A/N When I first wrote the Princess and the Goblin 2, I never thought of making a sequel. During its writing, however, I came up with an idea of Irene being kidnapped by pirates, and it just stuck :D

Same deal: I own no PatG characters, except Angelina, and the Goblin Cat and King and Queen's names. Also, I only own the Captain of the Bloody Fang, the Bloody Fang itself, and Simon for Pirates of the Caribbean, and any other OCs. PotC is owned by Disney. Barbara and Millie are owned by Alu In Chains. Froglip's surname is owned by MonMonMouse from DeviantART.

Chapter 36

Trouble

Irene was sitting in bed, leaning back against Froglip, clenching her teeth as another contraction caused pain throughout her body. "Ohhh!" She groaned. "Oh, God, it's so painful! Oh, ow-ow-ow!" She wrapped her arms around her belly and panted.

Froglip said nothing, but held her in his arms and rocked back and forth. Finally, the contraction passed. "I think they're getting stronger." Irene sighed.

"That's good." Sabrina said as Froglip wiped his wife's forehead with his cape. "It means yer progressin'."

"How long do they last?" Froglip asked.

"Depends." Sabrina shrugged. "Fer some, it's only an hour. Fer some, it's even longer."

"Longer?" Irene squealed. Suddenly, she grabbed Froglip's hand and squeezed it as she experienced another contraction. Froglip winced; she had a strong grip! "Ijustwantthisbabyoutofme!" She cried out quickly.

"I know." Sabrina said soothingly. "But yer gonna have to be patient. Birthing a baby takes time."

Angelina came in. "I told both Irene and Froglip's fathers, but told them to wait. Irene's father didn't seem too pleased, but he stayed."

"Good." Sabrina nodded. "All we can do is wait 'til Irene's ready to push. That will take time."

"I was afraid of that." She sighed as the contraction passed. She laid her head back against Froglip's shoulder. "I hope I can last."

"You will." Froglip assured her, stroking the top of her belly. "You will." He sighed softly. This is going to be a long day.

For the rest of the day, well into evening, Irene had contractions on and off. She didn't stay in bed though. No, she got up and walked around periodically, with assistance from Froglip, of course. They'd pace around the room while she moaned softly and brushed her chin-length hair out of her face. Sometimes he just held her close and rocked back and forth on his heels in the middle of the room. Then he'd escort her back to the bed to rest.

"I see why they call it labor." She sighed as she lay back against Froglip's chest again, while he leaned back against the bed rest. "This is hard work."

"Indeed." Froglip nodded, massaging her shoulders. "But like most hard work, the reward is great."

Irene nodded, smiling. Then she sighed, "But why does it have to be so painful?"

"I don't know, Sweetie." Froglip kissed the top of her head. "I don't know."

Irene was going to say something, but whatever she wanted to say was replaced by pained groans; another contraction. "Ohhh! Aren't I making any progress?" She moaned.

"I don't know, Baby." Froglip shook his head.

On cue, Sabrina stood up from her sitting position on the floor, climbed onto the bed in front of Irene, and checked her. "You're makin' progress, but I don't think it's time to push."

"When will it be time?" Irene groaned, squealing in pain.

"Yer body'll tell you." Sabrina answered simply. "It's yer body's instinct, I s'ppose."

Irene just moaned in pain until the contraction passed. "That was awful." She sighed.

Froglip gently stroked her belly with his fingers. "You're doing great." He whispered.

She smiled as Sabrina climbed off of the bed. "He's right." She said. "You've come a long way. Shouldn't be long now."

"I hope." Irene bent her head back as more pain ran throughout her entire body. "Ohh! Oh-oh-ahhhh!" She screamed. "AHHH! It hurts! Ahhh!" She grabbed Froglip's hand. "AHHH! OHHH!"

Froglip squeezed her hand soothingly. He stroked her stomach until her hand pushed his away. Finally, the contraction ended. "I want these contractions to stop!" She groaned. "I can't take any more of this pain!"

Froglip said nothing, but just rocked her back and forth, not complaining about each scream that came with each contraction.

Outside the room, the cats cringed and winced at each pained sound their mistress made. "It sounds like torture in there." Turnip said sympathetically.

"I'm sure it is." Millie sighed. "It's hard work to give birth."

"I'm glad Nip and I are males then." Grazzlegritch said, ruffling the gray cat's fur.

"Sure, yer lucky." Barbara frowned. "But us females gotta deal with th'pain." Millie nodded in agreement, glancing down at herself.

Glancing at each other, Turnip and Grazzlegritch were about to ask if Barbara and Millie were hiding something, but Irene screamed again. Turnip jumped, scared, and dashed around behind Barbara. She rolled her eyes. "My hero."

Irene clenched her teeth; gripping Froglip's hand so tight, he was sure it was going to break in half. "It hurts!" She groaned. "It hurts! IT HURTS!" Finally, after more pain and painful screams, it passed. "Ohhh, when will I have this baby?" She groaned, falling back against Froglip's chest.

Sabrina checked her again and smiled, "Perhaps now?"

Irene's head shot up; her tired, bloodshot eyes widened. "What?"

"I'm startin' to feel the baby's head. Just push when ya need to." She moved into a more comfortable position so she could catch the baby."

"You hear that, Sweetie?" Froglip whispered enthusiastically. "The baby's almost here!"

Irene nodded, smiling tiredly. "Y-yes." She then got the urge to push. Moving up so she stood on her heels, she grabbed Froglip's hands to brace herself, clenched her teeth and eyes, and pushed hard, groaning lightly.

"Yer doin' good," Sabrina said, keeping a sharp eye for the tip of the baby's had. "Yer good, just keep on."

When she couldn't any longer, Irene relaxed, and just panted hard. "Good girl." Froglip whispered, kissing her cheek. She smiled softly. "I love you." She whispered.

"I love you too." He briefly kissed her lips before she braced herself again and began another long push. Then, as she was pushing, she felt a little sting down below. "What…was…that?" She groaned.

Sabrina's eyes widened. "Oh no!" She whispered.

"What?" Froglip exclaimed softly, his heart nearly stopping. "What 'oh no'?"

"Somethin' tore. She's bleedin'." Sabrina answered, slightly frightened. "We need to get this baby out of her now!"

Irene heard this all, and paled immensely. "Oh God." She whispered.

"No, don't think!" Sabrina said frantically. "Just push. Angelina! Get a towel ready!"

Nodding, Angelina grabbed a towel, frightened for her best friend. "Good." Sabrina nodded; she turned to Irene. "Now push!"

Irene pushed as hard as she could, taking a breath when she stopped. She felt something move through her, and it hurt. Bad. She groaned in pain and panted. "The head's out!" Sabrina exclaimed. "I need another push for the shoulders. And hurry!"

"C'mon, Rene," Froglip whispered, rubbing the backs of her hands with his thumbs. "You can do this!"

Nodding, Irene took a deep breath and pushed hard. "Nnnnggggrrrrrhhhh!" She moaned.

Sabrina took hold of the baby's head in one hand, and gently pulled a shoulder out with the other. All at once, the baby slipped out. "I got it!" She exclaimed.

Angelina scooped it up in the towel. Sabrina tied a small rope tight around the cord, took a knife, and cut through it. She and Angelina stood up, and she took the baby to a basin of water to wash it.

Froglip smiled when he saw the baby, but when he looked down, his heart stopped: Irene was unconscious against his chest. "Irene?" He nudged her cheek. "No. Irene, no!" He shook his head in denial, tears growing in his eyes. "No! No! No!" He looked up. "Angelina!"

When she turned to Froglip, she gasped at the passed out princess. She dashed to her side and held her ear near her mouth. "She's not breathing! Lay her on her back!"

Froglip moved out from behind her and lay Irene on her back. Angelina placed her hands on her chest. "You know how to do this?"

"Yes, I did it about two years ago when she nearly drowned." Froglip answered.

"Good." Angelina nodded. "When I say 'now', breathe for her." She began pressing on Irene's chest, counting under her breath. "One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Now!"

Froglip held Irene's nose shut and slowly breathed into her mouth. Angelina pushed her chest again. This continued on for a few minutes. "Come on, Irene." Froglip whispered. "Come on, please be ok. Please be ok."

Irene didn't know where she was. It was light, but foggy. Wasn't she in her room, birthing her and Froglip's child? The last thing she remembered was pushing the baby out, then she passed out. "Hello?" She called. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

Then, in a bright light, two figures appeared. One was a tall, old woman, wearing a purple gown and a gold crown, and had long white hair. The other was an old Wolf-Bat, with kind rose-colored eyes.

Irene's eyes widened. "Grandmother? Eileen?"

The old woman was her great-great grandmother, who was a magic being. She gave Irene a magic thread, which she used when she was in trouble, and gave her a riddle to solve in order to break a curse Froglip had accidentally set on her.

Eileen was Dirtclaw's deceased mother, who watched over Irene like a guardian animal. She showed Irene Dirtclaw's past, showing how he became a monster, and why.

"Take me back!" Irene exclaimed. "Please! I don't want to die!"

"Child," Her grandmother began, but Irene interrupted.

"Please! I don't want to die!" Now she was crying. "I want to be with Froglip! I want to hold our baby in my arms! Please, don't let me die." She bowed her head, now sobbing. "Please."

"It isn't her time." Eileen agreed.

After a few seconds, Grandmother said, "Should you go back, you will need a week of recovery from your injury."

"I don't care!" Irene exclaimed, her heart leaping at a chance of survival. "Please!"

"Alright." Grandmother smiled. She lifted her hands up. Rose petals flew to and surrounded Irene. She felt cool air around her. She knew Grandmother was healing her. She felt excited; she was going to live after all!

"Irene." She looked up to see Grandmother had disappeared, but Eileen was still in front of her. "I have something to tell you. A prophecy of some sort. Someone will come soon. Someone who died of evil, but will yet again be born innocent. He shan't remember his past, but you will know who he is. He will come in two weeks. Be prepared."

"Who?" Irene asked. "Who will come?"

"Let's just say you know him very well." Eileen winked before fading away. "Do not brush him away, for you are needed for his second chance at life."

Before Irene could question, she felt herself beginning to awaken…

A/N You know me; always the dramatic type X) I also wanted to show when it comes to labor, it doesn't always go smoothly. There are risks. Hope I didn't scare anyone :)

Who do you think the subject of the prophecy is?

Rainlilly216: Thanks :) It's like movies; sometimes it goes better without a sequel/another sequel.