✧𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞✧

꧁𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟕.𝟑꧂

Once the image was generated, he looked closer at it. Some of the animal's ears looked different from what they were supposed to and some eyes looked blurred.

"No one will notice, surely..." He muttered to himself, saving the picture to his tablet. He then opened up a drawing app and imported the photo, cropping it to size.

Dorian had heard Josh's certain mutters and peeked over to see what was going on, noticing the AI generator he had open on his tablet. He tensed up and carefully moved back to focus on his drawing.

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"I hope Dorian is doing okay." Gina sighed. "I could tell he's very nervous, even if he looks so happy."

"He's got this, Gina!" Holly reassured her, patting her shoulder. "He's very strong willed, even if he lost it wouldn't affect him that much. Let's just keep letting him know we're there for him!"

"Yeah!" Gina smiled, feeling slightly more sure.

After a good while, the school's bell rang.

"𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞'𝐬 𝐮𝐩, 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬!" The headmaster's cheerful voice echoed across the campus. "During lunch me and the teachers will vote on what artwork is our favourite, so please leave your tablets behind. You can collect them after the announcement of the winner."

Numerous student's chairs were creaking after being moved and many sighs of relief were heard. Dorian had also sighed, but there wasn't a hint of happiness in his tone.

"I don't like what that kid is up to.." He thought to himself, clutching onto his bag. He soon stood up and went to go get lunch, along with many other students.

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"He's late agaaaaaaaaaaaaain?" Dark mushroom wondered, petting one of Dark Velvet's cake hound puppies. It was enjoying the attention, rubbing against the child as if asking for more.

"Second time in a row." Dark Velvet groaned. "What is taking him so long..."

Dark mushroom tilted their head. "Maybe he's made new friends and is playing with them?"

"No way. He couldn't even befriend a rock if he tried to."

Suddenly, the two heard rushed footsteps make their way into the lair. It was Crocus. His face was redder than a beetroot and he looked exhausted.

"Ignore..." he huffed. "Ignore that I'm late..."

"Can't ignore that." Dark Velvet scoffed. "Dark Enchantress Cookie is busy plotting the plan to use Pure Lily's power to revive her Cookie Force warrior. So she's asked if you and Dark Mushroom can try your hands at defeating the Cookie Force once more."

"Okay, I see." Crocus muttered. "I'll stop at nothing until all those little saps are defeated."

"I like their colourful outfits!" Dark Mushroom giggled, letting go of the puppy as it soon shot up and ran to Dark Velvet's side. They soon ran over to Crocus' side, jumping up and down eagerly.

"Try not to lose this time." Dark Velvet instructed. "And make sure Dark Mushroom doesn't get hurt.

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During lunch, Dorian was sitting on the bleachers where he first met Dark Cacao Cookie, while the others were off to brave the incredibly long wait that is the lunch line. He opened his bag and pulled out his cookie pact, glancing worriedly at it.

"What do I do.." He thought to himself, clasping the cookie pact tighter. It's purple light began to shine making Dark Cacao Cookie appear beside him.

"Good afternoon, Dorian." Dark Cacao Cookie hopped onto his lap and looked up at his melancholy face.

"Oh hello." Dorian let out a weak smile.

"Whatever is the matter? You look quite melancholy.." The cookie wondered, looking up at him. "Was the art competition overwhelming you?"

"It was quite peaceful, actually." Dorian clenched his hands into fists. "Until I saw Josh next to me cheating with an AI image generator."

"Oh, I see." Dark Cacao Cookies eyebrows furrowed.

"If his disgraceful, machine generated slop wins this art competition instead of an actual piece of human made art, I will not hesitate to expose him in front of everyone." Dorian gritted his teeth, now gripping onto his school uniform tightly.

"Fair." Dark Cacao Cookie patted his leg reassuringly. "What is stopping you?"

"No one will believe me."

"Come on, Clayton! No one likes Josh, I am very sure people will believe you." The cookie encouraged him.

Dorian sighed, trying to calm himself down.

"Okay, I'm sure the other Cookie Force warriors will definitely believe me.. We'll go back to the hall and look at Josh's submission a little closer."