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It was over. The smell of burnt butter and rotting yeast stained these airs that had been cursed to never be cleaned for some time. The ground itself moved shakily, shuddering it's heavy breathes. The sky never did clear up of it's smoke, the claws of mourning crows in the distance.
It's been over. It's been over for such an age, her feet constantly carried her back here. It's been months, but her feet felt trapped to these barren ruins.
By all means, they had won. Dark Enchantress stood no more. By her own hubris, had gotten so close to winning, succeeding, just within her grasp of making the Ultimate Cookie. All Souljams, virtues and their severed half's under captivity, being drained of energy. The cackles of the cookie who grew herself far too out, with ambition White Lily Cookie could only watch in horror, and in her same breath, admire.
To what degree could she have hated her other self? Her fight for the safety of cookie kind, to defeat their foe beyond these horizons. She had sacrificed so much for the cause White Lily Cookie herself shared. It was a shame she was so blinded by the agony within her soul.
White Lily Cookie clutched her dress. Feeling a trumble beneath her hands, shutting her eyes to try and peer it away. Her dough was burnt now, why she still lied awake while Dark Enchantress will never be again remained a mystery.
One she painfully never wished to explore, les the pain make a mark too deep into her flesh that she will never be able to heal it.
"White Lily Cookie!" A voice called out, "I thought we'd find you here!"
"Silver Bell Cookie," The half-burnt cookie turned over, her head barely doing so, "I'm sorry, have I taken too long here again?"
"Yes…" The archer nodded, hesitantly, "It's been a month. Silent Salt had sent me to go and get you!"
White Lily Cookie sighed, her head turning back to the terra below her. Burnt and corrupted, the roots below barely shifted with any evidence of life. Cookie Crumbs slowly being repurposed into the way below, it only really gave hope that maybe the Sugar Swan will be able to spread her wings as glorious as she had before.
Her hand clutched the staff, that of a skull, the one Dark Enchantress had wielded as a cookie before, "Let me guess," She drew out, "Telling me I have to return to my duties as the guardian?"
"Yeah…" He mumbled, looking off to the side.
"I understand." She nodded, "I will not be any longer. I am still searching for…what I need."
"Maybe I can help!" The faerie's wings fluttered, his pale eyes widened. It really was a shame that he constantly looked like he was about to cry, "You're always slipping here anyways, if we can get what we need…!"
"I cannot ask that of you," She shook her head. "What I search for, must be done by my own hands."
The faerie hesitated, "Are…you sure?" He asked carefully.
"Positive." White Lily Cookie affirmed, turning away, her cape once a nicer rich green had been withering away like a leaf, curling inwards to become an ugly gray, "Besides, it is best if we leave the Avatar to their rest…"
The Faerie's silver eyes looked over to the horizon. There rested…it. Large, slumbering peaceful, it's shallow breathes moved with the crust below. It had curled itself a burrow at the base of the far-too-large oven, wings limply at rest like a guard dog. Eyes shut, with it's ice cream like melted hair to conceal it's face. It's been like that for quite awhile, barely ever stirred from where it laid.
It would shift slightly whenever she would approach. Move, even in slumber, too aware of everything alive near it. As she had tried to ease it's sorrows, it's pain, nothing had properly worked. Nothing laid it to proper rest besides this temporary slumber.
"I understand." Silver Bell Cookie had a slightly disappointed tone, "I'll try and reason with Silent Salt Cookie, I doubt he'll be too happy over this."
The slight metallic flap of wings was what confirmed he had left. Her eyes left over the figure that had chosen itself as a guard against any possibility that Dark Enchantress Cookie would ever return.
It was….certainly a thing that worked. It left no gratification. The lives lost in this….her jaw clenched, her hands tightened, she had to use the staff to hold herself upright, reliving the horrors of when she emerged from that realm.
"So many…" She murmured out, her eyes shut with heavily increasing breath, "So many…none were spared…"
"How could I do something so terrible?" She looked down. There was a layer of sand-like substance. She had found out that the spice lands were covered in the crumbs of the deceased and fallen, and now it seemed to mimic such a thing.
No true color came out. An odd amalgamation of coloration, cookies from wide and far came to fight in this war that seemed to end so quickly for such a suspenseful lead up, and ended with such tragedy to only last a day on the field.
The Avatar of Destiny stirred loudly from it's chosen post. Wings extended out, it moved it's head upright. Her eyes landed on it, she forced an exhale. Of course…she must…keep herself in order.
It's what they would've wanted.
Her eyes looked around the grounds, sighing as she went to her knees, just as she had before. Carefully shifting through the musky ground, grimacing with every new smell to enter her nose. Looking for a certain collection of things, remainders of them, something more physical.
She was the only one out of five spared. And one out of so little to properly be here. The Sugar Swan grieved loudly when she had realized how much her power had grown for how much life had been returned to her.
The sobbing, so serene and peaceful, replayed. Again and again. And it was worse, the woman had spoken of the pity she felt for this poor cookie, who practically walked as a corpse herself.
And then she had disappeared. Out of sight, once again. Returning to be one of balance, not to grant miracles. All guardians of nature had.
Their duties fulfilled, the world in balance, everything would be….fine…
Her shoulders slumped down. How much time had passed? Her head looked up to the sickeningly red sky again, not a cloud in sight.
The first few weeks, everyone stayed. Mourned the loss of thousands, millions. Mourned the heroes who have died. Some out of hatred blamed others, she, herself, a long with the Beast of Silence the most highly founded one to be scorned.
Gingerbrave, that kind soul, she saw the look in his eyes. Exhausted, traumatized, no longer as excited to run for the horizon in that moment, spoke how they wished to speak out. Him and his two other companions. They tried, truly, tried to defend her.
Their voices would never be heard over a mourning, frustrated, and desperate crowd.
"Where were you minutes ago!?" "What took you so long!?" "Aren't you supposed to be our savior?!" "Look at what you've done!" "He's a beast, and you trust him!?" "You'll turn on us just the same!" "What are we going to do!?" "We're in ruins!!" "I lost my brother because of you!" "Is…there even a home to return back to?"
Her hands continued filtering through the dust of the fallen. That angry crowd, dwindled, the grieving, picked themselves up with a job needed to be done.
It didn't take long for her to be the only one here. Alone in these lands, the only company being that of the horrifying snores of Destiny.
She blinked. Barely even passing thinking, reflecting, she was another few miles down of her thorough search, finally picking up what she was seeking. A small, broken, shard. No color in it anymore, her jaw tensed, placing it to her chest. It lacked anything.
What has she done to her friends?
Left them to die in a mass grave. Where there won't be any honor here for them, no one to shower their rightful memorials of their remains in flowers and gifts and offerings and lit up incense and poured out berry juice and crying blue birds.
No. They were left here, because no one would be able to find them.
White Lily Cookie isn't even sure if she could. She's been here, doing this, for how long? The sense of time had been slipping for her. Her mind blacking out and only snapping back into focus when she finally stumbled upon a small remain of them, a messager tweeting to her side, or another Faerie trying to bring her to the Silver Kingdom.
Silent Salt had taken it upon himself to do what he could. Monitor the remains of the beasts. Ensure these lands weren't to fester another evil, he took paces constantly. The fallen soldiers who in spite of death stood by his side went to scavenge the land and ensure no more disruptions were to happen, Faeries who once guarded the Silver Tree joined in.
The beast of Silence had also gone into the other vacant domains of beasts. The peaks of Apathy were found beginning to crumble. He was aware a few citizens would still be in residence, though none of them agreed to go with him. The closest companion Mystic Flour was said to have quivered with tears in their eyes, left mourning their master, and only hoping she'd grant their one and only wish they'd ever ask - stay by her side.
The Spice Lands were difficult to curve into some sense of order. The power vacuum had intensified, it was almost like an ouroboros. No one had anything to fear, now it was greed that consumed them of who could take the crown of the most feared. The hybrid who took pride to act out Burning Spice's every command had been found crumbled in front of a desecrated mural, accepting that this was her end.
The Paradise and Tower of Deceit had been no easy to enter. The Paradise had entirely enclosed itself in thick vines, nothing would get in, and nothing would get out. Not even brute force would allow entry, no weaknesses were found. Silence Salt Cookie stated it would only be a matter of time, the vines looked dry old and close to their death. They can rip them off when they're properly weakened.
Spire of Deceit was confusing as its been told. Twisting halls that led to where you started, staircases up that took you to the garden just outside the gates, corridors that you could walk endlessly forward, only when you go to return you'll be where you started.
All in messages, written to her and delivered by messenger birds. She's read each one once, before it was tossed aside.
Another one? She blinked, White Lily Cookie's head turned upward to the familiar tweet, fluttering down came an envelope. This parchment isn't that like of the Faerie Kingdom, nothing too fancy…Ah, there it was.
'Gingerbrave', in childish signature. She tore it open, reading the contents with swift focus she knows she'll lose if she doesn't read this message now.
"Hey, White Lily Cookie! I know it's been awhile, I meant to write to you sooner, but there's been difficulties doing this!
"Half of Earthbread was destroyed apparently. The Cookie Kingdom needed massive repairs we….lost some people here, we're trying to make do though! Us cookies can do anything after all! You should come visit soon, it's finally all back to tip-top shape!
"I've ran to other people's kingdoms too, see if they need any help. They're not any better. The Golden Cheese Kingdom, I couldn't find any Chez Birds! The mines had collapsed in, I found out later they moved up to the Vanilla Kingdom with the Raisin Birds! That place is over-flowing with citizens now, it's really nice.
"Dark Cacao Kingdom was able to hang on as good! The wall needed repairs apparently, and Dark Choco- well, King Dark Choco now! He's doing a great job as king, though, he seems to be going through a lot as well. I was thinking you could visit him, and talk to him!
"Hollyberry Kingdom…it's eerily quiet now! No ones fighting in the streets anymore, and me with Chili Pepper and Wizard Cookie spotted Pitaya Cookie! They were acting odd too, really quiet.
"If I'm going to be honest, we're worried about you White Lily Cookie! You've done so much, Dark Enchantress Cookie's doings shouldn't be on your shoulders! You aren't her, you're better than that! Please don't hide yourself away, we miss you!"
"With love, Gingerbrave!"
Her eyes went over each page. Each friend's prides and joys. Even this cookie of bravery was affected, when all he wished to do was run.
The war was over. They had won. Able to open the Ultimate Oven, a rope laid out, the Avatar of Destiny managed to push the cookie-made-witch into it, she cried out in pain as the fires ate her alive, greedily taking whatever substance she was made out of into char.
That was the hope anyways. No one had opened it ever since the war, and no one has bothered to check it. Not with the Avatar of Destiny at the foot of it. Not when White Lily Cookie had repeatedly covered the handles in vines to keep it locked.
It was a small breeze. The hiss of the Oven, her eyes focused on it. How flames flickered. Her jaw tensed, looking down to the floor, unfortunate, her brain was working. White Lily Cookie felt nothing but disgust when she realized she was dreaming of the formulas on how to bring back her deceased friends.
The ingredients were here…weren't they? Her eyes stared at the metal carvings of the door. And an oven….
No, no! She shook her head violently as if that was enough to dismiss the thoughts. The temptation of playing God, for the sake of their embrace again. To try and right a wrong that was on her shoulder…
She blinked and she stood in front of the oven. She practically jumped out of her own dough as she realized she was making a circle into the crumbles below her feet, a hand clutching over her mouth when she realized she had no idea what she was doing.
This wasn't right, she couldn't—
Her eyes snapped to the Avatar. It had stood itself with a small creak of it's throat, disturbed like an old oaken door that hasn't been pushed open in centuries. Standing in front of her, it's white feathers lit up with the hungry reds of the oven behind it.
It's eyes remained shut, head turned down at her. Her guilt reflected on her expression.
"I…I'm sorry…" She shook her head, stepping away, "I…I don't know what I'm doing…" She shut her eyes, her shoulders hooked upwards, her hand shook again, as she was moving without another consideration.
"I'm too much of a risk," She rambled to herself, "If I don't put myself away…"
The circle of magic changed, reconstructed, a different, difficult, spell to be made done. "I'll do it again. I always do it,"
The Avatar of Destiny remained quiet. As she finished the final line, her eyes looking over the engravings below her soil, her head turned up to look at it back. "Please…We don't want this to happen again…"
It lowered it's body, stalking of that of a giant, it's face in front of White Lily Cookie's. In silence, it's wings ruffled out, puffing out. It's eye threatened to open.
"…For the good of whatever is left," She smiled, taking the staff and threw it into the ground.
The outline of the spell lit up in a violent red, "LIGATE CARNEM MEAM!" She recited, "CARCERE QUID EST CORRUPTUM!"
The once simple indents into the crumbles cookie dust below her made a wall to stretch to the sky. Her eyes followed up, tears filled it. "Ad Fatum…!"
The Avatar of Destiny moved to be more upright. It's head followed upwards. It's hands to it's chest, a small noise White Lily Cookie couldn't even consider what to compare it to or it's sentiment. Yet…she's sure it wasn't too far away from her's.
"…Abyssus, devorabit me"
The last few words. And she felt the sickeningly familiar heaviness in her chest, dragging her down to her feet. Emptiness itself had found it's clutches around her. Cold, and gentle, it'll hold her and make reality seem like a distant memory.
Take her away to a place where time and light didn't matter, where she would have nothing but her brain to keep her occupied. Her own imprisonment, how bittersweet. She would be scolded by the four of them.
"Seriously, hiding away again?" That scoff of pride.
"Let's us not be so hasty with this…!" That boastful voice.
"There are better courses of actions!" That rough shout.
"White Lily Cookie!" That kind cry.
She smiled slightly. It was unfortunate. They weren't here, and she was free to take the action she saw fit now. Like the last time she was left in her own care went well….
Her eyes snapped opened as a screen echoed everywhere. She's certain that every corner of Earthbread heard this pained cry, one that had been tormented to exhaustion, been tortured til all it could consider as a reaction was anger.
Avatar of Destiny. It's head turned fully to the sky, it's mouth a melted mess that forced itself to open to screech at the heavens themselves. Her concentration faltered, the casting shattered.
"No!" Panic filled her tone, and before she knew it, the ground below rumbled. She collapsed to the ground, the circle made a mess of with the remains of cookies below her being shaken around to settle right again.
"No, no!" She shouted, a hand extended out to the being made of her agony, it's mouth finally closed.
The sky rumbled it's disagreement, before it cracked under the pressure. Shattered like nothing else but a mirror, cleanly, the sky filled with reality-splitting runes. Forcing themselves to break through to this one, eyes across the sky opening to allow every side of the millions of portals into this one.
"Oh…no…" White Lily Cookie could only mumble. "What have I done?"
It was a horror to know she might've doomed the world she loved so. It was without a doubt punishment would come for her, and soon karma came knocking at her door. A soft man's voice, too tired to be from her memory, too changed to be a figment of reality.
"...White Lily Cookie?