Chapter Text
Wizard Cookie’s dough felt weird ever since they stepped foot onto Beast Yeast, he felt there were endless amounts of eyes watching him at all times. He clung tightly to his staff and made sure to not separate from his friends for long. Gingerbrave had insisted that they should accompany Pure Vanilla Cookie on his journey to find the Spire of All Knowledge, the domain of Shadow Milk Cookie. He really didn’t want to encounter that beast again, he looked at Wizard really weirdly during their last encounter, yet he couldn’t help but be curious.
He would say he was one who thirsted for knowledge, so how a former keeper of knowledge corrupted to spread deceit interested him deeply. Just as they were about to set off, they were stopped by a shrill voice calling after them.
“Wait for me!” An apple themed faerie cookie ran towards them, as much as her little legs could allow.
“Are you one of the faerie cookies? Have you followed us from the Faerie Kingdom?” Gingerbrave, his friend who was oh so trusting of everyone, asked the new cookie with a bright smile. The cookie smiled at Gingerbrave as she finally caught her breath.
“My name is Apple Faerie Cookie! I heard you are going to the Spire of All Knowledge. Please, let me come with you!” The faerie cookie begged innocently, looking at the group with pleading eyes.
“You want to join us?” Gingerbrave enthusiastically asked and a part of Wizard wanted to smack him upside the head with his magic staff. As much as he loved his dear friend he had a knack for trusting cookies they really shouldn’t have…and sure it seemed that this cookie was just a normal faerie cookie, but she kept on stealing quick glances towards Wizard.
“Your bravery saved our kingdom, and I wanted to repay this debt. I’ve traveled to many places. I’ve been to the spire!” The Apple Faerie enthusiastically exclaimed as she swayed back and forth. “It's a place like any other! Magnificent, yet dreadful place! I can help you, you’ll see!”
Wizard then felt a chill crawl up his spine. She seemed normal, more than normal, just another well meaning faerie cookie, yet something felt…off? It was probably something irrational, the times Wizard had had these feelings before were usually helplessly wrong.
“A guide?! Well that’s exactly what we needed!” The weird chameleon/cookie piped in.
“It’s very kind of you, Apple Faerie Cookie. Your help is most welcomed!” Pure Vanilla had given his approval on Apple Faerie’s involvement so he guessed there was nothing he could do about that feeling now…although it wouldn’t hurt to keep an eye on her would it?
Apple Faerie diligently led them toward the spire, taking care of obstacles in the way until they reached an inn. Inside he felt the weird feeling of being watched be multiplied, while the inn was busy with cookies chatting away, he couldn’t help but get the feeling that they were all staring at him, every time he turned around to catch one of these stares he would be met with cookies minding their own business. Was he being paranoid? I mean, it is the domain of THE beast, Shadow Milk! Who wouldn’t be paranoid?
Due to it being a busy night, the innkeeper sat them at a table with a hooded cookie. “I hope you don’t mind the intrusion, good cookie!” Pure Vanilla cheerfully greeted the stranger as he pulled up a chair, the rest followed Pure Vanilla’s gesture shortly after, however even after his greeting the cookie didn’t speak.
“What brings you to this inn? Are you an adventurer yourself?” Gingerbrave asked, ever so curious, as he took a seat next to Wizard. Even after a direct question from his friend, the cookie didn’t speak.
“Not much of a talker I see…” Wizard whispered under his breath, yet the cookie still didn’t speak even after hearing his taunt. Instead the stranger took out tarot cards and started to shuffle them.
“What are these cards? They have peculiar markings on them!” Gingerbrave observed and the others started to enthusiastically talk about the cards, yet Wizard only felt unease.
“Fourtunetelling is not REAL magic if you want my opinion.” Wizard huffed as he watched the others marvel at the cards. “But sure, let’s see what this is about.” Wizard just needed something to get his mind off of…everything, even if it was indulging in fake magic.
Once they drew three cards the pictures were…unsettling to say the least. What was more unsettling were the words that appeared on the table, almost like a prophecy. He tried to pay no mind to it like the others suggested, yet the words and cards just flashed back and forth in his mind.
Continuing on their journey, they encountered some peculiar things, like a Wolfherd Cookie kid tricking them into finding his wolves, and an injured cookie turning into a monster before their very eyes. Apple Faerie had saved them with the monster, immediately killing it with one blow. That's another thing he found suspicious of her, she was surprisingly strong for a seemingly normal faerie cookie, and by that he meant it seemed like she wasn’t a part of the Silver Guard and was just an ordinary citizen.
Of course he wasn’t aware of faerie cookie customs so he tried to settle his suspicions.
“Oh yes! The very place you’ve all been waiting for! The Spire of All Knowledge!” Apple Faerie exclaimed as they approached a large building, almost like a castle, yet it was in horrible condition, like no one took care of it for years. However the feeling of being watched was excruciating, it's like the closer he got to the spire the more eyes were being placed on him.
“This old tower is the spire? I thought it would be…less worn out.” Strawberry Cookie observed, making the same face he was making.
“Appreances can be deceptive. Especially here…” Pure Vanilla responded in a light tone.
“Young seekers of wisdom! Welcome to the gleaming vault of knowledge abound!” A strange cookie that stood at the bottom of the entrance exclaimed. Wizard felt suspicious again, but this cookie had a magnificent beard and an impressive staff, so he must be wise!
The cookie apparently was the one who dictated who entered the spire, and for them to enter they would have to solve a riddle. Now, normally Wizard loved riddles, but this one absolutely stumped him! They only were granted passage thanks to Pure Vanilla and White Lily Cookie, however White Lily decided to stay behind, and return to the Faerie Kingdom to work on her new found guardian power.
Wizard would be lying if he said it didn’t agitate him for her to just leave them after they’ve traveled so far, but he decided to just let it go…
Once he set foot onto the spire, a piercing sharp headache appeared out of nowhere, causing Wizard to stumble a bit.
“Are you okay Wizard Cookie?” Gingerbrave asked innocently as he held onto Wizard to balance him.
“Don’t worry I’m fine!” Wizard’s face flushed in embarrassment and quickly shook Gingerbrave's hand. As they ventured more into the spire, he was 100% sure his feeling of being watched wasn’t just paranoia…they WERE being watched. He tried to distract himself by gazing at the hundreds of books that lined the walls, and the portraits of smart looking scholars. Yet when he picked up some books, they seemed to spout nothing but lies!
The spire was an extremely odd place and if Wizard was a shameless coward, which he really wished he was one right now, he would have left. Odd doors, stairs that lead to nowhere, clocks that ticked backward, it all made no sense! Apple Cookie was suspiciously calm, but the faerie cookies were weird…so he tried to pay no mind.
“We’ve been searching for long enough. Why don’t we rest here?” Pure Vanilla proposed after an extended amount of time looking around, seemingly getting lost in the design of the spire.
“Good idea!” Gingerbrave nodded, agreeing immediately.
“That sounds good to me.” Strawberry hummed as she already started to look for a comfortable spot to sleep.
“Thats…” His headache got worse. “Fine…”
That night, he tossed and turned all night. He couldn’t sleep for the longest time.
“Mmm Wizard Cookie? Are you okay?” Gingerbrave asked, rubbing his eyes, when Wizard sat up suddenly.
“I’m fine. Just can’t sleep.” He lied, but it was just a small white lie. What was the harm?
“Oh, then why don’t you sleep between me and Strawberry Cookie! You’ve always slept better when we piled together!” Gingerbrave yawned and gave a sleepy solution, Wizard just rolled his eyes.
“That’s because we were sleeping outside, had no campfire, and it was freezing out!” He grumbled but still scooted into the empty space between his friends and laid down.
“Good night Wizard Cookie!” Gingerbrave yawned as he went back to sleep. Wizard closed his eyes, and finally, he felt himself drift off.
—
A void of white, then blue, then black, then Wizard opened his eyes. Except he wasn’t in the spire, or even in his body for that matter! He could feel himself squirm as a baby cookie in the arms of someone, and when he looked up, he saw Elder Faerie Cookie! Except Elder Faerie looked…younger? If that was possible. He also looked more muscular, and intricate armor covered him instead of the white robe he met the king in.
He tried to communicate to have Elder Faerie set him down but only useless baby noises came out of his mouth. Elder Faerie looked down at him, guilt and regret were the only things Wizard could find in his eyes.
Wizard looked around some more, the faerie cookies were kneeling, some were crying, but none moved. The Silver Guard stood attentively, watching their king and Wizard, or the baby he guessed. He flailed around and saw two cookies, a male cookie who looked hardened for war holding back a screaming and crying female cookie in more delicate attire. The cookie screamed and tried to claw her way out of the male cookie’s arms, who looked on in horror and despair but still held back.
“ FATHER PLEASE!! YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING!” The female cookie yelled out as she sobbed in the other cookie’s arms, he could see Elder Faerie wince. Since when did he have children? Nobody in the faerie kingdom ever called him that, there wasn’t even a discussion of a princess at all! You would think that’d be an important topic.
“I’m sorry…my dear. But we can not take risks.” Elder Faerie looked down at him, tucking in his swaddle tighter, preventing much movement.
“I’m sorry my son…but the crimes of your mother are too big to ignore. The power you hold is too much for any normal cookie, so it is for the best…that you are surrendered .” Elder Faerie’s tears dropped on the swaddle. Mother? Crimes? Power? Surrendered… ? What was he talking about???
He felt a piercing headache, and this time he was more aware of the faint screaming going on in the background. Except it wasn’t faint, and it wasn’t from the female cookie previously. A loud yell that sounded like a wild animal rang out throughout the kingdom, and the faeries flinched and cowered in fear.
Elder Faerie stopped in his tracks, and his brow furrowed at the scream. He then held Wizard, or the baby technically, close to his chest. It was warm, it made Wizard feel comforted and safe, despite what was happening around him. He then felt soft tears fall upon his head.
“You and I share no dough, yet you are as much as my child as your siblings Gladiolus and Bluebell…it pains me to do this and I get no pleasure from going through with this, but I must put the safety of all cookie kind first.” Elder Faerie kissed the top of his head, the cries of the previous female cookie were now muffled as she sobbed into the male faerie’s arms as he comforted her.
Elder Faerie then held on tightly to him, and extended his arm as if for someone or something to take Wizard. The animal-like screams grew louder and louder until the faeries covered their ears, all except Elder Faerie who soaked the screams in. Wizard wanted to cover his ears too, but before he could even try, he felt something large grab him.
Two large fingers grabbed him and lifted him off Elder Faerie’s grasps. Wizard tried to squirm and call for help, but his cries were ignored by everyone, and they only watched as he was taken away.
—
Wizard awoke with a start, sweating as he held on tight to Gingerbrave’s hand.
“Hey Wizard Cookie! You okay?”
“I’m fine.” He fixed his hat and stood up. Today was a new day.