Chapter Text
Light of Truth: “Are you sure we should do this? Your host has already accepted my masters friendship-,”
Light of Deceit: “And they’ve barely talked after! That stupid brat doesn’t want to let his guard down! That’s why we have to do this! After all, what’s a stronger connection than being in each other's shoes?”
Light of Truth: “I must admit, I do wonder what it would be like to guide your host. Especially since I haven’t been able too since we were one as the soul jam of knowledge,”
Light of Deceit: “And I’m curious with yours as well! Let’s continue this chaotic plan!”
Pure Vanilla had been checking himself in the mirror, recently, he’s been strangely infatuated in his own looks. But can he really blame himself? Sure, his new vain side is a bit alarming, but how can a face like THIS be hidden? There must be upgrades though, how has he never considered make up? He desperately needed it, the world needs to see how better he is than all of them-
Shadow Milk looked at Pure Vanilla, concerned with his new looks. It was subtle, but Vanilla eventually kept asking for his make up. Eventually, for some reason, Shadow Milk lost interest in make-up and dolling himself up entirely so he just gave it all to Nilly. It’s strange though, Vanilla’s routine looks exactly like what he used to do. Shadow Milk shouldn’t be concerned…but…
“Vanilla, what made you so interested in my make-up in the first place?”
Pure Vanilla blinked at Shadow Milk, since when did Shadow Milk care?
“Uh, don’t know, just did. Why?” He immediately looked back at the mirror as if the conversation was insignificant. Usually Shadow Milk would point this out and lash out about it but, should he really? Pure Vanilla must be stressed from royal duties, he deserves a break. Shadow Milk grunted at his tight outfit, it’s been annoyingly itchy and admittedly…embarrasing?
Honestly he’s been weirded out showing himself off recently, he kinda wants to go back to something modest. Meanwhile Pure Vanilla growled about his sweaty robes, how has he been able to wear this for so long? It’s a complete burden, and just hides everything. In frustration he ripped a part of the collar to finally breath, Shadow Milk was startled by the sudden action.
“Did you just rip your clothes?” Shadow Milk's tone was an unnatural, genuine, tone of concern.
Pure Vanilla shrugged, “Need new ones anyway. I see why you wear body suits, hell that’s ten times more sexy then these loser dresses,”
Shadow Milk looked down at his book awkwardly, face flushed, “I actually was considering wearing something similar to what you wear,”
“Just have my closet, I was gonna burn them anyway,”
Shadow Milk gasped, “You don’t genuinely mean that!? You loved your outfits,”
Pure Vanilla scoffed, “They’re such a burden! I don’t know why I’ve kept them for so long,” Pure Vanilla stared at the mirror, then smiled in a way Shadow Milk found ominous, “I’ve been due for a change anyway,”
Shadow Milk looked down and adjusted his new glasses, he noticed his eye sight getting worse even with the eyes in his hair. It seemed only logical to get glasses, the old him would probably make fun of himself.
Shadow Milk stared at his own hand, which looked softer, “Yeah…maybe I am too,”
As the days went by, they both continued to act in strange ways. Shadow Milk started to wear Pure Vanilla’s robes. He sighed with relief, feeling less anxious about his figure. Meanwhile Pure Vanilla did the complete opposite, he rudely demanded his dress maker to make a new body suit. The dress maker was confused to say the least, Pure Vanilla never demanded, always asked politely. The outfit he had in mind was also strange for the king. Pants? Heels? Gloves? The entire thing was uncharacteristic, very showy for Pure Vanilla. Nevertheless, he was the king, so she helped with this new design.
The day she had him fitted was even stranger, their conversation was unusual.
“OW! Are you trying to kill me? The nerve!”
The vanillian dressmaker shook, realizing she accidentally stabbed the king with her sewing needle. This has happened before but Pure Vanilla just brushed it off to make her feel better.
“I-I’m sorry your majesty! I just need you to stay still,”
Pure Vanilla scoffed, “Don’t tell me how to do your job peasant. You’re lucky I’m even here,”
She had to hide her furry, since when did the king have such an attitude? As she continued, Pure Vanilla must have hated the silence because he broke it.
“Do you wanna know a little secret I’ve found out about?”
The dressmaker looked up, confused, “Uh, pardon me?”
Pure Vanilla smiled and tapped his lips, “A little birdy told me that the Cacao Kingdom are total frauds! Stole from land that wasn’t even there’s, then let the king be some rando who helped kick out the poor cookies,”
The dressmaker was even more confused, “Your majesty, I’m sorry to accuse you of this but…did you just lie about your own friend? You told us many times that all of the ancients earned their titles,”
Pure Vanilla shrugged, “Well how do you know if I wasn’t lying before? Can anyone really trust anyone? Besides I’m just sharing a rumor,”
The dressmaker finished the outfit, thankfully. She did not like hanging out with this fraud who claimed to be their king any longer. Pure Vanilla didn’t even thank her like he usually did, just walked out. Weird. The whole interaction was just weird.
Shadow Milk had been walking out into the kingdom recently, to the surprise of everyone. It was even MORE surprising when he acted exactly how the king used to. He would go on walks near the square and compliment everyone's stand. One jewelry stand he awed in the craftsmanship, the jewelry maker was terrified that a beast in front of him was literally complimenting his supplies.
“Are you saying you’ve made all of these by hand!? My word I admire your dedication! You should be proud of yourself, I shall buy the one ring with the moon! If I could, I'd buy one of everything, sir!”
The man was shocked and suspicious, “Yeah…are you yanking my chain? Trying to cast a spell on my stuff?”
Shadow Milk shook his head, “Of course not! Why would I taint genuine art!?”
The man just blinked, as everyone around him just stared in shock. It wasn’t the only thing Shadow Milk did similar to the king, he also started to tend to the cream sheep, who were lonely after Pure Vanilla stopped taking care of them. Shadow Milk even invited MORE animals to the kingdom's garden, with his favorites being the cream wolves which he somehow got the sheep and wolves to get along.
One day Strawberry Crepe looked puzzled as she saw Shadow Milk buried in animals laughing with pure joy.
“You’re the guy everyone’s been trying to warn me about?”
Shadow Milk looked at her while petting a sheep close to his chest, “People have been warning you about me? I’m sorry if I seem hostile,” He smiled ear to ear.
She tilted her head out of curiosity and examined his dough, “WHAT!? Odd, your dough scream mischievous and cruel but…you haven’t been that way,”
Shadow Milk laughed, in a way the freakily reminded Strawberry Crepe of Pure Vanilla, “I know I used to be that way, but I don’t know why, but I’ve started to reflect on things,”
Strawberry Crepe was too weirded out to continue the conversation, it was like Pure Vanilla in someone else's skin.
Meanwhile Pure Vanilla was barely showing up in the kingdom, and if he was? He acted completely different, instead of walking he floated, instead of helping others he’d laugh at their pain, the only time he’d have an actual conversation was if he had a lie or rumor to share.
Black Raisin Cookie was concerned the most with this change, and decided to take drastic measures and sent a letter to each ancient about the personality shift of both Pure Vanilla and Shadow Milk. It was too much when Pure Vanilla had to be forced to a meeting with Clotted Cream, only for him to threaten the man and the republic. He never apologized, refused to.
Black Raisin tried to reason with him, “Pure Vanilla, just apologize! If you don’t we might be threatened with war!”
Pure Vanilla just laughed in a cold, unfamiliar way, “GOOD! Something interesting would finally happen here,”
Black Raisin gasped in disgust, “Who even ARE you anymore!? How can you even say such things!?”
“You ask too many questions,” He walked to his room feeling no remorse.
Black Raisin finally had an update from each ancient a week later, each one being concerned and rushing immediately to the Vanilla Kingdom. She sighed with relief, praying to the witches that her friend would return.