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-She never knew who she was. The woman from her dreams. Ever since she could remember, she used to dream of her as a young cookie before he ever fell from grace. She was the same person every time too. A beautiful cookie always. It was strange though...If White Lily Cookie could describe it now, she'd say it would be like watching a movie of someone's entire life. A little girl. A princess and her struggles inside a castle, then slowly the more she slept the more her life progressed. From a small girl forced to learn dainty dances and how to look asthetically pleasing, to a teenager already having to deal with the heavy pressures of everyone and their grandma's throwing marriages at her, to eventually a beautiful young woman who looked just as miserable as she had done as a child. From there...things seemed to take a little lapse in time. One dream she was almost kidnapped to be forced into a marriage and then arguing with her father. The next night Little White Lily Cookie dreamt of her being loaded into a heavily guarded carriage surrounded by many strong looking nights. The third night something about her completely changed. Gone was the fancy gowns. The beautiful woman now dawns scars along her face and body, plain traveler's clothes, and a strange looking sword by her side as she traveled. That was odd? What happened between her time leaving in the carriage and now?? The dreams were still frequent even when she attended Blueberry Yogurt Academy and met her most dearest and wonderful friend. Eventually Pure Vanilla had confided in White Lily Cookie about his strange reoccurring dreams, only to become shocked to find out she had also been experiencing the same thing for all her life as well. A beautiful woman who appeared in her dreams however unlike his who's laughter sounded like a divine bells and had a smile that could rival even his own light who wanted to show the world what she could do, her's was noble, fierce, and strove to help others even if it costed her greatly. "What do you suppose it could mean?" She had shrugged, a book from the library in her lap. "I once read in a book if you dream about someone a whole lot that they would end up being a very important cookie in your lives. Some cookies even believed that they're your soulmate." "Soulmate?" "You know. Your one true love..or at least that's what the theories about repetitive dreams about others said. There hasn't been any jawbreaker proof." "Wow. So they could be our future wives." She shrugged again but a light pink was to her face now. "I-I mean....She's very pretty, and you never know. Right?" Out of curiosity she had dug through every book about sleeping and dreams one day to see if she could figure out why she was having these strange dreams. There was MANY theories. Some theorized that if you dream about a cookie the way she was that it was you in a past life. Others said it was inherited memories passed down by your ancestors (she didn't think she was related to a princess but she wasn't going to knock that theory off the list just yet). Others said it was your subconcious creating a story about what you truly wished to do. Some theorized it was a ghost haunting you while you slept. Others were much more simple like you just dreaming of a story you overheard or read or just dreams being dreams. But she did stumble across one that said that it be your soulmate. She wasn't sure about that one...but she w-was very pretty...A-And the way she kindly seemed to look at her sometimes- ANYWAYS!! Sure she's heard about the concept when couples always referred to each other as their soulmates but she never really stopped and thought about herself having one before. She always assumed things happened how little kids always thought things happened. You grow up, fall in love, and then you bake cute baby doughs together and start a family of your own one day and then live happily ever after like in those fairytales the librarian read the students during Story Time Hour.

-Through the years, she's never stopped having those mysterious dreams of the beautiful woman traveling through all different kinds of adventures. Saving damsels, treking through dense rainforests for treasure, sailing through a storm towards an unknown. It all was so exciting. And repeating one sentence over the years. "If saving even one life can be done, then my suffering will be worth enduring." She learnt her name too during one dream...Y/n Cookie. It sounded like such a beautiful name. It was so good to finally put a name to her face after so many years. She made an attempt to locate her a couple times, but her searches had always turned up nothing. No matter how many far away distant lands she went too before turning into Dark Enchntress Cookie. Maybe she hadn't been born yet? Or she lived somewhere so very far away that they never had a chance to bump into each other? The dreams became less frequent as the years passed, never stopped just became less frequent than they had been before. Now maybe since reawakening as White Lily once more she only had dreams about her maybe twice a year. She learnt a few new things with each new dream. Y/n didn't like garning a whole lot attention and would rather go about her days without anyone paying attention to her. Didn't like the spotlight....White Lily could relate to that with her unfortunate other half- She was just so-...Admirable! How she carried herself. Her unwavering selflessness. Never harming a soul even if was a monster trying to eat her. Overtime she stopped searching as more important matters were presented to her. However one day she certainly wasn't expecting to be called upon by the other Ancients. "Silver Guardian. A letter came for you." "Oh? Thank you." A letter arrived for her all the way from the Hollyberry Kingdom. Ah! Her dear friend Hollyberry Cookie! It's been a while since she heard from her. She wondered how she was doing? However it wasn't a 'how are you' letter. It was a letter requesting her immediate presence at the Tropical Soda Seas. Her attention was directed to the sentence that mentioned the Beasts' presence at some islands off the coast and that it was a real emergency. Wait...The Beasts actually left Beast Yeast? They've never done that before to her knowledge. If the Beasts were leaving their home continent to reign terror across other parts of Earthbread, then this was absolutely a problem. She needed to leave immediately.

-She was surprised with how fast the trip was...She supposed having years experienced with traveling across earthbread herself made it naturally easier to her to leave the Silver Kingdom and the continent to travel all the way to the Tropical Soda Seas. She asked for directions briefly to find the meeting place Hollyberry mentioned in her letter. She found Hollyberry and three of the others at a local tavern..Because of course Hollyberry would choose a tavern as her meeting spot. "White Lily Cookie!" The older woman greeted her with a big smile and bone crushing hug that forced the air out of the poor white haired cookie. "It's good to see you again! You must be hungry from your trip! I'll buy you a meal!" "Y-You....s-said there was..an emergency." She wheezed back gasping for air. "There is but we're still waiting for Pure Vanilla to show up before I explain anything. He should be here within three more days. He knows to meet us on the beach." "....Beach?" Hollyberry had been kind enough to pay for everyone's rooms while before they headed to the beach for Pure Vanilla.

-It was not hard to miss him walking down towards them from the pier with a giant smile and full arm wave. "Dear friends. It's been too long." "Pure Vanilla Cookie! It's about time you arrived." Golden Cheese stretched her wings out clearly annoyed for standing in one place for so long. "We've been waiting for you for too long." "I do apologize, but I'm here now. I set course as soon as I got your letter..But why are we all meeting here at the Tropical Soda Seas?" "That's what I've been waiting to find out." She turned her head to Hollyberry. "You said the Beasts have been here! So what have we been waiting for?" "Easy there. They should be here any moment now." She didn't look at any of them. Instead Hollyberry kept squinting at the sky, with her shield up and ready. She's been doing that the entire time they've been waiting on the beach. "Who? Are we expecting a surprise attack from the Beasts?" "They're name is Pitaya. They're the one who came to me about the Beasts being near the Tropical Soda Seas to begin with. They've agreed to come and guide us to the leaders of the islands that were invaded to discuss something very important." "....And that is what exactly!?" "They didn't say. They only said they would only discuss it with us on their own terf and only if everyone was present." "And you don't think this is a trap? What if whoever this Pitaya is, is working for the Beasts!?" Hollyberry shook her head. "Impossible. I knew Pitaya for years know. They're stubborn headed and start fights for no reason, but there is not a chance on Earthbread that they'd ever agree to work with a Beast. However it's unlike them to ask for help, so whatever it is..it's severe enough to even get Pitaya to know that they can't handle it alone...Uh oh!" She immediately took a stance as if bracing herself and held up her shield. "You four might want to step back! Fast!" White Lily hadn't the faintest idea what that meant until something from the skies shot down, shooting past them in a pink and white blur, and then the LOUDEST metal on metal sound she's ever hear sounded out. Hollyberry was there one second, the next she was standing almost twenty yards away. The force of whatever rammed into her strong enough to force the physically strongest of the five Ancients back that fast. White Lily immediately held up her hands- "HOLLYBERRY COOKIE!!" The four of them immediately were alarmed and raised weapons at the two pink figures who were on the edge of the beach but paused when Hollyberry suddenly-....laughed? "AHAHAHAHA!! That was a good hit! You truly have gained your full power back!" Whoever had their back towards them wore pink armor and flared giant wings, a large sword pushing against Hollyberry's shield. "Of courssse I have! I sssaid I would become a true dragon again didn't I?" "Ah. It's been too long, Pitaya. Seven months without you showing up once outside of asking for my help. I was half expecting you to hold my kingdom hostage again." She casually talked to them as if they still weren't fighting against each other....What they did WHAT to the Hollyberry Kingdom!? "How's your family doing? I heard from Tartin Tan Cookie you got married recently." "Good,good. SSSnapdragon turned one yearsss old lassst month and hasss learnt more cookie ssspeach from my mate." "That's wonderful! That little rascal is growing up so fast!" With a loud grunt she shoved the figure holding the sword skidded back five feet before lowering her shield. "But let's get down to business." She gestured behind the figure to the rest of the Ancient. The figure turned finally revealing their face. White Lily. FROZE. "I'd like to introduce you to my friends. They're the Ancients you requested help from."

-A DRAGON!? Hollyberry Cookie then gestured to her surprise friend. "This is Pitaya Dragon Cookie. They're the Red Dragon who rules over Dragon's Valley and the Dragonfruit Island of the archipelago off in the Tropical Soda Seas. They and their kind have requested our help with the Beasts." "I'm alssso known as the Greenish-Red Dragon!" They puffed proudly! "The only dragon that'sss ssstrong enough to maintain two large territoriesss in two different placesss!" "Well....I-It's certainly a pleasure to meet you." Pure Vanilla politely greeted with a smile.The dragon smiled- But instantly they paused as soon as they made eye contact with White Lily Cookie. Surprise littered the dragon's face. She knew this dragon. From her memories when she was Dark Enchantress Cookie. The surprise quickly melted into the hardest scowl ahe's ever seen and a literal growl escaped their throat as they pointed. "You...YOU were the caussse of my downfall!" Hollyberry was quick to get in front of them when they took a step forward. "HOLD ON THERE!! Remember what we discussed when I explained her situation to you! White Lily Cookie is not your enemy, Pitaya. She is your alley and my friend. It is Dark Enchantress Cookie who is the one you should direct your anger towards." The dragon again growled staring at her as if they wanted to crumble her RIGHT NOW..before they looked at Hollyberry Cookie..then slowly stood down. "SHE-" They pointed at her. "-will not be allowed on my island or in my valley for any reassson! No exceptionsss, Hollyberry Cookie!" "Agreed! But remember your deal with me to not try to bring harm to her in exchange for us all helping you." "I didn't forget!" "Good. So can we go now instead of wasting time standing on the beach?" Pitaya growled again but turned and started walking towards the waves wings flaring. "The othersss have gathered in the Ivory Palace. I will show you the way there." "How do we get there? There's no boat." "Do not fret, Dark Cacao. I can take us within my airship." "Now that's being a good sport, Pure Vanilla!" They followed the pink dragon flying slow enough for the airship to keep up with them. She looked down at her feet as they started to follow them. Guilt and regret immediately consuming her once more. Yet another cookie she had hurt long ago with her evil actions. Pure Vanilla patted his friend's back. "Do not be so hard on yourself, White Lily. Hollyberry is right. Dark Enchantress Cookie is the one to blame, not you. Besides I'm sure once they see how much you want to help them, they'll realize how wonderful you truly are." "Thank you...but it's hard not to blame me when Dark Enchantress Cook and I are two sides of the same coin, and it was once me who had committed those actions." "Hmm....I know! I heard dragons love treasure! When we're all done, I'll help you gather lots of pretty gems and jewels and then you can give them to Pitaya with an apology! Maybe they won't forgive you, but it'll show them you want to make amends." "...Actually, that is not a bad suggestion. Thank you." "Of course! Come. Let's get to my airship!" They followed the others and besides Golden Cheese who opted to fly and stretch her wings, they followed the pink dragon over the ocean until they spotted it. An old palace just floating in the sky.

-Oh my. It was just a grand looking place, even if it looked broken in some places as if construction was being done. Like some ancient ruins currently being restored. They were lead through the admittedly beautiful palace by Pitaya until they reached a most magnificent room. An indoor moat with red sweddish fish swam through the water and waterfalls fell from the ceiling, and within the moat was a large center where at least nine other different cookies were standing. Immediately she recognized at least five of those cookies were actually dragons in various colors. The scowling purple one hovering in the air spoke up. "Oh it's about time, Pitaya! I could've had five clutches of eggs with my mate by the time you got here! What took you so long? Get distracted fighting something stupid again?" "SHUT UP, LYCHEE!! IT'SSS NOT MY FAULT ONE OF THEM DECIDED TO TAKE THEIR SSSWEET TIME GETTING HERE!!" A third yellow dragon groaned rubbing their temples. "Can you both be silent!? Now is not the time to be petty." They then turned their orange eyes to Hollyberry. "You-...You are the 'Queen Mother' of the Hollyberry Kingdom Pitaya had spoken about before?"

-Hollyberry nodded. "Yes. I've come to help you with my friends." She then turned to gesture at the other four behind her. "Allow me to introduce ourselves. I am Hollyberry Cookie. These are the other Ancients. Dark Cacao Cookie, Golden Cheese Cookie, Pure Vanilla Cookie, and White Lily Cookie. We are all here to help you with your Beast problem." "I am Ananas Dragon Cookie, the Benevolent Golden Dragon of Pineapple Island, and this is my wife." The Yellow dragon introduced themselves before gesturing to a woman next to them standing there calmly, one hand on a sword at her side-...Wait. White Lily felt her eyes widen. IT WAS HER!! "I was the one who requested this meeting. We are in need of your help. Thank you all for coming on such short notice." "Yes. But WHAT do you all need help with?!" Golden Cheese piped up again hands on her hips. "We've only been given vague answers up until now." "Of course. It's only fair we tell you since you came all the way here." A third blueish-green dragon piped up. Next to them was a lady dressed in long elegant flowing robes and she held a fan in front of her face all the while holding onto the dragon's white sleeved arm. Their mate perhaps? "Let's not be inhospitable now, Ananas. Let's show our guests some politeness. Come join us for a seat." "Oh..T-Thank you." She managed to stutter out shuffling towards an open seat all the while still staring at the lady. Eventually all fifteen of them were sat around a large table and introduced to the rest of them, except for the small purple dragon whom had to stand in their seat in order to still see everyone. It turned out the five ladies' present were in fact, the five dragons' mates and that fact was half the fact of them being brought here. "The reason we asked you all here is because Pitaya had told us that you five have the most personal experience with the cookies who call themselves 'Beasts'." Dark Cacao nodded. "Indeed. They each have caused havoc and destruction to us and those around us for their own selfish agendas. However they have never strayed this far before from Beast Yeast or their own domains. That fact alone has concerned me. What did they seek from your islands?" "Perhaps they wish to gain the power of your thrones as Dark Enchantress Cookie once did?" Hollyberry Cookie suggested. And then the pink dragon shot a DEATH GLARE at the figiting White Lily. "Um....Not quite." There was an awkward tension suddenly around the room as silence fell. "*ahem* You see, the reason they came here isn't for our power or islands. It would seem they have an...obsessive infactuation with our mates." Again the room paused as their brains processed what was spoken. Hollyberry turned to Pitaya as if they would laugh and say this entire thing was a joke, but the pink dragon only grumbled uncomfortably. "....You're joking." "I wish we were. Unfortunately this is no laughing matter. One after another, each of us have encountered at least one of these Beasts and each one demanded that we hand over our mates to them. Of course that didn't happen as you can see, but we have little to no information for what these cookies are capable of." "The one with burning dough wasss powerful." Pitaya mumbled. "He didn't crumble when even I threw him directly into the lava pitsss. He clawed hisss way out asss if I had jussst stuck my foot out and tripped him. But I DID NOT lossse to him! I jussst-...Never fought a cookie like that outssside of you." They motioned to Hollyberry. "SSSomehow he figured out my mate had hidden herssself in Dragon'sss Valley. I moved both her and SSSnapdragon to Dragonfruit Island. The way the emerged from that lava-...It wasss not normal."

-Golden Cheese bristled immediately. Her golden wings flaring. The large table shook when her hands slammed into them. "You met Burning Spice Cookie!?" Pitaya smiled and puffed out his chest. "Met him. Fought him. AND won againssst him." His mate rolled her eyes. "Pitaya, please. Not now." "What do you wish for us to do?" She asked curiously. "Help us! Do something to ensure our mates' safety. You know the Beasts the best out of everyone. Certainly you know how we can get them to stop? Aren't you all supposed to be heroes?" "We should help them." Pure Vanilla spoke up. "As the holders of the souljams, it's our responsibility and shared duty to ensure our other halves do not cause harm to others. Especially harm that we can prevent." "I secondly agree to this." White Lily responded. But Silent Salt Cookie?? Harming innocents??

-She couldn't imagine he would come all the way here to a different continent just to demand a lady? She glanced again at the woman and flinched when she saw the beautiful woman with scars calmly staring back at her. "Agreed." "*sigh* Fine." "Then we all are on the same page! I wasn't going to turn away an old friend in need anyways!" The blue dragon smiled. "We thank you for your cooperation in this time of crisis. I do believe the first thing we should do is conduct an investigation." The tiny dragon frowned. "Investa- What?" "An investigation, Dear Lychee. After all, don't you all think it's a little strange five cookies were able to not only effortlessly track down our beloved mates after so long but somehow most of them were able to come to our islands seemingly without any of us knowing?" A long heavy silence fell over them all. "Are you suggesting that some cookie might be watching our movements?" The white dragon finally spoke after sitting in utter silence. Large chains held down their body and limited their movements where they sat. "And relaying this information back to these Beasts?" "I am not suggesting anything, however you must admit it is a strange coincidence especially in your case, Longan. How did a cookie without wings get into your Ivory Palace let alone get across the ocean without a boat?" Pitaya hummed. "Thossse are valid concernsss. For once we may agree on sssomething, Lotusss." "We should start at the scene of the crime then!" Golden Cheese stood up flaring her wings. "Take me to where you first saw Burning Spice immediately!" "We should also ask your mates about their experience with them." Ananas turned to White Lily Cookie and she gulped seeing their suspicious look as the whole couple stared at her. "Any information is helpful. Perhaps there's a detail they have that can be a clue that leads us to answers?" "Hmm...Agreed but they'll not be questioned without us present." "That is understandable. Please tell us which Beast you each have encountered first." They were paired off accordingly to each respective Beast and offered to be taken to the places where they first saw the dangerous cookie. However they did overhear the yellow dragon growling and threatening the white dragon to not try anything. "Don't think about trying anything underhanded, Longan." They threatened baring teeth at the scowling white dragon who just silently stared at Ananas. "I. Mean. It. I don't like resorting to asking cookies as much as the next dragon, but we aren't stupid enough to pretend we don't need a helping hand." They leaned closer pointing at them with narrowed eyes. "Don't try anything or else we'll attach your chains to one of us and drag you around until this matter is decided!" "I volunteer to do it! I can shove them into one of my lava pittsss." "HA!! Being attached to you would be a punishment. But we'll do something safer, and permanently move Dragon Eye and Butterfly to Lotus's care. I'm very sure Lotus would welcome both with open arms into their paradise." That got the white dragon scowling but they said nothing as the yellow dragon turned away.

-Pure Vanilla was directed to the small purple dragon floating in midair arms crossed and a scowl set on their face as he approached with a friendly smile as White Lily slowly and nervously approached the two who had mentioned Silent Salt she gulped down the nervous emotions she was feeling. "H-..Hello." The yellow dragon crossed their arms frowning at her. "M-My name is White Lily Cookie. My friend told me you encountered Silent Salt Cookie." "I know." They replied bluntly. "Pitaya told us all about you." She winced. "And what you did to them." They did? That guilty feeling in her guts churned again as they leaned over and-...Sniffed her?? They sniffed loudly and deeply before snorting and pulling their head back shaking long yellow bangs. "You don't smell evil but you do smell overly floral." "....Thank you?" She wasn't sure if that supposed to be a compliment, insult, statement, or assurance. "You should be thanking me. Despite Pitaya being stupidly headstrong they don't lie about their enemies or rivals. However I don't sense a single grain of malice in your dough, so as the benevolent dragon I am- I graciously give you permission to be in my presence!" Ah right. She quickly thought back to her limited memories. She had fuzzy memories about climbing a volcano in Dragon's Valley and entertaining the Dragon Pitaya with stories in exchange for dragon tongue-....But they were very, very fuzzy and she couldn't remember much. She couldn't even remember what stories she told them. What she DID remember was that all dragons were proud creatures that demanded respect and worship from others. Especially cookies. So she slowly did a full curtsy to the dragon. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I hope I am able to help you." A pleased hum came from the dragon. "I have to tell most cookies to kneel before me you know. I am Ananas Dragon Cookie, the Benevolent Golden Dragon of Pineapple Isle. And this is my wife, Y/n Cookie of Pineapple Isle." Y/n Cookie!? She snapped back up immediately and came face to face with the calm woman standing there. Oh goodness- She already felt her face turning pink making the woman raise a brow at the suddenly blushing cookie. It was really her! WOW!! She was real! And here before her! She wasn't just a dream after all! Goodness she looked so much more dashing in person and- A broken glass noise went off in her mind. Red eyes blinked. "....Your...wife?" Ananas nodded before puffing up in pride smirking. "Of course! I already considered us mates the moment she accepted our court battle, but she insisted on doing things 'officially' so we had the cheiftess of the Mango Tribe orchestrate the traditional ceremony of her people for us. Not to brag, but I am also the only dragon who's given the honor of participating in their tribe's traditions!" "Ananas." The yellow dragon instantly turned to their wife. "That is you bragging. Now enough of that. We should get down to business." She then turned to White Lily. "You're White Lily Cookie, Guardian of the Silver Kingdom...I heard about what happened to the previous ruler and guardian." White Lily's brows rose shocked she even knew that. "I am sorry for your loss. I never met Mr. Elder Faerie but I heard only good things about him. I'm sure he was a fine cookie." Almost mechanically she nodded. "He was..Thank you. I have heard Silent Salt had come to pay you both a visit?" The yellow dragon huffed. "'Visit?' He brandished his sword at me the moment he saw me, calmly and not threateningly walking towards him WITHOUT any weapons raised might I add. He demanded my mate leave with him to fight side by side in an up coming war." "Demand or ask her to join him?" Ananas gave her a look. "What difference does it make?" "A lot actually. If he was being forceful and demanding she comes to his side then there would be a cause for concern certainly. However if he was merely asking her, then I don't think any harm was intended."

-"'No harm was intended'?!" Four wings flared out as they looked at the cookie with narrowed eyes. "I don't recall someone holding a sword to strike me or daring to show his face to my wife after knowing what he did to her as harmless!!" "I'm not saying what he did was or wasn't wrong, but you are very intimidating, Golden Dragon." She replied calmly. "It's possible he was intimidated by your presence or scared so his first instinct was to draw his sword in case of an attack. He is still a knight after all. And by knowing the tone someone uses, you can help to figure out their actions and their motives behind them. For example, you raised your voice when I suggested he may not have meant harm, because to you what he did was intended harm...And you are most likely offended as the Ancient bound to him through our soul jams, I am not immediately agreeing with you." Ananas slowly lowered their wings as their wife hummed. "You are very wise." "Oh!...Um." She looked down a moment. "T-Thank you." "To answer your question no. He was not forceful with me at all. In fact he willingly left the island when my partner demanded him to leave." "That's the part that concerns me the most." Ananas squeezed their staff tighter. "The others all had to fight off those Beasts...Or in Lychee's case, bury him in two pieces. But he just left silently. He could be plotting against me! Ready to pounce the moment I'm not guarding my island." they growled lightly. "He could be there this very moment since I'm not there!" "...I don't think so. That's not in his character." "And you would know?" She nodded. "Yes." White Lily Cookie hesitated before confessing. "I regularly talk to him." Both paused staring at her for a long, long moment before the dragon's pupils turned to slits and their eyes narrowed. "You...regularly keep in contact? With a BEAST COOKIE???" She nodded. "He's not as bad and many believe him to be." "He still hurt my wife! AND he's corrupted as the others isn't he?!" "Corrupted yes. With malice no. It's sadness." "I don't have the slightest care if it was kindness he was corrupted with! If you think-!" They snapped their mouth shut as soon as their wife held up her hand to them. Like a complete one eighty quieting down and relaxing back as soon as she raised a hand towards them to stop. They still glared but turned to her which surprised White Lily. Usually dragons were more dominant even towards their partners. She calmly lowered her hand and turned back to the other woman. "Please forgive my Husband's rudeness. They're just a little worried because compared to us, everyone else's experiences have been quite scary and awful. Lotus is right. You are our guest and took time out to come all the way here to help us." She turned to her partner. "Ananas, let's be benevolent and show Madam White Lily some of our island's hospitality. We can tell her everything from there." The dragon didn't look like they liked the idea but eventually nodded. It was rather strange watching the cookie sized dragon change into a giant yellow dragon but she was even more surprised the dragon agreed to allow the two women to be carried on their back to Pineapple Island.

-"Allow me." She once again felt her face go hot when the woman got off the lowered dragon's neck first and just turned around to offer a hand to White Lily. "Oh. Um..T-Thank you." She blushed the entire way helped down. "Welcome to PIneapple Island. This is our home. I hope you'll find it as beautiful as we do." "Y-Yes. You're very beautiful." "WHAT?!" The dragon turned to look at her." "UM!! Y-You didn't let me finish!" She stuttered out. "Y-Your very beautiful home is wonderful! It has a wonderful ocean view!" "Thank you. You should see the sunsets and sun rises. The entire ocean looks like it glitters." White Lily sweated as the dragon narrowed their eyes at her again snorting. "Um...W-Why do-don't you tell me how you know S-Silent Salt?" She stuttered out. "He m-must know you if he came all the way here to talk to-to you." She nodded. "Yes. I knew him from many years ago when he was still Salt of Solidarity Leader of the Cala Namak Knights." She turned to start walking. "Come. I'll explain everything to you while we show you around....Ananas, stop giving rude looks at our guest. She only gave me a compliment." OH WITCHES!! SHE NOTICED!? She felt her face go red again as the dragon pouted returning to a smaller form. "Just make sure not to disturb my island!" "Ananas, don't be rude to Miss Lily! You're the one who requested her help. Remember?" White Lily quickly shuffled after the woman who still walked along the beach towards somewhere until she was caught up to her, walking beside her. "Where should I begin?" "Um...The beginning I suppose?" The dragon walked directly behind them staring holes through the woman's head. She nodded. "Very well! I hail from Beast Yeast myself." "You do?" "Yes! Long ago my father was the ruler of a kingdom that no longer exists, it was attacked and raided by a bigger more hostile kingdom. You may not have heard of it. It was the Y/n Kingdom. I was named after it." She hummed. "....I think I remember reading that kingdom's name somewhere in a history book actually." The woman looked surprised at her but smiled. "Really? Good. I'm happy at least a piece of my kingdom is alive somewhere. Anyways, it was not a good environment for me to grow up in. As a woman, many didn't think I could rule by myself and there was many pressures on me to marry one of the nobles or a prince from a neighboring kingdom-" Of course White Lily already knew most of this backstory from her dreams but she remained silent and listened to the woman explain her life. And finally after so long, she finally learnt what happened in the mysterious gap between the dream of the princess being loaded into a carriage and the dream of the woman with scars traveling earthbread. "I'm so sorry. That sounds awful. I can't imagine what it must've been like for you to spend so long trapped like that." She scowled and nodded after she explained her long years being trapped in the tower and being used as live bait for the dragon in order for them to get live prey to come to her. "Yes. But not all dragons are like he was." She smiled looking over her shoulder at the dragon still behind them. "It took me a long time, but thanks to Ananas and the Mango Tribe I've learnt that there are also good dragons in the world." The dragon proudly smiled back. "I am THE most benevolent dragon in the world, Dear.~" "Of course you are. That's why I love you." "You mentioned Silent Salt rescued you from the tower." She turned back to White Lily nodded. "Yes. But at that time he was still known as Salt of Solidarity, or just Salt Cookie as everyone called him. He heard about what the dragon was doing and came to put an end to his evil terror himself out of the goodness of his heart."

-She continued to explain and explain. How Silent Salt rescued her. How her kingdom was gone but she still stayed to try to help her people. How the Cala Namak Knights had taught her so many things like how to treat wounds and make medicine and swing a sword. All the way to Silent Salt's betrayal and tricking her into going with one of his knights only to be locked back in the same tower he rescued her from. "-and thank goodness they didn't think to take my sword or else I may have never been able to get out unless I jumped out the tower's giant window!" She was scowling now as they walked. "It took me two weeks by foot to get back to their stronghold, but by the time I did...Everyone was just gone. No knights. Most of my people had fled to different corners of Beast Yeast. The few that remained were either dying too far gone for any help, or those who just used the abandoned stronghold as a home. I heard from one Salt Cookie had been sealed away with the other four Beast Cookies by the witches, and that had been the last time I heard of him since I left Beast Yeast to pursue a life of adventuring for a few centuries." "Until Mango Cookie summoned me to alert me of his presence on my island three months ago!" The dragon growled. "Then he wanted my wife to run away with him like a bad romance novel. Of course she'd stay and choose me." Their wife sighed. "No, Ananas. He didn't want me to run away with him. He asked me to come fight with him. It's not the same thing." "Yes it is!" "Mango Cookie?" The woman smiled at her with that beautiful grin. "Yes! He's our adopted son! I adopted all the orphaned children of the tribe!" "Mango Cookie WAS the only orphan of the Mango Tribe." "Oh hush. If you accepted Artichoke Cookie as a part of the Mango Tribe, then you can accept Mango Cookie is our son!" The dragon still smiled but rolled their eyes. "I view all the Mango Tribe as my own equally. Mango Cookie and Artichoke Cookie are no different. I don't have favorites." She smirked. "Oh really?" She turned her head around to him. "I remember SOMEONE getting broody during spring and ordering Mango Cookie to stay by your side so you could take care of him like a hatchling.~" Immediately the dragon stopped. They stared at the women for a moment before their face tinted a dark orange. "That doesn't mean anything! My instincts were going haywire and I just needed his help is all. By focusing on the he-health and well being of a child, my instincts can be satisfied-" "Right. And you guarding his hut at night, making the Mango Tribe hand over the sweetest fruits for his lunch, and freaking out when he accidentally tripped and fell on his bum harmlessly was all just brooding instincts?" "YES!!" "So if you have no favorites and view the whole tribe as equal, why didn't you just take care of everyone's children?" "WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS THE BEAST!! NOT MY INSTINCTS!!" Their wife laughed making the dragon go an even darker shade of orange. "Very well. Back on topic." "Oh. Yes. How did his visit here go?" That happy smile was instantly gone as she sighed. "Not..very well, but compared to the other four it was actually quite alright. He seemed reluctant but he left after Ananas commanded him to....I honestly have no idea how he knew where I was."

-White Lily hummed. "It's possible that he was able to see my visions of you as well since we are connected by a soul jam and pieced together where you were from there-" The couple stopped walking to both stare at her. She also froze having blurted it out without meaning to. ...Oops. "You had...dreams?" Her brow rose. "About me?" "Um.." She wasn't sure how to answer this WITHOUT sounding creepy. "Yes." "Ah! So you had prophetic dreams telling you about our fated meeting!" "Not exactly but it's similar to prophetic dreaming. I've had dreams telling me about you but I didn't know we would be meeting today." "Prophetic dreaming then regardless." Alright. If that's what she wanted to go by. It was a lot better than telling her 'Hey I fell in love with you because I've been dreaming about you for hundreds of years'. "None of these dreams ever showed me any visions of you with Silent Salt however. It was more like...watching a movie with one giant piece of the show missing." "And there's a possibility of that Beast seeing your visions?" The dragon looked horrified as she nodded. "How is that possible!?" "We Ancients are one side of the same coin with the Beasts." White Lily explained pointing at a shiny green jewel like object on her staff. "We are connected to them and vise versa via our soul jams. At times we are able to feel one another's emotions or catch a glimpse into their thoughts through them." The shock turned into utter horror as the Dragon looked at her then back to their wife, looking worried and maybe even a little afraid. "And that connection can extend to your dreams!?" "I'm not exactly sure. I've never seen or felt Silent Salt in my dreams, but I wouldn't be surprised if he did receive some of mine." "Then Longan wasn't too far off about these Beasts having a helping hand in finding out where our mates have gone!" "Not on purpose, Ananas!" Their wife quickly added before they could even think to blame the woman standing there. She turned back to White Lily. "Have all the Ancients had similar visions?" "One other has, but I don't know about the other three." Ananas hummed. "Then the Beast Cookies could've used the glimpses into the prophetic dreams of the Ancients without their knowledge to help track down and pinpoint the locations of their mates and my Wife. Sounds like it's a quite out there theory...yet somehow it makes complete sense and would explain how they seemingly just showed up out of no where like a ghost." They looked at their wife. "I need to make an emergency second meeting with the others and Ancients again immediately. If this is how the Beasts were able to track down you all, then perhaps maybe stopping these dreams is the key to solving the problem." "I don't think that'll stop the Beasts from trying to come after them, but it could be a step in the right direction. Do you know what's causing the dreams?" "Some aren't dreams at all. Some are more like memories. As if we're seeing through someone else's eyes. I believe these visions are the Beasts' memories of you all and the dreams are the result because of our shared connections." "So..we destroy the connection?" "No. Even if the soul jams are destroyed, we'd still be connected in some way spiritually or magically. We always were...However.." She looked at the two of them. "I may not have a solution for the others and their Beasts but I do think I do know how to fix the misunderstanding you both have...If you'll listen to what I have to say." The two looked at one another before their wife nodded. "Very well." Ananas spoke slowly and suspiciously. "What do you have in mind?" "Silent Salt may be one of the Beast Cookies, but he is kind although sometimes when he tries to be kind it can end up going the wrong way just as your meeting did. And, while it's true he did hurt you and break your trust in him greatly, I do believe he was just trying to get you out of harm's way. Would you both be willing to sit down and have a talk with him?" "WHAT!? ABSOLUTELY NO-!!"

-Once more they stopped when their wife held up her hand. Calmly she looked at White Lily Cookie. "You want us, to sit down and talk to him?" She nodded. "Yes. Most problems can be resolved with just talking alone. I can attest to his character. I-If you want...I-I can even stay when you talk to make you feel safer." "Says the other half of Dark Enchantress Cookie!?" White Lily flinched as Ananas crossed their arms. "We've heard all about you. How do I know you're not helping the Beast? Or trying to trick us for your own agenda? You can say you're not...but it's hard to trust you as much as I trust that Beast." "I promise I'm only trying to help." "And crushing on MY WIFE is helping!? Don't pretend I didn't see your reaction to her! Blushing like a child with a crush. Are you trying to take her too!?" "N-NO! Of course not!" "A likely-" "ENOUGH!! BOTH OF YOU!!" They both looked at her as she glared. "You both are acting like children arguing over who gets the last cookie!" She turned to her husband. "You said so yourself that you sensed no malice on her, and it was YOUR idea in the first place to request her help. Or did you forget that, Ananas? Further more Miss White Lily is a guest on our island and a Guardian of a foreign kingdom! You should know better than to treat someone important so rudely especially one you asked for help and invited personally. Now stop acting like a spoiled hatchling and act your age!" She scolded her partner who looked at her with a wide eyed expression, like a child getting caught with their hand in the Cookie jar. "Further more you insulted her by comparing her to a truly evil villainess known worldwide. Even if she had been Dark Enchantress Cookie at one point in her life, she stands before you a force of goodness. What would cookies say if the so called Benevolent Golden Dragon dared to disgrace such an important figurehead?! Remember your actions don't just reflect on how others see you but also me as your wife, the Mango Tribe as your people, and even your own species as a dragon! " She then pointed at the shocked White Lily. "Apologize for your rude behavior this instant! You've embarrassed us both enough already!" Silence. No sounds but the waves lapping on the beach, a few sugargalls sqawking overhead, and some dinosaurs off in the distance. The two stared at the glaring woman in shock before Ananas slowly frowned, and huffed crossing their arms. "...I may have projected my anger on the wrong cookie. I hope you enjoy what my island has to offer you." Their wife stared at them a long moment before sighing. "That's as close as an apology you're going to get from a dragon." Ananas frowned harder at their wife as she turned to the shocked White Lily. "I apologize for my partner's absolutely rude behavior. Please don't take what they said to heart. They've just been worried about me. Although that's no excuse for their rudeness." "Oh no. I-It's alright. Their concerns are valid. I did a lot of cruel things I'm still trying to atone for myself." And still is if you want to still say herself and Dark Enchantress Cookie are still the same cookie which-...Isn't wrong sadly. "I don't blame them at all. I get this reactions a lot." "That's still no excuse to be rude. Would you like to see Mango Village? It's one of the most popular places tourists enjoy visiting on our island. I'll even have Mango Cookie give you a tour." "Oh. That'd be lovely. I-I'd love to meet your son. He sounds very nice." She beamed. "He IS!! He's the cutest, most brightest boy in the Tropical Soda Seas! I'm sure he'll be so excited to meet such an important person! Come! I'll show you to my home! Are you coming Ananas?" The dragon nodded. "Yes...I'll meet you both at the village." They glanced at the volcano before glancing back at White Lily. "I just want to check around the island quickly and made sure everything is secure."

-Or most likely make sure their nest was safely blocked from White Lily. "Alright. Don't take too long." They gave White Lily a look. "I won't." With a flap of four wings, they were off. Both watched them go before she turned to the woman. "Thank you." She looked at her. "I-It's not often someone defends me. Most are understandably weary of my presence." "Don't think anything of it. What I said was truth. You were invited by Ananas. They have no right being so rude to someone they want help from." "...May I ask why you're being so kind to me? I understand why the dragons must despise me but you are so kind and openly accepting of me. Even Silent Salt Cookie took convincing before he could trust me." Y/n Cookie hummed. "..Well, in truth I was weary of you at first as well. Dark Enchantress Cookie is not to be trusted especially considering what she put Pitaya through, however there is two things I've learnt. Looks can be deceiving and that you should never believe in rumors without evidence." She turned to start walking again and White Lily followed her. "After what happened to me with that dragon, I believed for quite literally hundreds of years that all dragons were shallow evil creatures just like all the rumors and stories surrounding them. Burning down villages for no reason, eating helpless cookies, stealing everyone's valuable treasure for themselves because they could, holding princesses hostage like me, being vile wicked creatures with no empathy-....If you were to go back in time and tell my past self, I'd be married to one I would've thought you were insane. In fact, the only reason I even met Ananas was because I had no idea there was a dragon on this island." White Lily blinked. "Really?" She nodded. "Mm hm. I just wanted a break from traveling and thought visiting a beautiful tropical island with dinosaurs would be fun. If I had known a dragon was on the island, I never would have come here in the first place or met Ananas. In fact I probably still would've had that mindset today if they didn't change my mind...I still hated them at first too." She shook her head. "They took my most valuable posession-" She patted the sword at her side. "-they had an ego the size of their island, scared the living daylights out of me just for building a sand castle on the beach, then they made me agree to not leave their isle if I lost in a fight against them which I did." "What made you change your mind if they did all of that to you?" "Their actions and words. Despite taking my sword, they gave me a sword in return that had no chance to harm them. They even gave me back my original sword when I promised not to take it off the isle. They saved my life when I fell off a waterfall despite not caring about strangers." SHE DID WHAT NOW!? "But most of all they respected every boundary I put in place and never try to force anything. I see the way they love their tribe and island. It's that that's what made me change my view on all dragons. That's also why I know you're good. You speak wisely and with compassion.".....She slowly turned to White Lily. "Do you truly think Silent Salt regrets what he has done?" She nodded. "Every day. Not just towards you. He feels responsible for what happened with all the Beasts. I'm sure if you both just talked things out, you both would feel much better resolving the issue instead of letting it hang endlessly in the air for all these years." Y/n Cookie was silent for a long moment again before nodding. "Alright. I will give it a try. I'll speak to Ananas privately about it tonight. They may not like it, but they'll agree if I ask them to give it a chance....Although I would prefer to meet in a neutral location." "How about the beach on the mainland? That's only a two hour trip by boat or flying and it's very public." "Sounds perfect. But how do I find him?" "You leave that to me. I'll send word back to you both once I bring him." "Thank you. Ah! There's the village!" She gestured to a bunch of huts ahead. "Come! You'll adore my son."

-She was right. Mango Cookie WAS adorable and was SO excited to give White Lily the grand tour of his home. "Those are ba-dum rays! They love music and if you're nice to them, they'll let you pet them! It's rumored that they're born from the scales the Golden Dragon had shed into the ocean!" "They're adorable." The island was beautiful. The tribe kind and polite to her during her four day stay there. Ananas remained suspicious the entire time but hadn't said anything else rude towards her. They had outright REFUSED to the meeting and literally banned Y/n from leaving at all...but relented after two days of Y/n insisting. "Fine. But you're staying behind me the ENTIRE TIME. That's not negotiable and the only way this is happening!" "Agreed." All that was left was to find the Beastly knight in question. It actually wasn't as hard any people thought being connected by their soul jams. She found him where she expected. Alone in a peaceful spot in a forest. A pretty spot. A nice little stream surrounded by flowers. He knew she was there before he even looked at her. "Good evening, My Lady." He said without even looking up from the water. "Hello, Silent Salt Cookie. How have you been?" "I am alright." His head turned to her. "However I did not expect this visit. To what do I owe the surprise of you seeking me out?" "I was talking to someone, and they had told me of your visit to the Tropical Soda Seas months ago. I was just curious as to your sudden departure." There was silence for a moment before he sighed. "I suppose you would've found out sooner or later. I attempted to visit an old friend." "Y/n Cookie right?" He jolted staring at her. "H-How did you-?" "I also paid her a visit....I see why you love her so much. It's alright. I'm not here to breath down your neck. I just wanted to see if you were alright." He sighed. "....I am alright. I will start my journey back to Beast Yeast tonight and not bother Lady Y/n again." "Actually-" She held out an arm stopping him when he stood up. "That's also why I'm here. I managed to explain that it was a misunderstanding and they both want to talk to you." The knight buffered for a moment. "...What?" "Miss Y/n and her husband. They agreed to talk to you and resolve everything if you want to-" "YES!!" White Lily blinked as he suddenly shouted excitedly...before he backed down. "Uh- *ahem* I mean yes. I would very much like to talk things out between us and apologize....Tha-Thank you, My Lady." "Of course. But first you must come with me and a friend of mine. We need to go get some treasure." Silent Salt tilted his head confused. "Treasure?"

-To say the dragon was not happy to see either of them was an understatement. They stood there wings flared and body rigid almost completely blocking Y/n from view as she pushed one large wing aside to see them both. Her face as neutral as ever, remarkably calm as they watched the two of them approach stopping when Ananas growled signaling they were close enough. The two stayed silent for a long good moment before White Lily broke the silence. "It's nice to see you both again." "Yes. You're looking well, Lady Lily. ...You as well, Salt Cookie." Y/n complimented which made both White Lily's and Silent Salt's hearts flutter. Ananas narrowed their eyes- "*AHEM*!! T-Thank you. I-It has been a long time hasn't it? Um...Ho-How are you these days?" "Wonderful thank you. I don't think you both got a proper introduction." She gestured to Ananas. "This is my partner, Ananas Dragon Cookie. Ananas, meet Salt Cookie-..Oh, my apologies. You go by Silent Salt Cookie now." "YES. My WIFE insisted we come here and talk..." Ananas's eyelid twitched. "But I do not see any apologizing on YOUR end for disrespecting MYSELF and MY WIFE on MY island!" "Oh, yes. Of course. *ahem* I sincerely apologize for my lack of decorum during my visit. It was not my intention to disrespect either of you in your home. I hope you both can accept my apology and find it in your hearts to forgive me." Their eyes narrowed more. "AND!? You owe more apologies to MY WIFE for what you have done to her! There was so many ways you could've tried to remove her from danger yet you chose one traumatic for her." Silent Salt nodded instantly. "Yes....I regret my actions dearly. I hadn't meant to hurt her but that's no excuse." "You're dam right it doesn't! Doesn't excuse you raising a sword to me either when I had done nothing to you. Are you specist against dragons because you're a knight?!" "No, no! Of course not! I apologize for that as well!" "You still haven't apologized to her for that yet!" "I-I AM SO SORRY!! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!" Ananas snorted as Y/n raised a hand to them again. "That's enough, Ananas. You said what's been bothering you, so let's not start a fight." She then looked at Silent Salt Cookie. "...I forgive you, Sa-Uh. Silent Salt Cookie. For everything. However I'm not going to try and pretend none of it happened either." She crossed her arms. "Further more I'm not going to try and force my partner to forgive you either. If Ananas chooses to forgive you, it will be of their own free will and not from any coersion. Do you understand that?" He nodded. "I do...I hope one day I may earn their trust and forgiveness. However I understand if they choose not too..Thank you." "And I will also not be leaving Pineapple Island or the Tropical Soda Seas with you for any reason. My family and duty is here now. I am very happy where I am despite what you may think. No one is holding me hostage and Ananas respects me and treats me amazingly well. Can you respect and understand that?" There was again silence but the knight nodded. "Yes..You are truly happy?" "I've never been happier in my entire life." "And they treat you well?" Ananas gave a small growl again but didn't react beyond that. "Yes. They respect me and my boundaries and what deals we have were talked through and made into compromises we BOTH agreed to. I wouldn't have married them if they made me unhappy. You know how much I hated the fear of being forced into a marriage I couldn't escape from." "And you are safe and sound?" "I'm probably one of the safest cookies in the world right now." "...Then as long as you're happy and treated well, then that is good enough for me. I am happy for you that you were able to find the peace and happiness you wanted for so long, Y/n Cookie. I pray your union is a blessed one full of happy memories together." There was a long silence again..before Y/n Cookie smiled at him.

-"Thank you, Silent Salt. ..Why are you holding that box though?" He looked down. "Ah! I almost forgot." He held it out, not to Y/n but Ananas. "It is an offering to your husband- Uh...Spouse! As an apology gift. I heard they like offerings." "Trying to buy my good graces? Tch. As if a gift would sway me! I'm insulted at the very notion!" "I understand. You do not have to accept it. I was not trying to trick you though." Ananas rose a brow in a 'sssuuurre you're not' expression...but looked back to the box curiosity peeking. "...What's in it anyways?" "My Lady told me you liked treasure. It's not much-" He opened the lid of the tiny box as the sun caught the light of the gems inside. "-but it's still pretty to look at." Ananas's eyes popped. WIDE. OPEN. Very comically. Immediately their attention directed towards the shimmering rainbow colored pile of gems in the shoe box. They were beautiful! Green emeralds. Yellow topazes. Blue diamonds. Red rubies. White pearls. Black obsidians. Clear diamonds. Purple amethysts. Immediately Ananas leaned forward captivated by them before stopping and looking at the Beast and Ancient suspiciously. "Where are these from?" "They are from my friend, Golden Cheese Cookie. She has possession of a jewel mind and happily leant us some." Another Ancient. That seemed to silence their suspicions as they looked at them, looked at their wife, then back to the jewels thinking hard. "........I am going to take these-" They pointed at the jewels. "-but NOT as a gift! I do NOT accept your apologies, Silent Salt Cookie. Be grateful I allowed you to be before my wife and myself. You should also be grateful I, the Benevolent Golden Dragon, will be taking this offering for all the troubles you've caused me." "Thank...you? I think." Ananas said nothing as they snatched the box away from the knight's hand and White Lily breathed a sigh of relief it didn't go badly. At least Ananas's reaction was better than Pitaya's when she went with Hollyberry to go see them in dragon's city. They had nearly thrown a fit upon seeing White Lily so close to their valley but also paused when she gave them the biggest jewels Golden Cheese was willing to give up. The pink dragon had growled that they did NOT forgive her and- "I'm going to take thessse, but I am HIGHLY offended by it!" It wasn't forgiveness between everyone yet..but it was a hopeful start.

-She never knew who she was. The woman from her dreams. Ever since she could remember, she used to dream of her as a young cookie before he ever fell from grace. She was the same person every time too. A beautiful cookie always. It was strange though...If White Lily Cookie could describe it now, she'd say it would be like watching a movie of someone's entire life. A little girl. A princess and her struggles inside a castle, then slowly the more she slept the more her life progressed. From a small girl forced to learn dainty dances and how to look asthetically pleasing, to a teenager already having to deal with the heavy pressures of everyone and their grandma's throwing marriages at her, to eventually a beautiful young woman who looked just as miserable as she had done as a child. From there...things seemed to take a little lapse in time. One dream she was almost kidnapped to be forced into a marriage and then arguing with her father. The next night Little White Lily Cookie dreamt of her being loaded into a heavily guarded carriage surrounded by many strong looking nights. The third night something about her completely changed. Gone was the fancy gowns. The beautiful woman now dawns scars along her face and body, plain traveler's clothes, and a strange looking sword by her side as she traveled. That was odd? What happened between her time leaving in the carriage and now?? The dreams were still frequent even when she attended Blueberry Yogurt Academy and met her most dearest and wonderful friend. Eventually Pure Vanilla had confided in White Lily Cookie about his strange reoccurring dreams, only to become shocked to find out she had also been experiencing the same thing for all her life as well. A beautiful woman who appeared in her dreams however unlike his who's laughter sounded like a divine bells and had a smile that could rival even his own light who wanted to show the world what she could do, her's was noble, fierce, and strove to help others even if it costed her greatly. "What do you suppose it could mean?" She had shrugged, a book from the library in her lap. "I once read in a book if you dream about someone a whole lot that they would end up being a very important cookie in your lives. Some cookies even believed that they're your soulmate." "Soulmate?" "You know. Your one true love..or at least that's what the theories about repetitive dreams about others said. There hasn't been any jawbreaker proof." "Wow. So they could be our future wives." She shrugged again but a light pink was to her face now. "I-I mean....She's very pretty, and you never know. Right?" Out of curiosity she had dug through every book about sleeping and dreams one day to see if she could figure out why she was having these strange dreams. There was MANY theories. Some theorized that if you dream about a cookie the way she was that it was you in a past life. Others said it was inherited memories passed down by your ancestors (she didn't think she was related to a princess but she wasn't going to knock that theory off the list just yet). Others said it was your subconcious creating a story about what you truly wished to do. Some theorized it was a ghost haunting you while you slept. Others were much more simple like you just dreaming of a story you overheard or read or just dreams being dreams. But she did stumble across one that said that it be your soulmate. She wasn't sure about that one...but she w-was very pretty...A-And the way she kindly seemed to look at her sometimes- ANYWAYS!! Sure she's heard about the concept when couples always referred to each other as their soulmates but she never really stopped and thought about herself having one before. She always assumed things happened how little kids always thought things happened. You grow up, fall in love, and then you bake cute baby doughs together and start a family of your own one day and then live happily ever after like in those fairytales the librarian read the students during Story Time Hour.

-Through the years, she's never stopped having those mysterious dreams of the beautiful woman traveling through all different kinds of adventures. Saving damsels, treking through dense rainforests for treasure, sailing through a storm towards an unknown. It all was so exciting. And repeating one sentence over the years. "If saving even one life can be done, then my suffering will be worth enduring." She learnt her name too during one dream...Y/n Cookie. It sounded like such a beautiful name. It was so good to finally put a name to her face after so many years. She made an attempt to locate her a couple times, but her searches had always turned up nothing. No matter how many far away distant lands she went too before turning into Dark Enchntress Cookie. Maybe she hadn't been born yet? Or she lived somewhere so very far away that they never had a chance to bump into each other? The dreams became less frequent as the years passed, never stopped just became less frequent than they had been before. Now maybe since reawakening as White Lily once more she only had dreams about her maybe twice a year. She learnt a few new things with each new dream. Y/n didn't like garning a whole lot attention and would rather go about her days without anyone paying attention to her. Didn't like the spotlight....White Lily could relate to that with her unfortunate other half- She was just so-...Admirable! How she carried herself. Her unwavering selflessness. Never harming a soul even if was a monster trying to eat her. Overtime she stopped searching as more important matters were presented to her. However one day she certainly wasn't expecting to be called upon by the other Ancients. "Silver Guardian. A letter came for you." "Oh? Thank you." A letter arrived for her all the way from the Hollyberry Kingdom. Ah! Her dear friend Hollyberry Cookie! It's been a while since she heard from her. She wondered how she was doing? However it wasn't a 'how are you' letter. It was a letter requesting her immediate presence at the Tropical Soda Seas. Her attention was directed to the sentence that mentioned the Beasts' presence at some islands off the coast and that it was a real emergency. Wait...The Beasts actually left Beast Yeast? They've never done that before to her knowledge. If the Beasts were leaving their home continent to reign terror across other parts of Earthbread, then this was absolutely a problem. She needed to leave immediately.

-She was surprised with how fast the trip was...She supposed having years experienced with traveling across earthbread herself made it naturally easier to her to leave the Silver Kingdom and the continent to travel all the way to the Tropical Soda Seas. She asked for directions briefly to find the meeting place Hollyberry mentioned in her letter. She found Hollyberry and three of the others at a local tavern..Because of course Hollyberry would choose a tavern as her meeting spot. "White Lily Cookie!" The older woman greeted her with a big smile and bone crushing hug that forced the air out of the poor white haired cookie. "It's good to see you again! You must be hungry from your trip! I'll buy you a meal!" "Y-You....s-said there was..an emergency." She wheezed back gasping for air. "There is but we're still waiting for Pure Vanilla to show up before I explain anything. He should be here within three more days. He knows to meet us on the beach." "....Beach?" Hollyberry had been kind enough to pay for everyone's rooms while before they headed to the beach for Pure Vanilla.

-It was not hard to miss him walking down towards them from the pier with a giant smile and full arm wave. "Dear friends. It's been too long." "Pure Vanilla Cookie! It's about time you arrived." Golden Cheese stretched her wings out clearly annoyed for standing in one place for so long. "We've been waiting for you for too long." "I do apologize, but I'm here now. I set course as soon as I got your letter..But why are we all meeting here at the Tropical Soda Seas?" "That's what I've been waiting to find out." She turned her head to Hollyberry. "You said the Beasts have been here! So what have we been waiting for?" "Easy there. They should be here any moment now." She didn't look at any of them. Instead Hollyberry kept squinting at the sky, with her shield up and ready. She's been doing that the entire time they've been waiting on the beach. "Who? Are we expecting a surprise attack from the Beasts?" "They're name is Pitaya. They're the one who came to me about the Beasts being near the Tropical Soda Seas to begin with. They've agreed to come and guide us to the leaders of the islands that were invaded to discuss something very important." "....And that is what exactly!?" "They didn't say. They only said they would only discuss it with us on their own terf and only if everyone was present." "And you don't think this is a trap? What if whoever this Pitaya is, is working for the Beasts!?" Hollyberry shook her head. "Impossible. I knew Pitaya for years know. They're stubborn headed and start fights for no reason, but there is not a chance on Earthbread that they'd ever agree to work with a Beast. However it's unlike them to ask for help, so whatever it is..it's severe enough to even get Pitaya to know that they can't handle it alone...Uh oh!" She immediately took a stance as if bracing herself and held up her shield. "You four might want to step back! Fast!" White Lily hadn't the faintest idea what that meant until something from the skies shot down, shooting past them in a pink and white blur, and then the LOUDEST metal on metal sound she's ever hear sounded out. Hollyberry was there one second, the next she was standing almost twenty yards away. The force of whatever rammed into her strong enough to force the physically strongest of the five Ancients back that fast. White Lily immediately held up her hands- "HOLLYBERRY COOKIE!!" The four of them immediately were alarmed and raised weapons at the two pink figures who were on the edge of the beach but paused when Hollyberry suddenly-....laughed? "AHAHAHAHA!! That was a good hit! You truly have gained your full power back!" Whoever had their back towards them wore pink armor and flared giant wings, a large sword pushing against Hollyberry's shield. "Of courssse I have! I sssaid I would become a true dragon again didn't I?" "Ah. It's been too long, Pitaya. Seven months without you showing up once outside of asking for my help. I was half expecting you to hold my kingdom hostage again." She casually talked to them as if they still weren't fighting against each other....What they did WHAT to the Hollyberry Kingdom!? "How's your family doing? I heard from Tartin Tan Cookie you got married recently." "Good,good. SSSnapdragon turned one yearsss old lassst month and hasss learnt more cookie ssspeach from my mate." "That's wonderful! That little rascal is growing up so fast!" With a loud grunt she shoved the figure holding the sword skidded back five feet before lowering her shield. "But let's get down to business." She gestured behind the figure to the rest of the Ancient. The figure turned finally revealing their face. White Lily. FROZE. "I'd like to introduce you to my friends. They're the Ancients you requested help from."

-A DRAGON!? Hollyberry Cookie then gestured to her surprise friend. "This is Pitaya Dragon Cookie. They're the Red Dragon who rules over Dragon's Valley and the Dragonfruit Island of the archipelago off in the Tropical Soda Seas. They and their kind have requested our help with the Beasts." "I'm alssso known as the Greenish-Red Dragon!" They puffed proudly! "The only dragon that'sss ssstrong enough to maintain two large territoriesss in two different placesss!" "Well....I-It's certainly a pleasure to meet you." Pure Vanilla politely greeted with a smile.The dragon smiled- But instantly they paused as soon as they made eye contact with White Lily Cookie. Surprise littered the dragon's face. She knew this dragon. From her memories when she was Dark Enchantress Cookie. The surprise quickly melted into the hardest scowl ahe's ever seen and a literal growl escaped their throat as they pointed. "You...YOU were the caussse of my downfall!" Hollyberry was quick to get in front of them when they took a step forward. "HOLD ON THERE!! Remember what we discussed when I explained her situation to you! White Lily Cookie is not your enemy, Pitaya. She is your alley and my friend. It is Dark Enchantress Cookie who is the one you should direct your anger towards." The dragon again growled staring at her as if they wanted to crumble her RIGHT NOW..before they looked at Hollyberry Cookie..then slowly stood down. "SHE-" They pointed at her. "-will not be allowed on my island or in my valley for any reassson! No exceptionsss, Hollyberry Cookie!" "Agreed! But remember your deal with me to not try to bring harm to her in exchange for us all helping you." "I didn't forget!" "Good. So can we go now instead of wasting time standing on the beach?" Pitaya growled again but turned and started walking towards the waves wings flaring. "The othersss have gathered in the Ivory Palace. I will show you the way there." "How do we get there? There's no boat." "Do not fret, Dark Cacao. I can take us within my airship." "Now that's being a good sport, Pure Vanilla!" They followed the pink dragon flying slow enough for the airship to keep up with them. She looked down at her feet as they started to follow them. Guilt and regret immediately consuming her once more. Yet another cookie she had hurt long ago with her evil actions. Pure Vanilla patted his friend's back. "Do not be so hard on yourself, White Lily. Hollyberry is right. Dark Enchantress Cookie is the one to blame, not you. Besides I'm sure once they see how much you want to help them, they'll realize how wonderful you truly are." "Thank you...but it's hard not to blame me when Dark Enchantress Cook and I are two sides of the same coin, and it was once me who had committed those actions." "Hmm....I know! I heard dragons love treasure! When we're all done, I'll help you gather lots of pretty gems and jewels and then you can give them to Pitaya with an apology! Maybe they won't forgive you, but it'll show them you want to make amends." "...Actually, that is not a bad suggestion. Thank you." "Of course! Come. Let's get to my airship!" They followed the others and besides Golden Cheese who opted to fly and stretch her wings, they followed the pink dragon over the ocean until they spotted it. An old palace just floating in the sky.

-Oh my. It was just a grand looking place, even if it looked broken in some places as if construction was being done. Like some ancient ruins currently being restored. They were lead through the admittedly beautiful palace by Pitaya until they reached a most magnificent room. An indoor moat with red sweddish fish swam through the water and waterfalls fell from the ceiling, and within the moat was a large center where at least nine other different cookies were standing. Immediately she recognized at least five of those cookies were actually dragons in various colors. The scowling purple one hovering in the air spoke up. "Oh it's about time, Pitaya! I could've had five clutches of eggs with my mate by the time you got here! What took you so long? Get distracted fighting something stupid again?" "SHUT UP, LYCHEE!! IT'SSS NOT MY FAULT ONE OF THEM DECIDED TO TAKE THEIR SSSWEET TIME GETTING HERE!!" A third yellow dragon groaned rubbing their temples. "Can you both be silent!? Now is not the time to be petty." They then turned their orange eyes to Hollyberry. "You-...You are the 'Queen Mother' of the Hollyberry Kingdom Pitaya had spoken about before?"

-Hollyberry nodded. "Yes. I've come to help you with my friends." She then turned to gesture at the other four behind her. "Allow me to introduce ourselves. I am Hollyberry Cookie. These are the other Ancients. Dark Cacao Cookie, Golden Cheese Cookie, Pure Vanilla Cookie, and White Lily Cookie. We are all here to help you with your Beast problem." "I am Ananas Dragon Cookie, the Benevolent Golden Dragon of Pineapple Island, and this is my wife." The Yellow dragon introduced themselves before gesturing to a woman next to them standing there calmly, one hand on a sword at her side-...Wait. White Lily felt her eyes widen. IT WAS HER!! "I was the one who requested this meeting. We are in need of your help. Thank you all for coming on such short notice." "Yes. But WHAT do you all need help with?!" Golden Cheese piped up again hands on her hips. "We've only been given vague answers up until now." "Of course. It's only fair we tell you since you came all the way here." A third blueish-green dragon piped up. Next to them was a lady dressed in long elegant flowing robes and she held a fan in front of her face all the while holding onto the dragon's white sleeved arm. Their mate perhaps? "Let's not be inhospitable now, Ananas. Let's show our guests some politeness. Come join us for a seat." "Oh..T-Thank you." She managed to stutter out shuffling towards an open seat all the while still staring at the lady. Eventually all fifteen of them were sat around a large table and introduced to the rest of them, except for the small purple dragon whom had to stand in their seat in order to still see everyone. It turned out the five ladies' present were in fact, the five dragons' mates and that fact was half the fact of them being brought here. "The reason we asked you all here is because Pitaya had told us that you five have the most personal experience with the cookies who call themselves 'Beasts'." Dark Cacao nodded. "Indeed. They each have caused havoc and destruction to us and those around us for their own selfish agendas. However they have never strayed this far before from Beast Yeast or their own domains. That fact alone has concerned me. What did they seek from your islands?" "Perhaps they wish to gain the power of your thrones as Dark Enchantress Cookie once did?" Hollyberry Cookie suggested. And then the pink dragon shot a DEATH GLARE at the figiting White Lily. "Um....Not quite." There was an awkward tension suddenly around the room as silence fell. "*ahem* You see, the reason they came here isn't for our power or islands. It would seem they have an...obsessive infactuation with our mates." Again the room paused as their brains processed what was spoken. Hollyberry turned to Pitaya as if they would laugh and say this entire thing was a joke, but the pink dragon only grumbled uncomfortably. "....You're joking." "I wish we were. Unfortunately this is no laughing matter. One after another, each of us have encountered at least one of these Beasts and each one demanded that we hand over our mates to them. Of course that didn't happen as you can see, but we have little to no information for what these cookies are capable of." "The one with burning dough wasss powerful." Pitaya mumbled. "He didn't crumble when even I threw him directly into the lava pitsss. He clawed hisss way out asss if I had jussst stuck my foot out and tripped him. But I DID NOT lossse to him! I jussst-...Never fought a cookie like that outssside of you." They motioned to Hollyberry. "SSSomehow he figured out my mate had hidden herssself in Dragon'sss Valley. I moved both her and SSSnapdragon to Dragonfruit Island. The way the emerged from that lava-...It wasss not normal."

-Golden Cheese bristled immediately. Her golden wings flaring. The large table shook when her hands slammed into them. "You met Burning Spice Cookie!?" Pitaya smiled and puffed out his chest. "Met him. Fought him. AND won againssst him." His mate rolled her eyes. "Pitaya, please. Not now." "What do you wish for us to do?" She asked curiously. "Help us! Do something to ensure our mates' safety. You know the Beasts the best out of everyone. Certainly you know how we can get them to stop? Aren't you all supposed to be heroes?" "We should help them." Pure Vanilla spoke up. "As the holders of the souljams, it's our responsibility and shared duty to ensure our other halves do not cause harm to others. Especially harm that we can prevent." "I secondly agree to this." White Lily responded. But Silent Salt Cookie?? Harming innocents??

-She couldn't imagine he would come all the way here to a different continent just to demand a lady? She glanced again at the woman and flinched when she saw the beautiful woman with scars calmly staring back at her. "Agreed." "*sigh* Fine." "Then we all are on the same page! I wasn't going to turn away an old friend in need anyways!" The blue dragon smiled. "We thank you for your cooperation in this time of crisis. I do believe the first thing we should do is conduct an investigation." The tiny dragon frowned. "Investa- What?" "An investigation, Dear Lychee. After all, don't you all think it's a little strange five cookies were able to not only effortlessly track down our beloved mates after so long but somehow most of them were able to come to our islands seemingly without any of us knowing?" A long heavy silence fell over them all. "Are you suggesting that some cookie might be watching our movements?" The white dragon finally spoke after sitting in utter silence. Large chains held down their body and limited their movements where they sat. "And relaying this information back to these Beasts?" "I am not suggesting anything, however you must admit it is a strange coincidence especially in your case, Longan. How did a cookie without wings get into your Ivory Palace let alone get across the ocean without a boat?" Pitaya hummed. "Thossse are valid concernsss. For once we may agree on sssomething, Lotusss." "We should start at the scene of the crime then!" Golden Cheese stood up flaring her wings. "Take me to where you first saw Burning Spice immediately!" "We should also ask your mates about their experience with them." Ananas turned to White Lily Cookie and she gulped seeing their suspicious look as the whole couple stared at her. "Any information is helpful. Perhaps there's a detail they have that can be a clue that leads us to answers?" "Hmm...Agreed but they'll not be questioned without us present." "That is understandable. Please tell us which Beast you each have encountered first." They were paired off accordingly to each respective Beast and offered to be taken to the places where they first saw the dangerous cookie. However they did overhear the yellow dragon growling and threatening the white dragon to not try anything. "Don't think about trying anything underhanded, Longan." They threatened baring teeth at the scowling white dragon who just silently stared at Ananas. "I. Mean. It. I don't like resorting to asking cookies as much as the next dragon, but we aren't stupid enough to pretend we don't need a helping hand." They leaned closer pointing at them with narrowed eyes. "Don't try anything or else we'll attach your chains to one of us and drag you around until this matter is decided!" "I volunteer to do it! I can shove them into one of my lava pittsss." "HA!! Being attached to you would be a punishment. But we'll do something safer, and permanently move Dragon Eye and Butterfly to Lotus's care. I'm very sure Lotus would welcome both with open arms into their paradise." That got the white dragon scowling but they said nothing as the yellow dragon turned away.

-Pure Vanilla was directed to the small purple dragon floating in midair arms crossed and a scowl set on their face as he approached with a friendly smile as White Lily slowly and nervously approached the two who had mentioned Silent Salt she gulped down the nervous emotions she was feeling. "H-..Hello." The yellow dragon crossed their arms frowning at her. "M-My name is White Lily Cookie. My friend told me you encountered Silent Salt Cookie." "I know." They replied bluntly. "Pitaya told us all about you." She winced. "And what you did to them." They did? That guilty feeling in her guts churned again as they leaned over and-...Sniffed her?? They sniffed loudly and deeply before snorting and pulling their head back shaking long yellow bangs. "You don't smell evil but you do smell overly floral." "....Thank you?" She wasn't sure if that supposed to be a compliment, insult, statement, or assurance. "You should be thanking me. Despite Pitaya being stupidly headstrong they don't lie about their enemies or rivals. However I don't sense a single grain of malice in your dough, so as the benevolent dragon I am- I graciously give you permission to be in my presence!" Ah right. She quickly thought back to her limited memories. She had fuzzy memories about climbing a volcano in Dragon's Valley and entertaining the Dragon Pitaya with stories in exchange for dragon tongue-....But they were very, very fuzzy and she couldn't remember much. She couldn't even remember what stories she told them. What she DID remember was that all dragons were proud creatures that demanded respect and worship from others. Especially cookies. So she slowly did a full curtsy to the dragon. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I hope I am able to help you." A pleased hum came from the dragon. "I have to tell most cookies to kneel before me you know. I am Ananas Dragon Cookie, the Benevolent Golden Dragon of Pineapple Isle. And this is my wife, Y/n Cookie of Pineapple Isle." Y/n Cookie!? She snapped back up immediately and came face to face with the calm woman standing there. Oh goodness- She already felt her face turning pink making the woman raise a brow at the suddenly blushing cookie. It was really her! WOW!! She was real! And here before her! She wasn't just a dream after all! Goodness she looked so much more dashing in person and- A broken glass noise went off in her mind. Red eyes blinked. "....Your...wife?" Ananas nodded before puffing up in pride smirking. "Of course! I already considered us mates the moment she accepted our court battle, but she insisted on doing things 'officially' so we had the cheiftess of the Mango Tribe orchestrate the traditional ceremony of her people for us. Not to brag, but I am also the only dragon who's given the honor of participating in their tribe's traditions!" "Ananas." The yellow dragon instantly turned to their wife. "That is you bragging. Now enough of that. We should get down to business." She then turned to White Lily. "You're White Lily Cookie, Guardian of the Silver Kingdom...I heard about what happened to the previous ruler and guardian." White Lily's brows rose shocked she even knew that. "I am sorry for your loss. I never met Mr. Elder Faerie but I heard only good things about him. I'm sure he was a fine cookie." Almost mechanically she nodded. "He was..Thank you. I have heard Silent Salt had come to pay you both a visit?" The yellow dragon huffed. "'Visit?' He brandished his sword at me the moment he saw me, calmly and not threateningly walking towards him WITHOUT any weapons raised might I add. He demanded my mate leave with him to fight side by side in an up coming war." "Demand or ask her to join him?" Ananas gave her a look. "What difference does it make?" "A lot actually. If he was being forceful and demanding she comes to his side then there would be a cause for concern certainly. However if he was merely asking her, then I don't think any harm was intended."

-"'No harm was intended'?!" Four wings flared out as they looked at the cookie with narrowed eyes. "I don't recall someone holding a sword to strike me or daring to show his face to my wife after knowing what he did to her as harmless!!" "I'm not saying what he did was or wasn't wrong, but you are very intimidating, Golden Dragon." She replied calmly. "It's possible he was intimidated by your presence or scared so his first instinct was to draw his sword in case of an attack. He is still a knight after all. And by knowing the tone someone uses, you can help to figure out their actions and their motives behind them. For example, you raised your voice when I suggested he may not have meant harm, because to you what he did was intended harm...And you are most likely offended as the Ancient bound to him through our soul jams, I am not immediately agreeing with you." Ananas slowly lowered their wings as their wife hummed. "You are very wise." "Oh!...Um." She looked down a moment. "T-Thank you." "To answer your question no. He was not forceful with me at all. In fact he willingly left the island when my partner demanded him to leave." "That's the part that concerns me the most." Ananas squeezed their staff tighter. "The others all had to fight off those Beasts...Or in Lychee's case, bury him in two pieces. But he just left silently. He could be plotting against me! Ready to pounce the moment I'm not guarding my island." they growled lightly. "He could be there this very moment since I'm not there!" "...I don't think so. That's not in his character." "And you would know?" She nodded. "Yes." White Lily Cookie hesitated before confessing. "I regularly talk to him." Both paused staring at her for a long, long moment before the dragon's pupils turned to slits and their eyes narrowed. "You...regularly keep in contact? With a BEAST COOKIE???" She nodded. "He's not as bad and many believe him to be." "He still hurt my wife! AND he's corrupted as the others isn't he?!" "Corrupted yes. With malice no. It's sadness." "I don't have the slightest care if it was kindness he was corrupted with! If you think-!" They snapped their mouth shut as soon as their wife held up her hand to them. Like a complete one eighty quieting down and relaxing back as soon as she raised a hand towards them to stop. They still glared but turned to her which surprised White Lily. Usually dragons were more dominant even towards their partners. She calmly lowered her hand and turned back to the other woman. "Please forgive my Husband's rudeness. They're just a little worried because compared to us, everyone else's experiences have been quite scary and awful. Lotus is right. You are our guest and took time out to come all the way here to help us." She turned to her partner. "Ananas, let's be benevolent and show Madam White Lily some of our island's hospitality. We can tell her everything from there." The dragon didn't look like they liked the idea but eventually nodded. It was rather strange watching the cookie sized dragon change into a giant yellow dragon but she was even more surprised the dragon agreed to allow the two women to be carried on their back to Pineapple Island.

-"Allow me." She once again felt her face go hot when the woman got off the lowered dragon's neck first and just turned around to offer a hand to White Lily. "Oh. Um..T-Thank you." She blushed the entire way helped down. "Welcome to PIneapple Island. This is our home. I hope you'll find it as beautiful as we do." "Y-Yes. You're very beautiful." "WHAT?!" The dragon turned to look at her." "UM!! Y-You didn't let me finish!" She stuttered out. "Y-Your very beautiful home is wonderful! It has a wonderful ocean view!" "Thank you. You should see the sunsets and sun rises. The entire ocean looks like it glitters." White Lily sweated as the dragon narrowed their eyes at her again snorting. "Um...W-Why do-don't you tell me how you know S-Silent Salt?" She stuttered out. "He m-must know you if he came all the way here to talk to-to you." She nodded. "Yes. I knew him from many years ago when he was still Salt of Solidarity Leader of the Cala Namak Knights." She turned to start walking. "Come. I'll explain everything to you while we show you around....Ananas, stop giving rude looks at our guest. She only gave me a compliment." OH WITCHES!! SHE NOTICED!? She felt her face go red again as the dragon pouted returning to a smaller form. "Just make sure not to disturb my island!" "Ananas, don't be rude to Miss Lily! You're the one who requested her help. Remember?" White Lily quickly shuffled after the woman who still walked along the beach towards somewhere until she was caught up to her, walking beside her. "Where should I begin?" "Um...The beginning I suppose?" The dragon walked directly behind them staring holes through the woman's head. She nodded. "Very well! I hail from Beast Yeast myself." "You do?" "Yes! Long ago my father was the ruler of a kingdom that no longer exists, it was attacked and raided by a bigger more hostile kingdom. You may not have heard of it. It was the Y/n Kingdom. I was named after it." She hummed. "....I think I remember reading that kingdom's name somewhere in a history book actually." The woman looked surprised at her but smiled. "Really? Good. I'm happy at least a piece of my kingdom is alive somewhere. Anyways, it was not a good environment for me to grow up in. As a woman, many didn't think I could rule by myself and there was many pressures on me to marry one of the nobles or a prince from a neighboring kingdom-" Of course White Lily already knew most of this backstory from her dreams but she remained silent and listened to the woman explain her life. And finally after so long, she finally learnt what happened in the mysterious gap between the dream of the princess being loaded into a carriage and the dream of the woman with scars traveling earthbread. "I'm so sorry. That sounds awful. I can't imagine what it must've been like for you to spend so long trapped like that." She scowled and nodded after she explained her long years being trapped in the tower and being used as live bait for the dragon in order for them to get live prey to come to her. "Yes. But not all dragons are like he was." She smiled looking over her shoulder at the dragon still behind them. "It took me a long time, but thanks to Ananas and the Mango Tribe I've learnt that there are also good dragons in the world." The dragon proudly smiled back. "I am THE most benevolent dragon in the world, Dear.~" "Of course you are. That's why I love you." "You mentioned Silent Salt rescued you from the tower." She turned back to White Lily nodded. "Yes. But at that time he was still known as Salt of Solidarity, or just Salt Cookie as everyone called him. He heard about what the dragon was doing and came to put an end to his evil terror himself out of the goodness of his heart."

-She continued to explain and explain. How Silent Salt rescued her. How her kingdom was gone but she still stayed to try to help her people. How the Cala Namak Knights had taught her so many things like how to treat wounds and make medicine and swing a sword. All the way to Silent Salt's betrayal and tricking her into going with one of his knights only to be locked back in the same tower he rescued her from. "-and thank goodness they didn't think to take my sword or else I may have never been able to get out unless I jumped out the tower's giant window!" She was scowling now as they walked. "It took me two weeks by foot to get back to their stronghold, but by the time I did...Everyone was just gone. No knights. Most of my people had fled to different corners of Beast Yeast. The few that remained were either dying too far gone for any help, or those who just used the abandoned stronghold as a home. I heard from one Salt Cookie had been sealed away with the other four Beast Cookies by the witches, and that had been the last time I heard of him since I left Beast Yeast to pursue a life of adventuring for a few centuries." "Until Mango Cookie summoned me to alert me of his presence on my island three months ago!" The dragon growled. "Then he wanted my wife to run away with him like a bad romance novel. Of course she'd stay and choose me." Their wife sighed. "No, Ananas. He didn't want me to run away with him. He asked me to come fight with him. It's not the same thing." "Yes it is!" "Mango Cookie?" The woman smiled at her with that beautiful grin. "Yes! He's our adopted son! I adopted all the orphaned children of the tribe!" "Mango Cookie WAS the only orphan of the Mango Tribe." "Oh hush. If you accepted Artichoke Cookie as a part of the Mango Tribe, then you can accept Mango Cookie is our son!" The dragon still smiled but rolled their eyes. "I view all the Mango Tribe as my own equally. Mango Cookie and Artichoke Cookie are no different. I don't have favorites." She smirked. "Oh really?" She turned her head around to him. "I remember SOMEONE getting broody during spring and ordering Mango Cookie to stay by your side so you could take care of him like a hatchling.~" Immediately the dragon stopped. They stared at the women for a moment before their face tinted a dark orange. "That doesn't mean anything! My instincts were going haywire and I just needed his help is all. By focusing on the he-health and well being of a child, my instincts can be satisfied-" "Right. And you guarding his hut at night, making the Mango Tribe hand over the sweetest fruits for his lunch, and freaking out when he accidentally tripped and fell on his bum harmlessly was all just brooding instincts?" "YES!!" "So if you have no favorites and view the whole tribe as equal, why didn't you just take care of everyone's children?" "WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS THE BEAST!! NOT MY INSTINCTS!!" Their wife laughed making the dragon go an even darker shade of orange. "Very well. Back on topic." "Oh. Yes. How did his visit here go?" That happy smile was instantly gone as she sighed. "Not..very well, but compared to the other four it was actually quite alright. He seemed reluctant but he left after Ananas commanded him to....I honestly have no idea how he knew where I was."

-White Lily hummed. "It's possible that he was able to see my visions of you as well since we are connected by a soul jam and pieced together where you were from there-" The couple stopped walking to both stare at her. She also froze having blurted it out without meaning to. ...Oops. "You had...dreams?" Her brow rose. "About me?" "Um.." She wasn't sure how to answer this WITHOUT sounding creepy. "Yes." "Ah! So you had prophetic dreams telling you about our fated meeting!" "Not exactly but it's similar to prophetic dreaming. I've had dreams telling me about you but I didn't know we would be meeting today." "Prophetic dreaming then regardless." Alright. If that's what she wanted to go by. It was a lot better than telling her 'Hey I fell in love with you because I've been dreaming about you for hundreds of years'. "None of these dreams ever showed me any visions of you with Silent Salt however. It was more like...watching a movie with one giant piece of the show missing." "And there's a possibility of that Beast seeing your visions?" The dragon looked horrified as she nodded. "How is that possible!?" "We Ancients are one side of the same coin with the Beasts." White Lily explained pointing at a shiny green jewel like object on her staff. "We are connected to them and vise versa via our soul jams. At times we are able to feel one another's emotions or catch a glimpse into their thoughts through them." The shock turned into utter horror as the Dragon looked at her then back to their wife, looking worried and maybe even a little afraid. "And that connection can extend to your dreams!?" "I'm not exactly sure. I've never seen or felt Silent Salt in my dreams, but I wouldn't be surprised if he did receive some of mine." "Then Longan wasn't too far off about these Beasts having a helping hand in finding out where our mates have gone!" "Not on purpose, Ananas!" Their wife quickly added before they could even think to blame the woman standing there. She turned back to White Lily. "Have all the Ancients had similar visions?" "One other has, but I don't know about the other three." Ananas hummed. "Then the Beast Cookies could've used the glimpses into the prophetic dreams of the Ancients without their knowledge to help track down and pinpoint the locations of their mates and my Wife. Sounds like it's a quite out there theory...yet somehow it makes complete sense and would explain how they seemingly just showed up out of no where like a ghost." They looked at their wife. "I need to make an emergency second meeting with the others and Ancients again immediately. If this is how the Beasts were able to track down you all, then perhaps maybe stopping these dreams is the key to solving the problem." "I don't think that'll stop the Beasts from trying to come after them, but it could be a step in the right direction. Do you know what's causing the dreams?" "Some aren't dreams at all. Some are more like memories. As if we're seeing through someone else's eyes. I believe these visions are the Beasts' memories of you all and the dreams are the result because of our shared connections." "So..we destroy the connection?" "No. Even if the soul jams are destroyed, we'd still be connected in some way spiritually or magically. We always were...However.." She looked at the two of them. "I may not have a solution for the others and their Beasts but I do think I do know how to fix the misunderstanding you both have...If you'll listen to what I have to say." The two looked at one another before their wife nodded. "Very well." Ananas spoke slowly and suspiciously. "What do you have in mind?" "Silent Salt may be one of the Beast Cookies, but he is kind although sometimes when he tries to be kind it can end up going the wrong way just as your meeting did. And, while it's true he did hurt you and break your trust in him greatly, I do believe he was just trying to get you out of harm's way. Would you both be willing to sit down and have a talk with him?" "WHAT!? ABSOLUTELY NO-!!"

-Once more they stopped when their wife held up her hand. Calmly she looked at White Lily Cookie. "You want us, to sit down and talk to him?" She nodded. "Yes. Most problems can be resolved with just talking alone. I can attest to his character. I-If you want...I-I can even stay when you talk to make you feel safer." "Says the other half of Dark Enchantress Cookie!?" White Lily flinched as Ananas crossed their arms. "We've heard all about you. How do I know you're not helping the Beast? Or trying to trick us for your own agenda? You can say you're not...but it's hard to trust you as much as I trust that Beast." "I promise I'm only trying to help." "And crushing on MY WIFE is helping!? Don't pretend I didn't see your reaction to her! Blushing like a child with a crush. Are you trying to take her too!?" "N-NO! Of course not!" "A likely-" "ENOUGH!! BOTH OF YOU!!" They both looked at her as she glared. "You both are acting like children arguing over who gets the last cookie!" She turned to her husband. "You said so yourself that you sensed no malice on her, and it was YOUR idea in the first place to request her help. Or did you forget that, Ananas? Further more Miss White Lily is a guest on our island and a Guardian of a foreign kingdom! You should know better than to treat someone important so rudely especially one you asked for help and invited personally. Now stop acting like a spoiled hatchling and act your age!" She scolded her partner who looked at her with a wide eyed expression, like a child getting caught with their hand in the Cookie jar. "Further more you insulted her by comparing her to a truly evil villainess known worldwide. Even if she had been Dark Enchantress Cookie at one point in her life, she stands before you a force of goodness. What would cookies say if the so called Benevolent Golden Dragon dared to disgrace such an important figurehead?! Remember your actions don't just reflect on how others see you but also me as your wife, the Mango Tribe as your people, and even your own species as a dragon! " She then pointed at the shocked White Lily. "Apologize for your rude behavior this instant! You've embarrassed us both enough already!" Silence. No sounds but the waves lapping on the beach, a few sugargalls sqawking overhead, and some dinosaurs off in the distance. The two stared at the glaring woman in shock before Ananas slowly frowned, and huffed crossing their arms. "...I may have projected my anger on the wrong cookie. I hope you enjoy what my island has to offer you." Their wife stared at them a long moment before sighing. "That's as close as an apology you're going to get from a dragon." Ananas frowned harder at their wife as she turned to the shocked White Lily. "I apologize for my partner's absolutely rude behavior. Please don't take what they said to heart. They've just been worried about me. Although that's no excuse for their rudeness." "Oh no. I-It's alright. Their concerns are valid. I did a lot of cruel things I'm still trying to atone for myself." And still is if you want to still say herself and Dark Enchantress Cookie are still the same cookie which-...Isn't wrong sadly. "I don't blame them at all. I get this reactions a lot." "That's still no excuse to be rude. Would you like to see Mango Village? It's one of the most popular places tourists enjoy visiting on our island. I'll even have Mango Cookie give you a tour." "Oh. That'd be lovely. I-I'd love to meet your son. He sounds very nice." She beamed. "He IS!! He's the cutest, most brightest boy in the Tropical Soda Seas! I'm sure he'll be so excited to meet such an important person! Come! I'll show you to my home! Are you coming Ananas?" The dragon nodded. "Yes...I'll meet you both at the village." They glanced at the volcano before glancing back at White Lily. "I just want to check around the island quickly and made sure everything is secure."

-Or most likely make sure their nest was safely blocked from White Lily. "Alright. Don't take too long." They gave White Lily a look. "I won't." With a flap of four wings, they were off. Both watched them go before she turned to the woman. "Thank you." She looked at her. "I-It's not often someone defends me. Most are understandably weary of my presence." "Don't think anything of it. What I said was truth. You were invited by Ananas. They have no right being so rude to someone they want help from." "...May I ask why you're being so kind to me? I understand why the dragons must despise me but you are so kind and openly accepting of me. Even Silent Salt Cookie took convincing before he could trust me." Y/n Cookie hummed. "..Well, in truth I was weary of you at first as well. Dark Enchantress Cookie is not to be trusted especially considering what she put Pitaya through, however there is two things I've learnt. Looks can be deceiving and that you should never believe in rumors without evidence." She turned to start walking again and White Lily followed her. "After what happened to me with that dragon, I believed for quite literally hundreds of years that all dragons were shallow evil creatures just like all the rumors and stories surrounding them. Burning down villages for no reason, eating helpless cookies, stealing everyone's valuable treasure for themselves because they could, holding princesses hostage like me, being vile wicked creatures with no empathy-....If you were to go back in time and tell my past self, I'd be married to one I would've thought you were insane. In fact, the only reason I even met Ananas was because I had no idea there was a dragon on this island." White Lily blinked. "Really?" She nodded. "Mm hm. I just wanted a break from traveling and thought visiting a beautiful tropical island with dinosaurs would be fun. If I had known a dragon was on the island, I never would have come here in the first place or met Ananas. In fact I probably still would've had that mindset today if they didn't change my mind...I still hated them at first too." She shook her head. "They took my most valuable posession-" She patted the sword at her side. "-they had an ego the size of their island, scared the living daylights out of me just for building a sand castle on the beach, then they made me agree to not leave their isle if I lost in a fight against them which I did." "What made you change your mind if they did all of that to you?" "Their actions and words. Despite taking my sword, they gave me a sword in return that had no chance to harm them. They even gave me back my original sword when I promised not to take it off the isle. They saved my life when I fell off a waterfall despite not caring about strangers." SHE DID WHAT NOW!? "But most of all they respected every boundary I put in place and never try to force anything. I see the way they love their tribe and island. It's that that's what made me change my view on all dragons. That's also why I know you're good. You speak wisely and with compassion.".....She slowly turned to White Lily. "Do you truly think Silent Salt regrets what he has done?" She nodded. "Every day. Not just towards you. He feels responsible for what happened with all the Beasts. I'm sure if you both just talked things out, you both would feel much better resolving the issue instead of letting it hang endlessly in the air for all these years." Y/n Cookie was silent for a long moment again before nodding. "Alright. I will give it a try. I'll speak to Ananas privately about it tonight. They may not like it, but they'll agree if I ask them to give it a chance....Although I would prefer to meet in a neutral location." "How about the beach on the mainland? That's only a two hour trip by boat or flying and it's very public." "Sounds perfect. But how do I find him?" "You leave that to me. I'll send word back to you both once I bring him." "Thank you. Ah! There's the village!" She gestured to a bunch of huts ahead. "Come! You'll adore my son."

-She was right. Mango Cookie WAS adorable and was SO excited to give White Lily the grand tour of his home. "Those are ba-dum rays! They love music and if you're nice to them, they'll let you pet them! It's rumored that they're born from the scales the Golden Dragon had shed into the ocean!" "They're adorable." The island was beautiful. The tribe kind and polite to her during her four day stay there. Ananas remained suspicious the entire time but hadn't said anything else rude towards her. They had outright REFUSED to the meeting and literally banned Y/n from leaving at all...but relented after two days of Y/n insisting. "Fine. But you're staying behind me the ENTIRE TIME. That's not negotiable and the only way this is happening!" "Agreed." All that was left was to find the Beastly knight in question. It actually wasn't as hard any people thought being connected by their soul jams. She found him where she expected. Alone in a peaceful spot in a forest. A pretty spot. A nice little stream surrounded by flowers. He knew she was there before he even looked at her. "Good evening, My Lady." He said without even looking up from the water. "Hello, Silent Salt Cookie. How have you been?" "I am alright." His head turned to her. "However I did not expect this visit. To what do I owe the surprise of you seeking me out?" "I was talking to someone, and they had told me of your visit to the Tropical Soda Seas months ago. I was just curious as to your sudden departure." There was silence for a moment before he sighed. "I suppose you would've found out sooner or later. I attempted to visit an old friend." "Y/n Cookie right?" He jolted staring at her. "H-How did you-?" "I also paid her a visit....I see why you love her so much. It's alright. I'm not here to breath down your neck. I just wanted to see if you were alright." He sighed. "....I am alright. I will start my journey back to Beast Yeast tonight and not bother Lady Y/n again." "Actually-" She held out an arm stopping him when he stood up. "That's also why I'm here. I managed to explain that it was a misunderstanding and they both want to talk to you." The knight buffered for a moment. "...What?" "Miss Y/n and her husband. They agreed to talk to you and resolve everything if you want to-" "YES!!" White Lily blinked as he suddenly shouted excitedly...before he backed down. "Uh- *ahem* I mean yes. I would very much like to talk things out between us and apologize....Tha-Thank you, My Lady." "Of course. But first you must come with me and a friend of mine. We need to go get some treasure." Silent Salt tilted his head confused. "Treasure?"

-To say the dragon was not happy to see either of them was an understatement. They stood there wings flared and body rigid almost completely blocking Y/n from view as she pushed one large wing aside to see them both. Her face as neutral as ever, remarkably calm as they watched the two of them approach stopping when Ananas growled signaling they were close enough. The two stayed silent for a long good moment before White Lily broke the silence. "It's nice to see you both again." "Yes. You're looking well, Lady Lily. ...You as well, Salt Cookie." Y/n complimented which made both White Lily's and Silent Salt's hearts flutter. Ananas narrowed their eyes- "*AHEM*!! T-Thank you. I-It has been a long time hasn't it? Um...Ho-How are you these days?" "Wonderful thank you. I don't think you both got a proper introduction." She gestured to Ananas. "This is my partner, Ananas Dragon Cookie. Ananas, meet Salt Cookie-..Oh, my apologies. You go by Silent Salt Cookie now." "YES. My WIFE insisted we come here and talk..." Ananas's eyelid twitched. "But I do not see any apologizing on YOUR end for disrespecting MYSELF and MY WIFE on MY island!" "Oh, yes. Of course. *ahem* I sincerely apologize for my lack of decorum during my visit. It was not my intention to disrespect either of you in your home. I hope you both can accept my apology and find it in your hearts to forgive me." Their eyes narrowed more. "AND!? You owe more apologies to MY WIFE for what you have done to her! There was so many ways you could've tried to remove her from danger yet you chose one traumatic for her." Silent Salt nodded instantly. "Yes....I regret my actions dearly. I hadn't meant to hurt her but that's no excuse." "You're dam right it doesn't! Doesn't excuse you raising a sword to me either when I had done nothing to you. Are you specist against dragons because you're a knight?!" "No, no! Of course not! I apologize for that as well!" "You still haven't apologized to her for that yet!" "I-I AM SO SORRY!! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!" Ananas snorted as Y/n raised a hand to them again. "That's enough, Ananas. You said what's been bothering you, so let's not start a fight." She then looked at Silent Salt Cookie. "...I forgive you, Sa-Uh. Silent Salt Cookie. For everything. However I'm not going to try and pretend none of it happened either." She crossed her arms. "Further more I'm not going to try and force my partner to forgive you either. If Ananas chooses to forgive you, it will be of their own free will and not from any coersion. Do you understand that?" He nodded. "I do...I hope one day I may earn their trust and forgiveness. However I understand if they choose not too..Thank you." "And I will also not be leaving Pineapple Island or the Tropical Soda Seas with you for any reason. My family and duty is here now. I am very happy where I am despite what you may think. No one is holding me hostage and Ananas respects me and treats me amazingly well. Can you respect and understand that?" There was again silence but the knight nodded. "Yes..You are truly happy?" "I've never been happier in my entire life." "And they treat you well?" Ananas gave a small growl again but didn't react beyond that. "Yes. They respect me and my boundaries and what deals we have were talked through and made into compromises we BOTH agreed to. I wouldn't have married them if they made me unhappy. You know how much I hated the fear of being forced into a marriage I couldn't escape from." "And you are safe and sound?" "I'm probably one of the safest cookies in the world right now." "...Then as long as you're happy and treated well, then that is good enough for me. I am happy for you that you were able to find the peace and happiness you wanted for so long, Y/n Cookie. I pray your union is a blessed one full of happy memories together." There was a long silence again..before Y/n Cookie smiled at him.

-"Thank you, Silent Salt. ..Why are you holding that box though?" He looked down. "Ah! I almost forgot." He held it out, not to Y/n but Ananas. "It is an offering to your husband- Uh...Spouse! As an apology gift. I heard they like offerings." "Trying to buy my good graces? Tch. As if a gift would sway me! I'm insulted at the very notion!" "I understand. You do not have to accept it. I was not trying to trick you though." Ananas rose a brow in a 'sssuuurre you're not' expression...but looked back to the box curiosity peeking. "...What's in it anyways?" "My Lady told me you liked treasure. It's not much-" He opened the lid of the tiny box as the sun caught the light of the gems inside. "-but it's still pretty to look at." Ananas's eyes popped. WIDE. OPEN. Very comically. Immediately their attention directed towards the shimmering rainbow colored pile of gems in the shoe box. They were beautiful! Green emeralds. Yellow topazes. Blue diamonds. Red rubies. White pearls. Black obsidians. Clear diamonds. Purple amethysts. Immediately Ananas leaned forward captivated by them before stopping and looking at the Beast and Ancient suspiciously. "Where are these from?" "They are from my friend, Golden Cheese Cookie. She has possession of a jewel mind and happily leant us some." Another Ancient. That seemed to silence their suspicions as they looked at them, looked at their wife, then back to the jewels thinking hard. "........I am going to take these-" They pointed at the jewels. "-but NOT as a gift! I do NOT accept your apologies, Silent Salt Cookie. Be grateful I allowed you to be before my wife and myself. You should also be grateful I, the Benevolent Golden Dragon, will be taking this offering for all the troubles you've caused me." "Thank...you? I think." Ananas said nothing as they snatched the box away from the knight's hand and White Lily breathed a sigh of relief it didn't go badly. At least Ananas's reaction was better than Pitaya's when she went with Hollyberry to go see them in dragon's city. They had nearly thrown a fit upon seeing White Lily so close to their valley but also paused when she gave them the biggest jewels Golden Cheese was willing to give up. The pink dragon had growled that they did NOT forgive her and- "I'm going to take thessse, but I am HIGHLY offended by it!" It wasn't forgiveness between everyone yet..but it was a hopeful start.