She pauses. "Who am I kidding, this is my break from doing all the kingdom stuff. I should get to researching more-"

"AHEM!" Someone coughed loudly behind her to get her attention, clearly angry.

"Oh! Strawberry Gel! You're still here, haha... I thought you'd finally gone up and passed on." Ollie jokes, running a hand through her 'hair'.

"You HAD to corrupt just another nonbeliever, didn't you?!" She grits her teeth- er, teethcing, and stomped her spectral foot on Ollie's floorboards. "If the current witches decide that cookies should be eaten- so be it! The Witch of Light may have had noble intentions, but she is dead and gone according to that tale."

"So you and the Church simply follow what the witches of the present say about the fates of cookies?" Ollie raises an eyebrow, clearly questioning Strawberry Gelatin Cookie's logic. "Even when they are clearly in the wrong, and they themselves follow a faulty line of reasoning with the purpose of the original cookies?"

"Not all of us were made by the Witch of Light and her disciples. We owe a life debt to our creators, not them." Strawberry Gelatin's word sounds absolute, even though her eyes shift over to Ollie's notebook for a second before going back to Ollie's face. "If the witch that created me wanted me to be eaten... so be it, Choco Thai Tea."

"Ever so dogmatic about your faith..." Ollie sighs, shaking her head. "Fine. I won't continue this argument, for the sake of saving time. Time to get back to researching."

Ollie drags herself up from her couch, groaning. She plops herself down on her cluttered desk, and moved aside a ton of papers while opening up her current notebook.

She flips open her laptop- she's not exactly afraid of anyone seeing the screen, since it's blacked out for anyone except her. She twirls her pen , about to write in the notebook- but then changes her mind.

'Hmm... Should I go over more of the Cookie Run Kingdom lore? I mean, the Time Balance Department should already be on my ass if not for [REDACTED] possibly either hiding me from them or threatening them...'

Ollie needs to be more prepared. There's so many threats outside of Earthbread- even though Cookie Run Kingdom didn't focus on the dragons or legendary figures like Ovenbreak, she still needed a good understanding of them.

"... Hey, Strawberry Gelatin Cookie." She asks, leaning back. "What's the Church's stance on like, the Ancient Heroes? Or the Legendary Cookies, like Fire Spirit Cookie and Wind Archer Cookie."

"The Legendary- who?" Strawberry Cookie looks confused. "I don't know about them- but the Ancient Heroes follow the Witches' plans, albeit unknowingly. The truth of the world must not be revealed to them, or else there would be chaos."

"Finally, something we agree on." Ollie says, throwing her hands up. "But if you really want to know, the Legendary Cookies are basically like. Embody the elements and oversee the flow of Life Energy through Earthbread. Kinda reclusive, though, despite all their power."

"... Okay, I guess."

"What other important Cookies would you not know about..." Ollie taps her chin, as if pondering the ideas. "Hm... right! The Beast Cookies!"

"The who?" Strawberry Gelatin Cookie is left baffled once again. "I'm not sure I follow."

Ollie grins, and she flips through one of her notebooks. "The Beast Cookies were the previous holders of the Soul Jams before the Ancient Heroes." She explained, her tone taking on a dramatic voice. They once led cookie-kind to prosperity and protected them from harm... before their absolute power corrupted them."

The former human made a grand sweeping motion with her hands. "So the Witch of Light trapped them in Beast-Yeast, sealed away in the Silver Tree at the Faerie Kingdom! That is where they rest to this day." Ollie grins. "Cool, isn't it? To think that the Soul Jams of the Ancients weren't originally theirs!"

"How... do you even know this?" Strawberry Gelatin Cookie asks, genuinely intrigued by the tale. "I doubt even the Ancients know this, else we'd be hearing about it- this seems to be something lost to time."

"Haha, and that is a little secret I'm going to keep." Ollie winks at her ghostly companion. "I would tell you it's my research- but that would be lying."

'Can't have them knowing about my past life and [REDACTED], after all- as much plot armor as Gingerbrave and his merry band of heroes have, I doubt they can punch up two layers of reality to get to my benefactor.'

Ollie shakes her head and gets back to watching the videos from her laptop.

'It's not like telling Strawberry Gel about this will have any consequences. The beasts are good as sealed, until far, FAR later.'

[Shadow Milk Cookie]

"How...HOW does she know about the Witch of Light?!" Shadow Milk Cookie screeches, baffled. "NOBODY'S supposed to know about her, aside from a few cookies! HOW?!"

His creator had died long ago, even by human standards. If Choco Thai Tea Cookie was a human, like he'd theorized- then she'd be a really old one, most likely dead at this point.

But humans didn't just come back to life?! Even the witches could not escape death, as powerful as they were- only prolong their lives with the right spells and potions.

"It makes no sense- but that would only mean that my previous theories were wrong- what is she?"

Shadow Milk Cookie hears the sound of laughter echoing from behind him. "I see you've been stumped by the nature of my little charge. She's an interesting one, is she not?"

"What in the name of the Witches IS she?!" Shadow Milk Cookie is halfway close to pulling out his hair. "I saw her eat a dead body! The one you restored and left out there! She's shoveling down food twice as much as the normal cookie!"

"Oh, that? Call that a little bit of... foreshadowing about what I want her to overcome." The higher being purrs, their eyes fixed on the frustrated jester. "You of all cookies should know that a good play should have a slow, intriguing build-up of mystery..."

Shadow Milk Cookie sucks in a breath, and exhales slowly. He needs to stay calm now- analyze the situation.

Knowing his tropes... the big, mysterious voice talking to him meant that he was important in some way to Choco Thai Tea's 'character development'.

'I've got to figure out WHAT she is first- can't exactly get under her skin if we're going to meet!' He grins. 'If that's the case, it means I'll be free, and the seal on the SIlver Tree will be broken sometime in the future!'

Finally, FINALLY he was going to be free! And not only that, but he doesn't just have Pure Vanilla Cookie to mess with- but a completely new player as well!

"I wonder... if she's already this voracious, I wonder how deep her hunger truly runs?" Shadow Milk Cookie begins to grin widely. "I wonder how far she's willing to go to keep her belly full?"

"Looks like you're already seeing my plan." [REDACTED] chuckles. "It will take a long, long time for her to grow into what I have planned for her- but I assure you, that amount of time is simply laughable in the face of eternity. We WILL have the most entertaining show for the audience."

Shadow Milk Cookie doesn't like being overshadowed in his own domain, but if what the higher being is saying is true...

Well. He can hand over the spotlight to have some fun in the future.

The Beast of Deceit flips over, floating on his back in his endless void of a prison. He flips over some tarot cards, trying to predict what's going to happen with Choco Thai Tea Cookie next.

The Chariot, reversed. Temperance, reversed. The Tower, reversed.

"What an interesting forecast..."

[Black Raisin Cookie]

Staying here, with Healer- no, Pure Vanilla Cookie was her choice, and she wouldn't have it any other way. As nice as the Cookie Kingdom was for a rest, it was more important to her that the villagers had a comfortable place to stay and were well fed.

The journey to the floating ruins was much more calm than she expected. Then again, most of the Wafflebots were broken and dismantled from their fight towards the top, and there were no pesky intruders to the ruins.

The Vanilla Kingdom's portal was stable, even after all these years. Black Raisin Cookie took a peek over the ledge of the floating kingdom- she had to admit, this place was the perfect fortress against dark forces.

High above in the clouds, where attackers only had one way of getting through- the portal. There was a height advantage where they could see their attackers and defend themselves safely, too.

"I must admit- Pure Vanilla Cookie, your kingdom's defenses are amazing. Did you design it to float so high up?"

"No." Pure Vanilla Cookie shook his head. "It... became this way during the end of the Dark Flour War. The clash between me and Dark Enchantress practically exploded all of the surrounding area, creating the cliffs below. If it wasn't for the magic that preserved this kingdom, it'd fall to the ground and be naught but rubble."

"... I see." Black Raisin Cookie shifts her gaze back down. "to think... all this destruction, all this time- and your kingdom still stands. It's abandoned and crumbling a bit, yes- but it's still standing."

"I think it will make a nice home to all the Raisin villagers, Black Raisin Cookie." Pure Vanilla Cookie comments. "There's no greater honor than for me to extend my hand, and help you all rebuild a new home."

"This place is rather... destroyed, but I think we can make do." Black Raisin Cookie says. She looks at the homes and buildings surrounding her- sure, the plaza's collapsed, and most homes were run-down from the attacks during the Dark Flour War- but the preservation magic kept most of the homes intact.

She walks through the kingdom, glancing in houses and checking them out. A lot of the inhabitants' belongings are left inside- books, bedsheets, furniture... it's like walking into a snapshot in time.

Black Raisin Cookie picks up a picture frame. It has a photo of two cookies smiling, holding a small dough baby in their arms.

'... I wonder if they're still alive today.' She thinks. 'Surely, with all the time that's passed, that baby must be a full-grown cookie by now.'

"It's... not a bad place, but it feels wrong to settle down in their homes." Black Raisin Cookie mutters. She lets her ravens crowd around her and perch on her shoulders as she moves through the houses. "Is it really right to do so...?"

"I'm sure they won't mind. And if there are some personal belongings that seem important," Pure Vanilla Cookie says. "We can always set up a collection and find their rightful owners."

"Sounds good to me." Black Raisin Cookie hums in approval, and leaves the houses behind to check on the plaza. A few of the Raisin villagers tried to clean the place up, moving the smaller debris and sweeping away the dust.

"Hello, Black Raisin Cookie!" One villager chimes up. "It's so good to see you!"

"Oatmeal Raisin Cookie, it's good to see you." She nods at him. "Are the others doing well?"

"We're all fine and dandy! Although, it's really hard to move the statue in the middle..." He pouts, looking frustrated. "No matter how hard we try, it's far too heavy! We probably need a stronger cookie to get it hauled off!"

"'I'll see what I can do about that. For now, just focus on the houses- the plaza and castle can wait for later." She says.

"Thanks, Black Raisin Cookie! We'll do our best!"

She leaves the villagers to their own doings and checks on the Wafflebot Hangars with Pure Vanilla Cookie. "They're already being repaired by Strawberry Crepe Cookie? Can you even trust them?"

"I assure you that we can. They're a talented young mind, and only helped Dark Enchantress Cookie because she tricked them."

"If you say so, Pure Vanilla Cookie..." Black Raisin Cookie says, glancing at the young child suspiciously. "I'm watching you." She hisses.

Strawberry Crepe Cookie sticks their tongue out to blow a raspberry, and they get back to tinkering with the Wafflebots, perched on the vast wafer armor of the robot.

The two continued to walk until they were in the Vanilla Kingdom's castle- which was in surprisingly good condition compared to the rest of the kingdom.

The suits of armor and tapestries were still intact, if not a bit charred or scratched from battle- the walls still held strong and were just as strong and crisp as they day they held up against invasion.

"The place is... awfully quiet." Black Raisin Cookie admits. "Like it's meant to be more lively. Is there any way to bring it back to it's former glory?"

Pure Vanilla Cookie's expression becomes sadder, and he looks at the stained glass window of him and the other Ancients. "I hope so."

They're quiet as they walk through the halls. Black Raisin Cookie wasn't old enough to remember the fall of the Vanilla Kingdom, but from the way the Raisin Village's inhabitants barely wore nothing but rags...

"What was it like, ruling the kingdom?" Black Raisin Cookie asks, genuinely curious. "Was it difficult? How did you stop them from going hungry? How did you make them all happy?"

Pure Vanilla Cookie chuckles. "I did not rule the kingdom on my own- I had the smartest, most wise cookies as my advisers. They helped me greatly at matters I was unfamiliar with, like trade and governing."

"As for food, we had plentiful vanilla bean crops, and milk from buttercream alpacas. There were also other crops, yes, but those two made up a good staple of our diet."

Pure Vanilla Cookie then went on to explain the farming practices of his kingdom, and how his advisors managed the food supply. Black Raisin Cookie was more of a scout and a hunter rather than a farmer or government person, so she simply nodded and tried to follow along.

It was nice, she figured. Hearing the former king talk about his old kingdom in his castle walls once more.

It made the whole place less quiet, and feel more like home.

[Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie]

There was a certain sort of nervous excitement that came with the idea of leaving the Cookie Kingdom for the first time, especially when she knew that she was going to follow them in a "main-line" story.

'Do I stick to the sidelines and help quietly?! I don't know if I can even steal the spotlight!' She panics, busy stuffing some essentials into her backpack.

Ollie, despite being short as hell, still has her human strength in a cookie body. She can haul a ton of weight around, but that doesn't mean that it could all fit in an air balloon!

'If I pack too much, then it'll be difficult for the others...' Ollie thinks.

She ends up packing light- an extra set of clothes, a box of waterproof matches, camping cookware, a small tent... oh, and food. Lots and lots of non-perishable food. She straps her oversized fork on her back, and fiddles with the rope holding it there. 'Man, this is kind of tacky... I hope I find an actual holster for my weapon.'

"T-that's a lot of food, Choco Thai Tea Cookie!" Strawberry Cookie comments. "I d-don't think we'll eat that much- and the trip to the Hollyberry Kingdom is only a few days away...

"You'd be surprised how much food I eat. I'm sort of a glutton, haha..." Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie jokes, rubbing the back of her head. "I'd be surprised if my rations last in those few days!"

'And I'd rather not tell them that I literally NEED to eat a lot, given the fact that my appetite's still the same for a human's... Cookie portions are too small for me.'

Choco Thai Tea Cookie gets on the balloon, and glances down at Princess Cookie and Knight Cookie. "Hey, you two! You're going back to the Hollyberry Kingdom as well, right?"

"Indeed!" Princess Cookie chirps, smiling and giving a thumbs-up. "We'll be taking the scenic route back, and Knight Cookie can be your official tour guide!"

"Of course, your Highness!" He bows respectfully, and turns to face Gingerbrave, his friends, and Choco Thai Tea Cookie. "Seeing as there are few areas of flat land in the forests near the Hollyberry Kingdom- we would have to land a few miles away and traverse through the forest, and then take a boat through the kingdom itself."

"Oooo! That sounds so cool!" Custard Cookie the III exclaims. "We get to go see all the markets and stuff in the Hollyberry Kingdom! I hear they have a lot of good berry juice!"

"And I bet the nobles there have a lot of gold I can swipe..." Chili Pepper Cookie snickers.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie blinks at the mention of berry juice- isn't that implied to be alcoholic? Custard Cookie the II shouldn't be drinking, especially at such a young age!

'Although, he may be referring to unfermented berry juice. God forbid that this poor little kid accidentally drinks wine.'

Choco Thai Tea Cookie tilts her head. "I've never visited any of the Kingdoms... so this will be especially new." She's worried about how things will go.

"Don't worry!" Princess Cookie smiles. "Us Hollyberrians can get a bit rowdy and competitive- but we're all very friendly! Our kingdom's passion is what makes it unique!"

There was unmistakable pride in Princess Cookie's voice. Why wouldn't she be proud of her kingdom? Her grandmother, one of the four ancient heroes, founded it and the citizens were all hard-working and happy to this day.

Ollie Choco Thai Tea thinks back to her human home. How there wouldn't be a lot of people in America, in California, that would have that same unshakable pride in their home.

'If only I could have that same trust and happiness...' She thinks, before her mind goes back to the topic. "I'll take your word for it, Princess Cookie."

The expedition team was as follows- Gingerbrave Cookie, Wizard Cookie, Strawberry Cookie, Custard Cookie, Chili Pepper Cookie, Princess Cookie, Knight Cookie, and last but not least, Choco Thai Tea Cookie.

She stood out like a sore thumb. Too fancy to be a normal cookie in terms of design, but too weak-looking to be a legendary hero guiding them.

'I'm just... me. Or at least the new me that exists here.'

Now was the perfect time to get existential. As soon as they all crowded into the large air balloon (Ollie wasn't sure how this thing was flying with EIGHT cookies in it, regardless of how small they were), she shut down and tuned everyone out.

The best way to deal with her gluttony was to go to sleep. And go to sleep she did.

Choco Thai Tea didn't wake up as she slept for an entire day, her small 'chest' rising and falling like dough in an oven. She didn't notice it, but all of the cookies occasionally stared at her with care, and Wizard Cookie even conjured up a blanket for her.

("Are you sure she didn't pull another all-nigher, Gingerbrave? She's REALLY tuckered out, huh?" He says. Gingerbrave shakes his head. "I think Choco Thai Tea is just like that. Really sleepy when she's not working.")

("I think we can wake her up when we're landing..." Custard Cookie the III said, pouting. He'd wanted to talk with her some more, because Choco Thai Tea knew a lot about running a kingdom!)

When Ollie blinks awake groggily, it's night-time and most of the cookies are asleep. The only ones awake are Knight Cookie and Chili Pepper Cookie, who are carefully taking watch over the younger cookies.

"Mggh... hey." She mutters, her voice quiet. Knight Cookie turns around to check on her. "It seems that our sleeping scholar has awakened." His usually loud, enthusiastic voice is quiet, on account of his friends and Princess Cookie being asleep.

"Hey, bed-bug." Chili Pepper Cookie quips, smirking. "What took you so long to wake up?"

"Sleeping's good. 'Specially when you can skip being hungry for a few hours." Choco Thai Tea Cookie says quietly. She rummages through her bag, and quietly pulls out her rations. "How long did I get knocked out for?"

"About a day, haha." Chili Pepper Cookie snickers. "I didn't know a Cookie could sleep that long..."

"Haven't met me yet, then." Choco Thai Tea Cookie smirks, and she bites down on her crackers.

The young woman cookie inhales cracker after cracker in her rations, and both Knight and Chili Pepper stare at her- Chili Pepper Cookie in particular looking impressed. "Dang, you really do eat a lot."

Choco Thai Tea Cookie sends her an annoyed glare, before quietly biting into some more crackers, cheese slices sandwiched between them. "Hey- I told you. Don't gotta rub it in, Pep."

"You should like, participate in an eating contest or something." Chili Pepper Cookie snickers. "Hey, Knight Cookie- do they have those in the Hollyberry Kingdom?"

"I assure you, we do- although it's usually with berry produces like pie and juices." He clarifies. The young knight peers down at their surroundings, and seems to shake his head. "At least another day until we reach that clearing, even with Wizard Cookie using his magic to blow the balloon."

"Ehhh..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie finishes up the cracker in her hand, and checks her rations. 'Holy fuck I ate 1/3 of it already. Shit-' She SEVERELY underestimated the difference between her cookie size and the capacity of her former human stomach.

"How many days of walking after that?"

"Only two or three days, if we account for all of the monsters hiding in the Sweetberry Forest." He admits. "I can fight and hold them off- you don't seem like much of a warrior."

"Hey!" Choco Thai Tea protests, but winces as she sees Custard Cookie shift from her noise. "I mean... hey. I may not be trained in combat... at all. But Please don't think I'm weak."

She grumbles, feeling the cold night air against her skin- er, dough. Choco Thai Tea Cookie doesn't feel too tired, so she glances up at the night sky.

There's far less pollution in Earthbread, so the sky is crystal clear. Choco Thai Tea admires all of the twinkling stars, while wondering about what is up in the cosmos.

'It's been proven that extraterrestrial life exists in the cookie universe. And Moonlight Cookie should be somewhere up there. And Stardust Cookie too.' Ollie gazes upwards, her expression softening. 'I'm a sucker for star-patterned designs. If I could, I'd visit the City of Wizards too...'

Alas. That was a thought for later- right now, she had to focus on the Hollyberry Kingdom, and lasting the journey there, no matter how short the walking may be.

'I hope my hunger won't get out of control.'

Chapter Text

[Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie]

True to Knight Cookie's word, it took a day for them to find the clearing in the Sweetberry Forest, and they'd landed the hot air balloon in a safe space.

Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie had to admit, it was pretty smart. 'Even if they don't know it yet- Dark Enchantress' cronies are going to be in the Hollyberry Kingdom. Keeping our air balloon over here is a way better idea than leaving it unattended nearby.'

Sure, Choco Thai Tea didn't like the two-day journey on foot there- but beggars can't be choosers. The entire damn jungle was way too dense to land any closer.

Gingerbrave, Strawberry Cookie, and Wizard Cookie followed behind Princess Cookie and Knight Cookie, keeping a lookout for any cake monsters that they might run across.

"Hey, Chili Pepper Cookie- you ever went through places like these?" She asks, tilting her head. "You know, being a thief on the run and all that."

"What thief hasn't?!" Chili Pepper Cookie laughs. "I've been in a few jungles like this- they have cool abandoned temples all full of treasures to loot!"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie blinks a bit, feeling a bit wrong at the idea of robbing from temples and disturbing an ancient civilization's remains. 'Then again,' She thinks. 'At what point does archeology become grave robbing? How much time has to pass before a grave becomes a historical dig site?'

Awfully existential for her. She glances towards where her ghostly "friend" is, still following her with an unamused expression.

Strawberry Gelatin Cookie was still there. The ghostly nun floated behind them, evaluating all of the heroes with a critical eye- she'd been there to see Gingerbrave admit that he'd escaped a witch, the witches- but she wasn't ranting or raving like usual.

No, if anything, a part of her seemed... subdued. Quiet. Like being in the Sweetberry Jungle was familiar to her in a way that was complicated.

'Wasn't she a Hollyberrian once? Like, she said she grew up here when she was younger, before she joined the St. Pastry Order...'

Choco Thai Tea Cookie couldn't just ask her. If she did, she'd look like she was talking to nothing, staring at empty air- and she couldn't afford to look crazy. Not while hiding her own secrets.

So she just stared. Stared and pretended like she was nervous and checking out the foliage for any monsters, when in reality Choco Thai Tea Cookie was looking Strawberry Gelatin Cookie right in the eyes.

The nun tensed up. She locked eyes- eyecing- with Choco Thai Tea, then turned away, as if to not show any more of what she was thinking.

Choco Thai Tea didn't really bother her. Even with her curiosity, she knew that talking to the St. Pastry nun was impossible if she didn't want to. She just focused on taking in the sights of the forest.

The place was dense with different types of vegetation- some of it looked like actual plants, just cartoonishly sized up to ridiculous proportion. The bark of the trees looked less chocolate-y and more like actual fibers from tree bark.

There were also a lot of wild berry bushes. Choco Thai Tea squints at them, trying to figure out if they were edible or not. 'In the human world, it wouldn't be wise to eat any berries you find without checking first, because there's a lot of poisonous ones.'

'But on Earthbread, with everything looking all cutesy and friendly... I wonder if there's a higher chance of these being edible?'

"Hey, Princess Cookie?" She calls out, asking the cookie up ahead. The princess turns around. "Yes?"

"Are these wild berries safe to eat? They look really delicious..."

"They are! These are sweetberries- which is why it's named the Sweetberry Jungle!" Princess Cookie leans down, and picks a few of them right off the bush. After rubbing them with her dress, she pops them into her mouth.

"Bleh! Too sour." She pouts, crossing her arms. "These ones aren't ripe yet..."

"Your highness, please don't eat wild sweetberries. Who knows what creatures might have eaten them already." Knight Cookie warns her.

"Aw, come on! I know the Hollyberry Kingdom and the forest like the back of my hand- it's fine!"

"I can try to find some ripe sweetberries, if you want!" Gingerbrave pipes in. He goes to the side and boldly reaches for a large berry.

"Wait!" Knight Cookie shouts. "Make sure to check if it's not-!"

A loud 'yip!' and growl sounds out, and the bush moves. A cake hound jumps out from the bush, and begins circling them.

"A cake hound..." Knight Cookie says weakly. "Oh, crumbs."

"It's just one cake hound!" Custard Cookie the III said, brushing it off. "We can just scare it off!"

"T-that's not the bad thing, Custard Cookie- c-cake hounds always come in packs!" Strawberry Cookie squeaks.

And true to her word, a dozen more eyes peer out of the dark foliage, growling and snapping. The cake hounds leaped forward, and Gingerbrave swooped into action.

"Take this!" He swings his candy cane, and two small cake hounds yelp as they're hit aside. Strawberry Cookie takes out her lollipop and uses it to battle, and Wizard Cookie sends thunder down on the battlefield.

Chili Pepper Cookie smirks. "Leave it to me!" She tells Princess Cookie and Knight Cookie, before dashing forward with her knife.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie stays behind with Princess Cookie, Knight Cookie, and Custard Cookie, making sure that no cake hounds attacked from behind.

"Back away, foul beasts!" Knight Cookie yells, and stabs at a cake hound with his lance. The poor thing lets out a whine as it flops over, dead, and the other cake hound snarls as it jumps at the knight, but Princess Cookie swings her scepter at it.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie could only really watch as the others dispatched the cake hounds. She would join in if it got too bad, and instead stepped in front of Custard Cookie to protect him.

"That's a lot of cake hounds... did we stumble upon a whole den of them?" She asks. Custard Cookie huffs. "They're pests! Cake hounds are everywhere in Earthbread, and one stole my crown..."

'I do feel sorry for the things. They look like... wolf pups.' Choco Thai Tea Cookie sighs. 'A shame they're one of the few 'living' sources of food I can eat that isn't just straight-up another Cookie...'

There's a hissing noise from a nearby bush, and Custard Cookie freezes. He yelps as a massive blueberry spider leaps at him, mandibles open wide.

Choco Thai Tea doesn't hesitate. She takes the fork off her back and lunges forward, spearing the spider in the 'thorax'. It splatters juice onto her face, the slightly translucent blue blood running down the handle of her fork and onto her hand.

She wasn't disgusted- her mind thought of the creature as food instead of a bug. It smelled sweet and fresh, unlike the scent of rot and immediate disgust a bug (or arachnid) evoked.

The former human, unable to resist, took a small lick of her juice-covered hand. '... Sweet. Like one of those good blueberries, not the sour ones.'

Custard Cookie is trembling, but he has a shaky smile on his face. "Haha! Take that, scary bug!" He blows a raspberry. "I knew you'd be there to save me, Choco Thai Tea!"

She knows he's scared. What little kid wouldn't be, when faced with a massive spider?

There's more rustling from the bushes, and Choco Thai Tea Cookie wipes the dead blueberry spider from her fork using the ground below. She narrows her orange eyes.

"Stay behind me, Custard Cookie. These spiders need to be eliminated." She stands her ground, and watches as more of them jump into the air.

'If it's a meal they want- they'll have to FIGHT for it!'

Half an hour later, Choco Thai Tea Cookie was panting, hoodie covered in blueberry juice from the spiders and some frosting from the cake hounds. The rest of the cookies on the team were similarly recovering, having laid down a tarp and setting up tents.

"Witches, that was an intense battle!" Knight Cookie exclaimed. "There were far too many blueberry spiders and cake hounds... that's expected, seeing that it's harvest season."

"Harvest season? For- all of the berries here, right?" Gingerbrave asks.

"Indeed!" Princess Cookie perks up. "Most of the berries growing around or in the kingdom usually bloom during the spring, and ripen during the late summer- and the wildlife smells it all and gets more active." She explains.

'I could have figured. We had to go right in the middle of harvest season- but then again, it has plot significance, I suppose.' Choco Thai Tea glances over at Strawberry Gelatin Cookie, who was still oddly quiet throughout the princess' explanation.

There it was again. That same look of bitter nostalgia, of yearning for something. But what? Choco Thai Tea Cookie tuned out all of the chatter of her friends to think.

Strawberry Gelatin hadn't seen her home since she'd left it as a young child. She probably only has distant memories, maybe even less, of everything around here.

And now, she was back. To think of yourself as coming from your homeland, yet not remembering enough about the culture or the way it feels- it must be hard. Alienated in her own home, because the St. Pastry Order was her home for most of her life.

Choco Thai Tea waits for most of the others to fall asleep by the campfire, after they'd eaten their meal for the night. She'd had to share some of her extra rations with the others- they hadn't had the foresight like her to pack properly, bah!

So now here Choco Thai Tea was. No rations left, hunger on her mind- and only one day left to go before she reached the Hollyberry Kingdom.

She's... not hungry. Not yet. But she feels that if she doesn't eat tomorrow, she'll start to get antsy. And that might lead to her slipping up, or-

"Shit." She mutters under her breath, sighing. "Damn kids... I'd give them my food any day. But why did it have to be now?"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie glances over to where Chili Pepper Cookie and Gingerbrave are keeping watch, and she slips away from the campsite.

Strawberry Gelatin Cookie is 'sitting' on a tree trunk. She's looking down, her veil covering her face like a typical horror movie ghost. Choco Thai Tea, however, isn't scared.

"You alright, Strawberry Gel?" She asked, her voice quiet. "You seem... out of it, lately. Haven't even snapped at me for being a 'heretic' or whatever."

"... It is none of your business, Choco Thai Tea Cookie." She says bitterly. There's nothing but the sound of crickets between them, and Choco Thai Tea's mind absently wonders if those crickets were chocolate-covered or something.

"Please. I can see it's really bothering you." She shakes her head, her bushy ponytail dragging on the dirt and kicking up a mess. "I... as much as I disagree with you on the Order, I really care about you too." She admits.

Strawberry Gelatin Cookie gives her a look. It's one Choco Thai Tea Cookie Ollie has seen on her grandmother when she'd asked her if she missed Vietnam.

"... I should feel safe here." The cookie explains. "I should. It's my home. I should remember every part of it, hold it close to my heart-"

"But why don't I remember..." She trails off, gulping. It's like she's unwilling to say it out loud. "Why..."

"You don't remember how it feels, huh." Ollie sits next to her, looking down as well. "How home feels. What it was like, being with your family and friends."

Ollie, frankly, was scared of the same thing as well. She'd been in Earthbread for a while now, and her memories were already getting kind of fuzzy. Granted, Ollie never had perfect memory in the first place, but...

The frustration and headache of difficult college assignments, and the relief and pride in finishing them. The joy of talking to her friends online on her laptop, to share her art and her story ideas with them. Making her parents proud- her parents-

"I... I get the feeling." Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie mutters. "I don't think I'll be the same person once I go home, either. I'll feel like a stranger, even in my own family."

Here was a nun raised from childhood to be a soldier for a religious cult. Here was a dead girl that would never see her family again.

"Where are you from, anyways?" Strawberry Gelatin Cookie asks. "What kingdom?"

"Not... really from a kingdom. I'm from Parfaedia City." Choco Thai Tea says. "My family's long gone from there, but- I'm still here. I don't know why I'm still here."

'I don't know why I'm not dead. I don't know why I was chosen for this.'

"..." Strawberry Gelatin Cookie looks at her with a critical eye. "Then that makes two of us, I suppose."

How fitting. Choco Thai Tea Cookie isn't sure if she could ever tell the nun that it was her fault that she came back as a ghost, or that she's desecrated her corpse to get a fix of life powder.

"Do you think, in another life-" Choco Thai Tea Cookie looks up at the stars. "It could have been better for you? That you wouldn't have left the Hollyberry Kingdom?"

"Such thoughts are trivial." She says. The cookie shakes her head. "It has never crossed my mind once." Despite this, her hands were idly playing with her veil, and her gaze was distant.

"... I guess it's the same for me." If Strawberry Gelatin Cookie was going to lie, then Choco Thai Tea Cookie might as well reciprocate.

The campfire flickered behind them. Choco Thai Tea eyes the two cookies on watch, and sighs. "Guess I'll go back to the others. Talk to you when I have the chance."

She waves goodbye to the ghost, and turns back to walk to the fire and go asleep in her own tent.

Choco Thai Tea dreamed of home.

[Strawberry Gelatin Cookie]

The young cookie that Strawberry Gelatin's spirit seemed to be bound to was a conundrum.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie was strange- called herself a scholar and a researcher, and yet she wielded Strawberry Gelatin's fork with brute force, enough to spear the cake hounds and blueberry spiders straight through their bodies with little effort.

She fought like she was hungry, like her last meal was in jeopardy. Choco Thai Tea snapped and growled back at the cake hounds, like she herself was one of them.

An animal. A very docile one, until she senses danger and her jaws snap shut in anger. Perhaps it was rude of her to call another cookie an animal- but that heathen lacks any grace or decorum while fighting.

Combat was supposed to be an art. Even in life or death situations, Strawberry Gelatin Cookie was taught to represent the St. Pastry Order well and show Earthbread that their warriors were refined, graceful, and powerful.

What Choco Thai Tea Cookie did was nothing like combat. The warrior-nun huffed and watched as in the morning, Choco Thai Tea Cookie eagerly skitters behind everyone else, glancing warily at the foliage and trying to see if anything else would attack them.

The whole time through walking through the forest, the other cookies were busy chatting with each other, with only that thief and the knight paying any semblance of attention to their surroundings. Choco Thai Tea practicaly sweeped the area, keeping a close eye on that little healer to see if any monsters targeted him.

And one did. A butter tiger leapt out of the bushes, trying to snap at anything that looked like food. Knight Cookie and Chili Pepper Cookie readied themselves to fight it, but Choco Thai Tea Cookie snaps her hand forward, and her fork impales the tiger on the gut.

It lets out a roar, limping while it tries to attack them again. "Nice shot, Choco Thai Tea!" Wizard Cookie comments, and he uses his staff to blast the butter tiger with lightning until it limps away, whining.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie lets out a sigh of relief, and then goes back to the group to check over them. 'How silly,' Strawberry Gelatin Cookie thinks. 'They clearly didn't get hurt!'

The tea cookie continued to follow them- but her stomach rumbled, and she furrows her eyebrows and slows down. Choco Thai Tea falls behind the main group- still looking into the bushes all worried and concerned.

There wasn't anything behind her. But Ollie glances to her friends- and then quickly snatches something from the ground that Strawberry Gelatin Cookie doesn't see and stuffs it into her mouth.

The nun raises an eyebrow at that. 'Does she really like sweetberries that much?' She thinks.

(Unbeknownst to Strawberry Gelatin Cookie, Ollie wasn't eating sweetberries- but dirt. Chocolate dirt.)

(The former human was curious if she could digest the food-based environment- and apparently, she could. To a normal cookie, the chocolate dirt would just taste like that- dirt- but to Ollie, it just tastes like chocolate crumbs of varying consistency and softness.)

"Mmph-!" Ollie hides her mouth, chewing whatever she'd stuffed inside before swallowing. "Kind of dry... but it reminds me of the muffins mom buys in bulk at Costco."

She continues on, going back to the rest of the group and following them around, until they decided to take a break at noon for lunch.

"I'm huuungry!" Custard Cookie complains, stomping his foot down. "Where's the good food?"

"Maybe we shouldn't have eaten all the rations so quickly..." Gingerbrave comments, looking sheepish. "Knight Cookie, Princess Cookie- how hard is it to forage for some food in the Sweetberry Forest?"

"Not very hard." Knight Cookie admits. "There's a lot of sweetberry bushes around here- you just have to choose the ones that are perfectly ripe."

"I can help!" Princess Cookie perks up, and she goes over to a nearby bush. There's berries all over it, and she leans down. "Let's see..."

"Here!" She picks one berry, this time more careful with which one she chooses. "Here's some advice- ripe sweetberries always have a really bright shine to them! Their skin is thinner, and you can squish them to feel it!"

'Indeed... I remember this.' Strawberry Gelatin Cookie is reminded of the very short time in their childhood where she'd lived in the Hollyberry Kingdom.

The place was lively, especially before the Dark Flour War. Her whole childhood before she went to follow the St. Pastry Order was like a pleasant reverie.

Her parents allowed her to run around the Grandberry Market and towards the border of the forest in order to forage for sweetberries and play with the wildlife. Sure, she hated cake hounds for being cake monsters- but she was rather fond of the butter tigers and liked to watch them hunt.

"Try to pick the bushes closest to sunny patches." She whispers to Choco Thai Tea Cookie. The researcher blinks and looks at Strawberry Gelatin with some shock, not expecting the nun to give her advice.

"The berries with the most exposure to sunlight ripen the quickest. Go for them." She says.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie doesn't say anything, but she nods and takes a small pot out of her backpack. She begins to gather berries with the rest of her friends, and plops the pot down.

"Hmmm... what meal can we make with the berries?" She asks. "Pie? Tarts?"

"That requires dough and other ingredients to make." Wizard Cookie says matter-of-factly. "I think we've just got to eat them on their own."

"Hm." Choco Thai Tea pops a few berries into her mouth and chews on them. "Not bad. Kind of overly sweet for me, and would go well with a more savory side dish- but it's good."

Strawberry Gelatin Cookie agreed. Despite her name, she secretly liked more savory and spicy foods- the spices imported from the Scovilla were always so expensive, but she'd loved eating food cooked with it.

Alas, she'd put aside her indulgences once she'd joined the St. Pastry Order. There is no mere food that would make her stray from the doctrine of the Order.

"Hey, is the Sweetberry Forest part of the Cranberry Forest, then?" Choco Thai Tea Cookie whispers to Strawberry Gelatin Cookie.

"It's called so because the so-called 'sweetberry' is acually an amalgamation of the many berries that grow in Cranberry Forest." The nun says. "Cranberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries..."

"Ooo, I like blueberries. They're nice."

"Yes. Well, sweetberries are a mix of blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Their sweetness comes from this mix."

(While Strawberry Gelatin rambled on about that, Choco Thai Tea Cookie listens in interest. 'Normally, only raspberries and blackberries can hybridize because of their similarity in genetics. Blueberries are far too genetically different to hybridize with them.')

('But magic, or life powder, present within the plants in Earthbread might make it possible to crossbreed them, despite genetic incompatibility'. Choco Thai Tea wonders if she can hybridize a strawberry and a mango- she loves those fruits.)

Hours later, Strawberry Gelatin sighed in relief as she saw the adventuring party finally reach a small dock that had a several small boats.

"Hello!" Princess Cookie perks up and waves at the cookies rowing the boats back and forth, checking on the berries floating in nets on the sparkling water river. "It's so good to see you all again! Harvest season must be doing well!"

"Your highness! It's good to see you again, princess!"

"I wonder if she knows about the contest that's going on..."

"It's been a while, your highness!"

The locals greet Princess Cookie warmly, and Gingerbrave and friends get on some boats rowing to the Grandberry Market. Strawberry Cookie sits politely on the seat, Wizard Cookie looks slightly queasy at the motion sickness on the boat, and Gingerbrave is leaning on the side.

"That's a lot of berries floating around!" He exclaims. "Is it for cleaning the dirt off?"

"That, and to give the berries a lot of flavor!" Princess Cookie enthusiastically explains. "Our sparkling water rivers give our berries that extra kick of flavor!"

Strawberry Gelatin Cookie isn't paying attention to the princess, however. She's busy staring at the towering, fancy buildings and their ornate architecture- the familiar pie frame and tart jam buildings decorated with frozen berries and vines.

It feels like a distant memory brought to life. The ghost simply floats on the surface of the water, following the boat that Choco Thai Tea was sitting on.

She's with Chili Pepper Cookie, Knight Cookie and Princess Cookie, in the back. Just as quiet and contemplative as before.

"It's..." Choco Thai Tea looks up at the buildings and the market. "It's bigger than I expected."

(It's different seeing it in person, rather than on a small phone screen. And Choco Thai Tea Cookie was a cookie now- not a human.)

"It always is." Strawberry Gelatin Cookie mutters. "It's... definitely something, seeing this place again."

"Oh! I should show you around, Chili Pepper Cookie!" Princess Cookie smiles. "You too, Choco Thai Tea Cookie!"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie nods, but she seems quiet. Silent. Strawberry Gelatin Cookie follows her gaze to the forest behind them.

'... A cookie?' She sees someone with teal hair, a tigerskin dress and a flower in her hair. A butter tiger is pacing behind the stranger.

'How strange... there's always been rumors of cookies being lost in the Cranberry forest and living a feral life, but to see it myself...'

Choco Thai Tea Cookie glances from the stranger watching them to Princess Cookie, then back to the stranger. She simply shrugs, and goes back to hearing the princess happily ramble to Chili Pepper Cookie.

"Ooo, you must try out the berry juice sometimes- it's one of our best exports!"

"You betcha I'll try it out!" Chili Pepper Cookie. "Hollyberrians sure know how to party!"

[Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie]

'Amazing... this whole place is amazing!'

Internally, the former human was gushing over the architecture. They'd reached the docks and entered the Grandberry Market, bustling with life and vigor.

So many cookies went back and forth, haggling the prices, arguing with each other, drinking and socializing. Ollie's never really been to a market like this- the closest thing she had to compare this to was the Vietnamese night market that appeared close to Lunar New Year.

And even then, it wasn't comparable to how lively the Hollyberry Kingdom was. Choco Thai Tea Cookie rummages around in her backpack to see if she brought enough gold coins, and yup, she still had them.

"Hey, Strawberry Gelatin? What's with all the dragon plushies here?" She asked, glancing at one of the stalls. It's got a bunch of plushies of Pitaya Dragon Cookie- his dragon form at least- and she wonders if Strawberry Gelatin would let her buy a plushie.

"Did you not hear? Hollyberry Cookie defeated the Greenish Red Dragon who terrorized her kingdom ages ago, and for that, the Hollyberry Kingdom commemorates her victory with it's image."

"Ah- I see." Choco Thai Tea Cookie checks on the rest of her adventuring party. Gingerbrave and the other young ones are fine, Chili Pepper Cookie is stealing from random citizens just as usual- so nothing's wrong!

"Greenish red dragon... Do you mean Pitaya Dragon?" Choco Thai Tea Cookie tilts her head. "If I recall, he lives in Dragon's Valley. Talk about a rude neighbor..."

Choco Thai Tea Cookie approaches the merch vendor and hands over a few coins. "I'd like the uh- dragon toy, please. It looks cute."

"Of course!" The vendor happily hands her the plushie, and Ollie gives it a small squish as she hugs it close. The plushie of Pitaya dragon looks more like a cute, harmless fat blob rather than the intimidating dragon he actually was.

"So soft..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie gives the 'fabric' a sniff. It's rather odd- fondant cloth sewn together, and the stuffing is cotton candy. It made the whole thing have a cloyingly sweet smell.

'I could probably eat this toy,' She thinks. 'But my teeth are aching just by thinking about how much sugar is in this...' Choco Thai Tea is not eating cotton candy and fondant! She'd rather have whatever juices on sale in the Hollyberry Kingdom!

"Wait, what?!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie hears a distressed cry from one of her companions. Instantly, she scuttles over to Princess Cookie, who looks upset as one of her citizens tells her what's going on.

"Um, your highness- please calm down! There must be a reasonable explanation why the queen is doing such a thing..."

"What do you mean, my mother is trying to find a new princess?!" She says, shocked. "I'm her own daughter! I'm the princess of the Hollyberry Kingdom!"

The citizen seems just as concerned as the princess. "I know, your highness- but Queen Jungleberry Cookie was insistent on it."

To the citizen and Knight Cookie's horror, Princess Cookie begins to sniffle, and her eyes begin to tear up. "I- I need- I need a moment."

She rushes away from the crowds in the Grandberry Market, pulling out a hankerchief as she wipes her tears away. Choco Thai Tea Cookie feels a pang in her heart. "Oh..."

'Poor Princess Cookie. She must think that Jungleberry Cookie forgot about her and is just planning to... replace her.' Ollie thinks.

She knows that this isn't true- Jungleberry Cookie is a loving mother, and she'd never just throw aside Princess Cookie for a stranger. This is all because Pitaya Dragon usurped the throne, and nobody could wield Hollyberry's shield in order to fight back.

'I shouldn't tell them about the future- they might become suspicious of me.' Choco Thai Tea Cookie thinks. 'How would I know that the dragon is the reason behind this competition?'

But there was still a soft spot in her heart- she didn't want her friend to be upset. If her mother held a competition to find a new daughter without telling the reason behind it, Ollie would be devastated.

She was always a loyal person, after all.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie frowns, and she runs off to find Princess Cookie and Knight Cookie. He's run off to protect her, and Choco Thai Tea isn't familiar enough with the place to navigate it on her own.

"Wait up- Princess Cookie!" She rushes through the crowd, a concerned Strawberry Gelatin Cookie floating just behind her.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie finds Princess Cookie crying in a small, isolated corner of the market, wiping her eyes and trying to keep her composure. She's failing.

"I- I don't know why my mother would do such a thing!" She sniffles. "Was... Was I wrong to leave? Is this her way of punishing me?"

"Princess Cookie, please- your mother is not the kind of person to do such a thing!" Knight Cookie frets, but Choco Thai Tea Cookie sees that he is just as lost as the princess.

"There must be a deeper reason as to why they are doing this." He says.

"I agree." Choco Thai Tea Cookie steps forward. The two of them turn towards her, surprised. The researcher coughs, glancing around to see if there are any other cookies near them- and whispers furitively.

"There's something fishy about this. Like they're offering the title of Princess not to replace you- but because someone is forcing them to."

"H-huh?" Princess Cookie stops crying, wiping her tears dry with her handkerchief. "What do you mean?"

"A-are you saying that the Royal Family is in danger?! That someone is threatening them?!" Knight Cookie exclaims.

"SHHH! Keep it down! We don't want the civilians to hear this and panic!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie shushes them. "Okay, this might be worrying- but I have an idea of what might have happened in your absence."

"A... source of mine has given me some information, that the Greenish Red Dragon is back." The researcher whispers, leaning in. "He's apparently ruling the Hollyberry Kingdom now, using your parents as puppet rulers so that the cookies do not panic."

"The reason why they are holding a Princess Competition is because they are trying to find someone to wield Hollyberry Cookie's shield, and fight off the dragon."

Both Princess Cookie and Knight Cookie seemed shocked at the knowledge. Strawberry Gelatin Cookie narrows her eyes- because how did Choco Thai Tea Cookie know this? She didn't see her talk to anyone...

"The dragon... this is dangerous! We need to tell the other knights and guards immediately!" Knight Cookie exclaims. Princess Cookie nods.

"No." Choco Thai Tea Cookie shakes her head. "As strong as the knights are- I feel like they are not strong enough to defeat the dragon. Only Hollyberry Cookie, with her Soul Jam of Passion, has a chance against him."

'And,' Choco Thai Tea thinks. 'Maybe me. I don't know how strong a human from a higher plane of reality is compared to the Ancient Heroes, the Beasts, or a Dragon- but if I recall, Pitaya Dragon's height is canonically 8.5 Gingerbraves.'

'Since gingerbread cookies are around... I dunno, 6 inches tall, 6 x 8.5 is 51 inches tall, or 4 feet 3 inches.'

'My original human form... is 4 feet, 11 inches. I have a height advantage AND a mass advantage from being made out of flesh and bone.'

So yeah. Ollie could maybe-possibly beat a dragon. Good for her! Unfortunately, she needed to keep this very secret from everyone else.

"What are we going to do?" Princess Cookie worries, pacing back and forth. Knight Cookie is similarly distressed as well.

"We should participate in the Princess Competition ourselves." Choco Thai Tea Cookie says. "If we win- we can find a way to save everyone. It's our only hope."

'And the way things are supposed to go.'

[Licorice Cookie]

"We're gonna win this stupid Princess Contest, and Dark Enchantress Cookie would have no choice but to notice us!" Licorice Cookie exclaims, petting Bat-Cat. His sidekick purrs. "Myah myah myah! You'rrre right!"

Despite their evil scheming, the four Cookies of Darkness were standing right next to a tailor's shop in the open, waiting as Choco Werehound Brute was awkwardly talking to the tailor.

Choco Werehound Brute was busy in the dressing room with the tailor, trying to figure out if the dress he ordered fit him. "I must say- purple is a striking color on me, is it not?"

The cookie tailoring his dress just shrugged. "It's good, I suppose. Although, do you want extra layer of black frosting on the ruffles and bows, sir?"

He ponders for a moment, before nodding. "That would be very good, yes."

Licorice Cookie groans in boredom. "Come on, Choco Werehound! What's taking so long?!"

"The dress has got to be perfect! Fitting in it with someone my size is hard!" Choco Werehound Brute complains back.

"Bored... do you want shroomies? Less bored." Poison Mushroom Cookie tugs on Licorice Cookie's robes and holds up one of his poison mushrooms.

"No, Poison Mushroom Cookie- no shroomies. Not now." Licorice Cookie sighs, clearly annoyed at how he had to wait for his teammate. The Princess Competition was tomorrow, and he didn't want to spend his free time waiting around for Choco Werehound Brute, so he left some of his Licorice Servants to check on him while he walked away.

Since he was a rather recent addition to Dark Enchantress Cookie's army compared to the countless years she's been sealed away, Licorice Cookie could roam around Earthbread with not much scrutiny aside from the occasional stink-eye at his dark garb.

'I mean, really! What do THEY know about fashion- my robes are absolutely terrifying! And they make me look handsome!' He thinks to himself.

"Where are we going?" Poison Mushroom Cookie tilts his head like a lost puppy.

"Simply going around to scout out the competition." Licorice Cookie says matter-of-factly. "There will be a lot of cookies trying to win the competition and steal the title of 'princess' from us!"

"Oooo... can I say hello to them?" Poison Mushroom Cookie shuffles forward, but Licorice Cookie yanks him back by the collar of their tunic. "Oh, no no no."

He can't have Poison Mushroom getting spotted or blabbing something stupid! They'd be kicked out of the kingdom or disqualified from the competition if they caused any problems.

"We're going to play... hide and seek with the other contestants. We're the hiders, and we have to learn as much about them while not getting caught!"

"Oooo! A game!" Poison Mushroom Cookie seems to be enthusiastic about playing along. "Yes, that is... fun!"

He hides behind Licorice Cookie as the necromancer scouts out the competition from the shadows of the Hollyberry Kingdom's alleyways. Bat-Cat perches on his shoulder as he peeks out.

The competitors were easy to distinguish- as they were usually all cookies with fancy dresses running around the city, trying to prepare a day ahead of time before the actual competition with a bunch of their servants.

"Just a bunch of stuffy nobles... they don't stand a chance against our power! Hehehe!" Bat-Cat says, clearly condifent in his skills.

"You're right... but we should still see who's showing up!"

"Cranberry Cookie, Bumbleberry Cookie, Blueberry Cookie..." Licorice Cookie squints at all of the fancy nobles running about. "That Raspberry Cookie from House Raspberry might pose a problem with that sword of hers..."

He sneaks through the alleyways of the Hollyberry Kingdom while trying not to look too suspicious. Poison Mushroom Cookie whispers. "Ooo... lots of cookies!"

"Yes, lots." Licorice Cookie sighs and rolls his eyecing, feeling more like an exasperated older brother than a feared dark necromancer.

He squints his eyes as he sees a familiar figure. "Wait, is that..."

"It's those pesky heroes!" Bat-Cat yells out, and Licorice Cookie groans in frustration. "UUUUGH, not THEM again! They already foiled so many of Dark Enchantress Cookies' plans!"

How could he forget how they'd messed up his plans in Dragon Hill? And in Pilgrim's Path, too- those fools have tried to get in the way of his master's dastardly plans many times already!

'But the main focus isn't on getting rid of them- it's on winning this Princess Contest!' Licorice Cookie thinks. 'So as long as we don't pick a fight with them, we're fine-'

"L-Licorice Cookie?" Poison Mushroom Cookie whimpers, tugging on his robe sleeve looking spooked. He ignores them, trying to think of a way to thwart Gingerbrave and his friends. 

'Hmm, maybe if I ran for Princess as well- but no! There's not enough time for a different dress to be made, and I'm not getting in one of those frilly things!'

"Licorice Cookie!" They young cookie flaps his arms and points to the crowd nervously. "Look!"

"Not now, little brat!"

Poison Mushroom Cookie tries again to get his attention. "Look!"

"Ugh, I swear to Dark Enchantress Cookie, if you're making fun of me I will personally-!" Licorice Cookie spins around, looking at where Poison Mushroom Cookie is pointing- and freezes.

"..."

He feels a chill run down his bones. Because right next to Gingerbrave and Princess Cookie is a Cookie he's seen before- the same wild, long hair, wafer antennae, and black hoodie.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie doesn't seem to notice him staring from the alleyway as he spies on her happily chatting to the others.

Now, as overconfident Licorice Cookie can be at times, he knew when he was too far out of his depth. And knowing that this is the same cookie that single-handedly knocked him out, made Red Velvet Cookie's cake arm go "missing", and broke through several magic-reinforced walls without a sweat made him reconsider being here.

(Dark Enchantress Cookie had to bake a whole new cake arm for Red Velvet and attach it using her magic. He still wasn't over losing it.)

"Scary..." Poison Mushroom Cookie says, hiding behind his robes.

"Wh- don't hide behind me!" Licorice Cookie sputters, but he's too afraid to pry his eyes off Choco Thai Tea Cookie. Since she had some sort of super-strength and magic-nullifying ability, that meant that he had no chance in standing up against her.

'Choco Werehound Brute isn't as physically strong as her, either... how in Earthbread are we going to defeat those losers with HER on their side?!'

He considered just fleeing back to Dark Enchantress Cookie and telling her about Choco Thai Tea Cookie assisting those do-gooders now- but he can't lose! He can't be outdone by Pomegranate Cookie!

'If I back out now, that infuriating priestess is going to taunt me for WEEKS!' He huffs, and straightens up. "Even if she is scary- those twerps can't do anything in the Hollyberry Kingdom! They've gotta follow the rules for the Princess Competition!"

He slips away from the alley. "Onward- and for crumbs' sake, someone keep an eye on those flatsters!"

Chapter Text

[Gingerbrave]

Him and his friends had taken a rest at a hotel in the Hollyberry Kingdom for the night- and he had to admit, the place was totally amazing! It was really nice to sleep on a bed again instead of a sleeping roll!

The next morning, everyone decided to group up and help Princess Cookie. Sure, she was looking kind of nervous- but all of the adventurers were cheering her on!

"Let's do this, Princess Cookie!" Wizard Cookie cheers her on. "You have a 99% chance of winning- because you're the real princess of the Hollyberry Kingdom!"

"Go for the high score, Princess Cookie!" Strawberry Cookie yells.

"They're right! Princess Cookie- you've got this!" Gingerbrave smiles as Princess Cookie lines up with the other contestants outside of the Hollyberry Palace's gates. There's a ton of cookies with fancy dresses outside, chattering among themselves.

"I used my new overnight yogurt mask—which is, like the totally hottest beauty trend these days—and my face looks like it was just baked!" One noblelady says.

"Pshhh! The first thing every princess needs is STRENGTH!" Another competitor boasts.

A fancy pink carriage rolls down the road, and a cookie with a sashing pink suit and an elegant sword steps through.

"Make way for Raspberry Cookie of House Raspberry!" The stagecoach announces. The crowd chatters among themselves, and Princess Cookie puts her hands on her hips.

"So you're one of the cookies competing to become the new princess, huh?!" She says, pointing at Raspberry Cookie. "I'm Princess Cookie- and I say you better watch out, because I won't let anyone have my title without a fight!"

"You're the cookie that ran away from the palace long ago, is that right?" She asks, assessing Princess Cookie. "The one who went out adventuring?"

"That's me, alright!"

"Hmm, you do seem tough, but otherwise rather... unimpressive." Raspberry Cookie flips her hair.

"Unimpressive?! Rude!" Princess Cookie pouts. "I'll have you know that I'm stronger than I look! See?!" She grabs Knight Cookie and lifts him up with one arm. "Hmph!"

"A-ah! Put me down, your highness!" He yelps.

Gingerbrave looks at the scene with a snicker. "Princess Cookie sure is confident in herself!"

”Princess Cookie gains Righteous Battle Rage! Stress reduced to 0!” Strawberry Cookie quips.

"Played games 'til dawn again, Strawberry Cookie...?" Wizard Cookie asks.

"U-uhhh... nope!" Strawberry Cookie bashfully looks away. That was a lie- she'd stayed up all night sneakily playing on her handheld game. Earthbread didn't exactly have the same technology as the outside, so there wasn't a lot of people she could share her love of gaming with...

And she kept bothering Wizard Cookie to use his magic and recharge her game. That was slightly annoying as well.

Gingerbrave's good mood is soured, however, when he sees three familiar faces stroll into the line. "Oh, not AGAIN!
What is Dark Enchantress Cookie planning this time?!"

"That’s none of your business, GingerBrave! Besides, she’s busy with other important... stuff!" Licorice Cookie brushes aside the question. "And besides- I see how you losers are all bundled together, haha! You're going down, and we're going to win this stupid Princess Contest!"

"Judging by how Scwarzwälder is trying to squeeze into that dress... They’re up to no good." Wizard Cookie comments.

"I’M... NOT... AHEM! Who is this ’Schwarzwälder’ you speak of?" The Werehound Brute coughs and speaks in a falsetto voice. "It would seem like you took me for someone else, sweety!"

"Oh, can it, Choco Werehound Brute. That act isn't fooling anyone." The cookies turn around, and Bat-Cat, Choco Werehound Brute, and Licorice Cookie all freeze as they lay their eyes on... Choco Thai Tea Cookie.

"But as much as I do not trust you three, and dislike your boss-" She ruffles her own hair by shaking her ponytail. Some almond bits fly out. "Nobody can attack anyone in the Princess Competition- or else we'll be disqualified."

Gingerbrave can't really tell what the expression on her face is- but she really isn't happy. She points at Licorice Cookie instead, and raises her fork. "You."

"E-eep!" He squeaks, and runs behind Choco Werehound Brute- er, Choco Werehound Princess. "Help me!"

"How am I supposed to help you?! You know what happened last time!" The massive werehound yelled back.

"Eh?" Gingerbrave seems baffled. "What's going on?"

"Remember how Choco Thai Tea Cookie escaped?" Wizard Cookie whispered to him. "I thought they'd be mad, not scared!"

"Ha! You're scared of her?" Chili Pepper Cookie laughs, and puts an elbow on Choco Thai Tea Cookie's head. Said cookie's eye twitched at that. "She's shorter than shortbread! What's gotten into you to be scared of a little girl?!"

Bat-Cat tries to play it cool. "We're not scared! We're just disgusted by how ugly she looks?"

"Oh yeah?" Choco Thai Tea Cookie walks forward at a slow, steady pace, all while keeping eye contact with the Cookies of Darkness. Black Licorice Cookie clutches his staff, Choco Werehound shivers in terror, and Bat-Car lets out a squeak.

"Boo."

"AAAAA-!" Bat-Cat rockets off, flapping it's wings as possible. Licorice Cookie whips his head around. "Bat-Cat! Come back here, you coward! Grrrr!"

"You're all very lucky that I want to keep my friends qualified for the competition." Choco Thai Tea Cookie sniffs, turning up her nose. "So toodle-oo. Go on with your merry day, and get in line for the competition behind us."

"You'll pay for this!" The three Cookies of Darkness scuttle off, and Choco Thai Tea Cookie brushes off her hands. "You good, everyone? Princess Cookie?"

"We're fine! But woah, you handled them like a pro!" Strawberry Cookie exclaimed. She was much less shy, now that she was surrounded by her friends and not actively fighting.

"Hehe, really? I guess so..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie looks sheepish, rubbing the back of her head.

"Is that how you ran away from Dark Enchantress Cookie?! You scared them all off?!"

"Woah, didn't know you had it in you!"

Gingerbrave thinks it's really cool that his friend could do something like that! Sure, it might work on Licorice Cookie, Bat-Cat, and Choco Werehound- but surely she didn't scare the stronger Cookies of Darkness!

"You must have been really brave, to scare them off that badly..." He says, pondering it over.

"Y-yeah, I guess I am..."

Choco Thai Tea Cookie turns her head when she hears the gates to the Hollyberry Palace open up. "Oh! It's almost time to go!" She shakes her hands in excitement. "Princess Cookie! You can do it- we're right behind you!"

Gingerbrave Cookie laughs. "Of course! Princess Cookie's still going to have this in the bag- even with the Cookies of Darkness competing!"

He stared at all of the cookies crowding within the Palace Gardens. In front of all of them was a fancy stage, with a host talking into a microphone.

"Dear visitors, honorable contenders... Welcome to the grand Princess Contest!" He shouts, and takes a small bow. "Thank you all for joining the festivities! Today, we’re going to select the next Princess of the Hollyberry Kingdom!"

He continued to talk, before stepping aside for Queen Jungleberry Cookie to talk. "And now, a welcome speech from Her Majesty the Queen, Jungleberry Cookie!"

"Cookies from all over the realm and beyond! Welcome!" She gestures to everyone in the crowd, but her eyes linger on Princess Cookie for a bit, a flash of regret on her face for leaving her own daughter behind. "Today, one of you will take the place of the Hollyberry Princess!"

Gingerbrave tunes out most of the speech from the Queen- even though this was a competition, it sounded so boooring!

"The First Trial of the Qualification Round will begin RIGHT NOW!" Host Cookie perks up, and a bunch of the Royal Family's cooks begin to place platters of food on the banquet tables in front of them.

"An old saying goes, 'You are what you eat!'
The true Hollyberry Princess must not only have a taste in delicacies, but also know how to enjoy a meal!"

"With that in mind, we have prepared a very special course!"

The crowd cheers at the prospect of being able to eat the fancy food- and Gingerbrave has to gawk at the display. "That's a lot of berries! And meat jelly dishes, too?!"

"Yes! I'm the best at choosing which plates have the best flavor!" Princess Cookie trots forward, and holds out her hand. "My first dish please, Knight Cookie!"

"Right away, your highness!" Knight Cookie hands her the plate. The Princess chooses a nice, neat selection of the meat, berries and bread on the table before daintily using a fork (the small, normal-sized ones) to eat it.

"Is this like, an etiquette test or something? Or like, an eating contest?" Choco Thai Tea Cookie asks, tilting her head. Gingerbrave notices that she seems to be... drooling?

"I suppose it's an eating contest... although the time doesn't really matter, only how much the contestant and their helpers eat." Wizard Cookie says.

"It's a test to see how one would share food with friends! A Hollyberrian Royal must know how to share their abundance with others, and secure alliances with dinner!" Knight Cookie proudly crows. "So you all can dig in as well!"

"Heck yeah! Free food!" Chili Pepper Cookie immediately takes a cut of the meat jelly ham, cutting it up and tossing it onto her plate. "Thanks, Princess Cookie!"

"Thank you!" Gingerbrave and his friends dig in, and Custard Cookie munches on some berry tarts. "This is deeeelish! I sure do love this!"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie seemed to be the most enthusiastic out of all of them- because she practically sprints forward, dismantles a chunk of meat effortlessly with the given knife, and begins loading her plate sky-high with food.

"I don't think a short cookie like you can eat that much..." Chili Pepper Cookie jokes. "You sure you won't end up wasting the food?"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie simply grins at her cockily. "Wanna see a trick?"

She opens her mouth- and begins practically shovelling all the food inside like a bottomless pit. Chili Pepper gapes as Choco Thai Tea manages to clear her entire plate in two minutes, and wipe her mouth using her sleeve. "Hehehe... and I'm still kinda hungry for more!"

"Woah! Looks like she really means it when she said she'd win any eating competition!" Wizard Cookie comments. Choco Thai Tea rubs her hands, and proceeds to load up her plate once again.

The other cookies seem to stare at her with some shock as she practically decimates plate after plate, only stopping after her fifth one. "Mmm... I gotta say, you're right about the Hollyberry Kingdom having the best food, Princess Cookie!"

"Uh-huh!" She beams. "With you on my team- I bet we'll definitely win the Princess Competition!"

"Aww, thanks for having so much faith in me!"

Gingerbrave is staring past Choco Thai Tea Cookie- towards the hooded figure that just entered the palace. She seemed suspicious, but the shield on her back made her look like a monster hunter, so maybe she's a good guy...

"Ack!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie whips her head around at the pitcher of fruit punch. "I need a drink, but-!"

Gingerbrave narrows his eyes. The fruit punch looks kind of... purple? Wasn't it pink before?

"Phew, AM I THIRSTY! This Hollyberry Kingdom is indeed as hot as the Oven!" The mysterious huntress takes a cup of the fruit punch, and chugs it down.

"Ooh, wonder what it tastes like... " Strawberry Cookie had to admit, she was feeling sort of thirsty...

"KHAAA! Now I feel alive! Reminds me of the time when I raised cups with my dear old friends!" The stranger exclaimed.

Even Wizard Cookie seemed to perk up at that. "How does it taste? Good?"

"You betcha! This fruit punch is our kingdom's pride!"

"Wait! Don't drink the-!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie runs forward, but it's too late.

Gingerbrave takes two cups and gives them to his friends, who chug it down. Wizard Cookie takes a sip, squinting his eyes.

"Hmmm... Yeah, I don’t know... I taste some fruity notes, but the overall profile is rather... mushroom-y?"

Strawberry Cookie groans. "I feel... funky."

"Don't drink the punch..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie winces. "Oooo, Gingerbrave? I think you might have to get ready for a fight."

"Eh? Why's that?" Gingerbrave looks back at Choco Thai Tea Cookie, who has taken her fork out from behind her back.

"I think I saw Licorice Cookie spiking the drink with Poison Mushroom Cookie's spores... that's why it's purple." She says, pointing over at his friends. "They look kinda angry..."

"Khe! A’nt you the one who ALWAYS makes fun of my HEIGHT? You hurt my feelings, mm-hm!" Wizard Cookie suddenly brandishes his staff at Gingerbrave."

"Wha- huh? I've never said-!"

"AND, you also once said that my scarf looks like a beard and kept callin’ me “grandpa” the whole day?"

Strawberry Cookie looks irritated, stomping her feet. "You DO know that I’m a BERRY as well, right? I’m StrawBERRY Cookie. How come no one asked me if I wanted to become a princess?"

"Hey! Snap outta it!" Gingerbrave yells at them.

"Like how is that fair? I’m... I’m... I’m angry! I feel like... smashing something, you know?!" Strawberry Cookie grabs the handle of her lollipop, and Gingerbrave yelps as he has to dodge it. "Woah!"

"Don't worry- we'll find a way to catch those troublemakers." Choco Thai Tea Cookie furrows her brows, annoyed. "Right after we knock some sense into our buddies."

The whole place is chaos- it seems like the other participants also drank the poisoned juice, acting rude and starting fights.

"Hey! You stepped on my gown!"

"Nuh-uh! You said I looked flat and stupid!"

"Why, I oughta-!"

"Ack!"

Yes- the whole place was chaos. Nothing more was expected from the Hollyberry Kingdom.

[Hollyberry Cookie]

She'd been used to roaming around her old kingdom and the wilderness- never going back in, but staying close enough to see what was going on. The Hollyberry Kingdom seemed as lively as ever from the outside- so she'd assumed that it was fine.

How wrong she was.

Pulling up her cloak hood, Hollyberry Cookie stepped into the Monster Shop. She glanced around, looking at all the monster parts and weapons scattered about the shop.

"Where are you, ya old crisp bread! I brought some things you might find interesting!" She shouts, leaning on the wooden counter.

There's the sound of rummaging and footsteps. "Yeah, yeah. I'm coming..." The monster shop merchant appears from the back storage room, trying to tug his pet fruit-chameleon off of his hair. He squints at her for a moment. "Hold on a minute, there’s only one Cookie that’s this loud and obnoxious..."

"Well, I’ll be crumbled! It’s you! I began to think you’ve got yourself eaten!" He lets out a roaring laugh, immediately warming up as he sees Hollyberry Cookie's familiar face. Sure, he and the other hunters only knows her as "Huntress Cookie" instead of the powerful ancient hero she was, but it was nice enough to be remembered.

"Ha ha ha ha! After all these years, you haven’t changed a bit!" She grins, and takes out a collection of monster parts. "Here, have a look at these!"

The monster shop merchant looks impressed, raising an eyebrow at all the massive trophies of battle. There are several large horns, body parts, ichor and fangs scattered about the table. "Where on Earthbread did you get all of these?!"

"Spent some time in the “hospitable” land of Beast-Yeast! Ha ha! So? Whaddya think? Worth a bunch, eh?" She brags.

Hollyberry Cookie was one tough warrior, after all- if anybody could brave the continent of Beast-Yeast, it would be her. Although, she kept on smelling a faint sweet scent that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once...

Ah, who cares. It's not like that will be important. What was important was the monsters she's hunting down.

The monster shop merchant rummages around, clearing off his table. "With everything going on in the kingdom, it’s crowded everywhere! HA!" He comments. "Lots of visitors, with their goods, and their money!"

'Ah, right- there's a lot of cookies visiting because of that Princess Contest, right?' Hollyberry Cookie wonders what's going on in her kingdom.

"Yes, I heard something about a Princess Contest? What’s all the fuss about? Is the Princess... alright?"

The merchant tells her that the princess decided to leave the Hollyberry Kingdom for her own adventure, and that the Queen decided to select a new one.

Hollyberry Cookie hums. 'Looks like my granddaughter's inherited my adventurous spirit! She couldn't be held down to one place, eh?'

"Is that so...? Hm... And what about that dragon?!" She asks.

"Who, the Greenish Red Dragon? Burned half the Kingdom to a crisp some time ago!" The monster shop merchant is busy tallying up the price of Hollyberry Cookie's goods on a raggedy scroll. "I believe the monster’s judging the Contest as we speak. Can you believe it? A dragon choosin’ our Princess!"

"BY THE WITCH’S GARLICKY BREATH!" Hollyberry Cookie slams her hand down on the counter, her eyecing wide ope. "What happened here while I was away?!"

"Rumor has it, the Queen herself invited the crumblin' monster! Bah!" The monster shop merchant seemed to be annoyed at the fact. "There ain't a way the royal family can fight back, so I say just let them choose their Princess and get this over with!"

"Are you saying the Dragon has been let INSIDE the Hollyberry Palace?" No, this won't do. She's got to give that dragon a good walloping and show them who's really in charge! "... I must go, NOW."

"Just wait, you old fool! I haven’t even finished appraising yet!" The merchant complains, sighing. His fruit-chameleon scuttles around and settles on his other shoulder. "What are you even planning on doing, anyways?! The dragon isn't something you can't fight!"

"... I want to look at that... Dragon." Hollyberry Cookie makes up a quick excuse. "After all, who, if not me, the famous tracker, should deal with beasts? Ha ha ha ha!" She laughs confidently.

"Ha ha! And no one can stand in your way, I suppose." The monster shop merchant looks exhausted but amused at her shenanigans. "And, just be careful you! One of these days, you are gonna get yourself smashed into little crumbs!"

Hollyberry Cookie rushes out of the shop, and begins her short trek into her own kingdom. While she's walking through the Grandberry Market, going past all of the excited shoppers and shouting shopkeepers, she thinks about how long she's been gone from here.

'They all seem so happy... did they even miss me?' She thinks. 'I failed to save my friends during the Dark Flour War, and I didn't think I deserved my shield.'

'But... my friend told me that   Dark Enchantress Cookie has returned, and poses a threat to Earthbread. I HAVE to go back."

Hollyberry Cookie addresses the Light of Passion in her head. "Hey! Er... Inner Voice!"

"Hmm? What do you need?! I was just in the middle of something!"

"It seems like I have started to remember things forgotten. Just like you said!" Hollyberry Cookie lets out hearty laughter. "You know, that great shield o’ mine, the symbol of the Hollyberry dynasty, is at the Palace!"

She tells the Light of Passion about her predicament. Hollyberry Cookie can no longer stand idly by. "My Kingdom and the whole world is in danger, once again!"

"Finally, you sound like your good old self!" The Light of Passion within her seems to shine brighter. "Go, go to the Palace! Find your shield, and make haste!"

[Choco Thai Tea Cookie]

'Talk about a food fight... these guys are practically brawling all over like it's a Waffle House in the middle of the night!'

Choco Thai Tea Cookie helped Gingerbrave Cookie defeat Wizard Cookie and Strawberry Cookie, who were groaning on the floor and rubbing their heads from the pain of getting bonked.

"Huuuh...? What was in that punch...? What happened...?" Wizard Cookie asked.

"The Cookies of Darkness decided to poison it with Poison Mushroom Cookie's spores." Choco Thai Tea Cookie sighed, helping both him and Strawberry Cookie up.

"Huh?! No fair!" Strawberry Cookie pouts. "We should get them disqualified!"

"You're right!" Gingerbrave says. Choco Thai Tea Cookie looks exasperated. "Unfortunately, I wasn't able to catch them in the act... so we don't have any evidence against them. Chili Pepper Cookie, you alright?"

"Hahaha, never better!" The thief is smirking as she pickpockets several distracted nobles, who are still affected by Poison Mushroom Cookie's spores and are yelling and brawling with one another.

"Contestants, contestants! Please calm down!" Host Cookie tries to get the unruly participants to calm down. "I know our aged berry juice is strong- but get a hold of yourselves!"

"Why isn't he freaking out more?" Choco Thai Tea Cookie wonders to herself. "Are fights like this really so common between Hollyberrians?"

"All in good nature, though!" Custard Cookie the III says. "I saw a bunch of the kingdom's subjects fighting each other in the market- they looked like they were having fun!"

'Oh, so it's normal. Poison Mushroom Cookie's spores just made it more likely that they were going to get irritated or angry in this situation.'

'Hm... speaking of their spores, they seem to have tons of effects.' Choco Thai Tea Cookie is deep in thought, not noticing as Princess Cookie and Raspberry Cookie duke it out in front of her. 'The spores have been shown to induce nightmares, knock cookies out... is the difference because of the dose? Or perhaps the magic applied to them?'

Choco Thai Tea was literally standing in the middle of a crowded garden, with fancy people throwing hands at each other and a shouting match occurring behind her, and she was simply deep in thought.

'But what if I were to ingest them? It would probably be no good- because without the magic causing these different effects and lowering the deadliness of Poison Mushroom Cookie's spores...'

'I would probably get very sick breathing them in, or worse- die.' Choco Thai Tea Cookie shudders. She knows that she still has a human mouth and stomach underneath all that dough and frosting, so Poison Mushroom Cookie would actually live up to their namesake.

'Dear go I hope they're not one of those mushrooms that leave you in pain for hours before actually killing you.'

Choco Thai Tea would never admit this- but Poison Mushroom Cookie was one of the few cookies in Earthbread that scared her. Yes, you heard her right- this cute little child that looks like they could be punted like a football scared her.

'I should never let this weakness get out to Dark Enchantress Cookie. Lord knows that she already hates my guts and wants me gone.'

"Ha ha! Victory is mine!" Princess Cookie crows out, and Choco Thai Tea Cookie snaps her head up, sinking back into reality as the princess celebrates her victory over Raspberry Cookie.

"Hmm... I shall not forget today's lesson... for this defeat has been embedded into my very dough!" The noble swordswoman says. She's kneeling down, clearly beaten by the princess' strength.

Princess Cookie extends a hand towards her. "Raspberry Cookie, gimme your hand! I'll help you up!"

Raspberry Cookie stares at the hand offered to her- and quickly bats it away. "Get away from me! I don't need your help!" She huffs, turning her nose up at Princess Cookie's offer.

"You may have won this time, but this isn't the end for House Raspberry." She hisses, pointing at Princess Cookie. "I am the proud descendant of House Raspberry, and I have no plans to give up my duty as the heiress. I WILL become the Princess!"

Raspberry Cookie sets off to the next part of the royal gardens, where the other contestants were. Princess Cookie frowns. "Did I make her upset? Oh dear..."

"Nah, she's fine. Her pride's just taken a blow." Choco Thai Tea Cookie says. She checks up on knight cookie to see if he's okay, before turning back to Princess Cookie. "... You know, she's what we call a 'tsundere'."

"Eh? What's a... 'tsun-dere'?" Princess Cookie tilts her head in curiosity.

"Hehe, it's basically a cookie who acts like they don't like something or someone, but in secret they really care about them!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie explains. "So Raspberry Cookie might be really impressed by you!"

"Really?!" Princess Cookie gasps.

"If I'm impressed, then she's impressed." Choco Thai Tea reassures her. " She just can't show it because you're supposed to be her rival!"

"Oh! I see!" Princess Cookie jumps up and skips towards the Palace. "Then I'm going to beat her and show her that I'm worthy of being Princess!"

Choco Thai Tea and the rest of Gingerbrave and his friends follow her. She glances back at Custard Cookie the III, worried that he might be hurt by all the fighting- but he seems fine.

"You okay, your majesty?" She asks, patting him on the head. "You aren't hurt?"

"Nope! A king should always care for his subjects, and I made sure that Gingerbrave, Wizard Cookie, and Strawberry Cookie are all healed up!" He chirps. The young cookie looks at her. "Are you hurt? Do you need healing?"

"Ah, no- I'm fine." Choco Thai Tea Cookie laughs fondly. "But perhaps you should be looking at the next trial in the Princess Ceremony- after all, a good king must know the roles of the kingdom and what they should do."

"You're right!"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie decides to lag behind all her friends- because she did not trust the Cookies of Darkness, nor the shady noble that hired assassins that would be coming up.

No- Choco Thai Tea belonged in the back lines, in the shadows. Diligently watching over her allies with a hungry eye for threats.

"Dear contenders and spectators! Your next Trial is about to begin." Host Cookie announced. "The Hollyberry Princess has many duties. One of them is hearing her subjects' concerns and complaints with humbleness and patience."

He gestured over to a massive plant monster in the ditance that had Choco Thai Tea's eyes widening.

"Todays petitioner is an enthusiastic gardener who loses temper at the mere thought of strangers setting foot in their precious garden." Host Cookie reads off his cue card. "Your task is to pacify the angry gardener and enter the Palace Gardens. Good luck, contestants!"

"Fascinating..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie mutters, trailing behind Princess Cookie and Knight Cookie. "You sure you got this in the bag, princess cookie?"

"Of course!" She grins. The princess twirls her royal scepter. "I've played in their garden all the time! They'll remember me for sure!"

"Uhhh... okay." Choco Thai Tea Cookie simply takes out her fork, and glances at the large carnivorous- sorry, cookievorous plant. What was with this world and terrible puns?

"This is the entrance to the Gardens, Your Highness. The Palace is right past it!" Knight Cookie holds the gate open for Princess Cookie, who steps through them.

"I wonder if my favorite dancing trees are still there..." She wonders, pondering as she looks at all the new plants in the garden.

"The garden looks beautiful, Princess Cookie... How'd you get a gardener this talented?" Choco Thai Tea whispers.

Because damn, the whole place looked straight out of a storybook. Choco Thai Tea Cookie Ollie had been to a botanical garden once, with rows and rows of roses and carefully planned gardens- but this took the cake.

The Hollyberry Palace's inner gardens were breathtaking. Colorful berry bushes were entwined with rose bushes in a way that made them seamless. Decorative ivy hung from fancy trellises, and the hedge sculptures of different cookie knights and princesses lined up across the walkway.

"They must have put a lot of effort into their work..." She muttered gently.

"Of course! The Royal Gardener accepts nothing but perfection!" Princess Cookie chimes in.

Just as she says so, a sonorous voice rings through the air. "My oh my! What do I see! Crumbly dress! Shoes covered in mud! Everyone is so terribly messy!"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie winced. 'Ahh, right... we just got out of a fight. And the other cookies aren't any better, either...'

"Please make way! This is Her Royal Highness the Hollyberry Princess you're talking to! Knight Cookie pouts as he holds up his sword, defending her.

"Yes, yes! Of course she is! And I am a Bear Jelly, ha ha!" The Royal Gardener doesn't seem to be impressed. "Princess or not, I won't let such a dirty creature step inside my beloved garden! Oh, no no no!"

She raises her gardening shears, and sends them crashing down on the ground. Princess Cookie yelps and dodges out of the way. "Hey!"

The Royal Gardener's vines bristle. "Have you no respect? I shall teach you a lesson!"

The ensuing battle was full of thorns, blades and far  too many vines than Choco Thai Tea didn't expect. However, as Princess Cookie and Knight Cookie fight her off, Choco Thai Tea Cookie is staring at the Royal Gardener with wide eyes.

"Come on, Choco Thai Tea! What's got you so scared?!" Chili Pepper Cookie yelled, laughing as she charged forward. "Too afraid of some flowers?"

"..." She kind of just stood there with an unreadable expression.

'Oh my god, the royal gardener looks hot.' Choco Thai Tea Cookie does NOT know why that's her first thought when seeing them, but she definitely knows what to do!

She stabs her fork on the ground, leans on it, and flashes the Royal Gardener a charming smile. "Heeeey... you come around here often?" She winks and points finger guns (or at least the cookie equivalent) at the living plant.

"..."

"Pardon?"

Everyone is silent for a moment, kind of just staring at Choco Thai Tea Cookie. She looks back and forth, and sputters. "What! They're really pretty, okay?! I get nervous around pretty peo- erm, cookies!"

"Um- I'm pretty sure they're a cookievorous plant." Knight Cookie says faintly.

"And?! My mama didn't raise a coward!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie huffs, and turns back to the massive, dangerous plant-being. "So uh... you free for some tea together, maybe?"

"... Excuse me."

The Royal Gardener stares at her- before wrapping a vine around her waist and yeeting her into the distance. "AAAAA-" Choco Thai Tea Cookie groans, landing at the start of the gardens with an 'oof!'

"Aw man! Can't believe my rizz didn't work on them." Choco Thai Tea Cookie laments. "Now I gotta run all the way back to my friends to help them out! Bummer!"

"What in the name of the Witches was that." Strawberry Gelatin Cookie materializes next to her shoulder, and Choco Thai Tea Cookie lets out a little screech of surprise. "ACK! Where were you this entire time?!"

"Scoping out the Hollyberry Palace while you were busy." She turns up her nose. "What are you doing, bumbling around with those adventurers? You should all take this competition very seriously!"

"I am, I am, sheesh!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie rubs her head. "The Royal Gardener threw me all the way here, so at least I have some privacy to talk to you... What did you find in the castle?"

The nun seems to stiffen up. "Your rumors were right. The dragon is residing within the palace... bah! What were the king and queen thinking, letting it in?!"

"They could raze the entire kingdom down if they wanted to, Strawberry Gel. I don't think they had any other choice,"

"Tch!" Strawberry Gelatin Cookie seemed aggravated at the answer, but chose not to comment. "Very well then. And for the other concerning thing I've found... one of the Hollyberry Kingdom's nobles seems to have snuck within the Palace. They have other suspicious miscreants with them, and I assume they are up to no good."

"Yes, that's... definitely concerning." Choco Thai Tea Cookie furrows her brows, pretending to be surprised. "What did he tell those other cookies to do?"

"All he told them was to 'remember the plan'. I am unsure of what that entails- but from the way those cookies were holding knives, I doubt it will be safe for the contestants."

"An assassination plot... how treacherous!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie commented. "That noble must be trying to take down as many of the other nobles as possible, as to gain more power in the court! We're gonna have to stop them!"

"Agreed."

Choco Thai Tea Cookie ran through the gardens as fast as she could- which wasn't exactly as fast as she'd liked, seeing that she had short legs and wasn't exactly known for her running speed.

She manages to skid towards the place where her friends were battling, just in time. Knight Cookie was busy cutting away some vines, defending Princess Cookie, when the Royal Gardener suddenly raised their garden shears.

"Watch out!" He yelled, his eyes widening. The shears come swinging down at Strawberry Cookie, and as she lets out a scream-

Choco Thai Tea Cookie sprints forward, blocking the sharp scissor blades with her metal fork.

'CLANG!'

"Hey, you okay, guys?!" She yelled. "Does anyone need healing?!"

"Don't worry- I got it!" Custard Cookie the III raises his scepter, channeling his healing magic into it. "King's Blessing!"

Golden light falls down on the cookies, and Choco Thai Tea Cookie sighs in relief. 'Thank god they're safe! Now, time to deal with the enemy...'

"That wasn't very nice, you know!" She pouts, turning her head back to the Royal Gardener. "You could have said that I was being rude- and I would have stopped! Why'd you have to throw me?!"

"How shameless! Flirting with me, the Royal Gardener?!" The sentient plant waves their thorned vines around, and Choco Thai Tea dodges them with a huff. "Flattery will get you nowhere if you look so- so unkempt! No grace or charm at all!"

"Well, I think I've got a sort of rougish charm to me, don't I?" Choco Thai Tea Cookie takes her fork and uses the prongs to stop the Royal Gardener's shears, wrenching it away with unnatural strength and tossing it into the distance. "Hah! Gotcha!"

"My shears!" They yell, clearly distressed. "My favorite gardening shears!"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie's face dropped. 'Ah, whoops.'

"Oh shame, shame on me! Ah, I have no right to call myself the Royal Gardener...!" They complained, their flower-bud face wilting downward in sadness. "I couldn't even enforce the garden's rules!"

"Calm down! You are the best gardener I've ever known! The Palace Gardens bring so much joy and happiness to whoever steps inside!" Princess Cookie says. She walks up to the Royal Gardener, and pats them on the vine. "And no one else can take better care of these flowers and trees!"

The Royal Gardener sniffs, clearing the tears from their eyes. "Oh, I'm so... touched! I couldn't have imagined you valued my work so highly...! You are a true Hollyberry Princess!"

The rest of the cookies behind her cheer. "You did it, Princess Cookie!" Wizard Cookie congratulates her.

"Aw, thank you! But I must prove to be worthy of the title first!" She spins her scepter. "Don't know what awaits me inside the Palace, but I'm sure I can make it!"

"And I will gladly let you and your companions pass! Please, enjoy your time in the Palace Gardens!" The Royal Gardener gives her a little bow. "I wish you good luck in your Princess Trials!"

Princess Cookie and Knight Cookie confidently tread forward, Gingerbrave and his friends eagerly following.

"I bet there's going to be so many treasures, hehehe!" Chili Pepper Cookie snickers and whispers to Choco Thai Tea Cookie. She rolls her eyes.

"This place looks amazing... almost as beautiful as Pure Vanilla Cookie's castle!" Custard Cookie exclaims. "But I think his place looks better- it's a floating castle in the sky! What beats that?!"

"There's less focus on magic here... what a shame! But I really do like the food..."

Choco Thai Tea Cookie, on the other hand, stays behind with the Royal Gardener for a while. Strawberry Gel Cookie looks at her with a raised eyebrow. "Eh? Why not follow them?"

"I've got something to do before I move on..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie bows before the plant-person, her voice apologetic and smooth. "I'm terribly sorry for knocking away your shears... and I'm sorry if I seemed too forward."

She holds one of the Royal Gardener's vines, and gives it a kiss akin to a noble kissing a lady's hand. "But I hope you'll forgive me for my uncouth behavior. I would be delighted to have you over for some tea, if the opportunity arises."

'Ha! They're probably going to be so annoyed or something- the bit is complete! I now look like a total pathetic casanova!' Choco Thai Tea internally giggles, wondering how much entertainment this is going to bring to [REDACTED].

What she didn't expect, however, was silence. Choco Thai Tea Cookie looks up with a curious 'hm?' at the gardener's face.

'WAIT- THEY'RE BLUSHING?!?!'

The Royal Gardener was averting their eyes, their petals slightly turning pink in embarrassment. "H-hmph! Well, if you insist... but not now! The Princess Competition is still ongoing, and I have many a competitor to assess!"

Choco's Thai Tea's eyes were wide as she stared blankly, that same stupid smile frozen on her face as her mind goes 'FUCK FUCK FUCK I DID NOT ACCOUNT FOR THIS HUH???'

Choco Thai Tea was so used to being ignored and looking sub-par as Ollie that she was not used to people ACTUALLY picking up on affection. Hell, she'd thought that the Royal Gardener was going to smack her or like, call her an uncultured swine!

"U-uh- oh damn I did not account for this but- yeah! After the Princess Competition, I'll see if I can ask my buddies to stay at the Hollyberry Kingdom for a day or two so I can get some tea. No biggie!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie keeps her grin plaster on as she winks at the Royal Gardener, still reeling with shock. "See you later, flowers!"

The former human ends up sprinting into the Palace as fast as she could, still in total disbelief and panicking. 'OH YM FUCKING GOD I SCHEDULED A DATE WITH A LITERAL PLANT. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR THE BIT. THE BIT!!!'

How the hell was this more terrifying than literally facing off against Dark Choco Cookie at the beginning of her journey?!

'... You know what, SCREW IT! The show must go on- and I'm gonna stick to the bit!'

'What's the worst that can happen, anyways?'

Chapter Text

[Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie]

'This seems less of like a contest to determine who's eligible for Hollyberry Cookie's shield, and more of like a party with a contest on the side...' Choco Thai Tea Cookie sweats a bit in exasperation as she walks with her friends to the next trial.

'It's not really about strength, more about just... participating in the culture, I guess. I mean, it IS the soul jam of passion on that shield....'

Within the Royal Palace, Princess Cookie is tapping her feet impatiently as Knight Cookie looks at all of the other contestants around them. "Looks like a lot of cookies passed the preliminaries..."

"Contestants, please gather at the Princess's Corner! Those who are late will be automatically disqualified!" Host Cookie announced.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie perks up, and tries to scope out where that would be. "Hm..." Strawberry Gelatin Cookie is still away, most likely scoping out the Hollyberry Palace for her.

"The Princess' Corner? Where's that?" Strawberry Cookie muttered. Knight Cookie also seems confused. "Hmm... I don't recall a place like that from my days at the palace... It seems that it's been prepared for the contest!"

Princess Cookie tugs on Knight Cookie's arm. "Then let's try... this way!"

Strawberry Cookie sputters, rushing to keep up with her. "H-hey! Wait up!"

"You're gonna go, just like that? Hey... you could get disqualified if you're wrong, you know!" Wizard Cookie shouts.

"Don't worry, I've got a good feeling about this! He he!" Princess Cookie giggles as she runs off. "Besides, I used to play here all the time!"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie is left behind, glancing through the corners and rooms of the palace. "Hmph... where- hey, wait, where did they go?!" She panics a bit, whipping her head around. "Uhhhh-!"

Choco Thai Tea scuttles over to a random area- and ducks beside a pillar when she hears someone coming. 'Damn it! If they see me by myself here, I'll be tossed out! I'm part of Princess Cookie's supporting team, not a competitor!'

'They'll think I'm an intruder!'

Luckily for her, the people that walked by weren't supposed to be here either. Choco Thai Tea's eyecing widened as she saw a hooded cookie turn around and address a handful of masked assassins.

"... Good. This is our chance. Everybody move out! Blend in and take down as many Cookies as you can!" The shady noble commands them.

"Yessir!"

"..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie presses herself against the pillar, hiding from the assassins and meddlers that ran towards the next trial.

'... Gingerbrave and Princess Cookie can handle competing with the Cookies of Darkness- because they don't pose a lot of a threat in the Hollyberry Kingdom, and have to follow the contest rules."

She pulls out her oversized fork, and hunches forward in an intimidating way. 'I've got to deal with these assassins before they hurt or kill someone. THEY'RE the bigger threat here.'

Choco Thai Tea Cookie pulls up her hood, and begins to slink in the shadows of the Hollyberry Palace, following the meddlers as they head towards where the next trial is.

"-the next event is related to our famed berry juice! Drumroll, please!" She hears Host Cookie in the distance, and ducks under a bush as they head towards an outdoor area in the palace.

"The grrraceful, Barrel Run!" He announces. An assassin takes a good look at all of the competitors before checking a list and nodding. "There's nothing sadder than throwing away your hard-worked berry juice because it went bad! That's why you gotta rooooll the barrel regularly to mix up the juice from time to time!" The host continues.

Choco Thai Tea tunes the rest of his speech out and narrows her eyecing. 'They're crossing off names of noble families... are they trying to kill them off to get more power?'

'But then again, they might have been checking to see if the native Hollyberrian nobles are still in the competition... I reckon they're not too happy that the Princess Competition is open to all, noble or not.'

Choco Thai Tea is familiar with politics. She knows how noble families usually hate it when someone without a long established lineage establishes power with the Royal Family, and especially foreigners that have 'no right having a place within the kingdom'.

She's not stupid. She knows that even if some of the noble competitors didn't know about the interference hired by their families, they'd still accept the victory.

'That won't do.' Choco Thai Tea Cookie sneaks forward, waiting for at least one of the intruders to get left behind- and she sees an opportunity.

A singular shadow assassin stays behind to sharpen their blade, and Choco Thai Tea pounces on them, grappling them from behind.

"UGH-! What?! G-get off me!" They struggle, waving their knife around and trying to reach behind them- but Choco Thai Tea wrenches both blades away and they clatter to the floor. She kicks them into the distance.

"Not in a million years. Now- tell me who hired you." She hisses.

"H-ha! You won't get me talking!" They sputter, grinning underneath their mask. "There's far more cookies hired than just me, and I doubt you'll be able to stop us!"

"Oh, you're very poorly mistaken." Choco Thai Tea Cookie growls. "All I gotta do is tell Host Cookie, and your plans are all going to toast."

"Who's to say you won't get crumbled in the meantime, eh?" They laugh, struggling against her iron grip.

"I doubt you can stop me."

Choco Thai Tea Cookie slams the assassin down on the hard candy-tile floor, and stomps on his leg with a controlled force. The sheer force of her strength, amplified by the fact that she used to be a human weighing over 150 pounds compared to the tiny cookie, meant that their leg would have crumbled under the pressure.

Instead, since she limited her strength, their leg ends up cracking. The assassin screams in pain, and Choco Thai Tea Cookie has to hide her flinch.

"That could have been your head." She hisses. "I could have stabbed you with my fork, turn you into nothing but crumbs- but I'm here to protect, not to be a disgraceful killer like you."

"Leave, now. Or I'm going to change my mind and make the dragon look merciful."

The assassin scrambles away in fear, and Choco Thai Tea Cookie curses as she notices the other meddlers and assassins already messing with the barrel run competition. "Damn it!"

She scuttles forward in to the light, using her fork and charging forward into the path of a meddler. They yelp, their horse(?) whinnying in fear as it trips on the large metal silverware.

"Not today you won't!" She shouts. An arrow gets lodged within the back of her volumes ponytail, and the meddler that fired it gulps as she slowly turns around with an annoyed expression.

"Wanna run that back by me, bastard?" She hisses.

Thankfully, Choco Thai Tea didn't do the equivalent of breaking their bones- she managed to find the fine line between lobotomizing someone and just knocking them out with a hit to the head.

Maybe it was all the practice she had with those cake monsters nearby the Cookie Kingdom, but she was on a roll taking care of these meddlers!

Although... she was taking care of the mess a little bit too recklessly, because right in the middle of punching an assassin in the face, Host Cookie had managed to sneak up behind her.

"Hello there, contestant!" He says cheerily.

"Eeek!" Choco Thai Tea tosses the body in his direction, and Host Cookie yelps as he has to dodge to the side. The assassin hits a sugar statue and groans, slumping down on the grass as they're knocked out.

"Oh my god, I'm so so sorry- you scared me!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie sighs. "Are you okay? Have any of these meddlers went after you?"

"Certainly not! And I am doing just fine myself!" He winks and laughs. "Although, I'm not sure who you're supposed to be... you're one of Princess Cookie's entourage, aren't you?"

"O-oh, yes! Although, I got a little lost and found these troublemakers instead..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie sighs. "I gotta tell you this- there's a lot of them running around, and I think you should at least pause the Princess Competition to make it safer..."

"Pause the Princess Competition? Oh, no no no! Our judge is... rather insistent that we choose the winner as quickly as possible. Any delays won't do!" Host Cookie says hastily, glancing over at the barrel rolling contest. "I can't just stop it!"

"Then find a way to get rid of these guys, please." Choco Thai Tea Cookie groans. "I can't keep on fighting them myself."

Host Cookie thinks for a while, tapping his foot and twirling his microphone. "Hmmm... aha!" He snaps his fingers. "I have a way to both tell the competitors to deal with the problem, and have the next trial go on!"

"I'll trust that you can deal with it." Choco Thai Tea nods. "Good luck. I'll be tracking down more of these meddlers while you do your thing."

It seemed like the other assassins got word of what Choco Thai Tea Cookie was doing to them, because they began actively avoiding her when trying to sabotage the barrel run.

"Aaaagh! Come back and face me, coward! Ahahah!" The former human has a wide, manic grin on her face, chasing down a fleeing meddler with a lance at their side.

"EEK! Monster!" They yelled, running into a hedge maze. Choco Thai Tea grins, and dusts her hands off. She brightens up when she sees Strawberry Gelatin Cookie float back to her, the ghost looking annoyed as always.

"Oh, Strawberry Gelatin! You're back!" Choco Thai Tea glances at her, then at Host Cookie when he gets on the stage. "Oooo- wait a second, be right back- Host Cookie's gonna announce the next trial!"

"And that's it, folks! How many standing contestants do we have?" Host Cookie claps his hands.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie focuses on Princess Cookie's team, her eyes zeroing in on Strawberry Cookie as she speaks. "Uh... It looks like... Princess Cookie and Choco Werehound Princess were the only ones that survived on our side." She says quietly.

Those three Cookies of Darkness were really getting into the princess roleplay, and Choco Thai Tea snickers. "Man, that reminds me of my senior year... I was a total Character.ai addict. Thank god I grew outta that... mostly."

"Let's move on to the next trial, shall we? Which is... a dance party!" Host Cookie makes jazz hands, smiling. The remaining contestants seem to perk up at the idea of an easier trial.

"But wait, there's more! Don't tell me... None of you actually thought this would be a breeze because it's a dance party, right?" He laughs charismatically. "Yes, the dance parties in the Hollyberry Kingdom are indeed full of laughter and fun! But unfortunately... not all participants come to boogie!"

"To some, it is the window of opportunity to sneak in and hurt our dear princess!"

The assassins and meddlers hiding in the shadows tense up, looking shocked. Host Cookie has a sharp look in his eye as he lowers his glasses, and scans the crowd. "But as the princess of Hollyberry Kingdom, they must always be jolly, even in the face of danger. That's right! For this round, all you have to do is keep dancing, no matter what happens!"

"A dance battle!" Choco Thai Tea gushes. "I've only seen those in movies!"

"Eh? Pardon? What is a... movie?" Strawberry Gelatin Cookie raises an eyebrow.

"Oh right, forgot you guys don't have those... uhh... think of it as a play, but much more complex." The short cookie says. "But enough of that! Finally, I get a break from punching bad guys!"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie stays in the background, watching as the meddlers and the assassins rush the contestants. Now that they were found out, they were going to fight like hell and directly attack the cookies on their target list.

"Aaaand that should settle it!" Choco Thai Tea dusts her hands off, smiling. "Time for me to chow down on the leftover snacks at the banquet, hehehe..."

"What is with you and your gluttony?!" Strawberry Gelatin Cookie scolds her like an exasperated mother. "If you eat that much, your dough is going to get all puffy and heavy!"

"You're not my mom!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie rolls her eyecing. "You can't tell me what to do-"

The both of them notice some movement from the shadows. Both Choco Thai Tea and Strawberry Gelatin whip their heads around to see the shady noble getting away.

"... We should go follow him." Choco Thai Tea says quietly. "I'm pretty sure he's the mastermind behind some of the assassins... We're going to have to stop him."

"For once, I agree with you." The ghost narrows her eyes.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie trails him through the Hollyberry Palace, having to duck behind pillars and slink in between the fancy decor to hide from sight. When he finally manages to stop at a room, he looks back and forth before opening the door.

Choco Thai Tea peeks in through the crack of the door. Strawberry Gelatin, being a ghost, doesn't have to worry about not being seen, and simply phases through the wall.

The both of them freeze. Because right in front of them was Pitaya Dragon Cookie themself, lounging on a fancy throne while drinking a large glass of berry juice.

'Oh, they're drinking a LOT of alcohol.' Her hands tighten around the doorframe in nervousness. '... Let's hope their vision and strength are impaired when drunk- because they're DEFINITELY going to tear up the palace if anything goes wrong.'

"Hm? What's that noissse outside? Is that the worthy opponent Jungleberry Cookie hasss found?!" They growl and hiss.

"I believe not. There seems to be... a problem with the contestants." The shady noble tells them. He procures a large barrel of alcohol, handing it over to Pitaya Dragon.

"Finally, my juice is here! No need to pour me a glasss. Give me the whole barrel!" They laugh. "And if they have a problem, jussst bring them to me! How many? One? A dozen? No matter! No one will ssstand a chance!"

"Of course, Lord Dragon. Not a single winner of this charade can be a match for the glorious Greenish Red Dragon!" The noble bows, acting meek and humble. "However... If I dare say, Lord Dragon... I find it... odd that the Queen herself would fetch you a "worthy" opponent."

"Her sudden obedience, and how she keeps bringing you this... berry juice... It worries me greatly that she may be plotting something."

Choco Thai Tea Cookie grits her teeth. 'Oh, so THIS is what you're going to do. Send a paranoid and drunk dragon to raze the competitors to the ground?'

'Pathetic! You're going to risk innocent lives and the Hollyberry Kingdom itself, just for more power!' Choco Thai Tea hates people who use their riches and power like that- she's already too used to it back in her old life.

"Oh? Are you sssaying that Jungleberry Cookie is ssscheming against me?" Pitaya Dragon Cookie rises from their throne, and Choco Thai Tea Cookie's eyes widen at how much taller and bulkier they were compared to the noble.

"Oh no, no... What can I, a humble servant, possible know... But it's highly likely that she thinks you're in the palm of her hand!" The shady noble lies through the skin of his teeth, egging the inebriated dragon on.

"ME? The Great Dragon... in the palm of her PUNY hand?! HA! Preposssterous!" They laugh, and let out a plume of flame into the air out of anger. The noble stumbles back, visibly afraid of the dragon's power- but manages to keep standing. 

"I've changed my mind. I will no longer tolerate this insssolence!" Pitaya Dragon Cookie spreads his wings, and rockets out of the place, punching a hole into the ceiling. "GRAAH!"

The noble catches his breath, panting heavily as he clutches his chest- and then lets out a chuckle. "That should take care of them. Hehehe... no longer shall I be disgraced, if all of the other noble families are gone!"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie slowly gets up from her crouching position. She straightens up to her full (short) height, and slowly opens the door with an ominous creak.

Strawberry Gelatin Cookie looks at her with confusion and slight panic. "Choco Thai Tea? What are you doing?! You're going to get caught!"

"..." The former human has a stormy expression on her face as she confronts the shady noble. "You."

"...!" The shady noble jumps back, looking at the girl behind him. "Who are you?!"

"Does it matter?" Choco Thai Tea Cookie spits out, looking angry and frustrated. "What the hell do you think you're doing?! Telling the dragon that... you're not just going to crumble the royal family and all the competitors, but they're going to rampage across the kingdom and harm countless civilians, too!"

"Tch! So you managed to find out about my plot... all of this is revenge!" He growls. "Revenge for those fools cutting me off from house Cranberry! Revenge for my own family tossing me aside, just because I had the key to their rise in power!"

Choco Thai Tea's fist clenches. "And I can see that they did it for completely valid reasons now." Because come on, this is the same guy that hired assassins to kill the other competitors and just set an angry dragon onto the kingdom!

"What would a plebian like you know?" He sneers, looking at her up and down. "From those raggedy clothes and that unkempt hair of yours, I can tell that you're nothing but a street urchin."

"Really? Antagonizing the pers- cookie that's going to beat you up?" Choco Thai Tea Cookie snarks, stepping forward with her fork in hand.

"Tch! I am hardly afraid of a single peasant that thinks she can rise above her rank just by bringing me down. Tell me, pathetic ant- do you think that you can simply weasel your way into the royal family just by acting like a hero?"

Choco Thai Tea's eyecing twitches. The noble continues to brag and taunt her, trying to figure out her weakness as he spins his cane and circles her. "You can't possibly think that it'll be you who wins, hm? Hollyberrians should stay with other Hollyberrians, and we don't need the help of outsiders to better this kingdom."

It pisses Choco Thai Tea Ollie the fuck off because she knows this argument. It's the "go back to your country" argument, the same sort of "you don't belong here" that she's heard from assholes with too much nationalism at a bar, eight drinks in and not stopping.

"So do our kingdom a favor- and go try to fight that dragon off." He smiles. "Crumble like all of those other pathetic peasants and foreigners, and then maybe you'll finally be useful."

Choco Thai Tea snaps. But she's not just angry- ohh, no no no.

There's a gnawing in her stomach that a normal meal can't feel- a hunger for justice and vengeance against the cookie that DARED to harm her friends and innocent people. She lets him circle her. Her mouth begins to drool.

Only Strawberry Gelatin Cookie notices the dark, ravenous expression slowly spreading on Choco Thai Tea Cookie's face. "... Choco Thai Tea?"

"Then again, you seem especially more dirty and uncouth compared to those other ruffians." The shady noble taunts. "What can a small, weak, pathetic cookie like you do-?"

Choco Thai Tea lunges forward like a manic beast, teeth bared and snarling at the cookie. His eyecing widens for a bit before he reacts, swinging his cane with force and using some magic to boost it's power.

The cane cracks against Choco Thai Tea's face. She bites onto it, snapping it in half and tasting the hard candy shards in her mouth.

Maybe it was the manic, toothy expression on her face- the crazed look in her eye as she did that. Or maybe it was because she did the cookie equivalent of breaking hard resin with her jaw and eating it in front of him. Whatever the case was, he finally realized that he may have antagonized the wrong cookie.

"A-agh!" The shady noble stumbles back, holding his hands up. "Stay away! Stay AWAY!"

He rolls to the side to avoid her next charge, teeth wide open and snapping, looking more like a human's mouth than a cookie's icing-mouth.

Strawberry Gelatin Cookie could only watch on in horror as Choco Thai Tea Cookie manages to pin down the struggling noble, mouth drooling and eyes unfocused and full of hunger.

The last thing the noble saw was a terrifying, cavernous mouth unhinging wider than what should be possible, before Choco Thai Tea Cookie lunges forward with a SNAP of her teeth.

Her mouth had turned into a human one, biting off his head and chewing on it. The shady noble's body stopped struggling, going limp as crumbs and strawberry jam began dripping onto the broken, tiled floor.

The older cookie had more crunchy dough, his body baked to perfection and his icing having the sweet tang of cranberry. Oddly enough, there was also a savory taste to the sauce drizzled on his hair that made up his stubble, like the sort of sauce you'd find on braised beef.

And to top it off, the dark chocolate that made up his cloak tasted absolutely divine with the rest of his head. The mix of strawberry jam, cranberry, sauce and chocolate made Choco Thai Tea's pupils dilate as she chewed and mulled over the taste filling her mouth.

Gulp. She swallowed the delicious-tasting mush that was once his head. Her mouth opens, still drooling from the delicious meal as she lets out a guttural sigh of satisfaction.

Movement catches her eye. Choco Thai Tea Cookie looks up to see pink, her vision slowly adjusting as she comes down from her high.

Strawberry Gelatin's horrified, nauseated face greets her. The ghost stumbles back, so afraid that she's forgotten that she's dead and every inch of her body is telling her to RUN from the monster right in front of her.

It takes a moment for Choco Thai Tea Cookie to comprehend what's just happened, but her eyes widen in horror as she realizes what she's done.

The young woman stumbles back from the corpse she's holding, dropping it like it's a live coal. She begins to breathe heavily, staring at the mess of strawberry jam and crumbs that was on the stump of his 'neck'.

She looks down at her hands. They're covered in reddish-pink, flecks of darker tan crumbs scattered on them. Her front isn't covered in strawberry jam, but there's flecks of it dotted on her black hoodie- barely visible, but still there.

Choco Thai Tea hastily looks back at Strawberry Gelatin with that same horror and mortification, and the ghost flinches. None of them say a word.

'I... oh god, I just- I- I killed someone. A real, living, breathing cookie.' Choco Thai Tea Cookie hyperventilates, hunching over the headless body. "Oh god. Oh god! F-fuck!"

She scrambles over to the body, trying to figure out what to do with it. "Shit shit shit shit-"

'If I leave it here, then I'm definitely going to be caught! I can't- I can't leave it behind because Pitaya Dragon doesn't really eat cookies, and there's going to be an investigation on who killed him!'

'The only way to get less trouble is to...'

She stares at the body on the floor. The perfectly edible, delicious body of someone that she killed in an wrathful, hunger-induced rage.

"... I need to get rid of it." She mutters quietly.

Choco Thai Tea hunches down, and glances over at Strawberry Gelatin Cookie. She can't handle the disgust and horror on the other woman's (cookie's?) face, and so she turns away and begins to feast.

One bite for each arm. One bite for each leg. His clothing is icing and fondant, so she didn't have to worry. The rest of the cane is grinded down by her gnashing teeth, and she swallows.

Two bites for the torso. The rest of his chocolate cloak tastes divine with the savory-sweetness of his cranberry flavor. Strawberry jam coats her mouth, and Choco Thai Tea licks it off.

It disgusts her- how she's enjoying this. How eating a cookie feels perfectly natural to her, how the life powder in his dough and being makes her feel more energetic and alive than before, rather being lethargic or tired as usual.

Choco Thai Tea stands up without a word, licking up the rest of the strawberry jam from the sweet, hard tiles of the floor... and leaves to go save her friends from the dragon.

'But who really is the scarier monster here?' She thinks to herself.

'Them... or me?'

[Pitaya Dragon]

Oh, they're pissed at Jungleberry Cookie's deception. 'How dare that mere cookie sssslight me in ssssuch a cowardly way!'

They wanted a proper fight- not a pathetic distraction! Pitaya Dragon flexes their wings, and uses their magic to transform from their cookie form to their dragon form. They spot the room where all of the competitors are standing- and dive-bomb directly into the wall, sending it crumbling down.

The legendary dragon lands with power and grace, slowly rising up and spreading it's wings. It lets out an angry growl as it assesses all of the cookies standing in front of them.

"DRAGON!!!" Wizard Cookie shouts. All chaos breaks out, and the contestants scramble around, confused and scared. 

"Wahhh!" Gingerbrave yells, dodging out of the way of a tail whip. Pitaya Dragon's tail crashes into a pillar, whacking it down and making another wall crumble.

Pitaya Dragon Cookie hisses as two pink cookies charge at him, stabbing into their hard scales. "Hiya!" Princess Cookie slams her scepter down on his leg, and Raspberry Cookie rushes in to stab them, making their leg stumble.

Gingerbrave manages to use the distraction to dodge another one of the dragon's powerful attacks. "Whew! I would have been toast!"

"Is everyone alright?!" Princess Cookie yells.

"Y-yeah! Thanks for saving me! What on Earthbread is going on?!" Gingerbrave sputters.

"Looks like the dragon... isn't here to judge!" Raspberry Cookie holds up her sword, looking up at Pitaya Dragon with a glare.

Pitaya Dragon sneers down at them. 'None of thessse cookiesss match up to Hollyberry Cookie'sss power! How disssappointing!'

They had wanted a fight. A proper way of releasing their anger- why wasn't anyone giving them it?! They hear that annoying Raspberry Cookie escape with the other contestants while Princess Cookie and Knight Cookie stay behind, attempting to fight them.

"Eyes over here, dragon!" The small cookie yelled, smacking her scepter against his eyes. Pitaya Dragon snarled, and tried to use his claws to swipe at her- but she rolls out of the way with grace and Knight Cookie takes her place.

"Foul beast! Surely you remember the Cookie that sliced off your tail! You shall taste my blade once again!" He raises his sword, and charges forward to slash at Pitaya Dragon.

The dragon blinks. "What? Tail?" 'What doesss this cookie mean...' They glance back at their tail, and see the small stump at the end. It isn't noticeable at all, but it's there. "Huh."

"How could you have forgotten..?!" Knight Cookie huffs. "No matter. This will make you remember my sword!"

He slashes at Pitaya Dragon's legs, doing minimal damage. The dragon growls, getting more irritated as the cookies dodge and duck between their flames and attacks.

"Ugh, Knight Cookie!" Princess Cookie worries. "You're only gonna get yourself hurt! What would you do without me?"

"Forgive me, Your Braveness..." He pants, and Pitaya dragon focuses on the opportunity to whip their tail around and try to hit Princess Cookie.

"WATCH OUT!" He grabs her by the collar and yanks her back, just in time to narrowly miss the dragon's heavy tail. Princess Cookie's eyecing widens, and she lets out a breath.

"That was close! Thanks, Knight Cookie! He he!"

Pitaya Dragon roars, their voice echoing around the Hollyberry Palace. "Ha ha! Funny bissscuitsss, aren't you?!
You've got the NERVE to talk to each other while facing ME!?" They lean back, fire building up in their throat as they glare at the two. "Let's sssee if you can laugh THIS off...!"

"Gah!" Knight Cookie panics, looking around for anything he could use to block the oncoming flames. "I can't... block...!"

Princess Cookie reaches out for him, getting more and more scared at the possibility that this might be the end of the line. "Knight Cookie, WATCH OUT!"

A figure grabs the both of them and throws them to the side, making them yelp in pain as they're tossed across the entire room and away from the line of fire. Pitaya Dragon unleashes their flames, and expected the mysterious savior to become an overbaked cookie.

The magical flames burst forward like a blowtorch, scorching the floor and walls, crystalizing the thick jam of the wall and scorching the pie-crust columns. Any normal cookie would have crumbled to ash at the temperature.

Instead, when Pitaya Cookie's firebreath finally flickers out- there is a small, unassuming cookie standing in front of him, wincing as she holds up a shield nabbed from an armor stand.

"Sorry for being late." The stranger says, a determined look in her eye. Her hair is wild and unkempt, the wafers on her head twitching in irritation. "Both of you- help me out here. I'm new at dealing with overgrown lizards like them."

"Overgrown lizardsss?!" Pitaya Dragon seethes at the sheer disrespect of this cookie- he was a dragon! A force of nature feared by every living being- and this mere cookie dares to taunt him?!

He roars once again, lumbering forward and swiping his claws towards her. The cookie, with the honeyed caramel in her hair and the marshmallow hat perched between her antennae, raised the pie-crusted shield and slammed it down, making their claws skid across the hard surface.

She stood her ground. Her tiny feet dig down onto the tiled floor, cracking from the force of the blow- and she grunted as she lifted their massive leg and tossed it aside. "You heard me! Come at me, then!" She grinned.

Pitaya Cookie roared, before Princess Cookie leaps forward and swings her scepter over at the massive dragon's neck once again. "Hiiiya! Take this!"

"Onward!" Knight Cooke goes forward to attack his head, and Pitaya Cookie had to shake him off and growled. "Ceassse this foolissshness immediately!"

The more they battled with them, the more they struggled. Pitaya Dragon cookie was doing the equivalent of swatting small, very fast flies and losing energy trying to defeat them.

And to make things worse, more pesky cookies showed up! Gingerbrave slid into the massive room, Wizard Cookie and Strawberry Cookie running in behind him. "Hey, leave Princess Cookie alone!" He yelled, charging forward.

"Graaah! What isss with all of you cookiesss and your ceassseless pestering!" They flap their wings, blowing most of the cookies back and making Custard Cookie yelp as he's tossed into the air.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie dashes forward to catch him, setting him down gently. "Watch out, kid! This isn't your everyday Cake Hound- they're a big, scary dragon!"

Pitaya Dragon scoffs. 'Pathetic- they're sssending children to fight me?! I'll jussst crumble in ssseconds!'

They lift up their head, ready to blow out fire again- but this time, the cookies are ready. Strawberry Cookie runs forward and slams her oversized lollipop onto the side of their head like a mace, and their fire is diverted as their head is knocked to the side.

"RAAAAGH!" Oh, they were pissed now. These cookies- nay, these children were literally ganging up on them and trying to defeat them! This is the equivalent of getting jumped by a bunch of pre-schoolers!

Pitaya Dragon, in all their aggression, makes a mistake. a mistake that was pretty easy to make, seeing that not many cookies were alive to spread the word about it.

They turned their back on Choco Thai Tea Cookie.

Pitaya Dragon prepares to swing their tail in an arc before pain lances down their spine and they let out a pained roar. The sensation is so mind numbingly painful that they squeeze their eyes shut, swinging their tail and hitting nothing in the process.

They crack open their eye in disbelief, not really understanding what had happened. Pitaya Dragon reels in shock when they realize-

'... My tail is gone. My tail is GONE?!'

Because where there used to be a long, muscular tail was a stump that was bleeding out, his inside being a mix of white dragonfruit flesh and strawberry jam veins. The only three cookies behind them were the short one, the knight, and that annoying princess!

(Choco Thai Tea had used the strength she'd saved up from eating that noble's body, the new life powder in her body converted into sheer power. She'd bitten a chunk out of Pitaya Dragon out of instinct to protect her friends, and was now rapidly trying to find a way to shift their attention.'

('Nobody saw me do that, right?!' She panicked. 'They're not freaking out about me biting off a literal dragon's tail, and I think I did that weird spectral mouth thing!')

"H-holy heck, Knight Cookie!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie sputtered, looking impressed. "You sliced off his entire tail! Good job!"

"Wha- HUH?!" Knight Cookie looks up at Pitaya Dragon's tail (or lack thereof), and back at his lance as if he didn't believe what he just did. "How did I-?! I don't even remember-"

"YOU." Pitaya Dragon seethes in pain and anger, not used to the pain and the fact that their tail was gone now. "YOU! YOU INSSSIGNIFICANT, WORTHLESSSS COOKIE! HOW DARE YOU TAKE MY TAIL?!"

Pitaya Dragon was still far too preoccupied with the sheer pain of 'bleeding' out and their anger at Knight Cookie to think about why their tail disappeared instead of dropping onto the floor. They also didn't notice Choco Thai Tea Cookie chewing on something and swallowing, their expression turning lightly irritated and unsatisfied for a moment before she locks in once again.

(Eating dragonfruit skin and stem would taste terrible, after all.)

The dragon's anger and disbelief slowly turns into... glee? "Yes, YESSS! You... thisss power? It's invigorating!'

They laser-focus on him, smiling ear to ear with their sharp teeth. "That strength you used to cut off my tail... SHOW IT TO ME!"

Knight Cookie is one inch away from passing out right in front of the dragon, still confused on how the heck he might have managed to cut off it's tail. He stutters. "B-back off! I won't do anything if you're trying to harm the Princess and the Royal family."

'Tch... Thisss insssolent cookie won't show hisss true strength? Very well then!' Pitaya Dragon Cookie turns to Princess Cookie. "Then I will make you use that power!"

Queen Jungleberry Cookie screams in terror for her daughter to run away- but it doesn't change their mind.

They raise their leg, intending to swipe down with their claws- but a cookie shoves Princess Cookie to the side. "Hey! Get outta my way!"

Once again, their claws crash down on a shield- a wooden one, this time. Pitaya Dragon howls in frustration. "WHAT NOW?!" They were sick and tired of other cookies interfering within their battles!

"Oiii! You big, good-for-nothing lizard! Why don't you pick on someone your own size! Remember me from the Berry Fields!?" The hooded cookie yells, taunting at them.

"What is with cookies and calling me a LIZARD?!" They screech, clearly angry. Pitaya Dragon narrows their eyes, sniffing the air as they glance at her familiar pink hair. "Wait... you're-!"

"Too much talk for a "scary" dragon! Let's see if you still feel like talking after THIS!" The stranger raises her shield, and charges forward.

'It'sss Hollyberry Cookie!'

[Hollyberry Cookie]

She raised up her wooden shield as the dragon's flames, feeling as Pitaya Dragon followed it up with a heavy blow from their claws.

'Ha! Feisty as always... but they made the mistake of trying to take my childrens' throne!' Hollyberry Cookie used her shield to bash the dragon's head, making it stumble and roar in pain.

She backtracks, taking a good look at all of the cookies that were fighting alongside. A rather plain-looking but brave cookie, a shy pink cookie smelling of strawberries, a young wizard, a thief, a royal, and a... bug-like cookie?

"Woah! Looks like we have some backup!" Gingerbrave exclaims. "Wizard Cookie- go help her! Custard Cookie, help heal Princess Cookie and Knight Cookie!

"On it, Gingerbrave!"

'What a merry band of adventurers! Oh, I remember when I was like that, with my friends!' Hollyberry Cookie is reinvigorated by the sight, pushing onwards and confronting Pitaya Dragon even without her trusty shield.

She dodges another swipe of their claws and their teeth, only to land a punch on their side and make them buckle. The dragon responds with a roar and a swipe that knocks her back, making her arm sore.

"Ugh! Haha, just as lively as you are before, aren't you?!" She grins, tanking the attack and trying to make Pitaya Dragon lose their focus.

"Ha ha! Sssure, I alssso enjoy a good chassse.
But is it just me... or have you grown... WEAK?" They snarled. "What happened to you?"

"What happened to you?" Hollyberry Cookie shoots back, eying the stump that used to be Pitaya Dragon's tail. "You're missing your tail, lizard! Fight now, talk later!"

She glances over at Princess Cookie and Knight Cookie, pushing them back. "Get back, you two!"

The dragon narrows their eyes. "Oh, I sssee! You're trying to protect those Cookies!" They laugh, and charge up their dragon breath once more. "I can take care of that. Let us fight without any hinderance!"

Knight Cookie panics, grabbing Princess Cookie's hand and leading her back. "The dragon is coming this way! Take cover, your Highness! I will fend off the beast!"

Hollyberry Cookie furrows her brows and laughs, trying to hide her nervousness. "Ooh! That slimy lizard... You've grown old AND cranky!"

'MOLDY CRUMBS...! I don't know if I can hold off that attack without my shield...!'

Right as she was about to lose hope, Jungleberry Cookie comes rushing in with a familiar shield. "Hollyberry Cookie! Take this!"

She rushes forward, her cloak falling off and revealing her full face. The shield lands in her hand perfectly, like it had belonged there for hundreds of years.

The soul jam in the shield resonated with her, surrounding her with magic- and before she knew it, it had wrapped around her scuffed hunter's clothes and transformed them into her dress.

"Whaaat?! Hollyberry Cookie?!" Princess Cookie exclaimed in shock. "Grandma?!"

"Ha ha! Let's save the intros for later! Now, when I give you two the signal, give that lizard all you got! Understood?!" She grins at all the cookies behind her, her shield raised up and in position.

"Don't worry: this shield will protect us from any attack!"

Pitaya Dragon roars in indignation, and lets out a stream of flames. They're blocked by her trusty shield, keeping all of the cookies behind her safe.

"NOW! The dragon's out of breath!" She yells. "Go straight for the head!"

Numerous cries fill the air as Princess Cookie and her friends rush towards Pitaya Dragon, aiming towards their head as they recovered.

Gingerbrave was the first to rush forward and jab his candy cane down. "Not on my watch! Everyone- attack!"

"Taste my lightning!"

"YAAAAH!"

"Get a taste of my daggers!"

All of the attacks hit the dragon at once- finally making them stumble and falter. Pitaya Dragon backtracks in a panic, shaking their head and flapping their wings to get back up in the air.

"Krgh... No, that doesss not count! Come one by one!" They complain, clutching their head.

"Hah! Now that felt just like the good old days! But you went too far this time!" Hollyberry Cookie grins. "If you wanted to spar, you should've left my kingdom be! Silly old lizard." She's not afraid to disparage them.

"Hmp, you're always like that! We exchange a few hitsss, and then you disappear!"

"What can I say? A Cookie needs to stretch her legs!"

Hollyberry Cookie points her shield at them. "But let me very clear: if you touch the kingdom again, I'm not going to spar with you, ever again!"

Pitaya Dragon scoffs, and rolls their eyes. They glance down at their missing tail, which is still throwing them off balance while flying. "Oh? Isss that a threat? Fine. I don't feel like fighting anyway. I ssshall come back later!"

"But next time, I WILL burn the whole palace down! HA HA HA!"

And with that, the dragon fled, flying away into the distance with an odd gait. Hollyberry Cookie sighs in relief, and turns around to look at the cookies behind her.

"So... are you all safe?"

Chapter Text

[Hollyberry Cookie]

It's been a very long time since she's been back in her kingdom- from when she ran away from her citizens and her family because she failed to protect cookies during the Dark Flour War. And she's still upset about that, but it can't be helped- she needed to come back and see how her kingdom was doing.

They were... fine without her. Sure, the fiasco with Pitaya Dragon was terribly dangerous and it could have all gone wrong, but the Hollyberrians were a lively people- they could fight on and bounce back from anything without her!

It made her feel unneeded. There's no need for her shield if they can protect themselves... and with Dark Enchantress gone during the end of the Dark Flour War, everyone was at peace.

No need for a shield if there's no violence.

Hollyberry worries as Gingerbrave and the other young adventurers frantically tell her about what Pure Vanilla Cookie has sent out as a message.

"Dark Enchantress Cookie is back! She's broken out of her seal, and we're trying to get all of the ancient heroes like you to meet up and help fight her again!"

"I see..." Hollyberry Cookie rubs at her chin, her grip on her shield tightening as she walks down the hall with them. She tries not to look too scared, since she didn't want her citizens or these young cookies to be in a panic. "And what is she planning on doing now?"

"We don't exactly know," Wizard Cookie says. "But from what I could tell, she can't exactly go do things directly. She might be sending in her minions to do her bidding because she's recovering her former magical power."

'Good.' Hollyberry Cookie thinks. 'That means we've got some time to prepare, before Dark Enchantress comes burstin' down our walls.'

"There's gotta be a lotta things to worry about later!" Hollberry Cookie gives the adventurers a reassuring grin. "But before we do that- you all look tired! How about a feast- to thank you for fighting off that old lizard with me?!"

"A feast?!" Gingerbrave gasped. "We'd love to!"

"I'd like to eat, too... fighting a dragon's made me hungry..." Strawberry Cookie's stomach rumbled. "I think I'd love to eat more of the fresh berries..."

"I'd like more glasses of that berry juice!" Chili Pepper Cookie laughed. She seemed enthusiastic to go drinking as a victory prize for herself. "No wonder the Hollyberry Kingdom's the best at hospitality!"

"I like how you think!" She laughs uproariously, pushing the worry from her mind. "A feast it is! I invite you to dinner with my family- Princess Cookie would be happy to have you over, I bet!"

She orders the palace servants to set up a second meal for the victor and the royal family- because Princess Cookie was home now, and they needed to celebrate Pitaya finally being gone from the kingdom.

The older servants that remembered her were ecstatic to see that Hollyberry Cookie had finally come home, while the newer folks stared in reverence and awe at having the Ancient hero herself in front of them.

"Ahhh... nothing beats a nice, big glass of Hollyberrian wine right after coming home!" She laughs, tipping her drink back as she sits on her throne. Queen Jungleberry is fussing over Princess Cookie in her own room, and King Royal Berry is sitting quietly by his mother's side.

"... Welcome back, mother. I missed you." His voice is weary, but relieved. Despite being a full-grown cookie now, he still looked like her little baby to Hollyberry Cookie.

'Ah, how time passes by...' She thinks. "I missed you too, son. Adventuring was fun, yes, but... I did feel a bit lonely at times." She laughs. "Hahaha... if only I could take you and everyone else around to show you where I've been! If it wasn't so dangerous..."

'Thus is the downside of being an ancient hero.' Hollyberry Cookie thought. Because with all of her strength and her notoriety- she couldn't seek the thrill of adventure and battle with her people and family. Only her friends, the other ancient heroes, could hope to match up to her power.

She sighs as she slumps down on her throne. Hollyberry trains her face into a smile as she tilts her head towards her son. "How is the kingdom after the dragon's little temper tantrum? Did you get the word out to the noble families so they would not panic?"

"I did." He nods. "Everything's in order- I made sure to have the royal courtiers deliver all the letters to their estates to explain the judge's outburst." He shudders. "It could have been a disaster. A bunch of them hired meddlers to interfere and were disqualified, but within their midst, there were apparently some assassins sent to harm the contestants."

Hollyberry's hand twitched. "How cowardly. I assume that the royal investigator is on the job?"

"They are." Royal Berry Cookie nodded. "They're getting the rest of the city guard on the job as well, to see if there were any witnesses to back-alley deals."

"Good." Hollyberry nodded. Her son may have not have inherited her combat prowess- but Royal Berry was adept at running the kingdom in a way even she struggled to do.

The Hollyberry kingdom's trade routes and domestic affairs were meticulously planned out by him and a group of royal advisors. King Royal Berry could complete tedious paperwork and deal with political affairs well enough- Queen Jungleberry was the one that did most of the fighting and training for the Royal Family once Hollyberry left.

It only took a few hours for the grand dinner table of the Hollyberry Palace to be filled to the brim with delicious food.  The servants rushed about, organizing the dishes and cups while Gingerbrave, Princess Cookie, and their friends entered the room.

"Woah... this is so cool!" Custard Cookie gushes. He immediately hops onto one of the fancy chairs on the table, and his eyecing widens at the wide selection of food. "This is a feast surely fit for a king!"

"Hahaha! There's even berry juice for me!" Chili Pepper Cookie grinned, swiping the glass from the table and giving it a sip. "Mmm-mmm! Sweet and delicious!"

"Thank you for inviting us over! And for all the food, too!" Gingerbrave sits down, and politely starts picking and choosing from the selection of berries and fruits.

The table soon fills with chatter and laughter as the heroes relax, and the royal family takes the time to get to know them. Gingerbrave is really friendly with Knight Cookie and Princess Cookie, while Strawberry Cookie is still huddled up with Wizard Cookie, unused to all the liveliness of the banquet.

The one that catches Hollyberry's eye, however, is a lone cookie. Part of the group, hunched over and picking at the toast and butter on her plate.

There's a haunted, hollow look in her eyes, like she'd witnessed something that she didn't want to. She picks up the toast with her hand, only taking small, bug-like nibbles while the wafer antennae on her head droop.

She looks terrified being at the table. And no no no, that won't do! Hollyberry won't have one of the cookies that helped protect her kingdom feel terrible, especially at a feast!

"... Please, excuse me." The bug-like cookie says quietly, pushing her plate aside. Wizard Cookie stares at her in shock and confusion. "Choco Thai Tea Cookie? Aren't you going to eat? I thought you were always hungry!"

"... Lost my appetite. For now." She looks squeamish. "I'm so sorry- it's- complicated." The cookie gets off the chair and rushes off, her large chocolate ponytail trailing behind her.

Hollyberry Cookie doesn't know why she feels like checking up on the poor girl- but her gently nudges her son's arm. Royal Berry Cookie blinks and looks up at her.

"Mother? Do you need to go as well?" He asks.

"Can't really leave one of our guests upset, haha!" She jokes, smiling. "A hero like me won't ever ignore a cookie's troubles."

She gets out of her seat and follows where the cookie went- down the hallway, into one of the many guest rooms in the Hollyberry Palace. She's sitting at the desk, staring down at her own feet with those wide eyes, muttering to herself softly.

The stranger whips their head around in shock when Hollyberry opens the door. "You feelin' down, kiddo?"

"U-um- I guess so." Choco Thai Tea Cookie lets out a small chuckle, trying to hide her visible discomfort. "I'm sorry if I was- rude or something, your majesty- I-I just-"

"No, it's not rude at all! I've seen rowdier manners at Royal Berry and Jungleberry's wedding, hahaha!" Hollyberry Cookie jokes. She sits down next to the fork-wielding cookie. "What's your name?"

"I... I'm Choco Thai Tea Cookie." She says. "A mouthful, I know." Choco Thai Tea laughs morosely, like she's tired and amused at some sort of pun.

"Well, Miss Choco Thai Tea-" Hollyberry extends out her hand. "What's got you so down? The dragon's gone, and you and your friends have won a great battle!"

Choco Thai Tea flinches, her antennae pinning back. "... I- I saw someone die." She says, after a bit of silence. "I could have saved them but- it's my fault." She says, her voice petering off to a whisper.

(It was true- because she DID see someone die, it WAS her fault- she just left out the fact that her jaw had snapped around his head and his dead body was currently digesting in her stomach.)

"Oh, dear..." Hollyberry Cookie furrows her brow in concern. "There, there. It must have been terrible, seeing someone die for the first time."

'She doesn't seem like the sort to get into battle. Pitaya Dragon... you caused much more damage than I'd expected, and killed some of my own subjects.'

Hollyberry Cookie frowns and comforts the bug-like cookie as best as she can. "You tried your best, and that's all that matters. You can't save... everyone."

She knows this lesson far too well. Lived through it herself. The Dark Flour War took too many lives, and even with Hollyberry herself on the front lines, her shield the stalwart, unbreakable symbol it was- it could not save everyone.

(It couldn't save Pure Vanilla Cookie.)

The ancient shakes the thought out of her head, focusing on the weary, shaken cookie in front of her. Choco Thai Tea is staring off into the corner of the room, like she was trying to see a ghost.

"... You'll get used to it." Hollyberry Cookie mutters. "The grief will subside. But it will always hurt."

"... I know."

The ancient gets up from her seat, and gives Choco Thai Tea Cookie a sympathetic gaze. "You're a tough cookie, kiddo. Don't forget that."

And she leaves her behind, gently closing the door for the young lady's privacy.

[Choco Thai Tea Cookie Ollie]

No. She... she can't do this. She can't do this, can't keep on lying and pretending to be a hero when she just- she just-

She's killed someone. She didn't eat a corpse like withe Strawberry Gelatin Cookie, she didn't hunt down cake monsters of questionable sapience- no. She ate a person and enjoyed it.

Her appetite is gone. The life powder from Pitaya Dragon's tail and the shady noble she ate was enough to make her stomach feel like it was bursting, having eaten her fill. She's never felt this full before in this life- the only thing Ollie could compare it to was...

Back then. When she was still human.

(Ollie was small for her age, and the portions she ate were nothing compared to her brother or her father's portions. Still, she felt like she was a glutton whenever her stomach ached from a large meal...)

She can't meet Strawberry Gelatin's eye. The ghostly nun was staring at her and trying to keep her distance like Ollie was some sort of dangerous wild animal.

"I should have KNOWN something was up when I saw you hunt cake monsters like a rabid cake hound!" She hisses, her eyecing narrowing as she looks at the shell-shocked cookie in front of her. "An unholy abomination like you deserves to be smited by the Witches themselves!"

"... I didn't want... to do it." She whispers quietly, that haunted look still in her face. "I... damn it, I should have controlled my temper, my hunger- anything but that-!"

"Your self-pity does not abstain you from the sin of eating your own kind, foul beast!" Strawberry Gelatin snaps at her, her hand itching to grasp her fork once more and stab it through Ollie's chest. Alas, she was a ghost, and ghosts can't exactly interact with the physical world.

"I know." Ollie mutters. "It's all my fault. I... I shall take responsibility for it." She looks... defeated. "But I can't let Dark Enchantress Cookie take over Earthbread- if I die, then..."

'Then [REDACTED] will get bored, and probably either leave this world to rot, or the timeline will simply fall into the 'bad ending' of this world.' Ollie thinks. Her hands tremble as she thinks over the possibilities. 'As much as they've helped me- they're still a god that craves entertainment. And gods with that much power are NEVER to be trusted.'

"What then? What sort of threat do you pose, if that wicked cookie worries you more than your own demise?" Strawberry Gelatin Cookie presses her more and more, making her stressed. "What manner of monster are you, if you have met her before and she was unable to break you to her will?!"

The emotions hit her like a freight train, buckling under the pressure. The horror of eating and cannibalizing someone, the adrenaline of having just fought a dragon, and the stress of having an ancient hero so close to her, so close to possibly killing her, makes Ollie snap.

"Shut up. Shut up shut up SHUT UP!" Ollie explodes, burying her face in the mattress of the guest room and wailing as she hides her head under the pillow.

"I NEVER WANTED THIS!" She shouts, sobbing into the pillow. "Did you THINK I wanted to eat him?! Did you THINK I wanted to lose control like that?!"

"I'm fucking CURSED to be like this, a-and- god fucking DAMN it, I should have died in that damn kitchen for good!" Ollie whimpers, taking heaving breaths and shouting into the pillow.

Strawberry Gelatin looks at her with wide, nervous eyes. The warrior-nun had stepped back at her outburst, afraid that she'd lash out like a wild animal.

And why wouldn't she be afraid? Ollie's proven to her that she's dangerous. That she's not a normal cookie.

"I want to go back. I want to see my mom and dad again." She sobs. "I want- I wanna see my brother again. T-they're going to be so m-mad I exploded the oven, and- god, the mess my body would have made..."

She continues to ramble, not caring if she's revealing too much to Strawberry Gel anymore. "I was human. Human! I was meant to eat, a-and cookies were made to be eaten- I- why do I need to consume the ones with life powder, why- I don't- I shouldn't-" She breaks down even more into choked wails.

"I- I DON'T WANT THIIIIS!"

Strawberry Gelatin Cookie stares at her. Ollie doesn't know what the expression on her face is right now- her vision is too blurry from the tears streaming down her face and her glasses are askew.

The air filled with heaving sobs and hiccups. The room was silent aside from Ollie's crying, only broken up by the occasional sniff.

"So." Strawberry Gelatin Cookie's gaze... softens. "You were formerly human. That explains... everything."

Ollie is still hiccuping, trying to wipe her tears. She's confused and disoriented by Strawberry Gelatin's sudden lack of anger. "H-huh?"

"Your hunger. How you seem to wield my fork with ease, despite it taking me countless years of training to use the humans' divine utensils." The cult member says. "The way you act... so unlike a cookie."

"No doubt about it- you are human." Strawberry Gelatin Cookie bows, and Ollie feels a deep sense of disgust at herself once more- because she was being worshipped by a cultist. Someone who the St. Pastry Order had strung along from childhood with their lies.

And Ollie was supposed to be one of the 'gods' they sacrificed their own kind to. It sickens her.

"No. You are not going to just- pardon me of my crimes and absolve me of my sin, just because I'm a human!" Ollie springs up, hissing. "I need to be responsible for this- not encourage cannibalism! I'm not a fuckin' god to be prayed to, I'm a normal human being! A mortal!"

"You may be a mortal to your own kind, human-" (Ollie hated how she was no longer Choco Thai Tea to Strawberry Gel, but 'human'- spoken like she was from a race of gods.) "But to us cookies, you are our creators. Our gods. Our very purpose was determined by you."

"No it isn't!" Ollie yells back, stomping her foot. Her icing hair raised up, all spiky and distressed. "Listen to me."

She makes a motion that is akin to grabbing Strawberry Gelatin Cookie by the shoulders. She can't actually do that to the ghost- but her hands are open around the space where her shoulders would be.

"I was human, yes. I may be a fallen god to you. But god or not- nobody should be deciding what a person's- I mean, cookie's- purpose is in life, much less all of cookiekind." She sucks in a breath, and sighs. "Your purpose is something you find. Not to be eaten."

She shifts her eyes over, looking away in guilt. "And... I ate that cookie because I couldn't control my hunger. Not because it was his purpose."

"It was my gluttony, my reckless rage that led to his death. Not fate."

"..." Strawberry Gelatin looks perturbed, like she couldn't accept the words coming out of Ollie's mouth. The cookie is standing in front of a human, someone she considers to have some divine authority- and the words she says directly contradict the Order's teachings. "You... don't want to eat cookies."

"Not living ones, hell no." Ollie grimaces. "I... have to eat life powder, though. Dying and being placed in this body... I still have my human mouth and my appetite. Not to mention my strength and... whatever powers I would have gained."

"Dying? You say you have died as a human and... come back to life as a cookie?" There's a reverence to her tone that Ollie can't place, before it clicks in her head.

'Aw FUCK no, she thinks I'm Jesus Christ or something! Quick, pivot away from the damn topic!'

"Yeah. But I didn't come back to life by myself. I'm completely magic-less." She jabs a thumb at herself. "I... had to make a deal with a higher power. A god, if you will."

"There are gods above the Witches?!"

"... There's no such thing as a 'true' god or 'true' gods that are the top of the food chain, Strawberry Gel." Ollie says, her gaze turning a bit dull. "There's always a bigger fish in the sea. I just... happened to be stumbled upon by a really, really big fish."

The thought perturbs Strawberry Gelatin Cookie. She looks distressed at the idea of there being more powerful, unknown gods to her and the rest of cookiekind- and Ollie can't have her getting an existential crisis and spiralling into insanity.

"Hey, even I don't understand the whole thing myself." She says gently, sitting on the guest room's luxurious bed. "Don't think about it too hard."

"How... how powerful does that god have to be, to... to revive a human?" She whispers in fear.

Ollie chews on her lip. She won't tell Strawberry Gel that this world was a video game to her, that she was technically beyond human to these cookies- human², to put it simply. But she won't downplay how powerful [REDACTED] was.

"I can't look at them in their true form. That mere sight would kill me or drive me insane." Ollie lets out a small laugh, tired and eyes puffy from crying.

"How terrifying."

"I know, right?"

They both sat down on the bed. Not a word needed to be said between the former human and the dead cookie.

"... If. If you were human... surely your name is not Choco Thai Tea Cookie, no?"

"No." Ollie shifts. "... Do you want to know it?"

'It's better if she can attach a name to a face. Better to know me as Ollie the human, rather than just... 'the human'.'

"I would be honored to know your sacred name, human."

"Again, please stop with all the religious grovelling. It isn't even a 'sacred' name, geez." Ollie scratches the back of her head, snorting.

"It's Olivine, by the way. 'Ollie' for short."

"Olivine..." Strawberry Gelatin Cookie rolls the name around on her tongue, as if assessing it. "A majestic name for a human such as yourself. There is no need to lower yourself to our level, o sacred human-"

"Oooh my god can you please stop it with the religious thing?!"

"Apologies, my lord."

"Aggh, that isn't what I-!"

As much as Ollie tried, it was too difficult to change the nun's mind about her supposed divinity. Alas, some things are just baked into a cookie's religion, she supposes.

(Far away, sealed within a grand, silver tree- a jester is hooting and hollering in excitement at what he's learned. Cannibalism, a human brought back to life, and a true name to a fake face!)

("My oh my, [REDACTED]- you were correct! This IS going to be such an interesting little play you've got set up!" Shadow Milk Cookie cackles maniacally, still unable to get the image of Ollie biting off the head of the shady noble.)

("Violence, bloodshed- and ACTION!")

[Royal Gardener]

Royal Gardener was always a royal gardener. That was why their name was also their title, duh.

It's all they've known from when they were just a little sprout, watered and taken care of by the previous royal gardener. They grew quickly through magic, developing a mind just like any other cookie through the careful nurturing of their father.

They adored him. Looked up to him like he was their hero, and they wanted to grow up to be a cookie just like him. When they'd told him their wish, he simply laughed at their good-natured spirit and patted them on their head.

"Oh, little sprout- you've got a wild imagination, that's for sure!"

He'd gently broken the harsh truth to them- that they would never grow up to be a cookie like the others, because they were a cookie-eating plant.

Gardener was absolutely devastated at this, crying all night and refusing to eat the cake and berries that their father usually fed them for dinner that day. Alas, it was something they had to accept and get over.

They grew into their role well. Of course a plant like them would know how to take care of other plants and figure out what any of them needed- they could practically feel the soil with their roots and determine whether there was enough nutrients or not.

Royal Gardener was used to the stares and nervous looks from other cookies in the Hollyberry Kingdom whenever they visited the palace gardens. They were all afraid of them losing their temper, or eventually going wild and eating cookies.

Very rude. Royal Gardener would never eat a cookie, not if they weren't a threat to the royal family!

They had dined on one of the assassins when they'd tried to attack a contestant, and that was enough life powder to sustain them for a long time- months, maybe without having to find another source.

Currently, they were trimming one of the many hedges in the royal gardens, humming to themselves as the 'snip, snip' of their garden shears led the way. They were pruning off some dead, burnt branches and leaves.

'What a mess! That dragon crashed through half of the Hollyberry Palace and left burn marks EVERYWHERE!' They grumbled, upset that their precious garden was ruined. 'I'm left cleaning up the mess of that- that brute!'

They brushed off the dead plant material, placing it in a basket besides them. It would be composted and used to feed the other plants (and themselves). Royal Gardener finishes cleaning up the hedge, and lets out a tired sigh.

Princess Cookie was sitting under a large tree, happily having a tea party with Knight Cookie. She blinks, noticing their annoyance and exhaustion. "Are you alright, Miss Royal Gardener?"

"I myself am doing well." They adjust their bonnet, turning their petals up and soaking in the sunlight. "Simply frustrated at the sheer mess that rude dragon and all those meddlers left behind!"

"Oh no!" Princess Cookie places a hand on her mouth, looking concerned. "That sounds really sad- maybe I can help, because I'm the princess!"

She gets up from the spot, dragging Knight Cookie by the hand and coming over. "You're right- the grass is completely scorched in the back! And some of the plants look like they're crushed..." Knight Cookie notes.

"I can regrow the plants perfectly fine." Royal Gardener says. "But it all needs to be trimmed down perfectly! And I have to do it, because my shears are the only ones big enough to reach the top of the tall hedges!"

"Hmm... can we help with the grass and other plants, then?" Princess Cookie offers her hand out in assistance.

"That would make my work easier, yes! The extra shears and gardening equipment are in the greenhouse." Royal Gardener points to the fancy glass house behind the palace.

The two cookies went there and came back with the shears and trowels. Royal Gardener leans down on one of the burnt patches, revitalizing the area with plant magic. The burnt bush, however, grows wildly in a more rough appearance.

"Trim this down to match all the other round bushes on this path!" They explain. Princess Cookie nods, immediately getting to work while beaming.

After watching the princess and her knight trim a few of the bushes well enough, the Royal Gardener turns back to trimming the hedges. They seem to be having fun, and they're helping them with the garden work- so why worry?

As the sentient plant continued on with their monotonous work, their thorny vines idly squirming on the ground- their mind drifted to that small cookie from yesterday.

'Hmph! Asking me out for tea, and being all so shameless with her advances- she's so undignified and rude!' They pointedly tried to ignore the memory of Choco Thai Tea Cookie apologizing, getting down on one knee and kissing their 'hand'. It did not fluster them, thank you very much! They just had... allergies! From all the pollen in the air!

'I doubt that cookie actually wanted to have a date with me.' Royal Gardener snips off a branch with a little too much force, annoyed at what they thought was Choco Thai Tea being a shameless flirt and a liar. 'I'm a cookie-vorous plant after all. Who in their right mind would want me?!'

Despite Royal Gardener's annoyance and prickliness, there was also a deep, hidden undercurrent of sadness- they knew that they'd never truly make any cookie friends, much less find love, because of them not being a cookie.

'What am I thinking... am I really that pathetic to have believed that joke from her? That she was actually going to take me on a date?'

Royal Gardener Cookie shakes their head and focuses on their task again. They pause, seeing that all of the hedges in this part of the garden were already done. Letting out a sigh, they uprooted themselves and used their vine 'legs' to crawl over to the front of the garden.

"I suppose it's time to spruce up the front a bit... make sure that the gardens are presentable to the outsiders." They begin to root out weeds with their vines and gently prune dead branches.

Before they could get any work done, however, there was a banging on the steel gates. "Hey! Heeeey! Are you there?"

Royal Gardener grumbles in exasperation, and quickly composes themself before going over to the entrance of the Royal Gardens to shoo away the visitor. "The Royal Gardens are closed indefinitely until further notice. Please leave the premises." They state.

"I'm not here to visit the gardens, flowers!" The familiar voice pipes up. "It's me, Choco Thai Tea Cookie! I promised you that I'd take you out for tea, right?""

Royal Gardener's eyes shoot open and widen as they do a double-take at the cookie at the front of the palace gates. Sure enough, it was the same cookie with chocolate-brown hair and glasses perched on her face.

Choco Thai Tea winks, leaning on the sugar-brick walls of the garden. "You look just as pretty as you did yesterday... I'm not sure if I like seeing you angry at me, or shocked like this."

Royal Gardener just stares at the cookie in front of them. They're practically peering over the garden wall now, wondering if they've spontaneously gone crazy or if this was some sort of complex illusion casted by a magician.

"..." They're silent. Choco Thai Tea's smile becomes more nervous as they lean on the wall, the silence between them becoming comically tense.

"Um- uh-" She takes off her backpack. "I'm sorry for not coming sooner, I was out getting a gift for you- I mean, it would be really weird if I bought you a bouquet of flowers because you're a flower- and I didn't really know what you liked so..."

Choco Thai Tea pulls out a box of chocolates, along with a pair of gardening shears. "I got chocolates! And- some spare shears, because I'm so, so sorry for making you lose yours yesterday."

The cookie looks adorably nervous. She's clearly trying her best, trying to keep that flirtatious, cool charm- but she's stuttering when trying to actually give Royal Gardener the gift.

Royal Gardener looks at Choco Thai Tea Cookie, slowly raising their golden shears. "I- I found them, don't worry! It's fine-" They're stuttering their words as well, looking down at how she's holding the gift.

"Oh. I- uh-" A look of mortified embarrassment fills Choco Thai Tea's face. "Nevermind the shears then! I hope you like the chocolate-"

"Who said I'm not taking the shears too?" Royal Gardener asks, reaching their vines past the garden wall. They gently take the box of chocolates and the garden shears she'd bought (which were too small for them, anyways).

"..."

"..."

These two useless gays just stare at each other, not knowing what to say.

"Um. Uh." Choco Thai Tea makes a sound akin to a dying Butter Tiger. "So- you, me- date?"

"Ah! I-" Royal Gardener whips their head back to the garden, then back over to Choco Thai Tea Cookie. "I have to take care of the Royal Gardens, though! I can't neglect my duty, especially after how the Greenish Red Dragon ruined the landscape yesterday!"

"O-oh..." Choco Thai Tea Cookie seems to visibly wilt. "I really wanted to go on that date with you..."

Royal Gardener feels like they were the one who got hit by the dragon instead of Choco Thai Tea. 'WAIT, SHE ACTUALLY WANTED TO GO ON A DATE???'

The sheer notion of a cookie wanting to court them made them freeze up and open their mouth in shock.

"I- I already told the other cookies on my team that I was going to go on a date while they stayed a day or two longer to get some supplies for our trip back." Choco Thai Tea rubs the back of her head, her wafer antennae twitching.

"Hmph! W-well, if that's the case- I'll take that break." They were the Royal Gardener, after all- not as important as the royal guard or the cooks in the Hollyberry Palace. And Royal Berry Cookie did reassure them that they could take a break whenever they wanted- they just found no reason to take one.

"Wait for me." They go back to their greenhouse, placing the chocolates in a magic freezer and the small shears on their workbench, before going out and locking the front gate behind them.

Now that they were standing right next to her once more, they tidied up their bonnet and crawled over with their vines. Rather than flinching away, the cookie stared at them with transfixed eyes.

"Pretty..." She muttered under her breath. Royal Gardener overheard that, and they were caught between swooning and thinking that it was somehow a hallucination on their end.

"A-ah- pardon?" They asked, blushing profusely. Choco Thai Tea's face flashed with embarrassment for a second, before she put on that cheeky grin and confident demeanor once more.

"I was about to say that you're pretty as a rose." She says. "But that would be sort of repetitive, no?"

Royal Gardener does not give a damn to how cheesy that line was, they were one compliment away from fainting. "No worries. I like it." They squeaked out.

Choco Thai Tea holds out her small hand, smiling up at the plant monster. "I booked a seat at the Jollyberry Tea House- it's nearby and has a nice menu. Is that okay with you?"

"Yes! I- I mean, ahem- it's perfectly acceptable." They tried not to seem too enthusiastic. It would be unbecoming of them! "A-although... wouldn't I be a bit too... big to fit in the tea house?"

"Awww, don't worry! I made sure to make adjustments, flowers!" Choco Thai Tea winks. "We have an outdoor seat!"

"I- I see." Royal Gardener stutters. 'Witches save me,' They think. 'I'm going to die if this cookie keeps on being so sweet to me!'

[Choco Thai Tea Cookie]

'THIS IS ALL FOR THE BIT! YEAH!' Ollie Choco Thai Tea Cookie screams in her head, trying to deny the fact that she did, in fact, get a crush on a plant monster.

I mean come on! How was she supposed to not find them cute?! The Royal Gardener was trying to act all elegant and refined with that smooth, calming voice of theirs but keeps getting tripped up!

'They really are cute- if I flirt with them more, I think they might just combust!' Choco Thai Tea Cookie hums as she peers up from her menu to look at a red-faced (red-petaled?) plant monster. They were trying to figure out what sort of tea would be best for them- skimming over the multiple cold and hot teas as they were seated on the brick terrace.

... Yeah, Choco Thai Tea had to tell the tea shop owner ahead of time that they needed a lot of space. Paid extra coins to reserve the spot too, and they just looked at her in confusion when she'd told them that. "Why do you need that much space?" They'd asked.

It became clear to them when Royal Gardener dragged themselves over to the tea shop, awkwardly trying not to accidentally fall on or trip over any cookies going around the roads. Cookies were staring at them and it probably didn't feel good for them, being gawked like this.

Unfortunately, the terrace of the tea house was in the front of the shop, and that meant that every passerby had a front-row view of their date. Choco Thai Tea tries to lower the tension with a joke.

"You know, I didn't know the Hollyberry Kingdom experience involved fighting dragons." She said lightheartedly. "Is that something y'all do every month, or are we just lucky?"

Royal Gardener snorts. "Your luck must be phenomenal, then."

"Oh, you have no idea." Choco Thai Tea says, setting her menu down. "I've been living a rather calm and peaceful life, then boom!" She makes a dramatic gesture. "I'm tossed into adventure like this!"

"You have no idea how much I've wished that was me." Royal Gardener bemoans. "I've got an important duty to do, and I love my job! But it gets so tiring sometimes, and I wish I could travel as freely as you cookies."

"What's stopping you from doing that? Aside from- your job, you know." Choco Thai Tea glances over to the waiter. "Oops, allow me to order. Uh, I'd like a... strawberry hibiscus iced tea? With extra honey."

"I would like a Rosehip Berry Tea, please." Royal Gardener says politely.

The waiter looks like he's trying his best not to shit his pants standing so close to a massive plant monster that could bite his head off at any moment. He loaves as soon as he finishes jotting down their order, and practically sprints back to the kitchen. 'Tch- it's not them that he should be afraid of.' Choco Thai Tea thinks bitterly.

She's upset that they're judged on the basis of their appearance and species, when she doubts that they have the same danger as her. Choco Thai Tea Cookie is a ravenous cannibal that could lose her control- while Royal Gardener was controlled and elegant, a delight to be around.

'It's not fair. Royal Gardener is a complete sweetheart.'

"As for your question- I travel very slowly with my vines." Royal Gardener gestures down at their thorny vines, and Choco Thai Tea nods. They continue. "I am also not suited for extreme climates like heat or cold, and I certainly don't have the experience to go adventuring."

"That sucks." Choco Thai Tea sighs. "You seem like the sort to like being free and traveling wherever."

She leans forward, thinking of what to say next. Choco Thai Tea glances to the side, and sees a lot of cookies taking glances at them or being baffled that she was buddying up with a carnivorous- sorry, cookie-vorous plant. God, these puns are horrendous.

"Is that they Royal Gardener from the Hollyberry Palace? What are they doing around here?"

"Oh my, they're having tea with someone... I didn't know that plants could drink tea."

"How scary... they look like they're about to snap her up like a snack."

Choco Thai Tea twitches in annoyance at all the rude remarks about Royal Gardener- so she decided to do one thing: double down on her flirting.

'Okay, you can- you can flirt, Ollie! Just treat this like a Character.ai conversation! yeah!'

"Such a shame you're not able to travel." She says, wiping her face with a napkin. "You're absolutely stunning, like a songbird. You don't deserve to be caged and stuck in one place."

"...!" Royal Gardener stiffens up, their 'arms' going to hide their face. "Choco Thai Tea!" They exclaim, flustered.

"What? Am I not wrong?" She smiles, winking once more at the plant monster and leaning down on one arm. "Honestly, I could go on and on about how you look stunning- but I ain't a poet, and finding all the right words are hard..."

She glances over at the waiter, and takes both of their drinks. "Here, flowers." Choco Thai Tea says suavely, gently pushing the glass of Rosehip Berry Tea to Royal Gardener.

The plant monster is so nervous as they hold the glass, guiding it to the center of their floral face with slightly shaky vines. Choco Thai Tea Cookie stares at them with a fond look, while internally wondering how the heck that would work.

'That would be where the stamen and stigma are on a flower... their reproductive parts. But seeing that they're a MAGIC plant monster and logic isn't followed here, that must be their face! I don't see their mouth though-'

Choco Thai Tea is quickly proven wrong when Royal Gardener's bottom part of their shadowy 'face' opens up to reveal a maw of sharp teeth, the inside of their mouth the same honey-yellow as their eyes. The plant monster takes a sip of their cold tea.

"... Oh." Choco Thai Tea says, her eyes widening. The waiter looks like he's actually going to faint.

'Oh shit, I don't think it's for the bit anymore.'

Royal Gardener sees Choco Thai staring at their mouth, and quickly closes it, setting the glass of tea down. "I- I'm sorry if that makes you scared. I'll refrain from showing my teeth too much-"

"You look like you could bite through metal." Choco Thai Tea says, leaning forward dreamily. "I would love for my crumbs to get stuck in between your teeth..."

"WHAT?!"

"What?"

Royal Gardener is practically bright red now (their petals were already red, but you get the gist), and their eyes are wide open and stunned. Choco Thai Tea has this look on her face that's completely lovestruck, giggling at her date's reaction.

The passerby cookie that overheard that tripped in shock, and she's pretty sure the waiter is looking at her like she's grown another head.  She's pretty sure that they just had the collective realization of 'oh, this woman's a FREAK freak'.

"P-pardon, but I don't want that!" The plant monster sputters, throwing their hands- vines up in the air. "I would never eat you- you're a sweet cookie, you're actually taking me out for tea- I'm not the sort of monster to do that!"

"I wasn't talking about eating me, but... I would gladly die if you were the last thing I saw." She laughs. "I'd think I was in heaven already!"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie's wafer antennae flick in interest, and she internally cheers. 'Hell yeah! Critical hit with that line!'

Royal Gardener goes completely silent. Their petals are still tinged in red, but their expression is blank and difficult to discern.

"..."

'Oh my god, did I make them angry with that? They wouldn't like being stereotyped, and they did say that they didn't like the idea of eating cookies-'

Royal Gardener topples over in a faint, crashing on the floor. The waiter nearby jumps, and Choco Thai Tea yelps. "Oh my- are you alright?!" She gets up from her seat and checks on the plant monster, seeing them with a dizzy, flustered look on their 'face'.

'I think I did a bit too well with the flirting!' Choco Thai Tea Cookie thinks, panicking.

Chapter Text

[Braised Cranberry Cookie]

Braised Cranberry Cookie awoke not in his luxurious silken bedsheets, but weightless in the air. He groans, rubbing his eyes as he slowly tries to figure out where he is. "What on Earthbread is going on, and why is it so bright-"

He looks down and is greeted with the sight of a forest miles below him, the height certainly going to kill him if he falls. The disgraced noble lets out a high-pitched scream, rapidly waving his hands in the air and trying to grab on to anything, but stops once he realizes something odd.

"Huh?" He... isn't falling. He's simply floating in the air, next to a hot air balloon that is cruising leisurely among the clouds, with some cookies riding along in it.

Wait a second- those weren't just any cookies- those were the annoying nuisances that managed to get rid of the meddlers and his assassins! Braised Cranberry Cookie is livid, springing towards them and trying to grab them by the shoulders.

"YOU! I demand you tell me where I am, and what's going on!" He yells, gritting his teeth. "If you pesky outsiders won't tell me, then I'll throw you off this Witch-damned balloon myself-!"

He looks in shock, then horror as his hand phases through one of them- the plain-looking gingerbread one. He looks down at his hands, and tries grabbing Strawberry Cookie as well- only for the same thing to happen.

"I- what- this isn't right, I don't remember using a spell or potion before I woke up! What... what's happening?!"

None of the cookies seem to have noticed his presence- none, except a bug-like cookie with wild hair and small glasses, glaring at him blearily like he'd just woken her up from a nap. She holds up her hand, pauses, and makes a face before turning away.

Fear lances through his being before he realizes who she was or what she did. There seemed to be a small blank in his memory, from before he... fell asleep?

"You there!" He points at Choco Thai Tea Cookie. She ignores him, trying to huddle closer to the edge of the air balloon's basket and relaxing. "You can see me- TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON!"

"Silence. Choco Thai Tea will not answer." Braised Cranberry Cookie whips around to see another cookie floating behind him, her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. He immediately hates her.

"Oh, and who might you be?! You dress like one of those annoying missionaries that keep on pestering our kingom!"

"Annoying?! Praying and showing our devotion to the Witches is essential to a pure life, and a low-life criminal like YOU wouldn't understand!"

"LOW-LIFE?!" He screeches. 'This fool dare calls me a low-life?! I am of the noble House Cranberry, I will NOT be disrespected like this!'

The two get into a bickering match, before Strawberry Gelatin Cookie grumbles and shakes her head. "Fine! Very well- I shall be the one explaining your predicament."

"I am Strawberry Gelatin Cookie. You are...Braised Cranberry Cookie, as you've said before?"

"YES! And what does that have to do with it?!"

"Well, we are both dead. Deceased. Gone." Strawberry Gelatin says, unamused. "You are currently a ghost, just like me."

"WHAT?! Preposterous! I am not a ghost, I would look more monstrous if that was the case!" He sputters, a chill beginning to go down his spine.

The way he was floating when he woke up- the way his hands passed through the cookies, and how he felt light-headed all the time.

'Oh,' He thought. 'I'm dead.'

But he's got too much pride to admit that he's wrong, and he's not sure HOW he died yet (the memories were just right there, at the tip of his tongue- how did he die?) but there's always this urge to prove himself better.

"And if I did die- I would not die to the likes of peasants like them!" He says, gesturing over to the merry band of cookies like they'd personally spit on his grave.

"Watch your tongue, unenlightened." Strawberry Gelatin Cookie snaps. "For your death was wholly natural and predestined."

"You have been consumed by a holy being."

"That- I..." It slowly dawns on Braised Cranberry Cookie. The reason why he's a ghost now, why he's uneasy seeing that bug-like cookie, why his head feels dizzy-

The memories of his death finally hits him. The way Choco Thai Tea lunged at him, mouth open impossibly wide and with a cavernous maw of teeth that did not belong to any cookie.

The nobleman, of course, reacted appropriately to the ghastly realization. "EEEEK!" He jumps, flailing his arms around as he tries to float backwards and as far away from Choco Thai Tea Cookie as possible. "Monster!"

"Watch your mouth!" Strawberry Gelatin Cookie snaps. "She is no monster, you crook- she is a former human! Choco Thai Tea may have not been one of the Witches, but she is of their kin!"

Choco Thai Tea Cookie's face flickers in guilt, before she buries it in her pack and tries to sleep once more, even with the sun high in the sky. The other cookies on the balloon are clueless to the loud bickering of the ghosts.

"W-what do you mean?! No... witch is supposed to be so monstrous! She ATE me!" Braised Cranberry doesn't know what a human is or what it has to do with the witches, but it surely isn't this... bloodthirsty cookie-eater.

"It is expected that you are distressed, after fulfilling your true purpose and learning of the truth." The nun says, eerily calm. "I myself knew beforehand, and am ecstatic to realize what she's done for me."

"You're HAPPY at being eaten, you sick fudge?!" Braised Cranberry Cookie hisses. "In what sort of way is this our 'true purpose?!' In what world does a cookie- no, whatever that beast is- eating us do any good?!"

And then the stranger had to drop another bombshell on him. "Cookies were baked to be eaten, fool." Strawberry Gelatin Cookie tells him smugly, as if she was better than him for knowing the truth. "Why else do you think the Witches baked us with such fragrant scents, with such crispy dough?"

"We were made to be one with the Witches through their divine feast!"

Braised Cranberry Cookie is silent for a second. And then a minute. He then busts out into incredulous laughter. "HA! You really must be going stale if you think that the Witches eat us cookies! They wouldn't have made us with free will if that were the case!"

"Tch! Trying to deny the truth? Or are you really so shocked that you don't believe my words?" Strawberry Gelatin Cookie snaps back, irritated. "Fine! Deny it all you want- sooner or later, you'll see that this fate is what the Witches intended!"

It's impossible talking to her. 'Great. I'm deceased, and my only company is the monster that ate me and a religious lunatic.' He shakes his head, ignoring her and sighing.

No way on Earthbread did he believe her crazed words. And cookies weren't made just to be eaten. (Right?)

He picks himself up, and tries to float away from the hot air balloon. Braised Cranberry Cookie had to take a few minutes to get used to the action of flying as a ghost, but once he did, he flew away as far as possible from the hot air balloon.

The farther he flies from Choco Thai Tea Cookie, the more his ghostly body flickers and feels exhausted He grits his teeth, managing to get around the cookie equivalent of three miles before the tiredness catches up to him, his eyecing closing and his mind going blank.

When he awakens, he's in front of that monster once again, asleep and huddled under the daylight. Braised Cranberry Cookie flails back, yelping. "Ack!"

"Fleeing is useless." Strawberry Gelatin Cookie says, a dark glint in her eyes. "We are bound to the divine human, one with her very self." She smiles, slightly crazed from her devotion to the Witches. "Isn't it amazing?"

Braised Cranberry Cookie wants to scream- because this was a scenario right out of a horror story. Instead, he curls up in a ball and squeezes his eyes shut, muttering under his breath.

"This- this is simply a bad dream. A nightmare." He whispers. "You'll wake up back in your bed, in the Hollyberry Kingdom, and everything will be alright."

"... Right?"

[Strawberry Gelatin Cookie]

There was no greater pride in the St. Pastry Order than to be eaten by the Witches themselves. Sure, the Order was created to guide Cookies to their true purpose, and must stay alive longer to do so... but the members themselves longed to become one with the Witches.

Although magic-less humans were notably less powerful than their creators, and did not hold a candle to the holiness of the Divine- they were nonetheless treated with no less reverence.

Being eaten by a human was a similar honor to being eaten by a Witch. Becoming one with an angel was just as holy as becoming one with their gods.

'How foolish I was to ever be angry at her! If I had known she was a human- I would have treated Olivine with the greatest respect!'

Strawberry Gelatin Cookie leans on the basket of the hot air balloon, watching Choco Thai Tea Cookie sleep. She looks like your normal cookie, albeit with odd bug-like traits. But then again, a lot of Cookies on Earthbread had animal traits.

'I understand. You must keep this secret to yourself, like how the Order protected the secrets of the Witches.'

The reveal that Ollie was a human set back her character development by miles. Now instead of listening to the cookie because she might have a point, the fact that Ollie, a human, ate her, only strengthened her belief in the St. Pastry Order and the belief that cookies were made to be eaten.

After all- Ollie at her, didn't she?

The nun figured that out after seeing Ollie eat Braised Cranberry Cookie. How else would she be bound to the human, after all?

She thinks about this while they float on, the balloon drifting leisurely back to the Cookie Kingdom. The younger cookies had bought enough food and supplies for the journey back, but Olivine refused to eat.

... Perhaps that death weighed on her too much, or eating a cookie and a dragon's tail made her full for a longer time. The human biology was baffling to Strawberry Gelatin Cookie- even though Ollie studied it extensively, she never talked about it in detail.

She's no longer a human. Does that mean she's a fallen angel? A heretic? No. It simply means she's descended onto Earthbread to save poor sinners' souls, just like Braised Cranberry Cookie.

Just like her.

When the balloon basket finally touches down on the platform, she sighs, putting her feet back on the ground and looking at Ollie as she yawns, stretching her arms and opening her eyes.

Braised Cranberry Cookie flinches, and he jumps onto the ground, running behind Strawberry Gelatin Cookie and hiding. She looks at him with disdain. "Afraid?"

"O-of course not! I'm just... making a tactical retreat from the monster!" He sputters, glaring at her.

"... Say what you will, sinner." She says, uncaring. 'He's unimportant. Just a sinner that Olivine has eaten.'

'He doesn't deserve the honor.'

She looks at Ollie, playing as Choco Thai Tea Cookie, talk to Gingerbrave and Custard Cookie. "I'm- gonna go back to my house. Take a rest and go back to my research." Her expression is harrowed and tired.

"But you already slept a lot..." Custard Cookie the III complained, looking sad. "I was hoping you'd help with me!"

"I know, I know, Custard Cookie." She says gently. "But I need to get my mind off the journey, and research calms me down."

She crouches down and pats the kid on his head. "I promise I'll come out near the evening. I'll even cook you some grilled cheese sandwiches."

The cookie human left her friends to go to her gingerbread house, closing the door behind her and locking it. She sighs, flopping down on the couch and looking at both Strawberry Gelatin Cookie and Braised Cranberry Cookie.

"... Hello."

"..." Braised Cranberry Cookie, understandably, refused to talk to her at first. He averts his eyes, instead looking around at the notes scattered around her place.

"I- I'm really sorry." She tries to talk to him. "I'm sorry for doing that to you. I- I shouldn't have lost my temper, shouldn't have lost control of myself- even if you were going to harm me." Ollie bites her lip. "I don't..."

She goes quiet. There's no way that a simple apology will do. She ate somebody.

Strawberry Gelatin Cookie narrows her eyecing. "Do not apologize. He was a corruptible fool that hired assassins to harm the innocent- and certainly a cookie with many sins."

"Does that change how bad that was?" Ollie asks, turning frustrated. "Did you have to lord yourself over him? You are JUST as bad as him, working with the Order and leading cookies to their deaths."

"I lead them to their PURPOSE! Why can't you understand that, huma- Ollie?!" She yells, trying to get her to see reason.

"Need I emphasize again and again that while the witches today bake cookies to be eaten, the original witches made cookiekind to better the world?" Ollie argues back, pinching the bridge of her non-existent nose. "I say this over and over again, and yet you delude yourself with your own ideals!"

Braised Cranberry Cookie is quickly looking back and forth between the two, still shaken up from the realization that he was dead, and slooowly inching away. He did not like how the monster that killed him Ollie's voice was raised, how she looked like she was about to punch Strawberry Gelatin in the face.

The former human sucks in a breath, and closes her eyes. She counts to five slowly under her breath, and exhales. "Fine. We'll... shelve that damn topic for later. What matters is making the new guy feel okay."

She turns her attention to Braised Cranberry Cookie, who looks like he's a deer staring at the front grill of a truck that's going 100 miles per hour. He freezes.

"Um... Braised Cranberry Cookie, right?" She says, rubbing the back of her head. "Again, I- apologize for what I did to you. I'm Choco Thai Tea Cookie, or... Olivine, if you want to refer to me by my human name."

"Olivine! What-?!" Strawberry Gelatin sputters. 'She's not supposed to give her holy name out to any cookie except those worthy of it!'

"Strawberry Gel- I get to tell other cookies my true name if I want to." She puts her foot down, looking at her with a stern expression. "It's the least he deserves, hearing the truth."

Braised Cranberry slowly withers under her glare. His usual snobbish rich-guy demeanor was gone, replaced with disorientation and fear. He opens his mouth to say something, then closes it.

Ollie looks at him in pity. "... I won't harm you anymore. I can't. You're a ghost."

Still. Even with his intangibility, the former noble can't bring himself to speak up. Not now. Ollie sighs, and turns back to Strawberry Gelatin Cookie.

"Strawberry Gelatin. You're now responsible for getting him acclimated to the Cookie kingdom." She says. "... Now please leave me be. I... need to return to my work."

"B-but Olivine-! You surely can't expect me to work with this- this sinner!"

"You're stuck with him, whether you like it or not." Ollie sighs, rubbing her head. "Now go."

Strawberry Gelatin can't do anything but obey, since this was a direct order from a human. She grumbles, trying to drag Braised Cranberry Cookie out of the house but her hand phases through his wrist.

She looks at Braised Cranberry. "Follow me." She says, irritated. "I might as well show you around this kingdom."

Seeing that they could move a considerable distance away from their captor without passing out and being brought back, Strawberry Gelatin Cookie begins to show the noble all of the buildings and the cookies that inhabited the Cookie Kingdom.

"It's not exactly a kingdom- there's no king aside from Custard Cookie proclaiming himself as one, and he's simply an excitable child." She says. Braised Cranberry Cookie is still quiet.

"These are the Sugar Mines. Nothing much to say. And these are the Flour Mills." She takes him through the production sector of the kingdom, glancing at all the cookies working there.

They moved on to the gardens and the recreational areas. For some reason, Olivine was always the proudest of planning these out- Strawberry Gelatin Cookie wasn't sure why the human liked such trivial matters, but she supposes that she liked keeping cookies happy.

'It makes no sense... they're going to be eaten anyways.' Strawberry Gelatin thinks to herself. She stops in front of the train station.

"And this here is the train station that's been built recently. A few cookies have been hired to extend the tracks to the Vanilla Kingdom and the Hollyberry Kingdom." She seems to be happy with that. "Olivine would like that- she was the one who insisted we spend the kingdom treasury on connecting with the other kingdoms and facilitating trade more."

"Heh." Braised Cranberry lets out a chuckle. "What does a commoner like her know about trade and commerce? I bet she was never even a merchant." He's trying his damn best to 

"Shut your mouth, ignorant fool." She hisses. "You dare question if the human knows best? She has far more knowledge and wisdom than you do."

"I'll see for myself." He quips back. The noble shakes his head, and brushes his ponytail to the side. "Hmph."

They continue to walk together, not saying a word as they looked at all of the cookies milling about and talking. There's Muscle Cookie bench-pressing something while he lays in the grass, Angel Cookie is scolding Devil Cookie again (Olivine always avoided those two... perhaps she knows something about them they do not?), and Ninja Cookie was training again.

"So many unimportant whelps... tch." Braised Cranberry Cookie turns his nose up. "Why did she have to eat me rather than these plebians that won't be missed?"

"Watch your mouth, sinner! The human's chose is hers and hers alone, and if she wishes to not eat these cookies- so be it!" Strawberry Gelatin Cookie snaps. "I do not know if she ate you because she saw potential in you to find salvation, or if this is a punishment for your sinfulness- but you are eaten nonetheless!"

The two begin to bicker again, this time outside of Ollie's earshot. Still, it seems like Strawberry Gelatin Cookie would have these arguments with the newcomer very, very often.

'By the Witches... I'm beginning to feel like my body being one with this human is more of a PUNISHMENT than a reward, if I'm stuck with him...'

After a long argument with Braised Cranberry Cookie that no, Olivine was NOT the devil incarnate and was instead the road to salvation for these unenlightened cookies, she floats back to the human's house, watching from the window as Ollie simply... stares at a black screen on that device of hers, and scribbles words down.

'Maybe that device is something only she can utilize... She seems to be able to gain knowledge from using it.' Strawberry Gelatin, being raised in the Hollyberry Kingdom and then the St. Pastry Order, had only barely heard of technology on that level.

'Are humans just as advanced as the best cookies? Or perhaps it's only her kingdom of humans that has reached such lengths...'

It made sense, she supposed. Olivine was a magic-less human, not a witch. She most likely lived with other humans without magic.

Strawberry Gelatin floats inside, watching as Ollie continued to mutter to herself and write down notes.

"There are two types of cells in the nervous system- glial cells and neurons. Glial cells structurally support the neurons, insulate and nourish them, and remove waste products."

"Neurons- ack!" She jumps up when she finally notices Strawberry Gelatin Cookie. "Oh, it's- just you." She sighs, leaning on her desk and relaxing. "How is Braised Cranberry Cookie doing?"

"He is... doing his best." She says, her voice laced with clear disdain for the noble. "As prideful and foppish as always."

"Lemme guess- calling everyone 'plebians' and complaining about how everything isn't up to his standards?" Ollie tilts her chair back, rolling her eyes. "Just leave him be. It's his way of coping."

"Tch! A pathetic sight, if you ask me." She crosses her arms, sitting down on the couch and kicking her legs back and forth. The ghost nun rolls over, laying on the couch- before she tilts her head up to see Olivine still busy writing on her notebook.

"What is a human like you even doing, writing down all this knowledge?" She questions. "Do you plan to spread enlightenment to the blind masses?"

"... Depends." She shrugs. "If 'enlightenment' means spreading knowledge on what humans are like- the achievements we reached, the mistakes we made... everything."

"I want them to at least seek the answers they want, without the fear and danger that such information would cause."

"But is that not impossible?" Strawberry Gelatin tilts her head. "If I were to tell normal cookies that their fate, at least for the Witches of today, was to be eaten... they would reject it. Deny it. Go mad, if they finally realize I was telling the truth."

Ollie mulls on her words. She's silent, like she knew Strawberry Gelatin was right.

(After all, didn't Shadow Milk Cookie try to tell Cookies the truth, only for them to ignore it? To get angry, scared, and deny it?)

"... You may be true, but for those truths, they can seek it out themselves." The human says. "I simply... give them fragments. Make them curious."

"I elaborate, when they already have the pieces. I guide, when they do not have the clues." She folds her hands together. "Truth and knowledge, if it is difficult... must not be given."

"It must be sought out and fought for."

"And what if? What if the truth is so harsh to some cookies?" Strawberry Gelatin Cookie shoots back. "What if they cannot handle it- go insane, like Dark Enchantress Cookie?"

"Then it means that they have not fought well enough, or embarked on the wrong path." Ollie places a hand on the paper on her desk, blotting dry some wet ink. "Dark Enchantress Cookie has the right idea, but the wrong actions- the Witches are in the wrong for eating Cookies with life powder."

"But Dark Enchantress Cookie wanted to gain so much power in order to defeat them, to take revenge on her kind..." Olivine glances at her own hand, clenching it. "That she is willing to sacrifice Earthbread itself for that power."

"The intentions are noble. The price is too high."

"..." Strawberry Gelatin Cookie furrows her brow. "Why?"

"Why what?" Ollie turns her head to the nun. Her hand lowers.

"Why damn your own kind for something like this?" She asks, genuinely not understanding. "Why damn the Witches for eating Cookies, for doing what is natural- when they're just as human as you?"

Olivine answers as if it is the easiest thing in the world. "Because as a human, I am obligated to cast judgement on my own kind."

"If cookiekind sees humans and Witches as their gods... they feel like they are powerless to criticize us." She clutches her hand close to her chest. "They see us as infallible, when humans are just as flawed as cookies."

"There's no difference in how to judge between immortals and mortals, between cookie and cake monster and human- because as long as they have a brain, they can be understood as people."

Olivine says this with such conviction that Strawberry Gelatin feels it within herself. The idea that her, a former human, was an equal to a cookie like her...

'Preposterous. She must be a young human, foolish and reckless in her judgement. We are not equals.'

'She is a god, and I am the worshipper.'

But the seed has been planted. Strawberry Gelatin straightens up on the couch.

"If you're so certain- what makes you connect so much with these cookies? What makes you feel like a mortal?"

Instead of answering her right away, Olivine gets up from her chair. "Follow me."

Strawberry Gelatin Cookie trails behind her salvation, one of the angels that have descended to Earthbread for the Order's holy purpose.

She opens the door, and begins walking down the streets of the Cookie Kingdom, the one she helped build.

She glances over to Carrot Cookie, who is busy planting the jellybeans in a Jellybean Farm. Ollie passes by her, talking to Strawberry Gelatin Cookie in a low, reminiscent voice. "She reminds me of a neighbor I had."

"She was a rather old lady- one of my grandmother's friends. Never stopped working a day in her life, and my grandma liked trading the dragonfruits we grew for her lettuce and carrots."

Olivine moved on, moving from the paths over to the small marketplace that some cookies had set up temporarily, the Cookie Kingdom's citizens trading goods and buying with the traveling caravans.

"This reminds me of a farmer's market that my mom used to go to. There was this man who made the best bánh mì - Vietnamese sandwiches." She looks down at her hands, and closes her eyes as if she could imagine holding the food.

"He'd put extra pâté and mayo on both sides of the bread- and stuff it full of beef, because I liked it more than the greens and daikon radish."

She opens her eyes, disappointed that she didn't have the same sandwich in her hands. "... Sometimes, I'd go around here thinking he'd be there. It's foolish, I know. But it's habit."

Strawberry Gelatin feels like her own god was baring her own soul open. Like she wasn't god, but-

But a-

No. Impossible. Olivine was a human, and as sentimental and mortal as she seemed- she still had far too much power, far too much disconnect to be on the same level as cookies.

Worship requires distance. Such was what the St. Pastry Order demanded from their flock. None of them were pure enough to touch the Witches, even the humans.

Olivine doesn't seem to care. She continues down her path, passing by a Latte Cafe. The cookie former human inhales, her wafer antennae twitching as she smells the scent of roasting coffee.

"I love coffee. More specifically, I like frappucchinos." She says fondly.

"... 'Frappucchinos?'" Strawberry Gelatin Cookie asks. She raises an eyebrow.

"Ah, right- it's a specific drink made by a large coffee chain. Trademarked by Starbucks." She chuckles sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head. "It's a blended ice coffee and crème drink. Usually has syrups and spices."

She sits on a bench outside, at a distance from the happy, chattering crowd of cookies at the cafe. "... My parents would get me one whenever I did good on a test. They couldn't afford more expensive rewards, so... food was the to-go motivator."

"Maybe if I didn't get addicted, if I found another way to motivate myself... I wouldn't have had this insatiable gluttony." She muses. Olivine is quiet for a while after that, before she shakes her head. "Nevermind that. It's too late to change the past."

Strawberry Gelatin, secretly, could relate. In the Order, when she was bored from studying scripture or didn't want to go to mass- the reverend mother would permit her to have a single Jelly Bear afterward. It did wonders for her attention, but she ended up eating them too much and had to fast otherwise.

Lastly, Olivine walked over to the park she'd built, sitting on a bench that was hidden far in the trees. It hides herself as she looks forward. She gazes longingly at the cookies enjoying their time there- and her eyes fall on Custard Cookie the III.

"... I remember when my brother was that small." She whispers quietly. The ghostly nun blinks in shock at the realization that yes- the human had a brother once.

Ollie continues. "He outgrew me once he was older, yes, but- before that, he barely reached my chest in height. I used to be able to pick him up, and when my mom was tired of giving him piggyback rides, he'd go on my shoulders."

"... He liked being tall. And pirates. He liked pirates too- thought they looked cool." She chuckles quietly, before sucking in a tired, sad breath. "... Yeah."

"Is there... a point to this?" Strawberry Gelatin Cookie asked. She shifts herself to the side, the dissonance of seeing Olivine as a godlike figure and Ollie acting so much like a cookie was... uncomfortable.

"You already know." Ollie says. "It's what I've been trying to tell you, over and over again."

"It's not if you believe it or not- It's that you understand that I'm telling what is true to me."

Ollie grips the bench she was sitting on. Choco Thai Tea Cookie, Olivine... they were one and the same. Not different. Both of them, regardless of who they were and who they are now- are still the same person.

"I'm just a person."

Ollie squeezes her eyes shut, a pained expression on her face. "And do you know how much it hurts me? How much I see myself and my family and my home within all these cookies, all my friends?"

"They're the same. Despite all the differences... they're the same." She grits her teeth. "And it disgusts me that I'm this- this gluttonous beast that can't control myself sometimes, that I'm far too powerful, far too reckless and young."

"It disgusts me that I am a wolf in sheep's clothing, a monster that will grind a cookie to crumbs within my teeth."

"When I bit his head off..." Ollie gulps, her breath becoming labored. "I thought of doing it to every cookie in this damn kingdom. Of losing myself, wreaking havoc and hearing screams and cries of terror."

"And I thought about how they're just like my family and my home."

Strawberry Gelatin Cookie could see it in her mind's eye- the Cookie Kingdom effortlessly crushed by the massive human's true form, the way her hands would grasp at cookies and snap them in half, the way her divine maw would be constantly chewing, jam staining her face and hands.

... And she tries to imagine. If humans and Witches were treated the same way, by an even bigger, more incomprehensibly powerful monster.

"... I don't see it." She says finally.

"Of course." Ollie mutters, curling up into a ball. Her antennae are pinned back. "But I can."

"It makes me feel like a monster."

[Vampire Cookie]

If there was anything Vampire Cookie could not live without, it would be wine. Quite literally, in fact- he can't survive without it.

Well, it would be wine, or... that. And he's not the sort of cookie to gain satisfaction from hurting others, so he'd never do such a thing.

Even if there was a small part of him, an instinct baked into his dough- that tugged at him to just BITE.

But Vampire Cookie has had experience holding himself back all his life, and it's nothing a ton of wine and sleeping can't fix, haha!

He swaggers into Sparkling Cookie's bar, a confident, lazy grin on his face. "One red wine, please!"

"On it!" Sparkling Cookie takes the bottle from the rack, spins it around, and effortlessly fills a glass for Vampire Cookie. He slides it down the counter, to which Vampire Cookie catches it and takes a swig.

"Working hard again, Sparkling Cookie?" He laughs, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. "You should really take a break!"

"Oh, please- serving you all is my pleasure!" He grins, cleaning some of the other glasses. "You're a friend of mine, and I like hanging out with friends!"

Herb Cookie is already at the bar, snickering as he sips on a martini. "Oh, Sparkling Cookie... you're always like this. You should try to change up the scenery a bit.. maybe you could find a way to serve at a garden party, or in a greenhouse?"

"I'd have to find a way to keep the drinks cold, haha!"

Vampire Cookie swirls his drink around. "How about Mint Choco Cookie? Where is he?"

"He's got a concert at the new Vanilla Kingdom- he's bringing some cheer to the villagers!" Herb Cookie comments. "I hear Hot Cocoa Cookie is following him there as well!"

"Aww, how sweet." Vampire Cookie takes another swig of his wine. "I don't know how he does it, but he's been practicing day and night for that concert!"

"I'm far too lazy for something like that."

The door to the bar opens, and it's the time when Mint Choco Cookie would usually be here. Instead of him, however, a short, bespectacled cookie trots in and takes a seat at the counter.

"Oh, hey Sparkling Cookie." She says, looking tired but still with a slight smile on her face. "How's it going for you."

"Ah! Choco Thai Tea Cookie!" Sparkling Cookie perks up. "You're here! I must admit, it's a surprise you're visiting my bar... usually you'd be at the Latte Cafe you helped build recently."

"Haha, yeah..." She sighs, running a hand down her face. "Although, it's just been stressful. I wanna try something new."

"Who's that?" Vampire Cookie whispers as he leans in next to Herb Cookie. Herb Cookie chuckles.

"Oh, her? She's the one helping the sugar gnomes sometimes." He explains. "I didn't really catch her name before, but she's the one that made the garden I helped plant trees at."

Herb Cookie hums. "Although, I hear that she's constantly busy most days. Helping build the kingdom, managing trade sometimes, doing her own research... honestly, it's like she's a busybody that needs to take a break!"

"Guess she's taking one now!" Vampire Cookie laughs. He eyes her as she tries to order a drink that she might like.

"Hm..." She rubs her chin a bit. "I'd like a Shirley Temple, please."

'Huh, non-alcoholic. Guess that makes sense for a busybody.' Vampire Cookie thinks. The way that Choco Thai Tea Cookie's hair is bundled up in a messy ponytail and the way her hooded sweater is all crumpled reminds Vampire Cookie of his own sister, Alchemist Cookie.

'Those two workaholics would tire each other out!' Vampire Cookie shudders, imagining himself doing that much work. 'No thank you!'

He sips on his wine, and tries to make conversation with her. "Heya, newcomer!"

"Oh! You must be Vampire Cookie!" She holds out her hand and shakes his. "I've heard of you a lot. Alchemist Cookie says you're here often, haha..."

"'Course I am! It's the only place where I can get as much wine as I want!" He brags, handing over his empty cup and a gold coin. "Another glass, Sparkling Cookie!"

"On it!" Sparkling Cookie slides Vampire Cookie his drink, and gently hands Choco Thai Tea Cookie's Shirley Temple. "Here you go, little miss."

"Little?! Aw, come on!" She laughs. "I'm not as small as Custard Cookie! And I certainly am old enough to be here!" She takes the cherry on top of her drink, tossing it in the air and munching on it with a snap of her teeth.

Vampire Cookie, for some reason, flinches at the noise of her maw closing shut. He doesn't know why.

"Ooo... the lemonade one? I'm flattered!" She grins at Sparkling Cookie. "You've got a good eye for what cookies like!"

"You're always working hard in the sun..." Sparkling Cookie mentions. "Some nice cool lemonade at the end of the day always helps."

"You're darn right it does." Choco Thai Tea Cookie says. She and the other three talk for a while- what they've been doing around the Cookie Kingdom, all the cookies they've met, and all the chores they had to do.

"I don't really like working." He says. "You probably already know that- but if I haaad to, I think I'd like going out and dealing with the monsters in the woods more."

"Oh! Right!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie snaps her fingers. "I do that too, even if it... isn't my favorite task, I still gotta do it!"

"Yeah." Vampire Cookie absently feels the rim of his glass of wine, looking out of the window with a sigh. "That's for sure..."

He didn't like using his fangs against anything, even monsters. Because if he kept on doing it too much, then sooner or later, he'd slip up and turn them against a cookie.

And if that happened... who knows how long it would take for him to lose control and hurt his friends.

The vampire mumbles to himself. "Haven't seen Cake Hounds near that place in ages, though."

"Cake hounds?" Choco Thai Tea Cookie tilts her head. "I fought them all the time before you guys came here... I don't know where they've gone."

Vampire Cookie looks at her. She's got a distant look on her face, like she's remembering something. He thinks about what he's said- because it wasn't exactly true.

He's only seen a handful of Cake Hounds, far deeper in the forest than any cookie would go. When they saw him, instead of getting aggressive and attacking like any other cookie, they seemed to fear him.

Even before he started baring his teeth and fighting with the others he usually hunted with, they looked at him and the other cookies like they were going to eat them. All of the Cake Hounds yelped and ran away deeper into the forest, and they'd left them alone.

'Odd.'

Choco Thai Tea Cookie visited the bar once every few days. She'd ask for several non-alcoholic drinks, before just settling for the Shirley Temple she'd first tasted as her usual.

Vampire Cookie saw stuff that reminded him of himself- and not the good parts. The parts that he'd tried to hide away and suppress.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie always went on hunt alone, whenever she was driving off monsters. Everybody was worried about a cookie as short as her crumbling, but she just waved them off with a laugh.

"They're not the ones I should be afraid of." She'd said casually. And she was right.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie always returned with barely a scratch. The forests were empty of cake monsters or any aggressive threats.

And it didn't make sense- because the some of the cookies that went on expeditions were much more powerful than her, and yet she still managed to make it look effortless sometimes.

Vampire Cookie isn't dumb. He's lazy, yes, but for Witches' sake, Alchemist Cookie is his sister. He might not be an egghead like her, but he's got an idea of what's going on. 

There's something she's not telling the others.

Usually he'd let that slide, because he doesn't really care about the secrets that other cookies have- but he doesn't think he could ignore this one.

The final nail in the coffin (pardon the pun) was when he'd seen her wipe strawberry jam from her mouth, right after a hunting trip. And no, it didn't come from her, Custard Cookie fretted over her and healed her up, and she'd wiped the jam off afterwards.

Vampire Cookie is currently at Sparkling Cookie's bar again, calmly sipping his wine as always. He'd called Choco Thai Tea Cookie over for a talk, one-on-one, in the middle of the night. If there's one chance he's going to confront her about this, it'll be now.

She steps into the bar, glasses askew and frosting hair disheveled. She shakes out some of her hair and smooths it down, exhaling.

"Hey, Vampire Cookie." She says, a smile still on her face. It's more nervous, slightly tired- she's doing this at night, after all. Choco Thai Tea Cookie is half-awake and trying to focus on the matter at hand. "Why call for a meeting this late at night?"

"The sun isn't good for my jam! My dough's made of aged grapes, remember?" He says. Vampire Cookie takes a swig of his wine glass. "And this is a personal matter."

"... Does Sparkling Cookie have to be there for it?" Choco Thai Tea asks, handing over some gold coins. "No offense, Sparkling Cookie. It's just- if you're going to talk about what I think you're going to talk about, it might be best if we keep this on the down-low."

"Oh, no no no- I'm fine! Vampire Cookie was planning on going outside to talk about it anyways. " Sparkling Cookie slides a glass of her usual drink. "Your Shirley Temple, with extra ice."

"Thanks, Sparkling Cookie." She says. Choco Thai Tea Cookie sighs, getting up from her seat. The two of them walk out of the bar, and sit down at a bench outside at night. "Alright, Vampire Cookie- let's talk."

"What's your deal?"

"..."

"You remind me a lot of myself." He says after a whole. carefully choosing his words. "You're trying to ignore your problems by eating and drinking a lot."

"Yeah?" Choco Thai Tea takes a sip of her drink. "How so?"

"You're a vampire like me, aren't you?"

Choco Thai Tea spits out her drink, coughing her lungs out a bit before thumping her chest. "Ack- what???"

"I see how you're trying to be distant from everybody, even though you help them out all the time." He points out. "You refuse to let your head get close to anyone, and you got jam on your face when you were out 'hunting' monsters."

"I... well that could literally be anything, then!" She sputters. "I make a mess when I'm fighting!"

"Choco Thai Tea, your weapon is literally an oversized fork."

"..."

"Okay yeah, that is incredibly obvious in hindsight." she sighs, running a hand down her face. "How'd you notice? I mean, all the other cookies here don't seem to get the fact that I'm not normal."

Vampire Cookie lazily swirls his wine glass, and gives her a expression that screams 'really, dude?'. "I'm a vampire. It's in my name. You think I wouldn't notice a fellow jamsucker?"

"Fair enough." She groans, hunching over as she stirs her drink with the straw. "Damn it, I've been getting reckless, haven't I? I don't want anyone to know..."

"I'm pretty open with it. Too lazy to actually hide the fact that I'm a vampire." Vampire Cookie relaxes, knowing that he's with someone who's like him, who understands him instead of getting scared the moment he tells them he can drink their jam.

"But I suggest you start drinking or eating stuff that makes up your dough." He points at her. "You're made of... I dunno, Thai Tea? Drink more of that."

Choco Thai Tea chuckles, running a hand down her messy hair. "Oh believe me- I'd try and find it if I could. But... it's got far too many components, I need equipment to make the powder- and I haven't done the process of making it myself before."

She wrings her hands. "And- I doubt it will work."

"Before you interrupted me, I was about to say that I'm not a vampire." She sighed. "I mean it. I'm- well, I don't really know what I am exactly."

Choco Thai Tea Cookie glances around nervously, before looking back at Vampire Cookie. "I get the same kind of- hunger, but it's more for life powder instead. Not- not jam."

'Oh. That makes things... FAR more complicated.' 

It's clear that Choco Thai Tea Cookie is SOME sort of cookie-eating (or at least carnivorous) monster in the form of a cookie- or maybe a cookie cursed to feel this sort of hunger. It doesn't matter which of the two it is, because she was still similar to him.

Nobody deserves that little voice in the back of their head, urging them to harm someone.  Vampire Cookie got drunk because it was the only way to keep him sleepy and sedated, to sustain him without the need for another cookie's strawberry jam...

And whatever Choco Thai Tea was, she was also battling those urges to eat. Those monster expeditions were probably how she was getting fed properly without scaring off the other cookies.

"Do you like, need to eat monsters only? Does food not do anything for you?" He asks, hoping it's not too intrusive.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie relaxes, relieved that she's not going to be judged too harshly. Not yet. "No, food helps. But it's only like-" She holds up her hand, trying to gesture what she's saying. "I'm really strong. If I use my 'full' strength, then it burns through my own life powder, and I have to 'get' more or I'll go crazy."

"But normal, everyday stuff like construction work and walking around? Normal food has enough energy for that."

Vampire Cookie thinks this over. "Hmm... you're really odd. That sort of thing where you go wild and attack cookies if you're not fed... you remind me of Werewolf Cookie."

She flinches. "Please don't mention that. It's rude to both him and me... and I assure you, my feral state is much, much worse than his."

"I'll take your word for it." Vampire Cookie downs the last of his wine, while Choco Thai Tea Cookie still holds her half-full glass of Shirley Temple.

"... It's at times like these that I wish I had an easy out." She rubs the back of her neck. "Even without straining myself, I still need a slow, small amount of life powder weekly. I've resorted to eating some of the log rolls and dirt-"

"You eat dirt?! Don't you know how unsanitary that is?!" Vampire Cookie immediately frets over her- because oh my Witches, this girl just admitted to eating dirt. Straight-up dirt."

"It's a good, reliable source of life powder! And I don't get sick, because it just tastes like chocolate to me!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie complains.

The two bicker about Choco Thai Tea's eating habits, all the way until her glass is empty and she leaves to go take a rest. By that time, the sun is just about to rise- and Vampire Cookie realizes that he's talked to her for the entire night.

Chapter Text

[Macaron Cookie]

It's a beautiful day in the Cookie Kingdom, and Macaron Cookie is having problems.

"And-a-one, and-a-two, and a one-two-!" The sound of merry drumbeats filled the air as Macaron Cookie plays her drums. The Macaron Animals around her make various happy noises, but she pouts.

"No, no, no... it doesn't feel right today..." She taps her drumsticks  onto the rim of her macaron drum, biting her lip. "Let's try again- and-a-one, and-a-two, and a one-two-"

She tries another upbeat march, and spins around in place. The Macaron Animals around her hop and cheer her on with barks and chirps, but she just pouts again.

"Ughh! It just- doesn't fit!" She looks out at a small dog-shaped macaron, woofing and bouncing around. It seemed to have the zoomies.

Macaron Cookie was trying to get a good drum beat to make it slow down and cheer up the other Macaron Animals too. But no matter what she does to try and get a drum beat, it always sounds so messy!

"What am I going to do now?" She laments, looking up at the sky and sighing dramatically. "It's not fun drumming the same beats over and over again! I want to experiment! Learn new things! But everything I try sounds... bad!"

She wanders around the Cookie Kingdom, drumming absently to just fill the silence. The other cookies say good morning to her, and she greets them in return.

"Hello, Fig Cookie! Morning to you too!"

"Oh, Avacado Cookie! Nice axe that you're forging!"

"Morning, Sparkling Cookie!"

She keeps up her peppy demeanor, but is noticeably slower with her parade. She's so distracted, in fact, that she trips over one of her Macaron Animals.

"Eeek!" She flails her arm around, trying to regain balance. Someone catches her by the back of her dress, holding the fabric icing firmly and pulling her upright.

"Woah there, buddy. Careful where you're walking- you don't want to end up with a scraped knee, now do you?"

Macaron Cookie looks up to see Choco Thai Tea Cookie, patting the Macaron Mouse on the head. "You're... Macaron Cookie, yes? The drummer?"

"Mhm!" She nods, and gives Choco Thai Tea the best smile she could muster. "Thanks for picking me up! I think I was a little lost in thought."

"Well, what's gotten you so thoughtful, then?" Choco Thai Tea Cookie asks. She picks up one of the Macaron Animals, scratching it gently on the head.

"I can't seem to find a new drum beat!" Macaron Cookie complains. She spins her drumsticks, catching them with an expert hand. "Every time I try to make a new one, it just... won't work!"

She sighs and shakes her head. "I want to make something that's energetic, but also... calm! Something to calm him down!"

She holds up the Macaron Dog, who squirms and barks happily. Choco Thai Tea stares at it for a while.

"Uhhh..." Choco Thai Tea, oddly enough, was gaping a bit at the Macaron Animal. Was it because it was so energetic and barking so loudly? 

(Ollie is INCREDIBLY thankful that Macaron Cookie can't read her mind, because macarons... are one of the few sweets she actually likes eating.)

(Alas! They were just so cute, she was getting cuteness aggression and wanted to just gobble them up.)

Choco Thai Tea shakes her head to focus, and blinks. "Oh, yeah- I was just... thinking about a genre of music that might suit you. I think I have some records back in my house."

Macaron Cookie sees her sprint into her gingerbread house, rummage around for a while on some shelves, and pull out a vinyl record.

"I knew talking to that merchant would come in handy! Come, I've got a record player here so you can hear what I'm talking about..."

Macaron Cookie curiously trots forward, her Macaron Animals following her. Choco Thai Tea Cookie lugs out a small chocolate-wood table with a modern-looking record player.

"Here." She places the vinyl onto the turntable, and lets it play.

The music that plays is certainly... new. It starts off as calm piano music, but ramps up to a more energetic drum beat behind it.

It sounds... soulful. Emotional. It was fast and calm at the same time.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie looks happy. "This! It's breakcore! More specifically uh- melodic breakcore. Usually it's done with some pretty futuristic music software on magitech and all that, but I found some tracks that just use normal drums and instruments, sooo..."

Macaron Cookie listens to it some more, humming and tapping her drumsticks along to the beat.

"It sounds... like exactly what I need!" She perks up, smiling. "I can ask Mint Choco Cookie to help- it'll sound amazing!"

'Although, I've never heard of a violin in a marching band... but trying new things is always nice!'

She gets up, and Choco Thai Tea Cookie takes the vinyl from her turntable to give to Macaron Cookie.

"I usually use this as background music, but you sound like you need it more than me." She says to the drummer. "I'm not much of a musician. Maybe you can make something new with this."

"You're really giving this to me?" Macaron Cookie gently takes the vinyl record. she turns it around, seeing the blank label on it; the hard-candy resin 'plastic' of the record light in her hand.

Choco Thai Tea smiles. "Consider it a gift."

"Thank you! Thank you so, so much!" Macaron Cookie is overjoyed, spinning the record around. "I'll play it right away!"

[Clover Cookie]

"And thus, the story ends- with true love's kiss and a marriage under the stars."

The sound of applause greets Clover Cookie's story. Carrot Cookie pipes up, sounding entertained. "Your stories are always a treat to hear! This tale sounds really romantic..."

"I mean, I think the action was way cooler..." Gumball Cookie comments, kicking his legs back and forth as he sits on the grass. Beet Cookie sits next to him, nodding. "A good boost to morale. Is it not difficult, traveling so far and hearing so much intel?"

"It never gets old." Clover Cookie laughs, lowering his grass lute. "I would never get tired of seeing the world and collecting all these stories- it's what I was meant to do."

The wandering bard rather liked this place- it wasn't as grandiose as loud and bombastic as the Hollyberry Kingdom or as strong and regal as the Dark Choco Kingdom, nor did it have the same mystery as the lost Golden Cheese Kingdom.

It had it's own quaint, lively charm to it. Especially with all the new cookies coming in!

He hums, getting up from his seat. "I shall see if I can tell more stories tomorrow- I have many a tale from around Crispia to share."

"Aww, see you tomorrow, then!"

"We'll be waiting!"

Clover Cookie sighs happily as he departs, going to a small inn for the time being. There were accommodations for temporary travelers like him in the Cookie Kingdom, thanks in part to all the hard work put in by the Sugar Gnomes and the other locals running the place.

'Speaking of such... ah, I see that the little busybody has decided to stop by. Choco Thai Tea Cookie... she's rather amicable with everyone here.'

'I wonder if she has tall tales of herself?'

Clover Cookie sits down besides her, watching as she chats with the innkeeper about business.

"I hope the inn's been doing well, Cinnamon Raisin Cookie- I hear you came by from the Raisin Village, yes?"

"Indeed! It was a rather long trek, but I wanted to settle down in a more prosperous area, send gold back to my folks at home." He lets out a laugh, rubbing the back of his head. "The inn is doing very well!"

"Good, good, that's good to hear." She smiles, and hands over a few gold coins for some hot chocolate.

"Choco Thai Tea Cookie, it's good to see you!" Clover Cookie announces his presence, and her wafer antennae twitch.

"Ah! It's good to see you- erm, Clover Cookie, was it? I apologize for not getting to meet you beforehand." She smiles, shaking his hand. "I've heard that you tell many tales. A shame I am too busy to take the time to rest and hear them..."

"It's no good if you overwork yourself, Choco Thai Tea Cookie." He says. He tilts his hat down in acknowledgement.

"I know, I know, it's just- hard to run a kingdom when there's barely any framework. Heck, I'm just helping the kids from the ground up." She groans, tipping the cup back and swigging down the hot chocolate like it's mead.

"Sounds very stressful." He and Choco Thai Tea have a nice chat together on how they've been doing- she says she's fine, but it's clear that she's been handling a lot of things by herself.

"Hm. Why not relax, tell me a story or something? Surely one as... unique in appearance as you has seen or hear many a tall tale before coming to the Cookie Kingdom."

He was glancing at her antennae and how her eyes looked... different. Clover Cookie assumed it was because she had caffeine in her dough, but he just had a gut feeling that all storytellers had.

Choco Thai Tea Cookie flounders around for a bit, looking sheepish. "Ah, a- story? Um... maybe I can tell a folk tale that I've heard of before. Came from my teacher when she was trying to teach the class morality or something."

"I don't know if it's true or just a fabrication or some kinda mythologized story- but I'll tell it anyways."

Choco Thai Tea Cookie clears her throat. "Um- okay. The Hound and the Heartless King... how'd it go again..."

"Once upon a time, there was a greedy, foolish king. He had become rich from the high taxes he'd forced people to pay- and while his subjects became poorer and poorer, he became wealthier and wealthier."

"He lived in a glorious palace of gold and spice, while the people who built it for him lived in run-down houses and alleyways. On his table were always the finest of feasts- meat jellies, exotic spices, sweets, and wine."

"And yet, his people starved, and only had breadcrumbs on lucky days.The king did not care, for he lived a lavish, sheltered life."

She dramatically flairs out her hand, as if introducing a new character. "But one day, a hunter clad in black arrived at the palace gates. He intended to teach the heartless king a lesson, and brought with him a cake hound."

"You see, the cake hound was no normal cake hound- it was massive, reaching towards the ceiling of the opulent palace itself and dwarfing the cookies below it."

"It howled and barked so loudly that it was like the roaring of thunder, and the earth shook beneath it's feet. The awful noise of the cake hound frightened everyone in the palace, from the lowliest servant to the heartless king."

Choco Thai Tea regaled him with the story. About how the hunter said that the cake hound was hungry, and how the terrified king brought it every plate on his lavish table and every drop of wine stocked in the palace, but it was not enough to stop the hound's howling.

"The king ordered the hunter and the dog to leave the palace at once, but the hunter shook his head and stood his ground."

"'Your Majesty, we have been sent by the Witches. We are here to stay.' His words terrified the king."

"'But will nothing satisfy the endless hunger of your cake hound?!'"

It seemed like Choco Thai Tea's passionate retelling made the cookies in the inn's tiny restaurant interested, all staring at her as she gets lost in her retelling.

"The hunter explained to the heartless king that his own people were starving, and that this cake hound felt the hunger of every cookie in the kingdom that did not have food to eat."

"'The hound will continue to bark,' He said. 'Until every last cookie is fed and happy.'"

"The king and his advisors trembled. They could not kill the cake hound, for it was mightier than their best warriors and was sent by the Witches themselves."

"So the king ordered the servants on the ground to empty his own storerooms, and pile food high onto carts. Meat, vegetables, and bread- all of it went outside, where the servants and knights drove it to every village they could find, in order to feed the people."

"Day and night, chariots of food were wheeled out endlessly, until days later, the mighty hound stopped barking and laid down quietly beside the king's throne."

"The cake hound was satisfied. Everywhere in the king's kingdom, cookies were finally well-fed and happy."

"For the next few years, the massive hound stayed close to the king's side, to ensure he did not forget his lesson. A few times, the dog barked to remind him of his old ways, and each time the king remembered his lesson."

"After years of prosperity, and after the king had truly turned from a heartless tyrant to a benevolent ruler- it simply walked out of the palace, roaming the land to bark for justice in another land."

Choco Thai Tea Cookie catches her breath, and all around her, the audience erupts into polite clapping.

"What a riveting tale!"

"Oh, I can't imagine how terrifying it must be, for that king to finally see the error of his ways!"

"Justice is served!"

Clover Cookie chuckles, looking impressed. "You're much of a storyteller yourself, Choco Thai Tea."

She looks nervous, but puffs up her chest a bit. "I am? Well, really, it's nothing- I heard the story from a teacher who heard it from someone else, and so on and so on. It's not very hard to recall childhood tales, haha!"

"I am rather curious, though..." He leans forward on the table. "Where did the story come from? Was there really a king like that?"

Choco Thai Tea freezes up as she tries to remember. She stops running a finger on the rim of her cup. "I... think it came from Beast-Yeast. I'm not sure, but my teacher was from there."

(Ollie internally panics. 'Uhhh, the only equivalent of India here is... Burning Spice's domain, right? The Land of Spice? Hell if I know.')

"Fascinating... If you ever wish to share more stories, tell me. You have a natural talent for storytelling." He says.

"I wouldn't say storytelling, more like talking in general..." Choco Thai Tea looks nervous at all the attention she's getting, slipping away from the inn. "Um- have a good day, Clover Cookie!"

She scuttles off like a bug and disappears into the crowd outside. Clover Cookie is left looking at where she disappeared, humming.

"Awfully shy, is she not?"

[Braised Cranberry Cookie]

"Why you insist on hanging around with the common rabble, I do not understand. But ugh..." He makes a disgusted expression.

"Braised Cranberry Cookie, it's an inn. Deadass, it's supposed to look sort of run down- hell, it's pretty damn cozy for an inn!" Choco Thai Tea Cookie Ollie grumbles and rolls her eyes. "You're just being picky."

"Because it is a run-down hovel compared to the hotels in the Hollyberry Kingdom!" He says, turning his nose up. "Where are the silk sheets? The elegant meals? They don't even have berry juice!"

"Yeah, yeah, okay, you alcoholic." She grumbles, opening the door of her house and immediately crashing onto the couch. The former human groans, throwing a blanket over herself.

"Alcoholic?! Excuse you, I am a perfectly well-adjusted cookie!"

"For a Hollyberrian, yeah. Anywhere else and you're a scumbag that gets blackout drunk and tries to overthrow the government."

"You dare-?!"

"Braised Cranberry Cookie." Strawberry Gelatin Cookie cracks open one eye, tired and annoyed. "Are you really trying to argue with the human again?"

Ollie pushes her face into a pillow and lets out a muffled scream of frustration. She stops, taking a deep breath, before screaming again.

"God. Fucking. Damn it." She hisses. "I don't know how you guys get tired or whatever. You're supposed to be dead. Ghosts."

"And whose fault is that?" Braised Cranberry Cookie bites back. He's gotten a lot bolder than he was initially, knowing that Ollie could not hurt him again. After all, he's a ghost. She's stuck in here with him.

There's a flash of regret on the former human's face. She looks away, unable to look him in the eye. "... I know."

"Ugh." He crosses his arms, looking at the both of them. "I guess I really am stuck here. I'm not leaving the world even though I want to, and I am surrounded by country bumpkins and uncultured swine."

"Do you do anything other than calling us names?" Strawberry Gelatin says, irritated.

Ollie simply grumbles and waves them off. "Fuck off. I'm going to go to sleep." She says, untying her wild chocolate hair and laying down on her stomach. Braised Cranberry Cookie watches as the monster- the human? Whatever she was- he watches her curl up into a ball, hiding herself in her vast hair.

There wasn't much to say after she fell asleep. The noble glanced down at the sleeping cookie, quiet for a moment.

She looks harmless. Far more smaller and mundane than the monster she was. Maybe it makes her more dangerous, being something that was not what it seemed.

... He was not what he seemed.

Braised Cranberry Cookie was a brash, arrogant noble. He was the cream of the crop, the best of the best. He was told what to do, how to act, how he was better than everyone for his entire life.

And it fell apart. He got tossed aside, disgraced for doing what he was told to do- make House Cranberry better. Stronger. More powerful than the rest.

He had to act like those pathetic low-lives. But he had to separate himself from them, had to still be that noble- because that was always what he was.

"... Braised Cranberry Cookie." Strawberry Gelatin says, her voice quiet as to not disturb her... captor? Her murderer? Her god?

"What." He says, his tone harsh. "What do you want."

She wrinkles up her face, irritated by his hostility. "I will ignore your unruly temper, and ask my question."

"Why do you think you have ended up here? Have you no shame for your actions? For all the lives you've harmed, for all the sin you've wrought?"

"... And why should I?" He says, his expression haughty. "They don't matter. The rabble live, and they die. I will live and die. It's the circle of life. I simply choose to be strong."

"You have none of the virtue, and all at the vice. There isn't a way to save your wicked, greedy soul." The nun hisses, turning her non-existent nose up at the noble.

"Wicked?! You call this evil?" He hisses. "There isn't anything evil about this. I tried to make my family the strongest. I tried to make House Raspberry greater, more safe, more stable."

"And you sacrificed and risked other's lives for it."

"Is that not how the world works?" He puts his foot down, and for a moment, he wonders why he's doing it. Why he's dead, and arguing with a cookie that's crumbled long ago, and still acting like he still holds his noble title.

... It does not matter. He needs to keep this up. He wanted to die wanted this facade to end eventually, but it appears that he'll have to keep it up post-mortem as well.

"Your mind baffled me and you disgust me." Strawberry Gelatin Cookie looks physically disgusted that a cookie like Braised Cranberry Cookie exists. "You somehow make me feel more hatred towards you than the forces of darkness."

"Why thank you. I have that sort of charm about me." He smirks, puffing up.

"You are fortunate that I can't lay a hand on you. If my holy fork was still in my hands-!"

Two souls stand beside each other in death, with a third standing alive. They bicker, they argue, they condemn. And yet, they are more similar than they would ever admit and they ever know. Pride is the greatest sin, and the both of them were fools to see that they both held it.

Braised Cranberry's pride embedded itself into his identity, thinking himself above the common folk.

Strawberry Gelatin's pride was in her religion, in how the Witches and the Order were right and how everyone else was wrong, how she was more pure than others.

And Ollie?

Ollie's pride hid in her self-hatred.

[Tiger Lily Cookie]

There was a monster in the Berry Jungle. Tiger Lily Cookie didn't know where it came from, how it got here- but the monster existed.

She'd only seen it once, when there was that big dragon that flew around the Hollyberry Kingdom. It flew away with a missing tail, roaring and breathing fire as it flew back to Dragon's Valley.

The monsters around the kingdom were usually so aggressive during this time- but when the dragon flew away, they all seemed to cower in the presence of something.

She carefully stalks the forest, looking back and forth for any sign of the monster. It wasn't there.

'Weird... no... scary monster?' She thinks, peeking out from the bush. Her trusty Butter Tiger slips by her side, sniffing the air. It makes a purring noise, nuzzling Tiger Lily Cookie before it steps forward, carefully scanning the horizon.

It goes forward. There seems to be no danger, and they're perfectly fine, so...

They continue on until they reach some train tracks. The Hollyberry Kingdom is connected to the other kingdoms and some towns across Crispia via train, but Tiger Lily Cookie doesn't care for it.

All she knows is that loud moving metal boxes carrying other cookies and stuff go back and forth in and out of the forest from afar.

Right as they reach the train track, however, the Butter Tiger tenses up, it's pupils narrowing into slits and it's tail sticking straight up. It hunches back, sniffing the air and hissing.

"Eh? What's... wrong?"

The butter tiger's ears pin back as a rustle sounds from afar. The scent of jam fills the air, sickly sweet and pungent. To Tiger Lily Cookie, this was the equivalent of a human smelling the distinct iron smell of blood.

She grips her spear, her hand clenched so tightly that she feels that she might crumble out of tension. She pushes forward to sneak a glance into the clearing.

Shrouded in the shadows of the dusk, the sound of feasting and wet 'CRACK's filled the air. She flinches as she sees the corpses of Blueberry Spiders litter the ground.

The figure is jagged, with harsh, dark fur(?), hunched over the spread-open body of a Blueberry Spider. Off-white teeth flash, blunt like prey's but stained with jam like a predator's.

It digs in, using it's hands to grasp the fleshy, shoveling the wet, fresh insides into it's ravenous maw. The sound of heavy breaths, of gentle snarls and pants as one monster eats another, was terrifying.

Her eyes widen, and she tries to slip away. Her Butter Tiger flattens it's ears back, tail tucked between it's legs. They know how to slip away, they're smart enough to not stupidly step on a branch and give themselves away-

But even before they could even move, the figure stops. It looks up from it's gory feast, it's eyes locking with Tiger Lily Cookie's.

She freezes. Her hand is trembling as her fear spikes, her instincts telling her to run.

There's a part of her that tells her that running is futile. That she can outrun this monster, this thing- but it would always hunt her down, relentless and unyielding.

(Humans were persistence predators, after all.)

The two have a staredown. Neither the predator nor the prey moves- but it's not clear who was the former and who was the latter.

And after a tense moment... it speaks.

"Hello." It says. It's voice is deceptively calm and quiet. It sounded... like a normal cookie. "I'm sorry you have to see me like this."

It was intelligent. Intelligent to know how to speak, and how to address her. That only made it more dangerous.

"Please, don't- don't go." It stutters, faking it's nervousness. "I'm sorry I scared you. Can you please... join me for dinner?"

Now, Tiger Lily Cookie had lots of common sense. She would normally book it out of there, if she could. But the cookie looked at all the Blueberry Spiders strewn about, the cracked tree stumps and the scars in the ground, and she knew that she had no chance of overpowering it or running away from it.

She steps out of the bush, but does not come closer. Her Butter Tiger companion stands by her side- terrified, ears pinned back, but still there.

"... You don't need to come any closer. I see how scared you are." It says, it's orange eyes staring into her soul.

"What... are you?" She asks.

"What do you mean?" It raises a paw- a hand?- up to it's mouth. "I am a cookie, just like you."

It stands up on it's hind legs, tilting it's head and wiping the blood from it's face. It pulls out a massive fork stuck to the ground, wielding it with one arm.

The monster stabs one of the Blueberry Spider corpses with it, holding it out in front of itself. "From one wild cookie to another... would you like a meal?"

Tiger Lily Cookie looks horrified, scrunching up her face. She shakes her head. "No!"

"... I see." It pulls back it's fork, taking the corpse with it. "More for me then." It opens it's mouth, and suddenly, the corpse explodes in a shower of juice. Half of it's body is simply... gone.

The monster seemed to have somehow eaten the corpse with an invisible maw, wiping it's mouth once again and purring. "This is... good. The taste... it's like a fresh blueberry picked in spring."

"Do you know how the monsters taste?"

She flinches, scrambling back. The Butter Tiger growls, pawing at one of the dead Blueberry Spiders and taking a bite.

"Don't... know. Tiger?" She turns to her Butter Tiger.

It makes a chuffing noise, a growl, and some hissing. She nods back in return.

The monster continues to stare at them. It finishes licking off it's hands, and gets up from it's seat on the ground. She tenses up, expecting it to finally pounce, to finally lash out.

It simply looks at her one last time. "Again- I must go. Apologies for the terror I may have brought you, Tiger Lily Cookie."

She stares at the thing that knows her name. She doesn't know how it knows her name, when she's never given it to the monster- but it sends a chill down her spine.

"See you later, then."

It slips into the shadows, yet Tiger Lily Cookie still kept that unease and horror for days later. Even though the figure doesn't reappear.

Especially because it doesn't reappear.

[Choco Thai Tea Cookie Ollie]

"I still can't believe I had to get off the train..." She bemoans. "What do you mean the Cookie Kingdom's railway isn't finished?!"

"Because you are piggybacking off the other railways, and you still need time to develop these things." Strawberry Gelatin Cookie says, raising an eyebrow. "Did you think that a mere weeks' worth of work would establish a proper train system? That something like this would be so easy?"

"... No. It wouldn't be." Ollie says, sighing. She wipes the final traces of jam off her hands, the sparkling water river below turning red.

'I suppose the in game, 'fixing' the train in the Cookie Kingdom is far easier. It only takes a day for the thing to finish, but... '

There's a disconnect in what the world is and what the game was. Ollie has never been on a train in her old life, much less founded and ran a train station. She doesn't know the intricacies of setting up the systems, of hiring people to run it, of funding the whole thing with taxes.

It... was difficult. She'd had to use her laptop for nights on end just to figure it out, relying on the work of people before her. She'd had to piece together what to do, work herself to the bone mentally and physically-

And she had to do it again for every other task. Every other aspect of running a kingdom, from trade and commerce to public amenities to the fucking kingdom layout.

No wonder she's been so stressed. And when Ollie got stressed, she tends to stress-eat.

"Did you really have to eat those Blueberry Spiders? Eugh." Braised Cranberry Cookie looks at her in disgust and fear. "You still smell like jam, by the way. No normal cookie would want to approach you."

"I- I do? Oh god, how do I even get rid of the scent..." She dips her hands back into the water. Both Braised Cranberry Cookie and Strawberry Gelatin Cookie flinch at the sudden splash.

"How in the witches are you- stop it! You'll only get your dough soggy!" Strawberry Gelatin yells, panicked.

"I haven't had a problem with bathing and washing before...? Speaking of." Ollie wipes her wet hands on her clothes, shaking out the water. "If all cookies get soggy or crumble when they're submerged in liquid for a long time, how do you even take baths?"

Braised Cranberry Cookie looks at her with a slightly confused, slightly disgusted expression. "What do you mean, 'how do we take baths'? We treat the water with sugar and life powder, of course. Or special oils are used on our dough."

He gestures to the river, horrified. "We do not- recklessly dip ourselves in water! Or any other liquid!"

"Huh." Ollie blinks, looking down at her own hands. She flexes the dough making up her body. "So that's why. But how do mermaids or sailors..."

"Sea-faring cookies are usually cookies with special ingredients in their dough that make them less prone to the moisture. Mermaids have their own special dough and magic flowing through their bodies." Braised Cranberry Cookie scrunches up his... face? His nose, if he were human.

"How do you even know this?"

The dead noble scoffs and crosses his arms. "One of House Cranberry's main trade routes is through sea. We have... one or two merchant ships."

"Ah. Right. You're rich."

"Were rich." Strawberry Gelatin can't help but retort.

"Shut the fudge up."

Ollie rolls her eyes and focuses on her journey ahead. After all, she did promise her... new girlfriend that she'd come back for another date.

'Still can't believe I ACTUALLY got a girlfriend- but it's not that serious, right? I mean, back in high school couples got together and broke up all the time, and- well, mom and dad didn't really DATE, they were kinda courting...'

That's right- Ollie's making a solo trip back to the Hollyberry Kingdom. Call her stupid, say that she's wasting time... but she genuinely wants to see Royal Gardener again.

She misses the plant monster. It's the first time she's actually had a girlfriend. Not once during her entire life before has she actually had someone to call her own partner.

It's... the longing, the want for genuine romantic connection that pushes her forward. Ollie's never thought of herself as being worthy of, pretty enough, good enough for someone else. They don't deserve to be burdened by her.

Her only knowledge of romance was seeing her parents and grandparents love each other, shitty Wattpad mafia stories and AO3 shipping fics. Ollie... does not know how to do this.

Ollie contemplates her relationship with Royal Gardener while Strawberry Gelatin and Braised Cranberry argue. They're yapping about how 'immoral' Braised Cranberry is and how Strawberry Gelatin was a 'religious lunatic', how obvious.

She finally sees the outer walls of the Hollyberry Kingdom, and lets out a sigh of relief.

"Oh, fuckin' finally." She says. "Let's go flirt with a hot plant lady again."

Best to ignore her problems and try to have fun.

[Royal Gardener]

It feels like a dream. An odd fever dream with the most baffling cookie on Earthbread.

They've been going through life as normal, trying to wrap their mind around what happened between them and Choco Thai Tea Cookie a week ago. It makes no sense, no sense at all for a cookie to be interested in them, much less that- forward when taking them on a date.

"Royal Gardener? Miss Royal Gardener?" Princess Cookie waves her scepter to get their attention.

"Hm? Yes, your Highness?" They turn around, glancing down at the princess. Princess Cookie grins as she sees the gardener's face.

"Someone's at the front of the Hollyberry Palace! She's asking for you!" Princess Cookie giggles, hiding her smile a bit.

"H-huh?!" The cookie-vorous plant nearly drops their gardening shears, and quickly composes themselves. "But- she- isn't she busy with her work in the Cookie Kingdom?!"

"Choco Thai Tea Cookie? She said she's on break for a bit!"

Royal Gardener immediately drops what they've been doing, hastily placing their shears back in the greenhouse and quickly moving their vines and roots towards the front gate.

Their breath catches as they see the familiar cute antennae and brown icing hair of their so-called suitor. Choco Thai Tea Cookie is nonchalantly leaning on the wall, polishing her oversized fork and slinging it on her back.

She looks up to see Royal Gardener, her eyecing becoming more lively when she sees them. "RG! It's good to see you!" Choco Thai Tea leans against the bars, her antennae twitching. "Royal... are you busy today? I was hoping for another date... I hope I'm not being too clingy!"

The plant monster is gaping, looking absolutely baffled. They stare down at Choco Thai Tea Cookie. "I- you- you actually wish to court me?"

"Uh- yeah?" Choco Thai Tea Cookie says that as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "I know it's kind of weird and might not work out- we're living in different kingdom's, for fu- for heck's sake, and long-distance relationships are hard to maintain..."

"No! I- you? With me?" Royal Gardener sputters, her vines flailing about. "I'm more concerned about the plant that you're dating someone who eats cookies! I'm a cookie-vorous plant, for Witches' sake!"

'Why on Earthbread is she more worried about a LONG-DISTANCE relationship?! She needs to have her priorities straight!'

Royal Gardener's already fallen for the charming little cookie. But they've realized something- they can't be with her. Royal Gardener is a monster.

You can't love a monster.

The plant monster swallows, looking nervous. "I- please. It's just a joke, surely- it's not good to play with my feelings like this..."

"And why would I?" Choco Thai Tea Cookie asks, eyes wide and pleading. "You really are so pretty... why can't I take you out on another date?"

"I'm not scared of you, even if you do eat cookies. Besides," The cookie winks at Royal Gardener with no fear at all. "If you do try to take a bite of me, I bite back."

"This is not something you can make a joke of! I can crumble you!" Royal Gardener shouts, looking desperate. "Please, do not!"

"I'm not." Choco Thai Tea Cookie says. She sucks in a breath, and her smile falls, her expression serious. "I mean it. Seriously. I like you."

"I want you, even with all the danger that comes with it. I know you're dangerous, that you're not so sure about whether or not you're safe for me... but I really want to make this work."

She gives the plant monster the best puppy-dog eyes she has. "Please? Can we try making this work?"

Royal Gardener looks to the side, unsure of what to feel. On one hand, they were terrified of hurting Choco Thai Tea... but on the other, the poor cookie looked so desperate for their affection, just as desperate as they were.

"Fine. I... suppose we can try and make it work." They say, looking mildly annoyed and flustered. "Honestly, you are such a persistent fool..."

"I'm your persistent fool now." Choco Thai Tea Cookie teases, sticking her hand through the gates. "Now- aren't you gonna go join me outside? I brought along some food and we can have a picnic together..."