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Turning a New Leaf
[Main Story]
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[Your Mindscape]
Silent Salt Cookie was standing there, pondering to himself while you were pacing back and forth in worry and thought.
△ “You saw that too, right? Dark Enchantress Cookie just got stronger with whatever magic she pulled back there! The Beasts are lending a hand to the creation of the Ultimate Cookie and I’m still stuck here in my own head!”
△ “She is using power that cannot be controlled by only one Cookie. If she succeeds in bringing the Ultimate Cookie to fruition, I’m afraid that this land and all of Cookiekind that inhabit it will be in danger…”
△ “What are we going to do? We can’t just stand idly by and let her doom Earthbread! We need to act fast!”
△ “I’ll need to bring this information back to White Lily Cookie, she must be aware of this.”
△ “What? What about me? Don’t tell me you’re leaving me here! Those Beasts should now be back to trying to get in here if they’re not busy giving to their ultimate creation!”
△ “Do not worry. For as long as you hold my mark in your soul, this place can continue to be a sanctuary for you for as long as possible.”
△ “But you just said it yourself earlier, they will eventually find their way into this place and the only way to push back their influence is get them to remove the marks or have Cookies of greater power fight it back themselves. Why can’t you help?”
△ “They are not aware that I’m going against them, we can’t risk getting caught before the right moment. Any resistance from my mark will draw unwanted attention…”
△ “So…what can I do? I can’t really use the information I have when I’m a coma…”
△ “Have faith in your friends, in the Cookies you’ve helped in your travels. You are a living reminder that Solidarity is not dead yet, it always finds a way…”
△ “I…I do…I know they’ll get me out of this in whatever way possible…but…”
△ “………”
△ “Silent Salt Cookie?”
You stopped to look around the void, seeing that you were now alone as you let out a sigh.
△ “I hope you’re right…”
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[Cookie Kingdom]
As you rested in bed, Salsa Cookie and Bitter Candy Cookie continue to monitor your status. It was mostly Bitter Candy watching your condition as Salsa sat on a chair next to your bed, tired but looking for any signs on your on face.
Bitter Candy design by @/desperatelittledemon
△ “I know you’re stronger then you may think, Y/N Cookie. You can beat those Beasts, you just need something to start you up first…”
△ “Losing sleep isn’t good for you, general. You should get some rest, I’ll watch over them for you.”
△ “No, I can still keep my eyecings open. I’m staying.”
△ “Salsa Cookie, you have bags under them. How long have you been sleeping?”
△ “I…uh…few hours yesterday? It shouldn’t matter, I can fight the same as always…”
△ “Sleep deprivation can actually make you preform worse. We’ll need you up and ready if a threat comes to the kingdom, our soldiers need their general to lead them.”
△ “Ugh….I hate that you’re right, but I also hate leaving Y/N Cookie like this. Dumpling and Crowned are scavenging all they can find in the kingdom and I’m just sitting, not able to do anything…”
△ “You may think that, but you’re doing a lot by being by their side with that stubbornness of yours. If they awake now, they would’ve been pretty relieved that they had you keeping watch.”
△ “It’s the least I could do, after all that they’ve done for me. They gave me the strength to go on when I couldn’t before…”
△ “Salsa, you don’t have to-“
△ “Hey, I’m feeling charitable here. You’re really going to turn that down?”
△ “My apologies for trying to be polite.”
△ “…..”
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△ “I remember having collapsed after my fight with Dark Enchantress Cookie’s cake army general, a Cookie with a large cake arm and a large blade that was nearly as big as me or you. I was young and inexperienced, I let my rage of what he had done to my hometown and my father get the best of me, I was no match for him.
△ “I don’t know why he left me alive, maybe he thought I crumbled already or pitied me after such a worthless fight.”
△ “Hearing this makes me worry for you…”
△ “When he was gone, I thought the Cake Monsters would destroy the entire town and soon myself until…Y/N Cookie showed up. In swift succession, they repeled the attack along with whoever can still fight.
△ “They tended me when all was clear, but I was as stubborn back then as I am now. At first, I wanted to immediately go after that cake armed Cookie. I wanted him to pay for what he did, but Y/N Cookie held me back, telling me that I would only crumble myself before I even get my foot through the door. I didn’t want to listen to them, because after all…they didn’t understand what it was like to lose Cookies you care about to Dark Enchantress Cookie and anyone associated with her…”
△ “It’s a shock to hear you were once mad at them with how you two are now…they were only trying to help you…”
△ “I know…but at the time, I was too angry and upset to care. Until they had told me that they too lost Cookies to Dark Enchantress Cookie like me…”
△”The old Cookie Kingdom…”
△ “They knew what it felt like, to felt mad at yourself for being unable to do more. To feeling powerless to stop anything around you…but we would only be making the sacrifices for us be in vain if we blindly marched out to track down Dark Enchantress Cookie. They told me that we would avenge the Cookies we lost yesterday, we had to take it slow today, so that we can take a great jump forward tomorrow.”
△ “And that’s how you ended up here?”
△ “Yeah….after I had calmed down, I caught them just as they were about to leave. Initially, I had just wanted to apologize for my anger earlier, but when they offered me their hand back to the kingdom…I found myself being unable to resist in one way or another. Maybe I was thankful for what they did or maybe I saw it as a way to get back at Dark Enchantress Cookie. However, staying in this kingdom throughout the years gave me the answer I needed.”
△ “Was it both?”
△ “Mmm…yeah, it was both.”
The two Cookies shared a laugh.
△ “They showed me how to be stronger and I became so, so much that they appointed me as general of their army. I still remember the day they granted me this armor, it was a symbol of the trust they have for me….I was really honored that day….”
Bitter Candy noticed that Salsa was pressing her hands together for that part, as if that particular memory meant a lot to her. Salsa’s expression had also softened as well.
△ “They must’ve been proud of you that day…”
Salsa snapped out of her little bubble with a stammer.
△ “Y-yeah, and that’s why I want to prove myself to be the Cookie that they counted on that day. No matter what, I’d have their back. Like what I’m doing here…”
△ “I’d say they’d made the right choice…I still think you need sleep though.”
△ “Really? After all that heart spilling?”
△ “Yes. The health of Cookies around me is no joke.”
△ “You’re a real stick in the dirt, you know that?”
△ “I wouldn’t be appointed as their personal nurse if i wasn’t a stickler to health!”
△ “I’ll nap in this chair, how about that?”
△ “Your back will hurt if you sleep on it wrong!”
△ “Fine, that couch over there then! Better?”
△ “Better.”
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△ “Guardians of Nature, we have arrived.”
△ “Thank you for leading the way, Wind Archer Cookie. So…this is the kingdom where that curious cookie took root. Along with the grand cookie that had awoken.”
△ The Cookie Kingdom, huh? A cute little place they’ve got here, but a far cry from the blazing inferno of my volcanic domain! Do remind me: you said some common Cookie and an interesting Cookie heard Millennial Tree Cookie’s call?”
△ “Yes. Down there…the common cookie is the one talking right now. No, not that one. No, no. Over thr-no, no that one. THAT Cookie. That Cookie.”
△ “Wait, that Cookie! It’s Gingerbrave…! But…where is Y/N Cookie?”
△ “Y/N Cook-OH! Was that the so secret “interesting Cookie” Millennial Tree Cookie was talking about? It’s been a while since I’ve last seen ‘em!”
△ “Y/N Cookie….I feel like I have heard that name somewhere before…”
△ “You know Y/N Cookie, Sea Fairy Cookie…?”
△ “I don’t know…but their name rings a memory of long ago…”
△ “I see that Y/N Cookie has made it safe back to this kingdom, I…feel at ease knowing that.”
△ “Sounds like Y/N Cookie is quite the popular one among you guys, when you were going to tell me you met ‘em too?”
△ “Y/N Cookie is the light in the darkness, a beacon of warmth and hope for all of Cookiekind. And Gingerbrave is a Cookie with a heart as kind as it is brave. When the City of Wizards was on the brink of ruin, it was them who helped me awaken.”
△ “Y/N Cookie was pretty fun, as brief as our meeting was. Wish we could’ve hanged out more before this Dark Enchantress Cookie mess, they helped me awaken my powers to deal with a little imposter problem, ha ha!”
△ “And I would not have learned as much as I did on Dark Enchantress Cookie’s plans for this world if it weren’t for Y/N Cookie. The thought stays with me…”
△ “But speaking of which, where are they? Are they taking a nap or something?”
△ “This is not like them to be away from Gingerbrave and the Cookies of this kingdom…”
△ “We will learn of their presence here, but it is now time. The time we turn to the most primordial of powers. Dark Enchantress Cookie has turned to wielding the forbidden art of baking, she must not go further and threaten all life on this world. I see it clear as daylight. Y/N Cookie’s path, Gingerbrave’s journey, and this Cookie Kingdom. This is where it all truly began.”
△ “Indeed.”
△ “I ask you, Guardians of Nature, to lend me your strength.
At his call, the Guardians gathered around Millennial Tree Cookie. All at once, they gathered their power.
△ “O’ source of all life, heart of all things that grow! I call upon Thee…”
In a bright light, the 5 Cookies gave their blessings to the kingdom and its inhabitants. However, Millennial Tree Cookie would open his eyes and turn his gaze to the castle.
△ “Y/N Cookie is within that castle. The blessing has not reached them.”
△ “I felt resistance in that direction, as if something is rejecting us.”
△ “Yeah, what gives? Why don’t they want our blessings? It’s not everyday the Guardians of Nature hand these out, you know.”
△ “This isn’t like them at all…”
△ “What if something happened to them?”
△ “Evil has taken root in them…”
△ “What?!”
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Bitter Candy was monitoring your status when she felt a sense of energy flow through her. It was enough to stir a sleeping Salsa Cookie on the couch in the room.
△ “What was that? My dough feels…warm all of a sudden! I’m not catching a fever, am I? That would be no go-“
△ “Argh…AGH!”
△ “Y/N Cookie?!”
The monitor next to your bed starts to beep quickly as you begin to spasm in your deep sleep. Bitter Candy hurries to your bedside to try and restrain your movements!
△ “We Y/N Cookie?! What’s wrong?! O-oh my Swan….”
Bitter Candy was horrified with hands over her mouth as she sees the splotches of different colors scattered all over your body fully manifest. Red, blue, pink, white. She knew it was the Beast Cookies’ doing, what were they doing to you?!
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You were busy practicing sword stances (with no sword, dummy) when you felt a slight warmth wash over you…
△ “Woah, what was that? I feel…pretty shining, like I can take anythin-“
A loud slam suddenly emitted next to you, causing you to jump back in fright.
△ “GAH! WHAT THE?!”
You turned around and was shocked to see that a large crack was made in the void.
△ “They’re getting in! That didn’t take long at all! Silen-crumbs! I can’t give him away!”
All you could do was run away from the crack as far as you can.
△ “Maybe if I can put some distance between me and that crack, I can delay a bit-AHH!”
Another crack suddenly formed in front of you as you fly backward. It was just open enough for an eye to peek through.
△ “Lookie, lookie! I found my Cook-“
△ “Please get some new material!”
△ “Why of course! I’ve got plenty of new material to work with, just come closer and find out!”
△ “Hard pass!”
△ “That WASN’T a request!”
The crack you had just ran away from in the distance grows bigger, enough for a muscular arm to get through as it grabs around.
△ “I know you’re hiding in there, worm! Surrender to me and I promise I won’t make you suffer too badly!”
Your breathing grows rapid as a crack formed on the “ceiling”.
△ “Heavenly! Are you in there?! I have come to save you from my beastly friends!”
△ “As if you’re any better! Where’s Mystic Flour?!”
△ “She’s with me, because she can’t be bothered to break in herself! So LAZY!”
△ “I don’t see any point when I will reach Y/N Cookie all the same, destruction is not appealing to me.”
△ “You should try it sometime, it’s VERY thrilling, HA HA HA!”
△ “Heavenly, take my hand!”
Your eyes dart around to the different cracks that were slowly growing bigger.
△ “I’ve never been one to beg, but if any Could okie can hear me, I can really use a helping hand right now….”
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The Guardians of Nature and Millennial Tree Cookie had gathered around your bed, Bitter Candy and Salsa Cookie having been placed into sleep by Moonlight Cookie to mask their entrance. It didn’t take long for Millennial Tree to discover the problem with you.
△ “The hands from within the darkness have taken hold of this Cookie. As we speak, they continue to corrupt their dough until they reach their soul.”
△ “Those Beast Cookies…they dare try to rob a Cookie of their own body, to make them a slave of their whims!”
△ “Yeah, this is looking pretty bad. It wasn’t anything this serious when I last saw them.”
△ “Y/N Cookie….is this why I couldn’t see your dreams?”
△ “Our blessing to this kingdom won’t be enough, this Cookie needs our combined blessings to fight the evil that riddles their very dough…”
△ “Guardians of Nature, I ask of you to lend me your strength once more. Join with me together and grant this Cookie a blessing to purify them of their ailment!”
△ “Alright, let’s get this over with. By the way, did the air just feel a little colder to you guys?”
△ “I feel a sort of tingling sensation…is that?”
△ “Ah, we made it just in time to grant the immortal our blessing.”
△ “We are not too late.”
△ “Frost Queen Cookie? I thought your powers were recovering after getting them sapped by that Agar Agar Cookie.”
△ “And it is unlike a Guardian of your…pride to come to the aid of a Cookie.”
△ “What can I say? I’m a generous goddess, I can give a Cookie the honor of receiving a blessing from the sky and lightning itself!”
△ “The mirror that has taken my power was broken and has given me enough to make my path here. Cookies are capable of things even I can’t do and this Cookie is one of them. Their warm heart, even tainted, is giving me strength to grant their wish. To free them from what is tainting their being.”
△ “And here I thought I was being too sentimental!”
△ “Silence!”
△ “You know what they say: the more, the merrier!”
△ “With all of our combined power, these Beasts will pushed back to where they came!”
△ “Indeed!”
△ “We must hurry, time is of the essence.”
The now 6 guardians and Millennial Tree Cookie gather around your bedside. One by one, they place their hands on your chest, closing their eyecings.
△ “O’ source of all life, heart of all things that grow! I call upon Thee. I bring blessings upon this Cookie and to rid them of the evil that ails them so! This Cookie does not belong you, release your hold on them. Now!”
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Burning Spice was the first to break through, charging at you as you dodged out of the way. Next was Eternal Sugar, who immediately dive bombed for you. She barely gave you enough to roll to the side before Shadow Milk and Mystic Flour finally gotten in.
△ “This is getting dicey!”
Mystic Flour created a plume of flour that fogged the area around you, leaving you with only the shadows of the Beasts to go off of as you continue to evade their attacks.
△ “Give up and accept your fate!”
△ “You’re running of cards under your sleeve, Y/N Cookieeeeee~ Whatever will the noble hero do~!”
△ “How quickly does your struggle prove fruitless once again. Give yourself to me and I promise that apathy is within your grasp.”
△ “You know I’m doing what is best for you, heavenly! Come with me and we can relax in paradise forever~!”
△ “I don’t care if you guys take over my soul, I’ll never join you!”
△ “I would never take away that much from you!”
△ “I want a puppet, not a lifeless doll! Although your soul being ripe for the taking does sound tempting…”
△ “For once, I agree with the clown. It’s too boring when you’re just a husk I tell what to do. I want to see you struggle! To fight! To make your own choices that will inevitably lead to your doom!”
△ “I can’t make nothing even more…nothing. It would be useless…”
You raised an eyebrow, breaking out of your defensive stance.
△ “So…can you guys take these marks off then?”
The Beasts shouted “NO!” all at once before they came at you at the same time from different directions.
△ “AW CRUMBS, IT WAS WORTH A SHOT!”
You braced yourself for the impact…but was confused when nothing was happening. You open your eyes to see the Beast Cookies frozen in place, outlined by a glow.
△ “What is this?!”
△ “Helloooo?! I’m not supposed to be the puppet on strings here!”
△ “Interesting turn of events.”
△ “GRRR, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RUINING MY ENTERTAINMENT?!?”
A voice rings out in the void.
△ “O’ source of all life, heart of all things that grow! I call upon Thee. I bring blessings upon this Cookie and to rid them of the evil that ails them so! This Cookie does not belong you, release your hold on them. Now!”
A flash of light fills the void as the Beast cry out in confusion and rage, seemingly erased away from the void. They had returned to only voices, the early stages of their marks.
△ “You are only delaying the inevitable, Cookie.”
△ “This isn’t the end, Y/N Cookieeeee~ I will have you, the script is already written and proofread by ME!”
△ “Heavenly, I didn’t mean to frighten you! You must listen to me!”
△ “Oh, you will pay DEARLY for your mistake, impudent worm!”
You felt like you can take a breath as you lay on the ground.
△ “What was that just now? I felt a burst of warmth and next thing I knew, the Beasts have been pushed back…”
△ “Are you well, Y/N Cookie?”
You sit up at the unfamiliar voice.
△ “Was that you? Because if it was, I owe you big time.”
△ “Not only me, but all of the Guardians of Nature have come together to grant you our blessings. We have sent away the evil that had taken over your form for now, but you will need one more push before they can vanquished from your body…”
△ “Huh….” [I never doubted you, Silent Salt. Totally.]
△ “You will awaken shortly. When you do, you must join your Cookies to put a stop to Dark Enchantress Cookie’s sinister plans…”
△ “That’s the plan. What she’ll do could mean the end for all of us, whether it costs hundreds or millions of lives!”
△ “Go forth, Y/N Cookie. With our blessings, they will help you to see your true potential…”
△ “My true potential, what do you mean?”
△ “That is something you must learn for yourself…”
△ “Oh, you’re leaving me in suspense. Great.”
△ “Hehe, you’re so silly…”
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Dumpling and Crowned Cupcake Cookie entered the room, each carrying papers and books on possible solutions to your mark problem.
△ “This is all we could get from the archives, we can make more ground if we split up the pile.”
△ “Anything to help my dearest-HUH!?”
Crowned Cupcake dropped her pile of papers.
△ “Crowned Cupcake Cookie! What are you…oh my Swan…”
She catches on to where Crowned was looking at. On the bed, there you were awake and well as you look back at them. The noise woke up Bitter Candy and Salsa Cookie.
△ “W-what happened?”
△ “Ugh…I think I slept too long, what are we…”
Now all four Cookies were staring at you like deer in headlights. Crowned and Dumpling were holding back tears as you got off the bed.
△ “Hehe, hey guys. I’m back.”
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