Chapter Text
It was done.
The war was over.
Dark Enchantress Cookie had been defeated.
But the war waging in Shadow Milk Cookie’s heart was not.
Shadow Milk drifted aimlessly across the barren lands of the Choco Cliffs. His feet hovered three inches above the ground, all the usual grandeur that was in his magic drained. He was deeply lost in his thoughts.
“That stupid, stupid Pure Vanilla Cookie. Always so perfect, it disgusts me!” His face contorted with silent rage as he thought about his other half. His hands clenched into fist, eyesight turning blood red with fury. He wasn’t watching where he was going, and slammed straight into a Choco Rock.
Witches, was he glad he put his minions in cards. That would’ve been humiliating.
Shadow Milk rubbed his forehead as he pulled back from the rock, all of his eyes half lidded as he tried to come back to his senses. Why was his mental state so bad after fighting that half of a cookie? He shook his head, getting rid of the thoughts, and trudged forward.
He had to think of a plan to come across Pure Vanilla again. He wanted, no, needed the other half of his Soul Jam back. With it, he could finally engulf the world in lies and deceit once again. The perfect world, where cookies couldn’t be hurt from the bitter truth of their pathetic little lives. The thought made a little satisfied smirk grow across his face.
It seemed that floating around and running into the landscape wouldn’t help him think properly, so it would be best to find somewhere to sit. Shadow Milk stopped moving, head swiveling as his eyes scanned the empty place for somewhere to sit down. He was about to give up and move again when he saw a rather flat rock.
He hovered over to the rock, sitting criss-cross on it. He summoned his cane in one hand, tapping the broad end of it against his chin to help him think. There were so many different things he could do to defeat little old Nilly, but only a few would work.
“I could… take control of his entire kingdom,” Shadow Milk thought aloud, “Nah, that’s way too dramatic! It would probably send the frail thing into cardiac arrest. How about…”
He continued to brainstorm ideas, many of them honestly quite stupid. When he turned down every single one, a loud sigh left his lips, and he dramatically flopped on the rock. He felt like calling it quits, but there was no way in Beast-Yeast would he do such a thing. He was the Master of Deceit for witches’ sakes!
Shadow Milk watched the clouds drift over the dark skies like an endless dance. The clouds, while soft and fluffy looking, were just as dark as his soul. Yet, there was whimsy in the dreariness. Some of them looked like shapes. A drunken smile spread lazily across his lips as he looked at the skies above him. One looked like a watermelon turtle, another a jellybean. Hell, there was even one that looked like a dress.
Wait… a dress… that was the perfect idea!
A big toothy grin made its way onto Shadow Milk’s face as he shot up, a wicked little plot forming in his mind. He started to twirl in the air, cane spawning in his hold as he shouted like a madcookie.
“Yes, yes, that is a spectacular idea! It didn’t work with that obsessive little angel, but that stupid fool won’t know what hit him!” Shadow Milk shouted out into the open as a devious little idea formed in his mind. It was perfect, it was theatrical, it was stupendous!
He would infiltrate the Vanilla Kingdom as the Lady in Azure.
That would be perfect. He could spy on Pure Vanilla without ever being noticed! He could pose as a sweet innocent young woman while getting his hands on his Soul Jam in the process. Now, all he needed to do was transform. With a flick of his wrist and another twirl midair, shadows of blue and black began traveling down his body in a line. It started transforming his body, starting with his hair, then his chest, then hips. A blue bow was manifested in his hair when he tapped his hair with his cane, a temporary blue glow accommodating it. The same was done with his dress.
With another flick of his wrist, he spawned a golden mirror in front of him, the intricateness standing out in the plainness of the desolate landscape. He drifted down to the ground elegantly, like a princess. Well, more like a twink. But specifics never truly mattered, have they not?
“And now for the finishing touches…” Shadow Milk murmured to himself, spawning a tube of deep blue lipstick in one hand. He popped off the top, twisting the bottom until it was an acceptable length. He then started applying it to his plush lips, smacking them once when he was done.
Shadow Milk twirled once more in his dress, admiring his newfound curves. He looked absolutely gorgeous, and that was no lie. One last thing before he set out on his revenge. He summoned a basket in his free hand, filled with… air. Nothing was in it.
Now he looked perfect.
A smirk grew on Shadow Milk’s lips, and with a snap of his fingers, the mirror disappeared in a puff of smoke. He twirled his cane once, and drew a circle with it in the air. He made sure that the other side of the portal would appear away from prying eyes. He looked through the magical door, and what he saw were the cracked and dingy tiles of the outskirts of the Vanilla Kingdom.
Shadow Milk’s nose wrinkled in disgust as he stepped through the portal. His nose had been invaded with a disgusting smell that he couldn’t quite place. He made an audible disgusted sound, and stuck out his blue tongue. It used to be forked, but he made sure to alter that. Despite that, he really needed to get out of this part of town.
He walked for a minute, seeing the abandoned houses and overgrown plants. The waffle cone patterned shingles on the roofs were cracked and dingy, at least, the ones that weren’t missing. Cream tiles under his feet were cracked beyond repair, and a mouse even scurried past his feet. Honestly, it didn't phase him too bad though.
Shadow Milk’s walking started to turn into sprinting (which was very hard to do in kitten heels) as his desperation grew. This place was disgusting and filthy, not really his style. Especially not in a dress. He was having to use a lot of magic to support standing, let alone running. By the time he reached an alleyway, he was out of breath. He leaned over slightly, panting, until he heard multiple voices, a crowd.
He quickly hid behind a wall, careful not to be seen. He slowed his breathing, careful not to be heard either. That’s when he heard his voice, cutting through the crowd.
It was Pure Vanilla Cookie.
“Now, now, settle down little lambs. I know you’re all quite eager to see me.”
“Of course we are, mister!”
“You leave for soooo long, and come back looking like the sun!”
“How could we not be happy?”
In all honesty, these kids had quite an extensive vocabulary. Shadow Milk Cookie peeked out from behind the wall, just enough to see him. He was radiant, beautiful, and all those little freshly baked cookies crowded around him thought so as well. They were grabbing at his staff and robes, pulling and tugging. But all Pure Vanilla was doing was laughing it off, telling them to settle down. Seeing his other half like that, all sweet and paternal… it made Shadow Milk’s cold heart clench slightly. His pupils dilated like a cat’s, an unfamiliar feeling creeping up on him.
But with an ugly scowl, Shadow Milk pushed it down.
“It’s now or never,’ Shadow Milk thought, straightening out the skirt of his dress. He put on the nicest smile he could muster, and walked out into the crowd, acting clueless. He then quickly scurried behind a pillar as his target began to move. He watched his other half with narrowed eyes as he began to move from pillar to pillar, spying on Pure Vanilla as he walked. In a flash of movement, Shadow Milk was behind the pillar right in front of him, basket bobbing from the suddenness.
Time for the first scene to commence.
Shadow Milk stepped out from behind the pillar when Pure Vanilla had his head turned, a small, wicked smile on his face. Right before he looked back in front of him, Shadow Milk “accidentally” bumped shoulders with him, causing them both to stumble slightly.
Before he could think, Pure Vanilla’s hand shot out, grabbing his arm before he could fall. His eyes, blue and yellow, were slightly open with surprise and concern from the collision. Ever the kind cookie he was.
“I’m terribly sorry ma’am. Are you alright?” Pure Vanilla asked, a clear expression of worry on his face. His lips were turned downward in a small frown. Lips that had to be somewhat good at kissing…
Shadow Milk, with the sweetest smile he could muster, waved it off with his free hand.
“It’s alright, truly. You have no need to apologize."
“I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”
“Oh, I’m just traveling, and I happened to end up in this wonderful place.”
Shadow Milk felt like barfing.
“Well I, king of the Vanilla Kingdom, welcome you to my humble kingdom, Ms…”
“Blueberry Cream Cookie.”
A warm smile grew on Pure Vanilla’s face at hearing his (fake) name. He held out his hand slightly, a silent invitation for the other to take it.
“A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. Greetings aside, would you like for me to show you around?”