The Rebirth of the Phoenix

Chapter 21.1: St. Pastry Order and the Cake Tower (Part 2)

"Red Velvet Cookie... I didn't expect you to be defeated by a mere priest with a crossbow."

"A Cake Monster Cookie... And a heretic?! I'm losing time... The taint of the Darkness was even deeper than I feared!"

"Yes, that is correct. Welcome to the temple of the Shadow, the Cake Tower!" Pomegranate Cookie announced: "Clearly, the true significance of this place is beyond your comprehension! This very place is where our great Master, Dark Sorcerer Cookie, was reborn... The very first and last place where a cookie surpassed the Cookiekind's creators, the Witches!" Pomegranate said as she showed Pastry Cookie her reflection in her mirror. 

"My consecrated crossblow senses an enemy in you, sister!" Pastry Cookie's reflection accused: "Your soul is ridden with doubt! Is the path you have chosen truly yours?!"

Pastry Cookie tried to avoid her own reflection, but she wasn't aware of what was behind her. She fell into the Ultimate Dough, which was supposed to be stale...

"The millenia old Ultimate Dough...? But it should be hardened, stale! Mirror, reveal the truth...!"

________

After sinking into the Ultimate Dough, Pastry Cookie felt as she wasn't controlling her body. She noticed the cookie she had become had vines wrapped around her arms, green fae wings and wielding a lily staff...

"The banquet is starting..." the female voice said.

"My... voice?!" Pastry Cookie, or White Lily Cookie noticed two Cookies were beside her. One had pure white, feathered wings. And the other one... a young cookie, he looked like a mix between the two adult cookies, wearing a red scarf and orange wings.

"The Night of the Witches, held once in a thousand years... This is our only chance!" The fae cookie said.

"The Banquet of Gods?! No, no, no! It's a sight no one is allowed to witness! I must wake up...!"

"We shall meet the creators, the Witches! I must ask the question." White Lily Cookie said: "We must learn the truth...! Why they created the Cookiekind!"

The three (or four?) cookies were hiding near the Witches Castle's window. As some time passed, the Witches arrived.

"WELL WELL WELL, IT'S BEEN A THOUSAND LONG YEARS! GLAD TO SEE Y'ALL!" A Witch's voice could be heard: "AND WOULD YOU LOOK AT THESE! THEY LOOK AMAZING! Y'ALL BEEN WORKING HARD!"

"PHEW! I BAKED A TON OF COOKIES! HERE, TRY ONE! YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT!"

The angel-like cookie spoke, he was Vanilla Kingdom's sovereign, Pure Vanilla Cookie: "W-what... are they doing...!?"

"Impossible...!" White Lily Cookie uttered: "The witches... Our creators... Are... eating... Cookies! WAKE UP! PLEASE! WE HAVE TO RUN!"

The Banquet Cookies were smiling... even if they're being eaten, they didn't seem to mind it.

"YOU CAN'T STAY HERE...! Listen to me, we must escape...! Why... why! Why are you smiling?!"

The lily cookie was terrified, the truth se has been looking for... Wasn't what she had imagined.

Pure Vanilla Cookie tried to heal the cookies, but it didn't seem to work. It's as if their body can't react to the White Magic's healing.

The little cookie tried to lift them up, but the banquet cookies were immobile and continued smiling. Pastry Cookie saw how the three cookies struggled to save them.

White Lily Colkie slipped, and Pastry Cookie felt how she was falling to her doom, but then, she felt a warm wind lifting the Cookie up. In the corner of her eyes, she saw how the small cookie fell into the purple Ultimate Dough.

"WHOSE COOKIE IS THAT? LOOK, IT FELL INTO THE ULTIMATE DOUGH!"

"T'IS ALRIGHT! LET'S JUST BAKE IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!"

"YEAH, LET'S BAKE IT! LET'S SEE WHAT FORTUNA HAS IN STORE!"

"Brave Cookie...!" White Lily Cookie cried out.

Pastry Cookie was woken up from the 'dream', she couldn't learn what happened after the small cookie's fall. All she remembered was the two remaining cookies escaping through the window, struggling to fly due to shock.

________

"Truly a sight to see! How fortunate-to witness our Master's magnificent past!" Pomegranate Cookie remarked: "You look shocked! The truth is very different from the teachings of your Order, is it not?"

Red Velvet Cookie then proceeded to summon a huge wave of Cake Monsters and Pastry Cookie didn't have a choice but to retreat.

________

"My child, you are back so soon!"

"Reverend Mother... I saw the tainted that corrupted the Cake Tower and I couldn't do anything. I repent..." Pastry Cookie added: "In that place, I was a horde of Cake Monsters that should be deserved only the final judgement, but... The monsters... had feelings... and could talk, just like us... And I saw a dreadly glimpse of the Witches. The Godly Creators, esting cookies, like us."

"I... I can't get myself to pray anymore, Even a Holy Fork cannot help me against these memories..."

"Poor Child... My dear... A true believer will always face a moment of doubt. But wisdom will help you overcome them." Reverend Mother Cookie mumbled: "It may be difficult, but time can heal even the worst wounds on our souls. Ah, I must remind you... Sometimes... secrets must remain unspoken, for the order of this world. You understand me, yes?"

"Yes, Mother."

"Such an obedient child. A secret between you and me!"

"Yes, forever."

Pastry muttered as she left the room. Suddenly, a pink-haird cookie was seen behind Reverend Mother Cookie. She wore the exact same veil as Pastry Cookie, but instead of gold and white, it was violet and black...

"Is that all? You are too merciful. Command me, and I will silence her forever."

"He he... There's nothing to worry about. Pastry Cookie is a very loyal student. One day, she, too, will become a protector of our secrets. Just like each of us. Until then, we shall guard the secrets of the Tower... By the way... have you found any clues regarding that Guardian's Soul Jam?"

"No, Reverend Mother."

"Alright, go back now."

________

Revered Mother Cookie stood there alone at the Order's praying altar and a sudden gust of wind blew all the candles flame away, as everything went black... 

"The Soul Jam of Wisdom... we will find it and lead the Order to victory...!"

(Lel it might look like Soul Jam of Knowledge's ripoff but Wisdom means having good judgement and insight, while knowledge is the understanding of a subject. Lel dis is the 'purified' version.)