Like Mother Like Daughter
~centuries ago~
"Girls!" the Goddess Micteca called while stirring her spiced cocoa. "Come down for a moment!"
La Noche and La Muerte glanced towards the staircase through their open bedroom door. The sugar goddess put down her book and peered over at her sister skeptically.
"What did you do his time, hermana?"
"I didn't do anything!" La Noche rebuffed, setting aside her bone-carved hair brush. "It must be something you did!"
"Was not!"
"GIRLS!"
La Muerte shook her acrimoniously at her sister and they both ran down to the palace's biggest, altar-like parlor, where the godly family often unwound at the end of the day. The bonfire in the center emitted dying embers rather than its usual roaring flames. Mictlan and Micteca were seated in their thrones of gold, lined with the finest ayate fibers. La Muerte and La Noche passed by the stone pillars, engraved with glyphs and images, and sat on the cushiony red couch that lined the lower lever of the room opposite their parents. La Noche immediately noticed te absence of her father's wine chalice, as well as his ravens and owls, and that meant matters were serious.
"Did we do something wrong, mama?" she asked, almost nervous, crossing one leg over the other.
"No girls, not at all." Micteca replied, sipping her cocoa gingerly. "Your father and I have to have a very important discussion with the two of you, though." She glanced at her husband sternly, inviting him to initiate.
Mictlan leaned forward stiffly, resting his elbows on his knees and glancing back and forth at his girls as he took a breath. "As you girls know, the land of the living is exponentially expanding. There are more souls being born, and with that will come more dying. More souls to be separated into the thirteen realms. It is getting harder and harder on your mother and myself… we can no longer handle it on our own. We're exhausted beyond belief."
"We've begun distributing the thirteen amongst those we find worthy to rule each one as they wish," Micteca added. "Naturally, The Land of the Blessed went to our good friend, the Creator. His brother will take over the Cave of Souls to keep track of the living and the dead. He is a good boy, that Candlemaker, but he's no ruler unfortunately."
La Noche and La Muerte exchanged bewildered looks.
"But… mama, papi…" La Muerte asked. "What does this have to do with us?"
"Oh girls, you surely must understand by now…"
Mictlan sighed and extended his fingers towards the bonfire, revitalizing the embers ever so slightly.
"As our daughters," he continued. "It would only be fitting that each of you inherits a realm."
"Don't be alarmed girls," Micteca interjected, taking another small sip of her cocoa. "It won't be the Lands of the Forgotten or the Cursed."
"Yeah," Mictlan murmured, looking slightly off to the side. "We're still looking for two huge idiots-"
He was interrupted by a sharp jab in the side from his wife.
"-I mean, worthy candidates, to take those over."
La Noche cared little for all the technicalities. She was thrilled beyond belief.
"So what realms are we going to get, papi?"
"Well, Nochessa, your mother and I discussed this very thoroughly, and I agree with her best judgement. You are to inherit the Land of the Unknown." He turned to face La Muerte. "And you, Muertita, will inherit the Land of the Remembered."
The sisters' expressions seemed to transform paradoxically. La Muerte beamed with radiant enthusiasm, while La Noche's mouth nearly dropped to the ground.
"Wait!" she cried out. "Why the Land of the Unknown?! It's so…dull and depressing."
Mictlan was about to answer, but Micteca set her cup down and looked at her daughter gravely, not appreciative of her tone of voice.
"Well it isn't the Land of the Forgotten, mija. And it isn't as dull as you'd think. Those inhabitants are…interesting people. Much darker and brooding than those in the Land of the Remembered. You're much more mysterious that way, my dear. They need someone who is sharp, regal, but cold enough to deal with them. You definitely have it in you." The goddess relaxed into her chair. "Which can be a good thing at times."
Cold… La Noche thought. Does she really think that's the epitome of me, after all these years? "Why does La Muerte fit in with the Land of the Remembered, then? Is it because she's the warm one? The one that everyone loves? How come she gets all the fiestas, all the fun?"
"We placed her there because it is her best fit," Micteca snapped back. "Just as we did with you. Now, not another word from you, or you won't have a realm at all. Be grateful for what you have, La Noche. Learn that."
Fuming on the inside, La Noche stood sharply and hastily exited the room. Mictlan and La Muerte gazed at her as she stormed back upstairs to the room. Mictea simply shook her head and resumed sipping her tea.
~present day~
The carriage of bone, driven by ghastly stallions and soulless coachmen, rode through the Land of the Unknown. The old gods could not visit the realms by means of teleportation because teleporting in and out of Ometeopl was impossible. Lord Mictlan gazed out the thin glass window at the changes in the realm, observing the work his daughter had done.
"It's much more…vivid," he admired, glancing at his lady wife. She nodded, but on her face were solemnness and sadness together. Her hands were crossed over her lap reservedly, and she was looking aimlessly out the other window.
"What is it, my dear?" he asked delicately.
Micteca sighed ever so slightly. "Are you not worried just a bit, Mictlan?"
"Truthfully, mi amor, no…" He read her expression. "I've never known you to be worried much."
"We haven't spoken to her in centuries. Where do we even start? How can I-"
Mictlan reached over suddenly and grasped her hands. "I think the account of children is a perfect excuse to speak to our daughter again. She is a woman now, not the same girl we last saw." He squeezed her hands comfortingly. "She will need you, Micteca. You are her mother. And besides!" He flashed a lightly smile. "How can you not be excited? We're going to be grandparents! Just the thought…"
Micteca, although slightly comforted, still shook her head uncertainly. "What if I'm the same way I was with the girls? I'm not warm like you, Mictlan, it must be a human thing. You've spent so much time with them, you've picked it up-"
"Warmth, my dear," he interjected. "Is no object exclusive to humans." He kissed her hand. "It's just a form of expressing love. And you gave our daughters the very best in a way only you could. They're older now, they'll be thanking you for it."
"I still can't guarantee I'll be a good grandmother."
"And I can't guarantee that I'll be a good grandfather. But we'll determine that when the twins arrive, won't we?"
Micteca attempted to hide the smile he put on her face. Inevitably, she failed.
La Noche stood at the bottom of the front castle stairs, watching nervously as the bone carriage pulled in through the silver gates. El Chamuco stood closely next to her, studying her to make sure she wouldn't faint from being overwhelmed. He placed a comforting hand on her back as her hands slid to the top of her stomach, where the twins were moving in response to their mother's anxiousness.
He leaned over slightly and whispered into her ear. "If anything goes wrong I can stay right here… don't worry, Mi Cielo."
She nodded and relaxed into his touch as the carriage came to a halt before them. The soulless footman opened the door and the first to step out was Lord Mictlan. His eyes immediately fell upon his daughter, and La Noche felt her heart drop at the sight of him.
"Mijita…" he said with a light smile. "Is that really you?"
La Noche chortled slightly and took a step away from her husband. "It's me, papi. Just fat, that's all."
He extended his arms as they walked towards each other, and she found herself falling into a huge embrace.
"Ay, my little girl!" He hugged her to the best of his ability.
La Noche blushed happily and pulled away, their arms still holding one another. "Sorry about that, papi. I've just got others taking up my space right now."
"No need to apologize, Nochessa," he replied warmly. "And look at you… you're practically glowing." He leaned in and kissed her forehead, whispering excitedly. "You have no idea how excited I am."
She smiled, but as she glanced past him, she noticed her mother approaching them. She stiffened as Micteca came to stand by Mictlan's side. For a moment, neither found the words to say anything.
"Mama… it is… it is very good to see you."
The old goddess briefly studied her daughter, especially the prominent swell in her abdomen. Her expression was not as neutral as La Noche was used to, but there was a hint of sadness and regression emanating from her just barely.
"It's very good to see you too, La Noche," Micteca replied, folding her hands. La Noche observed her mother's face, as well as her fathers. Although they had not significantly aged, as the old gods often do not, there was a certain maturity they had reached that La Noche knew had not been there when she was still a girl. It was visible in the heaviness of her mother's eyes, and by the charm of her father's smile. Retirement had done them well, but it wasn't enough to spare them from the changes of the universe.
"The realm looks fantastic," Micteca commented. "I can tell you've worked hard here."
La Noche's eyes lit up marginally. "Do you… do you really think so mother?"
"I mean, a few spots here or there could use improvement, like the further landscaping." Micteca paused and took a silent breath. "But…I'm sure you've just had a lot on your plate these last few months. I can't blame you, the realm is perfectly well kept."
La Noche, for the first time in centuries, saw the true essence of her mother for what it really was. Her mother was just picky in that way and she always had been. After being separated for so long, she had learned not to take it personally.
"Won't you two come inside? I'll have the porters take your luggage to the room we've fixed, and the cooks will begin dinner."
She froze internally. What to do next? Where would she even begin?
To her luck, El Chamuco stepped up to them and greeted the old gods charismatically, as he had always done before. He gained her time to relax by chivalrously asking them about their trip, if they were comfortable, and everything in between. She was so lucky to have him in moments like this. He even initiated walking up the stairs, picking La Noche up before she could even step on the first stone. As amused as she was, she crossed her arms and pouted.
"I can walk, Chamuco," she mumbled.
He smiled charmingly. "You can, but you don't have to, Luna. I don't want you pushing yourself if there's an alternative."
Out of the corner of her eye, La Noche noticed the satisfaction in her parents' expressions. At least her husband had secured their favor.
He set her down at the doorway of the castle and kissed her head. He offered to leave the trio alone and run some of La Noche's realm-related errands so that she wouldn't have to think about them.
"If you do need me," he whispered to her discreetly. "I can stay."
She gave him a reassuring smile. "I'll be fine, Diablito. Thank you so much."
El Chamuco rolled his eyes at the nickname, but lovingly accepted her quick kiss before departing with other realm officials. La Noche proceeded to bring her parents inside.
Micteca immediately observed all of the architecture, a secret passion of her. All of the marble was a modern touch, seeing as La Noche preferred cool tones over warm ones. Yet, the palace decorations were infused with traditional touches, like the carved pillars and the draping curtains. It nearly left her speechless.
"You've made quite a home here…" she commented. "It's very elegent."
"Gracias, mama," La Noche replied. "I wish I could give you two a full tour… but that'd probably take more than a full day." She chuckled and rested her hands on her belly. "And there is no way I'll survive climbing all of the stairs, according to El Chamuco."
Mictlan chuckled and rubbed her arm. "Don't poke fun at him, I'd rather him be overprotective than under. Now, if you two have built a nursery, I'd love to see that."
"Oh of course!"
La Noche eagerly led her parents to the mezzanine floor, despite having to climb a short set of stairs. The nursery was pretty much finished and clean. It was ready for the twins to come and inhabit it.
The old gods observed every angle of the room as they stepped in; the large windows, the colors, the decorations, and the furniture. Micteca strode through it, sliding her fingers on the white crib, looking back at her daughter.
"It's wonderful, La Noche." She gave the slightest hint of a smile. "For a moment I was expecting most of it to be pink."
La Noche blushed and chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Hah…yeah…pink…no, why would I do that? That's ridiculous."
She heard Micteca laugh lightly, which was always a good sign. Mictlan took a seat on the couch comfortably, nearly sinking into it. If there was one thing he loved, it was comfortable cushioning.
"Your mother is right, mijita, it's fantastic. And this couch… reminds me of the lining we had in the palace we lived in when you were children. The one by the fire?"
La Noche lowered herself into her rocking chair slowly and nodded. "La Muerte and I adored that couch. I had to have one just like it; I just couldn't get one built into the frame of the room itself. That frame is actually made out of hardened molten rock. And then of course the cushioning was custom made in the style of that specific lining."
Mictlan smiled and leaned back. "Ay, I might not even be able to get back up."
Micteca sat next to her husband, but kept her back erect as she usually did. The old god gingerly took her hand.
"You know what I need to know about?" he mentioned. "Names. Have you two picked them yet?"
"Oh absolutely," La Noche replied, placing her hands over her belly. "We decided on Itzel for our little girl, and that was back when we didn't know I was having twins. El Chamuco proposed Iktan for a boy amongst other names, but that's the one we've settled on." A part of her looked to her parents for approval.
"Itzel and Iktan…" Micteca replied. "They're both so traditional… somehow I didn't see that coming from you."
"The both of us wanted something that tied into the old heritage, but also, he had to be able to pronounce them." La Noche laughed lightheartedly. "If you're worried about modern names, keep a look out for when La Muerte and Xibalba have their first… I doubt it'll be traditional in the slightest."
"Hold on," Mictlan interjected, sitting up slightly. "Are they back together again? Her and Xibalba?"
La Noche nodded and shrugged. "They love each other, papi, they'll keep on getting back together no matter what happens."
"Well I hope he takes care of her as well as El Chamuco takes care of you," he added.
She blushed slightly, but grinned. "He really, really does, papi. He's always making sure I'm comfortable, that I'm not in pain, that I'm not stressed or overwhelmed." She rubbed of her stomach. "He's just as excited for these two as I am."
"I guess you can say he'll be one hell of a father."
After a brief moment of silence, both father and daughter nearly exploded into laughter. Micteca's eyebrows creased and she glanced at both of them in confusion.
"I'm sorry, am I missing something?" she asked sternly.
"Get it?" Mictlan said between chortles. "One 'hell of a father'?"
She blinked.
"Because he rules the Land of the Cursed?!"
Micteca let out and exasperated breath and rolled her eyes. "Ay Mictlan, it must be a mortal thing, really. You've spent too much time around them. What need has a death god of jokes. Death is never a laughing matter."
La Noche watched amusingly as her father touched her mother's arm delicately and leaned over to her ear as she looked away.
"Ah, that is where we must disagree my dear, for in truth, it is death who always gets the last laugh."
Her parents were special. And she wouldn't have them any other way.
Dinner was a surprising success. Having little to do with modern times, Mictlan and Micteca were introduced to dishes they had never laid eyes on. La Noche went through the liberty of explaining the new cuisine, since the recipes were hers to begin with. Since she was usually too busy, or lazy, to cook, the kitchen staff knew her recipes perfectly and created everything to her taste. Mictlan was much more open to trying non-traditional food than his wife, yet she nibbled on most of the courses out of respect, and even found some enjoyable. From the chile rellenos to the Oaxacan tostadas, the food was phenomenal.
"Where have churros been all my existence?" Mictlan commented as he reached for another. "These are beyond spectacular."
La Noche giggled and ate another bite of her corn encelada. "I'm glad you like it, papi. I'll even have the recipe given to your kitchen staff at home."
"I might as well steal your recipe book and take it back with me. Your poor mother will just have to deal with it."
The two of them laughed while Micteca sarcastically shook her head.
El Chamuco came into the dining hall hastily, flashing a charismatic smile and sitting down next to his wife.
"I apologize for being late," he said as a servant brought out his plate. "Had an unexpected situation, all taken care of." He gingerly took a bite out of a tostada. "I hope everything else was satisfactory."
"Everything is exquisite, El Chamuco," Micteca replied. "Thank you."
"And thank you for taking care of our daughter," Mictlan added sincerely. "The way she speaks about you reassures us she's in good hands, and so are our grandchildren."
Chamuco looked over at a blushing La Noche with a playful chuckle. "Oh really? You talk about me? Why thank you my dear."
She slapped his shoulder with a light laugh as he turned back to the old gods.
"Well it's my pleasure to be married to such an amazing woman."
La Noche rolled her eyes and quickly planted a kiss on his cheek. "Stop it, you charmer."
She glanced over at her parents and noticed her mother's solemn face returning, but with a more passionate glow than before. "Mama," she asked. "Would you like to take a walk with me? I'd love to show you the garden while these two are finishing."
Micteca nodded in agreement, and the two excused themselves and left the room. Mictlan waited until the door was shut, and then swivled his head to El Chamuco.
"Is there wine here?" he whispered lowly. "I didn't want to ask for La Noche's sake but I'm dying for a glass."
"I know exactly how you feel," El Chamuco admitted with a deep breath, calling for one of the servers. "Bring us the finest red wine we have in the cellar. And make it quick before La Noche comes back."
As the sun set over the Land of the Forgotten, La Noche led her mother through the violet forest that surrounded her palace. She kept her garden in a clearing in the woods rather than directly near the castle. The violet trees gave the plants the perfect amount of light during the day, and it was peaceful and quiet whenever La Noche needed to relax. All her plants followed a cool-toned theme, which was very calming when the sun reflected on the petals and leaves. She had a fantastic gardener who knew her taste as well as she did, and his work had no match.
As the two wandered on the stone patch between the tulips, La Noche felt a surge inside her stomach. Her hand flew up to her side and she drew a sharp breath. Micteca nearly caught her, a worried look on her face.
"Are you alright?" she asked quickly.
La Noche nodded and caught her breath. "I'm fine," she reassured. "Iktan just kicked, that's all." She chuckled lightly, sitting down on the nearest marble bench. "He'll be a strong one, just like his father."
Micteca let out a relieved breath and sat down next to her daughter, looking away for a second to compose herself.
"You know, La Noche," she said sadly. "I never carried you and your sister. Your father and I didn't take the time to prepare for children, even though we could have. We were busy with the rest of the heavens; we thought children would be nothing much extra. We made the decision to have you two, and suddenly, you were here." She peered down at the ground. "I regret that sometimes. Your father…he caught on quickly. He seemed to know you girls as if he had spent his entire existence preparing to raise you. Even when I watched him read to you, cuddle you, even play with you; I genuinely wondered how he did it. I wasn't like that. I could hug you, kiss you, but it would never been the same as your father." She sighed shakily. "I just didn't know until it was too late."
La Noche shockingly looked at her. "Mama… don't say that." She took a calming breath. "You and papi… there's so much I have you two to thank for that I wish I had said centuries ago."
Micteca gazed at her daughter and smiled sadly, pushing a strand of loose hair behind her head piece. "I love you and your sister so much, mijita… I really do, even if you don't believe me. And I already know I'll love them as much."
La Noche's eyes welled with tears and she nearly tossed herself into her mother's arms. "They're going to love you so much, mama… And I do love you…"
Micteca closed her eyes and relaxed, embracing her daughter back.
"Thank you, Nochessa."
