You yawned as you were shaken awake, groggily rubbing your eyes to clear your vision. You looked over to see Apple faerie cookie gently poking your sides. She smiled down at you, taking your hand and gently pulling at your arm like an eager child. 

“Y/N! Wake up! I wanna show you something!”

You grumpilly huffed as you sat up. As your vision cleared and your eyes eventually got used to the light, you looked up at Apple faerie cookie. Her smile was wide and her eyes were big and filled with excitement. You couldn’t comprehend why she would feel such joy. Especially when you had just woken from a genuinely deep and relaxing sleep that was much needed. Ever since the start of the journey to the Spire, there were many coincidences that put you on edge. A calming and long rest would do your anxious mind some good.

“A-Apple faerie cookie? What's wrong?... What time is it?”

“Who cares?! I wanna show you a secret. I’m sure you’ll love it!”

“Can’t it wait?”

Apple faerie cookie amazingly managed to hoist your body to lean against hers with incredible strength. You shrieked in surprise before quickly covering your mouth. You feared you might have woken any of the others up with the involuntary shrill that came from your throat. After a few moments, the lack of tired groans and movement told you they were still fast asleep. She pulled at your arm and practically forced you from your napping spot.

“Nope! It’ll be quick, c’mon. I promise you’ll love it!”

Apple faerie cookie carried you through hallway after hallway, staircase after staircase. You eventually had woken up enough to walk without her support, but she still insisted on at least holding your hand. Her grip on you was strong, and she seemed to giddily giggle and pick up her pace at random times. You eventually grew accustomed to her short burst of energy and matched her pace when she began to get so thrilled for whatever reason. 

You both eventually walked in silence for a while. Apple faerie cookie was looking straight ahead and seemingly had a clear sight of where she was going. You, on the other hand, took time to look around at the scenery. The portraits caught most of your attention. There were portraits of multiple cookies framed on the walls. Some young, some old, some male, some female. Yet, they all seemed to have an uncanny resemblance with each other. Your eyes trailed from picture to picture. Maybe it was just a trick of the mind, but it felt as though their eyes followed you as you walked by. 

You shuddered lightly, something Apple faerie cookie apparently didn’t miss as she had begun to hold your hand tighter. The increased pressure on your hand managed to rip your attention from the framed pictures. You took a short glance towards the faerie and found she was already looking at you. When you caught her staring, she smiled, and softly giggled. Then, she decided this was the best moment to speak.

“You know, you’re different. Different from the rest.” She had softly murmured, gaining your full attention. “I understand now what he meant. You would really fit in here! I know it!”

Dumbfounded, you let out a small hum of confusion. She was being awfully and purposefully vague. Your suspicions from back of your mind began to creep up from the to the forefront, and you could feel yourself stiffen. Out of uneasiness, you craned your neck to look behind you, only to see the long hallway you and Apple Faerie cookie had been treading for what felt like a while.

You suddenly realized how far away from the group your two must be. You stowed your pace in an attempt to gain her attention to point this out, but she only managed to pull you forward. She didn’t seem to care about your aversion for continuing onward. In fact, her pace began to pick up again and she began to skip down the rest of the corridor. You struggled to follow as she led you up another staircase. 

“We’re almost there!”

She called behind her, completely ignorant to your protests. This staircase seemed to stretch higher than most, straining your already tired legs. You panted heavily when you finally had made it to the top after powering through. Apple faerie cookie had stopped when you two reached the top. You glanced around to see you two were currently in a smaller room with more portraits. 

The room almost made you woozy as you looked around. Every exit you could see would lead to more staircases and hallways that looked identical to each other. In fact, to your shock, when you looked behind you the stairs you and Apple faerie cookie had entered from was now replaced by a tall towering bookcase. It felt as though the room was shifting in this very moment, trapping you in this labyrinth of lies. Apple faerie cookie couldn’t have looked more ecstatic.

“Shadow Milk cookie, I brought the cookie you asked for!~ Safe and sound, I promise!”

You froze when you heard that name, whipping your head to face her. You instinctually took a step back to put some space between you two. Theories and suspicions ran through your mind as you struggled to comprehend your situation.

“A-Apple faerie cookie.. Where am I?”

A soft snicker left her mouth that soon evolved to mocking laughter. You saw her change from a faerie into a completely different cookie. It was all an act, a trick, you realized and you pressed yourself against the bookcase. You gave her a wavering glare as you tried to hide your surprise.

“KYA HA HA! You should see your face!”

She cackled, stepping closer as you helplessly pressed your back further and further against the bookshelf.

“Oh, you’re so funny! You know, with a little wardrobe change and a pinch of some sweet deceit, you’d be perfect here! Shadow Milk cookie was right in asking me to bring you! Of course! He’s always right!”

To your horror, the eyes of the cookies in the framed portraits suddenly shifted to lock on you. You could feel your head begin to spin as your vision warped.