The spectacle-adorned cookie watched as his theater collapsed to the ground, a twinge of sadness at watching such an important building to him be destroyed. However that thought didn't last long as the light of truth spoke soft words,

There are more theatres you can make a fresh start in, old friend...

He smiled fondly at the voice, lightly touching the soul jam in his broach before turning away from the falling building and following the younger cookies.

Once they were a safe distance from the wreckage, Black Raisin stopped, and turned back to look at the two soul jam holders, "So WHAT are we doing about him?!"

White Lily Cookie looked at who was supposedly Shadow Milk, looking him up and down. The white scholarly robes, silver cane, and blueberry hat...

"I'm...not sure what we do with Shadow m-"

"Light Blueberry cookie," he corrected, "it...my name is Light Blueberry cookie."

Black Raisin scrunched up her face at such a statement, "Sure...what kind of-spell did you cast to mess with Pure Vanilla cookie's mind and make yourself look like this?"

"It wasn't on purpose he took the light of deceit, that...soul jam can't be held by just anyone, it will drive some insane," Light Blueberry explained, but it fell on mostly deaf ears, even White Lily was skeptical.

White Lily shook her head, "Of course, you'd make it impossible for anyone else to hold your soul jam-so is this just...who you used to be?"

Light Blueberry sighed at the obvious ignoring, which reminded him of his young students...but he nodded, "Yes before the darkness in the soul jams grew too large, me and my fellow heralds had different names..."

"Herald? What is that? Is that some code name for the other beasts!?" Black Raisin Cookie asked, spiraling down her paranoia.

Light Blueberry cookie fixed his glasses, "No, herald in this term is a bringer, announcer, someone who had such information and ability."

Black Raisin blinked and sort of shifted, "Oh...well...you aren't LIKE Shadow Milk cookie..."

Light Blueberry frowned slightly, sure perhaps he'd dove off the deep end but he didn't exactly regret what he'd done. The people of his time were becoming just as evil as they were. They were selfish, callous, lazy, divided, and untrustworthy. Cookies were baked, grew into liars and beggars, then they died. It drove some to madness, others to solitude. No matter what he, the heralds, said, or did, things did not change. Cookies could not find happiness, or find resolution in solidarity. They had lost such knowledge.

Light Blueberry, even now, believed that if the witches had started the chaos, the cookies would not see them as the demons the cookies of today saw him and his old friends.

Perhaps it was not the truth...but even he couldn't know that. He could not predict the future, or what could have been, knowledge comes from the past.

"-So we're going back to the vanilla kingdom.." White Lily finished, Light Blueberry just now realizing he'd drifted off. Damn him and his now clear thoughts, too busy thinking to listen.

"Fine...but only because I trust you, White Lily cookie," Black Raisin stated. She began to approach Light Blueberry.

He took a half step back in hesitation, "Ah—may I help you?"

Black Raisin didn't respond at first, before getting a bright idea, "Actually yes, stay still."

Light Blueberry cookie blinked. Which gave him just enough time to see Black Raisin's fist coming straight towards his face before it went dark.

The cookie fell to the ground, still the same as before. Black Raisin sighed, and reached down, hoisting Light Blueberry onto her shoulder. White Lily just stared in shock.

"I really thought he'd turn back into Shadow Milk cookie," Black Raisin mumbled, and White Lily let out a small sigh.

"Let's just get back to the faerie kingdom..." White Lily cookie said, this was not how this expedition was supposed to go...

~+~

The vanilla cookie pressed to his forehead as he collapsed onto his knees in the misty forest.

Who are you? Why are you here? What's his name? I bet it's changed!! Can everyone SHUT UP??? HAHA NO!!!

All he could think of was the word stop, over and over, but soon the sound of his own internal voice faded into the mix of what felt like hundreds of voices.

What a liar he is. Even bigger than HIM!! Let him lie! It's good for everyone. Exactly. What's better than a well-placed lie to make you look better? Nothing! Nothing~ not a thing...

Nothing, he finally heard his voice again. All the voices began to chatter incoherently again until some began to laugh. Then they all began to laugh. Then he began to laugh, and he couldn't stop. It was humorous, all of this!

How did his friends all leave him behind?? How did his BEST FRIEND leave him behind!! And then-not only begin the flour war, but pretend that they can just be friends again after EVERYTHING HES DONE FOR HER??? Please! She didn't deserve him! None of his friends did!

He gave up everything for them! He nearly crumbled for their sakes! And they were all SELFISH LIARS! Well, it was his turn! It was his turn to be selfish, he deserved it. He deserved to think about himself, and what he wanted for once. And all he wanted was revenge. On Shadow Milk, on White Lily, on everyone who has ever wronged him, and at this point it might need to be all of Earthbread that needs to crumble.

He slowly began to stop laughing. And get back to his feet, grabbing his staff again. It kept trying to reason with him but he ignored it. The light of truth spoke to him. It told him everything he needed to know.

Yes! We find her and make her pay! She is the real villain, why bother with the beasts??? Such a useless task! Go straight to the source! Right to your real enemy, Vanilla Extract cookie.

Vanilla Extract...huh. He supposed it did have a nice ring to it.

Yeah. The names and the reveals are cringe, live with it. If you're not being cringe are you really living??? No of course not!!! Anyway, pure vanilla is not having a good time, f in the chat for him guys.

Until then next chapter :3