Forum Thread

In the realm of sleep, a figure, obscured by mist, tried to reach out to the cookies. "Help me... Please..." They spoke quietly, as if they knew they weren't allowed to be there. Like something or someone was watching them. "Find the council... And my weapon... I'm counting on you all."

---

"...Why do you cry so?"

Ruby stared at... something. The words weren't his. He wasn't... himself.

Whatever was holding him, they were awfully bright.

...Where was he?

---

Toasted Meringue Cookie sighs, it was starting to rain. He could feel his cookie-made body start to get soggy. Now that isn't good. He looks toward his side, and patted the cookie on the shoulder. The rosewater from the other's ponytail seems to blend in with the rain.

"I'm Toasted Meringue Cookie, but just call me Merin. I'm from the Vanilla Kingdom. I'm sure you have many worries, but let's talk inside, lest we plan on this being our final night?"

Merin tried to joke around, but all that did was heighten the awkward silence.

---

Açaí gasped. It didn't take a genius to figure out who the figure was. She looked down at her cookie body, and noticed that she wasn't herself. She was younger, wearing her favorite dress. She was wearing this when she met her. Ace ---or Princess Ais at this time--- ran to the figure. "Elle!" she yelled, reaching out her hand. But there was nothing there but mist.

The looked around at the pastel clouds she was standing on. "I promise you Elle!" She yelled, in case Lemon Lavender Cookie could hear her. "I'll find you!"

Lemon Lavender was so kind to her in the past. She planned on returning the favor.

Ace knew from Floraberry locals that Lemon Lavender was last seen in her castle. She also knew, from her meetings with Elle, that she carried a staff. Clearly, the staff would lead them to Elle...and maybe the staff was in the castle.

---

"I'm Toasted Meringue Cookie, but just call me Merin. I'm from the Vanilla Kingdom. I'm sure you have many worries, but let's talk inside, lest we plan on this being our final night?" Rosewater Cookie smiled a little. Merin had a point... The small group headed inside as well, soon led to rooms to rest in. Rosewater curled into a tiny ball and fell asleep...

In the realm of sleep, a figure, obscured by mist, tried to reach out to the cookies. "Help me... Please..." They spoke quietly, as if they knew they weren't allowed to be there. Like something or someone was watching them. "Find the council... And my weapon... I'm counting on you all." Dream Rosewater Cookie tried to reach the misty figure, recognizing the voice as that of the queen, the one who had vanished when the Floraberry Kingdom fell.

---

Unable to do much for the unconscious Cookie, Black Lily Cookie tried to stand guard. The lull of the rain and exhaustion from the fight, she fell to sleep...

In the realm of sleep, a figure, obscured by mist, tried to reach out to the cookies. "Help me... Please..." They spoke quietly, as if they knew they weren't allowed to be there. Like something or someone was watching them. "Find the council... And my weapon... I'm counting on you all." Dream Black Lily could see the figure in the mist... She could see a bunch of mist covered figures as well. Were they the Cookies who had ran? What did the main figure mean...?

---

Merin followed Rosewater Cookie inside the little cabin to rest, and soon fell asleep, curled up in this unfamiliar environment. His mind was in a haze, all confused.

All of the sudden in the realm of sleep, a figure, obscured by mist, tried to reach out to the cookies. "Help me... Please..." They spoke quietly, as if they knew they weren't allowed to be there. Like something or someone was watching them. "Find the council... And my weapon... I'm counting on you all."

Merin widen his eyes from surprise in the lucid dream, he knew that voice! Desperately, he tried to reach out to the figure obscured by the impenetrable mist. But it was as if chains were stuck to his lower body, he couldn't reach the figure no matter how much he tried.

Soon the figure was moving further and further back, away from his sight, and forever covered by the mysterious fog. And his effort were all for naught.

---

No sooner had Dee closed her eyes than she was running again. She was chasing a girl through a dense forest, the paths they took hauntingly familiar, but entirely foreign. She shoved her way through the vines and branches, ducking thorns and hopping fallen logs, her eyes never leaving her quarry.

There was a woman whispering to her, begging her to find her, but she was more focused on the girl running ahead of her. A chase was always more exciting than a plea.

Where were the others? Specters drifted into her mind unbidden; Mona, Roo, Lem. They seemed so near, yet so far away. Her mind whispered to ignore them, to focus on the task at hand. And so she tore through the forest, her bare feet silent on the mossy forest floor.

Even though Dee couldn't see her face, she could tell the girl was beautiful. She seemed to shine with a silvery-golden glow, trailing after her like a fine mist. Her dress fluttered behind her, the same color elegantly catching the wind. The impossibly thin, gauzy material, hugged her frame perfectly, and it accented a flawless blend of muscle and curves, strength and beauty, power and grace. Her pale skin shone in the moonlight, Dee realizing it was nighttime.

Who was her quarry? Why did she run? Why was she chasing the girl? Dee had no idea. She had the sense that she needed to catch her though, intuitively knowing she was important.

Briars tore at her arms and legs, the small gashes tinged with red. But still she ran, bounding through the twisted forest. She was running, and running, and running-

All of the sudden, she ground her toes into the ground, stuttering to a stop. She faced an impossibly wide chasm, dark mist clouding the lowest depths she could see to. She skidded to a stop just before the edge, a cascade of tiny pebbles being far less lucky. Dee watched, a lump of panicked terror in her throat, as they tumbled down, down, down, out of sight.

She never heard them hit the bottom.

Her quarry, on the other hand, leapt into the air, soaring on her golden wings through the gloom. Had she always had wings? Perhaps Dee just hadn't noticed them earlier.

She reached out a hand, swiping at the air of which the girl had previously occupied, the motion as desperate as it was futile. She couldn't follow. The realization caused her to sink to her knees, an inexplicable wave of sadness and anguish overcoming her.

The girl finally acknowledged her presence, and circled back around to hover above the chasm. Her wings flapped languidly. She was far out of Dee's reach. The winged one appeared to be assessing her pursuer, an innocent curiousity present in her eyes.

She looked up slowly, watching the girl who was watching her. A piercing golden gaze met her own. Dee could see none of her features; the dress, the wings, the eyes... She was unable to determine the girl's hair color, her height, her facial features, what she looked like.

The colors appeared to be swirling in front of her eyes, almost as if she was only but a faraway mirage. Their stares found each other, and swell of music rushed into Dee's ears. A haunting melody sang out, golden perfection against the foggy, gray sky.

She realized in an odd sense of clarity that the music had always been there; she just hadn't been listening.

Just as quickly as she had come, the girl disappeared, turning and gliding into the shadowy mist. Dee took a shuddering breath, her body aching inside and out. Her heart felt like it was going to break in two, the intense pain felt so acutely, she thought she might die.

In a daze she stood, walking back into the mysterious forest. Her feet sank into the mossy carpet as she traveled at a meditative pace. The trees looked truly unfamiliar now.

Dee continued to wander, the torrent of unfamiliar emotions bringing tears to her eyes.

---

Just as soon as the figure came, she vanished with the fog, and left everyone in the inky blackness of sleep, not bothered with another dream the rest of the night.

(ts to morning)

It was just after dawn, and Mona was already up bright and early. She stood up and stretched out her fatigue, looking through the window for a moment.

---

[andrea~ is too lazy to write about the dream. just imagine a standard reaction from both Coca and Cami]

Coca was left with her mind reeling and body tired after that dream. It was too intense for her, who had experienced many dreamless nights of soothing sleep after every adventure. Dreams were always too…draining for her. So she decided to ignore it for now, her cotton candy cloud seal vibrating as she snored away, deep in sleep and causing the cauldron to shake a little.

Cami, meanwhile, had gotten up before dawn, and was already hustling about as per usual. Exiting the kitchen, she greets Mona with a bright smile, already fully decked in out in herb-hunting attire, holding a large frying pan. “Thought that breakfast before continuing would be a good idea. Also I needed to tend to my potion, but it seems my cauldron is occupied at the moment” she laughs cheerily. “It’s alright though, I have other cauldrons I can use. And luckily I’ve got my classes covered by Cream Puff Cookie and Professor Latte, so my class won’t be left struggling academically whilst I’m away attempting to save the world.” Staff in her other hand, she waved it and several tables flew together, a cauldron on one and a piping hot breakfast on the other. She casually throws the frying pan back into the kitchen (whatever was it for in the first place?), before turning to her cauldron and dumping a handful of the herbs Mona gifted her into them, whistling as it bubbled away merrily.

Ruby was dozing off, sitting in a dark corner, head nestled in his scarf.

Half his body was melded into the shadows, as he slept quietly. Sleepy boy.

---

A lone figure in the bed on the corner tossed and turned, creating a mess in her sleep. The tangled blankets drooped on the floor, the pillow had fallen off the bed. Tucked underneath the wild nest, the form of an invisible lump flickering back to visibility.

Dee woke up crying. It was a strange feeling. She raised a hand to her cheeks, feeling the damp trails of salty tears that had fallen in the night. She could remember the dream, but was unsure of the reasoning of any of the emotions that came with it. She sat up, and wiped at her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt, blinking rapidly.

Throwing on her clothes, she padded downstairs to the kitchen, her eyes still red rimmed. Nodding to Mona quietly for fear of disturbing the witch's intent gaze, she busied herself with a frying pan she caught out of midair (how strange), and began to make breakfast. She wordlessly stirred flour, sugar, and milk into a bowl, heating the frying pan to cook the batter. A second saucepan simmered, turning the common berries that grew in the woods to fresh jam.

Dee didn't get to cook often, but let no one say she wasn't resourceful in the kitchen. Her mother had ensured that no daughter of hers would ever go out into the world without the preparation required to be the best wife. She could begrudgingly admit the training had been useful; her bag was packed beautifully, her clothes were clean, all stains were removed promptly, her shelters were near and efficient, she ate healthy and well cooked meals in her travels...

But Dee hadn't wanted the rest of what came with that training. Maybe she would someday, but not yet.

---

Ace woke up in a pool of sweat. She was hyperventilating. Earlier that night, after the figure disappeared, she seemingly fell into a trance, in front of her kingdom. The kingdom was burning, strawberry cookie blood filled the streets. She could move, but she didn't. She just stood there. Frozen with fear. Like she did ten years ago.

A scream pierced the air. Ais covered her ears, but it just grew louder. Suddenly, she realized that the scream was her own. Suddenly she was Ace again. She was back in reality.

A look outside the window told her it was early morning; the other probably were still asleep. They must have all gotten that dream; if she remembered it so vividly, so did they.

Ace realized she had only really talked to Mona a bit, and so she should acquaint herself with the others. What better way to do that than make them breakfast? After living alone for nearly ten years, she had learned to cook and clean; to be self sufficient.

She stumbled downstairs into the kitchen, only to see someone was already up. This must be the one they call Dee, she thought to herself. Dee was already started on breakfast. Making some dough-y food and jam. She smiled quietly. "Um...hello" she said softly. She walked up to the jam. "May I?" She added, putting in several pink flowers into the jam and stirring it. "For flavor" she said, with a soft smile.

---

"Sure." She smiled sleepily, taking the flowers from Ace, tearing the petals, and sprinkling them into the jam. She stirred to pot lazily with a a wooden spoon she had scavenged from somewhere. Flipping a few pancakes onto a plate, she handed it to Ace with a smile.

"How did you sleep, dear?"

---

Ace gave her a soft and sweet smile. Dee reminded her of Elle. "Well, we both know that's a silly question." She gazed at the pancakes, avoiding eye contact. "You should know that there was magic at play last night. Lemon Lavender's call for help. Followed by the replay of memories... Now whose magic summoned memories or visions is the question. We know it was Ell- I mean Lemon Lavender Cookie who called for help." Ace finally looked into Dee's eyes, searching for answers. Dee must have gotten the vision too right? In all honesty, she was partly bluffing. She turned back to the kitchen. "Cacao goes well with pancakes" she said, proceeding to grind up some cacao beans into powder.

---

Dee frowned. "I saw her at the beginning, but I, um, may have ran away from her to chase something else. It's weird. I think it was most of the most vivid dreams I think I've ever had..." She trailed off.

"Any idea who was behind the opening of the Dreamworld?" She sighed, flipping more pancakes.

---

"I...I think I do." she gazed at the stairs that led to the rooms. "Sapphire Sun Cookie and Ruby Moon Cookie...I think... They're Ruby and Mona. Them coming into contact must have triggered something." She sighed. "Some call it magic, some call it destiny. The point is, I think those two are special." She gazed out the window. "Unlike me..." she mumbled.

---

Merin woke up with a gasp, and a sweat soaked back. He grimaced with disgust from the dampness, and rushed to get himself dry. As he did so, he can't help but remind himself of the dream he had last night. Though everything may be blury, the familiar voice was still clear in his head.

Merin bit his lips, and he gazed at the rising sun outside the cottage.

It seems like his trip back to the Vanilla Kingdom would appear to be delayed until further notice. Grabbing a pen and paper, Merin resolutely started writing. This time, the confusion and worry from the previous day was gone, now replaced with newfound determination.

As his hands moved with rapid speed, he shall now tell Pure Vanilla Cookie his new change of plans.

---

Mona waved to everyone who was already awake, sitting at the table. "It smells amazing down here. Are you making pancakes, perchance?"

---

“I am Ruby Chocolate Cookie. Nothing else.”

Ruby was standing behind Ace, hands in his pockets.

“I am me."

---

"Yes, I am! Would you like some, my dear?" She smiled at Mona. The other cookie was very pretty, but she was fairly certain that she only had eyes for Roo.

"Ace, dear. It's actually rather rude to assume someone is a reincarnation of a mythical cookie. Roo just happens to have a similar name. Even if they were the sun and the moon, we should let them tell us on their own time." She clucked her tongue, flipping more pancakes onto a plate, and sliding them towards Mona. She took the jam off the burner, and set it aside to cool.

"Everyone is special, Ace. If you don't think you are, then maybe you haven't found the thing you're good at yet."

---