#sequel sections

(Part 2 of Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Feta)

Swiftly escaping out of a time portal came a panting, exhausted scientist. Aloe, adorned in cybernetics and their usual future-made attire, made quick work of the rift behind them and closed it up. If anything else were to get out of that place... they wouldn't know what would happen to this timeline. The heated ground beneath them crackled from the cold environment that they had just left. "Ah... this place is... just as hot as I remember..." The scientist would speak between gasping breaths, the mechanical replacement of their eye manifesting holographic imagery as they analyzed the area around them. Lava flowing in the distance, craggy mountains, and volcanoes, dragons flying high above the ground and searching for gold of prey... Yes, most certainly, this was Dragon's Valley. Exactly where they wanted to be.

"Good, good, yes, this is the place..." Aloe would give themself one more moment of catching their breath before beginning a trek across the land they could feel faint seismic activity from. As familiar as this all was, there were no happy memories here to reminisce over. If anything, there was a disaster here. One that they were here to prevent. "They have to be around here somewhere... The tent should be nearby, shouldn't it?" Wiping away the sweat from the heat that their circuitry certainly wasn't accustomed to, they'd practically spin themself around as they continued in one direction, only pausing when they spotted a dark green tent set up a short distance away. There. That was where they had to go.

With renewed vigor, they'd have their legs carry them as fast as they could towards that tent. They had to make it. They had to save the one that was so near and dear to them. Research on seismic activity and researching hardy plants' abilities to grow in this environment be damned! A life was more important than some stupid research, even to them of the past! There was a small amount of reassurance that if this failed, they could just go back again, and yet... they did not wish for the Time Balance Department to catch up with them. The moment they were caught altering this timeline for the better, they were doomed.

The closer they drew to the fated location, they were able to recognize the two silhouettes- one being themself from the far past and the other... Cyborg. Well, not yet Cyborg. The name they held for this past bespoke the name 'Coconut', though Aloe had no knowledge if this was the same as their own. Their footsteps clanked against the cracked stone ground beneath them, knowing that so long as they could save at least one Aloe from this fate, it was worth it. No one, not even the most maniacal or antagonistic ones deserved such an experience.

Seeing Coconut- that sweet, leaf-haired soul- approach the cliffside that they knew would only lead to disaster... Aloe couldn't help but alter the timeline just a little more by shouting with as much air that was left in their lungs: "Step away from the ledge! Hurry!" And though those innocent eyes stared back at them with surprise, their past self more shocked than anything else, their future self took ahold of the other's wrist, swinging the victim away from the ledge and towards the tent. It was a swift and sudden motion, leaving them off-balance. Though before they could even begin to explain what was going on to the other two... They heard the familiar sound of a time rift opening behind them.

"W-wait..." The scientist looked to the cracking ground, then behind them. Staring back at the one that held a sudden fear within them were two that... clearly had a motif of time. The shorter one that was still far taller than Aloe, with long blonde hair and green streaks within it, grabbed their wrist and quickly started to drag them in. "Wait, I- No, wait, please-!!" The opening that they were brought through would close behind them regardless of their begging. Being released and stumbling down onto a checkered tile flooring... Aloe trembled as they looked up to the two before them and their surroundings. The cybernetic plant was in... the... The Time Balance Department.

And before them? Timekeeper and their current apprentice, the latter of which seeming quite conflicted over this exchange- yet held a smile all the same. Aloe could have sworn they saw the apprentice even mouth an apology as Timekeeper stared down at the other blonde. "You're such a silly scientist, you know that? Believing that changing a single timeline's fate is going to do anything useful?" The TBD's Director spoke with a wide smile as they leaned forward, spiraled eye spinning with delight. "You have gotten yourself into huge trouble, you know that, right? Of course. You do. You're smart enough to know plenty of things! Yet not enough to be aware of what would happen to you if you were caught." "I... I expected to be imprisoned for my crimes against the natural flow of time." Aloe would state with whatever bravery was left in their nerves. "Isn't that right, keeper of time?"

"Only partly." A moment of silence lingered between the two of them, though before the scientist could question them, Timekeeper would motion towards their apprentice. "Allow my dearest Roguefort to escort you to where you will be staying for the foreseeable future. Oh, and... We will have to remove those cybernetics, of course! I know that time travel is a built-in feature... and we do not need you doing anything more to whenever else in time you wish to go!"

When faced against the Director of this establishment, there was no resisting. A master manipulator of both time and mind stood before the researcher, and they knew this far too well. "Come with me, darling." The underling, Roguefort, would state with far less enthusiasm than would be expected for someone in such an extravagant outfit. And... Aloe would follow. Once out of the room with the checkered flooring, likely some sort of default location to push and pull things in and out of time... Roguefort would give a long sigh and turn around to the cybernetic one, nearly causing a small collision. The underling seemed... solemn, yet hopeful.

"Listen, I know you meant well with what you were doing. Saving another person's life is... a brave and selfless endeavor, I will give you that. I wish I could do the same as you, but... one cannot do everything that wishes to be done alone. I know that they may be listening in on us at this very moment, but there's never a moment where they aren't, so..." Roguefort would gently set a hand against Aloe's cheek, though their hand slid a bit higher to touch the metallic portions of the researcher's head. "...You. Aloe, was it?" The scientist nodded, bringing a twinkle of hope into the other's eyes. "Yes, yes, you... I have heard about your endeavors in time, and... I had waited for you to succeed once before you were taken. I require your aid."

"I... assume with my ability to manipulate time through futuristic technology...?" This was all a bit sudden, not to mention a bit too touchy for their taste. Was Roguefort going to be this touchy all the time? Though this discomfort was clear, Roguefort took a step back, releasing Aloe from their gentle touch. "Yes- a-and, ah, apologies... I seem to be picking up after that deity with the reassuring touches... Listen- I- I only wish to save my family. I let you save someone precious to you so, do you- do you think that we could work together to get past Timekeeper and have my proper future untainted by them and the moon herself?" "..." "...take your time. This will not be the last time we meet and speak on such things, after all... I have a feeling of such, anyways. In the meantime, I still have a job to do. Come along."

With a wave for Aloe to follow once more, they would obey. They'd consider the offer in their mind, even whilst being led beneath the Time Balance Department, even when the field of electricity and chrono-alteration neutralizing energy coated the only way out... That 'Roguefort' is quite the character, they admit... but if there was a chance to get out of here, perhaps save more lives, improve what would have happened to those poor souls of the past otherwise...

(Part 2 of Knight Fucking Dies/A Slice of Crimson)

The forest outside of the kingdom was dense. It was hard to look even a few feet ahead without one's sight being blocked by the arbor. While the spirit that was knight gave acute attention to the trees in order to avoid them, Fire Spirit haphazardly flew right through tree after tree. "...how are you not lighting these trees aflame? Your hair is nothing more than fire..." The blonde would inquire, getting a chuckle from the spirit that was leading him through these woods. "It's as simple as choosing not to. Sometimes I do it on purpose, but Windy wouldn't let me hear the end of it if I did. And I'm pretty sure he wouldn't take kindly to me letting another spirit wander around here."

"Windy... Do you mean Wind Archer? Guardian of the forest and healer of fallen spirits?" "Uh, yea... The one that forces spirits to pass on because of his bow. You know of him? He's a real pain in the ass, that one... but I can say that when he's upset, he kinda has this face that looks like a newborn when you take away its toy. Hilarious!" "Huh... Do you think that he would be the type to shoot first, ask questions later?" "When it comes to his job? Y-"

The flaming spirit's words were cut off by the very loud 'thunk' sound of an arrow landing in a nearby tree. The wind began to blow in the same direction that the arrow had seemed to fly in from. If Fire Spirit had blood in his body, it would have run cold. Instead, a flicker of ash flew from the edges of his hair. "...yes. Let's get going, blondie!" "My name is Kni- AH-!"

With his arm grabbed, the charred armor spirit would be dragged by the other, wind blowing through them rather than past them as arrows would rain down. The sound of missing fires getting stuck in the bark next to both of them would be a frightening commonality, just as fear-inducing as the arrows that whizzed past their fleeing forms, barely being dodged thanks to Fire Spirit's quick thinking. Knight didn't take him for the time to be strategic in movement... but maybe that was a must for catching the more swift spirits that knew what they were doing... unlike him. He'd- He'd have to thank the other later... But for now, dodging was paramount!

"Leave us alone, you Millennial Tree wannabe!" Fire Spirit would shout to the air behind him, dragging the other spirit behind him and practically swinging him every which way to avoid the arrow fire. "This isn't the time for target practice!" And though the arrows never ceased, a shelter was able to be taken in a miniature hill with a tree on top that had been half-carved out by some unknown force. It was safe enough, but... Knight had an objection. " This is not a safe spot! With such a gaping opening on half of our directions, we could easily be-" As the blue-eyed ghost would motion towards the emptiness that was prime for danger, his face was met with an arrow that was inches from impaling him. "-f-flanked..."

The spirit of flame would glower at the one that stood before him, leaves partly wilted and torn due to encounters of a different danger that kept his perfectly green body tinged with purple on the ends, gaze silently affixed on Knight... Yup, that was the leaf-haired twig known to be Wind Archer. "Listen, dude, I really don't care about your job right now. I'm trying to do mine. You'll thank me later, though I know you never do." "..." "Archie, c'mon man, I'm just trying to take this dude to see his family before he passes on." That... wasn't a complete lie. "Just let us go through here and I'll reap him later. He just wants to see some peeps before he goes into the great beyond or whatever... It's not as big of a deal as you always love making it." Though the silence was deafening between the three of them... The archer would slowly lower his bow, the arrow that was so close to ridding Knight from this spectral plane dissipating in a soft breeze and twinkling with nature's purest light. "May your family find peace." Wind's soft voice would say, starkly contrasting to the hellfire of arrows that had been launched upon them beforehand. With a slow raise of his gaze, the green one would stare at Fire Spirit with... mild hesitance. "Do not fail this one, or the others will hear about your misdeeds when we next convoke." "Yea, yea, I get it. Can you leave us be now, Archie?" "..." And just as silent as before, Wind Archer would take his leave. A gust of wind would blow through, and Windy would leap out of sight. Knight glanced back at Fire Spirit, noticing that he was still soured by the encounter. Though he was frightened, the other just looked... peeved.

"Did something happen between you both, if I am permitted to pry?" "Exes." The specter would snip. "Tried to convert me into following that damned tree." "You mean...?" "Millennial Tree, yeah, that bastard. Look, do you want to be taken to save everyone or do you wanna be stuck here talking about my love life?" "Oh, uh, my apologies... I have just... Never seen you so upset, and one of my duties is to make sure who I am with is sound in both body and mi-" "Just pipe down, got it? I'm gonna... go burn down a tree or something. I'll be back afterward, and we can keep going."

(Part 1 of Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Feta)

Traveling through a time rift was a trip for the thief. Their body felt as if it was being squashed and stretched, pulled apart at the seams whilst being crushed all at the same moment... It was a disorienting feeling, one that caused them to clutch their heirloom close, but to their surprise it... Didn't hurt in the slightest. As odd as it was, there was no pain to be felt at all. Though these sensations wouldn't last long, as Rogue would soon be expelled from whatever or wherever or whenever they were and onto what was thankfully some soft dirt and grass. No crabgrass to scrape against their face, thank Stars for that.

"Oough... That was... Certainly a trip." The thief grumbled, turning themself over onto their back and sitting themself up. To their sight, they were in the midst of a park contained within what was once a bustling kingdom. Sure, they could have brought themself back to their family and just stayed with them to protect them from the inevitable disaster, but... That would have been predictable. To get away from that suspicious Timekeeper and do whatever they wish with this power, one must do something less predictable.

What was so special about this place? Well, despite the 'unpredictability' that the phantom thief had told themself to give, they still brought themself to a time that was a place remembered fondly. If they remembered right, just by the apple tree to his far left and next to the tattered wooden bench that desperately needed to be replaced... Yes, there they are! Well, were? The younger thief in their typical royal attire was a sight to behold; guided cloak, stone-studded suit, and royal crown placed upon what was their much shorter hair. It brought a grin to Rogue's face being able to see such a moment unfold again, as much as they hated how much they looked like a prince rather than just another individual...

Yes, it was just a regular walk for them back then. If they remembered... Ah, right, the young child they remembered all too well. Perhaps they weren't any younger than a year or two than Roguefort themself, but the child holding the violin always felt to be more than that. It could have something to do with their natural caretaking nature, though they didn't acknowledge it. The green and white hair that was always a mess, the tattered clothes that were such a sorry excuse for fanciful clothes, it was... Somewhat sad to see such a struggling soul in the place where Rogue had such influence. The young violinist always played at this part of town, apparently, and it wasn't until this very day that Rogue had caught one of these amateur concerts.

As they remembered the event to go, the young royal had offered up a gem from their crown and a place to stay for the night after some banter. Every detail was etched into their mind, from the way that the musician smiled at him to how the tears of joy welled up to even the way he offered to play the whole way back home as thanks. It was so sweet and blessed, something that even allowed for the thief to gain one of their very first friends that they still stand with to this day- under a new identity of course- but still close nonetheless. The time traveler stumbled to their feet with a grin to watch the sight unfold from the distance, though...

Huh? When did their crown get stolen by a stray bird? Wh- There wasn't anything like this previously! Sure, the birds around the kingdom loved to steal, but never did they do such with royals! Nor with such objects larger than them! Ah- and there goes their younger self, chasing after it. It... It felt to Rogue as though their reality just shattered around them. Is this the wrong timeline? No, there was no way they had gotten the power to go through time in that direction just yet. Then... Then how did it become so altered? They hadn't done anything to cause this! No, and if they didn't come back in time, then their dear Mint would just leave without a home for the night, and a friendship would never blossom, and-

"I do hope you realize the consequences of attempting to trick me, little pursuer." If their reality didn't feel cracked enough, the stopping of time around them was another quirk. The voice that spoke before them was so fresh in their mind they didn't need to see who they were speaking to. Besides, what the world of the past had become before them was... Far more troubling. They weren't sure if this was an illusion to them, but it certainly felt like the sights around them were greyed and shattered like glass. "I know you wish to change your past and use these powers to your heart's content, but doing so in defiance of me was... A mistake, to say the least. A fun mistake, a clever one may I say, but you certainly screwed up for going for just a differing fond moment! You don't have very many, after all."

A chill went up the thief's spine as their eyes were affixed on the puzzled form of the young violinist. What the Timekeeper spoke of was true, but... It was not something that they wished to acknowledge. "As much fun as I take in seeing your resistance, I will warn you, each time you do something akin to resisting my teachings... I will ruin one of these moments before your very eyes. Your past will become in even worse shambles than the Moon left you in, am I understood?" A dry laugh rasped itself from the shocked phantom thief's throat. They turned around, finally facing the time deity with a half-hearted smile on their face. Both of them knew that there was going to be further resistance, but... There was a certain spark that the thief wouldn't let go out despite that. It was always there, always will be, like a glinting star in the dark of the night sky. "I understand your words, though we both know what the future holds."

(Part 1 of Knight Fucking Dies/A Slice of Crimson)

A lapse in concentration, and Knight found himself staring towards the sky. When he had gotten on his back, he had no idea. The last thing he remembered was facing that damned dragon, the same one that... That was flying above him?! With- With Princess no less! Knight scrambled to his feet, reaching for a lance that was no longer there. Blinking, the blonde paused before searching around the area for his lance. Nothing but the front gardens of Princess' castle, to which the ground was scorched and cracked as if a battle had already taken place. Maybe- Maybe he had been knocked unconscious? Knight tried to wrack his mind for what could have possibly have occurred, yet his thoughts were quickly caught by the shouting of familiar voices.

Swiftly turning, Knight was met with the order that he was a part of. White Choco, Pistachio, and even Raspberry Mousse were sprinting out in the lead of the group pouring out of the castle, out to face the dragon no less. There would have been a smile upon the singled-out knight's expression, but it dropped seeing the tears upon White's expression as they ran towards him. "You bastard!! First him, now this!" He had never heard her so angry, so distraught. He should have felt a twang in his heart hearing his family member so distressed, yet there was no feeling at all. Oddly, it was cold. "I'll cut off more than just your tail!! Your head will be next! Forward!" A cheer of the order signified their unity towards defeating the dragon.

The crowd neared Knight, and in the realization of how they all stared past him, he held out a hand to the crowd. "Wait, wait! You're going to trample me if you aren't careful!" Despite his call, the group didn't heed his words. They pushed straight ahead. "White! Mousse! Pistachio! I- I order you to stop before you-!" The warrior cut himself off, putting his arms up to defend his face as the herd of other knights went right for him and... Through... Through him? The people that passed through, they felt like nothing more than a breeze. "Wh- What-?" He swore he was just stampeded, yet here he is, absolutely fine. The shock and confusion only compiled when he looked over his hands in the stinging realization that he had been passed through.

He... Was transparent?

"Oh hey, another dead one thanks to them, huh?"

Knight practically whipped his body back around, and blocking the view of the knights storming away... A spirit floated before him. Fire Spirit, to be precise. "D-dead?! I can't be-" Knight once again found his thoughts unfinished, the spirit of flames pointing his staff towards the newly presumed ghost. "You are. Look at yourself. Or, well, look below you at least." There was hesitation and a shaken breath from Knight, this entire situation becoming more than he bargained for, certainly. "B... Before I do, tell me why you're here! Don't you work for Pitaya?!"

"Eh... I'm kinda like their Grim Reaper." With a shrug, Fire Spirit shifted his floating form to be cross-legged. How he could be so casual in a situation that was so dire was beyond Knight's understanding. "Lots of people die because of Pitaya, and since I kinda got their respect by nabbing their bead, I'm stuck with the job of making sure you other spirits pass on nice and easy. Stay here too long and you get somewhat corporeal, but you can't ever really pass on. Oh and, y'know, I guess I help others cope with the fact that they've died in one of the most gruesome ways." A casual chuckle came from the spirit, "It's not the best job, but someone's gotta do it, I guess."

Shaking his head, Knight just couldn't get over the fact that he was dead in the first place. He was one of the most valiant and well-trained knights known to the Cookie Kingdom! He couldn't just fall to his greatest foe! Though... Even with so much running through his head, Knight did as Fire Spirit recommended and looked down upon himself. Knight nearly gagged upon the sight he was given.

A corpse. His corpse. He was looking at a corpse of his own body. "Hooooo, it's a good thing you don't have a stomach anymore!" The spirit jeered, seeing how Knight lifted a hand to his mouth in the midst of all of the horror coursing through his now still veins. The red dried to a deep, browned mess... His armor in tatters and clearly desecrated with charred black... Not to mention the hole in the midst of his body. "Oh right, you don't have a heart anymore, either." Fire Spirit remarked, taking one of Knight's hands. The blonde, with his eyes wide, only found his unstable condition even worse when moving his hand away exposed that even his spirit held that same hole. An indented blotch of crimson amongst his lighter tones.

"I... I'm dead..." The words fell from Knight's mouth, though his mind didn't process that he had spoken such. For such a burnt body, he was a frozen spirit. He's gone. Maybe... Maybe this was why White was so upset...?

Wait- White- His sister- The rest of the order he saw-!

Knight tore his hand out of Fire Spirit's grip, prompting a quick 'huh?!' from the spirit of flames as the blond began sprinting off. "I can't let her get hurt! Or anyone else!" The protector shouted out, not recognizing that he wasn't exactly getting anywhere by using his actual legs. The spirit easily caught up, standing before Knight a short distance ahead. The grin upon his face showed enjoyment of Knight's incompetency as the living dead. "Well, if you're gonna try to save anybody, you're not gonna get anywhere running like that." Taking the guardian's hand once more, Knight found himself snapped out of his narrow-minded 'running'. "You gotta learn to float your way through things now that your body has no gravity on it. Check it." And although it was a bit of a drag since Knight himself couldn't exactly figure it out that easily, a bit of a distance following Fire Spirit's example of floating got the blonde to be just a little bit competent in this new type of movement.

"Why are you teaching me this?" Knight asked with his mind surprisingly calmer than it should have been. Perhaps the shock had finally been numbed for the moment. "It's not like it's a part of your job, is it?"

(Previous Part of RollCake Coaster) (Wasabi Path)

Singing along to the tune of their own mystical land, the fabled owner of the Dreamy Cookieland waltzed down path after path, watching over their subjects. All the children laughing gleefully, and all the adults that refound their wondrous pasts giggled right along with them. Such a joyful sight it was, memories in the making. Butterflies flying by their side, Unicorn Cream was content with all that their land had to offer. Nothing but joy would be found here.

Or so they thought.

Dashing past them, some cookie with a large unicorn plushie- along with many other smaller prizes- nearly knocked them off of their feet. If it wasn't for the support of their little fluttering friends, they would have met the tanned dirt path and ruined their gracious outfit. Setting themself back up properly, Uni couldn't help but feel the negative memories radiating off of whoever had passed by. Their gaze narrowed, looking to the ground for a moment in contemplation for a moment, to note a little rainbow rod with a star at one end had been dropped. They'd pick it up, scoping it over and the sensations that it gave. To Unicorn, the waves of negativity had caused a shiver of fear to wash over them. Something was wrong in this dear land of theirs. With a puff of magic, the majestic cookie took flight to follow wherever that short fellow had run off to.

The distance was surprisingly long, and Unicorn wasn't entirely sure what to make of it all. They could sense the fear and despair, but there was something unknown. Perhaps this cookie they were following didn't know the entire story of what had happened to evoke such emotions that would stain their memories? A sigh fell from their muzzle as they crossed over the floral decor and all the trees overtop... Though it would be sucked right back in as Unicorn saw the source of what caused such distraught emotions.

Wreckage. One of their coasters and all the cars, scrapped and crushed. Away from it all was that fellow they were following, already attempting to tend to one of the few children that had been made apart of such a calamity. It froze something within the cookie's heart to see so many struggling souls, one that would no doubt be fueled by traumatized memories. They dove from the skies, landing with the grace that did not suit the situation at all as they let their butterfly friends tend to the wreckage. For such fragile creatures, a group was stronger than Unicorn themself- Physically, that is. For the moment, Uni themself would let their attention to the one they followed, the one that... Sobbed whilst holding another child's body.

Approaching the sobbing boy and his little cadaver, the intense amount of negative memories shook them. It was hard to get close, let alone kneel down beside them both. The surprise across the older child's face wasn't entirely unexpected, but the skip over denial and anger certainly was. "Please," he pleaded, raising the younger's chilled body closer to his chest, "you gotta know some way t-to help, don't- don't you? Please, please..."

The begging turned into nothing more than 'please's that would only become incomprehensible. "I know a way." Unicorn's voice spoke softly, a gentle hand set atop Pancake's head. There were plenty of deformities, as the body had become quite mangled in the crash, but... It was still recognizable as an individual and not just some mass of dough. "I can revert this little one's time back to just before, yet... He will not be allowed to leave."

"Y-you- Huh?" Confusion and concern prominent, Rollcake would look between his younger brother and the one behind the park itself. Of course, it was a lot to take in for one individual. "Why... Why wouldn't he...?"

"My magic can only affect those in the park. Dreamy Cookieland... It will become his new home. It is either this, or he will be still in your arms." The unicorn could feel their expression furrow in some... Gut-twisting emotion as Rollcake would close his eyes to contemplate the offer. They knew it was a tough decision, yet... "Can... Can I stay w-with them?" Rollcake finally spoke, his voice shaking, "Here- I-in Cookieland, please- Can I stay with him...?"

(Previous Part of Rollcake Coaster)

(Unicorn Path)

It was hard to see, Pancake knew that for sure. Opening his eyes was practically impossible, and whatever was above him was too bright to handle. Besides the inability to see, his body felt so sore. He couldn't even whine about it as he typically did. Or, at least, Pan didn't hear his own sounds at all. The only thing he could do was sit there and wonder what had happened. All he remembers was going on a ride and hoping to see his brother watching him, and then-

The child jerked himself up, eyes wide awake. Though he was nothing more than scared and confused about how he had gotten into this situation- there's so much bright white- his sight brought the little one face to face with his older brother and... Someone else. He didn't recognize this other person and reacted as any other child would, backing away. Unfortunately, he was met with nothing more than the edge of a table, that of which he fell off. He squeaked and cried upon falling, his already pained body only getting worse for that moment. Pancake could feel tears well in the corner of his eyes, but it was made better by his brother scooping him up in a hug and hushing him.

"Seems he's a perky one!" Spoke the unrecognized voice from an equally unrecognizable silhouette. Apparently, he was to be thankful to them, not that he could really bring the words out.

Though as time passed, with the world returning to how colorful it once was, the little brother found himself smiling at the sun and flying off of trees like the flying squirrel he always pretended to be. It was wonderful, being able to fly about and be caught by his older brother, who cherished each moment with him. Pan didn't understand where all the irritation and actions of a big meanie that sometimes happened if he pressed too far went, but he wasn't one to complain. The lively little fellow would question now and then, only to get the unsatisfactory response of "I'm just so happy to have you here". He never left in the first place, so why?

Climbing out of his brother's arms and receiving some gracious head pats, Pancake squealed in delight as he ran off back to his fabled 'Jumping Tree', AKA the tree he always jumped from because of its sturdy branches. Climbing up the bark, Pan gave a questioning little squeak as he felt his arms tremble whilst climbing. Even so, he pushed himself further, something Rollcake told him explicitly not to do. Onto one of many branches, Pancake didn't jump from it, but rather... Sat himself down. He felt woozy, like the world was blurry and spinning as it did after a teacup ride. "Aahhh...?" The squirrelly one groaned to himself, holding his head as he swayed on the branch.  "Panny! You good over there?" Rollcake's voice fell on ears that seemed to blur spoken words as much as written ones would be- not that Pancake could exactly read well.

To the road roller driver, the lack of response was immediately concerning. There wasn't a moment after fear registered in his heart that Roll practically sprinted over to the tree. Thank the Stars that he did, too. The demolitionist called again, only to hear nothing but the rustling of leaves as Pancake fell right off the branch he was sat upon. "Pan-?!" Rollcake caught his younger sibling, fear in his eyes as he looked over the other as well as he could. Hearing Pancake whining, Roll felt a heaviness roll over him as he gently removed his sibling's hand from his face. It... It was turning purple? Was this a bruise or something? Something told Rollcake that this was something far, far worse than that, yet he prayed that it wasn't anything more than just a simple little injury.

(Part 1 of Accidental Scorching)

Armored as always, Knight gave a swing of his lance. Even now, his burn mark stung. He could feel the scabbing of his chip and break with each practiced movement he gave. Knights much like himself always had to keep training, but with the burning in his arm, he wasn't sure if he could keep this up. He could feel the sweat from his skin- caused by the warmthed of the layered armaments- irritating his open wound. It was painful. Miserable.

Implored by his fellow protectors, he was forced into his quarters to rest and apply treatment. The medical rooms were already full from other assaults upon the castle, so his own room was the best they had.

Laid upon his bed, staring at the ceiling with his burnt arm gently bent over his stomach to not irritate the scorched area, Knight already felt as if he was losing his mind. Perhaps he was even going crazy, hearing the crackling of flames over the silence. Soft reminders of what's keeping him from experiencing his namesake's duty. Heat wandered over him, his body sweating under his armor. Wait, if this was occuring, then-

"You can come out, Spire. Your nervousness is heating the entire room."

With a shakey sigh, Fire Spirit appeared from the nothingness of the air. Of course, he was spirit, he could hide is visibility if he wanted. The heat always stayed, an obvious tell from other ghosts and spirits that haunted the castle.

"I'm... Very sorry about your burn, Knighty..." Spirit said with a nervous laugh, as dry as the air surrounding him. Knight gave nothing but narrowed eyes to the flaming fellow, warrenting a small distancing. Any higher and Fire Spirit may as well be burning the ceiling down. "Really! I- I didn't know it would happen. And, since it's me that burned you-"

"It's fine."

"It's- It's not! I hurt you- I burnt you-"

"It's just a burn. You said it yourself, it's just that. Give it a few weeks, and it'll heal right back to nothing more than another scar."

That scared, nearly terrified expression of Spire's wasn't the most reassured, or the most reassuring. "What?" The voice of Knight's sounded more like a statement than a question, with the force for an answer set behind it.

"I... I might not have been entirely honest about that b-burn of your's... But uh- Promise me- Promise me you won't hate me?"

"..."

(Part 1 of A Blazing Rivalry)

From her fragile state upon the stone path of scattered, rotting petals, White could barely recognize the glittering gold that whispered promises to her bleeding form. The death would have been honorable, she could have accepted it and passed on, yet... The shining red she saw sparked a desire within her. Her fading memory recognized this red from somewhere else, yet the thought of passing on and the fear of losing herself clouded it.

"The embodiment of grace, fallen so far! Hah! Isn't it pitiful?" The voice above White Choco, blurred figured of black bats flying about seeming antagonizingly fervent. "You don't deserve such an end, do you? Do you?" The slightest shake of the head was enough to give the tricker- the Devil- a high interest in using their power for another empowering. Two knights in the same week, how plentiful! "Then take my hand, valient soldier! I'll ensure you'll never be able to lose again... And the price can be discussed later- no time to dawdle!"

Hand shaking, White raised it to meet the Devil. Hazed vision could only recognize the wide smile upon the dealer's face before a blazing inferno surrounded them both. And yet, rather than scorching her- burning White to ashes- it... Healed.

The red dye that had fallen from her stomach soon became a royal red that stained her armor with determination, the rest rising from her form and twisting to her back, solidifying into a cape of valor. The flames whisked her up, twirling her amidst the chaos as the petals that swirlled and burnt up around her. White's armor heated, gaining a guilded coloration as a portion of it lit up with an eternal flame.

Eyes closed from the heat, White barely recognized her lance in hand, which radiated with a strength unknown to her until now. With a deep breath of renewed life, and with all the energy of a phoenix reborn, she gave a slash through the flames, siphoning them into her weapon, that of which now contained all that surrounded her. Opening her ruby eyes, White huffed and shook off the heat- effectively bringing her hair to a more free-form, wisped look. Strength radiated from her, yet with it controlled, she found it nothing more than gentle rays from the sun.

"I'm sure you have a goal in mind, don't you?" The voice of the dealer spoke to her from nowhere. White gave no budge to look. Instead, she shared down at the red gem upon her lance, constantly shining from the flames that had become a part of it. A firm nod came after, one prompting laughter from the Devil that had given her this renewed life. "Then go on, complete it. No one is stopping you! Hehe!"

...