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In the land of the frozen mountains, there was a cave that no one dared to enter, as it was said to be the home of one of the five legendary dragons. They were creatures of immense power, and for anyone who decided to face even the weakest of the group, their fate was already marked by death.
The owner of this cave was precisely the most feared of the five: Cacao Bean Dragon. Born from an egg made of the bitterest cocoa bean and the coldest ice, he was a beast that never bowed to creatures inferior to him—except for his friends, with whom he had grown up over the years.
However, not much had been heard from him for about three months, yet no one had dared to visit. Except for a dragon with dark paws and a greenish body with yellow tones along the neck and head; he had slimy wings, pointed brown horns, and a star symbol on his forehead. This dragon was Vanilla Orchid, the most peaceful of the group and ruler of a warm land where dragon hunting was forbidden and citizens lived in peace with the creature.
The dragon landed near the entrance, transforming into his human form; as he did, he hugged himself with his hands and wings, regretting not having brought warmer clothes for the occasion.
He ventured into the dark cave, searching with his eyes until a dark smoke surprised him. Noticing the aroma, he smiled and continued on his way.
Out of nowhere, large and intimidating purple eyes with pointed black pupils appeared. Vanilla Orchid stopped and spoke.
"How are you, Cacao Bean? It’s been a long time since we last saw each other." At that moment, a purple mist with a bitter scent surrounded the creature.
From it emerged a sturdy man in grayish-white armor; his hair, as well as the furry part of his serpentine tail, was white turning to a darker color, and three horns circled his head like a crown.
"Vanilla Orchid! What are you doing here? The weather is at its coldest this time of year; anyone could die like this." He approached, touching the shorter man's arms to check his temperature.
"I’m fine, a simple snowfall won't hurt me." He smiled, still hugging himself as he opened his eyes. "Besides, I came to see how you were... and also the little one."
The elder tensed his tail, looking at him seriously; he should have anticipated his friend's insistence on visiting at a time like this.
He placed a hand on Vanilla's back, guiding him further into his home to get warm. They reached an area with purple torches where the blonde sat down, managed to warm his wings and scales. However, he still seemed restless, searching for something specific with his gaze.
"Do you need something?" He turned face-to-face with the purple-eyed man, who was bringing a fur blanket for him.
"No, don't worry. I just wanted to know where it was; I don't see it around here." The serpent dragon knew what he meant. He handed him the blanket and, not wanting to make him wait any longer, led him to another area of the cave.
Through a tunnel, they reached a room containing a nest made of chocolate pine branches and leaves, along with pieces of bamboo and some cream-lion furs.
The area also had purple torches to maintain heat, but most importantly, inside that nest sat a black and red chocolate egg.
Vanilla Orchid, now clutching the blanket, grew excited and walked quickly until he was in front of the nest. He wanted to be as close to the egg as possible without invading his friend's space.
"It’s beautiful, Cacao." He turned, smiling with bright eyes. "Though, it must have cost you a lot. Aren’t you tired?"
The purple-eyed man shook his head, walking over to the egg and stroking it.
"It didn’t cost me as much as it did Holly Berry." The blonde was not convinced by his words.
Dragons can have offspring by using a part of their mass—be it scales, jam, hair, etc.—along with their magic to create their eggs. However, it is an exhausting process that requires a lot of vital energy; usually, dragons do this with their partners, but there are cases where a single dragon can create an egg. The only consequence is that it leaves them more exhausted and weak.
Furthermore, they must stay close to their offspring, providing heat and transmitting energy so they can be born. Both Holly Berry and Cacao Bean have this ability, but the dragoness of the fruit forest lands remained weak during the time her baby was still an egg.
"You know if you need help, I'm here. Not to brag, but I’m an expert in these things." He let out a little laugh, but the dark-skinned man looked away.
The heterochromatic dragon had always wished for an egg but was unable to procreate on his own. The only ones who could do that were the two of them and Glistening Cheese Dragon.
His only solution was to link his magic with another dragon. Lily Dragon was a good option, not forgetting they had a romantic relationship in the past, but over the years they had drifted apart due to... different interests, remaining as friends or even siblings of a different dough; and the blonde did not want to tie the white-haired dragoness to a fate she did not desire.
So, he settled for being a guide for others—both common cookies and creatures of other species—in this memorable phase of their lives; at least he could share his excitement with them.
However, his friend was a complicated case. The dragon was more reserved with his emotions and always chose to carry his problems alone rather than ask for help; moreover, since he made the decision to be a father, a protective instinct more intense than usual had already begun to awaken.
His friend Holly Berry went through the same thing, but unlike her, Cacao would not let even his friends near his egg.
The blonde felt the penetrating gaze of the taller man, who walked until he stopped at the edge of the nest in front of him.
"Cacao Bean, I know you. I know you’re capable of reaching your limit without telling us anything. And now with an egg to care for, your health is paramount." He received a grunt of annoyance as a response, but his gaze toward the elder was firm. "Don't be angry with me; as soon as I arrived, I noticed you’re pale. Don’t tell me you’ve been patrolling at night in your current state?"
"I just want to ensure there are no threats for when my baby is born," he asserted, frowning, though he knew the Vanilla dragon had a good point.
Vanilla let out a sigh, tightening his grip on the blanket. "There are still four months left until it hatches, and the girls know nothing about you. I’m sure if they see you like this, they will torment you more than the hunters ever have."
There was a small pause, with the fire of the torches being the only sound in the room. Then, the armored dragon stepped down from the nest and placed his hand on the younger man's shoulder.
"I can prepare a place for you to stay. Assuming you won't leave until my little one is born." His voice was softer, and the blonde smiled, accepting the invitation.
The dragon prepared a bed with the warmest furs he had, but the blonde recommended leaving them for the future baby.
"You said there are four months left before it comes out. Besides, he will be born in these lands; he will be able to withstand the cold of the mountains," he alluded to his future son, causing Vanilla to let out a small laugh.
The days passed, and the solitary serpent dragon's routine took a sudden turn; despite his claims, his condition was constantly checked and cared for by the heterochromatic dragon, though deep down, it didn't bother him.
They also had to check the condition of the egg, though knowing the elder’s instincts, Vanilla always asked for permission to touch and inspect it.
He couldn't stop the elder's patrols, however, as Cacao claimed that since Vanilla was there now, he had to look out for the safety of both. This took the blonde by surprise, though he constantly scolded Cacao, mentioning that his health was more important than that of his guest.
But those weren't the only arguments; there were also the habits the Vanilla-dweller tried to avoid but which surfaced in the end, such as bringing plants to "decorate more" the gloomy place, even though they eventually died from the infernal cold and lack of light. Despite this, Cacao Bean let him be, as his company relieved him of the future stress of fatherhood.
With two months left until the dragon baby’s birth, the dark-skinned man had gone out to find food for Vanilla. The blonde had insisted it wasn't necessary but lost the fight, knowing they were running out of provisions.
Cacao Bean decided to head out on a day when the snow was calmer, determined to fly to the heterochromatic dragon's lands to get some sweet snacks as payment for his hard work.
"Be very careful," Vanilla said, approaching the black-haired man near the exit.
"Funny you should say that, knowing you're a pacifist," Cacao smiled sideways, receiving a judging look from the blonde.
"It's just that the trip is long, and I don't want anything to happen to you." He looked at him, squinting his eyes.
The purple-eyed dragon blinked and hugged the blonde, pulling him toward him. This took the other dragon by surprise, and he felt his face heat up.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen to me," he whispered calmly, but the tip of his tail curled. They stayed like that for a few seconds until the elder pressed his forehead against Vanilla Orchid's. "Look after Bitter Choco for me, alright?"
The other nodded, and they parted. He watched as the taller man rose from the ground, starting to fly away from the cave. Once he was gone, Vanilla touched his face, feeling the heat rise as his greenish tail moved with excitement.
Hours passed, and the dragon was folding his blankets until he grabbed a lilac one with a drawing of an amethyst. He stared at it, remembering those beautiful purple eyes looking at him with warmth and trust; he remembered the moment those arms went around his slim waist and the closeness they shared for a few moments.
He was so immersed in his world that he didn't hear a sound near the entrance until a roar made him react.
He flew, leaving a small trail with his sticky wings, until he reached the cave entrance, where a green, pink, and white serpent-type dragoness had arrived. A mist surrounded her, transforming her into a girl with a long dress and a ribbon wrapped around her. Vanilla Orchid smiled and hugged the newcomer.
"I read the letters; you must be excited for the little one's arrival." The blonde nodded, letting out a giggle.
"He’s a very healthy boy, and I’m sure he’ll resist the low temperatures of the frozen pines well." The two stopped in front of the nest where the chocolate egg sat.
Lily Dragon shifted her gaze to her friend, who was observing the room's interior with joy and affection. She smiled mischievously and spoke.
"I wonder how the mom will feel when she sees her little one hatch?" Vanilla turned, stunned by the comment, and let out a nervous laugh. "Hehe, I don't know what you're talking about, Lily. I'm just fulfilling my role as a doctor, nothing more."
"Yeah, right. Don't tell me all this time you two haven't...? I thought you were finally going to tell him you like him?" The man blushed and tried to silence his friend. "Lily, please, you’re going to give the child the wrong idea." The girl narrowed her eyes, annoyed, and the two moved away from the egg.
They sat down in the meeting area. The blonde’s cheeks were still red, and he looked from side to side, making sure no one would hear them.
"And what about all this time you spent together?"
"Lily, it's not that easy. Besides, I don't think Cacao Bean sees me that way," he commented as he tucked a lock of hair behind his ear. "We always have arguments and... he's very closed off with me."
The dragoness didn't believe that excuse; the letters Vanilla sent her mentioned the fights they had, which in her opinion seemed silly.
"Oh please, you fight like a married couple." The comment surprised the blonde again, and he wondered just how red he could get. "Besides, if he were closed off with you, he wouldn't have even let you decorate his son's nest with flowers from your kingdom." The voice echoed; the man looked away, remembering the other's actions.
"What if he’s just being polite to me? I mean, despite his complaints, he spoils me and lets me do whatever I want." The white-haired girl was getting tired of her friend's insecurity, being the only one bearing the weight of the Vanilla dragon's discreet crush on the Cacao dragon.
"If you're afraid, why don't we put it to the test? And if I'm right, you'll confess your feelings to him."
Vanilla dragon was about to protest, but his sixth sense made him think about how long the dark-skinned man had been gone. The pink-eyed girl asked if everything was okay, and the blonde stood up, running to where the egg was.
"No, no, no, I knew it was a bad idea. He should have never gone so far." He began to fly near the egg, checking its temperature.
"What's wrong?" she shouted, trying to catch her breath. Then she noticed her friend's worried look and grew alarmed. "Oh no, don't tell me it needs..."
The Vanilla-dweller nodded in alarm. It was supposed to be the moment when Cacao Bean should give his magic to warm the egg, but he wasn't there.
"Quick, help me wrap the egg in the blankets; as long as it has his scent, it might work." The girl nodded, though she stopped as soon as she was in front of the nest. "Don't worry, I'll explain to him later." She took a deep breath and stepped in, praying her friend wouldn't get angry.
The sun was setting, and the glorious serpent dragon arrived home, though he was surprised not to be greeted by the blonde as he usually was when returning from his watch.
He left the food in the storage area and went to check on his little one, but he was greatly surprised to notice some small invaders in the room.
Lily Dragon was asleep, resting her hands on the edge of the nest, while Vanilla Orchid slept hugging the egg with a fur blanket, with only his wings covering the Vanilla cookie.
Cacao Bean froze at the scene, but there was no anger in his expression. He was surprised, as it was the first time he had seen the blonde sleeping next to his egg.
.
.
.
A scene he wished to see with all his heart.
Lily finally woke up, yawning with fatigue. The dark-skinned man straightened up, and the moment she turned around, they both went silent.
"...VANILLA!" The shout woke the poor man, who was about to complain, but upon noticing the elder’s presence, he felt his blood pressure drop.
"Cacao Bean!... I... I just—" He moved away from the egg as quickly as he could, trying to find the words. "I... I promise that I... I only checked its temperature and wrapped it with the blankets and..."
"What a surprise, Lily Dragon. You should have let me know you were coming so I could prepare something for you." He stared at the girl, who was also breaking out in a cold sweat. She laughed and assured him it wasn't necessary.
The heterochromatic man quickly stepped down, avoiding looking at his host. He had broken the rule of every doctor not to touch or sleep near someone else's egg, despite having intended to take only a short nap.
He tried to act natural during dinner, but when Lily had to leave, she and Vanilla met outside the cave.
"Calm down. Remember that's what happened to Cheese Dragon with Raspberry Dragon, and he's still attached to Holly. I don't think he'll be angry," she encouraged the boy, who still had his head down. He nodded, and they said their goodbyes.
Vanilla Orchid went inside, looking for the owner of the cave. He was already visualizing his destination, but he noticed he wasn't in the hall. He set out to find him until he discovered him in his nest, lying next to his baby.
He was already in his nightgown and was hugging the egg while his tail made delicate movements. It was a very tender scene, though deep down, Vanilla felt a pinch of envy.
He brushed it off and was about to go to his bed when a voice called him.
"Vanilla Orchid?" He scolded himself for not being more discreet and peered back in.
This time Cacao was sitting cross-legged; his face was hardened, and the egg was behind him, with only his tail hugging it.
It was a beautiful sight, but the poor healer couldn't enjoy it. He felt his chest tighten due to the silence between them. He clasped his hands and lowered his head in apology.
"I’m sorry... It’s just you took so long and the egg was getting cold and... I couldn't just stay there doing nothing."
The elder said nothing; he only looked away for a few seconds, but when he looked back, he noticed the other was trembling with nerves and blinking rapidly. He let out a sigh and moved.
"I only... wanted to ask if you wanted to sleep here." The proposal took him by surprise. He wanted to back away, but his heart raced, and a voice inside told him to accept. "I'm not angry. Besides, it’s the least I can do, since the responsibility was mine." He scratched the back of his neck, looking away again.
In the end, the Vanilla Orchid dragon accepted, approaching at a slow pace but stopping in front of the nest. He looked at his friend again to confirm if it was okay, and seeing him nod, he stepped in.
He closed his wings, praying not to soil anything, and smiled when he was in front of him. He could smell Cacao's scent; he loved that aroma. He lay down on one side, leaving space. The nest was large, and just having him close visually was enough.
The purple-eyed man asked if he was comfortable, and he nodded while covering himself with his wings, until his face turned red as he noticed them covering him with a blanket and saying goodnight.
He was happy, as if he belonged to a family. He remembered how Holly had also invited him to sleep in her room, but he never expected a father to allow him to sleep in the nest where he rested with his egg—much less that his friend would let him.
He was so immersed in his dreams that the next morning he didn't want to get up, resting his head on the comfortable pillow in front of him. He wondered when he had grabbed one, especially one that smelled like the dragon with the black and white mane, until he opened his eyes lazily, noticing that the supposed pillow was none other than Cacao Bean.
He stood up abruptly and flew out of the place, covering his mouth to avoid waking the future father with his ragged breathing. He wondered at what point he had gone from sleeping in a corner to being on the other dragon's chest. His face burned just remembering the contact with the almost exposed dark skin, but he shook his head; however, footsteps startled him.
"Vanilla Orchid, are you okay?" Cacao peered out, noticing the blonde, who turned around. He began to laugh, pretending it was nothing and that he had slept well.
A month passed, and things were becoming more homelike. This time it was the Vanilla dragon who went out to visit his home, but upon returning, he was greeted by a warm Cacao Bean who asked about him and his day; he also left food for him if he was late and asked if they could sleep together again, though Vanilla politely declined the latter.
However, because of that attitude, he remembered the conversation he had with Lily Dragon and thought that maybe his feelings could be reciprocated. He thought about it many times, but one day he felt ready to confess.
That day he was returning from his visit, carrying some flowers to decorate Bitter Choco's nest again. He hummed a song in his mind as he arrived, unaware of a cheesy aroma lingering around the cave.
"Are you sure you want to tell him?" Glistening Cheese Dragon’s voice was recognizable; she raised a curious eyebrow and approached to say hello, but something stopped her.
"Of course, this is already starting to irritate me," Cacao Bean's voice resonated in his ears. He wondered if they were talking about him and peeked in.
The two were with the egg; Cacao Bean was pacing back and forth while Glistening Cheese was sitting on the edge of the nest.
"I just can't stand it anymore, his presence upsets me and I don't know what else to do. I just want him to leave already."
And right there he heard his heart break. He dropped the flowers, drawing the attention of both dragons.
"Vanilla Orchid!" The cheese dragon stood up, alarmed by his presence. Cacao Bean also turned around, rendered speechless.
"So you can't stand me anymore? Is that what you wanted to say?" he repeated seriously, keeping his gaze low. Neither of them answered, and he raised his head. "If you didn't want me to stay anymore, you should have said so; that way I would have saved you the trouble." He looked up; his gaze was cold and distant, yet sad.
At that, he turned away, heading toward the exit and ignoring the shouts of his supposed friends. It didn't just hurt that Cacao Bean saw him as a nuisance, but that instead of telling him the truth, he told Glistening Cheese and pretended everything was fine.
Tears began to fall from his eyes; he tried to wipe them away, recapping what he had done wrong. Thinking it was his insistence on the arrangements, thinking he had overstepped with the child, knowing the child Was Not His.
That thought broke him, and he went down to the snowy forest to finally release the tears he had been holding back. Covering himself with his wings, he stayed there crying for a long while, lamenting everything—for having insisted on staying, for thinking that the stoic dragon would ever love him, for deluding himself that one day he could form a family with him.
He hugged himself, mourning the fact that he couldn't have children on his own.
Meanwhile, back at the cave, Cacao Bean was kneeling on the floor, lamenting his silence. Moments earlier, he had received a visit from the cheese dragon, who was aware that the vanilla dragon was with Cacao and wanted to know if her friend had confessed yet.
But she swallowed her words upon hearing from him that he hadn't done it; she knew her friend was terrible with sentimental words, and yet she wanted to kill him.
But upon understanding that the dark-skinned dragon noticed the blonde might be uncomfortable with his treatment and would feel forced by the situation, she suggested he do it after their son was born, but Cacao Bean was determined. However, neither of them realized he was listening to them.
"Oh come on, man! You're not just going to stay there, are you? If he gets to Lily, she's going to kill us both!" she pointed to the exit with anger. The purple-eyed dragon nodded, and they went out to look for him.
They tried to track him, but a yellow light alarmed them. The Vanilla Dragon had been ambushed by hunters who heard his cries. He tried to escape, but an arrow injured his wing, and he tried to defend himself as best he could.
Vanilla Dragon was not one to opt for violence; however, he knew the hunters in that region were hostile and a simple talk wouldn't solve anything. He tried to blind some with his light powers, but it wasn't enough; he ran, but the snow was dense and made him stumble.
Suddenly, he was hit by an arrow in the arm, making him falter, and he fell down a cliff. The snow cushioned his fall, but the trees and rocks in his path tore his clothes and scraped him.
He tried to stop the jam bleeding from his shoulder by firing an emergency light. He knew he had exposed his location, but he prayed that someone trustworthy would find him.
He tried to get up, but his legs were shaking. His breathing became shorter and harder to catch because of the cold. Suddenly, he heard a crossbow being reloaded and covered himself with a wing, expecting the worst.
Suddenly, he heard two roars. He smiled, knowing he was safe. His vision became blurry, and the last thing he managed to see was the serpentine body of the legendary dragon of darkness.
He felt a strange ringing, and something soft embraced his body. He recognized the scolding of his friend Lily from afar, and his vision cleared.
"Guys, he's awake!" Holly Berry shouted while the blonde blinked in confusion.
He got up, asking where he was, noticing he was in the room Cacao had prepared for him.
"You were attacked by hunters. Luckily, Cacao Bean and Glistening Cheese noticed your beacon and came to your rescue," Lily Dragon explained happily. The blonde turned, noticing the two mentioned, but his face was not one of joy. "Then they called the two of us to treat your wounds. You were freezing, but everything is fine now."
"Thank you." He looked back at the other two girls, but the atmosphere became awkward.
"Um... I think we should go," Holly Berry commented, and the other two nodded, leaving Cacao Bean and Vanilla Orchid alone.
Cacao Bean received a threatening look from Lily before she left the room. The two remained in silence. The dark-skinned dragon was ready to speak, but the blonde intervened.
"I was a nuisance to you again." He lowered his head, leaving the other dragon stunned.
The latter shook his head and approached, standing in front of the blonde dragon. "Don't you ever say that again in your life, do you hear me?" He raised a confused eyebrow, letting the other speak. "You will always be important to me, Vanilla Orchid."
"But... what you told Glistening Cheese? That I..."
"I like you, Vanilla Orchid. I've liked you for eons." The firm voice of the dark-skinned dragon stunned the other. He looked away but continued. "I'm not good at these things, but I've wanted to tell you for years. And when you decided to stay with me, I... I didn't know what to do." He paused to take a deep breath. "In fact, I thought I made you uncomfortable when I laid you down next to me that night... but I don't want to hide it anymore."
Suddenly, Vanilla Orchid's eyes filled with tears. The purple-eyed dragon got scared, but the blonde assured him there was nothing to worry about.
"I like you too, Cacao Bean, for a long time now." He smiled with flushed cheeks and tears streaming from his eyes.
The dark-skinned dragon felt a weight finally lift off his shoulders and carefully sat down, taking the heterochromatic dragon's chin to finally kiss him.
The blonde closed his eyes and hugged his neck with his hands, and his wings surrounded him. The kiss was slow, and as they drew closer, their tails intertwined.
Behind them, their friends were happy that they had finally confessed and that they would no longer have to keep secrets from anyone.
"Am I the only one who noticed the chemistry without either of them confirming it to me?" Holly protested to the other two girls.
After that day, Cacao Bean began to take care of his partner, letting him rest in his nest next to his egg and bringing him the most delicious sweets he could find.
And while he was away, Vanilla Orchid would hug the egg between his wings and sing to it as if it were his own.
At first, he didn't want to do it, but the elder allowed it now that they were a couple, although every now and then the dark-skinned dragon would return and stay spying for a few seconds before appearing.
But one night, while they were both sleeping together, a crack was heard. They woke up quickly and approached. Cacao Bean was alarmed, wanting to help his offspring, but his partner suggested letting the little one do it alone.
Finally, the egg opened, revealing a small black and red serpent dragon. Cacao Bean was moved, crying for the first time in centuries.
He extended his hands so the reptile could climb onto his arm; it accepted, and he brought it close to his face.
"Hello, my little prince. Welcome to the world." He pressed his small head against his own, stroking it and letting out a small growl.
The heterochromatic dragon smiled as tears fell from his face, as he always did with his patients, but this time he felt it was different.
Suddenly, the little serpent changed shape, revealing a small baby with red eyes, a small tail, and a small tuft of hair with a white stripe and little horns just like his father's.
The purple-eyed dragon was surprised, holding him with both hands. His beloved told him it was normal for some baby dragons to obtain their human form within a few minutes of being born; it just depended on how much magic and warmth the parents gave to the egg.
"My son will be very strong." He smiled, still lifting the baby, then cradled him in his arm and his tail braided with Vanilla Orchid's. "Come, you meet him too, my love." The dragon opened his wings in surprise but smiled, looking at the little one again.
"Hello, Bitter Choco Cookie. We are your family. Welcome to the world," he whispered, stroking his cheek with his index finger, noticing he had already fallen asleep.
"Vanilla Orchid, thank you for everything." They made eye contact for a few moments, smiling at each other. Cacao approached his forehead and kissed his star mark while the other closed his eyes, still maintaining his smile.
"No, thank you, for letting me take care of him and letting me be part of your family."
He moved closer, closing the distance to give him a kiss on the lips, thus beginning a new chapter in their lives, as a family.
The End~