Chapter Text
“DARK ENCHANTRESS COOKIE, NO!”
Pure Vanilla Cookie screamed in terror as he saw the soul jams of his friends being taken away, leaving them with little to no power left to continue fighting. Shortly after, he witnessed his soul jam being taken away as well. Powerless to do anything, he watched with dread as Dark Enchantress Cookie lifted all 5 of the ancient’s soul jams high in the air, and cackled with glee.
I have failed them again. My people…my friends… Pure vanilla cookie thought as he looked around, staring at his friends exhausted and helpless gaze and at how his kingdom was close to mere crumbs. Pure Vanilla Cookie could not take it anymore, he needed to do something, anything.
He got up, straining as he did, and cast a last attempt to salvage everything that was left. His eyes shone with determination to stop this force of evil once and for all.
A forbidden spell, a spell if wielded wrongly, could cause the whole universe to shatter.
He had no choice, He and the ancients had little to no power left with their soul jams taken away from them.
The spell flashed before his eyes, its forbidden light lit up the whole castle, stunning Dark Enchantress Cookie for a moment. Pure Vanilla Cookie, seizing the opportunity, then directed the spell towards her.
He saw a cold, evil smirk before his whole world turned black.
——————————
When Pure Vanilla Cookie awoke again, he was laying on a soft batch of grass, staring at the bright blue sky, clouds lazily floating around.
He abruptly sat up. Where am I? He questioned internally, his eyes scanning the surroundings, trying to make sense of his situation. Just then, he saw a woman with dark pink hair tied up into two buns as well as dark pink eyes staring right at him.
“Warhrheit, you’re finally awake! Took you long enough!” The woman extended a hand that looked just like the witches, her smile and voice just like one of his friends.
Huh…? Warhrheit? Who is that…? Pure Vanilla cookie questioned in his head as he hesitantly took the woman’s hand. He then looked down and stared at the hands he was now controlling as he slowly stood up, brushing the dirt off his cape. His hand looked just like the witches as well, but rougher. He nervously looked around. The surroundings were too serene, too calm. He was at his castle that was illuminated by darkness, casting the forbidden spell as an impulsive attempt to save the soul jams and whatever he had left.
“I’m sorry…but where are we?” He questioned the dark pink hair woman, who looked at him like he just cracked the funniest joke in history.
“Oh Warhrheit, cracking a joke first thing in the morning? How typical of you!” She guaffled. “We are travelling to find a mage, and we just decided to sleep here yesterday! Don’t tell me you forgot?” Pure Vanilla Cookie stared at her, an eyebrow raised in question.
“Oh. You’re serious. Must have given you too much booze yesterday.” The woman chuckled awkwardly. A tinge of shame rose in her eyes.
“Since when did I— never mind.” Pure vanilla cookie looked away, his eyes landing on a short but muscular man with long black hair with a streak of white in it. He looks just like Dark Cacao cookie… Pure vanilla cookie thought, studying the man. The man then stood up slowly, rubbing his eyes groggily.
“Stechhulse? Everyone is awake right? Let’s go then.” The man lifted his claymore over his shoulder, before walking along the barren path ahead, the purple diamond on his claymore glistening.
Isn’t that… Pure Vanilla Cookie thought, staring at the purple gen. The resolution soul jam?! Pure Vanilla Cookie dashed in front of the man, blocking the pathway with his arms. “What is that on your claymore…?” Pure Vanilla Cookie questioned the man, staring at him intently.
“Seriously Warhrheit, you are acting a bit weird recently, it must be that corrupt priest’s doing…” Pure Vanilla cookie heard a faint “Hey!” Beside him. The man trailed off, before continuing. “This is a gem I got from killing a dragon.” The man replied, before sighing. “Now, we have to find a mage fast. The demon king must be killed.” He finally ended the conversation with a grim tone, a look of hatred in his eyes.
After hesitating for a short while, Pure Vanilla Cookie finally sighed before relenting. They walked along the barren roads, before reaching a small town. There, they searched for any available mage until their legs gave up. But yet, they could not find any one brave enough to join the party’s quest to defeat the demon king; they thought it was impossible. After all, the demon king had instilled terror into humans for many centuries, and the people who had claimed they would be able to defeat the demon king went missing for so long, people started suspecting they lost and just got consumed by the demons.
After walking for so long, the party had arrived in a forest entrance. Exhausted, they decided to rest there for the night. As they set up the tent, Pure Vanilla Cookie raised his hand towards the moon, using the moonlight as light to shine on his hand. Unlike the hand he had before, it was now a hand that looked similar to the witches, the people who had baked the cookies. He was once a cookie, apparently not anymore as when he reached the river stream nearby and saw his reflection. A young and tanned face staring right back at him, with a nose and everything a human has. I am not getting used to this anatomy anytime soon… Pure vanilla cookie sighed. His eyes still remained similar though, with heterochromia eyes staring right back at him as well as a princely-like outfit on his body. Its main colour scheme was yellow and white, his usual colour scheme. He then saw it, a glistening shade of blue was keeping his cape together.
His soul jam
He reached out, touching its smooth, glassy surface as he stared at the gem in shock.
How? Wasn’t it taken away by Dark Enchantress Cookie? He thought as he slowly traced its spade-like shape, his eyes welling up with tears. Both happiness and confusion flooded his mind. How did this happen
But he was not in his world, and thus there was no time to celebrate. He quickly walked back towards the campsite and looked at the book that said “holy scripture” that was beside Stechhulse, who was sprawled across the sleeping bag turned bed. Pure vanilla cookie looked at the book cover, and there it was.
A heart gem that was in a deep shade of pink.
The passion soul jam.
But maybe they were not the soul jams, maybe there was just ordinary gems and he was just being delusional. But he could feel it, the calling of his truth soul jam. Despite them being in a different world, there were still the existence of the soul jams.
But they don’t seem to be aware of it. Pure Vanilla cookie thought, his fingers stroked his chin as he walked out of the tent and sat down at the root of a tree nearby.
I need to find a way back, no matter what. Pure vanilla cookie thought, before he finally fell asleep.
When he awoke again, he found the party hastily packing up before they continued their journey to find a mage. After walking for a long time, Stechhulse spoke.
“You know, I heard of a mage that had not only greatly contributed to humanity’s magic, but also slaughtered many demons. Maybe she could help us defeat the demon king!” Stechhulse exclaimed in excitement.
“Is she still alive though…?” The man, whom Pure Vanilla cookie now knows as Auftreten questioned, looking at Stechhulse, waiting for confirmation.
“I heard that she is an elf, and as you know, elves live very long! So maybe…” Stechhulse replied, a bit of doubt creeping into her tone.
“Well, since we can’t seem to find any mages for our party…might as well.” Pure Vanilla cookie finally spoke, and Auftreten looked at him.
“…Fine. I hope this won’t be a waste of time.” Auftreten grumbled, he seemed to be getting irritated by this long quest on trying to find a mage. Just then, they heard rustling in the bushes, and saw a tall, young lady walk out of it, carrying a bucket of blueberries. She had fairly tanned skin as well as long, white hair that is tied into a singular braid with a small white lily resting near her temple. Her eyes were a sharp dark pink. And most importantly, her ears were sharp, as sharp as an elf. She stared at the party, eyebrows raised in confusion and irritation.
“Why are you staring at me like that? Never seen an elf before?” She spoke coldly, her voice betraying no emotion. Stechhulse gasped, and she quickly covered her mouth.
“I…I think that is her….The demon slayer, Lilien…nobody has ever seen her for the past 100 years…” Stechhulse whispered, her voice slowly going from a soft whisper to a whisper-shout.
Wait a moment. Pure Vanilla cookie thought as he studied the woman in front of him. She looks just like…
Long, pale white hair, sharp dark pink eyes, a mage, an exceptional one in fact…
White lily cookie?
As if she had read the party’s mind, Liliene said: “And before you ask, no I am not joining you on your quest to defeat the demon king—find someone else.” She carried the baskets of blueberries and was just about to leave when Pure vanilla cookie reached out to grab her dark green cape.
“Wait!” Pure Vanilla shouted, a hint of desperation in his voice. He could not lose her again, even if he was in another world and this was not her. “Join us, I’m sure you are an exceptional mage and can definitely help us win against the demon king.” Pure Vanilla cookie quickly made up an excuse for his sudden outburst. Liliene looked at him for a second before turning around and bluntly replied another no.
“The things you heard about me are merely legends.” Liliene sighed before continuing: “I have not been honing my magic for the past 100 years. Although a mere century, my power is probably not as strong as before.” Liliene finished, staring dead in the eyes of Stechhulse, who looked like she was deep in thought.
“Now that I think about it…” she mumbled, scanning Liliene, “She has so little mana, even when compared to mine…” Liliene smiled and replied to Stechhulse. “See? Even your little friend said that I am a so-so mage. Now, I must take my leave…” Liliene turned around once more, slowly walking back into the deep forest.
Pure vanilla cookie thought for a moment, before shouting out to stop Liliene again.
Liliene turned around, her eyebrows creased. “What is it?” She questioned, a hint of annoyance in her tone.
Although just a hutch, Pure Vanilla cookie was sure “Liliene” was an exceptional mage, and nothing is changing his mind. “I believe that despite the little amount of mana you have, you are as strong if not even stronger than what the legends give you credit for. Please, join us in creating an era of peace for the next generation and beyond.” Pure vanilla cookie pleaded, his hand reaching out as if giving an invitation to the now wistful looking Liliene.
After a long pause, Liliene finally relented, and grabbed Pure Vanilla cookie’s hand.
“Fine.”
Chapter 2: Reunion
Chapter Text
White Lily cookie has not seen such a persistent man with an aura filled with nothing but hope and kindness. It almost reminded her of her dear childhood best friend, Pure Vanilla cookie. He even almost looked like him.
Ever since she fell into the witches' dough after finding out about the witches secret, she appeared here, in this foreign world, watching a horned animalistic creature that looked just like the witches, eating and destroying the village she was standing on. She felt a sense of anger wash through her, familiar yet unfamiliar. She fought with all her might, using every possible spell she knew, forbidden or not. But after all her effort, she only barely managed to defeat the enemy and was left at the verge of death in a burning village. Bodies scattered all over, broken bones and flesh that was ripped in half carelessly tossed aside.
She felt a sense of emptiness yet rage coursed through her veins. It reminded her of the witches’ banquet. Seeing the cookies get eaten with smiles still etched on their face, strawberry jam oozing out of their heads…
Now she has to relive that exact same moment, looking at all the blood splattered on the walls and floors. She felt nauseous. White lily cookie then looked down at her blood stained hands. They looked just like the witch’s hands. She felt her face and her ears. They all felt just like the witches, except for her ears, which felt sharp and pointy. She could not breathe. Was she a witch as well? After all, she was not much different from a horrible cookie being, ignoring her friends' pleas in search for the truth…
She was then snapped back to the present, where the party was walking along the river bank, trying to find a way out of the forest. “How long is this going to takeeee???” The dark pink hair woman White lily cookie now know as Stechhulse, grumbled, “I want to drink some beer…” “We…should be near civilization…” The man who had persuaded her to join the party mummered, his eye scanning for any form of exit.
After a long and exhausting walk, white lily cookie could not take it anymore.
“Come on, let’s go. I know the way.” She sighed as she started walking at the very front, taking the lead. They wandered down a long and windy road before finally, below the mountains, they saw wooden houses and some smoke coming from the chimneys.
“Oh thank the goddess, finally not just trees!” Stechhulse exclaimed as she ran towards the nearest tavern, with Auftreten following along. White Lily sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “She is just like Hollyberry cookie…” she mumbled to herself. “Corrupted priest…”
When she lifted her head again, she saw the man who insisted she joined the party, whom she now knew as Warhrheit, looking at her with his eyebrows raised and mouth agape.
“What is it?” She asked him in confusion. “Do I…have something on my face?”
“No! It’s just…” Warhrheit trailed off. “You know someone called Holleyberry cookie? M-me too!” He exclaimed with excitement, tears welling up in his eyes. White Lily cookie was taken aback by his behaviour, stepping back slightly. “Are you… perhaps White Lily cookie..?” Warhrheit asked, the tears slowly falling from his eyes. Before White Lily cookie could react, he pulled her into an embrace.
————————————-
He missed her.
All those sleepless nights where he sat silently at his White Lily garden, near the empty space where his lily used to hang out at, looking at the petals of the flowers, worrying about his beloved best friend’s safety. And despite knowing it was poisonous, he would inhale and lay in his field of white lilies and look up at the sky.
“White Lily cookie…Please be safe…Don’t be reckless…” he would murmur to himself.
Now, even if the lady with pointy ears standing in front of her was not White Lily cookie, he still pulled her into a tight embrace. Even if it was not her, he wanted the universe to know that he still cares about her, and wanted to understand; why had she became Dark Enchantress cookie. Liliene staggered backwards slightly, confused by the sudden affection. She then saw his eyes, a blue and yellow combo, filled with hatred, yearning and confusion, exactly like how she expected Pure Vanilla cookie to react when he saw her again. Liliene gently pushed him aside and asked him one question.
“If you truly are Pure Vanilla cookie, tell me something only he would know.”
Pure Vanilla cookie was silent for a moment, her eyebrows creased, deep in thought. After a long dreadful pause, he finally answered.
“I…stuck in this new body, I feel my memory slowly fading. But, I do remember our times at the academy, researching together on how to make a better, stronger cookie.” Pure Vanilla cookie said, his lips pursed together. “Then that means you are Pure Vanilla cookie.” Liliene finally replied, a barely obvious smile on her face. “I do not know what had happened that caused you to end up here as well but if it was my fault…I’m sorry.” She lowered her head and apologised. Pure Vanilla cookie looked at her for a moment, before speaking again.
“White Lily cookie…I really don’t want to say this but…It is your fault.” He sighed, something like self-blame forming behind his eyes. “You had drowned all of Earthbread into darkness under the guise of Dark Enchantress cookie. Many cookies died for your so-called goal to build a better earthbread, your goal of wanting to build a cookie strong enough to oppose the witches. I want to know why. What could you have seen in the witches' banquet to react this way?” Pure Vanilla cookie questioned, his feet manoeuvring towards her. White Lily cookie then saw the memories of the witches consuming the smiling cookies, jam oozing out of their heads. She started breathing heavily, sweat trickling down her face despite it being spring.
The witches…our creators…are eating cookies…
“SILENCE! I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THERE AND I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!” Clutching her temples, she hollered. The voices echoed once more.
Is it our fate to get eaten like that? Is there even freedom when under our witches' grasp?
Who am I
What were we… ?
Cookies… so weak and fragile…
Finally, White Lily cookie snapped out of her mental turmoil and the feeling of warmth was felt across her body. She turned her head warily, only to see the gentle eyes of Pure Vanilla cookie staring back at her.
”I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have pressured you like this…” Pure Vanilla looked away guiltily. White Lily Cookie remained silent for a moment, before pulling Pure Vanilla cookie into an embrace.
”I’m sorry too Pure Vanilla cookie… I know you have your reasons for asking, thus I sincerely apologise for lashing out at you. But now you know how truly horrendous I am…” White Lily cookie stopped for a moment. “Then so, pray tell, why do you still consider me, such a sinful and vile cookie, a friend?” White Lily Cookie felt a sense of…sadness? She felt water trickling down her cheek, why did she feel so unfamiliar with emotions?
Pure Vanilla cookie stood in silence. She was right, he still considered her a friend, despite all she had done. The vile, the crude. The many lives crushed so that she could fulfil her final goal. He had thought of her as power hungry, a cookie who had turned apathetic to the world she sought to protect. Yet, he still believed he had good in her, still was the White Lily cookie who wanted nothing more but to strengthen cookiekind for freedom.
Perhaps it was partially because of his feelings.
But, that’s impossible…I lost feelings quite sometime ago, after she drifted from us…After she became Dark Enchantress cookie…
But, every single time he saw her, his heart will skip a beat and somehow, all his exhaustion would fade away. Ever since he laid eyes on her, her soft white hair, her sharp, dark pink pupils, her droopy eyes and how it shone when she discovered something new. The discoveries made her smile, made him smile.
But that was an idolised version of her. However, even when he found out about her twisted nature, he wanted nothing more than to understand her.
The thing he told her in his dreams echoed once more.
”I would love you no matter how you change!”
Silence.
For the first time, White Lily cookie couldn't find the answer to why that was said.