The Sun shown down brightly upon the Vanilla Kingdom, cookies speaking to each other with joy as they went about their daily business — trading, meeting up with others, going on dates — just like any other day. But you? You walked with a determination, heading straight towards the kingdom while clutching a handful of spices you specifically bought and waited for, for months. The day had finally arrived!

Despite your focused mindset, you still stayed aware of your surroundings — weaving between cookies, ensuring to not bump into any cookie, and giving respectful waves back when someone waved first — all in order to not stay suspicious and simply because it was common courtesy. It was hard to not be nice in such a lovely kingdom, yet you did not stray from your task. You had to find Pure Vanilla Cookie.

Meanwhile, the very cookie you were storming after was peaceful at his garden. He stood by the bundles of flower beds, two bluebirds chirping happily to him as if telling him about their day. Pure Vanilla Cookie listened with a gentle smile despite not understanding what they were saying, but he could tell they were happy — whether it be because they caught new food or relieved he returned from the Spire of Deceit safely was unknown to him — their bouncing heads and flapping wings told him all he needed to know.

They sensed your presence before he had, their chirping coming to a stop momentarily as they turned to look at you, with his gaze flowing close in suit. You walked in with a gentle smile, greeting yourself happily him as the birds chirped in response.

“Bluebird, there you are! You’ve been out all day, I was starting to get worried. I’m glad to see you safe and sound.”

Pure Vanilla Cookie’s smile was small, yet welcoming and genuine — it almost made you feel bad for what you were about to do. There was no time to backtrack now, considering that — out of instinct — he had walked over and gave you a small kiss on the lips. Just a small peck and that was all you needed.

You see, the thing you ate earlier was a handful of the spiciest grains from the Golden Cheese Kingdom — a single whiff of it could send a grown man sobbing. You were immune to such things, so you ate them like candy and purposely went to Pure Vanilla Cookie afterwards to see just what he would do upon tasting said spice.

And his dough lit up red immediately! His face turned a shade of deep pink as he turned away, waving in hand meet his face to fan him.

“O-Oh my w-witches- ah-! H-hot, hot hot hot-!!”

He was clever, so it didn’t take him long to realize you were behind it too — it was hard to pin the blame on another when you’re the only one there.

“Oohh-!! Y-You- yoouu-“