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Chapter Text

When White Flour woke up she felt like only a few minutes had passed, maybe an hour. Her body hurt and she could taste jam in her mouth like she had bitten down on her cheek or tongue. The room was blurry as she tried to gather her thoughts. It was like a mist was covering everything.

The last thing she remembered was talking to Sea Salt as he promised to keep her safe. “don’t worry Flour. As long as I’m here and alive, I’ll be here to protect you,” He had hugged her close, reassuring that she was making the right move. That closing everything out was a good idea.

It was only Sea Salt there when White Flour went into hiding.The other Virtues had kingdoms to rule and needed to maintain their territories. Salt had a small army he ordered, yes, but he was free to travel whenever and wasn’t bound to a single location. He said he wouldn’t leave her…Then why wasn’t he here? Why wasn’t he the one waking her up with a gentle shove while saying that she was being more lazy than one of the cakehounds. White Flour could even imagine him telling her that Blueberry Milk and Powdered Spice were outside and Sweet Sugar was resting in the peach blossom trees. “You’ve been asleep for hours Flour. I thought you said you’d only be asleep for an afternoon,” That was the plan.

The attacks on her had gotten worse and worse over the past few months. White Flour had started denying requests that weren’t life threatening. No one liked the change as she denied cookies the opportunity for wealth or riches or power. She thought they could live without them and denying a handful of requests wasn’t making her a monster. White Flour couldn’t deal with the stress and the guilt of losing another innocent life because she was preoccupied with a wish that had no time limit to be fulfilled.

The attacks had started small with a few rude cookies deciding to come to the temple and just yell at her for “not fulfilling their wishes fast enough”, but it had quickly turned into attempts of murder.

One cookie had nearly killed her in front of the temple. He would have gotten away with it too if not for the fact that Powdered Spice had chosen to visit that day. White Flour normally hated bloodshed but she couldn’t fault Powdered Spice’s reaction of slicing the attacker clean in half. He had refused to let her be killed in an unfair fight. It had been the first of many assasination attempts.

It was the poison in the offerings that were left at the temple that had caused Blueberry Milk to send White Flour a letter advising her to stop accepting food. He had seen her collapse after a sweet vegetable bun had been laced with foxglove poison. It took White Flour an entire week to recover. The entire temple was cleaned of any and all food after that and Blueberry Milk started sending her food and meals prepared in his kingdom where they couldn’t be tampered with.

Sweet Sugar had even saved White Flour from being drowned in the river next to the temple. White Flour didn’t hide her fear at almost losing her life. She had cried for hours as Sweet Sugar just held her and tried to make her feel safe.

White Flour thought that hiding away and not doing anything would make those cookies go away. All it did was start more conflict as rumors of gold and riches being in her home made her a walking target. It was rare for her to not show up to one of the other Virtues’ homes with life threatening injuries and wounds that nearly crippled her.

Sea Salt had stopped traveling when he heard of the assasination attempts and stayed with White Flour. He had become her bodyguard to try and scare away the attackers but it only seemed to draw them in.

Sea Salt had actually gotten himself hurt on just the first day of protecting White Flour. An attacker in the night had caught him off guard and given him a cut to the abdomen between his armor plates. White Flour cried and apologized when she saw the damage. She couldn’t take it after that.

She had just gone into her temple and wrapped herself up in the silks crying. She didn’t want this power anymore. This chance to change others lives. They always disregarded her, hurt her and humiliated her. Why did she do this all? Was it for fame? A feeling of belonging? Trying to live up to the physical strength of the other Virtues?

She had been through so many attacks. So many injuries. But this attack…this attack she woke up to after mere hours of nightmare filled sleep, was different.

The air was different, filled with finely ground flour. It covered everything in the temple which itself seemed much older. Crumbling walls and tapestries seemed to tell stories that White Flour didn’t remember. This was her home, yet at the same time it wasn’t.

“I think you knocked the souljam off of her, Caramel!” A man called. Mystic Flour weakly looked up to see a man with a black and white wolf standing back on guard and ready to attack. Was something wrong? Has someone tried to attack her again? Mystic Flour didn’t recognize the armor the man wore at all. Suddenly a woman holding a bow pointed an arrow right at her head. “Don’t think of moving!” The woman hissed angrily.

Mystic flour felt a wave of pure fear overcome her. She wanted to scream and shout but the woman tensed when Mystic Flour opened her mouth.

Mystic Flour stared at the woman. She was a little larger than mystic flour. Her dough was a darker tan and her hair a beautiful mix of sweet brown and deep chocolate. Her bow was unlike anything Mystic Flour had seen, even from the weaponry that Powdered Spice would show off to her.

Then it hit her. Where was Sea Salt? He said he’d stay at the temple till she woke up. Did he…? No! White Flour refused to believe her best friend and ally had died protecting her. Had these two guards killed her knightly friend.

No, Sea Salt had been in countless battles, coming out with mere scratches. Even when the Virtues would battle for practice Salt could easily parry any attack and even handle multiple enemies at once. He couldn’t be dead. He couldn’t be!

“Caramel Arrow! Crunchy Chip! What’s going on in here?!” Another man, definitely more powerful and definitely in charge, shouted. “My king! We have her!” The woman said,”good…” the king growled angrily.

A king? White flour didn’t know of any king that sounded like this man. And why would a king attack her? Doesn’t he have enough power? White Flour tried to back up and hide in the scattered silky ropes that still cover the floor. She screamed out when a force hit her leg with a sickening snapping sound.

White Flour looked up to reveal the tall, muscular and powerful king she had referred to. White Flour started begging, she was too scared and in pain to care how desperate she sounded. “Please! Let me go! Who are you?! Why are you in my temple?! Where’s Salt?! What did you do to him?!” White Flour shouted in pure panic and desperation. She needed answers. Nothing was the same. Everything was different. She wanted her friends.

“Don’t play dumb!” The king yelled at her as he felt something around his waist. White Flour instinctively moved her hands to cover her vital organs. She could see the glint of a sword beneath the cloak of the king. She wasn’t about to fall for that. Powdered Spice had always told White Flour to never try and grab for the sword when being attacked. He said White Flour would just cut herself and give the enemy a chance to slash into her again. It had been a charming brunch till he mentioned that. At least it was helpful knowledge.

“Don’t pretend you don’t remember trying to kill us and our kingdom, Beast!” The woman from before shouted. “Caramel Arrow Stay out of this!” The king ordered. At least White Flour now knew the name of the woman. Caramel Arrow had moved to an executioner's position, ready to shoot if White Flour moved wrong.

“I don’t know what you're talking about. I’d never hurt anyone. My temple is a place of safety and it’s to be kept as such,” White Flour said as she stared up at the king. He was much larger than her, with dark dough that matched the black hair with two misplaced streaks of white. His dark armor and cloak made him even more imposing with dragon-like designs on it.

The king got closer. “Stand up! You're coming with us,” He growled. White Flour had no choice as Caramel Arrow had started to draw her bow. “Can I please know who you all are?” White Flour asked. She didn’t fully care who was about to kill her but she needed information.

The king looked confused for a moment. Had White Flour met him already? Had she granted him a wish years ago? “I guess the beast of apathy doesn’t care enough to learn names,” The king said coldly. White Flour didn’t know who the Beast of Apathy was but that wasn’t her. “You don’t deserve my answer or my support. The less you know the better. We will put you on trial when we get to the kingdom. Then you may beg for mercy and explain yourself Mystic Flour,”

White Flour looked at him confused. That wasn’t her name. They had the wrong cookie. “My name is White Flour! Not Mystic Flour! You have the wrong cookie!” She shouted. It was a last ditch attempt to get free and run away. Maybe go to one of the other Kingdoms where her friends were and ask for help. Then again, it was very clear her leg was broken from the king stomping onto it. White Flour knew she wouldn’t make it far..

“What did you say?” The king asked as he knelt down to White Flour’s level. White Flour decided to just pray and spill everything and anything so she’d live. “My name is White Flour. Guardian of the Ivory Temple. Holder of the virtue of Volition. I am one of the five Virtues including Blueberry Milk, Powdered Spice, Sweet Sugar and Sea Salt. Now answer my simple question. Who are you?” White Flour said, trying to sound as calm as possible.

The king looked at her for a while. He looked like he had heard something he shouldn’t have. He looked around at the old tapestry in the room then back at White Flour. “What year is it?” the King questioned. “It’s currently the third quarter of the year two hundred and sixty eight,” White Flour answered, thinking it was a dumb question. The king shook his head. “My dear it’s the first quarter of the year is one thousand five hundred and thirty six”

White Flour froze. She had been asleep for over a thousand years?! But how? Why? Did something go wrong? What happened to her friends? “You’re lying…” she muttered, eyes starting to water a little. The king turned from confused to slightly concerned, though he was still firm and on guard. “You are still coming with us. I have someone who may be able backup your story,” He said, hesitating for a moment. “My name is Dark Cacao by the way. I feel you deserve that knowledge,”

The king walked away as White Flour was hoisted up by Caramel Arrow and carried out of the temple. “Don’t…try anything,” She murmured to White Flour, but it didn’t matter. In a matter of moments White Flour was completely stunned by what she had just heard.

She had to be dead. Only death would create a tournament like this to haunt her. This was a breaking point. One that White Flour couldn’t handle.

Chapter Text

The trip to wherever White Flour was being taken wasn’t the worst. Caramel Arrow and another guard called Crunchy Chip stayed with her the entire time. They walked next to her as several of the wolves stayed near. White Flour was in a lot of pain and with what she knew, she wouldn’t exactly be getting help very fast.

Apparently Dark Cacao hadn’t entirely meant to break White Flour’s leg and he said she would be patched up when they got to the Silver Kingdom. For now she had a simple brace that kept her leg stiff but still in pain. She honestly was just happy they didn’t kill her.

While they traveled and walked, White Flour asked more questions than she probably ever had in her entire life. “What’s the world like now?” “Has everyone moved on from the Virtues and their abilities?” “Where are my friends?” Mystic flour questioned.

Caramel Arrow had explained everything the best she could. “Since You seem to not remember anything, I’ll give you the simple version. Let’s start with what happened to your friends. At some point when you and the other “Virtues” were still in control you became corrupted. At that point you started attacking others and were trapped to stop you from destroying the remaining kingdoms. As far as we know your virtue has always been apathy,” Caramel Arrow said.

“But we would never! Milk loved his students! Spice protected his kingdom! Sugar would face a dragon before her subjects faced harm! Salt…Salt would never harm a soul…” White Flour said. She was starting to cry. A mix of homesickness and fear settled in her gut. She wanted to puke it all up and collapse.

Caramel arrow steadied her. “Listen, if it makes you feel better… it seems that when I knocked your souljam off of your person you went back to normal…before you were corrupted,” She explained. White Flour didn’t feel any better. In fact, the more she walked, the more she wanted to pass out.

White Flour was worried about that. Dark Cacao had her souljam now. She had heard from Crunchy Chip that there were other heroes who have her friend’s souljams, though she didn’t know who. Well besides from Dark Cacao who obviously had her’s.

White Flour just needed a distraction. She would have loved to talk about things other than what was going on with her but she didn’t really know what to talk about. Most of the guards didn’t seem interested in talking to her.

She looked ahead to see one of the guards carrying what looked like a small bundle. White Flour moved and saw it was a small Haetae cookie, completely asleep. White Flour remembered the several Haetae who used to guard her temple. She felt a spike of sadness as she realized they were most likely dead if it had been so long.

This Haetae seemed a little different though. Like White Flour had met them before, or at least some other Haetae like them. “What’s with that Haetae?” White Flour nervously asked. “They were with you guarding your temple don’t you-?” Caramel Arrow started before cutting herself off. “Sorry…” she mumbled.

White Flour took no offense to it. She truly knew nothing about the world anymore. “It’s fine. However I truly don’t remember them…” White Flour said softly.

“They are a loyal guard from what we saw. They had gotten into a fight with us when we came here and got knocked out hard. We decided to bring them with us. Maybe when they wake up they can explain things better for you…?” Caramel Arrow said softly.

She obviously didn’t know if talking would even help. White Flour still felt awful. She wanted to cuddle up and just sleep till she woke up and everything was back to normal. White Flour imagines it. A small bedroom like the one back at the temple, one filled with warm blankets and pillows and dozens of books to read. Maybe that little Haetae on her lap like she remembered in the past with others. Maybe her friends are with her, just all together. Maybe things being better…?

The homesickness was really getting bad…

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It had taken all day but they had finally gotten to the edges of a beautiful silver forest. White Flour was on the verge of tears. The brake in her leg still wasn’t healed completely. She had been walking on pain all basically all day.

“Hey Crunchy Chip? How much can one of your cream wolves carry?” Caramel Arrow asked. “About a cookie your size, why?” White Flour them felt someone grab her as Caramel Arrow set her onto one of the wolves who gently nuzzled Caramel Arrow's hand.

“HEY WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?! GET HER OFF OF MY POOR CREAM WOLVES!” Crunchy Chip shouted angrily. “Keep it down. She’s injured, and we still have another two hours of walking,” Caramel Arrow said.

White Flour whimpered as she was set down onto the wolf. It was much bigger than her and had no trouble with her being on it’s back. The wolf turned to look at her and gave her a curious look before giving her a gentle lick on the hand. It could definitely tell she was scared.

“Don’t worry, they don’t bite unless ordered to or if they’re threatened,” Caramel Arrow said in a calming tone. “Just pet them a little bit and they’ll know you’re ok,” White Flour was shaking but gently petted the wolf, who in turn, barked happily and started walking next to Carmilla Arrow. It was careful enough to know that White Flour was on its back and still very wary of this.

Caramel arrow started leading the wolf through the forest. Dark Cacao had slowed down to walk beside them and chat. “So Mystic Flour…” the king started. “White Flour your majesty,” she corrected quietly. She was still very scared of the king after the attack in the temple. White Flour was honestly scared of everyone but the king especially scared her.

“White Flour, we are going to be in the Silver Kingdom in about another mile or so. I believe you should be made aware that there is another Hero who now holds the souljam of one of your friends. Her name is White Lily,” Dark Cacao said.

White Flour thought about it. Dark Cacao talked about White Lily as a sweet and understanding cookie, if not a bit nervous and clumsy at times. “Who’s souljam does she have?” White Flour asked after listening for a while. She needed to know which one of her friends’ souljams now belonged to white Lily.

Dark Cacao answered but White Flour had to blink to fix her train of thought. She didn’t believe what he said. “White Flour are you listening?” Dark Cacao asked. “Do you mind repeating that…?” White Flour said quietly. “I said White Lily has Silen Salt’s souljam,” Dark Cacao said. White Flour didn’t believe it. “though you probably called him something different,” Dark Cacao added.

White Flour felt the tears start forming in her eyes. She couldn’t move and it sounded like a constant ringing was blocking out all other noise. Of course the first place they go to after she had just woke up from a thousand year sleep was a kingdom with a hero who had her best friend’s souljam.

“WHITE FLOUR!” Dark Cacao shouted, startling the poor woman. “Y-yes?!” White Flour asked as she nervously looked up at the king. “Was something the matter with me mentioning Silent Salt?” Dark Cacao asked, calming down slowly. “S-sea Salt…” White Flour whimpered quietly. She was trying not to openly cry. She didn’t want to think about what SeaSalt could have done to lose his virtue and be named ‘Silent Salt’.

A few of the guards looked over and saw White Flour holding back tears. They didn’t want to get involved. “Maybe let’s not talk about this,” Caramel Arrow whispered so the other guards didn’t hear. “But we need more information! You’re not just gonna let her cry crocodile tears and make stuff up are you?!” Crunchy Chip exclaimed.

White Flour didn’t know what she needed to do to earn their trust but it was clear that Crunchy Chip didn’t believe her at all. Dark Cacao dismissed his guard and stared daggers at White Flour. “What is your relationship with Silent Salt?” He asked. “Sea Salt…” White Flour said quietly.

“He was my best friend. We worked with each other all the time. He was always protective of me the most so over time we became close. He was w-with me when I wrapped myself up in the silk…and went in-into hiding…” White Flour explained. Crunchy Chip rolled his eyes which felt like a stab but White Flour didn’t care anymore as she pet the cream wolf she was with.

The cream wolves didn’t judge her for caring for an ally she saw as a close companion. They just looked at her sympathetically and let her pet them for comfort. Caramel Arrow didn’t seem to judge White Flour as hard either. It was almost like she understood in some sense.

They all kept walking as Crunchy Chip and Dark Cacao started to ignore White Flour. “Hey? Do you want to talk about the thing with Salt? I can tell you care about him,” Caramel Arrow said as she walked beside White Flour. “Would you rather I tell you something so you feel comfortable?” Caramel Arrow asked.

White Flour did want to learn a bit about Caramel Arrow and the other guards. “Sure,” White Flour said softly. “Well for one I’m the King’s first watcher. I usually am at the citadel making sure guards are where they need to be and sending the scouts to the correct locations,” Caramel Arrow said happily, like she was a dragon displaying a cave full of rare gold and gems.

“The king is really nice, though he takes some warming up to. Crunchy Chip isn’t fond of strangers and generally prefers the cream wolves,” Caramel Arrow said. “I will say that if you want to get Crunchy Chip on your good side you can easily bribe him with sweets. He follows orders for everything except that,”

“That’s sounds good though. At least he’s not this worked up all the time,” White Flour said. “If I may ask though, will there be a chance I meet these other heroes? The ones who have my friends’ souljams. Who are they?” She questioned.

Caramel listed them off. “Well you’ve obviously met my King who had your souljam and we’re headed to meet White Lily who holds ownership of Silent Salts…” White Flour didn’t need a reminder, “but from what I know, Hollyberry holds Eternal Sugar’s souljam…” She could assume that was Sweet Sugar, “…Burning Spice’s souljam now belongs to Golden Cheese…” Powdered Spice, “and Pure Vanilla now had Shadow Milk’s souljam,” Caramel Arrow finished, calling Blueberry Milk by his new name.

White Flour just sunk down as Caramel Arrow started talking about the kingdoms that each of the heroes were from. She listened but not as intensely as she could have. White Flour’s mind wondered with ideas on how her friends had changed. How her life had changed. She felt a cold creeping feeling like she had done horrible things. Things that she needed to fix.

That feeling of dread and inevitable panic was starting to come back and make her sick.

Chapter Text

The forest was quite…too quiet. The trees were an almost reflective silver color and seemed to breathe in a way. It reminded White Flour of the living plants Blueberry Milk used to keep in his garden. The ones that would look around and move in a way that showed they had more life to them then your average rose garden.

The cream wolves seemed to tense as well. Their ears fell flat against their heads and tails stayed low. White Flour got the feeling that she should lay down but she didn’t want to put too much pressure on the wolf that was carrying her, even if it was twice her size.

“Halt!” one of the watchers called. Everyone immediately went into a defensive position. White Flour carefully sunk down into the wolf’s fur. She put her head down, hoping her white clothes would blend into the wolf’s fur and she’d be left alone.

“We mean no harm. We just want the beast,” A new voice said, proud yet monotone. “She’s with us. We wish to see Elder Faerie and White Lily immediately,” Dark Cacao said firmly. White Flour finally looked up to see a cookie with silvery wings and a firm expression standing before Dark Cacao.

“So this was what the Cookies of the Silver Kingdom looked like?” White Flour whispered to herself. She had never seen anyone like them before. The Cookie’s appearance made him seem like one with the forest, like he truly belonged there.

“I must send three of the guards to warn them and have all of you escorted,” The cookie said. “Why three guards? Don’t the fae normally scout in groups of three or four?” Caramel Arrow asked out loud. “We unfortunately have been under attack the past few days, there is someone in the forest attacking fae. Elder Faerie ordered we work in groups of seven or more to avoid casualties,” The faerie responded.

White Flour wondered who would want to attack these faeries. They seemed relatively calm, if not a bit tense from what she was seeing. In addition, how Dark Cacao talked about White Lily made it sound like she would never want fighting. So who would it be?

By the time White Flour got out of her thoughts, they were already being guided by the faeries to move forward on a chosen path. The faeries seemed very organized and like they knew the forest well. They talked with Dark Cacao’s guards happily, though they gave her dirty looks.

“Hello there!” A voice then said. White Flour looked up to see a smaller fae in white clothes with silver armor. He seemed much friendlier than the others and like he wanted to make her feel welcome. “SILVERBELL! Get away from that thing…” an older fae growled. “She’s not doing anything…” the smaller one replied.

“Your name is SilverBell?” White Flour asked. “Yes, I am! And you’re Mystic Flour, right?” He quipped. “My name is White Flour,” She responded, getting tired with others calling her this new name.

The fae looked a little embarrassed at his mistake as his wings moved a little faster. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you!” SilverBell said in a panic. White Flour didn’t mind that much. She could really care less at this point.

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After a while they made it too a calm forest area that was full of tall silver trees with homes added into their branches. Several faeries stopped to see what was going on.

White Flour had gotten off of the cream wolves, one to give them a break and two to stop Crunchy Chip from giving her death glares. She looked ahead to see Dark Cacao walking towards a large tree that had a meeting room carved into its roots so that it was partially opened to the air.

That’s when White Flour saw her. A small woman with white hair and a green and silver dress ran out and immediately hugged Dark Cacao like they knew each other. She held a staff with her that looked like a small lily flower, and right in the center was a jewel that looked almost exactly like Sea Salt’s souljam.

“Dark Cacao! It’s so good to see you, my friend!” The woman exclaimed happily. “Same to you White Lily,” Dark Cacao said as he gave her a respectful kiss on the hand. White Lily blushed softly at the gesture.

“What brings you to the Silver Kingdom? I heard you have some-…one…?” White Lily said as she noticed White Flour. She looked at her with a gentle face that seemed to show several emotions. Worry, pain, sadness, relief, regret. It was like White Lily could read exactly what had happened to White Flour and felt like she caused it.

“My apologies for being late,” A voice called, as a much larger fae landed next to White Lily. A few of the guards that had been following him had landed in the trees to watch, like spectators in an execution. At least that was how White Flour saw it.

White Flour wanted to sink down and collapse into the ingredients that made her up. She knew she was already visibly shaking and everyone seemed to know who she was. Some looked angry, some looked scared, and some looked like they wanted to see just why she dared come anywhere near this place.

“Hello my dear,” The large fae said as he walked forward. He was thin and tall, with silver blue hair and periwinkle eyes. His wings were half opened, giving the appearance that he had a cape on. The wings seemed to have large scars like they had been shredded at some point and stitched back together. “My name is Elder Faerie. From What I’ve been told, you are Mystic Flour,” He said softly

“White Flour sir…” she responded. “White Flour is what you wish to be called?” Elder Faerie asked as he walked closer and looked down. White Flour nodded her head. She didn’t feel like talking all of a sudden.

“It is wonderful to have you in the realm of the fae,” Elder Faerie said as he offered her a hand. “Why don’t we head inside and have some tea while we discuss a few things. I believe I have some letters to write to the other Ancient Heroes,” White Lily said.

“Agree. Tell all of them to come immediately. We need everyone here to discuss what to do with her,” Dark Cacao said firmly.

White Flour sunk down as much as she could on her injuries. She flinched as White Lily wrapped an arm around her and lead her inside of the meeting room. “We have a lot of questions and a lot of time,” White Lily said.

Chapter Text

White Flour looked at the tea that was placed before her. It was a soft amber color with swirls of a more pinkish sugar. She didn’t trust it. Everyone had gotten a different type of tea and she didn’t know if something different had been added to hers.

White Lily’s drink was a pale pink with leaves and cream in it. Dark Cacao’s tea was a dark brown with spots of orange sugar crystals. And Elder Faerie’s drink was a deep blue that turned purple when lemon was added. There was no consistency.

“Is something wrong White Flour?” white Lily asked softly. “E-everything’s going fine…” White Flour nervously responded. White Lily could tell something was wrong as she saw how White Flour held her drink. “No one has tampered with your drink. If you’re that worried we can switch,” White Lily said.

White Flour didn’t respond as she tried to hide in the comfortable seat. They were all on a high shelf that overlooked the meeting room of the grand tree. It had an appearance of a flowering nest of sorts but was full of plush pillows and soft blankets.

“The messengers should get the letters to Pure Vanilla, Golden Cheese and Hollyberry in a little over a day. How fast do you believe they will get here?” Dark Cacao asked. “Pure Vanilla will most likely get here the fastest. He is a magic user and has used simple portal spells the past few visits,” White Lily said. “Hollyberry may take a while unless she’s with Pitaya Dragon,” She added.

“The message will take longer to get to Golden Cheese due to the terrain of her kingdom. Fae are not made to deal with hot temperatures without covering to hide and no moisture in the air. I sent two strong fliers with extra water containers and a map of the best oasis to stop and rest at,” Elder Faerie added as his wings fluttered quietly.

White Flour hoped they would just put her in a dungeon somewhere and leave her alone. She didn’t want to be questioned at all but from the way Dark Cacao looked at her she knew she wasn’t getting out of this.

“White Flour, we need to ask you some important questions,” Dark Cacao started. White Flour tensed as the questions started. “Firstly, what exactly do you remember before the attack at the temple?” He questioned. This was a bad start.

“I remember talking with Sea Salt about going into hiding. It felt like I was asleep for a few hours maybe,” White Flour said. She didn’t want them asking too many questions so she kept it simple.

“When you say Sea Salt are you talking about Silent Salt?” White Lily asked. White Flour just nodded. “Were any of the other Beast Cookies there?” White Lily asked. “Beast Cookies…? Is that what we are to you?” White Flour questioned, holding her dress tightly in her hands.

Elder Faerie looked sympathetic but still firm. “Unfortunately, yes. However it’s clear you don’t understand the entire point of view we have on the issue at hand,” The fae said. “You are still dangerous,” Dark Cacao said.

“It was just me and him…” she mumbled. White Flour felt humiliated. They thought she was a monster? She couldn’t even remember what she did the past millennium. Her mind had gone completely dark the moment she sealed up that cocoon.

“Are you sure you don’t remember anything?” Dark Cacao asked with a grumble to his voice. He looked so angry at her, like she was a cat who had eaten all of the birds in his garden. Dark Cacao also was carefully adjusting his sword. He was aiming it at her.

Even though Dark Cacao and Elder Faerie had removed their armor they still had weapons on them. Dark Cacao obviously had his sword which White Flour was one hundred percent sure she wouldn’t be able to lift or block. Elder Faerie on the other had had no weapons openly, but it seemed all the fae had slight claws that were sharp as a blade. White lily was the only one, besides from White Flour, to have no weapon with her. Then again, for all White Flour knew, White Lily could have a dagger hidden in her dress pocket.

“I wish to know…” White Lily started as she set down her tea, “what were the Beast Cookies like before? How do you remember them White Flour?” She questioned. It was probably the first question that sounded like they wanted to hear her side of the story.

“Well who should I start with?” White Flour asked. “Start with Shadow Milk…or whoever you called him” Dark Cacao said, trying to show the same compassion White Lily did and failing miserably. White Flour didn’t like this new name for Blueberry Milk. It sounded too dark for the sweet and innocent wizard who she had spent hours talking to in his garden.

“Well, Blueberry Milk was always very caring towards me and the others. Sure he was very perfectionist and hated when we messed with his things but he truly cared for the group. He also wasn’t the strongest but still put himself on the line,” White Flour said. Elder Faerie tensed like he had something to say but didn’t.

“How about Burning Spice?” White Lily asked. “Well we called him Powdered Spice but he had a lot of nicknames thanks to Sweet Sugar and Blueberry Milk,” White Flour started, “He always took hits for all of us. I don’t remember ever being in a fight where he didn’t pull one of us out of the way of an attack, even if he got hurt. He was reckless but careful when it came to the group. I feel he would rather eat hot coals than let anyone crumble,”

“Sweet Sugar must be Eternal Sugar’s original name,” Elder Faerie said. “Yes, that would be her,” White Flour continued, “Sugar was definitely the nicest. She kept spirits high when things went wrong but she also wouldn’t stand idly by if something was wrong. She was always near Blueberry and made sure he relaxed when we all had the time. Those two were inseparable,” She stated strongly.

“And What about Silent Salt?” White Lily asked. She sounded more quiet and nervous. Elder Faerie also tensed and pulled his wings closer to his back like he expected an attack. White Flour got a sinking feeling that something really bad had occurred between White Lily, Elder Faerie and Sea Salt.

“Well Salt was my most trusted friend. He never hurt me, never double crossed me, he refused to let me get into any dangerous situations, and he always kept an eye out for me. He was a defender who could strike quickly and efficiently. He never let anyone sneak up and hurt us,” White Flour said truthfully but her voice started getting quieter as her stomach did a loop in her abdomen. “H-he always made sure we had a place in the group. He wasn’t afraid to get spotted in an attack or draw attention. If anyone wasn’t able to keep up he made sure they could…”

Hundreds of memories flooded White Flour’s mind. She cared for all of her friends and if something happened that turned them into monsters she wanted to help. She wanted to be there for them. Maybe even help them get back to their normal selves.

White Flour felt the pressure in her chest. All the good memories of being with her friends seemed to bubble up in a wave that threatened to overwhelm White Flour. It was like she was way more emotional than normal. Like till just recently all her senses had been dulled.

“White Flour, do you want to go outside with me? I can show you where you’ll be staying,” White Lily said. White Flour just then noticed the dark spots on the table cloth. She was crying once again.

Chapter Text

White Lily had guided White Flour out into the garden area to try and calm down but it didn’t help. The longer White Flour was there the more thoughts of talking in Sugar or Milk’s guardens showed up. White Lily started to notice that and tried to walk around the village with White Flour.

Everything made the feelings worse. A simple bakery stirred the memories of feasts and dinner parties. The sounds of music gave way to thoughts of the towns White Flour visited with her friends. Even the fae training in the field brought up a nostalgic feeling White Flour got from the playful sparring matches they had.

“I-I don’t…*hic*…don’t wanna…*sob*…be here any m-more…” White Flour cried as she tried to hold back her emotions. White Lily pulled White Flour into one of the trees that seemed to hold several stories of beautiful rooms.

White Lily tried to talk to White Flour but it sounded like a constant ringing. “…clean you up…” was all White Flour could get out of the situation as She was brought into a lovely room at the ground level of the tree. White Flour was on the verge of passing out as she started hyperventilating. “I-I’m…im sor-…*sob*…sorry…” she cried, scared that White Lily would take this as an opportunity to attack.

“You have nothing to apologize for,” White Lily said firmly as she hugged White Flour. “Y-you won’t attack me cause…cause I didn’t do what you w-wanted…?” White Flour asked in a scared voice. White Lily’s expression dropped to one of deep concern. She gently helped White Flour get up and led her to the bathroom.

White Lily had a nice hot bath prepared for White Flour and let her relax and calm down. White Flour just got into the water and soaked. She had gotten some of her injuries healed but they were still messy. White Lily had said that when Pure Vanilla got there he’d heal her up properly.

White Flour just hid in the bath so she didn’t have to deal with any of the other questions the heroes had for her. She wanted to go home, not just home but home how she remembered it. White flour sunk down as she tried to quiet her tears. She knew White Lily was still outside and probably could hear.

“White Flour? Do you need anything?” White Lily asked from outside. “I have some fresh clothes for you. I hope they fit,” She added softly before entering. White Lily was on the other side of the ivy curtains surrounding the bath but White Flour could still see her laying out medicine and healing supplies. The fresh clothes looked soft as well.

“I can tell you’ve had a long day. I don’t wish to put more stress on a cookie who has been through so much in just a day. I know how it feels actually,” White Lily said as she set down the clothes and started to walk out.

“Wait!” White Flour called as she splashed some water to look at White Lily. “C-can you stay a bit…I need some help with the bandages…” White Flour said softer as she sunk down again.

White Lily smiled “just get dried and I’ll get some tea for the two of us since we didn’t finish ours earlier,” White Lily said before she walked off. White Flour could tell that White Lily genuinely cared about her, even if she didn’t fully trust her.

White Flour practically slumped out of the bath as grabbed the towel to dry off. She cuddled up on the floor under the towel to try and calm down some more. Today had been too long. Way too long.

White Lily came back with some tea and helped White Flour with the bandages and her hair. “Your hair is very pretty.” White Lily said, trying to make small talk. White Flour didn’t care but she liked that White Lily wasn’t questioning her a bunch anymore.

White Lily tied White Flour’s hair into a loose bun and tied it back a bit just to keep it off of her neck. Then she went to work adding some proper bandages to White Flour’s leg. “Can I ask what Pure Vanilla could do to help with my injury?” white Flour asked as she fixed her new dress a bit. “He’s an amazing healer and can help the bone heal faster than if it healed normally.” White Lily said.

“Why did Dark Cacao have to do that though…?” White Flour whined. “Don’t worry, I’ve already sent Elder Faerie to yell at him for me.” White Lily said in a more cool toned voice. It seemed almost like her words had an edge to them. “Why didn’t you just confront him?” White Flour questioned. “Because if I did, I feel I would have broken his leg.” White Lily said.

White Flour had to admit that seemed a little extreme but it seemed White Lily was actually very unhappy with how Dark Cacao had handled the situation. White Flour was relieved that at least someone thought that the attack was extrem. Then again, White Flour didn’t know who she was before. She could have put Dark Cacao in a life of death situation but she didn’t know. She hadn’t been told anything.

“What did I do to Dark Cacao to make him hate me so much?” White Flour asked. White Lily tensed and looked at her with a face that asked ‘are you insane?! Do you not know what you’ve done?!’ mixed with deep concern. “Do you truly not remember?” White Lily asked. White Flour Shook her head.

Mystic Flour saw White Lily’s face fall before she got up and walked over to a desk. White Flour followed her and saw White Lily shuffling through papers. “Read this,” White Lily said, handing White Flour what looked like a letter. White Flour instantly tensed as she saw who wrote it. Dark Cacao.

The note read as fallowed.

Dear White Lily Cookie,
I regret to inform you that the Beast know as Mystic Flour has officially awoken. She is far beyond the power of most. Merely stepping foot in her territory puts you at risk of contracting a deadly disease that turns all around to flour in a matter of minutes. She appears to have no remorse for her actions as she views the use of the deadly disease as a positive. It is to my belief that she is the most dangerous of the Beasts as of yet. I advise you and the other Fae to prepare yourselves if any fae return from scouting showing signs of sickness. I shall fallow up with another letter when I am back in the Dark Cacao Kingdom. For now I must make sure my guards and watches are all safe as they had experienced firsthand the effects of the disease.
Your Friend, Dark Cacao Cookie

Mystic Flour froze solid. She really was dangerous. No wonder Crunchy Chip didn’t trust her. No wonder Caramel Arrow was prepared to kill her. No wonder Dark Cacao was prepared to slice her throat once she answered his questions. She was a monster.

“No one was killed when Dark Cacao first found you…” White Lily started. “DOES IT MATTER?!” White Flour exploded. “DOES IT MATTER THAT I DIDN'T KILL SOMEONE ONE TIME?! WHAT ABOUT BEFORE?!” Mystic Flour yelled. She was seeing red. She was mad and scared and upset at everything.

“Oh the witches…” White Flour said “is this why I feel empty…? Is this why every emotion feels like a stab to my chest…?” She questioned. “Please breathe for a moment…” White Lily started again as she tried to wrap an arm around White Flour. “UNHAND ME!” White Flour shouted, more out of fear than hatred.

“You and those other so-called heroes are why my friends aren’t around. Who’s to say you all don’t just get the answers to your questions then kill me? I know for a fact there’s already one vote for my execution.” White Flour said firmly, as if it was the exact truth.

White Lily kept trying to calm her down but it didn’t help. “Shut up! Just shut up!” White Flour yelled before she ran to the bathroom and shut the door. White Lily didn’t follow her luckily. “I’ll bring you some food from the kitchen later then…” White Lily said before she walked out and shut the door.

Chapter Text

White Flour stayed in the bathroom for hours till the sun was way past setting. She had hidden herself behind the counter near the towels and had planned to just stay there. She didn’t even answer when White Lily came back with what sounded like a tray of food. “Food is on the desk when you're hungry.” White Lily had said.

White Flour could care less. Why was White Lily being nice in the first place? To make her drop her guard? To make her an easier target? White Flour hated this all.

She had ended up falling asleep in the pile of towels, not like the bed would have felt much safer. If one of the guards had come in to kill her at least they wouldn’t have found her. It had been a pretty deep sleep with barely any dreams except a few memories of the day. Not like White Flour was missing much about what happened.

“White Flour? Are you awake?” A voice called. It was Caramel Arrow. Was she even trustworthy? White Flour didn’t answer at first. “Pure Vanilla and Hollyberry are about to arrive. I suggest you get ready and step into the hallway.” Caramel Arrow said before shutting the door like she left.

White Flour took her time getting up from the pile of towels and opening the door. She made sure nothing was out there before she left. The room was relatively cozy now that she was looking at it. A large curved bed was in the corner of the room with vines and silk draped around it to create curtains. A small desk and bookcase that was full of history and fiction books. And a small table and chairs set nearby the window that had the food White Lily had brought last night.

White Flour honestly felt bad for not eating last night as White Lily had obviously tried to make her feel welcome. It was a simple soup that looked to be made with a calming ginger broth and lemon. White Flour hadn’t eaten in over a day and had to admit she was a little hungry. Even if it was dinner food she quickly drank down the broth and ate some of the bread and jellies on the plate next to it.

She then got dressed in some clothes that were left on the bed. It was a good covering dress, similar to her old clothes, just with more silver lining and accents. It was a lot like the clothes worn by White Lily and Elder Faerie though that made a lot of sense.

When White Flour got out into the hall she was met with Caramel Arrow talking to SilverBell. “Oh you’re awake. We were starting to get worried. We need to head out to the courtyard to meet up with Hollyberry and Pure Vanilla,” SilverBell said. “We’ll be escorting you around the Kingdom by the way. White Lily and Dark Cacao’s orders.” Caramel Arrow added.

White Flour nodded as she followed them. The hallways seemed to share the same silvery color with vines and ivy that wove through the ceiling and walls. It caused the room to feel both bland yet oddly colorful. SilverBell and Caramel Arrow walked ahead a few steps. The fae seemed to blend into the Silver Forest while Dark Cacao’s first watcher stood out easily.

“So you said we were meeting with Pure Vanilla and Hollyberry…who are they?” White Flour asked softly. SilverBell turned to talk and explained everything. How Vanilla was a healer and the leader of the ancient heroes. How Hollyberry was the old queen of a kingdom now ruled by her decedents and their children. How both Pure Vanilla and Hollyberry were both some of the closest companions of White Lily and more.

White Flour honestly liked listening to SilverBell talk. He explained how he had even gotten to go to the other heroes kingdoms which very few fae ever did.

“I remember going to the Hollyberry Kingdom during on of their festivals. We had to be there for meetings as normal. They happened around twice a year to discuss things like defense and trade.” SilverBell said happily. “Oh yes! My king let me come with him that time. It was so beautiful to see all the bright pink flowers and try the different drinks and seasonal snacks.” Caramel Arrow said. “I believe Crunchy Chip also got to hang out with Hollyberry’s bodyguard. They have become quite close.” Caramel added softly.

They turned a corner to face a crowd of fae and a fe Dark Cacao guards standing around. “This way! White Lily wants us with her and the others.” SilverBell said. Caramel Arrow an White Flour followed. The had squeezed in just in time to see the other Ancient heroes showing up.

A small portal had opened up as two figures stepped through. One was a man with gently fluffed blond hair. He was wearing a relatively simple white shirt and blue pants with a beautiful yellow coat over his back. He held a staff that he leaned on to maintain balance as he walked. The other figure was a woman with blackish purple hair and a similar outfit to the man, though her’s appeared more armored like guards uniform. She also kept pulling her cloak over her right shoulder like she was hiding something.

“I assume that is Pure Vanilla and his guard…” White Flour said. “Yes. That’s Pure Vanilla, and his guards name is Black Raisin.” Caramel arrow said reassuringly. “They both seem nice.” Flour commented. “They are once they warm up to you, especially Raisin.” SilverBell said.

Several Fae suddenly shouted and backed away from an area in the courtyard as something heavy hit the ground. White Flour tensed and wondered if she was making it up as she looked to see a red green dragon landing. A woman and a guard hopped down from the dragon before the woman made a hand gesture towards the fearsome creature. The dragon took off suddenly and flipped around landing in a new form that seemed much more cookie sized. The guard only rolled his eyes at that.

“That’s Hollyberry, Pitaya Dragon and Wildberry.” Caramel Arrow explained before White Flour even asked the question. “Pitaya’s a dragon?!” White Flour exclaimed, not expecting one of the Ancient heroes to have befriended such a creature. “Don’t worry, he’s quite nice according to Wildberry.” SilverBell said.

White Lily and Dark Cacao walked forward to greet the others. “Good to see you my friend!” Hollyberry said as she grabbed Dark Cacao and hugged him tightly. Dark Cacao winced a bit but let her continue. White Lily had approached Pure Vanilla and Raisin and hugged them both happily.

White Flour managed to see Crunchy Chip running to playfully tackle Hollyberry’s guard. Everyone seemed to have friends, family, partners. White Flour could remember how the Virtues would always greet each other. It was all too similar. White Flour tried to keep her emotions in check this time. It was humiliating breaking down in tears every five minutes because of a sweet memory.

“It is wonderful to be here White Lily.” Pure Vanilla said happily, “I presume that is Mystic Flour over there?” He said, moving his staff towards White Flour. He staff seemed to actually see her, the eyed flower blinking and turning to pin point where she was. “She prefers White Flour.” White Lily said softly.

“How’s about we all head inside and get settled.” Hollyberry said as she grabbed her bag. “Yes, and maybe we shouldn’t start questioning until Golden Cheese arrives.” White Lily added. White Flour breathed a sigh of relief. At least she wouldn’t be put on trial just yet.

“Wildberry! How about you and the other guards go and rest for a bit. We’ll be in the council rooms so you won’t have to worry.” Hollyberry said happily. “Knowing your track record for getting into danger your majesty tells me otherwise.” Wildberry replied flatly. “Oh come on. You all deserve a bit of a rest, even for an hour.” Pure Vanilla said. “I have to agree with Wildberry. You especially, tend to get injured every other week.” Raisin grumbled. “Says the guard who gets injured on the daily.” Vanilla shot back playfully.

“Let’s just get inside for now.” Dark Cacao said. White Flour saw this as a good time to sneak off and hide in her room or maybe one of the gardens around the area. “White Flour. Follow the rest of us. We still want to talk.” The King continued. “Oh for the love of earthbread…” White Flour mumbled.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
They had all been taken into the council room where a small brunch had been put together. White Flour happily helped herself to some sweet jellies and bread. She had been seated next to White Lily and Hollyberry who were both acting extra sweet towards her.

“Do you want another plate White Flour?” Hollyberry asked happily as she passed a plate of fresh fruit. White Flour nodded. She was actually very hungry and felt she had to eat what she could now before she got interrogated again.

Everything had a sweet taste like it was covered in nectar or honey. It made sence honestly. The fae seemed to have very butterfly-like qualities. The idea that they enjoyed nectar wasn’t too far-fetched of a theory for White Flour to make.

“Hollyberry? When do you believe we may ssstart the quessstioning?” Pitaya hissed quietly as he settled beside the sweet woman. “Once Golden Cheese arrives. So I would say in a few hours.” Hollyberry replied. “Ssso we have time to sssettle?” Pitaya mused.

White Flour tensed a bit as the dragon spoke. At the very least, Pitaya seemed to be on the side of hearing her out and listening to her side of the story. Hollyberry also seemed open to what White Flour had to say. Honestly that both seemed very welcoming to strangers in general.

White Lily looked over with a slight smile. “You seem to be calming down very easily White Flour.” She said, “Thanks, I’m starting to get more comfortable. I still don’t feel comfortable with the questioning though.” White Flour replied. White Lily just nodded and went back to talking with Elder Faerie.

“If I may ask one question White Flour, what kinds of things are you interested in?” Pure Vanilla asked casually. He seemed open to talking and very polite in his approach. He didn’t pry for information White Flour didn’t want to give. It was a casual question with a casual answer.

“Well I’ve always enjoyed snowy days on the mountains. It never got too freezing with the sun always above but it was cold enough to warrant staying inside and making hit drinks. I also enjoy reading and writing a lot. I have…or had a lot of books back home that were given to me by friends.” White Flour said. She didn’t lie, she had no reason to do so. Though she had to admit she wasn’t sure if any of the books her friends had given her over the years were still there and in good condition after over a thousand years.

“I have to be honest, I am unable to read as normal but I do enjoy a good adventure book.” Pure Vanilla said. The eye on his staff moved to almost show happiness or joy. It seemed to almost reflect his emotions and show him the world. White Flour wondered if it was made with magic specifically so Pure Vanilla could see.

“Anyway, we should all get settled and start the meeting when Golden Cheese arrives. In the time being why don’t we let White Flour explore the area with a bit more freedom?” Pure Vanilla asked. “What do you mean?” Dark Cacao asked, already looking displeased by this idea. “What if we alow her to stay with our guards for the day?” Pure Vanilla said. “I believe that’s a good idea. It would let you have more freedom than just staying in your room White Flour.” Hollyberry said. “Absolutely not!” Dark Cacao argued, but the others had already decided for him.

“If you’re comfortable White Flour, may some of our guards stay with you for the time being?” Pure Vanilla asked. White Flour thought about it. For one, Vanilla was being very trusting of her and was giving her a lot of leeway. Two, Dark Cacao still seemed extremely nervous and angry at her and would probably make this all awful for her if she accepted the offer. And Three, most of the gird actually seems pretty nice to her and wouldn’t be as shallow as the others. It was overall a good deal when she thought about how this trial might turn out for her. “I accept.” White Flour said.

“In that case we’ll have a guard from each of us with you.” Pure Vanilla said. “Raisin and Wildberry might not enjoy being separated from us.” Hollyberry said. “Raisin will be fine. I honestly think she’d enjoy not worrying about me.” Pure Vanilla said. “In that case it makes two.” Hollyberry said. “SilverBell and Caramel Arrow were fine escorting White Flour earlier. They may be the other two.” Elder Faerie added.

White Flour let out a big sigh of relief. She wouldn’t be stuck with anyone who seemed to openly hate her. Raisin and Wildberry seemed relatively quiet while Caramel Arrow and SilverBell were open and friendly towards her. She just had to hope that she wouldn’t make them turn on her. Then again, how much more could she mess up in their eyes?

Chapter Text

Having freedom was nice. White Flour was allowed to be anywhere in the Silver Kingdom as long as the small group of guards was with her. She chose to settle in the huge library she had seen earlier when walking through the halls. It was quiet, safe and reminded her of her friends. SilverBell seemed equally excited to go to the library as he happily flew ahead to grab a book and settle in one of the reading nooks.

“This place reminds me of Blueberry Milk. He used to have a whole wing of his tower dedicated to every book there ever was. He’d normally send me a new book on the first of every quarter and question me about it when we met up.” White Flour explained as she searched through the books for one that she recognized.

“Apparently Pure Vanilla has been there. To Blueberry Milk’s tower, that is. I wasn’t with him but I believe he mentioned a large amount of books being everywhere.” Raisin said as she found a comfortable area to lay down in.

“Really?!” White Flour asked excitedly. “Did he say anything else about it? Are the gardens still there? Does the village around his tower still exist?” White Flour asked. She hoped her friends still maintained some of their old selves. She couldn’t imagine Blueberry Milk without him being surrounded by books and runes and other magical artifacts as he tried to understand them.

“Again, Pure Vanilla didn’t take me with him. I don’t know what happened there.” Raisin explained. She obviously seemed upset at the fact she wasn’t there. White Flour understood and mentally noted down asking Pure Vanilla more about Blueberry Milk.

“If it gives you any comfort, I was with Hollyberry and the gardens of Eter-um…Sweet Sugar are still around.” Wildberry said as he collected a small stack of books on flowers and herbs and put them back on the shelves. “At least that’s one thing…” White Flour said quietly.

“Say, where’s Caramel Arrow?” White Flour asked as she finally found a good book on the use of different armor in battles. “I believe Caramel said she was getting someone.” SilverBell said as he dropped down from the cozy book nook he had been in to be closer to the group.

“She was bringing someone for you White Flour.” Wildberry said thoughtfully as he handed her one of the other books on mountain plants and animals. “Oh? Really…?” White Flour asked. She really hoped it wasn’t Crunchy Chip or Dark Cacao. “Say, change of subject, what kind of books do you all like to read?” White Flour asked nervously, wanting to not talk about who might be coming with Caramel Arrow.

“Well I do enjoy the history books found in the libraries back in the Hollyberry Kingdom. A lot of them are exaggerated but they usually stay close enough to the source material.” Wildberry said. “Hollyberry used to read them to me all the time when I was younger. What about You SilverBell?”

“Well fae have more biology books. Plants, animals, cookies, you name it. White Lily definitely enjoys them so I guess I have a preference for those. Most books on the native trees and flowers are interesting.” SilverBell explained.

“Vanilla has me read a lot of books so he can translate them to braille. He can somewhat see with his staff but words aren’t as easy. Recently he had me read some of the old Hollyberry Kingdom books to add to his collection. I believe we left off on the stories about Pitaya actually.” Raisin said as she tried getting comfortable in the pillows and blankets with her crow.

“Stories about Pitaya?” White Flour asked. “Yes, there are many dragon stories in our books. Several heroes have encountered them in the past or have partaken in dragon hunting.” Wildberry said as he finally settled down next to Raisin.

“Can you tell me about them?” White Flour asked. She was genuinely curious about how dragons like Pitaya were written in stories. It was reminiscent of when Blueberry Milk would get books for Burning Spice on legendary creatures.

“Well one actually involves White Lily believe it or not.” Wildberry started. “It tells of how several hundred years ago White Lily had made a deal with Pitaya to have a bit of his power in exchange for a story about each ancient hero. Me and Hollyberry unfortunately had to take care of the aftermath of that a year or two ago.” He explained.

“Wait! White Lily made a deal with him? What happened?” White Flour asked. “When Dark Enchantress got a hold of White Lily’s powers she managed to use Pitaya’s to form a living nightmare. It had completely destroyed a good three fifths of Pitaya’s home and the surrounding area.” Wildberry said softly.

White Flour had so many questions but one in particular stood out. “Who’s Dark Enchantress?” She asked quietly.

The room seemed to go quiet. “Do you really wish to know?” Raisin asked firmly. “Is she someone important I should know?” White Flour asked. “She’s, to put it simply, the corrupted side of White Lily’s soul. The story is a lot but I’ll simplify so you can process. White Lily had tried to find out how Cookies came to be, she got her answer but it cost her everything. She essentially broke with half of her soul staying with her and the other half going to a new body. Dark Enchantress.” Raisin said.

White Flour froze as she listened. White Lily, the cookie she pushed away because she didn’t want help. The cookie who dispite everything still tried to make White Flour stay safe. The same cookie she yelled at thinking she didn’t understand what she was going through. “So White Lily was….corrupted?” White Flour asked.

“Yes, well half of her was. She returned to the Silver Kingdom extremely weakened by the break. At the time Elder Faerie didn’t know how to help her and she fell into a deep sleep. When Pure Vanilla arrived, they were able to properly revive her, luckily. Elder faerie performed the revival spell. The King was greatly injured however.” SilverBell said.

“Does that have anything to do with how his wings look?” White Flour asked. She had remembered seeing the marks on Elder Faerie’s wings. They appeared like stitching and sewing scars. White Flour was curious but could tell that SilverBell was getting uncomfortable with the conversation at this point. “Yes, his wings were torn to shreds by the magic. It had taken the king over a year to even think about flying again.” SilverBell said.

White Flour got lost in thought. A lot of how White Lily and Elder Faerie treated her suddenly made sense. They had gone through this all before. The pain, the guilt, the bargaining, the fear, all of it. They knew what someone corrupted would go through if they were trying to redeem themselves.

White flour had so many questions, losing herself in her thoughts. She only got out of them when Wildberry shook her gently. “Caramel Arrow is back.” He said, pointing to the door where the first watcher was walking in with a small bundle in her arms. It seemed to be moving.

“I…um…have someone who wants to see you White Flour.” Caramel arrow said before she lost grip on what she was holding. “Ow!” A voice shouted as the bundle hit the floor. Soon a little head popped up. It was the little Haetae cookie.

It looked around for a moment, definitely dizzy, till their eyes landed on White Flour. Before she knew it she was being tackled to the ground by the little creature as it cried for apologies and asking if they failed.

“Mystic Flour! I’m so sorry! I-I never meant for you to be left alone at the temple! Please don’t be mad at me!” The little Haetae cried. White Flour really didn’t want to disappoint them but she had to. She didn’t know who they were beside for the fact that they were her guard.

“Um…hello little one.” White Flour said, choosing her words carefully. “I…well I…” she wished she knew how to say this. “D-did they hurt you?” The Haetae asked, looking over its shoulder to examine Wildberry and Caramel Arrow.

“No, they didn’t hurt me.” White Flour said, smoothing out the creature's short fluffy fur. “You’re acting strange…” The Haetae said nervously, circling around White Flour with a look of pure concern. “You sound different…” they said, ears moving back like a scared dog.

White Flour knew her next words would break the little one’s heart. “I’m sorry, but I don’t recall us ever meeting.” She said, The Haetae suddenly looked up, staring straight into White Flour’s eyes. “Y-you what…?” They asked. Their eyes said it all, ‘betrayal’.

Caramel arrow opened her mouth to say something but the words died in her throat as she realized this may have been a mistake. “White Flour I…” caramel arrow started once she got her voice together. By that time it was too late, the little Haetae had started to cry, sobbing into their paws.

White Flour immediately moved to comfort them. “We’ll give you some space.” Wildberry said as he grabbed Raisin by the shoulder and led her out of there. SilverBell followed nervously.

“You don’t *sob* remember me?” The little Haetae cried. “I’m sorry…I'm truly sorry…” White Flour said. She was starting to tear up and cry herself. Caramel Arrow stayed quiet and let them have their moment.

After a long while, the little Haetae moved close to White Flour. “You still are my master…right…?” They asked, holding hope she said yes. “I believe so…though, what was I to you before?” White Flour asked.

“You were my master…you cared for me and gave me a home…” they said. “Well…I may not be who you remembered but maybe we can start over…” White Flour said softly. “Starting…what’s your name?” “My name is Cloud Haetae.” They said.

White Flour could still see the sadness in their eyes but she knew that she could only do so much. “I can still care for you. Even if I’m not exactly how you remember me, I can try.” White Flour said. “Thank you…” Cloud Haetae mumbled into White Flour’s dress.

“I’m sorry for not telling you enough about Cloud Haetae beforehand. I had honestly forgotten and didn’t want to stress you anymore than you already were.” Caramel Arrow said. White Flour didn’t really care. This was actually the most tame thing she had been told the past day.

“You’re fine Caramell. I simply feel I need time to-.” Suddenly the door slammed open. Crunchy Chip ran in with Wildberry like something was on fire. “EVERYONE! Courtyard now! Golden Cheese has arrived!”

Chapter Text

White Flour and Caramel Arrow followed Crunchy Chip and Wildberry as they all quickly ran out to the courtyard. White Lily was already greeting some figure, a woman. When the figure turned White Flour saw it immediately, Powdered Spice’s souljam in the center of the women’s headdress. This had to be Golden Cheese. The new holder of Powdered Spice’s souljam.

Golden Cheese was thin and tall, with tan dough and bright golden hair. Though easily the most impressive thing about her was the wings. She had a pail of massive gilded wings that looked like they had gems embedded into the feathers. Her outfit was full of the same gilded and embedded appearance.

White Flour had to admit she felt a little insecure about how she looked in comparison. She felt her outfit was too simple, not enough. Honestly the whole forest looked dull compared to Golden Cheese. She radiated power and wealth.

White Lily seemed to spot White Flour, who was honestly trying to hide behind Caramel Arrow and Wildberry, and called her over. The moment White Lily called, Golden Cheese locked onto White Flour with a death glare. The kind you give to an enemy you wished would just cut themselves open and bleed out quickly.

“Why is that thing not in chains…?” Golden Cheese growled. Her wings flared out defensively. White Flour felt a spike of hurt at her words. Was she really that dangerous that she needed to be chained up like an animal. Like a Beast…

“White Flour is harmless and hasn’t caused any problems as of yet.” Pure Vanilla said as he stepped forward. Raisin moved next to him but didn’t seem focused on Golden Cheese or White Lily. She was staring at one of the two figures who seemed to have come with Golden Cheese.

One of them was a woman with a blue and cream colored dress. She was writing something down on a scroll as she observed the other Ancient Heroes. She seemed quite friendly. “I believe a few calculations need to be made before we can make that decision. I suggest a small test.” The woman said with a slight laugh.

“Please spare me your tests Mozzarella.” The man next to her said. He was more intimidating, with a bird-like hood and staff. He seemed to share Golden Cheese’s mistrust and death stare though he had a different target. “I feel several cookies here don’t understand the importance of proper…tests…” he said, glaring in Raisin's direction.

Raisin seemed to mutter some insult under her breath causing Pure Vanilla to give her a small smack to the back of the head. “Please be nice and civil for now…” Pure Vanilla said. “Don’t worry about that my dear Pure Vanilla. I believe Raisin is just remembering a bit of a…passing theory I made a while back.” The cookie said.

“Smoked Cheese! I have given you orders several times…you are not to use your smoke on allies…” Golden Cheese scolded. Smoked cheese rolled his eyes and glared in Raisin’s direction. “Oh but why not? I’m still wondering what’s going on in that little one armed-“ “enough!” Golden Cheese yelled.

White Flour was a little confused on what he was trying to say. “One armed?” Was he talking about Raisin? She didn’t look to be missing an arm, then again she was wearing a cloak that covered the majority of her left side. She guessed it was something she was uncomfortable about. White Flour didn’t judge.

Pure Vanilla had made the move to step in front or Raisin while he talked to Golden Cheese. “May we all head inside and relax before the trial?” Pure Vanilla suggested. “Absolutely not!” Golden Cheese said. “I have my evidence together now. I suggest you put that thing in chains and take her to the council room here. We must take care of her as fast as possible.” She growled, wings flared in anger and disgust.

Vanilla’s smile faded slightly as he nodded. “Fine, we may begin. Though, no chains are being placed on anyone.” He said. Golden Cheese only huffed angrily and walked towards the council room. Smoked Cheese and Mozzarella stayed behind. From what she imagined, it would only be the Ancient heroes in the council.

She had five votes. Five votes to determine what happened to her. Two of them were already against her.

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White Flour sat at the other side of the table. The council room, which had been open to the air just this morning, had shifted and turned so only a bit of light from the top canopy could shine through. The majority of the entrances were covered in thick vines and roots that grew out of nowhere. It made the room small and a little claustrophobic.

Tea lights cover the room and made sure you could see but not enough to know if the guards around the doors had moved. It was a trap waiting to be sprung. If White Flour Did anything wrong then she’d be attacked and killed. At least that was how she felt.

“Let us begin the trial.” Dark Cacao said as he placed his cloak on the back of his chair. He had ordered Caramel Arrow to take Cloud Haetae out of the room. White Flour could tell that Cloud Haetae hated it as they clawed for her arms as Caramel Arrow took them out of the room.

Wildberry and Raisin had also been dismissed and told to rest. From what White Flour knew about the two of them, they would most likely disobey that order. Neither of them seemed to trust their respective Hero to stay safe when left alone.

“First I wish for you to hold something for my White Flour.” Pure Vanilla said as he moved to grab the brooch on his cloak. It was a souljam. Blueberry Milk’s souljam. A beautiful mix of sapphire and aquamarine colors made into the shape of what looked like a club, like on a deck of cards.

“Why do you need me to hold this?” White Flour asked as she held the gem. It was smooth and glassy in her hands. “Just to reassure the others.” Vanilla said as he settled at the center of the group. “We will all take turns asking you questions which you must answer honestly. If you need a moment to contemplate the question, just say so.” He added.

“Let us start with a simple question…” Golden Cheese said, not wasting a second. “State your name and what you believe your souljam is the light of.” She started firmly, fluffy her wings like an angry hawk.

“My name is White Flour. I am the guardian of the Ivory Pagoda and the holder of the virtue of Volition.” She said firmly. She didn’t add anything else to her statement. Everything had to be clear. Nothing taken out of context.

“True.” Vanilla said with a smile. Golden Cheese huffed. “Obviously. I just wanted to know what it sounded like when she told the truth.” She grumbled. White Flour knew it was true but Vanilla said it as if it was something to be stated as true or false.

She looked back down at the souljam she was holding. It glowed softly, like it was speaking yet she heard no words. Pure Vanilla seemed to know, like he could hear the souljam explaining how White Flour was telling the truth.

“New question.” Hollyberry said, fixing the fabric of her dress. “Just so we can confirm. What were the names and virtues of the other beasts.” She said, It was a simple Question but seemed to be used to gauge if White Flour could tell the truths and stay truthful.

“Shadow Milk is Blueberry Milk, he holds the light of Knowledge. Eternal Sugar I assume is Sweet Sugar, she held the light of Happiness. If I’m correct, Powdered Spice is Burning Spice and he has the light of change. Your Silent Salt was once my friend Sea Salt. He held the virtue of Solidarity.” White Flour said firmly.

Pure Vanilla smiled approvingly. “That leads to my turn. If you don’t mind me asking, what is your relationship with each of the Virtues? Just tell me if they are an ally, a close companion, or if you maybe aren’t as close.” He said softly.

White Flour had to think about that. She had been close with all of the Virtues, but towards the lead up to her going into hiding the relationships had become a bit strained. She didn’t blame anyone. They all had their kingdoms and territories to protect. It was clear that things wouldn’t always stay the same.

“I feel I’d classify Powdered Spice, Sweet Sugar and Blueberry Milk as allies. Sea Salt was more of a close companion.” White Flour explained softly. The room was starting to become more suffocating as Dark Cacao stood up and grabbed something from his pocket.

“My turn…” he growled. He shoved something small and glowing towards her. White Flour looked at it for a few seconds that felt like hours. It was her souljam. Dark Cacao still had it after the fight at the temple.

White Flour’s immediate reaction was to scream. Not in anger or in disbelief, but in pure panic and fear. Did they not know what that thing did to her. What it had started for her.”g-get that thing away from me!” She shouted.

Hollyberry moved to stand next to White Flour and steady her as Dark Cacao glared at her. “So you recognize you souljam and act afraid?” He said firmly. “You give up your ‘light of Volition’ for what? To try and gain more pity and trust?”

“If you truly want me to believe that you are uncorrupted, then why don’t you pick up your souljam and prove it! See if that power doesn’t go to your head and turn you into the monster I know you are.” Dark Cacao said accusingly.

“Enough! You just scared her half to death! If I had to guess there’s something more about that gem then just that it holds her power.” Hollyberry snapped at Dark Cacao. “You defend a monster who had claimed hundreds of lives over their lifetime?!” Golden Cheese raged, opening her wings to make herself appear bigger and stronger.

“Golden Cheese! That’s enough!” White Lily shouted to her. “You have no say in this matter! I have tolerated this all before!” Golden Cheese growled. White Flour sunk down behind Hollyberry as it turned into a screaming match between the Ancient Heroes.

“Do you have any idea what happened the last time I let one of beasts into my kingdom?! The friends I came back to see turned to ashes by war and death?! I rebuilt it all on my own! I will not stand here and let you ruin it again!” Golden Cheese Shouted at White Lily.

“I didn’t do it! I didn’t do any of it! How much more must I apologize till you accept that?!” White Lily snapped back, tears welling in her eyes out of anger. “You are merely half the soul of the one who did!” Golden Cheese Shouted.

“Enough!” Pure Vanilla shouted, louder than everyone else. “If this is what the decision of a life had become then maybe it is time to rethink…” he said, grabbing Golden Cheese’s wing and yanking her back into her seat.

Dark Cacao was about to shout again but Hollyberry pulled his cloak over his mouth to stay quiet. “Don’t…” Hollyberry growled. White Flour sunk down into her seat so she was barely visible by the King and the winged Queen.

White Lily was trying to dry her tears from her anger. Her face was red with streaks of tears and flushed humiliation. Golden Cheese had hit something. Something that White Lily didn’t want to be found.

“Now…I believe White Lily is entitled to a question after what you have caused Dark Cacao.” Pure Vanilla muttered angrily. He seemed to silence the room with just his presence. His eyes glaring at Golden Cheese or Dark Cacao whenever they were about to speak up.

“I-I wish to ask…” White Lily started. She was considering her question. How it could make the situation better or worse. “…what caused you to corrupt?”

It was a logical question. White Flour honestly hadn’t told anyone yet. “I have heard this all before! It makes no-“ Dark Cacao started before Hollyberry tugged at his hair to shut him up.

“Do you wish for the long or short version?” White Flour asked. “Give as much detail as you feel comfortable.” Pure Vanilla said softly. White Flour took a deep breath.

The words spilled from her mouth like a waterfall. She talked about the how it started, the continuous wishes and requests. The building stress and anxiety. The refusal to accept several harmless things. The shouting, the screaming, the crying. The moment the first threat on her life came. The moment it all collapsed and she hid. She hid from it all. Scared of the world. A world who seemed to want nothing but to see her dead on the floor of her temple.

By the end, White Flour was sobbing and trying to hold it together. They had all heard what she said, they knew why she was like this. What other reasons did they need? White Flour wasn’t sure she had anything else to give them that could convince them of her innocence.

“We will leave this to a vote.” Pure Vanilla said, straightening his clothes as he stood. “Who here believes that White Flour may be redeemed?” He asked. It was short and simple.

Hollyberry raised her hand, not missing a beat. “I’ve been through many battles. Fought countless foes. And in all that time I’ve found enemies turned friends are more special than the most loyal or guards.” She said.White Flour knew why she was talking about someone personal. Someone she knew and loved.

“I second.” White Lily said, raising her hand high. “Everyone deserves a second chance. That’s what you gave me.” She said. Her eyes turned to Golden Cheese and Dark Cacao.

“No…” the king growled. “I refuse to give you mercy after all you have done.” “And I second that.” Golden Cheese said firmly. Neither of them would ever believe her.

“Fortunately it’s three against two.” Pure Vanilla said. His hand was raised up like he was trying to grab something. He smiled gently towards White Flour. “The souljam or truth never lies.” He said.

White Flour looked down at the gem in her hand. It’s light shown a beautiful blue, a cool sunny sky. That was Pure Vanilla’s virtue, truth. He had been using it since the very beginning and she never realized it.

Pure Vanilla chuckled softly, “I believe the decision is final. You're free White Flour.”

Chapter Text

White Flour had walked out of the meeting and almost immediately went numb. She didn’t even realize that she had been so tense and stiff the entire time. The moment she got out into the cool evening, she wobbled and collapsed. Hollyberry was close by and caught her around the stomach.

“You okay?” Hollyberry asked softly. “It’s adrenaline…” White Flour said. It was honestly more than adrenaline but she knew that explaining it was something even she couldn’t do properly. She felt like all her bones just broke without any pain. Her body was soft and heavy.

Caramel Arrow came around the corner with Cloud Haetae in her arms. “How did it go?” She asked. White Flour took a deep breath to help herself balance more. “They let me go. I guess in this state of mind, they see me as no threat.” White Flour answered.

“So you're safe? They won’t try and hurt you?” Cloud Haetae asked, trying to squirm out of Caramel Arrow’s arms. “I’m safe.” She replied. Everything felt so much better like this. She was free.

White Flour properly collapsed as Cloud Haetae got out of Caramel Arrow’s arms and pounced onto her. “Ha! You remind me a lot of Snapdragon, little one.” Hollyberry laughed. “Snapdragon?” Cloud Haetae asked. “They’re a small dragon that me and Pitaya Raised. We had them stay in the Hollyberry Kingdom to keep an eye on it.” Hollyberry said.

White Flour sat up slowly before hugging Cloud Haetae tightly. Their fur was so soft and warm. Like a little pillow. “W-wait! Is something wrong?!” Cloud Haetae asked in a bit of a panic. White Flour was confused. “Nothing is wrong…”

“I-it’s just you…” Cloud Haetae stuttered, like it was hard to explain. “You never really hugged me like this when we were back at the temple…” they mumbled. White Flour felt a bit of her heart break at that.

“I’ve never hugged you…?” White Flour asked. She felt a cold chill fall onto her at the thought that she never showed any affection to the little Haetae. They were quite young. They probably knew nothing more than who she was before.

That was another thing altogether. Who was she before this? She knew what she had done. She was dangerous and hurt other cookies, but at the same time she had no memories. Was her personality the same? Did the corruption affect her in other ways?

“White Flour?” Hollyberry asked, snapping her out of her thoughts. “Yes?” White Flour replied. “I was asking if you wanted to stick with me for a bit. Lunch isn’t for another hour, so I thought you’d like to just have some fun before White Lily called you back.” Hollyberry said.

“I would like that.” White Flour said. She got up and grabbed Cloud Haetae, holding them to her chest like a little pillow. “I’ll head back to my king but you can both have fun.” Caramel Arrow said. White Flour nodded softly and gave a smile. Hollyberry led the way as she talked over everything else. Her loud voice trying to cover the worries White Flour had.

White Flour was only half listening to the stories of the dragons they had faced. The adventures Hollyberry had been on just to find answers to where treasure and secrets were. She had apparently done that to help White Lily. It was nice to hear about all of it. It reminded her of how Powdered Spice would talk about his fights with monsters in his kingdom.

“I must say that you do seem to be adjusting to all of this relatively easy.” Hollyberry said. “I’m starting to get more comfortable. This place is nice and now that I’m free, it actually feels safe.” White Flour explained. Hollyberry nodded. “You may get along well with golden Cheese once she calms down. She’s lost a lot in the past few decades.” She said.

White Flour could tell that. The way Golden Cheese yelled ‘friends I came back to see turned to ashes’, struck something in White Flour. At the very least she had started to get a hold of her emotions. She didn’t feel like the pain would cripple her to tears this time.

“Say, where are we headed anyway?” White Flour asked. “To find Pitaya mostly. I feel you need some fresh air.” Hollyberry stated. It was true that White Flour wanted some fresh air, but she didn’t know what Pitaya had to do with it.

“PITAY! COME ON OUT!” Hollyberry shouted. It took a few long seconds but Pitaya quickly landed in his dragon form onto the ground. “Yesss?” He hissed softly, leaning down to get a good look at the three cookies.

“Move your head down so we can go for a quick fly!” Hollyberry shouted, loud enough for the dragon to hear her. “W-wait! Fly?!” White Flour exclaimed. “Yes, what else?” Hollyberry asked. “I-I mean…well you see I…is it even…I don’t think I can…” White Flour stutters.

Before she could get another word out, Hollyberry pulled her up onto Pitaya’s back. “Wait! This isn’t safe!” Cloud Haetae shouted as they clung to White Flour. “Just wait till we’re in the air.” Hollyberry said.

In just a moment, Pitaya was off the ground and flying up. White Flour ducked and coved Cloud Haetae so they didn’t fall. After a while, Hollyberry tapped her shoulder. “Hey, don’t worry, just look up.” She said.

White Flour was scared, terrified even, but the way Hollyberry talked said that she was safe. She slowly opened hers eyes to see the view of the silver forest. It was like a lush blue-green carpet of leaves. “See, not so bad.” Hollyberry said. “Just thought being away from things would give you a chance to breathe.”

Honestly it did. White Flour took a few deep breaths. The sky was mostly clear with a few storm clouds in the distance. The humidity of the forest had been left behind, closer to the ground. She could finally think without the tornado of thoughts clouding her mind.

“I’ve always liked it in the air. It’s easier to process things.” Hollyberry said “oh, sorry. Do you wish for me to stay silent?” She asked nervously, thinking White Flour wanted it to be quiet to think. It didn’t really matter. To White Flour, Hollyberry was actually quite nice to listen to.

“While we’re here I do want to ask some questions.” White Flour said. “I can presume it’s about Eternal Sugar? Though you said her original name was Sweet Sugar.”Hollyberry said quickly, like the “Yes. I want to know what she’s like now.” White Flour explained. She had wanted to ask earlier but she thought now was the best time to ask Hollyberry. “Well it’s complicated...” she said.

“She seems to still have her core beliefs but they’re…twisted.” Hollyberry said, shivering a bit at the last part. “What do you mean by twisted?” White Flour asked. Sweet Sugar was always the kindest of the group. The idea that she wasn’t who she remembered scared White Flour.

“When me and some guards arrived, she was welcoming. She never told her name but she presented herself as a bringer of happiness.” Hollyberry said. “Well yes, that’s what Sweet Sugar was. She was the holder of the virtue of happiness.” White Flour said as she adjusted how she was holding Cloud Haetae.

“Ssshe was not as ssssimple as that.” Pitaya explained. He was flying lower now to catch the warm air coming in from the storm. “When trying to leave ssshe gifts you with a sssweet sssent that attracts the monstersss. She calls it a blessing to ssstay sssafe. It gives her control of those in her territory.” The dragon explained.

“She what?!” White Flour exclaimed. “Why would she-? How could she-?! You must be lying!” She refused to believe that her friend would ever do something so horrible. “We unfortunately are not.” Hollyberry said. “You may ask Wildberry if you need confirmation.”

White Flour dropped her head low. Cloud Haetae nuzzled her gently to try and help but it didn’t do much. How could she? How could Sweet Sugar do something like that? Let monsters attack her subjects so she kept control. That wasn’t her friend anymore, White Flour knew that.

“I’m sssorry you must hear thisss…” Pitaya said as he swooped down to land close to one of the gardens the fae kept. The flowers were a bright green and purple with a few blue and white flowers around. It was like the garden that Sweet Sugar had kept in her kingdom. A place for all.

No. That wasn’t what it was anymore. It was a fly trap. Made to lure others in and trap them. And even if they did escape, they were subjected to the monsters who’d track them down.

“What happened to us…?” White Flour asked, looking away so Hollyberry didn’t see her tears. “I don’t know. But from what I know, Sweet Sugar didn’t want others to feel pain again. So now she makes sure of that…by keeping them trapped.” Hollyberry said. Pitaya gently slid Hollyberry, White Flour and Cloud Haetae off of his back. “Let usss head inside. I believe lunch isss to be ready sssoon.”

White Flour followed Hollyberry till she stopped by where the other guards were sparring. Crunchy Chip and Wildberry were already fighting against each other while Mozzarella and SilverBell were writing out a small cart showing who would be sparring who next.

Wildberry managed to pin Crunch Chip easily and won. “No fair! You put me against the strongest cookie here!” Crunchy Chip accused angrily. “I tried to even out size and strength so nobody was unevenly matched.” SilverBell said nervously.

“I feel it’s fair.” Raisin said, adjusting her cloak. White Flour hadn’t noticed Pure Vanilla’s guard even approaching. “Do you wish to join White?” Raisin asked Hollyberry and White Flour. “I’ll just watch.” Hollyberry said happily. “N-no. I am in no position to fight.” White Flour explained.

“Because that thing is afraid.” someone hissed. White Flour looked behind herself to see Smoked Cheese looking displeased. He seemed disgusted by White Flour even being in his presence. “Must you always be around us?” He asked, “or are you just trying to get closer to us so you can attack?” “Please just stop. I’m starting to get a headache with your attitude Smoked Cheese.” Wildberry said as he walked over.

“You believe that you are to be trusted? That you can walk away from the deaths you have caused?” Smoked Cheese asked, staring right into White Flour. “Smoked Cheese!” Mozzarella scolded. He didn’t seem to care. He had the same opinion on White Flour as Golden Cheese.

“Just give up! Pure Vanilla and the others already voted.” Raisin said. “Yes, that means that White Flour is safe.” Carmilla Arrow added. “I feel you all lack the understanding about how that thing got off with a difference of one vote.” Smoked Cheese said.

“That thing has a name.” White Flour said. “Oh, sorry. I believe I should be addressing you and Mystic Flour.” Smoked Cheese taunted. White Flour tried to hide how much that name hurt her. “Shut up now…” Raisin growled. “Or what?” Smoked Cheese changed.

“Smoked Cheese, back down.” Hollyberry said. The golden queen’s advisor wasn’t listening. Raisin stared at him for a long minute before kicking some of the more muddy ground up onto Smoked Cheese. “Oops…” she said coldly.

In less then a second, Smoked Cheese had lunged at Raisin and pinned her. She rolled and shoved him off before trying to get up and put distance between the two of them. “You stupid excuse of a guard!” Smoked Cheese yelled as he ran and grabbed Raisin from behind.

Hollyberry and Wildberry ran to try and intervene but it was a little difficult with how they were fighting. Raisin had managed to knock Smoked Cheese off of her again but He had managed to tug at her cloak, pulling her back sharply.

Smoked Cheese started dragging Raisin back till she managed to unclip the cloak. She had barely gotten to her feet as Smoked Cheese grabbed his staff from the side of the area. “Maybe now is a good time to-?!” Smoked Cheese growled before being cut off by Wildberry hitting him hard.

“Are you ok?! You shouldn’t have done that! I could have taken the insults.” White Flour said as she ran to Raisin. “It’s fine, I’ve honestly wanted to fight him for a while. Just wasn’t prepared for him to grab me like that.” Raisin said.

White Flour looked over Raisin to see if she was okay. “Let’s call it a day…” Wildberry said, sounding like he was holding back a bit of anger. “Agree. Everyone get your things.” Hollyberry ordered.

They all started walking back as the rain started. Pitaya stayed in his dragon form to block the droplets of water as they fell. Hollyberry was holding Smoked Cheese by his golden collar so he didn’t try and attack Raisin again.

“Somethings wrong.” SilverBell said as they walked. “What do you mean?” White Flour asked. “The fae are still out. We never stay out when it's raining. The water sticks to our wings too much and makes it hard to move. Looks like everyone’s out.” SilverBell said.

It was true. Several fae were flying around and moving around with supplies. Some had blankets, others had baskets of herbs. One fae was even carrying bandages and gauze. “That’s all medical supplies.” Caramel Arrow said. White Flour got a sinking feeling as she hugged Cloud Haetae tightly.

“They’re medical scouts. They only come out when a large amount of soldiers are injured.” SilverBell said as he quickly got up into the air and flew ahead. “I must check on my king.” caramel Arrow said as her and Crunchy Chip ran off. “We have to find Golden Cheese.” Mozzarella exclaimed as she dragged Smoked Cheese.

White Flour ran close to Hollyberry as they headed the direction SilverBell flew. “What happened?” Cloud Haetae asked. “I don’t know.” White Flour replied, wishing she could tell the poor thing what was going on.

The rain was picking up making several of the fae have to drop down under the branches so their wings didn’t get wet and drag them down. “Over there!” Wildberry shouted as he spotted SilverBell ducking into a building built into a large willow-like tree.

The moment White Flour stepped into the room she smelled the scent of strong herbs and spices. Several healers were rushing around to different beds to help with various injuries. “What happened?!” Hollyberry demanded. “An attack! Sixteen scouts are injured. No major injuries but they need to be healed quickly.” Vanilla said as he ran to look over the group.

“Did he get to any of you?!” Vanilla asked in a panicked voice. “No…who are you talking about.” White Flour asked. Vanilla froze like he said something he shouldn’t have. Something he shouldn’t have said to her. “Raisin and Wildberry! Stay here! Hollyberry, get Golden Cheese and Dark Cacao!” Vanilla said, ignoring White Flour.

“Bring Pitaya!” White Lily said as she ran over with Elder Faerie. “He’s stronger than most. We need the extra strength.” “What’s happening? Who’s he?!” White Flour demanded. “Please don’t…” White Lily said.

The Ancient heroes all rushed out of the room and into the rain. “Cloud! Stay here!” Mystic Flour shouted, dropping the little Haetae into the ground of the medical ward. “Flour! Flour!” Cloud Haetae shouted as she ran off.

White Flour ran as fast as she could to try and keep pace. White Lily and Elder Faerie blended into the surrounding forest but Pitaya and Pure Vanilla were still bright enough to see in the rain. It was starting to get heavy and hard to see anything beyond colors.

“Why is she here?!” A voice called. White Flour saw a quick golden blur who had to be Golden Cheese. “White Flour go back!” Elder Faerie yelled. “If it’s one of my friends I have to be there!” White Flour yelled as she caught up with them. “I’m sorry!” White Lily yelled.

They broke into a small clearing. “He was here!” Dark Cacao said. “The branches are freshly broken!” He had to shout to make it clear over the rain. “You're wrong!” Elder Faerie called as he reached for his sword. “He’s still here. He knows what he wants”

White Flour felt something in her tell her to run and hide. “White Flour leave…” White Lily said. White Flour wanted to defend herself “I-“ *clang* something suddenly stamped against the ground. Something big and metal. “No…” she said “I can’t leave…”

“Weapons ready!” Hollyberry yelled. Whoever it was stepped forward again. *clang!* *clang!* White Flour opened her eyes to see the large silhouette in the leaves. The rain made it blurry but she could see it all.

A suit of armor, dark silver and black with a gem shaped like a fleur-de-lis built into the breastplate. It was just as White Flour remembered. The figure took one more step. There he was. Staring right at her was Salt. Her Sea Salt.

Chapter Text

White Flour couldn’t move. She didn’t even breathe. Her entire body decided to not listen. She was looking straight at her closest companion, but…things were wrong.

He stood straight and in an orderly manner like he always did but it was too stiff. His very body seemed off. Too tall, too thin, too sharp looking. It was enough to make White Flour want to back away. Like an uncanny version of her friend. “Sea salt…?” She whispered into the rain.

“This is the fifth time this month…he doesn’t know when to quit…” Ender Faerie growled firmly. “I request that you leave.” Salt stood still, barely moving a muscle. “Come on! Do something!” Golden Cheese shouted. The knight’s head tilted in a slow move to point towards the winged Hero.

“We must end this quickly. One less beast is better.” Dark Cacao growled as he stepped forward. “Wait! Don’t! You can’t kill him!” White Flour shouted. Dark Cacao merely shook White Flour off before slicing his sword right at Salt’s head. “Sea Salt!” White Flour shouted.

Salt ducked quickly before moving to parry a new attack from Golden Cheese, who had quickly taken the opportunity. He managed to grab her and toss her against the nearest tree before starting to run. “He’s trying to escape!” Dark Cacao shouted as they all started running after Salt.

“Everyone! Buddy up and go separate ways! Try and corner Silent Salt so we can capture him!” Elder Faerie said. “No! Strike first! If he’s still alive when we get him back then we ask questions!” Golden Cheese yelled. “You can’t kill him!” White Flour shouted, tears starting to mix with the rain.

“I’m sorry! But even if Silent Salt comes back to the kingdom alive and captured, the fae will want him dead!” White Lily said. “But what if he’s not Silent Salt when we bring him back?!” White Flour shouted.

The others had left to cut off escape routes from the forest. It was just White Flour and White Lily running and trying to find anything that could tell them where Silent Salt had run off to.

“What are you implying?!” White Lily asked as she slowed a bit to breathe. “How did I get uncorrupted?!” White Flour demanded. “Dark Cacao said the first watcher knocked the souljam you had off of you!” White Lily shouted as the rain picked up more.

Of course! If White Flour could get close enough she could just get the souljam off of Sea Salt. He’d be back to normal. She just needed to find him before Dark Cacao or Golden Cheese did.

“What are you thinking?!” White Lily asked. “I’m thinking that I have to find Sea Salt and fast!” White Flour called over the rumbling of thunder.

They both got to another clearing by a river. White Lily panted as she tried to catch her breath, trembling a bit from the cold. “He couldn’t have gone too far!” White Lily gasped. White Flour looked around anxiously. “Sea Salt! Come on! I want to help!” White Flour yelled.

She saw something dart by and immediately ran after it. “Salt!” White Flour yelled. White Lily caught her and pulled her back. “What are you doing?!” White Flour yelled. “I’m sorry White Flour but he may not remember you! I don’t want you getting hurt!” White Lily said.

“No! It’s me! He has to remember!” White Flour said as broke out of White Lily’s grip as she ran more down river. White Lily followed, more motivated to stop her than anything. White Flour was faster and managed to lose White Lily. It was just her. She ran as far away as she could to find any sign of Sea Salt.

White Flour got to a dark and dense area. She finally stopped to breathe for a moment. She could already taste the tears falling down her face. She couldn’t process all her emotions now. She just needed to find…*snap*

White Flour looked up and tried to see where the sound was coming from. *snap* She turned around again. Nothing. The rain had calmed down enough for White Flour to start hearing her heart beat again. *clang!*

White Flour could feel it. She was scared to turn around. She could hear the rain hitting armored plates and dropping from the thick fabric that made his cloak. If she turned around would he be gone? She couldn’t be afraid of that now.

White Flour turned around and bumped into the heavy, black, steel armor of Silent Salt. She held her breath. He moved forward slightly, causing White Flour to stumble back and fall into one of the trees. The knight quietly turned his head like he was confused.

He just kept staring at her. “Hey Sea Salt? You there?” White Flour asked quietly. The armored soldier leaned down a bit more so he was level with White Flour. “Do you remember me?” She asked.

White Flour carefully and slowly reached her hand out to try and get the souljam. She felt Salt suddenly grab her wrist and pull it back. White Flour had to remind herself that this wasn’t exactly Sea Salt. For all she knew, Silent Salt was a completely different personality.

There was a flicker of recognition though. Like deep down Silent Salt knew who she was. He studied her closely, trying to understand what was so familiar about her. White Flour could tell he recognized her enough to not attack, but she didn’t know what would happen if she was seen as a threat.

“It’s okay. I just want to help.” White Flour said. Silent Salt’s armor shifted to show what could have been described as a small smile. His helmet moved like it was part of him, the lower part separating like a jaw. It was unnerving but also calming in a way.

“You remember me…just a different part of me.” White Flour said. Salt leaned in more. “Listen, I just need to remove the souljam…then we can go somewhere and talk.” White Flour said. She slowly moved to grab the souljam again. She didn’t want to startle him so she stayed in his eyesight.

Silent Salt stayed still, letting White Flour move closer to get a hold of the gem in his armor. “Easy, easy…” she whispered. Silent Salt seemed calm enough to let White Flour try and tug at his gem. It was almost like he wanted it removed.

“White Flour!” A voice called. She looked up just in time to see Golden Cheese tossing her spear at Salt. The spear cracked into the armor of the silent knight causing him to let out a scream that sounded like the clicking and scraping of metal against metal. Silent Salt’s armor tried to shift to cover the injury but Dark Cacao had already gotten behind him to slash at his arm.

White Flour ran to stop Golden Cheese before she could rip out the spear and cause more damage. “Stop! He wasn’t doing anything! He was halting his attack!” White Flour yelled. “You both have no say in this!” Golden Cheese shouted as she knocked her wing into White Flour’s chest.

White Flour collapsed and gasped to get air back into her lungs. She tried to steady herself as her eyes blurred. She could hear that Salt was struggling to handle both Dark Cacao and Golden Cheese slicing into his armor.

White Flour looked up to see Salt’s armor open up like a mouth to bite into Golden Cheese’s wing. Dark Cacao grabbed onto Salt and smashed his head into the rocks below. Another pained shriek left Salt’s mouth as the ground was stained a dull red.

Dark Cacao grabbed onto the jaw of Salts armor and held it open so Golden Cheese could slip her wing out. White Flour tried to see Salt's face but couldn’t as Dark Cacao smashed him into the ground again.

“Golden Cheese! Dark Cacao! Stop this now!” Pure Vanilla yelled, momentarily distracting the two heroes. Silent Salt took the moment to flip over and slice at the dark king. Elder Faerie lunged in just in time to prevent Salt from tearing into Dark Cacao’s face. “Enough of this!” He shouted.

The two of them crashed down into a muddy ditch as the rain caused the ground to slip and slide under foot. Elder Faerie and Silent Salt landed on all fours but that didn’t stop them from both trying to tear into each other. The Fae’s wings flared up in a warning before lunging straight into the knight.

The two went back and forth with more savage moves, both getting desperate to end the fight. Armor clashed, claws scraped and teeth ripped into exposed skin. It was more of a dog fight than any proper battle between the two men. White Flour hated to admit she wanted Salt to win and run away.

Both of their swords had been thrown to the sides, leaving the two men with just their raw strength and physical attributes. Elder Faerie clawed under Silent Salt’s armor as the knight tried to bite into his wings. The Fae king pulled his wings close to his back as he went in to rip away one of the plates on Salt’s armored chest.

Silent Salt managed to grab onto one of Elder Faerie’s legs and dragged him closer before trying to snap his jaws around the fae’s throat. Elder Faerie pulled one of the roots from the ground to block any major damage. Silent Salt still managed to claw into his left leg and side, trying to get to his wings.

Pitaya and Hollyberry flew down and immediately ran over. “Pitaya! Break it up!” Hollyberry yelled. The dragon immediately moved to join the fight, pinning Silent Salt easily in his larger form. “Ssstop thisss at once!” Pitaya growled, covering the area with his wings to block out the rain.

Salt screamed in pain as he was forced against the roots of a nearby tree. Golden Cheese, Dark Cacao and even Elder Faerie’s attacks had taken their toll. His armor had been bent inward causing it to splinter into his chest. The injuries were definitely serious. “Stop! Please! You’re hurting him!” White Flour yelled.

“That is the point.” Golden Cheese said as she washed the dirt of her wings like nothing was wrong. White Flour felt disgusted. “Do you have no empathy? Even weak sympathy would be accepted!” White Flour yelled at the queen before rushing to Salt.

By this point he had completely collapsed. The welding holding the souljam on Salt’s armor was bent, making it easier to remove. White Flour worked to remove it. “White Flour?” Pure Vanilla asked as he approached. “Don’t!” White Flour said in a panic, moving to cover Salt.

“I was not going to hurt him. Let me see his injuries.” Vanila said. White Flour moved away nervously. Hollyberry had called Pitaya to let go so Salt could lay down on the ground. “How bad it’s it?” White Flour asked.

“He’ll be on bed rest. I want to get some of this armor off though so I can see the real injuries.” Pure Vanilla said. “You’re helping him?!” Golden Cheese exclaimed. “I’m testing something. White Flour got uncorrupted. Why can’t Silent Salt?” Vanilla said as he tugged the souljam out of Salt’s armor.

Salt’s armor went slack and collapsed a bit inward. White Flour grabbed Salt’s arm and gently shook him. “Salt? Sea Salt?” She asked. The rain had calmed down for the moment, making it so she didn’t have to shout.

Pure Vanilla moved to start healing the damage when Salt’s arms clicked. *click* *click* *click* White Flour looked up to see Salt’s eyes light up as they opened, looking confused. Even with his helmet she could see his eyes looking around at the sky to try and adjust.

Salt carefully moved, causing his armor to bend and twist in ways it shouldn’t have been able to. Parts of the metal that were broken pulled back together till they were a single sheet once more. “I…my magic normally only works on dough and jam…” Pure Vanilla mumbled nervously.

Salt sat up finally as his armor formed back together. It locked together like scales in a way, making it look more natural to move. The clicking and light groaning of metal could be heard as the jaw opened to take a deep breath.

“Sea Salt?” White Flour. Salt turned to White Flour quickly this time, his armor’s jaw half open like he wanted to speak. “You remember now?” White Flour asked. She didn’t need any answer as Sea Salt moved to quickly hug White Flour. He remembered her alright.

Chapter Text

White Flour held on as Sea Salt hugged her. Pure Vanilla had backed away a bit, giving them both space. White Flour couldn’t say thank you right now. She just wanted to stay here forever. Her closest companion was back. He was alive and with her.

Sea Salt suddenly collapsed a bit more into White Flour. “S-salt?!” She exclaimed. “Easy! Just push him back a bit!” Vanilla said as he moved to hold the knight. “He’s coming down from the adrenaline. Those injuries aren’t helping either…” he explained.

White Flour heard a groan and looked over to see Elder Faerie getting to his feet with the help of White Lily. “The storm is picking up too much. If we wish to make it back we need to leave now!” The Fae said. “He’s right. Get Silent Salt and let’s head back. Under no circumstances let the other fae see him.” White Lily said.

Golden Cheese and Dark Cacao were happy to start walking off, not looking behind to see if anyone would help the now very injured knight. “If I may, we’ll carry him.” Pitaya said as he and Hollyberry grabbed onto Sea Salt. “Please be careful.” White Flour said.

Pitaya nodded as he and Hollyberry hoisted Sea Salt over their shoulders and started to walk. White Flour quickly followed behind. She kept pace, not wanting to be far from her poor knight.

“Come on!” Hollyberry shouted as the rain began to get worse. White Flour just kept running behind the group as they got to the edge of the kingdom once again. She was starting to freeze from the rain. She heard Sea Salt whine a little, showing he was in just as much discomfort.

When they got to the village Pitaya and Elder Faerie opened their wings to hide Sae Salt. He may have been uncorrupted but he still looked like the Silent Salt that had been attacking the fae. White Flour tried not to think about the damage her friend had caused to the Silver kingdom. She knew it would probably disgust her.

“Get him inside. Elder Faerie, come with me and I’ll help with your injuries.” White Lily said as they got to the large forest tree where the visiting Heroes and White Flour had been staying. “You can take Salt to my room, it’s just over here.” White Flour said as she opened the door to the room she had been staying in for less then a day.

Hollyberry dragged Sea Salt into the room but froze when she looked around. White Flour peered into the room to see Caramel Arrow and Cloud Haetae. The little Haetae had obviously tried to find White Flour with Caramel Arrow following. “I-is that…?” The first watcher asked, looking nervously at the unconscious knight.

“Caramel Arrow I request that you leave. Tell no one that he is here.” Pure Vanilla ordered as he started getting some medical supplies for Sea Salt. “Please…no one can know he’s here.” White Flour begged. The watcher looked around nervously. “I-I can guard the entrance for you.” Caramel Arrow said before running outside to guard the door.

White Flour sighed in relief. She knew that Caramel Arrow understood how serious this was. Sure, Salt was harmless now, but that just made him more of a target if someone chose to dispose of one of the feared beasts.

Pure Vanilla was working to heal Sae Salt when the knight screamed in pain. Vanilla jumped back with a horrified expression. “Hollyberry, hold him down for a moment!” Vanilla said in a panic as he nervously moved to heal Sea Salt with magic instead of the medical supplies he had brought over.

White Flour tried to run over to Sea Salt but was pushed aside by Pitaya. “Pure Vanilla needs ssspace to heal your friend properly.” He hissed quietly, showing a bit of fear and nervousness. “But I have to see if he’s okay!” White Flour instead. “Trust me, I don’t believe you wish to sssee your friend like thisss.” Pitaya said as he moved his wings to block the view. He looked worried.

“Please!” White Flour said. Pitaya looked over his shoulder at where Pure Vanilla was helping Sea Salt. White Flour felt a chill run down her spine when the dragon cringed inward and whined. “What’s happening?!” White Flour demanded. She needed to know. “Pitaya is right. I’ll tell you when we're outside.” Hollyberry said as she grabbed White Flour and dragged her out of the room.

White Flour struggled but she didn’t have the weight or strength to get out of Hollyberry’s grip. “Please listen to me.” Hollyberry said as she shut the door to where Sea Salt, Pitaya and Pure Vanilla were quickly. “What happened?” White Flour demanded. Hollyberry leaned against the door heavily.

She took a deep breath. “His armor was bent inward, yes…it’s not a petty process to see being removed. Pure Vanilla has to remove plates of armor to get any shards of the metal out of your friend…” Hollyberry said softly. White Flour sunk down. She had seen how Sea Salt’s armor had cracked and bent towards himself when they were in the forest.

“Another thing…” Hollyberry started, “Salt’s armor doesn’t act normal…it’s stuck.” She said. “Like it’s hard to remove?” White Flour asked. Hollyberry visibly shuttered. “N-no…I wish that were the case…” White Flour felt herself tense.

“Vanilla was trying to remove armor…but he’s removing dough as well…” Hollyberry said, looking at the floor like she was telling herself not to be sick. “What do you mean…?” White Flour asked. She felt her stomach twist painfully.

“Salt’s armor healed itself when Vanilla used healing magic, right?” Hollyberry asked. “Yes…” White Flour said. “Here’s the thing…healing magic isn’t made to fix damaged things that aren’t dough or jam. Fixing the armor would have been impossible…unless…” Hollyberry pauses, looking like she really wanted to be sick.

“Unless what…?” White Flour asked. “Unless there’s no difference between his body and the armor he wears.” Hollyberry said. White Flour refused to believe it. She didn’t want to even think about that. That the armor that had protected Salt for centuries was now closed around him like it was his own body.

“I still need to see him!” White Flour insisted. “No!” Hollyberry said. “Listen. Pure Vanilla needs to focus so he can heal Salt properly. I can’t let you go in there with your friend being in pain and others needing focus to help him.” She explained.

White Flour was crying at this point. “I only just got him back! If I lose him again I at least want to be there!” Hollyberry held her back as she continued to struggle. White Flour was a mess as she begged, pleaded and cried to try and get Hollyberry to let her go. She eventually tired herself out and just collapsed into Hollyberry.

“I’m sorry…I'm so sorry white Flour…” Hollyberry whispered. “I know.” White Flour said. “That’s what I’ve been hearing since I woke up…”

“Come on, let’s get you somewhere else.” Hollyberry says she lifted White Flour like she was nothing. “I think the boys will be up for a few more hours…” She was right. The afternoon had come and gone quickly. It was now close to what White Flour would call late.

The walk through the halls was silent as Hollyberry went to check on White Lily and Elder Faerie. She knocked on the door for a moment before it opened. “Is everything alright?” White Lily asked as she opened the door. “Unfortunately no…may we enter and talk?” Hollyberry asked. “Yes, just mind that his majesty is resting.” White Lily replied.

White Lily quickly left the door to return to the bundle of wings on the bed. Some of Elder Faerie’s armor was removed and set to the side of the bed as the rest remained on for one reason or another. The Fae king was obviously not feeling well regardless.

“He’s mostly fine, just in a bit of shock.” White Lily said, calming the worried look that had been spreading across White Flour’s face. White Flour felt a little responsible in a way for Elder Faerie being injured. She felt like she could have done something to stop it from happening. “Sea Salt would never do this intentionally.” White Flour said, feeling she needed to defend her friend’s action.

“Don’t apologize…” Elder Faerie groaned as his wings shifted gently. “He was attacking more out of panic than in anger. He expected it to be just me and White Lily in the kingdom.” He said. There was a bit of strain in his voice, like he was struggling to not just cry from the pain.

White Flour got a little closer to see how the Fae King was doing. While his wings were covering his head and body, they were just translucent enough to see a bit of his face. Elder Faerie was laying to the side, mostly curled up, his hair looking messy and his eyes scrunched up in discomfort. A good bit of his armor had been removed, leaving him in simple clothes that did little to hide the obvious ice packs underneath.

“Is he going to be okay?” White Flour asked, still unsure. “He will hate me for the next few days. He doesn’t really like my methods of healing.” White Lily said. “The ice is cold…” Elder Faerie groaned. “You’ll live.” White Lily laughed, giving Elder Faerie a gentle pat on the wing.

“Hopefully Sea Salt will…” White Flour mumbled. She didn’t know how long it would take for Pure Vanilla to heal Sea Salt. She just hoped that he was okay.

Chapter Text

White Flour didn’t sleep at all that night. She kept getting up and pacing the halls or just sitting next to the door to where Salt was. Everyone else had ended up falling asleep at some point.

Cloud Haetae fell asleep with Caramel Arrow in a guest room around midnight. White Lily and Elder Faerie had fallen asleep by the early hours of the morning. Hollyberry and Pitaya had settled into their room together. And even Vanilla had managed to return to his room at sometime in the night. Everyone had gotten sleep but White Flour.

By the time the clock had hit six in the morning, and the sun started to rise, she started seeing things. White Flour chalked it up to stress and suddenly not sleeping while it was still dark out, but it was something more. It felt like the night was quieter, more threatening. The area also started to get more claustrophobic as White Flour walked from room to room.

Eventually she had just went outside and collapsed into one of the flower beds. The ground was still wet from the rain but White Flour didn’t give two crumbs if her clothes got muddy from the dirt. She didn’t care if she looked like an absolute idiot laying in the mulch. She just needed to be somewhere that would let her relax.

After a few long minutes she heard someone. “White Flour! White Flour are you there?” It sounded like Raisin had come looking for her. Pure Vanilla had probably sent her. White Flour got up quickly and ran. If Pure Vanilla needed her then that ment one thing.

White Flour made a quick turn around the corner, running straight into Pure Vanilla’s guard. “Ow! For the love of raisin buns!” Raisin grumbled as she steadied herself against the bark of one of the trees. The crow with her was equally as surprised by White Flour’s appearance.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t realize you would be there…” White Flour said apologetically. “It’s fine.” Raisin said, brushing off any dirt that had gotten on her. “Please come with me.” She said, grabbing White Flour’s hand to lead her.

They walked back inside and to the room where Sea Salt was being healed. “He woke up a bit ago and was wondering where you were.” Raisin said softly as she grabbed the door handle. “Fair warning…he’s still in a bit of pain…” she added.

White Flour walked past Raisin and into the room. The sun was now rising steadily, painting the silver blue walls with orange and yellow stripes or light. Pure Vanilla was near the bed, obviously tired from not sleeping much. “Please be careful. I don’t wish for you to pull your wrist from writing too fast…” the healer said to a figure on the bed.

White Flour jumped when the floor beneath her creaked. Pure Vanilla turned around to meet her eyes. The figure moved to cover themselves more with the blanket of the bed. “Don’t worry. You may approach. He’s just…shy.” Vanilla said.

White Flour walked over carefully and nervously sat down at the edge of the bed. Pure Vanilla walked out with Raisin, giveing White Flour and the figure some privacy. She didn’t even know how to start.

“Hey…Sea Salt?” White Flour asked. The blanket was pulled more to cover the knight. “It’s me…White Flour…” she said. Sea Salt tensed before reaching to grab a small notebook on the side of the table and writing something quickly.

He handed her the notebook gently. ‘Hey’ it said. White Flour smiled gently. “Are you okay?” She asked carefully. Salt took the notebook back and wrote something new before handing it back. ‘No’ was all it said.

White Flour felt a sinking feeling. She didn’t know what to say or how to act so she just continued the best she could. “I’m here for you…you know that right. Is there a reason you're not talking?” She asked. ‘I can't.’ He wrote. “Like it hurts or…?” White Flour started. Salt froze before writing slowly ‘I can’t talk anymore.’

White Flour felt her heart break. She didn’t even know what to do. How could she comfort him after that? “I’m sorry…” White Flour said as she leaned into Sea Salt. ‘Not your fault. That cookie, Vanilla, gave me the notebook to talk to him. He said it would help.’ Salt wrote back.

White Flour was grateful for that. At least she could talk to Sea Salt. Salt also remembered her and knew Pure Vanilla wasn't a threat. He could understand and wasn’t freaking out as much as White Flour was internally thinking he would.

‘Can I ask you something? Something important?’ Salt wrote. White Flour nodded “yes, you can ask me anything. If I can answer it I’ll tell you.” She said firmly. ‘If I’m not fully me…would you still care?’ Sea Salt questioned, the writing shaking nervously.

White Flour found it the stupidest question ever. “Yes.” She said, He was her best friend and she wasn’t going to leave him alone after all this because he was a little different now.

‘If I remove the blanket, will you freak out?’ Sea Salt asked, his handwriting shaky and uneven. “No, I want to see you.” White Flour Responded. “Why do you ask?” Salt took a second before writing again ‘I’m scared. I’m…different now. Things aren’t right and I don’t want you to be afraid of me…” he wrote.

White Flour could see the fear in his writing. “No, I won’t freak out.” She said, moving closer to him. Sea Salt tensed as he moved a little. He set the book aside and froze like he was contemplating something, before pulling the blanket back and letting White Flour see him.

Sea Salt was still in his armor, but in the light, it was easier to see how it looked on him. His armor fit like a mask, separating with plates that made up his “mouth” and gently shifting to show new expressions. His breastplate was separated into multiple sections that really did look like the scales of a dragon. Even his gauntlets were sharpened into claws, ones made to cut deep and leave marks.

Everything seemed to fit more skin tight than White Flour remembered. Like it was crushing Sea Salt in a way. She wondered if he had changed to an armor that was more tight fitting than what he had before. She tossed that idea away as she saw all the marks that had been on his armor for years. It was the same armor he always wore, twisted into some kind of prison.

Salt tried to look away but White Flour sat up a little more to grab his face. “Please don’t look away!” She begged. She was barely processing anything but something about just talking with Sea Salt let her mind run at the proper pace. “I…” White Flour started.

“I-I missed you…” she cried, falling forward to hug Sea Salt. The knight seemed surprised by the sudden burst of tears but quickly hugged her back. His claws gently dug into the temple guardian to hold her close. White Flour pulled him closer, wanting to hug him as much as possible.

White Flour heard something like mumbling and looked up. Sea Salt’s mouth was opened like he was speaking but no words came out. Instead it was the same little clicks and metallic noises from when they were in the woods. “Sea Salt?” She asked.

Salt jumped a little, turning away and looking mortified. “N-no, let me see. That sounds like it hurts your throat.” White Flour said. “Just open your mouth so I can see.” Salt moved away quickly, the metal of his suit groaning as if to say “no, you can’t!”

“Sea Salt please…” White Flour said, managing to get her hands on Salt’s armored face. The knight tensed up and looked scared. “Please…” White Flour said. Salt looked back and forth, thinking. His eyes looked like they teared up a bit.

Salt nodded and slowly moved to open his jaw. He held it open with his hands so White Flour could see a bit more. A low metal whine could be heard as Sea Salt opened the jaw as much as it could go. White Flour slowly moved forward, her heart sinking as she saw why her knight was so scared.

Sea Salt’s real body was still in the armor. White Flour could still see his dough, though it was more pale than she remembered. The armor however, it was melding into his skin. It looked as if parts of the metal had splintered and twisted into locks that hooked onto his jaw.

White Flour couldn’t help but carefully move her hand past the jaws of the armor. Sea Salt’s breath hitched as she made contact with his cheek. “I-I’m sorry I hid…” white Flour said softly, tears properly rolling down her cheeks. She felt the tears on Sea Salt’s face as well.

“I was so scared but I shouldn’t have left you…” she whimpered. “I wasn’t thinking of what could happen to you if I just wrapped myself in silk and played dead to the world…” White Flour continued.

Sea Salt’s arm raised to stroke through White Flour’s hair. She couldn’t help but blush a little at his gentle touches and the way he twisted her hair in his claws. He had done it countless times before, but after so much, it felt different.

His armor stayed open a bit as his mouth moved into a sympathetic frown. White Flour still felt responsible in a way. Maybe if she hadn’t gone into hiding then she could have helped Sea Salt when whatever this was happened. Maybe she could have healed him.

Salt moved slowly to grab the notebook from the side table. ‘I have a lot of questions…’ he wrote. ‘First, are you okay? Second, where are we? Third, are the cookies here safe? And Four, where are the others?’ Sea Salt added firmly. White Flour could tell he had more questions but he was sticking to the most important after everything that’s happened.

“First, I’m okay. I’m not hurt. I was pretty worried…for you but nothing is wrong.” White Flour started, not wanting to get into details yet so Sea Salt could process everything. “Second, we’re in the Silver Kingdom. It’s a safe place, just for now we can’t walk around. The other cookies here are a little worried about us. Most of them are nice though.” She said.

Sea Salt nodded softly, processing the information. He pointed back to his other question. “I’m sorry…I don’t know where the others are.” White Flour said, looking down at her lap. She wished she had the answers for Sea Salt. She didn’t know anything more than he did.

‘You said some cookies we’re worried about us. Why?’ Sea Salt wrote. “They think we’re dangerous. We weren’t acting like ourselves for a while.” White Flour explained. ‘Not like ourselves?’ Sea Salt questioned. He looked at White Flour like he could read her. “Like we hurt others…” White Flour said.

Salt froze before sinking down. His eyes held an unusual look, even with the helmet on. He scribbled something in the notebook. ‘I need to take a walk.’ Was all White Flour read before Sea Salt tossed his legs over the bed and tried to stand.

White Flour ran to support him as he stumbled and shook a bit from suddenly standing up. “Easy! I don’t even think Pure Vanilla wants you walking around! Don’t you hurt?!” White Flour exclaimed. Sea Salt just nodded as he got to standing and started walking to the door.

“Come on Salt! You can’t be walking around right now! It’s not safe!” White Floru said as she tried to push him back. Salt just tilted his head as if to ask if she was serious about pushing against someone almost twice her height and weight.

It was about that time when White Flour heard the voice she really didn’t want to hear right now. “If both of those things are awake then we’ll question them both!” It was Golden Cheese, with Pure Vanilla not too far behind, trying to tell her to calm down.

Sea Salt pointed to the door to ask ‘who is that?’. “That's someone who definitely doesn’t like us.” White Flour nervously replied, knowing she only had a few very bad options on what she could do. Only one answer was actually logical, she knew that. She had to open the door and let Golden Cheese yell at her. White Flour carefully opened the door, bracing herself for the oncoming explosion of yelling.

To no surprise at all, Golden Cheese was right at the door, wings opened and ready to strike. Well, that was until a growling sound made the gilded queen tense before she began to back down.

White Flour felt a hand move around her abdomen carefully. She looked up to see her knight in shining armor right behind her. Sea Salt was definitely not taking the rude entrance nicely, his notebook tossed to the side with only four words. ‘And who are you?’

Chapter Text

White Flour instinctively moved closer to Sea Salt, not like she could move away if she wanted to. Salt was holding her in a death grip as he eyed Golden Cheese. The knight had decided it was a good idea to hold the poor temple guardian to his chest as he and Golden Cheese eyed each other for a fight.

The Gilded Queen’s wings flared up like a hawk about to crush a snake. She seemed to radiate heat with her anger. “So you’re awake…” she growled. Sea Salt leaned down and dared the woman to move.

“May we take this to the Council room? Or at the very least separate you two…” Pure vanilla asked, trying to stop a fight before it happened. “Fine by me! What about you Salt?!” White Flour replied quickly. Sea Salt looked down at her and after a moment he relaxed and let her go. Golden Cheese begrudgingly backed down entirely and let Vanilla guide her away.

Sea Salt huffed and turned to head back into the room. “Wait wait wait! Where do you think you're going?!” White Flour exclaimed. Salt just pointed to the bed before flopping down and cuddling under the blankets. “We have to go to the council room soon.” Flour said.

Sea Salt made more clicking noises like he was giving White Flour some sassy response. She couldn’t really be mad at him. After everything she was told since waking up, she felt like just laying in bed and sleeping. White Flour wondered how the Ancient heroes would react if the two beasts just decided to stay in the entire day. It didn’t sound like an awful idea.

White Flour loved that idea. She’d cuddle up with a soft blanket, maybe get some hot tea and just rest. So much had happened in such little time. She honestly thought it was a good idea to take a day and rest. Maybe she’d join Salt and just- She got warm in the face a little, her pale dough lightening the dark jam in her.

White Flour sighed, knowing she couldn’t. She didn’t think it was a good idea. “I’m going to go get White Lily so we can talk about getting you settled in more…it’s been a few long days.” White Flour said. Sea Salt tilted his head a little but seemed to give up on questioning as he laid back down.

As White Flour walked out her head rang with questions and thoughts. Salt doesn’t normally act like that! Is he hurt more than Vanilla though? Was he in pain and I didn't know? Is he mad at me? Did I do something wrong when I was corrupted but he was still virtuous?

With all her thoughts White Flour didn’t realize where she was going till she knocked into the iron armor or Wildberry. “Oh, sorry.” He said, carefully catching White Flour before she fell. “Is something wrong?” He asked calmly.

“No. I’m sorry, I'm just looking for White Lily.” White Flour explained. “Hollyberry and her are busy getting some ‘trusted individuals’.” Wildberry said, adjusting his armor and looking at Flour with a more serious expression. “What exactly happened last night during the storm. From what I saw you all ran off and came back almost two hours later.”

White Flour didn’t know if she was allowed to say. She knew what White Lily was doing. Getting a group of friends to see how they’d react to Sea Salt. White Flour could assume that Caramel Arrow wasn’t awake yet and if she was, Pure Vanilla told her to stay quiet. Raisin also seemed to know about Salt as Vanilla called her to help him out.

“I can't tell you…not yet.” White Flour said, bracing for the guard to start ripping into her for answers. She was happily surprised when Wildberry simply gave her nod and started walking beside her. “Do you want some company?” He asked.

White Flour wasn’t sure. Part of her wanted to go back and check on Sea Salt, but another part of her said that he needed space. “Yes please. I think I need a bit of a talk to get my mind off things.” She said softly. Wildberry nodded and walked with her.

White Flour honestly thought she needed someone with her because of the adrenaline. She had been running on it all night and early morning. She was pretty sure she was going to collapse at some point. Low and behold by the time she and Wildberry got outside into the garden, White Flour went numb and collapsed for what she felt was the umpteenth time.

Hollyberry’s guard dropped down a bit to catch White Flour again. His face was the same calm and controlled look but with a hit of concern. From what White Flour knew of Wildberry, he was quite observant about things but would bring it up if necessary or dangerous to keep secret.

“Maybe you should sit down…even Hollyberry walks better after drinking juice…” Wildberry said, mumbling the last bit. White Flour just sunk down onto one of the tree hollows that was carved into a cozy little nook for resting fae. Wildberry settled down next to her and helped keep her upright. “Sorry…s-so much has happened so soon.” White Flour said.

“Just breathe. Pure Vanilla mentioned that this could happen.” Wildberry said as he gently rubbed her back. “That what could happen?” White Flour asked. “Just that you’d need a break. The stress from everything may have just taken a bit out of you.” He explained. That was an understatement in White Flour’s opinion.

“If you’ll let me share, Hollyberry even gets overwhelmed. She doesn’t show but she’s constantly being stressed by smaller things. That can and will break down anyone after a while.” Wildberry said, trying to help with how awful White Flour felt.

“So even she worries about making everyone happy…?” White Flour asked. Wildberry turned to look at her. “You’re speaking from experience, aren’t you?” He questioned. White Flour tensed. “Unfortunately…”

Wildberry looked at her in a sympathetic manner, like he was thinking of anything he could do to make it better. “Hollyberry told me about what happened. How you got corrupted that is. I’m sorry.” He soothed, patting White Flour’s shoulder a little.

He wasn’t wrong about it though. Nothing he had said was wrong. “I guess I’ve been through a lot in just a few days…even more now…” White Flour mumbled. “Let’s just walk for a bit and get you some fresh air.” Wildberry said as he stood up and helped White Flour to her feet.

“Do you wish to to talk about anything in particular or just walk?” He asked. “I think I just need to…well think…” white Flour said as she wobbled a little standing up.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

They simply walked around the garden area till they got called into the council chambers. “Wildberry! White Flour! Come inside now!” Raisin yelled to them as one of her crows flew over to escort them. “Is everyone else here?” Wildberry asked. “Mostly…” Raisin grumbled.

It was clear her anger wasn’t directed at White Flour or Wildberry. From what the temple guardian guessed, Golden Cheese and Smoked Cheese wouldn’t be joining them. She also thought of crossing Dark Cacao off of her list but she honestly hadn’t talked to him enough to get a proper answer.

Everyone was in the council room. Wildberry got called over to Hollyberry and Pitaya so he left White Flour to find where to go and sit down. She looked around till White Lily raised her hand and waved her over. White Flour walked over to the side where Cloud Haetae was waiting for her.

“There you are!” They whispered excitedly. “I was worried! You weren’t in your room.” The little Haetae said as White Flour pulled them into her lap. They felt like a little sweet pillow, ready to help if White Flour needed it. She had no excuse not to thank the little creature.

“Everyone!” Pure Vanilla shouted once everyone was settled. The guards had taken guard by the doors instead of the fae scouts who were normally in their places. The only members of the Silver Kingdom in the room now were Elder Faerie, White Lily, SilverBell and another fae named Mercurial Knight.

“I guess it is important to explain what happened last night.” Pure Vanilla continued. “Unfortunately there was another Beast Cookie in the area…” Practically everyone except the Ancient heroes, Pitaya and Elder Faerie looked around nervously. Caramel Arrow and Raisin looked down, hiding what they had already known.

“Please! We were able to catch them and help them.” Pure Vanilla continued. “Are you implying what I think you are?” Mercurial Knight asked, wings tensing in a way that tried to make him look bigger. “Yes. It seems White Flour’s situation isn’t a one off occurrence. The Beast Cookies can be redeemed, though with some exceptions.” Pure Vanilla said.

‘Exceptions? What could that be? Is it why Sea Salt’s armor was all messed up? Is it why all my emotions feel like too much? Is it why I feel like I need to constantly be on guard?’ White Flour thought. Her stomach felt like it was twisting in knots and doing flips all at the same time.

“It seems that it removes all memory from when they were corrupted. Anything that happens during that time is completely erased from their minds. General appearance stays the same though. They may look and sound like the same Beasts though they are completely different in personality.” Vanilla continued, mostly confirming everything.

“So, which beast was it that caused you to have to leave and hunt them down immediately like that?” Crunchy Chip asked. White Flour couldn’t help herself as she stepped forward a bit. “It was Sea Salt.” She confirmed. The room seemed to freeze as White Flour felt a part of her call herself an idiot.

Mercurial knight and SilverBell immediately closed their wings and went into guarded positions. Elder Faerie flapped his own iridescent wings and calmed the two fae. “Please remain calm as we explain.” White Lily added.

“Thank you White Lily. Yes, Silent Salt or Sea Salt was the one who’s been attacking the fae scouts. It was just in the attack last night that we were able to determine the cause of injuries on the fae.” Pure Vanilla said.

“So…w-where is he now?” SilverBell asked nervously. “We were actually planning for you all to meet him.” Pure Vanilla said as he stepped aside, letting Sea Salt walk in. He was looking a lot better and wasn’t stumbling at the very least.

There were several different reactions. SilverBell and Mercurial Knight had immediately taken off into the air and pointed their weapons at Salt. Raisin, Caramel and Wildberry tensed but stayed calm about the Beast who was standing a mere table away. Crunchy Chip had nervously moved behind Hollyberry’s guard as Sea Salt stood up to his full height.

Salt was definitely bigger than White Flour remembered. White Flour wasn’t a tall or large cookie but Sea Salt definitely towered over her in this new form. She felt her chest thumping a bit.

Sea Salt looked around the room at everyone who was there but stopped when he saw White Flour. His armor shifted to a smile, or the closest thing he could make to a smile. He looked a little goofy doing it but White Flour smiled back at him. Cloud Haetae noticed and giggled a little bit.

“So he’s safe to be around?” SilverBell asked, landing on one of the high branches in the room so he was far away from Sea Salt. “Yes, he’s safe. Like I said, this is more of the past version of Silent Salt.” Pure Vanilla said. “So he doesn’t remember us?” Mercurial Knight asked. “No, he doesn't even remember our fight last night.” Elder Faerie said.

“I’m willing to give him a chance.” Caramel Arrow said. She walked up to the knight who leaned down a little to be level with her. Salt carefully and gently reached out his hand to her. “Nice to meet you.” Caramel said.

Wildberry and Raisin walked up to introduce themselves as well. Salt happily smiled and made little clicks and gestures to show things like how he thought Caramel’s bow was interesting or how he respected Wildberry’s title of bodyguard for Hollyberry.

SilverBell had nervously followed along and stood frozen like an icicle as Sea Salt looked him over. Salt pointed to himself, then his temple before gesturing to Silverbell’s wings and giving a thumbs up. It was a complicated gesture to get across a simple point. SilverBell tilted his head in confusion. “Sorry. learning.” Salt then signed in a more traditional sign language gesture.

“He thinks your wings are good.” Pure Vanilla said. “Why can’t he just say that? Is something wrong even with the light of Silence gone?” SilverBell asked as he started to relax around the knight. “Unfortunately that was one of the drawbacks of redemption. Injuries and bits of the souljams effect stay.”

“Are you saying that his armor is…corrupted?” White Flour asked, looking at White Lily and Elder Faerie for answers. “Yes…the souljam didn’t just change things personality wise, it seemed to have corrupted physical appearance as well.” White Lily explained softly.

White Flour looked over at Sea Salt as Crunchy Chip started talking loudly about the dark cacao kingdom with Caramel Arrow. They seemed so happy just talking and explaining things to the silent knight.

“White Flour? You okay?” White Lily asked with a gentle smile. “Yes, why?” White Flour questioned. “Your face seems a little ‘pink’ is all.” The woman said sweetly “dose someone have your attention?”

“I-I…?” White Flour didn’t realize she had been staring that much. She started feeling her heart beating faster and stronger. “Do you wish to talk outside for a minute? I believe you ‘knight in shining armor’ is a little preoccupied.” White Lily said. White Flour blushed hard before nodding quickly. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Text

White Lily had quickly smuggled White Flour out of the room and into one of the hallways. They knew the others would be talking for at least a few hours as everyone asked questions and determined if Sea Salt was actually safe. White Lily had already given her vote as a yes so she could leave. “Soooo~” the Ancient hero asked. “What exactly is going on with you?”

White Flour stuttered and backed up a little. She had never been confronted about staring at someone too much. “I-I don’t…it’s not what you…um…see the thing is…” White Flour kept trying to rearrange the words but they kept sounding wrong.

“Listen it was nothing…Sea Salt is just my closest friend…I just, well, appreciate that he’s back!” The temple guardian finally managed to stumble out of her lips. “Just a friend?” White Lily asked with a smile. “No, a close companion would be like me and Pure Vanilla. Of course I care for him but I’m not staring at him and getting flustered.”

“Is there something else going on?” White Lily asked. “W-well I…” White Flour didn’t even know. She honestly had this same feeling around Sea Salt for a while (well at least before the Virtues were corrupted) and never thought much about them.

She remembered how Blueberry Milk would always pair them up for exploring saying “you two are perfect together, trust me.” Sweet Sugar always seemed to think Sea Salt being around White Flour was his perfect happiness. Even Powdered Spice thought that Salt fought better when White Flour was involved. Realization started to kick in.

“I don’t know! I didn’t realize it at all!” White Flour suddenly shouted. “Oh my witches how long has this been happening?! Am I really that blind?! Blueberry Milk probably realized it!” White Lily couldn’t help but laugh a little bit.

“How about we talk about it then?” White Lily asked with a small smirk. She knew what was going on perfectly, she just wanted White Flour to admit it all and say it. “How long have you and Sea Salt known each other anyway?”

“Master White Flour has known Sea Salt for decades, centuries even.” Cloud Haetae chirped in. White Flour had almost forgotten the little Haetae was in her arms. It was almost natural to hold them like a little plushie close to her chest, even if she had never done it before.

“I feel we must remember that I am missing a good thousand years of memory.” White Flour said. “Well you two have still known each other for a while. He did seem happy to see you.” White Lily said. “I guess, but we both were happy about seeing each other.” White Flour corrected. “Sea Salt was more than happy.” Cloud Haetae said, giggling as White Flour tickled them.

“Just because we were both happy seeing each other doesn’t mean we have feelings. I care for all of the virtues and I love them all. I just feel that it’s me overreacting on something. Maybe it’s the tiredness. It’s not like I talk more about Sea Salt than the others.” White Flour rambled.

White Lily laughed a bit and pulled White Flour closer. “I feel you’d be surprised how much you talk of someone when you care for them. Just think of anyone here that you’ve met. Say Hollyberry.” She said.

White Flour remembered how Hollyberry had talked about her friends. She shared a deep care for a lot of cookies, that was obvious. Even just mentioning Snapdragon or talking with Pitaya showed she really loved them both.

“I guess you’re right…but I mean I don’t talk about Sea Salt that much…” White Flour said. That blush was getting worse and she was starting to feel it on her neck. Cloud Haetae giggled a little at White Flour’s expression.

“You remember what happened when you came to the Silver Kingdom?” White Lily asked. White Flour had been in the kingdom for days, yes, but it felt like years. “Not really honestly, a lot has happened.” The temple guardian said. White Lily smiled gently and leaned against one of the barriers in the hallway that separated the silver walls from an interior garden of lilies and other flowers from the various kingdoms.

“I asked you what each of the Beasts were like as Virtues. You answered everyone else with sweet comments, but you froze when I asked about Sea Salt. You said he was your closest companion. Never harmed or endangered you. You spoke of him like someone would a partner, not just a friend. I had suspected that something was going on from the moment you started crying while talking about him. Dark Cacao telling me you asked for Salt when you first woke up was also telling.” White Lily said softly.

White Flour didn’t even realize any of that. She walked over and leaned on the small barrier with the Ancient hero. “So you just knew…?” White Flour asked, feeling a little defensive for some reason. Cloud Haetae had cuddled more into White Flour’s clothes as the two women talked.

“Sea Salt confirmed it. Pure Vanilla said the first thing he asked about was where you were. He sent Raisin to get you because Sea Salt was starting to fight him to get to where you were.” White Lily said. “He was?” White Flour asked, genuinely surprised.

“Pure Vanilla and Sea Salt talked for a bit. He asked similar questions to what we asked you. He had the same reaction when you were involved. If I had to guess, he feels the same way you do.” White Lily explained.

White Flour felt some warmth in her face again. The idea that Sea Salt had been so worried for her was enough to make her heart flutter a bit. White Flour did care for Sea Salt a lot. She just wondered if the knight was actually interested in a relationship like that.

“You talk like you’ve dealt with this before.” White Flour said, gently petting Cloud Haetae. “Because I have.” White Lily replied, her voice calm and steady. “Wait! Really?!” White Flour asked. White Lily simply nodded, smiling like she was the luckiest cookie ever.

“If you haven’t picked up on it yet, Elder Faerie is pretty affectionate towards me.” White Lily chuckles. White Flour had noticed. Elder Faerie always seemed to have a wing or arm around White Lily. The ancient hero seemed equally as protective of the fae. It reminded White Four of how Sweet Sugar and Blueberry Milk were towards each other.

“I guess you know a lot about this then…” White Flour said. “Well I can tell you that it may be better to talk to your knight about this. I can only give you so much advice.” White Lily said. “I think it’s a good idea to talk about it.” Cloud Haetae said as they squirm out of White Flour’s arms to nuzzle up to White Lily supportively.

The two ladies laughed a bit as they saw the little Haetae act so affectionately. White Flour took a moment to grab a few of the flowers nearby and weave them absentmindedly. They were all lovely. Yellow and purple with some pink and white. One flower looked a bit like a blue Version of Pure Vanilla’s staff. White Flour tied them all together like a small bouquet.

“Do you really think it’s a good idea?” White Flour asked, playing with the petals. “I don’t want to overwhelm him and what would others think if two redeemed Beast Cookies were suddenly acting super close?” She chuckled. “I’d Think You were plotting something.” A voice suddenly growled. White Flour looked up to see the bright wings of Golden Cheese resting on one of the beams in the hall.

“White Lily. What is it you are discussing with this thing?” The queen asked, wings moving like she was planning to pounce onto White Flour and claw her open. The temple guardian didn’t like how that feeling had become so common to her. “I have a name you know…” White Flour said, holding herself together enough to sound challenging. Golden Cheese growled. “Sorry, I meant Mystic Flour. Then again I feel the Beast of apathy is a better title for you.”

White Flour decided to ignore her, not wanting to listen to it anymore as she went back to fluffing up the bouquet. Some of the pollen from the blue orchid flowers was getting on her hands. “That’s not her name anymore!” Cloud Haetae suddenly shouted. “Her name is White Flour! She doesn’t want to be associated with the misdeeds of that name.” They growled. White Flour tensed. She appreciated Cloud Haetae for their defense and protection, but she didn’t want them getting involved in any of this.

Golden Cheese landed in front of the little Haetae and leaned down. “Repeat that…” She growled back. “You heard what I said! White Flour and Sea Salt are under my protection! I won’t let you hurt either of them!” Cloud Haetae added angrily. “Golden Cheese! Leave it! They’re just a child...” White Lily said, standing to the side as she tried not to get involved.

Golden Cheese stared down the little creature. It was like she was stunned a bit by the statement. White Flour took the moment to move forward and pick Cloud Haetae back up. That pollen was getting all over her dress. Golden Cheese moved her hand back to where her golden spear was easily accessible.

Something in White Flour snapped, like a warning bell telling her she was in danger. She didn’t waste a breath pulling Cloud Haetae under her and dropping down. The feeling was too natural for her liking. It had happened a million times before…at the temple. Thousands of attempts on her life had gotten her like this.

The room spun for a moment, feeling too small yet too big at the same time. It felt like it was just White Flour and some invisible danger. But it wasn’t Golden Cheese. White Flour pulled herself back to reality as Cloud Haetae tossed something away from her. White Flour didn’t have time to look. Golden Cheese was still behind her.

White Flour waited for it, the bite of cold metal into warm dough but it never came. Instead she got a firm grab to her shoulder as Golden Cheese looked at her. “What on earth bread was that for?” She asked.

“Y-you were about to stab me and I…” White Flour started before she processed the face Golden Cheese had. It was a face of pure concern. “I have no weapon on my person…” the queen said. “Pure Vanilla ordered that all weapons be left in our rooms for today…”

White Flour looked. Golden Cheese wasn’t lying. Her spear wasn’t there. Nothing was there but the warm yellow and blue feathers of the gilded queen. “White Flour…?” White Lily asked nervously as she leaned down to her level.

“White Flour what happened?” The ancient hero asked. Even Golden Cheese had gently settled down next to the temple guardian. “I-I don’t know…” she said. “Maybe we should head back with the others…” Golden Cheese said, her voice losing whatever dangerous edge she had.

“Yes! We’ll get back inside. I probably shouldn’t have dragged you out of the room White Flour.” White Lily said as she pulled the two other women up and started walking back. Cloud Haetae trailed behind after getting out of Mystic Flour’s arms.

They seemed to be staring at some of the flowers. It was those blue eyed flowers like the ones Pure Vanilla had. “Do you like those flowers?” White Flour asked Cloud Haetae as they walked back. “I hate them…they stare too much…” Haetae growled.

Chapter Text

When they got back into the room, White Flour saw that Sea Salt was still talking with the others. She was happy for him. Pitaya was in his smaller form and comparing his claws to the gauntlets that Salt was wearing. Dark Cacao looked unimpressed by Pitaya’s happy exclamations.

“Ha! You’d make a worthy adversary!” The dragon laughed, holding Salt’s hand up to examine the claw-like structure. “Hey! I thought I was your worthy adversary?” Hollyberry teased. “I sssaid A, not MY.” Pitaya replied with a grin. Hollyberry sighed, trying not to laugh.

“Oh! There you all are! I was getting worried.” Pure Vanilla said as he approached the group. “Sorry, we just left to talk.” White Lily said, winking at White Flour. Pure Vanilla just laughed before ushering them back over. “Join the rest of us and try and relax.” The healer said.

White Flour watched as Sea Salt playfully tested armor with Pitaya and Hollyberry. Dark Cacao was standing off to the side with Elder Faerie, neither of them truly interested in the competitive attitude. Salt also seemed to understand that the snowy king didn’t want him anywhere near him.

“I must say I’m impressed. It’s almost tame.” Golden Cheese muttered, still showing disdain for the two redeemed Beast Cookies. “Don’t talk about him like that.” White Flour said. “Fine…” the Queen replied. She walked off to join another group quickly, trying to separate. “I don’t like her…” Cloud Haetae said. “Don’t be rude.” Flour replied. “She started it…” They growled back.

The ancients and their chosen guards continued to interact and ask questions about the two ex-beast cookies. White Flour didn’t feel uncomfortable though. She actually felt okay about the questions being asked. It was like a bit of her worry was taken away.

After a good bit of socializing, White Flour walked over to Sea Salt. He was nervously trying to sign to Caramel Arrow with his hands, not fully remembering the simple hand movements Vanilla had shown him. The moment Salt saw White Flour he immediately apologized to Caramel Arrow and walked over.

‘Hey’ he signed, his armor shifting to a bit of a playful grin. White Flour couldn’t help but smile back. She hoped he didn’t see the blush she was still dealing with. “Hey, I’m sorry I just left. I thought you needed a break alone.” White Flour said as she looked up at Sea Salt. He just shrugged, signing ‘no problem. Needed it.’ White Flour smiled gently. At Least Sea Salt was happy.

Salt’s hand gently wrapped around her shoulder as he rested his head on hers. White Flour had to stop herself from blushing. She knew Sea Salt was just being nice and stuff but she couldn’t help but think of it as more. She could see White Lily gently giggling as she saw the dark knight being so sweet.

‘…want to look around…I’m curious about the area…’ Sea Salt weakly signed, his hands freezing at moments. White Flour could oddly understand bits and pieces of Salt’s broken hand signals, even though she never remembered learning them fully. Maybe Mystic Flour did. “Well maybe but I don’t know…” White Flour started.

“No.” Elder Faerie suddenly spoke up. “You unfortunately can’t leave the area.” He said. ‘Why?’ Salt asked. “The other fae will not want to see you.” Elder Faerie replied, wings shifting to catch a bit of the warm sun coming into the room. ‘Why?’ Salt asked again, his head tilting to the side gently and his armor shifting to look confused.

“They see you as dangerous…” White Lily said. ‘You said that…Why…’ Sea Salt stressed, confused as to what he did wrong for cookies he didn’t know to be afraid of him. He needed more than being told he was dangerous. “While you don’t remember it, you’ve been attacking fae scouts for months…it’s difficult to explain to a kingdom how their greatest enemy is suddenly safe.” White Lily said.

‘What!’ Sea Salt signed, barely getting the hand movement right. His jaw had opened like he was trying to shout but only a metallic growl came out. Dark Cacao tensed and seemed prepared to tackle Sea Salt if he made another wrong move. “You know what we mean…” The king grumbled. ‘No!’ Salt signed, looking more worried.

Wildberry nervously looked at Hollyberry who waved him to take the others out of there. She obviously knew that things were escalating more than needed. She didn’t need any of the others seeing or hearing the Ancient Heroes yell. White Flour dropped Cloud Haetae onto the ground as well. “Go with Caramel Arrow.” White Flour whispered. “But I want to stay with you.” They said, hugging the temple guardian’s leg. “I’m sorry you can’t.” White Flour said. “I’ll get him to your room.” Caramel Arrow said as she picked up the little Haetae and walked out.

‘Why not tell me?!’ Salt signed. “We did not want to stress you. Both you and White Flour are missing decades if not centuries of memories. In that time even we don’t know what you’ve done for most of that time.” Elder Faerie explained. Salt looked horrified at what he was being told. ‘I…what do you…oh witches…” Sea Salt barely signed, feeling awful.

He felt just like White Flour. He didn’t know what he did, what he acted like, who he hurt. He was called a monster and feared with no explanation as to why or how it got to that point.

“But still, why didn’t you tell him earlier?” White Flour asked. “Like we said, same reason why we tried to not immediately tell you what you did.” White Lily said “we also didn’t want him running off and getting spotted” White Flour knew what she meant. Sea Salt whined a little as he held his head in his hands.

“Don’t beat yourself up. We all know now that Silent Salt and Mystic Flour are as different as night and day to how you are.” Hollyberry said as she rubbed Salt's arm calmingly. ‘Yes…’ Sea Salt replied, gently relaxing. ‘What now?’ He asked, trying to pull himself together.

“That’s what we need to figure out now, we have a few options and many things to consider.” Pure Vanilla said, “for one, we now know a way to help redeem you and your friends, but is this a permanent change? If either of you picked up your souljam again, would you just go back to being Mystic Flour and Silent Salt?”

“Why not test it?” Hollyberry asked. “It’s dangerous, if we’re not careful it could damage more memories or even hurt them.” White Lily explained. ‘I don’t want to lose more memories.’ Sea Salt signed. “Me neither.” White flour added. “Exactly, which is why we won’t be doing that.” Pure Vanilla said.

“Not to mention that White Flour is practically petrified of her own souljam.” Golden Cheese said. White Flour sunk down a bit. She really didn’t need anyone reminding her that she was scared of her souljam like that. She didn’t want whatever power it gave her. That power was what nearly got her killed because of the greed of others.

“I don’t believe that’s appropriate. White Flour has her reasons.” Hollyberry said. “I hope she has a good reason.” Golden Cheese said. ‘Shut it! You have no right to talk to her that way…’ Sea Salt signed, growling a bit as his armor shifted, showing metal wolf-like teeth. “Maybe you should shut it. You may be redeemed but your other friends haven't, which leads me to question if this is all a scheme. That jester is still out there. What if he’s behind all this?” Golden Cheese said. “May we not get into another argument?” Pure Vanilla asked.

White flour sneezed suddenly. It felt like she was breathing in something again. She looked to one of the few open windows and saw those blue flowers again. They were snaking along the balcony and almost peering into the room. That blue pollen they had was getting everywhere, making the room spin a bit.

‘Flour? You good?” Sea salt asked, shaking her gently. White Flour took a moment to get the blue pollen out of her throat. “I’m okay, the flowers just aren’t agreeing with me. Salt just moved to shut the window, leaving the flower to seemingly grow to find a new area. White Flour though it was just her imagination, maybe lack of sleep.

“…Well I want to know if it would even be possible to see my other friends.” White Flour said, getting herself together. “Ah yes! You wish to see the tyrant, the siren and the fool! Ha!” Golden Cheese laughed like it was some crude joke. “Well I won’t say you're wrong but I also won’t say you're right.” Pure Vanilla said as he grabbed at his souljam nervously.

“To be fair…do you think the other Beast would notice that Mystic Flour and Silent Salt aren’t around anymore?” Hollyberry asked. “That’s a good point. We need to know if another Beast could show up.” White Lily said, pulling out a map and laying it out. She was looking to see how close the other territories were to the Silver Kingdom.

White Flour recognized the shape of the map, but things were different. Several areas were marked as ‘Beast Territory’, specifically a large plot of area in the corner of the map. The area was where Powdered Spice used to live. White Flour remembered the warm sand and sun of the area. It was a good place to be, at least when Powdered Spice was himself.

“I guess this is where Burning spice lives.” White Flour said, pointing to the area. “Yes, he controls almost all of the north east territories in Beast Yeast.” Golden Cheese said. “Is it still the same?” White Flour asked. “Depends what you mean…” the Gilded Queen said. “The lassi springs? The temples? Are the villages of-” “yes,yes and no.” Golden Cheese quickly answered, not going into any details.

White Flour sunk down. She wanted more answers. She wanted to know if Powdered Spice was even somewhat himself now. Golden Cheese seemed to have an obvious hatred for him (almost more than she hated White Flour) but gave no information as to what it was. “At least try and have a good conversation with me.” White Flour said. “You are barely worth being in my presence…” Golden Cheese growled.

‘Who dirtied your wings?’ Sea Salt signed with an eye roll. “Says the walking Iron Maiden!” Golden Cheese snapped. Pure Vanilla tugged on Golden Cheese’s wing, managing to pull a feather or two out. The queen yelped and quickly flew up to rest on one of the platforms above. “I’m starting to get tired of your rude comments, Golden Cheese.” The healer grumbled.

White Flour looked away as Golden Cheese cussed out Pure Vanilla for pulling at her wing. The flowers had gotten to a new balcony and looked like they were…smiling? Like they were taunting White Flour for some reason. She just tried to pay more attention to the conversation.

“If I may put in my two coins, removing the souljams from the other Beasts will be more of a struggle than these two. Caramel Arrow managed to get a lucky shot while Silent Salt was only expecting White Lily to be here and therefore was caught off guard.” Dark Cacao mused. “True. Let’sss say we wish to redeem all of the Beastsss, that would require usss to deal with Eternal Sugar’sss honey trap of a garden, Burning Spice’sss armies, and Shadow Milk’sss deception and tricks.” Pitaya hissed.

“It wouldn’t be easy to remove the souljams either.” Elder Faerie said. “Sure Eternal Sugar and Shadow Milk’s can be knocked off similar to White Flour’s, however, Burning Spice’s is embedded in his chest, similar to Sea Salt.” He explained. “So to remove his souljam we’d have to hurt him…a lot…” White Flour mumbled. She really didn’t want to hurt Spice, not even close. She didn’t want him walking up, missing half his memories, scared, tired, and in pain.

“We may not have a choice if we wish to redeem them all.” Pure Vanilla said. “I will assure you White Flour, that when the time comes and we have to remove Powdered Spice’s souljam, I’ll heal him as fast as possible to minimize the pain for him.” White Flour breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.” She said, relieved that Pure Vanilla wasn’t going to let her friend stay in too much pain.

“I feel you miss the part where they are still Beasts till you remove the Souljam. How do you plan to hold them still till then? For the love of Earthbread, it took dumb luck, three attackers, and a dragon just to pin Silent Salt!” Dark Cacao said. “Well you can ssstill resort to me if things aren’t sssatisfactory to you.” Pitaya said. “I feel it will take more than a big lizard to hold down Spice and even Eternal Sugar is a bit…direct in her attacks. She still managed to get control of the situation when I was at her garden. I fear for if she truly tried to fight.” Hollyberry said.

“I fear we have another problem to deal with before we talk of redeeming any other Beasts.” Elder Faerie said, wings flared up like he was ready for a battle. Sea Salt tensed and backed closer to White Flour. “Has any fae other than me, SilverBell and Mercurial Knight been allowed in the area?” The fae asked, gripping more onto the windowsill he was at.

“No, it should just be you three. Why do you ask?” White Lily questioned. “Because the fae outside know every word we’ve said?” Elder Faerie growled. White Flour ran over to the window quickly, praying that he was lying. He wasn’t. There in the center of the courtyard, fae were gathered and as they whispered and spread the word. They were talking about Sea Salt.

White Flour paled as she heard small snippets of gossip and quotes taken out of context. “How would they even know what we were talking about? We never let anyone inside except those who promised to stay quiet.” White Lily said as she walked over to Elder Faerie. White Flour looked around. Someone had to be in here but nobody was…except for the eyed flowers. She turned to the flowers on the balcony.

“What about these? White Flour asked, grabbing the flowers tightly as they tried to magically move away. “Where did you get those?!” Pure Vanilla yelled as he grabbed the blue vanilla orchid from White Flour’s hand. “They’ve been growing all around the place. Why? What’s wrong with them?” White Flour asked, fully scared by the sudden anger of the Ancient Heroes healer.

“It clears up who spread the rumor that Sea Salt is here. You won’t like the answer however.” Pure Vanilla said. “So do you wish to listen to more of what you’ve caused?” He asked the flower. The flowers gently tried to sink down. “Don’t hide. I know you're listening…” Pure Vanilla grumbled. “The beast of deceit seems to have noticed your absence White Flour…”

Chapter Text

White Flour and Sea Salt had been immediately sent to their room after the discovery of the flowers. Cloud Haetae had been waiting and got worried when they returned early with a few of the Ancient heroes. Pure Vanilla had stayed for a moment to check both of them over, telling them to wash up and get any of that blue pollen off of them. Sea Salt went into the bathroom to try and scrub what he could off of his armor, but the stuff was sticking to him and making him agitated. ‘What even is this stuff? Why is it so important we get it off?’ Sea Salt asked.

“It’s a type of pollen that acts as a hallucinogenic,” Pure Vanilla said as he examined the blue dust still stuck on the edges of White Flour’s dress. “if it gets in your lungs it can cause you to experience heightened anxiety and visual disturbances in just a few minutes.” He explained. “So when I saw Golden Cheese holding her spear, that was caused by the flowers?” White Flour asked. “Yes. I’ve unfortunately experienced the full effects of the flower first hand. You're lucky it hasn’t been too long since you first encountered it.” The healer said.

“What could’ve happened if I was around it any longer?” White Flour asked. “Paranoia sets in within twenty minutes, next comes memory problems at the forty mark. Shadow Milk usually keeps it like that for a while but it will quickly move to fully falsified memories…” Pure Vanilla said, “if you let it continue…you won’t be yourself much longer…” The healer concluded as he looked down nervously.

“Why though…?” White Flour asked “why would Blueberry do something like that?!” She was starting to cry again. Pure Vanilla gently wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. “I don’t know, but for right now we need to clear up what’s going on outside. You both have to stay here, I’ll send someone later to bring lunch for you. I’m sorry.” Pure Vanilla said as he quickly made his leave.

‘You should clean up to Flour.’ Sea Salt signed, drying the water off of his armor. His jaw was open a bit, showing his face just enough to see his mouth and a few scars from the metal. White Flour could see a bit of strain as Sea Salt opened and closed his mouth. She wanted to help him, wanted to hug him and take away that pained expression he had. She just didn’t know how.

White Flour quickly went to the bathroom and got the pollen off of her. She changed into clean clothes before collapsing onto the bed. Cloud Haetae cleans up as well before they followed and cuddled up next to her, trying to be a comforting presence. ‘You two okay?’ Sea Salt asked, looking up from the book he was reading by the windowsill. White Flour just whined and tugged at the covers more, pulling Cloud Haetae into a hug. She wasn’t okay at all and honestly felt awful.

After a few minutes, Sea Salt walked over to where White Flour was laying on the bed under the covers. He didn’t try to sign to her and instead just sat down next to her. White Flour pulled the covers more over herself, hiding how she was on the verge of tears again. She was really tired and just wanted to sleep all of this off. It’s not like she would be missing anything with what all the fae must think now.

Sea Salt settled down next to her properly and pulled a pillow under himself for comfort. White Flour slowly and nervously looked up at him. Sea Salt was softly smiling at her and moving to keep her comfortable. ‘Rest…I’ll keep you both safe…’ he sighed softly. White Flour froze and nervously leaned into Sea Salt. “Thank you…But please, wake me up if you hear anything or if anyone comes to the door.” White Flour said. Sea Salt just nodded and laid his head down on one of the pillows.

White Flour laid down and tried to get to sleep, though it was proven difficult with Sea Salt being so close. Not because she didn’t want him close, she actually wanted to stay as close as she could to him and Cloud. It was really because she didn’t need him getting worried about her like last time. She didn’t want him to protect her and get hurt again.

‘Are you okay?’ Sea Salt asked, shuffling nervously on top of the blankets. “I-I’m okay…just worried.” White Flour said as she tried to relax. ‘Do I make you feel uncomfortable?’ Sea Salt asked. White Flour looked up to see his face. He looked like a guilty dog who bit someone by accident.

“Salt…no, you don’t make me feel uncomfortable.” White Flour said softly. “You do worry me though. I don’t want you getting hurt, especially now that you’re back to being yourself.” She explained. “I-I did think I lost you for a moment…” She whispered.

‘If it brings you any comfort…I never did leave you at the temple…’ Sea Salt signed. White Flour perked up a little and Cloud Haetae sat up straight to listen. “What do you mean?” She asked, questioning what her knight ment. ‘I promised to protect you when you hid in your cocoon. I never left as far as I remember.’ He explained.

White Flour looked up at Sea Salt as if asking him to say more. She wanted to know what he remembered. “So what happened?” She asked. “I want to hear everything, the good and the bad. Did the others show up? Did anyone hurt you? Were you safe before you forgot everything?” She questioned.

Sea Salt took a deep breath as if he was actually going to talk before he started signing and explaining. ‘The first few days were normal. Many came by and understood your decision. Some even lit candles and incense as a small offering to make you feel better when you awoke. About a week in, a few thieves showed up trying to steal things from the temple. I scared them off and told them to remind others that you were under my protection…that may have been my fatal mistake…’ Sea Salt explained.

His head shifted to the side like he couldn’t look Cloud Haetae or Mystic Flour in the eyes. “Please…continue…” White Flour whispered. ‘…I shouldn’t have said anything…’ Sea Salt sighed, making a whining sound like he was trying to hold back tears. ‘…It was all my fault…I gave them a challenge…a reason to hurt you…’

White Flour moved to grab Sea Salt’s face and pull him close. “It wasn’t your fault! You couldn’t have known! You were just protecting White Flour!” Cloud Haetae said firmly, nuzzling into the knight’s armor. ‘But it was my fault! they attacked more because of me!’ Sea Salt exclaimed. ‘I was ignorant of their greed! I wasn’t smart enough to see they wanted us both gone! I couldn’t protect you enough!’

“Don’t think of it that way!” White Flour ordered as she grabbed onto Sea Salt’s head and pulled him to her chest, “Have you not considered that you’ve still saved my life thousands of times over the years?! You’ve blocked fatal stab wounds for me? You’ve pulled me out of arrow shots and spears! You’ve taken on fights to keep me safe! Just today since you came back you were ready to protect me! Salt I wouldn’t be alive without you!”

Sea Salt sunk down into White Flour, looking scared and confused. ‘Why do you still believe in me?’He asked. White Flour felt her vision blur from emotion. Now wasn’t the right time for the feelings she had for him. “Because I care for you and your the best knight I’ll ever know.” She said, moving his armored jaw to see a bit of his face.

Salt’s dough was stained with tears as his teeth clenched to hold back a whine. “I care about you so much, and whether you realize it or not, I trust you with my life.” Cloud Haetae cuddled in between them as White Flour rubbed Sea Salt’s back. “Actions are louder than words and your actions show that you don’t let me get hurt easily.”

“Now please…what happened?” She asked. Sea Salt stayed still as he hugged White Flour more, there was something he obviously didn’t want to tell her but he had no choice.. ‘I started getting attacked on the daily. All of them were the same. Dark clothes, sharp weapons, awful intentions…’ Salt whined, ‘they weren’t like normal thieves, they wanted you dead more than they wanted treasure…’

White Flour pulled the blanket over herself, trying to be small. She knew that was the case for a lot of cookies who came to her temple. She tried not to think of the treats and the attempts to kill her. “But you didn’t let them hurt White Flour…right?” Cloud Haetae asked hopefully, their tail wagging nervously.

‘I tried my best but I couldn’t deal with it all on my own. Blueberry Milk and Sweet Sugar ended up helping me with enchantments and potions. They couldn’t come and help themselves due to their own territories having problems.’ Sea Salt continued, ‘I think after that was when the problem started though…’ “What problem?” White Flour asked.

Sea Salt lightly gestured to his suit. The metallic purple black armor that covered him and couldn’t be removed. “It’s when your armor started…melding into you?” White Flour asked nervously. Sea Salt nodded and adjusted his position.

‘I did kill…I won’t deny or defend my actions with that. But after a while my armor started to change. Every time an enemy fell to my blade I felt something sharp hit me. I thought it was nothing until I tried removing my armor after a battle…I couldn’t move it.’ Sea Salt signed, looking a little distressed by what he was talking about.

“Your armor started corrupting before you were corrupted?” White Flour asked. ‘Yes…I didn’t know what I had done wrong. Sweet Sugar and Blueberry Milk tried to help but it was too late by the time I finally met with them…’ Sea Salt said, tears falling from his eyes again.

‘I think I did something really bad…’ Salt signed, collapsing down and trying to hide. “What do you mean?” White Flour asked. ‘Before everything went black I remember fighting. I wasn’t just fighting someone attacking you…I-I was fighting Spice…’

White Flour when silent. She didn’t know what to say. Sea Slat backed down like he was expecting white Flour to yell. She never did. She just pulled him close and laid down.

“Then that wasn’t you.” She said, “because I know my Sea Salt never wanted to hurt anyone.” Salt burst into apologies and regrets. ‘I-I don’t want that to be the last thing that happened. The last thing Spice saw me doing…’ Sea Salt cried, his signing getting sloppy and weak.

“Let’s not think of that.” White Floru said. “We’ll both find Spice and the others together, and when we do we’ll help each other.” She said, seeing the exhaustion in Sea Salt's eyes. “Just lay down and rest…maybe I’ll protect you this time” White Flour comforted. Sea Salt pulled White Flour and Cloud Haetae close before tugging the covers up.

‘Thank you my dear…for everything…’He smiled.

Chapter Text

The rest of the day felt like a torn tapestry. Sure White Flour could remember moments and understand who things were but details were missing. Caramel Arrow had come into the room at some point to discuss something but the words felt like they blurred into the background. Pure Vanilla’s visit to see that Sea Salt and her were healing was underwater and hard to make out. She just couldn’t stay focused.

How could she though. White Flour knew what had happened. She knew that every faerie in the Silver Kingdom was watching their backs. She knew that news had spread of the Beast of Silence hiding in their home. She knew that the ancient heroes were protecting him. Sea Salt was on thin ice that was slowly cracking beneath him. White Flour was scared when he’d fall through.

“Hello? Is this the room of White Flour and Sea Salt?” A sweet voice asked from behind the doors. White Flour poked her head up. She hadn’t really moved and was still cuddled under the blanket with Cloud Haetae in her arms. Sea Salt looked over from the window where he had gone back to reading about an hour ago.

‘Should we open it?’ Sea Salt questioned. ‘It’s not one of the heroes or their friends…’ White Flour agreed, she didn’t really trust anyone at this point. Anyone could be trying to hurt her and Salt. “She sounds familiar to me though. Trust me, she’s not a danger.” Cloud Haetae said as they hopped down to answer the door.

White Flour got out of bed quickly and had straightened herself up by the time their guest entered. She jumped a bit as she realized it was a faerie. She was thin and tall, with butterfly wings that shimmered in a sunny yellow color. She didn’t fly or hover like most of the fae in the silver kingdom did, instead opting to just walk around. She didn’t seem fazed by White Flour or Sea Salt either.

“I’m sorry to intrude. Elder Faerie and White Lily ask me to bring you something to eat. Everyone else is a bit busy at the moment. They’re working to find out who started telling everyone about Sea Salt.” The faerie said as she walked in with a small tray of soft boar jellies, sweet rye bread and a few other treats.

“W-well than you but…who are you exactly…you seem uncomfortably calm.” White Flour said as she leaned against the bed, wondering if she should be hiding. “Oh, my mistake. My name is Sugarfly.” The fae said. “So you’re not with Eternal Sugar anymore…?” Cloud Haetae suddenly asked. “No, I left a while ago, almost six months ago.” Sugarfly said. “It is nice to see you again though Cloud Haetae.” She added happily.

‘You two know each other? And you know Sweet Sugar?’ Sea Salt questioned, getting up and leaving his book. “Yes. I used to be in her garden. That’s mostly why White Lily and Elder Faerie told me to come here instead of another fae. They knew I wouldn’t be scared by either of you. I know you mean no harm.” Sugarfly said as she smiled.

“Sugarfly is one of the nicest cookies you’ll meet. She used to help Eternal Sugar in her garden if I’m correct.” Cloud Haetae said. “Yes…you’re correct. You may not remember me but we have met on a few occasions. Mostly when Eternal Sugar brought you to her home to talk about things.” Sugarfly said. “I don’t want anything bad to happen though. I just want you both to be comfortable and happy.” She added.

Something about her felt genuine, like she truly wanted the best for White Flour and Sea Salt. She didn’t want them to get hurt or have to deal with being imprisoned in a room for witches knows how long. She wanted them to be happy.

‘This all looks lovely, but is it safe to eat?’ Sea Salt asked as he examined the food that Sugarfly had brought. “I made it myself.” She explained. “I made sure nobody else could tamper with it. I know how important safety must be for you all now.”

Cloud Haetae walked over to the food and smelled it a bit. “It smells like just some normal food. Maybe a little sweeter but otherwise safe.” They said. “How can you tell?” White Flour asked. “You were always nervous about food so I learned the scent of a few poisons. I always wanted my master to feel safe, plus it’s a useful skill.” The little Haetae said proudly, like it was the greatest thing they ever learned.

White Flour got a sinking feeling though. Was even Mystic Flour scared of her own food? Sure when you’ve lived in fear of death you’re bound to naturally shy away from things seen as deadly but still. White Flour felt almost guilty that Cloud Haetae had to learn such a skill for her, for her safety and comfort.

“I believe I will take my leave now. I don’t wish to bother you for too long.” Sugarfly said as she quickly adjusted the food on the small table before turning to the exit. “Wait! I must ask. If you were with Sweet Sugar and Cloud Haetae was with me, are there other cookies who worked with me and my friends?” White Flour questioned.

“That’s a bit of a long explanation, unless you just want names.” Sugarfly said, nervously tucking her wings behind her back. “I’d like details. I need to know all I can. I want to maybe get a better idea on who my friends are now and who might know more.” White Flour explained, pulling out a chair for Sugarfly to sit down.

“Well you already know that Cloud Haetae was with you, White Flour, and I’m sure they’ve told you as much as they can.” Sugarfly started. “Me and another cookie named Pavlova took care of Eternal Sugar’s garden. I cared for the garden for a long time before I left when Hollyberry came to the kingdom.”

‘So if I may ask, were you baked in the Silver Kingdom or Sweet Sugar’s garden?’ Sea Salt asked, settling down near the table to listen. “I’m from the faerie kingdom. I was lured out by Eternal Sugar’s garden. Eventually I got trapped there by the sweet smells and the monsters outside of the territory.” Sugarfly said.

“And what about Pavlova? Where are they?” White Flour asked. “He’s still in the garden. I don’t think he’s happy there. He never liked Eternal Sugar but I believe he was too afraid to stand up to her and just leave. Honestly if it wasn’t for Hollyberry I’d still be trapped in the garden as well.” Sugarfly said.

‘What about the others? What about me?’ Sea Salt asked. “I don’t think you’ve ever had anyone in particular with you when you were Silent Salt.” Cloud Haetae said. “Agreed. You had followers and those who listened to you but no one in particular.” Sugarfly said. Sea Salt moved his head down, looking disappointed. He didn’t have anyone really.

White Flour moved next to Sea Salt. “You’ll be okay. We can find one of these followers and ask them. Maybe even question someone like Pavlova or another who has met with Silent Salt.” She said, gently patting the knight’s shoulder.

“If you’d want answers, maybe ask one of the Beasts themselves. They aren’t that different compared to the Ancient heroes. They mostly met up without us.” Sugarfly explained, helping Cloud Haetae grab a sweet bun that they had been eyeing. Sea Salt nodded.

“Continuing on, who else is around the Beasts?” White Flour asked. “Well Burning Spice is close with his general, Nutmeg Tiger. She’s strong and just as ruthless as Spice is.” Sugarfly said. ‘Spice had anger problems…but he was never ruthless…’ Sea Salt signed, his hands moving in a way that said he was grumbling.

“Is she dangerous?” White Flour asked. “Well like I said she’s just like Spice, practically his second in command. If anything happened she’d be in control and make orders just like him.” Sugarfly said. “We’ve only met a few times, on the rare occasions Eternal Sugar lets the other Beasts into her garden. She was rude and aggressive but seemed calmer when I offered her a flower from the garden to take with her. She seems to have a small soft spot.” The faerie added.

“So maybe she’s not awful…” White Flour concluded. She really hoped there was a way to talk to Nutmeg Tiger. If she could then she could ask all about Burning Spice and see if anything could help with removing his souljam. That part still scared White Flour. She didn’t want any of her friends to be hurt. Not Spice, not Sugar, not Milk and especially not Salt.

“There’s also Candy Apple and Black Sapphire. They always follow Shadow Milk around.” Sugarfly started, looking around nervously before continuing. “I feel they were the ones who spread the rumors of Sea Salt being here…” the fae whispered.

‘What do you mean?!’ Sea Salt asked urgently. Sugarfly jumped a bit as the knight stood up in a panic. “Please be calm, I didn’t want to scare you or make you panic.” Sugarfly said. Her wings had opened up gently to try and calm the situation. “Just listen…” she said. Sea Salt took a deep breath and settled down. Resting his head onto the table.

“Candy Apple and Black Sapphire are like Shadow Milk’s henchmen. He doesn’t want to be found so he sends them to blend in and cause problems.” Sugarfly explained. Cloud Haetae nodded to confirm that she was telling the truth. “They can change appearance and hide in plain sight but it takes them a bit to figure out mannerisms if they try to hide as someone else.” The little Haetae added.

‘So we probably have two shapeshifters in a kingdom full of fae who now all hate me…’ Sea Salt signed, a low growl coming from his helmet. White Flour didn’t blame him for feeling upset like this. Sea Salt was in the same position as her.

“Not every faerie in the kingdom hates you…” Sugarfly said. “Some of them have talked with Pure Vanilla and know you're not trying to be a treat. My advice is to try and keep them on your side. Try showing them who you are and don’t worry about what the others say. If they know you’re not going to hurt them then they’ll support you if anything goes wrong.”

‘Would that work?’ Sea Salt asked. “It’s worth a shot isn’t it?” Sugarfly asked. ‘I guess…’ Salt replied, looking down at his claws like they might hurt someone if he wasn’t careful.

“I should get going now. I promised to help SilverBell and some of the other fae remove Shadow Milk’s flowers.” Sugarfly said as she got up from her chair. “You three enjoy the meal and stay safe. Oh, and please, don’t be afraid to ask for me or any of the others if someone gives you trouble.” She said before leaving and closing the door.

‘I like her. She didn’t ask questions. Plus the respect for personal space was nice.’ Sea Salt commented, finally looking at the food and helping himself to some fresh fruit. White Flour pulled Cloud Haetae into her lap and helped herself to some of the bread. “She was sweet.” She mumbled.

They ate in relative silence till Sea Salt set down his fork. ‘Do you really trust the cookies here?” He questioned. White Flour looked at him for a bit. “Not all of them but I have some who I think aren’t out to get me.” She said. ‘Who would that be?’ Sea Salt asked.

White Flour took a moment to think before listing everyone off. “Well Caramel Arrow doesn’t hate me for existing, unlike her King and Crunchy Chip. Pure Vanilla and Raisin are guarded but they trust that I mean no harm. I guess Mozzarella is nice, though I have to wait and see. Hollyberry and Pitaya are also quite caring and they understand our situation. Wildberry also takes after them and is respectful. White Lily and Elder Faerie are worried but they seem to want the best. And according to Sugarfly a handful of fae are on our side.” She concluded.

Sea Salt nodded. ‘I agree with a few but not all. Elder Faerie seems particularly defensive when I’m around. Not all the time but I don’t think he trusts me.’ He explained. ‘I do like Pitaya and Pure Vanilla though. They are quite nice.’

“White Lily does have my master’s best interest at heart. She doesn’t want either of you getting hurt.” Cloud Haetae said, getting comfortable against White Flour. “I think they all just need time, and so do you two.” They said.

‘Agree, though I believe I’m going to lay down for a bit. My body still feels sore from that fight with Pitaya and Elder Faerie.’ Salt mumbled. “I think i'll join you in a moment. I’m still pretty tired.” White Flour said. Salt nodded before he laid down on the bed and grabbed one of the ice packs that was still pretty frozen.

“Maybe once this all calms down we can go to the gardens and have lunch outside. We used to do that at the temple every once in a while.” Cloud Haetae said. “I like that idea, but for now let’s just rest and hope we can come to an understanding with everyone.” White Flour said. She knew that it would take a bit but she was willing to wait. For Sea Salt and Cloud Haetae.

Chapter Text

White Flour had settled into a deep sleep at some point in the night. She actually felt safe sleeping for once. She didn’t feel the need to avoid a bed like it was full of venomous spiders and other creatures. As far as she knew, sleeping was like giving your assassin the knife. Nothing was safe, but for once she felt like she wouldn’t die in the middle of the night.

She felt Cloud Haetae shift in their sleep, knocking into White Flour’s stomach a little but still acting like a little heated pillow. Sea Salt wasn’t too far away. He didn’t stay asleep for long, getting up every twenty to thirty minutes and patrolling around the room like something would have changed. White Flour hoped he’d settle at some point before the sun was fully up.

She was safe, yes, but sleeping lightly. Every sound pulled her out of sleep enough to hear what was going on. Sea Salt was mostly the cause, she didn’t blame him either. He knew that everyone in the kingdom was scared of him, but he was even more scared of them.

Eventually White Flour felt the bed shift as Sea Salt finally settled down enough to sleep. Cloud Haetae cuddled more closely to White Flour and huffed as a warm blanket was tossed over them and the temple guardian. Sea Salt laid down close to the two of them and pulled them a little closer to the center of the bed. White Flour felt herself get a little warm in the face but she soon got to a more stable sleep.

For once she actually had dreams. She was back home in her temple, resting near one of the small rivers that flowed along the rocks. It was gently raining, making everything misty and calming. White Flour was alone but part of her actually liked that. Everything felt peaceful and perfect. White Flour adjusted herself on the silky pillow she was resting on. The rain continued its pitter patter over the wood and stone, making a calming symphony that lulled White Flour into sweet peace.

White Flour reached down to grab some of the sweet bun flowers, picking just enough to we’ve into a small crown. It took a bit, and a few broken stems till the crown was circular and strong. She got up just enough to place it onto the head of one of the Haetae sculptures next to her. It was almost like a little offering to her protectors. Feeling it was uneven she picked a few more to give to the other sugar stone sculpture next to her. She moved to pull the stems up and over each other till they pulled tightly into a circle. White Flour would have loved to make a snake crown for Cloud Haetae but knew that would have to wait till she awoke.

Eventually the rain started to pick up, making her feel a slight chill. She guessed that the blanket on her had fallen off a bit in the real world. The lucid dream changed slightly to pull White Flour into her old bedroom. It was just how she remembered. A large, yet simple hanging basket with pillows and a few blankets was in the corner, acting as a soft bed for a cookie of White Flour’s size. Books were scattered around or on shelves in the warm stone walls carved from the mountain.

White Flour wasted no time jumping into her bed and fluffing up the covers. She reached for one of her books she remembered having. It had been a gift from Sweet Sugar, a small story about a wizard and his adventures. She said it reminded her of Blueberry Milk and gave a copy of it to all the Virtues as a joke. It had been the one and only book Milk had refused to read saying it was “a disgrace to his magical abilities and the powers he held.”

White Flour flipped through the pages of the book in her dream. The story seemed quite accurate to what she remembered, but things were different. A section changed to the perspective of a shepherd taking an artifact from the wizard and gaining all the power. Another section talked of the wizard and shepherd confronting each other in a duel and shepherd being pushed off the cliff. It just got worse from there.

The shepherd came back with the artifact, calling for peace. “We can be friends, you know.” The shepherd said. “You truly think that?” The wizard questioned. The shepherd merely laughed. “Maybe…but the world will never see it that way.” The Shepherd said. The last pages were torn to shreds but the book continued to other horrible stories.

An angel being pushed into hiding as dragons and adventurers threaten her peace. A king being forced into war by a little golden thief who stole his riches. A knight turning on his friends and then himself, all because of a poisonous flower. A guardian pushed to the edge of apathy and death by a king and murderer. All ending in tragedy and loss for them all.

The wizard was alone, trapped in an endless abyss of darkness and despair, nothing more than a puppet to someone claiming to be a friend. The angel was left rotting, her body sinking in jam and never to awake as the adventurer leaves for something better. The king was tortured and threatened, put on display in a gilded cage for a greedy Queen wanting everything and more. The knight’s armor left hanging on a silver tree, paying for his crimes and his misdeeds, never speaking again. The guardian was killed, stripped of her life and thoughts, pushed into the webs to bleed as the King took his prize.

White Flour shut the book, feeling sick. She wanted to throw up everything and anything in her. She wanted to claw her eyes out to never see those words again. “Is that what happened…? Is that what will happen…?” She whimpered, shaking like a leaf as she tried to stay calm.

“What’s the matter? Can’t handle the truth?”

White Flour looked up and turned to see who just spoke. No one should’ve been there. This was just a dream. Just her and her thoughts. She could leave anytime. “Wake up, wake up, wake up…” she chanted.

“Finally I found you again. Nilly isn’t that good at giving directions in his dreams. Not having you souljam was also quite unhelpful…” the voice said, dropping a few levels to grumble the last bit. “You’re so very lucky I have time for you.” The voice said, sounding more playful.

“Who’s there! I demand you leave!” White Flour shouted, trying to sound braver than she was. Her legs were shaking as she stood up and grabbed a bigger book to throw if something got close. It wasn’t really helpful as the voice laughed from what sounded like everywhere. It was as if it was toying with her, making her feel this way on purpose.

The voice turned amused very quickly. “Wow, without your souljam you really are emotionally Mystic. I feel bad. Such a tortured soul forced to feel the pain of centuries after feeling nothing.” The voice mocked, sounding like it was everywhere but also nowhere.

“Show yourself! Now!” White Flour demanded. “Are we now making demands in my dream dimension?” The voice asked, “Truly I thought you knew that you can’t change things when I’m in charge, Mystic.” The voice laughed. They didn’t seem to care at the moment, just joking with her.

“My name is not Mystic…” White Flour corrected. She was starting to get quite tired of this all. “…what was that…?” The voice asked, sounding more confused. “My name is White Flour. I don’t know who or what you are but I ask that you leave. Now.” She said, trying not to stumble over her words.

The voice seemed to audibly freeze before snapping their fingers. Mystic Flour saw everything go dark before something grabbed and tugged her away. She screamed and struggled, calling and hoping that Cloud Haetae or Sea Salt would notice something was wrong and wake her up. She wanted out. She wanted to wake up safe again.

White Flour hit something hard as she landed. It felt like bruises were forming all over her body. She slowly got up, taking her time so she didn’t pull anything or hurt herself after whatever that fall was. She sat up and immediately rubbed her side where she had landed. She felt weaker for some reason, like everything could break if she wasn’t careful.

When White Flour opened her eyes she was in a completely different location. It was like a game room, the walls and floors were a deep blue with patterns of lighter blue and a bit of gold. A table was set up in the center with a few games on display and in the middle of being played. A chess match was halfway done with black about to win. A checker’s game showed how red had completely decimated their opponent. Even a few cards showed a winning hand against three losers.

White Flour walked over and nervously examined everything. It all looked safe. The rest of the room had shelves of books, tapestries and paintings of snakes and wolves, and a cozy fireplace with tea already behind prepared. Someone else was here and waiting for her. White Flour hoped it wasn’t whoever that voice belonged to.

“You know I normally don’t let others see my little pocket dimension. It's pretty hard to bring cookies here and they always seem so…what’s the word…nervous?” The voice asked. White Flour turned back to see a figure forming at the table. They seemed to come from the shadows themselves and casually stretched out once they were fully formed. “Ahh, so much better than just being background noise and teasing my friends!” The newly formed voice said.

White Flour looked at the cookie before her. He was quite thin and lean, not much for physical strength. His clothes were weird in her opinion, a blue and black suit that gave the appearance of a court jester. His eyes were two different shades and seemed to flicker around like he was taking in just bits and pieces of the room. The eyes were what freaked White Flour out the most. They seemed to be everywhere on him, all of them staring at her.

“W-who are you?” White Flour asked, trying to back up from the mysterious cookie. “Alright, the first time was funny, second time was annoying, but this is just sad.” The cookie said, rolling his eyes and tilting his head to look like he was bored with the conversation. White Flour just looked at him. She didn’t know who he was or what he wanted. She just felt a deep sense of dread when she was pulled forward by a few vines.

White Flour yelped as she was pushed into a chair and set on the other side of the table. “Why don’t you tell me why you weren’t at your mountain when you said you would be?” The figure asked. “What are you talking about?” White Flour questioned, still trying to figure out who this cookie was. Then it hit her. Those eyes, they were nearly identical to the ones on the flowers that were watching her and the others. “Blueberry?” White Flour asked.

The Jester froze. “Where did you hear that name?” He asked, looking deeply disturbed. It was white Flour knowing the name was a threat to his existence. “You told me when we first met. You remember that right?” White Flour asked. “So you weren’t just pretending…” He said, “…this changes many things…” The Jester said, calming down slightly.

“White Flour?” He asked, “is that who I’m speaking to?” “Yes, it’s me…I’m not Mystic Flour. She’s not here if that’s who you’re looking for…” she said softly. She let out a quick yelp as the chairs and table disappeared and the jester moved to grab her. “Oh! I didn’t realize it was the old you! This explains so much!” He said excitedly, wrapping his arms around her.

“W-wait Blueberry Milk? So you do remember? It is you?!” White Flour asked, still trying to deal with the sudden shifts in personality. It was like a light switch had been hit. “Why of course it’s me silly! Who else would I be?” He asked. The Jester froze for a moment before pulling back from the sudden hug. “Then again many call me Shadow Milk nowadays. Though I’m sure that stupid healer Nilly already told you about that…” he grumbled.

Shadow Milk turned back to White Flour. “Oh don’t look so worried. I just wanted to see what happened to you. It’s not everyday Mystic Flour goes silent. She at least tells me I’m being annoying and pushy beforehand.” He continued, confidence getting into his words again. “Now tell me, how exactly did all of this happen?” Shadow Milk questioned, letting the chairs reappear and setting White Flour down on one.

“W-what do you mean?” She asked, still startled by this new version of her friend. “Well if I hear correctly from you talking with those so-called ancient heroes, you said you can’t remember anything from being Mystic Flour. So, how much do you remember?” Shadow Milk asked, acting much more friendly towards her.

White Flour remembered what the others had told her. Sure Blueberry Milk could be trusted but Shadow Milk was unpredictable. “How do I know I can trust you?” White Flour questioned. “Well I’m your friend of course silly.” Shadow Milk said. “Why do you believe you can’t talk with me?” He asked, looking hurt.

“It’s just…vanilla said-“ White Flour felt Shadow Milk grab her face quickly. “Trust me when I say that vanilla flavored fool knows nothing about me. I’m not gonna do anything too bad. I just want my souljam back.” He explained, gently holding White Flour’s face.

Shadow Milk paused before backing up. “Sorry, force of habit. I usually don’t have much time to explain myself Mystic…I can still call you Mystic right? Or do you prefer just being called Flour like I used to call you?” He asked. “You can call me Mystic if it’s more comfortable. I don’t fit the name though.” White Flour said. It wasn’t Blueberry she was talking to. Shadow Milk as a completely different cookie.

“Okay…I just got my souljam knocked off of me in a fight.” White Flour said, finally answering Shadow Milk’s question. “And you didn’t try to get it back?” Shadow Milk asked, sounding concerned and worried. “Oh Mystic you really do need to get it back. Do you know how dangerous that could be?” He asked.

“I don’t ever want to see that gemstone again.” White Flour said firmly. “But it’s what makes you, well you!” Shadow Milk continued. “It nearly got me killed Shadow Milk.” White Flour said. “You and the others didn’t have to live in fear because of your gifts. No one was out to use you for power or riches.”

“Me and the others weren’t after you. Sure I asked for a wish or two but never anything that bad.” Shadow Milk said. “Why don’t you just get your souljam back and I’ll have Candy Apple and Black Sapphire sneak you out of the kingdom and to my tower. We can get everything back to normal for you powers and al-” “N-no I don’t want to have that powere ever again.” White Flour exclaimed. “Besides, White Lily and Pure Vanilla don’t want me and Sea Salt getting hurt if the souljams cause more damage to our memories or our bodies.” She added.

“You and who…?” Shadow Milk asked, getting that look again like something on the table had suddenly shattered. “Sea Salt…my best friend…” White Flour said, feeling like she was walking on broken porcelain. “You let that traitor near you…?” Shadow Milk asked, his mouth opened to show a grin full of sharp teeth. “And here I was hoping that my vision through the flowers was getting weaker but no. You choose to go back to that thing? I was really hoping that was someone from the Dark Cacao kingdom.” Shadow Milk said, starting to sound more angry.

“Sea Salt is not a thing, Blueberry. You of all cookies should know that.” White Flour said, shifting uncomfortably. “That’s not a cookie anymore…that’s barely even a soul…” Shadow Milk said. “What are you not telling me?” White Flour demanded, standing up from her seat to try and look challenging. “Why don’t you ask Mystic Flour? She’s probably still in that souljam of yours.” Shadow Milk said. “She’s where you’ll find all those memories.

“Sea Salt said something bad happened. He hurt Spice, am I right? What did he do? What did I do?” White Flour demanded. “Let me make something clear” Shadow Milk said, ordering a few vines to hold White Flour back. “…I want the best for all my friends. I really do. But I can’t really have you spilling every detail to those stupid ancient heroes.” He made a zipper motion over his lips. “And right now you don’t know anything about why we’re like this.” He took a step closer to White Flour. “And until Mystic Flour is back in control, I don’t think you can help me.” He said.

White Flour was about to snap back before something cut through the dream like a knife. Someone was screaming. It was close enough to White Flour’s room to be recognized as a young woman. White Flour felt something close to her moving. Sea Salt was probably awake. The warmth by her chest jumped up and started nudging into her, shaking her gently. As much as White Flour tried to wake up she couldn’t.“Oh no! You can’t leave till I let you.” Shadow Milk said. Something in his voice sounding almost like protection.

“What did those idiots do?!” Shadow Milk shouted as he snapped his fingers, dropping a new cookie into the room. The cookie’s hair was a messy dark purple, his eyes a deep midnight. His outfit was similar to Shadow Milk yet more suit like.

“Candy Apple you brat! I told you not to engage!” The cookie shouted before realizing where he was. “M-master Shadow Milk! Was the audience getting bored?” The host asked. “What did you two do, Sapphire?!” Shadow Milk demanded. “Candy Apple couldn’t keep up her disguise around Vanilla’s crow. She needed to be taken care of.” Sapphire explained.

White Flour went pale. Sapphire was talking about Raisin. That scream. Raisin was either in danger or about to be.White Flour couldn’t think of that now! She needed to get out of these vines and out of this dream. Cloud was already shaking her more violently to try and get her up. She just needed to get out.

“I said to leave that stupid one winged crow alone till you knew you could take care of her quietly!” Shadow Milk shouted. “Well I took care of the fae easily! It’s Candy Apple who can’t do her job right!” Sapphire shouted. “How’s about you silence that bird and then take care of what I told you to do!” Shadow Milk snapped, opening a portal for Sapphire to quickly get out from.

White Flour grabbed at one of the game prices made of metal. It wasn’t perfect but it was firm enough to break the surface of a few vines. She quickly stabbed it into the plant and managed to weaken it a bit. She quickly struggled. “Hey!” Shadow Milk shouted, but it was too late. White Flour had already broken out and ran to the far wall. She was free but not awake.

“Oh don’t bother! You can’t leave!” Shadow Milk said. White Flour looked around, seeing the few weapons placed on the walls. She grabbed one of the daggers before Shadow Milk could reach her wrist. “You can’t kill me here. This isn’t my real body. I can’t even feel pain like this.” Shadow milk said, showing a more deranged side of himself.

White Flour took a deep breath, knowing what she had to do. She remembered all her nightmares. Of how others would hurt her for her powers. They all ended one way. “I may not know how to kill a nightmare, but I sure know how to end one.” She shouted, pulling the dagger to herself as Shadow Milk tried to stop her.

White Flour felt like she was dropped right into her bed. Cloud Haetae was next to her, on the verge of tears. “You're awake! Y-you weren’t moving! You weren’t responding!” They cried. White Flour looked over to see White Lily over them. “What happened!” She asked in a panic. “Where’s Raisin?” White Flour asked. “She was on patrol, I heard screaming and thought it was you because Cloud was-” “it was Raisin! Where is she? Where’s vanilla?!” White Flour demanded.

White Lily couldn’t answer before White Flour was out the door, running down the hallway in the direction she remembered the screen came from. “Please be alive, please be alive, please be alive…” White Flour muttered as she got to Pure Vanilla’s room. The door was slightly ajar, a metal disk stuck in the wood of the frame. White Flour ran over and opened the door.

A gust of air hit her as someone pushed open the window in the room. “You made this so much more difficult you little brat!” Sapphire snapped, putting a metal disc into his pocket. “I didn’t know that Master Shadow Milk wanted her alive!” Candy Apple complained. “No matter! Just move before-“ Sapphire was cut off when he saw White Flour. “Witnesses arrive.” Sapphire mutter. White Flour wasn’t looking at them. She was looking at the ground.

A few of the metal disks had hit directly into dough. Both of the cookies were covering themselves like they had blocked an attack to a vital area. Vanilla was covering Raisin with his cloak in what looked like an effort to minimize damage. It seemed to only help a little. White Flour saw where force was used to knock both of them unconscious…hopefully unconscious. Oh how White Flour hoped they weren’t dead. The light of truth seemed to be working overtime to heal up the simple wounds and get Vanilla up. White Flour knew it would take time.

Then there was the box. It had been knocked from the dresser with force used to knock the lock off of it. Two neat and clean souljams were held inside. One white and the other purple. The lights of Apathy and Silence. White Flour couldn’t move. Sapphire didn’t hesitate to take the opportunity.

Chapter Text

White Flour didn’t have time to breathe before a stinging sensation hit her arm. She hadn’t realized Sapphire raise his hand with one of those metal disks and toss it into her. White Flour shouted and gripped her arm from the pain and shock. She had enough reflex to dodge the next attack from Candy Apple. “Candy Apple! Don’t kill her or Shadow Milk will rip you up!” Sapphire shouted. White Flour pulled herself to the floor as something like a mallet nearly hit her head. Candy Apple landed, balancing herself for a moment.

“Now we have to take care of her! I thought Master Shadow Milk said he was keeping her out of this.” Candy Apple said. “He was. guess this little spider is smarter than we give her credit for.” Sapphire said, rushing towards White Flour. He managed to pull her back to himself and pin her dress with one of the sharp metal disks.

White Flour tugged and managed to get free before Candy Apple could hit her. She unfortunately got herself cornered by the closet in an effort to escape. “I’m sorry but we really can’t have you keeping us here any longer. Candy Apple! Grab those two gems, maybe get Pure Vanilla’s so Shadow Milk doesn’t turn us to cards for causing problems.” Sapphire said, rolling his eyes.

“No! You can’t do that!” White Flour yelled, shoving into Sapphire. She got him onto the ground and tried to get to Candy Apple but failed. Despite his thin appearance, Sapphire was quite strong, impressively strong even. White Flour tried her best, kicking and shouting and even going for Sapphire’s throat with her hands to make him let her go. She tried getting out of Sapphire’s hold by changing her balance and knocking into something but it didn’t work either.

She was starting to lose hope when she saw the closet door shuttering, like something was trying to get out. White Flour made a jab at Sapphire’s stomach before reaching up and opening the closet. A few of Raisin’s crows quickly flew out. White Flour guessed that Sapphire or Candy Apple locked them up. Two of the crows quickly went for Candy Apple while two others tried to wake up Pure Vanilla and their owner. One managed to get out of the room and started squawking for help.

“You little-!” Sapphire started, before White Flour gathered her strength to sock him in the face. It hurt her more than it hurt him but it gave her enough space to rush over to Pure Vanilla and Raisin. The two crows distracted Sapphire so she could try and help. White Flour quickly looked both of them over.

The Light of Truth was still shining closer to both of them. White Flour could also see Vanilla’s magic working to seal their injuries as fast as it could. Both of them were luckily unconscious so they weren’t in any pain yet. White Flour just needed to keep Sapphire and Candy Apple away from them till someone stronger showed up.

Sapphire eventually got the two crows off of him and shoved them into a chest that was at the end of the bed. “No more games!” He shouted, running towards Sea Salt and White Flour’s souljams. White Flour couldn’t let him take those gems. Her and Salt needed them if they ever wanted to find out what happened to them. She couldn’t let them go, not now, not ever, even if she wanted to shatter them herself.

White Flour didn’t even think about it as she jumped to grab the gems. If it would distract Sapphire and Candy Apple away from Raisin and Vanilla, she could lose a few more memories. At least they'd be safe for a little longer. Mystic Flour could have control as long as her new friends were safe.

The moment White Flour touched her souljam everything felt cold. Like it was made of the purest ice on earthbread. All the noises also felt muffled. White Flour felt like her head was underwater. Sapphire had taken in her momentary shock and tried to snatch up Sea Salt’s souljam, but White Flour kicked it away towards where Pure Vanilla and Raisin were laying. White Flour then quickly got down as Candy Apple moved her weapon to try and knock out the poor guardian.

White Flour was now definitely cornered. She was pushed up against the wall with no door to escape out of. Sapphire had grabbed Raisin’s other two crows with his magic and tossed them into the chest. “How about you let Mystic Flour have control again and I’ll forgive you for the punch in the face.” Sapphire said as he held White Flour down with his staff. White Flour just closed her eyes and waited.

“Get away from my master!” A voice shouted. Sapphire suddenly yelped as something bit him. He turned quickly to see Cloud Haetae biting hard into his leg and tugging him away. Sapphire kicked at them angrily but Cloud refused to let go. “Stupid mut! Candy Apple take care of them!” Sapphire shouted as he hit Cloud Haetae hard. The little Haetae whined as they were shoved into the bed frame and then tackled by Candy Apple.

“Ha! Always hoped I’d get to take care of you! How’s it feel to know you’re master’s powerless now?!” Candy Apple shouted at Cloud Haetae as ther started fighting. Cloud bit Candy Apple hard. “At least my Master is happy now! She could be the weakest cookie on Earthbread but she’s still my best friend and guardian!” They shouted, kicking at Candy Apple angrily. “Shut it! The only Beast there should be is Shadow Milk, you worthless dog!” Candy Apple shouted, moving to grab the collar or Cloud Haetae’s clothes.

Sapphire made another lunge for Sea Salt’s souljam but someone pushed him back and into the desk. White Flour finally managed to get the ringing in her ears to calm down and looked up. White Lily was knelt down next to Vanilla and Raisin trying to wake them. “Come on Vanilla! I need you to heal up now!” She said, lightly panicked. Sapphire was a few meters away rubbing his temples, muttering about how badly this had all gone. He was definitely starting to snap.

“Great! Now we have two more witnesses to deal with!” Sapphire yelled, quickly getting into a duel with White Lily as the ancient tried to defend her friends. White Flour took a few deep breaths to steady herself before turning to see Candy Apple and Cloud Haetae scuffling. She pulled herself together quickly and put her souljam in her pocket before running to try and get Candy Apple off of Cloud Haetae.

Cloud bit Candy Apple on her arm as she tried to put a cloth over their mouth. White Flour pulled them apart before looking over Cloud Haetae. “Don’t worry about me! I’m supposed to defend you!” The little Haetae said as they growled at Candy Apple. White Flour pulled them out of the way as Candy Apple tried to hit Cloud. She felt something in her shoulder pull, but she could care less.

Cloud Haetae was able to shove Candy Apple against the desk in the room and even flip it over. Shadow Milk’s follower quickly collapsed from the force of the attack. “You shouldn’t have done that! I’m supposed to take hits for you!” Cloud Haetae shouted. “I’m not gonna let anyone hurt you!” White Flour said, pulling Cloud closer to her and checking their fur. She cared too much to let Cloud Haetae get injured because of her. They didn’t deserve to be hurt at all.

“Sapphire! This is getting out of hand!” Candy Apple shouted, getting back up and grabbing her weapon. Cloud Haetae quickly jumped to attack her again and defend White Flour. “Give up~! Black Sapphire already said it’s better for you to give Mystic Flour control. She’ll spare you all this suffering.” Candy Apple said as she got herself ready for another attack.

“Mystic Flour wouldn’t spare the suffering! She’d prolong it and give it back tenfold when you get control back White Flour! Don’t listen to them!” White Lily shouted as she shoved Sapphire into one of the paintings. “Shut it! You have no business in this!” Black Sapphire shouted, countering the blow with a sharp hit towards the head. White Lily dodged and counted with a strike to the side.

Footsteps could be heard outside the door as guards and other cookies headed towards the room. “Candy Apple! Just leave them! Well explain this to Shadow Milk latter! Just run!” Sapphire said as he used some vines on White Lily to restrain her and he quickly ran off with Candy Apple to the window.

White Flour jumped up to fallow, she managed to grab Sapphire by the arm but he pulled her hair and slammed her into the windowsill. “Don’t worry! I’ll make sure Shadow Milk knows whose side you’re on!” Sapphire said before leaving. White Flour just barely saw him and Candy Apple dart into the forest with a few faerie guards looking in their direction as the sun just barely started to rise.

White Flour almost immediately collapsed with a whine against the window. Everything hurt, not just her bones and muscles but her mind as well. She swore every thought of the name Shadow Milk put a bitter taste in her mouth. She felt like she wanted to be sick and throw up every word she heard from him. That wasn’t Blueberry…not anymore.

She was so caught up in her thoughts she didn’t feel the armored presence behind her. White Flour new the guards had already ran in as a few of them walked over to White Lily’s side as she gave orders. White Flour suddenly yelped as someone roughly grabbed her neck and pushed her to the wall. “Hey!” Cloud Haetae shouted, before being kicked aside once again.

White Flour didn’t want to open her eyes but a quick slam against the wall and a tightening grip on her throat made her open them. There he was, Dark Cacao. He was mere inches from her face, looking like he wanted her to start coughing up jam so he didn’t have to get his hands dirty. His eyes held no regret for what he wanted to do to her. She had seen those eyes so many times before.

“I should have killed you where you stood on that mountain…” He growled, voice low and threatening.“I should have sliced your throat and watched you die in that silken cocoon.” He said, louder and firmer. “I should have killed you with my bare hands before I ever thought you, a mear Beast could ever change!” He shouted. “I SHOULD SLIT YOUR WRISTS AND HANG YOUR BODY FOR YOU TO BLEED OUT BEFORE ME LIKE THE WORTHLESS DOG YOU ARE!” Dark Cacao shouted, slamming White Flour into the wall hard enough to shake the books off of the shelf.

White Flour was frozen. She felt tears fill her eyes, threatening to break her before Dark Cacao could say another word. “She’s innocent! She didn’t do this to Vanilla and Raisin!” White Lily shouted, trying to defend the now petrified White Flour. “She was trying to protect them, Dark Cacao!” She argued. A few guards moved to support White Lily and try to calm the situation.

“Shut it! I should have brought nothing but her body to your kingdom and even then that is too generous!” Dark Cacao shouted, reaching to grab his sword. He was gonna do it. He was really going through with his plan. White Flour couldn’t stop her tears now. Cloud Haetae got up and tugged at the king’s robes helplessly.

“Stop! Stop! Please! I’ll do anything just don’t kill me!” White Flour cried, trying pathetically to get out of Dark Cacao’s grip. White Lily had stepped in and tried pulling Dark Cacao’s sword away from White Flour. A small group of guards quickly flew out to get the other ancient heroes while others stayed and tried to stop Dark Cacao.

“Please! I’ll do whatever you want!” White Flour said, begging like a child to be let free. Dark Cacao simply scoffed and shoved White Lily’s guard aside with a hard shove. “You think begging will save you?!” Dark Cacao questioned, pulling his sword right to White Flour’s neck. “Maybe I’ll make your death slower for that!” He claimed. “Stop! Leave her!” White Lily yelled, tugging at Dark Cacao and trying to pull him away.

White Lily struggled with Dark Cacao, tugging and pulling at him while shouting at guards to help Vanilla and Raisin. Sure White Lily was strong for her size, but she was definitely at a disadvantage when it came to fighting with Dark Cacao. He was simply shaking her off or shoving her roughly so she’d let go.

Hollyberry and Elder Faerie showed up soon after. The faerie immediately came to the defense of his lady and tried to help White Lily. “Dark Cacao! While you are in my kingdom you abide by my rules! White Flour has been proven innocent and therefore, under law, is protected by the council!” Elder Faerie shouted, claws digging into the other King's arm. “I could care less what the council thinks! She’s been found in the same room where another ancient hero was attacked! What do you expect me to do?!” Dark Cacao shouted.

White Flour was now a complete mess of tears and crying. She could barely hear half of what was going on as she just begged to be released. Dark Cacao tightened his grip, making the guardian choke on her tears. “Enough! You're scaring her!” Hollyberry yelled, pulling Dark Cacao’s hand off of White Flour’s neck. Cloud Haetae immediately ran to White Flour and tried to get her up. “Come on. you're okay.” The little Haetae said, whining and trying not to cry at the sight of their master being in pain.

White Flour just pulled herself into a corner and covered herself. She couldn’t stop herself from crying. It was like she was at the temple all over again, being hunted for her power. “Please stop…” she whined, pulling Cloud Haetae closer when they nuzzled into her chest. “White Flour?” Cloud asked, trying to comfort her.

“Dark Cacao! Just calm down!” Hollyberry yelled. “Calm down? Calm down?! My best friend has just been found almost dead in his own chambers and you wish for me to calm down?!” Dark Cacao shouted, gesturing towards where Elder Faerie and White Lily were now ordering guards on what to do with Raisin and Vanilla.

“It wasn’t White Flour’s fault though.” Hollyberry said, stomping her foot down hard to make her point clear. “Oh really?! The moment those two beasts got here there had been nothing but trouble! Where is the other one anyway?! Shouldn’t he be playing knight for this one?!” Dark Cacao shouted as he rudely gestured towards White Flour who immediately covered herself like she expected to get hit.

The king had a point. Where was Sea Salt? White Flour just wanted him to be in the room. She wanted to know he was safe and that she could run to him if Dark Cacao grabbed her again. She wanted to hug him and never let go. She was terrified of what was going to happen to her.

“Pitaya and him heard something else and ran in the other direction.” Hollyberry said. “What about the other guards. Wildberry, Caramel, Mozzarella?” White Lily quickly asked. “Last I saw, they were all grouped together and helping the guards. I guess I now realize where Raisin was…” Hollyberry said, nervously looking at the guard as a healer picked her up and carried her out of the room.

White Flour nearly screamed in pure fear as Dark Cacao grabbed her again. “You’re coming with me.” He said firmly. “You are not allowed to choose what happens to her alone, Dark Cacao!” White Lily said firmly. “You still must obey the Council laws when we are all together!” White Flour felt a bit of hope. Maybe she could be saved from whatever fate Dark Cacao had planned for her.

“Well if your friend can use his rules then so can I.” Dark Cacao said, making White Lily go a little pale. “White Flour was never officially released from being a prisoner of the Dark Cacao Kingdom, meaning that if at any point she proves to be dangerous I am allowed to force imprisonment.” The Kingexplained. “We are playing by Council rules after all. The the rules on prisons of the kingdoms still apply.”

“You didn’t release her!” Hollyberry shouted, holding her shield up to the King as a challenge. “Did it ever come to your mind that maybe she was safe?! Or did you always assume the worst, even after Vanilla cleared her story?!” She argued, getting more into Dark Cacao’s personal space.“Complain all you want. I did it as a precaution to protect all of you.” Dark Cacao said.

“The Kingdom prisoner laws only apply to those held within a kingdom’s prison and can only be acted upon by the one who had imprisoned them. White Flour was in our holding, not yours.” Elder Faerie tried to argue, searching for some kind of loophole to use. “She was held in the Silver Kingdom, under order of the Dark Cacao Kingdom.”

White Flour felt her heart sink. Dark Cacao had won. He didn’t go for a treat or a direct shot like Golden Cheese, he played the long game. He set a trap and waited for her to fall into it.

“I-I…” Elder Faerie started, unable to counter Dark Cacao. He was unfortunately in the right. He was the one who captured White Flour, he was the one who said she was to go on trial, he was the one who probably pushed for her to be held. He was the one who held her fate in his hands.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dark Cacao didn’t wait for anyone as he dragged White Flour away from the soft glow of the Faerie homes. He didn’t even wait for Sea Salt to come back. White Flour was a mix of tears and begging as Dark Cacao pulled her further from what she was actually starting to see as comfort.

They soon ended up at a small camp. It was clear that this was where all the Dark Cacao soldiers had been. A few of the cream wolves looked at White Flour with concern and confusion. One of them soon came running over with a familiar face, Crunchy Chip.

“Sir! What’s going on? Why is White Flour here?” Crunchy Chip demanded. “Pure Vanilla and Raisin were attacked. And she was the one found in the area.” Dark Cacao said. White Flour started to struggle again. “I didn’t do it! I was trying to help! It was Shadow Milk’s followers who attacked them!” She tried to argue. Dark Cacao shut her up with a smack to the cheek. “Shut it! Now!” He growled.

White Flour just whined as she was pulled to one of the bigger tents in the camp. Dark Cacao shoved her inside, making her hit the wooden pole holding everything up. She tried to steady herself but her legs kept buckling. White Flour tried to say something, anything, but was met with either a slap to the face or a hard shove.

Dark Cacao rummaged through a small crate before pulling out something metal. He turned and grabbed White Flour’s wrist, quickly locking them into a pair of metal restraints. White Flour tried to struggle and pull away but the king easily held her still as he restrained her legs as well. “I’m not taking any chances with you beast.” Dark Cacao growled, securing the wrists restraints to the wood support beam in the center of the tent. “Now stay.” He ordered before quickly leaving to give orders elsewhere.

White Flour just collapsed. She wanted to be with Cloud and Sea Salt, but now…she was chained and probably set to be killed. She sunk down as much as she could into herself. She wanted to disappear and never be found. She wanted to just be nothing.

That was the word. Nothing. That was what she was feeling at least. Deep within all her fear and anger and sadness there was a deep sense of nothing. A sense that she was nothing. That she didn’t matter to anyone or anything. That she shouldn’t care about anyone in return. She couldn’t do that though.

She thought about it. Even if everyone saw her as nothing she couldn’t stop caring for a few. She couldn’t not care for White Lily, the sweet hero who made sure she knew she wasn’t alone in this. White Flour couldn’t not care for Hollyberry, the loud and excited woman who defended her and made her feel welcome. Pure Vanilla was another Cookie she couldn’t just not care about. He proved her honesty when nobody else would believe her. She just wished he was okay. White Flour definitely couldn’t not care for Cloud Haetae. She couldn’t leave them behind no matter how hard she tried. Then there was Sea Salt.

It always seemed to lead to Sea Salt. White Flour accepted that she couldn’t forget or not care about him. She knew why. White Lily had pointed it out before White Flour even realized it. She couldn’t deny what she felt around Sea Salt. Couldn’t deny how her knight in shining armor made her feel when he got protective of her.

She loved him. She couldn’t hide that anymore. She wanted to be with Sea Salt. She wanted him to be all healed up and safe so they could talk. She wanted to admit how she felt but the words seemed to be killed on her tongue. She couldn’t say it. She couldn’t tell him how she felt now.

“Well aren’t you pathetic…” a monotone voice said, cutting through the silence.

White Flour jumped at the voice, looking around till she saw it. Her souljam was still in her pocket, glowing a soft white color. Dark Cacao didn’t notice she had it. Or maybe he did notice and just wanted to keep it quiet. See what happened.

“Who are you?” White Flour asked, trying to sound stronger than she was. The voice held a steady yet cold tone. “Just who you really are. Now give me back my body.” The voice said. White Flour felt like something stabbed into her at that. The words sent a shiver down her spine.

“Your body…?” She asked. “Who else’s? You really didn’t think memories just left when you took me away?” The voice asked. White Flour sunk down more. “You’re Mystic Flour…aren’t you?” White Flour asked, pulling the souljam out so she could see it better. “Correction, we are Mystic Flour.” The voice said.

White Flour scoffed at that. “I am nothing like you. Don’t ever compare me to you.” White Flour said, squeezing the souljam like she had the strength to break it. “Denial is a normal thing. Many cookies use it to cope when they know something is right, even if it hurts them.” Mystic Flour said, that same monotone voice cutting White Flour like a knife every time she spoke.

“Please stop.” White Flour said. “Why should I stop? I know what you were thinking. You want to go back to nothing. That is what I desire as well. It would be easy if you just let me help-” “No! I won’t let you have control! I won’t let you hurt my friends!” White Flour said, not caring that she was shouting that out loud.

“Friends…? You believe cookies can be your friends…?” Mystic Flour asked. White Flour felt like someone was right behind her. She could almost feel the breath on her shoulder. “The closest thing you have to a friend is yourself. The others only want you for your power.” Mystic Flour said, her voice hitting White Flour like arrows. “No, Sea Salt would never use me.” White Flour said, sounding more like a whimpering child than anything.

“Sea Salt…? You mean the one who stabbed us in the back?” Mystic Flour asked. White Flour’s heart sunk even more. “What did he do for all of you to say that?” She asked, tears beginning to form. “Do you wish to see or simply hear about it?” Mystic Flour asked. White Flour knew she needed to see it. She wasn’t about to believe on words alone anymore. She was tired of being lied to. “If you can…then show me.” White Flour said.

Chapter Text

White Flour wasn’t surprised when it felt like she fell onto the ground again. She had become uncomfortably accustomed to that. She tried to move but couldn’t. White Flour found herself trapped in something silky and oddly comforting. She was safe, she knew that, but she still felt that sense of dread. This feeling wasn’t new either.

“We can talk this out! Just leave her alone!” A voice shouted. It sounded like Blueberry Milk but not entirely. “Leave her!” He shouted again. White Flour felt a stinging sensation in her side as she suddenly fell down from wherever she was. She hit the ground hard, pushed into a heap of what felt like strings and silk sheets. She found herself trapped in the threads as she tried to shake them off of her.

She looked towards the shouting to try and figure out what was going on. She wished she didn’t. She wished she’d stayed quiet and hidden in what she could now see was her cocoon.

The temple was a mess. Offerings tossed about, candles snapped and dropped to the floor, tapestries torn and stained with splashes of jam. White Flour wanted to be sick when she saw the bodies laid about. And then there were her friends.

Sweet Sugar was tossed to the side, wings covering her face and body to prevent injury. One wing looked crooked and like it had been pulled out of the socket. Her feathers were scattered around the area, each looking like it had been violently pulled out. White Flour could already hear the dull whine coming from Sweet Sugar.

Blueberry Milk was pulling himself up from the ground, cloak stained with the jam of a fallen soldier in dark armor he had dispatched just barely. His hands were trembling as he grabbed his staff and tried to mutter a quick healing spell to fix his leg, which was bent at an uncomfortable angle.

Powdered Spice was spitting out jam, trying not to gag at the taste in his mouth. His eyes looked panicked, scared even, like he truly believed he was going to crumble. He was quickly pulling shards of a broken vase out of his palm before someone grabbed and forced him to the ground.

White Flour backed away, trying to hide in the silk. She didn’t want to see this. She didn’t need to see this. “Sea Salt…?” White Flour asked. It wasn’t him. No! It couldn’t be! Yet…here he was.

Sea Salt held his sword to Powdered Spice, cutting into his chest and hurting who was meant to be his friend. His armor was covered in jam and dents, some sections torn to show where dough and armor had become one. Something about Sea Salt was unnatural and uncanny, like a living suit of armor held by strings. White Flour couldn’t move, her worst fear was true. She didn’t want to confirm it was truly real.

Spice winced as the knight stomped down onto his neck, choking out a bit more jam. “Let him go Salt! Now!” Blueberry shouted, finally getting the strength to draw out a healing rune for himself and Sugar. “Milk! Don’t get too close!” Sugar yelled, flapping her wings weakly to get up and try to defend her friend. “Sugar! Blueberry! Stay back!” Spice shouted, trying to turn his head to look at his companions.

Sea Salt looked to the wizard and his feathered companion, growling as Blueberry started making another rune on the ground. White Flour couldn’t see his face but his body language showed aggression and anger. “No…” she whispered, wanting this to be fake. Salt got off of Spice and started moving towards White Flour. His armor was unmoving, showing a constant state of anger.

“Mystic let me go…” White Flour said, trying to back away. The knight kept walking forward. “Mystic please, I get it now.” White Flour called out, tugging at the silk restraining her. “Mystic Flour.” White Flour called, hitting one of the stone pillars behind her.

White Flour tried to dodge but was grabbed by the neck as Sea Salt held her up to his face. Her sweat knight wasn’t there. It was just a shell of who she cared for. “Mystic! That’s enough!” White Flour screamed, desperately kicking and clawing at Sea Salt. Powdered Spice tried to get up and help but couldn’t move. Blueberry got held back by Sweet Sugar as White Flour felt Sea Salt’s sword go towards her stomach.

The sound of the sword landing into White Flour and the shouting from Spice, Sugar and Blueberry was cut off in a moment. White Flour felt she was on the ground again and slowly sat up. She looked up to see a woman who looked a lot like her. “Do you understand now?” Mystic Flour asked.

White Flour couldn’t really understand anything. She had been dropped into what felt like a nightmare and watched her closest companion hurt her friends. White Flour also felt sick at how brutally quick she was ripped from said nightmare. She tried not to shake but was failing miserably. “No…” White Flour said, starting to cry.

White Flour curled up and tried to make herself look small. Mystic Flour moved to be next to her. “I don’t remember myself being so…scared…” Mystic Flour said, her voice calming down and sounding more like White Flour herself. “Well sorry to disappoint…” White Flour said, pulling herself away from Mystic.

Mystic Flour looked at her before moving closer again. She carefully wrapped her arm around White Flour. “I don’t wish to hurt you. I actually wish to keep you safe.” Mystic Flour explained. White Flour looked up at her. “What are you talking about?” She asked. She didn’t understand why this other half wanted to protect her.

Mystic Flour just got more comfortable as she started talking. “Well you are me. We may be different but we share the same body. The least I could have done was protect you from your own agony.” Mystic Flour said. “It’s a simple trade, I take control, and you feel none of the pain that happens. You don’t even realize it happened at all.” She continued, looking into White Flour’s eyes in a softer way.

“So it’s like when you lived my life just so I didn’t get hurt? When everything went dark for me?” White Flour questioned. It sounded ridiculous, but it almost made sense. Almost. Mystic Flour was just her other half, another side of the coin. Sure she didn’t do good things, that was clear as day, but she had a sense that White Flour was important.

“Well yes. You don’t have to worry about any of it. It’ll be like pure safe apathy. You won’t have to feel anything. No pain, no suffering, no disappointment.” Mystic Flour said. She talked like she was reciting a promise. It was almost like she saw White Flour being unconscious in her own head as a generous gift. “Would it not be nice to just feel nothing? You wouldn’t have to deal with any of the fears you have…” Mystic Flour said, moving closer but not completely invading White Flour’s space.

“You did that once. I don’t remember anything because of you…” White Flour said, turning away from Mystic Flour. “But you saw why I did. I wanted at least some part of me to stay pure.” She said, gently moving to be in White Flour’s line of sight. “You showed me my friends getting hurt and my best friend hurting them!” White Flour shouted. She was still trying to process that nightmare of a memory.

White Flour tried to get her thoughts together. Salt would never do that. He’d never attack the others without reason. He’d never attack her. She wouldn’t believe any of it.

“Salt won’t hurt me.” White Flour said. “What makes you believe that?” Mystic Flour questioned, sounding a little snappy with her words. She sounded almost hurt by the statement itself. “Because he cares for me. He protects me no matter what.” White Flour said.

“Oh please! He’ll just leave you again!” Mystic Flour said, raising her voice but keeping that monotone speech. “You don’t know that!” White Flour shouted. “It’s happened before it will happen again.” Mystic Flour stated. “But why?! Why did all of that start?! What happened afterwards?!” White Flour questioned, grabbing Mystic Flour and pulling her close. “I…” Mystic Flour stumbled on her words as she tried to say something.

“I never knew…” she admitted, sinking down. She got quiet for a moment before continuing. “…I-I woke up like you saw. I was dizzy and scared, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Then I saw Sea Salt attacking the others. I-It wasn’t him anymore. I wanted him to stop but he didn’t listen…” She said, “Do you know what it’s like to see the only trusted friend you’ve ever had try and hurt you?” Mystic Flour asked. White Flour could taste the bitterness the apathy was hiding in Mystic Flour’s words.

It didn’t add up. White Flour didn’t believe it. “So what? Silent Salt never attacked you once you were all beasts?” She questioned, trying to find an explanation for it all. Mystic Flour got quiet. “N-no, he never did. He honestly avoided us all and just stayed with his followers.” She answered.

That didn’t add up either. The idea that Salt attacked out of nowhere before not doing anything afterwards. “Was anything wrong with the others?” White Flour asked. “No, they seemed perfectly normal. After some time they became the Beasts but at the time they seemed normal.” Mystic Flour said.

“And what if they weren’t?” White Flour asked, trying to claw out more information. “Can we stop?” Mystic Flour asked, trying to cut the conversation short. “Nope, thanks to Shadow Milk getting me in trouble and Dark Cacao still not trusting me, no thanks to whatever you did, I have all the time in the world.” White Flour said, standing up to walk around the empty area they were in. “I did nothing but try and stop his suffering.” Mystic Flour said.

“And look where that got you…” White Flour said, “we both hurt and see others get hurt. I don’t want anyone to be in pain either but I wouldn’t just take away everything.” “You sound too much like that king.” Mystic Flour said, standing up. “We may be the same but you know nothing of me.” “I know you’re scared. Scared of getting hurt and feeling any emotion.” White Flour challenged.

Mystic Flour gave her a look. White Flour knew she was right, she knew Mystic Flour was just as protective as her. She didn’t want to cause any pain, but she was unintentionally hurting herself more. “Shut it and just…give me back my body…” Mystic Flour said, sounding even more apathetic than before. It was like she was giving up a bit.

“I can’t…” White Flour said. “I want to know what you made me miss because you were so afraid that it would hurt us.” Mystic Flour lowered her head. She wasn’t fighting anymore. She couldn’t. “Fine…your choice, but if you ever find it to be too much, then I take control.” She argued, trying to settle a deal that would give her back her power.

“Fine. I’m in control now though. Don’t try anything that could get me in more trouble.” White Flour said. Mystic Flour sighed, sounding tired and over with the conversation. “Agree…though I don’t believe you’ll be in trouble much longer…” She said, looking calm and relaxed. “What do you mean?” White Flour asked. “Dark Cacao’s souljam isn’t too far away with another jam. If I’m correct, it’s Hollyberry.” Mystic Flour said. “How can you tell?” White Flour asked. “Souljams can sense other souljams. I have a stronger connection with Dark Cacao’s gem but I can tell that another one is nearby.” Mystic Flour explained.

“Can you let me wake up then? I want to talk to them.” White Flour said. Mystic Flour hesitated for a moment. She didn’t want White Flour to leave and for something to happen. “Alright…fine, we will talk later then. Just…stay safe…please.” Mystic Flour said. It was like a silent prayer for nothing bad to happen to either of them. “I have a feeling you won’t be too far.” White Flour said softly.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

White Flour slowly woke up. She had basically just fallen asleep for a moment. She could hear what sounded like arguing outside of the tent she was still trapped in. She couldn’t really move or go anywhere so she just waited.

“Hollyberry! What on earthbread are you doing here?!” Dark Cacao shouted from outside. “Sorry but by Vanilla’s orders I’m supposed to bring White Flour back.” Hollyberry replied, seemingly walking closer. “Hollyberry that’s not-!” “Not what? Fair? I know you’re not one to trust or relax about anything but you really should have been honest with us.” Hollyberry said, cutting off the King easily.

Hollyberry wasn’t wrong. Dark Cacao seemed to be constantly stressed and anxious even if he didn’t show it. White Flour didn’t entirely blame him for his actions but had to admit he was a little…extreme.

“Oh and before you ask, Vanilla White Lily, Elder Faerie and Sea Salt all voted.” Hollyberry added happily. “So that’s why he’s here…you’re letting the Beast vote with you…?” Dark Cacao asked. White Flour’s heart leaped at the realization that Salt was with them. She could hear a gruff growl that sounded like Sea Salt mouthing off again and showing attitude to Dark Cacao. “Why of course!” Hollyberry said happily. “We’re making a decision that involves him.”

The tent flaps suddenly opened, showing the calm and confident Hollyberry. “There you are!” Hollyberry said, kneeling down to White Flour’s level. “Let’s get you out of here!” She added, lowering her voice to sound calmer. “Thanks…” White Flour said, helping with the restraints that were holding her. “I heard what you said, is Salt-?” White Flour started before Sea Salt practically burst into the tent suddenly. ‘I’m so sorry I wasn’t with you! I should’ve stayed closer to you!’ He sighed messily as he hugged onto White Flour. “Easy Salt!” Hollyberry exclaimed. The knight didn’t care as he held White Flour close to his chest.

“Sea Salt! You’re safe!” White Flour said happily as she hugged Sea Salt back. She didn’t care what Mystic Flour said or what she showed her. Sea Salt wouldn’t hurt her, not now and not ever. “Are you okay? Did anyone hurt you?” White Flour asked, genuinely worried about her knight. ‘No. Elder Faerie made sure the guards didn’t attack when they saw me. They valued the orders of their king more.’ Sea Salt explained happily, still holding White Flour close.

White Flour looked past him to see Dark Cacao standing in the doorway. He knew he couldn’t do anything. Pure Vanilla may have been just another King on Earthbread, but he was also the leader of the Ancient heroes. Even if it went against his judgment, he couldn’t ignore a direct order from Vanilla. ‘Monster.’ Sea Salt signed as he looked at the restraints and pet White Flour’s hair. White Flour smacked his chest.

Dark Cacao deserved her anger, yes, but he had his reasons. White Flour couldn’t call him a monster for how he acted. A “jerk”, yes. An “idiot who jumped to conclusions”, absolutely. A “monster”? No, that was too cruel for a king who only wanted to protect his people and his friends.

Hollyberry finished up quickly with the restraints before Sea Salt helped White Flour to her feet. “Let’s get you to the others.” Hollyberry said. “And Dark Cacao! You’re coming with us. While Pure Vanilla understands your actions, you still need to face the consequences for not telling us about your loophole.” Dark Cacao groaned before Sea Salt made a threatening clicking sound that told him to quit complaining.

“Don’t start a fight…” Whit Flour whispered to Sea Salt, eyes silently begging for him not to get himself killed. ‘He deserves a punch to the face.’ Sea Salt signed as he pulled White Flour closer. She just grabbed his hands and moved them to rest on her shoulder and collarbone. Sea Salt adjusted to the position as they walked. He kept himself firmly planted between Dark Cacao and White Flour, not wanting her to get hurt.

Hollyberry led the way till they got to the infirmary deeper into the silver kingdom's village. The Fae working froze when they saw Sea Salt but seemed to look away quickly to avoid any attention from the knight. Sea Salt didn’t mind at all and barely even cared. A familiar face ran over and greeted them.

“There you all are! Is everyone ok?” Sugarfly asked as she opened her wings happily. “We’re fine. Are Vanilla and Raisin resting as ordered?” Hollyberry asked. “Ordered…?” White Flour asked, confused on the wording. “Yes. Pure Vanilla is a good healer, not a good patient. Raisin takes after him and doesn’t like being taken care of. Wildberry, Caramel Arrow and Pitaya should be watching them with White Lily.” Hollyberry explained. “So that’s where Caramel was…I was beginning to get worried something happened to her as well.” Dark Cacao said. White Flour looked at the king. He seemed genuinely relieved that Caramel Arrow was just helping out and not injured.

“They’re resting. We also got SilverBell to sleep as well so he wouldn’t be in any discomfort.” Sugarfly said. “Wait, SilverBell? What happened to him?” White Flour asked quickly, trying to figure out what happened. ‘Remember when I ran off the other way to Vanilla's room with Pitaya? SilverBell had been attacked at one of the guards posts. Apparently someone called Black Sapphire demanded information on where our Souljams were. SilverBell got knocked out afterwards to keep things quiet.’ Sea Salt signed, giving White Flour as much detail as he could.

White Flour felt her heart sink at the idea of the sweet fae who had been so kind to her getting interrogated because of her souljam. She sighed, knowing she couldn’t do anything now. “Is he okay at least?” White Flour asked. “He was knocked out and got shoved into some armor on display. His wings got tangled up in it, causing some damage and discomfort but nothing life threatening.” Sugarfly said, ushering everyone into a sectioned off area of the infirmary before leaving.

White Flour entered and was almost instantly tackled to the ground by Cloud Haetae. “Flour! Your back! What did that king do to you?! Are you hurt?!” They asked frantically. Sea Salt lifted the little creature up and off of White Flour. ‘Give her space.’ The knight said. “I’m fine Cloud…” White Flour said as she grabbed the little Haetae and held them close.

“Oh well I guess everyone’s here now.” Vanilla called from across the room, trying to get out of bed despite Golden Cheese and White Lily insisting he didn’t move. “Pure Vanilla! You’re still injured! Don’t move too much or your magic will heal the muscles wrong!” Golden Cheese said, pushing Vanilla gently back into his bed, causing the blind healer to yelp. “Golden Cheese, be gentle with him.” White Lily said, scolding her gently.

“Are you okay?” White Flour asked as she ran over with Cloud Haetae following. “I am fine, don’t worry. I think Raisin is still asleep, but she’s alright as well.” Vanilla said. He patted the bed and moved so White Flour could sit and they could all talk more comfortably.

White Flour looked over to see Wildberry and Caramel Arrow standing next to another bed where several of Raisin’s crows were resting and seemingly standing guard. Raisin was fast asleep as the crows moved to cover any of the bandages she had covering herself. One crow flew over to Pure Vanilla to rub against a bandage on the healer’s side. “Don’t worry little friend, it’s healing nicely.” Vanilla said, trying to calm the worried crow. “Keep an eye on Raisin for me.” He ordered, causing the crow to fly back over to the other bed and lay down next to Raisin’s head.

“Do the crows always act like that?” White Flour asked. “Yes, they get quite protective when they realize me or Raisin are injured.” Pure Vanilla said. ‘So how are the injuries themselves?’ Sea Salt asked. Vanilla’s staff looked at Salt to take in the hand movements.

“It’s just some metal disks that we were hit with. They aren’t what Sapphire normally uses so he probably tried to make it look like he wasn’t involved at all.” Vanilla said, grabbing one of the disks from the bedside table. “I don’t think Sapphire intended to kill originally.” Pure Vanilla explained.

“Look at the thickness of the metal and how Sapphire left them behind. They are made to incapacitate, not to outright kill. If they were, then the metal would be thicker and more powerful.” Golden Cheese said as she perched above Pure Vanilla’s bed. “Not true. Any weapon designed like that can be used to kill. It is made for ssstelth, not mercy.” Pitaya interjected. “It’s the intention that makes a sword deadly or sssafe.”

“So what exactly happened?” Dark Cacao asked calmly. ‘Oh so now you want the full story?’ Sea Salt sighted bitterly. “Please don’t fight you two…” White Flour begged. Sea Salt backed down and moved to a protective position next to White Flour. ‘Sorry…I’m having trouble controlling my temper…’ Sea Salt signed apologetically. He moved to kneel against the bed behind White Flour.

“If I had to guess, Shadow Milk learned that I had your souljams so he sent Candy Apple and Black Sapphire after me.” Pure Vanilla said, “I honestly should have been more careful after I saw him in my dream.” The healer mumbled.

“Wait! You saw Shadow Milk in your dream too?” White Flour asked, not even thinking of the consequences she could face for admitting that. “You what?!” Golden Cheese yelped, wings flaring up nervously. “You saw him in your dream?” Vanilla asked calmly.

“Yes. He thought I was still Mystic Flour and got pretty worried when he realized I was White Flour.” The guardian explained. “He was worried?” Vanilla asked. “Worried how? Like he was hiding something or like he was worried you knew something.” White Lily asked, more concerned than anything.

“Worried like he was threatened by me knowing him in the past. He seemed to get excited after a moment though, like it was a complete switch from being disturbed to being protective.” White Flour said. “He didn’t seem so happy at the mention of Salt and Vanilla though.” She added, trying to explain the best she could.

‘He didn’t like me?’ Sea Salt asked. “Well he didn’t like the old you at the very least. I don’t know what he thought of Silent Salt though.” White Flour said.

“Was there anything else that could be important?” White Lily asked. “He was very insistent that I get my Souljam back. He sounded almost desperate.” White Flour said. “But we couldn’t find your Souljam afterwards.” Hollyberry said, nervously looking to Golden Cheese to confirm. “Do you think Shadow Milk actually got it?” The gilded queen asked. White Flour nervously grabbed at her dress pocket. “Well no…” she said, pulling out the soft white gem.

Vanilla’s eyes widened, looking relieved. White Lily was surprised but seemed equally pleased that the gem wasn’t with anyone else. Hollyberry let out a sigh she didn’t realize she was holding. Golden cheese was suspicious and worried but her feathers calmed down. Dark Cacao stared at her with an unreadable expression. “Where did you get that…?” He demanded.

“I grabbed it before Sapphire could take it. I kicked Sea Salt’s souljam away as well.” White Flour answered. “If I may ask, why was my souljam with you anyway?” White Flour asked, looking towards Pure Vanilla. “Dark Cacao and White Lily gave the souljams to me. The plan was to take them back to the Vanilla Kingdom and have both your souljams under lock and key so they were far away from Beast Yeast.” Pure Vanilla explained.

“Did anything happen when you used the souljams?” Hollyberry asked. White Flour sunk down a little, hugging Cloud Haetae closer. “Yes, but please hear me out.” She said. Golden Cheese tensed at that, clearly not entirely trusting.

“From what I understand, Mystic Flour is definitely still alive, or at the very least, the idea of her.” White Flour explained. “What do you mean exactly?” Hollyberry questioned, holding a hand over Dark Cacao’s mouth so he couldn’t interrupt. “Well she can’t do anything and is just stuck in the gem. She can still talk to me and show me memories but she doesn’t seem to like me being in control.” White Flour answers.

‘Reminds me of a split personality. You said she shared memories though. Anything that could be helpful?’ Sea Salt asked. Oh how White Flour wished she could tell the truth to Salt. She didn’t want to scare him about what Silent salt did. She also couldn’t lie though. She knew that Pure Vanilla would know.

“She showed me what happened when I got out of my cocoon. At least the first time.” White Flour said. ‘What happened.’ Sea Salt asked. “I-I…well, from what it looked like, I got attacked.” Not entirely a lie. “Spice and Blueberry kept me safe…but I think Mystic Flour had control by that point.” she continued. Not a lie either, but she could still see that Vanilla tensed a bit though.

‘What about me?’ Salt asked, more directly. White Flour tried not to say it. Tried to lie about how Salt had nearly killed everyone. How her vision ended with him trying to kill her. She just hoped Pure Vanilla understood.

“You saved me. Mystic Flour didn’t want anyone near her afterwards though…” White Flour said. She could see Pure Vanilla tense up more and felt his arm shake under the blanket. “How about we get everyone settled again. I feel enough has happened for one week,…for all of us.” Pure Vanilla said, quickly stopping the conversation. His eyes said everything, “we’ll talk once everyone’s gone.”

“As much as I’d like to entertain everyone more I unfortunately must prepare to head back to the Dark Cacao Kingdom.” The snowy king said, signaling to Caramel Arrow to get ready. “So you’re leaving?” White Flour asked, trying to ignore the concerned look Vanilla had. “I only planned to be gone from my Kingdom for a week at most. I must put my people first.” Dark Cacao said.

White Flour saw the genuine concern in Dark Cacao’s face. She could tell that he was worried. She couldn’t blame him. He was a king, he had to protect who he could. Now that the Beasts seemed more active he probably needed to up defense and keep those he cared for safe. White Flour found that quite similar to herself in a way. She wanted her friends to be safe. She knew that she would want to keep them just as protected as Dark Cacao wanted his kingdom.

“You may take your leave. I know you may have to leave as well, Hollyberry.” Pure Vanilla said. Hollyberry moved her hand around. “Not exactly. I need to head back to make sure some of the others are okay. I left rather abruptly after I got your letter.” She said softly. “I know you’re worried about Sssnapdragon but I’m sure Jungleberry kept them safe and entertained.” Pitaya said, grabbing Hollyberry’s shoulder playfully. “You're the one who’s been whining about them not being here.” Hollyberry said, making the dragon bite his tongue to not snap back at her.

“Then how about this?” White Flour said. “You all take care of your Kingdoms and return when you’re prepared. I don’t want to force any of you but I want to know if I can get my friends back.” She said. ‘Agreed’ Sea Salt signed ‘I want to see if we can make things right. And even if the Beats are still alive in some way.’ “Please…?” White Flour asked.

“I would not be against trying to save all the Beasts.” Pure Vanilla said as he tried to get out of bed again. “Stay…” White Lily sighed. “You two can stay in the Silver Kingdom in that case. I can discuss with Elder Faerie about more permanent rooms for you two.” She said to White Flour and Sea Salt.

“We can be back in a week or so once we make sure the Hollyberry Kingdom is safe. I want to make sure my family is safe and have their own ways to defend themselves while I’m gone.” Hollyberry explained. “I can also prepare the Vanilla Kingdom and be back after a while to help.” Pure Vanilla said. “Don’t stress yourselves…you don’t have to do anything immediately” White Flour said. “Don’t worry. It’s not just for you.” Golden Cheese said. “We have our own reasons.”

“What Golden Cheese means is that this benefits all of us.” Dark Cacao started. “If we can get all the Beast Cookies back to their old selves, then that takes care of a major threat within the kingdoms. So how does that sound?” He asked. White Flour looked to Sea Salt. It wasn’t a bad offer and it would save all of them. “Ok, sounds fair.” She replied.

“Great, how about you all get ready. You can leave whenever you want to get back to your kingdoms.” White Lily said. Hollyberry and Dark Cacao nodded. “I think I’ll stay for a bit, there's not much of the Golden Cheese Kingdom to look after. Unless of course you wish for backup when going after one of the other Beasts?” Golden Cheese said. “I believe backup would be appreciated.” White Lily said.

‘Then again, who would you go after? Who’s the most dangerous to you, not including me and Flour?’ Sea Salt asked. “Well it probably-” “Burning Spice! He could come here at any moment and kill us if he’d like.” Golden Cheese said, cutting off Pure Vanilla. “Just another reason I should be staying.”

“I have to agree with Golden Cheese, Burning Spice is the most dangerous to us.” White Lily said. ‘In that case, ask Hollyberry about coming back with Pitaya and any other dragon that could help. If Burning Spice is anything like Powdered Spice then it will take a bit to take him down.’ Sea Salt explained. White Flour nodded in agreement.

“Then it’s decided. Once Hollyberry returns, we’ll go after Burning Spice.” Pure Vanilla said. “All of you should rest though, keep up your strength. I do insist that you go and bring back others if you can Golden Cheese.” The healer added. The queen nodded like she took a mental note. ‘Come on White Flour, let’s get to our room. I still want to make sure you’re okay.’ Sea Salt said, his armor moving to a worried expression. His eyes did show a hint of something like embarrassment though.

“Actually, Salt. I’d like to talk to White Flour for a moment…alone...” Pure Vanilla said. Sea Salt got a little anxious. ‘B-but can’t I stay?’ Salt asked, sounding more worried, even through his signing. “I’ll be fine Sea Salt.” White Flour said. She knew what this was about. “How about you and Cloud Haetae get settled.” White Flour offered. Salt moved uncomfortably before letting White Lily lead him out of the room.

“Do you wish for me and Gold Cheese to leave?” Wildberry asked from across the room. He was still keeping an eye on Raisin and making sure she was safe. “Just for a moment, Wildberry. You too Golden Cheese.” Pure Vanilla said softly. The guard nodded and left. Golden Cheese stayed by the door for a moment before fluttering her wings and exiting.

Everything got uncomfortably quiet with only three cookies in the room, one of whom was asleep.

“White Flour?” Pure Vanilla said, his voice dropping a bit and sounding more firm. White Flour nervously turned to face him. His eyes had a mix of disappointment and worry. “What did Mystic Flour really show you?” He asked.

“I didn’t want Sea Salt to know…I-I knew he would be scared…” White Flour said, her eyes tearing up a bit. Pure Vanilla’s expression softened. “Just talk to me…” he said, holding White Flour’s cheek gently to comfort her. “Shadow Milk was right, Sea Salt was right, Mystic Flour was right…” White Flour whined. “S-silent salt hurt them…I…he tried to kill the others…” White Flour cried, unable to take it anymore.

Vanilla got up as much as he could and pulled White Flour close. His Vanilla scent was intense but also calming as he held her gently. One of Raisin’s crows noticed and flew over, gently pecking at White Flour’s hand before nuzzling her. Pure Vanilla gently comforted her as he continued. “I don’t appreciate white lies…but I understand when someone is trying to protect a friend.” Pure Vanilla said. “I won’t put you down for being dishonest but I will ask that you tell Sea Salt the truth. Even if it will hurt.” He added.

White Flour looked down in embarrassment. The crow moved to fluff up it’s feathers and make her feel warm and safe. “I don’t feel now is the best time…” White Flour said nervously, trying to dry her tears as she pet the creature on her lap. “If you haven’t noticed, a lot has happened recently…” she added. Pure Vanilla gently rubbed her back. “I understand. I will give you time, but again, try and tell him.” He insisted. White Flour nodded softly.

“Are you sure you're okay though Pure Vanilla?” White Flour asked. “I mean, you seemed to be avoiding what happened to you when Black Sapphire and Candy Apple…” White Flour said. Pure Vanilla moved his head to the side. The crow made a small call before pecking Pure Vanilla’s hand a little. The healer sighed and pet the bird before continuing again.

“They attack us early morning. Raisin’s crows announced their presence when they were outside.” Pure Vanilla said, “I guess it was thanks to the birds that we figured they were in disguise.” He said, half chuckling, half nervously laughing. “What do you mean by disguise?” White Flour asked. She remembered what Sugarfly said about Black Sapphire and Candy Apple.

Pure Vanilla’s face fell. “They used White Lily and Elder Faerie as their disguises. I actually believed it for a moment. I was lucky that one of Raisin’s crows was being extra affectionate and got Candy Apple to drop her disguise.” He explained.

White Flour could tell that things had definitely scared Pure Vanilla. He was caught off guard and couldn’t protect everyone perfectly. That was his flaw, he was a healer, it was his job to keep everyone safe.

Pure Vanilla leaned to look over at where Raisin was still cuddled up with her crows in bed.“She’ll need to stay in the infirmary for a few days to fully recover. I’m not able to fully heal her while also healing myself…” Pure Vanilla said nervously. “I hope she won’t be too mad if I leave her here…” “I think she’ll be mad, but she’ll understand.” White Flour said. The crow in her lap squawked and nuzzled closer, wanting Vanilla to stay but knowing he had to leave. Vanilla smiled playfully.

“Mystic Flour isn’t bothering you now is she?” Pure Vanilla asked. White Flour looked down at her souljam. “No. I think she’s a little upset that she’s not in control. She also has a bit of a dislike towards Sea Salt and Dark Cacao.” She explained.

“I feel that anger towards Sea Salt is unwarranted. While I myself am not able to see what Mystic Flour showed you, I have a feeling that neither of you know the full story.” Pure Vanilla said, slowly getting up and standing. He was a little unstable but he got comfortable after a moment. “I’ve learned not to take anything at face value.” Vanilla added, grabbing his staff and getting up fully. Raisin’s crow followed and landed on Vanilla’s shoulder, not wanting him to be alone.

The healer groaned as he straightened up. White Flour could see the outline of bandages under his clothes. A few covered his chest and abdomen while others were around his shoulders. The metal disks Sapphire used had definitely hit good spots but were just off enough for Pure Vanilla to heal himself.

“We can continue our chat when I’m back. If we’re going after Burning Spice I want to make sure everyone in my Kingdom is safe.” Pure Vanilla said. White Flour nodded, understanding the importance. “I do have a bit of a task for you while I’m gone though…” Vanilla said softly. “If possible, get Mystic Flour to talk, maybe even get her to show you more of what she’s been through. Any memory could be useful. That is if you want to keep your souljam.” The Healer explained.

“Anyway, let’s go to the others and wish them well off.” Pure Vanilla said, grabbing White Flour’s hand carefully. White Flour smiled, holding on as she let Vanilla guide her.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

By the time everyone was ready to leave, White Flour actually was sad to see them go. Sure, they would be back soon, but even that seemed too long.

When Raisin woke up she begrudgingly agreed to stay behind to heal as Pure Vanilla left for the Vanilla Kingdom. Vanilla had definitely gotten chewed out for it though. Both by Raisin and her crows.

Hollyberry had discussed bringing back some others with her to help. White Flour had been excited when Hollyberry talked about bringing Snapdragon, though Pitaya had to yell at her for trying to bring a young dragon into a fight with a Beast.

Golden Cheese had decided to return to her Kingdom and bring backup after Smoked Cheese had insisted upon it. She barely acknowledged White Flour or Sea Salt but seemed to make a vague threat about coming back if they did anything. White Flour could tell that that would need more work to get a functional relationship.

White Lily and Elder Faerie had made sure the two ex-Beasts were safe in the Silver Kingdom. They both had their own rooms with Cloud Haetae insisting on staying in White Flour’s room to keep her safe.

Then there was Dark Cacao. The first cookie she’d met since this whole ordeal started. White Flour wanted to talk to him. She knew it was the proper thing to do. She wanted to give a bit of closure to him if he wasn’t coming back to Beast Yeast anytime soon.

“You’re Majesty?! Dark Cacao!” White Flour shouted over the movement of guards getting ready to move. The king turned to White Flour and looked down at her. “What is it you want?” He asked, lowering only slightly so they were eye to eye. White Flour knew what to say, even if it may have been stupid. It was the most reassuring and trustworthy thing to say.

“I forgive you.” The temple Guardian said

The king froze, stunned by the statement. “Forgive me for what?” He asked. The puzzled look on his face did little to hide the genuine smile that was starting to form.

“Well, I’m aware you don’t trust me. You have had many reasons to dispose of me and reasons to do so. At the same time, you quietly gave me your trust. You let me live, let me go free, and even when you felt I was becoming a danger, you only truly hurt me when it came to the life of a friend.” White Flour said. “You're not perfect and you definitely need to relax but you have your reasons for the ways you act. Golden Cheese has the same thing.”

Dark Cacao looked at her, eyes puzzled but understanding of what this sudden apology was for. “I do not deserve such an apology.” He said, voice grumbling and sounding firm. “I have always been one to fight with my own temper. I realize afterward that I truly did not give you fair treatment. But I must admit, your apology and actions, though I realize them late, are trustworthy to me.” The King said, starting to walk away.

“I just want you to know that I want the best for all, just as you wish the best for your Kingdom!” White Flour shouted. The king looked back. He gently smiled. “You and I are not so different…” he said, walking off.

White Flour smiled back. She watched as Dark Cacao got the rest of his units together. ‘You apologize’ Sea Salt asked as he walked over. “It was the best way to confirm to him that I don’t mean any harm. If I can forgive him, maybe he can forgive me…” she said. Salt made a metallic sounding chuckle before leaning his head onto White Flour’s shoulder.

“I believe that’s everything!” Hollyberry called as she walked over with White Lily and Pitaya. “We'll be coming back in a month or so with backup.” The woman explained as she tossed a bag to Pitaya, who was already in his dragon form. “Sssay, knight. How about we do a fair sssparing match when I get back? I feel I wasss too sssoft on you the first time.” the dragon chuckled. Sea Salt made an annoyed clicking sound as he mouthed some form or an insult, not caring to sign.

“Say White Flour, do you think you’d be ready to adventure so soon? I mean you’ve only truly been awake a week.” White Lily said, worried for White Flour’s health. “I’ll be fine! I feel I can keep up with it all.” The guardian said confidently. “That’s the spirit!” Hollyberry cheered grabbing White Flour by the shoulder. “We’ll be back in no time! Just keep yourselves safe!” They walked off to get ready to leave and return to the Hollyberry Kingdom.

“Ladies? Sea Salt?” Pure Vanilla said, approaching the group. “I believe it’s time for myself to leave!” He said. “Of course! Please be safe though! I still don’t trust your healing abilities to have you functioning perfectly in just a day…” White Lily said as she hugged him.

“I believe Pure Vanilla will be alright.” Elder Faerie said as he approached with Raisin, who looked quite disappointed at being left behind, even if it was to heal. “I’ll be fine Lily! I’ll be back soon and Raisin will be here to help out if you need it.” The healer said as he tried to breathe through the death grip holding him.

“I’ll make sure a few crows come back with you just in case.” Raisin said as she motioned for one of the birds to got to Vanilla. “Just stay and get some rest. I want you here to help White Lily and White Flour.” Pure Vanilla said. “But why can’t I just stay with you?” Raisin questioned. “I’ll be fine, just take care of yourself.” Vanilla said. “You first.” Raisin shot back.

“I believe that’s everything though. We’ll be seeing you all soon.” Elder Faerie said as he moved his wings around White Lily and himself. White Flour felt Sea Salt move and do a similar motion with his cloak. She could tell he wasn’t leaving her side anytime soon. “Again, stay safe.” White Flour said to them.

“Oh, before I leave…” Pure Vanilla started. Do you wish to keep your souljams with you?” He asked. “If not I’ll take them to the Vanilla Kingdom to be kept safe.”

White Flour thought for a moment. She did still want to try and talk to Mystic Flour again. She also wanted to keep it safe herself. “I’ll keep mine close.” White Flour said, looking at the gem she had adjusted to fit as a small broach. ‘I’ll have White Lily and Elder Faerie hold onto mine for the time being.’ Sea Salt said.

Vanilla nodded before making a small rune with his staff. The portal opened again to let him leave as Dark Cacao, Hollyberry and Golden Cheese all left.

The courtyard cleared out in just a few minutes after the heroes left. “What should we do in the meantime?” White Flour asked Sea Salt. “Oh! I know! Let’s just sleep and rest since no one’s actively around to hurt us!” Cloud Haetae said, half joking, half serious. ‘Resting doesn’t sound so bad. Maybe I’ll take my time to read up on all the history I missed.’ Sea Salt said. “How about you three just take your time to settle now. You have a month to do what you wish.” White Lily said.

“I think I have a better plan.” White Flour said. She wasn’t going to let anyone she cared for get hurt but she wasn’t going to hurt others to do it. “How many books do the faeries have on the Beast Cookies?” White Flour asked. “A few dozen if you count smaller scriptures on specific events.” Elder Faerie explained. “Good, I want to know everything you have about my friends…”