Chapter Text
"Elder Faerie..? I-is that you?" White Lily shakily questioned, not believing what— or who was in front of her. Silent Salt frozen in disbelief next to her, sharing the same reaction as White Lily.
"Of course it's me White Lily, are you alright though? You're rather pale..." Elder Faerie affirmed her, his gaze concerned.
"I-I y-yes.. but.. how..? Didn't you die..?" White Lily reached out and touched his face, the feeling of solid dough on her hand barely reassuring the unease and anxiety pooling in her.
"This has to be a realistic dream.. There's no way you're alive..." Silent Salt stared at Elder Faerie, disbelieving of the sight— of the cookie in front of him.
Elder Faerie looked at her, stunned dumbfounded, his mouth gaping. He took a few moments to calm down and get his thoughts straight, looking both hurt and confused.
"I.. what makes you say that White Lily? I've always been alive. Could you explain what you meant by that? I don't understand..."
"Don't you remember? You died after sacrificing your remaining life force to protect the Silver Tree and White Lily Cookie. You used your final strength to fight Shadow Milk Cookie, knighting White Lily as the new guardian before passing away." Silent Salt finally spoke up, already recovering from his earlier shock.
"'Fight Shadow Milk'? Why would I do that?"
That question silenced both White Lily and Silent Salt, the air growing heavy with tension. Somehow, White Lily grew even paler, as well as Silent Salt's breathing growing more shallow.
White Lily was the first to regain her voice, "He.. He escaped the Silver Tree and killed you!" She shrieked, her grip on her staff tightening. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, Elder Faerie— the cookie who's body she held— was wondering why he would attack his killer. This was too much, too fast for her to process. White Lily stumbled back, Silent Salt catching her before she could fall— stabilizing her while gently rolling circles behind her back, grounding her mind.
"What are you talking about..? He never attempted to do that! He helped me seal the other Beasts when one of then escaped!"
"What?!" Both White Lily and Silent Salt sharply gasped in unision.
Before any of them could say anything more, a bright white light gleamed from the distance, reaching them even with the large distance between them and wherever the light came from.
Elder Faerie was the first to react, running towards a window, he pulled the curtains away, and both White Lily and Silent Salt could see Elder Faerie freezing in place.
White Lily and Silent Salt soon followed him, and what greeted them in the distance was a looming, lustrous, great white tree— well, they assumed it was a tree, it resembled one but the top part looked as if it were swirling, sucking up everything that came near it. It's roots were massive, appearing to dig deep in the soil, its branches reaching far with luminous leaves appearing to bear fruits, or... objects. Both of them were once more stunned speechless, what was that tree? Where did it come from? Most importantly.. is it dangerous?
When Elder Faerie saw it, recognition crossed his face. His eyes widened briefly, his posture stiffening. He took a few steps back, surprise evident on his expression.
"It's.. It's the Great Pillar.." He whispered, an unknown emotion briefly flashing on his face before he steeled his face into a neutral expression, albeit, it twitched at the corners.
"The Great Pillar? May I ask what that is?" Silent Salt questioned, unease filling the room they're currently in.
Elder Faerie sighed before replying, "Unfortunately, I don't know exactly what it is, but what I do know is that it holds the answers to our questions. As well as possibly answer the inconsistencies in our memories." His answer wasn't exactly what they wanted to know, but it was helpful.
"I was told that the Great Pillar currently stands in the Catacombs of Silence," He continued, both White Lily and Silent Salt froze, that's where they fought Dark Enchantress, but why was the "Great Pillar" there?
White Lily's mind was racing. Was this the work of Dark Enchantress? But didn't they defeat her? There's also the possibility that she wasn't fully eradicated.. But.. if that's the case, then wouldn't she wreak havoc and chaos once more?! No... No.. No! No! NO! It couldn't happen again! After everything she did to stop Dark Enchantress.. Sacrificing herself.. No.. She hoped it wasn't Dark Enchantress.. She can't handle seeing her other self— White Lily was cut out of her thoughts by Silent Salt gently shaking her shoulder. Even with the helmet concealing his face, she could tell that he was worried.
"My Lily? Are you okay?" She nodded her head, but she knew that Silent Salt didn't believe her one bit.
"Are you sure?" He gripped her shoulder tighter. "Yes." White Lily affirmed him, determination filling her jam.
"I... I have to inform the others immediately. We're.. we're going to the Pillar!" White Lily declared, hurriedly taking out her paper and quills, writing to the other Ancient Heroes about the information she was given, with Silent Salt following behind her to help... and to provide comfort just in case.
"...alright." Elder Faerie nodded. He could tell those two were close, closer than he expected, but it wasn't unexpected, after all, he noticed that they were closer than "friends"— well, in his own timeline he assumed, Fount did explain it to him, but it was rather complicated and extensive, so unfortunately Fount couldn't finish his exposition dump. Looking back out the window, the gentle voice of Shadow Milk still ringing through his mind, his command telling him what to do.
"Bring them to the Great Pillar, and I shall explain everything in detail. Do not worry, I will make everything clear soon. And please, make sure none of your companions hurt my siblings."
Elder Faerie just hoped Shadow Milk had the answers he desperately needed...