Chapter Text
It was a clear day, The sun giving the sky variants of blues, tables set with pleasurable amounts of food lay motionless on them awaiting for consumption, the place was filled with chatter, about an inaudible ongoing discussion.
“Did we really have to invite.. Him?” Eternal Sugar asked,
Mystic Flour sighed heavily, “It’s only fair. He’s never been invited to any of these.”
“As much as I despise Shadow Milk Cookie, I do have to agree with Mystic Flour.” Silent Salt agreed,
“I have better things to do than sit here and ponder, where is the chaos, the destruction, The screams!! That’s what always makes my blood boil!” Burning Spice exclaimed, giving a loud, booming chuckle, the sound rumbling deep in his chest.
“As much as we… Tolerate. Your destructive nature, we’d rather you not destroy our fine dining.” Mystic Flour said, dusting off her robe slightly, The miniature off-gray speckles flying and falling slowly to the floor.
“These plates were made of the finest salt fragments I could find, and they are highly fragile. I’d rather you not destroy something so valuable.” Silent Salt added, straightening his slightly askew helmet.
Burning Spice let out a deep sound that sounded like a half-grunt, Half scoff. “I suppose I can participate in this.. Highly mannered place you call a…. Get together.”
“Your participation is acknowledged.” Silent Salt said, brushing dust from his sleeve.
Not long after, Shadow Milk hovered over to them lazily, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. Eternal Sugar sighed quietly, gently rubbing the bridge of her nose in irritation.
“Couldn’t we have a few more seconds of peace.” Eternal Sugar mumbled, crossing her arms.
“Well hello! How are my oh so wonderful friends doing?” Shadow Milk greeted happily,
“Friends. As if.” Eternal Sugar scoffed, rolling her eyes.
Mystic Flour cleared her throat, and straightened the creases in her robe, “What Eternal Sugar Cookie is meaning to say is that, We wouldn’t qualify ourselves as… Friends.”
Shadow Milk waved a dismissive hand, “Fine, Fine, Acquaintances, should work I suppose?” he suggested,
“Very well.” Silent Salt agreed dryly.
Shadow Milk let out a theatrical sigh, “You all sound so.. Gloomy and bored.” he pointed out,
“Do we really?” Mystic Flour asked,
Shadow Milk nodded, crossing his arms, “Yes, Yes you do.” he agreed, he thought for a moment, letting the silence stretch, before lightening up, “I know, How about a joke, to brighten the mood!” Shadow Milk said,
“I’d Rather you no-”
“What do you call two cups who are together? A cuple!” Shadow Milk said, cutting off Mystic Flour.
“Oh by flour..” Mystic Flour said, putting a hand on her forehead,
“For Witches sake! Can you not take anything seriously?” Eternal Sugar said,
“I’m a jester! Everything's a joke to me! Including you!” Shadow Milk laughed, the sound horrifyingly genuine.
Silence breached the Place. Shadow Milk's laughter dying down the only sound accompanying it, Eternal Sugar clenched her fists, raw, deadly, fury burning deep within her eyes. Her soul jam began to beat furiously as if imitating her.
“How dare you! If anything, the only joke here is you! You’re always laughing and giggling like some deranged manic! You ever think about how Annoying that is to hear you?! Huh?! Well you should! You’re nothing but a weak, insane, and absolutely Unbearable Joke!! Pure Vanilla Cookie should've crumbled you when he had the chance!!” Eternal Sugar Lashed, Raw bile rising high in her throat.
Silence breached the place once more, But this time.. It was tense. Shadow Milk recoiled slightly at the sudden outburst, Mystic Flour covered her mouth with her hand, Silent Salt was seconds away from withdrawing his sword, his shoulders tightening into a protective stance, Burning Spice paused for a moment, a long one, before giving out a slight chuckle, which quickly escalated into roaring laughter, his hands clasping together repeatedly.
“My, My, since when did Eternal Sugar Cookie have such anger as raw and furiously accurate as this? Instead of you taking lessons from me, I guess I’m taking lessons from you!!” Burning Spice applauded, genuine praise evident in his voice.
“This is my type of fun!!” He added.
“Burning Spice Cookie you mustn't praise anger, that will only fuel them more.” Silent Salt whispered sternly.
“Well why not? Eternal Sugar Cookie is certainly not a rookie! She might even be better than me!” Burning Spice argued.
“Eternal Sugar Cookie had a reasonable outburst, Shadow Milk Cookie You had no reason to say such words to her.” Mystic Flour said, sighing deeply,
“What? I’m just being honest! Can’t a cookie tell the truth for once?” Shadow Milk said, placing the back of his hand dramatically on his forehead, and the other on his chest, in feigned offense.
“How about you stop feigning innocence and become a real cookie for once! You Liar!” Eternal Sugar exclaimed,
“Oh! Thank you so much for the compliment, No really You’re too kind!” Shadow Milk thanked,
“Out. Get him Out. I want him out of my sight, out of my life, out of this annual, Out.” Eternal Sugar Cookie demanded, “He has been nothing but a nuisance ever since we got out of that tree.”
Shadow Milk surprisingly flinched unnoticeably, “You-” he began
“That is enough.” Silent Salt Said, taking out his sword and shoving it into the ground. “You, Shadow Milk Cookie. Have been unnecessarily rude and disrespectful.”
“Are you joking?! All I said was a small joke, and then she decided to criticize me like she can do better! And when I call her a joke, because she is! She decides to yell at me! And I’m the bad guy?” Shadow Milk argued,
“Shadow Milk Cookie!” Silent Salt exclaimed, “You will not defend yourself from your own doing, You knew exactly what you were saying, All you were trying to do is get under her skin, Leave. Her. Alone.”
“Fine! At least I could keep my other half longer than you.” Shadow Milk said,
“Why, I oughta-”
“Stop.” Silent Salt ordered, placing a hand in front of Eternal Sugar, “You shouldn’t entertain him with your anger, That’s all he feasts on. You’re just adding more to his plate.” Silent Salt said, his tone growing cold with acknowledgement.
“Shadow Milk Cookie I am going to ask you to politely leave.” Silent Salt asked,
“Why must he leave so soon? The fun is just getting started!!” Burning Spice exclaimed, letting out another roaring chuckle.
“They just don’t understand good theater when they see it!” Shadow Milk said, crossing his arms.
“Shadow Milk Cookie, I will not ask you again, Please. Leave. Now.” Silent Salt demanded,
“Wow. Just. Wow.” Shadow Milk said, giving slow repetitive claps, “You Invite me to my first ever Annual Beast Get Together, Just for you to kick me out?” Shadow Milk asked, scoffing, “The whole point of you inviting me was because you felt pity.”
“Shadow Milk Cookie, That’s not tru-”
“Don’t lie. Just.. Don’t. I can tell so well that I am not wanted here. I’m nothing but a pathetic little joke to you.. Aren’t I?” Shadow Milk said, interrupting Mystic Flour, “Your hatred. It’s radiating off of you so clearly.”
“Shadow Milk just leave. You’re making this way worse than it has to be.” Silent Salt said, sighing deeply from beneath his helmet.
“Oh, but why? I didn’t realize I was that much of a liability to you guys! If only you would’ve said something… Oh wait. You don’t need to.” Shadow Milk said, “if anything, I’ve been the kindest here! And honestly that’s a first.”
“You say that, while many times you have caused us unnecessary amount of trouble.” Silent salt countered, “And I mean that in the most respectful way possible”
“Huh, so calling me annoying in a respectful way? That’s comedy gold! I gotta hand it to you, you know how to lie better than me!” Shadow Milk laughed,
“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.” silent salt said slowly withdrawing his sword from the ground,
“But you DO.” Shadow Milk said his voice dropping slightly,
“Do not make me draw out my sword Shadow Milk Cookie.” Silent Salt warned, his grip tightening on the handle,
“Aw.. But what.. What happened to ‘No Violence’ Hm? Unless.. Oh.. I don't know.. You’re still that same cookie from the past..? The one with the blood and cookie crumbs on your hands-”
“Shadow Milk Cookie!!!!” Silent Salt yelled, His voice breaking the tensed silence with a familiar booming tension, his hands fully bringing out his silver weapon.
“Say…” Shadow Milk began, ignoring the warning. “Where’s your friend-”
Silent Salt rushed towards Shadow Milk, sword in hand ready to strike, but before the tip of his silver sword could even touch a slither of his clothing. Shadow Milk flipped over Silent Salt with practiced ease.
“Hm. You’ll Have to be faster than that, Salty.” Shadow Milk teased, flicking his hair in overwhelming confidence. “Can’t say the same about Elder Faerie Cookie though.”
Silence rang, the only sound of pulsing emitting from the Souljams, Shadow Milk smiled, a cold, horrifying, toothy smile, a smile that would send a shiver through someone's spine, that only fueled Silent Salt’s anger more, He dropped his weapon, it landed with a loud muffled Thump, He clenched his fists, his hands trembling slightly, a spike of adrenaline slicing through him like shuriken. The others were stunned. Even Burning spice, he felt the unfamiliar uneasy feeling of tension run through him like a river, he swallowed hard. The cold wind blew between the strands of their hair, the silence suffocating in their lungs.
Shadow Milk chuckled, “What’s the matter? Was I too salty for you?” Shadow Milk asked, “Well toughen up buttercup, because this world is evil.” He paused, letting the sentence state its purpose, “I’m sure Elder Faerie Cookie could confirm it.. If he was here.”
Silent Salt couldn’t take it anymore, in speed of light, he ran forward his gaze set on Shadow Milk's throat, with a quick force, and before Shadow Milk could even acknowledge the movement, Silent Salt gripped his throat, lifting him high up in the air.
“This will be the first and last time you ever come to an annual! I will watch you crumble at the grip of my wrath!!” Silent Salt exclaimed, his voice filled with cold, terrifying and utterly raw fury.
Shadow Milk’s legs dangled as his hands gripped Silent Salt’s wrist, he took a sharp intake of breath, his throat feeling the crushing grip and anger emanating from Silent Salt, he felt the warm crimson substance of blood spill out the sides of his mouth. He was internally bleeding. Shadow Milk didn’t move, didn’t blink, he let his grip on Silent Salt’s wrists loosen, causing them fall to his side, he smiled that same, horrifying, spine shivering smile, Silent Salt froze, his grip stiffening slightly, his blood had run cold, Eternal Sugar shifted uncomfortably, Mystic Flour took a step back, Burning Spice mumbled something unintelligible, probably an excuse for needing to “Check the structural stability of some walls”.
“Why are you smiling?! You’re in pain, You should be crying! Begging, Pleading!!” Silent Salt yelled fiercely, his slightly shaky voice sabotaging him.
Shadow Milk only smiled, his teeth showing confidently, that's when he noticed. Shadow Milk's eyes. They had this unnerving, vacant look inside, but he looked closer, a small flicker of fear hid tightly, Silent Salt’s grip softened unconsciously. Giving Shadow Milk enough time to squirm out of his grip. He inhaled sharply, the abrupt intake of air sending a painful spike through his lungs, he coughed violently, blood splattered across the ground. Shadow Milk swallowed hard, desperately trying to catch his breath.
“Why didn’t you kill me.” Shadow Milk hissed, he placed his fingertips against his throat and pressed hard, he winced slightly, rubbing the now-forming purple ring around his throat, “You had the chance” He rasped, “Yet you didn’t, You’re a phony. You talk all that crap about you going to kill us. But when I was right there. In front of you, on death's edge. You soften your grip, and let me go. After everything I said to you. You LET. GO.” he said, his throat burning with bile. “You’re just as pathetic as Elder Faerie Cookie.”
“I..” Silent Salt began, he looked down at his hands a brief flash came upon him, the scene of his hands covered with blood as he stood over disassembled, sliced, and decapitated cookies, as soon as the scene came, it left, he was back in the present, his hands shaking uncontrollably, He breathed, the suddenly cold air hitting his lungs like a dagger, he looked up, Shadow Milk held his throat, his eyes boring into Silent Salt’s, he felt the quiet trapped, terrified, fear in Shadow Milk’s core, he breathed.
“What’s the matter? Having a little flashback?” Shadow Milk asked, his voice started low, his shoulders began to shake, a high-pitch sound began to fill the already tense atmosphere, Shadow Milk chuckled, which escalated far into detached laughter, the insanity in his voice evident, running all their bloods cold.
Silent Salt, for once, felt fear, genuine, raw, disturbing, fear. He took a step back and breathed. Shadow Milk took a sharp intake of breath, and continued laughing, his eyes welling up with tears, as laughter began to sound more deranged and broken.
“I have never..” Shadow Milk breathed, his breath catching in his throat,
“felt more useless in my entire life on this.. Disgusting.. Wretched.. And terrifyingly EVIL. Place, We call earthbread.” he paused. Slowly blinking, “I will never return here… because if I stay here any longer I'm just going to be forgotten, an utter liability to you. And you won’t even notice I’m gone.” Shadow Milk said.
“Wait, Shadow Milk Cookie-”
“Please. Don’t even try anymore Mystic Flour Cookie. I’ve already lost the reason to feel loved. The reason to be alive anymore. If I don’t leave now. You won’t even be able to feel the faint pulse of my Souljam.” Shadow Milk promised and with that he dropped his staff, turned on his heel, and walked away, not before pausing, turning his head just to take a final glimpse of his acquaintances, his lips parting slightly allowing him to mumble a surprisingly sincere apology, “I’m sorry about Elder Faerie Cookie.” he murmured, his voice cracking, and finally, finally he walked off. Letting the other beasts stand in stunned, gut-retching silence.