Hollyberry cookie and Golden Cheese cookie sat together on one of the balcony's overlooking the castle. The sun was just beginning to set, and the two had decided to get some much needed peace and quiet to talk about everything Golden Cheese cookie had missed. Pure Vanilla Cookie, Gingerbrave, Strawberry Cookie, and Wizard Cookie were scampering about, getting prepared for their trip to Beast Yeast that they would embark on in the morning. Needless to say, the environment was far too chaotic. Golden Cheese Cookie had suggested that they drink within the main dining hall, but Hollyberry Cookie knew the news she had to deliver was...personal. They needed the quiet. For a while, they were talking about nothing in particular, As Hollyberry wasn't exactly eager to tell Golden Cheese Cookie the news. Neither her nor Dark Cacao cookie took the news particularly well, and she had no idea how her friend would react.
The two had just received a fresh round of drinks, and they sipped quietly as the day was coming to a close.
Golden Cheese Cookie sighed deeply. She placed the drink on the table in front of her and looked at Hollyberry Cookie.
"I suppose...now would be the time for explanations."
Hollyberry Cookie nodded, "Indeed. But, It's not easy. A lot has happened since you've been gone, My friend. But I am glad that we're having this conversation. You deserve nothing but the truth."
Golden Cheese Cookie simply nodded, waiting for her friend to continue.
Hollyberry Cookie didn't begin explanations right away. She looked distant, her eyes staring a thousand miles away. She looked much more tired and beaten down than the last time Golden Cheese had seen her. She could tell Hollyberry had been through a lot. It almost made her uneasy. Suddenly, she snapped back into reality, slowly forming a small, sad smile.
"Where do I even start?" Holly let a small chuckle escape before she downed some more juice.
"Start at the beginning, and tell me everything." Golden Cheese Cookie pushed, Hollyberry placed her cup down.
"Alright. After the war, you know we all went our separate ways."
"Yes."
"I returned to the Hollyberry Kingdom, As Dark Cacao Cookie returned to his kingdom. We both ruled, I went on many adventures. And the two of us eventually had sons of our own."
Golden Cheese Cookie suddenly began to choke on her drink, tearing up and gasping for air, she nearly spat the liquid out, but forced it down. Then cleared her throat.
"S-Say that again?"
"It's True. Though my boy is a lot more timid than I, he and his bride Jungleberry Cookie have done quite well in ruling over the Hollyberry Kingdom. They even had two daughters!"
Golden Cheese Cookie just blinked. Hollyberry wasn't kidding when she said she missed a lot.
"..."
"And Dark Cacao Cookie? He had a son too?"
"Ah yes, Dark...Dark Choco Cookie." She sighed. "Their relationship is-Complicated. And that'd be putting it quite lightly."
"When has ANYTHING related to Dark Cacao Cookie NOT been complicated." Golden Cheese Cookie scoffed, rolling her eyes.
The two then let out a warm laugh.
"Dark Choco Cookie apparently isn't working with Pomegranate Cookie anymore. Yet, he hasn't been seen in a long while now."
"Pomegranate Cookie?"
"Oh, That's right. You haven't met her yet. Herself as well as others work under Dark Enchantress Cookie as her underlings now. Carrying out her bidding, whatever it may be." Hollyberry Cookie's face became sad again. Maybe even more so than before.
"I see-" Golden Cheese Cookie desperately wanted to kill the tension. The atmosphere was becoming a bit too awkward. "So...Dark Choco Cookie WAS working for this Pomegranate Cookie character for a time? But- no longer?"
Hollyberry Cookie then seemed to snap out of her stupor like before. "I don't know every detail- you'd have to ask Dark Cacao Cookie. But, What I do know is that he's on his own path now."
"Well, Good for him, I guess."
"Golden Cheese Cookie...There is something I must tell you. I've been avoiding the topic, as it's not easy to bring up at all. And It... Won't be easy for you to hear."
"Well, Alright. What is it?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Well?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"It's about Dark Enchantress Cookie. Who she was."
"What in Cheese's name are you going on about?"
"Dark Enchantress Cookie..."
"IS White lily Cookie."
Golden Cheese Cookie felt as if the world had stood still. Did she- did Hollyberry Cookie just say...? No- No that wasn't right. Dark Enchantress Cookie was an evil cookie, the one who destroyed her glorious Golden kingdom, the one who started the dark flour war in the first place! How could the embodiment of darkness itself be White Lily Cookie? White Lily Cookie was the sweetest cookie Golden Cheese Cookie had ever met! She was always kind, helped out, rarely complained, she even had a garden for crumbs sake! You wouldn't have a bountiful flourishing garden if you didn't put time, energy, and love into it. She was like Pure Vanilla Cookie, those two would do ANYTHING for their friends. And yet, SHE was Dark Enchantress Cookie? That wasn't right. It COULDN'T be right, there had to be some sort of mistake! Some sort of miscommunication!
As Golden Cheese Cookie stood, stunned and unsure, she began to stutter, her brain racked with a million thoughts at once.
"What?...Is...this true? It- Can't be..."
"It is."
"NO! I refuse to believe you! White Lily Cookie was one of our friends! She saw the good in all cookie kind! How could you...Even SUGGEST such an absurd, Outlandish Claim!" Her voice was almost screaming. She was unknowingly flying a foot in the air just above her seat, when she noticed this, she flew back down to the ground. Crossing her arms and turning away from Hollyberry. She couldn't even look at her right now.
"Golden Cheese Cookie..."
"NO! I will NOT believe you without solid evidence!"
"It IS True"
The two Ancients snapped their attention to the entrance of the balcony. Dark Cacao Cookie stood, sword in hand, and walked over to where the two were sitting.
They said nothing as he approached, and simply watched as he took one of the free seats, shifting his bulky cloak to the side in order to sit comfortably.
"Pure Vanilla Cookie knew. He told us himself. White Lily Cookie is gone." He paused to sigh mournfully. "..And Dark Enchantress Cookie, still lives."
Golden Cheese Cookie still stood at an angle facing away from her friends, her frown deepening.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"How?"
"We don't know."
Golden Cheese Cookie spun around, looking angry.
"WHY?!"
"We don't know that, either."
Her face softened, but she still looked upset.
"...Where?"
"Beast-Yeast, Currently."
"..."
"So That is why Gingerbrave and his friends are headed with Pure Vanilla to the continent."
"Yes." Dark Cacao Cookie nodded. "We need to find out her plans and how to stop her."
Golden Cheese Cookie sank back in her seat. "So...What do we do now?
Hollyberry and Dark Cacao both looked at each other.
"We keep fighting, that's what!" Hollyberry exclaimed.
"We need to stop her at all costs. We can't have another war on our hands." Dark Cacao added.
"No. We cannot let another war ravish this land." Golden Cheese gained serious eyes. "We CANNOT allow any more cookies to suffer! EVER at the hands of Dark Enchantress Cookie." She wouldn't allow another kingdom to fall at her previous friends hands. She couldn't bear to think of that happening.
"Agreed. We must do everything we can in order to ensure the safety of all cookies."
They then heard the door open again.
"My Friends! I apologize for not joining you sooner!"
Pure Vanilla Cookie rushed to the table where his friends were seated, He sat in the only remaining open seat.
"She knows." Dark Cacao and Hollyberry Cookie said in union.
"Ah, I see..." Pure Vanilla Cookie gave an understanding nod.
The four ancients didn't say a word for a few minutes, until a waiter brought Pure Vanilla Cookie a cup of hot tea.
"Won't the caffeine keep you awake?" Dark Cacao asked with a raised brow.
Pure Vanilla Cookie gave a smile, "It's Chamomile. I'll need all the rest I can get tonight." he took a sip of his drink, before placing it back down, a tiny "tink" sound resonating when cup hit plate.
He looked over at Golden Cheese Cookie who was staring off into the distance. He could tell that the news hit her hard. It was to be expected, her kingdom didn't officially exist anymore. Dark Enchantress Cookie had taken everything away from her. He couldn't even imagine what must've been going through her mind. He wished he could alleviate her pains. He hated to see anyone, let alone his friends upset.
"Thank you for telling me." Golden Cheese Cookie said, finishing up her own drink.
"Of Course, It's only right that...you knew." Holly replied.
"I'm glad you heard it from Hollyberry Cookie, Pure Vanilla Cookie didn't tell us until the rest of Earthbread knew." Dark Cacao Cookie added with a hint of resentment.
Before Golden Cheese Cookie or Pure Vanilla Cookie could respond, Holly looked at her friend with a glare.
"Oh please, give it up already! That's an exaggeration and you know it! What's done is done! You need to stop holding grudges!"
"Just like when Golden Cheese Cookie Pulled that prank on him right before that one council meeting?" Pure Vanilla Cookie added with a smirk.
"Ah Yes! I remember, She took his sword and hid it in some bushes in the garden, making him late!" Hollyberry Cookie stated, remembering the event well.
Golden Cheese Cookie scoffed loudly, a smile on her face. "You still haven't forgiven me for that?"
Dark Cacao just gave her a look, a frown on his face, his eyes narrowed.
"No."
The three Ancients just burst out laughing, even Dark Cacao couldn't help but smirk.
"Or how about that time White Lily Cookie sent you dozens of bouquets of Lily's when you came down with that Cold?" Hollyberry questioned.
"Don't remind me." Dark Cacao Cookie rolled his eyes. "The pollen from the flowers made my cold 10 times worse! But I didn't have the dough to tell her to stop sending them. I think I spent an extra week recovering because of all the flowers she sent me!"
"She had good intentions though!" Pure Vanilla Cookie defended.
The group then all howled with laughter once more and continued remembering a few more events, with White Lily Cookie growing more involved in each story.
"I'm glad we can all laugh about White Lily Cookie now, she deserves to... be remembered in a fond light."
"Agreed, Hollyberry Cookie." Pure vanilla Cookie nodded. "Even though she may be Dark Enchantress Cookie now, She was our friend...and...deserves to be remembered as such. "
The group went into silence for a few moments before Pure Vanilla Cookie spoke again.
"A part of me wonders if there may be a part of Dark Enchantress Cookie that is good. We know not where the light of freedom is, after all."
"Are you suggesting there may be a piece of White Lily Cookie's soul that may be...untouched by darkness?" Golden Cheese Cookie asked skeptically. "I find that difficult to believe."
"As Do I." Dark Cacao Cookie agreed, crossing his hands over his chest.
Hollyberry didn't say anything, but judging from her expression and body language, she felt the same.
"I know not for certain, but the only way for us to find out is by going to *YAWN* Beast-Yeast. Pardon me, I must've had too much Chamomile! I will head to my quarters to rest for the night, and I suggest all of you do the same. Not enough sleep can be bad for your health. Goodnight my friends."
"Goodnight, Pure Vanilla Cookie." Dark Cacao Nodded.
"Goodnight." Golden Cheese Cookie Stated.
"Goodnight! Sleep Well!" Hollyberry Cookie smiled warmly.
With that, he went back inside the building. Once he was gone, Hollyberry turned to her friends.
"He's right, we must conserve our strength and be in top condition if we are to face off against Dark Enchantress Cookie. Goodnight to you both, sleep well."
Hollyberry Cookie then exited, Dark Cacao Cookie was about to do the same when he felt a hand stop him, he looked to Golden Cheese Cookie who had pleading eyes.
"I know it's getting late, but I want to know something before we head off for the night."
Dark Cacao Cookie mumbled in annoyance to himself before sitting back down. "Alright, what do you wish to know?"
"You...Have a son?"
Dark Cacao Cookie seemed to visibly stiffen like a board as soon as she said the last word. He sighed deeply.
"Before you say you don't wish to speak of him, I can sense that you do. You've just been waiting for an ear to listen."
Dark Cacao Cookie gave her a confused look. "How could you possibly sense that?"
"I just can, okay?" Golden Cheese Cookie huffed, sitting back down in her own seat. "Now please, tell me all about him. And don't skip out on any details."
"I am not going to tell you EVERYTHING. But I suppose you should know. Fine- I'll tell you. Just promise not to tell another soul."
Golden Cheese Cookie laughed. "You think me? The Goddess, THE Ancient Hero of old, I, The Great Golden Cheese Cookie would partake in petty gossip?"
Dark Cacao Cookie raised a brow.
"Alright Fine, you have a point. I won't tell, Cheese's Honor!"
"Alright. Good. It all started on a cold winter day..."
And there you have it! What do you think? I think this turned out pretty good! Thank you for reading, if you made it all the way through I truly thank you for your time. Please don't forget to leave a review telling me what you think!