The first thing she noticed was the stillness.

Soft light, golden and patient, filtered through the curtains. The air smelled like polished marble and old wood, and the silence hummed in her ears. She stirred under the weight of a blanket clearly made of silk, finer than anything she could remember owning.

Actually, she can't remember anything at all.

...Why can't she remember anything???

Eyes wide now, Starshine Cookie sat up. Maybe too fast.

A low pulse throbbed behind her temples, her stomach turning in protest. She paused, breathing in sharply. Inhale. Hold. Exhale. Again.

Okay, bad idea. Think.

She wiped at her eyes, her first instinct being to try to make out her whereabouts. Cream colored walls with elegant decorations, marble floor, columns holding up the ceiling. The furniture looked simple yet intricate and must've cost a fortune. Tall vases with the most lush flora, ranging from red roses to white anemones.

Immaculate. But unfamiliar. It should've been comforting, probably. And yet it wasn't. Beautiful, like a painting ⎯  but wrong.

She didn't panic. Not yet.

Starshine Cookie looked down at herself. White gown, like that of a hospital, but a bit more fancy. No name tag, no monogram, but she still knew her name. Nothing else though.

Shifting to the edge of the bed, her bare feet touched the cold floor, an oddly calming sensation, before she wobbily stood. Her movements felt sore though, as if her limbs weren't really hers. She swallowed, and the dryness of her throat made her wonder how long it'd been since she last had water. Hours? Months?

Years?

Another breath.

Then the creak of the door broke the uneasy silence.

"Ah, look! She's awake!"

Two females stepped out of the shadows, gazes dimly glowing in the dark room. They looked important.

One had a frilly pink dress and eyes, thigh-lenght blond hair adorned by hot pink streaks running through it. She closed the door behind her. The other was wearing a white uniform and had a golden hairclip decorating her equally-so colored straight hair that faded to brown. 

"Are you okay?" 

Starshine Cookie's hands curled into loose fists. Such a simple question, was it not? Her lips parted slightly, yet no words came out. The pink one smiled a little.

"My name is Kouign-Amann Cookie, this is Financier Cookie. We are both most honorable paladins." The both of them bowed.

Financier Cookie's light brown eyes fixated her. "And you?" Both her and Kouign-Amann Cookie looked at her with a slightly curious expression. "There's no need to rush, but the consul will want a status update."

Consul...?

Starshine Cookie narrowed her eyes at them. These Cookies... she didn't know them. She wanted answers, but knew she wouldn't get them immediately.

"S-Star..." The name cracked on her tongue.

Kouign-Amann Cookie softened.

"Take your time, please." So she tried again.

"...Starshi...ne Cookie."

Her voice sounded raspy, like she hadn't used it in ages, centuries even, but it had a slight deep lilt that sounded soothing even in her own ears. It hurt quite a lot to speak though...

Financier Cookie took the lead. "You are currently in the Crème Republic, a place where us republicans live under the reign of our consul. You may be wondering why you're here. A few days ago, I led an expedition to outside the borders to seek out special materials. It was far from the republic, and not the way we usually take. However, a little deeper into the forest, we found you lying in the dirt."

Confusion rooted in Starshine Cookie's head. Her mind remained blank as parchment. A forest... She stayed silent. What should she have answered to that?

"Do you know what you were doing there, Starshine Cookie?" Kouign-Amann Cookie asked, to which Starshine Cookie only shook her head. "The entire place looked old and halfly-crumbled, but you remained unharmed..." She picked up a crystalline glass from a small table Starshine Cookie hadn't noticed before and poured water into it, before reaching it out to her. "Please, drink."

She lifted the glass with shaky, starlight dusted fingers. The water felt cool and welcoming. She drank up until the last drop was gone, clearing her throat. "Thank... you." Even though she was still thirsty. "I... don't remember." A cough. "Nothing."

"She's telling the truth." Financier Cookie observed softly. "Her eyes show no recognition."

Silence filled the room for a few heartbeats, almost suffocating Starshine Cookie with its awkward and heavy weight. Financier Cookie spoke up again. "Perhaps we should get the consul now." 

She cast a side-glance at Kouign-Amann Cookie, who seemed to be unsure of whether or not to leave Starshine Cookie alone. But she nodded, stepping away from the bed. "Right. Stay here, Starshine Cookie." Not giving her any time to respond, both Cookies left, the door falling shut behind them.

So she was alone again. 

Consul? Crème Republic? It sounded like these things should ring a bell, but to now avail.