*** Alzi ***

The maid directs us quickly to a carriage and helps us in. She gives me a small bow and closes the door, and we're off heading back to the manor.

"My Mistress," Sarania says. "I know I'm asking this a lot. I'm sorry. But are you ok?"

"Why?" I say. "Why does this keep happening. Why can't things just be normal?"

"People are afraid of your power," Sarania says. She pulls me in close to hug me. Kelly does her best to hug me from the other side, but the lack of mana is catching up to her. "They're mad someone nice is gaining control. They'll learn. They'll have to stop soon. I promise."

"I just want to be left alone. I don't care for the power."

"They don't believe you. All they want is power, and they can't believe someone would think differently from them," Sarania says. "The Goddesses are twisted, as you know. They infect everything. It's rare to have someone not care about their ways. We'll take care of it. I promise, my Mistress."

"Thank you," I say.

"We'll take the day off to be with your kids with both bodies, my Mistress," Sarania says. "You and the newborns could use that support."

"Yes," I whisper. I hope Tanatsu doesn't get mad at me about it. She just got the apes to test the mana-dissolving thing. Maybe she'll need a day or two to get them inflicted, so I won't be able to do anything to them today anyway.

...

Mommy is waiting for me at the door of the manor, along with Aurora, who seems to be struggling a bit more than usual with her belly. Not that I can blame her. The large pregnancies often have a day where it just takes everything from you, and every day after is just a crawl to survive till the kids finally come out. Annoris is gone now as well, so if she was really doing something, I'm sure Aurora is going to take it over naturally. She is a hard worker.

"You even brought my grandkids back," Mommy says, pulling me and Sarania with the kids into a hug. "We heard hints of what happened. I'm so sorry that getting your kids is so hard on you. But I'm happy you're back safe. Should we introduce them to their siblings, or do they need some sleep?"

"Both," I say. "The babies seem to know they're near their siblings."

"Royals are strong," Mommy says. "Then let's move quickly so they can sleep peacefully."

"Yes."

"I'll handle Kelly," Aurora says. "I don't think she'll make it to her bed by herself."

"Thank you," I say. "It started as such an easy birth and then turned into a nightmare."

Mommy quickly leads the way to the growing nursery. I thought we would've split them all up by now, but they keep managing to find more room, and Yuki or Nanoka, maybe, have built some runes that can keep the babies from waking the other babies up with their cries. So many of my babies in one place. Just a month or so, and my kids with Fluvis will start crawling, and soon after walking. All starting what will likely be the never-ending chain of newborns taking their first step.

My second body walks to the far end of the nursery so I don't trip with Lotus's child in my arms. I probably should just put this body to sleep and let my second body handle everything. That one doesn't seem to have the same problem with my mental state. I feel happy in the body as long as I'm helping my kids.

"We've got cribs ready this way," Mommy says. "Another royal dragon, and that green is so vibrant. You make cute kids, baby."

"I do."

"Go get some sleep," Mommy says. "You've been working too hard with no rest. Go, we'll handle everything. If you need both bodies to sleep, do it. Don't forget you're pregnant. I don't trust that ritual to have completely negated all the issues with a pregnancy. You're strong, but you don't have to suffer through it all anymore. You can take breaks now. Your lovers will fill in for you." Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on N(o)vᴇl(F)ire.nᴇt

"Thank you, Mommy. I love you," I say, setting the green bundle down to sleep. "It's hard."

"I know, baby. You're so strong, but that doesn't mean you have to power through it all. I love you. I'll send Mai to check on you soon. I expect her to come back saying you're asleep. Take your shadow or Lottie if you need a teddy bear. One of us will replace them at night."

"I should be fine," I say.

"Should and are are two different things. It's ok not to be ok. Goodnight, dear."

"Goodnight, Mommy."

It's strange to walk away from the kids and towards them at the same time. I just said goodbye to Mommy, and then I went and hugged her from behind and felt the small kid that has barely started growing in her womb. My skills are so messed up.

"Hello, dear," Nanoka says. "Sorry to barge in. I saw what happened, but the Queen handled it before I got a chance to do anything. Sorry for not stopping the vines from getting you. The castle is a bit harder for me to act inside. Now, we've had a few incidents when you've been outside the castle grounds. I don't wish for those to continue. My advice is to take Victoria with you when Geta isn't the right choice, like when dealing with my granddaughter and her lover. Geta won't be able to ignore someone that Death should have already. Victoria is strong, maybe even stronger than Elora. She'll do well and let me get there to clean up."

"Sarania said something similar."

"I know. I just want to make sure of it. I did promise to protect you. I need to make sure the right steps are taken. I believe you wish to sleep. Would you like me to join you till your lovers come by?"

"Please," I say. "I'm going to be naked, so help me if Irlo comes running in."

"Of course, dear," the fluffy grandma says. "Now come use this old one to rest. The years haven't hardened me yet."

"Your tails are really pretty."

"Thanks. We have to take good care of them or they'll start to hate us. Our Goddess is very proud of her tails. If you ever get to meet her, remember that. There is a reason her mark goes on each tail. Now, enough chitchat. Strip, get under the blankets, and hold this one to sleep. You need it."

That offer is too tempting to do anything else. Quickly, I'm naked and holding the old Kitsune. Her body really is soft, not just her tails.

*** Alzi, Second body ***

"Nanoka is sleeping with me," I say. "So you don't have to worry about joining me immediately."

"Good," Mommy says. "I'm happy she's willing to help you like that. She's a hard one to understand."

"She is old. We're all going to find it hard to understand at her age."

"Maybe," Mommy says. "Do the kids have names?"

"The Queen didn't even wait to get dressed to leave. She's worried about the dryads doing more damage. Told me to keep Irlo and the rest of the kids here because she's running off to fight already."

The two babies are finally succumbing to sleep. The excitement of being with their siblings is not enough to force them to stay awake. I'll give them better introductions when they wake up for food.

"The Queen seems to have two modes," Sarania chuckles. "Ignore her kids for the Queendom or smother them in love while her Queendom turns to shit."

"I think that is just how nobles do things," I say. A small cry comes from a few cribs down. "And it begins."

"Yes," Aurora says, waddling in. "Do you wish for me to take the first, Your Highness?"

"Sure. Is something going on with you?"

"Just early contractions. Very early, I promise. I've got a few days before the kids come out. These happened for a week before Shyla finally decided to bless the world, your Highness."

"Take it easy," I say. "I put a lot in you."

"Thank you, your Highness. I will do what I can."

*** Queen Yumanea ***

"Your Royal Highness," my Maid says. "You shouldn't be running off already. Wait a day. You just gave birth; there is very little you could do right now."

"I know. I'm just going to the back lines. They won't be fighting, but it'll lower the time it takes for my orders to get out. I need to be there. The rumors about me getting certain women killed in the war are spreading. I need something to distract them again, and my making an appearance will do that. They all know I would've just given birth. Showing up will show that I'm sacrificing just as they are. We just have to hope that the Goddesses are getting close to that ritual. I'm running out of things to keep morale while we slowly lose ground and women."

"You are..."

"Shut up. I didn't ask for your input on things."

"Still, Your Royal Highness, you don't have to let Alzi have the kids. Your Mother is still around."

"The kids need love. My Mother is too busy to provide that, and my grandmother is too old to take care of the kids. If Alzi thinks the current nobles are bad with kids, she'll kill me if I let her take care of them. Besides, they're important for keeping the woman Alzi will need for the ritual inside the city. They can't be worried about protecting the kids as well."

"Very well, Your Royal Highness."

Shit. Why are my maids going crazy all of a sudden? Have the dryads been putting something in the water?

"Questioning your Queen isn't how maids act," I say. "Darya. I've known you since I was a kid."

"I. Yes. I'm sorry. I. What is going on with me? I. Your Royal Highness."

"You'll be staying in the temple of Space. You can help keep the portal open for Alzi. Thank you for making it obvious. We don't need our intelligence advantage disappearing due to maids again. Nature should've understood I'm not like Elora. I can tell when my maids are acting strange. Two for two so far."

"Your armor."

"My wives can help me, and I can help them. Don't worry about me. Just work on purging Nature's control. If Alzi has mana to spare, ask her to look at you. MOTHER!"

"No need to scream."

"There is a need. I know how the runes work. All maids are to be checked. The dryads have been worming their way into their minds, it seems."

"Very well, little one."

Why do I have to fight against Goddesses? Why couldn't they just let us be? Did Nature plan out my pregnancies so she and Justice could mess with my Queendom without me intervening? She needed Lotus for the attempt at Alzi as well. Do we really have the information advantage?