#fountprophet

Games, both carnival and strategy, had been arranged and filled the air with laughter. Food stalls filled the air with delicious smells that made her mouth water. A massive stage had been set up, waiting for its actors, with a few smaller ones allowing poets and lecturers and musicians to fill the air with their voices. Most of the people attending were the residents of Knowledge and members of the Vanilla and Raisin tribes, several from her extended family, but she could see more in the crowd from her dias

Pure Vanilla was not the biggest fan of festivals, but she loved it.

These people were here to celebrate her children.

Technically, they were also here to celebrate her, but her children were more important.

A coo made her look down with a soft laugh. Her daughter, dubbed Pure Starberry, stared out at the festival. She knew that she could probably only see blurs of light at the moment, but she looked curious. "Look at it, Pure Starberry," she whispered. "Look at all those people who adore you."

"There will be more in her future," a calm voice said.

"Ah, my witch!"

First Vanilla ascended the stairs to the tent Fount had assembled. While she had never been close to her ancestress before she came to the Sanctum of Healing, First Vanilla had bridged the gap quickly. She had hovered close since her pregnancy was announced, and especially now. "Where is the Fount?" she asked, settling by Pure Vanilla's side like a giant protective raven. "And your son?"

"Starlight Vanilla needed a change," she said. "So the Fount went to change him."

First Vanilla nodded. "And how are you feeling? Is it bothering you?"

It.

The soul jam.

She pressed her fingers to the new jewelry she wore. Like the Fount’s own soul jam, set in his staff, it was a clover-shaped gem in a shade of blue she didn't know how to name. It pulsed softly under her fingers, warm and alive. She had been startled when she woke up from labor with it on.

It was a gift, the Fount had explained. Something the witches created to make sure they and the others had forever.

"No," she said. "It's been rather reassuring."

There was a pop, and the Fount emerged from nowhere, a giggling Starlight Vanilla clasped in his hands. "One happy little boy!" he cooed, settling in his seat and reaching for her hand. She took it, wrapping her fingers around his, enjoying how his hand engulfed hers. "How is the princess?"

"Curious," she said.

"Good! It's good to be curious. And how are you?" The Fount glanced at her. "Have you eaten?"

"I'm alright and, yes. Black Sapphire and my family keep bringing me samples."

Speak, and they shall appear. Black Crystal, now Black Sapphire, emerged from the crowd with a few small plates. A few of her younger cousins trailed after him, the oldest three holding plates like him.

"Pure Vanilla!" one of them called, hurrying up to her seat. "They have vanilla cake with blueberry frosting!"

"Oh? Is it good?"

"Really good!"

She held up a plate with a small slice. Pure Vanilla took the fork and took a piece, humming at the flavor. The blueberry frosting gave an excellent tartness to the sweet vanilla flavor, and she felt a smile form. "You're right. That is excellent."

One of the other girls offered the Fount and First Vanilla plates of cake, his eyes shining as both of them, stories of gods not so long ago, took the plates.

"There's also a stall with fresh berry bao," Black Sapphire said, offering a plate. "I think one of the owners came from the Ivory Pagoda."

The small crowd let out a mutual "Ooh!" as they gathered around the plate. Pure Vanilla smiled as her cousins each took a bao, leaving one for her to take. Inside, the berries were mixed with yogurt, adding a refreshing softness to the berries.

"Can Pure Starberry and Starlight Vanilla try some?" one child asked.

"No," the Fount said. "They're not old enough for solid food yet."

"Oh. When will they be old enough?"

"Most babies are old enough to be introduced at around four to six months, although their intake is limited until…" The Fount started to speak, and all of the children gathered, interested in hearing about the development of babies. Pure Vanilla felt her smile grow.

"Ah, there they are!"

Hollyberry led the way through the crowd, followed by the Bringer, who only smiled sweetly at the gasps she induced. "Hello, Blue!" the latter cooed, wrapping her arms around him, right before she pulled back and knelt. "And hello, little prince!"

"Oh, Pure Vanilla," Hollyberry whispered, kneeling down to be at Pure Starberry's eye level. She offered her hand, and her daughter reached out, wrapping a fist around her finger. "They're perfect." Pure Starberry giggled and yanked, and Hollyberry gasped, eyes sparkling. "And so strong!"

"Strong?"

Dark Cacao knelt next to Hollyberry, offering his finger to Pure Starberry's other hand. She squealed as she took it, Starlight Vanilla mirroring the noise as the Fount allowed Mystic Flour to pick him up. "Ah, yes," Mystic Flour said, a slight chuckle lining her otherwise deadpan words. In the background, Black Sapphire added a few more presents to the massive stack that they would have to go through. "So shiny, so strong."

"Must you mock me?" the Fount fake-pouted.

"Always."

"Who are we mocking?" The Herald of Change's voice boomed. He appeared out of the crowd with First Sprinkle on one shoulder and Golden Cheese perched on the other. "Children, show me the object of mockery!"

"The Fount!"

"The Fount's silly!"

"And smart!"

"He's supposed to be smart, dummy!"

"Vanilla Orchid, don't call Sweet Vanilla a dummy."

"Sorry, Pure Vanilla…"

"Hey, kids!" First Sprinkle jumped off the Herald's shoulder, alongside Golden Cheese who joined Mystic Flour in cooing over Starlight Vanilla. "Who wants to learn how to make balloon animals?" The crowd dissolved into cheers. Over the noise, she looked at First Vanilla. "Nilla, you come too! Milk was looking for you!"

"She was?" First Vanilla said, allowing the children to grab her robes and tug her after First Sprinkle.

Golden Cheese laughed once they were out of earshot. "You already have the mom voice down, Pure Vanilla."

"I babysat a lot when I got older, before I started adventuring," Pure Vanilla admitted. It had come in handy when she began her work at the Sanctum, calming younger patients down. It had the unintentional benefit of helping First Milk's nerves as well. "I always wanted a family, so everything worked out well."

"Will you have more?" the Herald asked. "Imagine we both have kids around the same time! Before Sugar."

"That's still not funny," the Bringer said with a bright, sunny grin that just barely hid her twitching eye.

"Don't worry, Sugar. It's not a race…" The Herald paused before grinning. "But Golden Cheese would definitely be winning!"

Golden Cheese barked out a "Ha!"

"Ha!" the Bringer mirrored, spreading her wings wide. "I have a reason to win! Royal Berry has been asking me about baby siblings!"

Hollyberry straightened at the mention of her son. "Wait, really?" The Bringer's smile turned less strained before she turned and walked away. "Wait, Sugar, has Royal Berry really been- Sugar, Sugar-!" She chased after her companion and Pure Vanilla found herself stifling a laugh at Mystic Flour's eyeroll, right before she returned Starlight Vanilla to the Fount's hold and trailed after them.

The Herald laughed. "Well, anyway-" He snapped his fingers. "Actually, Fount, I think First Salt was looking for you."

"Really?" Her partner straightened. "I wonder why…" He glanced back. "Would you be alright-?"

"Of course."

"Once I'm back, I can make Herald and Bringer hold them," the Fount said as he passed her son over. She cooed at the little burble he let out when he saw her face. "Then we can just spend some time together."

"I look forward to it." How long had it been since she danced? She could hear familiar Vanilla folk songs being played. Regardless of the mild pain in her hips that lingered, the music made her homesick suddenly. Maybe, in the future, she could take her children and husband to the Vanilla Kingdom, to the village where she grew up.

The Fount smiled before he kissed her, disappearing in a flash of shadow.

Golden Cheese dragged the Herald and Dark Cacao away soon after, mentioning seeing a weapons demonstration. And soon, she was alone, watching the party.

Well, not alone. She had the twins, cooing to each other.

"I can't believe you two are finally here," she said softly, carefully arranging them in her arms so they both looked up at her. "I waited so long… you both are a blessing, in so many ways." She couldn't believe the course her life had taken- the sheer luck at discovering her powers, at being accepted into the Sanctum, earning enough of First Milk's regard that she entrusted her with… "I love your father so much," she admitted. "But I love you two even more."

It was a truth, one she accepted with her whole heart. She glanced up, at the love and celebration, and-

There was a flash of white hair and Pure Vanilla, despite herself and all the years, felt her heart skip a beat.

White Lily smiled at her as she came out of the crowd. Despite the scarred burns that marred her face, she was still beautiful. "Pure Vanilla," she said once she was in earshot. "How are you, my dear friend?"

"I am well, my dear Lily," she said. She adjusted her hold on the twins, allowing them to sit up more. "Meet my daughter, Pure Starberry, and my son, Starlight Vanilla."

"Yes," White Lily, like the others, knelt. The movement revealed the Salt of Solidarity, who stood back, seemingly staring behind his helmet. Something prickled down her spine. Something felt… off. Her attention moved back to White Lily, who reached out and cupped Pure Starberry's face. "Oh, Vanilla… they're beautiful."

Then White Lily's eyes landed on the soul jam.

She could sense the moment the Salt of Solidarity saw it as well. The air seemed to freeze over, the prickle down her spine becoming more like vines. Pure Vanilla felt herself tense and felt the twins shrink back.

"Oh, how beautiful!" White Lily said, her voice faintly cracking. "Was that a gi-"

"Why do you have a soul jam?"

The Salt of Solidarity's voice, fuming with disdain, it seemed, made all other noise screech to a halt. White Lily's brows furrowed together as she stood and whirled on him, but he peered around her, staring at Pure Vanilla. It was hard to tell, but she could almost make out mint green eyes.

They were glaring at her.

Oh.

He doesn't dislike me. He's not angry at the Fount.

He hates me.