Chapter Text
They had failed, the Beasts were free and they couldn't stop them! All the Ancients had managed to awaken their Soul Jams to their full potential, however Pure Vanilla, despite managing to awaken it, still had trouble using that power, but GingerBrave knew it wasn't going to be enough with the Beasts not free and in their new bodies, cause right now they all seemed to be evenly matched, it's almost like the Beasts have gotten stronger!
Each of the Ancients had split up and fought their corresponding Beast on the Battlefield, as expected the Beast went after their disciples.
He, Pure Vanilla, Strawberry, and Wizard were stuck facing the Jester himself, Shadow Milk Cookie, Beast of Deceit, never though he'd be fighting him again, but Pure Vanilla needed all the help he could get with this, he was a Healer, and knew no offensive spells, so he was at a greater disadvantage than the others.
Without Custard III or Chilli Pepper here to assist them in sneak attacks and healing it was difficult to get the jump on him, thankfully Pure Vanilla assisted in healing when he could, but found it difficult with Shadow Milk constantly teleporting around and surprise attacking him when possible to stun him.
The Paper Puppets and Shadowfied Cake Monsters and Butter Tigers added to that difficulty.
Shadow Milk was scary enough when just attack in that box, but he wasn't moving around for that, for THIS FIGHT he was actually getting active with his attacks and moving around like a kid on a sugar rush, casting illusions and teleporting around with his scythe.
"Eyes on the prize kiddo!!" He heard a voice shrill behind him in giggles as he felt something kick him firmly in back, sending him flying forwards as Shadow Milk giggles.
"LIGHTNING STRIKE!!" Wizard yells out, Shadow Milk dodges the lighting striking down at his position, teleporting infront of him, scythe raised.
"....B O O ~" He giggle with a manic filled voice, his scythe swiping down, getting blocked by a magic shield created last second by Pure Vanilla. "Ah! Still kicking i see Vanilly! And here i thought the fun had ended!"
Shadow Milk jumps back from Wizard and charges toward Pure Vanilla, Strawberry and GingerBrave attempt to stop him, but he jump jumps over them and lands a fatel blow on Pure Vanillas shield, cracking it slightly.
"My My My!~ Has your magic gotten Stronger? Or is that just an effect of MY Soul Jam regaining most of it's power from my release?" Shadow Milk teased, using his foot to drive the blade of the scythe farther into Pure vanillas shield, the blade stick through the barrier slightly. "I must say, your will is much stronger than i anticipated! It's almost Annoying!" His eye twitched.
"Pure Vanilla!" Wizard yells out in panic.
"Don't worry we're coming!" GingerBrave exclaims.
"N-NO!! STAY BACK KIDS!!" Pure Vanilla yells back.
Gears seem to shift in Shadow Milks head for a moment as his gaze turns to the kids and back to Pure Vanilla, a wicked grin appearing on his face. "Oh?~.........Oh I see now~"
Pure Vanillas face shifts to confusion at his tone of voice.
"Those kids really care about you........and you really care about them...D o n ' t. y o u?" Shadow Milks grin widens with mania.
Pure Vanillas eyes widen as pure terror strikes his soul in realisation in what he was implying. ".....N-No-......Y-You wouldn't-"
"Maybe killing those kids will weaken your resolve enough for me to take the other half of my Soul Jams back! Oh what a wondrous idea!!" He laughs manically, drawing the Scythe form his shield and walking toward the kids.
"NO!!!" Pure Vanilla yells out, attempting to run forward, only for black vines burst from the ground and entangle his body, causing him to lose his focus and dropping the barrier, dropping his staff as his limbs were pinned against his sides, he was too focused on defending himself from the sides and above he didn't think about the ground!! "NO!!! NO NO!! KIDS!!!!
"Sit tight Silly-Vanilly~ I'll be RIGHT back!" He giggles, the children stance defensively. "heheheh! Oh this is going to be F U N!!!"
He twirls his scythe a bit before charging toward the kids, whom stumble back at the sudden change in speed and pace, he was only toying with them before, but with his new plan in motion he was now attacking to K I L L.
"LOOK OUT!!" GingerBrave exclaims, pushing Strawberry out of the way as he charges by, swiping his scythe at them, leaving a large gash in the ground as he laugh maniacally.
"JUST HOLD STILL LITTLE ONES!! IT'LL BE MUCH EASIER THIS WAY!!" He laughs, angling his body to the side and side kicking Wizard across the Battlefield. "NOT THAT I'M COMPLAINING!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
He takes out a touch and blows a stream of fire at GingerBrave and Strawberry, whom barely dodge in time, Strawberry having the ends of he Hoodie singed.
Damn it, without Pure Vanilla to heal them they can't risk getting to hurt! And with Wizard out of commission temporarily they're down a Teammate, and one of their most experienced and smartest to.
"Whats wrong? CAN'T KEEP UP!? HAHAHAHAHA!!!" Shadow Milks laughter shrills as he summons duplicates of himself, great, a game of 'Guess who's not the Murderous Jester', jeez where was Wiizard when you need him!?......oh thats right, Kicked across the Wasteland War-Zone like a Soccer Ball!!
Back with Pure Vanilla, he was struggling in his binds, attempting to get free to help the children, damn it! WHY CAN'T HE JUST PROTECT ONE PERSON!? He couldn't save White Lily! He couldn't save the other Ancients back during the Dark Flour War! What makes him think he can save these kids!?
He heard movement from beside him, turning to see Wizard stumbling over to him, clutching his side in one hand and his staff in the other. "whats up?"
"WIZARD!? I thought you-"
"Were kicked across the Battlefield? Yeah, i was, got a cracked abdomen to prove it, and took a LOT of running to get back here mind you!' He groans in pain, holding out his staff and casting a small scale Electicity spell from his staff to cut through the binds. "Don't speak, i need to concentrate on this!"
Pure Vanilla nods and looks back at the kids, hoping they could hold off just a LITTLE longer.
"DON'T GO GETTING TIRED ON ME NOW!! OR DO, BOTH WORK IN MY FAVOUR ANYWAYS!!" Shadow Milks shrill, Scythes turning into comically large hammers and charging at them.
GingerBrave and Strawberry tried poofing as many as they could but the real Shadow Milk got the drop on Strawberry and slashed her from behind with a dagger.
Strawberry screams out in pain as she tumbles to the ground, the stinging sensation along her back burning her dough.
"STRAWBERRY!!" GingerBrave yells out in a panic, rushing over to her, dodging 2 Illusions that collide with eachother and poof on contact.
He's kicked from the side and sent flying straight into a Cake monster who is crushed by the sudden impact, GingerBrave wipes the batter off of himself and looks for his Candy Cane, which is nowhere in sight.
Desperately he grabs the nearby Candy sword dropped by Cake Monster and holds defensively, not seeing any sign of Shadow Milk, where did he go?
he could hear his laughter echoing around him, like he was everywhere all at once.
He suddenly appears infront of him, lunging at him, Scythe in hand.
The world seems to move in slow motion for a bit, GingerBraves wide eyes riddled with fear, meeting up with Shadow Milks mania filled ones, within that stop of time he saw his form flicker in and out of existence for a moment, his eyes wide with fear and realisation, IT WAS AN ILLUSION!!
Within a moment of instinct and desperation, hoping he was right about this, he quickly turn around and thrusts his sword forwards, eyes glued shut as he feels his sword make contact with something, the audible sound of blade piecing dough can be heard.
He slowly cracks his eyes open as seem Shadow Milks lanky form staring down at him with disbelief and shock, his sword wedged in his chest, just under his brooch, jam gushing from the wound. He drops his scythe as it clatters to the ground and disperses, breathing heavy.
Had-........Did he just-.......Oh god........He was just hoping to parry or block his attack, he didn't expect to stab him!!
He lets go of the sword handle, stepping back a few steps as Shadow Milk processes and regesters what just happened.
GingerBrave had expected a look of pain or the continued look of shock from the jester.......but certainly not ANGER.
"You......Little......PEST!!!" Shadow Milk yells out, pulling the blade from his chest as tossing it to the side.
"GINGERBRAVE!! RUN!!" he hears Pure vanilla yell, whom was now at Strawberry's side along with Wizard.
"STAY OUT OF THIS THEIF!!!" Shadow Milk yells in a rage filled voice, summoning a dome of black mass and blue eyes around them so the trio could to interfere.
Before the young Cookie could react Shadow Milk had lunged at him, GingerBrave desperately grabs for another weapon, a nearby stick, but it is smacked from his hands by the angry Jester, and he is grabbed by the arm with force strong enough to crack his dough, and thrown to the ground, dislocating his shoulder in the process.
"HOW...D A R E....YOU, RUIN MY MOMENT!!!" He yells angrily, blinded by his own rage, he's on GingerBrave before he could even get a chance defend himself, pinning one of his arms down with a dagger.
GingerBrave screams out in pain as he attempts to push the Crazed Jester off him.
"You know, i was willing to make your death painless, but now I THINK I'M GOING TO TAKE MY SWEET TIME CARVING YOU ALL TO RIBBONS!! STARTING WITH YOU!!" He yells, summoning another Dagger in his hand.
GingerBrave desperately pushes against his chest with his hands and legs, tears gushing down his face in terror.
"Now just be a GOOD little Pest, and HOLD......S T I L L!!" He says in a dark and serious tone as he raised the dagger over his head.
Both GingerBrave and Shadow Milk had failed to regester the white glow starting to emit from his hand and chest, but as soon as it made contact with Shadow Milks Soul Jam, the jester felt a strange sensation in his body, looking down at the young boys hands on his Soul Jam with confusion.
"........what the-" He was cut off by a sudden powerful force knocking him back, feeling as though he had just been hit in the abdomen from the front with GREAT FORCE, shooting him off the boy and landing several feet away from him, falling unconscious not long after.
GingerBrave Breath heavily, adrenaline still fresh in his body, struggling to get up, his body was to sore, he could feel the crack along his arm and abdomen jam gushing from the stab wound in his forearm, he....was.....in.....AGONY!!
He felt the urge to check on the others, to make sure they were ok, but his body didn't want to move.
Meanwhile, the Jester had slowly begun to regain consciousness, groaning as he grips his head in pain, his hair a ruffled mess, the hell happened? The hell was he? And why does he feel like he was just hit with a carriage going at Mach 1 speed?
His vision was blurry as he tries to regain his composure, looking around the wasteland before him, actually forget those first and last questions, WHERE WAS HE!? WHY DOES THIS PLACE LOOK LIKE A WAR ZONE- WHY WAS IT A WAR ZONE!? He could see Cookies of all kinds fight Monsters made from Cake Batter left and right, the hell happened!? He just blacks out in his study and suddenly he's on a Fudging Battlefield!?
He grips his head as a migraine hits him, he catches a glimpse of his sleeve and freezes for a moment, he looks at his current outfit and poker faces, THE HELL WAS HE DRESSED LIKE A DAMN COURT JESTER!? BY THE LOVE OF THE WITCHES HE FEEL NAKED LIKE THIS!! WHERE WAS HIS ROBE!?
He hears pained sobbing infront of him and looks forwards and sees a young Cookie laying down on his back wth a dagger sticking out of his forearm keeping him pinned down.
OK!! CHILD!! SMALL CHILD!! SMALL INJURED CHILD IN A WAR ZONE!! DEAR WITCHES BURNING SPICE AND ROCK SALT WERE ALWAYS BETTER WITH THIS STUFF WHEN IT CAME TO BATTLE AFTERMATH!!
He shoots to his feet, big mistake on his part considering the migraine but he pushed through it, and rushed over to the kids side. "KI-KID!! ARE YOU ALRIGHT!?" he exclaims in a a panic, kneeling over him, oh jeez, damage wasn't good, he could already see a cracked arm, a cracked abdomen, Dagger impaled forearm, and a dislocated shoulder, ok, don't panic! You studied Healing magic for a reason!
"Oh jeez this looks bad!" He winces, noticing the young Cookies panic when he had approached. "Hey! HEY!! I'm not going to hurt you! I'm just trying to help! Just tryin to help!" he attempts to reassure him, though the child doesn't seem to convinced.
Why's this kid looking at him like he's going to carve the kids insides out? You know what? NO TIME FOR THAT!!
"Ok...better start with that Dagger" He mutters to himself, reaching forward to grab the dagger to pull it out, unsurprisingly the kid starts struggling. "K-Kid, K-KID!! Please, struggling will only make this worse! I Can't get it out if you keep moving!"
When the kid doesn't seem to comply he regrettably had to use his magic to keep the kids limbs down, since when did his magic look so.....sinister? The eyes creeped him out but he ignored it.
Ok this was going to hurt, should he attempt to sooth the boy or just rip it out quickly? WITCHES he wishes Mystic Flour was here!! Matter of fact, WHERE ARE THE OTHER HEROES!? SHOULDN'T THEY BE PROTECTING THESE COOKIES!?
He takes a deep breath and wraps his hand around the dagger, ok.....on 3............1...........2...........3 NOW!!!
He rips the Dagger out of the boys forearm as he screams in pain as it's removed.
"SHHH SH SH SHHH!! It's ok! You're ok!" He attempts to sooth him, resting a hand on his head, his magic binds still keeping his struggling form down, ok, now the injuries.
"Alright, hard part is done, now all we need is a little Healing Magic, annnnnd-" He attempts to cast a healing spell on the boy........but nothing happens.......ooook strange, maybe he wasn;t doing it right?
He tries again, but it doesn't work again, and again.....and again...
"Why.....Isn't....this.....WORKING!?" He exclaims in a panic, the hell happened to his magic!? Wait- how hadn't he sensed it before? It feels as though a fragment of his power is missing, b-but how- when-!?
"OOoooh dear, ok kid, this may be a bit more difficult than i thought" He says in a apanic, undoing the magic bindsa round the kids alimbs, allowing them free movment. "Just uh...hang tight, k? I-I'll try and find some help, I-I'll-"
He was ultimately cut off by a loud explosion of light just ahead, what looks to be a.....magic dome made up of HIS magic? Was blown to bits as a beam of light shoots from it, 3 figures visable, 2 small ones, and a larger, floating one overing above them, a large hat adoring their head, they seemed to be wearing a long robe with a cape that looked long enough to drapped along the floor, a golden staff that reached just over their head with a flower at the top, golden ribbons coiled around it, long vanilla yellow hair that hung over their shoulders, and scroll like ribbon hovering and coiled over their shoulders.
What caught his attention however was the Gem like pendent on their brooch/Cape clip.
".......Wait is that my-" He didn't get a chance to finish when a large rock suddenly collided with his face, sending him tumbling back, leaving GingerBrave to jump in shock in disbelief, he was still processing Shadow Milks sudden...strange....behaviour.
"GINGERBRAVE!!" The older Cookie exclaims, the voice sounded familier.
GingerBrave was suddenly scooped up into the ancient Cookies arms, whom had ran over faster than he could process. It was Pure Vanilla Cookie! His eyes open wide with panic, his blue and yellow eyes having a look of panic and relief with them, cheeks stained with dry tears.
"ARE YOU ALRIGHT!? I HAD HEARD YOUR SCREAMS!! OH WITCHES WHAT HAS HE DONE TO YOU!?" He exclaims, getting right to healing GingerBraves injuries while he was talking, his friends had huddles up to him, worried and scared that they had almost lost him.
“I-I'm f-fine.....Shadow Milk he......he's acting weird...." GingerBrave stutters out.
"Strange how?" Wizard raises a brow.
"My! Well that was rude!? Honestly Cookies these days! No Manners what so ever!" 'Shadow Milk' mutters out, brushing himself off. "By the Witches i really need to change the moment i get back to my tower! I mean what is this!? I look like a twink!" He says in frustration, looking at his outfit again.
"......Oh yep, no now i see it" Wizard deadpans.
"Now, back to the matters at hand, where am i? Who are you? and WHY, pray tell, do you have my Soul Jam? Is it an artificial replica? cause if i'm going to be completely honest here that is a good damn copy" He snarls, hands on his hips.
"um....you mean you....really don't...remember?" GingerBrave asks confused.
"Remember what?" 'Shadow Milk' deadpans wit confusion.
"Um....Shadow Milk, are you.....ok?" Strawberry asks him, she can't believe she was asking the cookie who just tried to kill them if they were ok.
"Shadow Milk!? The hell is Shadow Milk!? My names 'BLUEBERRY' Milk Cookie!" He says in confusion, how could they NOT know his name? Everyone knew of him and the Heroes!!
"You kids look a tad young to be in a War-Zone! Where're your parents? This guy with the funny Hat your guardian? Cause if so your parenting is NOT spot on good sir!" He asks them skeptically, Pure Vanilla stands infront of the children defensively, only just registering what he just said.
"Wha- No NO NO!! These aren't my kids, i'm just watching over them!" Pure Vanilla stampers out embarresed.
"Well than where is- You know what, never mind, things are confusing for me already!" He groans. "Where are the other Virtues!? Shouldn't they be here to stop the war? STILL don't know how this happened!"
"Other.....virtues?" Strawberry questioned.
"yeah? Burning Spice, Mystic Flour, Rock Salt, and Eternal Sugar, the hell are they!?" Blueberry Milk asks them confused.
So he REALLY didn't remember anything!? Jeez just what did GingerBrave do to him!? He's acting like how he was before-
Realisation hits GingerBrave like a bus, remembering Elder Faeries story about the beasts, their creation, corruption and concealment.
Shadow Milk was acting like how he was BEFORE his corruption!! Had he somehow erased his memory of him ever being evil up to right before he corrupted? No that doesn't seem right.......but not to farfetched, he can't FEEL any evil magic coming from him like he did back in the Faerie Kingdom or the Spire, did he........PURIFY the corruption in his Soul Jam some how?
"Um......quick question Sha-.....Blueberry Milk....what is..the LAST THING you remember?" GingerBrave asks him.
"hmmmm, not sure what that has to do with anything but, ok? Um, i remember…..uhh…being in my study in my tower, i was....feeling very angry and stressed out, felt like Cookies just, kept on demanding something of me, I think……I had found out something? Something I……didn’t want to tell them? I-I can't really remember what but....Then i......think i was starting to get some....'dark thoughts'? I felt lonely…..isolated….it felt like I had been locked in my study for weeks.......Than POOF.....i black out than i'm here!" Blueberry Milk states......wait.....yeah that doesn't seem right....
"Ooooooook, whew, so, would you like the short version or the long version?" GingerBrave winces nerviously.
"....kid......we are in the middle of a War-Zone.....don't think we have time for a lIfe-Story" Blueberry Milk deadpans.
"Ok, short version it is!......You an your friends kinda...turned.....Evil......so the witches sealed you away in the Silver Tree so you wouldn't hurt anyone for 10,000 years, and than an evil Cookie who is also the evil persona of our Friend White Lily freed you and your friends and now your trying to kill us and i think i somehow managed to purify your corruption and factory reset you to right before you corrupted....." GingerBrave blurts out quickly.
Blueberry Milk stares at him for a good long while, unsure how to process that. "........I'm sorry WHAT!?"
"yeah i know it's a lot to take in!" GingerBrave chuckles sheepishly.
"No NO! What do you mean i turned evil!? and i was in a tree for 10,000 years!? Just.....WHAT!?" Blueberry Milk exclaims in utter shock and confusion.
"yeeeeah, Pure Vanilla here is....you successor i guess?" He continues.
".......that explains the Soul Jam i suppose...." Blueberry Milk deadpans. "B-But wait! What about the others!? Are they still....ya know......."
"Evil? Yeeeeaaah, their currently trying to kill the current ancients to get their Soul Jams back and achieve their true power, speaking of which we should probabaly go and stop them, like NOW!!" Wizard butts in.
Blueberry milk couldn't help but agree, if what these youngsters say is true, than they truly were in grave danger. The power of the Soul Jams were NEVER meant to be used for darkness, and if this much destruction was caused by them just having HALF of their power........than preventing them from getting the rest would be their top priority, as much as he hated to fight his breathren, he had little choice right now.
"We should assist Dark Cacao first, he is the closest to us, it is than advised we move to aid Golden Cheese next, i fear with Burning Spices destructive capabilities she will not last long" Strawberry pipes in, and the others nod.
The trio begun to move out, Blueberry Milk following close behind them, once he regains his strength first thing he's doing is changing this outfit, witches how did the evil him wear this for all those years!?
He still had many questions, but for now, time was of the essence.