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Welp his plan failed,
Miserably.
He was supposed to teleport in front of Pure Vanilla and snatch his soul jam before he did anything.
Turns out that shockwave blew him away mid transport and sent him flying away. While in the teleportation realm a single foot could be around a mile in the real world. So because of that when he got sent flying he hit the last place he’d expect.
Dragons Valley
Or well he assumed, he’s stuck in a cave.
Great.
How he’d have to teleport back awkwardly to kick them out again.
Talk about embarrassing! Well the audience might get a good laugh even at the cost of his dignity. Oh who was he kidding! He’d just kill everyone who laughed! After all, why not share the joy?
He dusted off his outfit and fixed up his eye hair before teleporting-
“YEEOUCHH!”
He stepped back falling on his behind as Shadow Milk's body slowly returned from seemingly burning.
Huh. Precautions on magic huh?
Something must’ve happened that would cause the Red Dragon to limit magic usage to pure elemental magic only.
Ughhh, what a great day to use the magic he created!
He could bypass the lock by using raw teleportation magic to get him to the surface, if one; he knew a place in dragon valley to teleport too which he doesn't, and two; if his cooldown didn’t grow. See he does most of his shows in the Spire since the Spire is filled with dark moon magic, he is free to use as many high magic spells in succession. However when he leaves his cooldown grows to 40% more than what it would be regularly.
Combine that with the lock and his inability to remember a place in dragons valley andddd…
He’s screwed.
WITCHES PUSSY!
He kicked a boulder in anger and left it flying into a wall, opening to a tunnel.
He sighed, at least luck was on his side.
“Welp! Change of plan folks! Looks like our show might have been cut short. But do not fret; your host, The Beast of Deceit, has a new play in store with pure IMPROV! So buckle in folks for this off the rails adventure begins!”
Popping a safari hat into existence straight on his head he “walked” into the cave systems to get out of this hell hole as fast as possible.
Little did he know he had a VIP guest in the lines.
The tunnel he so casually got into turned out to be an abandoned mine shaft with any trace of any creature gone.
He could’ve gone for a pick me up snack but oh well!
He would be out of here fast enough.
Finding an elevator shaft with the elevator left to hang on a thread he hopped on it and left it to carry him to the bottom. Landing with a literal boom. Maneuvering on the new floor he looked to see a map of some sorts. Of course he had no such luck.
He began to panic; was he really stuck here? having to wander around guessing till he succumbs to the heat?
Was he really stuck again?
He calmed himself down, he was fine, he was out of that ducking tree.
He rationalized his situation.
There’s a mineshaft that means people mine here, all he needs to do is listen for noises and ask for directions!
Genius plan!
Using his impeccable hearing he listened out for any noise, and found a tunnel that had some sound.
He ventured into that tunnel, only to find a lava pool.
AND A MINE CART!
“HAH! Bingo! Looks like we’re taking an educational route folks. As my previous occupation left me with substantial knowledge on everything; from what happened then to why is where, might as well teach you all a thing or two. So testing begins!”
Looking around he found the leaver to activate the ride. Pushing the cart towards it he hopped in and-
I wouldn't do that if I were you!
Looking around with his multitude of eyes to find the voice he found nothing. It definitely wasn’t the Souljam- that much was obvious- but it wasn’t the Red Dragon either…
Hah! Does this audience member really think that he would be in trouble for going on a mine cart? What a dummy!
“Thanks for the concern, fellow fan but I’m a very capable cookie, you ought to know that!” The last part was laced with a warning. He would not tolerate such disrespect!
Switching the lever on the cart begs in moving slowly picking up more speed as the scenery changes to an opening of a huge geode that flows into a cave. Crystals surrounding him he started to talk.
“My look at those sugar amethyst chunks! They ought to sell for at least a soul or two! Makes ya wonder why we put value on such objects based upon their beauty and rarity. Such natural wonders should thrive off of the heat and pressure it sustains itself on instead of the pressure of being cut off in chucks to be sold to the masses.”
For a second he thought he heard a snicker.
But he couldn’t think too hard on it as it was back to a tunnel system.
A bit later the scenery changed once more, into a dark cavern. Creating a light source, it showed a pool of water extending though the cavern, water trickled down spikes and pilled up into a frankly beautiful scene. The light made the pool seem blue green as the coast line was visible.
"Well what do you know? Looks like some things haven't changed since I've been away. Although that water is definitely not safe to stick your dough in. Unless of course you want parasites and bacteria all over you."
A giggle came out of the voice this time.
That's what I tried to tell 'em. Was whispered barley like the voice said it to itself rather then Shadow Milk.
He dicided to not point it out.
Soon it turned back into boring tunnels.
Well we cant have that can we?
We got shows to make and people to entertain!
Using his staff, he created a simple wind propeller, which takes surrounding air and blows it out at record speeds. So much so it forms actuall propellers with how quickly it pushes air out.
However if this cart was as old as it seems, then the wheels wouldn't catch up sending him flying along with his dignity.
Using some levitation magic, he let the wheels rely on his magic to move as fast as the current would blow with no weight from the cart slowing it down.
What lead was what could be described as adrenalin heaven.
Of course the speeding up was slowed down a bit for the sake of his head, but also so the cart doesn't break. Bbbuuuuttttt, speed was what he was after. Holding on to the safari hat and cart, wind blew past his face sending his hair to be praticly parallel to the tracks.
It was thrilling as laughter filled Shadow Milks ears and not just his own.
Soon while still hanging on, the voice spoke once more
Ooh! Ooh! Slow down for the next place, you have got to see it fully.
Hah! Do you think I'd listen to a voice like you? How funny!
Is what he should of said.
Instead he decided to say nothing and slow down the cart, putting it back on the rail and letting the wheels do the rest.
The edge of the mineshaft could be seen by a distinct blue glow.
Check this out.
Surrounding him were rock walls but looking up where dots of light glowing a blue hue with water beneath it.
A galaxy without a sky.
Shadow Milk looked in awe, mouth agape, taking in the beauty that he strangely never heard about before.
The cart stopped midway on the track, Shadow Milk too awestruck to even notice.
The miners here keep this place a secret after a request, if word got out, this place would be a lot less beautiful.
That's just what happens to natural wonders, sooner or later cookies ruin it.
...
The cart ride picked up again with a start which knocked Shadow Milk out of his dream-like state. The ride then met a fork in the road, one leading to a dead end.
Flicking a switch Shadow Milk changed course off the dead end to continue the ride.
As much as he would like to get out of here he was enjoying himself, despite his dough being re-baked.
In new areas he continued talking as hums of agreement and “huh” of interest became more and more common.
“Could anyone tell me what those-“
The ones on the ceiling are stalactites and the ones at the bottom are stalagmites. You can remember by the m looking like them rising on the bottom and stalactites from the T that look like them coming down from the top.
Ok yeah no those are not the voices in his head.
Feeling a bit shocked that- yeah! someone has been listening in on him, but also watching him?
Now he’s stoked.
“Rrring ding ding! Correct! My, you must know your stuff on caves! Mx….”
I prefer to stay anonymous to people I don’t know but yea. You pick up a thing or two when you got a job like me.
Huh a job like you?
“Well that’s awful rude to refuse to say your name to someone like me but ill allow it!”
Heh, thank witches. He said it sarcastically which should I’ve thrown him off but he can’t help but be attracted to this anonymous person's voice. It was brash but sultry at the same time. The confidence was flowing through his words. Shadow Milk wondered what this new observer looked like.
Well he had plenty of time to figure it out as it looks like he’s about to hit a downslope.
Oh here comes the Gioutine, would hold on tight if I were you.
“What do you mean-“
Suddenly Shadow Milk Cookie was sent down, fast.
He held on as the rails shook under the cart that miraculously held on. Soon it stabilized as it rushed to a tunnel that led to an open cave with- no rails to continue on.
“AHHHHHHHH- Oh wait- I can just teleport.” He quickly tries teleporting to safety but gets burnt immediately.
“OWWWW FUCK! I'M REALLY DUE HERE OUT OF ALL THE PLACES HUH???”
No ya won’t!
“ UH PRETTY FUCKING SURE I WILL! COOKIES CANT SURVIVE MOLTEN HOT LAVA-“
I WOULD KNOW THAT DUMBASS NOW HOLD ON!
The edge drew closer and closer.
“ HOW ARE YOU GOING TO-“
Just as the edge came, so did floating plates of rocks. Slowly down the rather bumpy path that appeared out of thin air, did the cart finally stop. With a crash.
Panting hard, the beast got up and began to regain his breath.
He checked himself over for any problems.
Thankfully nothing was cracked or ripped!
Looking around he saw that the path that brought him to safety led him to a cliff's edge. How fortunate.
That led him to question, just who is this voice? A spirit that controls this Volcanic Range in the time he was gone? Or was it something else? Or someone…?
“Alright mister; while I do have to thank you for saving my dough out there, I have to question. Just what, or who, are you?”
.
.
Sighhh, guess I have no choice now do I?
Before Shadow Milk could respond the voice beat him to it.
Its Fire Spirit.
Fire Spirit, the Eternal Flame.
Overseer of Flow of Life Energy, all that stuff. I’m not one to care about roles and what not.
Shadow Milk stood quiet at that.
“Hah! Guess I got a knack of meeting all powerful cookies!”
And I’m assuming that you’re Shadow Milk?
“The one and only! At your service~. How’d you find out about silly ol’ me?”
Oh, Mr. Overtime told me about you when he went to visit the ultimate cookie.
“Gasp! You know about Archie too?!”
Yup, hard to forget him, ey?
As Shadow Milk walked through the tunnels he chatted with this Fire Spirit that was very enchanting to say the least. Even if he had no idea where he was going he at least had someone to talk to through the journey.