Chapter Text
The smell and feeling of dust filled a dimly lit office. The atmosphere was quite wholesome, though. The sound of two Cookies packing could be heard.
"Maple Taffy Cookie, have you got everything?"
"Yup!"
He looked back at Schneeball Cookie and nodded, his characteristic gleeful smile plastered across his face.
Schneeball Cookie condescendingly tilted her head, a not-so-amused facial expression on her face.
"You sure? The last time you answered me so quickly we had to go back to grab the essentials. Why? Because a CERTAIN Cookie who was in charge of bringing them FORGOT TO!"
She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.
"That was SUCH a long time ago, Schneeball Cookie and you know it! You're just trying to antagonise me, aren't you?"
He kept up his usual playful attitude.
"That was two months ago- Forget it! Talking to you is like talking to a brick wall anyway."
"Ha ha! I know you don't actually think that!"
He smiled, while Schneeball Cookie could only sigh out of annoyance.
"Let's just get going already."
She said while turning towards the Timecraft.
"Right behind ya!"
Schneeball Cookie packed the final tools into the Timecraft just as Maple Taffy Cookie caught up to her. He got in after she did, and Schneeball Cookie turned the schematic on. Then they headed towards their destination.
Maple Taffy Cookie was looking around and kicking his feet against his seat before turning to Schneeball Cookie.
"You know, Schneeball Cookie, I've been to that site already! It's amazi-"
"I know! You would never shut up about that place! I'm glad we finally got a reasonable excuse to go there. Getting Dark Fondue Cookie to allow us pretty anything has been an even bigger pain recently." - she sighed - "I wonder why that's the case.."
Maple Taffy Cookie crossed his arms.
"Tell me about it!"
He let an annoyed sigh escape his lungs and a soured expression crept up across his face.
("Could it be because of the new Director's decisions? I've always trusted Croissant Cookie to a decent degree so I didn't mind her becoming the Director. I wasn't even surprised all that much when she was elected. But I have to admit that I would never have expected such strict rules to be implemented by her. Especially the firearm one..") - his line of thinking was suddenly cut off by Schneeball Cookie playfully pressing her finger against Maple Taffy Cookie's chest.
"That's why I won't let you ruin this for me! I've been waiting ages, even by the TBD's standards, for this!"
He raised his hands as one would to admit defeat—returning back her playfulness.
"I won't! I won't! Could you PLEASE focus on driving the Timecraft now?"
Schneeball Cookie turned back to what she was doing. For once Maple Taffy Cookie actually had a point.
A slight pause formed between them before Maple Taffy Cookie playfully spoke up again.
"..And y'know I never really ruin stuff! I only make it better!"
His tone of voice mimicked that of an overly proudful douche as he shot a smirk at Schneeball Cookie just to piss her off even further.
She tried her best to pay it no mind, as much as she could, that is. It would be a lie if she said she didn't build up a tolerance to Maple Taffy Cookie's antics, though, especially after so many years of knowing him.
Soon enough, they got to their destination. Cool winds blew against them, the higher oxygen content of the prehistoric air took them a moment to adjust to.
Maple Taffy Cookie placed his hands on his hips, a smile plastered across his face. He took a deep breath before enthusiastically looking back at Schneeball Cookie, who was standing behind him.
She was intently glaring at a handheld map of the region. Maple Taffy Cookie shook his head as a smirk formed across his face. He fully turned towards Schneeball Cookie and took a step towards her while exclaiming.
"Hey, we don't need a map. I can bring us there!" - he pointed at himself, filled to the brim with pride
She looked back at him with a deadpan look.
"Thanks..but I'm sticking with the map. There's no way I'll let you tour me after what happened last time."
"You're being too harsh! We weren't THAT lost."
He crossed his arms and looked to the side. Then, as if a light bulb lit up in his head, he spoke up again.
"Wait, Schneeball Cookie! Please let me show you just this one place!"
He reached out and grabbed one of her hands. She shuffled the map into her other hand as quickly as she could as not to drop it, almost failing at her task while trying to accomplish it.
"What are you on about!? If this place has got relics sure. But at least find it on the map firs-"
"It's not on the map."
Schneeball Cookie blinked, taking a double-take.
"So you found it when you got lost the last time you were here, huh?"
"Ha, ha! You know me all too well, don't you?" - he replied with a proud, endearing smile
"A bit too much for my own good.." - the reply was sarcastic in nature, though a small and genuine smile found itself on Schneeball Cookie's face.
Just then, she felt a tug on her arm—she was being dragged. Her first steps since the change of pace were actually stumbles that adapted to running within a few moments.
"Come on! I bet you'll like it! At least a little."
Realising she couldn't find a way out of this, she just sighed and nodded, accepting the circumstance.
Maple Taffy Cookie dragged the two of them to a cliffside.
Bustling plantlife surrounded them, the sounds of the thick, prehistoric canopy swinging and wild animals' wings flapping could be heard. The Sun's rays hit the surface of the glistening soda lake beneath the cliffside, the sound of its crystal blue contents swishing made the area really calming.
He looked back at Schneeball Cookie who was a step behind them, a smile adorned his face.
"Pretty nice and relaxing,eh?"
She looked at him with the same stoic expression she always has.
"..Well, I guess it's alright-"
He abruptly cut her off.
"Hah! I knew you'd like it!"
Schneeball Cookie pinched the bridge of her nose.
"..For a vacation." - she continued, her tone of voice staying monotone - "It's alright as a vacation destination."
Her gaze shot back at Maple Taffy Cookie.
"We're on a work trip, Maple Taffy Cookie. Not a vacation. Plus, we're on a time crunch, and you know how Dark Fondue Cookie is when we are late with these sorts of things"
Maple Taffy Cookie dumbfoundedly blinked twice before crossing his arms and responding to her.
"Yeah, yeah, sure, but you don't have to be so cold and serious all the time. Dark Fondue Cookie will find a reason to get mad at us no matter what we do, so don't think of her and just..live a little!"
He took a step back, resulting in him getting really close to the ledge.
Seeing him so close to the edge made, especially when regarding how brittle and dry the soil was formed a pit of worry in Schneeball Cookie's gut.
She grabbed Maple Taffy Cookie by his forearm and pulled him towards her—away from the edge.
She spoke up, her tone of voice was stern.
"Why would you get so close to the edge?!" -she sighed to buy time so that she could recollect her thoughts. Then began talking again—while she was calmer, her tone of voice was shaky and still contaminated with worry.
"Neither of us need someone getting heavily injured or dying on this trip. Alright?"
Maple Taffy Cookie was taken aback by the change in her demeanour. He pretty much never saw her like this and knew he should take the situation seriously.
Schneeball Cookie tightened the grip she had over Maple Taffy Cookie's wrist and broke the short-lived moment of silence that lingered between them.
"Let's just get to the excavation site already."-her tone was oddly weak and shaky
He hastily nodded.- "Yeah..let's do that.." - a drop of sweat drooped down his face
Schneeball Cookie reached into her bag and took out the map from earlier, then began leading the way. She made sure to keep an eye on Maple Taffy Cookie.
They end up making it to the first excavation site. Maple Taffy Cookie's eyes widened with excitement upon seeing it. He started looking around the area and inspecting it as if he had never seen it before.
Schneeball Cookie continued looking at the map. After finding what she was looking for, she called for Maple Taffy Cookie to discuss something with him. He went over to her, quite reluctantly though.
"You're aware that we're on a decently strict time crunch, right?" - she asked
"Uh..yeah?"
"Well, a second site was built a bit away from here recently. So I thought one of us could work at each site. That could save us some time." - she stared at Maple Taffy Cookie, waiting for a response from him.
He crossed his arms and began thinking about the offer.
("Hm..If I say yes, I would be able to keep some of the relics I find for myself, without the need to worry about anyone knowing or Schneeball Cookie breaking them.") - a grin crept up on his face
"Sure! Now shoo! I've got to get to work!" - he waved his hand at Schneeball Cookie as if she were a bug, then he turned around and went to look for his supplies.
Schneeball Cookie watched him run off. She shook her head and sighed before taking her map out once more. Her hands firmly held onto the map as she headed towards the second site.
She got to the site without a hassle, but it was somewhat further away from the first site than she expected it to be. A slight feeling of worry washed over her.
Was it her gut trying to warn her of something..?
("What am I thinking?? If I start the 'trusting my gut' spiel as well, I'll end up like Maple Taffy Cookie.")
She took a deep breath and decided to just focus on work.
A thud could be heard as she plopped her bag onto the ground. She started looking for and taking out the necessary tools she brought, making sure all of them were suitable and of good condition to be used.
Then she could finally begin working. Excavating was one of her favourite things this job offered. She definitely didn't prefer it over analysing relics and fossils, but she preferred it over reconstruction by far.
The excavation was going pretty well. The current results and findings weren't bad; Schneeball Cookie might've even said they were decent.
She lost track of time, but it must've been at least two hours when she heard— a scream?
A shiver went down her spine as she recognised the voice was Maple Taffy Cookie's
She abruptly straightened her posture and turned back to the direction of the first site.
"..Maple Taffy Cookie?"
...
no response.
She felt a droplet of anxiety-induced sweat drip from the side of her head and down her cheek, as her eyes widened and eyebrows furrowed.
"Maple Taffy Cookie? Maple Taffy Cookie??"
Her knees shook and felt weak as she stood up.
"MAPLE TAFFY COOKIE??—This-THIS BETTER NOT BE A JOKE BECAUSE IT ISN'T FUNNY!"
She paused.
"..This better be a joke."
She hastily ran over to get her bag, then threw it over her shoulder and began running towards the first site.
Her vision began getting blurry, and she felt sick.
The adrenaline was already consuming her.
She gripped onto her bag with both hands, gripping it as if her life depended on it.
Time seemed to be moving excruciatingly slowly.
Just as she got really close to the site, she bumped into something.
Schneeball Cookie gripped her bag even harder as she stumbled a few steps back.
She blinked a few times to readjust her vision, then looked up-
-only for her gaze to be met with a Jellysaur towering over her.
She had to have fallen victim to the fight-or-flight response.
But she didn't.
Schneeball Cookie couldn't even process what was in front of her, or even the fact that its claws bore blood that wasn't its own—when she did comprehend the circumstance, it was already too late.
All she could feel in the instant that followed was her whole body being thrown to the side.
It took her a moment to realise what had just happened to her. She began to cough, but after she finished, she couldn't tell if she had or hadn't coughed up something.. warm and liquidy.
The adrenaline that was surging through her veins forced her to sit upright. Her body shook, and her tired, shaky arms were barely managing to support her as she got into a sitting position.
Then she felt it.
Her face burned. It felt agonising.
She reached for it with her gloved hand. The face-to-hand contact stung; it stung badly.
But it also felt somewhat..comforting?
Schneeball Cookie pulled her hand away from her face. She looked down at it—her foggy vision sharpened.
Her umber coloured glove was covered in some dark red fluid.
It was her own blood. Her warm, fresh blood.
She lowered her hand, trying not to think of what she just saw on it, or what had happened to her.
She inhaled, then exhaled.
Her head turned upwards, her gaze focusing on what was straight ahead of her.
The Jellysaur was..distracted?
Upon realising that her eyes widened, and her pupils shrank.
This time, flight-or-fight wasn't in question. There was only fight.
Her glance shot back to her bag. Her arms were shivering and shaking while reaching for it. Her unsteady grip latched onto its strap. She rummaged through the thing, and out of it fell—
a gun.
She grabbed it, trying her best to get a firm and steady grip upon it.
Her usually deadbeat, stoic gaze was now filled to the brim with fear and despair, yet a small ray of hope shone in her eyes.
She got up. Her whole body was weak and quivering.
Her sweat and blood-soaked hands were wobbly and shaky.
The only steadiness left in her was concentrated in her grip and gaze.
She must not make a mistake.
If a mistake were to be made, it wouldn't just cost Schneeball Cookie her own life, but it would cost his life too—and she knew that.
That thought was the only thing giving her any sort of strength.
Then, she heard it—
a shot.
Her grip—it betrayed her.
Her hands and grip went from steady to shaky in an instant.
She inspected the magazine; her heart was pounding.
Only one bullet was left.
Only one chance to live.
She didn't have the luxury of going unnoticed this time, though.
The Jellysaur noticed her. Its putrid yellow eye met with hers.
It began to approach.
Schneeball Cookie didn't even get a chance to think—she could only trust her gut now.
The grip she had over the gun firmed up.
She raised her trembling arms, stopping at the point when her hands and gun almost covered her face.
She pulled the trigger.
A heavy thud was heard after the bang.
She did it.
Her shoulders fell, her arms drooped down, and her hands let go of the now-empty firearm.
But she couldn't celebrate, she couldn't relax—
Nor could she smile.
The only thing she could feel after was the wind that was hitting her face as she ran.
She ran to where she hoped to see that everything was well.
Her legs brought her to the entrance of the first site.
She frantically looked around while calling his name.
Then she saw it. The only thing she was hoping not to.
Once again, she ran, but her legs gave out this time.
She collapsed just in front of Maple Taffy Cookie's heavily wounded body.
Tears began to form in her eyes.
The tears mixed with her fresh blood as both of the liquids flowed down her face. Droplets of the mixture drooped and fell down her chin, mixing with the pool of blood that was under her.
The pool of blood that wasn't hers.
She shook him desperately, but gently as not to make his condition even worse.
She was hoping for any sort of response.
"MAPLE TAFFY COOKIE?? Maple Taffy Cookie..please..just..wake up.."
She was choking on her tears, she felt ill.
Her eyes widened after hearing a wet cough and felt movement from the Cookie in front of her.
Maple Taffy Cookie coughed up some blood. His eyes opened up ever so slightly. His head turned towards Schneeball Cookie, and a soft expression appeared on his face.
His soft expression soured upon seeing what had happened to her, turning into one of worry instead.
He reached his left hand out and cupped her left cheek. He gently scraped her tears off with his thumb.
He spoke up—his voice weak, though.
"...Schneeball Cookie...What..happened..to you?"
He coughed up again.
"H-hurry..get yourself some help..Don't stay here..waiting for me.."
Schneeball Cookie raised her right hand. Gripping onto his hand and embracing it for a moment, trying her hardest not to cry even more. Then she gently set his hand back down next to him.
"What are you talking about?! I can't just leave you here! I-I'll get us out of here! We-we'll make it out! Just like we always have! You b-believe me, right..? You trust me..r-right..?"
Her voice was quivering, filled to the brim with fear and uncertainty. Tears uncontrollably ran down her face.
Maple Taffy Cookie looked at her, eye-to-eye.
He gave her a calming smile, the biggest he could muster at that moment.
"Schneeball Cookie..there was never a day I didn't trust you."
His smile widened just a smidge more, and a joyful tear slid down his face.
She felt numb. Her heart was beating uncontrollably.
Adrenaline took course again, giving her just enough strength to pick up Maple Taffy Cookie.
She began running towards the Timecraft; her body was being fueled by pure adrenaline, and pure adrenaline alone.
Maple Taffy Cookie slightly strengthened his grip.
"Thank you..for everything..Schneeball Cookie.."- he muttered with the very last ounce of remaining strength he had, before falling unconscious.
His arms loosened, and his head dug itself into Schneeball Cookie's shoulder.
Shneeball Cookie couldn't even react; everything just felt surreal to her.
The only thing her adrenaline-pumped brain could focus on?
Survival.