Vertex of the redemption arc - whatever Shadow Milk Cookie was willing to call it - came closer with each talk he had. Each glance he got, each smile he received - too genuine for his kind; too bright for his eyes - it drove him insane more than he expected. He never expected to go more crazy in the first place. He hit the bottom already, broke down through it, and now he'll make it twice.

Pure Vanilla Cookie was impossible to read, his faux understanding made the beast's stomach twirl, his sweet scent was sickening, his soul jam's ringing not once failed to cause a headache, his words were never clear.

Was it what he wanted to hear? Was it what he fought himself for? It was now idiocy. The world of lies the beast built never had a place for Shadow Milk Cookie by design. Marvelous - the actor wanted to give himself a round of applause. Spectacular - reaching for such a dream to find a torture. A little show of his own he ended with a...

– Shadow Milk Cookie? – The voice, as bright as stars, broke the thought train with its delicate call, causing a flinch, – There is something I'd like to get off my chest. See, I am aware you know my life in every detail. I wonder, how do you remember my years as Healer Cookie? For when i reunited with the Light of Truth, this period became quite... blurry.

The show goes on! – the actor turned towards his counterpart with a bright smile on.

– Ah, the parade of despair! – The beast couldn't help but sneer, gazing mischievously at Pure Vanilla Cookie, – It's within my power to recall your deeds back then, yet those memories cannot be renewed, my poppet!

– So, you can't bring them out of the depths of my mind's abyss? – The ancient hero asked lowly, receiving a smirk from his beastly other half.

– Ring-ding-ding! Do the humble moi owe thee an extra point for wit? – The silly jest was met with a giggle and an agreeing hum.

– You see, my memories before the wafflebots' attacks became but a faint trace of the passed, yet one cookie won't slip away for a while now. – Pure Vanilla Cookie drawled thoughtfully, squatting as he tended to a bed of orchids, – I can't unwind the value they might've held, nor recall their face, yet i remember how they prayed, so desperate for answer they didn't mind crumbling.

Shadow Milk Cookie couldn't keep an annoyed grimace, hands on the hips, as the so-called ancient hero tried his hardest to recall his own life, while his beastly counterpart would give anything to forget it.

– I remember how they knelt before me, whispering gratitude for the witches as they spoke in tongues. They considered me their saviour, sent from above, as well proclaimed me a saint…

– Those religious fanatics… – Shadow Milk Cookie huffed in unmistakable irritation, arms crossed over the chest – Always seeking out the above, they never saw the truth. pathetic, puny, Ignorant, delusional…

– Wounded. – Pure Vanilla Cookie interrupted, gazing down sympathetically as he raised his hand up to his souljam, – They seek help from the witches, whereas they can't receive it here, on Earthbread. When i tended to this cookie, they were shocked. They couldn't believe one could help them selflessly, that is why, i suppose, they considered me a saint.

The actor could only roll his eyes, viled by the other's overflowing naive kindness as he continued.

– What's it to you in the first place, Shadow Milk Cookie? What I'm trying to say is, those cookies turn to what you consider deceit.

The words came like a blow. One that he couldn't wrap his mind around. One that was harder than any wound he beared. A memory he buried.

– They bear a striking resemblance, i suppose. – A response came, fast as light, a line he always drew against the havoc of his psyche, like a dam.

Pure Vanilla Cookie stood up with his hands folded modestly, tilting his head to the side lightly as he considered his words, and this silence choked.

– May I ask why?

Yet once broken, it's even worse, creating a shell-hole.

– So desperate for answers, aren't we? – A mocking sneer, sharing the tension, – Swell, shall I fulfill my first purpose! Or dare I say duty? – His words are bittersweet, veiled, misguiding his own self. An attack in terms of defense.

– You don't have to if you don't want. – The healer's voice stayed even, still as disgustingly tender, and it pushed to the edge. It must've been nothing but a play, the history is always a cycle. If it was a one-man show, then it has to be just Shadow Milk Cookie.

He was the star, the main character, the playwright, and no one has the right to throw him off the scene and rip the script! Improvising might've come in handy, but it now failed to hide his Cotard's insides.

– Oh, but I will! I will in every smallest detail if that is what you seek! See, you know how I once was virtuous, oh-so saint, and pure, and naive! How I was fulfilling this meaning I never got to choose! – His voice broke into a row of giggles, malicious, vice and unsettling. The beast clutched his own collar, choking on own past, – Oh, how he trusted those witches! Oh, how selfless! How beautiful and dutiful! How thrilling it was to find out to be a tool! How hilarious it was to be but a puppet in the hands of those considered godnesses!

– Shadow Milk Cookie... – A soft call, barely breaking through the actor's defenses as he continued to laugh without even a trace of amusement left.

– Oh, and this so-called Fount Of All Knowledge, turns out to be blinded to reality! What a hilarious apogee to such a tragic story, oh, I'm tearing up! – He raved, coughing with past-mocking glee.

– Shadow Milk Cookie. – Loud enough to make the actor turn his head, gracing the other with a crooked smile.

– A-who could've guessed he'd end up like this to watch a replacement, mockery of his existence, trying to comfort him, pretending to know him, to understand! – The voice filled with contempt was met with warmth, widening the beast's eyes with obvious surprise. The curtains fell, the show is over.

– I am not trying to pretend, nowhere near, Shadow Milk Cookie, – Pure Vanilla Cookie spoke up softly, gracing the beast's cold cheeks with a gentle touch, – I am well aware I don't know everything you have been through, and I want to learn. Yet I know your yearning, my friend, by heart. – A twist to Shadow Milk Cookie's stomach, – I know what it's like, to serve a purpose. – A familiar tingling, one he thought was left forgotten, – But you're still cookie, after all. – A stab.

– I was never one. – He hissed defensively, gripping all leftovers of his once great skill with words, only to fail and reveal more weakness, and he expected another blow, frowning deeply in despair as his whole dough tensed with anticipation.

– You weren't seen as one, yet you are. – The ancient hero forced a faint smile, caressing his beastly counterpart's face, presenting an electrifying feeling, – A cookie, who is wounded deeply, and is frightened to trust. A cookie, who lacks attention. A cookie, who is brilliant. A cookie, who is rather dear to me.

The overflowing warmth of Pure Vanilla Cookie's words filled the actor's dough with light, yet he found it blinding. He could feel his head begin to ache. The so-called healer fails to cure. He can't just say this, having faith the beast of deceit himself would believe him! He can't be anything but an imposter, he can't trick him twice!

– A cookie, who you tricked and betrayed. – Shadow Milk Cookie spat bitterly, holding tightly onto the other's wrists, like an attempt to break them.

– Because it was required. – He sighed guiltily, – And I regret it deeply. I know forgiveness is difficult to earn, and you can take it as slow as you need.

A breach.

– And on the other hand, you forgave me right away. – The beast forced a chuckle, a mask to disbelief, – After your downfall, after the risk I put you and your petty friends at, you are willing to call me "rather dear"? – A weak, cracked sneer, – What a contradiction.

– Indeed, for you have led my path back to the light. – Pure Vanilla Cookie's smile brightened, while Shadow Milk Cookie's disappeared completely, turning into a puzzled look, – Your attempts at misguidence made me face my vices and embrace them, therefore I'm grateful. – He fell silent for a short while, meeting his beastly other half's emptied gaze with his affectionate one before turning away, bathed in sunlight, as if haloed, – Remember, you said we're two sides of the same coin? Hence I wonder, if I could show you your virtue… – A pause – For I am sure it's here. I saw it.

Silence. Neither comforting nor choking. Emptied and self-exhausted. Shadow Milk Cookie stared at the healer's back, his mouth agape, his thoughts are but a fog of confusion. How could the holder of all knowledge be confused so easily?

– Delusion. – He forced the words out, feeling his soul jam tighten as he clutched it.

– Perhaps. – Pure Vanilla Cookie chuckled weakly as he faced the other and gripped his clawed hands tenderly, – But the point is, I wish to help. I wish to fulfill what you lack… because you might've not noticed it, but you do it already, Shadow Milk Cookie. You're making progress.

The actor was now lost in disbelief, doubt-consumed from head to toe. Speechless, scriptless and tense, he stared at his oh-so virtuous, suspiciously kind other half, on the edge of something between rage, despair and bursting into tears.

– Liar. – He could only hiss weakly, scratching the other's palms, – I won't be caught in your net twice. If you want a play-along, find another victim.

The ancient hero glanced at his counterpart empathetically, patting his elbows limply while searching for words that won't hurt more.

– I am keen to gain thy trust and present evidence, so I'd be glad if you'd tell me what it is that holds you down. – He said quietly, his voice gentle, almost feigned.

A huff escaped Shadow Milk Cookie's lips as he cocked an eyebrow – I told you, – a hiss, – stop it with the act.

The healer never required saying something twice, many times not even once. Shadow Milk Cookie could feel the drowning warmth of his arms around his dough likewise the soft ringing of his soul jam.

– It won't have to end if it doesn't start.

The beast tensed up, muted and muffled against Pure Vanilla Cookie's robes. In attempts to find another argument he could sense the threads stretching between the nails as each word led to delusions and paranoia, and each thought mushed with the feeling of the other's hand combing through his hair.

In the end, he had no power left to fight. When the script was ripped and the lights burned out, he could only be a blind believer, and just for this once, the decision was made to be soothed by ignorance as the soul jams tinkled in unison.