*** Alzi ***

Kitsunes are too soft. I didn't even need a blanket last night, just Nanoka's tails to cover me. Even Mommy struggled to get out of bed in the morning.

Then they both were pampering me like mothers. Nanoka really does have to be careful if she doesn't want to get pregnant. Thinking she can get away with teasing me like that, even kissing me after dropping off everyone at Space's temple.

Don't get flustered, Alzi. Nanoka is my wife. Why wouldn't she be nice to me? She seems to have a brain unlike most of the royals I've had around me.

"Why are we going to the manor?" I ask.

"We would need to pick up Victoria, my Mistress," Sarania says. "But we have Aurora giving birth now."

"Tanatsu is going to be mad," I say. "But Aurora needs the help. Fine. Esiyae has to be ready to pop. No way she makes it to term."

"I don't know about her, my Mistress," Sarania, offering me a hand down. "But Tanatsu is going to have to deal with you missing sometimes. A lot of women are due now, as I'm sure you're aware. We already have Geta watching over Annoris for you. So far, nothing, but we didn't see anything wrong with Lotus."

"Calli. I need to check on her again," I say. "She can help us. Shyla shouldn't have to do the duties for her Mother."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Shyla says. "This way. She is just in our room. I've called Calli to come and help."

I should force the maids to let me in on this communication thing. It's too nice not to have it. Maybe that mirror thing as well. So many things. Maybe my head maid is supposed to handle that. Perhaps I should've forced Aurora to take it up again. Could my shadow? Probably not, I don't need her talking. Maybe I should just cut her tongue.

Take the ant's first. Let her talk during it, a single moment to let out all the pain before I take her chance to vocalize it away. Maybe Victoria has a rusty knife I can use.

Aurora is in the normal position on the bed. Her body tense as she tries to breath through the pain.

"I guess I was warned about this one," I say. Kelly's just as tired as before. She and Shyla have been the main women I've used to regenerate my mana, but it seems Shyla's aura doesn't level my wives up as fast as it does me. Hopefully, her next level is just mana; she doesn't really need skills right now.

"Sorry, your Highness," Aurora says. "I knew it wouldn't be a week, but I didn't think it would last less than a day."

"That's more warning than I ever get," I say. "This is going to be a lot harder than you did with Shyla, ok. Now, Shyla's job is just to support you. Calli and my shadow will handle the maid duties for a while. You've both earned that much at least."

"Thank you, your Highness."

"Save your breath. No saying 'your highness' after everything. Save your energy for the kids. Nobody here cares about that."

"Very well."

"I was asked to join you all," Calli says.

"Perfect," I say. "Everyone's here. Just need to get the babies out."

"Please," Aurora says.

"Don't act like you didn't love it. You wear the belly well. But time to check if you can start pushing," I say.

Kelly and I move to check. I think I can handle it all, but there's so much to worry about. It's kind of insane how much work Kelly did for my later pregnancies without all my mana. She could take a sliver of mine at a time, and that just took even more of her focus from the actual duties. I really did Sarania a disservice by not having had Kelly explain anything to me. I could've found time to do the non-mana stuff while at the brothel.

"It looks fully dilated," I say. Kelly gives me a nod. "Ok, do you want to change positions? It is easier to move now than later, but don't be afraid to ask if you need it."

"This is fine," Aurora says, holding Shyla's hand already. "I'm ready."

"The babies never care, but it's good you are," I say. "You know the deal, but we can walk through it anyway. You push..."

*** Nanoka ***

Oh, I can't get over that blush when I kissed her. I feel like a little girl again. Eiki, you would be proud of me for this. I know it. You told me not to forget how to love, and I did a bit. But it's fun rediscovering some of it.

Then I get even more kids coming to the manor.

I'm the old grandma watching her grandchildren get born, and the newlywed discovering their partner at the same time, such a strange feeling.

Speaking of grandkids, I should warn my grandchild about Alzi. I'm sure she's mad about being skipped twice in a row. She struggles a bit at seeing everything.

"Hello Tanatsu," I say. Her place is a dreary as usual. I hope Alzi can bring a bit of light into her world again. "Sorry that Alzi can't come by today. More births are happening. Two women again. One is a royal again. Everything should be clear for tomorrow."

"Fine," Tanatsu says.

"Dear, don't be so mad. I told you this is more than we could ask for. Alzi wants to do this. It just takes a bit of time," Aya says. Poor girl.

"I get it. I don't need you all lecturing me."

"I understand your pain," I say. "I hope Alzi is able to help you. Just be kind to her. You both have a lot of pain around lovers. She understands you better than you think."

"Yes, yes. Anything else?"

"No. I'm just happy you're alright. I heard you went off to the forest. Be careful with that dryad."

"I know!"

"Ok, sorry. I know when I'm not welcome. I just wanted to give you the message in person. Have a nice day, Aya and Tanatsu. I love you."

I wait a second for a response, but only get a weak smile from Aya as Tanatsu puts her back in the box. Very well. I'm sure this is a stressful time for them.

*** Alzi ***

The first came fast enough, with the second and third coming along surprisingly quick. Of course, that means the next one just has to be slow.

"You're doing well, Aurora," I say. "Just a few more pushes and she'll be out. The wings make it harder." Read full story at novel~fire~net

"Ok," Aurora manages.

"Your Highness," Calli whispers. "Shimmer has gone into labor. I told her to come here. That's fine, right?"

"Yes," I sigh. I'm going to have to get good at dealing with more than one woman in labor, it seems. The royal healer should be able to help eventually as well. But I still need to be there for my kids. "Sorry, Aurora, Shimmer is also in labor. I've got her coming here. But I'll have to split my attention. You're in more danger, so I'll focus on you, but just a warning."

Aurora screams out in response, a bad time for a contraction. But she pushes well, and the fourth finally joins her sisters in the world.

"Well done," I say. "Sorry. I know that was worse than normal. But we're halfway there. You're doing so well. I know it's hard."

"Can we cut them out?" Aurora asks. "I'm too old."

"Don't ask the Champion of Fertility to break the rules," Kelly says. "You should know better. Only to save your and the kids' lives."

So that's why Kelly never cut them out. Another favor to ask of Fertility, I suppose.

The door bursts open, and Shimmer, with her maid, shuffles in. Unfortunately, the beds aren't big enough for the pregnant women to share the bed, so Shimmer has to go to the second bed.

"Catch your breath," I say. "You've got a few moments before the next starts."

"Yes, your Highness," Aurora struggles to say.

"Don't care about Shimmer. She claims to be my mate, then she won't care about a concubine forgetting a title during a long labor. Not if she wants a healer for her future labors. Isn't that right, Shimmer?"

"Yes, dear. Please. It hurts."

"Stop fighting it," I say. "You've clearly dilated. Push with the contractions. The baby is meant to come out now. Trust the child when it says it's ready to come out and trust me to keep you all alive. I need the phoenixes, so I can't have you dying."

"Ok, dear. It just hurts."

"Let me check," I say. She better not have gotten the child wrapped up in her womb. I spread her legs, probably more than I need to, but whatever, and take a good look. The baby has crowned and I can see the tiny horns of a dragon. I don't think she's a dragon, so I'm guessing she is like Irlo. All the features without the actual race. Going to be a lot worse for this one. I'll have to work hard to make sure she's accepted. "You've just started. I can see her horns, but I don't think she's a dragon."

"That's impossible," Shimmer huffs out. "Phoenixes can't have horns."

"She has horns. Deal with it and focus on pushing with the contractions. Breath and push and work on that, mate, or you won't ever get a second. You'll have to watch your sisters and Mother give birth to my children while you lie empty by yourself."

"Yes, Alzi. Sorry."

At least she's motivated now. "Does your Goddess make champions?" I ask.

"Not that I know of."

"I'll be back," I say. 'Space, when can you claim a kid as a champion?'

'Labor is the earliest if you aren't Fertility.'

'So?'

'Maybe, it would fit the difficulty. But Shimmer is young, and dragons and phoenixes are harder to birth. Bring her to my temple tomorrow and I'll tell you.'

'Thanks.'

"Aurora, the next one is ready," Kelly says. "Just like before. Alzi tried to give up on me a few times in the past as well, but she always made it. I know you can do it with our help. We take this one contraction at a time."

"Ok. Ok."

The struggle continues.

...

"Shimmer, look at me," I say. "Match my breathing. Push with your entire body. I need to feel my hand getting crushed. You're stronger than this. I know it."

"I can't. I'm..."

"Aurora has easier kids. Our child is a mix of a phoenix and a dragon. Hers are part human. Two were humans, even. Ok. Of course, she went faster, but you have to keep working with me. Two good pushes and she'll be out. Two contractions. With me."

"I'll try."

"Do it or I'll leave you. I'm serious. I give out too many kids to marry someone who quits with just one kid on the way."

"Yes, my mate."

Just a few breaths pass before the next contraction comes. "Push," I command. This time, I feel her squishing my hand. Three contractions that she was too scared to do anything about. Aurora got her last four kids out, and Shimmer is still struggling. "Good. One more like that, and the hard part is over. Breath. In and out. Just like that. Ok. Now again, push."

"AAAAHHH!"

"There you go. A beautiful girl," I say. "Phoenix wings, dragon horns, and two tails. Heat is going to love our daughter."

"I don't get it," Shimmer says.

"Tomorrow you and she are going with me to Space's temple. Deal with it. Now relax for a bit, and then we have the afterbirth."

"Yes, dear. But the child isn't a phoenix."

I don't really need Space to tell me the child is a champion. She's got golden runes lighting up in those cute fiery wings of hers. Just did Dragon or Phoenix claim her? It would be funny if they're claiming each other's race kids. If they are, I'm sure Dragon will be demanding I make another with the phoenixes.

Should I punish Shimmer by making it her Mother? I shouldn't get Shimmer pregnant till after the war anyway. She can let her Mother get a chance after the war to give Dragon what she wants.