"We've been walking for ages," Wizard Cookie hissed, "and we STILL haven't gotten out of this destruction!"

"I wonder what could have happened here?" Gingerbrave asked.

Pure Vanilla wondered the same. The devastation was on par with what Dark Enchantress would do, perhaps even more.

"It's getting dark..." Strawberry Cookie whimpered.

"We shall sleep then," Pure Vanilla said, "we'll have our energy regained again and we can figure out what to do."

"I am getting a little tired..." Wizard Cookie noted.

"Sounds good to me!" Gingerbrave said, snuggling down by a tree. The other two young cookies laid beside him, their eyes drooping. Pure Vanilla smiled slightly, finding a tree to sleep beside as well.

For extra precaution, he gathered some leaves to cover his friends and himself with, so they'd be warm and camouflaged.

Satisfied, he laid down and closed his eyes. He believed he could get better sleep now that he was in Beast-Yeast, even if he was sleeping on the ground, without the stress of preparing to go.

The darkness around him swallowed him in its gentle embrace, leading him to dreams.

Dreams? Oh, dreams...

Pure Vanilla suddenly felt himself being pushed and pulled around by an icy wind. It was as if long tendrils were pulling him deeper and deeper into an abyss.

No, not any abyss...

"...my soul's abyss of regret..." Pure Vanilla gasped once his footing was regained. A soft glow appeared before him, and he recognized it, but also didn't.

"Pure Vanilla..." it called softly, but somewhat sarcastically.

"Light of Truth?" He called back.

"Pure Vanilla...you've kept me waiting."

"What...? But I've regained my strength, and I've used it for good! Why am I back here?"

"...your strength?" The light of truth sounded disgusted.

A horrible laugh soon followed escaped, it echoing all around Pure Vanilla, as it it were trying to consume him.

"There is nothing about it that is your strength! It's all mine, that was taken! You're just a vessel to keep it until I've returned!...what do you know about truth?"

"You're not the light of truth...! Who are you?"

"Aww. I've spent so much time watching you, and yet you know not of me? How heartbreaking!"

Pure Vanilla fell silent, unable to understand what this...thing...meant.

"Master of deceit and truth! I am-"

"Pure Vanilla Cookie!"

A new voice echoed in the abyss. Pure Vanilla felt himself being pulled from the nightmare, his eyes suddenly being forced open back into the dark forest.

Except, it wasn't quite as dark as he remembered

His eyes widened upon seeing a bright light. Standing up, he found himself lured to it.

"Pure Vani..."

He had to cover his eyes when he saw the source of the light: a small gemstone.

He didn't know why, but he felt as if he had to touch it. As if everything would fall if he didn't.

Stepping closer, he reached out and gently took the stone in his hand.

***

Silverbell raced through the forest, over and under the broken trees of his once beautiful home.

How dare that beast do this to his wonderful home! He usually wasn't one to anger, but seeing his home that did nothing to the beast of deceit was enough to make even the most passive cookies furious.

Silverbell took a moment to catch his breath and landed on a tree branch. Looking around, he saw the source of the light was even closer than before. Readying himself again, he was about to shoot back into action until he saw the light begin to blink out.

"No!" He gasped. He had to get to it before it disappeared. The king was depending on him!

He flew faster than he ever had before, using the forest around him to boost himself to even higher speeds. Leaves obscured his vision, but he could still make out the light. He was so close! Just a little farther...!

He finally emerged into an opening. Looking around, he saw a cookie laying on the ground, holding something.

Silverbell swiftly flew down, examining the cookie. He quickly realized that this cookie was not a faerie cookie.

"Hello?" He lightly shook the cookie. "Are you alright?"

The cookie slowly opened his eyes, one yellow and one blue. Before he could say anything, three other cookies came running over.

"Are you ok?!" Gingerbrave yelped.

Pure Vanilla sat up and looked at his friends. "Yes, I am. But...who might you be?"

He was referring to Silverbell. The small faerie cookie's wings fluttered, and he seemed a little nervous.

"I am Silverbell Cookie. Who are you, and why are you here?"

"I am Pure Vanilla, and these are my companions, Gingerbrave, Wizard Cookie, and Strawberry Cookie." As he said this, he turned turned to his companions.

"Pure Vanilla?" Silverbell seemed to realize the situation. "Oh dear..."

"My friends, are you ok?" He asked. "This light, it was...it showed me something about White Lily."

"White Lily?" Wizard Cookie's eyes widened. Strawberry Cookie and Gingerbrave looked shocked. Silverbell too seemed shocked, his mouth gaping open a little.

"This must be...part of her soul jam?" Gingerbrave guessed. "It's the same color and it showed you White Lily!"

"Why was it glowing so much?" Silverbell questioned.

"You saw it too?" Pure Vanilla said. "To answer your question, I'm not sure. Perhaps..."

"I-I know where White Lily is!" Silverbell said suddenly. "We need to wake her up, so she can save our kingdom!"

"What...?"

"The soul jam—it must be able to help. If it's still glowing like that, then...and then the Faerie Kingdom..."

Although all this new information was a shock, it was clear that they had to help. Pure Vanilla was sure of it.

"What is the Faerie Kingdom?" Gingerbrave asked.

"I thought your kind were just a myth!" Wizard Cookie said. "I've read up on Faerie cookie stories, but I never thought they were real!"

"Yeah, well," Silverbell said, "we can talk about that later."

"Yes," Pure Vanilla agreed.

"Wait, wait," Strawberry Cookie reached to Pure Vanilla's ear and whispered, "do you really think 'White Lily' isn't just a trick?"

"I don't know, but we won't know unless we see."

"I suppose so...but we all better still be careful!..."

"Of course," Pure Vanilla turned his attention back to Silverbell, "please, lead the way."

"Just this way!" Silverbell replied, pointing deeper into the chaos.

The five cookies trotted along, all weary of the trouble that they knew would come.

"So..." Wizard Cookie cleared his throat, "why does you kingdom need saving, Silverbell?"

Silverbell cast his gaze around before replying, "It's a bit of a long story, but I do think you'll need the context if you really can help us."

Taking a deep breath, he started.

"It started only a few days ago..."

***

The vines that White Lily had placed on the Silver Tree began to break, their snapping echoed throughout the kingdom.

Little faeries tried to awaken White Lily to no avail. Mercurial Knight and the other Silver Knights prepared themselves to face the beasts when they came out. Elder Faerie readied himself along with them, harnessing his power in preparation to push the beasts back.

Silverbell could only hold up his bow at the tree. He bit his cheek to focus himself, frankly just as scared as the citizens. Who wouldn't be of these beasts who would stop at nothing to destroy Earthbread the moment they're freed? He didn't—couldn't—let his fear dictate him, and he knew he had to brave the beasts to protect his home and his friends.

"The last vine is almost snapped!" Mercurial Knight yelled, grinding his teeth as the final vine shriveled away.

The moment it snapped, the first beast's magic spilled out. The chaos it emitted sent shivers down Silverbell's back.

Elder Faerie grunted in pain, struggling to keep the beasts in. The Silver Knights swiped at the strange magic that poured out, only for them to get consumed by it.

Mercurial Knight stood his ground beside Elder Faerie, watching in shock as the knights he stood with all slowly get consumed by the dark magic surrounding them.

"Once I...regain the seal..." Elder Faerie panted, "...everyone will be freed and safe..."

Just as he said this, laughter broke from the gaping hole in the tree.

"You can't stop me, guardian!" It screeched. "You'll crumble eventually without that bratty Lily!"

The hole was now too big to contain without more power. Silverbell and his comrades watched in horror as the beast of deceit flung himself out, a big grin revealing his sharp teeth and his blue eyes casting a spotlight on the cookies below.

"Ahhh, fresh air!" Shadow Milk sighed, glancing around at the Faerie kingdom. His gaze landed on the cookies below, specifically Elder Faerie. His grin tensed, but remained as he pointed at the guardian.

"I think I'll deal with you first." He laughed and flung an attack.

***

"The guardian is ok," Silverbell concluded, "but the beasts still are escaping."

"I'm glad you found us then," Gingerbrave said, "sounds like you need all the help you can get!"

"Yeah!"

As they venture continued, they suddenly were halted by some sort of cardboard cookies.

"Watch out!" Silverbell cookie commanded. "That's the fake cookies the beast made!"

"We can beat them together!" Pure Vanilla said. Gingerbrave smiled with a nod.

"Alright!" Silverbell nodded, before attacking the false cookies.