Cookie Run Kingdom: The Fractured Kingdom

Chapter Three

Mango was right. In front of the Ancient Cookies stood a massive blueish-lilac crystal formation, most reminiscent of Quartz crystals. "Mango, you're right! Have any of these weird formations popped up elsewhere?" Pure Vanilla questioned. "Yes! And they're not just here- they're all over Earthbread!" Mango said as he showed a news article saying, "CRYSTAL FORMATIONS AROUND EARTHBREAD: WHAT COULD THIS MEAN?!" Everyone gasped in horror. Mango Cookie showed the rest of the locations- one at a time.

"Our Kingdoms are in danger!" White Lily replied as she saw the massive crystal in the Vanilla Kingdom. "Then there's no time to waste. We have to hurry and see if the other areas on Earthbread are alright!" Pure Vanilla replied, a determined look crossing his face. As soon as the next day dawned, the gang packed their bags and got in the airship, this time heading straight for the Creme Republic.

As soon as everyone landed in the Creme Republic, Clotted Cream Cookie and his mother Light Cream Cookie greeted them at once. "Ancient heroes! I'm so glad you're here!" Clotted Cream replied, with his own mother and the other house heads running over. "Recently, these crystal formations have been popping up all over Earthbread, and we don't know why they're appearing!" Oyster Cookie said as she helped guide the Ancient Heroes to their guest house. "Plus, nothing can destroy them. They're tough as nails!" Captain Caviar Cookie replied as he showed a news article.

"This cannot be good in any way. Why don't we address the situation over lunch?" Pure Vanilla asked as everyone unpacked their bags for the second day of their trip. "Hmm.. Now that I think about it, maybe I'll tell ya a legend about the crystals while we eat or something like that!" Captain Caviar replied. Before everyone knew it, they were sitting at the lunch table, listening to the head of House Caviar's tale. "Ya see, hundreds of years ago, before the Republic or any of the Kingdoms even existed... there was the Diamanté Kingdom." Began Captain Caviar.

"The Diamanté Kingdom?" questioned White Lily. "Yes. It was a glittering kingdom. Even more so than Golden Cheese's!" continued the captain. "Are you serious? That sounds amazing!" Golden Cheese said after she swallowed the pastry she was eating. "I'm serious here. Crystal buildings, shiny reflective streets, and even the royal gardens got the treatment!" Captain Caviar said as he drew out what he described the kingdom to look like. "That sounds like a wonderful place." Pure Vanilla said. "It was. And even better, it was ruled by the benevolent Rainbow Diamond Cookie, who was known to be a philanthropist through and through." Captain Caviar replied, showing a portrait of the gorgeous monarch. "Why, she's absolutely beautiful! Just like my wife." Dark Cacao said, comparing the jeweled queen to his very own wife.

"You bet she was. But however, something really, REALLY, bad happened that almost put an end to her subjects- The Crystal Cookies." the captain said, drawing out yet another picture. "What happened to them, then? Hollyberry asked curiously. "Thing is, the captain of the guard, Obsidian Cookie, grew jealous of the attention Rainbow Diamond and her family was getting. And so, he devised a plan to get the throne for himself," Captain Caviar continued. "What did he do?!" White Lily said in horror. "Well, he dabbled in forbidden magic, and summoned a being that would turn all crystal into worthless rock- aka The Petrifier." Captain Caviar Cookie replied.

"That's horrible! Why would he do such a thing?!" Pure Vanilla asked as the captain continued his story. "He wanted to overthrow the gentle Rainbow Diamond and take the throne for himself! So when he attacked the capital city with a massive earthquake, the royal family acted fast and unselfishly to save the Crystal Cookies. But however, this battle came at a great cost- Rainbow Diamond was weakened of her powers, and thus was forced into endless sleep at the battle's end. Her Soul Jam is the only thing keeping her kingdom alive, though. But ever since then, the kingdom has remained a mystery." Captain Caviar finished.

"That could explain all those strange formations!" Dark Cacao replied. "Maybe the kingdom needs our help! We could go check with everyone else if they know about the Legend of this kingdom." Hollyberry replied as she finished the food and immediately got up. "That's a good call." Pure Vanilla said as he made his way to the exit of the restaurant, with the others following behind him. Soon, they began interviewing everyone in the Creme Republic, asking for clues about the seemingly fallen kingdom. "Well, I think there's someone in Parfaedia who knows about it. That someone could be Eclair Cookie!" Kouign Amann Cookie said as she began contacting Prune Juice Cookie.

A day later, when the Ancients arrived in Parfaedia, Cream Puff Cookie greeted them warmly. "Don't worry! We'll get you to Eclair Cookie!" She said as she hurried into the academy building. "Don't mind if we do!" Hollyberry replied as everyone else followed. Inside Eclair Cookie's office, the history professor was in the middle of grading papers when the Ancients burst in. "What is it you need my help with?" He asked curiously as he gathered up all the papers and shoved them into the "GRADED PAPERS" folder. "We need your help in finding what happened to a mysterious kingdom." Dark Cacao said as he began listing off all the clues.

Eclair Cookie gasped. "The Diamanté Kingdom?! I was just going to ask you about that because all the recent news!" He said as he got out a tome with a crystal flower on it and began to read. "Wow. Captain Caviar was totally right!" Golden Cheese replied as she looked through the pages, detailing the Legend of the kingdom and Rainbow Diamond Cookie's noble sacrifice to save the kingdom, her pale purple Soul Jam, in the shape of a teardrop, shining on her blade. "Wow..." everyone gasped in amazement. "Then we must alert our friends in the Cookie Kingdom and your kingdoms, ASAP!" Eclair said as he began to pack his own bags. Everyone nodded and began to alert the others. It wouldn't be long before they would do so...