#self doubt warning

The glistening stars above the Dreamy Cookieland were always a sight to behold. Though most children were brought home, and they went unappreciated, it was under these that the orchestrator of such a fantastical place found themself once again feeling that loneliness creeping in upon them. The butterflies that followed this light soul fluttered about aimlessly, only settling upon the various colorful horses of the carousel when Uni had finally placed themself down at its edge.

"Nights are always full of frightening memories..." Unicorn whispered to themself, eyes lowering to the pebbled path that connected the carousel to the rest of the wonderland. "What is it that causes the mind to stir so harshly, so irrationally? Is it a lack of light? Perhaps it has something to do with the moon herself?" The mystical cookie raised their gaze to the sky for a moment, seeing the loving crescent moon in all of her glory. It was with a dry laugh and a shake of the head that Uni lowered their sight once more. Their eyes fluttered shut for a moment, but nothing more than that.

"No, that couldn't be. She would never."

Taking in a deep breath and exhaling it for slightly longer than anticipated, Unicorn picked themself up from the cold metal that was the base of the carousel. The butterflies remained resting. Though they may not be able to leave this place, wandering through its ever-expanding pathways could be enough to ease their mind. Hearing the pebbles beneath their feet, the pastel owner of the dreaming world acknowledged a thought, two, and perhaps more than that amount which crossed their mind. 'Are you certain you are a good person?' was the main thought that plagued them. 'You have made so many mistakes. You have caused discomfort from your actions again and again. You never did consider yourself a hero, yet you are not a villain.'

Uni's expression narrowed as those thoughts would compile, but they wouldn't let them overtake.

Nights seemed to be full of more than frightening memories... Frightening thoughts lingered as well. Terrible ones that certainly attempted to seep in every little crevice and crack of a joyous mind. "No one is perfect, not even those who run the Perfect Childhood Wonderland." They reprimanded their negative thoughts, though they only seemed to bite back at them. 'A perfect world cannot be created if those behind it are imperfect. Admit it. This was all a means of keeping yourself from losing another group of precious friends who's pass eventually, making this very place inherently flawed and evil.' There was a quiet scoff, something that Uni found themself surprised to be doing, especially at their own mind. "There is no evil here. I have kept it at bay for years upon years, even disregarding my own feelings so that this place would never become corrupted."

It was from this comment that the shuffling of a nearby shrub was introduced into Unicorn's ears. A pang of fear went through them, turning towards the rustling with caution. 'You yourself are the evil one. Have you not realized it yet?' Though unspoken, there was some link between the voice in their head and whatever was within that flora. It rattled about, leaves rustling as if the voice itself was shaking it. 'You claim selflessness by hiding this place away, yet you forget you made this place one of eternal childhood. Do you really believe you can dodge death itself, and bring the rest along with you?'

The voice... It caught them there. "The others may not stay, but I will remain here so long as memories within myself or others that come here remain that of this place! I... I will not let this place fall willingly!"

Some... Some shadowy leaked from the openings in the bushes. It rose and enveloped it, something that Unicorn had caught themself doing nothing more than staring at. A gleam of red adorned the flowing form this... creature had- other shadows beginning to form some type of scythe. 'You forget, little Unicorn Cream...' The voice no longer sounded that of Uni's own- it sounded far more malevolent and astral... Unrecognizable. '...It is you who will be the downfall of this place, and your willingness to defend it will become your will to destroy it.'

A motion of the shadows was too quick for processing completely- but Unicorn was certain that they were swung at before-

With a gasp and a hand clutching to their heart, Unicorn found themself startled awake. Ah- A nightmare, was it? Then-... Oh, it seems they had never left the carousel. The butterflies were gently fluttering around them, one even landing upon their nose. "I suppose I had a rough sleep, yes..." They breathed their words out, speaking gently to the little ones that sustained themselves around them. "No need to worry. It was nothing more than a simple dance with a fatality that never came to be."

It was with a small, soft laugh that Unicorn had brought themself up from the chilling steel that was laid below them for the base of their little home base. "Come along. Let's find a more proper place to rest." A phrase that the butterflies seemed to find encouraging, as some flew ahead of their curator. Quiet steps were made over the pebbles beneath them, their mind mostly empty despite being previously frazzled. This wasn't the first time, nor it would be the last. Death was persistent, and they'd know it better than others.

...

"My dearest little one... You should be going off to bed soon, you know." Roguefort's voice was careful. They knew disturbing their little nutty child could upset her, but... Walnut was spending so much time on this case. It was digging into her sleep schedule. Of course, there was a little huff as Walnut adjusted her hat and hopped off a box next to her strung-up web of evidence, but less than Roguefort had expected.

Walnut looked up to her caretaker, the individual who stayed at her detective's office for the sake of having nowhere else to be. To her, they were a minor nuisance, one by the name of Bleu- no- Blue Cheese. Curse her own thoughts for being so attatched to this Phantom Bleu case. "I'll go to bed as soon as I finish connecting the latest heist to the rest of Roguefort's shenanigans!" Walnut asserted, adjusting her hat to accomedate for it falling over her face. "I almost had him last time!"

"...you mean them?" Roguefort- well, Blue- interjected. "No one knows who they are, after all. Who's to say that they dare conform in such a way?" Walnut seemed confused for a moment, but shook it off. Mild embarassment seeped into her cheeks and voice, reddening and stuttering. "Right, right! Them! Sorry, I just-... I'm tired, but this case is very important to me!!"

The thief in plain sight hummed, kneeling down to better suit themselves in front of someone they had grown attatched to- as if she was a part of their family... Oh, how they wished to have their family back, but... Walnut was enough. They cupped the little cookie's cheeks, laughing gently seeing the small pout given in response. "Then get to bed, little rascal. You already have plenty of progress, and you're just restringing based on already written notes, right?" A resigned agreement had Walnut's eyes to the laminated wood flooring. "Take care of this tomorrow, won't you? Rest... You deserve it, sweetums..."

Though it was resisted, Walnut couldn't help but give up on this regard. Her eyes were so darkened by drowsiness, already hard to keep up... Rest is for the weak, but she wasn't that strong, either. "Alrighty, then... I guess I'll wish you good night then, huh Pops?"

"Pops?"

"Yea, I... I guess. You do seem very dad-ly to me, so...!" The detective laughed nervously, pulling away from the other's touch and speeding right by them. "I'll see you in the morning, okay?" Ah, Roguefort nodded without even awknowledging the words. They... Somewhat lost themself in their own contemplation.

'Pops' she said. Were they really that masculine? Perhaps, but even so, it did not sit right with them. It didn't help that the little mishap over their hidden identity took them aback as well. He... They weren't a 'he'. They couldn't be- that wasn't them. Looking to their hands, the thief felt them to be... Brutish, strong, not nearly as deft as they were initially perceived. It was... Ugly. Even the way their contemplative hums and haws of awknowledgment sounded deeper than they wished. Could Walnut hear this? Even in their act as Phantom Bleu? They sure hoped not, and yet...

Wandering the grove of the Millennial Tree was an activity that Pomegranate had gotten used to as the days passed by. Initially, it was nothing more than observing the wildlife and how her Master may be served by the inhabitants, as this place would fall under the same curse she endured years prior, yet... The young priestess found herself wandering now for other reasons. The way the leaves swayed, the way the life around her skittered about in cautiousness, the friendly nature of those who resided within this wooded area... It brought her peace her heart yearned to receive once more upon leaving such a blessed place.

Looking through the trees, Pom could make out a figure in the low-hanging branches. Whoever it was seemed to be running her way. With curiosity, she stepped out of the figure's way to allow it to pass by. Though, with the pace that this someone was more than likely sprinting, she was sure this other was going to slam right into a tree. She stood, waited, watching intently.

And wouldn't she know it, another royal figure came by with a pace faster than any horse she'd ever seen. It nearly made Pom flinch how hard that blur of pink had rammed itself into a tree. With growing curiosity and without a sense of concern, the priestess approached the other. It seemed like... A princess? A groan of a pained yet sweet voice came forth, and with the other reaching a hand to grab at a crown rather than its own body, Pom had confirmed that this was undoubtedly a princess.

Silence would pass over the two for a while, but soon enough this previous blur began to try and spark a conversation with Pomegranate. "I was just trying to get away from my guard so I could explore on my own for once!" Independence. An unfamiliar concept. "And what about you, Little Miss Red?" Being directly addressed to as something that wasn't insinuating her being beneath was... New. How conflicting. "...I came to scout for my Master." Pom's voice came out quiet, a stark contrast in comparison to the princess' rowdy, bombastic voice. Though the pink cookie seemed to be awaiting a further response, she got none. Instead, Princess continued the conversation herself.

"Why? Do you get some kind of prize for it?" Another pause in the conversation, one that had the young priestess thinking. She had never thought of what would happen with her successes, only her failures. "I... I do not get punished." The unsure tone in Pom's voice was only reflected by her cracking expression. For many years she had been told she was not permitted to do such a thing, yet this stranger was breaking her? What was it about her that caused such an occurrence.

"That sucks! You should get someone else to be your 'Master'!" That loud voice brought Pommy right out of her thoughts, and the unexpected touch of silken gloved hands being placed upon her cheeks certainly do her any better. "Why would you even want someone like that, silly?” Once again, thoughts Pom would rather not think of, yet they sank her heart to think of an answer. “It sounds like they're an awful person! ‘Punishments’ are only given to bad people by other bad people! And you don’t seem bad at all!" As ironic as it may be to her mind, it was the only answer that she could dare to muster to this friendly forest visitor.

Laid next to one another, the phantom thief of hearts could feel the heavy air around their partner and themself. Thick, heavy, sickening... It was as if a smog has developed in their shared room. Rolling to their side, Roguefort could see the shifting and shaking sheets of Cinnamon's emotional form disturbing order.

"Whatever could be plaguing your mind, love?" The thief spoke cautiously, unmoving, knowing a single touch could cause a fit. They knew the enviroment the magician was raised in all too well. "You can speak your mind to me, my sparkly dust cloud... I am willing to listen to anything and everything..."

An audible sniffle rang through the air as Cinnamon's form crumpled inward on itself. "I'm just- just-" A shiver wracked the poor performer's system as he wiped at his face. He could already feel his face beginning to be irritated by the near constant rubbing. "I'm so, so... Tired..." A small, curious hum from Rogue felt prying, yet Cinna felt the need to continue on. The bridge was cracking, may as well let it burst.

"I don't- I don't know why, but... When I'm not with you, everything j-just seems to pass so- so slowly... Every moment- it just- it just..." Cinnamon choked himself with his tears. The pillow below him was becoming soaked in salty fluid. "I'm not- I'm not even sad, but I-I cry... I miss you, and even when you're here, I... I just... I just become so elated- Like I-I can do anything... Yet here- Here I am, still t-tired... So very tired..."

Cinnamon, braving his own fears, turned around to his beloved joyfriend, sparkling eyes filled with that liquid that flowed freely. Roguefort, knowing precisely what was expected, opened their arms for the magician to practically poof himself into. Well- it was more of a toss- but he wound up being embraced either way.

"Is..." Cinna could barely get his words out, which wasn't helped by the fact his head was shoved into the phantom's shoulder. "Is there s-something wrong with me..? I... I-I think there is... There has to be- there has to...!"

"Perhaps there is," Rogue replied simply, voice holding a high road in the depths of tragic emotional turmoil, "but there is no reason to latch onto it. I love you all the same no matter your flaws, hun... Now get yourself some rest. You require it."

"But-"

"Have you heard about this magic trick?!" Cinnamon chimed, twirlling about his deck of magic cards in the air. He was a showbode, no doubt, but his flashy performaces certainly brought a crowd. "One of you lovely cookies take a card, I shuffle the deck around, and then I pull your card right back out! Like magic!"

Many murmurs of doubt echoed through the hall from those watching. Unfortunately for Cinnamon, it was only made worse by awknowledging that there were others that weren't watching his wonderful show. Maybe if he shouted louder? Yes! That should attract more of an audience!

"Who would like to be my wonderful participant!?" The magician hollared, garnering a scowl, two, from Princess, and subsequently Knight. "Too noisy!" Princess whined, leading Knight to huff and simply cover her ears for her. Sometimes... This job was one of the most rediculous things this guardian has ever done with his life.

Thankfully, who else but the curiously wonderful (and brave) Gingerbrave rised to the offer. "Pick me! Me, Cinnamon Cookie!" The prompting brought a smile to Cinnamon's face, albeit a strained one considering he felt to be nothing but a nuisance. Entertainment? No, he was simply a bother... But at least he could give this kiddo a good time.

"Alrighty, alrighty! Take a card, Gingerbrave! Any card! Any one of them at all!" The gingerbread embodiment gladly took a card, staring down at it with a grin on his face. "Now- Memorize, memorize! Keep it in your head and hand it back to me!" And it was done so swiftly. Gingerbrave held his candycane close once he did so, giddy as to see Cinnamon perform his tricks...

...only to see right through the magic. And another cookie certainly did, too.

"Hey! Cinnamon Cookie! We saw that!" The magician looked up, seeing the mild disappointment from the two Gingers. "Uh-" Shoot- he was caught! He knew he should've marked the cards before the show, but- "Yea! I see what you're doing there!" Aaagh, both of them saw it?! And from the looks he's getting... Many others have, too.

Oooh, what a mess, what a mess! No wonder he's nothing more than an 'apprentice'. Beg as he might for belief, his tricks are no more than himself. A sham. A fake. Something made for attention, but something that has no substance beneath its tricks.