Chapter 1: Birth of a Queen
Fear. Lack of control. Chaos under her watch. Her ever careful watch… All she could think to do was run, and yet she could not move.
Sumac Sheep Cookie had never thought the day would come when her God would betray her. She did everything she could to keep his favor, even going so far as to cultivate more rare ingredients for her work. Medicine, she thought, was supposed to be an invaluable resource to cookie kind – something rare to the Spicelands. Her practice, sacred to only the Sumac Sheep, kept thousands of denizens residing in the Spicelands healthy and happy. And yet, here it all was: a blazing inferno engulfed by a raging spice storm. The young queen’s ancestors were wailing as their home, and everyone in it, crumbled to dust.
And for what, she knew not.
Guilt wrought her mind as she stood frozen in the middle of her once-glorious village. She was a Wild Spice – a Wild Spice! The most fearsome and ruthless warriors known to Earthbread, revered for their strength and cunning, should be able to protect something as dear as their own home. Her home. But she could only stand as a glacier in a burning hellscape, watching the Sun melt it all little by little.
“THERE! There she is!”
A fierce, sharp voice pierced Sumac Sheep Cookie’s ears as she snapped to attention. Amidst the carnage – just barely visible through the spice storm – the silhouette of General Nutmeg Tiger Cookie stood squared with her. Along with her stood at least twenty other soldiers of the Spice Swarm, all directed at their next target: her.
Run. RUN! Sumac Sheep Cookie freed her legs from their anchor and broke into a full sprint. The Spice Swarm followed after her, close on her heels as Nutmeg Tiger Cookie’s voice rang in her ears. “He wants her alive! After her!”
Despite her doughline not being blessed with quadrupedal genes, Sumac Sheep Cookie could still outrun most of the other Wild Spices. The adrenaline coupled with the implications of the General’s words only amplified this ability and allowed her to bear the spice storm. Why would he want her alive? Why not just crumble her there? What did she do?
As she bounded fallen infrastructure and smoldering ruin, she tried to reason this question in her head. Maybe, if she’s wanted alive, it wasn’t her who disappointed the Great One. Maybe… it was her own people. Yes, she thought, it has to be them! After all, look how well I’m surviving, while they all stayed and crumbled! They probably deserved to be crumbled. Yet, no cookie has ever dared to crumble the great Queen of the Sumac Sheep! This thought gave her a little clarity in the racing whirlwind of “what if’s” in her own mind. The Queen of the Sumac Sheep was cunning, and brilliant. What she lacked in strength, she made up for tenfold in deceitfulness and general chutzpah. Her unusual ways of survival and trickery even gained notice from the Light of Deceit himself, as well as the Great One. It was unique, but it worked. No one could crumble her. No one.
No one.
If she couldn’t save her tribe and her people, she could at least save herself and start anew. But for certain, she couldn’t start anew here – no, no! Sumac Sheep Cookie would have to move elsewhere, to a new kingdom. Maybe, she thought, even to a new Continent on Earthbread. Thoughts of leaving the Spicelands for Crispia and starting anew filled her head. She’d heard of some weaker spices leaving for that land before the Great One began expanding… maybe she could start a new life there if she could fit in? “Please, take pity! I’m a refugee from the Spicelands! My people were slaughtered!” Surely those naive little cookies could believe that vague explanation and not press.
Maybe… After all, the traditions of the Sumac Sheep couldn’t just die. They couldn’t die with her.
Sumac Sheep Cookie hadn’t even noticed that she’d fled the city until the sounds of footsteps behind her paused. The fleeing cookie paused behind a large rock face to catch her breath before letting out a sneeze. The spice storm had unsurprisingly gotten worse. Powder doused her from head to toe, staining her hair icing a burnt orange from its original fiery red. Her dress, a symbol of her nobility, had suffered a worse fate: the sugar coating had been ripped and tattered beyond repair. A matter for later, she thought. Sumac Sheep Cookie took a breath before looking back to where her village once stood. She had not run far from the borders of her village, but she had run far enough to avoid the Spice Swarm. A sigh of relief exited her, but hitched again as soon as she got a second look.
Amidst the blazing fire, thickening smoke and grueling spice storm, Sumac Sheep Cookie could catch the glinting red eyecings of Nutmeg Tiger Cookie staring after her. In fact, all of the Spice Swarm that had been sent to raze her home were gathered, staring at her. Directly at her. They could see her.
But they just stood there in silence. Not daring to move. At attention. Afraid.
A booming voice behind her caught her attention. “Ah, Sumac Sheep Cookie!”
The cookie whipped around, her ears folding in response to the scare. A large, hulking figure shadowed over her, sporting a golden, toothy smile and flaming, fiery eyecings. Tufts of black icing cast a dark shadow over the pair as the figure leaned closer. A flurry of emotions hit Sumac Sheep Cookie all at once upon hearing his throaty, teasing chuckle. There, in all of his glory, stood the cookie himself; the Great One, the God of Destruction – Burning Spice Cookie.
“There you are~...”
Sumac Sheep Cookie froze once again. She’d never been this close to him. They were a mere few feet from each other – a distance that once would have gotten her crumbled on sight. He was… massive. The scent of burnt cinnamon filled the air, burning her nostrils, but that was nothing compared to the burning heat radiating from the Great Destroyer’s presence. She took a step back, hoping to distance herself a little, before her body reacted and tried to sprint away again.
A hand on her arm stopped her from moving forward. Burning Spice Cookie gripped her tightly, and she gasped out in surprise. “Now, now, is that any way to say hello~?” He teased her as he flung her around and trapped her in the small alcove of rock faces he jumped from. She fell to the ground, staring up at Burning Spice Cookie in fear as the Spice Swarm joined him. Nutmeg Tiger Cookie joined him at his side, standing at attention and awaiting his command. The warlord turned to face her. “Is the Sumac Village in crumbs yet?”
“Almost entirely,” Nutmeg Tiger Cookie bowed her head. “The last few buildings are being taken care of by a handful of soldiers, though there are no survivors, as you requested, O’ Great One.”
As you requested. This wasn’t just one of the other Spices requesting her be rid of out of spite. Burning Spice Cookie himself requested her people be slaughtered. A burning feeling of regret washed over her as she looked up at Burning Spice Cookie, who laughed heartily in response.
“Good! Now she has nothing left. Not her home, not her people – nothing!”
She held face, daring not show weakness in front of him, for while her village may be gone, she still had the chance to live – however small that chance may have been. Maybe if she could show she was indifferent – cold and ruthless like a Wild Spice should be – Burning Spice Cookie may pardon her for her unknown transgression. Sumac Sheep Cookie stared at the ground with apathy, masking the conflict she felt inside.
Burning Spice Cookie continued with fiery enthusiasm. “With the destruction of the Sumac Village comes the destruction of eons of medicinal cultivation, all sacred to a culture who couldn’t even stand on their own under siege! Even though this fight was too easy, sacred practices being erased from history is enough to make up for it.”
That sent a small twinge through Sumac Sheep Cookie’s dough, and she could no longer stay silent. “Why?”
Nutmeg Tiger Cookie smirked at her. “Why, what?”
“Why destroy such an important practice? My people were weak, but with them you’ve just destroyed any hope of medical aid your armies needed to be stronger! What are you planning to–”
“Strength,” the larger cookie interrupted, “flows in your jam, Sumac Sheep Cookie. If the Spice Swarm cannot strengthen their pathetic dough, then they deserve to be crumbled. It is as simple as that!” He thrusted his parashu towards the cookie on the ground, but only to gently lift her chin to look him in the eye. “A cookie like you should be able to see that. There’s no room for weak cookies in my world, for it is growing too quickly.”
The General once again bowed her head and put a hand over her chest. “Your reach is ever encompassing, Master.”
“Yes…” Burning Spice Cookie tightened his grip on his parashu, which was mere inches from slicing through Sumac Sheep Cookie’s neck. He glinted a smile at her again. “Besides… the only Sumac Sheep that serves any form of purpose to me right now is you, little cookie.”
That sentence took the Sheep aback. She… served a purpose to the Great Destroyer? Her? More than just her medicinal practices? “Me?”
It was at this moment that she noticed Nutmeg Tiger Cookie’s face fall in disgust. It was a slight change, but a change that did not go unnoticed. Still, it was clear the General resided to whatever choice the Great Destroyer had for Sumac Sheep Cookie, as she offered no rebuttal to the request of her Master.
“My world is growing rapidly. My reach is beginning to encroach upon other territories, and as we expand we begin to devour more cultures – more civilizations to reduce to ruin and more cookies to fight for the cause.” He glanced to his General, who straightened her gaze from her previously displeased state. “Nutmeg Tiger Cookie is rather busy ensuring the tide of Change washes over these civilizations, so I am in need of another helping hand in ensuring order amidst the destruction.”
The God turned his head back towards Sumac Sheep Cookie. An eager and sadistic smile grew over his face. “I am giving you the luxury of choice – the privilege to subvert your own fate and invite Change into your pathetic life. Your people and your ancestors may not be remembered in history, but you can be.”
Something inside of Sumac Sheep Cookie was churning her jam, congealing it into jelly. She felt confused and afraid. Here was the God of Destruction himself – a cookie who ordered the slaughter of the civilization her ancestors built – offering her a choice? A choice for what? What was she about to agree to? It was odd he was even granting her the luxury of extended conversation, so it must have been something important to him. She darted her eyes down to the large blade at her throat. Doesn’t seem like much of a choice if it’s forced. A hard swallow creeped down her throat as she nodded for him to continue.
Burning Spice Cookie lowered his head to gaze into her eyecings. His expression was one of wild intent. “You can crumble here as Sumac Sheep Cookie, Queen of a forgotten society full of worthless cookies, and be forgotten to the swift tide of Change. Or you can Change your fate, and become Queen of the Spicelands, allowing history to glorify your memory evermore.”
Sumac Sheep Cookie furrowed her brow in confusion for a moment. “Queen of… the Spicelands?”
“Yes. Sounds enticing, doesn’t it~? Rising from a meager herbalist to a Queen?” His words were threaded with anticipation, though of what was uncertain. “You entertain me, Sumac Sheep Cookie. Who better a bride to me than you~? But… I’ll give you a few moments to think before I decide myself.”
She sat on the decision for a moment, tossing every thought around in her head. The Great Destroyer just wiped her entire life and history from the face of Earthbread, threatened to do the same to her, and is now… asking her to be his wife? He’s practically enslaving her and asking her to give up her heritage, for what? Entertainment?! Because she entertains him?! Her mind stressed on what would happen should she be boring, let alone fail to meet up to his expectations. What did the Great Destroyer even expect from a wife to begin with? Burning Spice Cookie was not a cookie capable of showing love. All he was capable of was destruction!
And yet… the promise of power was enticing. The other Wild Spices would be jealous that the mere medicinal spice was chosen for what they would consider an honor. The true extent of that power and honor may have been unknown to her, but it was certainly more than the other Wild Spices got – and possibly even more than Nutmeg Tiger Cookie got. Her gaze shifted back to Nutmeg Tiger Cookie, who eagerly fidgeted with a piece of flaming nutmeg. Something told the cookie on the ground that the General was itching for her to refuse the proposal… But who could? Especially if it meant keeping her practice alive.
The spice storm wailed, echoing cries of disapproval from her ancestors. Even still, Sumac Sheep Cookie had made her choice. She lowered her head and slowly offered her hand to him. She said nothing, but kept her head bowed in feigned gratitude.
The smile on Burning Spice Cookie’s face widened, and he withdrew his weapon. “Good girl,” he mused as he took her hand in his. Sumac Sheep Cookie stood, and as she did, the spice storm seemed to calm itself.
As she was deep in thought, Sumac Sheep Cookie felt herself being lifted by Burning Spice Cookie. He tucked an arm underneath her knees and the other under the small of her back. “Nutmeg Tiger Cookie.”
“Eh- yes, Master?”
“Make arrangements for Sumac Sheep Cookie to receive a Lassi soak and fresh coverings. My Queen cannot be caught in sugar threads as plain as these.” Burning Spice Cookie gawked at her tattered dress and began walking down the path to his new Temple.
Nutmeg Tiger Cookie didn’t answer, instead grunting and directing the Spice Swarm to form up behind the Great Destroyer and follow them. She was obviously not happy that she wasn’t able to witness the crumbling of the last surviving Sumac Sheep, but the annoyance seemed more targeted than usual. Sumac Sheep Cookie wondered why…
She looked back at what remained of her village. Her once great home, ruined by a lust for carnage, stood no more. The only remnants of its memory were crumbs sure to become another stale layer in the landscape. Her people and her homeland were reduced to the literal ground under their feet – the very ground Burning Spice Cookie was carrying her over as the Swarm made their way to the palace. Her eyes dare not leave the remains of her city – the crumbs of the very nurses and medics she had convened with that morning, of the Kulfi who offered use to the small spring nearby, of the herbalists who carefully oversaw the growth of every herb and spice needed for the creation of their medicines. Years of civilization, gone in the blink of an eye.
“You made a wise decision, my little lamb,” Burning Spice Cookie chuckled. “Taking charge of your own Change is a sign of true strength. Something most pathetic cookies know nothing about.”
She didn’t look at him as her eyes scanned the burning city shrinking into the horizon behind them.
Wise… yes. We’ll call it that.
