Chapter Text
Shadow Milk had received a letter from Pure Vanilla inviting a truce meeting. A letter. From Pure Vanilla. Inviting a truce.
With what he knew now, Black Sapphire had a good reason to be highly suspicious of the so-called “truce.” Nothing good would come out of it, and Shadow Milk would either rip the letter to shreds and then burn it or just eat it as soon as he saw the name attached.
So it was entirely unprecedented when he actually kept it and read through all of it and even seemed to consider it without tearing the paper even just a shred.
“With all due respect, Master Shadow Milk, why do you still have that letter with you?” Black Sapphire gestured to the paper in his hands. He didn’t bother to hide the distaste in his tone when Pure Vanilla was the one who sent it. “Would you like me to dispose of it for you?”
Shadow Milk snapped his head up when he heard Black Sapphire’s voice. “Huh, what?” he murmured, dazed. “Oh, Black Sapphire. No, you don’t need to throw the letter away.”
“Don’t tell me you’re actually considering it?” He raised an eyebrow. “...May I ask why?”
He already knew the answer. He could always tell with just one glance at his master. It was because Shadow Milk was… ugh, he couldn’t say it. Ever since the events that took place when Pure Vanilla and the pests were here, he had been acting differently. Not more distant, as he had always been distant, but more… distracted? It was perplexing.
“...” Shadow Milk didn’t respond for a while. Then he said, “It would be a good opportunity to find out what they’re up to.” He grinned, all teeth. “And then we can crush them once it’s over!”
“...Alright,” Black Sapphire could question his master’s decision, just not out loud. “If I may, can I take a look at the letter?”
“Sure! It’s alllll yours!” Shadow Milk tossed the paper to him. Black Sapphire unfolded it and scanned the text. The handwriting was so fancy… how. He did not like how inferior that made him feel. Especially to Pure Vanilla. Ugh.
“Hmmm. It says here that you can bring along escorts or companions if it makes you feel safer,” His tone suggested that he should bring him along juuuust in case and totally not to launch a surprise attack to prevent the war before it started.
“HA!” Shadow Milk’s sudden sneer took him by surprise. “Pure Vanilla thinks that I, the strongest cookie in the world (don’t tell Burning Spice I said that he might kill me), would feel unsafe with those gnats? Ha! If anything, they should be the ones cowering before me!”
(By the way the stuff in parentheses during dialogue is black sapphire reading how shmilk actually feels when he says stuff)
Black Sapphire knew what was best for him. He did not mention how he and Candy Apple had found him in such a state after battling with Pure Vanilla and Co.
“Of course, of course, Master Shadow Milk. They should tremble at the sight of you!” He sang his appraisal. “But with all that said, will you be taking anyone?”
“Uhh, you and Candy Apple will sneak in and try to find out any important information,” he ordered. “You can figure out the rest yourselves. Go relay this to her.”
“Yes, of course,” Black Sapphire exited with a bow. As soon as he was out of sight, he groaned. He really did not feel like talking to Candy Apple after what happened with Silverbell and dreaded every time he had to interact with her. But, master’s orders.
He found her setting fire to an old abandoned house and cackling as she threw random items into it. Who was the idiot who raised Candy Apple to be an arsonist?
… Oh wait. That was him.
He was really regretting doing that now, because it made it significantly harder for him to get her attention without getting a burning item thrown at him with no warning.
“Oh, oopsies!” Candy Apple said, unapologetic. “Didn’t realize that it was you, Black Sapphire!”
“Ugh, yeah, yeah,” Black Sapphire grumbled. He knew that it wasn’t actually an accident on her part and made a mental note to get back at her later somehow. “Anyways, Master Shadow Milk gave us some orders.”
At the mention of his name, Candy Apple immediately perked up. “What?! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?!?!” she cried, outraged.
“Well, I was trying to, but you seem to forget you threw a flaming mosquito coil-”
“Shush! Now tell me what his orders were!” she demanded.
“Alright, I’m getting there,” Black Sapphire shoved his annoyance away for later. He detailed out his master’s orders for her. Once he was finished, Candy Apple had an obvious look of disgust written all over her face.
“But whyyyyyy?” she whined for the hundredth time. “Why did Shadow Milk accept the invitation??? What does he see in that boring vanilla cookie???”
He had a feeling - no, not a feeling, he was certain - that she would not like the answer. So he kept silent.
In his room, by himself, Black Sapphire was staring at the ceiling and thinking. Unlike what Candy Apple had said many times before, yes, he actually did think. He thought about Shadow Milk being unknowingly smitten, and wondered what it took to get that attention.
Because despite his and Candy Apple’s devout loyalty throughout the years, they had always been viewed only as minions. Nothing more, sometimes less. They were not friends, just a master and his servants.
And then this random Pure Vanilla and his companions showed up, attacked Candy Apple (ok that one was kinda amusing), got tolerated by Shadow Milk by not being crumbled right away, attacked Black Sapphire, which he was still angry about and he blamed it entirely on Candy Apple, then deceived Shadow Milk and proceeded to beat him in a fight, and somehow, somehow Shadow Milk still undeniably entranced (though still a bit oblivious himself) by him. What even had happened that made him think that way?
He didn’t like thinking anymore.
So of course, he thought about Silverbell. Black Sapphire wondered if he ever made it back, and if he did, how much he had told the faeries. Were they preparing to attack the Spire right now? And since he was a Silver Tree Knight, would he be fighting?
With a jolt, Black Sapphire realized that he might have to fight against Silverbell. Of course, this was expected, but… Wait, why did he even care about this? He shouldn’t care. And why was Silverbell on his mind so much lately?
Then it hit him.
You've got to be kidding me.
“Ughhhh. I think,” he muttered to himself, “I understand now, Shadow Milk.”