Cookie Rehabilitation Program

CH6: A Walk

Madeleine finished with a small butterfly of holy magic flying and landing on the tip of Crepe's nose. It disappeared and left a small tingly feeling on their nose.

"Now We should go over the basis of the agreement. You were permitted to stay with me and my husband as our child but there were some rules that we need to follow." Espresso looked at the child's expression before continuing.

"1. We are to keep you under a spell that doesn't allow you to go too far from us. If you step out of range it'll paralyze you until either me or Madeleine touch you. The spell will be dissolved when Pure Vanilla decides it can be. 2. We must not allow access to anything that can be used to create a bot for the first two weeks. After that you have exclusive permission from Gingerbrave and his team to build small wafflebots under Avocado cookie's supervision.
3. Once a month you will be permitted a day to where you can visit the cookie known as Red Velvet under I or Black Raisin cookie's supervision."

Crepe seemed to be in shock. "I'll still be allowed to create bots?"

"Of course. I decided to suggest that after our first meeting but it wouldn't have been approved by the council so Madeleine personally asked Ginger Brave." Espresso smiled as he glanced at his husband.

"Why?" Crepe seemed to still be in shock as they looked at Madeleine. "You didn't meet me until today so why go out of your way to help me?"

"Espresso spoke a lot about you when he got home. He said so many praises and it's rare when Espresso is so talkative about anything. I refused to let such a young talent go to waste because of some past mistakes. I decided that if you were going to be my child in the future then I would try my best to assist you in whatever your heart may desire." Madeleine practically sparkled when he spoke. He never wavered in his words. Crepe couldn't help but be thankful.

"So you both really want me?" They looked at the pair. Desperately looking for a sign of dishonesty. No one could be so kind. No one could want them after having shown so much weakness.

"More than you know." Espresso and Madeleine spoke in sync and Crepe was stunned. No one said anything for a few seconds.

Crepe opened their mouth to talk but there was a knock on the door. It opened not even a second later and Crepe jumped upon seeing who it was.

Almond walked in but Crepe didn't worry about him. It was the woman behind him who struck fear into them. Sheriff Rye.

Crepe wasn't going to try and hide their fear for Sheriff Rye. They knew she was in some sort of relationship with that one Chili Pepper cookie who defeated them with a unexpected hit to their unprotected flank. They also knew that if she was a bounty hunter then she probably wouldn't hesitate in taking them down the second they made a wrong move.

Espresso nodded towards the two as Madeleine smiled and greeted them with a happy "Hello, Sheriff Rye! Long time no see?"

She smiled and took her hat off. "Nice to see you too. I can see that you're building your family up."

"It appears so! Me and Espresso were losing hope in finding someone to complete the family and then Black Raisin introduced Espresso to the kid. Now we're here." Madeleine laughed after he spoke.

"Funny how things happen. I remember having to hunt down them and that one cake hound cookie's location. I'm surprised they didn't stay in the Pure Vanilla kingdom." Rye looked at the pink hair child with an unreadable expression. Crepe definitely knew that was a question. She was trying to get information on them. They didn't know why though and that was what unnerved them.

They didn't answer and chose to side step until they were behind Espresso. The adult's cape blocked Rye from their view but the silence was thick enough to cut.