#not written as a ship but ur allowed to view it that way idm

[carn1epretzelz]

first time ever posting something like this good lordt this is scary for me be nice bc i dont usually share my writing. im incredibly ill about shadow milk and pure vanilla atm so o-o lawl! hc on what happened after pv disappeared ig?? technically spoilers for a game of truth and deceit even if i dont really reference anything from beforehand- imagine they were arguing and fighting as they went up the stairs to the very top lawl. not meant to be ship but i support u vanilla milkshake truthers so u can eat this up as toxic yaoi if you want to. OKAY heres the story EEP

:D

The wind echoes in the open balcony of the top of the Spire, the dark blue sky clouded with no sign of stars.

"Do you want to know what the Truth is, Vanilla?~"

It's voice is like ice, Pure Vanilla had never heard his name be spoken with such venom before. Let alone heard his name come from The Beast's mouth without it being a cruel petname of sorts.

The Light of Knowledge turns around to face Shadow Milk, raising his head to meet it's eyes as his orchid reveals the Beast's position to the blind healer.

Shadow Milk smiles, and it's always smiling, but this time theres a shocking sincerity to his expression. Almost pitying Pure Vanilla. What reason would it have to pity him?

"The Truth is… The world doesn't want to hear us. They don't want our Knowledge- they never did!" The Beast speaks, the usual giggle in his voice gone, the trill pitch lowering to something unnaturally serious for Shadow Milk.

"I had to learn the hard way. I thought for so long that all I had to do to keep the peace was tell everyone the truth. Be blunt and honest. I mean, that's what I was made for right?

"But that's not what Cookies wanted to hear. They only listened to what they wanted to. Got mad at the Truth, at honesty. The Truth hurts, Vanilla! And the Truth is, you can't save everyone."

The Beast leans in close enough that Pure Vanilla can make out the shape of it's face, shades of blue deepened under the night sky. It's eyes can be made out clearly, both bright shades of blue staring straight through him. Pure Vanilla feels himself shrink away.

"You've got a bit of a complex, my friend. My pal. Mi amigo!~ You think you can promise things that you aren't even sure are possible. You, my friend, are a liar just like me."

Pure Vanilla opens his mouth to respond immediately, but chokes on his words. It makes The Beast cackle.

"SEE!? Even you know I'm right! You promised to protect the world. To protect your friends. Look at how many times you've failed, how many shortcomings you've had." The Beast cups the blind healer's cheeks, pressing firmly.

"Relinquish that sweet SoulJam to me. Free yourself the burden of having to lie to your friends forever more. How much longer can you keep this up, Vanilly?~ You're only harming Cookies, just to give yourself peace of mind. Does it not drive you insane?" Shadow Milk's visage disappears as Pure Vanilla falters, loosening his grip on his orchid staff, closing her eye as their connection wavers. Blind once more.

Shadow Milk practically presses it's face to Pure Vanilla's cheek- it's body is freezing and it makes him shiver; it's nose is sharp and it makes him tense. It's smile widens against his cheek, and it makes him shrink even further.

"You don't have to hurt anyone anymore, my sweet Vanilla. I know how it feels, I walked in your shoes. Let me free you before you fall down that rabbit hole." The Beast places a hand on Pure Vanilla's chest, right above his SoulJam. He knows they can both feel it resonate between the two of them.

Pure Vanilla lets his own hand rest over The Beasts, hovering and shaking. His whole body, in fact, trembling. Maybe he was only hurting those around him. But all he's ever done is encourage and support his loved ones. Was that really so wrong? Was he really telling them the Truth? Perhaps all he had been doing was building them up just to come crashing down. All of his friends, the children… White Lily. Maybe all he has done to them, his whole life, even in his disappearance and non-existence, was hurt them.

"Take it." It's the weakest Pure Vanilla has ever even heard himself speak. Quiet, hoarse. Tired. Terrified.

"Take it. Please, leave the children alone. This is all you wanted." Pure Vanilla can feel Shadow Milk's teeth against his cheek, grinning ear to ear, his grip on the SoulJam tightening, pulling… And it's gone. It's as if a light has gone out within Pure Vanilla.

"Sure thing, sure thing…" Shadow Milk pulls away from Pure Vanilla, absorbing what was once his back into what remained of his own SoulJam.

"So thoughtful and kind of you, finally returning what doesn't belong to you! Dunno why it was so hard for the others… Oh, one final thing, Silly Vanilly!~" It feels as if the wind has picked up, bellowing both the Ancient and the Beast's clothing and hair. The air surrounding them feels like static, and it makes Pure Vanilla feel loopy- Chaos Magic returning full force to The Beast of Deceit.

"I'll see you on the Light Side of the Moon.~" Pure Vanilla feels hands shove against his shoulders, and immediately tumbles off the Spire's edge. They had just been standing at the middle, when had they gotten so far?!

It doesn't matter, anyways. Pure Vanilla listens to the echo of a victorious cackle as he plummets, allowing that Chaos Magic around him to envelop him before he meets his fate at the ground.