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The Vanilla Kingdom was lit by the night. All the other cookies were asleep, except Pure Vanilla himself.
Shadow Milk was asleep already. Pure Vanilla was thankful he was asleep, because Shadow Milk almost never slept. He didn’t need to sleep, neither of them did, but Pure Vanilla preferred to have rest before he went about his day. He swore Shadow Milk ran on a small breakfast in the morning and that alone.
His face was so peaceful when he slept. Pure Vanilla couldn’t help but reach his hand out and touch it as he faced him on his side. His thumb dipped temporary dimples into his soft, delicate cheeks. Shadow Milk muttered something, trying to bat his hand away.
Shadow Milk’s dough was much softer than regular cookies’ dough, he had noted. His dough was so soft and squishy, but he wouldn’t tell Shadow Milk that. He had a feeling he was sensitive about it. After all, he saw Shadow Milk’s shaky legs when he tried to walk.
Pure Vanilla tentatively closed his eyes, removing his hand from his face and tucking it near his chest. He was about to rest before a thought hit him, and he opened his eyes again. Slowly, he drew closer to Shadow Milk, resting soundly in bed beside him. Closer and closer until their Soul Jams were pressing together. Then, slowly, he fell into slumber.
As soon as his eyes were closed, mirrors of memories swirled before him. Some of them were blue, some yellow, some dark and some bright. Pure Vanilla had no idea what to make of the swirling, blurry shapes in front of him. With one shaky hand, he reached out and touched one of the memories, letting it draw him inwards.
He opened his eyes, and he was in a field.
The field was blue. Blue everywhere. Blue grass, light blue flowers, and a dark blue sky that was almost black. Pure Vanilla knew immediately that this memory had to do with Shadow Milk.
Weeping rang in his ears. He turned his head, but he could not hear where it was coming from. It seemed to sound in all directions, so he opened his eyes to try and find where the crying was. He looked around, and he spotted a blue, black, and gold colored figure sitting hunched in the grass.
Pure Vanilla approached. He did not have his staff with him in this memory, so he stumbled a bit while walking, but eventually made his way to the figure.
“Hello, friend.” He spoke softly, warmly, as to avoid further upsetting them. “Are you alright?”
They sniffed, looking up and rubbing their eyes. “No. I—I’m so tired… I don’t want to talk to anyone ever again… “
Pure Vanilla sat down next to them. “And why is that?”
They looked away. “They ask me questions I don’t have the answer to, and then they get mad at me and call me horrible things when I tell them I don’t know. I hate them. I wish I was never baked.”
“I’m very sorry. That sounds horrible. Would you like to stay with me for a while?”
The cookie hesitated before nodding, rubbing their nose on their sleeve. “Yes, please.”
Pure Vanilla allowed them to sit in silence. Their sniffling eventually ceased, and he took the opportunity to ask them a few questions.
“What’s your name, if you don’t mind telling me? My name is Pure Vanilla Cookie.”
“That’s a nice name, I suppose.” There was a hint of a smile in their tone. “I’m called Fount of Knowledge.”
Pure Vanilla opened his eyes in surprise. “Fount?”
Fount of Knowledge flinched. “Ah… yes?”
“I… I’m sorry. I just… I know that name… “ Pure Vanilla ran a hand through his hair, allowing his eyes to close again.
Fount laughed softly. “Well, I… I hope that’s not a bad thing.”
He shook his head. “It’s not… you just… you remind me of someone.”
“I see.” He nodded, looking away again. “Who is your mother?”
“My… my mother?”
“Yes. Mine is First Milk Cookie, but I don’t usually call her that. She’s a witch.”
Pure Vanilla fiddled with his hands, unsure if he was invading Shadow Milk’s privacy or not. Shadow Milk had never spoken of First Milk Cookie outright, only mentioned her. Would he be alright if Pure Vanilla knew?
“... I don’t really have a mother. Can you tell me more about yours?”
Fount hummed thoughtfully. “No mother? Well, mine is very kind. She used to sing me to sleep, and she would tell me of all the wonderful things I would do… She created me with her own hands, but I don’t really remember. I didn’t exist, and then I did. She put too much milk in my dough, everyone else says, but she said I was perfect just the way I was.”
Pure Vanilla smiled softly. “That’s lovely to hear. She loves you very much, then?”
“Well, that’s what she told me.” Fount ducked his head down. “But I don’t think she’s very proud of me anymore. I can’t even answer the questions asked of me. That’s all I’m good for.”
“I’m sure you’re good for a lot of things.” Pure Vanilla tilted his head at him.
“Like what? I can’t even properly answer questions. I can’t talk to other cookies because they think I’m weird. I have no knowledge. My name is a lie.”
Pure Vanilla was silent. Fount sighed sadly.
“... hah… I should probably get back. There must be… a line of cookies waiting for me… “ Fount stood, but he stumbled. Pure Vanilla quickly rose and took his hands so he couldn’t fall.
“Thank you… sorry… I’m… I’m not very good at walking… “
“It’s okay.” Pure Vanilla reassured, slowly taking his hands away and allowing Fount to float just slightly above the ground. “You’re perfect just the way you are.”
Fount smiled widely. “I… Thank you. I’m… you’re too kind.”
“You’re very welcome. And, if the cookies are angry at you, I suggest you tell them that you don’t have all the answers. Solutions come easier when you try to explain.”
Fount looked unsure, but he nodded. “Yes. Okay. Goodbye.” He turned to leave, but glanced back. “Will I see you again?”
“You will.” Pure Vanilla promised. “In different circumstances, but you will.”
He looked confused, but he nodded again, and then left. Pure Vanilla watched him until he was out of sight. Then, the field fell away around him, and was replaced by the familiar walls of the Spire.
He had grown not to fear the Spire anymore. Now it was just a recurring thing he’d seen in his dreams. This was a memory, though, so there were no eyes to surround him or teeth to trap him in a wet, salivating mouth. Unless that’d happened to Shadow Milk in the past, but he highly doubted it.
A purple blur zoomed past him. Pure Vanilla blinked a few times before following it. He ended up deeper in the Spire, and he found Shadow Milk in the middle with another cookie.
“Right… that’s it… “ Shadow Milk’s voice was deeper than Fount’s. Lower, more scratchy. “Once I figure out how to tie this knot, you’ll look dapper in no time!”
The purple cookie spoke. “You don’t know how to tie a knot?”
“I must say, I’m more a fan of clip-ons.”
The purple cookie laughed, and that’s when Pure Vanilla recognized him as Black Sapphire Cookie. He looked younger, shorter, reaching to about Shadow Milk’s neck. His voice was a bit higher, but his laugh was the same.
“Right, okay, so you’ve never tied knots when wearing ties? You must be a liar, a fraud—” Black Sapphire cut himself off, squeaking. Shadow Milk, who had been struggling to fix a tie around his neck, choked him. Pure Vanilla couldn’t tell if it was an accident or not.
“Oops~ “ He feigned innocence.
“That hurt.” Black Sapphire huffed. “Would you do that to Candy Apple?”
“If she were calling me a fraud, maybe. You have a much more of a sharp tongue than her. She knows that I’m the boss.” Shadow Milk shot back, finally tying the tie correctly. “Ta–Da!”
Black Sapphire shuffled forward, looking in a mirror. “Hmmm… I suppose it looks alright.”
Shadow Milk snorted, coming up behind him. “It better, because I spent ten minutes on that!”
“Ten minutes is all too long, Master Shadow Milk Cookie!” Another voice chirped. All three of the cookies turned to see Candy Apple Cookie. She looked about the same, too, just slightly younger.
“Hey! Don’t make me strangle you like I did your brother!”
“Brother, Schmother.” Candy Apple rolled her eyes, fluttering forward. “Black Sapphire said not to use that word.”
“Cookies can’t really be related on technical terms.” Black Sapphire added.
Shadow Milk’s mouth twisted. “Cookies are so different from when I used to be a Fount… “ He muttered to himself.
“Oh!” Candy Apple jumped up and down. “Will you tell us about Fount of Knowledge? I like him!”
“No, but I can give you a matching tie with Black Sapphire~!” Shadow Milk singsonged. Candy Apple cheered and ran up to him, hugging his leg before he began fixing the tie around her neck.
He tied this one faster than the other one. When he was done, she looked in the mirror like Black Sapphire had done, but she deflated. “I don’t like how the purple looks on me. I’m too red, I think. If I were purple, it would look better.”
Shadow Milk scoffed. “Oh, please! I think it looks beautiful on you, Candy Apple! You don’t have to change a thing.” He grabbed her shoulders and rested his chin on the top of her head from behind. “You’re perfect just the way you are.”
Pure Vanilla smiled looking at them. Shadow Milk really did love his minions, didn’t he? Pure Vanilla didn’t want to disturb this memory. It was so happy. So he watched for just a moment longer before he whispered ’take me to the next one, Soul Jam.’
It followed his command. The Spire fell away to reveal the Vanilla Kingdom. Pure Vanilla was surprised, at first, before he realized that it made sense for Shadow Milk to have so many memories here. How long had he been staying? He’d lost track of time.
Shadow Milk lay in the garden, the front of him facing the sky. A bluebird landed on his chest, but he didn’t notice. He continued basking. Pure Vanilla wondered if he’d fallen asleep.
To test it, he stepped closer. “Shadow Milk… ?”
Shadow Milk jumped, opening his eyes. “Nilly—! Gah, you scared me!” He sat up and the bluebird flew away. “You really can’t sneak up on a guy like that.”
“Sorry.” Pure Vanilla knew he had to keep this short. He didn’t know whether he would be messing something up or not, but with another one of himself close by in this memory he didn’t think anything good would come of it. “Were you sleeping?”
“Pssh. Sleep is for chumps. I don’t need sleep.”
Pure Vanilla smothered a smile. You’re asleep just back home… He thought, but didn’t say.
“Right, right. How have Candy Apple and Black Sapphire been doing lately?”
“Hm… they’ve been fine. Honestly, I could care less.” Shadow Milk floated a few feet above the ground.
That’s a lie. Pure Vanilla thought immediately, but he didn’t know what more he expected from the Beat of Deceit.
“Ah… I have a question.”
“Ask away.”
“Do you know anything of First Milk Cookie?”
Shadow Milk froze. He stared at Pure Vanilla with wide eyes, as if he’d just broken time and space. A silence followed that felt like a held breath.
“... Why do you ask?”
“I just… I read about her in a book once, I think.”
“I know a bit of her.” Shadow Milk said. Pure Vanilla was a bit surprised that he wasn’t going to lie. “She was a very kind cookie. Um, she made one of the first Virtues… I don’t know much else about her, besides that.”
Pure Vanilla hesitated before continuing. “What do you think her voice sounds like?”
“... “ Shadow Milk looked at him like he was accusing him of murder, but he took a breath and answered. “... I’m sure it was… very beautiful and soft. Like the pouring of milk and honey into a pitcher. She… she could probably sing amazingly. But I… I can’t imagine.”
Pure Vanilla had never heard Shadow Milk stammer so much. His voice broke a few times while talking, like he didn’t know whether he should be revealing this much. Pure Vanilla nodded very slowly, and then slowly retreated backwards.
“Ah. Okay. Thank you for your input, Shadow Milk.”
He eyed him suspiciously. “... right. Uh, bye?”
“Goodbye.” As soon as he stepped behind a tree, he tapped his Soul Jam, and then the world fell away again. Vanilla Kingdom was gone, and he was back in bed.
Night had come and gone in the time he’d taken to look at his memories. The rising sun shone through the window, and Shadow Milk had already started waking. The blanket moved, and then Shadow Milk sat up, stretching and yawning. He must’ve seen Pure Vanilla’s eyes starting to open as well, and he poked his face.
“Rise and shine, sleepyhead.” Shadow Milk muttered.
Pure Vanilla obeyed, sitting up and stretching his arms forward. The silk of his nightgown and the strands of his head lifted from the pillow and billowed out onto the blanket. Shadow Milk’s eyes traced him, like he was trying to memorize the way his hair and clothing draped.
Pure Vanilla shot him a sideways smile. “Good morning, bluebird.”
“Good morning.” Shadow Milk was a bit grumbly, but a smile snuck up on his face.
He chuckled softly, and scooted closer. Pure Vanilla cupped Shadow Milk’s face in his hands and kissed his forehead softly. “You’re perfect just the way you are.” He whispered.
He then stood from the bed and began changing. Shadow Milk stared at him, looking starstruck, like Pure Vanilla had just told him something mindblowing.
“Ah… yeah. Okay. Thanks.” Shadow Milk stammered, rushing to get dressed too.