Chapter Text
The war had ended. Dark Enchantress Cookie had finally been defeated after centuries of battles and conflict. For the first time in ages, the sky no longer burned with the corrupted magic of the Cookie that had made them suffer for decades.
Across the land, Cookies celebrated. They wept, laughed, and clung to one another among the ruins.
But beneath the Silver Tree -where its roots spread like ancient veins beneath the earth- there was no joy to be found.
The Beasts stood there instead.
Cornered. Defeated. Weakened.
Yet still breathing.
“We cannot keep them free,” murmured one of the Ancients, who now held the role of the new fairy guardian of the Silver Tree. “If we let them go, everything we have done will have been in vain.”
Not everyone agreed–or rather, only two dared to oppose the decision. To seal the Beasts once more meant condemning them again, forcing history to repeat itself in yet another endless cycle. Doubt lingered, heavy and unspoken.
The magic circle ignited. Ancient runes carved themselves into the air.
Witch magic, thought the Beast of Deceit.
The atmosphere grew suffocating. Even the world itself seemed to hold its breath.
Eternal Sugar, restrained and weakened, slowly lifted her gaze with the hope of seeing Hollyberry one last time. She could only return the look with a hint of pity. What would have happened if Eternal Sugar had accepted the proposal Hollyberry once offered her about happiness? Even so, she could do nothing; it was her word alone against that of the other Ancients.
Mystic Flour, meanwhile, stood unwavering. Whether she would be sealed once more or reduced to flour again mattered little to her now. She prayed only that her precious haetae Cookie was safe, as it was the only thing left that truly mattered. The selfish desires of the Cookies were beyond her power to change.
Who would have thought that the most determined and physically strongest Cookie would be chained by witch magic? Burning Spice, despite his situation, continued struggling against the bindings that held him.
“No matter how much you struggle, big guy, it’s witch magic,” said the winged Ancient.
“When I get out of here, I’ll fight every single one of you until the end of time!”
“Pff,” he scoffed. “As you wish. I can’t believe those will be your last words before being sealed.”
Silent Salt remained with his head lowered, a soldier defeated by the Guardian and Ancient of liberty.
And then there was Shadow Milk.
He raised his gaze toward the Ancients, his eyes lingering on that thieving Cookie in particular. Chained or crumbling, it made no difference. He would never accept the friendship of a soul jam thief.
And to dare steal his staff…
“Do you truly believe this is the end?” His voice dripped with mockery. “You have always been so… useless. All of you. Half-baked Cookies.”
He could not be sealed again.
Those centuries of agony.
That endless torment.
Never again.
“Shadow Milk…” Pure Vanilla stepped closer “Please, One last time, hear me. Think about my proposal. The light of truth and the light of deceit.. we could be together.” He reached out his hand. “Please…”.
That disgusting smile again. That repulsive pity.
Shadow Milk laughed.
It was not a desperate smile.
It was a farewell.
Shadow Milk, bound, with what little strength remained, forced the chains apart- and they shattered, successfully freeing himself.
Well, that magical book he read back when he was a scholar finally proved useful.
He shoved Pure Vanilla aside and took his staff.
The great playwright cast one final spell.
It did not strike.
It did not break.
It did not destroy.
It tore.
Reality fractured like glass under pressure, and instead of being drawn into the Silver Tree, the Beasts vanished without a trace.
Silence fell.
The Ancients stood alone beneath the Silver Tree. Where the Beasts had once been bound, a deep rift scarred the earth.
They did not know where the Beasts had gone.
Nor did they understand what Shadow Milk had truly done.
All they could do was hope—
That wherever they had been cast, they would finally reflect.