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Dark, looming, malicious shadows crowded Pure Vanilla Cookie's mind, flashing horrific images of death and destruction, memories of the silver tree breaking open, and the vision of Elder Faerie Cookie crumbling. Illusions of his friends wailing in pain as they were attacked, with Pure Vanilla Cookie trapped in place, helpless to save them…
Pure Vanilla Cookie shot up, panting, from his bed. He gasped, trying to catch his breath as his body pushed adrenaline and fear throughout him. His hands pooled in his lap and he hung his head, trying to calm his mind.
The memories of the nightmare persisted, though, and Pure Vanilla Cookie couldn't help but worry.
"Shadow Milk Cookie?" Pure Vanilla called out into the dark emptiness of his room, illuminated only by a sliver of moonlight.
Only a moment passed before Shadow Milk's voice was in his mind.
"Yes, Vanilly?" Shadow Milk Cookie hummed, brushing his hands along the wall of Pure Vanilla's mind.
Pure Vanilla Cookie was quiet, comforted by the presence of Shadow Milk cookie and reassuring himself that the Cookie wasn't like that anymore- he had changed, as Pure Vanilla Cookie had strived to do.
"Oh, Nothing. I just wanted to check on you," Pure Vanilla explained, a smile gracing his face.
"Aww, Vanilly, you're gonna make me blush!" Shadow Milk cookie tittered, brushing up against Pure Vanilla's consciousness like a cat.
Pure Vanilla huffed a small laugh at the tease, laying back down to his pillow. Knowing that Shadow Milk Cookie didn't sleep was comforting at times like these, where he knew he would always have someone to talk to when waking up unpleasantly like this.
He imagined Shadow Milk Cookie was probably in his room, or on top of the castle, or in the courtyard, probably up to no good or scheming his next conquest. Mayhaps he would take over the icing stash next!
After a minute of silence between the two, Pure Vanilla called out again. "Would you like to join me in bed?"
"My, my! How forward, Pure Vanilla Cookie!" Shadow Milk Cookie gasped, teasing.
Pure Vanilla Cookie was used to his teases by now, only chuckling and patting the empty part of the bed next to him. "I meant literally, Shadow Milk."
It took no less than a second after uttering his sentence that Shadow Milk Cookie appeared next to him on the bed, his sudden weight dipping the bed slightly.
"I've arrived!" Shadow Milk cookie announced, waving a hand in the air.
Pure Vanilla Cookie flinched at the sudden appearance before settling again, pulling his blanket up and over both of them. "So you have," he nodded.
Shadow Milk Cookie pressed closer to Pure Vanilla, almost on top of him as if he were trying to get inside the Ancient's dough.
"Oh, sweet Vanilly, I'm so cold! So, so cold… Whatever will I do?" Shadow Milk Cookie wailed, nuzzling his face into Pure Vanilla's robes.
"You're perfectly room temperature, Blueberry," Pure Vanilla Cookie tsked, pressing a hand to Shadow Milk Cookie's head to affirm.
Shadow Milk cookie ignored Pure Vanilla's statement, nuzzling closer. They were still working on personal space and asking cookies for permission before doing things like hugging (which he only did to Pure Vanilla anyway, and he didn't mind), taking food, and playing games (though Shadow Milk cookie's games weren't very fun for the participants).
Pure Vanilla decided he'd re-hash that lesson tomorrow, after a good night's rest. For now, Shadow Milk cookie was peacefully pretending to sleep with cute little mock-snores, and the warmth around him slowly lulled him back into darkness.
Shadow Milk cookie, however, was just pleased that the nightmare he'd sent to Pure Vanilla Cookie was enough to wake him in the first place.