Chapter Text
A warm golden flash covered the dark realm of deceit and doubt.
Pure Vanilla cookie stood with an oddly calm expression, a gentle smile on his tan face. His golden hair swayed gently in the spire’s breeze.
Not an ounce of fear on his face — all it contained was tender love.
“Shadow Milk Cookie, please wait.” he pleaded gently. Stepping towards the angered blue jester.
He looked at him with soft eyes.
His voice was quiet, a slight happiness behind his words.
Yet the jester interpreted his care for fear as he spoke up to respond — “Heh! What's that now?
You're not afraid I'll destroy your friends again!?”
With a deranged expression in his eyes, a wide cynical grin. His voice cracking with his words.
Pure Vanilla sighed, calmly he responded.
“That.. is right. You are correct... To me, nothing is more important than protecting my friends, but they are much stronger than you think. They helped me find my path again..but—”
Shadow Milk cut him off with an irritated huff.
“.. seriously? Ha! You're gonna lecture me!?”
His eyebrows furrowed in anger.
“But! I've been wondering: Instead of taking my Souljam by force, you chose to test me and see if I could truly fall. Why was that?
Out of all your options, it was to toy with me.”
Pure Vanilla asks.
More seriously, his expression matching his tone as looks up at the jester whose expression formed into one of mirth.
“..Oh, can't I have a little fun..!?
Seeing a pitiful fool of truth tremble. consumed by self-doubt — so scared to be devoured by my deceit! The LOOK on your face! It's almost comical!”
Shadow Milk cackles.
Looking down at Pure Vanilla like he's weak prey. Like a cat ready to eat a mouse after a long game of chase.
Those hungry eyes — ready to destroy this crumb once and for all.
You say that, and yet... I saw your memories.
I saw how happy you were to see my Souljam touched by your Deceit..” Pure Vanilla utters.
Those words seem to strike a chord in the theatrical cookie. He pauses. His eyes widen in shock.
“...What..?” He mutters.
“I can feel how truly lonely you were…” Pure Vanilla says, his voice is full of love and care as the words come out gently.
His hand pressed to his glowing souljam. His words ring of truth.
A glittery warm aura fills the realm full of his compassionate heart, shining through the dark veil.
Like a torch guiding you out of the darkness.
“PFFT! HAHAHAHA!!” Shadow Milk begins to laugh manically.
A sardonic smirk appears on his face as he speaks.
“Lonely?! Me!? LONELY!?
ha ha ha… Now, now, who's the clown here!? ohoho….. I’m tearing up!”
He finishes as he wipes away his ‘fake’ tears.
Look at my glorious spire! Bask in its splendor!
Here, I have anything I want! Fools — so eager to fall to their knees in exchange for one little lie.. as many I want! It's MY realm to do whatever I want!
Don't you understand? How could I be alone here!
Surely, you've lost your mind!!” He hisses.
“Still, you continued to test me. Was it solely for your enjoyment that you wished to see me fall…?” Pure Vanilla prodded.
“Be hone-”
“SILENCE!” Shadow Milk screamed. “ZIP IT!” he followed up, his realm distorting with a loud growl.
“I am the master of this realm, don't you DARE act like you own me!” He explained with a vitriolic rage, a glare of “death is upon” you directed at Pure Vanilla.
His slit eyes thin.
“When you and I became one briefly..”
“ONE MORE WORD AND I'LL WIPE YOUR DOUGH OF THE FACE OF THE EARTHBREAD!” Shadow Milk milk snarls, completely ready to go through with his words.
He begins to charge an attack but alas, Pure Vanilla continues.
“I felt it, a droplet of longing…
I know the feeling, for I've felt it myself…
This sensation that no one gets you but I..
yes. It's true, Shadow Milk cookie.
No one else but myself can truly understand you.” Pure Vanilla states, a revelation the jester is stunned by.
His expression becomes softer. “What…?” He mumbles.
Pure Vanilla smiles softly.
“We share the same Souljam.. we can understand each other like no one else can.” He steps closer.
“You don't have to be lonely anymore..” he extends a hand.
“Please..” he pleads.
“Let me be your friend..” he says with nothing but love in his voice.
“... friend…?” Shadow Milk's now soft voice crackles, his theatrics are off, the true sad soul behind the mask shows itself.
Tears welling up in his eyes.
He sounds so broken yet hopeful for a small fleeting moment, yet his crumbling walls rebuild themselves, his mask forces itself to return to its performer playing its part.
A puppet to his own puppet master, his own aching heart.
He lashes out. “curse you!!” He cries.
“you know NOTHING!! you ARE NOTHING!”
He spews and hurls insults.
“I HATE you!”
Pure Vanilla's once gentle expression fades. He sighs with a disappointed look about him. Clinging firmly to his new key-shaled staff. He says
“Alright.. it's going to be like this.. Shadow Milk cookie!”
Shadow Milk temporarily pauses, ready to charge for his onslaught.
He blinks. His curiosity, getting the best of him.
“What could you POSSIBLY want to say now!? You're a goner y'know!”
Shadow Milk yells.
“The moment we merged souls I was reminded of something. Why I'm the way I am, why I relate to your longing. Why I felt so compelled to believe your deceit for even a split second.
This is my truth.” Pure Vanilla says.
His lip wobbles before he clenches his teeth with determination.
“I know you better than you want to believe, as not only the other half of your Souljam, I reveal you this
Would you really deny—”
Suddenly Pure Vanilla transforms.
“Yourself..?”
It's like looking in a slightly off mirror, your reflection doesn't exactly match you.
He looks like Shadow Milk but his robes remain white and gold, with his Souljam of truth still centred on his chest.
His hair looks like Shadow Milk's but with some faint yellow and white stars.
His face looks like Shadow Milk's but he lacks the mark over the eye and instead has his usual forehead marking.
“That reflection you showed me, I knew it felt familiar. I am you.” He announces.
“..what? HA! you're a shapeshifter now too!? That's your BIG announcement!?” Shadow Milk scoffs.
“No.. I remembered who I truly am, the Souljam complicates it beyond typical understanding but truthfully, we are one. Two halves of a whole.. I am part of you. That is why you must accept my friendship.
I will teach you it's okay to love yourself. How to accept yourself, so I too — can learn again.”
He holds out his free hand to Shadow Milk who is now completely flabbergasted.
“What are you..” he asks incredulously. Suspicious Pure Vanilla's words are all lies.
“I just told you, please. Believe me.. accept my friendship.. we don't have to fight.” The truthful one pleads.
A healer at his very core, desperate to heal his other half’s pain. A pain that even stings him.
“I brought you joy, that must be something. You can't run from me forever.. I'll find you time and time again and every time I'll offer you my love.” He promises.
Shadow Milk shakily puts down his staff, glaring wide-eyed at him, his gaze unfocused from sheer shock.
“Y…You….You ignorant gnat.. quit.. quit acting like you know me, you AREN'T me. You're just a thief who STOLE MY SOULJAM! I will destroy you and your “truth” with it you LIAR! LIAR!! LIAR!!!” he yells. Beginning to quiver and shake from fear, his brain aching from confusion.
“Please..” Pure Vanilla begs, clasping his blue hands together, practically praying to the once emissary.
“Let me love you..”
Shadow Milk lets a puff of air escape his throat. With a heavy shaky sigh to follow.
“Please..”
Finally, taking one of Pure Vanilla's clasped hands and gently caressing it.
“Fine..”
He accepts...