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Shadow Milk Cookie woke up early in the morning, he didn't bother to check the time but if he had to guess he'd say it was about four AM.
It had barely been a week since Shadow Milk Cookie had agreed to the stupid redemption thing, and he already wasn't particularly enjoying the Vanilla kingdom. Although not enjoying it would be a severe understatement.
The kingdom was horrible. It was just so terribly bland! Every Cookie was basically just a copy and paste of each other, it was boring and exhausting at the same time.
And he couldn't exactly just leave, he'd done that spell to make sure that he and Pure Vanilla Cookie both held their sides of the deal! What a horrible decision on his part. So he was stuck here until the inevitable came and he could finally leave.
" Are you just going to stare at the ceiling all day?! " Burning Spice Cookie's voice complained, very loudly.
Shadow Milk Cookie's eye twitched and he sighed, that was another problem. Ever since he absorbed the beasts power's, they'd been living rent free in his head. Literally. All they did was talk and talk and talk, it gave him a daily headache. " No. "
" Well then, what are you doing?? " Eternal Sugar Cookie's voice asked. " Nothing. " he replied. Turning over onto his side to stare at his wall instead.
" Clearly. " Mystic Flour's Cookie's voice said. Her voice much quieter then Eternal Sugar Cookie's or Burning Spice Cookie's. Shadow Milk Cookie huffed and pulled the pillow over his head, hoping to drown out their voice's even slightly.
It did not work, obviously. It was all completely in his head, nothing could muffle their voices. " I sound insane. " he muttered when he realised just how crazy thinking those words was.
“ You ARE. “ Eternal Sugar Cookie's voice replied. Shadow Milk Cookie rolled all of his eyes, then proceeded to close them to try and fall back asleep.
—
Shadow Milk Cookie woke up again a few hours later, his mind was finally quiet. He could only assume the rest of the beasts were still asleep, good.
He sat up and looked down at the clock on the bedside table. 9:42 AM. He got out of the bed and with a wave of his hand, changed his clothes. They were something less flashy then his usual attire, because in Pure Vanilla Cookie's words it was, ‘Not necessary’
Like that Cookie would know fashion if it punched him in the face. But sure, whatever. simple, non amazing outfits would have to substitute for now.
He exited the bedroom and went down the hallway, he got some looks from some random Cookie's but that was normal by now.
” Good morning, Shadow Milk Cookie! " Pure Vanilla Cookie greeted when he came down the stairs, Shadow Milk Cookie gave a half wave. " I was just about to go out to the town, would you like to come with? "
An ‘Absolutely not!’ was the first thing that came to Shadow Milk Cookie's mind to reply with, but he caught himself and let out a small breath. " Sure. " he replied reluctantly.
Pure Vanilla Cookie seemed slightly surprised he agreed, but tried not to show it much as to not change Shadow Milk Cookie's mind. " That's great, let's go! " Pure Vanilla Cookie led Shadow Milk Cookie to the entrance of the castle.
—
Shadow Milk Cookie floated behind Pure Vanilla Cookie, following him around the kingdom. He watched as he responded to almost the exact same greeting, just from different cookie's.
" How do you not go crazy? They just keep saying the same thing, ‘Hello Pure Vanilla Cookie! ‘ ‘ How are you, Pure Vanilla Cookie? ‘ ‘ Good to see you Pure Vanilla Cookie! ‘ If I heard my name that often I'd get sick of it, and I love my name. " Shadow Milk Cookie muttered to the other.
Pure Vanilla Cookie chuckled. " I don't mind it all that much, they're being kind. " Shadow Milk Cookie shrugged before floating closer to the ground to avoid a doorframe as they entered a shop.
" Hello Pure Vanilla Cookie! " The shopkeeper said. Shadow Milk Cookie rolled his eyes and snickered as he gave Pure Vanilla Cookie a look that said ‘What did I say?’, Pure Vanilla Cookie huffed and shook his head before responding to the cookie.
" Hello Light Butter Cookie! How are you? " He asked, walking up to the counter to talk with them.
Shadow Milk Cookie sighed dramatically and decided to browse the store while he waited for Pure Vanilla Cookie to finish his conversation. It was relatively boring, just a fabric store. " Who even goes to a fabric store? " Burning Spice Cookie asked.
" A lot of cookie’s burning spice cookie. " Mystic Flour Cookie replied.
Shadow Milk Cookie ignored them, which was hard in itself since they kept arguing (although very one sided, Mystic Flour Cookie did not care that much.)
He sighed and rubbed his forehead as he felt a headache coming on. " Can you all just shut up. " he whispered, trying not to bring attention to the fact that he was literally talking to himself.
They did not listen to him, and he decided he'd rather just deal with it then yell at them, it hadn't worked any time before, Why would it now? " Shadow Milk Cookie? " Pure Vanilla Cookie spoke. " I've bought what I needed from here, we can- "
A guard entered the shop before he could finish his sentence. " Um- Pure Vanilla Cookie? There's two cookie's at the gates, we would appreciate your help.. "
Pure Vanilla Cookie quickly nodded. " Of course, lead the way. "
Shadow Milk Cookie and Pure Vanilla Cookie left the shop and followed the guard across the kingdom to the gates at the edge of the kingdom.
Before they could even see it they could hear screeching and shouting from a high-pitched voice, and another voice that sounded like they were trying to calm them down. " What on earthbread…? " Pure Vanilla Cookie said.
When they finally got to the gates they saw the other guards getting screamed at by a incredibly angry Candy Apple Cookie, Black Sapphire Cookie was desperately trying to drag her away. " Candy Apple Cookie you’re being ridiculous! Let’s go before they arrest us! " He said.
" I KNOW YOU HAVE HIM! GIVE HIM BACK! " Candy Apple Cookie screamed.
" What seems to be wrong here? " Pure Vanilla Cookie said as he stepped forward.
Shadow Milk Cookie looked over Pure Vanilla Cookie's shoulder from behind him and finally got a good look at his minions.
The two looked at Pure Vanilla Cookie, then spotted Shadow Milk Cookie floating behind him. " Master Shadow Milk Cookie! " Candy Apple Cookie gasped excitedly, she ran past the guards to hug him.
Shadow Milk Cookie pat Candy Apple Cookie's head and grinned. " Hello, hello! My, aren't you two roughed up? " Black Sapphire Cookie quickly followed and joined the hug.
”We were sooooo worried about you!! " Candy Apple Cookie said.
" I can tell, I heard you before I saw you! " Shadow Milk Cookie replied.
Black Sapphire Cookie pulled away from Shadow Milk Cookie to speak, while Candy Apple Cookie still clung on to him. " While I'm glad your okay, master…why are you here and not actively trying to — for lack of a better word — attack Pure Vanilla Cookie? " He glanced at Pure Vanilla Cookie as he said his name.
Shadow Milk Cookie sighed a little dramatically and pushed Candy Apple Cookie back to stand beside Black Sapphire Cookie so he could look at both of them. " I will explain all the details later, but, Pure Vanilla Cookie has convinced me to…have a redemption arc, as you would call it. " He almost rolled his eyes as he finished speaking.
Black Sapphire Cookie and Candy Apple Cookie both looked utterly dumbfounded. " …Is this a trick? " Candy Apple Cookie asked. " This has to be a trick! That's not funny master Shadow Milk Cookie!! "
" I don't think it's a trick..- " Black Sapphire Cookie said as he glanced at Shadow Milk Cookie and Pure Vanilla Cookie, she didn't listen though.
Shadow Milk Cookie watched unfazed as Candy Apple Cookie went on a rant, animated gestures and all.
Pure Vanilla Cookie leaned over to whisper to him. " So…will they be staying-? "
Shadow Milk Cookie took a deep breath before nodding. " Yes. "
" I'll make sure two rooms are ready before we get back. " Pure Vanilla Cookie said before carefully walking away to ask one of the guards to send a message to the workers at the castle.
Shadow Milk Cookie turned back to Candy Apple Cookie. " That is enough out of you. " Candy Apple Cookie stopped talking almost immediately.
He crossed his arms as he spoke. " I told you I'd tell you all the details later, didn't I? So, your going to stop throwing a tantrum and whining about this being a trick. "
Candy Apple Cookie hesitated before slowly and carefully nodding. " Good! " Shadow Milk Cookie slipped back into his normal persona just as Pure Vanilla Cookie came back.
" Come along now, kid's! " Shadow Milk Cookie exclaimed as he turned around and started walking the other way.
—
By the time the four of them got back to the castle Candy Apple Cookie was incredibly grumpy, she refused to acknowledge any of them.
One of the workers came to take Black Sapphire Cookie and Candy Apple Cookie to their rooms, Black Sapphire Cookie glanced at Shadow Milk Cookie with a studying expression before he rushed to follow after Candy Apple Cookie and the worker.
Shadow Milk Cookie let out a sigh and pretended to wipe sweat off his forehead. " Yeesh! Kids, amirite? " He shot a wide grin in Pure Vanilla Cookie's direction. " Anyway~ I'm going to head back to my room! "
Pure Vanilla Cookie nodded. " Very well, I appreciate you coming out with me! " He said quickly as Shadow Milk Cookie left him.
Once Shadow Milk Cookie got to his room, he let out a groan and flopped onto the bed. He glanced at the clock on his bedside table, it was only 11:36 AM.
He closed his eyes and sighed deeply as his head landed properly on the pillow.