Chapter Text
Several weeks after the events of the Battle of Dragon’s Hill, we find the first lights of dawn shining over the small Cookie Kingdom. Which, day by day, was starting to look less like a thrown-together mishmash of buildings and more like a thriving community. There was a playground for the younger Cookies. The dirt roads had been paved with chocolate and lined with streetlamps to light the way at night. Beautiful flowers grew from the well-kept trees. Blueberry birds sang in the morning to welcome the new day. There was a defined marketplace, where most of the shops such as Sparkling Cookie’s Juice Bar or Herb Cookie’s Flower Shop could be found. Healer Cookie even had his own little hut, filled with medical supplies so we could treat the injured or sick Cookies of the Kingdom.
The Castle had been cleaned up and was once again a sight of majesty and splendor. The light shone through its stained glass windows, decorating the interior with a rainbow of colors. The Castle grounds were now blanketed with sweet-smelling flowers and colorful banners fluttering in the wind, instead of rubble and overgrown weeds. At the center of town, a large clock tower was still under construction. Once completed, it would allow Cookies to see what time it was no matter where they were in the Kingdom. And if they forgot to check, the clock would chime a merry tune every hour, so Cookies would be able to keep track of time and not be late for important events or appointments they may have made with their friends. This was especially important for the younger Cookies, as they would often lose track of time while they were playing and either be late for dinner or their parents or siblings would have to come and get them.
Not only that, but the population of the young kingdom had more than doubled from its first few weeks. Not only were Pomegranate and Dark Choco Cookie settling in as somewhat permanent residents, (the Sugar Gnomes insisted on building them both their own Cookie Houses,) but every day it seemed the Cake Hounds and Wolves would come from the forest with a Cookie or two behind them. An aspiring violinist named Mint Choco Cookie had become fast friends with Sparkling, Herb, and Vampire Cookie after Sparkling invited him inside to entertain his guests on a rainy day. Mint Choco first appeared playing in the kingdom’s streets, scraping by on the few coins Cookies would toss into a small bucket at his feet while he played. After Sparkling offered him a job at his Juice Bar, his beautiful music was discovered by the kingdom. Dark Choco Cookie especially enjoyed listening to the melodies when he and Pomegranate spent their afternoons at Sparkling’s Juice Bar after a rough day. Pomegranate said many times that he seemed most at peace when listening to Mint Choco’s symphonies.
Onion Cookie had also made two more friends around her age, Pancake Cookie, and Apple Cookie. The trio would often be seen playing together near the Tree of Wishes or on the newly built playground. Pancake’s older brother, Roll Cake Cookie would sometimes watch them from afar as he helped chop logs or mine sugar.
Herb Cookie was able to spend more time with his flowers now that Beet Cookie and Carrot Cookie handled the Jellybean Orchard. Carrot was a very enthusiastic farmer, she loved veggies as much as Herb loved plants in general. Under her care, the Orchard grew stronger and bigger than ever before, there was enough extra to send on trains and with the Jelly Bear Ballon to trade with nearby towns for other sweets and materials. And Beet Cookie protected the garden day and night from intruders who might try to steal Carrot Cookie’s prized crops before harvest.
And the Smithy was now run by Avacado Cookie. Red Velvet, Dark Choco, and Licorice Cookie would go to her if ever their weapons needed repairs after a hard battle or a long day of training. (If they could endure her endless stream of puns that is.) She built all the tools needed for construction and repair, and she could do it fast. Not only were the tools she built sturdy and powerful but she could make them in less than 20 minutes whereas it would take less skilled Cookies up to an hour. In fact, this is where we find Red Velvet Cookie on this sunny morning in the Kingdom, running up to the Smithy with Avacado humming merrily to herself while she worked. Red Velvet held onto the wooden fence that separated the Smithy’s interior from its outside and leaned over in anticipation. “Avocado Cookie!” He panted, he had clearly been running a moment before as he was out of breath. But there was a wide smile on his face nonetheless. “Did you finish fixing my sword?” The Cake-Cookie asked, bouncing on his feet with excitement. “Sure did, kiddo! Finished it first thing this morning,” she said, wiping the sweat off her forehead and walking over to the wall where she kept the finished repairs awaiting their owners to retrieve them. She took Red Velvet’s sword down from a shelf and handed it to the excited Cake-Cookie. If he had the tail of a Cake as well, he would have been wagging it.
“Whoo, doggie… I gotta tell ya though, I think that little knife of yours takes more of a beating than the critters you fight with it! Took me almost an hour to buff out all the dents,” Avocado Cookie said with a warm laugh. Red Velvet Cookie admired his reflection in the shiny polished metal, “Wow, Avocado Cookie, it looks good as new!” Chiffon hopped up and down and barked happily, sharing his Cookie’s excitement. “Well, a warrior’s only as good as their weapon. You gotta take better care of that thing, Red. Or else it won’t be able to take care of you. After all, if you keep it sharp, cutting through all those Cremlins will be a piece of Cake.” Avocado Cookie said, laughing loudly. “Huh?” Red Velvet Cookie said, looking up from his sword before realizing she’d made a pun. “Oooh, right, because I’m part… Gotcha.” Red Velvet tried to strap his sword to his side with the belt Dark Choco Cookie had gotten him, but his hands were shaking so much that the strap kept slipping out of his hands.
“You seem to have an awful lotta pep in your step today, Red. Does Dark Choco Cookie have something special planned for your training today?” Avocado Cookie said with a smile. “Yeah!” Red Velvet Cookie said, finally securing his sword and holding onto the wooden fence again, standing on his toes and bouncing slightly. “I just finished my morning run around the Kingdom with the Cakes! And when Dark Choco Cookie gets back from helping Adventurer Cookie clear out some land, we’re meeting Ninja Cookie in Dragon’s Hill to train with him and Spike!” Avocado Cookie returned to forging a Candy Saw, “That’s an awful long way to walk,” she remarked. “We’re taking the Jelly Bear Balloon!” Red Velvet cheered. That’s part of the reason he was so excited, he loved traveling by Balloon. Avocado chuckled warmly, “Still, I sure hope you ate a good breakfast this morning. I’ve seen some of those workouts Dark Choco has you doing and they look pretty rough.” Red Velvet Cookie thought back to that morning. “Yeah… I had a… Hearty Rye and some yogurt… Well… Half a yogurt… I wanted to get my run in early.”
“If I were you I’d march right down to the Tree of Wishes and have the Blueberry Birds bring you something a little more filling. I’ve worked with enough warriors to know how important it is to keep your energy up. You and Chiffon both,” Avocado Cookie said, smiling at the little pupcake at Red Velvet’s feet. Red Velvet looked down at his Cake, his tongue stuck out to the side and his tail wagging with excitement. “Mmm, yeah, I suppose you’re right. Thanks again, Avocado Cookie!” Red Velvet called, waving goodbye as he and Chiffon dashed off to the Tree of Wishes. “Anytime, Red!” she called, waving back. Red Velvet ran down the chocolate streets with Chiffon at his side. He waved to Herb as he passed his Flower Shop and said hello to Blackberry as he passed her on the street.
Soon the Cake-Cookie and his pupcake arrived at the Tree of Wishes. Its branches full of Blueberry Birds who were chirping happily and hopping from branch to branch. Boxes and blank Wish Scripts lay at the roots of the tree. Vampire Cookie lay sprawled out asleep under the tree on one side. And Licorice Cookie sat beneath it with Bat-Cat curled up in his lap and his minions sitting nearby. A book lay in his hands and Licorina seemed to be trying to look over his arm to see what he was reading. Her two brothers play-fought by clashing their daggers together. The Dark Wizard lifted his head from the book he was reading and smiled as he saw Red Velvet approach. “Hey, Red Velvet. I thought you and Dark Choco Cookie were training in Dragon’s Hill today?” Bat-Cat yawned and stretched, turning over, exposing his belly and pink paws. “We are, but Avacado Cookie suggested Chiffon and I grab a little something extra to eat before we leave,” he replied, picking up a Wish Script and scribbling down a request for a couple of Tart Jampies on it.
“Her advice is certainly better than her jokes,” Licorice Cookie snickered. “Oh, come on, Licorice Cookie. Not all of Avacado Cookie’s jokes are bad,” Red Velvet said with a smile as he tied the Wish Script to a branch. A Blueberry Bird flew down and undid the knot. Flying off with a chirp a second later. Red Velvet Cookie smiled as he watched Licorice Cookie rub Bat-Cat’s belly. The two had been inseparable ever since they rescued him from the Cookies of Night. Bat-Cat had decided to give up the collar and gemstone that had caused so much trouble in the first place and return the gem to the crown, which now sat in the Cookie Castle’s Throne Room.
That crown was now a symbol of their loyalty to their friends and to one another, as it was the discussion piece that started the tale of their grand adventure. As dreadful as the experience of being kidnapped had been for Bat-Cat, even he had to admit a lot of good came out of it. They’d met Dark Choco and Pomegranate Cookie, freed Maestro Sugar Gnome and the Cake Hounds, met the Jelly Bears, Clover, and Ninja Cookie, and now Red Velvet Cookie had become Dark Choco Cookie’s apprentice and was training tirelessly to become a brave warrior like him. He’d already learned several important lessons from the prince, such as battle stances and how to hold his sword properly. He’d also been training to build up his strength, speed, and stamina. But most importantly, Red Velvet had been learning to control his emotions and how to use his negative feelings to turn the tide of a battle in his favor.
There hadn’t been any sign of the Cookies of Night, their curse, or their Cremlins (save for the few stragglers who hadn’t gotten the memo that the Cookie Kingdom was no longer their territory), since the day they’d rescued Bat-Cat. But that didn’t convince Dark Choco Cookie that they were gone for good. “It’s just the calm before the storm,” he’d warned Red Velvet, “They’ll be back, and when they return you need to be ready for them. Remain vigilant, don’t let your guard down. As a warrior, the task of protecting the kingdom will fall to you. You need to be ready for anything at all times.”
Despite the prince’s gloomy warning, Red Velvet Cookie couldn’t help but feel at peace standing under the shade of the Tree of Wishes. The Blueberry Birds' song rang in his ears, the smell of flowers in mid-bloom carried by the gentle breeze, and the sight of Licorice Cookie laughing as Bat-Cat licked his hand with his tiny sandpapery tongue. How could he feel anything but peace? Everyone in the Kingdom was always so happy. So many dreams were coming true left and right. Chiffon spotted a butterfly and chased after it, yapping loudly. He ended up knocking over a small box of Wish Scripts in his chase and Red Velvet Cookie laughed. He decided to let the little pupcake continue the game while he cleaned up the mess. He started gathering the blank scripts up in a pile when he picked one up and stared at it. He looked up at Licorice Cookie, book now forgotten at his side and hugging Bat-Cat close to his chest. He looked down at the script again, and… He wasn’t sure what possessed him to do it but he took out a quill and wrote…
I hope Bat-Cat and Licorice Cookie never get separated again.
He smiled at the words as he read them over. He knew the Blueberry Birds wouldn’t be able to grant such a wish, but it just felt nice to see the thought in physical form. It made him feel warm inside. When another wish entered his mind. He picked up another script and wrote,
I hope all the Cookies Poison Mushroom Cookie meet want to be his friend.
He decided to do one for Dark Choco and Pomegranate as well, they were his friends too. It wouldn’t be fair to leave them out.
I hope Dark Choco Cookie finds his dad.
I hope Pomegranate Cookie gets to see all of Earthbread.
But with each wish he wrote, two more came to mind. More friends with their dreams and wishes, so he wrote them down as well.
I hope Alchemist Cookie becomes the greatest Alchemist ever.
I hope Herb Cookie’s plants grow big and strong.
I hope Healer Cookie gets his memories back.
I hope Avadoco Cookie tells a joke that makes everyone laugh one day.
I hope Adventurer Cookie discovers something no one has ever found before.
“Wow, Red Velvet Cookie, getting started on your Christmas list early?” A familiar voice giggled. Red Velvet looked up to see Pomegranate Cookie standing over him with her hand to her mouth. Her eyes betrayed the smile underneath. Red Velvet suddenly realized that she had found him laying on his stomach and scribbling down on a Wish Script with dozens more scattered around him, the various wishes he’d made for his friends written with the ink still drying. “Oh… Uh… Nah, it’s just a silly little idea that came to me.” Pomegranate Cookie picked up one of the Wish Scripts and read it aloud, “I hope Ninja Cookie completes his training. Aw, Red Velvet, that’s so sweet!” Licorice Cookie walked over to the two and levaited a few Wish Scripts up to his face. Bat-Cat sat on his Master’s shoulder and purred when he noticed the one Red Velvet had written for them.
“Hehehe, have you thought about a wish for yourself yet?” Licorice Cookie chuckled. “Actually…” Red Velvet Cookie said, tapping his chin with his finger. “Yeah! I did just think of something!” Red Velvet picked up another Wish Script and wrote, I wish to become a strong warrior, so I can protect my friends and help them make their dreams come true. He slipped the paper back into the script and smiled. “Are you gonna put it up?” Pomegranate Cookie asked. “Well…” Red Velvet said slowly. “Of course, you should! The wish isn’t really made until you tie it to the Tree of Wishes,” Licorice Cookie reasoned. Red Velvet laughed softly, “Oh, ok, why not?” Pomegranate and Licorice used their magic to levitate the many other Wish Scripts Red Velvet had written. “We can help you put them up. Look, there's a free branch over there!” Pomegranate Cookie cheered, skipping over to the branch and hanging up several of the Scripts. Red Velvet tied a couple to a lower branch. Bat-Cat picked up one of the Scripts and flew into the Tree, “Leave this one to me, Meowster!” He said, flying up to a high branch and tying the Wish Script to it.
“Red Velvet Cookie! Ah, there you are.” A voice said from behind the Cake-Cookie as he tied the last Wish Script to the Tree. He turned to see Dark Choco Cookie with Poison Mushroom Cookie following close behind him. “Avacado Cookie said I could find you here. You haven’t forgotten about our training session with Ninja Cookie at Dragon’s Hill, have you?” Red Velvet Cookie shook his head, “Nope! Just thought I’d make a few Wishes before we left. For good luck.” The Prince chuckled warmly in response. Poison Mushroom Cookie raised an eyebrow, “Uh… Why are they… Glowing?” Red Velvet Cookie blinked, “Huh?” Poison Mushroom Cookie pointed and Red Velvet, Licorice, and Pomegranate turned to see the Wishes Red Velvet had written were indeed glowing. A soft light shone from the small envelopes, causing the Blueberry Birds to chirp in surprise and confusion. “Uh… What’s going on?” Licorice Cookie wondered aloud. Bat-Cat slunk into his Master’s hood and carefully peeked out. Chiffon started barking at the strange sight as the glow seemed to get stronger. “Red Velvet Cookie, what did you do?” Dark Choco Cookie asked, turning to the young warrior in training. “Nothing! I… Woah!”
Red Velvet Cookie jumped back slightly as the Wish Scripts suddenly faded into sparkling balls of light. The Blueberry Birds flapped their wings and chirped in amazement. The Cookies watched in spellbound wonder as the lights left the Tree, floating off somewhere. “What on Earthbread?” Pomegranate Cookie breathed. “AH! Red Velvet Cookie’s Wishes! They’re getting away! Quick, we gotta catch ‘em!” Poison Mushroom Cookie shouted, running after the lights. “Poison Mushroom Cookie! Wait for us!” Licorice Cookie shouted, following the small Cookie. Chiffon ran after them as well, using the sleeping Vampire Cookie as a springboard, causing him to wake and look around in confusion. “Huh? What happened?” He slurred, and then he spotted the lights. Seeing how the other Cookies were reacting to them as well, he asked, “Uh… I’m not the only Cookie seeing this right?”
The commotion attracted other Cookies as the lights floated off. Onion, Apple, and Pancake Cookie paused their game to follow after the lights. Blackberry Cookie looked up from sweeping and dropped the broom in surprise. Adventurer Cookie, naturally joined the others in the chase, even if he didn’t know exactly what was going on, he just knew it looked exciting. The lights flew right by Davis the Sugar Gnome while he was on his morning walk with a cup of tea. But the sight of the strange star-like lights and the parade of Cookies chasing after them made him pause, and look down into his tea before deciding to dump it into a nearby bush.
“I got it!” Poison Mushroom Cookie shouted, jumping to grab onto one of the lights that had floated close to the ground. He missed and ended up falling on his face. “I don’t got it,” he groaned as he lifted his head. “Looks like they’re headed for the castle… Whatever they are,” Alchemist Cookie said, appearing next to the group. “Wishes that Red Velvet Cookie made, they suddenly turned into lights and started flying off,” Licorice Cookie explained. Several weeks ago, Alchemist Cookie’s response would have been to say how that was “scientifically impossible”, but she’d been around Licorice and his magic for so long that her only response was to adjust her glasses and mumble, “Stranger things have happened in this kingdom.” However, this didn’t weaken her curiosity a bit, and she joined the rest of the Cookies in following after the lights.
Olaf and Charlie the Sugar Gnomes were working in the castle’s grounds when the lights came into view. They dropped their gardening tools and slowly joined the rest of the kingdom, watching as the lights slowed to a stop above the dry, crumbling Fountain in front of the Castle. The Cookies whispered to each other in awe and confusion as the lights floated down into the Fountain. They disappeared, seeming to fuse with the Fountain’s decaying marble. Causing the broken-down structure the glow in a soft light. A quiet rumbling began from somewhere. Chiffon hid behind Red Velvet and whimpered softly. Blackberry held Onion Cookie close. Dark Choco Cookie started to place his hand to his sword, when suddenly water burst forth from the top of the once-dry Fountain. It cascaded down into the pool, the sunlight colliding with it to create a small rainbow near the top of the makeshift waterfall. As the glow faded, the Fountain seemed to have repaired itself. Its cracks vanished and its color changed from a faded brown and gray to a glorious white.
Charlie, Olaf, and Davis gasped in wonder and amazement. “Oh my gosh!” Olaf gasped. “The Fountain… The Fountain of Abundance is flowing again!” The three brothers cheered and hugged one another in joy. They were so excited by the return of the Fountain that they joined hands and began to dance in a circle. The Cookies jumped back slightly when something came leaping out of the Fountain’s waters. The small golden object landed, glittering in the sunlight. A coin. “Huh?” Red Velvet Cookie said, tilting his head in confusion. Soon more coins began leaping out of the Fountain, as did bright blue crystals and even Star Jellies. “What is happening?” Blackberry Cookie wondered aloud. Alchemist Cookie readjusted her glasses, “My working theory is that those lights were some form of magic that restored the Fountain’s water… But… That still doesn’t explain all those other things that are coming out of it.”
“Oh, of course, it does! Those are gifts from the Fountain of Abundance. Its magical waters ran dry after the Cookies left the Kingdom, but now it is flowing freely to bless our kingdom with wonderful goods again! Doopity-Dee!” Charlie cheered. Licorice and Alchemist, being the most curious of the bunch, walked up to inspect the Fountain. “Hey, I found something!” Licorice Cookie said, “There’s some kind of plaque at the base of the Fountain. There’s writing on it.” Red Velvet and his friends joined the two near the Fountain, “Well, what does it say?” Red Velvet asked. Licorice Cookie bent down and read the inscription aloud.
“Take what you need, but never from greed. If for little you ask, much you shall receive. If no matter the gift, you accept it with glee, you shall be blessed with prosperity.”
“It details the spell the Fountain has been enchanted with,” Davis explained, “You must remember, this Kingdom was built by the Five Ancient Heroes many years ago, and this Fountain was blessed by none other than the Light of Prosperity herself, Golden Cheese Cookie.” Dark Choco Cookie turned to face him, “Auntie Cheese did this?” Chiffon barked and tried to catch one of the coins as it launched out of the Fountain. The Younger Cookies came closer and joined in the game of trying to catch the things the Fountain would send out. Red Velvet caught a Star Jelly and happily popped it into his mouth. Olaf placed his hand to his chin in thought, “Hmmmm, but what–oh what–could have gotten the Fountain flowing again?” Red Velvet rubbed the back of his neck, “Um… Well, those lights were actually a bunch of wishes I had made back at the Tree of Wishes. Maybe… That had something to do with it.”
“I don’t see how… This was clearly the work of magic and Red Velvet Cookie doesn't know magic… Do you?” Licorice Cookie said, raising his eyebrow. Red Velvet Cookie shook his head. “Wait… Wishes… What kind of wishes did you make, Red Velvet Cookie?” Olaf asked. “Oh well, um…” Red Velvet Cookie said softly, it suddenly felt a little silly, especially with everyone staring at him now. “Well, to tell you the truth… They were all Wishes for my friends… Like, Dark Choco Cookie… I wished that you would be able to find your dad.” He said smiling at the prince. Dark Choco Cookie looked surprised, a look that then melted into gratitude. “And Licorice… I wished that you and Bat-Cat would never get separated again,” Red Velvet said, turning to the Dark Wizard. “Awwww,” Licorice and Bat-Cat said in unison. “Red…” Licorice said, tears forming in his eyes. “What ja wish for Shroomy? What ja wish for Shroomy?” Poison Mushroom Cookie cheered, hopping up and down with excitement. Red Velvet Cookie chuckled, “I wished you could make a lot of new friends,” he said with a smile. “Yay!” Poison Mushroom Cookie cheered, throwing his hands up and spinning around.
“Did you make any wish for yourself, Red Velvet Cookie?” Davis asked. “Well yes… But… Well, what I wished for was to become a warrior so that I could protect my friends, so I guess even that was still not entirely just for me, hahaha,” the Cake-Cookie hybrid chuckled. “Okay,” Alchemist Cookie said softly, “But how do Red Velvet’s wishes have anything to do with the Fountain of Abundance flowing again?” She wondered placing her hand on her chin. “Why it has everything to do with it!” Olaf exclaimed, “The Fountain must have heard Red Velvet’s sincere and selfless wishes! And his gratitude brought the Fountain back to life!” Licorice Cookie read over the words written on the front of the Fountain again, “Hmmm, that does seem to line up with the spell it’s under.” Alchemist Cookie took out a small vial and placed it into the Fountain, “I’m still gonna analyze this,” she said, placing a rubber cork on top of the glass vial. “Magic or not, I still wanna see what makes this thing tick.”
“Be careful, Alchemist Cookie,” Davis warned, “Only take what is absolutely necessary. Taking too much from the Fountain may cause its waters to run dry again. It may reward gratitude, but it also punishes greed. Which is why I feel it would be best to limit retrieving gifts from the Fountain to twice a day at most.” Alchemist Cookie readjusted her glasses, “That sounds reasonable enough I suppose,” she said, holding up the vial and swishing the crystal blue water inside around. “Yeah, that’s the first thing the spell says,” Licorice Cookie added, “Take what you need, but never from greed.”
The Fountain continued to produce crystals and coins and Jellies as they spoke. “Huh, I’ve heard of Cookies tossing coins into fountains to make wishes,” Avacado Cookie said, “But this is the first time I’ve seen a wish make a fountain toss coins.” Some Cookies laughed while others rolled their eyes at Avacado Cookie’s pun. Just then, something new popped out of the Fountain’s waters and landed at Red Velvet Cookie’s feet. The Cake-Cookie carefully picked it up and rubbed his thumb over the smooth surface. It was diamond-shaped, the back side was dough, while the front was hard candy. Inside the light-green crystallized sugar were three orange blocks. “What is this?” Red Velvet asked, turning the object over in his Cake hand. “Why… That appears to be a Bouncy Caramel Topping!” Dark Choco Cookie said, looking over Red Velvet’s shoulder at the thing in his hand. “Can you eat it?” Red Velvet asked, glancing up at the warrior. Dark Choco Cookie blinked, “Well, technically yes but… Red Velvet Cookie, don’t!” Dark Choco Cookie shouted, grabbing onto Red Velvet Cookie’s hand, as he was about to put the Topping in his mouth. “Yes, you can eat them but there is something much more useful they’re used for.” Red Velvet Cookie blinked, “Like what?” Dark Choco Cookie let go of his hand and smiled, “Come with me back to my Cookie House and I’ll show you. It just might help with your training.”
Red Velvet Cookie’s eyes sparkled with excitement when he heard that. He pocketed the topping and raced after Dark Choco Cookie, the rest of their friends following close behind.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~At Dark Choco Cookie’s House~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Red Velvet and Dark Choco stood at the center of the room while Pomegranate, Poison Mushroom, Schwarzwälder, Licorice Cookie, and his minions stood off to the side. Schwarzwälder was laying on his stomach and allowing Pomegranate and Poison Mushroom Cookie to lie against his side. Poison Mushroom Cookie was eating one of his Shroomies and Licorice was watching as Dark Choco Cookie examined the Topping in his hand.
“Toppings have been around since the first Cookies leapt from the Oven. They are powerful tools a Cookie can use to naturally enhance their performance. Like magical vitamins, if you will. There are 10 different kinds in all, and each one has a different effect.” Dark Choco Cookie smiled at Red Velvet Cookie, who was hanging on every word the young prince said. “Would you like to see how to use it?” Red Velvet Cookie nodded vigorously, bouncing slightly on his feet. Dark Choco Cookie chuckled at his apprentice’s enthusiasm. “Alright, but first you must remove your shirt.” Licorice Cookie let out a not-very quiet, “Huh?” Dark Choco Cookie looked over at the Dark Wizard. “It’s necessary in order to equip it,” he explained. Red Velvet Cookie didn’t question it. He’d already removed his cape and was now pulling his shirt over his head. He let it drop to the floor, leaving his chest and stomach exposed.
Dark Choco Cookie knelt down and held the Topping to Red Velvet Cookie’s bare chest. “Now, this might feel a little strange at first, ok?” he warned him. Red Velvet Cookie nodded in understanding, and Dark Choco Cookie placed the Topping’s dough against Red Velvet Cookie’s chest. A soft light, the same color as the Topping’s candy began to glow from it. Red Velvet almost stepped back and he let out a small gasp as a tingling sensation began where the Topping touched his dough. A fuzzy, pins-and-needles type feeling, similar to the feeling of one’s foot falling asleep, but on his chest. Red Velvet Cookie shuddered from the sensation but did his best to hold still as Dark Choco Cookie spoke to calm him.
“You’ll get used to the feeling the more you use them. After a while you won’t even notice it,” he said gently. Finally, the feeling began to fade and Dark Choco Cookie lifted his hand, but the Topping didn’t move. It was now fused to Red Velvet’s chest, its dough mixing with his dough. Red Velvet Cookie gasped softly and ran his hand over the diamond-shaped object stuck to his chest. It felt so strange, this thing was now a part of him, when he ran his fingers along the edges he couldn’t tell where his dough ended and the Topping began. It felt strange and alien. His heartbeat picked up the pace from the anxiety of having this strange thing attached to him.
“Heads up!” Dark Choco Cookie called. Red Velvet didn’t even have time to think before something came whizzing toward his face. His reflexes managed to catch it, but even that action felt strange. Something felt different. He heard his friends gasping softly. As Dark Choco Cookie tossed another cup toward Red Velvet, he quickly caught that one as well. “Huh… My reflexes are usually good but they’re not this good,” he said, turning the porcelain cup over in his hands. “That’s because the Topping is increasing your speed,” Dark Choco Cookie said, placing his hand on his sword’s hilt. Red Velvet’s instincts took over again as he drew his sword and blocked Dark Choco Cookie’s swing. Metal clashed against metal as Red Velvet began to realize his movements were quicker than what he was used to. The two traded a few more blows, as Red Velvet Cookie began to adjust to his new speed. The same movements and actions he’d always done in training, only much faster. He laughed as he backflipped to avoid one of Dark Choco Cookie’s swings and landed on the kitchen table.
“Huh, this thing is amazing!” Red Velvet Cookie cheered, running his Cake hand over the Topping on his chest. It no longer felt unnatural or odd. Dark Choco Cookie smiled and returned his sword to its sheath. “And that’s not all, you can equip up to five at a time, and if you equip more than one of the same kind, the effects are multiplied.” Red Velvet Cookie grinned from ear to ear, “You mean if I had even more of these things I could go even faster?” Dark Choco Cookie nodded. “That’s not the only thing they can do,” Pomegranate Cookie said, walking up to stand beside Dark Choco Cookie. “Some Toppings make a Cookie’s dough tougher so they can take more damage in battle. Others increase a Cookie’s strength and even their Mana Cap.”
Licorice Cookie appeared next to Pomegranate, “There are Toppings that increase your Mana Cap?! I want one of those! I want a Topping too!” Poison Mushroom Cookie appeared on the other side of Dark Choco Cookie and started jumping up and down, “Me too! Me too! I wanna go fast like Red Velvet Cookie!” Dark Choco Cookie closed his eye and held up a hand, “However, the effects don’t last forever, there’s only so much power the Topping can give, once it runs out, it will disappear and you’ll need to equip another one to replace it. So it's a good idea to be sparing with their power and strategize before deciding which ones to equip. The right Topping set can sometimes be the deciding factor in a battle between two evenly matched opponents,” Dark Choco Cookie explained.
Red Velvet Cookie climbed down from the table. Dark Choco Cookie tossed him his shirt and cape, which Red Velvet caught with his heightened speed. “So it’d probably be a good idea to save these for an emergency,” Red Velvet Cookie suggested. Dark Choco Cookie nodded and smiled, “Luckily it seems we can get them from the Fountain every so often, and if we use them wisely we should be able to stockpile a good few if ever we need them.” Red Velvet put his shirt and cape back on and rubbed his chest, he could still feel the Topping underneath his clothing. “Would it be ok if we tried out a few different ones before we started saving them though?” Dark Choco Cookie chuckled, “I suppose you would need to find out which kind works best for you. Every Cookie has their favorite Toppings. Solid Almonds are my preferred Topping of choice,” Dark Choco Cookie said, placing a hand to his chest. “I like Searing Raspberries and Swift Chocolates. I usually use them both together,” Pomegranate Cookie added. “Come on, we’ll check back with the Fountain of Abundance to see if there are any new Toppings after Training today,” Dark Choco Cookie said, nodding to his apprentice. “All right!” Red Velvet cheered, fist-pumping and following Dark Choco Cookie as he left. Chiffon barked and ran after the two, finding it a little harder than usual to keep up with Red Velvet Cookie.