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Chapter Text

A chattering afternoon goes by as the sound of satisfied salesmen and customers waltz about the caramelized floor, blueberry messenger avians flocking from stall to stall. Nothing but the topic of marketing is spoken upon this humble area, and all is at peace. Laughter bumbles in one of the small guests as it runs through the up kept crowd, chasing a candied butterfly through the vanilla markets. But alas, as enjoyment is quick to start, it ends abruptly as the child bumps into one of the customers.

Its laughter is stolen from its lungs as the perpetrator tilts its head up at the cause of his temporary boredom, eyes sparkling as two curious eyes stare back at it. The cerulean gems narrow as if a predator had found prey to snack upon, relief settling upon lips as its host steps forward to the unmoving child, and reached a clawed hand out…

…with a shiny apple sitting freshly plump in sky-blue.

The child trilled as the crimson caught its eye, thanking the kind samaritan for the gift before it pranced back to its guardian.

“Will that be all, madam?” A sales cookie reached out to the samaritan, captivating her interest once more. Soft lips curled into a smile as the lady in azure shook her head.

“No, I’m fine, thank you.” She thanked, as she reached out for the paper bag that hung from the man’s hands.

Upon grabbing the bag, her fingers brushed lightly against the salesman’s own, causing a new expression that the other cookie perhaps wasn’t aware of making. He reached out to his customer once more, but alas, there was no one there to begin with. The mystery lady turned away from the new area where she stood, huffing a breath from her nostrils as she began to trot down her memorized path towards the Vanilla Castle.

It’s days like these that Shadow Milk Cookie, the grand Beast of Deceit wonders whether the loyalty of cookies are even up to date, what with the smallest touch or words causing a sudden rifle out of oneself. He scoffed. As if he could ever be like that . One thing for sure is that the beast will never fold as easily as paper if any cookie decided to lay a fingernail on his pristine blueberry-flavored dough.

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As he floated through the castle walls and into the Vanillan hallways, his eyes widened as his sight contained the very plague that contradicted his scowling thoughts.

Pure Vanilla Cookie.

And heading off to where? Without him? Containing a bunch of valuable information that he can’t help get his grubby little hands on? Ah, right.

The beast twisted his dough to his more preferred shape, feet levitating the ground as he did so. The feeling of not having to place his delicate paws onto unworthy ground has him letting out a satisfied hum at the sensation of nothing but air beneath his toes. Shoving his paper bag in order for its contents to not become spoiled in the traveling process, he waltzed across the medium, slowly yet eagerly following the half-blind man through the shadows—that he of course created through every closing of curtains.

To an average cookie’s sight, it appeared as if a ghostly presence is causing window curtains to fall into place from every window Pure Vanilla seemed to pass by. But if you were a close friend of the former-king’s, the instant thought of the trickster would make its presence in your mind. For a Beast of Deceit, this one wasn’t on terms with the word “subtle”.

At last, when both parties arrive at their destination— one seemingly unaware of the other— dismay was the first emotion Shadow Milk felt when he stepped into the room of agony. His form of torture, a sickening sight that has him thinking that the blonde is a madman for picking this particular disaster to be created and remain in his home.

The library.

The beast gawks and stares at every knowledgable crevice that lurks in his periphery, every knick nack that contains valuable information mocking him at every flick of his eye. Then, both of them finally land on his perpetrator. A all-too sickening grin crept onto his face at the sight of an innocent lamb, unaware of his surroundings and believing that he is regarding in the safety of his pasture— believing that the beast wouldn’t torment him in this sanctuary and avoid it at all costs.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen, Shadow Milk ponders as he slithers from shelf to shelf towards the jewel of the entire kingdom. Quitely snickering right as he is on the topmost shelf above the healer, he slips out of the shadows and into the air, gleeful as he is to make the entrance of a lifetime as his show’s allstar——

“Did you bring a snack?”

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.

.

What.

The hushed syllables pierced through the air like a nuclear weapon, freezing all movement from anything and anything that resided in the bountiful atmosphere. The beast slowly cracked his neck towards his host as he gaped at him with wide pupils. Did he? But how? Impossible! The blonde didn’t even have his royalwear on! Just simple baby-blue rags and a bodysuit! Hell, he even had his hair up in a messy bun! The beast dashed forward, inspecting him from all angles as if he were a mother checking for parasites in a child’s hair. Uncanny. The man didn’t even contain his soul jam, oh a missed opportunity indeed!

“Ho-“ The word was immediately snatched from his tongue as his gaze locked with the former king’s. But of course. It was so obvious.

A fine frame of eyeglasses sat on the rim of his crooked nose, uncanny for anyone who was familair with the worldwide signature look of the saint. Polished and painted with milky-white gloss, containing embedded azure gems and gold on its arms. The beast huffed.

“Did you really just turn your majestic awakened robes into puny glasses?” He chuckled, finding the similarities between the other’s angelic costume and this new upgrade. The blonde echoed the other’s laugh, waving a hand as he softly shook his head.

“My dear friend, Strawberry Crepe Cookie, had these made for me as a gift for allowing him a place in not only my castle, but in my kingdom.” Pure Vanilla purred, taking the frame off and gazing at the trinket in enamored awe. The beasted gagged a little inside.

“So! Why pick this particular place for our hang out, hm?”

“I was planning on reading to myself for a moment.”

“Bah! You-time, me-time, it’s all the damn same, my dear!”

“That’s a new one, don’t you think?” The healer giggled, catching the trickster off guard. No fair! Handing out surprises is his only job around here, Pure Vanilla is already royalty and whatnot! He shouldn’t be taking the spotlight just like that.

Shadow Milk shoved the paper bag into the other’s arms instantly, disregarding his grateful look as he turned away to look elsewhere while Vanilla dug into his puzzle for his prize. Knowing the beast, he most likely turned the simple thing into a maze of some sort for the blonde to find his way through, what with the random clutter he was met with the minute he opened the bag.

“So the markets were busy as per usual. Some cookie tried to flatter me today! Hm!” He smirked, attempting to pry the ex-king’s attention away from the bag of migraines. “Ah-ah-ah! Hands keep moving, just eyes only for now. But yes, I was flirted with in your markets! Can you believe that?” The beast slumped himself over the top of the couch the other had been sitting on, “Such inappropriate things occuring to me in your kingdom! And I thought Vanillans were supposed to be pure ‘n take after their king!”

“Ex-king.”

“Shh, I’m having a moment.”

The two continued like that for a while, as the day treaded on and the civilians in the kingdom pranced about the Vanillan grounds, their routine almost up as the sun is seen sinking into Earthbread on the horizon. They followed each other around the hallways as if it was nothing out of the ordinary. The beast, of course, giving some concerned staff members his signature smirk.

Nevertheless, they danced along the bare halls like the symphony they were. Truth and Deceit. Deceit and Truth. Both in one’s company as inevitable as it could be. With new upgrades, of course. The renovated vision of the former king made their interactions and time with each other much exciting as Shadow Milk Cookie could put it. Definitely a relief for Pure Vanilla, as the other’s remarks and jokes about his poor vision had simmered down into nothing. Well, it was only a matter of time before ideas sprouted for new ones.

Yes, the day was spent quite nicely in domestic formatting, some sight seeing and some gossiping settled here and there. To Shadow Milk, though, it still felt as if something was missing in all of this. The beast simply couldn’t put his clawed finger on it. Literally. He could not, as his claws were too sharp, it would instantly prick his dough if he were to put any pressure on his face with one finger.

As both cookies made their way into the former fount’s room, they were both surprised as two plush hands jumped at them the instant that Pure Vanilla had opened the door. Said cookie was busy laughing on the floor as he was embraced and tickled by one of the hands, puffy white curls clouding his vision. Shadow Milk on the other hand, was shrieking as the same was done to him, demanding that he be let go in between snorts and screams. Fortunately for him, all castle staff was well aware of how his shouts sounded, and needn’t be alarmed.

“Alright, Candy, that’s enough.” A raspy voice uttered into the air, hands and arms releasing the tickled victims. The blonde sat up, catching his breath as he adjusted his glasses once more, giggling at the sight of a very messed up beast. The source of where the voice came from, had also begun to snicker very loudly at Shadow Milk’s form, restraining the urge to cackle there and then by covering his mouth with two lavender hands.

“Ha, ha, very funny.” The trickster gave all three cookies the most unimpressed look he had ever given a cookie, it’d put a disappointed teacher’s look in shame. Oh, wait.

Black Sapphire Cookie helped the last cookie up onto his feet— which was unsurprisingly the beast himself— and allowed everyone to head inside into their personal presidential suite. Upon entering the room, the former fount is yet again grateful that the healer had given them this particular room, else he believed that he would have not made any progress in his redemption story. Although the raven-haired boy was close to turning 18 moons old, his and Candy Apple Cookie’s sibling rivalry always sparked up quite a banter. Even though they too, are having their own little reformation arcs.

Ever since the two cookies had stepped out of the spire, they had begun to age, in accordance to Shadow Milk’s worst fears. Though bittersweet, he irked for the day he would have to finally see Candy Apple fly out of the nest that he so carefully built and maintained even after his corruption. Half of him couldn’t bare to imagine what the feeling would be like, seeing his youngest go on towards being an independent woman. The other half though?

His thoughts were interrupted as a sugar-high girl ran past him with a pillow in hand, lunging towards a very panicked Black Sapphire. Yeah, no. He can’t wait for her to finally mold. Though, another thought nips at him.

Oh? He’s being called. It would have to wait for now.

“I was going to let you know that I’m planning on taking you all on an outing to the local zoo. As you are all aware, we don’t have a luscious forest out here like the Hollyberry kingdom, so we implemented our own idea of seeing all of Earthbread’s magnificent creatures by treating and rejuvenating its injured and lost animals here in the Vanilla Sanctuary.” The healer clasped his hands in excitement. Apparently the “zoo” Pure Vanilla had introduced had just open a week ago, lying just on the outskirts of the kingdom. Perhaps to make enough room for its inhabitants. The trickster raised a brow at the amount of energy that had been vibrating off of the other. Something seemed… off.

“Sounds like you’re a bit too excited on visting a couple of animals, ‘Nilly. What’s the catch?” The blonde chuckled at this, relaxing his shoulders.

“Ah, there is no catch. It’s just that.. well.. the four of us have never gone out into public-“ The beast opened his mouth to retort, but was quickly hushed by the raise of Vanilla’s hand, “-with no disguises since the first month you all stayed here. But I figured that some civilians wouldn’t be at ease seeing you all walk so freely, so, I had asked White Lily to join us!”

Ah. There it is. The beast’s smug look melted off of his face as he watched Pure Vanilla explain the details to the younger cookies in the room. Of course the healer would be happy at the mention of the guardian of the seal, why wouldn’t he? She’s pristine and perfect , while he was fragile and rotten -

“…Silent Salt will be tagging along with Silver…” Rang past his pointed ears, captivating Shadow Milk’s attention.

“Wai- wai- w- You said who, now?” He blinked profusely, words falling out of his mouth as he was taken aback. Salt, out in the open? He wasn’t aware the other beast was fond of outings such as a zoo. He supposed the rusty knight had obliged only because he must’ve been exhausted of staying in Beast-Yeast.

Curse White Lily for ruling the Faerie Kingdom. What a boring place to be, fully around silver.

“Ah- yes! White Lily will be accompanied by Silent Salt and Silverbell Faerie. She stated that little Silverbell begged to tag along, as he had really hoped to see a cream wolf in person-“

“Yes, yes, but- Silent Salt?” Sapphire snickered at the mention of the healer calling his friend ‘little’ while the trickster blinked at Vanilla, waiting.

“Oh. He had been the one to suggest we go to the zoo. Which, flew past me!- I had forgotten it opened last week! Perhaps its flyers had already arrived in the Faerie Kingdom.” Pure Vanilla smiled ever so casually at the former fount, continuing to yap away at the cookies in front of him, both eager to soak in any information just like the man who raised them.

Said man was astounded at the news of his comrade. Huh. Looks like the cruddy reports in the Vanilla Daily were right all along. All of the other corrupted cookies had truly reformed and partaken in their other halves’ ways.

Well, all except for him, of course. Shadow Milk huffed at himself the more he thought.

As if he would ever think similarly to Pure Vanilla. Ha! What kind of hogwash that would be. The day he starts to believe that the truth would set anyone free is the day that cream sheep could fly. Which will absolutely be never .

A crooked smile crept onto his face.

“Well, ‘Nilla, I believe I speak for all three of us when I say we will be joining you, and the half cookie, I guess, at the animal sanctuary tomorrow and are ecstatic to do so!” The beast chirped, wrapping both arms around the shoulders of his two ..children, he supposed?

Both cookies had opposite reactions to his announcement; Candy Apple gasped in excitement, while Black Sapphire quietly hummed in thought. Pure Vanilla Cookie grinned all ears.

“Wonderful! Oh, I’m so glad to hear these news. Truly, I am. I’ll make sure to make your visit worthwhile.” While he referred to that last statement to the three other cookies in the room, Shadow couldn’t help but feel as if that was moreso directed at him. The look the half-blind blonde gave him might have confirmed his inquiry.

His dough suddenly felt hot to the touch as the more he locked his gaze with the upgraded cookie’s vision, the more he was able to see the wrinkles of compassion as his dandelion and sky-blue eyes smiled right back at him with a sentiment the former fount couldn’t name. A struggling whine yanked him out from his spiraling.

“SHAD- MILK! YOU’RE HUGGING ME TOO TIGHT- LET GO!!” The youngest cookie began to wail as she struggled against the bear hold his arms had around her shoulder. As if his dough had made contact with a furnace, the beast let both of them go, smiling ever so expressively.

“Kids, amiright?” He grinned as the two— mostly Candy— ran off to their rooms.

“Yes, yes, indeed.” Pure Vanilla hummed, stepping over to stand by the other’s side as he watched the younger cookies do whatever they needed to do in their rooms- probably plotting what they were going to do to Silverbell tomorrow in the outing. Shadow Milk’s little smile at that thought dissolved as he became aware at how closely the ex-king had gotten, his knees almost giving out at remembering that he was still standing on the floor. The jester quickly went back to hovering above the ground just before his legs gave and before the other could even notice at all what with his newly restored vision and everything.

“Which reminded me,” the blonde stated all of a sudden, “I didn’t realize you had considered those two as your children.” Oh, dear witches. He noticed.

“They’re not.” The beast swallowed, inwardly yelling at himself as he suddenly found it incredibly hard to lie.

“No? Then how come they greeted you just as young children would to their tired parent arriving home from a day at work? Hm?” Vanilla turned towards him now, opening his eyes after thinking pensively. A habit of his that appears to still happen even with that new trinket of his.

“Shadow Milk.” Said jester tensed up at his name. Why was he so afraid?

“You recall our conversation from a few months ago, yes?” A hesitant nod. There was a hand at his shoulder. It felt.. soft. Heartwarming.

“It’s okay to let them in. If you truly feel that they are worth being called ‘family,’ then so be it. You don’t have to be afraid.” A voice yelled in his left ear, buzzing frantically as the two hemispheres of his brain were at war with one another.

Could he truly try? Everyone else had already done it, why can’t he? It would be like trying a new dish of food: he’d have to try it in order to like it or not. If he didn’t, everything would stay the same. His miniscule bits of progress at civil life would be for nothing.

The warm hand on his shoulder left, and with it, so did its source. Although gone, it still felt.. present. Shadow Milk’s gaze lifted to the siblings’ room. A tightness in his throat suddenly made its presence known, and he found his mouth dry. Before the beast went in the direction his heart began to ache for, he quickly made his way towards the kitchen and filled a glass with water.

Wow. He really did feel parched. As he felt the cool liquid run down his tightening throat, the former fount paused for a breath as his eyes locked with the outside of the fridge. On its metallic casing was littered with drawings upon drawings in the format of chicken scratch and terrible but readible handwriting. Some of the messy drawings even contained slightly better looking ones next to them; it had only been drawn in one color, however.

Huh. His chest felt funny the longer he continued to stare at every single paper on the fridge. Upon closer inspection, there was a blue smudge always in every drawing. Whether it was an animal, a flower or a person.

It was always.

There.

Just like how he is inside of the siblings’ room right now, staring back at two confused pairs of eyes. He lunged forward, stretching his arms as wide as possible as he embraced his dear min- children.

Yeah. His children.

The beast nodded his head as he wrapped his hair around the two cookies who returned his embrace, Shadow Milk hugging tighter than he had before.

Hm.

He could try.

He will try.

Chapter Text

Beep!

Beep!

Beep!

Beep!

Beep!

Beep!

Beep!

Beep!

CRASH!

Oh, who on Earthbread would ever invent technology such as that? It is a pest such as the very creator that gave it life. Not only that, but who had even allowed that inventor cookie to unleash it out towards society? Its only use is to torment and destroy the average cookie’s peace and tranquility.

Other than that, its pretty useless.

The beast’s bedroom door is burst open as he creaks one eye open, his new tormentor even worse than the small machine that became another victim to its cruelty. The blue-colored cookie grins inwardly as its shattered pieces glared at him from the corner of his tired eye. Now, where was he? Ah, right.

”Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey!! C’mon, Mas- Dad! It’s zoo day, so get out of that crummy bed and up, up, up!” The sugar-high girl darted toward his safety of a bed, climbing onto it and startling him as she began to jump up and down on it, “Time’s a wastin’!” Ugh, the audacity!

”It’s only six in the morning! I will not get out of this bed until both of you are ready to go. Besides, Pure Vanilla isn’t even up yet, he’s probably still asleep!”

”Um, it’s actually eight fift—“ The white-haired cookie was hushed by pillow being slammed into her face, causing her to fall onto her back with a shriek followed by a giggle.

”Don’t care, my room, my rules! Now, get! Your brother is probably still asleep, too! Why don’t you wake him up by ruining the comfort of his bed with your bouncing” Shadow Milk stuffed his face into his own pillow as he grumbled at the feeling of his mattress still moving due to the younger cookie in the room. He understands middle aged mothers, now.

”Pssh, as if! That guy is already away and prepping himself for his,” She clasps her hands and lifts them at her cheek as she raises her squeaky voice to a whole other threshold, “Oh-so-dearest friend!” The teenager then lets out the loudest cackle the jester had ever heard leave her in his life simply at the mention of Black Sapphire’s life. Which was.. really weird?

“Uh, okay? How is that a problem, let alone worthy of my attention?” That sentence alone finally silenced her up, and Candy stared at him as if he had killed a cream puppy right in front of her.

”His oh-so-dearest friend?” The teen shook her head a little as she looked down ag him with wide eyes, lifting her hands up for emphasis on ‘friend’. Shadow Milk just. Stared. Until suddenly..

It.

Clicked.

And then he let out a mimicking howl that put Candy Apple’s to shame.

”Ha- That’s! That’s really funny! No, really? Pssh! As if he would ever! Have you even seen that kid? Why would anyone like- HA, HA!” A glance at his daughter’s recoiled expression had his nervous fit simmer down.

”Oh. You weren’t kidding. Oh, witchdamnit.”

”Dad!”

”Well, what am I supposed to do, Candy? Throw him a party? ‘Congrats on your first crush!’? He’s a smart kid, he could solve his own problem!” The younger cookie opened her mouth to retort, but then shook her head.

”Nevermind, I’m not Pure Vanilla Cookie.” That got a rise out of Shadow Milk as the white-haired girl began to stand back up to flutter out of his room, the beast tossing another pillow at his empty doorway.

”WHAT’S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!” He yelled at the air. Slouching down after letting out a big wave of energy, he huffed and sank back down to the comfort of his four other pillows.

”I almost forgot!” The devious cookie flew back inside, only to linger at the doorway as she seemed a bit freshened up from earlier. Wow, she is quite the fast one, isn’t she? “Can you conjure some new outfits for Saffie and I?” Huh, that request took him aback. Saffie?

”What’s wrong with your puffy dress?” The beast sat up, confused.

”Weeeell, I don’t know if this is news to you, but we’re going to the zoo? Where there’s barely any shade? And it’ll be outside, for that matter?” Aw, sarcasm. He’s so proud, he can shed a tear.

”Hm, you do seem to bring up good points.. but can’t you just steal an outfit from the marketplace like you usually do?”

”W’yeah, but that opens at ten. And we, like, have to go in an hour, so… yeah?” One thing he could vividly remember from his many moons of being the Found of Knowledge is that the mindset of cookies is so fascinating when it comes to personality and development.

So it wasn’t a surprise to him now that he is finally witnessing his children’s own development in socializing with others— well, mostly him. Though, now that he thought about it, Candy Apple has been getting out more than the other one had. It would make sense for her social development to be a bit advanced than his or Black Sapphire’s. Speaking of which, he needs to think about her request.

”I’ll think about it. For now, just finish freshening up. I’ll see if I can find some scraps for us to eat from the kitchen. For now, yawn, I’ll doze a bit more since that ex-king isn’t coming anytime soon.” A grin, “Perhaps he’s changed his mind.” The beasted purred as he stuffed his face into his pillow once more, snickering at the thought.

Suddenly, the sound of tapping and footsteps proved him wrong.

”Ah, good morning, Shadow Milk. I wanted to let you and the others know that breakfast is served downstairs in the dining room.”

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”Witchdamnit.”

”Dad!”

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The ‘walk’ to the dining room wasn’t half bad, if it wasn’t for being so terribly early in the morning. Pure Vanilla smiled back at the two champions of the dream realm as he led them carefully through the castle. They may have been living here for five months now, but the building is massive. A sky blue hand shot out at his front as he almost bumped into a corner of the wall.

Hm, well. Too big, even for him.

”I thought your sightseeing problem was fixed, what happened to your eye-glasses-thingy?” The jester inquired as they continued heading in the right direction now, the faint scent of food beginning to settle in all three noses.

”It’s too early.” Ah, an common topic, by the way the blue cookie smiled.

”Yeah?”

 “I still want to rest my eyes before I use them on all the marvelous things we will see later on during our outing.” The former fount trilled at that, waving his hands in front of himself as he gestured the former king to the girl beside him.

”See! I thought the same thing! But nooo! I just HAD to leave my beautiful, fluffy, and warm bed. Augh, such punishment!” The white haired cookie giggled at his acting, and the blonde let out an amused hum.

“You could have stayed in your bed for longer, maybe even until we were all ready to leave. I wouldn’t have minded that.” Another grin from the beast, as if he was deciding to rejoin his mattress then and there. “It’s just that, I don’t think you would have liked it if you found your plate empty afterwards. You aren’t the only mouth to feed around here, and knowing sweet Candy Apple, that pretty plate of fluffy omurice with blue jelly sauce on the side will certainly not be spare-“ And not a moment too soon.

At the mention of the other’s delicacy, Shadow Milk Cookie had dashed off within a second towards the dining room, not needing the blonde’s slow guidance anymore. It’s as if the scent was locked in his mind and cleared a visible path for him. Vanilla let out a huff as he fixed his messed up hair, smiling at the sound of the candied girl’s giggling.

Upon following the jester into the decorative room, his smile widened as he saw both cookies marvel at the amount of food prepared for them across the long table. Er, well, just area around four chairs. Nevertheless, it was quite the feast for three lively cookies. The two had already taken their seats, awing at the food as if starved. Pure Vanilla chuckled at that as he neared the table.

”Well, help yourselves. My culinary cookies made sure to plenty of food for each of your appetites.” His gaze softened at their excitement, taking his seat at the far corner where it just so happened to be across the beast.

Candy Apple had certainly dug into her fluffy castella first, eying her tart jampies and golden croissants with scrambled eggs next. It seemed like there was a similar set up plate on her left unseated side for Black Sapphire, except he had more jam chops and jelly skewers on his plate.

And then there was… Shadow Milk Cookie. He avoided his favored dish at all costs, and appeared to begin eating the first of his three plates. A bittersweet ginseng stir fry quickly having its meats gobbled up first before the berries and veggies were reluctantly nibbled up afterwards.

Next, he slid his spicy meat buns over and had eaten it in a similar manner to his stir fry, yet unique: he slid off the unripe strawberries off from each tail before licking the spicy jam and then popping each river lizard tail into his mouth. The blonde thought he didn’t like the taste of dried strawberries very much until he threw those into his mouth too right after licking his jammed claws clean.

The blue colored cookie took a single sip of his jellybean latte before he slid his plate of customized fluffy omurice. Pure Vanilla’s goofy grin widened, and it seemed as if the other had noticed.

”What? Aren’t you going to dig into your own feast instead of your eyes having me as one?” The healer shrugged.

”I just found the way you eat your food endearing, is all. Picking each ingredient off in a pattern, am I right?” He rested his chin on top of his hands as his gaze continued to evaluate the beast’s behavior, smiling as the speckled flush rose around Shadow Milk’s cheeks, catching onto him.

”So what?” He huffed with a mouth full of glazed donuts— when had he gotten that?— as he stared back at the uncrowned king, shoulders tensing at the sound of his daughter chuckling, “I simply prefer having a rhythm to the objects I pick. Patterns are more organized, and fun sometimes if you want to switch them around depending on what you’re craving. For example, I’m craving… eggs!” The beast chirped as he picked a couple of scrambled eggs from the white haired girl’s plate with his claws, earning himself both a shriek and an elbow to his bottom right rib.

He popped his prize into his mouth with a hum, smirking as he heard the younger cookie huff beside him. The quiet cookie hummed.

”Ado-“ The dining room’s doors had opened to reveal a new guest to the perpetual breakfast, and all eyes were on him as he made his entrance. Oh, there goes one of Candy Apple’s croissants.

”Good morning, to you all! I see I’ve arrived fashionably late, I apologize.” The raven haired cookie smiled as he bowed with his arms behind his back, standing loud and proud in his.. awfully odd-colored.. mismatched.. A quick glance to the jester, and.. oh… dear…

”YOU!” The spicy cookie stood from his seat, pointing a finger at the very being he raised. “AND I CALL YOU MY CHILD? OH! THE DISGRACE! If you’re going to take after me after having raised you since you were.. eh.. N- Nilla, how old is that Gingergnat?”

”Gingerbrave. He’s 16.”

”16! I had raised you for four years- the entirety of your LIFE, at LEAST learn your morals and values AND WEAR SOMETHING MORE FASHIONABLE!!”

”But also comfortable!” The silly girl quickly added.

”AND ALSO COMFORTABLE!” Shadow Milk screeched as he conjured an outfit and tossed it at the back of the startled boy’s head as he flew his way out of the room. Having calmed down, he let out a quick exhale having sat on his plush seat once more, casually sipping his latte as if he hadn’t scared the life out of his son.

Well, he probably hasn’t. That Black Sapphire is a tough cookie to crack, similarly to the cookie who had raised him. Said cookie now turned to his final plate and.. oh! He’s finally going to start digging into his dish! But then, he paused, and stared at the blonde confusedly. What? What??

“Why do you look like that? Your face is all twisted and squishy-lookin’.” The blue colored cookie’s expression twisted into a disgusted look as he took in Vanilla’s excitement.

”Ah- I’m sorry- Did I do it again?”

”..Yes.”

The orchid staff’s eye looked to the side shyly as the blonde closed his eyes.

”Shucks, I’m terribly sorry. I just cannot help being excited at you finally getting to taste your signature dish!” The beast blankly blinked at him.

”It’s just omurice. There’s nothing special about it.”

A grin. Time to reveal the surprise.

”Special? Well, I think it might just be, considering the fact that I had cooked it myself.” Pure Vanilla’s smile returned as the other’s eyes widened after taking his first bite right before the surprise had been spilled.

A small moment of silence— minus the chewing and movement of Candy across the room as she finished her meal to excuse herself to her bedroom— had passed as if to indicate the gears stirring in Shadow Milk’s brain.

Then, at last, a reaction.

”It’s really good.”

Normally if you had been told that the dish that you dedicated 3 whole hours of your sleep to cook oh-so-delicately for someone that you cared deeply about just for that someone to tell you that it’s ‘really good,’ you would’ve tossed that table and everything on top of it upside down, yelled in that person’s face, and left the room.

But this is Pure Vanilla Cookie.

Pure ‘I Adore Anything Anyone Says And Don’t Care Because I Love Them Dearly’ Vanilla Cookie.

And by witches, did the healer leap out of his seat to jump— yes, jump!— out of his chair and run over to embrace the beast so tight it knocked the wind right out his lungs.

”I knew you’d like it! Oh, I’m glad! I’m glad to have waken up three hours early just for that!” He giggled, laughing harder as the stammering cookie widened his eyes even more at those words.

After the excitement had settled down, and everyone had gone back to their seats to eat in peaceful silence, Black Sapphire Cookie had returned with a better casual look. It almost brought the former fount to tears until he made eye contact with his hair.

”Mmh, get over here for a bit.” The young cookie listened, and the jester lifted a clawed hand to ruffle and fluffen up his hair, “There. Much better! Why go for an all-slick look when you can truly show off your waves? No one would even know you had ‘em!” Oh, really?

”Really? I didn’t know you ever had wavy hair, Shadow Milk!” The mentioned cookie pointed a dagger like finger at the blonde while the lavender colored cookie cackled in his seat.

”You’re pushing it, ‘bub.”

The next two hours were spent finishing up the food and tidying up the dining room before everyone had to go to their bedrooms to prepare for the awaiting outing. As they were ‘walking’, Pure Vanilla was pulled out of his thoughts as a nudge had been felt at his shoulder. He tilted his head— and his staff— up as he looked at the floating cookie in confusion.

”You haven’t eaten anything. So.. here. I was full anyways by the second plate.” Shadow Milk reached what remained of his customized fluffy omurice out to the blonde, looking at anyware but the healer’s milky eyes.

”Ah, no. I’m okay, thank you.” He responded almost quickly, as if it was second nature. That ticked something off in the other.

”Dude- Okay, no. You have to eat this. I’m necessarily not saying it because I care about you or anything, but the kids do. Especially Candy Apple. And I’d hate to see any kind of hurt look on her face if you end up getting sick because of this. So, here.” The beast practically shoved the plate into the surprised cookie’s hands, muttering a ‘you don’t have to keep doing so much to yourself, even in your nightgown’ as he flew past Vanilla. Said cookie simply just stared off into the distance as he watched him leave, even noticing the glance backwards the jester did as he floated up the stairs towards his room.

Hm, how peculiar.

And what an odd fluttering at his chest.

.

.

.

At last, all four cookies had arrived at the castle doors, Shadow Milk’s appearance surprising the ancient more than anything. They certainly weren’t going to a theme park, but the other’s outfit definitely fit the description for a tourist.

”Oh, dear, no! No, no, no! Augh, you’re just like Black Sapphire over here!” The beast shook his head as he took in the blonde’s attire for their outing. Which got him raising a brow.

”What? It’s just my awakened robes, you’ve seen them before, I’m sure.” The cookie pushed up his glasses as he tilted his head at the other in confusion. The jester lifted his head so that he can properly lock eyes with him under his cap, his bright cerulean eye standing out the most as it shined with judgement.

”Pssh, yeah, but for an outside park? You’ve got to look free, and outcaring in a hot environment. Not tight and warm, where do you think we’d be going, the Dark Cacao Kingdom? Hm! Absurd!” With a snap of his fingers, the ancient’s outfit were immediately switched with casual ripped blue jeans, black sneakers and a shorter yet lighter robe over his black bodysuit.

His silky long hair was tied into a ponytail, too! It looked like he was matching with the other, yet, his was more down leaning than high on top. The curved had was certainly new. It felt funny in contrast to his usual pointed waffle cone. Nevertheless, he did feel a much more lighter than any other form of robes that he would wear anywhere.

“Huh, this does feel much better! Tha-“

”I only did it because we’d be going out in public for the first time in months, and since we would be seen, I wouldn’t have you standing out in contrast to the rest of us, now would we?” The floating cookie crossed his arms, giving an ‘i told you so’ type of smile. Oh well, whatever floats his boat, he guesses.

”Meh, I’m still going to thank you anyway. Now, shall we get going?” Pure Vanilla ignored the hushed scowling from the blue cookie as he gleamed at the two younger others before the four of them began to move, the blonde of course thanking the guards as they made their way out.

Out of the corner of his eye, Shadow Milk narrowed his eyes as the sun’s rays made contact with all four of them for the first time in ages it seemed, the cookie snapping his fingers to teleport his patterned short sleeve jacket away, leaving only a tight black tank top. For more dough to breathe, the healer guessed.

.

.

After what felt like fourty days walking in a desert, the quartet of cookies made it to the zoo’s ticketing entrance, and all four faces lit up at the sight of the sign that read ‘The Vanilla Sanctuary: All Cookies Are Welcome!’.

Well, not just the sign.

”Pure Vanilla Cookie!” A trill of delight was heard a few feet away as they neared their destination. The blonde felt the blue cookie’s eyes rolling as he waved back to the cheerful woman.

”White Lily Cookie!” Both ancients embraced each other as the party of four arrived, different quips of ‘you’ve gotten taller!’ or ‘I love your outfit!’ heard from both sides.

Shadow Milk floated to the ground as he neared the comrade that he most certainly was curious about. Tilting his head up, he swallowed thickly as he made eye contact with the amber eye light seen in the depths of the helmet. Before the jester could even open his mouth, he was shocked to death as the taller cookie swept him off his feet in the second tighest embrace he had gotten that day. Slowly did wait for any words as he heard the quickening breathing from within the metal.

”I’m so sorry.” Silent Salt uttered as he restrained himself from breaking down then and there. And it seemed that the feeling was mutual, as the blue colored cookie’s breath began to stutter.

”Don’t- I- You ca-“ The former fount found it excruciatingly hard to not cry in front not only his dear eldest friend, but in front of his children and new friend. The knight rubbed slow circles on the small of his back, nodding his head as he listened to the frail cookie attempt to respond properly.

”Shh, it’s okay. I know. I know. You don’t have to repeat it back. Could you ever forgive me?” The dark grey cookie softened his hold, afraid to snap the other in two with just a hug.

”YES, A MILLION TIMES YES!” He cried, immediately wrapping his arms around the taller one and returned his embrace. It seemed as if they were the only ones in all of Earthbread at that moment, because everyone else chattered away behind them.

Maybe it was because all five of them knew how badly they needed this moment.

.

.

Upon paying for their entrance tickets —even though the employees graciously offered to not sell them any— all seven cookies made their way into the sanctuary, ‘ooh’ing and ‘aah’ing at every exhibit and area they could see. The knight complained every once in a while about the heat, and the jester would tease him about it. The healer would point out every little thing about whatever they would come across to the guardian, both getting enamored by the object of their eye simultaneously. And the younger cookie trio? Well let’s just say, Candy Apple has definitely left those two by themselves and peppered conversations with the grownups here and there.

As for the bat and the faerie..

”So how has your life been so far in the castle?” The white haired boy smiled up at the slightly taller cookie, interested in catching up with his distant friend.

”Well y’know, it’s been an absolute joyride of silence. I’ve been writing up my own stories for other cookies on this website that’s similar to what a newsletter would be, only anyone can write their own to others, and can even provide commentary!” The lavender colored cookie chirped, rambling about the technological advances that the kingdom has fargone since then. The other nervously chuckled, rubbing his arm as he sheepishly looked up.

”W.. What’s a website?” Oh. Right.

”It’s- It’s future-y type of stuff. The kind that the Golden Cheese Kingdom has? In- In Golden City?” Silverbell let out a knowledgeable sound at that, “Yeah, it’s similar to that. I could ask our engineer to see if they could start sending some to the Faerie Kingdom! That way we won’t have to write letters to each other anymore.”

”Oooh!! That’ll be so much easier! I always keep telling Mother for more paper because of how much I write!”

”Shouldn’t it be more ink, then? If you’re writing a lot?”

”Ah- Well, you know me. Always indecisive and stuff. It’s my one faulty habit when it comes to writing. ‘s why I never get a genuinely good story to the public.” The faerie huffed, his wings twitching at the harsh emotion he just felt at the remembrance of the many crumpled up papers in his room. And in his garbage basket.

”Hm.” Black Sapphire looked away to stare at a gummy zebra, thinking what words he would pick to advise his dear friend. “Perhaps I would be able to show you how to write better? If you ever came to the Vanilla Kingdom for whatever reason.”

The white haired boy lit up at that, hovering off the ground a bit as he trilled in delight, wings flapping excitedly.

”REALLY?! I mean- Yeah! Yeah, that’d be awesome! We could totally tell our plan to my Mother! I’m sure she’d say yes!” His gaze shifted to the guardian of the seal, smile widening at the thought of finally getting to improve at his writing.

”Mhm.” Was all the purple bat cookie could muster as his look softened at the thrilled sight of the faerie. Until one word yanked him out of his spell. “Wait, ‘Mother’?”

”Yes..? My- Oh! Wait, did that letter never get to you?” A soft shake of Black Sapphire’s head indicated his thoughts precisely. Then, he gasped.

”No.. really!?” The slighty shorter cookie nodded as he fiddled with the hem of his tank top at the excitement of the other. “That’s amazing to hear! Wow, an ancient and a beast.. of the same soul jam! Isn’t that wonderful news, huh?”

”Heheh, yup! Though, they haven’t announced it publicly, yet.” Silverbell explained as the two looked at the adults in front of them, White Lily pointing at a field of butter tigers to the knight in awe, the taller cookie’s armor bouncing at every chuckle he let out.

”So how about you?” The question startled the ravenette as his attention was focused back to the faerie, “What about your dad? Or.. does he still not consider you as your..?” Oh, phew. It’s about that.

”Oh- Oh, yeah, no. That problem’s been long solved. Just yesterday, he-“ The purple bat turned to glance at his father before turning back to the other cookie and lowered his voice, “He apologized for not noticing it earlier, and said that he does consider us his children, only that it took so long for him to come with that fact.. because he’s horrible with his feelings, y’know?”

”Don’t I know it.” The shorter grumbled as he remembered his last encounter with the jester; that tantrum took DAYS to get out of his head. “So what about him?” He asked casually.

Black Sapphire blinked.

”What-about-him what?”

”You know..! The.. Them! Ancients and beasts??” The ravenette quickly tried to hush the white haired boy up before he could finish, but it had been too late. The question caught the healer and the jester off guard.

More specifically Shadow Milk if not Vanilla, as the blonde simply just stared forward in flustered shock as they all continued to walk-float.

”What are you talking about, insect??” The blue colored cookie darted towards him, grabbing him by the shoulders as he questioned the little faerie in a hushed tone. Luckily the boy’s parents were more or less staring at animals and asking Pure Vanilla if he found himself alright.

”Ahg! N- Nothing, mister Shadow Milk, s- s- sir!” Silverbell stammered as he was interrogated, raising his hands up in defense. “I- I was just making a silly joke with Saph, here!”

”You mentioned my name, faerie, with that blasted healer cookie.. Don’t tell me I’m lying because lying is in MY blood!”

”DAD! DON’T PRESSURE HIM OR HE’LL-“

”I’M-SORRY-SIR-I-WAS-JUST-ASKING-IF-YOU-AND-PURE-VANILLA-WERE-ALSO-DATING-IT-WAS-MY-MISTAKE-IM-SORRY!”

Oh.

Now everyone heard.

All widened eight eyes slowly turned around to stare at the scene that had just unfolded. Six eyes were on the faerie.

Two were on Shadow Milk Cookie.

Chapter Text

The castle had been quiet today.

Too quiet.

All four cookies have been divided against each other in their rooms, including those who stayed in the presidential suite. A son cannot bare to bring news to his father, and a father cannot face towards the gaze of a heartbroken friend.

Said father is busy in his bedroom, yanking at his blue locks in frustration as the voices in his head piled against one another.

What could the faerie possibily meant before the barbarous question was uttered? Had it been a topic too sensitive for his first-raised son to build his walls even higher before him?

And why?

Why?

Why had his first and only best friend look at him that way?

It wasn’t adding up no matter how many times Shadow Milk had paced back and forth around his room. He could feel a migraine fading in as he evaluated too little information too much for his retired Fount of Knowledge brain to even think. It may be aching a lot, but what had been bothering the most had been his chest. Or really, what had been in it.

He hasn’t communicated with the cookie one bit ever since the quartet had arrived back inside the castle yesterday. Their own silence infected the rest of the building, causing a pin falling to the ground be the loudest noise the castle walls had ever heard in its entirety of existing.

No shape or form had comfort the new voices inside of his head, ones he believed to have silenced all those months ago. But alas, these were new voices. Ones that asked if he had been a better parent to teach his children anything other than his horrible past habits, or ones that fought against his moral judgement of befriending the ancient.

Why?

Why now, when he had been doing so well, too? All of this just for a stupid question about dating?

About love?

The beast screamed into his large pile of pillows for the 8th time that day, not caring if his throat had begun to slightly itch as its large amount of use. He absolutely hated not knowing everything that came across him. His children should’ve known that, too. He was the former Fount of Knowledge, witchdamnit! So why was Black Sapphire refusing to admit the truth to him?

Why was he…

Lying?

No.. He wasn’t lying. He was keeping a secret from him against his will. Of course! It’s all so clear! The wretched faerie had told him not to tell any other cookie or else something dear to him will be in great custody!

”His oh-so-dearest friend?”

No.. that’s impossible. The faerie is raised by the wielder of freedom, there is no possibility that he would do harm to any cookie or anything for that matter. The jester sat back down against his pillows, his shoulders slumped as his false euphoria simmered down and was replaced with frustration yet again.

That was his hourly routine for the entirety if not the majority of the day. Think, solve, doubt, repeat. He would do this cycle in order to rid of the annoying voices, an old defense mechanism he taught himself during his solitary confinement.

Solitary..

What was his other half up to right now?

Shadow Milk grunted loudly as he grabbed a generous pillow and wacked it harshly onto his head. There it was again! Stupid voices. Behind the loud buzzing of voices in his ears, he could faintly hear the two siblings having another hourly argument. Probably due to the purple bat for not leaving his own cave of pillows, too.

Yet, that singular voice didn’t fade back into the loud tangle of voices at the back of his head that he kept waving his hands at. It stayed there, thrumming against his sugar skull. And the former fount found it.. awfully curious to listen to.

But then his doubt got in the way again. As if he could ever try to guess what the healer would be doing! He didn’t even need to! Heading into the other’s mind is something that he would sometimes do in order to really try to understand the other’s intentions. But since they walked through those castle doors, he strictly prohibited himself upon stepping a foot into Pure Vanilla’s delicate mind.

As if he wanted to! Hm! The nerve.

The blue cookie lifted his puffy face from the temporary comfort of his cold pillow, muddy black stains running down his cheeks.

He won’t go in there. He swore to himself.

.

.

The beast closed his eyes as he felt the tension in his shoulders fade away upon exhaling, feeling his consciousness leave him and shift into the signature orchid staff  that rested peacefully in the former king’s warm room. The change of scenery was definitely alleviating, in Shadow Milk’s opinion.

Suddenly, the waffle door burst open and in came the very cookie he was wondering about. The blonde man had his signature poker-faced smile on, seeming content to be in the comfort of his safe zone. As if nothing had been bothering him. Well, looks like he didn’t need to check up on the ancient anymore. The jester can go back to his body once more in satisfaction.

But oh, is he very wrong.

As he was about to leave the orchid, the door shut, and the cookie immediately slouched over himself as he let out a similar grunt of frustration. Vanilla dragged himself down to the ground against the door, his seemingly relaxed shoulders tensing up as he sat in the purgatory of his room.

Hm, interesting.

”Why? Why now, when everything was going so well! Just because of a child’s inquiry!?” The saint spat, hands fisting into his hair as he curled into himself. The former fount’s breath was taken away.

That’s… that’s what he thought as well!

”Why did it have to be about my pathetic love life, when the faerie knows all too well about it..” His voice quivered, “Maybe.. he may have been too distracted with his friend to recall, but.. I forgot how much it hurt to remember.” The uncrowned king raised a fist at his chest as he slowed his breathing, trying immensely hard to not overwhelm himself into an attack.

Well, those weren’t the exact words he was thinking of, but they were similar! Had this situation been echoing off of the blonde as well?

The blue colored cookie scanned the room to find any signs of bedrotting— any hint at the horrible state that the ancient had been distantly drowning in. He held back a gasp as he eyes caught a sight that absolutely did not feel right to him in the slightest.

There, right there. On the windowsill right under the sunlight for any daring eyes to feast on was a full, untouched, uneaten plate of the classic fluffy omurice. There hadn’t been any steam rising from the sitting delicacy.

”…How much it hurt to face these feelings.” Very faintly, a small drop of liquid was seen slowly running down his right cheek. Shadow restrained himself from gasping right then and there.

Is that what those voices were.. in a way? His feelings speaking to him to try to understand what the situation had been about? No, maybe not. Argh, he didn’t know! It’s-

“..so hard to understand what they mean.” His inner voices were silenced, “I mean, for a moment there had been peace, finally giving family life a second chance.. and now I’m avoided as if ridden with some sort of plague.”

Okay, that’s.. definitely not what he has thought of. The blue colored cookie raised an invincible brow, straining his ears as his heart begged for more information. That description sounded oddly familiar…

”Is what I wish for even worth it? Let alone our friendship? I may want to ruin…” His voice trailed off as more liquid ran from his baggy eyes, puffing the milky gems up.

Oh.

Oh!

He finally gets it now. Yes, that’s it. The beast inwardly grins as he at last understands the emotions that are radiating off of the cookie inside the room.

Pure Vanilla Cookie is thinking of the guardian of the seal.

It’s so obvious! Why else had he been acting distant as well? Ever since they had all returned from the journey of agony, the uncrowned king had gone from his peppy little self to the saddest drag of the century. All of this one-sided pining for a half-cookie. Tsk, tsk. And here he thought he had known everything about the other.

”If only..” There was hesitation. Shadow Milk drank it up. “If only we had understood each other’s emotions better. As if it’d become second nature. Maybe life with a brilliant shimmer of chaos would sound astounding. Alas, who am I, a hopeless romantic, to bet on the impossible? It’ll just be another name on the list of broken hearts.”

Suddenly, a large pressure was felt inside of the beast’s chest. He reflexively reached a hand to scratch at it, only to find that he didn’t have any. Not only had it been felt there, but it was accompanied by another pressure inside his stomach. An oh-so funny kind of pressure that weirdly tickled in a weird way but hurt nevertheless.

The voices were back, and the jester instantly felt uncomfortably sweaty to stay in this thermal room. He quickly shifted his consciousness back into his own body, gasping, as it seemed that he had been holding his breath throughout the terrifying encounter.

That last bit didn’t sound like the typical pining he’d save for White Lily Cookie. No, that sounded like something else on its own. It didn’t even look pathetic; Shadow Milk’s seen pathetic all those months ago! This… This looked heartbreaking. As if the healer’s emotions were so great, it would’ve gotten the beast to start shedding tears for him.

Wait.

Hadn’t he himself been doing that all these past hours? Sobbing tears of frustration at the unbearable fact that Vanilla had a frightened face directed at him. And now from the looks of it… the heavy-hearted healer had cried for—

“Daad!!” A shriek pierced the room as he instantly flew towards the ceiling, shaking as he floated above his daughter. At the sight of her jumping at the startled noise, the former fount relaxed and had retracted his claws from the rough material.

”Heya, Candy! Is- Is everything alright?” The blue colored cookie crossed his arms behind his back as he hovered, his throat tight as he realized that he was being evaluated.

”I was only going to ask if you wanted to join me to the marketplace. Iiiiis everything alright for you?” The batty girl tilted her head, concerned. Where had she learned to try to read people like that??

”Oh- pssh, just spiffy! And blegh, that dirty farm full of business rats? Pass!” He huffed, swervinf around to face the wall, crossing his arms in front of him so childishly.

”Alright, I’ve had enough!” Huh? “You and Saffie are literally the same person, and it irks me that you BOTH sulk by staying in your rooms all day! I get what happened, but can we PLEASE go back to being a normal family? I was just getting accustomed to it!” Candy Apple snapped, beads of liquid pricking the corner of her eyes. Lucky her, she doesn’t have to worry about messy mascara, the little thief.

Shadow Milk uncurled himself from the wall as he slowly turned to look at his distressed child. He’s really screwed it up now, hasn’t he? Moping in his room like a damsel in distress as if the rest of Earthbread hadn’t mattered, forgetting about the very reason why he’s given life a second chance. His children.

A voice then halted his thoughts. Yes, he had given life a beautiful second chance. Especially family life. Could.. that possibly…?

”You… definitely mean the three of us, right?” The question slipped from the cage of his mouth like melted butter. The candied cookie huffed.

”Duh, of course I do? What, you think I’d include Pure Vanilla into our group of chaos? Although that doesnt sound half bad, now that I’m thinking about it.” A snort, “You should’ve seen how he was earlier today! Instead of candied hay, he fed his flock of cream sheep birdseed!”

Huh. That explains the eye bags, then.

”He may be a little chaotic, but we’re the original chaos family!” The younger cookie chirped, looking up at her father with sparkling crimson eyes.

The beast huffed after another faint voice buzzed at the back of his brain.

A better one.

”So uh, you wouldn’t happen to know any good toymaker booths at that marketplace you mentioned, hm?” Shadow Milk tilted his head as he pensively thought about the mere idea of a mini-outing, smirking while he glanced downward at the teenager, who let out a shriek of joy.

”I’ll go get my purse!” Candy Apple nearly yanked him down as she embraced his leg— the only thing she could’ve done since he continued to float— before running off to her room. The blue cookie gently lowered to the ground, letting out a satisfied huff as he smiled.

.

.

.

The walk to the marketplace was surprisingly longer than he particularly remembered it to be. Hovering above the ground every once in a while, he raised a brow at the younger cookie who simply kept on swinging their arms without a care in the world. Ah, he sees it now. She had been walking slowly to allow himself a few moments of quiet before he had to socialize with numerous cookies. The beast softly smiled, squeezing her hand to let the girl know that he discovered her true intentions, and acknowledges them. The grin on her rosy face only got wider at the feeling.

“So, do you want to finally talk about what happened?” Her voice lost its squeaky tone, at last sounding genuine to hear, signifying her maturity. My, how quickly she is at learning.

“I think so,” The older cookie hesitated, feeling the echoed squeeze from his daughter, “I’m not really good at this whole, feelings-thing.” Candy Apple giggled, encouraging her father to open up.

”It’s okay. You don’t have to hide anymore, just spill whatever sentiment comes to your head first. You taught me that.”

The jester’s eyes widened before he turned to her, blinking. “Really?”

Yes, yes he has. It’s all he had taught the young cookie back when the three of them resided in that tricky spire of his. The never ending cold from all the lies that cookies around Earthbread that nipped at his nose from time to time. And the early memories of his dear daughter when she first rose from his oven. Baked only a tad post-maturely to be freshly molded into a prickly little cookie of deceit the more her mind developed. Her wide shiny eyes as she gawked at him with awe.

 “Welcome to the world, sweet little girl. You are to not hide anything of yourself to others, but to be free and spill whatever sentiment is first to come to your itty bitty candied mind! An adorable ‘Candy Apple’.”

He thought that those words were fit to inflict fear onto the freshly baked cookie, but little did he know that it would be the very thing she twists into a moral so beautiful, it’d come right back to embrace him with refurnished arms.

All Shadow Milk could do was smile at his dearest daughter. His Candy Apple.

As the two walked, the former fount finally opened himself up to his youngest, clearly depicting the huge mess of emotions that he had felt throughout the entire day. To him, it sounded like his mind was at war with itself and the miniature memorable people in his brain that he had a grudge against at the moment. To Candy Apple?

”You’re just confused,” she chuckled, “Your brain is experiencing emotions that it never thought of before and is trying to grasp at earlier memories to use as a defense against them. Emotions that are normal for cookies to express.” Before the older cookie opened his mouth to ask when on Earthbread she had gotten so knowledgeable, she pointed a hand behind her at the castle.

”Library. The place is full of a majority of books that no other cookie in the kingdom can find at their local one! There are ancient scrolls there too.. I think you-“ She paused, shaking her head, “Nevermind that, forget what I said. Point is, I get very bored very quickly.” Ah, so a part of his knowledgeable past flows through her. Interesting to know.

“So- wait, I’m just.. Lost?”

”Mmm, confused is the more accurate term, but yes! Yes, you are.” The jester nodded his head slowly.

”And what about the emotions that I felt? How do I know what is what, and which is which?” The teenager’s expression soured.

”Er, well.. that’s a little bit iffy since I’m also learning to identify every emotion I feel, but the basic ones are happiness, anger-“

”Yeah, I know the basic ones, just tell me the ones that you think I felt in that moment!” He covered his mouth with a hand, sheepishly looking at the younger cookie. “Sorry.”

”’s alright, Dad. And honestly? I think you were.. hm,” The cookie pursed her lips, “Scared with Saffie, furious at Silverbell, and worried about Vanilla?” Candy Apple shrugged, “That’s the best I could do.”

”WAITWAITWAIT- Scared?? Wheh! Heh! I’m the BEAST of Deceit, I don’t get scare-“ A small finger was heavily pressed onto his mouth.

”Fear can be two different things. Visible and invisible. The one you felt? Invisible.” Ah. Well that makes sense.

”And you said.. worried about Pure Vanilla? Heh- Why on Earthbread would I be worried about that guy?”

”Ah- That’s another emotion. It’s called ‘Denial’.” That earned the batty cookie an elbow to the ribs. “But seriously, hello?? The accelerated heart rate?? The twisting and turning of your stomach?? You’re literally worried because you care about him!” She smiled, “And it’s okay to feel that way. It’s normal for you to care about your friends.”

That same pressure from earlier had returned in both areas at the mention of the healer cookie, and Shadow Milk smiled.

He cared.

For once, the Beast of Deceit cared about someone.

.

.

.

Two pairs of eyes marveled at the large inventory of items the talented toymaker cookies had crafted. And boy, was it a lot. The duo marveled at every hand-crafted toy, trinket or knick-knack their beady eyes landed on. Finally, they arrive at a register area, where two more cookies await them with a smile.

”Hiya there, you two! How can we be of service for a cute father and daughter duo like yourselves?” Of course, the cheeky girl had to step forward. Classic Candy Apple.

”Do you by any chance have anything that screams ‘adorably cuddly’ like me?” The white haired cookie batted her eyes at the employee, grinning all the while.

”Why, yes! I believe we do have some around cute plushies around here. If you could just follow me!” The employee cookie chirped, guiding the excited teen to her mini-destination. However, she turned to the older man who simply waved at her.

”Just go. I’ll be taking a little lookie-lookie over these parts. Don’t worry about me.” The beast grinned, causing a small huff of relief escape out of his daughter.

The blue colored cookie watched as the two made their way through the shoppe, the sound of chattering getting fainter every second until the bustle outside of the tent was the only noise he could focus on. Meh, at least he didn’t have to talk to anyone.

Shadow Milk went ahead and began to float about the entire booth with piqued interest. Every toy his mismatched eyes settled on was extremely detailed to the core. From the most impressive music boxes to the simplest of plushies, the jester found himself in awe as it seemed that he was out-crafted. Though, he still very much favored the aesthetic of his own creations, thank you very much.

But then, what’s this?

A unique plushie had been caught by his bright cerulean eye before he almost floated past it. Backing up, the former fount recognized the very shape that the plushie was made into the closer he had gotten to it.

Pure Vanilla Cookie.

Of course there’d be merchandise of him in his own kingdom! The old cookie found it almost laughable, when an idea struck him. He quickly called for one of the employees over, and asked for a very personal yet curious inquiry. And it turns out, his idea just got even better.

As the beast handed the very heavy pouch of coins to the employee with one hand, he carefully held the plushie with the other, holding it tightly with both hands now as the pouch was taken. Upon closer inspection, Shadow Milk pressed his finger on a sticker that read ‘press me!’ right smack in the middle of the miniature healer’s chest where his soul jam is located.

”I will not falter!” The toy squeaked, omitting the very clear voice of the ancient hero himself into the open air. Perhaps from one of his many battles? Regardless, just hearing the recording of his friend’s voice stirred the pressure in his chest again.

Wow, he must be really worried about the other right now if his heart is beating this rapidly. Or maybe it’s the caring part of him that Candy Apple had mentioned? Bah! He’ll differentiate which is which later.

His customized purchase had arrived.

.

.

.

A quick knock was heard coming from his waffle door, causing a groggy noise of annoyance leave him. The uncrowned king slipped his glasses onto himself while squinting heavy glued eyes open to darkness.

”’M comin’..” Pure Vanilla mumbled, rubbing at his eyes underneath the gadget a bit before he winced. Had he been rubbing there too many times, lately? A quick glance to his mirror clarified it immediately for him. The blonde sighed unhappily as he cast a healing spell like it was second nature to him before walking towards the door.

Gently and terribly slow did he twist the knob to open it to whoever it was at one thirty-five in the morning.

”S’rry for taking long.. can I help-“ The sight before him had waken his senses up completely.

”Shad-“ The poor cookie couldn’t even get a full word out before he was tightly embraced by the beast, two hearts beating rapidly in sync with one another.

”Can we talk?” The taller cookie croaked. Clearly, there was a great amount of hesitation he fought through to get into this room.

Both men sat down comfortably at the plush mattress of the former king’s bed. The air was so thick with tension, a butter knife wouldn’t be enough to cut through it. Two mouths opened to say something, but immediately shut when its owner realized the other wanted to speak first.

”I apologize, you go.”

”Nah, I insist you head on over first.”

”No, really, it’s fine-“

”Vanilla, just- Talk.” Well, then. Here goes everything.

”Alright.” Breathe in. Breathe out. “I’m so sorry for not reading your emotions first, I should have at least asked or communicated with you if I had ever done anything to upset you- I mean- You have been a little upset since we met and all and don’t get me wrong, it’s a process we’re still going through! But-“ A hand was at his shoulder.

”What in the hell are you apologizing for?” The jester’s voice quivered as liquid beads threatened to prick at the corner of his eyes.

”I- I don’t understand- You’ve avoi-“

”’Nilla, I’m the one who is excruciatingly sorry. I petrified you that day with my actions, with my violent interrogating gig- you know!” Shadow Milk’s lip trembled as he recalled the outing, “I got a rise out of that poor kid, and YOU, you.. looked so HORRIFIED.. I didn’t know what to do with myself after that. I- I couldn’t even look at you after seeing all of the color drained from your face! You’re sorry? Pssh!” There were rivers of water falling down his cheeks now, “I’m sorry I screwed up the friendship we so delicately built these past months with my ignorance! If only I had understood how you truly felt about me, about my beastliness, you wouldn’t have.. wouldn’t have..!”

There go the walls.

The walls Pure Vanilla had tried so hard to go over through or gently erode down all those weeks.

They’re coming down.

The ancient pulled the other in a tight embrace, softly rubbing circles in the large back that the jester had. All he could do was whisper hushed reassurances as he listened to the beast’s sobbing and hiccuping.

These cries didn’t sound like his usual ones out of frustration everytime he would retort at him back then.

These cries.. are heartfelt.

Genuine.

As if the other had never had a cry fest to get every pented up emotion out of his head and into the air to truly feel at once. Oh, how Vanilla was in his very shoes once upon a long time ago. He knows how he feels. Yeah, that’s right.

”I know. I know, it’s okay. Shh, shh. I’ve got you.” The blonde continued to whisper, gently guiding the creature’s head into the crook of his neck to weep to his heart’s content.

After a while, when the sobs were reduced to quiet hiccups, the shorter cookie gently spoke.

”I wasn’t scared.” That stopped the hiccuping.

”Wh- Whuh? Whadoya mean? I- I saw your face! Your eyes stared directly at me, and were wide!” That got a few soft giggles out of the saint. “Hey!”

”Sorry, sorry. It’s just that..” Vanilla sheepishly rubbed a free hand at the back of his neck. “I wasn’t staring out of fear of you,” Another giggle, “I was staring out of fear of myself.”

.

.

What.

”Wai- huh? What do you mean fear of yoursel- You were hiding something?!” Shadow Milk started to playfully punch at the other’s arm, “You know how I am with secrets! Especially if it’s from you!”

”Why would it matter if it’s from me?” The healer chuckled once more at the action, raising a brow at the other.

”Because- I.. I care about you. A lot.” The shorter cookie simply blinked up at him as the jester sat back to his seat.

”You.. do?” Wait. Something wasn’t right. “As.. friends?”

”Pfft, yeah, obviously! But it’s different for you because you’re.. you’re special. You remember the other beasts, yeah?” A nod. “I cared about them too, once upon a time, and sure, we were all friends. Close friends, in fact! But..”

”But..?”

”Whenever I felt this caring sensation, I would feel a small pressure on my chest.” More blinking. The former king urged him to continue towards his point.“You’re a special case because.. when it happens to me and you’re the cause, it’s heavy. Like really heavy. And- And! It’s not only in my chest anymore. It’s in my stomach. Candy Apple says that its called ‘being worried’ but I’m not too sure since-“

”Wait, wait. I’m sorry for interrupting, but, you said you feel pressure in your stomach as well?” A pause.

”Well, yeah? It feels like-“

”Fluttering?”

”Huh.”

”Like- As if you feel feathers brushing against your dough, but its inside and all over. That fluttering.” It was like Pure Vanilla was watching gears begin to move in that knowledge-full brain of Shadow Milk’s.

”Oh! Yeah, that’s exactly what I feel! You worry to those types of levels too, ‘Nilly?”

Oh.

Dear.

Witches.

”Ah, well- You could put it in that way, I suppose.” Faint flecks of red dusted along the ancient’s cheeks as he pushed his glasses up toward his face.

”Nice! Who do you special-care about?”

..What!?

“I- You know, the worry-level sort of thing?”

”Ah. Ahem. Sorry, I got a little confused there, I think.” He certainly wasn’t the majorly confused one here, though. “Why don’t you say who you special-care about first?” The beast stared at him as if he grew a third eye.

”Uh, hellooo? Earthbread to ‘Nilly? I get it’s really late, but my witches, I just told you!”

He did?

”You did?”

”Yeah? It’s you. Y’know, because of the pressure and the-“

”Yes, yes. I see.. Well, in that case I’ll tell you too.”

”Oh?”

“It’s you.”

Awkward silence followed after that as both cookies stared at each other, one hoping that everything just so happened to add up to the other. And the second cookie…

”Awesome! So we both feel those pressures for eachother! Ah, this feels so much better to get off my chest!” The blonde opened his mouth to retort, but his hands were suddenly held.

”I’m so-so-so-so-so glad we’re best friends!” The beast practically vibrated in front of him. And just like that, he left without another word, leaving a poorly confused cookie fending his muddled up emotions for himself.

Before he leaned forward to yell into a pillow, his right eye caught something in his peripheral vision. Something that had not helped with the struggling feelings that were flying all over the place in his brain. He wouldn’t even dare try to pick it up.

…Pure Vanilla picked it up.

The blonde inspected the plushie with his adjusted vision, feeling all the handiwork beneath his fingers. Okay, so it was real. Big deal, right? His eyes hovered over the sticker that laid right on top of what would be the miniature version of Shadow Milk’s soul jam, which read ‘go on, press me if you dare.’ in bold.

“Let the show.. begin!” The miniature version shrieked, catching the ex-king off guard. He recognized this handiwork. And they managed to add a recording of his real voice inside? How? When??

Vanilla tilted his head back to the spot where he had found the plushie, and surely enough, a note was left behind.

‘You aren’t hopeless. I care. - SM’

Maybe all hope isn’t lost afterall.

He just needs to shine it in a new direction.

Chapter Text

It’s dark and cold.

Something familiar that he has always experienced back in his faithful days at the spire. Except it did not contain that lingering feeling of distraught and sorrow. No, this coldness was from the room of which he rested in, and he immediately began to feel around for his blankets.

However, there was one notable thing that contrasted to how he would usually wake up.

He couldn’t see a thing.

”There, there, my dearest child. Don’t fret, I’m right here. Shhh, shh, shh.”

A pair of soft and delicate arms lifted him into the air, rocking him back and forth as gently as possible. He suddenly felt wrapped in a warm presence.

”Here you are, sweetheart. A young lively soul such as you shouldn’t have to experience even the tiniest sufferings possible.”

Another warmth was felt across his cheek, and he found himself leaning to it. That voice had been extremely hyptonizing… like silk…

”Awh, what’s this? You seem to be in a better mood than yesterday. What has gotten you so chirpy, my little berry?”

The presence didn’t seem threatening, so he tried to respond to the voice’s question, but no words were able to come out. Shockingly, it was able to understand him.

”You have a friend? How delightful to hear! I’d absolutely love to meet him.. He sounds like a wonderful person.”

How did it know he was referring to the healer? All it felt like he could do was simply open his mouth.

“Why, the way your heart beats for this person, my dear! Though I do think you are aware of this too, hm?”

Of course he does! It beats every time he’s worried about the blonde’s health or feelings about a certain topic, because he cares so damn much about him that his chest even hurts sometimes! The voice suddenly seemed to laugh at that, and the wall which he apparently had been leaning against moved in rhythm.

”Oh, my dear milk, still managing to make me laugh after all this time! That pattering in your chest is not because you’re worried all the time.. Sure, cookies are known to have these sorts of sufferings sometimes, but one should not be worrying about anything everyday. That goes against our very code— the one I have bestowed upon our kind!”

He could only soak in the information as if he was a newborn cookie, learning how to crawl. Because in any moment, he could wake up and find himself in his vanilla scented sheets.

”Ah, yes, that’s your friend’s name, am I right? Such a sweet name for the purest of cookies. I can definitely see why you’ve taken a liking to him. Why you care so much.. and why you yearn. ”

Yearn.. Wait- Yearn? Yearn??

As in..

Love??

A gasp was let out into the air as the beast wakes in a cold sweat, panting as he recalled the gentle voice from his dream. Whoever that was is out of their mind! He couldn’t possibly be capable of those feelings— he can’t even differentiate between certain emotions! He is a BEAST. A being unworthy of loving another.

For years in solitary confinement had he heard the teachings of ‘what to do when a beast would escape’ or ‘the dangers or what any of the five beasts could do’. Never had any of the beasts been given another thought such as LOVE or KINDNESS. Every single one of them had killed too many cookies for them to deserve anything such as that. They had caused too much suffering to be let back into society so easily.

Even though the voice was extremely reassuring to lean to, it was tremendously wrong about him. The jester only cared about his best friend, and that was that. There was no need to get hooked onto fantasies. As he stared off towards the moon in his window, a gentle voice hummed at the back of his head in reassurance.

’Please, give it a try. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.’

And as much as he grunted his way back to the dream realm..

He found himself considering the voice’s petition.

.

.

.

Shadow Milk’s following days were full of activities that he wasn’t aware of being done in a short amount of time. Or to reword that— he wasn’t aware of having the ability to do SO many things all at once! At every break or rest that he was able to sneak in, a new task required his presence.

It seemed that Pure Vanilla had pushed his way out of the tough prickly bushes that had been between them the day after the sanctuary incident in a flash and was pouncing at the blue cookie at every opportunity he found. Alone in the kitchen? A visit to the greenhouse. Floating in the library? A day watching his flock.

His counterpart was not spared in even the darkest of shadows! If the healer found himself alone for only five minutes, he’d go around the entire castle staring at every dark corner to drag Shadow Milk to whatever new activity he had come up with.

The poor cookie was getting tired of having to hear his children snicker to themselves whenever the ancient would walk into the suite to take him away. Sure, he didn’t mind spending quality time with his other half, but to remove him to have said time away from his kids was already crossing the line.

”Oh, Shadow Milk?” Pure Vanilla called, strolling about the chapel with those useful glasses of his. “I found a stunning spot on top of the castle for a morning picnic!”

It has been a week already of this, and the beast has decided that he is missing his me-time. Hell, he wouldn’t even want to spend time with his children right now; he just needs to be ALONE. Shadow Milk scowled each time he saw the other passing his hiding place, the blonde already crouching to stare at every shadow that remained in this holy area.

What had even got into the former king’s mind in the first place to get to this point? All he remembered doing was giving him that miniature version of his after their talk. Could it have been the way he embraced him? Or the way he stared into his eyes while pouring out all of his feelings to him? Nothing could’ve signified a misunderstanding from there, right?

”Ah, Bluebird! Come on, I have some jellies waiting for us outside. They’re freshly done, too!” A tan face was met with his gaze as Pure Vanilla crouched underneath the altar, smiling as he stared at the surprised eyes underneath the mantle.

Suddenly, a growl was audible as the beast leapt out of his hiding spot and into the air, tugging harshly on his blue locks.

”THAT’S IT! I’VE HAD IT UP TO HERE WITH YOU!” He screamed, catching the other off guard. “All I am asking for is a few hours of privacy, AND IT’S BEEN A WEEK. A WEEK! WHAT ON EARTHBREAD HAS HAPPENED WITH YOU!?” Shadow Milk heaved heavily as he caught his breath, anger slowly beginning to simmer after having his fit. The blonde simply swallowed, composing himself to meet the other’s gaze.

”Why haven’t you said anything, then?”

What.

WHAT.

”You EXPECTED me to SAY SOMETHING?? As if I was even ALLOWED to breathe MY OWN AIR??” His fury began to bubble again, but for the sake of his children, he restrained himself.

”Of course, Shadow Milk! That’s the whole point of us being best friends. We tell eachother whenever we feel uncomfortable, not spill everything at the last minute.” The blonde sighed and then smiled up at him, “If you need some time to yourself I’ll be in my room, okay? Doesn’t matter if it’s another week or a month, I’ll be waiting.”

He’ll.. be waiting? Just like that? All he had to do was just whine and yell- no- state what he truly was feeling just to finally be heard and respected? Incredible! But.. Why? Why so soon? Please don’t leave.. Don’t leave yet.. DON’T LEAVE..!

”WAIT!” A pause. “Just like that? You’re gonna leave now?”

”You’ve asked for privacy, no? So yes, just like that.” Pure Vanilla began to step forward before a sudden tug was at his shoulder. He turned, raising a brow at the taller cookie.

”Can you at least tell me what the hell was all of that about?” His voice seemed small as he asked, “It was just so sudden, y’know? Being dragged everywhere for a whole week. I thought, ‘maybe some sort of misunderstanding had taken place after our talk’..?” Both cookies sat onto a pew, bracing themselves for another possible heartfelt talk.

“When you left, I saw the note you left on my bed that night. I thought that maybe, if we were to get through our hardships, some activities could be done to strengthen the bond we have?” The blonde waved a hand, “It sounds silly, I know, but I just wanted to grow a bit closer to you. And maybe to.. get to know you better?”

”It definitely sounds silly. ‘Get to know me better’?” The beast tilted his head before laughing, “As if you don’t know me at all! You are hysterically creepy sometimes, do you know that? You were staring into every shadow around the castle for witches sake! For A WEEK, mind you!”

Pure Vanilla sheepishly chuckled, brushing a hand behind his neck. “Well, when you put it like that I certainly do sound.. ‘creepy’. I apologize, I really didn’t mean any harm in all those activities. I thought I’d get to know you better but only unknowingly pushed you away even further.” His hands were suddenly grasped at for the second time that month before he looked up at the jester in shock.

”NO! Don’t- Don’t keep saying that, man! If it’s one thing I know about you, you just love doubting yourself, huh? I did not run away from you- if anything I liked those activities! So enough with the doubt, yeah?” Shadow Milk reassured him with a soft squeeze of the healer’s hands, heart thumping as looked into those milky eyes of his. The eyes in his hair, too, stared at him intently.

”Okay. I’ll try.” He nodded, gently squeezing back.

If any other cookie would see how they were know, it appeared as if two doomed lovers were promising eachother their final vows. Which was funny, to Shadow Milk, as they both sat inside of a place where vows are frequently spewed and heard. The blue cookie let go of the smaller hands with a smile before ruffling the other’s blonde tufts.

”Just give me a few hours and I’ll be in tip-top shape! We could still do that rooftop picnic if you want to!” Shadow Milk lifted a finger as the shorter cookie’s eyes instantly sparkled, “ONLY after my break time, okay? Also, maybe we could do these mini activities twice a week? For ..this.. to not happen again.” He suggested with a shrug.

”That sounds better than what I intentionally planned for, if I have to be honest. I had also started to get a bit tired of these activities myself.” Pure Vanilla chuckled, standing up to begin heading towards the door, “So if you don’t mind, I’ll be recharging- as you say- in my own room. Perhaps a quick three hour nap?”

The blue colored cookie sputtered, flying over to the ancient’s side with a laugh, “Three hours? At your big age? You’re gonna need six hours max to be completely charged for any more of those activities of yours, ‘Nilly! Besides, don’t you have any paperwork to do for any upcoming meetings?”

”Ah- Well…” The two cookies began to leave the room, peacefully bantering in their conversation as they headed towards their bedrooms.

As they spoke and laugh, they had gotten too caught up in their chat to realize that they got comfortable in the coldness of Shadow Milk’s room, birds chirping and clouds looming outside as the hours pass by.

.

.

He was met with darkness and the familiar cold once again, this time being able to see in blurry blobs. There was a warmth pressed against his back as cool air brushed at his cheeks, an audible giggle as it had tickled him right at his funny-spot. As he heard the sound that came out of him, his eyes widened.

That couldn’t have been him, could it? That laugh.. was one from an infant!

”Oh, my! Happier than yesterday I assume?”

That voice. That was the one from a week ago..!

”I take it you finally listened to my advice.. And I see it is starting to pay off quite well. A bit overwhelming, isn’t he?”

Well, that’s one thing he definitely agrees with.

”How adorable. I remember seeing a cookie just like that; impatient, curious, and very so anticipatory of whatever was to come next! Hm, now who could that be?”

No.. it couldn’t possibly mean-

Just as he was about to finish that thought, the sound of large marbled doors opening were heard in the distance, catching both his and the voice’s attention. To his misfortune, everything was all muddy.

“Ah! It looks like your friend is here! Would you like to say hello, little berry?”

What? That was impossible. There was no way his other half could’ve possibly gotten into his dream realm.. they had no connection through their soul jams to begin with!

And surely enough, a bright light engulfed the majority of the blobs in his vision, a light coo escaping his mouth as he felt himself reaching out towards it. The yellow orb wrapped itself in what seemed to be his hands as his vision shifted down to look at them, light blue blobs fading into the bright gold. Another happy coo was let out at the feeling of his hands wrapped in that warmth, the light seeming to flicker softly as if it was laughing with him.

”See, little one? All it took was to just give love a try. Doesn’t he feel so warm and pure? Makes you really happy that all you wanna do is giggle, huh?”

More infantile laughter was heard as the yellow light absorbed him more, his vision fully white as he was blanketed in warmth. Warmth that began to hurt and sting him. This didn’t feel right, this felt wrong. It felt.. suffocating. He couldn’t breathe. HE NEEDED TO BREATHE-! A sudden whimper and sniffling broke out, and the orb’s light dimmed a little at that.

”Shh, it’s okay, my berry. He was just trying to cheer you up, is all. Vanilla, dear, this little one is very fragile to light; try not to brighten yours too much, okay?”

On cue, the light had dimmed vastly to the point where he was finally able to see the colorful blobs again. The warmth, however, stayed. Unlike the stinging warmth from before, this one felt more inviting and calming. A pang of reassurance could be felt through the vibration of the warmth flowing around him. This was absolutely better than before.. He wanted to stay with it forever. A satisfied coo was directed to the yellow orb.

”There we go, nice and gentle. The both of you are going to fall into a great rhythm like this someday.. just give it some time to let down your walls. And, Blueberry Milk?”

He lifted his head towards the voice, now seeing muddied blobs of white and light blue. Silky smooth hair tickled his nose as he stared at the voi- No, at the woman who held him.

“Keep trying, my dearest little one.”

Two blue eyes opened to a dim colored room, bands of oranges and pinks hovering across a window as birds continued to chirp outside. He hadn’t been breathing heavily, nor sweating profusely like he’d normally do whenever it had been this specific dream or any other night terror of his. Shadow Milk shifted his gaze around the room to try to spot anything out of the ordinary to perhaps indicate whether he’s still dreaming or not. As he tried to sit up, a pressure on his right shoulder prohibited him from doing so, followed by a numbness.

Ah, so he wasn’t dreaming. Pure Vanilla had been fast asleep on top of his arm, using his broad shoulder and clinging onto it as if it were a lifeline. His face was devoid of any sort of tension or frustration, peace being the only emotion the beast could read off of it. There had even been a small stream of drool running from the corner of his mouth, staining the top of his puffy sleeve. Normally, he would’ve gotten mad if this had been anyone else. But the woman’s voice lingered in his mind.

Had he really been yearning all this time? For the counterpart of his soul jam of all cookies? He found it hard to believe, but the more he listened to his thumping chest and tickling stomach, both the woman and the healer had been right. Even if his other half hadn’t necessarily rephrased his statement the night of their talk, he was somehow right. This feeling had not been him being worried for the wellbeing of the blonde- why on Earthbread would he be worried practically every time he saw the ancient?

No, it wasn’t that at all.

It had been love.

This whole time Shadow Milk firmly believed that as a beast he hadn’t deserved such a thing. He, a being who has caused suffering and possible death in his own kingdom.. a being who then took the life —not necessarily his hands— of a ruler.. of a friend. And how he had grown from the terror. He, fallen first from all five virtues, now redeemed last from all five beasts.

All because of one cookie.

His.. potential soulmate..? If that were the term to be..? He.. didn’t know. Love isn’t a particular category he is familiar with. And even so, he is in love. So..

How the hell is he going to learn to understand it if he’s already in it?

Then, a thought struck him. Of course, it’s such an obvious answer— though after the last encounter with one of his old friends, calling the former Bringer of Happiness just to learn how to love would be like playing russian roulette- if he even knew what that was.

Shadow Milk glanced down at the peaceful cookie below him, thinking more about how he were to even achieve such a plan. He absolutely needs to speak to the Beast of Sloth, or else he would be impulsively getting himself into a rabbit hole of stuff that most likely will end up not liking. And if he doesn’t like it? It would probably lead him to spiraling.. and possibly even falling once more.

Eugh. The thought of falling into deceit nearly gave him chills— the bad kind. He stole another look at the ancient, and reached out a hand to brush the back of a finger at the other’s warm cheek. As if he had been awake, Pure Vanilla instinctively leaned to the touch, licking the drool from the corner of his mouth, and smiled softly as he slept. His lips parted once more as he continued his deep sleep, a new stream of drool beginning to seep out of the corner. The beast simply rolled his eyes. Yet.. he huffed, and smiled.

With a- tired- flick of his wrist, their ordinary outfits shifted to casual nightwear, and a soft patterned blanket conjured over them, Shadow Milk tucking the majority of it over the shorter cookie. Pure Vanilla all but let out a satisfied hum at the fuzzy feeling.

Yes, he certainly had to do something about these blossoming feelings. Because if the blonde would be acting how he is now everytime they would accidentally fallen asleep somewhere, ignoring them would become impossible.

.

.

”It’s right over here!” Pure Vanilla waved over to the jester as they neared the picnic area, arriving just in time before the sun had begun to dig fully into the horizon. “I still would have preferred having this picnic in regular clothes, you know.” He huffed as he sat on the blanket, gently setting up the snacks.

”Nnaaaahh, if you did that, we both would’ve fallen asleep again. Those robes of yours are heavy and warm!” Shadow Milk laughed, taking his seat on the blanket right next to the picnic basket. The smallest contact between him and the blonde had been the quick brush of their bare knees, and both instantly flinched.

”Ah- I’msorry-“

”Shit- I’llmove-“

As they were about to separate from eachother just a bit, they locked gazes before bursting out in laughter- one falling onto the blanket on his back while the other snorted into his hand.

”You’re so predictable, you goof.” The beast grinned as he looked up at the other.

”I could say the same to you, ‘Beast of Deceit’.” The healer lifted his hands and made a motion with his fingers before snorting once again into a hand.

As the two settled into a peaceful banter, they nibbled on their jellies while watching the sun dip into the clouds, soon into the ground below them. The sky changed from its orange-pink to a lilac-indigo, some small stars blossoming across the canvas.

”Did you know you drool when you sleep?” The blue cookie suddenly said, catching the other off guard as the sky darkened, more stars peppering the growing night-sky. Both cookies were lying on their backs now, empty picnic basket disgarded aside.

”That’s an interesting statement.. No, I hadn’t realized. How’d you find out?” Pure Vanilla rolled onto his side, raising a brow as he gazed at the taller cookie before him.

”Oh, no reason, except for the fact that you SLEPT on MY ARM! I had to wait five minutes for it to wake up!” The healer began to snort at that again, hovering a hand over his mouth at the sight of the complaining jester.

Once he noticed the constant hand hovering, the former fount reached out and grabbed a hold of the former king’s hand, lifting it from his lips. “You don’t have to hide your insecurities from me, y’know.”

”Huh?”

”Your hand when you laugh? It comes up every time you laugh.” Shadow Milk rolled onto his side now, resting his head on his arm as he locked gazes with the ancient.

”Oh, that. Yes, that’s just an old habit of mine from my years at the Blueberry Yogurt Academy.. It’s nothing, really!” The beast huffed at that.

”Wh- Yeah it is! I quite literally tell you all the time that I hate secrets- that’s my old habit! I’ve been trying to be more open about them since then!”

”Is it working?” A pause. The blue colored cookie closed his mouth before he rolled back onto his back silently, staring at the darkened night-sky as he crossed his hands on top of his stomach.

”No.” He murmured, letting out another huff.

”Then I believe we both have old habits to work on.” Pure Vanilla hummed, gently resting his hand on the jester’s left arm as he, too, watched the stars shimmer above them.

A thoughtful pause occurred as they both laid there, waiting for what the other might say. One was more anticipatory than the other.

”I think I like you.” Was suddenly uttered out into the air. It was quick, unexpected, and awfully quiet enough for either one of them to not be able to hear. Unfortunately, the blonde’s hearing was not as bad as his sight.

”You.. you do- what?” Fortunately, he was as equally as shocked as the beast was.

”I said I think I like you, okay? Or do I have to yell it so even the moon could hear?” Shadow Milk quickly stated once more, avoiding all eye contact with the shorter cookie beside him.

”As a friend, or..?” Pure Vanilla trailed off, lifting his head to look at him with exasperation. Fortunately for the former fount, he’d already thought of a quick subject change.

”Do you happen to know how to send a letter to the Hollyberry Kingdom? I haven’t written one in EONS, so I figured you’d know.” That got the other snapped out of it.

”Oh..- I- Oh? You? Write a letter to the Hollyberry Kingdom? How so?”

”Well, I was thinking about inviting your pal Holly over for a cup of tea! Or.. berry juice? I dunno, whatever floats her boat.” A smirk was planted on his face as he saw the blonde’s expression light up at the sound of his friend’s name. Great, just where he wanted him. All the more to not get him overthinking.

”Berry juice most likely.. But I could always prepare a tea banquet! Oh! Maybe we could invite her friends over as well? Such as your old comrade and her granddaughter!” Shadow Milk’s face twisted at the potential sound of having more than one hollyberrian on castle grounds. Witches, just imagine the sound of that.

”Hm, I think her and Sugar are enough, but if she’d like to bring ONE person more, I don’t see why not! Just ONE.” For the entire kingdom’s sake. The healer hummed thoughtfully, agreeing afterwards.

”Alright! If you want, I could start heading down to fetch the papers and quill for you! Then I could show you how we specifically send them a letter.” Pure Vanilla hopped onto his feet immediately, eager to help write an invitation to his dear friend.

He quickly began to pick up the dirty plates and gathered everything into the basket, excitedly wondering out loud how he would have the banquet set up and whatnot. Shadow Milk could only watch as he got up with a soft grin in awe at how much someone with a short stature such as his has an immense amount of energy.

Then to pull his attention back to Earthbread, he felt something quick and warm press onto his cheek as he was gently pulled down, then leave as fast as it was planted.

”No time to waste! Those hot air balloons of theirs have a limit to how many shifts they can do for mail!” The blonde quipped as he hurried back down to the inside of the castle, carrying the basket full of empty plates and the rolled up fuzzy blanket they had been laying on.

The beast had only been able to stare as Pure Vanilla looked back at him with a knowing smile before he disappeared.

Oh, dear witches.

This cookie will be the death of him.

Chapter Text

The sun shines brightly through the curtains, and the faint sound of blueberry birds are heard outside. One messenger bird in particular is still fast asleep in a small handmade nest, soaking up the rays through its pristine azure feathers. The only sound audible in the entire room is quick scratching and the occasional shift of paper.

A raven haired cookie sat peacefully on an already-made bed, humming away at every sentence he wrote at a clipboard. He’d glance every now and then at a small notebook, referring back to the main paper he carefully scribbled on. Ah, this was certainly the life. The boy could stay stuck like this for hours without a care in the world.

Unfortunately, he thought to himself too loudly for the universe to not listen to him. His door bursted open quite roughly, and with that, his thinking process. Oh well, he could always pick up where he left off later. The cookie immediately tossed the clipboard and notebook underneath a pillow, reserving his attention for his newcomer.

”Oh! Thank Witches you’re awake.” Shadow Milk sighed, kicking the door shut behind him as he floated to his son’s bedside, hands grasped together.

”Yeah, of course. I’m no sleeping beauty like someone over here.” Black Sapphire glared at the snoring cookie from across the room while rubbing gently at a crusty eye. “‘m still not used to waking up to sunlight.” His father nodded with acknowledgment.

”Tell me about it. That’s why I keep my curtains closed the majority of the time.” The beast fiddled with his claws before opening his mouth again, “I need your help.”

That was weird. The purple bat tilted his head as the question had been too sudden, even for him.

”Sure? Uh, what’s on your mind?” At this, the older cookie lowered himself at the free spot next to him, nibbling on a claw.

”What’s your friendship with that faerie like?” The ravenette’s cheeks immediately flashed indigo.

”Whuh- Heh! Why’s th- that so important for you to know?” He stammered, pulling his knees closer inwardly as he curled himself into a ball.

”Just answer the question, Sapph.” The beast huffed, keeping his eyes glued onto the mattress below him. The purple cookie’s throat tightened before he cleared it, swallowing.

”Well, we send eachother letters and talk whenever we get the opportunity to do so. Sometimes he sends me some herbs from the Faerie Kingdom, and I send some flower seeds back. Er- At least ones that he already doesn’t have.” Why was this so hard to talk about? Normally he’d just disregard his sister’s questions with a quip out of context, but this was a full on order from his dad none the less. About him .

The cookie beside him hummed, soaking the information like a sponge. “Do you guys hug eachother? Or.. talk about your feelings?” The indigo darkened.

”Ahah! N- No- well, I mean I’d like to! It’s just not that easy to simply admit,” Sapphire laughed.

”You’re doing so to me right now.”

”Yeah, well, you’re my dad! That’s different.” He grabbed a pillow— not the one with the stuff underneath— and embraced it as he calmed down, “Trying to speak to him about our feelings- the ones that I have for him at least- is.. intoxicating.”

The jester lifted his gaze, curious at something that he might have said to tick a gear off. “Intoxicating?” The younger one nodded.

”Mhm, it is. You just get this painful feeling in your chest at even the slightest mention of your.. pink feelings as I’d like to call them.. for the one you yearn for. And then it’s like someone shot a canonball into your stomach only to toss a bunch of small cakehound pups through the hole.” The other let out a quick gasp.

”Really?? But then what do you do to calm those pink feelings down?” Huh, he’s speaking as if he has them himself. Which.. would be incredibly weird, even hard for Sapphire to even believe it as a possibility. Nevertheless, he shrugged and responded.

”I just indulge them.” The blue cookie raised his brow in confusion, “Like, I would take the time to be with the other to relax. Whether it be writing him letters or even finding flowers that remind me of him. Hell, even teleporting over to his room just to talk to him calms me down.”

“But he’s a whole continent away?? Isn’t your teleporting spell a bit faulty?”

Black Sapphire hummed, thinking back to his spire days. He had forgotten how difficult it used to be whenever he wanted to teleport or open a portal to witches knows where. His spells surely had grown since then. Could it be because of..?

”I guess knowing that I’m doing it all for him just strengthens the magic.” He shrugged, relaxing into the conversation. The former fount let out a noise of consideration, nodding gently as if he understood.

“Which reminds me,” The ravenette smirked as he tilted his head, “What got you so interested into my love life, anyway? You’re no Candy Apple, that’s for sure.” At the mention of her name, the youngest cookie let out a grunt from her end of the room as if to retaliate and defend her name through the midst of her sleep. Luckily for them, all she did was shift onto her other side and snore away.

Shadow Milk instantly got up at his son’s question, tendrils rising to hide the sudden heat at his cheeks. “IT WAS HER IDEA, NOT MINE! LATER!” He teleported away, leaving the younger cookie to cackle to himself. That was certainly a weird way to start his day. Though, not unwelcome. As his fit simmered, he pulled his hidden items back onto his lap, smiling.

He wondered what the faerie was doing as of now.

.

.

.

The beast was catching his breath as he finished tearing one of his pillows apart, voices within his head beginning to arise and overwhelm him once more. What do you mean he has to listen to those voices to remain calm?! As if listening to his conscience had even gotten him to any good place in his life! He listened to it back in the beginning when he still had a kingdom to tend, and look where that got him.

He paused as he thought, sighing before conjuring a repair spell for his pillow.

”Just keep trying, alright?”

If that was what he had to do to try to listen to that woman’s request from the other night, then so be it. Listening to himself shouldn’t be that hard, right? What’s the worst thing that could happen? He already fell once, it’s not like he could fall a second time.

..Could he?

The jester shook his head, focusing on the somehow great advice that his son had unknowingly handed to him. Right. He had to indulge into his.. pink feelings, he assumed. But where to start? His mind was a never ending library of voices, how would he know which ones are the specifically pink ones?

Had his other half woken up already?

Huh. That was easy. This’ll be a piece of cake! The cookie teleported outside of the ancient’s room, squinting at the sudden change of brightness. Today was certainly going to be a sunny day. As he hovered, he made his way to the window that was definitely the one he had been looking for. And surely enough, the blonde was seen curled to one side, body rising and lowering softly as his face was painted with nothing but peace. And drool.

Surprisingly, Shadow Milk found the unknown tension in his shoulders leaving as he took in the sight, now knowing that the former king is safe and had decided to get a few more moments of shut eye. A new voice whispered into his ear that moment, and he decided that he was going to head to the kitchen next. As he turned around, however, he was met with a shocking sight.

A hot pink balloon was seen floating closer to the kingdom docks, small silhouettes of cookies in it bustling about. The beast squinted to sharpen his vision, and his inquires were confirmed entirely. Wow, Vanilla hadn’t lied when he stated that the Hollyberrian mail service was quick when it came to letters that were sent from his castle.

Right. The ancient cookie.

Shadow Milk turned around once more to get a final glimpse of the other, teleporting his way into the royal kitchen. Luckily for him, none of the cooks were awake at this hour. Seems like every cookie in this castle wakes up whenever the former king does. How hilarious. Brushing the funny thought off, he got to work by conjuring a quick few spells, and brightened at the sight of a fully busy kitchen all at the hands of his magic; ingredients floated about from the fridge and cupboard, cookware moved in several bowls or machines to stir the raw mixture.

All of this movement reminded him of his old students from the magic academy. How eager they were all in practicing their learnt magic the instant they had aced an exam about a particular spell topic. The beast chuckled, floating towards a counter to handcraft a particular food item. His hands moved swiftly as if he had the steps memorized. He quickened at every easy turn, slowing to perfect a particular step. At last, his unique item was set up on a plate and ready to be served to the cookie he had worked hard for to impress. Turning around, he hummed at the sight of stunning dishes of food on one side of the kitchen, and floating kitchenware on the other as it self cleaned before putting itself away. Not a crumb or drop of mixture was left behind. Hm.

Perfect.

Shadow Milk floated up to the blonde’s door, and found himself sweating profusely at the sight of it. Why was this so hard now? He had just cooked a buffet for four cookies! Knocking on a door isn’t as difficult as that! Swallowing thickly, he gently tapped his knuckles at the rough waffle material, slouching at the silent response. Huh, he should’ve figured waking up a half blind cookie would be a little bit tricky. ESPECIALLY one that barely gets any sleep. The beast slowly twisted the handle, and hovered inside, quietly pushing the door closed behind him with one hand.

The now closer sight of the resting ancient stole his breath even further than it had when he was only up against the window, all unknown tension leaving his body. The blue cookie hovered to the saint’s bedside and couldn’t help but smile at the sight. This must be those pink feelings Black Sapphire had mentioned to him. And they felt…

Brushing a free hand through a somewhat tangled yet soft piece of hair, he leaned over to whisper.

”’Nilla. Wakey-wakey, little orchid.” No sudden reaction at those soft words. Nothing but the faint sound of breathing. His smile instantly dropped.

”Get up, loser, it’s almost well into the afternoon already!” He raised his voice a little harsher, shaking the other’s shoulder with a free hand. That finally got the healer stirring. The sound of fabric moving and a big inhale followed by a quick slurp reached his pointed ears when the shorter cookie began to speak. Or rather, make an attempt to.

”G’mernin’.. wh tim…? Sha ‘Mil..?” The former king mumbled, rubbing at an eye with the back of his hand. Shadow Milk only huffed at the action.

”It’s about to be noon, you goof. Had a nice rest?” He cupped the other’s cheek with one hand, attempting to wipe the rest of the drool away with his thumb.

”Mhhhm…,” Pure Vanilla leaned into the touch with a sheepish smile, “Yur cold..” The blue cookie rolled his eyes.

”Yeah, I’ve been told.. It’s not nice. You gonna get up or what?” The healer on his hand clumsily nodded his head, sitting up as his mind became less cloudy.

”It is nice.. It’s like having a cool ice pack on a summer day.” Before he was allowed to get up, a plate of steaming food was shoved onto his lap. The ancient raised a brow, tilting his head up at the other.

”I wanted you to have this before you dined with us. A little preshow before we get to the main event, hm?” The jester grinned, handing him a set of golden utensils. Where he got them from, Vanilla had no clue. He simply lifted a fork and knife, cut out a piece and slipped it into his mouth. His tongue was met with a taste so divine, it practically met heaven right there and then.

Blueberry pancakes drizzled with vanilla frosting and chocolate fudge. Though it hadn’t tasted like any other kind of pancake he’s had. No, these had the perfect amount of sweetness to it, and the texture had been so fluffy that his teeth didn’t have the need to even chew. Next, he went for the main delight’s side partner— and boy, had this been even better than the pancakes.

A chocolate-chip crepe filled with vanilla filling and spare blueberries. There had been a couple more blueberries on the top accompanied with star fruit and jellybean jam. The whipped cream was the perfect cherry on top. The taste instantly melted on his tongue, and Pure Vanilla couldn’t help but dig into the dish as if he were a starved child. Shadow Milk smiled as he watched his other half eat the very dish he handcrafted, slithering away into the few shadows that were available in the bright room he had been in.

”Now, be a dear and head down to the dining room. There’s more of where that good stuff came from!” A laugh, “No need to worry about bringing my plate and stuff with you, it’ll instantly poof itself away the minute you set it down! Hope my cooking’s made itself worthy for your royal tastebuds, teeheehee!!” More giddy laughter echoed in the room before it faded away, indicating the the exiting of the beast. The former king blinked at the other’s words, staring at the now empty plate with shock before it shifted to an endearing smile.

Pure Vanilla at last entered the dining room in his casual robes, wearing a nonrestrictive pair of jeans alongside his glasses. It seemed as if the ancient had tried his hovering spell once more, if the look of concentration he had on for every step he took didn’t say anything. Oh, and his hat was missing.

Oh well.

As if he became aware of the smell that enveloped him, Vanilla’s eyes widened at the wide arrange of plates that were lined up along the entire table. There had been several vases, too, full of bouquets of orange roses. Only two seats were taken though, and it’s hosts were already at it, munching away at the delicacy that their father had so graciously prepared for them.

”Shadow Milk… This.. this is..”

”The best view in the entirety of your old life?” Shadow Milk slipped on a toothy grin, fangs reaching from ear to ear, “Yeah, I’ve been told by my two little judges over there.” The other simply couldn’t believe his half-blind eyes.

”But- But how? And what for?” The blonde took his usual seat at the front of the table, marveling at the dish of steaming baked goods in front of him.

”All it took was one easy spell, heehee! Oh, and as for the reason—“ Before he had gotten to finish his statement, two guards opened the door to the room, letting in one cookie dressed in Vanillian clothing and a monacle. The man cleared his throat, until..

”Behold, her majesty, Queen Hollyberry of the Hollyberry Kingdom and her esteemed party-“ He had been interrupted before the hot pink ancient herself whispered a few words into his ear, leaning back into his stature, “And the great Bringer of Happiness, Eternal Sugar Cookie!” Just like that, four more cookies entered the room before the doors were closed behind them.

”Blueberry!!” A high squeal shook the room before the avian lunged at the blue trickster, embracing him tightly. Pure Vanilla laughed at that, as he had never seen the other be drained of his signature azure so quickly. “Ooooh how I’ve missed you so dearly, brother! Have you gotten taller? Ooh, wait no, you’ve definitely grown your hair out! Oh, we have so much to catch up on!” He was only given a quick breather while the pink cookie scanned him before he was met with a breath-stealing embrace once more. Oh how he has forgotten how much he hated his sister’s hugs. Especially if they haven’t seen eachother in a year.

”Yeah, yeah, that’s good and all, but maybe ask when I’m not being choked -!” He struggled to speak, gasping harshly as the other beast finally let him go. Looks like she still had abandonment issues after all. 

“Ah, I’m terribly sorry, my dear! I still forget how my strength can effect such fragile cookies like you!” She cooed as she pinched his cheek, giggling as he batted her hand away.

The other hot-pink cookie made her way to her friend, firstly grasping gently at his back before she lifted him into a similarly tight embrace.

”Surely you couldn’t forget about these hugs of passion, eh, Vanilla?” She laughed as he squirmed, quickly letting him down.

”NoPE! Not- Heh, not a bit, Hollyberry. Please! By all means, seat and serve yourselves! There’s enough food for all of us to go around. Shadow Milk here has made sure of that.” He smiled at the blue cookie, who was still trying to fix his ruffled hair. All four had finally taken their seats, staying more or less together instead of separating.

Or, well- It went something along the lines of this.

Shadow Milk first sat back down next to Pure Vanilla, which then led to Eternal Sugar sitting next to her brother. Of course, she had her other half linked by an arm and had her seated on her right side. Hollyberry’s dearest bodyguard just had to follow wherever she was and ended up beside her, while Sugar’s own adopted son sat next to his cousins across from Wildberry. Yep. Quite the lineup indeed.

”So! When I read that the Beast of Deceit had finally been living inside of the Vanilla Castle, I found it hard to believe. But here I am, proven wrong once again! And a banquet prepared by his hands none the less!” The queen chuckled as she poured herself a glass of berry juice, taking small sips before smiling at the blue jester.

”Ah- Haha, yeah! That’s.. that’s right! I noticed your arrival when I had been doing my morning rounds, and had the perfect idea to spoil you all with my cooking!” A pretty white lie, for a pretty dining experience. Then, his son’s face twisted.

”But you don’t have any—“ The ravenette was instantly hushed as he felt a heel dig into his leg.

”Oh, my dear boy! You were probably still asleep by the time I began cooking. That’s alright.” His daughter’s face twisted now, smirking at her brother deviously.

”Finally asleep? Don’t I recall you doing something else in the morni—“ Her leg was hardly kicked at, and she found it hard to hold back a grunt.

”Don’t get me STARTED with you, you pes-“

”Ah! I remember you, now!” The archer finally spoke, gathering both cousins’ attentions. Black Sapphire paused, quickly glancing at his sister with confusion. “Yes! At the first annual ‘Yeast Meeting’! I knew you two looked familiar, always bickering then!” Pavlova huffed with a smile, shoulders tensing when he sensed their awkwardness.

”Are.. Is he alright?” Candy Apple looked at Black Sapphire now, earning herself a quick elbow to the rib.

”I apologize on my dearest young one’s behalf, for you see, he was not the cookie when you both first met!” The bringer of happiness suddenly chipped, every cookie guiding an ear to her sugary tone, “He, like I, had gotten freed from those peppermint chains from the garden.” She smiled, a hint of sadness in her eyes.

A pause, and of course, someone had to open their mouth.

”The chains of your doing, right?” Now, both Sapphire and Milk kicked at her legs, Candy Apple shouting a quick ‘hey’ into the air. Eternal Sugar simply giggled at the notion.

”No, that’s quite alright. And yes, it’s true. It hurt me then when I installed them, and it hurt now after having a relevation as to why,” She lowered her palms as she looked at her brother now, smirking, “But of course, we all learn from our experiences, don’t we?”

”YES. WE DO.” Shadow Milk quipped, swallowing a hiss by shoving a handful of food into his mouth.

”Oh! That’s wonderful to hear, Shadow Milk! So I guess this banquet of food is some sort of celebration for that, isn’t it?” Hollyberry now smiled, pulling out a jug of berry juice out of thin air onto the table with a thud. All of the cookies jumped as the heavy object caused a light vibration.

At the sight of the jug, standing out against the delicate, pristine and organized manner of every dish and silverware he set up, Shadow Milk’s eyes widened. “Wheh- Tuh- Puh- You can’t just- How did you- WHERE did you even GET THAT??” He sputtered, leaning back against his chair at the horrific view.

“Ah- this was safely secured with the rest of my luggage! All thanks to Wildber-“ The poor cookie worriedly frowned at the quick mention of his name before the beast’s eyes landed on him.

”WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT????”

”Well- It is my rightful duty to serve-“

”TO HELP AN ALCOHOLIC??”

It was as if a record player was held down and stopped.

”Eheh- an alco-what-now?” Hollyberry had never stumbled over more words in her life— and she’s sober right now.

”Oh, Holly! Really?? I thought we’ve discussed about it..” Sugar gently rested a hand over the queen’s shoulder, who was currently attempting her best to compose herself in front of her beloved friend and her soulmate.

”Now- Now, Sugar- It’s not what it looks like-“ Suddenly, Wildberry sat up.

”I can assure you, Miss Sugar, Queen Mother has reduced her berry juice intake.”

”Oh! Now you’re not stuttering!” Shadow Milk threw his hands in exasperation.

”I never stutter.” A silent wince in the room.

”Wow.. and I’m not even the Beast of Deceit..” Pavlova whispered, quietly sipping his drink as he knowingly looked at his comrade.

”Hey. Don’t give me that, ‘cookie of love,’ when all you could do is hopelessly yearn.” A drink is suddenly spat out to the air. Followed by an unfortunate soft snicker.

”Oh, you wanna laugh now, Sapphire? Hah, hah, let’s all laugh at the poor hopeless romantic! He’s stuck yearning oh, how funny? Y’know what else is funny, twin?” A fork clatters to the table, “I can sense that SAME feeling in you. Guess that makes two of us, huh?” That reborn cherub has never looked creepier.

”Three of us, if you squint hard enough.” Black Sapphire scoffs. Loud, cracking thunder is heard, coming from the ceiling of the same room.

”Sapphire…!” Shadow Milk smiled, gritting his teeth as he watched the entire interaction. He sank back in his seat as he heard a silky soft giggle across from him.

”Oh? No, do go right on ahead, dearest nephew! I’m.. all ears~” Eternal Sugar sang, smirking as she rested her chin onto her palm, snaking her other arm around Hollyberry’s shoulders as passive-aggressively as she could in that moment.

”Ah- That’s a bit too tight, dear-“

”Aren’t you going to explain yourself on that little comment, brother?” The bringer smiled, ignoring her other half’s squirming.

”Aren’t you going to pay attention to your girlfriend,—oh, so so so, sorry, wife?” Shadow Milk grinned maliciously. Who knew one word could turn two pink cookies even pinker than before?

The two immediately were squawking like the birds they were, peeling themselves off of eachother as if they each had some sort of illness.

”I- we don’t- I haven’t-!”

”That’s not even-!!”

A small pale pink hand raised through all of the medium leveled bickering and conversations, worrisome crimson eyes scanning everyone.

”Can I say something?” All twelve pairs —and some small azure ones— were on her at an instant.

”NO!” Then, a loud gasp in unison.

“Hollyberry! Listen to yourself!”

”Sugar-“

”Wildgnat-“

”Pavlov-!”

”Sapph-??”

”DAD-“

Suddenly, the quiet, yet quick scraping of a chair being pushed, removed every and any noise that remained in the room. And soon, a soft voice.

”The food was absolutely delicious, Shadow Milk Cookie. And I thank all of you who dedicated their precious time to come to this gathering today. Please, excuse me.” Pure Vanilla gently pushed his chair back into the table with a smile, before turning towards the doorway that led to the common rooms and calmly walked away. The soft echoed thud of the giant waffle door allowed everyone a moment of exasperation before they remembered that, hey, they came to have a peaceful breakfast, and that they quickly got back to.

Well..

Not everyone.

“Hey, ‘berry, can I borrow this pink chicken? Thanks!” Shadow Milk quickly stated as he appeared right behind the two before he dragged his sister away, ignoring the queen’s calls the further he went. Additionally, he had to ignore his sister’s bewildered squabbling as well, as he dragged the both of them through a portal which took them towards a spare room somewhere in the castle.

Once he shut the magic away, he quite literally zipped his sibling’s mouth up after turning towards face her.

”OKAY! So, here’s the REAL reason you’re here. You’re here to help me because I am shit at this type of stuff and there wasn’t any other cookie I could think of other than you.” Shadow Milk frowned while grabbing the avian’s shoulders to hold her steady. At this, she instantly put all her attention to him, Eternal Sugar’s scowl melting to a curious smile.

”..Go on,” She purred, waiting. Shadow Milk huffed, letting go of her before he crossed his arms, staring at the ground. Well, it wouldn’t hurt to open up to another cookie, right? After all, she’s family, too. Come to think of it, that’s every cookie he’s been opening up to.

Hm..

He needs to up his game.

”SoHypotheticallySpeakingIfISaidThatILikedACookieAndThey’reHurtingRightNowAndIWantToHelpButIDon’tKnowHowToAtAllWhatWouldIDo.” It was so quick, words jumbled into gibberish that not a single person nor cookie would be able to understand a thing of what he just uttered as of right now. Not even you nor I. But alas, there was only one cookie.. er, one other cookie perhaps, who did.

”Liking another cookie? Oh, dearest, why haven’t you started your letter off with that in the first place? Why- I would’ve flown over here by myself if it was only for that!” Eternal Sugar smiled with adoration as she chuckled, humming, “But of course, I knew that’d be impossible, since it’s him that your case is about.”

Shadow Milk gasped. But- But how could she-? She couldn’t possibly know, can she?

”You’re talking about the, uh, kingdom security, right?” He felt a gentle pressure at the top of his head as soft pink fingers devoid of corruption carded through his hair.

”My, my, my, I have never seen you this down bad for a cookie in eons! Is the taste of vanilla bean really intoxicating as they say?” Sugar giggled as she heard her brother gasp before he playfully hit her arm.

”ENOUGH WITH THE TEASING!! Ehm- Well. I just.. need your help, is all. Really, sugarbell, I am absolutely atrocious at this crap. Don’tcha remember my last flame? Remember how that turned out?” Shadow Milk gave Sugar a pathetic frown as she gave him a cringed look, quite vividly remembering that horrible pair. And, yeesh, what an era that was.

”Tell me about it. My wings would get tired so frequently from having to carry you out of that place. Whatever that cookie injected into you made your dough weigh twice as much as you were when you were freshly baked.” Sugar weakly laughed, absentmindedly holding her left wing to her body. “Alright. I’ll help, but on one condition.”

That must be a joyride. Shadow Milk rolled his eyes at the mention, groaning.

”Spill.”

“If you both do end up becoming a successful pair..” Eternal Sugar grinned, “..Double dates. No muss, no fuss!~” That made Shadow Milk let out another groan of frustration.

”Fiiiiine, whatever helps me help him, I don’t care!” He crossed his arms with a huff, floating in the air, upset. His sister laughed, hovering over to him.

”There is one more thing, though.”

”Oh, for witches sake!”

”Just! One more thing..” Sugar lifted a finger before clasping her hands together, her playful look shifting to a more somber, sentimental one. “Promise me you’ll continue to come to me for anything?”

”Hm?” He tilted his head up at her, eyes wide. Eternal Sugar reached out and grabbed his dark-grey hands, careful of minding his claws.

”Promise me that I’ll be the first cookie you’ll continue to go to, for any reason whatsoever. Whether it be for advice, or just because you wanted to see me, I don’t care. I will never say no to you, my dearest baby brother.” Her eyes wrinkled as she locked her gaze with a wide smile, as if she was remembering the first time she held him in her arms when he was a few months old.

That poor, abandoned child. Eternal Sugar had practically raised the boy when The Witches merely dropped him off as if he was an ingredient, not aware of the being that they tossed— not aware that one of them will tweak his fate to be the cookie of all-knowledge. To his sister, had that witch brought mercy to, for casting her as the cookie of happiness.

Knowledge is a heavier burden than Happiness.

Shadow Milk felt a lump in his throat, opening his mouth to respond but all he could do was let out a broken croak. Eternal Sugar then leaned forward at that, closing her eyes as she let out a shaky sigh, embracing the younger cookie.

”It’s okay. It doesn’t have to be a promise. It wouldn’t matter as much, as I already know.”

That’s right. She wasn’t the only cookie to turn to when things got bad, or whenever he wanted to spend time with someone.

He was always there to fill that role.

But..

”No. You matter.” Shadow Milk slowly lifted his arms to return the hug, shoving his tears far away. This wasn’t about him, this was about him. He can’t always be shedding tears like a newborn whenever someone as much as his family would give him a hug. “Like hell you don’t matter, you matter to me, to Hollyberry, to all of us other beasts- hell- you matter to your witchdamn son! You. Matter. To everyone.” He was looking at her now, holding her by the shoulders once more, “And that’s your truth.”

Eternal Sugar was left speechless. Her bottom lip began to quiver before she regained the strength to fight back her emotions, letting out a hum as she smiled down at her brother. “You really do love him, don’t you?”

Wow.

Way to ruin the moment.

Shadow Milk instantly flew off of her, holding his hands in front of him to shield his ever so growing darker shade on his cheeks. “WHEH- I wouldn’t sAY- say, that.. at all.. moreso.. like-like him? If that’s.. a term.” Eternal Sugar blankly frowned.

”Ouff, we really need to work on your pink feelings.”

”SO THEY ARE CALLED THAT!! I KNEW IT!”

A few moments into their chatting, both siblings sat down on the edge of the guest bed, Sugar listening intently on what Milk had to say about the very cookie that had been on his mind practically every day. Including his dreams. When he got to that part, the bringer almost became worried that he might have relapsed or had spoken to some crazy cookie, but truthfully the jester spoke as if the woman in his dreams was real. After knowing the Beast of Deceit for several years up to centuries and decades, she would know when he would lie. Her internal lie detector had gotten so close it almost puts his souljam’s lie detector to shame. But of course, no one’s a perfect liar as Shadow Milk.

Or, well.

Except for Pure Vanilla.

”So.. what do I do, ‘bell?” Shadow Milk worriedly looked at his sister, hands clasped between his thighs as his right foot shook from side to side. Eternal Sugar pondered for a moment, smiling when the knowledge flooded into her.

”Well, let’s see. He’s currently in distress right now, correct?” A nod, “What are some small details you’ve paid attention about him that helps him calm down? Or.. something that makes him happy? But keep in mind- something small.”

Shadow Milk now had to take a moment to think. There were the few moments where the ancient would place plant pots in unsuspecting spots. He wondered as to why there was a blooming petunia on top of the kitchen fridge. Then, whenever they both would go to the market, he’d notice that Vanilla would always purchase and arrive home with a plushie —rarely a figure—that is sheep-themed. But here’s the catch. One would think, oh yes, a huge, soft, sheep plushie all for me to hug- that’d be understandable, right? No. Not Pure Vanilla. This man would get small plushies of them. And if it weren’t plushies, sheep-themed figurines. And it had been every. Time. They went. Shopping.

”He’s weirdly obsessed with plants and sheep.” The pink cookie huffed with a smile.

”Does it calm him down?”

Huh. Come to think of it.. no. He thought it might have been, but it simply looked morr for entertainment purposes than calming.

So what was something small that calmed him down?

”The thing that you could think of, by the way, doesn’t have to be an item either. Just a.. food for thought.” Sugar smiled, her grin widening at the sight of the once bratty and scowling cookie now taking the time to think for a good cause.

And then it hit him.

Earlier when he had given him breakfast in bed and attended him. The joy in his eyes when he saw the steaming plate of food that he had personally made for him. And his smile. Oh how that smile grew when he revealed the fact that he really did cook for him. How his eyes wrinkled and sparkled, and how his syrup-smeared grin was so wide, it made him notice a dimple that would show only on his left cheek.

”He.. calms down when he’s personally cared for. Attended to, as if he was something fragile and delicate. ..and he is.” Shadow Milk whispered at the last part, but he seemed to find himself admitting something that he hadn’t known about himself; he liked taking care of Pure Vanilla. And apparently, he now liked knowing the fact that Vanilla likes it when he’s taken cared of. Maybe not by him personally but.. who knows. Maybe he just likes it when it’s one-on-one.

Eternal Sugar nodded at this, as if she knew already what it was that the ancient needed at the moment. But really, she was glad to know that at last, Shadow Milk really might be in love. He just doesn’t know it yet.

”What are you waiting for then, hm? For his thoughts to crush him further?” Now that got a reaction out of him. Shadow Milk instantly paled, darting towards the door. He knew what it was like to feel that- he couldn’t bare to see Pure Vanilla break.

Not again.

He himself had tried to back then, but that was only once, and the moment he saw the reaction, he knew that no other cookie should experience his similar sentiment of being broken apart.

Shadow Milk left his sister in the room to fend for herself to find her way back to the dining room and instantly flew to Pure Vanilla’s room through the memorized halls. All, if any, staff member he encountered merely brushed his presence aside. As if they were used to him darting around all over the place, frantically looking for the one thing keeping him sane.

.

At last after what felt like hours, he reached to the ancient’s room. Before walking inside, Shadow Milk repeatedly reminded himself that Vanilla calms down when he’s cared for. Meaning, that he has to demonstrate to him that he truly cares for him. But words wouldn’t work, oh no, he’s tried that before many times in the past. Look where that’s led him now, hm? No, it must be actions. And for there to be actions, walls must be torn down. A big wall, at that.

Shadow Milk lifted a clawed hand, staring at the appendage pathetically. He has to show him. Sure, he’s not uncomfortable of physical touch anymore, hell- he indulges in it. But to be the one to do the first move? To show someone you care for them is to touch quite a lot. Because that’s how he felt for him. Truly, if he cared for him as a friend, a simple hug would do it. But Pure Vanilla was no ordinary friend. And he didn’t care for him as one either.

No.

He cared even more than that.

The beast curled his hand, knocking at the door lightly with his knuckles. Shadow Milk paused for any sound of movement, even stepping closer to hear better. He almost choked on his breath at the sound of quickened breathing. Abnormal breathing.

Almost instantly, Shadow Milk let himself into the room, unlocking the door from the other side with his magic. And lo and behold, was the blonde on his bed —fortunately not breaking down as he had previously assumed. Pure Vanilla had been asleep, laying on his side but on top of his blankets. His brows were furrowed while his shoulders trembled, and his fingers were curling into his palms as tightly as possible. And there it was again- the quickened breathing.

”’Nilla. Oh, ‘Nills” Shadow Milk muttered as he stepped inside, pace quickening the closer he got to his bed. Upon closer examination, there were dried tear stains across his face. The beast swiftly took his boots off before carefully hopping onto the bed, pulling Pure Vanilla close to him. The smaller cookie fit underneath him like a puzzle piece, Shadow Milk wrapping his legs over his waist and his arms around his chest in a protective manner, chin right on top of the other’s head.

Pure Vanilla continued to break quickly as he rode out his nightmare, some arms and legs twitching at times due to the restraint that Shadow Milk had on his body. And for good measure, too. Somehow, the protective warmth of the beast’s body had caused a reduction for the amount of twitches that Pure Vanilla would sometimes do, and it slowed to almost being nothing at all. Next, had been his breathing issue.

“Shh, it’s okay- you’re okay, don’t be scared, don’t- it’s alright- I’m here. I’m here, Vanilla.” Shadow Milk tightened his grip on the other, and began to breath in through his nose loudly but slowly. He exhaled out his mouth at a slow pace, purposely being loud in the hopes of Pure Vanilla’s body catching onto his aiding attempts.

Fortunately for him, it did. Shadow Milk couldn’t almost believe it when he heard- and felt- Pure Vanilla’s breathing start to go through his nose and out his mouth in a slow rhythm.

”That’s good. Gooood job, Orchid. You’re doing great. I’m proud. Juuust like that, keep going. Thaaat’s right.” Shadow Milk whispered between breaths, rubbing small circles with his thumb on Pure Vanilla’s shoulder.

At the touch, the healer suddenly began to shift, turning onto his side to face the other in the crook of his neck. The beast froze. Pure Vanilla’s breathing was warm, and soft, as if he wasn’t asleep at all. . ..was he truly awake?

”..’Nilla?” He whispered faintly, catching the healer’s attention. From the corner of his eye, Shadow Milk can see the other’s glasses set aside on a pillow, far enough to not be in the way of whatever he has been going through. Pure Vanilla’s blurry vision met his, and he smiled as he was able to see the blue cookie’s features up close without his glasses. When he spoke, his voice came in broken stutters, soft and faint. Delicate, like fine china.

”You came.”

”You called.” Shadow Milk brushed a stray blonde tuft away with a thumb, letting it linger for a bit on Pure Vanilla’s cheek. As little as the touch might have been, the ancient leaned into it with a sigh. “The moment you walked away, it was as if your souljam had pleaded for me to follow.” His voice trembled as he remembered the broken look Pure Vanilla had upon rising from his seat. Though others might have thought he was happy, Shadow Milk easily saw through those cracks.

“Although I enjoyed everyone speaking with eachother, the voices- it pained for me to leave-“ Another warm hand was settled onto his other cheek.

”Shh, shshshsh, no, ‘Nilla, no,” Shadow Milk shook his head gently with a smile, “You deserve to tell them off. We were all assholes- myself included! You have every right to be upset. So go ahead, let it all out. Don’t be afraid to show yourself to me. I’ve got you now. It’ll be okay, you won’t break. I’ll take care of you if that ends up happening. . or regardless.” He spoke with so much tenderness, so much adoration and grace, Pure Vanilla felt as if his heart would’ve stopped beating then and there.

His upper lip trembled, and he nearly found himself crying again. “Oh, Bluebird,” Pure Vanilla sighed before leaning into the other’s shoulder, “What would I do without you?”

Fall, he nearly replied. Before his mouth opened to really state that awful fact, the ancient shut him up with his graceful voice yet again.

”It was awful,” Pure Vanila’s voice shook, “All I could do was watch as every cookie in the room practically tore at eachother’s throats, the tension so thick I would’ve needed another pair of glasses to calmly sit through it! The childrens’ small squabble was easy to ignore at first, but then they began to lash out and mention the adults! And Hollyberry and Sugar! They were so sweet but even they became intoxicating at the mention of Holly’s addiction! And YOU-! You..” All he could’ve done in the moment was curl his fist tightly into the beast’s clothing upon letting out a long sigh.

”As much as I hold you a special place in my heart, Bluebird, you.. Oh, witches I can’t! I can’t say it!” He wept, shoving his face into Shadow Milk’s neck once more. The jester all but listened to him, not judging Vanilla at all for the majority of his stress being the beast’s doing. All Shadow Milk did was hush him gently, rubbing soft circles on the small of the ancient’s back with his palm.

Pure Vanilla sniffed, smearing a couple of tears into the satin cloth that the lther wore. “I- I could never say anything bad about you. I just simply cannot. You’re a beautiful creature, Shadow Milk, and it’d absolutely break me if my words painted you in a bad light. Even if they were as minuscule as how I described the others, my body refuses to do so.”

Now at this, Shadow Milk softly gasped. He had to lift a hand to bring Pure Vanilla’s hazy gaze to his own, to truly detect the truth. And upon locking eyes, it really was. “Really? After hearing everything about what others say about me?” He nearly choked on his own words.

The ancient nodded his head. “I mean every word. It may be easy for other cookies, but speaking about you in such a manner- although The Witches would be thrilled to have their most benevolent son speak badly about such a being such as you, I refuse. Me, Pure Vanilla. If The Witches promote it, then I’ll defy The Witches.”

..What?

Here he was, thinking that he was here to take care of the healer. Thinking that he needed to be saved from possibly falling, or even breaking. But Pure Vanilla was doing just that for him. He was taking care of him with his words, enveloping him with his warm devotion and truth to him.

But one thing still confused him. If Pure Vanilla was so sure, so confident about defying The Witches’ wishes, then why..?

Why had he been crying?

Who had he nearly broken for?

…For who had he shed so many tears?

”I don’t get it,” Shadow Milk whispered yet again, “I came to save you, but you’re so set on saving me. ..What had truly happened to you in that room, Vanilla?” The hero’s lashes fluttered at the mention of his true name. He took a deep breath through his nose, opened his mouth, and exhaled longingly as he spoke.

”When all of the commotion occurred, I felt like I was in another meeting of mine with the Cremè Republic’s council. Room full of politicians- except this time half of the cookies were children. But one cookie stood out to me, and when I saw you lash out the most; creating the turmoil and causing more chaos between cookies.. I felt horrified. Petrified..” Ah, so that’s what it was. Well, that’s not new- “I was scared of what they would all think of you- of the possibility that my friends could think that you hadn’t been reforming, and that you were still.. a beast.” Pure Vanilla’s voice staggered at that last bit, and it nearly stole Shadow Milk’s breath away.

”So.. so you..” He tried to breathe again.

”I ran away, because I couldn’t stand the thought of having to refer to you as ‘beast’ if that ever became the possibility. I was spiraling the louder the fighting became. I kept on thinking, ‘what if they spew more awful things at him?’, ‘what if they spread a rumor for all of the other reformed cookies?’,” Then, his voice broke, sounding as if he was preparing himself to cry once more, “‘what if they seal him again’? I.. I couldn’t face my thoughts anymore, so I locked myself away for my instability to not be a bother for anyone. ..but I couldn’t make it to my room in time.”

“So you were actually crying for..” Shadow Milk softly gasped, still finding it difficult to believe it a possibility.

”Yes.” Was all the faint voice of Pure Vanilla could whisper in that moment.

Without thinking, Shadow Milk’s body moved on its own. Not even he had controlled it. The jester leaned forward slowly, lashes fluttering nearly half closed. It was only when he felt their foreheads brush that Shadow Milk’s body moved regained a sense of control. Their breaths were already mingling together, and the tips of their noses were millimeters away from touching. Pure Vanilla’s eyes widened in acknowledgment, recognizing this particular position.

Shadow Milk.. suddenly remembered as well. His eyes then widened too, but not in nostalgia.

In fear.

It was as if the beast remembered his place and role in society, and his ears buzzed out every noise that filtered through. A faint, audible ringing was heard as he not only remembered his past relationships in that moment, but the era in which they were set in.

What the cookies spoke of him.

What they did to him.

”Shadow Milk? Are you going to…?” Pure Vanilla’s heartbeat waited on what he believed was awaiting him. What he failed to recall, was that Shadow Milk was still a very, very broken cookie.

”No.” A pause.

…What?

”Wh..?” The ancient tried searching an answer in the blue cookie’s eyes, but the only response he was able to receive was ‘i’m sorry’.

”No.” He repeated, more confident. Shadow Milk’s voice still held some lingering fear as he separated entirely from the hero, going as far as floating into the air, away from the bed and onto the ceiling.

”Wait- Bu- Sha-“

”No.”

”But yo-“

”No.” Forgive me.

”Shado-“

”I can’t.” I’m so sorry.

”Plea-“

“We can’t do this. Not now, not ever.”

”No-“

He was gone.

Chapter Text

“Do you, Fount of Knowledge, truthfully take this cookie to be your bethrothed?”

”I-“

“To fully understand and appreciate, care for and protect your ‘other half’- one who is at your very mercy to bear heirs for a prosperous future?”

”Well-“

”To become one and preach the truth to the rest of the Blueberry kingdom, for all cookiekind, to ensure that this marriage be seen as an anchor for other cookie families?”

“..No.”

”What?” I’m sorry. “The horror!” I’m sorry. “How could this be?”

I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’M SORRY. I’M SORRY. I’M SORRY. I’M SORRY. I’M SORRY. I’M SORRY. I’M-

”I- I’m sorry, what was that, my Fount?”

”I SAID..”

A small plate cluttered into soft hands as it was lifted into the air, followed by the sound of soft steps. The ambience of the castle halls and kitchen thoroughly changed, and everything had dulled.

A knock, soft yet fragile, was audible from the waffle door at the top tower. Surely, there’d be someone to answer this solemn knock? Fortunately after a short pause, the bickering voices that came from the other side lowered as the doorknob was fiddled with.

Black Sapphire, in all his glory, looked tiredly at the newcomer, eyes pathetically crinkling as he gave the other a broken smile.

”Should this not be enough for you both, come into my room by all means.” A voice uttered hoarsely, like a record on loop.

”No, it’s fine, Pure Vanilla Cookie. Thank you.” The young adult replied, gently nodding his head at the ancient. There had been another short pause, before the blonde spoke once more.

”How is she holding up?” He’d ask.

”Oh, the usual.” The other would reply.

”That’s nice.”

”How have you been?”

”Perfectly well.”

”Good to know.”

The two’s baggy eyes would then part for the day, the soft click of the siblings’ door shutting, allowing the dim cookie to relieve some tension in his shoulders. It hadn’t made aware to him, but in this poor-state of his, Pure Vanilla Cookie hadn’t been able to detect the lie in Black Sapphire Cookie’s words. Nor had he been able to detect the muffled sound of a girl loudly crying into her pillow, shouting her refusal at the food that her dear brother had brought for her. So he’d always leave the plate at her door, silently shedding tears of his own, none that not even the healer cookie could detect with that powerful soul jam of his. Of course, his smile never faltered as he passed by his castle staff in the halls, not even when he hesitated to step into the path that guided him toward the kitchen.

Once his own door clicked shut behind him that is, all tension in his shoulders left him as he sagged immediately to the ground, his bagged eyes re-puffing the moment the first sets of tears spilled down his cheeks.

It had been an entire month since Shadow Milk Cookie had left the Vanilla Kingdom. The very next day after the incident in his room, Candy Apple frightened everyone in the castle — including the guests — with a sobbing shriek. Her dearest father was nowhere to be found. 

“It’ll be okay, my darling Candy Apple! I’m sure he’s here somewhere in the kingdom.” Her aunt would reassure her, but she cried back, claiming that she could no longer sense his magic. At the mention of it, the prior king finally sensed that something was not right. Nevertheless, a squadron of cookies were sent to scour around the kingdom grounds for the jester, including the Sugar of Happiness, who offered to be a lookout in the skies alongside Black Raisin Cookie’s army of crows.

They never found the blue beast.

Pure Vanilla Cookie’s sensation at the loss of the other’s soul jam energy confirmed it so.

His breathing staggered as he continued to weep quietly, fingernails scraping along the floor to grasp at anything that could hold himself together. Pure Vanilla would check his own jam-energy, to see if the other had potentially returned. This would be another step in his daily routine.

Being drained of all energy afterwards, he’d immediately fall to slumber, not waking up for a majority of the day. And cookies around the castle wouldn’t dare to wake him, not even the deceitful siblings. By his own orders, he prohibited anyone from stepping into his room while he slept, for he was busy at work in his dreams. 

Searching mercilessly.

Endlessly.

To no avail, he would wake up around sunset, and skim through his neglected mail. All four-hundred and thirteen-thousand letters would be cluttered on his desk, but the weakened cookie would only take a look at two, deciding that that’s enough ‘royal’ work for the day.

Another ordeal in his routine would be to gaze at the sky once the stars would glimmer on the navy blue canvas. As how other cookies might see this as beneficial for the ancient to breath some fresh air, the cookie was yet again at his same task from that in his dreams.

Pure Vanilla would peer at every cloud, every speck of light to see if one of them would be a cookie in disguise; he’d have his glasses on to do so, tired eyes darting from all directions in case he could pick up the slightest hint of deceit — or more or less any sign of his missing half.

After what seemed like five hours or more of standing under the darkened blanket, Pure Vanilla would retreat back inside of his room once the first streaks of orange would hit his skin, slipping right under the covers once more to finally rest for two hours. And so his routine would repeat once more.

As he would get up after those two meaningless hours, a knock was audible at his door, breaking him out of that rhythmic loop. Someone knocking at seven in the morning is not part of his daily routine.

Twisting the knob, the ancient slowly opened the door, pasty eyes lifting a bit as he was surprised to meet velvety red ones.

”Hollyberry Cookie explained every detail to me. I hope you don’t mind me staying a while, don’t you, Pure Vanilla?” White Lily Cookie mustered up a smile, restraining herself to make a face at the appearance of her childhood best friend.

Pure Vanilla was completely out of it; his saintly robes appeared disheveled and torn at some parts, and his hair was awfully matted — some knots were even visible; his eyes were bloodshot, along with bags upon bags underneath them. The growing beard was definitely new - a clear indicator that something was was definitely wrong with his health. Upon placing a hand on Pure Vanilla’s arm, White Lily could dictate that he had certainly fallen into his poor eating habits once more. Only this time, it could be life threatening.

Witches, don’t even get her started on his room.

”Of course, stay as long as you want, Lily.” Pure Vanilla smiled weakly at her, “Pick whichever room to your heart’s content.”

The guardian couldn’t resist to wince at his response. It seems that the poor man is too tired to even give proper sentences, dear witches.

”Why don’t I bring some snacks to share? I’d love to hear how it’s been over here. I haven’t been able to talk to Black Sapphire Cookie or Candy Apple Cookie yet. Mind telling me yourself how they’ve been?” White Lily gently led the other to his bed as she conjured a few jellies behind her back, resting them on his lap the moment they both sat down.

At the instant feeling of being cared for, Pure Vanilla immediately broke. His daily tears were shed in a larger amount than usual as he dug his head into the girl’s neck. All White Lily could do was wrap her arms as delicately as possible around the man, gently rocking him back and forth.

”I can’t find him,” He croaked, “Every day I look for him, in my dreams, in the sky — I just can’t seem to find him!” Pure Vanilla wept, his breathing staggering and hiccuping as rivers upon rivers of tears streamed down his face and neck. “It used to be so easy to find him, to know him.” To love him.

White Lily nodded as he spoke, carding her fingers through what she could of his poorly nurtured hair. “I understand how you feel…” She sat him up for a moment, swiping away any remaining tears with the back of her gloved hand, “When Salt and I were first beginning to learn more about each other, all we could do was reassure one another. He couldn’t stop crying in my arms, about his decision towards his old friends, the kala namak knights — we both broke when it got down to the topic of our dearest Elder Faerie.” She smiled as she recalled everything as if it happened the day before, “When he told me about the sealing of the others… I couldn’t help but feel as if the very words he said were the ones I stated after overcoming my guilt of Dark Enchantress Cookie. He continued to beg for penitence, to repent for the atrocity he had to do for cookiekind. In that moment.. it felt so clear to me that he and I were one in the same. That we were meant to be.” Those words had finally gotten Pure Vanilla to truly listen.

”When I told him those very words,” She paused, “He left the faerie kingdom.” All the other ancient could do was stare in bewilderment.

”But- I don’t understand. You were both able to reconcile — to truthfully talk your feelings out ahd understand one another.. how?”

”You let him. Let him talk to you, scream at you, cry to you - give him the freedom that he desires in that very moment, and allow himself to meditate. When he’s ready, guide him. Be his light.” The guardian gently held his shoulder, giving him the most genuine smile he had ever seen within the past few days, “You are Pure Vanilla Cookie. The holder of the light of truth. You may not understand freedom much, but you know how to help cookies revelate in their truthfulness. Help him become true to himself.” With that, White Lily stood up with a devoted look towards the door, deeming certain that her work here — for now at least — is done.

”Ah- White Lily Cookie..” Pure Vanilla squeaked, seeming to have found his voice. The girl looked back at him with a smile, eager to help guide him back to his proper self. “How were you able to recover from breaking apart? I feel foolish.. not having to keep myself together when I had been torn apart already once.”

She hummed with a finger pressed to her cheek, thoughtfully picking out the correct choice of words for her friend. “I guess I have solidarity to thank.” White Lily chuckled before leaving the room. Interesting, by finding aid in the complete opposite end of her virtue, she was able to compose herself and not fall into temptation.

Or…

No, that’s not it.

White Lily Cookie had claimed that Silent Salt Cookie had also fled from her kingdom entirely. Stating that his fallen virtue had helped her get back up could only mean that.. she truthfully found him again..

but.. how?

The day after White Lily’s arrival indicated a sigh of relief for the Vanilla Kingdom. Pure Vanilla had gotten back into maintaining his composure, and regained his sense of self - along with his personal hygiene. Though, the trimmed beard was an absolute must to keep. Additionally, Pure Vanilla mustered up the confidence to watch over the two siblings in their father’s absence. Every day he made sure they would be well fed, tidied up, and gave them the opportunity to do some house chores such as doing their laundry and cleaning their rooms. The two were certainly confused at first, but with enough positive reinforcement, they were able to make it through.

Pure Vanilla Cookie was also able to get back into his weekly checkups with the Kingdom’s allies, like the Crème Republic, to start off. Though, that one wasn’t his favorite to look at first.

Of course, there was his biweekly meetings with the delegates, letter submissions and town checkups. When his appearance was made known for the first time in weeks, best be known that there were crowds after crowds surrounding him.

One particular day, Pure Vanilla had decided to take a stroll through the townsquare market; the noise had been very appreciative to take in, as it had been a tremendous contrast to the silence of the castle hallways. The usual flocks of cookies would ask him to try some of their appetizers, or some children would ask to stick flowers in his hair.

As he made his way through the market, a distinct child sped past him, nearly crashing into his robes. It was simply caught up in its own laughter, shrieking in glee as it gave several glances back as it ran.

“Sorry, mister! But I have to run or else the blue faerie will catch me!” Now that surely made him pause his steps. Pure Vanilla simply stared back at the spot where the child used to be, furrowing his brows at the coincidence of what he’d just heard.

There was no way the universe would just launch that at him on his first attempt to recovery? And after searching for so long, only to halt and step out of his room for a break? Puh-lease. Or at least that’s something along the lines of what the blue cookie would say if he were present.

Pure Vanilla brushed the feeling off, continuing his stride through the marketplace when a new sound caught him by surprise.

”Mommy! Mommy! Hurry up, the puppet show is about to begin!” A little girl yanked her dear mother’s hand along the way, dashing towards what seemed a small stand with curtains. Oddly enough, the small box was embroidered with golden details and navy blue flower patterns. Another weird detail to Pure Vanilla was that the curtains were tinted a bright azure, with black rims and sprinkled with shimmering golden glitter. This seemed to be the work of a master showman - a craftsman with a dedicated heart to his art.

Fortunately enough for him, the show was indeed about to begin, for the sound of a drumroll was omitted from the tiny box. As the curtains opened, a fanfare of trumpets - along with the actual mini-trumpets - came out of the opening, every cookie child sitting patiently for whatever story was about to be told. Funnily enoughenough, Pure Vanilla took a seat nearby the show, allowing for the ‘theatre seats’ to only be reserved for the children.

 Suddenly, a puppet in the shape of a rabbit with a pauper’s hat and a frilled collar stepped out and bowed in recognition of the audience.

”Ladies and gentlemen! Cookies of all kind, great and small! Might I present you with today’s daily show, written by the one and only, Kyanite Faerie Cookie! All questions and inquiries will be held at the end of the show with the genius behind the story, so don’t leave yet if you’re up for a little one on one!” The rabbit quipped, bowing once more after its introduction had finished. Every child on the playmat before the box cheered in anticipation, the adults near Pure Vanilla chuckling in mirth.

Suddenly, a paper-like frame appeared in the emptiness of the ‘stage’, and a light source immediately flashed; it was as if somebody dimmed the lights, only there was no possible way to explain how, since this event took place outside. Perhaps a well-known mage? Cookies here certainly recognized this ‘Kyanite Faerie Cookie’ persona.

“Once upon a time, like many of other stories you young cookies have heard, was a lonely faerie. Now, this cookie was widely known as a helper cookie; he’d guide cookies to the light!” A shadowy figure of a cookie with faerie wings moved behind the screen, hovering with all of its practiced glory, “He’d cure the sick, help elderly cookies carry heavy items; every cookie adored him. But then, as young cookies became old, and new cookies approached him, they didn’t need his help anymore.”

A couple of shadow-figured cookies surrounded the happy faerie figure, changing facial expression as the voice explained, “Era after era, the cookies would tell him that his remedies were outdated, that those beautiful glistening wings of his had dulled their wonderful kingdom, and that his magic wasn’t working how it should be anymore,” The faces of the surrounding cookie-figures were all frowns now, “It tired the sweet faerie, and got him thinking, was he truly alone in this? Not even his other faerie friends heard his own worries. So the faerie cocooned himself up in a tower,” A tall, cylindrical tower popped up - and with it, the shadow-faerie shifting into a cocoon, “Hiding away from every cookie he’s ever known; this also put a curse in the land.”

The young cookies gasped in awe - some in shock at this - at the burst of light that came from the shadow-tower, the shadow-cookies suddenly moving to the ‘floor’ of the stage, appearing to be asleep. “What was the curse, Mr. Faerie, sir?” A child blurted out, followed by several others hushing them. A laugh was heard from the puppet-box, as the screen changed from the sleeping cookies to a map of an entire kingdom, colorful at first but suddenly shifting colors to a dark hue of navy-blue. “My dear child, they all went to sleep! Yes, the cookies that lived near the faerie-cookie all fell asleep for a very long time, falling into deep slumber until some day the curse would be lifted.”

Pure Vanilla tilted his head at the sound of the story, trying to connect the dots together, because that story couldn’t have possibly been made up on the spot by another cookie, right? He then hesitantly lifted a hand, and opened his mouth to ask, “How does this story end? Surely there’s a happy ending, correct?” At the sound of his voice, the faint music that the puppet-box had been omitting faltered for a split second, and there had been another laugh - though, it sounded more like a huff rather than anything else he’s heard.

”Why, of course there’s a happy ending!” The puppet master purred, the screen now shifting to another castle that differed in comparison to the tall tower from earlier, “A hero cookie was born from this very castle, see, and heard of the tragic curse that sprouted upon the Faerie Kingdom at the time. So, without a second thought, he searched for the faerie cookie! Because, who here thinks what it is the hero cookie has to do to lift this solemn curse? Any volunteer in the audience?”

The children began to cheer and shout multiple answers all at once once the screen shifted back to the sleeping kingdom, now with the shadow-hero figure set smack in the center, moving from left to right in search of the sleeping faerie. “Woah, woah, woah! One tiny voice at a time, please!” The rabbit puppet from earlier popped up from the top of the theatre, waving its little arms frantically. That definitely quieted the voices down, and even plucked some giggles from other children.

One tiny cookie raised a hand, and from this the rabbit pointed at him, seeming to smile. “Yes, you! Go on right ahead!” Instantly, the child’s smile faltered as all eyes were on him. He began to fiddle with his collared shirt, shyly looking up at the rabbit as he opened his mouth to answer, “Well, he has to f- find him, I tiiiink?” At that answer, the hero on the screen perked its head up, nodding at the child. Confetti had suddenly sprung from behind the puppet-theatre. The rabbit practically leaped in joy, giggling along with the audience, “Yes, yes, yes! The lonesome hero has to search top and bottom for the faerie-cookie, or else everyone stays sleeping for eternity!”

”And then the hero kisses the faerie-cookie awake, like in fairytales!” A girl squealed, and the rest of the children surprisingly seemed to agree with her. Unconsciously, Pure Vanilla hovered a hand over his mouth, hiding an impulsive laugh that sprouted at that instant. The rabbit’s arms sank at the sound of the cheering, taking a small sheet of paper and pretending to look over it. It soon tossed the sheet behind itself, waving its arms again to catch the children’s attention.

”Marvelous suggestion!” It squeaked, catching Pure Vanilla off guard, “For you see, this story is also about a prince!” Now everyone paying attention gasped in awe. “Before the faerie-cookie even gained his shimmering wings, he was a young prince, sworn to protect the cookies of his kingdom! Alas, he was sent from kingdom to kingdom, in search of eternal truth for happiness - for he couldn’t find it in his own kingdom. All the cookies there hated his idea, casting him away with multiple magical spells, causing for the magic to tie with the nature that he set foot on!” The shadow-figures moved on its own at the sound of the storyteller’s voice, showing a cookie that had a crown set on his head, shifting into a faerie after the settings changed from kingdom to kingdom.

”But when does the hero cookie kiss the faerie-prince??” One child frantically asked, causing for sets of colors to shift on screen, showing the earlier setting once more, the hero figure standing in front of a giant cocoon.

”Why, sweet child, that would only happen if the hero cookie found the faerie-prince! Alas, he hadn’t, and so it breaks my heart to say it so, but this story doesn’t have an ending yet.” The entire audience of children groaned in exasperation, “For the hero sought for the faerie all by himself, getting lost in his path whenever he’d get distracted.” The voice mustered up a fake-solemn tone, sniffing at times as well.

The tiny girl from earlier sat up now, raising her tiny little arm and waving it around in the air, “But- but-“ She stammered as the rabbit came back, looking right at her with its arms crossed, “Do you think the hero cookie will ever find the faerie-prince?!” She desperately begged, seeming to be on the edge of her seat for this story. The rabbit then tilted its head, its eyes managing to appear to crinkle as if it grinned.

”Well! That’s up to the hero-cookie now, is it? But we’ll have to see next time!” The audience of children groaned once more, some already getting up to reunite with their parents, others asking questions such as ‘when will we finally get a happy ending?’. The rabbit only laughed at these questions, “You’ll all get your ending soon! Bunny’s promise!” It began to wave as the children left, one child in particular mumbling a ‘you say that everytime’ as it walked away.

Once the majority of the children left, and adult cookies began to leave now, Pure Vanilla finally stood, interest clustered to its peak. How an incredibly familiar story, he wondered where on Earthbread he had heard that one before? Sure, there were some parts he had not recognized, but that ending - or cliffhanger, he presumed - certainly sounded like the anchor he was stuck with for a month and a half now.

Making his way to the back of the puppet-theatre now, he was able to at last meet the showman behind the screen. And truly, what a well-put showman he is.

”Ah! Pure Vanilla Cookie, do what do I owe the pleasure?” The faerie bowed ever so elegantly, the blonde nodding his head in acknowledgment.

”Kyanite Faerie Cookie, correct?” The other nodded at that, “What an astounding show you had put for those children! I had not realized that such talent existed in the market of all places!” Pure Vanilla smiled, lifting a hand to his chest as he gazed at the azure faerie.

”Well, I’ve been here for quite a while now! And frankly, I am adoring the hearts of the young cookies from the Vanilla Kingdom. This might be my longest stop yet!” Kyanite Faerie chuckled as he took down the puppet theatre bit by bit, neatly storing everything away in a medium-sized suitcase at his feet.

”Oh? You’re not from here?”

”Nope!” The faerie giggled, “I’m from a far little town in the mountains! The Snowfall Village? I’m sure you’ve heard of it.” At this, Pure Vanilla’s grin widened, the pitter patter of his heart increasing at yhe sound of a such familiar laughter, allowing him to feel at ease for a moment. This cookie couldn’t possibly level with his other half’s laughter, or manners for that matter, but its terrifyingly close. So he’ll indulge to his silent wishes.

”Actually, I haven’t! We don’t get that many cookies from the Snowfall Village around here. Though, by all means I kindly welcome you to the Vanilla Kingdom with a warm shake of my hand. I hope you enjoy your stay, and possibly lengthen it?” The faerie raised a brow at that.

”Oh? For what reasons might I have to lengthen it? Have I caught the interest of the great former king of the Vanilla Kingdom, perhaps? Or is it something more than that?” Kyanite Faerie leaned down to the ancient’s size, grinning deviously the more he edged Pure Vanilla on.

All the blonde could do was stay with his usual calmed smile, though his heart warmed at the familiarity of the grin he was met with.

”Ah, no, no. Nothing of the sort, it just so happens that it gives me great joy that there is a cookie around that truly cares for the younger generation; see, not that many children are interested in stories such as yours anymore. As time went on, it saddened my heart to see young cookies fall to other, darker, forms of entertainment. With the addition of one of my dear friends, technology now is beginning to become very popular - I fear children aren’t too keen on soaking up knowledge in the near future.” His brows furrowed as he rambled on, deep in thought as he recalled this as an accumulating problem that he learnt once in his meetings with the delegates. The azure faerie let out a huff, laughing afterwards.

”Oh, Pure Vanilla Cookie! I never knew you were a jokester cookie as well!” He wiped a finger at his eye, pretending to cry tears of joy as he giggled, “I’m not teaching these tiny cookies, I’m merely entertaining them! These made-up stories are just for jokes, always leaving them on the edges of their seats so that they can come for more, only to realize they’ll never get their ending! It’s all a harmless prank, see?” At this, the former king nodded his head in agreement.

”Yes, I can very much see that. Which is why I hope for you to lengthen your stay - it has been a while since we had good entertainment be performed on these streets. And I’m sure many other cookies will enjoy your jokes.” Pure Vanilla could only smile at the faerie’s twitching grin, resisting the urge to laugh at his taken aback expression. Hm. This cookie seemed to remind him of someone again.

”By the way,” He crossed his arms in thought, Kyanite Faerie regaining his confident posture once more at the sudden change of topic, “I never noticed how stunning your wings are.”

The blue cookie blinked in confusion, tilting his head to the side a little. “What wings?”

What?

”Oh! OOOOHH!! Yes! Why- Thank you! My maintenance for these babies is VERY well kept. I can never do a single day without some proper wing hygiene, they’re so fragile that they’d simply melt at the brush of a finger!” Kyanite Faerie laughed once more, hiding his nerves all he could while being in front of this.. this goddamn cookie.

Oh.

That was the first time in days since Pure Vanilla’s soul jam had gone off.

The ancient nodded his head with a hum, looking around for a while before lifting a hand at the faerie, smiling. “How about a walk? I’d like to get to know the wonderful showman behind the screen better, so that I can recommend his work to other newcomer cookies to the kingdom.”

It was as if the azure faerie had just remembered that he hadn’t finished packing his suitcase.

”Ah- I don’t mean to be a drag on your day, though! I’m sure you have several plans to do with other cookies, why waste precious time on a low class faerie such as me?” He huffed sarcastically with a snort, quickly packing up the rest of the puppet theater as swiftly as his calloused fingers could allow him.

”We are all of the same class here, there is no such thing as any cookie in this kingdom having a higher social status than others; if they merely do, that’s up to their personal reasons, but we treat everyone here equally. I’m not as important either whenever I come down here on my own accord.” Pure Vanilla gently spoke, lowering his hands down to aid the other with his items. “May I?”

The faerie glanced at the ancient’s soft hands, nervously biting the inside of his lip before he gave a small nod. With glee, Pure Vanilla lowered himself to help the blue cookie, and both were able to quickly pack up everything into the well-maintained suitcase.

”I,” Kyanite Faerie paused, causing Pure Vanilla to give a tilt of his head in interest, “..Presume we could go on that walk now, yes?” He looked in another direction, not daring to meet the former king’s gaze. The ancient smiled at the other, offering a hand once more.

”Of course. Allow me to guide you, if you please.” He softly spoke, eyes crinkling as the other’s finally met his.

The walk to the castle garden wasn’t too far, as Pure Vanilla had memorized a shorter way of getting to his favorite spot in the entire kingdom. He had always tried to find a shorter path than the last to reach his destination, so that he could spend longer hours tending to his darling flowers.

Lately, there had been a lot of purple hyacinths being planted.

The ancient didn’t recall adding those.

”So, Kyanite Faerie Cookie-“

”Oh, please. Just call me Kyanite. I fear you’d take too long on just saying my name.” The faerie teased, fluttering around the former king as they walked through the garden. The other couldn’t resist a chuckle.

”Alright, Kyanite. How long have you been staying here in the kingdom so far?” There was a slight pause, however the blonde simply brushed it off. He didn’t care if the other took long to respond. He could wait.

The blue cookie raised a hand to his chin in thought, then lifted the sleeve of his blouse, counting the marked patterns along the cuff. “Four years so far! I’m two months in going into my fifth year here! Honestly? There’s a bunch of benefits living here, like the food, environment, economy…” He then snorted, “A shame that I’ll be leaving after this year!”

Pure Vanilla’s eyes saddened as much as he could, clasping his hands together as he strode, “Ah, that’s unfortunate. I was looking forward to inviting you to our annual Winter Extravaganza.” This, caught the faerie’s attention.

”Extravaganza? Do tell more, won’t you?” Kyanite’s eyes narrowed with interest, watching the vanillian’s every move now. As if he was trying to inspect some flaw in the other’s words.

”Oh, yes. It’s a ball that I hold every year in the castle, allowing every cookie in the kingdom to get to experience what it would be like living in the castle!” Pure Vanilla smiled up at the cookie as they passed by the flora, pausing near the chrysanthemums in order to ramble appropriately without stumbling into any of his flowers, “Usually I’m the one who tends to the decorations and authenticity for the whole ‘winter-wonderland’ theming, but with your mastery in the arts - not to mention you’re from a village that resides in the snow - you could potentially help me?”

Kryanite Faerie dramatically shoved a hand onto the visible portion of his chest, eyes astoundingly wide for his shock to be expressed enough. “M- Me?! The great Pure Vanilla Cookie at my request? But I haven’t even done anything decorative of the sort! I’m just a children’s puppeteer!”

”And yet,” The ancient grinned up at him, “You’ve demonstrated a great care for cookiekind - not to mention the gorgeous embroidery on your wooden theatre. I must say, I was impressed!”

The faerie suddenly scoffed, as if irritated by the entire interaction, floating away to the soapworts, arms crossed as he stared at the cookie down in exasperation. “But that’s impossible, Pure Vanilla Cookie! You don’t know me! We’ve only just met today, and suddenly you’re acting as if we’ve known eachother all our lives!”

”That’s perfectly normal for friends who instantly click.” The golden cookie stepped forward, careful not to step onto a nearby plant, minding his delicate flowers, “And it’s alright if I don’t know who you are; I would learn how to understand you.”

”You do NOT want to learn who I am, Pure Vanilla Cookie. I was not a well-liked cookie in my village. If they didn’t like me, you wouldn’t either.” He then fluttered in another direction, avoiding the former king’s gaze.

Somehow, the ancient was able to catch up to the faerie, standing - or floating!? - right in front of the azure cookie.

Face to face.

”I understand how you feel.”

”Then don’t bother with me, Pure Vanilla. I’m fine where I am in that little marketplace.” He turned once more, ready to fly away completely. Suddenly, a hand was set on the fabric of his sleeve.

”You knew who I was before we met; why would you lie to the cookie of truth?”

Oh.

Not this again.

”You’re calling me a liar?” Kyranite Faerie glared at him now, small beads of liquid daring to prick at the corners of his eyes.

”No.” The blonde calmly stared back, holding his ground.

”Then what, Pure Vanilla? Are you going to push me away?”

”Not at all.”

”Are you going to shun me like the rest of them did?”

”Absolutely not.”

”WHAT will you do then, Pure Vanilla? WHAT WILL YOU DO THAT OTHERS COULDN’T DO FOR ME??”

”I will love you, Shadow Milk Cookie.”

They both landed on the ground carefully now. Surrounded by purple hyacinths.

”..What?” The blue cookie felt a hand grasp at his cheek, wiping away at the streams of tears that finally fell from his eyes that very day. The golden cookie opened his mouth, breath stammering as he felt his heart wedge itself into his throat.

”I will love you, care for you, listen to you, mend you; I will do everything that a cookie with a good heart will do for someone that they care about because you deserve it, Shadow Milk Cookie. You deserve to be loved, adored, cared for. You deserve every little good thing in life when it has all been taught to you as the complete opposite.

That’s why I will wait for you. I will wait for you to heal, to recognize that life isn’t just about hurt and turmoil, but also about devotion and love. All of those things mixed together is what life truly is; it’s an ugly truth, but it is one of the most truest and noble truths anyone can ever learn. And once you’re ready, I’ll guide you.

I’ll guide you and stay by your side because I’ll say it again, witchesdamnit - we’re meant to be together. I don’t know how many times I have to repeat those words for them to get stuck inside your head but, by the witches, I’ll run my throat bloody and dry if I’ll have to. And then we’ll both walk this path together, recognizing our faults, our mistakes, but also our devotion and kindness for each other. That’s what makes us cookies, a cookie.

I love you, Shadow Milk Cookie. Always will, always have, as long as I continue to breathe and stay on this Earthbread; I swear my life onto you that I will protect, care for, and cherish the life that many other cookies throughout your lifetime have failed to acknowledge. And that is the biggest sin that any of them could have ever done in their own frail lifetime.”

The faerie’s illusion had dissipated long before Pure Vanilla opened that beautiful mouth of his to speak. But the tears couldn’t stop falling. And how could he not stop them? There was nothing Shadow Milk could do in that moment but fall onto his knees and grasp ahold onto the very cookie that had promised to rebuild his very foundation. The cookie that promised to devote his entire life to him.

The cookie that he truthfully loved.

All of the purple hyacinths around them dissolved the more the beast cookie sobbed into the ancient’s robes, letting go of every regret and turmoil that he had learnt even in his younger days.

Oh. Will you look at that.

Milkcrowns were blooming faintly in the crisp of the night.