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Gingerbrave, Wizard Cookie, and Strawberry Cookie finally got to Crispia after a long and difficult trip to the continent of Beast Yeast. They're walking through the woods to go back to the cookie kingdom. The air smells fresher and cleaner, the animals are not hostile, the path is safer, and they can finally take the chance to rest after their travels. Gingerbrave takes a deep breath with a smile on his face, then turns to his friends excitedly.
"We're finally back! Well, we will have to go back soon for the war, but... A break is a break, right?" - He says, staying positive and being the anchor his friends need after all of that.
Wizard Cookie rolls his eyes - "I guess it's better than nothing" - he scoffs, but smiles slightly, also relieved to be back home for a moment.
As they finally arrive to the kingdom, the boys keep talking, but Strawberry Cookie stays silent. She looks at them and opens her mouth to say something, but closes it shortly after; Her hand shivers slightly, and she feels the words stuck on her throat. She exhales, knowing she has to say it eventually.
Suddenly, a voice cuts through the silence - "Is something bothering you, Strawberry?" - Wizard Cookie asks, always observant and paying attention to small details. His question makes Gingerbrave stop and look back at them with a head tilt.
"Oh, um... M-maybe...?" - She blushes and takes a step back, rubbing her hands together while looking down at the floor "I mean... I-is not too bad or..."
"You okay?" - Gingerbrave asks, dialing back his usual energy as he catches on to her tone - "C'mon! We're all friends here!"
Strawberry takes a long, deep breath, then looks away while fidgeting with her hands - "Well... I'm... Scared" - she admits - "A war... Is not something to take lightly, you know?"
Wizard Cookie nods after a pause - "I understand... I-I mean, I know a future great Wizard, like me, usually doesn't feel like this, but... I'm kind of scared too" He blushes as he admits it - "Nothing to me ashamed of, of course"
Gingerbrave turns around fully and sighs - "Yeah, I feel that way too... Plus, all we went through with the spire of deceit" - He grins again - "But we can do it! We're strong and brave, and-" He suddenly glances at his two friends, both of them with tired eyes, shaking hands and bruised - "... Guys?"
"Why did we even start doing this? We came here to find a safe place, but now we're putting our lives at risk!?" - Wizard Cookie asks with a hint of frustration in his voice, recalling everything, how they started being on the move ever since they escaped the witches.
Strawberry Cookie looks down at the floor again - "I-I didn't want to say it, because I thought it would be a burden... But I miss our small adventures" She admits and glances at Gingerbrave, her eyes hopeful and tired - "You know? Before the ancient heroes?"
Gingerbrave frowns, then looks at them again. Gingerbrave does remember, and suddenly feels a guilt forming in his chest; he dragged them both into these because he wanted to play hero, and now his friends are tired and scared.
A few minutes pass in silence, the air feeling tense instead of calm now, his gaze keeps drifting away and then going back to Wizard Cookie and Strawberry Cookie, he bites his lip and then finally speaks - "... We'll stop right here"
Wizard Cookie and Strawberry Cookie both stop and look at him with wide eyes, then, after another pause, Wizard Cookie speaks - "You would... Stop everything? After everything we did to help?"
"That doesn't mean anything if you get hurt... You two... Are the most important things to me" - He smiles slightly - "... I'm sure we can work our way around it, maybe travel far enough? I'm sure Pure Vanilla Cookie and the others won't mind"
"Are you sure?" - Strawberry Cookie asks with a worried voice - "I don't want to be the reason you stop, I... This made you happy and-" Gingerbrave places his hand on her shoulder, squeezing a little to ground her.
"I'm sure" - He grins - "Cheer up, yeah? At most, you speaking up helped me realize that it's getting too much for us"
Wizard Cookie tries to hide his blush with his hat - "Y-Yeah... I know that I'm the smart one here, but I admit that... Me keeping quiet while having the same thought was counterproductive" - He turns to Gingerbrave - "So... What now?"
Gingerbrave's grin almost falters before he composes himself. They need him; he can't show how vulnerable he feels now, right? - "We'll figure it out" - He gives him a reassuring smile and puts a hand on his hip - "For now, we gotta tell the others! C'mon guys, let's break the news and bail" - He winces as he looks again at his exhausted friends, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly - "... Or I'll go, you rest"
Gingerbrave pats their shoulders and starts making his way into the vanilla kingdom, Pure Vanilla Cookie will be able to contact the others. As he gets out of sight, he exhales, and some tears start to fall down, but he never stops smiling.
"I'm such a bad friend"