Dashing through the chaos within the kingdom of Faeries, everyone went on over to White Lily Cookie's memoria. While GingerBrave, Wizard Cookie and Strawberry Cookie guard their position in case any enemies come their way… Pure Vanilla Cookie, Elder Faerie Cookie and Mariya soon discussed the matter between the 3.
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "What must we do to wake White Lily Cookie?"
Elder Faerie Cookie: "White Lily Cookie's current body is but a shell — an empty dough. To revive it, two things are required… None other than Soul and Life."
Mariya: "I'm guessing the shards of the Light of Freedom is the first ingredient we needed for her to wake up?"
Elder Faerie Cookie: "Correct."
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "... And?"
Elder Faerie Cookie: "... We need a powerful life force. As much of it as every living Cookie holds…"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "But that means...! A living Cookie must sacrifice their own Life Powder...?"
Elder Faerie Cookie: "I'm afraid so…"
Mariya: "Woah, woah, WOAH!! — Hold the goddamn phone for a moment… In order to wake her up… Someone needs to sacrifice HALF of their LIFESPAN?!?!??! This is BULLSHIT!! Look.. As much I wanna help in waking her up from her fucking sleep, isn't that a bit TOO EXTREME FOR A REQUIREMENT!??!?!?"
Elder Faerie Cookie: "A fair exchange is it not? — Magic is so sinister and yet so just."
Mariya: "It's still a bit too extreme to give up either half of your life over a corpse!! Isn't there at least a different way to wake her up?"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "... I'm… Afraid not, Mariya Cookie. I'm sorry."
Mariya: "Tch… God fucking dammit."
…
Marinette: "Fufufu~ Look at those idiots arguing~ Oh how adorable."
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Ehehehe~ Like little mice panicking over nothing."
Celestine: (Mari… Pure Vanilla and Elder Faerie Cookie…)
Marinette: "You're awfully quiet there, your holiness."
Celestine: "ACK!!"
The grip from Marinette was suffocating Celestine. Each grip grew tighter and tighter, making Celestine choke and slowly losing consciousness and with each time that Marinette tried to make Celestine scream or at least react from their sudden act, just couldn't. With Celestine's vision coming to a blur and her hearing being barely heard… She can only hope that they — Marinette — would stop.
Marinette: "What's wrong, your holiness?~ Why won't you say something?"
Celestine: "... aah… gu…"
Marinette: "Why not scream?! Why not say that it hurts?! I want to hear all those lousy screams just like the others from you! All those screams in agony that I deeply wish to hear from the sound of your—"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Marinette Cookie, that's enough."
Marinette: "Hmm? Why…?~ I was just getting sta—"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "I said enough."
The glare from Shadow Milk Cookie was intense and the voice from him was commanding and dominant. Marinette can only look at Shadow Milk Cookie with a displeased expression on their face. They sighed out of disappointment and threw Celestine down on the ground while she gasped and coughed for air. Marinette walked past Shadow Milk Cookie but gave him a displeased look on her face while Shadow Milk Cookie ignored them completely as he slowly floated towards Celestine.
Celestine slowly held herself together as she tried to get up but Shadow Milk Cookie, in front of her, offered his hand to her, gesturing to help her up. She hesitated a little before reaching out his hand, but…
— SLAP!!
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Tch…"
Celestine: "....."
That slap from Shadow Milk Cookie was painful, sending vibrations all over her head. And yet… It left a mark… A wound… The blood ran down slowly, but Celestine didn't try to heal it since her prowess is still being interfered in the space around her.
When Shadow Milk Cookie got up and walked back to Marinette, he could only look down and hold himself together. The feeling… Regret… Guilt… Is slowly washing all over him from the moment he slapped Celestine away — out of fear — when she reached out to him. Marinette can already sense that Shadow Milk Cookie was feeling off when he first met Celestine, which piqued their interest from then on.
Marinette: "It's nearly time for the show, Master~"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Yes… It would appear so."
Marinette: "Something the matter, Master Shadow Milk Cookie?"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "... Nothing. It's nothing."
Marinette: "Hmm… Very well then. I shall execute our 1st phase of the plan. Come along, your holiness."
Celestine: "Wh-What…? — EEP!!"
Celestine yelped from the moment when Marinette appeared behind her and dragged her from her hair to the portal to the other side. Marinette waved Shadow Milk Cookie goodbye as they kept dragging Celestine by her hair while she struggled to get up and break free from Marinette's grasp.
When the 2 of them disappeared as the portal closed from the space… Shadow Milk Cookie can only look at the screen on the floor with an empty expression on his face. He soon softly touched his chest, the feeling — or rather — sensation he thought faded long ago was still there. His heart was racing for a while, was it anxiety? Or was it him being nervous? He doesn't seem to know, but he can still feel the guilt and vibration from his palm when he slapped Celestine on her face.
One deep look on his hand… He pondered if he only chose a different path… Chose to accept himself before he fell from grace…
Back in the Real World…
White Lily Cookie's Memoria…
Mariya: "Think this through for once in your dessert life… You can't be serious about taking half of your lifespan for her…"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "I know that, Mariya Cookie!"
…
"I know…"
…
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "... For a very long time… I have always wanted to ask her why… Always wanted to know what made her choose this path, leading her to her downfall. But now… Now I know… What White Lily Cookie really needed was a friend who understood her. I shouldn't have let her take on such a heavy burden all alone."
Mariya: Man… This simp…
Elder Faerie Cookie: "... No, Pure Vanilla Cookie. Mariya Cookie is right, there are far too many things left for you to do."
Mariya: "And I'm not letting either of you take your own lives just to revive her. If anything… Just take mine."
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "Y-Yours?!"
Elder Faerie Cookie: "... Hmm."
Mariya: "Think of it this way; The both of you have so much to live for and both of you have big roles to play your very part."
Elder Faerie Cookie: "That said… What about you, Mariya Cookie? What role do you have to play here?"
Mariya: "I dunno, old man. That's for me to witness it myself."
Elder Faerie Cookie: "... Very well."
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "Elder Faerie Cookie…?!"
Elder Faerie Cookie: "The determination in her eyes made it clear. And she is right; we have far more things left to do in this world."
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "...."
Elder Faerie Cookie then began the ritual — The Ritual of Life from the witches — as the light around both Mariya and White Lily Cookie glowed brightly before them, Mariya felt the immense pain from the ritual. The life from her body is slowly slipping away to White Lily Cookie's unawakened corpse, but she — Mariya — didn't try to complain, for she… Can only endure until it is over.
By then… The light of the Light of Freedom loomed over White Lily Cookie's body as it repeatedly flashes at her softly, signalling her that it was time for her to wake up. As her eyes fluttered, she slowly opened them and was finally woken up from her slumber. She slowly stood up but felt a sharp pain on her head.
As the ritual's light faded, Mariya soon collapsed and was breathing heavily and she could only feel the sharp pain on her head after that.
Mariya: *huff… huff…* "And here I thought it would be painless…"
Elder Faerie Cookie: "Are you alright, Mariya Cookie?"
Mariya: "Y-Yeah… Just fine… But now I'm back to level 1."
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "White Lily Cookie… Are you…?"
White Lily Cookie: "P-Pure Vanilla Cookie…? Wh-Where… How…?"
Pure Vanilla Cookie quickly hugged White Lily Cookie in a tight embrace, White Lily Cookie was surprised, but hugged him back because she missed him as much as he did. Helping her out of the glass coffin that she was confined for almost an eternity.. She struggled to keep her balanced, but Pure Vanilla Cookie was there to help her all the way.
When White Lily Cookie finally regained her composure, she looked at Elder Faerie Cookie and her eyes were filled with regret, guilt and sorrow. But when Elder Faerie Cookie walked towards White Lily Cookie, he reassured her that whatever she did back then… Was for the sake of Cookiekind and it was never her fault.
White Lily Cookie pondered deeply after Elder Faerie Cookie said those kind words to her, wishing she could turn back time and change her wrongs, but when Pure Vanilla Cookie pat on her shoulder with a soft smile on her face, she was surprised but gave him that same warm smile back at him and thanked Elder Faerie Cookie instead of apologizing.
Soon… She turned to see Mariya, just sitting on a tree stump, trying to stretch herself for a while now…
White Lily Cookie: "... And who—"
Mariya: "Mariya 'Cookie', the one who gave nearly half of her lifespan just to wake you… Travel from Crispia to Beast-Yeast with these dopes and you're very welcome."
White Lily Cookie: "... Your… Lifespan…?"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "Mariya Cookie gave her life powder in order for you to wake up, with the thanks of the Witches' Ritual of Life and Elder Faerie Cookie."
White Lily Cookie: "She gave half of her life powder?!"
Mariya: "Let's not think about that. For now… We REALLY need to fix that tree. We'll tell you all about what happened later, Lily."
Elder Faerie Cookie: "She's right. There are far more important things that need to be taken care of."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
LIGHTNING STRIKE!!
GO GO… AWAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!
Mariya: "The hell?! — AUGH!!"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "Mariya Cookie?!"
Mariya: "I know that smell anywhere…"
Elder Faerie Cookie: "... Quickly! GingerBrave and the others need our help!"
White Lily Cookie: "Mariya Cookie, are you—"
Mariya: "I'm fine, I'm fine… You, however, need to help them! NOW GO!!"
White Lily Cookie looked at Mariya one last time before going to her friends to assist them from the dangers they are facing right now. But when she got there… There were tons of monsters which she had never seen before… Monsters that are walking on all fours and their bodies are pitch black like the void and smoke emanating at the ends of their backs down to their legs and feet.
All of her friends are fending those monsters off, but each monster they defeat… It would seem they are undefeatable. Regenerating with each blow those monsters endured, they get more powerful than the last.
Wizard Cookie: "It's like from before — TAKE THIS FOUL BEAST!!"
Strawberry Cookie: "Y-Yeah! Back at the Golden Cheese Kingdom."
Elder Faerie Cookie: "Are you implying — MMRNN — that you have fought these monsters before?!"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "Yes. GingerBrave and his friends fought them once… But it's my first time seeing them as well."
GingerBrave: "GAAAAH!! — more and more of them are appearing!!"
White Lily Cookie: "These creatures…"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "Be careful, White Lily Cookie… We don't know much about their origins nor how dangerous—"
Elder Faerie Cookie: "WATCH OUT YOU 2!!"
One of the monsters — or rather, nightmariums — came on down towards both White Lily Cookie and Pure Vanilla Cookie's blind spot from above. As it was about to land a hit on the 2, a sudden flash or an attack on that monster came flying to the side and was immediately defeated with one single blow.
Everyone was shocked as they stopped fighting each other, amidst the fog… They can hear faint cracks and footsteps from someone back at the memoria… And appearing from the fog, it was none other than Mariya herself — having her hair tied up as a ponytail and her jacket tied around her waist, she grinned and said…
Mariya: "Well it's about time they showed up. Was ITCHING to get back to the grind~"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "Mariya Cookie—"
Mariya: "Thank me later, Vani. I got a score to settle with these fuckers."
With a dash from Mariya, she quickly passed through everyone and all the monsters' attention went all towards Mariya. Running from the nightmariums created a pathway for the others to get to the Silver Tree, she then went towards her weapon — Hyperion — where it was stuck at the bark of a tree after striking one of the nightmariums down. Grabbing it with swift motion, it soon turned itself from a spear-like anchor to twin swords and as she stopped in her tracks, the nightmariums soon created a ginormous wave of themselves, trying to intimidate and corner Mariya with their fearfulness, but… Of course… It won't work.
The moment Mariya swung her sword towards the nightmariums… A flash of that slash from those twin swords cut down the nightmariums into 2. While her efforts were proudly cheered, her victory was short-lived… Soon, more and more of them targeted Mariya and she had no choice but to flee — drawing the nightmariums' attention towards her — in order for the others to get to the Silver Tree
When Mariya created an opening for them to get to the Silver Tree, they didn't waste any more time than they already have. They quickly made haste, leaving Mariya to deal with the nightmariums all on her own. As much as they want to help her… They are powerless against such foes as those and Mariya and Celestine are the only 2 other people who are able to defeat them.
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "We better hurry, everyone. We don't know how much longer the tree will last."
GingerBrave: "What about Mariya Cookie?!"
Wizard Cookie: "As much as we want to help her… We can't. Remember what she said back at the airship?"
Before coming to Beast-Yeast…
Back at the Airship…
…
Mariya: "Alright everyone, listen up."
GingerBrave: "Hmm? What's up, Mariya Cookie?"
Mariya: "I don't know what's going to happen once we're at Beast-Yeast, but it's best that the 4 of you know about these monsters and their overall ability."
Strawberry Cookie: "You mean—"
Mariya: "Yep. Nightmariums are what me and Celestine call them. They're ruthless and unforgiving and they will not hesitate to consume you. And killing them will be difficult for you guys as well."
Celestine: "The only ones who are able to defeat their kind are me and Mariya."
Mariya: "Bingo!"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "But… If the both of you are the only ones able to defeat such foes… Just how on Earthbread are we going to defeat them ourselves when the both of you are absent?"
Mariya: "That… I cannot answer. I'm sorry." (If only they had the right materials and technology in this world.. That way, I might be able to create temporary weapons that specializes in defeating those fuckers. BUT DAMN THIS PLACE IS FILLED WITH SWEETS AND TREATS!! Talk about one way to get diabetes…)
Celestine: "Back at the Golden Cheese Kingdom.. I was able to give Golden Cheese Cookie a temporary blessing that can defeat those with ease. But, as I said, it was only temporary since my powers are far from whole so she is unable to fully defeat them."
Mariya: "Yep. Celestine here can only give a person her blessing for nearly 10 to 20 minutes or so. And after that… You're definitely on your own."
Wizard Cookie: "One question… Just what exactly is this so-called 'blessing' that only Celestine is able to cast?"
…
"The blessing of Apollo."
…
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Ehehehe~ Everything's according to plaaann~ And all that is left now…"
"Is a surprise~"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "But hmm… I wonder what Marinette Cookie is doing now… The rampage of those monsters are all part of their plan afterall."
When Shadow Milk Cookie flick his wrist for the screen to change its perspective… All he could see was chaos and depravity… Of the monsters from Marinette?! How?! All the monsters in the hallway in the Faerie Kingdom are all disappearing into black smoke. And the one behind all of those defeated Nightmariums was none other than Celestine herself.
With so many of the nightmariums slowly fading away, her very long hair flowed so gracefully as she stood there with her wooden staff in hand… Her figure was mesmerizing to everyone's eyes the moment their gazes landed on her. However… in that same screen, Marinette was nowhere to be found. Was she defeated by Celestine so easily? But then… A slow clap was heard across the hallway, behind Celestine was none other than Marinette themself, just clapping slowly as they gave Celestine a clear twisted grin on their merry face.
When Celestine turned around to see them, Marinette stopped clapping and gradually complimented in defeating their kin, but…
Marinette: "I'm still utterly unimpressed that you are still far too weak, your holiness. Did the space make you grow even weaker?~ Or was it because of that time long ago?~"
Celestine: "..."
Marinette: "Hmm… Oh well, guess we'll never know!"
Celestine: "... Why bother bringing up the past that's long overdue?"
Marinette: "Ehehehe~ Why, you may ask?~ That is because what you did long ago was ALL. YOUR. FAULT!! If only you didn't abandon us from your selfish entitlement of an author… We wouldn't have been in this whole mess!! But thanks to our Lord… Our holy savior.. We can finally rewrite this broken world into anew!!"
Celestine: "But I never—"
Marinette: "Oh quit your filthy lies and acts, princess~ We all can see through that pathetic little face of yours. And no matter how much you try to explain it, no one will believe you."
Celestine: "..."
Marinette: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Did I strike a nerve just now? My, how adorable~ aah~ It's been quite a fun ride, but I'll see you later. Till we meet again, your holiness~"
Disappearing within the shadows with their fellow kins… Celestine was now left alone in the long yet silver hallways of the Faerie Kingdom. Even then, she can only sigh and look down on the floor with complete and utter guilt washing all over her face, but her goal hasn't yet changed. She shook it off from her mind about the harsh words from Marinette and continued on forward.
Now that she's free from the binds that kept her from using her prowess, it was time to reunite with her friends… That was until…
Mariya: "CELESTIIINNNNEEEEEEEEE!!!"
Celestine: "M-Mari? — OOF!!"
Mariya: "BEEN LOOKING ALL OVER FOR YOU, JUST WHERE THE FUCK DID THEY TAKE YOU THIS TIME, HUH!?!??!!??!?"
Celestine: "... It was merely a distraction, just to keep us separated from the others."
Mariya: "Tch… A setup?! Oh now I'm looking forward to crushing their puny little SKULLS!!"
Celestine: "Mari, I know you want to pick them off, but we shouldn't be hasty."
Mariya: "Why's that?"
Celestine: "I have a feeling that we're going up against a Usurper."
Mariya: "You mean—"
Celestine: "There is no doubt about it when I felt their overwhelming prowess…"
At the very same time, when Marinette disappeared within the shadows with their fellow kins… Shadow Milk Cookie witnessed their little 'chat' with one another was starting to doubt his plan and his overall alliance with the Followers of the Night. And when Marinette confronted Celestine about her past… He couldn't help but to remember his choice of why he chose to fall from grace… Just like his fellow peers.
Gripping his staff tightly and biting his lower lip a little, he was frustrated — not towards the cookies he now so despised for, no — but to himself. He can only sigh quietly as he flicks his wrist just to change the perspective of the screen to Pure Vanilla, White Lily and Elder Faerie Cookie, his demeanor changed… But only so slightly to a calm and collective expression as he can only watch — for now — their move, just waiting for the right moment to strike before he can execute the next step of his plan.
Marinette: "Ehehehehe~ it's nearly time, my master~"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "... Yes."
Marinette: "My, my~ why long face, master?~ You should be happy that you're about to introduce yourself to those little fools very soon."
Shadow Milk Cookie: "... You're right. No time like the present! Afterall… The show must go on, as the saying goes!!~ "
Marinette: "Marvelous, master! Well said indeed!!" (But I wonder… How much further are you going to keep that act up until you finally break, hmm?~ Afterall… I can tell that your light is yearning for forgiveness. Oh, I cannot wait to snuff that little facade of yours so very soon~)
…
Mariya: "You mean—"
Celestine: "There is no doubt about it when I felt their overwhelming prowess…"
Mariya: "An Usurper, huh?"
Celestine: "Something the matter, Mariya?"
Mariya: "From before… Remember when you said that the one at the abandoned Chronos Tower was one of the Usurpers… You don't mean that—"
Celestine: "No, it isn't her. It was someone else entirely."
Mariya: "SO MEANING THERE'S MORE THAN 1 USURPER ROAMING AROUND THE FUCKING CONTINENT?!?!?!?!? — Wait… Speaking of Usurpers… That reminds me of the time, way long ago…"
Celestine: "Really?"
Mariya: "Yeeeaaahhh… But now's not the time to talk about it. We gotta head back and reunite with the others."
Celestine: "Agreed."
The ground suddenly shook itself to the very core. Celestine held Mariya's hand tightly, trying to keep her balanced, but for Mariya… She was unfazed with the sudden quake that erupted before them as she kept her posture and balance like an unmovable pillar. After that quake finally ceased itself, a sudden shadow-like pulse ran down every inch and corner of the hall and then… It came with a laugh, so sinister and so feverous to the ears upon those who heard it.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I am SOOOOO terribly sorry to have kept you waiting!!! — But now... the wait is over! Your favorite trickster is here!
Shadow
Milk
Cookie!"
The voice of one of the beast cookies — Shadow Milk Cookie — echoed the halls like sinister chimes and with each shadow-like pulse emanating every inch and corner of the halls… Celestine and Mariya can only guess that he, Shadow Milk Cookie, isn't the one doing that kind of pulsation… It was Marinette.
And again, that sinister laugh echoed the halls once more, only this time… It was Marinette's voice laughing and giggling all over the place. Soon… Everything went dark, every surrounding they looked at was nothing but darkness and all they could only do was stand still until the darkness around them lifted. Once it was lifted… The place they once knew as the Faerie Kingdom was no more… Now it's nothing but a circus for twisted freaks and maniacs with cyan blue eyes popping out everywhere, just watching their every move.
Mariya: "Damn… What a nightmare… Amirite, eh?"
Celestine: "Good grief, Mari…"
Mariya: "Hehehe~ Yeah, yeah… No time for jokes, let's move."
Celestine: "Right with you."
And so, the both of them set off to reunite with their friends once more. But… At the very same time when all of that chaos and change all around the Faerie Kingdom has started to shift… In the deepest parts of one's mind, their own little consciousness soon glimmered in the abyss and yet… It felt stranger than the one he used to know.
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "...!!! Wh-Where… Wh-Where am I?! This is… Wh-Why am I here again?!"
Light of Truth(?): "Pure Vanilla Cookie… Pure Vanilla Cookie...!"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "Light of Truth…?"
Light of Truth(?): "Ahhh, there you are! To think you'd keep me waiting for soooo looooong...!"
The light of truth before him felt strange, felt dark and sinister. With each voice and words ringing into his head, telling him that the power he possessed — the souljam — doesn't even belong to him to begin with. And yet… Pure Vanilla Cookie is still convinced that the souljam he possessed was given as proof of his worthiness to hold, to use for the greater good of Cookie-kind… And yet… Each word he speaks out, it will always be blocked with a counter argument in return.
Soon, the limitless void that shined with heeds of blue hues opened their closed eyes and they were looking at Pure Vanilla Cookie with amusement, as they were expecting him to doubt and hesitate from these pointless arguments and riddles.
Light of Truth(?): "What you mistake for the power of Truth is but a cute tiny droplet in my limitless ocean of Knowledge. So! Who am I?! Need another hint? I thought you would've solved my little riddle by now!"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "The one who governs all Truth and Deceit… The Master of All Knowledge...?"
But Pure Vanilla Cookie isn't yet convinced to why the Master of All Knowledge would want their powers back from him, when the witches themselves were the one who took and sealed their powers away—
— MAY THEY BURN UP IN THE OVEN ALL THE SAME!!!!!!!!!!!!
With a shocking expression waving over his face, the darkness surrounding him shifted and shook until it calmed itself down. It then chuckled as it sighed while having to relieve itself from the sudden anger built up deep inside itself, it then questioned Pure Vanilla Cookie if it was challenging him or rather still asking if he knows who he is talking to right at this very moment.
It then revealed that the limitless void they are in right now is "the Dark Side of the Moon", the light of truth—no—the light of falsehood kept on mocking him, mocking him to the point that he was the actual fool to snatch away half of their powers away from them. And yet it doesn't seem to matter… At least not right now anyway, once Pure Vanilla Cookie wakes up from all of this… He will finally understand what the light of falsehood was saying.
But before he could wake up… The limitless void soon shifted itself once more, revealing in a deep crimson red all around him and behind him… Was a shadow of someone—no—of something… So dark… So eerie and so, so sinister… Even more sinister than the one he faced earlier, it was even darker than he had ever seen and felt. But when he turned around to see what was in front of him… There was someone? A figure… And it looked just like Celestine! But what does it mean?!
The same flowing hair, the colors of that hair was different from Celestine's overall physique… The figure had dark hair, was bare foot and was wearing a torn and worn out white dress, but when that figure turned themselves around… Their expression was unclear, it was hard to make out from, but then…
"Thread too far…
And you'll drown like the rest of them."
— AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Pure Vanilla Cookie: *gasp.. Huff huff…* "Aah.. Uhh.."
GingerBrave: "Pure Vanilla Cookie, are you okay?!"
Wizard Cookie: "You…! What have you done to him?!"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Done to him? Humph! How rude… I did nothing of the sort~"
Wizard Cookie: "Tch, liar!"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Aww why thank you!~ … Anyway, let me see… I said hello to Pure Vanilla Cookie... That's one. A few Faeries... Two. Some teeny-tiny Cookies... Three. Hmm… Oh! Elder Faerie Cookie, was it? I'm surprised you're still alive."
Elder Faerie Cookie: "And I'm even more surprised that you're still the cunning little imbecile I once sealed away before."
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Aww… Now I'm hurt~ Though it's a shame that you weren't able to crumble… And all because of those COOKIES who decided to tag themselves along with you, RUINED THE MOST EXCITING PART BY STEALING THE SPOTLIGHT!!"
Mariya: "CRY ABOUT IT, DUMBASS!!"
Strawberry Cookie: "Mariya Cookie! Celestine Cookie!"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Speak of the witches themselves~ I'm so so glad you made it!"
Mariya: "Woah… A real life ghost… Is this even real life though? Cuz this is just bizarre."
Celestine: *sigh*...
Shadow Milk Cookie: "I'll take that as a compliment then. Now then… Where was I?~ OH, YES! I wouldn't want to forget about these cookies here… Ehee~FEAST YOUR EYES, A FORCE BEYOND YOUR KIN!!"
Tantallizing circus music started to play in the air, and all they could hear were laughs and giggles from cookies of their own kind, from once a proud knight of the faerie kingdom… Now reduced to nothing but puppets in the hands of the beast.
Nearly every single knight was turned into clowns and jesters, but thankfully… Silverbell and Mercurial Knight Cookie weren't influenced by the beholder. However… It would seem that they are in a bind at the other side of the palace.
???: "Ehehehe~ Don't forget about me now~"
Right above the silver tree, a figure all so familiar came down from above, as it dusted themselves off, they later introduced themselves as Marinette Cookie… Yet their physique is still hidden beneath that cloak they are wearing. As they bowed to the group before them, only Shadow Milk Cookie was applauding them for their flawless landing.
Marinette: "My, my~ Why the surprised look on your faces, hmm?"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Quite an entrance, Marinette Cookie. APPLAUSE, EVERYONE! APPLAUSE!! Wow, tough crowd, huh?"
Mariya: "Enough already!! Whether you surrender or—"
Marinette: "Or what?~ Don't tell me you plan on taking me and the master in a 2v1 fight now, hmm?"
Mairya: "....!!!!" (Dammit!! This smell… It's suffocating me… And their prowess feels… Familiar…)
Marinette: "Hmm? Are you becoming a statue now?~ My, what fun!!"
Strawberry Cookie: "Just what exactly do you plan on doing…?"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Hmm… Good question~..."
Wizard Cookie: "You just had to ask, huh?"
His eyes roamed around, inspecting every bit of everyone before having a mischievous grin on face and from there… His eyes were locked into place with Celestine's endearing gaze. And when the 2 of them had their eyes met with each other, he soon snapped his fingers and Celestine disappeared… Only to appear right in his arms as she was surprised and flushed from the sudden act from him.
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Mind if I 'borrow' her for a bit?~"
Celestine: "H-Huh…?!"
Mariya: "The fuck?! NO!! — H-HEY! WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU TAKING HER?!??!?!?"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "You'll see soon enough! But surprises are meant to be surprises afterall~ AHAHAHAHA!!"
When Shadow Milk Cookie swiftly took Celestine in his arms, carrying her somewhere to who knows where, the group rushed to save her, but… Marinette and other Faeries — who ended up turning into clowns — blocked their path from going any further.
Marinette: "Ohoho no~... If you want to save that feeble little witch… You gotta get through them first!! Goodluck~"
Mariya: "Why you little…"
Clown Faerie Cookie #2: "You heard them! You gotta get through us first!!"
Clown Faerie Cookie #1: "Ehehehehe~ PFFFFTTT… You guys are so pa—the—tic~"
Wizard Cookie: "Why I oughta…"
Elder Faerie Cookie: "Please forgive me for what I'm about to do…"
With swift and elegant motion… Elder Faerie Cookie had no other choice but to cut down his own knights for the rest of the group to rush and save Celestine from the beast. Elder Faerie Cookie told them to go on without him to save them from the efforts of handling the clown faeries on their own, while the rest of the group rushed to the direction where Celestine was taken, Mariya thanked Elder Faerie Cookie and promised to repay him a hundred—no—a thousand fold.
Elder Faerie Cookie couldn't help but to smile, but only briefly from her response. Soon… Mariya went on ahead, to catch up with the others while Elder Faerie Cookie, being left behind… Dealt with the clown faerie cookies all by himself. And yet… Even amidst this twisted wonderland… The nightmariums from earlier have come back for revenge.
Elder Faerie Cookie: "Tch… Them again? Very well… COME AT ME, FOUL BEASTS!!"
…
Celestine: "Sh-Shadow Milk Cookie… Please stop…"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Mmm… I'm afraid I can't, princess~"
Celestine: "I can treat the wound myself, you know."
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Why?~ I need you to look your best once the curtains of the stage lifts!"
Celestine: "It's… Not that."
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Hmm? Then what is?"
Celestine: "Why go out of your way to treat my wound on my face? … Not that I mind, it's just… Out of character for you to do it."
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Hmm… Maybe it's because I still have some kindness left in me… Or maybe it's because I wanted to see that cute little face of yours~"
Celestine: "Hrrnnmm… Stop pinching..!!"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Ehehehe~ No… I don't think I won't." (She really is cute…)
From pinching her cheek a little, she whined like a baby yet didn't try to fight back, why is that? Yet the more Shadow Milk Cookie questions that, the more his heart skips a beat. Caressing her face with the palm of his hand, she pouted and her gaze was averted from his which made her more adorable to look at. And with a soft brush from the touch of his thumb, he really couldn't help but wonder… What's even wrong with him now?
His hand was soon placed on her chin, lifting her face slightly upwards just for him to get a better look at her.. He brushed her lips softly with his thumb once again, the softness of her lips to her overall mysterious gaze… He bit his lower lip then let her go. His expression changed as he averted his gaze from her, Celestine could tell that he seems and feels unsure about himself and yet… Why now? She pondered.
Even then… She really couldn't help herself but to try and comfort him somehow… And yet… The moment she reached her hand out to him, she hesitated and backed off. She wasn't sure why she backed away, but maybe it was a gut feeling from her that it was not really the right time and moment to do that… Not now.
Soon, his expression changed quickly when he sensed Marinette's presence from behind, he saved face in order to hide his true demeanor from them. He turned around with a smile printed on his foolish face, and yet they could already tell that Shadow Milk Cookie is hiding his true demeanor which led to Marinette's desire to snuff his facade out dry even more.
Marinette: "My, my~ what did I miss, my dearest master Shadow Milk Cookie?"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Nothing of the sort. Is everything according to plan?"
Marinette: "Yep~ And that foolish elder faerie took the bait. He is long gone now!~"
Celestine: ... No.
Shadow Milk Cookie: "AHAHAHAHA!! Excellent… Just MAAAARVOOLOOOUUUS!! —All that is left now is to finally show them… The Truth."
Marinette: "Hmm? Oh! That's right! No wonder you took her holiness from them! I totally—forgot."
Celestine: "EEK!"
The gaze from Marinette to Celestine was dark and ominous to the core of her soul. Yet that same feeling from before… Back at the space — the Dark side of the Moon… It became clear now to her, that Marinette was no ordinary Follower of the Night… They… Are an Usurper. But not before long… Marinette then proceeded to tie Celestine from her wrists to her ankles and the power from these binds were powerful and she is, once again, unable to use her prowess to break free.
If she was quick on her feet, she would've dodged them, but she wasn't. Instead… She fell, once again, to enemy hands which made Marinette chuckle as for how gullible and weak Celestine is now, but in the midst of it all that is happening right now, right on stage… Shadow Milk Cookie can only watch them in the shadows, because he's afraid… Afraid of getting in the way of Marinette because he knows Marinette's real and raw power that they possessed which no other cookie—not even him can possess.
Yet that power… Is even far more sinister than his own…
In the Faerie Kingdom Halls…
…
Mariya: "God FUCKING DAMMIT!!!"
White Lily Cookie: "They couldn't have gotten far."
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "We better stay alert… Who knows how many forces will come our way."
Mariya: "Then let them come. I can take them on, no biggie!"
GingerBrave: "Uh guys… What's that over there?"
Wizard Cookie: "It looks like…"
Strawberry Cookie: "A theatre?"
Mariya: "What the fuck bruh?"