Within the walls of illusions of the everlasting Golden City, Mariya and Celestine were at the highest building of the place, they were in a private luxury spa hotel. Mariya was enjoying herself, having to rest up on a hammock while drinking a refreshing fruit punch as she wore sunglasses while Celestine was looking over at the Golden City below.
Mariya: "Ah~... Isn't this great, Celestine?"
Celestine: "... You seem awfully laid back."
Mariya: "Oh come on, a girl like me needs some re—la—xa—tion for once! I haven't been able to take good care of myself! I-I mean… I might grow old in a jiffy!"
Celestine: "Hehe~... That is very much like you. But still…"
Mariya: "It's about our mission, isn't it?"
Celestine: "... Yes."
Ulterior motives… Just what are you trying to gain? What purpose do you have with this world? Sitting here and doing nothing will get us nowhere. If only I had my staff back, but from the calamity many starlights ago… Shattered and scattered all across the seas of the memoria, endlessly traveling all over the place...
I can only imagine that they have already retrieved them and are planning to store them somewhere, where I can't find them… Can't gain it back. Even so… There's still no way that they have it, right?
Mariya: "If you're just going to stand there and stare into the distance then there's no use in beating yourself up."
Celestine: "H-Huh?"
Mariya: "Look, your powers are beyond restored. You're sulking because we're doing nothing right now. I get it… But as of now, try to take it easy, okay? "
Celestine: "... Heh, alright."
Mariya: "Good! — Hey, why don't we try that newly opened restaurant?"
Celestine: "Aren't you tired of eating cheese though?"
Mariya: "PFFFTTT… ME? TIRED? NONSENSE!! Who can say no to cheese, eh?"
…
Young Cookie Voice 1: "HAAAAAAAAAAARRRGGHHHHH!!"
Young Cookie Voice 2: "LIGHTNING STRIKE!!"
Young Cookie Voice 3: "HUP! HAAA!"
Mature Cookie Voice 1: "WATCH OUT!!"
Cookie Denizen 1: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!! MONSTERSSSSS!!!"
Cookie Denizen 2: "I-Is that a…?"
Mature Cookie Voice 2: "A GIANT CHEESE CURSOR??????"
CRASH—BOOM—!!
Mariya: "Oh for the love of—"
Celestine: "Duty calls?"
Mariya: "I wish it wasn't even my responsibility to begin with."
As Mariya placed down her fruit punch on the table near the hammock she was resting on, she got up and threw away the sunglasses to the side and equipped her weapon, Hyperion, as it transforms itself into a giant chakram shuriken. She stood on the railings of the high building while Celestine summoned her wooden staff, readying herself to support Mariya.
Celestine: "Try not to scare the denizens below."
Mariya: "Yeah, yeah, yeah. This better be worth my time though."
Mariya soon falls down below to aid and save the people from the opposing threat that was in the city. Crashing down from above, she landed on top of the giant cheese cursor that was about to strike at the cookie with a wizard cone hat. With the giant cheese cursor being crushed by Mariya, she then stomped on it, even twisting her heel on the defeated entity.
Mariya: "And here I thought I could AT LEAST have enjoyed my DAMN vacation PEACEFULLY!! Man… What a day."
Cookie with a wizard hat: "Uh… Th-Thanks for the assist?"
Mariya: "Wasn't trying to save you, shortie."
Cookie with a candycane: "But still, thanks."
Mariya: "Yeah, yeah… You're welcome, kid."
Celestine: *sigh*... "Good grief, Mariya."
From above, Celestine floated down gracefully next to Mariya who had defeated the opposing threat in the Golden City. Celestine then looked at the people who were almost about to crumble by the giant cheese cursor, she walked towards them and kneeled down at the cookie with the wizard hat, checking for any injuries. The same goes for the other cookies who were with them.
Celestine: "Hmm… No wounds, I take it?"
Cookie with a raven: "No, but thank you for your concern… Uhm…"
Celestine: "Ah, apologies. My name is… Celestine Cookie. And you are…?"
GingerBrave: "The name's GingerBrave! This is Wizard Cookie…"
Wizard Cookie: "Yes, hello! Nice to meet you, Celestine Cookie."
GingerBrave: "This is Black Raisin Cookie…"
Black Raisin Cookie: "A pleasure to meet you."
GingerBrave: "Olive Cookie…"
Olive Cookie: "Just an architect tagging along with them, but nice to meet ya!"
GingerBrave: "And Adventure Cookie."
Adventure Cookie: "Heya!"
Celestine: "Hehe~... I'm glad you all are safe, but once again… I apologize for—"
Mariya: "Bleugh… What the hell did I even say about the apologizing thing?! You did nothing wrong, Celestine~"
Celestine: "... This… Is Mariya Cookie… She's, well…"
Mariya: "Psychotic, hard to handle and her mouth is as foul as the sewer canals? Yeah, I get that a lot."
Celestine: *sigh*...
Mariya: "Anyway… Cut me some slack and spill me the details on what's going on right now?"
GingerBrave: "W-Well you see…"
GingerBrave explained the situation that the 5 of them were in; they were on a mission to get Golden Cheese Cookie to join their fight against Dark Enchantress Cookie, an evil cookie that's going to bring destruction all over earthbread as Wizard Cookie has stated it. When they arrived at the temple of the Lost City of Eternal Gold, they discovered a lot of things, the history of the Golden Kingdom, its rise and fall. When confronting the Goddess, they were soon transported into this world, the illusion that Golden Cheese Cookie had created.
Black Raisin Cookie then explained that they have tried to convince Golden Cheese Cookie to join their side in the upcoming war, but unfortunately… She, Golden Cheese Cookie, ultimately refused to join them. However, they soon ran into problems within the city, monsters lurking about the place, trying to invade the kingdom, they then thought of an idea, they struck a deal with Golden Cheese Cookie; if they, the 5 cookies who are here in this illusion, help Golden Cheese Cookie to get rid of the monsters in this place, she, Golden Cheese Cookie, will join them in war.
Adventure Cookie: "However… There's 1 big problem."
Mariya: "And that is?"
Olive Cookie: "When we were helping to get rid of the monsters, Smoked Cheese Cookie, the general of the Golden Kingdom, stole Golden Cheese Cookie's Soul Jam!"
Wizard Cookie: "Right now… He is trying to make the monsters go on a rampage and possibly trying to tame them for him to control."
Celestine: "Her… Soul Jam?"
Mariya: "Remember that odd looking jewel on her Valkyrie helmet, Celestine?"
Celestine: "Ah! That one…"
Monsters within the city have been appearing left and right. One of them was targeting Celestine, before long… They leap in to attack her, but…
Black Raisin Cookie: "WATCH—"
Celestine: "Lux."
Before Adventure Cookie and Black Raisin Cookie could save and block off the attack from the monster that was targeting Celestine, Celestine quickly pointed her wooden staff and cast a beam of light at the monster that was nearly going to attack her at the side, and she wasn't even looking at it either. After that beam of light was cast and the monster flopped to the ground in defeat, her eyes gazed at it but soon everted quickly before sighing quietly under her breath.
Wizard Cookie: "In-Incredible…"
Celestine: "... Try and hold onto something."
GingerBrave: "Why?—W-WOAH!!"
Mariya: "Tch… This ain't that one game that involves echoes and vibrations, dammit!! What's with the sudden shaking???"
Black Raisin Cookie: "It must be Smoked Cheese Cookie's doing…"
CRASH—BOOM—SCREAMS—!!!
Adventure Cookie: "Civilizations are under attack over there!"
Mariya: "Eugh… More of this? Fine, FINE! As long as this is worth my time anyway… BRING IT ON!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Olive Cookie: "W-Wait! — and there she goes.."
Mariya quickly ran off to hoard off the monsters that were causing havoc at the nearby street of the Golden City. Before Celestine takes off, she casts a spell onto the 5 cookies, it was a protection spell.
Olive Cookie: "W-Woah… I somehow feel a little lighter than usual."
GingerBrave: "What kind of spell did you do?"
Celestine: "A protection spell to keep you cookies safe from harm, it should keep you from glitching inside in this illusion."
Wizard Cookie: "W-Wait, how did you—"
Black Raisin Cookie: "WIZARD COOKIE WATCH OUT!!"
Sudden debris was falling everywhere and the shaking got much worse from here. Celestine was quick enough to cast a barrier around them, but… A familiar sound rang Celestine's ears. A soft low growl, the distorted voices she heard every single day back home. Turning around to see, and it was what she had thought they were; Nightmariums entering the illusion through the portals that were intertwined with both the illusion of the Golden City that Golden Cheese had created and reality back to the temple.
Celestine: "N-No…"
GingerBrave: "Wh-What are those things?"
Wizard Cookies: "I-I have never seen such monstrous looking creatures before!"
Olive Cookie: "J-Just what are they?"
Celestine: "No time to explain! You must find Smoked Cheese Cookie and put a stop to his doings!"
Black Raisin Cookie: "B-But what about you?"
Celestine: "I'll be fine! But right now, you all need to find him… NOW GO!! I'll hold them off."
Without a moment to lose, the 5 cookies soon ran as fast as they could and avoided the attacks from the nightmariums that were already raiding the Golden City. Celestine yelled at the nightmariums, taunting them in order to have their eyes of her and her alone… They heard her plea and taunting and soon surrounded her with no way for her to escape.
Celestine already expected this from them, no fear nor hesitation was on her face, she stayed calm and collective and prepared herself. With her wooden staff in hand, she raised it slowly and chanted the words under her unwavering breath. The nightmariums rushed towards her to attack, but before they could…
Celestine: "Great enigma of Time... May you hear me once more…"
Time stood still all around the Golden City… The people around were moving so slowly, so were the nightmariums that were about to attack Celestine. Celestine was the only one moving, yet this is merely a quarter of her power she has used against the opposing threat that was in this childish illusion.
She tapped the ground with her wooden staff lightly and the nightmariums faded slowly away into dust as the place around her stood still. A familiar voice was heard behind her, and it was none other than Mariya, unaffected by the spell that Celestine had cast, she walked towards her with the same indifferent expression on her face… She already knew what was up when the nightmariums showed up in the childish illusion.
Mariya: "...."
Celestine: "....."
Mariya: "Heh… Just what—the fuck…"
Celestine: "... Indeed."
Mariya: "I'm already placing my bets that one of the Dukes are in this fucking place, somewhere hiding in the shadows…"
Celestine: "14 Dukes of the Night and Chaos…"
Mariya: "And 2 of us. If he's one of the lesser Dukes, then I don't mind taking them on! — Heh, hell! I'M CRAVING FOR A FUCKING BLOODBATH FOR A DAMN WHILE!! EHEHEHE~"
Celestine: "Must you use such foul language at a time like this?"
Mariya: "Hey! Not like this place has a pause button for me to vent out my anger."
Celestine: *sigh*... " Good grief…"
Mariya: "But yeah… If one of the 14 Dukes is here, then it is possible that—"
Celestine: "I can only imagine and fear what's about to happen in this world…"
Mariya: "... Eeeehhh… I still hate this place to be honest."
Celestine: "For now, we must clear out the nightmariums in this illusion."
Mariya: "I already took care of half of them while I was hoarding them off earlier. However…"
As Celestine's spell dissipated and time around them slowly moved again, back at its usual course… All the nightmariums that were going to attack Celestine soon turned into dust in an instant.
Celestine: "It would seem that the rest of them are in that direction."
Mariya: "I can only imagine that their powers—or rather their strengths—are ineffective against them."
Celestine: "That's what I fear the most. Let's hurry."
Mariya: "....."
As Celestine took off at the direction where the 5 cookies rushed to defeat Smoked Cheese Cookie in hopes to give back Golden Cheese Cookie's Soul Jam, Mariya looked back at the distance in the skies. Her stern expression was fierce but she began to smirk a bit.
Mariya: "Heh… Are you watching over there, follower? Hope you're enjoying the show, but… This ain't rated family friendly I'm afraid."
BANG—!!
…
Nightbringer: "Hehe~... That little brat…"
Butter Roll Cookie: "W-Woah now! Careful in handling the dough! We don't wanna have it all wasted."
Nightbringer: "Matcha Cookie, was it? How are the preparations for the newly made bodies for the Beast Cookies?"
Matcha Cookie: "It's going pret—ty smoothly, Nightbringer Cookie. But what about… your colleagues? Have they retrieved the souls of theirs yet?"
Nightbringer: "Patience, little cookie. They will bring them in one piece."
BOOM—SPLAT—!!
Frightened Scientist Cookie: "GAAAH!!"
Lousy Scientist Cookie: "YOU BUFFOON!! ARGH… This is gonna take a while to clean up."
Butter Roll Cookie: "Accidents happen… But yes, it will be a pain to clean this mess."
Nightbringer: "If you want… my kin will delightfully clean these up in a jiffy… however, most of you in the room need to get out. We don't want someone to get hurt by them, do we?"
Butter Roll Cookie: "... You heard them. Come on now."
Matcha Cookie: "Kekeke~.."
…
At the North East side of the Golden City, or rather, the inside of the Golden Temple… lies both Golden Cheese Cookie and Smoked Cheese Cookie fighting each other. With the help of GingerBrave and his friends, Golden Cheese Cookie became victorious and got her soul jam back.
However, she has also agreed to join the war between the ancient heroes and Dark Enchantress Cookie. However… lying in the very shadows, waiting for their right moment to strike…
Black Raisin Cookie: "Hmm?"
GingerBrave: "What's wrong, Black Raisin Cookie?"
Black Raisin Cookie: "Something's… Not right…"
Smoked Cheese Cookie: "... You're not the only one who's got a gut feeling."
Golden Cheese Cookie: "What do you mean by—"
Adventure Cookie: "OLIVE COOKIE, WATCH OUT!!"
Olive Cookie: "H-HUH??? AAAAAAAAAA!!!"
"OVER MY DEAD BODY, YOU PSYCHOS!!!"
Mariya: "HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
Olive Cookie: "Wh-Wha—"
Celestine: "Somnium obex!"
A swarm of nightmariums soon attacked! But reluctantly, Mariya and Celestine arrived just in time to save them. As Celestine cast a power barrier around them, Mariya was fighting off the hoard of nightmariums from the outside. The battle was intense, yet the rest of the cookies who Celestine were protecting could only stand there in place as the battle kept on growing more and more intense each time it passed.
Wizard Cookie: "Tch… We can't just stand here and watch!"
GingerBrave: "Yeah! We gotta help Mariya Cookie!"
Celestine: "I forbid you to assist her."
Golden Cheese Cookie: "Wh-What?! Are you insane? She's—"
Celestine: "She'll be fine. And I can assure you… The both of us will make it out…"
…
"In one piece."
As Celestine stepped out from the barrier that was protecting them. A nightmarium soon jumped to attack her, but she quickly shot a small beam of light at it and quickly disappeared into dust.
Walking on by slowly, a group of nightmariums was ought to get her but with a light tap of her wooden staff, the nightmariums that were about to attack her… quickly disappeared into dust in seconds.
Smoked Cheese Cookie: "In-Incredible…"
Wizard Cookie: "I know, right?! She should teach me that kind of magic…! Maybe after this is over."
…
Mariya: "Tch… Just how many more—"
Celestine: "Quiescam.."
Mariya: "Phew… Thanks."
Celestine: "Don't thank me yet."
Mariya: "Yeah, yeah… OH COME ON!!! JUST HOW MANY MORE OF YOU ANYWAY????"
Celestine: "We might have to resort to… that…"
Mariya: "Wait FOR REAL???? HELL YEAH!!"
Celestine: *sigh*... "Let's make this quick though… I don't have much mana left in me to keep holding the barrier protecting the others."
Mariya: "Sheesh, already? How much have you used up anyway?"
Celestine: "Earlier. When I cast that time-stopped spell. It took half of my mana, I didn't really wish to use it once more though."
Mariya: "Eugh… Fine."
More and more nightmariums were coming after Celestine and Mariya, and yet… They were also after the cookies when Celestine cast a barrier around them. Golden Cheese Cookie was persistent, trying to break the barrier with all of her might, but to no avail.
Golden Cheese Cookie: "Ugh! Are they seriously going to get themselves killed?!"
Smoked Cheese Cookie: "So many of them… And here I thought only 1 was enough."
Mozzarella Cookie: "L-Look!"
Olive Cookie: "Just what…"
Wizard Cookie: "Is that spell…?"
Amidst of it all, both Mariya and Celestine form a stance against all odds. Raising their arms and holding back the other, just like holding a bow and arrow… As they chanted the words underneath their breaths, out of thin air, it formed a bow, gleaming with light and an arrow, emanating with immense power.
All of the nightmariums came charging forth towards them, roaring and howling, it was nearly time for them to end it all, but… In a blink, Mariya and Celestine let go of the arrow and in a straight line… All the nightmariums vanished… Turning themselves into dust.
Celestine: "..."
Mariya: "Hee… HA!! M—V—P BABY!! High—Eh? Celestine…? Wh-What's wrong?!"
Celestine: "That took… All of my mana… The others, are they…?"
Wizard Cookie: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
Mozzarella Cookie: "WIZARD COOKIE!!"
When Celestine's mana ran out, the barrier soon shattered, yet they had missed one nightmarium from the rest of the group. The monstrous creature was about to attack and devour one of the cookies who were in the barrier, Golden Cheese Cookie and Smoked Cheese Cookie were trying their best to defend both themselves and for the others, but then…
In a blink, a spear was pierced at the nightmarium and it was sent flying towards the portal back to reality. Mariya chased after the nightmarium with full speed, as for Celestine, she was trying to catch her breath after her mana depleted.
Outside of the illusion of the Golden City, back in the real world… Mariya was already at her limit, but she still needed to land the final blow at the nightmarium. The creature was stubborn, yet it was already bleeding, almost to the brink of passing out. The both of them were catching their breaths, 10 feet away from each other in closing the gap between the 2.
Mariya: "Heh… I haven't had this much fun in WEEKS!! — Time to end this…"
When Mariya wielded her weapon as it turned itself into a laser-like sword, she smiled at the creature like a maniac as she held her weapon up on my neck, preparing to commit the unthinkable.
Mariya: "I only got 5 minutes before I go insane… You better have that vile, Celestine…"
…
"SO BRING IT ON!!!"
"Hahahahahahaha….
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!"
…
Olive Cookie: "Take it easy, Celestine Cookie."
Black Raisin Cookie: "Here. Have this."
Celestine: "Hmm? Ah, thank you."
Raisin buns, huh? Never would I imagine that I would have to eat my least favorite kind of bread out of all places, but it'll have to do… Consuming meals like these will help me replenish my mana a little. As for Mariya… I can only imagine that she had to resort to… That…
Wizard Cookie: "Just what was that spell you and Mariya Cookie just cast earlier?! It was incredible! I-I hope I don't mind if you could maybe… Teach me that kind of spell?"
Celestine: "Hehehe~... Maybe some other time. But I'll think about it."
Mozzarella Cookie: "Those creatures from before… Were they the same ones that—"
Smoked Cheese Cookie: "There's no doubt about it."
Golden Cheese Cookie: "Never would've thought that they would come back with an army of them."
Celestine: "There will be more to come…"
GingerBrave: "What do you mean by that, Celestine Cookie?"
Celestine: "... Duck."
GingerBrave: "Duck?"
Celestine soon pulled GingerBrave away and a sudden explosion soon emerged at the side… And laughter was heard. A laughing maniac appeared before them and it was Mariya, with a psychotic wide smile and the nightmarium was almost defeated, Mariya immediately threw the spear at it and it was soon down for good.
Mariya's limit was already up and she began to feel the immense pain and side effects after using her technique in order to defeat the creature. Celestine quickly ran up to her with the necessary vile in her hand and stabbed it at the side of her neck. Afterwards, Mariya began to breathe heavily and slowly regained her composure.
Mariya: "Huff… huff… Late as usual."
Celestine: "I'm as exhausted as you…"
Mariya: "But still… Thanks… Honestly, I owe you a lot over the years."
Celestine: "I know."
…
"Teeeeneeeebraeeeee iteruuuuum reeeegneeeent…
Dum vivoooosssss devoooraaaamuuussss…
Infirmooosssss…
Et forteeesssss…
Omniaaaaa proooo omnipotentibuuusssss…
Omniaaaa… Pro Dominoooo…"
…
Adventure Cookie: "Did that creature just…"
Wizard Cookie: "Just spoke?!"
Olive Cookie: "And here I thought, getting eaten alive by those… things were terrifying enough!"
Smoked Cheese Cookie: "Faded to dust as usual…"
Golden Cheese Cookie: "...."
Black Raisin Cookie: "Were those creatures just now… Sent by Dark Enchantress Cookie herself?"
Mariya: "Unlikely… Furthermore… Looks like those idiots were relaying a message towards us."
Wizard Cookie: "A message? By who?"
Celestine: "... GingerBrave, was it?"
GingerBrave: "Yeah? What's up?"
Celestine: "Is it alright if me and Mariya Cookie… join you?"
Black Raisin Cookie: "Hmm…"
Golden Cheese Cookie: "I have no further arguments if both of you are joining this war. I mean… you saved my beloved Golden city twice now."
GingerBrave: "Well… you did save us from those things."
Wizard Cookie: "We do need all the help we can get, so you… joining us will be a big plus for us!"
Celestine: "Thank you."
Mariya: "NOW HOLD THE PHONE!!"
Everyone looked at Mariya with confused looks on their faces, she was still recovering from that battle she had with the nightmarium. She stood up slowly while Celestine was holding her arm in order for Mariya to keep her balance.
Mariya: "This… This war you speak about… Please don't tell me there will be politics."
Wizard Cookie: "W-Well…"
Mariya: *sigh*... (Oh my fucking god… And here I thought I was free from political related stuff back home…)
Celestine: "It… Won't be so bad—"
Mariya: "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN THAT IT WOULDN'T??? YOU KNOW THAT I'M ALREADY LOSING MY MIND AFTER SO MANY POLITICAL DOCUMENTS THAT I HAVE TO SORT IT OUT DAY AND NIGHT!!! AS WELL AS MILITARY RELATED DOCUMENTS AND SUCH!! — DO YOU REALIZE THAT I HAVEN'T GOTTEN MUCH SLEEP FOR THE PAST 8 YEARS OF MY LIFE CUZ OF THAT STUPID DICTATOR?!??!!??"
Mariya was having a meltdown while also shaking Celestine back and forth as she held her on the shoulders. The rest of the cookies can only watch this unfold by the sidelines.
Smoked Cheese Cookie: *sigh*... Should I—"
Golden Cheese Cookie: "Yes, you'll be in charge of watching my golden city when I'm gone."
Smoked Cheese Cookie: "... Hmph, forgiven me already, my queen?"
Golden Cheese Cookie: "But of course! And you're the only one who's trustworthy enough. Though, despite our recent differences, your greed is as radiant as your loyalty to my kingdom, haha!"
Smoked Cheese Cookie: "I am honoured for your praise, your radiance."
Mozzarella Cookie: "Ms. Mariya Cookie and Ms. Celestine Cookie, should I go and have the cheese birds to pack your things before you go?"
Mariya: "Su—"
Celestine: "There's really no need."
Mariya: "W h a t…"
Mozzarella Cookie: "Alrighty then!
GingerBrave: "Ha ha! Mission success!"
Wizard Cookie: "No need to celebrate just yet! We still need to get back to the Vanilla Kingdom."
Black Raisin Cookie: "Olive Cookie… Adventure Cookie…"
Olive Cookie: "The 2 of us will have to stay behind, Black Raisin Cookie. But I am truly thankful and grateful to have come all this way with all of you!"
Adventure Cookie: "Same here! It was a blast! — And also terrifying… But still quite the adventure, don't you think?"
Black Raisin Cookie: "... Thank you."
Wizard Cookie: "B-Before we go… Celestine Cookie, may I ask…?"
Celestine: "Something the matter, Wizard Cookie?"
Wizard Cookie: "The creature from before… That spoke gibberish… Mariya said that it was relaying a message, right?"
Mariya: "....."
Celestine: "...."
…
"Yes…"
"And what message was that?"
...
May darkness reign once more…
As WE devour the living…
Weak…
And strong…
All for the almighty…
All… For the Lord…