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Chapter Text

"My decision has been made." "And approved," she would have liked to add. However, that wasn't the case... Judging by the somber look of her general... who had finally relented. The ancients needed her. The world needed her. Time was running out. She left the large meeting room. However, after she had already walked away for some time, she heard someone's hurried footsteps.

"Please, my queen !" Smoked Cheese said, grabbing her hand. She had suspected even before hearing his voice that it was him. He gave off that smoky smell, a sign of his displeasure and, above all, his worry. However, she didn't turn her head to look at him. "You can't... You can't afford to leave us like this, Your Majesty," he said, his voice almost firm. "We need you. Your support... Our kingdom, it... "

"Smoked Cheese." She finally turned her golden gaze towards her general's. She placed her hands on his shoulders. "You've shown me time and time again that I can trust your abilities to run the kingdom, even in my absence. I trust everyone...and especially Burnt Cheese, Mozzarella, and you to make sure everything runs smoothly. So please, trust your queen."

Smoked Cheese looked down, a grimace slightly distorting his face.
"There are already four ancients without you. They can manage, right?"
He knew his "question" was pointless. Especially when Golden Cheese shook her head before giving him a smile.

"You always think too much, Smoked Cheese ! We wouldn't have called upon my magnificent person if the situation didn't require it. But do not worry ! Our kingdom is relatively close to Pure Vanilla's anyway. If there were the slightest problem, I'd come back."
This didn't seem to reassure Smoked Cheese, who still had a gloomy expression partially hidden by the beak of her hat. It was in his nature, she told herself.

"But everything will be fine. Us ancients will win, and everyone will be happy. Our kingdom is safe, do you hear me?"
"If you say so, my queen..." the man murmured, raising his face slightly to look back at his goddess. She smiled at him again before taking his hands in hers.
"We'll see each other again soon, my dear. Enjoy my baths! And... please take good care of my daughter for me."

"I feel like i'm already taking care of her, but of course, Your Highness." The man paused before adding. "Did you notify her of your departure ?" "She..." Golden Cheese's gaze seemed hesitant for the first time. Her general raised an eyebrow, studying her. "That's planned. I was planning to do it after our meeting... I know she won't be thrilled... like you, but..." "She's grown up now," Smoked Cheese simply said, sounding distracted. He jerked his hands away from Golden Cheese's a little, which hurt her feelings, but she didn't show it. "Goodbye, my friend," she finally said, with her trademark smile. Her general inclined his head, trying to smile back. It looked more like a wicked grin. Then she left.
"So, our beloved goddess reassured you, Smoked Cheese?" Mozzarella teased, moving closer to him after a few seconds.

"Don't tell me you've been spying on us, Mozzarella, even coming from you, that would seem pretty low."
"I guess her attempts didn't work, haha!" the woman giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. "You always liked to give her a hard time, I guess !"
"Oh you, when you finally shut that damn mouth, we'll have to celebrate..." Smoked Cheese muttered. "On that note. I have work to do."
"Work ? Why don't you come and have fun in the baths, then play games with Burnt Cheese, Rich Cheese and me instead !"
"You sound like a child, please, give me some air. Besides... I'm not convinced that Burnt Cheese and having fun in the same sentence is particularly pertinent..."
"What a spoilsport !" Mozzarella said, however, laughing heartily. He started to walk away and the woman was about to stop him. However, he realized.

"Do you know where Rich Cheese is ? Her Majesty's looking for her. She's going to tell her that...um, she's leaving."
"Oh, but that's true!! Poor sweetie pie..."
Mozzarella murmured, massaging the back of her head. "I guess she's probably still in her room or the training room perfecting her weapon skills... Having a good time will do her some good then !" "Yeah..." Smoked Cheese seemed thoughtful. The blonde added, for her part. "I think she'll need a little chat with one of us after her discussion with her mother... Will you take care of it, or shall I?" The man stared at her for a few moments, his mouth slightly open.

"It's either the ultra-reassuring and positive speech of the cool big sister-slash-aunt, or the slightly depressing but down-to-earth speech of the rather grumpy father figure!" she explained, making Smoked Cheese roll his eyes. "I wouldn't be depressing. And I'm not..." Mozzarella stared at him, hands on her hips. He sighed for the umpteenth time since the beginning of their exchange.
"Anyway. I'll talk to her. And you can always chat during the..."
"Are you talking about me?" An unmistakable voice called out from behind Smoked Cheese's back. Mozzarella giggled, though less at ease than usual, while the man jumped, turning around a little abruptly. "I just got here, relax, Smokey !" the young lady affirmed, a fist on her hip. She still seemed... so upset.

Chapter Text

"My mother's leaving then. Both of you already knew that, I imagine." She looked at them with her piercing, bright blue eyes. "She told you before me."
"She was most afraid of your reaction, I think" admitted Smoked Cheese, his brows slightly furrowed and his arms crossed. "Which is understandable. You..."
"Well she shouldn't have been. I'm not a little girl anymore, i'm not her little girl. I can manage without her... We can manage without her. Maybe this will be the opportunity to prove to her... that I'm worthy, at least a little bit. That I deserve to be her daughter."

Smoked Cheese tensed slightly, which Mozzarella noticed, her lips pursed. The woman moved closer to Rich Cheese to place a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"It's not a question of merit, Rich Cheese, you know that very well... And you don't have to prove your worth or anything. The whole kingdom loves you and sees the progress you make every day..." Mozzarella began.
"But is that really enough? I'm afraid I won't be able to live up to her. She's going to fight a major threat with other formidable heroes, while we... while I'm stuck here !"
"Like you said, you and Smoked Cheese will be managing things largely without her, which is already a lot ! Running a kingdom isn't a luxury, I guess !" Mozzarella joked, while Rich Cheese pouted. "You're doing wonderfully, Richie ! Don't worry too much..."
"Even later, i'll never be able to do just as she did... To fight with heroes, longtime friends accompanying me !" She retorted, tears forming in her eyes. She moved away from Mozzarella, who was looking rather crestfallen. Dark Choco left his kingdom after his rebellion... I don't even have any news of him anymore, it's a torture ! And Royal Berry... As strong as my affection for him is, I have to say he's no fighter at all ! And the people of our kingdom... I can't have... real friends who look at me as their equals in the same way the ancients did with eachother... Well... anyway, you...you don't understand anything !!"
She exclaimed, biting her lower lip as tears burned her cheeks. She preferred to turn her back on them and fly away.

"What a situation..." Mozzarella murmured, feeling a pang of guilt creeping into her. Normally, she knew how to resolve conflicts, how to comfort... But right now...
"I'm going. You did what you could" Smoked Cheese simply muttered under his breath.
"We'll meet back in the baths, without fail ! With Richie..." Mozzarella assured her, as the man took flight as well.

What he was going to say to her...he had no idea, to be honest. He finally found her after a bit of searching in one of his favorite places : the rooftop of one of the tallest buildings in their city, where she had a view of almost the entire kingdom. He knew she and Golden Cheese used to spend a lot of time here...
Smoked Cheese cautiously settled down next to her. He then smoothed his rather narrow brown wings while Rich Cheese turned her face away.

"Hey kid, are you sulking?" No answer. "Can I sit down?" he then asked her. He received a small nod and complied. Her golden wings were rather similar to her mother's, although smaller for now. "Why are you so determined to become as strong as your mother, or even stronger?" he couldn't help but ask.
"Because I don't want to always live in her shadow, to always be compared to her! To be rejected, to be..." She couldn't finish her sentence, a sob catching her voice. Smoked Cheese cautiously moved closer. He held out one of his arms, and Rich Cheese snuggled up to him. Her tears dampened the man's chest as he rubbed her upper back to soothe her.

"It's normal to feel frustrated. Sad. I can't... We can't even imagine what you're going through. Since we... are in such different situations." He said his last sentence with a chuckle. But we're here, you know. And I'm sure... that you'll eventually find people worthy of you and..."
"I'm afraid that day will never come," she whispered. "I'm scared, too... scared for my mother. This threat... it seems serious. I... I confided my worries about it to her, however she always had the "perfect argument" to reassure me... But in the end..." She didn't finish her sentence. "I feel like I think too much... that I shouldn't worry about... this 'powerful goddess.'"

"Well, I have to admit that I'm scared for her too. She may be a goddess, but she's still... a person. When we were younger, I've seen her struggle so many times, fall flat on her face, fail, and eventually succeed" he confessed, earning a slight nervous laugh from Rich Cheese. "But I want... I want to trust her. Everything will be fine."
Rich Cheese seemed displeased by his words. Was she expecting something else... However, she said nothing and snuggled closer to him.

•°•

Golden Cheese hugged Rich Cheese tightly one last time before leaving. She kissed her daughter's forehead, which embarrassed her, although she didn't complain.
"I'm counting on you, my beautiful treasure. I know you're capable of extraordinary things !"
"Thank you, Mother. Take care" Rich Cheese murmured, while taking off the brooch in her hair to give it to her. "For luck."
"Luck ? I won't be in need of luck !" Golden Cheese affirmed, laughing enthusiastically. "But so be it ! Thank you for this treasure, my dear daughter. I will cherish it preciously, of course."

She then hugged Burnt Cheese and Mozzarella with just as much enthusiasm. "No mischief while I'm gone, I'll keep an eye on you three !" she said, including Smoked Cheese, who seemed revolted and annoyed by it.
Mozzarella giggled, while Burnt Cheese bowed slightly. "I will do what is necessary, my queen, to ensure that everything is in order."
"Oh you, I should rather tell you to relax a little !" she said, briefly removing his hat to ruffle his hair.

She then turned to Smoked Cheese, who was pretending to be unaware of what was happening. She moved towards him and cupped his face with both of her hands, which made him blush slightly.
"M...My queen, have a little..." he mumbled, which amused the woman.
"May I ?" she asked, making sure she had his consent. She then kissed his nose, the corner of his mouth, and finally his lips.
"N...Not in public..." he complained, despite the fact that he had just agreed to it. He could hear Mozzarella and Rich Cheese laughing. Even Burnt Cheese couldn't help but giggle !
"My dear treasure, don't worry, I'll be back before you know it. You won't even have time to be sad about my departure !"
"I'm indeed won't be, believe me, Your Highness. I'm certainly going to be busy considering how much I have to do, too" he partially lied, a slight smile on his face as he said it.
"If you say so !" replied the blonde woman, shrugging casually. "Take good care of Rich Cheese, as I told you..." She whispered to him... one last time.

As she began to leave, the golden queen exclamed : "Until we meet again, my dearest treasures !"
Everyone waved goodbye. Everyone rushed to gather to cheer her on, to encourage her for the last time.

Smoked Cheese watched her leave, a smug smile still etched on his face. Meanwhile Rich Cheese had a big, warm smile. Mozzarella, a relaxed smile. Burnt Cheese, a small smile on the corners of his lips.
Despite the tension, they all had faith and hope. That things would work out.

Chapter Text

•°•

Smoked Cheese began to cough violently, blood pouring out all over his hands. They were shaking...? But it was alright. He was holding on. His whole body ached, but he could take it. He flew off once more.
Many cookies were there to fight alongside these damned monsters attacking them. Allies of the Dark Enchantress. Every one of them was... so powerful. Their people... all were dying... even the children...
Their cries of pain made him feel sick. And Burnt Cheese... who had worked so hard to protect everyone. To prevent the monsters from harming them. There he layed, dead, a blade of some sort stuck through his chest. His shredded hat had fallen to his side. His eyes were still wide open... almost bulging. His mouth remained half-open, with a trickle of blood running down his chin.
Smoked Cheese had known him since... he was just a baby. He'd protected him time and time again when he was young, but this time... he had failed. The urge to vomit kept overtaking him.
Rich Cheese would have wanted to rush towards his body, but they were running out of time. Mozzarella was trying to help those in need. Those still alive... Her magic was still as strong as ever, despite the pain in her heart. She was firm and determined to protect people... But where could they possibly run to anyway ? Those monsters had already... destroyed everything. Everything. She hadn't sustained any serious injuries yet though, which was a relief for Smoked Cheese.

Despite the suffering, he was still able to control several ennemies with his magic, but it wasn't enough. However, he was striving to do more. He had to. Golden Cheese might be coming back... As her general, he had to do his best to ensure that, when she returned, at least some of their population would have survived. It was his duty. She was going to come back eventually.
Rich Cheese was quite impressive in combat, as she was able to take down many monsters at once. The idea that she was going to survive reassured him somewhat. She had to.

Suddenly, he heard gasps of horror behind his back. He turned abruptly and his eyes landed on Mozzarella. She seemed... surprised. Her eyes were widened. The man looked down and realized. Numerous arrows were lodged in her body.
"Mo... Moza..." he began to whisper as the woman placed her trembling hand on one of the arrows as if to pull it out. He saw tears running down her cheeks for the first time. He hurried to reach the ground so he could join her.
Mozzarella didn't have time to do more, however, as another final arrow pierced her right in the forehead. She collapsed backward onto the dust-filled ground, her eyes were open but the light they once knew was gone. Her head tipped over to the side. Smoked Cheese wanted to scream her name, but his throat was stuck. He barely moved.

How could this idiot... this idiot be... His eyes must have been deceiving him. Yes... This was fake... Just a bad dream, there was no doubt about it. All of it...
A barely audible scream of despair rang out. That of Rich Cheese as she saw Mozzarella. This time, no one could stop her from running towards the woman. She told herself she still had... a chance to save her. She hadn't noticed that last arrow lodging in her skull. She didn't want to pay attention to it. She immediately knelt beside Mozzarella in an attempt... to heal her with her magic. She was sure... there was still hope.
However, an enemy spotted her and decided to take advantage of this to strike her from behind with his sword. Smoked Cheese snapped out of his stupor and rushed towards the blonde. He shouted out her name, but it was in vain, as it drowned amidst the other screams, yells, sounds of weapons and monsters all around.
He then threw himself against Rich Cheese. He firmly wrapped his arms around her, turning his back on their enemy. The latter laughed and savagely grabbed him by the feathers of his wings, pulling him closer.

Smoked Cheese didn't have time to do anything else before a sharp burning sensation seized him. Their enemy had ripped off his wings with his sword, their stumps included, as deeply as possible. A large portion of his back was torn off. Blood flooded all over his body as well as the man's blade. His exposed wounds caused him a level of pain like nothing he'd known before.
"S..Smoked Cheese!" cried out Rich Cheese, a horrified look on her face. She grabbed her weapon with a firm grip and didn't hesitate for a second before stabbing the man straight through the heart. She then promptly killed off two other adversaries who had approached them with brutality and haste.
Smoked Cheese tried to stand up, but his body had become clumsy and unstable. He began to vomit on the ground to his side. It was mixed with blood. His back was throbbing with pain.

Rich Cheese quickly wrapped the man's arm around her shoulders.
"Dad, Dad, I'll help you, you... You'll see... I..."
Smoked Cheese felt as if his heart was being crushed.
"Take cover... Ri... Richie, please... Fly... far away... you still can..."
"I refuse to leave you behind !" she responded firmly, as she kept killing enemies with her available hand.
Oh, how Smoked Cheese wished to scream back at her... But he didn't even know if he really had the strength anymore. He pulled away from her, his legs still trembling but determined.

"I can manage without your help. It's better if you can use both of your hands." he said, gripping his staff tightly in his trembling hands. The smoke coming from it spread and surrounded several monsters. Meawhile, the young woman was taking down all the enemies close to them.
Smoked Cheese moved forward, however, urging Rich Cheese to do the same. They were heading towards a specific location. One of the last... hiding places. The one where Rich Cheese always hid as a child whether it was to escape some of her responsibilities, to annoy Smoked Cheese or to confuse her mother.
It was a small, narrow, and fairly discreet trapdoor which led to a room containing several of the best cheeses to preserve. They were close enough now.
"Let's hide here..." he murmured as he urged Rich Cheese to go there first. Urged...or rather pushed her inside. He was about to follow after her since he knew Rich Cheese would never agree to stay still otherwise.
If only... If only... he... she... No, he couldn't afford to think about that right now.

Chapter Text

"I see one of them is still alive..." whispered a female voice with a mocking tone.
Smoked Cheese was violently startled upon hearing those words and turned around. A woman. Her red eyes looked him up and down with amusement...as if he were nothing to her. Just a vulgar object.
"I know just how much Golden Cheese cares about each of her ridiculous treasures, so we shall give her a nice surprise when she returns."
Before Smoked Cheese could even do anything, the woman raised the perfectly sharpened tip of her weapon and deeply slit his throat. Although he was unable to comprehend what was happening to him...aside from the horrible pain. He coughed up blood, or rather vomited it, as the red liquid flowed incessantly from his throat. His nose was bleeding as if his body was trying to get rid of it... of all of it...
Smoked Cheese gasped before collapsing onto the same dusty ground as Burnt Cheese, Mozzarella and the rest of their people.
"Rest in peace, Cookie" the woman snickered mockingly as she prepared to leave. But she quickly stopped upon hearing sounds. Cries. Clearly uncontrollable. The trapdoor had been left half-opened.

The woman moved closer, surrounded by her monster allies.
"Oh my, what a pretty... young lady. Who looks exactly like her..."
A hand gripped her ankle. Smoked Cheese.
"Don't touch her..." is what he would have wanted to say, however he was unable to utter a single word.
His thoughts were so unclear... his vision now so blurry.
A heel dug into his hand, forcing him to let go. Although the woman didn't have to wait long, as Smoked Cheese stopped resisting. He had no choice. He had failed.
The tears that had formed in his eyes finally rolled down his cheeks.
"Everything will be fine..." the woman whispered to Rich Cheese. A terrible lie. However, the blonde girl's eyes were riveted on Smoked Cheese. Several monsters had started approaching him to... No, no, everything but that... It was inconceivable.

Rich Cheese wanted to scream in rage, but her throat felt completely blocked. She freed herself from the damned trapdoor that would have kept her stuck anyway if she didn't leave it.
She threw herself on top of the man's body. Her father. As if to shelter him... She couldn't bear the idea of him being... devoured by these horrible creatures. Of his body suffering such profound disrespect. The idea of this happening to all the other people she loved as well... made her feel sick. Why wasn't she stronger?! Why hadn't she been stronger to protect them all...
"It can't... It can't end like this... I couldn't even do... anything I wanted for this kingdom... to help... to make people happy" she muttered to herself, with a voice that sounded as if she was possessed.

She gripped her weapon firmly in her hand. And she attacked. She attacked those damned monsters. Those damned enemies. That damned woman in front of her. Tears burned her cheeks, but she was determined... determined even though everything that layed in front of her eyes was morbid. Even though all the people she loved... were gone. Those who had cherished her. Those who had seen her grow up. Those who she had seen grow up...
She couldn't believe it. It had to be a bad dream.
Her wounds burned through her whole body. She could feel herself losing blood but refused to pay it any mind. One of her wings was severely damaged and hung limply, but she kept going. She was killing them. Savagely. There was nothing left of the fighting techniques she had learned. Just pure, unfiltered rage and despair. She suddenly felt a violent, unknown blow that took her breath away and made her step back a little.

Her eyes looked towards the ground, lingering for a moment on Smoked Cheese once more as her vision became blurred.
His open mouth, his glassy eyes... He who had always watched over her, he who had always loved her just as if...
"I will destroy you... all of you !!" Rich Cheese yelled out as she raised her weapon high above her head. She could feel a terrible pain in her abdomen, but she paid it no attention... Everything seemed futile.
Her mother wasn't coming... And even if she did arrive... She would already be...
Rich Cheese was assailed from all sides, and she was so tired, so weary... She hadn't been able to prove her worth to her mother nor to anyone else. She had left her with nothing but a decimated kingdom...

"Our dear kingdom... Burnt Cheese... Mozzarella... Smoked Cheese... Mother... I did... my best."
The woman who had approached her earlier, though now wounded, found herself face to face with her again. And so this was their end. After a life of glory and wealth, here they were, perishing in dust, blood, and desolation.

•°•

Golden Cheese finally came home.
Dark Enchantress was no more. But what greeted her upon her arrival was purely horrifying...
Her kingdom was gone.
She rushed forward, calling out to those she loved. They had to be alive. Yet so many corpses layed before her. She approached slowly, taking in the dreadful sight with terror. All her precious treasures... This couldn't be.
"B...Burnt Cheese..." A sword was stabbed through his chest. And near that sword... was his stomach, brutally ripped open, as if a monster had begun to eat him. This brave man... this clumsy boy she had loved so much... She stood next to him, carefully closing his eyes and mouth, before stroking his hair in a maternal gesture. She stood up, trembling... it couldn't be... all of them...

Mozzarella... She couldn't even bring herself to say her name. The woman was pierced through and through. The arrow embedded in her face almost gave her that gross, unnatural look that made Golden Cheese's stomach turn.
How... How... She approached and bent down, grabbing the wood of the arrow. It was firmly stuck, making her feel violently nauseous and want to cry even more. Golden Cheese was unable to touch her body. She noticed her arm had been torn apart.
After finally mustering up some courage, her trembling fingers slid over her eyelids and lips to close them as well. Her fingers were already covered in dust.
She then began running.

"Smoked Cheese ! Rich Cheese, please..." There was no voice answering her. Only bodies. Children huddled against their mothers or fathers. All of them... all of them...
Her widened eyes suddenly landed upon Smoked Cheese. His head was almost dislocated from the rest of his body. And his... his back... She rushed towards him and threw herself on the ground to grasp him in her arms. She held his head so that it wouldn't... fall off.
"Smoked Cheese, please... M... My darling... I'm here... I'm here..." she whispered, a trembling smile on her lips.
She contemplated the face she had spent so much time admiring, as she loved to see his facial expressions go from grumpy to embarrassed, sweet, sarcastic... This face... Why was it now so...
That blood all over him, his red eyes, and that blank stare. What a stupid nightmare she was having.
Still keeping Smoked Cheese huddled against her, Golden Cheese started looking around for her daughter. She had to be somewhere. Unless... Unless she'd managed to escape, she thought to herself. However, her hopes were promptly crushed.
A bloody necklace layed nearby. Along with a note.
"You'll never find her."
All other traces were gone. She couldn't even... Cradle her child's body in her arms. She couldn't even...reassure her... tell her how much she loved her...

A new kind of pain took over her. She let out a scream. A scream she would have never thought she was capable of. She was alone. So alone...
As she sobbed violently, her whole body shaking, she clung to Smoked Cheese. The thought of how much pain, how much fear he must have felt... It made her feel sick.
She had seen her people hold onto each other as they died, so as to not to be alone... to not have to bear that crushing loneliness. However Burnt Cheese, Mozzarella, Smoked Cheese... they had no one. Each of them cruelly separated from the others.

Tears were tightening her throat, but she continued to scream. She had abandoned them. Failed in all her duties.
"This... This will never happen again... never again... I promise you..." she whispered. She would revive her kingdom. Make it just as wonderful as it was before. They would be happy...and as for her daughter... Golden Cheese was resolved to find her and bring her back to life along with the others.
It had to be done.

Her gaze, now determined though still filled with tears, turned towards Smoked Cheese once again. She ran her hand through his short hair. His hat laying nearby was covered in dust with its beak twisted. Although she would soon find him again, she couldn't help but close his eyes... so dull. She gently kissed his lips... so cold.
She then began.

Chapter Text

•°•

Smoked Cheese let out a scream. He had just woken up from a nightmare... he was sure of it. But what was it ? He couldn't remember anything... His memory was so fuzzy and his body so numb.
He was sweating and breathing rapidly. Someone was at his side ; Golden Cheese who smiled at him in a reassuring manner. She patted his forehead with a damp piece of cloth.
"You have a slight fever, but you'll be on your feet again tomorrow, I'm sure of it !" the blonde woman assured him as she ran the cloth over the rest of his face. She put it back in the basin to soak it with water, before wringing it out and using it to carefully tap his chest. Smoked Cheese tried to sit up, but Golden Cheese gently placed her hand on his shoulder so as to urge him to stay in bed. She was watching him intently, despite the darkness.
"I'm out of strength, it seems..." he muttered, before coughing into his fist. Why did his head hurt so much? He felt as if...
"You look down in the dumps, are you..." he began speaking.

He was interrupted as he suddenly felt Golden Cheese's arms wrap around him, hugging him tightly. She was trembling, her face buried against Smoked Cheese's chest. She wanted to cry. Cry so much. But she couldn't afford to do that anymore. Her people... Burnt Cheese, Mozzarella... Smoked Cheese... They must not know. What had happened to them. What they had endured, both physically and psychologically. They must not know who they had lost. Who she had lost. Her beloved daughter...
"You're... holding me so tight... My queen, is there a..." he began, still quite confused by the situation.
"You just... had such a fever earlier today that I was worried, you remember, right ? You can be so stubborn, you know how you get sometimes !!"

That's true... He remembered it a little better now that he'd been awake for several minutes. He saw himself completing various tasks one after another, and especially filling out so much paperwork.
"It must have been that damned Mozzarella !!" he exclaimed, as he recalled seeing her hanging around, occasionally bothering him. He figured she was very likely sick as well right now.
"I went to visit her earlier, I must admit she looked like cheese so overcooked that it has melted !" Golden Cheese joked half-heartedly.
Due to her unstable emotional state as well as the severity of their injuries, she hadn't been able to heal her people completely from the start as she had envisioned. Some of them probably wouldn't wake up at all during the night, or would only feel a slight discomfort. At least, that's what she told herself.

"Don't... Don't linger too long close to me, my queen... I'm going to recover quickly now and...I don't want to contaminate y..."
"I'm staying, Smoked Cheese. Your goddess is in excellent health, you needn't worry about that ! ...I'll stay..."
She whispered to him, hugging him closer in her firm arms. Her wings partially covered him, keeping him a little warmer. And giving him that extra sense of security. Smoked Cheese wondered why his heart was pounding so hard at her words... Why he felt like he had needed to hear that so much.
He seemed to finally give in, still too fragile to offer any resistance for once. He couldn't help but snuggle up to Golden Cheese, which seemed like a relief for her.

"You appear very worried, my queen..." he mumbled with a tired voice.
"Rest up, you airhead. I'm fine. I'm right where I belong." She affirmed in return, her voice devoid of any real enthusiasm. Smoked Cheese looked up at her with an inquiring expression. He could tell she wasn't in her normal state.
The blonde woman began to gently caress his forehead with her index and middle fingers. She was drawing small, invisible circles.
"My queen... what are you..."
The man blinked, but as the seconds passed, his movement became slower, and his eyelids felt heavier. He finally closed his eyes and fell asleep.
"Rest well, my darling, for you have nothing to fear" she murmured, stroking his dark hair. She gently kissed his forehead.

•°•

After reviving... practically everyone, she had made a quick survey of the place earlier, although she would have liked to attend to every single person in her kingdom had she disposed of enough time. Burnt Cheese seemed to be in a deep, though restless, sleep. She had spent some time soothing him. She had never seen him in such a state and preferred to banish that image from her mind.

Mozzarella, for her part, was sweating immensely when Golden Cheese found her. She seemed to have undressed despite usually being more resistant to heat than anyone... She was nevertheless shivering. Golden Cheese prepared the necessary supplies for her as well as something to keep her hydrated. She told her that she would come back to visit her again later, and that she shouldn't hesitate to ring the bell hanging from the wood of her bed to let them know if she needed anything.
"I can... still... help..." Mozzarella murmured at several points in a distant and exhausted voice.
"Rest, my treasure. You... did what you could. And you did wonderfully," Golden Cheese murmured, which seemed to relax the woman almost imperceptibly.

As soon as Golden Cheese went back to Smoked Cheese's room, she got straight into bed next to him. And she saw. Saw his tense features. Heard his moans of pain.
"Ri... Rich Cheese..." She brushed her trembling fingers against his forehead. She felt like she was suffocating as she heard him say that name... That name that he would forget. That everyone would forget, except for Golden Cheese herself. What a horrible mother she was. Her child, her beloved daughter... Rich Cheese, who wanted nothing more than to prove herself, to live up to her people's expectations, as she was well aware. The kingdom's sujects wouldn't even think of her anymore.
Smoked Cheese began itching his throat, right where he had previously been cut open, with his nails. Golden Cheese gently grabbed his wrist and pulled him closer to her. The grip of his hand tightened on the blonde woman's arm.
"Golden Cheese... Golden Cheese..." he stammered. "Don't... abandon us..."

The goddess wanted to sob again, her whole body tensed. Dark Enchantress had been defeated, but for this ? She had lost her beloved daughter, left her people to be terrified and to suffer, those she loved had to die, all for this
They could have... managed without her. The ancients didn't need her help, she convinced herself of it. She really had made the wrong decision, she kept thinking. Her friends had seemed so happy, so grateful to see her again... that image of them all united right before being separated once more...
Smoked Cheese slowly opened his eyes. Golden Cheese felt as if she could breathe again.

•°•

Smoked Cheese was feeling better. However, as he tried to stand up, he almost fell over immediately with no inkling as to why. Golden Cheese let him lean against her for support for a few seconds.
"It's okay, Your Highness," he assured her as he gathered himself. Something was missing. He had that feeling. He walked in a slow and shaky mannet at first. He ran his hand through the wings on his back. Narrow and small. Fake as they'd always been.
"Are you sure, Smoked Cheese ?" Golden Cheese asked while putting his arm around her shoulders. He couldn't help but rest his head against the woman's neck for a moment. He spoke up after finally pulling himself together.
"I'll be fine, don't worry about me."

"How stubborn can you get !" Golden Cheese scolded him, now with her hands on her hips.
Smoked Cheese was putting his hat back on, smiling.
"It's in my nature, what can you do, dear goddess." Everything was fine now... or so it seemed.

•°•

Golden Cheese had told them everything. As time passed, they had started to question themselves. To notice her strange behavior. To have fragments of memories flooding back up, even though she made sure to quickly stifle them. And she... she couldn't bear to keep it all to herself anymore. Couldn't bear to continue lying to them. This charade had lasted for several months, but now it was all too much for her.
At their request, she had even given them back their memories. Never in her life had she ever seen Mozzarella so upset and horrified.
"We... this pain... And... And..." she wanted to say Rich Cheese's name. But she couldn't. Burnt Cheese bit his lower lip hard.
"I wasn't enough..." Is what he wanted to say, but no sound came out of his mouth.
The priest tried his best, despite his own dismay, to calm their agitated minds, but it was in vain. He himself was extremely confused by the situation. "A war...How could something so big...It's like a missing piece..."
Smoked Cheese, after overcoming the shock of this revelation, stared at Golden Cheese with a dark gaze—somewhat hidden by his headgear.

"I'm truly... sincerely sorry, all of you. For keeping this from you for so long. But I'm letting you in on this secret now because I consider you four to be trustworthy."
"I... We're very honored... Your Majesty... but... What about Rich Cheese? Wh... What happened to her ? She... Why... Why isn't she...?" Mozzarella stammered.
"You went as far as to make us forget her..." simply murmured Smoked Cheese. He shook his head, at a loss for words.
"She... I only found... her necklace. Accompanied by a note. Which said that I... that I would never find her again. Her soul... everything about her... was nowhere to be found. But I still have hope... hope that I can find her."

"Hope ?" Smoked Cheese repeated, visibly mocking. Golden Cheese's gaze turned towards him. He was seething with rage, smoke rising from his body. "You dared to hide this from us. Out of shame. 'You always think too much, Smoked Cheese,' 'If there was the slightest problem, I'd come,' and yet you..." he continued, imitating Golden Cheese's voice.
"You're going too far, Smoked Cheese" Burnt Cheese stated firmly, meanwhile Golden Cheese was letting her general speak. He was saying everything that she thought as well. This suffocating guilt...
"Oh I'M going too far ? We died, we suffered immensely, damn it, and now we live in this kingdom that's nothing but a delusion, but I'm the one exaggerating ? I couldn't even save my daughter because no, I'm not like our dearly adored all-too powerful goddess with her soul jam !"
"Enough, Smoked Cheese." Golden Cheese finally spoke up in a tone she intended to be firm and neutral. She raised her hand to gesture for Burnt Cheese to stay back, as he was about to come to her defense again. As for Mozzarella, as much as she loved their goddess and had always admired her, all of these revelations... made her feel more uneasy than she would have liked to admit.

Golden Cheese took a deep breath before she began whispering so her voice wouldn't break.
"I realize I failed in my mission to protect you. But it won't happen again. I'll stay, no matter what."
Smoked Cheese looked at her in such a way that it made her feel nauseous. He clenched his fists, slightly trembling with frustration.
"I won't leave again. No matter what threats there may be outside, I'll remain here to protect my treasures. Everything else... doesn't matter."
Her words were followed by a long, heavy silence.
"This won't bring us back Rich Cheese. And this won't restore the trust I once had in you." Smoked Cheese wanted to say, but nothing came out his mouth. He kept that bitterness deep inside. Instead, he just stared at her, with a furrowed brow and a slight grimace on his face.

"Once again, I expect you to keep this secret from the rest of our people. It's necessary to preserve peace and order in our kingdom. And I please ask that... you put your trust in me once again. This time, I won't disappoint you... I promise."
Even Burnt Cheese seemed troubled, even though he didn't want to question their goddess's words.
"Have I made myself clear, Smoked Cheese ?" she asked, turning her attention to the one that she knew to be... The most revolted. He eventually replied in a sinister tone.
"Very clear, Your Highness." He paused before adding. "Please forgive me for lashing out, it... won't happen again."

Golden Cheese simply nodded before moving on to other points of discussion.
Her heart was aching. She completely understood why Smoked Cheese resented her... she also resented herself terribly. But she hadn't asked for any of this. Did he really think it was that easy for her ? She would have wanted... what would she have even wanted after all ? She didn't really know.
The urge to make Smoked Cheese lose his memories again came to her at times. But that... wouldn't be right. She didn't want to do that anymore. She couldn't bear to hide this terrible truth any longer. To see them bathing in this world of illusion. To be alone facing this cruel reality.
Although she, too, forgot at times. Or at least she tried to forget what had happened. To convince herself that everything was okay. That her people were okay... That she wasn't a failure. And that now she wouldn't be able to see her friends anymore. It was as if they were all destroyed, gone.
And her dear daughter... Even to this day, she wished that she could erase these painful memories of her from her mind. That she could forget everything about her so as not to feel that unbearable emptiness in her heart anymore. But she simply couldn't afford it. She would never forgive herself.

Chapter Text

•°•

"Welcome to the Monster Games !!"

The audience roared with excitement at the words of the Colosseum's host. The atmosphere was at its usual high as he prompted them to cheer more and more.
"These monsters had the nerve to invade our glorious kingdom ! And now it's our duty to teach them a lesson, don't you agree ??"
The spectators erupted in laughter.
"And I almost forgot to mention... We have some highly honored guests accompanying us tonight ! The venerable Mozzarella Cookie, Smoked Cheese Cookie, and His Reverence the High Priest Cheesenbird !"
The mere mention of those names earned an even louder applause, showing just how strong the people's affection for them was.

Mozzarella was already rubbing her hands together from sheer excitement in anticipation of the games.
"Oh, so many possible outcomes... Where should I place my bet tonight ?" she said aloud.
"This is nothing more than a feud between low-level monsters" Smoked Cheese replied, smirking. "They're going to tear each other apart either way. I wouldn't invest much of my time, if I were you."
However he was undeniably enjoying the show as well. Watching them kill each other had a... let's just say, calming effect on him.

"Aaah, these poor creatures... I'll greet them with open wings ! Everyone deserves to be cared for... Chirp ! Chirp !" muttered the old priest.
Smoked Cheese gave him a half-annoyed, half-bored look in response. A slight laugh escaped from his lips as he crossed his arms, shaking his head. He didn't even bother to say anything back as he turned his attention towards Mozzarella again.
She was still deep in thought, her cheeks puffed out while she tapped her lip with her finger. He wondered how long she would continue with this charade.

However, an unfamiliar voice suddenly spoke up. A dark-haired woman in armor, accompanied by a raven... Someone they'd certainly never seen before. She shouted proudly.
"Everyone ! We came from the outside as well ! Allow us to battle with these monsters ! Tonight, victory will be ours !"
She yelled out her last words with great confidence. Smoked Cheese looked at her and her companions, wide-eyed as his smile disappeared from his face... to be replaced with a grimace.

Mozzarella, however, being the type to never lose her enthusiasm, simply watched with amusement.
"Oh ? It seems we have some unexpected new competitors !" She observed the newcomers very intently, despite the distance separating them. "How brave and intriguing... I'll bet my money on them !!"
"Cookies from outside..." Smoked Cheese muttered, not even remotely paying attention to his friend's words. "Foreigners, in our kingdom?!" he then exclamed loudly, which earned him a light nudge from the blonde woman.
However, he continued talking to himself in a lower voice.
"It's simply impossible... Could they really have made it past Burnt Cheese..." He scratched the back of his neck nervously and almost angrily.

As the battle began, Smoked Cheese watched them fight with disdain, his nose wrinkled. Unlike him, Mozzarella was excitedly enjoying the show.
"I'm going to be rich, my dear !" she happily told him, but he was still barely listening to her.
He already had only one idea in mind.

•°•

Golden Cheese was comfortably and gracefully lying on her back, a glass of wine in hand.
Her latest massage had won her over, and she felt relaxed. She rolled her shoulders for a few seconds, letting out a sigh of contentment. She then untied her long golden hair, which was previously up in a ponytail.
At the same time, her servants were singing her praises, which felt highly satisfying and enjoyable. She took a piece of cheese from one of the platters offered to her and placed it in her mouth. She let it roll on her tongue for a few seconds, waiting for it to melt, before slowly chewing it. Delicious as always. The taste was as divine as ever on her palate.

"Your Radiance !"
She suddenly heard that unmistakable voice, which...judging from its tone, was definitely about to ruin the calm atmosphere.
Smoked Cheese's mouth dropped open once he arrived and laid eyes upon the sight in front of him.
Golden Cheese, still in that relaxed pose, with the muscles of her abdomen and arm particularly visible... And with her chest barely concealed. The worst part was that damned look she was giving him. That nearly annoying look. Seeing her lounging there while...while...
He coughed into his fist as he looked at the servants that were there.

"Have you heard the latest news?" The answer was obviously no, but he wanted to pique her interest. Met with a slight shrug from his goddess, he then declared. "The winners of the Colosseum...are foreigners. Cookies from outside our kingdom" he clarified.
A servant offered the man some cheese or a drink from the tray after a slight nod from their queen. However, he politely declined, his attention fixed on Golden Cheese.

"Foreigners..." she murmured thoughtfully. "Could there be a problem with the connection?"
"They managed to pass all three trials, Your Majesty" Burnt Cheese affirmed, now standing next to Smoked Cheese. He had arrived so quietly and discreetly...that his sudden intervention startled some of the servants. "But I felt a breath of fresh air on their skin. They shouldn't have been allowed in..."
As he spoke, he accepted the cheese offered to him with a brief thanks. Holding it with a toothpick, he grabbed it with his teeth. Smoked Cheese pursed his lips, looking rather displeased, before turning back towards Golden Cheese.

"Your Majesty, considering the fact that there's been a sudden... surge in monster attacks... Perhaps... um, these events are somehow, shall we sayyy... connected ?" Smoked Cheese was making hand movements to accompany his words, and ended up pressing his palms together.
"They don't seem all that bad, as far as I'm concerned" Mozzarella affirmed, making Smoked Cheese grimace and leaving Burnt Cheese, already chewing on a some more cheese, completely indifferent. "Plus, thanks to them, I made a nice sum of money, heh heh!"
"We'll have to bring these individuals back and find out how they infiltrated the system" Smoked Cheese stated, as he chose to ignore what Mozzarella had said. "What if they were the ones who caused the error in the cheese storage ? If they don't talk, we can always, umm... let's say, torture them ? That..." He gave a slight sneer before continuing. "That should make them cooperate fairly fast."
Mozzarella was about to retort, but Golden Cheese responded before she could, raising her hands in the air. "That's enough ! The last thing we need in this kingdom is trouble. A simple error, so what ? Our wealth isn't going anywhere just because of that !" she then stated confidently, before taking another sip of her drink.

Her answer seemed to displease Smoked Cheese however, who tried to retort.
"But, Your Highness...!"
Golden Cheese stood up straight, striking a proud and confident stance.
"Smoked Cheese Cookie. Your immense greed has always been a concern of mine." As she said those words, she grabbed his chin between her fingers. "You seem to forget sometimes that everything you see here belongs to me, and me alone." She extended her arm to make a large, nonchalant gesture towards the entire room, including the people present. This obviously meant what laid outside of the room as well.
Smoked Cheese pulled away from her, as politely as he could. Which is to say, pretty much not at all. He wasn't particularly bothered by his goddess's words, but he didn't want her to touch him. She understood and respected that, though she continued.
"Yes, and the same goes for the final decision !"
The man gritted his teeth.
"And to think he was so delighted at the prospect of torturing people..." Burnt Cheese muttered almost inaudibly. Smoked Cheese turned abruptly towards him, while the man feigned innocence.

"How shall we proceed then, Your Majesty ?" Mozzarella asked, intrigued by what their goddess was about to say.
"I'll keep an eye on the situation. Besides that, I have more important matters to attend to. For example, building a better, more prosperous world !" She affirmed, grabbing her staff. "A world where... everyone can live in peace. Without any unmet needs or sorrows. Abundant... magnificent."

Her gaze wandered into space as she said those last words. The three of them knew who she was thinking of.
Every time her eyes seemed to wander... Every time her voice became slower, every time she spoke in a softer yet more solemn manner...

Chapter Text

•°•

Golden Cheese would have never thought that these... intruders would cause so much trouble... and yet. Here they were, facing her, after they had read her like an open book. She was greatly annoyed by this, even though she had made a point of not showing it.
She had engaged in a fight against them. They were no match for her, obviously, but she did appreciate, let's say, their... endurance, their determination... and the mutual support between them.
"Well fought !" She laughed happily as she spoke while running her thumb over the one and only scratch she'd gotten on her body. The blood turned gold and disappeared immediately, as did the wound on her skin. "I don't know who you are, but you're fairing pretty well... Let me take a closer look at you."

Without waiting for their response, she gracefully raised her hand which made the ground beneath their feet move. She didn't want to bother returning to her "normal size" just yet.
Using her large golden eyes, she inspected each of them with a certain undisguised amusement. They were all truly intimidated, feeling almost insignificant in the face of this immense goddess.
"Two cookies wearing hats... one wearing glasses... one cookie missing an arm... and the last one who is..." Golden Cheese pouted, looking him up and down. "Just brave. So then such a... mediocre team managed to make it to my kingdom through all these errors ! How peculiar... This is even better than I thought ! Now, tell me what brings you here."
She continued to smile, but in a slightly more pained way.

"What brings you to my world filled with illusions and regrets ? To my kingdom of lights, ever brighter in gold ?" she asked with a nonchalant tone, although more bitter than usual.
"Your Majesty, what is it you wish to know ? Once we put them in the monster cages, I guarantee you that they will speak." The voice speaking was that of the goddess's general, arms crossed and a somber expression on his face.
The small team turned around in surprise to look at him, as he stood close to his queen's throne. He was accompanied by Mozzarella and Burnt Cheese, the three of them appearing so small next to the giant woman.

"Hey ! We're here because we were sent by Pure Vanilla !" said Gingerbrave cookie in an attempt to ease the tension. Smoked Cheese clicked his tongue, his chin lifted. Golden Cheese's gaze immediatly changed upon hearing his words, as she slightly straightened up in her throne. Her old friend... He...
"What ? Pure Vanilla...is back ? ...I haven't heard from him since the war..." the woman murmured while rubbing her temple, suddenly looking tormented and absent.
"They've kept insisting that they were sent by Pure Vanilla ever since they arrived" Burnt Cheese informed her, albeit belatedly.
"Then you must have proof, I'd imagine !" Mozzarella said, prompting the young wizard to frantically rummage in his pocket. He pulled out a neatly folded letter and handed it to the blonde woman. She took it with her fingertips.
"Give me that letter. I thought Pure Vanilla was still in hiding... What is this about..." Golden Cheese began, scanning the letter before her expression changed. She quickly became visibly paler.

"H...Huh... Dark Enchantress is... She broke her seal ?!"
She couldn't believe it, but yet... Just how... She could feel herself getting nauseous.
Mozzarella's smile fades, while Burnt Cheese took a deep breath. Although it was pained one.
"Excuse me ? Are you really saying that horrible creature is on the loose again ?!" Smoked Cheese said as his blood ran cold. He swallowed hardly, looking down, while Black Raisin spoke.
"The outside world is already prepared to fight Dark Enchantress. That's why we've come to ask for your help."

The room had fallen silent after she and Gingerbrave Cookie told Golden Cheese the world needed her. Her gaze flicked over to Smoked Cheese. The man didn't say another word. He simply stared at the floor, his fists clenched. Mozzarella was almost avoiding her gaze, while Burnt Cheese tilted his head ever so slightly.
"Listen carefully... Cookies from foreign lands. The Golden Cheese Kingdom... will not be participating in this war." Her response seemed to astound the newcomers.
"But you're one of those Ancients, aren't you? A heroine who protected this world with the power of your soul jam !" attempted one of them, the little wizard.
"A heroine, you say?" Golden Cheese chuckled, still sitting on her throne while absently playing with her cane. "So you think the Ancients are some kind of roaming problem-solvers ? My soul jam is already being used to keep this kingdom alive, which is something the citizens are oblivious to." Her smile faded from her lips and gave way to a grimace, saying in an almost ironic tone. "Yes, indeed. This brilliant, blazing kingdom I built ! Without its queen, it will cease to exist." She then stood up, making herself all the more impressive due to her height in this form. "Then let me be clear. The queen will not leave her kingdom. So you can go back to where you came from."

"But countless people will be in danger !" Black Raisin tried to retort in horror, to which Golden Cheese exclaimed in a stern and intimidating tone.
"Silence !! How dare you question my divine judgment ?" She then let out a tired sigh, nonchalantly sitting back down on her throne. "These outlanders bore me. I wish to retire to the cheese fondue springs. You three, join me and keep me entertained."
"Yes, my queen" Smoked Cheese said with a smirk, while giving a slight bow, his hand on his chest. However, the others politely declined.
"Everyone is preoccupied, I see..." Golden Cheese smiled as she shrank back to her normal size. She positioned herself next to her general. "It'll be just the two of us then, Smoked Cheese."

He smiled back, but it didn't reach his eyes. Dark Enchantress was back. He... He...
This couldn't happen again. His heart pounded painfully in his chest, while his hands had become sweaty. But he didn't let anything show.
Mozzarella had left rather abruptly according to him. She was even nervously biting her fingernail, although she tried to be discreet. He knew. He knew she didn't want their goddess to notice her distress. As for Burnt Cheese... His feelings were a mystery to him. He felt as if he'd become almost unable to understand him over time. Or rather, he hadn't bothered trying ever since...
He didn't want to talk to them.

As they were walking, he watched Golden Cheese for a few moments. She was moving gracefully. As if carefree.
"Your Majesty. I believe it's time for you to take my advice into consideration." He stated, his brows slightly furrowed. It seemed like he had cut short the woman's deep thoughts.
"Hmm? What is it ?" she asked in an uninvolved tone, a smile on her lips.
"The expansion of the kingdom through the power of your soul jam, of course."
"I see you wish to resume that old argument of ours, Smoked Cheese" she stated, ceasing to smile and sounding bored. She pronounced his name in a rather unenthusiastic and pointed manner. "Remember, it was your enormous greed that got you sent to the Colosseum, and yet... You wish to bring it up again ?"
She had stopped walking, which prompted, if not forced, Smoked Cheese to do the same. The man tightened his grip on his staff slightly.

"My greed is only ever on behalf of our glorious kingdom, my queen." He then tried, seeing that Golden Cheese seemed inclined to listen to him. "If Your Majesty took control of the neighboring settlements, would the kingdom not be better protected from the return of Dark Enchantress ? With the power of your soul jam and my monsters, we could increase and multiply the kingdom's strength." He added as his fingers further tightened almost imperceptibly around his staff. "My magic is even stronger than before, as are the monsters I control."
"Smoked Cheese. My power here is already absolute. The Golden City is perfectly safe under my protection." She paused, her expression becoming more serious. "Not to mention... I've already lost what was most precious to me because I was busy elsewhere. I do not plan on repeating the same mistake."
The man simply sighed in response. Golden Cheese then stood in front of him, hands on her hips. She slightly tilted her head forward so that her gaze could meet Smoked Cheese's.
"...Understood." He finally said in a weaker voice. "After all, Your Radiance's strength is yours to wield as you desire."

His answer seemed to satisfy his goddess, who smiled again at his words. She delicately took Smoked Cheese's chin between her fingers, prompting him to raise his head.
"I see you finally understand." Her golden eyes locked with Smoked Cheese's for a few seconds.
He was about to eventually start backing away, but she beat him to it. She let go and turned around, declaring in her radiant voice.
"Let us continue. I have but one desire : to rest my tired old bones in the cheese fondue springs immediately !" she said, stretching and rolling her shoulders, which creaked. She set off again with a brisk step, under Smoked Cheese's darkened gaze.

{Dark Enchantress has returned and yet...Golden Cheese still refuses to listen to me ?}
He was seething with rage, unable to move on. It just seemed... inconceivable. As he gripped his staff even tighter, his nails started digging into his palm.
{I don't suppose she even realizes how much we suffered while she was off fighting alongside those majestic, oh-so-great heroes.}
It had all been so easy for her. Did she even realize it ?

Sure, he may have been healed now - although only partly, seeing his damned immobile wings... He still remembered all the agony he went through. It was haunting him. His memories of the event were all too clear : Burnt Cheese, Mozzarella, Rich Cheese, their people, those children... He had seen them fight for their lives, do everything they could to cling to that fragile thread. But none of them was a "shining hero" after all.
However, everything was better now ! All thanks to their queen had put on that beautiful veil to hide the horrible truth. The truth that surely would've been insurmountable for their "poor miserable souls".
{Bah ! Even for someone who refuses to face reality, this is going way too far...}

Golden Cheese calmly undressed before stepping into the baths. She sighed contentedly, closing her eyes. Smoked Cheese stared at her for a few seconds before his gaze lingered on her souljam.
{After all, without your souljam, you're nothing more than a spoiled, childish brat.}
He looked away the moment the blonde woman opened her eyes. He then removed his collar and other accessories before joining her, while keeping a reasonable distance from her however.

Chapter Text

Golden Cheese couldn't help but smile at Smoked Cheese, carefully observing every detail of his now fully exposed face. He kept averting his gaze however, his eyes visibly looking to the side while he frowned. The blonde woman bit her lower lip as she noticed a slight blush on his cheeks.
However, her train of thought was suddenly interrupted by an enthusiastic voice, which made her realize that they weren't alone alone.
"Ah ! Look over here, Her Majesty has come to the cheese fondue springs !!"
She was then accosted from almost all sides, much to her delight.

"Your Majesty ! To what do we owe the honor of your presence at this hour ?"
"Your Majesty, kyaaa !! Please, an autograph !!" exclaimed a little boy as he jumped straight into the hot spring where she and Smoked Cheese were sitting. Above his head, he was happily holding up a drawing of Golden Cheese and a pen. He walked towards her, a look of immense joy on his face.
"Very well. Your radiant and divine queen will grant your wish" she said, smiling broadly, although she was restraining herself from laughing with tenderness at the little man.
She wiped her hands with the edge of her napkin and then carefully took the sheet of paper and pen that were handed to her. An adorable drawing of her with a big smile, her trusty stick in hand... The boy had especially emphasized the gold of her hair and clothes by using a yellow crayon. He had also drawn a large sun in the upper-right corner of the page.

The woman stared at the drawing for a few moments.
"It... It's so beautiful..." she murmured, stroking the little boy's hair as his eyes widened in wonder.
Everything. Everything reminded her of...
"Your Majesty ? Are you all right ?" the child then asked worriedly. Golden Cheese smiled again, as if nothing had happened.
"What a lucky queen I am ! You see me in a beautiful light, my boy, exactly as I am."
The little child's joy intensified as the woman signed his paper with her autograph.
"You are so bright, sparkling even, my queen !!!" he said, clasping his hands.
"That goes without saying, my..."

"Golden Cheese ! Please help us save the s—" loudly began Wizard cookie immediatly upon rushing into the room. He and his companions were apparently still here to get on her nerves.
Golden Cheese quickly interrupted him. This idiot was about to divulge things he absolutely shouldn't. Smoked Cheese, meanwhile, was putting his hat back on his head as she exclaimed.
"Silence ! You will not interrupt my time of rest." She sighed in annoyance, running a hand through her long, loose blond hair.

"Watch what you say in front of the citizens ; their memories have all been altered so that they are unaware of what this world is really like" Smoked Cheese muttered, his teeth clenched and his face closer to Wizard cookie's. He was holding him by the collar and staring at him with a murderous glare. "We're already struggling to barely maintain peace here. Surely you don't wish to be the cause of this kingdom's downfall into chaos ?" His tone grew increasingly more threatening and annoyed as he spoke.
The little wizard completely lost his cool, stammering out clumsy excuses. Golden Cheese would have told her general to go easier on him, but she hadn't really been bothered by this interaction, so she quickly decided to move on. Furthermore, she knew that Smoked Cheese wouldn't appreciate being constantly reprimanded or questioned for his actions. She figured it was only fair that the one causing his anger would reap what he sow ! Besides that however, something else had prompted her not to intervene...

"Your Majesty ? May I offer you some refreshments ? We've also prepared a platter of charcuterie for you" one of the servants offered, while Golden Cheese was still sitting in the fondue spring. Just what she needed to feel relaxed again, she thought !
"Very well. But a single piece of meat dipped in cheese shall suffice for me. Share the rest with the citizens ! And take some for yourself as well !" she told her, still wearing that big, proud smile on her face.
"Yes, Your Majesty is so kind !!" said the little boy delightedly while grabbing the piece that the servant had offered him with enthusiasm.
"Yes, yes... Hearing my people praise my merits only improves my mood, to be honest !"

Smoked Cheese meanwhile politely declined the plate offered to him. However, he eventually accepted to take a toothpick that had one of his favorite kind of cheese on the end. As he chewed on it, he declared with his trademark slight smile.
"Aren't you, after all, the divine, ever-more resplendent queen of this kingdom ? You deserve all these compliments and more."
She watched Smoked Cheese for a few moments before replying, while eating her meat.
"That's true. I work so hard to earn them, after all... And that's why I made the decision to never leave again." She paused, chewing the meat while frowning slightly. She seemed lost in thought for a moment before she said, "My friends outside of this kingdom may be desperate, worried, or even angry... Yet my strength will still only be used for my own designs."

Smoked Cheese stared at her, looking truly lost. He even stopped smiling as he asked calmly.
"Your Majesty, what do you mean...?"
"What I said was that I won't join the war. Not that I won't be prepared for it." Smoked Cheese raised an eyebrow, while his queen raised her index finger as she added, "I've been using my souljam in the pursuit of happiness. But from now on, I will also use it in the pursuit of safety."

As she spoke, she stood up straight. The Cheesebirds immediately approached to help her put on her bathrobe. As she was tying it around her waist, she declared :
"First... Perhaps we should relocate Mozzarella's control room to a more secure area ?" While she said those last words, she looked at the said room, tapping her lip with her index finger.
As soon as she had spoken, however, a violent jolt rang out. This caused the small team to panic, since they didn't understand what was happening.
Golden Cheese's hand that held her staff was nonchalantly pointed towards the enlarged building.
"Perfect !" she exclamed proudly, congratulating herself in passing. "This way, she'll have a good overview of the kingdom and will be able to detect intruders more efficiently."
She cast a mischievous glance behind her shoulder, where the group was standing, with a slight laugh. However they hardly noticed this little remark, as they were busy gawking at the goddess's powers.
"You can really alter a building just like that ??"
"Oh my cheese..." Smoked Cheese said, staring at the building while massaging his temple. Black Raisin glanced discreetly at him, as he was now also out of the baths and dressed.

"It may be a virtual world, but even so... The power of souljam is truly incredible !" Olive Cookie murmured so that only her companions, Smoked Cheese, and Golden could hear her.
However, she failed to notice the little boy still standing right next to the queen...
"What world, ma'am?" the confused child asked, grinning, which prompted Smoked Cheese to very slowly turn his head towards her.
"Ah ! It's nothing, nothing at all... I just wanted to say that... Wow, Golden Cheese is really impressive !" she hastened to say, which made the child chuckle, clutching his autograph to his heart.
"She's awesome, isn't she ? There's no other kingdom that can be repaired with just a little movement of the hand !"
Black Raisin, who was watching the building still strewn with magic with rapt attention, thought to herself. {With such strength... She would be such a valuable ally in this war against Dark Enchantress. I hope we can find a way to convince her to fight by our side.}

"Alert. Alert." came the voice of one of the cookie robots. "Monsters spotted in the streets."
{Just what we were missing...} sarcastically thought Smoked Cheese, annoyed, while Golden Cheese turned towards their robots that explained the situation more clearly. She then glanced at her general, who sighed.
"Very well. I'll join them then" he said, referring to the robots. "After all... who else would take care of these monsters ?"

"We'll help you too !" exclaimed a member of the group of newcomers, causing Smoked Cheese to grimace. What a mess...
He turned to his goddess.
"Oh, you lots are still here ?" said Golden Cheese, raising her eyebrows. As the others in the team argued among themselves in whispers... The woman considered their proposition while stroking her chin.
"Mh... If you're willing to protect my kingdom, I guess I have no reason to refuse. You may go."
{Thank you, dear beloved goddess, for giving me such a real pain.} thought Smoked Cheese.
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty... We'll be back soon." he affirmed, doing his best to keep a neutral tone. He would make sure to finish this quickly so as not to be too bothered by them and their incessant shouting, he told himself.
"Come on !! Let's go, we'll take care of these monsters together !!" The enthusiasm of that damned adventurous cookie made Smoked Cheese even more tense, and he wrinkled his nose as he was already starting to walk away.

•°•

Smoked rubbed his hands together to dust them off after taking control of the monsters with his smoke. The team seemed genuinely impressed by his skill, which made him smile slightly.
However, he suggested. "After your little demonstration of strength earlier, which I figure must have exhausted you... You're going to need to regain your energy, sooo... Wouldn't this be the perfect time to leave our kingdom ?"
"Huh ? Leave ? No way !! We have to convince Golden Cheese to come fight with us !" Gingerbrave Cookie proudly stated. Smoked Cheese rolled his eyes, snorting in a condescending way.
"Ugh... So you're still hoping she'll help you with her soul jam... Well, give it up. She'll never lend her strength to anyone... And she might even end up using it against you instead if you keep this up." He said his last sentence in a more threatening tone, while absentmindedly tossing his staff from one hand to the other with its magic activated.

"Ouch ! The tingling is back !" moaned one of the cookies, scratching himself almost convulsively. Smoked Cheese held back a sigh yet again as he turned to him.
"What do you mean the 'tingling'..." He fell silent when he saw the sparks and bugs appearing on them. The same ones on the monsters, as Cookie Olive had also noticed. Smoked Cheese immediately ordered for some robots to grab the monsters and put them in a cage... and for others to grab the group of cookies as well. He paid little mind to the protests of those involved. He then asked for them to be placed in Mozzarella's control chamber for examination.

•°•

Mozzarella was playing a game with the cheerful little Fettuccine. She couldn't help but guide her to help her win, which made the young girl squeal with joy.
"Woo happy!!" the little child said in her adorable voice, clapping with her bandaged hands.
Mozzarella looked at her with tenderness and amusement, although she was starting to get a little bored. Fettuccine meanwhile could play the same game endlessly and she'd probably never get tired of it !
"Mm, this isn't fun at all ! Games are boring when you've already mastered everything !"
Mozzarella placed Fettuccine on her lap. The young lady had already started braiding the woman's hair, as she greatly appreciated how long and smooth it was. She took off one of her head accessories and put it on her instead.

"Mozzarella !!" cried a very familiar voice, with a tone that was both grumpy and as dramatic as if it were the end of the world...even though it wasn't, which amused her in advance !
"Oh ? To what do I owe this pleasure, Smoked Cheese ?" She noticed the people beside him. "Mm, maybe it's related to these strangers standing next to you, am I correct ?"
He was struggling to catch his breath, patting the lower-half of his back while leaning forward a little.
"Damn it, I hate running..." he mumbled.
Mozzarella glanced quickly at him before turning to the team complaining about the discomfort. Fettuccine jumped off of her lap, backing away slightly. She stared at the group as well as Smoked Cheese, with her big wide eyes. She still felt quite intimidated by the kingdom's general.

Mozzarella approached them to examine them calmly, after getting their permission. She seemed to be the only serene person among them all.
"Mh... That's simply because you're in the same situation as the monsters that appear in this town."
The members of the group were about to inform her that they had noticed it, except for one of them who immediatly started having an existential crisis...
"So we're monsters too ??"
This made Smoked Cheese roll his eyes in exasperation, while Mozzarella held back a giggle, saying:
"What else can I say ? You did come in here just like them !"
Horror flashed across the cookie's face, but she eventually continued, raising her index finger.

"Unlike us, who are connected to this world solely through our souls, you came into this world with your true bodies."
"So we're...?"
"The longer you stay here, the more you'll suffer from these mistakes ! It's no surprise you're in so much pain." Mozzarella said, still beaming with joy and completely unperturbed.
"So then just like the monsters, they arrived with their full-fleshed forms and have been causing mistakes ever since they got here..." Smoked Cheese sighed, annoyed, as he moved to close the distance between them. "We need to take care of this immediately. I shall envelop you in my smoke and control your minds to ensure your departure."

The least painful offer he'd made to them since the start... However, it obviously didn't appeal to anyone involved.
Black Raisin initially seemed flabbergasted, while muttering quite audibly.
"You think you can send us out of here just like that...??" Seeing Smoked Cheese's stare, she stiffened with anger. "I suppose your luxurious and comfortable lifestyle has made you completely delusional ! We can't just be controlled like your monsters ! We won't leave until..."
Mozzarella grimaced as she heard her first sentence. Meanwhile Smoked Cheese didn't even pay attention to what she said afterwards.

"Luxurious and comfortable, you say ?" he replied, his voice mockingly amused but already letting his resentment shine through.
He suddenly moved closer to her, his hand tightening on his staff.
"You filthy little..." he began, his voice filled with rage and disdain. He reached out to Black Raisin, who took a step back. However, Mozzarella quickly grabbed the man's arm, urging him to move away.
"Smoked Cheese, enough..." She had to tighten her grip on him to avoid letting go, as he assured her with a dark gaze.
"Just wait until I take control of your brain, and I'll make sure to take control of that damn mouth as well !" he angrily stated. He pulled away from Mozzarella with a sharp movement, as if ready to move closer to the group again, but...

"What in the name of cheese is going on here ? I haven't heard from you ever since the monsters's intrusion, and now I find you in the middle of a commotion. Can't any of you just contain yourselves ?" Golden Cheese appeared, positioning herself right in the middle, between the foreigners cookies, Smoked Cheese and Mozzarella. The goddess then turned to her general, looking annoyed.
"Smoked Cheese. I seem to recall telling you not to use your powers on other cookies. But it seems you forgot."
Smoked Cheese wanted to say something in response, but he refrained. Instead, he placed his hand on his upper chest, leaning forward in a slight bow.
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty. Anxiety merely got the better of me due to all these uncontrollable errors..." he spoke, his tone calm and collected once again.
"These errors are nothing I can't solve. Or do you plan on using your smoke on Fettuccine as well ?"
Smoked Cheese took a slight step back in surprise, before gritting his teeth. The girl in question, who was tending to one of the robot cookies, let out a small squeal at Golden Cheese's words. She ran over to Mozzarella and hid behind her. The woman turned to place her hand on the little girl's head.
"Mister Grumpy isn't going to do anything to you, don't worry !" she said in a low voice to reassure her, while kneeling down to be on her level.

"I see... As you said, Fettuccine is causing errors... and has thus created a crack in this world... But I indeed don't intend to do anything to her."
Golden Cheese, seeing that he seemed to have understood, turned to speak with the small team to encourage them to go out exploring the city with her.
{This world was built by Golden Cheese's strength... But could it be that errors can cause a crack in this world... No, in Golden Cheese herself...?} he thought. {In that case, I will be able to use her weakness to my advantage and steal away her soul jam.} This idea, although it seemed crazy, was becoming more and more tempting to him. It was hard to get it out of his head... {And finally, I can take over the other kingdoms and block Dark Enchantress's advance without that brat getting in my way !}

Mozzarella discreetly stared at Smoked Cheese for a few moments. He seemed to be getting increasingly... strange. Which worried her. She figured she should watch him more carefully from now on.

Chapter Text

•°•

Later that day, some monsters were blocking the group's path once again.
Smoked Cheese quickly joined them and controlled the attackers with his smoke, which earned him the thanks of Golden Cheese... and the annoyance of the little wizard.
"Well, well... We're the ones dealing with all these errors, and yet Smoked Cheese always swoops in at the end and takes all the credit !"

The blonde paid him no mind however and instead asked her general :
"So then, do we agree that these errors are no longer a threat to our kingdom?"
"That goes without saying, Your Majesty. Furthermore, no residents were harmed." He replied, smiling, while looking over the surroundings one last time. Meanwhile, Golden Cheese pursed her lips.
"Hm. Lock those monsters up and keep an eye on them just to be sure."
Behind her, Olive sniffed the air, feeling bothered by the scent.
"Have any of you noticed that smoky smell, too ?" the young woman asked as her gaze lingered on Smoked Cheese. The man stared at her for a few moments before replying.
"...I just used my smoke on those monsters, surely that's explains it ?"
"Oh, is that so ? I'm sure I sensed that smell since even earlier, when we first got here... Or I might be I'm mistaken..." the young lady murmured, scratching the back of her neck with visible confusion.

Smoked Cheese simply coughed into his fist before turning back towards his queen to discuss the treatment of the monsters.
"It's your responsibility to keep these monsters in check. Ensure that no harm comes to the kingdom whatsoever... Understood ?" stated Golden Cheese, causing Smoked Cheese to frown imperceptibly.
He finally declared as his smile faded from his face :
"...Yes, I solemnly promise to fulfill my duty."

After that, Golden Cheese invited the group of cookies to enter High Priest Cheesenbird's House of Prayer... However the sight that awaited them there was most astonishing.
Olive looked at her notes, taken aback by the chaos reigning in the place... even though it was supposed to be calm and peaceful for all who came here.
"This is completely out of the norm" said Golden Cheese, as she came to that same realization.

As they approached, they found Burnt Cheese standing near the priest, watching over him. He spoke to him as well as all the other denizens around :
"Everyone needs to evacuate. Capturing all these monsters might take some time."
"Very well, Cheezbirdz, it's time for you to fly out of here ! And in an orderly manner, please..." the priest said in his slow, calm voice, while Burnt Cheese escorted them. The birds flew hurriedly but they remained organized, doing their best not to flutter in panic... Smoked Cheese couldn't help but admire Burnt Cheese's patience.
Meanwhile, Golden Cheese was all the more worried when she noticed some burns, albeit rather superficial, on his body. She exclaimed :
"Burnt Cheese ! What in Cheese's name is happening ?"
He explained that these monsters were causing strange electric shocks, preventing him and his animals from entering in... which further confused the queen.

"Look at the ground, it's flashing again !" Black Raisin warned them in a hurry, though everyone had noticed before she could even finish her sentence. Part of the ground had turned black, glitchy, as it seemingly lead...to the void. To nothingness.
"Is this...an error ? Chirp !!" the priest exclaimed, while Golden Cheese looked furious.
"How... dare they ruin what belongs to me ?!"
She then ordered Burnt Cheese to deal with the monsters that were ruining the prosperity and peace of her beloved kingdom.

After everyone finished fighting them off, Burnt Cheese turned, intrigued, towards Smoked Cheese—who had spoken of locking up these newly neutralized monsters.
"Smoked Cheese, now that I think about it, there was a strange smell of smoke in the House of Prayer... Were you inside, by any chance ?" he said to him, while the others chatted among themselves. In response, Smoked Cheese clasped his hands, while declaring with an overly serious look on his face :
"Ah, with all the disconcerting news from the outside, I was in need of hearing the comforting words of the High Priest..."
Although he couldn't see the top part of Burnt Cheese's face, he was convinced that the man had rolled his eyes at him judging from the almost-grimace on his mouth.
"But more seriously, Burnt Cheese. This is genuinely disturbing me more than you think. I don't want... any of this to happen again. Surely you understand what I'm getting at ? I do have a lot of respect for our priest, even if I have... let's face it, a temper. I wanted to get my mind off of things. And to feel somewhat... reassured." His voice sounded much calmer and more sincere.
Burnt Cheese remained silent for several long seconds before simply nodding his head.
Smoked Cheese suppressed a smirk. Burnt Cheese seemed to be buying it... At least for now.

"These creatures seem very dangerous" Burnt Cheese said, pointing at them with his index finger. He pursed his lips. "It... It would be wiser to send them beyond the borders of our kingdom instead... Or to execute them directly."
Smoked Cheese could understand perfectly where his concern was coming from. These monsters were most responsible for his demise during the war. Burnt Cheese, although he tried to appear indifferent, showed discreet signs of discomfort around them.
However, Smoked Cheese simply replied, placing his hand on his shoulder.
"Rest assured. We are perfectly safe now that I have them under my control thanks to my smoke. They will be locked in their cages and will remain unable to harm anyone."

Burnt Cheese gritted his teeth slightly.
"As the Gatekeeper of the Kingdom... I do not understand why we keep such dangerous creatures within our walls." He emphasized each and every one of his words as if to make Smoked Cheese realize... To imply that he...
"Perhaps, you are suggesting that I am amassing these dangerous beings in here on purpose, Burnt Cheese ?" the Queen's general replied, his brows furrowed. His tone was calm but the way he pronounced his name sounded almost contemptuous. He had dug his index finger into Burnt Cheese's chest, yet the man hadn't moved an inch. His grimace deepened, although still rather discreet.

"How disrespectful to raise your voices in front of your queen !" Golden Cheese suddenly intervened, her fists resting on her hips. She moved closer to them, as she had been alerted to their argument by Adventurer Cookie. "Why waste time arguing when you should be focusing on protecting our Golden City ? THIS is our first and foremost priority. Do you understand ?"
Burnt Cheese immediately came to his senses, turning to face her. He placed his hand on his chest and bowed, as he apologized to her for his behavior and promised to be ready to obey her orders.

"And you, Smoked Cheese. I shall give you more time to satisfy your greed and fill your cages to the brims with monsters." Golden Cheese affirmed, which seemed to surprise more than one person. She then raised her index finger. "However. Once the kingdom is secured, I shall empty said cages of all monsters myself, is that clear ?"
This quickly brought back a smile on Smoked Cheese's face, who bowed in turn.
"Thank you for trusting me so graciously, Your Majesty."
Golden Cheese stared at him for a long time before finally sighing.
"All this hard work for my Kingdom has made me peckish ! There is a fine cheese restaurant close by, let us go there." She exclaimed, patting her stomach.

Meanwhile, Smoked Cheese returned to his precious cages with a proud step. Although Burnt Cheese undoubtedly had his suspicions, there was nothing he could do to actually accuse him. Everything was going according to plan. These monsters were perfect, after all... He, who had spent so many years absolutely loathing them, was only now seeing their true potential.

•°•

Another error occurred, this time disrupting the system of one of its inhabitants. This further confused Golden Cheese, who had never encountered errors of such magnitude in the past. Her and the group of outsider cookies quickly got rid of the monsters attacking the poor young man.
"How is this possible... My souljam has practically... never failed to satisfy my desires before..." Golden Cheese muttered, more to herself than to the others.

However, Black Raisin heard it and, as she still felt bothered by the incident with the smoky scent, she couldn't help but say :
"Golden Cheese... Maybe there's something else at play... That smoky smell follows us wherever these errors occur. Don't you find that strange ?"
"A smoky smell ? Are you really speaking of Smoked Cheese's smoke ?"
"That's right... What I mean to say is, this whole thing might be related to him..." Black Raisin suggested. She immediatly saw Golden Cheese's gaze wander off into space. However, the woman replied.
"I suppose... That could be the case... But... Smoked Cheese may have a, shall we say, spicy temper. Mozzarella, on the other hand, may be soft-willed at times. And High Priest Cheesenbird may seem clueless to anything but his flock... Despite this, they are all loyal subjects who have worked and lived together since a long, long time ago... I do not doubt their devotion to our Golden Kingdom."
She paused for a moment before continuing.
"Smoked Cheese was one of the first inhabitants of my kingdom. I've known him for... I can't even recall how many years ; I might go as far as to say I know him better than almost anyone. I know he seemed unfriendly to you, but I trust him. And that's why I gave him time. He'll eventually come to his senses after satisfying his greed." She had said all of this with an almost nostalgic smile. "Besides, there's nothing to fear from those monsters anymore anyway !"

"But Smoked Cheese..." Black Raisin began worriedly. However, Golden Cheese had already changed the subject.
"Ah, here ! See ? The excellent cheese restaurant I was telling you about !" she exclaimed delightedly. "I'll treat you all to a delicious meal as a reward for your help, just you wait !"

As they enjoyed the feast, Golden Cheese offered them the chance to live here with their families and friends. They all politely declined, which initially confused her greatly. They then informed her that there were still a few cheesebirds alive and present outside, which further baffled her.
"I had completely...forgotten about them..."
After what she had learned...what she had discovered, she had forfeited any and all connection with the outside world. And yet... They were still there... Still hoping to see her again one day. All of this was more painful than she would have thought. She couldn't bring herself to leave her kingdom... But still...
No, she couldn't afford it. Never again.

•°•

{I shall end the sad, dark ages of your rule to replace it and shine a new light on the Golden Kingdom!} thought Smoked Cheese triumphantly, smiling while he looked at the monsters... His monsters.
He took the key, contemplated it for a few moments... And finally opened the door.

A violent jolt suddenly shook the city.
Numerous screams began to rang out, making Golden Cheese's blood run cold.
"Wh-what the-"
So many people were already running helplessly, pushing each other, crying.
"This giant beetle is eating away at the building !" Olive exclaimed, pointing at the enormous monster standing on one side of the large structure, rapidly devouring it. Several people were made to fall because of it, but Golden Cheese immediately intervened, spreading her wings and flying to their rescue.

"Everyone ! Are you okay ??" Mozzarella exclaimed, shouting as loudly as possible to be heard. She moved closer to the small group as her eyes landed on her goddess, who was quickly roaming through the air while saving numerous people with ease.
"Look !! Mozzarella's tower is also being devoured by another monster !!" one of them yelled out. However, they realized that this one was actually taking control of the building instead. While the others went to fight, Mozzarella ordered all the robots to evacuate their people and get them to safety immediately.

•°•

Golden Cheese had just finished rescuing all the inhabitants. However, the little boy she had spoken to earlier in the cheese fondue springs clung to her, sobbing. She stroked his head tenderly ; he was shaking and terrified.
"You're safe now, your queen saved you" she gently assured him, with a smile meant to be comforting.
Finally, his mother who had been furiously looking for him among the crowd arrived towards them. She thanked the goddess profusely, cradling her still-crying child into her arms. This time, she was relieved.

"Mozzarella ? Is the evacuation complete ?" Golden Cheese asked, turning to the person in question, who was in the middle of calculating.
"Just a moment... It seems there's just one person missing."
The queen didn't have to think for even a second more before she immediately realized who it was. However, she said :
"Don't tell me it's... Smoked Cheese...?"
Loud noises rang out. Mozzarella gave her queen an almost apologetic look.
"I'm afraid that's the case..."

"Ha ha, dear citizens, listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you !"
The two women, as well as the denizens and the small team of outsiders, all turned to the man in question. He was accompanied by an army of monsters and wore a sinister smile, his gaze proud and dark.
The High Priest, quite panicked and worried, stammered.
"Smoked Cheese ! What took you so long, chirp chirp ! And why do you look so... so..." He couldn't recognize the person he had known all these years. A young man who had always had a nasty temper but also a kind heart. That facial expression... That just wasn't him. The priest began to approach Smoked Cheese, but Mozzarella placed herself at his side, urging him to back away with her.
"High Priest Cheesenbird, stay back" she told him. She had completely lost her usual smile.
The priest, still wary, complied, which Smoked Cheese immediately noticed. The old bird cast an almost anguished glance towards Golden Cheese, who knew this man better than anyone...
But her face remained closed off and imperturbable.

"Are you afraid ? Are you suffering ? I know you're struggling to know the reason why. Your fear is caused directly by the silence of Golden Cheese ! She used her power to hide the truth from you !" Smoked Cheese yelled out his accusation, with rage and disdain.
"Smoked Cheese !" exclaimed Burnt Cheese first, his fist clenched. "Don't insult Her Majesty ! And stop-..."
"They say the power of a hero is greater than all else ! So then why did this so-called hero's building collapse without a trace ?!" Smoked Cheese fumed, pointing behind him, before calming down a bit and continuing to speak with an ironic tone. "Don't you find it strange ? Do you really think this city is a perfect paradise created by 'your goddess' ?" These last two words were spoken with such disdain that Mozzarella paled sharply while the priest nearly choked.

Smoked Cheese raised his arms, still holding his staff illuminated with magic outstretched in one hand.
"Look around you !! Look at the horrible truth of this supposedly perfect kingdom !!" the man cried, his words reaching everyone.
The ground turned black, filled with bugs, causing even greater incomprehension. Panic was beginning to seriously take hold in the kingdom.

Golden Cheese, meanwhile, was staring intently at Smoked Cheese.
"I gave you my time... And my trust. Yet this is how you repay me ?" she said in a voice that sounded distant and almost unrecognizable...but above all, hurt. She kept looking at the man who she had thought she knew all this time.
"What pathetic lies you told ! We have nothing left but our souls drowning in this void" he affirmed, paying no mind to what she said. "Every single one of our bodies was slaughtered, destroyed during the Dark Flour War and we were left in the dark, in tombs long-since forgotten by all !"
Golden Cheese yelled at him :
"Silence !!! Smoked Cheese, I command you !!" while pointing the end of her weapon at him...albeit from a distance. He continued, however, shouting even louder.
"This Golden City is not an illusion, but a fucking delusion !!!"

Everyone's memories began to return upon hearing his words.
"Those monsters, they... They tore us apart..."
"My body... Where is my body ??"
Some were crying, clutching their family members, their friends, others were screaming in anguish, in fear...
"E... Everyone, calm down... You have to calm down... I... I can explain..." However, no one gave her time to ; all the denizens were too terrified.
"And... And the princess..." one of the voices whispered, making her freeze with dread.
"Rich... Rich Cheese, that was her name ! She was always looking out for us !" realized one of the kingdom's oldest inhabitants.
Everyone gathered around her... Begging her... Fearing for their lives... for their family...
She... felt like she was going to suffocate.

The High Priest, seeing the queen's dismay and sadness, urged her to leave the place so as to find somewhere safe to hide while everyone calmed down a little.

Chapter Text

Golden Cheese glanced back at her people once more. Her beautiful, golden people, who were already sinking so deep into chaos...
She bit her lower lip with regret before finally replying to the priest.
"V... Very well. Keep the situation under control, please..."
After saying these words, she flew away, keeping a reasonable distance from the others. Her heart was pounding in her chest... Her hands were sweaty and trembling. She was struggling to breathe calmly.

"Ha ha ! Fly, fly high and far, far away..."
Smoked Cheese murmured, gloating and mocking. His gaze remained dark, but a smile was stretched across his lips. While he watched her flee. At last, her cowardice had become visible to all now.
He turned to his monsters, whom he commanded.
"My dear monsters. Hold back the troublemakers from outside."
He then focused his gaze on his people once again, as he tightened his grip on his staff.

"While you were all blinded by this supposedly perfect dream, the threat of war has resurfaced ! Dark Enchantress has returned. I shall destroy this false illusion to create in its stead a new and much more powerful kingdom, that'll be fully prepared for war this time around !"
Some cried out in fear, while others listened to him, their faces closed off... as if to show their resolve.
"So then, to those who wish to follow me in my quest, now is the time to show your support ! All of you shall be rewarded after the rise of this new kingdom !"
Several people started making their way towards him, after some hesitation.

However, Mozzarella gave a loud order that took everyone by surprise.
"Marzipan cookies, surround the denizens ! Ensure that no one can escape."
She emphasized the word "no one" to make it even clearer. Golden Cheese looked at her with an expression that displayed an ever greater distress.
"M...Mozzarella...? You too...!"
A feeling of utter betrayal and astonishment distorted her voice. She felt so helpless. She was struggling to fully comprehend what was even happening to her, but she could very much feel the pain of it all. She, who had wanted nothing more than to make them as happy as possible, to fulfill all their needs... She, who had always loved them so much. Did they... despise her all along ? Did they really resent her that much ? But yet, ever since the events of the Dark Flour War, she had always felt like she was doing everything in her power to make them her first priority.

Mozzarella held back a grimace, as she looked away so she wouldn't have to meet Golden Cheese's gaze. She could already imagine the extent of her queen's sadness even if she didn't see for herself just how strong and profound it was.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty... I had no other choice" she merely said, appearing firm in her decision.

Meanwhile, Smoked Cheese was still euphoric and bursting into laughter.
"Ha ha ! Look at you, the all-powerful goddess fleeing into the sky to escape her own subjects ! How unbecoming of you !" he exclaimed, chuckling even more. "Everything is going precisely as I planned. It's quite disappointing... Yet satisfying at the same time..."
Golden Cheese yelled out an order with a voice that was once again firm and powerful, as she tightened her grip on her weapon. She was floating at a reasonable distance from the ground.
"Smoked Cheese. I'm giving you one last chance ! Beg and plead for my forgiveness immediately !! If you comply, I shall listen to your apology and then decide on your punishment."

Upon hearing those words, Smoked Cheese repeated, laughing even louder :
"Your pardon ?" He continued in a more casual tone. "You're pretty damn confident about your ability to defeat me. Well then ! Let's see how far your arrogance can take you !"
Smoked Cheese pointed his idex finger at Golden Cheese, prompting his levitating monsters to gather up and surround her. Bugs began crawling all over the woman's body, immobilizing her.
"Wh-What the..."
Black Raisin immediately ordered for her crows to come to her aid. One of the birds got injured by the monsters, while the others managed to take out two of them. Golden Cheese, however, couldn't maintain her balance under all the attacks : she fell and crashed down sideway against the ground. She tried to get up but was promptly pinned down by the other monsters.
The woman could feel a sharp burn coming from the arm she'd landed on, which made her grit her teeth in pain. Although she was tough, she feared it might have been too damaged.

The small team started to rush towards her, but Smoked Cheese beat them to it, approaching his former queen quickly. He remained quiet for a few seconds. He could see that she was very much alive and frustrated at having been tricked in such a way. He knew that if he had killed her, he would never have...

Golden Cheese couldn't even see his face, as her head was completely stuck to the ground and held in place by his damned bugs. Suddenly, she heard his laugh, still as triumphant and euphoric as ever.
"Ha ha ha ha !! You'll regret being so arrogant for the rest of your miserable life !!"
He crouched down in front of her, which meant she was finally able to see his expression. Cruel and victorious. Golden Cheese held back tears of rage.
"Souljam !! It's time to welcome your new master !!" he exclaimed, his hand hovering over Golden Cheese's forehead. His nails roughly grabbed the souljam and he ripped it off.
The artefact didn't seem too cooperative at first, but all of a sudden a violent light filled the surrounding area... Indicating that it had accepted Smoked Cheese as its new owner.

The man contemplated the precious item in his hand before slipping it on as an accessory. It clung to him, as if it were now a part of him. As if it...
He laughed again. However, his laughter had changed. The gleam in his eyes had changed.
All his hesitations, his remorse had completely disappeared. He could feel all this immense power coursing through him. Devoid of any weakness, he felt like he could do anything... Absolutely anything.
Starting with his damned useless, decorative wings. Pathetic.
He nonchalantly raised his hand. He immediatly felt a tremor coming from his back. He started doing the exact same movements... The ones he used to always do... to make his wings move. And it worked.
His now-functioning wings fluttered, spread out. He let out an exclamation of joy followed by a laugh as his feet began to leave the ground.
"So this is the strength of a hero !!" he yelled, looking at his hands : one of them from which all that magic was eminating...and the other, still holding his trusty magic staff.

"Thanks to this power... I'll finally be able to accomplish all I've ever wished for from now on."
He had many ideas. But one in particular couldn't leave his mind... It was ever so present in his thoughts...

"Enough... Smoked Cheese... Give me back my souljam immediately !" Golden Cheese commanded weakly, finally able to stand back up. She held her aching arm, feeling her body weak and exhausted.
Smoked Cheese moved closer to her again and smiled as he cupped the lower part of her face in his hand. His thumb pressed against her cheek. He declared, his gaze unsteady and still laughing slightly :
"Golden Cheese, give up and watch."
He circled her like a wild animal confronting its prey. He stopped behind her back, grabbing her wrist. His other hand pinned her, his staff pressed against her body.
"From now on, this kingdom will follow my rules !" he said, his voice filled with confidence and anticipation. Golden Cheese wanted to elbow him in the stomach, but she was too slow from exhaustion and Smoked Cheese dodged by moving away first, indifferently. He tapped his stick against the palm of his hand.

"Souljam, I command you ! This entire kingdom shall obey me to the letter !" he ordered, his voice powerful and stern. He raised his weapon above his head, shouting these last words with rage.
A violent jolt was felt, but nothing happened.
The souljam wouldn't obey. Even though it was now a part of him, it... A violent pain shot through his heart, as if it had stopped beating for a few seconds. He let out a pained cry, holding his hand up to his chest, before his anger started to grow even stronger.
"Obey !! Obey !!!" his nails were digging into his own skin. "Accept me wholly, just as you did with Golden Cheese !!"
"No ! You must not change the kingdom's design so hastily !" Golden Cheese told him hurriedly. However, it was already too late. The ground began to shake violently.

"Transform...and obey...me !!!" His wings began to fill with bugs and tremble again, which only increased his haste and his resolve to get what he wanted.
"I don't give a damn if this world turns to dust !! Obey me !! Now !!!" Smoked Cheese shouted, causing another general panic among the denizens.
Golden Cheese knew at that moment with certainty that he was no longer the same. He would never have done this...
Mozzarella, meanwhile, although stunned by the man's words, said in a calm and implacable voice :
"Marzipan cookies. Open the road and bring the citizens to safety !"

"Everyone !! Be careful of..." Golden Cheese began, covering her own head, but it was too late.
The ground collapsed beneath their feet, and everyone screamed as they fell down.

They found themselves in Golden Cheese's temple, where the tombs were located. The place appeared quite dark and morbid, offering a stark contrast to the rest of the city. Reality and illusion had fully blended together.
"My people ?! Is everyone okay ??" Golden Cheese cried out, terrified and terribly worried for them.
She noticed Burnt Cheese and Mozzarella, huddled together. They were both protecting each other, trying to cover the other's head.
{I wasn't going to lose my little brother a second time in such a boring way !} Mozzarella thought to herself as she sat back up. She had a few scratches, but nothing too severe. She tidied her clothes while Burnt Cheese stood up as if nothing had happened. He ran his hand under his bleeding nose.

"Uh, what exactly even is this place ?" muttered one of the citizens.
"Is everyone really okay...??" Golden Cheese muttered. She could barely believe her eyes, still completely stunned. It was the Marzipan Cookies who, under Mozzarella's orders, had activated the protection protocol to prevent serious injuries or worse.

Meanwhile, Smoked Cheese was breathing rapidly nearby, his heart aching. Not because of the fall, but because of the souljam.
The souljam... It had disobeyed him... It had granted his request to regain his functioning wings, but...he hadn't been able to take control of the kingdom.
{Urgh...What could have stopped me...from taking over..}
He wondered if mayhaps the reason was...due to Golden Cheese's presence. However, he started to look around at the tombs.
Rich Cheese's... empty... Nothing of her was even left here... Not her body, not her soul...!!
He knew that all too well and yet still couldn't quite fathom it. She was so close to him... and he had failed. But...

"Smoked Cheese is over there ! Be careful, everyone..." Black Raisin warned the others immediatly upon noticing his presence. Mozzarella hadn't excluded him from this security protocol.

Smoked Cheese's focus remained on this damned empty tomb. Why. Why.
But maybe... This damned Souljam was disobeying him to take control of the kingdom for the time being. However it had very much given him back his wings !
"If you are indeed the Souljam of abundance, then surely you can prove it to me !" Smoked Cheese suddenly exclaimed, as he stared at the artefact with full concentration. His fingers tightened, while his arm was outstretched. His nose began to bleed.

"Sm...Smoked Cheese, cease this at once !" Golden Cheese tried to order him, although she didn't understand what exactly he was trying to do. Still, he ignored her. "You're going to end up killing us all, including yourself in the process !!" she kept yelling at him, but he gave no response.
She stood in front of her people, accompanied by Burnt Cheese, as if to protect them from him.
Mozzarella, meanwhile, had remained close to her robots. Fettuccine was clinging onto her dress as the woman covered her with her arm. The little girl was watching fearfully what was happening.

And suddenly, she appeared. Riddled with bugs. Her gaze unfocused. Looking just as she did the last time Golden Cheese had seen her... before losing her forever. Her hair shining golden, her clothes matching the accessory she'd given to her mother—which she never took off. Her entiere appearance was the exact same, except for that look in her eyes...

Smoked Cheese watched Rich Cheese intently, smiling even wider. However, there was nothing sane about this smile anymore.
He rushed over and grabbed her in his arms. Damn it, how long... how long had he been waiting for this moment. The sensation of holding her in his arms was exactly as he'd imagined, he convinced himself of that.
Errors were running through Rich Cheese's body, but she was there. She was there. It was her.
She didn't hug him back, but that... that wasn't so bad. What mattered was that she was there. He wouldn't lose her again. He cupped her face in his hands, tears burning in his eyes.

"Oh my Richie, everything will be okay now ! I'm taking charge from now on, so no one can hurt you again. I'll never allow it, do you hear me ?"
Rich Cheese looked up at him and a smile spread across her lips. A smile that held no life or real joy, but Smoked Cheese clung to it. He smiled back, his hands trembling slightly.

"Sm-Smoked Cheese...You fool... You absolute fool..." Golden Cheese whispered, tears running down her cheeks. Tears of sadness and anger.
She felt like her heart was being ripped out of her chest. She didn't want this illusion, this falsehood, to be the last image she would have of her daughter... Oh, how she resented Smoked Cheese and his fit of madness...as well as despair.
"What ? Rich Cheese is here, she's back. She'll always be here now ! I guess, despite everything, the soul jam proves itself to be more powerful within my grasp..."

"Rich... Rich Cheese... She'll never come back, can you hear me ?!" Golden Cheese screamed in despair and helplessness, tears subsequently trapping her throat. She felt as if she were suffocating, while Smoked Cheese merely stared at her.
He then burst out laughing, much to her regret. "What in the world are you talking about, you fallen queen ? Did the loss of your soul jam makes you lose your head as w..."

"I lied, I lied ! I myself was blinded by vain hopes of seeing Rich Cheese again, but she... she'll never come back, her soul was destroyed, annihilated, just like her body. I still wanted to remain hopeful despite it all, but I... but I know that I've lost her forever !! My dear, beloved daughter will never...never..."
She couldn't even finish her sentence.

Smoked Cheese watched her as she began to sob uncontrollably. Completely unable to calm down.
Tears began to stream down Mozzarella's cheeks as well, but she remained motionless. She turned her head away, her mouth trembling, while Fettuccine looked at her in panic.
"Your... highness..." Burnt Cheese fell to his knees, pressing his hand against Golden Cheese's shoulder. His mouth twisted as he removed his headgear. Tears escaped his eyes as he couldn't hold them back.
She, who was so confident... They thought she was capable of anything...
Black Raisin felt her body tense and her pity for her... for them... grow.

Smoked Cheese, however, remained impassive. Almost annoyed. He had his arm around Rich Cheese's shoulders, holding her close to him.
"Don't be so pathetic, all of you ! Rich Cheese is right in front of you, and yet all you can do is cry as if..."
"You're the one who's pathetic, Smoked Cheese !!" Golden Cheese cried out, her throat nearly tearing appart from her sobs. "Don't you think..." She let out a cursed word, before looking at 'Rich Cheese'. "She's not my daughter !! She's just a damn illusion..."
Smoked Cheese was about to retort 'humorously'. However, his eyebrows furrowed and his face clenched.
"You're judging me oh so harshly, but don't you forget you were the queen of illusions..."

However, Golden Cheese cut him off. She couldn't even bear to look at this illusion any longer. Of her daughter. This pale, empty copy. Meanwhile her dear child was so filled with life, doubts, passion...the same passion that inhabited her. That they shared.

She could never tolerate such an affront.
"She will never replace her because she has no soul, she is not and will never be my daughter ! Her 'body' isn't even solid because it doesn't even truly exist !! I could have... I could have done this from the beginning, you know. But I didn't because it would have been... It would have been such a profound disrespect to Rich's memory !!"
"Shut up... Shut up..." Smoked Cheese repeated, muttering madly while she spoke. His magic was pulsing ; he needed to prove it. He needed to prove her wrong.

"Dad..."
'Rich Cheese' suddenly whispered, causing him to let out an exclamation followed by laughter. An insane laugh that made his lungs feel as if they were burning. He scratched his cheek until it bled, all the while continuing to cackle.

"She called me 'Dad' when I lost my wings during the battle because of you, you know that ? It was one of the first times it had happened, and oh how I longed for it to happen again... Because I knew it ! I knew it would happen !"
His gaze wandered over their people gathered around. They were all staring at him with fear, with terror. But he knew why that was. Because he still hadn't taken control of this kingdom. All of this, once again, because of Golden Cheese. Once he did, they would understand ! Furthermore, they would finally realize that he had successfully resurrected their beloved princess.