Chapter Text
This was all wrong. EVERYTHING was all wrong. Shadow Milk shouldn't be on the ground of what was once his precious spire. Jam spewing out the wound on the side of his stomach and possibly his head as well. Shadow Milk Cookie attempted to move from rubble that trapped him only to get hit with a sharp sting that seemed to spread throughout his entire being. How did this even happen?
✦ ✦ ✦ 5 Hours before-hand ✦ ✦ ✦
The fight was fierce to put it frankly. Both Pure Vanilla were able to get solid hits on each other, it was practically a screaming match with Pure Vanilla trying to convince Shadow Milk to stop fighting "That it wasn't worth it!" or some other sentimental garbage that didn't seem to matter to Shadow Milk.
He was just so angry with Pure Vanilla. Shadow Milk thought he'd have cared about him! That he understood, but it was all a lie. He should've known no cookie in their right mind would love him. A beast. "H-HOW DARE YOU!" his voice faltered with something that reeked of vulnerability and he loathed how it made him sound. Like he wasn't in controll, cornered like some cake hound in a trap and that look on Pure Vanilla's face ticked him off even more so. That pitiful look that always seemed to grace his beautiful hideous face the one that always was accompanied by a twinge of concern in his elegant disgustingly sweet smile.
Who did he think was?! Some savior? The mere thought alone seemed to make him laugh like a madman. He swung his specter sending the floor titles shattering towards the Awakened Cookie. A smile befell the twisted jester thinking he'd had won at least only to pause seeing a pulsating light and oh how that light filled him with something only Pure Vanilla could bring. He was truly breathtaking. A true angel. Shadow Milk snapped out of his thoughts as a sneer replaced the serene expression that his face once held.
"Please Shadow milk Cookie! I don't want to hurt you nor you're children-" Pure Vanilla was caught off by a harsh laugh from his counterpart. "Oh! So we're playing that card now! I must say Pure Vanilla, I must have taught you to lie well because you'll have to try harder than that!" A smirk graced the jester's lips as he flew close to his other half. "YOU never cared! It was all a lie! A fib! I must say I'm impressed you never seemed like a Cookie to lie straight to THE beast of deceits face and expect to get away with it!" Pure Vanilla suddenly had his hands around the jester's wrists catching Shadow Milk off guard.
"No" Shadow Milk was momentarily stunned before chuckling madly "No!? What else could this whole..thing even be then-" Shadow milk was caught off as he felt himself pulled into a hug "I don't wish to fight you, my friend. It seems you don't want to either." Shadow Milk wondered how he didn't realize that he was shaking like a damn leaf. He was so tired... Pure Vanilla was so warm and comforting... Shadow Milk was almost tempted to jump into his arms and prolong the hug.
Almost. But as all things come to come to an end a voice came out from behind them. "Leave Pure Vanilla alone!" Shadow Milk turned to see those little annoying gnats Pure Vanilla seemed to LOVE to surround himself with. How had those gnats made it past Black Sapphire and Candy Apple Cookie? Were they? No, they were fine. They wouldn't let some weak cookies overpower them.
Shadow milk pulled away from Pure Vanilla, much to his dismay. Those mentioned "gnats" names were Gingerbrave, strawberry and Wizard Cookie but that couldn't have been less of an important matter to Shadow Milk. "OH! WHAT A NICE SURPRISE! VANILLYS FRIENDS!~ IT'S ALRIGHT, I WON'T BITE. HARD" Pure Vanilla almost instinctively stood between the children and Shadow Milk as a sneer once again graced the jester's face.
"Oh, what's this!? Is the little shepherd afraid the BIG, BAD wolf is gonna attack his little sheep? Such a vain attempt at trying to protect those you care about Vanilly." His tone was aggressive with a taunting edge to it. The sudden tone shift made Pure Vanilla shiver a tad bit. "Shadow milk, please. I don't wish to harm you. I don't want to fight you. I wish to be your friend. That's all I want." he extended his hand toward Shadow Milk Cookie almost as if trying to calm him "Please, come back with me to Cripisa. I'm sure you're tired and I can guarantee there's a bed always available for you. I promise that with my whole soul jam."
Those words filled Shadow Milk's chest with something he couldn't exactly pin-point. No. He was lying to him again, he had to be. He lied before about embracing deceit and Shadow Milk knew that damned cookie was likely trying to make him drop his guard and then stab him in the back when the time called for it! Was it the truth though..? Did Pure Vanilla truly want to be friends..? Was there a bed for him at his kingdom? His home? Those thoughts drove the jester mad as he hovered over the group of Cookies.
(Another fight scene breaks out that was so intense that the author decided not to write about it to save you the gory details and not because they never wrote a fight scene in their life and they know it's gonna be straightass.)
The sickening sound of jam filled the room followed by the rumbling of the spire caving in on the group of Cookies. Pure Vanilla called out to him but his voice was muted over the sound of the infrastructure caving in on itself. When had Shadow Milk Cookie been hit? He looked down to see his hand clutching his side. A stream of bright blue jam coated the jester's fingers and jumpsuit.
Candy Apple Cookie's voice rang out the room as she was quickly followed by Black Sapphire. "Master! I must advise we leave immediately! The spire won't hold up for much longer!" Shadow Milk begrudgingly agreed, allowing the pair to help him stand as they led him through the winding hallways as those utter GNATS gave chase. Pure vanilla seemed so keen on deceiving him that he almost gave in a few times before snapping out of it.
He wouldn't fall for Pure Vanilla's lies! Not now! Not ever again!
Shadow Milk Cookie opened a portal to a place other than the crumbling spire, quickly ushering Black Sapphire Cookie and Candy Apple Cookie to hurry up so they could go through the portal first. Why was he worried about them? They'd be fine. They always were.
He quickly urshed them through the portal about the step through himself only to get buried under the broken ceilings as they fell on top of him. The same creation he had taken so utterly long to build.
"MASTER SHADOW MILK!" Both of his children's minions' voices rang out as they quickly rushed forward trying to get to him just for the portal to close on them as quickly as the damned thing spawned. Shadow Milk in an almost desperate attempt to reach his minions and the outside snap his fingers over and over just for lackluster sparks to fly out his palm and nothing more. He needed to be with them! They were all alone! Sure they could shape shift and they COULD fend for themselves but they were still alone! He couldn't bear to lose right now... To lose something he held precious..not again...
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The last thing Shadow Milk hears is the sparks in his hand sizzling out before everything goes dark.
Shadow Milk whimpered as he finally managed to crawl his way out of the rubble that was once his home...Candy Apple and Black Sapphires' home. He begged his body to move. To do something but nothing came out of it. His breath was shallow and his palms were sweaty as he shakingly used all his willpower and last remaining strength, turning onto his back. It was at least some movement...
It couldn't end this way, he was supposed to have that damned soul jam that was rightfully his. He was supposed to be ruling the world! With Pure Vanilla by his side Not lying on his deathbed!
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Everything was so cold. How long had he been here? Minutes? Hours? Days? He wasn't sure how he was alive but he felt pretty much as dead. Witches..what he would do to hear Candy's annoying nagging as she would pull on his hair begging for Shadow milk to play chess with him..she always lost but she never seemed to care just going on and on about how 'Great' her master was....He would kill to hear Black Sapphire and Candy argue as they fought over the silliest of things...he missed them...
He felt terrible..he just wanted to hug them and tell them that it would all be okay and that he was there. But they were all alone. They knew no one and the mere thought made him panic. What if they got lost? What if something or someone attacked them,!? What if they got mauled!? Where exactly did that portal lead!? The thoughts in his spread shook him to his very core as he finally seemed to notice the tears streaming down his face. It couldn't end like this! Not until he could hold them for one last time.
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✦ ✦ ✦(?) Hours later ✦ ✦ ✦
Everything was growing quieter and more faint as Shadow Milk found it hard to keep his eyes open. A sudden faint light appeared next to him. It was so bright and so warm. Nothing like the cold floor he had spent hours lying on. Someone's hands reached for him as they cradled him close. The pleasant glow seemed to stretch across his entire body. Shadow Milk reciprocated the touch snuggling close like a cat trying to hide from the rain. The hand wiped his tears as Shadow Milk finally closed his eyes and fell into a deep slumber.
Pure Vanilla made sure his healing magic was doing its job as he patched up Shadow milk wounds. After most of the wounds had been healed he quickly stood up holding Shadow milk bridal style.
"Oh shadow milk... we have so much progress to work on but that's alright, I have an eternity to wait for you to accept it". With those words, Pure Vanilla started walking towards the exit of the broken spire. For there was a warm bed in crispia just for shadow Milk. Just as he promised.