Golden Cheese Cookie woke up to a loud pounding sound. She shot up with a loud squawk, eyes fluttered open wide and breath shallow as she was quite shocked from the sudden rude awakening. Looking around at the dimly lit space, she forgot for a moment where she was. Then she remembered. She was in the Vanilla Kingdom. It had been her first night here...Pure Vanilla, the saint that he was, provided the desert queen a room. She thanked him profusely, and though it wasn't nearly as big as the one she had back home, Holly, Vanilla and Cacao all had helped her unpack and even helped choose some nice bedding, curtains, and furniture. Once she finished unpacking, the queen felt as if she was in a way, home away from home. At least a temporary home at best. Before she had taken off with Gingerbrave and his friends, she had packed up whatever she could, as she knew she'd be here for a while. Well- she didn't have much, a lot of her stuff had turned to ash once the attack on her kingdom happened, but she still had some things. A small framed picture of her and Mozzarella Cookie, A set of personalized stationery and handmade cheese bird quills, a robe (That she had left at the Vanilla Castle many moons ago), Her weapons, many pairs of armor and clothes, a pair of shoes (Like she ever wore them), A jacket, and a few other smaller things here and there. She missed a lot of objects that she had once. In her digital world, she replenished most of the stuff that was gone. For example, a beautiful golden perfume bottle. She didn't use it super often, but still she remembered the scent of the perfume even now, its aroma, something she could never forget. But it was gone now. Maybe she could get some sort of replacement.
"KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!"
Oh,
right,
the door...
That must've been what woke her up. Golden Cheese Cookie rubbed her face with both hands, letting out a loud groan. She wished she had some facial masks. She sighed, remembering a time when Hollyberry Cookie gave her a number of kiwi-strawberry facial masks as a present. Cheese had used the 10 she received in less than two weeks. It was weird, long ago Golden Cheese wouldn't have dared to touch moisturizers, creams, or make-up of any kind. Yet- now, she was wishing she had anything of the sorts. Times have sure changed, huh?
But also, anything she did have were long gone. She'd definitely have to get replacements. It wasn't like in her digital world where she could simply snap her fingers and conjure up whatever she needed.
Yet more knocking interrupted the cheese queens thoughts.
The desert queen gazed at the clock Pure Vanilla provided that was sitting on a side table.
5:42 AM.
"...Who in the name of all cheese is waking me up at this hour...?"she whispered to herself in confusion. The cheese queen ever so slowly made her way out of the warm bed she had slept in and walked over to the door of the room. She opened it to see one of the few Vanilla castle staff looking back up at her.
"Good Morning, your majesty. Pure Vanilla Cookie and his party are departing for Beast-yeast."
"Now?!" Golden Cheese Cookie blinked.
"We-well, not right now, but soon. I was asked to send for you by Pure Vanilla himself so that you can say farewell."
"Ah-" Golden Cheese let out a yawn, "I understand now. Please, lead the way."
The staff member then blinked looking Golden Cheese over. "Um-Your highness?"
Before the member of staff could say anything more, Golden Cheese had exited the room and was already walking down the hallway, waiting for them to catch up. Neither said anything as they went down a few halls and several stairwells. Everyone was waiting in the main hall of the castle, deciding to walk together to the airship port as a group.
Once Golden Cheese got closer to the group, she saw the staff member quickly scamper off to probably tend to something else. Looking at the group of cookies, She Saw Pure Vanilla Cookie, Gingerbrave, Wizard Cookie, Dark Cacao Cookie, Hollyberry Cookie, Black Raisin Cookie, and five cookies she had never met before. They were all chattering about and talking with one another, though Golden Cheese Cookie was still far too sleepy for her mind to pick up on anything in particular that they were saying.
Pure Vanilla was the first to see her. He beamed a smile and waved at her, and everyone turned back to face her as she approached.
Hollyberry quickly ran over to her and was about to pull her into a hug before she saw what Golden Cheese was wearing. "Golden Cheese Cookie?" Holly snickered, giving a sideways smile. "Why are you still in your pajamas?"
"Hu-?" Golden Cheese Cookie looked down. Sure enough, she was still in her sparkly silk golden nightgown. Luckily, it wasn't see through or revealing in any way. But still... Golden Cheese's cheeks beamed bright red, hot with embarrassment.
"Ah. I appear to still be half asleep." Golden Cheese said, very much wishing she could just fly away into the sky or maybe crawl into a tiny hole and leave the awkward situation. Every other Cookie had to hold back laughter or snickering, which only made the golden goddess feel even more embarrassed, feeling her cheeks growing even more hot at this point. Great, Holly sure wouldn't let her live this down.
"Should I go back and change real quick or-?" Golden Cheese asked, trailing off and pointing back in the direction of the hallway she had just exited out of. Hollyberry let out a hardy laugh. "If you did, you might not find anyone here when you returned!"
"Oh." Golden Cheese tried to laugh the situation off. Then a thought came to her. Wait was-? Her hand quickly shot upwards to the top of her head. Cheese felt the warmth of the light of abundance meet her fingertips. Well, In her half-awake state she at least managed to grab her soul jam. Golden Cheese Cookie sighed, placing her hand back down to her side.
Hollyberry simply laughed again, more quieter this time and shook her head. Then she reached out and pulled Golden Cheese into a tight hug. The desert queen embraced her friend back, resting her chin on Holly's shoulder and closing her eyes tight. The hug felt so warm, so nice...and so very, very tight. By the witches, she missed Hollyberry's tight hugs.
Wait...when was the last time they hugged? Golden Cheese couldn't recall. Maybe before the final battle? Golden Cheese Cookie sighed and slowly pulled away, smiling as she and Holly slowly walked to meet the others.
"Golden Cheese Cookie! Good Morning!" Pure Vanilla smiled.
"Good Morning!" Gingerbrave also greeted her with a polite wave.
"Good Morning, Golden Cheese Cookie." Dark Cacao Cookie's Baritone voice greeted the cheese queen, and he gave her a nod once she looked in his direction.
"Looks like you didn't get an- uhm. Chance to change." Black Raisin Cookie giggled to herself.
"Ha..." Golden Cheese said, drawn out. "No. I did- I did not." Cheese rubbed her right eye.
"But, ah, good morning to all of you as well."
"So- this is Golden Cheese Cookie?"
Golden Cheese looked to her right. "And who might you be?" She asked in curiosity. " I'm Wildberry Cookie, your majesty. Knight of the Hollyberry kingdom." He introduced in warm professionalism. "He's a fine young lad! A great knight! And a very close and dear friend!" Hollyberry had placed her hands on the young knight's shoulders and was smiling widely. She then moved away, giving his back a hard, firm double pat.
"Well, it's a pleasure. Apologies we didn't have time to meet yesterday evening." Golden Cheese held out a hand and after a second, Wildberry outstretched his own and the two shook hands in mutual respect.
"Golden Cheese Cookie, this here is Crunchy Chip Cookie, One of my kingdom's finest and capable warriors." The desert queen looked to Dark Cacao and Crunchy Chip, he beamed a smile as he was praised. Golden Cheese smirked, "My, My! Such high praise! Dark Cacao must really respect you!" Golden Cheese laughed, in a sort of posh way. Crunchy Chip Cookie's eyes seemed to widen and sparkle. "Y-You think so?"
Golden Cheese Cookie nodded. "Indeed!" Then she took a half-step towards Crunchy Chip Cookie and placed a hand to cover the side of her mouth Cacao was facing. "He probably doesn't say it though, I'm sure. Since he's- well-" Cheese's shoulders shrugged and she forbade herself from looking at the king to see his no doubt priceless reaction. "-a bit of a stick in the mud. But I'm positive." She lost the battle and glanced to Cacao who definitely could hear what she just said judging by the unamused thin frown upon his face. Golden Cheese bared her teeth in a cheeky grin and gave him a wink.
"See?! I'm not the only one who thinks you're a total hardcase, Cacao!" Hollyberry couldn't help but let out a bellowing laugh, even Pure Vanilla found himself snickering lightly.
Both of them promptly shut up after receiving a harsh glare from the king of the north, however. Though it took another glare after Holly found herself letting out another slight snicker.
"Well, I am the best of the best when it comes to the Dark Cacao kingdom's warriors!" Crunchy Chip exclaimed. "It truly is an honor, your majesty." Crunchy Chip Cookie straightened as if he were a soldier being called to attention, extending a stiff arm for the Desert Queen to shake. She smiled, and shook his hand just like she shook Wildberry's.
Pure Vanilla suddenly cleared his throat, gaining the Cheese Queen's attention. He gestured to two of the cookies Cheese hadn't met before. "Golden Cheese Cookie, this here is Clotted Cream Cookie and Financier Cookie, from the Crème Republic. After the war, a portion of Vanilla Kingdom citizens fled the Vanilla kingdom and eventually made the republic their home, and have since built it to be a thriving society."
Golden Cheese was surprised to hear that. She knew Pure Vanilla's kingdom was nearly completely wiped off the map, not unlike her own kingdom... but yet some of the subjects survived and made a new home? That was pretty interesting. She walked a step in there direction. "It's a pleasure to meet both of you." Golden Cheese nodded and bowed at an angle.
She could now recall seeing the young man, Clotted Cream Cookie yesterday. He gently yet firmly shook the queens hand before moving his arm back to his side. Then moved to the side to allow Financier Cookie the chance to shake the Desert Queen's hand as well. "The honor is mine, your majesty. I personally wish to send my condolences for your kingdom. I have long heard of how badly hit it was during the war." Clotted Cream stated, then he nodded in her direction. Golden Cheese's eyes and expression dropped ever so slightly. It was just like the universe to constantly remind her about her shortcomings, and her failures.
"Oh! Golden Cheese Cookie! Meet my friend, Strawberry Cookie!" Gingerbrave gained the queen's attention, to which she saw a cookie in a pink hoodie shyly look down at the ground. Golden Cheese silently thanked him for bringing her out of her own mind...for the time, anyways.
The timid Cookie took a breath in then made eye contact with Golden Cheese. "H-Hi. I'm Strawbe-erry Cookie. Nice to- uhm. M-meet you, your highness." she then gave a small wave. Golden Cheese smiled. "Any friend of Gingerbrave is a friend of mine, a pleasure to meet you dear." Strawberry Cookie then seemed to smile, her eyes closing happily. "Th-thanks. You too."
"So are we going to get going now? My feet are getting sore from just standing around." Crunchy Chip Cookie sighed, shaking off some numbness in his legs.
"I believe it would be fine if we left. Unless...if Pitaya Dragon Cookie wishes to join us." Wildberry replied, flashing his queen a look.
Holly sighed like a disappointed parent finding out there child decided to skip school. "I doubt Pitaya has woken up yet, and even if they were still asleep, I wouldn't ask any of the staff to wake them up at this time. I believe it better to just let them be."
"Noted." Wildberry Cookie nodded in agreement.
'Well then, I suppose then if we're all ready to head off. Then we should get moving." Wizard Cookie remarked.
"Yeah! Let's go!" Gingerbrave pumped his fist in excitement.
The stroll through the kingdom was pleasant. Cheese took in the feel of the crisp morning air, and the sun against her dough. She was hovering two feet above the air, and was indulging in the way the breeze felt.
The cookies had quite the lively conversation as they walked, everyone seemed to be in a good mood this morning. Golden Cheese herself receiving quite a few laughs from a story she told from long ago about her and the others old traveling days, where Hollyberry, in a failed attempt to fish for dinner, slipped and crashed into a shallow lake. In turn, Hollyberry scoffed and told a story of her own about how when she and the others were attempting to hide from a group of monsters, it was Golden Cheese's heavy water thermos that had caused them to be found. The thermos had fallen out of her bag, clanged to the ground rather loudly, and caused the group of monsters to find them. So they had to fight. The group, again, laughed at this, and Pure Vanilla added that he remembered how peeved Cacao was because he received a dent in his sword during the battle, and gave Golden Cheese the silent treatment for the next week and a half. Dark Cacao in turn claimed nothing of the sort happened, to which the other ancients said it most definitely did. This, once again got a laugh out of the entire group.
This was nice...
Golden Cheese sighed.
She hadn't felt this way in a long time.
She was quite happy to be standing alongside friends, both old and new.
The group finally arrived at the airship port. Luckily, the ship had already been packed up and was just simply waiting to be brought to life and be used.
"Well. I guess this is it." Gingerbrave looked to the ship.
Golden Cheese Cookie sighed happily, then she bent down on one knee and gazed between the group of three young cookies."Gingerbrave? Wizard Cookie? Strawberry Cookie? You three take care, and stay safe." She reached over to Gingerbrave and gave his shoulder a pat.
"Thanks. We'll do our best!" Gingerbrave smiled back at her and nodded.
"Thank you, Golden Cheese Cookie." Wizard Cookie seemed to smile.
"Thank so much, your majesty! We-We'll do our best, Like Gingerbrave said." Strawberry Cookie agreed.
"Good luck you guys, Safe travels." Black Raisin smiled, looking to Gingerbrave who flashed her a smile of his own and a huge thumbs up.
"Good luck out there! Make sure to take down any monsters if you run into any trouble! Do what I would do!" Crunchy Chip Cookie beat his chest once and flashed a smile and a wink to the three.
"So long. Stay safe." Dark Cacao nodded. "Good luck out there in beast yeast, Pure Vanilla Cookie."
"All of you better stay hydrated and well fed! You'll need all the strength you can out there! I'm going to miss you Pure Vanilla Cookie! Good Luck!" Hollybery exclaimed.
"I wish you four the best, I wish you all the best of luck." Wildberry Cookie stated.
"May the divines watch over you as you travel and keep you safe." Financier Cookie smiled and placed a hand to her chest.
"I don't know what you'll find out there, but- I'm positive you will be able to face whatever it may be." Clotted Cream spoke up, looking at Pure Vanilla Cookie.
"Thank you. Thank you all for your kind words." Pure Vanilla Cookie nodded, he walked over to Golden Cheese, opening his heterochromic eyes, with his orchid staff's iris closing. Once he was close enough, he placed his free hand on her shoulder. Then, he pulled her into as tight of a hug as he could manage. Golden Cheese smiled, closing her eyes and embracing her friend. They pulled away after a moment and the cleric smiled warmly, still having his eyes open.
"Stay safe, Pure Vanilla Cookie, And come back in one piece." Golden Cheese cookie stated, putting one hand on her hip and wagging one of the fingers on her other hand at him. "Now, Don't make me come out there to beast yeast to look for you, you hear?" Pure Vanilla's smile widened. "We'll be fine, and I will come back..." He looked around to every other cookie. "Come back to all of you. I promise." He nodded. Then, he shut his eyes again and allowed his orchid staff's iris to open once more.
And with that, the group entered the airship provided by the crème republic. The engine whirring to life with a loud roar, and the wind picking up in a harsh gust as the airship took off into the early dawn.
Golden Cheese Cookie looked on and watched as the ship headed in the direction of Beast-Yeast, placing a hand to shield her squinted eyes as the bright sun peaked over the horizon. it didn't take long for the ship and it's occupants to fade from view.
"What do you think they'll find out there?" Clotted Cream Cookie wondered aloud.
"Who knows?" Crunchy Chip Cookie huffed, folding his arms over his chest.
"I hope that there venture yields at the very least something useful." Wildberry commented.
Golden Cheese yawned once again. "I hope so too. But that place...That place is so odd. I mean, the area is barely charted or documented. It's completely unknown territory...I hope they know what they are doing."
"Hmm-" Dark Cacao sighed. "We will see what comes of their journey's."
"Will you two be departing back to your kingdoms?" Golden Cheese asked her friends.
"As Pure Vanilla mentioned yesterday, we should head back to our kingdoms to prepare our forces-"
"Oh, come now, Cacao!" Hollyberry let out a long huff. "Leaving already after we just met up again? At least stay for a little while longer, we haven't even had a chance to eat yet!"
"If you insist..." Dark Cacao sighed deeply. He knew he wasn't going to win this fight against the berry queen. "I suppose-" He paused in thought. "-That it would not hurt to stay for breakfast." Hollyberry's smile beamed ever brighter. "Breakfast sounds wonderful! In fact, How about all of us meet together in the main dining hall of the vanilla castle to eat, huh? How would that sound?" Hollyberry asked, looking at the entire group.
"That sounds delightful!" Golden Cheese Cookie exclaimed happily.
"I for one, would be delighted to have a meal, I am rather hungry." Clotted Cream smirked. "How about yourself, Financier Cookie?"
"I- I could eat as well consul." Financier replied to Clotted Cream Cookie.
"Yeeeees! Food sounds great!" Crunchy Chip Cookie pumped his fist in the air.
"I would also like something to eat, especially before the long walk back to the Hollyberry kingdom." Wildberry Cookie nodded.
Black Raisin Cookie then spoke up, "I'll ask the chefs to prepare some food, we'll meet in the hall in...let's say about 30 minutes?"
"Sounds like a plan, I'll use the time to- uh- get changed." Golden Cheese Cookie rubbed the back of her head awkwardly, looking back down at her golden nightgown...
"Haha! That'd be a wise idea, Golden Cheese Cookie!" Hollyberry Cookie exclaimed. "See all of you then!"