Chapter Text
The Illegitimate child of the Virtues.... One would think “how romantic” especially for a cookie to dream of such a role of power. But the reality is harsh and different than what you think it is.
It is not the ‘rags to riches’ Cinderella kind of story a young cookie would dream of. Many Cookies dreamed of being a Virtue the high status and wealth that came with it. The power and glory. It was all young cookies could fantasize about. All except a blue cookie who despite being apart of them was not welcomed eagerly into such ‘glory’.
“He was made from a different Witch than us but he is still a Virtue and will be living with us.” The Virtue of Solidarity stated as his hand moved away from Blueberry Milk Cookie’s shoulder. The rest of the Virtues observing the little one who did not peep a word.”
It was suffocating and a horrible first start, especially for the young virtue. He would have preferred staying by his Witch’s side where it was lonely and isolated from the other cookies. Or at least at an orphanage to get a better understanding of those he would serve than to be with these Virtues.
His own witch was motherly and offered great bouts of knowledge making him curious and smart. His own powers were created with care by his witch and even though he was isolated from the other cookies he wouldn’t have it any other way due to her affection.
However, it did not last long as that witch simply disappeared right after baking him to perfection and the last touches on his soul jam.
For now, he would simply have to endure under their rules....
6 years later.....
He had finally gotten free from the grasps of the four and spent his years observing the cookies. He could finally create friendships and breathe some fresh air. He was lucky enough to make it by with his knowledge to create his own mindscape.
Soon as he walked by through the academy, he heard whispers as students chattered away. It was a bustling chatter of talks of a video game.
“Ugh I can’t raise the affection meter high enough on hardcore mode!”
“Its a pay-to-win game didn’t you know?”
“That’s ridiculous....if only I had money.”
“Dang you must be really broke then...”
Blueberry Milk tilted his head as he listened to them talk away while he walked down the hallway holding many books and supplies. His head turned around to his coworker who was right beside him. “?” He looked at him before speaking. “Do you perhaps know what they are talking about?” He inquired.
“Oh that, it’s the current most popular video game right now.”
“A game?”
--
Blueberry Milk laid in his spire as he pulled out his phone. He was new to this technology...but it would was really simply to download the app on his phone right.
It was a game titled ‘Daughter of the Witches-Love project’
It followed a girl named White Lily Cookie who had disappeared from the Ancient Hero’s 6 years ago and forgotten her identity. She lived as a commoner and on the day she returns to her role as an Ancient Hero she has already encountered fantastic events and new relationships.
You win over various love interests a dispose of the meddling Beasts to accumulate wealth and fame.
If you accumulate 100% affection with any of the love interests you will receive a proposal of love and win the game.
“Oh this is super simple.” Blueberry Milk thought to himself and the artwork was amazing. He had to give the cookie props to the game itself. ‘well I have a ton of paperwork to get done for tonight for the students so I’ll play this game tomorrow after work.’
Is what he thought but he couldn’t sleep! The game was addicting and he did not expect the game to be this much fun. It was dramatic and the story-line was amazing. Strangely enough it felt like Deja-vu watching the story unfold.
Like he was watching his own story.
The protagonist lives in an unideal situation until she returns to her noble position. He had also became a part of the higher-ranks and the same amount of people in those roles.
They were suspicious at first of the sudden appearance of the lost cookie but there was still that huge gap between them on how their predicament ended up. Blueberry Milk Cookie found that the game was intriguing on the similarities.
The game itself was also super easy on ‘normal mode’ as the affection rates for the Ancient Cookies started at 30% which made it too easy for even a beginner.
Even taming the other Beasts was interesting in the game itself. He let out a heft sigh as he looked down at the phone. ‘Is there anything else left in this game to complete?’
Then another screen popped up after the clearance scene faded away.
“you’ve unlocked the hidden ending purchase it now to start!”
‘100,000 gold coins!’
“Oh witches! That is expensive...just for one single ending too!?” He exclaimed before reading the fine print underneath.
“You can earn the hidden ending for free by clearing the hard mode!”
“...I can just clear that as well for the ending it seems....It’s getting late anyways it’s time for me to get ready for class later today.” He yawned while rubbing his eyes.
He glanced at the clock before letting out a sigh. “Oh whatever how hard can it be!”
When he thought back to the good endings of the game is made him momentarily crazy and want more. He wouldn’t have acted normally that way it was way out of character even for him.
“oh wow...”
On the screen flashed a character, a blue cookie dressed in black with many frills. Dark blue eyes covered in his hair as he had the same mismatched eyes as Blueberry Milk Cookie as well as the same face. They almost looked identical....
“The Beast is now the protagonist..” He murmured in astonishment.
A name flashed right beside the character on the screen.
“Shadow Milk Cookie.”
“In hardcore mode the story develops from the perspective of the Beast Shadow Milk Cookie. The Ancient cookies greatest enemy who infiltrates the kingdom
What events could unfold before White Lily’s return?
Learn more about his story in hardcore mode”
Blueberry Milk Cookie couldn’t help himself from spending a few hours more playing the game. “UGGH!” He groaned in frustration as he tossed the phone to the side. “Why is the game so difficult on hardcore!? I get that it is their greatest enemy but anything I do results in the most gruesome death ever!”
He ran his fingers through his hair as he was very frustrated and upset. “He seemed so evil from White Lily’s perspective but once you finally put your shoes in his story, he did nothing wrong!” He was so flabbergasted and flopped back onto his bed while wracking his brain.
This game was getting him so worked up over the fact the game settings was so drastically different from the normal and hardcore settings. Why was there such a big power gap. “I just want to survive once to see the hidden ending.”
He had never felt so determined before to finish a game especially one he had first played using his phone. He couldn’t believe the story and how detailed and complex it was.
“He did not do anything wrong, he’s just the Beast of Deceit because he was given that awful role....” He whined as he slowly moved his arm to pick up his phone again.
At this point he just wanted to see this poor Beast be happy and earn a happy ending. It was absolutely crazy on how easily White Lily was able to attain love effortlessly meanwhile it was just scraps for the Beast.
The Beast is hardcore mode whose every ending was death.
“If you feel like it’s unfair take it up with the witches”
“You can’t can you? they don’t even pay attention to you anymore.”
“No one cares about your truth or knowledge, if you get harassed or not it doesn’t really matter you’re not really a Virtue.”
Blueberry Milk couldn’t help but see himself in the Beast. He couldn’t help but bring himself to tears looking at the death screen in front of him. Maybe it was tears of frustration or feeling one of the same with the Beast of Deceit.
“Those ...ergh Virtues in the game are so eager to see the Beast die again and again and again!” He huffed as he pulled on his hair. It was stressing him out over how much this game truly had it out for that one character. “ I swear I will make sure to see that them to their doom.”
‘I can just spend money to raise affection....no I can just reset and start again.’
He thought to himself. It would just end up the same. Over...and over....and over again.
He would reset and start a fresh game and end up dying.
Reset...death.
Reset then death
Reset and then dead once again.
Rest Reset Reset Reset.....each and every single one met with a gruesome ending.
He had continued playing the game until dawn was breaking and he couldn’t believe it the fact that he could only ever meet the “Game Over” screen each time.
He finally dropped his phone and curled up in his bed muttering to himself. “I’m going to make it one way or another and start again until the Beast’s end isn’t death.” His eyelids drooped as sleep was finally taking over him.
He could not stop himself from falling into that deep slumber as darkness surrounded him whole.
It was dark...
...
“..s...r...wa...p”
“Ge...up!”
“My...tue!”
“Virtue!”
His eyes fluttered open as he let in a sharp gasp glancing around the room for a few seconds before rubbing his eyes.
‘oh right....’
Yesterday night he had opened his eyes and found that he had become someone else, and he prayed and prayed to the witches all night that this was just some kind of sick joke. To wake up back in his bed like before.
However it was not a dream he had really turned into the Beast of the game....Shadow Milk Cookie.
He couldn’t believe his at first when he looked in the mirror but it was quite clear. The once light color that faded in his hair with stars that twinkled was replaced with the dark blue eyes that stared right back at him in the mirror.
It took a while to get used to...or well he still can’t get used to being able to see through all of the eyes at once. It was very taxing on his body, so he just resorted to keeping them closed to help reduce the headache he had.
He was a little grateful that luckily enough Shadow Milk Cookie and him looked very similar facial wise, and in body....just that Shadow Milk Cookie was much thinner than him of course.
It made it easier to look in the mirror and get used to his new appearance. It stilled bugged him out that he was in a whole video game that he had just been played a few days prior.
He almost forgot the maid that was still standing there from across the room, his eyes watching her before he felt a sudden jolt of pain on his arm...
It hurt really bad and felt like something was stabbing him, he pulled up his sleeve to see puncture wounds on his arm. The bruises trailed from his inner elbow to his upper arm.
“You are awake now.” She scoffed.
‘ah she looks just like the maid in the game...’
Who even does this to someone who is sleeping? A feeling of frustration and anger bubbled up in his chest as he was ready to lash out when his voice wasn’t coming out.
The anger that swelled festered as he wanted to scream but he couldn’t an invisible force was stopping him from doing so.
“I have prepared your bath water for you to bathe in.”
While she spoke he held his throat while looking at her trying to force words out...but silence on his end. He glared at her viciously as he say the smirk that played on her lips before she exited out of the room.
He didn’t need someone to attend to him, he knew that the maid treated everyone differently but he didn’t think it was to this extent. Leaving a bowl of cold water...
The Virtues were highly respected but it seems this kind of behavior gets to slip by if people dislike you enough it seems.
He didn’t even think bruises showed up in this game especially on Shadow Milk Cookie ..ah...he supposed it was there during the death scene, but that detail could easily be mistaken for blood.
He let out a string of curses under his breath as he slipped out of bed walking over to the bowl of cold water. It honestly despite the attempt at trying to disrespect him cold water was great for the skin.
As well as he was used to this kind of treatment from where he was from. It would be easy to handle this as degrading as it was...it was a poor attempt.
Was what he thought until it was time for breakfast and all that there was....was moldy food on the table. He wanted to gag, his stomach was doing flips. He never could have expected this kind of treatment to come from this maid especially towards Shadow Milk Cookie himself.
“Please enjoy you must be hungry.” The maid said while giggling to herself under her breath.
There was no way the maid genuinely was putting this kind of garbage in front of him and calling it food. There was no way. He was still a ‘Virtue’ despite being a Beast.
The molding jelly soup and bread was already in the latest stages of decomposition. He remembers the past options in the game and each one lead to a horrible demise early in the game. He had made the mistake of picking the worst endings out of the 3 options.
So he already knew that the only way to get out of this scenario was to eat the food. He could do it, he had lived in worse conditions on the same food in the past. His hands trembled as he picked up the spoon and started scooping up the expired liquid and shoveling it into his mouth.
The mold made him gag and uncomfortable as he forced it down his throat. He wanted to cry while sitting in that chair...it was awful the way he was being treated and he would never be able to escape it.
For some reason the maid looked at him shocked at the sight before a feminine voiced spoke up. “What the witches is going on here!?” She yelled as she took in the sight of the moldy food on the table. “You!” She pointed a finger at the maid as a vein was almost about to pop on her forehead.
It was Bringer of Happiness or also known as Eternal Sugar Cookie. Her long pink hair cascading across her back and shoulders as her white dress complimented her pink skin. “What did you just feed him!?” she barked as she grabbed the plate holding the molding jelly bread.
“V-Virtue! I-t just a-”
A sudden crash as she threw the plate across the room. The plate shattering across the floor as Eternal Sugar Cookie placed a hand on her hips and brushed her hair off her shoulder. “Even if you DARE disrespected the Virtues there is a limit to this kind of behavior.” She growled as she looked at the now trembling maid in front of her.
He couldn’t believe his eyes that she would intervene like this unlike the other two choices that either resulted in imprisonment or death.
“How dare a mere maid give this kind of garbage to their lord nevertheless a Virtue!?”
“Bringer of Happiness this isn’t what it looks like!” She choked out in a desperate cry to save herself.
“Save it- I will be informing the knight of solidarity of your actions and you shall be locked up for your crimes.” She glared harshly at the maid and pointed to the door. “GUARDS!” A few of the fairies that followed her around immediately stormed into the room at her request. “Lock this filthy maid up.” She said as she then watched them drag the maid out.
Only the cries and screams of the maid was heard before she turned around, pinching the bridge of her nose before letting out a sigh of relief and examine Shadow Milk Cookie. “Hey...are you okay?” She asked before continuing. “You did not have to eat that, you’re foolish to sit there and let a maid disrespect our names like that. Why didn’t you yell and throw a tantrum like you normally do?” Her eyes were softer now, a warm pink that looked at Shadow Milk with care.
It made him shudder at the thought as he thought bitterly to himself ‘I would’ve ended up dead either way due to you if I did.’
This never would have happened if the Virtues didn’t turn a blind eye to him as this kind of behavior never would have occurred. However, the staff and even this bastard in front of him all held the same kind of attitude towards him.
He could feel his stomach churning and the contents wanting to come back up as he gagged, turning his face away. His face paled. “Oh my you don’t look so good, shall I call the doctor?” She asked while reaching her hand to his face to check his temperature.
He couldn’t believe what he was hearing but he knew that is was better to ignore her than to go along with it.
“Don’t bother.” He grumbled.
“Ugh fine I won’t then! Stay sick for all I care, I try and do something nice for you and you can’t even appreciate it.” She immediately straightened up before storming out the door her heels clicking against the floor furiously. “ The doctor doesn’t even have time to care for you anyways. How ungrateful.”
....
Oh?
“-15%”
‘it used to be –20% yesterday....well negative is still negative I’ll end up dead quickly enough if I’m not careful. 'He shuddered before making it back to his room.
He knew that Shadow Milk Cookie was very handsome...and his girl form was extremely pretty too. But a Beast was still a Beast nevertheless.
It was very unfortunate that the game description of him was heart wrenching.
“A cookie who lived with a witch before losing her right at a young age with no-name given to him. Another witch taken in the young cookie deeming him similar to her virtues and giving him a soul-jam. Despite this she had already created Ancient cookie’s with replicated soul-jams so he no longer needed to represent the truth/knowledge for the cookies. Shadow Milk Cookie had neither the truth nor the knowledge to spread to cookies of Crispia to be found within his dough.
Now he is the Beast of Deceit who receives attention from no one, not even the witches or the Virtues themselves as he goes around stirring up trouble.
What are the circumstances behind the person who became the world’s greatest Beast?”
‘Man....that Witch should have just not placed him in that role if she was already planning on duplicating the soul jams to give to other cookies. Especially since that made the Virtues look more like a laughing stock in the land of Crispia. Even they had to bow down to the Ancient Cookies who were much more powerful than they were. They were royalty and no one could come close to them.’ He shuddered as both Shadow Milk Cookie’s and his past were eerily similar to one another. He couldn’t blame it as the game itself was based off of him and the Virtues...the Ancient’s however were not something from his past.
It was only the Virtues who had high standing power and someone must have made a fan game basing off of them. Might have pissed someone off or something he wouldn’t know.
He couldn’t stand the thoughts of the fact that Shadow Milk Cookie was a young dough at the time who was taken in and baked by another witch. Influenced by her and being forced to play into a role that no one would want.
And Shadow Milk Cookie wouldn’t have been able to fight against fate/destiny either way only to be overshadow my his rival Pure Vanilla Cookie who had the same soul jam as him. The only difference was that Shadow Milk Cookie was never intended to keep the soul jam.... but Pure Vanilla Cookie was. He was made and born for it.
Shadow Milk Cookie was made to play a role on stage and then be thrown away when the time came and no one would blink an eye.
It made him furious and clench his jaw at the thought of being forced to act a certain way. Having to dance to a tune to just to end up dead....
And now he was Shadow Milk Cookie and he could end up dead by any of the characters....
That sudden thought haunted him.