#[ user ] - [ shadowmillk ]

[truthless-recluse]

@shadowmillk

"She's back..."

Truthless Recluse' words broke the pensive silence in the bedroom. From the window, he was staring outwards. Past the gardens, past the towers and archways toward the base of the Spire. He could see her from even up here, but rather.. a small fissure was opened before him, one of his eyes open down below..

Watching as White Lily Cookie had entered the grounds with Gingerbrave and the rest of his friends. It seems the children had convinced the traitor to help them.

"No wonder we had such peace. They'd traveled to the Faerie Kingdom to drag her here." He had to wonder just how much convincing they had to do to pull her away from her so called 'work'.

Pah-

While his emotions remained subdued, he wouldn't lie that a small river of boiling jam echoed through him at the mere sight of White Lily Cookie.

If anything, he's half insulted that the children thought they only needed her. Not the rest. Did they really view the Spire, and it's Masters as such a small threat?

Or were they riding on hopeful lies to save them.

His eyes pulled away, closing the rift with a wave of his hand, the eyes below closing as well. The little group likely thinking they belonged to Shadow Milk.

"I'm all for letting them get lost in the Spire.. but, what are you thoughts, my Shadow?"

[light-of-resolution]

@shadowmillk

Something didn't feel right. The shadows seemed unnaturally long, the candles of the main hall never produced the light to cast them as such. The air, although always cold, felt near frigid against him. And the normal howling winds were still and quiet.

Hid guards were on edge, security was tightened without a second thought. But the old king was not satisfied.

Something was wrong... but the feeling from this was different, compared to the hallow, emptiness he endured with Mystic Flour Cookie.

But it had the same intensity. Could it have been another of the Beasts?

He rose form his throne, hand reaching to grab the hilt of his sword. A fluid motion as his armor shifted. Black and white, the sword gaining new angles and the soul jam flaring to life with brilliant resolution.

He stepped down from his throne, his cloak taking form behind him as he took on his awakened form.

"Show yourself." He stopped in the middle of the throne room, blade before him as both hands rested on the hilt.

[milk-and-trickery]

A waste of time.. all of it..

He had little left to say, his body limp as he was set onto the jester's hand. No more witty comebacks, no more hopeful boasts.

This scenario repeated itself all too much between the two. And it always ended the same. Yes, even with the familiar pulling as he sank down into the beasts hand. Back into the depths of his soul, back into slumber until the Beast needed him for any reason.

The tiny flame that refused to go out.

He was.. so tired.

"Just- please... don't hurt Him.. Shadow Milk.."

His eyes closed as his world was once more pushed to darkness, once more into slumber until his defiance woke him once more.

[ Thread End ]

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛Good ol' buddy,pal,amigo.What's with the sour face berry?You should be happy.We are getting our body back and a brand new shiny puppet to play with. ❜

That's the face of despair he loved to see on the other.The sense of how fruitless their actions were.He experienced it all to long ago when they were one.His foolish past self refuses to budge it was boring.How they were once the same person was beyond him. Speaking of being bored it was about time he put a end to this little game.His hand raised up to the suspended cookie.The strings felt heavy dropping down as chains that kept them grounded to the jesters hand.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛Always late to the party.When it came to the other's turning into beasts to now.Can't you see it's all just wasted time? ❜

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛But I do believe this is curtains closed for you...It's about time you return to sleep.... ❜

The other will feel a tug as their body was slowly sinking into the beasts hand as if they were submerging in quick sand.Shadow Milk watch the other sink into his mass laughing at the struggle.Yogurt was a stubborn gnat to snuff out but he had other things to focus on.Why he has a performance to throw out for his upcoming audience.

G o o d N i g h t B l u e b e r r y .

[milk-and-trickery]

"Ah yes, telling yourself that they know 'nothing'. Classssiiicccc Shadow Milk, spouting BALONEY! Complete HOGWASH!" He hurt as well, the pain in his heart was one he shared. Because it was their pain. All Blueberry Yogurt was.. was the past reflection, the trickle of sanity left in Shadow Milk's mind and soul.

Given life because of their boundless magic. Most cookies didn't have to worry about their subconscious voices being real.

Not the clown.

"He's not a thief! He EARNED his soul jam with his kindness, wisdom and heart! He accepted Deceit! He knew that Truth and Deceit must BOTH exist!" He scoffed as the strings shot out, and again, a barrier was erected around Blueberry Yogurt.

"And you know what, Shadow Milk Cookie? I'll continue to chant these words! And you will never silence me! Not any more! Because unlike you.. *I* now understand!" He pushed out his barrier, an attempt to blast the Jester back.

This fight couldn't continue, but he had a place he could retreat to. The sanctuary he made within his own mind. One he can bother Shadow Milk Cookie from within.

He just needed the right opening to flee.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛You know nothing!❜

He exclaimed taking into the air to follow the other.He twirled his own staff pointing it right back at the scholar.His chest hurt,he hated knowing the feeling of being complete.If he never knew this he wouldn't have craved it so badly.It felt like he was dying.. The chess pieces continued to rain,crumbling as they hit the ground.He was tired of fighting it was just annoying to deal with all of this.With the other desperately wanting him to give in and accept the hero.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛Our friends haven't you forgotten?Baked with our soul jams since the beginning.They lead cookies along with us,I refuse to betray them just for this delulu you have with Pure Vanilla.A liar,a traitor,a thief!❜

Strings shot out to try and claim the other again.It's best he ended this quick.Less he had to hear this broken record that continued to plead to him to return to Pure Vanilla's side...Pathetic.

[milk-and-trickery]

What..?

Blueberry Yogurt blinked in confusion. Lost it? What did he lose this time?

He couldn't vocalize his confusion, not before the strings appeared once more and wrapped around him and lifting him up as the form of his Other distorted into one of his damn paper puppets!

Blast it all! He should have known!

Then he was pulled upward, to stare at the giant that was his soul and mind. It really put into perspective just how little of his sanity remained. How small he was.. compared to what he had become.

He struggled, his form shifting between all the various ones he often took to try and escape the strings. The lady, the older woman and the old man.. then finally it settled on the young child.. The wolfherder..

"No..." His figurative heart dropped to his gut.

He.. was too late? How long had his other self kept him locked away, deep in slumber? Did that mean Pure Vanilla Cookie had already ascended the Spire? He'd already...

"No.. you're lying, he's.. He's stronger than that!" Like saying the sky was blue. But.. No.. That smile, that smile full of sharp, all too straight teethcing.

"You're not..." His spectral body felt limp. He knew all about what Shadow Milk had been orchestrating, for all this time. Twisted Pure Vanilla into his own perfect puppet.

He thought he had more time, blueberry Yogurt though he could get to the Healer, to warn him.. to tell him to turn back.

But..

"I.. I was too late.." He whispered. Too weak.. too powerless to stop himself. His form shifting again as his black and gold robes reappeared, his starry, glimmering icing flowing over his shoulders.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛Pure Vanilla?That silly vanilly?Now I know you finally lost it my dear old friend.❜

He grinned at them showing his sharp teeth.This was just getting better!Strings manifested to once again ensnare the other hoisting them in the air.His own body distorting in his laughter revealing it was only a paper puppet the whole time.Plucked up revealed the gigant form of the beast glaring at the fraction of sanity that dwelled in this realm alongside them.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛Haven't you heard the news?Ha ha that ol' bean is my finest creation yet....Yup...I'm quite afraid that silly Vanilla is no more.He's mine now.❜

[milk-and-trickery]

He knew acting when he saw it from himself. Watching Shadow Milk play it up all for that cackling laugh to echo through the figment of the library.

"I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or an insult, considering you.." Blueberry Yogurt snarled out toward Shadow Milk. It could also twist into a compliment since it was aimed at himself.

But his actions as he punched his spectral doughy cheeks, even if it didn't hurt.. It was demeaning. Treating his 'sane' self like a mere child! But that tone, that condescending voice...

"That may be so! But Pure Vanilla Cookie is a brilliant cookie, he can figure out where we failed to complete!" That was what he was banking on in the end. That the new wielder of the Light of Truth would be able to push past the horrors that awaited him...

To do what no other could do.

But sadly, the scholar knew the 'Truth' of the healers life. He knew their past, their secrets. As just has Shadow Milk had been there every step of the way, so too as he. Only able to watch from behind a prison of mental bars as his demented self twisted another into their perfect puppet.

"Him and his friends.. Yes.. I'm sure they can do what we could not.." His eyes glared at his Other-half, determination sparking within. But there was a faltering light in the moment too...

He.. didn't know where Pure Vanilla Cookie was. Or his friends. How long had Shadow Milk kept him locked deep in their mind at this point? He'd need to get away to check but-

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛Oh?....Lookie lookie someone's become quite a smart cookie❜

True the ritual can quote on quote take them down...Its a real hook giver to the show he plans to give.But it's not like he hasn't had his own plans in place to prevent such a thing. With a sigh he casually get's up playfully dusting himself off in mirror of the other.Resuming to float he showed no concern.Instead checked his hands for any dirt on his crumbs letting the scholar ramble to him.He wanted to play it up just alittle longer but it was just so so so so so so so SO funny!He couldn't help going into a fit of laughter.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛ HAHAHAHAHA you are really quite a card you know?❜

Reaching out to pinch and tug at those cheeks.He hasn't had that hard of a laugh in awhile.Drying a faux tear in his eye from it the Jester tilted his head.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛ The same ritual that no one but us know?The one we never finished?Now how on earth will anyone know how to do it?The earthbreads finest are just a knat they hold a miniscule of power compared to us.❜

[milk-and-trickery]

The scenery flashing, corrupting each time, all before they fell through the roof and landed in one of their many libraries within the spire. Colliding with the checkered floors. How long had it been since he'd actually walked through these aisles of tomes. How long had he touched their endless, boundless...

Knowledge..

Even as Shadow Milk went on about how there was no witches to seal them, something.. something came to mind.

And he fell oddly silent. The other would know that look, a look of realization. but was it the one they were thinking of? That he was right?

Blueberry Yogurt released Shadow Milks collar and pulled himself up, dusting his robes off as he.. looked out at the library.

The many days he spent pouring over tomes in a frantic search. It had been when he first heard his friends falling. How one by one it was getting worse.

". . . The Beast-Binding Ritual.." He finally muttered before his gaze snapped at Shadow Milk.

"The very thing 'We' slaved so hard over before-" Before he himself failed, and locked the ritual away out of fear of another finding it. Or.. a contingency if he regained lucidity.

"Haha..." A smile curled onto the scholars face as he looked to his other.

"For the first time.. You're wrong. There is a way to stop 'Us'.. And it was MADE by our own hands."

Tumbling around the mindspace with the other as the world shift and change along with them showing the fight for control.How the scenery goes from the other's library to his distorted spire.The chaos running free corrupting the layout.All while he laughed and laughed in the other's face. With the other bringing up past events he did frown remembering the rage from before.How that pesty cookie ruined his first act by going off script.Annoying but it didn't derail his master plans not one itty bitty bit.Once again underneath the scholar he reached out to poke at their head.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛Haha outsmart moi?You are so so silly.The seal is beyond repair and the pathetic bunch you set your hopes on is the losing side.We will be revived,and the world will be ours again.There is no one to stop us,no witches no second rate thieves that have our soul jams...Not even you,you poor relic of a past. ❜

[milk-and-trickery]

A little rough-housing within his shattered mind indeed. It was almost predictable how his splintered soul fought with itself. Truth and Lies, sanity and insanity. It would have all been metaphorical if not for his sheer power allowing this to happen in the first place.

He didn't want to admit it, but even Blueberry Yogurt had a grin on his face. It felt good. Tumbling through his mindspace, showing resistance against his demented other-self.

"Oh I'm sure you've felt 'rage' haven't you, Shadow... Like when White Lily Cookie managed to outsmart you." The tumbling continued, he kept a firm hold of the jester's collar as he pushed and pulled the other.

"And you know what? I hope she does it again! Locks you away.. locks us away to protect Earthbread!" The world he cared so much about. The world that had.. in the end.. also tormented him and his friends with the weight of their responsibilities.

Created to be heralds of prosperity, to rule.. gods in a sense. But they were just flawed cookies in the end, ones left to rot by their so called creators.

No.. he would not dwell on that any longer. He had to focus on the now, and the looming threat his own hands posed to Earthbread.

"Ooohhh.. I'm sure our beloved friend Red Spice.. No.. what is he called now.. Burning Spice Cookie? Would just LOVE to witness such rage like this." He hissed through his teeth as he spoke.

From a punch to a tackle he fell back with the other.His laughter echoing thru the shared mindspace.It was entertainment to see his other self just lose themself in the madness.Here they talked big on morals but when pushed came to shove how easily they resorted to his level of violence.It only shows how they can't avoid becoming him.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛Ahahaha~What's the matter fruit loop?Got your robes in a twist? ❜

Grabbing their arms they threw their weight to shift positions with them.Just aittle rough housing between splintered souls ain't that fun?

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛You see!That rage is thrilling isn't it?Letting loose does wonders you can't hide that smile from me~ ❜

[milk-and-trickery]

The way his other-self was lashing out told the scholar everything he needed to know. They were unstable, lashing out in fear and rage. They had that taste of being whole, of someone else finally being at their side and understanding them.

Having that torn away.. Hurt. It held a gaping hole that only Pure Vanilla could fill.

Both of them knew this.

As the Giant Chess pieces fell, the eyes turned upward, blasting back several. But many forced the Scholar to take to the air, flying to avoid the landing of several.

"YES WE DO! By the creators.. was I always so DENSE!" He yelled out at Shadow Milk Cookie.

"We're scared! We're TERRIFIED! We were alone in that seal for eons! With NO ONE!" He blasted to pieces another giant chess piece.

"And what? Do you really think our 'friends' are going to mend that hole?! No.. None of them would. They're too busy trying to chase past glory and destruction rather than making something of the present! To make our future better!" He came to a landing, right in front of Shadow Milk Cookie.

He didn't attack though, but he pointed the top of his Key-staff right in his face, staring right into the Jester's eyes.

"And you want to chase away the only cookie willing, even wanting to be with us? Because of your scared? Scared of what?" He pulled his Key-staff back to his side...

Animatronics erupted upon crashing into the barrier.He sneered finally breaking through that pesty shield.But yet the other continued to talk.Lying to himself?Bah!Every cookie lies.It matters not,if he lied to himself.After all that's what got the other in this mess to begin with.Every little white lie they told themself before they crumbled under the weight of it all and fell from their pedestal. Eyes widen at the next set of words.Help them?He didn't need help.He was perfectly fine spreading deciet.Over joyed with the idea of making it a duo act.Till Pure Vanilla had to ruin it all.Shattered any trust he had in confiding to another cookie.The resonance he felt with the other half of his soul jam became something he hated.How could he ever accept him?How could the hero dare offer his hand to the villian.They lived on opposite sides of good and evil.Lies and Truth.There is no union of that.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛AFRAID?MOI???NO no no.Shut up shut up shut up!❜

He exclaimed lashing out as his hair grew unkempt losing it's form in his unstable state. Giant chess pieces started to rain down in hopes to crush the other.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛I DON'T NEED IT.I DON'T NEED THEM AT ALL.I DON'T WANT THEIR ACCEPTANCE AND SURE AS HELL DO NOT NEED IT.❜

[milk-and-trickery]

The animatronic copies erupted upon the barrier, that proved to be too much for the Scholar as the barrier cracked and shattered. Blueberry Yogurt hissed out, sharp teeth bared as he shielded his face.

"And we keep lying to ourselves, Shadow Milk." He still stood firm. Indeed, Pure Vanilla HAD done something. That brief moment where their souls had merged.. He'd been given a boost of power like no other.

Enough to at least stand his ground against the Jester if more time was needed.

But he knew the other was hurting. Because that was him. It was his feelings. He hurt as well.. But his pain came from that longing now. He wanted to be with Pure Vanilla, he WANTED to take his hand. But his fear, his anger, his rage and desire to protect himself from pain got in the way and lashed out.

"He only wants to help us, Shadow Milk! No one has ever touched our soul like that.. I know you feel it too!" He moved to the side, working to avoid the others oncoming attacks.

"That longing, the desire. You honestly think ANYONE could give us that!? He's willing to do that if you just accepted him!" He kept his key-staff firmly in hand, summoning the golden eyes again to defend himself if necessary.

"What are you afraid of!?" Aiming right for the heart with his words.

Golden eyes opened to vaporize his poor paper puppets that tried to break the other's barrier.He growled summoning animatronic versions of the jester that would slam with force into the barrier repeatedly.How can this little gnat keep fighting him off?He had the upper hand before but that stupid priest must of done something. He flinched hearing them speak out of pity.He hated that look on their face.They were so angry at him before,they fought like cats and dogs.It was either one or the other but now?..Yogurt looked at him with remorse.They pitied his existence and the jester hated it.How dare they sympathize with him. Hearing how the priest waited for him had his stomach twist up.He was hurt,betrayed.The jester didn't like how easily he let his guard down for the other hero.How they invaded his heart and claimed his ever waking thoughts.The delighted glee he felt bringing the ancient hero into the same level as him.See that beautiful submissive soul of theirs get tainted and fall into corruption.How their soul jams both become of deceit and they become one. He finally felt whole at that moment.Someone who understood and embraced him.And yet that blissful moment didn't last long.In a quick moment he felt stabbed.A pain worse then being impaled by the witches fork as he was sealed in the tree.The betrayal haunted him,he who was the master of deceit get fooled so easily.His pride was wounded,his heart left to bled. How could he accept that hand?How could he trust the words again?This was all a bigger lie just to get him to give in.To either be sealed again,crumbled or have his existence wiped away in favor for his sane side. The eyes in his hair sobbed.His soul jam painfully ached wanting the other half of his soul.He shook his head letting the animatronics blow up upon impact to the barrier.Giving a cold stare over to his other self.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛Everyone Lies...Fool me once never again Blueberry Yogurt.❜

[milk-and-trickery]

That.. felt good.

For eons he was held in the confines of his own crazed mind. Treading in a sea of shadows and only barely able to hold his head over the figurative waves of madness. Thrashing, fighting back at every moment to keep that last fragment alive.

And in this moment, he felt empowered. Even if fleeting. The very energy that helped him remain for so long.

But that laugh, that taunting laugh and words.

"Rrrr-AAAAAHHH!" The scholar lunged at the jester, grabbing his collar and trying to tackle them into the boundless depths their mind was.

Rage that he rarely ever got to show. The one thing that was untouched after so many eons. He'd felt his Other feel such rage when White Lily managed to banish their soul back into the Silver Tree. If not temporarily.

That same rage his 'sanity' was using against his madness.

"You have no room to talk of 'sanity'! You complete and utterly deranged CLOWN!" Maybe in this moment he wasn't sane, blinded with rage and the determination to fight back. It happened over the eons. When his Other-self pushed him a tiny bit too far.

At times he wondered if it was done on purpose. To break up the quiet monotony of their confinement.

But right now, he was far too angry to think rationally as he'd tackle into Shadow Milk.

The other just goes on and on with their ramble.Oh the morals,the diginity,how dare he use his powers for his own good.Blah!What a goody two shoes his previous self was.He forgot how boring he used to be.Honestly the other was quiet up till the seal started weakening and now they bark at him on control.Yeesh what stiff company he was forced to be in. Raising a brow at the other's sudden spark of energy he grinned.Enjoying the emotional state the other was in,even allowing himself get punched in his face.Stumbling back he raised a hand to his face feeling the faux jam run down minor crumbs falling onto the ground.Blinking he laughed at the violent outburst.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛Yes!That is the Blueberry I know!Ahahahaha are you sure you are the sane one in this mindset?❜

[milk-and-trickery]

Horrifying is the better word for this. Watching as his twisted reflection reached out at him. That haunting laugh that was purely his own. A laugh that echoed out of his mouth even now, right from Shadow Milk.

He couldn't turn away either as the twisted reflection melted over them while his Other's words rumbled about in his head like sugar marbles in an empty jar.

He remembered saying those very words before. Aloud as he finally broke down. Letting the shadows overtake him, and for all he knew.. the witches would turn a blind eye until he and the other 'Beasts' had caused so much destruction to warrant them finally raising a hand.

"I won't be silenced again!" He'd cry out, trying to pull away from Shadow Milk. He refused to be smothered again, he wouldn't be snuffed out! A fragment who was far too stubborn to quit, to give in and let the hero truly, finally die out.

He'd spin around at this point, using the closeness to his advantage before going for something far too 'barbaric' even in his eyes. But what could he do in this moment. Magic would avail him not in his own mind.. So..

Perhaps one figment of ones mind punching the other figment was all he had left.

"And yes.. oh I do so LOVE 'fighting' with myself! Or else YOU wouldn't even entertain this conversation!" Sarcasm lacing his words. He could only imagine what this might have looked like if they had a body now. Likely comical, blank staring off at nothing as he had a dispute in his own mind and soul.

A fleeting thought before Blueberry Yogurt put what strength he hand into a punch for Shadow Milk's grin filled face.

The reflection distorted as the image of the former hero reached out from the mirror laughing.The image of Yogurt cackling in madness slowly turning into shadow milk.Gripping the other's face to peer right at their face.Shadow milk spoke still holding onto Blueberry Yogurt as the sickening corrupted reflection melted on them.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛Blah blah blah you just loveeee arguing with yourself huh Bluey.That power is for us alone to do as we please.No more living for other's no more dark and gloomy void of a seal we were in. ❜

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛A former puppet becomes the new ringmaster now..You will see my way just as you inevitably become me once again... ❜

[milk-and-trickery]

Was this dangerous? Absolutely.. but the Scholar was bolstered. There had been a crack in the clouds, and it was still shining light onto them. A path, opened.. ready.. the Healer's hand was simply patiently waiting for the Jester to realize it was no trick.

And he knew Pure Vanilla would be waiting...

But he looked at his maddened self with.. was that.. pity? Indeed it was.

"Shadow Milk Cookie..." He sighed, golden eyes opening along his barrier to unleash torrents of magic at the puppets. Vaporizing but a few. Ah.. it felt good to wield magic again.

"I know.. you're scared.. WE are scared. We've been burned, scared, our heart torn in the past. But you can't keep lying to yourself." The look of pity did not vanish.

"Did you know he took the doll we made with him, saving it from the crumbling Spire? Would someone who seeks to simply seal us away do such a thing?" His golden eyes locked onto the Jester.

"Look out to him if you wish. See for yourself.. He's waiting for us. You just need to push past our fear and take that leap of faith.." He would do it himself but.. Blueberry Yogurt lacked enough power to usurp the Jester.

He could stand against him at least, for now.

"You and I both know.. this isn't about the Soul Jam. It never was..."

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛YOU...YOU ANNOYING LITTLE ..AUGH! ❜

No quick wit,no playful banter he merely growled twirling his staff pointing it at the scholar.Little puppets pull themself out the ground banging upon the barrier.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛H-ha ha ha!You think you know everything but you don't!We both know how it'll end.You still think we are worth saving?Bah!This does not just go away.❜

The effects of his lies,the showing of his corruption.The dependency on dark moon magic.He was a shell of the cookie he once was.Nothing the other can do will restore this broken cookie.All the other wants is to feed him poisonous hope.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛I refuse!Nope nah!This is still our stage and I will take my soul jam back even if I have to crumble him.❜

[milk-and-trickery]

"You-!" It was infuriating how easily Shadow Milk made it look. How effortless his motions were. At best, everything happening was little more than internal dialogue between two conflicting thoughts. No actual damage could occur here, no matter how much Blueberry Yogurt wanted it to.

He struggled, even tried to pull away as he was forced to smile, forced to look into the mirror. It.. brought back horrible memories. Of his last few lucid moments. How much he laughed, cackled as he broke under the pressure.

As the shadows piled onto him.

In that moment, it felt exhilarating and he hated admitting to it. It felt freeing. to say 'to hell' with it all. To curse the Witches names and succumb to madness. Only to eventually have that small tinge of regret build, and coalesce into the very fragment he was now.

But Shadow Milk was right about one thing, he was himself after all. He knew everything about himself.

A single, little tiny part of his 'sane' fragment WAS excited. But not for the chaos that would come, but the fact he would have a body. A real, physical, doughy body. No longer bound in ethereal shackles, no longer held by thorny chains.

To be able to feel the sun, the air.. Everything.

Before, in the Other-Space and within his own mind, the fragment had no power. But perhaps, just maybe. With a body, that might change.

"That power was our responsibility! Not a toy for our amusement!" He shook his head free from his Other's hands. Trying to shove Himself back, but could do little to truly resist.

The jester darted to the side easily avoiding the blue flames but comically moving as if he was caught off caught.Taking off his hat that had the tiniest spark of flame on it to put it out.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛Boy! Such a hot head with this one am I right folks? ❜

Chuckling he put the hat back on his head.Sitting down at the edge of the stage kicking legs off in glee.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛Didn't any cookie tell you to not play with fire?I get you are enthusiastic on bringing the stage down but no need to be a sour yogurt about it. ❜

He conjured up a mirror to show the other's reflection.Suddenly appearing out from behind to brings his hands up to force the other to smile.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛Smile blue! You know you love the chaos.No need to lie to your good ol' pal.The lies are better then the truth no one cares about it.The power of it all.The power we wielded..well if you hated it so much I wouldn't have existed to begin with.So don't tell me not a single itty bitty part of you isn't over the moon for this. ❜

[milk-and-trickery]

He had made a promise himself.. He thought back to the exchange he had with Pure Vanilla Cookie after telling him everything. The gentle embrace the other gifted him, promising him that he'd save them.

'He'll fight you..'

'I know.'

'It's likely it may not work.'

'I'm willing to keep going, this is not something that can simply be hand waved. It will require patience.'

'I fear he might hurt you.'

'Blueberry? .. Can you make me a promise?'

The Other-Realm rumbled at the slamming of the others fists on the ground. But Blueberry Yogurt stood firm.

'Promise me, you'll keep fighting on the inside as well. Wait for me.' The Scholar grit his teeth as his maddened self screamed, yelled, told him he was being lied to.

"How ever long it takes." He muttered before grasping his key-staff with both hands. He promise that if this became a battle of wills.. he would continue on from within. And he was going to make good on it.

"The one who needs to take up from your delusions and lies is you!" The barrier flared, pushing the strings back from him.

"Want to know who helped him pull it all off, Shadow Milk Cookie? How he was able to pull the wool over your eyes for so long.." The Scholar's mouth twisted into a smile.

"You're looking at him."

His eyes widen at the barrier that the scholar conjured up.His strings hitting it unable to reach their target.He growled at them hissing at the words they spoke.Pure and utter lies.He didn't want to hear it.Their form bubbled and grew he slammed his fists on the ground towering over his pure self.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛WHY YOU LITTLE GNAT!❜

How dare Blueberry argue with him.How dare they try to fend him off.He was still in control here!This corruption seeped deeper then their sugarbones.Their soul was tained beyond belief,it was cracked this was irreversible.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛Promises are meant to be broken!He was no doubt lying to you like he did to me!RING RING RING GET UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE BLUEBERRY!HELLOOOOOOOO? Is there no sense up in here?Gah!He filled you with silly little hopes only for him to crumb it down don't you see??❜

[milk-and-trickery]

"You're only lying to yourself! Shadow Milk!" He yelped as the strings were lashed out at him. Thankfully, the boost of power he'd gained from that brief merger was enough for him to conjure an arcane barrier around himself. Raising his key-staff aloft before bringing it crashing down to create said barrier with a thunderous crack.

The strings slamming into it's surface as he held strong.

"I got the chance to finally talk to him in those brief moments! I told him everything!" He revealed. He could see the utter rage his maddened self held. How they'd convinced themself that it had all been a ploy to stop him, to 'reseal' him. But it couldn't have been further from the truth.

"Our past.. our struggles... our loneliness... He heard it all. FROM ME!"

"He wanted to help us! Don't you see!? He wanted to reach deep into our soul to reach us! He was willing to fall into the deepest depth of corruption just to reach us!" He kept his key-staff held high, and the barrier solid.

"I.. I asked him.. to save us." He stared dead on at Shadow Milk Cookie.

"And he promised me he would."

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛Ha ha!You think he understood us?Now who is the liar??❜

He turned around head tilting as his rage was apparent.The mindscape shook in his rage.Eyes appearing around the area looking around violently before trained on the other.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛HE UNDERSTOOD NOTHING!A terrible liar,a thief.He went off scripted how dare he trick me at my own game.You really think he wanted to save us?Bah!He was planning to reseal us again in the tree no doubt!❜

He refused to be locked away again.Refused to get his heart stomped out.He finally found someone that really understood him,someone who held half his soul.And yet they go and leave his side.THEY PROMISED TO BE HIS AND HIS ALONE AND YET LIKE EVERYONE ELSE THEY ABANDONED HIM. He was holding back his tears.Growling while throwing his strings out to ensare the other.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ❛I hate him.Just like I hate you.❜