"C/N COOKIE! Wake... UP!" Pure Vanilla Cookie practically yelled, tears welling up and dripping onto his friend's sickly pale face. She was still breathing, barely. White Lily Cookie paused in her own sobbing to look at him in shock. She had never, never in all those years seen him this upset.

"Pure Vanilla Cookie..."

"No, I... I can heal her! Give-give me my staff!"

He turned to GingerBrave, who had been holding his staff, but the younger Cookie made no move. No one did. The eye on the sunflower staff seemed to glisten with sadness, as if it told its owner that it's no use.

"Pure Vanilla Cookie, the Light of Justice needs rest now." Elder Faerie Cookie told him firmly.

Reluctantly, the male let go of his best friend and uneasily got up. When the Faerie king had asked some Faries to escort away C/N Cookie's unconcious form, everyone else was naturally worried sickly.

Strawberry Cookie fiddled with the hem of her hoodie, looking down sadly. "I-I hope she'll be alright..."

"Don't worry, my friends." Silverbell Cookie tried to reassure the others. "She just needs rest, it won't be long until she's better." But it was evident he too had a hint of doubt in his voice.

"I don't understand." White Lily Cookie uttered helplessly. "Why-why did she... why would she do something such as give up her life powder?!" She turned to Pure Vanilla Cookie, a silent plea her best friend would have an explaination.

The healer's cheeks were visibly stained with dried tears. He only stared at her darkly, but it didn't seem like he caught what she said. So Elder Faerie Cookie spoke up for him. "She cared about you, White Lily Cookie. That is why. Pure Vanilla Cookie himself told me he heard the voices of the Light of Freedom."

White Lily Cookie shook her head in disbelief. "I... I need more time to gather my thoughts. I'm sorry." And with that, she stumbled away.

---------------

"Hey... look! There she is!" GingerBrave exclaimed quietly, as he and the others looked over to the small bridge over the river, where White Lily Cookie was standing. She looked deep in thought.

"Maybe I should talk to her?" He suggested. As he stepped forward though, Wizard Cookie put out a hand to stop his friend. "GingerBrave, White Lily Cookie needs her time."

But Pure Vanilla Cookie shook his head. "No, I insist you talk with her, GingerBrave. You have been there for everyone else, and I doubt she would want to talk to me." His voice was still a little hoarse from crying. Not wanting to disobey the healer and upset him, GingerBrave nodded and started walking over to the bridge.

After the talk, everyone had returned to the clearing. The mood was still mostly dim, and justly at that-

"Pure Vanilla Cookie, White Lily Cookie! Everyone!" A slightly weak, but oh-so familiar voice calls out. Everybody turns their heads to see C/N Cookie running towards them with shaken up steps. She still looked paler than usual, tired out and only half of life. But it was a relief to see her nontheless.

Pure Vanilla Cookie rushed over to hug her tightly, almost knocking her over. "By the Witches, please don't ever scare me like that again... I was so afraid I'd lose you..." He whispered, stroking C/N Cookie's hair gently. The Hero of Justice went red in the face, but wrapped her arms around her best friend slowly.

White Lily Cookie also joined the hug after a bit, still clearly worried about the other female's well-being. "Oh C/N Cookie..." She breathes, but doesn't say more, not wanting to start crying again. As the three of them broke the hug after a few moments, a weird cracking noise came from the SIlver Tree and the seal broke.

"The Vine Shackles... are no more...!" White Lily Cookie looked upon the broken seal with pure horror.

"We must do everything we can to stop it!" Elder Faerie Cookie ordered.

Unfortunately, the following battle was short and exhausting. Everybody was starting to lose their energy. Suddenly, the crack in the tree got even wider.

GingerBrave had his mouth hanging open with shock. "The rift has gotten even wider?!"

"It's... escaped..." Silverbell Cookie breathed out. "Whi-White Lily Cookie! Use your sealing magic, just like you did back then!"

But the Hero of Freedom only shook her head with wide eyes. "I-it's too late..." A strange blue Cookie managed to poke his head out of the rift.

"AHH! Doesn't this fresh air just feel... divine?" Deceit's Beast called out, looking down at the others in the glade. "Oh, I see I have quite an audience here! I am so terribly sorry to have kept you waiting..!" The Cookie's grin twisted even wider. "But now... the wait is over. Your favorite trickster is here; Shadow Milk Cookie!"

(ofc there'll be part 3 😋)