Chapter Text
The scene follows the Beasts as they stand before the Ancients and Crème Republic Elders as they judge them for their sins.
GingerBrave and his friends sit at the side and listen. Wizard looked serious, Strawberry's eyes flitted between each Ancient in nervous energy, Custard III obviously looked bored after he looked apprehensive when the trial started, Chili Pepper, for once, was quiet in a serious way, and GingerBrave...
GingerBrave observes.
He sees the way Pure Vanilla's grip tightens around his staff, the way Shadow Milk looked detached to reality, the way Golden Cheese stares intently at Burning Spice as he looks anywhere but her, the way Mystic Flour stares head-on with Dark Cacao, the way Hollyberry pursed her lips, the way Eternal Sugar carried herself in a regally fake way, the way White Lily closed her eyes and muttered things under her breath, the way Silent Salt stayed... silent... as always....
But it was different this time, GingerBrave realized, because it felt like the dark knight was staring right at him through his helmet and the young cookie didn't know what to do with that information.
"—now, your final judgement!"
Clotted Cream had declared but then White Lily stood up silencing everyone in the hall.
"Lady White Lily Cookie?" Clotted Cream said, confused.
White Lily only gave him a small smile and a nod, to which he gave her in kind as well. "I greet everyone here a good day and... We, Ancients, have decided the fates of the Beasts, we have come to an agreement and determined that we each will guard a Beast and see to their... rehabilitation."
GingerBrave gasped in surprise as the nobles and elders voiced out their complaints.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
"Rehabilitation?!"
"Consul! By the Witches, do something!"
Clotted Cream, who was obviously stressed, was given assurances by Pure Vanilla and Dark Cacao by a tap on the shoulders. The Consul breathed and stood straight.
"The Ancients, our heroes, have made up their minds and spoken. And as their subjects, I humbly ask all of you to respect their decisions."
"Boy!—"
"They have done their hardest to capture the Beasts and made them stand before us here today! They have persevered through the challenges and obstacles that were thrown in their ways for the lives of all cookiekind! I doubt they would make a decision that would potentially make their efforts all for naught!"
That made everyone stop yammering. Chili Pepper made an amused sound that was between a scoff and a hum. Custard III furrowed his eyebrows clearly having a hard time comprehending the situation.
Pure Vanilla was now on the stand. "I am aware that it was a bit of a surprise—"
"Ha! It was more than a bit. This old man..." Chili Pepper remarked. Wizard rolled his eyes.
"—but I assure everyone that this is for the best. We cannot refute the fact that the Beasts, the Virtues then, shaped us now with their knowledge, passion, gifts, guidance, and protection. Without them we may not know what we know now. If they had not been significant to cookiekind, their punishment would have been more... cruel. This is their only saving grace!"
Then Dark Cacao. "So, we ask our good friend, GingerBrave..."
"What...?" The young cookie stood with nervousness as every pair of eyes in the hall turned to him. Wizard looked confused as with Strawberry and Custard III but Chili Pepper looked annoyed.
"We ask you to help us with rehabilitating them. Please."
Once again, murmurs resounded in the space. GingerBrave fumbled with his hands and fingers.
"Asking a mere child for help?"
"King Dark Cacao Cookie, that stiff man, pleading?"
"They've gone mad."
"You all are not asking the right questions. What is so special about that child that they, the Ancients, would ask him for something as crucial as this?"
Yes... Why would they ask him?
GingerBrave doesn't know what's so special about him. He's twelve almost thirteen years old. He doesn't remember his past. He was basically a nobody with nothing but his name and candy cane before he met with Wizard and Strawberry. He doesn't know his parents - if he even had one - and nothing about his appearance screamed familiar to anyone he's met in his adventures.
So why...?
"GingerBrave?" Golden Cheese called.
But if there was one thing GingerBrave knew of himself, it was the fact that he believed anyone can change for the better especially if they work hard to change themselves.
So, he agrees. "Of course! I would love to help with their rehab!"
"GingerBrave! Don't word it like that!" Came Wizard's quiet scolding.
"Whoops."
Hollyberry let out a boisterous laugh while the rest of the Ancients gave the younger cookie a fond smile.
Then Clotted Cream took the stand. "As the Consul, I will be supervising the Beasts with the Ancients and the representatives of the Cookie Kingdom. I, with Ser Financier Cookie and Ser Madeleine Cookie, will travel along with them to Sir GingerBrave's kingdom. And if there are no other inquiries, then this meeting is over. Thank you for your time."
Oh dear... "What did I just agree to..?" GingerBrave mumbled to himself.
Chili Pepper pat his back. "Your doom, most probably."
Custard III hummed. "I have a good feeling about it though. And as your king, you need to trust me! Everything will be okay, GingerBrave!"
"Oh... We hope you're right, Thirdy..." Strawberry mumbled.
"Why our kingdom, is my question. There's nothing special about our kingdom to warrant their request." Wizard pondered.
Madeleine, who was sitting right behind them, leaned in. "Is that what you really think, young friends?"
Chili Pepper stood up and stretched. "Pretty sure they're not aware of the talks about it, Mads."
GingerBrave tilted his head in question. "What talks? About what? About our kingdom?"
"Speak knight! This king is not aware of such talks about our kingdom either." Demanded Custard III while pointing his scepter at the knight.
Madeleine only chuckled and ruffled the young king's hair earning a grumble. "Your kingdom is accumulating popularity because of its residents, dear GingerBrave."
GungerBrave tilted his head in question. "Our residents? There's nothing wrong with them though?"
Madeleine only shook his head with a chuckle while Espresso, who was beside him and was listening, decided to speak as well. "It's not that there's something wrong with them, it's just that they are... uhmm... peculiar, is all."
"That is... one way to word it, Professor." Financier, who was also beside Madeleine, spoke.
"I.... still don't understand. Sorry."
Espresso leaned towards the children's seats and spoke frantically. "Dear boy, your residents are either cookies with interdimensional powers, cookies with elemental powers, cookies with connections to that woman, cookies with connections to the Ancients, the Ancients themselves, a few dragons, faeries, deities, famous individuals. And the few normal residents that you have, have their own unique quirks. Like Herb Cookie with his carnivorous plant, Vampire Cookie with his need to sleep on the ground, Werewolf Cookie and his need to be... uhh..."
"Emo?" Madeleine supplied.
"Madeleine, I wouldn't call it like that." Espresso sighed.
"What? He's emo. That's what children nowadays call it, right?"
"Now, now, Ser Madeleine. If you word it like that it'll be obvious to everyone how old you are." Financier said with a teasing smirk.
"Ser Financier! I'll have you know I am still young!"
As the two paladins banter, Espresso turned back to the young cookies. "My point, GingerBrave, is that the other kingdoms that aren't allied with yours, especially the Crème Republic, are threatened by the single fact that your residents can and will, if asked by you, total their lands and territories. And they'd win. Without any effort whatsoever."
"Threatened? But they won't do that! And I won't ask them to do anything like that!"
Financier grounded the young cookie with a firm hand on his shoulder. "We know that GingerBrave. Everyone knows that. But outsiders don't. They don't seem to understand the reason these cookies follow you of their own accord is because you were kind to them. Because the way they ally with others is with deals and propositions laced with poison."
"They don't seem to have thought of the fact that someone as pure and untainted in the laws of politics exists, you mean. This is, after all, a cakehound eat cakehound world." Espresso said.
"Or maybe because they didn't think to assume such a young cookie like you entering their ranks. Maybe even higher than them in that regard." Madeleine added.
GingerBrave pondered before squinting his eyes and shrugging. "I still don't understand but I take it it's a compliment?"
The two paladins and the professor looked at each other with fond amusement. Espresso huffed, Financier shook her head, and Madeleine chuckled out. "Yes, it is."
"Well, I dunno 'bout you guys but I hate hate hate politics! It's frustrating as it's confusing." Chili Pepper spat out. She looked at Gingerbrave seriously. "You better stay clear of all that nonsense, ya' hear me, GingerBrave? That goes for the rest of ya'!" She said, pointing to Wizard, Strawberry and Custard III.
Just then, the Ancients arrived at their seats. Pure Vanilla smiling kindly as always. "She is right, GingerBrave. Politics is, well, complicated."
Dark Cacao scoffed. "That is one way to say it."
The three adults stood straight and greeted. "Greetings, You Majesties!"
Hollyberry waved at them. "Ser Madeleine Cookie, Ser Financier Cookie and Professor Espresso Cookie! Greetings!"
"GingerBrave." White Lily called. "We are sorry to suddenly throw such an important issue your way and without even mentioning it to you beforehand... Truly, we sincerely apologize." She said with a slight bow.
The young cookie shook his head fervently as the rest of the heroes also gave a small bow of apology. "Guys, there's no need for that! It's fine! Sure, I was surprised but I'm always happy to help my friends!" GingerBrave said as he scratched the back of his neck before his boyish grin slowly faded. "But.... I'd assume you'd be... less lenient... with their punishments. After, you know, what they all did to you."
The heroes all looked at each other at what the young cookie said. Clotted Cream who arrived with them and was now carrying Custard III in his arms decided to break the tension even just a little bit. "How about we talk about this while we walk to the docks."
Golden Cheese nodded. "Yes, we should do that."
So, they walked in awkward silence until they reached the big doors.
GingerBrave watched as Clotted Cream and the three other adults entertain Custard III with the stands in the streets. Madeleine simply pointing at anything that had the color blue and showing it to Espresso.
Everything looked at peace. For now... GingerBrave thought solemnly.
"We do not know ourselves, child."
"What?" Was Wizard's immediate response to Dark Cacao.
The stiff king stared into the sunset, his royal garbs fluttering with the wind. Dark Cacao looked at peace, at least on the outside. His hardened eyes, on the other hand, show confliction.
GingerBrave looked at each Ancient before sighing. "It's because of the Souljams, isn't it?" He worded it like a question, yet it was clearly a statement.
Strawberry turned to him with questioning eyes. "The Souljams?"
Golden Cheese let out a resigned laugh. "Observant child. Yes... The Souljams were acting up. It was an annoyance. A flickering dim spot in the way of my radiance."
White Lily nodded in agreement. In the 'acting up' part or 'in the way of my radiance' part, GingerBrave didn't know. Maybe it was both.
"It only ceased when we changed the judgement we agreed upon. It seemed like...like—"
"Like the Souljams itself were against anything bad happening to them..." GingerBrave said, completing the golden queen's statement.
Pure Vanilla hummed.
"I guess I can understand. Maybe. I think." The young cookie mumbled.
"In what way, dear?" Hollyberry asked, her hand, big and warm, on GingerBrave's back.
"The Souljams were originally theirs, right? And it's yours now. Technically, in a way, Shadow Milk and the others, they're your other halves. Whether in a platonic or romantic or maybe even familial way, you understand each other.
"Maybe even love each other..."
GingerBrave's last statement earned him a variety of reactions.
"GingerBrave! That's—!" Wizard exclaimed in shock.
"GingerBrave..." White Lily called out in resignation.
"Boy!" Dark Cacao yelled out in surprised anger.
"Darling, that is— I...." Hollyberry's grip tightened around his shoulder.
GingerBrave felt it hard to get the words he wanted to say out of his mouth. "I-I'm not justifying what they did! I'm not! Just because you may love them or something doesn't mean I—"
"We do not love them!" Was Dark Cacao's hoarse yet loud reply.
Pure Vanilla attempted to calm him down. "Dark Cacao, calm down, please."
Silence permeated their little circle. Dark Cacao panted, his anger still obvious as Pure Vanilla calms him down. Hollyberry stares at the young cookie, pondering. White Lily furrows her eyebrows in thought. Golden Cheese....
"Do we really? Not love them, I mean..."
"Golden Cheese?" Pure Vanilla asked.
"Dearest.." Hollyberry closed her eyes.
Golden Cheese stares at each of her friends with tears threatening to drop from her eyes. "I know.. that they did horrible things to us. Very horrible things. I know that. We all know that. He tore my radiant wings for witches sake. But!" She heaved a breath and bit her lips. Her teary eyes flitted from each resident in the streets. And she inhaled. "But I cannot help but feel.. wrong.. in persecuting him. I want to hate him. And I do! I very much hate him! It just feels.... It feels like my heart—my Souljam.... our Souljams... GingerBrave may be right... Maybe we do and we are just in denial—"
Dark Cacao cut her off with his angered shouts. "Golden Cheese, you've gone mad! How dare you consider for even a moment— she killed my children! She tried to kill me! She tried to kill the entirety of Earthbread!—"
Golden Cheese closed her eyes tightly as she replied in kind. "I KNOW! I know! Every one of us knows that! Every one of us knows the feeling of that! Being hunted by them for something we did not even ask for! Just because of this!" She pointed to the Souljam on her crown. "Dark Cacao, just like what GingerBrave said, I am not justifying what they did. I could never. But whether you like it or not the boy is right about everything. We are just in denial."
The dark king shook his head. "I cannot accept it—"
"I am not asking you, all of you, to accept. I am asking you to understand. Understanding does not equate to acceptance. You can understand them without accepting what they did. I could never ask that of you. And I could never ask that of myself. Not after everything." The radiant queen said in a soft and gentle voice.
Silence.
Silence....
"Silent Salt Cookie was staring at me the whole time earlier."
GingerBrave's words caught the heroes' attention especially White Lily's, cutting the thick tension.
"He was?" She asked softly.
GingerBrave nodded. "It gave off familiarity. But I've never met him before. O-or maybe I did I just don't remember... My memories are still...."
"Then we shall ask him." White Lily said with a firm nod.
Pure Vanilla turned to his longest friend. "White Lily, we know and respect that you do not want to speak of what happened when you ventured out to the Land of Silence but is that really a sound idea?"
White Lily looked thoughtful and smiled at her oldest friend. "I know what you all are thinking. I know for myself that Silent Salt is the most dangerous Beast but he does not touch children. The youth are off limits. And GingerBrave has caught his eyes. I'm sure he will at least entertain the idea of answering his questions."
And before all of them could voice out their opinions, Clotted Cream returned. "Your Majesties, the Beasts have boarded the ships and as per your request — and theirs — the five of them have been separated." Said the Consul.
Pure Vanilla, ever the saint even more than White Lily, smiled. "Thank you, Clotted Cream Cookie."
Clotted Cream bowed with Custard III in his arms. "It is a pleasure to be of service." The child in his arms giggles at the sudden swing making the adult smile. "I bid you all farew—"
"Clotted Cream Cookie! Boy!" Came the Consul's father's shouts coated with barely concealed anger.
Clotted Cream's smile twitched. "On second thought, I'm coming with." And like a child who knows that he did something wrong, the Consul ran. With Custard III still in his arms giggling away.
"Woohoo! Up and away! Go, Uncle, go!" The child screeched.
"Consul! The child is-!" Financier followed with a yell.
"Clotted Cream! Do not drop him!" Was Madeleine's call and warning.
"Ugh! Why am I surrounded by idiots?" Came Espresso's resigned words before following.
The three young adults followed the Consul with looks of panic and exasperation. Pure Vanilla smiled at his friends and the children. "Well, I think that is our cue to get going as well."
"Yeah!" GingerBrave exclaimed.
"Uhhm..." Strawberry hummed.
"Oh brother..." Wizard sighed out.
GingerBrave yelled with childlike mischief. "Last one to the ships has rotten eggs and spoiled milk in their dough!" And then he ran. Like the gremlin he is.
Strawberry fumed, red in the face. "Oh GingerBrave..! N-no fair!"
"This is cheating! You didn't even wait, GingerBrave!" Wizard stomped his foot and staff.
And they all ran to the docks yelling and shouting, garnering the people's fond attention.
The Ancients smiled fondly at them before Pure Vanilla's face turned solemn.
"Chili Pepper Cookie... You have something to say..." A statement not a question.
The redhead scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Damn right I do. And I have a lot to say to all of you. Especially to you, Your Majesty."
"Girl—"
"That reprimanding fatherly tone doesn't work on me, King Dark Cacao Cookie. I don't have parents. And I should be the one reprimanding you. Seriously? Asking for help from a kid? Barely even fifteen— hell! Barely even thirteen!" Chili Pepper yelled in irritation.
"Dear—" Hollyberry tried to say.
"You all give him too much to handle. Just because when you were young you could handle everything that was thrown at you doesn't mean GingerBrave can! He's only one kid. You are taking advantage of the fact that he doesn't know how to say 'no'.
She took a step back. "I thought you didn't want history to repeat itself for the third time? I expected better from the five of you."
Then Chili Pepper left. Left them with her words still hanging in the air.
'...a third time...'
It made them flinch remembering exactly what she meant by those words. A timeline. A moment. It reminded them that for one single second, they all faltered and fell to corruption just like their other halves. That they fell, indulged, and didn't care at all at the consequences of their actions in the face of temptation.