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It's hard to believe that at some point the beasts were once great heroes not unlike the ancients, appointed by the witches themselves to be guardians and guides of Earthbread.
Even now after they have been "redeemed" they are still beasts who cling to their corrupted virtues, Shadow Milk still tells lies, Mystic Flour is still apathetic, Burning Spice still wreaks destruction, and so on and so forth.
They just channel their urges into something more constructive and less... Disruptive.
Shadow Milk writes and even preforms in plays, telling tall tales to anyone willing to listen, especially children. He even owns his own theater in the vanilla kingdom which pure vanilla visits on more than one occasion and even participates.
Mystic Flour mostly stays in her ivory pagoda and meditates, but would more often than not go to visit the Dark Cacao Kingdom and lends her service as a healer under Dark Cacao's watchful eye, as compensation for the damage wrote on the kingdom with the pale ailment.
Burning Spice somehow ended up getting a job in construction, mostly in demolitions, no one can demolish a building like he can. Though he doses fight in the arena from time to time, under Golden Cheese's supervision of course. He also got into gaming and became quite a popular steamer alongside golden cheese if you can believe it.
Eternal Sugar's garden of Paradise is now a popular resort and vacation spot for cookies who want to unwind and relax after some hard work. With Hollyberry and her family coming to visit at least once a year, though Hollyberry visits her personally more often than that
Silent Salt mostly in the salt barrens as a hermit, although he doses occasionally visit commander salt cellar and the new knights of Kala Namak. He also visits the faerie kingdom, mostly to pay respects to his old friend and see how his kingdom is doing while also seeing his other half who tends to join him in honoring Elder Faeries memory.
While the beasts still hold tightly to their vices there are still moments, however small or brief, that remind you of who they once were, of the virtues that had defined them.
Shadow Milk once in a blue moon would slip into lecture mode, sharing knowledge that has long been forgotten. Though you mostly see it when he directs a play, unconsciously teaching some actors who struggle with a part in the play.
Mystic Flour mostly just gives advice if she feels like it, however on very rare occasion and depending on the person, would help fulfil someone's wish.
Burning Spice out of them all clings to his vice the most. However, there are times when he is reminded on a culture or civilization he would make a comment on it or reminisce on how a kingdom reminds him on what he saw, what he built.
Eternal Sugar would argue that she has always fulfil her virtue of happiness, just in a different way, however now a days she is far less obsessed over it and is willing to let others leave her garden if it makes them happy.
Silent Salt may not travel across Earthbread while helping the downtrodden anymore, but when he visits the new knights he still imparts on them how important it is to stand together and uphold the values of the previous knights that came before them.
Even with these small moments, these glimpses into the past, it is still hard to fathom who they once were and what they had stood for, harder still to imagine them crusading Earthbread slaying monsters and smiting villains who threaten peace, not unlike the ancients before they created their respective kingdoms.
And yet that is what they did, as this guy can attest to.
This "new" villain came out of nowhere and started causing havoc everywhere he goes, creating enough trouble to catch everyone's attention and have both the ancients and beasts handle him personally.
Though he insists that he is far from new and knows the virtues turned beasts very well.
"To them I am the master of chaos, a demon of all things sweet and crispy" the masked & cloaked figure proclaimed.
"But you" he pointed to the beasts who were ready to attack this "old foe" at any moment "You know me by a different, much older name."
Dark clouds gather as he spoke. Winds picking up as thunder rumbled, lighting strikes emphasizing his words.
"A name perhaps you'd hope you'd never hear again. A phantom!"
The Ancients and Beasts ready themselves for the upcoming fight and reveal, bracing for whatever this ancient foe has for them.
"A shadow of a former life!"
They all steel themselves, fully prepared with weapons armed and magic at the ready.
"I. Am"
He tears off his disguise, the cloak and mask, until only the wig remains as he dramatically shouted out.
"PIE!"
The Ancients steady themselves, none of them, not even white lily, has heard of him, though they had never known of the beasts existence either and yet they have proved to be quite formidable and powerful enemies. Who knows what calamities this one will bring.
To properly gauge this threat, they look to the beasts to see their expression, to see just how dangerous this man was...
Only to be met with the looks of those who were truly, utterly, lost and confused. Even mystic flour and silent salt had looks of confoundment on them as they all stared at pie like a particularly hard math problem.
They were all mentally going through everyone they had ever fought, both together and apart, going through all the foes they defeated in the past, and this guy isn't coming up for any of them.
...
Everyone just stared awkwardly in silence as the beasts try in vain to remember this guy.
They silently looked at each other trying to see if any of them knew him but get helpless shrugs and lost looks in return, just as clueless.
"Shadow Milk?" Thanks to his former position as the fount of knowledge, he has the best memory out of all of them. If anyone knew who pie was, it'd probably be the guy who was made to learn, memorize and teach. However-
"Nope" said with a pop "No idea, not ringing any bells, not even a slight jingle"
Pie then noticed he still had the wig on so he takes it off (as if that would help) and tries again "Pie!"
"Pie" Silent Salt said with uncertainty as he once again tries in vain to remember if he has fought him before or anyone like him but is having as much luck as before.
"Pie" said with a strained smile.
"Pie" Burning Spice in a mocking tone.
"Pie!" looking more annoyed.
"Pie?" Shadow Milk racked his brain for any sign of this guy, scouring his vast knowledge and memory for even a drop of familiarity and not having any luck.
"Pie!" getting much more agitated.
"Pie" Eternal Sugar said placatingly as if humoring a child that might be insane.
"Pie!" starting to get fed up.
"Pie" Mystic Flour reiterated uncaringly and unimpressed.
'Pie' is taken aback at his former foe's reactions and returns their stares in similar confusion.
More staring as the crickets go about their business unbothered
...
Finally shadow milk shrugged giving up, if he and everyone else can't remember this guy? Then he probably isn't that important "Go ahead chai, continue"
Pie marches up to shadow milk in annoyance as he demanded "You seriously don't remember me?"
Shadow Milk gives it another go, aaaaaannnnnddddd...... Nothing, not a thing.
He puts a hand to his chin, a hard look in his eyes as they squint in concentration. Making a show out of thinking hard when in reality he gave up on it long ago and is just messing with this loser.
Then he snaps his fingers as if he finally remembers "Oh, of course! Pie! Pie, oh yeah how can I forget dear old Pie, long time no see buddy." Clearly lying through his teeth "Soooo~ how's the wife?" Then dodged a blast aimed at him
"I have never been married!" Pie shouted as he continued to throw spell after spell at the irritating jester who waves through every single one with a laugh.
"Can't imagine why!" He mocks as he expertly doges every one of the attacks "You seem like such a catch! Such a memorable guy~"
And with that everyone joins in on the fight and after one epic battle later they tend to their wounds.
"How can any of you forget someone like him?" Dark Cacao demanded as he puts out the fire on his clothes as Mystic Flour heals him
"What, like it's our fault?" Shadow Milk was fixing up his torn to shreds outfit after getting healed by Pure Vanilla "It was probably a long time ago even before that damned tree! Can you really blame us for not remembering every single nobody we fought?"
"Considering that "nobody" just nearly kicked our collective asses? Yes!" Golden Cheese was tending to her wings that were covered in hardened slime, trying to get it off with Hollyberry's help.
"Well we fought foes far more impressive then that little twerp!" Burning Spice boasted as pure vanilla was healing him "Like that one guy who turned off the sun, Pecan or something”
"Actually that was Kiwi, you’re thinking of habanero, you know, the one who made everyone blind"
"No I believe that it was Spam who did that"
"Nope, that was Hogweed, had this ridiculously hideous hat, remember?"
"Oh yeah, didn't he have three eyes?"
"No that was Ruby Queen"
"I thought that was Red Ace"
"Red Bliss"
"All Blue"
"Green Zebra"
The beasts then procced to go on a tangent on correcting each other and debating who was who and who did what.
Leaving the ancients to look on in confusion, amusement, awe, and annoyance.
Yes. It can be hard to imagine that those five were once great heroes. But it's times like these where it's really hard to believe.