The Rebirth of the Phoenix

Chapter 17: The Destroyed Academy

The Cookie group continued their adventure looking for the Blueberry Yogurt Academy. At the border between the Pomegranate Forest and the location where the Blueberry Yogurt Academy is located.

"Where are we? What a spooky place..." mumbled Gingerbrave, walking carefully to avoid tripping on more loose stones of the cobblestone path.

"Hmm... The Sugar Swan couldn't have told us the wrong way." Wizard Cookie remarked, knowing that someone as powerful as the Sugar Swan wouldn't and shouldn't be wrong about that.

A ghost suddenly appeared before the group, since Strawberry Cookie was at the front, she fell to the ground. The six Cookies were chatting that they've forgotten that they've already reached the Ghost Town, with pale ghosts that wear a variety of hats.

"Hello? Want some ice cream? This ice cream will chill you to the bones! It's a taste to die for!" A ghost greeted, holding two cones of ice cream in their arms.

"We have no bones!" Said Gingerbrave, at least he thinks so.

Gingerbright, looking down because the small ghost was half her height:"We are Cookies!"

"Um, do you happen to know anything about the magic academy?" Wizard Cookie questioned, looking around and noticing multiple paths that the town connected.

"Why yes, the students used to come to our city for ice cream all the time! But they don't anymore..." the small ghost sighed, placing the chilly desserts back into their ice cream stall.

"I wonder what happened to them..."  Strawberry Cookie voiced, worried about the current state of the school.

"Hmm... We must go to the academy. Can you show us the way?" Asked Wizard Cookie.

"You can ask a ghost whom we call 'the Ferryman'... But you will have to earn his trust!" The spirit replied and pointed to North, and went back to the stall since another phantom came for ice cream: "You will find him near the Starry River at the end of that road!"

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The group later met the Ferryman, he was a skeleton wearing a grim reaper hood. Staring at the river of celestial bodies, he turned around, wielding a cythe made of bones and decorated with a single blueberry and a small lantern: "...Greetings... Do you wish to travel to the Academy of Magic? ...I can take you there, for a price."

"But we're broke!" Chilli Pepper asked, hiding a cloth that belonged to the Ginkgoblin's boss (to prove she defeated it to claim the bounty later): "Er... want some flour dust?"

"Your company and conversation will suffice. Follow me... Boneless cookies!" The skeleton spoke before lighting up the lantern hanging from the scythe with a blue fire, and urged the six to follow him.

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Custard Cookie III wasn't believing his eyes"Are we walking on water? That's so fun!"

"Very fun, indeed. He he... Did you know? The reason Blueberry Yogurt Academy was established here due to the dense concentration of Soul Fragments! Wherever Soul Fragments thrive, anything can happen! They contain the world's memories, which allows the studies of ancient magic that existed before your kind!" The skeleton, slowing his pace, said with a melancholic tone: "In the past, many a student came to our city. We even used to hold ice cream eating contests..." 

"Who'd win?" Asked Strawberry cookie, curious.

"Me, of course. As you can see, I only have my bones. Whatever I eat, falls right through!" The bone structure replied, laughing at his own joke.

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"Such a grand gate!" Custard cookie said, the gates were indeed huge. It was made of hardened sugar glass bars and plants were covering it, making it hard to see what's inside...