CHAPTER 7

Back with Clare and her friends, and now her teacher Mr. Stark, the seeking of the Star of Truth was still underway. However, a dragon's roar was heard in the distance. Clare thought it was Narcian the Wyvern Lord.

"Can't be." said Tibarn. "It sounded like Pitaya Dragon Cookie."

"And it could not have been the Dragon Tribe Laguz." said Caineghis.

Red XIII noticed something green and red in the sky with a cut off tail. It was definitely Pitaya Dragon Cookie.

"Ssshow me your ssstrength, tiny one." said Pitaya Dragon Cookie.

"Pitaya Dragon Cookie!" everyone yelled.

"What on earth do you think you are doing?!" asked Caineghis.

"We don't need you here!" yelled Red XIII.

"Actually, we have come for that girl right there." said Petrine.

"Yes…this way Bowser can use her as his own personal puppet." said Sephiroth.

"S-s-stop!" yelled Mr. Stark. "You will not touch Clare Hutchinson!"

By the time Mr. Stark was about to stop Sephiroth, he had already grabbed Clare. Sephiroth then said that it was too late.

"Let me go!" yelled Clare.

"Admit it, Clare." said Sephiroth. "Admit you are Bowser's puppet."

Bashes of wind and light and dark green arrows came down on Sephiroth. Clare suffered minor injuries, but she was alright in the aftermath of standing up. She then gasped after seeing some familiar faces.

"It's going to be alright." said the legendary Wind Archer Cookie.

Clare still gasped.

"What's going on?!" asked Jonathan.

"It's called assistance, young boy." said the tactician Robin.

"Let us handle this mess, young ones." said Lumine.

"What on earth is going on here?!" asked Manfred von Karma.

"You people need to leave this area at once." said Robin.

"We're not leaving until we capture this girl." said Mandred von Karma.

"Not under our watch, Manfred." said Lumine.

"Lumine, step back. I've got this." said Kyle Hyde after showing up to take care of the scene with Greil and his deputy commander Titania.

"Wait, he's still around here?" asked Cloud Strife.

"What on earth is going on here?" asked Clare.

"Pitaya Dragon Cookie…I oughta use my Urvan axe to ultimately cut more of your tail off." said Greil. "Don't make me do it."

"I'll burn you as a monstrosity from the skiessss!" yelled Pitaya Dragon Cookie.

"No, you will not harm my father!" Ike said.

"Ike!" yelled Greil.

"Brother!" shouted Ike's little sister Mist.

"Mist, you stay away from them!" yelled Ike. He later unleashed a Great Aether on Pitaya Dragon Cookie and Manfred von Karma.

"Curse you, Radiant Hero!" yelled Pitaya Dragon Cookie.

Everyone remained silent after Pitaya Dragon Cookie flew away alive.

"Well, he's not lucky to be alive." said Lumine.

"Yeah." said Robin. "But I'm glad you're okay." he said to Clare after turning to her. Clare thanked Wind Archer Cookie, Robin, and Lumine for saving her life.

"You're welcome." said Wind Archer Cookie. "We're just waiting for medic to check you out."

"Wind Archer Cookie's right." said Lumine. "You are bleeding right there severely after facing Sephiroth."

Clare looked at her bloody arm, and gasped.

"It's alright!" yelled Mist. "I've got this." Mist healed Clare with her Mend staff.

"...I guess we don't need medical assistance." said Lumine. "I mean, Mist healed her right up."

"You're Ike's sister, I'm guessing?" asked Clare.

"How did she–" asked Mist.

"Clare Hutchinson comes from the real world. The World of Realism, that is." said Ike. "So, it's obvious she knows about each and every one of us."

"Ike's on the point right there." said Caineghis. "Clare did tell me about her writing."

"I heard her, too, Caineghis." said Tibarn.

"Guys, this is not a time for chit-chat." said Greil.

"He's right." said Titania. "We must save our world from the clutches of evil."

"But we can't do that until the stars are retrieved." said Jonathan. "So, what are we all waiting for?"

"Jonathan's got a point." said Tatiana. "Let's go!"

Everyone headed off to explore the Land of Truth together.

Meanwhile, in the World of Passion, Hollyberry Cookie, the Ancient Hero of Passion, could not believe their star was stolen with the other stars. She also wondered exactly how the other Ancients felt about their respective stars being missing.

"What's the matter, Hollyberry Cookie?" asked Royal Berry Cookie.

"The star…" said Hollyberry Cookie. "The Star of Passion, that is. It's missing."

"Well, I have come to clear some things out to you, Hollyberry Cookie." said Jungleberry Cookie.

"What is it, Jungleberry Cookie?" asked Hollyberry Cookie.

"There's four humans hailing from the real world. Three school students and their teacher." said Jungleberry Cookie. "One of Pure Vanilla Cookie's advisors sent something out."

"But who stole the star from the cookie jar?" asked Raspberry Cookie.

"It turns out it was Bowser and Pitaya Dragon Cookie." said Jungleberry Cookie. "I've gotten all of this information from one of the Greil Mercenaries. Soren, I think the boy's name was."

"I just hope peace can be restored to our world." said Hollyberry Cookie.

In the Land of Resolution, Dark Cacao Cookie himself fell into a deep depression after the Star of Resolution was stolen. He was also feeling sorry for himself for letting Bowser and Pitaya Dragon Cookie do such a horrendous action towards their world. And not being there when it happened only worsened his depression. Caramel Arrow Cookie then asked if he needed anything.

"I've not need of anything at this moment, Caramel Arrow Cookie." said Dark Cacao Cookie.

"Your Majesty, there is no need to feel this cold and depressed." said Caramel Arrow Cookie.

"Yeah." said Affogato Cookie. "Surely we can help our world get back in shape."

Dark Cacao Cookie only worried further for the safety of the World of Gaming's characters. He hoped someone would come soon.

In the Land of Abundance, watched over by the golden glittering Golden Cheese Cookie, she also fell into a depression. Worse than Dark Cacao Cookie's depression, as a matter of fact. However, she lost everything in the process of her star being lost. A few people came in to check on Golden Cheese Cookie. Ena, a dragon laguz, asked her what was wrong.

"My land is almost…no more." said Golden Cheese Cookie to Ena.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" asked Nasir, Ena's grandfather.

"Get Mozzarella Cookie." said Golden Cheese Cookie. "And as for you, young Ena, have Burnt Cheese Cookie and Smoked Cheese Cookie guard the front lands."

"Yes, Golden Cheese Cookie." said Ena.

"I just hope peace can return to former glory again." said Golden Cheese Cookie. "But…all that glitters…belongs to ME!" she proclaimed.

Lastly, in the Land of Freedom watched over by the elegant White Lily Cookie, she was crying severely over her star being missing. Was her depression really worse than Dark Cacao Cookie or Golden Cheese Cookie? Only a few people could tell. However, White Lily Cookie began to feel the comfort thanks to the efforts of the laguz heron royalty: Prince Reyson, Princess Leanne, and Prince Rafiel. They, along with their father, the Heron King Loraziah, were there for White Lily Cookie whenever she was feeling down.

All the heroic characters in the World of Gaming were hoping peace and freedom would be restored to its former glory. As for the other four Ancient Heroes, they hoped someone would come help and assist them soon.