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Today was the day, her queenly majesty had decided this a few days ago and had everything prepared for the trip, she just needed the right cookies to journey with her. Naturally, she was inviting Pitaya Dragon Cookie to come along and of course her trusted gaurd; Wildberry Cookie, but who else could she invite?

The queen grabbed her shield that wielded the light of passion and with a nervous sigh, she headed for the meeting room.

"Alrighty, let's get this meeting started, shall we?" Hollyberry announced, setting her palms on the table as the rest of the members took their seats. "Mother.. with all due respect, must you really set out on another journey again? It's only been a few days since you had gone to seek the Greenish Red Dragon." Royal berry cookie had his eyebrows in a state of worry, as he glanced at the dragon sitting across from him. "Ah.. well, the threat of war is looming over us at all moments of the day, we cannot risk waiting any longer to explore the land of Beast-Yeast, but I do appreciate your concern, Royal Berry." The queen smiled reassuringly to her son, who only let out a soft sigh in response, she could feel him missing her already and she set herself to have a private talk with him after the meeting.

"Queen Mother, you have explored the continent of Beast-Yeast before, correct? Are you entirely sure you have everything prepared for the long journey overseas?" Jungleberry sat up in her chair by her husband, looking at Hollyberry with narrow eyes. "I cannot be entirely sure, no, but I can say we have over a week's worth of food and supplies ready. All we need now are cookies willing to come," Hollyberry stands from her own chair, "I have already appointed Pitaya Dragon Cookie and Wildberry Cookie accompany me, but I am not sure who else to bring.." She stood behind the dragon with a hand on the seat as they lounged lazily.

"I have a suggestion," Wildberry raises his hand, "we could invite Royal Margarine Cookie and Tarte Tatin Cookie to come along since they were a nice help when we sought out the dragon." Wildberry waved his hand to Pitaya Dragon. "Kyhahhahaha! Bring the wyvern rider to Beasst-Yeast? That would be a show I would watch every day!" They laughed and sat up in their chair. "I've been to that wretched land many of timesss in all my yearsss of living, that cookie wouldn't last five minutess!" Queen Hollyberry grabbed their shoulder to quiet them down. "Hush now, Wildberry has a point, Royal Margarine and Tarte Tatin were good allies when we set out to help you regain a bit of your strength from the Dragonsworn." She pointed out and Pitaya crossed their arms.

"So I guess that is settled then. Royal Margarine Cookie and Tarte Tatin Cookie will be sent urgent letters immediately to come to the palace."

"HOLD THAT THOUGHT!" A voice boomed and slammed opened the doors, causing the dragon to yelp and scramble out of their chair before clinging to Hollyberry Cookie. "Grandmama! I have been on adventures before, and I propose I join you on this quest!" Princess Cookie pointed with her staff and climbed up onto the table to appear taller as knight cookie stumbled into the room behind her, seemingly out of breath. "Hah.. pheww.. your- hah.. highness-" He gasped for air and fell on his face, but Princess Cookie continued her speech. "It would serve as a learning experience, for myself and the cookies we bring. I could learn a lot of defense techniques from my own grandmother." She placed her hands on her hips with a confident smile.

"Princess Cookie! Get off the table young lady." Jungleberry huffs, "no no no absolutely not! Beast-Yeast is no place for a princess! You could get really hurt, or worse!" Royal Berry furrowed his brows at his daughter as she was helped by a winded knight cookie off the table. "But papa, I've proved my resilience before, those pirates in the tropical soda islands were nothing compared to raw hollyberrian strength!" She hugged an arm around her knight's shoulder, "plus, I wasn't alone in my journey." She smiled at her knight before turning her gaze to the others.

Royal Berry sighed at the princesses' determination and held his forehead in his hands as hus wife reached over to rub his back soothingly. "And.. tell me, my dear, what brought upon this sudden decision to explore Beast-Yeast?" Jungleberry tilts her head to her daughter, taking a more calm approach. "Like I said, I've encountered pirates and escaped a ship after being kidnapped," The Princess took a deep breath and walked over to her grandmother, "I want to spend time with grandmama. We haven't been able to bond since you went on the quest seeking the Red Dragon. Nows my chance to meet you properly." She held the ancient's hands with a pleading smile.

Hollyberry smiled right back at her and picked her up as if she weighed nothing. "Hoho! Well I'm definitely certain this is my granddaughter!" She laughed and hugged her tight. "Mother.. you've said yourself that Beast-Yeast is nothing like Crispia. Are you absolutely sure that Princess Cookie will be safe?" Royal Berry looked to his mother with desperate eyes. "Papa, I'm a grown cookie, I'm sure we will be fine." Hollyberry let the princess down and watched as she went to hug her dad. 

"Papa.. I will be okay." She reassures and Royal Berry wrapped his arms around her. "Promise me. On your honor as a princess, promise you will be safe." He orders, "I promise." The princess pulled away and rushed off to pack her things, knight cookie following closely behind. 

He watched to two leave and turned to the queen. "If I find a single crack in her dough-" "I know, my son, I know," Hollyberry pulls him into a warm embrace. His body betraying his resolve and letting out a shakey sigh as he hugged his mother. "I trust you... but, please do keep an extra close eye on her? Please, mama?" He whispers as he pulls away, "yes, I will." She nodded and pats his head. 

"Ssso... isss that all?" The dragon hummed impatiently.

"Yes.. Pack your things. We are setting off to Beast-Yeast in the morning."

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As morning came, the airship was already prepared and ready for take-off. The queen stood in front of the ship as the sun rose over the horizon. Her chest felt heavy, something was coming, she felt it deep in her dough. 

"Your majesty?"

A voice called out softly from behind her, Wildberry making his way over to stand next to his queen. "Are you alright?" He tilted his head as she took a deep breath. "Yes. I'm okay, Wildberry Cookie." She wave a dismissive hand to him. The gaurd narrows his eyes skeptically. "Are you completely sure?" He stepped in front of her. "I- yes? I will be fine, you should.. go do- uhm.. go tend to the ship, I will be up in a moment." The queen pushed him off towards the ship, smiling nervously as he glanced back at her before doing as instructed. She released a breath she never knew she was holding and clutched her fists. She felt as if she couldn't breathe, something was going to go horribly wrong, but she couldn't delay the mission, not because of some 'bad feeling' right? She took another deep breath to calm gerself before heading off to board the ship.

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"Grandmama! I'm ready for the trip!" The princess waved excitedly as her knight dragged her suitcase behind her. "Ah, Princess Cookie, I haven't done enough to be called your grandmother.." She sighed as the smaller cookie ran up to hug her. "Sure, but if I want to call you my grandmama, then I'm going to anyways." She smiled before turning to help knight cookie with her luggage. "Darling how much did you pack?" Royal Berry stepped over to the small cookies, leaving Hollyberry to watch them with a peaceful look in her eyes.

You have so much to lose.

The voice echoed in her mind. She felt dizzy, nauseous, pounding in her head. She braced her footing, reaching out to hold onto the railing leading up to the ship. 

This wasn't the voice of her soul jam. It was her. That nagging feeling she hasn't felt since she left, the one that told her she was unfit for the throne. Unfit to hold the shield. She shut her eyes, bringing a hand to her forehead as her breathing dragged out.

"Hollyberry? Helllooo, Earthbread to Hollyberry..."

She heard a familiar voice call to her, pulling her out of the bottomless pit in her mind. The world faded back into view and she flinched at the sight of her lizard friend waving a hand in her face.

"Hah! You look like you jussst ssaw a ghosst!"

The dragon giggled and flicked their tail in amusement. The queen shook her head to snap out of her mood. "Ah you old lizard, I was just... thinking that's all." She shoved their shoulder playfully and glanced away from them. "Mhm.. you know you're a horrible liar." Pitaya crosses their arms, gazing at her skeptically. "What? Me? Pssh.. I'd never lie-" "You are right now." They pointed out. "It doesn't matter.. Just.. get on the ship, we are leaving soon." She huffed, but before she could walk away two new cookies entered the scene.

"Did'ya miss me?"

Royal Margarine Cookie winked as he hopped off his wyvern along with Tarte Tatin Cookie shortly after. "Ugh.. I'm never riding on a dragon again.." She put down her cannon. "Hah! Never knew a dragon hunter would be afraid of heights!" Hollyberry welcomed her friends with open arms and hugged them both. "Ah.. shut it, this man just doesn't know how to fly steadily." Tarte Tatin huffed and pulled away from the queen. "Hey! I do too! It's not my fault you can't handle an awesome dragon rider like me." He fixed his hair with his butter knife. "Oh quit it you two, we're here now, we have no time to waste, let's get moving." 

"Mother wait!" Royal Berry called to the queen, reaching out to take her hand, pulling her to face him one more time. "Yes?" She answered, turning to his worry ridden face. "Please.. be careful... please mama." He looked into her eyes, filled with terror. "Oh my son.. it's okay.. I will be okay." She hugged him tight before kissing his forehead. "I know you'll take good care of the kingdom while we're away." She smiled and released him. "And no berry juice?" Jungleberry jumped in from behind her husband. "Hah! Of course, no berry juice."

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As noon hit, Hollyberry yawned softly at the lazy feeling in her dough. She leaned back in her chair enjoying the warm sun illuminating her dough. She felt light. No worries. She felt.. sleepy.

Screaming. That's the only thing she heard. Screaming. She opened her eyes, the ship was on fire, Pitaya Dragon Cookie and Wildberry Cookie grabbing a cream fire extinguisher, but to no avail. Princess Cookie was burnt. The queen couldn't move. She couldn't WAKE UP.

She gasped and lurched forward in her chair, whipping her head around. The ship was fine. There was no fire. No screaming. She grabbed her shield and stood from her seat, finding her footing before leaning over the edge of the ship to look at the waters below. There. Land. Beast-Yeast. A flicker of pink light caught her eye and she looked at her shield once more. Her soul jam was flickering. She knew what was happening. Eternal Sugar Cookie knew she was coming.

"Be calm my shield.. please... don't waver your strength. We can protect them. I know we can.. can't we?"

She brushed her fingers over the crystal heart adorning her never breaking weapon. "Be strong.. for them.." She pleaded and looked over at her family playing around on the deck, Pitaya dragon teasing knight cookie, which made a faint smile cross her lips.

"Your majesty, we are approaching Beast-Yeast." Wildberry stepped from behind her and leaned on the railing. "Are you ready?" He tilts his head to her. "..yes... I am ready."

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Hey all! Sorry it's been a while, I had a sudden loss of interest to write but so many ideas to put down. And with the official update with eternal sugar cookie I feel uncreative with newer chapters. Be patient with me as I've never really done this before, but I know I will finish this sooner or later!

-With love, Fish