And yet…
I honestly don't know what happened to Shadow Milk Cookie earlier…
Moments earlier when she — Celestine — was still on stage, and when that cardboard cut out pierced her chest with a cardboard sword, she disappeared.. Only to reappear once again in Shadow Milk Cookies arms. The restraints from those strings left a mark on both her wrists and ankles, but right now… She was on the verge of crying as she was gripping his arm tightly.
She couldn't look at him, but Shadow Milk Cookie could tell that she was deeply wounded, traumatized even and yet… He let her be, letting her grip his arm tightly as she wanted to, letting her tears run down her cheeks and even letting her be close to him… For now at least. He gently patted her head, but that quickly made Celestine flinched, only to look at him, with her eyes still filled with tears. She and his gaze met but soon her cheeks were now red as strawberries and she immediately backed herself away from him.
Out of embarrassment, she wipes her tears away and then fixes her bangs and ornament on her head. As for Shadow Milk Cookie, he could only float still as he looked at his own palm where he patted Celestine's head, trying to process what he did. But he soon clenched his hand, turning into a fist, making him snap out of whatever he was thinking. He then turned to see Celestine, with a sly grin on his face, he spoke…
Shadow Milk Cookie: "... Soooo~ Did you have fun acting out on stage, my dear?"
Celestine: "I could hardly say that it was."
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Though it would seem like you were crying with joy."
Celestine: "........."
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Whaaat?~ Cat caught your tongue again? Eheehee~"
Celestine: "Why save me back there?"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Hmm? What do you mean by that, princess?"
Celestine: "From earlier… When that 'puppet' was about to strike me down with its cardboard sword… I can sense that Marinette planned to switch that sword out into a real one, but you teleported me out of there. So why is that?"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "... What's with all those questions?~ I didn't even do a thing! It was all Marinette's doing."
Celestine: "... Regardless, thank you, Shadow Milk Cookie."
Shadow Milk Cookie: "........"
Celestine: "Is… Something the matter?"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "... Are you trying to mock me?"
Celestine: "Wh-What? No, I wouldn't—"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "DON'T LIE, PRINCESS!! — Y-You… And your sick, twisted persuasion… EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU IS DRIVING ME NUTS!!"
Celestine: "Shadow Milk Cookie.."
With her hand reaching towards Shadow Milk Cookie, she paused… Hesitating if it was right for her to comfort him in such a state. But regardless of whatever he did, it was clear that he did it out of his own reason, so she had her hand on his head, petting him, trying to comfort him and his overwhelming feeling he is experiencing at this very moment right before him.
His eyes widen from the sudden act of kindness from her as his cheeks redden, nearly visible to her ethereal gaze. Yet that brief act of surprise and flusteredness soon faded into anger and disgust, he slapped away her hand out of spite, as he backed away from her just a bit.
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Don't… Touch me!"
Celestine: "I-I… Sorry."
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Tch… You make me sick."
Celestine: "... Sorry."
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Everything… Why… EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU IS PISSING ME OFF!!"
…
"From your looks,
Your hair,
Your eyes,
Your personality,
Your voice…
ALL OF IT!!
IT'S IRRITATING ME TO THE BRINK OF MY EXISTANCE!!"
…
Shadow Milk Cookie: "And yet why… Why am I feeling this way the moment we first met…?"
Celestine: "... Sh-Shadow Milk—"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "No… Shut up! Don't you dare say another word…!! — I don't want to hear another sound from your mouth, witch! Marinette Cookie was definitely right about you… You're just someone, manipulating others with your lies."
With a flick from his staff, he casts a barrier around Celestine, shifting itself as it forms into a box-like prison, keeping her locked inside, but… A strong wave of magic within the box sent powerful shockwaves all over. Shadow Milk Cookie held strong, as he decreased the size of the box smaller and smaller… And yet…
With a sudden bang from inside that box, the box shattered and Celestine broke free with ease. Shadow Milk Cookie was frustrated and humiliated for how easy it was for her to break free from his grasp, he then summoned a giant snake, wrapping around her, but she quickly dodged it by moving upwards. As soon as that snake looked right above itself, Celestine then shot arrows that came down like a hail storm at the snake until it was defeated and disappearing into dust.
Coming back down from above gracefully like an angel, Shadow Milk Cookie was speechless from the sheer power that Celestine possessed… And yet, it made him even more furious than before.
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Grrr… You DARE make a fool out of ME?!"
Celestine: "Shadow Milk Cookie, please sto—"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Oh no…! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!!"
Celestine: "W-Wait…"
…
"You think you can tame a beast like me?!
Seal me back away with those puny little shits?!…
That's where you are wrong!
Thanks to Dark Enchantress Cookie…
Thanks to them…
They gave us the opportunity to regain our strength…
Both our goals intertwined and we wanted every cookie-kind to know who we really are!
It was all thanks to them…
They were the ones who opened a path for us to escape that damn tree!!"
…
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Even now… Just why?! Why get in our way in achieving our goal?! — Everything was already set PERFECTLY into place… But you and her… Just HAD to get in the way of EVERYTHING!!"
Clashes between 2 beings, a clash with both magic and sword… The 2 fought each other — or rather — Celestine was trying her best not to hurt him as Shadow Milk Cookie kept on attacking her recklessly and preposterously with his makeshift scythe from his staff. With each blow from his scythe, Celestine couldn't keep up with his attacks as she was already kneeling with one knee on the ground.
Having to grit his teeth while having to force the blade to pierce Celestine's barrier, just to close the gap between them… His expression soon changed from a furious look to guilt. Having to catch him off guard, Celestine then used up all her strength just to push Shadow Milk Cookie back a bit. Jumping back from her weak push, he held his ground together as he watched Celestine struggle to catch a break from all of his relentless attacks from him. She was all worn out.
Trembling on the ground right in front of Shadow Milk Cookie, she then looked at him one last time. The moment her eyes laid on his.. His heart sank, the posture, the expression on her face… He was just like that before, just like him before his corruption. He can still remember it, clear as day… Those sweet voices having to purr into his vulnerable dough at that time, he loathes and wishes he could turn back time to vanquish those voices he thought he knew that they could make things better for him and his people. But no… That was never the case.
Before Celestine could even stand, the halls before them soon surged and pulsed abnormally, sending chills on each other's spines. Sinister and twisted laughs were heard and Shadow Milk Cookie could sense that their plan was working. Soon, he retreated back to his other realm — the Dark Side of the Moon — to ready himself for the next act of the play, leaving Celestine alone all by herself.
Yet, before he left.. He then cast a spell around Celestine… Call it as a "Farewell, for now" gift from him, at least that's what he did. Celestine wasn't sure what spell he cast on her, but it did give her a bit of strength for her to get back on her feet. However, from that spell earlier.. It lingered within her fingertips, like a string wrapping around tightly. She heed no mind for that, for now… She needs to find the others and regroup in order to stop Shadow Milk Cookie and Marinette's plan before it gets any worse than it already is.
Present time…
In the Twisted Halls, South-East Wing…
Celestine: "I ask one last time… Stand down, flee from this place at once…"
— SHRIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!
Celestine: "... Very well. You left me with no choice."
Elder Faerie Cookie: "Celestine Cookie… H-How—"
Celestine: "I will explain later… For now, we need to deal with this abyssant first."
Elder Faerie Cookie: "Right!"
Celestine: "Can you stand?"
Elder Faerie Cookie: "Yes."
Celestine: "Good. And please… Do be careful."
Summoning her wooden staff from thin air, she prepares herself to cast a protective barrier against the creature. The first move came from it, launching a powerful attack at Celestine, but she was quick enough to cast it in time, preventing fatal damage from the creature. She then proceeded to cast a blessing on Elder Faerie Cookie for him to strike a fatal blow on the enemy.
Striking from above, Elder Faerie Cookie swiftly chopped off a few of its disgusting arms, and blood soon gushed out from that critical attack. Shrieking in pain, hurting their ears in the process, it stomped recklessly… It became more agitated and furious from that attack. Having to run towards Celestine, she dodged its attacks and teleported above.
Having to order Elder Faerie Cookie to move from his position, her staff then turns itself into a bow, materializing from light itself. Pulling back the string, forming an arrow just as bright as the sun, she let go and it rained like a hail storm at the creature, making it shriek in pain once more… But it wasn't enough, it was merely a distraction. As it kneeled down, causing it to tip over a bit… Another light shined right behind it, and it was Elder Faerie Cookie, having to focus his power — his mana — on his sword, creating a beautiful light within.
Channeling all the energy he has left, he soon strikes the creature in one final swoop. As that light faded from his sword, blood soon gushed out from the creature and it was soon split into millions of pieces as each piece of itself faded into ashes. But before fading from existence completely, it spoke softly as its words were still disoriented and hard to interpret…
"Quomodoooo mortaliiiiis quispiiiiaaaam simileeees
nooostriiii vinceeeereeee poteeeest?!
Nihil reeeefert...
Numquam noooos prohibebis...
Iucunditaaaas modoooo coepiiiit…"
Celestine: May your souls find peace…
Elder Faerie Cookie: "... Celestine… From earlier when you came out of nowhere, just how—."
Celestine: "The shrieking… it came from the East Wing to here. I followed it, and I managed to save you from getting eaten from it in time."
Elder Faerie Cookie: *nod*... "Thank you for that. Now… About that abyssant just now, it said something about—"
Celestine: "... The fun has only—"
Elder Faerie Cookie: "Just begun…"
Celestine: "You can understand its language too?!"
Elder Faerie Cookie: "A little, yes. Although, what did it mean by that?"
Celestine: "... We need to hurry and find the others. I'm certain that Marinette Cookie has something up their sleeve that Shadow Milk Cookie doesn't know just yet."
Elder Faerie Cookie: "But what about Mariya Cookie? She's already fighting off Marinette Cookie as we speak!"
Celestine: "That worries me even more… There's no telling what could've happened to her, so we better hurry."
Elder Faerie Cookie: "Right behind you then."
Celestine: (Please stay safe, Mariya… I know you're strong, but that doesn't mean you can fight them all alone.)
…
So please… Just hang in there until then…
At the same time…
In the Twisted Halls, West Wing…
Marinette: "Well that's a shame… And here I thought you could feed my sensation a bit more than that~"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Huh… So this is the Mariya Cookie I heard so much about? — They don't appear all that different from each other…"
Marinette: "Well she is a clone afterall."
In the Twisted Halls at the West side of the kingdom, Mariya was on the ground, pierced in the chest, in place against the wall. She wasn't moving at all, giving Marinette a disappointing expression on their face when the game between the 2 was already over. Crouching down to get a better look at her face, Mariya was still — like a statue — with no pulse, neither hints of life within her system, it would seem she's now dead… Or so they thought.
Marinette: "How's your side of the plan?"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Pret—ty smoooothly~... I also placed a small "gift" for her before leaving."
Marinette: "Did you now?~ But do remember we need that witch alive. Although.. Can't really say about your other plan in having to 'scare' those little cookies, hmm?"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Scare them? Oh no no no~!! I am merely giving them a warning. A bit of a reminder that WE… ARE BACK!! — And yes, maybe I am scaring them a teensy bit."
Marinette: "Hmm… Fine~ Do make it quick. This is getting repetitive for our audiences already."
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Yeeaahh… No kidding. By the way, Marinette Cookie…"
Marinette: "Yes, Master Shadow Milk Cookie?~"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "... No. It's nothing.."
Marinette: ('Nothing' my ass, you low life.) "Very well, master."
Having to leave Marinette alone, Shadow Milk Cookie went on his way to perform the next play in his script before the climax of their show. And when Shadow Milk Cookie left, a hint of disdain was left all over Marinette's face from the moment he and they made a deal with each other. A low yet sharp growl was heard behind them, Marinette can only gaze at their kin… To which she was dissatisfied from the task that they have put their kin through.
A few of the nightmariums were hiding from their menacing aura, while another few could only try and explain the situation to Marinette slowly and softly while they were shaking in fear, like dogs having to hide their tails around their legs. And when Marinette learns that Celestine defeated one of the Abyssants for they have purposely created to devour the cookies that they have targetted… She grinned, wide enough for the others to see.
Marinette: "Is that so?~ Eheeheehee… Everything is falling into place. All of you, dismissed! — And do report back to my kins, they would want news about what I was up to~"
…
Now then…
Just how much farther are you willing to go?~
Acting like the biggest fool in all of the world?~
…
Marinette: "Speaking of mere fools… Are you done lounging around like a statue, half kin?!"
With wobbled steps and blood still dripping out of her chest, Mariya was actually alive… Though it would seem her regeneration ability has been slowing down lately, more than it should have. Once she was back on her feet… She pulled the makeshift spear out of her chest and transformed it back to a plasma gun, pointing it straight at Marinette.
And when the blood drip from her chest has ceased, already been patched… She grinned, chuckled softly underneath her weak breath.
Mariya: "Could've given me a few more minutes or so, was getting comfortable there."
Marinette: "Hehehehe~ You're funny… But I do admit, I'm quite impressed~ Considering you're still holding up until now."
Mariya: "Pffft… Impressed? Don't make me laugh."
Marinette: "EHEHEHE… HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!"
Mariya: Welp.. Time for round 2…
Preparing for another fight, Mariya was flinged off to the side of the twisted halls once again from Marinette's mutant arm, appearing to be either vines or tentacles that wrapped around to form a bat, but she — Mariya — came prepared. An energy barrier was casted around herself, thanks to her weapon — Hyperion — reacting to the incoming impact just in time before she could get hurt from their attacks, but Marinette can only grin at Mariya as they laughed hysterically at her as they leap forward with the bat about to land on her skull, yet once again… She reluctantly dodged it.
Mariya had no other options but to retreat for now and figure out a way to defeat them… As of now, she is only and has been distracting them from achieving their goal and from hurting her companions in the process. While having to run away, making her way back to the Silver Tree, she was then flung to the side, but this time… It was hard enough to have her pierce through the wall and have herself be back outside of the palace grounds.
Grobbling on her feet, trying to get up from the pain from getting flung by them, Mariya then looked on over in the distance and saw a theatre at the front center of the Silver Tree and from that point, she spotted her friends right then and there. She quickly got up on her feet, trying to hide the pain as she grabbed her weapon again, transforming it into a sword and slowly walked towards the tree… But…
Marinette: "Oh don't you dare walk away from me, half kin~"
Mariya: "AAAUUUGGHH!!"
Marinette: "Ehehehehe~... AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!! — Struggle harder! Entertain meee~"
Mariya: "Son of a—"
— BIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTCCCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Barely blocking the attack from the side, Mariya was once again flung but this time.. Towards the theatre. While getting kicked from Marinette, launching into the air… Her friends saw Mariya trying to fight for her life with sheer horror on their faces as they watched. Landing right at center stage, like a bomb landed with great impact, Mariya was once again down on the ground, laying on her front side while trying to get back up… But couldn't.
Right when Shadow Milk Cookie was about to end performing his act, Marinette came back down just to put her foot down on Mariya's back side, stomping on her weak body and even going as far as twisting their foot to assert dominance over the weak. Mariya's friends can only watch her struggle like a weakling, her only option left was to use her forbidden technique again… But she is afraid that her friends might think differently about her and her newfound power locked away inside of her.
Marinette: "What's wrong, little rat?~ Why aren't you screaming like you did earlier? Don't tell me that your throat already HURTS?!?!!!"
Mariya: "HCCKKK…"
Strawberry Cookie: *whimpering*... "I seriously can't watch this…"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "It's okay… I got you."
Wizard Cookie: "St-Stop this already, Marinette Cookie!!"
Marinette: "Or what…?"
Wizard Cookie: "...... !!!!!!!!!!!!!"
White Lily Cookie: "N-No! WIZARD COOKIE!! — ACK!!!"
GingerBrave: "UUgghh.. Wh-What…"
Mercurial Knight Cookie: "Tsk, Dammit…"
Locking each and everyone of them with strings tying them down tightly into place, all they could do now is watch as 2 of their friends struggle within their grasp. With their tentacles wrapping around Wizard Cookie, choking him slowly to death when Marinette grabs a whole of him… Soft yet twisted chuckles were heard underneath their psychotic breath.
Hearing her friends—no—hearing Wizard Cookie getting near death's door, Mariya then had no other options at her disposal. With bits of strength left, snapped her fingers, causing her weapon to shake and quickly and swiftly charge forth at Marinette's arm that had been grabbing hold of Wizard Cookie. Cutting their arm off as blood soon gushed out, it caught them by surprise, but Wizard Cookie was nowhere to be found but back at Pure Vanilla and White Lily Cookie's side.
With him having to experience the most traumatic experience of his cookie life, he hugged Pure Vanilla Cookie tightly all the while trying to comfort and calm him down. And yet… Marinette's smile widened and their severed arm grew back in an instant. Grabbing hold of Mariya's weapon — Hyperion — they forced it to transform, causing it to malfunction and spark, but Marinette didn't care because they only wanted to get the job done, even if it's breaking each and every trinket they grabbed hold of.
And when Mariya got back on her feet, her weapon… Being a spear now… She was once again hit by her own gadget, but this time… Marinette didn't miss the shot when they threw that spear right at Mariya's head. Flying away, passing through her friends while they watch helplessly, witnessing Mariya's best efforts to waste as her body flung and pierce right through the walls of the kingdom. And through that hole in the wall… She was left with a severed head and her body… Lying on the ground.
— KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Strawberry Cookie: "Euuhhuuhhaa.. *hic.. sniff..* huu…"
Marinette: "Aah~ that was fun… While it lasted…"
Silverbell Cookie: "F-Fun…? FUN?! YOU CALL THAT FUN?! YOU—... YOU!!!"
Marinette: "Monster? Lunatic? Psychopath? Oh no, don't just stand there in place~ LET ME HEAR SUCH INSULTS!! I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOATHE ME FOR KILLING THAT PATHETIC HALF KIN WITH EASE!!"
Silverbell Cookie: "Grrrrr..."
Marinette: "Well Master…~ They're all yours~"
GingerBrave: "Gaaah!!"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "Tch…"
Strawberry Cookie: "EEP!"
Wizard Cookie: "EUAAAH!!!"
White Lily Cookie: "Stop this!!"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "... And why should we?~ The fun is nearly at its climax now! And all that is left is to take back what's mine…"
Tying up like a helpless lamb on strings… Pure Vanilla Cookie could only struggle with each tug he made to break free would only cause the strings to grow tighter and tighter. Moving closer and closer, Shadow Milk Cookie reached out his hand towards Pure Vanilla Cookie, towards his souljam, he — Shadow Milk Cookie — could only grin in ecstasy, but…
Vines soon grabbed a whole of him and was pulled down hard on the ground, causing him to lose his focus and the theatre that was once right in front of the Silver Tree soon dispersed and everyone who was tied up from those strings were freed, but as they had fallen for their deaths… A cotton cloud appeared below, landing softly as they bounced from the impact and the one who casted that spell was none other than Celestine herself.
GingerBrave: "CELESTINE!! I KNEW YOU WERE ALIVE!!"
Strawberry Cookie: "B-Big sis…!"
Celestine: "O-Oh… Hehe~ I'm just glad you're safe now."
Silverbell Cookie: "E-Elder!"
Mercurial Knight Cookie: "It's good to have you back, your Majesty."
White Lily Cookie: "Elder Faerie Cookie…"
Elder Faerie Cookie: *nods*... "Let us end this. Once and for all!"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "End this…? Heeeheehee~Oh don't make me laugh, you old geezer. Things are about to get serious from here!!"
The moment Shadow Milk Cookie held his staff up high, the air within the kingdom swirled and dark clouds soon formed above the whole kingdom as eyes were forming within those dark clouds. As he channeled all of his remaining strength, he casted a spell — not at them, at his enemies, no — at the Silver Tree itself… It began to change color, and cracks that were once invisible within the tree soon reopened and sheer horror washed all over their faces.
A twisted set of twin headed beasts, merging from the depths of the tree. With eyes of a hawk and mouths like a wild wolf… A neck as long as a body of a snake and a body of a bear, feet-like talons of a bird and fur much like an eagle or spinks… It roared, hurting everyone's ears, and yet…
Celestine: "We can still stop them."
Wizard Cookie: "B-But… But how?! We're already at our limits and that creature—"
Celestine: "It hasn't fully got out of the tree! — We can still seal it back, or at least stop them from summoning it."
Elder Faerie Cookie: "Do what you must! Me, White Lily and Pure Vanilla Cookie will—"
Celestine: "Mariya has got it covered."
— HUH?!
Celestine: "Isn't that right? … Ms. Cheng?"
…
"For fuck's sake.. Didn't I fucking told you already?
I dislike being called like—
— THAT!!!"