The Way of the Cookie
The Chronicles of Hatchie Fu
The Way of the Cookie
Many lifetimes ago, there was a novice who served his Master faithfully. He sat at his Master’s feet and paid close attention to all he was taught. He obeyed every instruction given to him, and was in all respects, except one, a model student. The failing? There was no joy in the novice, no spark, no happiness. He was an expert Cat Fighter, but took no pleasure in it. He could party for a week, but never enjoyed himself. The practice of Hatchie Fu without pleasure is a parody of itself, and the student, despite his diligence, was the cause of great worry to his Master.
The stony-faced young Hatchie was able to do everything except be happy. The sensei thought, “ I am failing him, Hatchie Fu is about personal happiness above all else. He parties without pleasure, catfights well with no sense of achievement.” The sensei hung his head and wondered how to help the young dragon achieve happiness.
The monastery where the sensei taught was in a remote mountain region, and received few visitors. One spring, when the snows in the passes finally melted, a peddler arrived. In his pack were many strange and unusual things, never before seen in the isolated community. Amongst them was a strange, tubular package labelled “Kooqueys” in an unusual script. Beneath, in smaller script, was the note “For the relief of melancholia”. The sensei took note of this, and purchased the package.
Over the next few days, the Master administered a “Kooquey” to the novice every time he completed a task well. The youth’s spirit and demeanour began to approve. The sensei realised he had found a solution. He gave some of the Kooqueys to the alchemists of the monastery. They were able to analyze the ingredients of the mysterious food, and soon began to produce a local equivalent. These “cookies” as the spelling soon became, made as they were by Dragons for Dragons, proved even more powerful in their effect upon the unhappy novice. Other Dragons also tried the miraculous food, and found their mood and mental power boosted by it. A key had been found to unlock the power of the draconic mind!
The giving, receiving and eating of cookies soon became a central part of Dragon Life. Young Hatchlings in particular were encouraged to eat cookies as often as possible. Draconic intelligence and happiness continued to grow as a result. The cult of Hatchie Fu grew greater from this development, with its motto of “No Enlightenment without Cookies, No Cookies without Enlightenment”. The Way of the Cookie was soon incorporated with the older Way of The Party and the Way of the Catfight, and the cult became ever more central to Dragon life. He who controls the Cookies controls the Dragons it is said, and it is no secret that the Hatchie Fu, with their monastery factories and alchemists, control cookie availability throughout Dragondom.
“Do not meddle in the affairs of the Hatchie Fu, for they will kick your butt and stop your cookies” it is said, and this ancient advice remains valid today. With minds sharpened by the Way of the Cookie, physical strength developed by the Way of the Catfight, and stamina forged in the Way of the Party, the Hatchie Fu is a powerful, mysterious force. Their success is bound to their control of cookie supply. The Way of the Cookie is the essence of Hatchie Fu.
As told to Earl Semaphore by the ancient Masters of Hatchie Fu in their remote mountain fastness
