Chapter Text
He stared at the oven, having been told to let it cool for a moment. His less than welcome antennae flicked the air with each passing second, he normally kept them hidden but he wasn't concerned about that at the moment.
Blueberry Milk, Fount of Knowledge, muttered beside him, sounding worried, he tried to ignore him, not wanting to feed his own uncertainty. His heart pounded against his chest, threatening to burst free at any moment. He whispered a prayer to the Witches, begging for their blessing for everything to go as planned.
This would work, it had too.
He knew the remaining Virtues waited beyond the door with bated breath, likely doing all they can to know what was happening. Truthfully, he hadn't wanted Blueberry here either but he needed his guidance, so he had reluctantly allowed him to be present.
“It should be cool enough-”
He didn't let Blueberry finish, leaping to his feet to throw the oven doors open, refusing to wait a moment longer. The large silver doors swung open, barely missing Blueberry who quickly flew up to avoid getting hit, yelling something at him but it fell on deaf ears. He was far more concerned by the lack of the cries of a doughling just baked.
His eyes landed on the tray making his heart catch in his throat, only able to let out a strangled noise at the sight.
Blueberry joined his side, he could hear his stifled gasp, only confirming his fears.
He had failed.
His legs grew weak beneath him, using one set of hands to hold himself upright, while the other reached for his child. He never even knew them and yet he felt a debilitating grief for them. Picking them up from the tray, his heart breaking further upon seeing just a vaguely cookie shaped husk of what almost looked like rock.
He could barely hold back his defeated laugh at their extra limbs. They had four arms, an almost cruel reminder of what he'd sacrificed, the still fresh wounds throbbing with the sight.
He could feel Blueberry's hand hovering over his shoulder, wanting to comfort him but knowing it would be pointless.
“Spice?” Blueberry's usual charismatic and boisterous voice came out as nothing more than a pained whisper. That was all it took for him to break completely.
He held the doughling to his chest as he wailed, collapsing to his knees as he allowed his tears to fall freely, not caring for a moment how pathetic he appeared.
“I'll... let you have some space.” He felt Blueberry move to leave, “We'll be out here if you need.”
With the absence of Blueberry, his dough began to burn hot, no longer holding back his heartbreak.
He froze.
The tiniest grunt.
He glanced up at Blueberry, who similarly froze, his hand hovering over the doorknob, looking back at him with the same stunned expression before instantly appearing opposite.
They both stared at the doughling as he silently begged for it not to be a trick of the mind.
“Heat up again.” Blueberry ordered, not even sparing a glance at him, although he did as instructed, praying for it to somehow work.
His heart lit up as he heard another strained grunt, followed by a crack as the rocky surface appeared to break open. Spurred on by the grunting and groaning growing stronger each second, he forced himself to remain focused, to not let his temperature fall.
Bits of what he thought was the doughling chipped away before a tiny, almost black hand emerged. He brought the increasingly confounding newly baked up to his face, before looking at Blueberry, who also appeared to be trying to comprehend the sight.
The moment their eyes met, Blueberry's grew wide, opening his mouth to speak before he felt something tug on his antennae. He instinctively reached for them, instantly realised his mistake, the sound of splitting rock filling the room.
His heart stopped again, refusing to even look at what he'd done, the guilt already suffocating him.
That is, until he heard an excited gasp from Blueberry, his curiosity getting the better of him as he looked down.
The top half of the doughling was fully exposed, the bottom half remaining encased in the layer of rock.
Their hair was long and black, much like his own, although they had hints of orange speckled throughout. While their eyes remained closed, he could see their stark white eyelashes contrasting against their charred black dough. Two small horn buds sat either side of the base of tiny orange antennae.
He stared at them in awe, taking in their appearance, they looked so much like him, and yet still so completely unique.
They let out a shrill scream as all four of their arms began desperately reaching for him, their hair igniting and becoming what could best be described as a mixture of fire and lava, occasional embers floating off.
He couldn't pick them up fast enough, now holding them close to his chest. He also now heard the banging on the door, Blueberry quickly moving to address it before finally forcing himself to speak.
“Bluebell? Could I have a moment alone?” He felt his child's legs finally break free, making his heart swell with pride, “Just a few minutes.”
Blueberry blushed at the nickname before nodding, teleporting out, quickly followed by muffled protests from beyond the door. He tuned them out, instead focusing on the child in his arms, who was now fully out of their strange casing, revealing their tail. The same tuft on the end as his own, now dimming to black, their hair doing the same, as they curled up against him, clearly exhausted.
As much as he adored them, his heart broke seeing they had inherited his punishment.
A few months ago, he broke, hurting his own subjects in a fit of rage. He had grown more beastly in appearance since, sprouting deep red antennae that he made every effort to hide.
And now, in some cruel twist of fate, he'd passed these to his child.
As he wrapped them in a blanket, he realised how small they were, so impossibly small, making his dough ignite with a fierce protective drive.
He was so certain that he'd failed, but the tiny breaths assured him otherwise.
He'd hadn't felt like this in centuries. Why had he waited so long to do this? No matter, it was done now and he couldn't be happier.
He sat on the ground, holding his greatest achievement in his arms.
His perfect little baby boy, only just brought into this world and he'd already planned their entire life together. Every milestone, every smile, every tear, he would be there, making sure they knew nothing but love.
Blueberry poked his head through a portal, “Not trying to rush you, but-”
He sighed, “Could you take us home actually? I'm exhausted, so is this one.” Gesturing to the passed out baby in his arms, “It has been a big day. Can we do all the meet and greets tomorrow?”
He barely had time to process before the warmth of his domain hit him, barely managing to take the few steps to his throne before his legs gave out, his exhaustion finally catching up.
He cradled his sleeping son in his lap, rubbing their cheek with his thumb, fighting to keep his eyes open, “Good night, Little Spice.”
When he awoke, he was still on his throne from where he'd passed out the day before, although he noted the addition of various cushions and blankets, slightly embarrassed at being seen in such a state by his temple attendants.
How long had he even slept? Just by the position of the sun directly above he knew he had missed ringing in the new day by hours. Surely his subjects would understand.
Although, anything other than pure joy quickly disappeared as he felt his newly baked shift slightly, lifting the blanket to reveal his little one, the mere sight making a smile form on his face, the first real one in decades. They remained safely tucked in his lap, exactly where they were yesterday, sighing with relief that they hadn't been moved.
That is, before he noticed the jam covering their face and now free hands, picking them up to see what had injured them, before realising the jam was his own.
Where they had been lying, a tiny chunk of his dough was missing. The tiny claw marks around it gave away the culprit, as if the jam on their face wasn't enough. He couldn't help bursting into laughter, ignoring the way his body protested, his head still throbbed from removing his souljam, not to mention the wounds where he'd removed his arms.
“You couldn't wait until I woke up?” Wiping them clean with his thumb, “You greedy little thing, were my arms not enough?”
Clearly, if he didn't want to lose any more dough, he'd have to find them something more appropriate to eat. Tucking their arms back into the swaddle, he groaned with effort as he stood, feeling them stir with the movement.
“Great Herald? Have you awoken?”
He glanced up upon hearing the familiar voice of Jaiphal, noticing the usually open archway leading to his throne had been covered with a parda, giving him privacy, mentally noting to thank whoever was responsible.
“Yes, is there something that needs my attention?” He really hoped there wasn't, he needed to get something made up for...
He looked down at them in his arms, he hadn't thought of a name yet.
Jaiphal parted the curtain slightly, her face morphing into concern as she rushed in, “You must rest.” Guiding him back to his throne, he couldn't imagine how terrible he looked if even Jaiphal wasn't cracking jokes. “I'll get some food for both of you.”
“I could hug you right about now.” He chuckled, admittedly he really did feel absolutely drained, and he expected the Virtues would be here any moment.
“Nutmeg?” Jaiphal left through the covered archway as he heard a tiny voice coming from behind.
“Yes, Mis- Jaiphal?”
“We are to bring some food for the Great Herald, as well as some of the potential sustenance for the...” Jaiphal paused, poking her head back in, “What is their title?”
“I have not thought of one yet, just use son for now.”
She nodded, “For the Great Herald's son.”
“It's a boy?”
“Yes, now we mustn't keep them waiting.”
Hearing the two tigers leave before the chittering of a pepper pangolin approached.
“Great Herald, the other Virtues have arrived.” He forced the groan aside, he expected as much, “Did you wish for them to enter?”
“I suppose.” He would've preferred something to eat first but at least he managed to rest, which frankly he hadn't expected, “Please tell them to keep quiet though, I have a headache and he's sleeping.”
“Of course.” The pangolin hurried off, not wanting to keep such prestigious guests waiting.
It was about ten seconds before he could hear them all thundering towards him, likely tripping over each other to be the first to greet the new arrival.
Sea Salt, Commander of Solidarity, appeared in the archway, pushing the curtain aside before Blueberry appeared behind him, before both being shoved aside by Powdered Sugar, Bringer of Happiness.
“Where is he?! Let me see him!” She squealed, flying in before Salt grabbed her leg and pulled her back.
“What part of quiet do you not understand?!-”
A shrill cry cut him off, someone was clearly upset at being woken up, quickly turning his attention to hushing them while the others started to bicker.
“Bringer of Happiness and the first thing you do is make the baby cry.” Blueberry teased, “Some Virtue you are!-”
“I didn't mean to!”
“Red Spice? May we enter?” He looked up, hearing the final Virtue, White Flour, Saint of Volition.
He'd already managed to get them to settle again, feeling them tuck their little body against him, “You may, but slowly.”
Flour nodded, walking over with such grace, she may have well been floating before the others following in after her, gathering around him. Unfortunately for them though, his little one had tucked themselves against him so their face was hidden.
“You would think they'd be a bit bigger, with how much dough you used.” Sugar sighed, “Two whole arms and nothing to show for it.”
“It could very well be that they only look small because it's Spice holding them.” Blueberry noted, as always, trying to find the logical explanation for everything.
Flour placed a hand on his cheek, “You look dreadful, I can see why you delayed us yesterday.” Her healing magic began working away, finding the cold feeling that came with unusually welcome.
He paused as his son stirred uncomfortably, letting out a soft whimper, “Snowdrop, wait.” Removing her hand from his face, “He needs my warmth.”
“And you need your strength.” Now using both her hands to hold him, resuming her magic, “He will be fine being uncomfortable for a moment.”
“But!-”
“How are you to protect him in such a state?” She scolded, finding himself now unable to respond.
Her magic worked miracles truly, already feeling his pains subside, but his heart ached as his son's whines grew.
After a moment, she removed her hands, the heat returned, feeling his son shuffle and press themselves against him, eager to embrace the returning warmth.
“Do not neglect yourself. Even if you must justify doing it for his sake.”
He looked away, still unable to answer, she was right after all, he had to be strong for another now. His usual complete disregard for caring about himself wasn't an option anymore.
“Tell us about him.” Sugar suggested, trying to ease the sorrowful atmosphere, “We heard from Blueberry yesterday that it's a boy.”
“Also about his little performance! I said to them, ‘Are you sure you didn't accidentally get some of my dough in there with those theatrics?’” Blueberry laughed, “He really had both of us fully convinced that he... was...” Trailing off, now noticing how the reminder caused him to hold them a bit tighter, as well as the glare from Salt, “I- I shouldn't have said anything. I'm sorry.”
“I can't imagine how you felt at that moment.” Salt stepped past Blueberry, wiping tears from his face he didn't even realise were there, “But despite it all, he is here now.”
They shifted over, now allowing their face to be seen, their eyes still closed unfortunately. He tried not to laugh seeing his fellow Virtues desperately hold back their fussing so as to not overwhelm the little one.
That is, until their tiny antennae slipped free of the swaddle, flicking at the air, standing out so much against their black hair and dough. He could feel the mood instantly shift, the excitement into concern. He knew it would, he had felt the same when he saw them.
It was Salt who finally broke the silence, “Spice...”
“Do not say a word.” Immediately shutting down the notion, it was purely visual, nothing more.
The others knew something happened, they'd all felt his virtue crack that day, slip slightly from his grasp but only Blueberry knew what he'd done, having managed to cover it up before anyone else saw. Something he was eternally grateful for.
Salt glanced at the bundle in his arms, “I must ask, your souljam feels weaker, but not dimmed.”
He didn't need to say the question, he knew what was being asked.
“Yes. I gave some to him.” He sighed, “Perhaps it was reckless, but I hoped it would make them like us. Immune to the tides.”
He stroked his son's cheek with his thumb, making their face scrunch as they yawned, showing off a magma-like tongue, with just the tiniest bit of their teeth poking through the gums.
His own heart skipped a beat as their eyes drifted open. Finally revealing their bright golden eyes with red pupils, the opposite of his own, as if he needed more reasons to love him.
Their eyes wandered around, processing all the faces before landing on him and instantly widened, quickly freeing their arms to reach for him, babbling and squealing with excitement as their hair erupted into orange, making him chuckle at the gasps from his friends.
Tears began welling in his eyes as he lifted him to his face, feeling his little hands and tiny claws against his dough.
“I couldn't have asked for anything more perfect. My little Capsaicin.” Pressing his forehead to theirs as they giggled, almost as if approving the name.
“Great Herald? May we enter?” Jaiphal's voice took his attention away for a moment.
“You may.” He thanked her as she headed in before placing a bowl of juanu ka jhol on a small table nearby.
“Your top general, reduced to a mere servant.” Salt chuckled teasingly, no real malice in his voice, “What had become of your empire?”
He scoffed, “Enough from you.”
“Jaiphal.” Salt turned to the general, a hidden grin on his face, “The Kala Namak trials are being held soon, if you wish-”
“Don't go poaching my warriors!” He laughed, enjoying the banter that had begun to fade in recent times, “I'd expect better from you!”
“I'm honoured, truly.” Jaiphal bowed, he could hear her smiling, knowing she had formed a witty reply before deciding otherwise, “But I have already pledged my unwavering loyalty to the Great Herald.”
“Very well.”
She glanced down at the babbling Capsaicin, making sure their presence was known, “Ah, yes, and we also brought-” She turned around, frowning at the missing tiger behind her, sighing, “Nutmeg, you can come in.”
A timid voice came from behind the curtain, “I don't- I'm not worthy-!”
He sighed solemnly, “You are welcome to enter, Nutmeg.”
Jaiphal's newest apprentice, Nutmeg, was certainly a significant departure from his top general's previous selections. She was far more unsure and young, which admittedly piqued his interest at the onset, but she had quickly proved herself and then some, removing any apprehension within just the first week or two of her arrival.
Nutmeg nervously shuffled in, she was still far from comfortable in his presence, let alone the other Virtues. He thanked her as she placed a few bottles on the table, glancing at his son as she heard his curious babble. She froze as she took in his features, suddenly full of fear and distress, he didn't even notice Capsaicin reaching out to touch her until she leapt in the air, startling the little one.
Orange tears fell down his cheeks as he began to cry, Nutmeg scrambled to get away, cowering behind Jaiphal, trying to hide from view, “Forgive me! I swear I didn't-!”
“Do not worry, I know you meant no harm, you just startled him.” Noticing her relax slightly at his words before wiping the strangely warm tears from his son's face, soon managing to settle him once more.
“Come.” Beckoning Nutmeg back over, who glanced at Jaiphal before he reassured her, “You need not be so frightened, as I have promised, you will be safe here.”
As she hesitantly approached, he could feel the other Virtues questioning stares, almost accusatory in nature as to why she held such fear.
Soon Nutmeg stood before him, clearly trying to hide her nerves, albeit with little success, “Yes, Great Herald?”
He went to put a hand on her shoulder, “May I?”
She nodded before he rubbed her arm, whispering, “Is something the matter? You seemed unnerved at his appearance.”
“No-! I-” She jumped back, her tail tucked low, “Nothing is wrong-! I-I'll take my leave now.” Scurrying out, not waiting for Jaiphal, who only sighed in resignation.
She moved beside him, whispering in his ear, “There were... burnt remains at her village.”
He nodded, now understanding her discomfort, “Go comfort her.”
Jaiphal thanked him and left before hurriedly chasing to catch up with Nutmeg.
He hardly had a moment to gather his thoughts before Salt stepped forward, “May I ask what caused such distress?”
“Her village was ransacked and destroyed. She was the only survivor.” Subconsciously holding Capsaicin slightly tighter, the guilt of having not been there in time to stop the slaughter, only able to pick up the pieces ate away at him, “Those responsible have been punished.”
“Forgive me, but I'm hoping that isn't normal?” Sugar spoke before Salt could respond, gently pushing past the Commander to get closer.
“No. It is not. Occasional disagreements between tribes, yes. But never this extreme.”
“What do they disagree over?”
“A better question would be what they don't disagree over.” He groaned, “It is just the way we are.”
“Are you sure you can keep him safe?”
He paused, glaring up at her, “Excuse me?”
“I- I mean just- theoretically speaking-” Quickly backtracking as she avoided his glare, “If such things are happening… maybe-”
“It was likely an isolated incident.” Salt interrupted her, sensing the growing tension, “Even still, it is inappropriate to ask that.”
Blueberry hovered over to the table, picking a bottle up, “I thought milk isn't good for spice cookies?” Trying to change the subject, which was more than welcomed.
“Some have more of a reaction than others.” He picked up another bottle, noting the labels on them, “I created plans for various substitutes, it'll just be a bit of a guessing game until I find the right one.”
“Is that safe?” Sugar floated closer, “What if it hurts him?”
“Then it doesn't get used.” Flour narrowed her eyes at Sugar, “What would you have him do instead?”
“I don't-! I was just asking!” Sugar stiffened, almost offended.
“Why do you feel the need to question Spice's abilities?”
“I wasn't!”
A distressed grumble left Capsaicin, stopping the two from continuing. He turned his attention to the fussing baby, the orange tears starting again.
He heard the quiet clink of glass as Blueberry set the bottle back down, now reaching his hand towards Capsaicin's face, “What..? Why are his tears-?” He yelped, pulling his hand back as soon as he touched the tears, “Why are they hot?!”
“I noticed that before.” Gently bouncing Capsaicin who continued to cry, “Are you hungry?”
The wailing grew exponentially louder as he reached out an arm to grab the bottle nearby, “Okay, we'll try-”
Where was it? He'd sworn it was right beside him!
He looked over to the bottle next to him, exactly where he thought it was. What? How had he not-?
“Phantom limb?” Flour caught on, ever vigilant, despite her eyes always being closed.
He groaned, “I suppose I'll have to learn how to deal with that.” Capsaicin squirmed, growing ever more restless and loud. Shifting them before using a newly free arm to pick up a random bottle, sighing with relief as they quickly latched on and began drinking.
“You can get quite loud despite being so little.” He was pleasantly surprised when after a bit, they still continued drinking, taking note of the label.
“Oh, he was starving!” Blueberry laughed, “He's going to finish that bottle in no time!”