Chapter Text
…Like a lake of milk and stars intertwined.
This. THIS was not him. This was NOT Shadow Milk Cookie!
Was it…?
The shock of the new image of the cookie standing before him moving and breathing with him made Shadow Milk’s jam run cold.
A silence stretched until-
“….how?” The only word that could escape him.
How had Shadow Milk gotten to this point?
.
.
.
.
.
“You don’t have to be lonely….I’m right here. Please…… Let me be your friend.”
“Friend…?”
“CURSE YOU”
The spire started to rumble with Shadow Milk’s quickly growing storm of emotion, like a powerful earthquake forcing those affected to struggle to stay on their feet.
The walls began to crack.
“And you… You will live to regret your words. I’ll make SURE of it!!!”
CRACK!
________
“Groan…!” quite literally said as the word in that tone, spoken by Shadow Milk. He was laying in a tree in a sad attempt at sleeping. Candy Apple cookie was throwing a tantrum not too far bellow him, making the act of sleep more of an item on a wish list than a right all cookies had.
“Uhg! That Stupid cookie! Make a fool of master Shadow Milk Cookie??? Feh! I’ll show him!” Candy Apple continued yelling sentences like this for hours. Actually had been since the deceit trio fled left the spire.
A groan, this one from another bellow and not actually said as a word came from Black Saphire, whom was sitting on front of the makeshift fire pit. He was tired, and had been contemplating all that had happened weeks prior.
Weeks?
Had it already been that long? Surely the slight change in temperature was from the change of location, and not the time which had passed.
“Ack..!” Shadow Milk curled forward slightly, hands gripping at his side. Pain. And lots of it.
Another groan in pain caught Black Saphire’s attention.
“..Awww I ought to-!”
“Candy Apple Cookie!” A shout from Shadow Milk. His patience with her rambling had gotten to a breaking point. She silenced herself instantly.
Shadow Milk floated down from the branch he had been laying on to hover just above Candy Apple. “How much longer do you intend on babbling on? I would so enjoy some peace and quiet for my beauty rest here!” Shadow milk said voice full of annoyance stretching his arms out like a bird to add on some of his theatrical flare.
“Hrk!” Another streak of pain worse the last came again. The same witch forsaken pain located just above his left hip. An injury A scratch he had received in his escape from the spire. Pain seared through him again causing Shadow Milk to hunch forward, hands grabbing at his side.
“Master Shadow Milk Cookie!” The other two shrieked running over to him.
“Are you ok master??” Candy Apple shrieked in a voice as though she may just burst into tears then and there, her hands reaching towards Shadow Milk but not touching.
“Master Shadow Milk, has the pain returned again?” Black Sapphire questioned, obviously knowing the answer to his question.
“What do you think?” Shadow milk spat, hunching again at the pain that came again from simply talking.
This wasn’t the first time that this had happened. These random waves of pain coming without warning to beat on Shadow Milk Cookie’s side. The injury scratch had happened when the spire began to crumble, He hadn’t even noticed that it was there until hours after. The pain had gone down after a few days only to pick up again worse than when it first landed. Black Saphire and Candy Apple, when she wasn’t yapping like an upset dog- had been closely monitoring Shadow Milk’s condition, watching for when the pain came worse.
It was annoying. They’re eyes full of- Pity.
It was sickening.
“You need a healer Master Shadow Milk Cookie.” Black Saphire said firmly.
“No need.” Shadow Milk quickly replied
“But this injury may be-“
“Shh!” Shadow milk put a finger out a finger to Black Saphire’s lips. “It’s all perfectly fine~! The scratch is simply annoying is all, no need for such long faces!” Annoying. That’s what it was. Not painful. Annoying. Simply annoying. Like a bee sting.
“What’s going on?” A voice came from behind the tree Shadow Milk had previously been resting in. “Ah, look who’s finally come to join the party!” Shadow Milk sang wincing again. “Hello Lady Blueberry Bud Cookie!”
The cookie stepped out into view. “I was scavenging as you asked, Lord Shadow Milk Cookie.” Said Blueberry Bud Cookie, as she threw something off her shoulder. “I found cream sheep in a feild, I’ve already helped myself to one but worry not for I brought another.”
The Cookie walked towards Shadow Milk and knelt in front of him.
“Your injury is worse.”
“Scratch.”
“Wound.”
“Won’t you do as Black Saphire suggests and see a healer?” Blueberry Bud questioned in a tone sounding more like a command.
Shadow Milk’s eyes flicked to look just above her head. An eye; it was closed. “Tsk.” Shadow Milk became visibly annoyed. “Tell me, did you fall asleep while you were scavenging?”
“Why ask a question you know the answer to?” She replied calmly.
Shadow Milk rolled his many eyes. “I could say the same to you…. You never ask a question you don’t already know the answer to.”
“Perhaps.” She said with a smile.
Shadow Milk let out a long theatrical sigh in attempt to hide his pain and how agitated he was. “I’ve already gone to see a healer, Mystic Flour Cookie, a powerful healer.” Shadow Milk made sure the word “powerful” was accentuated so as to make his point more apparent. “But you were already there weren’t you? Remember what she said, and I quote, the injury is ‘ insignificant to a beast’ such as myself.” Shadow Milk twirled one of his hands as he spoke for the affect. “So no biggie!”
“I of all cookies, remember this scene by scene, Lord Shadow Milk. But I also remember that she said such things before actually seeing you, and moving you out of her sight.” Blueberry Bud said lifting a finger in a sarcastic counter to his previous affect.
“She doesn’t need to.” He snapped.
“I may not be a healer but I can see this injury is serious, even for you. I also know well that she only said such things because she wanted you gone as fast as possible, and her being her apathetic self, didn’t care.” She spoke again calmly yet firmly as she took the same finger and poked at Shadow Milk’s side, causing him to hiss in pain once more.
“You need a healer. So I ask again…. Won’t you go see one? Another one?” She almost whispered underlining the last part of her speech in a somewhat threatening way.
A silence. A short one broken when Shadow Milk’s face suddenly shown a look of realization. He turned his head to her once more, looking baffled and almost offended. “Your not suggesting-“
“I am.” She smiled, lifting her chin slightly.
Candy Apple realized whom the topic had switched to and attempted to open her mouth in retaliation to the unspoken idea.
“She’s right master.” Black Saphire quickly agreed. “There’s only one healer as powerful as Mystic Flour Cookie on all of earthbread. “
“Pure Vanilla Cookie.” The name hung in the air for awhile. Simply saying it was like sour candy on Shadow Milk’s tongue.
Blueberry Bud leaned forward once more, leaving inches between his face and hers. “What do you say?” She purred, swiping Shadow Milk’s white bangs to the side behind his elf pointed ear. “Will you go see your dear other half?” She was teasing him, but he’d let it slide.
Shadow Milk put a palm to her forehead, pushing her back with an oh so gracious gentleness. Rolling his eyes he spoke again in an accusing tone. “I’ll ask you once more… Why do you ask questions in which you already know the answer to?”
“I like humoring you a bit.” Blueberry Bud giggled.
A cold breeze blew past.
Another wince.
“Fine”