Chapter Text
--pv pov--
Pure Vanilla sighed peacefully, his hair now so long that it almost scraped the floor, his staff a radiant golden key shape. His white robes fluttered softly behind him, letting the eyes on the underside peer out.
The stained sugar-glass windows dyed the light that filtered through them brilliant shades, the vanilla wafer columns stretched from the floor to the ceiling. Pure Vanilla let his feet carry him to nowhere in particular, simply walking to enjoy the peace of his home. He breathed in softly, enjoying the light sweet scent the wafer walls carried, though that vanilla sweetness quickly faded to the distinct floral notes of white lillies.
The healer smiled softly, realising he had wandered to one of his favourite places, the White Lily Greenhouse. The glass panes of the greenhouse lacked any particular colour, letting the soft glow of the sun in undiluted. In the middle of the garden was a wafer pavilion, which to his slight embarrassment, seemed to almost have been built in his likeness, with a soul jam shaped decoration and pointed roof remeniscent to his cone hat.
Pure Vanilla opened the eyes under his cloak, glancing at the blooming lillies, growing in clusters with such a lively appearance that they looked just as brilliant as the day he had left. It almost made him feel like the entire trip to beast yeast was but a mere dream. Like Shadow Milk's broken existence was but a mere dream...
Stepping into the pavillion, he sighed a breath of relief.
"Ahh... the Vanilla Kingdom...! How I've missed this place." Pure Vanilla said to no-one in particular, "I'm back!" To his joy (and slight surprise), there was another cookie in the greenhouse.
"... Pure Vanilla... Cookie?" Black Raisin Cookie gasped, placing a small watering-can aside by the entrace of the greenhouse. Trailing behind her was the one-legged raisin crow that she nurtered with care even when he had been Healer Cookie. She rubbed her eyes as if she was seeing things.
"Ah, Black Raisin Cookie! Greetings!" The healer smiled, slightly opening his eyes.
"You..." She rubbed her eyes again and squinted.
"I apologize. My quest took longer than I expected. Have you been well?" Pure Vanilla gleamed.
"..." Black Raisin remained silent as her eyes widened in shock.
"Black Raisin Cookie?"
"... It really is you, Pure Vanilla Cookie. I hardly recognized you. Your light... It's blinding..." She said, recognition flashing on her face.
"Oh, I see. I didn't mean to startle you. Our adventure in Shadow Milk Cookie's domain... It has changed me in more ways than I can say." The healer grinned, his memories of the place, though unpleasant, still felt more valuable than many of his experiences.
Suddenly, it seemed like the initial shock of the situation wore off as Black Raisin clasped her hand over her mouth.
"I can't even begin to imagine what could've happened..." She gasped, "And yet, seeing you shining like this... You really are the Ancient Hero who founded the Vanilla Kingdom. Feels like just yesterday Healer Cookie and I tended to the ruins of our village together." She smiled softly, slightly embarrassed by how she had just been gawking at him for a while.
Black Raisin seemed to almost space out, he guessed she was just remembering times from a while ago. Just like he was. They weren't his fondest moments, but if the truth ever taught him anything, it's that even if it's unsavoury, those memories were still a part of him.
--br (black raisin) pov--
The memories of when Pure Vanilla was still Healer Cookie, when Black Raisin was but a mere protector of the scraps they called a village, flooded into her mind.
"What has gotten into you? You are Healer Cookie, the sage and healer of our village. Our enemy is the Wafflebots, not Dark Enchantress Cookie!" She had hissed.
"How can you say that? How can you turn your back and just walk away? Turning away from those who are suffering is cowardly!" Healer Cookie replied.
"... I... I didn't know you thought of me that way. No, I get it. This isn't the first time I've felt this way... There were moments when you felt... distant. Just when I thought you were depending on me, I would catch you staring off into the distance..."
She had always known Pure Vanilla was one who could see the bigger picture, not just the narrow views she had held. Maybe it was that hopefullness he held that led them to where they were now. Maybe that was why he always seemed to be a leader.
Even if it meant he took the fall.
Even if it meant he took all the blame and all the guilt.
She supposed now though, seeing how radiantly he glowed, she could maybe let the past be the past, and she could stop thinking about what had happened then.
"Back then... I guess wasn't enough for you to trust me and show your true self. No, 'back then' makes it sound like I've changed. Truth is, I haven't... not much, anyway. Ha..." She let out a bitter sound. Yes, she wasn't as optimistic as Pure Vanilla, hoping to atone and forget was not like her.
"... Sorry. Didn't mean to ramble. Just old memories creeping in." She finally said, realising Pure Vanilla had not replied.
"Black Raisin Cookie..." Pure Vanilla sighed softly.
He reached out and gently grasped her hand, holding it firmly as he looked at her, for a mement she guessed she had forgotten he was half-blind, as she looked back.
"... P—Pure Vanilla Cookie?" She asked.
"You're wrong, Black Raisin Cookie. Please, don't speak of our past that way." The healer smiled.
"... " Black Raisin was a little speechless, life back then was a morbid reality, to speak of it with such gentleness was something only an ancient hero could do, she guessed. Even if Pure Vanilla was the one who suffered the most...
"My days as Healer Cookie... those were my greatest pride. Even without my memories, I shared every last jelly, living shoulder to shoulder with the villagers. And it was you. Your devotion to those abandoned Cookies, your will to guard them with everything you had... You gave me courage. You gave me hope. It's true. I wasn't Pure Vanilla Cookie then. But because of you, and our friends beside us... As Healer Cookie, I was... simply me. Untouched by Deceit." He said.
Pure Vanilla's voice carried an almost reverence towards the time. It was a voice that could almost be mistaken for fondness by someone who had not experienced what had happened.
"... Pure Vanilla Cookie...!" She smiled softly, even if those words were mere superficial comfort, she would have liked to believe them wholeheartedly, "Thank you... It means a lot." She let of of his hand, and he too smiled.
Her crow seemed to realise its friend's soft feelings of an almost bittersweet relief, as it nuzzled agsint her, letting out a soft caw.
"I've heard the whispers... that you and your friends are preparing to stand against Dark Enchantress Cookie. Let me fight beside you. I want to protect those dear to us, too." Black Raisin said, determination washing away her raw emotions from before.
"Black Raisin Cookie... Yes. Of course." Pure Vanilla said, smiling gently.
--pv pov--
Pure Vanilla watched as Black Raisin scrated the top of her crow's head. For a moment, he concentrated, furrowing his brow and closing his eyes.
"..." In a puff of faint magic, Pure Vanilla's awakened form returned to his more regular self. The long hair seemed to dissipate, his robes faded from their brilliant white to golden-beige notes, the scrolls of truth politely folded themselves away. The eyes on his robes faded away as his orchid-staff opened its eye instead.
"Hup...! There we go." He grinned, the weight of his awakened robes lifting as he felt the familiar texture of a different fabric on his dough.
"..?! Pure Vanilla Cookie, your radiance...!" Black Raisin gasped, making a flabbergasted expression he could only describe as the one she had when she first saw his awakened form.
"Well... there's no need to keep it shining at all times, is there? Ha ha..." He laughed.
Black Raisin's shock shifted to a dejected expression.
"But you were so..." She said, still slightly mournful.
"Hm? What was that?" Pure Vanilla asked.
"Nevermind..." She sighed, "But there is something else. If I leave, who's going to watch over the Crow's Nest Inn... I mean, the Vanilla Kingdom?"
"You're right. We don't know when we'll be back. We'll have to find someone you can trust to take your place... and soon." The healer wondered aloud, tapping his chin.
There was a sudden mechanical whirr, Pure Vanilla couldn't help jolting slightly. It was a reaction he couldn't stop no matter how hard he tried... He simply couldn't get used to the wafflebots... Maybe he never will. The healer let out a long exhale, clutching his staff so tightly his knuckles turned white. If it weren't for his staff, he would have dug his fingernails so deep into his palms he might have bled.
"Hmm... A suitable guardian for the Vanilla Kingdom, huh?" Strawberry Crepe asked, eyes practically glittering.
"Ah, Strawberry Crepe Cookie! How have you been?" Pure Vanilla said, a practiced smile plastering his face.
"Pfft! Same old, same old! ... But honestly? Boring! And hey, how could you just take Strawberry Cookie away like that? I didn't even get a chance to analyze her! All my plans- to the dustbin!" They complained, pouting.
"Ha ha, my apologies!" Pure Vanilla smiled.
"You'll have to make it up to me! Yes, your new look! I'm gonna analyze it! Transform, now!" They demanded.
Black Raisin seemed shocked.
"W—What do you mean by that? Don't tell me... you've been eavesdropping this whole time?!" She sputtered.
"Who cares? I've been bored lately anyway. Guess I could guard the Vanilla Kingdom while you're gone!" Strawberry Crepe grinned proudly.
"Besides, I've got some new Wafflebots to test out. Ask me real nice and maaaaybe I'll help!" They boasted with a giddy smile.
Hearing Strawberry Crepe talk about Wafflebots almost made the healer shudder, but he shouldn't lose composure infront of a kid.
"Oh, thank you, Strawberry Crepe Cookie! You will do us all an enormous favor." He praised.
"You live and never know what you're gonna see tomorrow. Feels like just yesterday your Wafflebots were attacking the villagers..." Black Raisin joked, maybe in a attempt to comfort Pure Vanilla's unease.
"Then it's settled. Black Raisin Cookie, you'll march with me to confront Dark Enchantress Cookie in her stronghold..." Pure Vanilla said, smiling at the both of them, "... And Strawberry Crepe Cookie, you and your Wafflebots will watch over the kingdom. I'm counting on you."
Maybe it was because he awakened, but Pure Vanilla felt more optimistic then ever about their futures.
"Then we'd best prepare... Though, truth is, we don't have much to pack." Black Raisin sighed, "Just last week, we gave away most of our supplies to the hungry. What's left in the storage now is..."
"Seriously? Only twenty sacks of raisins? Pathetic!" Strawberry Crepe whined.
"Then we'll take five sacks with us." Pure Vanilla said.
"Whaaaat! Other kingdoms will bring sharp weapons and tons of food, and you're showing up with raisins?!" They groaned.
"It's alright. No matter how little we have, we will share what we can. This is the true strength of the Vanilla Kingdom. I'll proudly share these sacks of raisins with all my friends." The healer beamed.
"... Okay!" Black Raisin smiled.
Almost as if it resonated with his soul, Pure Vanilla felt a slight voice from inside the soul jam.
"...?" Curiously, he tapped the glistening blue stone on his brooch.
"A presence unlike any before..." A voice only he could hear resonated, "Tell me, Pure Vanilla Cookie, are you ready to embrace the new Truth?"
"Ha ha... With a heart that embraces Truth and Deceit, seeking understanding and compassion... I swear to protect my Vanilla Kingdom!" The healer thought to himself and the stone.
Pure Vanilla watched as Strawberry Crepe hurried out of the greenhouse just as quickly as they had come. Mumbling about how they thought things would finally be interesting for once.
"I should head off too, to amek preperations and such... I'll see you soon." Black Raisin said, turning and heading towards the exit, her crow resting contently on her arm.
"Wait...!" Pure Vanilla called out, "I... I have to tell you what really happened in Beast-Yeast."
Black Raisin quickly turned around and rejoined Pure Vanilla in the pavillion.
"Do you need me to tell Strawberry Crepe later?" She asked.
"No... It's something they shouldn't know... It's about the past..." He whispered. Black Raisin shuddered.
"Someone else knows... Someone knows what I did... And he might just be one of the most broken cookies to exist... Shadow Milk Cookie. I need to tell my friends, I need your help too, only then can I atone." Pure Vanilla grimaced.
"Pure Vanilla..." Black Raisin murmered.