Chapter Text
Once upon a time, there was a noble king, the Hero of Truth. He faced many challenges, including his very own corruption.
However, that corruption was successful. Now, all that's left of the once-noble king is a shell of a cookie – the Truthless Recluse, Void of Obfuscation, working against the 3 remaining kingdoms of Crispia alongside the other corrupted member of the once-five Ancient Heroes: Dark Enchantress Cookie, once the Hero of Freedom and now Void of Control.
How would events unfold if the ever-patient Pure Vanilla Cookie snapped instead of someone else?
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Let us look at how we got here in the first place...
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"We, Cookies, are... made to be EATEN!"
"Let me be your... friend."
"Friend?... CURSE YOU! You know NOTHING, you ARE NOTHING! I HATE YOU! You and your SOUL JAM! I WILL DESTROY YOU!"
"And you... You will live to regret your words. I will make sure of it."
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Pure Vanilla knew why Shadow Milk corrupted. Had known ever since the Spire. But now, after Awakening and gaining a new view upon the world? Now he understood it.
Uncaring, ungrateful cookies. Before, he had deluded himself that they cared, that they were just so desperate for help that they didn't show their care. Now, with his mind clearer from Awakening, he knew not one of them cared about him at all, let alone as much as he did... Everyone, who was actually caring, died when Dark Enchantress stormed the Vanilla Kingdom.
Only his fellow Ancient Heroes cared - but they were so, so ignorant...
Except one...
So he resorted to corruption, not unlike the former Fount. Only this time, the wielder of Knowledge had an old ally to turn to.
However, he still needed to see something for himself. To make sure he wasn't doing things spontaneously.
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"HERE, TRY ONE! YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT!"
"The Witches deceived us... The Cookies... were created to... be eaten! But I was born... and lived... I have my will and consciousness... I can't... accept this fate...!"
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He should've known.
He should've known to look at her memories sooner.
"Have you ever wondered why your body is so CRISPY? So that you can be munched with DELIGHT! Or why your body is coated with sugar? To ensure EVERY. CRUNCHING. BITE. IS. SWEET!"
He should've known Gingerbrave was the one lying, telling Custard III she was.
"What on EARTHBREAD is she saying GingerBrave...? She’s spouting lies and nonsense, right? Right?"
"Urgh...! O-of course she’s lying! Cookies weren’t born in the oven to be snacks!"
He should've known exactly what he was saying, what he was wishing upon others.
"May you remain crispy and fresh in your journeys...!"
He should've known she was right.
"The Witches... Our creators... are... eating... Cookies!"
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A cookie sat on the ground, staring into the Soul Jam in the reflection on his chest.
He, Pure Vanilla, was once a beacon of Truth and Hope for all of cookiekind. He was once a king, radiant and awe-inspiring.
Now, that shine faded, despite his Awakening.
As he came closer to the Light of Knowledge, he was starting to doubt the Truth he and his closest so worshipped and believed in: the Witches baked Cookies to "live and be happy all together", as Hollyberry had once put it...
Where was that faith now? Gone, in memories long past? Or buried within him, not unlike his memories while he was Healer Cookie?
He did not know. And that is what made it even worse.
However, he knew one person who would be willing to help him, if he played his cards right...
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Dark Enchantress took the letter from the familiar blueberry bird on her window. She didn't need to open it to know the sender. She still did.
To Dark Enchantress Cookie,
I'm sure you know who sent this already. I write not to argue, but to ask a single favour. To be able to have one meeting to discuss the Banquet of the Witches. Honestly. Nothing more, nothing less.
With respect and hope for a reply,
An old ally who has learned more about our world than you can guess
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And thus, after few conversations and too many letters to count, an allyship between Dark Enchantress and a "new" threat for the Ancient Heroes, the one who dubbed himself "the Truthless Recluse", was born.