Baby Blues

Miles away from Corona lay the captivating realm of Stormhold. The sovereignty possesses an incredible story. The genealogy of the fairy-like populace unquestionably made for quite an intriguing history. Mortal and otherworldly lineage intermingled more times then anyone could count. Granting a myriad of lineages with magnificent capabilities, The royals maintained an unequaled line of descent. Considering that one of their previous queen regnant had been a fallen star.

History, however, seemed doomed to repeat itself. Given the youngest prince of the imperial household, Michael? He, too, been seized then enslaved by an occultist. It'd been the fate of his great-great-grandmother. Thankfully Michael, like Princess Una, been liberated from his thralldom then reunited with his family. Nevertheless, the entire household continued to grapple with being a family.

After all, he'd been stolen as a babe. Then raised in bondage, he only reunited with his family after he reached manhood. Consequently, it remained nail-biting for everyone. Michael wasn't the only one struggling. So was his partner, Cassandra. She'd a tragic past. Consisting of being mistreated, undervalued, then disowned by her mama.

On top of that? She'd gone temporarily berserk—all but butchering her 'sister." Furthermore, obliterating her country of origin. So, yeah, quite a heartbreaking backstory for his wife. Therefore, each of them sustained a degree of PTSD. Naturally, PTSD made things progressively challenging for everyone involved.

Michael has been particularly apprehensive regarding how Cassandra would handle her pregnancy. Or even more alarming? How she'd be once the newborn arrived. It's why he'd taken a firm stand that she received daily counseling sessions.

Cassandra, however? Gothel's daughter maintained having a challenging time speaking of her feelings. Or not letting her egotism get the better of her once more. Yet, she realized this was essential to her better half. Thus she did her most desirable to improve.

About a month before the baby was due, Michael couldn't relax at all. He certainly wasn't uncomfortable with the furniture. The king-size mattress made him feel like he was on a cloud. Growing up enslaved, he hadn't had a conventional mattress to sleep in. Nor did he get to behold the moon and stars. Given his heritage? The heavenly bodies eternally soothed him.

Thus it wasn't the bed. Plus, an abundance of moonlight bathed them both in their private suite. No, that wasn't the reason. He evidently couldn't slumber due he couldn't get over his anxiety.

Sighing, he glanced at his sleeping wife. He pulled back a lock of sable hair to kiss her forehead. Then seized his robe before heading to the terrace. Again, because he was the descendant of a celestial body, the entire household felt the peace of mind when bathed in their silver light.

His loyal pet fox, Kit, followed him outside. She wasn't one to leave her friend's side. Particularly when he was anxious. Breathing in the luscious fragrances of the evening, Michael's crimson eyes gazed upon the Evening Star and the one next to it. These were his great-grandparents. Having governed for eighty years before using a Babylon candle to live eternally in the celestial sphere overhead. Sighing, he spoke to his ancestors.

"Granny Yvaine? If you can hear me, please help me now. I feel terrified for my wife and unborn child. My good fortune from your magic is to see the future," he confessed before instantly amending, " Albeit more or less the future. Essentially that's constantly in motion." All of Yvaine's descendants inherited beauty, longevity, plus magic. Except everyone's magic manifested in various fashions. Yet, his inheritance remained the ability of premonition.

He never let this slip to his captor Sally. She already utilized him as a living fountain of youth. No need to make his imprisonment more harmful by letting her know his dreams granted him insight into the future.

Shaking the cobwebs of deteriorating recollections away, he spoke once more, "I do see a shroud of darkness surrounding my wife and unborn child. I pray this doesn't indicate surpassing wickedness will reappear in our lives. Though, I can't help but shudder in the wake of this darkness, nonetheless. Am I making too much of this? Am I apprehensive for no rational reason? Granny, could you please tell me?"

"Michael? Is something the matter?" came a melodious gentle voice behind him.

Suddenly turning, he noticed his mother, Princess Selena. As always, she donned royal blue. The color complimented her starlight silver hair and midnight blue eyes. Whenever she smiled, her dimples showed.

The young aristocrat had observed various portraits of his parents since being reunited with his family. Other then his crimson eyes, he looked precisely like his late father, Gabriel. Gabriel died, attempting to protect him from the attacking extremists.

Though for Michael? He'd an outstanding surrogate father growing up, Billy. The heathen Sally's spouse. Of course, that bedlam hadn't loved either of them. She'd only worshiped the wealth and magic they'd unwillingly bestowed her with.

Unconscionably, Michael started massaging the tattoo snaked around his left wrist. His late surrogate father had had the same snaking rose tattoo. Like him, the initials cradled within had been the people he'd loved the most.

Billy's been his and Michael's initials to symbolize their relationship. He'd tattooed the initials "B" and "S." They stood for "Billy" and "Selena." That way, he'd never forget his parents, even after they're gone.

"Mom, what are you doing up?" he questioned as he yawned slightly.

The glamorous monarch gently smiled, "Michael, we may've been apart longer then I'd liked. However, I'm still your mother. Therefore, I instinctively know when your in peril or distressed.

So, please, tell me, son. What is troubling you at this late hour?" she inquired sensitively to her son. Her midnight blue eyes shining with the same radiance as the heavenly bodies above.

Sighing, he explained, "You know Cassandra's going to give birth shortly," he began as his mother nodded.

"Yes, I know that. We've got the most competent midwives standing by when she delivers. Though, I can sense your not agitated how the birth will go."

"Correct. I'm more preoccupied with how she'll psychologically handle childbirth. Or caring for a newborn infant. We both have an extremely traumatic past, Mom. Therefore, I'm apprehensive regarding the permanent repercussions of the psychic trauma we went through. I, for one, still have nightmares regarding that occultist slashing my wrist to harvest my blood. My scars are both mentally and physically," now rubbing his right arm.

Selena's fury flared up for a second. She'd lost both her husband and son. She'd been joyful to locate her son alive. Except she'd have to live the rest of her life with the evidence of her son's cruel enslavement. '

True, she'd been appreciative that her son grownup with a devoted surrogate father. That being a small comfort for the grief-stricken woman after he'd been returned to her. However, witnessing the scars running up her son's right arm. When did Selena see those on her baby? Her first thought been to murder that depraved devil who'd done that to her son. The imperial household had to settle that bitch been sentenced to life in a correctional institution.

Her grandparents had done away with capital punishment. They'd worked for years to fix the dilemmas both within the realm plus the royal family itself. Seeing in the past, families lived in fear of ending up murdered every day. Taking a few calming breaths, "I know neither of you had an idealistic childhood. Your fears are logical, son. I've prayed each day talking to Deanna would aid in alleviating the trauma to your soul."

"Deanna is a phenomenal therapist, Mother. However, I doubt either of us will thoroughly recuperate from our psychic trauma."

"Except you can't let fear rule your life, son. We must live in the moment. Take each day as it comes. Just remember you've got a strong support system. You've your whole family here beside you. Even though they're miles away, Cassandra still has her family in Corona to support her."

"She misses her father, the Captain of the Guards. I wish he'd be here to see the birth of his grandchild. Though due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, that not possible."

"I'm curious, does your father-in-law have a proper name? Or is he known as Captain?" The prince shrugged his shoulders. "If he has a proper name, Cassandra's never told me. I'm not going to push the issue with her. However, how do I to assist her presently?"

"Currently, neither of us know if anything going to befall Cassandra. We've to wait and see. The most reliable recommendation I can provide you with now is to write your feelings down in a journal.

Once you've done that, compose some practice speeches. That way, you can efficiently communicate with people how you're feeling. Which will be the first step in resolving the dilemmas."

"I'll give that a go, Mom. Though its probably help if we both got some sleep."

"Yes, a good night's rest is always necessary."

The rest of the month flew right by, according to Michael's family. It's a good omen when a child's born under the full moon due to their line of descent from celestial bodies.

Over the course of several generations, more otherworldly blood intermingled with the imperial line. Nevertheless, being a descendant of Queen Yvaine? You'd inherit striking beauty, longevity—most of all extraordinary mystic potential.

Cass and Michael's daughter Opal came into the world a quarter past midnight. She held prominent yet enthralling attributes. The most striking thing that caught your attention was how deathly pale she was. Her skin tone rivaled her mother's under the influence of the moonstone. Likewise explained the turquoise stripe in her otherwise midnight hair.

Their daughter's eyes were as rare as her father's crimson eyes, for they're the color of fresh lavender. Remarkably she'd a crescent moon birthmark where the moonstone been embedded in Cass's chest.

They took Opal away to be examined by the imperial physicians. Plus, guaranteeing Cassandra wouldn't experience complications following the birth. It wasn't until daybreak the small family reunited. Michael was immediately in love with his daughter until he gazed into Cass's grayish eyes only to validate what he'd dreaded.

They'd been married long enough to recognize each other inside and out—their moods, characteristics, spare-time activities, etc. The sec he looked into her eyes. He knew Cass had gone into full-blow postpartum blues. The lack of spark in her eyes crystal clear. The level of depletion, both psychologically and physically also quite unmistakable. It all reinforced what he'd been dreaming about for months.

The nursemaid placed Opal in Cass's arms so she could nurse. Yet, Cass stayed reluctant. They spent an hour coaxing her to feed her newborn infant. Eventually, the new mommy allowed Opal to breastfeed. It maintained a devastating sight to witness Cassandra being as unemotional and overall detached as Gothel been. She didn't hum or embrace her. She scarcely interacted with her, to be honest.

Throughout the first month following Opal's birth, Cassandra suffered considerably from the influences of postpartum depression. Even with the family therapist, Deanna is doing her most beneficial to support her.

At the succeeding full moon, things changed. No one could recall if it been a dream or, in reality, the matriarch manifesting before Cassandra. Even she acknowledged she couldn't tell hallucinations from reality at that point. All she'd been capable of recalling from that evening remained a peculiar memory. A lustrous, stunning fair-haired gentlewoman in a shimmering gown appeared before Cassandra.

What they talked about, Cassandra couldn't recall at all. Only her voice was comforting, plus it made her feel at peace. She did recollect she sang a rather peculiar lullaby to settle a crying Opal down. The cradlesong went like this, "Moonstone shine bright. Bring the fear of the night. Take the life that's owed. And set the spirit free. Wither and decay. Change this destiny. Break these earthly chains and set the spirit free. The spirit free."

It remained peculiar that the hurt incantation would be utilized as a lullaby. Or where the added lyrics originated from. Yet, it somehow healed Cassandra's depression. Furthermore, she was ultimately qualified to be a more dependable mother then her own.

A few days later, her sister's letter regarding her own babies arrived. With a detailed picture inside of Raps and Eugene holding their newborns. It made Cass smile. They'd the court artisan do a small portrait of Cassandra's family to mail to Raps once Cass and Opal were more up to it. All in all, things may've started dark but ended up in the light. Thank god for all of it!

Selena- Mia Farrow- Lady Amalthea- Last Unicorn

Michael- Andrew Russell- Luka Ladybug

The added lyrics to the hurt incantation come from another of several videos on YouTube. I can't give you a specific video for this one.

Happiness Travels

Happiness happens along the route; it's not a stop you get off at.