"You will be my best friend forever, right? No matter what?"
"Of course! That's a promise!"
"Cream Unicorn Cookie, you saw it! Now we're definitely going to be together forever!"
"A promise bonded here...truly magical..."
~♤~
"Oh, you're up, Roguefort? Are your legs alright?"
"I think they're fine now. they just hurt when I bend them."
"That's great!"
Two weeks had passed since the Cookieland visit and the chase.
Both Almond and Roguefort had been extremely exhausted that day, Roguefort occasionally freezing in his spot due to remembering the things that had happened.
During those times, Almond would reassure him that he was safe, to which his mental health slowly got better and better.
"Boys! I made jellies for breakfast!"
Cashew's voice signaled the readied breakfast, a common occurrence now that Roguefort had adjusted to life under the roof of painted roll cake wood.
"Got it, mom!"
Almond hopped down from the top level of his bunk bed.
The two Cookies were in Almond's room, the lower level of the bunk bed originally where Almond had kept his books. Roguefort had requested to move to Almond's room instead of having his own room in the mansion after recent events, and Cashew had let him do so, knowing he definitely had his reasons.
And thus, Roguefort and Almond shared the bunk bed in Almond's room.
Roguefort, standing up from his bed, stretched and jumped for a few times.
"Morning, Almond."
"Morning, Roguefort! Did you have a nice rest?"
"Yeah. Thank you a lot for taking me in, any other family would have just turned me in to some authority, or if they knew who I was, who knows what they would have done..."
"Hey, no problem! That's what friends do. Plus, my mom is completely fine with this, so we're good!"
"Boys! The jellies are getting cold!"
"Coming, mom!"
Roguefort exited the room, while Almond noticed a familiar note lying between two papers on his desk.
The note from BBP.
He'd forgotten about the trip to the City of Wizards after all that had happened!
~♤~
The two Cookies ran down the stairs to get their breakfast, the smell of freshly fried Jellies washing through the air.
"That looks amazing!"
"Eat up, both of you! You must be hungry."
Both Cookies took their seat at the table, Roguefort taking the extra seat next to Almond.
They ate in silence and gratitude, as each one of the Cookies delved into their own thoughts.
Just as the three Cookies were about to finish their meals, Almond suddenly spoke up.
"Hey, mom, would it be fine to take a trip to the City of Wizards soon?"
"The City of Wizards? But why? I'd recommend waiting a little bit more. You guys just had a run-in with Roguefort's family two weeks ago..."
There was obvious puzzlement in Cashew's eyes as she glanced at both Cookies.
Roguefort was also staring at Almond, confusion in his eyes.
"One of the Cookies at the Summer Cookie Camp wrote to me asking if I'd want to take a tour of the Archives." Almond explained.
Roguefort visibly flinched at the mention of the Cookie Camp.
It seemed so long ago since he had met Almond, and they became great friends, and...
"Ah, I remember! You mentioned it to me before. Blueberry Pie Cookie sent you an invitation, if I remember correctly."
"Yeah, that."
Roguefort was still blankly staring, twirling his fork around, lost in thought.
"Your feet are pointing towards the stairs, and you're fidgeting...Roguefort, do you need some time to talk with Almond? You two are basically finished."
Almond looked at Roguefort, slightly concerned, and then back at his mother.
He'd often forget that his mother had studied psychology, and it was moments like these that reminded him how knowledgeable his mother was.
"I-I'll head to my old room."
Roguefort sat up before leaving the table, running up the stairs to the room adjacent to Almond's.
Almond tried to follow him, but Cashew patted his shoulder, stopping him from following Roguefort up the stairs.
"Roguefort seems to have forgotten about the visit in light of recent events...let him have some fresh air. He needs some time alone."
To which Almond only gave a small nod, still concerned for his best friend.
"In the meantime...why don't we try solving a few cases together?"
~♤~
"You are a disgrace to the family, you know that? You can't even hold a sword."
"Unable to even beat your own sister in a duel?! How are you supposed to maneuver your way through the streets without being seen?!"
The demons were back.
Roguefort opened his mouth, but no words came out. He tried to run, but his feet wouldn't budge. He tried to block out the words, but they only pierced his mind like arrows, becoming louder and louder with each sentence.
A chill went down his spine as an icy hand touched his shoulder.
"You will never be a real part of your family, Roguefort." The voice whispered.
The words hit him like an arrow to the heart, and he finally regained control of his body, falling to his knees as the demons criticized his every flaw.
Amid all the voices, Roguefort recognised one distinct one, one that wasn't shouting his weaknesses at him, but rather encouraging words.
"You'll be fine! I believe in you!"
That voice was enough for him to speak up against the demons.
And as he finally stood up again, facing the demons with his head held up, he realised how much his best friend changed him for the better.
He realised that Almond meant a lot to him.
"Eh? The weak Cookie's standing up?"
"He's going to fall down anyways."
"I am not a disgrace to my family, or a simple weapon. I am me. I am Roguefort Cookie!"
Those words were enough to shock the demons and they all disappeared, or so he thought.
Icy arms grabbed his every limb, sending him plunging into eternal darkness.
"You will never escape us."
Roguefort pulled away with all his might, and found himself...staring at the ceiling of the room.
"It was...a nightmare..."
It took a few moments for him to process what happened.
The demons.
The voices.
Almond.
All of a sudden, a sense of relief washed over him.
The demons weren't really there.
He was safe.
He knew what he had to do, however. The dream had given him enough signals.
He had to move into Almond's room.
~♤~
[Originally published Oct 1, 2020]
Update pog? Update pog. Anyways...
A simple filler/storybuilding chapter! :D
I hope you enjoyed nevertheless, and I will see you all in the next chapter~
Next chapter:
"I know, Almond, I know...but I'm terrified."
~♤~
It was at that moment Almond realised...
...that their lives had never been "normal".
~♤~
"I'm tired of you arguing against me. I'm going to train Mozza, make her the sharpest blade in our arsenal."
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