Chapter Text
Another day, another mission.
Black Sapphire had dragged himself out of bed earlier this morning than he usually would. Or rather how Candy Apple would usually wake him up with her squeaky voice.
This mission was a bit more complicated than what Shadow Milk would usually assign him. Spreading the rumors wasn't the issue, no, but rather where they should be spread.
The Faerie Kingdom.
Faeries were a kind not to mingle with other cookies, keeping to themselves more than anything. They were a tight-knit community, any outsider would stick out like a sore thumb, even with the most realistic disguise. To say that infiltrating them is difficult is an understatement.
Black Sapphire had spent quite a while on deciding on his disguise; a lavender hued outfit, with his wings wrapped around his waist, opting to walk. He shifted his hair colour too, to a similar, lighter shade. It was a much more leaf-y outfit than his preferred, but alas, an excellent disguise demanded what it demanded, even be it with a tinge of discomfort.
While smoothing down the folds of his new outfit, a too familiar voice came chanting in, "Rise an shineee, Black Sapphi- oh you're already up."
"Came to wake me up personally, My lord? I suppose I should be honoured," Black Sapphire replied, not looking at Shadow Milk just yet, his eyes still fixated on straightening out his appearance.
"You're going to the kingdom of those pesky little faeries, huh?" the beast taunted, swirling around Black Sapphire, "Tch, they won't know what's coming for them. Some small lies about their new gnat of a guardian and that pathetic fool that calls himself a healer-"
"Yes, Yes, of course. Anything else?" He reached for his earrings, putting them in carefully. They had a lighter hue, just as the rest of his outfit, and were in the shape of little flowers.
"Oouh, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed, huh? And to think you have it all to yourself either way, ironic, 'innit?" Shadow milk let himself fall into a portal of the other-realm, emerging upside down right infront of Black Sapphire who shrieked back in surprise, "And remember, if they get suspicious, just distract them! Nothing should be easier than tricking a few faeries! Just make sure you don't get strung in by their manipulative festives."
Black Sapphire put a hand on his hip, tilting his head, "My lord, what do you take me for, an amateur? I would hope you trust me enough to spread a few simple rumours."
"I'd be very disappointed if not, Black Sapphire. I'm DYING for some new drama, that pest of a faerie biting the dust was fun, but it's been AGES since that happenend," He sighed dramatically, like a damsel in distress, hand on forehead and all.
The faerie-disguised cookie asked in curiosity, "What about Candy Apple, surely she'd be willing to weave some lies if that would keep you entertained."
"Dunno where she went."
"...Of course."
~
On the way to the faerie kingdom, Black Sapphire spent more than a few minutes mulling over what name to give himself.
Most faeries had a name relating to a flower. Of course there were exceptions, but the better he blended in, the smaller was the chance to get caught.
Eventually, he settled on 'Grape Blossom Faerie'. Right on time to the border of the kingdom.
In the past, only faeries could lift the seal and step into the kingdom, a security measure which was more than clever. However, since the passing of their late guardian, that very seal was easily passed. After the chaos that Shadow Milk had wrecked there, the new guardian, White Lily, hasn't had the chance to focus on it.
Getting in was easy, and now, his biggest worry was not to get caught to be an imposter.
Heading straight for the market was his best bet. Many people to mingle with, and many could overhear his lies.
At a stall, selling herbs from the Hollyberry kingdom.
"Oh, and by the way, have you heard about how her Majesty, White Lily, doesn't even like the scent of lilies and is against growing them locally?"
A vendor that had a stall full of small trinkets and tiny mechanisms from the créme republic.
"Did you know, that the late guardian longed for a power like the beasts had? I've heard that secretly, he wanted to take all of their power for himself, but didn't do it because everyone would see that he wasn't as righteous as he pretended to be."
As the afternoon progressed, Black sapphire found himself at a stall at the end of the market, selling flowers. Various types, even. Vanilla Orchids, Hibiscuses, White Lilies, the alike.
Although he had already used up all of the rumors he had come up with, he resorted to telling the truth to the vendor (crazy concept for him), who was currently making a wreath of some blue flowers for a younger faerie, "Y'know, Pure Vanilla used to skip classes to spent time with her Majesty White Lily. really makes you wonder why he had come here in the first place."
As he finished that sentence, Black Sapphire glanced around the stall, and noticed some bell-looking flowers. Lilies of the valley.
"Hey, how much for a couple of those?"
~
Black Sapphire wasn't sure why he had bought them, he really wasn't. It was getting late, and he was not going to head back just yet. Perhaps he could come up with a couple more rumours for tomorrow and get a some new souvenirs for Candy Apple or Shadow Milk. Afterall, they surely wouldn't find much interest in some silly flowers.
He wasn't here to cause damage, no, not yet. His mission purely was for Shadow Milk's entertainment. The deceit Black Sapphire was spreading was shallow, little lies for laughs. As for that one truth?
Well, his master would find it more than amusing nonetheless.
Not even realising where he had ended up, Black sapphire found himself on the outskirts of the faerie kingdom. The silver tree was still very much visible behind him, yet the magic that surrounded the kingdom was starting to fade with each step. So, he simply settled against the dew-kissed grass, flexing his wings. Despite the disguise he was in, they were the real deal.
While untangling the vines he had wrapped around them, a voice called out to him, "Who is there? Hands where I can see them!"
Black Sapphire flinched, but let go of his wings, holding his hands above his head.
Well, fuck.
Slowly turning around, the impostor realised he had been spotted by a faerie knight.
"This is forbidden territory, faeries can't stray here," He said, slowly lowering his bow as he saw the other oblige.
Internally, Black Sapphire sighed heavily in relief. For just a sec, he thought that he had blown his cover.
The Knight that caught him looked quite soft, cute, almost, and the disguised cookie couldn't help but wonder if he actually had the guts to even hurt him.
"I've never seen you around here before," said the knight, with a hint of suspicion, but never unkind.
Black Sapphire got up, walking away from the supposedly restriced field, and towards the silver knight.
"What is your name?" the real faerie questioned.
Black sapphire twirled the lily of the valley he held, and responded, "Grape blossom faerie, I apologise." He smiled warmly, hoping that he wouldn't seem suspicious. the last thing he wanted was to get caught by stupidly sitting in the wrong place. "I live on the outskirts of the kingdom, and was unaware of this local restriction."
The eyes of the silver cookie widened. "Grape?" He stuttered, "I should be the one apologising to you. I didn't mean to disturb your rest, please accept my sincerest apologies."
Black Sapphire blinked. Just what had he walked into this time?
"I just... didn't think I'd run into someone from house grape today, I... I'll just stop talking."
That explains it then. Somehow, Black Sapphire managed to integrate himself into a high standing family among the faeries.
The knight tilted his head in slight confusion. "But...you don't wear the family crest?"
Black Sapphire had no trouble coming up with a suiting lie. "I simply prefer not to wear it when I go out."
Now, just change the topic. The less attention, the better.
"But, what is your name, silver knight? it brings me comfort to know how well our kingdom is protected," Black Sapphire asked with feigned interest. Not that he cared all that much, no.
The Faerie was taken aback, "Silverbell. I really didn't mean to overstep, I was simply...curious."
"Silverbell. That's a nice name. Matches the kingdom you serve." Black Sapphire pointed out. Internally, he was just asking whyever he had even made that statement.
The other cookie's cheeks tinted just a little bit, and he settled down on the ground, tucking his wings in.
Black Sapphire, meanwhile, just wanted this interaction to end. Not only was he unintrested in idle talk, but probably should start heading back before it got too late.
With a sigh of faux exhaustion, the spy wanted to leave, heading away from Silverbell, "It's getting late, I should head back home, if you'll excuse me."
Just as he thought he was done-
"Manor grape is in the opposite direction."
By now, Silverbell has gotten suspicious. First, this weird faerie didn't know that you weren't allowed on this particular patch of land, or where literally his home was. besides, "...I've never seen you around the kingdom before."
Black Sapphire stiffened and turned around.
"Ah, just had to test if our dear knights knew the way around," he lied.
In a last, futile attempt at distraction, like Shadow Milk had taught him, Black Sapphire took the faerie's hand with a twirl, bowing down just a little, and pressed a kiss to Silverbell's knuckles.
The knight gasped, but before he could even string a thought together, 'Grape Blossom Faerie' already sauntered off into the right direction, confidence unwavering.
Well, on the outside atleast.
Black Sapphire made a small loop through the illuminated paths of the faerie kingdom, and got back on the way to the Spire. The opposite direction of Manor Grape.
This was NOT how Shadow Milk taught him distraction.
It shouldn't even be as big of a deal as he was making it out to be. He had completed his mission. There was deceit circulating in the faerie kingdom.
And yet it wasn't what his mind was stuck on.
The knuckle kiss might have not been the best idea at distraction, but the real issue was that he wanted to do it again. To see the stupidly surprised look on Silverbell's face.
It was unreasonable. He had been so close to figuring Black Sapphire out, and yet, there was something about that much more innocent cookie that drew him in.
Perhaps it was the thrill of the disguise.
If only there was no need for it.
Perish the thought. Someone like Silverbell, a loyal knight to the faerie kingdom, couldn't never possibly trust a disciple of the Beast of Deceit.