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Dark Cacao Cookie finally saw the Black Citadel on the horizon. He had been been traveling for weeks across the entire continent of Crispia, and yet…it felt as if time hadn’t passed at all. Because it didn’t matter.
The Dark Flour War was over.
Dark Enchantress Cookie is gone.
The Vanilla Kingdom is gone.
Pure Vanilla Cookie…is gone.
He remembers waking up after their battle with Dark Enchantress Cookie. Instead of the ruined remains of the hall they had fought in, they had found themselves in the dirt, upon the ground the Vanilla Kingdom once rose above, and Pure Vanilla Cookie and Dark Enchantress Cookie were nowhere to be seen. And they all realized that Pure Vanilla Cookie…wasn’t coming back.
Hollyberry Cookie was brought to tears, despairing at the loss of her dear friend. White Lily Cookie stood there with a horrified expression, tears glistening at the edges of her eyes. Golden Cheese Cookie looked in shock, as if the reality of the situation was still processing in her mind, and she refused to believe it.
And Dark Cacao Cookie showed no emotion.
And that was how it stayed, walking up to the gates of the citadel. He had responsibilities, and he could not let his emotions get in the way. He built up chocolate walls around his heart, not allowing himself to succumb to despair.
The watchers on the wall saw him, and he gave them an acknowledgment, but the lack of anything in his face, the emptiness in his eyes, his silence all told them that something seemed amiss with the king. But when asked, he merely ignored them.
He walked the halls of the Citadel, going towards his chambers to put down his sword, now missing its purple gem. But he would deal with that later.
After putting down his sword and changing into his hanbok, he left to attend to the most pressing matter on his hands now that he had returned: his infant son, Dark Choco Cookie. While he knew nothing bad had happened to him, he still wished to check on him after everything that happened. He made his way to the nursery, and dismissed the nursemaid watching over him, wanting to be alone with his son.
He looked into his crib to find him fast asleep, unaware his father had even returned. Dark Cacao Cookie lifted him up and took him into his arms, gently so as not to disturb him. He could hear his tiny snores as he looked down at him, still deep in his slumber.
So peaceful, it was as if none of the horrible atrocities he had seen during this war had ever happened. Well, he supposed to Dark Choco Cookie it hadn’t. The Black Citadel had not suffered any major attacks during the war, nor was it as if his son were fighting on the battlefield, so to him it’s as if it didn’t exist at all. Dark Cacao Cookie almost envied that.
Looking on at his son, his greatest pride, so peaceful after everything, it couldn’t help but melt that chocolate around his heart. But with that vulnerability, the aftermath of everything came crashing down on Dark Cacao Cookie. The horrible loss of all those innocent Cookies, the entire Vanilla Kingdom gone within an instant. Pure Vanilla Cookie. He would never see Pure Vanilla Cookie again. His dearest friend, lost to him forever, never able to see his smile again.
He felt tears running down his face, and he wept, holding his son close to him, clinging on to the only bright light he had in this darkness. He finally let himself give into his sorrow, wallowing in his grief.
Eventually, he heard small noises coming from Dark Choco Cookie. It seemed he finally woke up. Dark Cacao Cookie opened his eyes to look back at him, realizing he’d likely woken his son up from his nap.
Dark Choco Cookie’s eyes wandered for a bit until he settled on his father. He seemed unbothered about his awakening. He held up a tiny hand to Dark Cacao’s cheek, seeming curious about the strange wet stuff leaking from his eyes. Dark Cacao Cookie took that hand into his own, holding it gently.
“Oh Dark Choco Cookie…I hope you never have to experience pain like this.” He said to him, even if he knew Dark Choco Cookie didn’t understand. Dark Choco just quietly babbled in response.
He gave a small smile at his son, and held him closer as his tears kept falling, just as the snow did outside.