Light blueberry cookie was knocked out for nearly the entirety of the trek back to Fae Woods. It made sense though, the man hasn't gotten any good sleep in ages.

White lily cookie just watched as black raisin cookie carried him. She didn't seem to struggle so she didn't offer a hand...perhaps that was rude?

"Do you need any help?" White Lily asked and got a head shake in return.

"All good, no need to worry about me, white lily cookie," black raisin responded determinedly.

Well, there goes that attempt to be helpful. Oh well, she'll have to make it up to black raisin later, perhaps a floral tea to calm her when they get back? They both felt horrible for leaving pure vanilla, but since he does have the light of deceit, he could be dangerous. They'd need the help of all of his friends to get him back, white lily cookie was sure of that. She didn't want to hurt black raisin's feelings either by saying that light blueberry didn't appear to be that much of a threat either.

Not that she trusted him, not one bit, but was at least docile.

"Are you ok white lily cookie?" Black raisin broke the silence, glancing back to the ancient.

"Hm? Oh yes, I'm quite alright...sorry if I have been worrying you. I'm just..." she hesitated before continuing, "unsure."

Black Raisin tilted her head slightly, getting white lily to elaborate further.

"I only mean I don't know what to do with...him," she glanced at shadow...light blueberry, "or exactly how to help pure vanilla unless we trust him."

Black Raisin seemed to ponder this for a moment before shaking her head, "I don't think I could ever trust this guy, we're only taking him with us to ensure the light of truth is intact, right?"

White lily rolled in her bottom lip nervously biting at the dry skin. She wasn't sure if that's all they'd need him for...? She stopped biting and let out a deep sigh, "I don't know. He has always spoken some form of the truth just...twisted."

Black Raisin still didn't like the sound of that, if they started to trust this madman, they'd fall right into his trap! Whatever that trap was, she wasn't quite sure yet.

"...I guess that is true, but I can't believe anything he says, it would take a lot of convincing."

White Lily understood that...either way, they had to do something with him.

"Who goes there!" A tree knight cookie called out, brandishing his spear. White Lily Cookie was quick to step in front.

"It's us, mercurial knight cookie," she called out, "and I may need some fae guidance..."

The knight lowered his weapon, very quickly giving her a bow, "Apologies, your greatness, I did not realize it was you...what is it you need assistance with?"

White Lily hummed shakily, "Well.."

Black Raisin finally took the herald cookie off her shoulder and held the limp cookie out to mercurial knight, "this guy."

The knight looked confused, no one had truly remembered what the heralds looked like, but he did see the soul jam.

"Ah...did...pure vanilla cookie change his style?" He asked hesitantly.

"No!" Black raisin cookie huffed, "THIS is shadow milk cookie!"

The knight cookie blinked, and his eyes drifted to white lily for confirmation...and when she nodded, he pointed the spear at the cookie, "Then this shall be quick and painful."

"No!-no! No stabbing! We need him alive," white lily was quick to stand between the two.

"What!? But-my guardian," he let out a nervous laugh, "he-he is shadow milk cookie."

"Yes but, no," she messed with the tie on her cape, "when we had nearly defeated him, pure vanilla cookie...didn't get the soul jam of truth back he grabbed.."

Light blueberry cookie let out a small groan as he was coming to again.

"...the light of deceit.." white lily finished, looking at the one waking up.

"Who..." he looked up, one of his glasses lenses cracked, but his eyes finally came into focus, "wait-put me down!"

He started to struggle, making it difficult for black raisin to keep a grip on him.

"Hey! Stop!" She tried to keep a grip, but it didn't work, light blueberry slipping from her grasp.

Light blueberry let out a huff as he stumbled away, and straightened out his shirt. He took off his glasses and squinted at them, "You broke my g-"

He didn't get to finish as a spear was pressed under his neck.

"Don't speak another lie, you demon beast," mercurial knight threatened. Light blueberry froze, before slowly putting his glasses back on. The knight pressed the spear closer to his throat as he moved.

The fae, light blueberry's favorite group of people...now that was a lie. They were so stuck up, self-assured...only they could handle the knowledge they held. A bunch he'd never gotten along with since he was baked.

"Stand down, mercurial knight cookie, he hasn't been a threat with the light of truth," white lily instructed, approaching and putting a hand on the knight's shoulder.

Mercurial knight didn't move at first but did finally back off. He did keep a sharp eye on Shadow Milk Cookie though.

Light blueberry let out a deep sigh, "Er...thank you, white lily cookie."

White Lily felt mildly uncomfortable at Shadow Milk thanking her, but she nodded ever so slightly, "Don't...no need to thank me."

Light blueberry cookie listened and understood..he supposed he'd be thanking her for just about every single person they'd run into otherwise.

White Lily looked at black raisin cookie for a second, before to mercurial knight, "Right...can you lead the way to the archives? I want to know everything to know about the soul jams..."

She thought she knew everything she could about them, but since the introduction of the lights of evil...she wasn't quite sure. The knight nodded, his wings buzzing as he was lifted off the ground and began to lead the way. Black raisin urged light blueberry forward, and they all headed further into fae territory.

SORRYYYYY I SO FORGOT TO PUBLISH THIS LAST NIGHT. I went to bed early because I was exhausted. It's this cold ass weather getting to me...

Oh well. Should be two chapters posted today, this one and then one later tonight <3