The Summons

The Convocation Chamber was tense, everyone Clotted Cream had invited and requested to arrive, sitting on their respective seats. "Yet another summons in such a short span of time." Sablé remarked, wondering what this was about.

"You can say that again! The Lyceum is feeling more familiar than home at this point!" Mulled Juice jested, more amused than tense.

"Consul! Did you unilaterally make the decision to return the Soul Jam?!" Custard exclaimed, frowning. "How could you make such a rash decision? The Republic can enter a new golden age with the Soul Jam in our possession!"

"I have merely returned the Soul Jam to its proper owners." Clotted Cream explained, staring at Custard with a blank expression.

"Have you no idea what sort of political blunder you've made?! There is no room for such naïveté in the world of politics! You have blown the single greatest opportunity to ever grace our Republic! Pitiful, dimwitted- AUGH!" Custard scolded, until someone's fist clocked him straight in the stomach, causing him to double over.

"!" Nearly everyone gasped, shocked and surprised. The one who had punched Custard was none other than Mochaccino.

"Not. Another. Word." Mochaccino warned, glaring at Custard, who was groaning in pain.

"Ack-! How dare-?!" Custard exclaimed, only for the scientist to pick him up by the collar of his shirt.

"You will listen to what the consul has to say." Mochaccino demanded, his voice stern, not a shred of fear or regret to be found. "You have the audacity to attempt a heist of the Soul Jam by force, and using your guards to do so? All for a mere taste of power? Have you no shame?"

"Those senile 'heroes' cannot be reasoned with! The Soul Jam is wasted on-" Custard attempted to retort, before he was forcefully slammed down on his seat.

"You are selfish and greedy, not worthy of your position. If anyone here is senile, it is you." Mochaccino spoke, cutting Custard off, not even listening to the elder's excuses. "No regards for the consequences of your actions, or those of others. No care or concern. Just a power-hungry fool who is blinded by his own ambition. I will not so much as entertain your delusions of grandeur. Now sit down... and seal. Your. Tongue."

"..." Custard remained silent, gritting his teeth in anger, clutching his stomach.

"Apologies, everyone. Please allow me to explain the current state of affairs." Clotted Cream requested, getting the attention of everyone. "I have requested an audience with the Convocation to announce a great feat. As you are already aware, our goal was to share the power of Soul Jam with as many Cookies as possible. We've replicated and modified the process to mass-produce Pearl Candies. It is with great honor, that I introduce to you, the newest army of the Crème Republic!"

"Did I hear that right? An army?" Vanilla Sugar asked, a little surprised.

"Come forth, Pearl Legion!" Clotted Cream commanded, gesturing to the large doors. The doors opened, revealing a crowd of Cookies dressed in silver armor, bearing shields and blades of shells and coral. "Venerable Elders of the Convocation. May I introduce to you the Pearl Legion, an army that wields the power of Soul Jam."

"Did he say 'Pearl'? Wait... Then this army was created with the help of House Oyster?!" Canelé realized, subtly glaring at Oyster in anger.

"Everyone here knows that the pearls harvested by House Oyster are of the finest quality, hardy and durable with the greatest iridescence." Oyster proudly declared, a smug grin on her face. "As the young Consul pointed out, pearls are already perfect spheres. They were the most suitable receptacle to harness Soul Jam's energy. After all, the Consul's duty is to protect the Republic and he required an army to do so. And I decided to support his efforts."

"Shadow take us all! What of the Paladin Order?! They are the defenders of our city, guided by the Celestial Light itself!" Vanilla Sugar exclaimed, appalled. "The Paladins are already fulfilling their oaths and duties! What need do we have for such an army?!"

"It is true that the Paladins fulfill their duties to the Republic, but they are a symbol of our city, not its frontline warriors. What duties have the Paladins been assigned? War? Relief efforts?" Clotted Cream countered, frowning. "No. They were gallivanted as the face of the Crème Republic, props for parades and mascots employed for the Elder's whims. The Paladins of the Crème Republic are not prepared for a war against Dark Enchantress Cookie."

"Blasphemy!" Vanilla Sugar cried out, offended. That is, before she recoiled holding her head. "I... I need to sit down... My vanilla pressure is rising..."

"This was your plan all along, wasn't it?! The two schemed this from the very start!" Canelé accused, standing up. "You'd dare to bring disgrace to this Lyceum, to the entire Convocation?!"

"An army... There is no longer a balance of power. Politically speaking, this only benefits Houses Oyster and Custard." Baumkuchen realized, concerned and partly angry.

"Hear, hear! This is a deliberate grab for power! A move to push us out! hat's why this army was created, wasn't it?! Well? Answer-" Canelé ranted, before a loud slam was heard. It was Mochaccino, who slammed his fists against the table.

"Oh, for the love of-! When will you all understand that this is not about power, or about politics?! We are discussing a potential war, against Dark Enchantress Cookie, the biggest threat known to Cookiekind! She will undoubtedly strike soon, and yet you all argue like children fighting over toys!" Mochaccino yelled, exasperated. "I have had enough! My patience has officially worn thin! If anyone is not willing to aid in our efforts against Dark Enchantress Cookie, and would rather keep going on about this petty power struggle, speak now!"

"..." Everyone fell silent, staring at the mad scientist in shock.

"Well? No one has anything to say? Good." Mochaccino spoke, satisfied. He took a deep breath, and exhaled, calming himself down. "Apologies. Consul, the floor is yours."

"Ahem, thank you, Mochaccino Cookie. I too, apologize for causing such a heated debate and commotion within the Lyceum. But wise Elders, I ask that you welcome the Pearl Legion with open arms." Clotted Cream requested, staring intently at the other Elders. "They will defend the Crème Republic. They will open a new era for our great city."

At the said location, two Cookies were mixing mud into a drink known as a Mudshake. "What's with this mud today? It's not as chunky or as salty as usual!" One of the Mudshake smugglers complained, shaking their head.

"Why not mix in some more gravel then?" The second smuggler suggested, shrugging their shoulders.

"That'll be enough. Too much gravel and it'll just taste too dry. And don't forget to meet today's quota...!" A mysterious Cookie draped in a big robe commanded, approaching the Cookies.

"Yeah, 'bout that! We sold a lot more than you asked for last time, but what for? Where's our cut?" The first Mudshake smuggler asked, frowning.

"Not a lot of Coins comin' our way! If we smell anything fishy... we're gonna tell the-" The second Mudshake smuggler threatened, before a masked Cookie cut him off.

"Tell who what?!" They asked, holding a blade up to the second smuggler's throat.

"Shh! Keep your voices down! Be reasonable! They get first pieces of the cut and you know that!" The mysterious Cookie spoke, attempting to calm the situation down. "Just give me more time, your pay is coming! But now's not the time for this!"

"Gettin' mighty tired of living off scraps and leftover sugar..." The first smuggler scoffed, glaring at the mysterious Cookie.

"Just get those mudshake barrels moving! Hurry!" The mysterious Cookie insisted, turning away and leaving the scene.

"I found you... White Mask." Financier remarked, having caught up to the masked Cookie, holding her sword threateningly.

"EEK! Y-y-y-you're...?!" The mysterious Cookie yelped, backing away in fear.

"You cannot escape! Reveal your identity, now!" Financier demanded, slowly approaching the scared Cookie.

"Who's that? Oi! What do you think you're doing, messin' up our operation and everything?" The first Mudshake smuggler shouted, glaring at the Paladin.

"This is a legitimate business! Get out or we'll force you out!" The second smuggler threatened, approaching the Paladin.

"Your move." Financier challenged, readying herself for a fight.

"Get her!" The second Mudshake Cookie ordered, and the Cookies began their assault, throwing fists and blades at the Paladin.

But, her experience as a Paladin who had completed her training showed, as she made quick work of the both inexperienced and untrained Cookies by knocking them out. She turned to the masked Cookie, who had begun to run away.

As much as she wanted to take chase, she had the mysterious Cookie's identity to figure out. She grabbed the hood of the robe, and pulled it off, revealing the face of...

"You?!" Financier gasped, staring at the face of the Cookie.

"EEP!" The Cookie screeched, attempting to cover their face.

"You were the one commanding the white masks in order to steal the Soul Jam? Elder Canelé Cookie?" Financier spoke, glaring at the Elder.

"N-n-no! This is all just a big misunderstanding!" Canelé attempted to explain, shaking her head rapidly.

"A misunderstanding? Then explain why you are here mingling with the white masks?" Financier demanded, holding her blade to Canelé's neck.

"N-n-n-now I know what this sounds like, but there's a perfectly reasonable explanation!" Canelé stuttered, holding her hands up. "Just let me explain!"

"You may explain at the Lyceum. Get up and start walking." Financier ordered, lowering her blade and escorting the Elder towards the Lyceum.

Once again in the Convocation Chamber, Canelé was the object of everyone's attention, especially that of the Elders. "Elder of Finance... Canelé Cookie. You were apprehended at the harbor for conspiring with the Cookies in white masks. Are these the facts?" Clotted Cream demanded, frowning at the Elder.

"Yes..." Canelé replied, hanging her head.

"So... It was all true then? A member of the Elders was really conspiring with those fiends?" Mulled Juice spoke, shock palpable on his face.

"This cannot be..." Mille-feuille lamented, shaking her head in disbelief.

"But you have to believe me on this! Yes, I did meet them on multiple occassions! But it didn't always have to do with stealing the Soul Jam!" Canelé attempted to defend, holding her hands out. "I'm a victim! I'm the victim here!"

"Canelé Cookie, please explain yourself to the Convocation. And may I remind you, your testimony will decide your fate. If deemed inadequate, you may end up being charged with conspiracy to steal the Soul Jam." Oyster spoke, her expression serious.

"What?! No, no... The truth is... I was selling juice made of mud to the Cookies of Choco Mud Town." Canelé explained, sighing.

"Mudshakes?! My sailors enjoy havin' a drink of mudshakes from time to time, though they say it's not as tasty as seawater juice!" Captain Caviar added, nodding his head.

"I have heard of these so-called mudshakes. Many have fallen ill after consuming these concotions."Baumkuchen commented, narrowing his eyes at the Elder through his mask.

"The Convocation of Elders' financial expenditures are to be entered into the books. I've never seen an entry for these mudshakes. Where are the profits? What have you done with the coins made from selling these mudshakes?" Oyster interrogated, glaring at Canelé.

"I swear... I started selling them just to make a few coins on the side... Then things started to get out of hand! But I... I couldn't stop myself! Then the White Masks found out... They blackmailed me! Exploited me! They promised to keep quiet for a cut!" Canelé cried out, trembling and shaking.

"Goodness! Such a horrendous scheme brewing right here in our midst?!" Vanilla Sugar scorned, horrified by the Elder's actions.

"I know my deeds with the mudshakes are less than noble, but I never wanted to steal the Soul Jam! I'm a victim of exploitation, I tell you!" Canelé desperately pleaded, trying to convince the Convocation.

"The Pearl Legion has conducted a thorough search of House Canelé. There are no signs that Canelé Cookie, or any member of the family, conspired to steal the Soul Jam. However, they have found a hidden safe with heaps of illicitly made coins and crystals." Oyster spoke, her gaze never breaking from the Elder. "Canelé Cookie. You are hereby suspended from the Convocation. However, you are still required to participate in the investigation into your 'less than noble' deeds."

"Such calamity! Such shame! My dough is cooking on its own from this embarrassing and humiliating news!" Sablé whimpered, her face burning in embarrassment.

"Never thought I'd see a maelstrom of this scale hit the Convocation of Elders." Captain Caviar muttered, crossing his arms in disappointment.

Later at that same location, long after the Elders and had left the building, Clotted Cream had gathered more witnesses to Canelé's misdeeds. "Thank you for making the time and coming here as witnesses. Could you state what you've seen or heard from Canelé Cookie?" The Consul requested, getting straight to the point.

"I've often seen Elder Canelé Cookie head to the Divine Sanctum when I was walking around the plaza! She's usually by herself when she goes to pray, I think." A witness explained, shaking their head.

"I saw her working out in the plaza one morning! She's always drinking something when she's walking or running, so I've been meaning to ask her what she's drinking." Another witness spoke, nodding their head.

"Was that a mudshake?" Clotted Cream asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nope! Definitely not a mudshake. It looked like some sort of fancy juice! You know, the imported ones?" The witness answered, shrugging their shoulders.

"So she herself did not consume any of these 'mudshakes'... Thank you for making the time to attend this session. Could you explain further what you have witnessed?" Clotted Cream questioned, looking at a different witness, this time being merchants from the Market.

"Sure thing. I run a Herring Jelly Pie shop, and I've seen Elder Canelé Cookie head down to the Lower City quite often. And it looked mighty suspicious, because she had herself all wrapped up in a cloak! As if... she didn't want anyone to recognize her!" A Merchant Cookie explained, crossing their arms.

"Right, right. I reckon that conversation I heard was between Elder Canelé Cookie and the Cookie in a white mask!" A different Merchant Cookie added, shaking theur head.

"!!!" Clotted Cream gasped, his eyes widening in realization. "Do you recall the details of the conversation?"

"Hmm... Well, the market can be quite loud, so I didn't really hear much... But Elder Canelé Cookie did say something like... 'sorry' and 'I swear I'll have it ready next time...' or something like that." The second merchant Cookie replied, thinking hard. "It didn't sound friendly, that's for sure."

"Hmm... I see. Thank you all for providing statements. It has been of great help." Clotted Cream thanked, dismissing the witnesses and heading out the door, toward Mansion Custard.

At the said mansion, Clotted Cream was theorizing on how Canelé was connected to the white masks. "Canelé Cookie was speaking the truth. While dealing in the illicit sale of mudshakes, a portion of the profits were being shared with the White Masks. In short... We've yet to uncover the identities of these scheming victims." He concluded, grabbing his head in frustration.

"I believed that everything would be answered... It seems that I must restart my investigation." Financier sighed, disappointed that the investigation had led nowhere.

"If that is the case, we could use some aid." Clotted Cream muttered, his mind racing. "Financier Cookie, are you alright with me calling upon some assistance?"

"If you trust said Cookies, then I have no qualms about it." Financier shrugged, trusting her Consul.

"Then, allow me to summon some help. I will return with a potential ally." Clotted Cream spoke, both he and Financier leaving the mansion, each toward their own destinations.

The Divine Sanctum's Catacombs, a place Financier and Mochaccino never knew existed. Both Paladin and scientist were quiet, making their presences unknown to the group of Cookies. It looked like a classroom, where a lesson was being taught by the Mille-feuille.

"Today, we will be learning of Cookies and providence. A long time ago, in a land seldom traveled, stood the First Oven. It was through the providence of the Godly Creators that we, Cookies, were baked in this very oven. They mixed the dough. They colored the frosting. They decorated with chocolate and sprinkles. And they created each and every one of us! Even you, my dears!" Mille-feuille spoke, teaching the young orphans, who now bore the same masks as those used by the White Masks.

"WOW! So cool." The first orphan whispered, staring at Mille-feuille.

"Woah...!" The second orphan gasped, their eyes wide in wonder.

"But the first Cookies rebelled against the Godly Creators. They were not thankful for the breath of life bestowed upon them. And they decided to commit the ultimate sin: escaping from the plate of the gods!" Mille-feuille continued, her tone becoming hushed and secretive.

"Hmm...? What sort of story is this...?" Financier muttered, not expecting the lesson to be about a story.

"I am not one for religious tales, but... That cannot be right..." Mochaccino remarked, narrowing his eyes in disapproval.

"How do you think our Creators felt when they saw their Cookies run away?" Mille-feuille spoke, her question being met with...

"They must've been sad...!" One orphan answered, shaking their head sadly.

"Or-or maybe a bit angry?" Another orphan suggested, their head hanging low.

"Both are correct answers! Our Creators felt many things, both sadness and anger, and this broke their hearts. We betrayed the ones who gave us life, we ran away from their providence. There are many Cookies in the world who have forgotten them, who have lost their purpose in life." Mille-feuille explained, continuing to spout what she was tricking the young Cookies into believing. "But our Creators are forgiving, for they are benevolent and patient. They wait for our return, ready to accept us once more. And when they call for us to come home? What will you say to them, children? Will you return to the fold?"

"Yes! I promise!" The first orphan chirped, a determined glint in their eyes.

"Very good! Now, let's learn about how we can return to their embrace! Will you proceed with this lesson, please? With the pictures, of course. They simply adore the pictures." Mille-feuille nodded, turning her attention back to the orphans, as Mochaccino and Financier stared in utter shock.

"Yes, understood. Now look here children!" A masked Cookie, who had been sitting near the children, spoke, pulling out pieces of paper that had the Soul Jams drawn on them. "Vanilla, Dark Cacao, Berries, Cheese, and Lilies. Do you see these five shiny treasures with these ingredients?"

"WOW! So pretty!" The second orphan remarked, staring at the pictures in awe.

"The Soul Jam..." Mochaccino gasped, watching as the orphans stared at the Soul Jam pictures. "I understand now... They are indoctrinating the orphans into thinking the Soul Jam is something to be sought..."

"But for what reason...?" Financier muttered, trying to put the puzzle together.

"When these five treasures are gathered together in one place, they can help us reunite with the Creators!" The masked Cookie explained, smiling behind their mask.

"And there is our answer..." Mochaccino scowled, not liking the direction the explanation was heading. "Fake answer, I should add..."

"I'm gonna go find them one day! All of them!" The first orphan shouted, the smile on their face visible despite the mask.

"If you find any of them, don't forget to tell your teachers. That is how we'll earn favor with the gods themselves." Mille-feuille instructed, watching as the orphans nodded their heads.

"It's you... Elder Mille-feuille Cookie. The Celestial Light of the Republic has never decreed for Cookies to seek such treasure. I get the feeling that these gods you speak of are not found in the same books we read." Financier spoke, stepping out of the shadows, followed by Mochaccino.

"Raising the orphans of the Lower City as a means of acquiring the Soul Jam... That is beyond abhorrent." Mochaccino added, glaring at Mille-feuille. "This is not the truth of the Cookies, the one I know. This is... a fake history."

"Financier Cookie?! And... the murderer of three Masked Cookies!" Mille-feuille gasped, taking a step back, shocked.

"Quick! FLEE! We will cover your escape!" One masked cookie shouted, distracting the two while the others left.

"The Light shall not forgive your transgressions! Mochaccino Cookie, ambush them from the opposite side!" Financier commanded, chasing after the Cookies.

"On it, I will-" Mochaccino was cut off, something ambushing him from the side.

"Huh?!" Financier exclaimed, not expecting the attack.

"You are not meant to be here... but no matter, this place will become your grave." The attacker snarled, their voice low and menacing, reavealing to be a Black Mask.

"Financier Cookie, chase after them, I'll hold this one off!" Mochaccino yelled, recieving a nod from the Paladin, who took off. "As for you, your days of spreading false history is over. Why do you do such things? Who are you trying to fool?!"

"First, you slay three of our most devoted... You showed them no mercy! Then, you taint the Republic with your treachery, destroy our plans to acquire the Soul Jam!" The Black Mask retorted, pulling out a large, black dagger. "Let the punishment for these sins commence!"