Chapter Text
The labor pain was gruelling. It had lasted for nearly...what, 12 hours...? Mystic Flour Cookie felt exhausted. But it hardly matters now. She was finally cradling her daughter after nine whole months of waiting and anticipation. Her beloved Dark Cacao Cookie was sitting next to her, with his hand on her shoulder. "You did well, my Ivory..." He said. The child had stopped crying only moments before, and Mystic Flour was grateful for it. It had taken far to long to calm her. She was so small and fragile, and Mystic Flour, for someone who once embodied apathy, couldn't help but feel hyper aware of the way she was holding her. She had a warm brown dough. Dark Cacao touched one of her little fingers as gently as he could. The two cookies weren't sure what colour her eyes were as she hadn't opened them yet. The door suddenly swung open with a loud bang, startling both of them. It was Dark Choco Cookie, the once estranged son of Dark Cacao who reconciled with his father. "Dark Choco Cookie...be quiet...She just stopped crying...," Dark Cacao spoke, firmly but gently. Fortunately, the child did not seem to have any reaction to the loud sound. "Ah, I apologise, father...," the former said, looking sheepish. Mystic Flour gently beckoned to her step-son. "Come here...Don't you want to hold your little sister?" she said. Dark Choco took her from her and held her a little awkwardly but securely nevertheless. He hesitated for a moment, glancing down at the tiny face in his arms. "So," he said quietly, "have you decided what to name her?" he asked. Mystic Flour looked at her daughter, her thumb brushing the warm dough off her cheek. "Faint Choco...Faint Choco Cookie," she murmured. The name felt right the moment it left her lips. Dark Cacao blinked. "I thought it was decided we were going to name her after my mother-" he started, when Dark Choco (rather uncharacteristically) interrupted, "For the love of everything you hold dearly, please do NOT name her Moldcrunch Cacao Cookie" Dark Cacao sighed. "Well...Alright...", he said. He then turned to his daughter and gave one his rare and gentle smiles. "Welcome to EarthBread, Faint Choco Cookie..."
4 months later...
Mystic Flour wandered the castle's halls at an unhurried pace, Faint Choco cradled securely against her chest. She hummed softly at first, then began to sing, low and gentle, a tune meant to soothe. She used to sing the same way to young Cookie who lost their parents, back in her Saint of Volition days. Unlike the children then, Faint Choco did not stir at all. Not at the sound, at least. Instead, her wide, light purple eyes followed the movement of her mother's lips. When Mystic Flour paused, the child still watched, as if waiting. She felt something tighten in her chest. Not fear exactly, it was like a small and unanswered question. It was then she noticed Dark Choco standing at one of the balconies, hands resting against the stone railing, looking slightly troubled. He seemed to be holding something. The lady approached him, though he seemed to take no notice of her. "Dark Choco...?" Mystic Flour spoke tenderly. He was caught off guard and nearly dropped what he was holding. It was a ring, small, polished, unmistakable. "I apologise. I did not mean to scare you.", she said. The latter just sighed. "It is alright. I was already on edge, anyhow," he said. "Well, what is bothering you?" she asked. He hesitated for a few moments before replying, "I was...thinking of asking Caramel Arrow to marry me...We have been together for while now..." Mystic Flour looked at him gently. "That's wonderful. I am assuming you're worried she would say no?" she asked. Dark Choco stared off at all the cookies of the Dark Cacao Kingdom getting on with their mundane routines. "Not exactly...I have made my peace with that...I am worried that...If she does agree to marry me, I am afraid I will fail her...Like I failed so many other cookies who did nothing to deserve it...After all, I have a history of making terrible choices..." he confessed. Mystic Flour adjusted her hold on Faint Choco, who was curiously looking at the two adults, and took Dark Choco's hand on her own. "It's completely normal to feel this fear. I recognise it..." He stiffened slightly but didn't pull away. "You are aware of the deeds I have done...the harm I have caused, far worse than anything you ever did. After my time of darkness had passed...I had also thought I would fail everyone..." she looked down at the bustling kingdom. Her grip tightened, yet she held on ever so gently. "Including your father..." she added with a slight whisper. "But you didn't..." Dark Choco said. Mystic Flour's thumb brushed gently over his hand. "We've both done things we regret. Things we can never undo. But what matters now is what we choose to do next. You don't have to be perfect, Dark Choco. You only have to try, as I did, and as I still do. Fear is natural. It doesn’t mean you’ll fail. It only means you care enough to try," Dark Choco seemed to think for a few moments before saying, "I suppose you're right, mother-", he blinked as he realised what he called her. Mystic Flour didn't correct him. Instead, she looked at him tenderly and said, "Of course, my son."
Later that evening...
A healer had been summoned to check on Faint Choco to see if she is healthy. It was supposed to be a regular check in. Mystic Flour Cookie and Dark Cacao Cookie watched quietly as the healer lifted the baby gently, speaking softly to her, tapping lightly on the crib, and producing small noises to gauge her reactions. Dark Cacao could hardly see the point of any of this but he did not interrupt. The child was closely observing the healer's movements, but her reaction (or lack thereof) to sound seemed the same throughout. The healer furrowed her brow and held out a finger to Faint Choco, who immediately grabbed it, squealing, her grip surprisingly strong. The healer tested once more, producing a small bell and ringing it softly just out of the baby's sight. Faint Choco Cookie did not turn. Her attention remained fixed on the healer's face instead. The healer turned to Mystic Flour and Dark Cacao. "Your Majesties...", she began, "your daughter is healthy. Her breathing is strong, her reflexes are good, and she responds very well to touch and movement." She paused, as if to properly choose her next words. "However...she appears to not react to sounds, unlike most infants. It possibly means her hearing is limited, or absent altogether." she said. Mystic Flour and Dark Cacao stiffened slightly. Neither spoke. "But," the healer added quickly. "It does not mean she cannot grow, learn and flourish. It just means her world would be quieter than ours." Mystic Flour Cookie nodded. When the healer departed, she gathered Faint Choco close. Dark Cacao gently held his wife. No words were spoken, only a shared resolve, settling between them, steady and unshaken. Sound would possibly never reach Princess Faint Choco Cookie. But so much love already has.