The Invasion

"A fight, is it?" Mochaccino growled, his suit switching on with electricity crackling around him.

"I shall strike you down for our fallen Masked Cookies! For the Creators!" The Black Mask screamed, lunging at the scientist, only to be met with a blast of electricity they could just barely dodge.

"Keep your delusions out of the minds of the children!" Mochaccino shouted, firing another burst of electricity at the Black Mask.

From this point on, there was no more talking, just a deadly dance between the two Cookies. The black masked Cookie proved to be quite proficient in fighting, using their dagger to deflect attacks and counter with their own, though their speed was nowhere near as fast as Mochaccino.

Being in a tightly closed spot, Mochaccino didn't have much room to maneuver or gain some high ground, limiting him to a close-range fight, while the Black Mask was more than willing to be in close-range combat.

Electrifying his arms, Mochaccino lunged at the masked Cookie, his attacks being blocked and parried. With a struggle, but nonetheless. With a good strike, the Black Mask was sent flying into a wall, the electrical surges coursing through their body.

Soon, they recovered and lunged again, their dagger meeting Mochaccino's arm. The weapon managed to pierce the scientist's dough, but this gave an opening to send electricity through the blade into the masked Cookie.

"AGH!" The masked Cookie shouted, stumbling back. However, with a wound open, Mochaccino was now restricted to using only his other arm, as he could not risk the electricity flowing through his jam.

With a grunt, the Black Mask was met with a dropkick to the face, sending them crashing onto the ground. As the masked Cookie was recovering, Mochaccino charged up a blast with his uninjured arm, firing it at the masked Cookie.

"!!!" The black mask received the blast full-on, feeling an intense paralysis flow through their body. Everything was growing hazy and dark. Before they knew it, everything was black.

Mochaccino took deep breaths, panting after the fight. His arm hurt, but he would make sure to bandage it soon. For now, he would have to catch up to Financier and bring in the black masked Cookie.

Not long after, with his arm bandaged and the black masked Cookie tied and dragged to prison, he found himself in the Divine Sanctum, just in time for Mille-feuille's trial, being trapped in Clotted Cream's Light Cage.

"Elder Mille-feuille Cookie... You were the one pulling the strings. You were the one who ordered the White Masks to steal the Soul Jam!" The consul accused, scowling at the elder.

"..." Mille-feuille looked away, saying nothing.

"Who are you, really? What is your purpose? How long have you been planning this crime? Who are these gods that you speak of? Who do you and the White Masks serve? To whom are you devoting your faith? The Celestial Light of the Crème Republic does not speak of such foul gods." Clotted Cream demanded, wanting answers.

"..." Mille-feuille was quiet, refusing to say anything.

"SPEAK!" Clotted Cream snapped, losing patience with the elder.

"...As a Cookie of the Crème Republic, I reserve the right to not answer your questions and remain in silence." Mille-feuille finally said, looking up with a blank look.

"Are you not the one who carries the mantle of the Elder of Compassion? Helping orphans in need, providing them with meals and warm beds. Were you not their caretaker, acting in benevolence? How could you resort to such... such... violent and abhorrent deeds? How could you bring such turmoil upon our city?!" Clotted Cream demanded, still angry at what Mille-feuille did, how the elder could just sit there and not even try and justify herself.

"...Oh, Clotted Cream Cookie. The young Consul of the Crème Republic. You march ever forward. Fueled by youth and ambition." Mille-feuille's expression darkened as a smirk of amusement appeared on her face. "But we do not... We look beyond the world itself. We see the past, and we see its future. Remaining ignorant to the teachings of the gods is to walk this world blind and without purpose. The First Oven will open and all will become one. This... is all I have to say."

"I see that you will not speak the truth." Clotted Cream sighed, placing a hand on his forehead in annoyance. "You will be detained here for now. In this Light Cage of the coldest justice."

With yet another situation, this one far more severe than the last, the Convocation Chamber had the Elders present once more. The looks of shock did not make themselves wait, as the Council learned of Mille-feuille's arrest.

"This cannot be! Elder Mille-feuille Cookie?! Arrested?!" Mulled Juice gaped, his jaw dropped.

"So she is the one who is responsible for attempting to steal the Soul Jam?" Sablé grumbled, not expecting Mille-feuille to have been involved in the incident.

"What of Canelé Cookie? Is there a connection between the two?" Baumkuchen asked, concerned.

"The charges faced by Canelé Cookie are of a separate matter. Though the investigation will result in a lighter sentence than Mille-feuille Cookie, the charges are related to embezzlement and the illegal sale of unsanctioned goods." Clotted Cream answered, not wanting the Council to focus on the wrong issues.

"Two Elders of our Convocation... arrested for such atrocious crimes. I feel as if the very foundations of the Lyceum are shaking..." Vanilla Sugar remarked, anger present in her voice. "These recent events must not reach the ears of the masses! It would devastate the standing of our Convocation and bring further unrest to our city!"

"I concur. All Elders were held in high esteem, respoected by all. If word of this gets out, nothing good will come of it! We must reach a consensus! What say you, fellow Elders?" Custard agreed, turning to the other Elders. "In the least, we must reach a majority vote..."

"Objection!" Captain Caviar exclaimed, slamming his fist onto the table.

"Pardon?" Custard asked in annoyance, having not expected the objection.

"I object! This Convocation has made irredeemable mistakes and its members were involved in crimes that can't be dumped into the sea in the dead of night! This Convocation is a body of hypocrisy and deceit... Y'all are no different than a ragtag band of pirates!" Captain Caviar snapped, glaring at the rest of the Council.

"Captain Caviar Cookie! This Lyceum will not tolerate your foul accusations! And do not forget! You too are a member of our Convocation!" Vanilla Sugar scowled, glaring back at the Captain.

"We've never dealt with issues, EVER! It was always a cover-up or just wishing it'd go away! Far too often have I heard you lot talking about how this city will be different than the Vanilla Kingdom. But when things get out of hand, your actions only lead us to the same bitter end!" Captain Caviar growled, pointing a finger accusingly at the Council. "WE, my friends, live by different rules! We, Cookies of the Sea, have been living here, surviving here long before you showed up! And we face our problems, head-on!"

"Are you deliberately sowing unrest in this Lyceum?! You are out of line!" Custard snapped, narrowing his eyes in anger.

"Unrest, ya say? Open your eyes! Unrest between Cookies of Sweet and Salty Dough has been brewing for years. How long has it been since any of you have laid eyes on the Lower City, eh? While you're getting fat on desserts of butter and sugar, the Cookies in the Lower City be trying to stomach nasty glasses of mudshakes filled with sand and gravel!" Captain Caviar countered, not backing down from the argument.

"See here! There is no need to make this personal!" Baumkuchen exclaimed, hoping to de-escalate the situation.

"This is no place for such anger!" Sablé added, glaring at the Captain.

"May I interject? I see no falsities or baseless accusations being made by Captain Caviar Cookie." Oyster spoke up, taking everyone's attention. "If such a scheme was plotted by Cookies of the Sea, would this Convocation had taken the quiet route, hmm? I believe not. As per usual, the Convocation would have attempted to bury the Lower City deeper into the mud with no remorse."

"Hold your tongue! How dare you!" Custard snarled, slamming his hands on the table, enraged.

"Continue to make such provocations and the Paladins will be ordered to force a compromise in these chambers!" Vanilla Sugar threatened, her patience broken by now.

"Then it's only fair I rally our navy!" Captain Caviar shouted, his voice filled with conviction.

"You're outnumbered, sea dog, and you know it! Make one false move and I will call for the Pearl Legion! The Pearl Legion listens to Clotted Cream Cookie alone!" Custard threatened back, not willing to back down.

"I beg your pardon? The Pearl Legion consists of guards from House Oyster. Whose commands will they heed, yours or mine? Shall we test your theory?" Oyster coldly asked, raising a brow, making the threat clear.

"Grrr...! Salty and coarse to the very core!" Custard hissed, glaring at Oyster and Captain Caviar.

"Say that to my face, ya starchy jowled seagull!" Captain Caviar challenged, narrowing his eyes, the tension reaching a boiling point.

"ORDER! Order! Enough of this!" Clotted Cream interjected, his voice ringing loudly.

"I found you..." A female voice whispered, reverbing throughout the room, the sound sending shivers down everyone's spine.

"That voice...?! It's coming from the sky?" Clotted Cream gasped, looking up at the ceiling.

"Soul Jam... Three of them. Collected here, ripe for the taking. I must thank you. Your feeble attempt to stand against my will has only brought you to the brink of destruction. In the end, you are to be commended for aiding in my plans. You shall be rewarded in full. Step outside and look upon my gift to you." The voice spoke, her tone ominous.

"Listen! Is that screaming? What's going on out there?" Mulled Juice exclaimed, worried about the citizens.

"We must step outside, immediately!" Clotted Cream commanded, leaving the Convocation Chambers.

Outside, the Monument Spire Piazza could not have looked in more disarray. The screams of the denizens were more than enough to describe the horror of the scene.

"HELP US! SAVE US!" A denizen shouted, running away.

"The sky is as red as strawberry jam?!" Another yelled, panicking.

"The Republic has been cursed! Flee for your lives!" A third yelled, running.

"What on Earthbread is... By the Light!" Clotted Cream gasped, looking at the chaos-ridden scene. "Skies of the foulest crimson! Creatures from nightmares themselves?!"

"CLOTTED CREAM COOKIE! Dark Enchantress Cookie is attacking the city!" Gingerbrave shouted, having arrived at the Piazza, the rest of his friends with him.

"She's here for the Soul Jam! How did she know it was here?!" Black Raisin shouted, having come with them.

"I have managed to recover my Soul Jam, we cannot allow it to fall into Dark Enchantress Cookie's clutches!" Pure Vanilla exclaimed, having recovered the Light of Truth.

"The same Cookies who had attacked the Dark Cacao Kingdom... They have returned!" Mochaccino shouted, recognizing the enemies.

"Ha ha ha... You can run, but you cannot hide. My Master sees all!" Poemegranate cackled, her voice echoing through the streets.

"HE HE HE! Sooo! We meet again! Prepare to taste the full extent of our power!" Licorice cackled, the rest of the Dark Enchantress's minions having arrived.

"Pooower...? What's that taste like...? Like... flooour...?" Poison Mushroom asked, tilting their head.

"Wha- NO! Our strength! Our might! Stop talking and start throwing mushrooms!" Licorice groaned, his eye twitching in irritation.

"How is this possible...?! I thought we defeated Dark Enchantress Cookie!" Gingerbrave gasped, surprised.

"Are you kidding me?! Did you really think you succeeded in defeating the great and almighty Dark Enchantress Cookie?! She is power incarnate! She is... is... INVINCIBLE! She cannot be defeated by wimps like you!" Licorice yelled, cocky and confident.

"Pssst... Hey, Licorice Cookie? We used Healing Flour too, remember...?" Poison Mushroom pointed out, oblivious.

"SHH! Quiet! They didn't need to know that!" Licorice shushed the small Cookie, not wanting to reveal that little detail. "Ahem...! Anywhooo! Prepare to meet your doom!"

"Come on, we cannot allow her to get the Soul Jam!" Mochaccino yelled, readying his stance. "We have to fight back... We have to defeat Dark Enchantress Cookie here, and now!"

"For the Republic and its citizens, we have to defend our home! No matter what!" Clotted Cream shrugged off his shock, determination filling him. "Let us take them down!"

"For hope's last light!" Mochaccino exclaimed, kickstarting what would be a long battle. A battle that decided the fate of not just the Crème Republic... But the fate of the entire world.