Chapter Text
Finally granting Salty some mercy, Shadow Milk left the training ground. He didn't wait for a response to his jab. He didn't have time for that. Right now, he needed to find a representative for this absurd duel he had talked his way into. Sure, hypothetically he could simply bow out. Salty would certainly prefer that, and it was not as though Shadow Milk placed much value on Larkspur's reputation. He wouldn't have minded looking like a 'coward.' However, Moonflower hadn't given any signal that she had packed up her research. His time as the center of attention was far from over. Not that he was ever not the center of attention.
Regardless, he needed to find a second, preferably one that wouldn't take this too seriously. The list of cookies that would be both willing to assist him though and available, was woefully slim. Moonflower and Nilly were both busy- that was why he was doing this in the first place. The only real option would be Dark Choco. Would the kid even be willing to help him, though? Shadow Milk didn't know him very well, but if he was anything like his dad, then this would have to be handled delicately. If he suspected for a second that any part of this was 'frivolous' he'd back out instantly. It seemed like no one in the Cacao Kingdom had any sense of fun. Frivolity was not to be tolerated, at least not from Shadow Milk. So, Shadow Milk would really have to lean in to the importance of keeping their plans secret. He couldn't let slip even the smallest smidgen of how funny he found any of this. Perhaps it would be a little obnoxious, but Shadow Milk could manage. He was a world class actor, to say the very least.
Finding Dark Choco seemed like an easy enough task, at first glance. When it wasn't his turn to check in on Tall Dark and Grouchy, the kid followed his script religiously. Or, at the very least, he tried to. It wasn't as though any of the actors had been given a literal script. Nills was currently taking care of Dark Cacao, so he likely wouldn't find Dark Choco there. Shadow Milk looked over his memories of the play. Unfortunately, Prince Snow Cap was a rather elusive character. As The Mountain King was the main character, most of Snow Cap's on stage appearances were directly related to his father. This was altogether unhelpful, Shadow Milk was already pretty certain that Dark Choco wasn't with Dark Cacao right now. Perhaps he could work out where Snow Cap would be based on the character's personality. He was an ambitious character, with more than a few shady connections.
Searching through the fabricated memories of Larkspur, Shadow Milk recalled an abandoned wine cellar below the castle's ground floor. As far as upstanding cookies were concerned, it was nothing more than a place for dust and cobwebs to accumulate. If you ran in the right circles, though, that cellar was one of the most interesting places in the castle. This was where noble cookies with cash to burn would go to have a bit of fun, and on rare occasions, come out of it with even more cash than they went in with. Gambling was the main draw, but you could meet all sorts of cookies while there: Bribable nobles, mercenaries, even poisoners. While Dark Choco had no interest in poisoning the Mountain King (to say the least), Snow Cap did. So, there was a decent chance that Dark Choco frequented the gambling ring, if only to maintain the illusion. So, to the cellar he went.
Even in the early afternoon, it was darker than Shadow Milk had expected. The only light sources were a few candles scattered throughout, and oil lamps hanging over the tables. Thick moss climbed up the darker walls, though the lighter areas with higher activity were near bare. Some cookies glanced in his direction as he entered, but most minded their business. Larkspur wasn't a regular per se, but he frequented often enough. His presence was no reason for alarm. Shadow Milk made his way over to a table where cookies were playing cards. From the looks of it, the game had only recently started. There was no chance of joining this game. He observed as they played, walking around the table looking over everyone's cards. The dealer looked up as Shadow Milk moved to look over at a different player's hand. The dealer shot him a dirty look. He rolled his eyes. It wasn't as though he had any intentions on helping anyone cheat. Regardless, he backed off.
Looking around, all of the other tables were mid-game. Dark Choco wasn't at any of them, either. Though, Snow Cap didn't come down here for the games. Shadow Milk shifted his attention from the bright, boisterous games in the center, to the shadier corners of the cellar. No one in particular stood out, but that was by design. Cookies had learned to keep their heads down and look the other way. While there was the inherent understanding that everyone here was doing less than legal things, no one needed to know the exact details.
Finally, he spotted him. Dark Choco was whispering with a hooded figure in the corner opposite to Shadow Milk. Shadow Milk slunk over to them, staying close to the wall. At first, he did not initiate conversation. Instead, he hovered nearby, waiting for a lull in the conversation. It was rather hard to find one, though, given that the conversation was barely audible. Shadow Milk knew that they were saying something, but he couldn't make out any exact words.
When at long last the two fell quiet, Shadow Milk placed a hand on Dark Choco's shoulder. "Your Highness? A word, if you will."
Dark Choco's companion slipped away without a word. Dark Choco turned in Shadow Milk's direction. His face tried to make at least three expressions at once; the mouth stretched into a thin, barely present line, his brow furrowed, but his eyes slightly crinkled like he was hiding a smile. It was altogether a directionless mess. Clearly an amateur actor.
"Sha- King Larkspur," Dark Choco regained control of his face, returning it to a neutral state. "What is it that you wish to discuss?"
Shadow Milk would need to maintain Dark Choco's cover, while also making sure that this wouldn't be seen as a whim. It was an act on top of an act, how wonderful.
"This is a matter concerning our mutual allies," Shadow Milk glanced at the many cookies around them. "Is this a safe place to discuss it?"
Dark Choco furrowed his brow once again. "Maybe it would be best to find somewhere else, then."
"Of course," Shadow Milk strode to the exit. He hoped that Dark Choco was following him, but he didn't turn back to check. Thankfully, as he walked back upstairs, he heard hurried footsteps behind him.
Shadow Milk turned into a hallway and made his way to the furthest door on the left, Viridescent's quarters. He still couldn't remember where Larkspur's quarters were, but now it mattered even less. Shadow Milk and Nilly had been sharing a bedroom before the stage. If Sugar didn't see anything suspicious about him and 'Viridescent' being a couple, he didn't see any reason that had to stop now. He floated over to an ottoman at the foot of the bed and sunk down onto it. Dark Choco lingered at the door.
"Isn't this Pure- gah, I mean King Viridescent's room?"
"It… is." Shadow Milk raised an eyebrow. "I don't think either of us want our conversation to be overheard by anyone. This is the most private place I could think of on short notice."
"But why would you and him… oh." Dark Choco's face flushed red and he looked down at his feet. Ah, that's what had happened. Shadow Milk hadn't realized the kid had been that sheltered, at least in that way. "I'm sorry for prying sir."
"Don't worry about it." Shadow Milk waved his hand, he was done talking about this now. "What I wanted to discuss with you is an upcoming duel I am to 'take part in.'"
Dark Choco tilted his head, "You? In a duel? Is it a magic one?"
Why was everyone so doubtful of his combat abilities? "Any duel could be a magic duel if they don't say otherwise." Even if it was against the rules, it wouldn't hurt to try.
"I guess," Dark Choco brought a hand to his chin. He seemed to have a bit more of a sense of humor than his father. At the very least he wasn't preparing to run Shadow Milk through should he misinterpret his Shadow Milk's words. "If you don't mind me asking, why is it that you wanted to speak with me about this? Are you in need of assistance preparing for the duel?"
"Not exactly," Shadow Milk reclined across the ottoman. "The cookie I challenged insisted that both of us used substitutes rather than fighting ourselves."
Dark Choco joined Shadow Milk on the ottoman. In contrast with Shadow Milk's casual lounging, Dark Choco sat with his back stick straight and his hands folded neatly in his lap. "That makes sense," he nodded along, "and I'm guessing that you are here to request that I be your substitute?"
"Indeed, indeed," Shadow Milk clapped his hands together once. "Well, are you up for it?"
"Who would be my opponent?"
"I don't know," Shadow Milk shrugged. "Whoever Salty can find on short notice." It was convenient that his nickname for Silent Salt Cookie worked just as well for Sir Sea Salt.
Dark Choco let out a small grunt, "Why would you want to fight Sir Sea Salt?"
"He insulted me!" Shadow Milk shouted, before lowering his voice. "Moreover, this is beneficial to our 'common goals.'"
Shadow Milk wasn't entirely certain that Dark Choco understood the implication. For a moment, the kid just stared at Shadow Milk. Finally his eyes widened "Oh! That's why you wanted me."
"Well, you're the only one in our group that's any good with swords," and the others were busy.
"Right." Dark Choco sprung up. "When exactly is this duel scheduled for?"
"Well, I said that I would get a substitute by sunset, but I don't recall actually setting a time for the duel…" Shadow Milk chuckled. Oops, perhaps he shouldn't have left as quickly as he did. "I don't actually know when Salty would be expecting us."
Dark Choco walked to the door, opening it once more. "Maybe we should go find out?"
Slowly, Shadow Milk rose to join him, "Probably."
Dark Choco moved quicker than Shadow Milk would have preferred. Annoyingly enough, he wasn't even walking especially fast. Dark Choco's stride was simply far larger than the average cookie's. He and his father were much too tall. Shadow Milk followed after him, grateful that he didn't need to walk.
"Hang on a second," Shadow Milk placed a hand on Dark Choco's shoulder. "Do you even know where you're going?"
"The garden. Sea Salt and Ghost Candle have afternoon tea there."
That… made sense. It seemed that the kid was more observant than Shadow Milk would've expected. That was good, it was always best to have allies that didn't need information handed to them. It also saved him the time he would have spent trying to remember Salty's schedule.
"Good, but why do you feel the need to rush?" Shadow Milk stopped following Dark Choco, opting instead to recline midair. "It's not like he'll be cross with us for stalling- he doesn't want this to happen at all."
Shadow Milk elegantly rolled his wrist as he spoke. "Besides, isn't this a little exciting? What's the harm in prolonging the fun a bit?" Shadow Milk hoped the hint had been heard: They needed to be a distraction for as long as possible.
Dark Choco grimaced, but he did slow down a bit.
"Relax, we aren't going to leave Salty hanging. I said I'd meet up at sunset and it's still late afternoon. He isn't expecting us this very second."
With that, the two continued strolling in the general direction of the garden. Neither spoke. The walk wasn't exactly long, but there was time enough for Shadow Milk to grow bored.
"So," Shadow Milk said, breaking the silence. "How's ol' Bitterbrows doing?"
"Are you referring to my father?"
Shadow Milk nodded. "Viri gives me updates on him, but they're all about the medical stuff. How's he doing up here?" Shadow Milk gently knocked on his own forehead.
"Oh, he's… alright. He's getting better, I think…" Dark Choco trailed off, his gaze turned downwards. "I tried to apologize, but he wouldn't let me. He then apologized to me. I don't really know if it was to Snow Cap or… well, you know…"
Shadow Milk remained silent, regretting that he had asked. He really should have expected a response like this. Witches know that a question like that couldn't have any sort of cheerful answer. Regarding Dark Cacao's memories or lack there of, it could go either way. There was a complicated history between both the characters and the actual cookies. That was likely why Sugar had place them in those specific roles. Both Snow Cap and Dark Choco had harmed their father. Both the Mountain King and Dark Cacao had 'made mistakes' (that was how Dark Cacao had described it) in raising their sons. An apology would make sense in both situations. Shadow Milk would have to ask Nilly about it the next time he was sure they were alone.
After that somber exchange, conversation fizzled out. They walked all the way to the garden without speaking a word. Just as the kid had said, Salty was in the garden. He sat at a small, rock candy table. Three chairs were placed around it. Salty was sitting in one of them of course, one of them was empty (presumably 'Ghost Candle' was 'seated' there), and seated in the third chair was someone surprising.
"You." Prince Snow Cream spoke through gritted teeth, glaring in Dark Choco's direction. "What are you doing here?"
"Prince Snow Cap," Shadow Milk answered before Dark Choco had the chance, "will be acting as my representative. I take it that our armored friend has selected you as his?"