Chapter Text
Deep in an ancient library, a cookie roamed the shelves. Her red eyecings swept over each title with care, taking in every word, searching with a diligence only found in the most dedicated researchers.
At the end of a shelf, tucked far away from sight, something caught her eye. In the low lighting on the library, gold thread glittered. She carefully tugged the book from its spot, reading out the title etched into the spine.
Her hands sweep over the cover of the book, wiping off what must be decades worth of dust. Her prize weighed heavy as she took it into her arms, but she hefted it over to the table, a small smile on her face.
As it hit the table with a thud, she looked up to her companion. His nose was buried in his own writing, a healing script from the little she could see. His hands pressed in gently, feeling the dip of the written words and his lips gently mouthed along. The loud thud startled him, blonde icing fraying with how fast his head flew upwards. His heterochromatic, unseeing eyes twitched, trying to find the source of the noise.
"Sorry, Pure Vanilla Cookie." The other cookie whispered, giggling softly as she took her place in the seat next to him. "I didn't mean to startle you."
"There is no need to apologise, White Lily Cookie. I should have been paying more attention." He smiled at her, eyecings slipping shut as he took his Vanilla Orchid staff in hand. The flower's own eye opened, pupil roaming until it found her. "Please, show me what you've found."
White Lily drummed her hands on the cover of the tome, excitement bubbling deep in her dough. "It's a historical record of the War of Ultimatum! I've never seen one quite like this!" A light squeal escaped her, causing Pure Vanilla to lean forward, smile warm. His dear friend could lose herself in her excitement sometimes, but he couldn't blame her. She had been searching for such a record for years. Another step in her journey to learn the Truth of Cookiekind, another step towards learning what The Academy refused to teach her.
The book itself was bound quite strangely. Its heavy blue cover was stitched with a golden thread, a pattern like the stars themselves etching their way across its expanse. White Lily Cookie didn't hesitate to open it, taking in the first words written inside.
"This might tell me more about the Ultimate Cookie. Its goals, its knowledge! Created by the Witches themselves, they must know something!" White Lily rambled, pushing the book a bit closer to her friend.
That did give Pure Vanilla some pause. He adored his dear friend, truly, but her ambition left him feeling… strange. He worried for her, sometimes. One day she will find what she wants, and it will not leave her satisfied. Such is the truth of most things.
But for now, he'll indulge her. He will stay by her side to keep her from straying too far into the dark.
He aimed his staff away from her face and down to the book.
"Before the war, there were five great heroes. They were known throughout Crispia as saviors, as kings and queens. Songs were written of their deeds and banners were raised in their honor. Each hero held a light, gifted to them by power unknown. With those lights, the Soul Jams, they fought for Cookiekind, their brilliance shining against a darkness that threatened to swallow the world whole."
In the dark halls of the Custard Kingdom, five heroes rushed towards the sound of screams. Shadows clawed at their heels, broken and crumbling cookies cried out for them to save them. A door, cracked open at the end of the hall, awaited them.
"Among those heroes were King Custard Cookie, a legendary healer and ruler of the Custard Kingdom. Though a young cookie he was, he is celebrated as one of the greatest kings in history, remembered for a kindness that rivaled even the sweetness of his dough and the Hope he brought to every cookie."
Custard held a poor, crumbling soul closer, his scepter raised high in the air. "King's Blessing!" He cried. His voice shook as dough stitched itself back together before he rushed to the next cookie, helping them to their feet. Exhaustion pulled at his mind, weighing him down with each cookie he ran towards. His enemy laughed, a wispy little giggle that wormed its way into his mind. He faltered for a moment, choking on air until a hand gripped his arm and pulled him forward.
"Empress Chili Pepper Cookie, her kingdom sharing her name. She is a ruthless cookie, but kind. Her wealth and her games fueled the cookies in her land for years and years, filling vaults and streets alike with glittering treasures. She worked hard for unending Abundance, to keep cookies unwanting. Despite her status, she is also one of the most wanted bandits in the world, a thief whose daring escapades became legends whispered in every market and alley."
Chili Pepper sliced through a shadow, screeching as more followed. She dodged an outstretched claw, nearly tripping over herself in her haste. She let her eyecings flutter around the room, taking in a huddled figure a few feet away. Custard crouched, hands pressed to his ears and unaware of the monster bearing down on him. She rushed forward, daggers out, stabbing into the creature's back and hauling her friend away.
"The Professor, one of the greatest magic users to grace Earthbread, knowledgeable in all forms of magic and willing to share it all. He tried and failed, over and over again, until he succeeded in his goals. His Perseverance became a staple of inspiration to his students. His school churned out many great magic users, leading the world into a new era of arcane discovery and study. It's rumored his powerful staff was bestowed upon him by the Witch that made him, a relic said to hum with ancient power."
Wizard heaved his staff forward, letting a powerful streak of lightning arc through the room, piercing through the chests of the shadows, their stolen vessels dropping to the ground in a pile of burnt crumbs and boiled jam. He voiced a small prayer to the crumbled, hiking up his robes and continuing his march. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Chili Pepper sweeping Custard away from one of the monsters. He turned his head to the other wall.
"Queenberry Cookie, a shy cookie who leads her kingdom with love and determination. She is a pinnacle of strength, never once letting her fears go unheard, but still marching forward to help those in need in a show of Determination. The cookies of her land adore her gentle heart, for she listens even to the quietest voices."
Strawberry swung her mace, ducking her head forward as she breathed in a shaky breath. Cool hands laid upon her shoulder, forcing a scream from her throat as she turned and nearly decapitated her friend. "Ah! Oh! Uhm, I'm so so sorry, Wizard Cookie." She clutched her weapon close, bowing her head. Wizard scoffed, "It's fine, Strawberry Cookie. This room has been cleared. We must keep moving. Where is—"
"Here I come!"
"Of course…"
"And finally, Saint Brave Cookie. An adventurer whose name is known in every kingdom, city, and small backsoda village. A kind, but simple cookie. He is as common as they come, and yet he possesses a unique amount of Bravery, a courage so pure that even the mightiest warriors found themselves inspired by it. He runs like a mad cookie, proclaiming Freedom for all."
Gingerbrave rushed forward, cane held out and a grin on his face. He pulled Chili Pepper up, who kept her hold on Custard. He sprinted once more, grabbing Wizard and Strawberry by the arms and dragging them with him through the final door. The final battle awaits them.
Wizard stumbled, pressing closer to Gingerbrave with a worried hiss, "You must be more careful! You are still gravely injured—!"
But the sight before him forced him to a sputtering stop.
"When The Ultimate Cookie proclaimed its desires to truly unite Earthbread in a single form, the heroes banded together to put a stop to its machinations. They fought for the freedom of individuality, believing that every Cookie deserved to live as themselves beneath the starlit sky of Earthbread."
The being made of black fire and smoke had its back to them, staring up at the night sky. Stars sparkled above, beautiful and haunting in the same measure, scattered like powdered sugar across a vast sheet of darkness. Their distant light shimmered against the shifting plumes of shadow that curled from the creature’s body, twisting slowly like smoke carried on a silent wind. The night itself felt impossibly still, as though the world had paused to witness the moment, the quiet hum of distant starlight hanging over the ruined hall like a fragile promise.
The heroes came to a stop at the foot of the steps, staring up at their foe. It turned, bright white eyecings boring holes through them. As it caught sight of the cookie leading the charge, a grotesque smile split its face wide open.
Thousands of voices stacked atop each other, echoing around the room called out, "There you are!"
"The War ravaged many civilizations across Earthbread, but its peak began and ended at the Castle of Custard. The Ultimate Cookie carved its path and strode into the welcoming kingdom, bringing it to ruin in search for its missing piece. The Heroes leapt to their feet and took charge, standing face to face with the Great Darkness."
"I have been looking everywhere for you!" The Ultimate Cookie sang, "How could you leave us like that!?" Its face morphed into anger, flames spiking dangerously and eyecings narrowing into sharp slits. It hissed, hands clawing at its face in pain as tears began to roll down its cheeks. "It hurt so bad, why, why, why?"
The heroes watched on as the being snapped back into shape, eyecings returning to their normal wide state. "But it's okay! We found you again, our Gingerbrave!"
Gingerbrave glared up at the facade of a cookie, its arms outstretched as if it thought he would rush forward into its embrace.
"We can be whole again!" It cried. Plumes of smoke and thick, black tendrils burst to life from the cookie, reaching forward towards the heroes.
Gingerbrave planted his cane firmly against the cracked floor, crumbs scattering beneath his feet. His grin had vanished, replaced with a hard, determined stare.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly, "but that will never happen! For the Freedom of every cookie in this world, we will never let you win!"
The Ultimate Cookie tilted its head. "So disappointing…" Its parade of voices screamed the words, someone crying out, some angered. In a flash, the tendrils lashed forward from their frozen peaks, snaking eagerly towards the heroes.
"Cookies who escaped from the Kingdom recounted what they saw. The swarms of darkness and the lights inside, a back and forth battle. However, no cookie could recall what had truly transpired."
"Scatter!" Wizard Cookie barked.
Lightning erupted from his staff in a blinding arc, striking the first wave of shadows and bursting them apart into sizzling fragments of jam and soot. The thunder of the spell shook the chamber.
Chili Pepper was already moving.
"About time!" she laughed, darting under a whipping tendril. Her daggers flashed in quick red arcs as she carved through the smoky limbs. "WHO ORDERED SPICY!?"
The smoke screamed as it recoiled.
Strawberry Cookie raised her mace with trembling hands.
"I-I can do this…" she whispered.
The next tendril lunged for Custard. Strawberry swung, her mace slamming down on it with a heavy CRACK, scattering the shadow across the stone floor.
Custard gasped, leaping away from the damage and covering himself and Strawberry in a glimmering yellow shield.
"Thank you, Strawberry Cookie!"
"No problem!" she squeaked, already bracing for the next strike.
Another roar of black fire surged forward, coursing towards the shield and striking a devastating blow. Custard lifted his scepter once more.
"King's Blessing!"
Golden light spilled across the room, washing over the heroes as cracks in their dough sealed and their strength returned. The glow pushed back the creeping darkness for just a moment.
Wizard glanced toward him.
"Do not overexert yourself, Custard! We'll need you in a moment!"
"I'm fine!" The young king replied breathlessly. "Just keep them away!"
The Ultimate Cookie laughed, something pained and anguished. "So protective… You all move like one! And yet… you don't want to be with me…?"
Its body split apart into writhing streams of shadow.
"Hypocrites! Hypocrites! I will show you true unity!"
The streams rushed forward once more, only to be diverted by a powerful blow.
"Not today!"
Gingerbrave rushed forward, his cane swung in a wide arc, smashing through the first shadow. The strike echoed like a bell through the chamber.
Chili Pepper whistled, "Look at him go!"
She vaulted off a fallen pillar, spinning through the air and stabbing both daggers into a passing tendril.
Wizard raised his staff again.
"Now!"
The chamber erupted into chaos. Shadows seemed to scream as the pain coursed back into the body. Stone cracked from the force of the combined attacks. Stars glimmered coldly through the shattered ceiling above.
And at the center of it all, The Ultimate Cookie only laughed louder, its form swelling with dark fire as the heroes pressed forward together.
Wizard gripped his staff in two hands, lightning crackling around its candy core. "Custard!"
"King's Blessing!" A shield shimmered into place around the five heroes, pushing the darkness back for a moment, before it slammed against the barrier. The Ultimate Cookie howled, launching itself forward and scrambling down the step, clawing at the shield itself.
"Stand back!" Wizard Cookie pointed his staff at their foe, "Capti Somniis Tuis, Benedictiones Lunae Supra!" Light flooded from his staff, pointing straight at The Ultimate Cookie. But before it could strike, the cookie's torso split in two, dodging the beam.
"Crumbs!" The short cookie hissed. His limbs ached with the sting of Dark Moon Magic, but he reared his staff once more. "It won't stay still long enough for my spell to trap it!"
The proclamation weighed heavily on the heroes. Without Wizard's spell, there would be no way to stop The Ultimate Cookie.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then, Gingerbrave stepped forward.
"I have an idea!"
"Gingerbrave…?" Custard began.
But the brave cookie was already running.
He darted past the edge of the shield before anyone could stop him, dashing across cracked stone as he charged straight toward the writhing mass of smoke and fire.
"Gingerbrave, wait!" Wizard shouted.
The Ultimate Cookie froze, staring in awe as its desire ran towards it. The shadows parted like curtains, welcoming him with open arms.
"Oh…" it breathed.
Gingerbrave slammed into it with all his strength, driving his cane forward and wrapping both arms around the creature's shifting torso. The smoke burned against his dough, dark tendrils curling around his shoulders and legs as he forced himself closer, holding it in place.
For a split second, the monster went still.
Trembling, a laugh bubbled up from its throat, giddy and breathless.
"You came back," it whispered. The black flames softened, curling around Gingerbrave like affectionate hands. "I knew you would understand eventually!" it sang.
The smoke surged forward eagerly. "You finally see the truth! No more loneliness… no more separation… no more fear!" Its arms wrapped around him.
"We can be whole again!"
Behind them, the remaining cookies finally burst from their shock.
"Gingerbrave!" Strawberry cried, taking a step forward. Wizard grabbed her arm instinctively, shaking as his mind raced for the next step.
"No!" Strawberry pushed her way out of his hold, hefting her mace and preparing her rush forward to save her friend, but Chili Pepper was faster. She threw one arm across both of them, forcing them back behind the fading shield.
"Don't!" she snapped.
"But he's—!" Strawberry choked.
"Look!" Chili Pepper barked, allowing one hand to thrust forward, begging Strawberry to see what exactly that stupidly brave cookie was doing.
The shadows had already begun climbing Gingerbrave's body, pulling him deeper into the creature's burning chest. In return, his arms still locked tight around the creature as if refusing to let it move.
Custard gripped his scepter with white-knuckled hands. His power wavered, exhaustion creeping back in.
"Gingerbrave!"
The shadows climbed higher up his arms and across his shoulders.
The chamber filled with the sound of the creature's joyous laughter.
"You see?" it crooned. "This is what we were baked for! Our purpose, the one bestowed to us by the Witches!"
Strawberry struggled against Chili Pepper's hold, tears welling in her eyes.
"W-we have to help him!"
Chili Pepper didn't let go, her voice was quieter now. "Wait."
The smoke rose to Gingerbrave's neck. He grinned, throwing his head back and looking at his beloved friends. And through the growing darkness, Gingerbrave shouted.
"WIZARD!"
The heroes froze. The brave cookie tightened his grip around the monster, planting his feet against the stone as the shadows dragged him deeper inside its burning core.
His voice rang out again.
"NOW!"
Wizard's eyes widened as he finally understood what his friend was doing.
"Gingerbrave!"
The smoke surged higher, beginning to swallow him completely. But Gingerbrave held on, his eyes burning and the bright blue light of Freedom shining across his chest.
And across the chamber, Wizard raised his staff. Tears welled in his eyes and he choked out the words once more. "Capti Somniis Tuis… Benedictiones Lunae Supra."
"The Ultimate Cookie and its forces disappeared after that night. The cookies assumed the Ancient Heroes won the battle, put at the cost of their own lives."
As the spell pushed forward, the golden shield flickered away. The power of the spell hit the heroes at full force, pushing them backwards. Custard stumbled, gasping in breaths as his magic sputtered out.
"Custard! The shield—!" Wizard cried. He was stuck in place, tracing the arc of his magic as it hit its target true. As bright white light absorbed the chamber, Wizard shut his eyes, head pounding. For a moment, there was nothing.
Then, there was a sharp CRACK.
"Their true fate is left undiscovered."
The pages that follow are empty. The writer stopped after just a couple pages and sketches of what White Lily Cookie could only assume were the heroes in question. She reread each short passage, taking in the information.
She knew of these heroes, of course. Every Cookie did. Their names were etched into monuments and taught in the earliest lessons of history.
But to White Lily Cookie, they were just distant figures.
Her finger traced a single line again and again.
"Its missing piece…" She murmured.
Pure Vanilla tilted his head slightly, listening to the faint scrape of her finger against the parchment. The room around them was quiet save for the distant turning of pages from other scholars somewhere deeper in the library.
"The passage troubles you," he said gently.
White Lily hummed in thought, eyes scanning the final lines again. The ink had faded slightly near the end, the strokes uneven as though the writer’s hand had trembled.
"Listen to this part again," she said, tapping the page. "The Ultimate Cookie carved its path and strode into the welcoming kingdom, bringing it to ruin in search for its missing piece. It was missing something that made it… whole. What could that possibly have been?"
His staff’s orchid shifted slightly, its small eye studying the book.
"The text does not clarify what that means," he said. "It could be metaphorical."
White Lily shook her head immediately.
"No," she said, interest creeping into her voice. "In all of the recipes I've read, none of them seemed to mention any specific ingredient of importance. Bringing it to ruin in search. If this Ultimate Cookie destroyed kingdoms searching for it, it must have been something truly necessary for it to become perfect."
She flipped back a page, rereading the earlier passages.
Five heroes.
Five Soul Jams.
A war for individuality.
Her eyecings narrowed slightly as she leaned closer to the text.
"Why would a being that wants unity search for a missing piece?" she wondered aloud. "If it wished to combine everything into one form, then why take the time to search for it? Why not consume everything in its path until it was reunited?"
Pure Vanilla listened quietly, leaning back to use his staff to take a look at his dear friend. She had that look in her eyes. Just past the shadows of anxiety, was that ever present intrigue. White Lily drummed her fingers against the page again, thinking faster now. She looked up at him.
"Doesn't that strike you as strange?"
Pure Vanilla gave a small, thoughtful smile. His eyebrows creased together, internally hoping his worry wasn't pushing its way through.
"Many things created by the Witches are strange," he replied calmly.
White Lily huffed.
"You know what I mean."
She tapped the page again, more insistently now.
"If we knew what that missing piece was, we might understand the entire conflict. Why the war began, why the heroes had to fight at all!"
Pure Vanilla folded his hands together. "And what would you do with such knowledge?" he asked softly.
White Lily blinked at him. "What do you mean?" Her excitement was momentarily tempered, an anxious bite wormed its way into her words.
"White Lily Cookie… I know how important this search is to you. I only hope the answers you find will not bring you pain." he continued, "I worry maybe you're reading too much into it, my friend."
White Lily smiled faintly at that. She didn't respond, staring at the empty pages that followed the final entry. Her fingers brushed the blank parchment that came after.
"I just think… Maybe there's something here." she murmured. "No final account… no record of what happened to them?"
Pure Vanilla shook his head slowly.
"It seems the author never finished their chronicle."
White Lily stared at the empty pages for a long moment. Then she closed the book halfway, resting her chin lightly on her hand.
"If the Ultimate Cookie was searching for something," she said quietly, "then it must have known something the rest of Earthbread did not."
Pure Vanilla tilted his head.
"What do you think it knew?"
White Lily’s eyes sparkled with curiosity again. "The truth about us," she said.
Her finger tapped lightly against the cover of the tome. "Where we came from. Why we were made." She looked back down at the final lines again.
"A missing piece…" she repeated softly.
Pure Vanilla’s smile faded just slightly. His chest ached. He knew she valued her ambitions. Yet he continued to fear that he might be losing her to what is slowly becoming an obsession.
He opened his mouth to voice this, but was interrupted by a sharp voice echoing through the archive.
“You two!?”
Both Cookies startled, heads snapping up.
A librarian stormed down the aisle toward them, robes rustling furiously.
“What are you doing in here!?” the librarian snapped. “You know very well you're banned from this archive!”
White Lily stiffened, but Pure Vanilla did not hesitate.
In one swift motion he gathered his staff, the scroll he had been studying, and the heavy tome from the table.
Then he gently, but urgently, grabbed White Lily’s wrist.
“White Lily Cookie,” he said quietly.
Then, much less quietly,
“Run!”