(I forgot what the cookies' sweat is made of and I can't find it online so I just wrote "sweat" without anything more specific added XD)

(Uh Ovenbreak lore incorporation time woohoo. For an exploration of Chili Pepper's fractured relationships. This will come up again once or twice later, I know I have plans. Minor warning though, there will be some discussion of lore elements from. A really controversial update [I know that as someone of the group concerned I personally thought people... kinda overreacted a bit. If you're also personally concerned and have a differing opinion, then that's fine, you are entirely in the right to, but I have the right to think differently as well]. I'd prefer not to go into detail [length + stress reasons], but the bulk of it came down to one of the characters introduced having an... unfortunate choice of weapon. They ended up altering it when they released her and I think that was good enough, and I ended up really liking that character)

(...I hope I wrote that disclaimer well enough, I wanted to keep it brief because, again, it stresses me out talking about it like this. I just felt obligated to put this here just in case)

At the castle now, Custard Cookie III was now tucked into his bed, with his crown and staff laid on the side table. He was still struggling for breath, sweating and now unable to keep his eyes open for more than a few seconds. The other cookies were sitting around the room and discussing:

"Lilac Cookie," said Gingerbrave with a voice determined as ever, "you've gotta be able to tell us how to cure Custard Cookie III. There's no way we can just... leave him like this and hope for the best!"

"Gingerbrave, I'm afraid that there isn't much that we can do..." Lilac Cookie replied, looking down slightly as if contemplating something. "I've always carried a good knowledge of poisons... but I was never the greatest expert of them all. Even less so about antidotes. This poison seems familiar, but it lacks some of the most distinctive signs that would identify it..."

Seeing the disheartened expressions of the three younger cookies at his words, Lilac Cookie continued:

"...in cases such as this, I would normally consult an... old acquaintance of mine. She knew more about poisons than possibly any other cookie on Earthbread... But she does not reside near this kingdom. It could take days for me to reach her and return... days which Custard Cookie III may not have."

For a moment, the room went silent, apart from the sound of labored breathing from the child in the bed. It was clear to them all: Of course, if Lilac Cookie didn't know anything about how to cure the poor king, but this "acquaintance" of his did, then there wasn't much to lose by having him go on this trip. Unless their friend crumbled before he could return, which was, for the most part, out of anyone's control.

"...if she could help save our friend," Wizard Cookie finally said, "then it's worth it."

"B-But what will we do here...?" Strawberry Cookie asked. After a moment of pondering, Lilac Cookie responded:

"It was that same cookie who once told me that, 'the creator of a poison would also know best about its antidotes.' If you could possibly find who the culprit behind this was, then..."

"...then we might be able to make them give us the antidote!" the three cookies exclaimed in joint realization. 

It seemed that they now had a mystery to solve.

The one cookie who had remained totally silent throughout all of this was Chili Pepper Cookie. The entire time the other four had been discussing, she had been standing by the side of Custard Cookie III's bed, staring over the poor boy as he was fighting for his life internally. 

He was never the strongest cookie, not by a long shot, and not in almost any category. Healing was the one thing he excelled at, and even then he was far worse at it than other cookies around the kingdom were. He was a child, though, so that was to be expected, it was the exception and not the rule for a child to be strong enough to stand side-by-side with an adult in the battlefield. 

His abilities would possibly be what would help him survive in the end, if he did. 

If he did.

If he did.

The lack of a guarantee was what really had the cookie's mind in a stranglehold. If it were a mere passing cold, she would've put it out of her mind immediately, going off to do whatever her heart desired as she always did. After all, what's there to worry about if he'd be alright?

But without that, she felt as if she couldn't afford to stop focusing on it, like if she looked away for a second he would immediately cease to breathe. She wanted to be there to catch it if anything went wrong. 

Anything to feel some semblance of control over the situation. Ultimately, she was powerless, but she didn't want to accept it. 

At any moment, poor Custard Cookie III's life could come to an end right there, and that would be that. She would never see him again, as more than a crumbled body. No more watching him run around the Cookie Kingdom whilst finding things to congratulate or thank the other cookies for, no more having to catch him if he fell off stacked-up sugar cubes he'd elevate himself on, no more of his oblivious cheerfulness toward just about every living being...

The energetic voice of Gingerbrave was what snapped her out of her thoughts: 

"Chili Pepper Cookie, let's go! We all have to work together if we want to-"

"NO."

Her answer caught the three younger cookies off-guard. It was almost a scream, just barely falling under that volume. And the way she said it sounded as if she were furious at them for even daring to suggest that she come along. 

"...o-okay! Yeah, right, we need someone to watch Custard Cookie III in case he gets worse! Good thinking!!" the brave cookie said, hiding most traces of nervousness. Strawberry Cookie, on the other hand, did not hide her nervousness well at all, and Wizard Cookie mostly just seemed confused. It seemed to be the right time to go:

"We'll be back with the culprit and the cure!"

With those words, Gingerbrave and co. ran out the door, leaving the other three cookies in silence.

"..."

Lilac Cookie was going to leave, but he didn't feel right about leaving Chili Pepper Cookie like this without at least trying to catch up with her. He couldn't even remember how long it had been since he had last seen her. They hadn't exactly been close, but they had known each other regardless, even if not well.

"...so, this is where you went after-"

"Shut up."

Despite Chili Pepper Cookie's cold tone, Lilac Cookie wasn't deterred:

"...I never thought I'd see you caring for another cookie in such a way... You were always so focused on what you could steal-"

"What? Ya plan on dragging me back or something!?"

"I'll have you know that I have also left the clan... I was only trying to catch up with you. I'm just... surprised to see you caring so much for another cookie."

"..."

Chili Pepper Cookie fell silent. It was true, she really was never the type to actually care about others. She didn't keep close connections, saw them as a burden more than anything else.

Even when it came to her own younger brother.

She hadn't seen him for over a year now.

"Can't you just leave me alone and let me have fun for once?"

"No, sis, I CAN'T. You can't keep living like this! It's wrong!!"

"Says YOU. Why don't you just mind your own business and let me live MY life the way I wanna!?"

"F-Fine, you know what, whatever!! If you really care more about treasures than your own brother, s-see if I care!! Why don't you just go out chasing those stupid treasures of yours FOREVER!?!"

...She never came home that day. 

It was the same day she was summoned to the kingdom.

Did Red Pepper Cookie think she really had abandoned him for her pursuit of treasure...?

The look on Chili Pepper Cookie's face softened a bit, as a gleam of remembrance flashed in her eyes. One memory had reawakened another.

Of course, how could it not have, especially with Lilac Cookie right there?

"...hey, do you know how-"

She stopped for a moment of reconsideration. 

"...n-never mind, it's... not relevant."

Lilac Cookie, as if reading her mind, answered regardless:

"She left the clan soon after your... departure. It was the only time I've seen her cry... She tried to hide it, but she couldn't keep herself together. She never could let go of things too easily... Hurt turned to fury, and she left for revenge... I assume by how you've acted that she has yet to succeed in getting it."

Chili Pepper Cookie's face shone with a brief flash of guilt before quickly turning stone-cold.

"...haven't seen her. At all. So don't waste my time, Flower Boy."

She practically growled her words. 

Lilac Cookie was intelligent, he quickly got the message: Chili Pepper Cookie did not want to speak at the moment. Clearly, it was not the right time. The emotional strain Custard Cookie III's condition was enough at the moment.

"...I'll leave you to watch over the young cookie then."

As he left the castle, planning to prepare for his departure, he realized that it would most certainly be best to inform other cookies of the specifics of the situation, to inform the others, so that everyone can pitch in.

With everyone's power, they had the potential to keep Custard Cookie III sustained until he returned.

So, he would inform the first cookie he'd, literally, bump into:

"Ah, I'm afraid I wasn't looking where I was going... Apologies. Current circumstances have made focusing on other things somewhat challenging..."

The cookie, who had been writing in some kind of scroll, gave him a strange look of surprise before sighing:

"Who are you? I haven't seen you around this kingdom before..."

"Lilac Cookie... and I could say the same about you."

This seemed to catch the other cookie off-guard.

"I-I am Pastry Cookie, a disciple of the St. Pastry Order! I'm certain you've heard of us already."

"St. Pastry Order, you say...? No, can't say I've heard of it before."

Pastry Cookie's eyes widened in shock, as if to her such an idea was unfathomable:

"Wh-What!?... *ahem* I mean, th-that's very unfortunate, Sir. The Order brings prosperity and light to even the poorest of cookies, helping those in need to find shelter and warmth... and, most importantly-"

"I'm sorry, but I do not have time to hear about this 'St. Pastry Order' at the moment. Perhaps when I return from my trip..."

Pastry Cookie's expression showed a mix of confusion, disbelief, and just the slightest bit of frustration. Audibly, she deemed desperate to maintain composure.

"S-Surely you can spare just a few minutes!? I promise you, you will not regret-"

"Every second is necessary when a cookie's life is on the line.

Lilac Cookie was exceptionally good at keeping his composure, so despite his growing irritation, he managed to keep himself looking completely unfazed.

Fortunately, regardless, the sentence he had just uttered seemed to shock the veiled cookie into silence... apart from a loud gasp.

Lilac Cookie thought of leaving right there, but Pastry Cookie seemed to have processed the information rather quickly, at least enough to say:

"...a.... a cookie's life...?"

"..." Lilac Cookie decided there that this would be the cookie he'd inform: "Custard Cookie III, child ruler of the Cookie Kingdom, has been poisoned... We have yet to figure out who did this, though that young Gingerbrave and his friends seem to be determined to find out. I was going to set off to see a cookie who I'm sure will be able to help with identifying the poison, so that hopefully we can find the antidote, but then you decided to interrupt me like this..."

Pastry Cookie seemed embarrassed upon hearing those final words.

"F-Forgive me for my reckless actions, Lilac Cookie. If- If I had known the circumstances, I wouldn't have-"

"All I ask of you now is to inform the other cookies of the details. With the entire kingdom searching, surely the antidote will be found in no time, maybe even before I can return... In fact, if this St. Pastry Order of yours is so keen on helping cookies, then perhaps their help can prove invaluable here, too."

"...Of course, the Order could never ignore a crumbling cookie like this, especially if that cookie is so young! I can ensure you, Lilac Cookie, I'll have them informed as soon as possible!"

"...thank you, Pastry Cookie."

With those words, Lilac Cookie set off from the Cookie Kingdom. He knew the trip would take days, both to get there and to come back...

All he could hope was that those were days Custard Cookie III still had.