Shocks run through my every nerve up to my brain, where the electric energy cycles madly within stirring up an anxious excitement. My stomach ties up in knots, and I twist and turn wanting to move, to run and shout at the sky.

We have kids on the way.

They’ll need names, and clothes, and toys.

It’s too ridiculous. It’s unbelievable. It’s inconceivable, or it certainly should have been considering that we’re all women of different species; even if all elvish or adjacent.

As Bessy flies me over to the cavern where Nel is waiting for me, I try to wrap my head around the situation. How the hell did Nel get my genes, then use them to impregnate herself?

Why didn’t she sit us down and talk us through this?

Why did she suddenly make herself pregnant when Eshya and Vii disappeared?

I can guess.

It was to stop me from losing my shit and annihilating this entire cavern. So that means that in a way I’m responsible for this. I’m the one who’s been picking fights and pushing everyone to their limits. I could have found a nice little hole for us to hide in, even if just for a few months, but I couldn’t help myself.

After we got found by Loekan, conflict became inevitable, but I could have found another answer. Maybe it would have been better to run to another cavern and taken our time to prepare ourselves better, training until we could crush Loekan without anyone ever being put in danger.

Eshya and Vii nearly died because of my recklessness. They should have died and the only thing that saved them was acting even more reckless by threatening the two beings that could be considered the gods of this world.

That’s getting away from the point.

I’m going to be a mom.

Bessy releases me as we land in the Lord’s colony, and I set off without a backwards glance. My feet pound along on the stone ground, my vision limited to that which stands between me and my goal.

A pair of humans step out and nearly block my path, but I breeze past them and ignore their surprised shouts. Diving around one last corner, I open my arms wide to catch Nel as she races towards me too.

I catch her as she wraps her arms tight around my neck, hanging off of me. I spin her around and bury my face into her shoulder.

She’s warm, that alone shatters the residual discomfort from the dream I was having when I passed out.

I nearly break down crying as she hugs me, the pressure of her embrace squeezing out a few tears, and like a leaking faucet I can’t stop the flow.

I laugh and I cry, the only way that I can release this nervous energy filling me from my scalp to my toes.

Nel pulls back just far enough to place one kiss, then another. Her own face is streaked with tears as her shining alien eyes glow with a familiar affection.

“We made it.” She says. “We made it, and everyone is safe.”

“We did.” I say, thinking back to everything that we’ve been through, from the very moment we met as strangers on that strange flying ship. “We’ll make it next time too.”

“You’re planning on starting more trouble?” Nel asks, leaning back to look into my eyes as she glowers at me with the strict expression of a housewife hearing that her husband is going to be busy on their anniversary.

“No, no. Not at all.” I reply, relaxing a little a warm, fuzzy ball of joy building up in my chest. “I’m not going to start anything; I’m going to do everything I can to prevent any more wars. Our kids…” My voice stops as I realize just how absurd what I’m saying feels, but I push through. I’m going to be a mom? Insane! “Our kids need somewhere safe to grow up.”

“They do.” Nel nods.

“Let’s go get Vii and Eshya.” I say, pulling her back towards Bessy. While Green-feet and his soldiers are going to be staying here, helping the post-war clean-up, the twins and the few others with them will be guarding us on our return to our base in the ruins above.

Adler appears on our path back to Bessy, catching up to us and escorting us while wearing a difficult expression. Her tail flicks nervously back and forth as she thinks, biting her lip to keep from letting the words explode out of her, or that’s how her expression looks to me.

The walls blur around us, and in moments we’re flying again, heading for the cave opening in the wall where Eshya is waiting for us. Vii is still sleeping on her lap, and Shen is slowly stirring, and I should be there with them.

“Nel, when you said that you’re pregnant, what exactly did you mean? It’s just a child born of Kyra and you, right? Or maybe it has parts of all of us?”

“Four.” Nel says, smiling awkwardly. “I was planning our children, giving them qualities from each of us. It’s something that has to be planned, you know. Otherwise, some of the features clash and cause the child trouble.”

“You’re having quadruplets?” I ask, “Isn’t that going to be difficult? Do we need to do anything to prepare? Is there magic or potions we’ll need? Quadruplets can be a difficult birth, can’t they?”

“You have no reason to worry.” Nel says, waving away my concerns with a smile. “My people frequently have more children than this. It’s not unheard of to have up to ten children in a pregnancy. The babies will start out smaller than your species is used to, but it won’t be a problem, trust me.”

“I… I don’t get a say?” Adler asks. “I mean… I’ve barely even gotten involved with you, and now you’re pregnant with my child?” Her voice breaks as she panics. “This isn’t right. This is way too soon. What? How did this happen?”

“The situation was desperate.” Nel says, staring down and running a hand over her belly. “I’m sorry if it causes you problems, and I promise that we’ll discuss this further. You don’t need to worry about raising the child if that’s your concern, we’ll deal with it together, and I promise I’ll listen to any other concerns you have.”

“It’s not that.” Adler says in a rush, choking. “It’s just… I… I should’ve had a choice…”

“I’m sorry.” Nel replies.

“No, it’s my fault.” I say. “I’m the one who was about to turn into a magical black hole, and I’m the reason you felt that you had to rush this, aren’t I?”

Nel slowly nods her head. “It was still my choice.”

“Then it was both our faults.” I say with a smile, she readily agrees with a conspiratorial smile of her own. “Our shared responsibility.”

Adler seems a little less than happy with the conclusion, her brow creased in frustration as her tail whips back and forth. I can understand the irritation, it’s the sort of topic that might be brought up in dramas back on Earth.

She’s having a kid and she gets no choice in the matter, and considering our circumstances, the morning after pill just isn’t an option. No, we’re having a shared litter of our own, and… well, it’s honestly unfair on Adler.

“Sorry.” I say, looking down at the ground. I’ve been racing ahead with everything; this war, this cavern, our relationships. Now my because of my choices, things are progressing even further, to the point we’re now having kids?

Hesitantly, I glance at Nel. She’s been obsessed with the idea of family, and I’m sure she’s more than happy to have an excuse to move this up on our schedules. Her deep smile is completely unaffected by our awkward flight through the cavern, in the arms of a fluffy ball of tentacles.

I know that Nel said that she’d be willing to discuss Adlers problems, but I don’t want to steal the bliss of this moment from her. The happiness of our lovers surviving, the promise of peace to come, and our growing family.

I can’t keep this conversation from her forever, but it would be nice to give Nel a few days of positivity before she has to have that discussion. Instead of speaking aloud, I message our upset furry-eared companion privately.

“Do you not want kids?” I ask her, I don’t recall having this conversation with her before, but my memory has been failing me more and more lately. This is something that I’ve been meaning to bring up with everyone even before all of this, but I can’t recall who answered how. Distracted with the wars and the fighting and developing my mana form, I… I’m also a little scared of how they’ll answer sometimes.

“You think that’s the problem?” Adler sends back, glaring at me as she crosses her arms over her chest. “I was a welfare officer just a few weeks ago, and now I’m secretly a rebel but I can’t let anyone know. I’ve been pulled into a strange relationship with people that I still barely even know, and I’m still trying to catch up with everything that’s happened and figure out what I even want from my future.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

“Now, I’m going to be having a kid? I… What if I want to leave? What if I decide that this isn’t what I want? It’s too late, and I just…”

To me, while Nel’s pregnancy is a shocking development, it’s something that was always going to happen. It’s been just a matter of time for us. Adler is different.

We pulled her into our relationship before she was fully ready for it, and we haven’t given her any time to figure things out. I’m pulling everyone ahead at my ridiculous pace, and she’s just not ready for it.

“We’ll take care of the kid whatever you end up choosing.” I send. I’m building an empire, I’m not going to be short on nappies or baby food. That, and I think focusing on raising kids could help give me something to do to keep me from starting any new wars.

It’s time to build, not fight.

“That’s not the issue!” Adler replies. “I’m not going to abandon my child, not even if I trust you all to care for it. I just… I’m not ready. I’m not even nearly ready for something like this.”

“Adler. You’re the most mom-like out of all of us, except maybe Nel.” I reply, thinking of all my lovers. Most of us don’t particularly strike me as good parenting material, but I’m sure that’ll change. It has to.

“Because I get upset when you slaughter people, and I want you to retain a basic grasp on morals?” She snidely asks. “That doesn’t make me as happy as you might think.”

“I love you too, honey.” I reply, smirking over at her, but she replies with a deeper glare. Maybe I should buy her some flowers. To be sure, I definitely need to do something nice for her, I’ve put her through so much and I don’t want her leaving because I’m stuck up in all my own problems instead.

I’m almost certain that all she needs is time to settle into the changes in her life, time without any massive conflicts, or battles, or wars to distract us as we settle into our new life together. It’s my responsibility as both her lover, and her empress, to see that she gets that, and hopefully she’ll still see me with the same affection.

I don’t want her to leave me.

The nervous energy in my gut warns me that she’ll change her mind, see me for the monster that I really am, and run away, but listening to that paranoia never does me any good. I’ll hope for the best and put a little more effort into our relationship now that we have time. The same for Nel, and Vii, and Eshya, too.

Our guards lead us into the tunnels, wiping away any monsters that cross our paths. We’ve really grown used to taking this path through the weeks we’ve spent going back and forth, but we’ve yet to properly secure it as we’ve been intending to.

Now that we have time and free hands, I’m sure we can do something about it. I want to make this place as safe as it can be, reinforcing it and making it a home, not a battlefield.

Up through the networks of tunnels we move at a cautious pace, this is still wild territory even for how much time we spend passing through it, but it doesn’t take long before familiar doors come into sight. The entrance to our base in the ruins.

Eshya is inside looking after Vii as she tosses about in her sleep. Shen has since awakened, and I resolve yet again to discuss freeing the snake hosting her. I’m still not sure what I should do, Shen is naturally a parasitic life form, and denying who she is seems rather unkind. Still, it seems too cruel to leave even a beast as a prisoner in their own body.

The stone doors between us scrape open, slower than ever before. Nel is a step faster than me, rushing to meet with Eshya and Vii where they rest. The elf is quick to raise an eager smile in our direction.

“You took your time.” She says, “It was Arduelle who saved us again? Unless one of you figured out healing and teleportation magic, which would be neat, but I somehow doubt it. We should do something to thank her.”

“You, okay?” I ask, “Usually it’s Vii running off on tangents like that.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I mean, you’ve seen me without these filthy clothes. I’m fine and you should know it already.” She says with a chuckle, running her hands down her body. “I’m back to my beautiful normal, feel free to kiss at my feet if you want to. Seriously though, we really need a healer on our team, and something to counter a magic strike like that. I do not want to go through that again.”

“Eshya?” Nel says worriedly, sitting on the ground beside her and looking closely into her eyes. “What is it?”

“Nothing. Nothing.” She says, running her fingers through Vii’s hair. “It’s just… I thought it was the end. You know. So I’m a little giddy at re-joining the living. I want to smell the flowers, and go explore new worlds, and make love. It’s nothing bad.

“I’m just excited really.”

She speaks with an energy that I’ve not noticed from her outside of a fight. She’s passionate at times yes, but not this energetic. It’s just a consequence of facing death, she’ll be back to normal in no time. I’m sure of it.

“Alright.” Nel says with a smile. “Then I have good news to share.”

“You haven’t told them already?” I ask, no wonder we haven’t been bombarded with questions.

“Is Vii awake yet?” Nel asks. “Let’s take this to our room. It’s much more comfortable there.”

“Could you guys take care of everyone?” I ask, turning to the twins, Seia and Leai. They’re the most responsible people here, even if Leai is a little bit... different.

“Got it, my little miss empress.” Leai says with a broad smile. “Go enjoy some time with your family.”

“Thank you.” I shake my head at the strange nickname and walk through our base. Eshya carries Vii in her arms as Nel hops ahead, humming a pleasant tune while she taps her hardened fingers against one another.

Adler grumbles to herself as she follows after me.

We settle down on the cushioned seats and fluffy not-beanbags, Vii settled between Eshya and I. Her eyes flutter open as she looks around the room but her mouth remains tightly closed as she lifts her legs up and tightly holds her wings close.

“Vii?” Eshya nudges her in the cheek, and I can’t help but nudge her on the other side of her face, too.

She squirms, hiding her face for a moment before waving her wings wide and throwing us both off.

“What?” She grumps, looking away as she rubs at her eyes.

“You were sleeping.” I say, leaning in close and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She leans against my side with a resigned sigh. “Nel has something to share with us.”

“Well, not quite yet I don’t.” Nel says, an eager smile rising on her lips. “It will take eight months or so before I have anything to show you.”

“Eight months?” I ask, but of course there’s going to be differences in biology, especially with magic involved. Actually, how much mana will the kids have when they’re born? There’s so much I have to figure out in eight months’ time.

“Huh?” Vii tilts her head, seemingly still tired.

“Wait, wait, wait.” Eshya says, leaning forwards and taking Nel’s hands. “You mean to say that you did it already? I thought we were still waiting?”

“Kyra was a little… emotional during the fight, and I was worried. When you two disappeared, Kyra was close to becoming a vortex of destructive annihilation mana. I gave her a reason to keep living like a proper person.”

“You’re pregnant?” Vii asks quietly, shifting nervously. “I… what?”

“We were planning it, remember.” Nel says, “I just moved our schedule ahead a little.”

“But… how?”

“This enchanted device.” Nel says, pulling out the egg-shaped thing. “I’ve already gathered all of your essences.”

“Wait, when?!” Eshya shouts with a laugh.

“It’s just touching the device.” Nel says, shaking her head. “It’s nothing sexual.”

“Oh, well that’s disappointing.” Eshya says. I can only shake my head.

“What have I done…?” Vii asks.

“Are you okay?” I ask her. She’s warm and her feathers and hair are incredibly soft. In a brief flash I see her as she was then, scarred and burnt. I grip her tighter.

“I… I’m sorry.” She says, squeezing out of my arms, hopping off the chair and running away. “It’s my fault. It’s all my fault.”

“Vii?” I ask, following after her as she races from the room, her talons clacking against the stone floor as she runs out of the room. Eshya is a step ahead of me, using her mana enhanced movements.

The chase is short, and Eshya easily catches up grabbing Vii from behind, and lifts her up into her arms. Vii breaks into tears, hiding her face from us, covering her face with her dark feathered wings.

“I’m the reason you nearly died.” Vii sniffles, peaking out at Eshya. “If I didn’t interfere, if I didn’t come here and meet all of you, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“So what if you are?” Eshya asks, pressing her face down through Vii’s wings.

“Huh?”

“So, meeting you is the reason all these bad things have happened? A cheap price to pay, then. One I’d make again if we could go back. I know our relationship gets messy, and complicated, and so busy that I can’t say everything properly like I want to, but I do love you and I do want you in my life.

“It’s true for all of us, but sometimes I should really take a moment and say it specifically to you. This isn’t just a hobby group or an orgy. We’re lovers and I should find more ways to express that properly.”

“That! That’s what I’ve been trying to say for weeks! I couldn’t find the right words for it.” I say, grabbing Eshya by the shoulder. “You really are different today, it’s more words than normal and now you’re acting all romantic, too.”

She laughs and shrugs my words off as her cheeks turn bright red.

“This topic is something that I’ve been trying to resolve, but you’re all always too busy.” Nel says, dryly. “Now that we have kids on the way, I think it would be good to find that time away from work, no?”

“Absolutely.” I agree, bouncing on my heels as Eshya let’s Vii down and we return to our room. Tomorrow we’ll be heading out to another weeklong trip with our classes, and before that we need to celebrate the end to our little war.

“I’d like to plan out how we’re going to raise them, and educate them.” Nel says. “And we need to plan out their rooms.”

“Are they boys or girls?” I ask.

“Half and half.” Nel says, smiling happily. “I want a large family.”

“Ah, just a thought.” I say. “What exactly is a ‘large family’ to you?”

“I’ve thought a little more on that, too. If we live a proper thousand years, then at least a hundred children.” Nel says, her words tripping my feet out from under me. “If we live for longer, then more than that of course.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Skills & Stats

~Mana Form:

Current mana density: 1289 units

~Mana distribution:

Category Current Max. Defence 20% 100% Offense 20% 100% Mana Sense 20% 100% Recovery 20% 100% Gluttony 10% 100% Misc. 10% 100% Efficiency 100% 100%

~Favourited Skills:

-Tag and Film

-Trapping

-Mana surge movement

-Annihilation defence

-Annihilation flame burst

-Annihilation net

-Eyes of an Empire