Light started to slowly shine through the tall window in the Headmaster's Quarters, its presence heralding the dawn. A beam of light inched its way to the bed where it struck a -very- tired Capsaicin Cookie who lay exhausted upon it. Slowing turning his head so that his eyes could look out the window from where it originated, he sighed as the previous night's events still raged around his mind.
"Last night was just... A bad dream. Okay? A one-time thing," he reasoned with himself. "... And an accident! I just ran a little hot last night and accidentally started a fire. These things happen when you're..." thought trailing off, he sighed and closed his eyes for the first time since last night. "But... That dream..." he thought to himself, a wave of anxiety washing over him as he recounted the horrifying things he saw. It wasn't the first time that glimpses of his past tried to drag themselves to his conscious, but this was definitely the first time that they succeeded with such ferocity. The reflection of himself with a twisted and cruel smile hung miserably in his mind as he thought harder about what happened. "'You always run...'" he repeated the words left to him in the dream while staring down at his shackled wrists. The phantom pain still lingered, somehow.
Further moping on the subject was interrupted by the sound of an electric guitar that managed to pierce the thick walls of the Quarters'. The Headmaster's signature 'WAKE UP, SCOVILLIA!' morning alarm.
Capsaicin Cookie forcefully removed his focus from his wrists and slowly turned to sit up, letting his legs dangle off the bed. "ALRIGHT, alright! No more thinking. I've got a Trial to win and I gotta be SPICY!" He thought, violently shaking his head from the previous night's tiredness and combing one hand through his hair in an effort to buck up. "Just forget about it! You can't let your school down, they're counting on you!" he hopped off the bed and onto his feet before stretching out his stiff muscles. The muffled sounds of students bustling in the hall was an indication that he was, for the first time, the last one up. He re-ignited his spicy flamin' cape onto his shoulders and clasped the two heads together as he walked to the door leading into the hall. Sparing one last glance at the room that his Headmaster was supposed to rest in, he briskly shook his head once more and turned to open the door.
...
"Is Capsaicin Cookie not up yet?" A Hot Scovillia Student wondered aloud, scratching her head as she and a group of students loitered in the hallway. "It's not like him to be late for anything"
A Spicy Scovillia Student put a hand on his chin and closed his eyes, as if deep in thought. "Hmmm, that doesn't sound like Capsaicin Cookie. Maybe he's ALREADY up?" He said suddenly, eyes flying open and mouth grinning.
Lil Pepper Cookie looked unconvinced. "Let's go check on him. I spotted the Champion's Quarters at the end of the hall" he said, his large battle axe swinging off his shoulder to point towards the far end of the corridor. The two spicy students looked at the half-pint Cookie for a few moments before nodding their heads in agreement at his suggestion. Lil Pepper Cookie led the way for the two much taller Cookies as they ran towards the two farthest doors.
The Spicy Scovillia Student looked at the towering Champion's Quarters door. "HEY! CAPSAICIN COOKIE! YOU UP?" he yelled, watching the solid door expectantly. When no reply came, he furrowed his brow and lifted up a hand to turn the doorknob
"What are you three rascals doing?" a gruff voice interrupted, causing all three students to jump in surprise.
They all looked up at the Headmaster who stood there, axe in hand as he looked at them expectantly.
"We were looking for Capsaicin Cookie, Headmaster!" Lil Pepper Cookie piped up, head craned upwards to look at his Headmaster. The tall, burly Cookie appeared to pause for a moment at the little Cookie's answer.
"Hmph! He's already in the main hall" he finally said, bending one arm to point over his shoulder towards the end of the hall. "Now get goin'! The first Trial starts in an hour and I won't have a SINGLE seat empty!" he hollered, steering the three Cookies back to the main hall. Their loud voices grew fainter as they left the Headmaster alone in the corridor. He turned his skull-clad face away from the Champion's Quarters door and onto that of the Headmaster's, extending an arm to turn the doorknob and casually opening the sturdy door.
He came face-to-face with a sheepish looking Capsaicin Cookie who was standing inches away from the threshold of the doorframe. It didn't take an academy Head to figure out that he must've been standing there a while.
"Eavesdropping?" the Headmaster asked, folding his arms while still holding onto his precious guitar.
Capsaicin Cookie gave a guilty grin and scratched the back of his head. "W-what? Me? NEVER!" he boasted, attempting to hide the fact that his Headmaster was right about everything and that this instance was no exception.
The Headmaster cocked his head. "Rrrright." he said skeptically, stepping out of the way of the frame and beckoning Capsaicin Cookie to follow.
They walked slowly down the hall, with the faint, excited yelling and singing of pumped up Scovillian students growing louder with each step they took down the stretching corridor. "How are you feeling?" the Headmaster spoke, startling the spicy Champion.
"P-ppft, I'm GREAT!" he said loudly, covering his unease with explosive vigor. "Slept like a rock." he added, just for good measure.
The Headmaster didn't reply. They kept walking in silence as the sounds of a crowd grew nearer.
The silence between them became unbearable, causing Capsaicin Cookie slowly drew to a halt, with the Headmaster still marching on. "I... I accidentally left some firewood too close to the fireplace. That's... That's what caused the fire" Capsaicin Cookie said, breaking the uncomfortable silence with a lie. "It was a stupid move on my part.. I'm sorry." he finished, staring at the floor in front him in dejectedly. He hated lying to the Headmaster, he just... Didn't want him to worry about him. He could handle himself, he always has.
The Headmaster slowed, back still turned to Capsaicin Cookie. "If you ever need help with your 'firewood', you can always ask me about it" he said earnestly, turning his head slightly to look over his shoulder at the stationary Champion. Afterwards, he continued moving forward. Capsaicin Cookie slowly followed after.
The noise emanating from the main hall reached a breaking point when the two stepped foot over the threshold and into the hall. Immediately, the voices all focused into one as the presence of their Champion was made apparent.
'CAPSAICIN COOKIE!" they cheered in unison. The spicy fragrance in the air was thick as the excitement of the crowd buzzed anew with concrete proof of the impending Trial.
Capsaicin Cookie smiled widely at his classmates display of excitement, fears pushed aside by the prospect of the first Trial. "WHO'S READY!?" he bellowed to the crowd, tangerine colored eyes blazing with enthusiasm. "FIRST TRIAL IS IN THE BAG!" he yelled jovially, pumping one fist in the air. The crowd all joined him in action as the spicy air filled with the outstretched firsts of many.
"NO SWEAT! I CAN DO THIS! MY SPICE LEVEL'S TEN THOUSAND!"
At the Parfaedia Quarters, an uneasy crowd of Parfaedia students gathered in the main hall. The first Trial was due to start soon and their Champion was nowhere to be found.
"S-should we go get him?" a nervous, soft-spoken Citrus Parfaedia Student asked, looking up at her Principal.
The Parfaedia Principal smiled at her anxious student. "Although I am one for punctuality, it's best to let Prune Juice Cookie finish" she replied while readjusting the massive yogurt cream wizard hat above her head. "And-" she started before being interrupted by the opening of the Parfaedia Quarters' doors.
"-we have some guests arriving!" she finished cheerily, turning her head to look at the arriving guests.
A well-dressed Cookie donning pistachio-colored scholarly robes and wearing an entire pastry for a hat regally stepped through the doors. He flicked his long, platinum blond bang from his face with a hand that held a quill with an exuberant-looking feather and readjusted his monocle with his free hand. Next to him, a kind and patient looking cookie with deep latte-colored dough accompanied him into the Quarters. A large, chocolate wizard's hat decorated in latte art sat atop her swirling white milk foam hair, and in one hand held a wizard wand with an uncanny resemblance to a stirring spoon.
"I hope we didn't interrupt" said the spoon-wielding Cookie sweetly.
"Yes, I do wish the timing was more favorable, but I simply could not wait another second before documenting this momentous occasion in history!" the scholarly Cookie replied ebulliently in his rich, accentuated voice. "Ah, where is our Champion?"
"Perfect timing, my dear Professors. Latte Cookie, Eclair Cookie, how was the trip down?" the Principal replied in her seasoned voice, beckoning the two professors towards the centerpiece of the main hall.
"Frightfully slow I'm afraid," Eclair Cookie replied dramatically. "We would have arrived yesterday had it not been for one of the neighboring Alliance's requesting immediate assistance", he said, swishing his bang back once more to accentuate how positively dreadful the event was for him. "As it turns out, they had damaged a relic and needed my expertise in order to salvage it"
He looked over to Latte cookie. "Oh, and Latte Cookie simply insisted on accompanying me!" he said with gratitude to the sweet Professor.
She put a hand to her cheek and closed her eyes with a smile in a show of modesty. "It's better to arrive together than you not arrive at all!" she replied in a teasing manner to the scholarly Cookie. "But, where is Prune Juice Cookie?" she wondered to the Principal. "If I'm not mistaken, the first Trial is set to commence in an hour!"
"Ah, it seems he's still deep in preparation," the Principal explained. "He's such a hard worker, there's never a situation in which Prune Juice Cookie is unprepared"
...
"Almost complete!" Prune Juice Cookie thought to himself, wiping condensation accumulated from his cauldron off his brow. "With this final recipe, all possible scenarios will be accounted for" he thought, dipping a ladle into the bubbling cauldron and pouring its contents into one of the last empty bottles in his possession. "Hmm, must remind the Principal to refill my supplies after this Trial..."
He hurriedly corked the smoky brew's vial and placed it in his ever-growing potion sack. Looking the large mass over, his eyes opened slyly as he smiled at his hard work. "This shall do" he said aloud, grabbing the neck of the sack and hoisting it over his shoulder. Glasses clinked noisily as they shifted in their storage, with Prune Juice Cookie slowly making his way to the Champion's Quarters door. He didn't care much for its décor, as it catered to more... Magically-inclined Cookies. No matter, he thought to himself, as accommodations are rarely received by him.
He delicately spared one hand from his load in order to turn the doorknob and gingerly stepped out of the humid room. "Ah, right on time!" he announced to the crowd that appeared before him. "Shall we depart?" he said, opening one eye with a slick smile.
"Eager for adventure, young one!" Eclair Cookie exclaimed in his charming voice. "Then let us depart- Oh, Crème Fouettée Cookie, if you please", Eclair cookie added, looking at the Principal for her opinion.
"I don't see a reason for us to dally any further, then! Come along now students" she said cheerfully as she and the two professors lead the group of young wizard apprentices out of the Quarters.
Latte Cookie turned to look at her former student. "Oh, Prune Juice Cookie, would you like some help with your bag?" she asked, eyeing the inky Champion's potion sack slung over his shoulder.
"Thank you for the offer, Latte Cookie, but I'm quite certain that I should be able to lug my own supplies around myself in the Trials" he replied in his quick, matter-of-fact voice. Latte Cookie smiled at his act of stoicism.
"Then at least allow me to give you a few tips for this Trial, after all, I was once a Triple Cone Cup Champion, you know" she said, sweeping her curly hair as the modest Cookie allowed herself to boast.
"It'd be a pleasure" Prune Juice Cookie replied, not wanting to let his former Professor know that he had absolutely everything accounted for and under control for this Trial. Nevertheless, he walked alongside her as they both departed the Quarters. "Those arrogant Champions won't know what hit them" he thought to himself in a chuckling manner. "They think they've worked hard for this selection? I'll show them exactly what my trials and tribulations have led me to..."
The Crème Knights' Quarters were glowing with the Divine Light, its warm presence basking through the numerous tall windows complimenting the main hall's architecture. One radiant-looking Kouign-Amann Cookie stood in her ballgown-wearing splendor at the center of the main hall, surrounded by her paladin trainee classmates. She smiled as the pride of the Paladin Academy before her, a well-dressed senior paladin with royal blues eyes and golden cream hair, paced in front her while rambling off guides and tips on how to look fashionable while competing in a Trial. His shiny golden armor reflected the light as it struck the elegant plating.
"Now, you want to make sure that you block and parry ALL oncoming attacks!" he instructed, still pacing back and forth in front of her. "Even a single mis-timed dodge can give the competitor a clear view to strike your magnificent dress or dirty your shiny armor!" he continued in his regal and haughty voice as Kouign-Amann stood there politely.
"I think I'll be more concerned about my dough than the vestments I wear, Madeleine Cookie" she thought words that she would never say to the prideful paladin. "I... See, Madeleine Cookie. I'll keep that in mind" she replied respectfully, a tinge of embarrassment to her voice.
"Madeleine Cookie, don't you think Kouign-Amann Cookie deserves some more insightful information on the upcoming Trials?" An even-voiced paladin spoke from her spot at the foot of the Crème Knights' first Preceptor statue stationed in the middle of the main hall. She had long, slant-cut brioche-colored hair and donned pristine white robes. Her squared pauldrons shifted slightly as she got to her feet.
Madeleine Cookie scoffed at her interjection. "These ARE helpful!" he said indignantly to the stoic paladin. "These skills were what made me almost WIN the TRIPLE CONE CUP!" he proudly boasted, conveniently saying that 'almost' in a quiet voice.
Financier Cookie looked at him with impassive eyes. "I believe it was Mala Sauce Cookie who won last Tournament with her disregard for keeping her clothes tidy" Financier Cookie said matter-of-factly, clearly touching a nerve with Madeleine Cookie.
"A hair, A HAIR! SHE WON BY A HAIR!" he bickered, defending his past actions.
Kouign-Amann Cookie let out an exasperated groan as the two paladins- well mainly Madeleine Cookie- bickered with eachother. She readjusted the freshly-polished blade resting against her shoulder as she waited for the noise to die down.
Luckily, the Preceptor's authoritarian appearance brought well-behaved silence to the main hall as he stepped through the doors into the great chamber. "Giving Kouign-Amann Cookie advice, I see" he said to the two senior paladins before him. Madeleine Cookie smiled proudly whereas Financier Cookie maintained her impassive facial expression. The Preceptor turned to Kouign-Amann Cookie, who stood there waiting for his instructions. "We leave for the colosseum immediately. Kouign-Amann Cookie, are you ready?" he asked her in his rich voice.
Kouign-Amann Cookie looked at her Preceptor, her bright pink eyes gleaming with excitement for the coming Trial. "One hundred battles, one hundred victories!" she said proudly, raising her greatsword to the Light. "This will be no difference!" she said with confidence in her voice.
The Preceptor looked at her approvingly. "Well said, Kouign-Amann Cookie. You truly are the light of this Academy" he said before turning away from the curly-haired Champion as he made his way to the exit doors of the chamber.
Behind him, a wounded Madeleine Cookie followed. Kouign-Amann Cookie realized that his change in demeanor was most likely caused by that 'light of the academy' comment the Preceptor made. "Poor Madeleine Cookie" she thought to herself, giving the senior paladin a sympathetic look.
The paladin trainees and senior paladins accompanied her as they walked in unison behind the leading Preceptor. The prospect of the first Trial buzzed quickly around her mind, with her hand tightening around the handle on her greatsword as she thought of the possibilities it held. "No matter the trial, this sword in my hand and the Divine Light in my dough will allow me to prevail!" she thought to herself proudly as the Preceptor lead the group of students and paladins out the Quarters and to the colosseum. Its enormous structure filled the horizon as they slowly approached it.
"I won't let them down!"
The colosseum once more filled with the sounds of cheering, singing, and yelling as the three schools gathered in its mighty rows. Despite Gelato Trio Cookie being in the center of their noise, very few cheers were actually for him, with the vast majority being aimed at the three Champions that were standing around him. He readjusted his moustache and cleared his throat as he began his introductory speech.
"WELCOME BACK, STUDENTS!" he yelled into his microphone, making sure that the power was such that every student could hear his rich accentuated voice. "WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY TO WITNESS THE FIRST TRIAL OF THE TOURNAMENT!" he yelled, the crowd's excited behest demanding more of him. "Before me are YOUR Champions, ready to participate in the First Trial!"
Capsaicin Cookie's sharp grin widened and he waved to the Scovillia portion of the crowd. The cheers he garnered nearly made it seem like there were only two competing schools in the stands.
Kouign-Amann Cookie turned to face the Crème Knights, closing her eyes and smiling sweetly as her peers cheered for their Champion.
Prune Juice Cookie merely stood with impatience around the two other more popular Champions. The Parfaedian students did their best to muster up enough applauds to combat the other two schools' as they encouraged the inky Champion.
"Before you," Gelato Trio Cookie said, turning to point an extended hand to the mighty, blazing torch that jutted out with splendor from the arena floor. Its handles were decorated in each of the schools' cultures and it towered over the three Champions. "the Triple Cone Cup Torch sits! Its fire blazes with the hopes, aspirations, and pride of the three Schools" the crowd's eyes eyed the massive torch eagerly as Gelato Trio Cookie explained the first Trial. The torch was so massive that there was a staircase dedicated to reaching its brim.
"HOWEVER! Its fire can be changed by the Champions who ENCOMPASS those hopes and aspirations!" he explained. "Therefore, the first Trial of the Triple Cone Cup will be for one skillful Champion to keep the torch lit with the color of their school before the timer runs out!" as the tri-colored Cookie finished his sentence, a holographic screen lit behind the torch with one minute set as its timer. "The victor will receive a relic from the first days of the three academies', with three in total able to be won from each Trial" Gelato Trio Cookie continued. He returned his gaze from the torch back to the three gathered Champions. "Champions, are you ready?" he called out to them.
Capsaicin Cookie smashed his fists together and let loose a gust of spice and flames. "If you think you can handle MY spice!" he said to his two competitors in his naturally loud and pumped up voice.
Kouign-Amann Cookie scoffed and drew her blade. "Humph! Your fists will be no match for my blade!" she replied to the taunt.
"Alright then, you two can fight eachother while I sit back" Prune Juice Cookie said with a sly smile to the two gifted Competitors.
"With no further adieu, LET THE FIRST TRIAL COMMENCE!" Gelato Trio Cookie yelled into his microphone. He quickly ran away from the riled-up champions to the stands where he could commentate from without the risk of crumbling in the crossfire. As he reached safety, three holographic screens projected each from their deft aerial machines sprang to life around the arena. They projected the three Champions into the stands for the crowd to see clearly.
The timer at the back of the torch commenced its countdown.
Capsaicin Cookie's grin widened and he quickly bounded with spicy ferocity to the torch, leaving Kouign-Amann Cookie and Prune Juice Cookie behind in the dust.
"H-HEY!" Kouign-Amann Cookie cried out, giving chase to the spicy Champion with the blunt end of her blade aimed towards him. Too slow on her mark, the fiery Cookie leapt onto the last step of the staircase and ignited the fire in brilliant red.
"WOOHOO! NOW THAT'S THE POWER OF SPICE!" he yelled to the crowd as the Scovillians screamed with excitement. "You're not gettin' ANYWHERE near this flame!" he yelled to the rapidly approaching Kouign-Amann Cookie as he charged back towards her.
Kouign-Amann Cookie lifted her blade and brought it down upon the spicy Cookie, her styled curls whipping in the breeze at the force she generated. "You're a strong one!" she quipped as Capsaicin Cookie blocked her display of force with a raised hand.
"THANKS! But now I GOTCHER SWORD!" he yelled with vigor, grabbing the blade with his other hand. Kouign-Amann Cookie's eyes widened in horror as he began spinning the ballgown-wearing Champion around in circles.
"Y-yooooouuu menaaaace!" she cried through the g-force being subjected onto her. Capsaicin Cookie grinned madly as he continued to treat the Champion like a carousel.
Suddenly, the torch ignited with a luminous blue light as Prune Juice Cookie, left alone to his own devices, had walked unencumbered to the lip of the torch.
"You two DO realize I'm a competitor, right?" he said with a sly smile to the two Champions engaged in battle.
"H-HUH?" Capsaicin Cookie said, dumbstruck as he looked at the murky Champion, his eyes widening in confusion as he had totally forgotten that Prune Juice Cookie was indeed competing.
Taking advantage of her spinner's lack of focus, Kouign-Amann Cookie gripped the hilt of her blade tightly as she thrust her lower body forward, landing a kick on the spicy Champion's chest.
"Oomph!" escaped from Capsaicin Cookie as the blade was ripped from his grasp and he was sent stumbling backwards.
"Now then, get back here you sly mouse!" she roared to Prune Juice Cookie as she ran to the cunning Cookie atop the staircase.
"Uh oh" Prune Juice Cookie said as he quickly ran from the torch, both to escape his competitor and hopefully distract her from the goal of the Trial.
"40 SECONDS REMAINING!" Gelato Trio Cookie announced to the crowd and competing Champions.
As Prune Juice Cookie crossed the powerful paladin Champion, he quickly drew a potion from his sack and threw the glass vial onto the ground in front of her. Immediately, the arena filled up with an enormous smoke screen.
"Where are you!?" Kouign-Amann Cookie yelled in frustration.
"ME?!" Capsaicin Cookie called from somewhere in the smoke screen. "WAIT, WHAT COLOR IS THE TORCH AGAIN?" he yelled, his voice getting fainter as he somehow managed to get FARTHER away from the other two Champions.
"That'd be blue" Prune Juice Cookie replied happily from the smoke, his goal of distracting the two other Champions succeeding.
However, his voice sounded a little TOO clear, and Kouign-Amann Cookie caught a glimpse of the potion maker's large hat through the smoke screen.
"GOTCHA!" she yelled in triumph, swinging the blunt end of her blade at the startled Champion.
"GRRRRRAH! WHERE ARE YOU TWOOOO!" a frustrated Capsaicin Cookie yelled out from the cloud of smoke. He sounded even farther away this time.
Prune Juice Cookie continued to hurriedly dart away from the swift paladin wielding the massive blade, thankful that the smoke screen was allowing him to get a bit of an edge.
Uuuntil it promptly vanished as a massive BOOM exploded around the arena. The ground beneath the two Champions engaged in a cat-and-mouse chase sequence rumbled and cracked, with lava rising its way to the top of the fissures.
The crowd gasped in awe as Capsaicin Cookie struck the ground with mighty magma gauntlets, causing the smoke screen to disperse and the arena to be plunged into hellscape.
Kouign-Amann Cookie looked on in shock at the chaos caused before her by a single Cookie's fists. "This... This goes beyond the scope of any Cookie's abilities...!" she breathed as the fiery Champion smiled at the scene he caused.
But not one to give in to despair, Kouign-Amann Cookie shook herself off from the prior bewilderment and darted to the blazing blue torch. Her feet leapt from chunk-to-chunk as the bottom of her dress singed from the heat escaping from the floor beneath her.
Prune Juice Cookie teetered uneasily on a chunk of flooring as Kouign-Amann Cookie leapt onto the (somehow undestroyed) staircase to the torch. The light erupted in a beautiful gilded yellow as she hurried to its lip. "How'd you like that!?" she called triumphantly to the stranded Prune Juice Cookie and fiery Capsaicin Cookie.
"20 SECONDS REMAINING!" Gelato Trio Cookie called out, the crowd growing more rowdy as the timer ticked ever down.
Kouign-Amann Cookie leapt down from her spot at the top to guard the torch as Capsaicin Cookie charged towards her. "You're not grabbing my blade this time!' she yelled as the spicy Champion approached with a blinding speed.
"Don't think I'm a one-trick pony!" he yelled blithesomely, his up-beat attitude seeming to be the cause for the flames that suddenly erupted behind her, cutting her off from the torch.
"W-WHAT?" she yelled in shock as Capsaicin Cookie charged past her, through the flames, and reached the torch she had attempted to guard. The flames erupted once again in a brilliant red as Capsaicin Cookie relit its flames in his school's colors.
"10 SECONDS REMAINING!" Gelato Trio Cookie's voice rang out.
"Afraid of a little fire?" Prune Juice Cookie asked Kouign-Amann Cookie from his place atop the chunk of molten flooring as he took out a bottle from his pouch and quickly gulped it down.
"I don't think having a snack break will help you, Prune Juice Cookie!" she yelled to the inky Champion, but instantly wanted to take back her words as Prune Juice Cookie leapt through the blazing fire trapping him and quickly ran towards the torch.
"9!" Gelato Trio Cookie counted down, the crowd joining him with vigor.
The potion maker's route was intercepted by a blazing Capsaicin Cookie, who charged through his own flames to meet the approaching competitor. Knowing that his odds were one to one trillion in a hand-to-hand fight against the fiery Champion, Prune Juice Cookie quickly plunged his hand into his potion sack and pulled out another smoke screen bottle.
"8!" The crowd cheered in unison with Gelato Trio Cookie.
He smashed the bottle against the ground just as Capsaicin Cookie reached him, and the arena was once again plunged in smoke. "GAH! NOT THAT TRICK AGAIN!" Capsaicin Cookie yelled in annoyance, losing sight of his opponent.
"7!"
Kouign-Amann Cookie caught sight of the blazing Champion glowing through the thick fog, as well as Prune Juice Cookie's robes fluttering as he quickly made his way to the torch. "You can't hide from the Light!" she yelled, summoning a blast of blinding light that plunged the other two competitors into even MORE obscurity.
"6!"
Capsaicin Cookie, caught a glimpse of violet robes and locked his eyes onto the figure darting away from him. "Your trick won't work THIS TIME!" he yelled triumphantly as he leapt after Prune Juice Cookie, fists ready to smash the floor beneath the fleet-footed Cookie. His large grin instantly dropped as he felt his fists connect with something other than the ground.
"5!"
"U-Ugh!" Prune Juice Cookie choked out as he fell to the floor, his potion bag crumpling next to him. Strawberry Jam seeped into his robes and stained the ground beneath him a cruel red.
Capsaicin Cookie's eyes widened in shock and horror as Prune Juice Cookie coughed in pain.
"W-What did you do!?" Kouign-Amann Cookie breathed in a panic as she hurriedly ran to the scene.
"4!"
"I... I DON'T KNOW!" he yelled in panic. He stood there frozen as his arms reached up to clench his head. "I-I... I DIDN'T MEAN TO!"
"3!"
"We need to take him to the infirmary, NOW!" Kouign-Amann Cookie said quickly. "Gelato Trio Cookie, stop the trial we need he-!" Kouign-Amann Cookie didn't get to finish her sentence, as the sound of quick steps darting to the torch shook her from her momentary panic.
"2!"
Prune Juice Cookie looked at the two shocked competitors from his place at the top of the torch. Its glow changed from a fiery red to an eternal blue as he re-ignited its blazes in Parfaedia's colors.
"1!"
"Gotcha!" he said triumphantly as the timer hit zero.
"AND THERE WE HAVE IT!" Gelato Trio Cookie said, his voice managing to be heard from the sea of 'BOOS' and 'I GUESS THAT COUNTS?' at Prune Juice Cookie's victory. "Prune Juice Cookie, using a cunning show of wits, has claimed victory of the first Trial and won the first relic!" he announced, holding up a red fiery scroll to the victor. "This is the Scovillia Manuscript, it contains the recipe for the first ever Scovillia Chili produced at the school. A vicious and fiery combination of spices and fragrance that brought fame to its creator!"
Kouign-Amann Cookie and Capsaicin Cookie both stared dumbfoundedly at the victor of the first Trial.
"Wait, HOLD ON A SECOND! I thought... I thought I HURT YOU!" Capsaicin called out in disbelief to Prune Juice Cookie, interrupting Gelato Trio Cookie. "Strawberry jam was pouring from your..." his voice trailed off as Prune Juice Cookie merely smiled at him, a stream of 'strawberry jam' still marking his chin.
"Oh, this?" he said, showing his 'strawberry jam' stained cloak to the confused Champion. "Just a little trick I used to get out of magic class many times" he said with joy. "If it works on professors, I didn't see why it wouldn't work on muscle-brained Champions"
"I mean honestly, you blessed Cookies are all the same. Can't handle the thought of a few Cookies crumbling at your hands, Spice Overlord?" Prune Juice Cookie taunted the fiery Champion, his sly eyes cracking open to scrutinize Capsaicin Cookie.
Capsaicin Cookie's gaze fell to the ground in anger. 'Don't call me that" he said lowly, turning his head away from the cunning Champion.
Beside him, Kouign-Amann Cookie looked at the trickster with badly hidden contempt. "That was a dirty trick, Prune Juice Cookie" she said with annoyance. "We were worried about you"
Prune Juice Cookie looked at her impassively. "'Worried'? We're competitors. I'll do whatever it takes to win these Trials" he replied, not caring about her sentiments.
"A-ahem," Gelato Trio Cookie stammered, interrupting the bickering Champions. "... This concludes the first Trial! Parfaedia is in the lead with one point! Champions, rest your heads for the day in preparation for the second Trial tomorrow" he called out to the three gathered Champions.
The crowds cheers (mainly Parfaedia's at this point...) died down as Gelato Trio Cookie waved goodbye to their seated masses. The three Champions took this as their cue to leave the arena and meet up with their exiting classmates.
Capsaicin Cookie, hardened gaze still downcast, kicked the ground with one foot, sending a puff of dust airborne. He turned and left through one of the exits to the colosseum without saying a word.
Prune Juice Cookie sauntered out of the other exit, with Kouign-Amann Cookie dejectedly leaving the last.
...
"Grrrah! That Prune juice Cookie! I thought I really hurt him..." Capsaicin Cookie thought to himself furiously, the image of Prune Juice Cookie in a puddle of his own strawberry jam sending an involuntary shiver down his spine. "And what's with that comment!? 'Can't handle the thought of a few Cookies crumbling at your hands?'? Does he think I WANT to hurt cookies? I do everything I possibly can to make sure something like that DOESN'T happen" he internally muttered. "... Ever again"
The sounds of his classmates noisily discussing the first Trial outside the colosseum jolted him from his thoughts. "I can't believe I let them down..." he sighed as he prepared to greet them.
...
"I can't believe the first Trial ended like that. I prepared for everything but... I have never faced an enemy that dishonorable!" Kouign-Amann Cookie thought to herself, still in disbelief at the trick that Prune Juice Cookie pulled. "Well, no matter. There are still two more trials, I'll just have to keep a closer eye on that potion-brewing trickster!" her smile returned and she quickened her pace to meet her fellow paladin trainees outside the colosseum.
...
Prune Juice Cookie smiled as he sauntered out of the colosseum. He couldn't believe he managed to pull of that victory, but at a great cost: that brute Capsaicin Cookie struck his potion sack. Granted, it gave him the opportunity to trick the meathead into believing he had struck him, but it'll take him all night to replenish the supplies lost. "And they hate me. Can't forget that" he thought to himself, a hint of... Sadness? Accompanying the thought. "Oh well, it can't be helped. But now they won't underestimate me, so my edge is lost. I'll have to put a lot more consideration into my preparation tonight..."
Hope you enjoyed the first trial! The second one is going to be a REAL treat, I tell ya. I got lots of Capsaicin angst brewing, including a completely reworked Trial 2, backstory, flashbacks and more for our beloved Super Epic. There's a reason why I made the academy graduates stick around ;)...