Chapter Text
The Spire of Deceit. Pure Vanilla Cookie had a multitude of memories from this place, both negative and positive. It was ominous, even in ruin.
“How the mighty have fallen…” he mumbled to himself, guilt encasing his chest. It was probably for the best that it was destroyed, but it just looked so…pitiful. Like it wasn't a spire to begin with, but crumbs from the start. He shook his head, shaking the thought from his mind.
He had been sent by the Crème Republic to check the wreckage, to insure it wasn't filled with monsters of deceit. They tried to send guards with him, but this was something he had to do alone. He would feel claustrophobic with guards breathing down his neck the entire time. Plus it felt too…personal. Like he was on the operating table, his heart being viewed as an exhibit. ‘The Heart of a Fool’ would be plastered above his head.
His feet crunched grass and small bits of rubble alike as he walked into the fray. Most of it was beyond saving, with only a few half standing structures resembling rooms. That's as good a place to start as any, right? Pure Vanilla mused, ducking under fallen pillars to get to them.
The first room was red, standing out against the myriad of blues, blacks, and silvers of the spire. There was a small bed, twin sized most likely, with ripped drapes covering the top. Stuffed animals with various missing limbs hid the mattress from view. A vanity sat in the corner, eagerly awaiting for its owner to return. Bottles of nail polish, makeup and syrup were strewn about the floor near it, only a few managed to stay on the vanity itself.
“Was this…Candy Apple Cookie’s room?” The realization sent a chill careening down his spine. He had his suspicions that she was young, but this room was eerily similar to a normal teenage girl. Not a servant of Shadow Milk Cookie. The only thing hinting at her violent tendencies were the stuffed animals, but even then most of them were stitched back together. He could imagine her ripping the arms off of a teddy bear, only to regret it. Trying to stitch the poor thing back together through tears blurring her vision. Maybe she'd even cry to Shadow Milk cookie to fix it.
Pure Vanilla Cookie made the decision to move on, before he thought too hard about the implications.
He held his staff up, turning it around to survey the rest of the ruins. He saw purple wallpaper peaking out nearby, cables and other miscellaneous sound equipment haphazardly accompanying it. Black Sapphire Cookie's room wasn't as lucky…He sighed, there wasn't anything else of interest. He supposed it was a good thing, though, because that meant there weren't any monsters left.
But that also meant there was no Shadow Milk left.
He knew it was wishful thinking, but he had secretly hoped to find the blue clad jester. He had felt how lonely the other was when their soul jams combined- even if only for a second. He wouldn't, no, couldn't forgive him for what he'd done. The friends he'd hurt. But he still wanted to help him, had to help him. Maybe it was just his own savior complex, or something more. He didn't particularly care either way, since his goal would remain unchanged.
Turning his staff back to face forward, it caught something else. He latched onto the anomaly, walking towards it. It was another unassuming room at first glance, but upon further inspection it looked cleaner. Recently lived in.
He didn't dare to let himself hope, because in the back of his mind he knew the emptiness meant they left already. Likely Shadow Milk's own paranoia kicking in.
He ducked under the strategically placed pillars that attempted to hide the makeshift living space from prying eyes, the dirt and rubble was disturbed near their bottoms.
The inside was much more packed than expected, tattered drapes hung from the ceiling to create makeshift walls. Pure Vanilla pushed the curtains aside, one room had two blankets and what he assumed were meant to be pillows (one blanket was covered in stuffed animals), and another room was filled with a multitude of scraps. The last room in the back was empty with the exception of a worn desk in the corner. That's not what caught his eye, though.
No, the plush replica of Shadow Milk did. It was shoved under the desk as if hiding, and maybe it was. He wouldn't put it past Candy Apple to hide something like this in the back, terrified of it getting ruined. It was dusted in debris, though it was clear someone had tried to brush it off, failing miserably.
He gently picked it up, its mismatched button eyes looking back at him. The stitched on smile a mockery of the real thing. It felt like it was laughing at him, what a pity. He thought. This must've been Candy Apple's, I do hope she isn't too distraught it got left behind.
He lightly dusted its clothes off. “You poor thing. They just left you here to rot.” He didn't know if he was talking to the plush, or if he was talking to Shadow Milk. Even so, he smiled. “Don't worry, I'll get you cleaned up.”
He held it to his chest, walking out of the hideout carefully. He would feel immeasurable guilt if he dropped it. (He knew it wasn't really him, but it was the thought that counted.)
Once he escaped the dangerously crumbly room, he turned to look back at the spire one last time. It felt bittersweet, like he was leaving a part of himself behind. He held the plush tighter. “...let's go home, hm?” The plush didn't respond.
“Master Shadow Milk Cookie is incapacitated at the moment, as you are aware he is…unable to defend himself in this state.” Black Sapphire Cookie looked at the inconspicuous form Shadow Milk had taken. He sighed, his master had only even been in this form for an hour or so at most.
“B-but will he be okay? He's never stayed in this form for so long before!” Candy Apple Cookie whined, stomping one foot into the ruble. “If those foolish cookies come back they'll-!”
“Quiet. Master Shadow Milk Cookie will be just fine, we just need to keep watch until he can return to his most powerful.” Black Sapphire flicked her forehead irritably. “We need to gather more supplies first and foremost.” She sniffled, rubbing her forehead. His glare softened. “Plus, it's been a week already. If they were going to come back, they'd have returned by now. And hey, we've got each other until the master returns.”
“Yeah. You're right Black Sapphire.” She fiddled with her skirt, clearly wanting something. He sighed.
“Yes you may have a hug.” She squealed and tackled the poor man, he barely caught her. “Jeez, what has the master been feeding you-” he choked out.
She snickers before letting go, landing back on the ground with a click of her heels. “Oh oh oh! When we get back from scavenging, can I bring more of my stuffies back? I didn't have enough hands to get all of them…” She pouted.
Black Sapphire grimaces. “Well, sure we can bring a few back. I don't think they'd all fit in the hideout.” He reasoned, gritting his teeth.
“UGH. I guess you're right. I'll just grab a couple more.” She groaned, slumping before standing up straight. “But we need to put Master Shadow Milk Cookie somewhere safe while we're gone!” She twirled her hair around one finger. “I could always put him in the middle of my stuffies?”
“The master wouldn't appreciate being treated like a ‘stuffy’. We can put him under the desk in the back.” He reasoned.
“Can I do it? Please please please please please!!” She clasped her hands in front of her, giving Black Sapphire puppy eyes.
“Yes, yes, fine! Just be careful!” He called out after her, as she had already grabbed the plush Shadow Milk before he got out his first ‘yes’.
“I know!” She scurried over to the desk, giving the plush one last squeeze before gently putting him in the corner. “We'll be back soon Master Shadow Milk Cookie! I pinky promise!” She jumps back up and runs to Black Sapphire, who's standing by the entrance. “I'm ready to go!”
Their footsteps gradually grow quiet, leaving the spire cloaked in sufficating silence.
Shadow Milk stared unblinking at the drapes hiding him from view, groaning internally. ‘This is going to take foreverrr. How is one supposed to perform in such a pathetic state? No matter, soon i'll be in tip top shape!’
He was not, in fact, in tip top shape. I'm going to kill you when I get out of this mushy form you thief! Shadow Milk grumbled to himself, how dare he. First he steals the souljam, then he steals the wielder! He would find it far more humorous if he wasn't currently being held like a teddy bear. Pure Vanilla was somehow worse than Candy Apple! This is more humiliating than if he just killed me.
“Hm, now that I think about it, did Shadow Milk make you himself?” He mused aloud. “I don't think any self respecting business would make replicas of him…” And what's that supposed to mean?! “Well, no matter the who, they certainly captured his likeness.” Did he ever stop yammering, or was this what Shadow Milk's future held? He almost wished Black Sapphire let Candy Apple put him with her stuffies. It would be far less pathetic.
“I do hope they're alright…you're probably Candy Apple's, right? I wouldn't put it past him to own a plush of himself, though.” He laughed lightly at his own joke, but wouldn't laugh at Shadow Milk's. Figures. Then the first half processed. What. He- this fool is worrying about the enemy? Oh, oh this is rich! Hilarious, even! “If you are Candy Apple’s, I’ll give you back if she asks.” Shadow Milk stared ahead at their wooded surroundings, not even bothering to pay the other cookie attention anymore. He knew that Pure Vanilla likely came on an air balloon, either that or he stole Shadow Milk’s teleporting schtick. He wouldn’t be surprised, a thief is a thief after all, today only proved it.
The only thing that wouldn’t stop nagging Shadow Milk (other than Pure Vanilla) was his motive. Why on Earthbread would he A) come to the destroyed spire himself and B) take a random plush that he had no idea was Shadow Milk. Candy Apple had a whole pile of the things, why couldn’t he just take one of those! He’s the sentimental type. Revolting. “It might be a bit selfish of me…but I hope we don’t run into her.” Oh? “You’re quite cute. It would be a shame to lose you.” Pure Vanilla smiled down at him, his stitched mouth smiled back. Of course I’m cute, this form was created in my vision! He preened at his praise, but he’d never admit that to anyone. Including himself.
Pure Vanilla pushes a curtain of leaves to the side, revealing his airship. It’s smaller than last time, and far more intact. “Ah, here we are. You’ll like the Vanilla Kingdom I’m sure,” He walks as he talks. “The citizens have been rebuilding phenomenally! I could barely recognize the place last time I went back.” He carefully steps into the basket, clutching Shadow Milk to his side. He was being far more careful with a plush than his staff, almost banging it against the outside. Tck. He’s almost as foolish a king as Elder Faerie. Maybe even more so.