“Hello! Welcome to my boutique! What can I do for you, today, young lady?” A pink haired cookie greeted the mysterious visitor the moment the doorbell rang, signalling that she had received a new potential customer. The cookie stared at the owner of the shop, who was still giving her the same friendly smile.
The pink-haired cookie dresses like a lavish cake. A multi-layered gown, the different layers of the gown cascaded down elegantly, each adorned with delicate frosting-like ruffles.
The cookie who was visiting her shop stared down at her gown, her gown which had similar ruffles but lacked decorations. Will the owner allow her to get the dress, a similar dress like hers the cookie admired so much? Will it be too costly? She didn’t have much money as an adult and considering the money she had to save for future and more urgent purposes, there was only so little money she could hand out just so that she could look more “presentable” as the bride.
“I’d like a dress like yourss—your dress iss really pretty,”the cookie croaked, thoroughly surprising the cookie wearing the lavish dress. Her voice certainly did not match her looks, the pink haired cookie thought but didn’t give that much of a thought.
Every bride is a beautiful bride and the boutique owner would make sure that their wedding dresses are well-complemented with their beauty.
Most cookies may not like their jobs—but she was different. She was especially passionate about making dresses, and seeing the reviews the brides who had received her service had given her and their continuous compliments and praise made her incredibly happy. It drove her on to tend to more brides in need of her tailoring services, or any other wedding matters.
She was supposed to be the professional in such matters shouldn’t she? In fact, she persisted in believing she really was a professional, the best cookie in that subject of marriage, for that matter.
“Oh, what an adorable cookie you are! Oh of course, I could make you a dress that is rather similar to mine. But, ah, aren’t you going to modify your dress a bit, depending on the mood and type of wedding you want? Do you know that there are different types of wedding dresses that signify different types of wedding events? Oh! How rude of me, I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Wedding Cake Cookie, that’s how you could address me!” Wedding Cake Cookie explained to the visitor, lightly patting her brown cheeks. The cookie stared up at Wedding Cake Cookie with round, dark eyes full of curiosity and sparked with awe.
“What’s your name, beloved cookie?”
“I am Black Foresstss Cookie…I plan on getting married with our beautiful, benevolent creatorss in the heavenss we shall go…”Black Forest cookie replied slowly, trying to keep her voice even and flow smoother, “My fellow cookie friendss recommend me to you…they ssay you are a reputable wedding planner..dresss maker…” Wedding Cake Cookie seemed to pay her strange voice no mind, only catching out the main parts of her statement so she could better assist this cookie.
“Ahh..a religious ceremony, I see. Well, the colours of the dresses can mean different things you see, white symbolises purity, innocence, pure offering, in your case, I guess it could symbolise a “pure” offering..whilst red describes blood, passion, death or sacrifice…black is usually used in gothic or horror settings, like mourning—” Wedding cake cookie explained, before getting cut-off abruptly.
“I’d like white dresss pleassse. I’d like to be a pure offering for our dear creatorss..” Black Forest Cookie interrupted, finally making up the decision to use a white dress, just like Wedding Cake Cookie’s gown. “I want red rose garmentsss…
black lace..thank you.”
“Alright then! White wedding gown, the black lace will be sewn into the hem of the gown layers, and also not to leave out the red rose embellishments, alright! Now move along, Black Forest Cookie, it’s time to take your measurements!” Wedding Cake cookie exclaimed in satisfaction, beckoning the guest to step closer to her as she strides towards the small area at the side where the shelves and measuring instruments are placed.
The whole interior of the boutique was full of wedding dresses of colours that vary from one another, and so did the designs of each of them which were now being worn by cookie-sized mannequins. It was a spectacular sight for Black Forest Cookie, she admired the intensity of the shimmer of the different dresses. The whole boutique was what one might call the “high-end” store, as Black Forest Cookie’s eye fell in line with the price tag of a black dress, she shivered in fear at the thought of the amount of money the dress she had requested might cost.
She wondered how wearing such grand dresses could change her overall appearance and attractiveness, but nevertheless, she would try her very best to look beautiful and please her creators. Oh…she was looking forward to that very day when she could finally meet them—them! And carry the honour of being their bride!
Oh, that very thought elicited the formation of a smile on Black Forest’s face as she followed Wedding Cake Cookie to wherever she wanted to guide the bride-to-be.
Black Forest Cookie was only a child, a child orphan with no source of support when she was first joined the cult. She heard from one of the senior cult members, that one of the Shadow sisters of the cult found Black Forest Cookie lying on the roadside like a useless rag, and decided to take her in, recruiting her as one of the cult members and providing her with free daily necessities for living, including shelter.
For that, Black Forest Cookie is thankful for their service. Being in the cult has also impacted her views on life, changed her very own perspectives on cookies and her creators. Whether the impact was a positive one or not was what Black Forest Cookie was uncertain about.
Her saviours, her creators. She had been told to respect them. To bow before them. To dedicate her very own frail body and her life to them.
And those perspectives, that being in the cult would change, caused Black Forest Cookie to think that giving up herself to the witches as a cookie sacrifice sounded something like she was most willing to do.
However, was she? The only thing, as far as she could remember, drove her on to marry the witches was because of the cult members continuous act of commending, saying how brave and pure-hearted Black Forest Cookie was, devoting herself towards the divine beings and even mentioned that she would receive praise, and she’ll get to see—feel what it is like to be in heaven as a reward from the witches.
She needed to be in the most formal bridal attire if she wanted to please them, the cult would help her to conduct a ritual at approximately 12 a.m. near the altar, and she would finally get to meet them!
Oh she was brimming with excitement! She could hear the sisters of the cult cheering her on, as if she was doing a brave and honourable act as she stepped forward to the altar…
“Great! Your measurements are all done! You’ve been very cooperative, I thank you truly for that!” Wedding Cake Cookie bowed to the esteemed guest, well maybe she appreciated Black Forest Cake greatly for being the guest of the day today, “Now take a seat, while I work my magic on the sewing machine to get your wedding dress tailored and done!”
Black Forest Cookie nodded and sat down on the grand, plush chair Wedding Cake Cookie pointed to.
Wedding Cake Cookie let out a satisfied sigh as she walked briskly to the table, where her sewing machine sat, along with some other fabrics that might come in handy when making the dress the bride-to-be requested.
Black Forest Cookie was captivated by the sustained “clack-clack-clack” produced by the machine. It marked the time ticking past, aShe stared at the eyes of Wedding Cake Cookie who was so indulged in her work. So determined. She wondered if she was truly like this, if she was truly determined to marry the witch, if it was what she desired.
Why can’t she be someone like Wedding Cake Cookie, a cookie free to choose what she wanted to do with her very own life?
——————
“Done!” Wedding Cake Cookie called out in a jovial tone, raising the final product of the gown to let the guest examine it.
It was rather similar to Wedding Cake Cookie’s gown, but the layers of her dress was lined with beautiful black lacings with intricate designs, red rose embellishments, and it was shimmering especially brightly.
To put it simply; it was exquisite and alluring. It was perfect.
The witches would love and appreciate her for this. Right? They would, this magnificent dress is for them, and they would love her.
“Why don’t you test it on?” Wedding Cake Cookie suggested, “there is a dressing room over there.” She pointed to a corner which was shielded by red curtains.
Black Forest Cookie accepted the gown handed over to her and scurried into the dressing room, drawing the curtains close.
She quickly dressed, refusing to meet her own reflection in the large mirror until she was fully dressed in the gown Wedding Cake Cookie specially made with her very own hands—and took into consideration the sewing machine to produce this masterpiece for her.
Black Forest Cookie loved her reflection. She turned to face different directions see her in the gown from different angles and she loved the dress so, so, much.
The witches will love her, the witches will love her dress and she will be happy forever, being their bride. Being the bride of the creatures whom she worshipped so much. Is it…is that what she wants…truly? To be nothing, to be a nobody, but the witches’ bride? Ignoring her own desires and dreams she’d had for herself?
No,no…that was what she wanted..to be the witches’ bride…that is what she is fated to be, a sacrifice, a “gift” for the witches. Their bride.
She swished the curtains open, to let Wedding Cake Cookie inspect her in the gown. Wedding cake cookie grinned proudly and beamed.
“Look at you! All ready for a perfect wedding! I assure you, the wedding will go on smoothly, believe my words!” Wedding cake Cookie went over to Black Forest Cake Cookie, cupping her warm cheeks in her hands. Her hand felt soft and warm, like a mother’s affection. Something that she didn’t have for herself. “Whoever has you will be so lucky…you’re so perfect, Black Forest Cookie.”
She took Wedding Cake Cookie’s words seriously. She blushed upon hearing that and she was completely devoid of words. She couldn’t bring herself to say anything.
“Here,” Wedding Cake Cookie retrieved a bouquet from the table where her sewing machine was—ah, Black Forest Cake Cookie had missed that when scanning across the table to see the types of materials found on the table, she assumed it must be buried underneath all that fabric. “I decided to give you a bouquet, you know? As a parting gift. It’s kind of a cliché but I think it’s still good that I give you a nice bouquet, to wish you the best of luck for your wedding.”
Black Forest Cookie stared at the light pink and white rosebuds. Some of the roses bloomed. Though the colour scheme of the flowers definitely did not match the type of girl Black Forest Cookie was, she accepted it without complains. It was fine. The flowers reminded her of Wedding Cake Cookie.
And that was all that matters. The flowers that reminded her of Wedding Cake Cookie was already pretty if it looked like her..like Wedding Cake Cookie.
Something bloomed within Black Forest Cookie. A feeling of warmth and comfort. Black Forest Cookie was naturally not good with handling and identifying emotions. But somehow, she seemed to know this one.
Something she had been searching for. Something that she thought she had found initially. It wasn’t. The true feelings had only been discovered today. The feelings she had never even asked for from Wedding Cake Cookie. She didn’t have to give herself up to be loved by Wedding Cake Cookie, she didn’t have to try to be perfect.
“…Thank you…”
As Black Forest Cake Cookie left the shop, the words of the praises Wedding Cake Cookie gave her were still heavy on her mind, she couldn’t stop thinking about them. It felt so different when she congratulated her. It felt like something she needed to hear, it felt so comforting.
Something stirred inside her when Wedding Cake Cookie called her perfect. Despite all her flaws.
There was a small piece of paper attached to the bouquet of roses. Black Forest Cake Cookie flipped the card open, with her bony hands.
I truly hope to see you one day, again, someday, Black Forest Cookie
Go, I wish you nothing but happiness
Seeing those words being reflected on the paper caused Black Forest Cookie to let out a series of uncontrollable sobs, as the warm tears that slid down her cheeks stung her face.
If only you’ll understand how I really feel about this wedding and my dilemma whether to stay with you or not…Black Forest Cookie thought to herself, between pained sobs. She let the tears fall and the tears coated her cheeks, along with her intense emotions fighting amongst one another in her tiny cookie physique.
I know what decisions my heart actually chose. Whatever option it was, it was with you. I believe you were the one. You were the one who cared for me, who thought about me.The sincerity in your gaze, the way your expression never even changed once after you’d hear my horrific croak.
My heart calls out your name, Wedding Cake Cookie, but I could never bring myself to say it out loud.