All that glitters is Gold~

//Chapter 13a: Mirage//

Arriving at the familiar locale once more, you see things have changed quite a lot. The city seemed to have risen out of the caverns and come to the surface. You and the others land just outside, with Golden Cheese remarking "My Kingdom... What has Smoked Cheese done?!" Her anger was justified as the city seemed to be caught in a state between the virtual world and real world. You sheepishly note "We best plan our approach. The minute we charge in, things are going to get real hot." "Yes, it would most wise to approach with caution. We are only but 5, compared to the numerous forces within." Dark Cacao added, adjusting himself to the hot desert environment. "All the more effort for our friend! She deserves to be happy, especially what the enchantress put her through... Put us through." Hollyberry commented, a mix of joy and melancholy apparent.

"My Queen... We don't have much time... You must take out smoked cheese... before he ruins it all..." Burnt Cheese manages to say amidst heaves of pain and struggle. Seemed that being caught in this in-between state was far from healthy even to the hardiest of cookies. "Now now, take it easy burnt Cheese. I am still trying to figure out just how I can resolve this ailment of your's." Pure Vanilla told the gatekeeper, his words seeming to just bounce off the determined cookie's dough. "You guys stay here. I'll go and have a look around. I've gone in and out of this place so many times I think I'm getting used to the headaches it causes." You comment, with the others of the group silently agreeing as Golden Cheese and Pure Vanilla look over the gatekeeper and start trying things in order to reverse this state he's in while also bringing him back to life for real.

Apart from a few aesthetic changes, not much seemed to change. The constant shifting between real and virtual world was giving you a constant headache but you power through it to get a handle on the situation. In short, the differences between when you first arrived here and now are night and day. What was once a city full of vibrancy and life was now almost bare, filled to the brim with beasts loyal to Smoked Cheese Cookie. From what little you remembered, he seemed eager to move on up in world. Now that he has ascended to the position of ruler of the place, the power has very much gone to his head. And with his control over smoke and the presence of a ton of monsters seeping from the real world, it seems those ambitions are about to start spiraling out of control.

As you began to leave in order to inform everyone of the situation, it seemed you had been noticed and got the ire of Smoked Cheese. "You again. Come to ruin my perfect kingdom one more time? No, that's not going to happen. Monsters! Kill the Outsider! Bring me their head!" His voice rang out across the city, with monsters closing in. They were way too many for you to fight by yourself and you quickly started running. You trip and fall, with monsters quickly closing the distance. Before even a single bite or claw swipe can land, a wave of golden spears strike the monsters and end their existence in a flash. "Little Bird, are you alright?! You should've said you were going in deeper, I got worried when you were taking this long." Golden Cheese quickly said, creating more spears to launch at incoming monsters. "So the so-called 'Opulent' ruler returns to retake what was handed to her on a silver platter. I'll be needing that soul jam of yours to fix this place up." Smoked cheese said, soon appearing in person from a cloud of smoke.

"Smoke Cheese Cookie. Cease this slight against my kingdom and I shall grant you the chance to live whole again." Golden Cheese said with an unspoken threat behind her words. "And give up the chance to rule this beacon for a new world? Not a chance, you childish brat!" Smoked Cheese retorted, summoning in what looked to be extremely glitchy appendages that bat you out of the way and hold Golden Cheese in place. She struggles against the binds as the voice of the protocol came on, speaking in it's usual dead manner with the utterance "You should have stayed here. Things would be perfect. Things would be happy. And happy is good, right?" Golden Cheese kept silent as Smoked Cheese got closer and began to reach for the soul jam on her headpiece.

You manage to rise to your feet and see what smoked cheese is trying to do. Knowing full well that anyone other than an ancient hero wielding a soul jam could lead to utter disaster, you spring into action. You take your whip and look to see it ready to use at it's full power. With not a single second left to spare you take your shot and try to strike at smoked cheese's reaching hand.

(continued in part b again cause I can't be bothered anymore, shut up)