hey guys so royal milk tea is adorable, yes, but he is also a grown man who fights dragons and watches his mother die. enjoy chapter five!
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It didn’t take long for Captain Caviar Cookie to prepare one of the newest Pearl Legion ships; its blue and white body glistened in the ocean as it filled with Cookies who would assist the captain on his journey alongside the representatives of the Republic. It was looking like the trek between kingdoms came out a week’s journey by flight, so the trio of Cookies would have to get to the Vanilla Kingdom in less than seven days. Captain Caviar Cookie was confident in his sailing ability to get everyone there in time, and Oyster Cookie trusted the sailor wholeheartedly, so Royal Milk Tea Cookie would, too.
Royal Milk Tea Cookie bid his mother goodbye at the dock, dressed in a freshly tailored cloak and a new pair of boots and gloves.
“I want you to know that, even though I may not have baked you, I will always be your mother, no matter what any Cookie says,” Oyster Cookie promised her son, holding his hands in hers. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. “Do you understand?”
Royal Milk Tea Cookie had been conflicted, sure, but he was raised by Oyster Cookie, and like he had said to Custard Cookie, nothing would change that. “Of course, you’re my mother. You’re all I’ve ever known as my family up until now.”
The two Cookies embraced before Royal Milk Tea Cookie turned to walk up the ramp onto the ship. It truly was a difficult feeling knowing that Oyster Cookie wasn’t his real mother, but Oat Milk Cookie hadn’t raised him, nor had Tea Knight Cookie. Sure, Royal Milk Tea Cookie would love to meet the pair, but it would be a fleeting reunion before the dragon came and took his mother– Oat Milk Cookie– away from him.
“I’m sure the trip won’t feel very long at all, Royal Milk Tea Cookie,” A sweet and buttery voice crooned from the deck of the ship, pulling the young heir from his thoughts.
“I don’t feel like talking to you.”
Clotted Cream Cookie scrambled for words, shocked by the immediate dismissal of his attempt to soothe his dear friend. “Woah, hey, Royal Milk Tea Cookie–”
“I need some time, okay?” Royal Milk Tea Cookie avoided looking at the blond Cookie but responded nonetheless. “I really cared about you, and now you and Financier Cookie are suddenly in love…” Clotted Cream Cookie’s face twisted in what looked like it might have been shock and distress, but Royal Milk Tea Cookie wasn’t looking. “It’s a lot to take in.”
Not letting Clotted Cream Cookie squeeze in another word, Royal Milk Tea Cookie allowed his assigned guard to escort him to his room below deck. Oyster Cookie had been insistent that, although she refused to venture out of the Republic in order to soothe any concern the citizens had, she still wanted to make sure her son was safe, sending a Pearl Legion guard to protect the young Cookie.
He felt the ship shift and watched out his window as the port from the Crème Republic faded out of view, and crashing blue waves took its place. Royal Milk Tea Cookie took a deep breath, letting the adventure he was yet to live wash over him.
“Attention all passengers of the new Pearl Legion ship!” Captain Caviar Cookie began shouting from the top deck, his scratchy voice seeming to echo through every room. Royal Milk Tea Cookie supposed after sailing through the loud ocean air for so many months, one would get used to shouting for everyone on deck to hear them. “We have entered open water and are no longer bound to obey commerce and trade routes! The waves are going to get a little rocky as we approach the Dark Cacao Kingdom as our first stop, so hold on tight!”
The dark-haired captain was right– the ship’s path suddenly became quite rocky within the first few hours on board, and as the sun began to set, Royal Milk Tea Cookie couldn’t help but begin feeling a bit queasy.
“Guard,” He had said, face paling. “Would you mind helping me find a restroom?” Royal Milk Tea Cookie had stood up from where he was sitting in his cabin, and right as he was steady on his feet, the ship jolted, tossing him back down and sending the contents of his stomach up. The Pearl Legion guard quickly threw open the door, running the Oyster heir out of his room and toward the edge of the ship, where the Cookie could safely empty his stomach out into the blue sea.
“Are you alright, Prince Oyster?” The guard asked, concerned. Or at least, Royal Milk Tea Cookie assumed it was concern in his voice. The masks they wore didn’t show much of an expression, just the mouths of the Cookies wearing them.
Feeling weak and face still pale, Royal Milk Tea Cookie nodded, closing his eyes and breathing deeply. “Yes, thank you. I think I’ll be– HRGH!” He stood back up, continuing to expel his breakfast into the sea. Face turning a shade of green and eyes still closed, Royal Milk Tea Cookie couldn’t help but feel comforted once he felt a hand press against his back, rubbing in circles.
“Oh,” Stomach settling as he took deep breaths and pressed against the body behind him, Royal Milk Tea Cookie slowly let himself push away from the edge of the ship, sitting down, the body following him and allowing him to lay his head across its lap. “Thank you, guard. My mother made a smart decision sending you with me.”
The moon shone down on the Cookies on the ship, illuminating the sea with white sparkles as they sailed.
“Consul,” Financier Cookie’s voice woke Royal Milk Tea Cookie, who rubbed his eyes as he turned over in his bed. No, this wasn’t a bed, it was… legs? “Consul, we’ve arrived at the Licorice Sea, and Captain Caviar Cookie has requested that all passengers not trained in sailing techniques retreat to their cabins at once.”
“Yes, alright, Financier Cookie,” Clotted Cream Cookie answered, voice tired. “Royal Milk Tea Cookie, did you hear Financier Cookie?” The blond Consul slowly shook the Cookie asleep in his lap, who quickly realized the situation he had been put in.
“Ah!” Royal Milk Tea Cookie sat up quickly, nearly smacking his head on Clotted Cream Cookie’s chin. “Um, yes, I heard. I’ll return to my cabin at once, thank you!”
“Maybe I should come with you,” Clotted Cream Cookie suggested as he stood up, brushing off his pants. “You became quite seasick last night, and I’d hate for you to become seasick once more after the Licorice Sea begins to rock the boat.”
Royal Milk Tea Cookie’s face filled with raspberry jam. He was a Cookie of the sea, schooled by House Oyster, and he had gotten seasick? Oh, how embarrassing! And what was worse, Clotted Cream Cookie had comforted him through it, watching his stomach turn inside out. “Oh, um, no, it’s okay!” Royal Milk Tea Cookie quickly entered his cabin, slamming the door behind him.
“Are you alright, Royal Milk Tea Cookie?” The Pearl Legion guard asked, standing by the former’s bed. “After you became sick last night, the Consul heard and dismissed me, promising he’d take care of you until morning.”
So that was the hand across his back. Not the guard, but Clotted Cream Cookie. Royal Milk Tea Cookie threw himself across the bed, sighing loudly. “Yes, I’m fine. Clotted Cream Cookie helped me and allowed me to sleep after I had finished being sick. Financier Cookie woke us both up this morning.”
The guard shifted, his armor clinking against itself. “I understand you two had feelings for each other when you were younger, didn’t you?” Royal Milk Tea Cookie didn’t respond, rolling over and facing his window. “I believe he still holds those feelings for you, regardless of his situation.”
“It’s fine, guard,” Royal Milk Tea Cookie dismissed. “We’ve grown into different Cookies now. He’s welcome to love anyone he pleases.”
“Red alert! Licorice Sea Beast dead ahead!” One of the sailors on the top deck cried out, footsteps thundering about the ship.
“Licorice Sea Beast?” Royal Milk Tea Cookie sat up, brows furrowed. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes, I’m sure everything is fine, Royal Milk Tea Cookie,” The guard assured his charge. Royal Milk Tea Cookie wasn’t convinced, however, as he heard shouting and cries for help above his cabin.
“I think I should try and help,” He said, standing up and approaching the door. But before he could open it, the door was flung open and a dark, sticky hand pulled Royal Milk Tea Cookie from his room.
“Stop! Hey!” This was the second time he’d been stolen by some large beast! What poor luck he had! “Let me go! Let me go!”
The Licorice Beast ignored the screams and shouts, roaring out at the Cookies below and sending smaller licorice minions toward the sailors on board the ship.
“LOTUS DRAGON… PROMISE LICORICE COOKIE… FIGHT DARK CACAO KINGDOM!” The abomination managed to speak to Royal Milk Tea Cookie, who stopped struggling and instead favored confusion as to what the beast was saying.
“I’m not a licorice Cookie, I’m Royal Milk Tea Cookie! I’m from here, I’m not going to fight the Dark Cacao Kingdom! Now, let me go!”
“YOU MAKE… LICORICE… PEARLS… FIGHT THE KINGDOM!”
“Royal Milk Tea Cookie!” Clotted Cream Cookie and Financier Cookie had arrived, shouting up at their friend from his position high above the ship. “Are you alright?”
The Oyster heir rolled his eyes angrily. Too many Cookies were asking if he was alright! Of course, he wasn’t alright! His mother wasn’t his mother, his father left him here, none of the elders respect his position, and this was the second monster that was stealing him off his feet… Royal Milk Tea Cookie felt something boil in his jam, small droplets of the Licorice Sea Beast revolving around him. The beast seemed to delight at this new development.
“YES… LICORICE COOKIE… FIGHT!” The beast grinned, its mouth a horrid tear in its face, licorice goo still stuck between its lips as it spoke, spitting a horrible smell at Royal Milk Tea Cookie.
“I already told you, I’m not a licorice Cookie!” The small licorice pearls began to accumulate, taking more and more of the Licorice Beast’s mass and turning into an amalgamation that was seemingly controlled by Royal Milk Tea Cookie. “I’m Royal Milk Tea Cookie!” The pearls of licorice had amassed into a much larger Licorice Beast, towering over the initial threat, roaring loudly as it snatched Royal Milk Tea Cookie from the opponent’s grasp, setting him back on the boat, before its mouth opened nearly as wide as its height, chomping down on the Licorice Beast and melting into the Licorice Sea, allowing the ship to sail calmly until it docked at the Dark Cacao Kingdom’s port.
Captain Caviar Cookie’s face was agape, eyes wide in shock at the event he had just witnessed, along with the souvenir Royal Milk Tea Cookie appeared to have traveling with him now. “Did you know you could do that, kid?”
Royal Milk Tea Cookie looked around at the other passengers, and then at himself, noticing a small collection of licorice pearls orbiting his figure now, unable to be shaken off. “Uh, no, I didn’t know I could do that. Maybe it’s because my mother is from the Dark Cacao Kingdom?”
No Cookie was sure, but they let it go as they exited the ship and made their way toward the kingdom’s capital, where Dark Cacao Cookie would be located.
“How did you manage to control the Licorice Beast’s own substance?” Financier Cookie approached Royal Milk Tea Cookie, interrogating him about a topic he knew nothing about. “I’ve never seen you take someone on in battle, much less destroy an entire beast unassisted!”
Royal Milk Tea Cookie shrugged his shoulders, pulling his cloak tighter against his body as the group made the trek up the mountain, toward Dark Cacao Cookie’s fortress. Luckily, Oyster Cookie had packed her son a much warmer, fur-lined cloak for this kingdom’s visit. “I don’t know how it happened, Financier Cookie.” He sped up his pace, trying to shake the paladin. She didn’t take the hint.
“I know you’re upset about the Consul and myself,” Financier Cookie started, ignorant to the rolling eyes of her conversational companion. “But I want you to know that I truly do care for him. Elder Mille-feuille Cookie… her actions are inexcusable, but she convinced me to wed the Consul not only for the glory of House Mille-feuille, but because the Consul needed a companion, and I wanted to be that companion, rather than just his bodyguard.”
“Are you serious?” Royal Milk Tea Cookie spat, feeling that same anger fill his veins. “You believe Clotted Cream Cookie needed a companion and that he’d want you to fill that spot? Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”
“Fallen? You have fallen, Royal Milk Tea Cookie. Why can’t you be happy for your friend?”
“You believe you’re still my friend? Clotted Cream Cookie and I adored each other, and because of my mother’s consideration for my feelings over power, she refused the arranged marriage Custard Cookie was insistent on. But you,” It was as though poison filled his words as he spoke, burning Financier Cookie with every syllable. “You fell victim to the abuse of power, forcing Clotted Cream Cookie into a marriage I know he never wanted.”
“He wouldn’t have said yes if he didn’t want it, Royal Milk Tea Cookie. I would never force a Cookie into anything!”
“He wasn’t able to say no!” Royal Milk Tea Cookie was astounded at the lack of inference skills that the high-ranking paladin held when it came to intimate actions. “His father, elder Custard Cookie, would never allow him to marry a Cookie like me! No doubt he had some form of blackmail that forced the Consul to enter the engagement without argument.”
Financier Cookie was speechless, mouth left agape as she truly considered the events that led to her engagement. She took several breaths before steadying her voice and responding to the angry Cookie before her. “I understand you are upset, Royal Milk Tea Cookie, but your jealousy has nothing to do with my engagement, and I hope you can accept it one day.”
The paladin left the Oyster heir with a nod, returning to the side of Clotted Cream Cookie, who was unaware of the dispute that had befallen his close friends. The group of sailors and Cookies finally approached the gates guarding the Dark Cacao fortress, which opened after Captain Caviar Cookie spoke a few words to the watchers at the gate, as well as a guard who must have been Crunchy Chip Cookie, a representative of Dark Cacao during the Council.
“Onwards and upwards, friends!” Captain Caviar Cookie shouted to his cohorts, who all followed him into the castle walls, unprepared for the conversation that would soon follow.
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