Chapter 13: Nurse Pearl
The fairies' pirate ship was still sailing on course for Crystal Lattice Island and Princess Lapis and her friends were catching their breath after the run-in with the wicked Jasper and the fairy hunter.
"Glad we got out of that one." Amethyst said, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Speaking of relief, can someone please bring new some food and water before I kill over?" Lapis asked desperately.
Captain Lars fetched some food and a canteen of water and handed them to the blue fairy, which she consumed instantaneously.
"Ugh, that's not enough." the young princess groaned. "I need more! Please, they need nourishment!"
"What's wrong with the princess?" Padparadscha asked. Sapphire, Ruby, Bismuth, and the other pirate fairies were also puzzled by their friend's bizarre behavior.
"Well, it's kind of hard to explain, but long story short; Lapis is pregnant with fairy baby twins." Prince Jamie told the eight clueless fairies.
"WHAT!?" they all gasped.
"I know." Peridot said. "We had that exact same reaction when we found out."
"The egregious hunger and thirst are just a couple of the symptoms that Lapis will go through during the next four months until our daughters are born." the human prince added.
"Okay, but if she's going to be this hungry and thirsty, we're not going to have enough food or water to sustain her." said Bismuth.
"Maybe there are some supplies we could grab at the next island." Stevonnie suggested. "There could be a shopping area there."
"Sounds good, but I better go buy the food." Lars stated. "Sending a fairy on a supply run where a bunch of dangerous creatures might be lurking around would be a bad idea."
It didn't take too long before the ship had arrived at the next island. And Stevonnie was right. The island had a bazaar with a myriad of stores, selling all kinds of wares.
"Alright, I'll be back soon." the pirate captain announced before heading off. "Everybody stay on the ship. This won't take long."
Just then, the human prince noticed that Lapis had a jaded look on her eyes and that she appeared to be on the verge of nodding off.
"Lapis, honey; are you alright?" Jamie asked his wife.
"I'm fine, but I think the fatigue is setting in." the princess said sleepily before yawning. "I could really use a nap."
"Why don't I take you below deck so that you can get some rest?" Pearl offered, helping her up.
"I'll come too." Jamie added, joining the young fairy's opposite side.
"Thanks guys, but I think I can walk myself." Lapis told the both of them.
"In your fatigued state?" the pale fairy said, raising an eyebrow. "You'd collapse before you'd even make it to the trapdoor."
So supporting each side of her, Pearl and Jamie helped guide the sleepy princess down below the ship deck. Then, they got her all nice and cozy on the cots that were lined out.
"Feel comfy, dear?" Jamie asked as he tucked his wife in, drawing the blanket over the blue fairy.
Lapis nodded tiredly as the kind prince smoothed the blanket of any wrinkles. Just then, he felt something protruding in the blanket around the fairy princess's midsection.
"Aw, look." he said, pointing this discovery out to Lapis. "I can already feel a baby bump forming on your tummy."
The young princess gave sleepy giggles as her husband brushed his fingers over her blanketed belly.
"The Ethereal Swan wasn't kidding." Pearl commented. "Those fairy babies do develop rather quickly."
"You're all set, sweetheart." the human prince stated as he gave Lapis a kiss on the cheek. "Have a nice nap."
"Wait!" the young princess cried out as Pearl and Jamie were about to leave. "Can one of you stay with me? I've never slept down here by myself before."
"What are you afraid of?" asked Pearl.
"Well, I still feel a little shaken up from that ambush attack by Jasper and the fairy hunter." her friend said, quivering nervously under the blanket. "I'm scared that those two are going to catch up to us. They might try to sneak down here while everybody has their backs turned and kidnap me in my sleep."
"I could stay down here with you." Jamie volunteered quickly.
"Actually, I'll stay down here with Lapis." Pearl told the prince. "And since Lapis might get hungry again after her nap, why don't you go grab something for her to eat. I hear Lars has a big pot of soup." Then, she noticed the troubled look on his face and added, "I promise Lapis will be in good hands."
Jamie smiled knowing that he could trust the pale fairy and left the two of them alone.
"You know, Pearl; you don't have to take so much of your time to take care of me." Lapis said. "You could be back above the deck with the other fairies."
"I know I don't have to, but it just feels right to care for my friends; especially you Princess Lapis." Pearl replied.
"So you're taking care of me because I'm the princess of fairies?" the blue princess asked.
"Well no, I'm caring for you because you're my friend." answered the pale fairy. "I'd support you during this time if you were a princess or not. There's no way I can ignore you when you're in need of care."
The young fairy smiled at her friend's generous nature.
That was when a light glowed from underneath her pillow. The fairy princess lifted it up and found an opalescent crystal resting on the cot.
"Where in the world did that come from?" Pearl queried in shock.
"I have no idea." her friend answered, putting the trinket in her little bag. "These crystals have been popping up in the surprising places."
"Okay, enough crystal treasure hunting for now." the pale fairy laid Lapis back down on her pillow. "You and your babies need to get some rest."
The blue princess yawned and snuggled under the blanket as she drifted off to sleep. Pearl ran her fingers through the royal fairy's hair and smiled warmly.
"You're going to be as great of a mother as you are a princess." the generous fairy whispered as she watched Lapis slumber peacefully.