Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

(art by @reiviathan :3)

”Hahaha! Oh Vanilly, they can’t save you this time!”

“Mm..if that is what you believe…”

Shadow Milk wildly grinned, spinning mid air as he maniacally laughed. Pure Vanilla stood to the side, holding his hands as he looked at Shadow Milk with a blank expression that hinted at slight amusement.

While Shadow Milk had been trying to indoctrinate Pure Vanilla into the ideals of deceit, he had also accidentally brainwashed him. With this fact being unbeknownst to the Beast, Shadow Milk had found Pure Vanilla standing at the ledge of the Spire hours later, peering down below with a strange look on his face. Shadow Milk questioned him, and Pure Vanilla begun addressing Shadow Milk as if he worked under him.

—

“…Pure Vanilla? What are you doing up here?”

“…”

Shadow Milk had grinned, resting his hand on his hip and cocking his head.

“Hah, how the tables have turned! I never would’ve thought you’d stray off from your group of dear friends you talk on and on about! But you really should step away from the ledge, bud. You could fall, and-“

“Ah, apologies Master Shadow Milk Cookie. I seem to have zoned out. I did not hear you.”

“Haha, I-..wait, what did you just call me?”

Shadow Milk let his arm fall from his hip as his entire expression went slack and his jaw dropped. Pure Vanilla turned around, his eyes looking strangely blank and blue.

“Master Shadow Milk Cookie. It is your proper title from someone who works under your guide.”

“…works..under my guide? Vanilly, what has gotten into you? You’re acting like Black Sapphire or Candy Apple Cookie!”

“Nothing has gotten into me, Master Shadow Milk Cookie. I have simply awoken to my purpose as one of your followers.”

“…followers..? Have..have you…wait…there’s no way…”

Shadow Milk cracked a wide grin as he took a step closer, leaning forwards and turning his head.

“Do you…really believe you serve me..?”

“I do serve you, Master Shadow Milk Cookie. That is, unless you tell me not to.”

“Hah! Oh my witches, it’s true!” Shadow Milk laughed, holding his head as he arched backwards. Pure Vanilla gently smiled, following Shadow Milk’s example.

“Oh, this is gonna be so. much. fun! Come on Vanilly, we’ve got work to do..”

“Of course, Master Shadow Milk Cookie.”

—-

Shadow Milk found this absolutely humorous and took full advantage of it. He had Pure Vanilla dressed in more..deceitful attire (Truthless Recluse outfit) and was endlessly toying with him, seeing how far his new-found devotion would go. Pure Vanilla had brushed it all aside, seeing it as his Master’s regular antics. But outside the spire…

“So..this is the Spire of Deceit Pure Vanilla was last seen in?” Dark Cacao shifted his weight on his sword, grunting.

“I believe so, old friend.” Hollyberry put her shield away on her back, wiping away any jam from monsters they had previously fought that tainted its surface. “White Lily Cookie said this was the last place she’d seen him.”

“Hah! We all seem to forget White Lily Cookie could be lying to us.” Golden Cheese made a descent towards the ground, gently landing on her feet. Her large glimmering wings folded inwards, decreasing the amount of space she took up. “Don’t forget, she’s Dark Enchantress Cookie just as much as she is White Lily.”

“Yes, but I believe we can trust her this time.”

“You believed the same thing last time Hollyberry Cookie, and look where that got us! Your Light of Passion should be called the Light of Naïveté.”

Hollyberry gasped, and Dark Cacao cleared his throat.

“Wha- Golden Cheese Cookie, what has gotten into you?”

“My kingdom being destroyed, that’s what!”

“Why, I should-“

“Cut it out, both of you!”

Dark Cacao slammed his sword into the ground, getting the attention of the two.

“White Lily Cookie has harmed us in the past, yes. But that does not mean we should dwell on it. Our mission right now is finding Pure Vanilla and his friends. Now, can we act civil, like we did in the older days?”

“..I suppose I can comply with that.” Golden Cheese grumbled.

“Yes..apologies, Dark Cacao Cookie.” Hollyberry followed.

“It’s fine. Now, get yourselves together. We have a spire to ascend.”

Shadow Milk playfully giggled leaned on the edge of the window. He watched the other four Ancients enter the spire in an attempt to save him, chuckling as he turned his head to face Pure Vanilla.

“Oh, isn’t this funny Vanilly? Your old friends have come to save you! Little do they know you don’t want to be saved.”

“That is humorous indeed, Master Shadow Milk Cookie.”

Shadow Milk’s framed and rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed. He turned towards Pure Vanilla, dramatically dropping his hands.

“C’mon, think for yourself here! You don’t seem very motivated.”

Pure Vanilla’s face shifted into one of slight self-disappointment as he gently bowed.

“Apologies, Master Shadow Milk Cookie. I’ll be more motivated from now on.”

Shadow Milk put his hands on his hips and masked his face in a quizzical expression, as if expecting a response. Pure Vanilla cleared his throat before walking over to the window ledge to see the Ancients enter the spire. Pure Vanilla squinted, for his staff was not around to see for him. But even if it was difficult to see, he knew just from the actions of a golden glimmer, the dark swift movements, and the round, bouncing pink silhouette that his old ‘friends’ had come. Shadow Milk’s eyes watched him intently, a grin cracking through the facade of disappointment as he saw Pure Vanilla’s face contort into one of frustration.

“…why would they come to the Spire to ‘save’ me? I have no request to be saved. Why are they putting my own needs under what they believe is right?”

“Hah! I knew you had it in you!” Shadow Milk floated over, putting his hands on Pure Vanilla’s shoulders as he moved his head to be right next to Pure Vanilla’s. “And to answer your question, I dunno! It just seems the oh-so-powerful Ancient Heros really only care about their own pride.”

Shadow Milk’s silver snake tongue hissed a lie into Pure Vanilla’s mind, hoping it would stick. To his own lust for excitement, it did. Pure Vanilla’s brow furrowed as he gripped onto the ledge tighter, a growl rising in his throat. Shadow Milk giddily grinned, letting go of Pure Vanilla’s shoulders to look out the window with him as the last of the trio walked in the entrance of the Spire. He glanced at Pure Vanilla, looking him up and down as he snapped, summoning his scepter, which he haughtily clutched in his palms.

“So, what about it Vanilly? What do you want to do with the intruders? We could do a puppet show, a theatre performance, a poetry contest, or-“

“I’d like to put them in a maze.”

Pure Vanilla looked up, staring Shadow Milk in his eyes. Shadow Milk’s face screamed enjoyment, but his eyes deflected confusion. A maze? he thought. That’s new. I’d never considered doing that before. Shadow Milk shook off the thought, shrugging before he spun to arch his back. He was now looking at Pure Vanilla upside down.

“A maze? Do tell..”

Pure Vanilla’s expression was painted into one of blissful compliance as he leaned down to Shadow Milk’s ear, whispering his plan into it. Shadow Milk’s expression fell as he contorted his body back into his regular position after Pure Vanilla had finished, his grip on his scepter loose. Pure Vanilla looked slightly worried over Shadow Milk’s expression, before being cut off when Shadow Milk started loudly cackling.

“Oh! Oh, this is too good! You really are too far gone! Yes! I love it, Vanilly! Let’s do it!”

Pure Vanilla looked slightly worried, before shaking it off and grinning along with Shadow Milk.

“Than shall we get started?”

Shadow Milk wiped a tear from his eye, grabbing onto Pure Vanilla’s arm as his expression turned into one of sadistic, evil foreshadowing.

“Let’s.”

Chapter Text

Somewhere tucked away in the spire, Black Sapphire and Candy Apple Cookie peered over, sneering and gossiping at the confused Ancients attempt to bumble through the mind-bending spire’s structure. It had been what felt like hours since they’d entered in an attempt to find Pure Vanilla, but to no avail. As if the spire was rebuilding itself with each step they took, they found themselves more and more confused the longer they traveled. Candy Apple found it quite amusing.

“Kya-hahahahahaha! Look at their foolish little selves, stumbling around like ants in an ink border! They have no idea where they’re going or where they’ll be!”

“It is quite amusing, I’ll admit,” Black Sapphire remarked, leaning on a ledge with a smirk. “But I wonder…”

“Hm? Ugh, what is it NOW?” Candy Apple groaned. 

“Don’t get snappy with me.” He replied, jabbing a finger at her. “What I’m wondering is where the hell Master Shadow Milk is. I haven’t seen him since that Pure Vanilla enraptured his attention.”

“Tch, don’t remind me! I HATE that damn goody two shoes.” She pouted, crossing her arms. “He STOLE my Shadow Milk from me!”

“Hey, watch your language. I’m older, I can cuss. Doesn’t mean you can though.” Candy Apple groaned louder, but he focused his attention on the spire’s floor shifting and rising up, causing everything to shake and crumble as new walls were formed. 

“W-what the-“

“GAH! WHAT’S HAPPENING?!”

“SHH! QUIET!!” he whispered, grabbing her by the top of the head and shoving her below the wall as he crouched, attempting to hide themselves from the ancients below. “This is big. Something the spire can’t do on its own.”

“Wait…so that means-“ 

“Yeah.” He cut her off, grinning. “Master Shadow Milk’s got a plan.”

He gently nudged her with his shoulder, a dark grin spreading on his face.

“Hey, what about the two of us helping him? I’ve never seen this before, but I think he’s crafting a maze…why don’t we disguise ourselves and-“

“LURE THOSE NAÏVE COOKIES TO MASTER SHADOW MILK?”, She guessed. He playfully socked her in the arm, standing up and offering her his hand.

“That’s the spirit. Now get up, Apple Faerie Cookie. We’ve got some oldies to trick.”

——-

“Oh, Vanilly, you look just DASHING! Don’t you worry your head over those three. Your grand entrance will be phenomenal, I guarantee.”

“Ah, thank you for the compliments, Master Shadow Milk. I can only hope.”

The two were standing in Pure Vanilla’s assigned room in front of a large mirror. There, Pure Vanilla was adjusting his outfit. After finishing his changes, he removed the Soul Jam from its spot on his chest, gently holding it in his hands. Something felt…off to him about his Soul Jam. It was too…accepting. Comforting. Warm. His eyebrows furrowed as he rubbed over the smoother surface with his thumb. Shadow Milk turned around, his attention focusing on the Soul Jam in his hand. After all that’d happened, he’d completely forgotten about it! But now was the perfect chance to snatch it for himself. Putting his hands behind his back, he trotted over to his other half, feigning ignorance.

“Oh Vanilly~! What’s that in your hands?”

“Ah, Master Shadow Milk!,” Pure Vanilla mumbled, quickly securing it back in its place. “It’s…my Soul Jam. I was simply…examining it.”

“Oh, playing scientist now are we? What are you examining it for? An analysis? Collecting data? What little experiments are you gonna do to this thing, hm?” He joked, leaning over and tapping it as he smiled up. Pure Vanilla chuckled, gently shaking his head.

“No, I…I wanted to ask you to do something to it.” 

Do something to it? Was Pure Vanilla really going to just give it up like that? What a joke! He might as well be attached to Shadow Milk’s hand with strings. 

“Well, go on! Enlighten me! We don’t have all day.” He snickered, checking his nails as if he couldn’t care less. “We’ve got things to do, you kn-“

“Would you touch it with deceit?”

A pause.

“Excuse me?”

“My Soul Jam,” he replied, his voice softer. “It doesn’t feel right anymore. It’s warm. Welcoming.”

“…yes? What about it? It’s the Light of Truth, of course it is.”

“I am no longer any of those things, and Deceit has never been any of what I just listed. How can I serve you if I am still bound to a power source that reeks of dishonesty? And not the good kind.”

Shadow Milk’s body relaxed, his expression confused as he gazed at Pure Vanilla. What was he…was he serious?

“Are you…asking if I can turn your Soul Jam from one of Truth to one of Deceit?”

“Yes.”

“…oh.”

The two stood parallel from each other, Shadow Milk cocking his eyebrow as he brought his hands up to rest on his waist. He was really far gone. Shadow Milk deduced that even if he wanted him back to the way he was, there was nothing he could do now. But he also cracked a smile at the thought. Two beastly Cookies of Deceit? His power would multiply tenfold! And with Pure Vanilla under his thumb like this…he wouldn’t even need the other half of his Soul Jam. Shadow Milk outstretched his hand, grinning like a child given candy. Pure Vanilla merely gulped and looked down at his palm, confused.

“I…I fear I don’t understand.” He uttered. 

“Ugh, really?” Shadow Milk groaned, extending his fingers. “You’re the one that asked! Give me the Soul Jam.”

Pure Vanilla’s eyes perked up as a small smile formed on his face. He gently unclipped the Soul Jam, setting it in the opposite’s palm as Shadow Milk laughed. Opposed to Pure Vanilla’s trusting and gentle approach, Shadow Milk quickly snatched the gem from the other’s grasp with haste. He fondled it in both his palms, feeling its smooth edges as his brow furrowed.

‘Strange’, he thought. ‘It’s…already a Soul Jam of Deceit?’

“Well, here you go!” Shadow Milk huffed, offering the Soul Jam back to Pure Vanilla. Pure Vanilla looked puzzled, taking it in his hands. A smile gently spreading across his face at the temperature change in the crystal, but he still looked held back by shackles of doubt.

“That was so fast though…how do you know you really changed it?”

“You can feel the temperature, right?”

“…well, yes, but-“

“Then it’s fine! I did what I said. It’s a fast task. It won’t take all day.”, he’d replied, clicking his mouth as he turned away.

‘Because I can’t let him know he did it himself.’, is what he was really thinking.

“Ah…I see! Thank you, Master Shadow Milk!” Pure Vanilla replied, seemingly enlightened. He clipped the Soul Jam back in its place, taking a deep breath. “I feel so much happier already!”

“Yes, yes that’s great, uh huh.” Shadow Milk cut in, grabbing his shoulders to spin him around. They were now facing the mirror again, with Shadow Milk’s practically chin attached to Pure Vanilla’s shoulder. 

“Now, how about going outside and meeting your old…’friends’? I think I heard Black Sapphire and Candy Apple keeping them distracted.”

Upon the mentions of the Ancients, Pure Vanilla’s face dropped. But he was no longer in a state of concern or confusion, but one of seriousness.

“Yes..them…Master Shadow Milk Cookie?” He asked, putting his hand on top of Shadow Milk’s left one, causing the latter to blush. “I have a plan for how to deal with them. The maze has already been set up, but…I think I know how to get the point across that im happier here.”

“Oh?” Shadow Milk giggled, face red as the Spice Dust in Burning Spice’s domain as he yanked his hand out from underneath Pure Vanilla’s. “Well then, be my guest! Go ahead, show me what your new Soul Jam can do. Prove to me you’re a real Cookie of Deceit.”

Pure Vanilla glanced at Shadow Milk, the door, and his Soul Jam, his hands reaching down to grip it. He sighed, brow furrowed and smile dark, as he looked up at Shadow Milk.

“Of course, Master Shadow Milk. Take me to them.”