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Waiting.
That’s all she did now.
Sometimes she would entertain herself by cleaning up the place, but she was always cleaning so often that spiders barely had time to weave home before they were destroyed.
Her old robes had grown tattered. She’d had backups, of course, many in fact, but she’d been wearing and washing them for so long that they were slowly reducing to threads. She couldn’t go out and get more either, as she made a promise to her Master long ago to stay in her land.
Ah.
Yes.
The promise.
Long ago, (how long had it been, 200 years? 2,000? She had given up trying to keep track.) 6 cookies had been created. They were now dubbed ‘The Beasts’, which Sour Gummy Worm didn’t understand, but back then they were called ‘The Great Virtues’. There had been 6 ideals that these cookies were to bring forth into the world. Knowledge, Volition, Change, Happiness, Solidarity, and Forbearance. But eventually, all things fall. These Great Virtues were pushed past their limits. They were only cookies too, you know. They all turned their back on cookie-kind, instead deciding to focus on their own personal opinions and interests. Apparently some of these interests were bad. Sour Gummy Worm hadn’t realized though. She had been to focused on cleaning up her Master’s messes at the time. She had noticed that her master had begun to become dismissive and not give good advice to the cookies, when that was supposed to be her whole job. Since Sour Gummy Worm’s whole job was to assist her Master and fix her mistakes, she had to start doubling her work-load to make up for her new volatile attitude. But one day, before the sun had begun to dip behind the darkening canvas of the landscape, after everyone had left, she found herself being embraced by her Master while trying to clean up.
”Sour Gummy Worm.”
”A-ah!” Sour Gummy Worm had jumped back, in shock. Her Master gently flapped her wings, twiddling with her second pair of hands as the others were used to hug herself. “M-Master Tart Citrus Cookie, you startled me…can I assist you?”
”Yes, you..you can. I need you to stop responding to cookies in my name.”
”I…” Sour Gummy Worm gulped, her palms getting sweaty. Had she been bothering her Master all this time?
”I am not angry with you; you’ve been doing what you were supposed to, and I thank you for that. But your efforts are for naught. I have…come to a new state of mind. My life as a Great Virtue…I care not for it. I have been acting this way recently for a reason, a rebellion, if you will. The other Great Virtues have been doing the same.”
”O-oh…” she uttered out. “I-I see..”
”And we…we will be leaving soon. We are not sure where we will go. But this continent…we cannot stand for it anymore. We’ve been held back by shackles that had been disguised as cushions.”
”..nnnI..I understand..”
”Good. Thank you for doing so. But because of this, I need you to promise me something.”
“Yes, o-of course, anything, Tart Citrus Cookie.”
Before Sour Gummy Worm could draw another breath, she felt her face become cupped by her Master’s first pair of hands and her hands be held together by the second pair. A large, winged shadow drew over the Cookie as she slightly gasped from the sudden grab.
”I cannot bear to lose this studio. Nor can I bear to lose you. So you will stay here.”
“W-wait, what? M-Master Tart Citrus Cookie, I-“
”The others are doing it to. Mystic Flour’s Haetae will be remaining in her temple. Blueberry Milk’s…creation…will be staying in his spire. Quiet Salt’s bat will remain in the wasteland’s hub. You will not be alone. They can come and visit you.”
”B-but-“
”But you must promise me. Do not leave this spot of the continent. I cannot bear to lose you to this wilderness’ feral beasts. So please. Invite the others over. Have them bring you food. Do what you must. But do not leave this area. Can you promise me that?”
”I..” she thought for a moment, before looking at her master. The desperate look in her eyes above her head…it told her everything she needed to know.
”…yes. I’ll stay here and guard the studio.”
”Thank you. You are my light, Sour Gummy Worm. Do not let that be diminished.”
”I-“
Screams and voices were heard from outside the studio as Tart Citrus Cookie whipped her head around.
”Ah, crumbs-“
“M-Master Tart Citrus Cookie? What’s going on?”
Tart Citrus Cookie removed her hands from Sour Gummy Worm’s face and hands, which left behind a lingering warmth that Sour Gummy Worm wished could be enveloped fully again. Tart Citrus Cookie turned around and walked towards the windows, her face darkening as she saw what was outside. She quickly opened the door, forcing the horrific sounds of crumbling cookies to be heard throughout the studio as Sour Gummy Worm’s demeanor shifted into one of horrific fear and worry. Sour Gummy Worm notice the sky turning a sickly shade of vermillion and scarlet, one that almost that of certain locks of her hair.
”W- what’s going on? Wait! Master Tart Citrus Cookie! Please! I’m so confused! I-“
“I must go. Sooner than I thought.”
A quick fwip sound was made as the multiple eyes, 3 pairs of wings, and second pair of lower arms recoiled into her body. She glanced back at Sour Gummy Worm, her face looking like one of emotional pain and apathy.
”We will meet again. I do not know when or where. But I will see you again. I promise you that. Goodbye, Sour Gummy Worm Cookie. Do not expect my return soon.”
”Master Tart Citrus Cookie! W-wait-!”
Before Sour Gummy Worm could say anything else, she darted out of the door, slamming it shut. Sour Gummy Worm stood there, clutching her robes and feeling the already-nostalgic glow of Tart Citrus’ presence fade from the building.
That had been a long time ago. Of course, the previously-mentioned underlings would visit her sometimes. But she wasn’t allowed to leave. They would have to come to her. But eventually, they got bored of doing that. The only one that would visit nowadays was Tellicherry Peppercorn Cookie, but only because the studio was mostly quiet. Sour Gummy Worm sat on the steps leading up to doorway of the main room, sighing as she laid over and held her stomach. She hadn’t eaten in a while. She considered leaving the studio to get food, but she couldn’t break her promise to her Master. Not yet. She shamed and doubted herself for even thinking of leaving when she heard a large boom sound and noticed the sky outside looked red. The same shade of red it had been when her Master had left.
”What-?”
She got up and hastily walked to the large window, staring out it in horror. The sky had turned blood red, and she heard voices that sounded like laughing. But these voices…they sounded familiar. She swore she heard Changing Spice’s familiar boast of humor. Blueberry Milk’s muffled banter echoed around the continent. Could..could it be? No, it couldn’t…that is, until she heard the door open.
She whipped her head around, getting in a fighting position, when her shoulders dropped and she gasped.
”Hello, my old studio! Your Master has arrived! Make way for the Beast of Hostility herself, Bitter Citrus Cookie!”