Chapter Text
Pure Vanilla was running fast down the streets. The adrenaline was fueling his thoughts and his dough as he looked down every alleyway on his way... he had to find them, he couldn't lose her too!
Why’d this have to happen...?! If he hadn't left her outside and brought her in the shop with him, maybe she wouldn't have been taken... Pure Vanilla shook his head rapidly, now was not the time for self loathing and what if's. Being lost in his thoughts while running, Pure Vanilla accidentally bumped right into someone. He fell onto the ground but was rushing to get back up, “I-I’m so sor-” but the voice cut him off.
"Healer Cookie?? What’s going on? You look ragged, where are your bandages!?” It was Crunchy Chip Cookie and Wildberry Cookie. They quickly helped him up but he quickly gripped Wildberry Cookie as he was still panting from all the running. “I-it's Plain Wafer! A-a white cloaked Cookie took her! W-we’ve got to find her!”
Both looked wide eyed but nodded firmly. Crunchy Chip mumbled furiously under his breath about the white cloaked Cookies again, but Pure Vanilla didn't have time to question it as Wildberry spoke up in his calm yet urgent voice. “Let’s split up, we’ll be able to cover more ground!” they quickly parted ways.
Pure Vanilla had gone back to the merchant's market area and immediately started asking if any had seen the little Cookie who had been with him or a white cloaked cookie, but all shook their heads. They all did confirm they’d been having trouble with white cloaked Cookies stealing from the stall but that didn't matter to him right now.
Pure Vanilla fell over a few times on cracks in the pavement from his haste as he made his way to the back alley. To his delight, the Cookies from earlier seemed to remember him and were quick on the spot to know what was going on. “Hey! They went that way! That white cloaked Cookie had the small one that was with you! We tried, but couldn't stop them,” Pure Vanilla what have breathed a sigh of relief and thanked them immensely for trying to help, but he could only nod and race onwards. Despite how tired he was from running, he could not falter!
Pure Vanilla got to the Fountain Piazza as he gripped his hands to it, falling to his knees as he panted from exhaustion. His legs ached so much, but he couldn't falter, not now. He can’t lose her, he can’t lose anyone else. Feeling tears come to his eyes, Pure Vanilla struggled to rise up... A sudden loud noise caught his attention and he wobbled quickly towards it.
“Halt! Unhand her now, you fiend!” the familiar voice of Madeline Cookie sounded out as he came around the corner towards the Divine Sanctum but kept out of view.
Pressing a hand to his chest as he breathed out for a moment, Pure Vanilla Cookie saw the White Cloaked Cookie with Plain Wafer over their shoulder. Madeleine Cookie cornered them at the Sanctum with his sword, but there was still many places for them to escape too, if they weren't stopped them now...
He quickly glanced back to Plain Wafer, trying to assess how she was. She’d clearly been knocked out, but when Pure Vanilla saw a small drop of jam dripped down to the pathway... his eyes widened to such a small pupils...
She was hurt.
The images of back then filled his mind. Of his citizens running, the terror in their faces, many bleeding jam and he could do nothing about it. Pure Vanilla's hand moved to grab his staff from his back in an almost crushing grip...
Madeleine Cookie poised himself, even when he took notice of footsteps nearby. He knew it was probably Pure Vanilla, he could tell it was Plain Wafer due to her outfit. It was noticably one of the Madeleine family and he just thankfully happened to be staring at his handsome reflection in the Fountain when he noticed the White Cloaked Cookie. “Unhand her at once!”
“No! She is of no flavour, she is perfect! Destined to return to dough like us all, once we shed our flavours! She’s destined for the Order!” the white cloaked Cookie rambled on, keeping them firm hold on their hostage as Madeleine frowned... great, a lunatic...
While they rambled on, the White Cloaked Cookie was distracted enough to not notice the shadow behind them, raising his staff with an almost red glint in his eye along with the staff.
POW!
Down went the White Cloaked Cookie as Pure Vanilla swung his staff heavily to their head from behind, making them fall forward and drop their hostage who rolled a little ways away. This even surprised Ser Madeleine Cookie... “P-Pure V-Vanilla...?” he held sword in disbelief at the display he just saw from the ever so kind Ancient, who did not look happy in slightest.
Pure Vanilla panted as his arms trembled so much at what he’d just done... but he dropped his staff and ran straight for Plain Wafer, picking her up in his arms and holding her in a tight embrace. Crunchy Chip and Wildberry had also managed to catch up as they stared with mouths open having caught the scene as it happened.
The White Cloaked Cookie was now on the floor, trying to cover their head as Pure Vanilla's Orchid Staff was having a brawl with them, throwing its little vines and slapping with petals. It was clearly enjoying it, yet it was also angry as the blue pupil glared down at the target. It was a strange sight, but well-deserved.
Attention soon darted to Pure Vanilla. He was shaking when light came from his hands, trying to heal the wound to Plain Wafer's head. Even as tears blurred his vision, he still held her so tenderly as he mumbled to himself, “I-I've got you... you're gonna be okay... I'm so sorry...”
The white cloaked Cookie managed to roll away from the Staff and called out, “T-this ain’t over, mark my words! All shall return to dough!” they threw down what seemed to be a smoke-like bomb. It flooded the area with smoke, causing all those nearby to cough a little and when it cleared, only they remained.
Madeline growled out a little, “Drat... They got away...” but he quickly put his sword away and rushed over to the two on the floor. “Pure Vanilla, are you alright? How is Plain Wafer?” he was going to place a hand on Pure Vanilla's trembling shoulder, but he seemed to shy away him.
“D-don’t touch her!”
Madeline raised his hands, very startled by the response from the kind hearted Ancient, but a metal gloved hand belonging to Wildberry landed on his own shoulder. “Let me handle this... I've seen this before in many warriors,” His tone was low yet calm as he stepped forward in front of two on the floor, kneeling to one knee. "Pure Vanilla Cookie. You have to calm down, you are having a panic attack, and the adrenaline is probably wearing off, she is safe now,” His voice is soft, yet assertive.
Pure Vanilla was lost in his thoughts moments before, not being able to stop the images of the past. The sight of the jam rolling down her face, the thought of losing her forever like all of them. His breathing was heavy and rapid, the noises around him were muffled. Pure Vanilla had his eyes closed tightly as he kept her in a tight embrace, fearing to let her go.
Wildberry's voice seemed to break though the cloud of panic as he took in a large breath then out. At last, he looked up at him with a few blinks, “W-Wildberry?” which received him a very rare smile and nod. Pure Vanilla felt his body still tremble a little, but he was a bit more aware of his surroundings as the other came closer to check on them both.
Madeleine helped to check over Plain Wafer as she sighed in relief, “She clearly took quite the hit to the head. I see you healed that, but she may be out for a little bit. Apart from possibly being very frightened when she awakes, I'm sure she’ll be fine.”
He glanced Pure Vanilla over a little. “If anything, I'd say you're in a poor state yourself, my friend. You’ve been running around so much and you're completely covered in mud and dirt, we should get you both back to the Mansion.”
Pure Vanilla looked at Ser Madeleine for a moment, then glanced down slightly to himself. Dirt and mud had clung to much of his outfit, he’d fallen over a few times in his running around in the Lower City and even the docks. “O-oh, these are your Auntie's... I-I'm sorry...”
Madeleine helped him up with Crunchy Chip's assistance as he shook head, "That's not important at the moment. Here, let me hold her. You look ready to fall over yourself,” but all he got back was a rapid shake of head. “N-no, I’ll hold her... she’ll be scared...” But he clearly couldn't walk back to the Mansion
Crunchy Chip popped up with a suggestion, “Oh you can ride on my Cream Wolf’s back! Let me go call him back, I had them sniffing around!” he stepped away to give a few loud whistles. The Cream Wolf trotted back towards quickly when it was called, wagging its tail and even trying to lick his face. “Not now, buddy! What did I say about licking!? I need you to carry these two for me okay?”
Pure Vanilla looked wearily at the Cream Wolf, but before he could even argue that he could walk, tough metal hands picked him up and deposited him on the Cream Wolf as he blinked rapidly. “O-oh, okay then, I need to collect our things and my staff... Oh.”
Madeleine had already picked up the fallen items, giving him no excuse to get back down and they began to head back slowly.
The moment they got back to the Mansion and stepped through the door, it felt like a pin had dropped to the ground with the silence before someone gasped and they were swarmed with concerned voices from the residents and aunties.
Eventually, Pure Vanilla found himself in a room with a change of clothes. Just some simple white robes this time around, and Plain Wafer tucked in a bed. Her head was snug against the pillow. Pure Vanilla was sitting in a comfy chair right by her bedside, his hand firmly gripping hers, still not wanting to let go. He could hear murmurs out the door but took no heed to them as he stared at the bed sheets.
Pure Vanilla suddenly felt her hand grip his back. He gasped, leaning over a little as her eye lids fluttered open then go wide as her pupils darted around then caught sight of him... “Y-your Majesty, where...?”
Plain Wafer sat up suddenly as it all came back to her “T-that White Cloaked Cookie... t-they came out of nowhere... a-and...” but before she could continue, she found herself pulled into a very tight embrace in trembling arms which caught her off guard. “Pure Vanilla...?”
“Y-you're okay... oh, thanks the Witches, you're okay...” he mumbled to himself as she felt him bury his face into her hair slightly, quietly sobbing.
“Y-yeah, I feel okay, except maybe a bit of a throb from the whack. I-I don’t know what happened after that...” she pushed her arms with a bit of force to make him let her go. Plain Wafer looked over him and her expression dropped to a disbelieving frown, “You're all dirty... did you run around the whole city after me?” she clearly knew that was probably a yes...
Plain Wafer reached a hand up to his cheek to brush away some of the grime and tear stains. Pure Vanilla was in more of a state than she should be at the moment, having been the one kidnapped but she kept those feelings in for now. “I’m sorry if I scared you. They caught me off guard, some guard I am right?” she tilted her head a little as she made a joke trying to lighten the situation.
“I-I shouldn't have left you outside on your own! Y-you must have been terrified! I-I'm so sorry dear... would you ever forgive me...? I-I failed you...!” he blurted out so quickly and rapidly. Plain Wafer grabbed his hands firmly holding them in her own tiny ones. “You didn't. Look, I'm here and I'm alright, Your Majesty, you look ready to fall over, you should rest... you're not thinking clearly...”
“B-but I...” she shook her head rapidly. “No buts, as your guard, I'm telling you to rest,” she shuffled back in the sheets to lift the blanket for him. Plain Wafer knew he clearly wouldn't go to sleep on his own. She felt like she was getting a bit of Deja-vu of how she was in the past after her breakdown having to sleep with her Mother while her father took the sofa.
Plain Wafer managed to pull him in without much resistance. After all, they and Gingerbrave shared the bed just the night before, as she pulled the blankets up. “Let's try to rest, we can think clearer in the morning,” it was clear her kidnapping had an effect on him too as she found herself being hugged close. Pure Vanilla closed eyes and his breathing started to calm down.
In the morning, they’d talk more about it but for now, she snuggled closer, being the one to comfort him.
On the other side of the city in the Institution, a voice cried out.
“The experiment... is a SUCCESS!”