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The sun rose over the horizon, slowly awakening the frozen kingdom that lay on the shore of the Licorice Sea. Pink petals drifted to the ground in the late spring, painting the white landscape in a gentle pink. A lovely, warmer morning, and a morning of celebration.
For life was buzzing in the Citadel long before the day had fully begun, busied with tasks that ranged from the preparation of breakfast with a little lion's help, to honours paid at the Altar of the Fallen. Or, in the princesses case, the fast patter of feet across the hallways to her parent's bedroom.
Marbled Choco, barely big enough to reach the door handle to the chamber, managed to open it and climb up into the bed where Mystic Flour and Dark Cacao were still peacefully asleep.
They were turned to each other, his arm draped loosely over her shoulder in sleep, holding her close even unconsciously. Marbled Choco shook at her mothers arm, "Mama! Mama, wake up!"
A disgruntled noise of being awoken like that came from Mystic Flour as she burrowed deeper into her husband's chest. But seeing as it was of no use, without opening her eyes, she turned around. With one arm she tackled her daughter, pulling the squirming and giggling child closer to her.
Dark Cacao's arm had slipped from her when she did so. Her attempt to fall back asleep proved to be futile when his arm reached out to grab her and their daughter in one tow, pulling both of them closer. The idea of sleep was completely forgotten when the first kiss was pressed to her shoulder, then to the nape of her neck where the head of her dragon tattoo, pierced by scars of lightning was. When she turned her head to him, the third kiss landed on her lips.
"Happy Mother's Day," he murmured against her lips, voice still rough from sleep that their darling daughter had so eloquently ended.
This time, the kiss came from her own initiative, followed by a sleepy, "thank you. And Good Morning."
Marbled Choco managed to free herself from her mother's grasp, and climbed between her parents. Hugging Mystic Flour tight and kissing her cheeks plenty, echoed the same thing her father had said, "Happy Mother's day, Mama! Cloud Haetae and big brother Dark Choco and I have prepared surprises for you!"
Mystic Flour giggled lightly, a mere huff of air that could have meant nothing if it wasn't for the smile on her face. "Then let us get dressed first and then you can surprise me," she kissed her daughter's cheek, "okay?"
"Mhmm!" she hummed, nodding her head of black and white hair that definitely needed to be combed soon. "Hurry up!" The princess instructed her parents as she hopped off the bed, and out the door she left open.
Dark Cacao gave her a last squeeze before releasing Mystic Flour to let her get dressed. She closed the door that Marbled Choco had left open, before going to her closet and picking a simple but warm robe to change into.
As she moved to change, he simply watched her from the bed. Modesty was something long passed, having seen each other in pain and pleasure alike before. And well, the result being their little Marbled Choco, afterall.
Mystic Flour simply turned around and took off her nightgown, letting him see the dragon that curled over her back. A piece of ink he had traced and loved many times over. When she reached out to grab the new piece of clothing, her movement let him see the stretch marks, fine silver lines over alabaster skin that ran along her lower abdomen. His eyes softened lovingly seeing them, something she didn't take notice of when she covered them with her robe.
It was then when Dark Cacao got up to get dressed himself, a quick kiss dropped on her cheek as he went to their washroom to brush his teeth.
── ⋆⋅♢⋅⋆ ──
While the King and Queen were getting ready, the kitchens had long since started the day's work. Breakfast had to be exceptional for the celebratory day, of course. Among the cooks and chefs and bakers, Cloud Haetae themselves saw to making things they knew Mystic Flour would enjoy. They'd started early, eager to please their master. Some simple tartes with nuts in them, some warm broth and some rice, the latter of which the cooks prepared.
Cloud Haetae carried the first servings of rice to the table, humming to themselves as they set up their Master's spot, eager to please. When they were bringing out the tray of tartes, Marbled Choco came running along to the dining room.
"That looks really good!" she praised Cloud Haetae. Since they were approximately the same size, she simply hugged them tight, "Mama will love this!"
Seeing the well prepared food, it's scent finding the way to her nose, her stomach rumbled. Marbled Choco followed the Haetae into the kitchen, where not far away and within reach of the short arms of the young princess stood a bowl of steamed white dumplings. They'd neatly fallen into her hands when a young woman took them from her grasp.
"Good Morning, Princess," Stracciatella held the bowl out of her grasp, "Wouldn't you wait for your parents until you eat?"
The little girl pouted. "But I'm hungry. You're mean."
A soft laugh, and she set down the bowl and lifted Marbled Choco up, walking to the table with her. "You can have some of the sweetest pastries from the Hollyberry Kingdom after breakfast, deal?"
She seemed to consider the offer as the maid set her down. A comb was quickly produced from a pocket in her skirt as Stracciatella went on to fix the wild bedhead. "Hold still, now."
Marbled Choco's hair was quickly combed through and braided into a neat little braid with deft hands. "I accept your offer," she eventually said, with all the regality of a little queen.
By the time that the braid was fastened with a purple ribbon, the actual King and Queen came into the dining room. "Good Morning your Majesties," Stracciatella greeted warmly, bowing slightly.
Dark Cacao pulled out the chair for Mystic Flour, next to his. "Good Morning to you too, Stracciatella." When she sat down, he pulled out his own chair and sat next to her.
Noticing Marbled Choco's braid, Mystic Flour turned to her again, "Thank you for doing her hair."
"Oh, it was no trouble at all!" The maid assured, "this little princess smiley is, as always, a joy." With a smile that was equal parts polite and fond, she slipped away to her usual duties again.
"Princess smiley, hm?" Dark Cacao echoed, glancing at his wife with a smile, "I wonder where she got that from."
Mystic Flour's hand stopped halfway to the cup she intended to reach for, and looked at him with her eyes open to slits in a glare, "I am unaware of what you could be referring to."
He said nothing, giving a light shrug with his shoulder, "whatever you say, dear."
When Cloud Haetae saw their Master, they quickly came to her, standing next to the table, "Mystic Flour! Happy Mother's Day!"
She reached down, scratching the top of their fluffy head, "You prepared this breakfast well. Your mother would be proud."
Cloud Haetae's tail thumped loudly against the floor at the praise, hopping on the chair next to Marbled Choco to eat aswell.
A moment of quiet and comfort passed, a calm family breakfast as the sun illuminated the room. Portions started to grow smaller as each took their fill, eating away happily at the servings.
Eventually Mystic Flour took notice of one of the chairs, still empty. "Where is Dark Choco?"
"He said he wished to light some incence for his birth mother at the Altar of the Fallen," Dark Cacao answered between bites, a small heap of rice between his chopsticks, "I'm certain he'll join us shortly."
Just a few minutes passed until what he said came true, and Dark Choco came into the dining room. "Good Morning," he announced to the table. When he passed Mystic Flour, he hugged her with one arm and said, "Happy Mother's Day," before taking his seat and reaching for a serving of warm broth. Though it wasn't as cold as it was in winter, it certainly wasn't warm outside either.
Marbled Choco was the first to finish. She got off her chair, coming around thr table to tug at her mother's sleeve, "Mama, we have another surprise for you!"
Mystic Flour turned to Dark Cacao with a questioning look. "It's true," he confirmed. "But maybe let your mother finish her breakfast first."
The princess nodded understandingly, and wandered off to get her promised pastries from Stracciatella. She came back snacking on a pink pastry, taking her seat primly and waiting.
By the time the pastry was finished, Dark Cacao, Mystic Flour and Cloud Haetae finished their meals aswell. Dark Choco had eaten earlier, his bowl of broth was finished quicker.
"Now, what was that surprise?" she asked her daughter, as Marbled Choco took her hand and lead her through the Citadel, until they were just outside the door to the courtyard, where an old cherry tree was in full bloom.
Before Marbled Choco could drag her mother outside, Dark Cacao stopped them. He took off his coat, draping it over his wife's shoulders, "you should try to remember your coat." It wasn't a reprimand, for his voice was laced with a soft and fondly exasperated tone.
"Perhaps I prefer yours," she replied, a hint of smugness creeping into her voice. But she was smiling.
"To that I cannot object." The unadulterated affection in his tone made his son and daughter exchange an eyeroll.
Marbled Choco finally managed to drag her outside. A gust of wind spread the fresh scent of cherries and the cold air of a morning breeze. Even when they got behind the tree, where a blanket was laid out with a small stack of gifts, Mystic Flour didn't let go of her daughter's hand.
"There was no need..." she murmured as she knelt to the purple blanket, sitting down with the princess standing proudly next to the gifts.
Dark Cacao settled next to her, taking hold of her left hand, his thumb tracing the band on her ring finger. "You deserve it. Let us spoil you."
Marbled Choco took the flower crown, woven with delicate white petals from the pond's lotuses and placed it on Mystic Flour's head, "That is my gift!"
Dark Choco took a jade bracelet from the small pile, handing it to his mother. Step mother, but he had long since seen her as the former, "I've read some cultures in Beast - Yeast cherished jade as a gift."
While she was turning it over, admiring the carvings with her free hand, her husband made the next move. A small but heavy box was given to her. "It's perfume, a floral scent."
Mystic Flour quirked a smile. "Since when are you an expert on perfumes?"
"I may have had some help picking it out."
Though the family had given their gifts — Cloud Haetae's being the breakfast — a basket remained, woven of sturdy blue fibers, filled to the brim with different items.
"Where did that come from?" Marbled Choco asked curiously, tilting her head.
Mystic Flour sighed, pulling it closer. "If the blue and black tag is any indication, I'd say it's from your Uncle Shadow Milk. He must've slipped it in."
The first item she pulled out was an inkwell, a dark blue liquid shimmering with silver particles. Around the neck, a note was tied, 'For your paintings, it's enchanted. Try and see what it'll do. ~SM'
The second item was a neatly tied bag of sweets. Wrapped candy in various colours, sugar leaves that looked like lotus petals and many more, colourful treats. Around the tie of the wrapping hung a note, 'You deserve to be spoiled today. Though I'm sure your sweet little Marbled Choco would love them too. There's always more where that came from! ~ES'
The third item was a simple jar of spices, shimmering golden in the sunlight. It was a mixture of many different spices, of that much she was sure, for Burning Spice always had a knack for mixing good blends. The note was again attached to the bottleneck, 'A mix to keep you warm. Keep it away from your lion or child though. ~BS'
The last item was another jar, this time of larger tea leaves. It wasn't hard to guess who it came from, though it held no signature, 'Petal Tea from the Faerie Kingdom, the latest harvest. You seemed to enjoy it the last time we gathered there.'
Mystic Flour carefully put the basket to the side, along woth the perfume to make sure it wouldn't get damaged. "Come here, all of you."
Marbled Choco immediately jumped into her mother's arms, wrapping her arms around her waist and holding tight. Dark Cacao pulled her closer, and even Dark Choco joined the family embrace.
"Thank you all," she murmured, smiling warmly, burying her face closer to her husband, "I love you all."
Dark Cacao turned his head for a kiss to her temple, "We love you too."
"Happy Mother's Day, Mama!" Marbled Choco exclaimed agaisnt Mystic Flour's robe.
Even Dark Choco hummed to his sister's words, "Happy Mother's Day."
A weight thumped against Mystic Flour's back out of nowhere. Looking at the intrusion from the side, Cloud Haetae too hugged her from the side. She wrapped her free arm around them, pulling them impossibly tighter.
A Mother's day with her family, and friends in thought. A holiday of love she might've played off in the past, but one that was made so significant and lovely by them.