Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Hurried footsteps echoed against the farthest reaches of the Pure Cacao Walls. Though one was clearly more labored than the rest, using something to help prop themselves up after how tired they became.
“*Huff* *Huff* Okay…. I think that might be far enough.” Licorice Cookie’s breathing is hard and fairly uneasy. Poison Mushroom Cookie might’ve seen some sweat appear under his armpits, but they weren’t entirely sure.
A loud crash against metal shocked the hooded Cookie into almost standing completely straight. His bright yellow eyes widened in surprise.
“Get back here, you criminals! You won’t escape me!” Caramel Arrow Cookie’s voice hollered out. Shroomified Zombie guards were being felled and thrown about left and right, as she cut through the masses using her curved bow daggers and dexterous strength.
“I don’t believe it!,” Licorice Cookie whined. “We’ve sent hundreds of Shroomified Guards at her and she’s still chasing after us! Just what kind of stuff does this kingdom feed its Watchers? Performance enhancing Jellies?”
“Nevermind her.” The red priestess quickly snapped. “Just make your incantation already and she won’t be a problem anymore. We’ve fooled around long enough.” Poison Mushroom Cookie shook their top-heavy head in agreement.
“Right, right. Keep your underwear on,” The shaggy haired Cookie smooths down the wrinkles in his robe and tries to recompose himself. His skinny, pale fingers flutter and dance in the air in an almost hypnotic fashion, and dark magical energy begins to conjure around his hands. “Prepare to witness the might of Licorice Cookie! Khehehehe!”
He fans out all ten of his fingers to the expansive murky waters below, and the sinister magic sprays out in a massive fan. The Licorice Sea soaks up the magical energy greedily in an instant.
“Wait for it…. this won’t take long at all.” Licorice Cookie crosses his arms smugly.
It was silent for a few minutes, before the sea began to rumble and bubble viciously, even shaking the wall the three are perched upon. Poison Mushroom Cookie tilts their head after seeing something large and slimy peep its head up from the ocean. Blinking pale blue ovals for eyes emerged from the gooey black lump, then a myriad of them started to blink and emerge from the depths. Licorice Cookie starts to cackle loudly from seeing the hundreds and thousands of gooey masses rise up from the Licorice Sea before them.
“MWA HA HA!!!! With a mere flexing of my fingers, I can conjure up an ENTIRE army from water alone!”
“...This is certainly impressive,” Pomegranate Cookie admits. “These numbers are more than enough. Seems that you can be useful sometimes, Licorice Cookie.”
“Woooahh!! You’re amazing Licorice Cookie!” Poison Mushroom Cookie cheers on his ego even further.
“Yes, well, naturally so.” Licorice Cookie had his cheeks slightly rosey with pride, but then stopped himself. “There’s just a sliiiiight stipulation however…. They perish immediately at sunrise.”
“No matter, we have more than enough time and forces to make this kingdom crumble before then,” Pomegranate Cookie’s voice chimes with unrivaled assurance.
“Say that reminds me, where the heck is Dark Choco Cookie? The guy totally ditched us without saying a word back there!” The hooded Cookie stomped the floor with obvious irritation, as the Licorice Sludges began to encircle the three expectantly. “At least Affogato Cookie had the decency to tell us where he’s going beforehand!”
“Yeah, where’s our good ol' friend Dark Choco?” Poison Mushroom Cookie agreed.
“We don’t need him, he’s already done his job. Let’s proceed with the operation as planned.” The red robbed priestess kept a neutral face, now turning to look at the hulking slimes blinking and squirming curiously.
“Well if you say so. You’re the boss.” Licorice Cookie lifted his bone scythe high up into the air, and it began to glow in the same energy he used previously. The magic’s light burns brighter than any of the alight torches on the wall. The sinister glow engulfs the three and shines glaringly on the black oozes. Each and every Licorice Ooze is now staring at the glowing scythe with their pale blue eyes as if it were a radiant beacon.
“Listen up boys! Attack this wall, and every Dark Cacaoian soldier you come across, till there’s nothing left! Crush it to bits!” He waved his scythe rhythmically with each command, then flicked the end to the hallway where Caramel Arrow is with a little flourish. Every Licorice Ooze, including the ones lingering in the sea, followed in that direction mindlessly and already got to work. Their aqueous bodies allowed them to seep through the thin cracks and gaps between the cacao bricks, then softening them up to break the wall apart easily. Big chucks of 99.99% chocolate started falling off and sinking down to the depths below.
“Oh look at them! Destroying so much already in such a short span of time, I’m so proud!!” Licorice Cookie fawned over his slime army with a sparkle in his eyes. Almost like he’s a proud father? Poison Mushroom Cookie is giggling softly to themself from watching the destructive antics of the slimy masses they just ordered. Pomegranate Cookie hides a sly smirk under her sleeve.
“This citadel will soon be ours, with no one to stop us. Not even the Ancients…”
You gasp and nearly stumble off the simple chocolate oak wooden bench when an earth-rattling tremor shakes and echoes the great Cacao brick wall underneath you. Dark Choco Cookie keeps his ground easier, but looks almost as shocked as you are.
“What was that, an earthquake?” You asked, though it’s not like Dark Choco would likely be able to give a real answer.
“It felt too short and localized to be one…” he says quietly, and he scans over the surrounding area closely while squinting his eye. Then he saw it far in the distance, many waving and moving rising figures emerging from the depths. Their faces are relatively Cookie-like, staring with soulless and blank eyes. Each of them are moving slowly but surely toward the Dark Cacao wall in a uniform fashion. He stared at the sight of the sheer massive number of these creatures.
“Oh crap!” You shouted, which actually managed to catch Dark Choco Cookie by surprise. His black and white hair swept around widely when he turned to face you. “Caramel Arrow Cookie! She must be in trouble at this point! Aargh, why am I being such a forgetful klutz!”
The broad swordsman was nearly nudged aside when you quickly scrambled off the wooden bench. You got into a running jog and turned your head around to give him one last parting look.
“Sorry Prince, but I’ve gotta go!” You hollered out at him, getting ready to turn that same corner within the watchtower.
“Halt for just a moment!” Dark Choco Cookie jolted out of the seat with his hand reaching to you. His stern, deep voice made you instantly stop in place and turn to look at him curiously.
It was oddly quiet for a moment as you awaited for what he wanted to tell you. Dark Choco looks… nervous? You raised one of your eyebrows at him.
“Yes?” You asked. His lips moved a little, but with no sound coming from them.
“Do you remember those accursed guards Affogato Cookie delivered?” You’d rather forget, in all honesty. The grotesque and “Surely more will oppose you on your way. My allies- The Cookies of Darkness will utilize the other reinforcements they summoned. You’ll need someone to help protect you.”
Your eyes widened at his suggestion. Surely he doesn’t mean?
“I’d like to assist your cause with Caramel Arrow Cookie. I no longer wish to see this kingdom meet its end so soon.”
A little blush adorns your cheek from sheer merriment. Your eyes sparkle with a brimming light that Dark Choco Cookie can easily notice. You weren’t expecting him at all to say such a thing so soon, but it brightened your night nevertheless.
“Yes, of course!” You happily and readily agree. A little smile appears on the taller Cookie’s face.
“We need to hurry though, I bet those crooks have already started to cause more trouble.”
Dark Choco nods in silent agreement. He moves his broadsword back into its wide sheath attached to his hip. You’re already running down the left hallway before him, but he manages to catch up quickly to your surprise.
For someone who looks big and heavy with all of that armor, they can be shockingly agile. Or maybe you’re just not a very fast runner? You blame your bulky mage boots for the lack of needed speed.
The wind howls against the deathly-still dark night, now picking up fervor. Torn silver and beige banners fly wildly with the night’s storm. A large globule of Licorice Ooze collides with a window archway of one wall and causes it to come crumbling down. The Dark Cacao Kingdom beside it wrinkles and crumbles underneath the Cacao rubble, and gets drenched in the black waters of the Licorice Sea.
Caramel Arrow Cookie grunts after having one of her strikes deflected by a Shroomified Spear Guard. She’s outnumbered 5 to 1, with even more zombied Cookies in the back, and nearly keeling over from the wounds and cracks in her dough. Foul-reeking drool splashes onto the Cacao bricks near her shoes and starts disintegrating through the bitter foundation. It makes her scrunch up her nose in disgust.
She’s forced to back up from the mindless masses, and is too tired out from fighting so many guards that were sent her way. Caramel Arrow’s breathing is heavy, and starts to get faster once she notices some new forces arrive. Licorice Oozes slide in through the ruined windows and amass from the floors near the Shroomified Guards. They even slowly slide over all the motionless bodies of zombified guards Caramel Arrow Cookie took out. In only a matter of seconds, the Watcher finds herself nearly completely surrounded by more enemies.
“*Huff*…. Is there no end to them?” She heaves. Her broad shoulders are slacking and her bow is almost about to fall out of her grip. Even more black sludges dribbled down, or splatted their way into view. Caramel Arrow can hear cracks and resounding crumbles from the wall which made her more worried.
One spore-faced guard readied their spear up to shoulder length. A saggy, yellow and brown tongue was hanging out of their mouth and practically dripping with smelly saliva. There wasn’t even any icing left in the guard’s eyes, only bulbous purple mushrooms.
…
The spear was chopped cleanly in two before it stabbed her. Caramel Arrow gasped and nearly felt her heart jump out of her chest.
A large cloaked Cookie with a silver broadsword and a gleaming white gem had suddenly appeared right in front of her. The beige cloak was still flowing on the right before settling down.
“P-prince?” The woman couldn’t help but utter out his old moniker. Though she still wasn’t completely used to his new kind of presence, and stepped back a few steps in fear. Dark Choco Cookie paid no heed to her, and instead glared at the swarming army of mind controlled Dark Cacao guards and Licorice Oozes.
“Caramel Arrow! Are you hurt badly?” She was surprised a second time. The watcher internally lightly scolds herself for feeling that way once she recognized who it was.
You had dashed to Caramel Arrow Cookie’s left side, gaping at her cracks and badly beaten condition. With cautious hands, you lightly pull her frame closer to you to not make contact, but to create a protective hold. She didn’t seem to mind.
“Ah, Stranger…” A sharp hiss that came from her alarmed you. You were worried that one of your hands had pressed against a wounded area, but she was quick to shake her head and reassure you. “I’m not hurt too bad, but you took a little while to get here huh?”
You knew that she was trying to hide the pain that she’s in, and a large part of you feels immensely guilty for being responsible. But you still couldn’t quite understand why she tries to play it off.
“I can tell you’re hurt pretty bad, Caramel Arrow,” you started. “You don’t have to hide it…. and I’m sorry. I should’ve come sooner.”
The woman purses her lips, not saying anything in response.
“However, I was able to bring someone along with me.” You stared at Dark Choco Cookie’s back, as he readied his sword. The monsters weren’t stopping their pursuit for you and the two other Cookies, inching forward slowly as one.
Dark Choco studied the surrounding forces carefully with his crimson eye, then in a flash an entire line of them were cleaved through the middle. One by one, he cut down each Zombified Guard and Licorice Ooze that stood in the way. Just one slice from his blade was enough to send the monsters to their graves.
A zombie on the sideline decides to make a desperate assault on the man, leaping up in the air and swinging their spear down on him in one strong, fluid motion. However, Dark Choco Cookie’s reflexes are as sharp as his blade, and he nimbly dodged the clumsy strike. The Shroomified Guard staggered, and was cut down to the ground by the prince.
The tide of battle has been easily turned over into Caramel Arrow’s favor in just a few moments. Dark Choco Cookie seemed to almost know exactly how the guards and slimes would behave, only taking a few stray strikes that he merely shrugged off. Meanwhile a huge array of felled guards were left in his wake and puddles of defeated Licorice Oozes.
“Caramel Arrow,” you quietly remind her. She snaps her out of captivated stupor and turns her head to look at you. “I’m going to try to use my magic to heal you this time. Can you try to hold still?” The woman seems a bit shocked by your forwardness, but eases up.
She shuffles the light robes to reveal the cracks in her skin, some seeping with an unmistakable red substance. A guttural groan from a zombie echoed in the watchtower as Dark Choco Cookie continued to slowly fend off the horde of monsters. You kept your focus on the Watcher despite the numerous distractions.
You closed your eyes and raised a gloved palm over her crack wounds. The thoughts in your head slowly start to vanish into thin air. No stress, pain, or delight remains to interrupt. Slowly, you can sense a type of energy arising from her body that you can’t quite describe with any of your senses. But you can with words.
Staunch servitude to a kingdom, even when wronged. Strong and toughened by rigorous training. Yet still holding a soft kindness for others and readiness to make friends.
A slow sigh breaths out from your nostrils as you take in everything, and you feel something resonate brightly within you.
……
……
“Oh!” Caramel Arrow says in complete shock. She stares at the ethereal white glow resonating from your palms and into the cracks in her dough. The wounds begin to close up and mend themselves just as if they had never existed. Even the threads and fabrics of her icing uniform are beginning to patch themself up from your glowing magic.
You still kept your eyes closed, not wanting to lose this feeling you’ve managed to capture. But still careful to not strain your mind too much.
“It’s working!” She cheered you on. The energy you’re sensing from Caramel Arrow changes drastically, making you open your eyes and remove your hand. The faint white glow from your glove subsides, and the Watcher now looks much more joyous and lively. She grins at your handiwork and easily stands up away from your reassuring hold.
“Your healing magic really did work this time! I feel right as rain!” She looks over the rest of her clothing just to make sure, and to her delight no other wounds or tears are visible. Her smile somehow gets even brighter and she comes in closer to playfully pat your shoulder. “See? I knew you could do it! You’ve got real talent as a healer, I’m sure.”
A hard to notice blush forms on your cheeks and your eyes glance away from her. It feels a little odd to be suddenly praised highly. You chuckled at her enthusiasm, “I-it’s no big deal, really!”
“Nonsense! I would’ve been a goner if it weren’t for you. And the Prince of course,” Caramel arrow confidently brags. Her smile turns into blazing confidence, then she looks back at Dark Choco still fighting amongst the monsters.
“Hey Dark Choco Cookie! Need some help?” She already has a magic dark arrow drawn with her bow. You didn’t even see her take back her bow. How is she so fast?!
The purple bolt flew straight through the air, puncturing right between the eye-cings of a guard that was getting a bit too comfortably close to the prince. They nearly instantly fell against the Cacao bricks on their back. Dark Choco was shocked by the shot that came out of nowhere, after all the arrow could’ve easily pierced through the back of his head.
He leaned over to see Caramel Arrow rushing to join the fray, already holding three bolts in one hand perfectly aligned up with her bow. The large swordsman followed her idea and bent his knees. Delicately light footsteps mounted on his large half-cookie pauldrons and leaped off to use as a platform. Her long hair whips back to make a great sweeping moon with the elegant backflip.
Caramel Arrow releases the bolts concentrated with great amounts of energy down the writing mob. Three bursts of purple energy erupt at the feet of the monsters, completely vaporizing them or sending them flying out the window.
She lands on her feet quietly with her knees bent with her fall. You stared blankly at the incredible display of power, and how quickly that bunch of slimes and guards were wiped out. Perhaps Caramel Arrow’s fighting spirit happened to also be rejuvenated.
Both the Watcher and the Prince continued to fight onwards, and you stuck close to the Dark Cacaoians. With their combined forces, the monsters could barely keep up and could hardly stand a chance.
Licorice Oozes and Mushroom-faced guards were being splattered across the floors and crumbled into tiny crumbs respectively. Black slime and nasty yellow fluids were flying everywhere from the two’s coupled efforts. You did your best to avoid getting your robes or boots splashed by the somewhat odiferous liquids.
A mighty double door stands at the far end of this part of the wall. It lies inside a tall structure not unlike a Watchtower but likely designed for a different purpose. The three of you are slowly making your way closer to it from cutting through the Cookie of Darkness’ army, well it was mostly Caramel Arrow and Dark Choco.
A sharp grunt caught your attention. Some brazen Licorice Ooze had landed a swipe attack at Dark Choco Cookie, making a crack in his armour. He swiftly struck the creature's noggin using the pommel of his sword. The sludgeling fiercely jiggled back and forth before finally hitting the floor and bursting into a puddle of black water. Luckily, the swordsman didn’t seem to be hurt that much, but he appeared to be limping a bit with the arm that got hit.
It’s your time to shine. You quickly shuffled closer to Dark Choco and brandished a hopefully-healing-hand out toward him. He noticed your movements in his peripheral, then raised an eyebrow at you in confusion.
“Here… let me help Dark Choco,” you explained. “I might be able to use healing magic”
He made a large sweeping slice in front of him to mow down a line of guards and slimes. This created a window of opportunity, and he stopped himself to allow you to get closer. You tried to recreate the same mind set you had with Caramel Arrow Cookie. Tuning out all other noises and distractions, you attempted to clear your mind and hone in on the flow of energy once more.
In darkness, it can clearly be seen. Mystifyingly illustrious lavender light is resonating from Dark Choco’s body. As if by natural instinct, you opened yourself to that aura. The flow of magical energy passed from you to him in a steady stream.
Dark Choco Cookie seemed surprised by your capability to mend the crack in his dough in armour, as though you just performed a miracle. He gave you an appreciative nod and quickly turned back to help out Caramel Arrow Cookie.
Swing, snipe, bash, and cleave. The once massive hoard of monsters had been successfully vanquished by the two combat distinguished Cookies - and you helped of course! Crumbling bodies of once loyal Cacaoian Guards littered the high and mighty wall, with splatters and thick puddles of Licorice Slime spread widely as well. Though the wall still remains standing proudly against the Licorice Sea, it has no doubt endured heavy damage. Large chunks and bits of Cacao bricks and Syrup congealers have been broken off or dissolved away by the Oozes during the battle.
The prince gruffed, then swung his sword in a circle before stabbing it firmly into the floor. There’s a deep frown on his face as he glanced back at the newly pure white gem that replaced the Strawberry Jam. His slightly sour face concerned you, and you looked up at him worriedly. If his eyebrows scrunch up anymore, they might just fall off.
“...It seems as though I’m not as strong as I used to be,” he bemoans roughly. The hilt in his sword got clenched tighter between his gauntlet. Your concerned stare turned into confusion at this, and even Caramel Arrow Cookie joined in with the same feeling.
“What do you mean? You and Caramel Arrow wiped out that whole horde like it was nothing,” you pointed out, and the watcher nodded.
“At my full strength, they would’ve been decimated in a matter of seconds. Seems as though I cannot use some of my old powers now…” He looks toward the ground wistfully, not willing to look at you dead in the eyes.
“But that’s not important right now, we need to keep pushing forward.” Dark Choco was quick to brush this fact under the rug, which made you more curious about the prince.
“So where should we be headed next?” Caramel Arrow Cookie asks.
“The Throne Room. At this point, Affogato Cookie must have assumed the role as King from the power vacuum. Believe me, it doesn’t take long for diplomatic matters to quickly reach word of mouth. The other Cookies of Darkness will be there as well, according to the plan.” Dark Choco spoke every word as if he had this memorized.
“Yes, all thanks to you,” Caramel Arrow Cookie quickly remarked. You even flinched at her knife-sharp tone, and looked back to see her scowling. The tension in the air quickly rose to an uncomfortable level.
But Dark Choco didn’t respond to her with any kind of wit, or with anything at all. He seemed to accept the blow on the chin, his intensely neutral face didn’t move a single inch.
“Hey… we shouldn’t try to fight, okay?” You tried to reason. You patted Caramel Arrow Cookie on her arm, but she just shrugged off your touch.
“My king was just murdered,” her words came out freezing cold. You backed off, shrinking away like a scared little mouse. Seeing your expression, Caramel Arrow’s face seemed to soften up. “But… he’s right. We have something more important to take care of first.”
The two stared idly at the monumental wooden door to the Citadel’s inner chambers. You wondered to yourself how these Cacaoians managed to construct a functional door this big, it’s probably about 7 times taller than you. Splatters of Licorice ooze stained the wood in its deeply black color. Two perfectly circular metal door knockers lie perfectly still and gleam against the torchlights.
Caramel Arrow and Dark Choco both reach for a knob at the same time and grip them tightly.
A resounding slurp bounces off the royal chambers of the Dark Cacao Kingdom throne room. Affogato Cookie hastily scribbles down all the different suggestions made by Licorice Cookie and Poison Mushroom Cookie using an ostentatiously plumed quill and ink. Sounds of feasting and guzzling merrily filled the lively air.
“Oh wait! I’ve got a good one! Licorice Candies should be mandatory for all citizens to eat every Thursday!” Licorice Cookie snickered mischeviously.
“You mean black licorice?” Affogato Cookie asked.
“Yes, of course! The only correct form of licorice.”
“Ugh, I can’t stand the taste of them. Oh well, it’s not like I’m going to be the one forced to eat those, hahaha!” The lavishly clothed cookie cackles in pure delight. Poison Mushroom Cookie grabs a skewer of Rainbow Jellybeans and bites several off to eat. Pomegranate Cookie is completely unamused by all of this.
Meanwhile, the pious disciples of Affogato Cookies are happily enjoying the quickly prepared feast of sweets and other saccharine indulgences. Pentuple sugar brewed coffee, imported Tres Leces ice cream, and 24 flavour variety donuts from the Vanilla Kingdom.
“This coffee brew is so sweet, it might make my teeth fall out! It’s incredible!” One feminine disciple spoke up to her friends. They nodded in agreement, having their cheeks stuffed fully with the Strawberry shortcake in front of them. The various desserts are being passed and shared around equally, as everyone is eager to try them all. It’s like they’ve never tasted the flavor of sweetness before in their lives.
As the luxurious feast went on with plenty of obnoxiously loud eating sounds cluttering the room, Pomegranate Cookie went to lean over Affogato Cookie’s shoulder. The man flinched at her sudden appearance.
“Witches! Don’t scare me like that! You could’ve given me a heart attack.”
“Given those sugar infested drinks don’t give you one first.”
“Hah, hah.... very funny. I know how to pace my eating, so you don’t need to fret over me.”
“Be sure to write down a new law to accept any and all forces from Dark Enchantress Cookie. For quartering or whatever else is necessary.” She folded her hands between her sleeves. Affogato tapped the end of his quill against the bottom of the inkwell.
“Of course, I was just about to get to that.” He makes graceful and delicate marks with his pen, writing out Pomegranate Cookie’s desired amendments to the Dark Cacao Kingdom law. There’s a small, and incredibly subtle, smirk on her face when he makes the finishing touches to the last sentence. Even the new King himself grows a smug look on his face.
“No more having to eat bitter cocoa nibs, no more maintaining that idiotic wall, and no more Dark Cacao Cookie. My dream is finally coming true! This kingdom will enjoy an endless age of sweetness and splendor under my new rule. And many thanks to you three as well.” A delighted blush adorns Affogato Cookie’s cheeks as he scans over the laundry list of new changes he and the Cookies of Darkness are planning to establish in the Dark Cacao Kingdom. “]I suppose the little traitor Prince did chip in, but it seems like he doesn’t want to join us in the celebration!” Licorice Cookie snickered at his last comment, with a smidge of buttercream left on the corner of his lip.
Poison Mushroom Cookie perked up, with their beady purple eyes almost bulging out. As Affogato Cookie was about to put his quill back in its holder and take away the parchment, he interrupted him by putting one of their darkly doughed hands on the paper.
“Don’t forget Shroomies! We need to let Shroomies be everywhere in the kingdom!...,” they drawled out. Affogato gave the mushroom-headed a quaint smile and patted their head. They seemed to respond well to the admittedly condescending treatment.
“There will be plenty of time for that later, don’t worry your little spore-infested head.” He then moves his perfectly gloved hands to pick up some chocolate coated spheres and put them on a plate. “Why don’t you have a couple more chocolate bon-bons? There’s plenty to go around!”
Just as Affogato Cookie was about to hand him the small ceramic plate, the doors to the Throne Room bursted open very loudly and suddenly. The new King nearly dropped the plate onto the floor, and otherwise would have gotten broken pieces of flour stone and chocolate everywhere.
“Your eminence! Hah-...” The lengthily robed cookie is out of breath, heaving and gasping for air as they lean against the doorframe for support. “The Wall is being destroyed! There’s these slime monsters everywhere!”
Affogato Cookie’s left eye twitched. He was tempted to hurl out a colorful range of insults at the intruding Cookie. “Yes, I am well aware of that. As the new King, I will be establishing a new degree to stop all upkeep on the Wall. You mustn’t worry about it.”
“O-oh…” The robed disciple was stunned by Affogato Cookie’s blasé dismissal of a huge crisis. The sugar ornament headpiece behind their head tilted and nearly fell off. “Well then, I have another piece of bad news! There’s intruders in the Citadel that are headed straight for the Throne Room!” Each word came out more tired than the last.
This time, Affogato Cookie showed more concern, though he still glared at the assistant angrily with his eyebrows pinched close together. “Molassass-headed rats! Get rid of them at once! I will not have my order disturbed!” He hollered at the disciple. They quickly bowed and excused themself before shutting the door. It was uncomfortably silent for a moment as all the other higher-disciples looked at each other concerned.
Affogato Cookie sighed deeply. “It’s alright everyone, resume the festivities. This won’t be an issue for very long.” He waved his hand in the air, and everyone hesitantly got back into enjoying the desserts and talking amongst themselves.
“Hmmph, I’ve gotta say. Those two are better than I thought if they managed to make it over here.” Licorice Cookie rolled a ball of taffy around his plate using a toothpick. “If it actually is them or not.”
“....Impossible. Don’t you remember how many guards and Licorice Oozes we deployed at them? No ordinary Cookie can defeat all of those monsters at once. Those two peons wouldn’t have stood a chance.” Pomegranate Cookie says, her eyes darkening.
“I was just putting it out there. I don’t think they did either…” Licorice Cookie grumbles. Poison Mushroom Cookie finally takes the plate of chocolate bon bons and pops one into their mouth. Their dopey smile widens as they taste the sweet delight on their tongue.
Affogato Cookie clicks his tongue. “Don’t sour your mind on bitter thoughts. Let’s continue making our new changes, shall we?” He grasped the stack of slightly yellowed parchments between his hands and tapped the bottom several times against the hard Dark Cacao Oak desk to straighten it. Licorice Cookie rolled his eyes and leaned over the table to fill up his empty cup with more of the coffee drink. He sauntered off and stood near Affogato Cookie and Pomegranate Cookie while looking at the new king write down more future laws for his people to obey.
He gave Pomegranate a side glance for just a second, but that was apparently more than enough time for her to notice and glare right back at him. Licorice Cookie quickly averted his eyes bashfully at getting caught. To recover, the hooded Cookie took a big swig of the steaming beverage in his hand.
“You know, I was never much of a coffee loving Cookie before,” he admits. Licorice Cookie holds the intricately designed glass between his fingers and swirls the light brown mixture around in the container. “But one drink of these could get anyone hooked on it! Say, how much did it cost to get all of these sweets arranged? It must have been a fortune I bet.”
“Ha ha! To any other backwater kingdom, perhaps.” Affogato Cookie laughed out loud, then moved away from his desk to look around the room more. The other Cookies of Darkness watched him curiously. “Our treasuries have enough spare coins to easily afford a grand feast such as this.”
He rummages through a drawer with keen eyes. They brighten up once he stops and locates an item in particular.
“Here we are! The official ‘Dark Cacaoian Stamp of Approval’. Once I mark those papers with an ink imprint from this, all those laws will officially be a part of the Dark Cacao Kingdom legislature.” It’s a circular stamp with the symbol of the two dragons surrounding a symmetrically shaped diamond.
“That’s far enough Affogato Cookie,”
The Cookie in question dropped the stamp in pure shock.
“I-i-it can’t be…!” The man is shivering uncontrollably, with his eyes blown wide open. Licorice Cookie’s jaw has dropped at the same time. “D-dark Cacao Cookie?”
Thunderously heavy footsteps, followed by lighter ones, boomed through the Throne Room. Affogato Cookie’s sugar-stuffed servants all stopped eating and stared at the new figure in pure astonishment.
“T-this is impossible! You should’ve crumbled after that fall!” Licorice Cookie stammers. His pale fingers are starting to get shaky and clammy.
“Explain yourself, freak of nature!” Pomegranate Cookie demands. Her ruby red eyes intensified into a scornful glare at the true King.
“What’d you just call him?” The other new cookie beside Dark Cacao very aggressively remarked with a deep voice. He had balled a fist at her and returned her glare with double the anger. “You better get ready to eat those words!”
The king however put one of his large gloved hands on his fist and gently pushed it down. The aggressive Cookie looked at him confused.
“Not yet Crunchy Chip Cookie,” Dark Cacao Cookie placated him. He turned to the Cookies of Darkness with a look that could crumble. “Now - any of you villains - tell me why you all have besieged my kingdom, and attempted to crumble me! Lest I lay waste to all of you using my Soul Jam this instant.”
All four of them turned their attention to the new sword armed in the King’s mighty hand. The radiant deep purple glow from the diamond shaped gemstone is unlike anything Affogato Cookie and the others have seen before.
Affogato Cookie unintentionally made a very audible gulping sound. “A-ah, your-r liege! This is all a huge misunderstanding. We were expecting your imminent return, truly. I-in fact, we prepared this grand feast all just for you! Come, take a seat right-”
“Enough lies Affogato Cookie. I know what’s really happening here.” Dark Cacao Cookie’s words cut through like a newly polished blade. The lavishly dressed cookie flinched harshly, and immediately shut up. “I’ve been watching from the beginning, from when you and your new ‘allies’ have been planning to write in some idiotic new rules.”
“You’re a lousy, two-faced, backstabbing, little weasel Affogato Cookie!” Crunchy Chip Cookie pointed his razor sharp sugar-steel claws at him accusingly. “Betraying your own kingdom to the Cookies of Darkness so you can stuff your face with sweets all day? How pathetic!!!”
“Uaaahh!! Mmm…” Poison Mushroom Cookie dropped all the sweets on his plate from Crunchy Chip’s bold tone. He shrunk away to huddle near Licorice Cookie who looked at him confused.
“Errr…. Well I!- Umm….” Affogato Cookie is struggling to find his sense of eloquence in front of the King. The room had gone uncomfortably silent enough for him to hear his servants’ mutterings, many of which were already backing their way to the front door.
“No explanation? Very well, I will not hesitate to crumble you here right now!” The large King brandished his claymore, infused with the Soul Jam that is now starting to glow a brighter color. Affogato Cookie and Licorice Cookie both yelped like surprised Cake Hounds.
“Hmmph, you would’ve done so even if he had one,” Pomegranate cookie huffed, unimpressed. She crosses her arms almost impatiently.
“Then I bet you know what’s gonna happen next!” Crunchy Chip Cookie’s fur lined coat flailed in the air behind him as he suddenly jumped right in front of Pomegranate Cookie. He snarls his sharp pearly white teeth at her, and stands combat-ready with his King.
“UUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!”
All of their heads turn to look at the Throne Room’s entrance. An earth-shaking explosion alarms the group of worried disciples into a panic, and it worsens when the unconscious body of a fellow coworker flies by the open entrance. A massive crashing sound against wood follows, which frightens the poor disciples even further.
“Yeeesh! As if it can’t get any worse!” Licorice Cookie whines, clutching his scythe tighter. Poison Mushroom Cookie went to hide behind him further. Pomegranate squinted at whatever commotion is going on over there.
It didn’t take long at all for the culprits to reveal themselves. One broad-shouldered figure made his way through the door, and then the other two followed closely behind. Dark Cacao Cookie’s eyes widened and wavered. Even the rather serious warrior beside him was in shock too.
“Dark Choco Cookie!” Affogato Cookie scolded, feeling his confidence come back to him. “It’s about time you showed up again. Your job here isn’t quite finished yet! Finish off this resilient codger, will you?” He beckoned the ex-prince closer with one of his hands.
The swordsman however stood perfectly still right next to you and wouldn’t move an inch closer to him. There’s a small frown settled on his face as he stared at Affogato Cookie with a half-lidded eye.
“...Do it yourself,” he spoke brusquely.
“Wh-what? Why not?!” Affogato went into a panic once again, having moved one arm to clutch around his chest.
“Eugh… Don’t tell me Cockroach Cookie has won your heart over?” Affogato Cookie snarked. “What do they even have to offer you?”
“That’s none of your concern,” Dark Choco Cookie replied. Licorice and Affogato started fussing at him, while Pomegranate kept a heated glare at the whole situation.
“Cockroach Cookie?...” The warrior Cookie beside Dark Cacao Cookie questioned. Dark Cacao Cookie has a thick eyebrow raised. “Who the heck would name their baby dough that?”
The Watcher beside you momentarily trails their gaze away from the argument between Dark Choco Cookie and the Cookies of Darkness and notices her old King standing alive and well.
“Your majesty!” Caramel Arrow Cookie’s strong voice ringed with glee. You blinked once and already saw her halfway up the stairs to the Throne.
“He’s still alive?!” Your jaw dropped seeing the bulky old king standing in relatively pristine condition. As if falling probably a hundred feet into a river has done essentially nothing at all to him. You and Dark Choco rushed over to follow Caramel Arrow Cookie to the King.
Affogato Cookie’s disciples are all shivering to each other as they recognize the familiar exiled Prince walk past them. In a slim opportunity, the sheepish Cookies fled the Throne Room covertly
“Woah, you’re here too Caramel Arrow Cookie? I thought you were banished?” The spiky white-haired cookie with dark tips scratched the back of his head.
“...It’s a long story to say the least Crunchy Chip Cookie.” Caramel Arrow gripped her forearms unassuredly. “We can discuss it later.”
Crunchy Chip nodded his head. “Yea, of course. Wait- is that the Prince?!?”
As you, Dark Choco Cookie, and Caramel Arrow Cookie stood before Dark Cacao Cookie, you can feel the heavy and unnerving tension begin to rise in the air. You already were starting to feel nervous and uncomfortable, and you nearly felt your skin jump when the King looked at you for a moment.
“Dark Choco Cookie…..” The old man started, his voice deep and rough just like his son. “Have you been affiliated with these miscreants the entire time?” The gem on his sword glows a bit brighter at his words, which grabs your attention.
“I….” Dark Choco seemed hesitant to answer, but soon relented. “Yes, I have Father. I won’t lie to you.”
“Wait, I still need to know,” you spoke up, though with a little warble in your voice. Dark Cacao Cookie turned his head to look down at you. “How in the world did you survive a fall from that height? Literally anyone else would’ve shattered into pieces after that.”
“It was thanks to me!” Crunchy Chip Cookie stepped forward right up to you with his hands on his hips proudly. Despite the fact that he’s clearly trying to stand straight, you're still taller than him. His spiky hair and rugged outfit set him apart from the two other three Dark Cacaoians you’ve spent more of your time with. Though in terms of a uniform base, he’s not too different from Caramel Arrow with a simple martial arts robe. He has a black and white shawl in a striking tiger pattern lined with fluffy fur however.
“I saw the king’s unconscious body in the river while I was out on a patrol. Thank the witches I decided to not take the shortcut back to the Kingdom that night! He was pretty cracked, but I managed to mend his wounds with the supplies I had,” the shorter man proudly declared.
“Witches?” You thought while your eyebrows furrowed together. Like Eira and Forset? Was he referencing people like them?
“What a relief everything worked out in the end…” Caramel Arrow Cookie sighs.
“Everything? Are we going to ignore this brat’s attempted murder? And you have the audacity to appear right before me again to finish me off?” The king’s cold, harsh words send a chill through everyone, but they’re admittedly true. You can even feel yourself quaking in your boots.
“Father, please wait!” Dark Choco Cookie is quick to respond. He holds an open palm out to his clearly angered father. “Allow me to explain myself! This Cookie here, they’ve helped me-”
“Don’t you dare call me your father!” Dark Cacao Cookie snarls at his son. Dark Choco Cookie visibly flinches with shock. Your shivering worsens as it looks like the King is growing more furious by the second. How can someone exude an aura so powerful? “After today, I have finally seen what your true colors are…a lowly, backstabbing traitor that would turn against his own Kingdom and family! I should’ve crumbled you on the same day you attempted to assassinate me the first time, and now I have to pay for my softheartedness. This kingdom will never honor your name after I’m through with you!”
The king swings his heavy sword around to wield it with two hands in front of him. The edge of the blade is pointed directly at Dark Choco Cookie.
“I don’t need your worthless honor!” The dark Prince brandishes his greatsword in a flash. He nearly clashes it against his father’s weapon with an angry grimace.
It’s getting incredibly heated between the two, and you anticipate something terrible happening if nothing is done. With a sudden rush of courage, you put yourself between the two swords and hold your hands out to the two angry Cacaoians.
“W-woah, hold on you two! Let’s talk it out later!” You blurt out quickly. “There’s something else we should be taking care of-”
“Stay out of this stranger!” Dark Cacao Cookie hollers.
A huge palm slaps against your midsection, it’s probably about the size of your entire face. You feel an incredibly strong force shove you away from the two quarreling Cookies and the air being forced out of your lungs. Your body is sent flying through the air by the King’s powerful shove, and in a quick second your back collides with a wall.
It hurts like a stinging fire across almost your entire body. You heard the nauseating sound of something cracking, not your spine but something else. The dough that makes the skin on your back has ruptured.
“Ahh!!” Caramel Arrow Cookie shrieks, running over to your crumpled form. Even Crunchy Chip Cookie is staring at you in complete surprise. The pain is momentarily paralyzing you from moving and you couldn’t feel like lifting your head. Dark Choco Cookie’s eye widened at you.
“Hey, don’t hurt them! They did nothing to you!” He turned to look back at his father with an even angrier look.
“You’ll be taking tenfold the punishment after I-”
Dark Cacao’s words halted, as a massive wall of crimson magic engulfed his entire body.
Dark Cacao Cookie’s uneasy violet eyes gazed into the darkness. A bulking figure - whose great height nearly matched his own - hidden in a dark beige cloak stood right before him. One gleaming ruby eye shines brightly.
“It can’t be… Dark Choco Cookie?,” the king stutters. And it wasn't just from the cold. Something all too dreadfully familiar rekindled a bitter memory within him. “Do my eyes deceive me?”
“Perhaps your old age is starting to take a toll on your vision.” The imposing figure walks forward to unsheath themself from the dark, which has the King walking back. Dark Cacao Cookie grits his teeth, like a lion staring down its prey.
“For what forsaken reason have you come back here, boy?” He demanded. The dark king changed his stance to now lean forward, his posture ready to draw his massive sword. “Are you here to ask for my forgiveness?”
“You’re a fool to think I’d stoop so low.” Dark Choco Cookie challenges the other’s posture by walking closer at an almost arm’s length, and stands equally imposing. “I’m here for your Soul Jam,” he states simply. The king’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I’ve led an entire army of Dark Enchantress' forces here to this kingdom. Cooperate with me, and they won’t burn this citadel to the ground.”
Dark Cacao’s face morphs with unbridled fury. “You…. you dare threaten me like this? And you have the audacity to utter that wench’s name?” His hands clench, the veins filled with boiling hot jam nearly pop out. “How do you not hold any shame?! You have never deserved the title of Prince, and you’ll never be my son!”
“And you’re not the just king you make yourself out to be! Take a look around you, and see how pathetic this kingdom has become thanks to you. Day by day, the citadel and its people crumble away from your incompetence. It’s time we purge this blight and start anew, through the flames of war!” Dark Choco declared. His deep voice pierces through Dark Cacao Cookie.
That was the final straw. The prince’s father gives him a scornful look and quickly draws his great jagged sword at him.
“Watch your words, Dark Choco Cookie, for they may be your last! HYAAH!!!”
A flash of silver cut across the air, but the sword blow had been parried in an instant by a silver broadsword encrusted with a dreary red gem at its hilt. The Dark Prince had anticipated a reaction like this from the very beginning, and he too had his hand close to the scabbard hidden under his cloak. His blade clashed against the larger jagged broadsword in a bone-shaking reverberation.
“I see that you do not wish to not resolve this peacefully. Very well, I will take your Soul Jam by force with my own two hands!” The has-been prince quickly follows up with a rapid stab straight at the king. When dodged, he cleaved all around him in one large swing.
The king hadn't expected such quick reflexes from his son, and was cut down by the attack.
“Arrgh!” He groaned, clutching his middle. He felt a gash made through his triple-reinforced gateau armour. Where no other sword has managed to make a dent in it before. The king quickly subdued the painful instincts and snarled back at Dark Choco, before combing back swinging his own blade.
Each clash and rupture of cookie steel shook the whole world for the two. The blades hit each other so quickly in such a manner, that bright yellow sparks were flying out from them. Cold, blistering winter winds raged on intensely and started to rustle the two’s capes.
Dark Choco nimbly sidestepped a massive overhead swing that was aiming right for his icing covered cranium. The enormous blade dug straight into the brick laden floors of the kingdom’s wall, and easily made an indent. The brick fragments scattered and flew up in the air, nearly hitting Dark Cacao Cookie in the face.
However, the desperate attack made the older cookie feel more winded and he struggled a little to get his massive sword out of the floor. Dark Choco opportunistically seized the moment and dove in to keep striking at his father. At last, the sword managed to be pulled out from the Cacao bricks, but not without its wielder having to endure harsh sword slices from his opponent.
It was a seemingly neverending duel between the two opposing forces, both of them holding a burning fury in their eyes. And neither of them are willing to back down. The striking of cookie and cake metal against each other continued rhythmically in a twisted way. Dark Cacao Cookie is now starting to heave and pant, sucking up the cold dry air into his exhausted lungs, making his mouth start to run dry. His son, fueled by a burning conviction and a wild fury that almost shook Dark Cacao to his core, however was still much the same even after all of this fighting.
Not once has Dark Cacao Cookie landed a blow on Dark Choco. Though, the king felt that there is still something else holding back for some reason. But that’s preposterous, he’s giving his all to put this traitor in this place is he not?
Is he?
There’s a subtle smirk that soon grows on Dark Choco Cookie’s dark face.
“You’ve grown weak over the years,” he chided. He moved his sword to rest on his pauldrons casually. “I’ve seen better swordsmanship from an untrained knave. I’ll give you one last chance. Hand over your Soul Jam, or taste bitter defeat!”
The younger Cookie pointed the tip of his blade to the exhausted and hunched over king. The spiked crown on his head is lopsided, and almost about to fall off. Sugar-salt sweat is dripping down his forehead, and if Dark Choco didn’t know any better he looks like he’s about to collapse from sheer exhaustion. How pathetic.
Dark Cacao Cookie coughs and heaves while holding his other hand to his sternum. “I’m afraid you’re out of luck, boy. For I am not holding the Soul Jam on my person.”
He struggles his best to get himself standing properly while using his huge sword to prop himself up.
“It’s hidden deep within the chambers of this Citadel. Protected and concealed for generations until the kingdom’s bitter end. You’ll never find it for as long as you live!”
Dark Choco Cookie squints his eyes at his father, who’s still breathing raggedly and completely exhausted. His tough cacao Cookie skin creases between his eyes, and he promptly sheathed his sword back into his scabbard. “Then I’m finished here. You’ve wasted enough of my time.”
Just as the fallen Prince turned his back on the King, he felt his cloak being yanked backwards by a steely grip.
“Where do you think you’re going? I’m not finished with you yet!” Dark Cacao cookie bellows, then pulls the cloak to him with doubled effort.
His son merely stumbled a bit before easily grounding himself with his heavy armored boots. He used one of his hands to harshly knock his father’s grip off his garment and then bashed him with the hilt of his sword. Dark Cacao Cookie groaned and clutched the sore area before getting beaten in his face. A droplet of jam sprayed out from his nose, and Dark Choco Cookie sneers at him with a toothy frown.
The younger Cookie continues his beating using only his bare fists, and the king can’t keep up with him. Blow after blow, Dark Cacao Cookie is getting pummeled closer to the edge of the wall with each step his son forces him to take. “You’re nothing without its power!” Dark Choco Cookie growls. Dark Cacao Cookie stumbles further away, dazed and confused. Just one more inch backwards, and he’ll be sent careening off the side of the wall straight into the sparkling freezing rapids below.
Dark Choco Cookie backs up and raises one of his legs, about to kick.
“STOOOOP!!!!! DON’T DO IT!!!” A shrill voice calls out from somewhere unknown. Dark Choco was nearly startled out of his stance, but still managed to look to the right while still holding himself up.
An all too familiar Cookie in a heavy robe is running toward him with someone else with a long ponytail closely trailing near them. They reach a point where they’re close enough for talking distance, and the nameless Cookie looks completely out of breath (somehow more than his father who just suffered a beat down).
Dark Choco’s glare twists into a confused perplexion. Out of all places….. just how are they always able to keep meeting each other? Or perhaps this is fate?
Affogato Cookie is bracing the Stranger with her strong hands, preventing them from falling over. She’s surprised as well, from seeing the former Prince in the dough right in front of her. “Dark Choco Cookie? Is that really you?...” She murmurs. The Stranger does their best to look up at her curiously.
“Don’t you… hah… remember what I said, Dark Choco…?” You put a hand above your heart earnestly. “You don’t have to go through this path of evil. I still believe you can change!”
“Enough! I don’t believe you! You can’t change the way I am.” He strongly declares. His father, still stunned after the assault on his body, groggily looks at the two newcomers. “C-caramel Arrow Cookie??” He strains.
You felt your heart twinge. No matter how hard you tried to placate him, he’d always bite back. It seems there’s no getting through to him, unless?
The same gemstone that’s socketed into the circular hilt of his sword glows eerily. Despite being caught in the heat of the moment, you saw his one red eye almost glow ominously in the same way. It could just be a hunch, but you feel as though there’s something connected with the two.
“Just what on Earthbread is going on here?!” The woman next to you shouts. The two of you managed to run up here just in time, and Caramel Arrow had been stunned at first not believing her eyes. While she was sticking to you closely, she looked ready to jump in the fight at any moment.
Dark Choco ignored her and turned his attention back to the uneasy king and readied his leg again. “It doesn’t need to come to this Dark Choco! Please…. let’s just talk. I’m sure we can find some way to sort out what’s troubling you.” You’re worried he’s about to do what you think is going to happen.
And for a quick moment, you can see him trembling. He’s clearly hesitating and holding something back.
But before you wanted to get closer to him, a blast of dark magic appeared out of nowhere at your feet and sent you careening. Caramel Arrow Cookie gasped, but quickly caught you before reaching the brick floor.
A ghostly chuckle creeped into your hearing. “As much as I enjoyed watching your little tête-à-tête, I need to break you two up.” Elegant clicks against the cacao bricks clear your muddled head as you instantly recognize who it is again. “Can’t have my plans fall apart already.”
“Affogato Cookie?” Dark Cacao Cookie manages to speak. “You… traitorous worm! I should’ve known…”
Caramel Arrow Cookie helps pull you up to your feet, and lets you lie against her strong Cookie body. “I always knew from the very beginning,” she says. “Glad to see you haven’t changed a bit, snake.”
But he merely laughs at this slight. “Whoops! Silly me, looks like I let the cat out of the bag already! Not like I haven’t foreseen this possibility at all,” he speaks flippantly, while waving a palm lazily at you and Caramel Arrow.
He then turned his gaze toward you, still holding that playful smirk on his face. Which definitely started to make you empathize more with Caramel Arrow. “I think I should be calling you ‘Cockroach Cookie’ instead! I let you into my home and now I can’t quite get rid of you. It seems appropriate, no?” You felt one of your eyes twitch.
“You on the other hand, I am having a harder time finding a way to forgive!” You stood up straight and glared at him. “You tricked me, and then you were going to have me arrested for no reason? What’s your issue?”
“Oh, stop it! Your words wound me! Hahaha!” Affogato Cookie laughs you off. As if your anger is the most humorous thing in the world to him. You grit your teeth in frustration. Caramel Arrow stared at him calmly.
“Just what is the meaning behind this betrayal, Affogato Cookie?” She asks.
“Nothing personal, I can assure you. I just decided to pursue other career opportunities.”
He moves one of his arms to the side and lets the baggy robes drape down low and nearly hit the floor. The luxurious clothing casted a long shadow underneath his arms, and to the two’s surprise something started to emerge from it. It is murky and dark, with clouds of pitch black filth coating every part of their being. But you were able to make out the approximate shape of it still, and the darkness soon vanishes to reveal the true colors. A large…. purple mushroom head? No wait, it’s a person!? A rather short one, though.
“Yep! He’s with us now…!” The mushroom headed Cookie spoke up, almost drowsily. “Paid time off, remote work, and mental health days!….. It’s da best kind of job!” They swerve their arms around in wave-like motions, almost like they’re performing some kind of odd dance. A back and purple mushroom is held gingerly in one of their hands. Affogato Cookie firmly taps the end of his staff against the Dark Cacao Wall a few times.
Other planes of darkness started to appear in random places across the brick floors. You backed up with Caramel Arrow, seeing tall armored figures arise in their shadowed glory. Former Dark Cacaoian guards, now covered and speckled with clusters of mushroom colonies on their skin, stood shakily in front of you. One of them you noticed had several mushrooms sprouting from their eye, which made your stomach twist and almost hurl.
“What the…?” Caramel Arrow says in utter disbelief. “What have you done to these soldiers, you fiend!” Her eyes are blazing with a fiery rage, and she looks ready to fire off arrows right into Affogato Cookie.
Even Dark Choco Cookie gasped upon seeing the mangled loyal Dark Cacaoians before him. His father is still too disarrayed to even notice. They each twitched and spasmed here and there, and some held their heads hanging lopsided.
Affogato Cookie scoffs, as if offended by such a possibility of being guilty. “It wasn’t my doing. I’m only making the most of Poison Mushroom Cookie’s antics.”
“I just showed them the way…..,” chimes in, with a dopey smile on their face. “See? Don’t they look happy? Shroomies gave them peace of mind…”
If becoming a fungus-ridden zombie is considered by them to be “peaceful” then you can hardly agree. One of them opened their jaws wide and vomited a yellowish, green sludge near your feet. “Euuugh!!!” You groaned in disgust after jumping away just in time. Caramel Arrow had a scornful grimace on her face as well.
“Charming aren’t they?,” Affogato Cookie laughs. “Now Princey, I think now’s as good a time as any to finish the job.” He crosses his arms looking at the tall swordsman expectantly. Poison Mushroom Cookie is still doing their little dance.
The cloaked man still looked conflicted, moreso after seeing the wretched zombies Affogato brought out to impede the Nameless Cookie and Caramel Arrow. He turned back to see his father, who looked a bit more focused but not by much. The almost teary look in the larger man’s eyes made him almost shed some from his own. But, he felt a heated glare on the back of his head, he saw Pomegranate Cookie staring him down with her eyes piercing through the shadows. And the crystal Jam on his sword starts to make his palm burn.
A lightning fast slice against steel armour makes you and Caramel Arrow gasp once more.
“UUURRRRRR!!!!”
Dark Cacao Cookie descends far below the wall with a blood-curdling wail. Caramel Arrow Cookie feels her blood run cold.
“NOOOOO!!!!!” she screams at the top of her lungs. It almost shakes you up. You stare at Dark Choco Cookie, who’s hanging his head down in shame. It was all too silent - dreadful anticipation fills the air. And then a loud splash and crush can be heard from the ravines below.
“Oh ho ho! Glory!” Affogato chortles, putting the back of his hand up to his mouth. “There goes the old bat! Wonderfully done Dark Choco Cookie, couldn’t have done it without you.”
Caramel Arrow had moved to the side to see the spot where Dark Cacao plummeted to his doom, still staring wither her jaw dropped. The Shroom Zombies stood next to each other to form an impasse against you two from going further.
“Wooowie! What a drop! No way could a Cookie survive a fall from this height!” The obnoxiously shrill voice of Licorice Cookie makes its entrance. A very loud hock and spit grates your ears. “Ptooey! Hope the Licorice Sludge sinks you to the bottom of the sea old man! Hahaha!!!”
Not a word has been said from the fallen prince, though he still stands motionless. Stares at the atrocity he just committed. “Was this my destiny all along….? To lay waste to my kingdom with my own hands?... What a waste…” He murmurs. The pain in his voice is too easy to tell. Soft footsteps and brushes of robes come into the scene.
“No use crying over spilled milk, has-been Prince.” The chilling voice of Pomegranate Cookie can be heard over these zombies’ moaning and groaning. “You know what to do next Affogato Cookie? Or do I need to remind you once again?” She says.
“No, no. That won’t be necessary.” He reassures her. “After all, this is the part I have been awaiting the most.”
They way they talked so casually with each other, after just sending someone down to their death, greatly irked you.
“You….. scum bags!” You huff out, trying to see past the zombified guards and look at them in their faces. “Just what are you all planning?!”
Licorice Cookie giggles with child-like glee. “Wouldn’t you like to know, Hobo Cookie?” You can see his bright yellow eyes amongst the crowd, curled up with a smirk. “Top secret Cookies of Darkness business stuff, that has nothing to do with you. But I’ll give you a hint, it will lead to this kingdom and your destruction!”
The First Watcher scowls, then moves to stick beside you. She glares at Affogato Cookie and the other Cookies of Darkness that showed up. “There will be severe consequences for all of you!” She hollers out, though none of them look threatened in the slightest. Affogato Cookie’s smirk even widens.
“Sorry Roaches! We don’t have time to play around. Guards! Annihilate these two interlopers,” and with a swift flail of his staff, the shroomified Cacaoian guards got into motion. Their movements are slow and sluggish, but all the more unsettling to look at. A few of them sloppily pulled their steel spears out to point them at you and Caramel Arrow.
“Bye friends! Hehehe…….” Poison Mushroom Cookie ran off to meet up with the other Cookies of Darkness who were fleeing the scene.
“OooOoRrrGhhH…..,” A smelly zombie near you groaned with their mouth hanging open. Yellowish mist escaped their mouth and plumed up like tar smoke. Thick globs of slimy, pus-colored saliva dripped down from their mouths and splattered on the floor, making it smoke up. You covered your mouth and nose as you swore you almost smelled something rancid and sour. “Ewwww!!” You bemoaned, backing up from the rather tall guards. Without realizing it, you and Caramel Arrow were slowly getting cornered in the other watcher tower.
You stumbled against a table, cursing at yourself. An idea came up in your mind, and you tugged the table closer to you. Caramel Arrow Cookie figured out what you’re trying to do and helped you out, her greater physical strength obviously made it easier. The bench was stuck between you and the zombies, and you both kicked it at them to create space.
However, horrifically resilient they turned out to be, the Shroomified Cookies easily grabbed the table amongst themselves and smashed it to pieces. Bits and splinters of Cacao wood scattered everywhere to you and Caramel Arrow Cookie’s dismay, and the zombies only drew closer with their arms hanging loosely at their sides.
“Okay Stranger,” Caramel Arrow Cookie started, with sweat visibly trailing down her left temple. “Now would be a good time to use your Magic if you can! Perhaps you can heal these possessed guards back to their senses?” She desperately suggested.
Without any other options, you decided to give it a shot. Experienced or not, you just had to try anyway. Concentrating all your thoughts into forcing some kind of flow to reach your hands, you flexed the muscles within your arms and strongly squinted your eyebrows together. Your fingers twitched as the Shroom Zombies got closer, but nothing happened still. Not even a little flash of light.
The feeling of crushing guilt began to sink down. “I-I’m sorry Caramel Arrow! It still won’t work!!” No matter how hard you try, you can never seem to get the damn thing to work. What is it that you’re doing wrong? You feared for the inevitable reprimanding that is sure to follow.
Caramel Arrow audibly sighed, but without any hint of frustration. “It’s alright, you tried your best right?” She smiled wistfully at you to your confusion. A look of stern confidence then quickly settles over her as the Zombies begin to get closer. I covered my eyes with my sleeves, bracing for the worst. Was this really how you’re going to meet your end?
…
….
…..
….
….
A powerful slash through the air loudly crushes against bodies. Cacao armor and weapons hit against the floor in a quick succession. The mind-numbing zombie groaning has stopped.
You opened your eyes and moved the sleeves out of the way to see what just happened. The possessed guards are all on the floor, severed cleanly in half with a dark red substance mingled with yellow seeping from their bodies. The same sword that has massacred them all is bathed in their blood and messed cleanly on the blade.
Dark Choco Cookie?
Yes, he’s standing in front of you idly having apparently saved both you and Caramel Arrow. Even she’s stunned at this turn of events.
He slammed the tip of his no longer glowing sword into the cacao bricks under him, which shook the whole floor. The broadly shaped former Prince blows a bang out of view from his one eye.
“If you wish to stop those villains, you better hurry now,” he spoke simply. His voice is deep and coarse.
I still couldn’t even believe what just happened entirely. Caramel Arrow however, immediately took note of this and broke free from the wall we were cornered in. She nimbly pranced over each of the fallen bodies of the guards and sped walked to the pathway we used to be on.
She slowed down to cast a side-eye to Dark Choco Cookie. The Cookie of Darkness only glanced at her once, before immediately returning to look at the carnage he made.
“Stranger, I’m heading off to chase Affogato Cookie and that gang. Please catch up to me once you’re finished here!” She didn’t wait for you to respond and just bolted off. Her black and white gi flashed behind a corner she turned.
An eerie silence hung low in the air between you and Dark Choco Cookie. The man wasn’t giving you any eye contact, but remained silent in the room. You eventually got out of your freaked panic and moved away from all the severed bodies. The sight makes your skin crawl and your blood run cold.
Mid sections, chopped cleanly in half as if butchered by a giant kitchen knife. It’s horrific to think about, yet the sight still intrigues you. You soon couldn’t take anymore and quickly shuffled away.
“It’s awful it had to turn out like this…” you said under your breath as you took quick steps to try and meet Caramel Arrow Cookie. She had to have gone far by now, but hopefully she will have slowed them down at some point for you.
“They weren’t Cookies anymore, after they became infected. All autonomy had become forever lost. There was no saving them.”
You froze in place. In all honesty, you weren’t expecting Dark Choco to hear your comment. You laughed a little at it.
“Seems a bit familiar, doesn’t it?” You chided.
You hear his thunderous, armored footsteps as he clearly turns around to look at you.
“I fail to understand what your obsession with me is.” Dark Choco’s voice is now clearer and firm with authority like his father. “Am I really that pitiful?”
While Dark Choco’s face looks cold, and that stare he’s giving you would’ve turned anyone to stone, there’s still a warmth to it. A vulnerability in his eye that he doesn’t want to completely cover. It’s hard to explain, but did he want you to see that?
The words slightly pained you, and you firmly shook your head at him. “It’s not an obsession,” you tried to reason. But you do understand. Have you been singling him out the whole time without realizing? “I just wanted to help you.”
You almost shivered under his piercing gaze. His huge shadow practically engulfed you.
“You've been making more of an effort than the average Cookie normally would.” He says sternly. “Why go so far to console a complete stranger? Especially one who keeps rejecting you.”
“I-I don't really know, okay?? It's hard to explain…” But you will try your best anyways.
“It's just that, when I see you - or when I saw you before - I can see something deeper in you that I didn't with the others,” you started to ramble a bit. Though Dark Choco’s expression remains unchanging.
He let you continue as you tried to scrape around for your thoughts. “The way you hesitated before… taking your father's life. I don’t think a complete monster wouldn't do that. They'd throw him off without a second thought.”
You even started to question your own words in retrospect. “I should be furious, or even disgusted by you. Or afraid….but I'm not……..”
There’s something inexplicably reassuring about Dark Choco Cookie that suppresses your instincts. The man purses his lips and breaks eye contact from you.
“….Maybe you should be. I'm your enemy, a villain. I’ve done terrible things, unforgivable sins that will never be forgotten.”
“A villain wouldn't save someone else's life, wouldn't they?” You say with a smile. He quickly turns to look back at you with his one eye opened a bit wider. You did your best to return with a warmer expression.
You move closer to Dark Choco Cookie. One slow, cautious step at a time. The man stays motionless and watches the entire time. With a gentle grace, you take the palm of one of his hands into your own. And he lets you.
“If you’re as heartless as you tell me,” you smooth a thumb of the knuckles on his metallic gauntlets. It’s hard to tell, but you think his tension lowered. “You’d cut me down right now with that sword of yours.” You say without any hesitation. Dark Choco remains silent.
The next words flow out from your heart like it's the most natural thing in the world. “The regrets and pains in your past, you can always find a way to overcome them. Things can change, it just can take some time.”
Dark Choco’s fingers suddenly begin to grip back your hand a little tighter. Very gingerly so, as if he’s worried about crushing them.
“Do you really mean that?” He speaks quietly.
“Yes, of course.” You tell him, completely serious.
Though something new that you notice made you completely giddy. Maybe Dark Choco Cookie himself didn’t even notice this, but there’s a little pink blush on his dark cheeks. A wide grin overcomes your smile.
“See? I even made you blush!” You point at the cutely rosey skin, which now started to darken red. The large hand gripping yours was pulled away in an instant, and Dark Choco himself became withdrawn.
Panic arose within you, and you feared you might have overstepped his boundary. “Oh, sorry! Did I?-”
“N-no…, it’s fine.” There’s a slight hic in his voice. The rosey blush that was surprisingly visible on him seemed to darken, and he tried harder to avoid eye contact. You’re worried you might have gone a bit too far, but his reaction was a little funny to you.
“You get embarrassed kinda easily, for such a big scary-looking guy you know!-” You laughed.
“Stop it…” He murmurs. It might just be your imagination, but did the blush on his face get even darker?
“Alright, alright. I’ll stop-”
Without realizing it, your hand had brushed up against the hilt of the sword Dark Choco wields. The dreary red gem embedded in the center sparked and flashed with bolts of unknown energy. It blinked white once, then many times over again as your fingers hovered near it. A rogue spark pricked your rough skin making you yelp and flinch away. Dark Choco looked at you puzzled.
“The heck was that?! Something just shocked me!” You rubbed the back of your hand, as the tingle still lingered on your skin. Though not painful, it still alarmed you.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed it. The gem is glowing a faint red aura, sparkling pure white light quickly.
“The Strawberry Jam?” He scans the stone curiously. His one open eye squints at the little sparks and pulses emanating from it. “It seems to be reacting…”
“What? Jam?” You ask. It looks like a normal sword to you, aside from the somewhat unique design. Confused, you looked around his person and elsewhere. But you didn’t see anything that looked like the spread you would put on morning toast, just his sword with a sparkling gemstone. “That looks like a ruby to me,” you pointed at it with a gloved pointer finger.
Dark Choco Cookie shakes his head at you, his short bangs sway gently from side to side. “That is the Strawberry Jam of my sword. Its power is coalesced into this crystal.” He puts a large hand over it and pressed down on it tightly. After a few seconds, he releases the Jam crystal yet it still flashes white and sparks curiously.
“It has never acted like this before,” he states. Though there’s really only one reasonable conclusion to make. “What exactly did you do to it?”
You shrugged your shoulders. “I’ve got no clue. I don’t even know how to even use my own magic correctly.”
The crimson gem sparks and gleams ever so tantalizingly. You can almost sense the heat and ferocity radiating from it, which would make anyone cautious of it. But not you however, for some reason you were even more intrigued. The flashes and sparks - to you - are almost made in an outcry.
Your fingers moved closer to try and touch it once more. Dark Choco Cookie quickly sucked in a breath when he noticed.
“What are you doing?” He scolded, moving the sword away from your reach. “Didn’t you say it hurt you?”
“Y-yeah but…” You know it sounded foolish, but you still wanted to get closer to it. “The white flashes it’s making, I might be able to do something with it.”
“And I thought you didn’t know how to use your magic.”
“...True. It is only a hunch, but do you trust me?” You asked. You had a particular shine in your eyes that Dark Choco easily noticed.
Wordlessly, he brought the sword’s hilt back closer to you, though you can notice the hesitation in his posture. The Strawberry Jam starts to flash and sparkle quicker when it gets closer to you, but not irritatingly so. With great care, you moved your left hand closer to the gemstone and awaited its reaction.
There’s a force going against you. Not too harsh, but hard enough to dissuade you from getting closer to it. But you remained persistent, moving your fingers and palm through it like a graceful dive with clear thoughts. And it seemed to work and let you through.
It feels warm and almost comforting to the touch, even through your thick gloves. There’s no spark or bite it gave off to harm you, and it seems to allow you to rest upon it. You follow the ebb and flow of energy within the Jam, letting your mind sway and study it deeply. You closed your eyes.
Deep remorse, painful self-loathing, anger and power built on bitterness. Though still holding a warmth for others.
A wish to make amends.
“I-it’s gone!”
Dark Choco’s sudden surprise startled you into opening your eyes. He was gazing at his sword, and your hand to an extent, with wonder. Confused, you looked back down at the Jam to see beams of white shining through the gaps in your glove. You removed your hand from it.
The Strawberry Jam is no longer red, but now white.
It doesn’t radiate a red aura nor spark and flash, but remains at peace. You stared at the crystal in amazement, now hesitant to touch it again. Did you do that?
“The strain in my mind…the control this accursed sword had on me.” Dark Choco continues, and you pick up on what he’s implying.
“Wait, this sword has been hurting you the whole time?” You asked. The fellow Cookie nods at you.
“It gives incredible power, but only if I feed into my anger.” What Dark Choco described to you sounded crazy. A sword that can talk to you? Though given how odd this new world is, it might not be that absurd. “Though now, I can no longer hear its calls.” He seems almost relieved, his voice sounds less strained.
“I think that’s for the best,” you conclude.
Dark Choco returns with a smile. A warm, genuine one. Though small, you can still see it in the dark night.
The Dark Cacao Kingdom falls silent at the dead of night. Affogato Cookie finds himself quickly cornered on an empty street by curious strangers.
“W-what?! Who are you? All gates to the Citadel are locked shut, how did you even get here?” He stammered. The silver staff between his hands becomes gripped even tighter than before.
Pomegranate cookie chuckles at his flustered expression, while concealing it under one of her long red sleeves. Her diamond mirror is discreetly tucked away in her other sleeve and held firmly. Ruby red eyes glowered fiercely at the taller Cookie who is darting his eyes at the various shadowed figures.
“You’re quite easy to startle.” Pomegranate smirks at Affogato not so subtly. “Is that confident bravado you put up all just an act?”
Something comes over Affogato Cookie. His once blown out eyes and twitching eyebrows settled into anger in a pinch.
“I’m calling the guards at once to haul you all out!” He blurted out, then twisted his body away from Pomegranate Cookie to flee.
“Don’t even think about it.”
A large body suddenly appears in front of Affogato just as he was about to escape the situation. He shrieked and recoiled back from the big shadowy figure with a piercing crimson eye. Affogato Cookie’s eyes widened once more.
“I-I-I… don’t believe it! Dark C-c-choco Cookie?!?” Affogato nearly went slack jaw under the massive shadow Dark Choco Cookie casted over him. The man himself still holds that ever present frown on his face with snow on his pauldrons and cape.
“Yep! In the flesh!” A chiding voice pitched in. Affogato scrambled back into the middle of the villains once Licorice Cooke slammed his Licorice scythe on the ground near him. “He’s the one that helped lead us into the kingdom too!”
“What a nice guy!” Poison Mushroom Cookie, the last to join in, waved their little arms in the air as if they’re performing some kind of interpretive dance.
“W-what do you even want with me…” Affogato glances between all four of them nervously. The silver staff is trembling between his hands, and Dark Choco Cookie stands idly like a statue.
“Only to seek someone as a potential ally,” Pomegranate kept a stoic expression at Affogato. “We’ve caught wind of your schemes to usurp the throne from Dark Cacao Cookie. Since our goals align, we can work together to achieve it with utmost certainty..”
“You will help lure out the old man to the highest point on the castle walls, we’ll take care of the rest.”
Affogato scoffed at Dark Choco’s suggestion.
“Don’t I get a say in this? And how am I supposed to trust any of you? We only met a few moments ago!”
Affogato gave him a squinted look.
“You misunderstand us. YOU don’t get a choice in this matter. Refuse our order, and you will perish alongside these same lands.”
“Yeah! We’ve got a huge army that’ll make this Kingdom go 6 feet under! HAHAHA!!!” Licorice Cookie cackles maniacally. Poison Mushroom Cookie joined in his revelry
“Uh-huh! Lots of candies and shroomies to share with everyone! Join us, mister! It’ll be fun!”
The tall, silver eyed Cookie stared at the two with stark perplexion. Pomegranate Cookie grabbed his attention with a light hand motion
“Choose wisely.” She said simply.
He remained silent, assessing the situation extensively. Affogato put a gloved finger to his lips as he looked absentmindedly somewhere else, and the rest of the Cookies of Darkness awaited his answer.
“Even though we just met, this could be the opportunity I’m looking for to take the throne,” he takes the time to think deeper. “If they’ve got Dark Choco Cookie assisting them, that makes it easier to trust them I would say. He’s someone who knows the ins and outs of this Kingdom, and probably taught them all what they need to know to properly invade it,” he thinks to himself.
A chilly night breeze blows against the banners on Affogato Cookie’s hair ornament. He rubs his chin in deeper thought.
“And this…. beast tamer, or so I thought they were. How useful will they end up being to me? They seem…. naive.” His eyes squinted, flaming with scorn. “I’m a fool for putting trust in some nameless half-bake. That plan to assemble a league of monsters to attack the Citadel’s walls and make everyone lose further trust in the King probably wouldn’t come to fruition anyway.”
Affogato Cookie lifts himself to look right back at Pomegranate Cookie and nods his head.
“Alright, you’ve got yourself a deal! I’ll join your group.” He declares with a confident smile.
But, he holds up his pointer finger at her first before continuing.
“On one condition, however. I must first see you follow through with your bold words, then I’ll join you properly. There’s no room for errors!”
The tension in the air eased up, and Affogato Cookie no longer felt he was being surrounded despite the others still encircling him near the wall. Poison Mushroom Cookie clapped their hands together ecstatically.
“Oooh…Yay! Mister is gonna join us!” They raised their stubby arms in the air and waved them around like they’re a piece of fluttering seaweed on the ocean floor. Licorice Cookie glanced at them and snickered to himself slightly obnoxiously.
“You have nothing to fear, dear Affogato Cookie. The “good prince” will keep the end of the bargain.” Pomegranate Cookie once again hid a smirk behind one of her long red sleeves.
The big man in question huffed at this, then blew a bang away from his right eye.
“Don’t waste your breath, “holy priestess”. It’s time I finish what I started years ago…” He raised his heavy broadsword and slammed it into the ground, making a reverberation that startled Affogato Cookie.
A few of his hairs got loose, and the elegant man quickly brushed them back aside.
“... We’ll see about that. In the meantime, I need to think about what to do with this….. strange thickly-robed Cookie that I’ve taken under my wing.”
This piqued the attention of a few of the other members. Dark Choco’s one crimson eye widened in particular.
“What did you say?” Asked Dark Choco Cookie.
“Oh, don’t tell me…” Licorice cookie groaned, before slapping a pale hand onto his forehead. “You brought in Hobo Cookie?”
“Hobo…. Cookie?” Affogato stared at him confused.
“Some impenetrable wall this is,” Pomegranate Cookie snarked. “Can’t even keep out some nobody Cookie.”
“That nobody is able to block a swing from my Strawberry Jam Sword head on, while bare-handed.” Dark Choco scoffs at her, seeming more serious now. “We shouldn’t underestimate them.”
She stared blankly back at him with her hands concealed within her sleeves. “Hmm…..” She mumbled in deep thought. “Considering their apparent capabilities with magic, they can possibly interfere with our plans.”
“So what? Let’s just go in and crumble them!” Licorice Cookie proclaimed. “There, problem solved!”
“Don’t be an idiot, we still don’t know what they’re capable of.” She strongly glared at Licorice Cookie, making him withdraw into himself. “We can’t risk the possibility they eliminate us all with a miraculous stroke of magic. They may have also acquired allies from their time they’ve been here.”
Affogato Cookie suddenly brightens up and cuts in on their conversation.
“I’ve got it!” A rosy pink blush speckled his dark cheeks, and he raised the back of one of his hands near his mouth. The others looked back at him curiously. “I simply need to assemble some Dark Cacaoian guards, then that blithering simpleton will be out of our hair. Can you tell me where you all are headed next so I can rendezvous?”
Pomegranate Cookie nodded her head. “The Westside entrance of the Citadel’s wall. Be as quick as possible, we need the guise of night to keep a low profile.”
“Don’t worry, I shall not be long at all.” And with a spritely grace, Affogato Cookie turned around and sauntered off the way he came from. There’s almost a joyful pep in each of his steps, though if you were to know anything about what he’s planning, there’s truly nothing “joyful” about it.
“Well, he looks happy.” Licorice Cookie remarked, putting a hand on one of his hips.
“Let’s move. We’ve exposed ourselves here long enough.” Dark Choco Cookie was gruff and straight to the point. He pivoted around and led the way for the others, with the looming Dark Chocolate Walls hanging above them that they’re headed toward.
It’s the dead of night, and you’re dog tired. Or tired as a dog.
You yawned and rubbed your eyes with the balled up knuckles on your hand, wiping the drowsiness out from them to keep yourself awake. What are your plans for tomorrow? You’re not entirely sure, since Affogato Cookie didn’t technically agree to letting you visit the archives. And you highly doubt you can sneak in there or visit it yourself, that’s just asking for trouble. So then what? Just wait until he decides to come back here and you can catch up with him? If only he told you where he actually works in the kingdom, then it would be easier to communicate with him.
Something else also troubled you and rubbed you the wrong way. What exactly was he talking about with “taming” Fluffy, and sharing your knowledge with him? Did he really think you were some kind of expert beast tamer?
If you were being honest, that does sound like a really cool profession you’d want. Could you imagine it? Being able to have a special bond with any kind of animal you’d like would be so fun!
But regardless, you still found the exchange between the two of you to be…. strange. But could you still hold any doubts against Affogato? He was nice enough to let you stay in this place free of charge, it doesn’t seem like that outrageous of a favor to ask in return. But what are you supposed to do?
You slowly dragged your socked feet toward the home’s spacious bathroom thinking everything over some more. No matter what kind of idea you could manage to think of, there doesn’t seem to be anything that would work right. Perhaps a good night’s rest will help clear your mind and let you think of a new idea.
With a sluggish hand, you reached around the sink for the toothbrush to wet under the faucet. The hazy drowsiness was certainly not helping.
Foamy white bubbles of minty toothpaste started to gush from the corner of your lips. Your eyes widened, as for a brief second you noticed a large dark figure walk by in the reflection of the window. It nearly caused your heart to jump a few beats. You sputtered out the toothpaste remains in your sink and darted over to the bathroom window.
Nothing. You could have swore there was someone out there! They were huge! How could they have disappeared so easily?
A broad plank of wood was suddenly slammed against the window, catching you off guard.
“Uaaaah!” You screamed out in utter shock. That time, you did actually feel your heart skip a beat.
Loud slams near the window frightened you further, and you crab walked away from whatever’s happening outside there. That same plank is now remaining over the window, making it impossible to open it. Another wooden plank was affixed under it, and more hammering followed.
“What the-?” You slowly rose off the ground, wiping a drop of toothpaste that was dribbling down your chin. “Is someone blocking my window?”
And then, heavy footsteps nearly shook the floor you’re lying on. Someone had planted themself firmly in front of the window, for some reason. But why? Just who is this?
“Hey!” You shouted out, foamy toothpaste still lining your teeth and giving you a sharp taste on your tongue. “What the heck are you doing to the window??”
You scrambled up and pushed on the window’s thin paper doors, only to be unable to completely budge it.
“Silence!” A heavy masculine voice shouted back at you, scaring you silent. “You’re now…. a prisoner of the Dark Cacao Kingdom, stranger! You’re not to move from this building until further notice, ugh….” they said, kind of groggily .
You feel your heart plummet in your chest. The mysterious guard’s harsh words struck a cold shock within you that made your skin flare up into a terrible panic.
“Wh-Wha??” You uttered. “Prisoner?”
The person said nothing in response, presumably still completely motionless and blocking the entrance of the window.
Without giving it a second though, you ran out of the bathroom and headed for the living room. To your chagrin, you can see the figures of broad wooden planks and other guards positioned at the outdoor garden and the peeping hole of the front door.
You gripped the door’s handle in your hand and unlocked it to move it open, but it wouldn’t budge an inch when you tried to push it forward. No matter how much force you put, you’re unable to burst open the guards’ barricades around the house. You gritted your teeth
“Ugh!” You strained your hand with an awkwardly angled push, and tried to shake off the numbing pain. “Is it illegal to visit libraries now?” You snarked, intentionally loud enough for those guards to hear.
“One more peep out o’ you, and we’ll come ‘n and give you som‘ discipline’” They slurred, which startled you. Since when were these guards so cruel? “Got it?”
They weren’t looking for a response from you, clearly. You got the message and stopped your resistance and backed away from the door slowly, while casting it a longing glance. The realization of being locked inside your own home like a cell began to frustrate you, could you really just go to sleep knowing this so easily?
“I swear, Dark Cacao is gonna push us till our bones break,” you heard a different guard outside moan out.
“Quit complainin’. Now you’re giving me ‘n headache. Bad ‘nough I got woken up at midnight.”
But what else can a rookie mage do in this situation? It’s not like you can conjure a spell to blast away these barricades and guards. Or even, break down these wooden barricades with your bare hands yourself. Your strength is comparable to any ordinary person, until you learn how to use and understand it better.
A deep frown pulls down your lips into a scowl. This all frustrates you to no end, but there doesn’t seem to be any other option than just wait it out and anticipate whatever plan some person has for you. Feeling the familiar stale freshness of the toothpaste in your mouth, you figured you might as well go and rinse it all out back at the bathroom.
You grumbled while shaking the droplets of water off of your hands. That imposing guard was still out there, since the moonlight still isn’t seeping through the window. These Dark Cacaoians seem pretty devoted to their work, so you bet they’ll be there for however long they’re ordered to. You dread to think of whatever the person in command of these guards has planned for you, aside from now being a prisoner of the kingdom.
The water is dried off your hands with a small white towel, and you move to grip the handle of the candle holder resting on the sink. The drowsiness you felt in the beginning is resurfacing, and you figured there is no better time to hit the hay.
“OOOAAARGHH!!!”
You nearly dropped the candle holder to the ground. Was that the guard outside the window?
A solid, heavy blow against metal rang in the air, followed by solid hits and then a loud thump on the ground. Only heavy breathing remained outside, and you felt even more nervous than before.
There’s a few more sounds of shoes shuffling through some snow covered grass, and rustling of clothes.
“....Okay good. I was worried I might have hit you too hard there, big fella,” A feminine voice spoke up.
Now that they’re closer to your window, there is no mistaking who that can be.
“Caramel Arrow Cookie?” You spoke up, and in half a second it sounds like she took a quick step back from you. Looks like you startled her a bit.
“Gah!?” She yelped, then sighed in relief upon realizing it was you who said that. “Stranger, you scared me! I thought one of those other guards had caught me. But yes, it’s me!”
“How did…. how did you get here?” Those massive walls around the kingdom could surely keep anyone out, right?
“I know a few ‘shortcuts’ around the Citadel’s great wall myself! I’ve served this Kingdom long enough to learn the ins and outs of it thoroughly.”
Before you would say something to her, you heard the sounds of guards marching somewhere behind you. Seems like the commotion caught the attention of some other
“Caramel Arrow! I think you’re getting company!” You inform her.
And with a quick wisp of wind, you think she leapt off somewhere else to hide from the oncoming guards.
More heavy, plonking footsteps shook the mushy earth near you. It seems your intuition was correct, as now it sounds like a larger group of them are coming around here.
“Crumbs!” You heard a deep voice shout out. The footsteps were getting faster paced and louder, until they stopped suddenly. “They’re unconscious! We’ve got one down! There’s someone around here….”
The sounds of sharp, steel weapons being brandished cut through the silent night ambiance. You weren’t even the one in danger and you’re feeling nervous just standing here in the bathroom while listening on.
A gust of sharp wind, then a meaty kick broke the tense silence. The guards made a ruckus and clamored together to try and find the nimble Caramel Arrow Cookie, but each one grunted and yeowled after the other as she kept up her relentless sneak attacks.
“W-Who? Where is that?-” They didn’t even get to finish as Caramel Arrow immediately knocked them out and let them fall to the ground.
You could only watch and listen on in the dimly lit bathroom. For a moment, you reached your fingers up to your mouth and almost would’ve started to nibble down on them.
The heavy metal sound of armor and a steel weapon hitting the floor finished the fight.
That was the last guard, presumably face planting on the ground after being knocked out. By herself, she took down all of those guards in only a few minutes. You’ve truthfully forgotten Caramel Arrow’s exceptional martial prowess from the time you spent apart from her.
“Phew! Alright, that’s the last of them. For now.” She made a few clapping sounds, you imagined she’s brushing her palms together to remove any debris or snow on them after her fight.
“You alright stranger? Hope I didn’t make you too worried.” She asked.
You shook your head, even though she wouldn’t see that. “I should be asking you that instead! How’d you even find me here?” Unless Caramel Arrow Cookie happens to know where you are staying during your time at the Cacao Kingdom, she must have gotten incredibly lucky or have some incredible tracking skills. The last time you remember though, she and Affogato Cookie aren’t exactly on the best of terms. So it seems likely he wouldn’t have told her anything about his private little abode near the grand Citadel.
There’s a brief moment of silence between the two of you.
“It’s a bit of a long story. Do you know if there’s more guards? This place is huge, I wouldn’t be surprised if he hired even more of them to guard the whole perimeter.”
“Yea, there definitely is. I saw some near the garden and there’s definitely a few by the front door. The one with the two dragons on it.”
“Understood. Sit tight, I won’t be long!” You heard some hurried footsteps through the scrunchy sugar snow outside that quickly faded away. The whole commotion shook the tiredness right out of your system. If only you got to see Caramel Arrow in action.
You hurried out of the bathroom with the lit candle in your hand and moved to check on the outdoor garden from the inside. And low and behold, that dashing woman is already making quick work of the heftily armored Cacao guards.
Her black and white robes and her ponytail flow and dance in the cold night air through each flip and maneuver she made. They couldn’t even land a blow - let alone a finger - on her. She’s practically impossible to catch!
Caramel Arrow then lands on the top of one of the guard’s flat helmets and leaps off of them, pushing them down, face first into the snow and disarming them at the same time. You scratched underneath your chin in piqued interest, just wondering how much time Caramel Arrow has spent training and exercising to have such impressive physical capabilities.
Or maybe, you thought, these guards were perhaps too tired and sluggish to deal with someone so resilient. It is fairly late after all, and whoever called these guards might have awoken them from their needed rest.
As soon as you finished pondering this thought, Caramel Arrow left the scene with the collapsed passed out array of guards. You almost would have lost track of her. And now you hear her taking down a guard at the front door.
…
…
…
“Heeeyah!” Caramel Arrow Cookie shouts, landing a striking kick to the wooden barricades on the front door. The sturdy planks of wood were smashed cleanly in two. She then moved aside the pile of debris away from the front door using her feet.
You opened the door yourself, sensing that she was finished. The sight of Caramel Arrow’s confident and laid-back posture greeted you once the wooden barrier was slid to the right. She’s giving you a big smile and putting one of her hands on a hip.
“Long time no see, huh?” She spoke. “How have you been enjoying the Dark Cacao Kingdom so far? Made any new friends?”
You shuddered, thinking back to the time you met with Cacao Butter Cookie.
“Uhh….” You mumbled. “Maybe?” You’re not sure if you could call them a friend per se, but the two of you didn’t necessarily leave off on a sour note.
Caramel Arrow Cookie raised an eyebrow at your hesitant expression and you were even avoiding eye contact with her. She’s probably curious as to what exactly is making you give such a non-forward response.
“Right, well nevermind. It’s not important.” She waved her hand to quickly brush it off.
You quickly snapped out of it and turned your attention to her appearance. She looks fairly normal, though her clothes are more wrinkled and stained a bit with dirt. You moved aside to let her inside the spacious house and close the door. The two of you moved to the living room.
“How are you feeling? You didn’t get hurt out there, did you?” You asked.
Caramel Arrow shook her head. “I’m fine, really. They haven’t cracked my dough anywhere. Those guards must have been either new recruits or not focused at all.”
You hummed, believing it was the latter. “It is pretty late after all. Maybe they were tired and just woken up from their rest.”
“Hah, that could explain it. Affogato needed to call upon extra guards that were probably from the day shift, so it could make sense.”
“Huh?” You almost couldn’t believe what you’re hearing. Affogato Cookie? “He was the one behind this?”
The Watcher nodded her head, her ponytail bobbed up and down.
“I saw it happen with my own two eyes. He was talking with some suspicious group earlier, and they headed off to the wall on the East side while Affogato went to assemble the guards.”
You’re staring at her completely stunned, and your entire reality was feeling like it’s being shattered into pieces. Caramel Arrow isn’t a liar, you know her long enough to realize that. Why would Affogato do something like this to you however? Now you’re left wondering more questions.
“I…. really? I can’t believe it…” You uttered under your breath.
Caramel Arrow Cookie sighed through her nose. “I told you he’s nothing but trouble. Has he done anything else that seemed suspicious to you?” She asked.
You thought about it for a moment, but nothing in particular stood out to you. The duplicitous man sure did a good job to conceal anything that would lead to you finding out their more manipulative side. Your pointer fingers rubbed against your temples in circles, and you concentrated harder on anything that might have seemed unusual to you. Caramel Arrow Cookie is looking at you confused.
“Oh!” You snapped. “When he was asking me if I could teach him anything about taming monsters, he looked a bit angry with me and then walked away. Said that ‘we’ll talk later’ before he left, it kinda gave me the creeps honestly.” You rubbed your arm just thinking back on it.
Caramel Arrow held her chin in thought. “Taming monsters, huh? That’s definitely for some kind of scheme he has. Then I bet he went to talk with that suspicious looking group I saw him with earlier.”
That last detail caught your attention. “DId you see what this group looked like?” You asked, wondering if it’s them again.
“I did, but let me try to remember…” Affogato closed her eyes and focused. “Hmm, I knew for certain one of them was dressed in a baggy red robe, and she had brightly red hair. There’s a mopey looking cookie wearing a hood, and he carries around a large licorice scythe.”
That’s pomegranate and Licorice Cookie alright.
“That’s about as much as I could remember. When they mentioned some kind of ‘quirky, bagged robed Cookie’, I was certain they were referring to you Stranger. After Affogato splitted from them, I waited to see where he would send those guards, then I could figure out where he’s keeping you captive.”
You looked at her with widened eyes. “You really went through all the trouble just to help me?”
She shakes her head disapprovingly.
“I couldn’t just sit by and do nothing after seeing Affogato Cookie whisk you away into his dirty clutches. It’s the least I could do in return. After all, you helped save me from those Cream Wolves right?”
You itched one of your rough, blushing cheeks with a gloved finger. “Y-yeah, that’s right! I did that.”
Caramel Arrow Cookie chuckled lightly, then playfully slapped your right shoulder. Even though she’s clearly trying to joke around, the amount of force she put into those smacks actually caught you by surprise.
“No need to act so modest, friend! Now come on, we need to go after them before they follow through with their plans.”
“Huh? You want my help?” You asked while pointing at yourself.
“Of course! Why wouldn’t I?” Caramel Arrow smiles jubilantly at you. “Your healing magic can come in handy!”
You bit your bottom lip, already anticipating disappointment. “...I still don’t know how to properly use it yet though. What if I just get in the way?” You tried reasoning. Caramel Arrow however shakes her head adamantly.
“Have more faith in yourself Friend! You learn best from doing, is what I say. And what better experience is there to learn from than stopping a group of bad guys?”
Her reasoning does have some logic to it, you admit. Figuring out how to use magic in dire combat situations can be done easier from first-hand experience, and not from reading any kind of book about it. Although, you’re still hesitant. You almost struggle to make eye contact with her.
You feel a strong hand grip your forearm through the thick robes.
“If you’re worried about getting crumbled out there, don’t be. As a proud Watcher of the Dark Cacao Kingdom, I’ll protect you from every harm’s way. And that’s a promise!” Caramel Arrow’s smile exuberates great confidence.
Staring back at her warm brown eyes, you nearly bought into it and would’ve shouted something equally rousing. However her last statement actually made you purse your lips.
“You really shouldn’t make promises you don’t know if you can keep…” You muttered. She blinked a few times.
“Do you not trust me?” She asked, and that made you freeze on the spot.
“Well! No-... uh. It’s not exactly that,”
“Then why?”
Now you’re struggling to formulate an answer. You move your hand away from her hold, and she seems to allow it. The situation now feels much more uncomfortable than it needs to be, all thanks to you.
“Ugh, it’s just…. It’s not that I don’t doubt your capabilities. I still think I’m going to mess up somewhere, and it’ll get me or us hurt badly.”
To your surprise, you hear her laugh. Actual, genuine sounding laughter at that. Oh gosh, did you end up saying something that makes you look stupid.
“You know what, I’ll agree with Affogato Cookie on one thing. You definitely are a strange Cookie. Come on Friend, they’re going to get away at this rate!”
Caramel Arrow then quickly took your hand and started to run to the front door. You’re shocked at how sudden your body is being forced to move, and Caramel Arrow’s pace is definitely not easy to keep up with.
But strangely enough, you don’t feel tired one bit.
“So, what’s our next step?” Affogato Cookie confided with Pomegranate Cookie, covering part of his face with one of his black gloves. The woman in question slowly turned her eyes to look back at him.
“Did you already forget? Bait the king out here, and we’ll handle the rest,” She uttered while looking like she’s already starting to lose her patience. Poison Mushroom Cookie tilted their head at the two and gazed curiously at Affogato Cookie who’s now starting to fuss.
“Well, of course! I already know that. I informed his highness to come out here for an inexplicably important matter. No surprise he was still awake at this deplorable hour. But what is our next course of action after this?”
Pomegranate Cookie chuckles softly. Her deeply red eyes are glimmering in some form of amusement Affogato couldn’t quite understand.
“Do not concern yourself with it. Once we handle the king, you’ll begin to understand. The empty throne will be yours soon enough.” She quietly turns around and heads to the hiding spot where Poison Mushroom, Licorice, and Dark Choco are waiting around. The pitch black darkness with the walls of the WatchTower perfectly conceals them all in mystery.
Affogato pursed his lips, but then soon heard the unmistakable heavy footsteps of his King approaching from the other side. He knew exactly what to do next, and hurried over to the broad, towering Cookie.
“Ah, there you are my liege!” He quickly joined him at his side and walked at the same leisurely slow pace. The bigger cookie shifted his dark violet eyes to glance at him for a quick second. “The reason I called you out here is to check on the progress of the reinforcements we made.”
He gestured to a side of the wall on the outside that has noticeably thickened up compared to the rest of the wall. Many uniformly arranged lines of congealed Cacao bricks and hardened syrup stuck out from it in a neat pattern.
“I have been overseeing our soldiers’ and nobles’ efforts on this project. Dare I say, all of my work is now starting to pay off. Everything has been flowing smoothly ever since.”
Dark Cacao looked over to the greatly reinforced walls Affogato mentioned and hummed deeply. He held his chin while observing the remarkable handiwork.
“Good work, Affogato Cookie. These walls look stronger than ever. Though this is a surprise, it is unlike you to monitor security affairs.” The king’s violet gaze scanned over to the other. His eyes squinted almost in scrutiny. “Tell me, have you employed a new strategy to motivate our workers? A sudden display of diligent work feels uncanny to me.”
Affogato Cookie giggles airily. “You needn’t concern yourself with it, milord. Your loyal retainer would never undergo reprehensible, shady tactics behind your back. Especially against one with such a keen eye for deceit!” With a content grin, his voice chirps through the night like a sweet, honeyed melody. But Dark Cacao still gave him the same stoney-faced look. “However, if I could make a suggestion. While a whip’s crack may be effective in getting the message across to the average laborer, wouldn’t a carrot on the end be far more tantalizing? Even staunch loyalty can be earned in such a way..”
The bulkier cookie nearly stopped in his tracks upon hearing those words, but he did give the lavishly robed cookie his full attention. A sly smirk is aggravatingly plastered across Affogato’s face. His silver irises comfortably lean on the upturned cheeks.
“What is this nonsense you speak of? Rewards cannot buy loyalty. True loyalty comes from those who wish to follow the king to the bitter end.”
“Yes, of course. I trust your wisdom Dark Cacao Cookie, please forgive my transgression.” Affogato quickly retracted from the king, as if dearly wounded, with a palm resting over his chest. The two continued their short walk across the wall quietly.
“I remember the moments I spent with my soldiers long ago to survive against this land’s bitter winters. It was as if it were yesterday,” The king started. Affogato returns it with the same easy smile he’s been keeping the whole time.
The thickly robed Cookie flexes the joints of his fingers in a rhythmic motion, while concealed from plain sight. A veil of mist quietly covers him from his diligently coiffed icing hair to his designer black fruit leather boots in almost a flash. The old king is still talking amongst himself.
“-but I digress. Was this all you had to show me Affogato Cookie?” The king questions, now out of his monologue and stays silent expecting a response. But he doesn’t get one.
“Your king has spoken, answer me,” he demands. As he starts to now glance around for his retainer, he’s suddenly nowhere in sight. The large Cookie squints his eyes until the tough, dark cookie skin wrinkles.
“Where have you gone Affogato Cookie?” A trill of concern rings in his voice, clearly alarmed and confused.
The king nearly felt his heart sink down. Loud and heavy footsteps clear as the day suddenly broke the silence. The cookie could’ve sworn a monster was about to ambush him on his own walls.
The Dark Cacao Kingdom is a rather quiet place. Everyone seems to mind their own business, and you barely had any strangers even cast a glance as you walked down the dark brick-tiled streets. Not a peep or a sound, other than the ambiance of the cold winds and quiet bustling of citizens working their busy jobs. They all have serious looks on their faces, completely concentrated on their tasks at hand. Lifting crates full of goods, moving carts filled with kinds of food and plants, or some kind of masonry. They’re constructing the same kinds of bricks that are used on the kingdom walls.
You had to admit it’s quite admirable how hard people are working here, despite the cold weather that was starting to bite at you. That’s something you’re still trying to get used to around here. Hopefully this library is somewhere close like what Affogato said it would be. The snow on the brick roads squishes and crunches softly under your boots on every step as you take a right near a corner decorated by a fine standing pine tree. A few stiff pine cones have fallen on the mushy ground around it.
In the distance you notice a high storied building with gold outlining its rooftop and walls. Could that be the library? It doesn’t really stand out that much from the other buildings that you’ve seen around in the kingdom. They all sort of look the same. However it is the one that is closest to the house, aside from the grandiose Citadel that Affogato mentioned he works in. So it feels likely that it is.
You decided to follow the paths to head toward it. If it happens to not be the library, it wouldn’t be a big deal, you thought. You’d get to explore and look around the kingdom you spent so much time getting to.
The brick path goes in a completely straight path to some stairs that head up near the great wall. Other routes branch off to the left and right that bend at perfect 90 degree angels. There’s also some lamp posts made of ivory white material, likely to hold flames when it gets dark in the city. They smelled a bit sweet? How strange.
Your robes proved to make ascending up steps a more difficult task than it needs to be. They draped down across the smoothly paved stone, catching your feet several times whenever you stepped up. You nearly tripped over but you luckily caught yourself on the guard rail.
Screw it, you thought after getting too frustrated with this. You reached down and grabbed a fistful of the robes at the bottom and held it up. Now for sure they won’t be getting in the way of your steps.
The tall building was nearby and just to the left, but there’s something else that caught your attention. You overhear the sounds of wood and stone being heaved, carried, and hammered down. There’s some rough grunts that come from people thrown into the mix. It all sounds like construction work.
You looked over the edge of a building to see an entire crew of workers making reinforcements onto the wall. It stretches on and on, as far as your eye can see. People atop wooden structures that allow them to reach to the top of the wall and stick more bricks onto it. They coat the surface with some kind of viscous, sticky liquid. What is that? It seems like some kind of…. yellowish-brown slime? It’s almost like pancake syrup. Maybe it’s some kind of special adhesive this kingdom has created for construction work, how nifty. Why do you feel almost tempted to stick a finger in the mysterious goop and taste it?
In your peripheral vision, two dark figures start to appear. Turning your vision, it appears to be Affogato Cookie again! However, he’s with someone else. A very broad, and tall person wearing gray armor walked beside him. Their hair is quite long, and has streaks of white between the black locks. It flows freely in the cold wind, along with their violet cape. The way they looked reminded you of Dark Choco Cookie, with their wide and broad body shape. They’ve even got large shoulder pauldrons and similarly colored hair, though this person has gray diamond pauldrons.
There’s also a crown or diadem on the top of their head made of very sharp looking diamonds. Is that the ruler?
You quickly moved back behind the wall for good measure. A sudden realization struck you that this could be considered an “off-limit” zone to normal people and you shouldn’t be here. However despite better judgement, you curiously stayed near and wondered if those two were talking about something.
“Reinforce the walls with more chocolate bricks and syrup. These reinforcements were ordered weeks ago, why hasn’t it been completed yet?” The taller one bellows. “Double check the supplies for every watchtower and bring in more boiling water to make more syrup and cacao!”
You’re nearly blown away by how strongly their masculine voice soars through this space near the wall. It definitely befits a strong and mighty ruler for certain. You could command an entire army with a voice like that.
“Pardon my curiosity, my liege.” A delicate voice rang through. That was Affogato Cookie, you can tell. “But why must we continue to fortify the Citadel walls? It’s been reinforced three times over at this point. I fear the funds in the Royal Treasure will become depleted quickly at this rate. We’ll have to resort to eating…. normal Jellies instead of Rainbow ones.” He sounded nearly heartbroken with that last line. What’s so special about a Rainbow Jelly?
“Curb your tongue, Affogato Cookie. We won’t be having any meals if this wall breaks down.”
“A thousand apologies, Your Majesty, I always trust your judgement. However, I believe there is truth to my words as well. These soldiers around you are growing tired and weary, and so are you my king. Please pace yourself, lest this kingdom falls with you.”
“My health is of no concern. All of you, put more effort into your work! I want to see this wall almost thicken twice in width!” The king hollers out, it nearly makes your heart race. You’d hate to get yourself caught eavesdropping on this guy.
Their footsteps are growing louder by the second, and without thinking you immediately flee the scene not wanting to risk getting caught. This King seems like pretty serious and strict business, who knows what kind of punishment might await you if you get caught in some place you’re not supposed to be in. You could be thrown in jail, or worse. Executed?!
Well, that’s a little extreme. But it’s not impossible.
You’re huffing and puffing tiredly as you rest your hands on knees. Running at full force in a flash takes a lot of energy out of you, and it doesn’t help that your clothes aren’t exactly designed for athletics. Despite it being so cold, you warmed yourself up rapidly and there’s a bead of sweat percolating on your forehead.
The back of your glove wipes it off and you arc your back to stretch out of this uncomfortable pose. Without knowing, you already made it over to that building you were staring at for so long. The library that you assumed this would be.
A formidable wooden door stands in your way. It’s painted in a black and white, circular design that weaves in and out harmoniously. You find it a bit intimidating almost, but you suck down your trepidation and march over to the large door’s steel handle. It almost slipped out of your grip the first time - the cold weather made a sheen of slippery frost around it. And to your surprise, the door was very heavy. It took strength in both of your arms to pull it open, how is an ordinary person supposed to use this?
It’s incredibly dark inside. Only a few candles were lit inside this deathly silent building, and you almost feel like this place is haunted. It certainly looks that way, you’re almost tempted to just run out of this creep place already.
Some old wooden seats with no backrest are lined up in order against a long table. There’s some windows up high that are clearly dusty and have some cobwebs on them. This made them more opaque than usual, and hardly let any light inside. The ceiling too looks peculiar. It’s hard to make out the details since it’s so dark in here, but they appeared to be painted wooden tiles.
Wait, since when did you get this far inside? Weren’t you just at the doorway?
A thunderous slam snaps you out of your trance. Darkness envelops your form.
The door outside has slammed shut.
….
Now you’re starting to freak out a bit, and you moved your hands to hold your own arms tightly. This is starting to get creepy…
“Oh, a visitor?” A ghastly voice speaks into your right ear.
“WAAAHH!!” You cried out, jumping around to face the voice that sprung out of nowhere.
Under the dim light, a tall and ghostly pale figure towers above you. With ebony white skin and hair that trails all the way down to the waistline. They’re adorned in some kind of unassuming garb, similar to the ones that you’ve been seeing ordinary citizens walk around in. A robe that folded over to his left side and was fastened with a wide cloth belt. The sleeves are a more airy, flimsy white material than the light yellow-brown robe. They’ve also got some kind of tall black hat that has a very wide but flat brim.
It looks like a person…. and it has features that are approximately proportionate to a human. But each part of their body is long, the sleeves go down to their knees and they look almost too freakishly tall to be considered normal. It's hard to believe that this could be someone real in front of you.
“Who the heck are you?!?” You shriek, still in disbelief how something like this could sneak up on you.
Whoever this is, they look like a ghost!
“The last time we had a visitor was….. I can’t remember.” They tapped their lips with one of their long, bony pointer fingers. “So long….”
They mentioned ‘visitor’ again. A sudden realization comes across your mind.
“Are you the Librarian?” You ask, with a little nervousness.
The figure closes its eyes and nods slowly.
“Yes, I am.” Their voice is slow and mystifying. Each of their pale hands are tucked into the opposite sleeve, and it gives you a deep bow.
“My name is….. Cacao Butter Cookie. Owner and keeper of the Dark Cacao Kingdom’s Library.” A long sigh slowly left through their nose, and even though they’re now bending over to get a better look at you, they’re still incredibly tall. “And for what purpose have you come here?”
Their sunken white eyes stared at you piercingly. A glimmering yellow shine phased over their iris in a quick moment.
You clenched your robes a bit harder, but gathered up all the courage you could.
“To find books about the Cookies of Darkness,” you explained simply. “I’d like to look around here to learn more about magic too. I’ve been…. not so great at it before. So I need a guide, or something to help teach me.”
Cacao Butter stares down at you still, not moving or saying anything. You start to fidget and glance to the side, their gaze feels like it's burning your skin.
“Intruiging,” he cups his chin using a forefinger and thumb. “I also cannot recall the last time someone has been interested in such knowledge from here. I can sense you are not lying to me. And will you make sure to put these texts back in their proper place when you’re done?” Their gaze is striking down at you again.
“Y-yes! Of course! Don’t worry, haha….” With a look like that, you wouldn’t ever want to know what happens if you did go against his orders.
“Good.” He turned around in one swift motion, already walking away slowly. “Feel free to peruse these halls to your heart’s content. I’ll still be here.”
They turned around at a bookshelf lazily, and their white robes soon left your line of vision. You sighed in relief, putting a hand over your heart. Jeez, what a scary first impression that was. And to have it early in the morning too? How cruel….
You grimaced to yourself. This library is massive with many floors lined with countless books, and you have no idea where to start looking. You should have asked that sickly ghost about which section to go to!
You figured the history section on the third floor would be the best place to start. There may be accounts of previous attacks or appearances the Cookies of Darkness had in the Kingdom. A prudent observer would have written down and analyzed their behavior if that happened.
The bookshelves were stacked and loaded with a wide array of different texts. Thick layers of dust have collected on the surface of many of the books’ spines. Maybe Cocoa Butter was right, it has been a while since anyone was last here.
It's almost overwhelming seeing all these books stacked high up around you. It would take many years to read through all of these properly. How did that Librarian collect so many of these books?
You scanned through the “C” section from left to right, using your pointer finger to steadily keep track of each title you’ve looked through. Lots of different books that start with the word “Cookies” apparently, to no one’s surprise. You often forget that aspect of this world.
“‘Cookie Home Etiquette Guide’, ‘Cookie Life in the Dark Cacao Kingdom: Anecdotes and Bibliographies Compilation’, “Course Handbook of Practicing Popular Dark Cacao Kingdom
Calligraphies’?” You read off each title to yourself with increasing suspicion. This appeared to be the end of all the books that start with the word “Cookies”.
There doesn’t seem to be any books here that mention the “Cookies of Darkness”, or at least having that in their title.
“Surely this can’t be it, right?”
So many different books are stored away untouched, and not one mentions what you were looking for. You didn’t want to lose faith yet, but if you had to resort to reading every single one of these books for even a single mention of the name 'Cookies of Darkness’, you’ll probably give up very soon.
“Yeah, no way I’m doing that. It’ll take forever.” You spoke out loud.
“Please do not talk in the library,” A ghastly voice speaks into your left ear.
You shrieked, feeling your vocal cords nearly peak up in pitch. You flipped around to see that all too familiar towering, pale white figure. It’s that Cacao Butter person, again!
“You seriously need to stop scaring me like that!!! I’m going to get a heart palpitation!” You’re clutching the area over your chest to emphasize that.
“Palpitation: a rapid pulse or irregularly formed heartbeat. You seem too healthy to have them, unless you have been uptaking an inordinate amount of caffeine or alcohol,” they said simply.
You gave Cacao Butter a puzzled look. “What the-? No I haven’t at all.” You’re not really sure why they even brought this up in the first place.
The tall person nodded their head slowly, almost as if they’re bowing to you. “Good, it’s important to stay in proper health. Regardless, please keep your voice down. You might be the only other Cookie here, but I still won’t adjust the legitimacy of the library policies for arbitrary reasons.”
And with that, the mysteriously tall librarian turned on their heels and started to walk away with their robe just barely grazing the polished floors. An idea suddenly came to your mind. You hastily stepped over to them and strongly clutched the back of their robe.
“W-wait!” You tried to inform them as loudly as possible while still keeping your voice mellow. It came off a little more awkward than you thought it would. Cacao Butter slowly turns his head to gaze right at you, his pale silver irises have no reflection of light in them. “I need to ask you something!” You whisper yelled.
They said nothing, standing still like a statue in the middle of the bookshelves while your fingers scrunched up the robe between the divots.
“I’m trying to find information here about the….. Cookies of Darkness. Have you heard of them? That’s why I came here, it’s for something important.” Your grip on the robes softened up as you felt less tense after explaining.
Still nothing. They still stared at you motionlessly without a single thought behind those blank eyes. You started to feel a little more nervous and a prick of heat started to bloom under your senses.
“They’re a group of villains? Serving Dark Enchantress Cookie to bring Darkness across this world? One of them is really big with a suit of armor, one has red robes and a mirror…. uh, you know?” The once strong confidence you had prior is now starting to dwindle and fizzle out of you miserably.
Yet Cacao Butter kept the same expression on his face, not paying heed to your stumbly ramble. And then, he raised his chin and started to look up for a little while. Are they trying to think about something?
“I’m afraid we don’t have any information regarding this ‘group of villains’ that you speak of. One that specifically has the name ‘Cookies of Darkness’.” Cacao Butter’s expression remained neutral the entire time he told you this.
You let go of their robe and looked down glumly. How incredibly disappointing, this is why you came all the way over here after all.
“Really? There isn’t a single book here that mentions them at all?” You questioned.
Cacao Butter Cookie turned around to face you and shook their head with their eyes closed. “No, not a single one. I’ve looked through all of the books, news articles, and any other kind of text here and not one mentions them.” They have their arms hanging idly to their sides, completely motionless. “This group you speak of must be a recent development, as it has not been documented anywhere.”
There’s nothing left for you to ask about it.
“However, if these villains you mention are truly threatening, more information about them would be available in the Citadel Archives.” That sparked your interest, and you looked right back at them with a shine in your eyes.
“How come?” You asked. Cacao Butter gives you a pensive look. “Sounds like an odd coincidence to me.”
“The Dark Cacao Kingdom government has recently become more…… isolated from the public in recent years, so to speak. And there has been more infighting amongst the political leaders too. They rely on the citizens’ faith in their King to remain strong as a nation.” Cacao Butter looks despondent, not really giving you direct eye contact.
“They’ll want to keep information such as this discreetly. News of an uprising villainous force could theoretically shatter the people’s already lingering faith they have in their kingdom.”
You never realized that the situation at the kingdom would be apparently dire. It makes you wonder just what happened before that led to this, it almost makes you feel sad in a way. You clasped your hands together and continued to listen to Cacao Butter.
“Your best bet to find anything about these ‘Cookies of Darkness’ would be to look in the Archives, which record every kind of information from the past. If any of them have been involved with the Dark Cacao Kingdom in an incident, there'll surely be some record of it there. Dark Cacaoians are quite diligent, you will find...”
To be polite, you nodded your head slowly to them. It took you a little while to soak in Cocoa Butter’s explanation to you. You haven’t talked or been with that many other Dark Cacaoians before either, but you’ll take their word for it. Cacao Butter seems wise and old enough to be correct about this.
Did Affogato mention the kingdom’s Archives to you before? You don’t remember, but he is probably your one and only ticket into getting there, seeing as he does work at the Citadel and seems powerful enough to have access to it. You’ll have to ask him about it later.
So there may be nothing about the Cookies of Darkness here, but there’s still hope thankfully! You feel elated already, already looking forward to meeting up with Affogato again and pop the question. That is, if you don’t completely shut down and feel unnerved around him, but surely you’ll be fine. Right?
A new idea flashed through your mind that would make this trip here actually worthwhile. As Cocoa Butter was about to turn around and leave you alone once more, you immediately rushed to his side and grabbed his robe again. His left eye widened just slightly more than usual this time around.
“Wait! I have one more thing I want to ask you.” You pulled a little tighter on the pale clothing, feeling the fabric slightly give way.
“Are there any…. books around here about teaching magic? Or like a guide to help…… learn magic?” You spoke hesitantly. After the kerfuffle with finding anything about the “Cookies of Darkness” here, it feels unlikely to find anything about magic in this library. After all, people in this kingdom don’t really seem like the whole “magic” or “mystical” type, so why would there be anything written here pertaining to that?
Cacao Butter stared at you blankly. His gaze pointed up to the ceiling for a few seconds.
“There’s only a paltry selection, but yes. We do have some books about magic. Would you like me to show you it?”
You excitedly nodded your head. “Yeah! Of course! I’ll need all the help I can get, haha…” You itched your forearm.
“Then follow me. It’s not too far from here.” They swiftly walked ahead to lead the way. Not wanting to lose track of them and get lost again, you did your best to keep up with their pace.
Cacao Butter was right, it didn’t take long at all to reach the “Magic” section of the library. It was only on the fifth floor, so not too much exercise was required from you. They were also right about it only being a “paltry selection”. There’s only 4 or so books in the whole library about magic. That’s less than “paltry” in your opinion.
“This is it?” You asked. Maybe they’ve got some more texts in the back that just haven’t been put out on the shelves yet.
“Yes.” Cacao Butter shot down your hopes instantly. “I have some other parts of the library I need to manage,” and with that they left you alone staring at the tiny array of books.
Perhaps magic is not a popular or well known concept in the Dark Cacao Kingdom. You thought back to when you were roaming the streets and seeing all those hard working people reinforce the huge walls surrounding the kingdom. There was also a muddy camp along the way that was training soldiers in sword combat. The kingdom seems to have a stronger focus on manual labor and building physical strength, so maybe magic doesn’t play much of a part in their culture. But now this makes you wonder how these few books even ended up in Cacao Butter’s collection. Were there a few people that did hold an interest in magic?
You picked out the leftmost book and examined the front cover. The title reads “Theory and History of Earthbread Magic”. Sounds exciting. But it’s probably a good place to start.
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
After about 30 minutes, you’re already bored out of your mind. You cursed at whatever caused your short attention span and difficulty staying focused. But your mind just keeps wandering off whenever you try to tackle reading through one passage.
“Ugh!” You groaned in frustration. This is going to take forever; you’ll be trapped in this library until nightfall at this rate. “Stupid brain! Why is it so hard to read!” You whined quietly, lightly hitting your knuckles against your own skull. It felt oddly therapeutic.
You swear, you’re not a child. You can faintly recall reading plenty of books before, but why is it so hard to do it now? Did losing your memories have something to do with this?
With a newfound enthusiasm, you took every bit of concentration you have into purely focusing on reading the book. You blocked out everything else around you and lasered in on the black text.
The beginning portions of the book talked about the history and founding of magic in Earthbread. You weren’t too interested, so you skimmed through these sections. Although one part did catch your attention.
The Pure Vanilla Kingdom, while already having strong roots in white magic, is famous across the world for studying and teaching the five types of magic amongst the nations. Magically gifted or interested cookies from all over Earthbread would travel there to attend the various Magic Universities the kingdom has to offer. Benefiting not only their own curiosity and power, but to all the Cookies and places their magic may be of assistance.
The passage then goes on to list some of the schools of magic at the pure vanilla kingdom and noting the history behind each one.
Five different nations? You vaguely remember something like this before. Oh! The map that Cotton Cookie showed you had the five different nations all laid out, but you were only focused on the Dark Cacao Kingdom at that moment so you don’t remember any of the others’ names.
Stopping by the Pure Vanilla Kingdom sounds like a good idea to you. If you aren’t able to figure out how to use magic after this visit, it would definitely be worthwhile to receive some extra tutoring. This world is inhabited with dangerous monsters and foes you’ve come to learn, so you’ll need all the help you can get. You’d hate to be completely defenseless the next time you’ll inevitably get into a fight, with no Fluffy or Caramel Arrow to help you out.
And what’s this other passage? It looks interesting.
Not much is entirely known about magic, only that its matter has existed long before the foundation of the nations. Those who theorize the fundamentals of how it works debate with each other. Is it driven by the user’s emotion? Heart and Soul? Mind? There doesn’t seem to be any clear answer.
Unfortunately, nothing that is useful to you right now. You quickly flipped through the other pages in the thick textbook. Each new section concerns a different theory on how magic works, argued by different leading Cookie philosophers.
You slammed the heavy text shut, feeling a sudden puff of wind from its pages enter up your sleeve. The thick text was shuffled right back into the bookshelf with its three other friends neatly. What about these other books? Maybe they’ll be guides for how to use magic. Beginner friendly, preferably.
Pursuing through the other handful of Magic related books turned out to be unfruitful. They were related to magic, but not in a way that is useful to you. One of them was about using magic for outdoor survival, another for political implications with magic, and the last was about massage techniques using magic. Yeah, not really useful for a newbie mage.
Figuring there was nothing else for you to do here, you put all the books back and headed toward the stairs. The lack of lighting made it a bit hard to see where you’re going, and you ended up stumbling into a wooden railway that made your side feel sore afterwards.
Once you reached the bottom floor, you looked around for that familiar pale Cookie. They didn’t seem to be anywhere around here, not even at the front desk. You were about to call their name to say you’re about to leave, but then you just remembered the rule about “no talking”. They looked intimidating enough, you’d hate to find out what Cacao Butter looks like when they’re angry. That’s the last thing you’d want right now…
You cautiously speed walked through the library’s lobby, just about to reach the steps that lead to the door. Then you double checked the bookshelves on the left and right to make sure they’re not there. Out of nowhere, you bumped into something firm on the side of your face.
The collision set you off balance and made you fall to the ground with an awkward *thump*. You looked up to see Cacao Butter Cookie staring down with a shadow under their eyes.
“Have the library’s resources proved to be useful to you?” They said, barely moving their lips with each word.
Every single time! Just why?!
“Yes! T-they have!!” You spoke, quicker than any other time you had before. Uncomfortable heat bursts in your chest, and you feel a little sweat forming at the crown of your head.
“Good, I’m glad my books have managed to help another Cookie.” Cacao Butter Cookie bowed while putting a fist into his other palm. “Come back anytime,” they swiftly walked through the shelves on the left, almost vanishing instantly.
The door to the frigid outside world suddenly opened wide, catching you off guard. You didn’t waste any time and ran out there wanting to get out of this library as fast as possible.
You grabbed the heavy wooden slab with both hands and swung it closed with all of your strength. The reverberation from slamming the door rattled you to your bones.
“Thank goodness this is all over…” Who would’ve thought a trip to the library can end up stressful? Now it feels like an appropriate time to head back home.
The sun had begun to set behind a tall snowy mountain. Purple and deep orange hues painted the sky above in an enchanting mix. Some heavily dressed guards were using torches to light the lanterns on the street one by one. It also looks like most shops were beginning to close up, with lots of the stands and goods you saw on display having been taken away from the streets. You felt a little shiver in your right arm; it feels like it is getting colder too.
You spotted someone familiar on your walk back, with an elegant and well-composed swagger. That iconic set of extravagant robes and the circular hair ornament. It’d be hard to not recognize him, even in the relatively limited amount of sunlight outside. And he appeared to be walking along a path that was about to intersect the same one you’re on. Is he also headed to where you’re going as well?
It seems you’ve gotten close enough for him to notice you. A Silver iris quickly darts over to the corner of his left eye and scans over your appearance. An eager smile graces his dark lips.
“Ah! Hello again stranger! What a fortunate coincidence this is!” Affogato Cookie stops himself mid-sentence and raises a hand to his mouth. “How rude of me! I have entirely forgotten to ask for your name. Unless of course you wish for me to keep referring to you as “stranger”, hah.” He laughs to himself.
You blink owlishly, somewhat caught off guard by how quickly he was able to start a conversation. “Well… funny story about that. I don’t really know what it is either, I’ve forgotten.”
“Really now?” He asks, but not in a chiding way. You look up to him and nod your head, reaffirming.
Affogato laughs again, airily. “Hmm… Fine then! I will keep calling you ‘Stranger’ if that’s what you wish.” Affogato Cookie smirked at you.
To be fair, it wasn’t that unpleasant of a nickname in your eyes. Could it be worse? You shrugged at him. “Sure, I guess.”
Affagato’s smile doesn’t falter, in fact that smirk stays on persistently. He swiftly makes his way over to you on the same path, keeping at your side. You’re reminded of the same way he looked while he was walking beside that King.
“So, how was your trip to the Library? Exciting? Found what you need?” He still spoke in that lightly amused tone of his. Although you had to admit, it was a little hard to not smile along with it.
You held one of your arms and rubbed it slowly. “It went alright, for the most part…” The memory of Cacao Butter Cookie dampened your opinion of the visit. “But they didn’t have any books about the Cookies of Darkness, which was what I went there for.” Something important popped up in your head. “Oh wait! Affogato Cookie, I need to ask you for a favor.”
“Hm? And what would that be?”
“Err… I know you let me stay in this really nice house and all. And I’m very thankful for it, really! But I need to ask if you can let me go into the Kingdom’s archives?”
Affogato Cookie paused, staring at you confused.
“The archives? That is strictly off limits to anyone that does not work at the Citadel. And even then, there’s a high clearance for it. Why do you need to go there?”
“It’s the best shot I have at learning more about the Cookies of Darkness! If there’s any records about them being in this Kingdom, it’ll be there and I can learn more about them.”
He pursed his lips and narrowed his look at you. Though Affogato always manages to keep a composed look.
“I’ll see what I can do.” He mumbled. You assumed that making such an arrangement is probably complicated work. “Although, I have just one thing I’d like to ask in return.”
“Yes?” You asked.
A soft smile appeared on his face. “I’d like to learn how to tame a Snow Prowler from you.”
Your mind went blank. “Huh?” You asked bewildered.
“Now, now. Don’t try to act coy. I’ve seen how you were on the battlefield before against those Cream Wolves. The two of you fought with each other like the most trusted allies!”
You tilted your head at Affogato Cookie. What is he talking about? The elegant man leans in closer to a whisper’s distance, making you feel a little flustered.
“If you don’t mind, can you tell me what your secret is? Just share it between you and I. I’d love to know what kind of brilliant technique you used to make such a powerful beast heed your commands.”
A stagnant rut is halting your thoughts.
“I have no ill intentions, trust me. Just think about it, the Dark Cacao Kingdom will soon have an entire army armed with powerful Snow Prowlers or other mighty monsters to fight by their sides. All thanks to you! You’ll surely be handsomely rewarded for making such a contribution.” There’s a mysterious glimmer in Affogato Cookie’s eyes.
You scratched the back of your head and laughed nervously.
“Hahaha…. That’s a funny joke, Affogato! I didn’t really ‘tame them’ in the first place. They just sort of, chose to be by my side after I saved them.”
He squinted at you and furrowed his eyebrows. “It’s no joke, Stranger. Snow Prowlers are one of the most ferocious monsters around this kingdom. I find it hard to believe that one would just easily reciprocate an act of good will.” Affogato’s silver eyes glimmered against the moonlight, and he’s holding his long staff more upright.
There wasn’t any other kind of excuse you could think of. He seems dead set on believing you have used some kind of trick to get Fluffy’s favor, but you have nothing to play it off.
You shrugged your shoulders and avoided his stare which was starting to feel like it’s burning you.
“I don’t know what else to say! But it's true, you’ve gotta believe me.” Your voice trailed off. He kept his scrutinizing look at you.
Silence befell the two of you on the walk, that was now starting to feel more awkward than it should.
Before you knew it, you and Affogato had just reached the front door of the home he had graciously provided for you.
He remained silent for a short moment before scoffing.
“We’ll talk more later.”
And just like that, Affogato turned around and left .
“What rotten luck…”
Affogato Cookie muttered to himself a few curses. He stomped away from his Yangban with discreet fury.
“I’ll need some time to rethink all of this, and plan out my next move. Although confidence in the king is starting to fade, so it might not be so bad.”
He turned the corner of the street, nearly brushing his sleeve against a tree branch.
“Your anger is… amusing,” A ghostly giggle rings out in the air. Affogato Cookie stops in place completely stunned by that creepy voice. “Is ploying a political usurp this complicated? Or are these just your true colors?”
“W-who’s there?” He sputters.
As he turns around slowly, a woman dressed in red has been standing behind him the entire time. She gives him a quaint smile, and three other figures within the shadows lurk behind her.
“Relax friend. We only want to have a little ‘chat’.”
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Rivers of Salt Ch.6: Can you really call this a Yangban? There wasn't a bowl of pure water or something
Table of Contents
Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
The entrance to the private housing Affogatto Cookie looked nearly extravagant like the man himself. Heck, you could say that about the entire property he led you to that was near the Citadel. There clearly wasn’t any kind of expense spared when it came to designing this place.
Finely painted, laminated wood with an intricate design of two dragons decorated the door. One was white and the other black. They appeared to be locked together in a rigorous battle from what you could interpret from the drawing.
It slid over to the left as Affogato Cookie moved the door sideways.
“Ta da!~ And here is your place!” He put a hand on his chest while wearing the warmest smile you’ve even seen from him. “Quite nice, isn’t it?,” he said charmingly.
You had to admit, it does look nice. It’s even better looking on the inside, and more spacious than you thought it would be. Many different beautifully and delicately composed paintings on scrolls of paper are hung on walls. Each is rich with details and consist of a similar artstyle. Some are colored and others have a kind of calligraphy on them. You can imagine yourself hanging such nice works of art in your own room. How much do these things cost? Probably a hefty chunk of change given how nice they look.
The wooden frames are deeply dark brown, while the interior walls are an immaculate marble white. The windows have thin wooden doors with a grid-like pattern on them, and the same kind of pattern is on the ceiling too. Several doors that each have some kind of intricate circular design of purple, black, and white likely lead to different rooms in the house. This place looks like it houses a large family, it’s much too big just for yourself!
“I’ll take your silence as a yes?” Affogato chimed in, making you feel a little bashful. “H-huh? Oh yeah! It is! Wow, what a nice house you’ve got here.”
He chucked at your little stutters. “And it’s all for you to enjoy during your stay here.”
Affogato closed the door behind you softly. He removed his sleek black wooden shoes and set them in a small area near the door. The silver staff was tapped against your bulky boots. It was pushed firmly against your foot, but not hard enough to actually cause pain. Just to make the point across.
“Please take these off.” He tutted. “We wouldn’t want these snow-trodden things to track muck all over these nice floors.”
His tone reminded you of an uptight mother disciplining her children. But you did as he said, wanting to show respect for him. You crouched down to pop the heavy footwear off of your feet. You set them aside near his wooden shoes, finding the difference in size between the two to be a little amusing. Apparently, you’ve been wearing white socks on your feet the whole time.
The other person walked further into the comfy home with slow and relaxed steps. His black socks gently pitter-pattered across the straw floor. His robes and gown flows behind his steps like puffy, voluminous clouds. Never sagging or seeming to weight him down. Even something as simple as walking he can make appear as an elegant dance.
You cautiously followed his steps, keeping a fair distance between the man. For some reason, you still feel a little nervous. This seems too good to be true, doesn’t it? Getting to stay in such a nice house until you find your answers for free? It is hard to tell if Affogato cookie was telling the truth or not.
“Over on the right is the way to the Madang, the house’s garden. You might’ve seen it on the way here.” Affogato points to the finely painted sliding door by raising his right hand toward it. “I have arranged gardeners to maintain it every week, so you won’t have to worry about doing it yourself. But I recommend you to spend some time there if you ever feel the need to clear your mind.”
He swiftly makes his way across the center of the room, passing around a square shaped table that’s low to the floor. It looks like a dining table for the central living room. There’s some soft looking white cushions on each side of the dark table.
“The kitchen is through this door,” He pointed to one on the left side of the hallway. With how spacious this flat is, it was actually a considerable distance. “That one leads to the women’s quarters and the one straight ahead leads to the men’s.”
Affogato turned around to give you eye contact. He firmly planted his silver staff against the floor. There’s a kind of shine in his silver eyes that’s hard to discern, but very alluring nonetheless. Definitely charming, but he holds a mysterious air about him like what could lurk around in the darkness of night. It makes you ponder more questions about your newfound “benefactor”, though you’re trying to avoid jumping to any conclusions. You want to give Affogato the benefit of the doubt.
The corner of his dark lips curled up into a sly smile.
“I’ll get out of your hair, or should I say hood, for now and let you get some sleep. It is quite late after all. Tomorrow morning, I will visit you again so we can talk some more. Sounds good?” He spoke politely.
You pulled your hood down and stuck your hands back into your robe pockets. It got cold on the walk over here, and you pulled it over your head.
“Sure!” Your smile was a little crooked and uneasy. “S-see you then…” You actually weren’t entirely sure if you wanted to see him again. But you don’t want to be rude.
Those lips smiled wider across his dark brown skin. He started to walk toward the door outside, stopping a bit next to you for a moment long enough to make you break out a drop of sweat. A light hand was put on your left shoulder.
“I wish you a good night’s sleep.” Affogato’s voice is light and airy. Not a hint of any crack, stutter, or word that felt off-pitch. His voice sounds well practiced and fine-tuned to be perfectly melodic.
And with that, he left. The hand on your shoulder was no longer there, and his footsteps were growing quieter. You hear the door being open and shut swiftly, and you’re still standing in the middle of the room stunned.
Thank goodness, you thought. Your heartrate can finally settle down now, at the comfort of complete silence in this home.
You looked all around you to soak in all the precious details of the room provided for you. It’s admittedly too good looking for your liking, you genuinely feel a little uncomfortable being placed in such a space. You’re not used to living in such a wealthy feeling house.
Caramel Arrow Cookie….
A frown pulls at your lips. The way she was yelling out to you back then at the bridge made your heart wrench a little from remembering it. She sounded genuinely distraught and panicked for you. You’re starting to already miss her even though you admittedly don’t know her that much. Was Affogato Cookie really that bad of a person?
It does appear that he gave you this home to live in for the time being without asking for anything. How generous is that?
You’ll give him a chance, you decided. He makes you feel nervous for some reason, and you aren’t sure why. But he does. Perhaps that distinguished visage he puts up is great at unnerving others, and you just so happen to fall victim to it.
“*Yawn* Ahhhh….,” you mumbled. Drowsiness began to wash over you in a crashing tide, which made you rub your eyes which started to feel a little sore. Affogato was right, it is getting late. You don’t suppose he’s already got toiletries prepared for you in the bathroom?
Turns out, yes. There are actually some bathroom supplies prepared for you to use. Toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, et cetera. The generic stuff you’d normally find in any bathroom. Your nightly routine didn’t take long at all for you to do, and you immediately headed straight to the nearest bedroom to sleep for the night. You’re honestly too tired to even care right now. You’re the only one in the house anyways.
Even the bedroom was decorated lavishly with a few ornate tables, cabinets, and more paintings. Some of them had a particular “golden” lining around them, which helped show off that wealth even more. There was no raised bedframe, just a futon with a simple thick quilt that covered it and a large puffy pillow leaned against the wall.
You rested your folded baggy mage robes and pants on a small diamond table near the door. A big yawn escaped from your mouth, and your eyelids fluttered a few times. You found out in the bathroom that you were wearing a simple one-color cotton tunic under your robes the whole time as well. It has a few buttons leading up to the collar to make taking it off easier, but that’s about it. It stretches down just above your knees fitting your body well enough.
The bedroom is nearly coated in complete darkness. Crouching down over the bed, you ran your hands across the quilt comforter. This wide and pillowy, likely stuffed with genuine feathers to give it such a remarkable quality. You lifted up the cover and shuffled inside the comfy bed.
It’s soft and fairly weighty on your chest, but not to the point where it feels smothering. The wide pillowy quilt is making you feel more drowsy already, the soft weight has that kind of an effect on you. Your breathing slows and relaxes to a quiet rhythm. Slowly, your eyelids close and you feel yourself drifting away.
The broad wooden door swung open faster than my eyes could blink. It harshly slammed against the wall, making an irritating loud bang that I could swear felt like it scratched my eardrums. A mellow living accommodation presents itself before me.
“Welcome to our humble abode!” Eira perks up, probably more excited than what really should be necessary.
The two stood still for a moment, I guess they’re waiting for me to enter first. They’ve got some manners as hosts. I felt the need to keep my guard up and each step I took was shy and hesitant. Why do I feel like some pet they found on the street that’s getting time to settle into a new home?
I guess that doesn’t feel too dissimilar to my situation.
There’s ample enough space in here, though it does look cramped in places. Workbenches with unknown equipment that looks like it belongs in a chemistry lab are lined against the walls. There’s several different bookshelves hosting thick texts that are stuffed together. A small dining space near a kitchen and a hallway to the right.
“This is your place?” I asked, curious if there is anything else to see.
“It’s not much, but it gets the job done.” The snappy voice of Forset quashes my suspicions. I hear the door shut behind me firmly. “The academy won’t spoil us with any kind of extravagances. Just the basics.”
“And we don’t mind it at all!” Eira chimed in. “I think it’s nice living modestly. We add in whatever we find or scrounge up.”
I nodded my head understanding. I won’t complain, given they’re letting me stay with them for the time being.
“Right then, I’m going to my room.” “if you need anything call me.”
“Now hold on just a second,”
Forset made a little choking sound. I saw Eira holding the back of his robe firmly to keep him from walking away.
“We should give our new friend a tour! Help them get used to our home, since they’re going to be staying with us.”
“Tour of what? The cramped bathroom and your smelly laundry hamper?”
“Well… uh,” she looks conflicted. I guess she doesn’t really have a rebuttal for that jab. “Fine. Let’s just sit here and talk, so we can get to know them better. Since you always seem to hate my ideas.”
The two witches-in-training sat down on the wrinkly - likely faux - suede couch. It creaked and groaned under their combined weight, and for a moment I was worried the piece of furniture would collapse onto the ground. It certainly looks like it would. Forest pointed a finger at something behind me.
“Go on, take a seat,” his eyes are narrowing at whatever it is he’s referring to. I spun my head around to see, and it’s a light green beanbag. Better than sitting on the floor.
I plopped down onto the large cushy seat, feeling air blow out from beneath. It’s oddly softer than I expected it to be. The small beads inside were almost comforting to feel on my back. Now I was starting to sink down further into the beanbag almost getting sucked into it. It covered most of my body.
The two are quietly discussing something to each other, probably about something they don’t want me knowing about. Is it for how long they’re going to let me stay? …… I hope it doesn’t come to what I’m thinking about.
“You uh, feel okay being here for the meantime?” Eira started nervously. There’s a subtle uneasy edge in her smile that would be hard to miss.
“Yeah…. I guess so.” I spoke quietly. It’s better than being on the streets, or worse - back there.
“That’s great! We don’t mind having you here, though we can’t have you going outside that much, or maybe even at all. The other students might see you and make a fuss about it in the academy. The headmaster will have our heads if it comes to that.”
I nodded to her explanation. “Sure.” The boredom of having nowhere to go or nothing to do might get to me, but it’s a worthy sacrifice for the time being.
Forset kept a piercing, steely gaze on me as I was sinking deeper and deeper into the bean bag. He looks mad, well he seems to always have that kind of a look, but now it appears he’s got something else on his mind. He puts a hand on Eira’s left shoulder and opens his pink lips.
“If they’re going to be staying with us, I feel there can be some value in…. teaching them our ways, so to speak.” This caught my attention, and I even leaned a bit forward from the encompassing bean bag. Taught their ways? As in, to be a witch myself too?
“P-pardon?” Even Eira was in disbelief. She looked at him in utter shock.
“Yes I’m serious.” He crossed his arms at her, while keeping his posture completely straight. “The best way to become a part of the Witch’s Society is to learn witchcraft yourself. ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’”
“Plus, the best way to learn is to teach. It’ll help us with our studying also.” There’s a confident smile on Forset’s face, as if he feels incredibly proud of himself.
Eira still sat there stunned, but then made a very snide smirk that didn’t go unnoticed by me. Even with all of this bean bag mush around me, I can still see it.
“You know, you were so opposed to bringing this kid back with us. And now you’re saying we should make them our little apprentice?” Eira poked his shoulder with each elated syllable she spoke. A little rosy blush appeared on Forset’s cheeks. “Did ya have a change of heart Forset?”
“Enough already!” He swatted Eira’s prodding finger away and suddenly stood up. “The child better be under strict supervision and discipline. You can talk to them about their first lessons or whatever, I’m leaving!” The flustered green-haired man stomped away so quickly that he left behind a deep purple flash. I heard a door slam, and I definitely felt the entire dorm room shake and rattle. He must be very mad. Is it because of me?
“Don’t worry about him kid, he just hates it when I tease too much.” Eira airily chuckled to herself. She stood up as well, then flattened down the creases in her baggy robes. She quickly made her way over to me and grabbed my right wrist.
“Woah!” I was surprised by how quickly she pulled me out of the bean bag seat. I was instantly on my feet again.
“First things first, before we start with any kind of magic, I believe a bath is in order.” She was leading me to the other side of the dorm away from Forset, she’s pinching her nose together with her other hand. “No offense, but you do kinda smell. You can wash yourself, right?”
I felt a little insulted from that remark. I felt tempted to tug my wrist out of her grasp. “Yes, of course.” The hallway was short and we quickly reached . “I’m not…. a baby.”
Eira laughed softly again. “It’s hard to tell how old you are! You look very young.”
The door was opened for me, and a flash of bright white light surges everywhere.
…
…
…
…
…
…
Some disturbing anomaly twists the dimensions
…
…
…
…
…
…
“Alright, repeat after me,” Forset sucked in a deep breath of the moist forest air. His chest puffed out a little bit I noticed. “Ignis manifesta!” He yelled out.
Great plumes of blazing red flames appeared miraculously from the palm of his left hand. It hovered under an inch from the surface of his skin, yet the man isn’t even wincing at all from being so close to an active fire. I certainly felt the heat from standing right next to him.
Forset slowly moved his hand near a torch planted in the ground and set it aflame. The tip burned brightly, flickering and licking the air with its smoking red aura. I was almost put off by it. Was he controlling how strong the fire can be even when it’s burning elsewhere?
My mentor snuffed the flame from his palm and brushed away the light smoke. He looked straight at me, with a sharp look that almost resembled a glare. Now I’m even more nervous!
I pulled the baggy sweater sleeves Eira sewn for me back to get ready.
“Ignii, manifeesta!” I tried to yell out. I wasn’t sure what language Forset was speaking before, but it was hard to remember exactly what the words were. Nevertheless, I put my all into focusing on those words.
….
But nothing happened.
I tried flexing my fingers and palms harder to try and make something emerge, but it didn’t work.
“You can’t force magic out of your hands.” Forset scolded, then put a hand on my palm to stop whatever it was I am doing. “It comes from your heart and soul. You need to feel the spell like it’s a part of your body. Imagine it blooming within you. Then, the words will come naturally to you.”
I squinted at him. He makes it sound so easy, but I have trouble understanding even a lick of what that’s even supposed to mean. What is it that I’m doing wrong? I am trying all I can to focus on a wisp of fire and conjure it from my hand.
In a quick second, Forset has already created a flame within his right hand to show me once more. My jaw dropped.
“With enough experience, you don’t even need to recite the incantation for the spell. The words will pass through your mind and spirit with ease.”
He clenched a fist in the same hand, putting out the flames in a flash.
I put both hands out this time. “Ignisa, manifeosta!” I said once more, with a strong oomph. My arms are shaking from how hard I’m tensing the muscles in them. But still nothing! What am I missing?
Forset clicked his tongue, clearly sounding annoyed.
“It looks like there is still much for you to learn. Well, I think we’ve done enough here. I have a class soon, and you need to head back to the dorm room.” He stood up straight and readjusted his glasses. Then, he swept one of his baggy sleeves over the alit torches, putting them all out in one smooth motion. I stared up at him with glossy and pleading eyes.
“If you would like more tutoring, talk to Eira if she’s in the room. I believe she doesn’t have any classes right now.”
Forset turned away and already started walking in the direction out of the muggy pine forest.
“Maybe read up on those beginner witch’s guides, yeah? They might be for kids, but they’re still a useful starting point for any novice such as yourself.” He waved his hand in the air, not even sparing me a glance.
I was glaring daggers at the back of his head. Hmph! He doesn’t need to be so rude! Why is he always like that?
Now I don’t feel like going back to the dorm yet. I’ll get this spell, really! I am going to keep practicing here until I get it!
I stomped over the fuming torches. Maybe if I give it a few more times and I concentrate hard enough, it’ll finally work!
Over and over again, I thrusted my hand out and yelled the name of the spell to the best of my memory. But no matter how much effort I put into it, still nothing happened. I couldn’t even make a puff of smoke appear from my hands.
I kicked over the torch onto the ground, and groaned as loud as I could. I just can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong. Maybe a walk around these woods will help clear my head and think of a new idea. There’s a different path on the left side that’s opposite to where Forset left. I can try going over there.
……
The forest blurs into a miasma of colors and shapes. The form cannot be grasped by the mind.
……
Two other witches are sitting by a log near a cliff. It’s the vast dark ocean that borders the Witch’s Academy. I haven’t seen much of it myself, but it acts incredibly unordinary. Well, it’s almost…. alive to me. The waves peak up and bubble in random places, it’s very odd. I wouldn’t want to set a foot in those waters.
Now what are those two doing? I’m actually a bit curious, because it seems like they’re huddling around something very lively. I hear noises that sound like “blips” and “beeps” coming from over there.
“‘Ey, what’s the name of ‘is shit anyhow?” The one on the right sneered. They wiped a finger under their large nose, flicking large globs of snot through the air.
“Super Bario, you prick.” They nudged an elbow into their left side, making them laugh out loud somewhat obnoxiously.
“Yer joking right? That’s ‘is name? Super Bario….” The hooded witch grinned ear to ear.
“Actually,” The one holding the device is moving their arms and shoulders around frantically. “In the movie, the shithead’s real name is Bario Bario. That’s his first and last name, Bario. It’s really- AH FUCK!!” The shrill masculine screech hurt my ears a little. He slammed his lap with whatever it is he’s holding. The witch on the right was laughing their reaction up like it was the funniest thing they’ve ever seen.
“You’re so shit bro! Hahaha!!”
Is whatever he’s using really that amusing? Now I’m curious to see for myself. I started to walk my way over to the moss-eaten log that they’re sitting on.
“Hey you two!” I spoke up confidently with each step I was drawing near. This almost startled them, and they immediately turned their heads around to look at me. “That looks like fun, what are you doing?” I pointed in the area between them, trying to allude to whatever the device was.
They both have the most confused and perplexed look I’ve ever seen on someone. The boy on the left has pale skin that is spotted with acne, and the one on the right has darker colored skin.
“What the-,” The right witch sputtered. “Who the hell are you?” Their eyes are nearly bulging out of their sockets. I rubbed the fabric of my sweater between my fingers, I’m starting to feel a little nervous.
“J-just someone who’s a bit lost! Hehe….” I lied, to the best of my ability. I hope they bought it.
The pimply boy suddenly grew a smirk on his face.
“You want to see what we’re laughing about, kid?” He asked. I nodded my head with a little smile. “Well, then come over here. I’ll show you!”
His smirk turned into a genuine-looking grin, which made my nervousness go away. Oh, now I can’t wait to see what it is! I hurried over to look at the space between them. I peered between their arms, but there wasn't anything.
Out of nowhere, a wooden stick was pushed against my nose.
“Huh?” I stammered, staring directly at it.
“Repelle!” The boy shouted right at me.
And with the force of a powerful punch, I was suddenly launched backwards. I shrieked in astonishment, tumbling backwards on the dirty ground before finally stopping somewhere. My face stung badly and felt sore.
I hear the terrible laughter coming from the other two seeing me lie pathetically on the ground with dirt on my face and clothes.
“Idiot! Hahaha!” The boy cackled. “Serves you right for falling for it!”
“Why is there some stupid kid over here in the Academy anyways? Go back home to your mommy and cry!” That was the other witch.
I groaned, trying to push myself off the ground. My hands were stuck in mud, making it even harder to pull myself up. Something gooey and wet splattered on my head.
The crack of dawn peers through the room in broad streaks. Beams of shining pale yellow light hit the surface of the quilt, slowly and steadily rising up. Eventually they meet your face, gently warming it and dispelling the darkness from your internal vision. It stirred you awake from your deep, meditative slumber. You shook your head and groaned in annoyance.
Your eyes feel a little dry for some reason. Rubbing them with your finger didn’t do much good to alleviate it, so you decided to take the large quilt off yourself and start heading to the bathroom.
“Euuugh….” It feels dizzy. That sudden rush of vertigo knocked right into your senses like a wrecking ball. You almost feel light headed, but you manage to grab hold of a nearby ornate table to stabilize yourself. “Plehhh…” You stuck your tongue out. “Why am I so lightheaded? I feel like I’m gonna puke.” Another reason to start heading to the restroom
You couldn’t be bothered to put on your robes, despite feeling a little chilly. Each of your footsteps made a light pitter-patter against the laminated dark wood. You shivered, clutching yourself over the plain tunic tightly as you searched high and low for the bathroom in this massive house. You found it before last night, so why are you struggling so much now?
A sudden loud knocking on the front door surprised you, and you nearly tripped over your feet and faceplanted onto the cold floor. Each bang on the door was alarmingly strong, almost like they’re trying to break the door down. Or maybe that’s just your grouchy morning-mind imagination interpreting it that way.
“Yoohoo! It’s me, Affogato Cookie! Hope you’re wide awake and ready for the morning. If you're not, you certainly are now!” His voice sang out loudly, apparently able to pierce through the clearly reinforced wooden walls of the home. And great, he arrived at the perfect timing too. When you’re unprepared and indecent.
You scrambled back to get your robes and other attire to put back on. The dry eyes would have to hold off a little longer, there’s a guest here. Or rather, you’re the guest and it would be polite and appropriate to greet your benefactor promptly. You hopped on one foot to get the last sock on quickly, and went even faster as more loud knocking was followed up. Hopefully Affogato isn’t the impatient type.
He still has that calm, somewhat sly look on his face when you open the door for him. Still standing up straight and proper, like he’s getting ready for a photo shoot. Affogatto then shines you a pleasant smile, his eyelids still hanging as if he looks a little bit tired. He’s got his silver staff with him clutched tightly in one hand.
“Did you have a good night’s sleep? Any pleasant dreams? It certainly looks like you might have.” he teased, then pointed above you.
To be precise, he wasn’t pointing at some other object above you, but your hair. You flushed a little, and went to feel the top of your head to feel a frizzy and misshapen hairstyle. Immediately you pat it down in an effort to tame the unruly mess, but to no avail. It kept popping back up over and over.
Affogato Cookie chuckled lightly. “No need to worry so much, I don’t mind at all. It seems that I did wake you up out of bed, my apologies. Can I come in for a little chat? You can feel free to freshen yourself up after.”
“Y-yeah, sure!” You moved aside to let Affogato Cookie come inside. “Come in.” You said, closing the door right after him
He settled in and took off his shoes with practiced grace in his steps, then went further through the house to sit near the table on a cushion. You closed the door promptly, and he looked at you with a little side-eye. It seems that he’s waiting for you to get yourself ready, like he mentioned before. So not wanting to keep him waiting any longer, you hurried over to the bathroom to wash your face and manage your appearance better.
Of course, it wasn’t that simple as you had to figure out a few things and where they were. Which drawer had a hair comb? Is it this one? Or the one over here? There’s so many options to choose from. Affogato is going to lose his patience at this rate, but something tells you that he doesn’t seem like the type.
After some more fussing, you finally finished up and headed back to the living room, but Affogato is nowhere in site. Uh oh, maybe he is the type. He already got bored and left?
“Affogato?....” You called out, hoping to hear a holler back. But you didn’t hear anything so far, so you walked around and said his name a few more times. Still nothing.
You kept wandering around, starting to feel a little hopeless now. This house is big, sure, but how can you not find someone who stands out that much? There must be some place you haven’t looked at yet.
An enticing herbal aroma catches you off guard, as most things tend to do. What’s that? It’s some kind of floral and earthy scent, you think to yourself. Very soothing, and almost therapeutic to the senses. You can easily see yourself falling asleep to something this pleasant.
You let your nose take the lead and navigate throughout the house. A new hallway through here that you haven’t bothered to go yet, probably because your mind was too settled on getting a deep sleep yesterday. It appears the same as the rest of the household, only the scene was beginning to grow stronger. And is that… humming?
It soon led to a medium-sized room, which was obviously a kitchen and dining area. Some simple stoves and cutting supplies. A set of flint and steel was near it to start a fire on each burner. Affogato Cookie is here, to your relief. He’s in front of a stovetop, presumably stirring something using a spoon in one hand. His long brown and white hair sways slowly with each hum.
His ears picked up on you walking in, and he slowly turned his head to look at you. He looked deadpan, then quickly gave you that same charming smile again.
“Welcome back!” He cheered, stopping his stirring. “I’ve decided to prepare some tea for us to enjoy, if you don’t mind.” His attention went back to the open flame, and he tapped the spoon against the simmering pot. “It helps clear the mind and rejuvenate the spirit.”
“No, of course I don’t!” You fussed, waving your hands. “It’s your house afterall, so you have every right to.”
“My, aren’t you modest? How adorable,” Affogato Cookie blew out the fire, then lifted up the pot near a kettle to pour the colored beverage inside. “It’s alright to feel a little selfish every once in a while.”
The strange comment puzzled you, and you have difficulty trying to find the meaning in it. What an odd thing to say? You gave him a little “Huh?” and nothing more.
He smirked, coyly. “I’m just teasing you, don’t worry.” A delicate gloved hand picked up the kettle by its sleek rubber handle. The tall man whisked around the room with the piping hot container in hand to reach the table across. “Come, sit down. I’ll pour you a cup,” he offered gregariously. He’s already sitting on his shins at one side with a steaming cup of tea right in front of him, and expecting you to settle across.
You followed his posture and laid down on your knees on the pillow. It’s soft and helps keep your shins from feeling sore. Affogato was already holding up his cup close to mouth and blowing on the surface. The steam sways wildly toward the center of the table, and you raise up your cup to test the waters of the temperature.
It’s incredibly hot, no surprise, but you were able to taste the flavor of the tea. It’s definitely light and floral as you expected, and in fact there’s a hint of sweetness. There’s very little bitterness or anything that would make you take breaks from sipping it, besides the high temperature. It’s good, and Affogato is quite talented at brewing tea, you have to admit.
“Right then,” the man starts, gently setting the cup down on the table. “Do you mind if I ask about what kind of business you’ve got here in the Dark Cacao Kingdom? I presume you’re not just some average tourist; I don’t personally escort the average person inside these high-kept walls.”
Despite his calm words, you’re starting to feel a bit pressured already. You quietly sucked in a breath through your nose to prepare yourself, you have to make this sound convincing.
“Well….. I’m here about the Cookies of Darkness.” You explained. Affogato Cookie didn’t say anything in response yet, probably just waiting for you to continue. “I’ve been told I could learn more about them here in this kingdom. It’s important for my mission, you see.”
“Your mission?” He asks with interest.
“Yeah,” there’s a part of you that feels like you shouldn’t relay all the facts to Affogato Cookie. “I need to befriend them. It’s uh…… for something personal. About getting home?” Your voice cracked a little at the end.
He didn’t change his expression, his gaze stared you down as if he’s trying to analyze every single word or hidden meaning behind what you just said. It’s incredibly nerve-wracking, and you swore you can feel yourself sweat a bit. Affogato fluttered his eyelids and broke away from his stare.
“I see! How intriguing,” he said with great suave. He took a deep sip from his cup of tea for a moment. “I trust you’re not withholding anything from me, are you?” He quirks a dark eyebrow at you.
“N-no! Not at all!” You insisted.
“Well, let me tell you something first,” he taps his long fingers against the table in a slow rhythm. “To tell you the truth, I noticed you outside last night with Caramel Arrow Cookie. I have seen all that has happened with my own two eyes. That monster you’re protecting, there’s no mistaking it. It was a Snow Prowler, right?” He beamed up at you with a little glitter in his eyes.
Your heartbeat thumps a little faster under his gaze. “Y-yes it was. That’s what she called it.”
“I’m very impressed. I don’t believe there has been a Dark Cacaoian who has ever tamed a wild Snow Prowler before. Those beasts are too ferocious for most normal people, but not you apparently. And what was it that you were trying to do with your hands? It looked quite confusing.”
A scarlet flush brushed your cheeks pink. That sweaty feeling you once thought you had is now being properly realized and actuated. How embarrassing! He saw all of that??
“Okay look!” You stammered. “I know it looked weird, but I honestly was trying to cast magic to protect it! I’ve done it before, really! I just don’t know why it wouldn’t work again!” Your voice is a little stuttery and you went through a few words too fast.
Affogato laughed at you softly, furthering your embarrassment. “Ha ha ha! Oh relax! I’m not going to make fun of you for it.” He put a hand atop yours to help settle you down.
“So you’re a cookie that uses magic? Definitely a beginner by the looks of it.” He brings a finger to scratch under his chin. “If you’re interested in honing your magical capabilities, our kingdom has an extensive library that surely has some novels about it. Perhaps it will have information pertaining to the Cookies of Darkness as well.”
There’s a library in the kingdom? That would be a good place to start.
“Huh, thanks.” You spoke candidly. “That’s pretty helpful.”
“You’ll have to tell me more about that night, because now I’m even more intrigued.” He closes his amused smile and stands up with a little stretch. “Sorry, but I have to take my leave now. It’s been a delight being here this morning, but I must attend some work related business at the citadel today.”
Affogato Cookie waves at you. “I assume you can locate the library yourself, yes? It’s not too far from here.”
You nod your head at him.
“Tell me how your research goes later!” He leaves through the hallway with quick steps. Soon enough, the sounds fade away quietly. It’s just you now.
You stare down at the tea that has stopped steaming. After taking a sip, it still has a delightful taste.
What would this black water taste like? You wondered, as you stared deeply into the murky ocean curiously.
The pitch black sea swirled mysteriously with the chilly winds across the coast. Your reflection is mirrored by the water’s edge, staring back with inquisitive eyes. The hard, rough skin across your face is still hard to get used to looking at. Even though you recognize every single feature and familiar detail, you still get the feeling that this isn’t you despite everything. It won’t be, until you leave the world and return home.
Your lips curl into a deep frown. Eyebrows bush together in a squint.
You sigh, breaking your gaze from the strangely dark ocean to look back at Fluffy lying peacefully along the snowy coast. It turned out that the big cat needed more time to rest up. You noticed their walking getting sluggish and limpish after a short while, and you couldn’t bear seeing them like that.
The big cat yawned, its massive jaw opened wide revealing big, sharp canines. Then Fluffy rolled over to lie on their other side. You chuckled at their silly little display. They’re honestly kinda cute.
“You look pretty relaxed, huh bud?” Fluffy rolled around in the snow, itching their back on the ground. Clumps of sugar snow were thrown up into the air by their massive limbs and made powdery white clouds. Fluffy made a sound that resembled a squeal, then fell over to lie on their stomach. You brought up a hand to pet under their chin, then started to itch under it.
You hear the loud thumping of their tail against the solid ground, and the leopard tilted their chin up. Despite their huge size, Fluffy is acting like any other ordinary playful house cat. It brought a silly smile to your face that such an intimidating animal is showing you their soft side.
“You’re so cute!” You told them, now bringing in another hand to scratch under their large chin even better. After a few more seconds, you stood up and stretched your back.
“Alright, are you ready to set off again?” The leopard got up quickly, then stretched its back while raising their tail higher in the air.
Smiling, you immediately took the lead and walked calmly along the snowy coastline. Each of your footsteps are followed by a heavy thump every time. It’s almost like having a big bodyguard protecting you the whole time. And after everything that has happened so far, with the gang of evil cookies and sudden tear gas bombing, this is definitely a kind of reassurance that feels necessary.
The big leopard might not be much of a conversation partner, but they are still appreciated company. It’s soothingly quiet. Nothing but chilling wind blowing past you and heavy footsteps crunching the snow under your boots. You feel your ears starting to grow a bit numb, so you pull up the hoodie to cover your head and shield you from the wind. The soft material on the inside of the hood helped warm them back up.
You took in a deep breath of the cold, stale air and huffed it out slowly. Your mind started to drift off and think about other things while Fluffy walked closely nearby. This peace got you thinking back about the memories that arose when you took a nap in that tent back then. You were left with many more questions than answers about your past after that moment.
It appeared you used to be in the normal, real world. But why were you walking around the streets by yourself like you were homeless? And there were witches that actually existed too? You’re dying to look further into this and learn more.
Forset and Eira… those two names definitely feel familiar now that you are thinking about it. However, you can’t seem to recall what your original parent’s names are, no matter how hard you try. Your brain nearly popped a blood vessel inside when you strained it so hard.
Maybe the Dark Cacao Kingdom has invented some way for people to remember any forgotten memories. What exactly would that even be? No idea, but you still wanted to hold onto hope.
You itched your scalp using the rough leather gloves. All of this hard thinking was starting to make your head feel a bit sore. Glancing over at Fluffy, you almost envied them in a way. They’re a big snow leopard that lives in the mountains, so they don’t have to deal with this kind of confusing nonsense at all. No pounding headaches, no weird slightly disturbing memory flashbacks, or struggles with learning new powers.
The castle was starting to get closer after a long enough stretch of walking. Both of you started to move away from the murky coastline to the center of the field over time, in order to be closer to the kingdom’s front entrance. With massive dark walls and wide watch towers, the domain stands tall and proud near the edge of the sea. A massive multi-roofed tower rises high above it all and casts a long shadow onto the land. Its large dark brown circular emblem on top pierces through the sky to remind everyone in the land just to whom this territory belongs to. In the middle of that emblem is a section of white, so it almost looks like a chocolate sandwich cookie with a cream filling. This confused you.
The sky began to switch into a darkly orange and purple hue. It wouldn’t be much longer to reach the kingdom by now. There’s a long black and white bridge that leads up to a stout half circle-shaped gate with a circular symbol up ahead. You hoped that they would let you without any kind of trouble, but after what happened back at the outpost you’re not so sure. If Fluffy won’t be let in, so be it. But if you were denied entry by yourself too, then that will be an issue.
It’s too risky to find a way to sneak into the kingdom. What if you get caught? The guards will throw you in their jail cell and your reputation in this world could also be ruined. These Dark Cacao soldiers don’t necessarily seem like the very forgiving type, so it can happen. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really seem like there can be any other kind of option other than giving up entirely. You wouldn’t let this entire trek through the mountains be wasted, so you’re determined to go in there. Even if the worst comes to worst, you won't back down.
A big, drowsy numbness clouded your head. You feel your diaphragm contracting and your lungs puffing up full of air. Your jaws opened wide and a big yawn left your mouth…… woah. When’s the last time you slept? Every joint and muscle in your body is starting to get tired now.
“Errgh!!!” A shrill cry comes from the right near the dense pine forests. You see a long haired person tumble out clumsily, holding a bow very securely between their arms.
You stopped in your tracks, and Fluffy did the same, noticing the new character. Scanning over their appearance, they’re dressed in a robe that’s split down the middle between white and black and tied together with a hazelnut colored belt. Parts of the robe are scratched and torn up, exposing their dark brown skin through slivers. A dreadful anxious feeling rose up quickly.
The unknown person turned over to prop themself up on their knees and elbows panting heavily. Their bow still gripped tightly in their right hand. Whoever this was didn’t seem to notice you or even Fluffy yet. They’re obviously too distracted by their own pain.
Without a second thought, you leaned forward to start dashing toward this new stranger. You did your best to ignore all the exhaustion in your muscles and bones, and did everything to run as quickly as you could to them. Your arms swung back and forth steadily, Fluffy kept the pace with you too.
You crouched down to get a closer look at this person and their injuries. They seemed surprised by your sudden appearance, but not offended in any way. There’s several claw and bite marks across their dark brown toned skin. Probably from some other kind of wild animal. Based on how tired they were, they just got done running away from them.
“Don’t wor-” Your speech was cut off by more things jumping out from the wilderness. Big, white furred creatures that looked like wolves. Their hair is as white as the snow itself, and their eyes glow a bright yellow that peers through the darkening lands.
Soon enough, you and this stranger became quickly surrounded by a pack of them. There appeared to be about 7 of them or so, all of them growling and stalking slowly in a circle around you. This looks bad…
“Ahhh…” Even with their glaring wounds, their voice still came out light and cleanly effeminate. “Why did you come over here? Leave!” She hacked, struggling to push herself off the ground. “These Cream Wolves are only after me, just save yourself.”
“And let you get torn apart by these things? Not a chance!” You boldly declared. You pointed exaggeratedly to Fluffy. “You might have missed ‘em, but I’ve got a little friend here who can help too.”
She stared at the snow leopard with widened eyes.
“...A S-snow Prowler?!” She uttered in disbelief, as if this was a complete impossibility. “How did you tame one of those?” She groaned, almost falling down to the ground but you caught her just before she would’ve landed. With only a light grasp on her arms and shoulders, you’re surprised by how solid and large her muscles are. Truly a disciplined warrior of the Dark Cacao Kingdom, you had to imagine.
“Easy, I’ve got you.” Enough of letting her lie helpless on the ground. You pulled her up, with some difficulty because she’s deceptively a bit heavy, to her feet and slung one of her arms around your right shoulder. You’re also both around the same height, so it didn’t feel uncomfortable to do at all.
The beasts growled and hisses, threatening to step closer and snap at you for swooping in and getting in the way. But Fluffy was having none of that, and roared back at the wolves. You’ve never heard them make such a strong and reverberating noise before; it practically shook you to your core and could’ve knocked the snow right off these trees with how powerful it was. Even you are starting to feel a little scared.
Another series of barks and deadly howls all around. The cream wolves unfortunately aren’t scared that easily and still want a fight. One of them bravely stalked toward the Snow Prowler and leapt up high in the air to swing a claw at them.
Fluffy moved, but failed to completely sidestep the attack in time. The sharp nails merely grazed through the fur, making a small cut. This incentivized the other wolves to join in on ganging up on the lone leopard. A few more from the rear and one on the side; fluffy was being attacked at several different points and howled. You noticed their many knife-sharp teeth from when they growled at you holding the woman, and they looked like they could easily puncture through Fluffy’s thick snowy fur.
They weren’t just going to let them so many strikes in, and in a bold move they charged straight ahead and bulldozed through a few wolves at once. It all turned into a frantic fray of feral roars, growels, and snarls. They’re each jumping around and chasing each other about the place. Fluffy did a good job of distracting the pack from you and the stranger.
Not all of them were focused on Fluffy. A few Cream wolves are darting you and the fallen woman down hungrily with unknown furious rage. This only made you wonder what in the world did this person do to anger these animals so badly?
“I took out their Alpha, that’s why they’re chasing after me.” She said simply. “They’re a notorious group that’s been constantly raiding a nearby village allied with the kingdom.”
So that explains it. At least you can’t fully fault this stranger now.
One of the wolves got closer to you with its teeth bared. It snapped and barked right at your face, which made you flinch.
The second one was about to lunge, and you moved out of the way in time. The first one was getting way too close, so without thinking you flicked your right foot upward to kick it in the snout.
There was an audible snapping sound, and the mutt yelped. It skittered backwards while holding its nose. Thank goodness for your heavy boots. This clearly pissed it off though, and now it dashed at you with a crazy fervor and clamped down on your right arm.
“Auugh!!” You screamed, your eyebrows pinching together tightly at the sharp pain. It’s like many needles being dug into your arm at once. You shook your right arm side-to-side quickly to shake the beast off but to no avail. The damn thing is relentless and never wants to let go.
Strong stomps and slams cloud the battlefield nearby, as you can hear Fluffy doing their best to fight off the rest of the Cream Wolves.
The woman you’re holding quickly moved off of you and wrangled their bow back properly within their grasp. To your awe, she deftly separated the weapon into two makeshift daggers out of the bow halves. She used the white one to hack at the wolf crushing your arm. You finally felt relief as it was successfully thrown off of you easily. It tumbled down on the snowy ground, but quickly got up and started staring down at the girl.
She must have quickly regained her energy while you were holding her, and now she’s ready with her twin blades.
“Stay close to me,” she spoke firmly. You wordlessly agreed, and moved in closer so you’re both back to back. Two wolves, circling around the two of you are now met at a (somewhat) even match.
With a resounding battle cry, the girl sliced down using both blades at one wolf that lunged at her. You move swiftly to remain in her vicinity like she told you, and the other wolf is desperately glancing around for an opening between you two.
The girl had her eyes turned away from it for a quick second while she was busy striking down her own wolf. It sensed you weren’t much of a threat and straight beelined for her, completely ignoring you.
You bent your knees and brazenly tackled the animal right when it moved in front of you. The two of you rolled onto the ground nearby with the thick white fur of the wolf gripped strongly between your fingers. It definitely was not at all pleased by what you did, and it started to snap and chomp in the air wildly at a desperate attempt to snag you between its jaws.
It did eventually get a hold of your left wrist, puncturing it and pulling on it madly. You gritted your teeth, then balled up a fist and socked it right in the eye.
A strong slice crunched against a cream wolf’s body. The girl hacked the wolf she was busy with away and then bolted straight toward you. The back of your robe was suddenly pulled back, and you felt something heavy gliding over your back swiftly. Two more heavy crunches resounded in the air.
“Haah….. hah.” The girl breathed heavily, pulling red dripping blades out from the body of the wolf you just wrestled with. You stared at her as she twirled her blades in the air then looked back. “Not bad stranger. Thanks for covering me.” She said with a grin.
You gave her a thumbs up, but then just remembered something. You looked back over to Fluffy, who is still fussing with the other wolves. Unfortunately, the big cat is starting to look pretty badly hurt now. There’s even more wounds on their cream white body, and they’re starting to even limp.
Rage burns within you like a wildfire.
“Get away from them, dammit!” You rushed over madly to the chaotic fight. The girl tried to reach for you, but you were too quick. She stared shocked at your mad pace, but then started to run and easily caught up with you.
“Hmmm…… what a dull night. As per usual in this kingdom.”
An extravagantly robed cookie walked along the castle walls out of boredom. The ribbons on his headpiece wave freely across the dark night sky. The silver eyed cookie frowned, lifting their cup of toasted Camellia tea up to his lips.
The well-combed, thick dark furs pillowed his neck cozily.The many layers of silked robes and linen also helped keep him warm against the Dark Cacao Kingdom’s normally frigid elements. he let out a deep sigh, lightly pushing the fragrant steam from his evening beverage. Perhaps a few more rounds around the castle’s walls will help alleviate his boredom and clear his mind. It’ll only be the last few times, he hoped.
Looking down on the outer side of the wall, he watches the vacant snow plains thoughtlessly. He moved the ornate cup into his right hand and tracing a few of his gloved fingers across one of the sturdy cacao bricks reinforced with hardened syrup. He hums to himself quietly. “I don’t usually see these walls in person too often.”
The work of the duteous Dark Cacaoian builders was never perfunctory. He can see just how deliberately each layer is packed and stacked together tightly to form the thick wall.
“Oh?”
A small crack, about the size of a fingernail. He delved the tip of his glove into it. Like a fragile sheet of candy clay, a large chunk of the cacao brick wall broke off from his simple touch. He laughed to himself.
As he began to look further into the outside world out of boredom, he saw something small and insignificant appear in his vision. Some specks that are moving around in the snow chaotically. Large enough to see how they’re moving around but too small to actually see in detail.
The Cookie quickly took a deep sip of his tea and hurriedly rushed over to one of the nearby watchtowers. Inside it should hold a useful tool for him.
He set the cup down on a small wooden table. Ah, there it is.
A telescope to spot any potential invading monsters or ill-dooers. Just what he needs to look at those peculiar little insects.
One leg grounded behind and the other two planted firmly in front. The circular lens was moved to focus in on the unknown commotion outside.
“Don’t tell me…Ugh, is it really?” The cookie grumbled ruefully.
Yep, it’s her again. But what is she doing all the way back here near the kingdom? She’s been banished.
“Now hold on, what’s this?,” there’s something else near that cookie that caught his interest. Two things to be precise.
Some other cookie that he has never seen before, dressed in uniquely white robes. They are very likely not from the Dark Cacao Kingdom, but his interest is still held by this admittedly drab-looking cookie. He caught a glimpse of the shining gemstones embedded on their sleeves and chest, occasionally sparkling under the bright light of the castle’s burning torches outside.
A new friend or a foe? Whoever this cookie is, they’re trying their best to help that exiled watcher fight against the pack of cream wolves. Key word, trying. Their clear lack of combat expertise nearly brought him to a fit of laughter.
And is that a Snow Prowler near them that they’re trying to protect? A great mighty beast they have tamed from the mountains.
A smirk forms on his face.
Only a few more cream wolves remain, and Fluffy is noticeably getting tired. And so are you, to an extent. Your limbs are growing weary and heavy, it’s becoming difficult to even move. Your mind is strained and tense, and clouded with muggy thoughts. Something tries to emerge, giving you sharp mental anguish, so you push it back down as hard as you could.
Power is waning, diminishing by the second. The unknown stranger stands next to you in a distinguished stance ready with two blades.
One of them breaks forth, running to your right to get at Fluffy. You raise up your hands and concentrate your hardest to conjure up a protective barrier in front of yourself. The same kind from before that repelled Dark Choco’s sword swing.
But nothing happened. No glow, or shimmer, nothing. The gems on your robes wouldn’t even light up either.
The charging wolf went right past you and clamped down onto the snow leopard’s right front leg, while making ferocious growling.
“Oh come on! Why won’t it work now?” You huffed, completely frustrated.
The two other wolves went after the other person, attacking her at both sides and trying to overwhelm her. But this one was much more experienced in combat than you’d expect, to your surprise. She managed to strike both of them at the same time, pushing the fiendish hounds back. Then the stranger repositioned to be on the side of one of the wolves and started attacking.
You ran as fast as you could over to Fluffy to try to help them get that wolf off. The big leopard was clearly put in a lot of stress, as they’re now stomping and running about. Doing anything they could to shake it off.
They’re out of your control, and the big leopard unknowingly charged into the other three that were fighting with each other. Fluffy rammed into the stranger, shoving her away harshly. The other two cream wolves were trampled under their massive legs, and you winced at the *crack* sound that came from them.
Looking over at the long-haired stranger, they look like they’ve been hurt pretty bad by that. Cracks have formed on their face, and you saw bits and pieces of dark brown chunks on the ground. Her hands are slightly struggling to hold the bow up properly, that crash must’ve really hurt her. The Fluffy’s strength was both a blessing and a curse at the same time
“Damn…” Her breathing is ragged. The ground shook from the powerful stomps the Snow Prowler made with each stomp as it tried to fend the wolf off their arm.
The stranger saw you speeding over to the chaotic fight in a panic to help out the big cat. She noticed how hard you’re struggling to run, and you look like you’re nearly about to pass out from sheer exhaustion. Those baggy clothes of yours flapped weakly with each shrug of your arms, like you’re a little bird trying to fly.
“No, wait!” She called out to you.
Her loud voice made you come to a sudden halt. You’re now slouching over with hands on knees, panting. You turned your head to look at her confused. Why is she trying to stop you?
The girl, while struggling to get to her knees, begins to reattach the two daggers into a full bow once more. She braces her hand into the circular center of the bow with her left hand, and brings her right arm back as if she is drawing the bow’s invisible string. She glances over at the fight between the two mighty animals, having the weapon looking completely ready to fire. But you’re now even more confused. There isn’t an arrow in the bow? What is she trying to shoot?
As if on cue, a miniature swarm of light particles begin to form near her right hand and trail up into a firm line along the bow. A bright arrow of white light magically materializes with her, fuming with a dark purple cloud around it. You stare in utter disbelief at what just happened. Was this also magic? Or perhaps something else?
With shaky hands, she leveled the arrow to be aimed at the ferocious snow-white canine. The two animals were moving around and changing positions frequently in their struggle. So whenever she would get a view of a clean shot at the wolf, Fluffy would soon intervene with their massive body. Clearly red drizzling markings were splotched on their once pure-white fur.
“Nggh, come on…” She’s squinting her eyes and gritting her teeth in angered frustration. You watched on standby, following the stranger’s order and letting her do what she wanted. It’s becoming so tense, with this last Cream Wolf giving Fluffy the most trouble because of how exhausted they are. Your eyes shift from her to the two creatures quickly back and forth.
She let go of her grip on the arrow, and it blazed through the dry winter air while leaving a trail of purple clouds behind.
A piercing crush echoed to your ears.
…
…
…
She hit the Cream Wolf, thankfully. Fluffy is, somewhat, still intact. The wolf’s body went completely limp, slumping against the leopard’s front leg with red liquid drizzling out slowly from the large gash the stranger made. Fluffy nudged it off and let it fall to the ground.
“Phew…” An exhausted sigh stumbled out of your mouth. Every part of your body was now starting to ache: your legs, arms, and even your back for some reason. The sky has turned into a deep plum purple, nearly completely dark. Odd, because it didn’t really feel like it went on for that long.
A sharp grunt followed by a heavy thud in the snow made you look around. It was the long-haired archer, she’d collapsed on the ground. Likely incredibly tired too, since she did most of the work to be honest. Her robe-cladden chest rose up and down slowly but steadily, trying to recuperate.
You approached her slowly, one step after another and letting your feet drag in the snow.
“That was a nice shot you took there.” You told her, between tired huffs and puffs. Even speaking proved to be difficult.
No response. She was tired, and you completely understood. Your eyes narrowed down at her interesting garb, noticing something unusual. There are several cuts and tears in the outfit, revealing her dark hazelnut skin. They’re seeping with the all too recognizable red substance. You gasped, suddenly shame started crashing down upon you in a massive wave.
You crouch down to inspect her injuries further. There’s some noticeable cracks in parts of her body as well, like bits of her have been broken off. What? How is that possible? Was the collision from the leopard really that powerful?
With all of your mental concentration, you raised your hands above the area of her wounds. Squinting, even starting to strain your mind, doing anything you could to at least try to conjure up some kind of magic to mend her. Surely your magic could help or maybe heal others, since it worked to protect you before, right? You don’t know the exact rules of this world, but you still have to save your friend. Your hands are starting to shake by how forceful you’re tensing them.
But nothing happened.
This only made you feel even more frustrated. You’re clearly able to use magic of some kind, but you have no idea how to even make it work. It works perfectly while you’re in a pinch, but you can’t even muster up that same kind of energy to help someone who’s in dire need? How pathetic…
“Damn it! Come on!” You shouted loudly “Why can’t I do it again?!”
You started to drill your knuckles into your own skull, even hitting it a few times.
“How does this magic work?”
The stranger was actually alarmed and taken aback by your outburst.
You felt a strong hand grip your forearm.
“Ha ha! Hey, it’s alright!” You heard her lightly chuckle. “Listen, I’ve toughened through much worse stuff before. Some Cream Wolf scratches aren’t going to crumble me.”
You peered back at the strong woman. She’s giving you a reassuring smile, even though she looks like she’s been badly beaten up. Were Dark Cacaoians usually this selfless?
“I could……” You mumbled. It suddenly became difficult to find the right words to say. “I can use magic, but I don’t know how to do it. I’m… uh, kinda new to this.” You explained
The stranger nodded her head to your explanation.
“So you’re still learning how to use healing magic? It’s alright, don’t worry.” She sits herself up to address you more forwardly. She palpates various areas of her body, only slightly wincing at certain points. “Luckily these injuries aren’t that bad, I can patch them up later. Ugh…”
To your surprise, the woman was able to get herself off the ground albeit slowly. “Still hurts a bit though,” She gritted her teeth, though you can still see a semblance of a witty smile through it. Her confidence was definitely helping you ease your worries. If she’s still able to act fairly tough, then maybe it’ll be fine. She turned her head to look directly at you. “By the way, my name’s Caramel Arrow Cookie. A member of the Dark Cacao Kingdom watchers, at your service. What’s yours stranger?” She spoke.
Not this again….
You have a feeling you’re going to have to go through this exact scenario a lot more. And each time you are always drawing a blank in your mind without any kind of sensible or clever response.
A slightly uncomfortable silence hung in the air.
“I uh…….,” you started, trying to formulate the rest of your words. “Don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” As if she couldn’t hear you well enough. You did mumble it out to be fair.
“Yeah, I can’t remember my name. I lost my memories for some reason.”
Caramel Arrow Cookie pursed her eyebrows together at this. A look of sorrow flashed in her eyes at a flashing instant.
“Oh… I’m sorry to hear that,” her voice sounds genuinely distraught, and it almost made you feel sad with her too. Even though you’re not that bummed out about it yourself, for some reason, you started to share sympathy with her. You clutched your right arm with your other hand.
She turned away from you to look around.
“And that Snow Prowler, is it…” she trailed off.
A loud thud broke her off, which startled you. Looking back, Fluffy had collapsed on the ground lying on their side. They’re nearly motionless. A visceral chill started to fill your head.
“Fluffy!!” You broke away from being near Caramel Arrow, immediately running over to check on the fallen snow leopard. No matter how much your body is straining and screaming at you to slow down, you ignored it. There are more important matters at play here.
“You gave it a name too?” She asked quizzically. Her voice sounded surprised.
You ran a shaky hand through the soft white fur on the side of their arm. They’re still breathing, thankfully, but Fluffy is evidently in bad shape. They don’t even have the energy to look back at you.
“....p-please,” your voice is trembling. “no, don’t….”
The whole world begins to fall silent. The ragged breathing of your friend is the only thing you’re focused on hearing. Slowly but still steadily. However much longer? You don’t know.
You tried again, just like before. Using all mental power that you could possibly gather, you concentrated your thoughts yet again.
The sounds of soft footsteps across the snow fill the empty silence of the dark woods. It’s Caramel Arrow, surely. She hasn’t said anything to you yet, just standing nearby to survey the situation.
“What good am I as a mage if I can’t help anyone but myself?” You croaked.
The creature’s breathing was slowly getting quieter by each passing second. You can easily tell it’s starting to become fainter and softer.
You’ve accepted it.
Your mind slowly loses its strain and the chill fades away. No other thoughts linger, only pure emptiness.
..…
….
….
….
…
A light shines.
Your eyes shoot wide open, glancing down at yourself. It’s glowing again, the crystal on your chest! As if by some miracle, someone had heard your cries for help.
“Woah!” Caramel Arrow took the words right out of your mouth. “That gem on you is glowing so bright! Is this your doing?” She stared at the gleaming gemstone with deep curiosity.
Warm, radiant white light glows proudly from the crystal. It brightens the forest around you and Caramel Arrow Cookie.
Suddenly, your hands are bathed in the same warm glow of bright light. It’s a pleasant and refreshing sensation.
You got an idea, and moved to hold Fluffy’s arm with both hands. The light started to encroach on their limb and soon the rest of the body. Now a white glow is radiating from the large animal.
To your amazement, it was actually working. Their wounds are being sealed up and mended like magic. You gasped, not believing your own eyes. But just how did you do it? You still don’t understand how it works.
In no time at all, Fluffy’s breathing returned to normal and looked more vibrant in health. The magic in your hands soon dissipated afterwards. Your big friend opened their eyes to look at you and rolled over to lay upright. They nudged their big cold nose closer to you, giving your hands a few sniffs. The broad white whiskers brushed into your baggy robes gently.
“H-hey! Haha!” You giggled. Fluffy gave your face a very big kitten lick! And just like a cat, their tongue felt rough and sandpaper-y. It wasn’t exactly pleasant, but you’re glad they’re fine nonetheless. “Quit it Fluffy! That feels weird!”
The leopard nudged their large face closer to you, giving a warm nuzzle. Caramel Arrow Cookie watched onward with a little amused smile.
“Not sure how you managed to tame a Snow Prowler of all things,” she started, which got you looking at her. Fluffy was still busy nuzzling closely into you. “But I’m happy you did. It sure helped me fend off those Cream wolves. And it seems to like you a whole lot too.”
You lightly chucked. “Ah, well….. I did help save its life before. Now we’re returning each other’s favors and he helped bring me here to the Dark Cacao Kingdom.” Fluffy finally settled down, now resting their head on the ground.
“Oh! You’re here to visit the kingdom?” Caramel Arrow asks with sudden great interest. “For what reason?”
“It’s not just for a tour, I can tell you that much,” you joked. You scratched the bottom of your chin. “It’s a little complicated. Someone told me I should go here to find the information I seek about the Cookies of Darkness
“You’re looking for the Cookies of Darkness?” She gave you a perplexed look, almost as if there’s something wrong with you for saying that. “I’m not exactly sure if the kingdom has any kinds of records for those villains, but it’s probably worth a shot. If there’s anything, it’ll be somewhere in the libraries or the archives in the Citadel”
An idea suddenly sprouts up in your head.
“So you can take me there, right? You said you work for the kingdom, so you can show me where the libraries are and give me clearance for the archives!”
Suddenly, Caramel Arrow Cookie appeared nervous and hesitant.
“I’d like to…. but I’ve been banished from the kingdom.” Caramel Arrow’s mood quickly turns sour. “That damn Affogatto Cookie framed me. I’ve been living out in the wilderness for the past few weeks, fending off beasts and bandits.”
So that was a no, then. Caramel Arrow seemed to pick up on your disappointment quickly.
“How about this, I can escort you to the Citadel’s front gate and give a good word about you to the guards outside. I’ve got some ties with them, so I’m sure they’ll let you in. You’ll be on your own after that I’m afraid.”
“That works for me!” You beamed up at her. She easily returned the same smile.
Caramel Arrow starts walking ahead straight to the citadel’s bridge, glancing back and expecting you to follow. You hurriedly patter across the sugar snow to catch up with her long strides.
She lets out a grunt, moving a hand to clutch her arm. You almost reach out to her, but realize there’s nothing you can really do about it.
“Geez, I wish my magic would’ve lasted a little longer. Then I could’ve healed you too.” You said glumly.
“Haha! You worry too much friend! That would’ve been convenient for sure, but like I said I can hold out.”
Now there’s a loud shuffling coming from behind you. You looked back to see Fluffy coming up from behind to follow Caramel Arrow’s lead as well.
There’s an anxious feeling in the back of your mind about this. You turn around and plant yourself into the ground as a solid statue. Fluffy comes to a stop, looking down at you curiously.
“Fluffy….” Your voice is quiet. “I’m sorry, but I think you shouldn’t come with me.”
Caramel Arrow stopped her walking, probably also wondering what’s going on.
“You should stay out here in the wilds where you belong. I’m not skilled or even strong enough to be your tamer…… that guard before was right.” There’s a swirling of different incomprehensible emotions brewing inside you.
“Huh?.... Really? Are you really sure? But you two seem so close.” Caramel Arrow pointed out.
“Yes, I am. Back then, it got out of my control and I wasn’t able to do anything to help them. What would happen if I were to somehow sneak them inside the Kingdom with me? I could be putting other lives at risk.”
“But, your Snow Prowler hasn’t hurt me that much? See, these injuries weren’t so bad.” She pointed out the wounds on her body, which are apparently to her not that serious.
“You’re like a trained warrior, it’ll be different. Or if I put them in another situation like that, I might not be able to save them again. Since I still don’t even know how to use this magic!” You finished your words with a strong resolve.
Slowly, you turned back to look up at your large friend.
“....So I guess this is goodbye…?” It pained you terribly to say those last few words.
…
…
…
…
….
…..
The Snow Prowler stood tall gazing down at you. It then swiftly turns around and leaves without making another sound.
Its large form quickly diminishes as they walk straight into the dense dark forests.
You let out a sigh through your nostrils. That was not easy for you to do.
Caramel Arrow makes her way over next to you soon enough.
“...I’m not entirely sure if I understand your reasoning. But…” She paused for a brief moment.
“I feel like you made the right decision.”
The two of you wordlessly walked to the citadel’s bridge. In no time at all, you’re faced with the massive dark brown walls illuminated by blue flames. There’s several guards dressed in bulky and concealing attire and holding very sharp spears. Caramel Arrow takes initiative and moves to stand more in front of you.
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle this.” Caramel Arrow confidently walked right up to the front gate, and you were trailing closely behind her almost as if you’re trying to hide in her shadow.
The guards turned their heads to look at her, some giving you a questioning look.
“Caramel Arrow Cookie?” A gruff voice from one of the guards closest to the gate spoke out. “Aren’t you banished? You shouldn’t be here.”
“Yes, well,” she shifted to the side and motioned a hand to present you. “I’d like you to open the gates to let this one in. They are seeking something important in the kingdom?”
You waved hesitantly to the big, boulder-esque guards. They don’t look impressed at all.
“Erm….. how come? This seems random, don’t you think?”
“This cookie has saved me from a fight against a pack of ferocious Cream Wolves, even having tamed a Snow Prowler to help alongside them.” She crossed her arms and stared right into the guard’s eyes with an unwavering gaze.
“A snow prowler??” A few guards blurted out. Why is everyone so scared of these Snow Prowlers?
“Yes, really.” She turned to look at the other gatekeeper. “I’m escorting them to the kingdom as a favor. It is the least I can do.”
“Hmm….” The guards are mumbling with each other, indecisive and unsure what to do. One of them peeped up from the huddle to squint at you, then went back down to discuss.
Finally they broke away.
“It’s not like we don’t trust you Caramel Arrow Cookie, really.” The gatekeeper shifted uncomfortably. “It’s just that… well…. even if this is all true. We wouldn’t be able to let any new Cookies into the Kingdom.”
“Yea, sorry.” Another gatekeeper spoke up. “It’s the king’s orders”
“Wish we could help ya, but-”
The gate behind every guard shot straight up. The burly guards got startled and flinched backwards at the sudden intrusion.
There’s a lone figure standing in the middle of the opened doorway. An elegantly dressed person with hair tied into a bun and wearing many different robes and holding a tall staff.
They’re wearing a curved smile on their face, and their eyes are half-lidded. It’s almost a sultry look, the purple eyeshadow and delicately streaked eyeliner made him shine amongst all the others.
“Affogatto Cookie!” You heard one of the guards say.
“Pardon my sudden entrance, Gatekeeper Cookies.” Their voices flowed smoothly like silk through the cold wind. It’s almost hypnotic in a sense. “But I’m looking for something peculiar around the outside of the gate! Should be here, closeby…”
The new person waved their staff through the crowd of stunned guards to shoo them away. One by one, each of them hesitantly moved to the side to let them through. Their long robes nearly draped across the floor of the bridge with each refined step they took.
Soon enough, the staff got closer to Caramel Arrow cookie. It nearly hit her on the nose. You looked at her to see her already wearing a bitter scowl on her face.
“Caramel Arrow Cookie?” The newcomer said, almost with disgust in their voice. “I don’t recall your banishment being rescinded. Leave here at once, you’re making my stomach turn.”
Her right eye twitched. “I know it was you who framed me, you snake! And I’m not here to beg for the kingdom to take me back in. It’s about them.”
Caramel Arrow pointed to you with their thumb.
“This stranger saved me, and I’m letting him inside the Citadel as a favor. So get lost.”
“A charming tale, really.” Affogatto cookie’s gaze passed over to you. Their eyes brightened immediately and they grinned ecstatically. Now you’re confused.
“Ah, there you are!” They said.
In a flash, Affogatto Cookie grabbed your wrist and pulled you toward him.
“W-woah!!” You blurted out, nearly stumbling over and faceplanting into the bricks. But Affogatto was easily keeping you steady.
“You’re just the thing I was looking for! Come now, I’ll show you a place to rest for the night.”
His pace seemed to quicken. You feel like you’re being dragged around as you and Affogatto Cookie are headed straight through the gate’s opening. While you’re relieved to be able to finally enter the Kingdom, this whole situation feels alien to you.
A nearby guard stumbled up to Affogatto Cookie.
“B-but Sir?? This Cookie is an outsider?” A gruff voice squeaked out.
“Easy boys, you can let this one through. I require them for something important.” They brushed the guard off easily, now slowing down a little to let you catch up to their walk.
For someone who doesn’t look all that strong and admittedly a little dainty, they’ve got a strong grip!
You looked back to Caramel Arrow Cookie with a panicked look, her mouth is agape as she’s watching everything unfold. She glared at the back of Affogatto Cookie’s head.
“Stranger! Don’t trust him at all! He’s just going to trick you!” She called out as a warning. “Get away from him!”
Affogato Cookie cracked a smirk. “Sorry ex-watcher. I don’t have time to prattle with you right now. Why don’t you go back home and rest? It is very late.” He guffawed. How rude of him. She doesn’t have anywhere to call home….
You can hear a commotion happening behind you, shouts are coming from a very clearly upset Caramel Arrow Cookie with guards trying to pacify her.
The lavishly robed man leaned in closer to you. “Ignore her, she’s still upset about the kingdom’s politics and all. It’s not for everyone I suppose.”
You pursed your lips at the taller man. “But… didn’t she say you set up her banishment? Why should I trust you?”
Affogatto Cookie quickly flipped a switch, the gate began to close back up. The view of the gatekeepers and your acquaintance are long gone.
“I helped get you inside the Kingdom, didn’t I?” He reasoned. Affogatto quirked an eyebrow at you. “Still don’t trust me? I understand completely. How about this, I will give you a place to stay for your time visiting the Dark Cacao Kingdom completely free. No strings attached!”
You widened your eyes at him. His grip on your wrist vanished, you just now noticed. Yet his presence feels a little overwhelming.
“Working as the King’s right hand man does offer some unique benefits, you know.” He smiled. “Just follow me.”
You’re hurling through the air like a bullet. Wind has blown the robe’s hood right off your head and blared into your ears. The bright array of rainbow colors printed on your thick robes flapped and blurred together incomprehensibly. You’ve flown over hundreds of trees by now if you had to guess.
The deep, frosting coated ravine is starting to get much closer to you now. It spans a massive width, catching fallen trees inside and looks deep enough for a fall down there to be incredibly dangerous. Water rushes within as a speeding current, dragging all kinds of sediment and snow in it fast. The magic spell conjured up by Pomegranate Cookie and Licorice Cookie has long since dissipated by now, but that hasn’t stopped your momentum at all.
Now as you nearly reached the bank of the ravine, your trajectory started to curve downward. And now you’re aiming to plummet straight into the deadly river. You shut your eyes, bracing for the surely terrible pain and crackling against your body. Your mind panicked, trying not to think hard about all the different possible injuries you might conceive.
…
…
There’s a sharp tug on the back of your robes. The massive whiplash furiously rattles your brain, putting you in a nauseating daze for a few seconds. You almost gagged at the sheer shock and surprise of it all.
It feels like the back of your shirt is being held up by a long pole off the ground. Now you’re moving to the side and not plummeting into the ice cold ravine, but something is still tightly gripping the back of your clothes.
“Haaaah……”
You let out a shaky breath, slowly realizing what had just happened.
A miracle, that’s what.
Hot, gamey air puffed against the back of your head, and there’s a slightly damp feeling between your shoulder blades. You turned your head to look back at what this is.
Soft white fur and a darkened brown face with feline features. It stands a bit ragged, but manages to poise itself tall and proud still. It’s the Snow Leopard! The same one from before. You fawned at the big cat in gracious delight.
“Oh!!” You said excitedly. “It’s you!”
You’re not exactly sure how or even why this beast saved you, but you’re grateful still. A sudden sinking feeling manifests at the bottom of your gut from feeling the lack of ground beneath your feet.
A chilly breath got sucked in between your teeth. The distance between you and the rushing rapid below is so far that it was legitimately starting to unnerve and freak you out. If the Snow Leopard were to loosen its grip for half a second, you would be falling to certain death - you’re sure of it.
“Uh, okay….” You spoke quietly to it. “Can you please put me down on the ground now!” You pleaded.
And it did, to your surprise. The big fluffball acted as if it could understand your language, and it moved you away from being over the ledge. It opened its mouth and dropped you onto the ground. Bits of sugar snow were flinged up in the air around where you landed.
You blinked a few times owlishly, just trying to still come back from that rollercoaster of adrenaline. A light pounding headache lingered on. You rubbed some gloved fingers in circles around the area in an effort to subdue it. A soft sigh fluttered from your nose.
The Snow Leopard hasn’t moved yet. You rubbed a glove across the fur on one of its legs, as a way to pet it.
“Thanks bud,” despite the relatively tough leather that makes your gloves, you are still able to tell how soft it is. Pushing a bit deeper through your pets, you felt strong and tough muscles holding great power within. You felt better about yourself for making that plan to distract it earlier.
“Would’ve fallen to my death in the river if it weren’t for you,” you huffed. The soft fur moved away from your hand, which confused you. Looking up at the big cat, it was shifted around in place to then face the same way you are sitting. With a big thump, the large leopard flopped down to lie next to you and yawned. It let out a quiet *meow* sound. It was admittedly adorable.
You lightly leaded against its large body, feeling the calming radiating warmth from it. The memories of what happened much earlier started flashing back to you in a biting way. You felt like you shouldn’t blame yourself too much though, considering that they are a group of infamous villains. But still, it does hurt you.
“Hmmmm……” You leaned closer into the leopard, it seemingly not minding. “Just give me some time, Fluffy. Can I call you that? Fluffy?” You asked.
…..
The big cat didn’t respond in any way, still just lying on the ground. You took that as a “yes”.
You came all the way out here to discover their whereabouts in the first place, but now that you met them prematurely, the whole trip feels a bit mute now. Your entire mood is crushed and defeated. Should you still even head over to the Dark Cacao Kingdom? Or maybe even just head back to Snowfall village…?
You’re stuck, embarrassingly.
“Aghhhh!!” The snow leopard opened one of its eyes, glancing to look back at you flopping over its large furry back, which had a zig-zag brown line across it. Fluffy’s body reminded you of a rollade cake to be honest. “What the heck am I supposed to do now?? After that terrible first impression, how am I supposed to ‘make companions’ with them now? Ugh...” You faceplanted into your fuzzy creature’s side, the white hairs slightly tickling your face. You’re almost tempted to just fall asleep right here and now.
What should you really do now? We can’t just sit around in this forest forever and give up, then you won’t be able to ever return home.
Fluffy has a slow, thumping heart beat now you noticed. Even after all those terrible injuries Licorice Cookie inflicted, it is still acting vibrant and healthy. You raised up your head, feeling the hood behind you flap back and hit your back lightly, and propped an elbow on Fluffy’s soft right side. It would be best to separate each of these issues apart, one by one in your head. Perhaps you’ve been overloaded and overthinking this too much.
The statue told you to seek out “companions from the dark” to help them break free. While it didn’t specify the “Cookies of Darkness”, it was likely referring to them. But now you are starting to wonder why it needed you to put yourself in such danger. It’s probably something related to the spell it was sealed in, so you wouldn’t bother questioning that further.
You couldn’t just give up on trying to befriend them if this was the only way, but you didn’t really know how to at this point. They all, well some of them, are strongly averse to this idea. Dark Choco looked surprised when you mentioned wanting to be friends with them. And the shroom-headed kid wasn’t put off that much either. However, you figured Pomegranate Cookie and Licorice Cookie wouldn’t allow the mushroom kid and Dark Choco to even think about building a rapport with you. Maybe they’ll tell Dark Enchantress Cookie herself!
A woeful grimace cursed your face after you just realized that. Crud, things are probably not going to bode well for your near future.
Your mind luckily quickly drifted to another epiphany based on what just happened. That sphere of pure light that formed around you to deflect Dark Choco’s attack - you must have used magic back there! It came to save you during a pinch, was it only something you can use in emergencies? Or is it based on your emotions in some way? You’ll have to experiment more and look into this matter further for sure.
Then you just remembered what Pomegranate said while you were hiding near the forest watching them. They have a mission at the Dark Cacao Kingdom from Dark Enchantress Cookie, which is definitely where they’re going to head soon. So there is still a reason to go there!
You won’t give up on trying to be friends with them!
Plus, since the Dark Cacao Kingdom is much larger than Snowfall Village, they probably would know more about the Cookies of Darkness for you to learn about. Cotton Cookie mentioned that knowledge of the Cookies of Darkness at Snowfall village was a bit limited, so it’d be a better bet anyways to head there.
It would be best to learn about each of them first, if you wanted to know how to be friends with each of them. You’ll have to ask around the kingdom. Hopefully, Dark Cacaoians will be just as nice as the people in Snowfall Village.
You stood up, feeling more motivated and energized than before which also made Fluffy raise its head at you curiously. Pine branches bustled and rustled together in a gust of chilly wind, pointing to the gaping ravine. Snow is pushed aside from your careful steps to meet the cliff’s edge, and you did your best to look off into the distance to find that same gate again.
It’s even farther than from where you were. You aren’t exactly sure how far Pomegranate and Licorice chucked you away with their magic, but you had to guess it was very far back and enough to set you off course. You didn’t even know how to get back to the same trail from here; there’s only a bunch of trees around here and nothing else.
Frustrating, definitely, but there’s nothing else you can do about it except just start walking. There’s a passageway through the thicket of trees that you noticed around the left, so you started walking toward it. This is going to take a while…… Hopefully you won’t go hungry along the way and make it there in time.
Before you entered the natural corridor, a large flash of white and brown got in your way. Fluffy decided to step in front of you and block you from going any further.
“Huh?” You tried to look for a way to move around him, but there’s nowhere nearly wide enough to squeeze past the big cat. “Fluffy? What are you doing?” You asked, completely confused.
Fluffy remained lying on the floor prim and proper on the ground while facing into the same opening you were about to head into. The Snow Leopard looks at you, as if awaiting and expecting you to do something.
You were still confused at first, but then you realized that he’s waiting there. Similar to a horse being prepared for their owner to mount them. Wait, it’s not possibly wanting you to….?
Hesitation still holds you back. It’s a big wild animal afterall, so could blame really be put on you for this? But after seeing Fluffy’s look, it looks kind enough to put your trust into.
The fluffy fur is easily gripped within your hands as you try to climb onto the leopard’s back. Fluffy is even larger than a horse which made this more difficult. You’ve never rode a horse or any kind of animal before, so this is really a first time experience that makes you feel more nervous.
Your legs are hanging off on both sides of Fluffy’s back, and the fur between its shoulder blades is firmly held in your grasp. Now what? Should you wait for Fluffy to move up? You are at its mercy in a way.
Please don’t buck me off like a donkey. You internally plead.
The Snow Leopard slowly got off the ground, and you clenched onto its back tighter. It didn’t feel that hard to steady yourself so far, but that can easily change in a moment.
Fluffy made big, confident strides one after another. Each one bumped you up and down a bit, and it took some time for you to get used to it.
“W-woooaaah…” You rambled on, trying to steady yourself. Not bad for a first time Leopard rider, you can proudly claim.
Then all of a sudden, the big cat walked faster into the forest. Then I ran. Really fast.
You started to blurt out incomprehensible words as each fast moving step rocked you here and there.
“Slow down! Ahhhh!” You tried to tell it, but Fluffy for some reason wasn’t listening. It kept at its rapid speed through the snowy woods.
The great Snow Leopard ran right into a tree branch, smashing it away from the two of you unflinching. You both turned a corner, riding deeper into the forest.
A warm fire crackles softly amidst a shaded grove. Sticks of skewered various vegetables are leaning near it to roast and cook until they’re smoking.
“Hmm….mmmmmm..hm.” The purple headed cookie placed a new skewer close to the bonfire. One that is stacked with mushrooms of various forms and colors, now charring and releasing spores as they crispened against the flames. Various colors bloomed from each of them like miniature fireworks.
“Ooooh, shiny….,” the cookie mumbled. The magical lightshow completely enraptured them.
“Hey, HEY!!” A pale hand quickly swiped the veggie skewers away from the fire. “I said I don’t want any of your mushroom gunk!” The new cookie clamored and panicked from their burning hand, now realizing they grabbed their skewers while touching some of the hot food still. He quickly readjusted their grip.
“Wha-? But I didn’t give you anything.” They retorted.
“Those spores were getting close to my food! Just put them farther away next time.” Licorice Cookie blew on his flame-charred snack to cool it off faster.
“Oh, okay. Sorry…”
The hooded cookie walked off, paying more attention to his little snack.
Licorice Cookie took a big chomp out of a roasted sweet potato, chewing on it quickly. The hooded cookie turned to see Pomegranate and Dark Choco Cookie sitting away from the two, staring off somewhere else. Not saying anything.
He raised an eyebrow at them.
“You two aren’t hungry? It’s been a little while.” Licorice Cookie proceeded to eat another slice of sweet potato.
…
“No.” Pomegranate Cookie’s answer was short and simple. Obnoxiously curt as usual, Licorice Cookie thought.
Dark Choco Cookie remained silent, giving Licorice a quick glance before going back into staring off in the distance from their small camp spot. It was all Licorice needed to understand.
The gray skinned cookie shrugged his shoulders.
“Whatever. Suit yourselves, I don’t really care either way.”
He trounced around before seating themself on an oaken log somewhat near Dark Choco Cookie, and then started on their second skewer.
“Ooooo!!” The mushroom headed cookie marveled as their roasting mushrooms made other kinds of colorful bursts and cracklings. They’re not even interested in eating them, simply letting them burn to an uneatable crisp.
It became mostly silent over the four, with just the peaceful ambiance of the dense forest being the only noise to hear. Frosting Outpost wasn’t far from their rest spot.
Pomegranate Cookie looked over at Dark Choco Cookie giving a contemplative gaze to the gate itself, not a lick of emotion was on his stern face. She smirked.
“Has that stranger’s words gotten to you? I can see it on your face, you’re crumbling underneath. I can tell,” she giggled. A sleeve was up to her mouth, concealing it.
Dark Choco squinted harder at the outpost in the distance, then turned his head to glare daggers at Pomegranate Cookie.
“Utter nonsense,” he shifted his posture to properly face the robed enchantress. Heavy cacao armor clunked rigidly together with each firm movement. His single maroon eye glowered down at Pomegranate Cookie. “They merely caught me by surprise, that’s all.”
“Is that the same reason why you weren’t able to cut through their little bubble magic?” She sniggered. A corner of one of her lips cheekily popped up from behind her sash.
Dark Choco narrowed his gaze at her.
“How pathetic. A strong, mighty prince taken off guard so easily. I expected better.”
“Their ‘bubble’, as you put it, had the strength equal to reinforced cocoa brick walls. I will be better prepared, if we come across them again,” he promised.
“Good, you better be. The last thing Dark Enchantress would want is to have her plan ruined thanks to some nobody Cookie.” A sinister giggle escaped her tanned lips. “Don’t you remember the way they looked when you walked up to them? They’re like a scared little mouse.”
Licorice Cookie intervened with a shared snicker, in a surprisingly high-pitch.
“That is IF they did survive that spell we used on them. I bet they barely even know how to use magic. Dealing with them will be child’s play! Poison Mushroom Cookie can probably take them out on their own.”
The mushroom cookie themself turned his attention to the three at the mention of their name. They scratched their left cheek though, visibly confused.
“I wonder why they want to be friends with us? How odd…” They mumbled. Pomegranate Cookie visibly winced at the rementioning of that fact, nearly making it sick to her stomach.
“I couldn’t care less. They’re probably just some lonely freak that fantasizes about being worthy to be a part of us and to serve Dark Enchantress Cookie. The less we think about this, the better.”
Pomegranate Cookie got off her tree stump and stretched out her limbs. Pulling out the soreness and popping a few joints.
“We’ve sat around enough, let’s go already.”
Your teeth clacked together very forcefully after Fluffy leapt over a murky pond of snow infested water. There is no time to focus on how sore your gums feel, as you didn’t want to risk losing your grip on his fur. This big cat is in a rush to get you through these dense woods, easily leaping and dashing around and through needled thickets. Your grip on its back tightened even harder as Fluffy swerved through a series of different pine trees, and your roughly skinned knuckles flushed red. It was too much for you to keep your eyes focused on what’s ahead.
Wait, what’s happening? Everything feels…. light?
Out of curiosity, you moved your head from behind Fluffy’s back to look down. And then you screamed.
Below is a lake that is probably at least 40 feet under you, and the big cat decided it would be a great idea to jump right over it. If there’s any time to not let go, it would be now.
The burning suspense is killing you. You are fairly confident in the leopard’s ability to make it over seeing as it is a large strong animal, but not entirely. The distance from the cliff to the side with solid ground is very long, can it really make it all the way?
Preparing for the worst, you tucked yourself into Fluffy’s back as tightly as you could to brace for the possible plunge into surely freezing water.
A big thump and a shake shook you on the creature’s back. You didn’t feel wet or freezing, so it seems like Fluffy was able to get all the way across to your relief. In all honesty, that would have been terrible if you fell in there, as you have no way to warm yourself up or dry your clothes from the freezing water. You could have gotten hypothermia, you panicked.
Fluffy dashes forward still, shrugging off that great leap over the pond like it was nothing. You opened your eyes, seeing nothing but dense forests still. Sturdy tree branches are broken by Fluffy’s plowing rush through the woods. Bits and specks of splintered wood fly across the air, and you have to cover your eyes sometimes in its fur to prevent getting any in your eyes.
As you huddled deeply into Fluffy’s warm fur coat, you remembered all the injuries and harm Licorice Cookie inflicted on Fluffy just recently before this. Was it pushing so hard for you, despite all of these injuries?
Strong chilly gales press against your robes and face. You two must have reached a breaking point in the forest and have reached outside.
You quickly dug the back of your boot heels into Fluffy’s sides. You hear the creature grunt, then halt its rapid job with a skin through the deep snow. You sighed in relief, finally Fluffy listened to you.
“Hmmmm….,” peering down from the high of its back, you saw the same gushy red marks across its fur and frowned. You’d hate to imagine the kind of pain Fluffy is putting themself through for their help, and it would be probably worse back then. It frustrated you how inexperienced you are in magic. The first thing you would do now is mend Fluffy’s wounds, but you just don’t know how. You thought that the least you could do is to ask them to stop pushing themselves so much.
You softly petted the leopard’s head, and it peered up at you with child-like curiosity.
“Thank you Fluffy,” you calmly started. “But I don’t want you to push yourself so much for me. You’re hurt aren’t you? The wounds Licorice Cookie gave you can worsen or reopen.”
The big cat seemed to understand what you were saying, if you had to guess. They didn’t say anything at all, actually. But you still wanted to believe they did!
You looked around where the two of you ended up. There’s the big gate in close sight, the Frosting Outpost. At long last, you made it.
The mouth of the valley’s ravine was separating the two of you to the giant blocky structure. There’s a wide wooden bridge that reaches up to it however. With no one else in sight, you thought now would be the best idea to go forward.
A few watchmen are sentried near the large wooden doorway, presumably preventing any stranger to just waltz through. Why not go and introduce yourself?
You patted Fluffy’s right shoulderblade.
“Okay Fluffy! Let’s go over there!” You instructed loudly. The leopard chuffed, and started steadily walking in the direction you pointed. You’re still surprised by how well it understands your spoken human language.
With supporting such a large creature, the bridge creaked and groaned under Fluffy’s heavy footsteps. Luckily it still managed to keep itself steady and not just cave in. You were beaming atop Fluffy’s back, looking around the frosty gulch and taking in the natural sights. To the left is a very expansive ocean of pitch black water, and a small island in the distance. Funny, the water in the mountainous ravine wasn’t black at all.
As you two got closer to the arc shaped gate, the details of its construction started to become more clear. A large angular roof with two dark brown, half-circle ornaments at each end stood atop the gate. Its shingles are thick cylinders, almost like wafer straws in a way?
The gate itself has a repeating pattern of large dark brown diamonds across it, and a big wooden door.
The guards are visibly tense at your sight, well to be fair if someone was riding on top of a huge leopard it would be surprising to look at. Their large brown eyes glanced back at you and Fluffy, their grip on the spears shaking subtly.
“Wh-wh-what the??!” One of them sputtered out though their mouth mask. “There’s a Cookie riding on the Snow Prowler??” Did they not see you before? You knew Fluffy’s fur is fairly thick, and it could have blocked you from their view. So maybe that’s why.
You waved excitedly to the two of them using both of your arms.
“Hi there!!” You shouted, thinking it might be hard to hear you from down there. “How are you guys?”
“State your business stranger!” The left watcher shot out a burly arm to point at you. Even though they had a firm posture, you can tell a bit of warble in their voice. “Why have you brought a wild beast here?”
“This is my new friend, Fluffy!” The guards stared dumbfounded at your big smile. “Can we go through your gate? I need to visit the Dark Cacao Kingdom. Fluffy won’t bite, I promise!”
You pinched your lip.
“Unless you anger them, then maybe.” You’re not exactly aware if Fluffy is secretly feisty or not. They could be.
The guard on the left who has light brown hair styled in gentle waves stood up straighter, unassuming their battle stance. “That depends.” They crossed their arms together whilst holding the spear. “Have you trained this animal? Do you know if it can behave properly around other Cookies?”
They’ve got you there. You stared blankly at them with blank and vacant eyes. What can you even say to that?
“Well?” They pressed, starting to sound a bit fed up. You have to say something.
After thinking for a bit longer, you scratched the back of your head. “Uhh…….,” your voice held barely any confidence. “N-no. I haven’t trained them.”
If you left it at that, this would sound terrible.
“But Fluffy is nice! They aren’t aggressive at all, really.”
The two guards stared back with half lidded gazes.
“Then I’m afraid you will not enter with your beast. We cannot allow a creature of this size to enter the kingdom, since there is a clear risk of it causing damage and dismay if you don’t know how to control it.” The right guard declared firmly, with their posture straight as their spear. You felt your heart sink down.
“We could allow you to enter without your Snow Prowler, though don’t expect a guaranteed entryway into the kingdom itself. The Citadel doesn’t communicate with us that often anymore, so we aren’t sure if they’re currently accepting tourists or not.” The left guard huffed. Their long sweep of dark chocolate hair swayed freely in the wind like a flag.
You let out an audible groan, but went to scratch behind Fluffy’s right ear.
“Sorry bud, but they won’t let pets inside. I guess we have to turn back and part ways.” A somber frown creased your mouth. The big cat growled quietly, then turned around to head the opposite direction on the wooden bridge.
Each step they took with their heavy fuzzy paw is slow and morose. Fluffy hung their head lower and their puffy cream-white tails flopped down between their legs. You slumped down on the beast’s back, almost tempted to just let yourself slip off and fall face-first onto the bridge. Did you really have to say goodbye to your new friend already? That sucks.
You started to close your eyes, but a loud explosive sound shook you right awake. Even Fluffy was startled, jumping high enough to bounce you on its back. Another one came in, followed by two more. It was coming from behind.
When you turned your head around, you saw the Frosting Outpost being bombarded by…. mushrooms? Each puffy purple fungus exploded into a big purple smoke cloud upon impact. Several more rained down on the building all over it, now completely clogging it with opaque violet smoke. Each murky fume had bits and particles that sparkled from the winter’s sunlight. But where did these things come from? You did remember seeing someone that looked like a mushroom, but was it really-
An explosive charge went off right next to you and Fluffy, piercing your ears. The two of you were quickly smothered in a murky purple smog.
“Ack!!” You sputtered. The fumes are making you cough uncontrollably, and Fluffy is sneezing from it as well. They’re starting to pace around confused, almost kicking you off, but you hold onto their back tighter. Whatever this stuff is, it smells awful! Like musty wood decaying in a steamy swamp!
Then there was a sound of a quick flurry of footsteps nearby, thumping loudly against the bridge. It was quickly overshadowed by the commotion being made at the gate.
The guards were panicking, fussing around at who knows what. Their voices are shrill and congested with heavy wheezes.
“*Cough* *Hack* Arrgh! What on Earthbread is this?! Bleegh!!” You recognized that voice as the left guard. They groaned, and you heard the sound of something heavy hitting a damp floor. Did the smoke knock them out? This is bad! You can’t keep breathing this crap in!
A loud smashing sound of wood being splintered cut through.
“Fluffy! Ack!” The purple fumes made it hard to even speak, but you tried your hardest to get a word out to the snow leopard. “You’ve gotta - follow who passed us! Bleeeegh! It was probably them!” You can’t stand breathing this in anymore. It felt like you would get knocked out if you took in one more huff of it. You covered your nose and mouth with one of your thick robe sleeves.
You can sense Fluffy’s movements despite everything going on. More loud bombings are going off around you, but the big cat still sniffed the air. It did its best to shift around, and then rapidly dash through the dense purple fog after the group of runners.
Guards that were once stationed around the gate are now dropping to the ground left and right, but Fluffy persisted miraculously. It knocked out bits and chunks of broken wood out of its way. Now echoes of heavy footsteps are bouncing off the inner walls of the gate.
Finally, you and Fluffy broke through the clouds of mushroom smoke in one piece with no guards chasing you luckily. They were all unconscious probably, but you weren’t complaining. Whoever that mysterious bomber was did a favor for you in a way.
The leopard stopped its quick pace, seeing as there’s now nothing in front of the two of you but a barren snow valley along the black ocean. Where did they go? You swore you heard some people running next to you.
Was it the Cookies of Darkness possibly? No way, right?
You think they have a score to settle with you, and would’ve taken the chance to dispose of you and Fluffy while caught up in purple fumes if that was the case.
Nevertheless, you’re glad your friend managed to bring you out of there safely. You gave Fluffy some strong pets across its head and neck.
“Thanks Fluffy! You saved my hide…. again! Hahaha.” That’s two times now, on the same day no less. Wait, was that a purr you heard from them?
You smiled, then looked back at the great new stretch of land in front of you. Way off in the distance, you saw a great towering castle surrounded by thick walls. That surely has to be the Dark Cacao Kingdom, right? It definitely looks like it would be.
There’s a numbing stiffness in your legs. You realized that you must have been riding Fluffy for too long and needed to stretch your legs. So you swung your right leg around the cat’s back to push them together, and with one strong push you moved off to the ground.
It was a surprisingly long drop, and the landing actually rattled you to the core. You misjudged how big your friend actually is.
“W-woah! Okay….” A few stretches helped ease the soreness and helped get you back in motion. The snow leopard looked at you confused. Whatever you’re doing must look strange to them.
You brought a hand to firmly pat their left front leg, and pointed at the great castle in the distance.
“That’s our next stop! The Dark Cacao Kingdom!” You proudly declared. “I’ll walk next to you there. You seem pretty tired after all that just happened.”
Not to mention, Fluffy did all of this while still sustaining their injuries. They at least deserved some kind of break.
A refreshing breeze cooled off your slightly reddened face. You strode along the murky dark coast through the sugar snow. The big snow leopard followed your lead and tailed closely nearby.
The freezing winds of the mountains rage on, shaking the trees furiously with angered force. The tent you lie within rustles slightly with the frigid forces, but stays firmly planted in the snowy ground. In an almost animalistic way, the wind’s cadence as it echoes through the mountain range lowers to a new low.
Your eyes feel a bit sore as you slowly blink them open. The sights around you merge together in a foamy blur of deep rich browns and seams of green. The abandoned tents, you remember quickly. It feels foreign and somewhat unsettling to wake yourself up from the nap you had, and you don’t know why. It’s like your body can’t get itself together right away.
Your apparent recollection of the past has you mulling deeply. It honestly disturbed you a little bit, seeing you in that kind of a state. This only makes you more deathly curious about your past, and it strives you further to learn the truth.
Eira and Forset….
They look like interesting people. You would like to meet them once again, to hopefully ask them about anything they might know about what happened to you. Could they be the key to answering this?
But you don’t even know where they are….
“Hmm….” You were fully seated up, scratching your rough chin. “Could someone in the Dark Cacao Kingdom know who these two are? It’s a possibility.”
It feels inane to think about, given the two clearly did not look like cookies. Like how you or Cotton Cookie appeared. They appeared to just be normal…. humans?
“Still worth a shot I suppose.” You miss every shot you don’t take, as they say.
A fierce rustle against this tent nearly startles you. Feeling like you’ve spent enough time napping in here, you stretch your arms up and move around to get yourself out of “bed”. You untie the knot you made on the tent flaps from the interior and push them apart.
Cold wind immediately blows into your face, which makes you yelp. The hood on your robe and soft interiors were pulled up as quickly as you could to shield you from nature’s fury. These winds never die down in these mountains!
With slightly shaky legs, you stepped out of the tent to head back on the trail. Crystals and sheets of ice were forming on the sparkling river, you noticed. The wind blew from the back, making the steps along the forest path easier to take, despite the heaps upon heaps of thick sweet snow everywhere. That tent also seemed designed to have snow slide off of it easily, you just realized.
You became treated to the same scenery after leaving the campsite for a while. There weren’t any views of the mountain, or riversides, or anything else really. Just a whole lot of dark brown trees and snow. It could be boring, sure, but to you it was almost relaxing. You gazed onward to the right, seeing miles and miles of snow covered forestry along the mountain sides. They stretched high above, touching the bleak, ever snowing skies above. You did your best to treat this like a nice, meditative walk down the woods all by yourself with each further step you took.
…
…
…
…
You sighed out loud, heaving out a large puff of white vapor from your mouth. The path veered to the left, now stretching itself over a long hill for you to hike over.
“Cookies of Darkness…huh?” You said internally, as your mind began to wander off. “I wonder what they’re going to be like.”
By Cotton Cookie’s attitude toward them, they sound like some seriously bad guys. Just the title alone gives off the impression that they’re a serious and dignified coalition for evil. It was almost making you a bit more nervous to meet them, as what the statue advised you to do.
You began coming up with images for what these “Cookies of Darkness” would look like, your imagination began to fly freely through the air. The trail moved in the direction of a deep ravine of snow, and you thought what exactly an “evil cookie” would look like.
Maybe it was a man who is very tall with long silver hair with a sleek black jacket. But as a cookie… hmmm. What would his weapon of choice be? A very long and sharp candy cane perhaps.
Or perhaps a tall, statuesque sorceress with very long horns. She would be adorned in a bloody red coat outlined with black red fur, all of which keeps her abdomen exposed enough. What else could make this design more sinister, you wondered to yourself. Maybe two pitch-black wings made of sugar floss?
Now that you are starting to think about it more, it’s actually a bit difficult to take any of these hypothetical villains as anything remotely threatening. They’re all cookies after all, so maybe they won’t be too mean despite their reputation. You are still determined to confront these “Cookies of Darkness”, so you’ve decided to look on the bright side and hope for the best.
One of your brown boots slipped up, making you gasp at the sudden loss of balance. You regained your balance in a quick second by shifting the balance in your body backwards. A frightened heat ran across your nerves as you just realized what nearly happened.
A snow covered rock slipped out from underneath your boot and soared down the incredibly deep ravine. It struck against the white mountain sides several times before finally sinking into the river with a visibly large splash. Immediately, you rushed to the side of the mountain away from the drop.
“Crap,” You smoothed a hand over your forehead, trying to calm yourself down. “I shouldn’t let my mind wander off like that around here again. Nope, nope. Never again.”
The horrifying rush you felt from that incident nearly made you sick to your stomach, but you did eventually get over it. Now this time you were more mindful of your surroundings and focused on the mountain trail. It could’ve been you, but this path was starting to grow more precarious as time went on. Firm dark brown tree branches started to get in the way, and the path became narrower and caked in snow. You used your thick boots to push some of it out of the way to prevent another terrible slip-up.
Treading down the frost-bitten path was a bit laborious, and also nerve-wracking, but the efforts eventually paid off at the next spot you came across. After stepping up from a rather steep slope, there didn’t appear to be any kind of trail anymore. But instead, there was a new breathtaking view that completely marveled you. Even more so than the spot you stood at before at the side of the mountains.
What laid before you a wide and rolling mountain valley, with peaks that stretched way up high and a gigantic river that lies between the divide. Wanting desperately to see just what in the world was beyond there, your legs already started to move on their own like a machine. But you quickly straightened your hood above your head to shield yourself from the oncoming dusting of sugar snow.
After already sensing a feel of dread from heights, you stopped thinking it’s already close enough. And what a view this turned out to be, there’s a huge stretch of snow-covered trees and pouring waterfalls down below in front of you. While you were tempted to bask in the sights so more, your eyes trailed along to the left after remembering your objective here.
You squint your eyes, and lean forward while moving your left hand to be above your eyes for some shade. It’s very difficult to see anything else but sugar infested trees, but you kept trying to find some kind of path among all the white.
There is something interesting in the distance that you did notice however. It wasn’t a trail, but instead something much larger than that. All the way near the maw of the great snowy river, there’s a large dark brown gate with a raised roof above it that stands firmly near a bridge across the river. You weren’t able to see what was behind it, since it’s obstructed by another mountain. But a gate near a river? Your memory blooms with a great epiphany to the time you last spoke with Cotton Cookie. That must be the Frosting Outpost she mentioned that the Watchers built. It’ll lead to the Dark Cacao Kingdom!
The only question now is, how are you going to get to it? You couldn’t see any kind of trail that leads to it easily. Of course it’s not going to be that easy, there’s always some kind of catch.
It was a bit disappointing, but you still feel very glad that you managed to actually find that huge gate. And now you were excited and beginning to imagine what it would look like up close and personal. It looked pretty large from over here, so you’re expecting it to be even bigger looking once you get there.
You excitedly jogged across the snow, looking somewhere for a new path to take that would lead there. A range of thick leafless trees stood in the way from going further to the left, but you did notice some open area past them. It would be best to make your way through and check out what’s over there.
A small crunching sound came out from under your boot. Confused, you looked down and lifted it up.
Oh.
It’s just a twig that snapped under your shoe. Nothing to worry about!
GRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHH……..
….
….
….
What the hell was that?
Almost instantly, you swung around. In the corner of a forest’s edge, there’s a figure you noticed moving over there. It’s something huge, something furry, something growling.
It’s terrifying.
In a mad panic, you rushed all the way over to the dense woods near the trail you came from. You huddled tightly behind a large tree trunk, sinking yourself into the snow below you and doing your best to not expose yourself in the slightest.
A thunderous footstep rattled the earth beneath you. Then another, and another. It’s close…
It was risky, but you needed to see what that thing even is. Peeping out from the tree, you saw the monster in full detail.
It’s a giant white snow leopard, the height of a tree. Its face is dark brown, and it has huge, razor sharp looking teeth that make you gulp. You started to get a cold sweat, not knowing what to do at the moment except stare in fear at that giant monster cat.
It started to sniff around in the air, pointing up its nose in various places as if it’s caught onto some kind of scent nearby. The leopard has one of its paws raised up, almost sitting straight up.
Oh no….
You already knew how this is going to end if you don’t do anything now.
Quick, think of something fast.
Think of something right now!!!
Your hands rushed into your pockets in a complete panic. Oh, wait! Maybe that can work!
The cloth holding the rest of the dried meat jellies was shakily opened between your thickly padded fingers. There’s a rock nearby that you snatched up and pressed the remaining jerky into it. You tied a cloth around it and the rock to hold them steady together.
“Okay, you’ve got one shot. Make it count.”
With the leopard's head sniffing and pointing to the left of you, it was time to seize this opportunity and put your plan into action. You used all of your might and chucked the rock all the way between the leafless trees
The rock eventually slammed into one of them with a loud *BANG*, catching the monster’s attention immediately. It stopped its sniffing, and prowled forward to find whatever made that sound throughout the air. Its head is held low, and it eventually finds those meat jerkies tied up to it.
Next thing you saw was the snow lion bobbing its head up and down with pieces of dried meat between its teeth. You are even able to see from here how wide its eyes looked as it devoured the tasty snacks. Looks like it liked them as much as you did.
The leopard licked its lips, very content. It sauntered off promptly, easily pushing some too-close trees away from it.
What a relief, the plan actually worked.
You wiped off a bead of sweat that dripped down your roughly-skinned forehead. Having to sacrifice those meat jellies did pain you a bit, but that would be nothing compared to what would happen if that thing DID find you. You sure as hell were not going to be able to outrun that leopard, especially not here.
The snow clung a bit to your clothes after you pushed yourself off the ground to stand up. You shook yourself quickly to get it off. You peered far out from your hiding position to look very far past the patch of trees, and there’s no leopard in sight.
Finding it safe to keep going, you moved your way out of the forest thicket to walk in the same way the leopard headed. It must have gone far enough from you at this point. You walked through the flat plot of barren, leafless trees. They each looked smooth to the touch, their bark shimmered and shined against the pale sunlight.
Your footsteps fit in each paw print left behind the snow leopard with ease. They each looked about almost twice the size of your shoe, which made you shiver a bit. You’re dreading even more for the reality if that thing did manage to catch you, and the horrific death you might have faced. Its teeth looked just like entire kitchen knives! It would have pierced through your skin so easily.
Wait, is your blood still….. blood? Now that you’re apparently a cookie, would it be some kind of other food or ingredient inside you? What do you even fill cookies with?
The curiosity spirals rapidly with each quick step you take across the mountain edge. You scratch your chin thinking about all the different possibilities. Would it be thin and runny like normal blood? Or is it thick and goopy? Or maybe you don’t even have a blood equivalent at all.
The weirdly twisted thoughts cloud all around your head, and you quickly decide to chase them off. You’ll find out the answer eventually, but hopefully not anytime soon.
*Grrrrrr……*
…
“Oh, look who it is again.”
Your stomach is already starting to beat you up about using the rest of the meat rations for that one ploy you did. The needy thing grumbled and scratched at you within, more desperate than the first reminder. The stretching and caving pains in your abdomen are starting to get too bothersome to bear, and you were forced to stop in your tracks.
Glancing around the wildlife, you did your best to remember the features of the edible plants Cotton Cookie reminded you about. Is there anything at all here that even resembles a kind of flower, fruit, or berry? All you can see is just snow, bushes and trees. Nothing else.
This won’t do. To get a better chance, you moved to the side away from the mountain’s ledge and closer to the forest wilds. Your head is glancing to the left, eyes ravenously glancing all around the different plant life to find something. Anything.
A small little blip of orange color became visible between a heavy mat of dark green bush leaves and snow. It immediately piqued your interest, and you almost instantaneously walked closer to it. The plant is lower to the ground and nestled nicely in the ground that is thickly blanketed in sugar snow.
You crouched down, bending your knees to look at this orange thing. You used your gloves to push leaves and small branches away from it to finally realize what it is.
A bundle of bumpy, round berries had been hidden among the leaves. Their bulbous look reminded you of blackberries, but with a sunset orange hue instead. You recognized these things from Cotton Cookie’s advice - they are Mountain Mullberries. Used in various jam and dessert recipes that are enjoyed by people around the Dark Cacao kingdom. The sweet snow covered the bunch you were holding within your hands, so you shook it off and brushed the rest away. With strong yet gentle force, you plucked out the ripe fruit and snacked on them.
They’re sweet, almost a bit too saccharine if you were being honest. And not tart at all like some wild blackberries could be. But you’re hungry, so you didn’t care at all. You kept plucking and chomping down berries from this bush until the hunger subsided. Orange colored juice splashed across your lips and you licked it off.
Pressure began to build up within your stomach and floated up rapidly to your chest. You let out a very unflattering eructation, having stuffed your fill on wild berries. It’s finally been enough, and you wiped some of the seeds and messy remains off your mouth with the back of your glove.
You stood up and stretched, easing up the soreness and tensions within your back and limbs after crouching down for long enough. Gazing over to the right, the previous gentle snowfall and strong winds had subsided without you noticing. A clear view of the mountain valley is open, completely wide and unperturbed by the elements of nature. It’s the perfect opportunity to seize the moment.
A soft sigh left through your nose. You’ve been following the natural path on the mountain side for what felt like an hour by now, and you’re almost completely bored out of your mind. Every now and then you would check how far you are from that monumental dark brown gate in the distance, always disappointing yourself afterwards because it still looked far away each time you looked at it. Slowly but surely…… you’ll get there. Your legs are starting to feel tired from all this hiking through snow.
“Phew…,” You sighed, slumped forward moderately exhausted. Your posture is arched and completely sloppy. You thought it had been long enough to take a short break from this rigorous nature walk. The strong winter winds are something you now almost missed, because they would have at least helped you cool down a bit.
There’s a fallen tree that lies parallel to the edge of the cliff. Its coarse, rough looking exterior looked safe enough to rest on for a short while. The large trunk was used as your seat for the time being, just long enough until you feel satisfied. You rested your hands on your knees, catching your breath and breathing steadily in and out. The fast heart rate you had been feeling is already starting to slow down and relax.
“Maybe I should start exercising more often,” you spoke unashamedly out loud. Clearly, you aren’t the most physically fit in your current condition. You didn’t need any kind of special memory flashback to tell you that. There isn’t much muscle or toughness that can be felt on your arms, legs, or even abdomen as you’ve come to notice. Can cookies even gain muscle? Or are you just now destined to be a little flabby forever now?
“Aroooooooooo…..”
A low whine cut through the silent air. From the sound of it, it was somewhere close along the trail you’re on. It was akin to a shrieking whimper from an animal in great pain. It pained your heart to hear something make such a pitiful noise. You stare off in the dense woods in the direction it came from.
Some loud shaking came from over there, and some more series of animalistic howls and whimpers mixed with sounds of something being smashed. The commotion is too alarming to ignore, and then you hear the sounds of other people’s voices thrown in. Just what are they doing over there?
Not wanting to arrive late, you got off the fallen tree to rush over to the dense snow-laden forest. You jumped over a ledge and breezed past the various branches and shrubs in your way, as fast as your fairly heavy boots can let you. Sugar snow is kicked up and sprayed into the air behind each of your panicked steps. Shy rays of sun that pierced through the tree leaves would occasionally hit against the clear prism on the front of your robe. Many colors of light scattered across the fabric in turn.
A high-pitched howl broke through the dense foliage and reached your ears, causing panic to rise within. Whatever was making that noise was clearly in pain, almost like they’re begging for mercy.
Finally, you did breach through the woods after all this running, and you nearly felt out of breath yet again. You had to rest your right arm against a nearby oak tree, but you’re able to lift your head high enough to see around you.
You ended up reaching a snow covered hillside, fairly exhausted. You noticed the same trail wrapping around to the outer edge, stretching far and wide away from here. The crevice made by the mountain ravine cut across it from far away, and now you can clearly see a long bridge over there.
Then something loud nearly made you slip up on the snow. It sounded like the booming and crackling of thunder and lighting. It came over from the left. But when you did find out what the noise was coming from, it was something completely unexpected.
There’s a group of four people standing near the same snow leopard you encountered a while ago, except it’s slouching and lying on the ground. Some sticky tar-like substance is grounding it to the snow covered ground, preventing it from getting up and escaping. Parts of its fur are charred and torn off and scattered around the ground. There’s some deep gash marks made within its furry body, with a red substance seeping out from them. It looks like it’s nearly about to keel over - it’s just barely hanging on by a thread.
Each of them looked very different from each other, both in terms of apparel and stature. One of them wears a pale red, long flowing dress that stretches down to her shins and it has long sleeves. Sleeves that are longer than the ones you have actually. Their skin is nut brown, and they wear a red diadem with three large red crystals on the front of it. Their hair is deep red, and styled into two buns on each side and a tied up tuft on the top. A square shaped mirror is clutched in her deeply tanned hand.
The second one is pretty short, only meeting up to the waistline of the first person you observed. Were they a kid? Is that a mushroom on their head? Or some kind of very wide, cushioned purple hat? They looked like a mushroom to you.
Curly, fluffy locks of lavender hair poked out from under the hat giving them a full afro against their deep brown skin. They are also wearing a kind of robe with long pinkish sleeves, well it’s more like a tunic than anything. The fabric under the sleeves is dark purple, and the center is lavender. You thought they looked a little cute.
A person wearing a dark black cloak with a hood is wielding a large scythe with a swirling black circle in it. Their skin is pale gray, almost corpse-like in complexion. Their hair is black and curled into long strands that almost reach their shoulders. Bright yellow irises stand out strongly in their appearance.
Finally the last person you had to notice, and you reeled back in surprise at first. So big and imposing, this fourth member of the group stands out strikingly against the other three. He’s much taller than them, and probably yourself too. This person is built like a brick wall, with those large half-circle pauldrons and long dark brown cloak all around his shoulders. You noticed his bulky and solid black armor underneath the silken fabric. In all honesty, he actually scares you a little bit. His eyes are a piercing deep red and he scans the chaos unfolding in front of him, and his skin is a dark brown like chocolate. It would be a lie to say he does not intimidate you with appearance alone. And curiously, there’s a noticeable sliver of white hair running through one of his medium-length bangs.
Something dark is sparkling from the hands of the one wielding the interesting scythe. A menacing grin forms on his face as he approaches closer to the snow leopard slumping on the ground. Whatever it is you just stumbled upon, it does not look good.
“Enough already Licorice Cookie, we’re wasting time on this.” The red-robed cookie crosses their arms. A bright glare refracts from the mirror’s surface and hits you in the eye for a moment, making you blink and rub it.
The one in the dark hood sucked in their lips and made a very odd-looking pout, then wretched his head around to glance at the person in the starkly red robes.
“What? Come on, Pomegranate Cookie! You expect me to let this thing off so easily after it tried to attack us?” He blurted out at her. His attention went straight back to the snow leopard, continuing to blast him with more black-lightning. It whimpered from the bolt blasting against their dense fur and leaving a char mark against it. “Mangey hairball!”
The one dressed as a Mushroom stared at Licorice Cookie’s tantrum blankly. They weren’t sure what they should be doing right now, but it felt right to follow the example of Pomegranate Cookie and not step in. Licorice Cookie’s magic wasn’t any laughing matter to be trifled with. He turned his head to look at his very tall peer.
“Why is Licorice Cookie so angry?” They ask. The mushroom-looking cookie tugs on their long cloak expectantly.
The tall Cookie doesn’t even look down to give them their attention. They narrowly squints at Licorice Cookie wordlessly.
“.....”
Their bulky, armor-clad arms are crossed together nonchalantly. A small puff of warm fog is released from their nostrils in a sigh.
“I don’t know, and I don’t care.” The Mushroom Cookie smiled at him cluelessly, not noticing the subtle agitation laced in his voice. To them, the big and tall one looked like a dark brown Honey Bear. Mushroom’s lips curved into an O-shape as an idea came to his mind.
“Oh! Then, I can give him a Shroomie or two! Maybe he’ll feel better.”
“No! I don’t want any of your nasty little Shrooms! Last time I ate one, my stomach was killing me for almost a week.” Licorice was quick to turn his head and snap back.
“And besides Pomegranate, what’s the rush? Can’t I spend a little more time teaching this thing what the pecking order is?” A wide, mischievous grin stretches across their deathly pale skin.
Pomegranate pinches their nose between a tanned pointer finger and thumb. Even you can tell that her patience is wearing thin from this distance.
You now also realized how you haven’t been discovered yet, it’s not like you are that far away from the group. Perhaps this “Licorice Cookie” is doing such a great job of distracting them that they haven’t noticed you yet.
“I’m sick and tired of having to bear with your obnoxious petty behavior. We’re here for our mission at the Dark Cacao Kingdom, not to abuse the wildlife. Quit acting like a child.”
Licorice Cookie winced from Pomegranate Cookie’s sharp tone, stopping his electrical conjuring within his hand. He shriveled up, defeated by her words.
“Alright, alright fine. I’ll wrap this up. You’re all no fun, geez.”
Licorice Cookie raised up a large scythe high in the air, and readied it above the leopard. He bent his back to get the perfect amount of leverage and power into a finishing swing.
This made you gawk in horror. A rousing bravado stirred up within you, and before you even realized it your legs were being put into motion. Despite any inkling of how this could be a bad idea, or even how tired you are right now. You put every ounce of energy you’ve got into running at them, doing everything in your power to get in the middle of this.
Just as this darkly cloaked heathen was about to swing his scythe down on the felled beast, you had leapt forward in front of him with your arms spread open side-to-side. You made a physical barrier between him and the leopard just in the nick of time.
That scythe is gleaming and crackling with some kind of malicious energy outside of your comprehension
“STOOOOP!!!” You yelled out, as loudly as you could.
If this young man’s reaction would have been a second or two slower, that thing would have sliced you down. Your heart tenses palpably, electricity is running like crazy through your body from the adrenaline rush. A grimace is painted over your face with your eyes zeroing in on that sharp blade.
The hooded person’s eyes nearly pop out of his sockets as he stares at you, his jaw also dropping. You couldn’t see the other three’s faces, but they’re almost equally as astonished by your sudden entrance.
“What the-??” Licorice Cookie is stammering, and at a complete loss of words. He is taking in your appearance piece by piece and trying to comprehend just how you even found them here in the first place.
“Who the devil are you? Some kind of Hobo Cookie?”
Hobo Cookie???
You take some offense to that, to be honest. A hobo??? You don’t think you look that dirty and unkempt to come across as a bum.
But disregarding that, the tough fabric in your gloves is getting clenched in the tight fist you’re making. You give Licorice an annoyed look.
“Just leave it alone already! Look at it, it already surrendered to you and it wants to escape. Haven’t you hurt it enough?” You pointed at the various wounds and burn marks on its body. The snow leopard, while still exhausted, gives you a side eye.
“Oh, how precious. Some animal lover Hobo has decided to get in my way and start acting like a Hero.”
Licorice Cookie slams the bottom of his scythe on the cold ground. He grips the bone rod tightly within his long bony fingers.
“And I HATEEE heroes!! IHATETHEMIHATETHEMIHATETHEM!!!” He spits out with nasty venom. His outburst startled you a bit, making you shrink back and nearly back up into the snow leopard. “Just who do you think you are, interfering with the Cookies of Darkness!”
“Cookies of Darkness?” You repeated with wide eyes upon remembering that name. It’s these people?
“You heard him correctly.” The red haired Cookied intervened. Licorice Cookie moued from being interrupted in his moment. But he knew better than to give Pomegranate lip for it. “Servants to the great Dark Enchantress Cookie, and here to ensure a new age of Darkness will wash over Earthbread. And just who are you, stranger?”
Now you’re at a loss for words. Not knowing your own name is now proving to make things more complicated than it needs to be. If these are the people you’re meant to become friends with… it would be best to give a good first impression. But uh…. you don’t think it’s going all too well right now.
“Uhhhhh….” You started out dumbly. How would you even explain your situation to them? “I kinda don’t….. know.”
Licorice Cookie squints his eyes. “You don’t know your own name?” He chides, and you already feel like you’ve messed something up.
“It’s a… long and complicated story,” way too long to tell them on a first meeting. “I just forgot what my name is basically. And I don’t even have any other memories of who I am for some reason.” You’re starting to ramble, you noticed. “Ugh! Okay, well. Someone told me I need to ‘make companions from the darkness’ and I think it’s supposed to be you guys. So uhh…”
God, this feels even more awkward now…
You weren’t sure where to take this next. Well, you already stated what your purpose here is, might as well follow through with it.
“We could…. get to know each other better? Maybe be friends? This… occurrence with the leopard is something I can look past if we talk everything out. What do you say?” You offered a hand to Licorice Cookie, albeit with some uneasy shaking. That didn’t really come out how you wanted it to, but you still held hope they might be understanding.
An uncomfortably lengthy pause of silence lingered, making you feel even more nervous. The big one in the back stared at you surprised with his one crimson eye, and the little one with the mushroom hat held sparkles in his eyes. Pomegranate however looked very unimpressed.
Licorice Cookie’s cheeks ballooned out and their lips trembled, barely holding the air held up.
“Pfft-... Bwaaaahahahahaa!” The hooded cookie nearly doubled over in hysterical laughter. He’s holding his stomach and the grip on his scythe wobbled with each obnoxious chuckle.
Your face started to flush red hotly.
“Are you joking?” Licorice Cookie points a pale finger at you, then turns back to look at the rest of the group, all with the same expressions as before. “They’re joking, right?”
“A friend?” The mushroom headed one mumbled, and looked at you with curious admiration.
Pomegranate’s fiery stare wasn’t making you feel any more comfortable about this.
“Get out.” She announced loudly with a straight face, making your rough cookie skin jump. “Don’t ever talk to us again.”
The burning embarrassment you were feeling is now starting to morph into unbearable shame. This is probably the worst outcome that could happen. How could you screw it up this badly?
“I agree with Pomegranate Cookie for once,” Licorice Cookie crosses his arms smugly. “Sorry fool, we’re not looking for any new members right now. And-
You heard something loud moving behind you. Looking behind yourself, a dash of white fur blurred past your vision. The snow leopard!
“Wh-wha? Hey!” The hooded cookie reached one of his arms out, as if he was trying to stop it. “Argh!! You little-! You let the monster get away!”
“....I think you’re the real monster here.” You spoke confidently.
“Tsk!” Licorice Cookie sucked in a breath, they were not prepared for that. They even visibly flinched away from you.
“Oh, and I thought you wanted to be friends with us in the first place? That wasn’t very nice of you to say.” The gray-skinned cookie tutted.
“Whatever, just get lost already. If you’re looking for friends, you’re asking the wrong Cookies. It’s not like Dark Choco Cookie over there would even be much of a help anyways. He’s stiffer than a Cacao brick wall, haha!”
Dark Choco didn’t even react at all to the slight made against him. His face is completely unmoving, stuck in a completely straight face looking at the two of you.
You held your chin in thought and looked back at him. The dark cookie is surprisingly quite handsome, yet there is still an charming boyish look of youth on his face. The vertical scar over his left eye started to make you wonder more about him.
There’s something that compels you to stay and plead your case.
“You should do what they say, Stranger.” Dark Choco Cookie said, his voice is deep and cuts through the air like a blade. “Or else they’ll turn this ugly.”
Despite everything (except the little mushroom Cookie) pushing for you to leave, including the lingering shame and embarrassment, you still wanted to stay. There’s something about Dark Choco Cookie that interests you to stay around him, and you aren’t sure what it is.
“Oh please,” Licorice Cookie starts. “Don’t act like you’re above the rest of us, after all you’ve done before. Trying to kill your own father won’t make you completely innocent anymore!”
A look of surprise bloomed on your face.
“Woah, what? Seriously?” You stared dumbfounded at Dark Choco Cookie, not believing what you're hearing. Sure he does look pretty scary, but attempted patricide? You figured they’re called the Cookies of Darkness for a reason.
“Yeah, really!” Licorice Cookie turned to you with a grin. “Not only that, but he disgraced his dumpster fire of a nation and its people as their prince! I probably shouldn’t be telling you this but….. I do like a little gossip.”
“Enough!” He yelled out all of a sudden. His voice boomed like thunder across the hillside, and he stepped forward to the Cloaked Cookie who yelped. He’s wearing an incredibly scornful expression at Licorice Cookie. “Don’t you dare besmirch my nation, let alone tell my past with a stranger no less.” Licorice Cookie began cowering in fear at his strong words.
Suddenly Dark Choco looked befallen, looking full of regret and sorrow. “....I know I’m not a good Cookie, I don’t need to be reminded. This is the life I’ve chosen to carve for myself, and now I’m stuck with it forever.”
The way he talked about himself puzzled you, it was almost pitiful. By Licorice’s claims, he sounds like an absolute demon. But is he really? A part of you didn’t want to believe that. If he was, he would have chased you off already or even attacked you, but he didn’t.
“It’s never too late to change.” You told him, which made Licorice Cookie raise an eyebrow. The mushroom cookie and Pomegranate Cookie followed your words curiously. “You might think that you’re completely irredeemable, but you probably aren’t. There is always a reason to have hope everything can turn out better,” you stated with a polite smile. Hand on heart, you firmly believed every word you just said, and then some.
But now it was your turn to receive a soured look from Dark Choco. He seemed almost disgusted by you. Harsh.
The big cookie stalked up to you with heavy footsteps, almost enraged. He casts a massive shadow over the ground that nearly covers you and Licorice Cookie both, until the latter decides to subtly sidestep out of the way from this. And now that little smile on your face is starting to wobble.
“Spare me your preachy theatrics.” Dark Choco Cookie barked. “There’s no hope for someone like me. They won’t ever forget what I’ve done to them. Not ever.”
A massive arm was unveiled from under his wide coat. He pointed a large pointer finger to your right.
“Now leave, before I make you.” He looked like he was about to snap at you.
Fear is wracking in your whole body, and every instinct you have is telling you to bolt out of here and never come back. But this one… you could feel something speak to you about him. And you refuse to give up.
“I…I-I can see it!” You blurted out. “I can see it in your eyes! There IS still good in you! I’m sure of it!” Your mind feels like it’s running a million different thoughts at once. “Sure your people might not be able to forget, but they could still forgive!” You held onto the tiny thread of hope within.
Dark Choco Cookie snarled, then reached for the sword within the sheath concealed under his cloak. You're startled in panic, tears nearly escaping the corners of your eyes.
A flash of Dark brown and crimson red swung at your chest, and everything felt like it started to slow down. Without thinking, you raised up your hands in front of your chest as if to shield yourself. The deadly edge of the sword was about to slice through your palms, but then something happened.
A shimmering bright light erupted from the prism on the front of your robe. The heavenly light bursts forth, encapsulating your body in a sphere of white light and reaching your hands as soon as the sword would have hit. A harsh clash, then a shudder.
The sword was repelled back by an unyielding force, failing to cut through it. The red gem on the hilt began to sparkle, shine, and suddenly change into a pure white color. It flashed back and forth between red and white, over and over. Dark Choco Cookie gasped in pure shock and stumbled back. A blinding white light fills his one open maroon eye.
“Father,”
A lonely Dark Choco Cookie confronts someone who is nearly twice his size by the outside railing of the Dark Cacao Citadel. Bleak winter wind blows past the two Cacaoians. It takes everything for Dark Choco Cookie to muster up the courage to speak his next words.
“The crowning ceremony is tomorrow and I…..” He lets out a strangled cry. “I’m too nervous, I almost can’t take it. What if I end up becoming a failure as a prince? Or even a failure as a king? I don’t know…”
A deep rumble escapes the throat of his father.
“Where is this cowardice coming from, my son?” The large, aged cookie doesn’t even spare him a glance. “You’ve triumphed over every challenge I’ve given you. And every time you come back to me with a big smile on your face. Why are you suddenly afraid?”
Dark Choco Cookie has no response, but only to stare at his father in awe. Finally, he turns around to face him. His diamond chocolate pauldrons shine brilliantly against the sunset.
“You have proven yourself a strong and confident warrior, and you will do so again as my heir.”
He rests a hand on the smaller cookie's shoulder. Dark Choco couldn’t see it, but there was a small kind smile on his father’s mouth.
“I know you’ll make me and yourself proud son. Don’t ever lose hope.”
Dark Choco falls harshly against the snowy ground groaning. His mythical sword tumbling and then lying right next to him, with the gem finally stabilized into a deep blood red.
The light bubble around you disappears, and you blink confused at what just happened. Did you just… use magic?
The other three are completely surprised too, Licorice Cookie’s jaw was nearly dropping below his skull necklace.
Dark Choco struggled to open his eye, and then looked back at you equally as surprised.
Pomegranate Cookie became quick to act, flourishing the diamond mirror in their hand to wave it at you.
A bright red magic force restrained you, and now you’re hovering above the ground. You struggled, clenching your eyes and grunting in frustration.
“Hey! Put me down!” You yelled at the red robed mage.
“I’ve seen enough drama in one day. You’re leaving now.”
Realizing what’s happening, Licorice Cookie stumbled over next to her and raised up his scythe at you. The magic surrounding you grew stronger and harder to push against.
“Hopefully we won’t meet again, Hobo Cookie!”
The two of them swung their tools to the left, causing you to be launched very far away from them. Soaring above the various pine trees many yards away.
“AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!”
Your screams of fear gradually drowned out into a faint, distant echo. The mushroom headed cookie however looked at your speeding form sadly.
“They seemed nice though…” They mumbled to themself.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Snow falls gently on the frosted grass of the morning, as a cotton candy sheep hops over and takes a large chomp out from it. You stared onward at the steady snowfall from the windowsill. You haven’t noticed the tall, snowy mountain peaks that bordered Snowfall village prior to your arrival, perhaps your hunger was just that strong or distracting. The glass of the window started to fog up from your warm breath, and you dragged a pointer finger across it to draw a little smiley face.
“Is something wrong dear?” Asked Cotton Cookie, as she then set down a round dish with a freshly baked Snowberry pie inside. She moved the baking mitts off her hands and tucked them through the gap of a cabinet’s handle bar. “You seem troubled.”
“Huh?” You snapped out of your daydreaming. “Oh, I’m okay Cotton Cookie! It’s just, I’ve been thinking about something. I feel…. bad.”
“For what?”
“That time yesterday with the snowman. I’m so angry that I couldn’t do anything, I felt completely helpless. It was so pathetic….”
You stood up from your chair, clenching your fists. You faced Cotton Cookie with a bitter look. “You said I look like I could use magic, right? But I don’t feel like I can at all. How do you even use magic as…. a cookie?”
“Don’t beat yourself up over it.” The old cookie walked closer to you and held your forearm. Her hold wasn’t too hard, yet radiated great warmth. “You’re new to this world, aren’t you? I think it’s a little ridiculous to expect someone such as yourself to already know all their magical capabilities, if at all.”
Her touch felt soothing to the heart, you just couldn’t possibly stay mad at yourself forever while with her. The tight fist you made was steadily relaxed by Cotton Cookie’s hand and words.
“Take it from me, I didn’t know I could use healing magic right away either. I found out when I became a teenager, and tried new things myself. Give yourself some time. I’m sure you’ll figure it out when the time comes.”
You held Cotton Cookie hand with your other one, smiling at her, then dropping it aside.
“Thanks, Cotton Cookie.” You felt yourself smile.
“You’re welcome, sweetie. You almost remind me of a friend I had a while ago, he used magic too. I wonder what he’s been up to lately?” She went around the counter and rummaged through a drawer. Finally, she took out a pie knife. “Alright, let’s finally cut into this pie!”
Cotton Cookie was nice enough to give you the first slice of the Snowberry pie. The filling looked like blue jam, complimenting with the perfectly browned crust on the top and toasted outer edge. You didn’t wait at all, and you used a silver fork to cut out and eat a piece of it.
…
It’s delicious! Just like the snowberries you tasted before, but a bit less tart. And the flavor was longer lasting.
After the two of you ate some of the pie together, you and Cotton Cookie went over your next steps to travel to the Cacao Kingdom once again. She had a map of Earthbread, pointing out where you are right now and that Dark Cacao Kingdom is south east of Snowfall Village. You would have to cross through some mountains and reach a place called “Frosting Outpost”. A structure made by the Watchers in the Dark Cacao Kingdom that protects a bridge that leads to their kingdom. Hopefully you can go ask around that kingdom for the whereabouts of the Cookies of Darkness, since unfortunately no one in this village knows where they are and what they’re plotting right now.
The old cookie is also nice enough to give you some dried meat jellies as food rations, in case you need it. Thankfully, you were wearing some pants that had pockets, so you stored the cloth-wrapped meat in there. She informed you that you needed to take a path leading straight from the other end of the village, then head right.
Cotton Cookie also informed you about any plants you can forage for food, and what they looked like while you were traveling there. Luckily, there aren't that many poisonous plants for you to watch out for, but she mentioned the significant features on each of these edible and poisonous plants that would be easy to remember.
Before you thought about heading out in the morning now, she suggested that you should do your best to avoid conflict and stay out of the way of any other monsters, which you agreed without any hesitation.
Strong arms wrapped around your torso, and you looked down in surprise to see Cotton Cookie had approached you to give a warm hug. She only reached up to your chest in height, but you still felt great warmth from it. You hugged her back, and then the two of you broke away.
After opening the door, a sudden blast of cold wind hit you hard from the outside. It caught you by surprise, since you’ve become accustomed to Cotton Cookie’s insulated and warm cabin.
“Feel free to come back any time! Take care, and stay safe dear!” She called out to you from the doorway, as you were stepping through her front lawn on your way to the gate.
“Don’t worry, I will!” You waved back to her excitedly. You rushed to pull your hood over your head to prevent your hair and scalp from getting pelted with cold snow.
The village was pretty quiet at this time in the morning. No kids running around and diving in the snow this time around. You figured that they were still all nestled up in their warm beds, watching and hearing the steady falling of snow from outside. It was fairly early after all.
You trudged up a hill, completely covered in sugar snow and mixed in with tree branches and pine needles from the village’s large center tree. You noticed some intricately woven bird's nests on several of the branches in it, feeling slightly nostalgic for the warm bed you slept in recently. A tree branch was kicked to the side by your foot.
Peering down from the hill, you saw the other entrance to the village on the other side wide and clear. The sleds tied up with large tree logs have been moved out of the way conveniently, and you didn’t see any other tree litter between you and that gate. You hatched a mischievous, yet silly idea.
It’s the perfect opportunity, who would pass up being able to do something like this?
You dove forward, belly flopping onto the downward slope of sugar snow. It burst out from around your impact, and you already were starting to slide down the long hill. The pickup of speed felt exhilarating, you were practically sledding off the hill using yourself. When’s the last time you had any winter fun like this? It’s been too long in your opinion!
Laughing and cheering, there is no one else to hear and see your sledding but yourself. The gate was starting to get close, so you began steering yourself to start sliding on the left part of your body. You are trying to hit the brakes on your descent, and it seems to be working. The gatepost gave you a firm nudge against your side when you finished sliding.
“Well! That was fun.” You stood up, brushing off the sugar snow from your mage robes. You felt your pockets, making sure nothing slipped out from this. “I wonder if people in the Dark Cacao Kingdom like doing stuff like this? Who knows?” The questions you pondered made you even more curious about the nation, which filled you with an uneasy excitement.
The gate’s latch was easily undone by your own hands, and you closed and locked it behind you. It’s time to follow the straight path ahead just like Cotton Cookie told you.
A small creeping feeling of trepidation started to lurk in the back of your mind. The forestry and foliage stacked up denser and taller as you made your way farther along the path. Brisk and cold winds from Snowfall Village are now chillier and fiercer against you. Nature seems to be dissuading you from visiting the Dark Cacao Kingdom at the moment, but you’re not going to let it. You’ve only just started.
Cotton Cookie did mention there is a tall mountain range that surrounds the Dark Cacao Kingdom, giving it a natural barricade in a way. Combined with the harsh winters you have first hand in experiencing, this would prove to be a challenge for anyone brave enough to dare invade the Dark Cacao Kingdom. They all looked incredibly tall, reaching way up high into the sky. It’s the tallest series of mountains you’ve ever seen, each with peaks that have been frosted with the deliciously sweet snow.
At long last, you reached a pathed opening in the crowded pine woods to your right. Probably the same one the kind old cookie talked with you about. To the average onlooker, it would have been hard to notice this spot since it’s completely covered in snow and it looks subtle amidst the identical looking pine trees.
Walking this route reminded you of the time you were being chased by the snowman and you tried to throw it off by diving straight into the middle of the woods off the beaten path. The evergreen forestry forced you to duck and weave around branches to keep running. That’s the norm now, with how cramped this trail felt. If you were to bring a party through here, they would be forced to walk in a single-file line.
“Should I just keep following this trail? I haven’t seen any signs yet that would tell me otherwise.” Your eyes glanced around the deeply shaded forest underpass. The tall and widely branched trees barely let any of the morning sun through to light the way, so it was even a bit dark. Not to mention, snow covered the trees too, blocking out even more light. “Or maybe I passed by one without noticing? I hope not…”
Your stomach growled angrily, snapping you away from your thoughts. It hasn’t even been that long since breakfast, and you are starting to already feel more oncoming pangs.
Seeking through the shaded woods, you tried to find any edible berries, flowers, or foliage of any kind while you walked. But the amount of shade made it hard to see the small little fruits or point out any discrepancies. You felt your eye twitch.
“Heeee-yah!”
WIth a triumphant cry, you thrusted your hand out and flexed the muscles in it as hard as you could.
….
….
….
But nothing happened
“Waaa-chaa!!”
You tried again, using your other arm.
….
….
Still nothing
But you didn’t want to give up on this pose. Concentration and focus could be the key elements that you’re missing. Closing your eyes, you focused on the feeling in your outstretched hand, trying to summon something force with all of your willpower. Your brain strained and tensed to try to imagine it happening.
You hoped that your magic would now kick in and let you create a source of light to help you see better.
*Growl, growl* Your stomach reminded you, this time with a stronger insistence.
“Damn it, fine.” Disappointedly, you opened your eyes and dug a hand into your pants pocket and took out a few slivers of dried jelly meat and snacked on them. Unfortunately your charade of attempted magic didn’t work out like you hoped.
The dried jellies tasted like meat jerky, and not what you expected to your surprise. Savory and lightly salty, you assumed Cotton Cookie must have smoked the meat to help preserve them. This gave the taste a more complex and almost “earthy” flavor. It was almost tempting to wolf down another one of the delicious meats.
“I hope those last for a while.” You resumed soldiering on through the forest, but still a little frustrated.
Just give it time you remembered hearing. It seemed like you would have to, but when? Days? Months? Maybe even years if you manage to last here that long?? From Cotton Cookie’s advice, it seemed ambiguous and maybe even arbitrary to you. It’d be better if it came to you sooner than later. So you wouldn’t be as much of a sitting duck when another monster would eventually come your way and want to start a fight.
Maybe the magic you use might not even be that useful, you dreaded.
Or maybe you don’t even have the potential at all. It’s all just a hopeless ambition.
You shook your head, wanting to chase away those awful thoughts. No, you should always keep faith in yourself just like Cotton Cookie has in you.
It’s better to be optimistic when anticipating something that could be disappointing rather than being pessimistic. It only feels bad once instead of twice. That’s a piece of advice Mom liked to give you.
Wait, Mom?
How did you-?
A pounding headache rattled through your brain. It felt like getting a terrible brain freeze, mixed in with getting banged on the head very hard. You groaned, clutching your head through your hair to try and feebly suppress the terrible pounding.
It nearly sent you keeling and whimpering on the ground. Why was this hurting so much?? You started to claw at your own scalp to feebly ease the pain.
Make it stop already!
It actually did, to your relief. You breathed out a sigh of relief, and shakily tried to recompose yourself. And also slapping your cheeks twice with your hands to help snap out of it.
“What was that about?”
Now you feel even more confused. A memory - being something specific about your mother - has returned to you out of nowhere, but it pained you to do so. This left you grumbling internally, having no idea why it happened that way.
The trail continued onward under the peace and ambiance of the forest during a snowfall. It took many turns and scales in elevation at places, but managing to know where it is the whole time and stay on it wasn’t hard at all. Your big robe was designed in such a way where it didn’t constrict the movement of your legs, even though the bottom part of it sagged down to your shins and it looked like it should.
After much hiking, the scenery began to change too. After climbing up so much elevation, the trail became more elevated to be situated near a cliffside with ample amounts of snow covered trees still around. Gone were the flat plains you knew around Snowfall Village, as you are now in the region’s mountainous valley.
A scurrying sound manifested on the right snowy hillside, which made you turn to see what that was. There were only a few falling pebbles and snow bits when you glanced at it, so it was probably some small burying creature like a wild gopher or squirrel. You shrugged, and paid no more attention to it.
Looking to the left, you can see an opposing snow-blanketed mountain on the other side that looks equal in height as the one you’re walking along. It looked pretty far from here, and it has the same types of evergreen pine trees growing on it too.
You paused to actually soak in the look of this expansive, paragon of nature. Just all by yourself to enjoy the view without anyone bothering you, this is definitely a moment worth cherishing in your opinion.
The wind blows across the valley, but you don’t feel it. It grazes the leaves and branches of the trees around to make a harmonious chime together. Your breathing slowed, and eased into the rhythm of the mountain’s forest. Close your eyes to concentrate and take everything in…
Tiredness from the amount of hiking you had to go through started to dissipate. Reaching at this point feels like your due reward.
You heard the sound of water rushing that you haven’t noticed before. With it and the sounds of the wind, they combined to make the most serene melody.
Curious where it was coming from, you opened your eyes and began looking around for it. There are no streams or waterfalls nearby over here at this cliffside view, so where is it? Maybe it’s farther down the trail?
There’s a turn going to the right from the trail that drops sharply in height. From peering beyond the vantage point, that’s where you saw it. A small river that is flowing straight through the trail with a bridge constructed that goes over it. It sparkles radiantly from reflecting the sunlight. How… familiar.
It’s a really sharp drop from where you’re standing to the nearest plane of ground below; you will require great caution to scale down this part without getting hurt. You crouched down, turning to face the side of the steepness of the trail and sloooooowly scaled yourself down it. The last thing you’d want is to accidentally slip on this snowy ground and go careening off the cliffside which would lead to a certain, crumbly death.
It wasn’t as bad as you expected it to be. You made your way down without any kind of hitch thanks to your great caution, and then proceeded to dust off the sugar snow and other gunk clinging onto your robe.
Walking toward the bridge felt like a cakewalk in comparison. The structure itself was made entirely of wood, and it appeared to be some severed tree logs arranged and tied together to make a structure that can hold up over the river. It wasn’t too long to cross, and it felt like it was in good structural integrity still. The wood let out a creaky *squeak* each time you stepped on it.
Looking beyond to the left, the river flowed through a gentle snow-laiden ravine sprawling with various plant life. Short, bushy shrubs with little white flowers growing from them to woody stalked flowers arranged in bunches of lavender bells that droop in the shade. In this place, there are less bushy trees around so you were able to see the things around you easier. You were honestly tempted to admire the scenery for a second time atop this bridge.
You stepped off the wood structure and noticed something peculiar somewhere else. On the left side of the sparkling river, there are a few shaggy looking tents set up around a circular pit lined with stones. Is this a campsite that was abandoned? It seems like it, by the looks of it.
The tents have a printed insignia on each side of them that you don’t recognize. It’s a dark brown circle with a white four-pointed star in the center.
The bottom of the tent floors appear wrinkled and clearly slept on already. Did they not use sleeping bags? It’s possible that they have been rushed or forced to abandon the equipment here from an emergency or some kind of ambush. Each tent looked narrow enough to only hold one person inside.
Unfortunately, there isn’t anything else around here that could be useful to you. Only some tents and a few empty wooden containers. The former campers were probably light travelers, you guessed. You didn’t know how to properly fold up a tent, or even anywhere to store it right now if you could.
Out of curiosity, you crawled inside one of these used tents. It looked like it was still in good condition, there weren't any holes or tears in the material that you could see.
There’s some kind of scent that makes your nose sniff the air more. It’s some kind of earthy, nutty scent that you find hard to describe.
A cold draft from outside blew inside the tent, making you shiver.
There are sewn in strings on the flaps that make the tent’s doors. It was easy for you to tie them together on the inside to effectively close the tent.
…
…
…
…
…
Hmm…
You laid on your back, interlacing your fingers together on your belly. The fierce wind was reduced to a sound of a gentle breeze while in here. The rustling of the evergreen tree leaves was still pronounced in the background, helping you feel relaxed.
To your surprise, it’s also comfortably warm here. Even in your admittedly thick and insulated robes, it’s not making you feel hot and sweaty at all. The perfect balance, for any traveler or camper out here in these frigid mountainsides. Wouldn’t it be fun to take some friends or family members with you to camp out here for a day or two? You’d definitely agree.
When’s the last time you’ve gone camping?
…
….
…..
If only you’d remember that.
A small tear drop broke free from the corner of your left eye. The sensation of it slowly trailing down your rough, hard skin is odd and unfamiliar. You quickly brushed a glove finger to rub it out, and you shut your eyes tightly for a brief moment.
You sighed completely relaxed, letting your mind roam free and chase whatever thoughts would come to it. The pleasant comfortability of the tent was beginning to get to your head. Your eyelids grew heavy, blinking felt sluggish, and your limbs are turning drowsy.
So sleepy…..
….
….
….
….
…..
…….
……….
……………………………….
An owl perches on the bare branch of a great oak tree. Its eyes scour the dark and damp streets of a city at the dead of night. No prey in sight, only the cold barrens of the city is all it can see before it. The buildings around it stand tall with great resolve, held up by stone apparatuses of spiraled columns and extravagant carvings. This bleak valley serves no purpose to it; it flies away without looking back.
It’s another chilly night, I feared. I try my beast to huddle my arms around my chest to at least give me some kind of warmth, but it never feels like it’s working. I shivered, horribly. I feel my whole body tensing and prickling from the bleak winter, and I hate it. I despise cold weather.
With each huff and puff of my breath, a foam of white mist escaped my mouth. A strong wind blows right in my face, it feels like I’m being beat relentlessly. It forces me to cower, squatting down to sit on the ground in a fetal position with my back to the wind. Please, just stop!!
My eyes are so tired, desperate for sleep. But my stomach growls feverishly, not letting me. I need something to eat, bad.
I eventually was able to shakily walk my way down the bridge suspended over the city’s river. I clutched my clothes tightly, turning right onto the sidewalk.
A thunderous blaring of a car horn frightens me, making me almost jump out of my skin. I darted my head back to see what in the world happened, only for there to be a speeding car weaving around traffic, heading close to me.
Its right wheels dug straight into a dank pond on the street next to me, splashing me all over with the filthy water. It soaked right into my hair and clothes, and to my dread, getting into my shoes and soaking my socks.
I groaned in disgust, looking down at my now drenched clothing as if things couldn’t get any worse. Another winter breeze blew into me, this time feeling even colder than the last. I shrieked, hurrying my way down the path that led to the beach near the bridge. Each footstep made an uncomfortable *squelch* and it makes my skin squirm.
Small grains of sand stuck to my soaked shoes, with more clinging on after each step, but this is the least of my worriers right now. The beach is definitely at its closing hours right now, but I couldn’t care less right now. There’s no one out here patrolling these parts anyways. The added weight of the smelly street water made it harder to trudge through the soft sand, but I kept marching.
My eyes scanned around the barren beach in the dark, only alit by the street lamps from behind me. The cold ached me to my bones, I can feel it trying to drag me down into my own fatigue.
After so much searching, there was something lingering on the beach’s sands that caught my eye. It’s a bit hard to make it in the dark, but it does resemble something familiar. I bent down and picked it up between my damp and dirty little fingers.
It’s a half-eaten sandwich sub left behind by someone here. This will do for now. I didn’t hesitate to bite into it, savoring the taste of long awaited food. The meat, albeit a bit slimy, was satisfying to chew and swallow down for my pallet. It’s some kind of sandwich made with grilled chicken, and the other contents of it I could honestly care less about. I’m starving.
I let out a little belch, a few particles of sand from the sandwich flew out of my mouth. With my stomach adequately satisfied, now I can finally find somewhere to sleep for the night. Somewhere quiet and alone will be perfect, as I can think about my next course of action for the next day. I looked back at the beach, the stretch it had under the bridge would be perfect. No wind to blow at me to keep me awake.
Each step from here to that dark underpass felt more tiring than the last. A small temptation rose within me to just flop down on the sand and just pass out, but I wanted to have more dignity than that. It took forever, but I finally made my way across the range of the beach over here. It’s nearly pitch black, and I can barely see myself. In other words, it’s just what I wanted.
My body shivered, looking around for a decent enough spot for rest. Gentle waves fell against the damp shoreline next to me, combed in with the rare sound of a car passing over the bridge over me.
This looks like it can work, a divide into the pile of large beach boulders against the wall. It’s just wide enough for me to lie down and be protected from any stray winds. I sidestepped my way inside and flopped down on the sandy floor. I curled up into myself, using my own body heat to warm me and hopefully dry the clothes between me faster. I was mildly grossed out by the rank stench that now fumed off of me, but there’s nothing I can really do about it right now. The solution would have to wait tomorrow, I’m just too tired.
My breath slowed, chest expanding and compressing more steadily.
I finally felt myself drifting off…..
….
….
…..
……
……..
……..
………
………
My eyes darted open. I groaned in frustration. What now?
“-are you really sure? This feels like a waste of time”
I heard a chidding voice near me. Crap, please don’t find me. Please don’t find me. I moved to tuck myself closer to the rocks and away from the opening in my hiding spot.
“Maybe if you didn’t complain so much, we can find this ingredient faster. Now hold my bucket, I have to re-do my hair.”
It was a different voice this time, so there’s two people around here. My worry doubled in return.
“*pfft* Oh- ‘we could find these ingredients faster’,” The first voice mocked in an elevated tone, trying to emulate the other’s feminine voice. “Says the one who keeps messing with their hair all the time. You dragged me out here at midnight just to annoy me, I swear. Apricot Eels don’t even appear at-”
A sharp whipping sound echoed in the underpass, making me flinch. The person talking let out a high-pitched yelp, being effectively cut off from their rant.
“Oh look! There’s one!” Quick footsteps thumped against the sandy floor, and I heard some furious digging. Like a dog trying to bury their bone. Then, I heard the sound of something being dropped into something empty.
“I DID do my research on these fish beforehand, jerk. Believe me, I’d love to be sleeping in bed like you right now and not be digging around at the cold beach.”
There’s some dusting and rustling, as I figured the person was likely brushing the sand off themself.
“But it’s all necessary if we want to finish that assignment. Apricot Eels only reveal themselves on the beach at exactly 12 o’clock AM for about 20 minutes for air. You need to be quick to grab one, because they are quick to burrow back down once they notice you.”
The first voice grumbled with the most audible pout ever.
“Fine, I’ll admit you’re right-”
“Like I usually am.”
“This time……..But you should have put on gloves first, you know.”
There’s a few snapping sounds of what I presumed were some kinds of gloves being brought out and brandished.
“Unless you want to be touching wild eels with your bare hands, and risk getting a cut.”
“....Fair enough.”
The second voice quietly assumed the handwear on.
“Whoa, wait a second.”
It was still and deathly quiet. I shortened my breath to make minimal amounts of sound.
“I sense something or….. someone else around here.”
Uh oh.
I then held my breath, trying not to even make the sound of myself breathing. Were they talking about me? I hope not! But how?! It’s pitch black in here and I’m hiding behind these rocks!
Footsteps are thumping and growing louder with each passing second. I’m starting to sweat nervously, and I put a hand over my mouth. Don’t make a sound, at all.
…
…
…
An alien green glow illuminated my body. My blood ran cold.
“Oh my Witches! Look over here Forset!!”
I whimpered, I tried to look up at whoever was talking about me but the light was too bright for my eyes.
“What is it?” There’s another set of hurried footsteps approaching me.
“There’s…. there’s a kid in here! All alone!”
I raised an arm to help shield some of the light pouring down on me. Despite this, it’s still too bright for me to see and figure out who this was.
“A kid?” Forset, I presume, asked incredulously. The oddly green light’s intensity doubled. “Woah, you’re right!”
“T….too bright.” I muttered. My eyes felt incredibly dry when I tried to look up through the pale green shine, and they were watering way too much for me to handle.
“Oh, sorry.” The foreign lights’ intensities simmered down and it hurt less to look toward. I thought my voice was too quiet to be heard, but it apparently wasn’t. A quick gasp brought my attention to the light on the left.
As I blinked the blurriness out of my eyes, I noticed the apparel of the person. It’s a girl, who looks young but definitely older than me. She has long blonde hair and peach colored skin with a slight tan. Their hair is wavy, and easily reached below her shoulders. Her nose is round, and eyes are a striking blue.
What is that outfit she’s wearing? It’s a long, pitch-black cloak that stretched down to her shins made of very silky and flowing fabric. Its baggy sleeves cover her arms and poof up right before the cuffs. The back of the cloak has a raised collar that fans out greatly and even goes behind her neck. There’s a column of black buttons on the front of it, straightening the whole thing down just above her knees. It almost made a cone shape around her legs, and I saw that she’s wearing black high heels with a cross strap pattern on the top.
The boy to my left looked the same age as her, and is wearing nearly the exact same outfit, minus the high heels however. He has medium-length light, forest green hair and emerald eyes. His skin is pale, though I noticed a slight red flush in his cheeks right now. His hairdo is styled into messy waves, or rather he didn’t style it at all and it’s just the natural look.
One thing I also noticed is that they each had a different accessory. The girl has a small white lace collar around her neck, while the boy has a Jabot with some blue jem embroidered in the center of it.
But they also were both wearing a black hat with a very large brim, and the top of it sagged to the side a little. Wait, these outfits…
Halloween costumes?
And the green light is, a flame they are holding? What? How is that possible? I’m so confused, I just want to go back to sleep…
The boy on the right of me scoffed.
“See Eira? I’m telling you the state of this city has gone downhill! Now there’s homeless children sleeping on the streets all alone!”
The girl, who I assumed is named Eira, was more focused on me than what this man is talking about. Her bright blue eyes gazed down at my quivering self. The flushed pink lips are pulled down into a slight frown.
“I know you’re probably scared,” She interrupts, making the other male stay quiet for this moment. “But it’s okay! We won’t hurt you. Can we…. talk to you?” The young lady shrugged, making a mock offering hand gesture with the one that isn’t casting a ball of fire. She backed away a fair distance, with the other boy following her lead. They’re giving me space.
Despite how suspicious they appeared, I didn’t feel any kind of hesitation or doubt in trusting them. They seemed… friendly? Definitely kinder than most people I’ve met around the streets. I crept my way through the beach boulders, but I wanted to keep a fair distance still.
…
…
……..
There’s an awkward silence that settled over the three of us. I glanced to the side nervously, almost feeling tempted to bolt out of here.
“So! Umm,” the girl started, “Shouldn’t you be with your parents? Where are they?”
I felt a strong pang in my chest, my heartbeat immediately quickening. My breath is shortening, on the brink of danger and I feared I might be hyperventilating.
“N-NO!!,” I screamed out. My eyes are shut closed, the lids above them completely wrinkling. “Please, don't take me back there! A-a-anything but that!!” I choked out through hiccupy sobs. My fists are shaking, quivering with rampant fear. I'll take anything but going back.
I can hear the two shuffle around, stepping back from my little outburst. I must have surprised them.
“W-woah, okay bud! It's alright! We're not going to do that!”
With blurry and teary eyes, I looked back at the two oddly dressed people who seemed like they were huddling together. It's clear that the green-haired man is trying to whisper to the girl without me noticing, but I can still hear what he's saying.
“Eira, how do we tell the kid we need to do that?” His eyes shifted not-so-subtly to me, then back and forth to her.
Eira, while I couldn't hear her well enough to make out anything she was saying, looked almost offended by his blunt question. His face noticeably turned panicked, then to worry as he more quietly argued with the girl, and finally dramatic defeat - like the kind from unwilling acceptance.
The girl bent down to view me at my eye level. They're both quite tall, I just realized.
“Don't worry about what he said, he's just nervous! We haven't found a kid abandoned in the city before.” Eira's voice is soft and comforting, which helped ease my worries about these two a bit.
Eira put a hand on her chest.
“My name’s Eira, and this stickler is Forset. We're both witches! N-not the evil kind you might be thinking of!” She waved her hands in front of her worriedly, an uneasy smile creased across her face.
“We are both apprentice witches to be precise, as you might have already guessed.” Forset intervened, his tone curt and cutting. “And no, we aren’t ‘evil’.” He made a mock quotation mark gesture as he said that. “We mind our own business. Us witches don’t even convene with your society, and we still get painted as bad people.”
“Well, we used to. But not anymore.” Eira pointed out. I heard a very audible tongue click from Forset, sounding clearly annoyed for some reason and he rolled his green eyes the whole way around. He redirected his gaze back down to me. “Anyways, why are you even out here kid? This smelly beachside underbelly isn’t exactly a great place to spend the night. I can tell you are having some…. difficulties with your family right now. But sleeping at your own home has to be better than this, doesn't it?”
I pursed my lips. An unyielding stalwart resolve formed within my heart. I will not go back on my decision.
“I can’t…. I-” I know what I wanted to say, but it’s so hard putting it into words right now. “I’m on my own now, for good. I can’t go back there…” My voice felt like it was fading out into the musty seaside air.
I heard a wincing sound from the young girl, then silence. I dreadfully awaited what either of them would say next, since I don’t know what to even carry on from that.
“Forset,” Eira gently laid out. “I know what we should do.”
“And what would that be?” His eyes cooly narrowed at the young girl.
“Let’s take the kid back with us back to the Keep.”
My eyes widened in complete shock.
Forest sputtered in wild disbelief.
“Wh-what?! Are you insane?” He pointed a long pale finger straight at her. “We can’t just take some kid back with us like he’s a lost turtle! We don’t even know if the kid’s really homeless or abandoned! The brat could be lying to us!”
“Please Forset, just look at them! They’re cold and soaking wet, and were sleeping under a bridge until we found them. They’ve gotta be telling the truth, I can see it in their heart.” Eira strongly insisted. She shifted her stance at him, looking strong and firm.
“I guess if the smell coming off of them didn’t make it obvious enough…” The young man wafted a hand in front of his nose.
A bitter frown washed over her as she looked at her feet. “They need our help,” she mumbled. “Just for one night, please?”
My heart is tense, racing at the tension fueled between us. I looked back at Forset, who was glaring at me with scrutiny, and he readjusted his glasses. He sighed begrudgingly, softly closing his eyes.
“Alright, fine.” I felt my heart skip a beat.
Eira gasped, rather dramatically. She bounded over to the green-haired grouch with bubbling excitement, wrapping him between her arms in a great big hug.
“Oh thank you!! You’re the best roommate ever!!” She renounced proudly. “I’ll take care of most things, don’t worry!” She was swerving him side to side in her mighty hug of happiness.
While Forset’s decision brought me relief, my mind immediately conjured up many doubts and suspicions. Spending the night at the abode of two real life witches? It seemed sketchy. But really, what else do I have to lose at this point?
Another part of me truthfully trusted these two. While they are admittedly odd, they seemed…. nice? Nice enough to trust at least.
I heard the young man grunt and whimper in frustration. I didn't really know what else to do but watch the theatric display in front of me. I plopped down on the soft, sandy ground.
“G-get off me! You’re….. hugging too tight! Aughh!” He was squealing every other word out, with a flushed cherry-red face. I giggled at the funny face he’s making.
The girl visibly eased up her grip and dropped him. Forset let out a big sigh of relief, then cracked his back. “Shouldn’t we at least get his name? Since we're going to be looking after him and all,” he keenly advised. Eira’s eyes peeled wide open at him.
“Oh that’s right!! Duh!!”
She bent down to look at me easier. I lied comfortably on the soft sands watching the other two witches-in-training.
“Hey Kid! Can you tell us your name?” She beamed at me.
Hey all! This is my long-running cookie run kingdom x reader fic that I've been working on for a while (and still trying to finish it). It will feature various characters having a relationship with the reader, and also include some original characters too. It's on AO3 and Quotev, but I decided to also share it here for folks that just don't feel like using either of those sites. The link to those versions are on my profile.
Enjoy!
Next Chapter
Hello!
Can you hear me?
…
…
…
…
…
…
I can’t move my mouth
What is this? Where am I?
Oh, figures. That does make sense after all. Just… think about your answer hard enough, and I’ll decipher it from there. Okay?
Just think? Who exactly is this person? A mind reader?
Who I am is not important right now. I’ll need to ask you some questions first to know who you are as a person. To know what your place in this world will be. M’kay?
….
….
…..
….
I didn’t know what to say
Got it? Alrighty, let’s begin! And be honest! I can tell if you’re lying or not.
Now, are you a morning or night person? And answer honestly!
….
….
This is supposed to judge the quality of my character?
…
…
Morning. I always like a nice sunny morning.
I heard that.
Next question, If you come across a proverbial fork in the road, what would you do? Go Left, Right, ask for help, turn back, or some other option?
….
….
….
So many choices. I’d try to think it over first, ask someone for help or their opinion. Then find a map to read or something like that. There’s no point in wandering somewhere blindly.
*The voice remained silent for a short moment. You hear the steady ambience of the ocean, apprehensive for the next one*
*The voice returns spiritedly*
Can you be honest about your fears?
….
….
….
……No
Do you like to pull pranks on others? To be naughty?
…
…
…
Not particularly.
Is it easy for you to apologize genuinely?
…..
…..
….
When I have to, yes. But most of the time….. no. So, no.
You come across a chest full of treasure. However, there’s a large gap with a super-deep pit between you and the riches, and you’re not sure if you can jump to the other side. What do you do? Leap or don’t?
….
….
….
….
….
I choose not to leap. No need to risk potentially dying.
Someone you know is sulking by themselves. What do you do? Give them space, approach them, or make fun of them?
……
……
……
……
Give them space for now..
You buy a candy bar from a vending machine, but it gets stuck on its descent. What do you do? Leave and try to forget about it? Bang the machine? Or buy a new confectionary?
….
….
….
….
……
What? Just get a new one I guess. But from a different column this time. I’m not wasting money twice.
A huge Ananab monster draws near! What do you do?
Fight them!
Surrender, pathetically.
Or, try to ignore it.
…..
…..
…..
….
Try to ignore it, it could be friendly!
And finally,
what do you value more? Your beliefs, or your morals?
….
….
Aren’t these the same? What’s the difference?
Hehe… Not quite, young one.
….
….
….
My morals, then.
I see…..
All very good answers. I can now infer what kind of a person you are now.
Friendly and rowdy, yet aloof and sardonic
You struggle with opening yourself up, yet there is still warmth and welcoming in your heart. How peculiar… There’s many different sides to you.
Hmm…
….
…
…
Yes, yes.
I can totally SEE it now.
I know exactly what kind of cookie you should be!
…
…
…
Cookie?
Just give me a liiiiiiitle moment, this won’t take long at all!
Wait, hold on. I need to ask about that!
Pres-dough, Change-ooooo~!
*The glow and the aura surrounding the one has morphed and shifted to brighter colors of various hues.*
An overwhelming feeling of heat, followed by hardening, then a bit of crispening around the edges. It’s a sensation so unfathomable and bewildering, that I couldn’t describe it in exact words. Only that something was making me change.
Good luck out there!
You feel groggy and light-headed, like you just woke up from a several hour long power nap in the middle of the day. Staring up at the empty and overcast sky, you didn’t feel like getting up at all. Your head was aching and pounding. However, an odd itchy feeling suddenly arose on your right cheek, so you brought up a hand to scratch it away. Your finger brushed up against what felt like a coarse surface that was firm, yet still relatively pliable. And this only made you ponder more questions.
“Wait, why is my skin so rough??”, You thought.
You immediately jolted your fingers away from your face, and caught a glimpse at the state of your hand, nay the rest of you as well, that just made you freeze in place. Your fingers are…. well still fingers. But they look different, not like how you remembered them at all. You poked and pulled on a flap of your own arm skin. Your skin looks and feels firm like the baked crust of a bread, yet it moves around nearly the same.
Or, perish the thought, like a cookie….
Now you were wide awake, and you went to stand up straight, not without stumbling a bit in the unknown white powder on the ground. No more post-wake-up daze was keeping your mind at bay, you had to know what the hell just happened to you.
And what is this robe? It’s so long, with sleeves stretched over to almost fit your entire arm, and the bottom half of the fabric reaches down to your shins. The sleeves are long and baggy, and they sag to nearly reach your waistline. The wrists are lined with round gems that speckle with pearly light. There are streaks of multiple colors trailing behind them, making the area under your cuffs look sharply vibrant. and while it looks somewhat pretty you don’t remember having ever worn this before. The same pattern circled the bottom of your robe at your feet.
There is a 7 pointed star-shapped gem embedded into the thick cloth that lies at your collarbone. It’s crystal clear, just like the jewels on the cuffs of your sleeves. The light from the sun was hitting it at the right angles to shine every color of the rainbow across the front of your chest.
You huffed, a wispy cloud of breath was visible coming from your mouth. It just occurred to you that you were in a place with a rather chilly climate, as you realized the white clumpy stuff that lingered on your clothes and brown boots was snow. A small shiver ran across your hardy body. Luckily, you happened to be conveniently attired for this kind of weather.
Who or whatever that voice is, it has the power to change your body and teleport you to some new place in the world from….. wait. Where did you used to live?
“Ughhhh….” You groaned, massaging your temples. You’re trying hard to remember any past events before that questionnaire, but you couldn’t come up with anything right now. Great, your memory is also failing you right now too.
It’ll come back to you later, you hoped. After walking forward to help get your body more awake, an impediment stopped you in your tracks. You caught it in the upper peripheral of your vision when you were staring down at the snow covered ground.
You craned your neck up to see a statue, and it’s a large one too. The whole thing rose over your height, and it depicted a person with long hair holding out one of their hands with waves and spikes of stone under them. Their pose seemed relaxed, as if they’re offering something for you to take. The detail carved into it was very meticulous and professional, it reminded you of a statute made in the renaissance. It’s so life-like…
******!!!!!******
There’s a murmur. You hear it loud and clear.
******It’s you******
******Come closer******
“The statue? Is it talking to me?” You thought. You cautiously made your way toward the majestic sculpture. You couldn’t explain it, but you can feel a kind of aura of some kind radiating off the statue. You feel your nerves tighten further and bristle on edge, but your curiosity wins over and beckons you further.
You stared straight up at the statue’s sculpted face, and took in its smooth features. You maintained eye contact with it, even though it couldn’t move its gaze downward to look back at you. While awaiting for a response, you were met with silence.
“H-hello?” You spoke up, deciding to break the tension. The murmuring came back.
******It’s me. The one who brought you to this world******
Taking in the response felt exhilarating and nerve-wracking all at once. It’s just a statue, how can it do something like this to you?
******I have been sealed away here. Trapped, my body stuck rigid, and my flesh turned to stone.******
******I require your help, to free me from this hellish prison. It is why I brought you here, young one.******
You tensed, your unease grew stronger at each word spoken to you telepathically. The rising suspicion grew louder in the back of your mind.
“Why me?” You stammered, clutching your robe tightly in your hands. “Send me back now! I didn’t ask for any of this! And you also made me forget so much stuff about me too!”
For a moment, you felt worried. Like if you possibly said something wrong to upset the talking statue and would then receive punishment for it.
******I understand your distrust in me.******
You narrowed your gaze at the statue for its following response.
******But please young one, you have to know how I feel too. For so many years, centuries, I have remained here. Nowhere to go, no one to give me company. I have grown desperate.******
You frowned at this, your gaze subsided and it began to droop down a bit.
******Do this task for me, and I will generously reward you and send you on your way home******
And it shot wide open. You looked straight back at the statue’s face.
“Reward?” You asked.
******Yes, you heard correctly, reward. Anything you desire******
It’s definitely a strong offer that would be hard to refuse. You mulled to yourself over this. It did have the power to teleport you here to this strange new world, and even transform your body to befit it. So it likely has the power to back that promise up if you did go through with this. And you’ll be able to return back home too. That settles it.
“Alright, I’ll do it.” You proudly declared, putting your hands on your hips to the talking stone figure.
******Excellent, I knew I picked the right person. Or should I say, cookie? Hehe…******
You can feel the air around you begin to lighten and ease up. Your unease was forgotten and put at bay to the back of your mind.
******To break this seal, you must find power and companionship with other Cookies from the darkness. A bright force of light trapped me in here, so should an opposing force undo it. These forces are at constant war with each other in this sweet world******
With a strong nod, you understood clearly.
“Alright!” You paused, just realizing something. “Umm, you wouldn’t happen to know which way would be a good starting point?” You remembered that you were still completely lost here.
******Go to the right of me, follow the river. If you wish to return here, you can always follow these glistening waters******
“Thanks!” You replied, giving the statue a big thumbs up. You easily noticed what river the statue was referring to, it was small yet wide enough to not be possible for you to jump across without getting wet. You trailed alongside the sparkling river, hoping to find something that will help your search.
You are already beginning to regret not asking the statue more questions. Snow crunched underneath your firm footsteps as you continued to walk near the same river it told you about, but it feels aimless. The same sight of dark brown evergreen “pine” trees covered with soft looking white snow surrounded you during your army march, accompanied by the low howl of freezing wind. You felt another bad chill, this time at the back of your neck. You patted the back of your robe, your clumsy fingers reaching around to hopefully find…
Aha!
You pulled it over your head, and to your satisfaction a hood covered your and helped warm you from the bristling cold. The robe did come with a hoodie part! The inside is nice and soft too, like running your hand through thick fluffy sheep wool. It helped keep your body insulated from the frightful cold.
“Waking up from bed, only to end up being trapped in some weird new world. And being transformed into having a quote on quote, ‘cookie’ body too…”
The absurdity of the situation was still something you mulled over. You then wondered if you may have done something wrong in the past for fate to give you such an unfortunate set of circumstances as karma. You wouldn’t know yourself, since you also lost most of your memories of course. A shame. You were thankful however to be given a warm set of clothing for this weather at least.
Amidst the winds in the brisk winter air, you heard your stomach growl indignantly. The rumble was felt across your abdomen. You glowered and put your hands on your stomach, as if it would help ease the hunger pangs. You had to find something to eat too, and by the feeling of it, fast preferably.
A soft speck of something white fluttered down and fell on your nose. You blinked a few times seeing the gentle falling of snow around you, some fell into the river and was swallowed up in its trenches.
You stuck your tongue out, it’s been a while since you last did something cheeky like this! A few white pellets landed on your soft pink tongue, instantly dissolving as you awaited a quench.
“Woah!” You said in shock.
This caught you completely off guard. The snow tastes…. sweet? It’s like powdered sugar! But it looks and feels just like ordinary snow.
Lolling out your tongue a second time, you aimed to capture more falling snow on it with your walk. To your delight, more powdered sugar snow fell on your tongue as you kept walking, giving you a sweet burst of taste. Your hunger pangs now momentarily forgotten about.
“Weird!! But also kinda cool at the same time. I wonder…. do other things in this world taste nice like this snow?”
You kept sauntering joyfully along the creek until you came across the middle of a two-way trail to the right of the river. You could turn either right or left of it. Looking beyond the flat trail is useless, because of how many dense snow covered trees blocked your way. They made a lush dark green wall that’s impossible to see beyond. On the left, you noticed a light blue signpost, with frost and icicles hanging from it.
It was the best course of action to find at least some kind of navigation, so you dragged toward it through the shallow snow. You left large footprints behind you with your bulky boots. Near the sign was a snowman with lumps of dark purple rocks that almost resembled raisins, used as its buttons and eyes. It was admittedly a bit cute, probably made by a kid.
The sign’s text is covered in a thick layer of snow, so you brushed it off using your brown gloves. Unfortunately, the text is still covered. But with opaque ice this time, all the black engravings on it were too blurry to make out clearly. You rubbed harder with your glove on the ice hoping to scrape it off, but no matter how much you tried nothing worked. Scratching it with your bare hands would be a bad idea, you thought.
Without any other better idea, you decided to just walk down the path behind the sign anyways. If there is a sign made here, then surely a civilization would be nearby regardless. As you took a few steps down, your covered ears picked up on a rumbling sound.
You turned around, trying to locate it. It sounded almost like an earthquake, but the ground itself wasn't moving. Where’s it coming from?
Snow beneath you started to roll up into balls and trail away from you. You panicked, stumbling back from whatever was happening. You looked to the right and your eyes widened.
A circle of swirling snow spun around that one beady eyed snowman, adding on heaps upon mounds of snow to its stout body. It was a frenzied whirl of snow, and confusion on your part, the snowman grew three times its size. Snow formed on its sides to make big log-shaped arms with fierce claws, and on its bottom mound to make thick stubby legs. The giant snowman is hunching over the quaint little forest trail like an icy giant, with you shrinking away from it as a scared little mouse.
Its face morphed and jaw enlarged to sport big sharp snowy teeth. Finally, the hulk shifted around to gaze down at you. The snowman’s teeth are bared and foaming with white breath.
It let out a low growl, which was kicking your flight response furiously. But you’re stuck like a deer caught in a car’s headlights.
“Heheheh…..,” you scratched the back of your head through your hood and squinted nervously at the snow golem. It wasn’t a strong first impression, but be reasonable. Wouldn’t it be hard to do if you’re scared shitless? But who knows, maybe it's friendly? “......hi?”
“GROOOOOOAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH”
Its maddened roar ripped through the forest wind, and nearly made you jolt out of your big boots. The blades of grass and foliage around it bend and cowered beneath the monster’s might and radiating anger. Without any hesitation, the snowman-beast raised a giant claw high up above you, and started swinging it down.
“WAAAAUGH!!” You shrieked, just narrowly dodging out of the way of the attack. Your hood peeled back off your head, and sugar snow got tangled up in your hair. Even the brute slam it made on the ground was loud on your ears.
You weren’t going to waste any more time, you had to get the hell away from this thing. Scrambling off the ground, you bolted hard past the sign. Running as fast as you could through the few inches of snow.
The huge thump bump of its stomps as it started to chase after you were undeniably frightening. Its steps resonated loud and clear in the forest, and it let out another blood-curling scream after you. It was desperate for a cookie to snack on, you thought. Its hunger was just as bad, if not worse than yours.
But you were determined to not become a snowman’s lunch, especially not so early. You did your best to keep up your pace, and thankfully due to how bulky the monster is, it wasn’t that fast itself. The trail continued on and on, and you saw a left turn the path made in the woods. At the corner, there’s a break wide enough for you to fit inside.
Getting a quick idea, you dove into the clearing as a nimble little bunny. You ducked and weaved throughout the branches, careful to not get your robe snagged or torn all the while. The shattering and snapping of wood was close by. You took a quick glance behind you to find that same belligerent monster remaining perseverent in its chase for you. It is smashing and tearing away the pine trees in its way with its massive snowy hands. The thick branches snapped away like twigs for it.
Wanting to throw off the lumbering snow man, you started to zig-zag through the concealed woods. Going and turning in different directions, while still heading diagonally to the upper left. It roared again, this time you thought its voice sounded more hoarse.
You weren’t paying complete attention to your surroundings, and a sugar snow covered branch hit you in the face on your run.
“Ow!” It didn’t hurt that much, you are probably being a bit dramatic. You rubbed your nose still.
You then heard a different type of sound from behind you, which confused you. You looked back, and to your horror saw a huge white ball rolling straight at you with pine branches sticking out from it. It was way too close for you to dodge out of the way now. No way!
“Augh!” The boulder slammed into your back, hard. It exploded with sugar snow everywhere, covering the deep part of the woods with it. You were sent rolling on the ground, heaving and in pain. For a second, you swore you felt a cracking or breaking part in your body.
It’s all tumbling down now, and you couldn’t stop yourself. The slope you and the monster on was too steep.
Out from the deep woods you fell out from, landing harshly on the ground of a different open area. You saw a sparking lake to your right, even though your vision was spiraling the whole time. You groaned tiredly, the light from the sun above shined brightly straight in your eyes. You used your arms, and any strength you had to keep crawling. Maybe that snowman tired itself out too?
THUD!!! WHAM WHAM WHAM
You heard the same monstrous footsteps approaching once again. Of course it didn’t.
But even with the constricting pain, you still kept trying to crawl away. You gritted your teeth, looking back at the prowling monster. It’s no use, you wouldn’t be able to run away now…
Bonk!
The snowman stumbled backwards. Was that a…. sheep? That came out of nowhere?
Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!
More sheep charged in, tacking the snow monster in different areas. It howled, clearly unable to withstand the onslaught of tackling fluffy sheep. You paused. This feels…. embarrassing for some reason. Your cheeks flushed a bit pink.
“Go away! Shoo! Leave this poor cookie alone!” You heard a coarse, yet sweet voice.
The monster growled, getting itself a newfound courage at the sight of a new cookie. It shook its massive arms side to side, throwing off the sheep. It prowled steadily at the thickly dressed cookie with its claws poised forward, ready to strike.
The cookie with the cane casted it to the side, sending a fluffy sheep right at the snowman’s face between its eyes. It headbutted it so hard it sent the monster stumbling back and falling back on the ground.
With a loud crash, the monster collapsed on the ground. The same sheep fell down from the air and headbutted it one last time, making the snowman contort and burst into harmless snow. It bounced away and baa’d.
“Humph! Serves you right,” The elderly cookie tutted.
You huffed, relieved that the damn snowman monster was finally dealt with. The hurt and soreness still lingered after your rough tumble, making it difficult to push yourself off the ground and meet the person that saved you. You only managed to flip yourself over onto your back, with your chest rising up and down heavily. The sound of light footsteps in the snow grew louder.
“Oh my! You look like you’re hurt badly, dear,” The soft and feminine voice spoke. You gazed at the person who talked to you, though unable to say anything in response at the moment. She wore a puffy brown and blue fur-lined dress with a symbol shaped like a snowflake on the bottom of it, and a brown bonnett. She has white hair and blue eyes, and some wrinkles on her face but with a warm smile. “That bully snowman has roughed you up quite a bit, hasn’t it? Do not worry, let me help.”
She raised her shepherd's crook above you, and a green glow emanated from it. Miraculously, the pain and soreness you were feeling began to subside immediately. The cracks on your body mended and closed up nicely in a short time. You sighed constantly with a small smile.
“T-thanks…” You said to her. You sat up off the snowy ground and stretched your arms, and you already feel energized. “I was taking a nice walk down a river in those woods, and next thing you know, some random evil snowman monster attacked me. Worst start to a morning I’ve ever had.”
The old lady chuckled at your little story, concealing her mouth with a mitted hand. “Sounds like quite the little adventure you had. My name is Cotton Cookie, I’m from the Snowfall village not too far from here. What’s your name, young cookie?”
“Oh! It’s-!” Your mind is drawing a blank. A little panic began to arise in your head. You don’t even remember your own name?! The loss of memory is even worse that you thought!
“Err…..” You muttered, somewhat awkwardly.
Cotton Cookie tilted her head confused, like a bird.
Something, come on!! Stupid brain! Try to remember!!
“Too shy to tell me? Haha… that’s alright. You don’t have to tell me if you do not wish to.” She said sweetly.
“N-no… it’s not like that,” you reassured her. “I actually just don't remember. I think I have amnesia when I woke up.” You scratched your forearm while looking away from her.
A breathy gasp cut through. “Really? That’s terrible! I’m so sorry!” Cotton Cookie clutched her crook tightly.
“It’s alright, it’s not your fault. But yeah…. it really stinks. I don’t know how I can get them back either.” You also realized that you should have asked the statue about that as well, damn. “I also… don’t really know where I’m supposed to be going either.”
“In that case, I can help bring you back to the village, somewhere safe from other sugar snow monsters. You can figure out what to do next when we get there, how does that sound?”
Your stomach growled impetuously.
“And something to eat as well by the sound of it!,” Cotton Cookie laughed.
“…. Sure! That sounds great!” Finally, some good fortune.
Snow continued to fall gently across the whole grassy plain that you and Cotton Cookie walked across. The old cookie was good company to your surprise, as she always kept a kind smile on her pale face. And she had a lot to talk about, unsurprisingly.
The view of the winter lake shining its pearlescent reflection in the winter snow helped brighten your day also. In the corner of your gaze as you listened to Cotton Cookie, you saw some other round white birds flying across and little snow bunnies that pop up and down from the ground.
“So how did you find me exactly out here anyhow?” You decided to ask, which was a burning question you had on your mind for a while ever since your two started talking.
“Well, there’s a funny story about that. Not as funny as yours of course, but this morning I was out plucking snowberries for some dishes I wanted to make.” Cotton Cookie switched holding her shepherd’s crook into her other hand. “As I had bent down to pick some more to add to my basket, I overheard that monster’s roar from afar. Its footsteps echoed through the forest too, almost just as loud. That beast wasn’t exactly being very subtle.”
The old cookie scratched her chin. “Now…. my basket with snowberries should be around here somewhere….” Her eyes scanned the area all up ahead.
With a quick look to your left, you saw what she was likely talking about. A brown woven basket with pale blue berries inside. You pointed it out to her, and her eyes followed your direction. She let out a gasp upon realizing what it was.
“Yes, that’s the one! Thank you dear. My old eyes don’t see as well as yours, haha.” She chuckled. You crouched down and grabbed the basket for her.
Cotton Cookie scooped out a small handful of the round, snow-colored berries and offered them to you. “Here, you can snack on these in the meantime. Don’t worry, we're not too far from my house now.”
You grabbed the handful of berries and dropped several in your awaiting mouth. They were soft, easy to chew. Their taste was slightly tart, but interwoven with a smooth sweet, and fruity complexity. They’re almost like blueberries but a bit sweeter.
“So what happened after that?” You asked, after swallowing a gulpful of the snowberries.
“Hmm….. When I looked over to see what made that sound, something unusual surprised me. I saw a cookie flying up from the trees, with a burst of snow behind them. Now I know that the cookie was you!
She laughed to herself, remembering the silly memory. You pursed your lips.
“I didn’t think a cookie that would be sent up in the air like that would be fine afterwards, so I immediately dropped my basket to make my way over to help you. I might be old, but I can make haste if I need to!”
“Yeah…. I’m glad you did too. If you didn’t save me, I would’ve gotten iced by a snowman.” Your cheeks twinged pink again.
“You’re welcome! It wasn’t much trouble at all.” Cotton Cookie warmly reassures, putting a gentle hand on your forearm. This old lady was just too sweet for you. She turned, looking somewhat deep in thought. “Now I wonder, why were you out here near Sugarflake Lake? Your attire looks… unique. You’re definitely not from around here, that’s for certain.”
She put her palm out, worriedly. “S-Sorry if that came off as rude! I was just thinking out loud.”
“It’s fine, I didn’t mind,” you waved off. “I wish I could answer that, but I can’t because…. you know.”
She nodded her head, completely understanding.
“And I would also like to know what’s up with this getup.” You pulled down the front of your robe to look at it better. “I have no idea where it came from, I just woke up in it.”
“There’s more for us to talk about it seems,” Cotton Cookie’s attention was taken away from you and was diverted straight ahead from her. “Oh! There it is! Snowfall Village.”
There is a village with cozy cabins and brightly shining lanterns up ahead among the snowy plains. You saw some people outside carrying beside them large wooden logs or some other crops. A few kids were playing around in the snow, tossing snowballs at each other.
You and Cotton Cookie walked through an entrance to the village that was just a small arrangement of simple wooden gates. When you walked side-by-side Cotton Cookie, you looked around in awe at the quaint settlement in snow. Evergreen pine trees stood proudly in many places within, blanketed in sugar snow. The atmosphere was nicely quiet, the commotion made from the young kids was far off and quiet to your ears here. You assumed that most people were inside their homes.
“Over this way, young-in,” Cotton Cookie nudged, as she was walking in a direction away from you. You didn’t even realize how you were trailing off from here, being lost in the sights of Snowfall Village. You ran back up to her, moving through a front yard’s gate to meet up with her sliding a key into the lock on her house’s front door.
She turned the metal key with ease, then opened the large wooden door wide open. She stood to the side, raising her left arm and gestured inside her house. “After you!” She told you, encouraging you to step in first. You smiled at her, making sure to wipe your feet on the door mat, and then you took off your boots to set them by the door. The door shut firmly behind you, keeping all that cold air out and letting you relax into the warm, cozy atmosphere of Cotton Cookie’s cabin. It smelled of pine and baked bread.
“Make yourself comfortable here, I’m sure you’re still tired after that attack from the monster.” She set her Shepherd’s crook on a rack lying next to the wall. Her footsteps across the fuzzy rug made of sheep’s wool sounded muffled and soft. “I’d like to check on my sheep first, then I’ll come back. I won’t be long!,” she waved to you sitting relaxed on the couch. She shut the door leading to the backyard meadow.
The bowl of Hot Jelly Stew fumed a warm aroma up to your face. Cotton Cookie really didn’t take long to tend to her sheep, she came back in about 10 minutes to prepare you a meal to eat. It was honestly so sweet how kind the old Cookie was being, especially to an arguably complete stranger such as yourself.
Taking a spoonful of the red chunky stew, it was piping hot from Cotton Cookie reheating it in a cauldron outside. You blew on it, watching the red vapors dance and dissipate from your winds. You were starved to eat, but the name of the dish did make you feel conflicted. Jelly Stew? Was it stew made of actual jelly? It sounded weird for a dish that’s usually savory.
Well, whatever. You’re hungry and you weren’t going to pass up a free hot meal. You stuck the spoon in your mouth and quietly slurped it off. The chunks in it weren’t chewy, and it was more firm when you crushed them between your molars.
Your eyes sparkled in delight, wonderful unexpected delight. It wasn’t sweet at all! The jelly chunks taste just like meat to you. It’s like a rich, tomato based hearty stew and not an overwhelming sweet slurry like you thought it would be. Quickly, you took up another portion with your spoon to blow on it rapidly, dispensing that chunk of jelly stew into your mouth.
“Do you like it?” Cotton Cookie asked merrily, although it can already be assumed that she knew the answer beforehand.
“Itfss gwwrett!!” You swallowed another hearty spoonful of the stew. “It’s great! Sorry,” realizing that it might have been disgusting to hear you talk with your mouth full.
She chuckled, amused by your skittish apology. “I’m glad you like my cooking! That’s always nice for someone like me to hear.” Cotton Cookie busied herself with putting all the snowberries into a container for the underneath cellar that was dry and cold. It didn’t take long for you to finish your bowl of stew, as you were pretty dang hungry and all. Cotton Cookie was even generous enough to take your used bowl to be washed outside later.
With your hunger finally satiated, you began to think back to what the statue told you and all that has happened so far. You sat down with Cotton Cookie to talk more with her. You did your best to retell the events of what happened to you, including the statue and all. Even the interview with the mysterious voice. Anything at all to get any kind of help or advice.
She stared at you surprised, which you didn’t find unexpected at all.
“This…. is a lot to take in,” she mumbled quietly enough for you to still hear her. “I’ve never heard of someone or something being transformed into a Cookie before. This seems like some kind of hoax or myth.”
“It’s all very real, I’m telling you the truth,” you reaffirmed.
“Oh, don’t worry. I do believe you.I don’t think I have any reason not to, you seem like a fine young cookie.” She held her chin, looking at you and your outfit over once more. “It would make sense, given that you don’t look like you’re from Snowfall village. The robes you are wearing look like a mage’s, though I haven’t seen one with quite a design like that before.”
You glanced down at the robes as she said that, trying to analyze its design. It wasn’t really anything you recognized, even within your current memory. And you didn’t really….. feel magical at all either to your disappointment. Maybe this robe was just for show? You remained quiet whilst frowning slightly.
“And this…. statue that you mentioned makes me even more confused,” Cotton Cookie continued. “I lived here for many years, and this village has been here longer than me for generations. If there was a stone statue that can talk not too far from here, I would have known about it.”
“Hmmm…..” You thought to yourself. Cotton Cookie was making this out to seem more unusual and suspicious that you once perceived. Although, maybe your arrival in this world was just a unique circumstance? And you didn’t really have a reason to put doubt in that statue either, it did seem just like the one that transported you to this world.
“Although… maybe this ‘person’ you mentioned has become petrified recently and no one else has known about it yet,” Cotton Cookie second guessed herself with something that sounds fairly reasonable.
“And it told me to seek out ‘companions from the darkness’ for it. I would probably find more answers to what happened to me if I did that too. Do you have any ideas what that could mean?” You asked.
Cotton Cookie’s face grew solemn as she looked back at you. The face she made was as if she stared right into your heart. You gulped.
“The Cookies of Darkness.”
“Cookies of Darkness?” You parroted.
“Yes, I feel that is what it meant. But for companionship?” Cotton Cookie sounded completely bewildered, as if the entire notion was absurd to even think about. “Those cookies are villains, working for Dark Enchantress Cookie to do her sinister bidding around Earthbread.”
“...You’re going to have to fill me in here,” you interrupted, having no idea what all of these new proper nouns meant.
“Oh! Haha, that’s right. Well, Earthbread is the name for this world. You and I are on the continent called Crispia. We’re just east of the Dark Cacao Kingdom, a city much larger than this one little village.”
You listened to her intently.
“Dark Enchantress Cookie… she’s a devilish witch that began the Dark Flour War against Earthbread and the Ancient cookies. She brought darkness upon this world, opening the infernal gates for all kinds of desert monsters.”
“So some evil baddie. Got it, I’ll be sure to stay clear of her,” you proclaimed.
“That might be difficult, considering what the statue is asking of you.” She fixed her posture to be straighter. “You might wind up into Dark Enchantress Cookie’s clutches if you aren’t careful. Heck, even those Cookies of Darkness might give you trouble. They’re not exactly the friendly type. Are you sure this is something you want to do?”
You nodded, with full confidence.
“Yes, I do.” You crossed your arms, looking straight into Cotton Cookie’s eyes. “I think it’s the only shot I’ve got at returning home. If I help free the statue from its petrification.”
Cotton Cookie smiled warmly at your resolve.
“Then, let me tell you the best way to reach the Cacao Kingdom from here.”
okay, here! i drew an aged up crepe, but in a good timeline where they are influenced by the vanilla kingdom stuff. they're good now! tea timeee... and gatherings....... just like papa
PLEASEEEE forgive me for any mistake. I do not play ovenbreak and had to do some research for this character lol so i'm a bit afraid he may be a bit ooc
Your felt cold stone press against your knees...
Your head throbbed as consciousness slowly returned, the world tilting and blurry. Heavy iron chains rattled around your wrists and ankles, bolted firmly into the floor. You blinked hard, trying to clear the fog, and realized you were in an enormous chamber, perhaps a temple? Massive pillars rose into shadows far above, draped in deep blood-red and pitch-black banners that swayed gently even though there was no wind.
Glowing crimson runes pulsed along the walls like slow heartbeats. The air smelled of incense, smoke, and something heavier… something metallic and ancient.
Low chanting surrounded you. A circle of hooded cult members stood at a distance, their voices droning in an unsettling rhythm. You tried to stand, but the chains yanked you back down with a harsh clank.
“What the hell…?” you muttered, voice hoarse.
Fragments of memory flashed through your mind — walking alone at night, a sudden ambush, dark figures swarming you, a cloth pressed over your mouth. Then nothing.
You tugged harder at the restraints, panic rising fast in your chest. “Hey! Let me go! Where am I? What do you people want?!” you cried out
One of the hooded figures stepped closer. Their voice was cold and flat. “Be silent, vessel. You have been chosen. The Ebony Dragon stirs, and you will serve as its perfect host.”
“Chosen?” You laughed bitterly, fear sharpening your words. “I didn’t choose anything! Release me right now or—”
Another cultist laughed, low and mocking. “Look at him. Tch. Still so defiant. How adorable, the Master will enjoy breaking that spirit.”
You twisted against the chains, heart hammering. Your arms ached from the awkward angle, and you could feel strange, warm markings painted across your chest and shoulders — ritual symbols, dark and intricate, standing out against your darker-toned dough.
The chanting grew louder. The runes on the walls flared brighter.
You kept struggling, voice rising. “This is insane! I’m not your damn vessel! Let me out of here!”
A third cultist approached, grabbing your jaw roughly to force you to look up at them. “You should be grateful. Not many are worthy of what is coming. Struggle all you like… it will only make the offering sweeter when our Sovereign arrives.”
You jerked your head away, breathing hard. Sweat beaded on your skin despite the chill in the air. Every instinct screamed at you to run, but the chains held fast and the circle of cultists closed in tighter.
The atmosphere in the temple shifted suddenly.
The chanting dropped to a near whisper. The torches flickered violently. A heavy, oppressive presence filled the room, like the air itself had grown thicker and darker. The cult members all lowered their heads in unison, their bodies trembling with fear.
“He comes…”
Two of the strongest-looking cultists moved behind you and shoved you down hard. Your knees hit the stone floor again as they forced your head down in a deep bow.
“On your knees, vessel,” one hissed. “Obscure Umbra approaches.”
You tried to lift your head, but a firm hand on the back of your neck kept you pinned. Your pulse thundered in your ears. The air grew colder, yet somehow stifling at the same time. From the far end of the temple, slow, deliberate footsteps echoed through the vast chamber.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
The cult members began whispering fervent prayers. The glowing runes pulsed faster now, almost eagerly.
You couldn’t see who was coming yet, but you could feel them. An overwhelming, suffocating aura of power and malice rolling toward you like a tide.
Your stomach twisted with dread.
Whatever — whoever — was about to appear, you already knew one thing with terrifying certainty...
There was no running away from this.
The heavy footsteps stopped.
A thick, suffocating silence fell over the temple. The cultist chants quieted into mere breaths.
Then the shadows at the far end of the hall began to twist and deepen, gathering like living smoke. From within that darkness, a tall figure emerged — descending slowly as if the very air itself was lowering them onto the dais.
Obscure Umbra Cookie.
Their long, flowing robes of midnight black and blood crimson billowed dramatically around them, edged in gold that caught the crimson glow of the runes. A heavy headdress crowned their head, ornate and menacing, framing a pale face with sharp, glowing red eyes that burned like embers in the dim light. Long dark hair spilled over their shoulders, shifting with every step.
They moved with predatory grace, each step deliberate, radiating raw power and authority.
You felt their presence like a physical weight pressing down on your chest.
Obscure Umbra came to a stop just a few feet in front of you, looking down with a slow, arrogant smile that revealed sharp fangs. The cultists bowed so deeply their foreheads nearly touched the stone floor.
“Rise,” Umbra commanded softly. The cultists obeyed instantly.
Their glowing red eyes locked onto you.
“So this is the one they brought me,” Umbra murmured, beginning a slow circle around your kneeling form. Their robes brushed against the floor with a soft hiss. “Not bad. Strong frame… decent resilience. You’ll do nicely.”
You swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way your heart was trying to punch its way out of your ribs. “Who the hell are you?” you snapped, forcing defiance into your voice even as your hands shook in the chains. “Let me go. I don’t know what kind of sick ritual you people are planning, but I’m not part of it.”
Umbra chuckled lowly, the sound sliding down your spine like ice. They completed their circle and stopped directly in front of you again. A clawed finger slipped under your chin, tilting your head up with surprising gentleness — forcing you to meet those burning red eyes.
“You stand before Obscure Umbra,” they purred, voice smooth but laced with venom “Voice of the Ebony Dragon and Sovereign of the Umbral Pact. This temple is mine. These followers are mine.” Their smile widened. “And very soon… you will be mine as well.”
You tried to jerk your head away, but their grip tightened just enough to hold you in place. “I’m not yours. I’m not anyone’s ‘vessel.’ This is insane! Just let me leave and we can all pretend this never happened.”
Instead of answering right away, Obscure Umbra leaned in closer.
Their face hovered mere inches from yours.
You felt their breath ghost across your lips — warm, heavy, and strangely sweet, like dark incense mixed with something far more dangerous. The moment it touched your skin, heat bloomed across your face and chest. Your pulse spiked. heat flooded your veins without warning, making your stomach tighten and your thighs press together instinctively.
What the fuck…?
Umbra’s eyes darkened with satisfaction as they watched your reaction. “Already feeling it, aren’t you?” they whispered, breath brushing your cheek again. The aphrodisiac effect grew stronger with every exhale. “Such a sensitive little thing. How delightful.”
Your breathing quickened against your will. A flush crept up your neck. You hated how your body was already reacting, how your mind was starting to fog at the edges.
“I—I don’t know what you did to me,” you rasped, trying to sound angry instead of shaky, “but it won’t work. I’m not staying here. I’m not going to be part of whatever twisted game this is.”
Obscure Umbra laughed softly, a rich, dangerous sound. They kept their finger under your chin, stroking it almost tenderly while their glowing eyes bored into yours.
“Oh, my dear chosen… you still think you have a choice.” They leaned even closer, lips brushing the shell of your ear as they spoke. “You were brought here to become the perfect vessel for the Ebony Dragon. Your body, your mind, your pleasure — all of it will be reshaped until you crave nothing but service and ecstasy.”
Their next exhale washed directly over your neck, sending another hot, dizzying wave straight through you. Your cock twitched traitorously in your pants.
“I will break you apart with pleasure,” Umbra murmured, voice dripping with dark promise, “and remake you into something beautiful. Something worthy. By the time I’m finished with you… you’ll be begging to serve.”
You tried to form another protest, but it died in your throat as another slow, deliberate breath ghosted across your lips.
Obscure Umbra pulled back just enough to admire the growing haze in your eyes, their smile sharp and triumphant.
“Now then…” they purred. “Shall we begin?”
Obscure Umbra’s ruby eyes flicked toward the circle of cultists still kneeling in worship.
“Leave us,” they commanded, voice low but carrying through the vast temple like thunder. “All of you. I will not be watched tonight. The ritual begins in private.”
The cult members hesitated for only a fraction of a second before rising and filing out in perfect silence. The heavy doors of the temple groaned shut behind the last of them, leaving only the flickering crimson runes and the soft crackle of torches.
Now it was just the two of you.
Umbra turned their full attention back to you, their smile sharp and hungry. Without warning, they grabbed the front of your shirt and hauled you up from your knees. The chains rattled loudly as they dragged you backward until your back hit the cold stone altar in the center of the dais.
You gasped as they pinned you there, one clawed hand planted firmly beside your head, the other gripping your hip hard enough to bruise.
“Much better,” Umbra murmured , leaning in until their face hovered inches from yours. “No prying eyes. No interruptions. Just you… and me.”
Their breath washed over your neck — warm, thick, and sickly sweet. The moment it touched your skin, the aphrodisiac effect slammed into you like a wave. Heat flooded your body, rushing straight to your groin. Your cock hardened almost painfully fast, straining against your pants as dizziness clouded your thoughts.
“Fuck… what did you—” You tried to twist away, but Umbra pressed their body flush against yours, trapping you completely against the altar.
“Shhh,” they breathed directly against the sensitive skin beneath your ear. Another slow, deliberate exhale made your knees buckle. “Feel that? My gift to you. My breath alone is enough to turn even the most stubborn little toy into a dripping, desperate mess.”
You bit back a groan as another wave of overwhelming heat rolled through you. Your mind was already starting to fog at the edges, thoughts growing hazy and slow.
Umbra didn’t give you time to recover. They captured your mouth in a deep, possessive kiss.
The moment their lips met yours, the effect intensified tenfold. Their tongue slid against yours, claiming, devouring. Every stroke sent fresh sparks of raw lust shooting down your spine. You moaned into their mouth before you could stop yourself, hips twitching helplessly against them.
When they finally pulled back, a thin string of saliva connected your lips. Umbra’s red eyes gleamed with dark satisfaction.
“Look at you,” they murmured, voice dripping with mocking affection. “Already falling apart from just a kiss. How pathetic… and how perfect.” Their claws made quick work of your shirt, tearing it open with a sharp rip. Cool air hit your chest as they pushed the fabric aside, exposing your torso.
Their hands roamed greedily over your skin, palms smoothing across your chest and down your sides. “Such a lovely vessel,” they whispered. “Strong. Warm. So beautifully made.” They leaned down and dragged their tongue slowly across your collarbone, then lower, tracing the ritual symbols that had been painted onto you earlier.
Every lick felt like fire and honey at the same time.
You shuddered hard, another helpless sound escaping you. “Stop… I don’t—”
“Liar,” Umbra cut you off with a low chuckle, breathing hot against your nipple before flicking their tongue over it. “Your body is already singing for me. Feel how hard you are?” Their hand slid down to palm the obvious bulge in your pants, squeezing just enough to make you choke on a moan. “Admit it. Tell me how good it feels.”
You shook your head, trying to cling to the last threads of defiance, but another slow breath ghosted across your throat and your resolve crumbled a little more.
“It… it feels…” Your voice cracked.
“Yes?” Umbra prompted, kissing and licking a slow trail down your sternum, marking you with their tongue as if sealing ancient runes into your skin. Their claws lightly scratched down your sides, leaving faint red lines that only heightened the overwhelming pleasure.
“It feels too good,” you finally gasped, hating how broken you sounded. “I—I shouldn’t—”
“But you do,” Umbra purred triumphantly, nipping at your ribs before soothing the spot with another long, wet lick. “You’re going to learn to love this. To crave it. I’m going to ruin you for anyone else, little vessel. By the time I’m done, the only thing you’ll be able to think about is how badly you need me inside you.”
They kissed you again — deeper, filthier, while their hands worked open your pants. The aphrodisiac in their breath made your head spin faster, turning your thoughts into thick, syrupy need.
Your mind was fogging over more with every passing second.
Obscure Umbra didn’t waste another second.
With a low growl of satisfaction, they shoved your torn pants down your thighs and lifted you onto the altar proper, laying you out like an offering. Your back hit the cold stone as Umbra climbed over you, robes pooling around their hips like spilled ink and blood.
“You’re already leaking for me,” they purred, wrapping a clawed hand around your cock. They gave one slow, deliberate stroke from base to tip, spreading the wetness that had gathered at the head. “How embarrassing. Fighting me with your mouth while your body begs so sweetly.”
You tried to snarl something defiant, but it came out as a broken moan when they stroked you again — firmer this time — while pressing the blunt head of their own cock against your entrance.
Umbra leaned down, breathing hot and heavy directly over your throat. The aphrodisiac hit like liquid fire. Your hole clenched, your cock twitched hard in their fist, and your mind blurred even further.
“Not yet, little vessel,” Umbra said with a smirk, voice littered with amusement. “I want you nice and ready for me.”
They kept one hand stroking your cock in slow, teasing pulls while their other hand slid down between your spread thighs. A clawed finger circled your entrance, spreading the slick that was already leaking from you thanks to their breath. They pressed one finger inside slowly, curling it deep before adding a second, stretching you open with deliberate, scissoring motions.
Every thrust of their fingers was accompanied by another hot breath against your neck, making your insides flutter and squeeze around them. You moaned helplessly, hips twitching as they worked you open, the pleasure fogging your brain even more a beautiful contrast between their pale dough and your deeper toned one.
“Fuck… ah—!” you gasped, back arching.
Umbra chuckled lowly, adding a third finger and pumping them deeper, curling against that sensitive spot inside you until your thighs trembled.
“So tight… but you’re opening up so nicely for me,” they murmured, licking a slow stripe up your throat. “Good boy.”
Only when you were panting and pushing back against their fingers did Umbra finally withdraw them. They positioned the thick head of their cock against your now-slick, loosened entrance and pushed inside.
The stretch was overwhelming. Thick, hot, and relentless, Umbra sank into you in one long thrust, bottoming out with a satisfied groan. You cried out, back arching sharply off the altar.
“That’s it,” Umbra hissed, voice filled with pleasure. “Take every inch, vessel.” They started moving immediately — deep, powerful thrusts that rocked your entire body. Their hand never stopped working your cock, stroking in perfect time with their hips.
Every exhale they released against your neck, your chest, your jaw made the pleasure spike higher. The aphrodisiac clouded your thoughts until all you could focus on was the brutal fullness inside you and the tight grip around your cock.
“Stop— ah— I can’t—” you gasped, still trying to cling to resistance even as your hips started rolling up to meet their thrusts.
Umbra laughed, low and cruel, and kissed you hard. Their tongue invaded your mouth, addictive and overwhelming, turning your brain into molten need. When they pulled back, you were panting, eyes glassy.
“You can,” they taunted, jerking you faster while slamming into you harder. “And you will. You’re going to come on my cock like the perfect little vessel you were meant to be.”
The orgasm hit you without warning — sudden, violent, and devastating. You came with a strangled cry, spilling over Umbra’s fist and across your own stomach. But they didn’t stop. They kept thrusting, kept stroking your oversensitive cock, forcing you to ride out every pulse.
They pulled out suddenly, flipped you onto your stomach, and dragged you off the altar onto the temple floor. The stone was cold against your chest as Umbra mounted you from behind, sinking back inside you in a single brutal thrust.
You moaned loudly, the new angle making them feel even deeper.
Umbra draped their body over yours, chest pressed to your back, mouth right beside your ear. “Feel that?” they breathed hotly against your skin. “This is what you were made for. The Ebony Dragon’s perfect vessel… taking me so well, so greedily.”
Their hand found your cock again, stroking roughly while they fucked you hard into the floor. Every thrust drove you forward, every breath they exhaled against your neck made your vision blur with overwhelming pleasure.
You were crying out with every thrust now, no longer able to hold back the sounds.
“Please— fuck— too much—” you whimpered, tears pricking at the corners of your eyes from the overstimulation.
“Too much?” Umbra mocked, licking the shell of your ear before blowing another slow, devastating breath across it. “You’re clenching around me like you never want me to stop. Say it. Tell me you need this.”
You shook your head weakly, but another mind-melting kiss and a particularly deep thrust broke you further.
“I— I need it,” you sobbed, voice cracking. “Please… don’t stop—”
Umbra’s thrusts grew faster, more possessive. “Good boy,” they purred, voice thick with triumph. “You’re breaking so beautifully for me. Soon there will be nothing left of that pathetic resistance… only a perfect, obedient vessel hungry for the Ebony Dragon’s power.”
They jerked you through a second orgasm, this one even more intense than the first. Your whole body seized up as you came again, hole fluttering wildly around Umbra’s cock. Still they didn’t slow down.
By the time they flipped you onto your back again — this time on the floor you were a trembling, desperate mess. Any trace of defiance had burned away.
“Beg for it,” Umbra commanded, hovering over you, red eyes glowing with delight. They rubbed the head of their cock against your soaked entrance teasingly. “Beg me to fill you. Beg me to remake you.”
You were past shame. Past fear.
“Please…” you whispered hoarsely, legs wrapping around their waist. “Please fuck me… make me your vessel… I need it— I need you—”
Obscure Umbra smiled like a god granting mercy.
They slammed back inside you and kissed you deeply, feeding you their addictive breath as they fucked you through a third shattering orgasm. Their own climax followed soon after — hot, thick pulses filling you as they groaned against your mouth.
Even after they finished, they kept moving slowly, lazily fucking their release deeper into you while stroking your spent, oversensitive cock.
Your body lay limp on the cool temple floor, chest heaving with shallow, ragged breaths. Every muscle felt heavy, spent, and utterly used. Warmth leaked slowly from where Umbra was still buried deep inside you, their release filling you to the point of a faint, heavy bulge in your lower belly. Ritual marks glowed faintly across your skin where their tongue and claws had traced them.
Obscure Umbra remained draped over you, their weight pinning you down in a possessive embrace. Their long dark hair spilled across your chest like silk shadows as they nuzzled slowly against the side of your neck, breathing in deep, satisfied drags of your scent.
A low, almost gentle hum vibrated against your skin.
“Ah...Look at you…” Umbra murmured, voice husky and warm with dark satisfaction. They rolled their hips once, slow and lazy, pushing their cum deeper inside you. “So thoroughly ruined. So perfectly full. My beautiful vessel.”
You could only whimper softly, eyes half-lidded and glassy. Your mind floated somewhere far away — hazy, foggy, and strangely peaceful. The overwhelming fear from earlier had burned away, leaving only a deep, aching acceptance in its place.
Umbra’s clawed hand stroked slowly down your side, almost tenderly. “You fought so bravely at first,” they whispered against your ear, pressing a lingering kiss to your jaw. “But now… now you understand. This is what you were meant for.”
They shifted slightly, still buried to the hilt, and pulled you closer into their arms, cradling your exhausted body against their chest. Their breath ghosted over your throat again, no longer a weapon, but a soothing, addictive warmth that kept your nerves humming with quiet pleasure.
“You belong to the Ebony Dragon now,” Umbra said softly. “And you belong to me. Every moan, every tremor, every drop of seed I’ve filled you with… it all binds you to us.”
You let out a shaky breath, too tired to speak. Your head lolled against their shoulder in silent surrender.
Umbra smiled against your skin, sharp fangs grazing lightly over your pulse. “Soon the real transformation will begin. I will mold you further… train you… until the Ebony Dragon’s power flows through your veins as easily as your own blood.” Their voice dropped into a possessive whisper. “You will crave this. You will crave me. And you will never want to leave.”
They pressed one last slow, claiming kiss to your lips, feeding you just enough of their sweet, mind-melting breath to keep you floating in that blissful haze.
“Rest now, my perfect vessel,” Umbra murmured, holding you tighter. “This is only the beginning of your new life.”
Outside the temple, the night remained dark and still.
But inside, wrapped in Obscure Umbra’s arms and filled with their claim, you had already been remade.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
It's been a couple years, so updated human Strawberry Crepe Cookie design. They're still cute af~. Still fairly similar to my old designs, but updated with my current art style.
dededos
germansingergirl
gummygunk
yousharknotpass
romaincrisis
