Even before this whole event, from the Silver Tree rotting way, Marinette and Shadow Milk Cookie nearly winning in the end, to Mariya's mysterious revival after her head was pierced by her own weapon occurred… There was one question that remained unanswered; "What happened to the cookies who ran away, leaving Elder Faerie Cookie behind? And what led to the events today?"
Moments earlier…
In the Twist Halls, North-East Wing…
GingerBrave: *huff.. huff..* "I can't… Feel… My legs… aaanymoree…"
Wizard Cookie: "D-Did we—"
Mercurial Knight Cookie: "It's no longer chasing us and…"
Silverbell Cookie: "Don't fret, brother… Afterall, our Majesty is strong."
Mercurial Knight Cookie: *nods*.. "Agreed."
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "Maybe we should take a break, right over here."
Mercurial Knight Cookie: "W-Wait, Pure Vanilla Cookie!"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "Hmm? Is something the matter?"
Mercurial Knight Cookie: "It's best that we don't open any other doors… Not at this current state of the kingdom. We don't have the slightest clue about what's behind it, and.. From the many changes around the place, I can only guess that it might be a trap."
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "... You're right. Apologies for not thinking rationally."
Mercurial Knight Cookie: "It's quite alright."
GingerBrave: "Ah! I just remember! We haven't introduced ourselves to White Lily Cookie."
White Lily Cookie: "I… Haven't gotten around to ask your names yet, so you're right. But I believe that your name was GingerBrave…?"
GingerBrave: "Yup! And this is Strawberry Cookie…"
Strawberry Cookie: "Nice to meet you."
GingerBrave: "And Wizard Cookie."
Wizard Cookie: "It's nice to finally see the actual White Lily Cookie back in action!"
GingerBrave: "Hehe, yeah! It soooo great to see you again!"
White Lily Cookie: "Ehehe~ Thank you, but I should be thanking Mariya Cookie for giving half of her life powder… As well as Elder Faerie and Pure Vanilla Cookie too."
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "It really is nothing, I'm—no—we are just glad to finally have you back."
Silverbell Cookie: "Yeah! Everyone in the kingdom has wished for your great return… Although, apart from the whole place being in shambles now…"
Mercurial Knight Cookie: "It's the truth."
Words could not describe the things that they have said to White Lily Cookie, she can only look at them with a bit of uneasiness, but when Pure Vanilla Cookie placed his hand onto her's… She looked at him, the expression on his face, a soft yet warm smile as he looked at her, reassuring her that they did all of it just for her to return. She couldn't help but to smile softly at him and at everyone, she was grateful.
Yet that didn't last long… Within the very shadows of the halls, there were eyes watching their every move — every step they make — yet those eyes are targeting both Pure Vanilla and White Lily Cookie. However… Within those same shadows, the one watching them was Shadow Milk Cookie and it would seem a few of the nightmariums are gesturing him to return to Marinette's side to report to each other about what happened. He agreed and he eventually disappeared, leaving the cookies alone… For now.
Mercurial Knight Cookie: "I think we've rested enough."
Silverbell Cookie: "H-Hey… Maybe it's just me, but have you guys seen Carameleon Cookie?"
Wizard Cookie: "Must be hiding somewhere…?"
Mercurial Knight Cookie: "Or could it be possible that we lost sight of him while we were running away from that monster from earlier."
Strawberry Cookie: "Could be…"
GingerBrave: "I just hope that he's safe… Somewhere I guess…"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "Wherever they might be, best we keep on moving. We still have a job to do."
— RIGHT!!!
White Lily Cookie: "....."
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "Is something the matter, White Lily Cookie?"
White Lily Cookie: "... It's nothing."
Pure Vanilla Cookie could sense that she was troubled, but he couldn't find the right words to ask why. But instead of asking, he gently holds her hand while giving her a reassuring smile, trying to comfort her a bit while indirectly gesturing to her that she is okay to talk to him about her problems, but knowing White Lily Cookie all too well, he still wants to assure her that no matter what happens… He is there for her.
Feeling the warmth of that same gentle touch from his finger tips, White Lily Cookie couldn't look him in the eye and yet… Those pinkish hues on her cheeks were almost visible to the eye. Even then.. She still thinks she is unworthy of forgiveness from her friends — neither towards Pure Vanilla Cookie, but he still forgives her after everything she has done. Even so, she still wants to make things right and by doing so… They must first seal the beast back into the tree.
Walking along the twisted yet eerie halls of the kingdom, they make their way back to the Silver Tree and upon their way back, it would seem that Shadow Milk Cookie was expecting them to arrive. Seeing the same theatre once again, but right in front of the tree… They prepare themselves for the worse. As the curtains rose on stage, Shadow Milk Cookie appeared right before them with sparkles and confetti having to splash around like fireworks, welcoming him in the process of his act.
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Well, well, well… So great to see my honorary guests for the final play~"
Wizard Cookie: "Gaaah… Just give it up already, Shadow Milk Cookie!!"
Silverbell Cookie: "All your tricks — your lies… They won't work on us again."
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Ehehehehehe~... Oh that's where you're wrong, kiddo… You see, we are nearing the climax of the show!"
As he spread his arms wide open in front of everyone while having the biggest smile ever with his claim… Each cardboard cutout of the ancient heroes were shown, including a cardboard cutout of himself in the mix. As he bowed down, disappearing in the process… The cutouts soon placed themselves, beginning the final play of his for many to watch.
With each and one of them having to say their part, representing a very poor description of the ancient heroes… GingerBrave and his friends couldn't help but to be angry at Shadow Milk Cookie for making the ancients look complete and utter fools, despite being cardboard cutouts of themselves.
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Now then… For the first question of this fun little play~ Out of these False Heroes, which one is only half a Cookie? — Choose your answer carefully and don't forget: time is ticking!"
White Lily Cookie: "Half… a Cookie…?"
GingerBrave: "Don't pay too much attention to it, White Lily Cookie!"
Strawberry Cookie: "He's right, Shadow Milk Cookie is just messing with you..!!"
Wizard Cookie: "Surely it's a trick question, right?"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "...."
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Time is ticking~!! So what's it gonna be, eh?"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "The answer is all of them."
Silence fell, surrounding the air with immense tension and uneasiness, yet that tension broke with a laugh from Shadow Milk Cookie to which he seemed amused. Amused by the answer from Pure Vanilla Cookie and led to an applaud.
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Ahahahaha~ Oh marvelous! MARVELOUS!! As expected from someone wielding my other half of my souljam!"
Silverbell Cookie: "... Just how?"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "Remember what Elder Faerie Cookie said? The beasts were the first ones to possess the souljams we wield today, but…"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "But the souljams you wield are far from whole! It's quite obvious, really."
Mercurial Knight Cookie: "... Well deduced."
White Lily Cookie: "....."
The set of the stage soon shifted itself once more, now with Pure Vanilla, White Lily and Shadow Milk Cookie on the stage, everyone else can only watch with the same uneasy feeling, but… 2 new cardboard cutouts appeared before them and it was a cutout of both Celestine and Mariya.. Yet the only difference between them is that out of 5, 2 of them looked a lot more polished than the other 3… Meaning both Shadow Milk Cookie and Celestine were all well made, while the rest were low efforts.
Wizard Cookie: "Why's there a cardboard cutout of both Celestine and Mariya Cookie on stage?"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "I'm so so so glad you asked, little one~"
Wizard Cookie: Me and my big mouth…
Shadow Milk Cookie: "For this next question; we have 5 cookies on stage~... But…!!"
Strawberry Cookie: "... But what?"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Which among them are the biggest… Liar…?~"
GingerBrave: "That's obvious, the answer is—"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "Is me."
White Lily Cookie: "Pure Vanilla Cookie…?! You can't be—"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Oh?~ Is that your final answer?"
Wizard Cookie: "The obvious answer is right in front of us, Pure Vanilla Cookie! You can't be serious that you're the—"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Time's ticking folks! So what's it gonna be, hmm?~"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "The biggest liar is me…"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "... And?~"
Silverbell Cookie: There's more than one liar…?
Mercurial Knight Cookie: "...."
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "Celestine and Mariya Cookie… They are both the biggest liars, myself included, right?"
GingerBrave: "Wuh?! I—"
Strawberry Cookie: "No…"
A hysterical laugh was heard from Shadow Milk Cookie, he was fairly amused by the answer he got from Pure Vanilla Cookie and… He was right. Pure Vanilla Cookie, Celestine and Mariya are the biggest liars out of them all, for which they cannot believe. And yet.. With a light tap on the ground with his staff, flames soon circled around the 3 cardboard cutouts of the ones who Pure Vanilla Cookie got right. With the flames having to crackle and rest around each one of them, Shadow Milk Cookie soon grinned at everyone while walking on over behind the cardboard cutouts.
Shadow Milk Cookie: "For my final question…"
GingerBrave: What's he going to do with those cutouts…?
Wizard Cookie: Wh-Why are you asking me!?
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Out of these 3… Who among them keeps the biggest secrets of them all?~ Think carefully now…"
Strawberry Cookie: "The biggest secrets…?"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "...."
White Lily Cookie: "... Wouldn't it be logical of him to—"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "No. He's actually right for once."
Wizard Cookie: "Is Shadow Milk Cookie already messing with your head?!"
Pure Vanilla Cookie only shook his head in response to Wizard Cookie's concerned question, yet that worries them even more.
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Tick tock… Tick tock~"
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "... It's Celestine Cookie, isn't it?"
— WHAT?!
Pure Vanilla Cookie: "Throughout our journey with both Celestine and Mariya Cookie… They both have knowledge and leads of another unknown force siding with Dark Enchantress Cookie, and what's more… They have never spoken about their past nor where they came from. Yet the one who is keeping the biggest secret of them all is none other than her, correct?"
Shadow Milk Cookie: "... Ehehehehe…~ AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
With another laugh from Shadow Milk Cookie, he then pointed his staff towards the cutouts as the flames circling around them began to rise, flickering with intensity until they ceased for some reason… Confused washed all over their faces, but just as Shadow Milk Cookie was about to reveal the answer to everyone…
— BIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTCCCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Shadow Milk Cookie: "Ah.."
Marinette Cookie: "EHEHEHEHEHEHEHE~!!"
Mariya: "Ack… Haaa…"
Marinette came back down with sudden impact along with Mariya as they put their 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. As of now, Mariya's 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.
As the story goes… Shadow Milk Cookie locks everyone in place from Marinette's command while the strings that are tying them down slowly tighten its fair grip. And when Marinette grabbed hold of Wizard Cookie, choking him with the tentacle-like arm that they possess… Everyone could only watch their 2 friends struggle for their very lives.
Further on the plot line; when Mariya cut off Marinette's arm that was slowly suffocating Wizard Cookie to his death bed… They grinned in amusement and even went far to use Mariya's weapon to kill her off by piercing it through her skull as she flung back out. And with Shadow Milk Cookie having to pull Pure Vanilla Cookie, GingerBrave and his friends on stage while the strings are preventing them from breaking free.
Though at the same exact time when Mariya got launched and pierced by her own weapon.. From that impact alone, Celestine and Elder Faerie Cookie were already making their way back to the silver tree to meet up with the others and what they witnessed was pure horror… But it was really no surprise from Celestine, of course.
Elder Faerie Cookie couldn't stomach what he just saw, as for Celestine… She only crouched down right next to Mariya's headless body with a pre-determined look on her face for she knows Mariya well enough that she wouldn't back down that easily.
Celestine: "... Let's go."
Elder Faerie Cookie: "What?! You did witness what you just—"
Celestine: "Yes. And I know for a fact that Mariya wouldn't back herself down that easily. So she's fine, just give her some time."
Elder Faerie Cookie: "... If you are right about this, then I shall trust you."
Celestine: *nods*... "Thank you, Elder Faerie Cookie."
Much like how the story goes in the previous chapter; as soon as Shadow Milk Cookie got close to reclaiming his other half of his souljam, he was pulled aback from the vines that were summoned so abruptly to the point the impact of the pull made his theatre disappear. And when Pure Vanilla Cookie, GingerBrave and his friends were free from being tied up, they landed safely on a fluffy cotton cloud from Celestine's magic.
Having to get back on his feet, he floated up in the sky and the surrounding clouds circled as he raised his staff high and within the very bark of the Silver Tree — the tear — lies a beast of unknown origin being summoned within. Everyone else was terrified by the beast, but some prepared themselves to take it head on… Even if it kills them.
About half way out of the tree, a sudden blow was hit at the beast — right at the very chest of the beast as it shrieked loudly in pain from it. Though the weapon pierce through its chest was recognizable enough for some to know that Mariya came back from hell itself. Now… Amidst the very fog, Mariya walked slowly towards everyone having to stretch herself, preparing to make a comeback against Shadow Milk—no—against Marinette who knocked her out cold.
At the very same time… Marinette finds it fascinating that Mariya, the other half kin, would finally show her true strength at last; they couldn't help but to smile so widely from ecstasy for what's about to come.