A random idea I had. Its ending will be better than its beginning, I assure you.

Pepper sighed with content. Lunch was ready, and an hour earlier than usual! All she felt was necessary to add to complete it were some fresh, savoury biscuits she had baked only that morning. Yes, she thought, they would complement the coup nicely. Then she could make a head start on the evening meal.

She reached across the table and grabbed the biscuit barrel, but, oh, such was her dismay when she found it to be completely empty!

"How could this be?" She thought aloud, beginning to panic. Perhaps it did not matter that she had no biscuits for the soup, but if there was a thief about, it could certainly create a long-term problem for her. She had only put them a scarce few hours ago…

"Mmm, that smells delicious, Pepper!" came a voice from behind her. Pepper whipped about. It was Jane, hot and sweaty from her sparring with Gunther, but nonetheless cheerful, for it seemed she had taken the victory today.

"Oh Jane! Thank goodness!" Pepper cried.

"Pepper, what is it?" the red-head girl replied with concern.

"Someone has taken all my biscuits, and I have no idea whom or why!"

"Oh dear. That is a problem. Are you sure you have not just…misplaced…them…?" Jane began to ask, trailing away when she saw Pepper's uncharacteristically furious expression.

"What?!" She spluttered indignantly. "How can one misplace three trays of biscuits? I put them straight into the barrel, as soon as they had cooled!"

"Uh…right…" Said Jane, thinking hard.

There came more soft footsteps and the gentle tinkling of bells. "And what, may I ask, is going on down here, ladies? Ouch!!" For it was Jester, and Pepper, by way of greeting, had thrown the wooden mixing spoon at him.

"Gracious, Pepper!" He squeaked, removing his hat and rubbing his head where the offending spoon had hit. "Honestly, you are going to leave me with a permanent bruise in that one particular spot."

"Was it you?!" Pepper asked angrily, striding over to him and attempting to tower above him with a menacing glare, despite the fact that they were roughly the same height.

"I beg your pardon?" replied Jester, politely puzzled, as he replaced his hat.

"Someone has stolen my biscuits!" Replied the wretched cook, by now, close to tears.

"Well, I can assure you it was not me!"

"That is a surprise." Jane muttered under her breath. Jester glared at her, before turning back to Pepper. He patted her on the back, attempting to comfort her.

"We should ask around. Maybe Rake or Smithy or- or the princess will know what has become of them."

"And what good will that do? I have not left the kitchen since putting them away, and nobody else has come in here all morning. This is just plain odd."

"Nobody? Perhaps…Dragon-?"

"Oh, don't let's be silly, Jester. How could Dragon possibly fit in here?" cried Pepper.

"No, not Dragon." Said Jane. "He has been asleep on the wall in the courtyard outside all morning."

"And you are sure you have not just misplaced-" Jane jumped in front of Jester to prevent Pepper from doing something irrational, such as knocking his head off or strangling him.

"In any case, Pepper, we must find out who the culprit is." She said, calmly.

"Good idea, Lady Knight!" cheered Jester. "With you on the case, we'll uncover the villain in no time."

"Right, come with me, fool." said Jane, grabbing him by the arm. "Do not worry Pepper, we will do our best."

And they left Pepper alone in the kitchen.

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