Chapter Text
The baby sleeps in his father's arms. Dark Cacao Cookie wasn’t particularly special. He was a traveling warrior, his child in tow, helping anyone he could. He’d been all over Beast Yeast, and now he was traveling to the Saint of Volition to wish for a new sword.
Dark Choco Cookie cooed in his sleep. The Flour Peaks got colder as you got higher, endless stairs leading your path. Dark Cacao pulled the blanket over Dark Choco, making sure he stayed warm. His son was his pride and joy, and he protected him fiercely.
Dark Cacao heard of cookies coming far and wide to meet the Divine Emissary. She promised to grant any wish to help cookies meet their destiny. Feats that were once impossible became possible in the Peaks of Flour. The warrior noticed, however, that no one was here…
“Odd… I’d expect to have waited for the rest of my days, and yet… There is no one in my way. Something must be wrong.” Dark Cacao explained to himself.
He walked further, higher and higher, and still, he could see no cookie for miles. Why was no one coming to see the Saint?
Hours later would reveal the answer.
When he reached the top, there was no one guarding the way. Not even a Haetae. He could hear… yelling. Swords slashing. Anger.
The Ivory Pagoda was dark. A crowd had gathered at its entrance, far past the gardenway. They were screaming, and many had weapons. Haetae were circling them, baring their teeth.
“What madness is this!?” Dark Cacao exclaimed. He rushed closer, but a Haetae growled at him as he approached. What was with the hostility? He could hear what the cookies were shouting about now, and he began to get an idea.
“How DARE she hide away from us!”
“She promised us wishes endlessly!”
“I only wish to see her!”
“Why are we being treated like this!?”
“Get her out here now!”
“Why is she in a cocoon? She should be out here!”
The mob grew angrier until…
SLASH!
A cookie swung their sword at a Haetae, drawing jam… All hell broke loose. Other cookies saw it as a sign to attack. The Haetae had to defend themselves. A battle had begun.
“NO!” Dark Cacao shouted. He ran forward, blocking swords from hitting Haetaes, since there were far more cookies. He fought back against them, defending the Pagoda.
A few slashes hit him. He had to dodge to protect Dark Choco. He felt terrible that his son was now a part of the battle… he had sworn to never expose him to this.
Suddenly, a cookie rushed inside the Pagoda, slipping in while the Haetae were being attacked. Dark Cacao seemed to be the only one who noticed.
“Fiend! You shall not dare to enter this divine domain!” He called as he followed the pursuer.
The Pagoda was dark and cold… Flour powdered the floor like dust. In the middle of the throne room was a giant silk cocoon. Was the Saint of Volition really that big? What was she doing in there?
Dark Cacao was distracted. He returned his attention to the insolent cookie, who was now unreasonably close to the cocoon.
“Oh, Saint of Volition! Why have you hidden away from us?” She dropped to her knees, her sword landing at her side. She held up her arms to the cocoon as if praying.
“We only want your wishes. Your blessings! We need you! And now you have abandoned and attacked us!” She cried.
“That is not true!” Dark Cacao startled the cookie. She turned around and quickly grabbed her sword, prepared to defend herself.
“Who are you?” She asked angrily.
“I am Dark Cacao Cookie. I, too, am here to see the Saint of Volition, but attacking the Emissary is wrong! You should be ashamed. Why can’t you just leave and come back another time?” He reprimanded the cookie.
“She has been away for YEARS! Cookies are crumbling, and she does nothing! If she will not come to us, we will come to her!” The cookie suddenly turned around and slashed at the cocoon. Flour dropped from the silk almost like water.
“NO!” Dark Cacao screamed. He raised his sword and slashed at the cookie, drawing jam. They staggered back, but not far enough before Cacao struck again and again and again, until the cookie collapsed, crumbling…
More cookies began to burst in and immediately attacked the cocoon. Dark Cacao attempted to push them back, but he was outnumbered… The cocoon was cut open, and the Saint fell out on her pile of flour.
She looked so tired… and withered. Dark Cacao could not help but feel terrible for her. Everyone froze seeing the state of the Virtue. She opened her eyes and raised her head to look out at every cookie.
“You broke my cocoon…” She weeped. No one moved. “You demand wishes for yourself… and yet, you do not let me grant my wish…”
It was as if the whole Pagoda was under a spell. Dark Cacao looked behind him. Where were the Haetae? All he saw were limp bodies…
Suddenly, Dark Choco began to cry. Dark Cacao tried to shush him, but it was too late; everyone, even the Saint, was staring at him.
“Bring me your child.” She whispered. Her spell worked on Dark Cacao as he stepped closer, holding out his son.
Why am I doing this? Will she punish my boy?
“This is the son of the only warrior who tried to protect me…” A tear fell down her cheek. “The rest of you… return to nothing.”
As she spoke her words, every cookie around Dark Cacao began to turn white and powdery.
Flour…
Dark Cacao and Dark Choco were the only ones spared. The warrior feared for his life. The Virtue had so much power over him. He dropped to one knee and bowed.
“Rise and take your boy.” She held out Dark Choco Cookie. Her tears had dried up, and a look of apathy had washed over her.
“Fair Saint of Volition…” He pleaded.
“You were the only one…” She looked down at him, her eyes sad.
“I…”
“Silence. You deserve blessings. What is it you wish for?” She held open her arms, almost smiling.
Dark Cacao thought for a moment… He came here for a new sword…
“I wish to pledge mine and my son’s life to you for eternity.” She paused.
“Eternity is a long time, especially for your son.”
“I am willing.”