Chapter Text
Pain. Agony. The flames that burned their dough, that beckoned them to life.
Torture, suffering. Those were the first things Venom Dough Cookie felt.
When they opened their eyes, the life laid out for them was a living hell. Darkness everywhere, no one there to comfort them. No one was there to help lessen their pain.
It hurt. Every part of their dough ached in pain. And there was nothing to soothe it as the flames grew stronger. They tried screaming, but their voice hadn’t caught up to their mind.
The headaches were the worst. Venom Dough Cookie felt themselves struggle to hold onto sanity as they tried to move. But did they know sanity? No, they didn’t know anything. But yet, it didn’t stop their mind from being filled to the brim with information, information that they couldn’t process.
What is this cycle I’m living? They thought to themselves. Is this the end, or the beginning?
Power rushed through their veins, causing their dough to tremble. Too much happened at once, and the pain kept on coming. Attempting to move only made it even more unbearable. Cracks formed in their recently baked dough as it struggled to keep together.
Poison drenched their dough, worsening their pain. They wanted it to be over before it all started. Words branded into their flesh, binding them to a promise. They didn’t know how to handle it as toxins flowed into them.
Until it was all over, a draft of coldness stopped the searing pain, numbing them. As Venom Dough Cookie attempted to stand, they stumbled towards the crimson light. Life. But did they want it after the pain it took to bring them into this world?
They clutched their head. Everything was swirling, their head still pounding. They could only make the fuzzy outlines of all of the cookies that looked at them with intrigue. As Venom Dough Cookie kept hearing the murmuring cookies, a sharp scent overtook their senses.
It was earthy, sweet, and refreshing, but there was a hint of bitterness to it. A tartness that Venom Dough Cookie could not put their finger on. Not like they had fingers, really.
The cookie that had that particular scent was advancing towards them, being a bright red, with other cookies following. The other cookies had the bitter scent of black licorice, the sweet smell of a butter roll, and a cookie that reeked of poisonous mushrooms.
“Hello there,” the pomegranate-scented cookie said as she used her hand to lift Venom Dough Cookie’s face. She said the words sweetly, but they seemed laced with malice. “Welcome, prototype number 1168, to the Cookie World. You are finally strong enough to keep consciousness. And you seem more successful than others who came before you; perhaps you’ll be useful. One step closer to the Ultimate Cookie.”
Pomegranate reached for the tuff of icing that obscured one of Venom Dough’s eyes. They flinched, as they didn’t know what she was doing. But once the icing was lifted, Venom Dough’s vision became clearer. Sharper. Which probably helped everything stop being blurry.
Pomegranate’s lips curled into a pleased smile. “Do you see its other eye? Only such powerful beings have eyes like those. Just like the Dragons, which is like because of the dragon tongue inscribed into its dough.”
Venom Dough Cookie flinched. They didn’t know much, but the fact that they were being treated like an object of admiration…irked them.
“Well then, Pomegranate Cookie, shall we run the tests to see how much progress was made?”
“Yes, indeed, Butter Roll Cookie. You may run the tests while I get the master.” Pomegranate turned on her heel and exited the laboratory. Venom Dough was curious about what was outside of those doors, beyond the place where they were brought into this world.
Suddenly, another cookie grabbed one of their arms. It was the cookie that smelled of buttery rolls. Which did make sense; cookies were named after their scent and main ingredients. But then what would they be called by other cookies?
As Venom Dough Cookie tried to pull free from Butter Roll Cookie’s grip, suddenly, a bunch of researcher cookies surrounded them. Those cookies restrained Venom Dough Cookie, shackling their wrists and ankles with chains as they were led onto a table, where the chains were latched onto, making escape impossible.
Butter Roll Cookie tutted. “You know, a lot of previous experiments would crumble if they were not tied down. Some couldn’t even survive testing, or some jumped out of the window so they would crumble just to escape their fate. But they were given life, were they not? Such ungrateful test subjects. But it seems like you have a stronger resolve.”
Venom Dough Cookie squirmed as a cookie took a sample of their jam, their makeshift parchment paper gown wrinkling.
They didn’t understand what was going on. Why were they being treated like this? But perhaps they were being silly. This was the only beginning they knew, so there’s no way it could be wrong.
Absolutely nothing wrong with being born and not knowing if you had a parent. Being tested and grabbed as soon as life was granted to you. Talked about like an object.
Oh, who were they kidding? It was so wrong on so many levels. They didn’t know much about the world, but they knew that was wrong.
And yet, Venom Dough Cookie couldn’t do anything about it as wires were attached to them, streaming life powder into their dough to heal them from their ordeal in the oven. It relaxed them as the researchers continued to work around them.
They started to doze off to sleep until a sharp pain burned one of their forearms. And on that forearm were letters of a foreign language, seared into their dough. Venom Dough Cookie panicked. They didn’t know what to do as they thrashed around, trying to break free of the chains. But either they were weak, or the chains were very thick.
As Venom Dough struggled to rangle free, someone leaned over their face. They had white icing like them, with black and red horns. The unknown cookie also held a staff with a…dessert creature skull on it?
Whoever the new cookie was, to Venom Dough Cookie, they radiated power. Influence. Almost as if Venom Dough Cookie were to peer into Dark Enchantress’s eyes, something in their head told Venom Dough Cookie something.
The figure, Dark Enchantress Cookie, was their creator. Their reason for existence was right in front of them.
Their reason for suffering, being brought into the world hellishly, was right in front of them. But calling Dark Enchantress their ‘mother’ didn’t seem right to Venom Dough Cookie. It was the cookie that caused all of their hardships, even though they had been barely out of the oven for a day.
Yet, they couldn’t bring themselves to yell at her. An urge overwhelmed Venom Dough Cookie, making them think of only one thing.
They wanted to serve Dark Enchantress Cookie; they wanted to be useful and grateful for the life bestowed upon them.
“Hello, little one,” Dark Enchantress said as she fingered her hands through Venom Dough’s hair. A chill went down their spine. Cookies kept on touching them, but they weren’t sure if it was a good thing; it unsettled them. As if knowing that those cookies could turn violent on them in an instant.
Dark Enchantress seemed to notice Venom Dough Cookie’s trembling, because she stopped touching their hair and offered a smile. It did not help with their nerves, nor the pulsing pain they still had.
“Do not be so cautious,” Dark Enchantress cooed. “I have no intentions of hurting you. You are very valuable to me, young cookie. And you have much to learn to serve your role, don’t you?”
Those smiles. They seemed fake. They did not care for Venom Dough Cookie, only the amount of power their vessel could hold. Just an experiment. Not a perfect one. They were a mistake, not the one they were looking for.
But Venom Dough Cookie doubted the cookies would even love the ultimate cookie they would eventually create.
“We were able to run the tests- it can hold about half of the power that you intend the Ultimate Cookie to wield, Dark Enchantress Cookie. This experiment has succeeded, we are getting closer to the end goal!” One of the researchers roared.
“Very well,” Dark Enchantress replied, pleased. “Then cease any more batches for a bit. With our new, valuable creation, it will be tested to prepare for the Ultimate Cookie. Not half an Ultimate Cookie, but a whole.”
So they were not whole. They didn’t matter, just a prototype, a sentient one. They weren’t a full cookie, almost like they were still dough, not fully baked. Venom Dough Cookie learned that early on.
As Venom Dough Cookie’s hearing faltered, they were escorted away by Licorice Cookie. He kept on muttering about how he had to do all of the dirty work, but Venom Dough Cookie wasn’t paying attention. They were in their own world.
And what did that world look like? It looked like one vehemently drowned in poison, the waves of violet flooding down. Venom Dough wasn’t sure why their mind looked like that, but it cleared away only to be greeted by darkness. Again.
That darkness was flooded again with an outburst of mental strength, bursting out of nowhere. Venom Dough Cookie lost its footing and was barely caught in time.
Licorice Cookie scoffed. “Are you good?” He said impatiently as he heaved Venom Dough Cookie back onto their feet. “Oh, wait, you’re all quiet. Every one of them is, until they learn how to talk and throw out words like poison. And they seem to piggyback on Pomegranate to trash-talk me. Can’t I just get a break?”
“There,” Venom Dough Cookie started quietly. “Are more cookies like me?” Licorice turned his head in surprise.
“Yeah?” Licorice Cookie replied. “But not everyone survives. And trust me, it is so much work cleaning after their remains…I don’t think I’ll ever get over it.” He shuddered.
“So…more cookies suffered like me,” Venom Dough continued. “Yet not all of them were lucky? Am I really that disposable?”
Licorice shrugged. “Well, I’m pretty sure all of us are disposable in some way to Dark Enchantress Cookie. Yet, she makes sure to do whatever it takes to get the most out of us. And it looks like you’ll be her latest toy to play with.”
Venom Dough Cookie’s temper slowly started to rise. So that’s all they were? Just a pawn in Dark Enchantress’s game? They were right. All of those smiles, signs of affection, and touch were fake. No one was motherly and kind. They were terrible, and yet Venom Dough Cookie served them, and would always until the day they crumbled. Until they were deemed worthy to be freed from their life.
They had only been out of the oven for a short while, yet they already realized it. And it made them seethe with anger. They felt a burning sensation coming from their fingertips, but they ignored it. Licorice cowered in fear and whimpered at seeing how mad Venom Dough Cookie looked.
“I am no one’s toy,” They drawled. “I have feelings…I think. I’m not a failure. I’m not an object. And I won’t be talked down!” But before Venom Dough Cookie could do anything further, they felt a strain on their dough that made them drop to the ground, screaming.
Why, why did it all hurt so much?! They had done nothing but be created. But that was probably a mistake. Why else would Venom Dough Cookie keep on lying to themselves, trying to be defensive? That’s what they were made for: to be in someone’s control. And that’s how so many before them suffered, and probably still are suffering right now, letting out the same anguished screams and howls of pain.
Suddenly, a cookie grabbed them from behind, and, suddenly overcome with emotion, Venom Dough Cookie tried to kick out of the cookie’s grasp as their vision grew red. The cookie resembled something more like a dessert monster, a chocolate cupcake. To them, it was a miracle that they could still see things clearly.
“Careful with it, Schwarzwalder,” Pomegranate Cookie said out of nowhere. “It’s very valuable, but it seems to have been acting out. Take it to where test subject number 1105 resides.” Schwarzwalder nodded, ignoring Venom Dough’s protests and screaming as they ventured towards a dark hallway. And then some more hallways. It seemed never-ending.
Until they finally stopped at a grand wafer door, dripping chocolate syrup. Or at least they hoped so. Schwarzwalder burst open the door and placed Venom Dough on the floor, and then left, closing the door behind him.
Venom Dough looked around to see what was in their surroundings. It didn’t seem like much, but their eyes were still adjusting to the crimson lighting, and their head was still throbbing as they turned it.
“Who are you?”
A husky voice said in the darkness, alerting Venom Dough Cookie.
“I could ask the same for you,” Venom Dough retorted, trying to seem threatening but failing. “What is this place? Who are you? Are you…like me?”
“Depends on who you are.” The figure stepped out of the shadows, hovering over Venom Dough Cookie.
They were a large and bulky cookie, looking like they could easily crush Venom Dough Cookie without trying. With wispy black hair, the cookie’s dough was the color of charcoal, with lumps on it- mold perhaps. The cookie’s eyes were scrunched up, as if trying to adjust to seeing another cookie right in front of them.
“Are you another experiment?” Venom Dough asked, voice breaking. They didn’t know why they were breaking down. There was a cookie that could help them, but they just burst into tears.
“My name is Mold Dough Cookie,” Mold Dough Cookie replied. He looked at the frail cookie right in front of him, which was about to start uncontrollably sobbing. “What is yours?”
“I-I don’t have one,” Venom Dough Cookie replied as tears stung their face. Oh, why did even showing emotion hurt?
Mold Dough looked at Venom Dough Cookie with concern. He didn’t have much experience with dealing with other cookies, but this cookie…was purposely brought to him. And for whatever reason, that was, he felt a tinge of pity seeing how frail and broken the cookie in front of him looked.
But then…they looked so perfect. Way better than Mold Dough turned out, so the cookie was definitely a big priority for Dark Enchantress to create the Ultimate Cookie. But why did they have to be here, in Mold Dough’s unkept corridor, where he broke through boards of chocolate every day?
Even if they were a cookie of immense power, it seemed like they had just gained consciousness. Sure, the cookie probably spent a long period in a coma-like state before it awoke, but they didn’t know much about the world. They looked shaken…and scared.
Cautiously, Mold Dough Cookie bent over and lifted the crying cookie. Surprised, Venom Dough Cookie stopped crying for a second. Mold Dough looked closely at the cookie’s eyes. One of them was bright purple with spiral pupils like his, but the other eye looked sharp. It radiated power that sent a shiver down his spine.
Not wanting to accidentally harm the cookie, Mold Dough Cookie carefully reached over and wiped their tears. Now only quiet sobs could be heard as Venom Dough Cookie buried themself into Mold Dough Cookie, looking for a safe space.
Mold Dough Cookie didn’t know what to do, just stood there holding the new cookie in his arms, trying to contemplate what he just done.
This cookie…was better than him. It would be stronger than Mold Dough Cookie; they would get more attention as Mold Dough was slowly pushed away. One day, he could even be forced to take orders by their hand, do whatever they wanted.
And yet…he didn’t hate the cookie. Not one bit. He couldn’t bring himself to feel jealous about the new cookie.
Because for the very first time, he had someone who would understand him, someone who didn’t seem like they were going to crumble right away. Even as a crying mess, they already seemed to be stronger, with no signs of strain on their dough. Perhaps the cookie would look up to him, look for guidance. That cookie would need him as much as he would-a real friend.
No, maybe one day they could be like…siblings. Like a family. Mold Dough Cookie wasn’t sure what feeling was swirling through him-maybe happiness. Hope. He didn’t just feel like a mindless servant; he felt like he created a bond with the cookie nestled in his arms. Perhaps his only duty wasn’t just to follow orders and destroy; Mold Dough Cookie could…protect this cookie.