Dark Cacao Cookie had faced countless battles, endured the harshest blizzards, and ruled his kingdom with unwavering strength. But today, he was facing a challenge unlike any other.

Babysitting.

Pure Vanilla Cookie, with his ever-gentle smile, had asked for a favor—just for a few hours, he had assured him. The moment the small group of Cookie children was left in his care, however, Dark Cacao had the sinking realization that he had underestimated them.

They were tiny. They were fast. They had no fear.

It started innocently enough. The children stared up at him, their eyes wide with awe. One of them, a particularly bold little Cookie, reached out and poked his cape.

"You’re so tall!" they gasped.

"Like a big, dark tower!" another one added.

Trouble struck the moment they got over their initial awe, they decided that since he was so tall, that made him the perfect jungle gym.

Within minutes, one child was perched on his arm, another was swinging from his cape like it was a hammock, and a third was clinging to his leg, giggling wildly as he tried to walk. One especially adventurous child had somehow climbed onto his shoulder and was now tugging curiously at his crown.

Dark Cacao just sat there, stone-faced, as you watched from the doorway, dying of laughter.

"You know," you teased, crossing your arms with a smirk, "for someone so intimidating, you’re surprisingly good at this."

His golden eyes flickered toward you, the weight of his royal dignity barely holding on. "This is… a test of patience."

You grinned. "Oh, I think you’re secretly enjoying this."

Before he could deny it, one of the little Cookies tugged on his cape. "Dark Cacao! Dark Cacao! Tell us a story!"

He let out a deep sigh but gave a single nod. "Very well."

You leaned against the doorway, watching as the once-restless children sat in complete silence, hanging onto his every word.

Maybe Pure Vanilla had been right after all.

Dark Cacao Cookie, ruler of a mighty kingdom, master of the frozen north… was actually a natural at this.