"White Lily!" The young Pure Vanilla strode to the young White Lily, who sat alone reading a book.

"Oh, Pure Vanilla!" She put her book down, smiling at him. "What is it?"

"There's something I think you'd like to see," he gently took her hand to help her up, "hurry up, hurry up!"

White Lily giggled at Pure Vanilla's excitement as she got dragged across the academy. She always loved when he dragged her around like that, his hands just as warm as his smile.

Soon, they reached a clearing. The young cookies walked to the center, before Pure Vanilla let go of White Lily's hand.

"Ok, what did you want to show me?" She asked.

"Look at your hand."

She peered down, and froze at the dripping jelly on it. She looked forward again, and as if he was never there, Pure Vanilla was...

Gone.

Gone...

Elder Faerie shot up. His eyesight was blurry and his head pounded, so he held his head to try to stead himself.

"Ugh..." He groaned, squeezing his eyes shit.

"Again?" Mercurial Knight asked, his brow furrowed, helping the guardian stay upwards.

"I don't understand what he's trying to tell me," Elder Faerie murdered, "if anything at all."

He glanced down at his hand; plain and clean, no jelly on it. He scowled at it, clenching his fist.

"That beast isn't relenting with these nightmares." He said. "It's almost as if he's trying to make me believe I'm White Lily..."

"But why?" Mercurial Knight glanced at the still body of White Lily. Lugging her around was like lugging a pound of jellies, and keeping her away from Shadow Milk was worse.

"It's feels he wants me to know Pure Vanilla, he who was loved by White Lily..."

"He did say something about Pure Vanilla when he escaped..." the silver knight racked his brain, "'That Pure Vanilla seems to be taking care of what's mine,' or something like that."

Elder Faerie didn't respond. He could only stand himself up and look at the Silver Tree.

"Let us go fourth," he said, "there's no time to waste."

"Yes sir!"

***

"That's the last of them!" Gingerbrave shouted as he kicked the last paper cookie down. Silverbell smiled widely and looked at the other cookies.

"You're all super strong!" He said. "Especially you, Pure Vanilla. You really had our backs!"

"It's truly nothing." Pure Vanilla said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You did though!" Gingerbrave said.

"We couldn't have won without you." Strawberry Cookie said.

"It's statistically correct!" Wizard Cookie said.

The young cookies all gathered around Pure Vanilla, smiles on their tiny faces. The ancient cookie blinked, then smiled, patting Strawberry Cookie's head.

"Come on," Silverbell said, "let's keep going! There's still a long ways to go."

Not even a mile later, they ran into more paper cookies.

***

"...just how much farther is this Faerie Kingdom?!" Wizard Cookie gasped as he climbed over a log.

"We can't be far!" Silverbell said. "We keep running into those false cookies the beast made..."

Pure Vanilla frowned as he glanced at their wrecked enemies. He doubted they got very far, as it felt like they were running into them every other step their crispy legs took.

"Is there another way around?" Pure Vanilla asked Silverbell.

"Well..." the small faerie thought for a moment, before replying, "oh, yeah! There is a way, but it's a long way."

"If it's not more dangerous then this path, then I don't see why we shouldn't take that one."

Silverbell nodded and made a sharp turn into the trees.

"This way!" He called. "Hurry before more of Shadow Milk's deceptions catch us!"

The group hurried after Silverbell, eager to get away from the fight. Luckily, the fight didn't follow, and they were finally on their way.

The forest was much denser on the alternate road, with many more plants crumbling under  their feet as they walked over them. Burnt remains seemed to fade away the denser the forest got around them, a sort of comfort to the cookie travelers.

"Can you explain more who Shadow Milk is?" Pure Vanilla asked.

"He's a beast," Silverbell said, "who wants to destroy Earthbread. His powers have been taken away, though. He said...someone...is keeping it for him."

"Do you know who?" Wizard Cookie questioned. Silverbell cast his gaze around, but shook his head.

"He...didn't exactly say."

"Oh...ok."

"Do you think if we got rid of this cookie, that Shadow Milk wouldn't be able to get his power back?" Gingerbrave asked.

"N-no way!" Silverbell cried, then quickly recomposed himself. "I-I mean, I doubt there'll be any need for that. They're still a cookie like us."

"Yes," Pure Vanilla agreed, "besides, perhaps this cookie knows something that can help in our journey."

"I hope they're nice..." Strawberry Cookie mumbled.

"I'm sure he-" Silverbell cleared his throat, "whoever they are is a nice cookie."

Wizard Cookie raised his brow but didn't say anything as Silverbell flew upwards.

"I think I see something!" He said, squinting. "It looks like a light!"

"Do you think it's another shard of White Lily's soul jam?" Strawberry Cookie asked. Silverbell nodded, acknowledging the light's greenish color.

"Let's go check it out!" Gingerbrave cried. "I have my cane ready!"

Silverbell flew down and readied himself to lead the way, holding his bow in a way the replicated an arrow to point to the increasing green glow.

"Let's run!" Gingerbrave yelled.

Pure Vanilla took one step before becoming incredibly dizzy. He gasped and gripped his staff, digging its tip into the ground trying to hold himself up.

"Pure Vanilla?!" Gingerbrave called.

"Are you ok?" Strawberry Cookie ran back and held onto Pure Vanilla's arm to help stable himself.

"Y-your soul jam...!" Silverbell pointed to his chest. Pure Vanilla trailed his hand to his soul jam and felt a horribly twisted, yet familiar chill run into his fingertips. He felt as if shadows themselves were gathering around him.

"Pure Vanilla! Stay with us!" Wizard Cookie yelled, running over to Pure Vanilla's other side.

And yet, he couldn't even do that. He couldn't fight the weariness that suddenly took hold of him, or his eyes forcefully being shut. His body fell limp in the young cookies arms, their cries and yells bouncing off him like jelly berries in water.

"Get his soul jam off him!" Wizard Cookie yelled, pulling at the shadowy jam.

Somehow, the moment Pure Vanilla tried to move towards the light, something...or someone...stopped him through the soul jam. It was shrouded in darkness and hurt Wizard Cookie's hands as he tried to pull it away.

"Ow!" He yelled, holding his hand. Gingerbrave ran over and looked at his hand, only to see it steaming with black smoke.

"Wake up, Pure Vanilla!" Strawberry Cookie cried as she shook the cold ancient.

Silverbell quickly got to work, gritting his teeth through the pain as the soul jam fought its way to stay on Pure Vanilla at all costs.

"It won't get off him..!" Silverbell gasped as he finally pulled his hands away, shaking them from the pain.

"What do we do!" Gingerbrave yelped, frantically looking around for anything that could possibly help.

"T-there must be something!" Strawberry Cookie stammered.

"The..." Silverbell glanced around. "...the guardian of the silver tree might be able to help."

"Then take us to him!" Gingerbrave yelled.

"Wait." Wizard Cookie pointed his staff at Silverbell. "I don't think you're being completely honest with us! The way you're glancing around like that, you're nervous. Why?"

Silverbell sighed and nodded.

"You're right. I haven't been completely honest. I-I didn't mean it to hurt you, though. Just let me explain, please."

The three companions looked at each other, then gave a nod.

"We'll listen!" Gingerbrave said. "Please, just tell us everything."

Silverbell gave a deep breath and nodded.

***

Pure Vanilla awoke back in the abyss. Looking around, he felt as if someone was watching him.

A cold hand gripped his shoulder, causing Pure Vanilla to shiver in shock.

"There you are!" The voice sang. It was the master of truth and deceit again! "I missed you so much, but that terrible light took you away."

"Wh-" Pure Vanilla tried to turn around only to be met with another cold hand on his face, keeping him in place.

"Shhh! No talking or moving, please! You just have to listen!"

Pure Vanilla bit his tongue, wondering what he could possible mean.

"Now, I, Shadow Milk Cookie, shall tell your poor soul everything you need to know!"

'Shadow Milk?' Pure Vanilla thought. 'That beast who destroyed this land?!'

"You are in search of Dark Enchantress, right?" Shadow Milk sang.

"H-How did you-"

"Of course I'm right!" The cold cookie sang. "Well, she's not here. Not anymore, at least!"

Who did this cookie think he was?! Pure Vanilla fought against the cold hands. He didn't want to hear anymore!

"Let me go!" He yelled. Shrill laughter erupted from behind him, and the hands on his shoulder and face tightened their grip.

"I'm not done with you yet," Shadow Milk hissed, "you are going to stay here as long as I see fit, pet!"

Pure Vanilla scowled as he ripped himself from Shadow Milk and whirled around to face the cookie. Unfortunately, the beast had melted into the shadows, making it nearly impossible for him to find the other.

"Come out!" Pure Vanilla shouted at the darkness. "You cannot keep hiding from me!"

A deep chuckle echoed around him. Freezing cold seeped from his soul jam and onto his chest and neck, and a feeling of deeply disturbing fear sunk into his heart.

"I can hide as long as I like," Shadow Milk said, "just until you find me!"

"Pure Vanilla Cookie!"

The same voice that saved him before—the voice that sounded like White Lily! Where was it? He cast his eyes around, searching for the warm light.

He felt it envelope him in its warm embrace.

"Pure Vanilla," it said, "you need to help White Lily..."

"W-what?" He called to no response. "I don't understand...speak to me, please!"

His eyes shot open. He tried to get up but his dough felt so weak that he rested himself back down.

"Pure Vanilla!" Wizard Cookie yelped. "Guys, he's awake!"

"A-are you ok?" Strawberry Cookie asked, her poor hands more shaky than normal.

"I...met Shadow Milk," Pure Vanilla said slowly, "he knew we're here to stop Dark Enchantress, but he said she wasn't here anymore."

"You can't believe everything he says," Silverbell said, "he's the beast of deceit, he can't be trusted."

Pure Vanilla nodded slightly, finally grabbing his staff and helping himself up.

"There's something else you need to know," Gingerbrave said quickly, "uhh...Silverbell?"

Pure Vanilla cast his gaze to Silverbell, who stiffened. The faerie cookie looked around nervously before finally looking straight at Pure Vanilla.

"That beast, Pure Vanilla..." he said, "...he's after your soul jam...and probably you yourself."