The Destruction

As chaos consumed the Black Citadel, the Cookies of Darkness stood together, witnessing the long-awaited fall of the Great Wall. Pomegranate's eyes sparkled with anticipation, relishing the unfolding turmoil.

"The Great Wall is finally falling... I have looked forward to this moment." She remarked, her voice filled with a sinister delight.

"All thanks to my powers over the Licorice Sea! He he!" Licorice chimed in, his laughter bubbling with satisfaction. He then turned his attention to Dark Choco. "...But Dark Choco Cookie, what do we do next?"

"Dark Cacao Cookie's Soul Jam waits somewhere within the citadel. ...Someplace dark, deep inside, I'd wager. We have to find it. But knowing how much he trusts Mochaccino Cookie, I doubt getting there will be anywhere close to easy due to the security measures." Dark Choco mused, his words carrying a weight of caution.

"You seem well prepared. I will leave the rest in your... capable hands. After all, you know the way around the castle better than any of us." Pomegranate declared, her expression grave. "We do not have the luxury of time. Find the Soul Jam and raze the castle to the ground before sunrise."

"This'll be a piece of cake! Dark Enchantress Cookie will finally acknowledge my genius and fervor! He he he!" Licorice exclaimed, brimming with confidence.

"No more chatter. It's time to attack." Dark Choco commanded, his voice devoid of warmth. "Let's give the Dark Cacao Kingdom a cold and heartless end befitting it."

"Let's give them shroomies too... Wait for me...!" Poison Mushroom interjected, their voice quivering with excitement. They darted into the enveloping darkness of the night, eager to join their comrades in the impending assault.

Meanwhile, atop the towering Great Chocolate Wall, Gingerbrave and his companions raced across its expansive surface, their footsteps echoing amidst the vast emptiness.

Strawberry's voice trembled with unease as she voiced her concerns, "Is it really safe for us to be the first up on the walls...?"

"It's not like we have any other option! Caramel Arrow Cookie and Mochaccino Cookie went somewhere else to look for the king!" Chili Pepper snapped, her frustration evident.

"Maybe something happened? Neither of them didn't seem like the type of Cookies to break a promise." Wizard pondered, his tone filled with hope.

"Oooh boy, this is way too high up! I'm getting dizzy...!" Custard III exclaimed, his complexion turning ashen.

"Stay calm and don't look down!" Gingerbrave advised, his grip tightening around his spear and shield.

"Too late... I LOOKED DOWN!" Chili Pepper cried out, her eyes fixed on the periphery of the wall. To her surprise, she spotted a dark figure scaling the wall. "Huh...? What's that dark thing down there? It almost looks like... it's climbing the wall!"

"Oh no... The ground is shaking!!!" Strawberry shouted, sensing the tremors reverberating through the earth.

"AHHH! Hold tight!" Gingerbrave urged, battling to maintain his composure.

"Wh-what's going on?! Is it an earthquake?" Chili Pepper questioned, her voice laden with worry.

"No... This is not an earthquake..." Wizard muttered, his brow furrowed in deep concern. "The wall! The wall is collapsing! AAAGH!!! At this rate, we're toast!"

"RUN! We need to get into the castle!" Gingerbrave bellowed, taking the lead as they dashed forward.

With every ounce of speed they could muster, the five companions raced toward the castle, their legs propelling them through a narrow gap in the crumbling wall.

By a hair's breadth, they narrowly evaded being crushed by the falling debris, their hearts pounding in their chests as they escaped to safety.

"Phew! We barely made it. I almost lost my hat on the way..." Wizard sighed, his breath ragged and labored.

"You there! Trespassers! Who let you in here?! And why are you donning the armors of Mochaccino Cookie?!" One of Affogato's disciples interrogated, his voice demanding answers.

"The castle walls have fallen! Everyone has to get to safety! And the armor was given to us by Mochaccino Cookie himself!" Gingerbrave retorted, his voice strained with urgency.

"What nonsense are you spouting? The castle walls are made of reinforced 100% cacao able to withstand any siege! And Mochaccino Cookie doesn't charity his armor to outsiders!" The disciple vehemently denied.

"Hello? Can you hear us fine?! Get your boss or something, Dark Cacao Cookie or whatever his name is!" Chili Pepper bellowed, her words dripping with fury.

"Chili Pepper Cookie! You have to stay civilized! No matter the situation, royal etiquette has to be followed!" Custard III scolded.

"Well-versed in etiquette, I see! I suppose I can spare a moment to hear what you have to say." The disciple responded, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"Uhm, so you see... We just want to meet... Mister? Lord...? Dark Cacao Cookie!" Custard III explained.

"...Such insolence! It's our noble king you're talking about!" The disciple spat back. "Mannerless outlanders have no right to walk these halls! I will deal with you myself, here and now!"

"Whaat?! But what did I do wrong?!" Custard III wailed in confusion.

With the scene shifting, Dark Cacao stirred from his unconscious state, his body battered from the fall off the Great Chocolate Wall. Slowly, he regained awareness as two familiar voices reached his ears. "...Mmh..." He grumbled, snapping back to reality.

"Your Majesty! You're awake!" Caramel Arrow and Mochaccino exclaimed, lending their support as they helped him to his feet.

"You...? You two... Have you come to save me?" Dark Cacao asked, his mind still foggy from the impact.

"We returned to aid you. Once I reached my laboratory and woke Caramel Arrow Cookie, we witnessed your fall from the cliff on the security camera. She hurried to protect your body while I tended to urgent matters in my lab." Mochaccino explained, a tinge of concern in his voice.

"Aside from a few crumbs of your arm, we're relieved to see you are unharmed." Caramel Arrow added.

"Then... did you see who attacked me?" Dark Cacao inquired, his head still spinning.

"We did, though the truth may displease you..." Mochaccino replied, his brow furrowed. "Upon reviewing the security footage, we could scarcely believe our eyes. It was your own son, the prince, who assaulted you, Your Majesty."

"The very same Cookie who once taught me how to wield a bow... I was dreaming of the day I could once more stand by my prince, my commander. I cannot believe it truly was him..." Caramel Arrow spoke softly, her gaze downcast.

"The Cookie for whom I crafted countless gifts, the one who always greeted me with a smile when I presented them... How could he betray us like this?" Mochaccino lamented, his heart burdened with sorrow.

"...But his stance, that unmistakable technique... It could not have been anyone else than Dark Choco Cookie." Dark Cacao murmured, recalling the image of the traitorous Cookie as he plummeted from the wall. "...Ugh...!" He groaned, clenching his fist tightly against his chest.

"Your Majesty! Don't overexert yourself!" Caramel Arrow called out, concern evident in her voice.

"Why do you both stay loyal to a king whose very son attempted to assassinate him? Such a disgrace..." Dark Cacao muttered, shaking his head.

"Indeed, our kingdom is in chaos. Many of your once-loyal Cookies no longer put faith in their king, but..." Caramel Arrow began, her voice resolute. "I still remember. I remember you leading the vanguard to protect the Cookies from the monsters of the Great Ridge. The resolve in your eyes has ever remained the same, Your Majesty. I believe that you can restore our kingdom's former glory!"

"...Former glory, huh... I see... There's only one way left to protect the kingdom." Dark Cacao pondered, rising to his feet to regain his composure. "I must fix the errors of my past. After all, the responsibility for a son's sins lies upon the shoulders of his father."

"What will you do, Your Majesty?" Caramel Arrow inquired.

"Be it by my own hand, I will make sure Dark Choco Cookie falls." Dark Cacao declared, his tone filled with darkness.

"Wh...what?!" Both Caramel Arrow and Mochaccino exclaimed, shocked to their core.

"Your Majesty, y-you cannot be serious!" Mochaccino stuttered. "That boy is your own dough and jam! If you take his life, the consequences will rest upon your shoulders! Please reconsider!"

"Hmph... My decision is final. Moreover, if I do not act now, who will? I have to get to the Black Citadel right away. There is something that must be done." Dark Cacao stated, turning away.

"My Liege, I implore you... There must be another solution..." Mochaccino pleaded. "Please wait until we find a way to halt the Licorice Sea creatures, or until we discover a means to..."

"Mochaccino Cookie, listen to me." Dark Cacao interjected. "There is no other recourse. I am the king, and my duty is to protect the kingdom. Even if it means slaying my own son, I must carry out the deed. I understand that your caring nature may cause you great anguish, but trust me in this matter. It is the only way."

"...I... I understand..." Mochaccino reluctantly conceded, his nod filled with apprehension.

Later, Dark Cacao, Caramel Arrow, and Mochaccino found themselves venturing through an expansive underground tunnel, their destination set on the hidden chamber where the Grapejam Chocoblade was safeguarded.

"To think these large halls existed beneath the Citadel... Even after all my time here, I had no idea." Caramel Arrow remarked, her voice filled with awe and surprise.

"I'm astounded that such a place has eluded my knowledge." Mochaccino added, his tone tinged with a mix of curiosity and slight frustration.

"The security measures here are practically nonexistent. It is solely due to its deep-seated location within the very foundation of the Black Citadel that it has remained concealed." He couldn't help but feel a pang of astonishment that he, as a trusted figure, had not been entrusted with this secret.

"This is where the spirits of fallen Dark Cacao Warriors are preserved. The warriors who kept these lands safe by any means necessary...The same determination that made me bar the castle gates. To make the kingdom into a giant fortress, the last bastion to stop our foes... That was my plan." Dark Cacao explained, his voice tinged with a mix of nostalgia and determination.

"What? Please explain a bit more, Your Majesty. But our noble soldiers... They will have to face the armies of our enemies without a place to retreat..." Caramel Arrow voiced her concerns, her voice laced with genuine worry.

"And if I may inquire, My Liege, why was I not entrusted with the task of concealing or securing this chamber more effectively? Merely being well-hidden can only serve as a temporary deterrent for intruders." Mochaccino questioned, his curiosity piqued.

"This is the only way to protect our continent. Beyond the Dark Cacao Kingdom lies the Licorice Sea, nothing but sharp mountain peaks surround our harsh land. You cannot wish for a better battlefield to defend against monsters rising up from the dark waters! Fighting against the Licorice Sea monsters, making sure they never step into the greater world... Is there a more honorable end for a Dark Cacao Warrior? I wish that one day, I, too, will become worthy of being buried here." Dark Cacao proclaimed fervently, his voice echoing with conviction.

"...I understand." Caramel Arrow replied, her voice filled with reverence as she lowered herself in a deep bow. "I will follow your command, Your Majesty. I am sure the other warriors feel the same."

Dark Cacao then turned his attention to address Mochaccino. "As for why I chose to keep this secret chamber within the depths of the Black Citadel hidden from you, Royal Scientist... It was to spare you from unnecessary burdens and information overload. Additionally, I grappled with the challenge of placing my utmost trust in someone. I knew that the safety of my kingdom could not be entrusted to just anyone." Dark Cacao confessed, his voice carrying a sense of vulnerability. "While your contributions in technological advancements have been extraordinary, I still harbored doubts about your readiness to shoulder the responsibility of guarding such a perilous place."

"I understand, My Liege. Trust is an arduous virtue to earn, especially when it concerns something as profound as your Soul Jam." Mochaccino responded, his tone reflecting newfound comprehension and acceptance of his king's decision.

"One thing is clear: I will always stay by your side. You will not meet your end facing the monsters alone!" Caramel Arrow proclaimed, her unwavering commitment to safeguarding her kingdom resounding in her words.

"Likewise, we shall triumph through this war together. I shall demonstrate to the populace of this kingdom why I have earned the esteemed moniker of the 'Light of the Dark Cacao Kingdom'." Mochaccino affirmed, his conviction echoing the resolve shared by his comrade.

"I know. You both have always been good to your comrades. I knew I could trust you to aid the villagers should the Citadel fall. But I underestimated the fealty of you two. I could not foresee you would stop at nothing to return and come to my aid." Dark Cacao admitted, his words steeped in genuine honesty.

"My king... I... am ashamed to admit I questioned your wisdom, even if but for a moment! I was swayed by the deceitful rumors lurking all around us... I doubted my king, who was nothing but a paragon of honor. But now all my doubts are dispelled! I will fight by your side until my body turns to crumbs!" Caramel Arrow announced proudly, a testament to her loyalty.

"And I have personally proven the innocence of Caramel Arrow. However, let us postpone discussion of this matter until we purge the Black Citadel of the creatures of the Licorice Sea. I shall remain steadfast in my duty to shield this kingdom and its denizens from harm, illuminating their darkest hours by any means necessary." Mochaccino proclaimed resolutely, underscoring his unwavering dedication to protecting the kingdom.

"Those are the Dark Cacao warriors I remember!" Dark Cacao exclaimed, his gaze fixated upon a radiant purple light emanating from a heap of discarded swords. "Take a look at this! A treasure of this kingdom and the mark of a hero. My Soul Jam."

With a resolute grip, Dark Cacao seized the hilt of his Grapejam Chocoblade, invoking an ancient enchantment that enveloped him in a suit of gleaming armor. His black cape billowed behind him, entwined with the exhilarating gusts of wind generated by the blade's mighty presence.

The aura enveloping Dark Cacao crackled with raw power and indomitable might, a palpable testament to his unwavering allegiance to the realm he swore to protect. "Hah... The time has come at last." He proclaimed, his voice resolute and filled with unwavering determination, hoisting his sword aloft in a commanding gesture.