The Spire of All Knowledge was filled with more books, each more questionable than the last. Some tomes claimed that rain was caused by giant cookies in the sky shedding tears, while others insisted that milk rivers flowed backward at night.
GingerBrave pulled another book off the shelf and squinted at its title. "Searching for the Edge of the Cookie World?" he read aloud, baffled. "This place is weird..."
"Everyone, look!" GingerBrave suddenly called out. "There's a giant clock!"
Wizard Cookie adjusted his hat, intrigued. "How odd! The hands are ticking backward!"
DING... DING... DIIIING!
Wizard Cookie flinched at the loud chimes. "Huh? Clocks should strike on the hour! But this one seems to chime whenever it pleases."
Strawberry Cookie hugged herself closer. "How strange... Is it broken?"
GingerBrave frowned. "What's wrong with this place?"
Apple Faerie Cookie twirled around. "Oh yes... It's as if everything we knew... was wrong!"
Reader Cookie crossed their arms, rolling their eyes. "I know that you must question anything that feels odd or new, but that's ridiculous. Really? As ridiculous as that book, 'Searching for the Edge of the Cookie World.'"
Pure Vanilla Cookie gave a thoughtful nod. "Let us not jump to conclusions. Perhaps, it's another test... We must keep searching."
Wizard Cookie groaned, flipping through more books. "It's all the same...! All this 'knowledge' is as good as... salty Jellies!"
GingerBrave scratched his head. "About that book..." he muttered. "Reader Cookie, remember? It was written, 'Believe me when I say the world is as flat as an empty plate! If you keep running long enough, eventually, you will reach the edge and fall down!' Are we sure it's not true?! I'm the best at running—I could find out!"
Wizard Cookie nearly dropped the book he was holding. "You shouldn't believe everything written in a book! As Reader Cookie said before!"
"The world is ROUND!" Wizard Cookie continued, exasperated. "Keep running, and you will end up exactly where you started!"
GingerBrave blinked. "But... how do you know?!"
Wizard Cookie put his hands on his hips. "Huh? Somebody once told me... Who was it? AH! My good friend called 'COMMON SENSE'!"
"Common sense!" both Wizard Cookie and Reader Cookie shouted at the same time.
Apple Faerie Cookie giggled. "Or... it might be a metaphor! If you keep doing something long enough, it will bring about your end!"
Reader Cookie sighed. "I love your optimism, but... no. That's not it."
Strawberry Cookie shuddered. "W-what? That's so scary...!"
Pure Vanilla Cookie placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Perhaps, it's a trick to make us stray from our path."
GingerBrave grinned, feeling encouraged. "You always know what to say, Pure Vanilla Cookie! Let's stay brave and keep running towards our goal!"
Pure Vanilla Cookie chuckled warmly. "Ha ha. Alright! But we've been searching long enough. How about we take a rest here?"
"Good idea!" the Cookies agreed in unison.
Reader Cookie, however, narrowed their eyes at Pure Vanilla Cookie. "I hope no nightmares this time around, Pure Vanilla. If something weird happens in your dreams—TELL ME."
Pure Vanilla Cookie laughed. "Of course, of course! Don't worry."
Reader Cookie crossed their arms. "In a place like this, having a healthy amount of paranoia is a must..."
With that, the Cookies settled down for the night, unaware that unseen eyes still watched them from the shadows.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~Pure Vanilla Cookie's Dream~~
The haunting whisper of the Light of Truth echoed through the darkness of Pure Vanilla Cookie's mind, reverberating with an unsettling clarity.
Light of Truth: Pure Vanilla Cookie... Pure Vanilla Cookie...
Pure Vanilla's tired eyes fluttered open, struggling against the weight of the dream, his voice barely a whisper.
Pure Vanilla Cookie: The Light... of Truth...?
A strange, cold wind swept through his mind as he became aware of his surroundings—or rather, the absence of them. The world around him was void-like, an endless stretch of nothing, with only the faintest glimmer of light barely illuminating the edges. He realized, with a start, where he was.
Pure Vanilla Cookie: This is... the Dark Side of the Moon... Another dream.
Light of Truth: You think this is a dream?
The voice didn't come from any one direction. It was everywhere, all-encompassing.
Pure Vanilla Cookie frowned, confusion rising within him.
Pure Vanilla Cookie: I've been having troubling dreams of my past ever since we left the Faerie Kingdom...
Light of Truth: But are those truly mere dreams?
Pure Vanilla Cookie felt a chill creep down his spine. The voice seemed to reach into him, unraveling pieces of his memories that he didn't want to confront.
Pure Vanilla Cookie: ... What are you saying? Are you not... my guiding light?
There was a long silence before the voice responded, its tone both comforting and chilling in equal measure.
Light of Truth: Do not doubt me, Pure Vanilla Cookie...! I am the Light of Truth. Your old friend. All this time, I've been illuminating your path. For a long, long time... Even when you were smaller than your Cream Lamb.
Pure Vanilla Cookie's breath caught in his throat, unease swirling around him. Smaller than your Cream Lamb... The words reverberated in his mind, familiar and foreign all at once.
Pure Vanilla Cookie: ...?
Light of Truth: I've witnessed all your hardships. When you were trapped in this other-realm, I was here... I know your entire life with all your secrets like the back of my hand.
The shadows seemed to lengthen, the coldness growing more intense.
Light of Truth: For you are mine as much as the reader cookie.
Suddenly, a presence loomed—eyes, watching from the abyss. Pure Vanilla Cookie's heart raced.
Light of Truth: I am the Light of Truth. And the truth is... Your dreadful adversary and I. We might not be much different after all. One and the same...
The voice took on a darker edge, colder, like a dagger hidden beneath a cloak of gentleness. Pure Vanilla could feel it—a sense of unease that pushed him deeper into the darkness. The Light of Truth wasn't just guiding him... It was claiming him.
The chill spread through his body, and his legs gave way. He was sinking into the void, everything slipping from his grasp.
Pure Vanilla Cookie: ... When did I fall asleep? Or was it all real? I feel like the lines are beginning to blur... and reader cookie...
He couldn't focus, the words of the Light of Truth still ringing in his ears. And then... a familiar voice called out.
GingerBrave: Yawn... Pure Vanilla Cookie...? Where are you going?
Pure Vanilla Cookie quickly snapped back to reality, his breath heavy as he looked around the dimly lit room. GingerBrave's form was half asleep, his eyes barely open.
Pure Vanilla Cookie: I... feel like I need to walk around to clear my head... Please, go back to sleep.
GingerBrave's concern was evident, but his body betrayed him as he yawned again and settled back into bed.
GingerBrave: Alright... Z-z-z-z...
Pure Vanilla Cookie carefully tiptoed out of the room, but before he could leave, a voice—small, worried—called out from the shadows.
Reader Cookie: What?... Did I hear that right? YOU're going alone on HIS territory? Are you sure?
Pure Vanilla Cookie paused, turning slightly. His heart wavered at the concern in the reader cookie's voice, but he steadied himself.
Pure Vanilla Cookie: I am sure I won't be that far. Do not worry.
Reader Cookie's voice wavered, but there was no stopping them. They could sense the danger in this place.
Reader Cookie: I have every right to worry... but I know that I can't stop you... but PLEASE, be careful and do not get tricked by this place.
Pure Vanilla Cookie smiled softly, his features serene despite the growing turmoil within him.
Pure Vanilla Cookie: I will...
Reader Cookie, their own exhaustion overtaking them, slowly drifted back to sleep, but not without the lingering feeling of something dark and uncertain in the air. The weight of the words hung heavy over the room, echoing through the stillness.