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Chapter Text

Wafflebots are better than Cookies.

To Strawberry Crepe Cookie, this simple fact had dictated the past years of their life. Wafflebots were stronger than Cookies, they were sturdier than Cookies, they listened better than Cookies. The Wafflebots had been the young Cookie's lifeline throughout the past who knows how long.

When it got too quiet during those nights in the Hangar, the mechanical whirring of the Wafflebots kept them comforted. When they were hurt, the Wafflebots would care for them. When the Cookies would leave them behind like they always did, the Wafflebots would be there.

Cookies were weak. Cookies left each other. Wafflebots never left.

When that stupid, boring, naively and foolishly brave Cookie and his friends had first crossed paths with the Wafflebots and Strawberry Crepe Cookie, neither party was in a good space. Strawberry Crepe Cookie, though they would crumble before actually admitting how bad things were, needed some form of help. After Pure Vanilla Cookie had his big comeback and things were all peachy, the Wafflebots had been changed from weapons to construction workers. This was bad enough for Strawberry Crepe Cookie, until the Raisin Villagers started feeding all of the precious machines those stupid dried up grapes.

Black Raisin Cookie was there. That was nice. For a Cookie, Black Raisin Cookie had done something most couldn't: keep a promise. She had always come back just like she said she would.

When the council had happened, so many other Cookies had thrown everything off. They fought so many curious fools away from their Wafflebots, making so many repairs that it gave them a headache. Espresso Cookie, during those days, had come by in between meetings to help with repairs.

Espresso Cookie looked like the other Cookies. The ones who had left them. Dark Cacao Cookie and the Cookie with the dogs too. Strawberry Crepe Cookie wouldn't look weak in front of them. They weren't afraid of those Cookies. No one would leave them behind again.

But it was what Cookies did. They leave you behind. Those Cookies did, Dark Enchantress Cookie did, so what was stopping these Cookies from just leaving as they pleased?

Wafflebots didn't leave.

Espresso Cookie seemed good enough. He was alright with magichanical engineering, even though his methods were weird. This Republic across the sea was such a strange place. Shortly after the council, though he insisted he didn't feel nostalgic, he told stories of the Crème Republic.

Most of them were simple. There were things about his friends, his old laboratory, the fancy institute, and all of the best and worst parts of his life there. However, Strawberry Crepe Cookie noticed one very loud, obnoxious, air-headed, charismatic, and egotistical common Cookie through the majority of their research partner's stories.

When Espresso Cookie came back from his visit to the Crème Republic, he was followed by this common Cookie. They weren't going to protest to a new Cookie joining them in the Hangar as long as he left their work alone and helped out somehow. What they were concerned about, however, was Espresso Cookie.

'You slept,' they had said. Strawberry Crepe Cookie narrowed their eyes.

'I did,' Espresso Cookie replied with a smile.

Madeleine Cookie had become a fact in Strawberry Crepe Cookie's life. At first, Espresso Cookie's productivity had dropped drastically. He spent half the day going between the inn and the hangar asking if any Cookie had seen the 'Custard Guards.' After about two weeks, they gave in and asked Madeleine Cookie what was going on.

-- ★ --

Strawberry Crepe Cookie ran up to Madeleine Cookie as he walked back into the hangar, stopping him from walking towards the back room.

"What did you do to Espresso Cookie?!" they interrogated. "His productivity is down nearly 100 percent! Ever since you showed up, he's been going crazy!"

"Ah, well..." Madeleine Cookie trailed off, trying to form the words.

"Spit it out," Strawberry Crepe Cookie demanded. They held a wrench up at him.

"Espresso Cookie and I aren't just typical friends," Madeleine Cookie said.

"I noticed," Strawberry Crepe Cookie replied. "Something else is bothering him."

"Well, we were both raised in a different place," Madeleine Cookie sighed. "They don't have the same values as the Vanilla Kingdom."

"But you're Vanillian," Strawberry Crepe Cookie protested.

"My ancestors come from the Vanilla Kingdom," he explained. "Over time, though, the Cookies of our homeland lost sight of the true meaning of following the Light. They forgot what being Vanillian meant."

"What does that have to do with Espresso Cookie?" Strawberry Crepe Cookie interrupted.

"When we were in the Republic," Madeleine Cookie continued, "we had to make it legal for him and me to be together."

That didn't make sense.

"Two percent conniving did that?" Strawberry Crepe Cookie asked.

"Who...?" Madeleine Cookie replied. Espresso Cookie came out of the back room, a coffee mug in his hand.

"Clotted Cream Cookie," Espresso Cookie mumbled, yawning.

"Ah, no," Madeleine Cookie continued. "He helped us get rid of it."

"But why is Espresso Cookie being so..." Strawberry Crepe Cookie said, waving their hands towards the Cookie in question.

"The family of Custard-No-Custard Cookie, the ones who actually have custard," Espresso Cookie clarified. "They don't accept change easily. They liked things how they were."

"This place sounds dumb," Strawberry Crepe Cookie scoffed. Espresso Cookie chuckled. They walked back to the head of the Wafflebot they were working on, satisfied with the answers they'd been given.

-- ★ --

Now, it had been about half of a year, and Espresso Cookie had become even more productive than he had been before Madeleine Cookie entered the picture. Strawberry Crepe Cookie was currently controlling a Wafflebot, though they didn't see much use for a giant tree with lights in the middle of the Plaza. Black Raisin Cookie had asked them to do it while they were sitting around with nothing to fix, though, so they wanted to keep busy.

"Strawberry Crepe Cookie!" a voice behind them called out.

"GingerBrave...?" Strawberry Crepe Cookie gasped, turning around. "What are you doing here?"

"Pure Vanilla Cookie invited me early to surprise the other Cookies," GingerBrave explained. "I haven't seen all of the Ancient Heroes together yet, and it's been a while since I saw Dark Cacao Cookie or Hollyberry Cookie!"

"So many unfamiliar Cookies..." Strawberry Crepe Cookie pondered. "Hey, are the Cookies from the Republic coming?"

"Hm, I think so!" GingerBrave confirmed. Strawberry Crepe Cookie's rolled their eyes, scoffing. "What's the matter?"

"That place is stupid," Strawberry Crepe Cookie said. "They took the Wafflebots and said they 'fixed them,' and they made my lab partner spend a super long time doing a bunch of boring stuff."

"Didn't Espresso Cookie say the Wafflebots were inefficient, too?" GingerBrave asked.

"At least he was sorta nice about it," they huffed, walking over to test the light switch that powered the lights around the three. However, someone walking out of the Crow's Nest distracted them.

GingerBrave seemed confused. For a moment, Strawberry Crepe Cookie worried he could be working with the Republic. That was unreasonable, though. GingerBrave was bland and boring. He didn't have enough of a personality to betray someone like that.

"Madeleine Cookie!" GingerBrave greeted. Strawberry Crepe Cookie had already locked their eyes on the precious cargo that Madeleine Cookie held in his arms: sugarcoated donuts. As they grabbed one, Madeleine Cookie chuckled, looking back up towards GingerBrave. "I didn't think you'd be here yet."

"I'm happy to say I call the Vanilla Kingdom my home," Madeleine Cookie explained. "Espresso Cookie is still inside the inn, if only he-"

Madeleine Cookie stopped in the middle of his sentence. Strawberry Crepe Cookie could already smell smoke from how hard he was probably thinking. They sighed, walking back towards the light switch with the donut in their hands. GingerBrave glanced around, unsure of what was going on.

"GingerBrave, could you do me a favor?" Madeleine Cookie asked. "In the back of the Wafflebot Hangar, through the door on the left, there's a bedroom with a closet. In the back of the closet there should be a blue coat. It'll be a bit smaller than the rest of everything on my side of it."

GingerBrave nodded, running off towards the hangar. Strawberry Crepe Cookie walked back toward the light switch, finally flipping it on. After a few moments, the warm string of lights wrapped around the tree flickered on. Madeleine Cookie smiled at them, running back into the inn.

Maybe Cookies had their advantages, too.

Chapter Text

The Vanilla Kingdom felt different in the winter.

It wasn't like the streets were desolate; plenty of Cookies were running around. It wasn't much colder than the spring or autumn either. Maybe it was the decorations, but something about the air made Clotted Cream Cookie feel refreshed. After being suffocated by responsibility and the looming threat of his father's impulsivity, going somewhere so peaceful was exactly what Clotted Cream Cookie needed.

Financier Cookie opened the airship's basket door, exiting to help the Consul down. She nodded her head in respect, Clotted Cream Cookie giving her a smile. She exhaled, her shoulders relaxing and her grip on her sword loosening just a bit.

The hum of the airship's magichanical inner workings stopped, and Captain Caviar Cookie stepped out of the basket. He sighed as he stepped onto solid ground, stretching his arms. He stifled a yawn, dragging two large bags behind him. Under his breath, he muttered something about Grand Madeleine Cookie.

Oyster Cookie followed him, carefully descending the set of steps leading up to the airship. Her bag was around her shoulder, but it didn't seem to weigh much. She studied her surroundings carefully before fully stepping off of the steps and onto the ground.

The last of the Consul's companions was Mulled Juice Cookie, who quickly rushed off of the airship to catch up with the others. He jumped straight past the steps and onto the ground. He stumbled a bit before smiling at the others.

"I pray that your recklessness doesn't extend to the decisions we make regarding the citizens of the Crème Republic," Oyster Cookie sighed, Clotted Cream Cookie quickly clearing his throat.

"Venerable Elders," Clotted Cream Cookie said. "I present to you the Vanilla Kingdom, home to Pure Vanilla Cookie and half the ancestry of our fellow Republicans."

"It's different than how Vanilla Sugar Cookie described it," Captain Caviar Cookie remarked. "It's quieter."

"She spoke of a land during the Dark Flour War," Clotted Cream Cookie replied. "The land you see here is even different from when I saw it during the Council."

As he looked around, this statement held up. He would always end up spending a great deal of time in the Vanilla Kingdom simply in awe at how beautiful it had become. Even though it was fairly stable when he had first visited, it truly held up to its former glory now. He was interrupted from his musings by the voice of a familiar young Cookie.

"Clotted Cream Cookie!" the Cookie gasped. "The Elders! Or, well, some of them. And Financier Cookie!"

"GingerBrave," Clotted Cream Cookie greeted. "I didn't know you'd be joining us."

"Pure Vanilla Cookie invited me to surprise everyone," GingerBrave explained.

"Consider us surprised, GingerBrave," Mulled Juice Cookie replied. The other Elders agreed, and GingerBrave gave them a recap on his recent adventures.

Clotted Cream Cookie sighed. As much as he wished to fully enjoy a vacation, he did have a small matter to attend to. He cleared his throat, the Cookies around him quieting.

"GingerBrave," Clotted Cream Cookie said, "you know this Kingdom better than myself. Would you mind taking our guests to where they will be staying? I have a visit to make."

Mulled Juice Cookie looked like he wanted to add something, but he quickly shook his head and turned towards GingerBrave. Oyster Cookie ignored the Consul, but no one could guess what her true thoughts were.

That was one of the many things Clotted Cream Cookie admired about Oyster Cookie. The three elders he'd brought with him were also the youngest, and therefore they understood him as a true equal rather than a child. Oyster Cookie had perfected hiding her true emotions from the average Cookie and her colleagues until it came time to vote. Perhaps that could be why Custard Cookie and Vanilla Sugar Cookie had disliked her on the Convocation.

Once Captain Caviar Cookie had come around, shortly before the Consul had been appointed, the Convocation immediately made him the target of whispers and rumors. However, through it all, he spoke what was on his mind. The Elders knew how close the Lower City was to a rebellion, and if Captain Caviar Cookie appeased them, they had to deal with him. It was frustrating early on how little they cared for Captain Caviar Cookie's opinions.

Mulled Juice Cookie was an enigma of sorts. No one knew where his doughline came from, but since he was sweeter than he was salty, the Convocation took him in fairly easily. He wasn't known for being an advocate like Captain Caviar Cookie or keeping things close to his chest like Oyster Cookie. He was quiet, and until a certain Cookie came around, fairly obedient with what House Custard ordered of him.

The same Cookie who gave Mulled Juice Cookie his own might was the Cookie Clotted Cream Cookie was looking for.

The Republic didn't expect Espresso Cookie. To be fair, they never expected much of the Lower City's Cookies. Espresso Cookie was nothing if not stubborn, and his intelligence spoke plenty for itself. Some admired his determination, but others saw it as arrogance. When Custard Cookie had asked the Institute to provide their most accomplished researcher for work outside the Republic, Espresso Cookie was the automatic choice.

There had been many heated debates over who would accompany Espresso Cookie on this mission. Captain Caviar Cookie advocated for a member of the Republic Navy to go, while Vanilla Sugar Cookie pushed for a recent graduate of the Paladin Academy. While Espresso Cookie was the quiet type of arrogant, Madeleine Cookie was opposite to him in almost every aspect. They were raised differently, saw the world differently, used magic differently, and took their coffee differently.

The rest of the story was already being written into the history books of the Republic.

As GingerBrave and the Elders walked towards the Crow's Nest Inn, Financier Cookie turned to the Consul. He gave her a small nod, and they both started walking toward the Wafflebot Hangar. Despite how long one would think walking across the proper part of the Vanilla Kingdom would take, it felt fairly short in comparison to walking across the Crème Republic.

The Wafflebot Hangar was just as messy as Clotted Cream Cookie remembered it, now with the addition of extra Wafflebot parts from the Republican fleet and cups of espresso littered toward the back. Before the Consul could explore any further, however, he was stopped by a young Cookie.

"Two percent conniving," Strawberry Crepe Cookie said. "What are you doing here?"

"Ah, Strawberry Crepe Cookie," he replied, chuckling at their analysis. "I was wondering if your research assistant was available right now."

"He's my research partner," they corrected. "But he's really busy, and he said not even I was allowed to bother him."

"I see," Clotted Cream Cookie sighed. He could tell the young Cookie was nervous, but he wouldn't press them any further. "I'll return tomorrow to try again."

"Good luck with that," Strawberry Crepe Cookie scoffed, turning towards the work they had previously been doing. Clotted Cream Cookie walked out of the hangar, sighing to himself.

He knew that Espresso Cookie was worried. His guardian was an ambitious Cookie, and he would stop at nothing to keep the Republic in the palm of his hand. To add onto that, he wasn't sure how Espresso Cookie would react to the fact he'd become one of the most famous Cookies of the Republic.

As the Consul entered his chambers, he saw a letter on top of his bed. He unfolded the paper, reading the quick note to himself.

Welcome back to the Vanilla Kingdom, Clotted Cream Cookie.

Dinner will be tonight in the Solarium of Unity, and I've written out your itinerary at the bottom of this paper. If you recall the gift exchange I mentioned, Black Raisin Cookie has written the name of that Cookie here:

Golden Cheese Cookie

See you for dinner, make sure you have a gift for Saturday!

-Pure Vanilla Cookie

Clotted Cream Cookie reviewed the itinerary below, noting the bigger events before folding the paper back up and placing it on the side table next to his bed. He looked at the clock on the wall, noting how many hours there was until dinner. As he peered out the window, he saw a pair of Cookies approaching the entrance to the Solarium of Unity.

Chapter Text

"Our flight on that balloon was absolutely terrifying."

Golden Cheese Cookie scoffed, looking to the Cookie next to her.

"You were the one who wanted my power," Golden Cheese Cookie said. "You could have ended up with wings."

"Cheeses forbid," Smoked Cheese Cookie shuddered. "After that monstrosity, I'd never fly again."

As they walked through the Plaza of the Vanilla Kingdom, Golden Cheese Cookie marveled at how a land once in ruin had become so lively. Perhaps, one day, she could see Cookies beside the Cheesebirds bustling about. She remembered walking through this square before the Dark Flour War, talking with her closest friends about their adventures. She would see these friends later today.

Hollyberry Cookie had been, in one word, reliable. If Golden Cheese Cookie ever needed a Cookie to laugh or cry with, Hollyberry Cookie would be there. She was the Cookie to give Golden Cheese Cookie the story of what had happened in her absence.

Dark Cacao Cookie was serious. When the rest of the group was busy laughing and sharing drinks, he would remind them of what they were there to do. Whether it was because of how juice made him behave or simply his nature, he'd saved them all more times than Golden Cheese Cookie's pride would allow her to admit.

Pure Vanilla Cookie was reasonable. He mediated issues between the group when things got tense. Until the very end, he had kept them fighting together against the enemy. Had he known the whole time who their enemy really was? Their enemy, who was also fighting alongside them?

There were the nights in the Vanilla Kingdom where the crickets would chirp and trees would gently sway. The nights when Golden Cheese Cookie and White Lily Cookie sat together in the garden, their hands interlocked, gazing at the stars. Golden Cheese Cookie would wrap her wing around the other Cookie when they needed warmth. The pair of them had fallen asleep there many times, only awoken by Hollyberry Cookie's laughter.

This Cookie, who she'd treasured as her own for so long, was the same Cookie who destroyed everything else she loved?

At first, the truth was too hard for her to face. Hollyberry Cookie held her as she had come to terms with it, Pure Vanilla Cookie and Dark Cacao Cookie close by for support. After being told White Lily Cookie was Dark Enchantress Cookie, how was she supposed to face her again?

"You're thinking about White Lily Cookie," Smoked Cheese Cookie sighed, rolling his eyes. Golden Cheese Cookie blinked a few times. She scoffed at her advisor.

"No, I am not!" Golden Cheese Cookie protested, though she could tell her face was betraying her.

"I told you about the 'White Lily Cookie eyes,' my Queen," Smoked Cheese Cookie said. That brat could really read her like a children's book.

"You're insufferable," she replied, though a smile broke its way through her face.

"I learned from the worst," he told her, earning him a smack.

Smoked Cheese Cookie would spend his life claiming that he worked in his own self interest. He would say that all he wanted was power. After Beast-Yeast, though, Golden Cheese Cookie could see through that lie. His greed was bigger than anything the Queen had seen from a mortal Cookie, yet when she begged him to work in his own self interest, he refused. Maybe his true passion was defying everything he was ordered to do.

The Plaza of the Vanilla Kingdom wasn't too much different during the winter months. Other than the Cookiesmas Tree standing in the middle and the twinkling lights strung across lampposts, the changes were minimal. The statue of Pure Vanilla Cookie had a hideous sweater on it, but that was to be expected of the Raisin Villagers. They were a lively bunch, but unlike their mother figure, they had taken to Golden Cheese Cookie quite easily. Cookies who truly enjoyed their Raisin Buns tended to be few and far between, so any time a Cookie did, they held onto that Cookie like their lives depended on it.

She had only met the Raisin Villagers briefly after GingerBrave brought her back to the Vanilla Kingdom. The joy that being with those Cookies had brought her was a feeling that had been gone for so long, replaced by the empty joy the illusion of the Golden City had brought her. One of her dearest treasures resided among them.

Black Raisin Cookie resented Golden Cheese Cookie for the same reason many other Cookies did: they had seen the books' definition of greed, not hers. The Queen knew that her abundance had a tendency to drive those less fortunate away in the fear that she would use them as their enemies once had.

Golden Cheese Cookie hadn't spent much of her time in the Vanilla Kingdom with Black Raisin Cookie, but the time she did spend left plenty of loose ends. She still wondered whether Black Raisin Cookie would want to pick up where they left off or never speak again, but she was fine with either decision. She would live. She had lost treasures before, she could certainly handle one this dear.

She had loved White Lily Cookie for many years, but she knew they would never feel that way for each other again. Besides, Pure Vanilla Cookie's feelings for White Lily Cookie were unresolved, and Golden Cheese Cookie would prefer to stay away from the drama that would bring.

"Eyes up, your Radiance," Smoked Cheese Cookie said, saving Golden Cheese Cookie from walking right into a pillar that led into the Solarium of Unity. "You've really got to get over her someday soon."

"I should have woken up Mozzarella Cookie," Golden Cheese Cookie sighed. Smoked Cheese Cookie chuckled, and they continued into the hall.

Every time she saw it, Golden Cheese Cookie was left in awe by the splendor of the Vanilla Kingdom's Castle. Pure Vanilla Cookie had kept it modest in comparison to Hollyberry Cookie's, but it was still gorgeous. She remembered exactly where her chambers in the castle had been.

When she entered, they were rather quaint. The small gold details that Pure Vanilla Cookie had added in so many years ago reminded her of a better time. Resting on her bed was a note.

Welcome back to the Vanilla Kingdom, Golden Cheese Cookie!

It's been rather long since we've been able to spend time together, and I'm looking forward to the four of us having our conversations under the cover of night in the garden as we used to. Dinner will be in the Solarium of Unity tonight, and the itinerary for your time here is below. There will be a gift exchange on Saturday, and I've had Black Raisin Cookie write the name of the Cookie your gift will be for below:

Pure Vanilla Cookie

Remember to get a gift over the next couple of days, and I'll see you for dinner.

-Pure Vanilla Cookie

She liked having a sample of Black Raisin Cookie's handwriting, that was for sure. It was much messier than hers, but somehow, that made it feel more real. It was authentic; it was truly Black Raisin Cookie.