Chapter Text
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The Vanilla Kingdom’s castle was different than Pure Sage’s old Spire of Deceit- Though the Spire now belonged to Blue Vanilla Cookie, he still felt nostalgia with the Spire.
And of course, this new home that was so different.
It had turrets and walkways and gardens and so, so much more- that Pure Sage Cookie now had embedded in his mind. Stupid Blue Vanilla with his lie! Ugh! Why did he have to be so clever?
And so, Pure Sage knew the comings and goings of everyone in the palace. Where the other Ancients were situated, the gargantuan library, even the white lily garden. But truly the most interesting place (though he refused to go) was the infirmary and the room that Blue Vanilla Cookie now rested in.
He didn’t- He did not despise his other half, Pure Sage concluded. Merely that the other was an annoyance- a little pesk that was now his responsibility. Pure Vanilla Cookie, ever the idiot, cast that silly little lie! Now Pure Sage had the beginnings of Pure Vanilla’s childhood stuck in his brain as his memories, but at least he knew who he was!
Blue Vanilla Cookie did not. He fully and truly believes, from the bottom of his heart to the beginning of his creation, that he was Shadow Milk Cookie. His lie had made both him, Golden Cheese Cookie, and at least a partial part of Pure Sage. It was Blue Vanilla’s life now- he still acted like Pure Vanilla Cookie, with only... A hint of perhaps Shadow Milk’s essense in there, but enough.
Pure Sage Cookie obviously had no intention on keeping Blue Vanilla like this. The other’s spell had failed so miraculously, and he had believed that both Pure Sage would believe himself Pure Vanilla and Blue Vanilla believe himself Shadow Milk!
It only worked out 50/50, he supposed. He held this guilt that Pure Sage never had, but with Pure Vanilla’s conscious and Shadow Milk’s memories, what could be expected? Pure Sage Cookie had honestly believed that the other would stay like this!
No, he would not; he found later that morning. After his chat with White Lily Cookie in the reading room and Hollyberry Cookie who had been eavesdropping. Lily had paralleled Pure Sage’s ways of manipulation, bringing up the idea that the four of them- Lily, Hollyberry, Sage and Vanilla should all go to the Garden of Sweet Delights and focus on speaking with Eternal Sugar Cookie to see if she could help reverse the memory spell.
Was it a horrible idea? Perhaps. But did Pure Sage Cookie go along with it? Yes, yes, he did.
Today was later after his conversation with White Lily and Hollyberry in the reading room. He had avoided Blue Vanilla’s room all day; no, he did not want to see the pitiful Ancient- No, Beast. It was so confusing nowadays.
He had lingered around the castle grounds, exploring and creating a mental map. Yes, he had Pure Vanilla’s in his memories, but Pure Sage wanted his own. He despised how much their memories blended together, wanting nothing more than Pure Vanilla Cookie’s memories out so he could just live his life-
...
Ah, that’s right.
It’s not his life.
He stole it right from Pure Vanilla Cookie.
Pure Sage Cookie had started all of this, and it was a domino effect. He’d originally just taken Silly Vanilly’s body for his own purposes- getting the Soul Jam back, but... But with time spent in Pure Vanilla’s body, he felt his feelings change.
Just as how when Pure Vanilla Cookie had spent time in Shadow Milk’s body, he lost his sense of self for the longest time. It was hilarious to watch at first- but being in ‘Nilly’s body had changed Shadow- No, Pure Sage for a while. Still did technically.
Pushing those disturbing thoughts from his mind, Pure Sage Cookie scowls. The sky had darkened to a crimson as the sun set on the horizon. The first day in this new... Awakened form, plus the other Ancients were still here.
Hollyberry and White Lily weren’t leaving, but Golden Cheese and Dark Cacao Cookie were both planning to leave over the next few days. Neither of them would want anything to do with Blue Vanilla, but they’d come to Pure Sage for anything- he was still technically sovereign in Pure Vanilla Cookie’s place- After all, Pure Sage was just Shadow Milk Cookie in Pure Vanilla Cookie’s body.
Pure Sage Cookie just hoped he could get through tonight with no flaws; he was in absolutely no mood to help, nor smile, nor even cackle and play games! He was exhausted after this morning with Blue Vanilla’s lie spell, with Golden Cheese having realized Blue Vanilla Cookie was Pure Vanilla Cookie, but then both of them forgetting the little swap ever happened.
Today had been stressful, exhausting, and Pure Sage just wanted to nap for hours and perhaps never wake up.
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Blue Vanilla Cookie’s dreams were a strange thing; that was for sure. Of memories of being the Fount, being the Sage of Truth, his library on fire, the flood... The terrible, horrible memories that he wanted to keep shoved to the back of his mind, unwilling to unpack his feelings.
He didn’t like the nightmares, but what could he do? Every time one got dredged to the surface, he woke up panting, eyes wide and terrified. He could feel the cold silk sheets that pooled around him on the bed. He could see the small glimmer of moonlight that the open window left cracked on the ground.
He just wanted the memories to go away, go away, go away-
But what could he do? He wasn’t alone though- Not in the castle. His other half, Pure Vanilla... No, Pure Sage Cookie was here somewhere. As was White Lily Cookie, and she was nice. But... But Blue Vanilla felt that he couldn’t... Shouldn’t speak of his nightmares with the Ancient of Freedom.
But... No, Pure Sage Cookie was probably asleep, and Blue Vanilla didn’t want to wake his other half. He’d have to deal with them alone- It was still relatively early in the night, a nice 9 PM, but he had no doubt everyone was settling for a nice long rest after this morning’s events.
Funny, they were still quite blurry for Blue Vanilla.
No matter.
The former Fount of Knowledge, Sage of Truth and... Current Beast of Deceit would figure something out!
🍀~~🤍~~🍀
Pure Sage Cookie sat up in bed- not technically his bed, but Pure Vanilla Cookie’s old one. He could not sleep, though he hadn’t the faintest idea why. Perhaps it was the long-forgotten memories of his- no, no, Pure Vanilla’s childhood that were stuck in Pure Sage’s mind.
Upon every time he shut his eyes, he had a stupid dream about being a child, roaming around with sheep, dreams about following a young White Lily through halls of the Blueberry Yogurt Academy- The Academy he founded! Ugh! He just wanted these stupid-
...
Sitting up, he grunts before glancing around the room. Nothing here was his style at all, too pastel, not enough blue. But did he complain? No. Perhaps he hadn’t changed it because it felt like a sin against Pure Vanilla Cookie to do that.
Groaning, he swings his legs over the side of the bed before standing up. Yes, his sleep schedule had been horrible- both now, and when he had been the Fount of Knowledge. Though those memories of his are foggy, and probably Blue Vanilla Cookie thought more about his time... or really, Shadow Milk’s time as Fount.
Hmm, Blue Vanilla Cookie.
It was the dead of night, and surely the silly cookie would be asleep?
So perhaps.... Yes, a peek wouldn’t hurt.
Nonetheless, Pure Sage Cookie stands before trudging down the halls in but a simple cream robe. He didn’t feel like fully getting dressed, so this was the next best thing. Grumbling about not using his magic to float (he very much could; he just found no interest in doing such a thing currently) Pure Sage glides down the halls of the castle like a phantom, searching for the infirmary.
Once he finds it, he goes from there to Blue Vanilla Cookie’s rooms. Unlocked, obviously, and no guards were posted. He did agree with White Lily Cookie on one thing- Blue Vanilla was completely and utterly harmless right now.
Unless, well, he somehow finds out about the swap.
That wouldn’t be good.
Peeking his head in, he fully expected to see Vanilla curled up under the covers, sleeping peacefully, maybe even snoring.
The Beast was doing nothing of the sort.
He was sitting up in bed, massaging his temples as he panted quietly, trying to steady his breathing. A sheen of sweat dripped from his forehead, and the covers were flung off of him haphazardly. He looked no where near a peaceful rest.
It seems nightmares plagued Blue Vanilla while dreams of prancing around with White Lily plagued Pure Sage. Did he envy Blue Vanilla for the nightmares? Witches, no, but he might’ve preferred them to fluffy dreams that originated from Pure Vanilla Cookie.
So, Pure Sage, grumbling to himself about why the hell he’s intervening, steps inside and shuts the door behind him. Hearing it, Blue Vanilla looks up before squinting his eyes in the dim light. “...White Lily Cookie...?”
“Try again, ‘Nilly.” Pure Sage called before slinking forward, coming to stop at the side of the bed.
“Ah... Pure Sage Cookie... Why are you...?”
“Dreams running rampant,”
“...oh...”
“And you’re having trouble too, aren’t you?” Pure Sage cracks a small grin before he leans down, a mere inches from the other’s face.
“I-... Yes, yes, I am. Nightmares, to be specific.” Blue Vanilla murmurs.
“Mm-hmm? Well, lookie, we’ve got ourselves a shared problem! Any idea what to do about it~?”
“...Maybe... We can keep each other company...? U-Unless you’re busy and don’t want to-”
“Blue Vanilla Cookie, what the hell would I be doing in the dead of night, wandering into your room?”
“...”
“That’s what I thought,” Pure Sage grinned fully before leaning over Blue Vanilla, “Aaaaaand, you just want my company, nothing else?”
“A-Ah... Y-Yeah...” Blue Vanilla flushed a deep indigo.
“Nothing else?” Pure Sage purred, lips curved upward. He takes the other’s hand, rubbing circles on Vanilla’s palm.
“N... No...?”
Pure Sage just grins before giving the other a once-over. Blue Vanilla Cookie wore something akin to his jester outfit, though more comfortable for sleep. It was like a nightgown, though a deep blue and the casual ruffle here and there.
“You’re comfortable?” Pure Sage asks, softening a hint. He lets a little bit of worry shine in his eyes.
“A-As comfortable as I can be,” Blue Vanilla mutters, flopping back on the bed. Though due to Pure Sage still holding his hand, the Ancient is jerked forward where he flops unceremoniously on Blue’s chest.
Both freeze, not even breathing.
“...”
“...”
“Crap...” Pure Sage mutters, he shifts, or at least tries to, which ends up with his cheek somehow pressed against Blue Vanilla’s neck. “Crap, crap, crap-”
“T-This is... F-Fine,” Blue Vanilla flushes further, hands hovering and unsure.
“No, it’s not ‘Nilly- White Lily would kill me if she saw us!”
“...W... White Lily Cookie doesn’t... She doesn’t get an opinion right now...” Vanilla mutters with quiet intensity before gently laying his hands down on Pure Sage’s waist. He cups the other’s hip before adjusting the Ancient to lay more comfortably on him.
“I thought you just wanted my company-?” Pure Sage murmured, scrunching his eyes shut as he lay there.
“My desire changed,” Blue mumbled.
“I can see that...”
“...You’re fine with this...?” Blue Vanilla asked.
“...Not particularly, but fine,”
“I-If you don’t want to, it’s fine-”
“’Nilly, quiet down before you wake the whole Kingdom.”
“...sorry... But you’re okay?” He whispers.
“Yes, fine, whatever,” Pure Sage grumbled before burying his face in the other’s neck.
“...thank you,” Blue Vanilla Cookie finally says.
“No problem,” Sage muttered.
“No... I meant... With, ah, letting me stay and recuperate here in the Vanilla Kingdom,” Blue Vanilla mumbled before pulling the covers over the both of them. His hand gently prods the other’s before he acquiesces, letting their fingers become intertwined.
“...”
“I... I know I’m just a Beast, a-and even though you purified me-” God, Pure Sage hated having to lie to Blue Vanilla about that now- “I just wanted to thank you for letting me stay here,”
“...It’s... Nothing, really.” Pure Sage finally manages to say.
Blue Vanilla nodded before settling back down. He finally looks the slightest bit sleepy, and Pure Sage is taking that as a win.
Unfortunately, Pure Sage is also getting tired. Tired enough that his eyes slip shut, tired enough that he can feel his body going lax on Blue Vanilla as the other drifts off too.
It’s warm, and it’s comfortable...
Like being in the warm wool of his dearest cream sheep, swaddled off to sleep like a cared baby...
A childhood Pure Sage never had flashed through his head. It isn’t his; it doesn’t belong to him. It belongs to the cookie beneath him.
But why does Pure Sage feel almost grateful that he has those memories?
🍀~~🤍~~🍀
In the morning, Pure Sage is awoken by a sharp jab of something to his back. It’s sharp and pointy and he absolutely hates whoever the hell disturbed his rest. He was warm and content and most definitely going to stay for another five hours, if not for whoever woke him up!
“Stop ittttt...” He grumbles, nestling deeper into that warmth he felt, pressing face against some familiar. He thinks. Familiar? Is that the word to use...? No matter, he just wants to rest.
“Wake up,” A voice hissed near him, jabbing him again. “Wake up, you insolent fool!”
Pure Sage grumbles before his eyes flutter open. He rubs them and grumbles. He left the diadem in his room last night, leaving this body’s eyesight to guide him. It was horrible, but it was all he had.
“Shut uppppp, I’m getting up...” He groaned and sat up.
White Lily Cookie stood there, furious and hateful and spiteful.
Waking up Pure Sage, another reason to add to the list of all the reasons he hated the Ancient of Freedom.
Rolling his eyes he scoffs, White Lily clenches her fists tight before grumbling, “What are you doing here?”
“Doing where? In my room? Because why the hell are you-”
“You’re in the infirmary, idiot!”
“...what?”
White Lily scowls and waves a hand around. It takes a moment for him to see everything in semi-clarity, but he sees clearly that this isn’t his room. At all.
And beside him, curled around most of his body, is Blue Vanilla Cookie, still dead asleep. His face softened, and Pure Sage growled as he turned back to White Lily.
“Rude! We were having a moment!”
“A moment? That was you sleeping beside Blue Vanilla!” She hissed again before grabbing Pure Sage by his wrist and attempting to drag him out.
He just gasped and made an affronted noise, but an arm wrapped around his waist and attempted to pull Pure Sage back down. Blue Vanilla had an eye cracked open and an adorable pout on his lips, trying to keep Pure Sage with him.
White Lily Cookie sees this and releases Pure Sage immediately, and she tries to smile at Blue Vanilla, but it comes out as a half-grimace as the Beast pulls Pure Sage back down beside him. He rewraps his arms around Pure Sage and tucks him back next to him, glancing at White Lily, he mumbles, “In a minute, Lily...”
She sighs and shakes her head before spinning on her heel and striding out of the room.
“What’s her problem?” Pure Sage jokes, propping himself up on an elbow to stare at Blue Vanilla.
“I think she’s not a morning person,” Blue says.
“I can see that!” Pure chuckles before tilting his head, “Any reason you pulled me back? I know if she got me out of the room, she’d have yelled my ass off.”
“Mm-hmm...”
“You’re half asleep, aren’t you?” Sage grinned.
Blue Vanilla nodded.
“Heh,” Pure Sage laughed quietly before settling down beside Blue Vanilla. The Beast buries his face in the Ancient’s neck before mumbling, “I didn’t have any nightmares once you came.”
“...” Pure Sage doesn’t know what to say to that, so he just tilts his head. “I didn’t have any pesky dreams either.”
“Good,”
“Mm-hmm.”
🍀~~🤍~~🍀
Later that day; after Pure Sage Cookie had to go through the Vanilla Kingdom and tend to all- What he really wanted to do was get on a dirigible, pile White Lily, Hollyberry, and Blue Vanilla all on and then sail their way to Eternal Sugar Cookie’s Garden of Sweet Delights. It was a plus if they could just land there, but no doubt the Beast of Sloth wouldn’t like that very much.
And so, Pure Sage found himself exhausted once more from these new duties; and not what happened the previous night! No, no, of course not! Last night was... Just a lapse in his better judgement! The silly Blue Vanilla Cookie couldn’t tempt him again!
Yet... Yet he found himself once again plagued by those cotton candy dreams again, and... And he just didn’t want to see- to remember something that wasn’t his again. He’s already got to keep up this ‘Pure Vanilla’ facade; he doesn’t actually want to be Pure Vanilla!
And so, he finds himself pacing his room, debating whether or not to go to the infirmary again. Blue Vanilla Cookie wouldn’t be awake, of course not! Right...?
Nonetheless, against his better judgement, Pure Sage goes to the infirmary, just as he did the night before. Blue Vanilla Cookie wouldn’t be awake, he told himself. Over and over, and maybe the lie stuck, but Pure Sage knew it was just a lie. Especially when he creeps into the room and sees Blue Vanilla Cookie sitting up and staring at a wall blankly.
At least, his expression was blank until Pure Sage Cookie came in- His gaze snapped to Pure Sage and a small, gentle smile curved his lips as he looked at the Ancient.
“Pure Sage Cookie,” He murmurs before laying back on the bed. “You came again.”
“Yep, I did!” Pure Sage grinned before floating over. He decided to use his magic now because he didn’t want to wake White Lily Cookie- Who had changed her room and was now right down the hall.
“Any reason?” Blue Vanilla asked, tilting his head as he shifted on his side and stared at Pure Sage.
“Dreams again. Did you have a... Nightmare?”
“I did.”
“...do you... Want to talk about it?” Sage mumbled before sitting on the edge of the bed; legs crossed as he glances between Blue Vanilla and elsewhere.
“Not... Really. I mean, only if you’re okay with hearing me talk about my time as the Fount of Knowledge and the Sage of Truth... But they’re nightmares...”
“Eh, I’m fine with it,” Pure Sage shrugged. “But if you start to cry, don’t expect me to console you.”
“Ah... Hah,” Blue Vanilla snorted before he nodded. And he began to tell Pure Sage about his nightmares.
🍀~~🤍~~🍀
Once again, a voice hissed in his ear to wake up, and the sharp butt of a staff jabbed into his side, and Pure Sage was awake. He knew he’d fallen asleep while hearing Blue Vanilla speak, and both were now contently snuggled together, with Pure Sage’s face buried in the other’s neck.
And White Lily waking him up again.
🍀~~🤍~~🍀
That routine- Of not wanting both nightmares and dreams happened every single day, up until the one where they had to leave for Beast-Yeast. Though, they always ended up intertwined again and again.
Oh, and Blue Vanilla- The silly little cookie started placing pecks on Pure Sage’s cheeks! Hopefully it was just a passing fad, Pure Sage didn’t- well, he didn’t enjoy it, but he didn’t despise it!
And every morning, White Lily Cookie caught them both, asleep together in the infirmary bed that Blue Vanilla was supposed to be resting up in. She hadn’t caught the kisses yet- thank the Witches.
But now they had to pack for Beast-Yeast; it was the sixth day, and the next morning they’d all be on a dirigible to the foreign continent. After Pure Sage Cookie had packed (all he really needed was his Soul Jam and the diadem that he’d made), the Ancient made his way to the infirmary. The sky outside showed it was nearing nighttime, the sun had already set, casting dark purples across the skies.
Earlier, about three days, Dark Cacao had returned to his Kingdom to create a trade agreement with the Vanilla Kingdom. And Pure Sage had, childishly, but cleverly, refused to sign the documents without one being in Braille.
A day after Dark Cacao Cookie had left, Golden Cheese Cookie departed to her own Kingdom. Pure Sage wouldn’t forget about the golden sovereign, and he planned on getting a way for the lie that she was under. He’d help her.
Strolling into the infirmary, Pure Sage grins as he sees Blue Vanilla standing, gazing out the window. “Daaaarrrlinggggg~!” He calls.
Blue Vanilla Cookie startles and looks over before chuckling softly. “Hello, Pure Sage,”
“Did you pack~?” Pure Sage floats over, resting his chin on the other’s shoulder.
“I just need my clothing and the Light of Truth, no? Then I already have what I need.”
“Hmm, I suppose so! But I really should get you a new wardrobe, your current... ‘Attitude’ doesn’t really match your outfit!” Sage grins before pecking the other on the cheek. Blue Vanilla flushes a deep indigo before turning and wrapping his arms around the Ancient.
“You’d do that for me?” Blue Vanilla says softly.
“Mm-hmm! I finished packing, so y’know, I have nothing to do!”
“Pure...” Blue Vanilla Cookie chuckles before hugging the Ancient. “Dear, I hope you know White Lily Cookie is here.”
“...” Pure Sage had been returning to the hug before he whipped around and spotted White Lily Cookie on a stool near Blue Vanilla’s bed, staring, mouth wide.
“I- Y-YoU dIdN’t SeE aNyThINg!” Pure Sage screeches before teleporting out of the room, flushed a dark red.
Blue Vanilla Cookie just giggles before floating over to the infirmary bed and laying down. He looks over at the still gaping White Lily and smiles warmly. “Where are we going, again?”
White Lily smacks her cheeks lightly before turning to the Beast, “E-Eternal Sugar’s Garden of Delights,” She blinks rapidly. “What was... Did Pure Sage Cookie just kiss you?”
Blue Vanilla Cookie grinned and pulled the covers over himself. “Goodnight, White Lily Cookie.”
“G... Goodnight, Blue Vanilla Cookie.” She manages to say before she steps out of the room.
🍀~~🤍~~🍀
Later that night, when Pure Sage Cookie crept into the infirmary, he was still flushed a deep color as he curled up beside Blue Vanilla. Blue Vanilla cracked open an eye before smiling and wrapping an arm around the other’s waist.
“Didn’t like her with us, did you?” Blue Vanilla finally says after a moment. He leans down and pecks a soft kiss to the Ancient’s cheek.
“I-I... I don’t want her to be there! I don’t want her anywhere near you...” Pure Sage mumbles, pressing his face to Blue’s neck.
“Mm-hmm? It’s only been six days, dear,” Blue Vanilla rubbed the other’s back gently, causing Pure Sage to hold on tighter.
It was selfish of him, so, so selfish of Pure Sage to want to stay here forever with him. He didn’t... He didn’t want to go to the Garden... He didn’t want to venture out... It was so selfish, but he just wanted to stay here, in the moment... he wanted to snuggle up with this Beast, he wanted to press kisses to the other’s cheeks... he wanted to stay here forever with him...
But they needed to go to the Garden...
Maybe they could play pretend for one last night... Yes, that would be best. He wanted time with Blue Vanilla Cookie before they ventured off...
So, Pure Vanilla just pulls the covers over both of them and snuggles with Blue Vanilla Cookie till they both drift off.
One last night.
One last night of no nightmares of fires and floods, or childhood dreams with sheep and pretty fuchsia eyes.
And tomorrow, the monsters would rear their ugly heads again, and both Ancient and Beast would have to find a way to cope.
🍀~~🤍~~🍀