Coco pov
This place felt nothing like heaven; it was a twisted realm, a new kind of hell. The High Mother pushed us to our limits, working us tirelessly. I used to think the Grand Priestess was tough during our training sessions, but compared to the High Mother's relentless battles, the Priestess seemed like a mere game.
She would take on all of us at once, and I had been on the receiving end of her wrath a total of 22 times since we arrived here. She fought to kill, each time sending me into a temporary death, only to wake up screaming five seconds later. The only solace she offered was a cold command:
"Get up."
I suspected that she toyed with us even in our sleep. Most nights, we would awaken from nightmares, screaming in terror. The evidence was in our shared room, filled with bunk beds, where Clover and I were bunkmates. We all struggled, but none more so than Sweet. Sure, Sweet was sharp-tongued and difficult, but no one deserved to have their mouth sewn shut. Then again, she did dare to call the High Mother a Cunt.
"Ahhhhh!"
"You weren't paying attention, Coco. So, I killed you. How can you protect my grandchild if you're easily distracted?"
In an instant, I was dead. Damn it! Those brief five seconds of respite were precious when you craved a break. I rose to my feet, shaking off the chilling embrace of death. Witnessing friends die repeatedly took a toll on my sanity.
"My Grandchildren are precious. They are few in number, and I cannot grant immortality to weak beings who fail to protect them. It would be unfair for them to bear the burden of your protection if you cannot reciprocate." For the first time, her normally cheery voice brimmed with anger, but it quickly subsided.
"I'm sorry. I just need all of you to be strong and comprehend the importance of your roles." With that, she dismissed us, and we unanimously agreed that retreating to our beds was the only respite from the relentless beatings.
Our time spent in heaven felt like hell, but it forged us into stronger and smarter individuals. I personally grew stronger, and my parasol became an extension of myself. The harsh teachings from the High Mother continued, but she also revealed that with my parasol, I could accomplish many things just like the angels. Despite her brutality, she taught me more advanced techniques, further connecting me to my parasol. The orb atop my parasol proved to be a fascinating tool, allowing us to observe and communicate with each other.
That evening, after she taught us how to summon and use the crystal ball, we returned to our room and indulged in the biggest game of telephone. It was a rare moment of childlike fun and relaxation amidst our rigorous training.
I should be angry with the woman I call Mama, but I find it difficult. The Grand Priestess was merely following orders, doing what she was told. One day, when I was alone, the Higher Mother cornered me and relentlessly questioned why I had performed poorly during training.
"You should release your anger. It's interfering with your progress. If you must be angry at someone, direct it towards me. I instructed her to push you," she confessed.
It took me some time, but eventually, I let go of my anger. I often wonder what Mama is currently occupied with, and what her situation might be.
Grand Priestess pov
I finally accepted my husband's help, and together we managed to get everyone out of the water and safely placed them in their rooms. It may sound morbid, but I decided to put them in glass coffins. Some of them still had living family members who wanted to see them, so we made sure to decorate the coffins beautifully. I couldn't help but do the same for Coco.
With a sense of pride, I exclaimed, "All done!" as I admired the decorations inside Coco's coffin. It was filled with exotic flowers that had never been seen before. As we entered Coco's room with the flowers, spirited butterflies seemed to emerge from nowhere and surrounded us. My husband, Turing, had been working diligently to remove the overgrown vegetation in the room.
He stopped hacking away at the nature and let out a sigh of frustration. "I've got good news and bad news," he said.
"Okay," I replied, curious to hear what he had to say.
"No matter what I do, the nature just keeps growing back. On the bright side, it seems like it's trained to stay at its current size and not grow any larger," he informed me.
I contemplated his words for a moment. "I guess we'll leave it be, then," I said. He nodded in agreement and joined me in admiring Coco's beautifully adorned coffin.
"You did a great job. By the way, where did you manage to find these exquisite flowers?" he asked.
"I was planning to go back to Coco's home planet to get some, but I found these growing outside," I explained.
"How did they end up here?" he pondered.
"The Royals of Turvixin were walking ecosystems. When they stayed in one place for a long time, the surrounding nature would change. They were capable of doing many incredible things, including creating exotic creatures," I shared, recalling the knowledge I had gained from a book about Coco's people.
After our playdate with Lord Zeno, Coco had become increasingly curious about her own people since she was the sole survivor. I had taken the opportunity to delve deeper into their culture and history. With the lid of Coco's coffin carefully placed on top, we left her room hand in hand.
We made our way to the pergola at the back, which Mochi, Lime, and Sour had built. Coco's nature had taken over, enveloping the structure and turning it into a colorful and beautiful sight. We sat together on the swing bench, taking in the serene surroundings.
Suddenly, my husband pointed towards a group of small creatures. "Are those meeks?" he asked, surprise evident in his voice.
"Yes, Coco can bring back an extinct species and Clover can bring dead animals back to life. It was an intriguing collaboration to witness," I mused aloud, as he placed his head in my lap and closed his eyes. Gently, I ran my left hand through his hair, while my right hand rested on his chest. It was during these rare moments that my husband truly relaxed, unburdened by any worries. An hour passed, and we continued to sit together, reveling in the tranquility of the moment.
"Do you remember the first person we shared?" I asked softly, watching for any reaction from him.
"Mmmh," he hummed in acknowledgment, his eyes remaining closed.
"That was Coco's four-times great-grandmother," I revealed. Everything seemed to freeze for a brief second, and I could feel his heartbeat skip beneath my hand on his chest before his eyes shot open, wide with shock.
"The queen?" he gasped, seeking confirmation.
I nodded, a solemn expression on my face. "The reason the threesome went so smoothly was because of her pheromones. We were in control of our actions, but her pheromones heightened everything, making it more suggestive and filled with lust."
His expression was a mixture of disbelief and concern as he processed the information. "Can Coco do the same thing?" he asked, his voice tinged with worry.
I shrugged, uncertain. "I assume she has the potential, but she hasn't yet mastered that aspect."
"Honey, please tell me we haven't slept with any more of our children's partners' relatives," he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
I immediately reassured him, a hint of exasperation in my tone. "No! Oh, higher heavens, no!"
His tense shoulders relaxed, and we returned to the quiet stillness of the moment. But before long, I broke the silence once again, unable to resist the urge to share one more piece of information.
"We've only slept with Coco's four-times great-grandmother," I added, with a hint of mischief in my voice.
"And her mom," I whispered, feeling the tension in his body rise once again.
"I heard that. Explain, Honey. Now," my husband demanded.
"She was the one woman who prayed to both of us, asking for help," I replied cautiously.
"So, we helped her," my husband stated.
"Yes," I confirmed.
"And we somehow slept with her," my husband said, his voice laced with confusion.
"Well, we slept with her more than once. She was the only recurring person in our bed," I admitted, giving him a moment to process the information. "I remember her now. She looks just like Coco, only with straight hair and no freckles." I nodded, affirming his statement.
"Now that I think about it, all of our children's partners come from royalty or people of a higher class. Why? I don't want to accuse you of looking down on lower-class people," my husband voiced his concerns.
I sighed, realizing it was time to explain. "During the first century of our marriage, before I was given a title and duty, I was tasked with observing and documenting the planets in universes that Lord Zeno's father had never touched. These planets are special and are not to be interfered with by gods. They form the 'Special Council of Life,' consisting of twelve essential beings who contribute unique talents and resources to help rebuild universes."
"So, you handpicked the twelve individuals who couldn't be destroyed. If they were to perish, we would lose the lineage of royals that make up the Life Council," my husband deduced.
"Yes, exactly. You have no idea how fortunate we are that I plucked Coco out of her home before those barbarians came and slaughtered her people," I explained with a sense of relief.
"If Coco were no longer alive, the next universe built would lack the essential nature that its inhabitants need to thrive," my husband understood.
"Exactly, and it would also have a ripple effect on the other members of the Council of Life. Without Coco's people, Clover's people would eventually die out. And without the existence of normal animals, the plants would suffer," I further elaborated.
"Then why were you so stressed about them meeting Lord Zeno if their safety is of no concern? It seems silly to have worried yourself like that," my husband questioned, perplexed.
Fury coursed through my veins as I forcefully pushed my husband off my lap, unable to contain my anger any longer. My voice quivered with a mix of fear and rage as I unleashed my pent-up emotions.
"I was nervous because this is the same Lord who callously erased universe 13-18, obliterating our children along with them!" The memories of their innocent faces and the joy we once shared swirled in my mind, intensifying my anguish. "He played with our children, treated them like friends, and then, without a second thought, he wiped them from existence!"
Tears streamed down my face, my voice choked with sorrow and frustration as I struggled to make sense of it all. "Tell me, what's stopping him from doing the same to the council? We've seen his innocent nature combined with his merciless power."
I buried my face in my hands, overcome by the weight of my emotions. It was rare for me to have such explosive outbursts, but my husband knew that beneath my immortal facade, I still retained the remnants of my mortal self, emotions untamed and raw.
Grand priest pov
I've realized my grave mistake. I've spent enough time with her to recognize the magnitude of my Fuck up. Throughout our time together, we've managed to avoid arguments since our initial encounter. Back when we were considerably younger, we possessed a regrettable tendency to resort to physical altercations instead of just communication. However, it is only during moments of extreme anger that she reverts to that archaic behavior.
"Why is it that the erasure of our children only invokes such rage within me?" Her stunning face was now tinged with red, the aftermath of tears.
I approached her cautiously and then sat next to her. "I am filled with sorrow rather than anger," I confessed, watching as her tears subsided. She gazed at me, her eyes searching for understanding. "You're sad?" she asked, her voice gentle and concerned.
"Yes," I admitted, my voice heavy with emotion. "I love every one of our children, and I cherished every single moment of you being pregnant with them. It hurts me to see you in pain, and it hurts me that I couldn't always express my sadness openly."
Her hand reached out, placing itself gently on top of mine, as if seeking solace. I welcomed the touch, feeling the warmth of her presence. With a sigh, she spoke softly, her words laced with remorse. "No, I should be the one apologizing. I didn't take the time to consider how you were coping. I was so consumed by my own anger that I failed to see your pain. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?"
Her vulnerability touched me deeply, and I realized that we were both wounded souls navigating through the complex web of emotions. I squeezed her hand gently, offering reassurance and understanding. "There's nothing to forgive, my love," I replied, my voice tender. "We're in this together, and we have to learn from our mistakes. Let's focus on healing and supporting each other from now on."
A glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes as she nodded, a mixture of gratitude and relief washing over her. We had both acknowledged our faults and vulnerabilities, paving the way for forgiveness and growth. Our shared journey was far from over, but in that moment, we knew we could face the challenges ahead with a united front, strengthened by empathy and love.
She gave me a quick peck on the cheek, and as she tried to move away, I couldn't resist the urge to follow. My lips lightly brushed against her cheek, causing a slight tremble to run through her body. Emboldened by her response, I moved my kiss to her forehead, savoring the softness of her skin against my lips.
A mischievous smile played on my lips as I teasingly brushed them against hers, creating a playful dance of anticipation. Pulling back slightly, I couldn't help but admire the sight of her blushing face. But her bashfulness quickly transformed into something more captivating—her bedroom eyes, heavy-lidded and filled with a mesmerizing allure.
Those dreamy eyes had always held a dangerous allure for me. I had witnessed their power firsthand, how they could reduce even the most composed individuals into lovesick fools. But I couldn't resist the challenge they presented.
It seemed my playful teasing had intensified the connection between us. With a determined grip, she knotted her fist into the fabric of my shirt, pulling me closer until I found myself hovering over her. The sudden shift in our positions sent a jolt of anticipation coursing through my veins, matching the electrifying atmosphere between us.
