Chapter Text
The sound of someone falling over pulls Pure Vanilla from his thoughts.
He turns towards the sound, watching as Gingerbrave stands up from the floor of the airship. “I’m okay!” he exclaims, before running over to join a conversation between Wizard and Strawberry.
Pure Vanilla sighs fondly at the children’s antics before turning to go look out at the view. The ocean’s waters seem far too calm for where they are heading: the continent of Beast-Yeast.
He rests his head against his staff at the thought. Everyone in Crispia always talks about how dangerous and harsh the environment in Beast-Yeast is. But it’s where White Lily headed to all those years ago. It’s where Dark Enchantress is hiding out. It’s where they’ll find answers on how to stop her.
Thinking about it, Pure Vanilla knows very little about Beast-Yeast. He knows all the tall-tales that cookies tell about it. He knows that Hollyberry explored it for years. He remembers what the Fount had told him about it.
A breath escapes his throat at the thought of him.
Squeezes his staff tightly, Pure Vanilla feels the ache in his chest beginning to swell. Sometimes those nights feel like a dream. Those days he spent with the Fount of Knowledge. Those lengthy conversations and intimate touches. But Pure Vanilla thinks back on those moments, knowing full well that they were no dream.
He still thinks about him. About the Fount. About how he must be doing. He’s tried doing research on the Virtues, but always finds nothing. Even asking other cookies about the topic leads him to confused looks.
It’s like they vanished off the face of Earthbread.
Pure Vanilla watches as the ocean waters move along. He shifts in his place, letting his eyes open. Despite all that, he still tries. And even when this mission is over, he’ll continue his search for them. He has to find some answers on where the Virtues could have gone.
He feels Gingerbrave tug at his sleeve, causing him to turn towards the young cookie. “Yes?” he asks, tilting his head down.
Gingerbrave gives him a concerned stare. “Are you alright?” he asks. “You’ve been quiet this entire trip.”
Pure Vanilla smiles gently. “Ah, I’m simply lost in thought. There are a lot of things that we need to do once we get to Beast-Yeast.”
“Of course,” Gingerbrave says with a grin. “But don’t worry! Whatever it is, we’ll face it head on!”
A giggle escapes Pure Vanilla’s throat. “Of course.”
It has to of course be that moment that the ship gets attacked by a Jelly Squid.
Thankfully for all of them, they are close enough to Beast-Yeast to land on the ground, resulting in minor dents and buffs that are easily wiped away with a spell. Pure Vanilla stands up, holding onto his aching head.
The magic of this land is so strange. Everything feels…different. Creatures and lifeforms feel stronger. Even what’s usually the smallest of organisms are gigantic. Pure Vanilla hums at the fact, wondering what the rest of the continent is like.
After the ship does crash, the four cookies do meet another cookie that seems (kind of) willing to help.
“You’re going to need someone to guide you here in Beast-Yeast,” says Carameleon. With a thumbs up, he adds, "And luckily for you batch, I’m an expert!”
Even as they continue down on their journey, Pure Vanilla still feels his mind wander to the earth around them. He’s only ever heard about this place; it feels jarring and surreal to see it.
And even then, despite the unknown atmosphere, there’s still something familiar about the ground beneath him.
The dirt digs into his feet, making him curious about all the cookies who have been here before. There’s a familiar magic in the air and earth. There’s something all around them that he recognizes, but can’t quite place a finger on.
Even when they encounter the shards from the Light of Freedom, the feeling still doesn’t leave.
Pure Vanilla holds the memory of White Lily in the palm of his hand, watching it play out. These little moments of her time here in Beast-Yeast make his soul weep in her favor. This life that she held onto. These lives that she cared for. A part of him doesn’t want to believe that she is truly gone.
But he sighs and they continue on their journey. Maybe the Light of Freedom calling to him means something. Maybe it means there is a way to save his old friend.
Besides that, the memories do confirm something to Pure Vanilla. He obviously knew that cookies lived here–he just didn’t know if a certain civilization of cookies still did.
“I know of an ancient kingdom,” he says. “Much older than any kingdom in Crispia.”
All those years ago, he remembers the Fount telling him about this kingdom. It was incredibly late, and Pure Vanilla was mostly half asleep as he listened to his Fount ramble about how the Virtues had been trying to form some kind of alliance with these cookies for centuries. Apparently these cookies can live for hundreds to thousands of years. And apparently, very few of them actually tolerated the Virtues.
Pure Vanilla now wishes that he was listening more when the Fount was explaining that to him. But he was tired and kept dreaming about what it would be like to fall asleep with the Fount stroking his hair. Curse him.
Carameleon flinches back in disgust. “You mean the Faerie Kingdom?”
Pure Vanilla turns to him, gripping his staff tightly. “You know about the faeries?”
“Of course I do,” Carameleon says with a huff. “A bunch of snobbish cookies if you ask me. All they do is sing and dance all day without inviting anybody!”
Sounds like the right batch.
Wizard steps in. “Let me guess, they didn’t invite you?”
While the two bicker, Pure Vanilla gets back to thinking. If White Lily’s memories and his knowledge of the Faerie Kingdom were correct, they shouldn’t be too far from here. And besides, the faeries might be the cookies who know how to help against Dark Enchantress.
Thankfully, it doesn’t take long in their wandering to actually find the faeries.
Scouting the forest is a young-appearing faerie cookie dressed in white. And while at first he was a determined and dangerous foe, Pure Vanilla recognizes him instantly from White Lily’s memories.
After letting Gingerbrave try and fail at conversing with him, Pure Vanilla takes his chance and steps forward.
“Silverbell Cookie?” he asks.
Silverbell holds his bow up. “How do you know my name?”
Pure Vanilla tightens the grip on his staff. “We’re following the trail of Dark Enchan–White Lily Cookie. We’re hoping you would know what happened to her.”
The hold on his bow falters as Silverbell lowers his guard. “...You guys are friends of White Lily Cookie?”
In an instant, his demeanor changes and he’s leading them to the kingdom. It’s strange hearing him talk about White Lily. It’s strange hearing about how she’s a hero to this kingdom that Crispia barely knows anything about.
While the younger cookies marvel at her accomplishments, Pure Vanilla can’t help but think about all of it. As Silverbell opens the gates to the kingdom and leads them through its gorgeous paths, Pure Vanilla finds himself listening.
He listens about how his old childhood friend prevented the Great Calamity. He listens about how she used a powerful spell to assist the faeries in stopping whatever that calamity was from occurring. While he doesn’t doubt that his friend could do such a spell, it is still strange hearing about a life that he knew nothing about.
Even stranger when they find her body resting within the kingdom.
Because there she is: sleeping as still as ever. A part of her never touched by corruption, with the Light of Freedom still calling out for her. Pure Vanilla looks down at her through the glass. If a part of her truly did split from Dark Enchantress, then what had happened to her…?
Unfortunately, their reunion is cut short by Mercurial Knight stepping in, saying that Elder Faerie wished to speak with them.
As they follow him, Pure Vanilla takes the time to look around, noticing the beautiful architecture throughout the kingdom. Everything looks so soft and surreal. Like they are truly in a different world. His gaze eventually lands on the magnificent tree in the center, feeling a strange calling towards it.
The feeling has to be pushed to the side as they stand face to face with Elder Faerie. A cookie who is wise. A cookie who has experienced so much of the world. A cookie who knows who they are instantly.
“So you are the cookies who claim to be White Lily Cookie’s allies?” he tells them.
“It’s complicated,” says Wizard.
Elder Faerie’s gaze falls upon all of them, saying who they are as if he’s known this tale all his life. And from how he talks, it only makes that more obvious,
“Your Majesty,” Pure Vanilla says. “We come here in search of a cookie who’s threatening the peace of this very world.”
Without needing to say more, Elder Faerie’s eyes meet his. “Dark Enchantress Cookie.”
Gingerbrave looks amazed. “You know about Dark Enchantress Cookie?”
Looking to the side, he sighs before saying. “Of course. I have been given an order by the witches to protect the Silver Tree. Throughout the years, there have been many cookies who coveted the dark powers within it.”
Pure Vanilla turns back to the tree, feeling that same pull as before.
“I think there’s been a misunderstanding,” says Wizard. “You are aware that White Lily Cookie and Dark Enchantress Cookie are the same, right?”
Elder Faerie nods, bringing his hands together behind his back. “Yes, I am perfectly aware. But the dough of White Lily that resides here is the part of her that did not turn into Dark Enchantress.”
So there was a split. Pure Vanilla grips his staff tighter. “Can you tell us what happened to her to cause this?”
“...As I’m sure you’re aware, in White Lily Cookie’s journey to discover the truth of cookie creation, she ended up here,” he says, turning to look away. “No matter how many times I tried persuading her not to go, she refused to give up on her mission. So I made sure she had a piece of Moonstone with her, so that she can travel back here through the other-realm.”
Pure Vanilla lets out a gasp. A Moonstone means Dark Moon magic. Forbidden magic. A magic that he’s unfortunately very familiar with.
“A Moonstone?” Strawberry asks. “Like the one at the Blueberry Yogurt Academy?"
Thinking back on it, this is certainly not the first time that White Lily has used forbidden magic. He thinks back to his days at the academy, both when he was a student and when he was just a guest. Both of those periods in his life dealt with Dark Moon magic all around him.
So he turns to Strawberry and nods. “Yes.”
Hearing Elder Faerie further explain upon White Lily’s split makes it harder to comprehend. Even Strawberry’s questioning feels strange. It feels strange knowing that there is a part of White Lily untouched by the corruption of Dark Enchantress. A part of her that still exists. Here. In the Faerie Kingdom.
And considering the threat that is Dark Enchantress, it only makes sense that the Light of Freedom is trying to reach out to that small part of its owner. But still. Dark Enchantress is clearly trying to use the power within the Silver Tree. A power that Elder Faerie and the other cookies claim would cause a “Great Calamity”. And well, Pure Vanilla can’t help but still feel something calling for him within that tree.
“Your Majesty,” he says after Elder Faerie and Strawberry finish their conversation. “You said that White Lily helped prevent this…Great Calamity. How did she do it? Is it related to the power within the Silver Tree that Dark Enchantress is after?”
Elder Faerie looks up at him; his gaze turns sad as he ponders. “...Perhaps it is better if I show you.”
They all follow as Elder Faerie leads them closer to the Silver Tree. Here, they can see all the faerie cookies tending to it and praying as if it were a divine being. For them, it probably is.
And it’s here that Elder Faerie turns to him and asks, “Pure Vanilla Cookie, are you aware of where your power comes from?”
The question causes him to tense up. Of course, he wants to say. But the existence of the question leaves him breathless and scared. “...What?”
“The power from the Soul Jam. These Virtues created by the witches–you are not the first to hold them.”
Pure Vanilla hears the gasps and questions from his friends. He feels his staff’s vines wrap around his hands, squeezing him tightly. Of course he knows about the Virtues. Of course he does. But hearing about them for the first time in years leaves his heart pounding. Because here stands someone who knows about them. Who knows what could have happened to him.
Yet Elder Faerie only turns towards the tree. “Our story starts when this tree was only a sapling. When the dessert world was at its infancy. The witches baked five cookies to assist in their creation. These cookies, imbued with absolute power, walked as gods amongst cookies, creating a paradise for all. Knowledge, Volition, Happiness, Change, and Solidarity.”
Gingerbrave follows his gaze. “So they were the original owners of the Soul Jams?”
“But, those Virtues are different from the Soul Jams,” Wizard adds.
For a brief moment, Elder Faerie appears sad. “...Alas, this perfect age was short lived.”
…
What?
“Absolute power brings nothing but arrogance, corrupting its user.”
No. No no no.
“It’s a fate even the witches could not foresee.”
No no, that can’t be right.
“One by one, the Five turned to darkness. And with them, so did their Virtues.”
Pure Vanilla feels his hand grasp over his mouth.
“Twisted into Deceit, Apathy, Sloth, Destruction, and Silence.”
No. No no no no.
Corrupting? Turning to darkness?
He’s met the Virtues! He knew the Fount! Sure, the Fount was cocky at times, but he would never cause harm on purpose! He was just clueless! Surely, surely this is all some farfetched version of reality.
…Yet Pure Vanilla knows that it has to be true.
As Elder Faerie continues his tale, Pure Vanilla can feel his whole body shake. He hears how the old Virtues–the Beasts–brought havoc and destruction into the world. An image that he can't imagine for the life of him.
While he didn’t speak to the other Virtues, he spoke to the Sugar. She was so concerned about the Fount! She seemed so nice! How could she have fallen into the temptation of Sloth?
What about the others then? The brief moments he met the Virtues of Volition and Solidarity–how could they have fallen? They seemed so relaxed and content, right? Right?
Or what about the Herald of Change? From what he heard, he was having some troubles, but surely he didn’t bottle it all up. Surely– surely he talked to the other Virtues. Surely they didn’t face this stuff all on their own!
And the Fount.
His Fount.
He feels his breathing quicken. By the witches did he know the Fount. From his little ticks to the way he mumbled in his sleep. And sure, he had his problems with running his kingdom, but he wouldn’t be outright malicious. How could have this happened? He was just stressed. How could have–
…
Oh.
Right.
As Elder Faerie explains how the witches locked the Beasts into the Silver Tree, Pure Vanilla falls to his knees. He feels a heavy breath escape his lungs.
Did…he do this to the Fount?
He couldn’t have. He wiped his memory. Or is that just it?
Did doing so guarantee that the Fount would fall? Did wiping his memories secure his doom? Or…was it always set in stone?
Was he just pushing back the inevitable by being in his life? What if he didn’t wipe his memories? Would he have actually learned to move on and try to better himself? Or would the despair only send him into doom much faster?
What about if he were to stay like the Fount wanted? Would that have been for the better? To give up his entire life for the possibility of this not occurring?
Would that have saved the Virtues?
Saved them from the fate of being reduced to their ugliest parts, only to be locked in a tree?
It’s a fate that sickens him.
He finally takes the time to process that all of his friends are surrounding him, trying to make sure he is okay.
“Pure Vanilla Cookie!” he hears Gingerbrave scream.
“Are you alright?” asks Strawberry.
…Right. They have a mission. As much as this information pains him, he can’t let it show for their sake.
He watches as Elder Faerie eyes him sympathetically. “I understand it must be painful learning about the origins of the Soul Jams,” he says. “Especially seeing as you carry the Virtue of Truth.”
Pure Vanilla clutches his hand against his Soul Jam. With a breath, he stands, trying his best to remain calm. “I will be fine,” he says.
With a level of doubt in his eyes, Elder Faerie adds, “There is still a way to stop the Beasts.”
Pure Vanilla turns his head away. “Is there now?”
Elder Faerie nods. “Yes. Using the power from the cookie who assisted us all those years ago. A cookie whose branch still shines as bright as ever. We must bring back White Lily Cookie.”
And so, the mission became just that.
And while Pure Vanilla knows he should focus on the voice from the Light of Freedom, he still can’t help but feel his attention turn to the Silver Tree. Maybe it’s because in that tree is a cookie that he abandoned eons ago. A cookie in so much pain. A cookie that he had grown to love.
…He should focus on the positives. He’s trying to bring his old friend back. But will she even be the same? Did he even know her at all? All these adventures she went on, and he didn’t know a thing about them. And after all that, who’s to say that her dough isn’t a trick from Dark Enchantress herself?
They walk through the kingdom, with Pure Vanilla letting the younger cookies hold the conversations. All the while, he holds the memory shards in his hand and stares at them in melancholy. This kingdom holds so many answers. But right now, he doesn’t know which questions they belong to.
It hurts.
Especially because he can see that the others are noticing it.
Wizard eyes him like he’s expecting him to say something. Strawberry stays by his side to try and give him company. And Gingerbrave smiles as bright as ever, trying his best to remain optimistic. That and he’s also interested in the kingdom surrounding them.
Hearing about their lives helps. Along with seeing the kind of hero White Lily is to the faeries. They clearly love and respect her. To think that his friend would have a kingdom holding her in such high regards brings a smile to his face.
…Perhaps there is a chance for her after all.
Perhaps there is a way to truly save her.
And as they witness the last memory, watching White Lily head off to continue her mission, they all let out a breath.
“...Is that all?” Wizard hesitantly asks.
“...I think so,” Pure Vanilla mumbles.
He holds the last shard in his palm, feeling his fingers grip it tightly. Strawberry looks up at him–her expression sad. “Are you okay, Pure Vanilla Cookie?”
An exhale escapes from his lungs. Holding the shard against his chest, he says, “I’ve just been thinking.”
Gingerbrave frowns. But before he can say anything, Mercurial Knight once again arrives to lead them to Elder Faerie.
Once gathered, Pure Vanilla glances up at the Silver Tree, watching as the vines from White Lily’s spell struggle to stay together. He can feel the anxiety in his chest as he watches. What will happen if the Beasts escape? How will he even react if he sees him again after all these years?
“It appears that Dark Enchantress Cookie is attempting to weaken the spell to release the Beasts,” says Elder Faerie. “And yet…the only one who can mend it is White Lily Cookie herself. Come, we must wake her immediately.”
When they make it to where her dough lies, Pure Vanilla finds himself looking down at her. And as Elder Faerie explains the way to wake her, he watches in despair.
He’s so close to having his old friend back. Not as Dark Enchantress or some memory, but her. And even then, bringing her back guarantees that he will remain trapped in that tree. That is if White Lily has enough energy to help them.
So Pure Vanilla watches, knowing well that he has failed both of these cookies that he cared for. That he still cares for. He reaches a hand over to touch the glass, only pausing when he hears that the spell requires a cookie’s life powder.
…
…He might as well try and remedy one relationship.
“Use my life powder.”
The cries from his friends ring in his ears. He meets Elder Faerie’s gaze, who only shakes his head. “No. There is still so much left for you to do. As it is my duty to protect the Silver Tree, I shall do it.” He places a hand on Pure Vanilla’s shoulder. “Do not let her down. She will need your help.”
And with that, the spell commences.
Pure Vanilla stands back with the younger cookies, watching as the light begins shining and flowing all around them. He feels a breath escape his throat as he stares. The wind swirls around her, making it appear as if she were floating.
When she finally lies back down, it looks for a moment like the spell didn’t work. Until her eyes shoot open and Elder Faerie is collapsing to the ground.
Instantly the three cookies all run to her side, showering her with a series of questions. Pure Vanilla stays where he stands, not sure what to say. It’s been so long since he’s spoken to her. What can he even say?
Hearing her speak makes his heart hurt. Seeing her there, right in front of him makes it feel like he’s not all there himself. Like it’s all a dream. Maybe that would explain everything he’s learned today. But he sees her. He sees her mumbling to the surrounding cookies before her attention turns to Elder Faerie.
She gasps, rushing over to see if he’s okay. And Pure Vanilla doesn’t listen into their conversation. In his state of mind, he doesn’t even know if he can. But he knows that Elder Faerie will be okay. A being like him just needs some rest.
As the faerie’s take Elder Faerie away, his gaze follows before turning back to White Lily. Her eyes meet his staff and she frowns.
“Pure Vanilla Cookie…?” she asks.
He steps forward, wanting her to say more.
For a moment she hesitates. A hand grasps against her chest as she continues with, “Are you…happy that I’m back?”
“Of course,” he says without a beat of silence.
He steps closer, wanting to provide her some form of comfort.
White Lily turns away. “Even if I’m Dark Enchantress Cookie? Even if I might become Dark Enchantress Cookie once more?”
Pure Vanilla sputters for a moment. “Of course–” He reaches out, only to see her shift away. So he pulls back and grasps a hand against his side. “You won’t become Dark Enchantress Cookie. The only reason we were able to bring you back is because of that. Because the Light of Freedom still calls out to you.”
A few thoughts pass through her head. After a moment, she squeezes her eyes tightly before dismissing herself and leaving.
They all watch her go. Pure Vanilla sighs and turns back to the three cookies still in the room. There’s nothing that he can really say in this moment. There’s still so much that he hasn’t fully had time to process. He thinks about White Lily. He thinks about the tree. He thinks about the cookie inside the tree.
With an exhale, he follows as Gingerbrave runs after her.
“We shouldn’t disturbed her!” exclaims Strawberry.
“Then I’ll go talk to her alone!” Gingerbrave says.
Wizard glares at him. “That still counts as disturbing, you know!”
Pure Vanilla hums. “Actually, Gingerbrave’s company might be what she needs.”
Wizard shoots him a concerned look. “...Seriously?”
Pure Vanilla feels his grip on his staff loosen. Gingerbrave has always been better with cheering other cookies up. How he continues to be so supportive is something that he should appreciate more. So he smiles as Gingerbrave walks over to White Lily.
In the meantime, Pure Vanilla wanders away to give them some privacy–Wizard and Strawberry right behind him.
The two don’t say much to him, clearly trying to let him focus on his thoughts. But it’s hard. It’s hard when they’re all jumbled up and he doesn’t know what to prioritize.
He rubs the back of his neck, taking in a deep breath. White Lily is back, but that doesn’t solve everything. He still has so much that he wants and needs to say to her. So many apologies he needs to make.
And of course, she’s not the only one who needs an apology.
It’s taken so long for him to come back to the subject of the Fount being stuck in a tree with the rest of the old Virtues. Perhaps it’s because a part of him doesn’t want to believe it. Even if it makes sense.
With all that time he spent knowing the Fount, he truly only scratched the surface of actually knowing him. Who knows how many years they spent apart. Hundreds? Perhaps thousands? It makes his dough crawl just thinking about it.
Who knows what could have happened in that time.
Did he finally get tired of his council?
Did teaching ever grow dull?
Did he finally get asked a question he couldn’t answer in front of that open crowd?
Did he finally grow tired of his life?
Did they all?
Did he ever remember him?
The last question is left as his last thought before Gingerbrave returns.
Unfortunately, his short time being with them is interrupted by the sound of screaming and Silver Knights all rushing towards the tree.
The magic suddenly feels stronger, with Pure Vanilla letting out a gasp at the way it wraps around him. “What’s happening?”
“The rift–!” says Silverbell rushing by.
“We must seal it immediately!” exclaims Mercurial Knight.
Pure Vanilla lets a breath escape him. Seal it? Of course. They have to seal it. The Silver Tree harbors great evil. Of course. Of course…
“I will join you.”
They all turn to see White Lily standing strong. While she still looks tired, whatever conversation she had with Gingerbrave seems to have helped her.
So they all rush to the tree.
From here, they see that the vines are snapping apart one by one, with tendrils of dark magic gushing out. The energy here is stronger; winds blow throughout the forest.
Pure Vanilla feels his heart beating against his chest. He knows this magic. This energy. And yet here he is trying to stop it?
…Does he want to? But he needs to! It’s for the greater good! It’s always been for the greater good!
And that’s when he hears it.
Through the crack of the tree he hears a haunting, echoing voice. A hysterical wake-up call to his reality. But he hears it. He hears a bit of his love within that voice.
And for a moment, he pauses.
As the attacks and spells happen all around him, he can only stand in disbelief. Because here he is: hearing a voice he never thought he would hear again. It makes him want to cry. It makes him want to smile. But he can’t.
There’s a pounding all around him. There’s a ringing in his ears.
It’s for the greater good.
But…he wants to see him. At least one last time.
He wants to apologize.
He needs to apologize.
He needs to know if he remembers that name he gave him all those years ago.
But then the rift opens wider.
He hears the gasps from White Lily before a hand emerges from the rift.
A hand.
A blue hand.
He watches as the cookie emerges from the tree with a laugh.
A sharp nose and pointy ears.
Dark, inky tendrils for hair. Eyes within the abyss staring right back at him.
A black jester outfit.
Those mismatched cyan and blue eyes.
And that wicked grin. With a Soul Jam against his chest to top it all off.
He inhales deeply before letting out another maniacal laugh. “Doesn’t this fresh air just feel divine?”
…He even sounds like him too.
And he looks down at all of them, his eyes tracing over each and every cookie. “Oooh! I appear to have an audience! Well, I’m so so so sorry to have kept you all waiting!”
His gaze turns to Pure Vanilla. For a moment, he glares down at him, with a look of built up anger and disdain in his eyes. That moment stays for far longer than it should have.
…
Oh.
Oh.
He remembers.
Upon seeing the newfound realization on Pure Vanilla’s face, he grins sharply and returns to his monologue.
“But now the wait is over! Your favorite trickster is here!”
Pure Vanilla falls to his knees.
“Shadow Milk Cookie!”
And he can only stare in horror.