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Dark choco knew it was a bad idea from the start to try and fight off some of the cake monsters that were creeping closer to the Dark Cacao kingdom. As he ran throughout the forest he could only curse his bad luck, trying to do a good deed always ended him up in some trouble. While he might be banished from the Cacao kingdom, he couldn't just forget his home and leave them to danger. While he didn't quite recognize the cookies he encountered on his evening patrol, while familiar they were in no way a normal member of the Cacao kingdom, he wouldn't- couldn't leave them to suffer.
Ever since he broke that blasted sword he had to run from pomegranate cookie and the rest of dark enchantress cookies lackies. Why he thought hiding out in the outskirts of the place that banished him would be a good idea, hes still unsure. He still wouldn't dare face his father... nothing he could do would undo the hurt he caused his kingdom. His people. His father.
Dark choco was weaving from the trees as he heard the cake monster get closer and closer. Ever since he broke the cursed jam sword he had grown weaker, while he never would regret leaving the darkness behind, he would never feel justified in thinking he deserved to live in the light. Instead preventing monsters from becoming a larger problem for the citizens of the Cacao kingdom was his only method of righting his wrongs.
Instead of a large sword trying to create an imitation of his fathers, he had been using a pair of slim swords to attempt to cover his lack of strength. With another swing of his swords the cake monster yelped in pain. Once he had an opening he swung over and over. He was slowly weaking the monster trying to get an opening where he would be able to slay this beast he felt it. Its jaw clamped around his leg causing jam to slowly pour around its mouth. In a last ditch effort to flee he stabbed his sword right through its head. His leg felt like it was on fire, as he could well see that this beast bit through his leg entirely. Hissing in pain he attempted to get the cake monsters dead body off him but it was no use.
Dark choco felt his vision starting to blacken... resigning to his fate to die alone in the forest he laid down on the fluffy snow. Unable to try to fight he just laid there... remembering his misdeeds... even the physical pain he was in right now was nothing compared to the emotional torment and suffering he went through all those years under dark enchantress.
As his vision began to fade he could have sworn he heard a voice calling his name. He knew it was nothing but a hallucination but it brought him a moment of peace...
---------------------- earlier that day ------------------------
The Dark Cacao kingdom had been very active all morning, guards moving about, the chefs working for a feast all the kingdom was awake and lively with the arrival of the other ancient cookies.
"My friends it has been too long!" a loud joyful voice could be heard throughout the halls as Hollyberry cookie was chatting with the other ancients. In a spur of the moment decision they decided to gather once more to relax and engage with one another after all the chaos they had been through in recent years.
Dark Cacao sat on a chair as across from him were White Lily cookie, Pure Vanilla, Hollyberry, and Golden Cheese all sat around a table, allowing them to chat and relax in a rare moment of peace.
Dark Cacao smiled as he nibbled on a snack more to his taste compared to his friends. While sweet jellies were uncommon in the Dark Cacao kingdom, they saved a special plate just for special occasions such as this.
"It has been too long my friends! Even longer since we have all visited the dark cacao kingdom" with a laugh Pure vanilla smiled at his friends, grateful he has this opportunity to see them all content.
"yeah yeah we get it your sentimental but common there is so much to explore its been years since we saw Dark cacao let along his people!" Golden Cheese grinned as she ate a small jelly scanning around the room, "Though it is a bit uhhh one color unlike my place, would it kill you to give some color other than dark purples and blacks?"
Dark Cacao sighed, "We have been over this, we simply enjoy our kingdom how it is."
"But not to say we arn't grateful! It has been quite a while, maybe later this afternoon we can tour the grounds? Oh! Only if you have time to show us around no worries-" White lily cookie quickly stated as she looked around the room with joy.
As the conversation went on Dark Cacao leaned back in his chair thinking about the past few years and his time ruling his kingdom. With a heavy heart he was reminded of his son, oh how he wished he had a clear mind during their fight. He should have seen the signs of something being amiss, that his son was not the same cookie after he returned from the journey. Dark Cacao could only hope one day he finds his son, hope that he left the darkness behind. His road to acceptance wasn't easy either, without Pure Vanilla and White Lily he sure would have still resented that day even now.
---- flashback ----
"I don't see how my banishment of a traitor would be of any concern to you my friends." Dark Cacao stated, his face looked weary as he looked towards his two friends who had heard of the news and arrived as soon as possible. "He is your son! Something must have happened please let us investigate a bit something doesnt feel right about this situation the dark choco we knew would never-" "Enough."
White lily stopped mid sentence, she looked towards Dark Cacao in shock. He could only sigh and lay back in his bed, bandages still around his torso from where his son, his own dough, sliced through him without a care in the world.
"He... He made his choice."
Pure Vanilla refused to accept that answer. "You told us how just that morning he was so excited to explore on his own for the first time, finding a cave and when he returned he wielded a sword you know never was forged in your empire let alone the anger you described to us."
"Thats true, but while he got one blow on me in his fit of rage, I was quick. I hurt him myself. So long as he betrayed our nation that cookie is not allowed in this kingdom anymore. If you so wish ask one of the advisors to find a map to the cave, I will not aid you myself as I am still bedridden from the betrayal."
Quickly white lily and pure vanilla thanked him and rushed out the doors. Something wasnt right and they would get to the bottom of this!
They asked around the castle, most cookies being in a bitter mood, more so than usual, after hearing the news about the princes betrayal of the nation. However, one cookie ended up talking, showing them a map of the location of this cave the prince went to visit that day.
All bundled up for the cold the two cookies went on a mission to figure out what exactly occurred that morning which lead to the princes sudden change.
Wandering through the hills they stumbled upon a hidden entrance. "I dont like this feeling im getting from the area" said Pure Vanilla as he and white lily entered. "Your right something is... off"
There was not much to look at, but both cookies noticed something glowing. What looked like a pedestal in the center with a gap where a sword might have fit sat there. Curious they decided to each search for any remains of what used to be here, when white lily suddenly exclaimed, "Over here pure vanilla look at this!"
On the ground was a red glowing shard something clearly broken off from a larger rock, matching the same description the Cacao citizens gave of the gem in the middle of the ex-princes sword.
Taking a closer look pure vanilla reached to grab it before quickly pulling his hand back. He could feel the dark and ancient magic coating this object. With a quick wave of his hand, the rock started to glow and shake violently, runes of a language long since forgotten spiraled above it, as if the magic was trying to prevent itself from being found. "I recognize these symbols, I cant make out exactly what incantations they say but I read about it in a book about dark artifacts back at the academy" White lily stated as she stared in awe of what this tiny shard was producing. "If this is what this little piece of rock can do, what about a whole gem? If this was what was in the center of the sword, there is no telling what affect this has on its wielder!"
"Let me dispose of this lest we let another poor soul find it, then we shall report back to dark cacao and clear his sons name!" Pure vanilla quickly made work of removing the magic from this shard, and swiftly stated, "Lets head back white lily."
As they returned to the kingdom, sharing their findings with dark cacao, they explained the power of this ancient stone, the effects it has on its wielder, and most importantly if dark choco had grabbed it, he would become a servant to its will.
"So, after all this pain he caused me after all the pain I caused him... he was trapped forced to commit actions all in the name of this sword?" Dark cacao asked hesitantly. When Pure vanilla and white lily nodded, nothing would prevent the sobs that he produced. The usually stoic king faltered tears flowed from his eyes as he wept for the son he lost that day to magic. His friends comforting him in his time of anguish, and over the years the pain lessened, his son's banishment revoked if he were to reject the darkness. His friends however would be unable to forget the horror in Dark Cacao's eyes as he came to the realization that his son was a victim in this situation, a poor soul who touched a sword in an attempt to protect his kingdom, a over-eager child who whished to please his father. He could only hope one day he and his son would reunite.
----------- back to present day -------------
While all the ancients were chatting, having light-hearted conversation, a loud bang was heard as the meeting room door slammed open.
"Who goes there!" Dark Cacao exclaimed as all the ancients jumped out of their seats prepared to fight this unknown threat.
"Wait its just us!" shouted strawberry cookie, as she and wizard cookie stumbled into the room aiding a wounded ginger brave. "We were attacked in the forest! One of those cake monsters got the jump on us, but this random cookie jumped in to save us!"
Pure Vanilla quickly ran to the group, assessing the claw mark alongside ginger braves arm. Waving his staff the wound began to fix itself.
"You said there was a cookie who saved you all? Do you know where the cookie ran off to? Its dangerous out there let alone with a monster that was able to wound you we must save them."
Quickly ginger brave nodded, regaining his voice he told the ancients their last known location, (the last place he remember before he was attacked) and the group decided to set off. Dark cacao told his friends that they need not fight his kingdoms battle, but they all disagreed wishing to help save this unknown hero cookie.
"Plus think of it as an adventure! Its been ages since we all went on a mission" shouted Hollyberry as she grabbed her shield from the table, "Lets head out! Stay here tiny-cookies let us handle this fight!"
Before long all the ancients were rushing out of the castle.
"Is it just me or does it feel like there are a large amount of cake hounds more so than when we arrived in this forest?" Golden cheese yelled back to the other ancients firing another arrow quickly eliminating the hounds.
"Yes. Something is amiss. It as if they are trying to follow a scent to find something" said Dark Cacao as he swung his sword, slaughtering another three cake hounds.
"Over there! I see a trail of jam!" White lily rushed over to what looked like a few hours old dried jam on the trees and faint traces of jam on the snow. "The mystery cookie must have gone this way!"
Quickly the ancients followed lily, slaughtering the remaining cake hounds before hearing a shriek from white lily. Rushing over to her they saw a large amount of jam and a large cake monster with a sword through its head.
Cursing the ancients rushed forward to see what killed the cake monster before standing still. Half crushed from the cake monsters body they saw jam, too much jam, surrounding its maw. However, that wasn't even the horrific sight, it was the cookie itself.
Dark Cacao recovered from the shock the fastest, running forward to cradle the body of his son. "VANILLA! He's still alive you must help him please!" Pure Vanilla ran towards the pair, while White Lily and Hollyberry worked towards freeing his leg from the cake monster.
"He's lost too much jam I'm not sure if I can-" "Please just try please I can't bear to lose my son not like this!"
From below the pair they heard a pained groan from dark choco, "There is still hope please!" Swiftly Vanilla started to use his healing magic the second the beast was removed from his body. While working on stopping the flow of jam Vanilla whispered, "Look... That cursed sword is no where near him, not even traces of its magic are left. Dark Cho- your son overcame the darkness."
Overwhelmed Dark Cacao didn't respond, only taking in his son, who looked to frail and too young compared to the ancients who had lived for centuries. To him, his son will forever be his child, one who he banished and now might loose to a stray cake monster.
"He's stable enough we must get him to the medical wing in the castle if we move fast the higher his chance of recovery is. Help me lift him Cacao."
Dark Cacao whispered apologies to his son, as with every shift as he slowly lifted his son pained whimpers could be heard from the poor cookie. As they broke into a run back to the castle eventually those whines faded to nothing as Choco lost the last of his consciousness.
------------------------------
Dark Choco groaned in pain as he awoke. In all honesty he didn't expect to wake up again. Trying to open his eye he could only hiss in pain as he shifted on what felt like a bed. Where he was he wouldn't be able to tell as he quickly shut his eye again. He could hear voices around him but wasn't able to make out the words before he passed out once more.
It wouldn't be until a few hours later when he awoke once more.
This time Dark Choco when he slowly opened his eye, he saw faint patterns on the ceiling of what looked like a room in the Kingdom, but that would be foolish to believe, he knew his banishment was permanent and his father wouldnt visit him let alone save him. Shutting his eye once more he could understand pieces of words being spoken.
"--lease -pen your eye for me my son."
Dark choco squeezed his eye shut even harder than before, his voice was dry but he spoke only a few words. "I must have died. Is this the afterlife? My father never would have saved me so this must be a dream." "I dont... I dont think I want to wake up from it."
A cold hand touched his cheek, "Please my son open your eye. I will prove this isn't fake. I know all about the sword. My son come back to me."
Those were more words than he ever remembered his father saying at once, but times changed. He changed. Maybe, his father would be able to forgive the person he became.
Hesitantly he opened his good eye, as his vision came into focus he saw the man he never thought he would see again in his lifetime. Dark Cacao sat at his bedside holding his hand and face.
"Dad?"
Dark Cacao slowly leaned over his son and wrapped his arms around his boys still too weak body, careful not to irritate any of his wounds from his fight. "You saved them, those cookies. My son how I missed you."
Dark Choco could only stare there in shock whispering to Dark Cacao- his father, "Please, im sorry ive tried to protect the kingdom but I know I can never make up for what I did im sorry please-"
Dark Cacao shushed his son, "There is no need to worry. Everyone in the kingdom knows what that blasted sword did to your mind. I want you to return by my side my son. There will be time for these talks later, but for now let us enjoy this moment." Tears started to drip from both father and sons eyes. Dark Choco moved his arms as carefully as he could to wrap around his father, any physical pain he felt was ignored in favor of his
What he used to think was only a dream was now his reality, having his father hold him in this moment was more than he could ever had hoped for.
Both father and son clung to the other desperate to not let the other one go, a weight lifted off both their shoulders, no longer carrying their burdens alone, tomorrow they would face the other cookies, face the kingdom.
But in this moment in this room there were only father and son, reunited once more.