Dark Princess
By GoldenGoddess
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Author's Note: Okay, I should explain things now. Since witches are different then other woman, they run differently than other woman, such as the aging process and other things. This is my excuse for why Marjoly had her baby two months earlier than is normal. Witches go through seven month pregnancies. They mature (physically) quickly and age slowly. I shortened it 'cause, let's face it, I don't know ANYTHING about the 'miracle of life'. Okay, I know the first part *winkwink*, but I don't know how it feels like to be pregnant or to go through labor. So there! :p Short chapter.
Annie's Note: Finally updated....sorry for being so mean to you, first reviewer! And, ugh, you're right, I am tired of Silver Lining.
Cornet-( You made a commitment!
And I plan to stay true to it. I just prefer this story now! ^-^ Oh, and yukito (sp?), do you think the idenity of the father is important? Eh, you'll find out soon enough. And, hm, I should say, Crowdia is so out-of-character.
Disclaimer:I don't own the game, but when I grow up, I'm gonna do a re-make and bring the sequels to the US of A! Until then, I own nothing in this chapter.
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Chapter Two: Complications
Marjoly's screaming could be heard through the thick walls, into the room outside where Mao, Gao, and Crowdia waited. Gao was pacing back and forth, tail occasionally twitching. Myao lay on the thick carpet, rubbing the stomach of one of her Nyankos, who purred loudly. Crowdia sat on the window sill, looking down at the land so far beneath them.
"So, uh, whodya think the father is?"asked Gao.
Myao shrugged, scratching the Nyanko behind the ears. "Who can tell with Marjoly?"
Crowdia sighed, then picked up the book next to her, flipping to the chapter about children. She wondered if Marjoly would keep the little one, abandon it, or use it for her spells. There were spells that needed parts from an infant. But would the witch be so heartless as to slay her own?
Several hours passed, so many that Crowdia lost count. Myao lay sprawled on the floor, a Nyanko and Nyanchi were using her belly as a pillow. Occupying the couch was Gao, snoring louder than a dragon's roar, a thin line of drool making its way down her cheek. Crowdia grimaced at the site. It was disgusting. Leaning against the ice-cold glass, wondering what the humans below were doing at this time. Hundreds of births were taking place, and it seemed as if only Marjoly's had no father.
"Worried, huh?" Crowdia glanced up. Gao. She had obviously been feinting sleep, now making her way to the sill and sitting beside her companion. Crowdia nodded wordlessly.
"Don't. Even though Marjoly is a total ditz, she might be a good mother, who knows?" said Gao.
"Hn." The swordswoman returned her gaze to the window. She knew how children came to be, she was educated, the union of a man and a woman. But this...thing intruded upon the tightly woven net that was the Family. It was foreign, an alien in their home. Its father had already imposed so, now to leave his mark....
"Is it about Marjoly?" She twisted around, startled, and met Gao's eyes. "Even if she sucks as a parent, the kid'll have three backups, right?"
It's more than that, thought Crowdia, and Gao could never understand. Not in all the years we have lived, nor in all the years we will. But she tried to tell her anyway. "For this to happen-"
"Wait a minute!" Gao said, putting her hands up to emphasize her words. "I-well, Crowdia, I don't know much about this, about, you know, your, er, feelings. But are you sure? I mean, it is kinda weird...."
Crowdia stood. "Of course. Forget I said anything." She started to leave.
Gao called, "Crow!" and she stopped, looking over her shoulder. "...never-never mind."
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Marjoly let out another cry, hearing it echo off of the walls and return to her. The pain was blinding, she felt like she was being torn asunder by the unbelievable power of the baby within her. The midwife was calm, talking her through it, helping the witch along. Then, for a split second, Marjoly was at peace. No sound, sight, or feeling, none but a tiny beat, much like her own heart, but smaller. And no sight, except for ther purplish-blue skin of the newborn. And no feeling, but for the sense of another creature in the room, its small light-life shining brightly. She stopped worrying about the horrible stretch marks and the veins and pain, in awe of the fact that she had brought this little person into the world.
All sense returned. Marjoly winced at the wail the baby emitted, the stomach-turning site of her fluids, the ache of her lower body.
"Oh, Goddess help me if I do that again!"
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"So, what is it?"
Marjoly slapped away Myao's hand, reaching for her baby, who was so tender and beautiful and frail that no stupid cat-girl could touch it, ever. And she said so.
"Yeah, well, it looks like an alien!" Myao pulled back the sides of her face and made a mean expression at the newborn. It ignored her, turning its head to Marjoly's breast.
"Ha ha ha ha ha! Looks like she has my sense of dignity!"shouted Marjoly triumphantly.
They were in the Baby Room, the place where every Marjoly Family child speant the first years of their life. Marjoly herself claimed the Mother's Bed, leaving the others to squeeze into the tiny chairs or squat on the floor.
"So, what are you going to name her?"Gao asked. Marjoly thought a minute.
"I got it! Orenda,"she said happily. "Orenda Marjoly. It means magic."
"Clever,"put in Crowdia. No one noticed the sarcasm in her words. She glared at the infant, who hiccuped and stared back. "She has fay eyes."
"Pardon me?!" snapped Marjoly. "What did you say about my child!?"
"Fay, faerie." Crowdia pointed. One of her bright eyes was darkest purple, almost black, and the other was gray, almost black. It was at that moment Crowdia realized who the father was, and she gasped. Marjoly blushed, a rare act, and bowed her head, reading Crowdia's thoughts.
Myao and Gao looked at each other, then at the two witches, who seemed to be speaking without saying a word. Gao shrugged, but Myao glared still, trying to get in on the silent conversation.
"Who's the father?"she yelled. "Meow, who's the father?! I wanna know."
As Marjoly opened her mouth to speak, the midwife entered the room. She glowered at everyone, then slapped the rag she held in her hand at them. "Get out, get out, get out! The mother needs her rest! Shoo!"